@ Janiries - you'll have plenty of time to observe them during the march so taking a 20 works just fine. Kane doesn't seem to notice your eyes upon him, but Shiang seems very aware of your scrutiny.
Kane, a hulk of a man, carries a number of daggers and knives, as well as a greatsword down his back. He is clad in leather armour. Shiang is also lightly armoured, with a composite longbow of great quality and a quiver of arrows. By his side hangs a longsword in a well-worn scabbard. Both seem to have several magical items and talismans, including rings and amulets.
After several hours you come upon the farm which Kane claims the cultist was sighted at. Smoke billows from the house and the barn; clearly something has already happened here! You are north of the farm, still in the treeline. The barn is about 100 feet away, and the house about 50 feet past that, and offset to the east.
Fastening his shield to his arm, Matthias glanced at Hezar and Janiries. "Think you can circle around to the south without being seen? It would be good to have another angle on this, and we could pincer anyone who's still there. If you can, make it fast - we might still be able to rescue any survivors."
Hezar nods I would be honored to fight at your side Lady.
Stealth.
Hezar hefts his bow, and heads off to find a better angle.
Nodding to Matthias, Janiries moves to circle around. She whispers to Hezar as they head out. "If we live through this, you better not call me Lady again!"
Hezar laughs I wouldn't dream of it...
"May Tymora smile upon you," he said to the retreating form of Janires and Hezar.
Kevkas had looked ready to rush in the moment they saw the smoke. He is clearly unhappy at having to wait. "I'm giving them a hundred count and that's it. The cultists could still be there."
"Calmly, Kev," Nijena said softly. Her tone was absent, offhand, as if reining in the big half-orc was done almost as a reflex, rather than a considered concern.
Keeping to the shadows as much as she could (though her clothes were still white) Nijena scanned the scene before them, but also kept track of Shiang's reactions and movements. Just how surprised was this man? She wasn't going to put it past him to burn out a settlement just to achieve a goal of his own.
Kane nods at Kevkas's words. I will join you in that charge, half-orc. Burning buildings often indicate that the time for subtlety has passed.
It would appear that things have gone poorly already. You should keep to the shadows as much as you can , I will check on that unburned body.
Hezar stealthily as he can in the open moves out and checks the body, taking 10 on heal
"I wonder," Nijena said, where both Kane and Kevkas could hear her, "what your reaction would be, friend Kane, if my companions and I started communicating one with another in a secret code that you could not understand. Would that action make you more, or less likely to trust us in a dangerous situation that could engender 'mistakes,' and 'accidents,' and 'misunderstandings?'"
Her words were soft, but pointed. She didn't belabor the point, but simply waited for a response. Normally, she would not have let the two know that she'd seen what they were doing, but since she couldn't actually understand their communication, letting it continue had no benefit to her or her companions. Stopping it might.
Kevkas frowns and growls, still staring out at the rising smoke, when Nijena cautions him against rushing in, but he heeds her words and doesn't run off when his hundred count ends. He looks over as she confronts Kane and Shiang, his attention drawn by the possibility of a closer threat. The big half-orc doesn't move, but he seems ready to at a moment's notice.
As Janiries peers into the barn, which is ablaze, she sees another burning body laying on the ground, as well as beams of wood from the roof. Your keen ears pick up what sound like calls for help from under the floor of the barn!
Not looking back at Nijena, Kane responds. Do not play at naivete, madam, it does not suit you.
Then he turns and races into the barn bow at the ready.
"Get over here now! The Barn! Janiries quickly bellows out to the rest of the party, looking for an entrance to the basement of the barn.
"Ah," Nijena said. "Very well, I will be direct. If I see the two of you using hand-signs again, I will be forced to conclude that you are plotting to betray us and our truce, and act accordingly. Which is disappointing, Kane, as I had hoped you would respect your word, as I intend to respect - and keep - mine. I will do you no harm, nor plan to do such, so long as you keep to the truce. This is your chance, Kane, to show us that we should consider your side of things, and not immediately turn to hunting you once the immediate danger is past. I dislike being forced to kill people I've fought beside."
"Shall we go check on the farm now?"
Davin remained quiet as Osuki implored to Kane to keep to their truce. But secretly, he hoped the man broke it. Kane rubbed him the wrong way. And he wouldn't mind at all putting his sword in the man's gullet.
Suddenly he heard Janires call them over.
"That's our cue. Let's go!" he said before running off.
With a final stern look at Kane and Shiang following Nijena's reprimand, Matthias rushed after Davin, trying to keep an eye out for threats on the way. When they reached the barn, he immediately looked around for whatever had caused Janiries to call them over, sword at the ready.
Kane grunts in acknowledgement before dashing out into the clearing, followed closely by Shiang. The Malarite is fast - much faster than his size would imply. In an instant he arrives at the barn and takes in the situation, before dashing into the smoke-filled interior.
Hezar stands with bow drawn and he scans for foes
add 2 if it is a human hiding
"Kevkas! Davin! Kane! Help me!" Matthias dropped his shield and mace and rushed to move the beams that had fallen over the trapdoor in the barn. "Help me move the beams! There are people down there! Mighty Helm, give us strength!"
At Janiries's shout, Kevkas rushes toward the barn. He noisily slams his sword back into its carrier over his shoulder as Matthias demonstrates the problem and moves to lift the beam.
Strength check for Kane:
Kane snarls as he begins to move the giant beams. They are ... very heavy! Need help! Matthias and Kevkas' strength checks mean they can aid Kane, allowing him to pass the check.
Working together, you move the beams, revealing a heavy iron trap door. The hinge of the door has been locked with a large, heavy lock, for which no key is visible. DC is 20 to pick the lock; alternatively, it has a hardness of 10, 45 HP, and a break DC of 28.
EDIT: Just noticed Matthias' question about which day it is. It's the same day you encountered the Mind Flayer, so any expended spells are still gone for the time being.
Janiries I believe you are up! Careful folks this could be a very clever trap!
Nijena had followed the others, confident that they could handle anything they found inside. She, on the other hand, watched the woods outside - as well as keeping an eye on Shiang.
Janiries hurriedly slides into the gab between trap door and the beams, already prying her lock picks from hidden spots on her armour.
"I have a vial of acid if that would help?" Davin offers as Janires works to undo the lock.
Janiries quickly dispenses with the lock and the iron trap door can be opened. It squeals like some sort of monster in agony on it's hinges; beneath is revealed a small saferoom, perhaps 10 feet square. Inside, looking battered and beaten, are your erstwhile bandit allies, Rylind and Ambrose. Rylind is unconscious, and breathing only shallowly. Ambrose is little better, though he stumbles to his feet as the trapdoor is opened.
Watch out! He breathes through clenched teeth. We are bait for a trap! As if on cue, you hear animalistic tittering coming from the smoke-filled loft overhead....
Link to combat map is here.
Three large, shaggy, goat-like creatures reveal themselves up in the loft. Alternating between snarling and braying laughter, each is armed with a nasty looking polearm, the end of which is covered in some sort of viscous, horrid looking ooze. They look set to attack!
Initiative:
Nijena:
Hezar:
Janiries:
Matthias:
Kevkas:
Davin:
Shiang:
Kane:
Evil goat-looking critters:
Identify DC (religion) is 19 for these beasts.
I'll need everyone to place themselves (using blue as your colour) trying to take into account your presumed location - some were attending to the wooden beams that had fallen over the trapdoor, others were watching for trouble.
Order of action will be:
Tranche #1: Davin, Nijena, Hezar
Tranche #2: Kane, Matthias, Kevkas
Tranche #3: Janiries, Shiang
Tranche #4: Goat critters A, B, C
Hezar takes a 5 ft step from the door and sends two arrows at Goat A
for
for
At the sight of the goat-creatures, Nijena's eyes narrowed.
What she knew of these creatures pulled her attention from Shiang, despite her best intentions. With a word, her eyes flashed with green-white fire, and the wispy, transparent rainbow shell of mystic armor snapped into place around her, and she scanned the area for more enemies, hidden in the smoke.
Davin spins and sees the goat creatures.
He quickly primes an arrow and fires.
-Posted with Wayfinder
-Posted with Wayfinder
Actions for Tranche #1:
Hezar looses two arrows at Goatman A - both strike, though they seem less damaging than one might expect ... (total of 13hp damage after damage resistance is applied).
Davin fires at the same Goatman, his cold iron arrow sizzles as it strikes the beast in the side. (7hp damage to Goatman A)
Nijena now has the protection of mage armour, giving her an AC of 21 for three hours.
Tranche #2 - Matthias, Kevkas and Kane - are up next.
"I do not know what you call them here," Nijena said, "but amongst my people they are called 'spite demons.' Very strong. Brutes. They are difficult to harm - cold iron, weapons consecrated to good, or powerfully magic. They resist almost anything else - including direct magical attack and elements." Her face was grim, as she knew these things were likely going to laugh away any attack she could mount... with a few notable exceptions. In the back of her mind, there was a niggling doubt. After all, it asked her, was it really mere coincidence to encounter two threats in the same day that could shrug off her most powerful attacks?
Note to self make some cold iron arrows!
"Ambrose, lift Rylind up to me! I'll get you out after her!" Matthias knelt by the cellar, murmuring a prayer to Helm as Ambrose (hopefully) dragged Rylind over and lifted her up.
Kev laughs as he pulls the huge sword off his back. "Come taste cold iron, then, demons!" He murmurs a prayer to Tempus under his breath, asking for strength and the power to defeat these foes.
Actions for Tranche #2:
Matthias reaches down for Rylind as Ambrose, grunting, helps lift her up. Matthias is now carrying Rylind's unconscious form; Ambrose remains in the underground chamber and is unlikely to be able to get out without assistance.
Kevkas casts enlarge person; it will take effect on his turn in round two.
Kane growls in rage; his veneer of civility gone. Come at me, you filthy curs! Kane enters a barbarian rage, effects as noted on the map sidebar.
Tranche #3 is up - Janiries and Shiang.
Rising from her prone position, Janiries draws her bow and then completely messes up her shot, the arrow landing between Ambrose's feet.
Actions for Tranche #3:
Janiries fires a snap shot from her bow that falls well short of the enemies; Ambrose looks anguished as the arrow lands at his feet. Are you mad, woman? Aim at them!
Demon filth! spits Shiang, moving closer and firing his composite bow. Five foot step to J24, move action to study Goatman A, attack action to fire:
Attack:
Damage:
Shiang's arrow lands with a solid thunk into Goatman A's chest, but fails to fell the demonic beast! (7hp damage after damage resistance)
Tranche #4 - the Schir demons - up next!
davin toss me your quiver!