Sparlock's Hoard of the Dragon Queen

Eadyan doesn't even flinch at the flames that Valji produces. "Your flame is nothing compared to the power my Lord grants me. The bird has witnessed the power of my burning hands in the forest. According to the legends, it is a powerful mask... it grant's its wearer the ability to speak in the tongue of the dragons. And for those who are already kin to dragons, it grants them the mind of such a beast and influence among them. Those cultists are unworthy of such power."

Lissandra is still sitting next to where Darvin was coccooned, and is privy to this conversation.

Lissandra or DC 15 Religion Check (Valji may make this check with advantage, Skiaceq with disadvantage)

"Well I would certainly agree with that! From what I've seen of them, these cultists certainly shouldn't be trusted with anything so powerful. Far better for us to find it. You know, for the safety and well being of everyone. Any idea where we should look next?"

OoC: Are there any other passages in this cavern, or just back the way we came?

The party sits in the middle of the wide cavern. Behind, some flickering embers of the fallen web gently illuminate the entrance you came from. The torchlight shows that there are no other entrances to the side, but ahead, across the web, there is a place where the torchlight disappears into the distance. Unfortunately, it is too distant from the torch to clearly make out whether or not there is an entrance over there. In front of you, the webs are laid thick on the ground, making you feel as if you could almost walk across were you able to avoid sticking to it. Above, there are a couple of the queen spider's webs left,  cocoons of her humanoid victims scattered amongst them. The ground around you is still crawling with the smaller spiders from before, but without their leader seem mostly harmless.

DC 15 Religion Check: 20

 "Wait...The Goddess Chauntea does not grant burning hands to her followers. In fact, it is rare for the Divine to grant that power to their followers. I know followers of the Gods of Light may know this spell, and those of us who practice the arcane arts...What is your game?"

Intelligence(Investigation) check: 10

Eadyan looks slightly taken aback by the questioning and doesn't answer right away.

Valji

Valji gasps and points at Eadyan. "I see through your illusion now, tiefling! My avian friend WAS right about you! Look, everyone. The form you see is not this creature's true self. No, he is not a human cleric, but a tiefling under a powerful illusion! Watch out for his weapon - it is not a club but a black saber which crackles with purple energy. Around his neck is a golden amulet with the inverted triangles arranged into a single downward pointed triangle which I recognize as the symbol of the cults of Asmodeus! He is no friend of us or the town!" Valji raises his fire bolt again, ready to throw it at Eadyan if he attempts to flee or attacks. "Surrender now, evil one. Do not do anything stupid..."

If he attacks/runs:

Skiaceq’s feathers stand straight upon hearing Valji’s decree. He feels an odd mix of relief, anger, and disappointment.

Before Eadyan can make a move, the monk rushes him and plants a rough avian palm against his chest, then kicks at the rear of his knee.

Grapple Strength check: 20

The man pitches forward onto his knees. In the moment of surprise following, Skiaceq clasps his other hand firmly around the back of the kneeling Eadyan’s neck. “You know, I wanted to believe you. In my shame, I almost did. Someone get his weapon!”

 Distracted only for a moment, "Eadyan" writhes against Skiaceqs grip, headbutting him hard enough to knock the Aarakocra off his back and screaming in anger as his illusion dissapates. Spitting angry curses, he turns to face Skiaceq, backing up against the pillar and chanting something in infernal. As he's begins chanting, Valji's firebolt finds purchase in his robes, causing them to smoke, but seemingly doing no damage. (Resistance to Fire brings damage down to 0)

Shadows coalesce in eight different spots around the party, forming into what looks like a blob of liquified human flesh from which extends the fleshy torso of a humanoid creature. A hairless, distorted face adorns the top of the torsos, featuring a maddened smile or silent scream from which the teeth of these damned creatures seem to be trying to escape.

"You were useful in helping me get past the Cult of the Dragon, but don't think that will be enough to convince me to let you live after this slight," the tiefling yells.

Go ahead and roll for initiative. I'll get a map up when I get home and roll for anyone who hasn't by the time I get back.

As Valji confronts the impostor, Darvin catches his eye momentarily. A fleeting twinkle appears first in Darvin's eye, then in Valji's. The gnome feels a burst of magical confidence (bardic inspiration).

Initiative: 20

OoC: I love this sentence: "Around his neck is a golden amulet with the inverted triangles arranged into a single downward pointed triangle which I recognize as the symbol of the cults of Asmodeus!" :-)

Initiative: 16

Initiative: 11

After the shock passes, Skiaceq mutters an Aarakocran curse. He’d been certain his grip was secure. His thoughts turn to the guards outside as he adopts a fighting stance, thanking the heavens he hadn’t exposed this menace with them present.

Initiative Round 1

Darvin (Blessed)
Valji (Blessed)
Lemure 5
Lemure 8
Skiaceq (Blessed)
Lemure 1
Lemure 2
Lemure 7
Lissandra (Concentrating on Bless)
Lemure 3
Tiefling
Lemure 6

Suddenly, devilish, fleshy entities appear around the party, summoned forth by the tiefling. What will you do? Darvin is up first. (Also, if I have anyone placed where they don't want to be on that map, let me know)

OoC: Where is Lissandra on the map?

As the fleshy creatures rise up from the floor, Darvin lets out a quick yelp of surprise. He shouts some words of encouragement to Skiaceq, whose eyes briefly glow white from the inspiration (bardic inspiration). Then, locking his gaze on the tiefling, his voice turns to a deep hellish rasp as a stream of the foulest curse words in the infernal language leaves his mouth, together with wisps of jet black smoke. As the smoke and the sound enter into "Eadyan"'s ears, the tiefling's mind is filled with images of his own flesh being consumed by white radiant flame.

(Dissonant Whispers: Make a DC 13 wisdom save. On a fail, the tiefling takes 17 psychic damage and uses its reaction to get as far as its movement allows from Darvin; on success take half damage and need not move.)

I was hoping Lissandra would say something before I placed her. Somewhere to the South of the chest.

Wisdom Saving Throw: 19

OoC: Stupid actually wise fake cleric... (Reminder: In case the goobers are summoned via a concentration spell, the tiefling needs to make a concentration check.)

Yep they're still there. Also, Valji is up. :3

The gnome throws his now-famous fire bolt at the imposter, then moves southwest to get out of the middle of the newly-summoned creatures! "I knew it! Bad to the bone! Well, here's what I promised you..."

Ranged attack: Attack: 25 Damage: 12

"It's getting hot in here!"

OoC: You've gotten so many crits on your fire bolt!!

The firebolt scorches over the head of the lemure in front of Valji, slamming into the tiefling so hard that he is pushed back against the stalactite behind him. He looks over at Valji with murder in his eyes. He looks like that shot really got to him, but he's still in the fight.

The lemure behind Skiaceq oozes toward Darvin, taking a swing at him with its fleshy arm, but it swings wide. (Attack: 21 Damage: 3). From behind Valji, another fleshy fist comes slamming down. (Attack: 22 Damage: 4)

Skiaceq is up.

The sight of these abominations sends a cold shiver down Skiaceq's spine. In dim torchlight, they resemble newly dead, skinned alive and discarded in a pile.

But through his fear, Skiaceq sees an opening when "Eadyan" recoils from Valji's streaking flame. He bitterly lashes at the tiefling's side and lower back.

Unarmed Strike: 24 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll.; Bonus Attack: 6 Damage: 5