DDEP 10-01: Terror in Ten Towns (Inactive)

Game Master Aeshuura

Khitt, you feel a bit unsure about it, but you figure there's a very high chance that ogres have darkvision.

I've no problem with tying ropes together to climb down, there's not much at the top to tie a rope to, however, so someone (or more) might have to stay behind to hold up those climbing down.

I will help anchor the rope up here. Mikhey, you feel up ta climb down and talk ta the beardlings, or would ya feel better if'n I go? Turq looks over the box canyon below.

If there’s a stealth roll involved, Mikhey’s gonna fail.

Umikh looks confidently down. Sure’n I can climb it. But can ye distract them ogres from seeing us?

At this distance, once the sun sets, ya should be fine. Just don't be cryin' out... Hope that I am correct in making that assumption...

You're pretty far away -- I think you can feel pretty confident assuming that the ogres won't see you, even with darkvision.

How far down is the place we are trying to get to?

How far down is the place we are trying to get to?

It's 80 feet to where the dwarves are

I'll get a STR check from Umikh and anyone else going to the bottom. As well, Turq should give me a STR check to hold the rope -- you'll get advantage if anyone else is helping you.

Will Athletics help? Are there any stones in the ground to anchor myself?

Strength check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Down he goes!

Who else is going along, if anyone? Umikh might be talking to other dwarves but his persuasiveness is only average.

Rodalas Windrace wrote:

How far down is the place we are trying to get to?

It's 80 feet to where the dwarves are

I'll get a STR check from Umikh and anyone else going to the bottom. As well, Turq should give me a STR check to hold the rope -- you'll get advantage if anyone else is helping you.

Khit will assist, he is small but mighty. Might weak that is…

Just when the Staff of Magius would be most useful :)

He can cover who ever goes down with his bow.

Strength check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20 Add 3 if Athletics added.

He can cover who ever goes down with his bow.

uh... aiming your bow at the dwarves?

Will Athletics help? Are there any stones in the ground to anchor myself?

Ooops! Yeah, Athletics, my bad! At any rate, you both rolled well, so no big deal. As for stones, there's not a lot -- essentially, you are on a ledge above a cliff. Umikh is now discovering that someone could probably even climb down that cliff, but it's a helluva lot easier with the rope! (There's also the Potion of Climbing)

Umikh, now that you are at the bottom and have a better vantage point, you notice:

Three immense and immeasurably old sarcophagi are built
into the gorge wall that encloses the far west end of the holy
site. One of the sarcophagi covers lies toppled on the ground,
it’s now boat-like form pried from its resting place along the
gorge wall—another victim of the older avalanche. The open
sarcophagus contains a sheet of ice with a giant-shaped
cavity. Whatever was interred in the sarcophagus is gone,
having been removed or having escaped some indeterminate
time ago.

The center of the site is occupied by a circle of stones built
up to a height of 10 feet, and measuring about 20 feet in
diameter. Openings ring the outside of the stone circle, and
from the burn marks all over it, the structure appears to be a
raised fire pit of giant-sized proportions. Huge steps made for
giant feet descend 5 feet below ground level to a channel
leading up to the circle.

Taking positions around the site and huddled within the
stone circle are the bedraggled dwarves of the Frostbite
Platoon.

See close-up map

As you look around, you are approached by a handful of dwarves -- they aren't aggressive, but they are wary. One steps forward, an older deep into middle-age but still in top fighting form -- he is obviously the leader here -- followed quickly by a second, brash young woman. The leader addresses you dwarven: "I'm Captain Marblehead; this here's Lieutenant Ogathoin. You looked real brave coming down that wall, but I'm not sure this is the place you want to be..."

Ogathoin crosses her arms: "Who are you anyway? Y'ain't from the Cairn, near's I c'n tell."

Umikh takes in the scene, and how well or poorly off the dwarves down here are.

Well Turq's kin, he nods his head back up the cliff, Stokely sent us out after ye since you didn't return on time. We met Emilia being rescued from an avalanche, she's on her way back to town with a busted leg. He leaves out the part about the other fellow not surviving, but if they ask he'll share the sad news.

Quite a pickle ye've got yerselves into. Those bastards got friends comin', we gotta get you out of here. Unless you've got a really good plan to fight off ogres and giants?

Quominar stays near the back of the group, letting those more familiar with dwarven ways take the lead. He wasn't sure how they'd react to being saved by an elf.

Quominar stays near the back of the group, letting those more familiar with dwarven ways take the lead. He wasn't sure how they'd react to being saved by an elf.

Did you climb down with Umikh or are you still at the top?

The captain and lieutenant exchange a grim look. Marblehead grumbles: "Aye, the ogre's've been sayin' that giants were on the way. We were hopin' they were just tryin' tae scare us... aHH! Moradin's beard!" he scrubs a hand over his face. "Sorry tae hear 'bout Emilia, but she's a tough lass. I'm assuming, since you haven't mentioned him, that Peroll didn't make it. No, no, that's fine -- he knew the risks when he volunteered. I just wish I'd gone meself, rather than one so young."

As the captain pauses briefly to gather his thoughts, Ogathoin leaps in: "This is their fault -- I'll chop down every last one of 'em!"

"Stand Down, Lieutenant! These young lads and lasses won't hold out much longer trapped here, and there are far too many of those creatures to take head on and you know it!" Looking to where he gestures, you see a row of a half-dozen or more dwarf-sized cairns to one side of the site.

Turning back to Umikh, "I hope you and the others have come with a plan. The ogre's're distracted now, what with their nightly competition, but that won't last for long, and I worry that they'll see before we can all climb up that rope."

Sorry, misunderstood the situation. I would have stayed at the top. Apologies.

So....yeah, what IS the plan??

I think initial intent was for you to gather intel first. Find out if they have injured. How many of them are combat worthy and the like. If you think that we may need to help sneak them out on the ground, you can signal us to come down somehow.

I think initial intent was for you to gather intel first. Find out if they have injured. How many of them are combat worthy and the like. If you think that we may need to help sneak them out on the ground, you can signal us to come down somehow.

The short answer is that there are two squads:

Blizzard Squad: Captain Marblehead + 6 trainees
Flurry Squad: Lieutenant Ogathoin + 6 trainees (Flurry Squad trainees are less experienced than Blizzard)
The platoon also has a chaplain: Sister Dorcas Hollowhall (low level cleric)

(there were 10 trainees in each squad, but 6 have died fending off the ogres and 2 snuck out (Emilia and Peroll))

The initial escape, round-the-clock watches, and decreasing ammo and food have made them pretty exhausted. Sister Dorcas has healed any minor injuries to date.

With the additional firepower plus them, we may be able to spear head a charging attack but would be costly. Somehow concocting decoys and sneaking out in small groups is another option. Have they done any scouting to find any other crooks or cracks that may lead to some caves allowing us to head further into the mountains?

Khitt watches from above, assuming what was being said down below while he ponders how to deal with this problem of giant proportions.

The eladrin will look around to make sure that they are not being watched by scouts from the giants.

I don't suppose we have a holocaust cloak and a wheelbarrow? But for realz, is Umikh the only one down there right now?

To those watching above, there is a lot of slow head shaking and shoulder slumping as Umikh learns about their dire predicament. But hey at least they all seem able to climb, or fight, whichever it comes to. He looks back at the team, flashes 15 fingers in two passes, shows a thumbs up, and then shrugs and points to his head and shrugs again.

Trying to mime 15 hale dwarves but no good plan.

He asks the Captain and Lieutenant if they have a plan for getting out, to assess the odds of fighting their way out. Perhaps they've thought of some advantages for heading one way or another. Or ruled them out.

Umikh would probably want to fight their way out. Player wants them to sneak off.

Captain Marblehead shakes his head sadly: "Best option I've come up with is to sneak out while th' ogres're distracted by their nightly game," he gestures to the ogre camp, and now that your attention is directed toward it, you see that all of the creature's are gathered around the central fire, shouting and hollering, while two face each other in combat.

"To be honest, I thought we'd be able to wait for reinforcements from Stokely 'fore the giants got here. I don't much like the idea of takin' the youngins into a head-on fight with those brutes, but we're ready to follow your lead. Hidin' here's no gonna do us any good once the giants arrive."

Turq looks at Khitt, Can your hunter's veil cover that many? We could be a distraction if there is danger of the recruits being spotted, lay in wait on the opposing end?

Turq looks at Khitt, Can your hunter's veil cover that many? We could be a distraction if there is danger of the recruits being spotted, lay in wait on the opposing end?

”It can cover quite a few people but, I doubt everyone could fit into its bubble. ”

This is a spot, eh? Turq frowns. Over the course of the night, do ya think we can take out the sentries enough ta give the beardlin's a fightin' chance ta sneak out?

This is a spot, eh? Turq frowns. Over the course of the night, do ya think we can take out the sentries enough ta give the beardlin's a fightin' chance ta sneak out?

”Better that we try something than sit around waiting for things to get worse.” Nodding to Turq and being one of smallest, Khitt agrees to go down and share the plan with the dwarves and Umikh.

The plan as I see it is for us to try over the new few hours to quietly take out any of the ogre sentries that may be able to easily spot us as we try to escape with the dwarves. If we fail, at least that’s a few less ogres. One we’ve done that, try to slip out under cover of darkness. In the mean time, maybe the dwarves can rig up some kind of decoys to make sure the ogres still think the dwarves are in the fortified area as we escape.

Anyone have a better idea or any reason that this is absolutely not the correct path forward?

Turq likes that idea.

Couple of notes:

- Athletics check needed from whoever is climbing down. Whoever is holding the rope at the top should also make an Athletics check, but can have advantage if someone is helping (looks like Khitt was the one who helped last time).

- Turq: Having seen Umikh (and maybe now Khitt) descend, you determine that there are enough handholds that you could probably climb down this cliff without the rope, if you had to (i.e., you could all climb down to the bottom, but whoever is last won't have the advantage of the rope, so the DC on the Athletics check will be higher).

- While the ogres are having their little evening competition ritual, the sentries that were watching the dwarves have pulled back so they can watch / participate. The dwarves figure this will go on for maybe another hour.

- You can't see them from your current position, but you can reasonably assume that the guards at the mouth (west) of the gorge are similarly distracted.

- It will take at least an hour to hike back along the top of the gorge to the other side. Moving at Stealth speed past the ogre camp will take about 15 minutes.

- Also, holy smokes, Pass Without Trace is a 30' radius without maximum number of people?? The answer is, yes, you can easily fit 21 people in a circle that big.

Athletics to hold rope: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

I think I can get down after, though blessing from the gods would be appreciated!

If anyone has prepared Enhance Ability, that would help because I just know when it matters, here comes that 1... :p

ok amending the plan then since we can fit everyone into the circle, to stealthfully sneak pst the group with an expectation to take out any of the sentries that might notice. If the camp looks to get alerted somehow, we make a break for the exit passage if we’re half way or more past the ogre camp and back to the tombs if we don’t even make it half way before getting noticed.

Khitt would love to recover his rope but if needed, we can use pitons to secure the rope for Turq or Khitt to go last.

Khitt volunteer to go last since it may be easier for him to scale the wall alone and he would be able to recover his rope that way.
Athletics to climb down: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

looks like Turq can get adv as long as the pitons can be used to secure the rope for him. No STR check should be required that way.

looks like we have it coverd lol. I swear I didn’t see Turq’s post unti after I posted mine. I coulda deleted it but figured it’s fine either way. Lol

We got a plan!

do you need me to scout ahead?

Okay, just to confirm, everyone is climbing down, Khitt is last. Once down, you will quickly organize the dwarves to sneak out while the ogres are still distracted. Khitt will cast Pass Without Trace to facilitate the sneaking.

So, I will need Athletics checks from Netzer, Quominor, and Rodalas.

I'll also take Stealth rolls from everyone (at +10 because of P w/o T)

@Rodalas: If you scout ahead, you won't be in the radius of Khitt's spell, so you won't benefit from the +10

I also want to remind you all that many of you are still injured from the encounter with the ogre patrol -- if you have healing spells or potions, now might be a good time to use them.
Netzer (-16)
Umikh (-11)
Khitt (-9)
Rodalas (-2)
Quominor (-18)

stealth: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (11) + 17 = 28

Depending on what happens, Khitt can cast cure wounds on himself if another form of healing doesn’t come his way.

No time for a short rest, and the potion is for emergencies!
stealth with disadvantage: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19
stealth with disadvantage: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 And plus 10

Umikh checks his wounds and decides they're fine for now, then gets ready to help everyone escape. He will be near the back since his armor makes him noisy despite his attempts.

Would it be possible to do an acrobatics check rather than athletics, using a rag or something to go down the rope?

Would it be possible to do an acrobatics check rather than athletics, using a rag or something to go down the rope?

The rope isn't taut -- it's just hanging off the edge of a cliff, so I don't think there's any other way to do it besides Athletics. I think you have the lowest STR, though, so maybe the others would be okay with you using the Potion of Climbing, which at least would give you advantage.

Athletics: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
Stealth 1: 1d20 + 2 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 2 + 10 = 29
Stealth 2: 1d20 + 2 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 2 + 10 = 24

Quominar makes his way down the rope before blending in with the group.

Khitt mixes a few ingredients from a pouch on his belt and rubs the instant poultice on his and Nezter’s and Umikh’s wounds.

Cure Wounds Umikh: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Cure Wounds Nezter: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

@Rodalas, feel free to use the potion.
@Quo, could use some help healing. Nezter is still pretty wounded after my healing, you and I are also still hurt.

Nezter -12
Umikh -2
Rodalas -2
Khitt -9
Quo -18

Can I use the potion lol

Using the potion of climbing
1d20 ⇒ 5
1d20 ⇒ 13

uh oh

With the help of the potion, Rodalas moves quickly, hand over hand, down the rope. The cold is getting to the eladrin, however, and he loses his grip, sliding for a few terrifying feet, scrabbling at the both the cliff face and the rope to regain control. -3 HP for some rope burn and a bruised shin as you bounce against the rock wall.

Turq shifts a foot back as the weight suddenly disappears, only to jerk forward a second later when Rodalas grabs the rope again -- luckily, the tough fighter has established a good hold on the rope and easily regains control.

Netzer and Turq follow the eladrin down the rope. Khitt lowers his pack down, then reels in the rope and scales the cliff face to join the others at the bottom.

Realizing that you probably don't have much time left if you want to go while the ogres are distracted, you quickly gather the dwarves together so that Khitt can cast his ranger magic, calling on the shadows to cover you.

I'm going to give some time here for people to make Stealth rolls and decide if they want to drink potions / cast spells. Let me know if I've missed something, but I think this is where we stand:

Stealth Rolls
Khitt 28
Nezter
Quominor 24
Rodalas
Turq
Umikh 14

Health
Khitt -9
Nezter -12
Quominor -18
Rodalas -5
Turq
Umikh -2

Didn't the rope give a lower DC? I think you are fine...

Stealth: 1d20 + 2 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 2 + 10 = 23

EDIT: Did we have enough time for a short rest?

Didn't the rope give a lower DC? I think you are fine...

Yeah, DC without the rope was like 18 -- just trying to balance what's logical with the adventure as written.

EDIT: Did we have enough time for a short rest?

You haven't mentioned it so far, so I assumed you weren't taking one. If you do take a short rest, you will miss the opportunity to sneak past while the ogres are distracted. Which is totally fine, just let me know what you plan to do.

No worries. I was just wondering how long we were waiting for Mikh-ey, and if that would have counted, since the others weren't doing all that much. ^_^ I'm fine! Despite my mark, I didn't get hit! ;p

stealth 1d20 + 6 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 10 = 36 stealth

Rodalas, so you are not scouting ahead?