This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Watching from behind the rest of her crew, Ashley uses all her will power to stay back, waiting to see what will happen as Vilus and Andra start to talk. She does eventually decide to get out from behind everyone, and move to behind the rocks just below them. Trying to do it quietly so that Andra doesn't notice her..
Ashley creeps towards the rocks to the side, when she hears Andra say "That's far enough!" She looks, concerned, but sees Andra is addressing Joren's echo as well as the slowly advancing Vilus. Ashley manages to slip through the gloom and get behind a rock without being noticed.
Andra listens to Vilus's words intently. When Vilus finishes, he frowns and says, "You know what, you're right." With one hand gripping the back of Lanya's collar, he quickly pulls her away from him and holds her out to his right side. Dread hits Samir and Malachi at the same time as they notice a shift in his tone and recognize something is about to happen.
Then Malachi, still reaching out with his mind notices another presence to his right. Reflexively, he touches the mind. Searing pain erupts through the scar in his temple. A voice, deep and sinister in his head, rumbles through his being, threatening to fracture his mind and slip in through the cracks. "There you are..."
At that same moment, Joren alone hears the telltale clicks of crossbows arming from behind the rocks to his left.
Surprise Round:
Joren is aware that there are hidden enemies to his left, and can act before them.
Samir is aware that Andra is getting ready to become hostile and can act before him.
Malachi is also aware that Andra is getting ready to become hostile, and that there are hidden enemies around, but has to make a CHA save first, and takes his turn AFTER Andra.
Malachi senses the presence of hidden enemies and reaches out with his mind, but something is different. He doesn’t connect with another mind, but feels a presence nonetheless. Something is very wrong. He gasps and drops his coin, hand going to the marking on his forehead as he doubles over in pain. As the voice works its way into his head, he instinctively reaches out to the familiar presence that saved him once before, seeking aid one more time. CHA Save: 20
Samir tenses, watching Andra whip the Marshall off to the side. Every instinct in him was screaming that there was danger and something needed to be done. Whatever was about to happen, it would end poorly for Lanya and his friends.
And then he felt more. He felt... them. Threads. Incandescent, shimmering in his mind's eye, the same wisps of ethereal power that the Lady in his vision had showed him. They glimmered and pulsed for him now, poised in midair in seeming disarray and random order. In nearly the same instant, his mind latched onto a potential design, an arrangemnt that left behind the anarchy of the threads' current state and instead brought forth meaning and purpose to them.
Almost automatically, his left arm rose up, elbow locked and fingers splayed to point his gloved palm pointed straight at Andra's chest. The invisible threads burst into action, weaving and intertwining themselves into a symbol of arcane quintessence. Likewise, a word came to mind, a single syllable that yet carried with it a plethora of meaning and primal essence. And as he spoke, a new world of possibility seemed to open before him.
"Nar!"
The arcane threads burst into sudden visibility, forging a blazing, burning symbol in the air just before his open palm. From the newly forged sigil burst forth a screaming bolt of magic flame, hurtling across the chamber towards Andra's now exposed body.
Fire Bolt 25 to hit, 1 fire damage.
Even as the burning symbol fizzled into sparks and nothing, Samir was pulling his bowgun from its case as he moved forward. A single dot of light appeared on the lens of his glasses as well, marking Andra in the artificer's vision.
Drew the bowgun, moved up 15 feet, Bonus Action cast Hunter's Mark on Andra.
Joren thunders into melee with the hidden crossbowmen to his left, conferring disadvantage on ranged attacks, and bringing his echo there as well.
He roars, grinning brightly at them: "ARE YOU KNOWING WHAT ECHO KNIGHTS ARE BEST AT? AN EASY ONE, THAT. ENDING CROSSBOWMEN!"
Joren swaps with his echo as a bonus action, unnecessary since they are next to each other, but intended to confuse. He expends his final Unleash Incarnation, attacking twice. Both from his echo, hoping to fool the cultists into attacking it, since it had yelled at them (pre-switch), then attacked.
First Attack: (On Cultist 2) To hit: 26 (Natural 20), Damage: 18 Second Attack: (Also on Cultist 2 if still up, otherwise Cultist 3) To hit: 23, Damage: 14 All attacks non-lethal to avoid exploding cultist syndrome. 32 total damage.
Opening his mind to the other within, Malachi feels its tendrils worm further into him, a cold and numbing feeling. The rumbling in his head abates and he feels the foreign presence withdrawing back through the scar on his temple. Another burst of pain, and it is over. Then, he hears the wriggling in his head speak. "Good. Safe." Not just a feelling, or a comprehending, but rather Malachi actually hears the words in his head for the first time since he had become aware of the other mind within his, many years ago.
"You're right..." Andra continues
He starts to turn towards Lanya when Samir's arcane bolt of fire streaks across the great distance between them. Andra's head whips away in recoil as the blast strikes a glancing blow against his cheek (1 Fire Damage). When he turns his head back to face Samir, there is a hole in the tanned leathery skin where he was struck. The edges of the skin glow like singed parchment, and underneath is just a hint of an entirely different face. Pale and smooth, with a hint of dark stubble, partially burned away from Samir's magic, and a line of runic tattoos along the jawbone. Then the glowing edges creep inward as the leathery illusion repairs itself.
He snarls, and even as Joren bursts into action, nearly felling one of the cultists in a single swift motion, Andra slides his dagger into Lanya's back. He locks eyes with Vilus and says, "...No hostages." Then he plants a foot on her back and pushes her.
She stumbles. She tumbles. Over the edge of the steep embankment, plummeting toward the dark, cold waters below.
Over by Joren, one of the cultists (2) reels from a smashed knee on one side, and several broken ribs on the other. His face is obscured by a smooth white mask, but when he coughs, blood flecks stain the breathing holes. The cultist tries to roll backward over a shoulder to put distance between himself and the menacing echo (bonus action disengage), but the real Joren is there, smashing the back of his head with his greatsword. The man levels a peculiar crossbow at the two Jorens, only to see one vanish as his fellow cultist (3) slashes through it with a wicked dagger in hand (1 slashing damage).
Shifting aim, he (2) fires the crossbow at Joren. A thick bolt punches through the armour on Joren's thigh (9 piercing damage), and he looks down to see there is a long, thin cable connecting the bolt and the crossbow. The other cultist (3) seeing the all-out assault on his fellow, begins back away from Joren's turned back to create distance.
On the other side of the tracks, from behind a rock near Marion, a third cultist (1) in white mask fires her crossbow at Joren as well. But this time, the bolt glances off his helmet and sails past him, trailing its cord behind it. It lodges into the far wall across the water.
(Malachi is up to finish off the surprise round, and Marion, Joren and Samir are also up as we kick off round 1)
As Cultist 2 disengages and rolls away, Joren, through habit of long training, pivots and smashes them in the face with the pommel of his greatsword, while hooking the blade through their armpit at an awkward angle to prevent them from leaving his melee range. "Going somewhere?" he growls.
Attack of Opportunity via Sentinel feat despite disengage from Cultist 2: To hit: 19 Damage: 8 On a hit, Cultist 2's speed drops to 0.
"Someone close to melee with the crossbowmen to make it harder for them to fire at range," Joren coughs the request as the bolt strikes him anyway.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Malachi’s eyes snap open at the words in his head and he stands upright, quickly realizing the dire situation. With little time to truly think about what he just heard, he moves up the tunnel toward Vilus, avoiding the tether stretching across the tunnel. As he passes Joren, he turns his head and whispers a jumbled phrase in a harsh tongue that only Cultist 2 can hear, feeling his mind with fear. Continuing down the tunnel he stops near Vilus, mind focused on Cultist 3, picturing him falling backwards over the ledge into the water, practically forcing him back with his mind. Sharing a look with Vilus, he focuses his attention back to Andra
Cultist 2 makes a DC14 Wisdom save or takes 8 psychic damage and uses its reaction to moves away. Half damage and no movement on a save.
BA Telekinetic shove. Cultist 3 makes a DC14 Strength save or is moved 5 feet away from Malachi over the edge of the drop.
The first cultist(2), standing bruised and bloodied before Joren, clutches his head in a silent scream. Before he can even turn away, blood trickles from his ears and the eye slits in the mask, and he collapses to the ground beside the crossbow still tethered to Joren. The other cultist(3) points his crossbow at Samir just in time for a wave of force to strike him. He tries to resist, but his legs get swept out from under him. His head smashes against the ledge hard, cracking his mask as he disappears over the side.
Samir hurries on a direct path towards Lanya, hoping that he can get to her in time. Knowing that Andra remains a threat, however, he lets loose with a shot from his bowgun, hoping to give the villain a second thought at the least.
Bowgun (light crossbow) 16 attack, 6 damage plus 3 Hunter's Mark damage.
“The Marshal is still alive! I can still feel her presence” Malachi calls to the others “She is wounded, but is conscious in the water. We must get to her!”
With grimace, Joren wraps his hand in his cloak and pulls out the tethered bolt from his side as a bit of blood seeps out through his chain mail (free action). He trusts nothing about these cultists. The bolt might be poisoned or explosive or the tether electrically charged or who knows what else... he gingerly tosses the bolt away to the east away from the other tether, making sure the two do not touch.
Gratified to see Malachi handle what's left of Cultist 2 with his strange psychic spells (which Joren is finally beginning to get accustomed to), and use his spectral hand to shove Cultist 3 over the edge and into the water, Joren has the unsettling thought that these are the types of tactics that the cultists would use if they could. He wants to believe that sure Razmus has not touched the half-elf's mind. What a horror that would be. And yet...
Composing himself, Joren uses his Bonus Action to summon his echo, moving it behind (to the north of) Cultist 1 who had bounced their tethered crossbow bolt off his helmet, squeezing the echo between that cultist and the northern wall.
Action: Attack from echo's position (advantage attempting flanking with Marion) on Cultist 1 (non-lethal): To hit: 24 (or 18 if no flanking) Damage: 10
Joren himself steps past the north/south tether line (DEX Save 20), 5' north and mostly west to the point of staying within 30' of his echo. His tries to avoid keeping his eyes fixed on Andra, but his vision narrows and his rage at the cultist leader dominates his thoughts, making him less perceptive.
"Needing to save Marshal Lanya yes, but Marion and I are having heavy armor, less suited to swimming. Anyone have a clever way of fishing her out or making her float? And speaking up please if you all see any further traps."
There is a metallic clink as Samir's shot hits Andra's shoulder, and he winces angrily.
The bolt comes free from Joren's leg without disconnecting from the tether, and falls harmlessly to the ground where Joren throws it.
Surprised, Marion rounds on the cultist(1) emerging from beside her, and chops into her at the same time as Joren. The female cultist, doubled over in pain, drops her crossbow and pulls out a dagger, leaping at Marion. Her blade, however, is just barely turned aside by Marion's sturdy armour. (Joren's echo can make an AoO)
A sound like a wailing shriek pierces the air, and a glow begins to emanate from behind the dead cultist's(2) mask. He begins to rise, although the movement is unnatural. It is as he is a marionette being lifted solely by the head. Swaying unsteadily side to side, the animated corpse lurches toward it's killer. One of its feet catches the tether connected to the cave wall. At the far end of the cavern, it disconnects from the bolt with a click. And explosion rocks the south wall, leaving behind a thick cloud of heavy smoke where the bolt was once lodged. The dead cultist continues, unfazed, and rushes forward, wrapping its arms around Malachi and trying to ensnare him. Even though the cultist has only been dead mere seconds, Malachi can see chunks of skin rotting and peeling off of the corpse's hands.
(Malachi needs to contest a grapple check of 19 or be grappled and take 4 points of necrotic damage)
Andra pulls a glove off of his right hand to reveal a silver ring with a blue sapphire embedded. Looking perturbed, he brings his considerable height down into a kneel and places his hand upon one of the steel mine cart rails. Suddenly, the sapphire cracks, and electricity arcs from his hand, speeding down the rail and arcing to people and objects nearby. In rapid succession, the wooden slats ignite in flame as the current of electricity passes by.
(Vilus, Malachi, Marion, and Ashley need to make a DC 14 dex save. 20 lightning damage on a fail, 10 on a success.)
(Stepping over the rail in the future will cause 1d8 fire damage on a failed Dex Save DC11)
Joren's echo opportunistically attacks Cultist 1 as she goes after Marion, but his own distraction with Andra renders it not his best effort. Not to mention his a alarm when Cultist 2 arises as an undead monster and Andra charges the rails with electricity and sets them ablaze.
Vilus takes a blast from the lightning that arcs from the tracks, hitting him full force in the chest and blazing streaks of cracked, bloodied and now seared flesh across his torso, he gasps out in pain and grabs at his chest tightly. He flexes a little in reaction to this, his skin rippling momentarily like stone and the searing wound appears less severe, this seems to help him regin composure and press forward towards Andra crossing the tracks closer to Jorens position, the arcs of lightning striking at his feet as he does. "how long 'til the ships arrive Andra? what ritualistic bullshit you got going on around here? what's the plan? huh?" The goliath barks out as he fires off a bolt from his crossbow at the man.
Movement 30ft, toward Andra. Dex save 10, 20 dmg taken. Second dex save (crossing tracks) 7, 1dmg taken. Reaction Stones endurance, 13 dmg negated. Action attack, crossbow, to hit 6 (miss). Free action, lots of yelling.
Samir continues to rush forward, tossing off another bolt towards Andra as he does. More important in his mind than Andra, however, was the Marshall. He was almost there...
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Ashley watches from behind her rock as the scene unfolds around her. Knowing that Lanya was in the water, drowning, was pulling at her heart and she knew she had to so something. It took all she had to turn away form the horror that now had Malachi, and as she starts moving Andra lights the rails on fire and as her focus is on Lanya, she takes the full damage of the lighting.
She decides to dash in her desperation to get to Lanya, and runs her 60' towards her. Being that she was barely holding on herself now, she casts healing word on herself with her bonus action.
(If Malachi or Marion miss the save, she'll twin the spell and give the healing to that one as well - we'll figure that out on discord)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Malachi rocks forward as the Cultist grabs him from behind, unable to wriggle free from its grasp, but getting a good look at the rotting flesh from its corpse “Will these things never stop? It looks like it has been dead for quite some time” Malachi struggles with the corpse and is able to twist away from the majority of the lightning and fire from Andra’s ring.
Malachi grabs the creature’s arms with his own and delivers a burst of lightning of his own, sparking off of the cultist, then pushes back against the cultist with his mind, trying to move him out of the grapple and into the flames of the track.
Attack: 18 Damage: 6.
BA Telekinetic shove. Cultist 2 makes a DC14 Strength save or is moved 5 feet away from Malachi back into the flames on the rail.
The rapidly decaying cultist spasms as the shock rips through it, and the reek of burning, rotting flesh is absolutely appalling. Its torn, scorched clothes billow behind it as a wave of force from Malachi's mind hits it, but keeps a firm grip with its hands, even wrapping its legs around the unfortunate sorcerer's midriff.
As always on any battlefield. The fog of war descending. Too much happening at once.
A detached part of Joren's mind tries to triage what to do next. Try to help Samir and Ashley in assisting Marshal Lanya? No, they would have to do that on their own. Support Vilus and go after Andra? Too far away. Help Marion with Culstist 1? He would have to trust the paladin to handle that one.
Rightly or wrongly, he chooses in the moment to try to help Malachi, grappled as he is by the undead Cultist 2 near Joren.
Joren uses his action to move behind Cultist 2. He hooks his greatsword one-handed diagonally up between the corpse's body and Malachi's, levering it off while grappling it with his free arm. Still holding the undead abomination, he moves to the edge of the cliff and hurls it into the water in disgust.
Watching from behind the rest of her crew, Ashley uses all her will power to stay back, waiting to see what will happen as Vilus and Andra start to talk. She does eventually decide to get out from behind everyone, and move to behind the rocks just below them. Trying to do it quietly so that Andra doesn't notice her..
Stealth 11
Ashley creeps towards the rocks to the side, when she hears Andra say "That's far enough!" She looks, concerned, but sees Andra is addressing Joren's echo as well as the slowly advancing Vilus. Ashley manages to slip through the gloom and get behind a rock without being noticed.
Andra listens to Vilus's words intently. When Vilus finishes, he frowns and says, "You know what, you're right." With one hand gripping the back of Lanya's collar, he quickly pulls her away from him and holds her out to his right side. Dread hits Samir and Malachi at the same time as they notice a shift in his tone and recognize something is about to happen.
Then Malachi, still reaching out with his mind notices another presence to his right. Reflexively, he touches the mind. Searing pain erupts through the scar in his temple. A voice, deep and sinister in his head, rumbles through his being, threatening to fracture his mind and slip in through the cracks. "There you are..."
At that same moment, Joren alone hears the telltale clicks of crossbows arming from behind the rocks to his left.
Surprise Round:
Joren is aware that there are hidden enemies to his left, and can act before them.
Samir is aware that Andra is getting ready to become hostile and can act before him.
Malachi is also aware that Andra is getting ready to become hostile, and that there are hidden enemies around, but has to make a CHA save first, and takes his turn AFTER Andra.
Malachi senses the presence of hidden enemies and reaches out with his mind, but something is different. He doesn’t connect with another mind, but feels a presence nonetheless. Something is very wrong. He gasps and drops his coin, hand going to the marking on his forehead as he doubles over in pain. As the voice works its way into his head, he instinctively reaches out to the familiar presence that saved him once before, seeking aid one more time. CHA Save: 20
Wait... what is he... no!
Samir tenses, watching Andra whip the Marshall off to the side. Every instinct in him was screaming that there was danger and something needed to be done. Whatever was about to happen, it would end poorly for Lanya and his friends.
And then he felt more. He felt... them. Threads. Incandescent, shimmering in his mind's eye, the same wisps of ethereal power that the Lady in his vision had showed him. They glimmered and pulsed for him now, poised in midair in seeming disarray and random order. In nearly the same instant, his mind latched onto a potential design, an arrangemnt that left behind the anarchy of the threads' current state and instead brought forth meaning and purpose to them.
Almost automatically, his left arm rose up, elbow locked and fingers splayed to point his gloved palm pointed straight at Andra's chest. The invisible threads burst into action, weaving and intertwining themselves into a symbol of arcane quintessence. Likewise, a word came to mind, a single syllable that yet carried with it a plethora of meaning and primal essence. And as he spoke, a new world of possibility seemed to open before him.
"Nar!"
The arcane threads burst into sudden visibility, forging a blazing, burning symbol in the air just before his open palm. From the newly forged sigil burst forth a screaming bolt of magic flame, hurtling across the chamber towards Andra's now exposed body.
Fire Bolt 25 to hit, 1 fire damage.
Even as the burning symbol fizzled into sparks and nothing, Samir was pulling his bowgun from its case as he moved forward. A single dot of light appeared on the lens of his glasses as well, marking Andra in the artificer's vision.
Drew the bowgun, moved up 15 feet, Bonus Action cast Hunter's Mark on Andra.
Joren thunders into melee with the hidden crossbowmen to his left, conferring disadvantage on ranged attacks, and bringing his echo there as well.
He roars, grinning brightly at them: "ARE YOU KNOWING WHAT ECHO KNIGHTS ARE BEST AT? AN EASY ONE, THAT. ENDING CROSSBOWMEN!"
Joren swaps with his echo as a bonus action, unnecessary since they are next to each other, but intended to confuse. He expends his final Unleash Incarnation, attacking twice. Both from his echo, hoping to fool the cultists into attacking it, since it had yelled at them (pre-switch), then attacked.
First Attack: (On Cultist 2) To hit: 26 (Natural 20), Damage: 18
Second Attack: (Also on Cultist 2 if still up, otherwise Cultist 3) To hit: 23, Damage: 14
All attacks non-lethal to avoid exploding cultist syndrome. 32 total damage.
Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest | Nivi(Rogue5): Erik_Soong's Netherdeep
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Quyen(Adept1, ba5ic): ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord) | Seri(Druid1): Hunter_Orien's Saltmarsh
Xarian(Fighter3): Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map | Ophelia(Sorcerer2): BillM's Icewind Dale | Shin(Wizard1): Culuril's Strixhaven
Opening his mind to the other within, Malachi feels its tendrils worm further into him, a cold and numbing feeling. The rumbling in his head abates and he feels the foreign presence withdrawing back through the scar on his temple. Another burst of pain, and it is over. Then, he hears the wriggling in his head speak. "Good. Safe." Not just a feelling, or a comprehending, but rather Malachi actually hears the words in his head for the first time since he had become aware of the other mind within his, many years ago.
"You're right..." Andra continues
He starts to turn towards Lanya when Samir's arcane bolt of fire streaks across the great distance between them. Andra's head whips away in recoil as the blast strikes a glancing blow against his cheek (1 Fire Damage). When he turns his head back to face Samir, there is a hole in the tanned leathery skin where he was struck. The edges of the skin glow like singed parchment, and underneath is just a hint of an entirely different face. Pale and smooth, with a hint of dark stubble, partially burned away from Samir's magic, and a line of runic tattoos along the jawbone. Then the glowing edges creep inward as the leathery illusion repairs itself.
He snarls, and even as Joren bursts into action, nearly felling one of the cultists in a single swift motion, Andra slides his dagger into Lanya's back. He locks eyes with Vilus and says, "...No hostages." Then he plants a foot on her back and pushes her.
She stumbles. She tumbles. Over the edge of the steep embankment, plummeting toward the dark, cold waters below.
Over by Joren, one of the cultists (2) reels from a smashed knee on one side, and several broken ribs on the other. His face is obscured by a smooth white mask, but when he coughs, blood flecks stain the breathing holes. The cultist tries to roll backward over a shoulder to put distance between himself and the menacing echo (bonus action disengage), but the real Joren is there, smashing the back of his head with his greatsword. The man levels a peculiar crossbow at the two Jorens, only to see one vanish as his fellow cultist (3) slashes through it with a wicked dagger in hand (1 slashing damage).
Shifting aim, he (2) fires the crossbow at Joren. A thick bolt punches through the armour on Joren's thigh (9 piercing damage), and he looks down to see there is a long, thin cable connecting the bolt and the crossbow. The other cultist (3) seeing the all-out assault on his fellow, begins back away from Joren's turned back to create distance.
On the other side of the tracks, from behind a rock near Marion, a third cultist (1) in white mask fires her crossbow at Joren as well. But this time, the bolt glances off his helmet and sails past him, trailing its cord behind it. It lodges into the far wall across the water.
(Malachi is up to finish off the surprise round, and Marion, Joren and Samir are also up as we kick off round 1)
As Cultist 2 disengages and rolls away, Joren, through habit of long training, pivots and smashes them in the face with the pommel of his greatsword, while hooking the blade through their armpit at an awkward angle to prevent them from leaving his melee range. "Going somewhere?" he growls.
Attack of Opportunity via Sentinel feat despite disengage from Cultist 2:
To hit: 19
Damage: 8
On a hit, Cultist 2's speed drops to 0.
"Someone close to melee with the crossbowmen to make it harder for them to fire at range," Joren coughs the request as the bolt strikes him anyway.
Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest | Nivi(Rogue5): Erik_Soong's Netherdeep
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Quyen(Adept1, ba5ic): ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord) | Seri(Druid1): Hunter_Orien's Saltmarsh
Xarian(Fighter3): Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map | Ophelia(Sorcerer2): BillM's Icewind Dale | Shin(Wizard1): Culuril's Strixhaven
Malachi’s eyes snap open at the words in his head and he stands upright, quickly realizing the dire situation. With little time to truly think about what he just heard, he moves up the tunnel toward Vilus, avoiding the tether stretching across the tunnel. As he passes Joren, he turns his head and whispers a jumbled phrase in a harsh tongue that only Cultist 2 can hear, feeling his mind with fear. Continuing down the tunnel he stops near Vilus, mind focused on Cultist 3, picturing him falling backwards over the ledge into the water, practically forcing him back with his mind. Sharing a look with Vilus, he focuses his attention back to Andra
Cultist 2 makes a DC14 Wisdom save or takes 8 psychic damage and uses its reaction to moves away. Half damage and no movement on a save.
BA Telekinetic shove. Cultist 3 makes a DC14 Strength save or is moved 5 feet away from Malachi over the edge of the drop.
The first cultist(2), standing bruised and bloodied before Joren, clutches his head in a silent scream. Before he can even turn away, blood trickles from his ears and the eye slits in the mask, and he collapses to the ground beside the crossbow still tethered to Joren. The other cultist(3) points his crossbow at Samir just in time for a wave of force to strike him. He tries to resist, but his legs get swept out from under him. His head smashes against the ledge hard, cracking his mask as he disappears over the side.
Samir hurries on a direct path towards Lanya, hoping that he can get to her in time. Knowing that Andra remains a threat, however, he lets loose with a shot from his bowgun, hoping to give the villain a second thought at the least.
Bowgun (light crossbow) 16 attack, 6 damage plus 3 Hunter's Mark damage.
“The Marshal is still alive! I can still feel her presence” Malachi calls to the others “She is wounded, but is conscious in the water. We must get to her!”
Joren Sleight of Hand: 19
With grimace, Joren wraps his hand in his cloak and pulls out the tethered bolt from his side as a bit of blood seeps out through his chain mail (free action). He trusts nothing about these cultists. The bolt might be poisoned or explosive or the tether electrically charged or who knows what else... he gingerly tosses the bolt away to the east away from the other tether, making sure the two do not touch.
Gratified to see Malachi handle what's left of Cultist 2 with his strange psychic spells (which Joren is finally beginning to get accustomed to), and use his spectral hand to shove Cultist 3 over the edge and into the water, Joren has the unsettling thought that these are the types of tactics that the cultists would use if they could. He wants to believe that sure Razmus has not touched the half-elf's mind. What a horror that would be. And yet...
Composing himself, Joren uses his Bonus Action to summon his echo, moving it behind (to the north of) Cultist 1 who had bounced their tethered crossbow bolt off his helmet, squeezing the echo between that cultist and the northern wall.
Action: Attack from echo's position (advantage attempting flanking with Marion) on Cultist 1 (non-lethal):
To hit: 24 (or 18 if no flanking)
Damage: 10
Joren himself steps past the north/south tether line (DEX Save 20), 5' north and mostly west to the point of staying within 30' of his echo. His tries to avoid keeping his eyes fixed on Andra, but his vision narrows and his rage at the cultist leader dominates his thoughts, making him less perceptive.
"Needing to save Marshal Lanya yes, but Marion and I are having heavy armor, less suited to swimming. Anyone have a clever way of fishing her out or making her float? And speaking up please if you all see any further traps."
Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest | Nivi(Rogue5): Erik_Soong's Netherdeep
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Quyen(Adept1, ba5ic): ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord) | Seri(Druid1): Hunter_Orien's Saltmarsh
Xarian(Fighter3): Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map | Ophelia(Sorcerer2): BillM's Icewind Dale | Shin(Wizard1): Culuril's Strixhaven
There is a metallic clink as Samir's shot hits Andra's shoulder, and he winces angrily.
The bolt comes free from Joren's leg without disconnecting from the tether, and falls harmlessly to the ground where Joren throws it.
Surprised, Marion rounds on the cultist(1) emerging from beside her, and chops into her at the same time as Joren. The female cultist, doubled over in pain, drops her crossbow and pulls out a dagger, leaping at Marion. Her blade, however, is just barely turned aside by Marion's sturdy armour. (Joren's echo can make an AoO)
A sound like a wailing shriek pierces the air, and a glow begins to emanate from behind the dead cultist's(2) mask. He begins to rise, although the movement is unnatural. It is as he is a marionette being lifted solely by the head. Swaying unsteadily side to side, the animated corpse lurches toward it's killer. One of its feet catches the tether connected to the cave wall. At the far end of the cavern, it disconnects from the bolt with a click. And explosion rocks the south wall, leaving behind a thick cloud of heavy smoke where the bolt was once lodged. The dead cultist continues, unfazed, and rushes forward, wrapping its arms around Malachi and trying to ensnare him. Even though the cultist has only been dead mere seconds, Malachi can see chunks of skin rotting and peeling off of the corpse's hands.
(Malachi needs to contest a grapple check of 19 or be grappled and take 4 points of necrotic damage)
Andra pulls a glove off of his right hand to reveal a silver ring with a blue sapphire embedded. Looking perturbed, he brings his considerable height down into a kneel and places his hand upon one of the steel mine cart rails. Suddenly, the sapphire cracks, and electricity arcs from his hand, speeding down the rail and arcing to people and objects nearby. In rapid succession, the wooden slats ignite in flame as the current of electricity passes by.
(Vilus, Malachi, Marion, and Ashley need to make a DC 14 dex save. 20 lightning damage on a fail, 10 on a success.)
(Stepping over the rail in the future will cause 1d8 fire damage on a failed Dex Save DC11)
Joren's echo opportunistically attacks Cultist 1 as she goes after Marion, but his own distraction with Andra renders it not his best effort. Not to mention his a alarm when Cultist 2 arises as an undead monster and Andra charges the rails with electricity and sets them ablaze.
Greatsword to hit: 13
Greatsword damage: 12
(Non-lethal).
Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest | Nivi(Rogue5): Erik_Soong's Netherdeep
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Quyen(Adept1, ba5ic): ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord) | Seri(Druid1): Hunter_Orien's Saltmarsh
Xarian(Fighter3): Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map | Ophelia(Sorcerer2): BillM's Icewind Dale | Shin(Wizard1): Culuril's Strixhaven
Vilus takes a blast from the lightning that arcs from the tracks, hitting him full force in the chest and blazing streaks of cracked, bloodied and now seared flesh across his torso, he gasps out in pain and grabs at his chest tightly. He flexes a little in reaction to this, his skin rippling momentarily like stone and the searing wound appears less severe, this seems to help him regin composure and press forward towards Andra crossing the tracks closer to Jorens position, the arcs of lightning striking at his feet as he does. "how long 'til the ships arrive Andra? what ritualistic bullshit you got going on around here? what's the plan? huh?" The goliath barks out as he fires off a bolt from his crossbow at the man.
Movement 30ft, toward Andra.
Dex save 10, 20 dmg taken.
Second dex save (crossing tracks) 7, 1dmg taken.
Reaction Stones endurance, 13 dmg negated.
Action attack, crossbow, to hit 6 (miss).
Free action, lots of yelling.
Samir continues to rush forward, tossing off another bolt towards Andra as he does. More important in his mind than Andra, however, was the Marshall. He was almost there...
Move 30' forward.
Bowgun shot at Andra 13 to hit, 8 plus 5 damage.
Ashley watches from behind her rock as the scene unfolds around her. Knowing that Lanya was in the water, drowning, was pulling at her heart and she knew she had to so something. It took all she had to turn away form the horror that now had Malachi, and as she starts moving Andra lights the rails on fire and as her focus is on Lanya, she takes the full damage of the lighting.
She decides to dash in her desperation to get to Lanya, and runs her 60' towards her. Being that she was barely holding on herself now, she casts healing word on herself with her bonus action.
(If Malachi or Marion miss the save, she'll twin the spell and give the healing to that one as well - we'll figure that out on discord)
healing 7
Malachi rocks forward as the Cultist grabs him from behind, unable to wriggle free from its grasp, but getting a good look at the rotting flesh from its corpse “Will these things never stop? It looks like it has been dead for quite some time” Malachi struggles with the corpse and is able to twist away from the majority of the lightning and fire from Andra’s ring.
Malachi grabs the creature’s arms with his own and delivers a burst of lightning of his own, sparking off of the cultist, then pushes back against the cultist with his mind, trying to move him out of the grapple and into the flames of the track.
Attack: 18 Damage: 6.
BA Telekinetic shove. Cultist 2 makes a DC14 Strength save or is moved 5 feet away from Malachi back into the flames on the rail.
(Strength Save: Nat 20)
The rapidly decaying cultist spasms as the shock rips through it, and the reek of burning, rotting flesh is absolutely appalling. Its torn, scorched clothes billow behind it as a wave of force from Malachi's mind hits it, but keeps a firm grip with its hands, even wrapping its legs around the unfortunate sorcerer's midriff.
As always on any battlefield. The fog of war descending. Too much happening at once.
A detached part of Joren's mind tries to triage what to do next. Try to help Samir and Ashley in assisting Marshal Lanya? No, they would have to do that on their own. Support Vilus and go after Andra? Too far away. Help Marion with Culstist 1? He would have to trust the paladin to handle that one.
Rightly or wrongly, he chooses in the moment to try to help Malachi, grappled as he is by the undead Cultist 2 near Joren.
Joren uses his action to move behind Cultist 2. He hooks his greatsword one-handed diagonally up between the corpse's body and Malachi's, levering it off while grappling it with his free arm. Still holding the undead abomination, he moves to the edge of the cliff and hurls it into the water in disgust.
Joren Athletics: 26 (Natural 20).
He leaves his echo to flank Cultist 1 with Marion. "Attacking non-lethally please, warrior of the Blue Lady! Wanting no more undead to deal with."
As a bonus action, Joren gets his Second Wind. Heals 6 + 4 = 10hp.
Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest | Nivi(Rogue5): Erik_Soong's Netherdeep
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Quyen(Adept1, ba5ic): ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord) | Seri(Druid1): Hunter_Orien's Saltmarsh
Xarian(Fighter3): Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map | Ophelia(Sorcerer2): BillM's Icewind Dale | Shin(Wizard1): Culuril's Strixhaven