Erik Soong's Call of the Netherdeep

The off-duty officer takes Sky’s requisition letter and Nivi’s map. He looks them over and his smug grin tumbles from his face. He shows them to his on-duty friends who have similar reactions. As Morgan rather effectively begins to rub it in, his words are punctuated by a boom from behind the doors that the guards stand in front ot.

Shouting erupts from the soldiers just as the colossal doors fly open. Two shadowy, winged creatures burst through the opening, immediately take flight, and screech as they dive toward you, their ebon talons extended. Some of you who have traveled with the heroes for some time recognize these creatures. Gloomstalkers. For those unfamiliar, these shadowy creatures appear as living smoke, their smallest talon as long as any sword and curved for ripping open bellies, their teeth dagger-length, its eyes otherworldly and filled with hate.

Three other Aurora Watch soldiers can be seen just inside the doors, their bodies sprawled about and bloody. One of the fallen from within desperately reaches toward the three soldiers out on the steps with you. Then she falls unconscious.

The three Aurora Watch with you gasp in horror at seeing their friends down.

DM: Roll Initiative.

OOC: Oh shit.

Initiative- 15

Jacaranda stood her ground and launched two shafts into the nearest creature recognizing it from their encounter on the road.

Attack: 19 Damage: 9

Attack: 18 Damage: 11

Nivi's Initiative:  7 (what is it with Nivi and her Initiative rolls... too busy laconically baiting Aurora Watch guards, I guess...)

Morgan can’t believe it. He was just joking...
He’s starting to think it’s the angry spirit of his bat-familiar returning to take revenge because he hasn’t summoned it again

Initiative (with advantage for Tides of Chaos): 8

(OOC: so a natural 20 on Deception turns lies into reality... 🤦)

Quote from Wysperra >>

OOC: Oh shit.

(Frekor's initiative: 17, 10+7)

(OOC: You got that right.)

Quote from TeethAgatha >>

 

(OOC: so a natural 20 on Deception turns lies into reality... 🤦)

(OOC: Seems like it does hahaha.)

Initiative

Gloomstalkers: 14

Heroes
Randa: 15
Nivi: 7
Morgan: 8
Frekor: 17
Average: 11.75 -> 12

Sky has a +0 modifier to his Initiative, and even with a Nat 20, that would only bring the average up to 13.4 -> 13, so the Gloomstalkers win Initiative.

The Gloomstalkers take flight, one arcing around the group in a predatory fashion before diving down from behind Randa. Just as Randa was preparing her shot, the monstrosity (A) drops down upon her and snaps at her with its long, bladed teeth. Then it swipes at her with its claws, but cuts only the air as Randa’s warrior training kicks in and she flips out of the way.

DM: Attack Bite against Randa: 22. Piercing Damage 16 + Necrotic Damage 12.
Attack Claws against Randa: 11, a miss.
Randa, you are now within 5ft of the Gloomstalker attacking you. You have two choices: Roll a second set of Range Attacks, which I will count as the “Disadvantage” roll (you do not need to roll with Disadvantage), or risk an Opportunity Attack by moving 5ft away and keep your existing rolls. Your choice.

The other (B) hovers in the air, 30 ft above the party. It lets out a terrifying shriek that splits the mind, fracturing thought. The soldiers clutch their ears, but shake off the supernatural effects and as they gather themselves up to respond, they look to the heroes that saved their already pretty heroic Taskmaster.

DM: Everyone please make a Constitution Saving Throw, DC 13 or have the Paralyzed Condition until the end of the Gloomstalker’s NEXT turn. All the conscious Aurora Watch soldiers (the three with you) passed their Saves and will take their turns after the Heroes. Any Reactions to the first Gloomstalker Attack can be taken before the second Gloomstalker screams.

The Heroes begin to feel Ylis' absence.

Heroes GO!

(My Init: 4)

Sky's CON save: 23  (18+5)

Sky tightly grips in one hand the cord his holy symbol rests on, even as he quietly sings a very abbreviated short battle hymn.

Frekor, Nivi, and Jacaranda receive the benefits of the Bless spell (add +1d4 to your Attack Rolls and Saving Throws; I don't think this would apply to the already-standing CON save, but Sky's purpose is to bolster attacks, anyway.)

"Don't let these things get to you," he says aloud, channeling some righteous anger to fend off the effects of the Gloomstalkers' shriek.

OOC: Everybody still gets your Paladin bonus to saves.

Quote from Erik_Soong >>

DM: Everyone please make a Constitution Saving Throw, DC 13 or have the Paralyzed Condition until the end of the Gloomstalker’s NEXT turn. All the conscious Aurora Watch soldiers (the three with you) passed their Saves and will take their turns after the Heroes. Any Reactions to the first Gloomstalker Attack can be taken before the second Gloomstalker screams.

The Heroes begin to feel Ylis' absence.

Heroes GO!

(Frekor's CON Save: 20, 17+3. Bless: 2.    Total: 22. Success.)

(OOC: Question: How high are the gloomstalkers? Are they at melee range? The picture doesn't give us that information.)

(OOC: Weird -- I had edited my post to say this, but the edit is now gone.)

DM: Dang failure in clarity! The one that is shrieking is 30ft above (I put the white ring around it to give some indication), but it is easy for that to make sense in my head since ALL the information is there to add context to the ring, my bad.

The one next to Randa is in melee with her and on the ground. 

Edited the post for necessary clarity. Thank you guys.

Randa Con Save- 22

( Take the AoO to move back next to Frekor.    Bless- additions to rolls- 2  and 3 .)

( Well, Randa just lost 3/4 of her HP. So I guess she's gonna BA- Second Wind- 13 )

Quote from Damian_May >>

( Take the AoO to move back next to Frekor.    Bless- additions to rolls- 2  and 3 .)

 The Gloomstalker nips at Randa as she leaps away. 

DM: Opportunity Attack Bite at Randa 19, Piercing Damage 10, Necrotic Damage 7. 

( Down to sub-10 Hp again but still upright.)

Nivi's DC13 CON Save:  23 (Nat. 20, wish that had been for an attack or Initiative!) + 2 from Sky's Aura of Protection = 25 (success)
Shiv's DC13 CON Save:  1d20 - 1 = 12 + 2 from Sky's Aura of Protection = 14 (success)

After witnessing Desu's sacrificial descent in the pit of the sewers, nothing should shock Nivi any more, but the Gloomstalkers still do.  Seeing Jacaranda shredded by one, the rogue hisses a curse at herself.  Damn Nivi!.  You're slower than a guardsman walking out of a damn pastry shop.

Sending Shiv well away from the shadowy horror, Nivi suffuses her rapier with pale green thunderous energy and slips across to shank what passes for the torso within the smoky form of the one at ground level, making sure to use the NON-poisoned edge, then ducks and dances away.

Movement:  West and south to attack Gloomstalker A from 5' north of it, then 5' north after attacking, hopefully out of melee range and in Sky's Aura.

Action:  Nivi attacks Gloomstalker A with Booming Blade using her rapier
Booming Blade with Rapier to hit:  18 + 4 from Bless = 22
Booming Blade with Rapier damage:  10 (base) + 11 (Sneak Attack) = 21 piercing + 6 thunder = 27 total immediate damage
Booming Blade Secondary Damage:  if Gloomstalker A moves voluntarily before Nivi's turn, it takes additional damage:  6 thunder
Vex Weapon Mastery:  Nivi has advantage on her next attack against  Gloomstalker A

Bonus Action:  Cunning Action - Nivi disengages so she can step away (north) 5' safely after attacking.

Shiv flies up and south, 50' above for an owls' eye view, watching for the emergence of additional threats to warn Nivi of telepathically.  (Flyby avoids AoO).
(120' darkvision) Shiv's Perception, 1d20 + 5:  14

Nivi is concentrating on Blade Ward for 5 rounds.  4 more after this round.  She has reactions available and may use them.