Sword Coast Rambling

Can I climb the tree inside the house to get a good look into inside?  Or does it still have a roof?  If I can see inside, even if it is only floor, I will cast Create Bonfire to illuminate the insides.

If I can't see from a tree, then I will approach a window and do the same.

OOC: The farmhouse is roofed and largely intact, the windows are shuttered.  You can climb the tree if you wish but you won’t be able to see anything different than the others at ground level.

"I think we just go in, the others were weak. Surely we can dispatch of anyone quickly."

Serak: Finding the structure secure, Serak does a quick search of the ruins while saying, "Remember, they hold Dayereth captive and could threaten his life. Let's try the back door first. Remember, if we are caught, just act natural... like a perfectly calm creepy cultist."

Perception: 14

Serak steps forward to open the backdoor to the farmhouse, on the lookout for danger or traps. If the door is locked, he'll attempt to break in.

Thieves' Tools: 18

Brazenly marching forwards towards the back door, Serak takes the lead again. Following behind at a safe distance, his fellow ‘cultists’ and ‘prisoners’. In the darkness, the farmhouse is quiet, it’s shuttered windows giving no clue as to what lies inside. 

Serak reaches the backdoor and presses a hand gently against it. It’s locked, the weathered wood flaking away in his hands with a gentle crunch. He tries the well rusted handle which creaks under the pressure. Suddenly a muffled voice calls out through the door, no more than a whisper, “Brother Favric? Brother Favric is that you?” 

Serak: Mimicking Favric's voice as best he can, Serak says in a strained tone, "Yes, it is I! Who else would it be? Open the door! We've injured Brothers out here! Bring the old man! He is a healer! Now, or I'll feed you to the bloody Dragon myself!" 

Deception: 7

Intimidation: 22

Performance: 6

A slight pause, followed by murmurings inside. With slight hesitation the voice calls back nervously, "For.... uhh.... forgive me My Lord but.... are you alright? You sound.... ah..... hoarse?" With his hand till resting on the handle, Serak feels it start to gently pulse in his grasp.

Serak: Silently cursing the frog in his throat, Serak says, "Hoarse? I'm half dead, speaking to you through my mask and a door! Our meeting at the Tower was ambushed. We have prisoners! See for yourself!"

Persuasion: 21

Readying his weapons, Serak steps back from the door, giving Beetle and Zyltris room to break it down if necessary.

Another pause followed by another mumble, then a loud clunk as a key turns in the lock. With a loud creak a crack opens in the door frame, revealing a shining silver mask and a man cloaked in black. Inside, the faint flicker of firelight barely lights the room. Relieved the figure speaks clearly, “Ah! Lord Favric my apologies! For a moment I was worried. Adran bring the monk, our Lord is in need.” 

Beetle prepares to attack at a moments notice.  He awaits the bards signal as he thinks at the moment the bandits are fooled by Serak and we can get into better positions before giving away our cover.

Serak: Breathing a sigh of relief, Serak awaits patiently for the Cultists to bring out Dayereth. 

With a loud creak the door opens wide and the cultist steps aside. A small fire burns dimly in the corner of the ransacked room. After a couple of hurried footsteps scurry across the wooden floor, a ragged old elf appears out of the firelight and into the doorway held tightly by a second cloaked figure. The old man stumbles as he is pushed forwards towards the awaiting bard. Bowing low behind the elf, the second cultist speaks authoritatively. “My Lord Favric. How fares the dragon?” 

Serak: Serak grabs the old man by the arm, pulling him safely behind Beetle and Zyltris, saying, "The Dragon is well, I'm sure. It's yourselves I'd be more worried about..." 

OOC: Just so I’m clear here. I’m assuming Serak stands at the front of the group with Beetle, Arkhan and Zyltris behind, the others are behind them.

Serak, at this point are you still in disguise as Favric or was your last line delivered more as a threat?

OOC: I was thinking by the way he said it that this was it we were going to attack them now...

Beetle, anticipating the start of combat offers a quick prayer to Tyr before it starts..."Tyr please guide us and protect us, watch over us and make me as fit as can be for the upcoming battle..." as he finishes he touches his wounds and uses his Lay Hands ability to heal himself for 10 hp.

OOC: pretty sure I should be only 1 hp down now but if I am wrong just let me know.

OOC: Sorry it wasn't clearer. Now that Dayereth is safe, we can just kill thes guys. Serak would have moved with Dayereth behind Beetle and Zyltris before combat begins.

OOC: No probs. Just making sure before I rolled initiatives. 

Beetle, I’ll double check your HP but I’m sure you’re 5hp down. I’ll make sure before the first round here. 

You're right sorry, got confused by my own map! You’re 1hp down

Initiative Rolls:

Arkhan: 14
Beetle: 18
Brots: 5
Serak: 24
Syna: 15
Zyltris: 5

Dayereth: 8
Jelenneth: 4

Cultists: 13

Ill draw up the round map asap.

ROUND 1

Brots, Serak, Syna, Zyltris: (Darkvision)

Arkhan, Beetle:

OOC: Might be a bit unclear from the image but the doorway is between Beetle and C2. As always any issues with the starting positions can be resolved now if you're unhappy with where I've put you. 

Serak: With Dayereth safe, Serak lights things up by shouting, "Akular vi shirak hakon!"

Action: Faerie Fire Target: 20ft Cube - Cultist(C1), Cultist(C2)

Serak smiles slyly beneath his mask as he repositions himself in the crowd. With Dayereth back in his wifes arms, the bard casts his spell, "Akular vi shirak hakon!"

Cultist 1 Dexterity Save: 16
Cultist 2 Dexterity Save: 14
Spell Save DC: 13

(OOC: The 20ft cube could also reach the rest of you outside if you wanted that Serak? Otherwise I'll limit it to the inside of the farmhouse)

In the doorway, the cultist yells in horror as fluorescent green light outlines his body. In front of him, the three figures of Arkhan, Beetle and Zyltris are revealed, bathed in the green glow. Frantically rubbing at his cloak, the cultist whimpers, trying to rub the glow away in vain. 

Having been sure this would turn nasty, Zyltris whips his cloak back revealing his already drawn handaxes. Aiming through the doorway, he swings both towards the panicked glowing cultist.

Zyltris Attack Roll 1: 10 
Damage: 9

Zyltris Attack Roll 2: 13
Damage: 1

Unleashing a fury that had been building up over the course of the night, Zyltris hacks away at the cloaked figure. The elfs first blow cleaves the cultists arm clean off, the second slices open his throat. Falling to the floor, the bright green light is immediately extinguished. Zyltris swings his handaxes back onto his belt and breathes heavily, eyeing up the next target.

Over the furious sound of Zyltris attack, Dayereth falls to his knees, caught by a gentle embrace. Days of torture clearly taking its toll on the old monk. Hauled to his feet, he finally sees the face of some of his liberators, Jelenneth, Syna and Brots. Finally, somehow, it's all over. Closing his eyes tightly the elf tries desperately to hold back his emotions, but fails as tears rush to fill his old eyes.

Adran is dead. The only words that rush through the remaining cultists head as he watches his friend sliced apart beside him. Adran is dead. Without a second though, the cultist turns back inside, making a break for the front door. Disengaging from the fight the cultist screams into the next room, "Enna! We're under attack! Get out!" A gust of wind rushes past Beetle as the second cultist disappears through the door into the next room. On the other side of the building the sound of another door slamming, followed by heavy footsteps sprinting through the night air.