Here be Dragones! A full Tyranny of Dragons Play-Through (Game Thread)

(OOC: Sorry, I missed posting! Was busy past couple of days)

Stealth: 20

*Yeah, the party totally sneaks past the patrolling raiders with such subtlety that they don’t even see them or the secret entrance. Where is the group going?*

Cass nods once as the last of the raiders disappear into the darkness behind them and begins moving along the riverbank toward the temple. He adjusts the grip on his shield and glances back to ensure the others are keeping pace. “The temple has people inside, and people are why we left the keep in the first place.” With that, Cass continues toward the stone building, focused on reaching it before they encounter anyone else.

As JoJo is point man on this expedition 

Perception 8

Jojo perceives that it is about 10 PM, that they haven’t run into any other raiders yet, and that most of the attackers of the temple have given up on torching the place, instead opting for a battering ram on the front door. One group of them has formed a perimeter around the temple and are making a sufficient cacophony to conceal the party’s approach; a third group is attempting to light a pile of hay by the back door.

JoJo relays the info to cass to determine what to do.  JoJo says, " shall we go after the rear door group 1st?"

Cass lowers himself into a crouch and studies the temple grounds for a moment, letting the noise of the raiders reveal more than their eyes ever could. His attention settles first on the battering ram at the front door and then on the smaller group struggling to ignite the hay at the rear entrance. “Knew a captain named Roland Mercer who used to say that a man with a ram is committed to his work, but a man trying to light wet hay is still deciding whether he wants to be here.”
The old cleric glances toward his companions before pointing toward the rear of the temple. “The noise around the front door is covering our approach, and the people at the back are isolated from the rest.” He settles his shield more securely on his arm and nods toward the group by the hay. “We start there, because if we can remove them quietly, we may gain access to the temple before anyone at the front realizes they are no longer alone.”

(OoC: Since it seems a forgone conclusion we will be entering initiative eminently can I get Bless cast just prior?)

Neega follows at the rear, shield kept close and sword still sheathed. Each step is measured, her shoulders shifting just enough to keep the chain links from scraping too loudly against one another. Whenever the mail sounds her hand settles over it dampening the noise so it does not reach the raiders ears.
As the others proceed toward the temple, she pauses and looks back along the way they came. Her eyes linger on the alleys, rooftops, and shadows behind them, watching for movement or the shape of anyone following. After a few breaths, she turns and catches up with the group.
When JoJo gives his report, Neega lowers into a crouch near the others and looks toward the temple grounds. Her gaze moves from the noise at the front door to the smaller group near the pile of hay.
“I agree, back door.” she says quietly. “Front has too many eyes and we do not know how many reinforcements are near. Let’s hope the commotion and darkness help cover our approach.”

(OOC: Did JoJo note how roughly how many are in the groups? General types of creatures? More kobolds? Also, Neega has Darkvision up to 120' does she see anything else from her vantage point? She would mainly looking for composition and number of the groups and if there are other groups further out.)

Perception Check: 3

Quote from Naiya_Varma >>

(OoC: Since it seems a forgone conclusion we will be entering initiative eminently can I get Bless cast just prior?)

 *of course*

Quote from cndnd >>

Neega follows at the rear, shield kept close and sword still sheathed. Each step is measured, her shoulders shifting just enough to keep the chain links from scraping too loudly against one another. Whenever the mail sounds her hand settles over it dampening the noise so it does not reach the raiders ears.
As the others proceed toward the temple, she pauses and looks back along the way they came. Her eyes linger on the alleys, rooftops, and shadows behind them, watching for movement or the shape of anyone following. After a few breaths, she turns and catches up with the group.
When JoJo gives his report, Neega lowers into a crouch near the others and looks toward the temple grounds. Her gaze moves from the noise at the front door to the smaller group near the pile of hay.
“I agree, back door.” she says quietly. “Front has too many eyes and we do not know how many reinforcements are near. Let’s hope the commotion and darkness help cover our approach.”

(OOC: Did JoJo note how roughly how many are in the groups? General types of creatures? More kobolds? Also, Neega has Darkvision up to 120' does she see anything else from her vantage point? She would mainly looking for composition and number of the groups and if there are other groups further out.)

Perception Check: 18

 *from what you can see by firelight, there are about 6 kobolds and 2 other humanoids by the back door; and about three times as many at the front door; those seem preoccupied with the battering ram. There are other groups of raiders out and about, but the din, chaos, and poor light makes it difficult for them to pick out the party specifically, as they likely have never seen you before. The cacophony also will conceal all other noise not nearby except a shout for help*

Fuzzpaw nods silently as the group agrees to sneak to the rear of the building. He holds his staff in front of him and checks to make sure that his Mage Armor is still in effect. As they make their way toward the temple, Fuzzpaw looks up at the building and searches the windows and walls for any other ways out besides the front and back doors, should they find themselves trapped.

(OOC: Also trying to see if he notices anything in the windows while he looks to see if they're openable from the inside)

Perception: Unable to parse dice roll.

Quote from _theguynamedguy_ >>

Fuzzpaw nods silently as the group agrees to sneak to the rear of the building. He holds his staff in front of him and checks to make sure that his Mage Armor is still in effect. As they make their way toward the temple, Fuzzpaw looks up at the building and searches the windows and walls for any other ways out besides the front and back doors, should they find themselves trapped.

(OOC: Also trying to see if he notices anything in the windows while he looks to see if they're openable from the inside)

Perception: 8

 *Mage Armor is still active*

There are no windows that he can reach (and apparently the raiders can’t reach them either because they’re not even trying to break a window)

JoJo sits on his haunches as everyone gets ready.  Waiting on the word to advance.

Neega stays low near the others as everyone prepares to move on the rear door. Her eyes remain on the small group near the hay, then drift briefly toward the louder mass at the front of the temple.
She settles her shield on her arm and draws in a slow breath before her hands begin to move almost without thought. First, she taps both fists lightly against her chest, once over each side of her armor. The chain mail gives only a dull, muted sound beneath her knuckles. Then she brings her hands together, knocking her knuckles against each other in front of her. Under her breath, she speaks a few clipped words in a harsh, guttural tongue, each sound aggressive and rough but constrained, like a battle cry whispered when it was meant to be shouted across a battlefield.
“Nagh vozhd. Nagh tsep. Za voln.”
Her hands lower, and for the briefest moment, something faint ripples across her armor and skin, a thin shimmer like heat over stone or glass catching firelight. Neega does not look down at it. Her attention stays fixed on the raiders by the back door.
She rolls one shoulder, tightens her grip on the shield, and then scans across Cass, JoJo and Fuzzpaw. “Ready?”

(OOC: Neegs subconsciously cast Blade Ward as part of her pre-battle ritual. Her sorcerer spellcasting abilities have just recently started emerging in subconscious actions and reactions.)

*Everybody make a group Stealth check. You might get a surprise round*

JoJo stealth 21

Stealth: 18 W/ Disadvantage

Quote from Character77006 >>

JoJo stealth 21

She rolls one shoulder, tightens her grip on the shield, and then scans across Cass, JoJo and Fuzzpaw. “Ready?”

Jojo gives a thumbs up to Neega and the others and using his 40' movement and small size creeps to a place that might give him and advantage  on the party's flank.

Stealth: 18