It's late afternoon as you leave the tavern. There's no sign of activity in the abandoned house over the road. You walk east through the city, following the line that Zhudala has taken. People pay you little heed - you look like a band of adventurers, hardly a rare sight in Waterdeep.
(OOC: If Incantis and Scupper want to roleplay their conversation back in the tavern now, that's fine. We'll assume it ended without one of you killing the other...)
Zhudala can report that the men have come to a halt in an alley behind a row of fashionable houses in the North Ward, home of the oldest and richest of the nobles. They look rather out of place, as most of the guards in the area clearly wear the colours or uniform of an employer. They are hanging around, seemingly waiting for someone or something.
Thirty minutes later, you all arrive at the mouth of the alley. You see City Watch patrolling the main street, some distance away, not paying attention to anyone in particular. On entering the alley you will immediately be visible to the four gang members, unless you take some measure to sneak in unobserved. Zhudala is holding position, perched on a roof almost above the men who are lounging around, not talking much - one is whistling softly, another checking his weapon for marks.
An idea has occurred to me of late. A bit like when we faced the owlbear, but better.
Incantus, if yer spider bird is invisible, it could place itself near them. Using it's view, it could cast an illusion of the alley but closer to them allowing us te approach the point o' illusion te get in better range te attack. Since yer demon has their angle o' sight, the illusion would be nigh perfect. We still play it quiet like but maybe this helps get us nearer.
((Really sorry guys, was dealing with moving my roommate out))
At Strix's performance for the patrons: "my friend has an odd grasp on our tongue but he is marvelously talented, is he not?" Incantis says, his own flute dangling around his neck.
To Scupper: "Look, Scup, I ah...I have a confession to make."The half-elf meets the halfling's eye with compassionate guilt. "I know you asked me to stay out of your head and that I'd agreed, but to be honest you roused my curiosity yesterday."Incantis pauses and looks down, unsure of how to continue. You know him, he's always straight to the point. He levels his gaze. "I know it was you who burned down the watch building, and I know you did it to silence the two bandits." His crooked face is soft. "I also know that you fear our reprisal, and are a genuine and trustworthy ally against both the Burners and Zhentarim. I'm truly sorry I broke your trust and the private sanctum of your mind; the four of us aren't going anywhere without you." Incantis smiles and holds out his hand to shake. "Just...don't loop us out next time, we could have learned from those two and still kept you safe, had we known."
At the alley mouth: "They're just standing...waiting," Incantis says, listening to Scupper's plan. "That's a clever idea. Sadly the only magic I can channel through Zhudala is healing...We do have a few other diversionary abilities at our disposal though, and I wonder if our shadow monk has a way to get us closer unnoticed." Zhudala positions herself past the four men from the party, still close by perched on the roof. She is in her true, albeit invisible, form.
Just so we're clear. I'm a pirate learning how not to be a pirate. I come from murder, and double-cross and thievery, and torture. I was very good at me job. I'm still pretty happy on a day when I can kill or torture but i trys te keep that te bad men and women.
Now I appreciate yer honesty and you coming from a cave o' cultists probably means yer learnin' tings too. So let me be helpful in learnin' ya this. I am not a good man and I am not a man te emulate. Sneakin about in others belongings. That's me kind o' business and I normally killed the competition.
If ye ever dig around in me mind again, I'll pull yer eyes out, stick hot pokers in, and you'll have te do all yer looking through yer demon bird. That said...
Tank ye fer telling me. Tank ye for keepin it te yerself. Tank ye fer yer understandin'
Aight...that idea is tits up then. Thanks for trying. Strix then...ye got that bit o' magic te help us sneak up all quiet like. Let's do that bit.
(I think the intent was that you use Zhudala's point of view to create the illusion, but you cast the illusion. That should still be ok RAW, especially if you've got Voice of the Chain Master, the wording is delightfully exploitable)
Strix pulls at the darkness of doorways and beneath window sills, cauling it around the party
Incantis chuckles grimly. "I wouldn't be the first blinded Seer from my sect, as it were. That said, genuinely, this was the last time, and I pulled you aside to talk for a reason. I am indeed learning more about the outside world, and the mind's privacy is something seemingly everyone values more intimately than my people; we shared so much, but I am learning the value of mine own efficacy. Incidentally, contacting you with my awakened mind to send silent messages doesn't pry inward whatsoever and is quite useful; I am happy to stay out completely but I wonder if I may still contact you as such."Incantis pauses to consider Scupper's overall personal message. "I wouldn't sell yourself short. My people have a legend about the stars in the sky. It is told that once upon aeons sages have seen stars shine outwards in a radiant glow for days upon end, consuming the star and leaving a powerfully dark vestige. Only one, Zhudun the Corpse Star, remained after the cataclysm, wandering the skies spreading its pulsing radiance. My point is, people are energy forms like the stars. We go through phases, changing and metamorphosing. Your dark past of murder and torture was nothing but gestation for your current form; all go through new beginnings. I will keep this between us."
((I just checked and all my illusion spells have components beyond verbal; that's a really cool idea though!))
Before the party engages, Incantis takes some time to whisper, "so what's the plan? Strix was to assume the guise of one of them? The way I see it we have three options. We could isolate one and jump him and switch in Strix unnoticed. We could take them all out and four of us assume their guise. Or we could bide for now, and see why they're waiting here but potentially lose an opportunity for surprise." On that note, are these four men dressed in any identifiable way?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Incantis, half-elf warlock (great old one) 4/bard 1 ● Thorok Earthhand, hill dwarf mountain druid 6/grave cleric 2
Cragmyre Ironseed, earth genasi ancestral barbarian 3 ● Cyrus Natriallae, aquatic half-elf warlock of the deep 3
To the casual observer, they appear to be wearing nothing special that you wouldn't find on any mercenary or guard for hire in the city, but go ahead and roll a Perception check if you want to scrutinise them - but roll a Stealth check as well (with Strix's +10) because you do risk being spotted.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Varinth unhooks his trusty wineskin from his sash.
Wait for my signal he whispers to the others, a cheeky grin on his face.
Varinth will stumble down the alley toward the trio, occasionally sucking on his wineskin and singing
my liTtlE buTTercUp hAS the sWEetest sMIIIIIile DeAr liTtLe BUttercup, wOn't YoU stAy aWHile COme WitH mE whERe mOOnbeAms paiNT tHe sKy aNd YoU anD I miGht lingER in tHe sWeet bY and By, ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
As soon as he is in range (and hopefully gathered the three into a group) he will cast Burning Hands at 3rd level
Dekhan looks to the others and shrugs and begins surreptitiously following Vaz after a moment Stealth30 before breaking into a run when the flames burst from Vaz.
Likewise, when Vaz passes his inspection point Incantis will follow with the air of one warily keeping their distance from a drunk while happening the same way. When flames burst out he'll duck for cover as any passerby would do, but ready to engage.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Incantis, half-elf warlock (great old one) 4/bard 1 ● Thorok Earthhand, hill dwarf mountain druid 6/grave cleric 2
Cragmyre Ironseed, earth genasi ancestral barbarian 3 ● Cyrus Natriallae, aquatic half-elf warlock of the deep 3
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Init : 7
(Ironically Strix will not want to be wearing any salvaged armour given what it does to his monk features, the self-insert illusion show earlier was purely for illustration purposes)
Scupper, these halflings are every bit as wholesomely jolly as they appear. It's sickening. Roll a CON save not to barf.
Alrighty. Vaz is mostly interested in being distracted. He can't lose her.
Varinth sidles up to Inky So, what's Miss Z lookin' at? Where do we go?
Varinth will follow the party to catch up with the Hideout Wanderers.
If everyone is agreeable Dekhan will lead the group out to intercept the patrolling bandits.
Vaz is agreeable with that.
It's late afternoon as you leave the tavern. There's no sign of activity in the abandoned house over the road. You walk east through the city, following the line that Zhudala has taken. People pay you little heed - you look like a band of adventurers, hardly a rare sight in Waterdeep.
(OOC: If Incantis and Scupper want to roleplay their conversation back in the tavern now, that's fine. We'll assume it ended without one of you killing the other...)
Zhudala can report that the men have come to a halt in an alley behind a row of fashionable houses in the North Ward, home of the oldest and richest of the nobles. They look rather out of place, as most of the guards in the area clearly wear the colours or uniform of an employer. They are hanging around, seemingly waiting for someone or something.
Thirty minutes later, you all arrive at the mouth of the alley. You see City Watch patrolling the main street, some distance away, not paying attention to anyone in particular. On entering the alley you will immediately be visible to the four gang members, unless you take some measure to sneak in unobserved. Zhudala is holding position, perched on a roof almost above the men who are lounging around, not talking much - one is whistling softly, another checking his weapon for marks.
What would you like to do?
An idea has occurred to me of late. A bit like when we faced the owlbear, but better.
Incantus, if yer spider bird is invisible, it could place itself near them. Using it's view, it could cast an illusion of the alley but closer to them allowing us te approach the point o' illusion te get in better range te attack. Since yer demon has their angle o' sight, the illusion would be nigh perfect. We still play it quiet like but maybe this helps get us nearer.
((Really sorry guys, was dealing with moving my roommate out))
At Strix's performance for the patrons: "my friend has an odd grasp on our tongue but he is marvelously talented, is he not?" Incantis says, his own flute dangling around his neck.
To Scupper: "Look, Scup, I ah...I have a confession to make." The half-elf meets the halfling's eye with compassionate guilt. "I know you asked me to stay out of your head and that I'd agreed, but to be honest you roused my curiosity yesterday." Incantis pauses and looks down, unsure of how to continue. You know him, he's always straight to the point. He levels his gaze. "I know it was you who burned down the watch building, and I know you did it to silence the two bandits." His crooked face is soft. "I also know that you fear our reprisal, and are a genuine and trustworthy ally against both the Burners and Zhentarim. I'm truly sorry I broke your trust and the private sanctum of your mind; the four of us aren't going anywhere without you." Incantis smiles and holds out his hand to shake. "Just...don't loop us out next time, we could have learned from those two and still kept you safe, had we known."
At the alley mouth: "They're just standing...waiting," Incantis says, listening to Scupper's plan. "That's a clever idea. Sadly the only magic I can channel through Zhudala is healing...We do have a few other diversionary abilities at our disposal though, and I wonder if our shadow monk has a way to get us closer unnoticed." Zhudala positions herself past the four men from the party, still close by perched on the roof. She is in her true, albeit invisible, form.
Incantis, half-elf warlock (great old one) 4/bard 1 ● Thorok Earthhand, hill dwarf mountain druid 6/grave cleric 2
Cragmyre Ironseed, earth genasi ancestral barbarian 3 ● Cyrus Natriallae, aquatic half-elf warlock of the deep 3
With Incantus in the Broken Lance:
Just so we're clear. I'm a pirate learning how not to be a pirate. I come from murder, and double-cross and thievery, and torture. I was very good at me job. I'm still pretty happy on a day when I can kill or torture but i trys te keep that te bad men and women.
Now I appreciate yer honesty and you coming from a cave o' cultists probably means yer learnin' tings too. So let me be helpful in learnin' ya this. I am not a good man and I am not a man te emulate. Sneakin about in others belongings. That's me kind o' business and I normally killed the competition.
If ye ever dig around in me mind again, I'll pull yer eyes out, stick hot pokers in, and you'll have te do all yer looking through yer demon bird. That said...
Tank ye fer telling me. Tank ye for keepin it te yerself. Tank ye fer yer understandin'
Aight...that idea is tits up then. Thanks for trying. Strix then...ye got that bit o' magic te help us sneak up all quiet like. Let's do that bit.
(I think the intent was that you use Zhudala's point of view to create the illusion, but you cast the illusion. That should still be ok RAW, especially if you've got Voice of the Chain Master, the wording is delightfully exploitable)
Strix pulls at the darkness of doorways and beneath window sills, cauling it around the party
Pass Without Trace - 2 ki
Stealth : 27
Strix, Shifter Shadow Monk in Lost Mines of Phandelver ¦ Sihegiall Human Soulknife Rogue in In Search of Molly McGuffin
Incantis chuckles grimly. "I wouldn't be the first blinded Seer from my sect, as it were. That said, genuinely, this was the last time, and I pulled you aside to talk for a reason. I am indeed learning more about the outside world, and the mind's privacy is something seemingly everyone values more intimately than my people; we shared so much, but I am learning the value of mine own efficacy. Incidentally, contacting you with my awakened mind to send silent messages doesn't pry inward whatsoever and is quite useful; I am happy to stay out completely but I wonder if I may still contact you as such." Incantis pauses to consider Scupper's overall personal message. "I wouldn't sell yourself short. My people have a legend about the stars in the sky. It is told that once upon aeons sages have seen stars shine outwards in a radiant glow for days upon end, consuming the star and leaving a powerfully dark vestige. Only one, Zhudun the Corpse Star, remained after the cataclysm, wandering the skies spreading its pulsing radiance. My point is, people are energy forms like the stars. We go through phases, changing and metamorphosing. Your dark past of murder and torture was nothing but gestation for your current form; all go through new beginnings. I will keep this between us."
((I just checked and all my illusion spells have components beyond verbal; that's a really cool idea though!))
Before the party engages, Incantis takes some time to whisper, "so what's the plan? Strix was to assume the guise of one of them? The way I see it we have three options. We could isolate one and jump him and switch in Strix unnoticed. We could take them all out and four of us assume their guise. Or we could bide for now, and see why they're waiting here but potentially lose an opportunity for surprise." On that note, are these four men dressed in any identifiable way?
Incantis, half-elf warlock (great old one) 4/bard 1 ● Thorok Earthhand, hill dwarf mountain druid 6/grave cleric 2
Cragmyre Ironseed, earth genasi ancestral barbarian 3 ● Cyrus Natriallae, aquatic half-elf warlock of the deep 3
To the casual observer, they appear to be wearing nothing special that you wouldn't find on any mercenary or guard for hire in the city, but go ahead and roll a Perception check if you want to scrutinise them - but roll a Stealth check as well (with Strix's +10) because you do risk being spotted.
Might I perceive through Zhudala's eyes and stay out of sight?
If not:
Perception: 19
Stealth: 29
Incantis, half-elf warlock (great old one) 4/bard 1 ● Thorok Earthhand, hill dwarf mountain druid 6/grave cleric 2
Cragmyre Ironseed, earth genasi ancestral barbarian 3 ● Cyrus Natriallae, aquatic half-elf warlock of the deep 3
How far down the alley are they?
Incantis, half-elf warlock (great old one) 4/bard 1 ● Thorok Earthhand, hill dwarf mountain druid 6/grave cleric 2
Cragmyre Ironseed, earth genasi ancestral barbarian 3 ● Cyrus Natriallae, aquatic half-elf warlock of the deep 3
Varinth unhooks his trusty wineskin from his sash.
Wait for my signal he whispers to the others, a cheeky grin on his face.
Varinth will stumble down the alley toward the trio, occasionally sucking on his wineskin and singing
my liTtlE buTTercUp hAS the sWEetest sMIIIIIile
DeAr liTtLe BUttercup, wOn't YoU stAy aWHile
COme WitH mE whERe mOOnbeAms paiNT tHe sKy
aNd YoU anD I miGht lingER in tHe sWeet bY and By, ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
As soon as he is in range (and hopefully gathered the three into a group) he will cast Burning Hands at 3rd level
Damage: 13 Half Damage on a Dex Save of 13
Dekhan looks to the others and shrugs and begins surreptitiously following Vaz after a moment Stealth 30 before breaking into a run when the flames burst from Vaz.
Likewise, when Vaz passes his inspection point Incantis will follow with the air of one warily keeping their distance from a drunk while happening the same way. When flames burst out he'll duck for cover as any passerby would do, but ready to engage.
Incantis, half-elf warlock (great old one) 4/bard 1 ● Thorok Earthhand, hill dwarf mountain druid 6/grave cleric 2
Cragmyre Ironseed, earth genasi ancestral barbarian 3 ● Cyrus Natriallae, aquatic half-elf warlock of the deep 3
Remember! He calls out mentally to the group, louder in Vaz' head. Leave their effects whole!
Incantis, half-elf warlock (great old one) 4/bard 1 ● Thorok Earthhand, hill dwarf mountain druid 6/grave cleric 2
Cragmyre Ironseed, earth genasi ancestral barbarian 3 ● Cyrus Natriallae, aquatic half-elf warlock of the deep 3
Scupper will sneak attack a survivor with his bow after Vaz does the flamey bit.
Stealth 36
He'll also use that moment to grant Strix advantage on his turn with whispered knowledge of ambush tactics
The four men are about thirty feet into the alley.
Varinth enters, stumbling and weaving a path towards or around the men; they look bored at first and continue what they were doing.
Varinth, please make a Deception check to approach the men without them becoming alarmed. We'll see if they are 'surprised' during the first round.
Dekhan, I think you have disadvantage on Stealth checks from your armour, so please roll another d20.
Everyone including Varinth, please roll initiative.
Init : 7
(Ironically Strix will not want to be wearing any salvaged armour given what it does to his monk features, the self-insert illusion show earlier was purely for illustration purposes)
Strix, Shifter Shadow Monk in Lost Mines of Phandelver ¦ Sihegiall Human Soulknife Rogue in In Search of Molly McGuffin