Audentis Fortuna iuvat, as they say. After turning the mechanisms, you hear the shrill shriek of ancient machines waking up, their cries protesting their disuse. After a series of loud, heavy thunks the door swings inward.
MAIN GROUP
You find yourself in a surprisingly lengthy, narrow hallway. The walls are lined with glass cylinders, their walls fogged with rime and a mold like substance. Between the cylinders are interspersed occasional tall, metallic statues not entirely unlike HELIOS in their form. The smell is vile. You are so intent on following the rivulet of water to its drain that you don't pay much attention to your environs...that is, not until one of the statues suddenly leaps from its dais to land heavily behind you, blocking your way back into the hall. It turns to face your team and, if you're being honest with yourself, you feel that it doesn't look entirely pleased to see you.
A deep, computerized voice, bereft of any human cadence or tonality, blares from behind its visor.
Several of the other statues seeming to be rousing themselves, avalanches of dust and rust falling from their long-dormant forms.
BUOYSIDE
You crouch in the water, watching as your blood mixes with the current, forming brilliant and entrancing patterns of lacy color that dance and play in the shallows. The nihileth circles you, preparing for another attack...one that will likely kill you.
HELIOS turns to face the imposter who landed in the hallway behind him. "This fake will not get in our way. I will fend him off while the rest of you move the drain cover to get to our crazy friend stuck down below."
Positioning himself in the center of the hallway between the creature and the rest of the party his hands flair up in divine energy and two orbs of light fly towards the machine.
Attack Rolls - 28, 22
The first ball of light soars over the creatures shoulder but the second find its mark hitting the wannabe directly in the chest.
Damage Roll - 6
Bonus action, spending a ki point to take patient defense action. All attack rolls against HELIOS have disadvantage until the start of his next turn
Buoyside kneels, spits some blood and a tooth into the water and smiles. "We always knew it'd come to this, love," He looks up to the wriggling interdimensional eel. "I've longed for the day where you could **** me to death, in my wettest dreams I ****ed you to death, too." He stands, puts a glowing hand to his chest and sighs.
I used Lay on Hands on myself, restoring 15 HP (my LoH pool is now empty, this is an at will skill. I now have 22hp)
He then brings his hand down to his blade, casting a soft blue light on it. (Magic weapon, I am now out of level 2 spells. This is a bonus action)
"Let us do it, love." Buoyside leaps towards to the beast, striking with his magical blade.
Ryloos runs behind Lofty with one hand on his back giving very little assistance the man as he crashes through the machine. Stopping to turn to look on Helios's damage dealt the machine, she hears Lofty's attempt and the door and his request. She puts her hands on the handle and one foot on the stone the door resides. "One, two, three!" she yells as she and Lofty pull at the door. 17 + 3
Your blade glows a brilliant white light, fine feathers of divine radiance falling gently from its length. It is a thing of beauty, sailing through the air like a ray of sunlight. It pierces the beast, which screams shrilly, its cries echoing strangely across planes. You surprised the beast - it had contented itself that it was free of your reach, and the weight of your blow grounds it against in the materium. It writhes like a pinned insect, spewing blackened, stinking blood around it. You attempt to drive your blade further in, but you are unable to bear weight with your shattered arm and the creature wriggles free, disappearing beneath the water's surface. You raise your blade as a challenge, the outcome foregone in your eyes - the wretched creature put up a struggle, but it could never stand against the fury of your divine will.
After a few moments, you begins to wonder if the beast limped off to die alone like the cowardly creature it is. You begin to lower your blade when, in a spurt of frothing foam and coagulated blood, the beast bursts from the water in front of you. Before you can react, the creature meets your gaze, its eyes blazing fiercely. You feel the creature attempting to pry its way into your mind, questing, curious, malevolent fingers of telepathic energy probing your sensorium.
Does Buoyside get enslaved? (DC 14) 7I mistakenly put your wisdom saving throw as +1 instead of +4 in the link, which is why it reads 4 instead of 7.
You are overcome by waves of revulsion as you feel the disgusting, twisted, and utterly alien psyche of the creature force itself upon you, assailing your senses, commandeering your intellect, harvesting your memories. It subsumes your consciousness, your personhood - and now you belong to it.
The nihileth smiles, or at least conveys a rough analog of satisfaction and derisive, cruel glee into your brain. And you, the feeble puppet that you've become, can do but smile back.
Just then, the creature hears a grating noise overhead. It senses your party drawing near, and realizes that it stands little hope of victory in its weakened state. It dives into the water and swims away to nurse its wounds and plan its next movement. You stand there, grinning like an idiot until you receive the telepathic command to feign injury. You sit, back against a column, holding your injured arm in a perfect facsimile of a man. You feel a sense of satisfaction, of gratitude to your new patron for giving you purpose.
Your master is both the gate and the key. You must now be the path.
MAIN GROUP
A total of three clockwork men have come alive.
CLOCKWORK BOY THE FIRST (HP 99)
The nearest creature takes a glancing blow from HELIOS' radiant attacks, pausing briefly before quickly and efficiently closing the gap. It lifts its longsword to attack.
It seems these older models are little more than ersatz mockeries of a true warforged. HELIOS predicts the simple machine;'s attacks and dodges with absolute finesse, the blows missing widely.
CLOCKWORK BOY THE SECONDHP (110)
The second machine squares its chest at HELIOS; the armored plating retracts to reveal the chamber of a projectile weapon. Seconds later, a tethered drag net fires from the construct's chest.
Does HELIOS get ensnared? (AC 19, with disadvantage) 8 15
Again, HELIOS is able to outmaneuver the machine's attack with ease, causing the net to be fired wide. It misses the remainder of your party, landing limply against a wall.
CLOCKWORK BOY THE THIRD (HP 110)
Similar to the second machine, the third construct attempts to ensnare HELIOS with its net attack.
Does HELIOS get ensnared? (AC 19, with disadvantage) 17 10
The third machine's attempt comes closer, with the net more narrowly missing HELIOS. Nevertheless, the warforged pirouettes to safety as the next slams into the ceiling, missing the party by a large margin.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Lofty feels something in his back pinch and cramp as, red faced and shaking 13 he lifts the gate high enough to wedge his shield in place and prop it open. He crawls into the next room and drops into the cistern that had suddenly grown eerily quiet.
Xantlin jumps through the gate after Lofty and down into the reservoir, yelling over his shoulder, "Just keep them occupied HELIOS, we'll be back as with Buoyside soon!"
He grasps his Amulet in his hand as he splashes down into the bloody water, healing magic at the ready.
If he can find Buoyside, Xantlin casts a level 3 Cure Wounds on him - 15 HP healed. Otherwise the same spell is readied and Xantlin looks for any trail of him in the bloody murky water - 15 Perception .
For tracking's sake, so far Xantlin has lost 3 HP, and has used 1/4 1st level spells and 1/2 3rd level spells
After several tense moments of searching, you note a small figure huddled against a column. On approaching him, you find Buoyside his armor dented and scuffed. You also note obvious deformity of the left forearm. Above, you can still hear the sounds of a scuff as HELIOS (and Ryloos?) square off against the cheap tin men.
I'll let Mick play his character. Just wanted to clarify that you find him with relative ease.
Buoyside looks over at the two with a satisfied, sleepy smile. "Don't worry, the deed is done...no thanks to you's guys," He winces "I used the power of courage and belief to slay the...******* beast." He struggles to get up, and spits more blood. "A monstrous beast is no match against righteousness," He smiles. "And unquenchable bloodlust." He slaps Xantlin on the shoulder. "You were absolutely useless to me...my friend."
He finally gets to his feet. "Captain, would you be so kind as to fetch my sheath, chum?" He lifts his sword with his right arm, still holding his left close to his body. "It's a shame we couldn't fight the beast together, friends, I'm sure you would have done a magnificent job!" Letting the captain slight his sheath back over the blade, "if only you...didn't ******* RETREAT."
He leans against the wall, giving them a weary look with just a hint of madness hiding behind the gaze.
Ryloos watches Lofty and Xantlin hurry underneath the lifted gate and turns to Helios and the clockwork hunters. She equips her bows and knocks an arrow to its string. She aims at clockwork hunter #2 and fires.
Attack roll - 12
The arrow flies and strikes clockwork hunter where a human's left shoulder-blade would be and ricochets into the wall directly beside it.
"Ah ****. Looks like I'm going to have to kill you up close," Ryloos says to herself as she throws her bow over her shoulder and draws her rapier.
I deleted my post above while editing because I realized I should've sneak attacked one of these sons of *****es, so I reposted what I was editing. I am a dumby.....I just realized you can't see the deleted post so I entered my roll. It wasn't anything special.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Lofty's eyes narrow, but his voice is honey sweet. "Don't be so humble Bouyside. That thing would have torn me to pieces. You're the only one of us that stood a chance, we would have gotten your way." Lofty takes out his rope and hurls the coiled end back up into the room above, hollering for Ryloos to tie them off on something that's not a pipe. 5Terrible dexterity check.
"Classic human," Xantlin thinks to himself. "Blaming others for his own mistakes, putting others down who have done no wrong. Maybe if he didn't have that ridiculous sword he would be able to climb a rope."
He quickly snaps back from his anger to the task at hand. "Buoyside, are you well enough to continue to fight with us? Lofty and I must go help the others, but we can handle it if you need to stay and rest." As he's speaking, he grabs onto another rope and attempts to help Lofty get in contact with Ryloos. Dex check for rope throw - 5 lawl
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
HELIOS chuckles out loud as the clockwork soldiers attempt to strike him and miss. "There is a reason you are tasked to stand as statues most of your life and not given more useful tasks. A net would prove itself ineffective vs me anyway. I can strike you just fine up close as I could from afar!"
HELIOS unleashes 2 quick strikes at clockwork #1
20, 10
The first strike hits the soldier in his shoulder cause him to drop his arm holding his sword and creating an opening for the 2nd strike to hit directly in the chest. (Critical hit and spending a ki point for stunning strike)
Damage rolls -6, 13
Con save for clockwork Hunter vs DC 15 - 20
Clockwork boy #1 is stunned. He is now incapacitated, automatically fails str and Dex saving throws and all attack rolls vs him have advantage until the end of my next turn
Bonus action - 1 ki point for patient defense again.
HELIOS turns his attention to the other 2 clockwork soldiers and falls into his defensive stance again
Lofty hefts his rope, feeling its weight and the strength of its fibers. With eminent confidence, he begins to spin a coiled loop of rope, feeling its give, studying its inertia. With the keen eyes of a man well-practiced with a rope, he carefully gauges his throw, tensing his shoulders, his knees flexed every so slightly, his dexterous hands waiting for the perfect moment to release. With a knowing smile, he shifts his weight, extending his arm just so, casting the loop of rope up, up, up...where it collides clumsily with the ceiling before tumbling back into the water.
Xantlin approaches the area beneath the grate, a derisive smile playing at his lips. Humans, he thinks. So graceless, so utterly bereft of poise. Much like Lofty, he spends several minutes preparing his throw - studying the grate from below, carefully calibrating the momentum of his rope, feeling his muscle's memory awaken - before he releases. His throw is arguably worse, the rope splashing heavily behind him after a horribly timed throw. Lofty and Xantlin look at one another, blushing slightly, an unspoken agreement passing between the two to never mention this moment to their comrades.
Buoyside watches the buffoonery unfold with cold, glassy eyes. In the distance, he feels his master devouring smaller prey, regaining its strength. Similarly, the honeyed words of the false cleric have mended his bones and dulled the sting of his wounds. While not fully recovered, he feels his strength returning.
He feels the color of the world draining away from him, the walls and water and fog and even his companions - those vermin - fading into a featureless fugue. There is but one light, one truth, and its name is beautiful and alien and utterly inscrutable to Buoyside's mind, yet he loves and adores it more than anything else. The creature speaks with the voice of an angel, whispering delicate, shining words of extreme malice directly into Buoyside's consciousness, glittering shards of onyx-colored emotion piercing his consciousness. Its voice is weighty and distorts his perception, even from a great distance. He hears its song echoing in your ears, and it tastes of the sea.
The filthy creatures in front of him debase the very ground on which they stand. He are glad to know that your master will soon enact its plan to extirpate them.
He is the stone and they, like the tide, will break upon him.
RYLOOS/HELIOS
CLOCKWORK BOY THE FIRST (HP 99 -> 76)
The blows land heavily upon the machine. Circuits tear and sparks spill from its frame as it jerks wildly, temporarily immobilized from the onslaught.
CLOCKWORK BOY THE SECOND (HP 110)
The machine grinds to an awkward and utterly mechanical halt as its sentience algorithm assesses its option. The primary target has demonstrated an unusual aptitude for evading its attacks. It runs a series of complex equations assessing its odds of success and then, with a purposeful twist of its waist, turns to fire its cannon at Ryloos.
As the firing mechanism engages, something in the machine's long dormant, poorly maintained construction fails, and there is a small burst of flames from its chest. Its net gun is ruined, and the machine suffers 20 points of damage.
CLOCKWORK BOY THE THIRD (HP 110)
The third machine comes to a similar conclusion after assessing the probability of a successful attack.
Unlike its accomplice, the net cannon fires perfectly. With a precision befitting its mechanical nature, its net catches Ryloos midstride, ensnaring her and sending her tumbling to the floor. The force of the blow steals the wind from her lungs and mildly concusses her.
The machine is about to suicide on y'all if it reaches you next round. Actually, it's going to explode regardless of what happens unless you can find a way to defuse its core. While the explosion may not kill you, it will likely collapse the room that you're in (which very well may kill you). You'll need to incapacitate or seriously damage the machine to prevent it from exploding on top of you. Or you can attempt to escape.
As an aside, I think HELIOS might need some reworking in terms of his ki points. It seems kind of broken that he can burn ki points to do additional attacks and then more points to assume a dodge-stance as a bonus action all in a single round. No big edicts for the moment, I'm just going to think on it for now.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Ryloos's fall abruptly when she hits the cold stone floor. Her breathe is knocked out of her for a second and she hears her rapier come to a sliding stop. Ryloos begins struggling against the net she is ensnared in. Her hands fumble to find one of her daggers. Finally grasping one she starts sawing at the net. She glances up at the machine running towards her and saws faster.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Hearing the clockwork soldiers threat of self destruction HELIOS quickly assess the situation. "The only way to stop the explosion would be to disable the core protected behind the main chest plate. Chance of success would only be 40%. Not worth the risk."
He turns and sees Ryloos struggling with the net she is trapped in. As he runs by towards the hole to the sewers below he grabs the tangled mess that is Ryloos, being careful not to get stabbed by the rogues frantic cutting at the ropes.
Athletics check - 20
Using the moment from his sprint HELIOS grabs a portion of the net near Ryloos' feet and continues towards the hole. "Forgive me for this miss, there is no other choice given the situation LOOK OUT BELOW." Shifting his weight from his back legs to the front leg he hurls the rogue down the hole to his allies below before attempting to jump down himself using the walls ensure he lands next to and not on top of his companions below. (Not sure if there is fall damage from jumping down here quickly in this situation, but HELIOS has slow fall and would reduce the damage by 25 if so)
Buoyside is startled out of his peaceful reverie by the huge splash of the captive Ryloos and softer splash of the mechanical monk. ****in' cretins. He laughs, clapping his hands together once. "Great fall, my friend. You idiot *****, great splash! You missed me kill the great beast while you were busy with your bondage, your sodomy...but I had the courage because I knew you, my friends, would have my back!"
Creeps, filthy smelling and dripping. They dirty the sewer water. I'd eat them to the bones if I could stomach it.
He takes a few steps. His wounds no longer hurt, though his head is spinning. A mind that was once evenly divided has opened to another, breaking boundaries, forcing a chaotic and messy coexistence. He looks down to his blade. My love, what is happening.
LOFTY
Audentis Fortuna iuvat, as they say. After turning the mechanisms, you hear the shrill shriek of ancient machines waking up, their cries protesting their disuse. After a series of loud, heavy thunks the door swings inward.
MAIN GROUP
You find yourself in a surprisingly lengthy, narrow hallway. The walls are lined with glass cylinders, their walls fogged with rime and a mold like substance. Between the cylinders are interspersed occasional tall, metallic statues not entirely unlike HELIOS in their form. The smell is vile. You are so intent on following the rivulet of water to its drain that you don't pay much attention to your environs...that is, not until one of the statues suddenly leaps from its dais to land heavily behind you, blocking your way back into the hall. It turns to face your team and, if you're being honest with yourself, you feel that it doesn't look entirely pleased to see you.
A deep, computerized voice, bereft of any human cadence or tonality, blares from behind its visor.
"Reinstantiation of sentience algorithm: complete. Heuristical analysis of morality matrix within acceptable limits. Interlopers identified. Interdiction protocol initiated.
The Keeper is aware. The Keeper understands. The Keeper has seen the enemy."
Several of the other statues seeming to be rousing themselves, avalanches of dust and rust falling from their long-dormant forms.
BUOYSIDE
You crouch in the water, watching as your blood mixes with the current, forming brilliant and entrancing patterns of lacy color that dance and play in the shallows. The nihileth circles you, preparing for another attack...one that will likely kill you.
HELIOS turns to face the imposter who landed in the hallway behind him. "This fake will not get in our way. I will fend him off while the rest of you move the drain cover to get to our crazy friend stuck down below."
Positioning himself in the center of the hallway between the creature and the rest of the party his hands flair up in divine energy and two orbs of light fly towards the machine.
Attack Rolls - 28, 22
The first ball of light soars over the creatures shoulder but the second find its mark hitting the wannabe directly in the chest.
Damage Roll - 6
Bonus action, spending a ki point to take patient defense action. All attack rolls against HELIOS have disadvantage until the start of his next turn
H.E.L.I.O.S - Warforged Sun Soul Monk
AC - 19
Lofty ducks behind his shield and bowls past the mechanical men. Upon reaching the gate he grabs hold and heaves with all his might. 18
"C'mon, help me with this thing!"
Guidance on whoever helps first +1d4 to your check.
Character Sheets: Page1 Page2 Page3
HP: 35 AC: 20 Saves: Str+2 Dex+0 Con+4 Int+2 Wis+2 Cha+6
Buoyside kneels, spits some blood and a tooth into the water and smiles. "We always knew it'd come to this, love," He looks up to the wriggling interdimensional eel. "I've longed for the day where you could **** me to death, in my wettest dreams I ****ed you to death, too." He stands, puts a glowing hand to his chest and sighs.
I used Lay on Hands on myself, restoring 15 HP (my LoH pool is now empty, this is an at will skill. I now have 22hp)
He then brings his hand down to his blade, casting a soft blue light on it. (Magic weapon, I am now out of level 2 spells. This is a bonus action)
"Let us do it, love." Buoyside leaps towards to the beast, striking with his magical blade.
To Hit: 22
Damage: 9
Divine Smite (level 1): 11 (double to 22 radiant)
Double Attack to hit: 23
Damage: 6
Divine Smite (level 1, I am now out of spells): 11 (double to 22)
59 TOTAL DAMAGE
Buoyside lands after his dazzling attacks, spent but satisfied. He looks at the bloodied creature and grins.
"Did you cum?"
Character Sheet
AC: 16
Ryloos runs behind Lofty with one hand on his back giving very little assistance the man as he crashes through the machine. Stopping to turn to look on Helios's damage dealt the machine, she hears Lofty's attempt and the door and his request. She puts her hands on the handle and one foot on the stone the door resides. "One, two, three!" she yells as she and Lofty pull at the door. 17 + 3
BUOYSIDE
Your blade glows a brilliant white light, fine feathers of divine radiance falling gently from its length. It is a thing of beauty, sailing through the air like a ray of sunlight. It pierces the beast, which screams shrilly, its cries echoing strangely across planes. You surprised the beast - it had contented itself that it was free of your reach, and the weight of your blow grounds it against in the materium. It writhes like a pinned insect, spewing blackened, stinking blood around it. You attempt to drive your blade further in, but you are unable to bear weight with your shattered arm and the creature wriggles free, disappearing beneath the water's surface. You raise your blade as a challenge, the outcome foregone in your eyes - the wretched creature put up a struggle, but it could never stand against the fury of your divine will.
After a few moments, you begins to wonder if the beast limped off to die alone like the cowardly creature it is. You begin to lower your blade when, in a spurt of frothing foam and coagulated blood, the beast bursts from the water in front of you. Before you can react, the creature meets your gaze, its eyes blazing fiercely. You feel the creature attempting to pry its way into your mind, questing, curious, malevolent fingers of telepathic energy probing your sensorium.
Does Buoyside get enslaved? (DC 14) 7 I mistakenly put your wisdom saving throw as +1 instead of +4 in the link, which is why it reads 4 instead of 7.
You are overcome by waves of revulsion as you feel the disgusting, twisted, and utterly alien psyche of the creature force itself upon you, assailing your senses, commandeering your intellect, harvesting your memories. It subsumes your consciousness, your personhood - and now you belong to it.
The nihileth smiles, or at least conveys a rough analog of satisfaction and derisive, cruel glee into your brain. And you, the feeble puppet that you've become, can do but smile back.
Just then, the creature hears a grating noise overhead. It senses your party drawing near, and realizes that it stands little hope of victory in its weakened state. It dives into the water and swims away to nurse its wounds and plan its next movement. You stand there, grinning like an idiot until you receive the telepathic command to feign injury. You sit, back against a column, holding your injured arm in a perfect facsimile of a man. You feel a sense of satisfaction, of gratitude to your new patron for giving you purpose.
Your master is both the gate and the key. You must now be the path.
MAIN GROUP
A total of three clockwork men have come alive.
CLOCKWORK BOY THE FIRST (HP 99)
The nearest creature takes a glancing blow from HELIOS' radiant attacks, pausing briefly before quickly and efficiently closing the gap. It lifts its longsword to attack.
Does it hit? (AC 19, with disadvantage) 4 6
It seems these older models are little more than ersatz mockeries of a true warforged. HELIOS predicts the simple machine;'s attacks and dodges with absolute finesse, the blows missing widely.
CLOCKWORK BOY THE SECOND HP (110)
The second machine squares its chest at HELIOS; the armored plating retracts to reveal the chamber of a projectile weapon. Seconds later, a tethered drag net fires from the construct's chest.
Does HELIOS get ensnared? (AC 19, with disadvantage) 8 15
Does it hit someone else? (AC 15, 16, 20) 10
Again, HELIOS is able to outmaneuver the machine's attack with ease, causing the net to be fired wide. It misses the remainder of your party, landing limply against a wall.
CLOCKWORK BOY THE THIRD (HP 110)
Similar to the second machine, the third construct attempts to ensnare HELIOS with its net attack.
Does HELIOS get ensnared? (AC 19, with disadvantage) 17 10
Does it hit someone else? (AC 15, 16, 20) 8
The third machine's attempt comes closer, with the net more narrowly missing HELIOS. Nevertheless, the warforged pirouettes to safety as the next slams into the ceiling, missing the party by a large margin.
Lofty feels something in his back pinch and cramp as, red faced and shaking 13 he lifts the gate high enough to wedge his shield in place and prop it open. He crawls into the next room and drops into the cistern that had suddenly grown eerily quiet.
"Bouyside?!"
Character Sheets: Page1 Page2 Page3
HP: 35 AC: 20 Saves: Str+2 Dex+0 Con+4 Int+2 Wis+2 Cha+6
Xantlin jumps through the gate after Lofty and down into the reservoir, yelling over his shoulder, "Just keep them occupied HELIOS, we'll be back as with Buoyside soon!"
He grasps his Amulet in his hand as he splashes down into the bloody water, healing magic at the ready.
If he can find Buoyside, Xantlin casts a level 3 Cure Wounds on him - 15 HP healed. Otherwise the same spell is readied and Xantlin looks for any trail of him in the bloody murky water - 15 Perception .
For tracking's sake, so far Xantlin has lost 3 HP, and has used 1/4 1st level spells and 1/2 3rd level spells
Xantlin Pegason (imgur)
33/33 HP
4/4 level 1 spells, 3/3 level 2 spells, 2/2 level 3 spells
AC = 15, Spell attack bonus = 7, spell save DC = 15
LOFTY AND XANTLIN
After several tense moments of searching, you note a small figure huddled against a column. On approaching him, you find Buoyside his armor dented and scuffed. You also note obvious deformity of the left forearm. Above, you can still hear the sounds of a scuff as HELIOS (and Ryloos?) square off against the cheap tin men.
I'll let Mick play his character. Just wanted to clarify that you find him with relative ease.
"Bouyside!" Lofty rushes over to where Xantlin is treating the injured paladin. "You made it! What the hell was that thing?"
Character Sheets: Page1 Page2 Page3
HP: 35 AC: 20 Saves: Str+2 Dex+0 Con+4 Int+2 Wis+2 Cha+6
Buoyside looks over at the two with a satisfied, sleepy smile. "Don't worry, the deed is done...no thanks to you's guys," He winces "I used the power of courage and belief to slay the...******* beast." He struggles to get up, and spits more blood. "A monstrous beast is no match against righteousness," He smiles. "And unquenchable bloodlust." He slaps Xantlin on the shoulder. "You were absolutely useless to me...my friend."
He finally gets to his feet. "Captain, would you be so kind as to fetch my sheath, chum?" He lifts his sword with his right arm, still holding his left close to his body. "It's a shame we couldn't fight the beast together, friends, I'm sure you would have done a magnificent job!" Letting the captain slight his sheath back over the blade, "if only you...didn't ******* RETREAT."
He leans against the wall, giving them a weary look with just a hint of madness hiding behind the gaze.
Character Sheet
AC: 16
Ryloos watches Lofty and Xantlin hurry underneath the lifted gate and turns to Helios and the clockwork hunters. She equips her bows and knocks an arrow to its string. She aims at clockwork hunter #2 and fires.
Attack roll - 12
The arrow flies and strikes clockwork hunter where a human's left shoulder-blade would be and ricochets into the wall directly beside it.
"Ah ****. Looks like I'm going to have to kill you up close," Ryloos says to herself as she throws her bow over her shoulder and draws her rapier.
I deleted my post above while editing because I realized I should've sneak attacked one of these sons of *****es, so I reposted what I was editing. I am a dumby.....I just realized you can't see the deleted post so I entered my roll. It wasn't anything special.
Lofty's eyes narrow, but his voice is honey sweet. "Don't be so humble Bouyside. That thing would have torn me to pieces. You're the only one of us that stood a chance, we would have gotten your way." Lofty takes out his rope and hurls the coiled end back up into the room above, hollering for Ryloos to tie them off on something that's not a pipe. 5 Terrible dexterity check.
Character Sheets: Page1 Page2 Page3
HP: 35 AC: 20 Saves: Str+2 Dex+0 Con+4 Int+2 Wis+2 Cha+6
"Classic human," Xantlin thinks to himself. "Blaming others for his own mistakes, putting others down who have done no wrong. Maybe if he didn't have that ridiculous sword he would be able to climb a rope."
He quickly snaps back from his anger to the task at hand. "Buoyside, are you well enough to continue to fight with us? Lofty and I must go help the others, but we can handle it if you need to stay and rest." As he's speaking, he grabs onto another rope and attempts to help Lofty get in contact with Ryloos. Dex check for rope throw - 5 lawl
Xantlin Pegason (imgur)
33/33 HP
4/4 level 1 spells, 3/3 level 2 spells, 2/2 level 3 spells
AC = 15, Spell attack bonus = 7, spell save DC = 15
HELIOS chuckles out loud as the clockwork soldiers attempt to strike him and miss. "There is a reason you are tasked to stand as statues most of your life and not given more useful tasks. A net would prove itself ineffective vs me anyway. I can strike you just fine up close as I could from afar!"
HELIOS unleashes 2 quick strikes at clockwork #1
20, 10
The first strike hits the soldier in his shoulder cause him to drop his arm holding his sword and creating an opening for the 2nd strike to hit directly in the chest. (Critical hit and spending a ki point for stunning strike)
Damage rolls -6, 13
Con save for clockwork Hunter vs DC 15 - 20
Clockwork boy #1 is stunned. He is now incapacitated, automatically fails str and Dex saving throws and all attack rolls vs him have advantage until the end of my next turn
Bonus action - 1 ki point for patient defense again.
HELIOS turns his attention to the other 2 clockwork soldiers and falls into his defensive stance again
H.E.L.I.O.S - Warforged Sun Soul Monk
AC - 19
LOFTY/XANTLIN/BUOYSIDE
Lofty hefts his rope, feeling its weight and the strength of its fibers. With eminent confidence, he begins to spin a coiled loop of rope, feeling its give, studying its inertia. With the keen eyes of a man well-practiced with a rope, he carefully gauges his throw, tensing his shoulders, his knees flexed every so slightly, his dexterous hands waiting for the perfect moment to release. With a knowing smile, he shifts his weight, extending his arm just so, casting the loop of rope up, up, up...where it collides clumsily with the ceiling before tumbling back into the water.
Xantlin approaches the area beneath the grate, a derisive smile playing at his lips. Humans, he thinks. So graceless, so utterly bereft of poise. Much like Lofty, he spends several minutes preparing his throw - studying the grate from below, carefully calibrating the momentum of his rope, feeling his muscle's memory awaken - before he releases. His throw is arguably worse, the rope splashing heavily behind him after a horribly timed throw. Lofty and Xantlin look at one another, blushing slightly, an unspoken agreement passing between the two to never mention this moment to their comrades.
Buoyside watches the buffoonery unfold with cold, glassy eyes. In the distance, he feels his master devouring smaller prey, regaining its strength. Similarly, the honeyed words of the false cleric have mended his bones and dulled the sting of his wounds. While not fully recovered, he feels his strength returning.
He feels the color of the world draining away from him, the walls and water and fog and even his companions - those vermin - fading into a featureless fugue. There is but one light, one truth, and its name is beautiful and alien and utterly inscrutable to Buoyside's mind, yet he loves and adores it more than anything else. The creature speaks with the voice of an angel, whispering delicate, shining words of extreme malice directly into Buoyside's consciousness, glittering shards of onyx-colored emotion piercing his consciousness. Its voice is weighty and distorts his perception, even from a great distance. He hears its song echoing in your ears, and it tastes of the sea.
The filthy creatures in front of him debase the very ground on which they stand. He are glad to know that your master will soon enact its plan to extirpate them.
He is the stone and they, like the tide, will break upon him.
RYLOOS/HELIOS
CLOCKWORK BOY THE FIRST (HP 99 -> 76)
The blows land heavily upon the machine. Circuits tear and sparks spill from its frame as it jerks wildly, temporarily immobilized from the onslaught.
CLOCKWORK BOY THE SECOND (HP 110)
The machine grinds to an awkward and utterly mechanical halt as its sentience algorithm assesses its option. The primary target has demonstrated an unusual aptitude for evading its attacks. It runs a series of complex equations assessing its odds of success and then, with a purposeful twist of its waist, turns to fire its cannon at Ryloos.
Does it hit? (AC 15) 1 God damn it.
As the firing mechanism engages, something in the machine's long dormant, poorly maintained construction fails, and there is a small burst of flames from its chest. Its net gun is ruined, and the machine suffers 20 points of damage.
CLOCKWORK BOY THE THIRD (HP 110)
The third machine comes to a similar conclusion after assessing the probability of a successful attack.
Does it hit? (AC 15) 24 (Natural 20, baby)
Unlike its accomplice, the net cannon fires perfectly. With a precision befitting its mechanical nature, its net catches Ryloos midstride, ensnaring her and sending her tumbling to the floor. The force of the blow steals the wind from her lungs and mildly concusses her.
After firing its net, the machine begins to run forward along the path of its trailing net snare. You hear its flat machine voice announce emotionlessly: "REMOVING IMPULSE CORE LIMITERS. DECOUPLING ENERGY SINKS. SELF DESTRUCTION IN 5...4...3..." A faint glow begins to collect in its chest that increases rapidly in intensity and ambient heat.
The machine is about to suicide on y'all if it reaches you next round. Actually, it's going to explode regardless of what happens unless you can find a way to defuse its core. While the explosion may not kill you, it will likely collapse the room that you're in (which very well may kill you). You'll need to incapacitate or seriously damage the machine to prevent it from exploding on top of you. Or you can attempt to escape.
As an aside, I think HELIOS might need some reworking in terms of his ki points. It seems kind of broken that he can burn ki points to do additional attacks and then more points to assume a dodge-stance as a bonus action all in a single round. No big edicts for the moment, I'm just going to think on it for now.
Ryloos's fall abruptly when she hits the cold stone floor. Her breathe is knocked out of her for a second and she hears her rapier come to a sliding stop. Ryloos begins struggling against the net she is ensnared in. Her hands fumble to find one of her daggers. Finally grasping one she starts sawing at the net. She glances up at the machine running towards her and saws faster.
Saw roll - 6
Hearing the clockwork soldiers threat of self destruction HELIOS quickly assess the situation. "The only way to stop the explosion would be to disable the core protected behind the main chest plate. Chance of success would only be 40%. Not worth the risk."
He turns and sees Ryloos struggling with the net she is trapped in. As he runs by towards the hole to the sewers below he grabs the tangled mess that is Ryloos, being careful not to get stabbed by the rogues frantic cutting at the ropes.
Athletics check - 20
Using the moment from his sprint HELIOS grabs a portion of the net near Ryloos' feet and continues towards the hole. "Forgive me for this miss, there is no other choice given the situation LOOK OUT BELOW." Shifting his weight from his back legs to the front leg he hurls the rogue down the hole to his allies below before attempting to jump down himself using the walls ensure he lands next to and not on top of his companions below. (Not sure if there is fall damage from jumping down here quickly in this situation, but HELIOS has slow fall and would reduce the damage by 25 if so)
H.E.L.I.O.S - Warforged Sun Soul Monk
AC - 19
Buoyside is startled out of his peaceful reverie by the huge splash of the captive Ryloos and softer splash of the mechanical monk. ****in' cretins. He laughs, clapping his hands together once. "Great fall, my friend. You idiot *****, great splash! You missed me kill the great beast while you were busy with your bondage, your sodomy...but I had the courage because I knew you, my friends, would have my back!"
Creeps, filthy smelling and dripping. They dirty the sewer water. I'd eat them to the bones if I could stomach it.
He takes a few steps. His wounds no longer hurt, though his head is spinning. A mind that was once evenly divided has opened to another, breaking boundaries, forcing a chaotic and messy coexistence. He looks down to his blade. My love, what is happening.
Character Sheet
AC: 16
"Sodomy?"
Character Sheets: Page1 Page2 Page3
HP: 35 AC: 20 Saves: Str+2 Dex+0 Con+4 Int+2 Wis+2 Cha+6