If we are going stealthy, Nodjeim will go stealthy: Nat 20 for a 27 total.
Nodjeim, once the target is pointed out, would use his speed to take a slightly different route up than the others. His goal would be to arrive at the same time but from a slightly different position so as not to all be bunched up in one place.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
We're doing one small murder-y thing for a bigger, better reason. The ends justify the means.
(Fair's fair, and since I did use the lowest of the gnolls' stealth rolls to determine surprise in the very first encounter, I'm afraid that I'm going to have to do the same here. Luckily, these gnolls all do have a -5 to passive perception beyond 60 feet due to the mountains blocking enough light this late in the day to make the whole place cast in dim light, so you might get away scot-free. We'll just see how the rest of these rolls go.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Silent like a shadow, Veldruk listened as his companions talked to the ogre. Maybe, he considered, the creature had heard when he suggested the use of fire and he didn’t want to draw further hostility. Patiance paid out as Threla and Evenly not only got confirmation that there was someone behind the gnolls but also got a direction. South. Down. Not that good of a sign as far as a drow who left the Underdark was concerned.
“I hope not.” The warlock answered the bard’s question. “She seems like a spellcaster, specially taking into consideration the whole crown-giving. Giantkin muscle on top of that would make our lives much harder.”
As they left the ruined village, he could not help but to feel like Bartusk was a loose end. Because of him the enemy was sure to know where to look for them. In the end he decided not to. Killing was no simple thing on the surface and, more importantly, there was no way of knowing when the allies coming to the ogre would arrive.
Chakka’s scouting was a welcome surprise and nodding his head Veldruk agreed with Nodjheim. It wasn’t like they had the materials to make a fire big enough to suffocate the living enemies in the cave. Blade in hand he tried to keep moving in front of the other dark elf, hoping that should a fight break he could draw the enemy attacks from her.
Notes: Veldruk is hopefully in front of Threla and ready to draw aggro. Stealth check (rolled in the campaign log): 9.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Evelyn follows the others, doing her best to remain quiet. She hangs back and looks for something to hide behind so that she can cast her spells from cover.
Stealth - 5
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Characters: Bryony Alderleaf - Lvl. 3 Halfling Rogue (Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk) ♦ Evelyn Drake - Lvl. 3 Human Wizard (Rule of Change) ♦ Aranea Kendrick - Lvl. 4 Human Warlock (Where the Cold Winds Blow) ♦ Elsenia Vesper - Lvl. 2 Shadar-kai Druid (Strixhaven)
You all proceed toward this cave. Olan moves up the cliff, skirting along the edge, bow drawn and approaching the cave's mouth while keeping overwatch on the rest of the group. Meanwhile, Nodjeim circles around a higher path, ready to slide down the edge at a moment's notice to aid the greater group. Evelyn holds back, while the other three creep together in a vague group.
All is going well, until Threla once again feels something welling up in her. The back of her neck prickles, as hairs that were not there before stand up. She snickers, which pierces through the hush. For a moment, everyone pauses. The silence screams. A moment passes. Another. It seems safe, and you begin creeping along... until Threla's leg spasms, and she trips over, landing hard against the side of the hill. Her hair is dusted with brown earth and a trickle of pebbles, as a few bits of the hill tumble to its base. Whatever happened to Threla during the last fight is certainly not cured, and seems to be getting worse.
Even worse that that, however, are the pair of doglike ears, perked up over the side of the hill above. It looks like Chakka missed one of the scouts. The scout, however, has not missed you.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Everyone except for Threla gets a surprise round against the scout at the top of this short hill! It's about 30 feet up, but both Olan and Nodjeim are level to it. Additionally, you are all hidden from the scout, and thus have all the benefits of that.
If you don't manage to kill the scout during this surprise round, I'll roll initiative, and you might still get the chance to kill it before it raises the alarm. If you use loud spells or attacks, you may risk attracting the attention of everyone else.
Finally, both Threla and Evelyn, roll me a Constitution Saving Throw, as this stressful situation triggers the strange laughing sickness you both seem to have contracted, though it's unclear how both of you got it.
Evelyn feels a strange urge to laugh as they encounter the scout. It's an odd and disturbing feeling, and she tries to quell it as best she can while focusing on taking out the scout.
Veldruk was never that much of a specialist in stealth and he felt less than confident on his ability to pass unnoticed there, with an unsheathed blade under so much light. Sure, it was dark enough that his eyes weren’t bothered by the sun, but it was still far clearer than his former home. The sound from behind offered release from this tension and so it was that he was strangely thankful.
“Get down.” He told Threla while moving between her and the scout. It was harder to hit a prone enemy with a ranged attack and the more protected their healer was the better. The warlock focused his sight on the enemy. “Get dead.”
Wishful thinking, said the voice of his mind as his lips whispered an arcane word. It would be far too good if the gnoll was knocked without alerting the rest of its band, but a man could dream. He waved his sword as if cutting the air, the motion so fluid that for a moment it looked like a dance. In the middle of the strike, a gray beam of crackling energy left the steel. A rudimentary spell but the most potent of them – Eldritch Blast. If flied strong and true, the Weave made into pure force through sheer will.
Notes: Not sure if I celebrate the second good roll in over a month (and a nat20 at that) or take this as a sign that we're all gonna die. Either way, Veldruk casts Eldritch Blast (Natural 20 [27] to hit, 12 [crit] force damage) on the scout.
The bolt of fire strikes the gnoll, who whines but does not go down, only for an arcing beam of eldritch energy to strike it in the throat. Smoke pours from its eyes, and it tumbles over the edge of the cliff, narrowly avoiding landing on top of Veldruk.
(Out of initiative. Stealth is not broken, you may continue onwards, but those who were revealed (Olan, Veldruk, Evelyn, and Threla) will have to hide again.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
(How long a trek was it here from last battle? Or rather, more importantly, did we take a short rest after that before here?)
Trying to be stealthy and unseen, Nodjeim mentally curses when he realizes there is an unseen scout. He's likely too far away to have heard the snickering and know what alerted the scout but it is obvious they've been alerted. Best to take them down quick and quietly if possible. Them being on different surfaces is problematic, even though at a similar height. The jump from one to the other is... Unsure. Best to attack at range instead of risking it. Grabbing a dart in either hand and moving to get as close as possible without making the jump, Nodjeim takes a moment to aim before throwing them one after the other. (Disadvantage due to long range for the attack...)
Dart Attack: (4 or 7)+7 for 11to hit and 6piercing damage Bonus Action Dart Attack: (8 or 16)+7 for 15 to hit and 7 piercing damage
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
We're doing one small murder-y thing for a bigger, better reason. The ends justify the means.
If we are going stealthy, Nodjeim will go stealthy: Nat 20 for a 27 total.
Nodjeim, once the target is pointed out, would use his speed to take a slightly different route up than the others. His goal would be to arrive at the same time but from a slightly different position so as not to all be bunched up in one place.
We're doing one small murder-y thing for a bigger, better reason. The ends justify the means.
-- Eleanor Shellstrop
(Fair's fair, and since I did use the lowest of the gnolls' stealth rolls to determine surprise in the very first encounter, I'm afraid that I'm going to have to do the same here. Luckily, these gnolls all do have a -5 to passive perception beyond 60 feet due to the mountains blocking enough light this late in the day to make the whole place cast in dim light, so you might get away scot-free. We'll just see how the rest of these rolls go.)
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Olan catches up to the rest of the group. He will use his usual tactic and move away to a fire from cover.
Stealth 18
Cunning Green-moss - Tiefling Barbarian Haj i Rae - Human Gloom Stalker Olan Fargrove - Elf Swashbuckler
Qal Joharge - Human Monk Nyli Bemblade - Gnome Thief
(Are Veldruk and Evelyn approaching too, or staying back?)
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Silent like a shadow, Veldruk listened as his companions talked to the ogre. Maybe, he considered, the creature had heard when he suggested the use of fire and he didn’t want to draw further hostility. Patiance paid out as Threla and Evenly not only got confirmation that there was someone behind the gnolls but also got a direction. South. Down. Not that good of a sign as far as a drow who left the Underdark was concerned.
“I hope not.” The warlock answered the bard’s question. “She seems like a spellcaster, specially taking into consideration the whole crown-giving. Giantkin muscle on top of that would make our lives much harder.”
As they left the ruined village, he could not help but to feel like Bartusk was a loose end. Because of him the enemy was sure to know where to look for them. In the end he decided not to. Killing was no simple thing on the surface and, more importantly, there was no way of knowing when the allies coming to the ogre would arrive.
Chakka’s scouting was a welcome surprise and nodding his head Veldruk agreed with Nodjheim. It wasn’t like they had the materials to make a fire big enough to suffocate the living enemies in the cave. Blade in hand he tried to keep moving in front of the other dark elf, hoping that should a fight break he could draw the enemy attacks from her.
Notes: Veldruk is hopefully in front of Threla and ready to draw aggro. Stealth check (rolled in the campaign log): 9.
(What's Evelyn doing?)
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
OOC: Threla is happy to stay behind the tanky guy.
Hi, I'm Raccoon_Master, The Rocket Raccoon/Trashcan Tactician (as appointed by Drummer). Pronouns They/Them/Theirs.
My Characters: Brormin the Crusher; Discovery the Keeper; Thea the Scoundrel; Jorvir the Weaver; Threlan, the Speaker; Zolya the Inspired; Penley the Devourer;
DMing: Dark God's Dread; Raccoon's Strixhaven, Dungeon of The Dead Mage
Join the Anything but the OGL 2.0 Thread!
EXTENDED SIGNATUR
(Sorry for the late response! Evelyn will hang back and take cover wherever she can.)
Characters: Bryony Alderleaf - Lvl. 3 Halfling Rogue (Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk) ♦ Evelyn Drake - Lvl. 3 Human Wizard (Rule of Change) ♦ Aranea Kendrick - Lvl. 4 Human Warlock (Where the Cold Winds Blow) ♦ Elsenia Vesper - Lvl. 2 Shadar-kai Druid (Strixhaven)
DMing: Curse of Strahd
Evelyn follows the others, doing her best to remain quiet. She hangs back and looks for something to hide behind so that she can cast her spells from cover.
Stealth - 5
Characters: Bryony Alderleaf - Lvl. 3 Halfling Rogue (Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk) ♦ Evelyn Drake - Lvl. 3 Human Wizard (Rule of Change) ♦ Aranea Kendrick - Lvl. 4 Human Warlock (Where the Cold Winds Blow) ♦ Elsenia Vesper - Lvl. 2 Shadar-kai Druid (Strixhaven)
DMing: Curse of Strahd
You all proceed toward this cave. Olan moves up the cliff, skirting along the edge, bow drawn and approaching the cave's mouth while keeping overwatch on the rest of the group. Meanwhile, Nodjeim circles around a higher path, ready to slide down the edge at a moment's notice to aid the greater group. Evelyn holds back, while the other three creep together in a vague group.
All is going well, until Threla once again feels something welling up in her. The back of her neck prickles, as hairs that were not there before stand up. She snickers, which pierces through the hush. For a moment, everyone pauses. The silence screams. A moment passes. Another. It seems safe, and you begin creeping along... until Threla's leg spasms, and she trips over, landing hard against the side of the hill. Her hair is dusted with brown earth and a trickle of pebbles, as a few bits of the hill tumble to its base. Whatever happened to Threla during the last fight is certainly not cured, and seems to be getting worse.
Even worse that that, however, are the pair of doglike ears, perked up over the side of the hill above. It looks like Chakka missed one of the scouts. The scout, however, has not missed you.
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Big Map:
Immediate Area:
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Everyone except for Threla gets a surprise round against the scout at the top of this short hill! It's about 30 feet up, but both Olan and Nodjeim are level to it. Additionally, you are all hidden from the scout, and thus have all the benefits of that.
If you don't manage to kill the scout during this surprise round, I'll roll initiative, and you might still get the chance to kill it before it raises the alarm. If you use loud spells or attacks, you may risk attracting the attention of everyone else.
Finally, both Threla and Evelyn, roll me a Constitution Saving Throw, as this stressful situation triggers the strange laughing sickness you both seem to have contracted, though it's unclear how both of you got it.
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Olan nocks an ordinary arrow and takes aim.
Attack: 15 Damage: 4
Sneak attack 7
Cunning Green-moss - Tiefling Barbarian Haj i Rae - Human Gloom Stalker Olan Fargrove - Elf Swashbuckler
Qal Joharge - Human Monk Nyli Bemblade - Gnome Thief
The arrow lands, hitting fast and hitting hard, but the scout yet lives.
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Evelyn feels a strange urge to laugh as they encounter the scout. It's an odd and disturbing feeling, and she tries to quell it as best she can while focusing on taking out the scout.
Con Save - 18
She unleashes a burst of fire at the scout.
Attack: 18 Damage: 3
Characters: Bryony Alderleaf - Lvl. 3 Halfling Rogue (Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk) ♦ Evelyn Drake - Lvl. 3 Human Wizard (Rule of Change) ♦ Aranea Kendrick - Lvl. 4 Human Warlock (Where the Cold Winds Blow) ♦ Elsenia Vesper - Lvl. 2 Shadar-kai Druid (Strixhaven)
DMing: Curse of Strahd
Veldruk was never that much of a specialist in stealth and he felt less than confident on his ability to pass unnoticed there, with an unsheathed blade under so much light. Sure, it was dark enough that his eyes weren’t bothered by the sun, but it was still far clearer than his former home. The sound from behind offered release from this tension and so it was that he was strangely thankful.
“Get down.” He told Threla while moving between her and the scout. It was harder to hit a prone enemy with a ranged attack and the more protected their healer was the better. The warlock focused his sight on the enemy. “Get dead.”
Wishful thinking, said the voice of his mind as his lips whispered an arcane word. It would be far too good if the gnoll was knocked without alerting the rest of its band, but a man could dream. He waved his sword as if cutting the air, the motion so fluid that for a moment it looked like a dance. In the middle of the strike, a gray beam of crackling energy left the steel. A rudimentary spell but the most potent of them – Eldritch Blast. If flied strong and true, the Weave made into pure force through sheer will.
Notes: Not sure if I celebrate the second good roll in over a month (and a nat20 at that) or take this as a sign that we're all gonna die. Either way, Veldruk casts Eldritch Blast (Natural 20 [27] to hit, 12 [crit] force damage) on the scout.
The bolt of fire strikes the gnoll, who whines but does not go down, only for an arcing beam of eldritch energy to strike it in the throat. Smoke pours from its eyes, and it tumbles over the edge of the cliff, narrowly avoiding landing on top of Veldruk.
(Out of initiative. Stealth is not broken, you may continue onwards, but those who were revealed (Olan, Veldruk, Evelyn, and Threla) will have to hide again.)
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
(How long a trek was it here from last battle? Or rather, more importantly, did we take a short rest after that before here?)
Trying to be stealthy and unseen, Nodjeim mentally curses when he realizes there is an unseen scout. He's likely too far away to have heard the snickering and know what alerted the scout but it is obvious they've been alerted. Best to take them down quick and quietly if possible. Them being on different surfaces is problematic, even though at a similar height. The jump from one to the other is... Unsure. Best to attack at range instead of risking it. Grabbing a dart in either hand and moving to get as close as possible without making the jump, Nodjeim takes a moment to aim before throwing them one after the other. (Disadvantage due to long range for the attack...)
Dart Attack: (4 or
7)+7 for 11 to hit and 6 piercing damageBonus Action Dart Attack: (8 or
16)+7 for 15 to hit and 7 piercing damageWe're doing one small murder-y thing for a bigger, better reason. The ends justify the means.
-- Eleanor Shellstrop
(I believe you guys never stated that you were resting, but if you would like you can choose to have taken a short rest between now and then)
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
((Nope, if it was short enough that a rest woulda been weird then no rest...))
We're doing one small murder-y thing for a bigger, better reason. The ends justify the means.
-- Eleanor Shellstrop