Varielky leaps onto the aerie landing and makes it as far as N16, while Snow taunts crossbowman #4 and ducks into the fog. (OOC: there are no rules for running while blinded. Let's say, if you move more than ½ your movement through the fog on this smooth floor, make a DEX10 save or stumble and fall prone.)
Py moves to P18, ceiling height (the ceiling, I mentioned before, is 20’ high), where Py can see the Lieutenant, the Nurses, and Guards #3 and #4.
Benita, taking her lead from Varielky, leaps and rolls, then at the last moment springs up to attack the crossbowman Snow taunted, noting a dark panic in his eyes causing him to barely notice her approach. He tries to parry her, fumblingly, with his crossbow, she fences circles around him, lunges, and he falls.
Tamazaert follows Benita with her short sword drawn and slashes at the guard woman who spoke to you, #1, who deflects the blow ably with her shield.
Granophyre ducks into the fog beside Snow.
Crossbowman #4 looses another bolt at Varielky, but it goes wide, and he then backs up to get a clearer shot. Guard #3 charges forward and strikes Varielky with a 22 for 6HP damage, thrusting with his ornate spear.
Guard #1’s spear thrust is parried easily by Benita.
The last Nurse makes it up the stairs, and the Lieutenant, who sees Benita and Tamazaert but not Varielky, moves forward in a defensive stance, shouting angrily for his fallen man-at-arms.
Varielky looks down at the wound made by the spear. That's what you get for having little tocno protection for your shins. On the other hand, it wasn't life-threatening on its own, either. What bothered her most was that she was attacked this many times, without being given a chance to draw her sword. She looks up again, an annoyed expression on her face. "You should have waited a few more seconds."
A red-steel blade is drawn, and a mark appears on Varielky's forehead. The guard isn't given much time to inspect it, though, as Varielky quickly retaliates with two quick attacks. On the first Varielky misjudges the distance, and the blade slashes against the armour. Unsure whether she also hurt the guard or not, Varielky follows it up with the second attack, a well-aimed one, which (I assume) definitely did draw blood.
Varielky doesn't bother to check, though. She's annoyed, the encounter with Abadolla still hangs heavy on her mind, and the guards clearly had set their priorities such that honorous fighting wasn't near the top. She slams her shield onto the guard's face to knock him away, and without even checking whether he lives yet or not, she runs towards the next guard. Those crossbows were a nuisance.
Action: Attack guard #3.
Attack #1: 5+10=15 to hit, 3+9=12 damage.
Attack #2: 14+10=24 to hit, 2+9=11 damage.
BA: Shield Shove to knock #3 5' away to P-15. Athletics: 17+8=25.
Move: To N-10, even if #3 is still alive and even if he wasn't knocked away.
{Previous round: Fog movement saving throw: 18 +2 = 20.}
I think we will support Varielky to start and then go have a look at what Benita and the others are up to. Come further into the area.
Sitting in place for the moment and looking through Py's eyes, Auger sees the two guards that Varielky opposes. He thinks about trying to angle blasts using Py's eyes but cannot imagine which way to point his blasts without the direct line. So instead, with Py's vision, Auger reaches into the minds of the two guards he can see and, drawing extra power, exposes their perceptions to the Sea of Stars, ever so briefly, hoping to stun them into a troubled sleep.
Details
Py moves to K8 at ceiling height, taking the Dash action to get there.
Auger Action: Through Py's eyes, Auger senses multiple targets from which he will expend a sorcery point to Twin Mind Sliver to cast on two of them. The target priority order is #3 (if still standing), then #4 and then #L. DC18 INT saving throw for the targets or takes 6 points of psychic damage and subtracts 1d4 from the next saving throw before the end of Auger's next turn. Auger's usual intention with this spell is to knock out, rather than kill.
Varielky’s first blow does not penetrate the guard’s defenses, but the second connects squarely, piercing his mail armor and drawing blood. Her shield bash drives him clattering to the ground, dropping his weapon. He scrabbles backwards on all fours to recollect his spear, fear in his eyes.
As the shield-maiden advances toward the second crossbow man, Auger’s Mind Slivers drive into Guards #3 and #4, and they both drop their weapons, clutching their heads in agony, and curl into writhing balls, teeth grinding in pain.
(Snow is up. OOC: Guards #1, #3 and Lieutenant are AC16 (mail with shields). Guard #4 AC14 (no shield).)
Snow once again moves west to get a picture of what is happening. Seeing Benita and Tamazaert have felled the one guard and are engaged with another, he turns his attention to the Lieutenant beyond them.
Aware of the fact that he had used a lot of his magical energy prior to this encounter, and that he would need more later if they were to escape, he once again conserves what he has left.
"You have lost, surrender or your fate will be decided by blood and pain, and you really don't want that", he calls out to the Lieutenant before once again concealing himself within the fog.
Movement: 20' West to E15 Action: Cast Vicious Mockery on the Lieutenant. DC 18 Wis save or take 4 damage and have disadvantage on next attack. Movement: 10' North-East to G13
Snow’s mockery affects the Lieutenant, who, grimacing, focuses his attention, momentarily, on the Bard.
Benita crits #1 for 23HP, kicking the woman's shield aside and then lunging deftly, driving her rapier into the woman’s belly to the hilt. The Guard falls in a heap. Benita then leaps forward to attack the Lieutenant, who blocks with his shield, parries, and weaves, reading her stance, but one slash draws a line of blood across his brow. “Stay back!,” the comely Indallian warns Tamazaert, who, heeding her warning, dodges and takes a step back from the melee.
Granophyre leaves the fog cloud to take stock of the situation, and, dodging, moves to where he can see Benita.
Guards #3 and #4, each having only 1HP remaining, crawl, inch by inch, away from the battle toward the nearest wall, demoralized, groaning.
The Lieutenant, seeing the tide of battle turn, disengages and leaps for the stairs, turning to face any pursuers.
At that moment, the roc you encountered before shoots completely across the opening from east to west just above the level of the tram lines and 90' south of the landing (not on the map). Its rider throws a bolt of fire at Granophyre, but the sage (dodging) ducks in the nick of time, and the firebolt sails past to explode against the west wall. The roc carries the rider up and out of view.
Seeing through Py's eyes at the dead and crawling guards, Auger allows the roiling fog cloud to return to the misty lake as his senses return to his body. He stands, moves towards the stairs, sights the Lieutenant on the steps and targets him with his coiling blasts. The first beam is a clear miss while the second grazes him as Auger struggles with the still dissipating fog and the odd angle up the stairs.
Py, get ahead of him and tell me where those nurses were running.
Details
Move: Stand, then forward to K9
Action: Casts Eldritch Blast targeting L, intending to push him 10' on a hit (into the wall I suppose).
Beam 1: 1 +10 for 11. A definite miss.
Beam 2: 16 +10 = 26. 1 +5 = 6 points of damage.
Py Move and Action: Dashes, leaving the map at D1. Will stay in communication range with Auger (100') and inform him of what it sees.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
Snow curses under his breath as the fog starts to dissipate, and starts to bolt towards the steps, keeping a wary eye out for any danger both on the ground and from the skies.
"Let's move quickly, we are too exposed", he says to the others, waving Strewn in particular onwards as he moves forward himself.
He really didn't like being exposed like this, especially when enemy reinforcements could come at any moment.
Varielky dashes forward. She doesn't really care that the soldiers have disengaged from the fight. It was better this way. She didn't care whether they fought all the way through or just passed quietly, as long as Tamazaert and Sure are united in the end. She did want to be quick though, so they don't miss the opportunity altogether. Who knows? Maybe they'll lift off earlier now that intruders were spotted and not immediately dealt with.
But anyway, being exposed didn't bother her. They're heading for the aerie, as far as she's aware, and that's a pretty open place. Not to mention, where many rocs surely reside. Into the lion's den, one could say. If anything, it was better to deal with them one by one here, rather than all together later... probably.
Action: Dash. Movement: J-2, unless I miscounted. Towards the stairs going up, anyway.
As Py buzzes ahead of the Lieutenant, the veteran’s eyes narrow. “Flocking invisible creatures…,” he mutters, following the sound. ‘I’m still on the stairs, there is a landing and then they turn right, toward a room on the top level’ sends the fey alyasub to Auger, whose second bolt strikes the Lieutenant, smashing him against the wall, but the fighter shakes off the blow and keeps moving. (Please see my question in Chat)
Snow and Varielky head for the stairs, minding their backs, as Benita catches up with the Lieutenant and harries him with rapier and dagger, critting for 16HP (Champion martial archetype). The man parries her further attacks while Granophyre runs for the stairs, as does Tamazaert, stopping at Benita’s side, when the gristly Lieutenant disengages once again, fighting his way backwards up the stairs while defending himself from Benita, roaring, “TO ARMS!! TO ARMS!!”
“What if they have not yet taken Sura up to the aerie??,” cries the old dwarf, motioning to the stairs going down. “I’ll look!,” answers Tamazaert fearfully, turning, “He wasn’t any of the ones the nurses were carrying, and he’s in a brown and black blanket and jumper!”
At this moment, as you cast a glance to the landing’s open side, a new apparition pierces the swirling mist in the distance: the second tram. Two crossbowmen are lying prone on the tram’s roof, and they release bolts at long range (200’) targeting Auger and Snow. Both missiles miss, skipping off of the ceiling and cracking against the back wall.
In the tram you make out more men, Sorakayoshi at the forefront, plate armor a looming metallic form out of which his eyes shine cruelly, while Abadolla is there beside him, ducking behind the low wall, only the tip of a magic wand poking up next to his bruised, glaring face – which looks much better than it had when last seen. Apparently healing magic works in the castle. Behind the pair are a number of armed guards, and behind them, the other indomitable Eye. The tram moves forward at its achingly slow pace; you know you have two minutes before it reaches the edge of the landing, no more.
Here is an updated battlemap. I have shifted the number guide slightly. Off the map, the stairs open into a guardhouse, you’ll find, on the aerie level.
Auger dearly wants to go up. To see this aerie. To learn what it is that draws him. He was already moving in that direction when Tamazaert calls out. He finds he wants to ignore her at first. Up. He wants to go up. But it is Tamazaert who needed their help. And it was her baby that had been kidnapped. Her family was being taken from her. He could not let that happen.
Finding the words difficult to say, Auger responds to Tamazaert, "I'll go with you."It is at this point that Auger hears the whistling of a long-range bolt that clatters by at the ceiling and hitting the back wall. Then he looks back and sees their pursuers coming on slowly on the second tram. The Captain is there. As is the man Varielky chose to confront not long ago. And somewhere out there an angry rider still flies upon a Roc.
Angry now and tearing up as he realizes that he would likely kill again, Auger engages with the Diadem, temporarily forgotten upon his brow, and from it pulls forth a set of lights to rotate above his head. Red. An angry red to Auger's eyes. "Come Tama, we must move quickly,"Auger says to the young mother. "I will keep you safe." Auger moves towards the downward stairs, along with Tamazaert.
Stay with the others for now. Tell me what they are doing and if they need help. And if you see anything... up there...
Details
Auger is now concentrating on Dancing Lights
Auger moves to M6
Py will wait till someone in the party catches up and then keep pace with him/her, continuing to fly above
"I don't think they know which baby we're here for, or even that we're here for a baby. Besides, he might have been taken before we arrived, and even if not, they'll have to take him up eventually." Varielky tries to reason her thoughts, not slowing down as she runs upwards. "If you find Sura, find a way to contact us! Otherwise, get here safely!"
Varielky runs up the stairs, reaching all the way to the lieutenant, and even ahead of him, ready to fight. "Where are you running to? Stand and fight!"
Snow swings around to look at the second tram as he is alerted to their presence by the crossbow bolt thudding into the far wall.
"We've got company, two minutes everyone, let's make this quick", he says.
He looks from the stairs heading up to those heading down, trying to figure out which they would need to go to escape this place once they found the baby. In truth, he doesn't have a clue about an exit strategy at this point.
He looks at Tamazaert and hears the shaking in her voice, and his decision is made. Down it is.
Tamazaert rushes headlong down the stairs as two more crossbow bolts whiz past Auger, homing in on his twisting lights, while Granophyre follows Varielky.
Benita continues harrying the Lieutenant as Varielky heads him off, but the veteran’s stance and armor absorb La Cass’ light blows until she lunges suddenly, hitting for 10HP, and Varielky sees him wincing in pain and swaying on his feet, perspiration dripping off of him. “You’re a fool if you don’t see standing in place’d be a fool’s errand,” comes his rough response to the shield-maiden’s challenge, grunting in pain. Finding himself flanked and on his last legs, the lieutenant draws his short sword in his left hand, long sword already in his right, and now focuses on Benita with forceful and expertly aimed attacks. Yet only one of his three slashes land, a glancing blow, causing the lithe Indallian 5HP damage.
Two more armed guards now appear at the top of the stairs.
Seeing Tamazaert running down the stairs so recklessly, Snow once again curses under his breath and follows her. Being dressed as a guard would be to her advantage though, and so he chooses to stay a little behind.
"Don't be reckless, remember that you are a guard, you can do this", he whispers to her, inspiring her.
He then stands close the wall, trying to keep from the view within the shadows of the stair well.
Movement: 30' to S3 Bonus Action: Bardic Inspiration (d8) for Tamazaert. Action: Hide - Stealth: 6+5=11
"Run and die or fight and die. I know which I'd choose." Varielky responds before quickly slashing upwards, piercing the lieutenant's defences and possibly even felling him.
Varielky then runs upstairs to face the two new guards. "Of course, you could surrender too, and maybe remain alive. I don't have to kill you."Despite having said that, Varielky doesn't wait before striking the first guard, then smashing her shield against the other to topple him down.
Action: Attack L, then #5 if L dies.
Attack #1: 8+10=18 to hit, 7+9=16 damage.
Attack #2: 15+10=25 to hit, 1+9=10 damage.
Move: To G-1.
BA: Shield Shove to knock #6 prone. Athletics: 10+8=18.
Nodding at Snow, Auger turns and follows Tamazaert downstairs, each step a painful acknowledgement that his goal is up while he moves downward.
His other goal, he reminds himself. Auger moves towards the stairs and stays behind Snow. Seeing Snow is trying to maintain obtain a low profile, he causes his lights to spin in place where he summoned them. Perhaps they will draw the next bolts, Auger thinks.
Hearing what he says to Tamazaert, Auger whispers in turn, "I do not think we have time for much sneaking."
Details
Dancing Lights are all spinning in M5, M7, L6 and N6 (for RP they are rotating in a mini-circle there, just above person height)
Auger moves to stay behind Tama and Snow, dashing if needed to keep up.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
The Lieutenant falls to Varielky's red-steel blade, his eyes bulging before a final calm overtakes him and he slumps down the stairs. Guard #5 is wounded by the shield-maiden’s next blow but still stands, however guard #6 is a muscular brute who parries Varielky’s shield with his own, slamming hers against the wall.
This, unfortunately for him, leaves his belly wide open and exposed to Benita La Cass, who leaps up the stairs beside Varielky to plunge her rapier into him, followed by a dagger crit to the man’s neck, and #6 falls, blood spraying.
Granophyre shouts a warning as two more guards join the fray from the guardhouse. Varielky easily parries #5’s spear, but #7, with a longsword and shield, manages to bowl into Benita, shoving her back a foot with his shield then following with a heavy slash which draws blood for 9HP as the comely Indallian cries out in pain.
AUGER and SNOW
Snow gives Tamazaert inspiration, as the young mother continues rushing headlong, until Auger and Snow see her turn right at the base of the stairs into a quiet hallway lit warmly by lantern light, at a quick but wary jog. In a moment, she reaches a side door a ways down the hall on the right, her hand on the doorknob. “Sura!,” she yells through the door, her voice tense as a drawn bow. “SURA!,” but there is no answer.
Auger moves with Tamazaert, and then a little past her to see further down the hall, meanwhile trying move quietly as he now realizes Snow is doing. He listens for any reports of goings on that Py can share with him from above.
Details
Move: To P7
Action: Hide, Stealth roll = 19 +2 for 21
Question - at the end of the hall is that a wall or a double door? I see what looks like another side door between 12 and 13.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
Snow creeps up next to Tamazaert holding his finger to his lips, "Shh!".
He listens intently at the door, trying to determine if anyone was inside waiting for them. Whilst he does this, he invokes his invisible spectral hand by the door knob.
"Step back, just in case there are crossbowmen. I will open the door from a short distance", he instructs Tamazaert in a whisper.
Movement: To P5 (Still in stealth?) Passive Perception: 17 (assuming I can use it in this way) Action: Cast Mage Hand - No verbal or semantic due to Telekinesis,
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Round 3 Results
Varielky leaps onto the aerie landing and makes it as far as N16, while Snow taunts crossbowman #4 and ducks into the fog. (OOC: there are no rules for running while blinded. Let's say, if you move more than ½ your movement through the fog on this smooth floor, make a DEX10 save or stumble and fall prone.)
Py moves to P18, ceiling height (the ceiling, I mentioned before, is 20’ high), where Py can see the Lieutenant, the Nurses, and Guards #3 and #4.
Benita, taking her lead from Varielky, leaps and rolls, then at the last moment springs up to attack the crossbowman Snow taunted, noting a dark panic in his eyes causing him to barely notice her approach. He tries to parry her, fumblingly, with his crossbow, she fences circles around him, lunges, and he falls.
Tamazaert follows Benita with her short sword drawn and slashes at the guard woman who spoke to you, #1, who deflects the blow ably with her shield.
Granophyre ducks into the fog beside Snow.
Crossbowman #4 looses another bolt at Varielky, but it goes wide, and he then backs up to get a clearer shot. Guard #3 charges forward and strikes Varielky with a 22 for 6HP damage, thrusting with his ornate spear.
Guard #1’s spear thrust is parried easily by Benita.
The last Nurse makes it up the stairs, and the Lieutenant, who sees Benita and Tamazaert but not Varielky, moves forward in a defensive stance, shouting angrily for his fallen man-at-arms.
Here is an updated battlemap. Please post for Round 4.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Varielky looks down at the wound made by the spear. That's what you get for having little tocno protection for your shins. On the other hand, it wasn't life-threatening on its own, either. What bothered her most was that she was attacked this many times, without being given a chance to draw her sword. She looks up again, an annoyed expression on her face. "You should have waited a few more seconds."
A red-steel blade is drawn, and a mark appears on Varielky's forehead. The guard isn't given much time to inspect it, though, as Varielky quickly retaliates with two quick attacks. On the first Varielky misjudges the distance, and the blade slashes against the armour. Unsure whether she also hurt the guard or not, Varielky follows it up with the second attack, a well-aimed one, which (I assume) definitely did draw blood.
Varielky doesn't bother to check, though. She's annoyed, the encounter with Abadolla still hangs heavy on her mind, and the guards clearly had set their priorities such that honorous fighting wasn't near the top. She slams her shield onto the guard's face to knock him away, and without even checking whether he lives yet or not, she runs towards the next guard. Those crossbows were a nuisance.
Action: Attack guard #3.
Attack #1: 5+10=15 to hit, 3+9=12 damage.
Attack #2: 14+10=24 to hit, 2+9=11 damage.
BA: Shield Shove to knock #3 5' away to P-15. Athletics: 17+8=25.
Move: To N-10, even if #3 is still alive and even if he wasn't knocked away.
Varielky
{Previous round: Fog movement saving throw: 18 +2 = 20.}
I think we will support Varielky to start and then go have a look at what Benita and the others are up to. Come further into the area.
Sitting in place for the moment and looking through Py's eyes, Auger sees the two guards that Varielky opposes. He thinks about trying to angle blasts using Py's eyes but cannot imagine which way to point his blasts without the direct line. So instead, with Py's vision, Auger reaches into the minds of the two guards he can see and, drawing extra power, exposes their perceptions to the Sea of Stars, ever so briefly, hoping to stun them into a troubled sleep.
Details
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
Round 4 Results (partial)
Varielky’s first blow does not penetrate the guard’s defenses, but the second connects squarely, piercing his mail armor and drawing blood. Her shield bash drives him clattering to the ground, dropping his weapon. He scrabbles backwards on all fours to recollect his spear, fear in his eyes.
As the shield-maiden advances toward the second crossbow man, Auger’s Mind Slivers drive into Guards #3 and #4, and they both drop their weapons, clutching their heads in agony, and curl into writhing balls, teeth grinding in pain.
(Snow is up. OOC: Guards #1, #3 and Lieutenant are AC16 (mail with shields). Guard #4 AC14 (no shield).)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Snow once again moves west to get a picture of what is happening. Seeing Benita and Tamazaert have felled the one guard and are engaged with another, he turns his attention to the Lieutenant beyond them.
Aware of the fact that he had used a lot of his magical energy prior to this encounter, and that he would need more later if they were to escape, he once again conserves what he has left.
"You have lost, surrender or your fate will be decided by blood and pain, and you really don't want that", he calls out to the Lieutenant before once again concealing himself within the fog.
Movement: 20' West to E15
Action: Cast Vicious Mockery on the Lieutenant. DC 18 Wis save or take 4 damage and have disadvantage on next attack.
Movement: 10' North-East to G13
Round 4 Results (Final)
Snow’s mockery affects the Lieutenant, who, grimacing, focuses his attention, momentarily, on the Bard.
Benita crits #1 for 23HP, kicking the woman's shield aside and then lunging deftly, driving her rapier into the woman’s belly to the hilt. The Guard falls in a heap. Benita then leaps forward to attack the Lieutenant, who blocks with his shield, parries, and weaves, reading her stance, but one slash draws a line of blood across his brow. “Stay back!,” the comely Indallian warns Tamazaert, who, heeding her warning, dodges and takes a step back from the melee.
Granophyre leaves the fog cloud to take stock of the situation, and, dodging, moves to where he can see Benita.
Guards #3 and #4, each having only 1HP remaining, crawl, inch by inch, away from the battle toward the nearest wall, demoralized, groaning.
The Lieutenant, seeing the tide of battle turn, disengages and leaps for the stairs, turning to face any pursuers.
At that moment, the roc you encountered before shoots completely across the opening from east to west just above the level of the tram lines and 90' south of the landing (not on the map). Its rider throws a bolt of fire at Granophyre, but the sage (dodging) ducks in the nick of time, and the firebolt sails past to explode against the west wall. The roc carries the rider up and out of view.
You are now situated like so. Please post for round 5.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Seeing through Py's eyes at the dead and crawling guards, Auger allows the roiling fog cloud to return to the misty lake as his senses return to his body. He stands, moves towards the stairs, sights the Lieutenant on the steps and targets him with his coiling blasts. The first beam is a clear miss while the second grazes him as Auger struggles with the still dissipating fog and the odd angle up the stairs.
Py, get ahead of him and tell me where those nurses were running.
Details
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
Snow curses under his breath as the fog starts to dissipate, and starts to bolt towards the steps, keeping a wary eye out for any danger both on the ground and from the skies.
"Let's move quickly, we are too exposed", he says to the others, waving Strewn in particular onwards as he moves forward himself.
He really didn't like being exposed like this, especially when enemy reinforcements could come at any moment.
Movement: North to G7
Action: Dodge
Varielky dashes forward. She doesn't really care that the soldiers have disengaged from the fight. It was better this way. She didn't care whether they fought all the way through or just passed quietly, as long as Tamazaert and Sure are united in the end. She did want to be quick though, so they don't miss the opportunity altogether. Who knows? Maybe they'll lift off earlier now that intruders were spotted and not immediately dealt with.
But anyway, being exposed didn't bother her. They're heading for the aerie, as far as she's aware, and that's a pretty open place. Not to mention, where many rocs surely reside. Into the lion's den, one could say. If anything, it was better to deal with them one by one here, rather than all together later... probably.
Action: Dash.
Movement: J-2, unless I miscounted. Towards the stairs going up, anyway.
Varielky
Round 5 Results
As Py buzzes ahead of the Lieutenant, the veteran’s eyes narrow. “Flocking invisible creatures…,” he mutters, following the sound. ‘I’m still on the stairs, there is a landing and then they turn right, toward a room on the top level’ sends the fey alyasub to Auger, whose second bolt strikes the Lieutenant, smashing him against the wall, but the fighter shakes off the blow and keeps moving. (Please see my question in Chat)
Snow and Varielky head for the stairs, minding their backs, as Benita catches up with the Lieutenant and harries him with rapier and dagger, critting for 16HP (Champion martial archetype). The man parries her further attacks while Granophyre runs for the stairs, as does Tamazaert, stopping at Benita’s side, when the gristly Lieutenant disengages once again, fighting his way backwards up the stairs while defending himself from Benita, roaring, “TO ARMS!! TO ARMS!!”
“What if they have not yet taken Sura up to the aerie??,” cries the old dwarf, motioning to the stairs going down. “I’ll look!,” answers Tamazaert fearfully, turning, “He wasn’t any of the ones the nurses were carrying, and he’s in a brown and black blanket and jumper!”
At this moment, as you cast a glance to the landing’s open side, a new apparition pierces the swirling mist in the distance: the second tram. Two crossbowmen are lying prone on the tram’s roof, and they release bolts at long range (200’) targeting Auger and Snow. Both missiles miss, skipping off of the ceiling and cracking against the back wall.
In the tram you make out more men, Sorakayoshi at the forefront, plate armor a looming metallic form out of which his eyes shine cruelly, while Abadolla is there beside him, ducking behind the low wall, only the tip of a magic wand poking up next to his bruised, glaring face – which looks much better than it had when last seen. Apparently healing magic works in the castle. Behind the pair are a number of armed guards, and behind them, the other indomitable Eye. The tram moves forward at its achingly slow pace; you know you have two minutes before it reaches the edge of the landing, no more.
Here is an updated battlemap. I have shifted the number guide slightly. Off the map, the stairs open into a guardhouse, you’ll find, on the aerie level.
Please post for Round 6.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Auger dearly wants to go up. To see this aerie. To learn what it is that draws him. He was already moving in that direction when Tamazaert calls out. He finds he wants to ignore her at first. Up. He wants to go up. But it is Tamazaert who needed their help. And it was her baby that had been kidnapped. Her family was being taken from her. He could not let that happen.
Finding the words difficult to say, Auger responds to Tamazaert, "I'll go with you." It is at this point that Auger hears the whistling of a long-range bolt that clatters by at the ceiling and hitting the back wall. Then he looks back and sees their pursuers coming on slowly on the second tram. The Captain is there. As is the man Varielky chose to confront not long ago. And somewhere out there an angry rider still flies upon a Roc.
Angry now and tearing up as he realizes that he would likely kill again, Auger engages with the Diadem, temporarily forgotten upon his brow, and from it pulls forth a set of lights to rotate above his head. Red. An angry red to Auger's eyes. "Come Tama, we must move quickly," Auger says to the young mother. "I will keep you safe." Auger moves towards the downward stairs, along with Tamazaert.
Stay with the others for now. Tell me what they are doing and if they need help. And if you see anything... up there...
Details
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
"I don't think they know which baby we're here for, or even that we're here for a baby. Besides, he might have been taken before we arrived, and even if not, they'll have to take him up eventually." Varielky tries to reason her thoughts, not slowing down as she runs upwards. "If you find Sura, find a way to contact us! Otherwise, get here safely!"
Varielky runs up the stairs, reaching all the way to the lieutenant, and even ahead of him, ready to fight. "Where are you running to? Stand and fight!"
Action: Dash.
Movement: To E-1.
Varielky
Snow swings around to look at the second tram as he is alerted to their presence by the crossbow bolt thudding into the far wall.
"We've got company, two minutes everyone, let's make this quick", he says.
He looks from the stairs heading up to those heading down, trying to figure out which they would need to go to escape this place once they found the baby. In truth, he doesn't have a clue about an exit strategy at this point.
He looks at Tamazaert and hears the shaking in her voice, and his decision is made. Down it is.
He heads towards the downward stairs, still wary of attacks coming his way.
"I'll head down as well, and will keep in touch when I can", he says.
Movement: North East to M3
Action: Dodge
Round 6 Results
Tamazaert rushes headlong down the stairs as two more crossbow bolts whiz past Auger, homing in on his twisting lights, while Granophyre follows Varielky.
Benita continues harrying the Lieutenant as Varielky heads him off, but the veteran’s stance and armor absorb La Cass’ light blows until she lunges suddenly, hitting for 10HP, and Varielky sees him wincing in pain and swaying on his feet, perspiration dripping off of him. “You’re a fool if you don’t see standing in place’d be a fool’s errand,” comes his rough response to the shield-maiden’s challenge, grunting in pain. Finding himself flanked and on his last legs, the lieutenant draws his short sword in his left hand, long sword already in his right, and now focuses on Benita with forceful and expertly aimed attacks. Yet only one of his three slashes land, a glancing blow, causing the lithe Indallian 5HP damage.
Two more armed guards now appear at the top of the stairs.
You are now situated like so. Please post round 7 actions.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Seeing Tamazaert running down the stairs so recklessly, Snow once again curses under his breath and follows her. Being dressed as a guard would be to her advantage though, and so he chooses to stay a little behind.
"Don't be reckless, remember that you are a guard, you can do this", he whispers to her, inspiring her.
He then stands close the wall, trying to keep from the view within the shadows of the stair well.
Movement: 30' to S3
Bonus Action: Bardic Inspiration (d8) for Tamazaert.
Action: Hide - Stealth: 6+5=11
"Run and die or fight and die. I know which I'd choose." Varielky responds before quickly slashing upwards, piercing the lieutenant's defences and possibly even felling him.
Varielky then runs upstairs to face the two new guards. "Of course, you could surrender too, and maybe remain alive. I don't have to kill you." Despite having said that, Varielky doesn't wait before striking the first guard, then smashing her shield against the other to topple him down.
Action: Attack L, then #5 if L dies.
Attack #1: 8+10=18 to hit, 7+9=16 damage.
Attack #2: 15+10=25 to hit, 1+9=10 damage.
Move: To G-1.
BA: Shield Shove to knock #6 prone. Athletics: 10+8=18.
Varielky
Nodding at Snow, Auger turns and follows Tamazaert downstairs, each step a painful acknowledgement that his goal is up while he moves downward.
His other goal, he reminds himself. Auger moves towards the stairs and stays behind Snow. Seeing Snow is trying to maintain obtain a low profile, he causes his lights to spin in place where he summoned them. Perhaps they will draw the next bolts, Auger thinks.
Hearing what he says to Tamazaert, Auger whispers in turn, "I do not think we have time for much sneaking."
Details
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
VARIELKY
The Lieutenant falls to Varielky's red-steel blade, his eyes bulging before a final calm overtakes him and he slumps down the stairs. Guard #5 is wounded by the shield-maiden’s next blow but still stands, however guard #6 is a muscular brute who parries Varielky’s shield with his own, slamming hers against the wall.
This, unfortunately for him, leaves his belly wide open and exposed to Benita La Cass, who leaps up the stairs beside Varielky to plunge her rapier into him, followed by a dagger crit to the man’s neck, and #6 falls, blood spraying.
Granophyre shouts a warning as two more guards join the fray from the guardhouse. Varielky easily parries #5’s spear, but #7, with a longsword and shield, manages to bowl into Benita, shoving her back a foot with his shield then following with a heavy slash which draws blood for 9HP as the comely Indallian cries out in pain.
AUGER and SNOW
Snow gives Tamazaert inspiration, as the young mother continues rushing headlong, until Auger and Snow see her turn right at the base of the stairs into a quiet hallway lit warmly by lantern light, at a quick but wary jog. In a moment, she reaches a side door a ways down the hall on the right, her hand on the doorknob. “Sura!,” she yells through the door, her voice tense as a drawn bow. “SURA!,” but there is no answer.
An updated battle map showing all three levels. Please post Round 8 actions.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Auger moves with Tamazaert, and then a little past her to see further down the hall, meanwhile trying move quietly as he now realizes Snow is doing. He listens for any reports of goings on that Py can share with him from above.
Details
Question - at the end of the hall is that a wall or a double door? I see what looks like another side door between 12 and 13.
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
Snow creeps up next to Tamazaert holding his finger to his lips, "Shh!".
He listens intently at the door, trying to determine if anyone was inside waiting for them. Whilst he does this, he invokes his invisible spectral hand by the door knob.
"Step back, just in case there are crossbowmen. I will open the door from a short distance", he instructs Tamazaert in a whisper.
Movement: To P5 (Still in stealth?)
Passive Perception: 17 (assuming I can use it in this way)
Action: Cast Mage Hand - No verbal or semantic due to Telekinesis,