DDEX 01-08: Tales Trees Tell [5e Adventurers League] (Inactive)

Game Master Aeshuura

Rakish is (surprisingly?) unaffected by the pixie pranks. Flowers on his head? His gear died purple? The warrior lives in a swamp and takes showers only when it rains.

Heck, the pixies probably did him a favor; all that shininess wasn't really his normal look.

Rakish is the only character I have that keep Wretched as his lifestyle. :)

Raeva is utterly perplexed with the unusual occurrences. Then Draco strikes out and Serelis informs them its pixies. Raeva makes sure to be away from Draco and hopes that Draco's temper does not cause him or the rest of the group any trouble.

Alysha's joke elicits a giggle that echoes through the forest.

Alysha, make a Charisma (Persuasion) check at advantage.

Shoun, like everything that happens to him, seems to shrug it off in style. As Draco harms one of the faeries, Shoun will not say anything. Instead, he will fill his easy to reach pockets with sweets, like chocolate. He is not at all surprised to find it gone.

Each night as they travel, he will also lay out a small container of milk that he drops a couple of drops of his own blood into.

persuasion: 2d20 ⇒ (12, 10) = 22
12 since no bonus for charisma.

@Shoun, I'm guessing you have read some Dresden Files? ^_^

The giggling fades and the pixies do not bother you for a while.

Shoun rearranges the contents of his pouches, putting the sweets on top and within an hour notices that they are gone!

Within five minutes, 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12 Draco seems to stumble a bit but catches himself! As you all look down, you see that the laces of his boots have been tied together!

The is a collective, Awwwww, putz! that surrounds you, though not too close, that seems to indicate a disappointment that the cleric did not fall face first!

Alysha tries not to laugh as Draco stumbles.

"So what is the strongest creature in the world?" she says into the air.

If there's a response she answers.

Persuasion: 1d20 ⇒ 19

The giggling stops, almost as if they are pondering the question... then the giggling commences as the punchline is delivered!

One of the pixies fades into view, a good ten feet away from the party and speaks:

"Ah.. there you are! Haha.. what be your name, little one?" Alysha says.

She will strike up a conversation with the creatures and offer it sweets from a pouch. She tries to find out what it knows of the forest and whether they've seen either a lone man or a group of humans around.

Assuming that you will translate, you find out the following things:

• The elves of Greenhall are boring and rudely unappreciative of the pixies' tricks. We do not like going there anymore.
  
• We live in fear of THE old woman. She eats any pixie that she can catch and decorates her cottage with their wings!
  
• Lately, it has been an exciting time in the forest. We have been getting all kinds of visitors!
  
• A moon ago, we saw a very unkindly man, like the cleric there (indicating Draco). He didn't like our tricks either. We told the elves about him, and a group of them came to investigate. The unkind man killed them all with magicks! (This elicits a guffaw from Pipyap, Oh, Halvie..., which draws a curious look from the pixie...)
  
• A half-moon ago, a whole group of men came in! Luxor (another pixie) spoke to them and they said that they were looking for Halvin. We didn't know what a Halvin was, so we said that we couldn't help them, but their description matched the unkind man.
  
• They went to visit the elves, but the elves shot at them and they ran away. One of the poor men took an arrow to the throat and died... (He looks sad.)
  
• We can point you to the elves and to the old hag's hut, but we won't go anywhere near there!

"Most interesting! Oh... those poor humans... I hope there are some left to save. Could you bring us to Greenhall first? We should speak to the elves before continuing..." Alysha says.

Serelis nods in agreement, and Athander leads you off! The pranks come again and return to a light-hearted nature. As long as there is no hostile action toward the pixies, you are led fairly quickly through the forest.

Soon the light starts to wane, signifying the end of the day and you have to stop for the day. Watches?

Watches? They haven't been invented yet, we use sun dials to tell time...Now that we got a good laugh, Draco will take first watch, but relies on light to see, so he will have to have the campfire going, at least enough to put on just a little light. He himself will not cast the light spell unless something actually happens, as light attracts things. Draco stays up for the first few hours, trying his best to keep the campfire light, even if not burning with fiery flames, just enough for warm and light. He looks up at the moonlight to see if it is giving off any. He has his mace in front of him in case he will need to cast light on it.

Rakish will take the midnight shift.

Raeva finds fun in the pranks, especially the ones targeting Draco.

He'll take a late watch.

While at camp, he'll entertain himself by using the Thaumaturgy cantrip to alter the color of the fire while going about camp activities.

Shoun will want to take first shift as well, since that way he doesn't have his beauty sleep disturbed =D

Alysha will take the final watch and make breakfast and converse with the pixie.

Draco / Shoun - first watch
Rakish - Midnight Shift
Alysha - Last Watch

Raeva by 'late' I assume you mean Midnight shift?

If so Krissina will take the morning watch, save the gents from alone time with Alysha, don't want any of them to end up as her next husband.

She takes the opportunity to play a gentle tune to wake the group as they start to stir.

Okay, sounds good Watch Order will be as follows until someone tells me otherwise:

Draco / Shoun - First Watch
Rakish / Raeva - Deadman's Watch
Alysha / Krissina - Last Watch

The first night is uneventful, and the pixies continue to give you gifts of berries and flowers through the second day.

As you approach the second evening, you smell it before you see it. Rounding a bend in the path, you find the body of a male human lying face down in the dirt with a half dozen arrows embedded in his back. As you
approach, a black cloud of flies takes flight, filling the air with the drone of their wings.

His clothes are simple homespun and he carries no weapon. He holds a strung shortbow, and a shabby longsword is sheathed at his hip. He also wears a satchel slung over his shoulder; the flap buckled closed.

Rerolling my Portent dice since I did a long rest.
Portent: 2d20 ⇒ (13, 11) = 24

Alysha approaches the body carefully, using her mage hand to try to get the satchel and bring it over to the party.

"Victim of the elves, I believe..." Alysha says.

Shoun will kneel and investigate the body to determine cause of death.

Investigation: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Shoun, using Medicine that is a 12, right?

While you all investigate, the light waning through the trees, a blur of movement draws your attention as a pair of dark shapes pounce from the shadows!

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Raeva, you need to update your HP at 2nd level. I thought I dropped you on a first hit! You should also have an AC of 15, because of your Dex mod.

A dark shape, like a panther with tentacles protruding from its shoulder blades and 6 legs, leaps at Raeva, striking him for 10 hp! Raeva, will you be using hellish rebuke?

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

The second strike scrapes off the tiefling's scaly skin!

Simultaneously, another pounces at Alysha, slapping her twice with its tentacles, dropping her to the ground, unconscious! Alysha takes 2 hits of 10 hp each!

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Initiative:
Alysha: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Draco: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14
Krissina: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Raeva: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Rakish: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Shoun: 1d20 ⇒ 15
Bad Guys: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Alysha, make a Death Saving Throw. The beast on Alysha, takes her cloak in its jaws and drags her off! Shoun and Draco may make an Attack of Opportunity!

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

The tentacles of the beast on Raeva flail about, but they fail to find their mark and it leaps away! Raeva and Krissina may take an attack of opportunity on this one!

I'm going to use my luck for both of attack rolls on me. Is that okay?

Luck: 2d20 ⇒ (10, 17) = 27

Well, both hit anyway...

Death Save: 1d20 ⇒ 14

Alysha is struck down by the blows of the beast and her shawl is streaked with blood..

Raeva does not have hellish rebuke as far as I know. If he does, he'll use it.

Raeva lashes out with his dagger at the fleeing tentacle beast.
Dagger
To Hit: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15 To Hurt: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

He follows that with a blast of fire.
Fire Bolt
To Hit: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17 To Hurt: 1d10 ⇒ 5

Rakish whips out his weapons and starts to take off after the beast on Raeva, but pauses when he sees Alysha get dragged off. He turns to go after her, instead.

As soon as he gets close, he leaps to the beast and slams his axes down.

Hex: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Inspiration: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Lightbringer: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Tieflings get Hellish Rebuke at 3rd, so Raeva's still a level off iirc

AoO: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 dmg: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Ignoring that one for now, Krissina dashes after the one with Alysha
Rapier: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 dmg: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 (if can reach, though can't roll hits anyway).

Will use Hellish Rebuke if something hits me, will use cutting words if its likely to make a difference (miss by about 3 or less) and the character being hit has less than 20hp

Shoun doesn't carry a weapon. It helps infiltrate places. My intent with investigation was to William Dafoe from Boondock Saints the crime scene.

As the beast begins dragging off Alysha Or the other one if it is dropped before he can act, Shoun fires a bolt of fire at it and then follows if it is still moving.

Fire Bolt: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Damage Roll: 1d10 ⇒ 5

Draco will use radiance of the dawn. All enemies within 30 feet of me must make a con save dc 12 or take dmg: 2d10 + 4 ⇒ (3, 8) + 4 = 15 radiant dmg, half on a save.
I do not have my shield equipped or any weapons out. If they attack me, I will using my warding flare which gives them disadvantage on attacks rolls. I have two warding flares.

Raeva does not have hellish rebuke as far as I know. If he does, he'll use it.

Shoot, I forgot, tieflings get it at 3rd level... :(

Initiative:
Alysha: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Bad Guys: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Shoun: 1d20 ⇒ 15
Draco: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14
Raeva: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Krissina: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Rakish: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Sorry Shoun...

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Shoun swears that his fire bolt strikes true, but the large cat shimmers and the bolt passes right through!!!

Draco glows with the fury of the Sun! 2d20 ⇒ (19, 18) = 37

But to no avail, as the both forms shimmer as with Shoun's blast of fire!

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 Raeva's dagger strikes, but the form shimmers and it passes right through! Technically, this should have happened first, but no matter...

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18 His fire bolt does not miss, however, and in that moment of his dagger passing through the false beast, Raeva catches a glimpse of its true location and burns it, causing a momentary disruption of its displacement! Beast 2 no longer imposes disadvantage to hit. -5 hp.

2d20 ⇒ (19, 4) = 23 Rakish swipes at the passing cat and misses too!

Looking to get to the cat dragging off Alysha, he moves up and swings! 1d20 ⇒ 4 Both swings meet with air as the illusory form shimmers, saving the beast from a savage mauling!

Krissina swings at the retreating cat, and misses, its shimmering form allowing it to dodge her thrust! Then she arranges herself so that everyone is within range for her to distract the beasts!

Alysha, another death save, please!

Beast 1, angry that this lizardman wants to steal its food, lashes at Rakish twice! 2d20 + 6 ⇒ (17, 16) + 6 = 39 They both connect! Rakish, take 20 hp of damage!!!

Beast 2, injured, pounces at Draco! 2d20 + 6 ⇒ (12, 7) + 6 = 25 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Draco's warding flare, protects him from the first swing, but the second just strikes true! Draco, 10 hp of damage and 1 use of Warding Flare, exhausted.

Sorry, guys! This is a crazy encounter! The disadvantage is killing you guys!

You are all up!

Death Save: 1d20 ⇒ 3

while Rakish distracts the cat-creature, Krissina slips forward to heal Alysha Lvl2 Cure: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (7, 5) + 3 = 15

Same standing orders re: Cutting Words & Hellish Rebuke

Draco will burning hands this time getting both if he can dmg: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 2) = 8 Dex of 14 for half, or in this case none. Please fail, it will stop disadvantage Also I have elemental adept of fire, so 1s become 2s.

Alysha gets up. "Uh what.. Harold... I told you to stop slapping me... oh... what's happening? Thank you, Krissina."

This might be next turn.. sucks to be in the wrong initiative order.
Alysha will hold her action to magic missile after the beasts attack. Two to the one that attacked her and one to the other.

Magic Missile: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (4, 3) + 2 = 9
Magic Missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Seeing the old gal get to her feet, Shoun will say "Glad to have you back with us." then he will spin and target one of the ones his allies are engaging in melee, while making suggestions on how better to combat them.

I will give Rakish advantage, which should counter the disadvantage. I will then shoot at one of the ones that has an ally on it.

Firebolt: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 201d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Damage Roll: 1d10 ⇒ 2

Shoun flings another fire bolt at the one on Draco, scoring a hit on its hind quarters!

Draco, they have spread out. They seem to be intelligent!
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9 Draco's flames envelop the one in front of him!

Initiative:
Alysha: 19 (magic missile next round)
Displacer Beasts: 18
Shoun: 15
Draco: 14
Raeva: 5 <=
Krissina: 4
Rakish: 4 Has advantage on next attack (cancelling disadvantage)

Beast 1 (full hp); Beast 2 (-16 hp)

Assisted by Shoun, Rakish tears into the beast. He swings Hew at it, while chomping down with his jaws, grabbing at flesh.

Hew: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Bonus action to use Hungry Jaws; if bite attack hits, regain 3 HP.

Raeva targets the beast again with a Fire Bolt.
Fire Bolt
To Hit: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 To Hurt: 1d10 ⇒ 7

Raeva hurls another fire bolt, missing wide left!

Krissina rushes to Alysha's side, pouring her magical healing into the old woman. The diviner's eyes flutter open, calling out to a past memory!

Rakish swings his battleaxe down hard, but the beast dodges out of the way! 1d20 ⇒ 19 The swing was a good diversion, though as Rakish bites down hard on the creature's neck! The creature shimmers and is now solid before the lizardman, who is chewing on the flesh he just ripped free!

Alysha gathering her wits about her, readies to call upon her arcane power until the beasts act!

Beast 1 (-3 hp) swings at Rakish twice, who seems to have fully drawn its attention! 2d20 ⇒ (14, 2) = 16 One tentacle hits Rakish for -10 hp, but the lizard man dodges the second, easily!

Beast 2 (-16 hp) strikes at Draco twice! Assuming Warding Flare again?3d20 ⇒ (14, 15, 15) = 44 The beast, despite the flash of light, still lands two solid hits on the cleric! Draco takes -20 hp! As the beast begins to shimmer and displace, Alysha whispers, Oh no you don't, dearie! Or something to that effect... and lets loose a barrage of silvery bolts at the two beasts!!!

Initiative:
Alysha: 19
Displacer Beasts: 18
Shoun: 15
Draco: 14
Raeva: 5
Krissina: 4
Rakish: 4

Beast 1 (-12 hp), Beast 2 (-19 hp)

Everyone may post and I will sort them out!

Using bonus action for Second Wind.

1d10 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

He then swings Hew at the beast two handed.

Hew: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Dis: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

Neither of them are displaced now, right? Also, I think you missed my attack roll in the summary above.

Seeing it's effectiveness, Shoun will again offer suggestions to Rakish while pouring fire into the one on Draco. Giving Rakish advantage for his next attack.

Firebolt Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Damage w/Sneak Attack: 1d10 + 2d6 ⇒ (10) + (2, 3) = 15

Raeva targets the same creature again. He tries to make sure that there is some distance between himself and it.

Fire Bolt
To Hit: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19 To Hurt: 1d10 ⇒ 3

Order of Operations is important here. Because if the enemy loses displacement, and then Shoun grants me advantage, I can actually roll twice and take the better. I'm not just canceling disadvantage.

Hey Shoun, is that advantage for just my next attack, or my next turn?

Neither of them are displaced now, right? Also, I think you missed my attack roll in the summary above.

Seeing it's effectiveness, Shoun will again offer suggestions to Rakish while pouring fire into the one on Draco. Giving Rakish advantage for his next attack.

[dice=Firebolt Attack]1d20+5
[dice=Damage w/Sneak Attack]1d10+2d6

Got your description on the post above that one. ;)

Shoun, taking advantage of the distraction that Draco is providing, hurls a bolt of fire in the creature's face!

@Rakish, both targets have lost their displacement for the round, so I will turn that to advantage. Shoun is just using the Help action, but he can do it from range and as a bonus action because of his class, so it is just your next attack, not the whole round.

EDIT: Beast 1 (-12 hp), Beast 2 (-34 hp)

Initiative:
Alysha: 19
Displacer Beasts: 18
Shoun: 15
Draco: 14 <=
Raeva: 5
Krissina: 4
Rakish: 4

On her turn, Alysha will crawl away from the beasts 10' if she can, and hold her action and magic missile again after their attack.

"Where are my ravens? Tear them apart, my pretty ones!" she says.

Magic Missile Beast 1 - 2: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (3, 1) + 2 = 6
Magic Missile Beast 2 - 1: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Draco was nearly knocked out by that and will cure wounds with some power put into it. level 2 cure wounds on self
heal: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (6, 5) + 2 = 13 He also pulls out his lightbringer.

Krissina will try and keep herself between the beast and Alysha lashing out Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16 dmg: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

So sorry. I didn't realize we were waiting on me.

Raeva continues to project flames.
Fire Bolt
To Hit: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7 To Hurt: 1d10 ⇒ 8

Aaaand, I'm back! Sorry, Raeva, I had somehow missed your previous post, before Rakish's!

Draco calls upon the favor of his deity and he feels the warmth flow through his body, refreshing himself!

Raeva tags Beast 2 again!

Krissina's rapier strikes true, piercing the beast's hide!

Krissina's attack leaves an opening for Rakish to bring Hew down on the beast's back!

Beast 1 backs up a step and faces both Krissina and Rakish, lashing out at each of them! Krissina: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12 Rakish: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8 Being thrown off-balance by the onslaught, the creature cannot land a solid hit!

Beast 2 snarls at Draco and lashes out! 2d20 ⇒ (13, 10) = 23

Krissina, if you'd like to use Cutting Words, you need a 3 or greater to turn the hit on Draco to a miss. If not...

The beast hits the cleric swinging past his defenses, causing him to scramble away and hide dig in, defensively behind his shield! Draco takes -10 hp!

Alysha sends her flashing ravens to shred the beasts again!!!

Beast 1 (-39 hp), Beast 2 (-39 hp)

Initiative:
Alysha: 19
Displacer Beasts: 18
Shoun: 15 <=
Draco: 14
Raeva: 5
Krissina: 4
Rakish: 4

Go ahead and post!

Yes cutting words 1d6 ⇒ 2

Not quite enough... Draco still takes -10 hp.