Tests and Trials Game Thread

Kroshav will lash the duergar into Ealu's military saddle as best he can.

((With the open expanse between here and the entry, we don't have the luxury of sneaking up on them. Kroshav could do some burrowing at some point, but it's slow-ish through solid rock, they they'd likely hear him coming and phase through walls on him. Jaq I suppose has flight, so could approach from above, but the rest of us are at a walking pace across open snowy cut...))

((Visibility is low due to the snow as well, if that helps or hinders?))

((Yeah, suppose there's that, but Kroshav isn't much of a stealth guy, his initial reaction was to mount Ealu and gallop back alone, so....))

Intelligent: 12  ((Let's see if all that readings pay off!))

Cladmir can be rather stealthy, but based on his new personal goal his Job is to keep Kroshav safe, so he will stick close (but not too close) to the Dragonborn.

"Not sure of the best way to do this either.  We all have magic or magic weapons.  We'll need that I think.  I am still best at a distance, so in the beginning on hang a bit back, and then if I need I'll use the best to fly upwards, but that won't some of the undead from following me.  This could all turn badly, quickly."

Cladmir remembers, with the reminder from Jaq about magic weapons, his magic mace warhammer. He also remembers someone saying you could even hit a ghost with a magic weapon, if you could get your hands on one.

At the time it seemed wishful thinking, but here he is with ghosts and a magic weapon to test that out.

((@All, Go ahead and give me your initial steps and we'll go from there.

If anyone is going to bother sneaking give me a stealth check right off the bat.))

Kroshav would have claws stowed on his back, shield on his arm, and would be walking in front of Ealu with Mik on her back.

Ernos re-applies his Mage Armour just to be as ready as possible, then he'll process behind Kroshav (and maybe Cladmir if he's using the mace rather than a bow?).  At first sign of undead, he's going to blast it with Eldritch Blast.

And this time I'm going to remember I have the Genie's Wrath class feature to deal an extra 3 fire damage once per turn when I land a hit.  Much as 3 damage means. XD

((Mace, or warhammer? Ah, an insight into Ernos... I have a genie warlock in another game on here. Dao patron, so bludgeoning.))

((Warhammer, yes. Not sure why I had a mace in my mind.

@Clad and Row, anything special or just following behind the other two?))

Cladmir will be following close to Kroshav, off to the paladin's right.  Cladmir will have shield ready in his left and the magic Warhammer in his right.  The position is so that he could use the shield to shield himself or Kroshav is needed.  

Quote from Spiderwrangler >>

((Mace, or warhammer? Ah, an insight into Ernos... I have a genie warlock in another game on here. Dao patron, so bludgeoning.))

 ((An insight?  He's already said he's supported by an efreeti.  I guess it's confirmation of his honesty there?))

((I didn't recall that, so either Kroshav or I wasn't paying attention! :P ))

Jaq will go last.  He will have his bow ready and an arrow nocked.

Nothing much else he can really prepare.

He does try to remember from his readings, can undead be affected by illusions?

Arcana: 18

Jaq thinks it will depend on the type of undead. Lesser dead, zombies and skeletons, would be fooled but greater dead, liches and the like, almost certainly wouldn't.

He isn't sure where what they're facing falls, but hopefully it doesn't rise to the level of greater undead.

((I'll write a longer post when I can.))

Quote from Spiderwrangler >>

((I didn't recall that, so either Kroshav or I wasn't paying attention! :P ))

 ((Might have been Jaq and Clad asking after Kroshav had moved away?))

((Also likely/possible.))

The party move forward, making no real attempts at stealth. The golem updates them on the status of things in the archives as they move,

"Joe has turned back a pair of incorporeal scouts and Gethren has repeated his offer and given a deadline, sunset, to respond. Up this point we have not resp-"

A pause,

"Joe has just yelled something I was not able to follow in response."

Another pause,

"Gethren has simply repeated the offer with the deadline. I can see they are testing the different barriers I was able to erect. The barriers were hastily constructed and I doubt they will be sufficient to hold against any concerted attack."

It is difficult to tell when sunset is going to happen in the snow, but it is definitely already getting darker. A half hour later brings them to the vicinity of the entrance, and sunset can't be far off. Everyone but Cladmir can just make out the ruined bodies of a trio of golems on the ground and, even from this distance, the snow looks to have been thoroughly trampled.

From their vantage point the stairs look to be clear.

((Perception checks everyone please!))

Kroshav Perception: 5
Ealu Perception: 15

Kroshav notices that about 15' above the entrance the snow doesn't seem to be falling...right.