You are entering from the West (Left). The shrieker mushrooms are those two shaded areas in the narrow hallway.
The smell of brimstone and foul chemicals emanates from this large chamber. The light of campfires shows a natural platform where five derro are droning a cacophonous chant. A two-headed dog stirs inside a cage, while another derro nearby plays with a crossbow and watches the dog nervously.
A green glow rises suddenly from a magic circle at the center of the platform, where a small humanoid statue is the focus of the chanting ritual. As you watch, a lump sprouts from the statue’s neck, enlarging and reshaping itself with each unholy verse to take the form of a second head.
It is around this statue that you see the derro chanting and moving together. One derro, with a pointed cap, and a long dark beard, yells out "DEMOGORGON!"and you see the second head on the statue begin to take finer shape.
Oorr makes a sign to Zippy to stay there hidden on the ceiling.
Oorr then goes back to the party explaining the plan to party: they must take down the shriekers first, at the same time and from a distance. Also, Oorr asks privately Rumpadump to stay behind and check on Droki.
Grimnir is aiming for the same mushroom than Oorr and release a bolt: light crossbow16 damage 6
Jimjar takes his daggers out and quietly target the other mushroom dagger 1: 22 damage 6 dagger2:22 damage 4 sneak attack: damage 8
Note: I notice only after rolling but since it's >30ft, Jimjar will use it's shortbow instead of dagger... damage should be a little higher but nevertheless , Mushroom is probably already dead...
Taking care not to get too close, or send any lit objects near the shriekers, you are able to take them all out after a few rounds of ranged attacks with crossbow bolts and arrows. You reduce the fungi to a mess of spores, seemingly without drawing the attention of the cultists, or the dog in the cage.
Leaving Rumpadump to watch Droki and make sure he doesn't interfere, you proceed into the cavern.
(OOG Since you're about to enter, let's go ahead and have everyone Roll Initiative!)
For the first round, the monsters are surprised, and will not act on their turns. You have advantage on attacks against creatures that have not been attacked. (So for example, if Valrish attacks a derro, he gets advantage, but if Oorr attacks the same derro on his turn, he does not get advantage.)
From where you are entering the cave, you can see the Death Dog in the cage, It is laying down, and peering at something in the Eastern side of the cavern. The derro next to the cage has his attention on the chanting derro up on the platform, and appears to be nervous, slightly sweating with a frown on his face. You can't see the derro on the platform to the right, but Oorr can give you relative positions based on his scouting.
Round 1 20 Death Dog 18 Valrish/Eldeth 12 Oorr/Zippy 11 Derro (1 by cage, and 4 on platform) 09 Belwar/Derendil 08 Grimnir/Jimjar 08 Narrak
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Valrish and Eldeth run straight through the corridor. Eldeth stops at the opening of the corridor and takes her position to fire two arrows, but Valrish keeps on running, getting closer to the mesa where the magic circle glows.
Eldeth attack (longbow) at the derro by the cage: Attack: 13 Damage: 4 Attack: 24 Damage: 10
Before he even has a chance to scream, the derro standing by the cage receives two crossbow bolts to the neck and drops dead to the floor. The death dog's attention is drawn back from whatever it was starting at, and it jumps up, pushing forward against the cage bars to sniff at the now deceased derro.
Round 1 20 Death Dog 18 Valrish/Eldeth 12 Oorr/Zippy 11 Derro (4 on platform) 09 Belwar/Derendil 08 Grimnir/Jimjar 08 Narrak
Grimnir is running as fast as he can to the stairs and takes cover under the platform. (Ooc: full dash 90ft - btw, Grimnir is still enlarge due to his mushroom I guess)
Jimjar is staying close to the wall, moves 20ft, releases 2 arrows against the closest derro, and disapear in the shadow (bonus action) shortbow 1: 17 damage 4 shortbow 2 (multiattack):21 damage 3 sneak attack: damage 6 Stealth: 21 (if target is too far, Jimjar will bonus action dash instead of hiding)
I charge forward, conjure a flaming sphere on Narrak's position, and snap at Derendil to attack.
Derendil charges the nearest derro, swinging at its head. 23 and 20 to hit, dealing 7 and 6 damage.
(OOG Delaying these actions until next round, as you are too far away to reach the derro or Narrak on this round)
Another derro drops suddenly as Jimjar's arrows strike through her back. The chanting stops abruptly. "DEMOG... er, what?" stutters Narrak as he suddenly notices the intruders. As the other derro turn and ready their weapons, Narrak recovers from his surprised."Grula-Munga!"he shouts, "Kill these intruders so we may continue the ritual!"
From a recessed alcove to the side of the ritual circle you hear stomping as a large-two head creature carrying a massive battleaxe in one hand, and a morning star in the other rounds the corner, coming into view at the edge of the platform. "Intruders?! Where!?" says the left head. "There, idiot, they're right in front of you!"replies the right head.
The death dog, now seeing the intruders for the first time begins barking from both heads simultaneously and starts biting at the door of the cage. Attack 1 on cage: Attack: 21 Damage: 5 Attack 2 on cage: Attack: 8 Damage: 4
Though the cage is made of metal, the latch is a simple wooden bar, and you can see it strain under the dog's bites and lunging at the door. It holds it for now, but will not hold much longer.
Round 2 20 Death Dog 18 Valrish/Eldeth 13 Ettin 12 Oorr/Zippy 11 Derro (3 on platform) 09 Belwar/Derendil 08 Grimnir/Jimjar 08 Narrak
OOC, Ok, so if there is enough height to fly beyond the 30 feet of the shriekers...
Oorr will signal Zippy to stop there, while he will go a bit further in the cavern to see what is inside and who is shouting.
Oorr Stealth check 16
Zippy Stealth check 18
You are entering from the West (Left). The shrieker mushrooms are those two shaded areas in the narrow hallway.
It is around this statue that you see the derro chanting and moving together. One derro, with a pointed cap, and a long dark beard, yells out "DEMOGORGON!" and you see the second head on the statue begin to take finer shape.
Oorr makes a sign to Zippy to stay there hidden on the ceiling.
Oorr then goes back to the party explaining the plan to party: they must take down the shriekers first, at the same time and from a distance. Also, Oorr asks privately Rumpadump to stay behind and check on Droki.
Once the party is in position, Oorr loses a bolt.
Attack: 11 Damage: 7
Grimnir is aiming for the same mushroom than Oorr and release a bolt:
light crossbow 16 damage 6
Jimjar takes his daggers out and quietly target the other mushroom
dagger 1: 22 damage 6
dagger2: 22 damage 4
sneak attack: damage 8
Note: I notice only after rolling but since it's >30ft, Jimjar will use it's shortbow instead of dagger... damage should be a little higher but nevertheless , Mushroom is probably already dead...
Currently Playing: Regdus Ironfist (Greyhawk) Lvl 1 Storm Sorcerer ; Goraseth Drerjoxian (Icespeak) Lvl 3 Paladin Oath of Glory; Lerak (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight) Lvl 3 Barbarian Wild Magic
In Pause: Grimnir " Shadow-Feet", Lv 11 Owner of "The Basilisk & the Monk" (OotA) - Kurma Kappa, Lv 8 Priest of Oghma (ToA)
Currently DM'ing: Princes of Apocalypse >> Tomb of Annihilation
(OOG Going to move this along...)
Taking care not to get too close, or send any lit objects near the shriekers, you are able to take them all out after a few rounds of ranged attacks with crossbow bolts and arrows. You reduce the fungi to a mess of spores, seemingly without drawing the attention of the cultists, or the dog in the cage.
Leaving Rumpadump to watch Droki and make sure he doesn't interfere, you proceed into the cavern.
(OOG Since you're about to enter, let's go ahead and have everyone Roll Initiative!)
Oorr Initiative 12
Monster Initiative Rolls:
Derro (x5) - 11
Narrak - 8
Death Dog - 20
Initiative Grimnir/Jimjar: 8
OOC: just double checking, the dog is locked in the cage , isn't it ? with 1 derro close to it ?
Currently Playing: Regdus Ironfist (Greyhawk) Lvl 1 Storm Sorcerer ; Goraseth Drerjoxian (Icespeak) Lvl 3 Paladin Oath of Glory; Lerak (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight) Lvl 3 Barbarian Wild Magic
In Pause: Grimnir " Shadow-Feet", Lv 11 Owner of "The Basilisk & the Monk" (OotA) - Kurma Kappa, Lv 8 Priest of Oghma (ToA)
Currently DM'ing: Princes of Apocalypse >> Tomb of Annihilation
Valrish Initiative: 18
PbP Characters
Valrish (Dragonborn // Barbarian 6) - Out of the Abyss - play by post
PbP DMing
SPANISH - Storm King's Thunder
Initiative: 9
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Tooltips (Help/aid)
For the first round, the monsters are surprised, and will not act on their turns. You have advantage on attacks against creatures that have not been attacked. (So for example, if Valrish attacks a derro, he gets advantage, but if Oorr attacks the same derro on his turn, he does not get advantage.)
From where you are entering the cave, you can see the Death Dog in the cage, It is laying down, and peering at something in the Eastern side of the cavern. The derro next to the cage has his attention on the chanting derro up on the platform, and appears to be nervous, slightly sweating with a frown on his face. You can't see the derro on the platform to the right, but Oorr can give you relative positions based on his scouting.
Round 1
20 Death Dog
18 Valrish/Eldeth
12 Oorr/Zippy
11 Derro (1 by cage, and 4 on platform)
09 Belwar/Derendil
08 Grimnir/Jimjar
08 Narrak
Valrish and Eldeth run straight through the corridor. Eldeth stops at the opening of the corridor and takes her position to fire two arrows, but Valrish keeps on running, getting closer to the mesa where the magic circle glows.
Eldeth attack (longbow) at the derro by the cage:
Attack: 13 Damage: 4
Attack: 24 Damage: 10
Advantage roll for the second attack: 21
PbP Characters
Valrish (Dragonborn // Barbarian 6) - Out of the Abyss - play by post
PbP DMing
SPANISH - Storm King's Thunder
Oorr will advance behind Valrish, losing a bolt from the trusted crossbow toward the same derro Eldeth just hit.
Attack: 25 Damage: 7
Zippy moves forward a bit as well, silently on the ceiling.
Before he even has a chance to scream, the derro standing by the cage receives two crossbow bolts to the neck and drops dead to the floor. The death dog's attention is drawn back from whatever it was starting at, and it jumps up, pushing forward against the cage bars to sniff at the now deceased derro.
Round 1
20 Death Dog
18 Valrish/Eldeth
12 Oorr/Zippy
11 Derro (4 on platform)
09 Belwar/Derendil
08 Grimnir/Jimjar
08 Narrak
Grimnir is running as fast as he can to the stairs and takes cover under the platform. (Ooc: full dash 90ft - btw, Grimnir is still enlarge due to his mushroom I guess)
Jimjar is staying close to the wall, moves 20ft, releases 2 arrows against the closest derro, and disapear in the shadow (bonus action)
shortbow 1: 17 damage 4
shortbow 2 (multiattack): 21 damage 3
sneak attack: damage 6
Stealth: 21 (if target is too far, Jimjar will bonus action dash instead of hiding)
Currently Playing: Regdus Ironfist (Greyhawk) Lvl 1 Storm Sorcerer ; Goraseth Drerjoxian (Icespeak) Lvl 3 Paladin Oath of Glory; Lerak (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight) Lvl 3 Barbarian Wild Magic
In Pause: Grimnir " Shadow-Feet", Lv 11 Owner of "The Basilisk & the Monk" (OotA) - Kurma Kappa, Lv 8 Priest of Oghma (ToA)
Currently DM'ing: Princes of Apocalypse >> Tomb of Annihilation
I charge forward, conjure a flaming sphere on Narrak's position, and snap at Derendil to attack.
Derendil charges the nearest derro, swinging at its head. 23 and 20 to hit, dealing 7 and 6 damage.
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Tooltips (Help/aid)
Another derro drops suddenly as Jimjar's arrows strike through her back. The chanting stops abruptly. "DEMOG... er, what?" stutters Narrak as he suddenly notices the intruders. As the other derro turn and ready their weapons, Narrak recovers from his surprised. "Grula-Munga!" he shouts, "Kill these intruders so we may continue the ritual!"
Initiative for the Ettin: 13
The death dog, now seeing the intruders for the first time begins barking from both heads simultaneously and starts biting at the door of the cage.
Attack 1 on cage: Attack: 21 Damage: 5
Attack 2 on cage: Attack: 8 Damage: 4
Though the cage is made of metal, the latch is a simple wooden bar, and you can see it strain under the dog's bites and lunging at the door. It holds it for now, but will not hold much longer.
20 Death Dog
18 Valrish/Eldeth
13 Ettin
12 Oorr/Zippy
11 Derro (3 on platform)
09 Belwar/Derendil
08 Grimnir/Jimjar
08 Narrak
Valrish runs towards the platform, jumping up to where the ettin is standing and hitting him with both his shortswords after raging:
Attack: 16 Damage: 12
Attack: 8 Damage: 6
Eldeth shoots at the dog in the cage, hoping to get some shots between the bars:
Attack: 7 Damage: 6
Attack: 12 Damage: 3
PbP Characters
Valrish (Dragonborn // Barbarian 6) - Out of the Abyss - play by post
PbP DMing
SPANISH - Storm King's Thunder