Heavy is the Head - Campaign thread

healing words issue forth as Sha immediately attempts to save Frederico.  He then dons his shield, and readies alptraum.

 Lam looks grave as he realizes exactly what Jonah might be implying. “Did she use magic on them all?” He asks out loud, his voice escalating as he realizes what that would mean. What kind of influence could the workers be under, which would make them attack kids? Are they all willing to do that? That puts all of the kids in much more real danger! Before he does anything rash, Lam takes a moment to scan his surroundings- and ultimately heads away from any of the people, towards the barrel of smoke powder that sits precariously close to the burning wagon. He runs to pick it up and take it far from the fire. As he runs, seemingly towards the fray, he looks desperately at Jonah- at Billy- at Saoirse, or anyone who might listen (he thinks of Eliza, but doesn’t spot where she is to make eye contact) and roars “PROTECT THE KIDS!”

Lam remembers one of the most dangerous attacks on the cave, back in his former life. A mage walked in one day, and was immediately subdued, but convinced you to capture him and let the sorcerer interrogate him when he was to next arrive. It's not something you would normally have said yes to. The mage seemed oddly comfortable in his cage while he waited. He said something about how "all of you would be much wealthier and happier if there were fewer of you around, any death would make all of the survivors better off." It sounded like the innocuous, cruel raving of a psycopath. But, during the day after he arrived, murders started happening all over the cave - brother against brother, goblin against goblin! Nobody had had glazed eyes when they first heard the suggestion (as you realized it was later), and you couldn't tell who was under the influence. It was only when you caught someone who had done something they would never do, standing over the body of their friend, that you saw those glazed eyes. They are the eyes of someone who is struggling internally with what they've done, and their horrible, continuing, sense that it was somehow the right thing to do anyway. When you dealt with the captured mage, all of those who had been under the influence wailed and cried in their shame. But no, you had not been able to see who was infected by the spell until they were actively questioning it themselves.

Lam runs to the barrel, and even for him lifting and running with that much weight is not easy (We'll call it a bonus action). Still, he manages to get the barrel far from the flames - and himself closer to the kids as they charge into battle.

As the soft glow of Sha's healing word momentarily shines on Frederico, a sputtering noise escapes his throat, and he draws a horrible, wet breath. Still better than not breathing - but not a permanent solution either. Something seems off about Billy's approach to Frederico. He walks directly to the dwarf who had attacked the teenager instead, and as he waves his hands over the wound from Saffi's dagger, it closes over and stops bleeding. "WHY!?" Shouts Jonah. Billy turns back towards you, and his eyes are strange and glazed over as he answers - the words not his own. He is repeating what someone else told him, and seems confused as to why he would believe such a thing. "Sorry sir, it's nothing against you. You're just giving them time to build up an army and wipe us out. If any of the locals give us trouble, we need to kill them, so they know we mean business. Its the only way to ensure our safety, and stop the resistance." Frederico is still not completely dead... but it's very close.

João speeds forward ahead of the bugbears, and his foot flies directly into the back of the dwarf who had held his sister. He spins around, and lands another blow with his fist. Leonor follows up with two more swift blows, and while one glances off of leather armour, the other breaks the dwarf's nose. The dwarf looks like a slight breeze would knock him over at this point, but he is somehow, barely, on his feet. Leonor flies over the wagons, making a direct line for Frederico. She is still screaming, and clearly thinking of nothing but her fallen comrade. But as she flies, an HMC human behind her strikes out with his hammer, an audible thud of metal against the flesh of her leg. She is still up, but definitely looking worse for wear.

Jonah runs towards the fallen teen as well, and to his brainwashed friends. His giant blade does not hesitate, and its swing is terrible. The flat side of the greatsowrd smashes against the dwarf's (blade 3) head, and Billy's healing magic is immediately undone. The body crumples to the ground. Jonah's breath stops for a moment, until he can see his unconscious employee's chest rise and fall with breath. He stares straight into BIlly's eyes. "STOP THIS, NOW! Come back to me, my friend. Shake off the witch's spell!"

Turn Order (current turn in larger font): Saffron; HMC group 2; Sha-Gravis; Lam; Billy; Fairy siblings; Jonah; Saoirse; Eliza; HMC Group 1; Bugbear Siblings; HMC Group 3; Frederico (death save, already rolled once); Hemlock

https://www.owlbear.rodeo/room/5nRs1L_uFdxM/HeavyistheHeadPBP

Through all the chaos that has erupted, and the realization that even Billy has been charmed, Saoirse is focused entirely on the elven boy who's fighting for his life. She had promised her father to look out for him, and there was no way she was going let the boy die.

So she runs like hell to Federico, and tries to cover him with her body to act as a shield to the young elf, hoping that Jonah will help protecting him, and Leonor too.

She then tries her best to stabilize him.

Saoirse struggles to understand how both Billy and this guard can be charmed. It doesn't match what she remembers about the suggestion. Perhaps there are multiple casters? Or is this something beyond that magic?

Saoirse shields Frederico as best she can, certainly making it harder for anyone to swing at him without going through her, first. Then, she turns to face the injury. Her hands go out in instinct to pull out the blade, but she stops at the last moment. Field medicine was one of her favorite subjects. And the theacher always said that panic is what kills you. She takes a deep breath, and refocuses. Alright. Blood and gurgling noises on exhalation. That means the sword is through Frederico's lung. Don't panic, don't panic. Ok, impalements through large vessels can act as a plug and block a bleed. If she pulled the sword out now, Frederico would bleed out in seconds, or drown in his own blood. Oh gods, don't panic, don't panic. So, slow the bloodflow. then pull out the sword. then heal the lung... This isn't something that can be fixed in the field. Maybe, if they get him away from all this violence, and there are multiple experts, and you transport him with the impalement in place... for now, the best you can do is to retie Frederico's cloak so that it stops so much blood from leaking out the wound with direct pressure, and helps to hold the sword secure. He might be able to be kept alive on healing magic for some time. But you know - the chances this boy survives are low. (Basically, I'll let you erase his failed death saves with anything that does healing, or when he gets three successful saves, but he's going to keep making death saving throws until he gets three fails or until he gets really drastic help.)

If everything goes as well as possible... you'll still only get him the faintest glimmer of hope.

(Will post all the NPC actions in a bit)

Eliza steps out from the trees, and there is only one main goal in her mind. "Saffron! Saffi! Come here! Let's get out of here. This is your chance to escape. I'll keep you hidden, and we'll finally be free. Together!" She readies a fire bolt, and will throw it at anyone who looks like they're going to attack Saffi.

"We aren't going to let a bunch of kids attack us! C'mon, it's time to kill these brats, send the locals a message!" "What are you talking about? These are kids, for Selune's sake. Just stop them from hurting us, and scare the savages back into the trees." "Naw, I'm going to kill them for what they did to our guys!" The three HMC people closest to the bridge argue amongst themselves, with the one advocating against actually killing the kids (happens to be the one with the hammer) seeming quite shocked by the other's words. Still, they turn to face Leonor, and all three attack. The one with the sword swings violently around at João, taking his revenge against the fairy who just kicked and punched him. The blade cuts into João, though it does not seem to deep. A spear follows, thrusted from behind a shield. It, too, makes its mark. The hammer follows, and perhaps its wielder showed too much restraint, because João is able to dodge out of its way. Still, he is visibly worse for wear.

The bugbear siblings rush up to support their friend. Kristof stabs at the shielded dwarf with a hunting knife, but his attack is blocked. Karla deftly wields her shortsword, wounding the hammer-wielder. And Kurt, gentle, joyous Kurt who had been so excited to meet Lam and learn little bits of bugbear culture, who had been genuinely shocked by the idea that some gods approve of violence and war, who is only here to protect his friends, Kurt swings a battleaxe - probably another of his grandfather's relics - and his long arms let him reach over his fairy friend to strike at the dwarf who had held and hurt Leonor. Kurt swings a battleaxe, which arcs down into the head of a man who had hurt his friends, and Kurt ends the life of another person. There should have been a ceremony for the part of himself that died along with his enemy, but there is not time for that right now.

Two more HMC guards run in. One of them runs up to Jonah, trying to reason with the giant man. "Stop, captain! You've just struck one of your own! What is going on?" The other heads straight towards Leonor, stepping over his fallen comrade on the way, and his hammer hits her in the back as she tries to inspect her dying friend. Leonor falls to a knee from the pain, but is not out of the fight yet.

Frederico's blood seeps through his cloak, but he still breathes.

Turn Order (current turn in larger font): Saffron; HMC group 2; Sha-Gravis; Lam; Billy; Fairy siblings; Jonah; Saoirse; Eliza; HMC Group 1; Bugbear Siblings; HMC Group 3; Frederico (death save, already rolled once); Hemlock

https://www.owlbear.rodeo/room/5nRs1L_uFdxM/HeavyistheHeadPBP

Hemlock is aghast, it had all been going so well, until it wasn't. He was sure that Strixwell's agent had something to do with it, but as he looks around at the scene of chaos he cannot comprehend how. It seemed all the guards were of one mind, and Jonah had no control.

His mind finally clicking into gear, he starts to act, moving forwards closer to the carts to stand near to Saffi. He waves a hand out whilst speaking in druidic, "chwyn a gwinwydd yn dyfod i'm cymmorth", and vines sprout from the ground under the feet of the guards that have not yet entered the fray. As he moves, he reaches for the power of the stars, his form once more illuminating as the constellation of the life giving goblet appears across his body.

"Everybody stop this madness. Kids, retreat back into the forest. Jonah, stop your guards for the stars sake!", he says loudly in his familiar drawl, fear and urgency etched in his tone.

Movement: 30 feet north towards the wagons
Action: Cast Entangle under HMC Group 2, DC 14 Str save, 20 feet square of difficult terrain positioned to stop them reaching the kids (square added to owlbear map)
Bonus Action: Starry Form - Goblet
Special: Concentration - Entangle: round 1/10
Persuasion: 10-1=9

Hemlock get a few shouts back in return. "They'll just stab us in the backs, like they did to 'Rico!" from Karla, "not until they're safe!"  from Kristof, and nonresponse at all from Kurt, who is just staring at his axe. I'M TRYING! SHEATHE WEAPONS, ALL!" from Jonah. Many of the HMC folks just ignore you, others argue quietly among themselves. But nobody actually stops this madness.

The vines that climb uo from the ground snake their way around four pairs of boots, and hold three of them fast to the ground. Two of the charging guards, and the cowering halfling worker beside them, are entangled and immoble. One of the guards, however, was able to tear his feet through the growkng plants, and is still on the move (though slower).You can already see the other two guards stabbing and slashing at the vines - they probably won't stay entangled for very long.

It is Saffron's turn.

Saffron hears Eliza's familiar voice and glances to the forest. She actually turns slightly--as if to make toward the trees--but looks back at the dying kid, a clear show of turmoil on her brow. He's just a kid, Saff. 

"Jonah, you need to get your compatriots under control! Gods help you all, if any of these little ones get hurt . . ." the words "or perish" die in her throat. Despite the allure of running off with her pal, she, for some reason, cannot bring herself to flee. Rigidly, the changeling turns her body back to the crowd and peers around the carts.

Reaching up into the air, she pulls a small, spear-like weapon from the ether and holds her reaction to toss it at anyone who threatens Frederico--or any of the kids in her line of sight. She spares a moment to glance at Hemlock and Lam, before turning back to watch the kids.

Two of the guards from group two struggle in vain to free themselves from the tangling vines. The other pushes forward, struggling his way through. As he does, he seems to take the time to take stock of the chaos around him. "What are we doing? Stop fighting, friends! if we let these youths go, they'll leave." He drops his weapon, and reaches out to catch his falling companion, dead of Kurt's axe. It doesn't look like any of his companions take heed.

It is Sha-Gravis' turn.

Saffron; HMC group 2; Sha-Gravis; Lam; Billy; Fairy siblings; Jonah; Saoirse; Eliza; HMC Group 1; Bugbear Siblings; HMC Group 3; Frederico (death save, already rolled once); Hemlock

https://www.owlbear.rodeo/room/5nRs1L_uFdxM/HeavyistheHeadPBP

Sha-gravis positions a sleep spell to catch the attackers in combat with the youth, hammer 1, shield 1 & 2.

Hammer one falls to the ground, suddenly asleep. For a moment, it looks like shield 1 will join him, but then he shakes his head like a dog, and refocuses on the fairybinnfront of him, still bent on violence. Shield 2 doesn't even react.

Lam

As things go from bad to worse, Lam barely has time to process his memories of an attack that had led to a similar bloodbath. Last time, he had been able to put an end to the problem as soon as he realized what it was. This time, the problem isn’t even here. He sets down the barrel of smoke powder he had been lugging and makes his way towards where everyone is as he continues to scan the battlefield. Saffron is visible, poised to attack… she seems to be helping. The vines Hemlock created are making the scene much more manageable. Frederico is still down, even with Sha’s magic and Saoirse’s attention- things must be bad. Some of the HMC combatants seem reasonable, but many still do not… and the kids are all still right in the way of danger. Lam is only slightly out of breath when he reaches the kids and their battle. He first turns to Shield 2, who seems to have his head on straight, and makes brief eye contact. He huffs, “Your friends-” he shakes his head. “Not themselves. Did someone magic tell you, kill locals to send message?” 

He turns to all the kids near him next and says in a stern voice, “LEAVE. No more fighting. Go find help. Fast. Frederico needs healers. Not dead friends.” He knows his voice sounds harsher in the moment than he wants it to. He cannot look at Kurt for too long- he cannot afford to fully realize or grieve for what has been lost, not when they are still in immediate danger. No time to contemplate what’s been done on the battlefield. One split second look in the boy’s eyes tells Lam too much, anyway. Not waiting to see what the kids do, he rounds on the next immediate threat- the one HMC worker nearby who still looks ready to fight. He lunges forward, aiming to rid Shield 1 of his spear.

Action interpretation:

"Yeah, Viconia said something like that. But I don't know why any of them would take her more seriously than Captain Jonah!" - Shield 2

Kurt and Kristof nod, immediately accepting their hero's words as an order. Karla also seems to take the hint. João might stop fighting, but his eyes go towards his sister, and it's clear he won't be leaving the battlefield until she does.

Lam yanks Shield 1's spear out of his hand, and the dwarf looks at him with glazed eyes. "Hey, I need that. To kill a local... send a message..."

Billy looks at Jonah, and says "I'm sorry sir. But I can't let you stop us.  Ved gudernes magt, hold stille!" Jonah siezes up, glowing slightly orange. 

Leonor twists, and punches the guard who had just hit her three times, swiftly. One of the blows glance off of his leather jerkin, but the other two sound loud and painful. The guard seems hurt, but also ready to smash her again, and this blow could end her.

João flies towards his sister over the patch of viny ground, deftly avoiding Shield 1's clumsy attempt to punch him as he lifted off.

Jonah stands still, paralyzed by Billy's magic.

Saffron; HMC group 2; Sha-Gravis; Lam; Billy; Fairy siblings; Jonah; Saoirse; Eliza; HMC Group 1; Bugbear Siblings; HMC Group 3; Frederico (death save, already rolled once); Hemlock

https://www.owlbear.rodeo/room/5nRs1L_uFdxM/HeavyistheHeadPBP

Saoirse, who was ready to punch Billy to make him snap out of whatever that had taken hold of him, sees from the corner of her eyes how badly Leonor is looking. One more hit and not only they would need a miracle to keep one Federico alive, but another one for the fairy girl too. They really needed the cleric back to his senses, and Jonah to be able to move again, but that would have to wait.

Worried that when she moves to help the fairy she's going to leave Federico unprotected, she looks at the guard holding the shield, cursing him so he's bound to the soil he stands upon. Then she quickly stands up from the crouching position with which she had been trying to cover the young elf and using that momentum she tries to push Leonor out of harm's way:

- Go to your brother and get out of here!  - she shouts at the fairy girl. Then the fire genasi turns to the HMC guard holding the hammer, draws her rapier and adds - If you're itching for a fight, have at me.

Leonor lets herself be pushed, gratefully letting Saoirse get between her and the adult trying to kill her, leaning into the shove to roll and stand back up a few feet away.

Eliza is too far from the fray to know what's going on or how to help, so she simply walks towards Saffi, and readies a fire bolt to throw at anyone Saffi attacks.

Hammer 1 is still asleep. Shield 1 puts all his weight into a violent punch on Kurt, but the boy shrugs off the pain, his mind elsewhere. Still, though, before Shield1 can fully regain balance, Saffi's psychic dagger flies past his ears. A bare second later, hos back erupts in flame as Eliza hits him.

The bugbear siblings, all three, follow Lam's advice and retreat towards the trees.

Shield 3 looks terrified when his feet refuse to move underneath him as Saoirse's blood curse grips him Still, he turns to Billy "snap out of it" and tries to hit him with the butt of his spear, but Billy avoids the blow.

Hammer 3 carefully steps around Saoirse, staying close to her to fend off any strike from the rapier. When he gets close enough to João, he twists around, bringing his Hammer towards the boy, who is just barely able to duck in time to avoid what could have been a lethal blow.

Frederico holds onto life for another precious moment, though his fate still seems grim.

Saffron; HMC group 2; Sha-Gravis; Lam; Billy; Fairy siblings; Jonah; Saoirse; Eliza; HMC Group 1; Bugbear Siblings; HMC Group 3; Frederico (death save, already rolled once); Hemlock

https://www.owlbear.rodeo/room/5nRs1L_uFdxM/HeavyistheHeadPBP

A glowing Hemlock surveys the scene, noticing that his vines have ensnared two of the guards. More are still hostile though, along with Billy, who he sees incapacitate Jonah.

"Snap out of it Billy, Jonah is in charge here and yet you have subdued him", he shouts across as he moves towards the cleric and reluctantly throws a small ball of flame at him, hoping a little singeing will do the job.

He then reaches out with his starry powers, sending healing energy into both Frederico and Leonor.

Movement: 5ft to the east
Action: Attack Billy with Produce Flame: To Hit: 9+6=15, Damage: 7 [fire]
Bonus Action: Cast Healing Word on Frederico for 2+4=6, using starry form of chalice to also heal Leonor 2+4=6
Special: Concentration on entangle - round 2/10

A deep breath sinks into Leonor's lungs, and her chest rises as her cracked ribs knit themselves back together and let the air in. She seems immediately more vibrant. The same seems to happen for Frederico, but the sword sits tight through his lung, and the wound can not heal. (He's still in death saves, but all failures are erased again).

Billy takes the flame full in the face, hisbeyebrows and beard mostly melting away, though the wound is superficial. Still, the effect on his facial hair leaves him looking shocked, and more so as Jonah shakes off the magic and lets out a deep, bone-shaking roar of frustration.

Saffi

Saffi looks back to Eliza and winks as the firebolt explodes into the guard's back. She glances, again, toward Jonah, shouting "Your guards don't seem to be listening, cappy."

I suppose that leaves one choice, the changeling thinks to herself, before plucking a spectral short sword from the air and launching it at Hammer 3, having just witnessed him nearly kill a child. Saffron then pulls a smaller knife from the air and tosses it after the first blade.

Hammer 3 is splitting his focus between João and Saoirse, and so he does not notice the blade that buries itself in his neck until that blade has winked out of existence, and his blood starts pouring out of his neck before it can reach his brain. He is dead without ever realizing that it was Saffi who killed him. Leonor and João's faces twist into horror, mixed with some small relief. Before today, neither of them had seen a man die in violence. Now they've seen two.

"No! Jack, not you, too! Saffron, they do not mean what they do! Please, just go. Escape, and guide these children to safety." Jonah is in despair, feeling guilty for how the day has gone so wrong.

Shield 2 falls to his knees. He has no intention of chasing any teenagers, but neither can he bring himself to fight against his companions. Hammer 2 struggles against the vines that hold him, screaming and cursing horrible things about the locals and his situation, and the deaths of two of his companions. The phrase "savage goblinoid monsters" is part of his rant, along with many words polite people would pretend not to recognize. Blade 3, on the other hand, is able to force and cut his way free of the finds that hold him, and struggles his way towards João's back, while the fairy is transfixed by the dead man in front of him. A gash opens in the back of João's tunic, and the cut looks deep. The boy will almost certainly perish if he is hit again. "Gah!.. help... I wanna go home."

Saffron; HMC group 2; Sha-Gravis; Lam; Billy; Fairy siblings; Jonah; Saoirse; Eliza; HMC Group 1; Bugbear Siblings; HMC Group 3; Frederico (death save, already rolled once); Hemlock

https://www.owlbear.rodeo/room/5nRs1L_uFdxM/HeavyistheHeadPBP