Giles leans in after Zefla unlocks the door. He touches the wall and casts light, peering inside the room. All of a sudden, he raises up in alarm, hearing the sound of mastiffs baying and whining, snapping. He turns to Zefla and Burr saying, “That doesn’t sound right, like a mastiff in… trouble. Soren….” He looks questioningly to both of them, uncertain what to do.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Zefla is surprised by the man in the room. Hearing Giles, she turns to her friends. "Burr? Did you want to go check on Soren, make sure he is alright? Not sure how though... And Giles, there is a man in the room, oh you can see him now with the light.. did you want to try and talk to him? I'm going to check out the other door."
And she heads to the other one and attempts to unlock and open it.
Burr cocked his head not hearing anything but trusting the others senses over his, " Howling? Or just barking? Keep in mind that if I go in there I'm likely going to have to kill everyone I meet to get to Soren..."
Hearing the sound of two dogs barking wildly on the other side of the door, a curious expression crosses the guard's face, as he seems to be going through the realization that... if there are two dogs in there... and the Baron only has two dogs... then this dog...
Sorenlunges and then pulls away at just the proper moment, taking advantage of the guard's confusion and sending him sprawling prone on the ground. On the other side of the door, Sorenhears the other dogs continue to bark and scratch at the door. "Enough!" bellows a voice from inside, there is the sound of wood scraping on wood.
Sorenbegins to sniff. Close... so close. The scent is coming from... not the door where the guard was taking you, but the door immediately across the hall from it. [The door on the right side of the guard icon on the last map I shared.]
Does Sorenremain here or head downstairs with the remainder of this turn?
Mastiff-Soren thumps his shoulder moderately hard against the door with Ireena behind it, or at least where Ireena's scent leads (opposite the Baron's door). Certainly not hard enough to damage himself or the door, but to jar it open if it is unlocked and not all the way shut. Doing so as if by accident as his claws scrabble frantically for purchase along the floor. If the door opens, what he does next will depend on what he sees and senses inside.
However, if the door does not open, Mastiff-Soren lets out a loud yelp and bounds downstairs as fast as his canine legs will carry him. Aiming to chase down the first guard who is presumably making his way back to the jail. Hoping to distract or grapple him so he does not stumble upon his companions. Of course, if on the way, he sees or senses something else unexpected, his course of action may change.
Giles turns to Burr and Zefla, saying “Remember my trick, what I did at Yester Hill, I can fool them for a bit, but it doesn’t last long. We can’t engage the whole group, we need to act fast. I just suspect that Soren is in trouble from that sound…”. He turns back around to face the man in the room, saying quickly “Who are you, and why are you here? If your freedom or your life is important to you, answer now, and quickly!”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
The door where Sorensmelled Ireenanot only didn't open, it did not so much as budge as the big dog through a shoulder into it.
Turning and running away down the stairs, he startles the guard and cook in the kitchen, even as the guard upstairs hollers for him to come back. He makes it as far as the exterior rear door of the Baron's home. Turning the corner outside he sees that the wooden gate in the stone wall has been closed, and he cannot see the original guard (who brought him here in the first place).
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
Zeflahas an easier time picking this lock. It was identical to the one on the other door and she uses the experience of struggling with that lock to pop this one open almost effortlessly. Pushing the door open, she looks into a room similar to the one she just left, only this time there are two chairs with leather straps at either end of a short table, also covered in grisly instruments of torture.
The man in the chair flinches away from the light, moaning pitifully. As he does so, Gilesgets an unfortunate look inside the poor man's mouth, where a cauterized stump is all that remains of his tongue. Even were he willing, this man is not in a condition to answer your questions tonight.
From somewhere past the end of the hall, at the rear of the house, there is the creak of a floorboard.
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
Mastiff-Soren tears out the back door of the Baron's manor at a full dash (80') towards the stone wall separating the grounds from the jail-house. Just as he reaches the wall and begins his attempt to leap over it, Bramble the spectral/skeletal bear appears 30' past him towards the jail-house.
Bonus Action: Soren summons his Bear Spirit Totem at a point 30' past the stone wall and just far enough up in the air (5'?) so Mastiff-Soren can see it and is on the very northern edge of the 30' radius aura, thus gaining 9 Temp HP (now at 4/5hp and 9 temp) and advantage on STR checks and saves. Positioning Bramble as far towards the other PCs as possible in case 30' past the stone wall is also within 30' of them? Note that Soren only has to see the point Bramble appears, but does not have to see allies affected by the aura. But not sure if it extends past full cover (maybe through windows? Worth a try in case they gain 9 Temp HP too).
Mastiff-Soren'sAthletics at advantage due to Bear Totem Spirit (rolled as Nature on Soren's char sheet, same +1 mod): 19
Mastiff-Soren bounds over the wall and does not slow down, seeking to (possibly?) intercept the first guard before he discovers the other PCs.
(Any guards who can see it may also be distracted by the spectral, skeletal bear floating in the air 30' into the jail-house grounds!)
Giles pulls Burr into the room and out of sight of the hallway, he motions silently to the prisoner and to Burr with a vertical index finger over the mouth in a silent “shhhh” manner, standing with his back against the wall leading to the hallway, ready to jump on whoever comes into the room. He hopes Zefla heard the noise as well and is similarly hiding.
But looking around in the room she is in, it is NOT the room she wants to be found in. Starting to curse her idea to come in here and break up the party a bit, she leaves the red room and knowing that the sound came from the rear of the house, she starts heading up the stairs. Knowing this is a bad idea...
Sorenthe dog sails majestically over the top of the stone wall, bounding toward the back door of the jailhouse, even as Bramblethe ghostly bear appears in the sky above him.
As he nears the door, he can see the guard inside look up in terror at the spooky form of Bramble... and he slams shut the door with a shout.
[Outside of the back of the house, there is no point where Bramblewould be close enough to the party members to impart the bonus HP, unfortunately.]
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 prisoner continues to cower and moan softly as Burrand Giles hunker down in his torture cell.
Then, as they hold their breaths, in anticipation, they hear a cry from the back of the jailhouse. "Ah no, Arty! Its some sort o' hellbeast come to drag us away! Help!" Then there is the sound of the heavy back door slamming shut.
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
Creeping up the stairs, Zeflafeels confident she has done so quietly and with a minimum of creaking.
She finds herself at a landing looking down a long hallway with what once may have been bedrooms. Now, all the doors have been outfitted with locks similar to those downstairs. One door, at the end of the hall, stand open, torchlight and shadows visible within.
Just then, she hears a shout from downstairs. "Ah no, Arty! Its some sort o' hellbeast come to drag us away! Help!" Then there is the sound of the heavy back door slamming shut.
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 eases the door shut and looks at Burr, shrugging his shoulders. He mouths the word “Zefla?” to him and points to the next room. He quickly looks over to the prisoner, looking to see how they are secured here, if they are tied, cuffed or if they are able to stand, move, flee. He listens for which direction the voice is going, and whether they are on the floor below or the current floor or any other sounds of movement.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Reaching out to Giles with her Silent Speech (It doesn't say he needs to be within sight), I'm upstairs, let me know if I need to come down, going to check this area out a bit. You both ok?
Taking a deep breath to settle herself, Zefla tiptoes to the open door and attempts to look around the corner to see what is going on.
Mastiff-Soren changes course and dashes towards the front entrance of the jail-house instead, where his friends had entered. Tail wagging with furious enthusiasm. Bramble glides placidly above him, his spectral, skeletal form glowing eerily in the darkness.
Giles or Burr would recognize him easily, with the guard's belt still looped around his neck. And Soren is eager to bring them up to date on everything he saw, heard and scented in the Baron's manor! But before he changes back into a half-elf, he attempts to pick up Lady Bauer's scent again. If he does, he follows it, nose to the ground, intent on finding her exact location, even if it leads towards the back of the jail-house where he knows the guard is.
Bramble floats eerily after the dog, looking properly spooky, though not to his friends who have seen the spectral, skeletal Bear before. (Any ally of Soren's within a 30' radius of Bramble gets advantage on STR checks and saves).
(If Soren encounters the guard, he is obviously going to try to avoid being grappled with his belt-collar this time).
[Did Zefla, Burr and Giles leave the front door wide open behind them when they snuck inside?]
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 perception : 22)
Giles leans in after Zefla unlocks the door. He touches the wall and casts light, peering inside the room. All of a sudden, he raises up in alarm, hearing the sound of mastiffs baying and whining, snapping. He turns to Zefla and Burr saying, “That doesn’t sound right, like a mastiff in… trouble. Soren….” He looks questioningly to both of them, uncertain what to do.
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Zefla is surprised by the man in the room. Hearing Giles, she turns to her friends. "Burr? Did you want to go check on Soren, make sure he is alright? Not sure how though... And Giles, there is a man in the room, oh you can see him now with the light.. did you want to try and talk to him? I'm going to check out the other door."
And she heads to the other one and attempts to unlock and open it.
Sleight of Hand: 27
Burr cocked his head not hearing anything but trusting the others senses over his, " Howling? Or just barking? Keep in mind that if I go in there I'm likely going to have to kill everyone I meet to get to Soren..."
Mastiff-Soren:
Mastiff-Soren thumps his shoulder moderately hard against the door with Ireena behind it, or at least where Ireena's scent leads (opposite the Baron's door). Certainly not hard enough to damage himself or the door, but to jar it open if it is unlocked and not all the way shut. Doing so as if by accident as his claws scrabble frantically for purchase along the floor. If the door opens, what he does next will depend on what he sees and senses inside.
However, if the door does not open, Mastiff-Soren lets out a loud yelp and bounds downstairs as fast as his canine legs will carry him. Aiming to chase down the first guard who is presumably making his way back to the jail. Hoping to distract or grapple him so he does not stumble upon his companions. Of course, if on the way, he sees or senses something else unexpected, his course of action may change.
His head is spinning a bit at this stage.
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
Giles turns to Burr and Zefla, saying “Remember my trick, what I did at Yester Hill, I can fool them for a bit, but it doesn’t last long. We can’t engage the whole group, we need to act fast. I just suspect that Soren is in trouble from that sound…”. He turns back around to face the man in the room, saying quickly “Who are you, and why are you here? If your freedom or your life is important to you, answer now, and quickly!”
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Mastiff-Soren:
The door where Soren smelled Ireena not only didn't open, it did not so much as budge as the big dog through a shoulder into it.
Turning and running away down the stairs, he startles the guard and cook in the kitchen, even as the guard upstairs hollers for him to come back. He makes it as far as the exterior rear door of the Baron's home. Turning the corner outside he sees that the wooden gate in the stone wall has been closed, and he cannot see the original guard (who brought him here in the first place).
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 has an easier time picking this lock. It was identical to the one on the other door and she uses the experience of struggling with that lock to pop this one open almost effortlessly. Pushing the door open, she looks into a room similar to the one she just left, only this time there are two chairs with leather straps at either end of a short table, also covered in grisly instruments of torture.
The man in the chair flinches away from the light, moaning pitifully. As he does so, Giles gets an unfortunate look inside the poor man's mouth, where a cauterized stump is all that remains of his tongue. Even were he willing, this man is not in a condition to answer your questions tonight.
From somewhere past the end of the hall, at the rear of the house, there is the creak of a floorboard.
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
Mastiff-Soren:
Mastiff-Soren tears out the back door of the Baron's manor at a full dash (80') towards the stone wall separating the grounds from the jail-house. Just as he reaches the wall and begins his attempt to leap over it, Bramble the spectral/skeletal bear appears 30' past him towards the jail-house.
Bonus Action: Soren summons his Bear Spirit Totem at a point 30' past the stone wall and just far enough up in the air (5'?) so Mastiff-Soren can see it and is on the very northern edge of the 30' radius aura, thus gaining 9 Temp HP (now at 4/5hp and 9 temp) and advantage on STR checks and saves. Positioning Bramble as far towards the other PCs as possible in case 30' past the stone wall is also within 30' of them? Note that Soren only has to see the point Bramble appears, but does not have to see allies affected by the aura. But not sure if it extends past full cover (maybe through windows? Worth a try in case they gain 9 Temp HP too).
Mastiff-Soren's Athletics at advantage due to Bear Totem Spirit (rolled as Nature on Soren's char sheet, same +1 mod): 19
Mastiff-Soren bounds over the wall and does not slow down, seeking to (possibly?) intercept the first guard before he discovers the other PCs.
(Any guards who can see it may also be distracted by the spectral, skeletal bear floating in the air 30' into the jail-house grounds!)
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
Giles pulls Burr into the room and out of sight of the hallway, he motions silently to the prisoner and to Burr with a vertical index finger over the mouth in a silent “shhhh” manner, standing with his back against the wall leading to the hallway, ready to jump on whoever comes into the room. He hopes Zefla heard the noise as well and is similarly hiding.
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Burr ranks up next to Giles, Bloodspear ready.
Zefla freezes as she hears the floorboard creak.
But looking around in the room she is in, it is NOT the room she wants to be found in. Starting to curse her idea to come in here and break up the party a bit, she leaves the red room and knowing that the sound came from the rear of the house, she starts heading up the stairs. Knowing this is a bad idea...
Stealth 19
Soren:
Soren the dog sails majestically over the top of the stone wall, bounding toward the back door of the jailhouse, even as Bramble the ghostly bear appears in the sky above him.
As he nears the door, he can see the guard inside look up in terror at the spooky form of Bramble... and he slams shut the door with a shout.
[Outside of the back of the house, there is no point where Bramble would be close enough to the party members to impart the bonus HP, unfortunately.]
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 and Burr:
The prisoner continues to cower and moan softly as Burr and Giles hunker down in his torture cell.
Then, as they hold their breaths, in anticipation, they hear a cry from the back of the jailhouse. "Ah no, Arty! Its some sort o' hellbeast come to drag us away! Help!" Then there is the sound of the heavy back door slamming shut.
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:
Creeping up the stairs, Zefla feels confident she has done so quietly and with a minimum of creaking.
She finds herself at a landing looking down a long hallway with what once may have been bedrooms. Now, all the doors have been outfitted with locks similar to those downstairs. One door, at the end of the hall, stand open, torchlight and shadows visible within.
Just then, she hears a shout from downstairs. "Ah no, Arty! Its some sort o' hellbeast come to drag us away! Help!" Then there is the sound of the heavy back door slamming shut.
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 eases the door shut and looks at Burr, shrugging his shoulders. He mouths the word “Zefla?” to him and points to the next room. He quickly looks over to the prisoner, looking to see how they are secured here, if they are tied, cuffed or if they are able to stand, move, flee. He listens for which direction the voice is going, and whether they are on the floor below or the current floor or any other sounds of movement.
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Burr looks like he wants to go assist whoever Arty is but resigns himself to releasing the prisoner as Giles closes the door.
Reaching out to Giles with her Silent Speech (It doesn't say he needs to be within sight), I'm upstairs, let me know if I need to come down, going to check this area out a bit. You both ok?
Taking a deep breath to settle herself, Zefla tiptoes to the open door and attempts to look around the corner to see what is going on.
Stealth 21
Mastiff-Soren changes course and dashes towards the front entrance of the jail-house instead, where his friends had entered. Tail wagging with furious enthusiasm. Bramble glides placidly above him, his spectral, skeletal form glowing eerily in the darkness.
Giles or Burr would recognize him easily, with the guard's belt still looped around his neck. And Soren is eager to bring them up to date on everything he saw, heard and scented in the Baron's manor! But before he changes back into a half-elf, he attempts to pick up Lady Bauer's scent again. If he does, he follows it, nose to the ground, intent on finding her exact location, even if it leads towards the back of the jail-house where he knows the guard is.
Bramble floats eerily after the dog, looking properly spooky, though not to his friends who have seen the spectral, skeletal Bear before. (Any ally of Soren's within a 30' radius of Bramble gets advantage on STR checks and saves).
(If Soren encounters the guard, he is obviously going to try to avoid being grappled with his belt-collar this time).
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
[Did Zefla, Burr and Giles leave the front door wide open behind them when they snuck inside?]
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 probably would have...the other two not so much.)