Evan:

OOC:  Nevermind, after I reloaded the sheet the shield is working correctly.  Assuming the others allow him to keep it, Evan is now the official front line speed bump for the monsters with an AC of 22.

Assuming the others allow him to keep it, Evan is now the official front line speed bump for the monsters with an AC of 22.

And welcome to it ;-) That's pretty impressive.

Quote from phillberrie >>

Assuming the others allow him to keep it, Evan is now the official front line speed bump for the monsters with an AC of 22.

And welcome to it ;-) That's pretty impressive.

 

 

 OOC:  Thanks.  Thinking of Evan as a magnet for attacks who just moves around the battlefield healing & buffing, then occasionally sending his spiritual weapon off to smite the enemy or calling down Sacred Flame.  That being said, as we figure out the combat thing as a group better, consider giving me signals if you are heavily wounded.  Evan is rather perceptive and will likely notice, but I (the player) may not be aware.  Also, if I choose 3 people for the Bless effect, who can use it the best in the group?

That being said, as we figure out the combat thing as a group better, consider giving me signals if you are heavily wounded.  Evan is rather perceptive and will likely notice, but I (the player) may not be aware.  Also, if I choose 3 people for the Bless effect, who can use it the best in the group?

 

[OOC: Hopefully that won't be a problem with Nanoc. He is also pretty hard to hit and when Raging something of a tank himself with 31 hit points and his damage resistances.

With regard to Bless targets, I think it will depend on what the threat is. Nanoc is pretty protected against physical threats, but his mental defences are poor. He was very lucky with his rolls against the harpies.]

 (( OOC: Just my 0.02c re: Re Bless --- probably the persons most likely to be subject to attacks...which seems highly situational. AFAICT there's two components: benefit to attacks (which everyone likes) and benefits to saves (which everyone likes). Based on recent battles...I'd vote for Ilecerys and Galtheon because the make the most attacks (ie. they benefit from it 2-3 times per round), but I'm biased. I'd add one other... not sure who...and clearly if melee is not planned, then ranged/casters etc.

I'd also suggest you are a good candidate because you need to make concentration saves if you are in the fron line and get hit.

I'm definitely no expert tho!))

"Okkar, you know how you see me always jotting down notes in my notebook? That is why I adventure. There are so many mysteries in this world and so many questions I think of that need answers. The libraries can only do so much for me. I crave the experiences that the world brings and the answers that can only be found when you venture through the world. I was told my magic comes from dragon's blood. But, I know for other's their magic comes from their deity or from books. This has always boggled my mind. I've been searching for the answers as to "why?" and "how?". This coin just aids my travels and allows me to keep searching and keep digging."

Evan:

Evan will look around a bit for herbs and spices that might go well with the goat meat for dinner:

Survival:  23

As they talk around the fire, Evan surmises, "I suspect wielding this shield will enrage the fallen priest.  We will have to be careful."  After a good meal and a good night's sleep, Evan sends a prayer of thanks for Olladra's protection and prepares new spells for the morning.

 Galtheon will spend the remains of the day looking in the general area for other signs of entry/exit from the mine, or any other notable signs of habitation ... of any kind.

If any needed (all passive 15):

Survival: 18

Perception: 25

Insight: 21

 (( ooc: I assume normal watches, no plans for anything special before the next day ))

OOC: Glad the shield stacks, I assumed it should, or I would have to re-think a number of my understandings about 5e magic items! 

There are no dangers or issues of concern during the break. The goat is well spiced for those of carnivorous bent in the group. Okkar listens to each of your answers, and seems a bit humbled by the end of it. 

“Clearly there’s more to this for some of you then a quick pay day and thrill seeking. A scholar adventurer trying to understand the secrets of her own blood, a dream of an airship, a hunt for an enigmatic figure, the dream of running a temple for martial artist philosophers, there’s purpose there. Even the drive to make a name for yourself, like Nanoc, I think we can all understand that. It’s about more than the gold. There is something driving it - a dream, a vision.”

Okkar pauses and stares at the mine. “And here lies a dream where gold is the end of it, not the means to it. The Mror Holds is a wealthy nation, but Drotonath is impoverished. The clan is kept in power as a named clan due to the martial strength of their warriors, many of whom have gone savage, berserkers who fight like the young human here.  The gold isn’t the end of my dream. I wanted to prove that my family is not traitors and cowards. At my parents insistence I took my mother’s surname, Ironeyes, but in truth I am a Steelhand. They said there was something cursed in the Steelhand blood that made them greedy and craven. Now I see it’s not the bloodline that’s to blame, but one man. Greedyguts indeed. Can’t wait to spill them, and redeem my family name.”

"I am honored to help you in redeeming your family name and take pride in both sides of your lineage. The Drotonath clan surely will not see you as a coward after this."

“That’s the goal, lass, and I thank ye, one and all,” Okkar says. “Gold is a means to an end it seems. For honor. For a dream. To build a legend, or a legacy. To protect something. The priest made gold an end goal, the entire reason for his being. Wealth and cowardice. The very worst traits of the Mror Holds given form in one man, a craven and a betrayer of his gods and his oath. It ends with him.”

Okkar seems satisfied with this exchange and has no more intense conversations for the remainder of the rest. People are free to do whatever else they wish with the downtime, otherwise, we will elapse to after a full rest. 

What is your course in re-entering The Knuckle?

Evan:

Considering the layout of the mine as far as we know it, Evan consults with the resident cartographer.  He suggests we go in the main entrance and clear out the west hallway up to the double doors, assuming there is a symmetric entry there, on the assumption that the double doors lead deeper into the mine.  He is, of course, amenable to other suggestions.

The group enters via the main entrance and proceeds to the western door, which is unlocked.

A closed door stands at the north end of the north-south corridor.
To the south, a mound of fallen stone slabs partially blocks the passageway. A large cavity is present in the ceiling directly above the pile. Beyond the fallen mass, the corridor ends in another closed door. A raised portcullis protrudes from a narrow gap in the ceil- ing a short distance in front of the southern door.

Evan:

OOC:  Have we already been in the door to the south?  If not, we should start with that one, then proceed to the door at the north end of the passage.

Quote from Scott_R_Simmons >>

Evan:

OOC:  Have we already been in the door to the south?  If not, we should start with that one, then proceed to the door at the north end of the passage.

 From what you could tell, this area had a similar roof collapse trap set up that was set off at some time in the past, blocking the way to the western guard area similar to how the path to the eastern guard area is also now blocked by rubble. This one also has the portcullis down. The north door is open, however, and if the group wants to access the western guard area they could do so by climbing from the outside. 

Evan:

“Let’s access the western guard post from outside, just so we don’t have any unexplored areas behind us when we push deeper into the mine,” suggests Evan.

It is a DC 10 climb to access it, after which someone can loop a rope to enable to others easy access. As there are no hindrances no rolls are required - the group can accomplish this. 

The longest wall of this roughly trapezoidal room is pierced by a trio of loopholes. Dry-rotted furnishings—a simple table surrounded by chairs, a bench, and barrels—are spaced about the room, dusty and disused. Empty racks on the west wall once held weapons
or other devices, and a pair of iron levers, one raised, the other lowered, protrudes from the wall beside the room’s door. A pair of metal-shuttered loopholes pierces the door’s face allowing defenders to fire into the hall beyond.

This room no longer holds anything of value or interest.

Evan:

On to the northern door then!

The northern door leads to a halfway that extends east and west. There is one exit to the Northeast, one to the Northwest, and one to the Southwest.