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Adela misses the mite attacking Rhiann, but Rhiann herself cuts it down. Alyssa's acid burns down the mite furthest back. Mimek stabs at the last remaining mite.
The last remaining mite tries to run, but both Mimek and the grease are trying to stop it.
Erik's arrow strikes the centipede keeper square in the eye, and she topples to the ground, dead on the spot. Mite Battle 4 Player Turn 2 Part 2: Erik Rhiann Alyssa Adela Mimek Mite 1 Giant Centipede 1 Centipede Keeper Mite 4 Mite 6 Mite 5 Mite 2
Mimek once again goes after the foremost mite in the grease.
The mite centipede keeper screams in rage and rushes at Rhiann, but she maintains enough sense to throw a dart at her rather than close to melee and risk a strike from her fauchard.
Mites 4 and 6 move forward, trying to stab at Mimek and Rhiann.
Mite 4 moves in to attack Rhiann but provokes an opportunity attack from her. If it survives, it will get close enough to stab at her, only to fail miserably.
Mite 5 stabs at Mimek, drawing blood but not really causing significant harm.
Mite Battle 4 Player Turn 4: Erik Rhiann Alyssa Adela Mimek Mite 1 Giant Centipede 1 Centipede Keeper Mite 4 Mite 6 Mite 5 Mite 2
Mimek steps aside and watches, readying a charge.
Mite Battle 4 Player Turn 3: Erik Rhiann Alyssa Adela Giant Centipede 3 Giant Centipede 1 Centipede Keeper Mite 4 Mite 6 Mite 5 Giant Centipede 2
Erik's arrow goes wide, but Rhiann hits the mite right in the heart, and it falls to the ground. Mite Battle 4 Player Turn 2 Part 2: Erik Rhiann Alyssa Adela Mimek Giant Centipede 3 Giant Centipede 1 Centipede Keeper Mite 4 Mite 6 Mite 5 Giant Centipede 2
My condolences.
Fun fact: this encounter's morale section was written under the assumption that the party hadn't already killed the mite leader, as it specifically describes them as fleeing to his room. As that's where the party just came from, I sent them in the opposite direction instead.
Alyssa's acid burns through the mite, dropping it to the ground. Mimek rushes forward with his new trident, trying to impale one of the mites.
Seeing two of their comrades falling, the other four mites in the room retreat, calling out as they go. The mite Mimek attacked makes sure to withdraw carefully, keeping its guard up so that Mimek can't impale it during its retreat. "Not good," Mimek says. "They're meeting up with the centipede keeper." Newcomer initiative rolls:
Mite Battle 4 Player Turn 2: Erik Rhiann [ooc]1 con damage, diseased[ooc] Alyssa Adela Mimek Giant Centipede 3 Giant Centipede 1 Centipede Keeper Mite 4 Mite 3 Mite 6 Mite 5 Giant Centipede 2
Erik's chakram strikes down the mite he's targeting, but Rhiann overcompensates for Adela and Mimek being in the way and her arrow sails over its target's head. Mite Battle 4 Party Turn 1: Erik Rhiann Alyssa Adela Mimek Mite 1 Mite 4 Mite 3 Mite 6 Mite 5 Mite 2
The party advances down the passageway to the northeast. As they round the bend, they see two mites. The mites look at the party and see Mimek holding their leader's trident, and they call out in shock and anger. Four more calls can be heard. The mites are ready to fight. Initiative rolls:
Mite Battle 4 Turn 1: Erik Rhiann Alyssa Adela Mimek Mite 1 Mite 4 Mite 3 Mite 6 Mite 5 Mite 2
"Tartuk - our shaman - might make a problem, but with everything you've done for us, I doubt he'd have much support."
Part of the map does indeed line up with the tunnels, but it also covers the surrounding area. Mimek also looks down at the map and the other things on the table. "Here's the mite tunnels, and there's Sootscale Caverns. They definitely know our territory well. And the paper is a list of the treasures kobolds and mites have taken from each other in our war; they took our Sacred Statue and lots of spears and coins, while we've taken magic dust, lots of coins, and a shiny human ring." Alyssa opens the burlap sack and finds the spears and coins Mimek mentioned had been taken from the kobolds; there are twelve kobold-sized spears, 193 cp, 120 sp, and 32 gp.
Ari:
Tot managed to leak out an aristocratic Chelish accent in certain moments, like when she just spoke about the difference between devils and demons and ran off. Tot: "Ah, I see," Ameiko says. "Ari is a good man. You don't need to be worried about him. I doubt there's anything you could do to make him think less of you."
The only magic in the room is what the party brought in; the trident is non-magical. "Mimek took no wounds in the fight," the kobold says as he takes up the trident, "and you already healed me of the wounds I took in captivity."
Rhiann's blow splits open the head of the mite leader, dropping it to the ground. The last remaining mite, disheartened by the death of its leader, tries to flee, but it drops its guard, enabling Adela to smash it into the ground.
Mimek turns his attention to the statuette on the table. "Old Sharptooth!" he says, picking it up. "Chief Sootscales will want this." He then looks over to the greased trident, which fell out of the leader's hands when he perished. "And that trident looks like a good weapon. Can Mimek have that?"
The mite leader parries Erik's rapier with his trident, barely managing to keep a hold of it as Alyssa covers it with grease. Round 5 Party Turn Part 2: Mite Leader Mite 3 Mite 4 Tick Mimek Alyssa Adela Rhiann Erik
Izzy:
Most of the people close to Nualia and Ezakien Tobyn were the other priests of Desna, most of whom perished in the fire during the Late Unpleasantness five years ago. Ari:
By the way Tot has been speaking and acting, you realize that she is likely from Cheliax, a nation to the south that worships Asmodeus and his archdevils and despises demons for their chaotic nature. However, despite being diabolist in nature, Cheliax still looks down on tieflings; to them, devils are to be controlled, not mated with, and tieflings are often treated likewise. Tot: Ameiko sees Tot blushing with her head in her hands. "What happened?" she asks calmly.
Adela strikes the mite leader in the head, leaving quite a nasty mark. Unfortunately, none of the rest of the party manages to land a hit, although Rhiann could have if she didn't have to worry about the cramped quarters and the leader getting in her way. The leader stabs at Rhiann in an attempt to avenge his tick, while the other mite turns and stabs at Erik.
Mimek takes another stab at the mite leader.
Round 5 Party Turn: Mite Leader Mite 3 Mite 4 Tick Mimek Alyssa Adela Rhiann Erik
The big person and the six goblins had been retracing their steps when they reached the coast. The separation from the larger group of goblins happened on their approach before they got to Sandpoint; only this group of seven returned east.
Alyssa overcompensates while attempting to make sure she doesn't hit Adela with her acid, and the mite leader dodges the acid. The mite leader's last remaining subordinate steps up to join him, and they both stab at Adela with their weapons.
Mimek moves on top of one of the mite's corpses so he can attack the mite leader without getting in Rhiann's or Erik's way.
Round 4 Player Turn: Mite Leader Mite 3 Mite 4 Tick Mimek Alyssa Adela Rhiann Erik
Erik cuts down the mite and locks his gaze onto the trident-wielding leader, who Adela just struck a telling blow against. Meanwhile, Rhiann strikes at the tick, beheading it.
Round 3 Player Turn Cont.: Mite Leader Mite 3 Mite 4 Tick Mimek Alyssa Adela Rhiann Erik
One of the other mites runs up to join its comrade, intending to also attack Erik. However, this provokes an opportunity attack from Rhiann.
Mite 4 pulls out another dart and throws it at Adela.
The mite leader and his tick continue to go after Rhiann.
Mimek steps forward and joins Erik in attacking Mite 2.
Round 3 Player Turn: Mite Leader Mite 3 Mite 4 Mite 2 Tick Mimek Alyssa Adela Rhiann Erik
Rhiann barely manages to wriggle out of the tick's grasp thanks to Alyssa's grease, but she feels something working into her.
Round 2 Player Turn Update 2: Mite Leader Mite 3 Mite 4 Mite 2 Tick Mimek Alyssa Adela Rhiann Erik
With Ameiko:
"I don't know how well that would work," Ameiko responds to Ari's suggestion that Tot serve as a bouncer, "but it would certainly have been something to see. And if you'd heard what he'd been saying to me, I probably would have seen it."
The searchers return to the Rusty Dragon and fill the others in on what they've found so far.
Round 2 Player Turn Updated: Mite Leader Mite 1 Mite 3 Mite 4 Mite 2 Tick (6 damage) Mimek Alyssa Adela Rhiann Erik
Rhiann's fauchard and Adela's crossbow strike home into the tick, but Alyssa's acid and Erik's rapier go wide. Following Erik's lead, Mimek moves up and also attacks Mite 1.
Mites 1 and 2 go after Erik with their daggers.
Mites 3 and 4 pull out darts and throw them at Adela.
The Mite Leader and his tick move forward and attack Rhiann.
Mimek moves forward and makes another stab at Mite 1.
Round 2 Player Turn: Mite Leader Mite 1 Mite 3 Mite 4 Mite 2 Tick (6 damage) Mimek Alyssa Adela Rhiann Erik[/b]
Lonjiku looks down at the potato soup on his clothes, sputtering in shock. He finally manages to find his voice and yells out, in Taldane Common this time, "You're as dead to me as your mother!" He then turns around and storms out of the Rusty Dragon. Ameiko blinks back the tears that well in her eyes. She reaches down and plucks a stray thread out of her soup ladle. "I'll need to clean this thoroughly. Jackass stew wasn't on the menu tonight, after all." Amid the resulting cheers and laughter from the other patrons, Ameiko turns to approach Tot, Izzy, and Ari. "Thank you again for standing up to my father. I know it couldn't have been easy."
And the Roll20 is ready. PMs have been sent to all players with the invite link.
I can get something set up on Roll20 after work today.
The group with the big leader and six goblins were retracing their steps back east, the way they came. The other group, which continued west along the beach, was about twenty-four goblins, matching up roughly with the group that got into Sandpoint and perished.
The party and Mimek make it across the chasm without incident and continue around the bend. Then tunnel opens into a room, in the center of which stands a rickety table held together with twine, covered with a filthy checkered tablecloth and heaped with mounds of dirt, twigs, and gravel, apparently arranged to form some sort of map. At the edge of the map, weighing down a scrap of paper, rests a bloodstained ivory statuette of what looks like a crouching reptilian devil. A bulging burlap sack sits under the table. Five mites are standing around the table in the midst of the discussion, and a giant insect as big as the mites looms nearby.
Knowledge (Nature) DC 11:
The insect is a giant tick. It can latch onto people, drain their blood, and potentially infect them with a disease. As the mites see the party arriving, one of them stands up and shouts something. All of the mites turn and snarl aggressively at the party. Initiative:
Average Party Initiative: 13.6 Average Enemy Initiative: 14.33 Turn Order:
Mite Leader Mite 1 Mite 3 Mite 4 Mite 2 Insect Mimek Alyssa Adela Rhiann Erik The mite who just spoke jumps onto the insect and pulls out a trident. The other mites pull out daggers and move forward, the tick advancing alongside them. Mimek chooses to wait for party guidance or action before jumping in.
Lonjiku and Ameiko are getting more heated in their argument. One of Lonjiku's statements makes Ameiko outright angry, and she gestures toward the door. Instead, Lonjiku grabs at Ameiko, but she ducks and strikes him with her soup-filled ladle, getting soup all over his outfit.
Garen, Grod, and Zorlen:
Daviren Hosk gladly loans a riding dog from his Goblin Squash Stables to help hunt down the goblins. "Unfortunately, I can't come with you myself. I'd love to hunt down some goblins, but I have to take care of my other animals. If you bring me the ears of any goblins you find, I'll give you 5 gold per pair. Dog in tow, the three adventurers go back to the perimeter, looking for traces of goblin presence. Only Zorlen misses the initial signs of the tracks, but the tracks are hard for Garen and the dog to follow. Grod keeps them all on track, even when the trail crosses the Lost Coast Road. Ultimately, they follow the trail along a winding path down the cliff to the Lost Coast, where this small band of goblins and their taller ally separated from a larger group of goblins that continued further west along the Lost Coast and did not return. Tot, Izzy, Ari: Before Lonjiku can react to Tot's surprisingly harsh words, Ameiko comes out, still holding a ladle of soup from when she and Tot were cooking. "Thank you," she says to Tot, "but this is my burden to bear." She then begins arguing with her father in Minkaian.
Lonjiku glares at Tot and Izzy. "Out of my way, little... adventurers, and stop interfering in the jobs meant for your betters." He doesn't even bother to hide the contempt in his voice.
Seems the dice does not want you guys to kill the slinky boi That thing was on 1 hit point for the entire third round until Adela shot it dead.
Adela's crossbow bolt strikes the centipede in the head, dealing it a fatal blow. The dying centipede loses its grip and falls back into the chasm, landing with a loud splat.
Ameiko and Tot:
"I have my own share of painful secrets," Ameiko replies, "so I understand keeping them, but eventually you'll find someone to share them with. I have Bethana, who you know, and Shalelu, who you might have met. As for dangerous secrets... find people willing and able to face the danger." Zorlen and Zantus:
If Zorlen had been on his own, he would have missed it. It was Father Zantus who found the relevant passages and pointed them out. The first section of relevance was a list of undead, sorted by type. Various types of skeletal undead were included. The basic skeletons could be created by a simple animate dead spell, which any necromancer worth their salt would know. More concerning was the stronger undead, which could only be created with the powerful create undead: the skeletal champion, which retained all the skills the body had in life, and the huecuva, the risen corpse of a heretical priest. "Not that Father Ezakien was heretical in life, of course. Even if Desna didn't approve of how strict he was with Nualia, he was nowhere near bad enough to become a huecuva. But a sufficiently powerful necromancer could force such blasphemy upon his soul anyway." The second section of relevance was warning of a sequence of blasphemous rituals that progressively transformed their caster into a fiend. In particular, the second stage involved the betrayal of love by burning a family member, alive or dead, as a sacrifice to the caster's fiendish patron. "But who could come for both of them?" Father Zantus wonders. "Father Ezakien had no family left other than Nualia, and Nualia was a foundling whose birth parents we never found." Garen, Grod, Zorlen (possibly), and Hemlock:
"Daviren Hosk would be glad to lend a few hounds to hunt down some goblins," Sheriff Hemlock replies, "but I'm not sure how much good it will do. With the amount of time that's passed since the attack, the scent trail will have gone so cold that even the Wild Hunt couldn't find it. As for questioning my guards, I'm not sure what you could ask that I haven't already thought of, but I suppose I can allow it. What were you thinking of doing first?" Inside the Rusty Dragon (Izzy D, Ari, Tot, Ameiko): The door slams open, and an elderly man storms in. Ari knows him on sight, and Izzy D can easily deduce from his appearance who this is: this is Ameiko's father, Lonjiku Kaijitsu, owner of the Sandpoint Glassworks and member of the town council. He yells something in the tongue of his ancestors, Minkaian, a language that few in Sandpoint outside the Kaijitsu family know. The other patrons suddenly grow very interested in their meals. In the kitchen, Ameiko winces. "Why did you have to come now, Father?"
Alyssa's shot goes too high, sailing over the centipede into the ceiling.
Turns: Adela Erik Rhiann Alyssa Centipede
Once again, Erik cannot quite get through the centipede's protection.
Spoiler: Adela Erik Rhiann Alyssa Centipede
Erik's strike just barely fails to penetrate the centipede's exoskeleton, but Alyssa, Adela, and Rhiann all strike true. Rhiann in particular draws a telling blow, cutting a huge gash into the centipede's back.
Faced with two powerful warriors who have both dealt major injuries to it, the badly injured centipede goes after both of them, biting at Erik while bring its tail up to strike at Rhiann.
Round 3: Adela Erik Rhiann Alyssa Centipede
Alyssa's acid strikes the centipede, but it remains undeterred. It clambers up the wall and bites at Erik.
Round 2 order: Adela Erik Rhiann Alyssa Centipede (18 damage)
Group order: Adela Erik Rhiann Alyssa Centipede
Initiative:
Rhiann's arrow sinks into the centipede's hide, drawing blood. Group order:
Adela Erik Rhiann Alyssa Centipede
Erik and Adela are easily able to identify that some loops are not able to take the weight of anything bigger than a mite or kobold, but there is nonetheless a chain of more stable loops that can get the party across with no problem. In addition, a humongous centipede, easily 25 feet long, can be seen crawling along the bottom of the chasm.
Alyssa and Rhiann:
You sense no deception from Mimek. He is being genuine. Mimek takes the four of you forward through the tunnels. As you continue, you start to see thick tangles of long, pallid roots coming through the ceiling. Finally, you reach a deep chasm, a few yards wide and twice as deep. Roots have been tied into loops for easy progress across.
Ameiko and Tot:
"Yes, Bethana and I can help you with that," Ameiko replies. "The first rule of finding who is trustworthy is to look for people who do helpful things without expectation of reward, especially if they don't draw attention to what they're doing." Zorlen and Zantus: "Yes, we do have some books on warning signs of dark rituals that could be helpful." Father Zantus takes Zorlen to a chest which he unlocks, revealing a small listing of books. "Let us search and find our answers."
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