"Nice to meet the two of you, Vimak and Durug." Didna bows her head to the two. "The sickness is a beast. The way it's ripped through like it has, might as well have been an owlbear with a meanstreak and a hankering for flesh. Ilmater protect those cattle, man and beast alike." She dabs at her sweating forehead with her sleeve. "As far as it spreading and its causing, well, might as well be magic–I've never seen anything like this. I've not gotten my cord yet, having helped mostly those with a bit of the grip along the Sword Coast, but I know well enough to know this is something fierce. Not even the House of the Broken God has sorted out a way to purge a body of it." She looks up at the sun with squinting eyes and curses. "Sweltering out here, is it?"
When Vimak steps towards the tower, Didna points to it and says, "The Guild Arcane has been working on something too. No idea if they've made any lengths, though. Surely not if they've built a fire in this heat." She dabs her forehead again and then rolls up her sleeves. "Not even sure where it leapt up from. Your head of the Guard would likely know, seeing as he issued the order to evacuate. We can pay him a visit after we talk with your Guild." As she starts to walk towards the tower, she seems to lose a bit of balance and walks slightly sideways. She stops and mutters, "Oh dear..."
At the offer to let her grandfather know that he was missed, Zhida smiles a full, big smile. "Please! Babaye would like that!" Her mother wraps her arms around the girl and gives her a squeeze.
"It's only been a week. We were moved out of our homes a few days ago and couldn't bring hardly anything with us. The head of the Guard has the city guard give us water and bread for helping to put up tents and to tend to cattle, but it's so hot under this sun, I don't know how long we will be able to do this." Pedar's face is grim as he says this. "And I am not willing to find out. I send a letter with a merchant who was heading to Calimport. My brother there will receive the letter and send a carriage for us, I am sure of it." He looks to his wife with a forced smile, but she just looks solemnly back at him. "People moan, and when they do not moan, they call to kill their neighbors who they think are sick, and if not that, they spin tales that the Shah has done this to Keltar as revenge against the Sultan for something we will never know. But I know. I know the best answer to this is to curse the gods that will not help us and move towards those who will." He seems quite proud of his statement, but his gaze darts to somewhere past Niyin. "Is that priest alright?"
Didna stumbles a bit as she leans forward unintentionally and struggles to find her footing. She grips at her stomach. "Oh no...no no no..." There's a thick wet noise as bile is ejected from her mouth, spraying the dirt in front of her. She goes to wipe the vomit from her mouth, only to pause and look at her arm, where her sleeve had been pushed back. "No no no..." She begins to weep, her breaths growing more rapid. And then more forceful, almost like grunts. She screams. Somewhere between terror and woe, she screams and screams and screams, even as bile bubbles up and out of her mouth. Her body falls to the ground and begins to convulse, the muscles twitching and swelling, veins bulging and blackening. And then it stops.
There's a period of silence. Didna's chest rises and falls as she breathes, slowly and deeply. Peeking out of one of the tents, a child has seen this display and begins to cry. Didna's head snaps with a sickening crack in the direction of the crying child, her bloodshot and yellowed eyes locked on it. Her body rolls with renewed force enough to bring itself to its feet. Her robes are covered in dirt, bile and blood, but she makes no motions like she did to clean herself before. Instead, she scratches at her face, eyes still intent on the crying child. She reaches out to it, her face twisted and begins to mouth what must've been attempts at words, and begins to slowly march towards it. But she stops and looks up towards the blue smoke rising from the stone tower. There's a change in demeanor in her swollen face and she turns to Vimak and Durug. There's a sadness in her eyes. But it quickly falters as capillaries burst and she gallops towards the pair.
(Vimak will need to roll initiative. If Niyin and Akela intend on entering the fray, you should also roll for initiative.)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(This is also the first time I've used the dice roller. Hope I've done it right!)
Vimak's initiative 3
(Interesting. Posting is required to see the result. Then, if you want to add more text about the result, you have to edit the post. It seems.)
What is happening to Didna? Vimak thinks. But he knows. He's seen it already once or twice in the city. This is the plague. All right, he thinks. All right. Vimak leaves his shield and ax on his back. "We will make a prisoner of her, Durug," he says. "A prisoner, hear me?"
Akela nodded her head when Namuk offered the spare healer's kit.
"Thank you," she said softly with a bow of her head. She collected the spare kit and turned to leave. At the exit of the tent, she stopped to take one last look at all the cots and the people that occupied them. She turned to look at Namuk with sad eyes. "I pray that an end to this illness is found soon."
A sudden commotion coming from outside the tent drew her attention. Someone was weeping and sounded like they were.. retching? There was then screams and then silence followed by the crying of a frightened child. What on earth was going on? Akela quickly ducked out of the tent to see what was going on. The scene that met her gaze caused her to gasp in slight shock.
There on the ground lay the dwarven woman that she had just seen in the healer's tent. Didna was her name, Akela recalled. She was covered in vomit, blood, and... boils? How could this have happened? She seemed just fine not a moment ago. For the longest moment Akela thought that Didna was dead, but then the child's cries seemed to provoke a response. But something was wrong. Very wrong. Akela watched as Didna got to her feet, eyes on the child. It was them she remembered what Namuk had said about the ones stricken with the illness turning feral.
"Restrain her!" she cried out. But Didna was already turning and charging towards Vimak. Oh Great Spirits no! Akela hurriedly reached into her pack and drew out the coil of hempen rope.
Niyin smiled again at the child, happy to see her pleased. There was hope in that smile, and it pushed her to help in what way she could to see an end to the look in their eyes, the fear and unknowing of what the near future held. As he finished speaking and looked past her, Niyin watched in frozen horror as the cleric transitioned. The speed in which it happened terrified her. Were they all turned so quickly? And did they all have the same hunger in their wild eyes?
Unfreezing her feet, she took off running while expertly bringing her light crossbow into her hands. Others had began to approach, two guards were nearest the outburst with what looked like another calling out orders and heading into the confrontation herself. Niyin pushed doubt from her mind, letting the charge of the moment take place. She slid to a halt, raised her crossbow and cried out. "What happened!?"
Without the capacity for concern or care any longer, Didna throws herself into Vimak, her arms swinging wildly–but even the full force of her running into Vimak is only enough to send herself recoiling off of his armor and frame.
Akela looked up briefly as Niyin appeared with her crossbow in hand.
"She's infected," Akela said, a bit more bluntly then she would have liked. But they had no time for more pleasant words at this moment. Akela drew up her quarterstaff. "We need to restrain her. I have a paste that can put her to sleep if we can get her to hold still long enough for me to apply it. Hopefully." Akela steps forward toward what was Didna. As she does so she taps the bottom of the quarterstaff on the ground, evoking Shillelagh on the staff.
(I honestly not real sure what this does. I added because I thought it might fit her character. If this is wrong or useless in this situation let me know)
Akela then took another giant step and with a flourish she hit Didna in the center of the chest in an attempt to push her to the ground and pin her there. (Again let me know if I'm doing anything wrong. It's been a long will since I played dnd and I'm kinda rusty)
The loxodon’s attempt to knock the feral dwarf down is impactful and the thud that sounds as the magic weapon makes when it hits her in the chest is deep—but the dwarf remains on her feet, mucus-laden liquid leaking from the corners of her snarling maw.
An elephant rushes toward Vimak! Is she infected too? “Restrain her,” it yells. No then, not infected. And his idea is not wrong. They can try and take the dwarf prisoner.
He senses more than sees another ally, crossbow up, but the dwarf charges him; Vimak crouches and ducks, his forearms in front of his face. Her body slams against his, but he keeps his feet.
The elephant hits her solidly, but the dwarf doesn’t fall.
Vimak lunges, trying to grab Didna. He realizes he has no plan after that. Even if he can hold her, what will he do with her? As his old mother said, a plan in hand is worth all the unmade ones.
(May I use the grapple roll from earlier? It was a 22. If not, here’s another: 24. Lucky!)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
With the Dwarf contained, Niyin relaxed just enough to swiftly put away her crossbow and took action to dig her length of rope out of her bag. "I have rope," she called out as she pulled the coil free and races in their direction. The imp, not wanting to be near the action, jumps off her body, flying to the ground and then somehow gets turned and runs right into her path and between her feet like a cat demanding attention but also wanting to dart away quickly, threatening to trip her.
(Dex saving throw: 23)
Success: She sidesteps and recovers herself quickly, not taking her eyes off the struggling Dwarf in the hands of the Goliath. "Here!" Uncoiling a bit of the rope, she tossed one end to the two of them to hurry the action of restraining her before she had a chance to break free.
Fail: The little imp bastard trips her, rolling her ankle enough that she looses her balance and slides face down over the ground with the momentum of her run. Lifting her face, she calls out to the others and tosses the whole coil of rope. Then she glares at the imp. "Oops! Ehehehehe!"
Niyin seems to hop around something at her feet and throws a bit of rope to Vimak.
Vimak should a d20 + Dex mod to see if he can catch it with his free hand.
Durug sends a hand up in thanks to the woman with a crossbow who threw the rope. He appears relatively unfazed by the wildness that comes from the dwarf–it was all to familiar from days past.
"Don't let her bite you!" He shouts to Vimak, pulling a handaxe off of his waist. "And keep that slop off of you!" He winds back his arm and swings out, the blunt end of the axe making contact with Didna's skull with a hollow crack. She seems a bit dazed, but still fights against Vimak's grip. Her muscles and blackened veins swell as she gives her best effort to break free.
Vimak also should roll an Athletics check to see if Didna manages to escape.
Though hand outstretched and ready to receive the rope, Vimak is jerked away from it as he maintains a grasp on the raging Didna. Despite the movement, the dwarf isn't able to break free from his grasp just yet. She shrieks and kicks in protest.
Akela can go ahead and make a Dex roll to grab the rope instead. Good call
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
The loxodon—now Vimak remembers their name—grabs the rope! Vimak lunges toward her, tugging Didna with him. He has to get Didna close enough that they can tie the dwarf up. That will be easier if he follows Durug’s lead and tries to knock the dwarf into unconsciousness, but he heard Durug’s warning: people who get bit or puked on might get the illness.
Instead of hitting the dwarf, Vimak ties to turn her so she faces the ground, so her mouth is pointed at her feet, not him and not the loxodon. He tries to hold Didna by the back of her collar.
Vimak looks at his allies, the loxodon, the woman who threw the rope, Durug. “The tent or the tower?” he says. He still has no plan for after this second.
(A Strength Athletics roll to turn the dwarf? Let me know if something else would be better:18.)
You're actually all good to do that without needing a roll. Grappling has rules for the ability to move a grappled creature, and it's basically just limited in how far you can move (half your normal speed)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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"Nice to meet the two of you, Vimak and Durug." Didna bows her head to the two. "The sickness is a beast. The way it's ripped through like it has, might as well have been an owlbear with a meanstreak and a hankering for flesh. Ilmater protect those cattle, man and beast alike." She dabs at her sweating forehead with her sleeve. "As far as it spreading and its causing, well, might as well be magic–I've never seen anything like this. I've not gotten my cord yet, having helped mostly those with a bit of the grip along the Sword Coast, but I know well enough to know this is something fierce. Not even the House of the Broken God has sorted out a way to purge a body of it." She looks up at the sun with squinting eyes and curses. "Sweltering out here, is it?"
When Vimak steps towards the tower, Didna points to it and says, "The Guild Arcane has been working on something too. No idea if they've made any lengths, though. Surely not if they've built a fire in this heat." She dabs her forehead again and then rolls up her sleeves. "Not even sure where it leapt up from. Your head of the Guard would likely know, seeing as he issued the order to evacuate. We can pay him a visit after we talk with your Guild." As she starts to walk towards the tower, she seems to lose a bit of balance and walks slightly sideways. She stops and mutters, "Oh dear..."
At the offer to let her grandfather know that he was missed, Zhida smiles a full, big smile. "Please! Babaye would like that!" Her mother wraps her arms around the girl and gives her a squeeze.
"It's only been a week. We were moved out of our homes a few days ago and couldn't bring hardly anything with us. The head of the Guard has the city guard give us water and bread for helping to put up tents and to tend to cattle, but it's so hot under this sun, I don't know how long we will be able to do this." Pedar's face is grim as he says this. "And I am not willing to find out. I send a letter with a merchant who was heading to Calimport. My brother there will receive the letter and send a carriage for us, I am sure of it." He looks to his wife with a forced smile, but she just looks solemnly back at him. "People moan, and when they do not moan, they call to kill their neighbors who they think are sick, and if not that, they spin tales that the Shah has done this to Keltar as revenge against the Sultan for something we will never know. But I know. I know the best answer to this is to curse the gods that will not help us and move towards those who will." He seems quite proud of his statement, but his gaze darts to somewhere past Niyin. "Is that priest alright?"
Didna stumbles a bit as she leans forward unintentionally and struggles to find her footing. She grips at her stomach. "Oh no...no no no..." There's a thick wet noise as bile is ejected from her mouth, spraying the dirt in front of her. She goes to wipe the vomit from her mouth, only to pause and look at her arm, where her sleeve had been pushed back. "No no no..." She begins to weep, her breaths growing more rapid. And then more forceful, almost like grunts. She screams. Somewhere between terror and woe, she screams and screams and screams, even as bile bubbles up and out of her mouth. Her body falls to the ground and begins to convulse, the muscles twitching and swelling, veins bulging and blackening. And then it stops.
There's a period of silence. Didna's chest rises and falls as she breathes, slowly and deeply. Peeking out of one of the tents, a child has seen this display and begins to cry. Didna's head snaps with a sickening crack in the direction of the crying child, her bloodshot and yellowed eyes locked on it. Her body rolls with renewed force enough to bring itself to its feet. Her robes are covered in dirt, bile and blood, but she makes no motions like she did to clean herself before. Instead, she scratches at her face, eyes still intent on the crying child. She reaches out to it, her face twisted and begins to mouth what must've been attempts at words, and begins to slowly march towards it. But she stops and looks up towards the blue smoke rising from the stone tower. There's a change in demeanor in her swollen face and she turns to Vimak and Durug. There's a sadness in her eyes. But it quickly falters as capillaries burst and she gallops towards the pair.
(Vimak will need to roll initiative. If Niyin and Akela intend on entering the fray, you should also roll for initiative.)
(This is also the first time I've used the dice roller. Hope I've done it right!)
Vimak's initiative 3
(Interesting. Posting is required to see the result. Then, if you want to add more text about the result, you have to edit the post. It seems.)
What is happening to Didna? Vimak thinks. But he knows. He's seen it already once or twice in the city. This is the plague. All right, he thinks. All right. Vimak leaves his shield and ax on his back. "We will make a prisoner of her, Durug," he says. "A prisoner, hear me?"
Vimak's grapple, if necessary 22
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
Akela nodded her head when Namuk offered the spare healer's kit.
"Thank you," she said softly with a bow of her head. She collected the spare kit and turned to leave. At the exit of the tent, she stopped to take one last look at all the cots and the people that occupied them. She turned to look at Namuk with sad eyes. "I pray that an end to this illness is found soon."
A sudden commotion coming from outside the tent drew her attention. Someone was weeping and sounded like they were.. retching? There was then screams and then silence followed by the crying of a frightened child. What on earth was going on? Akela quickly ducked out of the tent to see what was going on. The scene that met her gaze caused her to gasp in slight shock.
There on the ground lay the dwarven woman that she had just seen in the healer's tent. Didna was her name, Akela recalled. She was covered in vomit, blood, and... boils? How could this have happened? She seemed just fine not a moment ago. For the longest moment Akela thought that Didna was dead, but then the child's cries seemed to provoke a response. But something was wrong. Very wrong. Akela watched as Didna got to her feet, eyes on the child. It was them she remembered what Namuk had said about the ones stricken with the illness turning feral.
"Restrain her!" she cried out. But Didna was already turning and charging towards Vimak. Oh Great Spirits no! Akela hurriedly reached into her pack and drew out the coil of hempen rope.
Akela's initiative 15
(Sorry for the delay!)
Niyin smiled again at the child, happy to see her pleased. There was hope in that smile, and it pushed her to help in what way she could to see an end to the look in their eyes, the fear and unknowing of what the near future held. As he finished speaking and looked past her, Niyin watched in frozen horror as the cleric transitioned. The speed in which it happened terrified her. Were they all turned so quickly? And did they all have the same hunger in their wild eyes?
Unfreezing her feet, she took off running while expertly bringing her light crossbow into her hands. Others had began to approach, two guards were nearest the outburst with what looked like another calling out orders and heading into the confrontation herself. Niyin pushed doubt from her mind, letting the charge of the moment take place. She slid to a halt, raised her crossbow and cried out. "What happened!?"
13
Combat Order:
Didna
Akela
Vimak
Niyin
Durug
Without the capacity for concern or care any longer, Didna throws herself into Vimak, her arms swinging wildly–but even the full force of her running into Vimak is only enough to send herself recoiling off of his armor and frame.
Akela looked up briefly as Niyin appeared with her crossbow in hand.
"She's infected," Akela said, a bit more bluntly then she would have liked. But they had no time for more pleasant words at this moment. Akela drew up her quarterstaff. "We need to restrain her. I have a paste that can put her to sleep if we can get her to hold still long enough for me to apply it. Hopefully." Akela steps forward toward what was Didna. As she does so she taps the bottom of the quarterstaff on the ground, evoking Shillelagh on the staff.
(I honestly not real sure what this does. I added because I thought it might fit her character. If this is wrong or useless in this situation let me know)
Akela then took another giant step and with a flourish she hit Didna in the center of the chest in an attempt to push her to the ground and pin her there. (Again let me know if I'm doing anything wrong. It's been a long will since I played dnd and I'm kinda rusty)
6 (I think this is right?)
The loxodon’s attempt to knock the feral dwarf down is impactful and the thud that sounds as the magic weapon makes when it hits her in the chest is deep—but the dwarf remains on her feet, mucus-laden liquid leaking from the corners of her snarling maw.
An elephant rushes toward Vimak! Is she infected too? “Restrain her,” it yells. No then, not infected. And his idea is not wrong. They can try and take the dwarf prisoner.
He senses more than sees another ally, crossbow up, but the dwarf charges him; Vimak crouches and ducks, his forearms in front of his face. Her body slams against his, but he keeps his feet.
The elephant hits her solidly, but the dwarf doesn’t fall.
Vimak lunges, trying to grab Didna. He realizes he has no plan after that. Even if he can hold her, what will he do with her? As his old mother said, a plan in hand is worth all the unmade ones.
(May I use the grapple roll from earlier? It was a 22. If not, here’s another: 24. Lucky!)
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
Yeah, we can use either roll, frankly. It's a success either way haha
Vimak's attempt to grapple the raging dwarf is successful. Despite her best efforts to yank free, she's held tightly.
With the Dwarf contained, Niyin relaxed just enough to swiftly put away her crossbow and took action to dig her length of rope out of her bag. "I have rope," she called out as she pulled the coil free and races in their direction. The imp, not wanting to be near the action, jumps off her body, flying to the ground and then somehow gets turned and runs right into her path and between her feet like a cat demanding attention but also wanting to dart away quickly, threatening to trip her.
(Dex saving throw: 23)
Success: She sidesteps and recovers herself quickly, not taking her eyes off the struggling Dwarf in the hands of the Goliath. "Here!" Uncoiling a bit of the rope, she tossed one end to the two of them to hurry the action of restraining her before she had a chance to break free.
Fail: The little imp bastard trips her, rolling her ankle enough that she looses her balance and slides face down over the ground with the momentum of her run. Lifting her face, she calls out to the others and tosses the whole coil of rope. Then she glares at the imp. "Oops! Ehehehehe!"
Niyin seems to hop around something at her feet and throws a bit of rope to Vimak.
Vimak should a d20 + Dex mod to see if he can catch it with his free hand.
Durug sends a hand up in thanks to the woman with a crossbow who threw the rope. He appears relatively unfazed by the wildness that comes from the dwarf–it was all to familiar from days past.
"Don't let her bite you!" He shouts to Vimak, pulling a handaxe off of his waist. "And keep that slop off of you!" He winds back his arm and swings out, the blunt end of the axe making contact with Didna's skull with a hollow crack. She seems a bit dazed, but still fights against Vimak's grip. Her muscles and blackened veins swell as she gives her best effort to break free.
Vimak also should roll an Athletics check to see if Didna manages to escape.
Vimak's Dex roll 4
Vimak's Strength Athletics roll 21
(I'll write more after Akela's turn.)
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
(Akela can try to catch the rope if Vinak misses.)
Though hand outstretched and ready to receive the rope, Vimak is jerked away from it as he maintains a grasp on the raging Didna. Despite the movement, the dwarf isn't able to break free from his grasp just yet. She shrieks and kicks in protest.
Akela can go ahead and make a Dex roll to grab the rope instead. Good call
Akela quickly reaches out to grab the falling rope.
22
Though the goliath wasn’t able to grab the rope, the loxodon reaches swiftly out and grabs it before it becomes tangled in the tussle on the ground.
The loxodon—now Vimak remembers their name—grabs the rope! Vimak lunges toward her, tugging Didna with him. He has to get Didna close enough that they can tie the dwarf up. That will be easier if he follows Durug’s lead and tries to knock the dwarf into unconsciousness, but he heard Durug’s warning: people who get bit or puked on might get the illness.
Instead of hitting the dwarf, Vimak ties to turn her so she faces the ground, so her mouth is pointed at her feet, not him and not the loxodon. He tries to hold Didna by the back of her collar.
Vimak looks at his allies, the loxodon, the woman who threw the rope, Durug. “The tent or the tower?” he says. He still has no plan for after this second.
(A Strength Athletics roll to turn the dwarf? Let me know if something else would be better:18.)
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
You're actually all good to do that without needing a roll. Grappling has rules for the ability to move a grappled creature, and it's basically just limited in how far you can move (half your normal speed)