Gameplay - The Dragon That Opposed an Empress

I am the answer to your problems.

He hooks a thumb to the rest of the party.

We don't like giants. We do like money.

Mavis Redleather

May 13, 2020 6:17 am

Mavis steps forward to stand next to Garth. She nods agreement at his words, but mainly she nods because those lines sounded cool.

She feels that Garth has said it all, so she just stands there and adds,
Aye
which wasn't her most sparkling dialogue, but why waste wit on a gnoll?

May 13, 2020 12:01 pm

The gnoll gnashes his teeth for a moment.

"What deeds have you done?"

You got the impression from the drinking binge with the orcs that reputation here is key. The extent that anyone will take you seriously depends on your accomplishments. You sense the gnoll may not even tell you where the mine and giant is until he is convinced this isn't a waste of his time.

His manner also tells you that he is impressed by your gear, and is taking you more and more seriously than when you first entered.

May 13, 2020 5:30 pm

Garth casts Thaumaturgy causing his voice to boom and then flicks his wrist so the magic staff appears.

We Defeated the high priest of Gond, and took this staff from his dead hand.

OOC:

Garth has been in battles against humanoids, so he will mention those. Especially the one where his whole company was wiped out.

Those are some of our exploits.

Timing it to the end of Thaumaturgy...

Tell us what we need to know.

May 14, 2020 12:37 pm

somebox Inactive forever!

The gnoll accepts your story and relaxes a bit. Not a lot.

"We mine copper. The hill giant moved in, convinced it was gold. The brute sealed the main entrance and has a dozen miners in there with him. He's eaten a few by now. I can get you into that mine through an air shaft. You kill the giant, then break out. I pay you. 200 gold plus 20 for each miner that's alive and can work the mine again."

Ruby Tealeaf

May 14, 2020 4:10 pm

"Does he have any weaknesses? The eyes perhaps?" Ruby would be foolish not to ask. Hopefully not, I bet giants are at leave 15 feet tall. I can't jump that high.

May 14, 2020 4:12 pm

The gnoll grunts in a drooly fashion. "Eyes, nutsack, throat. Same as anyone."

Mavis Redleather

May 14, 2020 4:20 pm

Mavis nods. Aye. Eyes, nutsack, throat. that would have been her answer too. Heart and liver too, if you’re feeling ambitious.

Mavis is feeling nostalgic, creeping down a mineshaft to assassinate a foe, missions just like mother her used to make.

Oh aye. Where’s shaft then? Tha’s all don’t mind I ah ‘ave first crack, does tha?

May 14, 2020 5:03 pm

You know I never stand in your way.

He turns to the gnoll.

Let's go

May 17, 2020 1:37 am

The gnoll, Foreman Grekk, leads you a quarter mile up some switchback trails to a wooden building. As you get close, you can see that it is little more than a ventilation his to keep rain from going into a hole. The hood slides to the side revealing the shaft.

The hole is carved roughly into the stone. It's about a pace wide in a side, more or less square. Adequate handholds make it looks like it would be fairly easy to climb down.

"At the bottom, you'll not know one way from another, but head uphill and that will take you to the entrance. The giant will be in that space as it's the biggest part of the cave."

May 17, 2020 3:20 am

We will be back before dark.

Garth turns and climbs down.

When we are all at the bottom...

Anyone want me to cast Elemental Weapon on their weapon? It becomes magical and does extra damage.

I will stay second row and trust to do some magic damage.

May 17, 2020 3:23 am

Free climbing down will require a Strength(Athletics) check.

May 17, 2020 3:41 am

Maybe we should tie off a rope.

Garth finds the climb wasn't as easy as he thought.

Rolls

Athletics - (1D20+4)

(9) + 4 = 13

May 17, 2020 3:57 am

Garth makes it to the bottom well enough.

DC 10. A rope from the top would eliminate the need for a roll from the others, save the last person.

Also, it's very dark at the bottom.

May 17, 2020 4:08 am

somebox Inactive forever!

OOC:

Do we have the vision of the races we are disguised as, and do they have night vision?

Ruby Tealeaf

May 17, 2020 4:15 am

Ruby will pull out her good rope, doing as Garth suggests and finds a reasonable place to tie it up. Still leaves the lack of visibility. "Garth, don't move in case of holes or something. Hang on." She pulls out one of her torches and sparks it to life. knew these things would be handy.

Sliding down the rope with one hand while the other holds the torch she quickly inspects the ground to ensure there aren't actually any holes. "You want one? I've got plenty extra. Also I think my staff is already magical, but if you can make it stronger I won't say no."

May 17, 2020 4:23 am

With the rope tied off to the ventilation hood, you all climb down safely.

Torch light shows the carved tunnels stretching two ways. Thousands of footfalls have flattened the stone floor to as smooth finish.

Although the slope of gentle, Mavis knows which way is up hill and which way down.

Mavis Redleather

May 17, 2020 5:52 am

Aye - If tha can can make dagger magical then ah’d like to use it to gi’ giant a clout.

Does tha’ want to ‘ang back whilst I gi’ it a look-see?
Mavis heads off up hill, clinging to the shadows.

OOC:

Mavis has +9 to stealth. If the giant is surprised, and she hits (with adv) then her first hit will count as a crit.

Can I suggest:
Mavis creeps down the corridor and waves for you to follow so you remain at a distance. When we find the giant, Mavis will stealthily approach and hopefully deliver the crit.

If the giant is surprised:
A crit will be 6d6+2d4+4 = average of 30 damage. It definitely won’t kill it - but it should upset it.
Then she bonus action dashes away (no opportunity attacks if it’s surprised).
By dashing away we might be able to pull the enraged giant into a trap. What trap? I don’t know. Do we have oil we can burn? Or any spells that would be useful? Are there props we can remove to drop the roof on it? Boulders we can roll on it?

It’s based on the assumption that we’ll just find a lone hill giant, and +9 stealth is enough to fix a bad roll.

Last edited May 17, 2020 5:53 am

May 17, 2020 6:00 am

OOC:

Well if I magic the dagger it will be +1 to hit and damage and does an extra d4 of cold damage. If you lead it back i can hit it with a ranged spell as it comes toward us, then we form a line and hope for the best?

Oh and

OOC:

I can cast silence 120 feet up the corridor.

Last edited May 17, 2020 6:01 am

May 17, 2020 6:06 am