Curious Critters- A Tal'dorei Tale.

(OOC: Map isn’t working, any chance of a picture, please? Distances and positions will make a difference to what Normont does)

( I'll try when I have access to a laptop...why you would make your sites map system incompatible with one of the main forms of play on your site is beyond me....)

"Hammer and tongs!", Normont curses on seeing the two brain dogs skitter around him, after he tried to provide a screen.

"Maggie, keep an eye on that hatch", he instructs as he points to where he wants the steel defender to move to. "Amber, to me, then blast one of those things", he then instructs the homunculus, pointing at the brain dog attacking Progo.

For his part, he also aims his rifle at the brain dog attacking Progo, not worried about subtlety now that they have been spotted and Dev's beat has been laid down.

There is a clunk click as his rifle automatically creates and loads the ammunition, and then a bang as he squeezes the trigger.

Maggie moves to stand between Normont and the hatch, and Amber lands on his shoulder before spewing forth a blast of her own at the same brain dog (assuming it still stands).

Normont
Bonus Action: Command Amber to attack the brain dog by Progo
Action: Attack the brain dog by Progo with his rifle
Rifle - To Hit: 6+6=12, Damage: 9+4=13 [magical piercing]

Maggie
Movement: 15ft west between Normont and the hatch
Action: Dodge

Amber
Movement: Up to 30ft to land on Normont's shoulder
Action: Attack the brain dog by Progo (or the other if that has dropped) with a Force Strike
Force Strike - To Hit: 15+5=20, Damage: 1+2=3 [force]

(OOC: Yeah, it is a pain. Will post up hoping that Normont is not in melee range of one of the brain dogs)

https://photos.app.goo.gl/mTzcyP5vd7rVbSA96

(OOC: Thanks. Maggie moved one square too far, shouldn’t be right next to the hatch. Just in case there is a trap)

( She's safe.)

Lokilias stone flies overhead as Progo is sent into a sudden stupor by his small attacker, which is then knocked off its feet by a powerful blast from Normonts rifle and another from the diminutive draconic construct......but it manages to right itself and go back on the attack....

( Dev is up. Progo is Stunned.)

Dev’s voice, eerie, guttural and forceful, links up in rhythm to the crashing beat of his illusion:

“Peek in the shadow, come into the light

You tell me I'm wrong

Then you better prove you're right

You're sellin' out souls but I, I care about mine

I've got to get stronger

Then I won't give up the fight..”

He emits another rhythmic scream between verses at the nightmare creature attacking Quinn (Intellect Devourer A), and it hears it as an attack deep within its psyche!

(Dissonant Whispers: The target must make a Wisdom saving throw DC13. On a failed save, it takes  10 psychic damage and must immediately use its reaction, if available, to move as far as its speed allows away from you. The creature doesn’t move into obviously dangerous ground, such as a fire or a pit. On a successful save, the target takes half as much damage and doesn’t have to move away. A deafened creature automatically succeeds on the save.)

ID A Wis Save- 11

The creature Dev screamed at lets out a shrill noise and runs away from him passing northwards of the trapdoor.....it then recovers and charges towards Normont, skirting wide around Maggie as her metal form offers it no temptation.

IDA Claw vs Normont- Attack: 15 Damage: 6

Devour Intellect vs Normont- DC 12  Intelligence Save- 5 Psychic damage, and the target has the Stunned condition until the end of the intellect devourer’s next turn.

Progos attacker continues its assault on the stunned merchant.

Devour Intellect vs Progo- DC 12  Intelligence Save- 12 Psychic damage, and the target has the Stunned condition until the end of the intellect devourer’s next turn.

IDB Claw vs Progo ( Advantage)- Attack: 21 Damage: 9

( Normont, Quinn and Lokilia are up)

(I was hoping Quinn might get an opportunity attack against the fleeing brain critter)

Quote from DandDSince1973 >>

(I was hoping Quinn might get an opportunity attack against the fleeing brain critter)

( You are correct. I just checked. Opportunity Attacks are usually not allowed on compelled movement but are if it uses a resource ie. Reaction.)

Quinn AoO on IDA- Attack: 10 Damage: 11

( Ok. Dice Gods decree no change there.....though Progo could be in serious trouble depending on his next saving throw....)

(Progo's fine, everything is fine...)

The throbbing in his head, blurred Progo's vision, the pain dulling out all of Progo's other senses. Progo wasn't even sure if he was still standing or not. As another wave seem want to crash in to him, Progo's vision starts to return and senses start coming back to him. The wave this time seemed to only pass by, like a wave that crashes just as the last one is retreating back and they effectively cancel each other out (int save: 12!). He sees the claws of the giant brain creature slash across his thigh unable to scream, until the pain registers, and he let's out a scream I horror as much as pain.

Lokilia now focuses on the Intellect Devourer that has been assailing Progo (B). Closer to it now, she calls out in Druidic as she waves her hand toward the creature, sending a puff of noxious gas around it.
(Poison Spray - CON Save DC 13 or take 10 poison damage)

As the brain dog swipes a claw at Normont, a shield of golden light in the shape of the wings of a dragon emanating from Amber envelopes him for a split second, managing to deflect the attack.

Almost at the same moment, Normont's mind is invaded by the creature, and he can feel the pressure building to the point of physical pain. But he manages to resist, pushing the alien presence from his head. "Get out of my head!", he hisses at it.

Now in close combat with the second brain dog, he has no choice but to try to shoot it point blank with his rifle. He swings the weapon round, even as the familiar clunk click can be heard, and fires.

He then decides it is time to bring Maggie into the fight, "Maggie, get behind one of these things and get it off us!". Maggie dutifully focusses their attention on the closest active brain dog and lopes across to flank it before biting out.

Amber
Reaction: Gift of the Metallic Dragon (Protective Wings) - You can manifest protective wings that can shield you or others. When you or another creature you can see within 5 feet of you is hit by an attack roll, you can use your reaction to manifest spectral wings from your back for a moment. You grant a bonus to the target’s AC equal to your proficiency bonus (+2 for total 18 AC) against that attack roll, potentially causing it to miss. You can use this reaction a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus (x2), and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Normont
Int Saving Throw (With advantage due to Gnomish Cunning): (14, 5)+5=19
Action: Attack the brain dog by him with his rifle (disadvantage due to being within 5ft)
Rifle - To Hit: (19, 2)+6=8
Bonus Action: Command Maggie to attack

Maggie
Movement: Moves to put the closest active brain dog between them and an ally (one next to Normont seeing as he missed his shot)
Action: Attack attack closest brain dog with a force-empowered rend (Advantage for flanking)
Force-Empowered Rend - To Hit: (20, 14)+5=25 (Crit!), Damage: (7+4)+2=13 [force]

Amber
Action: Dodge

IDB Con Save- 21

Lokilias spell washes over the weird creature without effect, even as Normonts shot misses the other target. But Maggie moves in and seizes the brain in her jaws and shakes her head violently tearing the creature to shreds.

Quinn steps up beside Progo and slashes at the remaining creature.

Attack: 15 Damage: 12

( Dev and Progo are up)

Quote from FireCat5 >>

(OOC: Is this the Squid Game everyone is talking about? Idk, I didn't watch the show.)

So it is all intentional after all. Which, in turn, means his chances of escaping the place must be very slim. That is, unless that 'squid' intends for him to escape, he probably won't. And if it does... Werhann can't be sure that's the result he hopes for. Of course, it's always possible that things don't go according to the squid's plan, but Werhann didn't like feeling like a toy, a rat in a maze. 

The guards don't sound especially enthusiastic about the "squidy" and its games, but they also sound fearful when talking about it, Werhann decides. Unless they were ordered to, he doubts they'll help him no matter what he offers them - which can't amount to much, truth be told. The question that remained was whether they would stand in his way, and Werhann didn't want to lose his advantage by trying to figure that out.

He needed a way to get past them or take them by surprise. In either case, he concludes, he'll need a distraction, but what can he use to distract them? "If only I had someone to help me," he mutters quietly, when suddenly, a Human materialises next to Werhann. As this comes as a surprise to Werhann, too, he instinctively draws his blade and immediately slashes the image, but the blade passes through it. 'An illusion?' He wonders, but before he can make sense of the situation, the illusion starts running into the room ahead. If Werhann can see a second exit to the room, the illusion sprints towards it. If not, it'll sprint straight towards the farthest point in the room that Werhann can see.

Werhann, meanwhile, presses against the wall and peeks into the room to see the guards and their reactions to whatever just happened.

---

Werhann casts Silent Image, forming a generic-looking Human dressed in the same manner that Werhann is (if he is at all?). The illusion produces no sound and can only move up to 60 ft. away, but its movement should look natural to any observer beyond these two limitations. 

If possible, Werhann will try to Hide at the corner of the corridor leading to the room and peek into the room to see the guards' reactions. Stealth: 4+2=6.

Unless an hour or more has passed, Armor of Agathys should still be active.

 

 The two men immediately took off after the illusion as it raced through the room towards the wooden door opposite, unfortunately Werhanns foot shifted on some gravel as he attempted to remain concealed and both men span around to regard him.

" Oi, stumpy.  Get back to your cell. Or you want us to call old Squidy down to play with you some more?"

Both men were dressed in rough leathers and carried heavy looking cudgels.