Tests and Trials Game Thread

((By a strict reading, the bonus action restriction doesn't base on use of spell slots, but casting in general. "You can’t cast another spell during the same turn, except for a cantrip with a casting time of 1 action." "You can cast mage armor on yourself at will, without expending a spell slot or material components." So Armor of Shadows still counts as casting, even though it doesn't require a slot. There is also no restriction outside of action economy on how many spell slots you can use to cast per turn, if you have another way to gain second action that allows for casting (eg, a fighter's action surge).))

Ernos defends himself while sending nasty, crashy thoughts up at the out of control gryffon.

 Initiative:

Cladmir <-----
Gryffons
Kroshav
Erson  Ernos
Jaq <-----
Ealu <Poof!>

((Okay yeah I don't know when I've misread the rules to somehow think it was based on using spell slots - maybe somebody tried to explain it to me when I didn't fully get the difference between cantrips and spells, and they used that factor, I dunno.  But yeah, I- Wait, hang on, so what's the deal here, you can cast multiple spells using an action if you have multiple, but a bonus action cast means you can't?  That...  seems like it's off?))

((My general rule of thumb is bonus action spell + action cantrip = okay. Except divine smites, because divine smites aren't cast (even though they consume spell slots) and can be used as long as you have slots for them and hit. Spider probably can add some exceptions to this, but I gets me through the day!))

((Critical Role bears some of the responsibility for spreading the 'can't cast more than one leveled/slotted spell per turn' reading, in addition to homebrewing a circumvention is the bonus action rule in the early going. I agree that it's a weird rule as written, and hope that it's something that gets cleaned up in the current revision.))

Jaq sends an arrow flying at the Gryffon closest to him.

Without waiting to see if it hits it mark or not, he will move towards the nearest big drift of snow and do a stylish dive into the side of it.   Thinking he wasn't going to go TOO deep into it, in case it was hiding a boulder inside of it, but hoping it hides him from the flying beasts.

Attack Longbow:  14

Damage: 10

Luck: 59

Stealth: 17

(Again the rolls randomly changed, tho I don't think they changed anything much.    Top two were the same I think, missing.  Original Luck was 8.  Original stealth, now useless was 21)

Jaq sends an arrow into the mountain, far short of the trio diving towards them and then tries to slide into a snow drift. Unfortunately when he gets to it he finds that it is more rock than drift and can't more than hunker over it.

 Initiative:

Cladmir <-----
Gryffons
Kroshav
Ernos
Jaq

Cladmir sees Jaq moving around and maybe falling on the snow with the gryffons approaching decides to try and see if he can draw some their attention and break up the trio.

Attack twice with long bow

Attack: 9 Damage: 12

Attack: 14 Damage: 11

(( Not sure where Kroshav is at this point, but if Cladmir sees Kroshav coming out at some point he would use the extra action to put away the bow, getting ready to gear up for melee because he know the Dragonborn is likely going to charge right in and he wants to be there with him. ))

((I think he's just outside or just inside, close enough he could hear the confused gryffon, but doesn't have visual on it.))

One of the gryffons shrieks as an arrow pierces its meaty flank as Cladmir successfully draws all three of their attentions.

Claws extended they dive at the human (and if they manage to get Cladmir then they would switch up to grab Ernos as well):

Grapple 1: 23

Grapple 2: 18

Grapple 3: 13

Cladmir manages to ward off the first two gryffons but the third sinks its claws deep and he quickly finds himself 20' above the ground and rising. The other two Gryffons rise with the one flapping away with its prey but split and move south and southwest, the one heading southwest still sporting an arrow. Both are 20' above the ground and 20' out.

The original gryffon flaps madly to try and right itself to slow its unavoidable impact: 3

While it does manage to get its wings out and slow itself slightly a loud thump can be heard from even Kroshav still partially concealed in the cave.

Crash landing: 35

Initiative:

Cladmir (Grappled, 20' up) <-----
Gryffons (-35, -0, -0, -11)
Kroshav <-----
Ernos <-----
Jaq <-----

Kroshav will run out of the cave.

((How far is he from Clad? Within 30ft? He knows he has limited ranged options, but if he can get Clad within range of bless, he'll drop that on him and the other two as well if he has eyes on Jaq and Ernie within that 30ft range too. If he can't get Clad with it, he'll use his action to shed the claws instead.))

((He's within 30' of all of them if he moves out under Clad))

((Then he does so, and blesses them all... I suppose he needs to have his symbol on his shield available, so as long as he can display it enough to tap into it while juggling Sword and the claws...))

"You feathery turds! Stop taking my friends!", he bellows in anger, frustrated by his inability to contribute in a battle happening at range, and hoping to entice one of them to come down close enough to hit.

Jaq moves full movement in the direction that the gryffon is flying with Cladmir, so that he stays close to them.   He will then shoot an arrow at it.

(I"m rolling sneak attack as Cladmir is within 5 feet and isn't incapacitated, I think)

Longbow Attack: 26

Damage: 8

Sneak attack extra damage: 12

He will then use cunning action for more movement, and move closer to somewhere where he THINKS he might be able to stealth soon.

And:  bless added to the not good to hit roll.

1

Can I check if there is a nice layer of snow beneath Cladmir at this time?  If there is he will attempt to swing (with disadvantage of course) at the cretin that has hold of him in an attempt to have it let go and and drop on the hopefully soft snow.

If he's above some rocks then... he will attempt a grapple (like grabbing neck) in the attempt to have the gryffon angle down toward the ground.