Owis would probably be happier with a not so sharp sense of smell, because when mouse finally returned, Polly learned, there are pelenty of the bodies of dead guards in the small private chapels area, as well as the foul remains of infernal creatures that died during the attack on the cathedral.
There was something else - Owis caught slight movement of one of the dead body on the floor. In Owis' interpretation it looked like blinking.
Dwarves indeed knew the place and now were standing around the alter in the Central chamber looking around with the same grim expression.
Polly will tell everyone about what Owis found. When the little mouse run up on her shoulder she pets him, get out some nuts for him and stroke his back. “Well done” she tell him.
“Adrey, do you think we have about 10minutes to spare? I’d like to do a detect magic spell to see if there are any magical traps around. And be wary of the bodies. Owis saw movement on them. Some kind of blinking.”
Adray runs his hand through his hair. "There is merit in both stopping and continuing. We shiuld find and help any we can but if we die then there is no helping anyone," he said and gave a momentary sigh.
"I hate to say it but let's press on. Let's get at least to a smaller room where we can cover an entrance/exit better. Be on your toes though."
Choir looks with regret toward the chapel, where there might be a survivor in need of aid, but sticks with Adray's plan. She hopes the guard will hold on long enough for them to try to help.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) WoodElf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2 Last Tree StandingTabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1 Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
(Where do you go? The "blinking" body is in the northern H5. "Smaller rooms" in this part are formed by the curtains - protects from the prying eyes but not a physical intrusion.)
Adray is no more attentive than Owis, if only with better view: less smell of decay but more gore details to see.
Fran will note and appreciate Adray's sentiments. She'd gather her daggers. While the others scouted, the artificer would kneel next to her beloved steel defender. "I've got ya big fella..." A small smirk will crop up on her face as she'd lay out her tools. Although some of his parts were melted beyond use, Fran wasn't too discouraged. All she's ever needed was scraps. Heck, the smaller the better. She may be gruff around the edges, but her hands were nimble and adept. She could handle mechanisms and gears in her sleep. Also, being Brutus' creator, she literally knew him inside and out, probably better than the back of her hand.
The artificer's face will twist and turn with purpose as she'd tinker away. It was a little slow going on the approach, but once she fell into a groove, the puzzle pieces were falling into place. With one final tink, a loud familiar WOOF! could be heard. "Atta boy!"
Fran uses 1 spell slot to restore Brutus: 14
If the mending spell is cast on it, it regains 2d6 hit points. If it has died within the last hour, you can use your smith’s tools as an action to revive it, provided you are within 5 feet of it and you expend a spell slot of 1st level or higher. The steel defender returns to life after 1 minute with all its hit points restored.
Repair (3/Day). The magical mechanisms inside the defender restore 2d8 + 2 hit points to itself or to one construct or object within 5 feet of it.
Edited note: Realized the repair 3/day is different than the act of repairing it. Repairing him using 1 spell slot takes 1 minute and restores him to full health. I have 3 repair/heals per day, separate from this act. Mending is also it's own way of healing him too if I understand correctly. Good things for me to note to heal or mend him along the way or in battle.
Fran will pull up to Adray's side with Brutus, giving the defender a faithful pat on the side. "Let's git 'er done." She'd follow his lead, keeping her defender close by for now.
Ordrag covers the left side, weapons at the ready, and keeping a weather-eye out for survivors or lingering threats (Perception: 9). Seeing that the cathedral is really just one big room and not that defensible, he calls out to Adray that their best option may be to descend one of the stairwells. The northern is just as good as the southern, and perhaps Choir could see to the blinking body at the same time...
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
"Toasted Toads!" Adray swears. "Dwarfs," he calls out. Where is the likest place the others would have headed towards in this situation? That's where we will be needed most and if we can end up flanking then we may turn the tides."
Fran's skills in field-rearing of the constructs would earn her full attention of the dwarves, should the not be in such shock at the view of lost comrades-in-arms and terrible sights of the battle aftermath. But Lulu was hoovering above watching every move with a curiosity of a child (actually, together with all the children, that were now allowed to come closer). Brutuse's resurrection was met with a happy cheering and trumpet sounds.
Choir's instincts were right and she managed to find the "blinking body", though it took some sounds of dwarven voices, to convince it to blink again, and at first site of kenku the man (it was a human man with unkempt hair and beard, having something "druidic" about him) tried to "play dead" again. Finally he took a deep breath and opened both eyes staring at Choir with mix of fear and hope. "You are not the devil, are you?" He sat, and still trying not to turn his back to Choir, carefully looked behind the curtains in the central room.
"Velkor? Is this really you? Oh, thanks goodness!" After that the man stood up and bowed to kenku, "Forgive me my mistrust, friend, I am Seltern Obranch, may be the last survivor of the High Halls battle."
Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) WoodElf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2 Last Tree StandingTabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1 Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
Choir can save her magic (that might come very handy soon) because the man, though cut and bruised does not look like dying. Not right away anyway. Now, that he fully believed you are not a hallucination or devils in disguise, the man begun to talk: "We must leave this place! The devils - they could still be here. Some left, I heard it, but some can be inside. The others, they fled to the main crypts. Attack was too sudden, we could not run away outside ... I fear they might be dead already. May be someone managed to hid upstairs - I do not know. Lost conciseness then came back among dead, healed myself as I could, though my abilities growing weaker by the day, and I fear I may soon be unable to cast spells at all. But nevermind that. The devils. There were so many of them. I do not know if even you," (he finally realized how big the group is) "can deal with them".
(two circular stairwells go up, there are no visible stairs down, though the lever by the central altar is quite obvious)
"Seems like there is a lot of work to do..." Adray said more to himself than to anyone else really. "If you think most be in the crypts, then that's where we got to go. The more that die now, the less souls to be saved." He turns to Seltern and the dwarves, "How do we get to the crypt. Is it that lever thing over there. Will that open some hidden stair well?"
Choir examines the lever, and looks at the walls and ceiling to see if there are any knuckle prints where the big fist might have hit them. (Investigation: 22)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) WoodElf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2 Last Tree StandingTabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1 Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
It looks more like the lever had to be pulled by two hands rather than hit and Velkora helped to lull it down. With a scratching noise part of the altar moved away, revealing a concealed staircase descending into the catacombs level.
"Glad they have time to escape - there is a tunnel down there leading out into the city. If they reach it in time - they are safe. Though, that "if"... What do we do with the kids?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Well thats interesting. Would slow someone down but better check for traps or so with just in case," Adray says as he takes a look.
Investigation 3
As he is crouched he says, "until we can find a real safe spot Id be against splitting up. Though I won't stop ya if you'd rather take off into the city now while we try to save others."
Fran would nod. She too was never a fan of splitting up. Working together as a group has worked thus far. Keeping them at the back with Lulu has been successful.
“I know spiltting i is a bad idea, but we can’t keep taking them with us. It is to dangerous.” Polly look seriously at the group. “I can conjure up a bubble which is impregnable. Only those I deem worthy can enter. Same goes for attacks and magic.” She pauses again “However, I have to remain inside. It can endure for 8h and would serve as a safe place for the children and a god rendezvous point incase you need to retreat.” “Also no more then 9 people can be inside the bubble at the same time, me excluded.. ”
Choir is relieved (and maybe a tiny bit disappointed) the the lever did not make the giant fist punch anything. But she stares curiously down the passage.
Listening to the conversation, Choir softly sings a bit of a song "Will you go, lassie, go, and we'll all go together..." She figures the kids are as likely to die being left behind as being dragged along into danger. Until there is somewhere safe to leave them--and where in Hell was safe?--she thought it would be best to bring them along. "A safe place for the children...not here."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) WoodElf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2 Last Tree StandingTabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1 Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
Ordrag agrees that it would be better to stay together in a group, and safer for the non-combatants. If the time came that they were under pressure, then perhaps Polly could activate the 'security bubble' as a last resort...
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
The druid Seltern also followed the party, casting uneasy glances at the back of the Cathedral, where stairs led up.
Down there you saw a well lit big empty room. At the end of a flight of broad stairs off the open central area there is a small isolated tomb. The body of a young woman lies on the bier, a gleaming greatsword at her side.
Velcora, knowing not all of you are Elturians, recited briefly the legend about that tomb: years before the Companion appeared in the sky, a young red dragon made life miserable for the residents of Elturel. It ate livestock, burned crops, and demanded tribute. Then one day, a scruffy-looking, unarmored woman wielding a greatsword marched up to the dragon and hacked at the beast with mighty swings. Before the stunned creature could fly away, she slew it. A startled and overwhelmed populace rushed toward the woman to thank and reward her for her bravery. As they approached, however, she fell dead. The unknown woman was laid to rest in this special place in the cathedral, and her body has never decomposed. Her (as it was found out) absolutely nonmagical greatsword was placed at her side. Rumors suggest that she was an incarnation of Torm, or that Torm’s essence filled the woman and inspired her to defeat the threat. True or not, but there is not a single trace of demonic presence around this tomb.
"If the goals of the fleeting folk was the tunnel - they run west from here. But if devils were after them, people can be scattered all over the place. We are in the middle of the catacombs now."
Owis would probably be happier with a not so sharp sense of smell, because when mouse finally returned, Polly learned, there are pelenty of the bodies of dead guards in the small private chapels area, as well as the foul remains of infernal creatures that died during the attack on the cathedral.
There was something else - Owis caught slight movement of one of the dead body on the floor. In Owis' interpretation it looked like blinking.
Dwarves indeed knew the place and now were standing around the alter in the Central chamber looking around with the same grim expression.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Polly will tell everyone about what Owis found. When the little mouse run up on her shoulder she pets him, get out some nuts for him and stroke his back. “Well done” she tell him.
“Adrey, do you think we have about 10minutes to spare? I’d like to do a detect magic spell to see if there are any magical traps around. And be wary of the bodies. Owis saw movement on them. Some kind of blinking.”
Adray runs his hand through his hair. "There is merit in both stopping and continuing. We shiuld find and help any we can but if we die then there is no helping anyone," he said and gave a momentary sigh.
"I hate to say it but let's press on. Let's get at least to a smaller room where we can cover an entrance/exit better. Be on your toes though."
Perception for threats 12+3
Choir looks with regret toward the chapel, where there might be a survivor in need of aid, but sticks with Adray's plan. She hopes the guard will hold on long enough for them to try to help.
Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) Wood Elf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2
Last Tree Standing Tabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1
Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive
Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth
Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
(Where do you go? The "blinking" body is in the northern H5. "Smaller rooms" in this part are formed by the curtains - protects from the prying eyes but not a physical intrusion.)
Adray is no more attentive than Owis, if only with better view: less smell of decay but more gore details to see.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Fran will note and appreciate Adray's sentiments. She'd gather her daggers. While the others scouted, the artificer would kneel next to her beloved steel defender. "I've got ya big fella..." A small smirk will crop up on her face as she'd lay out her tools. Although some of his parts were melted beyond use, Fran wasn't too discouraged. All she's ever needed was scraps. Heck, the smaller the better. She may be gruff around the edges, but her hands were nimble and adept. She could handle mechanisms and gears in her sleep. Also, being Brutus' creator, she literally knew him inside and out, probably better than the back of her hand.
The artificer's face will twist and turn with purpose as she'd tinker away. It was a little slow going on the approach, but once she fell into a groove, the puzzle pieces were falling into place. With one final tink, a loud familiar WOOF! could be heard. "Atta boy!"
Fran uses 1 spell slot to restore Brutus
: 14If the mending spell is cast on it, it regains 2d6 hit points. If it has died within the last hour, you can use your smith’s tools as an action to revive it, provided you are within 5 feet of it and you expend a spell slot of 1st level or higher. The steel defender returns to life after 1 minute with all its hit points restored.
Repair (3/Day). The magical mechanisms inside the defender restore 2d8 + 2 hit points to itself or to one construct or object within 5 feet of it.Edited note: Realized the repair 3/day is different than the act of repairing it. Repairing him using 1 spell slot takes 1 minute and restores him to full health. I have 3 repair/heals per day, separate from this act. Mending is also it's own way of healing him too if I understand correctly. Good things for me to note to heal or mend him along the way or in battle.
Fran will pull up to Adray's side with Brutus, giving the defender a faithful pat on the side. "Let's git 'er done." She'd follow his lead, keeping her defender close by for now.
Perception: 15
just an unstable unicorn.
Ordrag covers the left side, weapons at the ready, and keeping a weather-eye out for survivors or lingering threats (Perception: 9). Seeing that the cathedral is really just one big room and not that defensible, he calls out to Adray that their best option may be to descend one of the stairwells. The northern is just as good as the southern, and perhaps Choir could see to the blinking body at the same time...
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
"Toasted Toads!" Adray swears. "Dwarfs," he calls out. Where is the likest place the others would have headed towards in this situation? That's where we will be needed most and if we can end up flanking then we may turn the tides."
Fran's skills in field-rearing of the constructs would earn her full attention of the dwarves, should the not be in such shock at the view of lost comrades-in-arms and terrible sights of the battle aftermath. But Lulu was hoovering above watching every move with a curiosity of a child (actually, together with all the children, that were now allowed to come closer). Brutuse's resurrection was met with a happy cheering and trumpet sounds.
Choir's instincts were right and she managed to find the "blinking body", though it took some sounds of dwarven voices, to convince it to blink again, and at first site of kenku the man (it was a human man with unkempt hair and beard, having something "druidic" about him) tried to "play dead" again. Finally he took a deep breath and opened both eyes staring at Choir with mix of fear and hope. "You are not the devil, are you?" He sat, and still trying not to turn his back to Choir, carefully looked behind the curtains in the central room.
"Velkor? Is this really you? Oh, thanks goodness!" After that the man stood up and bowed to kenku, "Forgive me my mistrust, friend, I am Seltern Obranch, may be the last survivor of the High Halls battle."
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
"It is a pleasure to meet you," Choir says politely, examining the human. (If he looks in need of a heal, Choir will cast Cure Wounds on him for 8
Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) Wood Elf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2
Last Tree Standing Tabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1
Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive
Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth
Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
Choir can save her magic (that might come very handy soon) because the man, though cut and bruised does not look like dying. Not right away anyway. Now, that he fully believed you are not a hallucination or devils in disguise, the man begun to talk: "We must leave this place! The devils - they could still be here. Some left, I heard it, but some can be inside. The others, they fled to the main crypts. Attack was too sudden, we could not run away outside ... I fear they might be dead already. May be someone managed to hid upstairs - I do not know. Lost conciseness then came back among dead, healed myself as I could, though my abilities growing weaker by the day, and I fear I may soon be unable to cast spells at all. But nevermind that. The devils. There were so many of them. I do not know if even you," (he finally realized how big the group is) "can deal with them".
(two circular stairwells go up, there are no visible stairs down, though the lever by the central altar is quite obvious)
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
"Seems like there is a lot of work to do..." Adray said more to himself than to anyone else really. "If you think most be in the crypts, then that's where we got to go. The more that die now, the less souls to be saved." He turns to Seltern and the dwarves, "How do we get to the crypt. Is it that lever thing over there. Will that open some hidden stair well?"
Choir examines the lever, and looks at the walls and ceiling to see if there are any knuckle prints where the big fist might have hit them. (Investigation: 22)
Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) Wood Elf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2
Last Tree Standing Tabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1
Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive
Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth
Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
It looks more like the lever had to be pulled by two hands rather than hit and Velkora helped to lull it down. With a scratching noise part of the altar moved away, revealing a concealed staircase descending into the catacombs level.
"Glad they have time to escape - there is a tunnel down there leading out into the city. If they reach it in time - they are safe. Though, that "if"... What do we do with the kids?"
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
"Well thats interesting. Would slow someone down but better check for traps or so with just in case," Adray says as he takes a look.
Investigation 3
As he is crouched he says, "until we can find a real safe spot Id be against splitting up. Though I won't stop ya if you'd rather take off into the city now while we try to save others."
Fran would nod. She too was never a fan of splitting up. Working together as a group has worked thus far. Keeping them at the back with Lulu has been successful.
just an unstable unicorn.
“I know spiltting i is a bad idea, but we can’t keep taking them with us. It is to dangerous.” Polly look seriously at the group. “I can conjure up a bubble which is impregnable. Only those I deem worthy can enter. Same goes for attacks and magic.” She pauses again “However, I have to remain inside. It can endure for 8h and would serve as a safe place for the children and a god rendezvous point incase you need to retreat.” “Also no more then 9 people can be inside the bubble at the same time, me excluded.. ”
Choir is relieved (and maybe a tiny bit disappointed) the the lever did not make the giant fist punch anything. But she stares curiously down the passage.
Listening to the conversation, Choir softly sings a bit of a song "Will you go, lassie, go, and we'll all go together..." She figures the kids are as likely to die being left behind as being dragged along into danger. Until there is somewhere safe to leave them--and where in Hell was safe?--she thought it would be best to bring them along. "A safe place for the children...not here."
Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) Wood Elf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2
Last Tree Standing Tabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1
Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive
Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth
Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
Ordrag agrees that it would be better to stay together in a group, and safer for the non-combatants. If the time came that they were under pressure, then perhaps Polly could activate the 'security bubble' as a last resort...
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
The druid Seltern also followed the party, casting uneasy glances at the back of the Cathedral, where stairs led up.
Down there you saw a well lit big empty room. At the end of a flight of broad stairs off the open central area there is a small isolated tomb. The body of a young woman lies on the bier, a gleaming greatsword at her side.
Velcora, knowing not all of you are Elturians, recited briefly the legend about that tomb: years before the Companion appeared in the sky, a young red dragon made life miserable for the residents of Elturel. It ate livestock, burned crops, and demanded tribute. Then one day, a scruffy-looking, unarmored woman wielding a greatsword marched up to the dragon and hacked at the beast with mighty swings. Before the stunned creature could fly away, she slew it. A startled and overwhelmed populace rushed toward the woman to thank and reward her for her bravery. As they approached, however, she fell dead. The unknown woman was laid to rest in this special place in the cathedral, and her body has never decomposed. Her (as it was found out) absolutely nonmagical greatsword was placed at her side. Rumors suggest that she was an incarnation of Torm, or that Torm’s essence filled the woman and inspired her to defeat the threat. True or not, but there is not a single trace of demonic presence around this tomb.
"If the goals of the fleeting folk was the tunnel - they run west from here. But if devils were after them, people can be scattered all over the place. We are in the middle of the catacombs now."
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice