Corryn, beset by visions of your darkest most bowel loosening fears, you find yourself falling to your knees in a defensive curl, hands held over your head. You are unable to move, barely able to breathe as you sit there, in the middle of the dark forest, a thousand images of purest terror pouring into your mind from seemingly every direction.
Ragnor, you see no bound spells or creatures immediately ahead, but a glance over your shoulder reveals that the wooden dolls behind you are now aglow, their eyes burning with faint emerald luminescence as they pour fear over the cringing form of your companion, Corryn.
Ella, the man before you appears completely unmoved by your fake smile and locks gazes with you far too knowingly. From that look you can tell he knows your friendliness isn't real, and that he too suspects your own misgivings about his truthfulness. Nevertheless, his voice is steady and the emotion in it clear when he sighs and responds.
A tragic series of events indeed. The kids were always up to mischief, forever playing at their little fantasy of being Delvers. It's only natural of course. We elevated adventurers to the pinnacle of society, of course children would want to climb. They were a handful for their parents, but no worse than any boisterous kids their age. That was until Mika joined their little club. She wasn't content with merely swinging wooden swords or playacting. She was determined to seize power, real power, and the kids of the Leanin' were her path. When we...
He pauses, as if wrestling with a heavy emotion.
When their parents found their hearts, it was too late. Whether legitimate or misguided, the dark witch had carved each of them up in a dark ritual to fuel her ambition. How could. we have known? How could anyone have known?
He breathes heavily several times, regaining his composure before turning to Horrence.
Your pain speaks to me, sir Halfling and your sentiment is pure. The families are not taking visitors at the moment, but rest assured I will pass along your sentiments and should you wish to return two nights hence, I can promise you a more open reception and a chance to deliver whatever compassion you possess.
“Their hearts? Wh-...what-... what an unspeakable act. My friend, I understand how awful they, and you all,must feel, but such deeds are dark magic far beyond my knowledge, I beseech you to come and speak to the Ear so that we might better understand what kind of ritual this Mika has undertaken.
”If what you say is true then we must work quickly to stop this girl. Do you know her current whereabouts?”
I’d also like to insight check whether he is not letting on as much as he knows/ whether he is more tied up in this that he suggests: 18
Not sure if you’ll want a persuasion check for the request to come with us, but if so: 9
As a bonus action Ragnor uses Wild Shape to transform into a Crag Cat and move towards the dolls.
((DM: Not sure of distance from me to the dolls so I'll post both alternatives to save time instead of waiting for answer))
If I reach them (40ft movement) I use claw 13 to hit and 10 damage if it hits. (If it does hit and it doesn't die/break/whatever it gets knocked prone unless it makes a DC13 strength save at which point it triggers a bite attack 18 to hit and 11 damage if it hits)
If I don't reach with my movement I convert my action to another movement and try to make the rest of the distance.
Fodd runs back to Corryn, kneeling by the stricken gnome and placing a chubby, warm hand on him. (casting Heroism) - "Do not be undone by fear, Mr Goldweaver! My father said, 'Without fear, there cannot be courage; to be afraid is an opportunity to show your bravery!"
Ragnor, you lurch into a run in the direction of the nearest doll, willing a singular animal spirit dwelling within you to the fore. Your limbs elongate, your senses sharpen and before you've taken five steps you drop to all fours, darting through the trees in the guise of a wily crag cat. Bunching your powerful hindpaws you launch yourself forward, falling upon the nearest wooden doll in a flurry of flashing claws. Little larger than a dinner plate, the doll is torn to pieces under your onslaught, the magic it projected along with its fellows dissipating in a rush of unnerving whispers.
Fodd, as Ragnor bounds off to your left you channel Heroism into Corryn, bolstering his spirit and scattering the fears that hold him paralyzed with terror. Flooded with inspiration, he bounds to his feet and moves to follow you, all fear banished from his mind.
Ahead, the clearing centered by the oak which holds the treehouse awaits.
Ragnor looks down at the shattered doll and immediately begins to stealthily (I think stealth is +20: +3 from dex, +7 from Crag Cat skill and +10 from spell which I believe is still active) walk around the area looking for any signs of danger ( perception13)
Having dispatched the doll, Ragnor, you slip into the shadows and begin edging your way stealthily toward the clearing where stands the gigantic oak atop which rests the children's treehouse, even as Fodd boldly marches to the edge of said clearing into it from the treeline.
The glade that greets you is a large circle, bearing a single solitary tree of prodigious size. An ancient oak, it reaches up into the heavens with a mix of thick, wizened branches which sprout with leaves into a broad canopy. The truck of the oak is truly massive and slightly misshapen, with bulging protrusions along its length. Winding its way upward between these bark covered growths runs a ladder of ancient boards firmly nailed into trunk.
The treehouse these stairs lead up to is a massive construction, easily large enough to hold a dozen children or more. Built of wooden boards held together with ropes and nails, it is a crude but solid piece of work, nestled ingeniously between at least six supporting branches which cradle it on every side. The entrance is a trapdoor, located in the floor of the house and accessible via the top of the ladder, though a number of ropes near the house windows suggest options for rapid egress by any inside.
You can see faint light, as if from a number of candles, flickering on the inside of the treehouse and every few minutes a shadow passes between light and one of the windows, as if someone within were pacing relentlessly.
You can detect no overt danger, neither from the edge of the clearing Fodd, nor from where you lurk in the undergrowth Ragnor. Yet, there is a sense of something ineffable about the clearing. Something latent and desperate.
Father Shiroq smiles a deep, sad smile at your suggestion but shakes his head. He spreads his hands as if helpless.
While I have nothing but deep and abiding request for the Ear, and all he does for this community I must confess it is a view tragically not shared by my friends here in the Leaning Tenement. They believe the Ear, for all his good intentions, has failed them in their hour of need and would have no more to do with him. Thus, much as I would love to be of assistance to you in your quest to right this hideous crime, I must respect their wishes and decline your invitation.
He pauses, glancing over his at the tenement windows. Then he leans forward, speaking quietly as if worried he'll be overheard.
The Tenement's firebrands want to handle this internally, but I fear what a lynch mob of ordinary citizens might do if unleashed, or how many of them might be hurt if they face Mika's power unprepared. Please, if you can find her and end her twisted evil quickly, before she can mutilate more children or the goodfolk of my Tenement do something drastic, you would be doing a service to the entire District, perhaps even the city.
(( DM: I'm only going to be allowing one insight check per conversation to get a general sense of a creature's trustworthiness and demeanor. Unless that demeanor radically changes, the information you have from the first roll is all you have. Basically trying to avoid insight checks every action as like an ongoing lie detector on every NPC. ))
Nervous that lingering any longer in the company of this man will only lead to an invitation inside, a prospect that fills Ella with dread, she says, “Thank you for your time. Please do pass our most sincere condolences to the families within. Come Professor, we must be heading back.”
(Obviously if you want to say more or push through, do and ignore this Horrence!) And if Horrence follows, and if Ella feels they’re not being followed (Perception check = 22), she’ll whisper to him once they’re a safe distance away. “There’s something very strange going on in that house. I don’t believe we can trust a word that passed that man’s lips. I certainly don’t think we can take him at his word about this Mika person - only that it would be conveniently for him were she gone. He’s charlatan, and a violent one at that. I wouldn’t be surprised if he and his mob have taken over that house by force. We need someone smaller and much sneakier than us to get inside.”
Fodd, seeing the shadow moving inside, steps forward into the clearing, waving his torch. "Good evening citizen!" he booms, "We come as friends, show yourself so we might talk!"
Suddenly realising the thing inside the treehouse may, in fact, be evil he adds: "Unless you are something foul and malevolent, in which case show yourself so we can arrest you!"
Corryn, stepping besides Fodd, suppresses a smirk at Fodd's belated realisation that whatever is moving within the treehouse may not be friendly.
"Well, I don't suppose we would have surprised them in any case. Thank you my friend for freeing me from the visions that had beset me."
Corryn calls his familiar to him and instructs it to scout the glade; subsequently Corryn castsDancing Lights, using the spell to systematically sweep the glade over the next half minute or so ((If the glade is >120ft, he lets the lights sweep the nearest 120ft; his darkvision allowing him to treat this as bright light). Meanwhile, he readies his dagger and hand crossbow.
((How far away and how high up is the trap door, approximately?))
Corryn'ssnowy owl familiar descends from where it had been shadowing the group's progress from the branches above and settles momentarily on his shoulder in a near silent rustle of feathers. At his command, it takes to the skies once more, sweeping out over the grass and circling the glade.
Corryn, you lift your fingers holding a pinch of phosphorous and invoke dancing lights, sending obedient spheres of glowing luminescence forward to light up the glade ((radius of about 60feet around the tree, which is roughly how far away you are too)). It reveals the stairs, winding up the tree to the trapdoor some 50 feet above. A harrowing climb, not for the fainthearted.
Fodd, as you step forward into the glade and make your exclamations, a figure appears at one of the windows. Though the distance is significant and the lighting from Corryn's spell imperfect, you can make out a young (late teens, no older than early 20's in human years) face with some Elfin features. Raven black hair falls in messy waves around eyes heavily painted with black eye-shadow and matte eyeliner, now streaked down an unnaturally pale face in tearful traces. She wears black clothing, lace on lace, and you catch the glimmer of multiple rings and necklaces.
Her voice, when it rings out over the glade is nigh hysterical. Rage, grief and terror warring in every syllable.
You think to take me too?! You think I'm powerless and weak, like they were? Grinfor won't let you take me like you did the rest of us. You think you're the only ones who know how to make sacrifice? Grinfor will send you scurrying back to him in pieces!
At that, you see her withdraw a cheaply dagger, decorated with a pendant wrapped around its hilt. She closes her eyes and slices open her palm, screaming in agony as she does so. A moment later, she drops out of sight, falling to her knees.
An ominous sound rings out over the glade, a living, earthen sound like roots tearing through hard-packed earth. Before you can react, three of the large protrusions on the great tree's truck explode outward in a sea of splinters and a pair of monstrous, gigantic spiders burst forth. Two begin scuttling directly toward Fodd, their eyes glowing a strange, emerald green while the other sprints sideways, heading for the treeline.
Ragnor, you remain hidden in the treeline watching this unfold.
Wisdom check: 5
"I see them. Up ahead."
((DM can I please take another Perception check to see if I notice any other spells or creatures 11))
== Corryn, Ragnor and Fodd ==
Corryn, beset by visions of your darkest most bowel loosening fears, you find yourself falling to your knees in a defensive curl, hands held over your head. You are unable to move, barely able to breathe as you sit there, in the middle of the dark forest, a thousand images of purest terror pouring into your mind from seemingly every direction.
Ragnor, you see no bound spells or creatures immediately ahead, but a glance over your shoulder reveals that the wooden dolls behind you are now aglow, their eyes burning with faint emerald luminescence as they pour fear over the cringing form of your companion, Corryn.
== Ella and Horrence ==
Ella, the man before you appears completely unmoved by your fake smile and locks gazes with you far too knowingly. From that look you can tell he knows your friendliness isn't real, and that he too suspects your own misgivings about his truthfulness. Nevertheless, his voice is steady and the emotion in it clear when he sighs and responds.
He pauses, as if wrestling with a heavy emotion.
He breathes heavily several times, regaining his composure before turning to Horrence.
“Their hearts? Wh-...what-... what an unspeakable act. My friend, I understand how awful they, and you all, must feel, but such deeds are dark magic far beyond my knowledge, I beseech you to come and speak to the Ear so that we might better understand what kind of ritual this Mika has undertaken.
”If what you say is true then we must work quickly to stop this girl. Do you know her current whereabouts?”
I’d also like to insight check whether he is not letting on as much as he knows/ whether he is more tied up in this that he suggests: 18
Not sure if you’ll want a persuasion check for the request to come with us, but if so: 9
As a bonus action Ragnor uses Wild Shape to transform into a Crag Cat and move towards the dolls.
((DM: Not sure of distance from me to the dolls so I'll post both alternatives to save time instead of waiting for answer))
If I reach them (40ft movement) I use claw 13 to hit and 10 damage if it hits. (If it does hit and it doesn't die/break/whatever it gets knocked prone unless it makes a DC13 strength save at which point it triggers a bite attack 18 to hit and 11 damage if it hits)
If I don't reach with my movement I convert my action to another movement and try to make the rest of the distance.
(sorry if some of this is wrong I'm very rusty)
Fodd runs back to Corryn, kneeling by the stricken gnome and placing a chubby, warm hand on him. (casting Heroism) - "Do not be undone by fear, Mr Goldweaver! My father said, 'Without fear, there cannot be courage; to be afraid is an opportunity to show your bravery!"
== Corryn, Ragnor and Fodd ==
Ragnor, you lurch into a run in the direction of the nearest doll, willing a singular animal spirit dwelling within you to the fore. Your limbs elongate, your senses sharpen and before you've taken five steps you drop to all fours, darting through the trees in the guise of a wily crag cat. Bunching your powerful hindpaws you launch yourself forward, falling upon the nearest wooden doll in a flurry of flashing claws. Little larger than a dinner plate, the doll is torn to pieces under your onslaught, the magic it projected along with its fellows dissipating in a rush of unnerving whispers.
Fodd, as Ragnor bounds off to your left you channel Heroism into Corryn, bolstering his spirit and scattering the fears that hold him paralyzed with terror. Flooded with inspiration, he bounds to his feet and moves to follow you, all fear banished from his mind.
Ahead, the clearing centered by the oak which holds the treehouse awaits.
Inspired by the first minor triumph of good over evil for the day, Fodd galumphs in the direction of the treehouse, torch held high.
DM, what can he see as he approaches the clearing? (Perception check = 9)
Ragnor looks down at the shattered doll and immediately begins to stealthily (I think stealth is +20: +3 from dex, +7 from Crag Cat skill and +10 from spell which I believe is still active) walk around the area looking for any signs of danger ( perception 13)
== Corryn, Ragnor and Fodd ==
Having dispatched the doll, Ragnor, you slip into the shadows and begin edging your way stealthily toward the clearing where stands the gigantic oak atop which rests the children's treehouse, even as Fodd boldly marches to the edge of said clearing into it from the treeline.
The glade that greets you is a large circle, bearing a single solitary tree of prodigious size. An ancient oak, it reaches up into the heavens with a mix of thick, wizened branches which sprout with leaves into a broad canopy. The truck of the oak is truly massive and slightly misshapen, with bulging protrusions along its length. Winding its way upward between these bark covered growths runs a ladder of ancient boards firmly nailed into trunk.
The treehouse these stairs lead up to is a massive construction, easily large enough to hold a dozen children or more. Built of wooden boards held together with ropes and nails, it is a crude but solid piece of work, nestled ingeniously between at least six supporting branches which cradle it on every side. The entrance is a trapdoor, located in the floor of the house and accessible via the top of the ladder, though a number of ropes near the house windows suggest options for rapid egress by any inside.
You can see faint light, as if from a number of candles, flickering on the inside of the treehouse and every few minutes a shadow passes between light and one of the windows, as if someone within were pacing relentlessly.
You can detect no overt danger, neither from the edge of the clearing Fodd, nor from where you lurk in the undergrowth Ragnor. Yet, there is a sense of something ineffable about the clearing. Something latent and desperate.
== Ella and Horrence ==
Father Shiroq smiles a deep, sad smile at your suggestion but shakes his head. He spreads his hands as if helpless.
He pauses, glancing over his at the tenement windows. Then he leans forward, speaking quietly as if worried he'll be overheard.
(( DM: I'm only going to be allowing one insight check per conversation to get a general sense of a creature's trustworthiness and demeanor. Unless that demeanor radically changes, the information you have from the first roll is all you have. Basically trying to avoid insight checks every action as like an ongoing lie detector on every NPC. ))
Nervous that lingering any longer in the company of this man will only lead to an invitation inside, a prospect that fills Ella with dread, she says, “Thank you for your time. Please do pass our most sincere condolences to the families within. Come Professor, we must be heading back.”
(Obviously if you want to say more or push through, do and ignore this Horrence!) And if Horrence follows, and if Ella feels they’re not being followed (Perception check = 22), she’ll whisper to him once they’re a safe distance away. “There’s something very strange going on in that house. I don’t believe we can trust a word that passed that man’s lips. I certainly don’t think we can take him at his word about this Mika person - only that it would be conveniently for him were she gone. He’s charlatan, and a violent one at that. I wouldn’t be surprised if he and his mob have taken over that house by force. We need someone smaller and much sneakier than us to get inside.”
Fodd, seeing the shadow moving inside, steps forward into the clearing, waving his torch. "Good evening citizen!" he booms, "We come as friends, show yourself so we might talk!"
Suddenly realising the thing inside the treehouse may, in fact, be evil he adds: "Unless you are something foul and malevolent, in which case show yourself so we can arrest you!"
Corryn, stepping besides Fodd, suppresses a smirk at Fodd's belated realisation that whatever is moving within the treehouse may not be friendly.
"Well, I don't suppose we would have surprised them in any case. Thank you my friend for freeing me from the visions that had beset me."
Corryn calls his familiar to him and instructs it to scout the glade; subsequently Corryn casts Dancing Lights, using the spell to systematically sweep the glade over the next half minute or so ((If the glade is >120ft, he lets the lights sweep the nearest 120ft; his darkvision allowing him to treat this as bright light). Meanwhile, he readies his dagger and hand crossbow.
((How far away and how high up is the trap door, approximately?))
== Corryn, Ragnor and Fodd ==
Corryn's snowy owl familiar descends from where it had been shadowing the group's progress from the branches above and settles momentarily on his shoulder in a near silent rustle of feathers. At his command, it takes to the skies once more, sweeping out over the grass and circling the glade.
Corryn, you lift your fingers holding a pinch of phosphorous and invoke dancing lights, sending obedient spheres of glowing luminescence forward to light up the glade ((radius of about 60feet around the tree, which is roughly how far away you are too)). It reveals the stairs, winding up the tree to the trapdoor some 50 feet above. A harrowing climb, not for the fainthearted.
Fodd, as you step forward into the glade and make your exclamations, a figure appears at one of the windows. Though the distance is significant and the lighting from Corryn's spell imperfect, you can make out a young (late teens, no older than early 20's in human years) face with some Elfin features. Raven black hair falls in messy waves around eyes heavily painted with black eye-shadow and matte eyeliner, now streaked down an unnaturally pale face in tearful traces. She wears black clothing, lace on lace, and you catch the glimmer of multiple rings and necklaces.
Her voice, when it rings out over the glade is nigh hysterical. Rage, grief and terror warring in every syllable.
At that, you see her withdraw a cheaply dagger, decorated with a pendant wrapped around its hilt. She closes her eyes and slices open her palm, screaming in agony as she does so. A moment later, she drops out of sight, falling to her knees.
An ominous sound rings out over the glade, a living, earthen sound like roots tearing through hard-packed earth. Before you can react, three of the large protrusions on the great tree's truck explode outward in a sea of splinters and a pair of monstrous, gigantic spiders burst forth. Two begin scuttling directly toward Fodd, their eyes glowing a strange, emerald green while the other sprints sideways, heading for the treeline.
Ragnor, you remain hidden in the treeline watching this unfold.
((Roll initiative!))
Initiative: 15
Initiative (Corryn): 14
Initiative (Owl): 22
Made a mistake: Owl Initiative should have been +1, not +2 => 21
Intiative for Fodd: 19