Princes of the Apocalypse, Game Thread

Randall takes advantage of the break to bind his wounds and remove and refasten his chainmail armor and shield.  Everything back where it belongs, he makes small talk with the group to calm his nerves before the battles to come.

Olaerys nods to the knights, and after securing the prisoner sits down to rest, massaging the spot where the monks kicked him, tending to cuts and bruises.  After resting briefly he stands and readies his battle axe, looks to the group and the knights to see when they are ready to reenter.  

Ankita rests up against a tree, closing her eyes letting the breeze flow over her.  Feeling her body supplemented by nature as she rests, listening to her friends converse until they are ready to go.

After an hour or so, Sandre stands and nods to the monestary. "Let us do this. Show us where you found these foul creatures and we will root out their source together". He and his 2 knights walk towards the building, shields at the ready.

Shrek proudly leads the two knights to the side door, quietly listening through the door before slowly opening it up to lead them inside the building.

Perception: 16

Ankita follows behind the knights, ready for an attack after they have been out for a bit.

Perception 18

Randall offers to join the first knights through the door, ready to offer protection with his shield and reaction to any sneak attacks from waiting ambushers.

Sandre and his knights follow you into the monastery,  letting you lead. They are clearly taken aback by the level of carnage but do their best to hide it.

As you get to the hallway where the fierce battle with the duergar played out, Shrek senses nothing except the remaining smells from dinner.

Ankita senses nothing in particular but an odd quietness, like a calm before a storm.

Olaerys takes Sandre after the Duergar to the room where their bunks were, pointing out that these monks were keeping Duergar in their monastery.  Also, he points out the note that was found and the translation from Melchor.  "Look at this note.  It says :"

Hellenrae pays you well. You know our fruits here will be ripe. Complain more, or harass the monks further and you will be replaced by cheaper options. You have seen the price of betrayal. Do not push us further.

Qarbo

"Let's keep searching."  Olaerys comes down the long hallway, along the southern portion of the map heading east.  He stops and listens at the door at the end of that hallway.  

Perception :  6 

Continually hungry, Shrek's stomach growls loudly...so loudly that it appears to distract Olaerys as he was listening at the door.  "...sowwy" he whispers in apology.

Sandre's eyebrows raise. "I do not know who Qarbo is but Hellenrae is the head monk here. It is effectively her monestary. This seems to confirm that not all here is on the level"

Olaerys does not hear anything at the door 

Olaerys opens the door quickly and assumes a defensive posture.  

Ankita nods at the knights assessment of the note that Olaerys showed them.  "And it isn't typical for monks to attack either, no?"

She follows Olaerys through the door at the end of the hallway, ready for whatever may be in there.

This austere hall is finished in irregular blocks of dark basalt that form natural columns along the walls. The doors of the monastery’s front entrance face south, while interior doors lead east and west. An interior courtyard lies just to the north of this room, visible through a pair of narrow windows. (You entered from the west)

Patrolling the hall are 2 Monks and a large, imposing humanoid ripped with muscles and the head of a bull. A Minotaur. Upon hearing the door open, it let's loose a terrifying cry and lowers its head, ready to charge.

Monks: 19

Minotaur: 20

Shrek: 4

Ankita: 11

Melchor: 20

Olaerys: 3

Randall: 2

Knights: 1

Roll off!

Minotaur:4

Melchor: 10

Melchor is up, then baddies, then the rest. Knights will go last.

'They have a Minotaur!' Melchor exclaims in surprise - but given his current levels of paranoia he is already reacting as he sees the Minotaur and the Monks... He stretches out his fingers from his position at the back of the group, muttering several arcane words, ending in a sibilant '...sleeeeeeep...'

(Melchor has cast Sleep on the group of adversaries, affecting 31 hp of opponents)

One of the monks falls asleep and slumps to the floor. The other, not accustomed to being around a Minotaur freezes at the sight of the thing. She quickly recovers and takes a defensive stance.

The Minotaur charges full speed at Olaerys, head lowered (DM aside: this may hurt. May the odds be ever in your favor).

Attack: 18 Damage: 20

 (Ouch. Gunna need a strength save)

Olaerys strength save :  20 

Olaerys braces and is able to stop from being launched backwards, which surely would have been catastrophic. Unfortunately he takes the Minotaurs horns full on, feeling the sharp points go through his armor like butter.

Being brought up by friendly and outgoing parents, Shrek was always taught to say hi to cows when their cart passed by the friendly beasts in the farms outside his village.  So, whilst smiling, he lets out a long, mocking “moooooooo!” when attacking the half bull/half human beast-

Halberd Attack: 18 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll.