"I think this man is waiting for someone who is never going to come...." Aluve responds to Archibald.
"I am starting to think he has been waiting for someone to come back for a long time....he still thinks the gate is open...we could try and convince him but I dont know if he would ever come with us...he seems...consumed by this place.....hopefully the others have found a way to get through by now..."
Han looks to Branch “Well at-least we’ve found the mechanism now just to figure out how to get the gate up.” Han tries to inspect the machine to see how it works and runs.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Hanson moves about the room. Everything he touches looks to be in good repair. Things that he thinks should move often do with ease, and those that don't seem like they probably shouldn't. But for the life of him, even after some time, none of it makes a lick of sense. There is only one thing that he can put together. A wheel with notches cut to guide the chain. It is locked into position now, but if they could break it... Gravity would do the rest, but that would make an awful lot of noise, and it would leave the machine inoperable. Before he can take the first steps towards that plan, however Branch finds the correct lever. Easing it off, the chain slowly begins to unspool and drop back into the river. Their moment of elation at succeeding is brief, however, as the mechanism begins to whine, and Branch finds herself straining against the control. Despite this, the chains momentum begins to pick up, moving ever-faster, and threatening to run completely out of control.
Despite the both of them hauling on the control lever to slow the machine, it continues picking up speed, whirring and billowing smoke. The chain rattles ever-louder until it reaches its end and it comes to a sudden, jarring stop. Despite what is proving to be an awful run of luck, the machine's structure seems to hold, despite the sudden stop it just experienced. It may even still function, if it had to, and if they could figure out how to work it. For now though, the gate is lowered, and the boat can proceed.
Two levels down, the rest of the party is alerted to their success by the sound of whirring machinery, and clattering chain. A thud ends the sounds suddenly, shaking dust loose from the ceiling beams. The man is instantly more alert than they'd ever seen him previously, looking up to the entrance of the next floor, and then around at the party, seeming to do a headcount, and finishing by locking eyes with Aluve, had they always been that dull grey? His gaze seems to unfocus for a moment as something flips within his own head, and then anger washes over him. "Y-you k-k-killed them!" He snarls nonsensically, unprovoked, and lunges for the ranger.
Branch stares at Han as they lose control of the machine and gate/chain/mechanism comes crashing down. “Well, jig is up! Bet they heard that!” And she dashes to get down with the rest of the group to assist if need be.
Han nods back at Branch but smiles having had fun sneaking around it’s not usually his style “Yep the jig is up now to exit post haste and with flair my preferred way!” As he full dashes after her back down the way!
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
This spell is nothing new to Chatcho, a simple incantation, the magic usually ensures that nothing but the intended harm travels between the ever-so brief link of their two minds. Such is not the case this time. This time a sensation of a razor-thin knife shoves up against the magical barrier, and then splits it, traveling the length of their bond and flooding the thri-kreen's mind. An abyss swallows him, wider and far more powerful than any mere human's. It surrounds his conscious mind with its own, but in doing so welcomes him into itself. The abyss parts to reveal a mind electric, a vast network of squabbling thoughts, each competing for brief control, a mind of complete chaos the likes of which he'd never witnessed before. And as he roots through its mind, unwillingly or not, it tries to invade his. Frustration washes him in waves, but not his own. He realizes the being for some reason lacks the ability to do any more than it's already one, and with that realization, it is gone, retreating from the contact as quickly and as silently as it had appeared.
His mind slams back into reality, falling back into the room and the fight with the caretaker. The whole process takes a fraction of a second, but in that fraction he has missed much. No longer alone, the caretaker is joined by the rotting, yet walking, corpse of a man, who lunges at the insectoid. It seizes an arm and bites down hard, sending pain wracking through Chatcho's body.
To the others, there is no walking corpse. Chatcho simply stops for a moment, and then starts flailing in the air, fending off an attacker that is not there. But they are preoccupied with the one that is. He contorts as he fights, bones snapping and restructuring themselves within his body, joints bending at odd angles. With a wet thud, Brambles arrow is the first to hit its mark, but in lieu of blood, an oozing black substance bubbles from the wound, foaming at the site of the damage. The man--if one could even call him that anymore--does not seem to notice the new wound as his gaze focuses on Chatcho, his neck bending much too far to do so with a series of sickening cracks. Even as he focuses on the thri-kreen, he continues his assault on Aluve, though ineffectually. He does manage to rush so close that the man's fist fails to connect, caught by an arm that now bends backwards. Archibald then flies into the fray, launching two new attacks that bite deep into the man's flesh, but are met with the same black ooze, and the same indifference to the pain.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
More wounds--more bubbling black ooze. And yet, the man refused to fall. Broken and bloodied--if you could still call it blood--his body continued to twist and writhe, an incomprehensible fury gurgling from his lips. Tearing at his own flesh, rapidly decaying before their eyes, he frees one hand from its arm, revealing the broken shard of bone beneath, which he swings with deadly intent at his target, Aluve, stabbing him through the shoulder with the bone-blade, and leaving the refuse of his dying body to fester in the wound. Then, with a lightning-strike he wheels and rips the blade free, casting a haphazard blow towards Archibald. Who, with a little luck, manages to deflect the blow.
Chatcho faces off against the illusory enemy, who continues to gnaw on his arm. His moment of clarity comes suddenly, when he realizes that there is no pain but what he'd convinced himself to expect, no blood, no damage. It was an illusion, and had only been his mind playing tricks on him. With that, the illusion fades, and he sees clearly once more.
"Arggh...what is this! Whilst severe pain spreads from his shoulder, Aluve manages to pull one of his short swords free. He thrusts it forward toward the putrid creature trying to help his friends take it down.
"I think this man is waiting for someone who is never going to come...." Aluve responds to Archibald.
"I am starting to think he has been waiting for someone to come back for a long time....he still thinks the gate is open...we could try and convince him but I dont know if he would ever come with us...he seems...consumed by this place.....hopefully the others have found a way to get through by now..."
Han looks to Branch “Well at-least we’ve found the mechanism now just to figure out how to get the gate up.”
Han tries to inspect the machine to see how it works and runs.
Investigation: 6
Hanson moves about the room. Everything he touches looks to be in good repair. Things that he thinks should move often do with ease, and those that don't seem like they probably shouldn't. But for the life of him, even after some time, none of it makes a lick of sense. There is only one thing that he can put together. A wheel with notches cut to guide the chain. It is locked into position now, but if they could break it... Gravity would do the rest, but that would make an awful lot of noise, and it would leave the machine inoperable. Before he can take the first steps towards that plan, however Branch finds the correct lever. Easing it off, the chain slowly begins to unspool and drop back into the river. Their moment of elation at succeeding is brief, however, as the mechanism begins to whine, and Branch finds herself straining against the control. Despite this, the chains momentum begins to pick up, moving ever-faster, and threatening to run completely out of control.
Branch Investigation: 8
Branch Strength: 11
Han tries to assist Branch as best he can but he’s not exactly the strong type.
Strength check: 5
Despite the both of them hauling on the control lever to slow the machine, it continues picking up speed, whirring and billowing smoke. The chain rattles ever-louder until it reaches its end and it comes to a sudden, jarring stop. Despite what is proving to be an awful run of luck, the machine's structure seems to hold, despite the sudden stop it just experienced. It may even still function, if it had to, and if they could figure out how to work it. For now though, the gate is lowered, and the boat can proceed.
===================================================================================================================
Two levels down, the rest of the party is alerted to their success by the sound of whirring machinery, and clattering chain. A thud ends the sounds suddenly, shaking dust loose from the ceiling beams. The man is instantly more alert than they'd ever seen him previously, looking up to the entrance of the next floor, and then around at the party, seeming to do a headcount, and finishing by locking eyes with Aluve, had they always been that dull grey? His gaze seems to unfocus for a moment as something flips within his own head, and then anger washes over him. "Y-you k-k-killed them!" He snarls nonsensically, unprovoked, and lunges for the ranger.
Aluve Perception: 18
Initiative: 19 12 23 23 6 9
Caretaker: 5
Pitying the old, broken caretaker, Chatcho sends a reserved lance of psychic energy at him, hoping to simply knock him out.
mind sliver: 6 of Non-Lethal Psychic Damage should he fail a DC 13 INT check.
Branch stares at Han as they lose control of the machine and gate/chain/mechanism comes crashing down. “Well, jig is up! Bet they heard that!” And she dashes to get down with the rest of the group to assist if need be.
The noise from above could only mean one thing, the metal on metal cacophony poured its way down the stairs and filled the room.
Not having enough time to draw any weapons Aluve tries to punch the caretaker as he lunges towards him, still taken aback by his greyed over eyes.
(I will roll with disadvantage because I feel like I was pretty close to him.)
Roll 1 = 10
Roll 2 = 13
Final Result = 10
As Aluve is about to be attacked out of nowhere by this strange old man, Bramble hops to his feet and quickly fires off an arrow.
Attack: 22 Damage: 4
Han nods back at Branch but smiles having had fun sneaking around it’s not usually his style “Yep the jig is up now to exit post haste and with flair my preferred way!” As he full dashes after her back down the way!
This spell is nothing new to Chatcho, a simple incantation, the magic usually ensures that nothing but the intended harm travels between the ever-so brief link of their two minds. Such is not the case this time. This time a sensation of a razor-thin knife shoves up against the magical barrier, and then splits it, traveling the length of their bond and flooding the thri-kreen's mind. An abyss swallows him, wider and far more powerful than any mere human's. It surrounds his conscious mind with its own, but in doing so welcomes him into itself. The abyss parts to reveal a mind electric, a vast network of squabbling thoughts, each competing for brief control, a mind of complete chaos the likes of which he'd never witnessed before. And as he roots through its mind, unwillingly or not, it tries to invade his. Frustration washes him in waves, but not his own. He realizes the being for some reason lacks the ability to do any more than it's already one, and with that realization, it is gone, retreating from the contact as quickly and as silently as it had appeared.
His mind slams back into reality, falling back into the room and the fight with the caretaker. The whole process takes a fraction of a second, but in that fraction he has missed much. No longer alone, the caretaker is joined by the rotting, yet walking, corpse of a man, who lunges at the insectoid. It seizes an arm and bites down hard, sending pain wracking through Chatcho's body.
===================================================================================================================
To the others, there is no walking corpse. Chatcho simply stops for a moment, and then starts flailing in the air, fending off an attacker that is not there. But they are preoccupied with the one that is. He contorts as he fights, bones snapping and restructuring themselves within his body, joints bending at odd angles. With a wet thud, Brambles arrow is the first to hit its mark, but in lieu of blood, an oozing black substance bubbles from the wound, foaming at the site of the damage. The man--if one could even call him that anymore--does not seem to notice the new wound as his gaze focuses on Chatcho, his neck bending much too far to do so with a series of sickening cracks. Even as he focuses on the thri-kreen, he continues his assault on Aluve, though ineffectually. He does manage to rush so close that the man's fist fails to connect, caught by an arm that now bends backwards. Archibald then flies into the fray, launching two new attacks that bite deep into the man's flesh, but are met with the same black ooze, and the same indifference to the pain.
Archibald Attack: 21 Damage: 4
Attack: 12 Damage: 9
Chatcho INT Save:12
2 psychic damage
Caretaker INT save: 15
(thank you for botting. Just getting over COVID now. Still very tired. Are we up again?)
Paladin - warforged - orange
Han looks out at the creature that now is taking up the room and just yells out “Yo your looking a bit like a stick in the mud.”
Vicious Mockery: 4
Damage: 3
Dis advantage on next attack if he fails
Archibald recoils at seeing the ooze. "He's one of those jungle people things!"
He swings with sword and axe!
Attack: 11 Damage: 7
Attack: 12 Damage: 10
Paladin - warforged - orange
INT Save: 18
INT Check against Phantasmal Force: 11
Bramble fires off another arrow!
Attack: 12 Damage: 9
If it hits, he'll mark the jungle people thing as his favored foe and deal an additional 4 damage.
More wounds--more bubbling black ooze. And yet, the man refused to fall. Broken and bloodied--if you could still call it blood--his body continued to twist and writhe, an incomprehensible fury gurgling from his lips. Tearing at his own flesh, rapidly decaying before their eyes, he frees one hand from its arm, revealing the broken shard of bone beneath, which he swings with deadly intent at his target, Aluve, stabbing him through the shoulder with the bone-blade, and leaving the refuse of his dying body to fester in the wound. Then, with a lightning-strike he wheels and rips the blade free, casting a haphazard blow towards Archibald. Who, with a little luck, manages to deflect the blow.
Chatcho faces off against the illusory enemy, who continues to gnaw on his arm. His moment of clarity comes suddenly, when he realizes that there is no pain but what he'd convinced himself to expect, no blood, no damage. It was an illusion, and had only been his mind playing tricks on him. With that, the illusion fades, and he sees clearly once more.
Caretaker
Attack: 18 Damage: 9
Attack: 22 Damage: 7
"Arggh...what is this! Whilst severe pain spreads from his shoulder, Aluve manages to pull one of his short swords free. He thrusts it forward toward the putrid creature trying to help his friends take it down.
Roll: 19
Damage : 5 + 2 = 7
Archibald will try to sever the limbs it keeps using to hurt us
Attack: 18 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll.
Attack: 8 Damage: 10
Paladin - warforged - orange
If the caretaker is still standing, Branch will pull out her rapier and attack
Attack: 17
Damage: 6
Sneak attack: 4
using her bonus action to disengage and back away from the creature.
(rolled in character sheet)