”That’s a mighty fine speech there Baron. Sorry, I mean Viscount. That’s going to take some getting used to.” Baghotir seems to consider it a moment, almost forgetting he was in the middle of something.
”You can certainly count on my hammer, if the task be a good one. I’ll have other things too on my plate, I’m no servant of the crown. But an ally, an ally you can count on. That’s me for sure.”
When Alisanne asks a very sensible question, Baghotir is quite satisfied with the answer, nodding along. Of course there will be compensation. Belwick has been proved to be no cheapskate. Honorable he is.
”I think you’re going to do well, Viscount. Very well indeed.”
That is all lovely, and worthy of an experience award of 400 Experience Points for each of you. Thank you for participating.
With Assistance, Venn keeps you on track.
The first leg of the journey ends as the party reaches The Barrier Peaks. The trail head is hidden, but right where the maps say.
The landscape shifts away from the light woods, grassland and farmland of civilized lands and you enter what can only be called The Wilds.
The weather is pleasant, and appropriate for the season.
You're moving along the forest path when you hear something to your right. North. Someplace further up along the mountain. You hear trees being knocked and pushed over. Something BIG is coming this way.
The natural light in the forest is Dim. Can I please have a marching order and tell me if you're using a light source. Then... What do you do?
Venn gives a shispered word of thanks to Trithereon. Light or no light, it's ambush time. Venn gives a quick whistle before melting into the darkness of the trees, just slightly oblique to the proposed path...
Venn takes the Hide action. Provide a stealth roll when you can, Venn.
Condition: Light (helm, 1h), Shield of Faith (C, 10m)
- - -
Baghotir takes out his warhammer, and stands firm, ”Let it come to me, and then we’ll swarm it!” he suggests, confident in his armor, which has protected him well so far. Though he doesn’t need it others might, so he casts light on his helm to provide it and make himself more of a target.
Then, as it lasts 10 minutes, he casts Shield of Faith upon himself.
Ready, he waits for the attack to come.
Belwick lets Venn move towards the shadows, the glow of the magical light applied to his dagger fading from the ranger as he hides in ambush.
Certain that danger is coming, the viscount moves his fingers through the necessary arcane gestures to create a suit of magical armor.
He hangs back from the others, looking around for where danger might rear its ugly head.
Alisanne also shifts into the security of the forest, slightly away from the group, hiding until she knows what's coming.
or
Alisanne takes Bimz from off her shoulders. "Bimz, fly up and see if you can spot what's coming our way. Stay low to the tree tops and don't get too close. I don't want whatever it is to see you."
She sends Bimz to do a little scouting.
What are you doing?
Alisanne hides and dispatches Bimz
Venn Hides
Caelius? GO
Baghotir Magic and prepares for battle
Belwick Magic and prepares for battle
Bimz...
Bimz thinks back to Alisanne, There'd better be something tasty for me. Tasty and SPECIAL and he takes to the air. He flies up and forward to the edges of telepathic contact and hides.
Something big, coming this way. It is moving directly across the trial and will come right at us. Some kind of big person wearing heavy armor. Ogre sized but different. More like a human. It's moving through trees instead of going around them...
It stopped. It's not doing anything, just standing there. It's right under me.
"Bimz, let me take a quick look at it."
Alisanne shifts her gaze to look through Bimz eyes.
"OK, Bimz, stay hidden and come back to me."
Alisanne, the creature is humanoid in shape, but the proportions are wrong. Generally shaped like a muscular person, but the arms look too small for the shoulders and forearms. The hips appear to be some kind of device--a ball-and-socket joint. The, "calves", are large. The entire thing looks encased in steel armor with few gaps. It has a neckless head with one red glowing eye that sort of pulses from left to right in the thin visor of the, "helm".
The eye meets Bimz's for a moment then returns to looking straight ahead. It doesn't move.
Alisanne has never encountered anything *exactly* like this before but she remembers the wrecked Shield Guardian that killed Eliander Fireborn. It reminds her of that.
Belwick considers the news that Alisanne relays to the group, giving the monodrone in their company a quick glance. "It it's a construct of some sort then it will have been given specific commands. That it's pushed through the woods only to stop before us is... odd behaviour. I suggest we investigate, but move forward with extreme caution."
Baghotir nods to Belwick, and presses forward into the forest until he can see the creature with his own eyes. He has his hammer in hand, but lowered for now. No need to fight it if he doesn't have to!
Gearbox chirps and whirs happily (you think?) as it scans everything around you.
Pressing north, off trail, you find the figure as described. It looks to be waiting for something.
It waits. Motionless.
You hear a low pulse and hum as the single red eye moves back and forth in the visor. It's almost like a metronome. *vrrrm voosh* *vrrm voosh* *vrrm voosh*
"This is a... very strange thing."
Deciding that curiosity is better than hesitation, Belwick waves at the construct and says, "Hello there. We mean no harm, and simple wish to pass by."
It suddenly lunges out to strike Belwick...
ROUND 1
1. Alisanne (18) GO
2. Venn (17) GO
3. Caelius (15) GO
4. Construct (11) Attacks Belwick, results TBD
5. Viscount Belwick (11)
6. Baghotir (6)
Seeing the construct begin to move at Belwick's approach, Alisanne steps into view with her hand out.
Typical Belwick...
Grovel before the Viscount Belwick of Salinmoor!
The spell takes effect!
The construct extends some kind of blade from a hidden compartment in its hand and lunges towards Belwick, but then halts! It shudders for a moment, as if at war with itself. And it pulls its hand back and starts to kneel.
ROUND 1
1. Alisanne (18) Magic
2. Venn (17) GO
3. Caelius (15) GO
4. Construct (11) Will kneel before Belwick, results TBD
5. Viscount Belwick (11) GO
6. Baghotir (6) GO
Belwick hastily moves back, hands working through the gestures of a spell as it becomes clear that the construct means to do violence. "Strike it down, my friends!"
Completing his spell, an elemental earth spirit sloughs up from the ground in front the strange metal monstrosity. "Destroy it, please," Belwick issues the polite command, and is thankful when the spirit complies.
Condition: Light (helm, 1h), Shield of Faith (C, 10m)
- - -
Baghotir moves up, ”OK then!” He takes advantage of the kneeling giant-construct to try and smash its head!
With his bonus attack, he tries to make up for his initial failure!
Baghotir and Belwick's Elemental have advantage.
While Venn and Caelius contemplate, Baghotir attacks and scores a hit with his second attack.
The Elemental connects twice!
Armor Class is 18
The construct stays in a kneeling [prone] position because of Alisanne's Command. It takes the hits, thus far unbothered by them. You hear hammer and elemental fist connect with heavy armor with loud CLANGS!
ROUND 1
1. Alisanne (18) Magic
2. Venn (17) GO
3. Caelius (15) GO
4. Construct (11) Will kneel before Belwick, results TBD
5. Viscount Belwick (11) Magic, 2 Hits from Elemental Spirit
*Elemental Spirit (special) Attack, 2 Hits
6. Baghotir (6) Attack, Hit
ROUND 2
1. Alisanne (18) GO
2. Venn (17) GO
3. Caelius (15) GO
4. Construct (11) TBD, Prone
5. Viscount Belwick (11) TBD
*Elemental Spirit (special) TBD
6. Baghotir (6) TBD
Blast!" With violence on the menu. Venn wastes no time darting from the darkness:
Greatsword forward, Venn makes the thing for destruction, focusing his mind and body:
for
for
for
Heedless of any personal daner, the ranger continues to work his greatsword in fast arcs:
for
for
. Will use Dreadful strike on the first hit for an extra DMG. Replace the three ones on DMG rolls that hit with 3s.[/ooc]
Venn's first round of attacks hit once for a total of 32 Points between the two!
"That I can do!" Caelius rushes in with his heavy blade, hopeful to pierce through the thick metallic exterior.
Unfortunately no matter how hard he swings it seems to bounce off of the harder metal surface.
HP 67/67
AC 21 (+2 (23) w/ Shield) (14 w/o armor)
Short Rest Die 7/7
Second Wind 1/1
Action Surge 0/1
Superiority Die (D8; Disarming Attack, Sweeping Attack, Menacing Attack): 5/5
Venn bursts out of the bush and Caelius joins the fray. Alisanne and Belwick stand apart from the scrum of Construct, Elemental, warriors and warpriest.
[spoiler=DM]153[/dice]
The Construct just takes all the blows as it kneels, forced to obey Alisanne's command.
ROUND 2
1. Alisanne (18) GO
2. Venn (17) CRIT
3. Caelius (15) Miss, Miss
4. Construct (11) TBD, Prone
5. Viscount Belwick (11) TBD
*Elemental Spirit (special) TBD
6. Baghotir (6) TBD
"You're going down, you clockwork abomination!"
and DisAdv on its next melee attack.
"Caelius, you got it on the ropes!"
Alisanne's spell takes full effect!
The stands in place, taking no actions. It seems to be making, instinctive, defensive moves only.
ROUND 2
1. Alisanne (18) Magic
2. Venn (17) CRIT
3. Caelius (15) Miss, Miss
4. Construct (11) No Action
5. Viscount Belwick (11) GO
*Elemental Spirit (special) GO
6. Baghotir (6) GO
ROUND 3
1. Alisanne (18) GO
2. Venn (17) GO
3. Caelius (15) GO
4. Construct (11) TBD
5. Viscount Belwick (11) TBD
*Elemental Spirit (special) TBD
6. Baghotir (6) TBD
"What ropes! I can't even leave a dent." Caelius' brow begins to sweat as he gets worried.
HP 67/67
AC 21 (+2 (23) w/ Shield) (14 w/o armor)
Short Rest Die 7/7
Second Wind 1/1
Action Surge 0/1
Superiority Die (D8; Disarming Attack, Sweeping Attack, Menacing Attack): 5/5
Condition: Light (helm, 1h), Shield of Faith (C, 10m)
- - -
Baghotir continues to swing away at the giant.
He swings again with his bonus action ability.
Belwick waves his war mage wand and casts a spell to hurl a bolt of flame at the construct. He then moves further away to stay safe.
The elemental continues its assault as well, obediently bashing the foe with earthen fists.
The creature stands there and takes it.
Venn and Alisanne!
"Keep taking it you bastard!" Venn carves a wide swath with his blade hoping to quickly bring the thing down before it gets a chance to fight back:
for
for
Alisanne tries to keep the automaton off kilter.
psychic damage and DisAdv on its next attack roll.
Let's keep up the heat, Belwick!
Save Vs. Vicious Mockery is a success.
The construct lashes out at Venn. A kind of spear jabs out from it's outstretched hand.
,
Venn is speared twice for points of piercing damage. The construct then uses its other hand and tries to grab the ranger.
. The claw like fingers on the alternate hand pierce armor and GrappleVenn, DC12 to escape. Venn takes an additional
ROUND 3
1. Alisanne (18) Magic
2. Venn (17) CRIT
3. Caelius (15) Miss, Miss
4. Construct (11) No Action
5. Viscount Belwick (11) MISS
*Elemental Spirit (special) HIT, HIT
6. Baghotir (6) HIT
ROUND 4
1. Alisanne (18) Magic
2. Venn (17) HIT, HIT
3. Caelius (15) HIT x 2
4. Construct (11) 3 Hits, Grapples Venn
5. Viscount Belwick (11) GO
*Elemental Spirit (special) GO
6. Baghotir (6) GO
ROUND 5
1. Alisanne (18) GO
2. Venn (17) GO
3. Caelius (15) GO
4. Construct (11) TBD
5. Viscount Belwick (11) TBD
*Elemental Spirit (special) TBD
6. Baghotir (6) TBD
Condition: Light (helm, 1h), Shield of Faith (C, 10m)
- - -
Baghotir continues to swing away at the giant, worried about Venn!
He swings again with his bonus action ability.
"Hey now, put him down!" Caelies calls out as Venn is grabbed. He doubles down his efforts to fell the metallic giant.
HP 67/67
AC 21 (+2 (23) w/ Shield) (14 w/o armor)
Short Rest Die 7/7
Second Wind 1/1
Action Surge 0/1
Superiority Die (D8; Disarming Attack, Sweeping Attack, Menacing Attack): 5/5
"You got that right, Alisanne!" Belwick hurls yet another bolt of fire at the seemingly malfunctioning construct.
His elemental minion, absent new instructions, continues to try and bash down the thing.
Belwick scores THREE HITS from his elemental and his fire bolt.
Alisanne and Venn. Venn is Grappled.
Venn, your speed is zero, but you can still attack. You are not at disadvantage if you attack your grappler.
Alisanne points at the construct.
Drop that man!
Venn frantically looks around at the predicament. He's held fast, but he's got one hand on the blade. Ripping it upward in the small space where it's pinned is risky, but considering the alternatives...
He switches his grip, confident that the sword won't fall out, and rips upward.
and it fails miserably.
With the jostling making aim difficult he goes for broke, gripping his blade in Mordhau and trying to ram it into a weak point:
, but the grip is too strong.
The Construct ignores Alisanne's Command.
The construct just stands there, and takes no additional actions. The party easily finishes off the creature, rendering it inert, battered and wrecked.
Everyone earns 300 Experience Points.
Gearbox comes over and starts examining the wreckage.
The jagged claws holding Venn are in his body, and removing him from it will cause additional damage to the tissue in his arm. [2d10 Slashing]
"Just do it! I can take it, and I'd rather take it than have that thing stare at me a moment more!"
Venn pulls himself free, taking points of slashing damage.
Gearbox flits over, hovering, and scans parts of the defeated construct. He appears to reach some sort of conclusion and comes to stand by Belwick. It looks satisfied.
"I need a minute. I wouldn't say no to some magical help."
Condition: Light (helm, 1h)
- - -
Baghotir helps ease Venn’s suffering once the robot is removed from his flesh. He casts a cure wounds and a higher cure wounds to boost it.
"Feel better my friend." he grins as his magics flow.
He'll poke about the wreckage to see if there's anything of value, but otherwise he's ready to move on.
"It's a shame that the construct was malfunctioning. That type of work is rare, and could be quite useful."
He thinks for a moment. "I am left wondering who it's maker is."