Heavy is the Head - Campaign thread

Saoirse whispers back to Hemlock:

- I didn't know either. Village Tree was the tallest "building" I had ever seen so far. That can't be the home of just one artificer ... right?

The genasi notices the firbolg's frown when Lam speaks in a language that only he and Sha understad. She's sure the bugbear doesn't have a bad intention, but she does understand Hemlock's reaction. Maybe not the best of times to speak about it, anyway.

She begins moving silently, and when she hears Lam and Hemlock's heavy steps she tenses. They are still a bit far from the camp, so it is possible the group hasn't been heard, but she tries to listen for sounds coming their way while drawing Swordbreaker, just in case.

Sha’s stealth 8
guidance renewed for Saoirse 4

”Thank you my friends.”

"What was that?" A woman's voice barks. "Gordon, go check it out. I'm still trying to figure out this damn door. If it's more of those local upstarts, show 'em you mean business. Either scare them away, or skewer them, but let me keep working. Clark, you stay here with me." 

Saoirse can hear a person in armor grunt as they stand up, and the familiar sound of a javelin in a back holster. There is a smell of something freshly cooked, as well as smoke from herbs of the sort that are used in many minor magical rituals. There are three different people up there, and neither sound nor smell indicates more. You can't quite see them from where you are against the edge of a stone wall, but the one who stood up is probably moving towards the edge, where he'll be able to easily see Hemlock and Lam, at the very least. Sha is blending in pretty well with the dark stone - he might go unnoticed by an active eye if you're lucky, and probably wouldn't be noticed by a casual glance. Hemlock and Lam, however... they are not blending in well at all. 

https://www.owlbear.app/room/5nRs1L_uFdxM/HeavyistheHeadPBP

Saoirse turns to look at the rest and indicates what she's seen with silent gestures. Three persons in total, one coming their way.

"What to do", she thinks. They should turn back, and / or try to make a sound as if coming the opposite way to distract them. If only they could move away and knock the one approaching down, this would make things easier with the other two.

For the moment she begins to quietly back away, still grabbing her dagger firmly. 

Hemlock watches Saoirse gestures, seeing her hold up three fingers and pointing in the direction of the tower, then one finger motioning their way.

He speaks in druidic as quietly as he can, "Mae natur yn fy nghynorthwyo gyda sain skunk", whilst channeling his magic to first create the sound a skunk might make, as close to the rustling sound of the approaching person. He then does so again, "Mae natur yn fy nghynorthwyo ag arogl skunk", to cause the odour of a skunk to manifest in the spot the person is entering.

Action x 2: Cast Druidcraft

(OOC: If there is only time for one action as the person is coming too quickly he will make the smell appear)

When it seems clear that someone is coming, Lam goes dead silent and dead still. He places one hand, then the other on his Greataxe as he begins to pull it out, taking more time than usual in order to do it as silently as possible. He is on alert, pretty sure that if anyone is noticed it will be him, but not sure where he could go to change that.

There's a damned skunk over here, boss, nothing to worry about, but I'd rather get inside and away from the smell."

"That sounded bigger than a skunk. And they don't spray unless something spooks em, anyway, dingus. Get down there. Plug your nose if you have to. As for getting inside, like I told you, I'm working on it."

*Sigh* "Yes Ma'am."

The armored man moves closer to the stone ledge, and starts to laboriously climb down the rocks, scanning as he does. His eye catches brown fur. "Bugbear! Dammit Eliza, I thought you said that these woods were all fairies and elves and stuff." He drops the last few feet to the ground, a little heavily, but lands on his feet, already drawing his longsword, which he bangs against his shield. "Get out of here, brute. We have big weapons, and strong magic. Understand? I see you, no ambush. Go away." He bangs his sword against his shield again, trying to frighten you off. He hasn't noticed anyone else yet (rolled a 9).

"Diabhal...!" . The genasi curses to herself as she leans against the wall as much as she can to make her harder to be seen. 

Listening to what those mercenaries are saying, stoping whatever that Eliza is doing seems top priority. They themselves need a way into the tower, yes, but she's sure that the means by which these people intend to manage that will not be nice and appropriate ones.  Also, breaking into the tower the hard way doesn't seem the best option to find the Artificer - which hasn't socialized with anyone in years - in the most talkative of dispositions.

 She takes a look up the wall and then whispers to her friends:

- What if we try to climb up? But, we need a diversion ... - and she as she says this she looks at Lam arching her eyebrows, then tilting her head towards the south, and shrughing as if saying "you've already been seen, anyway".

Hemlock shrugs as his ruse with the skunk proves ineffective. He can't help but admire this Eliza's knowledge of skunks.

"Climbing up is one way, but they might come to help their companion if he gets embroiled in a fight with a bugbear? And that armoured fellow is being very rude to our friend", he whispers back, looking to Lam to see what their bugbear friend will choose to do. Fight or flight, the most basic of instincts.

He gets ready with some magic of his own, in case Lam chooses to fight.

Lam can only afford a quick glance to Saoirse to let her know he sees her. He doesn’t want to tip anyone off that he isn’t alone. He’ll play the part- which is easy, considering he hates the words this guy is saying and also the noise he’s making. He runs out of cover brandishing his greataxe and roars in frustration- frustration that he hopes will be interpreted as the failure of his ambush plan, and not at how rude this man is being right now, or at himself for letting himself be spotted. He runs a bit further south than needed, trying to steer clear of his friends, then rounds to engage the man. He roars, “I DON’T NEED AMBUSH.” He readies himself to let his instincts take over and attack if the man does not back down.

"AAH shit... I'm going to need some help down here guys! A little support fire? We've got a monster problem here. Bring it on, big fella. But I've got backup, and they've got the high ground."

"I got you Gordon. Be there in a second. Might be time for a pause there, Eliza." 

"Yeah, I hear it. Fine, maybe I'll have more luck after a little exercise. Be there in a second."

A fellow in leather armor appears above the ledge, holding a bow, and all attention is on Lam. Please roll initiative. (People other than Lam can still get surprise when they decide to attack - climbing up the stones is doable in a single round with a DC 14 athletics or acrobatics check, or in two rounds with a dc10 check. Less than 10, you'll make a noise and take longer. Sha can climb it in one round without a check, thanks to his tabaxi climbing speed.)

https://www.owlbear.app/room/5nRs1L_uFdxM/HeavyistheHeadPBP

(I think I've let everyone in who tried yesterday)

"Has he called Lam a monster?? What a bastard!". Saoirse frowns, angered, but says nothing as she climbs up with ease and hides to wait for the proper moment to act.

Hemlock crouches down and listens as the one calls Lam a monster, and his companion moves to assist. He is ready to engage at the earliest opportunity now.

Lam huffs as he is called a monster, and everyone gathers to attack him. This situation is not unfamiliar, but he has friends with him now, and he has a reason to do this. Holding his Greataxe, he is ready for battle.

Sha will definitely run straight up the wall and directly at Eliza, (using feline agility to get into melee range with her).  "Stand down that 'monster' is my friend!"

Eliza rushes to the edge of the ledge, and points a thin finger at Lam, the other hand holding a spellbook. "Flee" she commands. (Lam, make a wisdom saving throw DC 13). She is shocked to see Sha-Gravis standing at the base of the ledge, when he calls out in Lam's defense. When she looks at him, she notices Saoirse and Hemlock standing beside him. (You're first climbing the ledge when we get to your turn) "A tabaxi?! Who ever heard of one of the pride working with goblins and bugbears? This is our score, scram!"

It is Saoirse's Turn, and she is beginning a surprise round.

Turn order: (Surprise round for Saoirse, Hemlock, Sha-Gravis, against Clark and Gordon: Saoirse; Hemlock; Sha-Gravis, Then return to Saoirse and proceed according to turn order).

Eliza, Saoirse, Hemlock, Lam, Clark, Sha-Gravis, Gordon

https://www.owlbear.app/room/5nRs1L_uFdxM/HeavyistheHeadPBP

After she's spotted, Saoirse finishes climbing and moves as far as she can towards Eliza while she draws her rapier. As she does this, she touches its edge with a finger, and from the slight cut a few drops of blood cover the blade, which suddenly begins shedding bright light.

Saoirse shivers a little at the necrotic pain that comes along with the rite. The tattoos and fiery crackles in her ashen skin seem to burn brighter for a second.

Hemlock concentrates his gift, drawing in more of nature's power than he ever has before, and releases it all on the armoured individual they called Gordon. The armour he is wearing instantly becomes scorching hot.

He then backs away and looks for cover, having been spotted.

(Cleaning up a bit because of confusion around a surprise round: Sha, you can get in melee range with just movement. Do you also want to take an action? Lam, we'll process your turn after Saoirse and Hemlock's second turns in combat, which happen straight away because the surprise round was just the three of them. Pardon the confusion)

Gordon, Clark, and Eliza are stunned as the bugbear's diverse companions leap into action, especially as the fire genasi scales the cliff in nearly a single bound and her blade begins to glow; and the tabaxi runs unhindered up the cliff face and directly within melee range of their leader, Eliza. When the giant Firbolg moves along the stone edge and ducks behind a thick crumbled marble pillar, and causes Gordon's chainmail to begin to glow red-hot, the three of them scramble to react, but are slow enough to give our party a significant advantage. 

Sha-gravis 

Quote from HunterOrien>>

Sha will definitely run straight up the wall and directly at Eliza, (using feline agility to get into melee range with her).  "Stand down that 'monster' is my friend!”

Action Ready attack with Alptraum unless Eliza calls for a stand down.