Waterdeep: Camel Heist (2020)

(Sorry, really busy at work and home... Strix would have put the flute in but Incantis has to live with the choice so I'll leave it to him!)

Incantis reaches into the flame.

With his fingers still in his ears, Varinth turns to Scupper;

COME HERE OFTEN?

Vaz grins

Incantis, as your hand touches the flame, there is another pulse of energy, and both the metal and the shards of the gem begin to swirl in a chaotic pattern; the brazier is firmly embedded in its stone pedestal, and if it weren't you suspect this ritual would fling it against the far wall.  Yet nothing touches your hand, or even comes close.  After a few seconds, the ring has come to its final shape, though it is still spinning so rapidly that you would hurt yourself if you touched it.  And now the gem shards appears to have changed; they seem more like motes of light, and as they swirl and scatter and crowd together, one mote touches the ring and is absorbed.  Then another, and then the whole swarm converges and infuses the ring.  It glows softly, and then the glow fades.  The ring slows its spin, and is suspended in the green flames.  The flame flickers, and then goes out.  The ring falls into your palm.  

 After a moment, the brazier flickers into life again; it appears that the ritual did not diminish it further, though it remains in its weakened state.

Scupper and Varinth, you are outside, both with your fingers in your ears and Scupper with his eyes closed.  Varinth, you see the last pulse of greenish energy that was part of the ritual of forging the ring, and it seems to pass through the walls of the forge room without trouble.  As it expands into the star-ceiling cavern and fades away, you glimpse several shapes moving nearby and headed towards you.

Everyone please roll initiative.

13
15

Initiative: 10

Initiative 2

Incantis: 11

Zhudala: 23

Init : 10

Initiative 8

Round One:

A:  Enemies
B:  More enemies
C:  Strix, Varinth and Zhudala
D:  Scupper, Incantis and Dekhan

Everyone except Varinth is surprised this round.

A:  Bugbears

Bugbear One rushes up to attack Varinth, massive morningstar swinging from the near darkness:

Attack: 7 Damage: 8

But the sorcerer shrinks back in alarm at the blow and manages to dodge it.

Bugbear Two is at his friend's shoulder, swinging an identical weapon:

Attack: 22 Damage: 6

It hits Varinth on the left arm, causing him to stagger for a moment.

B:   Drow

Following the two bugbears comes a drow, a warrior in dark leather armour, a scowl on his face and a deadly shortsword in his hand.  He runs close to Scupper, but needs to dash to do so.  He mutters something under his breath which is difficult to hear.

C:  Strix and Zhudala are surprised, and take no action.  Varinth is up.

FECK! exclaims Vaz

He spreads his fingers wide to take in both the ugly brutes

FTUMCH! Burning Hands at 2nd level: 8 (Half dmg on dex save)

Wild Magic Check: 17

Bugbear One DEX save:  14

Bugbear Twp DEX save:  9

Fire engulfs one of the bugbears, and you hear its roar echo through the cave; the other is hurt, but not so badly.

D:  Scupper, Incantis and Dekhan are all surprised.

Round Two:

A:  Bugbears
B:  Drow warrior
C:  Strix, Varinth and Zhudala
D:  Scupper, Incantis and Dekhan

Bugbear One, still burning and very charred, desperately swings at the sorcerer who has hurt him so much:

Attack: 24 Damage: 27

Bugbear Two is also focused on Varinth:

Attack: 13 Damage: 10

But both are having trouble recovering from the fiery attack, and they miss.

B:  Drow warrior

The drow warrior snarls at the bugbears and speaks in common:  Kill him quickly, you fools.  Then he makes his two shortsword attacks against Scupper:

Attack: 23 Damage: 7
Attack: 19 Damage: 7

The first attack glances off an invisible armour that glows around him for a moment, but the second goes through and stabs deep into his side.

C:  Strix, Varinth and Zhudala are up (and no longer surprised).

shitshitshitshit

Varinth ducks the wild swings of the smoking Bugbears HELP!

FTUMCH! he throws his fingers wide again and lets off another Burning Hands at second level Damage: 16

Wild check: 8

He gets ready to use his Shield should the Bugbears swing his way again.

Seeing the bugbears closing in on Varinth, Zhudala flies to the doorway, readying an action to help Strix' attack as she prepares to divebomb the bugbears.

Strix follows the bird out, seeing the two bugbears attacking Vaz and launches himself at the nearest one

Attack: 16 Damage: 6

(Flurry of blows)

Attack: 18 Damage: 6

Attack: 25 Damage: 8

"Pick on someone your own smell!" he bellows.

(If Vaz already took care of them, aim any remaining blows at the next Bugbear, then the Drow if there are no bugbears left. It's less witty though)

Bugbear One DEX save:  3

Bugbear Two DEX save:  13

Bugbear Two burns violently, the creature already a corpse as it hits the dirt.  Bugbear One is badly injured, and Strix's first strike takes him down.  The drow takes the next two blows, but seems still to have a lot of fight in him.  Strix, you can fury and fear on his face as you face him.

D:  Scupper, Incantis and Dekhan are up.   The only remaining foe is the drow.

Dekhan charges towards the drow, drawing Talon, and leaping over the charred corpses of the bugbears as he does so. He ends his charge and does his best to interpose himself between Scup and the drow. His rage at the attack on his friends boils over threatening to consume him. His knuckles stand out stark white as he levels Talon at the dark elf and through gritted teeth says. Yield and find mercy. Persist and suffer a fate beyond the imagining of your treacherous spider queen!

Dekhan, make an Intimidation check, just a straight roll, no advantage or disadvantage.

Intimidation: 9