In the fading light, Xel comes close to hitting the owl ... but misses.
The owl successfully lands on the chest, then takes off again. Before it flies away, Xel imagines that he sees the bird's impassive face sneering at him.
Then he realizes he can see the bird's face ...
Mithrokk and Epos, rowing frantically, notice their surroundings brighten considerably. For a moment, they suspect it is their darkvision adjusting to the fading light ... then they realize that the light is coming from behind them. Looking back, they see the chest from the grove now glowing brightly, illuminating them for the Redbrands to see.
Xel recognizes the glow as the result of a Light cantrip.
OOC: By the way, I'm assuming you guys took the chest with you since, aside from Xel, I don't see the healing potions and loot recorded in your character sheets. I'll assume the remaining coins and healing potions, as well as the map, are still in the chest.
The party draws ever closer to Phandalin, but the cover of darkness that protected them is gone now. Mithrokk, you're up!
Mithrokk was focused on the motions of thrusting the oar in front of him into the cold water, pulling it back while heaving against the strong current, jerking it free, and in a looping arc, thrusting it right back again. Lost in the rhythm and cadence of his actions, he was startled to hear something hiss by his ear and graze him. Perhaps these blasted Redbrands can use a crossbow after all. And what’s this? Bright light from behind! Is the sun rising early? Are we alight? Those fools will have clearer targets to fire at now. Have to get to shore quickly then.
The hardy dwarf will continue to row against the current towards the harbour for this round.
OOC: Miguel - Epos has a bedroll to cover the light from the chest: A bedroll consists of bedding and a blanket thin enough to be rolled up and tied. In an emergency, it can double as a stretcher. . Epos is quite focused on rowing though... so Xel might need to call his attention....
Epos, who has no appreciation for material good, thinks it is obvious what to do. He will call out (on his turn), matter-of-factly: "Xel, you must throw the chest overboard..."
OOC - Sorry for the slow response, dudes. My smartphone is on the fritz, which is keeping me from accessing my files. Anyway ...
The hardy dwarf does not falter in his rowing, but his lack of knowledge about boats hinders his efforts -- he finds himself fighting against a current that is pushing the boat away from the shore.
OOC - The boat will only move 15 feet this round, though Epos could add another 10 feet with a successful Strength check. Xel can use the bedroll to cover the chest -- a cloak isn't big enough to cover the whole thing -- but since it is rolled up and tied, he will have to spend a standard action to untie it, then another standard action to cover it. That'll take two rounds. Khial, make your Athletics check to swim to shore. Afterwards, Xel is up.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Athletics Check: 14
Khial thanks himself for those days when he decided to train himself to swim. After all, assassins and rogues must learn to use whatever terrain can benefit them, in the event of escaping.
OOC: Khial, did you take the Dash Action as your action and the Dash Action as a bonus action (because you are a Rogue) for a total of 30 feet (because of difficult terrain).
This does not look good at all. The caster is smart to eliminate one of our only advantages -- the cover of darkness.
Xel will cast Minor Illusion (a blanket) over the chest to completely cover the light source to once again regain the cover of darkness.
He will then hunker down prone behind Epos and Mithrokk.
OOC - Okay, Xel, you forced me to consult the All-Knowing Internet on that one, but I'm going to rule that the attempt fails. I'll go with the magic logic that since Minor Illusion cannot create any sensory effects -- such as light -- it cannot block them as well. Nice try, though.
A blanket appears over the glowing chest, covering it completely. Strangely, though, the blanket now seems to be glowing brightly, it's light illuminating the boat's passengers.
OOC - In other news, Khial just reached the harbor ...
In an amazing display of athleticism, Khial reaches the harbor. With a last burst of movement, he swims to the base of one of two ladders attached to the dock.
His reward is to see three Redbrands now looming over him at the top of the ladder. Having obviously left the cover of the crates and barrels, they aim their crossbows down at the waterlogged rogue.
Attacks - 4, 6 damage. 4, 10 damage. 5, 7 damage.
The darkness and the fact that three-fourths of Khial is still underwater prevent them from drawing a bead on the rogue.
OOC - I made a mistake. Epos still hasn't declared his action or made his rolls. I'll let the attack rolls stand, but I'll save my wizard's actions for until Epos acts.
Distracted perhaps by the light now illuminating them for all to see, Mithrokk and Epos row badly and the boat barely makes any headway. The boat is now 30 feet from the shore.
The owl flies past the boat, skimming low over the water towards Khial.
OOC: One of you has reached the shore, but I'll stick to theater of the mind until the rest of the party shows up. When you guys make your amphibious landing, I'll set up the map.
In his eagerness to get ashore, Mithrokk mistimes his thrust and almost loses an oar. Cyric’s tongue, that was close! Taming this blasted wooden beast has been no easy task. I’d sooner mount a crazed goat to Thard’s abattoir! ‘Twould be best to grip this oar tighter than winter’s grip on Narfell lest we get pulled back or worse - fall into angry waters.
Mithrokk then hears something angrily hiss by his ear again. Alarmed, he exclaims, "Damned iron crows! Epos, we must row harder! We must overcome the current! Silverbeard, help thine soldier ashore!"
The tough dwarf continues to lustily row against the current towards the harbour for this round.
The owl comes in for another pass, landing on the chest you took from the Cult of the Dragon grove.
Xel, make your attack roll!
Attacking with Disadvantage:
1) Attack 22 ---- Damage 1
2) Attack 10 ---- Damage 1
Xel sees the Owl and tries to take aim in the fading light. He lets loose the energy he was storing at the Owl, praying that his aim is true.
In the fading light, Xel comes close to hitting the owl ... but misses.
The owl successfully lands on the chest, then takes off again. Before it flies away, Xel imagines that he sees the bird's impassive face sneering at him.
Then he realizes he can see the bird's face ...
Mithrokk and Epos, rowing frantically, notice their surroundings brighten considerably. For a moment, they suspect it is their darkvision adjusting to the fading light ... then they realize that the light is coming from behind them. Looking back, they see the chest from the grove now glowing brightly, illuminating them for the Redbrands to see.
Xel recognizes the glow as the result of a Light cantrip.
OOC: By the way, I'm assuming you guys took the chest with you since, aside from Xel, I don't see the healing potions and loot recorded in your character sheets. I'll assume the remaining coins and healing potions, as well as the map, are still in the chest.
The party draws ever closer to Phandalin, but the cover of darkness that protected them is gone now. Mithrokk, you're up!
Mithrokk was focused on the motions of thrusting the oar in front of him into the cold water, pulling it back while heaving against the strong current, jerking it free, and in a looping arc, thrusting it right back again. Lost in the rhythm and cadence of his actions, he was startled to hear something hiss by his ear and graze him. Perhaps these blasted Redbrands can use a crossbow after all. And what’s this? Bright light from behind! Is the sun rising early? Are we alight? Those fools will have clearer targets to fire at now. Have to get to shore quickly then.
The hardy dwarf will continue to row against the current towards the harbour for this round.
Strength Check: 4
OOC: Miguel - Epos has a bedroll to cover the light from the chest: A bedroll consists of bedding and a blanket thin enough to be rolled up and tied. In an emergency, it can double as a stretcher. . Epos is quite focused on rowing though... so Xel might need to call his attention....
OOC: DM - would the blanket in the bedroll be enough to fully cover the chest or in the alternative would a cloak be enough to fully cover the chest?
Epos, who has no appreciation for material good, thinks it is obvious what to do. He will call out (on his turn), matter-of-factly: "Xel, you must throw the chest overboard..."
OOC - Sorry for the slow response, dudes. My smartphone is on the fritz, which is keeping me from accessing my files. Anyway ...
The hardy dwarf does not falter in his rowing, but his lack of knowledge about boats hinders his efforts -- he finds himself fighting against a current that is pushing the boat away from the shore.
OOC - The boat will only move 15 feet this round, though Epos could add another 10 feet with a successful Strength check. Xel can use the bedroll to cover the chest -- a cloak isn't big enough to cover the whole thing -- but since it is rolled up and tied, he will have to spend a standard action to untie it, then another standard action to cover it. That'll take two rounds. Khial, make your Athletics check to swim to shore. Afterwards, Xel is up.
Athletics Check: 14
Khial thanks himself for those days when he decided to train himself to swim. After all, assassins and rogues must learn to use whatever terrain can benefit them, in the event of escaping.
He takes the dash action to move another 15 feet.
OOC: Khial, did you take the Dash Action as your action and the Dash Action as a bonus action (because you are a Rogue) for a total of 30 feet (because of difficult terrain).
This does not look good at all. The caster is smart to eliminate one of our only advantages -- the cover of darkness.
Xel will cast Minor Illusion (a blanket) over the chest to completely cover the light source to once again regain the cover of darkness.
He will then hunker down prone behind Epos and Mithrokk.
OOC - Okay, Xel, you forced me to consult the All-Knowing Internet on that one, but I'm going to rule that the attempt fails. I'll go with the magic logic that since Minor Illusion cannot create any sensory effects -- such as light -- it cannot block them as well. Nice try, though.
A blanket appears over the glowing chest, covering it completely. Strangely, though, the blanket now seems to be glowing brightly, it's light illuminating the boat's passengers.
OOC - In other news, Khial just reached the harbor ...
In an amazing display of athleticism, Khial reaches the harbor. With a last burst of movement, he swims to the base of one of two ladders attached to the dock.
His reward is to see three Redbrands now looming over him at the top of the ladder. Having obviously left the cover of the crates and barrels, they aim their crossbows down at the waterlogged rogue.
Attacks - 4, 6 damage. 4, 10 damage. 5, 7 damage.
The darkness and the fact that three-fourths of Khial is still underwater prevent them from drawing a bead on the rogue.
More crossbow bolts head for ...
... Mithrokk - 9, 8 damage.
... Epos - 6, 4 damage.
... and Xel - 6, 1 damage.
They come closer this time, especially the one aimed at Mithrokk, but the party's luck holds.
OOC - I made a mistake. Epos still hasn't declared his action or made his rolls. I'll let the attack rolls stand, but I'll save my wizard's actions for until Epos acts.
OOC: Oops sorry, is it my turn? Am lost
Epos continues rowing: OOC: STR 2
Distracted perhaps by the light now illuminating them for all to see, Mithrokk and Epos row badly and the boat barely makes any headway. The boat is now 30 feet from the shore.
The owl flies past the boat, skimming low over the water towards Khial.
OOC: One of you has reached the shore, but I'll stick to theater of the mind until the rest of the party shows up. When you guys make your amphibious landing, I'll set up the map.
OOC: Mithrokk, you're up!
In his eagerness to get ashore, Mithrokk mistimes his thrust and almost loses an oar. Cyric’s tongue, that was close! Taming this blasted wooden beast has been no easy task. I’d sooner mount a crazed goat to Thard’s abattoir! ‘Twould be best to grip this oar tighter than winter’s grip on Narfell lest we get pulled back or worse - fall into angry waters.
Mithrokk then hears something angrily hiss by his ear again. Alarmed, he exclaims, "Damned iron crows! Epos, we must row harder! We must overcome the current! Silverbeard, help thine soldier ashore!"
The tough dwarf continues to lustily row against the current towards the harbour for this round.
Strength Check: 23
Epos responds in the affirmative. "I shall follow your example. Lead on..."
Despite Mithrokk's strength, the river currents continue to get the better of him. If only Epos can help ...
Meanwhile, at the dock, Khial is about to face the fury of the Redbrands with the rest of his party still behind him ...
Khial and Epos, you guys are up!
Epos tries to do what Mithrokk is doing... OCC: Rowing Check [STR] 20
Epos can't quite get Mithrokk's rhythm...