This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Angus deftly scouts ahead keeping his eyes and ears peeled for danger, but fortunately there is none to be found.
The young girl looks up at Caspia, "Why is your skin blue?" and then immediately launches into her tale of the alchemist. "He was a powerful mean old man who horded the knowledge of everything within his library. He had a pair of servants who tended to a beautiful garden and served his every whim. After years of hardship the servants murdered the alchemist in his sleep! It is said that the ghost has maintains watch over his mansion, killing all who dare set foot upon the grounds!" As the girl finishes her tale you hear a loud exhale leave her lungs, she had forgotten to breathe while rushing through her story.
The girl prattles on while you walk another mile or so, the two young boys who have journeyed out with her remain silent, deferring to the girl, obviously the leader of their little band. As the house comes into view, the girl goes silent. The color drains out of her face and the face of her two companions. One of the little boys finally speaks up, "Katia, it is getting late, this isn't safe we should go home before the ghost gets us!" The girl, Katia, nods her head in assent, and before anyone can react the three children are running back down the road to Saltmarsh.
Zi shouts back, "Be careful! It is dark!"
You walk the final mile to the house, by now the sun has set. There is a faint moon out tonight, partially obscured by the clouds. Those of you that are not blessed with Darkvision will likely have trouble seeing within another hour. You arrive at an ornate metal gate, broken with age, at the base of the house's land. The metal rusted hinges squeak as the wind slowly bats them around. Around it, a stone wall has crumbled in many places, exposing the interior grounds. Wild flora grows throughout the inner yard, but all the years cannot hide the evidence of a well-tended garden that once sat here. In front of you the decrepit house sits on the highest ground in the area. Near the house, the rotted wooden roof of a water well rises out of the tall grass.
Disappointedly Zi kicks the stone wall, "So this is the alchemists lush garden of exotic flowers? I wish I had the courage to see this for myself when I was younger! There is barely anything here!" She chews on her hair for a minute, "Maybe we will have better luck inside?"
Avalloc Perception: 12
You hear the cry of the hawk from above. Gulin Runehammer enters into a trance to see what Avalloc has found.
Gulin Runehammer:
Avalloc's attention is solidly locked onto a single rosebush about fifteen feet away from the party along the stone wall. The rosebush has overgrown the wall and choked out most of the other plants. Whatever Avalloc alerted you to is no longer visible.
Gulin comes out of his trance, his eyes unclouding and returning to hazel from the white coloration that encompassed them. He looks to the same rose bush as Avalloc, and approaches it carefully. He removes his dagger from its belt sheath and uses it to carefully prod at the bush, moving aside the branches with the flat of the blade.
Be glad I just gave you a new roll opposed to adjusting the investigation :)
Gulin Runehammer:
As you dig and prod with your dagger within the thorny mass of the rose bush you quickly discover that something large has made a burrow under the rose bush. A tunnel with a diameter a little over two feet leads underneath the small stone wall. Moments later--and thanks to your Darkvision--you are able to make out a large mass of fur--potentially multiple creatures--silently yet quickly moving up the tunnel towards you. Your keen senses have allowed you to avoid being caught flat-footed, but you likely only have seconds to react! It is also unlikely your companions can see the tunnel or the creatures within from their position fifteen feet away from you.
Gulin stretches out his left hand, coalescing arcane fire into a bright orange ball the size of a walnut. The burrow underneath the rosebush illuminates with the flash of light as Gulin sends the firebolt towards the center of mass of creatures.
Attack: 7 Damage: 6
After releasing the firebolt, Gulin quickly retreats back to the group, moving slightly past them.
Gulin hastily casts a firebolt down the small tunnel under the rose bush. Without waiting to see whether it hit, Gulin flees slightly past the group likely taking a few steps more than he intended. His hands still cackle with the leftover arcane energy. Nobody had eyes on the firebolt, but given the manner in which it was cast you can assume it most likely missed.
Zi shouts, "Light!" and an unearthly glow emanates from her shield in a 20 feet radius.
Those of you without Darkvision are able to now see clearly within the yellow circle. Angus and Caspia each have a chance to take an action before whatever Gulin saw appears from underneath the rose bush.
"It appears the armoured dwarf has caught himself a fright. Let's see what made him jump."
Angus now at the lead of the group, drops his pack, and pulls his short sword with his right hand, and grabs a dart with his left which he wields like a dagger rather than the traditional manner which it used.
I presume the drawing the weapons is my action for the turn?
Caspia focuses inwards, attempting to ascertain if there are any entities of extreme good or evil alignment within the immediate area. Waiting a few seconds, she feels nothing happen. There are not any celestial, fiend, or undead within her immediate eyesight. The gate and garden are not under the effect of the hallow spell.
Three giant weasels emerge from the rosebush hissing at the party, their eyes shine bright red. Saliva drips from their open jaws.
Angus laughs. "Are these the demons haunting the place?" He quickly reverses the hold on the dart and throws it at the nearest weasel. I'm assuming the 14 damage attack didn't kill it.
A large firebolt leaves Gulin's hands and lands dead center of the closest weasel. The weasel explodes, flaming chunks of weasel flesh coat the ground. Zi throws her javelin towards the next weasel. As soon as it leaves her hand she rushes forward into melee, drawing her longsword.
Zi Javelin Thrown Attack: 19 Damage: 8
Sorry I was updating before I saw your post Andrew, are you moving at all or just attacking? Also for this first combat I can do rolls, but people need to figure out how to add rolls before the next one.
Angus Dart Attack: 7 Damage: 4
Angus' dart lazily sails over the heads of the remaining weasels and into the darkness of the garden.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Caspia's attacks strike true, but the weasel she attacks still stands. Blood is pouring profusely out of the weasel she attacked. It can barely stand. The other weasel is still undamaged.
The remaining weasels, attracted to the group's smallest member, charge forward in Gulin's direction. Both Caspia and Zi swing their weapons at the weasel's backs.
Zi Longsword Attack of Opportunity: 11 Damage: 9
Caspia Scimitar Attack of Opportunity: 11 Damage: 10
Both weasels are sheared in half, their corpses slump to the ground joining their brethern at the base of the thorny rosebush. Zi retrieves her javelin from the corpse of one of the giant weasels. The dart may be harder to find. Zi turns to the group, "Barely broke a sweat. It saddens me a little that we are spending our time slaughtering such animals, but better that then they ambush us later."
The giant weasel corpses most likely don't carry anything of interest. From where you are standing near their bodies, you can see many places where the wall has partially collapsed, allowing simple access to the garden even if you decide not to enter through the main gate. Visible within the garden are a few broken gardening tools. A tangle of weeds are all that remain of the flowers that once grew here. At the center of the garden lies a well, and beyond that the battered remains of the mansion.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Well, I certainly wasn't expecting rodents of such unusual size outside of the swamp proper."
Gulin gives one corpse a kick with an armored boot, then looks up to the mansion.
He gives a quick whistle, and Avalloc dives down, fluttering to the ground near Gulin. The dwarf bends down, speaking to the bird. "Good job spotting those rodents. Now, my friend, circle the house and look for entrances."
His eyes flush over with a milky whiteness as he enters Avalloc's mind and the bird launches off the ground.
Avalloc Perception - 19
Keen Senses Advantage + Night Disadvantage
Gulin will relay anything he sees through Avalloc to the party.
Avalloc circles around the house. There appears to be two entrances on the first floor, a brown wooden side door behind the well that is currently in front of the party, and a wooden front door facing south towards the Azure Sea. There are multiple old glass windows on the first level of the house, but much of the glass has frosted with age and salt exposure. The windows could undoubtedly be broken. The roof also has several holes where slate shingles are missing. Perhaps with a little work the roof could offer an alternative entrance.
I know it is a little hard to see, the brown looking slats are the doors, the white looking slats are the windows.
A+++ Princess Bride reference in the fight there. *Applause*
"Yes, let us continue through this entrance. I did not sense any evil within the immediate area, but that may be different inside this house of ghosts."
Caspia glances down puzzled at the little girl pestering them with questions.
"Tritons do not blend in very well in the surface world. I would agree with Gulin. It's probably best if Angus goes first."
Caspia bends down to speak to the little girl.
"Surface child, have you heard any stories about this haunted house? Who is the ghost of the alchemist?"
Angus deftly scouts ahead keeping his eyes and ears peeled for danger, but fortunately there is none to be found.
The young girl looks up at Caspia, "Why is your skin blue?" and then immediately launches into her tale of the alchemist. "He was a powerful mean old man who horded the knowledge of everything within his library. He had a pair of servants who tended to a beautiful garden and served his every whim. After years of hardship the servants murdered the alchemist in his sleep! It is said that the ghost has maintains watch over his mansion, killing all who dare set foot upon the grounds!" As the girl finishes her tale you hear a loud exhale leave her lungs, she had forgotten to breathe while rushing through her story.
The girl prattles on while you walk another mile or so, the two young boys who have journeyed out with her remain silent, deferring to the girl, obviously the leader of their little band. As the house comes into view, the girl goes silent. The color drains out of her face and the face of her two companions. One of the little boys finally speaks up, "Katia, it is getting late, this isn't safe we should go home before the ghost gets us!" The girl, Katia, nods her head in assent, and before anyone can react the three children are running back down the road to Saltmarsh.
Zi shouts back, "Be careful! It is dark!"
You walk the final mile to the house, by now the sun has set. There is a faint moon out tonight, partially obscured by the clouds. Those of you that are not blessed with Darkvision will likely have trouble seeing within another hour. You arrive at an ornate metal gate, broken with age, at the base of the house's land. The metal rusted hinges squeak as the wind slowly bats them around. Around it, a stone wall has crumbled in many places, exposing the interior grounds. Wild flora grows throughout the inner yard, but all the years cannot hide the evidence of a well-tended garden that once sat here. In front of you the decrepit house sits on the highest ground in the area. Near the house, the rotted wooden roof of a water well rises out of the tall grass.
Disappointedly Zi kicks the stone wall, "So this is the alchemists lush garden of exotic flowers? I wish I had the courage to see this for myself when I was younger! There is barely anything here!" She chews on her hair for a minute, "Maybe we will have better luck inside?"
Avalloc Perception: 12
You hear the cry of the hawk from above. Gulin Runehammer enters into a trance to see what Avalloc has found.
Gulin Runehammer:
Avalloc's attention is solidly locked onto a single rosebush about fifteen feet away from the party along the stone wall. The rosebush has overgrown the wall and choked out most of the other plants. Whatever Avalloc alerted you to is no longer visible.
DM for Out of the Abyss | Edvord Reinholdt for Killilli's Waterdeep Dragon Heist | Sergeant Cernan for Viper's Descent
Gulin comes out of his trance, his eyes unclouding and returning to hazel from the white coloration that encompassed them. He looks to the same rose bush as Avalloc, and approaches it carefully. He removes his dagger from its belt sheath and uses it to carefully prod at the bush, moving aside the branches with the flat of the blade.
Investigation: 10
Aldrik Reinholdt in Dragon Heist
Daventry in The Candlekeep Mysteries, and her bag
Gulin Survival Roll: 11
Be glad I just gave you a new roll opposed to adjusting the investigation :)
Gulin Runehammer:
As you dig and prod with your dagger within the thorny mass of the rose bush you quickly discover that something large has made a burrow under the rose bush. A tunnel with a diameter a little over two feet leads underneath the small stone wall. Moments later--and thanks to your Darkvision--you are able to make out a large mass of fur--potentially multiple creatures--silently yet quickly moving up the tunnel towards you. Your keen senses have allowed you to avoid being caught flat-footed, but you likely only have seconds to react! It is also unlikely your companions can see the tunnel or the creatures within from their position fifteen feet away from you.
DM for Out of the Abyss | Edvord Reinholdt for Killilli's Waterdeep Dragon Heist | Sergeant Cernan for Viper's Descent
Gulin mutters under his breath. "Rats."
Gulin stretches out his left hand, coalescing arcane fire into a bright orange ball the size of a walnut. The burrow underneath the rosebush illuminates with the flash of light as Gulin sends the firebolt towards the center of mass of creatures.
Attack: 7 Damage: 6
After releasing the firebolt, Gulin quickly retreats back to the group, moving slightly past them.
Move: 25 ft back
"Something's coming, be ready!"
lol it begins again
Aldrik Reinholdt in Dragon Heist
Daventry in The Candlekeep Mysteries, and her bag
Gulin hastily casts a firebolt down the small tunnel under the rose bush. Without waiting to see whether it hit, Gulin flees slightly past the group likely taking a few steps more than he intended. His hands still cackle with the leftover arcane energy. Nobody had eyes on the firebolt, but given the manner in which it was cast you can assume it most likely missed.
Zi shouts, "Light!" and an unearthly glow emanates from her shield in a 20 feet radius.
Those of you without Darkvision are able to now see clearly within the yellow circle. Angus and Caspia each have a chance to take an action before whatever Gulin saw appears from underneath the rose bush.
DM for Out of the Abyss | Edvord Reinholdt for Killilli's Waterdeep Dragon Heist | Sergeant Cernan for Viper's Descent
"It appears the armoured dwarf has caught himself a fright. Let's see what made him jump."
Angus now at the lead of the group, drops his pack, and pulls his short sword with his right hand, and grabs a dart with his left which he wields like a dagger rather than the traditional manner which it used.
I presume the drawing the weapons is my action for the turn?
Caspia draws her short sword and scimitar. Caspia attempts to use divine sense to see if the coming creatures have good or ill intent.
Caspia Aspergina:
Caspia focuses inwards, attempting to ascertain if there are any entities of extreme good or evil alignment within the immediate area. Waiting a few seconds, she feels nothing happen. There are not any celestial, fiend, or undead within her immediate eyesight. The gate and garden are not under the effect of the hallow spell.
Three giant weasels emerge from the rosebush hissing at the party, their eyes shine bright red. Saliva drips from their open jaws.
DM for Out of the Abyss | Edvord Reinholdt for Killilli's Waterdeep Dragon Heist | Sergeant Cernan for Viper's Descent
Gulin looks at the weasels, glad in his heart that it wasn't some sort of cardiovore burrowing Peryton this time.
A second firebolt sparks forth from his hand at the closest weasel, adding a flash of orange to the bright light offered by Zi's shield.
Firebolt Attack: 8 Damage: 3
Aldrik Reinholdt in Dragon Heist
Daventry in The Candlekeep Mysteries, and her bag
Angus laughs. "Are these the demons haunting the place?" He quickly reverses the hold on the dart and throws it at the nearest weasel. I'm assuming the 14 damage attack didn't kill it.
A large firebolt leaves Gulin's hands and lands dead center of the closest weasel. The weasel explodes, flaming chunks of weasel flesh coat the ground. Zi throws her javelin towards the next weasel. As soon as it leaves her hand she rushes forward into melee, drawing her longsword.
Zi Javelin Thrown Attack: 19 Damage: 8
Sorry I was updating before I saw your post Andrew, are you moving at all or just attacking? Also for this first combat I can do rolls, but people need to figure out how to add rolls before the next one.
Angus Dart Attack: 7 Damage: 4
Angus' dart lazily sails over the heads of the remaining weasels and into the darkness of the garden.
Caspia will have a turn then it is the weasels.
DM for Out of the Abyss | Edvord Reinholdt for Killilli's Waterdeep Dragon Heist | Sergeant Cernan for Viper's Descent
Caspia runs up to 10 feet to the closest weasel and swings at the weasel with both her scimitar and short sword.
Scimitar Attack: 21 Damage: 5
Shortsword Attack: 19 Damage: 4
Caspia's attacks strike true, but the weasel she attacks still stands. Blood is pouring profusely out of the weasel she attacked. It can barely stand. The other weasel is still undamaged.
The remaining weasels, attracted to the group's smallest member, charge forward in Gulin's direction. Both Caspia and Zi swing their weapons at the weasel's backs.
Zi Longsword Attack of Opportunity: 11 Damage: 9
Caspia Scimitar Attack of Opportunity: 11 Damage: 10
Both weasels are sheared in half, their corpses slump to the ground joining their brethern at the base of the thorny rosebush. Zi retrieves her javelin from the corpse of one of the giant weasels. The dart may be harder to find. Zi turns to the group, "Barely broke a sweat. It saddens me a little that we are spending our time slaughtering such animals, but better that then they ambush us later."
The giant weasel corpses most likely don't carry anything of interest. From where you are standing near their bodies, you can see many places where the wall has partially collapsed, allowing simple access to the garden even if you decide not to enter through the main gate. Visible within the garden are a few broken gardening tools. A tangle of weeds are all that remain of the flowers that once grew here. At the center of the garden lies a well, and beyond that the battered remains of the mansion.
DM for Out of the Abyss | Edvord Reinholdt for Killilli's Waterdeep Dragon Heist | Sergeant Cernan for Viper's Descent
"Well, I certainly wasn't expecting rodents of such unusual size outside of the swamp proper."
Gulin gives one corpse a kick with an armored boot, then looks up to the mansion.
He gives a quick whistle, and Avalloc dives down, fluttering to the ground near Gulin. The dwarf bends down, speaking to the bird. "Good job spotting those rodents. Now, my friend, circle the house and look for entrances."
His eyes flush over with a milky whiteness as he enters Avalloc's mind and the bird launches off the ground.
Avalloc Perception - 19
Keen Senses Advantage + Night Disadvantage
Gulin will relay anything he sees through Avalloc to the party.
Aldrik Reinholdt in Dragon Heist
Daventry in The Candlekeep Mysteries, and her bag
Angus grabs the corpses and puts the various bits down the hole from which they came, sealing it off with some loose rocks from the wall.
"I'd rather we make sure no more beasties sneak out from this hole."
When finished, he says "I'll continue to scout around to see if we can find anywhere to set up for the night."
With that he hops the wall near the hole and investigates the area beyond.
Avalloc circles around the house. There appears to be two entrances on the first floor, a brown wooden side door behind the well that is currently in front of the party, and a wooden front door facing south towards the Azure Sea. There are multiple old glass windows on the first level of the house, but much of the glass has frosted with age and salt exposure. The windows could undoubtedly be broken. The roof also has several holes where slate shingles are missing. Perhaps with a little work the roof could offer an alternative entrance.
I know it is a little hard to see, the brown looking slats are the doors, the white looking slats are the windows.
DM for Out of the Abyss | Edvord Reinholdt for Killilli's Waterdeep Dragon Heist | Sergeant Cernan for Viper's Descent
Gulin's trance ends. "I suggest we try the door around back, unless Angus wants to scale the mansion wall with rope and grapple."
He looks to the human. "After you, lad."
Aldrik Reinholdt in Dragon Heist
Daventry in The Candlekeep Mysteries, and her bag
A+++ Princess Bride reference in the fight there. *Applause*
"Yes, let us continue through this entrance. I did not sense any evil within the immediate area, but that may be different inside this house of ghosts."
"Come then, let's see how easy this door is to get open. I'd rather spend the night under a roof than out here"
I presume I'll need an athletics roll depending on how stuck the door is?