Zilly looks at Jimjar and says I'm betting on you to make it, don't let me down Jimjar! Relax move to your left you got this. I'll give him a bardic inspiration. OOC leaves me with 1
Zilly will then cast Minor illusion hopefully away from Jim jar behind the spider if range allows the illusion of a sound... help help. Zilly will then jump off the web into the water
Varis hits the cold water and comes up sputtering. He looks up at the others in the web and sees the Drow reinforcements pause on the bridge. He sends a bolt of eldritch energy toward the bridge, hoping to drop those still on it down into the web below to add to the confusion. Taking a deep breath, he ducks his head underwater and tries to remain unseen as he tries to struggle to the shoreline and out of the water.
Moving as best he can towards Sarith, Monar slashes at the web holding the Drow's leg. "You're not getting stuck here that easily, fella," he says with a rather maniacal grin. "Keep it moving!"
Encouraging Stool as well, he pushes towards the edge of the webs, letting himself fall to the water below, eyes shut.
Attacking the web: 22 Damage: 3
Acrobatics check for the fall: 3 (ooc: He'll save the inspiration. It's unlikely to make a difference to that roll! :D )
Szefarian feels the sting of impact first, and a moment later comes the cold. Whatever the water's depth, it is deep enough to prevent the escapees from striking the rocky bottom of the pool. As the yuan-ti surfaces, three more prisoners hit the water with a loud KERSPLASH: Eldeth, Jimjar, and Zilly. Knowing his bardic inspiriation aided Jimjar, Zilly hopes his illusion will distract the giant spider looming and hunting above.
Treading water, Varis sends a blast of arcane energy toward the bridge, but his attempt goes wide of its intended mark.
Monar wills Stool to the edge of the web and into the water; the paladin then pauses his escape to assist Sarith. Together, the bugbear and condemned drow snap the webbing, and both resume their awkward crawl across the sticky strands. The giant spider covers nearly the entire distance to Monar and Sarith, the last two escapees in the web. With the jaws of the arachnid just out of arms reach, the bugbear and drow tumble off the web and crash into the cold, inky water.
On the walkway above, Ront has felled one quaggoth, causing the other three to hesitate in their decision to fight the enraged orc. After all, their drow overlords aren't present. For some reason, Ronthas not yet made the leap into the web...
From the bridge where Jorlan stands, a pair of crossbow bolts are sent zipping through the gloom of Velkynvelve. Whether he intended to harm anyone is anyone's guess, for both bolts land harmlessly in the water.
Within twenty or thirty seconds, eleven of the fourteen prisoners are exiting the murky water (Derendil has died in battle, Rontremains on the walkway above, and Shuushar never strayed from the prisoners' cell). To the south, shouts from drow warriors can be heard. They have exited the lift and now dash toward the group of escapees. There's a jumbled mess of panic-laden conversation among the prisoners as they argue about which way to flee. Sarith points north, shakes his head, and says, "Menzoberranzan lies that way."
Jimjar then blurts, "West it is!" and as soon as he finishes the words, he emits an eerie shriek. The slimy, rocky floor near him has suddenly morphed into something living and horrifying. A pseudopod-like appendage lashes out at the svirfneblin, wounding him with a combination of bludgeoning force and acid. He is badly wounded but alive.
All of you sense a telepathic voice that seems to be in concert with whatever it is that just attacked Jimjar:"Food for the Faceless Lord!"
All players may act in any order. The ooze is adjacent to Jimjar, but everyone else is more than 10' away from it. The four drow to the south are approximately 150' away.
Varis spares a sad glance at Jimjar, then looks back at the Drow approaching from the south. “Let’s go. To the West.” He urges the others on, then dashes toward the passage to the west.
The four of you, along with the other seven escapees, move as quickly as possible through the west-leading tunnel. Despite his injuries, Jimjar is able to keep pace. He is also able to keep his sense of humor. Not long after fleeing the pool and the gray ooze, Jimjar utters, "A hundred gold says Jorlan knew that slimy nastiness was lurking there."
Within a matter of minutes, the way becomes treacherous. The floor is uneven, regularly rising and falling by a few feet or more. On two occasions, the party encounters a dead end that causes the group to retrace its steps and try another route. The pursuing drow make no attempt to quiet their voices or the rattling of their swords and armor as they follow. Gauging just how close or distant they might be is nearly impossible as you focus on your flight from Velkynvelve.
Stool has connected everyone telepathically once again; so, verbal communication isn't necessary. Sarith remarks, "They will hunt us till death. Either ours or theirs."
Buppidoresponds flatly, "It will be theirs."
Stool, repeatedly and desperately, expresses its wish to go home to Neverlight Grove. "Take me there. Take all of us there. Take us to shelter."
Eldeth comments on her intent to reach Gauntlgrym but is unsure of how to do so at this moment.
Eventually, the eleven fleeing prisoners reach an enormous gorge, the width and depth of which extends beyond the darkvision of all party members. In short, you are gazing at an abyss that is at least 120' in depth and 120' across. Telepathically, the party members begin throwing out ideas: hide, fight, or continue the flight by descending into the gorge. You suspect that in a minute or two the drow will be upon you...
Zilly will look up, to see if there is anything above them that may help with the escape, a place to throw a rope, another tunnel, etc.
“We’ll assuming we didn’t pass a tunnel that we can back track to, we need to get pass this chasm, but I’m open to other ideas.”
If he thinks he has enough time to don his studded leather armor (1 minute) he will start doing so. If he doesn’t think there is enough time, he will arm his hand crossbow and try to find some cover and continue to investigate a path forward.
"Hey Jimjar, can you help out a fellow gnome and help me get this armor on?" I'll ask (30 seconds if he helps!)
Taking a few pebbles in hand, Szefarian throws them of the ledge into the pit. Mayhaps there's water at the bottom? Wishful thinking on his part, certainly, but they are in a bit of a bind.
Regardless, he listens closely, hoping to hear a 'splash.'
Jimjar agrees, and within half a minute Zilly has donned his armor. A quick study of the falling terrain suggests that, with caution, it can be traversed. Multiple rock formation protrude from the slope, offering relatively reasonable places to hide if an enemy were standing above.
Szefarian's sound experiment doesn't reveal much to him, or anyone else for that matter. Nothing is heard but the faint clink of small rocks against larger rocks. There is no splash.
Eldeth gazes at the chasm for a moment before turning and taking a few strides toward the sound of the oncoming drow. Apparently, her intent is to face the enemy with her axe in hand.
Sarith risks creating a light source, and he casts dancing lights in an effort to reveal the landscape below. His bit of magic is helpful, for it reinforces the idea that a mildly risky descent can be made. "We are not ready to fight. Take cover below," he remarks.
(Decision for everyone: (1) stand your ground and face the approaching drow, (2) descend as far as possible into the gorge and take cover, or (3) do something else)
Varis pulls on his leather armor as the others inspect their surroundings. Hoping to slow the pursuing drow to create a little more time, or at least confusion, he scatters one of the bags of caltrops in the tunnel behind them, picking a narrow point which will make them difficult to avoid.
Glancing down into the ravine below, he heeds Sarith’s words. “Eldeth, don’t be foolish. We don’t even know how many are following us. Let’s find cover below.” Urging the others, Varis slides down the rocky slope and moves to take cover behind one of the outcroppings.
Zilly agrees with Szefarian, I think a fight is necessary.
“Perhaps we can defeat some drow and get a few more resources. I’d rather not have them catch up to us while clinging to a wall, hundreds of feet above who knows what.”
Zilly will pull out his hand crossbow and move to behind a wall, staying hidden until the drow are close enough to engage, and begins to go through some options for illusions.
"We fight the first wave," Monar growls, "and we put the fear of Tyr into them and make 'em think twice about coming along after us, then we go down." He looks round at the gathered faces of the fugitives. "The only thing we can't do is stay here. That will doom us all. Those that can't fight or are hurt go now." The Bugbear looks at Jimjar and Stool.
His gaze turns to Zilly. "Can you make it look like the ledge extends out a few more feet with some rope dangling over the edge? Might be enough to put a couple over, and we could push the rest."
Zilly nods at Monar and begins to cast Minor Illusion. He will extend the ground in front of the opening 5 feet over the ledge and make it look like a rope is tied to it and dangling over the side, pointing out to everyone that it is an illusion.
(This will last for one minute. If the Drow don’t show up by then he will recast it.)
"Over the edge with you all then. Get yourselves hid down there, close enough to grab one if you can. If we time it right, we might get 'em all over the edge before they know what's happening."
With that, Monar drops over the edge through the illusion and hides himself, ready to grab at any of the drow that come within his reach.
"Rrrgh... Fine. But if I fall in because of you, expect to be haunted."
Szefarian sheathes his blade, drawing his bow instead. Why? Never you mind why. Undoing the loop on his bowstring, he pockets it for later, and gingerly climbs over the side to the ledge below.
Zilly says, “Well if Monar is not going to be standing in front of me, makes less sense for a fight.”
Zilly goes over the edge, looking for a place to hide, staying within 30 feet of his Minor Illusion ledge and trying to find a place that will give him a crossbow shot on any drow standing at the edge.
OOC remember you have a bardic inspiration Monar
Zilly looks at Jimjar and says I'm betting on you to make it, don't let me down Jimjar! Relax move to your left you got this. I'll give him a bardic inspiration. OOC leaves me with 1
Zilly will then cast Minor illusion hopefully away from Jim jar behind the spider if range allows the illusion of a sound... help help. Zilly will then jump off the web into the water
Varis hits the cold water and comes up sputtering. He looks up at the others in the web and sees the Drow reinforcements pause on the bridge. He sends a bolt of eldritch energy toward the bridge, hoping to drop those still on it down into the web below to add to the confusion. Taking a deep breath, he ducks his head underwater and tries to remain unseen as he tries to struggle to the shoreline and out of the water.
Attack: 7 Damage: 1
Stealth: 14.
Moving as best he can towards Sarith, Monar slashes at the web holding the Drow's leg. "You're not getting stuck here that easily, fella," he says with a rather maniacal grin. "Keep it moving!"
Encouraging Stool as well, he pushes towards the edge of the webs, letting himself fall to the water below, eyes shut.
Attacking the web: 22 Damage: 3
Acrobatics check for the fall: 3 (ooc: He'll save the inspiration. It's unlikely to make a difference to that roll! :D )
Szefarian feels the sting of impact first, and a moment later comes the cold. Whatever the water's depth, it is deep enough to prevent the escapees from striking the rocky bottom of the pool. As the yuan-ti surfaces, three more prisoners hit the water with a loud KERSPLASH: Eldeth, Jimjar, and Zilly. Knowing his bardic inspiriation aided Jimjar, Zilly hopes his illusion will distract the giant spider looming and hunting above.
Treading water, Varis sends a blast of arcane energy toward the bridge, but his attempt goes wide of its intended mark.
Monar wills Stool to the edge of the web and into the water; the paladin then pauses his escape to assist Sarith. Together, the bugbear and condemned drow snap the webbing, and both resume their awkward crawl across the sticky strands. The giant spider covers nearly the entire distance to Monar and Sarith, the last two escapees in the web. With the jaws of the arachnid just out of arms reach, the bugbear and drow tumble off the web and crash into the cold, inky water.
On the walkway above, Ront has felled one quaggoth, causing the other three to hesitate in their decision to fight the enraged orc. After all, their drow overlords aren't present. For some reason, Ront has not yet made the leap into the web...
From the bridge where Jorlan stands, a pair of crossbow bolts are sent zipping through the gloom of Velkynvelve. Whether he intended to harm anyone is anyone's guess, for both bolts land harmlessly in the water.
Within twenty or thirty seconds, eleven of the fourteen prisoners are exiting the murky water (Derendil has died in battle, Ront remains on the walkway above, and Shuushar never strayed from the prisoners' cell). To the south, shouts from drow warriors can be heard. They have exited the lift and now dash toward the group of escapees. There's a jumbled mess of panic-laden conversation among the prisoners as they argue about which way to flee. Sarith points north, shakes his head, and says, "Menzoberranzan lies that way."
Jimjar then blurts, "West it is!" and as soon as he finishes the words, he emits an eerie shriek. The slimy, rocky floor near him has suddenly morphed into something living and horrifying. A pseudopod-like appendage lashes out at the svirfneblin, wounding him with a combination of bludgeoning force and acid. He is badly wounded but alive.
All of you sense a telepathic voice that seems to be in concert with whatever it is that just attacked Jimjar: "Food for the Faceless Lord!"
All players may act in any order. The ooze is adjacent to Jimjar, but everyone else is more than 10' away from it. The four drow to the south are approximately 150' away.
Szefarian circles wide west-northwest, seeking to circumvent the creature and leave the gnome to his fate.
West it is.
Zilly agrees to the mumbled words he heard while splashing from the water, West it is! He will break into a sprint, dashing to the West.
OOC: remember we all have 5 temp HPs, let's hope they last a bit!
Varis spares a sad glance at Jimjar, then looks back at the Drow approaching from the south. “Let’s go. To the West.” He urges the others on, then dashes toward the passage to the west.
The four of you, along with the other seven escapees, move as quickly as possible through the west-leading tunnel. Despite his injuries, Jimjar is able to keep pace. He is also able to keep his sense of humor. Not long after fleeing the pool and the gray ooze, Jimjar utters, "A hundred gold says Jorlan knew that slimy nastiness was lurking there."
Within a matter of minutes, the way becomes treacherous. The floor is uneven, regularly rising and falling by a few feet or more. On two occasions, the party encounters a dead end that causes the group to retrace its steps and try another route. The pursuing drow make no attempt to quiet their voices or the rattling of their swords and armor as they follow. Gauging just how close or distant they might be is nearly impossible as you focus on your flight from Velkynvelve.
Stool has connected everyone telepathically once again; so, verbal communication isn't necessary. Sarith remarks, "They will hunt us till death. Either ours or theirs."
Buppido responds flatly, "It will be theirs."
Stool, repeatedly and desperately, expresses its wish to go home to Neverlight Grove. "Take me there. Take all of us there. Take us to shelter."
Eldeth comments on her intent to reach Gauntlgrym but is unsure of how to do so at this moment.
Eventually, the eleven fleeing prisoners reach an enormous gorge, the width and depth of which extends beyond the darkvision of all party members. In short, you are gazing at an abyss that is at least 120' in depth and 120' across. Telepathically, the party members begin throwing out ideas: hide, fight, or continue the flight by descending into the gorge. You suspect that in a minute or two the drow will be upon you...
Zilly will look up, to see if there is anything above them that may help with the escape, a place to throw a rope, another tunnel, etc.
“We’ll assuming we didn’t pass a tunnel that we can back track to, we need to get pass this chasm, but I’m open to other ideas.”
If he thinks he has enough time to don his studded leather armor (1 minute) he will start doing so. If he doesn’t think there is enough time, he will arm his hand crossbow and try to find some cover and continue to investigate a path forward.
"Hey Jimjar, can you help out a fellow gnome and help me get this armor on?" I'll ask (30 seconds if he helps!)
Investigation: 15
Taking a few pebbles in hand, Szefarian throws them of the ledge into the pit. Mayhaps there's water at the bottom? Wishful thinking on his part, certainly, but they are in a bit of a bind.
Regardless, he listens closely, hoping to hear a 'splash.'
[Perception: 9 (goddammit)]
Jimjar agrees, and within half a minute Zilly has donned his armor. A quick study of the falling terrain suggests that, with caution, it can be traversed. Multiple rock formation protrude from the slope, offering relatively reasonable places to hide if an enemy were standing above.
Szefarian's sound experiment doesn't reveal much to him, or anyone else for that matter. Nothing is heard but the faint clink of small rocks against larger rocks. There is no splash.
Eldeth gazes at the chasm for a moment before turning and taking a few strides toward the sound of the oncoming drow. Apparently, her intent is to face the enemy with her axe in hand.
Sarith risks creating a light source, and he casts dancing lights in an effort to reveal the landscape below. His bit of magic is helpful, for it reinforces the idea that a mildly risky descent can be made. "We are not ready to fight. Take cover below," he remarks.
(Decision for everyone: (1) stand your ground and face the approaching drow, (2) descend as far as possible into the gorge and take cover, or (3) do something else)
Varis pulls on his leather armor as the others inspect their surroundings. Hoping to slow the pursuing drow to create a little more time, or at least confusion, he scatters one of the bags of caltrops in the tunnel behind them, picking a narrow point which will make them difficult to avoid.
Glancing down into the ravine below, he heeds Sarith’s words. “Eldeth, don’t be foolish. We don’t even know how many are following us. Let’s find cover below.” Urging the others, Varis slides down the rocky slope and moves to take cover behind one of the outcroppings.
The slaver pulls his sword.
"Unfortunately, and it truly is, I think combat may he our best option."
He hates what he's saying, truly. He's a man of venom, subterfuge, and business. Combat is an ill suit. And yet...
Zilly agrees with Szefarian, I think a fight is necessary.
“Perhaps we can defeat some drow and get a few more resources. I’d rather not have them catch up to us while clinging to a wall, hundreds of feet above who knows what.”
Zilly will pull out his hand crossbow and move to behind a wall, staying hidden until the drow are close enough to engage, and begins to go through some options for illusions.
"We fight the first wave," Monar growls, "and we put the fear of Tyr into them and make 'em think twice about coming along after us, then we go down." He looks round at the gathered faces of the fugitives. "The only thing we can't do is stay here. That will doom us all. Those that can't fight or are hurt go now." The Bugbear looks at Jimjar and Stool.
His gaze turns to Zilly. "Can you make it look like the ledge extends out a few more feet with some rope dangling over the edge? Might be enough to put a couple over, and we could push the rest."
Zilly nods at Monar and begins to cast Minor Illusion. He will extend the ground in front of the opening 5 feet over the ledge and make it look like a rope is tied to it and dangling over the side, pointing out to everyone that it is an illusion.
(This will last for one minute. If the Drow don’t show up by then he will recast it.)
"Over the edge with you all then. Get yourselves hid down there, close enough to grab one if you can. If we time it right, we might get 'em all over the edge before they know what's happening."
With that, Monar drops over the edge through the illusion and hides himself, ready to grab at any of the drow that come within his reach.
Stealth Check: 17
"Rrrgh... Fine. But if I fall in because of you, expect to be haunted."
Szefarian sheathes his blade, drawing his bow instead. Why? Never you mind why. Undoing the loop on his bowstring, he pockets it for later, and gingerly climbs over the side to the ledge below.
[Stealth: 14]
Zilly says, “Well if Monar is not going to be standing in front of me, makes less sense for a fight.”
Zilly goes over the edge, looking for a place to hide, staying within 30 feet of his Minor Illusion ledge and trying to find a place that will give him a crossbow shot on any drow standing at the edge.
Stealth: 19