Mister_Whisker Presents: Chronicles of the Accursed

“That’s the problem… does anyone have poison or something?”

Balthathar looks at the others.

“If not, I have another idea.”

"I don't have any poison, but perhaps diplomacy can still prevail. Come, let's go in to procure us some food and drink after a long trek. Come on Thorgath, first drink's on me." The Red Dragonborn walks into the tavern, stopping at the door just long enough to get his bearings, then heads to the counter.

As you push the tavern door open, you get a good look at the interior. A handful of bandits (4) are at one table, drunkenly demanding more ale from the terrified tavern girl who scurries at their demands.

At a second table sit another two men. These two are bigger and more muscular than the common bandits, with an air of professional competence about them even as they laugh and drink. At the same table is a woman, likely with elvish blood by the looks of her, laughing with the brutes and gently caressing the cheek of one of the two men. A staff is propped up against the table next to her.

The tables immediately surrounding the two groups are empty. The other patrons, mostly old men and a handful of tired-looking women, are dotted around the edges of the tavern. The bartender looks up from where he was polishing a glass. He has a haunted look in his eyes, like a man who knows one wrong move could mean death.

BOO

(We could’ve finished the bandits before they noticed us…)

Balthathar shrugs. Whatever…

He doesn’t enter the tavern. Instead, he presses his back against the wall and peers inside.

“The wizard left her staff on the table. If we can take it… that’ll be a huge advantage.”

He murmurs a quiet prayer to his goddess.

Guidance: 2

"Same idea..." is a barely audible murmur from the shadows.

Dhamila tries to stay hidden, taking advantage of the door someone else has opened to sneak in, then moving from under one empty table to another.

The Runaway Tiefling stays away from her adventuring companions, confident that the bandits (including the more experienced trio) will focus their attention on them—if not as a threat, then at least as newcomers.

The Creepy Girl aims to get under the table against which the staff is propped... then take possession of the staff while the others are distracted and slip away again.

Quote from Painted_Beyond >>

"Same idea..." is a barely audible murmur from the shadows.

Dhamila tries to stay hidden, taking advantage of the door someone else has opened to sneak in, then moving from under one empty table to another.

The Runaway Tiefling stays away from her adventuring companions, confident that the bandits (including the more experienced trio) will focus their attention on them—if not as a threat, then at least as newcomers.

The Creepy Girl aims to get under the table against which the staff is propped... then take possession of the staff while the others are distracted and slip away again.

The party's entry gives the tiefling a brief moment of distraction.

Roll me a Slight of Hand check to recover the staff without getting the attention of the trio at the table.

Dhamila's Sleigh of Hand: 18

The two thugs seem not to notice as Dhamila inching closer to the table. Suddenly, the mage glances down at just the wrong moment as the tiefling reaches towards the staff...

"Hey!" she screams, startling the two brutes. "What do you think you're doing?! That's mine!"

She grabs her staff as the two brutes stand up.

Dhamila, you have one opportunity to try to talk your way out of this...

Dhamila sighs... it was so close! But not everything can always go as planned. At least, no one saw her with the party, so the rest of the group won't have to suffer repercussions.

The Creepy Girl winks: "Hey, come on! We're in a lawless town... I just wanted to join those in charge—rather than be counted among those who are subjected—and what better way to introduce myself than with an object stolen from a she-wizard? Don't tell me you wouldn't have done the same if the roles were reversed! But you were lucky, so instead, out of shame, I'll just have to... disappear!"

As she spoke, however, the Runaway Tiefling took advantage of the time gained to activate her own magical ring... The pain of the curse pierces her—but it doesn't catch her unprepared, she knew what to expect—and as soon as she turns invisible, she runs out of the inn, certain that, given the confusion in the place, it's impossible for the criminals to figure out her location. Once outside, she walks around the inn, standing (still invisibly) to observe from a window in a completely different position than where she was before.

Curse damage: 3 (force)

"The Hell was that??" one of the two brutes demands, swiping at thin air and finding nothing.

"A caster!" exclaims the mage. "Everyone, spread out and find the devilspawn! No one leaves here until we know what she was doing here..."

Her gaze falls on the newcomers who have just entered the tavern.

"Especially these ones... who I have a feeling might just know more about this than they're letting on."

It technically isn't combat yet... but... they're ready for a fight now. So everyone, please roll initiative.

This could still technically be resolved diplomatically, but I want to have a structured order of events to resolve what's happening.

Initiative (bandits):

Mage - 18
Brutes (x2) - 10
Bandits (x4) - 11

The massive heavily tattooed goliath scoffs as the masked elf mentions poison, giving them a cold glare. It was the tool of a coward and he would never tolerate it's use.

He then nods to the dragonfolk and steps inside the tavern, touching his belt as he does. then walking over to the bar to have their largest barrel of beer. Somehow it is only when the two brutes stand up that he realizes he has walked right past a group of bandits, and he steps closer to the woman, right behind her in fact, grabbing her by her neck and lifting her up, turning her towards him. "You brigands? Tell Thorgath where brigand boss is!" He growls, and she would feel his strong hand would snep her neck like a twig.

(Casting Resistance, bludgeoning on the way in)

(Thorgath initiative: 13)

Initiative: 10

“ Mielikki dammit! “

Since leaving the temple, nothing has gone according to plan.

Balthathar grips his glaive, readying himself.

Initiative : 3

Dhamila's Initiative: 18 (She can swap her Initiative with that of another character, if they agree, thanks to the Alert feat)

Abishai had been just about to ask the bartender for a menu when the Tiefling girl had tried to steal the witches staff. The commotion caused the Red Dragonborn to turn around to watch. He didn't like the accusatory tone of the witch, not one bit. "Well of course we know more. We haven't even had a proper conversation yet!" He answers the woman as he watches Thorgath lift her off her feet by the neck. "Well, that's one way to make friends!" He muses to himself. 

Abishai waits at the bar for the situation to unfold. His hand moving to the rod on his belt, but secretly, the dragonborn considers using his fire breath on the group of bandits should they move to attack.

(I went ahead and rolled Brynja's initiative)

Initiative:
Thorgath (19)
--
Mage
--
Dhamila
--
Bandits (x4)
--
Abishai
Brynja
--
Brutes (x2)