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"Fine, fine," Vano says, acting annoyed to cover his fear. He takes the key from Escobert. Then he whispers to Bor. "You keep that pirate off my back, though." He puts his bow over his shoulder and draws a pair of daggers. Then he advances a short way down the hidden corridor.
I'm pretty in favor of increased flavor for magic items. In one of the playtests, they had tables that gave a ton of options for creating history and purpose of an item. I'm really hoping that makes it into the DMG. Actually, I don't care, because I'll use it anyway. I like anything that makes magic feel more magical, and magic items in particular. Giving them stories should be required, though not necessarily of the GM. As long as whatever it does grows out of what it is. A thing I'd like: A +1 battle axe of orcish manufacture that lets you take a bonus action to move towards an enemy when you score a crit. The orcs never knew it did that because orcs do that naturally, and nobody would know that until they got a crit with it. A thing I'd hate: A +1 battle axe that lets you take a bonus action to move towards an enemy when you score a crit after you've owned it for a month. I also like what you did with the bowstring, incidentally. For those who didn't read my spoiler: This is a MW Elven Bowstring. It makes you bow Masterwork, until you roll a 1 on an attack roll. It then breaks and must be replaced.
Vano places the arrows into his quiver and then takes the velvet pouch with a look of surprise on his face. He's never had anyone give him anything like this before, and he opens it as though expecting a trap. When he sees what it contains, he lets out a long, low whistle. "How did this come to be here?" he murmurs, not expecting an answer. He restrings his bow on the spot, using the string inside the pouch, and rolling the old one up and keeping it in the pouch. "There are spiderwebs woven into the string," he explains. "It is said to be stronger than steel, and makes the bow quicker to draw and fire." He plucks the string, listening to it hum, and smiles. He's still grinning as he drifts off after Escobert.
I thought Bor was my full-speed-ahead-damn-the-torpedoes guy. But we should probably see what we can learn before we start roaming the streets again.
Vano looks at the pirate and smiles. As long as nobody asks me to turn my back on him. "If we're going after one of their leaders, I'll take anyone foolhardy enough to come along," he says, and then hold up his half-empty quiver. "I could use more arrows, if there are any to spare."
Vano nods, not terribly convinced that he was brave. At least he faked it well enough to get a couple of arrows into the thing. "No harm in a little preaching now and then, as long as it doesn't get out of control," he says with a wink, wondering what god she followed. Most of the "holy" men and women he knew growing up in Mistshore were smarter-than-average con-artists or bent on terrifying the people out of their lives of crime. The dwarf had been different. So was this one. "Good meeting you." Maybe the whole world isn't as wretched as Waterdeep's slums, he thinks, and goes in search of the dwarf who seemed to be in command.
I think Eiryn's got a pretty cool moral puzzle. Maybe her god wants her to wrestle with it because she will grow in wisdom and understanding by doing so. Maybe her god is paradoxically stupid about puny human minds and can't tell the difference between taking knowledge in through learning and putting knowledge out through enchantment (though that does seem flimsy). Maybe the thinking was "These aren't the droids you're looking for" and stormtroopers don't deserve free will? Personally, I like the idea that she's got this power but she's troubled by using it. The power isn't given her so she can make puppets out of lesser mortals, but is power she discovers. By her wrestling with the inner working of her own mind, she learns ways to influence others'. Also, I like how easy it is to level up in 5e.
Vano hangs his head over the side of the parapet, sick and shaking with fear. After a short time, he straightens up and looks around. "That...." He looks in the direction where the dragon went. "That happened." He nods to himself, as if he was still trying to believe that it happened. "You hit his eye" he says to Dorn. He looks at Eiryn then. "I am Vanoe'adae," he says. "Most call me Vano. You fought... bravely." He gives a weak smile, thinking bravery is probably not a subject he should be raising.
"I'll make sure your skin is perfect when I hang it on my wall!" Vano shouts as he draws his bow and lets another arrow fly. Then he ducks behind the battlements. "Please don't let him hear me."
wis (properly, this time): 1d20 + 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (18) + (3) + 1 = 22
Vano closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. It's a dragon, he tells himself. I won't kill it, but if it's going to kill me, I'm at least going to put up a fight. He stands and draws his bow, loosing another shaft.
Vano closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. It's a dragon, he tells himself. I won't kill it, but if it's going to kill me, I'm at least going to put up a fight. He stands and draws his bow, loosing another shaft.
hm... the d20 roll failed, but then I added my wisdom modifier (minus the +, apparently) and the attack rolls and now it's too late to edit. With the GMs permission, I'll just let it ride as a failed save and a missed attack and cowering against the parapet.
Vano whimpers and races out of the path of the dragon, cowering against the side of the keep and loosing the arrow with trembling hands, watching as it bounces harmlessly off the beast's armored hide.
Vano might have remembered more had he not been distracted by the sight of a dragon flying towards them. With trembling fingers he draws an arrow and ducks behind the cover of the parapet. "I know he said I'd find my destiny here, but please, if any gods are listening, let me find it somewhere else," he whimpers as he puts the arrow to the bowstring and waits, watching the guards with their crossbows.
Out of town this weekend til Wednesday. Posting will be lean. I pre-approve whatever people agree on, except using Vano as minesweeper.
It's ok, I was using the arrows with the rubber suction cups.
Vano looks up at the sky, arm cocking back to throw the dagger, but the winged kobold is gone too quickly. He looks down at Zennor, and then picks up the kobold. He shoves it forcefully into Dorn's arms. "Take him inside. Get it together," he whispers to the bard. "I have a feeling it's going to be a long night." Then he grabs Zennor under the arms and begins to pull her body into the keep.
Tycandus, Vano still is your rogue, and resents the @#$$ out of being mistaken for a possibly female dwarf. Kidding, but I'm not the one dropping the game. As for new people, I'm good either way. If someone cool wants to join in, by all means, but I don't think we need to give up if we can't find someone. I'm the GM in Bor's other game, and I don't particularly think the moon druid is broken. They have a powerful ability, but so do several other classes. I haven't read what the internet says about it, though, so maybe it is broken.
"Anyone ever tell you, you have a pretty good singing voice?" Vano says to Dorn, feeling the pain from the kobold's sling stone fading. He rolls his shoulders, feeling the knot gone, the bruised ribs no longer hurt. "Thank you."
Vano stashes his bow and draws a dagger, using his off hand to grip to kobold by the ear as he moves towards the keep. "Quickly and quietly now, and you'll live to see tomorrow," he says.
"We're going to have to talk about this," Vano says, grabbing the surviving kobold by the ear and dragging the little beast towards the keep.
Vano makes a pained sound as he realizes he wasted an arrow on nerves, and takes a moment to aim this time. Waiting til his target is distracted by Dorn, he looses his arrow.
"I knew I saw a flying kobold! Vano snaps, as he falls back away from the charging kobolds. His eyes scan the sky and he lets an arrow fly, neatly skewering a crow in his excitement.
Vano climbs out of the riverbed on the town side, eyes peeled for cover and danger.
I was thinking of Vano doing an old MMO style pull. I'll fire into their midst, and when they surge out of the darkness to try to kill me, the melee contingent intercepts and we put them down. Or, the melee contingent charges in while the ranged attackers lay down fire, which has the cuts-both-ways effect of using their fire to avoid darkness issues.
Vano crawls up the side of the bank (somewhere I can get a decent look at the bridge and the approach to the keep) and, staying in the shadows, surveys the area.
"I saw ... several." Vano looks a bit sheepish. "I didn't want to get too close, ok?"
Vano takes a deep breath and nods. If it's to be battle, he'll fight. "You three could move towards them, and I could draw them into an ambush," he says, pantomiming shooting an arrow at the cultists.
Vano slips back to the group and whispers. "As far as I can tell, it's more of them. I couldn't get a very clear look, so I can't say how many. It's possible we could slip around them." He says, frowning. He looks at the families that they've added to their group. "Maybe we can draw them away, and then you can reach the keep."
Vano aims at one of the fleeing kobolds, and then shakes his head. It would be a wasted arrow, now they are fleeing. Even if it would feel good. He lowers the bow and looks towards the old people and their granddaughter. "Come with us," he says, "We're going to the keep." As the group approaches the keep, they spot a group of figures and a fire under the bridge. Vano turns to the others and puts a finger to his lips. He slips from shadow to shadow, working closer, until he can see whether these are friends or enemies.
Vano curses elaborately in elvish as he ducks under the cultist's blade. He draws back the arrow that he had already nocked as they crept along and, practically touching the man with the bow, looses the arrow.
18 13 26 Vano sticks close to Bor.
How I'm looking at it... Vano Stealth+6, Perception+3 AC 15
Vano is probably the best candidate for scout, though he would much prefer to be in the rear with the gear providing ranged support. Bor is the only other likely choice for point, with slightly better perception, and being a front-liner by inclination. Vano (imho) is the better choice if we hope to avoid encounters, Bor is the better choice if we assume we're going to end up tangling with someone. Option 1 Vano ... Bor, Tycandus .. the Swifts .. Zennor, Dorn
"It's good we found you when we did, Linan, Cuth. I am Vanoe'adae," the elf says, shuffling his feet shyly. His eyes are drawn to something flying overhead and he draws another arrow, but hesitates. "Are those flying kobolds?" he says, wondering. Then he lowers his bow and turns to the Swifts. The first thing is to get them to safety. "To the keep, then. You know the town, any path that lets us stay hidden would be good."
Vano circles around the melee, bow drawn, waiting for the right moment. When Zennor dodges out of the way, he has a clear shot, and sinks an arrow into one of the kobolds attacking her.
Vano stares in horror as Bor is taken down, but a heartbeat after the fear turns his legs to jelly, anger follows. He grits his teeth then, takes aim at one of the kobolds that savaged the big fighter, and lets his arrow fly. (21)
"Leave him alone!" he shouts at the foul beasts.
As I was stealthing, I won't be close enough to take a shot until round 2, so my action is already posted. That sentence about sticking to hte shadows. Incidentally, for those who are worried, I plan on having Vano become a little less of a chickens*** as we grow. Plus (and for this I love 5e) all I need for a sneak attack is for one of you to be in melee with the creature. Bor up!
Vano sticks to the shadows, staying out of sight as he moves up to find a shot.
I think GM rolling initiative is pretty conventional on the boards, and it speeds things up. I also think that, once we actually get into it (like, now) we'll probably stay a little more on task. Tactics-wise, Vano is a rogue, he'll be looking for sneak attacks with his longbow as much as possible. In a pinch, he can get into melee with the daggers, but that's only a last resort.
Vano is careful not to be seen. So careful, in fact, that the details of what is happening seem to escape him. When they cross the stream, he is wound tight, and as soon as he sees the kobolds threatening the family, he is drawing his bow, ready to shoot.
Poor Supreme Being... We're obviously going to be a tough group to wrangle, but for the moment, we're approaching this bridge, looking for someone to help and (except for Bor) trying not to get murdered by the dragon. If we need a caller, I nominate Bor.
Staying a little ways off from the others, sticking to the shadows, Vano makes his way to the bridge, an arrow nocked and ready to fly. This helping people thing seems like a lot of risk without much reward, but I suppose I can't just walk away and let them die. Surely we can't slay a dragon, though, can we? As they come to the bridge, he takes cover where he can to get a better look at what's going on, crossing if possible, but staying low.
Imagine Vano in ultimate stealth mode trying not to crap his pants when Bor bellows.
Are you kidding? That was the best stealth ever.
Vano sticks to the shadows as he approaches the outskirts of the town, an arrow nocked, ready to fly if necessary. Frequent glances behind him assure him that his companions are following.
If anyone's looking for a game, I'm running Ravenloft for 5th edition.
Vano looks for a stealthy approach to the village, trying not to let his company 's courage drag him into anything too suicidally reckless.
Vano stares at the village, his eyes wide, watching the dragon flying over the town. "We'll die...," he says, to noone in particular, but he strings his bow with trembling fingers and takes a deep breath. Everyone dies. There are worse ways than trying to save someone. He shakes himself and draws an arrow. "We should stay out of sight, until we figure out how we can help."
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