Marten: Round 7

(OOC: let's see whether this works or whether Marten just runs into a wall of Redbands.)

Marten hurts all over, but at least he's still alive.  It's too bad that they didn't promise that one-eyed creature all the Redbrands it could eat.  "What a feast!", Marten thinks grimly. "Servin' up a dozen fresh' killed Redbrands for one-eye."  The party would have been happy to leave one-eye alone, and if the thing hadn't betrayed their ruse or had turned its piercing gaze against the Redbrands for them, they could have avoided this disaster.

Noticing that the Redbrands' attention is on the fight with his friends, Marten carefully looks around without moving his head.  He could maybe kill one of these Redbrands before they could react, but he knows that as soon as he moves, he'll be surrounded and struck down again.  His body winces at the mere thought of more stab wounds.  Marten thinks, "if I could just make it back t' th' others, m'ybe we could find a spot to hold off this mob."  Or even just get out of the cave alive?

As Marten considers his options, one of Vidruth's thunderclaps rips through the air.  Marten jumps as though the thunder shocked him to life, but he hopes that the sound also startled the Redbrands around him.  Seizing the moment, he rolls to his feet, shortbow still in hand, and races south towards Berry as he sees Redbrands being hurled against the wall.  Unfortunately, before he reaches the fairy, the other Redbrands strike down Berry, too!  Marten shouts, "Berry!", and tries to weave through the remaining Redbrands, avoiding their swords and hoping to circle them before they can react.

If he makes it to Berry, Marten drops his healer's kit by Berry's body before he crosses the bridge.  Marten moves along one edge of the bridge, past Vidruth and Nosam, and hopefully finds some cover from the Redbrands before they can ready their crossbows.  "There's too many of 'em," he says as he passes Vidruth and Nosam. "Throw down the bridge if y' can 'n' fall back."

Movement: 60' of movement (dashing) to end at F10, if possible, so that he can gain some cover from the Redbrands
J3 > J4 > J5 > K6 > J7 >> I7 (diff terrain to pass Vidruth) >> H7 (diff terrain to pass Nosam) > H8 > G9 > G10 > F10
Action: Dash
Bonus Action: Cunning Action, Disengage to avoid opportunity attacks
Free Action: Talking, Item interaction - dropping his healer's kit

Round 7 Results (partial)

Nosam is unable to strike the bugbear, which now shouts in the goblin tongue, “I hate dwarfs! Too hard to crack the shell!” Meanwhile its morningstar smashes at Nosam once again. ((19 / 18 piercing).

Marten sprints and dodges through the melee and away from it. 

The third bugbear gives up on the caltrops and simply swirls its morningstar slowly, waiting its turn, its big eyes crossing and uncrossing hideously. 

Berry, Kiselina and Vidruth may now post in any order.

Berry presses himself against the pillar and tries to get into a sitting position leaning against the pillar. The effort alone causes him to black out a few times and the pain is unbearable. He notices Marten rush by and Vidruth and Nosam are still fighting on the bridge but against a massive force he realizes in despair.

death save: 12

Vidruth’s Detect Magic spell has continued in the background to this moment. While a constant reading of necrotic energy has emanated from the crevasse from the second the spell was activated, Vidruth now, in his current position next to the bridge, becomes aware of a different source of magic. Healing magic. Coming from the crevasse immediately under the bridge, to which he can climb down, if he wishes, without the need for a skill check.

vidruth finally pays attention to the incessant pinging in his head, theres healing magic somewhere... THERE, under the bridge "follow me" he instructs those still standing, pushing berry off the edge with  a prayer to gruumsh, then climbing down after him "sorry if im wrong berry"

action, grapple ig

move, just down the side and under thre bridge where im currently standing, ill try to drag berry under the bridge too if possible

“Search your heart and you will find the answers to your questions.” The elderly wizard answers Kiselina’s questions with a philosophical retort. “You have known me your whole life. Do you not recognize me now?”

The paladin’s shoulders drop, his head lowers and his eyes widen as a wave of realization washes over him.

“Then I’ve failed you twice today my lord.” His voice soft and sorrowful. The knight drops to his knees, his head in his hands.

In the background is heard a sound, a clang. Perhaps it was the knight’s halberd falling. Or maybe it was something else.

Death Saving throw: DM knows.

Round 7 Results (final)

Down the crevasse wall Vidruth clambors, perhaps at first pulling Berry onto his back but in his excited rush, he loses his grip, we’ll say, and both tumble down and land on the jumbled rocky earth immediately under the bridge. Berry is not moving.

The wizard homes in on the healing magic his spell allows him to sense and finds it within arm’s reach! A small rotting chest hidden among the rocks and rags and garbage and filth under the bridge. Flinging open its cover, inside it he finds the items he sensed: three potions of cure wounds! Also, several scrolls whose purpose or contents will take time (out of combat) to decipher.

The Redbrands now spread out along the edge of the crevasse and one of them, an older, grizzled veteran, shouts out, his voice echoing throughout the cavern.

“Enough! We’ve got yez surrounded and outnumbered and ye know it! Lay down yer weapons! There’s no need fer all o yez to die!”

“Yes,” comes a new voice. The Redbrands in the north chamber part, and a man, wearing a robe of mottled green and brown hues and holding a staff of twisting multi-colored glass steps to the edge of the crevasse. “Lay down your arms and no harm will come to you!”

He whispers an arcane phrase and three bolts of force ricochet away from him across the chamber, stopping mere inches away from Marten. They buzz and vibrate as if held back unwillingly from striking him like attack dogs at the end of their chains.

The bugbears listen to Glasstaff and appear ready to allow Nosam to lay down his weapon, or to defend themselves if he attacks.

Marten, Nosam, and Daphyra may post for Round 8 in any order.

Quote from DandDSince1973>>

“Lay down your arms and no harm will come to you!”

Marten knows better to believe that coming from someone he already doesn't trust.  Or, even if it's true, it probably just means that they'll be kept safe until they're sold as slaves.

Marten had recommended falling back to a place that they could defend, but then he saw Vidruth climbing down into the crevasse.  Does the wizard think that that's the most defendable position?  Or did Vidruth discover something earlier when he fell down into the crevasse?  Did he mean for Marten and Nosam to follow him?

He whispers an arcane phrase and three bolts of force ricochet away from him across the chamber, stopping mere inches away from Marten. They buzz and vibrate as if held back unwillingly from striking him like attack dogs at the end of their chains.

Marten's shoulders slump in defeat.  He knows that he's out of his depth with a wizard especially when he no longer has Vidruth, Kiselina, or Mistress Daphyra at his side. Marten doesn't know what these arcane bolts can do, but he suspects that they'll kill him if he tries to run.  

Marten calls out, "Yep! Alright. I'm comin' out."  From his spot against the west wall, Marten holds out his shortbow so that the wizard can see it.  Then he slowly squats down and puts it on the ground before stepping out into the open with his empty hands held up in front of him, palms forward.  As he comes into the open, Marten's face tightens and his eyes squint in anticipation of a crossbow bolt or one of the wizard's arcane bolts striking him.

Daphyra closes her eyes, inhales the incense she is holding, and prays. 

(Death save: 14. 2 saves, 1 fail)

Nosam feels the impending doom and his options running out. He briefly considers surrender, but decides to try his chances going into the crevasse. Nosam grabs the body of Kiselina and beelines toward the quickest route to the bottom. 

Action: Grab Kiselina's body

Movement: Shortest route to enter the crevasse, preferably near Vidruth. 

Rolled both in the event either can apply to getting away and into the crevasse.

Athletics- 7 (2+5)

Acrobatics- 9 (8+1)

Round 8 Results (partial)

Nosam must stow his shield to attempt to pull kiselina into the crevasse and climb down with him. The bugbear standing over Kiselina’s body allows the shield-stowing, but does not find “running away or pull a body” under any definition it comprehends of “lay down your arms.” When Nosam lunges forward to grab at Kiselina, the bugbear swats him back with his off-hand. We will say that Kiselina’s body remains where it is, and Nosam more or less allows himself to be knocked into the crevasse, but breaks his fall and takes no damage. He ends his turn beside Vidruth and the small chest.

Marten lays down his bow and steps forward, hands up.

The wizard, Glasstaff, says, “You are wise to do as I say.” He snaps his fingers and the magical missiles disappear.

Berry and Vidruth may now post, and Kiselina as well.

Berry grunted after his body came to a halt. Somehow he knew he would end up in that blasted chasm but he had hoped that they would throw him in here after he lost consciousness. He tries to raise his head and look around if he can see that one-eyed monster lurking in the shadows. Then, suddenly his view shifts to his hand, counting his fingers. It appears that it didn’t start with him just yet but he feels that his time is running short.

Death save: 1 failure and 15

vidruth grabs one of the potions and with a "here goes" pours it into berries mouth. he then stands and raises his hands "glasstaff" he says "i surrender. also how the **** are you doing that with a magic missile?"

“Perhaps you have failed me”, the avatar of the Bahamut, the Platinum Dragon comments. “But I don’t hold it against you. Many of those that serve fail to achieve all they hope. You have done well to uphold my tenants. You have served justice where it was needed. And metered mercy upon those who deserved it. Justice will come to those that laid you low. But your part in this story has ended. Tymora has played her hand, she has cast her die, it is time for you to move on.”

With that, the old man and the song birds move to where the secret tunnel the group arrived by would be. As they step through, the image of the cavern begins to fade to darkness. Kiselina looks around one last time, searching for the group. All goes quiet and still, then nothing.

(OCC: Happy Gaming all, Peace to your House.)

Round 8 Results (final)

Vidrith pours a potion carefully into Berry’s mouth, and Berry regains 9HP, and reinvigorated, is conscious and prone at the bottom of the crevasse.

Vidruth, Nosam, and Berry now note that the chest holding the potions and scroll also holds a long curved dagger, which will serve as a scimitar for a fairy. Its hilt is worked in the shape of a bird of prey with outspread wings, and the blade glows faintly with its own inner light. In addition, there is a spell scroll (the kind one reads, thereby casting the spell, and which then disappears) with the word “banishment” inscribed upon it.

In answer to Vidruth, Glasstaff’s voice echoes down into the crevasse. “You surrender? Very good. It is truly the wise choice. And if your interest is piqued by my simple spell, then perhaps it is a magic user with whom I speak? An educated fellow? Excellent. Now is the moment to find your way back up here so that we may speak like civilized folk about next steps. It seems we have both suffered the loss of members of our companies. A sad state of affairs.”

Marten sees him motioning for Redbrands to move down the eastern edge of the crevasse to keep eyes on those down there. Then a new voice echoes through the cavern, coming from behind Marten, from the southern end of the chamber.

“A familiar voice, speaking of civilized conversation. Yet its owner has done everything he could to throw down civilization in this town!”

All heads turn to see a man in leather armor and shield stride slowly out of the secret tunnel to the woods which the party had used to enter the hideout. The Redbrands who had been spreading out, now back up again, closer to Daphyra’s motionless form.

Marten, Vidruth, Nosam and Berry recognize the voice, and Marten confirms it, by sight, to belong to none other than Sildar Hallwinter.

“You know me too, do you not… Iarno Albrek?”

Marten, Nosam, Vidruth & Berry may post for Round 9 in any order.

Daphyra's eyes flutter closed and her arm relaxes. The gently smoking incense tumbles from her limp paw and into the crevasse. A long sigh escapes her lips and she moves no more. 

(Thanks, all, and I wish you good games!)

(I'm so sorry to see you two leave but I respect your decision. Best wishes - in- and outside of DnD - to both of you.)

Berry nearly chokes before his eye spring wide open staring at Vidruth while his mind works through the last few seconds of conscious memory. Slowly his hearing returns, too, and he makes out a familiar voice. "Are we dead?" he asks Vidruth as he glances around him and up. "... No... no, I guess not. But what is going on? What did you give me? How did you know?" He hesitates and lowers his voice so that only Nosam and Vidruth can hear and asks with much doubt in his voice, "Is Sildar that mage who they call Glass Staff?"

"not officially educated, but yes" vidruth answers glasstaff, then looks back to berry "a potion, and im a wizard, its my job to know things" he answers the first two questions "it seems that glasstaff's name is Iarno Albrek, and sildar knows him somehow"

Marten looks for his friends by the bridge and, hearing Vidruth's voice rising up from the crevasse, Marten hopes that Nosam is safe with him. Berry's body is gone, and Marten hopes that he was wrong about Berry's fate.  But Kiselina is still in the spot where Marten saw him lying near the bridge a moment ago.  The paladin hasn't moved at all.  Then Marten finally sees  Mistress Daphyra across from him, lying near the crevasse.  Marten had stabilized her back at the Cragmaws' cave, but he lost track of her when he was surrounded by the Redbrands in this fight.  He suspects that it was Daphyra's prayers that revived him after he was attacked, but now Marten feels a sick, sinking feeling in his stomach as he sees Daphyra finally close her eyes and slump down, apparently lifeless. 

Marten's face is a mix of emotions.  Pain, of course, and guilt for his part in their current predicament.  Sorrow for his lost friends, fear, anger, despair.  And then--when he hears Sildar's voice--confusion.  He turns to see the fighter, apparently restored at last.  Marten acts impulsively.  He cries, "Sildar!"  He squats to grab his bow and then rushes over toward Sildar's position, uncertain how this changes their current situation. Did he bring reinforcements?  Or...how did he hope to oppose Glasstaff's forces?

As Marten gets closer to Sildar, he calls out, "The dwarf, wizard, 'n' m'ybe the fairy are in th' pit."  Marten tries to ensure that he has total cover from Glasstaff before the wizard can cast another spell at him.  He leaves the space behind the pillar for Sildar in case he needs to take cover.  Marten draws an arrow from his quiver watches Sildar for any sign of what the man planned to do here.

Movement: 35' ending at E13
  G10 > F10 > F11 > F12 > F13 >> E13 (going half-speed to avoid any remaining caltrops, ball bearings, etc.)
Action: Dash to get some extra movement
Bonus Action: Cunning Action, Hide - Stealth 26
Free Action: Picking up bow, Talking

Berry grabs his belongings and slowly gets up inspecting the damages to his body, shaking a leg and an arm, and trying a flutter with his wings. "I'm utterly lost, how did Sildar get down here?" he asks incredulously. Having recovered from his injuries and mostly feeling the fatigue from the battle, Berry calls up, "Can we come up? And talk on ... eh ... eye level?"