Giles hunkers down, getting as low as he can, but maintaining a line of sight on the False Dirty Druid Father Giles, directing him to step forward and reach out for the ethereal great axe, acting like he is taking it into his hand, and then moving forward to the next Dark Druid, the one that Zefla hit, or if that one is down, the one just to the “east” of him. He swings his arms and the glowing great axe swings at the Druid.
[Giles, moving your duplicate and moving/attacking with your spiritual weapon both require use of a bonus action. So they both cannot move on the same turn. I presumed the damage is more worthwhile to you than the illusion so I presumed that you spent this round using the attack. That leaves you with an action, so something like toll the dead is in play if you want to modify the last round.]
Zefla'sarrow hits the second to last druid, and Giles' spiritual axe pursues the crazed wildman, slashing him as well. This one is still alive but seems barely able to stand on his feet and his dancing and chanting comes to a stop. Now, only one chanting druid remains.
The Berserkers fan out, whooping and crying and hefting their great axes recklessly.
Reckless. At the start of its turn, the berserker can gain advantage on all melee weapon attack rolls during that turn, but attack rolls against it have advantage until the start of its next turn.
The Berserker that Burrattacked earlier raises his axe in mad glee and brings it down viciously.
Reckless Attack: 25 (25, 18) Slashing Damage: 19
[... Sound of record skipping...]
But wait, Sorencalls upon his connection to the Wild and casts Silvery Barbs. Zefla gains advantage on her next attack roll, ability check, or saving throw she makes within 1 minute. The Berserker has to make his attack again...
Reckless Attack: 9 And Burrducks below the axeblade!
That isn't to say everything is well. Two more Berserkers join the first next to Burr, and both of them attack as well.
Reckless Attack: 20 (20, 7) Slashing Damage: 8
Reckless Attack: 18(18, 9) Slashing Damage: 10
Another Berserker dashes wide around the crowd and charges toward Zefla, though he isn't able to reach her this turn.
Near the statue, one of the Berserkers strides up toward Thorn, bringing his axe in low and horizontally at the beast spirit...
Reckless Attack: 14(14, 9) Slashing Damage: 11
The last berserker dashes past the druids and readies his axe next to Fake Dirty Druid Not Father Giles, though he cannot attack this turn.
[Nettles cannot quite reach Soren's target, Help, and get back to Soren last round. So, the owl is mid-air on its way back to Soren.]
Soren/Thorn
Burr
Druids
Ravens/???
Zefla/Giles
Berserkers
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
Noted. The Not Father Dirty Druid Fake Giles does indeed cast toll the dead on the very injured Dark Druid, and a gong sounds around him to add to the mayhem.
Toll the Dead : DC 13 wisdom save or take 4 points of necrotic damage.
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A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Druid save: Unable to parse dice roll.
[If it fails the DC 13 check, the damage is enough to kill it.]
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
(Soren's reaction resets at the start of his turn and he is able to cast Silvery Barbs again as a reaction if needed.)
Seeing the closer remaining dark druid barely chanting and no longer chanting, Soren eschews Nettle'shelp, sending the owl instead at the further dark druid to help on Thorn's upcoming attack against that one. Meanwhile Soren attempts to finish off the closer dark druid with his longbow.
Sorenlongbow to hit the nearly dead dark druid: 22 Sorenlongbow damage on the nearly dead dark druid: 6 piercing
(Bonus Action: he attempts to keep Bramble the bear centered between where the berserkers are, in case anyone must make a STR check or save).
The druid of Silvanus moves NE-->N. As the ravens approach, he beseeches them with Speech of the Woods, his cawing a harbinger (he hopes) of black-winged death from above. Nettle, unable to reach a friendly shoulder having flown 50' E, flies 10' up into the air (Flyby) to make room for the ravens.
Calling out in Raven:
"Ravens! Allies! The corrupted druids must not be allowed to complete their ritual! We have slain five of them and set their vile effigy aflame, yet a sixth remains attempting to finish the deed. End him first! Then aid us with these rabid axe-wielders, or anything else that threatens us."
Thorn howls as if in agreement, a piercing mournful note, then breaks from the berserker in melee with him, provoking an attack of opportunity. The spirit wolf charges E-->E-->E-->E leaping past Giles' spiritual axe and the corpse of the dark druidSoren just slew, leaping at the chanting throat of the final one.
Thorn maul/bite to hit final dark druid (advantage from Nettle'shelp): 19 Thorn maul/bite damage on final dark druid: 10 piercing
Attempting to stay within range (60') of all potential locations enemies might attack, Soren is ready to cast Silvery Barbs as a reaction, only on any critical hit against one of his two-legged companions or on Thorn, including possibly on the attack of opportunity coming Thorn's way.
(I think if the berserkers are like barbarians, then Reckless only gives them advantage on their turn, not on AoOs on another creature's turn?)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
While this has been happening, the wood and vine statue continues to burn, the flames licking up higher and higher as one of the 'wings' looks ready to collapse. The structure takes another 9 fire damage.
As Thorn makes for the last druid, the Berserker near him swipes at an exposed flank with his great axe.
Attack of Opportunity: 15 Slashing Damage: 15
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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
Burr'saxes sail across the stone clearing, heaved with all of their master's might. They don't so much strike the druid, as they fall to earth on him at the absolute limit of their effective range. Coupled with the mauling from Thorn, the final surviving druid seems badly injured.
Undaunted, he glares at the spirit wolf as he continues his frenetic dance with no regard for his own safety.
"Ke keletena ke keletena Sikuna fanadoro onasaununafa Sikuna fanadoro onasaununafa Asi anaroi a seke samoai Asi anaroi ona sau nunafa"
Lightning flashes, striking at different points around the perimeter of the stone circle. Above the burning statue, the lightning illuminates a shape forming in the smoke... great, dark wings and a horned face, leering down over the battle. Even as the smoke is rising, this shape appears to be descending down toward the statue...
Then, through the smoke, erupts a cloud of ravens. They veer off into three smaller swarms, targeting the druid and some of the berserkers.
Swarms of Ravens attack the two berserkers above Burr.
Swarm Attack: 15 Piercing Damage: 5
Swarm Attack: 19 Piercing Damage: 5
A final Swarm of Ravens attacks the last Druid.
Swarm Attack: 17 Piercing Damage: 7
The figure is briefly obscured by the flapping of black wings, but then they lift off again, revealing a bloody face with empty eye-sockets, and the last Druid falls. With his death, the shape in the smoke dissipates and the lightning storm abates.
And then another figure appears, dropping down from the sky. Clad in black and crimson robes the being is held aloft by black-feathered wings. It looks like nothing so much as a raven given human form. It wields a hand crossbow and a short sword as it swoops down from above.
It discharges its crossbow at the berserker who just attacked Thornlast turn, lodging a small bolt in his back.
Crossbow Attack: 23 Damage: 3
Then it descends to the ground and stabs at the berserker Burrhit last turn, burying its short sword in his side. The mountain man howls, as much with fury as with pain as he takes in his new opponent.
Short Sword Attack: 24 Damage: 11
Soren/Thorn
Burr
Druids
Ravens/???
Zefla/Giles <--- up now
Berserkers
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
The figure that emerges in the sky makes Zefla feel a little weak in the knees. What in the Nine Hells did they come across? How were they mixed up in this?? As it swiftly disappears, she refocuses her attention on the berserker that is running directly at her.
Throwing her shortbow over her shoulder and drawing her blades she rushes at him, feeling the surge of adrenaline wash over her (advantage from silvery barbs, thanks!) and drives at the berserker.
Faux Giles turns up at the fiery toppling statue and grins a fiendish grin. He turns and looks at the barbarian approaching him and a gong sounds around him. Faux Giles then directs the spiritual axe to come forward toward him (“south”) and attack the barbarian engaged with him, slicing at him. Behind the statue, the true Giles stays hunkered low and scoots to the east, keeping the axe and Faux Giles within sight, but staying out of the way of the barbarian.
Toll the dead : DC 13 wisdom save or take 4 points of necrotic damage.
Spiritual weapon : 10 to hit (21 if it has advantage) for 10 points of force damage.
Zeflashocks the Berserker with her own ferocity, charging in and stabbing relentlessly at him. Blood wells from a deep wound in the side of his face/cheek.
[Berserker WIS save: 14
Invoke Duplicity does say attackers get advantage if the simulacrum is adjacent to the same foe... I'm not sure if that was intended to extend to your own Spiritual Weapon, but I'll allow it since it doesn't say it doesn't... so the attack did have advantage (no advantage otherwise, since this Berserker did not recklessly attack last turn).]
The tolling bells have no effect on the Berserker squaring up with the fake Giles, but the spiritual axe is able to land a solid blow against his back.
Rather than appear disturbed or frightened by the newly arrived ravenkind, the Berserkers shake their axes and utter new battle cries, recommitting to the fight.
[I've added numbers to the Berserkers to keep targeting easier to understand.]
Berserker #1
Despite the Giant Raven at his back, this warrior remains focused on his battle with Burr. He raises his axe high and brings it down in a brutal chop.
Reckless Attack: 25 (25- 11)
[... Erp... but wait... Sorencasts Silvery Barbs again. Soren, please mark off the spell slot and indicate if it is Zeflaagain or someone else who gets advantage on their next D20 roll...]
Re-Rolled Reckless Attack: 22 Slashing Damage: 7
The berserker still hits Burr, but it seems to do much less damage than it could have....
Berserker #2
This Berserker turns from Burrand lifts its axe instead against the Giant Raven. "Feathered fiend! Face the mountain's wrath and prove your wings against the storm or be plucked and cast down!"
Reckless Attack: 19 (19- 11) Slashing Damage: 9
Blood and feathers fly as the axe bites deep into the mysterious stranger.
Berserker #3
This Berserker turnsand cleaves his axe through the cloud of ravens pecking at him.
Reckless Attack: 19 (19- 7) Slashing Damage: 4
Only one raven is unable to avoid the axe, and despite its loss, the swarm remains intact.
Berserker #4
Eager to return the favor to Zefla, this warrior brings his axe in horizontally at her. He shouts something, but the wound to his face makes it come out garbled. It was something about turning her corpse into a doll for the clan's children.
Reckless Attack: 22 (22- 10) Slashing Damage: 5
Berserker #5
Abandoning pursuit of Thorn, this berserker charges down to join #6 alongside fake Giles. He brings his axe down in a mighty chop...
Reckless Attack: 21 (21- 9)
... But the axeblade passes cleanly through fake Giles, striking the ground beneath his feet. Both Berserkers exchange an irritated look, and then turn their eyes to their surroundings. Behind the statue, the real Gilesstays low and goes unseen, for now.
Berserker #6
Unable to locate the source of this illusory figure, the Berserker turns his attention to a flesh-and-blood enemy [not really, since Thornis a spirit, but anyway...] and moves to confront Thorn.
Reckless Attack: 20 (20- 20) Slashing Damage: 7
Another blow lands against the faithful beast spirit.
Soren/Thorn
Burr
Ravens/???
Zefla/Giles
Berserkers
[Forgot about Nettle... it is still in its prior location on the last map...]
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.
Fire continues to crackle and roar as the statue burns, taking another 7 fire damage.
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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
Soren's reaction resets, and he breathes a sigh of relief as a swarm of ravens finishes off the final druid, seemingly before the vile ritual can be complete and... whatever that winged, horned fiend being summoned had been disappears in the smoke.
Yet when he turns back to the battle, even with newfound allies, his heart sinks. The rabid axe-wielding mountain men seem hearty and hale in their mad ferocity and Soren no longer has the magic to control the battlefield, the last of his strongest primal energy being expended in summoning Thorn. He decides to conserve what little magic he has left for healing his companions should they fall to a reckless axe blow. (Soren will no longer cast Silvery Barbs as a reaction to berserker critical hits, except for critical hits against himself, hopefully saving his remaining three spell slots for Healing Word).
He calls out to their foes:
"Fierce warriors of mountain stone. It is clear that at battle's end, we will be slain or you will. So it matters not to you what we know. You may as well tell us: where lies the green gem that the dark druids have taken from the vineyard in the valley below? As men of action and war, lies and dissembling do not become you, nor your gods."
Action: As he does so, he nocks another arrow to his longbow and sends it at the most injured of the berserkers. Soren'slongbow attack on most injured berserker (at advantage): 20 (dirty) Soren'slongbow damage on most injured berserker: 7 piercing
Movement: Soren trots north, angling for where his melee allies may provide him better cover: 30' north, stopping short of the rocky boundary.
Bramble the incorporeal skeletal bear remains hovering over the battlefield, granting advantage on STR checks and saves to as many allies as he can.
Nettle circles above the battlefield, out of reach. As the berserkers' recklessness renders her help moot, she looks about for further enemies. Nettle'sPerception at advantage due to Keen Hearing and Sight: 18 (rolled using Soren'sAcrobatics which also has a +3).
The hated, filthy dark druids now gone, Thorn lunges for throat of the berserker (#6) who has been swinging his axe at him recklessly. Thorn's maul/bite against berserker 6 (at advantage): 26 (Nat. 20) Thorn's maul/bite damage: 19 piercing
The spirit wolf stays put, bloodied but growling deep in his throat, ready to fight to the death as always.
The Berserkers mostly ignore Soren'sentreaty for information, with one of them barking back at him, "No time for words, bowman! The time has come for iron and blood!"
Soren:
Far above the fray, Nettle casts its eyes for additional threats.
There are still shapes lurking about in the withered grove the lies past the stone circle where you are fighting, but so far none seem to be aware of or concerned about your fight.
Nettle also sees something else... at the bottom of the hill, near where you arrived, there are now three wolves. No ordinary wolves, these beasts are the size of ponies. For now, the enormous canines are seated patiently, looking up at the hilltop. From their location, it is unlikely they have an angle of view from which they can see the battle, though their keen senses no doubt allow them to hear it.
Berserker #2 parries Burr's first maul attack with his axe, but Burr's ferocious second strike catches the warrior unprepared.
The swarms of ravens renew their attacks against the berserkers, with all of them landing hits.
Attack on Berserker #2: 22 Piercing damage: 8
Attack on Berserker #3: 18 Piercing damage: 3
Attack on Berserker #6: 22 Piercing damage: 10
The giant man-raven deftly reloads its crossbow with one of its feet and fires a bolt at the back of the berserker engages with Zefla, but somehow even with the berserker's reckless distraction, the bolt flies errantly.
Crossbow Attack on Berserker #4: 12
Then the man-raven once again plunges its short sword into the back of the Berserker attacking Burr, though the warrior's hide armor deflects most of the blow.
Short Sword Attack on Berserker #1: 22 Piercing damage: 7
[At this time, here is how the different Berserkers are looking...
Berserker #1: Seriously injured (tied with #6 for worst shape)
Berserker #2: Hurt
Berserker #3: Barely scratched
Berserker #4: Worse than scratched, better than hurt
Berserker #5: Barely scratched
Berserker #6: Seriously injured (tied with #1 for worst shape) ]
Soren/Thorn
Burr
Ravens/???
Zefla/Giles
Berserkers
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
Giles continues to direct his duplicity to cast toll the dead on the barbarian, having the image give him the middle finger and a booming sound surrounds the barbarian’s head. While he is doing that, the ethereal axe comes up behind the barbarian (5) and swings at him, hitting him in the back.
Faux Giles [spell[Toll the Dead[/spell] : DC 13 wisdom save or take 1 point of necrotic damage.
The Berserker next to the burning statue holds a hand to the side of his head as the tolling of dolorous bells ring in his ears. At the same time the spectral axe continues to harass and slash at him.
Meanwhile, Zeflacontinue to dart inside Berserker #4's guard, taking advantage of his reckless attacks and perforates him again and again with her short sword and dagger.
Berserker #1
This warrior is furious that Burrturned his maul on another berserker. He wishes to continue their battle man to man. He growls as he swings his axe again at the barbarian.
Reckless Attack on Burr: 21 (21- 15) Slashing Damage: 6
Berserker #2
This Berserker continues to hack at the man-raven with his great axe...
The attacks do little to faze your mysterious ally.
Berserker #3
Pestered by the cloud of ravens behind him, this berserker turns his axe sideways and swings with the flat of the blade through the swarm, knocking many birds out of the sky.
Reckless Attack on Swarm of Ravens: 25 (25 - 9) Slashing Damage: 21
The swarm is greatly reduced, with only a few ravens left to continue the fight. With a hearty laugh, this berserker then moves counterclockwise around Burr, inviting opportunity attacks from both adjacent swarms of ravens. The weakened swarm, perhaps still stunned from the blow struck against them, misses but the other gets some good pecks in.
AOO on Berskerker #3: 9(9- 8) miss
AOO on Berserker #3: 22(22- 9) Piercing damage: 9
Berserker #4
Bleeding heavily from Zefla'saccurate attacks, he takes a deep breath, roars, and swings his axe at her again.
This berserker doesn't know what to do with himself. He's already seen this figurein front of him is a ghost or mirage or some other damn thing and can't be hit, and he is under assault from an equally ephemeral axe. Most of the combatants are too far away for him to attack this round, so he begrudgingly trots over to join Berserker #6 in trying to finish off the wolf.
It at first appears to be a mighty, fatal blow, but Thornseems to tank the damage and stays in the fight. [Woof... 2 d12 + 3 damage and ended up with 6...]
The fire continues to roar, and at last the statue topples to the ground with a shower of sparks. Out of the flaming wreck tumbles a curious object... a green gemstone the size of a person's fist. It is shaped like a pinecone and emits a pale green light.
Soren/Thorn
Burr
Ravens/???
Zefla/Giles
Berserkers
Berserker #1: Seriously injured (tied with #4 and #6 for worst shape)
Berserker #2: Hurt
Berserker #3: Hurt
Berserker #4: Seriously injured (tied with #1 and #6 for worst shape)
Berserker #5: Hurt
Berserker #6: Seriously injured (tied with #1 and #4 for worst shape)
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
[Forgot the spiritual weapon on the last map. Per Giles' last post, it would be adjacent to where Berserker #5 used to be.]
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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
Needing a quick intake of breath as the berserker slashes a gash across her side, she looks up at him determination at his demise written all over her face.
Taking her silvered shortsword, she sinks it to the hilt into the man (crit!)
Attack: 26, Dam w/sneak attack: 21
Assuming he is dead but not caring if he isn't, Zefla sees the pale green glow from the seed the vintner told them about. Dashing as fast as her little legs will carry her, she tries to get to it to snatch it up! (I think she can get there with her 60 feet)
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Giles hunkers down, getting as low as he can, but maintaining a line of sight on the False Dirty Druid Father Giles, directing him to step forward and reach out for the ethereal great axe, acting like he is taking it into his hand, and then moving forward to the next Dark Druid, the one that Zefla hit, or if that one is down, the one just to the “east” of him. He swings his arms and the glowing great axe swings at the Druid.
Spiritual weapon : 21 to hit, for 8 points of force damage.
((Invoke Duplicity : round 3/10, Spiritual Weapon : round 2/10))
If needed, stealth check : 7
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
[Giles, moving your duplicate and moving/attacking with your spiritual weapon both require use of a bonus action. So they both cannot move on the same turn. I presumed the damage is more worthwhile to you than the illusion so I presumed that you spent this round using the attack. That leaves you with an action, so something like toll the dead is in play if you want to modify the last round.]
Zefla's arrow hits the second to last druid, and Giles' spiritual axe pursues the crazed wildman, slashing him as well. This one is still alive but seems barely able to stand on his feet and his dancing and chanting comes to a stop. Now, only one chanting druid remains.
The Berserkers fan out, whooping and crying and hefting their great axes recklessly.
Reckless. At the start of its turn, the berserker can gain advantage on all melee weapon attack rolls during that turn, but attack rolls against it have advantage until the start of its next turn.
The Berserker that Burr attacked earlier raises his axe in mad glee and brings it down viciously.
Reckless Attack: 25 (25, 18) Slashing Damage: 19
[... Sound of record skipping...]
But wait, Soren calls upon his connection to the Wild and casts Silvery Barbs. Zefla gains advantage on her next attack roll, ability check, or saving throw she makes within 1 minute. The Berserker has to make his attack again...
Reckless Attack: 9 And Burr ducks below the axeblade!
That isn't to say everything is well. Two more Berserkers join the first next to Burr, and both of them attack as well.
Reckless Attack: 20 (20, 7) Slashing Damage: 8
Reckless Attack: 18 (18, 9) Slashing Damage: 10
Another Berserker dashes wide around the crowd and charges toward Zefla, though he isn't able to reach her this turn.
Near the statue, one of the Berserkers strides up toward Thorn, bringing his axe in low and horizontally at the beast spirit...
Reckless Attack: 14 (14, 9) Slashing Damage: 11
The last berserker dashes past the druids and readies his axe next to Fake Dirty Druid Not Father Giles, though he cannot attack this turn.
[Nettles cannot quite reach Soren's target, Help, and get back to Soren last round. So, the owl is mid-air on its way back to Soren.]
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
Noted. The Not Father Dirty Druid Fake Giles does indeed cast toll the dead on the very injured Dark Druid, and a gong sounds around him to add to the mayhem.
Toll the Dead : DC 13 wisdom save or take 4 points of necrotic damage.
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Druid save: Unable to parse dice roll.
[If it fails the DC 13 check, the damage is enough to kill 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
(Soren's reaction resets at the start of his turn and he is able to cast Silvery Barbs again as a reaction if needed.)
Seeing the closer remaining dark druid barely chanting and no longer chanting, Soren eschews Nettle's help, sending the owl instead at the further dark druid to help on Thorn's upcoming attack against that one. Meanwhile Soren attempts to finish off the closer dark druid with his longbow.
Soren longbow to hit the nearly dead dark druid: 22
Soren longbow damage on the nearly dead dark druid: 6 piercing
(Bonus Action: he attempts to keep Bramble the bear centered between where the berserkers are, in case anyone must make a STR check or save).
The druid of Silvanus moves NE-->N. As the ravens approach, he beseeches them with Speech of the Woods, his cawing a harbinger (he hopes) of black-winged death from above. Nettle, unable to reach a friendly shoulder having flown 50' E, flies 10' up into the air (Flyby) to make room for the ravens.
Calling out in Raven:
"Ravens! Allies! The corrupted druids must not be allowed to complete their ritual! We have slain five of them and set their vile effigy aflame, yet a sixth remains attempting to finish the deed. End him first! Then aid us with these rabid axe-wielders, or anything else that threatens us."
Thorn howls as if in agreement, a piercing mournful note, then breaks from the berserker in melee with him, provoking an attack of opportunity. The spirit wolf charges E-->E-->E-->E leaping past Giles' spiritual axe and the corpse of the dark druid Soren just slew, leaping at the chanting throat of the final one.
Thorn maul/bite to hit final dark druid (advantage from Nettle's help): 19
Thorn maul/bite damage on final dark druid: 10 piercing
Attempting to stay within range (60') of all potential locations enemies might attack, Soren is ready to cast Silvery Barbs as a reaction, only on any critical hit against one of his two-legged companions or on Thorn, including possibly on the attack of opportunity coming Thorn's way.
(I think if the berserkers are like barbarians, then Reckless only gives them advantage on their turn, not on AoOs on another creature's turn?)
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
While this has been happening, the wood and vine statue continues to burn, the flames licking up higher and higher as one of the 'wings' looks ready to collapse. The structure takes another 9 fire damage.
As Thorn makes for the last druid, the Berserker near him swipes at an exposed flank with his great axe.
Attack of Opportunity: 15 Slashing Damage: 15
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
Burr whipped around and dropped his maul at his feet pulling out the two handaxes at his belt and sending them at the remaining Druid.
Attack: 23 Damage: 8
BA- Attack: 12 Damage: 1
Burr's axes sail across the stone clearing, heaved with all of their master's might. They don't so much strike the druid, as they fall to earth on him at the absolute limit of their effective range. Coupled with the mauling from Thorn, the final surviving druid seems badly injured.
Undaunted, he glares at the spirit wolf as he continues his frenetic dance with no regard for his own safety.
"Ke keletena ke keletena
Sikuna fanadoro onasaununafa
Sikuna fanadoro onasaununafa
Asi anaroi a seke samoai
Asi anaroi ona sau nunafa"
Lightning flashes, striking at different points around the perimeter of the stone circle. Above the burning statue, the lightning illuminates a shape forming in the smoke... great, dark wings and a horned face, leering down over the battle. Even as the smoke is rising, this shape appears to be descending down toward the statue...
Then, through the smoke, erupts a cloud of ravens. They veer off into three smaller swarms, targeting the druid and some of the berserkers.
Swarms of Ravens attack the two berserkers above Burr.
Swarm Attack: 15 Piercing Damage: 5
Swarm Attack: 19 Piercing Damage: 5
A final Swarm of Ravens attacks the last Druid.
Swarm Attack: 17 Piercing Damage: 7
The figure is briefly obscured by the flapping of black wings, but then they lift off again, revealing a bloody face with empty eye-sockets, and the last Druid falls. With his death, the shape in the smoke dissipates and the lightning storm abates.
And then another figure appears, dropping down from the sky. Clad in black and crimson robes the being is held aloft by black-feathered wings. It looks like nothing so much as a raven given human form. It wields a hand crossbow and a short sword as it swoops down from above.
It discharges its crossbow at the berserker who just attacked Thorn last turn, lodging a small bolt in his back.
Crossbow Attack: 23 Damage: 3
Then it descends to the ground and stabs at the berserker Burr hit last turn, burying its short sword in his side. The mountain man howls, as much with fury as with pain as he takes in his new opponent.
Short Sword Attack: 24 Damage: 11
Soren/ThornBurrDruidsRavens/???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 figure that emerges in the sky makes Zefla feel a little weak in the knees. What in the Nine Hells did they come across? How were they mixed up in this?? As it swiftly disappears, she refocuses her attention on the berserker that is running directly at her.
Throwing her shortbow over her shoulder and drawing her blades she rushes at him, feeling the surge of adrenaline wash over her (advantage from silvery barbs, thanks!) and drives at the berserker.
Attack: 26(crit), Damage: 9
Sneak attack dam w/crt: 11
Off hand weapon attack: 9 (miss)
Faux Giles turns up at the fiery toppling statue and grins a fiendish grin. He turns and looks at the barbarian approaching him and a gong sounds around him. Faux Giles then directs the spiritual axe to come forward toward him (“south”) and attack the barbarian engaged with him, slicing at him. Behind the statue, the true Giles stays hunkered low and scoots to the east, keeping the axe and Faux Giles within sight, but staying out of the way of the barbarian.
Toll the dead : DC 13 wisdom save or take 4 points of necrotic damage.
Spiritual weapon : 10 to hit (21 if it has advantage) for 10 points of force damage.
((Invoke Duplicity round 4/10, Spiritual weapon round 3/10))
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Zefla shocks the Berserker with her own ferocity, charging in and stabbing relentlessly at him. Blood wells from a deep wound in the side of his face/cheek.
[Berserker WIS save: 14
Invoke Duplicity does say attackers get advantage if the simulacrum is adjacent to the same foe... I'm not sure if that was intended to extend to your own Spiritual Weapon, but I'll allow it since it doesn't say it doesn't... so the attack did have advantage (no advantage otherwise, since this Berserker did not recklessly attack last turn).]
The tolling bells have no effect on the Berserker squaring up with the fake Giles, but the spiritual axe is able to land a solid blow against his back.
Rather than appear disturbed or frightened by the newly arrived ravenkind, the Berserkers shake their axes and utter new battle cries, recommitting to the fight.
[I've added numbers to the Berserkers to keep targeting easier to understand.]
Berserker #1
Despite the Giant Raven at his back, this warrior remains focused on his battle with Burr. He raises his axe high and brings it down in a brutal chop.
Reckless Attack: 25 (25 - 11)
[... Erp... but wait... Soren casts Silvery Barbs again. Soren, please mark off the spell slot and indicate if it is Zefla again or someone else who gets advantage on their next D20 roll...]
Re-Rolled Reckless Attack: 22 Slashing Damage: 7
The berserker still hits Burr, but it seems to do much less damage than it could have....
Berserker #2
This Berserker turns from Burr and lifts its axe instead against the Giant Raven. "Feathered fiend! Face the mountain's wrath and prove your wings against the storm or be plucked and cast down!"
Reckless Attack: 19 (19 - 11) Slashing Damage: 9
Blood and feathers fly as the axe bites deep into the mysterious stranger.
Berserker #3
This Berserker turns and cleaves his axe through the cloud of ravens pecking at him.
Reckless Attack: 19 (19 - 7) Slashing Damage: 4
Only one raven is unable to avoid the axe, and despite its loss, the swarm remains intact.
Berserker #4
Eager to return the favor to Zefla, this warrior brings his axe in horizontally at her. He shouts something, but the wound to his face makes it come out garbled. It was something about turning her corpse into a doll for the clan's children.
Reckless Attack: 22 (22 - 10) Slashing Damage: 5
Berserker #5
Abandoning pursuit of Thorn, this berserker charges down to join #6 alongside fake Giles. He brings his axe down in a mighty chop...
Reckless Attack: 21 (21 - 9)
... But the axeblade passes cleanly through fake Giles, striking the ground beneath his feet. Both Berserkers exchange an irritated look, and then turn their eyes to their surroundings. Behind the statue, the real Giles stays low and goes unseen, for now.
Berserker #6
Unable to locate the source of this illusory figure, the Berserker turns his attention to a flesh-and-blood enemy [not really, since Thorn is a spirit, but anyway...] and moves to confront Thorn.
Reckless Attack: 20 (20 - 20) Slashing Damage: 7
Another blow lands against the faithful beast spirit.
[Forgot about Nettle... it is still in its prior location on the last map...]
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
Fire continues to crackle and roar as the statue burns, taking another 7 fire damage.
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
Soren's reaction resets, and he breathes a sigh of relief as a swarm of ravens finishes off the final druid, seemingly before the vile ritual can be complete and... whatever that winged, horned fiend being summoned had been disappears in the smoke.
Yet when he turns back to the battle, even with newfound allies, his heart sinks. The rabid axe-wielding mountain men seem hearty and hale in their mad ferocity and Soren no longer has the magic to control the battlefield, the last of his strongest primal energy being expended in summoning Thorn. He decides to conserve what little magic he has left for healing his companions should they fall to a reckless axe blow. (Soren will no longer cast Silvery Barbs as a reaction to berserker critical hits, except for critical hits against himself, hopefully saving his remaining three spell slots for Healing Word).
He calls out to their foes:
"Fierce warriors of mountain stone. It is clear that at battle's end, we will be slain or you will. So it matters not to you what we know. You may as well tell us: where lies the green gem that the dark druids have taken from the vineyard in the valley below? As men of action and war, lies and dissembling do not become you, nor your gods."
Action: As he does so, he nocks another arrow to his longbow and sends it at the most injured of the berserkers.
Soren's longbow attack on most injured berserker (at advantage): 20 (dirty)
Soren's longbow damage on most injured berserker: 7 piercing
Movement: Soren trots north, angling for where his melee allies may provide him better cover: 30' north, stopping short of the rocky boundary.
Bramble the incorporeal skeletal bear remains hovering over the battlefield, granting advantage on STR checks and saves to as many allies as he can.
Nettle circles above the battlefield, out of reach. As the berserkers' recklessness renders her help moot, she looks about for further enemies.
Nettle's Perception at advantage due to Keen Hearing and Sight: 18 (rolled using Soren's Acrobatics which also has a +3).
The hated, filthy dark druids now gone, Thorn lunges for throat of the berserker (#6) who has been swinging his axe at him recklessly.
Thorn's maul/bite against berserker 6 (at advantage): 26 (Nat. 20)
Thorn's maul/bite damage: 19 piercing
The spirit wolf stays put, bloodied but growling deep in his throat, ready to fight to the death as always.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Burr flipped the maul back up into his hands and struck twice at the berserker who had just attacked the raven/man/thing.
Attack: 19 Damage: 17
Axtion Surge- Attack: 15 Damage: 9
Soren and his wolf spirit both land strikes.
The Berserkers mostly ignore Soren's entreaty for information, with one of them barking back at him, "No time for words, bowman! The time has come for iron and blood!"
Soren:
Far above the fray, Nettle casts its eyes for additional threats.
There are still shapes lurking about in the withered grove the lies past the stone circle where you are fighting, but so far none seem to be aware of or concerned about your fight.
Nettle also sees something else... at the bottom of the hill, near where you arrived, there are now three wolves. No ordinary wolves, these beasts are the size of ponies. For now, the enormous canines are seated patiently, looking up at the hilltop. From their location, it is unlikely they have an angle of view from which they can see the battle, though their keen senses no doubt allow them to hear it.
Berserker #2 parries Burr's first maul attack with his axe, but Burr's ferocious second strike catches the warrior unprepared.
The swarms of ravens renew their attacks against the berserkers, with all of them landing hits.
Attack on Berserker #2: 22 Piercing damage: 8
Attack on Berserker #3: 18 Piercing damage: 3
Attack on Berserker #6: 22 Piercing damage: 10
The giant man-raven deftly reloads its crossbow with one of its feet and fires a bolt at the back of the berserker engages with Zefla, but somehow even with the berserker's reckless distraction, the bolt flies errantly.
Crossbow Attack on Berserker #4: 12
Then the man-raven once again plunges its short sword into the back of the Berserker attacking Burr, though the warrior's hide armor deflects most of the blow.
Short Sword Attack on Berserker #1: 22 Piercing damage: 7
[At this time, here is how the different Berserkers are looking...
Soren/ThornBurrRavens/???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
Zefla continues her attacks against berserker 4, happily at advantage due to his recklessness.
Attack: 20, Damage: 8
Attack: 23, Damage: 1
Sneak attack damage: 10
Giles continues to direct his duplicity to cast toll the dead on the barbarian, having the image give him the middle finger and a booming sound surrounds the barbarian’s head. While he is doing that, the ethereal axe comes up behind the barbarian (5) and swings at him, hitting him in the back.
Faux Giles [spell[Toll the Dead[/spell] : DC 13 wisdom save or take 1 point of necrotic damage.
Spiritual Weapon : 20 to hit, for 10 points of force damage.
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Berserker #5 WIS Save: 10
The Berserker next to the burning statue holds a hand to the side of his head as the tolling of dolorous bells ring in his ears. At the same time the spectral axe continues to harass and slash at him.
Meanwhile, Zefla continue to dart inside Berserker #4's guard, taking advantage of his reckless attacks and perforates him again and again with her short sword and dagger.
Berserker #1
This warrior is furious that Burr turned his maul on another berserker. He wishes to continue their battle man to man. He growls as he swings his axe again at the barbarian.
Reckless Attack on Burr: 21 (21- 15) Slashing Damage: 6
Berserker #2
This Berserker continues to hack at the man-raven with his great axe...
Reckless Attack on Man-Raven: 15 (15 - 7) Slashing Damage: 4
The attacks do little to faze your mysterious ally.
Berserker #3
Pestered by the cloud of ravens behind him, this berserker turns his axe sideways and swings with the flat of the blade through the swarm, knocking many birds out of the sky.
Reckless Attack on Swarm of Ravens: 25 (25 - 9) Slashing Damage: 21
The swarm is greatly reduced, with only a few ravens left to continue the fight. With a hearty laugh, this berserker then moves counterclockwise around Burr, inviting opportunity attacks from both adjacent swarms of ravens. The weakened swarm, perhaps still stunned from the blow struck against them, misses but the other gets some good pecks in.
AOO on Berskerker #3: 9 (9 - 8) miss
AOO on Berserker #3: 22 (22 - 9) Piercing damage: 9
Berserker #4
Bleeding heavily from Zefla's accurate attacks, he takes a deep breath, roars, and swings his axe at her again.
Reckless Attack on Zefla: 18 (18 - 15) Slashing Damage: 12
Berserker #5
This berserker doesn't know what to do with himself. He's already seen this figure in front of him is a ghost or mirage or some other damn thing and can't be hit, and he is under assault from an equally ephemeral axe. Most of the combatants are too far away for him to attack this round, so he begrudgingly trots over to join Berserker #6 in trying to finish off the wolf.
He moves to Thorn and attacks.
Reckless Attack on Thorn: 22 (22 - 12) Slashing Damage: 5
Berserker #6
He renews his own efforts to bring down the pesky beast spirit...
Reckless Attack on Thorn: 25 (25 - 14) Slashing Damage: 6
It at first appears to be a mighty, fatal blow, but Thorn seems to tank the damage and stays in the fight. [Woof... 2 d12 + 3 damage and ended up with 6...]
The fire continues to roar, and at last the statue topples to the ground with a shower of sparks. Out of the flaming wreck tumbles a curious object... a green gemstone the size of a person's fist. It is shaped like a pinecone and emits a pale green light.
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
[Forgot the spiritual weapon on the last map. Per Giles' last post, it would be adjacent to where Berserker #5 used to be.]
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
Needing a quick intake of breath as the berserker slashes a gash across her side, she looks up at him determination at his demise written all over her face.
Taking her silvered shortsword, she sinks it to the hilt into the man (crit!)
Attack: 26, Dam w/sneak attack: 21
Assuming he is dead but not caring if he isn't, Zefla sees the pale green glow from the seed the vintner told them about. Dashing as fast as her little legs will carry her, she tries to get to it to snatch it up! (I think she can get there with her 60 feet)