He should have seen that coming, but as usual, he didn't. "You, of course," the elf responds simply. Without taking his gaze from the mage, he positions himself between Glasstaff and the door out and addresses Tomora. "Good thinking with the staff. You may have just saved everyone a lot of hassle. Maybe." He speaks again to the human. "Sit," he orders. "A friend of ours wants to see you. Whether you live to see him back depends on whether or not you cooperate." He hazards a glance at Tomora. "Is there any way to keep him from shapechanging aside from killing him? Knocking him out, perhaps?"
(We'll stay in initiative for the moment, so if Xianon wants to ready an action or anything this round, let me know)
Xianon - Tomora readies herself to attack the wizard if he makes any sudden moves. Without taking her eyes off the man, she responds coolly to your question "Just don't let him speak...or use his hands..."
Serwa - Acting like you belong here, you stride forward to open the door on the north side of the hall. As you do so, you make a casual glance through the open doorway to the south and see a large bugbear sitting on a bunk looking at the ground, perplexed.
you open the door and see a what appears to be a wizards workshop. A large worktable is set up with alembics, retorts, distillation coils, and other alchemical devices, all of it stewing and bubbling away. Bookshelves are crowded with sheaves of parchment and strange-looking tomes.
You stride across the room to the door on the east wall. (You can still open the door to the bed chamber this round if you would like. Would you like to open it? I didn't want to assume)
The elf nods. "No using his hands. No speaking. No, we wouldn't want him calling for help, either." He levels the point of his spear at the mage's throat. "You will consent to be bound and gagged," he says. It's not a question. "Tomora, would you be so kind as to put that very useful scimitar of yours to this scoundrel's throat?"
If Tomora is so kind, and Glasstaff does comply, Xianon roughly pulls the mage's hands behind his back and puts down his spear. Taking the rope secured to his backpack, the monk first wraps the rope a couple of times around the mage's waist. He then lashes the man's hands together and binds them to the makeshift belt. "Now..." He casts about for a suitable gag, and finds none. After a moment's thought he smirks, and uses his spearpoint to cut the ermine trim from his robe. "If only you were not so richly robed," he laments ironically as he gags the man with the fur.
But Xianon expects the mage to try something as soon as he puts down the spear, and prepares to apply a nicely painful arm bar when he does.
Grapple (Str): 10
If due to his training and the type of grapple he's attempting Xianon can use his agility (Dex) to grapple, the roll would be thus:
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Xianon - as Tomora levels her scimitar at the man and you begin to close in to bind him, he steps back, resisting your efforts "Now, let us be reasonable...there is no need for that...you have my staff...wait, I...Ahhh." He struggles against your attempt to restrain him.
As he struggles, Tomora tries to apply a little pressure with her scimitar using her readied action: Attack: 14 Damage: 4.
(Grapple contest: Xianon can use dex to grapple but since he is dodging I'm going to give him a bonus: 21) You quickly and deftly grapple the man, pinning his arms as he continues to fight.
(Edit: for clarification, you have successfully grappled him, but have not bound or gagged him at this point. With Tomora's help you can attempt to actually restrain him next round.)
(I'm going to wait for Aster now, then I'll run Glasstaff's reaction)
Aster follows serwa inside and as he hears that the man should not speak, he flicks his wrist and the cord uncoils, floating over to glassstaff and forming into a gag. I'll stay outside and hold them from entering.
"It seems to me that he has chosen the hard way," the monk notes casually. If the mage continues to struggle, he adds, "Shall we accede to his request?"
Aster follows serwa inside and as he hears that the man should not speak, he flicks his wrist and the cord uncoils, floating over to glassstaff and forming into a gag. I'll stay outside and hold them from entering.
(OK sorry I don't mean to be all DMy but I feel we're pushing the boundary of practicality here :) I just don't feel you could grapple and gag an unwilling creature in one round of combat without some magical means like casting silence or hold. I just mention this because I feel it may very quickly become a point of contention. So as a sort of olive branch I'm going to change Glasstaff's behavior a bit to the player's benefit. If you feel I'm making a bad call, lets talk about it. So based on your posts this what I interpret happened last round: Xianon - made a grapple attack and succeeded Tomora - made a melee attack and missed Serwa and Aster - opened a door walked casually through the room and opened another door.)
As Xianon is pining the struggling man's arms behind his back, the door opens and two cloaked figures stand in the the door way. the Man sneers and his voice turns angry. "You'll pay for this..." he says and then mutters a few arcane words (Misty Step). Glasstaff suddenly becomes mist in Xianons hands, disappearing and reappearing in the workshop behind Serwa and Aster. Assuming they are Redbrand's he yells at them "Kill those intruders! Get my staff!". The black and white rat comes running back into the room.
(if Serwa and Aster decide to attack Glasstaff, do so with advantage because he thinks they are on his side)
Serwa closes the door behind her after she and Aster enter, briefly looking around for anything to bar the door, but not pausing to do so for long, as she proceeds decisively towards Glasstaff as if to defend him against the attackers, instead attacking, taking him by surprise (Advantage). She has used her magical abilities granted by Kelemvor, and now falls back only on her martial skill and training.
Attack Action Attack Roll: 18
Bonus Action Attack Roll: 25
Attack Action Damage roll, if a hit, non magical slashing: 10
Bonus Action Damage roll, if a hit, non magical bludgeoning: 6
Additional Slashing damage to the 1st hit from the crit: 10
The elf spent a moment glaring daggers at the mage while slowly picking up his spear, waiting for the 'guards' to make their move. Now that the trap is sprung, he launches himself at Glasstaff. Holding the spear like a hockey stick, he cross checks Glasstaff in the chest and follows through with a right knee to the man's groin.
Spear Attack: 18 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll.
Knee Attack: 9 Damage: 4
"Try to take him alive for Sildar," the elf pleads.
(lol, he didn't see that coming apparently. Glasstaff is currently in the workshop, so I assume Serwa would be closing on the door to the hallway.)
As Serwa moves to the door to close it, Glasstaff yells in frustration, "What are you doing?! The intruders are in..." his sentence is cut short as she delivers her sudden vicious blows. A moment later, Xianon's knee connects and the man drops dead on the floor, the look of surprise etched on his face.
The sound of bugbears yelling can be heard across the hall, as they react to Glasstaff's shout. Tomora rushes in to the workshop and seeing no easy way to bar the door she readies a spell to blast anyone coming through the door (ready action). Tomora also tosses the glass staff to Aster as she runs by "hang on to this..."
(We're still in initiative, so as soon as Aster goes, the bugbears will be up.)
(Also, I put the map link in my signature, in case you didn't notice)
Seeing serwa went to strike, Aster would have cast adversity on Glassstaff. So unless he made the con save, he would take +4 damage from her first attack.
Also do understand the grapple/gag situation. Good call on DMs side there
The elf drops to one knee beside the figure of Glasstaff. He looks at the figure on the floor then looks up at Aster. "Can you spare him?" he asks. "He's the best link we have to Sildar's missing friend."
OOC: From reviewing the map, and comparing to Tomora's spider recon, the 2 "Rs" in the west room, those are the Bugbears, guarding prisoners? Do we know about the Bs and G in the room to the south of us? Love the face with the Xs for Glasstaff, by the way!
(Sorry, I should have done a map key. R = Redbrand Guard, P = Prisoner, B = Bugbear, g = goblin. Yes, anything on the map is what you have seen or Tomora described. Serwa caught a glimpse of Bugbear in the south room.)
The elf drops to one knee beside the figure of Glasstaff. He looks at the figure on the floor then looks up at Aster. "Can you spare him?" he asks. "He's the best link we have to Sildar's missing friend."
“I think he’s Kelemvor’s now,” Serwa says. “I wasn’t holding anything back there.” She leaves it to the others to check the man’s vitals.
"Try to take him alive for Sildar," the elf pleads.
(Sorry, I just recognized I skipped over this. Xianon can choose to deal non-lethal damage, knocking him out Instead of killing him.
Xianon definitely spares Glasstaff's life. A knee to the groin is almost as bad, anyway.
OOC: If that’s the case ignore Serwa’s last line, unless she’s just assuming everyone is dead, which is actually pretty in character. Scratch that, leave it - it’s on brand.
Xianon Lathalas
He should have seen that coming, but as usual, he didn't. "You, of course," the elf responds simply. Without taking his gaze from the mage, he positions himself between Glasstaff and the door out and addresses Tomora. "Good thinking with the staff. You may have just saved everyone a lot of hassle. Maybe." He speaks again to the human. "Sit," he orders. "A friend of ours wants to see you. Whether you live to see him back depends on whether or not you cooperate." He hazards a glance at Tomora. "Is there any way to keep him from shapechanging aside from killing him? Knocking him out, perhaps?"
(We'll stay in initiative for the moment, so if Xianon wants to ready an action or anything this round, let me know)
Xianon - Tomora readies herself to attack the wizard if he makes any sudden moves. Without taking her eyes off the man, she responds coolly to your question "Just don't let him speak...or use his hands..."
Serwa - Acting like you belong here, you stride forward to open the door on the north side of the hall. As you do so, you make a casual glance through the open doorway to the south and see a large bugbear sitting on a bunk looking at the ground, perplexed.
you open the door and see a what appears to be a wizards workshop. A large worktable is set up with alembics, retorts, distillation coils, and other alchemical devices, all of it stewing and bubbling away. Bookshelves are crowded with sheaves of parchment and strange-looking tomes.
You stride across the room to the door on the east wall. (You can still open the door to the bed chamber this round if you would like. Would you like to open it? I didn't want to assume)
OOC: Yes, she would be opening it and heading in, if it is where she believes the boss, Glasstaff, to be, based on Tomora's "spider scouting."
Xianon Lathalas
The elf nods. "No using his hands. No speaking. No, we wouldn't want him calling for help, either." He levels the point of his spear at the mage's throat. "You will consent to be bound and gagged," he says. It's not a question. "Tomora, would you be so kind as to put that very useful scimitar of yours to this scoundrel's throat?"
If Tomora is so kind, and Glasstaff does comply, Xianon roughly pulls the mage's hands behind his back and puts down his spear. Taking the rope secured to his backpack, the monk first wraps the rope a couple of times around the mage's waist. He then lashes the man's hands together and binds them to the makeshift belt. "Now..." He casts about for a suitable gag, and finds none. After a moment's thought he smirks, and uses his spearpoint to cut the ermine trim from his robe. "If only you were not so richly robed," he laments ironically as he gags the man with the fur.
But Xianon expects the mage to try something as soon as he puts down the spear, and prepares to apply a nicely painful arm bar when he does.
Grapple (Str): 10
If due to his training and the type of grapple he's attempting Xianon can use his agility (Dex) to grapple, the roll would be thus:
Grapple (Dex): 22
Xianon - as Tomora levels her scimitar at the man and you begin to close in to bind him, he steps back, resisting your efforts "Now, let us be reasonable...there is no need for that...you have my staff...wait, I...Ahhh." He struggles against your attempt to restrain him.
As he struggles, Tomora tries to apply a little pressure with her scimitar using her readied action: Attack: 14 Damage: 4.
(Grapple contest: Xianon can use dex to grapple but since he is dodging I'm going to give him a bonus: 21) You quickly and deftly grapple the man, pinning his arms as he continues to fight.
(Edit: for clarification, you have successfully grappled him, but have not bound or gagged him at this point. With Tomora's help you can attempt to actually restrain him next round.)
(I'm going to wait for Aster now, then I'll run Glasstaff's reaction)
Aster follows serwa inside and as he hears that the man should not speak, he flicks his wrist and the cord uncoils, floating over to glassstaff and forming into a gag.
I'll stay outside and hold them from entering.
Olloray Dim - Limbo's Pit
Gunther Korroden - Nightmares in the Mist
Xianon Lathalas
"It seems to me that he has chosen the hard way," the monk notes casually. If the mage continues to struggle, he adds, "Shall we accede to his request?"
(OK sorry I don't mean to be all DMy but I feel we're pushing the boundary of practicality here :) I just don't feel you could grapple and gag an unwilling creature in one round of combat without some magical means like casting silence or hold. I just mention this because I feel it may very quickly become a point of contention. So as a sort of olive branch I'm going to change Glasstaff's behavior a bit to the player's benefit. If you feel I'm making a bad call, lets talk about it. So based on your posts this what I interpret happened last round:
Xianon - made a grapple attack and succeeded
Tomora - made a melee attack and missed
Serwa and Aster - opened a door walked casually through the room and opened another door.)
As Xianon is pining the struggling man's arms behind his back, the door opens and two cloaked figures stand in the the door way. the Man sneers and his voice turns angry. "You'll pay for this..." he says and then mutters a few arcane words (Misty Step). Glasstaff suddenly becomes mist in Xianons hands, disappearing and reappearing in the workshop behind Serwa and Aster. Assuming they are Redbrand's he yells at them "Kill those intruders! Get my staff!". The black and white rat comes running back into the room.
(if Serwa and Aster decide to attack Glasstaff, do so with advantage because he thinks they are on his side)
(Party has Initiative)
Serwa closes the door behind her after she and Aster enter, briefly looking around for anything to bar the door, but not pausing to do so for long, as she proceeds decisively towards Glasstaff as if to defend him against the attackers, instead attacking, taking him by surprise (Advantage). She has used her magical abilities granted by Kelemvor, and now falls back only on her martial skill and training.
Attack Action Attack Roll: 18
Bonus Action Attack Roll: 25
Attack Action Damage roll, if a hit, non magical slashing: 10
Bonus Action Damage roll, if a hit, non magical bludgeoning: 6
Additional Slashing damage to the 1st hit from the crit: 10
Xianon Lathalas
The elf spent a moment glaring daggers at the mage while slowly picking up his spear, waiting for the 'guards' to make their move. Now that the trap is sprung, he launches himself at Glasstaff. Holding the spear like a hockey stick, he cross checks Glasstaff in the chest and follows through with a right knee to the man's groin.
Spear Attack: 18 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll.
Knee Attack: 9 Damage: 4
"Try to take him alive for Sildar," the elf pleads.
(lol, he didn't see that coming apparently. Glasstaff is currently in the workshop, so I assume Serwa would be closing on the door to the hallway.)
As Serwa moves to the door to close it, Glasstaff yells in frustration, "What are you doing?! The intruders are in..." his sentence is cut short as she delivers her sudden vicious blows. A moment later, Xianon's knee connects and the man drops dead on the floor, the look of surprise etched on his face.
The sound of bugbears yelling can be heard across the hall, as they react to Glasstaff's shout. Tomora rushes in to the workshop and seeing no easy way to bar the door she readies a spell to blast anyone coming through the door (ready action). Tomora also tosses the glass staff to Aster as she runs by "hang on to this..."
(We're still in initiative, so as soon as Aster goes, the bugbears will be up.)
(Also, I put the map link in my signature, in case you didn't notice)
Seeing serwa went to strike, Aster would have cast adversity on Glassstaff. So unless he made the con save, he would take +4 damage from her first attack.
Also do understand the grapple/gag situation. Good call on DMs side there
Olloray Dim - Limbo's Pit
Gunther Korroden - Nightmares in the Mist
Xianon Lathalas
The elf drops to one knee beside the figure of Glasstaff. He looks at the figure on the floor then looks up at Aster. "Can you spare him?" he asks. "He's the best link we have to Sildar's missing friend."
OOC: From reviewing the map, and comparing to Tomora's spider recon, the 2 "Rs" in the west room, those are the Bugbears, guarding prisoners? Do we know about the Bs and G in the room to the south of us? Love the face with the Xs for Glasstaff, by the way!
(Sorry, I should have done a map key. R = Redbrand Guard, P = Prisoner, B = Bugbear, g = goblin. Yes, anything on the map is what you have seen or Tomora described. Serwa caught a glimpse of Bugbear in the south room.)
“I think he’s Kelemvor’s now,” Serwa says. “I wasn’t holding anything back there.” She leaves it to the others to check the man’s vitals.
(Sorry, I just recognized I skipped over this. Xianon can choose to deal non-lethal damage, knocking him out Instead of killing him.
Xianon definitely spares Glasstaff's life. A knee to the groin is almost as bad, anyway.
OOC: If that’s the case ignore Serwa’s last line, unless she’s just assuming everyone is dead, which is actually pretty in character. Scratch that, leave it - it’s on brand.
Ooc: Depending on how long we stay initiative Aster will spare Glassstaff anyways after hearing Xianon talking about taking him hostage.
Olloray Dim - Limbo's Pit
Gunther Korroden - Nightmares in the Mist