In the Intest of aid

Chris wrote:Kruhl

saves: Cha +12, Wis +8, all +4 from aura. Dex +9 (shield master)
Passive Perception 14
SPD: 30ft
Auras: Protection (cha to all saves 10ft) and Hatred (+cha damage fiends\undead 10ft)
Spell\channel save DC = 16

AC = 20 (breastplate +1, shield +1, dex +2)
HP: 82/82

Paladin Spells
1st = 2/4
2nd = 2/3

Warlock 2/2

HP: 53/87
AC: 22 (shield of faith) 8\100 rds duration (10 minutes)

LoH used 24\40
Hex used 0/1 for the day

@Sam - Kruhl can do a quick 24 from Lay on Hands, then more from spells if needed

Chris wrote:

Hex Warrior ability

If the cursed target dies, you regain hit points equal to your warlock level + your Charisma modifier.

Kruhl regains 6 HP when Haun died

Kruhl, 24 should be fine for now. Thank you! Sam is back to full strength

He kicks at one of the limp tentacles. "Sent by Gamble? Well, it looks like I am lucky he did! This creature still stinks of evil."

The dwarf looks at Kruhl as a smirk creeps across his face. The smirk begins to falter as he looks around the room, recognizing his surroundings and seeing the weakened and deceased kinfolk chained around the room. He moves to a nearby body. lifts the chin, and holds back a tear. Clearly someone he knows well.

"I don't know how I got here, or what has been happening. How many more are there like this? Where are the rest of my people?", he laments.

"I think I know why I was headed this way", he says as he approaches Hawkes. He indicates that he would like to step behind the sarcophagus. "If you wouldn't mind, please."

Hawkes steps aside with a flourish and turns a hidden admonishing look to the crew before turning to watch the Dwarf pass. Hawkes will not mentally be out of combat until his fully supplied ship is a mile from shore.

Kruhl will casually move to be as close to as many crew members as possible, just in case

“You’re uh... awfully nonchalant about the ... uh ... possession and all.”

The Dwarf pauses next to Hawkes. "I suppose I am. I hope I haven't done anything wrong? The last thing I remember is being in the Hall of Instruction when a group of Mindflayers and their pets descended upon us."

He looks back toward the figure he recognized. "Henrik was one of my most accomplished warriors. Adept with a weapon and spell alike. And I think that is Burnhelm over there", he says as he points further along the wall to the west. "He was the funny one, but his defensive prowess was unmatched."

"My last memory is of a voice inside my own head, then....darkness. I have never before in my life lost control of my own mind. He shakes his head in disbelief.

"Are all the other vile creatures destroyed and dealt with? Where is Gamble now?"

He looks at the group with questions in his eyes.

"We should probably rest for a bit before we attempt to move out. I think we all could use an hour or so of down time to recover our strength and our wits."


suggest short rest - remember we can recover lots of HP this way and some abilities

"why don't we take that rest back among friendlier company... then we can get this bloke back to his people?" pipes up Sam

whit10 wrote:"why don't we take that rest back among friendlier company... then we can get this bloke back to his people?" pipes up Sam

"We are not among friendlier company, good Sam. We are trapped deep underground in Flayer- occupied territory. Last time I checked, there were enemies between us and the way out."

god this game would be better with nukes.... "just nuke it from orbit, only way to be sure"

The Dwarf waves his hand towards the west side of the room. "There is a way out over there. A secret passage that will lead us to a hidden stairway down the cliff face. I can get us away from the temple. I assume Gamble has our forces surrounding the main temple entrance?"

"I think that was his plan... we were supposed to find and save you. Let's get out while we can"

The Dwarf nods his head at Crispy. "Very good", he says.

"Where are my manners? I haven't even introduced myself. My name is Franc Vellum. I am the Magister of Bhornalduhr. As I mentioned before, we were studying an artifact we...'liberated' from a roaming group of these filthy savages", he says as he points down to Haun's corpse.

"We did not expect to be set upon by more of their kind. A battle erupted as we tried to fight them off. Then, suddenly, everything goes blank. If it is as you all have said, and I was under the control of them, it would make sense to protect ourselves as well as we can."

He steps towards the writing on the wall and begins tracing his fingertips along some of the runes as they begin to glow. He closes his eyes and softly speaks an incantation that causes the entire wall of script to illuminate.

The lid of the sarcophagus begins to shift ever so slightly, until it has opened enough for him to turn around and peer inside.

"Is there anything else you should be telling me before we set off to safety?"

someone who has a better short term memory than me should respond to him....

"The timeline of when you were lost to darkness is unclear to me. The entire city was sacked by these Flayers, your people have been killed, taken prisoner, fled or are hiding. These beasts roam the streets in packs hunting any survivors. The castle flew a distress flag, which is how we got involved.... uh.... these heroes freed me from a volcanic prison and thwarted the return of a fire god bent on burning the world.... but that is another story."

“There’s some expectation that coming here to rescue you will also lead to opening the artifact, or at least understanding its purpose.”

"Well met Franc. I am Abigail of the Sea Elves. We expect to be well-rewarded for all of our efforts."

Vellum nods as his face grows long.  "And so shall you be, Sea Elf."  His gaze turns toward the Captain.  "I was studying the chest before the attack on our temple.  I haven't been able to decipher the runes, much less know their origin.  I can say, however, that it exudes an aura of incredible power.  Perhaps if I were given more time when we return to the Keep."

He reaches into the sarcophagus and brings forth a ring, a wand, and a necklace.  "We may very well need these if we come across any more of them", he says as he motions toward Haun's corpse.  "The ring offers the wearer the ability to cast counterspell, the necklace is good if you need to be slippery, and this wand...?  This wand will show us the way out."  He offers the items to the group in aid of their escape.

*meta-alert*  You have a Ring of Counterspell, a Wand of Secrets and a Necklace of Assisted Escape.  Distribute them as you see fit

"I hate to leave my kinfolk here, but this might be the best place for them to stay if it as you say it is outside these walls.  Take the wand, go to the center of the west wall, and find the door to the hidden stairs.  If we are lucky, we can make our way to Gamble unseen."

Necklace of Assisted Escape
This necklace has 5 charges for the following properties. It regains 1d4 + 1 expended charges daily at dawn. While wearing the necklace, you can use your reaction to expend 1 charge and gain advantage on a saving throw you make to avoid being paralyzed or restrained, or you can expend 1 charge and gain advantage on any check you make to escape a grapple.
Wand of Secrets
The wand has 3 charges. While holding it, you can use an action to expend 1 of its charges, and if a secret door or trap is within 30 feet of you, the wand pulses and points at the one nearest to you. The wand regains 1d3 expended charges daily at dawn.
Ring of Counterspell
This ring allows you to cast Counterspell at 4th level once per day, regaining the expended spell daily at dawn.

Are those homebrew items? I like them! Their situational qualities add theme while not seeming overpowered.

"I'll take the necklace if no one else wants it."

@Rob: Thanks. Tried to make them just as you described them. They're a mix of standard and homebrew-lite.

agreed! cool items

“Aye, Abbie is most helpful when not being grappled by tentacles! Those are good choices. CAPTAIN JOHNSON would approve.” He looks towards Sam. “Well mate, the wand leads the way, so ‘‘tis you or I.”

Sam will take the wand if there is no objection but he's not going to be greedy this time.

“Kruhl fears the gods, will he protect our guest?”

Kruhl nods to Captain Hawkes, "Stay close to me, Master Vellum." Kruhl will shadow Vellum as we travel.

"I'll leave it to you to lead the way. We will want to take the hidden stairs down to street level and hug the cliff face to the Keep walls. There, we will find another secret door before we pass into safety."

Vellum walks towards the tunnel you used to enter the Hall of Secrets. He closes his eyes, bows his head, and recites an incantation. The opening at the end of the hall begins to close in, covering itself in rough-hewn stone and becoming indiscernible from the surrounding rock.

Sam will assume a position right behind the dwarf so as to protect him if needed and render any aid. Following along

Abi takes Rear Guard, or Second-from-Last (if Kruhl or anyone else wants RG position). She has her trusty bow in hand. Darkvision 60'

Kruhl will stay in front of Vellum as his shield. Hopefully this puts him somewhere near the center of the line to share his aura with the most possible crew.

Apparently Hawkes is taking point. 🤪

"isn't leadership a bugger?"

Hawkes starts down the stairs, rapier drawn.

Hey guys - I fell down an OCD rabbit hole pretty bad over the last few weeks. Sorry if I held anything up. Looks like we finished him off ok. Got a request for you all in the OOG thread. thx

Sam holds the wand aloft at the west wall of the Hall of Secrets and attempts to make his intentions known. The Wand of secrets tugs in one direction, pointing itself towards a section of the wall. Sam intuits the locking mechanism, which does not appear engaged from the inside, and the group needs to shield their eyes for a moment as bright sunlight spills into the room. A small landing allows the group to survey the hidden staircase down the cliff face towards the Keep. It appears narrow, crumbling, and unforgiving of mistakes.

Hawkes is leading the way, yes? Lets have a perception roll.

Hawkes perception
Result of the throw of dice "1d20 +5" :

17 + 5 = 22

Hawkes is immune to surprise

Stat block coming...

No need for a stat block.

Hawkes begins to lead the group down the narrow stairs, careful of his footfall. Several steps ahead, he notices a small crack running diagonally across a handful of stairs.

“Dwarven stonework doesn’t fail; what is this Vellum?”

"Pffrt. The stonework of my people is flawless, Captain. We can't control the weather, nor it's effects. These stairs have gone untraveled for decades."

"Then let the dwarf go first" Kruhl grumbles to himself quietly.

“As you say, Vellum. No chance your enemies have tampered with it? Sam.”

"er, um, what enemies are those?"

“Ugh. The Mind Flayers. Sam, does this look dangerous?

navyik wrote:“Ugh.  The Mind Flayers. Sam, does this look dangerous?

Kruhl ponders the riddle of King Lear, "I am going mad or is everyone around me going mad?"