Bramble is extremely confused at the crew descending into madness around him. He tries to shake Branch, Aluve, and Han out of their stupors, but before he can jostle Chatcho, everyone comes back to their senses. "What in Hiatea's name was that?! Are you all alright? All of a sudden you all just started... acting like you were mad!"
He helps the Thri-Kreen sit up, his heart sinking at the usually calm, cool, and collected arcanist looking so broken. "It's alright, Chatcho, whatever that was, it's over... What was it you saw? Some abomination? Why didn't I see it...?"
As Aluve asks for volunteers, Bramble steps forward. "I'll go, ah, definitely. If it means we might get out of here. Or at least get some answers."
Bramble follows his allies, trying to stay as quiet as he can while also paying attention to his surroundings.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Branch looks at Bramble confused , "How did you not get those visions? It was horrendous! I wonder why us and not you? Well, be glad, I never want to experience that again."
Once the creature disappears back into a building, Branch slowly steps back and regains breathing normally. As Alvue catches up, she relays to him the beast that she just witnessed and he can see on her face the relief that it was distracted before it got to her. Branch points to the building the beast ended up entering. "Oh I agree, I want to stay on this path to the tower, just wanted to see what we might be facing along the way. If we're quiet I think we can pass this intersection. I'll sneak up to the next one and do the same thing, hopefully this time I won't be noticed." and before Alvue can argue, she moves on. She goes about halfway to the next intersection and waits until the party is past the first one.
If all is successful there, she heads to the next and peaks again...
Blown-out windows of several connected storefronts make up the front wall of this next building. Forming an L-shape so that the building faces both the street and the alleyway in which Branch had spotted, and been spotted by, the creature. Which meant that it was this building in which it had disappeared into. Somewhere in the store rooms of these shops lurked that creature. Branch can hear it still, rummaging around, knocking things over, but it does not show itself to them. The party crosses the alleyway uneventfully, and they too can now hear the sounds of the creature going about its business in the back of the building. Perhaps by an unlucky stroke of fate, the noise tracks with Branch, moving from one end of the building to the other at the same general pace that she does. It is not long after she reaches the next alleyway, that she spots the creature bound out of a doorway. At this point, it is only roughly thirty feet away, but it doesn't seem to notice her this time. It continues bounding, clear across the alleyway and into a hole in the wall of the next building.
Bramble, too, can hear the creature travel through and out of the building. As the noise grows more distant, a tension that'd grown in the air relaxes, and the party collectively releases a held breath. For Bramble, though, that breath hitches in his throat. This seems suddenly familiar to him. Memories of his youth training to become the ranger he is today return. A specific memory, an encounter with wolves. First-hand he had learned that when wolves hunted, they spread out, surrounded their prey. If the noisy one had gone ahead... He turns, and there! Yes, there! It is gone the moment he spots it, slinking back into the shadow and out of sight, but it's there. A second of these creatures, trailing the party and waiting in anticipation. Waiting for the ambush to be set, for the trap to spring.
"We're being stalked," Bramble whispers to the others, half-nocking an arrow in his longbow and pointing his chin towards where the other one was. "Another one of those things. Catch up with Branch, I'll be right behind you. If one of those things rears their head again... I'll let loose. Should buy us a bit of time. Ah, provided I don't miss... Either way, get ready for trouble!"
Bramble will bring up the party's rear, keeping an eye out all around them for that second beast, or the return of the first one.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Branch watches the creature leave the building next to her and bound off into the next building. She breathes a sigh of relief, then waits for the group to catch up to her. She sees Bramble concerned about something but isn't quite sure what. Unless someone tells her to stop, Branch heads off to the third and final intersection before getting to the tower (if I'm reading the map correctly)
Chatcho considers the store fronts. He tries to evaluate, judging by their display windows, whether or not they house anything that can be of use in what will likely result in an ambush (arms, armor, or specialty items).
Archibald sees the others go with Branch, and stays with Bramble out of a sense of duty.
"Do you know what they are at least? Maybe that woman led us here on purpose. To these things. No. Maybe. It's just... " He tries to reel in his runaway thoughts.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
The worst part about knowing a battle is upcoming is the waiting. The anticipation that surrounds all their thoughts, the second-guessing. Should they bunch up, close together to defend their backs? Or should they remain spread relatively thin, and cover as many avenues of attack as they can? As it stands, they gather now in two loose groups. Led by Branch, one group moves forward to the next building. The others, not willing to leave people behind, remain at the store-front as Chatcho examines it for anything that could be of use. He finds little more than rusty or worm-ridden housewares, kettles and wash-boards, pots and rags. He is just giving up on his search when he catches a shadow moving in the back of the store, and looks to find that one of the creatures is standing in the doorway that would lead to the storeroom. It crosses the space between them in a heart-beat, leaping high into the air through the shattered window, but it's eye is set on another target.
Bramble, keen-eyed and alert, sees the attack coming almost as early as Chatcho. Still, he barely has enough time to merely twist in place and loose his arrow before the beast is upon him. The shaft impacts the beast's shoulder with a surprisingly loud sound, and then the full weight of the creature falls on the firbolg. The creature clings to him for a moment, raking him in several places with it's claws before he steps to one side and pushes against the creature, letting its momentum carry it to the ground without losing his footing. With a surprising quickness the creature recovers from the failed pounce, and rises back to its feet with a snarl escaping its teeth.
The noisy creature falls silent at the sounds of combat. Undoubtedly it is on its way to back up its partner, but it doesn't show itself yet.
Aluve quickly goes to aid Bramble, the beast was foul, its stench filled the lungs with a fo sicknesses that could only be compared to a rotting corpse.
Aluve draws is short swords and attacks the beast.
Bramble grits his teeth as the hound's claws tear at him. Dropping his bow to the side, he draws the two shortswords at his hip, wielding one in each hand, and strikes down at the horrid beast with both of them.
Action - Attack: 6 Damage: 4
Bonus Action - Two Weapon Fighting: Attack: 8 Damage: 1
Bramble clearly favors the bow over his blades. He makes two clumsy swings that fail to make contact.
As Branch goes to check on the next alley, she hears the attack from behind her, she quickly spins just in time to see Bramble be attacked by another of the wolf creatures. She comes halfway back to the last alleyway, draws her bow and looses at arrow at the foul creature..
Attack: 14 Damage: 4
Sneak attack since the hound is with Bramble if hit: 6
Memories of blood dampened fur and frothing, hungry maws overwhelm Chatcho as he falls prone and shields his vision with his arm. He involuntarily activates his Chameleon Carapace and assumes the sandalwood color of the bare earth beneath him.
Though forced by the creature's onslaught to abandon his attacks, Bramble manages to get the blades between him and it, forcing it back. As he holds it at bay, his allies Branch and Archibald seize the moment, and together deal it two grievous wounds. Its life-force hangs by a thread, but it continues its assault. Between its wounds and Hanson's jeering it can't seem to focus on the attack, however.
Hanson makes himself quite the attractive target, shouting over the distance between the two groups. The creature that'd gone ahead, the one that'd been making all that noise, doesn't waste this opportunity. It explodes out of the alley in a blur of motion, quite reminiscent of the memory the party had all shared, and launches into the sky. Though its partner had misjudged Bramble, it had not made the same mistake with Hanson. It lands squarely on the man's shoulders, and its weight and momentum drives the pair of them to the ground. It works with a killer efficiency after that, raking the man's body with its claws while snapping at and biting whatever it can sink its jaws into. It only takes a matter of moments before Hanson is a torn, bloody mess. His breathing comes laboured, and raspy, and he can no longer raise a hand to even shield himself from the onslaught.
It is then that the creature's wrath abates, and it lifts its blood-stained maw and stares malice at Branch.
Aluve was relived he had managed to help Bramble and the others, the beast was looking vulnerable and ready to drop any minute. He spots Hanson being torn apart by the other creature and casts MISTY STEP. Aluve disappears in a light mist and reappears by Hanson's side, his blades already drawn he attacks the beast that had been mauling his companion.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Yellow Hills, Yellow Hills, Yellow Hills, Yellow Hills.
Chatcho, using half his movement to stand, continuously repeats his mantra, draws a breath, and releases it along with his anguished thoughts.
mind sliver at the injured Canine: 1 Psychic Damage if it fails a Intelligence Save of 13. Minus 4 on its next saving throw (if made before the end of my next turn) if it fails this initial one.
Bramble is extremely confused at the crew descending into madness around him. He tries to shake Branch, Aluve, and Han out of their stupors, but before he can jostle Chatcho, everyone comes back to their senses. "What in Hiatea's name was that?! Are you all alright? All of a sudden you all just started... acting like you were mad!"
He helps the Thri-Kreen sit up, his heart sinking at the usually calm, cool, and collected arcanist looking so broken. "It's alright, Chatcho, whatever that was, it's over... What was it you saw? Some abomination? Why didn't I see it...?"
As Aluve asks for volunteers, Bramble steps forward. "I'll go, ah, definitely. If it means we might get out of here. Or at least get some answers."
Bramble follows his allies, trying to stay as quiet as he can while also paying attention to his surroundings.
Stealth: 16
Perception: 22
Chatcho allows Bramble to support some of his considerable weight. He lightly shrugs, raising a hand before letting it fall to his side.
"Hak chaka, g'tokmma'ak. La chaka, la chtik: chak'sa."
Shortly after entering the city Chatcho regains his footing and remains at the rear.
Branch looks at Bramble confused , "How did you not get those visions? It was horrendous! I wonder why us and not you? Well, be glad, I never want to experience that again."
Once the creature disappears back into a building, Branch slowly steps back and regains breathing normally. As Alvue catches up, she relays to him the beast that she just witnessed and he can see on her face the relief that it was distracted before it got to her. Branch points to the building the beast ended up entering. "Oh I agree, I want to stay on this path to the tower, just wanted to see what we might be facing along the way. If we're quiet I think we can pass this intersection. I'll sneak up to the next one and do the same thing, hopefully this time I won't be noticed." and before Alvue can argue, she moves on. She goes about halfway to the next intersection and waits until the party is past the first one.
If all is successful there, she heads to the next and peaks again...
Stealth 20
Blown-out windows of several connected storefronts make up the front wall of this next building. Forming an L-shape so that the building faces both the street and the alleyway in which Branch had spotted, and been spotted by, the creature. Which meant that it was this building in which it had disappeared into. Somewhere in the store rooms of these shops lurked that creature. Branch can hear it still, rummaging around, knocking things over, but it does not show itself to them. The party crosses the alleyway uneventfully, and they too can now hear the sounds of the creature going about its business in the back of the building. Perhaps by an unlucky stroke of fate, the noise tracks with Branch, moving from one end of the building to the other at the same general pace that she does. It is not long after she reaches the next alleyway, that she spots the creature bound out of a doorway. At this point, it is only roughly thirty feet away, but it doesn't seem to notice her this time. It continues bounding, clear across the alleyway and into a hole in the wall of the next building.
Bramble, too, can hear the creature travel through and out of the building. As the noise grows more distant, a tension that'd grown in the air relaxes, and the party collectively releases a held breath. For Bramble, though, that breath hitches in his throat. This seems suddenly familiar to him. Memories of his youth training to become the ranger he is today return. A specific memory, an encounter with wolves. First-hand he had learned that when wolves hunted, they spread out, surrounded their prey. If the noisy one had gone ahead... He turns, and there! Yes, there! It is gone the moment he spots it, slinking back into the shadow and out of sight, but it's there. A second of these creatures, trailing the party and waiting in anticipation. Waiting for the ambush to be set, for the trap to spring.
"We're being stalked," Bramble whispers to the others, half-nocking an arrow in his longbow and pointing his chin towards where the other one was. "Another one of those things. Catch up with Branch, I'll be right behind you. If one of those things rears their head again... I'll let loose. Should buy us a bit of time. Ah, provided I don't miss... Either way, get ready for trouble!"
Bramble will bring up the party's rear, keeping an eye out all around them for that second beast, or the return of the first one.
Branch watches the creature leave the building next to her and bound off into the next building. She breathes a sigh of relief, then waits for the group to catch up to her. She sees Bramble concerned about something but isn't quite sure what. Unless someone tells her to stop, Branch heads off to the third and final intersection before getting to the tower (if I'm reading the map correctly)
Stealth 21
Han follow closely behind Branch aiming to get to their destination as quickly and quietly as possible but reading for an attack.
Chatcho considers the store fronts. He tries to evaluate, judging by their display windows, whether or not they house anything that can be of use in what will likely result in an ambush (arms, armor, or specialty items).
investigation: 14
Archibald sees the others go with Branch, and stays with Bramble out of a sense of duty.
"Do you know what they are at least? Maybe that woman led us here on purpose. To these things. No. Maybe. It's just... " He tries to reel in his runaway thoughts.
Paladin - warforged - orange
The worst part about knowing a battle is upcoming is the waiting. The anticipation that surrounds all their thoughts, the second-guessing. Should they bunch up, close together to defend their backs? Or should they remain spread relatively thin, and cover as many avenues of attack as they can? As it stands, they gather now in two loose groups. Led by Branch, one group moves forward to the next building. The others, not willing to leave people behind, remain at the store-front as Chatcho examines it for anything that could be of use. He finds little more than rusty or worm-ridden housewares, kettles and wash-boards, pots and rags. He is just giving up on his search when he catches a shadow moving in the back of the store, and looks to find that one of the creatures is standing in the doorway that would lead to the storeroom. It crosses the space between them in a heart-beat, leaping high into the air through the shattered window, but it's eye is set on another target.
Bramble, keen-eyed and alert, sees the attack coming almost as early as Chatcho. Still, he barely has enough time to merely twist in place and loose his arrow before the beast is upon him. The shaft impacts the beast's shoulder with a surprisingly loud sound, and then the full weight of the creature falls on the firbolg. The creature clings to him for a moment, raking him in several places with it's claws before he steps to one side and pushes against the creature, letting its momentum carry it to the ground without losing his footing. With a surprising quickness the creature recovers from the failed pounce, and rises back to its feet with a snarl escaping its teeth.
The noisy creature falls silent at the sounds of combat. Undoubtedly it is on its way to back up its partner, but it doesn't show itself yet.
Bramble Attack: 27 Damage: 19
Hound Claw Attack: 18 Damage: 12
Bramble DC13 Str Save:17
Initiative!
Bramble:15
Aluve:9
Archibald:16
Branch:5
Chatcho:4
Hanson:19
Hound:10
Hound:13
5-3 in the party's favour. The party takes the lead!
Aluve quickly goes to aid Bramble, the beast was foul, its stench filled the lungs with a fo sicknesses that could only be compared to a rotting corpse.
Aluve draws is short swords and attacks the beast.
Attack Roll: 7+4= 11 (miss)
Attack Roll 2: 14 + 4 = 18
Damage : 6+2= 8
Han seeing the attacking mangy thing shouts to it “Well if I were that ugly I’d be skulking around in the dark to!”
Vicious Mockery: 15
Damage if fails: 4
if fails it has disadvantage on next attack!
Bramble grits his teeth as the hound's claws tear at him. Dropping his bow to the side, he draws the two shortswords at his hip, wielding one in each hand, and strikes down at the horrid beast with both of them.
Action - Attack: 6 Damage: 4
Bonus Action - Two Weapon Fighting: Attack: 8 Damage: 1
Bramble clearly favors the bow over his blades. He makes two clumsy swings that fail to make contact.
Archibald's battle-axe and longsword come forward and a slash and stab at the beast as he tries to hold back a whimper of breath
Attack: 12 Damage: 7
Attack: 25 Damage: 17
Paladin - warforged - orange
As Branch goes to check on the next alley, she hears the attack from behind her, she quickly spins just in time to see Bramble be attacked by another of the wolf creatures. She comes halfway back to the last alleyway, draws her bow and looses at arrow at the foul creature..
Attack: 14 Damage: 4
Sneak attack since the hound is with Bramble if hit: 6
Memories of blood dampened fur and frothing, hungry maws overwhelm Chatcho as he falls prone and shields his vision with his arm. He involuntarily activates his Chameleon Carapace and assumes the sandalwood color of the bare earth beneath him.
"Chtik, chtik, chtik, chtik, chtik, chtik, chtik!"
Though forced by the creature's onslaught to abandon his attacks, Bramble manages to get the blades between him and it, forcing it back. As he holds it at bay, his allies Branch and Archibald seize the moment, and together deal it two grievous wounds. Its life-force hangs by a thread, but it continues its assault. Between its wounds and Hanson's jeering it can't seem to focus on the attack, however.
Hanson makes himself quite the attractive target, shouting over the distance between the two groups. The creature that'd gone ahead, the one that'd been making all that noise, doesn't waste this opportunity. It explodes out of the alley in a blur of motion, quite reminiscent of the memory the party had all shared, and launches into the sky. Though its partner had misjudged Bramble, it had not made the same mistake with Hanson. It lands squarely on the man's shoulders, and its weight and momentum drives the pair of them to the ground. It works with a killer efficiency after that, raking the man's body with its claws while snapping at and biting whatever it can sink its jaws into. It only takes a matter of moments before Hanson is a torn, bloody mess. His breathing comes laboured, and raspy, and he can no longer raise a hand to even shield himself from the onslaught.
It is then that the creature's wrath abates, and it lifts its blood-stained maw and stares malice at Branch.
Hound Claw Attack: 17 Damage: 10
Hanson DC13 Str Save:8
Hound Pounce Attack: 20 Damage: 8
Hound Claw Attack: 7 Damage: 7
Hound Claw Disadv: 24
Aluve was relived he had managed to help Bramble and the others, the beast was looking vulnerable and ready to drop any minute. He spots Hanson being torn apart by the other creature and casts MISTY STEP. Aluve disappears in a light mist and reappears by Hanson's side, his blades already drawn he attacks the beast that had been mauling his companion.
Attack Roll: 14+4 = 18
Damage: 5+2 = 7
Attack Roll 2: 12+4 = 16
Damage: 5+2 = 7
Yellow Hills, Yellow Hills, Yellow Hills, Yellow Hills.
Chatcho, using half his movement to stand, continuously repeats his mantra, draws a breath, and releases it along with his anguished thoughts.
mind sliver at the injured Canine: 1 Psychic Damage if it fails a Intelligence Save of 13. Minus 4 on its next saving throw (if made before the end of my next turn) if it fails this initial one.
Chatcho continues humming his mantra.
"Chtik, chtik, chtik, chtik, chtik, chtik, chtik."
Archibald is desperate to try to finish the creature before him so he can get to Hans
Attack: 18 Damage: 4
Attack: 20 Damage: 4
Paladin - warforged - orange