When Darkness Falls

Robyo wrote:Don't we still have zodiac +5' movement buff?

Yes - and I counted that in - The trees and bushes off the road are difficult terrain, in the dark (you are outside the torch light). From the original description = "The forest pushes in claustrophobically along the path, a solid wall of brush to either side."

Vozz will take a step back (not sure how the 5ft step works in 5e, if that's still a thing) and casts sleep targeting a square behind Shevek so Vozz and Ali are outside of the AoE, K-10 should work.


sleep 'damage'

Result of the throw of dice "5d8" :

8 + 1 + 8 + 5 + 5 = 27





Sl e e p
1st-level enchantment
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 90 feet
Components: V, S, M (a pinch o f fine sand, rose petals,
or a cricket)
Duration: 1 minute
This spell sends creatures into a magical slumber.
Roll 5d8; the total is how many hit points o f creatures
this spell can affect. Creatures within 20 feet of
a point you choose within range are affected in
ascending order of their current hit points (ignoring
unconscious creatures).
Starting with the creature that has the lowest current
hit points, each creature affected by this spell falls
unconscious until the spell ends, the sleeper takes
damage, or someone uses an action to shake or slap the
sleeper awake. Subtract each creature’s hit points from
the total before moving on to the creature with the next
lowest hit points. A creature’s hit points must be equal
to or less than the remaining total for that creature
to be affected.
Undead and creatures immune to being charmed
aren’t affected by this spell.

sorry for the hijacking, but I wanted to make sure Bronson was invited to the next game as well, if he is interested

https://lodgestgaming.forumotion.com/t310-story-concept-work-in-progress#16793

it likely won't start for a while, as we are really just getting going here, but I wanted to get the ball rolling slowly as that will take some development, given the crazy concepts.

Chris wrote:Vozz will take a step back (not sure how the 5ft step works in 5e, if that's still a thing) and casts sleep targeting a square behind Shevek so Vozz and Ali are outside of the AoE, K-10 should work.

A strange calm settles over Vozz as the monster's jaws pass dangerously close to snapping shut on his flesh. Of all the danger he has faced on this long day, this is surely the closest he has come to true harm and potential death. But he finds his center and steps up, just as the wizards in stories of old. The arcane formula's speed easily through his mind and he releases the spell effortlessly, a blast of lethargic energy that batters and smothers the creature's mind.

It's eyes glass over, and while it does not fall completely asleep, it wobbles on its feet and lets forth a gigantic yawn. The spell definitely had some effect, leaving the beast tired, weakened, and slowed...

---

Round 3 Begins.
Map is current.

Ali is up
Ronan
Tungo
SHEVEK
Vozz
- Round 4 -

Ali begins to back away slowly.  He readies a shot in case it attacks again, but sings a gentle lullaby as he creeps away.  "Hushabye monster, don't eat me, Ali's gonna buy you a side of beef..."

Chris wrote:sorry for the hijacking, but I wanted to make sure Bronson was invited to the next game as well, if he is interested

https://lodgestgaming.forumotion.com/t310-story-concept-work-in-progress#16793

it likely won't start for a while, as we are really just getting going here, but I wanted to get the ball rolling slowly as that will take some development, given the crazy concepts.

Cool. Thanks for keeping me in the know.

MAS wrote:
It's eyes glass over, and while it does not fall completely asleep, it wobbles on its feet and lets forth a gigantic yawn. The spell definitely had some effect, leaving the beast tired, weakened, and slowed...

shhhhhhh

navyik wrote:Ali begins to back away slowly.  He readies a shot in case it attacks again, but sings a gentle lullaby as he creeps away.  "Hushabye monster, don't eat me, Ali's gonna buy you a side of beef..."

As Ali starts to back away, the creature takes a vicious swipe at him with a clawed paw. It passes so close that Ali can hear the wind whistle but misses it's mark.

---

Ali's move out of the creature's reach triggers an AoO, triggering Ali's readied Attack.

Roll your attack and designate your ending move position.

4+7=11

Ali will bolt for the treeline to break LOS and hide.

3+7=10

navyik wrote:4+7=11

Ali will bolt for the treeline to break LOS and hide.

3+7=10

Please designate WHAT each roll is for. Your attack roll needs also needs a damage roll in case it hits.

Please designate your intended ending position by coordinate. Remember that the trees are difficult terrain, thereby doubling movement cost.

Ali Abbas Uz Amirr
HP 18/18
Ac 16
Passive percep 15 (can see in dim light)
Move 35*

Initiative. 8+3=11

Ali moves to H-1
First roll of 11 was bow attack.
Dmg 2+3=5
Second roll of 10 was to hide

Can a "slowed creature make AoO?

Thank you for the clarifications. Now for my own - the creature does not have the condition "slowed" in effect (which is not a condition in 5e anyway), I was trying to   be descriptive of an effect that Vozz's Sleep spell has created. We'll call it condition "woozy" and to your player/character knowledge, the creature is operating at a less than optimal performance level.

---

Ali buries an arrow in the monster's chest as he backs away.

KA-THUNK!

He pushes his way into the thick brush and does his best to blend into the shadows...



Map is current

Ronan is up
Tungo
SHEVEK
Vozz
- Round 4 -

Ronan's turn is pushed 'till the end of the round due to inactivity.

Map is current.

---

Tungo's lustrous beard lashes out wildly, seemingly possessed of it's own mind, and cleaves branches and twigs around it, carving a space around where the Golitah stands in the woods...

TUNGO is UP
SHEVEK
Vozz
Ronan
- Round 4 -

Tungo moves to K-15. Does he have a clear shot at the beastie with his longbow? How much movement does he have remaining?

Each square that is mostly woods counts double = difficult terrain. By my count that is 35 ft and your movement is exhausted. Plot your path of travel, count it out, and determine your end position. Firing at the creature with the fallen spire in the way will grant it "half cover".

Sorry, didn't realize you were waiting on me.

Ronan in panther form tries climbing a tree and concealing himself among the branches about 100 feet away.

MAS wrote:Each square that is mostly woods counts double = difficult terrain. By my count that is 35 ft and your movement is exhausted. Plot your path of travel, count it out, and determine your end position. Firing at the creature with the fallen spire in the way will grant it "half cover".

Roger. Tungo lets loose another arrow.

Attk: 11 + 4 = 15, if hits: 5 + 2 = 7 damage

3 arrows remaining.











<----- Stat block

Tungo moves through the thick brush, his beard lashing out and chopping thick limbs from trees as he goes. He shoots and lands another arrow in the woozy beast. It grunts in frustration, then reaches for Vozz with its claws, seeking to rend him in twain, but misjudges the distance and misses.

Map is current, Vozz is up to close the round.

Vozz will use 1 action to extinguish the glowing target of light on his hand.  Vozz makes a dash in the darkness to D-4 (20 regular move + 15 diagonally, doubled, into the brush, if that works)

Vozz's Fire Genasi blood gives him Darkvision 60ft, he hopes the creature isn't as fortunate

Vozz extinguishes the flames and as the road is plunged into darkness, he turns and dashes for the woodline. His night vision gives him a glimpse of SHEVEK shaking his head as if clearing his mind of a fog...

The round ends.
Map is current.

ROUND FOUR
Ali is up
Ronan
Tungo
SHEVEK
Vozz

Ali shoulders his bow and moves 2 steps to G and hides:. 2+7=9
  He also draws his sword and shield, readying an attack if the creature comes within range.

Ali does his best tick impression and tries to burrow deeper into the woods. Ronan lounges in the tree, a safe distance away.

Map is current.
Tungo is up
SHEVEK
Vozz

Tungo moves to N-15, to gain a clearer shot a the beastie. He fires his bow once more.

Attk: 18 + 4 = 22; if hits: 7 + 2 = 9 damage!

2 arrows remaining.

The entangling vines conjured by Ronan suddenly have now wilted and withdrawn back into the earth, his distance from the battle being too great to sustain its magic.

FA-THUNK!

Tungo's arrow flies true, strikes home, and SHEVEK wears another feather. Blood now streaks it's fur from a brace of arrows...

"GYARRRRRGGG! Nothing but Trifles!" it shouts, as it bites Tungo's most recent arrow free and crushes it in its teeth. Despite its confident boast, it staggers a bit as it roars and points towards Tungo -

"YOU! You...REEK of the DAGAN! HAVE AT THEE!"

The beast launches itself in the air and flies to land at Tungo's feet. It attacks in a flurry of claws and teeth...

The barbarian manages to evade the first claw, but the second claw strike rakes his flesh, as does it's bite. Unexpectedly, dark purple sparks fly into the air where the attacks land, and Tungo's might resists the slashing and piercing...

Claw dmg 6  3
Bite dmg 7  3
Total dmg = 6

Map is current
Vozz is up to close the round.

Tungo uses a Reaction to counter damage with his Stone's Endurance:

10 + 3 = 13 damage shrugged off.

SHEVEK unleashes brutal energy upon the goliath, but Tungo stands his ground. All the fiend's fury reflects off the barbarian like ocean waves against a mighty boulder.

Vozz will break cover, seeing his new friend Tungo in danger.  Vozz moves to D-11 (1 at x2, then 25ft due S).

Red glyphs swirl around the young mage as he runs, a thin wisp of fog rises from his footfalls, as the growing heat evaporates dew off the cooling earth.  A bolt of fire flies forth from his finger at Shevek

ranged attack
Result of the throw of dice "1d20 +5" :

8 + 5 = 13

if that hits
Result of the throw of dice "1d10" :

6


Fir e B o l t
Evocation cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 120 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Instantaneous
You hurl a mote o f fire at a creature or object within
range. Make a ranged spell attack against the
target. On a hit, the target takes 1d10 fire damage. A
flammable object hit by this spell ignites if it isn't being
worn or carried.

Tungo shrugs off what little damage had penetrated his strange new resistance, then roars a wordless battle cry in defiance!

Vozz fires off a bolt of fire magic at SHEVEK -

WHOOMPF!

The creature SHEVEK howls in pain as the flames blast its hide. It wobbles on its feet, bleeding, pierced by a brace of arrows, both burned and frozen.

"MERCY!" it cries...."I YIELD!"

SHEVEK raises its arms in a sign of submission.....

Map is current.

ROUND FIVE
Ali is up
Ronan (Out of combat)
Tungo
SHEVEK
Vozz

Ali Abbas Uz Amirr
HP 18/18
Ac 16
Passive percep 15 (can see in dim light)
Move 35*

Initiative. 8+3=11


Ali dashes to I-12, weapons ready, but stops to speak:


"And what does this covenant of yours demand that you owe us if we let you live?"

Ali sprints forward, weapons at ready, and poses his question.

"To the merciful; Three boons without toll, as Covenant demands!" cries SHEVEK, cringing...

Map is current.

Ronan (Out of combat)
Tungo is up
SHEVEK
Vozz

Vozz shakes his head, "This has been a really messed up day!"

Tungo holds up his greataxe in striking position, but does not cleave... yet. "Keep speaking, monster! Or the covenant demands we reduce you to diced burger. What boons?"

Robyo wrote:Tungo holds up his greataxe in striking position, but does not cleave... yet. "Keep speaking, monster! Or the covenant demands we reduce you to diced burger. What boons?"

Being in initiative, a declaration is required. I see half of a "Ready" declaration stated above - so please complete the sentence =
"If (fill in the blank) happens, Tungo will attack"

As per the PHB:
"When the trigger occurs, you can either take your
reaction right after the trigger finishes or ignore
the trigger. Remember that you can take only one
reaction per round."

And make a WILL saving throw while you are at it

Tungo doesn't attack. He's only threatening too. It's a scare tactic to get the monster talking.


WILL? Do you mean Wisdom?
Wisdom Save: 12 (no mods)

Tungo declares no action and skips his turn. If you have any questions about how declarations work during combat, see page 192 of the PHB "Actions in Combat".

Yes, I meant WIS, my bad!

---

Tungo brandishes his axe menacingly, but does not strike, and poses his question.

SHEVEK looks perplexed, but answers - "Might, for Covenant has no other coin!"

As Tungo looms close to the creature, his lustrous beard writhes and thrashes. Its aggression looms in the back of the barbarian's mind like water building quickly behind a dam. Finally, it can be contained no longer!

The beard lashes forward and rakes a savage blow across SHEVEK's face, opening an ugly wound. The creature reels backward in pain and anger.

"Ambush under parlay?!?! SO BE IT!" roars Shevek, launching himself into the air and flies straight upwards (Dash, fly 100ft). "Covenant broken, bond sundered, the black mark YOURS!"

---

Vozz is up. SHEVEK looks to be withdrawing fast as possible. Map is current

Vozz isn't sure if Shevek is retreating or re-positioning. Either way, he is out of range for now. Vozz watches the creature with a readied finger pointing towards the sky.

Action: cast firebolt
Trigger: Shevek comes within 100 ft of Vozz

SHEVEK flaps his wings furiously and disappears into the night sky, a string of curses trailing behind it...

The road is now quiet and dark. Combat/initiative ends.

Actions?

Tungo takes an Opportunity Attack with his greataxe as SHEVEK attempts to fly off.

Attk: 12 + 5 = 17, if that hits: 9 + 3 = 12 damage

Vozz wearily suggests, "We should get back to the Shielding.  If Tungo is.... back to himself again?"

Vozz is nervous about the Dagan-like beard that Tungo is\was sporting.

Tungo's strike lands, leaving a massive wound in SHEVEK, but the creature still manages its escape. As the creature flaps wearily into the night, the barbarian's lustrous beard calms and shrinks away.

Does the party wish to do anything before traveling the final few miles back to Milling?

"This nefarious beard! It has a mind of it's own! Ahh, now it seems to be shrinking away, finally."

Tungo will assist in searching the area. Or if everyone wants to continue onward, he will accompany them.

Vozz has had quite enough adventure for one day. He will keep watch on both the road and the sky if anyone is searching. Otherwise, he is ready to go home.

Ronan will remain in panther form for the remainder of the hour - keeping a watchful eye on the trail that lies ahead of the party, and remaining out of sight in the bushes.

The party chooses not to search the area where they encountered DAGAN and SHEVEK near the fallen ward spire.

They hustle along anxiously through the dark until the reach the well-lit , heavily guarded gate tunnel of the underground city of Milling. A look-out spots their approach - "Survivors - more have returned!" shouts a guard, and the rest form a protective wall around the party as they retreat through the threshold. Cheers, congratulations, and exclamations of surprise bubble from residents along the way as the companions are rushed to the meeting room where they first accepted their mission. Although only a day ago, it seems as if months have passed.

Speaker Falken Boon greets them as refreshments are laid out and healers tend to the party's wounds.

"Peace and protection! We feared no more would return once night had fallen. It is a blessing to see you all alive and well. Many of the brave have fallen, more than half of you that left our wards at dawn have not returned. What news do you bring - what was discovered?"

"The dogmen are amassing a great horde! It is a serious threat! Tungo's team happened upon a gnoll scouting party, and felled them easily. Our plan was to ambush more gnolls, perhaps take a prisoner, but it quickly went downhill like an echoing trayn-reck.* Tungo's mates decided to light a signal fire, so we ran from the overwhelming chaotic canines..

"Pursued at length Tungo's company was, through the woods and over a ravine, and we lost them and their vicious dogs.

"Then we were confronted by horrible djinn! Again, Tungo's companions fought well, but the monster fled on wing.

"Now Tungo has returned and is famished! No more tales until his stein is filled!"





* A term in the Giant vernacular describing an avalanche caused by drunken frost giants falling down a mountain.

Robyo wrote: went downhill like an echoing trayn-reck.*

* A term in the Giant vernacular describing an avalanche caused by drunken frost giants falling down a mountain.

ROFL!

MAS wrote:

Robyo wrote: went downhill like an echoing trayn-reck.*

* A term in the Giant vernacular describing an avalanche caused by drunken frost giants falling down a mountain.

ROFL!

cross-dressing drunken frost giants, if my etymology is correct

Ok, so the GM was looking to see what the Players have actually pieced together about the situation from all the clues they've been given. So far, only Tungo has chimed in. If no one has anything to add, the GM will expound via narrative to wrap up "Season One".

Then we have a choice.

This is a natural stopping point. I can continue the story from here (I have more prepared).

-or-

We can move on to another game.

I'm ok with either choice. Won' t be offended if you all are ready to move on, and am happy to continue if prompted.

Vozz speaks up, though nervously, "I am not sure, your honor, sir, but I think there may be something more.... complicated going on.  We went to the coordinates on the map, which aligned with... certain independent astrological projections on my part.  There we first encounterd gnollish scouts in BLUE\BLACK kilts.  We also found a signal pyre.  This is where we decided to set our failed ambush.  The gnolls that responded to the signal fire wore ORANGE\BLACK kilts.  Now, I don't know much about their tribal politics, but I am guessing they are from different, uh, clans, maybe?"

Vozz looks at his friends who might have more experience with the dog-folk.  

He continues, "A glowing lantern, which by the heavenly chorus it sang, I am guessing was some form of Angel also appeared.  It was attacked and returned fire against the dog-folk.  It did not attack us and in fact, gave warning to flee the larger host that descended upon our position.  Contrary to popular belief, I would consider that a friendly encounter with the being."

Vozz thinks his way through his memories, "On our journey home, we encountered a bearded fellow that pressed us for a bargain or exchange of services.  He then left and we were set upon by Shevek, a winged chimera of scorpion, lion and bat.  He made clear his hatred for Dagan, the bearded one, and only treated us with hostility since he saw us in counsel with Dagan.  I am not sure what Shevek is or how he is related.  I would guess that Dagan is some sort of Bearded Devil, as his personality and scheme to trick us into a pact with him fits, at least, the stereotype of a "cunning devil."

Vozz calculates the events, "Taken in order, they seem a chaotic series of adventures.  Taken in reverse order, they suggest something, at least to my mind.  Dagan was met sitting on a broken Ward Obelisk.  I believe the Devils are breaking down the shielding by physically toppling the Wards.  Dagan made appearance of a chance encounter, however, I believe he was waiting for someone to come and check on the Obelisk and used it as bait.  I still don't understand Shevek's role, but it may be that he was able to enter the shielding through the holes created by the Devils and is just a natural enemy.  The weakening of the shielding is also allowing the gnollish to enter.  The BLUE\BLACK clan is only at the point of sending initial scouts.  However, the ORANGE\BLACK clan has already sent in a larger force.  It appeared as a raiding party with scouts, hounds and hunters.  I am not a military expert, but it seemed more like a group set for hit & run, not a proper army, if the gnolls even field one.  The Angels have also entered the shielding, but are, I would suggest, helping us by attacking the gnolls they find and giving us warning."

Vozz suggests, "Perhaps if we look at a map of the Shielding and known locations of the gnollish clans, we might be able to determine where the destruction of the Obelisks is occurring. By this, I mean, perhaps the destruction began in an area nearest the ORANGE\BLACK clan, as they are in phase 2 of raiding. The BLUE\BLACK are a newer invader, so they Obelisks in their area are just beginning to fall. Perhaps an effort to restore the Wards would help restore our safety?"