Xymox, still poised on the wall with effortless balance, watches as Starker begins his meticulous search, fingers dancing over stone with practiced precision.
He tilts his head slightly, a glint of respect in his voice as he speaks quietly to Kragen:
“Say what you will about his bedside manner—when it comes to hidden things, Starker has the instincts of a bloodhound with a library card.”
Then, raising his voice just slightly:
“Carry on, Starker. If anyone here can outwit a wall, it’s you....pull the lever."
Starker backs away from lever to the entrance of the room and just outside if he can do so and be within 30 feet of lever with line of sight to lever. If so, casts Mage Hand and uses it to attempt to operate the lever.
“Can never be too cautious. Fool me N times, shame on you. Fool me N+1 times, shame on me.”
The Mage Hand throws to the opposite side and a soft “click” is heard. Starker sees the outline of a door in the wall reveal itself as the door swings out, into the room a bit.
Starker searches about the room and finds that one of the barrels is empty. He moves it and finds a lever, covered by the empty barrel. It is currently sitting to the far end of its movement arc, towards the wall.
Heavy armor, must be Chadwick. The Mithryl is now Emmental
Less about numeric armor class and more about ability to avoid and take damage and then deliver copious amounts of damage. I consider Chadwick and Hoid in the same Heavy Armor grouping. Numerically there may be some separation, however generically they both deliver maximum whoop ass!
Hoid has a minute lead in HP and party average AC (when rounding to the nearest whole number). I would say Hoid is mid when it comes to “heavy armor” in the party. 3 points of melee damage mitigation per hit is the only thing Hoid can do better than anyone else in the defensive department.
Hoid has a minute lead in HP and party average AC (when rounding to the nearest whole number). I would say Hoid is mid when it comes to “heavy armor” in the party. 3 points of melee damage mitigation per hit is the only thing Hoid can do better than anyone else in the defensive department.
Kragen willing to go in and be the damage sink, just thought it made sense to have those whom can do the most damage in a short period of time (for melee encounters besides a fireball to the grill) to lead.
Looks like Owlbear is having a circular reference moment??
I don’t care if Hoid goes in first, second or last. I just want to make sure we all understand that plate armor doesn’t really benefit as much in the current rules as it once did.
(Apparently there is a ranger sub-class that can regularly have something like 26 AC with only mundane equipment and a spell. It is in an optional rule set, not the PHB, so I stopped looking.)
The secret door swings open after pulling the lever. There is a short, narrow hall beyond that turns to the right after a short distance. Flickering light can be seen coming from the hall to the right. The floor and walls remain slick with moisture. The pipes, valves and nozzles cover the 8’ high ceiling.
Starker pokes his head (but not feet) in tbe room to peer at the ceiling. Are the pipes attached to the nozzles fed by a common inlet?
investigation = 19
perception = 10
It is a maze of pipes, nozzles and valves suspended from the ceiling. It looks like all of the apparatus is about two feet thick and densely packed with pipes from 4-6" in diameter. You cannot visualize a central point that seems to control all of it.
Starker:”I had hoped in vain to find a nexus that we could perhaps clamp shut but, alas, I see one. Anyone care to wager on whether the trap will spew forth bile, poison, or perhaps fire? I worry that by the time we find the source of the Monstordrunkards’ woes we will be so worn down as to be ineffective. But. Friend Chadwick is pledged by blood to the fairy’s quest and by ties of affection to this town so I fear we must proceed.”
Chadwick peers at Starker, shrugs "Only one way to find out!" Way too cheerily for someone who was dosed acid not too long ago. Then continues on at a brisk pace whistling the tune of the first Ballad that Xymox sang.
Xymox watches Chadwick stride forward, far too chipper for someone who’d recently been bathed in boiling death, and quirks a brow as the familiar notes of his own ballad echo in a poorly-whistled tune.
He mutters just loud enough for Kragen and Trolkarl to hear:
“Either he’s the bravest among us… or the head trauma has finally settled in.”
Then, louder, with a dry smile:
“Careful, Chadwick—whistle too well and the door might think it’s part of the performance. And in this place, encores tend to explode.”
Xymox, still poised on the wall with effortless balance, watches as Starker begins his meticulous search, fingers dancing over stone with practiced precision.
He tilts his head slightly, a glint of respect in his voice as he speaks quietly to Kragen:
Then, raising his voice just slightly:
Starker backs away from lever to the entrance of the room and just outside if he can do so and be within 30 feet of lever with line of sight to lever. If so, casts Mage Hand and uses it to attempt to operate the lever.
“Can never be too cautious. Fool me N times, shame on you. Fool me N+1 times, shame on me.”
The Mage Hand throws to the opposite side and a soft “click” is heard. Starker sees the outline of a door in the wall reveal itself as the door swings out, into the room a bit.
Starker:”Well, back to my place in the middle of The Company where I can be safe and effective. Hoid, Chadwick … after you?”
Detect magic aura (30’ radius) should be active then.
When Kragen returned to gather The Company, he grabbed the Fey Wardens Glaive and secured to his back.
while Statker is operating the door mechanism, Kragen activates the pearl of power and regains a 3rd level spell slot.
(( Detect Magic active. Pearl of Power used. Be sure to note that on your character sheet. ))
The secret door stands slightly ajar at the far end of the room.
Done.
Send in the Heavy Armor!!
Entry Formation adjusted. Feel free to update if others feel differently.
Formation seems reasonable
Heavy armor, must be Chadwick. The Mithryl is now Emmental
Less about numeric armor class and more about ability to avoid and take damage and then deliver copious amounts of damage. I consider Chadwick and Hoid in the same Heavy Armor grouping. Numerically there may be some separation, however generically they both deliver maximum whoop ass!
DM no likey!
and it’s Chadwick’s storyline.
AC HP name
20 81 Chadwick
19 80 Kragen
18 83 Hoid
17 74 Trolkarl
17 45 Xymox
16 55 Starker
Hoid has a minute lead in HP and party average AC (when rounding to the nearest whole number). I would say Hoid is mid when it comes to “heavy armor” in the party. 3 points of melee damage mitigation per hit is the only thing Hoid can do better than anyone else in the defensive department.
Kragen willing to go in and be the damage sink, just thought it made sense to have those whom can do the most damage in a short period of time (for melee encounters besides a fireball to the grill) to lead.
Looks like Owlbear is having a circular reference moment??
I don’t care if Hoid goes in first, second or last. I just want to make sure we all understand that plate armor doesn’t really benefit as much in the current rules as it once did.
(Apparently there is a ranger sub-class that can regularly have something like 26 AC with only mundane equipment and a spell. It is in an optional rule set, not the PHB, so I stopped looking.)
Chadwick goes through the secret door with the driftglobe in light (not daylight) mode.
"Wait for my signal, unless you hear screaming, then you might want to double time." Chadwick laughs at his own joke while going through.
The secret door swings open after pulling the lever. There is a short, narrow hall beyond that turns to the right after a short distance. Flickering light can be seen coming from the hall to the right. The floor and walls remain slick with moisture. The pipes, valves and nozzles cover the 8’ high ceiling.
Starker pokes his head (but not feet) in tbe room to peer at the ceiling. Are the pipes attached to the nozzles fed by a common inlet?
investigation = 19
perception = 10
It is a maze of pipes, nozzles and valves suspended from the ceiling. It looks like all of the apparatus is about two feet thick and densely packed with pipes from 4-6" in diameter. You cannot visualize a central point that seems to control all of it.
Starker:”I had hoped in vain to find a nexus that we could perhaps clamp shut but, alas, I see one. Anyone care to wager on whether the trap will spew forth bile, poison, or perhaps fire? I worry that by the time we find the source of the Monstordrunkards’ woes we will be so worn down as to be ineffective. But. Friend Chadwick is pledged by blood to the fairy’s quest and by ties of affection to this town so I fear we must proceed.”
Chadwick peers at Starker, shrugs "Only one way to find out!" Way too cheerily for someone who was dosed acid not too long ago. Then continues on at a brisk pace whistling the tune of the first Ballad that Xymox sang.
Xymox watches Chadwick stride forward, far too chipper for someone who’d recently been bathed in boiling death, and quirks a brow as the familiar notes of his own ballad echo in a poorly-whistled tune.
He mutters just loud enough for Kragen and Trolkarl to hear:
Then, louder, with a dry smile:
Kragen looks at Xymox flummoxed and then back to Chadwick, thinking the knight of Tyr has always been bit… off. Then follows the procession.