The archer smiles slightly, seeing the two approach. He backstrokes as far as he can in that moment, gaining distance from them. He's a little annoyed that he missed an injured beast, but nonetheless focuses to the task at hand. Casting his gaze instead on the uninjured raptor, he knocks another arrow. At the very least, he laments, approaching prey makes for easier targets. He draws his bowstring, holds, then releases, aiming between it's hungry little eyes...
Atax reveals himself after Euphemia and Shin converse with each other. “If this man can fight one of these raptors, we should try to help him.”
After a moment of hesitation, Atax says bluntly, “He might be a warrior more useful than the rest of you.” Atax gestures to the small folk with the last comment. You vaguely recall that folks like the towering lizardfolk before you tended to be very straightforward.
Silvana emerges from her hiding place as Shin and Euphemia chat. As Atax talks about the worth of them versus the unknown possible warrior she doesn't know what to say. In one hand he could be right, but in the other, it shouldn't matter? They were all stuck in this situation and she hoped that together they could find out a way to get out of it.
Damn it, I wish I could remember something. Anything!she shakes her head to rid herself of those thoughts and makes a decision, "C'mon, if anything, those creatures could make a could dinner." and she runs off after them attempting to stay quiet as she does.
Peering through the trees for any sign of what's going on in the jungle--or possibly the emergence of other predators--Euphemia is startled to see the goblin come disheveled out towards her. Oi, that's right, there was a goblin. I'd forgotten. A hazy memory starts to congeal in her mind, but it's difficult to grasp, consistently mostly of a gut-level tension and revulsion. The halfling feels quite sure that goblins have tried to stick her with pointy things in the past, though she can't remember details.
But as Shin introduces himself and his pet owl, Euphemia feels more than a little out of her depth. Sounds like some sort of scholar that lives way up in a wizard's tower with his big green nose buried in a book all day. Not her sort. No, not her sort at all. They had that sort back at Sunderpeak Abbey, a few of them, not wizards, of course, just scrawny old monks who seemed to live and breathe books... talking in big words all the time... I never understood their sort... eh, well, they never understood me either...Her eyes glaze over for a moment as the steamy jungle is replaced by the memory of another warm, lush, green place, much smaller, surrounded on all sides by the stone arches of the cloister and the snowy peaks of towering mountains. Euphemia blinks, and the jungle returns, along with the anxious, rushed face of the goblin.
Oh, right. Huh? Euphemia listens slowly to his rapid exposition of another person he's met back by the river, that was maybe already fighting part of the raptor pack. She listens, but a look of suspicion is beginning to glimmer on her face. This guy sure seems well-organized, knowing everything that's going on in the jungle. And I don't know anything. I can't remember anything. Who's the king here? Where do all these different people come from? Where's the nearest road? How far away are we from the nearest town? What's he talking about, topical magic?
Questions without answers pile up in her mind, and the halfling shakes her head, waving a hand. "Ah, nice to meet you, lad, er, Shin. My name's Euphemia. Begging your pardon, I thought it'd be a bonnie idea to make friends rather than try to fight all those critters... they're hunters, seems best like, and I'm sure not. Bad as they smell, I'd rather 'em thinking well of me. I'm awfully small, so as you are, and there's not a thing I can do otherwise to keep a beast like that from eating me in one bite..."
She hadn't quite gotten to her questions for the erudite goblin as Atax and Silvana emerge, but Atax's words only confirm the halfling's more immediate concerns. Somehow his comment strikes her as funny, but she doesn't dare laugh; she only smiles weakly at the enormous lizardfolk. "Aye, sounds like you've got it right. Big folk best stick together, eh?" And as Silvana seems to become very hungry and dash off after the battle sounds of the screeching raptors, she adds agreeably, "Seems like I'll suit meself and find a tree to climb. I think me poor stature wouldn't fare me well in such a scrape." Turning from Atax, Euphemia smiles at the goblin. He's strange too and she doesn't trust him either, but she feels at least a breath of camaraderie with someone as small as she is, even if he is a goblin. "Well met, Shin my lad, best of luck to you, eh? Don't know about your friend who didn't want any help, but you'll pardon me if I don't feel much like a we here with these big folk I only just met anyway, and not even knowin' who rules here, or where the people are, and what they think of each other, eh?"
With that, the halfling runs off towards the nearest tree that looks good and solid to climb, with well appointed branches that she could stay quietly in for a long time, if she needs to. When it quiets down, I'll start taking stock of things... the cat's right about one thing, we'll all need to eat at some point.
Shin grins up crookedly at the towering lizardfolk. Another acerbic anonymous humanoid.
"Indeed, scaled titan, the fellow by the river was useful and blunt. Like you. He will hold his own, as you likely will. Yet while I respect your utilitarian instincts for who is useful and who is not, consider that so far, the only useful one in this clearing has been neither you nor me. Rather my lady halfling here... Euphemia? Without her primal magic, you may have been a useful meal for the raptors. Plenty of meat on your bones unlike us little ones."
As the tabaxi archer runs off to fight the raptors before he can address her, loudly crashing through the foliage, Shin once again holds up the green gem in his arm and looks for it in the others. Is this thing making us all suicidal? The aquatic humanoid was at least protected by the river.
Briefly mumbling and humming in goblin, he summons a Mage Hand and puts a small, slightly mud-encrusted box in it that he had been holding as the arcane hand raises it up above reach. "Speaking of useful, a medical kit in case our feline friend takes a scratch or two dispatching the raptors."
As Euphemia speaks of there being no "we" between big and little folks and not knowing anything about this place, Shin nods excitedly at the latter. "Yes, I too seem to have little knowledge and memory, and this green gem in my... wait where are you...?" (But the halfling has already climbed the tree).
It is at this moment that Pinky-toe chimes in telepathically, the owl's mental voice a deadpan: Well would you look at that. Everyone's ditching you again, little goblin, just as that last party of adventurers did. It's almost as if you annoy them.
"Well," shrugs Shin ruefully, eying the lizardfolk, "Time to be useful, I suppose."
Pinky-toe continues to scout overhead and send telepathic warnings, and the Mage Hand scoots along above as well as Shin moves between hiding spots in the general direction that the raptors had gone back to the river, attempting to hide (Nimble Escape) periodically as he goes. Unfortunately, the goblin is not fully convinced himself of the wisdom of this course of action, and his attempts at stealth are as woefully inadequate as the tabaxi's had been.
Yes, most certainly suicidal. It's a green gem of suicide compulsion we have in each of our arms...
Pinky-toe'sPerception with advantage due to owls' Keen Hearing and Sight: 22 (rolled as Animal Handling - same +3 bonus). Shin'sStealth: 6 (Nat. 1)
Deciding that helping the man Shin met down at the river, the ragtag group of amnesiacs begin not-so-stealthily racing after the enraged raptors. As you begin weaving between trees and tripping over creeping roots and vines, the commotion you make causes several of the raptors to cast looks over their shoulders as they follow their alpha. Thankfully, they don't turn back and make a quick snack of all of you, but several look like they want to.
Even though you don't have time to appreciate your verdant surroundings as you stumble through undergrowth, the jungle is quite beautiful. Shafts of morning sunlight piercing the dense canopy overhead illuminate the faint jungle mist which hangs delicately upon the muggy air. The plant life is incredibly diverse: thick, curling moss clinging to every surface; tall, frilly ferns wave their fronds in a slight breeze blowing through the jungle; thick vines encrust the gargantuan trees that stretch for hundreds of feet into the sky. Patches of bamboo grow intermittently between the trees, trying to compete against the trees in their height. The jungle air is heavy with scents of moldering leaves, fragrant flowers, and decaying flesh wafting from the raptors as you pursue them. Up ahead and down a slight incline, you see the glimmer of sun reflecting off of water. You can barely make out two thrashing figures in the river, a raptor and humanoid figure.
KORINTH
As the voracious raptor nears Korinth, he launches an arrow at it. It crosses the short distance in barely a moment. It sinks into one of its yellow, reptilian eyes, and it whips its head back as it screams in pain. The sharp motion sprays thick, crimson blood through the air, some of it splattering on Korinth. It flails and gurgles as death takes hold of it, crimson tears weeping from its wounded eye. After thrashing around its death throes for a moment, it finally falls still. A stream of blood passes Korinth in the water as the river's current carries begins carrying the dead raptor downstream. He also notices that river downstream begins to widen and deepen, the silty river bottom dropping away. The raptor on the shore makes an odd, high-pitched whining and clicking as it sees its companion drift away lifeless. You can almost hear the hurt evident in its calls.
ACTIONS:
The wounded raptor takes the Dodge. The remaining raptors approach, almost breaking the tree line.
An idea crosses Korinth's mind. It's a bit crude, but it could work.
He draws an arrow, watching as trees and brush shake and shiver, indicating the approach of a storm in the shape of claws and death. He visualizes where the creatures will likely break through -- no special tricks. Just good old fashioned hunting experience. It's the only thing that would explain his abilities, up to this point. He must know how these creatures think, to a certain degree.
He pulls back, swimming to the other side of the river, or at least as far back as he can. He knocks his bow and aims. And waits. He won't have to wait long.
You quickly make it to the other bank of the river. Looking across the murky river, you catch glimpses of the raptors racing through the jungle towards you, and you're able to guess where they'll emerge moments before they burst through the tree line. The wounded raptor whines and chirps at the other raptors, and a raptor with orange plumage screeches across the river at you, its feathers flared similar to the way cats and dogs raise their hackles. Despite their aggression, none of them cross the river, though many of them look like they want to. The alpha stalks back and forth along the river, glaring and hissing at you as it does.
About thirty feet beyond the raptors and within the jungle, Korinth spots several humanoid figures crashing through the jungle towards him. He manages to spot the goblin from before among them. Perhaps he had gotten help?
Crashing through the jungle, Silvana tries to take in the situation of several raptors heading towards the river and the single humanoid in the river. From what she could see, he wasn't panicking which she found interesting. Maybe he was from here and know more than he let on? Though, that wasn't the impression she got from the goblin.
She decides to climb a nearby tree and secure a better vantage point. Once there, she pulls out her shortbow and finds one for a target. She sure knew she wasn't going to be one of their meals and aims for one close to her.
Attack: 24, Damage: 7
She then attempts to hide within the foliage of the tree
As soon as the raptors break the treeline, Korinth aims for the nearest -- one flanking the alpha -- and fires. Without waiting to see his result, he closes the flap on his quiver and dives, opting for the deeper waters. He hears a commotion from beneath the waves, but waits regardless. When whatever or whoever it is takes the raptors' attention, he'll quietly resurface a fair distance away and shoot from afar...
Who knows, he thinks, 'could be some sweet sights for these sore eyes among the other survivors. Heh heh.
With everybody running off, Atax snarls at Shin, and then quickly charges after the rest of the group. After dashing through the jungle, he spots the river the raptors were hesitant to cross. He spots a dead raptor floating downstream, and he’s glad that he decided to help the mysterious fellow across the river. He’s definitely going to be more useful than the others have proven so far.
Korinth drops another one of the raptors with his shot, the beast collapsing to the ground with a grunt as an arrow sprouts from its eye.
The other raptors roar as their pack member falls, and it looks like they’re about to dive into the river to follow Korinth, but another arrow sinks into one of them. That raptor squeals in pain, and they all whip around to find the their attacker. They don’t spot Silvana, but they do catch sight of everyone else. Back in her tree, Euphemia feels her spell break. One of her allies must have attacked the raptors.
Screeching, the raptors descend upon the ragtag group of survivors, teeth and claws flashing in the shafts of morning sunlight.
Donnyl lets out a cry as the raptors descend upon him. He screams in pain and terror as the raptors rip into him with a primal ferocity. His final screams fill the jungle with their pain and horror before death takes him.
Euphemia, settled in the tree, feels a great reach of quiet inside of her, but it's still too quiet outside, the birds still silent, the landscape tensely listening to the crashing of the strange people she just met through the jungle and the screeches of the raptors... and then a terrible scream rips through the jungle, wafting up from the river. It's a smaller-voiced scream, and Euphemia feels her heart squeeze in two. Oi, Archpaladin, that sounds like it could've been Donnyl... did he run off with the others? It all happened so fast... heart pounding, Euphemia glances around the branches of her tree, as if suddenly afraid of seeing birds with teeth perched there ready to take a few more chunks out of her.
Calm down, now. How did you get here? You don't remember, lass. But you've got a few things you can rely on. Animals are predictable things, even when they're ferocious hunters. I've got some strange use with me pipes, I remember a few songs... She absently fingers the holes on the chanter of her bagpipes. By the Invincible, I don't want to be alone out here, I'm too small, but all I've met is a cat and a lizard and a goblin... and a water person that sounds aggressive... that is, besides Donnyl, who... well...The halfling shakes her head slowly, bewildered. Tears sting at her eyes. It's all a bit much, isn't it? I would've liked to had a chance to talk more, and, scary as it was, it seemed like I was successfully makin' well with those raptors...
Euphemia slowly puts the chanter between her lips again and the bag under her arm, and the wail of the bagpipes breaks out again through the thick jungle. What was that tune again? After a few exploratory notes over the drone, she feels her fingers start to move in that familiar pattern, and she plays again the strange warbling tune she played that had created the magical link between her and the orange-feathered raptor.
Shin is alarmed at how far ahead the other three humanoids (not Euphemia) had ranged - how close they had gotten to the raptors as he he himself remained 60' back. That seems... sub-optimal, does it not, Pinky-toe?
Perhaps if you had shared my scouting with them you selfish tool, comes the telepathic reply from the bird.
Trying to ignore the worst of the mayhem in front of him, Shin shakes his head and sends the owl to take the help action against the closest raptor 60' away, granting Shin advantage on his attack. Pinky-toe uses her 60' fly speed and Flyby to avoid opportunity attacks and flies back up to the safety of the treetops closer to the goblin, continuing to keep an eye out for further threats.
Bonus Action: Shin begins humming a strange, haunting tune, far dissimilar from Euphemia's warbling music, and yet his steps quicken. He starts his bladesong: - His AC goes from 16 to 20. - His speed goes from 30' to 40'. - He has advantage on Acrobatics checks. - He has +7 instead of +3 on CON Saves to maintain concentration on spells (not that this will matter here).
Action: Ice forms on on the tips of the goblin's fingers and his song seems to crackle as a Ray of Frost shoots forth, grazing the nearest raptor, but perhaps more importantly, slowing its speed by 10' for a turn as Shin himself retreats.
Ray of Frost to hit closest raptor (60' range, with advantage from Pinky-toe'shelp): 14 Ray of Frost damage: 2 cold and target's move speed slowed by 10' for a turn.
Movement: Shin retreats 20' so he is 80' from the closes raptor. Pinky-toe flies in the shelter of branches near the tree-tops between Shin and the reptiles.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
After being bowled over Atax grimaces in pain as he feels the wound blossom across his chest. Atax growls and then pushes himself up to face off with the raptor. He can smell the stinking rot of the animal, and pulls out his knife holding it underhand. Atax lunges forward with the knife feeling the stickiness of the blood make the threadbare shirt stick to his scales.
Cringing as Donnyl is ripped to pieces, she sees Atax get hit as well but breathes a sigh of relief when he gets back up. Looking out over the raptors, she tries to determine which one is the worst for wear and to try and reduce their number. If she can't tell, she'll aim her bow at the one that is attacking Atax.
As Euphemia's distant melody washes through the jungle, Shin's bolt of frigid energy slams into one of the raptors attack Atax. It screeches in surprise as frost crystals spread across its numb muscles. Using its surprise to his advantage, Atax slashes upward with is knife, and an arc of crimson blood sprays through the air as the raptor's throat is slashed. The raptor collapses to the ground with a strained gurgle. The other raptor moves to take a bite out of the lizardman, but it drops to the ground as an arrow from Silvana up above pierces its head where spine meets skull.
Finishing off what remained of Donyl with a few last bites, the other raptors turn their attention to the rest of the group, their hungry eyes choosing their next victims. With a yowl, the alph and two others rush towards Atax, while the fourth raptor breaks off and rushes towards Shin. It probably saw the goblin's small size and thought he would make an excellent dessert.
Alpha attack on Atax
Bite Attack: 18 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll.. If it hits, Atax must succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Other raptor attacks on Atax
Bite Attack: 11 Damage: 7. If it hits, Atax must succeed on a DC 11 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Bite Attack: 13 Damage: 4. If it hits, Atax must succeed on a DC 11 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
KORINTH
After loosing his errant arrow, Korinth readies to fire another arrow, but he catches movement out of the corner of his eye. Looking downriver, he sees a spined sail cut through the water, evoking the thought of sharks at the sight of the fin. This fin, however, belonged to no shark. Instead, the head of a gargantuan reptilian monster bursts out of the water and clamps down on the floating corpse of the raptor. In a flurry of falling droplets, both Korinth and Pinky see that the newcomer is a colossal dinosaur. It faintly resembles the raptors you fight, but this beast is easily ten times larger than the ferocious creatures you currently engage with. Dark green in color, the dinosaur has a large, sail-like ridge of spines jutting from its back. It downs the raptor in a few bites, water cascading from its body as it turns its attention towards the sound of combat coming from the not-to-distant jungle shore. For now, it doesn't seem to notice Korinth.
As Pinky-toe relays both the arrival of the colossal, finned dinosaur to Shin, the owl dive-bombs the raptor that is chasing the goblin, flapping its wings in the raptor's face and taking the help action before continuing to fly up and further towards the treetops above and behind Shin with her 60' fly speed Flyby to avoid opportunity attack. The goblin himself lets out an theatrical sigh at the news. Always with the complications. A butterfly flaps its wings...
He retreats another 40' (increased speed due to Bladesong) back towards the clearing where Euphemia is up a tree. From 50' away, he looses a Ray of Frost directly into the face of the pursuing raptor before attempting to duck into the bushes to hide again (Nimble Escape).
Movement: Shin retreats 40' further away from raptor back towards Euphemia's clearing, ending up 50' from raptor.
Action: Shin sends a Ray of Frost at pursuing raptor, with advantage thanks to Pinky-toe'shelp. Ray of Frost to hit: 24 Ray of Frost damage: 8 cold Massive Damage! Raptor must make a DC15 CON Save or roll a d10 for System Shock effects. Movement reduction (no save): pursuing raptor's speed is also reduced from 40' to 30' on its next turn.
Bonus Action: 50' away now, Shin then dives into the bushes to hide (using goblins' Nimble Escape). ShinStealth to hide: 15
The archer smiles slightly, seeing the two approach. He backstrokes as far as he can in that moment, gaining distance from them. He's a little annoyed that he missed an injured beast, but nonetheless focuses to the task at hand. Casting his gaze instead on the uninjured raptor, he knocks another arrow. At the very least, he laments, approaching prey makes for easier targets. He draws his bowstring, holds, then releases, aiming between it's hungry little eyes...
Atax reveals himself after Euphemia and Shin converse with each other. “If this man can fight one of these raptors, we should try to help him.”
After a moment of hesitation, Atax says bluntly, “He might be a warrior more useful than the rest of you.” Atax gestures to the small folk with the last comment. You vaguely recall that folks like the towering lizardfolk before you tended to be very straightforward.
Silvana emerges from her hiding place as Shin and Euphemia chat. As Atax talks about the worth of them versus the unknown possible warrior she doesn't know what to say. In one hand he could be right, but in the other, it shouldn't matter? They were all stuck in this situation and she hoped that together they could find out a way to get out of it.
Damn it, I wish I could remember something. Anything! she shakes her head to rid herself of those thoughts and makes a decision, "C'mon, if anything, those creatures could make a could dinner." and she runs off after them attempting to stay quiet as she does.
Lol Nat 1 on stealth.
Peering through the trees for any sign of what's going on in the jungle--or possibly the emergence of other predators--Euphemia is startled to see the goblin come disheveled out towards her. Oi, that's right, there was a goblin. I'd forgotten. A hazy memory starts to congeal in her mind, but it's difficult to grasp, consistently mostly of a gut-level tension and revulsion. The halfling feels quite sure that goblins have tried to stick her with pointy things in the past, though she can't remember details.
But as Shin introduces himself and his pet owl, Euphemia feels more than a little out of her depth. Sounds like some sort of scholar that lives way up in a wizard's tower with his big green nose buried in a book all day. Not her sort. No, not her sort at all. They had that sort back at Sunderpeak Abbey, a few of them, not wizards, of course, just scrawny old monks who seemed to live and breathe books... talking in big words all the time... I never understood their sort... eh, well, they never understood me either... Her eyes glaze over for a moment as the steamy jungle is replaced by the memory of another warm, lush, green place, much smaller, surrounded on all sides by the stone arches of the cloister and the snowy peaks of towering mountains. Euphemia blinks, and the jungle returns, along with the anxious, rushed face of the goblin.
Oh, right. Huh? Euphemia listens slowly to his rapid exposition of another person he's met back by the river, that was maybe already fighting part of the raptor pack. She listens, but a look of suspicion is beginning to glimmer on her face. This guy sure seems well-organized, knowing everything that's going on in the jungle. And I don't know anything. I can't remember anything. Who's the king here? Where do all these different people come from? Where's the nearest road? How far away are we from the nearest town? What's he talking about, topical magic?
Questions without answers pile up in her mind, and the halfling shakes her head, waving a hand. "Ah, nice to meet you, lad, er, Shin. My name's Euphemia. Begging your pardon, I thought it'd be a bonnie idea to make friends rather than try to fight all those critters... they're hunters, seems best like, and I'm sure not. Bad as they smell, I'd rather 'em thinking well of me. I'm awfully small, so as you are, and there's not a thing I can do otherwise to keep a beast like that from eating me in one bite..."
She hadn't quite gotten to her questions for the erudite goblin as Atax and Silvana emerge, but Atax's words only confirm the halfling's more immediate concerns. Somehow his comment strikes her as funny, but she doesn't dare laugh; she only smiles weakly at the enormous lizardfolk. "Aye, sounds like you've got it right. Big folk best stick together, eh?" And as Silvana seems to become very hungry and dash off after the battle sounds of the screeching raptors, she adds agreeably, "Seems like I'll suit meself and find a tree to climb. I think me poor stature wouldn't fare me well in such a scrape." Turning from Atax, Euphemia smiles at the goblin. He's strange too and she doesn't trust him either, but she feels at least a breath of camaraderie with someone as small as she is, even if he is a goblin. "Well met, Shin my lad, best of luck to you, eh? Don't know about your friend who didn't want any help, but you'll pardon me if I don't feel much like a we here with these big folk I only just met anyway, and not even knowin' who rules here, or where the people are, and what they think of each other, eh?"
With that, the halfling runs off towards the nearest tree that looks good and solid to climb, with well appointed branches that she could stay quietly in for a long time, if she needs to. When it quiets down, I'll start taking stock of things... the cat's right about one thing, we'll all need to eat at some point.
Investigation: 10
Stealth: 17
Shin grins up crookedly at the towering lizardfolk. Another acerbic anonymous humanoid.
"Indeed, scaled titan, the fellow by the river was useful and blunt. Like you. He will hold his own, as you likely will. Yet while I respect your utilitarian instincts for who is useful and who is not, consider that so far, the only useful one in this clearing has been neither you nor me. Rather my lady halfling here... Euphemia? Without her primal magic, you may have been a useful meal for the raptors. Plenty of meat on your bones unlike us little ones."
As the tabaxi archer runs off to fight the raptors before he can address her, loudly crashing through the foliage, Shin once again holds up the green gem in his arm and looks for it in the others. Is this thing making us all suicidal? The aquatic humanoid was at least protected by the river.
Briefly mumbling and humming in goblin, he summons a Mage Hand and puts a small, slightly mud-encrusted box in it that he had been holding as the arcane hand raises it up above reach. "Speaking of useful, a medical kit in case our feline friend takes a scratch or two dispatching the raptors."
As Euphemia speaks of there being no "we" between big and little folks and not knowing anything about this place, Shin nods excitedly at the latter. "Yes, I too seem to have little knowledge and memory, and this green gem in my... wait where are you...?" (But the halfling has already climbed the tree).
It is at this moment that Pinky-toe chimes in telepathically, the owl's mental voice a deadpan: Well would you look at that. Everyone's ditching you again, little goblin, just as that last party of adventurers did. It's almost as if you annoy them.
"Well," shrugs Shin ruefully, eying the lizardfolk, "Time to be useful, I suppose."
Pinky-toe continues to scout overhead and send telepathic warnings, and the Mage Hand scoots along above as well as Shin moves between hiding spots in the general direction that the raptors had gone back to the river, attempting to hide (Nimble Escape) periodically as he goes. Unfortunately, the goblin is not fully convinced himself of the wisdom of this course of action, and his attempts at stealth are as woefully inadequate as the tabaxi's had been.
Yes, most certainly suicidal. It's a green gem of suicide compulsion we have in each of our arms...
Pinky-toe's Perception with advantage due to owls' Keen Hearing and Sight: 22 (rolled as Animal Handling - same +3 bonus).
Shin's Stealth: 6 (Nat. 1)
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
EVERYONE ELSE
Deciding that helping the man Shin met down at the river, the ragtag group of amnesiacs begin not-so-stealthily racing after the enraged raptors. As you begin weaving between trees and tripping over creeping roots and vines, the commotion you make causes several of the raptors to cast looks over their shoulders as they follow their alpha. Thankfully, they don't turn back and make a quick snack of all of you, but several look like they want to.
Even though you don't have time to appreciate your verdant surroundings as you stumble through undergrowth, the jungle is quite beautiful. Shafts of morning sunlight piercing the dense canopy overhead illuminate the faint jungle mist which hangs delicately upon the muggy air. The plant life is incredibly diverse: thick, curling moss clinging to every surface; tall, frilly ferns wave their fronds in a slight breeze blowing through the jungle; thick vines encrust the gargantuan trees that stretch for hundreds of feet into the sky. Patches of bamboo grow intermittently between the trees, trying to compete against the trees in their height. The jungle air is heavy with scents of moldering leaves, fragrant flowers, and decaying flesh wafting from the raptors as you pursue them. Up ahead and down a slight incline, you see the glimmer of sun reflecting off of water. You can barely make out two thrashing figures in the river, a raptor and humanoid figure.
KORINTH
As the voracious raptor nears Korinth, he launches an arrow at it. It crosses the short distance in barely a moment. It sinks into one of its yellow, reptilian eyes, and it whips its head back as it screams in pain. The sharp motion sprays thick, crimson blood through the air, some of it splattering on Korinth. It flails and gurgles as death takes hold of it, crimson tears weeping from its wounded eye. After thrashing around its death throes for a moment, it finally falls still. A stream of blood passes Korinth in the water as the river's current carries begins carrying the dead raptor downstream. He also notices that river downstream begins to widen and deepen, the silty river bottom dropping away. The raptor on the shore makes an odd, high-pitched whining and clicking as it sees its companion drift away lifeless. You can almost hear the hurt evident in its calls.
ACTIONS:
The wounded raptor takes the Dodge. The remaining raptors approach, almost breaking the tree line.
An idea crosses Korinth's mind. It's a bit crude, but it could work.
He draws an arrow, watching as trees and brush shake and shiver, indicating the approach of a storm in the shape of claws and death. He visualizes where the creatures will likely break through -- no special tricks. Just good old fashioned hunting experience. It's the only thing that would explain his abilities, up to this point. He must know how these creatures think, to a certain degree.
He pulls back, swimming to the other side of the river, or at least as far back as he can. He knocks his bow and aims. And waits. He won't have to wait long.
KORINTH
You quickly make it to the other bank of the river. Looking across the murky river, you catch glimpses of the raptors racing through the jungle towards you, and you're able to guess where they'll emerge moments before they burst through the tree line. The wounded raptor whines and chirps at the other raptors, and a raptor with orange plumage screeches across the river at you, its feathers flared similar to the way cats and dogs raise their hackles. Despite their aggression, none of them cross the river, though many of them look like they want to. The alpha stalks back and forth along the river, glaring and hissing at you as it does.
About thirty feet beyond the raptors and within the jungle, Korinth spots several humanoid figures crashing through the jungle towards him. He manages to spot the goblin from before among them. Perhaps he had gotten help?
Crashing through the jungle, Silvana tries to take in the situation of several raptors heading towards the river and the single humanoid in the river. From what she could see, he wasn't panicking which she found interesting. Maybe he was from here and know more than he let on? Though, that wasn't the impression she got from the goblin.
She decides to climb a nearby tree and secure a better vantage point. Once there, she pulls out her shortbow and finds one for a target. She sure knew she wasn't going to be one of their meals and aims for one close to her.
Attack: 24, Damage: 7
She then attempts to hide within the foliage of the tree
Stealth: 12
As soon as the raptors break the treeline, Korinth aims for the nearest -- one flanking the alpha -- and fires. Without waiting to see his result, he closes the flap on his quiver and dives, opting for the deeper waters. He hears a commotion from beneath the waves, but waits regardless. When whatever or whoever it is takes the raptors' attention, he'll quietly resurface a fair distance away and shoot from afar...
Who knows, he thinks, 'could be some sweet sights for these sore eyes among the other survivors. Heh heh.
With everybody running off, Atax snarls at Shin, and then quickly charges after the rest of the group. After dashing through the jungle, he spots the river the raptors were hesitant to cross. He spots a dead raptor floating downstream, and he’s glad that he decided to help the mysterious fellow across the river. He’s definitely going to be more useful than the others have proven so far.
EVERYONE
Korinth drops another one of the raptors with his shot, the beast collapsing to the ground with a grunt as an arrow sprouts from its eye.
The other raptors roar as their pack member falls, and it looks like they’re about to dive into the river to follow Korinth, but another arrow sinks into one of them. That raptor squeals in pain, and they all whip around to find the their attacker. They don’t spot Silvana, but they do catch sight of everyone else. Back in her tree, Euphemia feels her spell break. One of her allies must have attacked the raptors.
Screeching, the raptors descend upon the ragtag group of survivors, teeth and claws flashing in the shafts of morning sunlight.
Attacks on Atax:
Attack: 22 Damage: 10
Attack: 16 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll.
Attacks on Donnyl:
Attack: 6 Damage: 8
Attack: 23 Damage: 8
Attack: 10 Damage: 7
Attack: 18 Damage: 5
Donnyl lets out a cry as the raptors descend upon him. He screams in pain and terror as the raptors rip into him with a primal ferocity. His final screams fill the jungle with their pain and horror before death takes him.
Euphemia, settled in the tree, feels a great reach of quiet inside of her, but it's still too quiet outside, the birds still silent, the landscape tensely listening to the crashing of the strange people she just met through the jungle and the screeches of the raptors... and then a terrible scream rips through the jungle, wafting up from the river. It's a smaller-voiced scream, and Euphemia feels her heart squeeze in two. Oi, Archpaladin, that sounds like it could've been Donnyl... did he run off with the others? It all happened so fast... heart pounding, Euphemia glances around the branches of her tree, as if suddenly afraid of seeing birds with teeth perched there ready to take a few more chunks out of her.
Calm down, now. How did you get here? You don't remember, lass. But you've got a few things you can rely on. Animals are predictable things, even when they're ferocious hunters. I've got some strange use with me pipes, I remember a few songs... She absently fingers the holes on the chanter of her bagpipes. By the Invincible, I don't want to be alone out here, I'm too small, but all I've met is a cat and a lizard and a goblin... and a water person that sounds aggressive... that is, besides Donnyl, who... well... The halfling shakes her head slowly, bewildered. Tears sting at her eyes. It's all a bit much, isn't it? I would've liked to had a chance to talk more, and, scary as it was, it seemed like I was successfully makin' well with those raptors...
Euphemia slowly puts the chanter between her lips again and the bag under her arm, and the wail of the bagpipes breaks out again through the thick jungle. What was that tune again? After a few exploratory notes over the drone, she feels her fingers start to move in that familiar pattern, and she plays again the strange warbling tune she played that had created the magical link between her and the orange-feathered raptor.
Shin is alarmed at how far ahead the other three humanoids (not Euphemia) had ranged - how close they had gotten to the raptors as he he himself remained 60' back. That seems... sub-optimal, does it not, Pinky-toe?
Perhaps if you had shared my scouting with them you selfish tool, comes the telepathic reply from the bird.
Trying to ignore the worst of the mayhem in front of him, Shin shakes his head and sends the owl to take the help action against the closest raptor 60' away, granting Shin advantage on his attack. Pinky-toe uses her 60' fly speed and Flyby to avoid opportunity attacks and flies back up to the safety of the treetops closer to the goblin, continuing to keep an eye out for further threats.
Bonus Action:
Shin begins humming a strange, haunting tune, far dissimilar from Euphemia's warbling music, and yet his steps quicken. He starts his bladesong:
- His AC goes from 16 to 20.
- His speed goes from 30' to 40'.
- He has advantage on Acrobatics checks.
- He has +7 instead of +3 on CON Saves to maintain concentration on spells (not that this will matter here).
Action:
Ice forms on on the tips of the goblin's fingers and his song seems to crackle as a Ray of Frost shoots forth, grazing the nearest raptor, but perhaps more importantly, slowing its speed by 10' for a turn as Shin himself retreats.
Ray of Frost to hit closest raptor (60' range, with advantage from Pinky-toe's help): 14
Ray of Frost damage: 2 cold and target's move speed slowed by 10' for a turn.
Movement:
Shin retreats 20' so he is 80' from the closes raptor. Pinky-toe flies in the shelter of branches near the tree-tops between Shin and the reptiles.
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
After being bowled over Atax grimaces in pain as he feels the wound blossom across his chest. Atax growls and then pushes himself up to face off with the raptor. He can smell the stinking rot of the animal, and pulls out his knife holding it underhand. Atax lunges forward with the knife feeling the stickiness of the blood make the threadbare shirt stick to his scales.
Movement: Stands up, thus removing prone condition
Action: Attacks with knife one handed to gain dueling.
To hit: 16 Damage: 9
Cringing as Donnyl is ripped to pieces, she sees Atax get hit as well but breathes a sigh of relief when he gets back up. Looking out over the raptors, she tries to determine which one is the worst for wear and to try and reduce their number. If she can't tell, she'll aim her bow at the one that is attacking Atax.
Attack w/adv due to hiding: 19
Damage w/sneak attack: 12
She then attempts to hide once more.
Stealth: 27
Now a comfortable distance away, Korinth surfaces. Once more drawing his bow, his hand slips as he fires. The shot goes wide.
Damn.
As Euphemia's distant melody washes through the jungle, Shin's bolt of frigid energy slams into one of the raptors attack Atax. It screeches in surprise as frost crystals spread across its numb muscles. Using its surprise to his advantage, Atax slashes upward with is knife, and an arc of crimson blood sprays through the air as the raptor's throat is slashed. The raptor collapses to the ground with a strained gurgle. The other raptor moves to take a bite out of the lizardman, but it drops to the ground as an arrow from Silvana up above pierces its head where spine meets skull.
Finishing off what remained of Donyl with a few last bites, the other raptors turn their attention to the rest of the group, their hungry eyes choosing their next victims. With a yowl, the alph and two others rush towards Atax, while the fourth raptor breaks off and rushes towards Shin. It probably saw the goblin's small size and thought he would make an excellent dessert.
Alpha attack on Atax
Bite Attack: 18 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll.. If it hits, Atax must succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Other raptor attacks on Atax
Bite Attack: 11 Damage: 7. If it hits, Atax must succeed on a DC 11 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Bite Attack: 13 Damage: 4. If it hits, Atax must succeed on a DC 11 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
KORINTH
After loosing his errant arrow, Korinth readies to fire another arrow, but he catches movement out of the corner of his eye. Looking downriver, he sees a spined sail cut through the water, evoking the thought of sharks at the sight of the fin. This fin, however, belonged to no shark. Instead, the head of a gargantuan reptilian monster bursts out of the water and clamps down on the floating corpse of the raptor. In a flurry of falling droplets, both Korinth and Pinky see that the newcomer is a colossal dinosaur. It faintly resembles the raptors you fight, but this beast is easily ten times larger than the ferocious creatures you currently engage with. Dark green in color, the dinosaur has a large, sail-like ridge of spines jutting from its back. It downs the raptor in a few bites, water cascading from its body as it turns its attention towards the sound of combat coming from the not-to-distant jungle shore. For now, it doesn't seem to notice Korinth.
As Pinky-toe relays both the arrival of the colossal, finned dinosaur to Shin, the owl dive-bombs the raptor that is chasing the goblin, flapping its wings in the raptor's face and taking the help action before continuing to fly up and further towards the treetops above and behind Shin with her 60' fly speed Flyby to avoid opportunity attack. The goblin himself lets out an theatrical sigh at the news. Always with the complications. A butterfly flaps its wings...
He retreats another 40' (increased speed due to Bladesong) back towards the clearing where Euphemia is up a tree. From 50' away, he looses a Ray of Frost directly into the face of the pursuing raptor before attempting to duck into the bushes to hide again (Nimble Escape).
Movement: Shin retreats 40' further away from raptor back towards Euphemia's clearing, ending up 50' from raptor.
Action: Shin sends a Ray of Frost at pursuing raptor, with advantage thanks to Pinky-toe's help.
Ray of Frost to hit: 24
Ray of Frost damage: 8 cold
Massive Damage! Raptor must make a DC15 CON Save or roll a d10 for System Shock effects.
Movement reduction (no save): pursuing raptor's speed is also reduced from 40' to 30' on its next turn.
Bonus Action: 50' away now, Shin then dives into the bushes to hide (using goblins' Nimble Escape).
Shin Stealth to hide: 15
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