DDAL #01-03 Shadows Over the Moonsea [5e Adventurers League] (Inactive)

Game Master Aeshuura

Sizzle gives the animal a wave, and smiles at it.

Animal Handing: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

The dire wolf mother snaps and charges!

Initiative Order:
Dire Wolf
Everyone else

The dire wolf mother charges at Sizzle! Bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16 Unless Sizzle can explain why he has his shield at the ready, I am going to assume that the dire wolf hits! It does 10 hp and Sizzle is unconscious!

A burst of black feathers fills the air as the kenku goes down in a heap! Sorry, Sizzle!

At the sight of the Dire Wolf Eilren withdraws behind one of the tougher party members quickly, as if by magnetic repulsion

If the beast comes anywhere near him he will use Fey Presence to charm (WIS Save DC12). If the party resorts to violence he will follow suit with Eldritch Blast

A burst of light flashes between Sizzle and the wolf, which blinds it and it chomps on his armour instead.

Using Warding Flare as a reaction. Bite disadvantage: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Sizzle hastily takes out his shield, and then casts a spell on himself, as another shield appears over his body.

Taking out the shield, and casting Shield of Faith to gain +2 AC for it's duration.

Krissina draws her rapier and moves to engage. "I would like to say try not to kill it, since its got pups, but I bite from those teeth, would like take my head off - so, use your discretion"

Rapier: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 dmg: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 Perhaps less talking, more fighting would have been in order there

Shoun will draw himself up to his full height and then roar to attempt to scare the large wolf away.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

Eilren summons the magic of his fey patron, gathering a ball of dark purple energy in his hands. He then throws the ball at the dire wolf and it streaks away leaving a glittering purple trail of sparks

Eldritch Blast: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 131d10 ⇒ 5

"You idiots! She's not going to flee while you're between her and her cubs! Get some distance and she'll stay behind to guard them! Go, get moving! Get far enough away to not be a threat!"

Ander then tries to position himself to get the mother's attention, to allow the others time to escape.

Any sort of roll needed to fix her attention on me? Alternatively I could ready an action to try and interfere if she attacks someone other than me.

Don't have to tell me twice. Uriah quips

I don't see a map, but Uriah either A) Withdraws or B) Dashes away from the biting wolf of death

We will do theater of the mind for now. Ander, you can make an Intimidation check to try to draw her ire for a round.

With a flash of light, Sizzle disorients the mother wolf and draws his shield, casting a quick defensive spell that washes over him!

Krissina stabs at the creature, but he rapier fails to pierce her hide, drawing a snap of the dire wolf's jaws in response!

Shoun gathers his courage and attempts to scare off the wolf, but underestimates a mother's instinct!

Eilren throws a blast at the beast, singing fur, but does nothing except draw the attention of the creature!

Uriah, backs off and turns and runs! This scene is amazing! I can see it unfolding... :p

Ander shouts and waves his hands, trying to gain the attention of the wolf mother, so that the others can leave her alone with her pups!

Ander's Intimidation: 1d20 ⇒ 15

She turns her attention on Ander...

We will wait a bit for Balyzar.

I will go up to it and try to hit it with my lightbringer mace, the mother wolf that is. hit: 6 + 1d20 ⇒ 6 + (19) = 25 dmg: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

With a thud, Balyzar lands a heavy hit on the dire wolf, causing it to turn its attention to the cleric of light!

The beast snaps at the dragonborn! The yipping of the pups behind him distracts Balyzar just enough that the mother takes advantage!

Bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Advantage: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

The beast retorts with a deep bite on the cleric of light's shoulder!

Would you like to use Warding Flare? Otherwise, Balyzar takes 10 hp damage!

Strength saving throw: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Also, Balyzar, how are you getting a +5 for your Str save? Can't figure it out by your character profile.

The pups now seem to be attempting to aid their mother, but their attacks are negligible, but they easily get underfoot...

You all are up.

Eilren again blasts at the dire wolf whilst moving away to the side and into easy line of sight, trying to stay well clear of those snapping jaws...

Eldritch Blast: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 91d10 ⇒ 2

...and again the purple blast goes awry. 'Must not be my day,' the warlock thinks to himself

Sizzle hurriedly backs away, attempting to get into a position where he is far enough away to not be attacked, but close enough to rush in and heal someone if need be.

Disengage, moving 20 feet back.

Uriah calls out I'll write a nice epitaph for you all! as he does what Ander told him to do.

Yes, always assume Balyzar will burn warding flare uses as long as he has them, which is actually done when attack is rolled, but in play by post, everything is harder to implement without slowing up the game, so yes, he always burns them if he has them, even if the enemy deals like 2 points of damage on average. Oh and I gave him str proficiency by accident

Swing again at the dire wolf, if it dies, go to the next attacking pup. hit: 6 + 1d20 ⇒ 6 + (5) = 11
dmg: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

"Draco, there's no need to kill the wolf or it's children. We just need to back away from them."

Shoun will then move away from the wolves.

Krissina backs off, and readies a thaumaturgy cantrip to make a wolfish noise (a howl? - nature isn't Krissina's area of expertise) to try and draw attention back to the pups once the wolf has a clear line to them.

Swing again at the dire wolf, if it dies, go to the next attacking pup.

There aren't any attacking pups. The mother is attacking to defend the pups. In all likelihood we could literally just walk away from this fight.

"You numbskulls!" Ander shouts at those still fighting. "Save your strength and magic for the kobold pirates or whoever they are! Stop wasting your energy and let the beast have its pups!"

Ander then continues to try and get the wolf's attention so as to cover the others' escapes.

Intimidation: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14

Told you so Ander! Uriah shouts as he continues to gain distance

Adventurers are the worst!

My vote is let the Cleric fight the Direwolf by himself if he's so keen on it. We can say nice words over his grave.

The dragonborn cleric in militant fashion strikes again at the dire wolf, but fails to land a significant hit. Krissina, Eilren, Sizzle, and Uriah move away, while Ander continues to harry the creature and draw its attention away from Balyzar to allow him to escape. Eilren throws another eldritch blast, but it flies wide!

Having been actually hurt by the Dragonborn, the wolf snarls at Ander, but charges at Balyzar again!

Bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Warding Flare: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

This time, it seems that the wolf mother was expecting the flash and managed to bite into the cleric's leg and tries to drag him down!

Strength Save DC 13: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

And she drags Balyzar to the ground, mauling him! Balyzar take 10 hp and you have used two Warding Flares.

Sizzle backs off more, preparing himself to dodge if anything happens.

Moving away, dodge action. Since this gives disadvantage on attack rolls, Sizzle will not use warding flare this round.

Sizzle, Uriah, Krissina, Eilren, and Shoun seem to be in the clear, provided you do not do anything to draw the attention of the Wolf Mother.

As mentioned Krissina will use Thaumaturgy to make some noise near the pups, try and bring the mother's attention back to them.

Uriah would definitely place himself in harms way to protect an ally in the adventuring party...except he's got this pesky backache and its really hurting so just this one time he's gonna have to give him a rain check.

@Krissina, your noise would work if Balyzar and Ander were not between her and her pups.

@Ander, the pups are nipping at Balyzar's heels. Not doing damage, but definitely distracting. They seem to be trying to protect their mother...

Can I just grab the pups and toss them to the other side of the mother or something?

Yes, you may. You will still need to get Balyzar to stop fighting...

Ander snatches a pup in each hand, from around Balyzar's ankles and sort of bowls them across the ground to the other side of the dire wolf...

Seeing this, Krissina then uses her thaumaturgy to draw the mother's attention away from Balyzar.

Balyzar, you are up, and currently prone. It becomes evident that the wolf mother's attention is on her pups (behind her) and does not seem intent on continuing the attack.

Balyzar disengages a full 30 feet, 15 feet to stand up, 15 feet to get out.

The dire wolf backs off snarling at Ander and Balyzar as they back off slowly. When it becomes obvious that there is a safe distance between you all and her, she turns back to her two little ones.

Combat over!

Would you guys like to find a little shelter and take a short rest, or continue on?

I vote for continue on, but then again I did not get attacked by the doggie.

Shoun finishes making some notes in a small notebook and then puts it away before turning to the group and saying "Are we ready to proceed, or do any of you need a rest?"

Sizzle can continue on. His only expended resources will come back only on a long rest, so a short rest will not benefit him.

Also, did we get any xp from defusing the combat?

Ah, sorry I think I got sizzle and Balyzar confused for some reason. I thought Balyzar had already withdrawn. No fear, all well in the end

"Aw, you've got to love the maternal instincts of the wolves, willing to threaten us just to get back to her pups." Krissina rapidly reverts to good cheer now the danger is over.

Yes, you will get XP for overcoming the obstacle. Taking an hour will not affect you too much, so if Balyzar wants to spend a couple of HD, he is welcome to.

You arrive near sundown, sloshing through the mud, but aside from the level of light, you can't really tell with the rains coming down. As you get closer and closer to Stormy Bay, the winds pick up and by the time you approach the ferry, the rains are almost going sideways.

You see the sea churning with Umberlee's wrath and an elderly man with a wild beard, salt encrusted coat, and floppy hat struggles to bring a large flat-bottomed raft ashore. He pulls, arm-over-arm along a rope which is strung between the shore and a small island an arrowshot into the bay.

Ugh. is all Uriah manages in disgust at the conditions.

However, he walks towards the man.

"Just when you thought we couldn't get any wetter..." mutters the warlock as he follows along

"An old soldier once told me that you can never get any wetter than when water runs down the crack of your arse, but I can't say for sure if that's true or now." Shoun will sigh and shake out the excess water before adding "Ah, well, at least my clothing isn't muddy any more."

Krissina blushes at Shoun's words, the markings on her face turning a deep crimson, she didn't consider herself a prude, but such vulgarity in open speech wasn't part of her upbringing.

She hurries on ahead to help the old man bring his boat in.

I'm up for a short rest
2 hit dice: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (6, 8) + 4 = 18

The ferryman hits the shore and immediately ties off. He looks at through one wide eye, the other seemingly perpetually squinting, "It's a gold crown a head! Once yer across, ain't no coming back 'til the storm breaks!" He seems used to shouting over the storm.

"Wait, you're actually still running?" Krissina peers skeptically at the ferry.

The old man turns his eye on Krissina, "Well, I only came over because I seen ya comin'. Passage or no? I ain't staying long, so's you best make up yer minds quick!"

Shoun will drop a gold into the man's hand and climb on board.

Eilren will follow Shoun's lead, pay his fare and get on

"You're a brave man" Krissina drops a gold coin in his hand and climbs into the boat.

Uriah shrugs and says "Two gold my good sir if I can have that wonderful rain proof hat!"

-Posted with Wayfinder

Sizzle passes the man a coin. "Passage." He says in his voice.

The ferryman takes each of your coins in turn and bites them to make sure that they are real gold. He stares at Uriah as if the bard was daft and takes ONE of his two coins, muttering under his breath about fools or some such.

Will give a little more time for Ander to chime in, before I continue.