From the direction of the garden (whatever that is) a bugbear comes, a glaive gripped tightly in one hand. On the other side, there's a substance which appears to be an acidic sludge.
"I got rid of the giant weed, and--"
Ghurk's eyes pop when he realizes that the castle is under attack, and immediately leaps out towards the goblins. He slashes a glaive at the hobgoblin from so far away that it seems his arms elongate to keep up, aiming to kill.
Attack: 23 Damage: 9
(Is that before or after Rain's hit? We're missing a lot of initiative rolls, and there's not always a clear indication of when one round of combat ends and the next starts.)
Rain looks alarmed when he sees a third type of goblinoid enter the fray in the throne room. Is he aware of goblins ever working with bugbears in this region?
(Some sort of INT check with advantage from the Favored For feature?). 17
Rain is even more surprised when the bugbear swings its humongous polearm at the hobgoblin!
Hold up, I forgot the obvious. I-N-I-T-I-A-T-I-V-E. No wonder combat is getting confusing. Oh well, I'm figuring this out.
Gort is the only one left, with 3 health. Not wanting death he retreats but is quickly caught up too by one of the king's lesser guards, who has just arrived.
The king looks at you all, beaming. "Well done! Magnificent! Finally, somebody who understands combat. The sword is not a throwing weapon! Honestly, if Jimmy gets impaled one more time... Sorry, just mumbling to myself. I'm getting hungry, aren't you? What do you say about some dinner?" The king walks back into the dining room (which you are in now, for clarification.) Several waitresses come around with food, which had been setup during the combat.
The King picked up a clump of raspberries, plopped one in his mouth, and smiled. "Ah, Raspberries. I don't care if they're poisoned, I'll still eat them. I get drunk on these, you know. Very delicious. Ah, and I'm going on a rant again. Well, here is something important you must know." He picked up a piece of fine sourdough and tore off a piece, slowly eating it to bring out the flavor. He looked out at the food and grabbed a piece of fine, yellow cheese. "Sorry, your majesty, but were you saying something?" The king stared at him blankly, then jumped slightly when he remembered. "Oh, yes, yes. Something important. I set up a trail that leads to the temple. It's a bit dusty, but the horses remember it. In the morning, we'll get things ready for you. For now, enjoy the feast!" The king picked up more food. "Rolan, would you walk them through the quest?"
A human walked into the room, or maybe he was already there but just very quiet. He had silvery blond hair and deep, piercing blue eyes. He was wearing a large white and silver tunic and had a shiny quarterstaff at his side. "Hello, I'm Rolan. I'm a mage of light magic, specializing in the art of the moonlight." He took a sip of some white liquid, probably milk, then continued, "You probably don't know what that is, if you're not from here. But people in Pearl village often have the magic of different types, which they get from magic pearls. That's how we got our name. Forgery magic, entertainers magic, druid's, even some more rare ones like hypnotists. Of course, everything is minor magic, and people only wield one pearl at once. Another thing to know is that there is one part of town called the Onyx district. That's a shady place, heavy in crime. I wouldn't recommend going there." The king had apparently finished a plate already and was getting another round of food.
Rolan held up his hand and curled it slightly, forming a small shimmering white light in the center. "Anything you want to know?" He picked up a large meat pie and put it onto his plate.
Rolan holds out his hands and closes his eyes. You see silvery light shimmering around him, the faint image of a wolf running by him, and a faint howling sound. The king watches and takes a bite out of some meat pie. "This pie is delicious. I might as well help myself to dessert as well..." Rolan holds out and sways his arms upward, creating an image of a stormy sea, and begins humming. The king set down his fork. "Rolan is an Illusion master, very entertaining."
Rolan opened his eyes slightly and laughed to himself. "Well, not a master, but I am pretty good." He closed his eyes again, now creating a faint image of the night sky.
Ghurk stands awkwardly. "So, your Majesty... I got rid of that weed you were talking about. Quite annoying, really. Um, I'm not sure if you want me to do anything... but it seems like something fun is happening. Goblins attacked, and... I think that's an adventuring party. What's going on?'
The king stands. "There is a strange storm growing over the village with unpredictable paths, and raids are getting more common. All I know is that it has something to do with the desert temple not too far out. There is something powerful inside it. So I called in some adventurers. Care to join us?"
Saralyn says quietly, "how did goblinoids get into this castle?"
Well, you see, the king was looking to hire a new gardener, I think, and he hired me to clear this giant weed. It spits acid, and--oh, those goblins. Right, right right right right. Are you asking me?
The king frowned slightly. "The goblins are getting smarter than usual. They came in a large raid in the village, luckily not too many made it inside the castle." The king took a quick drink of wine, then continued, "Somebody is leading these goblins, and I don't think it's a goblin. Something more powerful probably bribed the goblins and said there were riches in this town they could have. They have come here before, and they don't seem to care that they keep losing."
Rolan stop making his illusions and stepped forward. "Your majesty, I've heard that it's been more than just goblins lately. You know about all the monsters we're getting in the desert. There are more of them, they just haven't attacked yet. They're guarding the temple. Building an army. But we occasionally get monsters here. From what I understand, the monsters are waiting for their master." The king nodded at Rolan, who left the room and quickly returned with a shiny black pearl and handed it to the king without a word. The King gripped the pearl tightly. The pearl began to shimmer slightly, then stopped abruptly only a few seconds after. The king whispered something to Rolan, who nodded.
"Well, how is everyone liking the food?" The king said, obviously changing the subject. (You don't have too, but you can roll a perception check to try to hear what they were saying.)
Ghurk grins. "Well, looks like I was right! This is dangerous!" He twirls his glaive around in circles above his head, not taking care not to hit anything.
Um, so we lost Tokka as well. He said he doesn't feel his character as much as he thought he would and has trouble knowing what to say as him, and he is also in so many other campaigns. So he said he's going to "Bow out of the campaign." So, we lost another. Down to three again. I guess I'll find somebody else now?
Olin left for personal reasons. Liara was busy and wasn't interested in the play style. Tokka didn't like his character too much.
Um, so we lost Tokka as well. He said he doesn't feel his character as much as he thought he would and has trouble knowing what to say as him, and he is also in so many other campaigns. So he said he's going to "Bow out of the campaign." So, we lost another. Down to three again. I guess I'll find somebody else now?
Olin left for personal reasons. Liara was busy and wasn't interested in the play style. Tokka didn't like his character too much.
(Rough! I kind of liked Tokka. Of course, if we had kept both Tokka and Ghurk, Rain would have probably sheathed his scimitars for a bit and migrated back to ranged combat, but I guess he'll still be needed on the front line now. I viewed Tokka mostly as a tank and a defender, and I think that Ghurk will fill those roles equally well. Without Liara and Olin, we've lost most of our magical capabilities: no healer, no magical striker, and no utility caster. At least, I don't think so. I still haven't read up on Saralynn's Homebrew class, so I'm not sure what she will be able to do with her spirits. We also don't have any high-charisma "face" characters for the party. I think that the search for additional party members should probably focus on clerics, wizards, sorcerers, warlocks, and druids.)
The king looks at you all, beaming. "Well done! Magnificent! Finally, somebody who understands combat. The sword is not a throwing weapon! Honestly, if Jimmy gets impaled one more time... Sorry, just mumbling to myself. I'm getting hungry, aren't you? What do you say about some dinner?" The king walks back into the dining room (which you are in now, for clarification.) Several waitresses come around with food, which had been setup during the combat.
The King picked up a clump of raspberries, plopped one in his mouth, and smiled. "Ah, Raspberries. I don't care if they're poisoned, I'll still eat them. I get drunk on these, you know. Very delicious. Ah, and I'm going on a rant again. Well, here is something important you must know." He picked up a piece of fine sourdough and tore off a piece, slowly eating it to bring out the flavor. He looked out at the food and grabbed a piece of fine, yellow cheese. "Sorry, your majesty, but were you saying something?" The king stared at him blankly, then jumped slightly when he remembered. "Oh, yes, yes. Something important. I set up a trail that leads to the temple. It's a bit dusty, but the horses remember it. In the morning, we'll get things ready for you. For now, enjoy the feast!" The king picked up more food. "Rolan, would you walk them through the quest?"
(OOC: I have no idea who said, "Worry, your majesty, were you saying something?" You had not introduced another male character in this scene, but then "the king stared at him blankly." At himself? At someone else? Whom? BTW, I'm not sure whether the king, with all of the sotto voce and narrating his own actions as he's doing them, is meant to come across as funny and quirky or as unstable and insane.)
A human walked into the room, or maybe he was already there but just very quiet. He had silvery blond hair and deep, piercing blue eyes. He was wearing a large white and silver tunic and had a shiny quarterstaff at his side. "Hello, I'm Rolan. I'm a mage of light magic, specializing in the art of the moonlight." He took a sip of some white liquid, probably milk, then continued, "You probably don't know what that is, if you're not from here. But people in Pearl village often have the magic of different types, which they get from magic pearls. That's how we got our name. Forgery magic, entertainers magic, druid's, even some more rare ones like hypnotists. Of course, everything is minor magic, and people only wield one pearl at once. Another thing to know is that there is one part of town called the Onyx district. That's a shady place, heavy in crime. I wouldn't recommend going there." The king had apparently finished a plate already and was getting another round of food.
Rolan held up his hand and curled it slightly, forming a small shimmering white light in the center. "Anything you want to know?" He picked up a large meat pie and put it onto his plate.
First, before we left the throne room, Rain bends down and picks up the spear that one of the goblins, Bahka, was using. Rain would also like to check the bodies for any unusual items (other than their weapons and armor). Did any of them wear a badge or insignia? Or maybe they were carrying papers or other clues about the attack. (investigation: 4).
If the king had his guards wait for Rain, then Rain simply goes with them into the dining hall once he's done. If the king and all of his men go to the dining room before Rain is done with the goblins, then he would like to stealthily open the door to the "personal room" on the map.
Finally, once in the room, he sits quietly and listens to the conversation, occasionally darting a glance over to Ghurk.
Also, did Rain catch the words exchanged between Rolan and the King? (perception: 7
(Is that before or after Rain's hit? We're missing a lot of initiative rolls, and there's not always a clear indication of when one round of combat ends and the next starts.)
Rain looks alarmed when he sees a third type of goblinoid enter the fray in the throne room. Is he aware of goblins ever working with bugbears in this region?
(Some sort of INT check with advantage from the Favored For feature?). 17
Rain is even more surprised when the bugbear swings its humongous polearm at the hobgoblin!
Rain is clearly too focused on the battle to remember anything. 😜
Oh yeah, bugbears are goblinoids!
CHOP CHOP!
I suppose I'll just steal *insert character who dropped out and was next*'s spot.
DMing:
Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
Playing:
None sadly.
Optimization Guides:
Literally Too Angry to Die - A Guide to Optimizing a Barbarian
Hold up, I forgot the obvious. I-N-I-T-I-A-T-I-V-E. No wonder combat is getting confusing. Oh well, I'm figuring this out.
Gort is the only one left, with 3 health. Not wanting death he retreats but is quickly caught up too by one of the king's lesser guards, who has just arrived.
The king looks at you all, beaming. "Well done! Magnificent! Finally, somebody who understands combat. The sword is not a throwing weapon! Honestly, if Jimmy gets impaled one more time... Sorry, just mumbling to myself. I'm getting hungry, aren't you? What do you say about some dinner?" The king walks back into the dining room (which you are in now, for clarification.) Several waitresses come around with food, which had been setup during the combat.
The King picked up a clump of raspberries, plopped one in his mouth, and smiled. "Ah, Raspberries. I don't care if they're poisoned, I'll still eat them. I get drunk on these, you know. Very delicious. Ah, and I'm going on a rant again. Well, here is something important you must know." He picked up a piece of fine sourdough and tore off a piece, slowly eating it to bring out the flavor. He looked out at the food and grabbed a piece of fine, yellow cheese. "Sorry, your majesty, but were you saying something?" The king stared at him blankly, then jumped slightly when he remembered. "Oh, yes, yes. Something important. I set up a trail that leads to the temple. It's a bit dusty, but the horses remember it. In the morning, we'll get things ready for you. For now, enjoy the feast!" The king picked up more food. "Rolan, would you walk them through the quest?"
A human walked into the room, or maybe he was already there but just very quiet. He had silvery blond hair and deep, piercing blue eyes. He was wearing a large white and silver tunic and had a shiny quarterstaff at his side. "Hello, I'm Rolan. I'm a mage of light magic, specializing in the art of the moonlight." He took a sip of some white liquid, probably milk, then continued, "You probably don't know what that is, if you're not from here. But people in Pearl village often have the magic of different types, which they get from magic pearls. That's how we got our name. Forgery magic, entertainers magic, druid's, even some more rare ones like hypnotists. Of course, everything is minor magic, and people only wield one pearl at once. Another thing to know is that there is one part of town called the Onyx district. That's a shady place, heavy in crime. I wouldn't recommend going there." The king had apparently finished a plate already and was getting another round of food.
Rolan held up his hand and curled it slightly, forming a small shimmering white light in the center. "Anything you want to know?" He picked up a large meat pie and put it onto his plate.
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"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi
Rolan holds out his hands and closes his eyes. You see silvery light shimmering around him, the faint image of a wolf running by him, and a faint howling sound. The king watches and takes a bite out of some meat pie. "This pie is delicious. I might as well help myself to dessert as well..." Rolan holds out and sways his arms upward, creating an image of a stormy sea, and begins humming. The king set down his fork. "Rolan is an Illusion master, very entertaining."
Rolan opened his eyes slightly and laughed to himself. "Well, not a master, but I am pretty good." He closed his eyes again, now creating a faint image of the night sky.
Upvote these 18 unique mythical weapon materials!
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi
Ghurk stands awkwardly. "So, your Majesty... I got rid of that weed you were talking about. Quite annoying, really. Um, I'm not sure if you want me to do anything... but it seems like something fun is happening. Goblins attacked, and... I think that's an adventuring party. What's going on?'
Ghurk puts the butt of his glaive on the ground.
DMing:
Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
Playing:
None sadly.
Optimization Guides:
Literally Too Angry to Die - A Guide to Optimizing a Barbarian
The king stands. "There is a strange storm growing over the village with unpredictable paths, and raids are getting more common. All I know is that it has something to do with the desert temple not too far out. There is something powerful inside it. So I called in some adventurers. Care to join us?"
Upvote these 18 unique mythical weapon materials!
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi
Saralyn says quietly, "how did goblinoids get into this castle?"
Will everyone stop calling him "The Demogorgon"? It's his name, not a title!
Well, you see, the king was looking to hire a new gardener, I think, and he hired me to clear this giant weed. It spits acid, and--oh, those goblins. Right, right right right right. Are you asking me?
DMing:
Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
Playing:
None sadly.
Optimization Guides:
Literally Too Angry to Die - A Guide to Optimizing a Barbarian
The king frowned slightly. "The goblins are getting smarter than usual. They came in a large raid in the village, luckily not too many made it inside the castle." The king took a quick drink of wine, then continued, "Somebody is leading these goblins, and I don't think it's a goblin. Something more powerful probably bribed the goblins and said there were riches in this town they could have. They have come here before, and they don't seem to care that they keep losing."
Rolan stop making his illusions and stepped forward. "Your majesty, I've heard that it's been more than just goblins lately. You know about all the monsters we're getting in the desert. There are more of them, they just haven't attacked yet. They're guarding the temple. Building an army. But we occasionally get monsters here. From what I understand, the monsters are waiting for their master." The king nodded at Rolan, who left the room and quickly returned with a shiny black pearl and handed it to the king without a word. The King gripped the pearl tightly. The pearl began to shimmer slightly, then stopped abruptly only a few seconds after. The king whispered something to Rolan, who nodded.
"Well, how is everyone liking the food?" The king said, obviously changing the subject. (You don't have too, but you can roll a perception check to try to hear what they were saying.)
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"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi
I'll do that.
(In the future, don't tell us that we can make a check, it's almost as if you're telling us that there is something to hear)
Perception: 11
DMing:
Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
Playing:
None sadly.
Optimization Guides:
Literally Too Angry to Die - A Guide to Optimizing a Barbarian
Ghurk grins. "Well, looks like I was right! This is dangerous!" He twirls his glaive around in circles above his head, not taking care not to hit anything.
DMing:
Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
Playing:
None sadly.
Optimization Guides:
Literally Too Angry to Die - A Guide to Optimizing a Barbarian
You fail to here anything
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"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi
Rolan takes a step back. "Be careful with that glaive of yours!"
Upvote these 18 unique mythical weapon materials!
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi
Um, so we lost Tokka as well. He said he doesn't feel his character as much as he thought he would and has trouble knowing what to say as him, and he is also in so many other campaigns. So he said he's going to "Bow out of the campaign." So, we lost another. Down to three again. I guess I'll find somebody else now?
Olin left for personal reasons. Liara was busy and wasn't interested in the play style. Tokka didn't like his character too much.
Upvote these 18 unique mythical weapon materials!
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi
(Rough! I kind of liked Tokka. Of course, if we had kept both Tokka and Ghurk, Rain would have probably sheathed his scimitars for a bit and migrated back to ranged combat, but I guess he'll still be needed on the front line now. I viewed Tokka mostly as a tank and a defender, and I think that Ghurk will fill those roles equally well. Without Liara and Olin, we've lost most of our magical capabilities: no healer, no magical striker, and no utility caster. At least, I don't think so. I still haven't read up on Saralynn's Homebrew class, so I'm not sure what she will be able to do with her spirits. We also don't have any high-charisma "face" characters for the party. I think that the search for additional party members should probably focus on clerics, wizards, sorcerers, warlocks, and druids.)
Ok, I suggest taking some kind of caster now. Preferably a cleric, wizard, or sorcerer.
DMing:
Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
Playing:
None sadly.
Optimization Guides:
Literally Too Angry to Die - A Guide to Optimizing a Barbarian
(OOC: I have no idea who said, "Worry, your majesty, were you saying something?" You had not introduced another male character in this scene, but then "the king stared at him blankly." At himself? At someone else? Whom? BTW, I'm not sure whether the king, with all of the sotto voce and narrating his own actions as he's doing them, is meant to come across as funny and quirky or as unstable and insane.)
First, before we left the throne room, Rain bends down and picks up the spear that one of the goblins, Bahka, was using. Rain would also like to check the bodies for any unusual items (other than their weapons and armor). Did any of them wear a badge or insignia? Or maybe they were carrying papers or other clues about the attack. (investigation: 4).
If the king had his guards wait for Rain, then Rain simply goes with them into the dining hall once he's done. If the king and all of his men go to the dining room before Rain is done with the goblins, then he would like to stealthily open the door to the "personal room" on the map.
Finally, once in the room, he sits quietly and listens to the conversation, occasionally darting a glance over to Ghurk.
Also, did Rain catch the words exchanged between Rolan and the King? (perception: 7
Trying those dice rolls again:
Investigation: 19
Perception: 22
(Weird! The first reply originally showed an error instead of the dice roll results.)