Ghosts of Saltmarsh (cbaer8) - Campaign Thread

Gerrard manages to land one hit on the dapper swordsman, who he realizes has distinctly elven features (unlike the others, who are all human.) "Pricey, maybe. Excellent?..." The swordsman gives a shrug as he parries Gerrard's second swing. "You sure you don't want to make a deal?"

Boko and Kei may act next.

Kei 

Overhearing the quip from the well dressed swordsman, Kei's ears prick. So, he is a crafty type like myself. The thought soon dismissed though as Kei glances at his companions. Standing their ground, or kissing it, bruised and battered the bard bring summons the dull ringing of a bell, audible only to the swordsman. "That's the sound of your deal being denied!" he chimes in a moment later.

WIS 13 save or take 2

Boko gathers energy in a coiling motion, attempting, in some way, to redirect and amplify a thunderwave back at them. Full 7 thunder damage and pushback on a failed CON 15 save.

The swordsman winces at Kei's necrotic bell: DC13 WIS Save: 20

Then the three cultists crowding the bottom of the stairs brace against Boko's deafening force (DC 15):
Guard CON Save: 5
Swordsman CON Save:  17
Old Man CON Save: 14

The grizzled guard goes down hard - that was more than his injured body could take. The dancing old zealot is pushed back violently; he is now in poor shape. Only the swordsman stands before you.

At least for a moment. Looking both concerned and cagey, he casts a quick incantation and vanishes from sight.
"Truce and five hundred gold and I can getcha ten thousand," he whispers invisibly to Gerrard and Boko, his voice trailing off with distance.
Boko and Gerrard may have an opportunity attack with disadvantage if they wish to swing at the retreating, invisible voice.

The red-robed man looks down upon Peri. He smirks again. "Good night," he intones, as he reaches down to touch Peri:
Touch attack vs Peri: 12. Hit: 13 necrotic damage
As an intended coup de grâce, the ghostly blade falls upon Peri's neck:
Ghostly blade vs Peri: 21 Hit: 7 force damage.

Dwal is up next!

Dwal moves down the the bottom of the stairs.

Seeing (assuming he does) Peri groveling Dwal will drop the crossbow and launch a Fire bolt at the Red Priest.

Hit: 25
Damage: 15

As a bonus action Dwal yells: "Don't let 'em lord it over ya lad." casting Healing Word at 2nd level on Peri.

Healing: 10

Gerard:

”I don’t deal with cultists,” says Gerrard evenly adds he lashes out at the invisible foe.

Rapier attack with disadvantage:  Attack: 26 Damage: 7

Using only his ears, Gerard manages to score a hit on the invisible swordsman. He hears a muffled yelp, but it's hard to determine the extent or details of the injury. 
(Boko may also get an opportunity attack at disadvantage.)

Dwal hurls a blob of arcane flame at the bully in red, burning him seriously on his face and shoulder.

The old man, half-mad with rage and adrenalin, regains his footing and charges Gerrard:
Old man Scimitar attack vs. Gerrard: 18  Hit: 2 slashing damage.

Gerrard, Peri, Boko, and Kei may all act.

Peri:

The instant the compulsion is released Peri springs up from the floor like a bolt from a ballista. His spear lashes out, seeking the robed figure's heart.
Spear: 19 for 7

"Try smirking without your teeth!" he bellows, leaping high to drive a pair of knee strikes into the man's chin.
Unarmed Strike #1: 18 for 6
Unarmed Strike #2: 27 for 7
Edit: Crit damage: 2

Peri springs up and tears into the red-robed man with a savage triplet of blows. On the third hit, the man crashes onto the table, his neck broken. 

The wounded old man is the last opponent standing.
Gerrard, Boko, and Kei may all act. (And Boko still has that opportunity attack.)

(Invisible guy DC10 CON concentration check: 15)

Boko attempts to hit the retreating, invisible man with a fist:

Attack: 20 Damage: 7

Though she misses, she watches Gerrard hit, and then listens for the rest of the whisper and then targets an area of faerie fire in that direction, the edge of it starting about 10 feet beyond her allies. To help this, she can move forward and feels and listens around for a sign.

Perception: 8

Gerrard:

OOC:  I assume Gerrard will go after Boko's AOO but before her turn with the Faerie Fire, so he will react accordingly...

"Beware the invisible opponent--can anyone detect him?" asks Gerrard, stabbing at the crazy old cultist man to incapacitate, not kill.

Elegant Rapier:     Attack: 26 Damage: 9

Elegant Rapier:     Attack: 27 Damage: 12

Main Gauche:       Attack: 15 Damage: 10

Boko indeed lands a fist on her fleeing adversary, who struggles to maintain his invisibility. (Invisible guy DC10 CON concentration check: 21 )

Gerrard springs forward and easily fells the old man, who is now sprawled unconscious on the floor.

Boko lights up a large section of the room with a strange, unearthly light, but no invisible assailants are detected. She does, however, hear a small sound near the righthand door to the room in northwest which Bokospider had previously visited.

Kei is up next!

Boko points directly at the sound when she hears it.

Kei 

He hears the barely audible sound too. Boko's outstretched finger confirms it. But, not being able to see the vanishing vagabond Kei resorts to magic whispers to try and stop the fleeing swordsman. He speaks only to his for.

Dissonant Whispers 8 WIS 15 for half and no movement

Invisible guy DC 15 WIS Save: 12 
(DC 10 Concentration check: 13 )

 With Boko's direction, Kei inflicts a sour melody upon the fleeing man, but his reaction, if any, is not seen. The swordsman remains invisible.

Footsteps are heard, changing course and running along the edge of the room, south.

The door on the southeast slams open, revealing a room heavily curtained with draperies of thick black velvet. Near the west wall is a stone table on which a large iron brazier burns.

Dwal, Gerrard, and Peri may act next.

Kei 

"Damn it! The Weave flows against me these days." He verbalises his internal frustration. To emphasize his point he stamps his foot like a bull.

Peri:

Peri puts another kick into the side of the red robed figure just for good measure. Then he walks over to the unconscious yellow robed priest and begins tying his hands. "Ten thousand gold?" he calls out to the invisible man. "We might be able to work somethin' out." He looks at Gerrard and shrugs. "I mean, we can't just let this whole Xolor thing go on, but maybe we just give him a head start? Count to a hundred, somethin like that?"

Gerrard:

Saying nothing, Gerrard backs off up the stairs a bit and flares his blades out, making the only exit from the abbey basement of which he knows a very difficult path, even for one who is invisible.

OOC:  Trying to block the way out at the stairs with readied action to stabbey-stab any invisible being that might try to force its way past.

Perception:  1

Kei 

"Ten thou....*cough*...you what? That's coming out of your share! I don't intend to let go a copper to these...." He twists his hands and makes a strange set of gestures to finish his sentence. "You know our intended goal here. We owe a debt. One thing I've learnt from you lot is to pay your debts." He looks at Peri with a confused glance. "What has become of me?"

Combat is paused as your last assailant remains missing from view.

The yellow-robed priest begins to cough and groan softly.

Anyone may act.