"That might also be a bit foolish, no offense. Ideally, we would want to take the witch by surprise, I would think. She's far more at home here than we are."
"I could make it seem like something -- us, or a big animal, or Gusof, or an adorable bunny, or something else, is walking up to the trees. Then we can see if there's something in them that would react. It can be big, or small, and move around. It's a silent image, though, so it wouldn't be able to talk or growl or anything. Is it worth it?"
(Haha, I am wondering if he took up Chrys on her offer for a shoulder ride. Now that would be interesting...)
Chrys cracks her neck and sighs. "Plannin' ta be sneaky ain't my strong point. But... uh.. maybe you can make me or Kess look like a bear too, an' the pair o' us can go up and snuffle 'round the place. Though I ain't so sure bears are native to this neck o' the woods. There ain't much native to this neck o' the woods than mosquitos, though, ta be honest."
(Then I guess it would have to be Kess sneaking behind it. Or...)
"Huh. Maybe we could all sneak in stealthy-like if you cast an illusion o' more rolllin' fog. 'Cept this time it'd be our fog, not some swamp witch's," Chrys suggests.
"We don't want to spring the trap and see whether the witch is there? And see what she'd do to us, before she does it?"Lumen asks. (He's fine to have the whole group sneak up if that's what we want!)
"Just so we're on the same page... our plan is to see if the witch is there, and, if she attacks us on sight, then defeat her, right? And if she does not attack us, ask her to stop infecting this area, just in case that Gusof fellow was lying. But we're assuming she's hostile, if she's the type to do this. So I was just suggesting we try to spring the trap and let it happen to an illusion, and not us. Might be wrong of me, but just so you understand my thinking."
You all hang back, staying about 60 feet away from the large Cyprus trees at the edge of the lake, doing your best to hide amongst the reeds and grasses and stay out of sight. When you're ready, Lumen casts his Silent Image spell and creates an illusory bear that begins walking towards the huge trunks of twisted roots and branches.
All is silent... literally... as the pretend bear approaches. Lumen watches the creature as he concentrations on making the illusion's movements look as real as possible. To the rest of you, it looks pretty authentic, and since it's fairly far away, the fact that it makes no sound doesn't detract from the effectiveness of the illusion, even though you know it's not real.
As it gets within 20 feet of the trees, the silence is suddenly shattered by the sound of a horrid howl that pierces your ears and strikes fear in your hearts. A few seconds later, you see a pair of large, shadowy black hounds with bristling fur that emerge from the fog and go bounding towards the bear. The stop within a few feet of the magical bear, their bodies in a crouched attack position, although they do not pounce. Both continue to bark with venomous snarls at the creature, although you see their heads turn from side to side, perhaps in confusion, since they obviously cannot smell anything. You know that canines have excellent olfactory senses.
Right now, the dogs are about 40 feet away from you. They don't seem to notice you, but I need Steath checks in addition to Initiative rolls and actions, depending on what you decide to do.
Chrys puts a hand on her javelin and whispers to the others,"They don't look friendly ta me."
(I can't imagine that Chrys is going anything but last, but I suppose she's readying an action to chuck that javelin at something hostile if it notices the group)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Kess Stealth: 21
Kess Initiative: 23
As quietly as she can, reasoning that the dogs are likely very swift, Kess would draw at her scimitars and wait silently. If they move to attack the party, she'd spring on the closest one who gets near to her.
The two mastiffs continue aggressively barking at the pretend bear. The don't pounce, and as they move closer, sniffing at the illusion, they suddenly stop snarling. Both dogs begin walking around the creature, checking it out, obviously confused by whole thing. This goes on for a few seconds, and then one of them abruptly shifts its head as it starts sniffing at the air. It lets out a single bark, and then the other dog follows suit, it's nose also probing the air.
Then they both begin walking in your direction. You can't tell if they've spotted you, but something has now caused them to shift their attention away from the bear as they leave it behind and move towards the area where you are hiding.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Lumen has the bear walk into the cyprus trees on its hind legs. He really wishes he had a crossbow.
Assuming the dogs don't react to the bear getting closer to the trees, and there's no sign of any witch elsewhere, he will grit his teeth at expending his arcane powers so quickly and cast sleep on the dogs (31 hp). He readies a dagger to throw at whichever dog might still be up, and warn the group that this only lasts for a minute, so they have to act quickly.
Lumen causes the illusory bear to stand up on two legs and walk even closer to the Cyprus trees, but as the dogs begin to approach, it becomes obvious that they have become aware of him. The first dog begins to leap forward, but as quick as it is, Lumen is even faster. Maintaining his concentration on the illusory bear, he casts his Sleep spell, and you watch as the mastiff that's slightly behind the lead alpha dog suddenly drop to the ground, limp as a bone fish and unconscious in a magical slumber.
His spell cast, Lumen barely has time to ready his defenses as the large, snarling, mastiff barrels towards him with jaws baring and a vicious, terrifying howl, the kind that's seldom heard on this plane.
However, in its blinding rage and aggressive charge, the dog does not seem to notice the rest of you as you hide near your half orc friend in the reeds. So, while Lumen stands there, about to be pounced on by this fearful black mastiff, everyone else has the element of surprise and can take their attacks/actions now.
With great speed, elven agility and the advantage of surprise, Kess leaps into action. She connects with both blades, but the damage is minimal/ A combination of the dog's tough hide and its last second agility make it so her swords don't cut as deeply as she would have hoped.
"That might also be a bit foolish, no offense. Ideally, we would want to take the witch by surprise, I would think. She's far more at home here than we are."
"I could make it seem like something -- us, or a big animal, or Gusof, or an adorable bunny, or something else, is walking up to the trees. Then we can see if there's something in them that would react. It can be big, or small, and move around. It's a silent image, though, so it wouldn't be able to talk or growl or anything. Is it worth it?"
(Is Krackle a bear still?)
Yes, Krackle is still in bear form.
(Haha, I am wondering if he took up Chrys on her offer for a shoulder ride. Now that would be interesting...)
Chrys cracks her neck and sighs. "Plannin' ta be sneaky ain't my strong point. But... uh.. maybe you can make me or Kess look like a bear too, an' the pair o' us can go up and snuffle 'round the place. Though I ain't so sure bears are native to this neck o' the woods. There ain't much native to this neck o' the woods than mosquitos, though, ta be honest."
(Lumen can't cast it on one of us, it would be separate and not track with the movements of a creature.)
(Then I guess it would have to be Kess sneaking behind it. Or...)
"Huh. Maybe we could all sneak in stealthy-like if you cast an illusion o' more rolllin' fog. 'Cept this time it'd be our fog, not some swamp witch's," Chrys suggests.
"We don't want to spring the trap and see whether the witch is there? And see what she'd do to us, before she does it?" Lumen asks. (He's fine to have the whole group sneak up if that's what we want!)
"Just so we're on the same page... our plan is to see if the witch is there, and, if she attacks us on sight, then defeat her, right? And if she does not attack us, ask her to stop infecting this area, just in case that Gusof fellow was lying. But we're assuming she's hostile, if she's the type to do this. So I was just suggesting we try to spring the trap and let it happen to an illusion, and not us. Might be wrong of me, but just so you understand my thinking."
"That sounds like a good idea, letting it happen to the illusion. I say we go for it."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
You all hang back, staying about 60 feet away from the large Cyprus trees at the edge of the lake, doing your best to hide amongst the reeds and grasses and stay out of sight. When you're ready, Lumen casts his Silent Image spell and creates an illusory bear that begins walking towards the huge trunks of twisted roots and branches.
All is silent... literally... as the pretend bear approaches. Lumen watches the creature as he concentrations on making the illusion's movements look as real as possible. To the rest of you, it looks pretty authentic, and since it's fairly far away, the fact that it makes no sound doesn't detract from the effectiveness of the illusion, even though you know it's not real.
As it gets within 20 feet of the trees, the silence is suddenly shattered by the sound of a horrid howl that pierces your ears and strikes fear in your hearts. A few seconds later, you see a pair of large, shadowy black hounds with bristling fur that emerge from the fog and go bounding towards the bear. The stop within a few feet of the magical bear, their bodies in a crouched attack position, although they do not pounce. Both continue to bark with venomous snarls at the creature, although you see their heads turn from side to side, perhaps in confusion, since they obviously cannot smell anything. You know that canines have excellent olfactory senses.
Right now, the dogs are about 40 feet away from you. They don't seem to notice you, but I need Steath checks in addition to Initiative rolls and actions, depending on what you decide to do.
Lumen stealth: 13
Initiative: 24
Chrys Stealth (with disadvantage): 16
Chrys Initiative: 3
Chrys puts a hand on her javelin and whispers to the others, "They don't look friendly ta me."
(I can't imagine that Chrys is going anything but last, but I suppose she's readying an action to chuck that javelin at something hostile if it notices the group)
Kess Stealth: 21
Kess Initiative: 23
As quietly as she can, reasoning that the dogs are likely very swift, Kess would draw at her scimitars and wait silently. If they move to attack the party, she'd spring on the closest one who gets near to her.
Stealth:15
Initiative:3
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
Krackle Stealth: 22
The two mastiffs continue aggressively barking at the pretend bear. The don't pounce, and as they move closer, sniffing at the illusion, they suddenly stop snarling. Both dogs begin walking around the creature, checking it out, obviously confused by whole thing. This goes on for a few seconds, and then one of them abruptly shifts its head as it starts sniffing at the air. It lets out a single bark, and then the other dog follows suit, it's nose also probing the air.
Then they both begin walking in your direction. You can't tell if they've spotted you, but something has now caused them to shift their attention away from the bear as they leave it behind and move towards the area where you are hiding.
Lumen has the bear walk into the cyprus trees on its hind legs. He really wishes he had a crossbow.
Assuming the dogs don't react to the bear getting closer to the trees, and there's no sign of any witch elsewhere, he will grit his teeth at expending his arcane powers so quickly and cast sleep on the dogs (31 hp). He readies a dagger to throw at whichever dog might still be up, and warn the group that this only lasts for a minute, so they have to act quickly.
How far are we from the lake?
DM Rolls
3, 21
Krackle Initative in Bear Form: 8
Initiative Order:
Lumen causes the illusory bear to stand up on two legs and walk even closer to the Cyprus trees, but as the dogs begin to approach, it becomes obvious that they have become aware of him. The first dog begins to leap forward, but as quick as it is, Lumen is even faster. Maintaining his concentration on the illusory bear, he casts his Sleep spell, and you watch as the mastiff that's slightly behind the lead alpha dog suddenly drop to the ground, limp as a bone fish and unconscious in a magical slumber.
His spell cast, Lumen barely has time to ready his defenses as the large, snarling, mastiff barrels towards him with jaws baring and a vicious, terrifying howl, the kind that's seldom heard on this plane.
However, in its blinding rage and aggressive charge, the dog does not seem to notice the rest of you as you hide near your half orc friend in the reeds. So, while Lumen stands there, about to be pounced on by this fearful black mastiff, everyone else has the element of surprise and can take their attacks/actions now.
"Now!"
Kess leaps out into the air to surprise her foe, scimitars in hand, looking to plunge both of them into the monstrous mutt's back!
Kess' first attack: 16, Damage (if it hits): 5
Kess' second blow: 23, Damage (if it hits): 3
With great speed, elven agility and the advantage of surprise, Kess leaps into action. She connects with both blades, but the damage is minimal/ A combination of the dog's tough hide and its last second agility make it so her swords don't cut as deeply as she would have hoped.