Aeshuura's DDEX 1-01 Defiance in Phlan (Adv League) (Inactive)

Game Master Aeshuura

insight using inspiration: 1d20 ⇒ 1
second roll because of inspiration: 1d20 ⇒ 2
While the guard is blubbering, Ceidith shouts Wow! Big crybaby! Someone shut him up! Ceidith smiles as the guard realizes the threat and begins to resist and possibly cry all the harder

Come on!

@Ander, sound logic. @Ceidith, I was just on the receiving end of that in another game... I feel your pain.

Okay, if no one objects to Ander's reasoning, which I assume he discusses with you guys, who will open the door? It is barred from your side.

Wrathmire nods, ready to attack the beast.

Ceidith nods, agreeing with Ander. Motioning towards the door, Ceidith says Perhaps the brave, young, heroic Ander shall open it. After all, you need to look good for the ladies that will hear of your tale, winking as he does so.

Ander rolls his eyes at Ceidith, then steps forward. He sets his torch on the ground near the door (but out of the way of its swing), then opens the door, sword at the ready.

Hang in there, guys. We are almost done...

Ander removes the bar, setting it on the side and pushes the door open. The chamber beyond is lit by a few torches in sconces, but they are spaced far enough apart that much of the room is shrouded in shadow. Directly ahead, around the center of the room, stands an obelisk covered in slightly glowing sigils.

A cage has been erected in the middle of the chamber, and is surrounded by a number of obelisks similar to the one before you made of the same black stone. Within the cage, a young gnome woman dressed in a simple gray tunic sits on the floor, her back to the obelisks, facing the back wall, her repeated whispers echoing in the chamber...

Can't run away. Can't run away.

What would you like to do?

"Um... Hello?"

Can't run away. Can't run away.

She doesn't seem to respond... but she is deep in the chamber.

Arcana on the obelisks/sigil.
1d20 + 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (5) + (2) + 4 = 11

Presmer appears lost in thought as he gently taps his holy symbol.

How close do you get to study the obelisk? Are you taking rubbings of the glyphs or anything like that? The sigils are small, but you can make them out from about 10 feet away or so...

How would you like to proceed? You don't seem to see this monster that you were warned about...

Wanted to give the magic-y types a chance to see about those sigils/runes, but hey, nothing's "trained only" in 5E, so here we go. I'll move as close as would seem necessary to properly examine them.
Arcana: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

Ander pauses, a pensive and worried look on his face, then sorts his thoughts aloud. "These runes... I think they're something that gets into your head. And there's no beast in sight... I wonder, is the beast a figment of victims' imaginations, brought to mind by the magic of these obelisks to keep people frozen in fear?"

If not for the cage, I'd suggest tossing a lasso onto the girl and pulling her out. What's the cage made of, and is it free-standing or built into the floor?

Based on the map, it looks like you will have to scramble through difficult terrain to keep your distance from the pillar/obelisks. That could make removing the cage difficult. You do have the key ring, so you can unlock the cage. Am I to assume you are moving into the room to investigate the cage? If so, is everyone following to assist him?

I was just asking for a visual description of the cage. I mean, was a prison-grade steel cage wheeled in here and then bolted to the floor? Is it a free-standing metal box with bars instead of walls? Is it a ramshackle assembly of long branches and rope? Something else?

From where you are, it is too dark to make out the base. The bars are worked iron or steel with a roof/cover. It could be bolted to the floor, but you cannot tell from the door.

Ceidith begins to walk toward the cage, circumventing the pillars carefully. When he reaches the cage, he shouts behind him Come on guys, not so hard!

Ceidith hops over the large chunks of rock and stone that litter parts of the floor, careful to keep his distance from the obelisks.

Looking around, Ceidith doesn't see any monster. Crouching into the shadows of the cage, he can see that it is not bolted down in any way, but it looks heavy! You think that the two bruisers Ander and Sir Adrian might be able to carry it out, but popping the lock may be much easier.

He turns regard the others, when something suddenly strikes from the darkness!

Tentacles shoot out from the darkness grappling the rogue, little hooks tearing into his skin and pull him toward a wormlike creature! It snaps at Ceidith with its beak, but the spy manages to kick the creature and make it drop him! Ceidith takes 9 hp!

The beast's tentacles lash out again at the rogue, but Ceidith quickly scrambles around the side of the cage for cover! The tentacles hitting the cage cause the young gnome within to scream in terror!

The older gnome that has been accompanying you, has been relatively silent as you moved through this entire secret lair, always staying back in relative safety, calls out to his daughter, "Villonah! Hang tight! These heroes will save you!"

Ok, you may all act! No need to wait your turn, you all act before together. I will arrange your hits in some semblance of order.

Casting Guiding bolt at the creature.
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 224d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 4, 3) = 11

"Ignore all previous theories!" Ander shouts as he heads toward the very-much-not-imagined monster, sword in hand.

Assuming I can get to it within 30ft of movement...
Longsword: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20, Damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
If I can't get close enough, then instead I'll use the Dash action to close in.

Ander bolts in, easily hopping the rubble and lands next to Ceidith and the beast! He draws his long blade and swings hard with both hands, cutting a deep gash in the creature!

Will see if Ceidith posts by tomorrow morning before posting Presmer's action.

Uriah says Have at it boys! Giving Sir Adrian Bardic Inspiration

Uriah then says Man, that is one ugly beastie! Casting Vicious Mockery on the beast DC13 Wis or take 1d4 ⇒ 1 Psychic damage and have disadvantage on an attack

Round 1, GWF, Divine Smite, Inspired

Sir Adrian bursts in and brings his Greatsword to bear on the monster and adds the divine radiance of Torm to his swing.

GS Att: 1d20 + 5 + 1d6 ⇒ (15) + 5 + (5) = 25
GS Dam: 2d6 + 3 + 2d8 ⇒ (6, 3) + 3 + (2, 3) = 17

Okay, we shall proceed.

Sir Adrian, with a burst of speed, leaps from the stone rubble and brings his glowing blade right down on the horrendous creature, nearly cleaving it a twain!

Combat over.

Once you confirm that the rest of the room is clear, the gnome, Rillo, scrambles in and accidentally sets off one of the obelisks, which sets him running back to the door.

Villonah, his daughter is clearly in shock and doesn't respond immediately. If forcefully removed from the cage she struggles, though she can be calmed with some effort.

How would you like to handle this?

Sorry, Uriah, Adrian was a little before you in the initiative order. :p I wasn't ignoring you.

There is just a little more, mostly RP, but how you handle the affair may affect the story. If you guys want me to just narrate it as I would expect you guys to handle it, I can do that, just give me the go ahead and we will wrap this up.

I am ok with that approach.

Sorry for not posting. Would post a action, but combats over.
Ceidith approaches the girl, unsure of why he did'nt act. Leaning down, he attempts to pick the lock.
Thieves Tools: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

The cell opens easily, but the gnomish girl rocks back and forth repeating the same thing, Can't run away...

Ander kneels down in front of the girl. "That's okay, there's nothing left to run away from."

Roll Charisma check, Ander.

She's obviously been traumatized. No good songs to be had down here.

Uriah, your songs could give Ander advantage on his check... Sort of a assist, if you will.

Sir Ander saved the gnomish girl, her stature not a problem. Sir Ander doesn't reserve himself for tallish folk anyways. Uriah sings
Assist granted.

2d20 ⇒ (12, 4) = 16
So I guess that's a 12. If it doesn't work, I guess Plan B is to just carry her out while she kicks me in the face from flailing around.

Wrathmire looks around, confused.

Should I shoot the monster!?

Wrathmire, the monster was pasted in a matter of three solid hits from Presmer, Ander, and Sir Adrian. It currently looks like a quivering mass of flesh.

Ander tries to calm the girl, but to no avail. She flails about, but otherwise is easily carried. The struggle slows Ander down to about half movement.

You all enter the area with the cells and begin opening the locks to release the prisoners. What would you like to do with the madman?

After you have released the first couple of prisoners, an elfmaiden steps out from the door leading to the tunnel out, an arrow nocked and trained on you. "Put the gnome down and leave. You will not take her anywhere and torture any more. You may get me in a rush, but some of you will not make it home this night if you try to take her!"

Torture! You're the ones who were torturing her! Ceidith pulls out his shortswords and snarls

Wrathmire raises his hand.

I think we are all on the same side. We have come to rescue the girl, this is her father. Wrathmire points to the gnomish old man with them.

After a moment, she lowers the bow, but keeps the arrow nocked. She is not dressed as a member of the black fist, but rather her leathers look more of Elven fashion, and she has a silver belt buckle sporting a gauntleted fist that gleams in the torchlight.

Her eyes narrow a bit and she looks you up and down, "You do not look like the Black Fist..." She seems to take note of the bodies on the floor and the mastiff that is still whimpering, doing that small crawl across the floor toward Uriah.

Her head cocks to the side as she notices Ander and Sir Adrian, almost as if in recognition of something.

"My name is Yllivia. I am a member of the Order of the Gauntlet, and young Villonah was working with me." the elfmaiden introduces herself with a concerned glance at Villonah on Ander's shoulder.

"Villonah, it is I, Yllivia! It is alright, you are safe!" she calls out in a gentle voice, but the young gnomish lass persists in her hysterics.

Ander, Yllivia, and Rillo all try to get her to calm, until Ander remembers a trick he learned among the medicants that he trained under. Taking her head in both hands, the young healer rubs her temples gently in small soothing circles until the girl calms and eventually breaks down crying into his chest. Natural 20 on Ander's Medicine check!

Over the next 10 minutes or so, you find that Villonah had stolen a map from these Black Fist guards that is rumored to lead to the lair of a white dragon in the mountains North of Phlan. The young gnome created a patch of fake skin and hid the map on the sole of her right foot.

Yllivia wishes to take the map back to the Order of the Gauntlet to show her superiors and offers an additional 50 pieces of gold and a potion of healing for saving Villonah and allowing her to take the map with her.

Rillo and Villonah thank you all and help you get these prisoners out of here, though they are not sure what to do with the crazy man. Yllivia says that she can bring him to her superiors and see if he cannot be cured of his madness, for there are some paladins and clerics within the Order of the Gauntlet.

You all return to Madame Freona's Tea Kettle and enjoy drinks and hearty meals on Rillo in thanks for such bravery and skill!

And we are done! There are just a couple of things. We have a potion of climbing, scroll of protection from good and evil, and two potions of healing to distribute. Decide amongst yourselves who should get what so that I can put it on your logsheets. Also if anyone wants to put 50 gp toward that shield made of a black dragon's scale, let me know as well.

Wrathmire passes on the items, deciding to just pocket the gold.

Glad we could help, let us know if any other work comes up.

Ceidith eagerly grabs at the Scroll of Protection of Good and Evil. Whoo! What and adventure I got myself into!.... I kind of liked it...