The Will-o-Wisp leads Toska and Theldrin toward the north of the room. If Xanrym takes an action on the way he can absolutely interject.
As soon as the Will-o-Wisp starts to take Toska and Theldrin away, Xanrym moves up to Liarin and Avery to whisper: "I think that we've tricked the glowing spirit, but I don't think that it's a good idea to split up. Let's make sure that it shows them the right exit and that they can get the door open. Once they pass the mid-point, we'll follow. As soon as the door is open, I'll ask Theldrin whether Garath Primo is there on the other side. If so, maybe we can all get through so that I can make my case to Garath. If not, we can attack the glowing spirit and hopefully destroy it before Garath realizes that we're here."
When the Will-o-Wisp makes it to the north door, it stops and tells Theldrin to open it, as it has no way of doing so.
As the Will-o-Wisp reaches the center of the room with Theldrin and Toska, Xanrym tries to follow quietly, without attracting the Will-o-Wisp's attention.
Xanrym gestures for Liarin and Avery to follow too. I'm not sure whether Liarin we already have Asclepius with us, but if not, Xanrym would encourage her to summon the snake before following. He wants to make sure that they're within 30' of the Will-o-Wisp and north door when Theldrin and Toksa open the door.
Xanrym suggests that Avery ask Theldrin whether Garath Primo is on the other side of the door as soon as they open the door. Liarin should get ready to cast a spell to attack the Will-o-Wisp as soon as they confirm that Garath Primo isn't right there on the other side of the door. (Xanrym thinks that they should destroy the Will-o-Wisp, but he doesn't want to fight Garath and a Will-o-Wisp at the same time or give up their ruse too quickly if Garath is right there.)
Assuming that the Will-o-Wisp doesn't notice them while it's crossing the room to the door, here's Xanrym's action that round.
Movement: As above, moving 20' with stealth, probably trying to keep the column between him and the Will-o-Wisp as he moves toward the north door. Action: readyTrue Strike against the Will-o-Wisp with his crossbow. Trigger: he'll fire as soon as Theldrin or Toska confirms that Garath Primo is not on the other side of the open door. Attack the Will-o-Wisp, Crossbow, Light (80/320): 22, Damage: Unable to parse dice roll. (radiant)
"Ah, of course..." Theldrin responds, but takes a moment to adjust his pack as he approaches the door. He gives the Will-o-Wisp a nod and then slowly opens the door, looking intently to see what's on the other side.
Theldrin opens the door to another hallway, well built like the room you're in. It goes north 40ft to another open room with a large ornate stone door at the top. There is also a smaller wooden door directly to the west as you open the door. The Will-o-Wisp moves to take you all towards the north.
(OOC: I think Theldrin would need some sort of signal from the other party members that they want to attack, then he'd ideally be able to quickly close the door to prevent the Will-o-Wisp from exiting.)
(OOC: Hm. If Avery didn't ask Theldrin about Garath, then Xanrym will have to abandon his readied attack to speak up. He doesn't really plan to give any signal until he fires on the Will-o-Wisp, but he assumes that entering the room will quite probably draw the Will-o-Wisp back toward him and away from the door.)
As Theldrin opens the door, Xanrym (now in the middle of the room) lowers his crossbow and speaks up, asking the Will-o-Wisp, "Are you escorting them to Legate Primo? Should we just stay here to keep guard then?" He immediately looks past the Will-o-Wisp to Theldrin and Toska to ask, "Do you see Legate Garath Primo there?"
Also I would rule that Xanrym, having moved forward, can see that the next room does not have anyone visible in it. He could still fire his crossbow if he wanted.
Also I would rule that Xanrym, having moved forward, can see that the next room does not have anyone visible in it. He could still fire his crossbow if he wanted.
(OOC: Hm. Then he wouldn't need to ask Theldrin about it, so I modified the post above. But at this point, I guess it's fine: Avery seems to be hiding from the Will-o-Wisp, and Liarin decided to go in stealth mode. At this point, I'm kind of curious to see what response Xanrym gets from the pompous Will-o-Wisp when it realizes that he didn't leave and is now in the middle of the room. 😬)
The Will-o-Wisp's perception turns back and notices Xanrym standing there with crossbow in hand, Avery and Liarin either disappeared or hiding. With a new suspicion it it's voice it demands, "You will stay here. Who are you? What is your name? How do you serve her?"
The Will-o-Wisp's perception turns back and notices Xanrym standing there with crossbow in hand, Avery and Liarin either disappeared or hiding. With a new suspicion it it's voice it demands, "You will stay here. Who are you? What is your name? How do you serve her?"
Xanrym says, "Who am I? Who are you?! I take direction from the Naga's Teeth! I have helped them weed out Her weakest followers -- the ones who would run instead of giving their lives for Her. No one said anything about takin' orders from disembodied voice. Like I said, I'm supposed to take these two to Legate Primo, not to some self-important candle. I go where Jarvis sent me. What are you gonna do? Shine on me really bright?"
Xanrym's tone is blustery, but he shows some of his nervousness and uncertainty about the current situation. He just hopes to keep the Will-o-Wisp guessing about whether he's an impertinent cult member or a real enemy. As he talks, he backs up slowly, hoping to draw the Will-o-Wisp closer to him and away from the northern door. He moves straight south so that the column will hopefully continue to obscure Avery from the Will-o-Wisp if it moves toward him.
Deception16, minimum value from the Silver Tongue feature (OOC: Not sure whether he needs another skill check here. Much of this is true...from a certain point of view.)
Xanrym raises his crossbow slightly as though he's considering firing on the Will-o-Wisp. If his action is not taken up with talking to the Will-o-Wisp, he begins to readyVicious Mockery, casting it at the Will-o-Wisp if it follows him past the center of the room.
Movement: Backing up slowly to the south ~25' (until he backs into the south wall). Action: (If allowed) ready action to cast Vicious Mockery at the Will-o-Wisp WIS 14 save or it takes 4 (psychic) damage and has disadvantage on the next attack roll it makes before the end of its next turn. Trigger: as soon as the Will-o-Wisp crosses to the southern half of the room / south of the central column. Free Action: Talking to the Will-o-Wisp, acting scared / belligerent.
(OOC: I think that I again forgot to mention Xanrym's standard practice of performing a ritual casting of Comprehend Languages at the end of their last rest, just before they started down the stairs.)
If the Will-o-Wisp moves towards Xanrym and he sees the bard start to cast a spell, Theldrin springs into action. He quickly closes the door and fires off a [spell]Magic Missile[/spell[ burst at the Wisp.
The Will-o-Wisp leads Toska and Theldrin toward the north of the room. If Xanrym takes an action on the way he can absolutely interject.
When the Will-o-Wisp makes it to the north door, it stops and tells Theldrin to open it, as it has no way of doing so.
As soon as the Will-o-Wisp starts to take Toska and Theldrin away, Xanrym moves up to Liarin and Avery to whisper: "I think that we've tricked the glowing spirit, but I don't think that it's a good idea to split up. Let's make sure that it shows them the right exit and that they can get the door open. Once they pass the mid-point, we'll follow. As soon as the door is open, I'll ask Theldrin whether Garath Primo is there on the other side. If so, maybe we can all get through so that I can make my case to Garath. If not, we can attack the glowing spirit and hopefully destroy it before Garath realizes that we're here."
As the Will-o-Wisp reaches the center of the room with Theldrin and Toska, Xanrym tries to follow quietly, without attracting the Will-o-Wisp's attention.
Stealth: 25
Xanrym gestures for Liarin and Avery to follow too. I'm not sure whether Liarin we already have Asclepius with us, but if not, Xanrym would encourage her to summon the snake before following. He wants to make sure that they're within 30' of the Will-o-Wisp and north door when Theldrin and Toksa open the door.
Xanrym suggests that Avery ask Theldrin whether Garath Primo is on the other side of the door as soon as they open the door. Liarin should get ready to cast a spell to attack the Will-o-Wisp as soon as they confirm that Garath Primo isn't right there on the other side of the door. (Xanrym thinks that they should destroy the Will-o-Wisp, but he doesn't want to fight Garath and a Will-o-Wisp at the same time or give up their ruse too quickly if Garath is right there.)
Assuming that the Will-o-Wisp doesn't notice them while it's crossing the room to the door, here's Xanrym's action that round.
Movement: As above, moving 20' with stealth, probably trying to keep the column between him and the Will-o-Wisp as he moves toward the north door.
Action: ready True Strike against the Will-o-Wisp with his crossbow.
Trigger: he'll fire as soon as Theldrin or Toska confirms that Garath Primo is not on the other side of the open door.
Attack the Will-o-Wisp, Crossbow, Light (80/320): 22, Damage: Unable to parse dice roll. (radiant)
(Insight roll to see if Theldrin caught Xanrym's reference)
Insight: 19
"Ah, of course..." Theldrin responds, but takes a moment to adjust his pack as he approaches the door. He gives the Will-o-Wisp a nod and then slowly opens the door, looking intently to see what's on the other side.
Liarin dismisses the snake and gets out of view of the wisp, then shifts into the form of a rat and tries to sneak (squeak) after Theldrin and Toska.
Stealth: 14
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
Avery moves with stealth: 18
Theldrin opens the door to another hallway, well built like the room you're in. It goes north 40ft to another open room with a large ornate stone door at the top. There is also a smaller wooden door directly to the west as you open the door. The Will-o-Wisp moves to take you all towards the north.
(OOC: I think Theldrin would need some sort of signal from the other party members that they want to attack, then he'd ideally be able to quickly close the door to prevent the Will-o-Wisp from exiting.)
(OOC: Hm. If Avery didn't ask Theldrin about Garath, then Xanrym will have to abandon his readied attack to speak up. He doesn't really plan to give any signal until he fires on the Will-o-Wisp, but he assumes that entering the room will quite probably draw the Will-o-Wisp back toward him and away from the door.)
As Theldrin opens the door, Xanrym (now in the middle of the room) lowers his crossbow and speaks up, asking the Will-o-Wisp, "Are you escorting them to Legate Primo? Should we just stay here to keep guard then?"
He immediately looks past the Will-o-Wisp to Theldrin and Toska to ask, "Do you see Legate Garath Primo there?"DC 10 Arcana Roll for Theldrin: 7
Theldrin would definitely know that a Will-o-Wisp can move through doors.
Also I would rule that Xanrym, having moved forward, can see that the next room does not have anyone visible in it. He could still fire his crossbow if he wanted.
(OOC: Hm. Then he wouldn't need to ask Theldrin about it, so I modified the post above. But at this point, I guess it's fine: Avery seems to be hiding from the Will-o-Wisp, and Liarin decided to go in stealth mode. At this point, I'm kind of curious to see what response Xanrym gets from the pompous Will-o-Wisp when it realizes that he didn't leave and is now in the middle of the room. 😬)
The Will-o-Wisp's perception turns back and notices Xanrym standing there with crossbow in hand, Avery and Liarin either disappeared or hiding. With a new suspicion it it's voice it demands, "You will stay here. Who are you? What is your name? How do you serve her?"
Noting the suspicion coming from the Will-o-Wisp, Theldrin gets ready to attack as he waits to see what happens next.
Xanrym says, "Who am I? Who are you?! I take direction from the Naga's Teeth! I have helped them weed out Her weakest followers -- the ones who would run instead of giving their lives for Her. No one said anything about takin' orders from disembodied voice. Like I said, I'm supposed to take these two to Legate Primo, not to some self-important candle. I go where Jarvis sent me. What are you gonna do? Shine on me really bright?"
Xanrym's tone is blustery, but he shows some of his nervousness and uncertainty about the current situation. He just hopes to keep the Will-o-Wisp guessing about whether he's an impertinent cult member or a real enemy. As he talks, he backs up slowly, hoping to draw the Will-o-Wisp closer to him and away from the northern door. He moves straight south so that the column will hopefully continue to obscure Avery from the Will-o-Wisp if it moves toward him.
Deception 16, minimum value from the Silver Tongue feature
(OOC: Not sure whether he needs another skill check here. Much of this is true...from a certain point of view.)
Xanrym raises his crossbow slightly as though he's considering firing on the Will-o-Wisp. If his action is not taken up with talking to the Will-o-Wisp, he begins to ready Vicious Mockery, casting it at the Will-o-Wisp if it follows him past the center of the room.
Movement: Backing up slowly to the south ~25' (until he backs into the south wall).
Action: (If allowed) ready action to cast Vicious Mockery at the Will-o-Wisp
WIS 14 save or it takes 4 (psychic) damage and has disadvantage on the next attack roll it makes before the end of its next turn.
Trigger: as soon as the Will-o-Wisp crosses to the southern half of the room / south of the central column.
Free Action: Talking to the Will-o-Wisp, acting scared / belligerent.
Concentration: Comprehend Languages
(OOC: I think that I again forgot to mention Xanrym's standard practice of performing a ritual casting of Comprehend Languages at the end of their last rest, just before they started down the stairs.)
If the Will-o-Wisp moves towards Xanrym and he sees the bard start to cast a spell, Theldrin springs into action. He quickly closes the door and fires off a [spell]Magic Missile[/spell[ burst at the Wisp.
2
5
5
(OOC: not going to fix the typo: Magic Missile since the post had rolls in it)