Heroes of Augera - campaign thread

The light moves to and fro, and you begin to hear raised voices from the direction of the light, two voices, and indeed as you get closer the silhouettes of two figures are revealed. At about 100ft those with good hearing can pick out the jist of the conversation in, you realise, slurring, slightly drunken male tones.

"I told you, there were a voice! It said we're being hunted, we need to go!"

"Voices my arse! You ain't getting out of paying me back that easy, get looking for that purse."

"I don't know where I left it, honest! Let's just look in the morning."

"I saw you with it earlier, it's got to be here, just look... OH SHI-"

The voice is cut off as a huge shape drops out of the air, blocking your view of the figures. The lantern is knocked to one side, and lands among some off the little wheat already gathered and bound in bales. The bales quickly ignite, and in the flickering fire light you can now make out the creature clearly.

It has the body of a great bird, grey-white, streaked intermittently with red feathers. Its neck extends beyond that of a usual bird of prey, and ends in the elongated head and muzzle of a huge stag. What had looked in the dim light like plumage is now shown to be large, razer sharp antlers, themselves 5ft long. Including the antlers it must be 15ft tall.

It stands on one taloned foot over one of the men, using the other and a mouth full of knife-like teeth to rip open his chest, as its outstretched wings provide balance. As you approach it turns to look at you, and gives the same, deep bellowing roar you heard in the forest. It dips its head down and pulls the man's heart from his open ribs, blood coating its muzzle. Its wings rise and fall, and it lifts away from the body, then begins to fly towards you.

Congratulations those of you who figured it out. What is it? Say it loud!

[Battlemap to be provided soon.]

Ghurr Initiative (if needed): 4  

"This flying bird-deer not natural," Ghurr says as they approach the creature. "Bad magic make this."

Bad peryton.

(That thing is really cool)

Faera initiative  11

(Mala Initiative: 7)

Thurodim initiative: 22

****! He cursed with the voice of his mind as one of the figures on the distance was killed and had his heart taken out by the chimeric creature. He felt frustration, anger, loss. He failed. A fact that would have consumed his mind where it not for the flying horror turning towards him and his companions. Instinct took hold of Ilithir’s body and all unnecessary thoughts were pushed aside. He was in battle. Kill or be killed. There would be time for regret later, provided he survived.

The first idea the silver haired man had was to attack. He had promised his ranged support to Thorodim and Eldritch Blast seemed effective enough. But just effective could be sufficient. A single beam didn’t so much as faze that thing. Every bit of edge he or his companions could get would make a difference. As such the elf called upon his pact magic and whispered arcane words rising his right hand, focus on palm. He holds the energy, the very spell of Silent Image.

Eyes fixated on the monster, Ilithir would released the magic the moment it entered on his range, creating a fifteen foot curtain of silver smoke between him and whatever in the Nine Hells it was. If his companions remembered his words they should be able to see through the illusion and use it to obscure themselves, striking from behind it.  

Notes: If there is enough time, Ilithir prepares the Silent Image spell through his Misty Illusions evocation (no spell slot cost). The trigger being the cool flying chimera entering his Eldritch Blast Range. The spell will create a 15ft cubic smoke screen to heavily obscure anyone behind it. If there is no time to take this action then Ilithir would spend his action casting the spell and his bonus action using Hexblade Curse on the creature (as soon as it is 30ft from him). Advantage on initiative because of the Sword of Warning.

Initiative: 21

24 Faera
21 Illithir
7 Mala
7 Thurodim
4 Ghurr
3 Peryton

I'm going to split the combat up a bit as you all get to go ahead of the Peryton.

Group 1: Faera & Illithir
Group 2: Mala & Thurodim
Group 3: Ghurr
Group 4: Peryton

Once I know people's starting positions (see OOC chat), Faera and Illithir can go, so start thinking about those first moves! 

Illithir, I will say there was time to prepare the illusion, and the action would have been triggered just before the fight. In the OOC chat let me know where you would like the smoke screen, and I'll allow someone to position themselves for appropriate cover.

As you all approach the bird-beast quickly, Illithir throws out the illusion spell he has mentioned before. You all see an area of silvery mist rise from the ground. Illithir enters into it and, knowing about the illusion, you all are able to see him clearly amid the mist. Let's hope the peryton doesn't figure it out...

Thurodim, with a roar, runs straight through the mist, axe raised, but by the time he emerges on the other side the creature has taken to the air, and has just reached 30ft above you all.

Faera and Illithir, what do you do?

As the silver mist covers the air like a veil, Ilithir advances towards the enemy. Thirty feet from it, the elf call upon his pact and focus his will on the ruin on the creature. A curse cast upon the horror. One that would eat it alive with each attack coming from him. There is a spell capable of similar feat, he knew it too, but now this was better. It brought more pain to the victim.

Silent like a shadow, the Argent rises his right hand to his shoulder. Crystal on his palm. His eyes shining as whispers a single word. Arcane in nature it combines with his concentration and impart his will upon the Weave. Magic energy flows through the spellcaster and as he extends his arm two beams of cracking energy are released against the chimeric beast.

They cut through the curtain of illusions, two silver threads of pure force traversing the night sky. Always grey, he thought moving as far away from his target as possible, not even waiting to see if it was hit. Everything about his magic seemed to take that color and almost never by his choice. At first, he hated it. It was the color of his hair and eyes. It was the symbol of his misfortune. Now he wore it as his own. It was his epithet, his very own rebellion against fate, however small it was.

Notes: Illithir uses his movement to stand 30ft from the enemy, uses his bonus action to put Hexblade Curse on it, then use his remaining movement to back away from the enemy as much as he can and finally uses his action to cast Eldritch Blast. As per the Silent Image to see through the fog the monster needs to spend his action o examine the image can determine that it is an illusion with a successful Intelligence (Investigation) check against Ilithir spell save DC (15), otherwise it cannot see Ilithir. Because of that Ilithir has advantage on attacks against the bad bird (PHB p. 194). Ilithir is also concentrating on Silent Image. Rolls made on character sheet and I need to learn to roll advantage directly on the attack.

Beam 1: 24
Potential Damage: 16 (13+3 from Hexblade Curse)

Beam 2: 27 (Nat 20)
Potential Damage: 25 (22 +3 from Hexblade Curse)

Faera watches as Ilithir creates the smoke screen.  Part of her wants to join him, but a bit worried on them all getting too close together, so instead she runs to C7 and casts Tasha's Mind Whip on the creature.  Needs an INT save of 14 or 10 psychic damage, and only move, action or bonus for next turn, no reaction.  Half damage if saved.

She then takes out her rapier and spins it around her head, chanting a few words in elvish to start her Bladesong.

Quote from Makkiu >>

Rolls made on character sheet and I need to learn to roll advantage directly on the attack.

 (On a PC if you right-click on the button it gives you options for rolling with advantage/disadvantage, and who it sends the result to. On a mobile you hold down instead, I think.)

The peryton jolts from the impact of the eldritch blasts, concussive bursts that send it reeling. In reacting to the blasts it hardly seems to notice Faera's magic - you feel the Mind Whip connect, but the peryton seems to simply shake its head, and shrugs off the worst of it. (Legendary Resistance).

Recovering, it glares down at the cloud of mist that has just shot lasers at it. In a burst of speed it tucks its wings in and drops from the sky, then enters the cloud where the magic had emanated, antlers goring (Legendary Action). Illithir feels the rush of the huge antlers and body passing by perhaps a foot overhead, but is thankfully hidden by the mist, and is not gored by the peryton. It takes away again, the rush of air and feathers preventing any kind of counter attack. In all this it never lets go of the human heart it has clenched between its teeth.

Passing through the mist it felt no moisture, no cold, no scent, nothing to indicate that it even exists. Something connects in the peryton's mind, and it looks straight through the mist. Illithir feels its mad, red eyes latch onto him in bestial fury.

Disadvantage attack on (unseen) Illithir.

Dive Attack: 15 (miss)

Flyby: The peryton doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks when it flies out of an enemy’s reach.

Mala and Thurodim, your turns!

With a ROAR of frustration, Thurodim turns and thumps his fist against his heavy muscled chest twice before striding towards the cowardly heart-ripping beast, then hurling two heavy javelins towards it in quick succession, then letting out a challenging roar again at the taloned monster above.

Move to D3
Javelin: 22 Piercing: 8
Javelin: 20 Piercing: 8

Thurodim appears next to Faera,, his large form quickly hurling one long javelin into the air after another. One javelin goes whistling over the peryton to land somewhere in the wheat field. The other strikes true, but doesn't seem to bother the monstrous creature much. The javelin hangs limply, its tip stuck in the peryton's flank, wiggling up and down as the beast flaps its wings.

Mala calls out in Primordial, casting Hunter's Mark on the peryton.  (Bonus Action - 1st Level Spell Slot) She then aims to shots with her longbow at the creature. 
(Longbow Attack: 18 Damage: 7 + 1) 
(Longbow Attack: 20 Damage: 9 + 4)

(If any of the attacks hit, she will then mark the creature (Favored Foe - no Action - 1 minute duration) to increase the damage: 4)

After firing her shots, she will try to get some cover between her and the creature from any foliage alongside the edge of the path. 

Ghurr watches the peryton swoop about in the sky and move back behind the group. He shouts at the creature to come down closer and take its beating properly.

Ghurr sprints fully forward to be right under the creature (C2) and shouts up at it again.

(Move 30', Action - Dash 30' - and will just wait as Pole Arm Master allows for an opportunity attack if the peryton comes within 15' of Ghurr)

One of Mala's arrows finds purchase, disappearing into the thick layers of feathers. A single drop of dark red blood falls to the ground, but the Peryton shows no sign that it has noticed the wound.

In fact it wheels in the air, and swoops back towards Illithir, its eyes locked on him. Having done the most damage to it, he seems to have drawn its ire. Ghurr moves to slash out at the creature as it descends, but the gust of musty air that comes by from its powerful wings prevents him from making the attack. (Flyby trait - The peryton doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks when it flies out of an enemy’s reach.)

The creature descends on Illithir again, hate in its glare, his sword's now unnecessary warning of danger ringing in his mind.

Multiattack - 1 gore, 1 talons

Gore: 21 to hit; 13 piercing damage

Talons: 15 to hit (misses)

This time Illithir feels the sharp points of this monstrous creature's antlers pierce his skin. Despite the pain he is able to avoid the talons which follow, as the peryton returns to the sky. 

It is now 30ft in the air again, it's bottom left corner at L5 (apologies, I can't get to Roll20 right now.)

(Also even bigger apologies, I misread the wording for its Dive Attack legendary action, I think it should have had to stay at ground level after attacking Illithir that first time. I'll remember moving forward.)

Illithir and Faera, your turns.

Sparks from the flames eating away at the bale of hay where the lantern landed float through the air. Most land harmlessly, but a few land on another bale, and soon that one is also ablaze.

Attention drawn by the peryton's initial bellow, followed by the sounds of shouting and magical energies, shutters start to open on the nearby houses. Eyes open wide, the people dash out onto the path through town, but dare not approach any nearer while your battle with the beast continues. All they can do is watch as you fight in the light of the spreading fire.

Re Flyby:

Good point well argued, it's an interesting meeting of abilities. I don't think it actually came within 15ft of Ghurr this time but I will definitely allow the opportunity attack from Ghurr should the circumstances come up again.