Dark Gods Dread - Game Thread

Casting "Protection from good & evil" on Artan since he sounds possessed/charmed to try & give him a save - unless she knows this wouldn't work for some reason

17 to hit w unarmed strike since it needs a touch.  Do I need to roll damage?

Beshlog Con save: 20 (also, sorry for disappearing for a bit... rough couple days)

It's fine, Whisker. Hope you're doing better now.

Ember uses the magic of her divine blessing, to grasp at Artan, attempting to clear his mind of corruption. Artan, at the end of your next turn, make a DC 14 Charisma save with Advantage. On a success, you are freed from the Grey Man's control.

Emilia, then Beshlog, then Artan

Emilia, GO!

(control? What control? Artan is behaving perfectly rationally and normally when the people who he thought were his friends attack his lover....)

Ok, botting for Emilia. 

Emilia raises her hand, muttering a prayer to her Divine Father, and sends forth blazing holy power as she casts sacred flame. 

DEX save or 4 Radiant damage: 18

Beshlog, then Artan

Beshlog, GO!

Beshlog glares at Artan and seriously considers punching his stupid face to knock some sense into him. But... it seems that the gray man is still the bigger threat.

"Just die already and release this idiot from your control," Beshlog snarls, bringing his axe down in an overhand swing against the gray man.

Beshlog attacks with booming blade, as usual.

Attack: 12; damage (on the off chance it actually hits): 13

(Is there any way Ember, or anyone, can do a Help action to give Beshlog advantage on that attack?  Also, Ember has 1 sorcerer pt & 1 1st lvl spell slot left.  Can she combine them to use a 2nd lvl spell?)

Beshlog swings his axe, but the Grey Man deftly dodges out of the way, avoidoing the thunder-charged blade

Ember, you can't Help for that attack, but on your next turn, you can use the Help to distract the Grey Man on your next turn. And since I feel you're planning something cool with the second level slot, go for it.

Artan, GO!

The most certainly normal and not charmed Artan will start his turn by making a save against his own spell, passing so taking 3 damage, and passing the concentration check. He casts healing word at second level on himself for 12 hp back, and use his action to cast produce flame at Beshlog, with a Nat 1 to hit.

End of his turn, Cha save with advantage for 13 so he is still absolutely not under anyone's control, just like before.....

(When it's her turn) Ember will move to the side of the gray man opposite Beshlog, so Gray has Beshlog to his back if he faces Ember (as near as possible.  Hopefully that helps & gives Besh advantage)

And cast her last non-cantrip of the day, Wither & Bloom on Gray

6 pts dam & Beshlog gets a hit die + 3. IIRC

Looking at the cloaked man

"So you lead us to him so you could kill us if he fails?  Why else would you watch without attacking him?"

Swiftgale invokes his magic against his companions, healing his wounds, and then trying to send a torrent of flame at Beshlog. Luckily, at that moment, the Grey Man calls out to Artan, and his head turns, throwing his aim way off.

Grey Man's Turn!

The Grey Man calls out to Artan, to protect him, and then rushes forward, about to tear Emilia apart but, at that moment, Emilia yells, and raises her holy symbol "Be gone, foul being!" Channeling divine power, Emilia consumes the Grey Man with holy energy as he leaps upon in her. In a flash of light that leaves you blinded, she disappears. The Grey Man staggers back, his flesh steaming and smoking, riddled holes smoldering with radiant fire seeping through his body. He turns to the rest of the party, snarling "You think my master will care for your death? I envy your ignorance..." But doesn't get to finish as dark, crackling energy explodes from the fingertips of the furious sorcerer, which consumes the Grey Man in shadow. A horrible scream is heard from within the dark cloud, and when the smoke clears, the Grey Man lies, convulsing on the floor, the red mist seeping from his pores

With a final gasp, Ember draws her fist close, bringing it to her chest, and the crimson fog flows through the air, flowing into Beshlog's mouth, filling him with energy life once more. The Grey Man stills and slumps to the floor.

The Gray Man is dead!

Ember stares in shock & anger at where Emelia used to be.  Blinded by grief she can't even figure if Emelia channeled all her life force into defeating the monster or if he just killed her (rolled 2 for Arcana/Religion)

She turns to the Cloaked Man.  

 "Give me on-...Make that LOTS of good reasons not to blast you where you stand!"

"That...that is not my master! I swear, I didn't know he'd do that! I...I...dad" The Cloaked Figure falls to the ground, and cradles the Grey Man's head in their arms. they begin to cry, sobbing tears of pain.

Also, I forgot to note, you all Advance to level six!

(Insight check 15 to see if he's sincere

And assuming he is:)

"Bloody heck", Ember says as she kneels beside him & puts an arm over his shoulder.

"My sympathy.  Time to mourn the dead", she says as she silently sheds tears over Emelia.

Artan starts to scream out, as the charm (I assume at least) fades, he suddenly stops looks around, cancelling his spell, before noticing the lack of Emelia and going silent for a few minutes.

After a brief mourn for the person he knew briefly, he goes over to the cloaked figure. "Explain yourself. Did you not know he would attack, or didn't know he would transform into the grey man? And more importantly, is that the same grey man from the tavern and the door downstairs earlier, or are we likely to be attacked by more?"

(Raccoon, in terms of levelling up, do we gain the extra hp now, or just increase the maximum until we rest? Same question for spell slots too)

Well, to be META with you, this is a place intended for you to rest. The townsfolk fear the wizard too much to invade his tower, after all. So you can all Take a long rest

The Cloaked Figure looks up at Artan "This...this was my father. He...he...was given powers by the Master. The Master gave us these powers to help keep the peace. And yes, he does...did, own and run the tavern." The Cloaked Figure bursts into fresh sobs.

"Is the Master the actual wizard, or did your father run the tavern and the tower? And I am still confused. If you knew he ran the tavern, and you didn't think he would try and kill us, why did you get us to flee from him? And why were you not suspicious of the numerous bodies in the basement of the tavern that he ran!" he turns to Ember, "They might have given us reasons to not blast them straight away. But there is certainly more going on here."

Still with an arm over his shoulder (still assuming he passed the insight check) Ember says:

"I'm Ember, the big guy is Beshlog, that's Artan.  Got a name to share?  And our late cleric was Emelia.  Sounds like this Master may have given your father a curse along with power.  Why don't you tell us about this Master and the Gray men?  How many other people are in the house & can all the doors including the basement be locked?"

And Artan is right.  That inn was set up as a cannibal slaughterhouse.  How much do you know?

"Cannibal slaughterhouse? I had no idea that thing was down there! My father ran the tavern, and was also the door-man for the Master. The Master gave us these powers and so we serve him. If we can find him, I'm sure he'll help us.

"As for why we were running for my father, that wasn't him. My father has been in this tower all day, and that was an imposter. But first, we should rest. We will need our strength for the trials."

Artan hears the word "us" and takes a step back, gripping his staff tighter. He glances at the others to see if they heard it too.