OOC I will purchase the three alchemist fire and caltrops for 76gp, thank you!
Ready to move on to the next day. Sorry if I have gone over the top on the role play and taken up too much time. Feel free to tell me to slow down if it's too much.
OOC - NOOOOOO, not over the top. Your RP is Awesome and is the whole point of D&D ;) This is my first play by Post DM'ing so I am learning so trying to balance the Pace, but also didn't wanna run the story forward before everyone was ready.
When you return to your rooms for the evening, it is obvious that the servants of the library were instructed to treat you well. There is a gourmet meal fresh from the kitchen on a small end table. Your bedding linens have been swapped out for velvet and silk ones in tones of blues and golds. A small notecard reads, The library thanks you for your service.
Your night is uneventful. When you awaken there is a tray of breakfast left at your door. At noon, as it has happened everyday for the last 600 years - even while the library was under attack in it's earlier days, the Canticle fills the Great Hall. Remember to add a +2 to INT based Rolls for the next 24 hours.
Once the Dean's singing ends he begins to speak.
We are expecting a distinguished guest at the library - Prince Ebberon himself of the Elves of Shimistra Forest.
The Dean casts a variation of a low level spell - the casters can determine it's the Prestidigitation Cantrip with a few extra flourishes. A golden Spotlight briefly lights up each member of the party - drawing the crowd's attention.
These six will be journeying to the Gates of Knowledge to await the Prince's arrival and escort him back to the library. We thank them for their service to the library and the Gods - Deneir and Oghma. May you you all be blessed with the Harmony of Knowledge.
The Dean is beaming, his smile rivaling Cadderly's - this is in sharp contrast to the worn and anxiety wrought features you have seen the last day. You realize he had left out the more ominous parts of prince's visit - you assume for fear of causing a panic at the library.
The 6 of you walk out to the manicured grounds of the Library. Many of the clergy come out to bid you farewell with much fanfare. The horses pull your wagon of supplies and you begin your walk down the road toward the gates of Knowledge. You were briefed the road is 5 miles long and you should reach your destination an hour before Dusk. The travel is slowgoing, even on the road as it's mostly mud and crisscrossed with streams from the Spring Melt.
Ash was grateful to the library for feast and fine linens, but she found they were too soft for one who normally made camp in the wilderness. She slept on the floor, and found it's cool surface as peaceful and relaxing as a princess would find a feather bed. When she awoke, she adorned her crown, and clipped all of her personal weapons onto a leather belt, the great axe being slung over her back and fastened with more leather straps. Once downstairs, she found the group easy enough, and double checked her equipment. She kept a few apples from the feast and fed one to each of the horses as she waited for the others. She liked beasts, and there was an ease about her as she let one of the mares lick her scaly hand for the last of the sweet flavors. (OOC: If I need to animal handle let me know, but she's just treating them, not trying to get them to do stuff.)
Once the Dean and the clergy had given them their send off, Ash took the lead of the party. She could easily scout ahead if needed, and should trouble arise she wanted that trouble to taste her axes before the other's magic. "Let me take point," she said to the others, but hardly waited for permission. She walked on.
Pox takes number 2 spot, he can also scout ahead and stealth, if needed.
Merai will be 3rd. She is now dressed in scale mail armor under her robes, and carries a shield with the holy symbol of Deneir. (A candle over a stylized eye), and walks with her staff.
(OOC For animal handling in 5e, usually checks are only needed with trained animals if you are trying to get them to do something they ordinarily wouldn’t. - run towards a fire,, etc. in these cases it’s just a wisdom check if you aren’t proficient. But ordinary people who ride horses all the time don’t need proficiency in animal handling- they just might have difficulty getting a horse to behave in battle, etc)
OOC - Awesome So that will put Little Iron behind Merai, with Cadderly and Danica taking up the rear. You are all walking while the 2 horses pull the wagon of supplies.
As you leave the grounds along the dirt road you are greeted with beautiful scenic views of the mountains and forest. Although the sun shines through the trees, everything is still very wet. The road is well maintained, however, every 50 feet or so newly formed stream or mud crosses the path making the journey slow going as you slog through.
With these conditions it takes you roughly an hour to travel one mile.
You pass a few wagon merchants headed toward the library and a group of travelers as you journey. They are fearful at first of Ash, but seeing the clergy along with you wave and exchange pleasantries in passing.
You can tell you are nearing the end of the road (4 hours / 4 miles have passed) from the library. The overgrowth and forest leaks into the pathways and the road is no longer level - taking steep elevation changes that push your endurance. The horses neigh in protest as they pull the wagon through the terrain.
It is then that Ash and Pox round a tree and underbrush growing in the road and see the below scene:
The Merchant Wagon had been ransacked, that was certain. It was tipped over on its side and torn to pieces, parts of the wagon and ransacked merchant goods littered the ground. A horse lay dead, still strapped into it's bindings to pull the wagon nearby. A pained and gurgled groan escapes the main carriage debris and you see an elderly, human, merchant woman partially pinned beneath the remains of the carriage. She is covered in blood and severally beaten. Her arm reaches out for air and falls limp.
OOC - Please use this LINK to view the scene. I will use this methods for encounters. The X on the Google Sheet is Woman the H is the horse. We can dictate where people move using the Grid system "Pox moves to 5 M" for example. I will make the document editable if anyone wants to move it on the grid as well for visualization. The other bookkeeping part of running encounters is I am grouping turns together. The 4 Player characters, the two party NPCs and any other enemy will share a single initiative. I will take an average initiative of each group and do the rolls to save time / posts. This means when it's the 4 Party Players turn - you can each act in an order during that time to help move things along smoothly. (this was advice given on a PBP tip guide I read)
Ash witnessed the fallen wagon, and dying merchant, her lip curling in anger. She then looked to her companions. "We need a healer, quick," she stated, pointing towards the wreckage and dying merchant. "I'm going to look around to make sure this isn't some kind of trap." With that, Ash heads to the head of the stream (M5) and searches for signs of ambush. Ash pulled out her two smaller hand axes, holding one in each claw, just in case.
Merai rushes to R6 and casts cure wounds on the woman, laying her hands on her forehead while saying a prayer . Merai’s owl watches for an ambush (passive perception 13)
Pox follows her while keeping an eye out for trouble
Pox passive perception 12
(OOC note- passive perception is a “floor” for perception rolls i believe, in 5e)
Merai and Cadderly are shoulder to shoulder as they rush across the small stream past Ash. Deneir's tenants to heal the injured pushing them forward to aid.
OOC - Nat 20. -- nice :)
Pox catches the gleam of silver cord laid in two identical 5 foot circles - Grid O6 and 07 He calls out a warning allowing the nimble elf Merai to land between the bounds of the two traps. Cadderly is not so nimble. He looks back at Pox's warning and lands in the center of the rope circle and is hoisted upside down into the air. The magical ambush holding him a few feet above the ground - his robes fall down and cover his head and revealing his lavender briefs he yelps like a dog with his tail stepped on.
A crossbow bolt comes from somewhere up in the trees in the Grid 7P area. It strikes Danica in the thigh and buries itself deep. She makes no noise as she pushes the bolt out the other side of her leg and limps toward the group. Merai you arrive at the elderly woman to cast your healing spell. You realize something is wrong as your hands go to push the woman's hair from her face, but can not grasp the gray wiry strands - discerning her appearance to be an illusion. She stand up - passing through the debris that had been pinning her the ground - also breaking the illusion of the debris and ransacked wagon - it takes on a transparent appearance. You see a bandit with a long sword standing within the illusionary carriage with a wide grin - He says "good work" as the elderly woman moves to X6.
OOC - Ok here goes initiative order. Remember when it's the PC's turn you can take your turns in any order. I averaged everyone's initiative bonus.We won't move on until everyone in that group takes their turn. I think I will also be rolling for saving throws so it saves time, but open to suggestions as I am experimenting.
“Preying on innocent travelers willing to help an old woman is not Good Work” cries Merai, and she shoots a fire bolt at the man in the carriage, and then closes up close to him, attempting to distract him while Pox moves in.
(per 5e rules, sneak attack works without advantage if another enemy is within 5e’)
“Preying on innocent travelers willing to help an old woman is not Good Work” cries Merai, and she shoots a fire bolt at the man in the carriage, and then closes up close to him, attempting to distract him while Pox moves in.
(per 5e rules, sneak attack works without advantage if another enemy is within 5e’)
The bad guys go first in initiative - they got a surprise round because you were ambushed.
The web spell lands before it your turn. You nimbly avoid the sticky strands. Your firebolt spell hits the bandit, lighting the webs you are standing ablaze. OOC- you don't take any damage until the next turn before they burn away.
The bolt hurts him badly. he claws at his bubbling and sizzling flesh. "You wretched witch" he bellows
((5e combat rules ar different than pathfinder- take a look at the rules. Biggest difference is the advantage/disadvantage mechanic, movement rules, and provoking attacks of opportunity, but too many things to sum up here. There is a dice roller feature above these chat boxes- and a combat roller which will automatically help calculate crits, or we can use the sheets).
OOC: Ready to move on to the next day
(OOC ready! Really enjoying all the RP! Great group)
OOC - NOOOOOO, not over the top. Your RP is Awesome and is the whole point of D&D ;) This is my first play by Post DM'ing so I am learning so trying to balance the Pace, but also didn't wanna run the story forward before everyone was ready.
When you return to your rooms for the evening, it is obvious that the servants of the library were instructed to treat you well. There is a gourmet meal fresh from the kitchen on a small end table. Your bedding linens have been swapped out for velvet and silk ones in tones of blues and golds. A small notecard reads, The library thanks you for your service.
Your night is uneventful. When you awaken there is a tray of breakfast left at your door. At noon, as it has happened everyday for the last 600 years - even while the library was under attack in it's earlier days, the Canticle fills the Great Hall. Remember to add a +2 to INT based Rolls for the next 24 hours.
Once the Dean's singing ends he begins to speak.
We are expecting a distinguished guest at the library - Prince Ebberon himself of the Elves of Shimistra Forest.
The Dean casts a variation of a low level spell - the casters can determine it's the Prestidigitation Cantrip with a few extra flourishes. A golden Spotlight briefly lights up each member of the party - drawing the crowd's attention.
These six will be journeying to the Gates of Knowledge to await the Prince's arrival and escort him back to the library. We thank them for their service to the library and the Gods - Deneir and Oghma. May you you all be blessed with the Harmony of Knowledge.
The Dean is beaming, his smile rivaling Cadderly's - this is in sharp contrast to the worn and anxiety wrought features you have seen the last day. You realize he had left out the more ominous parts of prince's visit - you assume for fear of causing a panic at the library.
The 6 of you walk out to the manicured grounds of the Library. Many of the clergy come out to bid you farewell with much fanfare. The horses pull your wagon of supplies and you begin your walk down the road toward the gates of Knowledge. You were briefed the road is 5 miles long and you should reach your destination an hour before Dusk. The travel is slowgoing, even on the road as it's mostly mud and crisscrossed with streams from the Spring Melt.
OOC - what is the marching order ? ?
Ash was grateful to the library for feast and fine linens, but she found they were too soft for one who normally made camp in the wilderness. She slept on the floor, and found it's cool surface as peaceful and relaxing as a princess would find a feather bed. When she awoke, she adorned her crown, and clipped all of her personal weapons onto a leather belt, the great axe being slung over her back and fastened with more leather straps. Once downstairs, she found the group easy enough, and double checked her equipment. She kept a few apples from the feast and fed one to each of the horses as she waited for the others. She liked beasts, and there was an ease about her as she let one of the mares lick her scaly hand for the last of the sweet flavors. (OOC: If I need to animal handle let me know, but she's just treating them, not trying to get them to do stuff.)
Once the Dean and the clergy had given them their send off, Ash took the lead of the party. She could easily scout ahead if needed, and should trouble arise she wanted that trouble to taste her axes before the other's magic. "Let me take point," she said to the others, but hardly waited for permission. She walked on.
Pox takes number 2 spot, he can also scout ahead and stealth, if needed.
Merai will be 3rd. She is now dressed in scale mail armor under her robes, and carries a shield with the holy symbol of Deneir. (A candle over a stylized eye), and walks with her staff.
(OOC For animal handling in 5e, usually checks are only needed with trained animals if you are trying to get them to do something they ordinarily wouldn’t. - run towards a fire,, etc. in these cases it’s just a wisdom check if you aren’t proficient. But ordinary people who ride horses all the time don’t need proficiency in animal handling- they just might have difficulty getting a horse to behave in battle, etc)
OOC - Awesome So that will put Little Iron behind Merai, with Cadderly and Danica taking up the rear. You are all walking while the 2 horses pull the wagon of supplies.
As you leave the grounds along the dirt road you are greeted with beautiful scenic views of the mountains and forest. Although the sun shines through the trees, everything is still very wet. The road is well maintained, however, every 50 feet or so newly formed stream or mud crosses the path making the journey slow going as you slog through.
With these conditions it takes you roughly an hour to travel one mile.
You pass a few wagon merchants headed toward the library and a group of travelers as you journey. They are fearful at first of Ash, but seeing the clergy along with you wave and exchange pleasantries in passing.
You can tell you are nearing the end of the road (4 hours / 4 miles have passed) from the library. The overgrowth and forest leaks into the pathways and the road is no longer level - taking steep elevation changes that push your endurance. The horses neigh in protest as they pull the wagon through the terrain.
It is then that Ash and Pox round a tree and underbrush growing in the road and see the below scene:
The Merchant Wagon had been ransacked, that was certain. It was tipped over on its side and torn to pieces, parts of the wagon and ransacked merchant goods littered the ground. A horse lay dead, still strapped into it's bindings to pull the wagon nearby. A pained and gurgled groan escapes the main carriage debris and you see an elderly, human, merchant woman partially pinned beneath the remains of the carriage. She is covered in blood and severally beaten. Her arm reaches out for air and falls limp.
OOC - Please use this LINK to view the scene. I will use this methods for encounters. The X on the Google Sheet is Woman the H is the horse. We can dictate where people move using the Grid system "Pox moves to 5 M" for example. I will make the document editable if anyone wants to move it on the grid as well for visualization. The other bookkeeping part of running encounters is I am grouping turns together. The 4 Player characters, the two party NPCs and any other enemy will share a single initiative. I will take an average initiative of each group and do the rolls to save time / posts. This means when it's the 4 Party Players turn - you can each act in an order during that time to help move things along smoothly. (this was advice given on a PBP tip guide I read)
Ash witnessed the fallen wagon, and dying merchant, her lip curling in anger. She then looked to her companions. "We need a healer, quick," she stated, pointing towards the wreckage and dying merchant. "I'm going to look around to make sure this isn't some kind of trap." With that, Ash heads to the head of the stream (M5) and searches for signs of ambush. Ash pulled out her two smaller hand axes, holding one in each claw, just in case.
7 Perception untrained
Ash moves to the head of the stream. You don't see any signs of ambush, just the wreckage and the distraught merchant woman.
Cadderly fumbles for a healing potion from his pack and moves to join Ash in M6, standing in the shallow stream, his robes soaking up the water.
Oh my Deneir, that poor woman.
Danica moves forward to K5 searching for signs of trouble.
22 pox perception
9 owl Perception
7. Cure wounds:
Merai rushes to R6 and casts cure wounds on the woman, laying her hands on her forehead while saying a prayer . Merai’s owl watches for an ambush (passive perception 13)
Pox follows her while keeping an eye out for trouble
Pox passive perception 12
(OOC note- passive perception is a “floor” for perception rolls i believe, in 5e)
Merai and Cadderly are shoulder to shoulder as they rush across the small stream past Ash. Deneir's tenants to heal the injured pushing them forward to aid.
OOC - Nat 20. -- nice :)
Pox catches the gleam of silver cord laid in two identical 5 foot circles - Grid O6 and 07 He calls out a warning allowing the nimble elf Merai to land between the bounds of the two traps. Cadderly is not so nimble. He looks back at Pox's warning and lands in the center of the rope circle and is hoisted upside down into the air. The magical ambush holding him a few feet above the ground - his robes fall down and cover his head and revealing his lavender briefs he yelps like a dog with his tail stepped on.
A crossbow bolt comes from somewhere up in the trees in the Grid 7P area. It strikes Danica in the thigh and buries itself deep. She makes no noise as she pushes the bolt out the other side of her leg and limps toward the group. Merai you arrive at the elderly woman to cast your healing spell. You realize something is wrong as your hands go to push the woman's hair from her face, but can not grasp the gray wiry strands - discerning her appearance to be an illusion. She stand up - passing through the debris that had been pinning her the ground - also breaking the illusion of the debris and ransacked wagon - it takes on a transparent appearance. You see a bandit with a long sword standing within the illusionary carriage with a wide grin - He says "good work" as the elderly woman moves to X6.
OOC - Ok here goes initiative order. Remember when it's the PC's turn you can take your turns in any order. I averaged everyone's initiative bonus.We won't move on until everyone in that group takes their turn. I think I will also be rolling for saving throws so it saves time, but open to suggestions as I am experimenting.
The PCs - Merai, Pox, Ash, Little Iron
12
the NPCs - Cadderly and Danica
8
Others - The Bad Guys (most times)
16
Attack: 25 Damage: 9 fire bolt
“Preying on innocent travelers willing to help an old woman is not Good Work” cries Merai, and she shoots a fire bolt at the man in the carriage, and then closes up close to him, attempting to distract him while Pox moves in.
(per 5e rules, sneak attack works without advantage if another enemy is within 5e’)
Round 1
The elderly woman casts the web spell filling up the silver area on the Grid Map with a 20 X 20 cube.
Merai's Dex save to not be restrained Dex DC 13
21
Edit: Good!
The bandit walks up to you and and attacks with his sword.
To Hit: 21
Damage: 3
Player Turn!
Attack: 23 Damage: 9 rapier attack
plus 4 sneak attack damage if he hits
Pox moves in quickly to attack the same man, drawing his rapier and taking advantage at his shock at the firebolt to get a sneak attack in:
The bad guys go first in initiative - they got a surprise round because you were ambushed.
The web spell lands before it your turn. You nimbly avoid the sticky strands. Your firebolt spell hits the bandit, lighting the webs you are standing ablaze. OOC- you don't take any damage until the next turn before they burn away.
The bolt hurts him badly. he claws at his bubbling and sizzling flesh. "You wretched witch" he bellows
Pox moves in
OOC - OK next is either Ash or Little Iron
Pox sinks his sword into the man killing him.
The other will avenge me.
((5e combat rules ar different than pathfinder- take a look at the rules. Biggest difference is the advantage/disadvantage mechanic, movement rules, and provoking attacks of opportunity, but too many things to sum up here. There is a dice roller feature above these chat boxes- and a combat roller which will automatically help calculate crits, or we can use the sheets).
Bonus Action: Rage, Attacking recklessly.
9 First attack, advantage
7 First attack, advantage
24 Off hand attack
OOC: Not sure how AC's work. Do I hit? :(