Our story opens in The Yawning Portal - the famous (if not infamous) inn and tavern located in the Castle Ward district of Waterdeep, the City Splendors. The place is an aging stone building with a slate roof and several chimneys. Most of the ground floor is taken up by the tavern’s common room, which features a 40-foot-diameter open well (which is actually the outer shell of a sunken stone tower) descending 140 feet down to the first level of Undermountain, the sprawling dungeon under Waterdeep. A rope-and-pulley mechanism is used to lower adventurers into the well and hoist them out...if they survive after entering. The upper floors of the Yawning Portal contain comfortable, nicely appointed rooms for guests and Durnan, the proprietor, charges standard prices for food, drink, and lodging.
It is here the characters find themselves, and perhaps the path to their fortunes...or fates...
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Numerous patrons occupy the tavern, even at this early hour (about 9am). An aqua-skinned high half-elf attempts to invite himself to the table of a Waukeenian priestess while another pair of adventurers (a tiefling and a svirfneblin) post up by the bar. As a verbal altercation takes shape between a lone half-orc and a group of rough-looking gangsters, an earth genasi strolls in from the northern entrance just as mugs of beer begin to fly from table to table.
Instead of throwing her mug, the half-orc, who was not one to tolerate any disrespect whatsoever, smashes her mug into the face of the gangster seated nearest to her, knocking the man out of his chair! The bar fight could no longer be avoided as weapons were drawn...
"You know what you did, you... You homewrecker!" Devol snarls at the half-elf - though it most definitely sounds far too melodramatic, like a bad stage play. She steps up to the man and slaps him before grabbing him by the shirt collar and pushing him back against the bar and growling out to him in a low voice. "I don't even know what the plan is. Just keep the gnome who was with me alive." Devol backs away from the man, something between a warning glare and a shrug, then glances over to the gangsters. This probably wasn't what Cyrano meant by asking her to create a distraction. Ah well.
"I will... if I find them, fo' sure !" Lebron answered also in a hoarse whisper, looking around wildly for that svirfneblin... where in the Seven Hells did they disappear to ?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
' Rogues Will Be Rogues ' (Circle of Fives Admission Rules, § 6 par. IV) " Put It Down. Now. Or Be Sorry. " (D. Khar-Errendis' Reported Tips For Curing Soul Ailments And Assorted Bad Behaviours, v. LIV p.XIII) " Tween thisThy and yonThou, shall I prove to Thee that these art what thou dost see ? " (Grimoire of The Great Pananthyr) " This One has said enough. Now, we fight. This way please ?" (8th Grade Bronze Disciple Raulnar Drohjo, Way of the Open Palm)
The tattooed gangster pulls forth a rusty scimitar and points two of his henchmen in one direction and the other in the opposite direction. He then leaps up on the table: "You've messed with the wrong crowd green-skin...hope you like the taste of cold steel!" he shouts while swinging his sword at her throat.
Attack (Scimitar): 21 vs. AC 11 (Yagra); dealing 2 slashing damage on a hit.
What the lead gangster failed to notice was that the female half-orc was not the only patron of orcish heritage that happened to be enjoying a beverage in The Yawning Portal on this otherwise fine Waterdavian morning, and the"green-skin" comment did not sit too well with the full-blooded male orc that was sitting at the bar. The brute swiveled around slowly on his barstool which squealed like a flaming rat as it struggled under the weight atop it.
The orc slide off his perch, dusted off his animal-skin leathers (which were already flecked with dried blood...) cracked his knuckles and advanced towards the forming melee.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Terrlynn wasn't sure what the situation was but she was sure what she walked into. An all to common sight if thugs harassing a pretty lady. When the thug drew steel and then drew blood, she knew what she had to do.
Without wasting time she sprinted towards the tug and lepts into the air bringing her knee up with clear intent to strike him and drive him back.
Move to thug 1, should have just enough movement
Attack on thug 1: 18 Damage: 12
If it hits, spend superior die and add 1 Damage and thug 1 needs dc 14 str check or be pushed back 15 feet
Bonus action: cast racial blade ward to gain resistance to damage until her turn
Cyrano peeks around the edge of the post unable to control his curiosity at what is transpiring. He holds his position but uses his magic stone to charge the three steel marbles in his hand.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
The Earth Genasi, though she had only just walked in off the street seemed happy to jump right into the melee. She rushes the prone gangster (THUG1) and slides into him with a knee strike to the head!
THUG1 Strength (Check): 17 vs. DC 14 (Terrlynn); on a failure, the thug is pushed back 15 feet.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
While her attack does significant damage to the man, her attempt to propel him backwards is thwarted by his prone position on the floor of the tavern. While Terrlynn tangles with the man on the floor, another gangster (THUG4) moves to flank the half-orc and attempts to cut her down from behind:
Attack (Scimitar): 6 vs. AC 11 (Yagra); dealing 5 slashing damage on a hit.
"Right... I got no idea what y'all got cookin' here, lady," Lebron says to the brick-red tiefling facing him while slowly and imperceptibly backing away, "but if there's any serious coin to be made, I'll be hot-damned if I ain't gonna get my share. Now, do me a favor and toss me under that table with them Xanathar boys over thatta-way, deal ? But just try and go easy, aight ?"
He nods towards Terrlynn and the half-orc female, still busy pummeling the Xanathar gang members. Then without warning he shouts: "YO WHAT YOU BE WAITIN ON, THEN ?YOU SCARED OF A HALF-BREED OR WHAT ? SHI-IT... SO DAMN TYPICAL OF Y'ALL DEVIL WENCHES UH ? Y'ALL WENCHES SHOULD HAVE STAYED DOWN IN HELL, WORD... XANATHAR BE MY WITNESS !!!"
While playing his part, he keeps an eye on the scuffle by the table, trying to judge the best way to cushion his fall and roll under and out of sight... or knock a few of the thugs down, if it comes to that.
* Action: Readied action Hideif he can get thrown / shoved under that table or anywhere else out of line of sight from any eventual aggressors. * Bonus Action:uses his antics to trigger the Master of Tactics feature, giving YAGRA the half-orc advantageon her next attack against the Xan Gang by hopefully distracting her target. * Movement:while talking and shouting, moves backwards 15 feet east, so that Terrlynn can push/shove him further that way... if she so chooses.
' Rogues Will Be Rogues ' (Circle of Fives Admission Rules, § 6 par. IV) " Put It Down. Now. Or Be Sorry. " (D. Khar-Errendis' Reported Tips For Curing Soul Ailments And Assorted Bad Behaviours, v. LIV p.XIII) " Tween thisThy and yonThou, shall I prove to Thee that these art what thou dost see ? " (Grimoire of The Great Pananthyr) " This One has said enough. Now, we fight. This way please ?" (8th Grade Bronze Disciple Raulnar Drohjo, Way of the Open Palm)
Two of the gangsters (#2, #3) were about to maneuver around the table in an attempt to surround the female half-orc, but then an Earth Genasi jumped into the fray, seemingly out of nowhere. "Hey! This ain't your fight!" hollers one of them at Terrlynn as he moves to shove her back:
GANG2 Attack (Shove): 12 vs. DC 25 (Terrlynn); pushing her back 5 feet on a success.
(OOC: Using the Pack Tactics ability, the thug has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the thug's allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn't incapacitated.)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
While one of the thugs tries (unsuccessfully) to shove the Earth Genasi out of the way, the other one moves behind her. "Hey lads, this 'ere blue elf says he's one of us! Hail Xanathar!" he shouts as he holds up an open palm with fingers outstretched - apparently some kind of secret hand gesture which Lebron assumes is meant to indicate one's allegiance to the infamous beholder crime lord. The gangster waits for a moment for Lebron to return the gesture before slashing at Terrlynn with his scimitar:
Attack (Scimitar): 22 vs. AC 16 (Terrlynn); dealing 3 slashing damage on a hit.
(OOC: Using the Pack Tactics ability, the thug has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the thug's allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn't incapacitated.)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
The man lying on the floor slowly drags himself to his feet, still dazed first from the mug that was smashed in his face followed by the Earth Genasi's knee strike to the head. Not thinking clearly, he takes a wild swing at the half-orc instead of drawing his weapon:
Attack (Unarmed Strike): 23 vs. AC 11 (Yagra); dealing 1 bludgeoning damage on a hit.
(OOC: Using the Pack Tactics ability, the thug has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the thug's allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn't incapacitated.)
While fights were not an uncommon sight at The Yawning Portal, the growing spectacle of the melee began to attract the attention of the other patrons. The crowd gathered around the two-man drinking competition started to look past the drunken gladiators at the brawl between the Xanatharians, the half-orc and the others. A few of them began to exchange bets and started moving closer to the action.
Devol shrugs, muttering "Hell, why not? Already turned it into enough of a shitshow..." She grabs the elf by the collar then announces louder, "You're one of them, huh?! Then maybe you should help your friends and stay away from my sister!" The tiefling spins the elf around to build momentum, then hurls him at the gangers.
Trying to follow the instructions that Lebron had whispered to her, Devol does her best to aim for the underside of the table, grabs the elf, winds up and releases him.
(OOC: @Devol - make a Strength (Athletics) check vs. DC 12 to pitch Lebron in the right spot. Result of +/- 1 = he lands next to the table, any other result and he lands in a random location.)
Our story opens in The Yawning Portal - the famous (if not infamous) inn and tavern located in the Castle Ward district of Waterdeep, the City Splendors. The place is an aging stone building with a slate roof and several chimneys. Most of the ground floor is taken up by the tavern’s common room, which features a 40-foot-diameter open well (which is actually the outer shell of a sunken stone tower) descending 140 feet down to the first level of Undermountain, the sprawling dungeon under Waterdeep. A rope-and-pulley mechanism is used to lower adventurers into the well and hoist them out...if they survive after entering. The upper floors of the Yawning Portal contain comfortable, nicely appointed rooms for guests and Durnan, the proprietor, charges standard prices for food, drink, and lodging.
It is here the characters find themselves, and perhaps the path to their fortunes...or fates...
Numerous patrons occupy the tavern, even at this early hour (about 9am). An aqua-skinned high half-elf attempts to invite himself to the table of a Waukeenian priestess while another pair of adventurers (a tiefling and a svirfneblin) post up by the bar. As a verbal altercation takes shape between a lone half-orc and a group of rough-looking gangsters, an earth genasi strolls in from the northern entrance just as mugs of beer begin to fly from table to table.
Instead of throwing her mug, the half-orc, who was not one to tolerate any disrespect whatsoever, smashes her mug into the face of the gangster seated nearest to her, knocking the man out of his chair! The bar fight could no longer be avoided as weapons were drawn...
ROLLING INITIATIVE:
6 - YAGRA (female half-orc)
14 - GANGSTER 1
17 - GANGSTER 2
10 - GANGSTER 3
17 - GANGSTER 4
16 - KRENTZ (tattooed gangster)
9 - LEBRON
11 - DEVOL
4 - CYRANO
7 - TERRLYNN
(OOC: unless the party attacks them directly, the half-orc and the gangsters will focus their attacks on one another.)
"You know what you did, you... You homewrecker!" Devol snarls at the half-elf - though it most definitely sounds far too melodramatic, like a bad stage play. She steps up to the man and slaps him before grabbing him by the shirt collar and pushing him back against the bar and growling out to him in a low voice. "I don't even know what the plan is. Just keep the gnome who was with me alive." Devol backs away from the man, something between a warning glare and a shrug, then glances over to the gangsters. This probably wasn't what Cyrano meant by asking her to create a distraction. Ah well.
"I will... if I find them, fo' sure !" Lebron answered also in a hoarse whisper, looking around wildly for that svirfneblin... where in the Seven Hells did they disappear to ?
' Rogues Will Be Rogues ' (Circle of Fives Admission Rules, § 6 par. IV)
" Put It Down. Now. Or Be Sorry. " (D. Khar-Errendis' Reported Tips For Curing Soul Ailments And Assorted Bad Behaviours, v. LIV p.XIII)
" Tween thisThy and yonThou, shall I prove to Thee that these art what thou dost see ? " (Grimoire of The Great Pananthyr)
" This One has said enough. Now, we fight. This way please ?" (8th Grade Bronze Disciple Raulnar Drohjo, Way of the Open Palm)
The tattooed gangster pulls forth a rusty scimitar and points two of his henchmen in one direction and the other in the opposite direction. He then leaps up on the table: "You've messed with the wrong crowd green-skin...hope you like the taste of cold steel!" he shouts while swinging his sword at her throat.
Attack (Scimitar): 21 vs. AC 11 (Yagra); dealing 2 slashing damage on a hit.
What the lead gangster failed to notice was that the female half-orc was not the only patron of orcish heritage that happened to be enjoying a beverage in The Yawning Portal on this otherwise fine Waterdavian morning, and the"green-skin" comment did not sit too well with the full-blooded male orc that was sitting at the bar. The brute swiveled around slowly on his barstool which squealed like a flaming rat as it struggled under the weight atop it.
The orc slide off his perch, dusted off his animal-skin leathers (which were already flecked with dried blood...) cracked his knuckles and advanced towards the forming melee.
ROLLING INITIATIVE:
5 - ORC
Terrlynn wasn't sure what the situation was but she was sure what she walked into. An all to common sight if thugs harassing a pretty lady. When the thug drew steel and then drew blood, she knew what she had to do.
Without wasting time she sprinted towards the tug and lepts into the air bringing her knee up with clear intent to strike him and drive him back.
Move to thug 1, should have just enough movement
Attack on thug 1: 18 Damage: 12
If it hits, spend superior die and add 1 Damage and thug 1 needs dc 14 str check or be pushed back 15 feet
Bonus action: cast racial blade ward to gain resistance to damage until her turn
Cyrano peeks around the edge of the post unable to control his curiosity at what is transpiring. He holds his position but uses his magic stone to charge the three steel marbles in his hand.
**This Space for Rent**
(OOC: THUG1 is prone, so Terrlynn gets ADV on her attack roll. Adding 2nd d20 roll: 21)
The Earth Genasi, though she had only just walked in off the street seemed happy to jump right into the melee. She rushes the prone gangster (THUG1) and slides into him with a knee strike to the head!
THUG1
Strength (Check): 17 vs. DC 14 (Terrlynn); on a failure, the thug is pushed back 15 feet.
While her attack does significant damage to the man, her attempt to propel him backwards is thwarted by his prone position on the floor of the tavern. While Terrlynn tangles with the man on the floor, another gangster (THUG4) moves to flank the half-orc and attempts to cut her down from behind:
Attack (Scimitar): 6 vs. AC 11 (Yagra); dealing 5 slashing damage on a hit.
"Right... I got no idea what y'all got cookin' here, lady," Lebron says to the brick-red tiefling facing him while slowly and imperceptibly backing away, "but if there's any serious coin to be made, I'll be hot-damned if I ain't gonna get my share. Now, do me a favor and toss me under that table with them Xanathar boys over thatta-way, deal ? But just try and go easy, aight ?"
He nods towards Terrlynn and the half-orc female, still busy pummeling the Xanathar gang members. Then without warning he shouts: "YO WHAT YOU BE WAITIN ON, THEN ? YOU SCARED OF A HALF-BREED OR WHAT ? SHI-IT... SO DAMN TYPICAL OF Y'ALL DEVIL WENCHES UH ? Y'ALL WENCHES SHOULD HAVE STAYED DOWN IN HELL, WORD... XANATHAR BE MY WITNESS !!!"
While playing his part, he keeps an eye on the scuffle by the table, trying to judge the best way to cushion his fall and roll under and out of sight... or knock a few of the thugs down, if it comes to that.
* Action: Readied action Hide if he can get thrown / shoved under that table or anywhere else out of line of sight from any eventual aggressors.
* Bonus Action: uses his antics to trigger the Master of Tactics feature, giving YAGRA the half-orc advantage on her next attack against the Xan Gang by hopefully distracting her target.
* Movement: while talking and shouting, moves backwards 15 feet east, so that Terrlynn can push/shove him further that way... if she so chooses.
' Rogues Will Be Rogues ' (Circle of Fives Admission Rules, § 6 par. IV)
" Put It Down. Now. Or Be Sorry. " (D. Khar-Errendis' Reported Tips For Curing Soul Ailments And Assorted Bad Behaviours, v. LIV p.XIII)
" Tween thisThy and yonThou, shall I prove to Thee that these art what thou dost see ? " (Grimoire of The Great Pananthyr)
" This One has said enough. Now, we fight. This way please ?" (8th Grade Bronze Disciple Raulnar Drohjo, Way of the Open Palm)
Two of the gangsters (#2, #3) were about to maneuver around the table in an attempt to surround the female half-orc, but then an Earth Genasi jumped into the fray, seemingly out of nowhere. "Hey! This ain't your fight!" hollers one of them at Terrlynn as he moves to shove her back:
GANG2
Attack (Shove): 12 vs. DC 25 (Terrlynn); pushing her back 5 feet on a success.
(OOC: Using the Pack Tactics ability, the thug has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the thug's allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn't incapacitated.)
While one of the thugs tries (unsuccessfully) to shove the Earth Genasi out of the way, the other one moves behind her. "Hey lads, this 'ere blue elf says he's one of us! Hail Xanathar!" he shouts as he holds up an open palm with fingers outstretched - apparently some kind of secret hand gesture which Lebron assumes is meant to indicate one's allegiance to the infamous beholder crime lord. The gangster waits for a moment for Lebron to return the gesture before slashing at Terrlynn with his scimitar:
Attack (Scimitar): 22 vs. AC 16 (Terrlynn); dealing 3 slashing damage on a hit.
(OOC: Using the Pack Tactics ability, the thug has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the thug's allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn't incapacitated.)
Snarling through gritted teeth, the female half-orc swings her mace at the tattooed gangster:
Multi-attack 1(Mace): 7 vs. AC 11 (Krentz); dealing 3 bludgeoning damage on a hit.
Multi-attack 2 (Mace): 15 vs. AC 11 (Krentz); dealing 5 bludgeoning damage on a hit.
The man lying on the floor slowly drags himself to his feet, still dazed first from the mug that was smashed in his face followed by the Earth Genasi's knee strike to the head. Not thinking clearly, he takes a wild swing at the half-orc instead of drawing his weapon:
Attack (Unarmed Strike): 23 vs. AC 11 (Yagra); dealing 1 bludgeoning damage on a hit.
(OOC: Using the Pack Tactics ability, the thug has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the thug's allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn't incapacitated.)
The insulted orc advances from his place at the bar towards the nearest Xanatharian gangster and swings a massive axe at him from behind:
Attack (greataxe): 12 vs. AC 11 (GANG3); dealing 6 slashing damage on a hit.
While fights were not an uncommon sight at The Yawning Portal, the growing spectacle of the melee began to attract the attention of the other patrons. The crowd gathered around the two-man drinking competition started to look past the drunken gladiators at the brawl between the Xanatharians, the half-orc and the others. A few of them began to exchange bets and started moving closer to the action.
Devol shrugs, muttering "Hell, why not? Already turned it into enough of a shitshow..." She grabs the elf by the collar then announces louder, "You're one of them, huh?! Then maybe you should help your friends and stay away from my sister!" The tiefling spins the elf around to build momentum, then hurls him at the gangers.
[Will amend with a roll after DM input]
Trying to follow the instructions that Lebron had whispered to her, Devol does her best to aim for the underside of the table, grabs the elf, winds up and releases him.
(OOC: @Devol - make a Strength (Athletics) check vs. DC 12 to pitch Lebron in the right spot. Result of +/- 1 = he lands next to the table, any other result and he lands in a random location.)
[New post lest I incur the wrath of the Dice Police]
Athletics: 18