Ghosts of Saltmarsh by Dylanthalas

Wake’s Initiative (with advantage due to Vigilant Blessing): 4

The initiative order is as follows:

Wake

Kulogall

Ariana

Scout 1

Gorik

Ruby

Elwyn

Scout 2

Daveth

Wake is up, followed by Kulogall!

Re-posting most recent narrative point: The path continues eastward and at a slight decline for another 20ft before forking again. The eastern passage is still lit by flickering torches along the walls and the sounds of conversation can still be heard in that direction. The southern passage offers only darkness and silence. As Ruby tries to make room for Ariana in the tight space, her new longsword scrapes loudly against the wall. A curse is heard coming from the east followed by a different voice that says, "See to it that they aren't trying to escape. Make an example if you have to, but don't kill any of them. They need to be alive and in decent enough condition if we want to make any coin on them." The rough voice from before replies, "Gladly. That dragonborn fella could use a good kickin' or two. I don't like the way 'e looks at me, all proud and defiant-like." The other voice replies, "Take Alvor with you, just in case. Our dragonborn guest is a big one and I don't need him running loose." You then hear the sounds of more than one person making their way down the east tunnel in your direction!

Wake will advance to a position just East of Kulogall and North of Elwyn (allowing a path to retreat should those in front wish it).

Action: Ready an action to cast Sacred Flame to trigger if a scout enters sight and threatens anyone in the party.

DC 13 or: 1 radiant damage.

Kulogall is up!

Kulogall takes a deep breath and steps forward.  “Channel Xolo, channel Xolo” he thinks to himself in his mind.  He strides forward and heads down the eastern path, letting a grouchy Xolo/Kulogall manner come out.  “God dammit, where the hell is Sanbalet?  I have these new recruits and he’s going to f&$@ this whole thing up.  Has the signal been sent?  Has anyone seen the ship?”  He strides forward, puffed out and angry, seeking to intimidate/persuade/confuse the minions that have been sent to deal with them.  

Intimidation :  24 

Kulogall - The two men round the corner and visibly startle when they see you marching toward them. They look to one another with wide eyes, then back to you. The lead man has a bushy grey and black beard and the man behind him has brown stubble and a leather cap. The bearded man stammers as he says, "S-Sanbalet's in the store room, Sir." and he points a thumb over his shoulder back down the passage he came from. Leather cap says, "The next ship ain't supposed to come fer 'nother three days." Then quickly adds, "Sir." The bearded man says, "New recruits?" and he stands on his toes to peer around you, "I didn't know we was gettin' new recruits..." Leather cap smacks him and says, "We could fill a hull with all you don't know. Quit wastin' 'is time. We was goin' to check on the prisoners Xolo Sir, they was makin' a ruckus. Sanbalet's back in the store room." And the two begin filing past you toward the south passage.

Ariana is up!

Ariana will hold her position and wait for a sign from Kulogall, or an act of aggression from the bandits toward her or her friends. Her eyes watch them head South. She'll also mock deference to Kulogall.

Deception if necessary 13 

Ready action: Quarterstaff attack

Ariana - The men file by keeping their gazes at their feet until they pass Kulogall. The bearded man steals a quick glance at you as he passes. He quickly looks away and continues down the southern passage.

Scout 1 - The bearded man heads down the southern passage.

Gorik - Over the past few days you've been trying to bend the gate to your cage with your legs. You've managed to get it pretty far and you think it might break open with a strong enough leg press. You strain in the darkness and rust flakes shower down on you. Suddenly you hear someone coming and withdraw into the corner of your cage. A couple of the men responsible for your capture are in the chamber next to yours checking on the other prisoners. You think you might have time to give the cage another good press before they get to the chamber your cage is in.

Go ahead and make an Athletics check to see if you can burst free. You have Advantage on the check if you are raging, which would negate the Disadvantage imposed by your two levels of exhaustion.

Gorik weighs his options in his mind, "This seems to be the best moment to break these cursed shackles. I need a plan. I can't escape alone, or can I?" Gorik inhales slowly but earnestly as he gets into position for a final push against the bars of imprisonment. With a crescendo-like growl, he activates a burning anger from within. Rage activated to break the cage. 14

Gorik - The rusty bars give a bit, but in your exhausted state your legs give out before you can widen the hole.

You can try again next round if you'd like.

Ruby is up!

Ruby will also hold her position, pulling her hood up and waiting for the two men to pass around them. She will keep a hand on a dagger in her pocket if anything goes wrong.

Elwyn chuckles quietly in the back, enjoying the acting of Kulogall, readying his wand if things should go south.
Readied Eldritch blast to use if spotting aggressive adversary: 25 Damage: 7

Bandit 2 will follow Bandit 1 down the southern passage.

Daveth will keep an eye out for any threats from the rear.

Action: Ready, Multi-Attack - Longsword

Attack: 15 Damage: 8

Attack: 4 Damage: 4

ROUND 2

Wake is up!

Wake now wonders if Kulogall and Xolo are twins, unless some kind of illusion was cast that he missed. That would be interesting. He decides to play the part of a “new recruit” and will await instructions from Kulogall/Xolo. (Anticipating movement to follow the scouts down the south passage)

Xologall is up!

Kulogall keeps walking forward, but much slower.  As soon as the two scouts get out of range of earshot and vision, Kulogall turns to Ruby and Ariana, whispers “Worked for them, won’t for Sanbalet.  Let’s chop the head off the snake. I will walk toward the door and confuse him for a second, everyone else hit him quickly, follow right after me, ok?  Pass it along.”  

Kulogall then becomes Xologall again, starts marching along the eastern passage toward the storage room.  Said like Xolo, “Dammit Sanbalet, what is up with the prisoners?  Do I have to do everything here?  If you had a brain you would be dangerous.  Sanbalet, get your ass out here, now!”  

Right after he says that, he stands behind the door to the room, his back against the wall.  After Sanbalet walks through the door, Kulogall will close it behind him and we will beat the crap out of him.

Kulogall - The passage is still declining slightly as you march down it. Your voice echoes loudly in the confines. When you turn the corner and find the 'storage room' you see that it has no door. This cavern, like the passage leading to it, is well lit by torches held in simple iron brackets around the walls. You can see five small bolts of cloth stacked against the wall to your left, and to your right are eight small casks in a neat row. You also see five figures standing in the cavern as well. A tall robed man with piercing green eyes and a shaved head stands between two humans in leather armor. Two other figures stand near the casks, also humanoid but definitely not human. These two are large and well built with long black hair and deep red skin. They each carry a longsword and shield and you can see they also both wear chain shirts. The bald man takes one look at you and says, "I don't know who you are, but you are not Xolo." He barks something in a primitive language and the two hobgoblins draw steel and round on you. The two humans on either side of him draw longbows and take aim. "Try not to ruin my coat if you can, otherwise kill this fool!"

Sanbalet Initiative: 6

Hobgoblin 1 (Red Outline) Initiative: 21

Hobgoblin 2 Initiative: 20

Scout 3 Initiative: 16

Scout 4 Initiative: 13

Initiative order is as follows:

Wake

Hobgoblin 1 (Red Outline)

Scout 4

Kulogall

Hobgoblin 2

Ariana

Scout 1

Gorik

Scout 3

Ruby

Elwyn

Scout 2

Daveth

Sanbalet

Hobgoblin 2 will immediately move over to Kulogall and attempt to strike him with its longsword. The attack misses, drawing sparks from the cave wall as the sword scrapes against it.

Attack: 8 Damage: 9

Ariana is up!

Ariana hears the commotion and runs to back up Kulogall. She'll run next to (and south of) Kulogall. She swings away at the attacking hobgoblin with her quarterstaff and follows it up with a kick to the knee.

Movement (of 40ft) to south of Kulogall

Quarterstaff Attack: 21 Bludgeoning Damage: 4 

Unarmed strike kick Attack: 21 Bludgeoning Damage: 4 

Ariana - Your quarterstaff cracks the hobgoblin viciously across the face. Its knee crumples beneath your foot and the hobgoblin goes down hard, striking its head on the rocky wall on the way down and doesn't move.

Hobgoblin 2 is DEAD.

Scout 1 will hear the commotion and run back toward the storage room. He sees Ariana cut down the Hobgoblin and targets her with his longbow. The arrow lodges deeply below her right shoulder blade.

Attack: 9 Damage: 4

Gorik is up!