Drexon crawls as stealthily as possible in the direction Cob flew, whilst trying to throw off any pursuit by creating the sounds of a whispered conversation 30' in the other direction.
The conversation will appear to be between a number of people, whispering a little too loudly about staying hidden until the attacker comes a lot closer. He will include some snapping of branches in there as well.
Stealth (if allowed along with casting): 9+4=13 (+10 if Pass Without Trace is active) Movement: Crawls 22.5' after Cob
Cob keeps moving from tree to tree in the last direction of the rider. The rider is going to want to shoot from distance so Cob looks for denser undergrowth, bushes and trees that would force the rider to come closer to find them.
Stealth if needed: (5+3=8, or 18 if Pass Without Trace reaches Cob).
"Very well," the voice echoes once more when no answer comes. "So be it."
You catch a brief glimpse of the flaming mane of their steed and the unusual darkness cowling their entire figure, still in the northeastern direction. There is a gnarled bow on their hand and they are pointing it upwards before letting loose a green-tipped, green-feathered arrow. You can hear the sound of the arrow piercing the wind as it gets closer, but it strangely doesn't get anywhere near you. Instead, it flies toward a tree about 60 feet in front of Cob.
The arrow strikes a tree, piercing the thick bark and partially exiting on the other side. It is then that you realize that the arrow does not miss. The figure is deliberately aiming there. A piece of rope is dangling on the bark of the tree, severed by the arrow. From the root of the tree, a small crude ballista peeks out and releases its projectile toward you.
{{I need all three of you to make a Dex save as I'm assuming you are travelling toward the same direction that you somewhat form a line. Drexon, add 5 to the roll as you are prone. I'm assuming the others are walking as normal or kneeling, so add 3 to the roll. If you're also prone, add 5.}}
{{Updated position: Cob is 485 ft away from the figure. Drexon is 525 ft away from the figure, trailing 40 ft behind Cob. Eremoz is about the same, 525 ft away from the figure, trailing 40 ft behind Cob. Amber is still behind a tree 550 ft away from the figure.}}
Cob realizes what's going on too late to get out of the path before the ballista bolt launches their way. He does his best to jump up above the weapon. As he does, he flies up into the branches of the tree he's closest too, using the leaves to help obscure himself and then continues forward, flying from branch to branch, towards the next tree and the direction of the rider
Movement - 30' up into the tree
Action - Dash - 30' movement through the branches and leaves of the tree (looks like a pretty big tree so think this puts him still in the branches on the other side of the tree)
The large bolt of arrow blasts through the tree roots and heads straight toward Drexon and Eremoz. The impact of the shot destroys the ballista and damages the tree roots atop it.
Cob manages to dodge away, but the tree where the ballista is hidden leans to the side before it falls, threatening to fall onto him. He managed to fly at the last moment, but not without some injuries.
The ballista bolt strikes the tree where Drexon and Eremoz are taking cover. The tree shatters, spraying hundreds of sharp wood fragments. Eremoz manages to roll away and dash north, avoiding the brunt of it, but Drexon, who is prone on the ground beneath the tree, cannot dodge as quickly.
"And the prey runs," the voice echoes once more followed by a raspy chuckle. "Who to choose?"
A black arrow flies through the air again, this time from the east. It splits into two in the air as one heads straight toward Cob and the other heads toward Eremoz. Both of you can now see the flaming steed of the mysterious figure on the east, about 250 feet from Cob and about 300 feet from Eremoz.
Meanwhile, Amber has healed her wounds and is helping Drexon with his. She mutters a rhyme under her breath as she places her hands on Drexon's wound.
Drexon grunts in pain as the tree fragments rain down on him, causing him to choose to remain still for the moment. He is thankful for that choice when Amber comes and heals some of the damage.
"Thanks. Stay back, keep out of sight", he whispers to Amber.
He then grits his teeth, stands up and sprints towards the rider. Once more dropping to the ground behind cover.
"This jerk is really starting to annoy me", he sends into Cob's mind.
Movement: Half movement to stand, 17.5' towards the rider. Action: Dash 35' towards the rider, then drops prone
The combination of the tree exploding and a black arrow stabbing through his shoulder, Cob almost buckles and falls from the sky but he manages to right himself and stay airborne.
The horseman is still far too far away from Cob to do anything.
He looks to the east to see if he can stay in the remnants of the tree to provide some cover and moves 30’ across.
(If that gets him within 120’ of the horseman, he lets the eldritch energy ripple across the strings of his fiddle before unleashing in the rider’s direction: Eldritch Blast: Attack: 10 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll.
Eremoz changes direction towards the East. ”Always hiding and sneaking around. Damn cowards can’t just fight for what they want,” he mutters to himself. He continues quickly, but stops his all out sprint.
Cob wildly casts a blast toward where the rider is currently standing by, but it fizzles and loses its power before it can reach them. However, he notices something peculiar when the blast of energy passes across a tree. The blast appears to sever a previously invisible magical string. It seems that the rider is not someone they encounter by chance. The rider has been preparing the area and this very spot for an ambush. There may be more traps around, both magical and physical.
Another black arrow is unleashed from the rider's bow. This time, both arrows head toward Eremoz when it splits midair. Eremoz dodges the first one but cannot turn fast enough for the second one.
The rider tilts their head a little in curiosity and urges their steed to move before both of them vanish.
Rider 1st Attack: 19 to hit, 8 piercing to Eremoz Rider 2nd Attack: 11 to hit, misses Eremoz Bonus Action: Ethereal Jaunt
Seeing the rider disappear, Amber tries something. She noticed that the rider was wearing something peculiar, a blood-red viledrop flower. It is a flora not native to Vorgeris. Murmuring the name of the flower in Sylvan, she pulls a small metal rod and flicks the tip of the rod. A low inaudible hum echoes through the forest and, for a brief moment, she can perceive the blurry shape of the rider. She relays the general position of the rider to Drexon, but she is not sure if the rider can be attacked while they are in that state or if they are even still in the same position.
{{Sorry for disappearing. Easter weekend. Updated the map for the end of this round. Amber is pointing out where the rider generally is, but if you want to make an attack, make it with a disadvantage. Amber and you are not sure if an attack can hit the rider while they are in such a state of maybe-invisibility.}}
"The rider is directly east of Amber and myself, I think he is circling us, trying to get us separated. And I think he might have disappeared again, like the last time we fought riders like this. I do have a bit of a plan, be need to draw him closer somehow", Drexon says into Cob's mind.
He then repeats what he did before, standing up and rushing closer to the rider before dropping to the ground again. If he can do so behind cover even better.
Movement: Half movement to stand, 17.5' towards the rider. Action: Dash 35' towards the rider, then drops prone
Cob spins a little to target the general direction Drexon is pointing out. He moves through the tree branches in that general direction, keeping what cover he can before letting the eldritch energy build up across the strings of his fiddle. With a quick pluck of a string, an Eldritch Blast rips out from the branches towards where the rider might be.
Movement - 30' towards the rider
Action - (1+7) = 8 to hit (figured couldn't do worse than 1 so didn't roll the second roll for disadvantage (6+5) = 11 damage
Amber sees Cob's energy blast goes through the blurred form of the rider as if the rider is not even there. Once again, she relays what she has seen, including the fast gallops of the horse directly toward her and past Drexon. Wanting to gain a little distance, Amber backs away and moves behind a larger tree. The plants around her feet starts to flutter as she prepares a spell.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Cob stays still, biding his time for when the rider appears (if he does). He looks in the general direction of where Drexon describes the rider to be. He lets the eldritch energy build up on the strings of his fiddle, ready to let it go as soon as the rider is visible.
Drexon curses as Amber describes Cob's blast go right through the rider, and then that the rider has made a bee line right for her.
Turning around, he crawls along back twoards Amber as far as he can, and prepares to hit out at the rider's mind when he appears.
Movement: Crawls back towards Amber Action: ReadyMind Sliver - DC 15 Int Save or take 2 [psychic] damage and subtract 1d4 from the next saving throw it makes before the end of your next turn
Drexon ignores the voice, keeping his body low to the ground and finding whatever cover he can.
"Get down", he whispers to Eremoz, seeing his friend hit.
Initiative: 14+2=16
Cob initiative: 10
Drexon crawls as stealthily as possible in the direction Cob flew, whilst trying to throw off any pursuit by creating the sounds of a whispered conversation 30' in the other direction.
The conversation will appear to be between a number of people, whispering a little too loudly about staying hidden until the attacker comes a lot closer. He will include some snapping of branches in there as well.
Stealth (if allowed along with casting): 9+4=13 (+10 if Pass Without Trace is active)
Movement: Crawls 22.5' after Cob
Cob keeps moving from tree to tree in the last direction of the rider. The rider is going to want to shoot from distance so Cob looks for denser undergrowth, bushes and trees that would force the rider to come closer to find them.
Stealth if needed: (5+3=8, or 18 if Pass Without Trace reaches Cob).
Eremoz begins advancing on the rider, ducking behind the trees and brush.
Stealth: 18 (28 with Pass Without Trace)
"Very well," the voice echoes once more when no answer comes. "So be it."
You catch a brief glimpse of the flaming mane of their steed and the unusual darkness cowling their entire figure, still in the northeastern direction. There is a gnarled bow on their hand and they are pointing it upwards before letting loose a green-tipped, green-feathered arrow. You can hear the sound of the arrow piercing the wind as it gets closer, but it strangely doesn't get anywhere near you. Instead, it flies toward a tree about 60 feet in front of Cob.
The arrow strikes a tree, piercing the thick bark and partially exiting on the other side. It is then that you realize that the arrow does not miss. The figure is deliberately aiming there. A piece of rope is dangling on the bark of the tree, severed by the arrow. From the root of the tree, a small crude ballista peeks out and releases its projectile toward you.
{{I need all three of you to make a Dex save as I'm assuming you are travelling toward the same direction that you somewhat form a line. Drexon, add 5 to the roll as you are prone. I'm assuming the others are walking as normal or kneeling, so add 3 to the roll. If you're also prone, add 5.}}
{{Updated position: Cob is 485 ft away from the figure. Drexon is 525 ft away from the figure, trailing 40 ft behind Cob. Eremoz is about the same, 525 ft away from the figure, trailing 40 ft behind Cob. Amber is still behind a tree 550 ft away from the figure.}}
Cob Dex Save: 12
Cob realizes what's going on too late to get out of the path before the ballista bolt launches their way. He does his best to jump up above the weapon. As he does, he flies up into the branches of the tree he's closest too, using the leaves to help obscure himself and then continues forward, flying from branch to branch, towards the next tree and the direction of the rider
Movement - 30' up into the tree
Action - Dash - 30' movement through the branches and leaves of the tree (looks like a pretty big tree so think this puts him still in the branches on the other side of the tree)
Dex Save: 20+3=23
Eremoz attempts to dodge the incoming bolt. Splitting off from Drexon, he sprints straight North to the next chunk of trees and brush.
Movement + Dash - 70 feet
The large bolt of arrow blasts through the tree roots and heads straight toward Drexon and Eremoz. The impact of the shot destroys the ballista and damages the tree roots atop it.
Cob manages to dodge away, but the tree where the ballista is hidden leans to the side before it falls, threatening to fall onto him. He managed to fly at the last moment, but not without some injuries.
The ballista bolt strikes the tree where Drexon and Eremoz are taking cover. The tree shatters, spraying hundreds of sharp wood fragments. Eremoz manages to roll away and dash north, avoiding the brunt of it, but Drexon, who is prone on the ground beneath the tree, cannot dodge as quickly.
"And the prey runs," the voice echoes once more followed by a raspy chuckle. "Who to choose?"
A black arrow flies through the air again, this time from the east. It splits into two in the air as one heads straight toward Cob and the other heads toward Eremoz. Both of you can now see the flaming steed of the mysterious figure on the east, about 250 feet from Cob and about 300 feet from Eremoz.
Meanwhile, Amber has healed her wounds and is helping Drexon with his. She mutters a rhyme under her breath as she places her hands on Drexon's wound.
Drexon grunts in pain as the tree fragments rain down on him, causing him to choose to remain still for the moment. He is thankful for that choice when Amber comes and heals some of the damage.
"Thanks. Stay back, keep out of sight", he whispers to Amber.
He then grits his teeth, stands up and sprints towards the rider. Once more dropping to the ground behind cover.
"This jerk is really starting to annoy me", he sends into Cob's mind.
Movement: Half movement to stand, 17.5' towards the rider.
Action: Dash 35' towards the rider, then drops prone
The combination of the tree exploding and a black arrow stabbing through his shoulder, Cob almost buckles and falls from the sky but he manages to right himself and stay airborne.
The horseman is still far too far away from Cob to do anything.
He looks to the east to see if he can stay in the remnants of the tree to provide some cover and moves 30’ across.
(If that gets him within 120’ of the horseman, he lets the eldritch energy ripple across the strings of his fiddle before unleashing in the rider’s direction: Eldritch Blast: Attack: 10 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll.
Eremoz changes direction towards the East. ”Always hiding and sneaking around. Damn cowards can’t just fight for what they want,” he mutters to himself. He continues quickly, but stops his all out sprint.
Movement - 35 feet
Action - Dodge
Cob wildly casts a blast toward where the rider is currently standing by, but it fizzles and loses its power before it can reach them. However, he notices something peculiar when the blast of energy passes across a tree. The blast appears to sever a previously invisible magical string. It seems that the rider is not someone they encounter by chance. The rider has been preparing the area and this very spot for an ambush. There may be more traps around, both magical and physical.
Another black arrow is unleashed from the rider's bow. This time, both arrows head toward Eremoz when it splits midair. Eremoz dodges the first one but cannot turn fast enough for the second one.
The rider tilts their head a little in curiosity and urges their steed to move before both of them vanish.
Seeing the rider disappear, Amber tries something. She noticed that the rider was wearing something peculiar, a blood-red viledrop flower. It is a flora not native to Vorgeris. Murmuring the name of the flower in Sylvan, she pulls a small metal rod and flicks the tip of the rod. A low inaudible hum echoes through the forest and, for a brief moment, she can perceive the blurry shape of the rider. She relays the general position of the rider to Drexon, but she is not sure if the rider can be attacked while they are in that state or if they are even still in the same position.
{{Sorry for disappearing. Easter weekend. Updated the map for the end of this round. Amber is pointing out where the rider generally is, but if you want to make an attack, make it with a disadvantage. Amber and you are not sure if an attack can hit the rider while they are in such a state of maybe-invisibility.}}
"The rider is directly east of Amber and myself, I think he is circling us, trying to get us separated. And I think he might have disappeared again, like the last time we fought riders like this. I do have a bit of a plan, be need to draw him closer somehow", Drexon says into Cob's mind.
He then repeats what he did before, standing up and rushing closer to the rider before dropping to the ground again. If he can do so behind cover even better.
Movement: Half movement to stand, 17.5' towards the rider.
Action: Dash 35' towards the rider, then drops prone
Cob spins a little to target the general direction Drexon is pointing out. He moves through the tree branches in that general direction, keeping what cover he can before letting the eldritch energy build up across the strings of his fiddle. With a quick pluck of a string, an Eldritch Blast rips out from the branches towards where the rider might be.
Movement - 30' towards the rider
Action - (1+7) = 8 to hit (figured couldn't do worse than 1 so didn't roll the second roll for disadvantage (6+5) = 11 damage
Eremoz makes his way eastward, north of Cob. He pulls two hand axes from his belt and readies himself for another attack.
Movement - 35 feet East
Action - Dodge
Amber sees Cob's energy blast goes through the blurred form of the rider as if the rider is not even there. Once again, she relays what she has seen, including the fast gallops of the horse directly toward her and past Drexon. Wanting to gain a little distance, Amber backs away and moves behind a larger tree. The plants around her feet starts to flutter as she prepares a spell.
Cob stays still, biding his time for when the rider appears (if he does). He looks in the general direction of where Drexon describes the rider to be. He lets the eldritch energy build up on the strings of his fiddle, ready to let it go as soon as the rider is visible.
Cob Action - Ready - Eldritch Blast Attack: 21 Damage: 15
Drexon curses as Amber describes Cob's blast go right through the rider, and then that the rider has made a bee line right for her.
Turning around, he crawls along back twoards Amber as far as he can, and prepares to hit out at the rider's mind when he appears.
Movement: Crawls back towards Amber
Action: Ready Mind Sliver - DC 15 Int Save or take 2 [psychic] damage and subtract 1d4 from the next saving throw it makes before the end of your next turn
Eremoz begins backtracking to the Southeast, readying a handaxe to attack the rider.
Movement - 35 feet SE
Action - Ready Handaxe Attack for the rider appearing.
To hit: 16 Damage: 7