At Briar's comment, Artur said "Agreed."
Turning to Sandar, Artur said "I think I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that there's a decent chance that when we leave, the herons, and by extension the hunters, will follow. If that doesn't happen, however, I think it would be best for you to gather anyone you can and prepare for a fight."
Tapping his left pointer finger on the table while he looked at his map, Artur looked up and stared at Kela, then said "You know these people best, and they listen to you. Gather them up for the next couple of days and keep them safe."
Artur then addressed Sandar "I know yesterday you said it would take about a day to gather everyone in the valley together, but you should probably send runners and get as many people gathered together as possible, and tell them to come armed. If the Herons leave, they you just get a chance to visit with your neighbors; if they don't leave, you'll have saved your neighbor's lives. If the Herons stay, then I would do the following:
You'll want to set two hour watches with at least 3 people up at all times, even during the day. I'd create my watches so that there is at least one person who has darkvision on each evening shift. While it's possible that they'll come during the day, they're more likely to come at night, if last night is any indication.
I would dig some fire pits in every direction about 300 meters out and start the fires at dusk. It'll let you see movements and hamper their darkvision, if any. They'll skulk around, like a wolf pack circling prey. Save your arrows for the idiots who fall into the pits you'll set at 200 meters out. I'd make them 10' deep if you can wing it; if not, even small one foot pits can cause people to stumble, and if you take sharpened sticks and set them in those pits, they'll likely cry out or make some noise.."
Artur paused and looked around again, as if taking in the inn, before continuing "I don't know what we've been dragged into, but you and yours have been hospitable though you didn't have to be, and best I can hope for you is that when we leave, they follow us. I'm just not that hopeful of a guy." Artur said with a self-deprecating smirk, before heading upstairs to collect his gear. Stopping halfway up the stairs, he asked "Can you get us a day or two of food to take? I'll pay you for it. It'll just help not having to hunt for dinner if we can help it."
Artur had spent some time reconfiguring his earth moving flashlight from the night before as they walked.
"I hope they'll be alright." said Artur with a glance back in the direction they had come from. His eyes then widened and narrowed and Artur said "Veratash, I have a question about your story, if you don't mind me asking: this Dah'mir, you said he approached your group, right? How did he know what your expedition was about and where it was going?"
Artur drew his pistol and started towards the origin of the sound, and when it grew loud enough he shouted above the noise: "Hello?"
Action 2:
Veratash was impressed with Zdravko's quickness of action. He heard the snapping of the neck with some disgust, as if he'd never heard a chicken be killed before. He asked the goblin, without an ironic tone, "So, is it dead?" He was sincerely worried.
Action 3:
Walking to the circle was uncomfortable for Veratash. The sound of talking people in the tavern was the best thing he could ask for after being chased for so long in the marshlands. However, somehow he was getting used to his saviors close to him, and that felt good. He tried to keep a good mood thinking that Tharivol would manage his song, but the kalashtar was unsure what kind of song he was trying to make. He thought better than to interrupt, as he wasn't keen on getting into another argument with the elf.
Action 4:
The circle was certainly interesting to Veratash. He turned to ask Zdravko what its meaning was, but the little goblin seemed to have vanished. As she came back, he noticed she was busy. It was clearly so, as she pointed out a sound that was irrecognizable by him. As he paid it more and more attention, things around him started to make less and less sense.
He managed to fight off the confusion and looked at the sky to see how the herons were behaving with that sound, while standing behind Artur.
Tharivol fails to remember something about three-eyed herons, birds or animals. He shrugs his shoulders and focuses on his new song.
Watching the goblin's swift actions Briar nodded her approval.
"Swift thinking"
Artur's suggestions to Sandar seemed like grand tactics. Unused to either thinking on so large a scale or listening to so many words at once, she instead turned her thoughts to the creature still in Jabal's hands. She took it from the boy and headed outside.
"Seems dead Veratash, but no time like the present to start destroying them."
She found the nearby firepit where the rubbish was burned and set about staring a new fire, keeping an eye on the skies above.
Briar spent most of the walk to the stones ranging ahead, weapon held loosely in one hand, level with the ground. From time to time she waited for the other to catch up, but always set off again before they reached her.
"Sound of metal on rock, surely no goodly creature would venture here to damage these" she indicated the stones.
"We would do well to prepare for battle."
She hefted her weapon in both hands and headed north straight through the circle of stones towards the noise.
She paused suddenly, unmoving and staring off to the side with her head cocked, a frown upon her face.
Artur's hand moved to his pistol in a fluid motion, that just....stopped, his hand falling to rest at his side. He cocked his head sideways to see if he could pinpoint the location of the sound.
Light raining this morning.
@Nyd: we missed you last turn...
Good stuff everyone; I'll recap later today and move things along.
As a side commentary: originally the black herons weren't that weird in my mind but I stand by my This is your world as much as yours. You can blame the three-eyed raven heron on that little gal who started it. :)
Questions?
Game on!
OOC: I loved the 3-eyed thingy. It's like Game of Throne's Bran dreams only nightmares.
Nyd nods, "Agreed. If you have a cleric in town that can produce Holy Water you may wish to wash the ashes with it as well. Otherwise, bury them"
Given that the last couple times Nyd has left this little town it was to engage in immediate combat, he slowly waves his three fingered hand and with the muttering of an an arcane formula, casts Mage Armor on himself. With a twist familiar to the people who have known him longer, Nyd follows this spell with another sharp twist that causes him to glow again for a second as he uses the spell to empower an Arcane Ward.
"Does anyone else wish to be armored by magic? It is just a precautionary measure, but it seems prudent."
"We are not alone here." Nyd begins to move in the direction to investigate the sound.
"I'm wearing armor, but thank you." said Artur, who did not appear to be wearing armor at all.
Action 4:
"I'm not wearing armor, and last time, your magic helped me a lot.", Veratash replied to Nyd.
"I am more than happy to do so.
And as he suits words to action, he continues as an aside, "In all honesty, I do not greatly benefit this spell. My construction is such that it only represents a slight improvement to my resistance. On the other hand, because of my training and the nature of the spell I can pull some of the spell's excess energies into an additional layer of protection that is of significant benefits."
Nyd continues to talk, "I do wish this spell was developed as such that I could cast it with ritual tools. That would greatly extent my daily spell power." After completing the spell and touching Veratash to set it. "There, I hope the spell is not needed, but precautions are always useful."
Nyd decides at least to attempt so diplomacy with these creatures. "Greetings travelers. Have you come to admire these fine standing stones like we have?"
"So be it then. I am afraid we must defend this place, and ourselves."
With a lack of fear, Nyd strides forwards several paces before stopping and making a couple of short, curt, gestures and reciting a brief formula, the left most of the creatures frosts over.
Nyd recalls quite a few facts about these creatures, and quickly decides to summarize them for the others. "Be watchful everyone, these creatures can utilize several weapons at once. Also, Veratash, be careful with your abilities, these creatures are stronger of will than they appear."
Action 1:
"Well...", Veratash answered Artur a little embarrassed. I probably was a little over eager about the expedition. You see, in Sharn, we were usually in the kalashtar neighborhood. There, I was hanging posters about our expedition. I suppose I made us sort of easy to find."[/b]
He seemed to be remembering this part well. "Dah'mir wore a rich purple shirt and had a very fancy copy of Lareth ir'Morgrave's Introductory Guide to Khorvaire outsiders. I remember because my Dwarf friend Mucky usually complained in Abar that he couldn't find a copy in the library." Noticing that he was probably boring people around him, he continued his story. "So he came to the inn I had indicated in the poster and said that he had properties in the Shadow Marches and wanted to work with kalashtar to study the dragonshards he found there. On top of it all he wanted to fund the expedition and host us! It didn't sound that suspicious, since these dragonshards aren't found anywhere. Outside of the Shadow Marches, I don't think there's anywhere else to be found. Maybe one place, I'm not sure."
"I does seem all a little too good to be true, now that I think in retrospect.", he finished trailing off.
Action 2:
Veratash looked disgusted at the creatures. Grateful that Nyd had given him advice, he grimaced thinking that messing with the minds of others was his specialty. Maybe he could attack their bodies. It had worked well on the displacer beasts and the hunters.
He retreated prompted to attack them if they moved aggressively.
"You're sure he said Kalashtar, and not 'you people', 'your expedition', or 'your group'?"
No, the confusion only lasted to prevent you from acting on the top half of the 1st round. You are no longer confused but will act in a combat sense at the bottom half of the 1st round (after the dolgrims).
Questions?
Game on!
OOC: I'll wait for Briar and/or Tharivol to chime in but I intend to recap no later than tomorrow morning.
Questions?
Game on!
OOC: MONK COMBAT (maybe applicable to others)
Yeah, we want to minimize that back and forth. If I'm online then I can reply right away, but we can't rely on that.
I will normally give the monster's AC. If I forget then just ask me. That being said, there could be other factors that affect the to hit roll. For example, your PC may have advantage because someone else provided flanking so nothing really happened until it comes out in the turn recap.
In this particular case, I think your best bet is to give me IF THEN statements.
For example describe and roll for:
attack 1, attack 2
IF either attack hits THEN do stunning strike (roll and describe)
IF creature fails saving throw and is stunned THEN spend another ki point and do flurry of blows (roll and describe).
It sounds like a lot of work but it will surely cut down the back and forth. Hey, I didn't pick to play a monk! :)
Seriously though, I've mentioned this before so if there's some sort of advantage for the PCs then I will take it for you guys. I am really interested in telling a good story and I can't do that without engaged players.
Questions?
Game on!
When the dragonmarked elf shakes out of the musical haze, Tharivol looks at the creature with disgust. "What is that thing?"
Shaking her head like a dog leaving a river, Briar snarls at the Dolgrim. Barely holding herself in check, as she sees Zdravko launch herself in to combat she is already running too.
Unable to reach the enemy immediately, she runs and positions herself in between the Dolgrim and her companions.
As the Dolgrim moves to close, Briar clamps her glaive in one hand and thrusts it like a rapier, aiming to catch it across the stomach.
Her blade is on target and punches through the Dolgrim's skin, leaving a ragged and bleeding wound.
Veratash is astounded the goblin and the large woman didn't wait for the creatures to reply whether they were friendly or not.
Tharivol unlimbers his bow and watches the ugly with wariness.
From a story he heard a decade ago, he finally remembers that that thing might be a Dolgrim. Since it doesn't have a ranged weapon, it's at best target practice.
Turn 029 – Greetings Travelers
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
, fail
, hit
, hit
, hit
, miss
Artur moved up, drawing a grenade from his belt as he went. he stopped up short and threw it at the remaining creature. When it landed, it righted itself and then sprayed the creature with acid.
Tharivol gracefully advanced through the middle of the standing stones like only elves can do. He nocks an arrow and positions himself behind Nyd with clear line of sight toward the dolgrim. They were hideous creatures that needed to be destroyed. The dragonmarked elf pulled the fletching to his pointed ear and released in one fluid motion. The arrow clipped a monolith and flew past the monster.
Action 1:
Veratash answered Artur saying "I can't say I'm 100%, but I'm pretty sure he said Kalashtar". Artur's insistence was putting doubts in his mind.
Action 2:
Veratash moved closer to the creature and shot another beam from his mind.
The beam flew true at its target, but hit the stone just short of hitting one of its faces.
"I had hopped it wouldn't come to this."
Nyd quickly draws a wand from his belt, and speaking an equation of power causes the reaming creature to frost over with a sudden snap of cold.
"Well, I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that he wasn't targeting you specifically, he was merely looking for Kalashtar, likely for a specific component for a ritual of some sort; the bad news is that they now likely NEED you to complete this ritual. We're going to have to pay a visit to your friend with a manor by the water, and sooner rather than later."
Action 1:
Veratash nods at Artur, glad that he is willing to accompany him to help his friends.
”Now, exploring that manor makes more sense than running around in these woods chasing birds.” Tharivol offered after Artur’s comments in a pause of humming his new haunting melody.
Turn 030 – The Standing Stones
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
, pass
, fail
, pass
, miss
, miss
, hit
Action 2:
Veratash is intrigued by the creature's behavior. He shoots a greenly beam at it, hoping to get it weaker.
The beam hits it right in the stomach, making it tense its muscles to the point of sickness.
Artur moved forward his full stride, drawing his pistol and swapping magazines for it as he went. Taking careful aim, he pulled the trigger and a familiar beam of fire began streaking towards the creature.
OOC: that did it! The dolgrim is down for the count. Go ahead and RP the 'after the fight'.
Questions?
Game on!
As the creature drops, Artur moves up and puts a Firebolt into the head of each, then says "Anyone injured?"
[dice=Deflect Missiles]1d10+3+5
Nicely done! Don't forget to remind the GM of your reactions. Unfortunately, you may have to do so constantly because it's hard to keep track of PCs and NPCs.
Questions?
Game on!
Tharivol nodded as the extra strikes continue to destroy the dolgrim. He wandered over to it looking for his arrows, but he stayed within the safety of the standing stones still holding his longbow. "That thing was a dolgrim. It's a daelkyr creation and not natural. Is it worth trying to track that thing somewhere? What else can we find up here?"
Nyd nods up at Tharivol. "Finding the source of these creatures and preventing more from attacking the stones may be a key to defending the region from them."
Nyd begins to walk slowly from stone to stone, inspecting each. "It is possible that we could investigate these stones to see if they have any use, or if we could reverse the possible damage these creatures have done to them."
"Oh, and Artur, I am uninjured. I believe I saw our new friend Zdravko take some damage however. Zdravko, I have some limited form of magical healing if you feel you need it."
Thanks for letting us know.
We will use Tharivol as canon fodder bot Tharivol as necessary. :)
I'll probably recap what we have so far in this turn later, but I will not significantly move the story much as I think we still have some RPing left in this scene.
Questions?
Game on!