"And a giant treasure hoard sure as hell doesn't hurt either. Let's go Bayard in search of wild riches and the thrill of the hunt!"
As the adventurers make due to leave Marneus steps forward, he wears heavy chain gear and has a rich blue tabard falling befoe him. He slightly pushes his chin up, not out of superiority, but that of pride.
" I am Marneus Callgar, servant of the God Emperor and friend to Leosin, I have been sent to aid in his plight against this foul cult and their false god. By his and your leave, I offer my blade in full service to you! "
Marneus taps his heels together in a some what military fashion and seems to await some kind of order.
The man Leosin was speaking with steps forward and introduces himself. Leosin smiles softly at his friend
" What he says is true.. Marneus is a good man and a better combatant, having him by your side will only prove to serve you better "
shoe horned the s@## out of my own toon into this campaign. YEARAH!.
I smile and offer my handshake to Marneus.
You have good friends it seems Leosin. I am Aren of Locke, master Callgar and I eagerly welcome your help. I found myself in a little over my head during my last adventure. Very happy to have you with us.
"The more men for the hunt, the bigger the kill. Good to have you, shall we be on our way?"
Will also buy before we leave
Riding Horse 75gp
Saddle, Riding 10gp
Saddle Bags 4 gp
Feed 10 Days 5sp
89 remaining gp
Your horses make short of the journey and you arrive back at the outskirts of the camp.. You see tracks on the ground scattered in all directions, while the huts that weren't packed to be taken are all but smoking piles of rubble and ash.
the camp seems empty and there is no one in sight.. Just a hundred yards away or so is the cave, the entrance as black as pitch.
Marneus dismounts his steed and kneels on the ground looking at the tracks. He straightens himself up, removing his shield from his back and drawing his long sword.
" it seems these foul heretics have up and left, in great haste too.. But their cave remains unprotected on the outside, so surely the terrors within are greater. Emperor protect us! " Marneus utters a prayer to his God Emperor and grips his chained golden Aquila tightly.
I put my hand on Marneus' shoulder offering my support.
"All of the holy gods are with us Marneus, if the plot proves true. We will uncover the plot's secrets and avenge the people of Greenest. Bayard and I are with you."
I give the cave entrance a hard stare, looking for any obvious traps, then out-stretch my hand and summon my pact weapon- a recent gift from the Arch Fey as a reward for my diligence.
A silver and gold mist emerges at my hand and forms into the shape of a great spear and then takes its physical shape. The spear is made of what looks like mithril with a dark leather handle and black elven runes across its length.
I then lash up my horse, don my pack, and prepare for what is within...
I'll be using the glaive rules for my pact weapon, but I like the idea of a great spear better. The mithril has no special properties and is only fitting of a fey weapon for RP purposes.
Aren stares at the cave entrance, doing his best to discern anything. As far as he can tell there is nothing but rocks, grass and cave.
I Dismount and sling my javelin's across my back and secure my mask over my face.
[must be more Predator like]
"I'll get a little closer to the entrance for a better look"
"See anything Bayard? I can't make out anything myself from here."
Once Bayard says the way is clear, I'll be eager to go on inside. I am ready.
Marneus scoffs at the attempt to sneak to the cave entrance
" Camouflage is the color of fear.."
Bayard, you're able to approach the cave entrance with silent, but deadly, ease. You are able to peak around the entrance into the cave unnoticed as well..
"The color of fear, indeed. Marneus, lead the way would you?"
"Perhaps, but an ill prepared Hunter is as good as a blind one"
I peek around the corner
The entrance to the cave is broad and tall, but the ceiling quickly lowers to 15 feet. Standing guard inside are two guards. They're 30 feet inside the cave and stay near the walls and column.
I take out a javelin from the bundle and let it fly, aiming for the unsuspecting guard on the left
Once I see Bayard hurl his javelin, I throw an eldrich blast at the guard on the right.
Marneus moves in on the closest of the raiders bring his longsword about in a mighty arch!
" GLORY TO THE EMPEROR!"
and misses x_x
Aren readies a mighty bolt to send forth toward his enemy but in a twist of fate the unwieldy energies of the fey burst in his hands in a blinding light!
The guard(A) on the left barely dodges the javelin in time! the mighty spear clips him well enough though. he is now Guard A
The second guard(B) is engaged with combat!
" Death to your false Emperor! there is only one true God! praise Tiamat!! " He brings his mighty scimitar around in a swing at Marneus
and fumbles his attack! In a fit of rage against his Emperor Marneus shield bashes the Guard(b)onto the ground!
Guard(A) recovers from the blow of the javelin and moves in on the hunter in the shadows, " Praise Tiamat! " he slices his scimitar int he air before him cutting through the soft leathers of the primal elf!
PLAYERS MAY GO!
Bayard took 8 damage
Guard(A)13/16; is locked in combat with Bayard
Guard(B)16/16; is knocked prone
Aren is blinded for 1 round (next attack/action will have Disadvantage)
Marneus brings his blade above his head swings it down in a mighty blow at the guard(b) he had slammed on the ground!
" Suffer not the heretic to live! "
Guard is prone and grants combat advantage
14 it is!
The blade comes down in a might blow against the guards arm trying to block the attack
I thrust my javelin at the Gaurd(A)
I find a safe angle to hurl another eldrich blast at the prone guard (B). Since Bayard's thrusts have guard (a) incapacitated.
The eldrich blast finds its mark...
I use my half-elven sight beyond sight to see or hear if our attack drew any unwanted attention before we move deeper into the caves.
The two Guards seem little more than just corpses now.
You move further into the cavern and realize there are two ways to go, one options is stairs leading up while the other leads into another off room. You hear and see...nothing.
Before we move on, I take a good moment to search the guards for keys, gold, maps, or anything valuable.
The only thing of value on the guards would be their sheaths for their scimitars, they are embossed with artwork of a dragons head (value is 5g each)
Looking down the hall you see that it splits off into a fork again one leading left, the other right. It's relatively silent other than distant echoes in the caves that are too distorted to te who or what they are..
"We've no idea where we're going. It's best if we follow out right-hand wall. Let's take the right-hand fork gentleman."
I keep my weapon at the ready and follow down the hall
As you approach the room (13 on the map) you start to hear a faint snore. As you enter you see it's void of items besides a few overturned boxes, broken items, scattered coins and small gems. It seems this is where they had kept the treasure horde and it had been evacuated in haste.
As for the snoring.. One of the cultists is sprawled out on a Thick bed roll, empty bottle littered around him. He doesn't even stir as the party enters the room, all in all he is of no threat.
if you choose to gather the scattered coins and gems it all adds up to around 16gpand takes 10 minutes of your time
This little worm isn't worth our time...or necks if he wakes up. Let's just go passed and make our way to the next room.
Coins aren't worth it either...we've come for bigger treasure than trinkets and coins.
Room to the right, room 12
Marneus ducks down and pockets a small gem or two on the way out.
" some one in Greenest may find better use of these than one of these heretics.."
"Let us continue the hunt"
I Slowly move closer to the next room (12) to get a better look at what awaits us
Bayard stays out of sites well enough and aims his eyes down the hall and beholds what he briefly counts as 10 guards loitering about the room.. They don't seem to know of the intruders yet.
I whisper back to the group
"The prey ahead is thick, Ten deep but they seem unaware of our presence. We should make our move while we still have the advantage"
"Agreed, sir."
I then summon eldrich energy to my hands, step out to get line of sight and hurl a blast at the closest cultist I can see.
Not sure of we really had advantage there, but for the sake of smooth gameplay, I threw it out there, just in case.
Marneus brings about his longsword above his head shouting
" He who stands with me shall be my brother! "
The soft glow of gold surrounds his blade inspiring those around him.
Marneus casts Bless; All to hit rolls and saving throws add an extra 1d4 damage
I hurl my javelin at the same cultist Aren attacked.
The cultist goes down with ease as he takes the blast and javelin! the other 6 remaining advance on the players while the guards remain in the back barking orders at them to advance and capture them!
Cultist 2 attacks Bayard!
Cultist 3 moves in on Marneus!
Cultist 4 makes a lunge at Aren!
All of them swing wildly screaming their praises and glory for Tiamat! No blows were struck but now everyone is locked in combat.
Player Status - Bless (+1d4 to hit)
Cultist 1 - Dead
Cultist 2
Cultist 3
Cultist 4
Cultist 5
Cultist 6
Dragonclaw 1
Dragonclaw 2
With the cultists so close, I swing my spear at the cultist in front of me.
I am overwhelmed and slip during my attack
I cast Hunters Mark on the CUltist (2) and attack with my Javelin
I think that hits? so i just roll dmg
Marneus deflects the Cultists blow with ease and follows up his block with a slash from his longsword.
"Glory to the Emperor!"
>Cultists 4 dodges the wild blow from Aren, mocking him! He brings his sword about and is able to slip past his defenses bashing his sword into Aren's side!
"I recall the first time I fought too, Elf!"
>Cultist 2 does his best to protect himself but the triba; wood elfs skill with a spear is too great! the javelin burrows through armor and flesh, the cultists blood pooling quickly below him as he slumps over dead.
>Cultist 3 exchanges blows with Marneus! but the Paladins skill seems to outmatch his attacker.
"Death to your false Emperor!"
>Cultist 5 fills the void where Bayard's foe once was and swings wildly screaming his praise to Tiamat! And she must be watching for his blade rings true and cuts a gash in Bayards arm!
Player Status - Bless (+1d4 to hit)
Cultist 1 - Dead
Cultist 2 - Dead
Cultist 3 - 6/9HP, in CC with Marneus
Cultist 4 - in CC with Aren
Cultist 5 - in CC with Bayard
Cultist 6
Dragonclaw 1
Dragonclaw 2
Rage fuels Marneus as he press his attack against the Cultist, bringing his long sword about wildly. Marneus feels the blade cut flesh and the smell of blood fills his senses, confirming that his blade had struck true.
"Tis but a but a scratch" :)
My Hunters Mark finds its new target as I swing my javelin around for a counterattack
Current life total: 23/36
I swing 'round for another slash at Cultist 4
Cultist 3 is bleeding profusely but is hanging on! he spits a curse at Marneus bringing his blade about for another blow! the blade rings true but Marneus is able to deflect, although coming too close.
Cultist 4 deflects Aren's Fey Spear, swatting it to the side. He lunges forward jabbing his sword forward! The blade bites deep into Aren's side.
Cultist 5 is also looking worse for ware, but his zeal for Tiamat drives him on against Bayard and guides his blade to strike an enemy of the Dragon Queen!
Cultist 1 - Dead
Cultist 2 - Dead
Cultist 3 - 1/9HP, in CC with Marneus
Cultist 4 - in CC with Aren
Cultist 5 - 1/9HP, in CC with Bayard
Cultist 6
Dragonclaw 1
Dragonclaw 2