The two other zombies stare stupidly after Tempest as he scuttles off, then set of in pursuit. They are unable to get into range of Rawk and the other zombie, so take the dash action and arrive at each side of the other zombie, all reaching their hands towards Rawk.....
The blow from the zombie takes its toll Rawk will take out her rope and toss it over the trio of zombies as they reach up at her and do her best to get them tangled together in the rope. Then with all the strength she can muster she'll fly/ dive over the side of the cliff and attempt to yank all three down at once with her.
(Let me know if that's something I can do and what to roll.. strength, Dex, etc.)
Against most foes that wouldn't really work, but these zombies are as daft as a brush standing there so you probably could lasso them and try and pull them. Plus its cool. I'll just ask for a straight forward athletics check. Have to beat their armour class to get them, and then each will get a chance to do an opposed check. If you succeed... well :). However, high risk, high reward. I'll say that if you fail you pull away out of their range so they would each get an opportunity attack on you. You are over a steep drop, and falling on these jagged rocks will hurt a lot, and there are waves battering away. Just to be aware (and Rawk would know this) if everything goes really wrong, it could be the end of Rawk - perhaps permanently.
"Make sure you destroy the heart Tempest!" Rawk chirps as she tosses the rope towards the zombies. She'll kick off the side of the cliff and pludge down into the darkness below. After they fall for a second she rolls feeling the hands grasp at her...
Spider Tempest hears this but is confused by the words and moves slightly closer to the edge and see what's happening. (Would move within 8 feet of Rawk and the zombie cluster.)
Fearing the worst, Spider tempest will move up to the cliff edge, lay Erro and Ellis down (Maybe bonus? they're not resisting...) 3 ft from the edge then move back down diagonally, staying out of melee of the falling cluster. (Hopefully with 30ft of climb I can get in position.) He'll hold a Web attack to stick Rawk to the cliff side should she look unconscious or in distress.
(I hope this works or I don't need to do it since Rawk is a beast. I imagine this playing out in slow mo. A giant spider skittering down the cliff at the same speed as the falling cluster and shooting a web that catches Rawk and sticks her to the cliff.)
You manage to to swing the rope around the creatures and then dive. You see Tempest urgently skittering towards you as the rope goes taut. The zombies have enough wit to resist the attempt to pull them.
Rawk strains, channeling her rage into one final effort to survive. For a moment it looks as if the zombies are able to resist, then suddenly the ground gives way beneath the foot of one of them and it starts to tumble. As it falls, the others are dragged along with it and all three are suddenly tumbling down. Rawk feels herself falling, her wings tangled, aware she is about to be smashed towards the ground by the three plummeting bodies, blindly flailing at her. Just then she sees Tempest shoot a web catching her, and allowing her to swing out of the way just in time. As she slams into the cliff face, held by the sticky web, Rawk watches the three bodies smash into the foaming rocks below. Shadow billows out of them, and in moments the now inanimate corpses are washed away by the sea.
There is a moment of calm, and suddenly the unnatural silence of the forest and the perpetual gloom crowds in on the battered, exhausted, but victorious heroes....
Wow. That was genuinely one of the best D&D battles I have seen. When they kept critting and hitting I actually felt sick and I was really worried I had killed the party! I haven't seen such a run of bad luck for the heroes in ages, but what an amazing turn around! I also loved the roleplaying, from Ellis starting off the fight so in character - scared but thinking of everyone else first (and it is actually harder I think to play the more scared, lacking in confidence character that Ellis is than a straight up hero), Erro's dropping strategy, Tempest pulling out an incredible save of his friends in spider form and finally Rawk's incredibly risky final gambit. I think everyone deserves inspiration for that (and if we were running with XP you'd get bonus XP!)
So, what do you guys want to do now? Remember Ellis and Erro are still having to roll death saves - I'll let Tempest and Rawk act first before they have to roll though!
Tempest will skitter down and snap open the web allowing Rawk to escape then rush up to the top of the cliff and drop his spider form. He’ll cast Goodberry and place one in each of their mouths. “Help me get them to swallow these.” He says to Rawk
(sorry on phone and wanted to go ahead and post but man that’s freaking awesome. I’m gonna take a victory lap around the house when I get home.)
You and Rawk are able to administer the goodberries, and you see the wounds on your friends heal, and both of them return to consciousness - though both still look very bruised and battered!
"I don't know about y'all but I'm beat. Do you think we could take a short break before we try to scale these cliffs?" Tempest says with a busted lip and heavy breath. Then he''ll use Mold Earth to begin making a 5ft tall 20ft long semi circle wall around them with a 5ft trench in front of the wall, keeping their backs to the cliffs. "I think if we stay low we can remain hidden from view. Rawk can you grab some firewood? Ellis and Erro, stay still and rest for a moment." he adds as he looks at the haggard group realizing how close they came to death.
After he's done with the trench he'll make a small hidden campfire using Mold Earth and Produce Flame.
The sea spray from below tingles Erro’s nose as the magic berry’s energy triggers and Erro wakens with a gasp. He turns to the side and spits up as much as he can, his first instinct is trying to expel the Zombie’s ichor; the last thing he remembers feeling. He wipes the tarry substance from his face and eyes and he frantically looks around. He sees only his friends, and his anxiety slackens a bit. He fumbles around in his satchel feeling for his lamp, and once found, he relaxes finally and lays face up looking at the gloomy sky.
He turns his head to the side and sees Ellis in similar condition. He hazards and exhausted laugh and says to Ellis, “Well,” he winces, “that didn’t quite go as planned, did it?”
((Yes, that was some genuine D&D magic right there! Great job DM and party! That’s why you play this game.))
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Erro will sit up and use his Relentless feature to gain 11 temporary HP, just in case more trouble comes. Despite this, the question of whether or not to rest doesn’t even register. “Of course!” he says as he feels some probably broken ribs.
(Yes!!!!!! I can't believe that worked. Great job everyone!)
Rawk will nod assisting Tempest with the berries first then fetching branches from the tops of the tree rather than entering the forest on the ground. She too was sore but her adrenaline would carry her through the few minutes she needed to gather. It would be somewhat ironic to witness Rawk gathering sticks. Much like smaller birds she'd pick a large long stick and carry it in her mouth, but also using her strong clawed hands and feet she'd quickly grab enough wood for a nest. As she lands she'd ornately stack the sticks making a nest for the fire, then for the extra wood. All the while her head bobbing up and down and side to side as she examined each angle. Her feet would pitter patter across the ground as she maneuvered/ waddled around to look over each part until Tempest eventually lit the subterranean bundle.
As she settles down for a break she ruffles her feathers and begins to groom herself with her beak. As she turns her falcon-like head the curves and features of her body become more pronounced. She is clearly a female Aarakocra and were it not for the full covering of feathers and small stature, she'd be a rather beautiful woman. Her muscular arms and legs flex and twitch as she methodically addresses what seems like each feather. Feeling the eyes of the group she shakes her head back to face them and her beak chitters open and closed quickly as a puzzled but content look is present on her face. "Had to get all the zombie goo off. A bit less violently than Erro." she chirps.
You rest down wearily, aware of the eerie quiet of this place. The afternoon wears on, and the shadows the flow over everything seem oppressive. But nothing else disturbs you, and you are able to complete a short rest successfully.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Hit dice: 27
Tempest will bandage himself while contemplating a plan for their descent, water crossing and ascent. "Here take two each. If any of us go down near another you can put this in their mouth and restore them... Rawk, think you can grab some more sticks? We need long straight sticks and some shorter sticks. I think with the sticks as reinforcement I can transform into a spider and weave a canoe large & sturdy enough to get Erro and Ellis across the water. I can pull them along with another form. What do you all think?" he says handing each person two goodberries.
NEXT ROUND (I have lost count!)
Greater Shadow Zombie turn
The two other zombies stare stupidly after Tempest as he scuttles off, then set of in pursuit. They are unable to get into range of Rawk and the other zombie, so take the dash action and arrive at each side of the other zombie, all reaching their hands towards Rawk.....
Heroes Turn
Do you like my Boots of Flying?
*bleeds*
Death save: 14
Death Save: 8
The blow from the zombie takes its toll Rawk will take out her rope and toss it over the trio of zombies as they reach up at her and do her best to get them tangled together in the rope. Then with all the strength she can muster she'll fly/ dive over the side of the cliff and attempt to yank all three down at once with her.
(Let me know if that's something I can do and what to roll.. strength, Dex, etc.)
Against most foes that wouldn't really work, but these zombies are as daft as a brush standing there so you probably could lasso them and try and pull them. Plus its cool. I'll just ask for a straight forward athletics check. Have to beat their armour class to get them, and then each will get a chance to do an opposed check. If you succeed... well :). However, high risk, high reward. I'll say that if you fail you pull away out of their range so they would each get an opportunity attack on you. You are over a steep drop, and falling on these jagged rocks will hurt a lot, and there are waves battering away. Just to be aware (and Rawk would know this) if everything goes really wrong, it could be the end of Rawk - perhaps permanently.
Up to you....
Do you like my Boots of Flying?
(Oh shoot!)
"Make sure you destroy the heart Tempest!" Rawk chirps as she tosses the rope towards the zombies. She'll kick off the side of the cliff and pludge down into the darkness below. After they fall for a second she rolls feeling the hands grasp at her...
Athletics: 19
(Oh snap, gotta go bold too now.)
Spider Tempest hears this but is confused by the words and moves slightly closer to the edge and see what's happening. (Would move within 8 feet of Rawk and the zombie cluster.)
Fearing the worst, Spider tempest will move up to the cliff edge, lay Erro and Ellis down (Maybe bonus? they're not resisting...) 3 ft from the edge then move back down diagonally, staying out of melee of the falling cluster. (Hopefully with 30ft of climb I can get in position.) He'll hold a Web attack to stick Rawk to the cliff side should she look unconscious or in distress.
(I hope this works or I don't need to do it since Rawk is a beast. I imagine this playing out in slow mo. A giant spider skittering down the cliff at the same speed as the falling cluster and shooting a web that catches Rawk and sticks her to the cliff.)
(Nice. Finger's crossed*)
You manage to to swing the rope around the creatures and then dive. You see Tempest urgently skittering towards you as the rope goes taut. The zombies have enough wit to resist the attempt to pull them.
7
13
9
Do you like my Boots of Flying?
Rawk strains, channeling her rage into one final effort to survive. For a moment it looks as if the zombies are able to resist, then suddenly the ground gives way beneath the foot of one of them and it starts to tumble. As it falls, the others are dragged along with it and all three are suddenly tumbling down. Rawk feels herself falling, her wings tangled, aware she is about to be smashed towards the ground by the three plummeting bodies, blindly flailing at her. Just then she sees Tempest shoot a web catching her, and allowing her to swing out of the way just in time. As she slams into the cliff face, held by the sticky web, Rawk watches the three bodies smash into the foaming rocks below. Shadow billows out of them, and in moments the now inanimate corpses are washed away by the sea.
There is a moment of calm, and suddenly the unnatural silence of the forest and the perpetual gloom crowds in on the battered, exhausted, but victorious heroes....
Do you like my Boots of Flying?
Wow. That was genuinely one of the best D&D battles I have seen. When they kept critting and hitting I actually felt sick and I was really worried I had killed the party! I haven't seen such a run of bad luck for the heroes in ages, but what an amazing turn around! I also loved the roleplaying, from Ellis starting off the fight so in character - scared but thinking of everyone else first (and it is actually harder I think to play the more scared, lacking in confidence character that Ellis is than a straight up hero), Erro's dropping strategy, Tempest pulling out an incredible save of his friends in spider form and finally Rawk's incredibly risky final gambit. I think everyone deserves inspiration for that (and if we were running with XP you'd get bonus XP!)
So, what do you guys want to do now? Remember Ellis and Erro are still having to roll death saves - I'll let Tempest and Rawk act first before they have to roll though!
Do you like my Boots of Flying?
Tempest will skitter down and snap open the web allowing Rawk to escape then rush up to the top of the cliff and drop his spider form. He’ll cast Goodberry and place one in each of their mouths. “Help me get them to swallow these.” He says to Rawk
(sorry on phone and wanted to go ahead and post but man that’s freaking awesome. I’m gonna take a victory lap around the house when I get home.)
You and Rawk are able to administer the goodberries, and you see the wounds on your friends heal, and both of them return to consciousness - though both still look very bruised and battered!
Do you like my Boots of Flying?
"I don't know about y'all but I'm beat. Do you think we could take a short break before we try to scale these cliffs?" Tempest says with a busted lip and heavy breath. Then he''ll use Mold Earth to begin making a 5ft tall 20ft long semi circle wall around them with a 5ft trench in front of the wall, keeping their backs to the cliffs. "I think if we stay low we can remain hidden from view. Rawk can you grab some firewood? Ellis and Erro, stay still and rest for a moment." he adds as he looks at the haggard group realizing how close they came to death.
After he's done with the trench he'll make a small hidden campfire using Mold Earth and Produce Flame.
The sea spray from below tingles Erro’s nose as the magic berry’s energy triggers and Erro wakens with a gasp. He turns to the side and spits up as much as he can, his first instinct is trying to expel the Zombie’s ichor; the last thing he remembers feeling. He wipes the tarry substance from his face and eyes and he frantically looks around. He sees only his friends, and his anxiety slackens a bit. He fumbles around in his satchel feeling for his lamp, and once found, he relaxes finally and lays face up looking at the gloomy sky.
He turns his head to the side and sees Ellis in similar condition. He hazards and exhausted laugh and says to Ellis, “Well,” he winces, “that didn’t quite go as planned, did it?”
((Yes, that was some genuine D&D magic right there! Great job DM and party! That’s why you play this game.))
Erro will sit up and use his Relentless feature to gain 11 temporary HP, just in case more trouble comes. Despite this, the question of whether or not to rest doesn’t even register. “Of course!” he says as he feels some probably broken ribs.
(Yes!!!!!! I can't believe that worked. Great job everyone!)
Rawk will nod assisting Tempest with the berries first then fetching branches from the tops of the tree rather than entering the forest on the ground. She too was sore but her adrenaline would carry her through the few minutes she needed to gather. It would be somewhat ironic to witness Rawk gathering sticks. Much like smaller birds she'd pick a large long stick and carry it in her mouth, but also using her strong clawed hands and feet she'd quickly grab enough wood for a nest. As she lands she'd ornately stack the sticks making a nest for the fire, then for the extra wood. All the while her head bobbing up and down and side to side as she examined each angle. Her feet would pitter patter across the ground as she maneuvered/ waddled around to look over each part until Tempest eventually lit the subterranean bundle.
As she settles down for a break she ruffles her feathers and begins to groom herself with her beak. As she turns her falcon-like head the curves and features of her body become more pronounced. She is clearly a female Aarakocra and were it not for the full covering of feathers and small stature, she'd be a rather beautiful woman. Her muscular arms and legs flex and twitch as she methodically addresses what seems like each feather. Feeling the eyes of the group she shakes her head back to face them and her beak chitters open and closed quickly as a puzzled but content look is present on her face. "Had to get all the zombie goo off. A bit less violently than Erro." she chirps.
You rest down wearily, aware of the eerie quiet of this place. The afternoon wears on, and the shadows the flow over everything seem oppressive. But nothing else disturbs you, and you are able to complete a short rest successfully.
Do you like my Boots of Flying?
Hit dice: 27
Tempest will bandage himself while contemplating a plan for their descent, water crossing and ascent. "Here take two each. If any of us go down near another you can put this in their mouth and restore them... Rawk, think you can grab some more sticks? We need long straight sticks and some shorter sticks. I think with the sticks as reinforcement I can transform into a spider and weave a canoe large & sturdy enough to get Erro and Ellis across the water. I can pull them along with another form. What do you all think?" he says handing each person two goodberries.