Quint finds it all too easy to follow his quarry as he maneuvers across rooftops in a trail that roughly follows the alleys and streets the fire-starting archer runs on. As does the extension of his awareness, his owl familiar, though he's only vaguely aware of it himself.
Nikeisha, out of the corner of her eye, sees the remainder of this mansion's inhabitants running away as fast as they can. The street clear of civilians, she decides to use her magic to extinguish small bits of the fire on the wagon, in the hopes that it will prevent another explosion of whatever alchemical reagent has been causing booms and splinters of flame. Watching the massive fire shrink only a little, just to expand in other places -- expand A LOT, the climbing and reaching flames on the walls on building now light up the whole street -- feels a little futile, but it's the best good she can offer here and now.
Psalm rushes over to the two spell casters, hoping they both don't die so they can be questioned about who they are, why they came, and what they know.
To die, to sleep no more...:
Sorcerer death save:1d20 ⇒ 18 Priest death save:1d20 ⇒ 4
At the moment they both look to be on equal footing with the afterlife. One failure and one success on death saves for each at this point.
Inside the building, Luna darts off to safety and hiding to await the outcome of Hack's war of two people. She barely hears Hack's axe slash through the veteran warriors mail and flesh, and then hears Jun's charismatic voice speaking encouragement to their Highlander friend, and insult to his foe. What she hears after that causes her grasp of serenity to slip, just a little.
Because it makes a difference at this point. The first sword slice is the attack I took the 2 from cutting words off of, and it still hit and did 2 damage, the second did 4 damage, which brings Hack to 0. I realize in the application here, that Cutting Words, at the table, is sort of broken, because DM has no obligation to tell the players what number an enemy rolled. It's essentially a guessing game. In this medium, knowing the numbers provides the opportunity to apply the -2 specifically to one attack, which I'm sure Jun would then apply to the second longsword attack, because that would have actually prevented it from hitting. However, since the shorsword would have dropped Hack regardless, and I desperately needed this warrior's motivations to be crystal clear, I took some liberty there. In a different situation, I may have adjudicated differently, but I wanted Jun to know his life was in danger, because he's carrying that small chest. So, things happened accordingly. :)
Jun watches in horror as the warrior cuts deep into Hack's flesh and the wounds become too much for him, he falls unconscious to the floor, his blood loss terrible. Hack's axe clatters to the ground next to him. Seeing so tough and stalwart a warrior fall drops Jun's stomach in a bit of fear. Worse, he sees the warrior then look up at him, the man whose words attempted to falter his course. The fighter's eyes lock on the small chest that Jun carries, and he takes a quick step stabbing out with his shortsword directly into the arm that Jun has wrapped around the chest. Blinding agony sears through his arm causing the half-elf bard to shriek in pain. He barely keeps a handle on the heavy object.
And we're right back to the top. Everyone can act. Hack, roll a death save please.
Current Initiative = Quint, Psalm, Nikeisha, Jun, Luna, Hackcan only roll a death save.
Female High Elf NG Monk 3 Character Sheet | HP: 26/26 (3d8 + 3) | Defense:AC: 17 (10 + Dex(+ 4) + Wis(+ 3)) Saving Throws: Str. + 4, Dex. + 6 | Advantage vrs Charms, No magical sleep | Perception + 5, Passive + 15, DV 60 ft | Init. + 4, Spd 40 ft.Offense: Unarmed Strike + 6, 1d4 + 4 Ranged: + 6, 1d6 + 4, 80 ft./ 320 ft. | Ki points: 1/3 | Luna's Heritage
Having heard Jun's voice and worrying as to what might be happening, Luna peeks out so she can see what's going on. When she sees that Hack is down, and the warrior is now attacking Jun she gets she decides to try to sneak in and administer a healing potion to Hack.
Luna, there is no way for you to sneak while in the same well lit hallway as a creature that is conscious and has eyes. Sorry. You can still move up and administer the potion, no problem. That just uses your move and action. You'd still have a bonus action and your reaction, should you need/want them.
Male Forest Gnome NG Hermit Druid of the Mountain Circle 3 AC 16 HP 22 Passive Perception 15 Init +2 Proficency Bonus +2 Spell Attack Modifier +5 Spell DC 13 Inspiration 1
Psalm binds the cleric, he looks over at the floating spiritual weapon and takes the extra step of blindfolding the man so that he is less likely to order the weapon about.
Taking or administering a potion requires the use of your Action. You can certainly take another potion of your own, but that would prevent you from attacking this round.
Quint continues to track the retreating archer, occasionally getting confusing flashes in his head of not-quite-the-same man retreating down not-quite-the-same street (presumably toward the same destination).
Not knowing about the one guy that's left or what's going on with him, Quint is essentially out of the fight. Sorry! Hopefully his pursuit will pay off...
Female High Elf NG Monk 3 Character Sheet | HP: 26/26 (3d8 + 3) | Defense:AC: 17 (10 + Dex(+ 4) + Wis(+ 3)) Saving Throws: Str. + 4, Dex. + 6 | Advantage vrs Charms, No magical sleep | Perception + 5, Passive + 15, DV 60 ft | Init. + 4, Spd 40 ft.Offense: Unarmed Strike + 6, 1d4 + 4 Ranged: + 6, 1d6 + 4, 80 ft./ 320 ft. | Ki points: 1/3 | Luna's Heritage
MendedWall12 wrote:
Luna, there is no way for you to sneak while in the same well lit hallway as a creature that is conscious and has eyes. Sorry. You can still move up and administer the potion, no problem. That just uses your move and action. You'd still have a bonus action and your reaction, should you need/want them.
Obviously I will accept your ruling, but if I may ask a question first Mended, I started my move from a location completely out of sight from him, due to the walls in between us. I thought one could do Stealth if they started from out of sight? On top of that he is facing away from me - I realize DnD does not use directional facing in the RAW, but I thought I'd throw it out there. And all I'm wanting is for him not to take notice of me moving around to do so if possible.
Since you're ending your move adjacent to him without obstruction, even if you can get there without being noticed, all he would have to do is move his head a little sometime before your next turn to see you. Being able to get there unnoticed and being able to go unnoticed as you pour a potion down Hack's throat are two different propositions. I could see trying to use a stealth check to avoid an AoO as you move past him (so that he doesn't notice you're there until he's missed the opportunity), but you're not actually provoking one, since you're ending the move inside his threatened area.
So my question would be, what are you trying to accomplish by using stealth?
Male Forest Gnome NG Hermit Druid of the Mountain Circle 3 AC 16 HP 22 Passive Perception 15 Init +2 Proficency Bonus +2 Spell Attack Modifier +5 Spell DC 13 Inspiration 1
Yeah I knew he wasn't dead and you highlighted the spell hasn't ended so I felt the need to hinder the operation of your toys;)
So my question would be, what are you trying to accomplish by using stealth?
As stated in my post, I'm hoping for him to not notice me moving around him. Simply so that I don't become a target preferably.
Well, he can't target you with a reaction, because you're not provoking an AoO. In terms of whether you can remain unnoticed through his next turn, I think I would agree there there is no way for you to accomplish that with a stealth check. Not without being invisible, anyway.
Hack, it's my understanding that when you are using bardic inspiration for an attack roll in which you have advantage the number you roll applies to both of the d20 rolls. Meaning you should be applying the 4 you rolled in the first roll to the second roll, and that would give you an 18 total to hit. If I'm wrong about that please, someone, correct me.
Luna, PHB page 177 in the "Hiding" box says, "You can't hide from a creature that can see you clearly." No matter where you started your turn, you walked out into a well lit hallway. You cannot stealth in that situation at all. Unless, as Quint said, you had some means of invisibility. If you had gone from a position of cover to another position of cover, I might have considered it, but you moved from a position of cover to the end of the same hallway that the person you are trying to hide from is standing. Honestly, and I don't mean this to be offensive, but since I know you are also a DM, I was a little taken aback that you even tried that. If you were the DM would you let a character end their turn next to the person they were trying to hide from in a well lit area, and still be "hidden?"
The reason that's my understanding is because when you roll with advantage, the "roll" is the higher of the two numbers that shows up on the d20. Meaning the lower of the two numbers is not even counted as a roll. Think of it like this. When you're rolling with advantage you roll the d20 twice, and whatever number is the higher of the two is, as far as the game is concerned, the actual number you rolled. The lower of the two disappears into the ether never to be remembered. Does that make sense? Essentially bardic inspiration is used for one attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, but if you are making that roll with advantage, the bardic inspiration automatically gets applied to the number that is applied mechanically to the situation, not to the die that disappears into the ether. Let me know if that still doesn't make sense.
Female High Elf NG Monk 3 Character Sheet | HP: 26/26 (3d8 + 3) | Defense:AC: 17 (10 + Dex(+ 4) + Wis(+ 3)) Saving Throws: Str. + 4, Dex. + 6 | Advantage vrs Charms, No magical sleep | Perception + 5, Passive + 15, DV 60 ft | Init. + 4, Spd 40 ft.Offense: Unarmed Strike + 6, 1d4 + 4 Ranged: + 6, 1d6 + 4, 80 ft./ 320 ft. | Ki points: 1/3 | Luna's Heritage
-Eafphqu- wrote:
... Honestly, and I don't mean this to be offensive, but since I know you are also a DM, I was a little taken aback that you even tried that. If you were the DM would you let a character end their turn next to the person they were trying to hide from in a well lit area, and still be "hidden?"
I was not thinking about the 'ending-up right-adjacent-to-him' part. And so no of course I would not allow that, you are correct.
Female Human Warlock 3 | HP 25/25 | AC 17 | Saving Throws - Str (+0), Dex (+6), Con (+2), Int (+1), Wis (+3), Cha (+6) | Passive Perc - 11 | Init +4 | Spell Slots - 2/2 |
Still confused as to where the heck everyone had gone, Nikeisha moved closer to the house in an attempt to see if the others were trying to help someone inside. As she approached the door she saw the downed Hack and her eyes widened for a moment, and then she hurled a bolt of Eldritch destruction at the attacking figure.
The flurry and chaos of action inside the burning mansion continues as Luna pours a healing potion down Hack's unconscious Highlander gullet. As soon as the magical healing liquid hits his throat the bloody barbarian's eyes pop awake, and he has no trouble immediately remembering where he is and what he was doing. With but a curt nod to Luna he jumps up grabbing his axe and swinging hard at the man who bested him. The axe buries deep in the warrior's back cutting through mail, flesh and bone, and drawing a bass howl. Immediately after, Nikiesha's lovely head pops in the doorframe, seeing her three companions engaged in combat with a stranger she hesitates not even the slightest, shooting a blast of other-worldly green eldritch energy into the man. The blast explodes when it hits his torso, perhaps because Hack's axe had just torn a great gouge in that same spot. Regardless, the force of magic literally tears the man into halves. His legs and feet hit the ground separately from his upper half. There is a brief moment where Jun sees recognition in the man's dying eyes, a realization that he might enter the afterlife in two pieces. Then the assailant's eyes go vacant, and Jun yells to his friends, "OUT! This place is about to crumble and burn!"
Important note, Hack only has 15' of movement left this round, and Nikeisha, as far as I can tell from her previous position, has none. And for the moment, even though there are no more combatants, I'm keeping things in initiative. You'll see why shortly. Jun and Luna have not actually taken their actions in this round, so they could easily both take the Dash action and get well away from here. Up to you both.
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Meanwhile on the street, having bound the priest, Psalm stands watch over the two downed spellcasters, ready, no doubt, to bind, gag, and blindfold the second of the two. As he's preparing to do that, he hears, quite clearly, the faint sound of multiple people in clanging platemail making their hasty way, somewhere. The sound definitely seems like it is approaching from the west. Perhaps the Order Guard are finally on their way? Too late to help this time.
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Further south Quint gets a strange and strong feeling that the archer he's chasing and the other archer that ran off, are not, in fact, going the same direction, and suddenly he loses all sense of where the other one might be. Sorry Quint, but they were not going the same direction, and I forgot that you can't communicate with your familiar when it is more than 100' away. That would have actually happened last round with you and your quarry(s) all taking the Dash action, and in opposite directions. No matter, he keeps his eyes tight locked on his target, and from his rooftop vantage sees the man rip off his mask, suddenly, and enter a tavern from the back entrance. Looking to the sign, he sees it is The Floating Kraken. It seems his pursuit has brought him rather close to the docks, this inn and tavern is one that he knows fairly well, since it is a hive of pirates, thugs and villains.
As I said, we're still in initiative, just without combatants. Ergo, everyone can act.
Current Initiative = Quint, Hack, Luna, Psalm, Nikeisha, Jun.
Female High Elf NG Monk 3 Character Sheet | HP: 26/26 (3d8 + 3) | Defense:AC: 17 (10 + Dex(+ 4) + Wis(+ 3)) Saving Throws: Str. + 4, Dex. + 6 | Advantage vrs Charms, No magical sleep | Perception + 5, Passive + 15, DV 60 ft | Init. + 4, Spd 40 ft.Offense: Unarmed Strike + 6, 1d4 + 4 Ranged: + 6, 1d6 + 4, 80 ft./ 320 ft. | Ki points: 1/3 | Luna's Heritage
Noticing the seemingly heavy chest that Jun is carrying Luna says, "Do you need help carrying that?" If it is possible to carry it between the two of them, Luna shall help and get as far away as possible from the building, towards the streets.
I think we should hide the chest before anyone else shows up! Authorities would most likely confiscate it as evidence, and we would never know what's in it. Most likely there is some evidence in there that we need to know about. We can always turn it in later and claim that in all the commotion and the danger to our lives and others, we forgot to tell them about it. Or perhaps we should leave the area (along with the chest and bag of parchments & scrolls) before they arrive. Being questioned by the authorities may not be in our best interest at this time? Considering we have no authority to be killing these guys. Not sure how the authorities would look at this situation.
Male Forest Gnome NG Hermit Druid of the Mountain Circle 3 AC 16 HP 22 Passive Perception 15 Init +2 Proficency Bonus +2 Spell Attack Modifier +5 Spell DC 13 Inspiration 1
Psalm binds the other spell caster as fast as possible and will then race for the door where he saw everyone else go.
Quint, the masked man was also hooded, in a hood with a deep cowl. Since you were looking down on him from above, I'm going to say that there was no way for you to make out anything descript about him. Essentially he ripped off the mask and opened the back door to The Floating Kraken simultaneously.
Female Human Warlock 3 | HP 25/25 | AC 17 | Saving Throws - Str (+0), Dex (+6), Con (+2), Int (+1), Wis (+3), Cha (+6) | Passive Perc - 11 | Init +4 | Spell Slots - 2/2 |
The building seemed a lost cause, but Nikeisha backed away anyway, putting out flames as she went.
Male Forest Gnome NG Hermit Druid of the Mountain Circle 3 AC 16 HP 22 Passive Perception 15 Init +2 Proficency Bonus +2 Spell Attack Modifier +5 Spell DC 13 Inspiration 1
He looks back at those companions he can see. "Guards are coming are we sticking around to explain or fleeing.?"
investigation:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14 In the course of binding the spell casters and separating them from obvious weapons did I see anything of note. Marks, tatoos or symbols. Crazy magic items.
Priest Death Save:1d20 ⇒ 3 Sorcerer Death Save:1d20 ⇒ 3
When Psalm tied up the second caster he couldn't help but notice two things. Thing the first, they are both barely clinging to life. Thing the second, that the holy symbol the priest was using, the symbol that fell out of his hand when he hit the ground, hard, is an exact replica of the curved, chromatic, five-pointed star that Akassa showed them, and that he's seen in several drawings during his research of the ancient elven war. The symbol of Kraiula, the queen of dragons. That is probably one of the most disturbing revelations of this entire combat. In order for a priest to wield magic, they must be granted it by their deity. If Kraiula is granting men and women access to magical power, she is, clearly, not dead. Likewise, the gnome's question to his companions is the burning question of the moment. "Should we stay or should we go?" Hack's wounds are all closed and mostly healed from his potion consumption and Jun's magic (35/39 HP), and Nikeisha's ability to stop or even contain the fires consuming this mansion compound are woefully inadequate. For every five foot square fire she puts out, fifteen more feet are spread elsewhere. Therefore saving the structure is clearly a lost cause. The approaching clang of steel covered boots continues to get louder, coming from the west. There can be no doubt now, a force of Order Guard is on its way. Now the party must decide, stay and face the music and all the ramifications that go with it? Or head some place out of the way, and pop the lock on this small chest to see what's inside, and likewise, to peruse through the various parchments that Jun collected in his new leather satchel. And if they do leave, where are they going to go?
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Down by the docks, outside the back alley of The Floating Kraken, Quint sneaks up and peers just over the lower edge of a windowsill. In so doing he sees only the hustle and bustle of a busy kitchen, with cooks hastily slinging hash, and servers grabbing trays of food and drinks to deliver to raucous customers. Of his quarry, the hooded and now unmasked archer, he sees nothing.
Male Forest Gnome NG Hermit Druid of the Mountain Circle 3 AC 16 HP 22 Passive Perception 15 Init +2 Proficency Bonus +2 Spell Attack Modifier +5 Spell DC 13 Inspiration 1
Mended. How reasonable/lawful/uncorrupt is it to assume the average guards are I understand things are more bordering on Martial Law but is the Republic more law and order or corrupt decaying society of political mascinations?
I know this is a judgement call but I am trying to figure if . . .
1- I run away with the disturbing news but leave behind the evidence because I don't want to get caught with it.
2- Let them know what I found and that I am a special investigator in the employ of the senator.
If you were looking for my advice in the current situation, I'd undoubtedly go with option 1. I'd do that because the most likely scenario involving the guards is that you are all detained for questioning, and that chest and satchel of documents would be confiscated as evidence. Since you all already know one of the senators, Enwelros, was found to be corrupt and working with some conspiratorial group, there's no guarantee that whomever does the confiscating and questioning is going to be operating with the Republic's best interests in mind. Which is a long way to go around saying, you can most likely trust the guards, but trusting the people ordering the guards around is less secure. In which case, it might be best to only trust yourselves to do the "right thing," at this point. Does that make sense? Or did I just make things worse?
Male Forest Gnome NG Hermit Druid of the Mountain Circle 3 AC 16 HP 22 Passive Perception 15 Init +2 Proficency Bonus +2 Spell Attack Modifier +5 Spell DC 13 Inspiration 1
That is a separate issue. I was debating telling everyone else to go and remain alone or with Neikisha to explain. She and were around civilians who fled the fire and can attest to us helping against "obvious attackers." But your remarks make a great deal of sense and help with the decision. I just wanted to have a better feel on the gradient scale from reliable justice system to corrupt monstrosity.
Psalm debates internally a moment but leaves the holy symbol behind. He moves toward Nikeisha, "We should probably go. Is everyone accounted for."
Quint runs around to the front of the building, slowing before rounding the corner to disguise his haste, and looks for anyone of the right height and build walking away.
Female High Elf NG Monk 3 Character Sheet | HP: 26/26 (3d8 + 3) | Defense:AC: 17 (10 + Dex(+ 4) + Wis(+ 3)) Saving Throws: Str. + 4, Dex. + 6 | Advantage vrs Charms, No magical sleep | Perception + 5, Passive + 15, DV 60 ft | Init. + 4, Spd 40 ft.Offense: Unarmed Strike + 6, 1d4 + 4 Ranged: + 6, 1d6 + 4, 80 ft./ 320 ft. | Ki points: 1/3 | Luna's Heritage
Looking all around at the situation of burning structures and dead, burnt bodies Luna will say loudly enough for the whole group to hear, "Let us take our findings and get out of here, preferably without leaving a trail! Before the guards arrive and we get further entrapped in this very complicated situation!" And she starts away at a brisk walk, away from the sound of guards, in the same direction as Hack. She is trying to watch for any other guards or authorities in the direction they are going, and at the same time trying to make sure they don't leave any obvious tracks of a group travelling together or any such thing.
Male Forest Gnome NG Hermit Druid of the Mountain Circle 3 AC 16 HP 22 Passive Perception 15 Init +2 Proficency Bonus +2 Spell Attack Modifier +5 Spell DC 13 Inspiration 1
Once it is clear everyone is making an escape. Psalm will turn into a squirrel and shadow the group.
Maybe choose something other than a cat? Remember that in this world, cats are conspicuous because they only exist as wizards' familiars and wildshaped druids.
Male Forest Gnome NG Hermit Druid of the Mountain Circle 3 AC 16 HP 22 Passive Perception 15 Init +2 Proficency Bonus +2 Spell Attack Modifier +5 Spell DC 13 Inspiration 1
Quint Rue wrote:
Maybe choose something other than a cat? Remember that in this world, cats are conspicuous because they only exist as wizards' familiars and wildshaped druids.
Female Human Warlock 3 | HP 25/25 | AC 17 | Saving Throws - Str (+0), Dex (+6), Con (+2), Int (+1), Wis (+3), Cha (+6) | Passive Perc - 11 | Init +4 | Spell Slots - 2/2 |
Nikeisha nodded to Psalm. "Far as I can tell, at least. Maybe we should try finding one of them who is wounded, rather than dead." Nikeishwa was aware that she had rather added to the number of the latter. She didn't bother asking why the others were here. It seemed like a story for later.
"I agree that we should leave. No sense explaining the situation to those who will likely not care to hear our explanation. We have as much information as I could collect, so let us go and examine it."
As the group leaves, Jun pauses for a moment, then turns back and picks up one of the holy symbols.
This could come in handy. he thought as he then hurried to join his companions.
