Varielky runs after the Goblins. They had the chance to fight, yet they chose to run. Most of the time, Varielky would let fleeing enemies be, but when their sole purpose here was to exterminate the Goblins... it puts her in an odd position. She knows what these Goblins are capable of, though, so she expects them to be running only to set up an ambush later. This time, Varielky chooses to chase.
(I suppose simply moving should get Varielky within range, but I'll hold her actions until she actually gets into the next room and sees what's in it.)
Goblin 5 disintegrates in starfire, and when Auger pursues the two who flee, he finds himself in a hallway going right and left. To the right, an open doorway 15’ away, into a small shrine or prayer room, where Auger sees movement. To the left, where the goblins ran, a longer hallway, perhaps 50’, two doors on each side, ending in a closed heavy door, with two goblins standing guard. The two escapees wham their fists on the first pair of doors as they run down the hallway, pointing over their shoulders as they go.
Auger, once he enters the hallway, can dodge as previously posted, or attack, for the goblins are in plain view.
Seeing the two running Goblins down the hall and the others in the distance and the movement to the right Auger is momentarily overwhelmed with possibilities. Sensing he has a moment before trouble will come at him, Auger attempts to pick off the targets he can identify, firing twisting blasts at them, killing the first one but his second blast is off and he misses the second one.
Details
Action: Dodge. Casts Eldritch Blast, pushing 10' on a hit.
Beam 1: Targeting #1. Roll = 25 for 13 points of damage
Beam 2: Targeting #2. Roll = 12, a miss. (for the record the D&DB dice roller appears to hate me a lot)
#2 is within Varielky’s movement range if she wishes to pursue and attack. The other goblins standing guard are not -- and they are both goblin chieftains.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Varielky runs quickly, circling around the Goblin by the door to avoid entering his range. That is not her objective. She has a vague idea of what her armour can do, but she wants to test it, see for herself. Stopping at about equal distance from all three Goblins, Varielky thinks it is a good spot.
However, she realises, she doesn't know exactly how to make the armour... do its thing. She somehow knows it can release destructive force, stored from countless blows it absorbed in the past, but she doesn't know how to trigger that release. Thunder... that was its name. Suddenly, it was clear to her. Surely, a gift bestowed by the gods will only activate with a prayer. Nothing more obvious than that. The problem was, since the armour belonged to the Abziri, it was most likely a Jenghen god, and Varielky didn't know which one would fit best. Arapabiya, Kelitawi, Piya... they all could fit, but none of them was more likely than the other. There's no choice then, but to do the most natural thing. ["Thor!"] Varielky chooses the god of lightning and thunder. Who could possibly fit better? In Dreyen, she continues: ["May your might eradicate the enemies that stand around me!"]
However, her last words can hardly be heard, as thunder rolls again. No, this was not the same as those from outside. This one came from within the castle, from the spot where Varielky stands. The sudden, loud sound surprises Varielky, even though she knew what was coming. And as her armour releases just a fraction of the energy stored in it, everything around her is forcefully pushed away. Just, hopefully, the rest of the Goblins would assume this thunder came from outside as well. She'll have to be more careful using this power.
Action: Dash. Movement: To I-6 -> O-6 -> O-5. I'm not sure whether or not that counts as passing through #2's range, but Varielky wouldn't change her actions even if it means taking that AoO. BA: Cast Shatter through Thunder. Damage: 21, half on a successful Constitution save, DC 18.
Snow stands in place a little shocked by Varielky’s interpretation of the word she used to describe him. His mind briefly goes over the encounters they have been involved in together, trying to figure out where this conclusion might have been drawn from. He had used subterfuge and stealth before, as well as trying to use tactics to increase their chances of survival.
He starts to open his mouth to say as much, but Varielky had rushed into the room and beyond to the corridor.
He follows slowly into the map room and takes a look around to see if there is anything on the table to indicate any plans the Jlasi and goblins might be forming, trying not to get distracted by the thunder coming from outside….and in the corridor!?
Goblin 2 and another goblin which stuck its head out of the hallway door at just the wrong moment, are both pulverized when Varielky utters her prayer and the enchanted armor’s magic is released. The two chieftains are slammed into the wall behind them, and blood drips from their noses and ears as they regain their footing.
Snow finds the opposite of planning in the map room. Valuable maps and manuals were torn open and flung aside, used as bedding or worse, and the room is in tatters.
Granophyre follows Varielky and Auger out of the room, then turns right and draws his hand crossbow, readying an attack should enemies appear from the little shrine. He pulls the trigger only a moment later, sending a bolt flying as a dozen pairs of green, light-reflecting goblin eyes appear and the first begins to move into the hallway, but dodges Granophyre’s attack nimbly and the bolt clicks off of the arched doorframe.
The two chieftains leap at Varielky with two-handed longswords drawn, and the first (#11) hits for 13 HP, then misses its second swing. The second chieftain (#21) misses, then hits for 9HP.
The goblin facing Granophyre leaps forward, drawing its thin blade, and strikes the sage squarely against his hip for 6HP; the sindarrin’s mail protects him from the worst of the blow.
Doors open in the hallway, and more goblin heads poke out angrily, as a crowd of the evil creatures awakens in the shrine.
"In the chamber there I see we have woken another set of the things. We cannot let them overwhelm us again!"
Auger faces the shrine, steps to his left to clear his view while bringing his rod up to touch the Yemma's Starfell Diadem and produces a pair of motes, these throw off sparks that begin scorching the floor around Auger. Showering sparks as he does so, Auger flicks the pair of motes into the middle of the Shrine room where the showering sparks begin setting flame to the area around them, direly wounding many of the Goblins. Then Auger turns and sends another radiant mote at one of the Goblin chieftains facing Varielky. The bolt hits, burning the Goblin and surrounding it with a strange radiant glow.
Details
Move: To I-6
Action: Exhaust 2 charges from Yemma's Starfell Diadem activating the Shooting Stars property:
Shooting Stars. You can expend 1 to 3 charges as an action. For every charge you expend, you launch a glowing mote of light from the diadem at a point you can see within 60 feet of you. Each creature within a 15-foot cube originating from that point is showered in sparks and must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 5d4 fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
I can take that to read as all motes must go to one spot or that motes can be sent to multiple points. If all must go to the same spot then the center of the Shrine Room (D5) will be the center of the cube. If I can choose two spots then I choose D4 and D6 as the centers of each cube. Here are separate damage rolls in case the motes can go to separate places. D4: 10 points of damage. D6: 11 points of damage.
Bonus Action: Diadem's Bolt, targeting #21. Roll is a 28 for a hit doing 8 points of damage and creating advantage on attacks against #21 until Auger's next turn ends.
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 moment Varielky blocks the first chieftain's second attack with her shield, she quickly retaliates with her own attack, which also interrupts the second chieftain's first attack. However, despite landing a powerful strike, Varielky realises it won't be enough. With all the Goblins waking up now, she can't repeat her mistakes from the previous battle.
Varielky takes a moment to set a new breathing tempo, taking quick yet deep breaths. Her body will need all that air. Going back to her roots, trying out a fighting technique she could never really master before. But now, she's not the same as before. She's gotten stronger, much stronger, and she has a feeling she can do it. Drey's barbarians manage to repel the Jenghen empire even today - the only nation that managed to resist the empire. She can do it. Fight with ferocity, taking the body to its limits, or even beyond.
(OOC: Now, I'll assume that her reaction took out #11, because that's one less point of damage than it took to kill the previous chieftain. So, unless they have different HP values or we were very accurate before, I'll suppose he died.)
Varielky raises her sword. Already she can feel a difference. With such ease, she can move the red-steel blade, her muscles are clearly working harder than ever. A quick downwards slash, striking against the clavicle, and with surprising ease cutting, or breaking - little importance does that difference make - the bone. The blade digs deep into the Goblin, severing its soul from its body. At least the chieftains can be commended that they fought fairly, more or less.
As the chieftains fell, Varielky feels an urge to attack the closest Goblin. However, she reminds herself of what happened last time when she was separated from the others. Instead, she runs towards the others, to stand in the way of the rest of the Goblins. She stops by the second door on the left, and swings at the Goblin standing there. Almost without even trying, the Goblin's head is separated from its shoulders.
Reaction: Riposte manoeuvre, against #11. Attack: 14+10=24. Damage: 8+2+9=19. Bonus Action: Rage. Action: Attack. Attack #1 against #21: (5; 17 - advantage)+10=27. Damage: 6+11=17. Move: Assuming #21 and #11 did die already, to K-6. Attack #2 against 7: 19+10=29. Damage: 3+11=14.
Hearing Auger's warning, Snow stops his search and exits the room into the corridor, and sees the goblins appearing from all around. Worried about some escaping out the big door at the end and getting further help, he decides to try and block their path. He plucks a string on his violin, and as he has done multiple times before channels the magical energy within, and releases it as the familiar beam of pale light blocking the two side doors and the far exit.
He then spots the goblin attacking Strewn and mentally attempts to shove it away, allowing the old dwarf to retreat if he wants, before he ducks back into the map room.
Movement: 15ft to I5 Action: Moonbeam, DC18 Con save or take 2+1 = 3 [radiant] damage,otherwise take 1 damage. Placed on O5, O6, P5, P6 (blocking all paths to the end door and the paths out the east most side doors) Bonus Action: Telekinetic Shove #9, DC16 Str save or moved 5ft away from Strewn. Movement: 15ft to J2. Reaction:
If anyone attacks him that he can see he will use Cutting Words. Cutting Words: 1+2=3 “Go back to the depths of whatever hell spawned you”
Varielky’s riposte fells chieftain 11, which grips her sword until it falls, gurgling, to the ground.
Auger’s shooting stars eradicate all of the goblins in the shrine, which scream in anger and anguish as in a matter of seconds they are consumed in stellar fire. Goblin chief 21 grits its teeth and bellows in anger upon being struck by the diadem’s guiding bolt, giving Varielky advantage on her attack against it.
Varielky’s blows take down chieftain 21 and goblin 7.
Snow’s moonbeam shines down in front of the double doors, singing goblin 25 as it emerges, and his telekinetic shove pushes goblin 9 back from Granophyre, who shoots his hand crossbow again, this time connecting and killing the evil creature.
Seven goblins in the room whose door Varielky blocks take turns moving to her, attacking, then disengaging. Three hit for 8,6 & 4 HP, resulting in a total of 9HP damage to the raging shield-maiden.
Three attack Auger, and all miss.
Two attack Granophyre, both miss.
Two more attack Varielky from behind (RP), coming from the north bedroom, and one hits for 6HP, resulting in 3HP damage.
Varielky turns to face the two Goblins who attacked her from behind. From behind! The insolent creatures! Varielky doesn't even realise that her strength is not the only thing that's amplified, but her vitality... and emotions too. With the momentum, of the turn, Varielky retaliates against the two Goblins, her blade slicing through both and into a third Goblin, though the attack is not enough to kill all three.
Varielky got cut many times, but she is far from finished. She takes another brief yet deep breath, readying her body for what's about to come. She slashes again, this time ending the one whom she could not kill before, and one more next to him. Then, leaps forward, and as she lands on the bodies of the Goblins she just slew, she drives her sword through the bodies of the two Goblins left by Auger and Granophyre.
Varielky quickly turns on her heel. She's not done yet. She can do so much more. She cannot slow down. Varielky runs into the room she blocked before, where the Goblins who attacked her cowardly retreated to. Her hairs still waving behind her, Varielky doesn't even wait for them to land on her back before her blade decapitated two more Goblins, and scrapes a third. More, she can do so much more. Another swing, and as if guided by gods, her Dreygaard strikes perfectly to kill all Goblins within reach, without slowing down as the blade runs through their soft necks. Only two remain in the room, the only two whom Varielky had yet to reach.
Status: Still Raging. Round 2/10. R4 Reaction: Riposte manoeuvre. I don't know which of the Goblins missed, but I guess it is either #29 or #25, which makes little difference. Attack: 19+10=29. Damage: 4+11+2=17, killing #29 and #25 and injuring #26. Bonus Action: Second Wind, healing for 2+6=8 HP. Action: Attack. Attack #1: 10+10=20. Damage: 7+11=18. Killing #26 and #8. Move: To J-5. Attack #2: 16+10=26. Damage: 1+11, expending a superiority die for a Menacing Attack manoeuvre, which adds 3 damage for a total of 15, killing #28 and #27. Move: To L-7. Action Surge: Attack. Attack #3: 10+10=20. Damage: 4+11=15. Killing #32 and #30 and injuring #23. Attack #4: 20 crit! Damage: 8+1+11=20. Killing #23, #22 and #37.
Seeing the Goblins swarm about despite his efforts, Auger is momentarily frustrated to be in this position yet again. How many could there be in this castle?
Py - tell me more. Have there been more Goblins in and about the castle grounds? Have you seen any humans?
Auger contemplates a spell he used not long ago to attempt to clear the corridor, but then Varielky steps into her motions, fighting with an intensity he had not observed in her before. Her blade flies about her, laying waste to almost all the Goblins within view. She moves so quickly, Varielky has already rushed into the next room, where Auger hears fighting sounds continue, before he can react.
Seeing the one remaining Goblin to his left Auger attempts to dispatch it. Again he draws forth a radiant mote of light from the Diadem and sends it into the foul thing, burning it to a crisp. Auger then moves forward to the vicinity of Snow's beam of light where he again creates a single mote showering sparks from the Diadem and throws it into the room where Goblins were trying to step out. He hears cries of pain as the sparks bring the deadly star's light into the small space.
Details
Bonus Action: The Diadem's Bolt, targeting #24 with Disadvantage. Roll is a 17 which hits for 9 points of damage.
Move: To N7
Action: Sends a single charge of the Shooting Star into the darkened room, hoping the cube will center at P8. Damage: 13 points of fire damage (on a failed save).
Shooting Stars. You can expend 1 to 3 charges as an action. For every charge you expend, you launch a glowing mote of light from the diadem at a point you can see within 60 feet of you. Each creature within a 15-foot cube originating from that point is showered in sparks and must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 5d4 fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Snow once again leaves the map room to check on the state of play in the corridor, finding that it was fair to say the others had decimated the goblins. He leaves the pillar of pale light in place, more in case something enters through the end doorway rather than escapes through it now.
He sees Varielky in the side room, not exactly suffering but showing a number of cuts, and speaks a few words of power in Elvish, sending healing energy to her.
He then stands ready to move the pillar of pale light if something necessitates it.
Concentration: Moonbeam round 2 of 10, DC18 Con save or take 8+3= 11[radiant] damage, otherwise take 5 damage. Movement: 30ft to L5 Bonus Action: Healing Word, 3+5 = 8 for Varielky. Action: Ready action to move Moonbeam if he sees any new combatants, or anyone friendly needs to pass. Reaction:
If anyone attacks him that he can see he will use Cutting Words. Cutting Words: 3+2=5 “Go back to the depths of whatever hell spawned you”
Varielky tears through the goblin horde, leaving a trail of bloody corpses in her wake.
Py responds to Auger, ‘I can’t see anything, the windows up here are stained glass, except the room to the west. Its windows are covered by dark sheets though. Oh oh, I’m caught in the wind…’
The thunderstorm continues to boom overhead, and the wind howls over chimneys.
Goblin 24 falls to Auger’s guiding bolt, and another 10 goblins are fried in starfire as the diadem shoots into the eastern handmaidens’ room.
Granophyre loads his hand crossbow, readying an attack against any enemies which come into range.
Six goblins in the south bedroom attack Varielky then disengage and move into the hallway, seeking allies and safety from the raging shield-maiden. One of them crits for 10HP, and another hits for 8HP, dealing a total of 9HP slashing damage. They end up surrounding Snow. One of them continues on turns toward Granophyre, triggering the sage’s readied action. His hand crossbow twangs, its bolt impales the goblin’s neck, the goblin grabs it, but keels over and slams into the wall, dead.
Varielky runs back into the hall, following the Goblins who attacked her. Standing between them, she swings a wide swing to hit all four, though careful to stop before hitting Snow.
Then, she continues to the fifth Goblin and smashes her shield in its face, trying to force it to stagger backwards, away from Snow. Only then she realises one of the Goblins survived her last attack, though just barely.
(Sorry for formatting, phone post.)
Status: Still Raging, round 3/10.
Move: To L-6.
Action: Attack.
Attack #1: 7+10=17. Damage: 2+11=13. Killing #31 and injuring #33.
Attack #2: 7+10=17. Damage: 7+11=18. Killing both #36 and #35.
Move: To M-5.
BA: Shield Shove, trying to push #38 away from snow. Athletics: (1, 11 - advantage)+8=19.
Find somewhere safe and ride out the storm, Py. We are still killing Goblins in the castle.
As the showering sparks stop, Auger takes a moment to glance in the door and sees a number of dead goblins. So much death, he thinks. But again he reminds himself, these creatures would kill everyone in the Vale if they could and so he grits his teeth and accepts his role in their end.
Turning and seeing two remaining Goblins after Varielky's next flurry of attacks Auger starts by again sending a radiant mote from the Diadem into the Goblin Varielky pushed back, killing it, before he turns and faces the last wounded Goblin and releases a twisting blast into it, killing it. With a final burst of energy Auger sends a second beam into the door nearby, hoping blast it open and draw out any last Goblins into Snow's beam of light.
Details
Bonus Action: Cast the Diadem's bolt targeting #38, a 30 (crit!) for 15 points of damage, killing it.
Action: Cast Eldritch Blast, with 10' of pushing action.
Beam 1, targeting #33. A hit (25) for 9 points of damage.
Beam 2, targeting the door at P4, hoping to blast or push it open. Roll is a 16 for 9 points of damage.
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 stands perfectly still as the goblins swarm around him and are quickly either dispatched by Varielky or Auger.
”My thanks”, he says to the others.
He then follows Auger’s lead and reaches out with his mind and telekinetically blasts the final door, whilst shifting the pillar of light slightly further towards the large door at the end of the corridor.
Action: Move Moonbeam to P5, P6, Q5, Q6, DC18 Con save or take 3+4= 7[radiant] damageotherwise take 3 damage. Round 3/10
Bonus Action: Telekinetic Shove on the door above the Moonbeam
Reaction:
If anyone attacks him that he can see he will use Cutting Words.
Cutting Words: 3+2=5
“Go back to the depths of whatever hell spawned you”
Three more goblins fall to Varielky’s red-steel blade, and #38 is shoved away from Snow, just in time to be disintegrated by Auger’s diadem, and the warlock also finishes off #33. Auger’s blast against the door is too weak to cause structural damage, and the door opens in the other direction.
We’ll say Snow observes this and pulls, rather than pushes, with telekinesis (RP), and the door opens. No one is in position to see what is on the other side, but nothing rushes through. All visible enemies are now dead, and the thunderstorm continues to rumble outside, lightning flashing through the narrow windows.
You are situated like so. Please post round 7 actions, or falling out of initiative timeframe is also an option.
Auger steps over to the now open door and tries to get a better look but discovers he cannot really do so without entering Snow's beam of light. Nonetheless he causes a set of shining motes to form above his head, above the Yemma's Diadem really, and then causes one shining mote to move so that its dim light would shine through the door. Noting how the door opens into the corridor, unlike any of the others, his sense of design cues him to the difference. To the others he says quietly, "Stairs perhaps?"
Motioning to the double doors Auger says, "These were guarded. Perhaps our sleeping Jlasi remain in there. When ready Varielky you can step through and announce our presence? If needed I can perhaps cause one to be... mesmerized for a time."Thinking of how the spell he is envisioning failed with the Naga, Auger continues, "It may or may not work as well as desired but it is worth an attempt."
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DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
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Varielky runs after the Goblins. They had the chance to fight, yet they chose to run. Most of the time, Varielky would let fleeing enemies be, but when their sole purpose here was to exterminate the Goblins... it puts her in an odd position. She knows what these Goblins are capable of, though, so she expects them to be running only to set up an ambush later. This time, Varielky chooses to chase.
(I suppose simply moving should get Varielky within range, but I'll hold her actions until she actually gets into the next room and sees what's in it.)
Varielky
Goblin 5 disintegrates in starfire, and when Auger pursues the two who flee, he finds himself in a hallway going right and left. To the right, an open doorway 15’ away, into a small shrine or prayer room, where Auger sees movement. To the left, where the goblins ran, a longer hallway, perhaps 50’, two doors on each side, ending in a closed heavy door, with two goblins standing guard. The two escapees wham their fists on the first pair of doors as they run down the hallway, pointing over their shoulders as they go.
Auger, once he enters the hallway, can dodge as previously posted, or attack, for the goblins are in plain view.
Varielky can act following Auger’s decision.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Seeing the two running Goblins down the hall and the others in the distance and the movement to the right Auger is momentarily overwhelmed with possibilities. Sensing he has a moment before trouble will come at him, Auger attempts to pick off the targets he can identify, firing twisting blasts at them, killing the first one but his second blast is off and he misses the second one.
Details
Dodge. Casts Eldritch Blast, pushing 10' on a hit.DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
#2 is within Varielky’s movement range if she wishes to pursue and attack. The other goblins standing guard are not -- and they are both goblin chieftains.
You are now situated like so (I decided to draw my own map for this area).
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Varielky runs quickly, circling around the Goblin by the door to avoid entering his range. That is not her objective. She has a vague idea of what her armour can do, but she wants to test it, see for herself. Stopping at about equal distance from all three Goblins, Varielky thinks it is a good spot.
However, she realises, she doesn't know exactly how to make the armour... do its thing. She somehow knows it can release destructive force, stored from countless blows it absorbed in the past, but she doesn't know how to trigger that release. Thunder... that was its name. Suddenly, it was clear to her. Surely, a gift bestowed by the gods will only activate with a prayer. Nothing more obvious than that. The problem was, since the armour belonged to the Abziri, it was most likely a Jenghen god, and Varielky didn't know which one would fit best. Arapabiya, Kelitawi, Piya... they all could fit, but none of them was more likely than the other. There's no choice then, but to do the most natural thing. ["Thor!"] Varielky chooses the god of lightning and thunder. Who could possibly fit better? In Dreyen, she continues: ["May your might eradicate the enemies that stand around me!"]
However, her last words can hardly be heard, as thunder rolls again. No, this was not the same as those from outside. This one came from within the castle, from the spot where Varielky stands. The sudden, loud sound surprises Varielky, even though she knew what was coming. And as her armour releases just a fraction of the energy stored in it, everything around her is forcefully pushed away. Just, hopefully, the rest of the Goblins would assume this thunder came from outside as well. She'll have to be more careful using this power.
Action: Dash.
Movement: To I-6 -> O-6 -> O-5. I'm not sure whether or not that counts as passing through #2's range, but Varielky wouldn't change her actions even if it means taking that AoO.
BA: Cast Shatter through Thunder. Damage: 21, half on a successful Constitution save, DC 18.
Varielky
Snow stands in place a little shocked by Varielky’s interpretation of the word she used to describe him. His mind briefly goes over the encounters they have been involved in together, trying to figure out where this conclusion might have been drawn from. He had used subterfuge and stealth before, as well as trying to use tactics to increase their chances of survival.
He starts to open his mouth to say as much, but Varielky had rushed into the room and beyond to the corridor.
He follows slowly into the map room and takes a look around to see if there is anything on the table to indicate any plans the Jlasi and goblins might be forming, trying not to get distracted by the thunder coming from outside….and in the corridor!?
Investigation: 8+7=15
Round 3 results
Goblin 2 and another goblin which stuck its head out of the hallway door at just the wrong moment, are both pulverized when Varielky utters her prayer and the enchanted armor’s magic is released. The two chieftains are slammed into the wall behind them, and blood drips from their noses and ears as they regain their footing.
Snow finds the opposite of planning in the map room. Valuable maps and manuals were torn open and flung aside, used as bedding or worse, and the room is in tatters.
Granophyre follows Varielky and Auger out of the room, then turns right and draws his hand crossbow, readying an attack should enemies appear from the little shrine. He pulls the trigger only a moment later, sending a bolt flying as a dozen pairs of green, light-reflecting goblin eyes appear and the first begins to move into the hallway, but dodges Granophyre’s attack nimbly and the bolt clicks off of the arched doorframe.
The two chieftains leap at Varielky with two-handed longswords drawn, and the first (#11) hits for 13 HP, then misses its second swing. The second chieftain (#21) misses, then hits for 9HP.
The goblin facing Granophyre leaps forward, drawing its thin blade, and strikes the sage squarely against his hip for 6HP; the sindarrin’s mail protects him from the worst of the blow.
Doors open in the hallway, and more goblin heads poke out angrily, as a crowd of the evil creatures awakens in the shrine.
You are now situated like so. Please state actions for round 4.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
"In the chamber there I see we have woken another set of the things. We cannot let them overwhelm us again!"
Auger faces the shrine, steps to his left to clear his view while bringing his rod up to touch the Yemma's Starfell Diadem and produces a pair of motes, these throw off sparks that begin scorching the floor around Auger. Showering sparks as he does so, Auger flicks the pair of motes into the middle of the Shrine room where the showering sparks begin setting flame to the area around them, direly wounding many of the Goblins. Then Auger turns and sends another radiant mote at one of the Goblin chieftains facing Varielky. The bolt hits, burning the Goblin and surrounding it with a strange radiant glow.
Details
Shooting Stars. You can expend 1 to 3 charges as an action. For every charge you expend, you launch a glowing mote of light from the diadem at a point you can see within 60 feet of you. Each creature within a 15-foot cube originating from that point is showered in sparks and must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 5d4 fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
I can take that to read as all motes must go to one spot or that motes can be sent to multiple points. If all must go to the same spot then the center of the Shrine Room (D5) will be the center of the cube. If I can choose two spots then I choose D4 and D6 as the centers of each cube. Here are separate damage rolls in case the motes can go to separate places. D4: 10 points of damage. D6: 11 points of damage.
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
The moment Varielky blocks the first chieftain's second attack with her shield, she quickly retaliates with her own attack, which also interrupts the second chieftain's first attack. However, despite landing a powerful strike, Varielky realises it won't be enough. With all the Goblins waking up now, she can't repeat her mistakes from the previous battle.
Varielky takes a moment to set a new breathing tempo, taking quick yet deep breaths. Her body will need all that air. Going back to her roots, trying out a fighting technique she could never really master before. But now, she's not the same as before. She's gotten stronger, much stronger, and she has a feeling she can do it. Drey's barbarians manage to repel the Jenghen empire even today - the only nation that managed to resist the empire. She can do it. Fight with ferocity, taking the body to its limits, or even beyond.
(OOC: Now, I'll assume that her reaction took out #11, because that's one less point of damage than it took to kill the previous chieftain. So, unless they have different HP values or we were very accurate before, I'll suppose he died.)
Varielky raises her sword. Already she can feel a difference. With such ease, she can move the red-steel blade, her muscles are clearly working harder than ever. A quick downwards slash, striking against the clavicle, and with surprising ease cutting, or breaking - little importance does that difference make - the bone. The blade digs deep into the Goblin, severing its soul from its body. At least the chieftains can be commended that they fought fairly, more or less.
As the chieftains fell, Varielky feels an urge to attack the closest Goblin. However, she reminds herself of what happened last time when she was separated from the others. Instead, she runs towards the others, to stand in the way of the rest of the Goblins. She stops by the second door on the left, and swings at the Goblin standing there. Almost without even trying, the Goblin's head is separated from its shoulders.
Reaction: Riposte manoeuvre, against #11. Attack: 14+10=24. Damage: 8+2+9=19.
Bonus Action: Rage.
Action: Attack.
Attack #1 against #21: (5; 17 - advantage)+10=27. Damage: 6+11=17.
Move: Assuming #21 and #11 did die already, to K-6.
Attack #2 against 7: 19+10=29. Damage: 3+11=14.
Varielky
Hearing Auger's warning, Snow stops his search and exits the room into the corridor, and sees the goblins appearing from all around. Worried about some escaping out the big door at the end and getting further help, he decides to try and block their path. He plucks a string on his violin, and as he has done multiple times before channels the magical energy within, and releases it as the familiar beam of pale light blocking the two side doors and the far exit.
He then spots the goblin attacking Strewn and mentally attempts to shove it away, allowing the old dwarf to retreat if he wants, before he ducks back into the map room.
Movement: 15ft to I5
Action: Moonbeam, DC18 Con save or take 2+1 = 3 [radiant] damage, otherwise take 1 damage. Placed on O5, O6, P5, P6 (blocking all paths to the end door and the paths out the east most side doors)
Bonus Action: Telekinetic Shove #9, DC16 Str save or moved 5ft away from Strewn.
Movement: 15ft to J2.
Reaction:
If anyone attacks him that he can see he will use Cutting Words.
Cutting Words: 1+2=3
“Go back to the depths of whatever hell spawned you”
Round 4 results
Varielky’s riposte fells chieftain 11, which grips her sword until it falls, gurgling, to the ground.
Auger’s shooting stars eradicate all of the goblins in the shrine, which scream in anger and anguish as in a matter of seconds they are consumed in stellar fire. Goblin chief 21 grits its teeth and bellows in anger upon being struck by the diadem’s guiding bolt, giving Varielky advantage on her attack against it.
Varielky’s blows take down chieftain 21 and goblin 7.
Snow’s moonbeam shines down in front of the double doors, singing goblin 25 as it emerges, and his telekinetic shove pushes goblin 9 back from Granophyre, who shoots his hand crossbow again, this time connecting and killing the evil creature.
Seven goblins in the room whose door Varielky blocks take turns moving to her, attacking, then disengaging. Three hit for 8,6 & 4 HP, resulting in a total of 9HP damage to the raging shield-maiden.
Three attack Auger, and all miss.
Two attack Granophyre, both miss.
Two more attack Varielky from behind (RP), coming from the north bedroom, and one hits for 6HP, resulting in 3HP damage.
You are now situated like so. Please state round 4 reactions and actions for round 5.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
(I'm assuming cleaving rules still apply.)
Varielky turns to face the two Goblins who attacked her from behind. From behind! The insolent creatures! Varielky doesn't even realise that her strength is not the only thing that's amplified, but her vitality... and emotions too. With the momentum, of the turn, Varielky retaliates against the two Goblins, her blade slicing through both and into a third Goblin, though the attack is not enough to kill all three.
Varielky got cut many times, but she is far from finished. She takes another brief yet deep breath, readying her body for what's about to come. She slashes again, this time ending the one whom she could not kill before, and one more next to him. Then, leaps forward, and as she lands on the bodies of the Goblins she just slew, she drives her sword through the bodies of the two Goblins left by Auger and Granophyre.
Varielky quickly turns on her heel. She's not done yet. She can do so much more. She cannot slow down. Varielky runs into the room she blocked before, where the Goblins who attacked her cowardly retreated to. Her hairs still waving behind her, Varielky doesn't even wait for them to land on her back before her blade decapitated two more Goblins, and scrapes a third. More, she can do so much more. Another swing, and as if guided by gods, her Dreygaard strikes perfectly to kill all Goblins within reach, without slowing down as the blade runs through their soft necks. Only two remain in the room, the only two whom Varielky had yet to reach.
Status: Still Raging. Round 2/10.
R4 Reaction: Riposte manoeuvre. I don't know which of the Goblins missed, but I guess it is either #29 or #25, which makes little difference. Attack: 19+10=29. Damage: 4+11+2=17, killing #29 and #25 and injuring #26.
Bonus Action: Second Wind, healing for 2+6=8 HP.
Action: Attack.
Attack #1: 10+10=20. Damage: 7+11=18. Killing #26 and #8.
Move: To J-5.
Attack #2: 16+10=26. Damage: 1+11, expending a superiority die for a Menacing Attack manoeuvre, which adds 3 damage for a total of 15, killing #28 and #27.
Move: To L-7.
Action Surge: Attack.
Attack #3: 10+10=20. Damage: 4+11=15. Killing #32 and #30 and injuring #23.
Attack #4: 20 crit! Damage: 8+1+11=20. Killing #23, #22 and #37.
Varielky
Seeing the Goblins swarm about despite his efforts, Auger is momentarily frustrated to be in this position yet again. How many could there be in this castle?
Py - tell me more. Have there been more Goblins in and about the castle grounds? Have you seen any humans?
Auger contemplates a spell he used not long ago to attempt to clear the corridor, but then Varielky steps into her motions, fighting with an intensity he had not observed in her before. Her blade flies about her, laying waste to almost all the Goblins within view. She moves so quickly, Varielky has already rushed into the next room, where Auger hears fighting sounds continue, before he can react.
Seeing the one remaining Goblin to his left Auger attempts to dispatch it. Again he draws forth a radiant mote of light from the Diadem and sends it into the foul thing, burning it to a crisp. Auger then moves forward to the vicinity of Snow's beam of light where he again creates a single mote showering sparks from the Diadem and throws it into the room where Goblins were trying to step out. He hears cries of pain as the sparks bring the deadly star's light into the small space.
Details
Shooting Stars. You can expend 1 to 3 charges as an action. For every charge you expend, you launch a glowing mote of light from the diadem at a point you can see within 60 feet of you. Each creature within a 15-foot cube originating from that point is showered in sparks and must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 5d4 fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
Snow once again leaves the map room to check on the state of play in the corridor, finding that it was fair to say the others had decimated the goblins. He leaves the pillar of pale light in place, more in case something enters through the end doorway rather than escapes through it now.
He sees Varielky in the side room, not exactly suffering but showing a number of cuts, and speaks a few words of power in Elvish, sending healing energy to her.
He then stands ready to move the pillar of pale light if something necessitates it.
Concentration: Moonbeam round 2 of 10, DC18 Con save or take 8+3= 11[radiant] damage, otherwise take 5 damage.
Movement: 30ft to L5
Bonus Action: Healing Word, 3+5 = 8 for Varielky.
Action: Ready action to move Moonbeam if he sees any new combatants, or anyone friendly needs to pass.
Reaction:
If anyone attacks him that he can see he will use Cutting Words.
Cutting Words: 3+2=5
“Go back to the depths of whatever hell spawned you”
Round 5 results
Varielky tears through the goblin horde, leaving a trail of bloody corpses in her wake.
Py responds to Auger, ‘I can’t see anything, the windows up here are stained glass, except the room to the west. Its windows are covered by dark sheets though. Oh oh, I’m caught in the wind…’
The thunderstorm continues to boom overhead, and the wind howls over chimneys.
Goblin 24 falls to Auger’s guiding bolt, and another 10 goblins are fried in starfire as the diadem shoots into the eastern handmaidens’ room.
Granophyre loads his hand crossbow, readying an attack against any enemies which come into range.
Six goblins in the south bedroom attack Varielky then disengage and move into the hallway, seeking allies and safety from the raging shield-maiden. One of them crits for 10HP, and another hits for 8HP, dealing a total of 9HP slashing damage. They end up surrounding Snow. One of them continues on turns toward Granophyre, triggering the sage’s readied action. His hand crossbow twangs, its bolt impales the goblin’s neck, the goblin grabs it, but keels over and slams into the wall, dead.
You are now situated like so. Please post round 6 actions.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Varielky runs back into the hall, following the Goblins who attacked her. Standing between them, she swings a wide swing to hit all four, though careful to stop before hitting Snow.
Then, she continues to the fifth Goblin and smashes her shield in its face, trying to force it to stagger backwards, away from Snow. Only then she realises one of the Goblins survived her last attack, though just barely.
(Sorry for formatting, phone post.)
Status: Still Raging, round 3/10.
Move: To L-6.
Action: Attack.
Attack #1: 7+10=17. Damage: 2+11=13. Killing #31 and injuring #33.
Attack #2: 7+10=17. Damage: 7+11=18. Killing both #36 and #35.
Move: To M-5.
BA: Shield Shove, trying to push #38 away from snow. Athletics: (1, 11 - advantage)+8=19.
Varielky
Find somewhere safe and ride out the storm, Py. We are still killing Goblins in the castle.
As the showering sparks stop, Auger takes a moment to glance in the door and sees a number of dead goblins. So much death, he thinks. But again he reminds himself, these creatures would kill everyone in the Vale if they could and so he grits his teeth and accepts his role in their end.
Turning and seeing two remaining Goblins after Varielky's next flurry of attacks Auger starts by again sending a radiant mote from the Diadem into the Goblin Varielky pushed back, killing it, before he turns and faces the last wounded Goblin and releases a twisting blast into it, killing it. With a final burst of energy Auger sends a second beam into the door nearby, hoping blast it open and draw out any last Goblins into Snow's beam of light.
Details
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
Snow stands perfectly still as the goblins swarm around him and are quickly either dispatched by Varielky or Auger.
”My thanks”, he says to the others.
He then follows Auger’s lead and reaches out with his mind and telekinetically blasts the final door, whilst shifting the pillar of light slightly further towards the large door at the end of the corridor.
Action: Move Moonbeam to P5, P6, Q5, Q6, DC18 Con save or take 3+4= 7[radiant] damage otherwise take 3 damage. Round 3/10
Bonus Action: Telekinetic Shove on the door above the Moonbeam
Reaction:
If anyone attacks him that he can see he will use Cutting Words.
Cutting Words: 3+2=5
“Go back to the depths of whatever hell spawned you”
Round 6 results
‘Yes, master,’ sends Py.
Three more goblins fall to Varielky’s red-steel blade, and #38 is shoved away from Snow, just in time to be disintegrated by Auger’s diadem, and the warlock also finishes off #33. Auger’s blast against the door is too weak to cause structural damage, and the door opens in the other direction.
We’ll say Snow observes this and pulls, rather than pushes, with telekinesis (RP), and the door opens. No one is in position to see what is on the other side, but nothing rushes through. All visible enemies are now dead, and the thunderstorm continues to rumble outside, lightning flashing through the narrow windows.
You are situated like so. Please post round 7 actions, or falling out of initiative timeframe is also an option.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Auger steps over to the now open door and tries to get a better look but discovers he cannot really do so without entering Snow's beam of light. Nonetheless he causes a set of shining motes to form above his head, above the Yemma's Diadem really, and then causes one shining mote to move so that its dim light would shine through the door. Noting how the door opens into the corridor, unlike any of the others, his sense of design cues him to the difference. To the others he says quietly, "Stairs perhaps?"
Motioning to the double doors Auger says, "These were guarded. Perhaps our sleeping Jlasi remain in there. When ready Varielky you can step through and announce our presence? If needed I can perhaps cause one to be... mesmerized for a time." Thinking of how the spell he is envisioning failed with the Naga, Auger continues, "It may or may not work as well as desired but it is worth an attempt."
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory