Ryona stops, looking closely at the waterfall for a moment before being sure of what she was seeing. Checking her shield, she draws her spear. Who would be milling about a giant spider's lair... if not hanging from threads? Either way, probably not a friendly situation. At least the waterfall would drown out any noise they'd make- but she keeps her voice down just to be sure.
"Until we have eyes on those people, we don't know what they might be. Maybe Rat can find out for sure. Just in case... please don't shoot the spider on sight without good reason... being a big spider isn't a good reason. The Master came here, and I'm guessing she didn't do that before the spider lived here."
Falenas stops with the rest of the group, worried about the figures he sees. "I agree with you two, let's not rush in. Maybe we should wait and let this situation resolve on its own. If the figures inside are successful and retrieve the tiles, maybe we could negotiate with them when they come out. If not, they may have caused damage to the spider and make the job easier for us. Although we don't even know if their movement is caused by the spiders, maybe it's trapping them."
Noah freezes, looking on at the shifting shadows warily as the rest of the group does. He slowly draws his wand, looking at the waterfall with hesitation. "Let us not be pessimistic, they could be allies as well - but if they have made it before us, a scrap may be necessary. Can Malfearance send Rat ahead to do some reconnaissance while the rest of us block any potential escape?"
"However, Falenas could be right. We don't know much about this spider, perhaps it's exerting some kind of influence over them..."
Malfearance has a short, whispered conversation with, seemingly, himself. He looks from the empty space to his left, up to the waterfall, to the party, to his left again. After a few shrugs and shakes of his head, he turns to the party. "I have a few options for scouting behind the waterfall but... they each have drawbacks."
Maelfearance explains that he could summon a friendly spirit to investigate but that they would need to be closer than perhaps they wish. The summoning would take a while and the spirit is a weak one and if it dwelled more than 50 or so feet from Maelfearance it would likely fade away to nothing. He suggests this is likely not the best way to go... ((Unseen Servant and actually I don't think it can relay knowledge or sight, can it? So probably a no go.))
"I could of course send Rat but I am afraid that it's not as quick as you might suspect. Even if it could find a path up the rocks that it could traverse it would be slower than we are. Still, it might be useful to have the insight before we do go, but if we're worried about time, I can make no promises," Maelfearance advised, a bit chagrined. "So time would pass, depending how close we wanted to get before we set Rat on it's own... But knowledge would possibly be gained. And perhaps while Rat climbed we could ourselves take a short rest."
((What is the terrain around here like? How likely are we to be spotted by those behind the water? Is there cover to hide in while Rat (speed only 20ft) made the climb? Does it even appear to be a climb Rat could make? I only have Find Familiar as a ritual so it takes 70 minutes to cast and I would need to cast it to transform Rat's shape to a raven or such... I also don't have the components to do that either. I could dismiss him and have him reappear 30' up towards the waterfall if I was at the base, but I don't believe in that kind of dismissal and re-summoning I can alter it's shape... If we think those we see are likely opponents and after our tiles, we likely are better off rushing in than wasting the time needed to spy on them.))
OOC: You are correct about Unseen Servant, it does not have any ability to communicate information to you like a familiar does.
I forgot to call it out because everybody is at full hit points, but you actually did gain the benefits of a short rest during your conversation with Alcaeus.
Theoretically, if you can see shadows on the other side of the waterfall, they would be able to see your shadows if they look in your direction. There isn't a lot of cover in the open out in front of the waterfall.
OOC: Actually still unclear to the setting. Where we see shadows behind the waterfall, what is the elevation of the shadows? In theory they could be at our ground level, or at the top of the waterfall, whatever height it is dropping from. Also, I there's a clear path to that elevation or would we need to climb? Or look for a hidden path?
"I suggest we all rush, as quietly as we can, to the side of the waterfall. If it seems we are still unnoticed I'll send Rat into the area beyond to scout it out for us," Maelfearance suggests.
((If this is our tactic, Maelfearance will attempt to Stealth to the near side of the waterfall, hopefully within 20 feet or so of the cave or passage behind it. Mael will then take Rat our of his normal pocket, temporarily dismiss the familiar, then re-summon it just beyond the falling waters so it can scout the area.))
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Waiting until the others go first, Ryona holds her breath from afar as she tries to keep the rattle of her chain down. After a few steps, she remembers to breath normally, spear and shield in hand.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Noah takes a deep breath, exhaling slowly. Once he has steeled himself, he follows the other, centering himself in a low position and dashing towards the side of the waterfall with a light step.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
All that can be heard is the crashing of the waterfall as you move up alongside it, waiting as Maelfearance sends his familiar into the area. The wizard's eyes lull back into his head as he uses Rat's eyes to see.
For Maelfearance:
Rat is in an open chamber where five gnome-sized reptilian folk with canine-shaped heads play dice and roast rats over a small fire. They almost immediately spot the new entrant, grabbing bows and daggers, and scream in high-pitched voices, gleeful at the thought of adding to their meal.
Kobold Initiative: 17 Maelfearance Initiative: 14
Shortbow vs. Rat: 19 Shortbow vs. Rat: 7 Damage: 5
A hail of arrows crests toward Rat, and suddenly, your vision snaps back to your own eyes outside of the waterfall.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Ugh," Maelfearance says, squeezing his eyes shut and massaging the sides of his nose as if he had a sudden headache. Maelfearance stands, dusts off his clothes, steadies himself a moment and then walks through the waterfall...
While moving through the water he casts Dancing Lights and has them just wizzing around haphazardly in front of him so as to try to create confusion. Once he is through the water, or before if he can make out the shapes before then, he follows up the lights with a casting of Magic Missile with each of the darts striking a different target for 4 , 4 and 5 damage. ((Not sure if all take same damage or rolled individually... if all the same, just use the first roll...)). ((Or, you know, just roll all the same and not have it matter.))
Falenas will take a little bit of fleece and mutter a few words. He casts Minor Illusion to make the loudest roar that he can from inside the cavern (OOC: I think that if we fight the kobolds the spider will probably notice us anyway. Sorry!). He will then move back from the waterfall 30 feetand draw his quarterstaff.
Seeing Mael wade into the water casting his lights with a demeanor of combat, Ryona rushes just offset in front of him and takes a defensive posture, considering the shadows to be hostile. (Dodge action)
"I hope we're honoring something worthwhile, Maelfearance!"
Noah, already alert, immediately takes Malfearance's wordless initiative to combat and runs forwards alongside him. Conjuring a small flurry at the tip of his wand, he shapes swirling shards of ice into a frigid dagger, loosing it indiscriminately at one of the shapes inside and casting Ice Knife.
"Malfearance, what did you see?!" Noah shouts, equal parts alarmed and confused.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
OOC: Initiative being rolled for the moment the party steps through the waterfall. If you've already rolled it, that value will be used. Since it seems Jarnick has ghosted, he will not be in this initiative.
Maelfearance crashes through the waterfall with Yevele and Ryona while Noah and Falenas remain outside.
For Maelfearance, Ryona & Yevele:
Immediately inside of the waterfall is a large chamber where five gnome-sized reptilian humanoids with canine-shaped heads reside. Three of them are near a small fire, playing dice and roasting rats. The other two are walking to the entrance, curiously investigating some space nearby. They seem prepared when you crash through the water; the three in the back have shortbows drawn and the others charge with daggers in hand.
Dagger vs. Ryona: 24 Dagger vs. Ryona: 11 Shortbow vs. Maelfearance: 17 Shortbow vs. Ryona: 23Damage: 4 Shortbow vs. Yevele: 22
The pair at the entrance swarm Ryona in the lead, striking before she has a chance to fully set herself in defense - she turns aside the daggers with a sharp kick, but an arrow strikes her chest, stopped by the armor before it can become more than just painful. The rest of the arrows sail past you out of the waterfall.
Mere seconds after the trio moves through the waterfall, a pair of arrows come sailing out past them.
Round 1 Order: Enemies Players <=====
OOC: The kobolds have beaten you to the punch, but it is now your turn! I have not executed any of the prepared actions yet, because you have a chance to change them based on the new information. Please confirm even if your first round action is remaining the same.
The only action that will probably need to change is Noah's Ice Knife, because three of the flitting shadows within the waterfall are fellow party members, and there's no telling which is which.
Prepared Actions: Falenas - Minor Illusion Maelfearance - Magic Missile (which of the three would you like to aim for, now that you can see them?) Ryona - Dodge
((Was intended to have been on outside of waterfall in defense, then stay in defense while moving in waterfall ahead of Mael, but if combat begins when we step in waterfall... Ce la vie))
Ryona stops, looking closely at the waterfall for a moment before being sure of what she was seeing. Checking her shield, she draws her spear. Who would be milling about a giant spider's lair... if not hanging from threads? Either way, probably not a friendly situation. At least the waterfall would drown out any noise they'd make- but she keeps her voice down just to be sure.
"Until we have eyes on those people, we don't know what they might be. Maybe Rat can find out for sure. Just in case... please don't shoot the spider on sight without good reason... being a big spider isn't a good reason. The Master came here, and I'm guessing she didn't do that before the spider lived here."
She keeps looking about, wary of an ambush.
Falenas stops with the rest of the group, worried about the figures he sees. "I agree with you two, let's not rush in. Maybe we should wait and let this situation resolve on its own. If the figures inside are successful and retrieve the tiles, maybe we could negotiate with them when they come out. If not, they may have caused damage to the spider and make the job easier for us. Although we don't even know if their movement is caused by the spiders, maybe it's trapping them."
Noah freezes, looking on at the shifting shadows warily as the rest of the group does. He slowly draws his wand, looking at the waterfall with hesitation. "Let us not be pessimistic, they could be allies as well - but if they have made it before us, a scrap may be necessary. Can Malfearance send Rat ahead to do some reconnaissance while the rest of us block any potential escape?"
"However, Falenas could be right. We don't know much about this spider, perhaps it's exerting some kind of influence over them..."
Malfearance has a short, whispered conversation with, seemingly, himself. He looks from the empty space to his left, up to the waterfall, to the party, to his left again. After a few shrugs and shakes of his head, he turns to the party. "I have a few options for scouting behind the waterfall but... they each have drawbacks."
Maelfearance explains that he could summon a friendly spirit to investigate but that they would need to be closer than perhaps they wish. The summoning would take a while and the spirit is a weak one and if it dwelled more than 50 or so feet from Maelfearance it would likely fade away to nothing. He suggests this is likely not the best way to go... ((Unseen Servant and actually I don't think it can relay knowledge or sight, can it? So probably a no go.))
"I could of course send Rat but I am afraid that it's not as quick as you might suspect. Even if it could find a path up the rocks that it could traverse it would be slower than we are. Still, it might be useful to have the insight before we do go, but if we're worried about time, I can make no promises," Maelfearance advised, a bit chagrined. "So time would pass, depending how close we wanted to get before we set Rat on it's own... But knowledge would possibly be gained. And perhaps while Rat climbed we could ourselves take a short rest."
((What is the terrain around here like? How likely are we to be spotted by those behind the water? Is there cover to hide in while Rat (speed only 20ft) made the climb? Does it even appear to be a climb Rat could make? I only have Find Familiar as a ritual so it takes 70 minutes to cast and I would need to cast it to transform Rat's shape to a raven or such... I also don't have the components to do that either. I could dismiss him and have him reappear 30' up towards the waterfall if I was at the base, but I don't believe in that kind of dismissal and re-summoning I can alter it's shape... If we think those we see are likely opponents and after our tiles, we likely are better off rushing in than wasting the time needed to spy on them.))
OOC: You are correct about Unseen Servant, it does not have any ability to communicate information to you like a familiar does.
I forgot to call it out because everybody is at full hit points, but you actually did gain the benefits of a short rest during your conversation with Alcaeus.
Theoretically, if you can see shadows on the other side of the waterfall, they would be able to see your shadows if they look in your direction. There isn't a lot of cover in the open out in front of the waterfall.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
OOC: Actually still unclear to the setting. Where we see shadows behind the waterfall, what is the elevation of the shadows? In theory they could be at our ground level, or at the top of the waterfall, whatever height it is dropping from. Also, I there's a clear path to that elevation or would we need to climb? Or look for a hidden path?
OOC: The shadows are at ground level. There is a clear path to the waterfall itself, either from the sides or by swimming to the front of it.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
"I suggest we all rush, as quietly as we can, to the side of the waterfall. If it seems we are still unnoticed I'll send Rat into the area beyond to scout it out for us," Maelfearance suggests.
((If this is our tactic, Maelfearance will attempt to Stealth to the near side of the waterfall, hopefully within 20 feet or so of the cave or passage behind it. Mael will then take Rat our of his normal pocket, temporarily dismiss the familiar, then re-summon it just beyond the falling waters so it can scout the area.))
Forgot to do the roll for the stealth. D'oh! 7
Falenas nods at Mael when he proposes the plan and goes as stealthy as he can to the side. Stealth: 21
Yevele nods her head in agreement with Mael's plan, and heads over to the side of the waterfall opposite from Mael and Falenas
[skill]stealth[\skill] 10
Waiting until the others go first, Ryona holds her breath from afar as she tries to keep the rattle of her chain down. After a few steps, she remembers to breath normally, spear and shield in hand.
Stealth: 15
Noah takes a deep breath, exhaling slowly. Once he has steeled himself, he follows the other, centering himself in a low position and dashing towards the side of the waterfall with a light step.
Stealth 8
All that can be heard is the crashing of the waterfall as you move up alongside it, waiting as Maelfearance sends his familiar into the area. The wizard's eyes lull back into his head as he uses Rat's eyes to see.
For Maelfearance:
Rat is in an open chamber where five gnome-sized reptilian folk with canine-shaped heads play dice and roast rats over a small fire. They almost immediately spot the new entrant, grabbing bows and daggers, and scream in high-pitched voices, gleeful at the thought of adding to their meal.
Kobold Initiative: 17
Maelfearance Initiative: 14
Shortbow vs. Rat: 19
Shortbow vs. Rat: 7 Damage: 5
A hail of arrows crests toward Rat, and suddenly, your vision snaps back to your own eyes outside of the waterfall.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
"Ugh," Maelfearance says, squeezing his eyes shut and massaging the sides of his nose as if he had a sudden headache. Maelfearance stands, dusts off his clothes, steadies himself a moment and then walks through the waterfall...
While moving through the water he casts Dancing Lights and has them just wizzing around haphazardly in front of him so as to try to create confusion. Once he is through the water, or before if he can make out the shapes before then, he follows up the lights with a casting of Magic Missile with each of the darts striking a different target for 4 , 4 and 5 damage. ((Not sure if all take same damage or rolled individually... if all the same, just use the first roll...)). ((Or, you know, just roll all the same and not have it matter.))
Seeing Mael taking action against the shapes inside the waterfall, Yevele immediately moves toward the shapes ready to for battle with her staff.
Falenas will take a little bit of fleece and mutter a few words. He casts Minor Illusion to make the loudest roar that he can from inside the cavern (OOC: I think that if we fight the kobolds the spider will probably notice us anyway. Sorry!). He will then move back from the waterfall 30 feetand draw his quarterstaff.
Initiative: 10
Seeing Mael wade into the water casting his lights with a demeanor of combat, Ryona rushes just offset in front of him and takes a defensive posture, considering the shadows to be hostile. (Dodge action)
"I hope we're honoring something worthwhile, Maelfearance!"
Noah, already alert, immediately takes Malfearance's wordless initiative to combat and runs forwards alongside him. Conjuring a small flurry at the tip of his wand, he shapes swirling shards of ice into a frigid dagger, loosing it indiscriminately at one of the shapes inside and casting Ice Knife.
"Malfearance, what did you see?!" Noah shouts, equal parts alarmed and confused.
Initiative: 8
Ice Knife: 17
Damage: 6
Shard Damage (on failed saving throw): 4 2
OOC: Initiative being rolled for the moment the party steps through the waterfall. If you've already rolled it, that value will be used. Since it seems Jarnick has ghosted, he will not be in this initiative.
Initiative:
Falenas: 9
Maelfearance: 6
Noah: 8
Ryona: 10
Yevele: 13
Average: 13
Kobold: 16
Kobold: 8
Kobold: 18
Kobold: 15
Kobold: 16
Average: 13.8
Maelfearance crashes through the waterfall with Yevele and Ryona while Noah and Falenas remain outside.
For Maelfearance, Ryona & Yevele:
Immediately inside of the waterfall is a large chamber where five gnome-sized reptilian humanoids with canine-shaped heads reside. Three of them are near a small fire, playing dice and roasting rats. The other two are walking to the entrance, curiously investigating some space nearby. They seem prepared when you crash through the water; the three in the back have shortbows drawn and the others charge with daggers in hand.
Dagger vs. Ryona: 24
Dagger vs. Ryona: 11
Shortbow vs. Maelfearance: 17
Shortbow vs. Ryona: 23 Damage: 4
Shortbow vs. Yevele: 22
The pair at the entrance swarm Ryona in the lead, striking before she has a chance to fully set herself in defense - she turns aside the daggers with a sharp kick, but an arrow strikes her chest, stopped by the armor before it can become more than just painful. The rest of the arrows sail past you out of the waterfall.
Mere seconds after the trio moves through the waterfall, a pair of arrows come sailing out past them.
Round 1 Order:
Enemies
Players <=====
OOC: The kobolds have beaten you to the punch, but it is now your turn! I have not executed any of the prepared actions yet, because you have a chance to change them based on the new information. Please confirm even if your first round action is remaining the same.
The only action that will probably need to change is Noah's Ice Knife, because three of the flitting shadows within the waterfall are fellow party members, and there's no telling which is which.
Prepared Actions:
Falenas - Minor Illusion
Maelfearance - Magic Missile (which of the three would you like to aim for, now that you can see them?)
Ryona - Dodge
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
((Was intended to have been on outside of waterfall in defense, then stay in defense while moving in waterfall ahead of Mael, but if combat begins when we step in waterfall... Ce la vie))