This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
And here we go...
Initiative:
Soren 12
Burr 20
Giles 21
Zefla 18
Fiona Wachter 9
Ernst Larnak 20
??? 20
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PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * [Sound of Cork Popping] - Kenku - Lvl 3 Lore Bard - Everasil
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Zefla... she watches as Sorenmakes the decision to deal with these admitted allies to Count Strahd Von Zarovich right here and now. While she didn't choose this battle and may not desire to involve herself, nevertheless her acute sense of awareness and timing has left her in a position to make the first move.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * [Sound of Cork Popping] - Kenku - Lvl 3 Lore Bard - Everasil
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Burr continued walking toward the door, " And they were worried about me taking on the whole town...."
" Soren.....of course she's in league with the biggun everyone in power here is, thats the only way they get too stay in power. By greasing the palm of scarier people than themselves.......thats how 'civilisation' works."
" Now I won't deny its a corrupt and deeply fecked system....but its the one that folks who live under roofs live in."
" Let it go.......this is just going to make doing any good we can harder here...."
Zefla's mouth is hanging open as Soren makes his case and berates the old woman. She wonders in the back of her mind if this was the contact Strahd had planned with the vintner said it was surprising Strahd hadn't reached out to them yet.
As things reach their boiling point, Zefla has had enough. She stands to her full height, knocking her chair over and creating quite a clatter. "Soren! Even if this woman is in leagues with Strahd, which wow, I didn't make that connection, but I see what you mean and now we know, but that doesn't mean we attack! She has not provoked us or attacked us, this... if we killed her, how would we be any better? C'mon Burr is right, lets go find Ireena."
Her action is grabbing her weapons off the cart (figured that would take 6 seconds! lol)
Zeflaand Burrcontinue to attempt de-escalation - or at least disengagement, in Burr's case.
While that is happening, from somewhere overhead there is the sound of flapping, batlike wings. [??? - Readied Action ]
Inside the room, Fiona Wachter's manservant prepares for the worst from cover behind the chair. [Ernst Larnak - Readied Action ]
Zefla
???
Burr
Ernst Larnak
Soren
Giles
Fiona Wachter
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * [Sound of Cork Popping] - Kenku - Lvl 3 Lore Bard - Everasil
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Soren's face is pale with anger, his eyes wide and unblinking like a feral animal's. His voice is deathly quiet, uttered through teeth set on edge.
"It is not the same, Burr. The Baron, as heavy-handed and cruel as he is, is NOT a lackey of Strahd's, or Strahd would not ask us to free Ireena for him. Which is what you are aiming to do, by the way. Freeing Ireena for Strahd so he can get at her and control her mind, as we just heard. Who knows why the Baron has confined her. Also the entire town guard report to the Baron, not to Wachter, Burr, so your first comparison there is also far off the mark."
"Wachter is a lackey of Strahd, who instigated the attack on the Cathedral. He is the root cause of Father Lucien's murder, and of those who took refuge there. Wachter consorts with vampires, whatever invisible winged abomination lurks in this room ready to attack us, and who knows what else. She is literally issuing threats on Strahd's behalf to reduce Vallaki to a charnel house. Yet you think slaying her would NOT be better, Zefla? Should we have left the dark druids at Yester Hill alone too, because they did not directly attack us first?"
"And have you all forgotten? 'Wealthy woman. A staunch ally of the devil'?" (Soren does not mention Madame Eva by name as the source). "This is our chance. Why did we walk halfway around the lake for one clue but are unwilling to follow up here?"
Soren remains where he is. Both he and Nettle stay put and take the dodge action. The feeling of utter betrayal by those he thought were pack-mates he trusted shows plain on the druid's face. He looks to Giles, who has not yet spoken since hostilities became imminent.
Giles stands up and throws down his napkin on the table, retrieving his crossbow. He starts to load a bolt casually and calls out to Burr, “Hey Burr, come back in here a minute, with your maul if you please. I believe that Soren has sorted out something, dug up something that we need to look at. Zefla, you too. Apparently we aren't meant to have a nice dinner with WONDERFUL GRAVY(he says angrily), no, we have to deal with some ******** allied with the dark thing that lives up in that castle. Is that what I'm gettin from you Soren? Pardon me, if I'm a little slow on the uptick.” Pious and genteel Father Giles Is out the window. The one who grabs his crossbow is the alter personality with a murderous glint in his eye that you saw at Yester Hill, ready to move at a moments notice.
Giles squats down behind the table taking cover, readying an action to shoot any hostile, attacking enemies entering the room. (readied action)
Crossbow : (Nat 20!) 25 to hit, for 13 points of piercing damage.
"You mean to murder us?! You're mad! I had no hand in the church killings and you know it! Vilka, summon help!" Lady Wachter raises her cane in front of her body and cries out, "Master, shelter your loyal servant!" A faint glow passes over her for a moment. Then she slams shut the door again.
The servant screams as weapons are brandished. She runs out through a door on the far side of the parlor, beyond the fireplace.
Round 2!
Zefla
???
Burr
Ernst Larnak
Soren
Giles
Fiona Wachter
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * [Sound of Cork Popping] - Kenku - Lvl 3 Lore Bard - Everasil
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Burr looked toward the sound of Sorens voice and shook his head, " I have no idea what you think you've discovered......but we are all now going to be seen as guilty of this attempted murder when Vilka returns with the town guard.....so......."
He shook his head sadly and walked back inside, " So are we murdering the entire household or just an old woman?"
Burr has indeed forgotten pretty much everything Madame Eva said and doesn't recall it now when Soren alludes to it.
" Just so you know, this is losing us the opportunity to help anyone else...we'll go to the gallows for this."
" But it is what it is........uh, Vilka has left. Am I supposed to run down and butcher her in the street or are we just doing the one granny slaughter today?"
He leaned his maul up against the wall and moved along the front of the house when he got to the corner he looked around it and raised his Bloodspear ready to cast it at any who emerged from the windows on the side of the house.
"Don't look at us like that! We obviously hadn't come to that conclusion as you had... and those druids had attacked the winery before we got there. It is different!" Zefla having retrieved her weapons scowls and furrows her brows at Soren. She won't leave him to face anyone alone, she just hates how the situation has unfolded.
As Soren mentions the reading however, her face changes to a shocked look and her mouth a round O as it dawns on her what he means. "The Traitor." She shakes her head, "Obviously, no I didn't make the connection, but what do we do with her? I don't think killing her is the answer to get what we need?"
"Let's see if we can corner her." and the halfling moves to the West one square, then north to the door and opens it with her free action, and dodges with her action.
Zeflaadvances and opens the door, dodging from any incoming attack. No attack is forthcoming. She looks out into an empty room. It appears to be servant quarters. The furnishings in this room are bereft of imagination: four simple beds with equally austere wooden chests. Another door stands slightly ajar to the west, leading into a narrow hallway at the back of the house. The room doesn't appear to grant access to the room where Lady Wachter and her man servant are sequestered.
The flapping wings fall silent. [??? - Readied Action again]
Burrreluctantly circles the perimeter of the building toward one of the windows to guard against any would-be escapees.
Inside the den, you can hear a scraping sound on the carpet. It sounds like furniture is being moved around in the room.
Zefla
???
Burr
Ernst Larnak
Soren
Giles
Fiona Wachter
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * [Sound of Cork Popping] - Kenku - Lvl 3 Lore Bard - Everasil
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Soren bares his teeth and thinks. At this point, he first wants to kill whatever creature is invisible in the room with them first, then decide.
"She finally actually denies having a direct hand in the attack on the Cathedral, though ultimately Strahd is behind it and she is a willing, loyal servant of Strahd's. I have no idea why her being a 'granny' is a reason not to slay her, Burr. As if someone cannot be evil and dangerous by virtue of being old and female. And from what I saw in the square, I do not think the Baron will be angry at losing his rival, just as she herself plots to overthrow him."
He pauses, knowing the attack from the invisible foe is coming, but resigned to it. "I hear you, Zefla, though I still do not agree. Can you and the not-Father at least help me slay this invisible enemy in the room first?"
Nettledodges again. She flies (using Flyby) to look through the fireplace to see if the positions of Lady Wachter and her henchman (Ernst Larnak?) can be perceived through any gap. No direct line of sight needed for the spell Soren will use (see below), just knowledge of positions.
Soren begins casting a hostile spell (OOC: I assume the invisible enemy's attack or other action triggers here, prior to the spell finishing?)
Silvery-green moonlight seems to pierce both the surrounding fog and the ceiling of the Wachter house, directly upon the location of the invisible enemy, brilliant, yet dappled as if seen through a light evergreen canopy. Soren casts and concentrates on:
Moonbeam: on start of creature's turn, 9 radiant damage or 4 on successful DC14 CON Save. (OOC: *grumbles at dice rolls*).
IF the enemy has used their reaction for a readied action, Soren then moves depending on anything Nettle has found about the fireplace.
IF Nettle conveys telepathically that the fireplace connecting the rooms is enough to determine the position (not requiring true line of sight) of either Lady Wachter or Ernst Larnak, Soren moves E-->E-->NE and stoops low to take cover behind the southern couch.
However, IF Nettle lets him know the fireplace won't work for that, Soren moves 25' E and 5' S heading out the entrance to circle the house clockwise for a view through the outer windows (unless he remembers curtains being drawn? I think billowing fog was visible out most of the windows?
Either way, Nettle lands on his shoulder at the end (unless she was attacked and slain).
[Soren- your actions, though hostile, do not trigger the readied action from the hidden flying creature.]
[Giles- by the time your turn comes around, there is still no hostile creature visible in the dining room/parlor.]
[Burr- it occurs to me I don't know which corner of the house you intended to move toward. I put you on the west side of the house on the map. If you meant the east side, please advise.]
Soren, Nettleis able to share with you that there is line of sight, past the flames, through the fireplace into the parlor, and into the barricaded den. It is 2'x2' square opening, and at the moment no one is visible on the other side (Nettlecan just see a chair a small table, and a lot of empty room as it peeks through), but you would be able to see the occupants of the room if they were to move back and forth across the fireplace on the other side.
Silvery-green moonlight illuminates the room as Soren casts his spell. The ceiling above Sorenglows, as the cylinder of light stops just above his head.
[I believe the rules for a 5' radius AOE is that it can be targeted at a corner, impacting 4 squares.]
CON: 10
From above Soren, there is a sizzling sound. "Yowwee!"a small voice rasps.
Sorenthen moves to lurk behind one of the couches in the parlor and Nettlereturns to his shoulder.
Zefla
???
Burr
Ernst Larnak
Soren
Giles
Fiona Wachter
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * [Sound of Cork Popping] - Kenku - Lvl 3 Lore Bard - Everasil
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Giles sees no immediate target so he stands, saying to Zefla, “Are you chasing down Vilka?” He turns to Soren, saying “What’s our play here, Soren?” As he does so (free action), he grabs some more of the goose and dips it quickly in gravy, taking a bite, saying “Arrrgghhh. Dammit. So good….” Using his action, he casts his mage hand, and with a bonus action uses it to push the door open where Lady Wachter is (or pull it if it opens that way). As he’s doing so, he also says to Soren, “I think the Baron needs to know about our little Strahd enthusiast, what do you think? What would he do with her, I wonder? Put her in those stocks?” He focuses the mage hand on the door, hopefully pushing it open.
Telekinetic - Shove
As a bonus action, you can try to telekinetically shove one creature you can see within 30 ft. of you. The target must succeed on a STR save (DC 14) or be moved 5 ft. toward you or away from you. A creature can willingly fail this save.
[STR save 14(w/advantage due to unseen barricade on other side)]
Gilesgives the door a hard shove with his mage hand. It's much heavier than expected. It looks like it starts to open just a hair, but then is pushed back closed as the telekinetic shove runs out of juice.
From within the barricaded den, you hear Lady Wachter call out, "You'll never get away with this!"
Off-screen action and bonus action...
Soren, Gilesand Zeflafeel a low rumbling in their feet as the house begins to shake slightly. A dish displayed on a shelf in the parlor falls to the floor and shatters, and some of the knives and forks on the dining room table slowly meander across the surface as the vibrations continue.
From somewhere inside the house, you can still hear the sound of Vilka screaming hysterically.
Outside, Schroedinger's Burr is either at one corner, or the other.
Zefla
???
Burr
Ernst Larnak
Soren
Giles
Fiona Wachter
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * [Sound of Cork Popping] - Kenku - Lvl 3 Lore Bard - Everasil
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
"What don't you agree about? She's the traitor and has some sort of treasure, you think killing her will make it appear?" She sighs and starts heading for the door that Madame Watcher went behind.
When the place shakes, she looks to her friends, "What do you suppose that was??"
"Where did Burr run off to? He's better and forcing a door open!" and Zefla pushes her small body against the door with all her might.
Perhaps not ready for another attempt on the door so quickly, the man on the other side is overpowered. Zeflais able to push him back, along with plush smoking chair her had moved in front of the doorway. She sees the man from the festival plaza who had extended their invitation. He looks grim and panicked. Also inside the room, near the back window, is Lady Fiona.
At the same time, as she feels a tap on her shoulder. From above, a tiny figure materializes, gripping the ceiling and stabbing down at her with a scorpion tail. Her armor easily prevents any injury. Of the creature itself, invisible until this moment, it appears as if a pixie, a bat and an insect all contributed some genetics to the birth of an ugly, ugly infant.
No sooner has it appeared, then the moonlight of Soren'sspell burns it.
[It should have had a CON save with advantage when I rolled it before in post 1473... new roll is 12so still a failure.]
The magic seems to have gravely injured the little freak. It titters at Zeflaa litany of squeaky curses... and then it vanishes again, turning invisible. There is again the fluttering sound of batlike wings as it releases from the ceiling and flies away.
Zefla
???
Burr
Ernst Larnak
Soren
Giles
Fiona Wachter
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * [Sound of Cork Popping] - Kenku - Lvl 3 Lore Bard - Everasil
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
With a crash and a shattering of glass, Burrbursts through the front window of the den. [Athletics - Success!]
He has primed a powerful spear thrust at Lady Wachter, but he stumbles coming over top of the couch just inside the window, landing prone on the finished hardwood floor. [Acrobatics and Attack - Failure!]
Nevertheless, his stunning entrance, and the fact that they are surrounded, had made an impression on Lady Wachter's man servant.
Rather than attack Zeflaor Burr, Ernst Larnak disengages from Zefla, stepping back into the corner and dropping his dagger and hand crossbow. He throws up his hands and crouches low. "It's true, all of it!" he says. "The Lady, she has cast in her lot with the Devil. Spare me, and I'll bear witness for you in front of the Baron. I know all her secrets... I do."
Lady Wachter merely utters the word, "Worm."
Zefla
???
Burr
Ernst Larnak
Soren
Giles
Fiona Wachter
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * [Sound of Cork Popping] - Kenku - Lvl 3 Lore Bard - Everasil
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
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And here we go...
Initiative:
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * [Sound of Cork Popping] - Kenku - Lvl 3 Lore Bard - Everasil
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
[Woof... 3/7 rolls were natural 1s.]
Initiative:
Zefla... she watches as Soren makes the decision to deal with these admitted allies to Count Strahd Von Zarovich right here and now. While she didn't choose this battle and may not desire to involve herself, nevertheless her acute sense of awareness and timing has left her in a position to make the first move.
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * [Sound of Cork Popping] - Kenku - Lvl 3 Lore Bard - Everasil
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Burr continued walking toward the door, " And they were worried about me taking on the whole town...."
" Soren.....of course she's in league with the biggun everyone in power here is, thats the only way they get too stay in power. By greasing the palm of scarier people than themselves.......thats how 'civilisation' works."
" Now I won't deny its a corrupt and deeply fecked system....but its the one that folks who live under roofs live in."
" Let it go.......this is just going to make doing any good we can harder here...."
Zefla's mouth is hanging open as Soren makes his case and berates the old woman. She wonders in the back of her mind if this was the contact Strahd had planned with the vintner said it was surprising Strahd hadn't reached out to them yet.
As things reach their boiling point, Zefla has had enough. She stands to her full height, knocking her chair over and creating quite a clatter. "Soren! Even if this woman is in leagues with Strahd, which wow, I didn't make that connection, but I see what you mean and now we know, but that doesn't mean we attack! She has not provoked us or attacked us, this... if we killed her, how would we be any better? C'mon Burr is right, lets go find Ireena."
Her action is grabbing her weapons off the cart (figured that would take 6 seconds! lol)
Zefla and Burr continue to attempt de-escalation - or at least disengagement, in Burr's case.
While that is happening, from somewhere overhead there is the sound of flapping, batlike wings. [??? - Readied Action ]
Inside the room, Fiona Wachter's manservant prepares for the worst from cover behind the chair. [Ernst Larnak - Readied Action ]
Zefla???BurrErnst LarnakPC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * [Sound of Cork Popping] - Kenku - Lvl 3 Lore Bard - Everasil
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Soren's face is pale with anger, his eyes wide and unblinking like a feral animal's. His voice is deathly quiet, uttered through teeth set on edge.
"It is not the same, Burr. The Baron, as heavy-handed and cruel as he is, is NOT a lackey of Strahd's, or Strahd would not ask us to free Ireena for him. Which is what you are aiming to do, by the way. Freeing Ireena for Strahd so he can get at her and control her mind, as we just heard. Who knows why the Baron has confined her. Also the entire town guard report to the Baron, not to Wachter, Burr, so your first comparison there is also far off the mark."
"Wachter is a lackey of Strahd, who instigated the attack on the Cathedral. He is the root cause of Father Lucien's murder, and of those who took refuge there. Wachter consorts with vampires, whatever invisible winged abomination lurks in this room ready to attack us, and who knows what else. She is literally issuing threats on Strahd's behalf to reduce Vallaki to a charnel house. Yet you think slaying her would NOT be better, Zefla? Should we have left the dark druids at Yester Hill alone too, because they did not directly attack us first?"
"And have you all forgotten? 'Wealthy woman. A staunch ally of the devil'?" (Soren does not mention Madame Eva by name as the source). "This is our chance. Why did we walk halfway around the lake for one clue but are unwilling to follow up here?"
Soren remains where he is. Both he and Nettle stay put and take the dodge action. The feeling of utter betrayal by those he thought were pack-mates he trusted shows plain on the druid's face. He looks to Giles, who has not yet spoken since hostilities became imminent.
Mud(Paladin2):Frandal's Scourge/Inge(Barbarian1):Krayveneer's After the Fall/Seri(Cleric1/Sorcerer1):Uhtred's Windward Isles/Shin(Wizard2):Dimir_MTG's Surviving
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric3):Vos' Beyond the Veil/Soren(Druid4):Bartjeebus' Ravenloft/Nivi(Rogue3):Raiketsu's CoS/Lyra(Warlock2/Bard2):BlameItOnWinter's Will of the Ancients
Joren(Fighter5):NotDrizzt's Simple Request/Quyen(Adept1):Constance's Nentir Vale/Rel(Warlock2):Uhtred's Phandelver/Xarian(Fighter1/Wizard1):ShieldHero's Drakkenheim
Giles stands up and throws down his napkin on the table, retrieving his crossbow. He starts to load a bolt casually and calls out to Burr, “Hey Burr, come back in here a minute, with your maul if you please. I believe that Soren has sorted out something, dug up something that we need to look at. Zefla, you too. Apparently we aren't meant to have a nice dinner with WONDERFUL GRAVY (he says angrily), no, we have to deal with some ******** allied with the dark thing that lives up in that castle. Is that what I'm gettin from you Soren? Pardon me, if I'm a little slow on the uptick.” Pious and genteel Father Giles Is out the window. The one who grabs his crossbow is the alter personality with a murderous glint in his eye that you saw at Yester Hill, ready to move at a moments notice.
Giles squats down behind the table taking cover, readying an action to shoot any hostile, attacking enemies entering the room. (readied action)
Crossbow : (Nat 20!) 25 to hit, for 13 points of piercing damage.
"You mean to murder us?! You're mad! I had no hand in the church killings and you know it! Vilka, summon help!" Lady Wachter raises her cane in front of her body and cries out, "Master, shelter your loyal servant!" A faint glow passes over her for a moment. Then she slams shut the door again.
The servant screams as weapons are brandished. She runs out through a door on the far side of the parlor, beyond the fireplace.
Round 2!
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * [Sound of Cork Popping] - Kenku - Lvl 3 Lore Bard - Everasil
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Burr looked toward the sound of Sorens voice and shook his head, " I have no idea what you think you've discovered......but we are all now going to be seen as guilty of this attempted murder when Vilka returns with the town guard.....so......."
He shook his head sadly and walked back inside, " So are we murdering the entire household or just an old woman?"
Burr has indeed forgotten pretty much everything Madame Eva said and doesn't recall it now when Soren alludes to it.
" Just so you know, this is losing us the opportunity to help anyone else...we'll go to the gallows for this."
" But it is what it is........uh, Vilka has left. Am I supposed to run down and butcher her in the street or are we just doing the one granny slaughter today?"
He leaned his maul up against the wall and moved along the front of the house when he got to the corner he looked around it and raised his Bloodspear ready to cast it at any who emerged from the windows on the side of the house.
Bloodspear- Attack: 9 Damage: 6
"Don't look at us like that! We obviously hadn't come to that conclusion as you had... and those druids had attacked the winery before we got there. It is different!" Zefla having retrieved her weapons scowls and furrows her brows at Soren. She won't leave him to face anyone alone, she just hates how the situation has unfolded.
As Soren mentions the reading however, her face changes to a shocked look and her mouth a round O as it dawns on her what he means. "The Traitor." She shakes her head, "Obviously, no I didn't make the connection, but what do we do with her? I don't think killing her is the answer to get what we need?"
"Let's see if we can corner her." and the halfling moves to the West one square, then north to the door and opens it with her free action, and dodges with her action.
Zefla advances and opens the door, dodging from any incoming attack. No attack is forthcoming. She looks out into an empty room. It appears to be servant quarters. The furnishings in this room are bereft of imagination: four simple beds with equally austere wooden chests. Another door stands slightly ajar to the west, leading into a narrow hallway at the back of the house. The room doesn't appear to grant access to the room where Lady Wachter and her man servant are sequestered.
The flapping wings fall silent. [??? - Readied Action again]
Burr reluctantly circles the perimeter of the building toward one of the windows to guard against any would-be escapees.
Inside the den, you can hear a scraping sound on the carpet. It sounds like furniture is being moved around in the room.
Zefla???BurrErnst LarnakPC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * [Sound of Cork Popping] - Kenku - Lvl 3 Lore Bard - Everasil
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Soren bares his teeth and thinks. At this point, he first wants to kill whatever creature is invisible in the room with them first, then decide.
"She finally actually denies having a direct hand in the attack on the Cathedral, though ultimately Strahd is behind it and she is a willing, loyal servant of Strahd's. I have no idea why her being a 'granny' is a reason not to slay her, Burr. As if someone cannot be evil and dangerous by virtue of being old and female. And from what I saw in the square, I do not think the Baron will be angry at losing his rival, just as she herself plots to overthrow him."
He pauses, knowing the attack from the invisible foe is coming, but resigned to it. "I hear you, Zefla, though I still do not agree. Can you and the not-Father at least help me slay this invisible enemy in the room first?"
Nettle dodges again. She flies (using Flyby) to look through the fireplace to see if the positions of Lady Wachter and her henchman (Ernst Larnak?) can be perceived through any gap. No direct line of sight needed for the spell Soren will use (see below), just knowledge of positions.
Soren begins casting a hostile spell (OOC: I assume the invisible enemy's attack or other action triggers here, prior to the spell finishing?)
Silvery-green moonlight seems to pierce both the surrounding fog and the ceiling of the Wachter house, directly upon the location of the invisible enemy, brilliant, yet dappled as if seen through a light evergreen canopy. Soren casts and concentrates on:
Moonbeam: on start of creature's turn, 9 radiant damage or 4 on successful DC14 CON Save. (OOC: *grumbles at dice rolls*).
IF the enemy has used their reaction for a readied action, Soren then moves depending on anything Nettle has found about the fireplace.
IF Nettle conveys telepathically that the fireplace connecting the rooms is enough to determine the position (not requiring true line of sight) of either Lady Wachter or Ernst Larnak, Soren moves E-->E-->NE and stoops low to take cover behind the southern couch.
However, IF Nettle lets him know the fireplace won't work for that, Soren moves 25' E and 5' S heading out the entrance to circle the house clockwise for a view through the outer windows (unless he remembers curtains being drawn? I think billowing fog was visible out most of the windows?
Either way, Nettle lands on his shoulder at the end (unless she was attacked and slain).
Mud(Paladin2):Frandal's Scourge/Inge(Barbarian1):Krayveneer's After the Fall/Seri(Cleric1/Sorcerer1):Uhtred's Windward Isles/Shin(Wizard2):Dimir_MTG's Surviving
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric3):Vos' Beyond the Veil/Soren(Druid4):Bartjeebus' Ravenloft/Nivi(Rogue3):Raiketsu's CoS/Lyra(Warlock2/Bard2):BlameItOnWinter's Will of the Ancients
Joren(Fighter5):NotDrizzt's Simple Request/Quyen(Adept1):Constance's Nentir Vale/Rel(Warlock2):Uhtred's Phandelver/Xarian(Fighter1/Wizard1):ShieldHero's Drakkenheim
[Soren - your actions, though hostile, do not trigger the readied action from the hidden flying creature.]
[Giles - by the time your turn comes around, there is still no hostile creature visible in the dining room/parlor.]
[Burr - it occurs to me I don't know which corner of the house you intended to move toward. I put you on the west side of the house on the map. If you meant the east side, please advise.]
Soren, Nettle is able to share with you that there is line of sight, past the flames, through the fireplace into the parlor, and into the barricaded den. It is 2'x2' square opening, and at the moment no one is visible on the other side (Nettle can just see a chair a small table, and a lot of empty room as it peeks through), but you would be able to see the occupants of the room if they were to move back and forth across the fireplace on the other side.
Silvery-green moonlight illuminates the room as Soren casts his spell. The ceiling above Soren glows, as the cylinder of light stops just above his head.
[I believe the rules for a 5' radius AOE is that it can be targeted at a corner, impacting 4 squares.]
CON: 10
From above Soren, there is a sizzling sound. "Yowwee!" a small voice rasps.
Soren then moves to lurk behind one of the couches in the parlor and Nettle returns to his shoulder.
Zefla???BurrErnst LarnakSorenPC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * [Sound of Cork Popping] - Kenku - Lvl 3 Lore Bard - Everasil
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Giles sees no immediate target so he stands, saying to Zefla, “Are you chasing down Vilka?” He turns to Soren, saying “What’s our play here, Soren?” As he does so (free action), he grabs some more of the goose and dips it quickly in gravy, taking a bite, saying “Arrrgghhh. Dammit. So good….” Using his action, he casts his mage hand, and with a bonus action uses it to push the door open where Lady Wachter is (or pull it if it opens that way). As he’s doing so, he also says to Soren, “I think the Baron needs to know about our little Strahd enthusiast, what do you think? What would he do with her, I wonder? Put her in those stocks?” He focuses the mage hand on the door, hopefully pushing it open.
As a bonus action, you can try to telekinetically shove one creature you can see within 30 ft. of you. The target must succeed on a STR save (DC 14) or be moved 5 ft. toward you or away from you. A creature can willingly fail this save.
((Using this on the door))
[STR save 14 (w/advantage due to unseen barricade on other side)]
Giles gives the door a hard shove with his mage hand. It's much heavier than expected. It looks like it starts to open just a hair, but then is pushed back closed as the telekinetic shove runs out of juice.
From within the barricaded den, you hear Lady Wachter call out, "You'll never get away with this!"
Off-screen action and bonus action...
Soren, Giles and Zefla feel a low rumbling in their feet as the house begins to shake slightly. A dish displayed on a shelf in the parlor falls to the floor and shatters, and some of the knives and forks on the dining room table slowly meander across the surface as the vibrations continue.
From somewhere inside the house, you can still hear the sound of Vilka screaming hysterically.
Outside, Schroedinger's Burr is either at one corner, or the other.
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * [Sound of Cork Popping] - Kenku - Lvl 3 Lore Bard - Everasil
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
( Lefthand side, trying to get sight through the den window.)
"What don't you agree about? She's the traitor and has some sort of treasure, you think killing her will make it appear?" She sighs and starts heading for the door that Madame Watcher went behind.
When the place shakes, she looks to her friends, "What do you suppose that was??"
"Where did Burr run off to? He's better and forcing a door open!" and Zefla pushes her small body against the door with all her might.
Athletics: 16
[STR check w/advantage: 6]
Perhaps not ready for another attempt on the door so quickly, the man on the other side is overpowered. Zefla is able to push him back, along with plush smoking chair her had moved in front of the doorway. She sees the man from the festival plaza who had extended their invitation. He looks grim and panicked. Also inside the room, near the back window, is Lady Fiona.
At the same time, as she feels a tap on her shoulder. From above, a tiny figure materializes, gripping the ceiling and stabbing down at her with a scorpion tail. Her armor easily prevents any injury. Of the creature itself, invisible until this moment, it appears as if a pixie, a bat and an insect all contributed some genetics to the birth of an ugly, ugly infant.
No sooner has it appeared, then the moonlight of Soren's spell burns it.
[It should have had a CON save with advantage when I rolled it before in post 1473... new roll is 12 so still a failure.]
The magic seems to have gravely injured the little freak. It titters at Zefla a litany of squeaky curses... and then it vanishes again, turning invisible. There is again the fluttering sound of batlike wings as it releases from the ceiling and flies away.
Zefla???PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * [Sound of Cork Popping] - Kenku - Lvl 3 Lore Bard - Everasil
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Burr charges down the side of the house a leaps at the window attempting to smash through it and confront Lady Wachter with the Bloodspear.
( Not sure what's needed so here's a bunch of stuff to choose from-
BA-Rage.
Athletics- 16
Acrobatics- 8
Attack with the Blood spear on Lady Wachter- Attack: 8 Damage: 6
Intimidation- 15)
With a crash and a shattering of glass, Burr bursts through the front window of the den. [Athletics - Success!]
He has primed a powerful spear thrust at Lady Wachter, but he stumbles coming over top of the couch just inside the window, landing prone on the finished hardwood floor. [Acrobatics and Attack - Failure!]
Nevertheless, his stunning entrance, and the fact that they are surrounded, had made an impression on Lady Wachter's man servant.
Rather than attack Zefla or Burr, Ernst Larnak disengages from Zefla, stepping back into the corner and dropping his dagger and hand crossbow. He throws up his hands and crouches low. "It's true, all of it!" he says. "The Lady, she has cast in her lot with the Devil. Spare me, and I'll bear witness for you in front of the Baron. I know all her secrets... I do."
Lady Wachter merely utters the word, "Worm."
Zefla???BurrErnst LarnakPC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * [Sound of Cork Popping] - Kenku - Lvl 3 Lore Bard - Everasil
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War