Talon is very grateful for the strength of Le'gal's magic and feels the power they have given him. He sees Nox quickly transition into action mode and then looks at Bone and at Le'gal. He shrugs his shoulders and follows Nox and Grixx. "I'm only thinking about myself as well. Where am I going." He messages to Nox as he follows down the stairs.
The group goes through their morning preparations, whether it is indeed morning or not. The only exception is Nox, who rushes downstairs for a conversation with one of his winged companions. While coming to terms with Karwin's decision, those present receive Le'gal's blessings in the form of a few spells to prepare them for the day (two castings of Aid (7th and 6th level), and three castings of Death Ward (4th level)).
(@All: please refer tothe spoiler box in this post to see what spells your character has received and at what level. It all works as intended, except Nox left before receiving his Aid. Please reflect these buffs in your character sheets.)
Le'gal then settles down for a morning prayer (answers to Commune in the spoiler box below):
Question on giant's platform: Yes.
Question on the dwarf: Yes. (We'll assume Nox mentioned this quickly just before rushing downstairs for simplicity's sake.)
Question on original forms: Yes.
The rest of the group then begins to make their way downstairs. Nox is well ahead of everyone, but Talon is trying to reach him with a Message. You estimate Nox has a good 15 minutes on you (time to cast ritual etc.), but you've seen the tabaxi dash and then some, so you can't be sure.
(@Laserwhit: Please specify the message you are sending.)
NOX
You eventually reach the bottom of the tower about half an hour after leaving its top. The staircase is so long you suspect magic is at play (passive arcana coming into play here). You and your familiar reconnect with the Griffon. Your steed tell you nothing new, as it had plenty of time to tell you everything that it saw while you were making your way down the steps.
(@Palfatreos: I am retroactively correcting this as per the text of Find Greater Steed. You can't have different steeds bound to this summoning at the same time. I won't reroll the rolls I made with the Peryton stats, but from now on consider it a Griffon instead.)
You see the hallway it told you about. It goes straight for a good 80 or so feet, then it ends in a T-intersection. There is also a door to each side of this hallway (i.e. a total of four options of where to go next.) You hear footsteps approaching from beyond the T-intersection.
WHAT DO YOU DO, NOX?
WHAT IS EVERYONE ELSE DOING WHILE GOING DOWN THE TOWER?
Nox cast Invisibility on himself and stealthly 22 move toward the T-intersection while ordering his birds to stay at the stairs. He then silently opens the 4th door from the left.
Le'gal's eyes widen at the response. Though tempted to again perform the ritual, she tempered her excitement, and followed 15ft after the others. "Portent. The Dwarf. Keep alive. Potential Provisioner."She gestures to the sarcophagus full of goods (presumably carried strapped to either hers, Grixx, if not the Griffon's back at this point) by way of explination. Five minutes into the journey down the stairs, she hums a little tune, and before anyone knows it, she vanishes(Invisibility) as the tune fades out...
Talon notices those who are enhancing their stealth with spells and he will allow them to move in front of him, as much as he is aware. He falls back and hopes to be as quiet as possible. He stays in sight of Bone as he follows: Stealth - 10
(@All: The hallway Nox is starting to go down on simply has a door to the left an a door to the right before ending in a T-shaped intersection. There is no "4th door to the left." If the design is not clear, let me know.)
NOX
The tabaxi turns invisible and begins to quietly make his way down the hallway, towards the noise of footsteps. He plans to make it to the door on the left, but as soon as Nox begins walking that way he see a large man of light-bluish skin make a turn into the hallway from the right side of the T-intersection. Looking straight up the hallway, the tall figure begins to walk fast toward the staircase where Nox's birds are. He is followed by eight Armored Guards. The distance between this group of people and Nox is closing fast, as they are walking towards each other. It looks like they will cross paths before Nox can reach the left door.
Nox notices the large figure staring down at his winged friends at the base of the staircase and worries for them for a moment. The bluish man has unwrapped a large maul from his back and seems ready to use it. Then, once he is just 10 feet away from Nox (and 40 feet away from the Griffon and Owl), his gaze suddenly changes to stare down at the tabaxi. Mid-swing, he says: "Surprise Motherf...""I can see you, cat man!"
(@Palfatreos: This sort of counts as a surprise round (i.e. no reaction for you following this attack). They were ready for your approach and planned for it. The large guy can also see through your invisibility, so you won't be hiding from him on a straight hallway. On the bright side, the guards won't attack during this 'surprise round'.)
-> Maul (melee weapon attack with reach) vs. Nox: Attack: 20 Damage: 35 magical bludgeoning.
-> Nox's CON saving throw {DC 15}: 16.
-> Nox's concentration check on Invisibility {DC 17}: 19.
The heavy weapon lands on Nox's chest unleashing an excruciating agony, but the tabaxi instictively knows he avoided the worst part of it for now.
ROLLING FOR INITIATIVE:
Nox/Griffon/Owl: 19;
Tall Blueman: 19;
Armored Guards#1-4: 8;
Armored Guards#5-8: 4.
REST OF THE PARTY
DM's Screen:
15
The other five of you continue to descend as carefully as you can. At some point, you come across the landing/opening where you last fought the giants. Alerted by a rushing tabaxi and an owl, they too were prepared. Grixx passes the landing and continues downstairs, as do Bone and Le'gal after him. When Dredge and Talon pass by the landing, the two giants let our their Evil Eye attack, though both seem to be aiming at the dwarf and his louder footsteps.
-> Talon's CHA saving throw vs. Evil Eye {DC 17}: 26 - Talon takes 25 psychic damage (already halved due to successful save.)
-> Talon's CHA saving throw vs. Evil Eye {DC 17}: 24 - Talon takes another 34 psychic damage (already halved due to successful save.)
At this point the five of you need to decide whether to stop to fight the giants or keep going downstairs. If you stop to fight, we can roll for initiative.
Tall Blueman - 10 feet away from Nox, 40 feet away from winged companions;
Nox/Griffon/Owl - Nox is concentrating on Invisibility, winged companions are 30 feet away from Nox (at the staircase);
Armored Guards#1-4 - in a row behind Tall Blueman;
Armored Guards#5-8 - in a row behind other Armored Guards.
NOTE: The sort-of 'surprise round' is over as of the beginning of this initiative round.
NOTE: This is a fight in a straight, long hallway where most of the party is missing. We'll keep it simple and make it a theater-of-the-mind thing (i.e. no map).
(Tall Blueman has higher DEX than Nox, so he goes first.)
Catching the tabaxi offguard he tries to put up his shield but was to late and instead the brunt damage slams on his breastplate bending bit of his armor, Nox caught out bit of blood.
Reaction: Seeing the dwarf launching a second attack, this time succesfully launch shield infront him dropping his Invisibility. This make the dwarf maul bounce off in the air. Gaining +5 AC (24 total) until start of his next turn.
Nox turn The shield drop at the start of his turn.
Pissed Nox move 5 feet toward the dwarf and hit him with his rapier. Action: Attack: 17 Damage: 12 Attack: 25 Damage: 10 If an attack hit he'll activate Defensive Flourish (bard feat). 9 added damage on that attack and +AC (until start of Nox next turn).
Knowing he is outnumbered and the dwarf hit like a truck Nox doesn't want to face them alone. BA:misty step back to his birds. (he now 15 feet away from the birds)
Movement: The tabaxi run back upstair with everything he got 65 feet total (25 feet leftover from normal +30 feline agility +10 bard blade flourish)
Nox orders both birds telepathicly he tells the owl to get the party as for the griffon to protect his rearguard while retreating (staying close behind Nox facing the enemy.)
owl Fly up 5 feet and dash upstairs. griffon Follows behind Nox turns around raise his wings and make screeching sound trying to intimidate the guards.
The moment any sign of anguish emits from behind, Le'gal turns to the source and is upon it. She would not risk breaking her Invisibility, but she would intone a tersely spoken, "Ignore. Them." while trying to coax the dwarf along and out of sight of the room. "Creatures of Spite. Death. A blessing. End to Enslavement. Grant them not. The Cat. We focus. We move."At that, she pointedly keeps to the side to make sure that she is at the back of the proverbial bus.
She all but freezes at the distant sound of screeching below. Her nerves were stronger, and with a guttural growl she says, "Foolish Cat. Death Seeker. Double time."It need not be said. For knowing Grixx at least, the man was bound to go charging ahead for glory... dragging the others along behind him. Either way, she was ready to bring up rear while racing down the stairs after the others.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Dredge, at the first sounds of combat below, forgets all attempts at stealth and begins to move as quickly as possible down the hallway. As soon as he passes Grixx (should be within 30 feet), his form begins to ripple and shake before bursting into flames. The fire elemental lending him speed, he moves the rest of his possible movement before dashing to move a total of 100 feet down the staircase
Talon does NOT want to spend time dealing with these giants and begins to dash to help the situation at the bottom of the stairs once Le'gal says to go.
(@Palfatreos: There is no dwarf here. You are fighting a tall man with blueish skin tone. He is not a giant but may be around 13 feet tall.)
NOX VS. BLUEMAN
Nox steps closer to his assailant and quickly stabs him twice with his rapier. The muscular frame of the blueish man seems unfazed (Tall Blueman - CMD: 28). Nox then assumes a defensive stance and teleports away amid silvery mist. The tabaxi and his followers then retreat up the steps. (Nox is now 50 feet up the staircase, with the Owl far ahead of him at 115 feet up the staircase and the Griffon just behind him at 40 feet into it.)
The two sets of Armored Guards move forward at double pace, half of them being able to begin going up the steps. Those are the ones that manage to see the intimidating frame of the Griffon, but they seem to lack a sense of self-preservation, and do not feel threatened by the large creature. (One group of guards is 5 feet into the stairs, while the other is just at the threshold.)
END OF INITIATIVE ROUND 1
REST OF THE PARTY
(@Laserwhit: Are you sure you accounted for the damage correctly? It looks to me like you subtracted the saving throws instead of the damage rolls from your HP.)
The group begins to descend as fast as they can, ignoring the Deformed Giants in the movable platforms. Dredge turns into a Fire Elemental and leads the charge.
NOTE: I did some calculations and made more than a few simplifying assumptions. However, in order to keep this interesting for everyone while still keeping the "actions have consequences" theme in place, we'll just assume the other party members will be able to join the fight at different points depending on their dash speeds. Please check the spoiler box below.
I realize these distances/times don't necessarily make sense, so some degree of suspension of disbelief will be required here. My suggestion: just go with it and let me know if you can increase the speed with which you are moving downstairs so I can adjust the numbers below.
100 feet per turn: Dredge as a Fire Elemental will be able to join the fight at the top of initiative round 5.
80 feet per turn: Grixx will be able to join the fight at the top of initiative round 6.
60 feet per turn: Le'gal and Bone will be able to join the fight at the top of initiative round 7.
50 feet per turn: Talon will be able to join the fight at the top of initiative round 8.
Talon is very grateful for the strength of Le'gal's magic and feels the power they have given him. He sees Nox quickly transition into action mode and then looks at Bone and at Le'gal. He shrugs his shoulders and follows Nox and Grixx. "I'm only thinking about myself as well. Where am I going." He messages to Nox as he follows down the stairs.
Lot's of stuff ...
Dredge will accept the Aid without a word and the follow the others at a calmer pace.
Officially Joined the Expanded Signature Club
Will be on Hiatus: Currently Clear
Bone will look at Le'gal and mimic a "ding" sound and give a thumbs up.
Kandalou Dle'tan - Level 9 Githyanki Fighter (Champion) - Rrakkma PbP
The group goes through their morning preparations, whether it is indeed morning or not. The only exception is Nox, who rushes downstairs for a conversation with one of his winged companions. While coming to terms with Karwin's decision, those present receive Le'gal's blessings in the form of a few spells to prepare them for the day (two castings of Aid (7th and 6th level), and three castings of Death Ward (4th level)).
(@All: please refer tothe spoiler box in this post to see what spells your character has received and at what level. It all works as intended, except Nox left before receiving his Aid. Please reflect these buffs in your character sheets.)
Le'gal then settles down for a morning prayer (answers to Commune in the spoiler box below):
The rest of the group then begins to make their way downstairs. Nox is well ahead of everyone, but Talon is trying to reach him with a Message. You estimate Nox has a good 15 minutes on you (time to cast ritual etc.), but you've seen the tabaxi dash and then some, so you can't be sure.
(@Laserwhit: Please specify the message you are sending.)
NOX
You eventually reach the bottom of the tower about half an hour after leaving its top. The staircase is so long you suspect magic is at play (passive arcana coming into play here). You and your familiar reconnect with the Griffon. Your steed tell you nothing new, as it had plenty of time to tell you everything that it saw while you were making your way down the steps.
(@Palfatreos: I am retroactively correcting this as per the text of Find Greater Steed. You can't have different steeds bound to this summoning at the same time. I won't reroll the rolls I made with the Peryton stats, but from now on consider it a Griffon instead.)
You see the hallway it told you about. It goes straight for a good 80 or so feet, then it ends in a T-intersection. There is also a door to each side of this hallway (i.e. a total of four options of where to go next.) You hear footsteps approaching from beyond the T-intersection.
WHAT DO YOU DO, NOX?
WHAT IS EVERYONE ELSE DOING WHILE GOING DOWN THE TOWER?
Nox cast Invisibility on himself and stealthly 22 move toward the T-intersection while ordering his birds to stay at the stairs. He then silently opens the 4th door from the left.
Nox - Adult Oblex - The Trials
Jartrin Ephok - Dragonborn - Zanoliv
Bunol - Grim Angel - The Floating Lands of Goriate
As Grixx begins to descend the stairs he would like to make sure his feet are landing lightly on the stairs rather than crashing down.
Stealth Check: 17
Bone will follow Grixx, stealthily: 24. He will opt to stay about 15ft behind the lumbering barbarian, arrow nocked and ready.
Kandalou Dle'tan - Level 9 Githyanki Fighter (Champion) - Rrakkma PbP
Le'gal's eyes widen at the response. Though tempted to again perform the ritual, she tempered her excitement, and followed 15ft after the others. "Portent. The Dwarf. Keep alive. Potential Provisioner." She gestures to the sarcophagus full of goods (presumably carried strapped to either hers, Grixx, if not the Griffon's back at this point) by way of explination. Five minutes into the journey down the stairs, she hums a little tune, and before anyone knows it, she vanishes(Invisibility) as the tune fades out...
Stealth: 28.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Talon notices those who are enhancing their stealth with spells and he will allow them to move in front of him, as much as he is aware. He falls back and hopes to be as quiet as possible. He stays in sight of Bone as he follows: Stealth - 10
Lot's of stuff ...
Dredge will follow the others with Talon, hoping to keep his large frame as quiet as possible.
Stealth: 21
Officially Joined the Expanded Signature Club
Will be on Hiatus: Currently Clear
(@All: The hallway Nox is starting to go down on simply has a door to the left an a door to the right before ending in a T-shaped intersection. There is no "4th door to the left." If the design is not clear, let me know.)
NOX
The tabaxi turns invisible and begins to quietly make his way down the hallway, towards the noise of footsteps. He plans to make it to the door on the left, but as soon as Nox begins walking that way he see a large man of light-bluish skin make a turn into the hallway from the right side of the T-intersection. Looking straight up the hallway, the tall figure begins to walk fast toward the staircase where Nox's birds are. He is followed by eight Armored Guards. The distance between this group of people and Nox is closing fast, as they are walking towards each other. It looks like they will cross paths before Nox can reach the left door.
Nox notices the large figure staring down at his winged friends at the base of the staircase and worries for them for a moment. The bluish man has unwrapped a large maul from his back and seems ready to use it. Then, once he is just 10 feet away from Nox (and 40 feet away from the Griffon and Owl), his gaze suddenly changes to stare down at the tabaxi. Mid-swing, he says:
"Surprise Motherf...""I can see you, cat man!"(@Palfatreos: This sort of counts as a surprise round (i.e. no reaction for you following this attack). They were ready for your approach and planned for it. The large guy can also see through your invisibility, so you won't be hiding from him on a straight hallway. On the bright side, the guards won't attack during this 'surprise round'.)
-> Maul (melee weapon attack with reach) vs. Nox: Attack: 20 Damage: 35 magical bludgeoning.
-> Nox's CON saving throw {DC 15}: 16.
-> Nox's concentration check on Invisibility {DC 17}: 19.
The heavy weapon lands on Nox's chest unleashing an excruciating agony, but the tabaxi instictively knows he avoided the worst part of it for now.
ROLLING FOR INITIATIVE:
REST OF THE PARTY
DM's Screen:
15
The other five of you continue to descend as carefully as you can. At some point, you come across the landing/opening where you last fought the giants. Alerted by a rushing tabaxi and an owl, they too were prepared. Grixx passes the landing and continues downstairs, as do Bone and Le'gal after him. When Dredge and Talon pass by the landing, the two giants let our their Evil Eye attack, though both seem to be aiming at the dwarf and his louder footsteps.
-> Talon's CHA saving throw vs. Evil Eye {DC 17}: 26 - Talon takes 25 psychic damage (already halved due to successful save.)
-> Talon's CHA saving throw vs. Evil Eye {DC 17}: 24 - Talon takes another 34 psychic damage (already halved due to successful save.)
At this point the five of you need to decide whether to stop to fight the giants or keep going downstairs. If you stop to fight, we can roll for initiative.
NOTE: This is a fight in a straight, long hallway where most of the party is missing. We'll keep it simple and make it a theater-of-the-mind thing (i.e. no map).
(Tall Blueman has higher DEX than Nox, so he goes first.)
The tall man immediately swings his maul back after the first strike: "You triggered our Alarm, cat man. We were waiting for you. How naive..."
-> Maul (melee weapon attack with reach) vs. Nox: Attack: 24
Damage: 33 magical bludgeoning.-> Attack misses as Nox reacts with a protective Shield (reference).
-> Nox's CON saving throw {DC 15}: 10.-> Nox's concentration check on Invisibility {DC 17}: 22 - Nox is no longer invisible.Another strike of the maul, but luckily, also another avoidance of whatever the Tall Blueman has charged his gigantic weapon with.(Nox/Griffon/Owl are up next.)
(@Lerus got confused about the 4 options)
Catching the tabaxi offguard he tries to put up his shield but was to late and instead the brunt damage slams on his breastplate bending bit of his armor, Nox caught out bit of blood.
Reaction: Seeing the dwarf launching a second attack, this time succesfully launch shield infront him dropping his Invisibility. This make the dwarf maul bounce off in the air.
Gaining +5 AC (24 total) until start of his next turn.
Nox turn
The shield drop at the start of his turn.
Pissed Nox move 5 feet toward the dwarf and hit him with his rapier.
Action: Attack: 17 Damage: 12
Attack: 25 Damage: 10
If an attack hit he'll activate Defensive Flourish (bard feat). 9 added damage on that attack and +AC (until start of Nox next turn).
Knowing he is outnumbered and the dwarf hit like a truck Nox doesn't want to face them alone.
BA: misty step back to his birds. (he now 15 feet away from the birds)
Movement: The tabaxi run back upstair with everything he got 65 feet total (25 feet leftover from normal +30 feline agility +10 bard blade flourish)
Nox orders both birds telepathicly he tells the owl to get the party as for the griffon to protect his rearguard while retreating (staying close behind Nox facing the enemy.)
owl Fly up 5 feet and dash upstairs.
griffon Follows behind Nox turns around raise his wings and make screeching sound trying to intimidate the guards.
Nox - Adult Oblex - The Trials
Jartrin Ephok - Dragonborn - Zanoliv
Bunol - Grim Angel - The Floating Lands of Goriate
The moment any sign of anguish emits from behind, Le'gal turns to the source and is upon it. She would not risk breaking her Invisibility, but she would intone a tersely spoken, "Ignore. Them." while trying to coax the dwarf along and out of sight of the room. "Creatures of Spite. Death. A blessing. End to Enslavement. Grant them not. The Cat. We focus. We move." At that, she pointedly keeps to the side to make sure that she is at the back of the proverbial bus.
She all but freezes at the distant sound of screeching below. Her nerves were stronger, and with a guttural growl she says, "Foolish Cat. Death Seeker. Double time." It need not be said. For knowing Grixx at least, the man was bound to go charging ahead for glory... dragging the others along behind him. Either way, she was ready to bring up rear while racing down the stairs after the others.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Dredge, at the first sounds of combat below, forgets all attempts at stealth and begins to move as quickly as possible down the hallway. As soon as he passes Grixx (should be within 30 feet), his form begins to ripple and shake before bursting into flames. The fire elemental lending him speed, he moves the rest of his possible movement before dashing to move a total of 100 feet down the staircase
Officially Joined the Expanded Signature Club
Will be on Hiatus: Currently Clear
Talon does NOT want to spend time dealing with these giants and begins to dash to help the situation at the bottom of the stairs once Le'gal says to go.
Lot's of stuff ...
Grixx seeing Dredge burst into flames has a mixture of emotions.
He is shocked as he says, "What?! How is that possible?! How can he just turn into flames!"
Grixx charges forward after the flames. They take him back to his tribal days and make him bold.
"We will purge this place with fire!"
(@Palfatreos: There is no dwarf here. You are fighting a tall man with blueish skin tone. He is not a giant but may be around 13 feet tall.)
NOX VS. BLUEMAN
Nox steps closer to his assailant and quickly stabs him twice with his rapier. The muscular frame of the blueish man seems unfazed (Tall Blueman - CMD: 28). Nox then assumes a defensive stance and teleports away amid silvery mist. The tabaxi and his followers then retreat up the steps. (Nox is now 50 feet up the staircase, with the Owl far ahead of him at 115 feet up the staircase and the Griffon just behind him at 40 feet into it.)
The two sets of Armored Guards move forward at double pace, half of them being able to begin going up the steps. Those are the ones that manage to see the intimidating frame of the Griffon, but they seem to lack a sense of self-preservation, and do not feel threatened by the large creature. (One group of guards is 5 feet into the stairs, while the other is just at the threshold.)
END OF INITIATIVE ROUND 1
REST OF THE PARTY
(@Laserwhit: Are you sure you accounted for the damage correctly? It looks to me like you subtracted the saving throws instead of the damage rolls from your HP.)
The group begins to descend as fast as they can, ignoring the Deformed Giants in the movable platforms. Dredge turns into a Fire Elemental and leads the charge.
NOTE: I did some calculations and made more than a few simplifying assumptions. However, in order to keep this interesting for everyone while still keeping the "actions have consequences" theme in place, we'll just assume the other party members will be able to join the fight at different points depending on their dash speeds. Please check the spoiler box below.
I realize these distances/times don't necessarily make sense, so some degree of suspension of disbelief will be required here. My suggestion: just go with it and let me know if you can increase the speed with which you are moving downstairs so I can adjust the numbers below.
(Tall Blueman is up next.)