This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
As the steps from the stairs grew louder, so to did the lantern light that came with them. Descending the stairs, three armored Wutai guards enter the hall. They wear the same armaments as those the party had seen earlier in the city streets.
Turning south, they don't take more than a single step before coming face to face with the two goliaths of the party. Startled, one of the guard moves his hand to grip his sword. The shadows cast by the giant frames provide enough for Ura to remain hidden, and the guards are still oblivious to the group of three, behind them.
"Where'd you come from?" As much a demand as a question, the guards voice is raised enough to give the impression of being imposing, but not enough to likely call out to anyone beyond the present company.
Austin lifts her staff, the end glowing bright for an instant, before two sizzling blasts of power strike at the furthest of the guards. The first blast misses, going wide (assuming an 11 misses anyway,) while the second slams home (crit hit,) dealing 6 force damage to the guard. That guard is flung ten feet away from Austin from the power of the blast. She then strides forward, stopping ten feet away from the closest guard, and lashing out with her staff. She swings solidly (a 15 to hit,) and will deal 7 damage on a hit. Swirling the staff around, she lashes out at the guard again with the other end of the staff. This time she strikes true (assuming a modified 19 to hit lands,) and deals 5 damage to the guard. Holding her staff in defense, she steps five feet back from the guard, putting a bit of extra space between them and requiring the guard to come to her if they wish to continue the melee battle.
All rolls are in the game log. Action is eldritch blast, rolled with advantage as Austin is hidden from view. She then uses her movement to close with a guard, and Action surge to attack with her staff. Her bonus action is used to attack with the butt end of hr staff. She finishes by stepping five feet further away from the guard, so should be 15 feet from them. if they close she gets an opportunity attack with her staff.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
10 (damage: 4)
The force of Austin's blast disorients the guard, as he's pushed into the female goliath, Baldy. The remaining guardsmen are then easily taken care of by Austin and Ura, both downed by the party member's melee attacks. The final guard, never having been able to remove his sword from the scabbard when pushed against the goliath, is then dispatched as well.
Shorty quickly approached from behind and delivered a kick between the guard's legs, causing him to audibly buckle at the knees before falling to the ground and passing out as well.
"Easy 'nuff." She said, before looking back towards the stairwell. "I'ma check upstairs. Hide them in one of those rooms. Last thing we need is someone ta find em." Shorty instructed the party, pointing to the doors on the eastern wall of the hallway, before half-crouching as she ascended the stairs case.
"I'll keep an eye out." Austin says, glancing to the guards. "Maybe look through their pockets as you are hauling them into the chamber, and see if they have anything of use or value on them." She moves to the bottom of the stairs, keeping watch as the more physical members of the party move the unconscious guards.
Ura also helps drag the fallen soldiers in, taking a cursory look (Investigation: 8! -__-) through her particular guard's pockets before casting about for some rope. Realizing belatedly that she has none, she whispers to the others, "Got something to bind and gag these guys with? I can tear up my bedroll, but well, it's my bedroll."
Searching the pockets of one of the guards, Anearis locates 2 gold pieces and 3 copper, as well as a bronze key for an unknown lock.
Ura finds nothing aside from what any member of the party manages to see when looking at the unconscious guardmen; three individuals with light platemail, clothing, a long sword each, and one lantern.
(Assuming Uthal logically drags them to the closer door, across from the stairs, rather the the one further south) Opening the door, they find another storage room. Immediately into the room, beyond the doorway is empty space to place the bodies, however the remainder of the room appears to be large furniture stacked on top of each other. A variety of shelving, chests, dressers and desks. Some are covered with dusty sheets that were at one point likely white, but now a dull gray. Those pieces not covered in the sheets are visible and empty of any contents.
Baldy stood at the base of the stairs looking up to where Shorty had disappeared, while the party moved the three unconscious guards to one of the side rooms there in the storage basement. During the few minutes that the activity took, there were no further footsteps or any indications that the brief encounter had alerted any additional guards.
As the task was completed, and the bodies neatly tucked away (or whatever manner by which Uthal deposited them into the room), Shorty returned. "Think you're in tha clear." She pointed over her shoulder with her thumb, "Tha throne room's right up there. Should be inna out. Any door should take ya there. Soon as ya done, we'll be waitin ta take ya back."
Ura removes the swords and the lanterns from the guardsmen, just to make sure they can't somehow manage to free themselves or set the place on fire trying. She looks at the others as she re-holsters her pack. Taking a long look at one of the guards, Ura squints for a moment before passing a hand over her face. As it travels down, her appearance changes from that of her usual elven form to an exact copy of one of the bound and gagged guards in the room. (casting disguise self).
"Let's do this," she says, heading for the stairs - stealthily as she can, despite her new appearance.
Ascending the staircase, disguised as a guard, and with the party in tow, Ura reaches the next level up from the storage basement. The next floor up has higher ceilings, and two additional staircases leading further up to another higher level. There were two sets of double doors on the south wall and then four doors on the north wall (the two centered being yet another set of double doors). A hallway exited the area to both the east and west, between sets of stairs.
The 'room' had many wall decorations, though they all appeared to be of the same theme. Black banners with silver trim; a sigil centered on each banner of a two headed Griffin, with a sword driven downward behind the beast, between both heads. Not all of the sigils were identical, seemingly created by different artists, though of the same intended design. The same banners just repeated itself over and over again along the walls of this room. Some were more tattered and worn than others, some even seemed to have fire damage. Seeing the banners made Ura's skin feel, almost warm.
While Ura herself made no sound in her movements, the sound of faint footsteps echoed from both the east and west hallways. Similar to those the party heard earlier of the guard patrol, the footsteps were still a considerable distance away.
Ura puts a finger to her lips and whispers to Anaeris the details of the guard rotations she can hear using message. Then she beckons to the others to come up. Not waiting to see if they follow, she approaches the first set of double doors on the left side and presses her ear against them, listening for sounds on the other side.
Perception: 24
If, upon hearing no signs of movement from the inside, she would carefully test the handle to see if the door was locked, and if not, try to open it as silently and slightly as possible to peek inside the room to the south.
If the Old Man and his lackeys were correct, the southern doors would lead to the throne room where the Emperor and his Cathaanian 'guests' were reportedly staying.
Ear to the door, Ura does manage to hear a shuffling sound of some kind, beyond the door. It is faint and muffled, and from this point beyond the very presence of the noise, she couldn't identify anything further. Who or what made the sound, and to what end, remained a complete mystery.
The knob on the door was locked. A key hole was immediately above the handle.
Uthal grips his hammer and waits for some sort of signal.
Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisys in Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
Austin holds her position, ready and waiting.
Ura fades back into the shadows with the help of the magic, her fingers held ready over her weapons.
As the steps from the stairs grew louder, so to did the lantern light that came with them. Descending the stairs, three armored Wutai guards enter the hall. They wear the same armaments as those the party had seen earlier in the city streets.
Turning south, they don't take more than a single step before coming face to face with the two goliaths of the party. Startled, one of the guard moves his hand to grip his sword. The shadows cast by the giant frames provide enough for Ura to remain hidden, and the guards are still oblivious to the group of three, behind them.
"Where'd you come from?" As much a demand as a question, the guards voice is raised enough to give the impression of being imposing, but not enough to likely call out to anyone beyond the present company.
Order of 'Combat' (Surprise Round)
Austin lifts her staff, the end glowing bright for an instant, before two sizzling blasts of power strike at the furthest of the guards. The first blast misses, going wide (assuming an 11 misses anyway,) while the second slams home (crit hit,) dealing 6 force damage to the guard. That guard is flung ten feet away from Austin from the power of the blast. She then strides forward, stopping ten feet away from the closest guard, and lashing out with her staff. She swings solidly (a 15 to hit,) and will deal 7 damage on a hit. Swirling the staff around, she lashes out at the guard again with the other end of the staff. This time she strikes true (assuming a modified 19 to hit lands,) and deals 5 damage to the guard. Holding her staff in defense, she steps five feet back from the guard, putting a bit of extra space between them and requiring the guard to come to her if they wish to continue the melee battle.
All rolls are in the game log. Action is eldritch blast, rolled with advantage as Austin is hidden from view. She then uses her movement to close with a guard, and Action surge to attack with her staff. Her bonus action is used to attack with the butt end of hr staff. She finishes by stepping five feet further away from the guard, so should be 15 feet from them. if they close she gets an opportunity attack with her staff.
Ura slips out of the shadows to slam the pommel of her shortsword into the back of the head of one of the unsuspecting guards:
Attack: 14 (with advantage, my god, some terrible rolls)
If it hits, she strikes with the force of 20 bludgeoning + sneak attack damage.
Whether she struck true or not, Ura slips back behind the others, using her bonus action to disengage.
10 (damage: 4)
The force of Austin's blast disorients the guard, as he's pushed into the female goliath, Baldy. The remaining guardsmen are then easily taken care of by Austin and Ura, both downed by the party member's melee attacks. The final guard, never having been able to remove his sword from the scabbard when pushed against the goliath, is then dispatched as well.
Shorty quickly approached from behind and delivered a kick between the guard's legs, causing him to audibly buckle at the knees before falling to the ground and passing out as well.
"Easy 'nuff." She said, before looking back towards the stairwell. "I'ma check upstairs. Hide them in one of those rooms. Last thing we need is someone ta find em." Shorty instructed the party, pointing to the doors on the eastern wall of the hallway, before half-crouching as she ascended the stairs case.
"I'll keep an eye out." Austin says, glancing to the guards. "Maybe look through their pockets as you are hauling them into the chamber, and see if they have anything of use or value on them." She moves to the bottom of the stairs, keeping watch as the more physical members of the party move the unconscious guards.
The fighting having stopped before it even started, Anearis tries to help move the bodies out of view. He will look through one of the guards pockets.
Investiation: 11
Ura also helps drag the fallen soldiers in, taking a cursory look (Investigation: 8! -__-) through her particular guard's pockets before casting about for some rope. Realizing belatedly that she has none, she whispers to the others, "Got something to bind and gag these guys with? I can tear up my bedroll, but well, it's my bedroll."
Uthal hands over a hempen rope before bodily heaving two of the guards and dragging them into the side room.
Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisys in Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
Searching the pockets of one of the guards, Anearis locates 2 gold pieces and 3 copper, as well as a bronze key for an unknown lock.
Ura finds nothing aside from what any member of the party manages to see when looking at the unconscious guardmen; three individuals with light platemail, clothing, a long sword each, and one lantern.
(Assuming Uthal logically drags them to the closer door, across from the stairs, rather the the one further south) Opening the door, they find another storage room. Immediately into the room, beyond the doorway is empty space to place the bodies, however the remainder of the room appears to be large furniture stacked on top of each other. A variety of shelving, chests, dressers and desks. Some are covered with dusty sheets that were at one point likely white, but now a dull gray. Those pieces not covered in the sheets are visible and empty of any contents.
Baldy stood at the base of the stairs looking up to where Shorty had disappeared, while the party moved the three unconscious guards to one of the side rooms there in the storage basement. During the few minutes that the activity took, there were no further footsteps or any indications that the brief encounter had alerted any additional guards.
As the task was completed, and the bodies neatly tucked away (or whatever manner by which Uthal deposited them into the room), Shorty returned. "Think you're in tha clear." She pointed over her shoulder with her thumb, "Tha throne room's right up there. Should be inna out. Any door should take ya there. Soon as ya done, we'll be waitin ta take ya back."
Ura removes the swords and the lanterns from the guardsmen, just to make sure they can't somehow manage to free themselves or set the place on fire trying. She looks at the others as she re-holsters her pack. Taking a long look at one of the guards, Ura squints for a moment before passing a hand over her face. As it travels down, her appearance changes from that of her usual elven form to an exact copy of one of the bound and gagged guards in the room. (casting disguise self).
"Let's do this," she says, heading for the stairs - stealthily as she can, despite her new appearance.
Anearis quickly pockets the key and the coins and will rejoin the party as they prepare their attack.
Ascending the staircase, disguised as a guard, and with the party in tow, Ura reaches the next level up from the storage basement. The next floor up has higher ceilings, and two additional staircases leading further up to another higher level. There were two sets of double doors on the south wall and then four doors on the north wall (the two centered being yet another set of double doors). A hallway exited the area to both the east and west, between sets of stairs.
The 'room' had many wall decorations, though they all appeared to be of the same theme. Black banners with silver trim; a sigil centered on each banner of a two headed Griffin, with a sword driven downward behind the beast, between both heads. Not all of the sigils were identical, seemingly created by different artists, though of the same intended design. The same banners just repeated itself over and over again along the walls of this room. Some were more tattered and worn than others, some even seemed to have fire damage. Seeing the banners made Ura's skin feel, almost warm.
While Ura herself made no sound in her movements, the sound of faint footsteps echoed from both the east and west hallways. Similar to those the party heard earlier of the guard patrol, the footsteps were still a considerable distance away.
((Discord map))
Ura puts a finger to her lips and whispers to Anaeris the details of the guard rotations she can hear using message. Then she beckons to the others to come up. Not waiting to see if they follow, she approaches the first set of double doors on the left side and presses her ear against them, listening for sounds on the other side.
Perception: 24
If, upon hearing no signs of movement from the inside, she would carefully test the handle to see if the door was locked, and if not, try to open it as silently and slightly as possible to peek inside the room to the south.
If the Old Man and his lackeys were correct, the southern doors would lead to the throne room where the Emperor and his Cathaanian 'guests' were reportedly staying.
Ear to the door, Ura does manage to hear a shuffling sound of some kind, beyond the door. It is faint and muffled, and from this point beyond the very presence of the noise, she couldn't identify anything further. Who or what made the sound, and to what end, remained a complete mystery.
The knob on the door was locked. A key hole was immediately above the handle.
Anearis, seeing the locked door and the keyhole, suddenly remembers the key they found on the guard downstairs and hands it over to Ura.
"Try this.", he whispers.
Uthal has his hammer raised, ready to smash the door, but nods when he sees the key and holds off.
Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisys in Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne