The side passage soon opens up into a slightly larger area. The group's light reflects off of the damp stone walls and a number of round rocks piled up to one side, like a cave-in. There are a few small dried bloodstains, and some kind of off-white fluid spattered about.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
As Vilus disposes of the ears, Malachi kneels down to examine the rats. Why were they discarded here, what happened to them? Nature (?) to try to determine what happened to the rats: 9.
Regardless of what he finds, Malachi looks at the pit and narrow ledge nervously and nods at the others suggestions “Yes, the side path it is.” He moves out with the others, alert for any danger. He points the off-white fluid out to the others and takes a closer to look to try to determine the origin. Investigation: 20.
Joren, echo in front, inspects the cave-in, attempting to guess whether it's blocking a passageway that continues onward and whether it may have been caused by a similar "cultist bomb" as the cave-in resulting from Jon's demise. Perhaps related to some fight the cultists were in that also killed the rats.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Vilus, letting the others do the more investigative work keeps an eat out down the tunnels for any footsteps or flappy wings, he also keeps an eye out for any traps and will point them out to Samir if any are spotted.
20
Vilus seems hesitant to stay in one place right now, and it shows, his urge to dispose of the ears, his constant vigilance erring on the side of paranoia, the tunnels are cramped for the 7ft something Goliath. In spite of this anxiety, his level head reasons that the careful progress is necessary as he lets the others investigate the situation.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Looking at the rats, Malachi can clearly see that each has fresh battle wounds. They had fought something and lost. Seeing the white fluid next to the blood, he wonders if it might belong to whatever the rats and the cultists had fought when they came through. It almost looks like... hemolymph, the insect equivalent of blood. He follows the trail right up to the pile of rocks. Joren steps up beside him, likewise inspecting the pile.
Vilus notices three more round rocks by the path leading out the other side of the small chamber. It strikes him as odd that the three seem fairly uniform in shape and size. Unease dominates his mind. There is something off here.
Joren wonders about this being another cave in, but quickly realizes it doesn't look at all like what they saw back at the lab. Perhaps it is some inherent attunement to the earth from his father, or perhaps he has just gotten used to things not being what they seem. Joren realizes too many of the rocks are round and smooth and uniform. A proper cave-in he would expect to have far more jagged edges and irregular shapes. Some of these rocks look more like large, 2-foot wide river stones. Malachi and Joren both look to a stone between them, and at the same time note the trail of hemolymph behind it, and one broken finger-sized carapaced leg protruding from underneath. Looking back up at each other, they make eye contact for a moment, the implications clear.
Immediately aware of the danger, the group looks about and notices several of the rocks slowly, quietly, scuttling into advantageous positions, trying to ambush the potential meal that has just entered their space.
Initiative!
Ashley: 18
Joren: 13
Malachi: 14
Marion: 16
Samir: 3
Vilus: 16
???: 12
(When taking your action, you can make a stealth roll DC 18 to try to get a surprise turn as well. Everyone is up before the enemies. They do not surprise you)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Vilus snaps to action retrieving a dagger from his sleeve and moving to face the south most enemy to the left placing his body between that of ash and the left most three enemies, "group up, and defend, don't let them single you out and overwhelm you!" He shouts as his free hand sparks and ignites in his usual purplish flame, he throws an eldritch blast at the closest enemy.
The blast strikes the creature square on its stone-like outer surface, leaving a smoking crack. It rises up a little to reveal spindly chitinous legs, and two-crab like claws emerge from underneath. The rocky facade would appear to be a protective shell.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Joren calls out to Malachi urgently: "Coming back to the group, behind me and Marion! Everyone else, other than Marion, retreating back a bit behind us please, the way we were coming form. Creating a bottleneck with enemies in front." (Urging group to tactically retreat slightly to the southwest to form a choke point).
He positions his echo 5' northeast of his current position and then steps back west 10' to defend the group. Joren then attacks (from his echo's position) the crab-like creature just further to the northeast.
Ashley watches as her friends are looking at what appear at first cursory glance to be ordinary rocks. She doesn't get it. But when she sees Joren and Malachi exchange glances, she readies herself and slinks along the left side of the wall, realization dawning on her.
For the surprise round, Ashley whispers, "By this curse misfortune will reign, your futures end, this is your bane" casting bane on the three stones closest to her (along the left wall) to try and balance things out a bit.
(CHA save of 12 on those 3)
She then listens to Joren and backs up to the SW bottleneck, sees what the creatures are as Vilus made the one rise up a bit. And with that, she adds, "For whom the bells toll? Why, they toll for thee" sending forth toll the dead
(Sorry I've been a bit absent past couple of days, just life things.)
Samir drops back at Joren's words, pulling his bolt thrower and taking up a defensive position with the others. Rather than shooting, however, he thinks better and drops a hand into his satchel, producing another metal disc. With a flick of his wrist he launches it towards the nearest rocky arthropod, investing a spark of will into it and causing a burst of flame to erupt up from beneath the monster.
Casting Conjure Bonfire beneath the nearest crab monster. DC 14 Dex save or 3 fire damage.
"Yeah... side passage, let's go" Vilus whispers, and will then lead the others forward as silently as possible.
The side passage soon opens up into a slightly larger area. The group's light reflects off of the damp stone walls and a number of round rocks piled up to one side, like a cave-in. There are a few small dried bloodstains, and some kind of off-white fluid spattered about.
As Vilus disposes of the ears, Malachi kneels down to examine the rats. Why were they discarded here, what happened to them? Nature (?) to try to determine what happened to the rats: 9.
Regardless of what he finds, Malachi looks at the pit and narrow ledge nervously and nods at the others suggestions “Yes, the side path it is.” He moves out with the others, alert for any danger. He points the off-white fluid out to the others and takes a closer to look to try to determine the origin. Investigation: 20.
Joren, echo in front, inspects the cave-in, attempting to guess whether it's blocking a passageway that continues onward and whether it may have been caused by a similar "cultist bomb" as the cave-in resulting from Jon's demise. Perhaps related to some fight the cultists were in that also killed the rats.
Perception: 19
Insight: 4
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(Druid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(Sorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(Monk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(Cleric3/Sorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Vilus, letting the others do the more investigative work keeps an eat out down the tunnels for any footsteps or flappy wings, he also keeps an eye out for any traps and will point them out to Samir if any are spotted.
20
Vilus seems hesitant to stay in one place right now, and it shows, his urge to dispose of the ears, his constant vigilance erring on the side of paranoia, the tunnels are cramped for the 7ft something Goliath. In spite of this anxiety, his level head reasons that the careful progress is necessary as he lets the others investigate the situation.
Looking at the rats, Malachi can clearly see that each has fresh battle wounds. They had fought something and lost. Seeing the white fluid next to the blood, he wonders if it might belong to whatever the rats and the cultists had fought when they came through. It almost looks like... hemolymph, the insect equivalent of blood. He follows the trail right up to the pile of rocks. Joren steps up beside him, likewise inspecting the pile.
Vilus notices three more round rocks by the path leading out the other side of the small chamber. It strikes him as odd that the three seem fairly uniform in shape and size. Unease dominates his mind. There is something off here.
Joren wonders about this being another cave in, but quickly realizes it doesn't look at all like what they saw back at the lab. Perhaps it is some inherent attunement to the earth from his father, or perhaps he has just gotten used to things not being what they seem. Joren realizes too many of the rocks are round and smooth and uniform. A proper cave-in he would expect to have far more jagged edges and irregular shapes. Some of these rocks look more like large, 2-foot wide river stones. Malachi and Joren both look to a stone between them, and at the same time note the trail of hemolymph behind it, and one broken finger-sized carapaced leg protruding from underneath. Looking back up at each other, they make eye contact for a moment, the implications clear.
Immediately aware of the danger, the group looks about and notices several of the rocks slowly, quietly, scuttling into advantageous positions, trying to ambush the potential meal that has just entered their space.
Initiative!
Ashley: 18
Joren: 13
Malachi: 14
Marion: 16
Samir: 3
Vilus: 16
???: 12
(When taking your action, you can make a stealth roll DC 18 to try to get a surprise turn as well. Everyone is up before the enemies. They do not surprise you)
There are ten visible enemies (Stones with the red shadow)
Stealth roll, before first attack 14
Vilus snaps to action retrieving a dagger from his sleeve and moving to face the south most enemy to the left placing his body between that of ash and the left most three enemies, "group up, and defend, don't let them single you out and overwhelm you!" He shouts as his free hand sparks and ignites in his usual purplish flame, he throws an eldritch blast at the closest enemy.
9, to hit, for 9 force damage.
The blast strikes the creature square on its stone-like outer surface, leaving a smoking crack. It rises up a little to reveal spindly chitinous legs, and two-crab like claws emerge from underneath. The rocky facade would appear to be a protective shell.
Joren Stealth roll at disadvantage due to chain mail: 7
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(Druid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(Sorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(Monk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(Cleric3/Sorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Joren calls out to Malachi urgently: "Coming back to the group, behind me and Marion! Everyone else, other than Marion, retreating back a bit behind us please, the way we were coming form. Creating a bottleneck with enemies in front." (Urging group to tactically retreat slightly to the southwest to form a choke point).
He positions his echo 5' northeast of his current position and then steps back west 10' to defend the group. Joren then attacks (from his echo's position) the crab-like creature just further to the northeast.
Attack: 15 Damage: 8
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(Druid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(Sorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(Monk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(Cleric3/Sorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Stealth for Ash 20
Ashley watches as her friends are looking at what appear at first cursory glance to be ordinary rocks. She doesn't get it. But when she sees Joren and Malachi exchange glances, she readies herself and slinks along the left side of the wall, realization dawning on her.
For the surprise round, Ashley whispers, "By this curse misfortune will reign, your futures end, this is your bane" casting bane on the three stones closest to her (along the left wall) to try and balance things out a bit.
(CHA save of 12 on those 3)
She then listens to Joren and backs up to the SW bottleneck, sees what the creatures are as Vilus made the one rise up a bit. And with that, she adds, "For whom the bells toll? Why, they toll for thee" sending forth toll the dead
WIS save of 12 or 2 necrotic damage
Charisma Saves:
14
12
4
Wis Save:
3 or 22 depending one bane result
Edit: Forgot we are dealing with bane rather than a disadvantage effect. It's a nat one anyway, so sucks to be this guy.
With the tolling of the bell, the creature facing Vilus shudders and twitches in agitation
(It also failed its bane save, though the other two made it.)
Joren's greatsword, heavy though it may be, glances harmlessly off the thing's shell, striking up sparks as it hits the ground to the side.
(Joren can make a perception check here.)
Joren Perception: 5
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(Druid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(Sorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(Monk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(Cleric3/Sorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Samir Stealth: 3
(Sorry I've been a bit absent past couple of days, just life things.)
Samir drops back at Joren's words, pulling his bolt thrower and taking up a defensive position with the others. Rather than shooting, however, he thinks better and drops a hand into his satchel, producing another metal disc. With a flick of his wrist he launches it towards the nearest rocky arthropod, investing a spark of will into it and causing a burst of flame to erupt up from beneath the monster.
Casting Conjure Bonfire beneath the nearest crab monster. DC 14 Dex save or 3 fire damage.
Malachi Stealth: 16.