Binkles is off like a shot almost the moment Jirel mentions scouting the temple. "She'll see what she can see but it'll take some time," Finn assures.
"I say we stuff the Kobolds down into one of the root cellars, bound and gagged. We want to be speedy as we can, not dragging a string of hostages. Most of the way to the tavern is towards the keep. If we head east towards the tavern we could slow and try to approach stealthily, maybe see if we can get involved there or not. And if not, we cut through the fields to the keep?" Finn suggests then pauses to listen to Jenniel.
"Definitely outnumbered. Just looking to save who we can... If the others do come with more wagons they'll be coming down this road. I don't like the idea but it may be best to send the kids running down the road west to try to meet them halfway." Finn is a bit scattered, jumping from thought to thought. She much preferred a card game were the stakes weren't her life... or that of others.
Jirel would bring a finger to her nose to tap it, indicating that Finn was on the nose with her own thoughts having picked up what the goliath was putting down. She was in agreeance with putting the hostages in a cellar, they were right next to a building after all. And Finn’s elaboration on how to approach the tavern was exactly the approach Jirel was thinking. She was much better with words than Jirel was.
At Jenviel’s addition, it wasn’t that it was a detail forgotten necessarily, just that it wasn’t touched on yet. Jirel would nod. “All the more reason to cover all fronts?”
The bound cultist is now awake and squirming. It won't be long before the five bound kobolds start to stir as well.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Tylaerys listens as the others quickly discuss their options, then seeing Finn's cat running off towards the Temple of Yondalla. "The servants of the dragon will no doubt be all over Greenest within long and we can't fight them all, just the squads that we might encounter while we move on. I agree bringing the kobolds might be difficult so let's hide them quickly now and be off."She says, motioning for the others to help her move them quickly inside the building. "Finn, go ahead and check out the situation by the tavern, we'll be with you in a moment." She says as she does her best to drag the kobolds inside.
Seeing the equipment of the Kobolds, Cheddar asks out loud: "What were they going to do, dig something up?" He pauses for a moment then asks: "Were they going to pull something along or lower themselves down to get something?" His attention is drawn back to the party. "Sorry." he says. "I have an annoying habit of talking out what comes to mind. I just find it curious that they are going to the Temple with digging tools."
Taking notice that the cultist captive is awake Cheddar turns his attention to him. "Good, you're awake." he says to the cultist. "Now, tell us what this is all about and be quick about it."
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
The bound cultist looks around him as the sleep magic wears off. Seeing his dead allies and the bound kobolds, he grins. Then he looks at Cheddar and he laughs. "You are but buzzing flies. Wings... great, majestic wings... are beating, and their wind is a mighty hurricane." Then he lurches forward onto his belly and tries to wriggle toward the street. "HERE! HERE - mmm ppuh pff pfff huhm phuhff!" he hollers as loudly as he can while choking on catnip.
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Finn, go ahead and check out the situation by the tavern, we'll be with you in a moment."
With a bit of a bow and the tip of an imaginary cap, Finn scampers off east towards the tavern, dashing towards where the shadows are deepest and doing her best to stay out of sight, (Stealth: 22 if needed.) One she is out of sight Finn adopts a different build and face, adopting characteristics like those of the cultists and cursing herself for not grabbing one of their cloaks before leaving...
The children boldly offer up their home to store the kobolds. "Please make sure they can't get into our pantry. Father will be upset if they make a mess of the preserves." As they are dragged inside and stashed, they stir and begin yapping in draconic:
"Help! I'm being kidnapped!"
"Help! Someone is kidnapping him!"
"Pocko, get your foot out of my face!"
"Scoundrels! What have you done with that handsome lizard woman!?"
"Ooh look... preserves..."
The cultist continues to roll in the street, gasping and coughing out dried herbs. For now, it doesn't appear his initial yell has drawn any attention.
Finn:
The cultists you have seen so far are all human. You do your best to shapechange into someone with wild eyes and unkempt hair.
As you get closer to the center of town, the smoke gets thicker. Occasionally you catch glimpses of small groups moving through the haze, but whether they are more raiders, or fleeing citizens, it is nearly impossible to tell.
When you reach the town square where the Speckled Trout Tavern is located, you see the following:
Several of the wagons from the caravans that arrived are circled in the center of the square. A force of caravan guards defends them, along with some other fighters you recognize as members of the town watch.
These defenders are greatly outnumbered as there are at least three dozen cultists in the plaza. Most surround the wagons, trying to pick off defenders with crossbows or throwing improvised weapons like bricks and rocks. Others loiter about the square, breaking into shops and looting.
The tavern is on the opposite side of the plaza. Cultists near the tavern are passing out bottles of liquor.
You are doing your best not to draw attention, but it seems you would have little chance of making it to the tavern from here without being seen.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Happy to leave their course of action to someone else, Jararaka agrees, "plan sounds good. Hopefully, there are some people in the- what was it? Temple? To hold these swarms off while everyone else gets out of here. Can't have people bunching up in one spot waiting to get eaten anyway."
Jararaka snickers a little at the kobold's comical capture, and holds up some of the tools, small in her hands, "looks like they were trying to burrow into the temple 'cus they couldn't get in through the front. Guess that means the temple's at least well-guarded." She puts it all back and slings the sacks over her shoulder, acknowledging Jenviel's words, "better move quick before the big guy decides to blast us to oblivion. By the way, this guy is so annoying." She'll knock the restrained cultist unconscious again with the hilt of her blade (if she can) and heads north.
Tylaerys drags the kobolds inside, hopefully with some help. "Oh don't worry, they are tied up so everything will be fine. Now go out to Jirel and wait there, I'll be right with you." She says to Periwinkle and Grouse with an encouraging smile as she kneels by them. As the children go outside she takes on a stern look and quickly uses the hilt of her dagger to knock the kobolds over the head in a practiced manner, making sure they won't call for help in a forseeable future. She then joins the others outside. "Okay let's follow Finn!" She says quickly, then turning to Jirel. "Do you think you can carry the prisoner back to the keep for further questioning?" She asks, then ready to move out.
(Rolled perception in post #119 and now we will perhaps finally get going ;-). Maybe Jararaka taking point followed by Jirel, possibly carrying the prisoner, then Tylaerys with Periwinkle and Grouse, then Cheddar and finally Jenviel as our rear guard?)
Jirel opens her mouth, lifting up a finger, then closes her mouth and puts her hand down. They lost control of the prisoners for a brief moment. Finn and Jararaka were already gone? Her lips purse. Honey eyes glance to Jenviel, then Cheddar. He was quick with that catnip, she’d give him that, presenting him with a nod. The goliath preferred someone thinking out loud than not. She wasn’t one to read minds. Then looking to Tylaerys, she’d nod. Jirel would go scoop up the prisoner so at least he couldn’t roll away squealing for the time being.
When Jenviel watches the talking feline creature (Cheddar) feeding the cultist a mouthful of catnip, she starts chuckling while covering her mouth with the palm of her hands, her silver length of straight hair hanging loose since she's expended most of her kanzashi. The rest of the weaponized hair-pins are incapable of keeping her hair neatly tucked.
"Mister Shredder (Cheddar), you remind me of my close friend Yuri. She's a kitsune, a fox spirit but I don't think you're one of those spirits. What are you?"
To everyone, "You people go ahead and let me deal with these dragonkins and cultist. Perhaps, Grouse and Wink can stay with me and guard them till you get back."
After observing the tavern and the square for a bit, Finn finds a dark secluded nook to take a couple of moments of peace in. First she *poofs* Binkles from wherever she is into non-existence. Finn next *poofs* Binkles back into existence right at her feet. "What's up putty cat?" Finn whispers and gets the cats report on how things are at the temple. (It looks like temple is shorter distance, and cat is faster than Finn, so Finn assumes cat had time to get the low down.)
"Interesting, interesting... Ok, be ready, we're going to do something stupid here," Finn tells Binkles. Binkles gives Finn a blank expression in return - Cause really, what other kind of things does the human do?
First Finn finds a small, smooth stone and does her best to wash it off before coaxing Binkles into allowing her to put it in her mouth. Once done, Finn casts Light on the stone, poking her finger into the cats mouth to touch the stone. Binkles, otherwise, keeps her mouth shut so as to contain the light...
Second Finn casts Mage Hand and has it pick up a handful of pebbles and rubble but otherwise just stay within 29 feet of Finn, low to the ground to try to avoid notice.
Thirdly, Binkles inches forward trying to discreetly get as close to the cultists encircling the wagons as she can while staying hidden.
Fourthly Finn inches closer as well. She attempts to get within 30 feet of the cultists most on the road between the group and the embattled wagons...
Finn's plan is to create a distraction to hopefully spook off some cultists such that those encircled have an opening through which to flee back towards the group. Finn attempts this thusly:
Thaumaturgy creates first a mild rumbling of the ground underneath the (Fourthly) cultists and a moment later there is a booming voice declaring "The GREAT flying blue wants all those touched by the blue light to head east immediately!" Finn does her best to give her voice a bit of a draconic flair, probably a bit influenced by the earlier kobolds...
Once she calls that out she casts Faerie Fire on the closest cultists, outlining each cultist she can (20 foot cube area of effect) in a blue light. "All touched by or who see the blue light, follow it NOW!" she booms out once more with Thaumaturgy and Binkles, in place and ready, opens her mouth, the earlier cast Light now shining a bright blue light out of her mouth, dashes around the wagons and heads off due east...
If/when a gap does open from Cultists following the blue light, Finn will step forward and call for those trapped to come now, to run! And will hopefully lead them west back towards her party...
Binkles knows that once a block away or if about to get caught, she is free to drop the stone and try to escape and return back to Finn...
((Yes, yes... A lot going on here. If you need more Stealth rolls or such just let me know... Or roll for me (+5) to speed things up. I fully understand most every bit of this could go totally wrong and the rest will need be scrapped!))
Cheddar pauses for a moment before responding to Jenviel. "What am I indeed?" he wonders to himself.
"A Fox? Spirit?" he repeats. "Now that is interesting." he says curiously.
"I am a Tabaxi,." he tells Jenviel. "or cat person if you will though I am of the smaller variety. I have heard Tabaxi are usually much bigger and quite fierce."
Cheddar will follow where ever the party intends to go.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Tylaerys 15
Jararaka 10
Finn 7
Jirel 16
Jenviel 9
Cheddar 16
Enemies 18
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
All but Finn are treated to the disturbing and lengthy sounds of Tylaerys beating the tied-up kobolds into unconsciousness with the handle of her dagger. Jirel makes much quicker work of the mumbling cultist. You then huddle up to discuss your next move.
Finn:
Misses Binklesworth of the Twilight Binklesworths pops into reality alongside you. She provides a basic report on what she observed at the Temple of Yondalla.
There were two human cultists and two kobolds waiting outside the gate. They had a couple of shiny mirrors and were pointing them at the sky.
The gates were closed.
Other than that, all was quiet. It was the least chaotic part of the town she had been in so far.
More Finn:
[No rolls. I like the idea and it's not going to cause any problems to reward a creative solution.]
You should have more confidence in your plans. Everything goes off without a hiccup. Well, mostly. A few cultists notice you casting spells and move to investigate, but once the voice from above booms through the square, enough of the cultists are distracted that it buys you the time you need.
When you jump out and shout for the wagons' defenders to follow you have just enough time to see some of the wagons start to move before you have to run. A force of cultists turns and begins to pursue.
You are quickly passed on the road by two wagons, riding hell-bent for leather and bouncing down the cobblestone street west, in the direction of your allies and the edge of town beyond. You can hear the sound of shouting cultists and... something else... the clicking of claws... closing in from behind....
Everyone else:
Just as you make the decision head east to rendezvous with Finn, two wagons roar out of the haze from the direction of the town square. They are driven on by wounded guardsmen and they do not stop, bouncing recklessly down the road. You have to step aside so as not to be run over.
No sooner do they pass, then a stranger dressed in Finn's clothes emerges from the haze as well. She is running as fast as she can... and hot on her heels are five cultists and some kind of quadrupedal lizard. They are definitely looking for trouble.
Combat... Again!
ROUND ONE
Cheddar
Jirel
Jenviel
Finn
Tylaerys
Jararaka
Cultists/Ambush Drake
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Jirel’s posture practically relaxes. She huffs in relief at the sight of the on coming chaos, then her eyes glance to the sky. Thank the gods. She didn’t have to really think any more. Muscle memory brings the goliath a step forward, instinctively taking a defensive position to use her larger frame to provide the littles with cover. She reaches back, pulling free a javelin from beneath her furs. Hearing Cheddar call out for Finn, Jirel’s unable to immediately, or confidently, identify Finn amongst the wave of cultists. She adjusts the balance of her weapon in hand, ensuring a good grip before rearing it back. She waits for the beast to come within ideal range before launching her javelin towards the quadrupedal lizard.
Attack: 11 Damage: 9
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
just an unstable unicorn.
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Binkles is off like a shot almost the moment Jirel mentions scouting the temple. "She'll see what she can see but it'll take some time," Finn assures.
"I say we stuff the Kobolds down into one of the root cellars, bound and gagged. We want to be speedy as we can, not dragging a string of hostages. Most of the way to the tavern is towards the keep. If we head east towards the tavern we could slow and try to approach stealthily, maybe see if we can get involved there or not. And if not, we cut through the fields to the keep?" Finn suggests then pauses to listen to Jenniel.
"Definitely outnumbered. Just looking to save who we can... If the others do come with more wagons they'll be coming down this road. I don't like the idea but it may be best to send the kids running down the road west to try to meet them halfway." Finn is a bit scattered, jumping from thought to thought. She much preferred a card game were the stakes weren't her life... or that of others.
Jirel would bring a finger to her nose to tap it, indicating that Finn was on the nose with her own thoughts having picked up what the goliath was putting down. She was in agreeance with putting the hostages in a cellar, they were right next to a building after all. And Finn’s elaboration on how to approach the tavern was exactly the approach Jirel was thinking. She was much better with words than Jirel was.
At Jenviel’s addition, it wasn’t that it was a detail forgotten necessarily, just that it wasn’t touched on yet. Jirel would nod. “All the more reason to cover all fronts?”
just an unstable unicorn.
Inside the kobold's bags, there is a hodge-podge of equipment:
The bound cultist is now awake and squirming. It won't be long before the five bound kobolds start to stir as well.
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Tylaerys listens as the others quickly discuss their options, then seeing Finn's cat running off towards the Temple of Yondalla. "The servants of the dragon will no doubt be all over Greenest within long and we can't fight them all, just the squads that we might encounter while we move on. I agree bringing the kobolds might be difficult so let's hide them quickly now and be off." She says, motioning for the others to help her move them quickly inside the building. "Finn, go ahead and check out the situation by the tavern, we'll be with you in a moment." She says as she does her best to drag the kobolds inside.
Seeing the equipment of the Kobolds, Cheddar asks out loud:
"What were they going to do, dig something up?"
He pauses for a moment then asks: "Were they going to pull something along or lower themselves down to get something?"
His attention is drawn back to the party.
"Sorry." he says. "I have an annoying habit of talking out what comes to mind. I just find it curious that they are going to the Temple with digging tools."
Taking notice that the cultist captive is awake Cheddar turns his attention to him.
"Good, you're awake." he says to the cultist. "Now, tell us what this is all about and be quick about it."
3
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
The bound cultist looks around him as the sleep magic wears off. Seeing his dead allies and the bound kobolds, he grins. Then he looks at Cheddar and he laughs. "You are but buzzing flies. Wings... great, majestic wings... are beating, and their wind is a mighty hurricane." Then he lurches forward onto his belly and tries to wriggle toward the street. "HERE! HERE - mmm ppuh pff pfff huhm phuhff!" he hollers as loudly as he can while choking on catnip.
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Cheddar will cast Prestidigitation and soil the cultist's tongue and mouth with a mouth full of catnip.
"Finn, go ahead and check out the situation by the tavern, we'll be with you in a moment."
With a bit of a bow and the tip of an imaginary cap, Finn scampers off east towards the tavern, dashing towards where the shadows are deepest and doing her best to stay out of sight, (Stealth: 22 if needed.) One she is out of sight Finn adopts a different build and face, adopting characteristics like those of the cultists and cursing herself for not grabbing one of their cloaks before leaving...
The children boldly offer up their home to store the kobolds. "Please make sure they can't get into our pantry. Father will be upset if they make a mess of the preserves." As they are dragged inside and stashed, they stir and begin yapping in draconic:
"Help! I'm being kidnapped!"
"Help! Someone is kidnapping him!"
"Pocko, get your foot out of my face!"
"Scoundrels! What have you done with that handsome lizard woman!?"
"Ooh look... preserves..."
The cultist continues to roll in the street, gasping and coughing out dried herbs. For now, it doesn't appear his initial yell has drawn any attention.
Finn:
The cultists you have seen so far are all human. You do your best to shapechange into someone with wild eyes and unkempt hair.
As you get closer to the center of town, the smoke gets thicker. Occasionally you catch glimpses of small groups moving through the haze, but whether they are more raiders, or fleeing citizens, it is nearly impossible to tell.
When you reach the town square where the Speckled Trout Tavern is located, you see the following:
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Happy to leave their course of action to someone else, Jararaka agrees, "plan sounds good. Hopefully, there are some people in the- what was it? Temple? To hold these swarms off while everyone else gets out of here. Can't have people bunching up in one spot waiting to get eaten anyway."
Jararaka snickers a little at the kobold's comical capture, and holds up some of the tools, small in her hands, "looks like they were trying to burrow into the temple 'cus they couldn't get in through the front. Guess that means the temple's at least well-guarded." She puts it all back and slings the sacks over her shoulder, acknowledging Jenviel's words, "better move quick before the big guy decides to blast us to oblivion. By the way, this guy is so annoying." She'll knock the restrained cultist unconscious again with the hilt of her blade (if she can) and heads north.
(ooc: where did we see the dragon was again :0?)
Tylaerys drags the kobolds inside, hopefully with some help. "Oh don't worry, they are tied up so everything will be fine. Now go out to Jirel and wait there, I'll be right with you." She says to Periwinkle and Grouse with an encouraging smile as she kneels by them. As the children go outside she takes on a stern look and quickly uses the hilt of her dagger to knock the kobolds over the head in a practiced manner, making sure they won't call for help in a forseeable future. She then joins the others outside. "Okay let's follow Finn!" She says quickly, then turning to Jirel. "Do you think you can carry the prisoner back to the keep for further questioning?" She asks, then ready to move out.
(Rolled perception in post #119 and now we will perhaps finally get going ;-). Maybe Jararaka taking point followed by Jirel, possibly carrying the prisoner, then Tylaerys with Periwinkle and Grouse, then Cheddar and finally Jenviel as our rear guard?)
Jirel opens her mouth, lifting up a finger, then closes her mouth and puts her hand down. They lost control of the prisoners for a brief moment. Finn and Jararaka were already gone? Her lips purse. Honey eyes glance to Jenviel, then Cheddar. He was quick with that catnip, she’d give him that, presenting him with a nod. The goliath preferred someone thinking out loud than not. She wasn’t one to read minds. Then looking to Tylaerys, she’d nod. Jirel would go scoop up the prisoner so at least he couldn’t roll away squealing for the time being.
just an unstable unicorn.
Jenviel Tsumara
When Jenviel watches the talking feline creature (Cheddar) feeding the cultist a mouthful of catnip, she starts chuckling while covering her mouth with the palm of her hands, her silver length of straight hair hanging loose since she's expended most of her kanzashi. The rest of the weaponized hair-pins are incapable of keeping her hair neatly tucked.
"Mister Shredder (Cheddar), you remind me of my close friend Yuri. She's a kitsune, a fox spirit but I don't think you're one of those spirits. What are you?"
To everyone, "You people go ahead and let me deal with these dragonkins and cultist. Perhaps, Grouse and Wink can stay with me and guard them till you get back."
InkedBee (Undead_Analyst)
Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts - Jenviel Tsumara: Fallen Aasimar- Monk|Crimson Sands of Time - Navarra Iltazyara: Human- Druid/Warlock| Bleak Prospect - Ermasnietsz: Reborn- Clockwork Soul Sorcerer
After observing the tavern and the square for a bit, Finn finds a dark secluded nook to take a couple of moments of peace in. First she *poofs* Binkles from wherever she is into non-existence. Finn next *poofs* Binkles back into existence right at her feet. "What's up putty cat?" Finn whispers and gets the cats report on how things are at the temple. (It looks like temple is shorter distance, and cat is faster than Finn, so Finn assumes cat had time to get the low down.)
"Interesting, interesting... Ok, be ready, we're going to do something stupid here," Finn tells Binkles. Binkles gives Finn a blank expression in return - Cause really, what other kind of things does the human do?
First Finn finds a small, smooth stone and does her best to wash it off before coaxing Binkles into allowing her to put it in her mouth. Once done, Finn casts Light on the stone, poking her finger into the cats mouth to touch the stone. Binkles, otherwise, keeps her mouth shut so as to contain the light...
Second Finn casts Mage Hand and has it pick up a handful of pebbles and rubble but otherwise just stay within 29 feet of Finn, low to the ground to try to avoid notice.
Thirdly, Binkles inches forward trying to discreetly get as close to the cultists encircling the wagons as she can while staying hidden.
Fourthly Finn inches closer as well. She attempts to get within 30 feet of the cultists most on the road between the group and the embattled wagons...
Finn's plan is to create a distraction to hopefully spook off some cultists such that those encircled have an opening through which to flee back towards the group. Finn attempts this thusly:
Thaumaturgy creates first a mild rumbling of the ground underneath the (Fourthly) cultists and a moment later there is a booming voice declaring "The GREAT flying blue wants all those touched by the blue light to head east immediately!" Finn does her best to give her voice a bit of a draconic flair, probably a bit influenced by the earlier kobolds...
Once she calls that out she casts Faerie Fire on the closest cultists, outlining each cultist she can (20 foot cube area of effect) in a blue light. "All touched by or who see the blue light, follow it NOW!" she booms out once more with Thaumaturgy and Binkles, in place and ready, opens her mouth, the earlier cast Light now shining a bright blue light out of her mouth, dashes around the wagons and heads off due east...
If/when a gap does open from Cultists following the blue light, Finn will step forward and call for those trapped to come now, to run! And will hopefully lead them west back towards her party...
Binkles knows that once a block away or if about to get caught, she is free to drop the stone and try to escape and return back to Finn...
((Yes, yes... A lot going on here. If you need more Stealth rolls or such just let me know... Or roll for me (+5) to speed things up. I fully understand most every bit of this could go totally wrong and the rest will need be scrapped!))
Cheddar pauses for a moment before responding to Jenviel.
"What am I indeed?" he wonders to himself.
"A Fox? Spirit?" he repeats. "Now that is interesting." he says curiously.
"I am a Tabaxi,." he tells Jenviel. "or cat person if you will though I am of the smaller variety. I have heard Tabaxi are usually much bigger and quite fierce."
Cheddar will follow where ever the party intends to go.
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
All but Finn are treated to the disturbing and lengthy sounds of Tylaerys beating the tied-up kobolds into unconsciousness with the handle of her dagger. Jirel makes much quicker work of the mumbling cultist. You then huddle up to discuss your next move.
Finn:
Misses Binklesworth of the Twilight Binklesworths pops into reality alongside you. She provides a basic report on what she observed at the Temple of Yondalla.
More Finn:
[No rolls. I like the idea and it's not going to cause any problems to reward a creative solution.]
You should have more confidence in your plans. Everything goes off without a hiccup. Well, mostly. A few cultists notice you casting spells and move to investigate, but once the voice from above booms through the square, enough of the cultists are distracted that it buys you the time you need.
When you jump out and shout for the wagons' defenders to follow you have just enough time to see some of the wagons start to move before you have to run. A force of cultists turns and begins to pursue.
You are quickly passed on the road by two wagons, riding hell-bent for leather and bouncing down the cobblestone street west, in the direction of your allies and the edge of town beyond. You can hear the sound of shouting cultists and... something else... the clicking of claws... closing in from behind....
Everyone else:
Just as you make the decision head east to rendezvous with Finn, two wagons roar out of the haze from the direction of the town square. They are driven on by wounded guardsmen and they do not stop, bouncing recklessly down the road. You have to step aside so as not to be run over.
No sooner do they pass, then a stranger dressed in Finn's clothes emerges from the haze as well. She is running as fast as she can... and hot on her heels are five cultists and some kind of quadrupedal lizard. They are definitely looking for trouble.
Combat... Again!
ROUND ONE
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Cheddar will move to the south, towards the building to the south, 30 ft. Once the 1st cultist moves within range, 120 ft., he will launch a Fire Bolt
Hit: 9
Damage, if hits: 8
"Watch out Finn." he calls out.
Jirel’s posture practically relaxes. She huffs in relief at the sight of the on coming chaos, then her eyes glance to the sky. Thank the gods. She didn’t have to really think any more. Muscle memory brings the goliath a step forward, instinctively taking a defensive position to use her larger frame to provide the littles with cover. She reaches back, pulling free a javelin from beneath her furs. Hearing Cheddar call out for Finn, Jirel’s unable to immediately, or confidently, identify Finn amongst the wave of cultists. She adjusts the balance of her weapon in hand, ensuring a good grip before rearing it back. She waits for the beast to come within ideal range before launching her javelin towards the quadrupedal lizard.
Attack: 11 Damage: 9
just an unstable unicorn.