Yulmiath enters the room and moves past it, stepping into the stair case leading outside and feasting his eyes on a large garden built right at the edge of the water.
Waves crash against a rocky promontory, built atop which is a spectacular, multilevel garden, its terraces overgrown with vegetation and hemmed in by stone walls with statues of sharks at their corners (stars on the map). Stone steps connect the lower terraces with the higher ones. Birds circle high above.
Built atop the highest terrace is an ornate, vine-draped gazebo flanked by palm trees. The floor of the gazebo is littered with colorful detritus, some of which sparkle against the sunlight. Cracked steps east of the gazebo rise to a landing in front of a set of doors carved to resemble a giant wave that parts in the middle.
MAP:
{LV-66}: Window. {LZ-63}: A separate set of double doors.
Kairus came to the entrance to the terrace but did not follow Yulmiath downstairs. As before, he was more interested in the interior of the "spooky house" rather than the nature around.
"Yulmiath, there are more doors down the corridor. And some caves - quite eye-catching too, I assure you. You sure you want to walk in the gardens now? What if there some other mama-lizard waiting for breakfast?"He did not think, of course, that some animal could anyhow endanger the Dragonborn, just hoped for the continuation of the Temple exploration.
(OOC: Not entirely sure how, but completely missed the update for this. -.-)
Hun grunted, but hadn't entirely looked as if he agreed with Yulmiath's assessment about resting spots. Rather he'd been so caught up glaring at some of the nesting birds suspiciously that most of anything anyone said for the past minute or so fell on deaf eardrums where it came to the kobold. But eventually his ire appears to wane as focus again returns to their surroundings. And though confused at first in seeing a lack of Dragonborn, a helpful gesture from Mr. Thicc is enough to spur the kobold into rushing along to at least spy Yulmiath from the top of the steps with construct companion doggedly following every step.
"For once Young Blue is speaking sense. Doubt we'll find much in the way of treasure out here though, and more in the way of trouble in lingering about."He admits. But as he turned to gaze about the rest of the area his expression turned thoughtful. "Hn... If not for the birds I'd say it'a be a decent enough spot. But nothing a little garden work couldn't fix over a couple weeks perhaps... BUT, that's neither here nor there. We should-..." But then he stops as he looked past the gazebo and just barely makes out the window. And against his better judgement both kobold and construct began making their way towards it, but not without giving the gazebo itself as wide a berth as possible along the way.
Unless stopped, it's only when he's about halfway from the stair intersection that he calls back, "Got a window over here. Gonna see if I can spy into that southern room from it. Carry on down the hall." With that said, onward he, construct, and transmogified scorpion continued until either obstacle or danger warranted reconsideration of the course.
"For once?! Grandpa, you wound my pride! No, my common sense... Nah, me as a whole!" While laying down his grievances, Kairus was watching Hun's maneuvers with growing curiosity. He made a few steps forward trying to see the window Hun was talking about. "If it's that thing way over there, I do not see any stairs leading to it. Still would say it's much easier to get there from inside."
To prove his words, he returned to the corridor and pushed/pulled the double doors leading to the same garden.
Yulmiath bows to the collective wisdom of the crowd. "Yeah, ok. Back to the corridor." Pointing to the large double doors, he adds, "See you on the other side."
Heading up through the garden, he gives the gazebo a quick once-over, primarily looking for some things or things with some value. Preferably both?
Assuming he finds something, he'll pocket it before moving onto the big double doors. Putting his shoulder to one to try pushing on it before grabbing it and shifting his weight to try pulling.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
DM's Screen:
D: 18 (s: 20) B: 22
Kairus tries to entice Yulmiath to continue exploring the temple from the inside. Although the dragonborn is willing to keep going, his curiosity still tells him to walk through the garden and meet the rest of the group by the large double doors he sees just yonder. Also curious, Hun accompanies the dragon born upon spotting a stray window which could deliver some information to the group before they enter the room it adorns.
Hun moves cautiously and gives the gazebo a wide berth, approaching the window from a low angle. While Mr. Thicc is distracted by passing lizards and other small animals, the artificer looks into the window from afar, at least for now. He sees plastered walls that are peeling, a bird flying indoors, and a clay urn that looks similar in shape to the fanged one from before but which is decoratively painted (the mimic wasn't).
By then, and accompanied by Krodhen and Rhogal, Kairus has come outside, checked the window, and moved back indoors to prove his point by pushing the double doors Yul had pointed at. They swing heavily outward, revealing a difference perspective onto the garden. This new vantage point gives the triton, half-orc, and dwarf trio a good view of an approaching dragonborn, who has been mesmerized by the detritus within the garden structure. The floor of the gazebo is littered with the lizard bones, blood hawk feathers, and two tortle shells. Among the remains, Yulmiath spots the unmistakable glint of precious stones. As he reaches for them, a tentacle reaches for him from the gazebo's ceiling.
As if this was not enough of a scare, part of the group has now been lingering in the garden's long enough to attract the attention of the birds flying up high. They could have been simple gulls going about their day, but that is not what Tymora, the Lady of Luck, had in store for the Snackers today. Still-leaving brethren of the fallen blood hawks within the gazebo swoom in for a kobold meal.
"Yulmiath, burds call! Get inside and let's fight them from here!" Kairus was sure Hun noticed the flying menace of the island himself, but Yul found something shiny in the gazebo. "I promise, we return to whatever you see in there, but now we need you here and we need you big!"
It was not just an encouragement, he meant it literally. With these words Yulmiath was supposed to feel familiar magic floating around him, making him bigger and stronger. (Plus Bardic Inspiration to Yulmiath)
(Silvery Barbs are ready if Yul or Hun get attacked through or fail some saves with an advantage given to Hun)
The group at the door reacts first. Kairus catches Yulmiath's attention and warns him of the nearby avian danger. In a somewhat puzzling move, the triton then both tells the dragonborn to rush indoors and makes him so large he might have difficulty walking through the threshold. Should the barbarian need it, the bard makes sure his words are laced with magical inspiration (Bardic Inspiration.)
Right behind Kairus, Rhogal sees no time to waste when it comes to attacking the recognizable blood hawks. This is not the first time this party has faced such birds, and they have learned not to hesitate. That said, the spores in the wind are coerced into being only mildly aggressive for now. (Blood Hawk#5 {LN-59} takes 2 necrotic damage.)
(@MuggsHill: I'm auto-piloting Krodhen for this turn.)
His cloak billowing,Krodhen secures a javelin, moves forward a little bit {LM-68}, and launches the projectile at the same bird Rhogal tried to incapacitate. It is a long shot, but the paladin doesn't want to risk anything more than a simple javelin should the group decide to follow Kairus's plan and head back inside.
(@MB: You are generally aware of the danger around you by now so I'll say that you are not surprised in this instance. Nonetheless, the decapus beat your passive perception, so its first attack against you is at advantage from being unseen.)
Krodhen's projectile flies in an arc that provides the targeted blood hawk plenty of time to avoid it.
Within the gazebo and unseen to all at first, a decapus whips nine of its tentacles at Yulmiath, trying to hold on to the dragonborn in order to secure a meal.
-> Should the attack hit, Yulmaith is considered grappled and restrained. Once/if restrained, the dacapus attempts to take a chunk out of the dragonborn:
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
The tentacles hit the barbarian hard, not only hurting him but also restricting his movement as they wrap around him. Nonetheless, Yulmiath struggles enough against the tentacles that the dacapus fails to sink his teeth into the dragonborn on its first attempt. (Yulmaith takes 19 bludgeoning damage.)
The blood hawks then swoop in for their meal, two of them failing to recognize that Mr. Thicc wouldn't be that tasty. They time their lingering swoops so that they crowd around their prey for added confusion:
Hun manages to defend himself from two birds, but two others are successful in drawing blood from the kobold. (Hun takes 9 piercing damage.)
Mr. Thicc's back plating is punctured through in two spots. (Mr. Thicc takes 9 damage.)
As the crimson birds fly back up, both Hun and Mr. Thicc have a chance to retaliate.
(Yulmiath and Hun are up next. The birds are no longer in their spots show in the map, but their general distances from targets and the ground remain the same.)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Reaction(Mr. Thicc): AoO vs 1st attacker to leave range. (Lethal)Force Rend - Attack: 19 Damage: 9 of Force.
Although he waved his shield about like a Madbold in trying to ward off attacks, the though hadn't even crossed the inventors mind to strike out with it as well for good measure at the retreating backside of some birds. Mr. Thicc had little such reservations except to shift grip on the octopus so that he may have the free hand to lash out with and do his inventor proud!
"Back, I say! Back! Ack! Mr. Thicc! Regroup at LS-63 and begin self-repair protocol!"He barked out while fishing out the skull tipped one and rushing closer to the double doors. But a direct course he refrains from taking, leery of being pulled into Yulmiath's madness. Instead from afar he eventually directs the wand and with a shout of "Bonitus!", tendrils of dark magic are sent flying out and try to both restrain and siphon the strength from the tentacled nightmare.
Action(Hun): Cast (5th level)Hold Monster on Decapus. Wis Save(DC 17) or be restrained.
Bonus Action(Hun): Command Mr. Thicc to self-repair.
Feeling himself grow magically larger, a smile is quickly wiped off Yulmaith's face as he is seized by a whole group of tenacles and held in place by them.
Feeling his blood boil, partly in response to his own stupidity: always check for ambush, especially from above, idiot! Yulmaith begins to RAGE. As he bristles agasint its clutches, sparks of bue energy rush along his skin and jump to the tentacles. (DC13 Dex save on the decapus or 6 lighting damage. Half damage on a save.)
Straining his already bulky muscles against the grip of the decapus, he attempts to break free of its clutches.
As Mr. Thicc whacks a passing hawk, an enlargedYulmiath, his head now almost touching the gazebo's ceiling, enters a state of battle rage. (Blood Hawk#1 takes 6 force damage.)
The dragonborn's rage manifests itself in the form of electric sparks. Despite its wiggling about, the decapus cannot avoid all of the little jolts arcing in its vicinity. (Decapus takes 3 lightning damage.)
The sparks give Yulmiath enough room to burst out of tentacles. Not having a second thought about backing away, the barbarian opens himself to a few more lashes. He moves no more than 5 feet before the tentacles re-grapples him. (Yulmiath takes 12 bludgeoning damage, already halved.)
Nearby, Hun orders Mr. Thicc to repair himself while avoiding more birds. Also backing away, the kobold puts his new wand to use. However, it seems the artificer may need to practice his wand-waving a bit more, given that the spell does not take hold. (Mr. Thicc recovers 14 HP.)
Yulmiath enters the room and moves past it, stepping into the stair case leading outside and feasting his eyes on a large garden built right at the edge of the water.
Waves crash against a rocky promontory, built atop which is a spectacular, multilevel garden, its terraces overgrown with vegetation and hemmed in by stone walls with statues of sharks at their corners (stars on the map). Stone steps connect the lower terraces with the higher ones. Birds circle high above.
Built atop the highest terrace is an ornate, vine-draped gazebo flanked by palm trees. The floor of the gazebo is littered with colorful detritus, some of which sparkle against the sunlight. Cracked steps east of the gazebo rise to a landing in front of a set of doors carved to resemble a giant wave that parts in the middle.
MAP:
{LV-66}: Window.
{LZ-63}: A separate set of double doors.
Kairus came to the entrance to the terrace but did not follow Yulmiath downstairs. As before, he was more interested in the interior of the "spooky house" rather than the nature around.
"Yulmiath, there are more doors down the corridor. And some caves - quite eye-catching too, I assure you. You sure you want to walk in the gardens now? What if there some other mama-lizard waiting for breakfast?" He did not think, of course, that some animal could anyhow endanger the Dragonborn, just hoped for the continuation of the Temple exploration.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
(OOC: Not entirely sure how, but completely missed the update for this. -.-)
Hun grunted, but hadn't entirely looked as if he agreed with Yulmiath's assessment about resting spots. Rather he'd been so caught up glaring at some of the nesting birds suspiciously that most of anything anyone said for the past minute or so fell on deaf eardrums where it came to the kobold. But eventually his ire appears to wane as focus again returns to their surroundings. And though confused at first in seeing a lack of Dragonborn, a helpful gesture from Mr. Thicc is enough to spur the kobold into rushing along to at least spy Yulmiath from the top of the steps with construct companion doggedly following every step.
"For once Young Blue is speaking sense. Doubt we'll find much in the way of treasure out here though, and more in the way of trouble in lingering about." He admits. But as he turned to gaze about the rest of the area his expression turned thoughtful. "Hn... If not for the birds I'd say it'a be a decent enough spot. But nothing a little garden work couldn't fix over a couple weeks perhaps... BUT, that's neither here nor there. We should-..." But then he stops as he looked past the gazebo and just barely makes out the window. And against his better judgement both kobold and construct began making their way towards it, but not without giving the gazebo itself as wide a berth as possible along the way.
Unless stopped, it's only when he's about halfway from the stair intersection that he calls back, "Got a window over here. Gonna see if I can spy into that southern room from it. Carry on down the hall." With that said, onward he, construct, and transmogified scorpion continued until either obstacle or danger warranted reconsideration of the course.
-Hun's Perception: 17.
-Mr. Thicc's Perception: 6.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"For once?! Grandpa, you wound my pride! No, my common sense... Nah, me as a whole!" While laying down his grievances, Kairus was watching Hun's maneuvers with growing curiosity. He made a few steps forward trying to see the window Hun was talking about. "If it's that thing way over there, I do not see any stairs leading to it. Still would say it's much easier to get there from inside."
To prove his words, he returned to the corridor and pushed/pulled the double doors leading to the same garden.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Yulmiath bows to the collective wisdom of the crowd. "Yeah, ok. Back to the corridor." Pointing to the large double doors, he adds, "See you on the other side."
Heading up through the garden, he gives the gazebo a quick once-over, primarily looking for some things or things with some value. Preferably both?
Investigation - 10
Assuming he finds something, he'll pocket it before moving onto the big double doors. Putting his shoulder to one to try pushing on it before grabbing it and shifting his weight to try pulling.
Athletics - 17
DM's Screen:
D: 18 (s: 20)
B: 22
Kairus tries to entice Yulmiath to continue exploring the temple from the inside. Although the dragonborn is willing to keep going, his curiosity still tells him to walk through the garden and meet the rest of the group by the large double doors he sees just yonder. Also curious, Hun accompanies the dragon born upon spotting a stray window which could deliver some information to the group before they enter the room it adorns.
Hun moves cautiously and gives the gazebo a wide berth, approaching the window from a low angle. While Mr. Thicc is distracted by passing lizards and other small animals, the artificer looks into the window from afar, at least for now. He sees plastered walls that are peeling, a bird flying indoors, and a clay urn that looks similar in shape to the fanged one from before but which is decoratively painted (the mimic wasn't).
By then, and accompanied by Krodhen and Rhogal, Kairus has come outside, checked the window, and moved back indoors to prove his point by pushing the double doors Yul had pointed at. They swing heavily outward, revealing a difference perspective onto the garden. This new vantage point gives the triton, half-orc, and dwarf trio a good view of an approaching dragonborn, who has been mesmerized by the detritus within the garden structure. The floor of the gazebo is littered with the lizard bones, blood hawk feathers, and two tortle shells. Among the remains, Yulmiath spots the unmistakable glint of precious stones. As he reaches for them, a tentacle reaches for him from the gazebo's ceiling.
As if this was not enough of a scare, part of the group has now been lingering in the garden's long enough to attract the attention of the birds flying up high. They could have been simple gulls going about their day, but that is not what Tymora, the Lady of Luck, had in store for the Snackers today. Still-leaving brethren of the fallen blood hawks within the gazebo swoom in for a kobold meal.
ROLLING INITIATIVE:
(Kairus, Rhogal, and Krodhen can take their turns.)
"Yulmiath, burds call! Get inside and let's fight them from here!" Kairus was sure Hun noticed the flying menace of the island himself, but Yul found something shiny in the gazebo. "I promise, we return to whatever you see in there, but now we need you here and we need you big!"
It was not just an encouragement, he meant it literally. With these words Yulmiath was supposed to feel familiar magic floating around him, making him bigger and stronger. (Plus Bardic Inspiration to Yulmiath)
(Silvery Barbs are ready if Yul or Hun get attacked through or fail some saves with an advantage given to Hun)
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
"By Moradin's beard, these things, again! Picoides!" Rhogal says as he targets the wings of the blood hawk by Yulmiath.
Flying fungus Attack: 15 Damage: 2
Extended Signature
The group at the door reacts first. Kairus catches Yulmiath's attention and warns him of the nearby avian danger. In a somewhat puzzling move, the triton then both tells the dragonborn to rush indoors and makes him so large he might have difficulty walking through the threshold. Should the barbarian need it, the bard makes sure his words are laced with magical inspiration (Bardic Inspiration.)
Right behind Kairus, Rhogal sees no time to waste when it comes to attacking the recognizable blood hawks. This is not the first time this party has faced such birds, and they have learned not to hesitate. That said, the spores in the wind are coerced into being only mildly aggressive for now. (Blood Hawk#5 {LN-59} takes 2 necrotic damage.)
(Krodhen's turn is still up.)
(@MuggsHill: I'm auto-piloting Krodhen for this turn.)
His cloak billowing, Krodhen secures a javelin, moves forward a little bit {LM-68}, and launches the projectile at the same bird Rhogal tried to incapacitate. It is a long shot, but the paladin doesn't want to risk anything more than a simple javelin should the group decide to follow Kairus's plan and head back inside.
-> Javelin vs. Blood Hawk#5 {LN-59} (range disadvantage): Attack: 11 Damage: 9
(@MB: You are generally aware of the danger around you by now so I'll say that you are not surprised in this instance. Nonetheless, the decapus beat your passive perception, so its first attack against you is at advantage from being unseen.)
Krodhen's projectile flies in an arc that provides the targeted blood hawk plenty of time to avoid it.
Within the gazebo and unseen to all at first, a decapus whips nine of its tentacles at Yulmiath, trying to hold on to the dragonborn in order to secure a meal.
-> Tentacles (9x) vs. Yulmiath (unseen attacker): Attack: 17 Damage: 19
-> Should the attack hit, Yulmaith is considered grappled and restrained. Once/if restrained, the dacapus attempts to take a chunk out of the dragonborn:
-> Bite vs. Yulmiath (restrained): Attack: 7 Damage: 9
The tentacles hit the barbarian hard, not only hurting him but also restricting his movement as they wrap around him. Nonetheless, Yulmiath struggles enough against the tentacles that the dacapus fails to sink his teeth into the dragonborn on its first attempt. (Yulmaith takes 19 bludgeoning damage.)
The blood hawks then swoop in for their meal, two of them failing to recognize that Mr. Thicc wouldn't be that tasty. They time their lingering swoops so that they crowd around their prey for added confusion:
-> Beak vs. Hun: Attack: 20 Damage: 5
-> Beak vs. Hun: Attack: 17 Damage: 4
-> Beak vs. Hun: Attack: 16 Damage: 3
-> Beak vs. Hun: Attack: 23 Damage: 6
-> Beak vs. Mr. Thicc: Attack: 11 Damage: 4
-> Beak vs. Mr. Thicc: Attack: 18 Damage: 5
Hun manages to defend himself from two birds, but two others are successful in drawing blood from the kobold. (Hun takes 9 piercing damage.)
Mr. Thicc's back plating is punctured through in two spots. (Mr. Thicc takes 9 damage.)
As the crimson birds fly back up, both Hun and Mr. Thicc have a chance to retaliate.
(Yulmiath and Hun are up next. The birds are no longer in their spots show in the map, but their general distances from targets and the ground remain the same.)
REACTION
-> Silvery Barbs roll on the "tentacles attack": 16
Reaction(Mr. Thicc): AoO vs 1st attacker to leave range.
(Lethal)Force Rend - Attack: 19 Damage: 9 of Force.
Although he waved his shield about like a Madbold in trying to ward off attacks, the though hadn't even crossed the inventors mind to strike out with it as well for good measure at the retreating backside of some birds. Mr. Thicc had little such reservations except to shift grip on the octopus so that he may have the free hand to lash out with and do his inventor proud!
"Back, I say! Back! Ack! Mr. Thicc! Regroup at LS-63 and begin self-repair protocol!" He barked out while fishing out the skull tipped one and rushing closer to the double doors. But a direct course he refrains from taking, leery of being pulled into Yulmiath's madness. Instead from afar he eventually directs the wand and with a shout of "Bonitus!", tendrils of dark magic are sent flying out and try to both restrain and siphon the strength from the tentacled nightmare.
Action(Hun): Cast (5th level)Hold Monster on Decapus. Wis Save(DC 17) or be restrained.
Bonus Action(Hun): Command Mr. Thicc to self-repair.
Movement(Hun): To LT-62.
Movement(Mr. Thicc): To LS-63.
Action(Mr. Thicc): Self-Repair Protocol, regaining 14 Hp.
Future Reaction(Mr. Thicc): Deflect Attack vs 1st one targeting Hun.
Future Reaction(Hun): Cast (1st level)Barrier vs 1st attack to hit that can be avoided.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Feeling himself grow magically larger, a smile is quickly wiped off Yulmaith's face as he is seized by a whole group of tenacles and held in place by them.
Feeling his blood boil, partly in response to his own stupidity: always check for ambush, especially from above, idiot! Yulmaith begins to RAGE. As he bristles agasint its clutches, sparks of bue energy rush along his skin and jump to the tentacles. (DC13 Dex save on the decapus or 6 lighting damage. Half damage on a save.)
Straining his already bulky muscles against the grip of the decapus, he attempts to break free of its clutches.
I want to break free - 24
If he succeeds, Yulmaith will use any remaining movement to stand up and back away from the gazebo.
DM's Screen:
DEX save {DC 13}: 3
WIS save {DC 17}: 3
-> Opportunity Attack vs. Yulmiath: Attack: 15 Damage: 22
As Mr. Thicc whacks a passing hawk, an enlarged Yulmiath, his head now almost touching the gazebo's ceiling, enters a state of battle rage. (Blood Hawk#1 takes 6 force damage.)
The dragonborn's rage manifests itself in the form of electric sparks. Despite its wiggling about, the decapus cannot avoid all of the little jolts arcing in its vicinity. (Decapus takes 3 lightning damage.)
The sparks give Yulmiath enough room to burst out of tentacles. Not having a second thought about backing away, the barbarian opens himself to a few more lashes. He moves no more than 5 feet before the tentacles re-grapples him. (Yulmiath takes 12 bludgeoning damage, already halved.)
Nearby, Hun orders Mr. Thicc to repair himself while avoiding more birds. Also backing away, the kobold puts his new wand to use. However, it seems the artificer may need to practice his wand-waving a bit more, given that the spell does not take hold. (Mr. Thicc recovers 14 HP.)
END OF INITIATIVE ROUND 1
(Kairus, Rhogal, and Krodhen can take their turns.)