The massive half-orc follows Ghurr downstairs and having no clue to how to deal with weird wizardry, Thurodim simply grunts and nods in agreement with Mala.
Faera follows the rest down to the 6th floor (the stairs only connected the two, correct?) and as she looks at the paintings, she remarks, "I agree we should try and confirm that the prisoner is secure in this tower, I would feel weird just leaving it. Also, we really don't know why the perytons are here and were attacking the townsfolk. As the earth genasi mentioned, this is way out of their territory. Almost like they were summoned here."
She muses as she looks at the floor, all the different markings and sort of tune looking things. The magic of this tower was pretty incredible, she was impressed as well as nervous about what they were doing. One wrong move and they could possibly unleash a terrible wizard.
"Shall we check all the floors on our way down?" Unless anyone objects, she heads to floor 5.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Thurodim grunts and nods in agreement with Faera, following close behind, hoping to be able to interpose himself between the elf and any threats coming her way. Perception: 18
She muses as she looks at the floor, all the different markings and sort of tune looking things. The magic of this tower was pretty incredible, she was impressed as well as nervous about what they were doing. One wrong move and they could possibly unleash a terrible wizard.
You note again the teleportation circles, both large and small, and the paintings of locations it is presumed they lead to. You see as Thurodim did (in post #919) the marble around the circle in front of the painting of Ilfhold is marred with scratches and scrapes, and the white feather half buried under old leaves. That and the deep gouges up the sides of the stairway... From your experience you know that externally the tower is not just invisible but almost in a state of intangibility. Could it be that the perytons didn't discover the tower from the outside at all, but... from the inside?
Making your way through the portal created by the relevant teleportation circle, easy for those who read Elvish/Talathan to pick out the number 5, you arrive in what is clearly a bedchamber, a large one, a whole floor of the tower. A large bed at the north side is draped in purple linens, faded with age; clockwise around the room you see a fur rug from some kind of large creature, two wardrobes, a plant which at some time in the past has massively overgrown and then died from neglect, a closed door to a small interior space, a dressing table and stool, some units of drawers and a trunk, and finally two small tables each with some kind of model on them.
Feel free to pick something to take a closer look at, or continue on to another room. The tower is your oyster.
Thurodim grunts and nods in agreement with Faera, following close behind, hoping to be able to interpose himself between the elf and any threats coming her way. Perception: 8
Nothing strikes you as an immediate danger, and you don't get that strange sense of threat you have done since this group formed. (Can't remember if Illithir has told you about his Weapon of Warning yet.)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Looking around at the paintings as the team passes them, Thurodim scratches his head, possibly thinking. "The peryton, maybe it came through one of these teleportation circles from one of these places in the pictures. It would explain why it was so far off at least." He says, then following along.
As they enter what seems to have been the wizard's bedroom, the massive half-orc steps over to the two models to inspect them closely.
As they enter what seems to have been the wizard's bedroom, the massive half-orc steps over to the two models to inspect them closely.
Perception: 16 Intelligence: 19
The model to the left appears to be a ceramic model of a brain, slightly larger than lifesize. Different areas of the brain have been outlined in differently coloured metals. Though it's hardly your area of expertise you think it probably isn't magical - maybe the wizard was just interested in how brains work? It looks valuable though - among the metals you recognise gold, electrum, platinum, and other lesser metals.
The model to the right is a tiny metal dragon about a foot long, appearing curled up asleep. In front of it, slotted into a little stand, is a signet ring embossed with a scale pattern.
Ghurr places his ear to the door (Perception to hear anything: 20 ) and if he doesn't hear anything he knocks and asks "Is anyone in there?"
Though you focus and block out all other noise, you hear absolutely nothing from inside the small room, and nobody answers your call. Placing your ear against the door does however direct your eyes to a complex looping vine in the corner of the room. It has been carved out of wood then gilded. Looking around you realise there is one of these decorative vine carvings in each corner of the room. (Should have mentioned these in the initial description of the room.)
Mala heads over to the unit of drawers sitting next to a trunk. She first tries the drawers. (if needed, Investigation: 5)
You take a cursory look at the drawers - no lock, so presumably no key needed. You open a top drawer, which is revealed to contain underclothes - undershirts, socks, longjohns. They have been there a long time, and a faint odour of must creeps from the open drawer.
While they all seem to spread out in the room, Faera decides to had over to the wardrobes to see what might be inside of them.
In the wardrobe you find arrayed a selection of coats, cloaks and robes. As with the drawers, a slight musty scent tickles your nose. If you'd like to investigate the wardrobe further please make an Investigation check.
As you wrap up these initial checks (including whatever Illithir wants to check), you all again begin to feel that sense of danger. The hairs on your neck rise, and you feel under threat, though nothing is obviously wrong.
But as you look about for the source of the danger you see the decorative vines in the corners begin to shift and curl, as they loop outwards to form 8 humanoid shapes. They stand in every corner of the room, and as one turn their heads directly towards the closest member of the party to each of them.
I will get a map up ASAP, though will have to update it once I know what Illithir was doing. (I grant that this gives Illithir a bit of a metagame advantage here but I want to keep the game moving, 5 days between posts is too long and I apologise.)
Initiative will be:
22 - Ghurr
20 - Illithir
9 - Vine creatures
7 - Mala
7 - Faera (I flipped a coin to see which would go first but if you want to swap I don't mind at all.)
Among the various well-made but entirely mundane items hanging in the wardrobe, you do spot one that seems untouched by moth or time - a hallmark of something imbued with magic. Parting the clothes around it to get a better look you recognise it as a Cloak of Billowing. Exactly the kind of pointlessly dramatic thing you would expect to be owned by someone as vain as Valleron seems to have been.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Ghurr looks at the humanoid vine creature in the corner next to him.
"You not good tree," Ghurr says with finality.
Rather than wait for the creature to respond, he swings his glaive down like he's chopping wood, twirls it about, smacking at the creature with the butt end before swinging the blade end around for another chop.
Attack 1: Attack: 14 Damage: 13 magical slashing
Attack 2: Attack: 15 Damage: 14 magical slashing
Bonus Attack: Pole Arm Master - Attack: 23 Damage: 10 magical bludgeoning
First Attack to hit benefits from Bugbear Surprise Attack as twig hasn't gone yet: Adds 10 damage
“Your words are music to my ears.” He said to Thurodim recognizing on the knowledge behind the half-orc’s words that, for, once it was fine to be optimistic.
As the eggs of the monster were found he decide to leave the choice to his friends. One could argue that the things would fetch a pretty penny if sold in a curiosity market, but then there would always be chance that the fledglings would be used to recreate the same kind of horror had befallen the village. There was also the risk of the brood hatchling in the middle of the night. The victory on that roof was proof enough of how deadly the element of surprise could be.
With consensus reached the elf walked down the stairs, this time stopping to look the canvas. He saw depictions of Ilyath and Adyria. Whitebridge, Albamere, Ochremont and… Sumarstow? Did the owner of the tower know the Sumarstow? Ilithir would have voice the question when he recognized Osmial. Curiosity and excitement died as memories flooded his mind. The image the song of the harpy had shown vivid. The two elves, raven haired. My fault, he could not help but to feel. Trying to forget he focused on the other paintings. There was Talith and a city whose skyline housed a very peculiar building. One he had heard much about - Aedrukar Vlandranna, The Golden House of the Gods' Approval. That was High Badorum, capital of Dharbek.
His companions continued to the next portal and the silver haired man followed suit. His silence louder, his face taciturn. It were the paladin words that brought him back to reality.
“If that is the case we may need to destroy the circles, lest more make the journey.” Before he could get any answer came the feeling. Hairs stand and every instinct on his body screams a single word – danger. “Not good at all.”The elf said in response to the hobgobling’s comment, unsheathing his sword. “Let’s change things a little bit.”
Ilithir advanced towards the enemy between Ghurr and Mala. In front of the enemy, the caster’s eyes glimmered argent and the air around his blade seemed to tremble. With a short arcane word whispered he casted Booming Blade.
Notes: As to avoid meta advantage and for backstory reasons, Ilithir was just quietly taking emotional damage by the place the party entered. He moves in front of Enemy D and casts Booming Blade. The melee attack is a 21 to hit and applies 9 damage (magic slashing) + 5 thunder damage from the cantrip. If the enemy is hit and If the target willingly moves 5 feet or more before Ilithir's next turn, it takes 1d8 thunder damage.
Once again Ghurr is a whirlwind, his glaive a blur - chunks of gilded wood fly from the vine figure, but it maintains its shape.
Likewise a chunk is carved from the creature hit by Illithir's sword - at the impact a BOOM shakes the room, and flakes of gold are blown loose from its surface, fluttering down to the floor.
(I'm doing rolls in the Encounter builder to hopefully make the post flow better)
Vine Creature A looks impassively at Thurodim over the model of the sleeping dragon. It raises a hand towards the half-orc - the hand splits into writhing vines which shoot towards him. (Atk A: 17) Taken by surprise, Thurodim is held tight by the vines which start to tighten and crush him. (Dmg A: 16 bludgeoning) He is Grappled and Restrained. On his turn he may use an Action to make a STR save DC 14 to escape.
Faera sees the creature up by the bed take a few steps towards her, then another appear around the open wardrobe door. Perfectly synchronised they each lift an arm and sending curling, grasping vines at her. The vines of the first creature wrap around her (Atk B: 16) ( Grappled, Restrained) making it so much harder to avoid the vines of the second creature (Adv Atk C: 20). And then, together, they squeeze (Dmg B: 13) (Dmg C: 10).
The creature attacked by Illithir hums with the latent energy of the spell cast on his blade, but it has no need to move - its new quarry stands right in front of it. Redirecting its attention from Faera to Illithir it sends out its vines, but Illithir is able to turn them away (Atk D: 11).
The one facing Ghurr likewise is already in reach, though some final fragments of splintered wood continue to fall from it. Vines from its hand reach out for Ghurr, but he is able to knock them aside before they can grasp him (Atk E: 11).
Glancing around, Mala finds herself surrounded - one to her right where it emerged from the wall, two to her left which have moved in closer. (Atk F: 17) ( Grappled, Restrained) (Adv Atk G: 24) (Adv Atk H: 12). Grasped by two of the creatures, the vines of the third flail around Mala, seeming unable to locate a clear patch of her body to grasp and crush. (Dmg F: 8) (Dmg G: 9)
Mala and Faera, your turns. If you use your Action to attempt escape I'll say just one STR save (DC 14) to escape both your grapple/restraints.
If anyone knows something I haven't taken into account, or has a relevant reaction etc. that could affect the outcome of these attacks, please let me know.
The massive half-orc follows Ghurr downstairs and having no clue to how to deal with weird wizardry, Thurodim simply grunts and nods in agreement with Mala.
Faera follows the rest down to the 6th floor (the stairs only connected the two, correct?) and as she looks at the paintings, she remarks, "I agree we should try and confirm that the prisoner is secure in this tower, I would feel weird just leaving it. Also, we really don't know why the perytons are here and were attacking the townsfolk. As the earth genasi mentioned, this is way out of their territory. Almost like they were summoned here."
She muses as she looks at the floor, all the different markings and sort of tune looking things. The magic of this tower was pretty incredible, she was impressed as well as nervous about what they were doing. One wrong move and they could possibly unleash a terrible wizard.
"Shall we check all the floors on our way down?" Unless anyone objects, she heads to floor 5.
Thurodim grunts and nods in agreement with Faera, following close behind, hoping to be able to interpose himself between the elf and any threats coming her way.
Perception: 18
"Sounds like a good plan to me Faera," Mala says. She follows after her to floor 5.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard ||
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Ghurr hums a little tune to himself and nods and smiles at Faera's suggestion and follows the rest down to the 5th floor.
You note again the teleportation circles, both large and small, and the paintings of locations it is presumed they lead to. You see as Thurodim did (in post #919) the marble around the circle in front of the painting of Ilfhold is marred with scratches and scrapes, and the white feather half buried under old leaves. That and the deep gouges up the sides of the stairway... From your experience you know that externally the tower is not just invisible but almost in a state of intangibility. Could it be that the perytons didn't discover the tower from the outside at all, but... from the inside?
Making your way through the portal created by the relevant teleportation circle, easy for those who read Elvish/Talathan to pick out the number 5, you arrive in what is clearly a bedchamber, a large one, a whole floor of the tower. A large bed at the north side is draped in purple linens, faded with age; clockwise around the room you see a fur rug from some kind of large creature, two wardrobes, a plant which at some time in the past has massively overgrown and then died from neglect, a closed door to a small interior space, a dressing table and stool, some units of drawers and a trunk, and finally two small tables each with some kind of model on them.
Feel free to pick something to take a closer look at, or continue on to another room. The tower is your oyster.
DM - Storm King's Thunder
DM - Torosevia (WIP homebrew world)
Kelytha Meliamne - Matti Silverstorm - Silver - Star-Setting-In-The-East - Tor Baltos
Nothing strikes you as an immediate danger, and you don't get that strange sense of threat you have done since this group formed. (Can't remember if Illithir has told you about his Weapon of Warning yet.)
DM - Storm King's Thunder
DM - Torosevia (WIP homebrew world)
Kelytha Meliamne - Matti Silverstorm - Silver - Star-Setting-In-The-East - Tor Baltos
Looking around at the paintings as the team passes them, Thurodim scratches his head, possibly thinking. "The peryton, maybe it came through one of these teleportation circles from one of these places in the pictures. It would explain why it was so far off at least." He says, then following along.
As they enter what seems to have been the wizard's bedroom, the massive half-orc steps over to the two models to inspect them closely.
Perception: 15
Intelligence: 11
"Think not accident peryton here then," Ghurr replies to Thurodim. "Wizard call them."
He looks around the room their in and heads to the door to the small room on the south side.
Ghurr places his ear to the door (Perception to hear anything: 20 ) and if he doesn't hear anything he knocks and asks "Is anyone in there?"
Mala heads over to the unit of drawers sitting next to a trunk. She first tries the drawers. (if needed, Investigation: 20)
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard ||
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
While they all seem to spread out in the room, Faera decides to had over to the wardrobes to see what might be inside of them.
The model to the left appears to be a ceramic model of a brain, slightly larger than lifesize. Different areas of the brain have been outlined in differently coloured metals. Though it's hardly your area of expertise you think it probably isn't magical - maybe the wizard was just interested in how brains work? It looks valuable though - among the metals you recognise gold, electrum, platinum, and other lesser metals.
The model to the right is a tiny metal dragon about a foot long, appearing curled up asleep. In front of it, slotted into a little stand, is a signet ring embossed with a scale pattern.
Though you focus and block out all other noise, you hear absolutely nothing from inside the small room, and nobody answers your call. Placing your ear against the door does however direct your eyes to a complex looping vine in the corner of the room. It has been carved out of wood then gilded. Looking around you realise there is one of these decorative vine carvings in each corner of the room. (Should have mentioned these in the initial description of the room.)
You take a cursory look at the drawers - no lock, so presumably no key needed. You open a top drawer, which is revealed to contain underclothes - undershirts, socks, longjohns. They have been there a long time, and a faint odour of must creeps from the open drawer.
In the wardrobe you find arrayed a selection of coats, cloaks and robes. As with the drawers, a slight musty scent tickles your nose. If you'd like to investigate the wardrobe further please make an Investigation check.
As you wrap up these initial checks (including whatever Illithir wants to check), you all again begin to feel that sense of danger. The hairs on your neck rise, and you feel under threat, though nothing is obviously wrong.
But as you look about for the source of the danger you see the decorative vines in the corners begin to shift and curl, as they loop outwards to form 8 humanoid shapes. They stand in every corner of the room, and as one turn their heads directly towards the closest member of the party to each of them.
I will get a map up ASAP, though will have to update it once I know what Illithir was doing. (I grant that this gives Illithir a bit of a metagame advantage here but I want to keep the game moving, 5 days between posts is too long and I apologise.)
Initiative will be:
DM - Storm King's Thunder
DM - Torosevia (WIP homebrew world)
Kelytha Meliamne - Matti Silverstorm - Silver - Star-Setting-In-The-East - Tor Baltos
They look a bit like this fella:
DM - Storm King's Thunder
DM - Torosevia (WIP homebrew world)
Kelytha Meliamne - Matti Silverstorm - Silver - Star-Setting-In-The-East - Tor Baltos
Apologies for the dodgy sprites, best I can do right now. The enemy are labelled A-H.
DM - Storm King's Thunder
DM - Torosevia (WIP homebrew world)
Kelytha Meliamne - Matti Silverstorm - Silver - Star-Setting-In-The-East - Tor Baltos
Throwing in Faera's investigation check: 19
Among the various well-made but entirely mundane items hanging in the wardrobe, you do spot one that seems untouched by moth or time - a hallmark of something imbued with magic. Parting the clothes around it to get a better look you recognise it as a Cloak of Billowing. Exactly the kind of pointlessly dramatic thing you would expect to be owned by someone as vain as Valleron seems to have been.
DM - Storm King's Thunder
DM - Torosevia (WIP homebrew world)
Kelytha Meliamne - Matti Silverstorm - Silver - Star-Setting-In-The-East - Tor Baltos
Ghurr looks at the humanoid vine creature in the corner next to him.
"You not good tree," Ghurr says with finality.
Rather than wait for the creature to respond, he swings his glaive down like he's chopping wood, twirls it about, smacking at the creature with the butt end before swinging the blade end around for another chop.
Attack 1: Attack: 14 Damage: 13 magical slashing
Attack 2: Attack: 15 Damage: 14 magical slashing
Bonus Attack: Pole Arm Master - Attack: 23 Damage: 10 magical bludgeoning
First Attack to hit benefits from Bugbear Surprise Attack as twig hasn't gone yet: Adds 10 damage
“Your words are music to my ears.” He said to Thurodim recognizing on the knowledge behind the half-orc’s words that, for, once it was fine to be optimistic.
As the eggs of the monster were found he decide to leave the choice to his friends. One could argue that the things would fetch a pretty penny if sold in a curiosity market, but then there would always be chance that the fledglings would be used to recreate the same kind of horror had befallen the village. There was also the risk of the brood hatchling in the middle of the night. The victory on that roof was proof enough of how deadly the element of surprise could be.
With consensus reached the elf walked down the stairs, this time stopping to look the canvas. He saw depictions of Ilyath and Adyria. Whitebridge, Albamere, Ochremont and… Sumarstow? Did the owner of the tower know the Sumarstow? Ilithir would have voice the question when he recognized Osmial. Curiosity and excitement died as memories flooded his mind. The image the song of the harpy had shown vivid. The two elves, raven haired. My fault, he could not help but to feel. Trying to forget he focused on the other paintings. There was Talith and a city whose skyline housed a very peculiar building. One he had heard much about - Aedrukar Vlandranna, The Golden House of the Gods' Approval. That was High Badorum, capital of Dharbek.
His companions continued to the next portal and the silver haired man followed suit. His silence louder, his face taciturn. It were the paladin words that brought him back to reality.
“If that is the case we may need to destroy the circles, lest more make the journey.” Before he could get any answer came the feeling. Hairs stand and every instinct on his body screams a single word – danger. “Not good at all.” The elf said in response to the hobgobling’s comment, unsheathing his sword. “Let’s change things a little bit.”
Ilithir advanced towards the enemy between Ghurr and Mala. In front of the enemy, the caster’s eyes glimmered argent and the air around his blade seemed to tremble. With a short arcane word whispered he casted Booming Blade.
Notes: As to avoid meta advantage and for backstory reasons, Ilithir was just quietly taking emotional damage by the place the party entered. He moves in front of Enemy D and casts Booming Blade. The melee attack is a 21 to hit and applies 9 damage (magic slashing) + 5 thunder damage from the cantrip. If the enemy is hit and If the target willingly moves 5 feet or more before Ilithir's next turn, it takes 1d8 thunder damage.
Once again Ghurr is a whirlwind, his glaive a blur - chunks of gilded wood fly from the vine figure, but it maintains its shape.
Likewise a chunk is carved from the creature hit by Illithir's sword - at the impact a BOOM shakes the room, and flakes of gold are blown loose from its surface, fluttering down to the floor.
(I'm doing rolls in the Encounter builder to hopefully make the post flow better)
Vine Creature A looks impassively at Thurodim over the model of the sleeping dragon. It raises a hand towards the half-orc - the hand splits into writhing vines which shoot towards him. (Atk A: 17) Taken by surprise, Thurodim is held tight by the vines which start to tighten and crush him. (Dmg A: 16 bludgeoning) He is Grappled and Restrained. On his turn he may use an Action to make a STR save DC 14 to escape.
Faera sees the creature up by the bed take a few steps towards her, then another appear around the open wardrobe door. Perfectly synchronised they each lift an arm and sending curling, grasping vines at her. The vines of the first creature wrap around her (Atk B: 16) ( Grappled, Restrained) making it so much harder to avoid the vines of the second creature (Adv Atk C: 20). And then, together, they squeeze (Dmg B: 13) (Dmg C: 10).
The creature attacked by Illithir hums with the latent energy of the spell cast on his blade, but it has no need to move - its new quarry stands right in front of it. Redirecting its attention from Faera to Illithir it sends out its vines, but Illithir is able to turn them away (Atk D: 11).
The one facing Ghurr likewise is already in reach, though some final fragments of splintered wood continue to fall from it. Vines from its hand reach out for Ghurr, but he is able to knock them aside before they can grasp him (Atk E: 11).
Glancing around, Mala finds herself surrounded - one to her right where it emerged from the wall, two to her left which have moved in closer. (Atk F: 17) ( Grappled, Restrained) (Adv Atk G: 24) (Adv Atk H: 12). Grasped by two of the creatures, the vines of the third flail around Mala, seeming unable to locate a clear patch of her body to grasp and crush. (Dmg F: 8) (Dmg G: 9)
Mala and Faera, your turns. If you use your Action to attempt escape I'll say just one STR save (DC 14) to escape both your grapple/restraints.
If anyone knows something I haven't taken into account, or has a relevant reaction etc. that could affect the outcome of these attacks, please let me know.
DM - Storm King's Thunder
DM - Torosevia (WIP homebrew world)
Kelytha Meliamne - Matti Silverstorm - Silver - Star-Setting-In-The-East - Tor Baltos
DM - Storm King's Thunder
DM - Torosevia (WIP homebrew world)
Kelytha Meliamne - Matti Silverstorm - Silver - Star-Setting-In-The-East - Tor Baltos