Rhanloi's Romp Through the Sword Coast

Guildmaster Rand calls you together one afternoon to pitch an expansion proposition for the Adventurer's Guild. "It seems your exploit with the dragon caught the attention of the Lord Protector of Neverwinter, Dagult Neverember! He has granted our Guild the right to expand into Leilon, his latest rebuilding project. Lord Neverember hopes the town can act as a safe waypoint between the cities of Neverwinter and Waterdeep, as well as protect travelers from threats originating in the swampy Mere of Dead Men. Our job is to help protect the group of settlers Lord Neverember tasked with rebuilding the city." Rand points out the location of Leilon on the Guild map pinned to the wall in the great room of the newly rebuilt Tresendar Manor.

"Having a Guild presence in Leilon will let us expand our influence in the region! As our most experienced, and famous, members, I am asking you to relocate to this coastal city, keep an eye on the settlers, and find a suitable location for a second Guild Hall. If you accept this mission, gather your belongings and any provisions or gear you may need - you should leave as soon as you are ready. On the way, I'd like you to check in with a friend of mine who owns the Wayside Inn, a little establishment at the juncture of the Triboar Trail and the High Road. Her name is Martisha Vinetalker - she is a striking half-elf whose pleasing features contrast with her tough demeanor. Make no mistake...she is cold, calculating, charismatic, and knows how to run a business with ruthless efficiency and an eye for profit. My kind of lady!!" The human grins as he thinks of her. "Any questions?"

"Oh, and we need to come up with a new name to better reflect our group and expanding enterprise. Any thoughts?" 

You get a later start than perhaps you wanted, as there is a sending off party at the Guild Hall that lasts a bit longer than anticipate. It is well in to the afternoon when you finally set out on the road leading north out of Phandalin and headed towards the Triboar Trail. The good news is that you should hit the Wayside Inn shortly after nightfall. 

The trip goes quickly on the main roads, and you approach the Inn after the sun has set below the horizon but before it is fully dark (in effect you are in dim light, so without darkvision your ability to see things is reduced.) The Wayside Inn is an oddly shaped building at the juncture of the Triboar Trail and the High Road. Two entrances into the building are apparent: a smaller one at the northern corner, and a larger one, suitable for beasts of burden and wagons, east of the first.

Right now, both sets of doors are under attack by a total of four humanoid figures. They have already breached the smaller door, and they are starting to make cracks in the larger. (New map!)

‘Well, that’s not good…’ says Manfred, the master of the understatement.

’Go get ‘emm Perks!’ he says, giving Perkas a bardic inspiration (1d8)…(Bonus Action)

He then moves to get to within 60 feet of the group on the north corner and casts Faerie Fire on them… (DC 14 DEX ST to avoid the effect, plus the doorway is illuminated with a dim light)

Perkas is ready to get on to the next task, the on flux of peoples getting to be a bit much for her. She listens to the instructions of what they are to do and who they are to meet. She think about the name, but she is unsure it seems the fame of the guild has spoken for itself, but I'm sure the dragon head on the wall has helped in it's own way.

As they travel she thinks, 'should have probably asked what we are up against, but then again maybe no one knows.'

When she hears manny say that she grabs a bit of carrot dust in her pack and spreads it in a line above her eyes and mutters quietly.  darkvision She perks up Lil' best in hand and looks to what is attacking the door.

Perception check: 17

"No it can't be good?"

(Oh wow, that second covid vaccination shot really knocked the crap out of me, took 2 days before I could get out of bed! Feeling better now, it was worth it but it was rough.)

After hearing the mission briefing Penumbra heads back into the cellars where she finds Droop digging in the crevasse looking for magical treasures. "I told you, you're not gonna find anything down there, that hole was thoroughly combed trough by gnomes before we started rebuilding the guildhall. Those little guys don't miss a thing."

"Bah! Goblins search better than gnomes. Gnomes no find anything for a day and they go home and say all done. Goblin not find anything for a week and we keep digging, find everything."

Penumbra puzzles over this for a moment then remarks, "Maybe if evil wizards and the like would stop giving goblins work as mercenaries and raiders and the like you guys would all just be out in the forest somewhere digging endlessly for buried treasure."

A look of disgust comes over Droop's face. "Only elves bury treasure in the forest. Elf treasure all poison arrows and shinny leaves. Goblins like caves, in caves you find gold and gems." Droop proudly displays a meager handful of worthless ,but none the less beautiful, agates he has excavated from the ground and Penumbra laughs heartily.

"Ok ok, I see your point. But remember what I told you about making that face every time you talk about elves, that kinda stuff goes both ways. They might be a little nicer to you if you don't scowl at them. But I'm not here for sensitivity training, we have a quest. Get your gear and meet us in the main hall, we set out soon."

With that Penumbra gathers her own gear and heads out to meet the group.

LATER...

As the group approach the inn and try to get a better look at the inn's attackers Penumbra decides to get as close as she can. quietly directing Droop to remain with the group Penumbra takes to the air and alights on top of the Inn where she attempts to peer down at the attackers without being spotted.

Stealth: 32

The shuffling and jerky movements might be enough for Perkas to tell, but Penumbra's aerial reconnaissance confirms what you are up against - zombies! Since you are all pretty far away (beyond 60') or hidden above (Penumbra!) they do not notice you and continue to assault the doors. The double doors are closer to your location (you are east of the building on the Triboar Trail) and the smaller door is on the NW corner. (Go ahead and roll for initiative and take an action - in case you decide to save the Inn and whoever is trapped inside =)

DM Rolls:

(Sorry for being late!  I didn't realize there were new posts on the next page till today!!)

The fanfare upon leaving the guild was just the sendoff Wakka needed.  It reminded him that while he and his friends were the toast of the town now, if they didn't continue to do great work for the guild, their love and praise would wilt like a vine without water or sunlight.  With his Elven shield and new axe strapped to his back, he gave the party a hearty wave before following the others towards their next assignment.  Was it as grand a defeating a dragon, no.  But was it just as important to the guild and his ambitions?  Of course, and he would treat it as such  Well... unless it turned out to be an incredibly simple assignment; then me might take it bit easy!

When they came into view of the Wayside Inn, Wakka wasn't able to make out what was going on so far ahead.  "Who are they Perkas?  Bandits?  Should we step in and stop them?" 

(OOC #1:Depending on what she tells him, he'll act accordingly)

(OOC #2: For the axe, how many charges does it have/ recover per day?)

Initiative: 14

(Manfred does what I’d said in the last post - gets to within 60feet of the nearest group and casts Faerie Fire on them, *if* there are still 2 alive by then, if not he’ll cast Dissonant Whispers on the remaining Zombie - 11psychic damage, DC14 WIS ST for half, and has to flee if it fails)

Initiave: 12

"Looks like undead" perkas snarls and moves closer so she's within range (full movement), and looses 2 arrows at the creatures.

Attack1:  hit 26. Dmg 8

Attack2: hit 19.  Dmg 14

"Shit!" Wakka cursed before whispering the code word to activate his Animated Shield and charging towards the Inn at full speed.

• Initiative: 12
• Dash 60' to get closer 
• Animated Shield 

(@Zoldier: Thanks - my homebrew didn't include this info...still figuring that thing out! "The axe has 10 charges and regains 1d4+2 charges at dawn. The weapon also regains 1d6 charges after every 12 hours in cold weather, where temps are below freezing. If you expend the last charge, roll a d20. On a 1, the axe retains its +1 bonus to attack and damage, but loses all other properties.")

Initiative order: Penumbra ? - Manfred 14 - Wakka 12 - Perkas 12 - Blue - Yellow - Red - Green

• Manfred moves within range of the zombies and casts faerie fire upon the Green and Red ones (DC14 Dex Green:15  Red: 9)
• Wakka dashes towards the inn, getting within 25' of the green and now glowing red zombies
• Perkas gets with 80' and hits both of the red and green zombies!
• Penumbra...

Penumbra(-0) : Manfred(-0) : Wakka(-0) : Perkas(-0) : Blue(-0) : Yellow(-0) : Red(-8) : Green(-14)

initiative: 7

Penumbra grins wickedly at the sight of the zombies and begins to cast a fire bolt but thinks better of it not wanting to start the Inn on fire. Choosing a safer option she leaps off the roof above the two zombies at the main entrance.

"Hey maggots for brains, over here. Nice tasty tiefling right out in the open." She calls out as she flies over the zombies heads and lands as far away from them as possible. Once on the ground she pulls out two daggers and hurls one at each of the two zombies.\

Attack: 23 Damage: 6

Attack: 15 Damage: 2

Droop remains with the rest of the group as Penumbra told him to. He keeps his distance and begins sending arrows towards the closest zombie.

Attack: 20 Damage: 5

Extra Attack (a skill from the expert sidekick class)

Attack: 16 Damage: 5

(Forgot advantage for Droop's attack against Red and/or Green)

18

8

Penumbra scores a pair of hits on the blue and yellow zombies, attracting their attention! Droop also manages to hit the red zombie twice, but it doesn't drop it. All of the zombies turn away from the Inn and shuffle towards their attackers...Blue and Yellow moving towards Penumbra and blue taking a swing at the tiefling (Attack: 23 Damage: 9). The glowing red zombie makes it to Wakka and swings at him (Attack: 7 Damage: 2). Manfred and Perkas see two incorporeal forms rise up out of the ground at the southern end of the Inn and float rapidly towards them - wraiths!

Round 2: WhiteWr(-0) : Manfred(-0) : Penumbra(-0) : Droop(-0) : Wakka(-9) : Perkas(-0) : BlackWr(-0) : BlueZ(-7) : YellowZ(-3) : RedZ(-21) : GreenZ(-14)

"Missed me!" Penumbra taunts as she deftly steps out of the reach of her attacker. (Cunning action to disengage.)

Once safely out of reach she takes flight once again hurling a fire bolt at blue as she goes.

Attack: 26 Damage: 16

Droop moves forward and continues sending arrows at red.

Attack: 20 Damage: 10

Attack: 7 Damage: 11

(Is Droop aware of the wraiths?)

Putting up a barrier at the last second to limit the damage from the (Red) zombie's slash, Wakka returned the favor and slashed twice at the undead in front of him with his new icy axe.  Then spotting a goblin approached Manfred from the corner of his eye, Wakka reached his hand out towards it and attempted to draw him away from the halfling. 

• Reaction (Round 1): Psionic Power: Protective Field - 8 Damage reduction
• Attack (Red): 19 & 15/ Damage: 12 slashing
• Extra Attack (Red (or Green if Red dies)): 24 & 24/ Damage: 11 slashing + 2 cold
• Bonus action (Telekinetic Shove): DC14 STR Save or the Goblin (close to Manfred) is pushed 5ft towards Wakka

• Penumbra does an acrobatic aerial assault on the blue zombie and opening the distance between them. 
• Droop (the goblin) misses with his first arrow, but the second one is spot on! (Red Zombie DC13 Fortitude: 14) (Droop is focused on the zombies, then would likely rush to Penumbra's aid...)
• Wakka sees the zombie take what would have been a killing blow on a normal person and stay standing. He takes a mighty swing at the undead creature... (Red Zombie DC17 Fortitude: 5)...cleaving it to its final rest. He then steps up and delivers another massive strike to the green zombie, removing its head and one arm! (Green Zombie DC18 Fortitude: 16)

Round 2(con't): WhiteWr(-0) : Manfred(-0) : Penumbra(-0) : Droop(-0) : Wakka(-4) : Perkas(-0) : BlackWr(-0) : BlueZ(-11) : YellowZ(-3) 

Perkas feels a sense of dread to her left and shifts Lil' bes to her left so find behind the sight wraiths. She runs over by to Manfred. 

As she lines up her shot hunter's mark at the closest one she speaks with disdain "the living are worse enough, just pass on already!" and fires in quick succession.

Hit 1: 14.  Dmg: 13+5(hm)=18

Hit 2: 21.  Dmg: 14+4(hm)=18

• The ranger senses an oncoming dread and turns to see the wraiths! Her magical crossbow thrumms with power as it sends two bolts towards the white wraith, which shrieks when they both penetrate its incorporeal form!

Round 2(con't): WhiteWr(-36) : Manfred(-0) : Penumbra(-0) : Droop(-0) : Wakka(-4) : Perkas(-0) : BlackWr(-0) : BlueZ(-11) : YellowZ(-3) 

‘Crikey, more of them!’ squeaks exclaims Manfred, momentarily put out by the new undead entrants. Quickly recovering he hurls a flaming Chromatic Orb at the closest wraith…

Attack: 19 Damage: 23 (fire damage)

(Sorry!! Manfred, do you want to use your Inspiration and reroll that attack roll?)

• The darker wraith floats over the ground towards the party, moving with alarming speed but not quite getting to Manfred and Perkas...
• The blue and yellow zombies shamble after Penumbra but can't quite close the distance.
• The lighter wraith moves to 3 (1=Wakka, 2=Droop, 3=Manfred, 4=Perkas) and tries to touch them with its incorporeal hand to drain their life force. Attack: 17 Damage: 21 Miss!!

Round 3: WhiteWr(-36) : Manfred(-0) : Penumbra(-0) : Droop(-0) : Wakka(-4) : Perkas(-0) : BlackWr(-0) : BlueZ(-11) : YellowZ(-3)