GM Infinity |
Bjorn strides forward and knocks the pointiest tooth clean out of the deinonychus' maw, the crowd revels in the spectacle.
The black feathered kenku sends an arrow streaming at Bjorn before shouting a command to his companion "Kree kree kree! CaCAW! CaCAW!"
Kenku vs Bjorn: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Dei Bite vs Bjorn: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Dei Claw 1 vs Bjorn: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Dei Claw 2 vs Bjorn: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Dmg to Bjorn: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (6, 4) + 4 = 14
Round 1:
Bjorn, Davin
Enemies
Dwalar, Nella, Bhoors, Shal <--UP
Unlike usual, toplisters may NOT also post yet...for secret DM reasons sorry
Dwalar Halfbeard |
Dwalar gestures with his free hand and mutters a short prayer. He pulls his axe free and charges, and the weapon glows with a golden light as it slices through the air.
Casting divine favor as a bonus action.
Battleaxe: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Radiant damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3
Bhoors Thistledown |
Bhoors sings a bit of a rhyme about light falling in the shade.
Casts Faerie Fire on both opponents.
Hearing the Kenku call out Bhoors smirks and calls out, "NO Chirp chirp Ka Cow." He pulls his elbows tight against himself and flutters his hands like a bird in mockery.
Shaldinari Vec |
Shaldinari steps over and tries to focus on the Kenku. Still squinting at the bright sun her aim is off when she throws a blast of energy at the creature and she ends up doing little more than stirring up the sand and dust of the arena.
Eldritch Blast: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Damage: 1d10 ⇒ 7
Step to the side and attack the Kenku with a repelling blast. If hit also knocked back 10'
Nella Yenwood |
Nella's hair grows, extended farther down her back. She hunches over then springs forward, a massive dark form darting towards the opposing pack.
Dire wolf. Advantage on dino because of pack tactics with Bjorn.
Attack 1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Attack 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Nonlethal Damage: 4d6 + 3 ⇒ (3, 1, 1, 2) + 3 = 10
Her gleaming white teeth rip into her foe, seeking to send him to the dust of the arena.
If he's still up, he'll need to make a DC 13 strength save to avoid being knocked prone by the bite.
Bhoors Thistledown |
Remember we have advantage because of faerie fire on both enemies. DC 13 Dex DM hasn't rolled the save yet. But both Shal and Nella might have had advantage.
GM Infinity |
Sorry, car shop way later than expected. Jerk told me 30 min, took 3 hours...
Dei Dex vs Bhoors: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
Ken Dex vs Bhoors: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Dei Str vs Nella: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Dwalar's weapon glows with divinity in the shadows of the cage, finding its mark righteously. Slasher the Kenku is illuminated thanks to the bard's study of the old fey ways...Nella in the form of a dire wolf tackles the deinonychus to the ground! Shal's blast goes wide, streaming off into the arena stands and blowing a large hole in the seats where a fat dwarf was just drinking.
Shal and Davin, there on the edge of the arena, the vines attack you! Snaking up your legs and down your sleeves into your armpits, looking for meat!
DC 13 Dex, Shal and Davin. The vines seem to have a 10 ft reach at most.
Dei -21 (prone), Ken full (illuminated)
Round 2:
Bjorn, Davin <--UP
Enemies
Dwalar, Nella, Bhoors, Shal
Vines
Bhoors Thistledown |
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Bhoors smiles, "You've never sounded better Tweety."
Bjorn Stonehand |
The dino's claws bloody Bjorn's exposed torso but the wounds don't slow the barbarian down a beat. The big man strikes a flexing pose for the crowd and strikes again.
Punch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Damage: 1d3 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 = 8
Advantage: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Damage: 1d3 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 = 8
Minor Grapple: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Advantage Grapple: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
GM Infinity |
Davin, you feel the vine sneak down your shirt and an iron-like barb stab into your chest...feeling a bit woozy now. 1 piercing and poisoned one round
Bjorn pummels the thick skin but doesn't make much impact, but then puts the dinosaur already on the floor into a headlock, smashing it tight...
Opposed Grapple: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
...and like a blacksmith's clamp, the deinonychus is immobilized.
GM Infinity |
In its headlock, the deinonychus stands up with incredible strength and tears up with its long, hind claws, even trying to snap out at Bjorn despite its predicament...
Bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Bite, Dis: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Claw 1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Claw 1, Dis: 1d20 ⇒ 17
Claw 2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Claw 2, Dis: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Dmg: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
...Bjorn feels the long claw tear into his kidney, and he blacks out. Bjorn, 23 hp? 14 before and 9 here puts you at 0
Meanwhile the kenku drops its bow and slashes up into Nella's wolf-belly with its sword...
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Dmg: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 6) + 3 = 15
...nearly breaking off at the hilt.
Nella Yenwood |
I believe so, Bjorn. Tank it up.
Nella snarls at the kenku and the opposing dinosaur.
Attack deinonychus: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Attack deinonychus adv if Bjorn's still up: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (2, 6) + 3 = 11
DC 13 str save or prone if I hit him.
Bhoors Thistledown |
Bhoors whispers a rhyme under his breath the subtlest of disharmonic notes save for the pain that racks within the Kenku's head.
Dissonant Whispers Phychic DC 13 for 1/2: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 2) = 11
Bhoors calls back to Dwalar, "Come on now half-beard give us a full effort. These folks came for a show."
Bonus Action Bardic Inspiration to Dwalar +1d6
Bjorn Stonehand |
Gotcha. In that case Bjorn has taken 11 damage total at this point.
Bjorn powers through the pain in his side form the dino's claws and tightens his headlock. Eager to put the beast down, he smashes a fist into its head.
Punch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Damage: 1d3 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 = 7
Advantage: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Damage: 1d3 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 = 8
GM Infinity |
Yes, sorry Bjorn I spaced out on the rage being up.
Bjorn grips the dinosaur tight and lifts the head up against its will to expose its neck to Nella's thrashing. Bjorn feels the consciousness leave the old fighter, plopping down on the dirt.
Kenku vs Bhoors: 1d20 ⇒ 4
Roughly the same time the kenku grips its head with its talons, shrieking in agony before being reduced to a fetal mess and finally going still.
For a moment the crowd is silent and confused...but then erupts in a maddening glory! The Bladefangs have won the prize of the Oracle!
Dwalar Halfbeard |
With Bhoors's magic coursing through him, Dwalar raises his axe. "Haaaaaaaah!"-- only to see his target fall under his friends' assault. Darn. Oh well, a win's a win. He raises his axe to the crowd. "Bladefangs!"
Shaldinari Vec |
Moving away from the vines, Shaldinari prepares to blast the enemy only to turn around and see that the bout is over. With a shrug of her shoulders she lets the power drift away harmlessly from her fingers and offers a quick bow of the head to the crowd and the watching merchant princes.
Bhoors Thistledown |
Perform: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
Bhoors flourishes with his sling. Basks in the cheers and enourages more adulation. "Thank you. Yes."
GM Infinity |
The announcer echoes Dwalar with a magically enhanced cry of "Blllllaaaaadeffffffaaaannnngs..." as the party is showered with a number of intricately woven wreaths made of tropical flowers, hunks of bread, full legs of roast chicken on a stick thrown down. Even a keg of ale comes rolling down to the pits uncontrollably from some unknown source.
You are all handed a ceremonial yklwa of polished bronze and spend what seems like forever raising them into the sky at the neverending cheers of the crowd. Finally, the merchant prince(ess?) beckons you to her upper VIP box, and you are led up the stairs...
A servant introduces her with a strong voice "Champions of the Coliseum, you are welcome to audience with Kwayothé (k-WAY-oath-ay), Merchant Prince of Nyanzaru! She is the most beautiful person you have ever seen, with a soft brown, almost purple skin and tightly woven hair. A thin frame under a thinner robe that seems to be made of solid sunshine.
"Eyalama noi, ssebo! Edjokuna ekware *click* arama *click*"
One of the female servants translates "Thank you outsiders for respecting our tradition during the games, you have earned these gifts of the South."
One after another they present to you perfumes and poultices, a huge bag of freshly minted solid gold coins, and of course the one and only Eye of the Oracle gem. You must but reach out and take them...
Nella Yenwood |
Seeing Davin's struggle, Nella transforms back into a dire wolf. She speaks into his mind
It is my turn.
And she crouches for him to get on her back so she can carry him to meet the Kwayothe, at which point she resumes her normal form again.
Nella waits for her comrades, unwilling to be the first to accept the lavish prizes.
Bhoors Thistledown |
Bhoors checks on the wounded. "I have no further healing I can offer today. Are you going to be alright."
Bhoors graciously bows and moves forward to take the items, "We are honored to have participated." He takes the items and hands them to each of his comrades passing the Eye to Shaldinari.
Nella Yenwood |
Nella stands, unsure among the nobility and pomp of civilization. She lays a hand upon one of her earrings, seeking clarity.
Casting guidance.
Insight: 1d20 + 5 + 1d4 ⇒ (4) + 5 + (4) = 13
She murmurs softly to herself.
What have we accepted? We must choose wisely indeed.
GM Infinity |
Without much further ado, you are one last time presented before the adoring crowd with prizes in hand before being led to an even more luxurious Champion's suite. You are free to relax and enjoy, using the quarters as your own until the next races in 2 days. Nerissa holds a distant orbit, not approaching you but waiting patiently in some hope perhaps. It is easy to get lost in the pattern of the gem as you gaze within, considering who to trust...
Still in official game mode until you guys decide what to do with it. Theres Po as originally planned, Nerissa, both, neither, Wren, etc
Shaldinari Vec |
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"Tradition is one of the foundations of civilization." Shaldinari says to the princess while bowing deeply as Bhoors hands her the Eye. "It is an honor to receive your prize and be a part of your culture and traditions. We will treat it with care and respect."
Insight: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12
Waiting until the group is alone,she places the eye into the remaining opening in the box with the other pieces of the artifact.
"Now what to do?" She says.
Bhoors Thistledown |
Bhoors acts casual but checks out the Eye.
perception: 1d20 ⇒ 16 Is the gem separate enough from the setting to be 2 items. Does it appear to resemble the other stone artifacts that we have found. As in part of the same set.[/dice]
[ooc]Is there a time table to get it to Po? Or are we free to handle the after party and then to find our way to a place where we can all talk. In any discussion Bhoors figures 2 things; The zents will come after us unless we get it to them (unless we use shenanigans to "lose" it). Very little good will come from the Zents getting the item.
GM Infinity |
The gem and the setting could be separated if you wish. Po wanted the gem, and Nerissa the setting.
When you get the chance, the party could compare the setting and gem with the rest of the artifact and confirm its placement. The setting connects to the other side of the snake, filling the last small crack: snake head, 2 half moons making a whole, and the snakes eye. It is an exquisite work. Oddly the aura of darkness and dread has abated somewhat now that all the pieces are together...
Bhoors Thistledown |
Bhoors notes that the piece fits together with the rest of the artifact. "I think we should note that the gem doesn't seem to go with the rest of the artifacts. Nor did the enemy of the Zhents worry that the Zhents get the gem. Just the setting. Now that we have it all together maybe we should learn what it does altogether. Am I crazy to think it is giving off less evil HeebeeJeeBees."
I need more context. Normally I think of the Zhent's as EvEEl like the fruits of the DevEEl. Given its presence in the AL it seems more benign. Even so it appears to be a get money and power organized crime syndicate. Is that a correct assessment. Bhoors is hardly scrupulous but not one to help Slavers and others who wantonly oppress regular folks.
Given that the Harpers (reknown in the past to be the principal enemy of Zhents) seemed to really not fret the gem so seeing the Gem go to the Zhents doesn't seem all that big a deal to Bhoors especially if they won't feel double-crossed. The setting seems to belong with the set of items we have and it seems to have power and as such Bhoors is thinking that the item might require better stewardship than the greedy pricks of the Black Network.
GM Infinity |
No doubt Zhents behind the scenes are evil, their current leader is the god of service to evil. Wealth and power at any cost. Normal people/characters don't know that though. They seem like opportunistic merchants or an elite mercenary group. Got a job normal everyday mercenaries can't handle? Call in the Zhents. "the public face of the organization appears much more benign — the Zhentarim provides the best mercenaries money can buy" is the line that appears over and over in the published adventures to describe them.
As to their history with the Harpers, it is a bit moot since the organization (Zhents) was recently just about completely destroyed and reformed from the ground up.
Specific to Nyanzaru, and what you might learn asking around, is that the merchant princes hire Zhentarim guards to defend the city walls and Zhentarim mercenaries to protect hunting, lumbering, and mining operations in the jungle and foothills. The Black Network has used this wide-ranging access to the city to set up its own woodcutting camps and mining operations. It also mounts treasure-hunting expeditions.
Nella Yenwood |
So why not give the gem to the Zhents? Sure it furthers some plan of theirs no doubt but it's not the big bad artifact and it will get them off our backs. Nella certainly doesn't know enough about the Zhents to back out of the deal with completely without more information.
Bhoors Thistledown |
That works.
GM Infinity |
Alright...looks like decided on both, setting to Nerissa and gem to Po.
The party waves Nerissa over into their private quarters and cautiously agrees to hand over the setting. She gives thanks and hands over the agreed upon 30 gp before "I'm glad you trusted me in the end. Let me offer my trust in return, keep the pieces and join me with Wren at the House of Repose tomorrow night. We'll uncover our third party contact together discover the true nature of this thing..."
Then later, you bring the gem to Po...
You find him laying face first getting a massage "Ah yes, how wonderful to have you back. Spare no detail, I want to hear all about it first hand...but first, the gem?" assuming you hand it over "Mmm...an excellent cut. he pockets it instantly "And a tidy sum of 60 gold for the prize? Yours to keep of course. You've proven yourselves quite a force here in the port..."
Mission Rewards incoming. 4/5 complete!