Thael Silverstep's page

Best of luck, Emil. It's been a good run and I'm sad to see this end like this.

Unsure. I'm still on standby but it's not looking promising. I'm also sad to lose Caspan--you've been a great player here!

While the others negotiate with the harpies, Thael takes the key from the captain's belt and frees the gnome.

"Of course you can go free," he says. "Or join us and we will get you to safety. I'm Thael Silverstep, and we are all refugees, as well. Who are you, and what can you tell us of what has been happening here?" he asks.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Nice idea, Wren. I like the idea of the trade, though perhaps the diplo roll wasn't great.

Thael congratulates the others on another well-coordinated battle. Upon hearing of the harpies in the distance, he considers some spells he might utilize.

"They seem to be observing only--for now. Let us search the camp before they make any trouble in case they run us off."

I'll search the goblin leader, then cast detect magic and sweep around the camp.

Thael's twin orbs continue to harass the wolf and rider, while the wizard attempts to incapacitate the pair with another spell.

heightened glitterdust (DC 20)

ball lightning (DC 22 Refl for no dmg: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 6) = 14 -4 to save if wearing metal armor.
ball lightning (DC 22 Refl for no dmg: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 5) = 16 -4 to save if wearing metal armor.

Thael manages to stop colliding with inanimate objects long enough to cast a spell. From a fair distance away, he conjures two crackling balls of electricity atop the wolf and rider.

I'll place the two orbs on the wolf as show on the map

ball lightning (DC 22 Refl for no dmg: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 6) = 10 -4 to save if wearing metal armor.
ball lightning (DC 22 Refl for no dmg: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 4) = 13 -4 to save if wearing metal armor.

Thael flies forward, following Pila into the camp. He couldn't be any more obvious in his advance.

stealth: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 haha

Thael nods at Caspan's efficiency.

With the sentry dispatched, the wizard casts fly on himself and floats forward.

stealth: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 move 60'

Thael waits in the rear until his companions commence the attack. I'm not in the group going forward.

Alright--are we in initiative rounds then?

Like Emil, Thael hangs back while any of the stealthier group members pick their way forward.

Thael prepares a few spells to help the group.

He starts with fickle winds to spare them from ranged attacks on their advance.

He also casts fly on himself. Previously in the day, as was his practice, he had cast mage armor and unseen servant. To the invisible servant he gave a potion, with instructions to administer it to any of his companions that should fall.

He pulls a scroll of black tentacles from his scroll case.

"I believe I'm ready," he says.

Thael can't help but think of Selde as they survey the avenues of approach. She could sneak past a beholder.

When Wren mentions invisibility and haste, he offers some spells he might cast by way of support: Black tentacles, slow, glitterdust, stinking cloud.

"Any of these could debilitate a number of defenders."

Thael takes measure of what they have found with a studied eye.

"Valuable materials," he says in consultation with Emil and Wren. "If we could find anywhere to sell it, of course."

When Grenwold mentions taking the fight to the enemies at the nearby camp, he nods.

"The biggest dangers we have faced is when the foe encounters us where we are not expecting. The safest course, counter-intuitively, is often straight into the maw."

appraise: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26

Glad to hear you're feeling better!

I'm still here, too. :)

Thael scans the room with a detect magic cantrip, loathe to leave anything magical behind.

"Yes--let's move," he says with some urgency.

Thael frowns while stroking his beard as he listens to the report.

"We had best determine what lies in the next room," he says, renewing his light spell on his black staff.

"Perhaps then we can determine what the hobgoblins wanted in this mine, and what they will do with it in Longshadow."

perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25

Thael looks around for any concerning threats, but seeing none, says "Get up there, Caspan. We need to free him rom that cart, and you're the one strong enough to do it."

"The allure of something magical is too much for me," Thael concedes to Caspan. "I can't imagine leaving it there, even if it belonged to someone."

Welcome back, Shadowlord! Glad you came through on the other side!

Looking at the corpse, Thael isn't sure how to proceed without his allies. He draws a wand and sends a burning hands spell at it from range, hoping to rule out that the creature may be undead before he approaches it.

Once he is satisfied it's safe, he investigates the body and retrieves the belt. He then flies back to report to his allies.

"At least one dead below," he offers.

Does the partially-submerged passageway look like it was new construction, or was it a cave-in?

Sad to hear that. Thanks for the update--I'm not really a Discord user atm.

Yeah, I'm also hoping he's alright or otherwise comes up for air. :)

FYI, I'll be traveling for Thanksgiving and likely unable to post (or not post much) from now until Monday.

Have a great holiday, all! Feel free to bot me.

Thael nods at Emil and, once Pila looks like she won't claw him, carries the animal companion across.

Thael nods and checks out the grate, as well.

perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24

I'll get detect magic going on the search, as well.

Still flying because of his spell, Thael volunteers to check out the other side.

"Perhaps it is not an optimal solution, but I could carry a trio of ropes across and tie them off to replicate the fallen bridge. Using the two for stability, the rest of you could walk across on the one. I am willing to entertain better ideas," he adds.

While the others consider ideas, Thael ventures to scout to the other side and check things out.

perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28

Thael counsels the group to focus on the spider that wasn't slowed by his spell.

"Kill that one first!" he points.

The wizard conjures a pair of crackling lightning orbs, one centered on the fast spider and the other on the closest slow one.

ball lightning (DC 21 Refl for no dmg: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 5) = 13 -4 to save if wearing metal armor.
ball lightning (DC 21 Refl for no dmg: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 1) = 7 -4 to save if wearing metal armor.

Yes, it was a standard small earth elemental (though would have lasted longer than a typical summons)

Thael frowns as his summoned creature is quickly taken apart. From his position flying above the battlefield, he casts slow on the congregated spiders.

DC 19 Refl

I should have also said I'd like to launch myself out into the air so that I'm not subject to melee attacks. Move action to fly.

Thael casts fly on himself in preparation for the battle and to bypass climbing the wall.

He directs the earth elemental to defend itself.

slam vs. nearest enemy (earth mastery): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 1 = 191d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 = 7

"Perhaps an ally could help us excavate more quickly," Thael says.

Drawing on his previously-prepared spells, he summons a small earth elemental.

He points at the debris, then says something in a gravely language.

Thael ponders Caspan's question, wondering if he's read about putting undead to rest for good.

knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (14) + 17 = 31

Thael brings forward a fist to finish a spell, and a ball of force smashes into the undead creature harassing Wren.

heightened battering blast (ranged touch): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 164d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 6, 6) = 17
bull rush attempt (CL+Int): 1d20 + 6 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 7 = 14
trip attempt to knock prone (toppling metamagic rod; CL+Int): 1d20 + 6 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 7 = 32

Thael is about to warn the others, but they have advanced too quickly.

The rocks are already tumbling by the time he's able to shout a warning.

Thael also puts his intellect to work to help Wren figure out what it might be.

know religion aid: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (10) + 17 = 27

"I saw it, too!" Thael intones quietly.

"Be careful--it could be a well-camouflaged enemy."

perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30

From a distance, cast detect magic on the pile. I'll also try to identify it, in the event it's a creature.

knowledge (arcana, can always take 10): 10 + 19 = 29
knowledge (planes): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (2) + 18 = 20
knowledge (dungeoneering, local, religion): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (12) + 17 = 29
knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
Looking for 1) vulnerabilities 2) immunities 3) special abilities

Once they find the letter, Thael muses about what to try next.

"The mine seems fairly dangerous. It would be difficult to ascertain whether the collapse would make things more stable--or less so. I do have some knowledge of engineering, and could perhaps diagnose the mine's stability in closer proximity."

He strokes his black beard in thought.

"I suggest we reconnoiter given that we are already here."

Thael examines the holy symbol pensively.

"I am very familiar with the holy symbols for most known faiths, even obscure ones. I am not familiar with this one--it could be the smallest of cults or a new faith, I suppose."

He agrees that the mine is the way forward. "Perhaps we will find additional clues," he says as he lights the tip of his black staff.

knowledge religion: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (10) + 17 = 27

Fully charged sounds like 50 to me. Grenwold, I have loads of wands. If you want this one, let me know.

City-slicker Thael still has trouble reading the signs of nature, and can't tell anything from the multitude of tracks they see.

"We should search what remains of the town for anything we might salvage," he says, scanning the ruined shells of buildings for anything magical or otherwise of interest.

nature: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13
cast detect magic
perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18

After a diligent search of the battlefield, Thael comes across some things of value.

"Fascinating," he says as he holds up the wand, always excited to find anything magical.

"I am guessing I'm the only one that can utilize this," he adds as he cradles the wand.

perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26 how many charges does the wand have?

"How shall we search for survivors?" the wizard asks. "I imagine we do not need to take care to be quiet."

Thael takes a defensive stance as his allies battle the enemies. Maintaining the lightning spell he had previously cast, he also adds a burning arc spell to the mix.

ball lightning vs. armor (DC 21 Refl for no dmg: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 1) = 11 -4 to save if wearing metal armor.
ball lightning vs. mist (DC 21 Refl for no dmg: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 5) = 12 -4 to save if wearing metal armor.

burning arc, 1st target (DC 20 Refl): 8d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 2, 2, 5, 5, 5, 3) = 31 I'll have this hit the armor to the top left, then the next armor next to it, then finally the mist.
burning arc, 2nd target (DC 18 Refl): 4d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 1, 3) = 12
burning arc, 3rd target (DC 16 Refl): 2d6 ⇒ (3, 5) = 8

I went to the dentist myself today! Not that bad, but still had one drill zinger.

Fair enough.

I'm fine not casting it prior to. I'll just make fickle winds my first action instead of the ball lightning.

If we couldn't start with Fickle Winds, I'll go ahead and cast it my first round instead of the action I took.

Prior to the battle, Thael casts fickle winds on himself and his companions, as he had planned. covers everyone, hopefully prior to combat

Once the melee begins to swirl, Thael casts ball lightningDC 22 Refl, with one ball in the mist and one on the left-most armored thing.red

"Form up!" he exclaims.

Glad you're hanging in there--we appreciate your diligence.

Sorry to hear about Selde, especially since she'd been my primary relationship. We'll have to play that through.

All,

I'll be on a trip through next Monday. Please bot me, as necessary.

"I concur, Emil," Thael says. "I believe the winds may protect us from its attacks and then we can whittle it down with spells and missiles. Shall we give the plan an attempt?"

Emil, I also have Fickle Winds memorized. Maybe that could help us?

Creatures in gaseous form can't pass through it.