GM Niles' 5E Experiment (Inactive)

Game Master nilesr

My understanding is we were supposed to clear out the zombies and go back to town. We've cleared the zombies and have made it clear we're going back to town. Has something been missed?

yep were heading back to town need any rolls Niles

That was a reading fail on my part. I read all your dialogue and missed the part where Duncan and Morgran posted they were heading to town. I thought you guys were just discussing loot. Sorry.

The party heads back down the Triboar towards Phandalin

3d20 ⇒ (5, 14, 1) = 20

Along the way, a hawk wheels into view and screeches. It dives straight at you before turning into a man directly in front of you!

You recognize the figure as Reidoth the Druid of Thundertree So, you've been busy! Good on ya for getting rid of those Orcs, save me some time and energy that did! Here, take these for your efforts. Reidoth hands over three fruitlike objects Eat em when you are feeling down, they'll help ya feel a whole bunch better. Heal 1d8+2 extra on a short rest

Reidoth says What are you folk planning next? I still got that Dragon problem...

We gotta headback to town to tell them the orc menace is over. As for the dragon afterwards? Thats a mighty big problem you got there - what else can you tell us? Is it raiding?

with a friendly smile Morgran leans on his axe handle watching the druid while Reidoth returns to his normal form. "Welcome back to ground level birdman. Thank you for the fruits.
My people have dealt with wryms for eons however they are nothing to trifle with.... Master Druid, why do you think the 4 of us can solve your dragon problem? We have had some success with human and orc brigrands, not to mention some other verminous pest. But a dragon, a true adult dragon is a trouble of a completely different caliber"

Reidoth shrugs Couldn't hurt to ask...again. and then he turns back into an Eagle before screeching off.

The party continues down the Triboar to Phandalin. Gundren Rockseeker greets you

I've FOUND it! The Dwarf says a giant smile across his face We just have to go and make our claim! He unrolls a map and points to a spot on it that has been circled I used the map you uncovered at the Cragmaw Castle and some of my own research.

Lyle looks critically at the druid.

"Dragons are some of the mightiest creatures known to mortal man. How do you expect us to graduate from zombies and orcs on to dragons? Is this dragon crippled or an imbecile or something?"

"Great to hear, Gundrun. That wouldn't happen to be anywhere near a crazy druid named Reidoth would it?" Morgran says in jest as he moves over to look at the map. Morgran will allow Lyle the chance to embellish their newest story as the bard sees fit.

Wish he had of told us more... I was not entirely against the idea, dangerous as it was.

"Was fishing for more but he didn't seem too forthcoming about it. Surely he didn't take offense at birdman, he was flying around as a bird."

"Pretty neat how he can change his shape, though. Anyway, back to this map. Where is it and how do WE make a claim?"

Well, its only a day out of Phandalin...see. He points to the map And we make a claim by going there and taking the mine!

Gundren says Reidoth? Huh. Thought he was a dead man. Hadn't been seen in Phandalin in ages.

"Well what are we waiting for? We have a mine to claim!", Duncan says while slapping his friends on the back and shoulders.

"Let's head back to the inn and start planning our journey.

"Good idea Duncan, some good food and a nice nights sleep sounds wonderful. as they are walking back towards the tavern with Gundren BTW Gundren, exactly who are we taking the mine from?"

"The mine sounds like a good idea, there's been so much talk about it. Also, could be a fantastic song," muses Lyle as he walks along.

Gundren replies to Morgran's question

I dunno. Could be no one... but I think someone was bossing that hobgoblin that captured me around.

"Guess we'll just have to go find out" Morgran says conversationally.

After a good night's rest, Morgran is ready to go.

Once the party is ready to go, Gundrun Rockseeker and his brother Barthen Rockseeker will load up a wagon with supplies and set out with map in hand, heading for the Lost Mine of Phandelver.

After some time traveling, the party hears a booming, crashing sound. Gundren says This is it! The notes I found say that Wave Echo Cave is filled with such noise!

The entrance tunnel leads into a large cavern supported by a natural pillar of rock and containing three stalagmites. In the western part of the cave, behind the column of rock are three bedrolls and a heap of ordinary supplies- sacks of flour, jars of oil, bags of salt, casks of salted meat, pickaxes, shovels and other gear. Amid the supplies you see the body of a dwarf miner, dead at least a week. The northeastern section of the cave has collapsed, forming a 10 foot wide 20 foot deep pit. A sturdy hemp rope is tied off around a nearby stalagmite and dangles down the side of the pit, at the bottom of which is a rough hewn tunnel heading northwest and east.

Map is updated

Morgran will move over to the dead dwarf to see if he can tell what ended the fellows life.

Medicine: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11 and with that roll I hope it was very obvious

" Well we can follow the rope and see what this fellow was up to before his untimely demise. Or we can try to make it to the original tunnel over there. The one below could save us time if it connects with the old mine system already." he offers leaving unsaid the part about being a waste of time if it doesn't.

"Well if it has to do with tunnels and mines and such, I am confident in your leading us Morgran. I know next to nothing about such things..."

Duncan will examine the body of the dwarf, as well as search him.

Medicine: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Lyle looks over at the corpse and dangling rope.

"Let's investigate. I hate to see a mystery go unsolved."

Gundren walks over with Duncan and Morgran. When he spots the body he issues a keening wail
My brother! Barthen! Barthen! Look! Oh no! Oh no Thardren. Who did this! Who killed you!

Barthen looks, and the older brother sheds a tear

This is our Brother Thardren, he and another Brother named Nundro were also seeking this place. They came to the store, only a week ago. Said they were going to scout the coast...They probably found this place entirely on accident.

The corpse of Thardren Rockseeker bears unmistakable signs of violence.

I labeled the options Blue or Red

Morgran will offer to let the others down by rope if they are uncomfortable doing so therm selves. 'Hey stand against the wakk there!" he says pointing to an area close to where the rope sets them down. Once he reaches bottom he will attempt to see if he can tell which way the most recent tracks are leading using that to determine which path to choose.

survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20 that's a little better

If aset of tracks presents itself Morgrna suggest following them, if not he'' suggest they move right to left so take the red arrow.

Sorry day one of 3 day volleyball tournament done, left at 6:45am and returned home after 11pm. Gonna call it a night. Internet service lousy in the convention center"

Duncan moves over to the distraught dwarf and gently lays his hand on his shoulder.

"I am so sorry Gundren. We will search for Numdro, but maybe we should remove Thardren to the wagon so you may return him to town."

Duncan will help remove the supplies from the wagon and wrap the body of Thardren in a blanket and place it on the wagon.

"We will search out the cavern and mark your claim, as well as trying to discover who killed Thardren and where Numdro went."

He looks over to his friends for a sign of agreement.

Thanks. Gundren says Barthen and I will stay here and set up camp. We'll fortify this spot so you can return and rest if you want. Remember, everything we have read says this place is huge.

Morgran is agreeable to this plan, next action already posted in previous posting

Andrei lays a hand on the corpse and gives a brief blessing to the body.

Andrei scouts ahead briefly towards the right (red) arrow.

Making sure that Gundren and Barthen are settled in, Duncan follows Andrei and the others into the caves.

Stealth: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Lyle creeps along with the group, keeping to the shadows.

Andrei leads the group east through a natural tunnel into a cavern,

Many tunnels intersect at this natural, thirty foot high cavern. The walls are carved with reliefs depicting dwarven miners hard at work. Below them nearly two dozen skeletons in rusted scraps of armor are scattered across the cavern floor. Some are dwarf skeletons, while others are obviously orc remains. Half a dozen large brass lanterns stand in niches or on ledges but none are lit

Who has the light source for Duncan and Andrei to see by?

Morgran would have supplied a torch for those who needed one from the supplies he had.

Entering the cavern, Morgran is distracted from inspecting the scene of a fight by a faint rustling above, looking up he notices several small creatures, Int(DC7): 1d20 ⇒ 5, covering the ceiling. However he doesn't know what they are. Placing a hand on Duncan's shoulder he motions quiet and points upward.

"Umm..yeah, was going to say something...what should we do?? I am pretty sure they are stirges...sort of like a bat/mosquito mashup."

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19

"Well this is cheery," mutters Lyle as he looks over the skeletons. He then slowly stares upwards to see the the giant death bugs.

Int: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

"Uh oh..."

Lyle gets ready to cast a spell if they begin to move.

Who has the light source for Duncan and Andrei to see by?

half elf but Duncan needs it. Just how many stirges are we talking here?

About a dozen it mentions in the spoiler above

"Is there a way to avoid them?"

Lets back out and go the other way... Nothing gained here at the moment.

He suggests the group head back to the intersection, warn the dwarves then try the other tunnel.

Andrei leads the party to the other side of the crevasse.

This area consists of numerous intersecting passages. The ceiling here is only 6 feet high and several of the passages end in dead ends.

1d20 - 2 ⇒ (4) - 2 = 2

Andrei notices an ooze like creature attached to a wall nearby Stealth: 2d20 ⇒ (18, 6) = 24 the ooze begins to move toward Andrei!

Round 1
Good Guys
Jelly

Good guys go!

Andrei Int: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Andrei does not know not to slash Jellies, and might yet! But he knows this is a new foe beyond his knowledge.

Ware! A moving jelly - back up and someone tell me how to deal with this!

Arcana: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

"Watch out! I know a funny limerick about those - that's an ochre jelly. Slash it or zap it with lightning and it divides in two so don't hit it with your longsword!"

Lyle pulls out his rapier.

"This is pointy, not slashy. Anyone need it?"

Lyle will pass his rapier to a bigger, meaner person who can make use of it.

"This doesn't slash so much as smash" Morgran say with a grin, hefting the warhammer from his belt. Moving forward to attack the ooze. Due to the hare's pace at which the dwarven race moves it will be next round before Morgran can attack though. Think he can make it to the square behind where Andrei would be for his attack

Round 2 attack if needed

warhammer: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
dmg?: 1d8 ⇒ 1 well that is not going to be a lot of help

Round 1
Andrei backs up and calls for help.
Lyle offers his Rapier
Morgran moves up and readies an attack against the Jelly
Duncan needs to post.
Jelly moves up and attacks Morgran, Morgran's attack hits the Jelly. Pseudopod: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23 striking the Dwarf for 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (1, 5) + 2 = 8 and 1d6 ⇒ 3 Acid damage

Round 2
Andrei
Lyle
Morgran
Duncan
Jelly

Good guys are up, Duncan needs to post Round 1 and 2 actions.

"This doesn't slash so much as smash" Morgran say with a grin, hefting the warhammer from his belt. Moving forward to attack the ooze. Due to the hare's pace at which the dwarven race moves it will be next round before Morgran can attack though. Think he can make it to the square behind where Andrei would be for his attack

Round 2 attack if needed

[dice=warhammer]1d20+5
[dice=dmg?]1d8 well that is not going to be a lot of help

You forgot to add your +3 str mod for dmg - 4 is better than 1

Back up! Back up! We can hit it with longer range weapons and magic! It can't move that fast!

Sorry busy day yesterday

Turn One

Duncan, hearing Lyle's words, leaves his sword in its sheath as he moves forward to pummel the jelly.

Attack-unarmed: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Attack-unarmed: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Duncan punches the Jelly once for 5
Jelly moves up and attacks Morgran, Morgran's attack hits the Jelly. striking the Dwarf for 8 and 3 Acid damage

Round 2
Andrei
Lyle
Morgran
Duncan
Jelly

Waiting on everyone to post.

ROund 2

Again Duncan strikes at the jelly with his fists.

Attack-unarmed: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Attack-unarmed: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

So I did, thanks for the reminder Andrei

Morgran grunts as the acid chews into the back of his exposed skin. You're probably right but hate to leave young Duncan here to take my slack." he replies as he winds up for another swing...

warhammer: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Dmg?: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Stuck in the back, Lyle starts reciting some exciting poetry.

Inspiration to Andrei - +1d6 on next attack (or any within a minute).

Andrei, empowered by Lyle steps up and swings with his armoured boot, trying to smash it.

1d1d20 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 6 + (3) = 14 for 1 + 4 = 5

Round 2
Andrei would love to kick the jelly, but he is hemmed in by Morgran and Duncan.
Lyle gives inspiration to Andrei...
Morgran strikes the Jelly for 11.
Duncan hits for 7
Jelly retaliates on the Dwarf! Pseudopod: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 missing badly.

Round 3
Andrei
Lyle
Morgran
Duncan
Jelly

Seeing Andrei trying to get in a shot as well. Morgran takes a shot at the jelly then backs up a bit more.

warhammer: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Dmg?: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

"Come on along you soupy mix of garbage"