Out of the Abyss (Inactive)

Game Master caster4life

Tiberius comes out of his deep contemplation at the discussion.
I'm a soldier, recently, I have found some peace in Bahamut. I can fight well, and have some limited healing abilities, as you have seen. He looks to the ravine and the gap.

I could perhaps assist others by tossing them as they jump, or by kneeling and letting them push off my shoulders as I push them. Helping them to gain a better height and distance. But I have no rope. I could possibly make the jump myself.

Considering leaping over the gorge, Kanzen first peers ahead to see if he can make out any hint of danger once somebody jumps over.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Ha good to see my rolling's back to normal :)

Looks fine up ahead! XD

Convinced that the other side holds no dangers, Kanzen takes a short run up and leaps lightly across the gorge. Still, he lands with his dagger and his ever-present manacles ready for trouble.

Apologies in advance if jumping over triggers an encounter folks. Wisdom is 8, rolled a 1 for Perception. Kanzen literally leaps before he looks.

Kanzen lands on the opposite side and finds stable rock underneath his feet. This particular large cavern continues on for a while before narrowing.

The burly orc takes a running leap and clears the gap. He stands up on the other side and looks back at the others with a sneer of superiority curling his lips. He calls back in rough common "What? Scared of a little jump?"

No, nor should you feel superior in accomplishing such a minor feat. He turns back to the others.
My offer still stands.

Not sure if I need to make a roll... but if a roll is needed, Tiberius will give them advantage at least by aiding them. Then he will jump.

Tiberius is strong enough to grant advantage to those trying to jump across but the timing is probably the hard part. DC 10 dex check to grant someone advantage on the roll. It won't hurt them if you fail unless you get a 3 or below.

"That's right! He always was just a bully! I don't know what he's saying but I can tell from his face! Oh, and will you help me over?"

Eddrikk jumps over and looks around for danger.
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Seeing no rope handy, Galinndan decides to give the jump a try.

He takes a running start and leaps.

Athletics: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (19) + 0 = 19

Galenus leaps across, and will take someone with him if needed.

dex to aid: 1d20 ⇒ 12

When the last person is across. He jumps across as well. Still carrying stool.

athletics: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Eddrikk looks around but doesn't see any signs of trouble here. The stronger members of the group leap across without difficulty.

Cyrus did get rope. What is everyone else doing right now?

Is everyone across now?

Irdril watches the strong types make the jump easily. She on the other hand is not sure she could make it.

"Umm.. Yea... I don't think I can clear that.. Perhaps one of you strong lads can give me a ride?"

Mechanically she could make it but would need to roll a 6 or better on athletics.. I don't like 25% chance of dieing lol..

you would have advantage from Tiberius

Cyrus gets to work hammering in a pair of spikes on one side and sying off part of the rope. "Someone tie it off there too." He says holding out the spikes and hammer to a volunteer.

We can tie off a rope bridge and have someone that can make the jump untie it before jumping.

Once the work is done he walks across the make shift bridge.
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

Cyrus tight rope walks across the bridge. Others find that feat of agility somewhat daunting and decide to shuffle crawl upside-down across instead, with the strong hands of Tiberius helping them up across the other side.

Shuushar pulls up the stake and throws it and the rope across before leaping across.

Drow pursuit level decreased to 1! Terrain encounter successful with no hp lost (e.g. for banging against the side of the gorge when failing a jump but secured with a rope from one side). 50 xp each with a 25 xp to Cyrus for good use of equipment.

Shuushar leads you down a tunnel leading out of this cavern. You come to another fork and he leads you to the right, indicating that the other fork does not lead toward his town. You continue along, growing somewhat weary, your main measure of when it is time to rest.

The group proceeds along quietly for a time, their bare feet padding along on the cave floor. Then Cyrus' light feet break through the ground and he falls through the floor! He lands at the bottom of this sinkhole with a hard thud.

Failed the dex save by a little bit. 6 bludgeoning damage. Climbing out of this pit would require a DC 15 athletics check.

Galinndan keeps an eye out for danger, sustenance, and a safe place to rest.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Galinndan looks around for food and notices traces of it in the area but doesn't find anything particularly edible. After Cyrus falls into the pit, Galinndan hears something shuffle around in the shadows of the cavern around them but even his sharp elven eyes don't make anything out.

What are you doing now? You can do something to help Cyrus, make active perception checks, try to forage, etc.

Something is shuffling about nearby, be wary. Someone strong, get a rope down to Cyrus and fast.

Galinndan makes sure that he is between the source of the noise and the group, as best as he can reckon it, dagger in hand.

How in the world did the lightest among us fall through that? Galenus ponders as he prepared to help Cyrus get back up.

I'm assuming Cyrus will throw up his rope so he can climb out. If that's not possible, Galenus will cast Jump on himself, then jump down, allow Cyrus to climb on to him, and jump back up and out of the pit. With the spell, I have a standing high jump of 30'.

I know, right? The dice were weird. They chose the lightest and most dexterous (tied) member to fall into a sinkhole.

Cyrus can throw the rope up and attempt to climb out with a relatively easy athletics check. Jumping down would incur the fall damage on you as well, Galenus. Unless I'm missing something about an increased jump distance negating fall damage. And btw, the rope is seeing a lot of use so it might start to wear out after a little while. Just another fun wrinkle.

The female deep gnome looks around uneasily. "There's something around here... I don't know where..." She shifts her weight back and forth on each foot and scratches her neck vigorously. "We should find somewhere to rest. Now!!"

Her twin brother, Turvy, growls somewhat under his breath, an odd sound coming from a deep gnome.

Eddrikk will assist with hauling Cyrus out of the hole.

Insight: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Galinndan makes a point of moving near to Topsy.

He whispers:

"Topsy, Is there something else we need to worry about?"

The deep gnome shudders as Galinndan whispers to her (in Undercommon I assume). She seems on the verge of answering

Will take a persuasion check to get her to talk about this.

Galinndan already has undercommon from character creation. He took it for hunting drow.

"Don't worry. You can tell me."

Persuasion: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2 Edited for correct bonus

Yes but I called out the language to clarify since not everyone has Undercommon yet. Also, I'm pretty sure you put the wrong bonus to that persuasion check, bringing the total to a 2.

Both deep gnomes look at you with eyebrows raised. The gruffer of the twins growls at you "I don't like you, bright ears. Why are you so nosy?"

Ah certainly.

"I want to make sure there isn't another danger that I've missed. That might help us all to live longer."

If Topsy or Turvy don't respond, Galinndan will resume his watch at the fringe of the group.

"Yeah well watch your own back and we'll watch ours. Just 'cause the Drow captured you too doesn't mean we're all friends here."

Galinndan continues his tradition of poor charisma checks. XD

Tiberius walks over to the argument once across

We are all in this together, we need to be able to cooperate together. If there is something of concern, it would be best to let everyone know, so we have a better chance of dealing with it.

He kneels down on one knee to be more level with the gnomes, Tell me, is it something that could pose a danger to us? Or hinder the group?

persuasion: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

I told you holes were my only weakness.

With the help of the crew Cyrus climbs out of the hole, cursing under his breath as he does.

Climb: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

Cyrus makes his way successfully out of the hole!

Turvy growls under his breath but Topsy silences him with a look. She looks at her feet for a few moments then looks up to the tall dragon man. "We have... a problem... and we can't hold it in much longer... Sometimes we... change... and then we can't control ourselves"

50 xp to Tiberius for getting the Twins to start opening up about their secret.

Just as Cyrus is making his way out of the hole, Galenus cries out in pain! A tentacle snaked its way out from the darkness and struck him, wrapping tightly around him. You now notice a large, tentacled predator that was very well camouflaged with the rock, changing its skin color now to a bright, aggressive pink!

9 bludgeoning damage and Galenus is grappled!

Kanzen continues to look outward, scanning for danger while absent-mindedly fiddling with his manacles.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

Kanzen, remember you still have disad on ability checks like perception and initiative from the exhaustion. Galenus lies unconscious in the creature's tentacles while the others react in surprise!

Galinndan, Kanzen, Tiberius, and Irdril up.

Galenus let's out a Yelp before falling unconscious from the pain.

Tiberius turns to the noise before turning back to the gnomes. We will work out a solution to your problem later, first, we need to handle this one.

He moves up to the aberration and strikes at it with his shortsword, aiming in a way to try and cause it to let go of galenus.

attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

The creature lets out a strange hiss of pain and recoils, dropping its Dwarven prey. Apparently, it is more accustomed to groups of prey that don't stick together.

The twins shake their heads violently while making growling noises. Then they hunch down on all fours and launch themselves in a fury at the creature, biting and clawing at it. They've suddenly become much hairier.

Nature: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5
Nature disad: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1
Arcana: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4
Arcana disad: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4

Duuh, what?

Kanzen rushes towards the horrible-looking thing, his dagger clasped in both be-manacled hands.

Dagger: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Dagger disad: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Sigh. I'm really going to appreciate being able to roll properly once I'm neither exhausted nor restrained!

Nature: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

Arcana: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

In a flash, Galinndan realises what they are facing.

"Rocktopus! Watch out for its tentacles and ink cloud!"

He tries to move so that he flanks the creature before slashing at it with his dagger. And to stay out of the way of the twins.

Dagger: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 3 + 2 = 24

Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

It hasn't been that long but I'll bot Irdril. She'll still be able to act as soon as she checks in.

Irdril calls out some very rude things about tentacles and moves away from the dangerous creature. The rocktopus doesn't seem to understand but winces anyhow.

Wis save: 1d20 ⇒ 9
Dam: 1d4 ⇒ 2

The creature recoils somewhat in pain and lashes out more feebly.

In anger, it lashes out at the nearby foe who just damaged it but Tiberius deflects its blow with his shield.

All party members up for bottom of round 2 or top of round 1!

Work is bad this wek i apologize.

Irdril continues her cerbal onslaught of the rock creature and heals Gal as a bonus action.

Dam: 1d4 ⇒ 4 dc 13 or disadvantage again.

Heals: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7 Disadvantage

Cyrus moves in and attacks the beast before ducking back out into position.

Bonus Disengage.

Galenus twitches.

Galenus! U have 6 HP! :)

Tiberius lashes out again with his blade and shield in a flurry of strikes

sword attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

shield slam?: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
damage?: 1d4 ⇒ 3

not sure how attacking with a shield works, or how much damage it should do, but I know you don't get bonus on off hand attacks.

Kanzen's dagger darts out clumsily at the pink horror.

Dagger: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Dagger disad: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Eddrikk joins the onslaught against the rocktopus.

Dagger Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Dagger Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Glad you guys are enjoying them. The NPCs are basically straight out of the book.

Kanzen, you know that the normal Drow guards are probably a decent match for you guys one-on-one given equal equipment/condition. The Drow with silver spiders on their chests are elite warriors and are significantly stronger, though you've never fought against one so you're unsure how much stronger.

I imagined that a passive perception test was just comparing the DC to our passive perception. Just confirming.

Yeah, that's what it means.

Anyone with a passive perception of 12 or higher auto passes. Anyone lower (like me) auto fails.

:)

Ah thanks folks, haven't been playing 5e long, still getting used to the differences from PF.

Cool. And no worries, I'm not so long to 5th ed myself.

Yes passive checks are a new thing. I kind of like them for some things, not for others. I'll use passive checks when I feel they make sense (e.g. passive insight if someone is lying badly to you).

Just so everyone remembers, this is the available equipment we have:

6 shortswords

3 daggers

2 hand crossbows

2 cases of hand crossbow bolts, each case containing 20 bolts

And a 100-foot-long coil of silk rope.

--------

I'd like to claim one of the daggers, but other than that I don't know who has what. I've updated the party loot Excel file. When you claim something, please write in your name.

Eventually I'll take a crossbow.

I have claimed a short sword, and if all the weapons don't go I'll claim another blade.

Party notes updated.

Hey DM, was the work crew gone long enough for the rest of us to take a short rest?

Yes on the short rest. Thanks on the notes.

I claimed a shortsword and studded leather armour.

On the off-chance there are spare weapons, I'd take another blade as well.

Added to the party loot, notes on Ront and Cyrus getting weapons.

Inspiration for Galinndan! This might seem funny but it's really important to have players involved on the book-keeping end. The inspiration for these activities will be maintained throughout the campaign but might be a bit less frequent after a while. After all, we want inspiration to be special and reward good RP too.

Updated loot claims for Eddrikk and Tiberius (shortsword apiece). I think that means only Irdran to claim weapons. Once she has, I'm looking to grab, in order of preference, a shortsword, a dagger, or a hand xbow.

@GM just in case you didn't see my gameplay post, I'm going with the dwarves to the guard tower :)

This might seem funny but it's really important to have players involved on the book-keeping end. The inspiration for these activities will be maintained throughout the campaign but might be a bit less frequent after a while. After all, we want inspiration to be special and reward good RP too.

I'm really liking this system of inspiration.

In a home game, it's nice to encourage role-playing, but on PBP the RP is generally at a much higher level. Encouragement isn't as necessary. But involvement for paperwork and logistics is important. So I like that we're using it for that.

Irdril will take a crossbow and 20 bolts. Sorry.

So far, four of us have gone over the spiderweb bridge to the guard tower.

Two of us have entered to attack.

Ok, and having the shackels on we roll with disadvantage on attacks right?

Yes but successful stealth gives you advantage for surprise, which cancel out.

What happened to Cyrus? Is he still around?

@Galinnden so there's a shortsword, a dagger, and a crossbow free. As the finder, you should have first pick. I'll take one of what's left. Could be important in this ambush of the two drow!

Yup.

Cheers, I'll grab a second shortsword then.

Dagger for me :) There's still a xbow someone can grab. Loot updated

Another inspiration for Kanzen. You just might not be able to use it for a while...

Ha roger that.

So what became of that second crossbow? And what is Ront doing with his shortsword?

Ront is taking care of Ront's priorities on Ront's timeline.

Oh sure, but have any of us seen or heard him?

He's not currently up front in the guard tower like the rest of you. I'm unsure where Tiberius is right now so I don't know whether or not he'd be in position to see him.

Edited to account for Cyrus' sneaky self.

I think Cyrus has followed the group to the tower. Just lurking like a sneaky goblin :)

It would take 6 minutes to take the chain shirt and put it on, 60 rounds F that lol

Yeah armor is very slow.

Hey if anyone wants to kick me in the ribs and wake me up, go for it!

@GM

Would that work?

Depends if we're asleep or unconscious, I suppose... So maybe not. If we're already in combat, it would cost an action too, so it'd be a gamble. But if it works, that's two PCs back on deck. I'd totally understand if no one wanted to take the risk of losing their action for nothing.

I went with Galinndan trying to stop the drow flanking us. That and he has two chances to land blows per turn. It also keeps the drow from immediately shanking the unconscious if ye can't be woken.

@Gallindan: Like I said, completely understand :)

@DM: Just put the ambient music on for the first time, loving it.

If I was awake, I'd totally take that armor. :(

@Kanzen: The ambient music is pretty great.

@Galenus: When you're awake you totally can have it!

By my reading, a friendly creature's space is difficult terrain as is a hostile creature's space.

Yeah, you're totally right. I mis-spoke.

The main thing I wanted to clarify was that you can't move through a hostile person's space without an ability, a size difference, or the rule in the DMG.

Yes for sure.

DM thanks for your patience, and sorry about all the rules confusion and questions, I'm still getting used to 5e.

Oh no problem at all. I love sharing 5e with people new to its system.

All: You might have noticed by now that fighting the Drow directly at level one while in manacles isn't a great idea...

Fighting drow without ambush and proper weapons isn't much better. ;)

Screw that. Let's use our environment to our advantage! :)

All we have to do is escape. We don't have to kill them.

True! And I like that plan.

Galinndan certainly won't argue for the time being. ;)

Kanzen can't argue!