Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer Creatures
Frozen Sick
D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Basic Rules (2014)
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Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer CreaturesFrozen SickD&D Beyond Basic RulesBasic Rules (2014)Sign in to view your library & saved favorites.
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"The more I see, the more they reveal themselves more monstrous than anything we have come across, so far." Neya looks around.
She continues through the room and into the corridor ever vigilant of any surprises as the move through this stronghold.
Perception: 19
Extended Signature
Certain that the room they stand in is used for nefarious purposes, CRAP concludes that it is better to just keep moving forward. Graxx suggests they follow the southwest path, and his hunch is further supported after Doozey shows that he is almost sure about what is to be found though the alternate passageway.
Before they get too far, however, Neya notices something from her vantage point at the tip of the marching order: a werebat is hanging from the ceiling right in the center of the three-way intersection. It is in its full bat form and seems to be keeping watch. Its echolocation screeches can be heard and its wounds from the previous battle are treated with some sort of salve. It is a smart way to ration healing supplies if you can turn into a smaller creature.
The bat has no trouble noticing the approaching group, their sonorous steps, and Utar's magical ball of light. The bat flies west, directly into an unexplored area. (In the same direction as the leftmost red arrow in the map in my previous post.)
Watching the werebat disappear into the next room, Utar readies his shield and gives Lightbringer a few practice swings.
"Is it really an ambush if we know it's a trap? Or are we still fools for walking into it?"
"I can't really speak much for the former. But a case could be made for the latter, depending the on what the outcome."
"Nevertheless, we might as well end a fight that was started in that alley."
Extended Signature
“The good thing about an ambush is they think they have the advantage by surrounding. In truth it’s better for us because we can swing in any direction and slay them.”
"Yes... The prey will fall all the some. But do not relax for even a moment." Doozey warns. "The most dangerous game often have more than just the weapons on hand propped and ready. I have yet to see any tripwires or pitfalls yet, but given an hour, even the least clever my come up with something." He adds as he continued to trail behind the others.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
(OOC: Waiting on @Grx and @MB to respond in our chat to my question on marching order. )
Moneus adds: "If we are determined to put an end to this, then we must follow that goblin fellow, I guess. If they had any initiative in them, they'd have attacked us while we were resting. I can go in first, if you'd like, though I think a stealthy approach would accomplish little in this scenario."
(OOC: As per chat, the marching order is: Graxx, Neya, Utar, Doozey, Moneus. I'll assume you are walking in single file.)
Graxx lets Moneus know that he (Graxx) is to advance first, and then leads the group into the next room. The barbarian seems eager to do battle, to the point he does not notice the danger immediately ahead of him (passive perception). Right behind him, Neya does see a glint of a fishing line, but not fast enough to warn her companion.
DM's Screen:
9, 6, 21, 20,
Neya taps Graxx's shoulder and the two roll out of the way. Utar does not react on time and is caught in a cage falling from the ceiling. The Driftglobe's light permeates the room, revealing the now goblin-bat hybrid swooping in for an attack. The party also notices that the entrance of the room is covered in hay, and the southern end of the room has more mounds of the stuff.
ROLLING FOR INITIATIVE:
(Neya goes first.)
Suspicious that the werebat may be acting as bait, she moves up a bit (to AH-46), limbers herself up (Bonus action: patient defense 1 ki point) and prepares to punish any close-quarter attacks coming her way.
Readied Attack: 26 Damage: 8
Extended Signature
Suspicious of the lone enemy, Neya prepares for the worst after taking defensive actions.
The werebat flies closer, attacking Graxx from above before retreating to where it was previously. The magical light from the floating sphere still bothers it quite a bit.
-> Scimitar vs. Graxx: Attack: 6
Damage: 7 slashing.-> Bite vs. Graxx: Attack: 9
Damage: 9 piercing.Graxx ducks out of the way, already being familiar with the bat's attacking tactic.
(Graxx, Moneus, and Doozey are up next.)
"I guarantee they are in the hay!" says Graxx as he holds his halberd high. Graxx begins to RAGE!
Graxx will ready an attack against any enemy that comes into range.
Attack: 22 Damage: 7
"We can't very well fight them with our friend trapped then now can we?" Doozey replied calmly, though Utar and Neya would likely catch the note of uncertainty to his voice. Regardless, the stoutling's attention focuses on trying to at least help Utar get the cage off of him by at least lifting helping lift a large enough gap for the Half-Orc to crawl out from under.
Action: Help Utar remove the cage.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Graxx controls his urge to attack the airborne goblin despite feeling his internal Rage bubbling up. He grips his weapon tightly and readies an attack.
Moneus shows no such reservation. He has to get close {AE-44} in order to properly aim at the flying werebat, and upon doing so, throws two of his yellow ethereal knives at him.
-> Flying Knife vs Werebat: Attack: 25 Damage: 6 magical piercing.
-> Flying Knife vs Werebat: Attack: 10 Damage: 6 magical piercing.
Both projectiles find their mark then disappear. The tiefling then dashes back to relative safety {AE-49}. (Werebat takes 15 magical piercing damage.)
While this is happening, Doozey focuses on helping Utar get out of the cage.
(Another post coming shortly.)
A raven comes into the room, flying from somewhere behind you. It is without a doubt that same black raven that has been pestering and teasing the group for some time now. It carries a lit torch in its claws and, upon flying right above the cage Utar is stuck inside of, the bird simply drops its load. The torch falls to the ground within the cage, immediately setting the hay on fire.
-> Utar's DEX saving throw {DC 7}: 4, Damage: 4 fire.
The initial sparks catch Utar inattentive, heating up his boot. (Utar takes 4 fire damage.)
The raven flies closer to the far wall and transforms midair into an older woman with an air of a witch about her. She has a human face, but large raven wings instead of arms and large raven talons instead of feet. (She is also 15 feet above ground.)
(Another post coming shortly.)
DM's Screen:
20
Out of a mound of hay a bit ways from Neya, a human-jaguar hybrid runs and pounces at the monk. Ready for it, Neya jabs the creature almost simultaneously.
-> Pouncing Claw vs Neya: Attack: 22 Damage: 10 slashing. (Additional roll to account for disadvantage: 8.)
The force of the impact challenges Neya's sense of balance:
-> Neya's STR saving throw {DC 14}: 11
The monk loses her balance and falls prone on the hay. She goes down swinging, hitting the werejaguar on the chest. (Werejaguar takes 6 magical bludgeoning damage.)
Unabated by the punch, the shapechanger continues to attack Neya (prone cancels out disadvantage for dodge):
-> Claw vs Neya: Attack: 20 Damage: 4 slashing.
-> Bite vs Neya: Attack: 12 Damage: 13 piercing.
The creature's attacks are ferocious. Neya's blood begins to spurt in all directions. (Neya takes a total of 30 slashing and piercing damage.)
-> Neya's CON saving throw {DC 13}: 20
She begins to feel a bit woozy too, but that feeling passes a second later. After the tussle, the werejaguar now stands atop a fallen mattress {AI-45}, looking down on Neya.
(Another post coming shortly.)
DM's Screen:
20, 21
Out of another mound of hay, a second human-cat hybrid springs up. This one looks like a tiger, and it wears the clothes of the animal handler Doozey saw back in the square. He runs at Graxx and attacks unnoticed by the barbarian at first {AG-45}.
-> Pouncing Claw vs Graxx: Attack: 13 Damage: 7 slashing. (Additional roll to account for advantage: 21.)
-> Graxx's STR saving throw {DC 14}: 7
Unlike Neya, Graxx is able to maintain himself upright. He brings his halberd around and hears its silver hiss against the weretiger's fur. (Weretiger takes 7 slashing damage.)
The shapechanger immediately retaliates:
-> Claw vs Graxx: Attack: 8
Damage: 8 slashing.The second claw swipe misses, but the first one still counted. (Graxx takes 2 slashing damage, already halved due to Rage.)
Edit: That STR saving throw above should have been at advantage. Here's a second roll even though it won't change anything: 8
(Utar is up next. He has Doozey's help.)
Roaring in pain, Utar stamps his boot hoping to put out any lingering embers. Gripping his amulet, he points at the were-jaguar standing over Neya's prone form.
A brief glow seeps between his fingers as a spectral warhammer appears, swinging low and hard into its stomach.
Spiritual Weapon Attack: 22 Damage: 7
Turning his attention to his current predicament, Utar wraps his fingers around bars of the cage, feeling them already lifted slightly on one side. Deciding to go with it, Utar sets his knees and lifts, attempting to push the cage over.
Athletics 16
Utar tries to stomp out the flames, but the combination of oily torch and dry hay is more than what he can deal with with a single boot. The flames continue to pick up but the cleric finds a few precious seconds to materialize his spiritual weapon next to the werejaguar and swing it. The creature receives a blow to the stomach but still seems more than ready to fight for her life. (Werejaguar takes 11 force damage.)
With Doozey's help Utar not only lifts the cage but throws it a few feet closer to the northern wall. He escapes {AF-48} but the hay covering the ground is still aflame just a short distance away.
-> The cage blocks the path towards to northern part of the room.
END OF INITIATIVE ROUND 1
(Neya goes next.)