Fast forward about a month...life returns to normal. At least a new version of normal, where Sully has achieved a semblance of mastery over the spells you currently have selected. [I checked, and they all have only verbal and somatic components, with the exception of mage armor, which requires the leather you mentioned] He discovers fire bolt when he happens to use one of his old, familiar colorful phrases while moving his fingers in a certain way--pure coincidence that he happened to combine that well-worn expression while holding his arms, and wiggling his fingers in just the right way. He discovers acid splash while spitting a loogie while making a rude hand gesture. [if any of this is out-of-step with how you see Sully, then feel free to give me a corrected way that he discovered his ability to cast these spells by happenstance.]
One day, you wake to find yourself in a small, dark room. The last thing you remember was taking a walk at night alone, and then feeling a sharp pinch in your neck, and then feeling very dizzy. You're not sure how long ago that was. The room smells like musty, damp earth. With your darkvision, you see that the room is roughly 20 wide x 20 deep x 10 tall. There is a single, iron gate-like door. There are no windows. The temperature is cool, but not cold. You are in the room with just your clothes, nothing and no one else.
[Perception check to see what else you might hear/feel/smell/see. If you are trying to perceive anything in particular, please include that, in case I wouldn't otherwise think to mention it.]
[if any of this is out-of-step with how you see Sully, then feel free to give me a corrected way that he discovered his ability to cast these spells by happenstance.]
Sully is definitely a swearer while he works and definitely spits loogies.
“In all that’s Unspeakable, what sick sense of humor is this!?”
I would immediately look for something looking at me, am I being watched, is there a guard, eyes hiding in the dark. Also I’d probably rattle the door and listen for voices
As you are looking around the room, you see nothing indicating that you are being watched. It may be surprising to you how well you can see in here, though. There are no light sources at all, yet you can still see just as well as you could in the candle light back in the shop. The only sounds you hear are your own breath, and your occasional heart beat.
When you start rattling the door, you hear a voice coming from outside the room, somewhere to the right. The voice is not whispering, but it is somewhat lowered, as if trying not to project too far. The voice sounds male. "Getting their attention is not a good idea."
[due to the format we're using, if you anticipate a skill check, go ahead and give it to me, so we can cut out a round of back and forth. If you are unsure which would be appropriate, go ahead and give me multiples. If I decide a skill check was unnecessary, I'll just ignore the result. If I think a different skill was needed other than the one(s) you offered, I'll ask you to do a different one. Sound good?]
The voice says, "I am no boy, stranger. And, it is not my aim to make you feel any particular emotion. I wished merely to give you the benefit of my experience. And, in my experience, attracting their attention is unwise."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Insight:8
“While I appreciate your benefit of experience I am done with this foolishness. An old scale should be able to take a walk at night without getting assaulted. If you have the means, would you be kind enough to let me out?”
Persuasion: 24
He would take another look around at this point really studying what’s outside and try and spot the source of the voice.
You glean from the voice that the person is either putting on airs or is some sort of aristocrat, or maybe he's some kind of elf. Even poor elves talk as if they think their special.
"I would kindly let you out if I could, but they have taken all my implements. To let you out, I would first need to let myself out--a task I have yet been unable to to complete."
There is nothing interesting immediately within your view. Through the bars, you see a narrow corridor running left to right. The walls of the corridor look to be made of rough hewn stone, similar to the walls of the room you now occupy. As you press your face against the bars, you pickup a rusty scent from them. Straining to see to the right--toward the voice--you think you see another set of bars approximately 15 ft from you on the same side of the corridor you are on.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
“What a strange year for this old timer. Any idea who our capture’s are? Or what they’d want with you?”
at this point with his slightly above average intellect and street smart (wis) could he hypothesise why hes been taken here or who in his town would do this or even have a jail like this?
Whatever you, the player, can guess from what's happened so far, Sully is free to also have those ideas. But, I'm going to convert that general Wis check to a Survival check, and say that from the temperature, the smell in the air, the rough hewn stone walls, and the lack of windows, that it seems that you are in a cave system, or some sort of underground mine. You know of no such places like that in or immediately around town, and you feel like if such places existed, you would know of them.
The voice says, "I do not know who our captors are. All I know is that I was walking through the Tombee Forest, stalking a boar. The hog had been digging up the crops of this hermit, and he hired me to put a stop to it. I think I had almost found it when I felt a sting on my neck. I thought it was a hornet, but the next thing I knew, here I was. The only person who ever visits is an ogre. I believe the ogre's name is Nog. It refers to itself that way, at least. It brings my food and water. Once, when I tried making a nuisance of myself, Nog came into this room, and lifted me up, and then slammed me back down to the ground, and said 'No bother Nog.' The only time I've seen anyone else, was when a person draped in loose clothes, a cloak, and a face scarf, came to the door, and said, 'You will remain here until you decide to tell me where the Stone of Lurlain is. When you are ready to tell me, let Nog know.' And, that, my unfortunate new neighbor, is all I know."
I assume because of high magic, magical creatures are well known as well but just in case...does Sully know if Ogres are stupid?
Nature or Arcana (same mod) check??: 20
also does sully know what the heck the Stone of Lurlain is?
History or Arcana (same mod)check: 16
“Well what’s your name son? It seems now that there’s two of us maybe we can come up with a plan to get out of here. They took all my things too but lucky for us i have some cheap tricks that dont need anything but darkness and they left me plenty of that...”
i want to suggest a plan to fool the ogre into opening my cell and me slipping out and locking him in
[When I said the setting was "high magic," I didn't mean to suggest that it was highly civilized and explored. Instead, the world consists of pockets of civilization separated by "flyover regions" of wild lands. So, the cities are civilized and magic is commonplace in them. But, rather than expanding civilization into the wild lands, people just use airships or teleporters to travel from one pocket of civilization to another.]
Ogres or other monstrosities aren't magical, necessarily. So, we'll go with Nature. Yes, ogres are dumb, but strong and stubborn--most of them anyway.
No, you have no idea what the Stone of Lurlain is. Sounds like some of that magical stuff you used to eschew.
The voice says, "My name? Well, it is not 'Son,' I can tell you that for certain. I would wager that I am at least twice your age, if I am interpreting your sounds correctly. I am called Ishtar of the Elderfolk [the elves call themselves Elderfolk when speaking to races with shorter lifespans] You are a dragonborn, I presume?"
Ishtar does not object to your plan. He asks whether you need assistance from him.
“twice as old but equally as stuck I reckon.” Snorting chuckle “Ishtar my name is Sully a blue dragonborn who runs the cobbler shop in Eltar which happens to be the way I support my aging wife. These rascals have taken me away from my family and it’s high time I get back. So here’s my plan: When I hear the ogre coming to give us food next I will hide up against the wall closest to the door in the corner. Ill then use one of my new tricks to create some sparks near the far wall of my cell as well as the gentle sound of rocks crumbling coupled with a gentle gust of wind aimed at the cell door. When he comes within hearing range tell him I screamed ‘Ill burrow out of here if i have to you’ll never get The Stone!’ And he better hurry and stop me before I get too far. Then with some luck he opens my cell quickly leaving the keys in the lock and I will slip out behind him when he rushes in and close the cell behind him locking him in. After that Ill let you out and well see about escaping.
Performance check for prestidigitation???: 19
Acrobatics check for slipping out behind him if he opens the cell: 4
General Dex check for quickly closing the cell and locking it???: 16
sooooo nervous.....
ffffuuuuuuuuu....that acrobatics check is a crit fail...
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Time passes. More time passes. The nervous excitement builds...
Eventually, you hear heavy footsteps clomping toward you. You cast your spells to fool Nog. You hear, "What happening back there?" It's a deep, guttural voice coming from the left.
You hear Ishtar recite the script you gave him. [Here's Ishtar's persuasion check with advantage due to your help with the spells: 16
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Nog flings open the door to your cell, barges in looking frantically, and sees you hiding by the door. [I'm converting your crit fail acrobatics check to your stealth check--same numbers] He reaches back to grab you before you can escape. Grapple check: 8
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
[Your acrobatics looks to be the same as your general dex mod, so that's a tie on the grapple contest. A tie on a contested check means that the circumstances do not change.]
Nog turns to face you in the corner. The door is right there. The keys are still in the lock. But, Nog is between you and the door.
Roll initiative
Nog's initiative: 3
If you beat Nog's initiative roll, go ahead and take your turn.
I would like to run by our resident jailer to try and get to the door
Acrobatics check is i have to squeeze: 10
once out ill use all my action to quickly close the door and lock him inside. Any opportunity attacks from him I will shield with AC 18. its my first time actually using a spell for its intended purpose!
“Nog, if you are good and make no noise and do not call out I will give you the Stone your master wants. That way when your master learns we fooled you he wont be so angry because you have his Stone to give him and he will be so pleased with you!” Pesuasionnnn: 11
Any other movement will be to head towards ishtar’s cell to unlock it
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
“Ain’t that a cute thing..” as Sully’s eyes roll black
”Here old timer, as promised” and i toss the key set into Ishtar’s cell “Help me put this walking snot ball out to pasture”
The floor and walls undulate with deeper shadows as Sully strings together a torrent of words together gathering a warbling mass of energy in his claws before hurling it at the Nog creating a flash of temporary light!!!
Attack roll for 1st level Chaos Bolt: 12
first d8: 6 + second d8: 5 + plus the d6:5 = 7 cold damage :/
Fast forward about a month...life returns to normal. At least a new version of normal, where Sully has achieved a semblance of mastery over the spells you currently have selected. [I checked, and they all have only verbal and somatic components, with the exception of mage armor, which requires the leather you mentioned] He discovers fire bolt when he happens to use one of his old, familiar colorful phrases while moving his fingers in a certain way--pure coincidence that he happened to combine that well-worn expression while holding his arms, and wiggling his fingers in just the right way. He discovers acid splash while spitting a loogie while making a rude hand gesture. [if any of this is out-of-step with how you see Sully, then feel free to give me a corrected way that he discovered his ability to cast these spells by happenstance.]
One day, you wake to find yourself in a small, dark room. The last thing you remember was taking a walk at night alone, and then feeling a sharp pinch in your neck, and then feeling very dizzy. You're not sure how long ago that was. The room smells like musty, damp earth. With your darkvision, you see that the room is roughly 20 wide x 20 deep x 10 tall. There is a single, iron gate-like door. There are no windows. The temperature is cool, but not cold. You are in the room with just your clothes, nothing and no one else.
[Perception check to see what else you might hear/feel/smell/see. If you are trying to perceive anything in particular, please include that, in case I wouldn't otherwise think to mention it.]
Sully is definitely a swearer while he works and definitely spits loogies.
“In all that’s Unspeakable, what sick sense of humor is this!?”
I would immediately look for something looking at me, am I being watched, is there a guard, eyes hiding in the dark. Also I’d probably rattle the door and listen for voices
Perception!!: 7
As you are looking around the room, you see nothing indicating that you are being watched. It may be surprising to you how well you can see in here, though. There are no light sources at all, yet you can still see just as well as you could in the candle light back in the shop. The only sounds you hear are your own breath, and your occasional heart beat.
When you start rattling the door, you hear a voice coming from outside the room, somewhere to the right. The voice is not whispering, but it is somewhat lowered, as if trying not to project too far. The voice sounds male. "Getting their attention is not a good idea."
[edit: this voice doesn't use contractions]
Yeah Dragonborn don’t have darkvision so this is the first absolute dark I’ve been exposed to.
Does the voice sound old, young, lipless, gnomish?
“You tryin to scare me boy? Making me grumpy is not wise, open this gate!”
Insight check to get a read on the voice
[due to the format we're using, if you anticipate a skill check, go ahead and give it to me, so we can cut out a round of back and forth. If you are unsure which would be appropriate, go ahead and give me multiples. If I decide a skill check was unnecessary, I'll just ignore the result. If I think a different skill was needed other than the one(s) you offered, I'll ask you to do a different one. Sound good?]
The voice says, "I am no boy, stranger. And, it is not my aim to make you feel any particular emotion. I wished merely to give you the benefit of my experience. And, in my experience, attracting their attention is unwise."
Insight:8
“While I appreciate your benefit of experience I am done with this foolishness. An old scale should be able to take a walk at night without getting assaulted. If you have the means, would you be kind enough to let me out?”
Persuasion: 24
He would take another look around at this point really studying what’s outside and try and spot the source of the voice.
Perception: 13
You glean from the voice that the person is either putting on airs or is some sort of aristocrat, or maybe he's some kind of elf. Even poor elves talk as if they think their special.
"I would kindly let you out if I could, but they have taken all my implements. To let you out, I would first need to let myself out--a task I have yet been unable to to complete."
There is nothing interesting immediately within your view. Through the bars, you see a narrow corridor running left to right. The walls of the corridor look to be made of rough hewn stone, similar to the walls of the room you now occupy. As you press your face against the bars, you pickup a rusty scent from them. Straining to see to the right--toward the voice--you think you see another set of bars approximately 15 ft from you on the same side of the corridor you are on.
“What a strange year for this old timer. Any idea who our capture’s are? Or what they’d want with you?”
at this point with his slightly above average intellect and street smart (wis) could he hypothesise why hes been taken here or who in his town would do this or even have a jail like this?
General wisdom check: 17
general int check: 7
Whatever you, the player, can guess from what's happened so far, Sully is free to also have those ideas. But, I'm going to convert that general Wis check to a Survival check, and say that from the temperature, the smell in the air, the rough hewn stone walls, and the lack of windows, that it seems that you are in a cave system, or some sort of underground mine. You know of no such places like that in or immediately around town, and you feel like if such places existed, you would know of them.
The voice says, "I do not know who our captors are. All I know is that I was walking through the Tombee Forest, stalking a boar. The hog had been digging up the crops of this hermit, and he hired me to put a stop to it. I think I had almost found it when I felt a sting on my neck. I thought it was a hornet, but the next thing I knew, here I was. The only person who ever visits is an ogre. I believe the ogre's name is Nog. It refers to itself that way, at least. It brings my food and water. Once, when I tried making a nuisance of myself, Nog came into this room, and lifted me up, and then slammed me back down to the ground, and said 'No bother Nog.' The only time I've seen anyone else, was when a person draped in loose clothes, a cloak, and a face scarf, came to the door, and said, 'You will remain here until you decide to tell me where the Stone of Lurlain is. When you are ready to tell me, let Nog know.' And, that, my unfortunate new neighbor, is all I know."
I assume because of high magic, magical creatures are well known as well but just in case...does Sully know if Ogres are stupid?
Nature or Arcana (same mod) check??: 20
also does sully know what the heck the Stone of Lurlain is?
History or Arcana (same mod)check: 16
“Well what’s your name son? It seems now that there’s two of us maybe we can come up with a plan to get out of here. They took all my things too but lucky for us i have some cheap tricks that dont need anything but darkness and they left me plenty of that...”
i want to suggest a plan to fool the ogre into opening my cell and me slipping out and locking him in
[When I said the setting was "high magic," I didn't mean to suggest that it was highly civilized and explored. Instead, the world consists of pockets of civilization separated by "flyover regions" of wild lands. So, the cities are civilized and magic is commonplace in them. But, rather than expanding civilization into the wild lands, people just use airships or teleporters to travel from one pocket of civilization to another.]
Ogres or other monstrosities aren't magical, necessarily. So, we'll go with Nature. Yes, ogres are dumb, but strong and stubborn--most of them anyway.
No, you have no idea what the Stone of Lurlain is. Sounds like some of that magical stuff you used to eschew.
The voice says, "My name? Well, it is not 'Son,' I can tell you that for certain. I would wager that I am at least twice your age, if I am interpreting your sounds correctly. I am called Ishtar of the Elderfolk [the elves call themselves Elderfolk when speaking to races with shorter lifespans] You are a dragonborn, I presume?"
Ishtar does not object to your plan. He asks whether you need assistance from him.
“twice as old but equally as stuck I reckon.” Snorting chuckle “Ishtar my name is Sully a blue dragonborn who runs the cobbler shop in Eltar which happens to be the way I support my aging wife. These rascals have taken me away from my family and it’s high time I get back. So here’s my plan: When I hear the ogre coming to give us food next I will hide up against the wall closest to the door in the corner. Ill then use one of my new tricks to create some sparks near the far wall of my cell as well as the gentle sound of rocks crumbling coupled with a gentle gust of wind aimed at the cell door. When he comes within hearing range tell him I screamed ‘Ill burrow out of here if i have to you’ll never get The Stone!’ And he better hurry and stop me before I get too far. Then with some luck he opens my cell quickly leaving the keys in the lock and I will slip out behind him when he rushes in and close the cell behind him locking him in. After that Ill let you out and well see about escaping.
Performance check for prestidigitation???: 19
Acrobatics check for slipping out behind him if he opens the cell: 4
General Dex check for quickly closing the cell and locking it???: 16
sooooo nervous.....
ffffuuuuuuuuu....that acrobatics check is a crit fail...
Time passes. More time passes. The nervous excitement builds...
Eventually, you hear heavy footsteps clomping toward you. You cast your spells to fool Nog. You hear, "What happening back there?" It's a deep, guttural voice coming from the left.
You hear Ishtar recite the script you gave him. [Here's Ishtar's persuasion check with advantage due to your help with the spells: 16
Nog flings open the door to your cell, barges in looking frantically, and sees you hiding by the door. [I'm converting your crit fail acrobatics check to your stealth check--same numbers] He reaches back to grab you before you can escape. Grapple check: 8
[Your acrobatics looks to be the same as your general dex mod, so that's a tie on the grapple contest. A tie on a contested check means that the circumstances do not change.]
Nog turns to face you in the corner. The door is right there. The keys are still in the lock. But, Nog is between you and the door.
Roll initiative
Nog's initiative: 3
If you beat Nog's initiative roll, go ahead and take your turn.
Andddd the roll of the dice!!: 23
A natural 20!!!!!
I would like to run by our resident jailer to try and get to the door
Acrobatics check is i have to squeeze: 10
once out ill use all my action to quickly close the door and lock him inside. Any opportunity attacks from him I will shield with AC 18. its my first time actually using a spell for its intended purpose!
“Nog, if you are good and make no noise and do not call out I will give you the Stone your master wants. That way when your master learns we fooled you he wont be so angry because you have his Stone to give him and he will be so pleased with you!” Pesuasionnnn: 11
Any other movement will be to head towards ishtar’s cell to unlock it
You attempt to duck and weave past Nog, and [opposed acrobatics check: 14 ]
you easily slip past the big oaf.
As you attempt to leave Nog's reach, he attempts to swat at you with his big ole fist 11
But he critically fails!! So, embarrassing for ole Nog! (and saving you that spell slot for Shield)
You make it out the door unscathed, and close and lock the door. You have a set of keys.
[since you don't have the foggiest idea what the stone is or how to get it, I'm converting your persuasion check to a deception check. You got a 9.]
Nog wonders whether he can believe you, and since you are already pulling shenanigans on him, I'm giving him Advantage on his Insight check: 12
Nog doesn't believe the tricky dragon man, and starts to bellow and rattle at the bars, trying to break them, Strength Check: 5
Nog breaks the door open and charges toward you, but it's now your turn. You are standing in front of Ishtar's cell, keys in hand.
What do you do?
“Ain’t that a cute thing..” as Sully’s eyes roll black
”Here old timer, as promised” and i toss the key set into Ishtar’s cell “Help me put this walking snot ball out to pasture”
The floor and walls undulate with deeper shadows as Sully strings together a torrent of words together gathering a warbling mass of energy in his claws before hurling it at the Nog creating a flash of temporary light!!!
Attack roll for 1st level Chaos Bolt: 12
first d8: 6 + second d8: 5 + plus the d6:5 = 7 cold damage :/
Nog shakes his jowls quickly back and forth, "Bwwww" as ogre saliva flies around the room. He raises his ham fist and tries to wallop you with it. 20
That's a hit. You take 5 bludgeoning damage, as you feel his fist land on the side of your head.