The Triad

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Sep 19, 2020 2:46 pm
At the explosion of fire, Zenithral looks unfazed. He twirls his bow deflecting the blast and leaving the only harm against him a sweaty brow.

Fluphy, however, isn't so lucky. Zenithral sees flames start to scorch his loyal friend as it flees in terror. For a moment, he forgets the others and he reaches out with golden light, transfering the scorching burns to himself instead. (Zenithral uses Martyr's Empathy. He takes a total of 28 fire damage. Fluphy takes none, but is subject to the fear spell.)

To his great surprise, he then sees several his men from Kuldahar emerge from the portal, fleeing some threat, infernal arrows protruding from their backs. ""Captain!" One of them coughs and stumbles. "The devils...!---Where were y---" The guard cuts off and topples as a half a dozen of arrows fly from the portal and strikes him and the others down.

He stumbles back, but quickly recognizes the fact that the slaad just cast a spell and if this was a portal to Kuldahar, the party really took the long away around. Well now...That was disturbing.

Zenithral releases another hail of arrows. All three nearly miss again, but he bends each one's trajectory. Two strike the one Alalla is assaulting, arrows flying probably uncomfortably close past her shoulders and side. One arrow spirals entirely around the branch and hits the other slaad from behind.

The bow bursts again at the show of unstable, spacial manipulation. Holding the bow extra tightly this time, instead of the bow flying from his hand, it sends Zenithral tumbling to the ground.

"I--*cough*---meant to do that," he croaks out.

(Slaad 2 takes 35 damage, Slaad 3 takes 17 damage. Zenithral falls prone.)

109 / 118 HP + 10 temp HP
AC 17
35 feet from the Slaadi, 30 feet from the party members, Prone.
Concentrating on Shield of Faith for Alalla
Last edited September 19, 2020 3:44 pm

Rolls

Dex Save vs Fireball - (1d20+4)

(13) + 4 = 17

Wis Save vs Fear - (1d20+3)

(20) + 3 = 23

Longbow 1 vs Slaad 2 (Sharp, Bless) - (1d20+9, 1d4)

1d20+9 : (6) + 9 = 15

1d4 : (2) = 2

Another Overconfident Straaaain! - (1d100)

(45) = 45

Longbow 1 Damage - (1d8+16)

(1) + 16 = 17

Longbow 2 vs Slaad 2 (Sharp, Bless) - (1d20+9, 1d4)

1d20+9 : (2) + 9 = 11

1d4 : (1) = 1

Longbow 2 Inspiration - (1d20+9)

(2) + 9 = 11

Curving Shot vs Slaad 3 (Sharp, Bless) - (1d20+9, 1d4)

1d20+9 : (6) + 9 = 15

1d4 : (2) = 2

I'm going to keep straining until Zenithral learns the Planes are dangerous. - (1d100)

(36) = 36

Longbow 2 Damage - (1d8+16)

(1) + 16 = 17

Longbow 3 vs Slaad 1 (Sharp, Bless) - (1d20+9, 1d4)

1d20+9 : (12) + 9 = 21

1d4 : (2) = 2

Longbow 3 Damage - (1d8+16)

(2) + 16 = 18

Con Save for Concentration on Shield of Faith - (1d20+7)

(9) + 7 = 16

Wait, no FLUPHY!! Dex Save - (1d20+2)

(11) + 2 = 13

Fluphy Wis Save - (1d20+2)

(7) + 2 = 9

Another One - (1d20+7)

(20) + 7 = 27

Sep 19, 2020 4:27 pm
The fireball does little to bother the party, other than to nearly destroy Fluphy. The little flumph toots a quick thank-you to Zenithral, then hides on the underside of the enormous tree branch where the battle takes place.

With the power of Torm, Tyr, and Ilmater evident, one of the slaadi quickly succumbs to its injuries, though it manages to wound Erevain before it falls (Erevain takes 16 damage). The last slaad accepts a series of blows from Aribeth, then cleverly hacks at the paladin's leg, only to follow up with a fierce kick to her middle (Aribeth takes 23 damage). Aribeth staggers back, momentarily out of breath and vulnerable. When the slaad leaps forward to continue its assault, however, Fenthick utters a holy word and summons an angelic guardian between his beloved and the slaad. The divine conjuration stands with shining sword held at the slaad's throat, and Fenthick speaks out in a low voice. "Your comrades have fallen, and next will be you. Tell us by what means you came here, and what your plans were, and we will let you live."

Rolls

Erevain vs Slaad 3 (two attacks) - (1d20+11, 1d20+11)

1d20+11 : (14) + 11 = 25

1d20+11 : (1) + 11 = 12

dmg to slaad 3 (slashing, thunder, radiant) - (1d8+7, 2d8, 1d4)

1d8+7 : (2) + 7 = 9

2d8 : (47) = 11

1d4 : (1) = 1

Aribeth vs Slaad 3 (3 attacks) - (1d20+9, 1d20+9, 1d20+9)

1d20+9 : (17) + 9 = 26

1d20+9 : (18) + 9 = 27

1d20+9 : (13) + 9 = 22

dmg to slaad 3 (piercing, radiant) - (3d6+10, 3d8)

3d6+10 : (554) + 10 = 24

3d8 : (312) = 6

Halla vs slaad 3 - (1d20+8)

(10) + 8 = 18

dmg to slaad 3 - (6d8+5)

(544222) + 5 = 24

erevain save vs fireball - (1d20+8)

(20) + 8 = 28

halla save vs fireball - (1d20-1)

(18) - 1 = 17

aribeth save vs fireball - (1d20+4)

(16) + 4 = 20

fenthick save vs fireball - (1d20+6)

(15) + 6 = 21

slaad 2 vs Erevain (3 attacks) - (3d20+7)

(17216) + 7 = 42

dmg to Erevain - (3d6+6)

(622) + 6 = 16

slaad 3 vs Al (disadv) - (2d20+7)

(77) + 7 = 21

Slaad 3 vs Aribeth (2 attacks) - (2d20+7)

(1512) + 7 = 34

dmg to aribeth - (4d6+6)

(5426) + 6 = 23

Fenthick persuasion - (1d20+5)

(5) + 5 = 10

Sep 19, 2020 4:59 pm
The slaad gives pause at the angelic guardian, but chuckles through bloodied toad lips. "We do what we always do. Stupid of you to not realize this."
Sep 19, 2020 5:38 pm
"They're highway ruffians, Fenthick." Zenithral stands and knocks another arrow. "Looking to make a meal of us. That one apparently had a hankering for roasted flumph," he says, jerking his bow towards the one that cast the fireball.

"Either way, I'm not sure that's a good enough answer to let you live another day, Mister Toad" he adds, glancing at Alalla to see what she thinks.
Sep 19, 2020 5:44 pm
"I'm sure there's plenty to eat besides people," Alalla says, preparing her sword for an executing blow. "If we let him go, how long before he eats someone else?" She waits for Zenithral to give the word.
Last edited September 19, 2020 5:48 pm
Sep 19, 2020 5:57 pm
"Agreed." Zenithral says swiftly and confidently. "I'm not aware of any law enforcement out here, but confessing to repeated murder, plus attempted murder sounds like reasonable cause for a death sentence to me. Proceed."

Should he have offered it last words? No...not when that last word might be another spell.

He watches the grim phantasms of his dead men fade, thinking back to when he turned to Alalla for leadership, and after declaring himself "acting captain" at that. She needed no captain, so it was still a bit strange to think that she looked to him for orders now.
Last edited September 19, 2020 5:58 pm
Sep 19, 2020 6:13 pm
There is hardly a space between 'Proceed' and the thudding of Alalla's sword against the branch they stand on, with even less of a space between that and the thus of the slaad's head landing wetly beside it.

She nods to Zenithral and cleans her weapon, grateful that Zenithral had taken the command. He has overcome his fears and trauma some in his role in Kuldahar, and his new confidence will be well-used here. She can't be the head of this mission, but she isn't about to give it to Aribeth.
Last edited September 19, 2020 6:16 pm
Sep 19, 2020 6:21 pm
Fenthick looks troubled, but says nothing until after the deed is done. "I would have thought that of all people, a servant of Ilmater might have given the creature a second chance."
Sep 19, 2020 6:21 pm
Aribeth watches coldly as Alalla delivers the final blow. Whatever she saw in the thing's illusion spell does not seem to have improved her mood.

"Fenthick, dear, not everything that breathes deserves to live." She does not meet Alalla's eyes, but rather looks down as she cleans and stows her weapons.
Sep 19, 2020 6:22 pm
Halla, back in her human form, sniffs. "I could have launched it into that stuff between planes, but I suspect it would have found its way back eventually. Better to know for sure it is gone."

The druid turns to examine the portal of swirling colors. "To Arvandor, then? 'Tis not a pleasant thought, but eventually someone will wonder what happened to the eladrin here. I would rather be forthcoming than caught here over corpses."
Sep 19, 2020 8:24 pm
"Ilmater is the god of the oppressed and suffering," Zenithral replies to Fenthick, "It is my duty to halt and relieve the suffering of others, and I believe we have hitherto done so. That can be a dangerous line of thinking in many paths," he admits, "But the creature said it would do what it had always done and gave no indication it wanted to do otherwise anytime soon.

"You seem the most familiar with the creatures,"
he continues. "Have you ever known a slaad to..." He was about to say 'be anything but chaotic and violent', but trails off, realizing the irony in what was about to say. Considering the very reason for their expedition was to prove that a species wasn't subject to follow its original nature, the potential hypocrisy gave Zenithral pause.

"Hm..." He seems contemplative for a moment, but says nothing more to Fenthick and refocuses when Halla speaks.

"Excellent suggestion," he agrees, starting towards the portal. "To Arvandor."
Last edited September 19, 2020 8:27 pm
Sep 19, 2020 10:00 pm
"We extended an opportunity for mercy, then judged based on its actions, not anything else." Alalla sheaths her sword. "I'm satisfied with our judgement, and our only our gods can say if we were right."

She pauses at something Halla said. "Just a moment, Zenithral. Did the slaad eat Eladrin guards? Should we check?" She regards the bulbous Slaad bellies. "Someone will want to know what happened to them, if there were any here..."
Last edited September 19, 2020 10:01 pm
Sep 19, 2020 10:16 pm
Zenithral stops, frowns, and nods, considering Halla's and Alalla's words, both regarding the execution and the dissection. Meanwhile, Fluphy floats up and around the branch, then down and around again.

"That seems reasonable," he says after a moment. "Shapechangers usually have a model they have to follow, and while it's impossible to say how long they've been here, it couldn't hurt."

While Alalla performs the dissection, Zenithral takes the time to look over the party for signs of injury, then the area around the portal for any additional threats.
Last edited September 19, 2020 10:16 pm

Rolls

Medicine (Everyone okay?) - (1d20+3)

(17) + 3 = 20

Perception (Anything else want to kill us?) - (1d20+3)

(4) + 3 = 7

Sep 19, 2020 10:21 pm
Alalla nods and gets to work, quickly opening the stomachs of the three slaad with her belt knife, unsure what she hopes to find.
Last edited September 19, 2020 10:21 pm
Sep 19, 2020 10:31 pm
Erevain steps forward to sort through the mess as Alalla cuts. "They... don't smell any better on the inside, do they? Eugh..." The ranger pauses. "No, yes. That's... definitely from an elf." He stands up and washes his hands with a waterskin. "It's hard to say, but there might be two or three consumed corpses here between the three slaadi."
Sep 19, 2020 10:35 pm
Halla seems entirely unphased by the spillage. "Ah, yes. Three, indeed. 'Tis only a matter of counting the ears. They're a little masticated, but still identifiable."
Sep 19, 2020 10:39 pm
Aribeth opens her mouth to speak, but stops when Fenthick puts a hand on her shoulder. "You remember the slaadi we fought in Neverwinter. Unchecked, they would have caused a terrible pandemic."

He willingly submits to Zenithral's investigation, and motions for Aribeth to do the same.
Sep 19, 2020 10:43 pm
Aribeth folds her arms over her chest. "Of course I remember. But those ones were blue, and had extended claws." She holds a hand up to stop Zenithral from approaching. "The one that hurt me used its sword, not claws." She raises an eyebrow. "Besides, I am a paladin, remember? I don't get sick."
Sep 19, 2020 10:50 pm
Erevain pokes at his upper arm, where one of the slaadi landed a bite. "Claws, you say? And what of teeth?" His eyes flick to Alalla. "I wouldn't want to expose anyone else."
Sep 19, 2020 10:55 pm
Zenithral shrugs, innocently. "I know next to nothing about these things, but not all of us are blessed with divine health," he reminds Aribeth, skipping her and moving on to Erevain. "If you say they can spread pandemic, perhaps you could share some of it with Erevain, just in case?"

He very well knew Alalla was capable of curing disease, but perhaps getting a semblance of kindness out of her might unite the group somewhat.
Last edited September 19, 2020 10:57 pm

Rolls

Persuasion - (1d20+8)

(5) + 8 = 13

Inspiration - (1d20+8)

(6) + 8 = 14

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