Aimon is initially overwhelmed with everything that is going on. Stool is just a kid. Topsy is probably a wererat. Zack is really into his sword. And Sarith doesn’t like that. Eldeth is full of nervous energy, so much so that if you stood still near her sh’d probably polish you. And to top it all off, there’s a huge monster on the loose down here destroying cities.
All of that makes him smile.
”You know,” he says to no one and everyone. “Back home I was the misfit. The one who didn’t fit in. But here with all of you.”
He laughs.
”I’m just one of the gang.”
He anchors the rope with the pitons and ties a slip knot into the other end.
”We need to get Stool home but we don’t know where that is. We need to get Topsy cured but none of us can do that. And we need to keep ahead of the drow that are after us. Best I can think of is we need to keep moving and find a town nearby to get help.”
He then swings the rope over his head and casts the ring made by the slip knot out over the river attempting to get it settled over a large stalagmite.
(OOC want a roll for that?)
Nah, you're fine. The rope tightens around a stalagmite and when you yank on it, it is on there good.
Aimon eyes the rope. He’s been feeling more daring all day. More devil may care than usual. He was always prone to taking the more dramatic way but now he feels more audacious in general.
He hops up on to the taut rope and tightrope walks his way across. Somersaulting off on the other side of the river.
"The river does not appear to be too wide and is not moving quickly. If everyone hangs on to the rope it should help with balance. I saw Stool drink from the water so it's probably not too nasty."
Looking around for any signs of movement, Aimon heads towards the glowing crystals.
"Gracklestug is a city, not a person," Caelynn answers Stool in her mind. "I haven't been there, so I don't know if the people living there are nice." She grabs onto the rope and wades across the river towards Aimon.
In order to approach the blue, glowing crystal cluster, you skirt around several boulders. As you get about 15 feet away from it, the ground lurches suddenly and begins to shake ever so slightly. You can hear stone grinding on stone and great crashing sounds far in the distance. The earthquake lasts for about 15 seconds before the earth settles down. It's epicenter is too far away to affect the group. Eldeth says to the group after the earth quiets down while she is polishing, "If those keep happening, we might be approaching the Fields of Sorrow."
The crystalline structure appears to be protruding from where the wall meets the floor. Some crystals are bigger than Aimon while others are as small as a finger. The large clump of crystals sheds a dim blue light that lights the area around it. If you get really close, you can hear a very faint, high-pitched humming sound. Caelynn and Aimon, make a Perception Check.
Aimon and Caelynn approach the crystalline structure and begin inspecting it with Trill following close behind. Aimon, as you are doing this, you get the dreaded feeling that something is watching you. You slowly look up to your left and in a recessed alcove about 30 feet away from you, you see a pair of burning white eyes peering at you from the darkness. A deep, malicious chuckle echoes through the chamber.
I need everyone to Roll Initiative.
(For combat, I found this variant rule where I would take the average of your initiative as a group and compare it to the enemy initiative. Whichever side has the higher goes first. Everyone will have their turn at the same time. This rule makes it so when there is combat, we won't have to wait for each individual's turn. It speeds up the progress.)
Aimon rolled high enough perception that the creature does not get a surprise round.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Aimon stops when he sees the pair of burning white eyes and hears the deep laugh. He shouts a warning to the others and laughs in the direction of the recessed alcove.
((That sounds like a totally reasonable way to handle combat, might make it a touch more likely that one side gets whooped before they get a chance to do anything, but as long as we're not the ones getting beat down... if it works well, I may adopt it for some of the games I run!))
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(I'm going to roll for Zach so we can get started).
Zach's Initiative: 4
Shadow Demon Initiative: 23
(You guys go first. The creature is in the alcove is shrouded in darkness. Darkvision allows you to see things in dim light if you have no light source. This means you'll have disadvantage on perception checks, but not attack rolls. Trill has no darkvision however.)
In the alcove, you watch as a form emerge from the darkness. It is humanoid, but it's lower body fades away into the darkness surrounding around it. It's two long arms and in large, powerful hands with clawed fingertips. Two shredded wings extend from its emancipated body. It's mouth is filled with many huge teeth that are too big for its mouth (like an angler fish). Two curling ram horns extend from its forehead and curve around to rest near its face. It's pitch black body seems to shimmer and meld with its shadowy surroundings. Two white pinpricks burn with malevolent power that act as its eyes.
Caelynn mutters an incantation, casting Hunter's Mark on the demon, then fires her crossbow at it, hesitant to waste precious arrows. If possible, she ducks behind one of the larger crystals.
Attack: 19 Damage: 9
Halving non-hunter's-mark damage brings it down to 6.
Caelynn mutters an incantation, casting Hunter's Mark on the demon, then fires her crossbow at it, hesitant to waste precious arrows. If possible, she ducks behind one of the larger crystals.
Attack: 19 Damage: 9
I've been doing some research on how Humter's Mark interacts with damage resistances. The spells says that your attacks deal extra damage of the same damage type of the weapon, which would be nonmagical piercing in this case. The shadow demon has damage resistances against basically anything nonmagical. However, Hunter's Mark is a spell that enhances damage through magical means. I've decided that the normal weapon damage will be halfed, but the extra damage from Hunter's Mark will be normal. It's a little more work, and I'm sorry for that :( The same will go for other damage enhancers (such as Hex) unless the enhancer specifically states that it makes the base damage magical.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Aimon reacts quickly before his brain has time to register the monstrous shape unfolding itself from the alcove. This is not going to be fun.
He raises his crossbow quickly and fires a bolt into the center of the shadow demon then rolls quickly to position himself behind one of the larger crystals 10' away but still within 30' of the shadow demon.
(OOC Crossbow attack Attack: 7 Damage: 8 followed by Bonus Action - Cunning Action - to Hide behind a crystal - Stealth: 18 , hopefully setting up for advantage on the next round to use sneak attack)
((Does Trill currently have any visual on it, or is it fully in darkness to her?))
You can see its eyes and the direction Caelynn shot. You know it's general location. Attacks will have disadvantage. I'll give it advantage on saving throws on spells you cast if It's the kind of spell that is like 'a target you can see' effect thing.
Aimon reacts quickly before his brain has time to register the monstrous shape unfolding itself from the alcove. This is not going to be fun.
He raises his crossbow quickly and fires a bolt into the center of the shadow demon then rolls quickly to position himself behind one of the larger crystals 10' away but still within 30' of the shadow demon.
(OOC Crossbow attack Attack: 10 Damage: 6 followed by Bonus Action - Cunning Action - to Hide behind a crystal - Stealth: 22 , hopefully setting up for advantage on the next round to use sneak attack)
Do you guys want me to take care of the damage resistances stuff, or will you guys take care of it. I would hate to half your damage if you already halfed it. Shadow demons are resistant to nonmagical slashing, piercing, bludgeoning, fire, acid, necrotic, and thunder damage.
Nah, you're fine. The rope tightens around a stalagmite and when you yank on it, it is on there good.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
Aimon eyes the rope. He’s been feeling more daring all day. More devil may care than usual. He was always prone to taking the more dramatic way but now he feels more audacious in general.
He hops up on to the taut rope and tightrope walks his way across. Somersaulting off on the other side of the river.
Aimon calls back to the others.
"The river does not appear to be too wide and is not moving quickly. If everyone hangs on to the rope it should help with balance. I saw Stool drink from the water so it's probably not too nasty."
Looking around for any signs of movement, Aimon heads towards the glowing crystals.
"Gracklestug is a city, not a person," Caelynn answers Stool in her mind. "I haven't been there, so I don't know if the people living there are nice." She grabs onto the rope and wades across the river towards Aimon.
Iris - Tiefling Cleric | Cassandra - Elf Warlock | Solace - Tiefling Monk | Tempest - Hexblood Monk | Lex - Fire Genasi Barbarian
Lilyn - Triton Ranger | Candor - Changeling Bard | Echo - Changeling Warlock/Bard | Rowan - Fairy Wizard
In order to approach the blue, glowing crystal cluster, you skirt around several boulders. As you get about 15 feet away from it, the ground lurches suddenly and begins to shake ever so slightly. You can hear stone grinding on stone and great crashing sounds far in the distance. The earthquake lasts for about 15 seconds before the earth settles down. It's epicenter is too far away to affect the group. Eldeth says to the group after the earth quiets down while she is polishing, "If those keep happening, we might be approaching the Fields of Sorrow."
The crystalline structure appears to be protruding from where the wall meets the floor. Some crystals are bigger than Aimon while others are as small as a finger. The large clump of crystals sheds a dim blue light that lights the area around it. If you get really close, you can hear a very faint, high-pitched humming sound. Caelynn and Aimon, make a Perception Check.
DO NOT READ
22
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
Perception: 13
Iris - Tiefling Cleric | Cassandra - Elf Warlock | Solace - Tiefling Monk | Tempest - Hexblood Monk | Lex - Fire Genasi Barbarian
Lilyn - Triton Ranger | Candor - Changeling Bard | Echo - Changeling Warlock/Bard | Rowan - Fairy Wizard
Perception: 22
Trill scampers across the rope.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Aimon and Caelynn approach the crystalline structure and begin inspecting it with Trill following close behind. Aimon, as you are doing this, you get the dreaded feeling that something is watching you. You slowly look up to your left and in a recessed alcove about 30 feet away from you, you see a pair of burning white eyes peering at you from the darkness. A deep, malicious chuckle echoes through the chamber.
I need everyone to Roll Initiative.
(For combat, I found this variant rule where I would take the average of your initiative as a group and compare it to the enemy initiative. Whichever side has the higher goes first. Everyone will have their turn at the same time. This rule makes it so when there is combat, we won't have to wait for each individual's turn. It speeds up the progress.)
Aimon rolled high enough perception that the creature does not get a surprise round.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
Aimon stops when he sees the pair of burning white eyes and hears the deep laugh. He shouts a warning to the others and laughs in the direction of the recessed alcove.
"Nice try my friend."
(Initiative: 23 )
Caelynn's head whips to the side at Aimon's words and she sees the eyes emerging from the darkness. She curses and backs up, loading her crossbow.
Initiative: 20
Iris - Tiefling Cleric | Cassandra - Elf Warlock | Solace - Tiefling Monk | Tempest - Hexblood Monk | Lex - Fire Genasi Barbarian
Lilyn - Triton Ranger | Candor - Changeling Bard | Echo - Changeling Warlock/Bard | Rowan - Fairy Wizard
Initiative: 20
((That sounds like a totally reasonable way to handle combat, might make it a touch more likely that one side gets whooped before they get a chance to do anything, but as long as we're not the ones getting beat down... if it works well, I may adopt it for some of the games I run!))
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
(I'm going to roll for Zach so we can get started).
Zach's Initiative: 4
Shadow Demon Initiative: 23
(You guys go first. The creature is in the alcove is shrouded in darkness. Darkvision allows you to see things in dim light if you have no light source. This means you'll have disadvantage on perception checks, but not attack rolls. Trill has no darkvision however.)
In the alcove, you watch as a form emerge from the darkness. It is humanoid, but it's lower body fades away into the darkness surrounding around it. It's two long arms and in large, powerful hands with clawed fingertips. Two shredded wings extend from its emancipated body. It's mouth is filled with many huge teeth that are too big for its mouth (like an angler fish). Two curling ram horns extend from its forehead and curve around to rest near its face. It's pitch black body seems to shimmer and meld with its shadowy surroundings. Two white pinpricks burn with malevolent power that act as its eyes.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
Caelynn mutters an incantation, casting Hunter's Mark on the demon, then fires her crossbow at it, hesitant to waste precious arrows. If possible, she ducks behind one of the larger crystals.
Attack: 19 Damage: 9
Halving non-hunter's-mark damage brings it down to 6.
Iris - Tiefling Cleric | Cassandra - Elf Warlock | Solace - Tiefling Monk | Tempest - Hexblood Monk | Lex - Fire Genasi Barbarian
Lilyn - Triton Ranger | Candor - Changeling Bard | Echo - Changeling Warlock/Bard | Rowan - Fairy Wizard
I've been doing some research on how Humter's Mark interacts with damage resistances. The spells says that your attacks deal extra damage of the same damage type of the weapon, which would be nonmagical piercing in this case. The shadow demon has damage resistances against basically anything nonmagical. However, Hunter's Mark is a spell that enhances damage through magical means. I've decided that the normal weapon damage will be halfed, but the extra damage from Hunter's Mark will be normal. It's a little more work, and I'm sorry for that :( The same will go for other damage enhancers (such as Hex) unless the enhancer specifically states that it makes the base damage magical.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
((Does Trill currently have any visual on it, or is it fully in darkness to her?))
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Aimon reacts quickly before his brain has time to register the monstrous shape unfolding itself from the alcove. This is not going to be fun.
He raises his crossbow quickly and fires a bolt into the center of the shadow demon then rolls quickly to position himself behind one of the larger crystals 10' away but still within 30' of the shadow demon.
(OOC Crossbow attack Attack: 7 Damage: 8 followed by Bonus Action - Cunning Action - to Hide behind a crystal - Stealth: 18 , hopefully setting up for advantage on the next round to use sneak attack)
You can see its eyes and the direction Caelynn shot. You know it's general location. Attacks will have disadvantage. I'll give it advantage on saving throws on spells you cast if It's the kind of spell that is like 'a target you can see' effect thing.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
Do you guys want me to take care of the damage resistances stuff, or will you guys take care of it. I would hate to half your damage if you already halfed it. Shadow demons are resistant to nonmagical slashing, piercing, bludgeoning, fire, acid, necrotic, and thunder damage.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
(I'm fine adjusting it down - though in this case I'm guessing a 10 probably didn't hit).