(OOC: I was so focused on figuring out last turn that I did not read Ben's turn. If possible Syllen will use the bardic inspiration to turn the 12 to hit into a 16 to hit against the wererat.)
Avery takes a couple swipes at the Wererat, and the Troglodyte looks around the room, seeing the way this battle is going. He yells “Retreat!” In Undercommon and the Hexxer dashes away while he and the Wererat Disengage and flee.
Khessa is glad she was right: after Bloubbloum replaced the unlamented Lord Vuglomax, simply having him follow in his predecessor's footsteps into the realm of the dead was enough to completely demoralize the leaderless Inheritors.
The blonde arcane warrior has no intention of pursuing them; however, just to encourage them to actually flee and not return so soon, she utters a short incantation and sprints at supernatural speed, coming within sight of the wererat and pointing her her recently acquired magical wand at him.
"And don't come back!" the tall adventurer shouts at the fugitive, suddenly unleashing the pulsating chaotic energy she feels reverberating within the powerful object.
[[ OOC: Bonus Action: casts Expeditious Retreat. Movement: Until you are diagonally opposite the wererat, as per the map. Action: Use Wand of Wonder targeting the wererat. ]]
Nothing happens at the chosen point of origin. Instead, you cast Invisibility on yourself.
Khessa feels the eldritch power of the object filling her instead of the target... and realizes she's become invisible.
"OK, hopefully they're scared enough already," the blond earcane warrior just sighs, and returns to Rethos's unconscious form.
The tall adventuress gazes hopeful blue eyes into the elf cleric's, but then remembers that he can't see her at the moment and simply asks: "Please, Syllen, my friend, heal my brother. Now that the monster that controlled him is dead, Rethos is free to be his true self once again".
Avery takes a couple swipes at the Wererat, and the Troglodyte looks around the room, seeing the way this battle is going. He yells “Retreat!” In Undercommon and the Hexxer dashes away while he and the Wererat Disengage and flee.
Round 3: Xanrym
Xanrym is no longer concentrating on Comprehend Languages, but while he doesn't understand the Troglodyte's words, the meaning is obvious. He allows the Troglodyte to move away from him, dropping concentration on his bonfire. He follows cautiously after the fleeing Spiderhunters to ensure that they're really just running away.
Round 4: Xanrym
But then Khessaraces past him at a furious speed, chasing the Spiderhunters into the street. He wonders why she's intent on finishing off the Spiderhunters: they aren't even really part of the Inheritors' faction. More like mercenaries or hired guards. Misreading her intention to keep fighting, Xanrym thinks of which of his longer-range spells could help. He follows carefully outside the warehouse, and once Khessa catches up to the fleeing Spiderhunters and brandishes her wand at them, he decides to cast a spell, attempting to turn the Troglodyte Champion against his fellow Spiderhunters.
Xanrym is surprised to see (or not see!) Khessa turn invisible, and he laughs. "Perfect!" If his spell works, the only creatures that the Troglodyte Champion can see near him are the Svirfneblin-rat and the Goblin Hexer. Xanrym feels no need to chase down the Spiderhunters or slaughter them, but he's happy to let them keep fighting each other. (He'll maintain concentration on this spell for the next 1 minute.)
Movement: 30-ft movement to follow the Spiderhunters, keeping at least 30-ft away. Action: Ready the spell (LVL 3 slot) Enemies Abound, targeting the Troglodyte Champion. Trigger: release the spell once the Troglodyte Champion is 60-ft away from him or just before the Troglodyte Champion moves out of his line-of-sight. The Troglodyte Champion must succeed on a DC 17 WIS save, or it treats all creatures it can see as enemies until the spell ends. Whenever it chooses another creature as a target of an attack, spell, or ability, it must choose the target at random from among the creatures it can see within range of the chosen action. If an "enemy" provokes an opportunity attack from the Troglodyte Champion, it must make that attack if it is able to do so. Each the Troglodyte Champion takes damage, it can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on itself on a success.
After that, Xanrym finds a spot to hide (to keep out of sight of the Troglodyte Champion) and watch outside the warehouse (to see whether Khessareappears and continues attacking the Spiderhunters).
Movement: Move to a spot where he has some cover from the Spiderhunters (just inside the door, the corner of the building, etc.) Action: Hide - Stealth: 23 (advantage from Cloak of Elvenkind)
When Khessa doesn't immediately reappear, he starts to worry. Theldrin had said that the wand was chaotic. Did it just make the blonde warrior invisible? Or did it teleport her somewhere else entirely?
(OOC: If Xanrym hid well, then I imagine that Khessa might not even see him on her way back inside. He waits outside for up to a minute. Once the Spiderhunters move out of sight or finish fighting each other, Xanrym returns inside the warehouse to report Khessa's disappearance, and I imagine that he learns that Khessa is there even if she's still invisible.)
(OOC: Once Xanrym is done "seeing off" the Spiderhunters and rejoins the others, his head will be full of questions, but since The Company is here as Es Sarch's escort, our patron may dictate the next steps.)
1. Asking about Mind Flayers / Illithids
Xanrym looks at the Mind Flayer's body with a shudder and exclaims, "Thank the gods that...whatever this creature is...did not seize power here in Pedestal! I don't know how the death of these two leaders of the Inheritors will affecte the situation in the city, but I feel that The Company did a good deed for Pedestal here today, saving Es Sarch and putting a stop to Lord Vuglomax's plans." Then Xanrym addresses Es Sarch: "It's a good thing we came with you, Es Sarch! This thing...Lord Vuglomax...apparently came here determined to kill you. Do you know what sort of creature he is? I've never seen anything like him nor heard of such a thing in any story."
2. The immediate aftermath of the fight.
Xanrym is eager to hear what happened in the moments after he moved out of the main aisle. He's fascinated to hear about Bloobbloum's destructive power, and he's just glad that no one was more seriously injured. If Bruthwol has not already come back to the warehouse at the sound of the fight, he suggests that someone should fetch the Duergar and collect The Company's weapons. "Just in case we face another enemy before we get Es Sarch back to his inn!"
Xanrym suggests that Es Sarch explain what happened to Bruthwol. The Company are still outsiders here, and Bruthwol will probably be less concerned for their safety than he will be about the consequences this fight will have for him and for his own position in Pedestal. On the other hand, If Es Sarch explains that the leader of the Inheritors tried to kill him, then Xanrym anticipates that Bruthwol will be more accepting of the outcome. Es Sarch is also an important power within Pedestal, and Bruthwol might view him as an important source of stability in the city.
Once Bruthwol has been informed, Xanrym is focused on getting Es Sarch back to the safety of the Dripstone Inn.
3. Lycanthropy
Nature or History: 16 - Does Xanrym know anything about were-creatures and lycanthropy? No idea what skill check makes sense here.
If anyone in The Company knows about lycanthropy, we may become concerned once we learn that the Svirfneblin wererat bit Syllen!
4. Rethos
Xanrym understands Khessa's mercy for her brother, but he isn't sure how much The Company should trust him. He holds his tongue for now, but he's interested to hear what Rethos has to say about Lord Vuglomax and his own role in the Inheritors. He suggests that the party take Rethos back with them to the Dripstone Inn where Khessa can be with him (and keep an eye on him) and where he can share his story while he recovers.
As the wererat rushes away, Syllen can feel his body changing. Focused on this change, it takes Syllen a moment to register Khessa’s words.
“Yes of course I will heal your brother.”
Syllen quickly moves over to Rethos and casts cure wounds(healing 8 HP).
As Syllen's magical healing revives Rethos, Khessa cancels her invisibility [[ OOC: if she can't decide otherwise, she casts the Blade Ward cantrip on herself—given that casting a spell ends the invisibility ]] and embraces him, tears in her eyes: "So many times I've feared death at the hands of the drow, but thinking back, I think one day you will be the one killing me, of a heart attack! I feared I'd lost you forever just when I'd found you again!"
After releasing the hug, she studies him carefully: "Are you thinking clearly now? That filthy Lord Vuglomax was apparently controlling your mind! But now that he's dead, you should be free again. Can you stand up and walk? It's time to get out of here."
"And in the meantime, you'll have plenty of time to tell me how you came to be a slave of the drow and became one of the Inheritors" the tall adventuress smiles at him (yes, she heard Xanrym's suggestion to wait until at the Inn, before asking Rethos for information, but the worry, emotion and curiosity are too great for her at this moment). "And above all, what you know about the other members of our family... as you can imagine, I have no intention of leaving them permanently in the hands of the drow! I'm no longer the helpless country girl you knew. Now... I know how to fight back — and fight back I will, until I've brought them all home!"
Theldrin gives Khessa a disapproving look as she becomes visible again, but it soon fades into a smile, as his happiness for her being reunited with her brother outweighs his disapproval of her use of the wand.
Just to be clear, I believe Syllen passed his lycanthropy save from the Wererat, so he also feels that his body will purge the condition shortly; let me know if i'm interpreting that wrong. Still not very comfortable though.)
The Spiderhunters successfully get away, and the combat is over.
Es Sarch explains to Coriana, Xanrym, and Theldrin that Lord Vuglomax is one of the Illithid, a species who fight an endless war against the Drow to determine domination over the whole Underdark. It seemed this one had correctly deduced that taking over Es Sarch's operations would give it valuable information on the drow controlled areas. Bruthwol brings your weapons back to you, and is completely understanding of what happened, the Inheritors drew first blood.
On the bodies of the Inheritors Theldrin finds jewellery and reliquary worth 1469gp, it also seems Vuglomax' arm functioned as a Prosthetic Limb , and Bloobbloum had a Scroll of Protection on him.
Rethos responds to Khessa after being healed by Syllen, "Sister, you have to know, Lord Vuglomax never controlled my mind. I was a willing participant in his schemes, I was confused and scared, I felt I needed someone smart to direct me, to tell me what to do. I will tell you what happened to our sisters... and our father, but this is not the place. I will come with you to the Dripstone, if you will have me." And these last few words are directed at Es Sarch, who responds in turn, "If you are still willing to agree to the terms set out before the attack, I am willing to go through with our bargain." To which Rethos nods, and is helped up and comes along with you all.
At this point you'd all be getting a bit tired, and a lot has happened. Bruthwol will go about cleaning up the mess, and probably spreading word around town of what happened. Es Sarch will host Rethos and the rest of you for as long as you wished, although Rethos does want to take Khessa back to the Temple of Berei for a one to one talk, so that can happen whenever Khessa wishes. Otherwise, you can choose to either take a Long Rest/do some other stuff in Pedestal, or continue on with the final part of this adventure: The Necromancer's Spike.
Trog saving throw: 2
Bloubbloum DEX Save: 8
Bloubbloum DEX Save: 14
Quaggoth DEX Save: 14
Bloubbloum and the Quaggoth die from Khessa and Syllen’s attacks, while Xanrym and Theldrin work on the Spiderhunters.
Avery is still up.
(OOC: I was so focused on figuring out last turn that I did not read Ben's turn. If possible Syllen will use the bardic inspiration to turn the 12 to hit into a 16 to hit against the wererat.)
Yep that’s fine
Avery takes a couple swipes at the Wererat, and the Troglodyte looks around the room, seeing the way this battle is going. He yells “Retreat!” In Undercommon and the Hexxer dashes away while he and the Wererat Disengage and flee.
Do you give chase or let the Spiderhunters go?
Khessa is glad she was right: after Bloubbloum replaced the unlamented Lord Vuglomax, simply having him follow in his predecessor's footsteps into the realm of the dead was enough to completely demoralize the leaderless Inheritors.
The blonde arcane warrior has no intention of pursuing them; however, just to encourage them to actually flee and not return so soon, she utters a short incantation and sprints at supernatural speed, coming within sight of the wererat and pointing her her recently acquired magical wand at him.
"And don't come back!" the tall adventurer shouts at the fugitive, suddenly unleashing the pulsating chaotic energy she feels reverberating within the powerful object.
[[ OOC: Bonus Action: casts Expeditious Retreat. Movement: Until you are diagonally opposite the wererat, as per the map. Action: Use Wand of Wonder targeting the wererat. ]]
Khessa's Wand of Wonder roll: 85
Khessa feels the eldritch power of the object filling her instead of the target... and realizes she's become invisible.
"OK, hopefully they're scared enough already," the blond earcane warrior just sighs, and returns to Rethos's unconscious form.
The tall adventuress gazes hopeful blue eyes into the elf cleric's, but then remembers that he can't see her at the moment and simply asks: "Please, Syllen, my friend, heal my brother. Now that the monster that controlled him is dead, Rethos is free to be his true self once again".
[[Syllen cast lesser restoration on Coriana if Bloubloom passed his concentration check. ]]
Coriana will not give chase.
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
As the wererat rushes away, Syllen can feel his body changing. Focused on this change, it takes Syllen a moment to register Khessa’s words.
“Yes of course I will heal your brother.”
Syllen quickly moves over to Rethos and casts cure wounds(healing 8 HP).
Round 3: Xanrym
Xanrym is no longer concentrating on Comprehend Languages, but while he doesn't understand the Troglodyte's words, the meaning is obvious. He allows the Troglodyte to move away from him, dropping concentration on his bonfire. He follows cautiously after the fleeing Spiderhunters to ensure that they're really just running away.
Round 4: Xanrym
But then Khessa races past him at a furious speed, chasing the Spiderhunters into the street. He wonders why she's intent on finishing off the Spiderhunters: they aren't even really part of the Inheritors' faction. More like mercenaries or hired guards. Misreading her intention to keep fighting, Xanrym thinks of which of his longer-range spells could help. He follows carefully outside the warehouse, and once Khessa catches up to the fleeing Spiderhunters and brandishes her wand at them, he decides to cast a spell, attempting to turn the Troglodyte Champion against his fellow Spiderhunters.
Xanrym is surprised to see (or not see!) Khessa turn invisible, and he laughs. "Perfect!" If his spell works, the only creatures that the Troglodyte Champion can see near him are the Svirfneblin-rat and the Goblin Hexer. Xanrym feels no need to chase down the Spiderhunters or slaughter them, but he's happy to let them keep fighting each other. (He'll maintain concentration on this spell for the next 1 minute.)
Movement: 30-ft movement to follow the Spiderhunters, keeping at least 30-ft away.
Action: Ready the spell (LVL 3 slot) Enemies Abound, targeting the Troglodyte Champion.
Trigger: release the spell once the Troglodyte Champion is 60-ft away from him or just before the Troglodyte Champion moves out of his line-of-sight.
The Troglodyte Champion must succeed on a DC 17 WIS save, or it treats all creatures it can see as enemies until the spell ends. Whenever it chooses another creature as a target of an attack, spell, or ability, it must choose the target at random from among the creatures it can see within range of the chosen action.
If an "enemy" provokes an opportunity attack from the Troglodyte Champion, it must make that attack if it is able to do so.
Each the Troglodyte Champion takes damage, it can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Concentration: Enemies Abound round 1 of 10
Round 5: Xanrym
After that, Xanrym finds a spot to hide (to keep out of sight of the Troglodyte Champion) and watch outside the warehouse (to see whether Khessa reappears and continues attacking the Spiderhunters).
Movement: Move to a spot where he has some cover from the Spiderhunters (just inside the door, the corner of the building, etc.)
Action: Hide - Stealth: 23 (advantage from Cloak of Elvenkind)
When Khessa doesn't immediately reappear, he starts to worry. Theldrin had said that the wand was chaotic. Did it just make the blonde warrior invisible? Or did it teleport her somewhere else entirely?
(OOC: If Xanrym hid well, then I imagine that Khessa might not even see him on her way back inside. He waits outside for up to a minute. Once the Spiderhunters move out of sight or finish fighting each other, Xanrym returns inside the warehouse to report Khessa's disappearance, and I imagine that he learns that Khessa is there even if she's still invisible.)
Theldrin takes a parting shot at the wererat.
Fire Bolt
Attack: 8 Damage: 9
(OOC: Once Xanrym is done "seeing off" the Spiderhunters and rejoins the others, his head will be full of questions, but since The Company is here as Es Sarch's escort, our patron may dictate the next steps.)
1. Asking about Mind Flayers / Illithids
Xanrym looks at the Mind Flayer's body with a shudder and exclaims, "Thank the gods that...whatever this creature is...did not seize power here in Pedestal! I don't know how the death of these two leaders of the Inheritors will affecte the situation in the city, but I feel that The Company did a good deed for Pedestal here today, saving Es Sarch and putting a stop to Lord Vuglomax's plans." Then Xanrym addresses Es Sarch: "It's a good thing we came with you, Es Sarch! This thing...Lord Vuglomax...apparently came here determined to kill you. Do you know what sort of creature he is? I've never seen anything like him nor heard of such a thing in any story."
2. The immediate aftermath of the fight.
Xanrym is eager to hear what happened in the moments after he moved out of the main aisle. He's fascinated to hear about Bloobbloum's destructive power, and he's just glad that no one was more seriously injured. If Bruthwol has not already come back to the warehouse at the sound of the fight, he suggests that someone should fetch the Duergar and collect The Company's weapons. "Just in case we face another enemy before we get Es Sarch back to his inn!"
Xanrym suggests that Es Sarch explain what happened to Bruthwol. The Company are still outsiders here, and Bruthwol will probably be less concerned for their safety than he will be about the consequences this fight will have for him and for his own position in Pedestal. On the other hand, If Es Sarch explains that the leader of the Inheritors tried to kill him, then Xanrym anticipates that Bruthwol will be more accepting of the outcome. Es Sarch is also an important power within Pedestal, and Bruthwol might view him as an important source of stability in the city.
Once Bruthwol has been informed, Xanrym is focused on getting Es Sarch back to the safety of the Dripstone Inn.
3. Lycanthropy
Nature or History: 16 - Does Xanrym know anything about were-creatures and lycanthropy? No idea what skill check makes sense here.
If anyone in The Company knows about lycanthropy, we may become concerned once we learn that the Svirfneblin wererat bit Syllen!
4. Rethos
Xanrym understands Khessa's mercy for her brother, but he isn't sure how much The Company should trust him. He holds his tongue for now, but he's interested to hear what Rethos has to say about Lord Vuglomax and his own role in the Inheritors. He suggests that the party take Rethos back with them to the Dripstone Inn where Khessa can be with him (and keep an eye on him) and where he can share his story while he recovers.
Theldrin joins Xanrym in studying the fallen Vuglomax, considering what he might have learned in his studies of mind flayers.
History: 8
He will also take some time to search the bodies of the fallen Inheritors starting with Vuglomax and Bloubloom.
Investigation: 13
As Syllen's magical healing revives Rethos, Khessa cancels her invisibility [[ OOC: if she can't decide otherwise, she casts the Blade Ward cantrip on herself—given that casting a spell ends the invisibility ]] and embraces him, tears in her eyes: "So many times I've feared death at the hands of the drow, but thinking back, I think one day you will be the one killing me, of a heart attack! I feared I'd lost you forever just when I'd found you again!"
After releasing the hug, she studies him carefully: "Are you thinking clearly now? That filthy Lord Vuglomax was apparently controlling your mind! But now that he's dead, you should be free again. Can you stand up and walk? It's time to get out of here."
"And in the meantime, you'll have plenty of time to tell me how you came to be a slave of the drow and became one of the Inheritors" the tall adventuress smiles at him (yes, she heard Xanrym's suggestion to wait until at the Inn, before asking Rethos for information, but the worry, emotion and curiosity are too great for her at this moment). "And above all, what you know about the other members of our family... as you can imagine, I have no intention of leaving them permanently in the hands of the drow! I'm no longer the helpless country girl you knew. Now... I know how to fight back — and fight back I will, until I've brought them all home!"
Arcana/History (Lucky): DC 14 [[Coriana has tentacle experience in her past,]]
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
Theldrin gives Khessa a disapproving look as she becomes visible again, but it soon fades into a smile, as his happiness for her being reunited with her brother outweighs his disapproval of her use of the wand.
Trog WIS Save: 19
Just to be clear, I believe Syllen passed his lycanthropy save from the Wererat, so he also feels that his body will purge the condition shortly; let me know if i'm interpreting that wrong. Still not very comfortable though.)
The Spiderhunters successfully get away, and the combat is over.
Es Sarch explains to Coriana, Xanrym, and Theldrin that Lord Vuglomax is one of the Illithid, a species who fight an endless war against the Drow to determine domination over the whole Underdark. It seemed this one had correctly deduced that taking over Es Sarch's operations would give it valuable information on the drow controlled areas. Bruthwol brings your weapons back to you, and is completely understanding of what happened, the Inheritors drew first blood.
On the bodies of the Inheritors Theldrin finds jewellery and reliquary worth 1469gp, it also seems Vuglomax' arm functioned as a Prosthetic Limb , and Bloobbloum had a Scroll of Protection on him.
Rethos responds to Khessa after being healed by Syllen, "Sister, you have to know, Lord Vuglomax never controlled my mind. I was a willing participant in his schemes, I was confused and scared, I felt I needed someone smart to direct me, to tell me what to do. I will tell you what happened to our sisters... and our father, but this is not the place. I will come with you to the Dripstone, if you will have me." And these last few words are directed at Es Sarch, who responds in turn, "If you are still willing to agree to the terms set out before the attack, I am willing to go through with our bargain." To which Rethos nods, and is helped up and comes along with you all.
At this point you'd all be getting a bit tired, and a lot has happened. Bruthwol will go about cleaning up the mess, and probably spreading word around town of what happened. Es Sarch will host Rethos and the rest of you for as long as you wished, although Rethos does want to take Khessa back to the Temple of Berei for a one to one talk, so that can happen whenever Khessa wishes. Otherwise, you can choose to either take a Long Rest/do some other stuff in Pedestal, or continue on with the final part of this adventure: The Necromancer's Spike.