[[That's a save.]]

The look in Master Nathaniel's eyes is one of both pure evil and torture and Brand backs up a step wanting to run in terror... But somehow he manages to resist.

"What is it?" says his companion, moving into sight of the creature.

[[Companion's Saving Throw: 7 ]]

The man screams in terror and flees at the sight of what has become of Master Nathaniel. [[He now has the Frightened condition.]]

[[I didn't realise that this would happen tonight. I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to call it quits at this point as tomorrow is a work day for both of us.]]

[[ FYI, I edited my response above, and added some questions ]]

 [[I didn't realise that this would happen tonight. I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to call it quits at this point as tomorrow is a work day for both of us.]]

[[ lol....probably for the best, I have a non-trivial test in the morning at 9am...and then another intense day. My questions and comments are summarized below: ]]

[[ I assume Brand has already said:

"Nathaniel, it is Alaric. I'll help if I can...do anything you need...but I probably can't help stuck in my body."

In any case: ]]

Brand sits down, and repeats his words to Nathaniel, looking into the tortured mans eyes.

"It is Alaric. I'll help if I can...do anything you need...but I probably can't help stuck in my body." he says, trying with all his training to shift out of his body.

[[ If Brand knows that physical contact has made things easier for Nathaniel (or Brand) in the past -- I think it has -- then he will take his gloves off and grasp his head or hand etc ]]

[[ Otherwise he sticks to trying to travel ...trying to focus into a meditative trance...or whatever he does to Astral Travel. He certainly has a very strong motivation to succeed, but I have no idea if that's relevant! ]]

[[ Re: Hero points...reading the forums etc, I can't see anywhere where people say players should know the DC...so I guess I'm wrong. And it would also be a problem if Hero Points became a means to instantly know DCs. That said, I can't help but feel a "snatch victory from the jaws of defeat" thing would be nice, without giving too much info away.

Would you consider just saying: "if you use a hero point, it will change the result"? Or perhaps not losing the hero point if it fails to change the outcome? Or...some other mechanic that make it less of a blind roll? Not losing them on failure would still make one cautious about using them...since success means they are gone. ]]

[[It is still Brand's action, but at this point we need to go into combat for timing reasons as I have to track what happens with the man who ran away (he gets a save at the end of every combat round). Please roll for Initiative, which will come into effect at the beginning of next round.

Daffid's Initiative: 7

Today is a work day for both of us, so we will have to do this slowly. I will respond to your previous move in depth later, but I have played the Hero Point system in tabletop games and find it works well, except for the uncertainty of knowing whether you need to use it at all (which is why I run it differently). So I won't be changing it.]]

[[ Does this remind Brand of his accident? Or the eyes in his dreams?

As he crouches down, can he see under the bed, if there is a dead animal?

Do Nathanial and the Creature get initiative? ]]

Initiative: 3

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[Still have to respond to the previous move, but that will have to be later.]]

[[ Does this remind Brand of his accident? Or the eyes in his dreams?

[[No.]]

As he crouches down, can he see under the bed, if there is a dead animal?

[[Brand can't properly see as the renewed bedding has fallen down and is blocking a complete view under the bed. There also seems to be things stored under the bed.]]

Do Nathanial and the Creature get initiative? ]]

Initiative: 22

[[You will find out their initiatives (if they have them) when they move, which hasn't happened yet, .]]

[[Sorry. Long day with lots of things happening and lots to do. I also have toothache in a tooth that is being removed tomorrow. Possibly psychosomatic, as it hasn't been painful until today.]]

Brand sits down on the floor six feet from the slowly gasping body of Master Nathaniel.

"It is Alaric," he says. "I'll help if I can...do anything you need...but I probably can't help stuck in my body."

He then tries with all his training to shift out of his body.

[[Make a d20 roll with a +4 bonus, but at Disadvantage. I don't believe this is something he's ever done while awake. Also, physical contact is not relevant, though I believe he has been coaxed out of his sleeping body by other people while they have been astral travelling.]]

[[The previously mentioned Initiative turns will start after the results of this action are determined.]]

[[ No problem, pain is pain, whatever the source! ]]

[[ Imagining the roll will go badly, so making a pre-plea for help from Nathaniel?!??! And no disadvantage... And I might use another hero point, at least if you let me know it COULD affect the result.]]

18

Edit:

Yep. Can I use the hero point to remove tge Disadvantage die?

Am I correct in assuming that this is not something I can re-attempt?

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ No problem, pain is pain, whatever the source! ]]

[[ Imagining the roll will go badly, so making a pre-plea for help from Nathaniel?!??! And no disadvantage... And I might use another hero point, at least if you let me know it COULD affect the result.]]

6

Yep. Can I use the hero point to remove Disadvantage?

[[It most likely would not effect the result, so, in this case, I recommend not using the hero point.]]

[[

Brand's Initiative: 22
Daffid's Initiative: 7

As yet the Initiative of others in this situation is unknown as they have yet to act. The Wisdom save was against a continuous effect.

]]

The sight of his friend both in torment and the throes of violent madness won't allow Brand to calm his mind at all.

[[It is now Brand's turn in the first round. Remember he has a Move, an Action, and a relevant Bonus Action in each of his turn and can elect to hold his Action to be triggered by a specific event.]]

[[However, I'm afraid that is it for me tonight. Ciao.]]

[[ I may need the scene described, or at least the following ideas discussed:

- the eyes affected Brand. Cover Nathaniel's head with a sheet. Was it the eyes, or was that dramatic licensee?

- Can he look under the bed or in the room for a possible focus? Eg. Dead animal.

- If it's the eyes, can he grapple him and prevent him looking at him?

- Does it look like Nathaniel could get up, or is he thrashing about?

- Is Brand going to be able to re-attempt the astral travel?

- If it's the eyes, can he just avert his gaze and/or leave the room?

- Brand has a sack in his satchel. Could he put it over Nathaniel's head? Or would need clothes be easier?

- if it's not the eyes, did he feel the effects in the corridor?

- how big is the room? Considering doing grapple, keep him facing away and cover head with something. If grapple fails, flee room.

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ I may need the scene described, or at least the following ideas discussed:

- the eyes affected Brand. Cover Nathaniel's head with a sheet. Was it the eyes, or was that dramatic licensee?

[[Partly dramatic licence. It was the seeing of Nathaniel's body in the state it is in and the understanding of what is happening that caused the Wisdom check, not the eyes themselves.]]

- Can he look under the bed or in the room for a possible focus? Eg. Dead animal.

[[Brand sat down, so he will need to use some of his move to stand up, but he will still be able to move around Nathaniel and move the bedding out of the way to look under the bed. He will also still have his Action for this round available. However, the room is not very big and so he will probably need to move within 5' of his friend to do this.]] 

- If it's the eyes, can he grapple him and prevent him looking at him?

[[Brand can certainly attempt to grapple Nathaniel, if he wants to, but as to whether he can do that without being seen is another matter.]]

- Does it look like Nathaniel could get up, or is he thrashing about?

[[Nathaniel's legs seem to have very little flesh on them, and from the state of the room it seems he has been bed-ridden for quite some time. He is also just thrashing around on the floor. But as to whether he could get up, that is unknown.]]

- Is Brand going to be able to re-attempt the astral travel?

[[He can certainly try, but conditions are not conducive.]]

- If it's the eyes, can he just avert his gaze and/or leave the room?

[[He feels no compulsion to continue looking at the creature and still has a strong urge to leave the room, which he has been able to master so far.]]

- Brand has a sack in his satchel. Could he put it over Nathaniel's head? Or would need clothes be easier?

[[He could certainly try, but the bed clothes would be easier.]]

- if it's not the eyes, did he feel the effects in the corridor?

[[He heard sounds that disturbed him while he was in the room outside, but it was the initial sight that was most horrific.]]

- how big is the room? Considering doing grapple, keep him facing away and cover head with something. If grapple fails, flee room.

[[Brand sat down, so he has to use some of his move to stand up. However, the room is not big and he should be able to do any of the options above and still try to leave the room at the end of his turn, if he wants. However, this would give the creature an Attack of Opportunity, if it wants—or is able—to. N.B: Just backing out of the room at this point would not give the creature an Attack of Opportunity as Brand is not within 5'.]]

[[ Just checking, but Brand can use a bonus disengage to avoid AOO, correct?

Edit: also, having resisted once, does he have advantage or a bonus next time? ]

Brands first priority is looking under bed and around room, probably ending his search near Nathaniel ]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ Just checking, but Brand can use a bonus disengage to avoid AOO, correct?

[[Yes.]]

Edit: also, having resisted once, does he have advantage or a bonus next time? ]

[[I can't answer that question for a variety of reasons, but at the moment he is able to function normally despite the horrific thing that has happened to his friend.]]

Brands first priority is looking under bed and around room, probably ending his search near Nathaniel ]

As Nathaniel continues to thrash around on the floor, Brand edges around the sides of the room to the bed. He then lifts the bedclothes and takes a quick peek under the bed, but sees nothing other than a closed wooden chest, a couple of books and numerous, inanimate dust bunnies.

[[Brand is now 5' away from Nathaniel, who is still facing the door. Brand also still has an Action and a Bonus Action.]]

[[ Clarification: Nathaniel is facing the door, not Brand...has he been following Brands movements?

Does he have any movement left?

Would covering him or grapple&cover take all of his action? ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ Clarification: Nathaniel is facing the door, not Brand...has he been following Brands movements?

[[No. Just generally thrashing about.]]

Does he have any movement left?

[[Yes. He could leave this small room.]]

Would covering him or grapple&cover take all of his action? ]]

[[Yes.]]

[[ Can Brand put a stone in his left glove (draw), and activate it as his action? 

Is deactivating it also possible in same round?

I'd like to scan the room with See the Arcane active...is that possible with his remaining move ? And still be able to flee?]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ Can Brand put a stone in his left glove (draw), and activate it as his action? 

Is deactivating it also possible in same round?

[[Yes, to both.]]

I'd like to scan the room with See the Arcane active...is that possible with his remaining move ? And still be able to flee?]]

[[I will let him use the rest of the move to quickly scan the room, if that is what you want him to do. Brand will still have his Bonus Action available to use with Cunning Action.]]

[[ Sounds good, scan the room again, with see the arcane ]]

Brand slips the Stone of Unseeing out and slips it into the glove on his left hand.

Of most importance is that there is no Arcane glow around his friend Nathaniel. In fact, the only thing with any sort of magical concentration in the room is the glowing light source mounted on a sconce on the wall.

[[Brand is invisible and still has his Bonus Action.]]

Become visible, leave the room, slump in corridor outside, trying to calm his mind for another attempt to leave his body. All that meditation practice should come in handy.

[[ Can I declare a action that if no-one has left room by end of the turn, he slumps to ground? ]]