laid back apocalypse

Place aint the best smellin', eugh... Hawke laments to Ebele as he sniffs the air of the opened room, then gives a huff. Could smell worse I guess... The druid scanned the area first, ensuring that there were no cultists mulling about or hiding, and taking note of the peculiars. He would definitely bring up the tomes to Xalkas or even T'chal to see if they were useful or worth anything. He had been about ready to return back into his druid form, up until he notices the floor's state, laughing between the link. Floor ain't the only thing that's--

His ears twitch when begins to hear the sounds of footsteps heading up the stairs. Ah, ****, never mind. They're comin' up. He lumbers over to the chest and pretends to try and open it. Totally naturally. With his maw. And paws.

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker strolls into the room, stopping short when he sees the bear struggling with the chest.  He quickly tucks his book and pencil under one arm and then scampers forward, "Oh...hey....lemme help you with that there....that looks awkward."  Looking just as awkward with his book tucked under his arm, he helps Hawke open the chest. 

With the scent of the room overpowering her nostrils, Ebele buries her face into Hawke’s fur and would let her ears do all the work instead. She’d hear the druid paw at the chest, but knew T'chal'fronack'zcinicker was near by and would be eager to see it all with his very own eyes. Naturally, he’d want to catalogue it too. Absentmindedly playing with Hawke’s fur, she’d listen to T'chal'fronack'zcinicker collect and would soon remind him not to forget the other room. Of course letting the pair do all the work, the monk would get even more comfortable and settle in for the ride.

The chest contains 80 sp, 30 gp, a silk pouch that holds four excellent jaspers worth 70 gp each, a scroll of haste, and a scroll of wall of water. 

Hawke was correct not to dismiss the tomes either. The books — a dozen in all — would be worth about 25 gp each. Most cover nautical topics and include charts, excerpts from ships’ logs, and the like.

Eventually, Hawke would lead the way to the next area. He’d be greeted with the familiar scent of his sweet hairy prince. It was a large semicircular room that occupies the western half of this floor of the keep. Three narrow windows look out over the countryside outside the castle walls. The room’s furnishings are very plain, including a hard-looking bunk, a small wooden table, and a couple of simple chairs. The items of obvious interest though, were the several large chests that occupy the room’s southern corner. This had to be the Lord’s Chambers(K21).

Repeating the same awkward dance, Bawke gets a hand from T'chal'fronack'zcinicker. Together they’re rewarded with a hefty sack of family jewels and then some. Grimjaw’s chest provided 600 sp, 450 ep, and his pouch contains fifteen blue azurites (worth 10 gp each).

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker sits there, quietly scribbling in his ledger, doing a bunch of math as he dumps small satches into his bag of holding.  He looks up at Hawke, "Hawke my boy, I believe you're a well off bear now, assuming we get out of here with our lives. You can probably afford a nice belt...or whatever it is bears are into." 

His hand cramping, he keeps writing, excited to have so much to put down in the books. "Well, that will all but take care of Xalkas debt due to those books he liked so much, and give him some left over."  He looks up after several minutes, looking at Ebele practically sleeping on Hawke's back while Hawke lays there huffing. "Right. Well, rooms searched, maybe a rest is a good idea." 

Have we searched the remainder of the rooms in this tower?  

(Yes. All rooms within this tower have been searched.)

Downstairs, Kerric patrols from window to window. It felt as though it took longer to see some movement than expected, but eventually, something caught the elf's attention. Armed with Hawke's information from earlier, he had been keeping an eye on the bathhouse. It took some time, but eventually cultists emerged. Though, as they were passing by towards the castle yard, Kerric spots another figure. Refocusing and squinting, he could swear they looked familiar?

Grand Entrance
(Break a leg!)

Roll Call: Reghys

Map

As you look out into the courtyard, you see smoke rise from the living quarters of the guards and the cultists and below, framed by the destruction behind them, your familiar satyr wearing a large squid costume, among half a dozen dead and dying cultists. From the looks of it, the bard was is off against the remaining three all by themselves, although, they didn't seem to be focussing on the aquatically themed bard and much rather on themselves.

From down below, you hear the satyr chant:

"So break yourself against my stones
And spit your pity in my soul
You never needed any help
You sold me out to save yourself
And I won't listen to your shame
You ran away - you're all the same
Angels lie to keep control..."

For the DM:

Hearing a strange ruckus, T'chal'fronack'zcinicker rushes into the room with a view (K20) and looks down into the courtyard.  Seeing a large squid with a friendly face and some cultists, he'll take it all in for a moment, and then raise his crossbow to help his ally. 

Hearing the familiar voice of the group’s Satyr, Xalkas rushes outside towards the ramparts standing ready to assist their friend however they can. 

Kerric:

Smiling, Kerric raises his hand out the window and prepares to shoot a bolt of fire if any of the foes advance on Reghys with deadly intent...

It was hard to tell whether it was actually Reghy’s chant or his attire that made the cultist’s stop dead in their tracks, but either way, they’d definitely need a moment to process their senses.

Int Saves (DC16)
R1: 6 
R2: 10 
P: 14 

With Ebele still on his back, Hawke heads downstairs when T'chal'fronack'zcinicker would take aim at the window. His bear senses were on high alert and he’d take position by the doors, waiting to see if he’d need to rush out for assistance.

Surprise!
(Cultist’s would not be expecting back up. Surprise round!)

Roll Call: T'chal'fronack'zcinicker, Xalkas and Kerric.

Hawke and Ebele are on standby to rush out.
(readied actions)

Kerric:

A lance of fire shoots out and spears towards the lead bandit as he lumbers forward, unaware of his peril.

Surprise Fire Bolt:  Attack: 16 Damage: 9

 T'chal'fronack'zcinicker looks down at the cultists.  Well, this is a fancy way to fight. Sit up in a window and shoot down while completely safe. He's going to have to try this more often. Maybe they can construct a mobile protected shooting.....  his mind is distracted but he still has a keen eye and shoots.  Realizing he should do his best work, he adds a bit of psychic pain to the shot by shouting down at the cultist, 

"You know peer reviews are a terrible idea right? You should request a less biased review process from your immediate superiors and lobby for a few other changes. For example, no where in any contract is your responsibilities or......" (he goes on for a while, which is painful for everyone to hear, but mostly the cultist...)

Attack: 19 Damage: 11 + 7 additional damage. 

Kerric and T'chal'fronack'zcinicker’s combined efforts would be enough to down one of the Reavers.

Kerric and T, you hear Rhegys shout up from the courtyard: "Keep your reserves, they should be taking care of each other!"

Xalkas looks like he was about to send a fire bolt of his own but as he sees the cultists fall he refrains from sending it towards them. “Seems that way. Nice of you to join us. Did you get bored on the boat?”

"I saw some cultists make their way to a meeting, appearing all secretive. I decided to follow them, to see what was going on. I promise, I had an eye on the boat at all times!"

Meanwhile the cultists…

The priest fires off a slew of magic missiles to a reaver.

On R1
Magic Missiles: 17 

If R1 survives
R1 EA Save (DC16): 15 

The other reaver lifts their blade to gut the priest.

On P
Attack: 12 Damage: 10 

Priest 
P EA Save (DC16): 9 

The first reaver is angry and lashes out against the priest.

On P
Attack: 16 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll. 

Priest 
P EA Save (DC16): 5 

The priest breaks free from Reghys’ magic hold. “You fools!” She’d glare at the pair of buffoons before turning her attention to the strangely dressed being. “I see through you! Now stay still!”

On Reghys
Casting Hold Person Wis DC13 

(With a break in the spell I’ll have the reavers duke it out until they break, then unleash the readied attacks on whomever’s left reavers > cultist)

Reaver 1 Vs 2

On R2
Attack: 22 Damage: 7 

R2 
R2 EA Save (DC16): 18 

On R1
Attack: 25 Damage: 19 

R1 
R1 EA Save (DC16): 8 

On R2
Attack: 21 Damage: 11 

R2 
R2 EA Save (DC16): 8 

On R1
Attack: 7 Damage: 3 

The first reaver falls to the wreckless assault from the second reaver. The cultist unable to get a hold of her men, turn on her.

On P
Attack: 6 Damage: 10 

The moment the reaver strikes the priest, T'chal'fronack'zcinicker’s bolt laced with suggestions is cuthroat, ending his career. 

Following T'chal'fronack'zcinicker’s lead, Kerric’s bolt singes the cultist’s shoulder.

Finish Her!
(Unleash the rest of the surprise.)

Roll call: Xalkas, then I’ll do Ebele and Hawke.

Surprise Round Cont.

Xalkas releases his [Tooltip Not Found]

On Cultist
Attack: 25 Damage: 17

With the Priest still standing, bear Hawke would get the signal and rush out the door with Ebele. Baring his fangs and claws, he'd raise up onto his hind legs to come down on the cultist.

On Cultist
Attack: 18 Damage: 7
Attack: 8 Damage: 11

Ebele readied her staff like a spear, and as Hawke launched his attack, so did she. A whop and bop.

On Cultist
Attack: 26 Damage: 11
BA: Attack: 26 Damage: 10

Regardless of whether the members of the Argent Alliance bring down this cultist or not, a voice calls out for their attention. "Oy! Who goes there!?"

Ebele would turn her head as if to look over her shoulder, but she'd be calculating the steps that accompany the voice. She'd pat Hawke to get his attention but he was already looking. Coming up from behind them was a patrol group. The bandit at the back goes wide eyed, recognizing you all. He was the one who let you in.

Initiative Time!
Re: 12 R5:10 R6:19 R7:17 B:19
Ebele: 15

Roll Call: Everyone!

The bear has returned initiative: 20

Kerric:

Initiative:  21

With the arrival of the new group, Kerric is already calculating the fastest way to join in the fray!