Rhanloi's Romp Through the Sword Coast

Athletics 6

Tallow scurries up the side of the wall. “I’m a lot stronger than I look. I wasn’t always though. When I started as a butcher, I couldn’t even lift up the carcasses so my gnome friends gave me these gauntlets that fixed it”

Once everyone is inside the room, you hear a small movement from under the bed. You look and discover a gnome hiding under there! After convincing her that you are not cultists and have come to investigate what is happening, she tells you that her name is Cray Onderquill and that she was traveling from Neverwinter to Waterdeep on an errand for her master when she decided to stay the night. Today, when the cultists began grabbing people, she used disguise self to imitate a cultist, and then snuck away here to hide. She thought about climbing out the window but is afraid the fall might kill her. She is willing to help you figure out what's happening with the ritual and the powerful storm outside. 

Cray also reveals that not all the captives taken by cultists were impaled on the doors: the inn’s owner, Martisha Vinetalker, was dragged into the basement, and a local bard, Tarbin Tul, was taken away on horseback. Cray thinks the cultists had strict orders to capture the bard alive, as she heard them talking about being careful with Tul.

Manfred is sweating as he concentrates on playing his lute softly, keeping the notes sparse but addressing the key elements of keeping the storm suppressed.

He tries to recall if he knows Tarbin Tul, either personally or by reputation.

Genren, smiles at the gnome and gives her a pat on the shoulder "you did well to escape from their clutches and your information is certainly useful. I don't know about you all, but I've learned to never say no to a new ally. I'll start checking the rest of the upstairs before we head down. "  he whipsers as he then peaks through the doorway and makes his way towards guestroom B, keeping both eyes and ears peeled for any potential threats. 

Stealth: 17

Perception: 26

Manfred remembers meeting Tarbin Tul when they defeated the undead threat to the Wayside Inn on their way to Leilon. He is a traveling bard who wanders the High Road, seeking new songs to add to his already impressive repertoire. Tarbin was singing along to Silla’s ditties on the harmonica, and gladly bought drinks for the party.

Genren does a quick, but silent, sweep of the upstairs, finding it empty. As he returns to the room with the rest of the party, you hear the sounds of chanting from downstairs getting louder, and Manfred feels the weather getting darker and more dangerous as it begins to overcome his own magical manipulations...

Sweating more furiously, Manfred looks around urgently ‘We need to stop the ritual now. It’s starting to overpower my attempts to counter the storm’s effects…‘ He stands and moves to the door of the room, preparing to cause some significant distraction.

’I’ll follow behind. I think we need some ‘shock and awe’ tactics here. We must stop the ritual…’

"I can douse them in a magical stew that will burn the heck out of them"  Tallow started pantomiming stirring a cauldron with his wooden spoon.  An eerie green glow began to appear that seemed to cling to the spoon.  Holding Tasha's Caustic Brew "You ready to kick open the door?"

Generen takes out his bow and whispers the command for his faithful weapon “unravel” as his shortsword releases itself from its holster, unwrapping itself from colorful pieces of cloth,  floating through the air by his side. 

“Everyone ready?” He crouches slightly ready for combat. 

"Stay here, we'll be right back..." Wakka replied kindly to Cray before walking out of the room and closing the door behind him.  Steeling himself for what they were about to do, Wakka whispered his secret phase to activate his Magic Shield before walking past the others to the front of the party, ready to lead the charge.  "Shock and Awe huh?  I can definitely do that... I'll try and distract as many as possible while the rest of you stop the ritual."  Assuming everyone was in agreement and ready to go, Wakka would give the others a curt nod before beginning to head downstairs...

The party heads down the stairs to the main level, Wakka stopping short to peek around the wall. (see the map here.) Backes the bartender, a human with a scarred face and a crooked smile, leads the chanting in the common area from the top of a table. There are three other cultists in the room - one fanatical woman walking in from the courtyard and two others with tridents, guarding several bound victims. The fanatic seems to be checking in on the others, making sure the ritual is progressing according to plan. 

Everybody make a stealth check (with advantage) and roll initiative!

Manfred, coming from the back of the group, somehow manages to time the few strums of his lute to blend with the chanting… (Stealth: 22)

Initiative: 8

Genren coasts behind Wakka ready to fire over his shoulder just a few steps  behind. 

Stealth: 13

Initiative 10

• Wakka Stealth: 14
• Wakka Initiative: 7

Stealth Check for Tallow 18

Initiative 15

Surprise round - Characters up! Post your action in any order - I will post them by marching order for this first round because you are coming down a narrow staircase. (Wakka, Genren, Tallow, Manfred)

Initiative order:  Cultist 1(-0) :: Tallow(-0) :: Backes(-0) :: Cultist 2(-0) :: Genren(-14) :: Manfred(-9) :: Wakka(-27) :: Fanatic(-0)

Genren will start walking on the wall (as high up to the ceiling as he can get without impeding his shooter arm) until he can peak around the corner and he will fire a shot at nearest cultist. Immediately after he'll give a soft whistle, signaling his (bonus action) dancing sword to follow up and attack the same individual. (advantage? If not I can reroll!)

Bow: Attack: 18 Damage: 13

Sneak attack: 14

Dancing Weapon: Attack: 20 Damage: 9

He'll use the rest of his movement to turn the corner fully, but stay on the wall crouched.

Tallow will move out from the stairs and, as he does, will unleash Tasha's Caustic Brew at 4th level at the blue guy and the red guy.  Dex save of 16 or take 19 and then an additional 2d4 at the start of each of their turns while covered in acid.  He will use 1 sorcery point to use metamagic Careful Spell to allow 4 people to automatically save on their Dex save.  This will be to shield the tied up victims if they are in the line of fire.  

(Waiting on Wakka's surprise round move/action...and will need Manfred's too =)

(Manfred waiting to see what Wakka does, since it will affect what he does!)