The men at the bar also seem to notice the quick change in winds and decide to call it a day. Blackjack Mel rounds up his crew and they head out before you do with Mel giving Hadrian a quick salute and a click of his tongue, then a pat to the jawless skull that gives the bar its name. They saunter out the front door expect for Cuff who stayed behind and went to rejoin Frida in the kitchen. Christian doesn't so much as look up when he passes by Frida and instead just keeps his head low until he passes through the door.
Thunder rumbles in the distance.
You all follow the route to each of your cottages (you bought three, so two roommates), which Karin provided you the keys with. The merchants in Caravan Court seemed to have already packed up for the night. The empty square now just stands one little boarded up well. The sun is setting off in the distance below.
The rooms are quaint. One bedroom, a wash bin and a pitcher, fireplace, and each a nice view of the gloomy city nearby if you manage to crawl to the roof. Its dim purple glow sits nicely in the distance as the storm clouds roll in. Not even the dark of the clouds can fully obscure it. The rain pours harder now. You can barely see past your own front doors. Some of the windows slam open before you have the chance to batten them down. The wind howls as you walk in. Drip. Drip. Drip. A leak in the thatched roof of the kitchen. You should probably tell Karin about that. Good thing it there are some free vases laying around.
Alas, after all this time in a wagon, the twin beds are nice and comfy. There are soft pillows and stitched quilted blankets. The stitching have some sort of story to them. A girl going through a forest with a basket of goodies. At least that's what you can make out. From the pattern, the dye of the wool had faded out. Guess the Ainsbergs didn't skip on quality.
Anyways you manage to make a warm fire. Soon enough the room is warm and toasty for such a dreary day as this. 'An everyday in March' as Eren had told you. You manage to get some time enough for a short rest when lightning strikes.
Ka-thunk. Wood breaks.Heavy clinking objects soon soften their falls onto the muddy dirt.
Suddenly, frantic pounding at the door of the middle cottage. A child's voice. Screaming. One you recognize.
"FIRE! FIRE!"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
Tendilius calls Hootius Battitus to his side. "Take to the air and see how the building is doing as a whole." He covers himself in a sheet heads to the door to get sight of what's happening.
Tendilius, you come up to the door either by coming straight out or by looking out the window, and you see a whole head of red curly hair and that small guide you had earlier bawling her eyes out under this rain. She is holding something tucked under her arm as she bangs onto the door. Behind her is a a scattering of glowing, crystal shards. Purple. The trail from a now broken caravan, one you recognized belonged to that eyepatch guy. Rain beats harder against the roof.
You see flame. It engulfs the cart. But Hooty catches it first. It is moving but not the way fire.. should be moving. You see the flames just barely lick the ground. It glides. The fire is blue, unnatural for a lightning fire. Two pillars shoot out from the middle. They both bend at their middle, reeling back close to the main flame... body. Another disjointed at the end. Now both. Each wrist of so called it encloses five pointed spikes at the ends. The edges of those flames don't flicker out but sharpen, solid. They look like the very crystals that caused it. A spiky thing glows in the middle. It is glowing an exceptionally white light. Slowly, darker pieces start forming around the top. A sound escapes it like a kettle going off with a whistle. But it sounds like it has to go through something. Teeth. Hooty calls out a warning.
Piece by piece it gets darker around what can only be described as the head. Eye-holes and a single triangular cavity. Here lies, or floats, a disembodied skull, one that resembles the facial structure of the one at the Skull and Sword. And just like it unhinges as a viper does before a bite. It lunges forward.
Emma bangs the door harder. "AHHHH! AHHHH!" She just screams.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Tendilius blinks for a moment for a moment as he sees the flaming being. He didn't even have that much to drink... But as he accepts the realiy of what he's seeing he calls out, "Uh... guys! There's something really interesting out here!" He whips out his wand and says the to the being, "Would you perhaps being related to the esteemed Sir Skullington?" referencing how he greeted the skull before entering the bar, "Because if it so it would be an honor to speak with you... after this wanton destruction stops."
He turns to Emma, "Where are your parents?" He adds, "Take cover. Don't want you getting hurt." He says to Hooty through the telepathic link, "Keep out of harm's way, but stick around in case you're needed."
The heavy downpour rains buckets upon the flame being. Yet, as if just taking a raindrop to the eye, it just slightly flinches. Just as soon as one flame fizzles out another reappears in its place. Originally it had been looking back at the cart, which is now covered in regular red flames burning through it, but then you shout out to it. It turns around, and then it opens its mouth.
At first, you don't hear anything. All you hear is the howling of the wind and the rain beating against the pavement. It takes a while, but you realize that that's its voice. It is sucking up all the oxygen out the air which only intensifies its flickering quality like it never holds still. Soon enough another sound rises up from its throat, again like that whistling kettle, unnoticeable at first then scorching. That sound overtakes the first one. The blaze thickens despite the best efforts of the rain to quench it. It unleashed a guttural growl at your questions as it flexes those crystalline fingers.
Emma sucks in a breath and looks around, all soaked, with her vibrant red curls sticking to her face. "I- I, um, they're back at home. I just went looking-" She notices the creature coming closer, nods "Mhm!,"and rushes past you into the cottage.
You six stand in front of your three cottages and the rest of the town being burnt down (again... and just went they were getting a break without Sebastian too!)
Initiative Order
((gonna do that block chunking thing))
20 - Ka-Cha Khan
16 - Hooty
14 - Tendilius
14 - Dabbert
14 - Hadrian
12 - Heiboros
6 - Juniper
Entropic Flame (it rolled a 7 so with chunking it's going last)
Tendilius sees the others gather. Seeking to aid the battle he waves his wand and chants an invocation, keeping firm grasp of of the bedsheet. Magical cards burst forth towards the firey being.
Spray of Cards Damage: 7+6 = 13 force DEX Save DC 14 for half damage On failed saves takes both full damage and is blinded until the end of its next turn.
After loosing his magic he heads over towards the side of the cottage near Dabbert and Hadrian. (Roughly: W->NW->NW->W->W->W)
EDIT: And Hooty is flying high (say ~50ft) taking the dodge action.
Hadrian gets up instinctively, his hand already gripping the hilt of his sword the second he hears Emma's screams for help. He looks out of the window and sees her red curls plastered to her face and the glowing, purple crystal shards scattered behind her. What happened? What was in that eyepatch guy’s cart?
Pushing through the door, Hadrian’s boots splash in the growing puddles as he steps outside. The cold rain beats down, soaking him to the bone within moments. Then, his eyes locked onto the source of the chaos - a grotesque creature formed from blue flames engulfing the wreckage of the cart. “Is that thing coming from the cart?” He shouts, but his voice swallowed by the roaring wind and rain. “What a way to wake up,” He mutters under his breath. Standing tall, his sword held firmly in one hand, the other raised towards the sky, he lets the power of lightning and tempest and storm rage through him, energy flows from his hand, wrapping around his fingers like tendrils of liquid sunlight, then split up toward his chosen allies.
(Action) Attack @Entropic Flame with chatkcha 22 > 13 AC A Hit. --> Entropic Flame takes 10/2 (due to slashing resistance) = 5 damage --> Entropic Flame is now at 73/78 HP
(Action) Cast Spray of Cards @Entropic Flame with DEX DC 14
Entropic Flame's Dexterity Save 17 + 3 = 20 > 14 DC Save A Success. ---> Entropic Flame takes 13/2 = 6.5 rounded down to 6 force damage --> Entropic Flame is now at 67/78 HP
Move 30 ft towards Dabbert and Hadrian
End of Round: 20/30 HP
Dabbert (29/29 HP)
(Action) Attack @Entropic Flame with Spear 17 + 5 = 22 > 13 AC A Hit. ---> Entropic Flame takes 4/2 = 2 slashing damage ---> Entropic Flame is now at 65/78 HP
(Bonus Action) Polearm Master Attack @Entropic Flame with nat 20! + 5 = 25 > 13 AC A Critical Hit. ---> Entropic Flame takes 3 + 1 + 3 = 7 7/2 = 3.5 rounded down to 3 slashing damage ---> Entropic Flame is now at 62/78 HP
End of Round: 19/29 HP
Hadrian (28/28 HP)
(Action) Cast Bless on himself, Dabbert, and Tendilius
End of Round: Bless: 54 seconds
End of Round: 23/28 HP
Heiboros (23/23 HP)
(Action) Cast Ice Knife @Entropic Flame 12 + 6 =18 > 13 AC A Hit. ---> Entropic Flame takes 6/2 = 3 piercing damage ---> Entropic Flame is now at 59/78 HP
Entropic Flame's Dexterity Save: nat 20 my gods + 3 = 23 > 14 DEX DC Save ---> Entropic Flame does not take the extra 2d6 (which was 6 + 4 = 10 cold damage)
End of Round: 18/23 HP
Juniper (24/24 HP)
(Action) Cast Ice Knife @Entropic Flame 9 + 6 =15 > 13 AC A Hit. ---> Entropic Flame takes 2/2 = 1 piercing damage ---> Entropic Flame is now at 58/78 HP
Entropic Flame's Dexterity Save: 12 + 3 = 15> 14 DEX DC Save ---> Entropic Flame does not take the extra 2d6 (which was 5 + 1 = 6 cold damage)
Move 15 ft diagonally northwest ---> Enters Hadrian's space and he takes 5 fire damage + gets set on fire (though the rain manages to douse him at the end of the turn) ---> Hadrian is now at 23/28 HP
(Action) Attack @Hadrian with Hurl Flame 8 + 6 = 12 < 16 AC A Miss. --> Hadrian takes no damage
(Teleport) 10 ft to Ka-Cha Khan and enters his space and he takes 5 fire damage + gets set on fire but same thing with the rain) ---> Ka-Cha Khan is now at 16/21 HP
(Multiattack 2) Attack @Dabbert with Hurl Flame 13 +6 = 19 > 18 AC A Hit. ---> Dabbert takes 10 fire damage ---> Dabbert is now at 19/29 HP
(Teleport) 10 ft diagonally towards Juniper and Heiboros ---> Enters both their spaces and each take 5 fire damage + set on fire but that too gets doused ---> Juniper is now at 19/24 HP and Heiboros is at 18/23 HP
(Mulitattack 3) Attack @Tendilius with Hurl Flame 13 + 6 = 19 > 13 AC A Hit. ---> Tendilius takes 10 fire damage ---> Tendilius is now at 20/30 HP
End of Round: 58/78 HP
Ka-Cha Khan makes the first attack. Swift and precise, the praying mantis always gets the its prey. The chatcka slices through the air, its momentum too high to be dissuaded down by the hailing droplets. The flame-being steps back as the blade slices through it. Despite being made of literal fire, it seems to feel that. It grumbles. Not like and 'oh no I've been cut in half' but'oh I stubbed my toe' (well actually stubbing your toe hurts just as well, so it really took this one with much nonchalance.
The chatcka boomerangs back into your hand. Hooty hoots in cheer.
The warlock steps up to the plate, taking the gambit with his deck of spectral cards. Again, it is flame. Would it really feel it? Apparently it does as each card sends a burst of an almost firework-type explosion within its body. The creature keels over. Or is it really keeling if it doesn't even have legs (or a body) to begin with? Really, its flame just subside down for a bit as its body works its down to the floor. But then in a burst of hot air, it rises up again, more angry than before.
"RAHHHHH!"
It clicks. It sounds like flint and steel knocked together. Dabbert springs into action. Though his heart may be weary, his body is not. He takes out his spear and sticks it through the creature. The entropic flame hisses and tries to reach out and grab at this, but the rouge is just too quick. He wrenches it in and then seconds out, he drives the other side of the spear into the flame's heart. The monster clicks some more. But Dabbert is already gone and rushed back to huddle with his... peers (he still did not know).
Hadrian, recognizing the power of his companions decides to amplify it with his Blessing. The light shots out from his fingertips to the chosen three. They feel the energy surge within them. Somehow it cools against the thick heat of this rain.
The druid, soaking wet, steadies herself against the flamed foe. "Stars guide us." And they do. She reaches up to the rain and takes a droplet. It doesn't drip in her hand. It bubble like the morning dew. The aaraokocra in his anger, flies up and catches the rain in a softball like throw, he chucks it. In mid-air it goes from water to ice to ice knife as it is sent slicing flame's skull head. A perfect trick shot. Juniper too cats Ice Knife, figuring that it too would dampen the entropic flame's fiery mood. Yet, even with Heiboros's perfect cut, the near explosion of the shard afterwards just leaves the entropic flame a bit tingly as it doesn't make any further moves to indicate its pain.
Juniper sends her own ice knife flying. "AHH!" The entropic flame shouts, getting cut right through its heart. Click. Click. Click. Click. The ice melts within its core.
"RAHHHHHHHH!"
Suddenly the winds shift. The flame being is no longer willing to tolerate this kind of behavior. It sends out a line of flame towards Hadrian and rides it. In less than a second it appears in front of Hadrian's eyes. Just being within his space sets the paladin quickly on fire. Encased in some sort of flaming bear hug, the flames lick at your old wounds and bury into them. It holds its arm up to your forehead, with a flames being sucked into a fiery orb. It pulls it back, but then- the rains have drenched both you and it, and that fireball is gone.
It sends its body hurtling like a comet towards Ka-Cha Khan. The tri-keen's body is engulfed in fire. Deciding not to mess with it anymore, it brings its gaze over to you, Dabbert.
The floating skull head moves 180 without turning the rest of its body. Another fist of flame comes right up. It burns through Dabbert's armor and skin with such a terrible intent. The skull bobs up and down at your pain. You can almost see a smile on its lip-less face before it is gone.
It makes it move over towards the last two combatants. 'Saved room for more?' It seems to tilt its head. Then in that same comet-like energy it throws itself in front of Juniper and Heiboros, setting them both on fire. The druid's yew wand gets singed and the feather of Heiboros darkened and some fall to the ground in watery ash. The flames send such choking smoke up into you nostrils. Your skin feels its fury.
Then in one slick move, it turns its head towards Tendilius. 'Last but not least.' A fiery flameball is sent hurtling towards you. It knocks you off your feet and sends fire raging across your body as it burns everything within sight. You smell your own skin burning.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
One moment Hadrian is engulfed by its flame, the world narrows to the searing heat and the overwhelming presence of fire. But then it teleports away, fire flickers, then vanishes. Torrents of rain pour down, steam hissing off his armor and skin. Hadrian's fingers tighten around the hilt of his sword. Closing the distance between him and the fiery structure, the blade gleaming wet as he brings it down towards it.
(Action) Attack @Entropic Flame with chatkcha with advantage (First roll 3, second roll 3 that is so sad) 8 < 13 AC A Miss. --> Entropic Flame takes no damage
((I don't think Step of the Wind works as a Reaction if it comes into your space? so you could have just moved normally away if you want you can do Patient Defense to dodge?))
Move 15 ft diagonally northeast and then 15 ft diagonally northwest to take cover
Tendilius (20/30 HP)
(Action) Cast Eldritch Blast @Entropic Flame 24 > 13 AC A Hit. ---> Entropic Flame takes 4 + 4 = 8 force damage ---> Entropic Flame is now at 50/78 HP
Move 10 ft diagonally northwest and 5 ft west behind cottage
Dabbert (19/29 HP)
Move 30 ft east
(Action) Attack @Entropic Flame with Spear 12 + 5 = 17 > 13 AC A Hit. ---> Entropic Flame takes 8/2 = 4 slashing damage ---> Entropic Flame is now at 46/78 HP
(Bonus Action) Dash 15 ft diagonally northwest then 15 ft north
Hadrian (23/28 HP)
Move 15 ft diagonally southeast and 15 ft east towards Entropic Flame
(Action) Attack @Entropic Flame with Greatsword 4 + 10 (from Channel Divinity: Guided Strike) > 13 AC A Hit. ---> Entropic Flame takes 23/2 = 11.5 = 11 slashing damage + 12 radiant damage from Divine Smite ---> Entropic Flame is now at 23/78 HP
End of Round: Bless: 48 seconds
Heiboros (18/23 HP)
(Action) Cast Ice Knife @Entropic Flame 12 + 6 = 18 again > 13 AC A Hit. ---> Entropic Flame takes 10/2 = 5 piercing damage ---> Entropic Flame is now at 18/78 HP
Entropic Flame's Dexterity Save: a 2 + 3 = 5 < 14 DEX DC Save ---> Entropic Flame takes 1 + 5 = 6 cold damage --> Entropic Flame is now at 12/78 HP
End of Round: 3/23 HP
Juniper (19/24 HP)
Entropic Flame's Constituion Save: 4 + 1 = 5 < 14 CON DC Save ---> Entropic Flame takes 6 cold damage --> Entropic Flame is now at 6/78 HP
(Action) Cast Frostbite @Entropic Flame for 6 cold damage
Move 5 ft in front of Heiboros and Juniper ---> Enters their space and both takes 5 fire damage + get set on fire (though the rain stops it) ---> Heiboros is now at 13/23 HP and Juniper at 14/24 HP
(Action) Attack @Heiboros with Touch 14 + 6 = dirty 20 > 14 AC A Hit. --> Heiboros takes 10 fire damage ---> Heiboros is now at 3/23 HP
(Teleport) 10 ft diagonally northwest
(Multiattack 2) Attack @Hadrian with Hurl Flame 5 + 6 = 11 < 16 AC A Hit. ---> Hadrian takes no damage
(Multiattack 3) Attack @Dabbert with Hurl Flame 10 + 6 = 16 = 16 AC A Hit. ---> Juniper takes 10 fire damage ---> Juniper is now at 4/24 HP
(Teleport) 10 ft north into the house with Emma in it and sets the inside of the house on fire! ((Emma is hiding under the bed))
End of Round: 6/78 HP
Hooty hears the cries of Ka-Cha and assists him. The little owl flies by and gives some good grace towards the tri-keen, making him more steady in his shot. The chat-kcha goes slicing through the air, but something in the wind throws it off. A small dragonfly, blown off by the storm's thunderous wind, was in the direct collision course. Instead that bug gets the brunt end of it and crumples to the floor. The flame being somehow seems annoyed by this. "RAGGGHHHHHHH," it roars and blows off some steam. The water on its head evaporates instantaneously.
After being engulfed by flames, Hadrian regains his bearings. The blessing still stays on all of his friends. Tendilius using this advnatage to set out an attack on the monster. He conjures up a crackling beam of energy and sends it hurtling towards it. The ball of seething darkness that pulsates in the wind sends the Entropic Flame off course as it pushes back a few feet for only the monster to ride the flames again and come back to its original position. It glowers. It reaches its hand out to see that something about your blast had dimmed it. The darkness managed to douse out some of its light. It screeches. The flames on its back spike up like the quills of a porcupine.
The rougish fighter lets loose a spear that slices and dices through the flame's body. Well, really it stroke it once but it might as well have been a million as the it targets the flame right in the heart. Its tea kettle whistle ripples throughout the air. You see through the windows of cottages that some people have begun watching this fight. The Entropic Flame grinds its teeth and steps out.
Dabbert manages to dash away just in time for the druid sends forth and icy blast of Frostbite. It covers the surrounding area in bone-chilling frost. It covers the floating skull and heart of the flame being entirely. Heiboros flies up just above it to miss the blast. Like an angry snowball, the flame being's empty sockets spur flames out from its icy container. It melts the whole gods-damned thing.
Heiboros, taking again another droplet of rain, carries out his sorcerer's technique of making nothing into something. The blade of the ice knife sails into the beast's socket. It has had enough.
The Entropic Flame grows brighter... and brighter - the two nearest step back but it is too late. They too are stuck in the flame. The fires dance around their bodies and scorch their skin like the sun and the rain makes it all the while worst as somehow it created a little bubble of tropical humidity. It is the smell of sweat and ash in the air. The feathers of the aarakocra only act as more kindling as it claws hard against the bird-man's wings, grabbing him in mid-air to throw him back on the ground (which he lands and gets up again with a huff) before letting go.
It teleports out the way for its next sight. It targets the next nearest thing, unaware of the owl just flying beside it. Its fiery back arches up and it takes a pitcher's pose. The fiery mound makes a curveball in the air as it strikes the paladin - or so it would have if the rain hadn't extinguished it in time.
It makes some clicks as it dislikes that. It tries for that again, taking up first base and hurling another flameball at Juniper. Again it hits her. She falls back, stumbling on the muddy wet ground, but she falls right back into place and stands her ground unlike Heiboros who had to pick himself up off the dirt.
After this the flame being takes a few more moments to calm down. Its fires are gently going down.You can tell from its hesitation that when it tried to spurt new flames from its back, it couldn't. It stares hard out in front of it, the wind and the rain going hard. Then a small cry from inside the cottage turns its attention around. It makes a series of clicks. A wide smile appears on its face and without a moment's waste its flames slip under the doors and into Tendilius and Ka-Cha's hotel room for the night.
You first hear the crackles. Then you see flames. A horrified Emma screams.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
(Action) Cast Eldritch Blast on the window and shatters it!
Ka-Cha Khan (16/21 HP)
Move 15 ft diagonally northeast and then 15 ft diagonally northwest to take cover
(Action) Attack @Entropic Flame with chat-kcha with advantage (First roll 18, second roll 6) 18 > 13 AC A Hit. --> Entropic Flame takes 4/2 = 2 piercing damage --> Entropic Flame is now at 4/78 HP
((- 1 ki points)) (Bonus Action - Flurry of Blows P1) Attack @Entropic Flame with chat-kcha 17 > 13 AC A Hit. --> Entropic Flame takes 5/2 = 2.5 = 2 piercing damage --> Entropic Flame is now at 2/78 HP
(Bonus Action - Flurry of BlowsP2) Attack @Entropic Flame with chat-kcha 9 < 13 AC A Miss. --> Entropic Flame takes no damage --> Entropic Flame is now at 4/78 HP
Gained + 2 AC for a total of 18
(( you don't have to spend the other ki point since the encounter ended so I gave you back the slot))
Tendilius comes, sliding like a baserunner back towards the cottage. An Eldritch Blast of black and white with almost hand-like clawing goes shooting out his palms before the skid. It shatters the glass of the windows instantaneously. There is a great sucking of air that comes from the opening up of the vacuum; the wind feeds the flames more oxygen. The fire licks the sides of the building, but luckily the water douses it in time. The same can't be said for the inside. The bear carpet has been reduced to ashes in the flames. The flame being looks intently on its target and doesn't even flinch.
The owl swiftly swoops in to distract the beast, giving Ka-Cha enough time to steady his attack. The thri-keen appears by the window with a chat-kha in his hands. It slices through the Entropic Flame's fiery heart. You hear it break like charcoal though it looks like glass. The blade eats away at it chips. The chat-kha returns back into Ka-Cha's hands just as quick. The monster roars, ignroing the small child cowering under the bed and heads straight towards the window. Its arms grab at Ka-Cha, but the mantis has other plans. It sends forth a Furry of Blows at its attacker. The Flame just doesn't know what's coming. Ka-Cha Khan straight up... punches fire-
AND IT GOES HARD. The monster steps back mortified. It braces, but the next punch just doesn't land the same. "RAHHHHHHHH!" It screams, its eye sockets set ablaze. It reels in for another Hurl Flame but is reduced to just a blackened heart in the flame. The charcoal stops beating, soggy. Emma steps back holding an empty bucket.
"The wash bin-"she mumbles, for some reason trying to explain herself. She stands there completely still in the middle of the fire, like a deer in the road.
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<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
Tendilius looks on as it hits that Emma, of all the people in this battle, was the one to land the killing blow. "Well I'll be." he says still shocked, "Nice job... Daring Do." He takes a quick look at the cottage's status for any fires to put out and then says, "Well, I think we should probably get Emma back home first?"
Emma stands there so very still until Tendilius's words snap her out of it. She blinks and startles."Daring Do?" she mumbles. She beams so hard but then shortly after her face goes sullen.
"I- I wanted to just- I don't know what happened. I tried to- I tried to get these," she drags her backpack out from under the bed to show it contains a Miner's Pick. "I don't know I guess I knocked it ov- the wind?! Ahhh it came crashing down. I'M SORRY! I'm sorry. Sorry." Her tears are wet and sloppy. Snot runs down her nose. Emma runs over and hugs Juniper who had walked in shortly after the flame being was extinguished. "He sells them." She looks over at the cart that is now toppled over outside. "It was just two, and so I used the ones you gave me earlier- I just-I don't know!" She bawls. "I'm so sorry."
Her tears soon turn to coughs as you realize there is about 6 small fires going on all over the place. Emma tries to wave away the smoke.
At Ka-Cha's comment, Emma turns. "Really?" Wormy was somewhere on the thri-keen's head, and somehow, it remained unscratched throughout the battle. It squirms in your grasp as you hand it to Emma. "WORMY?!" She pets the small critter while coughing intently, then drying her own tears. Putting the caterpillar in her pocket, she spots and points to a large vase on the mantle of the fireplace... which had already been on fire. She tries to pick up the vase, but it is too heavy for her. She helps you do whatever you can to put out the fires.
((Emma is currently at 3/4 HP because of smoke inhalation but she does not know that. staying longer in the fire is also pretty bad for you guy's health but it hasn't affected you yet.))
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
Player: Dragonlance
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Tendilius follows with the other party-members in heading out the bar.
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny | Draíocht, Kholias | Eggo Lass, 100 Dungeons
Talorin Tebedi, Vecna: Eve | Cherry, Stormwreck | Chipper, Strahd
We Are Modron
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 48, 5/23/25, Immaculate Mary
The men at the bar also seem to notice the quick change in winds and decide to call it a day. Blackjack Mel rounds up his crew and they head out before you do with Mel giving Hadrian a quick salute and a click of his tongue, then a pat to the jawless skull that gives the bar its name. They saunter out the front door expect for Cuff who stayed behind and went to rejoin Frida in the kitchen. Christian doesn't so much as look up when he passes by Frida and instead just keeps his head low until he passes through the door.
Thunder rumbles in the distance.
You all follow the route to each of your cottages (you bought three, so two roommates), which Karin provided you the keys with. The merchants in Caravan Court seemed to have already packed up for the night. The empty square now just stands one little boarded up well. The sun is setting off in the distance below.
The rooms are quaint. One bedroom, a wash bin and a pitcher, fireplace, and each a nice view of the gloomy city nearby if you manage to crawl to the roof. Its dim purple glow sits nicely in the distance as the storm clouds roll in. Not even the dark of the clouds can fully obscure it. The rain pours harder now. You can barely see past your own front doors. Some of the windows slam open before you have the chance to batten them down. The wind howls as you walk in. Drip. Drip. Drip. A leak in the thatched roof of the kitchen. You should probably tell Karin about that. Good thing it there are some free vases laying around.
Alas, after all this time in a wagon, the twin beds are nice and comfy. There are soft pillows and stitched quilted blankets. The stitching have some sort of story to them. A girl going through a forest with a basket of goodies. At least that's what you can make out. From the pattern, the dye of the wool had faded out. Guess the Ainsbergs didn't skip on quality.
Anyways you manage to make a warm fire. Soon enough the room is warm and toasty for such a dreary day as this. 'An everyday in March' as Eren had told you. You manage to get some time enough for a short rest when lightning strikes.
Ka-thunk. Wood breaks. Heavy clinking objects soon soften their falls onto the muddy dirt.
Suddenly, frantic pounding at the door of the middle cottage. A child's voice. Screaming. One you recognize.
"FIRE! FIRE!"
<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
Player: Dragonlance
Tendilius calls Hootius Battitus to his side. "Take to the air and see how the building is doing as a whole." He covers himself in a sheet heads to the door to get sight of what's happening.
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny | Draíocht, Kholias | Eggo Lass, 100 Dungeons
Talorin Tebedi, Vecna: Eve | Cherry, Stormwreck | Chipper, Strahd
We Are Modron
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 48, 5/23/25, Immaculate Mary
Tendilius, you come up to the door either by coming straight out or by looking out the window, and you see a whole head of red curly hair and that small guide you had earlier bawling her eyes out under this rain. She is holding something tucked under her arm as she bangs onto the door. Behind her is a a scattering of glowing, crystal shards. Purple. The trail from a now broken caravan, one you recognized belonged to that eyepatch guy. Rain beats harder against the roof.
You see flame. It engulfs the cart. But Hooty catches it first. It is moving but not the way fire.. should be moving. You see the flames just barely lick the ground. It glides. The fire is blue, unnatural for a lightning fire. Two pillars shoot out from the middle. They both bend at their middle, reeling back close to the main flame... body. Another disjointed at the end. Now both. Each wrist of so called it encloses five pointed spikes at the ends. The edges of those flames don't flicker out but sharpen, solid. They look like the very crystals that caused it. A spiky thing glows in the middle. It is glowing an exceptionally white light. Slowly, darker pieces start forming around the top. A sound escapes it like a kettle going off with a whistle. But it sounds like it has to go through something. Teeth. Hooty calls out a warning.
Piece by piece it gets darker around what can only be described as the head. Eye-holes and a single triangular cavity. Here lies, or floats, a disembodied skull, one that resembles the facial structure of the one at the Skull and Sword. And just like it unhinges as a viper does before a bite. It lunges forward.
Emma bangs the door harder. "AHHHH! AHHHH!" She just screams.
What do you do?
hit it up like what's up danger
<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
Player: Dragonlance
Tendilius blinks for a moment for a moment as he sees the flaming being. He didn't even have that much to drink... But as he accepts the realiy of what he's seeing he calls out, "Uh... guys! There's something really interesting out here!" He whips out his wand and says the to the being, "Would you perhaps being related to the esteemed Sir Skullington?" referencing how he greeted the skull before entering the bar, "Because if it so it would be an honor to speak with you... after this wanton destruction stops."
He turns to Emma, "Where are your parents?" He adds, "Take cover. Don't want you getting hurt." He says to Hooty through the telepathic link, "Keep out of harm's way, but stick around in case you're needed."
Tendilius Initiative: 11+3 = 14
Hooty Initiative: 16
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny | Draíocht, Kholias | Eggo Lass, 100 Dungeons
Talorin Tebedi, Vecna: Eve | Cherry, Stormwreck | Chipper, Strahd
We Are Modron
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 48, 5/23/25, Immaculate Mary
The heavy downpour rains buckets upon the flame being. Yet, as if just taking a raindrop to the eye, it just slightly flinches. Just as soon as one flame fizzles out another reappears in its place. Originally it had been looking back at the cart, which is now covered in regular red flames burning through it, but then you shout out to it. It turns around, and then it opens its mouth.
At first, you don't hear anything. All you hear is the howling of the wind and the rain beating against the pavement. It takes a while, but you realize that that's its voice. It is sucking up all the oxygen out the air which only intensifies its flickering quality like it never holds still. Soon enough another sound rises up from its throat, again like that whistling kettle, unnoticeable at first then scorching. That sound overtakes the first one. The blaze thickens despite the best efforts of the rain to quench it. It unleashed a guttural growl at your questions as it flexes those crystalline fingers.
Emma sucks in a breath and looks around, all soaked, with her vibrant red curls sticking to her face. "I- I, um, they're back at home. I just went looking-" She notices the creature coming closer, nods "Mhm!," and rushes past you into the cottage.
You six stand in front of your three cottages and the rest of the town being burnt down (again... and just went they were getting a break without Sebastian too!)
<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
Player: Dragonlance
Tendilius sees the others gather. Seeking to aid the battle he waves his wand and chants an invocation, keeping firm grasp of of the bedsheet. Magical cards burst forth towards the firey being.
Spray of Cards
Damage: 7+6 = 13 force
DEX Save DC 14 for half damage
On failed saves takes both full damage and is blinded until the end of its next turn.
After loosing his magic he heads over towards the side of the cottage near Dabbert and Hadrian. (Roughly: W->NW->NW->W->W->W)
EDIT: And Hooty is flying high (say ~50ft) taking the dodge action.
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny | Draíocht, Kholias | Eggo Lass, 100 Dungeons
Talorin Tebedi, Vecna: Eve | Cherry, Stormwreck | Chipper, Strahd
We Are Modron
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 48, 5/23/25, Immaculate Mary
Hadrian gets up instinctively, his hand already gripping the hilt of his sword the second he hears Emma's screams for help. He looks out of the window and sees her red curls plastered to her face and the glowing, purple crystal shards scattered behind her. What happened? What was in that eyepatch guy’s cart?
Pushing through the door, Hadrian’s boots splash in the growing puddles as he steps outside. The cold rain beats down, soaking him to the bone within moments. Then, his eyes locked onto the source of the chaos - a grotesque creature formed from blue flames engulfing the wreckage of the cart. “Is that thing coming from the cart?” He shouts, but his voice swallowed by the roaring wind and rain. “What a way to wake up,” He mutters under his breath. Standing tall, his sword held firmly in one hand, the other raised towards the sky, he lets the power of lightning and tempest and storm rage through him, energy flows from his hand, wrapping around his fingers like tendrils of liquid sunlight, then split up toward his chosen allies.
Casting Bless on himself, Tendilius and Dabbert
Ka-Cha lobs a chat-kcj=ha at it
22 to hit (sorry)
Damage 5 plus 4 from Kensai shot
Ka-Cha Khan makes the first attack. Swift and precise, the praying mantis always gets the its prey. The chatcka slices through the air, its momentum too high to be dissuaded down by the hailing droplets. The flame-being steps back as the blade slices through it. Despite being made of literal fire, it seems to feel that. It grumbles. Not like and 'oh no I've been cut in half' but'oh I stubbed my toe' (well actually stubbing your toe hurts just as well, so it really took this one with much nonchalance.
The chatcka boomerangs back into your hand. Hooty hoots in cheer.
The warlock steps up to the plate, taking the gambit with his deck of spectral cards. Again, it is flame. Would it really feel it? Apparently it does as each card sends a burst of an almost firework-type explosion within its body. The creature keels over. Or is it really keeling if it doesn't even have legs (or a body) to begin with? Really, its flame just subside down for a bit as its body works its down to the floor. But then in a burst of hot air, it rises up again, more angry than before.
"RAHHHHH!"
It clicks. It sounds like flint and steel knocked together. Dabbert springs into action. Though his heart may be weary, his body is not. He takes out his spear and sticks it through the creature. The entropic flame hisses and tries to reach out and grab at this, but the rouge is just too quick. He wrenches it in and then seconds out, he drives the other side of the spear into the flame's heart. The monster clicks some more. But Dabbert is already gone and rushed back to huddle with his... peers (he still did not know).
Hadrian, recognizing the power of his companions decides to amplify it with his Blessing. The light shots out from his fingertips to the chosen three. They feel the energy surge within them. Somehow it cools against the thick heat of this rain.
The druid, soaking wet, steadies herself against the flamed foe. "Stars guide us." And they do. She reaches up to the rain and takes a droplet. It doesn't drip in her hand. It bubble like the morning dew. The aaraokocra in his anger, flies up and catches the rain in a softball like throw, he chucks it. In mid-air it goes from water to ice to ice knife as it is sent slicing flame's skull head. A perfect trick shot. Juniper too cats Ice Knife, figuring that it too would dampen the entropic flame's fiery mood. Yet, even with Heiboros's perfect cut, the near explosion of the shard afterwards just leaves the entropic flame a bit tingly as it doesn't make any further moves to indicate its pain.
Juniper sends her own ice knife flying. "AHH!" The entropic flame shouts, getting cut right through its heart. Click. Click. Click. Click. The ice melts within its core.
"RAHHHHHHHH!"
Suddenly the winds shift. The flame being is no longer willing to tolerate this kind of behavior. It sends out a line of flame towards Hadrian and rides it. In less than a second it appears in front of Hadrian's eyes. Just being within his space sets the paladin quickly on fire. Encased in some sort of flaming bear hug, the flames lick at your old wounds and bury into them. It holds its arm up to your forehead, with a flames being sucked into a fiery orb. It pulls it back, but then- the rains have drenched both you and it, and that fireball is gone.
It sends its body hurtling like a comet towards Ka-Cha Khan. The tri-keen's body is engulfed in fire. Deciding not to mess with it anymore, it brings its gaze over to you, Dabbert.
The floating skull head moves 180 without turning the rest of its body. Another fist of flame comes right up. It burns through Dabbert's armor and skin with such a terrible intent. The skull bobs up and down at your pain. You can almost see a smile on its lip-less face before it is gone.
It makes it move over towards the last two combatants. 'Saved room for more?' It seems to tilt its head. Then in that same comet-like energy it throws itself in front of Juniper and Heiboros, setting them both on fire. The druid's yew wand gets singed and the feather of Heiboros darkened and some fall to the ground in watery ash. The flames send such choking smoke up into you nostrils. Your skin feels its fury.
Then in one slick move, it turns its head towards Tendilius. 'Last but not least.' A fiery flameball is sent hurtling towards you. It knocks you off your feet and sends fire raging across your body as it burns everything within sight. You smell your own skin burning.
<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
Player: Dragonlance
Tendilius thanks Hadrian for the blessing. "Might be best for us to spread out." he says "Keep that thing from teleporting into all of us."
He looses an eldritch blast at the flame-being and ducks behind the cottage walls for cover.
Action: Eldritch Blast
To-Hit: 14+6+4 = 24
Damage: 4+4 = 8 force
Movement: roughly NW->NW->W to get 1/2 or 3/4 cover from the cottage.
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny | Draíocht, Kholias | Eggo Lass, 100 Dungeons
Talorin Tebedi, Vecna: Eve | Cherry, Stormwreck | Chipper, Strahd
We Are Modron
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 48, 5/23/25, Immaculate Mary
Ka-Cha throws his Chat-kcha again, but waits for an opportune moment, to gain advantage.
"Can someone please help action me?" he says & returns the favor.
25 to hit
Damage 6 + 1
If the creature gets close enough to attack him, he uses"Step of the Wind" to jump out of reach. (Could he have used this before?)
Concentration check for Bless: 19
One moment Hadrian is engulfed by its flame, the world narrows to the searing heat and the overwhelming presence of fire. But then it teleports away, fire flickers, then vanishes. Torrents of rain pour down, steam hissing off his armor and skin. Hadrian's fingers tighten around the hilt of his sword. Closing the distance between him and the fiery structure, the blade gleaming wet as he brings it down towards it.
Attack (with GWM): 4 + 10 from Channel Divinity
Damage: 23
If hits, add 12 radiant damage from Divine Smite
Hooty hears the cries of Ka-Cha and assists him. The little owl flies by and gives some good grace towards the tri-keen, making him more steady in his shot. The chat-kcha goes slicing through the air, but something in the wind throws it off. A small dragonfly, blown off by the storm's thunderous wind, was in the direct collision course. Instead that bug gets the brunt end of it and crumples to the floor. The flame being somehow seems annoyed by this. "RAGGGHHHHHHH," it roars and blows off some steam. The water on its head evaporates instantaneously.
After being engulfed by flames, Hadrian regains his bearings. The blessing still stays on all of his friends. Tendilius using this advnatage to set out an attack on the monster. He conjures up a crackling beam of energy and sends it hurtling towards it. The ball of seething darkness that pulsates in the wind sends the Entropic Flame off course as it pushes back a few feet for only the monster to ride the flames again and come back to its original position. It glowers. It reaches its hand out to see that something about your blast had dimmed it. The darkness managed to douse out some of its light. It screeches. The flames on its back spike up like the quills of a porcupine.
The rougish fighter lets loose a spear that slices and dices through the flame's body. Well, really it stroke it once but it might as well have been a million as the it targets the flame right in the heart. Its tea kettle whistle ripples throughout the air. You see through the windows of cottages that some people have begun watching this fight. The Entropic Flame grinds its teeth and steps out.
Dabbert manages to dash away just in time for the druid sends forth and icy blast of Frostbite. It covers the surrounding area in bone-chilling frost. It covers the floating skull and heart of the flame being entirely. Heiboros flies up just above it to miss the blast. Like an angry snowball, the flame being's empty sockets spur flames out from its icy container. It melts the whole gods-damned thing.
Heiboros, taking again another droplet of rain, carries out his sorcerer's technique of making nothing into something. The blade of the ice knife sails into the beast's socket. It has had enough.
The Entropic Flame grows brighter... and brighter - the two nearest step back but it is too late. They too are stuck in the flame. The fires dance around their bodies and scorch their skin like the sun and the rain makes it all the while worst as somehow it created a little bubble of tropical humidity. It is the smell of sweat and ash in the air. The feathers of the aarakocra only act as more kindling as it claws hard against the bird-man's wings, grabbing him in mid-air to throw him back on the ground (which he lands and gets up again with a huff) before letting go.
It teleports out the way for its next sight. It targets the next nearest thing, unaware of the owl just flying beside it. Its fiery back arches up and it takes a pitcher's pose. The fiery mound makes a curveball in the air as it strikes the paladin - or so it would have if the rain hadn't extinguished it in time.
It makes some clicks as it dislikes that. It tries for that again, taking up first base and hurling another flameball at Juniper. Again it hits her. She falls back, stumbling on the muddy wet ground, but she falls right back into place and stands her ground unlike Heiboros who had to pick himself up off the dirt.
After this the flame being takes a few more moments to calm down. Its fires are gently going down.You can tell from its hesitation that when it tried to spurt new flames from its back, it couldn't. It stares hard out in front of it, the wind and the rain going hard. Then a small cry from inside the cottage turns its attention around. It makes a series of clicks. A wide smile appears on its face and without a moment's waste its flames slip under the doors and into Tendilius and Ka-Cha's hotel room for the night.
You first hear the crackles. Then you see flames. A horrified Emma screams.
<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
Player: Dragonlance
Ka-Cha switches to the Gythka and charges (waiting for advantage/help).
22 to hit
8 damage
Then soends a ki point for Flurry of :Blows
17 to hit
5 damage
8 to hit
7 damage
Which incites Agile Parry (+2 to AC)
and a final Ki point on Agile Defense (Dodge 15)
Tendilius yelps as the Daring Do enthusiast screams. He dashes towards the cottage. "Hooty, help!" he commands.
The owlbat swoops into the cottage and distracts the flame before flying back out. (no opportunity attack due to flyby)
[[ If there's an opening to shoot an eldritch blast through an open window or something, he'd use that for his action instead of dashing. ]]
Eldritch Blast
To-Hit: 5+6+4 = 15
Damage: 10+4 = 14 force
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny | Draíocht, Kholias | Eggo Lass, 100 Dungeons
Talorin Tebedi, Vecna: Eve | Cherry, Stormwreck | Chipper, Strahd
We Are Modron
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 48, 5/23/25, Immaculate Mary
((THE DARING DO ENTHUSIAST-))
Tendilius comes, sliding like a baserunner back towards the cottage. An Eldritch Blast of black and white with almost hand-like clawing goes shooting out his palms before the skid. It shatters the glass of the windows instantaneously. There is a great sucking of air that comes from the opening up of the vacuum; the wind feeds the flames more oxygen. The fire licks the sides of the building, but luckily the water douses it in time. The same can't be said for the inside. The bear carpet has been reduced to ashes in the flames. The flame being looks intently on its target and doesn't even flinch.
The owl swiftly swoops in to distract the beast, giving Ka-Cha enough time to steady his attack. The thri-keen appears by the window with a chat-kha in his hands. It slices through the Entropic Flame's fiery heart. You hear it break like charcoal though it looks like glass. The blade eats away at it chips. The chat-kha returns back into Ka-Cha's hands just as quick. The monster roars, ignroing the small child cowering under the bed and heads straight towards the window. Its arms grab at Ka-Cha, but the mantis has other plans. It sends forth a Furry of Blows at its attacker. The Flame just doesn't know what's coming. Ka-Cha Khan straight up... punches fire-
AND IT GOES HARD. The monster steps back mortified. It braces, but the next punch just doesn't land the same. "RAHHHHHHHH!" It screams, its eye sockets set ablaze. It reels in for another Hurl Flame but is reduced to just a blackened heart in the flame. The charcoal stops beating, soggy. Emma steps back holding an empty bucket.
"The wash bin-" she mumbles, for some reason trying to explain herself. She stands there completely still in the middle of the fire, like a deer in the road.
<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
Player: Dragonlance
[[ Huzzah at Ka-Cha literally punching fire! ]]
Tendilius looks on as it hits that Emma, of all the people in this battle, was the one to land the killing blow. "Well I'll be." he says still shocked, "Nice job... Daring Do." He takes a quick look at the cottage's status for any fires to put out and then says, "Well, I think we should probably get Emma back home first?"
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny | Draíocht, Kholias | Eggo Lass, 100 Dungeons
Talorin Tebedi, Vecna: Eve | Cherry, Stormwreck | Chipper, Strahd
We Are Modron
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 48, 5/23/25, Immaculate Mary
"You have the heart of a warrior", Ka-Cha says. Then he looks for Wormy to return him.
Emma stands there so very still until Tendilius's words snap her out of it. She blinks and startles. "Daring Do?" she mumbles. She beams so hard but then shortly after her face goes sullen.
"I- I wanted to just- I don't know what happened. I tried to- I tried to get these," she drags her backpack out from under the bed to show it contains a Miner's Pick. "I don't know I guess I knocked it ov- the wind?! Ahhh it came crashing down. I'M SORRY! I'm sorry. Sorry." Her tears are wet and sloppy. Snot runs down her nose. Emma runs over and hugs Juniper who had walked in shortly after the flame being was extinguished. "He sells them." She looks over at the cart that is now toppled over outside. "It was just two, and so I used the ones you gave me earlier- I just-I don't know!" She bawls. "I'm so sorry."
Her tears soon turn to coughs as you realize there is about 6 small fires going on all over the place. Emma tries to wave away the smoke.
At Ka-Cha's comment, Emma turns. "Really?" Wormy was somewhere on the thri-keen's head, and somehow, it remained unscratched throughout the battle. It squirms in your grasp as you hand it to Emma. "WORMY?!" She pets the small critter while coughing intently, then drying her own tears. Putting the caterpillar in her pocket, she spots and points to a large vase on the mantle of the fireplace... which had already been on fire. She tries to pick up the vase, but it is too heavy for her. She helps you do whatever you can to put out the fires.
((Emma is currently at 3/4 HP because of smoke inhalation but she does not know that. staying longer in the fire is also pretty bad for you guy's health but it hasn't affected you yet.))
<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
Player: Dragonlance