"We stayed in our ridge on the tops of our mountain, my old mother and her tribe," Vimak says. "On the clear, cold nights the stars came down and danced among us." He pauses. "During the days, of course, we fought each other and hunted, but the nights were glorious."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Adas Wild Magic:9
A few minutes pass before Ulla and Pog return. "Okay! The gnomes in the domiciles have been informed." You wait a few more minutes and chat amongst yourselves as Adas completes his ritual. As his eyes open, there's a sudden flash, temporarily blinding you all. As the light fades away and you regain your sight, you all see Adas' skin has turned a vibrant shade of blue. Ulla and Pog giggle to each other. "Ah yeah, I remember when that happened to you, Ulla. It was so funny!"Ulla walks up to Adas and gives him a reassuring pat. "Don't worry, it'll fade within an hour!"
Robwin is enchanted by all the tales of travel and people’s families. He says to Prosper “It was Lia who noticed the Fey within you. She even uses a different hoot when she’s near you, one that encompasses elements of ‘sister’. I think she feels a kind of kinship with you and your ancestry maybe”.
”I’ve never really travelled myself, until now. I grew up with my family in Neverwinter. Then I went to the Academy there in the city, and... Oh!...”
...flash, bang... ”Adas, what was that?! Are you okay?...”...
Prosper smiles wistfully as she listens to others recount their pasts, staring somewhere off into the distance for a moment, before shaking her head briskly to get herself reacquainted with the present. "Enough reminiscing, let's - what on earth?"
And half yelps at Adas' dazzling change in color, vainly trying to shield her eyes. Her perturbation rapidly fades, however, instead becoming fascinated by the change. "It's a nice blue." She volunteers. "Suits you."
"Adas!" Vimak says. "Adas?" He stares. "Your magic is not predictable? Ugh. That must be frightening. But, I agree with Prosper. Not the worse color! Will it be the same blue each time?" He looks towards the east. "Are you still able to feel any magic? Are we safe moving into the next room?"
“Yes, Adas, can you ‘detect’ something magical?...ummm, oh! hold on, me!... haha!... my mage armor?“. Robwin does a slow twirl in his normally-mostly-invisible mage armour...
Adas had always been secure in his connection to Solonor and the magics he bestowed on his faithful but the wood elf was never ready for such a flash and of course being blue. He looked to his hands and rolled up his sleeves, marvelling at the color change. He sighed with relief as the gnome made him aware it was temporary.
"I, well, I apologise for that. I guess I am able to show that magic does indeed go away in this area." He looks around with his magical detection to confirm it is working.
As Adas looks around for any magic, he sees a faint shimmer of abjuration magic around Robwin as well as a glow of general arcane magic coming off of the gnomes' wands. Other than that, there doesn't seem to be anything in the current room the party is in. As everyone is ready to leave, Pog and Ulla lead the party out.
(Just making sure, everyone still wants to get some wine and bread, right?)
Robwin considers the situation... “Hmmm...I think we should maybe poke and search first, while Adas is detecting magic. Happy to grab samples of oil, wine and bread, along the way. Or come back to it after the hunt!”.
[edit: to change from OOC to ‘in-character’. Still learning!]
Vimak is also ready to move on, hoping to take advantage of Adas's enhanced perception. "Wine and bread of any kind sounds like a great way to celebrate once we've chopped up the shapeshifter," he says.
Pog and Ulla lead you to the wine room just to the north of the guard post, everyone poking everything along the way. When you arrive in the wine room, you see it contains twelve forty-gallon barrels set into wide alcoves, one to the north, east and south. Each barrel is secured by a wooden brace. The barrels in the south alcove have been tapped with wooden spigots.
Adas' eyes scan the surrounding area but there doesn't seem to be any magical items or creatures around. Believing the creature isn't in the room, you quickly begin to poke everything, not being very thorough. Barely a minute passes before you here Pog scream. You all turn to see Pog in the north alcove, struggling to pull his wand off of a barrel that it has seemingly gotten stuck to. In an instant, the barrel begins to form teeth and a giant mouth. Two eyes appear as its massive tongue lashes out at Pog who simply screams and runs out of the room, arms flailing in the air. Ulla tries to be brave, holding her ground and shaking hands gripping her wand, but as the creature turns to her, mouth opening wide with a disgusting squelch and horrifying screech, she drops her wand and runs out of the room with a terrified expression, but not letting out even the smallest squeak.
The creature jumps forward to the closest person which unfortunately happens to be Tahnis. It gurgles in barely intelligible common. "FooOOoOooD! mOORe fOOod! HuuNnnGRYYyyY!! wANt GNoOOmeeE!" Its mouth opens and tries to swallow up Tahnis.
Bite Attack vs Tahnis:13 Damage: 10 + 3
With a loud crunch, its teeth dig into Tahnis and its tongue begins to wrap around his body. Acid burns through his clothes and skin as he tries to struggle against it, but every time he touches it, he just gets more and more stuck. Tahnis is now considered grappled.
MAP (Just to explain the positioning, I followed the marching order we established before. I've placed Robwin and Tahnis to the north, near where Pog and Ulla were, with the others to the south and east alcove.)
Robwin uses a free-object-interaction to grab Ulla’s wand off the floor as he moves to the room entrance (G9), where he shouts “Ulla! I’ve got your wand, come back and help!”.
He then whirls round on his heels, reaching out his empty hand and blasting the monster with magic missile - force damage: 9
Prosper's lips curl in disgust as the creature discards the form of a barrel. "Ick."She comments, somehow managing to hold her voice steady as she drew her rapier despite visibly worried, if not frightened. "Tahnis, we'll get you out. Don't flinch." With that, she lunges forwards and, carefully avoiding Tahnis, aims a jab at the animate barrel.
Attack: 14 Damage: 14
Edit: With DM's permission, I'd like to tack on that Propser disengages with cunning action and then retreats for the remainder of her movement.
Vimak firers his heavy crossbow: attack 22 for (hopefully) 8 damage. He drops it once the bolt is away. Staring at the creature, he slings his shield onto his left arm and begins reaching for his battle axe with his right.
@Prosper, Yep! No problem. Also, Tahnis, I made a bit of a mistake with the last post so you can add 2 health back.
As the missiles slam into the creature, Robwin calls out to Ulla, but the two gnomes disappear down the halls of the cave, Pog's screams slowly fading away as he get further and further. Prosper runs up towards the creature and manages to get a good jab in before retreating back as Vimak's bolt sinks into the creatures body. Tahnis continues to struggle against the creatures grasp but fails, though Adas runs up besides him and slashes through the creature.
The creature continues to squeeze Tahnis and gnaws through his flesh with its teeth.
Bite vs Tahnis:13Damage: 9 + 6
With a sickening snap and crack, Tahnis' body goes limp as he falls unconscious in the creatures grasp, the acid continuing to burn into his skin. (Oh... my god. Is this what it feels like to be a DM? Because I feel horrible T^T)
"We stayed in our ridge on the tops of our mountain, my old mother and her tribe," Vimak says. "On the clear, cold nights the stars came down and danced among us." He pauses. "During the days, of course, we fought each other and hunted, but the nights were glorious."
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
Adas Wild Magic: 9
A few minutes pass before Ulla and Pog return. "Okay! The gnomes in the domiciles have been informed." You wait a few more minutes and chat amongst yourselves as Adas completes his ritual. As his eyes open, there's a sudden flash, temporarily blinding you all. As the light fades away and you regain your sight, you all see Adas' skin has turned a vibrant shade of blue. Ulla and Pog giggle to each other. "Ah yeah, I remember when that happened to you, Ulla. It was so funny!" Ulla walks up to Adas and gives him a reassuring pat. "Don't worry, it'll fade within an hour!"
Robwin is enchanted by all the tales of travel and people’s families. He says to Prosper “It was Lia who noticed the Fey within you. She even uses a different hoot when she’s near you, one that encompasses elements of ‘sister’. I think she feels a kind of kinship with you and your ancestry maybe”.
”I’ve never really travelled myself, until now. I grew up with my family in Neverwinter. Then I went to the Academy there in the city, and... Oh!...”
...flash, bang... ”Adas, what was that?! Are you okay?...”...
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
Tahnis wipes his eyes. "A little warning next time," he says while the gnomes continue to chatter.
I have an intelligence of six, I know what I'm doing.
Prosper smiles wistfully as she listens to others recount their pasts, staring somewhere off into the distance for a moment, before shaking her head briskly to get herself reacquainted with the present. "Enough reminiscing, let's - what on earth?"
And half yelps at Adas' dazzling change in color, vainly trying to shield her eyes. Her perturbation rapidly fades, however, instead becoming fascinated by the change. "It's a nice blue." She volunteers. "Suits you."
"Adas!" Vimak says. "Adas?" He stares. "Your magic is not predictable? Ugh. That must be frightening. But, I agree with Prosper. Not the worse color! Will it be the same blue each time?" He looks towards the east. "Are you still able to feel any magic? Are we safe moving into the next room?"
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
“Yes, Adas, can you ‘detect’ something magical?...ummm, oh! hold on, me!... haha!... my mage armor?“. Robwin does a slow twirl in his normally-mostly-invisible mage armour...
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
Adas had always been secure in his connection to Solonor and the magics he bestowed on his faithful but the wood elf was never ready for such a flash and of course being blue. He looked to his hands and rolled up his sleeves, marvelling at the color change. He sighed with relief as the gnome made him aware it was temporary.
"I, well, I apologise for that. I guess I am able to show that magic does indeed go away in this area." He looks around with his magical detection to confirm it is working.
As Adas looks around for any magic, he sees a faint shimmer of abjuration magic around Robwin as well as a glow of general arcane magic coming off of the gnomes' wands. Other than that, there doesn't seem to be anything in the current room the party is in. As everyone is ready to leave, Pog and Ulla lead the party out.
(Just making sure, everyone still wants to get some wine and bread, right?)
Robwin considers the situation... “Hmmm...I think we should maybe poke and search first, while Adas is detecting magic. Happy to grab samples of oil, wine and bread, along the way. Or come back to it after the hunt!”.
[edit: to change from OOC to ‘in-character’. Still learning!]
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
Vimak is also ready to move on, hoping to take advantage of Adas's enhanced perception. "Wine and bread of any kind sounds like a great way to celebrate once we've chopped up the shapeshifter," he says.
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
Tahnis nods. "I share Vimak's sentiments. I'll take some wine after we defeat the shapeshifter."
I have an intelligence of six, I know what I'm doing.
Prosper blinks, "Ah, yes, I suppose we're in a rush. We'll save the food for later, then. Capital idea. Onwards and upwards!"
Nevertheless, if they troop past the kitchen, she'll try to discreetly filch a few scraps of any food that's lying around.
[sleight of hand? don't know if this warrants a check: 13]
Pog and Ulla lead you to the wine room just to the north of the guard post, everyone poking everything along the way. When you arrive in the wine room, you see it contains twelve forty-gallon barrels set into wide alcoves, one to the north, east and south. Each barrel is secured by a wooden brace. The barrels in the south alcove have been tapped with wooden spigots.
Adas' eyes scan the surrounding area but there doesn't seem to be any magical items or creatures around. Believing the creature isn't in the room, you quickly begin to poke everything, not being very thorough. Barely a minute passes before you here Pog scream. You all turn to see Pog in the north alcove, struggling to pull his wand off of a barrel that it has seemingly gotten stuck to. In an instant, the barrel begins to form teeth and a giant mouth. Two eyes appear as its massive tongue lashes out at Pog who simply screams and runs out of the room, arms flailing in the air. Ulla tries to be brave, holding her ground and shaking hands gripping her wand, but as the creature turns to her, mouth opening wide with a disgusting squelch and horrifying screech, she drops her wand and runs out of the room with a terrified expression, but not letting out even the smallest squeak.
COMBAT BEGINS!
DM Screen:
Initiative
Adas - 16
Prosper - 5
Robwin - 8
Tahnis - 6
Vimak - 8
M - 2
The creature jumps forward to the closest person which unfortunately happens to be Tahnis. It gurgles in barely intelligible common. "FooOOoOooD! mOORe fOOod! HuuNnnGRYYyyY!! wANt GNoOOmeeE!" Its mouth opens and tries to swallow up Tahnis.
Bite Attack vs Tahnis: 13 Damage: 10 + 3
With a loud crunch, its teeth dig into Tahnis and its tongue begins to wrap around his body. Acid burns through his clothes and skin as he tries to struggle against it, but every time he touches it, he just gets more and more stuck. Tahnis is now considered grappled.
MAP (Just to explain the positioning, I followed the marching order we established before. I've placed Robwin and Tahnis to the north, near where Pog and Ulla were, with the others to the south and east alcove.)
PLAYERS TURN!
Robwin uses a free-object-interaction to grab Ulla’s wand off the floor as he moves to the room entrance (G9), where he shouts “Ulla! I’ve got your wand, come back and help!”.
He then whirls round on his heels, reaching out his empty hand and blasting the monster with magic missile - force damage: 9
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
Prosper's lips curl in disgust as the creature discards the form of a barrel. "Ick." She comments, somehow managing to hold her voice steady as she drew her rapier despite visibly worried, if not frightened. "Tahnis, we'll get you out. Don't flinch." With that, she lunges forwards and, carefully avoiding Tahnis, aims a jab at the animate barrel.
Attack: 14 Damage: 14
Edit: With DM's permission, I'd like to tack on that Propser disengages with cunning action and then retreats for the remainder of her movement.
Vimak firers his heavy crossbow: attack 22 for (hopefully) 8 damage. He drops it once the bolt is away. Staring at the creature, he slings his shield onto his left arm and begins reaching for his battle axe with his right.
He plans to charge the creature on his next turn.
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
Tahnis is going to attempt to escape the grapple using acrobatics.
Acrobatics - 6
I have an intelligence of six, I know what I'm doing.
Fearing that his arrows could injure Tahnis, Adas draws his shortsword and moves up to stab at the shifting creature.
(Move to E 12)
Shortsword Attack: 24 Piercing Damage: 6
@Prosper, Yep! No problem. Also, Tahnis, I made a bit of a mistake with the last post so you can add 2 health back.
As the missiles slam into the creature, Robwin calls out to Ulla, but the two gnomes disappear down the halls of the cave, Pog's screams slowly fading away as he get further and further. Prosper runs up towards the creature and manages to get a good jab in before retreating back as Vimak's bolt sinks into the creatures body. Tahnis continues to struggle against the creatures grasp but fails, though Adas runs up besides him and slashes through the creature.
The creature continues to squeeze Tahnis and gnaws through his flesh with its teeth.
Bite vs Tahnis: 13 Damage: 9 + 6
With a sickening snap and crack, Tahnis' body goes limp as he falls unconscious in the creatures grasp, the acid continuing to burn into his skin. (Oh... my god. Is this what it feels like to be a DM? Because I feel horrible T^T)
MAP

ROUND 2! PLAYER'S TURN