Against the Cult: Meet Me at the Bar Fight (1.9)

Nov 29, 2024 4:27 pm

Aanbo wordlessly drops the swords he confiscated from Grover and his cronies, then hustles across the tavern towards Myrtha's opponent. Sliding past Bertram's body and moving around the table, Aanbo comes up from behind HA to deliver a swift kick to the back of the knee, followed by a punch to the back of the neck.

OOC:

Movement: 25-30 feet to stop just north of HA.
Action: Unarmed strike vs HA
Bonus Action: Martial Arts unarmed strike vs HA

Rolls

Unarmed Strike to hit, Bludgeoning damage - (1d20+4, 1d4+2)

1d20+4 : (17) + 4 = 21

1d4+2 : (2) + 2 = 4

Unarmed Strike to hit, Bludgeoning damage - (1d20+4, 1d4+2)

1d20+4 : (17) + 4 = 21

1d4+2 : (4) + 2 = 6

Nov 29, 2024 9:58 pm

OOC:

Noice. I will wait to see what that does before I act.

Dec 1, 2024 2:03 pm

Round four, continued

Aanbo crosses the room in a flash, coming up behind Myrtha's assailant (called "H.A." because no one in the party has yet learned his name), kicks him in the back of the leg, following up with a series of punches to the back of the neck and head. H.A. takes 10 damage. It is a beautifully-executed takedown...

...except that H.A. doesn't quite fall. He staggers, and whirls to get Aanbo in his field of view, too. "The dwarf!" he yells in surprise. "I've heard about you!" Then his eyes widen, as he continues parrying Myrtha's sword blows. "If you're here, what happened to Gerd?!?"

Whatever Derek is doing upstairs, the party cannot see or hear it.

OOC:

@mathias0077 - It is Chase's turn.

22 - Reptile (0/15) Dead
16 - Aanbo (16/19)
15 - Derek Gone upstairs
14 - Chase (8/11)
10 - Bertram Dead
9 - Myrtha (6/12)
5 - H.A. (-26)
1 - Theran (13/13)

Dec 1, 2024 5:58 pm

Chase seeing the man stagger will run in and plant the butt end of the spear in his gut and then try and grapple him.

Rolls

to hit, damage - (1d20+6, 1d6+4)

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

1d6+4 : (5) + 4 = 9

Dec 2, 2024 1:10 am

Round four, continued...

Chase runs up behind Aanbo as H.A. is turning to face them and slams his spear into the man's abdomen. From the angle, it probably hits his kidneys more than his gut; H.A. takes 9 bludgeoning damage and falls to the floor with a groan.

OOC:

I'm assuming that the "butt of the spear" was meant to convey a non-lethal attack? In any case, H.A. is out of the fight.

[ +- ] Map: Chase takes the fight out of H.A.

The four Dungeon Busters are not facing an immediate threat at the moment; what do you do now?

22 - Reptile (0/15) Dead
16 - Aanbo (16/19)
15 - Derek Gone upstairs
14 - Chase (8/11)
10 - Bertram Dead
9 - Myrtha (6/12)
5 - H.A. (-35) Down
1 - Theran (13/13)

Dec 2, 2024 10:50 am

"Shall we tie this one up? Mythra were there more? Theran is Reptile beyond help?"

Dec 2, 2024 3:51 pm

Myrtha's gaze goes from the fallen shape of Reptile to Theran, and back. She breathed heavily, trying to figure out her next steps.

"The torturer," she breathed in heavily before pursuing, "he's the one who took down Reptile. Called Derek. Dangerous, took him down in a single stab.".

She turned to the staircase, and pointed with her bloodied sword. "He's gone upstairs. This sack of shit," she said, pointing at the fallen H.A. with the tip of her boot, "said he went up for reinforcements."

After a heartbeat, she added "I want him dead."

She knelt by the unconscious man, and took his club. She then quickly examined him.

OOC:

Is he wearing armor? Does he have other weapons and or a belt pouch?

Last edited Dec 2, 2024 8:22 pm

Dec 2, 2024 5:20 pm

Aanbo realized there was no time to mourn. "Theran, are you okay?" he asked, quickly assessing his companion.

"The man mentioned someone named Gerd," continues the monk. "Chase and I were held by Constable Grover and his dwarven friends Donovan and Hulbar. We weren't accompanied by anyone named Gerd. Something to ask this fellow when he comes to."

Seeing the murder in Myrtha's eyes, Aanbo adds, "If he comes to."

He changes the subject. "Those who can, let's find this Derek before he brings the rest of the corrupted villagers on our heads." Aanbo follows the direction of Myrtha's bloody sword and heads for the stairs.

OOC:

Aanbo is at 16/19 HP.

Dec 2, 2024 5:21 pm

"I tried to help Reptile... I got him back on his feet, but this one --" at this point, Theran punctuates his comment by forcefully driving the end of his staff into the downed H.A.'s ribs, "put him down again. I don't know if he'll get up a second time... but I'm after Derek as well. He is supposedly getting back-up. We need to get up there."

With that, Theran will head up the stairs.

Last edited Dec 2, 2024 5:21 pm

Dec 2, 2024 8:29 pm

"Wait, Theran, I’ll go first, with Aanbo. You and Chase should come behind us."

And saying that she moved to the front of the party. Shield ahead of her, and sword poised to thrust.

OOC:

Is anyone tying H.A.? Has she found anything remarkable or useful on his body?

Dec 2, 2024 10:11 pm

I will tie H.A. up real quick and search his person and Bertram. "Maybe we should move these bodies back into the area Aanbo and I came through. We can lay Reptile on the bed and throw these others on the floor.

Dec 2, 2024 10:17 pm

"I already know where the room is," Theran points out. As he ascends the stairs, he calls back, "We don't have time to move bodies!"

Dec 2, 2024 10:17 pm

"Be careful of an ambush."

Dec 2, 2024 10:19 pm

"Is it an ambush if you expect it?"

As he ascends, Theran will cast Shillelagh.

Dec 2, 2024 11:21 pm

"How long has it been since he went up there? We should at least hide these bodies behind the bar."

Last edited Dec 2, 2024 11:22 pm

Dec 2, 2024 11:38 pm

Theran doesn't stop rushing upstairs, and doesn't bother to reply.

Dec 2, 2024 11:47 pm

"The urgency is evident," Aanbo says to Chase before heading upstairs with Myrtha. "Let's be quick, and we can tidy up later."

Dec 3, 2024 12:12 am

Chase at least tied up HA before heading upstairs."Urgency is one thing recklessness is another. Don't make a bad decision going too fast."

Dec 3, 2024 6:24 pm

Myrtha uses 10' of rope and binds the unconscious, battered, bloody-but-not-quite-dead thug, H.A. Disappointingly, he does not have any obviously interesting belongings: stained leather armor, his club, worn boots. On the floor (having been knocked to the floor in the brawl) is his heavy crossbow, which still appears to be in working condition. A quick glance around the room reveals that a quiver with a dozen bolts is leaning up against the wall by the front door. Presumably H.A. had set the quiver down by the door when he came in.

As for Bertram's corpse, it wears his rumpled, faded but once-fine clothing and leather shoes. His apron hangs on a hook behind the bar, and the dagger fell from his hand to the floor when Myrtha chopped him down.

Either these guys haven't been robbing people, or they have, but have stashed the loot somewhere else. Then again, it's the middle of the night; they seemed to be having a planning session, and probably didn't grab their valuables for that.

While she's tying him up, Chase drags Bertram's corpse behind the bar. Theran is impatient to head upstairs to find the torturer who stabbed Reptile and whose previous victim was used to frame the party. Aanbo follows, but as she finishes tying the brute, Myrtha hurries after them, trying to get in the lead so as to protect the others with her shield. Chase checks the knots and is satisfied that H.A. won't be going anywhere anytime soon (if he even wakes again), then he hurries upstairs after the others.

The Inn is silent; apparently no alarm has been raised. Either that, or the upstairs is full of enemies lying in wait for the Dungeon Busters.

The hallway upstairs is narrow, so that the party can move single-file. In what order do you want the characters to proceed?

Dec 3, 2024 9:21 pm

Myrtha volunteered to go first. Her armor and shield should provide more cover against the dangerous killer, Derek.

OOC:

That being said, if Derek sneak attacks her, she’ll most probably go down on the first strike. I’m gambling on her higher AC…

Dec 4, 2024 12:21 am

Aanbo follows Myrtha to be next in line.

Dec 4, 2024 2:45 am

OOC:

All I'm saying is Theran charged up the stairs, he wasn't waiting around for people to get tied up or bodies moved.

Dec 4, 2024 10:54 am

Chase followed after making sure all was secure so we don't have anyone coming up behind us. So he is probably last guarding the rear.

Dec 4, 2024 3:02 pm

As the party makes their way up the stairs (the others racing to catch up to Theran), there are three considerations:

Which door does Theran wish to enter?

What are the humans going to do for light? A little illumination shines up the stairs, but as soon as Myrtha turns the corner on the second floor, she is greeted by darkness.

What will Aanbo do in the meantime? Theran is clearly not waiting for the others and will soon disappear from view. Does Aanbo want to follow to keep an eye on where he goes, or does he want to hang back to help the other party members navigate?

Note: the greyish areas are the areas that Theran and Aanbo can see with their darkvision.

Dec 4, 2024 3:05 pm

Theran, remembering which room the scarred man had been using, will throw his door open -- fully expecting the man to not be there. Theran's true goal is the hidden door he had found.

Dec 4, 2024 3:55 pm

OOC:

Reptile's lantern was left in the taproom, next to the kitchen entrance. Maybe Chase could bring it along once he's dropped bodies behind the bar? Otherwise we'll be pretty much blind. Then again, that would deny the thug advantage in attacking us, since he'd be blinded as well...

Dec 4, 2024 4:00 pm

Unwilling to let Theran go alone, Aanbo pushes ahead into the darkness.

Dec 4, 2024 4:12 pm

matmaisan says:

Reptile's lantern was left in the taproom, next to the kitchen entrance. Maybe Chase could bring it along once he's dropped bodies behind the bar? Otherwise we'll be pretty much blind. Then again, that would deny the thug advantage in attacking us, since he'd be blinded as well...

OOC:

Yes, I think that's a tidy solution. What do you think, @mathias0077 ? Should we amend it to say that Chase grabbed the lantern on the way out of the common room?

Dec 4, 2024 9:59 pm

OOC:

Sounds good

Dec 4, 2024 10:01 pm

After Chase finishes tidying up the bodies he snatches up the lantern sitting near by and heads upstairs.

Dec 5, 2024 4:44 pm

MaJunior says:

Theran, remembering which room the scarred man had been using, will throw his door open -- fully expecting the man to not be there. Theran's true goal is the hidden door he had found.

Theran slams open the first door on the left. The room has a rug on the floor, a bed, a table with four chairs, and a footlocker. At first glance, it's much the same as when he saw it the first time, as a spider, except that there is no sign of the man who was being murdered or the man with the scarred face: his murderer, Derek. The room has been slightly rearranged from before: the rug is laid flat and the table is no longer pushed against the wall to keep it away from the bloody mess of the victim in the corner. Theran can just see the edge of something that has been pushed back under the bed. Aanbo is right behind him, and Myrtha and Chase are following them out in the hallway from the stairs.

OOC:

Note: as a spider, Theran noted the location of two hidden doors on this floor, but neither of them was in this room. They were the room with two beds and the room with three beds.

Out in the hallway (right next to where Aanbo is in the picture above), there is another door on the north/right wall opposite this room's door. A little further west, the hallway turns a corner to the right/north. It is the middle of the night, but so far there's been no obvious reaction to the sounds of fighting downstairs earlier or Theran's slamming the door open just now.

[ +- ] The upstairs as Theran has described it

Dec 5, 2024 5:02 pm

If it is obvious that no one is in the room, Aanbo continues down the hallway. Mindful of the prior warning of a possible ambush, he attempts to take the corner carefully, peeking around before fully stepping onward.

Rolls

Perception - (1d20+3)

(1) + 3 = 4

Dec 5, 2024 5:33 pm

Aanbo glances into the Torture Location room over Theran's shoulder, but seeing no one else in it, he continues forward, turns the corner, and then carefully peeks around the next corner as the hallway turns left again.

It is a long, dark hallway. There are three doors on the right and four doors on the left. He does not see or hear anything to suggest that this is anything other than a quiet Inn in the middle of the night.

[ +- ] The upstairs as Theran has described it

Dec 5, 2024 5:39 pm

Theran will move to see what was tucked away.

Dec 5, 2024 7:32 pm

Myrtha moves forward with Chase, acutely aware that any of the closed doors might be hiding Derek and his dangerous blade. She tries to detect any sounds around her that she cannot attribute to her companions.

Rolls

Perception - (1d20)

(3) = 3

Dec 5, 2024 10:16 pm

Theran quickly crosses to the bed and crouches down to get a better look at what he spied from the doorway. Under the bed is the small lockbox that he saw Derek using before; it is closed now. The box is not quite a foot tall and a bit less than two feet wide.

Myrtha and Chase move forward around the first bend in the hallway. Myrtha listens closely but detects no sound other than her companions; listening at the northern door yields no different results.

[ +- ] The upstairs as Theran has described it

Dec 5, 2024 10:19 pm

Chase will also listen to see if he can hear anything beyond the door opposite the torture room before he opens the door.

Rolls

Perception - (1d20+2)

(6) + 2 = 8

Dec 6, 2024 1:47 pm

Pulses thudding in your ears, struggling to breathe quietly, none of you hear anything else.

Chase opens the door to reveal a large room that has not been used as a bedroom for some time, despite this being an Inn. A large table with several chairs dominates the space. A storage shelving unit stands against the east wall, north of a cold fireplace. Several beds have been pushed up against the north wall while not in use. On first glance, there is no one in this room at the moment.

[ +- ] The upstairs as Theran has described it

Dec 6, 2024 4:01 pm

Aanbo remains watchful of the hallway until his companions finish their investigation.

Dec 6, 2024 5:38 pm

Theran will take the lockbox, but then make his way to the first of the hidden doors.

Dec 6, 2024 9:08 pm

Does the shelving unit look like it has been moved recently? Any scrape marks on the floor?

Dec 7, 2024 8:05 pm

Chase begins to check out the large storage room, setting the lantern on the table so that the room is well-illuminated and not sending his shadow all over the room as he moves. The fireplace is cold, there's no sign that any of the shelves have been moved recently, and checking under each of the beds reveals nothing of interest. There are no rugs to conceal trap doors in the floor, but he could take more time to search if he likes.

Theran hefts the lockbox with a grunt; it weighs at least two stone and has no handles for easier carrying. He shifts his grip, getting his arms under it, and then hurries out the door, squeezing past Myrtha. He heads around the corner and squeezes past Aanbo to head further down the hallway. He shifts the lockbox to one arm and then opens the first door on the left. Since there were signs that someone was staying here when he visited the first time, Theran had steeled himself for encountering a potentially hostile Inn guest, but there is no sign of the sword, the knapsack, or their owner this time. Other than that, the interior is the room much as he remembered it from his previous arachnid visit: two beds with their heads against the western wall on Theran's right, and a desk against the southern wall. Perhaps the owner checked out in the last two days? The crack in the wall that he noticed as a spider is much less obvious now; he might not have seen it if he didn't know it was there. It's on the other side of the further/southern bed, which is a boot and a hand from the that wall.

Theran, roll a WIS (Perception) check (you're the only one who hasn't rolled one upstairs yet. As it was for the others, this is for hearing).

Dec 7, 2024 9:24 pm

Theran will attempt to open the crack.

Rolls

Perception (WIS) - (1d20+5)

(4) + 5 = 9

Dec 7, 2024 11:29 pm

Chase will pick up the lantern and head to join the others.

Dec 8, 2024 1:34 am

Theran shifts the southern bed so that he can get at the wall, and sets the heavy lockbox down on the bed so that he has his hands free. Knowing where to look, he finds the vertical crack in the wall again, which is cleverly concealed in a join between two vertical wood panels. Feeling with his fingers, he is able to find the right angle where that crack joins with a horizontal one which is even less obvious. Theran has confirmed that the crack he saw as a spider is probably a concealed door, but it's unclear how to open it.

Chase rejoins Myrtha out in the hallway, and moves a few paces beyond her so that he can see Aanbo, too. Those three can each see at least one other Dungeon Buster; none of them can see what Theran is doing from where they are.

Dec 8, 2024 4:24 am

Chase will move to the room Theran is in and give him some light.

Dec 8, 2024 4:24 am

Chase will move to the room Theran is in and give him some light.

Dec 8, 2024 7:06 am

"There's a door here, if we can find out how to open it!" Theran calls to the others.

Dec 8, 2024 2:38 pm

Curious to see what Theran is doing, Chase continues down the hallway and around the two corners, moving past the eagle-eyed watchdwarf Aanbo and into the first room on the left. There, Theran has moved a bed to the side, put a large lockbox on it, and is feeling the wall. "There's a door here, if we can find out how to open it!" Theran calls, loud enough for the others to hear.

Myrtha is left in the dark. Aanbo hears someone call from the first door on his right, loud enough to be audible through the heavy wood: "What's going on? It's the middle of the night!"

OOC:

Both Chase and Theran can roll WIS (Insight) or INT (Investigation) checks (you choose which) as/if they examine the wall.

Dec 8, 2024 2:44 pm

Chase enters the room and begins to help Theran search. "Maybe there is a switch on the desk somewhere."

Rolls

Insight - (1d20+2)

(4) + 2 = 6

Dec 8, 2024 3:19 pm

"It's somewhere."

Rolls

Insight (WIS) - (1d20+3)

(20) + 3 = 23

Dec 8, 2024 5:27 pm

MaJunior says:

"It's somewhere."

OOC:

Nice

Dec 8, 2024 5:36 pm

Myrtha joins Aanbo by the bend of the corridor, not willing to stay in the dark. She still has her shield and blade ready.

"This foray has gone sideways, Aanbo." She’s visibly had a few moments to collect herself and to grapple with Reptile’s death.

"Not sure who were helping here. Though I do want to see Derek die," she added, with the aggressive edge she’d been trying to put under control emerging again.

Dec 9, 2024 2:27 am

Aanbo keeps quiet, hoping the patron behind the door opts to go back to bed. He keeps watch down the hallway and waits for the directive to move.

Dec 12, 2024 4:40 pm

OOC:

Sorry for the delay, everyone. Everyone else in the family was sick, and I was playing nurse for a few days.

While Chase looks for a button or switch, Theran surmises that there is no way to open the door on this side, but they knows that it's there. Why would there be a concealed door into an Inn's bedroom that couldn't be opened from within that bedroom? Who is using it, and what are they using it for? On the premise that its secrecy is its strength, Theran's guess is that the door could be smashed open pretty easily.

OOC:

Anyone who knows the location of this door can attempt a DC12 STR check to shoulder-slam it open. As an alternative, you can make a weapon attack roll against the location of the door; the wall's AC is 5 and it has 10 HP in that area.

Myrtha and Aanbo stand ready in the hallway. As Myrtha grimly comments on the status of their Dungeon Busters mission, they can hear Chase and Theran murmuring as they search. The fighter is able to faintly see the monk in the indirect light coming from Chase's lantern in the room, but it is Aanbo whose eyes are able to penetrate the dark length of the hallway. He sees the far left door open at the end of the hall just before everyone hears the yell:
"HELP! HELP! THEY KILLED HAMIFF! THE KILLERS ARE HERE!!!" The door slams again, and all four of you begin to hear voices clamoring in the rooms.
"What?" "Hamiff?" "Get up!" comes from the end of the hall, while "Oh no!" comes from the door to Aanbo's right.

Aanbo (16/19)
Chase (8/11)
Myrtha (6/12)
Theran (13/13)

Dec 12, 2024 4:45 pm

Frustrated, Theran will swing at the hidden door with his magically enhanced staff in hopes of breaking it open -- even as the shout sews its invariable confusion in the innocent bystanders.

Last edited Dec 12, 2024 4:46 pm

Rolls

Attack (Staff - Shillelagh) - (1d20+5)

(6) + 5 = 11

Damage (Bludgeoning, Magic) - (1d8+3)

(6) + 3 = 9

Dec 12, 2024 4:54 pm

Everyone, please roll initiative.

The shillelagh smashes into the wall and part of it splinters and breaks off, sagging away from Theran into an empty space on the other side of the wall, a couple of paces deep.

OOC:

One HP remains for the door, but I'm going to say that it is barely hanging on after that big hit. The first PC moving through can break it the rest of the way down just by moving through it. To do so, treat the wall like it's difficult terrain

Aanbo (16/19)
Chase (8/11)
Myrtha (6/12)
Theran (13/13)

Dec 12, 2024 5:21 pm

Aanbo side-whispers to Myrtha, "Was that the man we're looking for?" He refers to the voice that shouted from the end of the hall.

Thinking quickly in the hopes of staving off an inevitable rush of bodies into the hallway, Aanbo tries to adopt his best voice of authority. "Constable Grover says to stay in your rooms! We'll take care of the 'killer'!"

Rolls

Performance - (1d20+0)

(10) = 10

Initiative - (1d20+2)

(13) + 2 = 15

Dec 12, 2024 6:26 pm

Theran can't help but smile at Aanbo's quick thinking.

Rolls

Initiative - (1d20)

(15) = 15

Dec 12, 2024 6:47 pm

"Lets go get the fucker," she stated, looking sideways at Aanbo.

OOC:

Can she recognize Derek’s voice?
Also I’m awfully busy today and tomorrow. Will probably not be able to post before Saturday.

Rolls

Initiative - (1d20+2)

(14) + 2 = 16

Dec 12, 2024 10:05 pm

Chase hearing the shouts and murmurs thinks well done Aanbo. That should keep the guests in their rooms if they are guests. He looks to Theran "does that lead anywhere?"

OOC:

Good on you Dr spaceseeker.

Last edited Dec 13, 2024 10:52 am

Rolls

initiative - (1d20+3)

(19) + 3 = 22

Dec 13, 2024 8:04 pm

Aanbo's voice of authority seems to settle the person in the closer room, but the distant voices continue at the far end of the hall. People are going to start coming out of the rooms momentarily, both in response to the shouting and to investigate the sound of the secret door getting smashed.
Myrtha does not recognize the voice, but on reflection, she realizes that she never actually heard Derek speak. The scarred man had remained silent while he stabbed Reptile and ran upstairs.
Theran, however, recognizes the voice well: it is definitely the torturer, Derek. The space beyond the smashed secret door is probably larger than what he can see at first glance, and even that is enough for a person to stand and move around.

OOC:

It is Chase's turn.
Between Aanbo and Theran (both tied on initiative count 15), who wants to go first?

22 - Chase (8/11)
16 - Myrtha (6/12)
15 - Theran (13/13)
15 - Aanbo (16/19)
13 - Others
1 - Derek

Rolls

Derek initiative - (1d20+3)

(1) + 3 = 4

Others' initiative - (1d20)

(13) = 13

Dec 13, 2024 8:28 pm

OOC:

I will let Theran go first, as him taking point is what will decide Aanbo's actions. For example, if he chooses to go through the secret door, Aanbo will follow; if it's to go down the hall, Aanbo does the same.

Dec 13, 2024 8:41 pm

Not wanting to potentially let these snakes get behind them, Theran uses his staff to swat the remains of the door as he moves into the hidden area. He knows the torturer isn't here, as he recognized the shout from down the hallway... but he is uncertain as to what actually is here.

Dec 14, 2024 1:19 am

Chase will move out into the hallway and set the lantern down so his hands will be free and readies his spear.

OOC:

Do we know where Derek is? If so Chase will head that way.

Dec 14, 2024 6:28 pm

OOC:

I think we all suppose Derek is the loudmouth behind the last door on the left of this tunnel. Theran is the only one who is sure about it, since he actually heard Derek. Myrtha will follow on Chase’s heels both to protect him and to get better chances of killing the torturer…

Dec 15, 2024 12:33 am

Chasing Derek: round one

Round One
(this is followed by round two)

Chase sets down the lantern in the hallway and then rushes forward with his magic spear held in front of him, his shadow running ahead of him as he passes a few doors. He pauses for a moment outside of the last two doors in the hall. Both doors are closed; no sound comes from the slightly-further door on the left/south, but there is clattering and thumping coming from the right/north.

OOC:

@mathias0077 - Chase's full move brought him here, but you still have his action; you can dash through one of the doors, or you can ready an action.

Myrtha follows her companion down the hall, hands gripping sword and shield firmly. She pauses when Chase does, a couple of paces behind him, and eyes the closed door on her left/south uneasily. If someone were to come out of these doors, they'd cut her and Chase off from the others...

OOC:

@matmaisan - same thing as for Chase. Myrtha's full move got her here, but she still has an action to use.

Theran loudly smashes the remains of the one-way door out of his way as he steps through into a long, narrow, secret hallway that parallels the hallway where the others are. From this side, he can see that there are latch mechanisms every few paces along the right/northern wall and in the east wall behind him; these are probably the ways to open secret doors into each of the bedrooms!

OOC:

@MaJunior - I've marked the location of the latches for the secret doors with red squares, which are just visible on the map. Theran still has 25' of movement and an action.

Any of you can declare what you're doing with the rest of your turns, and Aanbo can take his turn now.

Ready for action, Chase pauses by the two last doors; the one with all the angry sounds getting louder on the right and the silent door a little further on the left. "Was it the last door on the left?" Myrtha nods, saying "Follow me," and steps up to that door, prepared to throw it open.

Theran rushes down the dark corridor, passing several latches corresponding to hidden doors into other rooms. For some reason, he thinks that Derek has used the last door. Theran manages to figure out how to use the unlatching mechanism and swings the door wide. The angle that he can see of the room is much the same as he remembered: an elegant, fancy room. The luxurious bed is directly in front of him, blocking the doorway so that anyone entering this way has to climb up and over the bed if they want to enter (very much like the other room, come to think of it). An elegant table and cushioned wooden chair stand on the other side of the bed, and in the far corner is the ornately-carved wardrobe. The only thing he can't see from this vantage is the fireplace with the artistic mantle. Right behind him, Aanbo has a similar, but narrower, view of the room. Both the druid and monk can see that the bedclothes are rumpled, as if someone had laid on the coverlet...or had rolled over the bed.

Just then, the door in the northern wall next to Chase begins to swing open (these doors open outwards into the hall). Chase gets a view of some brutes in robes much like H.A. on the other side; their eyes widen as much as his, and then Chase instinctively tries to shove the door closed again. He plunges his spear into the floorboards, effectively spiking the door closed. The door vibrates in its frame as the people on the other side hammer on it.

OOC:

If you wish to keep the door closed, roll a STR check for Chase to hold the door It doesn't take an action for him to do this now, as he is standing in the space that the door has to use to open.

Derek, wherever he is, does his actions unobserved for the moment.

This concludes round one.

22 - Chase (8/11)
16 - Myrtha (6/12)
15 - Theran (13/13)
15 - Aanbo (16/19)
13 - Others
1 - Derek

Dec 16, 2024 5:01 pm

Theran will make his way to the last latch, as that should be the room with Derek. Time to end that monster.

OOC:

It looks like 25 feet should take Theran to the last red square latch. Hoping that's the right room, can Theran move the distance and open the door? Also, would opening the door count as his action, having already had an item interaction to clear the busted door? Or could he cast a cantrip? (As I doubt a target would be in melee range.)

Dec 16, 2024 7:33 pm

Seeing that Theran has gone through the secret door, Aanbo is loathe to let him venture alone. Since Chase and Myrtha are partnered up, Aanbo follows his friend. The evident plan of surrounding the enemy appears to be in play, and it makes sense that those with darkvision have taken the darkened corridor.

OOC:

35 feet of movement should also take Aanbo to the last latch, assuming Theran points it out as our target. If Theran can't get the latch open with an action, Aanbo will attempt it. Otherwise, if the door is opened into the last bedroom by Theran, Aanbo will take the Dodge action as he expects combat.

Dec 17, 2024 12:12 am

Chase will look back at Myrtha and say lowly. "Was it he last door on the left?" and then prepare to enter.

Dec 18, 2024 7:44 pm

Myrtha nodded towards Chase.

"Follow me," she added in a whisper, as she continued to approach the last door to the left.

OOC:

Myrtha will use her action to dash to the end of the corridor. She wants to be there when her next round begins. Are we in the dark at the end of the corridor?

Dec 19, 2024 6:17 am

Round one, continued

Ready for action, Chase pauses by the two last doors; the one with all the angry sounds getting louder on the right and the silent door a little further on the left. "Was it the last door on the left?" Myrtha nods, saying "Follow me," and steps up to that door, prepared to throw it open.

Theran rushes down the dark corridor, passing several latches corresponding to hidden doors into other rooms. For some reason, he thinks that Derek has used the last door. Theran manages to figure out how to use the unlatching mechanism and swings the door wide. The angle that he can see of the room is much the same as he remembered: an elegant, fancy room. The luxurious bed is directly in front of him, blocking the doorway so that anyone entering this way has to climb up and over the bed if they want to enter (very much like the other room, come to think of it). An elegant table and cushioned wooden chair stand on the other side of the bed, and in the far corner is the ornately-carved wardrobe. The only thing he can't see from this vantage is the fireplace with the artistic mantle. Right behind him, Aanbo has a similar, but narrower, view of the room. Both the druid and monk can see that the bedclothes are rumpled, as if someone had laid on the coverlet...or had rolled over the bed.

Just then, the door in the northern wall next to Chase begins to swing open (these doors open outwards into the hall). Chase gets a view of some brutes in robes much like H.A. on the other side; their eyes widen as much as his, and then Chase instinctively tries to shove the door closed again.

OOC:

If you wish to keep the door closed, roll a STR check for Chase to hold the door It doesn't take an action for him to do this now, as he is standing in the space that the door has to use to open.

Derek, wherever he is, does his actions unobserved for the moment.

Assuming Chase does hold the door shut, this concludes round one.

22 - Chase (8/11)
16 - Myrtha (6/12)
15 - Theran (13/13)
15 - Aanbo (16/19)
13 - Others
1 - Derek

Rolls

Mysterious roll - (1d20+8)

(15) + 8 = 23

Dec 19, 2024 6:29 am

Myrtha notices the door opening, and tries to assist in blocking it.

OOC:

Not sure if Myrtha can help, but if she can she’ll use her body weight to push against the door. If any rolls are needed, let me know.

Dec 19, 2024 10:56 am

Chase seeing the door opening will attempt to shut it and hold it. Chase will say"Heads up!" After I shut the door back up i will take my spear and jam the point in the floor and put the blunt end under the handle.

OOC:

I was suppose to use athletics right? Also the jamming of the door is only if it opens out toward me.

Last edited Dec 20, 2024 10:46 am

Rolls

Str check - (1d20+5)

(12) + 5 = 17

Dec 21, 2024 8:04 am

With Myrtha's help, Chase is able to hold the door long enough to wedge his magical spear point to spike the door from opening. The men behind it batter hard enough to rattle the hinges, but the door does not move yet.

OOC:

Chase, Myrtha, Theran, Aanbo: all can take your round two turns now.

Dec 21, 2024 1:40 pm

Chase will draw his sword and say "Myrtha do want me to watch our backs when you go in after Derek? Or do you want me to come in with you?"

Dec 21, 2024 2:02 pm

"We should head in together. We’ll handle this bunch when Derek is down!"

With these words, she set her shield ahead of her, and opened the door to the southern room, sword ready to strike at anything coming her way.

OOC:

Depending on what she can see, she’ll step in to engage Derek, or remain cautiously by the door…

Dec 21, 2024 2:32 pm

"Gotcha, right behind you."

Dec 21, 2024 9:15 pm

Theran will strike the bed with his staff, bringing it down across the bedding before jumping the bed (well, clambering over it really) to enter the room.

He will look underneath the bed once he's in, sweeping his staff underneath to make sure nothing is lying in wait.

Last edited Dec 21, 2024 9:15 pm

Dec 21, 2024 9:44 pm

Aanbo takes position by the secret door entrance, ready to cut off any escape route (or assist his companions in escaping).

Dec 21, 2024 11:26 pm

Chasing Derek: round two

Round two
(this was preceded by round one, followed by round three)

Chase defers his turn until after Myrtha, as he holds the door shut and waits to see what happens when she opens the other door. Myrtha throws the door open and can't see much inside the dark room, though she hears some scuffling. It's strange that the door wasn't locked - whoever was inside must have really been in a hurry to do something else. She tenses, expecting an attack. Chase, meanwhile, hears "Just you wait until we get this door open - we're gonna kill you!" from the people slamming on the door he's holding shut, as well as a bunch of clomping boots and banging. It occurs to him to wonder about the floorplan that Theran told him about...

For his part, Theran slams the bed and scrambles across it. He immediately sees what Myrtha was hearing: the feet of someone in the fireplace, shimmying up the chimney! Aanbo waits in the dark wings like a coiled spring.

OOC:

Theran can take an action and move up to 20' more, as well as communicate with the others what he sees so that they can take informed actions on their turns. Chase can hold the door as an action, or he can move and do something else. Myrtha has her move, and has an action. Aanbo too has a move and action.

"HE'S ESCAPING UP THE CHIMNEY!" Theran yells to his companions. Chase hears the people behind the door say "Did he say chimney? What?!?"

Myrtha steps into the dark room, intending to help but not really able to see enough to navigate. "You're not going anywhere, Derek!" She follows the voices in the dark, moving toward Theran and Aanbo. "I will stay out here and watch your backs." Chase adds, leaning against the spear to keep the door from slamming open. Aanbo rolls gracefully over the bed and springs to his feet again as Theran ducks and squeezes himself into the fireplace. He manages to slide his staff in on a diagonal and, unable to swing the weapon, just jabs it up at the retreating Derek. The retreating assassin grunts in pain and surprise; Derek takes 10 bludgeoning damage. "Good form." Aanbo observes. Examining the chimney, Aanbo is pretty confident that a couple of blows from a maul, pick, or hammer might crack the bricks but would definitely break apart the mortar holding the bricks together.

Back in the hallway, the door that Chase's magic spear has pinned shut rattles and bounces as one of the people on the other side throw their weight against it. But then the next door down the hall opens, and first one, then another hooded and armed man steps forth and approaches. "You killed Hamiff? Unbelievers and murderers will face justice at my hand!" The first guy dashes to reach Chase, so his turn is done. The second one hangs back, waiting to see how he can support his friend (and either unequipped with a ranged attack or unwilling to risk hitting his friend with one).

Boosted by the shillelagh in his posterior, Derek continues to climb.

OOC:

This ends round two. Post your round three actions.

16 - Myrtha (6/12)
22 - Chase (8/11)
15 - Theran (13/13)
15 - Aanbo (16/19)
13 - Others
1 - Derek -10

Dec 21, 2024 11:45 pm

"HE'S ESCAPING UP THE CHIMNEY!!"

When Therans sees Derek trying to affect an escape, he charges after.

OOC:

I suspect clearing the bed was the action for the turn, but even if Theran can't jam his staff up the torturer's backside can he get close enough that Derek continuing to leave would provoke an attack of opportunity?

Dec 22, 2024 12:03 am

Chase knowing that his spear will not break will move to the hinged side of the door to hold it. That is the only way they will get through. He will hold his ground and watch his teams back. Hearing Theran's voice coming from the room Myrtha entered he will say "I will stay out here and watch your backs."

Last edited Dec 22, 2024 12:08 am

Dec 22, 2024 12:17 am

MaJunior says:

I suspect clearing the bed was the action for the turn, but even if Theran can't jam his staff up the torturer's backside can he get close enough that Derek continuing to leave would provoke an attack of opportunity?

OOC:

I said Theran has 20' of movement and can take an action, so you can move right there and try to attack. I guess it's not showing up very clearly on the map, but Derek is that bluish blob on the map that is half through the southwest wall. Declare what you're going to do (what, whack his legs?) and make the roll.

Dec 22, 2024 12:27 am

[ +- ] Spoiler

Realizing that not only can he get close enough, he can crouch and twist himself into the fireplace, Theran grasps the end of his staff with both hands and jams it upward, lifting with his legs even as he pushes it up.

OOC:

I'm not sure what a polite phrasing would be, but I'm reminded of an episode of Scrubs where the Janitor "popscicled" someone. *ahem*

Rolls

Attack (Staff - Shillelagh) - (1d20+5)

(13) + 5 = 18

Damage (Bludgeoning, Magic) - (1d8+3)

(7) + 3 = 10

Dec 22, 2024 1:53 am

"Good form," murmurs Aanbo as he watches Theran attempt to deadlift a grown man with a stick. It's a shame they didn't have time to affix the poison-tipped needle found in Pae's temple a while back, but neither did Aanbo expect their opponent to be scurrying up a chimney.

The monk enters the room and inspects the stone above the fireplace to see if there's a potential weak point that might prove vulnerable to a well-placed strike.

OOC:

I know Stonecunning relates to the history of masonry, so I'm wondering if it can also apply to the source of construction and how well it was made.

[ +- ] Stonecunning

Rolls

History - Stonecunning - (1d20+5)

(19) + 5 = 24

Dec 22, 2024 3:37 pm

"You’re not going anywhere, Derek!" Myrtha cried out as she tried to figure out her next steps.

OOC:

If it is physically possible for Myrtha to grapple Derek, grab his legs and push him down, she would do that. If that is not possible Myrtha would like to throw both her flasks of oil into the chimney and light it, not so much to hurt Derek with the flames, but to make the chimney impossible to scale because of the heat and smoke…

Dec 22, 2024 4:30 pm

OOC:

You do realize Theran is in the fireplace underneath Derek... right?

Dec 23, 2024 6:23 am

Myrtha approached the fireplace to see what she could do.

OOC:

Yes, I did realize that. The description said Derek was "shimmying up" the fireplace, which didn’t give me a clear picture of the level at which his legs were. As long as Theran is just under Derek, neither courses of action are possible this round. On top of that the second plan is moot given that, after checking her inventory, I realise Myrtha does not have oil (a case of mixing up characters from different games). And in any case, it would take more than one round to set the fuel in the fireplace and light it…

Last edited Dec 23, 2024 6:25 am

Dec 23, 2024 1:38 pm

OOC:

No worries. I just didn't want to get set on fire. 😂

Dec 24, 2024 6:12 pm

"HE'S ESCAPING UP THE CHIMNEY!" Theran yells to his companions. Chase hears the people behind the door say "Did he say chimney? What?!?"

Myrtha steps into the dark room, intending to help but not really able to see enough to navigate. "You're not going anywhere, Derek!" She follows the voices in the dark, moving toward Theran and Aanbo. "I will stay out here and watch your backs." Chase adds, leaning against the spear to keep the door from slamming open. Aanbo rolls gracefully over the bed and springs to his feet again as Theran ducks and squeezes himself into the fireplace. He manages to slide his staff in on a diagonal and, unable to swing the weapon, just jabs it up at the retreating Derek. The retreating assassin grunts in pain and surprise; Derek takes 10 bludgeoning damage. "Good form." Aanbo observes. Examining the chimney, Aanbo is pretty confident that a couple of blows from a maul, pick, or hammer might crack the bricks but would definitely break apart the mortar holding the bricks together.

Back in the hallway, the door that Chase's magic spear has pinned shut rattles and bounces as one of the people on the other side throw their weight against it. But then the next door down the hall opens, and first one, then another hooded and armed man steps forth and approaches. "You killed Hamiff? Unbelievers and murderers will face justice at my hand!" The first guy dashes to reach Chase, so his turn is done. The second one hangs back, waiting to see how he can support his friend (and either unequipped with a ranged attack or unwilling to risk hitting his friend with one).

Boosted by the shillelagh in his posterior, Derek continues to climb.

OOC:

Question for @Majunior: is Theran prone on his back (supine, but the mechanical term is prone), so he can see up the chimney to attack, or is he crouched in the firebox, poking blindly upwards with his staff?

Note: I hope it's obvious from the map, but the two cultists have emerged from the middle door in the north wall. Chase is holding the westernmost door in the north wall.

OOC:

This ends round two. Post your round three actions.

16 - Myrtha (6/12)
22 - Chase (8/11)
15 - Theran (13/13)
15 - Aanbo (16/19)
13 - Others
1 - Derek -10

Dec 24, 2024 6:38 pm

Aanbo grabs his hammer from his pack and strikes the chimney, focusing his attack on the mortar high above, hoping he is getting ahead of Derek's climb.

Hearing the commotion outside, he declares, "More killers in the hallway!"

OOC:

My dice roll assumes the hammer from the Adventuring Gear equipment list is considered an improvised weapon. If, however, it is more like a simple weapon, Aanbo's attack to hit is +4 and damage is +2.

Rolls

Hammer vs Chimney Bricks - (1d20+1, 1d4+1)

1d20+1 : (12) + 1 = 13

1d4+1 : (3) + 1 = 4

Dec 24, 2024 8:11 pm

Chase will straighten up know his magic spear will not break and confronts the red robe. He will not waste time trying talk sense into this person as it hasn't worked yet. He will swing his short sword at the fiigure.

OOC:

Oops that is piercing dam

Last edited Dec 24, 2024 8:40 pm

Rolls

to hit, damage - (1d20+5, 1d6+3)

1d20+5 : (15) + 5 = 20

1d6+3 : (3) + 3 = 6

Dec 25, 2024 1:16 am

OOC:

I figured Theran was sort of in that half crouch, half laying thing people do when they're trying to look under a car without laying on the ground.

If we want to rule that as prone that's fine. It's a sort of weird in-between that rules don't really cover.

Theran will shift around as needed and attempt to stop Derek, shoving his staff upwards again.

Rolls

Attack (Staff - Shillelagh) - (1d20+5)

(15) + 5 = 20

Damage (Bludgeoning, Magic) - (1d8+3)

(4) + 3 = 7

Chasing Derek, round three

Dec 26, 2024 7:27 am

Round three
(this was preceded by round two, followed by round four)

Chase lets go of the spear, leans against the door as it's being shoved from the other side, and whips out his sword. As the robed maniac runs up, Chase stabs him. The thug, Traver, takes 6 damage.
Theran pokes up the chimney with his staff again; Derek takes 7 damage.
Then Aanbo pulls out his hammer and smashes the chimney, which collapses, dropping bricks and Derek onto Theran. Theran and Derek each take 2 bludgeoning damage.
Myrtha is hearing a lot of commotion - particularly the cascade of a LOT of bricks - but she's uncertain where to swing her sword to not slash her allies in the dark. Myrtha swings, trying to home in on the sound, but does not manage to connect.

Traver, the robed assailant that is fighting with Chase, attacks the ranger, but Chase manages to parry the club. Melano, who held back, makes a decision, and runs away down the hall and disappears around the corner to the east. The unseen guy behind the door continues to batter on the door that Chase is holding closed.

Derek groans in exasperation and some pain. "I just want to leave, but you had to make it difficult, didn't you?" On his back, he shifts to attack with his shortsword, loose bricks falling from his body as he moves. He blade stabs at Myrtha's thighs. Though she is unable to see the attack, Myrtha is nevertheless unharmed as it glances off of her mail. Derek uses his move to get to his feet, but he is hemmed in on all sides by the Dungeon Busters and cannot slip away even in the darkness.

16 - Myrtha (6/12)
22 - Chase (8/11)
15 - Theran (11/13)
15 - Aanbo (16/19)
13 - Traver, Melano, guy behind the door (-6, ?, ?)
1 - Derek -19

Rolls

Chimney collapse damage - (1d6)

(2) = 2

Traver attacks Chase AC16, bludgeoning damage on a hit - (1d20+4, 1d4+2)

1d20+4 : (8) + 4 = 12 ❌

1d4+2 : (2) + 2 = 4

Derek's choice of target in the dark (1-Myrtha, 2-Aanbo, 3-Theran) - (1d3)

(1) = 1

Derek attack on Myrtha AC18, piercing damage on a hit - (2d20l1+5, 1d6+3)

2d20l1+5 : (2010) + 5 = 15 ❌

1d6+3 : (2) + 3 = 5

Dec 26, 2024 4:36 pm

Aanbo can't help but wince at the consequences of his actions, empathizing with how Theran must feel.

Dec 27, 2024 4:22 am

OOC:

It will be the start of round four once Myrtha takes her turn.

Note that if Myrtha's turn takes her away from Derek before he will attack, I will NOT amend his action to attack one of the others. He's missed with his attack this round.

Dec 27, 2024 4:28 pm

Feeling more than seeing Derek’s attack, Myrtha decided to counter-attack despite the awful visibility.

OOC:

If we were around the table I’d have probably asked a dozen questions before declaring an action. As I see things, Myrtha is at disadvantage because of the darkness, and Derek is armed and standing. So as to not slow down the game, she will try to hit him with her sword, having just deflected a strike that he’d meant for her. Had he been on the ground she’d have tried to grapple him (grab his feet) and drag him away from the fireplace, while holding him down so the others could pummel him to a pulp.

Last edited Dec 27, 2024 4:29 pm

Rolls

longsword to hit (disadvantage), damage - (2d20L1+5, 1d8+3)

2d20L1+5 : (313) + 5 = 8

1d8+3 : (7) + 3 = 10

Chasing Derek, round four

Dec 29, 2024 10:24 pm

Round four
(this was preceded by round three, followed by round five)

OOC:

Just a reminder that it is the party's turn for round four. I will resolve the actions in the order listed in the current initiative order (below) unless you explicitly request to switch the order.

Myrtha slashed in the darkness, her blade whistling through the air. From the ground, Theran rolled over and tried to smash Derek's legs, but the assassin, instinctively dodging the heavy sword blows, happened to step out of reach. Backed into a corner by the wardrobe, the killer reared back with his blade to stab towards Myrtha, but Aanbo stepped in with a kick. Derek caught in on his shoulder with a grunt, raising his hands to fend off any further attack from the monk's foot. But Aanbo's fists caught the murderer in his undefended groin and then, as he doubled over, punched him in the neck. Derek, turning purple, his windpipe crushed, unable to breathe, collapsed at last. Derek takes 6 damage and goes down. Myrtha hears the thud of the body and the clatter of a dagger as it falls from lifeless hands. Bricks clatter as Theran shifts in the pile. Everyone can hear Chase fighting in the hallway, as well as the approaching thud of boots coming from beyond the secret door...

"The second thug down the hall ran back down around the corner. Maybe went for help or might be coming around behind you!"Chase says as he slashes at Traver, but the robed assailant manages to dodge the attacks. Traver responds by trying to shove Chase back away from the door. Chase, expecting a blow, is unprepared for Traver's move, and he's shoved back away from the door. Traver grabs the spear and wrenches it free of the floorboards. He yells: "Looks like they got Donovan, too!" The door opens, swinging into the hallway between Traver and Chase as the third person steps out in front of Traver.

The other man, Melano, having opened a different door and run down the hidden corridor, appears in the secret doorway with a candlestick in one hand and a cudgel in the other. The flickering light illuminates the room, and he stares in surprise at the sight of Theran on the floor under a pile of bricks, Myrtha in heavy armor with her sword out, and Aanbo standing belligerently over the dead Derek.

16 - Myrtha (6/12)
22 - Chase (8/11)
15 - Theran (11/13)
15 - Aanbo (16/19)
13 - Traver, Melano, guy behind the door (-6, ?, ?)
1 - Derek

Dec 30, 2024 4:31 pm

Aanbo attempts to put Derek down, having heard how dangerous the man is. He strikes quickly, launching a flurry of punches and kicks to try and get past the torturer's defenses.

OOC:

Action: Attack.
Bonus Action: 1 ki point to use Flurry of Blows.

Rolls

Unarmed Strike to hit, Bludgeoning damage - (1d20+4, 1d4+2)

1d20+4 : (10) + 4 = 14

1d4+2 : (1) + 2 = 3

Unarmed Strike to hit, Bludgeoning damage - (1d20+4, 1d4+2)

1d20+4 : (18) + 4 = 22

1d4+2 : (1) + 2 = 3

Unarmed Strike to hit, Bludgeoning damage - (1d20+4, 1d4+2)

1d20+4 : (16) + 4 = 20

1d4+2 : (1) + 2 = 3

Dec 30, 2024 8:15 pm

Having failed her attack, Myrtha pressed on. Her own lack of vision being matched by Derek’s, the warrior was confident that her companions would eventually overpower the torturer.

Rolls

longsword to hit (disadvantage) - (2d20L1+5)

(219) + 5 = 7

longsword damage - (1d8+3)

(6) + 3 = 9

Dec 30, 2024 8:31 pm

Wincing as the stones tumble down onto his legs, Theran responds to the sharp pain with another thrust of his staff.

Rolls

Attack (Staff - Shillelagh) - (1d20+5)

(7) + 5 = 12

Damage (Bludgeoning, Magic) - (1d8+3)

(4) + 3 = 7

Dec 30, 2024 9:08 pm

Round four, continued...

Myrtha slashed in the darkness, her blade whistling through the air. From the ground, Theran rolled over and tried to smash Derek's legs, but the assassin, instinctively dodging the heavy sword blows, happened to step out of reach. Backed into a corner by the wardrobe, the killer reared back with his blade to stab towards Myrtha, but Aanbo stepped in with a kick. Derek caught in on his shoulder with a grunt, raising his hands to fend off any further attack from the monk's foot. But Aanbo's fists caught the murderer in his undefended groin and then, as he doubled over, punched him in the neck. Derek, turning purple, his windpipe crushed, unable to breathe, collapsed at last. Derek takes 6 damage and goes down. Myrtha hears the thud of the body and the clatter of a dagger as it falls from lifeless hands. Bricks clatter as Theran shifts in the pile. Everyone can hear Chase fighting in the hallway, as well as the approaching thud of boots coming from beyond the secret door...

OOC:

Chase can still take his turn, and everyone can still move if they wish (half move for Theran after he stands).

16 - Myrtha (6/12)
22 - Chase (8/11)
15 - Theran (11/13)
15 - Aanbo (16/19)
13 - Traver, Melano, guy behind the door (-6, ?, ?)
1 - Derek

Dec 31, 2024 1:39 am

Chase will tell the others " the second thug down the hall ran back down around the corner. Maybe went for help or might be coming around behind you!" Then he will attack the thug in front of him.

Rolls

to hit, damage - (1d20+5, 1d6+3)

1d20+5 : (2) + 5 = 7

1d6+3 : (2) + 3 = 5

Dec 31, 2024 3:15 pm

Round four, continued...

"The second thug down the hall ran back down around the corner. Maybe went for help or might be coming around behind you!"Chase says as he slashes at Traver, but the robed assailant manages to dodge the attacks. Traver responds by trying to shove Chase back away from the door.

OOC:

@mathias0077 - declare whether you are using a STR (Athletics) or DEX (Acrobatics) check to resist the shove, and then roll it.

Chase, expecting a blow, is unprepared for Traver's move, and he's shoved back away from the door. Traver grabs the spear and wrenches it free of the floorboards. He yells: "Looks like they got Donovan, too!" The door opens, swinging into the hallway between Traver and Chase as the third person steps out in front of Traver.

The other man, Melano, having opened a different door and run down the hidden corridor, appears in the secret doorway with a candlestick in one hand and a cudgel in the other. The flickering light illuminates the room, and he stares in surprise at the sight of Theran on the floor under a pile of bricks, Myrtha in heavy armor with her sword out, and Aanbo standing belligerently over the dead Derek.

OOC:

The last thing that remains for round four is the resolution of the shoving contest. You can also post your round five actions now. Note that Theran is still prone and Myrtha can see in the room fine now.

16 - Myrtha (6/12)
22 - Chase (8/11)
15 - Theran (11/13)
15 - Aanbo (16/19)
13 - Traver, Melano, guy behind the door (-6, ?, ?)
1 - Derek

Rolls

Traver shoving Chase - (1d20+2)

(17) + 2 = 19

Dec 31, 2024 3:53 pm

Theran is working on extricating himself from the brick work in time to have the other ruffian charge in through a doorway he believed hidden.

Dec 31, 2024 4:24 pm

Aanbo is about to inspect Derek's body and look for clues to their operation, but the sudden illuminating light alerts him to another presence. He moves to stand atop the bed in order to be at eye level to Melano and strikes twice; one fist for the nose and a chop for the throat.

OOC:

Move to space on bed just north of Melano.
Action: Unarmed strike.
Bonus Action: Martial arts unarmed strike.

Rolls

Unarmed Strike to hit, Bludgeoning damage - (1d20+4, 1d4+2)

1d20+4 : (15) + 4 = 19

1d4+2 : (2) + 2 = 4

Unarmed Strike to hit, Bludgeoning damage - (1d20+4, 1d4+2)

1d20+4 : (12) + 4 = 16

1d4+2 : (1) + 2 = 3

Dec 31, 2024 5:01 pm

Chase seeing the thug gathering to try a push him back to free his pals will brace and use his athletic prowess to try and stand firm.

OOC:

My rolling in all my games has been sucking here lately.

Last edited Dec 31, 2024 5:02 pm

Rolls

Athletics - (1d20+5)

(2) + 5 = 7

Jan 2, 2025 7:52 pm

Chase, expecting a blow, is unprepared for Traver's move, and he's shoved back away from the door. Traver grabs the spear and wrenches it free of the floorboards. He yells: "Looks like they got Donovan, too!" The door opens, swinging into the hallway between Traver and Chase.

MaJunior says:

Theran is working on extricating himself from the brick work in time to have the other ruffian charge in through a doorway he believed hidden.

OOC:

That's just half your move. You can still clamber onto the bed with Aanbo if you wish to fight Melano in the open doorway.

Jan 2, 2025 9:33 pm

OOC:

Sure, why not. Although I'm not sure Aanbo would need any help.

Jan 2, 2025 10:30 pm

MaJunior says:

OOC:

Sure, why not. Although I'm not sure Aanbo would need any help.

OOC:

Aanbo needs all the help he can get!

Jan 3, 2025 1:16 pm

"Need help, Chase?" Myrtha cries out, not sure of what is going outside. "You can tell your friends that Derek’s in Hell, and they’ll join him shortly," she added, a murderous bitterness obvious in her tone.

OOC:

Don’t know if it qualifies as intimidation. It is meant to make them fearful, in part. In equal parts, it’s just a statement of fact about Myrtha’s state-of-mind. The girl that entered Orlane full of hope to solve troubles with a soft touch left the building when Reptile’s lifeless body crashed on the floor of the taproom below, only to be replaced by this guilt-stricken and furious woman clothed in a nice iron carapace and wielding a comforting length of steel in her hand …

Last edited Jan 3, 2025 1:22 pm

Jan 4, 2025 12:06 am

Hearing Myrtha question as he re gains his balance Chase will answer back "Why yes, I could use a hand."

Jan 6, 2025 2:39 pm

matmaisan says:

Don’t know if it qualifies as intimidation. It is meant to make them fearful, in part.

OOC:

Sure, if you want to do an Intimidation in round five, make the roll. I'm willing to have it be a bonus action in this instance. If you want to intimidate the people in the hallway with Chase, it might be more effective if you move into view of them (either by stepping into the hall behind Chase, or trying to shove the open door (and the person behind it) to step in front of Chase. Right now they can see that they're two against one. Melano in the secret doorway, is already ripe for intimidation, with two people (Theran and Aanbo) in his face.

Chasing Derek, Round five

Jan 6, 2025 2:53 pm

Round five
(this was preceded by round four, followed by round six)

At the sight of Melano stepping into the open secret doorway with his candle, Aanbo leaps onto the bed and begins landing punches and kicks on the robed assailant. Melano takes 7 bludgeoning damage.

Theran erupts from the collapsed chimney and surges up onto the bed by Aanbo's side, adjacent to punching-bag Melano. Swinging his swollen staff, Theran smashes the shillelagh down on Melano. Melano takes 8 bludgeoning damage.

"Need help, Chase?" Myrtha asks as she sees the ranger shoved backward. Then she raises her voice to make sure the foes can hear her: "You can tell your 'friends' that Derek’s in Hell, and they’ll join him shortly."

Chase draws his short sword and whips it around the open door, stabbing the one who just stepped out from the room - Lhari. Lhari takes 8 piercing damage. "Derek is dead and so is Bertram." Chase threatens. "Y'all should quit while you have the chance."

Myrtha squeezed past Chase and shoved on the open door. Lhari tried to resist but the implacable warrior ignored this and shoved him back. Lhari stumbled back into the room where he started and Myrtha slammed the door on him. With the door closed, for the next few moments she and Chase face spear-armed Traver alone.

Undaunted and fanatical, the robed figures stand their ground. Traver attacks Myrtha with the spear; Melano strikes out with his club against Aanbo and Theran.
Myrtha takes 9 damage and collapses, dying, her body blocking the door.
Aanbo takes 4 damage.
Theran takes 6 damage.

22 - Chase (8/11)
16 - Myrtha (0/12) Dying
15 - Theran (5/13)
15 - Aanbo (12/19)
13 - Traver, Melano, Lhari (-6, -15, -8)
1 - Derek

Jan 7, 2025 9:00 am

Chase after regaining his balance will close on Traver figuring Myrtha will come out and cover his back and take care of the guy in the room. Chase will swing his short sword at Traver saying"Derek is dead and so is Bertram. Y'all should quit while you have the chance."

OOC:

Sorry that is piercing damage

Last edited Jan 7, 2025 9:01 am

Rolls

to hit, damage - (1d20+5, 1d6+3)

1d20+5 : (17) + 5 = 22

1d6+3 : (5) + 3 = 8

Jan 7, 2025 12:28 pm

Theran will attempt to smack Melano with his staff.

Rolls

Attack (Staff - Shillelagh) - (1d20+5)

(19) + 5 = 24

Damage (Bludgeoning, Magic) - (1d8+3)

(5) + 3 = 8

Jan 7, 2025 6:17 pm

OOC:

Can Myrtha get to the adversary facing Chase? They can't stand two abreast in the corridor. I guess she could pass through Chase's square but could not end in it. So she would have to bull rush the man, and then stand in front of Chase, right? Also, if Chase recovered his spear, could he fight from the second rank, or is that not possible? Answers to these questions will determine if Myrtha heads into the corridor or assists Aanbo and Theran, and then goes around through the secret tunnel to pin the thugs from the other side.

Jan 9, 2025 4:45 pm

matmaisan says:

OOC:

Can Myrtha get to the adversary facing Chase? They can't stand two abreast in the corridor. I guess she could pass through Chase's square but could not end in it. So she would have to bull rush the man, and then stand in front of Chase, right? Also, if Chase recovered his spear, could he fight from the second rank, or is that not possible? Answers to these questions will determine if Myrtha heads into the corridor or assists Aanbo and Theran, and then goes around through the secret tunnel to pin the thugs from the other side.

OOC:

Answers:
A1: Yes, I'm going to say that Chase is attacking around the open door. Similarly, Myrtha can attack from the doorway. Everyone is getting half cover from that interposing door.
A2: She doesn't have to shove the guy behind the door (who is named Lhari), but she could. As she'd be pushing on the door, it might move him back in the corridor toward Traver, or it might push him back into the room he just exited.
A3: If we're all comfortable with it, I'm content to say that a spear should have the reach property. We'll make that adjustment to spears in the game from now on. However, note that Traver is the one with the spear, and he's further back in the hall. So it will be a bit before any Dungeon Buster retrieves Donovan's magic spear.

For the ease of reference, I've made the door transparent, so you can more easily visualize the set up. The door is still blocking a bunch of the view of the corridor, but all the PCs should know about where the combatants are.

Jan 9, 2025 11:39 pm

@spaceseeker19 So my attack would have had to have been on Lahn and not Traver?

Jan 10, 2025 1:16 am

mathias0077 says:

@spaceseeker19 So my attack would have had to have been on Lahn and not Traver?

OOC:

Yeah, that was my assumption: Chase was attacking the person on the other side of the door right next to him.

Jan 10, 2025 1:35 am

spaceseeker19 says:

mathias0077 says:

@spaceseeker19 So my attack would have had to have been on Lahn and not Traver?

OOC:

Yeah, that was my assumption: Chase was attacking the person on the other side of the door right next to him.

Okay, I didn't know if he had come out yet.

Jan 10, 2025 2:45 am

Round five, continued

OOC:

Just reiterating what's been posted so far:

Swinging his swollen staff, Theran smashes the shillelagh down on Melano. Melano takes 8 bludgeoning damage.

Chase draws his short sword and whips it around the open door, stabbing the one who just stepped out from the room - Lhari. Lhari takes 8 piercing damage. "Derek is dead and so is Bertram." Chase threatens. "Y'all should quit while you have the chance."

OOC:

Myrtha?

16 - Myrtha (6/12)
22 - Chase (8/11)
15 - Theran (11/13)
15 - Aanbo (16/19)
13 - Traver, Melano, Lhari (-6, -15, -8)
1 - Derek

Jan 10, 2025 8:52 pm

It took Myrtha more time than she would have liked to make her mind, but it seemed obvious that Theran and Aanbo had the situation in hand next to the bed, and that Chase was alone against multiple foes. She readied herself and strode out of the room where Derek's lifeblood mingled with the soot and bricks of the chimney, passing Chase as gently as she could with mail and shield. As soon as she had cleared her companion, her steps intensified in strength and speed as — with shield set before her — Myrtha rushed forward against Lhari, hoping to push him back into Traver, or at least shove him back into the room he had come from.

OOC:

My apologies for the delay. RL has picked up speed at an unexpected pace.

Using a shove action instead of Myrtha's ordinary attack. Opposed Athletics vs Athletics or Acrobatics from Lhari. Hoping to shove him back into Traver's square and, if possible close the door at the same time.

Last edited Jan 10, 2025 8:53 pm

Rolls

Athletics - (1d20+5)

(19) + 5 = 24

Jan 10, 2025 9:47 pm

Round five, continued

Myrtha squeezed past Chase and shoved on the open door. Lhari tried to resist but the implacable warrior ignored this and shoved him back. Lhari stumbled back into the room where he started and Myrtha slammed the door on him. With the door closed, for the next few moments she and Chase face spear-armed Traver alone.

OOC:

I'm forgoing a roll, because no result of Lhari's could withstand that 24. I will roll to see which way he goes, though.

Undaunted and fanatical, the robed figures stand their ground. Traver attacks Myrtha with the spear; Melano strikes out with his club against Aanbo and Theran.
Myrtha takes 9 damage and collapses, dying, her body blocking the door
.
Aanbo takes 4 damage.
Theran takes 6 damage.

OOC:

This ends round 5. What do you do in round six?
Myrtha should roll her first death save.

22 - Chase (8/11)
16 - Myrtha (0/12) Dying
15 - Theran (5/13)
15 - Aanbo (12/19)
13 - Traver, Melano, Lhari (-6, -15, -8)
1 - Derek

Rolls

Lhari: back into the room (1) or back down the hall (2)? - (1d2)

(1) = 1

Traver attack 1 on Myrtha AC18, piercing damage - (1d20+5, 1d6+3)

1d20+5 : (7) + 5 = 12 ❌

1d6+3 : (4) + 3 = 7

Traver attack 2 on Myrtha AC18, piercing damage - (1d20+5, 1d6+3)

1d20+5 : (20) + 5 = 25 ✅

1d6+3 : (6) + 3 = 9

Melano attack on Aanbo AC15, bludgeoning damage - (1d20+4, 1d4+2)

1d20+4 : (19) + 4 = 23 ✅

1d4+2 : (2) + 2 = 4

Melano attack on Theran AC13, bludgeoning damage - (1d20+4, 1d4+2)

1d20+4 : (12) + 4 = 16 ✅

1d4+2 : (4) + 2 = 6

Jan 11, 2025 4:15 am

"Quickly, let's put them down!" Aanbo says to Theran as they work to subdue Melano. Delivering a swift kick to the midsection, Aanbo grabs his own staff and attempts a two-handed overhead swing for Melano's head.

OOC:

Action: Attack with two-handed quarterstaff
Bonus Action: Unarmed strike

Rolls

Quarterstaff 2H to hit, Bludgeoning damage - (1d20+4, 1d8+2)

1d20+4 : (1) + 4 = 5

1d8+2 : (5) + 2 = 7

Unarmed Strike to hit, Bludgeoning damage - (1d20+4, 1d4+2)

1d20+4 : (2) + 4 = 6

1d4+2 : (4) + 2 = 6

Jan 11, 2025 8:34 am

Myrtha crumpled under Traver’s exceptionnally well-timed second attack.

Last edited Jan 11, 2025 8:35 am

Rolls

Death save - (1d20)

(17) = 17

Jan 11, 2025 4:27 pm

OOC:

Chase will yell out "Theran,Myrtha needs help! Then he vault past her and rush Traver to get in close and eliminate the spears range then attack him with his shorth sword.

OOC:

I put myself between them to protect Myrtha until Theran can get there.

Last edited Jan 11, 2025 4:28 pm

Rolls

to hit, damage - (1d20+5, 1d8+3piercing)

1d20+5 : (8) + 5 = 13

1d8+3piercing : (3) + 3 = 6

Jan 13, 2025 5:28 am

Chasing Derek: Round Six

ROUND SIX
(this was preceded by round five, followed by round seven)

"Quickly, let's put them down!" Still standing on the bed, Aanbo attacks Melano twice and misses with both attacks.
Collapsed on the floor (and effectively blocking the door), Myrtha succeeds on her first death save.
Chase yells "Theran, Myrtha needs help!" as he steps forward, standing protectively over Myrtha and attacking Traver. Traver takes 6 piercing damage.

OOC:

Notes about light: Like Chase and Myrtha, the cultists need light to see. Chase and Myrtha are/were fighting in the hallway with their targets backlit by the lantern they set down at the end of the hall. For Aanbo and Theran (neither of whom need light), I will point out that Melano is using a club in one hand and a lit candle in the other. An attack on the candle will be AC10; any hit will extinguish the flame.

"Damn it..." Theran glances over his shoulder then whacks Melano with his shillelagh. Melano takes 5 bludgeoning damage. Theran prepares to use his spore aura to wrack Melano's world.

Lhari has just been shoved back into the room where he started. He pounds on the door in frustration, but the combined weight of Myrtha's bleeding, slightly writhing body and Chase standing protectively over her prevents Lhari from opening the door again.
Melano notices a strange haze around him, barely visible in the candlelight...just as Theran's spores bloom in his lungs. Melano takes 3 damage. Melano tries to cough, making a wet, gurgling noise, and begins to turn purple as he can't get enough oxygen. He drops the club and candle (the light goes out in the room) and begins helplessly clawing at his throat. Melano collapses, chest heaving silently.

Traver tries to skewer Chase like he did Myrtha. Chase takes 4 piercing damage.

22 - Chase (4/11)
16 - Myrtha (0/12) Dying one success
15 - Theran (5/13)
15 - Aanbo (12/19)
13 - Traver, Melano, Lhari (-12, -23, -8)
1 - Derek

Jan 13, 2025 1:26 pm

"Damn it..." Theran quickly glanced over his shoulder towards where Chase had called from, then turned back to Melano.

Hold on, Myrtha!

Theran makes an attack against the cultist before him, hoping to strike him down and free both himself and Aanbo to aid Myrtha and Chase.

OOC:

As a reaction, Theran will use

[ +- ] Halo of Spores

At the beginning of Melano's turn, he will have to make a CON save against a DC 13 or take the necrotic damage rolled below.

Last edited Jan 13, 2025 1:29 pm

Rolls

Attack (Staff - Shillelagh) - (1d20+5)

(15) + 5 = 20

Damage (Bludgeoning, Magic) - (1d8+3)

(2) + 3 = 5

Damage (Necrotic) - (1d6)

(3) = 3

Jan 14, 2025 1:27 am

Round six, continued

"Damn it..." Theran glances over his shoulder then whacks Melano with his shillelagh. Melano takes 5 bludgeoning damage. Theran prepares to use his spore aura to wrack Melano's world.

Lhari has just been shoved back into the room where he started. He pounds on the door in frustration, but the combined weight of Myrtha's bleeding, slightly writhing body and Chase standing protectively over her prevents Lhari from opening the door again.
Melano notices a strange haze around him, barely visible in the candlelight...just as Theran's spores bloom in his lungs. Melano takes 3 damage. Melano tries to cough, making a wet, gurgling noise, and begins to turn purple as he can't get enough oxygen. He drops the club and candle (the light goes out in the room) and begins helplessly clawing at his throat. Melano collapses, chest heaving silently.

OOC:

Melano is effectively dead at this point, though it will take him a bit longer to asphyxiate.

Traver tries to skewer Chase like he did Myrtha. Chase takes 4 piercing damage.

This concludes round six. Please post your round seven turns now.

22 - Chase (4/11)
16 - Myrtha (0/12) Dying one success
15 - Theran (5/13)
15 - Aanbo (12/19)
13 - Traver, Melano, Lhari (-12, -23, -8)
1 - Derek

Rolls

Melano CON save DC13 - (1d20+2)

(1) + 2 = 3 ❌

Traver attack 1 on Chase AC16, piercing damage - (1d20+5, 1d6+3)

1d20+5 : (16) + 5 = 21 ✅

1d6+3 : (1) + 3 = 4

Traver attack 2 on Chase AC16, piercing damage - (1d20+5, 1d6+3)

1d20+5 : (5) + 5 = 10 ❌

1d6+3 : (4) + 3 = 7

Jan 14, 2025 8:52 am

Chase grunts from the stab of the spear but he will not relent guarding Myrtha. He aims to finish Traver or die trying.

Rolls

to hit, damage - (1d20+5, 1d8+3piercing)

1d20+5 : (15) + 5 = 20

1d8+3piercing : (7) + 3 = 10

Jan 14, 2025 1:10 pm

Though she continued to exist in the liminal space between death and life, Myrtha remained an effective door-blocker.

Rolls

Death save #2 - (1d20)

(7) = 7

Jan 14, 2025 4:24 pm

Aanbo winces at Melano's condition and elects to put the murderer out of his misery with a heart-stopping punch to the chest. He laments his momentary lack of restraint and vows to meditate fully on life's great wheel... at least when things settle down.

Once Melano is dispatched, Aanbo searches for that spiral symbol to confirm the man's allegiance. If the symbol is removable, Aanbo does so.

Chasing Derek: Round Seven

Jan 15, 2025 2:59 am

Round seven
(this was preceded by round six, followed by round eight))

Standing protectively over Myrtha, Chase clashes with Traver; as Traver is thrusting with his spear, Chase stabs at the man's arms and shoulders, inflicting nasty wounds. Traver takes 9 piercing damage. Traver is panting, bleeding profusely, barely standing, but there is madness in his eyes that shows his fanatical conviction despite his grievous wounds.

OOC:

@mathias0077 - A short sword uses 1d6 for damage; rather than have you reroll the 7, I just took it as a six. If I'm mistaken somehow about the damage die, let me know.

Writhing at their feet, Myrtha scrabbles at the floor as blood pools around her.
Dying, Myrtha has one success and one failure for death saves.

Figuring that Theran will heed the call to save their (dying, though he doesn't know that) companion Myrtha, Aanbo silences the dead Melano and searches his corpse for signs of cult involvement. Under the sleeve of his robe, high on his left arm, is the by-now expected tattoo of a green spiral. Aside from the extinguished candle and the solid club he was holding, Melano seems to have rushed out without any other belongings.

Theran stepped into the hallway and instantly took in the situation: Chase clashing with Traver, Myrtha dying on the ground, the door held shut despite heavy blows and muffled shouting. The druid drew on the magic of life around him - particularly the plentiful fungal life in this Inn - and touched Myrtha on the ankle. The life energy blossomed through her, the fighter's flesh knitting together and mending. The black spots cleared from Myrtha's vision and she gasped a deep breath, restored almost to full health.
Myrtha gains 11 HP and is no longer dying.

"We wouldn't want murderers like you anyway!" Traver babbles. Barely standing and unaware of the nonsensical irony of his statement, Traver nevertheless tries once more to avenge his fallen comrades and attacks Chase with the spear. Chase avoids one stab, but then Traver catches him on the reverse.
Chase takes 9 damage and is dying.
Lhari, on the other side of the door, is kicking it and hitting it with his club. Luckily, the doors in the Golden Grain Inn were built of solid timbers to protect the occupants (and possibly to prevent them from escaping when attacked at night). Faintly you can hear him through the wood: "What's happening? Traver, what's happening?" He still hasn't figured out that he can go around like the others did.

This concludes round seven.

22 - Chase (0/11) Dying
16 - Myrtha (11/12) Prone
15 - Theran (5/13)
15 - Aanbo (12/19)
13 - Traver, Melano, Lhari (-21, -23, -8)
1 - Derek

Jan 15, 2025 4:35 am

Theran will rush to Myrtha and cast Cure Wounds to attempt to save her.

Rolls

Cure Wounds - (1d8+3)

(8) + 3 = 11

Jan 15, 2025 8:40 am

@spaceseeker19

OOC:

Sorry, you are right about the dam. Just clicked on saved one and it was my bow.

Jan 15, 2025 1:11 pm

Myrtha inhaled deeply, with her chest heaving violently as she regained conscience thanks to Theran's curative magic.

OOC:

I'm assuming Myrtha will only be able to act on her next turn, since Theran came after her in the initiative order?

Jan 15, 2025 2:10 pm

matmaisan says:

I'm assuming Myrtha will only be able to act on her next turn, since Theran came after her in the initiative order?

OOC:

Yes, that was still round seven, and Myrtha has already taken her turn (the second death save). But we're about to get to round eight.

Jan 15, 2025 2:25 pm

Round seven, continued...

Theran stepped into the hallway and instantly took in the situation: Chase clashing with Traver, Myrtha dying on the ground, the door held shut despite heavy blows and muffled shouting. The druid drew on the magic of life around him - particularly the plentiful fungal life in this Inn - and touched Myrtha on the ankle. The life energy blossomed through her, the fighter's flesh knitting together and mending. The black spots cleared from Myrtha's vision and she gasped a deep breath, restored almost to full health.
Myrtha gains 11 HP and is no longer dying.

"We wouldn't want murderers like you anyway!" Traver babbles. Barely standing and unaware of the nonsensical irony of his statement, Traver nevertheless tries once more to avenge his fallen comrades and attacks Chase with the spear. Chase avoids one stab, but then Traver catches him on the reverse.
Chase takes 9 damage and is dying.
Lhari, on the other side of the door, is kicking it and hitting it with his club. Luckily, the doors in the Golden Grain Inn were built of solid timbers to protect the occupants (and possibly to prevent them from escaping when attacked at night). Faintly you can hear him through the wood: "What's happening? Traver, what's happening?" He still hasn't figured out that he can go around like the others did.

This concludes round seven. What do you do for round eight? Chase has collapsed, dying. Myrtha is awake and prone. Theran has an unobstructed view of Traver holding Donovan's bloody spear. Aanbo heard the spell being cast, the banging on the door, the nonsense from Traver, the thud of the body.

22 - Chase (0/11) Dying
16 - Myrtha (11/12) Prone
15 - Theran (5/13)
15 - Aanbo (12/19)
13 - Traver, Melano, Lhari (-21, -23, -8)
1 - Derek

Rolls

Lingering flaw check DC61 - (1d100)

(30) = 30

Traver attack 1 on Chase AC16, piercing damage - (1d20+5, 1d6+3)

1d20+5 : (19) + 5 = 24 ✅

1d6+3 : (6) + 3 = 9

Traver attack 2 on Chase AC16, piercing damage - (1d20+5, 1d6+3)

1d20+5 : (4) + 5 = 9 ❌

1d6+3 : (5) + 3 = 8

Jan 15, 2025 3:21 pm

Myrtha was barely aware when she saw Chase’s body crumple to the ground next to her. She stood up immediately and tried to impale the man with her sword. She was less furious and more methodical, her near encounter with the reaper having taken care of her boiling rage.

OOC:

All these fellows have two attacks, these are no rabble. Didn’t expect this at all. But I should’ve: this is a 1st edition module… balance ain’t what it is about. I promise, @MaJunior, I’ll try to keep Myrtha alive…

Last edited Jan 15, 2025 3:23 pm

Rolls

longsword to hit, damage - (1d20+5, 1d8+3)

1d20+5 : (14) + 5 = 19

1d8+3 : (5) + 3 = 8

Jan 15, 2025 5:11 pm

Aanbo is no longer surprised at the number of cultists they are finding, but he still finds relief that each person that has attacked them has borne that symbol. He leaves Melano's body where it is and crosses the room for the hallway.

It's crowded there, but Aanbo can see Chase's body on the floor amidst the feet of his companions. Wary of trying to pull Chase out and tripping Myrtha, Aanbo decides to fling a dart at Traver's neck. He'll look for another opportunity to bring Chase to safety.

Rolls

Dart to hit, Piercing damage - (1d20+4, 1d4+2)

1d20+4 : (15) + 4 = 19

1d4+2 : (2) + 2 = 4

Chasing Derek: round eight

Jan 15, 2025 5:31 pm

Round eight
(this was preceded by round seven, followed by round nine)

Myrtha bounds to her feet, steps over Chase and into Traver's reach and dispassionately knocks the spear aside with her sword, then sinks her sword all the way through the villain's chest. Traver takes 8 slashing damage. As Traver's eyes widen in shock, Aanbo's dart flicks past Myrtha's ear and catches the zealot in the neck. Traver takes 4 piercing damage. Myrtha feels his death rattle, then lets him slide off of her blade and onto the floor. The magic spear clatters from lifeless fingers and splats into pooled blood. The hallway is quite gory now.

Note that I have Aanbo in the space by the door, but do not consider that he is blocking access to Chase's form. Chase is now blocking the doorway, so Lhari won't be able to do more than open the door a crack at most.

Chase struggles to hold on despite his vision blurring and his breathing coming ragged. Chase has one success for his death saves. Theran drops to Chase's side, rolls him over, and applies bandages to the deep spear wound, staunching the flow of blood. Chase is stable and unconscious at 0 HP.

Lhari yells and slams his full weight against the door; the door shoves Chase and Theran a little but stops only open a couple of fingers and no further. That view is enough for him to see a little bit of Myrtha standing over Traver's bloody corpse. Lhari finally realizes that he's in trouble and runs for it. The party can hear him slamming against walls and furniture as he runs pell-mell through the adjoining room. He bursts out of the middle door in the north wall of the hallway, bounces off of the wall (leaving a bloody handprint, as he's still injured from Chase's earlier stab), and takes another two paces. "No oh no oh no oh no..." he pants. It's clear that he intends to run away from the Dungeon Busters if he can.

22 - Chase (0/11) Stable
16 - Myrtha (11/12)
15 - Theran (5/13)
15 - Aanbo (12/19)
13 - Traver, Melano, Lhari (-33, -23, -8)
1 - Derek

Jan 15, 2025 5:33 pm

OOC:

They all also have over 20 hps a piece. We have had a good showing I think though even though I am dead.

Jan 15, 2025 5:39 pm

mathias0077 says:

They all also have over 20 hps a piece. We have had a good showing I think though even though I am dead.

OOC:

Each one has had individual HP that I rolled, so a given individual may have ended up with more or less.

But Chase is not dead yet! He's just dying: roll Chase's first death save.

Jan 15, 2025 6:22 pm

As Myrtha gets up, Theran watches Chase fall in her place. Sighing as he shifts closer to the newly-fallen warrior, the elf -- depleted of the focus it requires to weave the power of nature to his will -- relies on more traditional methods of healing.

OOC:

Medicine check to stabilize Chase.

Last edited Jan 15, 2025 6:31 pm

Rolls

Medicine (WIS) - (1d20+5)

(19) + 5 = 24

Jan 15, 2025 9:32 pm

Death save

Rolls

Death save - (1d20)

(10) = 10

Jan 15, 2025 9:51 pm

Round eight, continued...

Theran drops to Chase's side, rolls him over, and applies bandages to the deep spear wound, staunching the flow of blood. Chase is stable and unconscious at 0 HP.

OOC:

@mathias0077 - I will say that you do not need to roll the death save now. Edit: I was too late!

Lhari yells and slams his full weight against the door; the door shoves Chase and Theran a little but stops only open a couple of fingers and no further. That view is enough for him to see a little bit of Myrtha standing over Traver's bloody corpse. Lhari finally realizes that he's in trouble and runs for it. The party can hear him slamming against walls and furniture as he runs pell-mell through the adjoining room. He bursts out of the middle door in the north wall of the hallway, bounces off of the wall (leaving a bloody handprint, as he's still injured from Chase's earlier stab), and takes another two paces. "No oh no oh no oh no..." he pants. It's clear that he intends to run away from the Dungeon Busters if he can.

This ends round eight. What do you do in round nine?

22 - Chase (0/11) Stable
16 - Myrtha (11/12)
15 - Theran (5/13)
15 - Aanbo (12/19)
13 - Traver, Melano, Lhari (-33, -23, -8)
1 - Derek

Rolls

Athletics to shove the door DC20 - (1d20+2)

(11) + 2 = 13 ❌

Jan 15, 2025 11:00 pm

Aanbo quietly says, "I think he might have answers," and immediately heads back into the bedroom to make for the secret door. He dashes through the passage and heads for the last bedroom, hoping to cut off Lhari's escape with his stout frame.

OOC:

Action: Dash.
Movement: Using up to 70 feet of movement to go through the secret passage and out the last room. If I can open the door in Lhari's face, I'll do so; otherwise Aanbo will just step out into the hallway where the lantern was left.

Chasing Derek: round nine

Jan 16, 2025 7:20 am

Round nine
(this was preceded by round eight)

Aanbo says "I think he might have answers" and rushes back into the fancy bedroom, vaults onto the bed (landing on Melano's contorted body) and then down into the secret passage. Running down the darkened corridor, Aanbo can see the broken door on his left (north) but also a new opening at the end of the corridor (east), leading into the torturer Derek's former room. Seeing the new opening, Aanbo puts on an extra burst of speed and runs forward into Derek's room and slams open the door, interposing himself in the corridor so that no one can get to the stairway except past/through him.

OOC:

This shows where Aanbo is after moving just 45'. Looking through the hole that Theran broke in the wall, you see that the party left the bedroom door open in the hallway, so that door is not going to block Lhari, but you could easily move Aanbo to stand in his way, or you could continue straight/east through the door into the torturer's room to cut him off from the stairs that way.

Theran nods to Myrtha. "Go help Aanbo. I'll watch Chase." Theran proceeds to -- carefully -- move Chase out of the hallway at least, and stand guard over the downed warrior.

Myrtha follows the last attacker, as he attempts to escape.

"Surrender!" she calls out in a level voice, "You need not die here."

Lhari quails at the sight of Myrtha approaching with bloody sword, the light of the lantern illuminating her face from below. He drops his club and stammers "I s-s-s-surrender!", tears streaming down his face.

"Good choice," Aanbo whispers into Lhari's ear. He kicks the club further away, then nudges Lhari back down the hallway towards Myrtha and the rest of the Dungeon Busters.

This ends the combat encounter.

Jan 16, 2025 4:40 pm

Aanbo considers that Lhari looked human, and perhaps cannot see well in the dark. He decides to try and head through Derek's room to impose himself before the stairs to take advantage of that.

OOC:

I'll go through the Derek's room and into the hallway.

Jan 19, 2025 6:12 am

OOC:

...and what are Theran and Myrtha doing on their round nine turns?

Jan 19, 2025 11:42 am

Theran nods to Myrtha. "Go help Aanbo. I'll watch Chase." Theran will proceed to -- carefully -- move Chase out of the hallway at least, and stand guard over the downed warrior.

Jan 19, 2025 1:48 pm

Myrtha followed the last attacker, as he attempted to escape.

"Surrender!" she called out in a level voice, "You need not die here."

Depending on the man’s reaction the warrior prepared to knock him out, restrain him, or cut him down.

OOC:

Myrtha wants to give Lhari a chance to surrender. If he doesn’t comply, and with Aanbo blocking his way, she’ll try to knock him out, rather than run him through.

Jan 19, 2025 3:45 pm

OOC:

Between Aanbo and Myrtha, choose one of you to make an Intimidation check with ADV.

Jan 20, 2025 6:20 am

Myrtha’s bulky form approached ominously.

OOC:

Mechanically, Myrtha has a +1 to charisma, but is not proficient in intimidation. But I roll pretty badly, so you choose, @CancerMan.

Edit: Here goes nothing…

Last edited Jan 20, 2025 8:36 pm

Rolls

Intimidation (advantage) - (2d20H1+1)

(1820) + 1 = 21

Jan 20, 2025 3:54 pm

Aanbo positions himself in the hallway outside of Derek's room. He hardly strikes an imposing figure, being a short and stout dwarf in robes with a contemplative expression, but he tries to puff up his chest to look like a balloon.

OOC:

Go for it, Myrtha! Aanbo is just +0 in intimidation.

Jan 21, 2025 7:35 am

Lhari quails at the sight of Myrtha approaching with bloody sword, the light of the lantern illuminating her face from below. He drops his club and stammers "I s-s-s-surrender!", tears streaming down his face.

Jan 21, 2025 3:50 pm

"Good choice," Aanbo whispers into Lhari's ear. He kicks the club further away, then nudges Lhari back down the hallway towards Myrtha and the rest of the Dungeon Busters.

Jan 21, 2025 8:20 pm

Having survived this encounter, each of the present and living Dungeon Busters - Aanbo, Chase, Myrtha, and Theran - gains 150 XP.

OOC:

Note that this puts at least two of you at the point where your characters could train to gain a level...with their trainers back in Hochoch. When you decide to return to Hochoch and do so is a topic for the group to discuss...probably in private.

Jan 22, 2025 2:17 pm

Myrtha softens her stance once the last combatant let go of his weapon. "You're going to be fine, lad. Help me see if your friends can be saved," she stated, sheathing her sword and kneeling by Traver's body.

OOC:

Myrtha wants to make sure that if the two fallen men in the corridor aren't dead, that she attempt to staunch their bleeding. Whenever that verification is over, she will pick up the enchanted spear and lead Lhari back into the room the three men had been in so he can talk away from all the dead bodies. Either that, or take him into Derek's torture chamber, so he can be confronted to the evidence of this Evil...

As far as next steps, Myrtha is at 250xp, so some 50xp shy of levelling. Personally I'd prefer that we return when she's over the line, but I'd understand if the majority wants to fall back. She's bit too brittle as she is now, doing a round-trip now, and having to return after the first couple of encounters seems counterproductive.

Jan 22, 2025 2:23 pm

OOC:

Unless I forgot to add XP somewhere, Theran is a ways away from leveling also.

Now that the fight has ended and Chase seems stable, Theran returns to grab the lockbox he found, bringing it to the room with the others and seeing about opening it.

Jan 22, 2025 4:06 pm

Derek, Melano, and Traver are all dead.
Myrtha confirms this fact with Traver, and finds that he has nothing of value on him (though he does have the green spiral tattoo high up on his left biceps). Myrtha retrieves the +1 magic spear and lantern, then leads Lhari back up the hallway to the doors he'd used before: the one the party blocked, and the other one. They lead to adjoining rooms. The room on the left is a common bedroom; the type that a group of friends, a party of adventurers, or a small family would rent to stay together for the night. There are five beds here; two are unused and neatly made (the Dungeon Busters move Chase into one of these so that he's no longer on the floor), and the other three show clear signs that Traver, Melano, and Lhari were all still asleep when Derek started yelling: rumpled with the coverlets thrown aside.
While Myrtha takes the disarmed Lhari in there, Aanbo examines the other room. It seems to have been used as a common dining area. Two tables and eight chairs take up the center of the room, and each table is covered with used plates and mostly-empty mugs: probably the dishes from last night's supper.
Theran steps back into the room with Derek and Melano and quickly examines the bodies: they are both dead. Melano only had the club and candle on him. Derek, however, had quite a bit of stuff on his person. He has a standard short sword, and a long, nasty stiletto (which came from a concealed sheath worn on the nape of his neck). He has particularly fine black leather armor, a money pouch (containing gems and coins), and three small bottles wrapped in velvet tucked inside his armor. Theran notes these items for the future and goes back to the bed to retrieve the lockbox. He takes it into the dining room with Aanbo and sets it down on one of the tables with a thud and a clink of coins within.

Jan 22, 2025 4:36 pm

Aanbo considers the state of the fallen. "Let's leave their bodies where they lie," he suggests. "People should know that this inn had the secret passage, and that these killers knew about them."

After Theran collected the useful items, Aanbo says, "Can you stay with Chase, my friend? Myrtha could use your help, too. I will go downstairs to secure the place, as well as be on alert for anyone coming."

The monk then whispers his intentions to Myrtha's ear so that she is aware, and waits for confirmation from both her and Theran before he heads down.

Jan 22, 2025 5:33 pm

"Only on the condition that if you meet with trouble you don't face it alone. Run back here, we're stronger together," Theran cautions his fellow Dungeon Buster.

Jan 22, 2025 5:58 pm

"Why did your group attack us, lad?" Myrtha asked as soon as the verification of the corpses had finished.

She stopped, and began an again. "No no, first : What’s your name, lad?"

"Our business was with Derek, the torturer," she added with a tone of finality and a wisp of regret in her voice. All the killing was taking its toll now. She let those questions sink in for a few moments

"We came looking for a friend, he was taken by some of your folks by the abandoned barn. Know where they’d have taken our friend?"

OOC:

Myrtha is observing Lhari’s reactions closely, but all aggression has left her, for now. Her tone is soft, as if she were trying to elicit a secret from a young her brother who’d done something stupid and was afraid and ashamed.

Last edited Jan 22, 2025 6:02 pm

Jan 24, 2025 6:37 am

Aanbo heads back downstairs, navigating without light with his darkvision until he gets back down to the common room, where the fire in the fireplace has burned almost down to coals. H.A. has not moved from where he lay, with Chase's bonds intact. The bloody smear still leads behind the bar to Bertram's corpse. Nothing has been disturbed. Either there are other guests but only the one person woke up, or there are few other guests in the Inn.

Meanwhile, upstairs, Theran continues to examine the lockbox while Myrtha tries the soft touch with the surviving fanatical brute and Chase sleeps on.

"I-I'm Lhari..." the man replies, half defiant, half fearful.

OOC:

For a sense of how much he's going to divulge with this soft approach, roll a CHR (Persuasion) check, DC15.

The lockbox is a sturdy little chest. Theran opens it extremely carefully, and is relieved to see that whoever used it last did not take the time to reset the poison dart trap on the clasps. Inside are thousands of seals. Running his hand through the wealth, Theran sees that there are golden eagles mixed in among the silver, as well as some exotic coins he doesn't recognize.

OOC:

Note that, if the party will take enough time here, Chase can take a short rest and spent his hit die (if he still has it) once someone uses a dose from a healer's kit on him. There are a few hours until sunrise yet. If you don't want to wait that long, you could apply the healer's kit, rest for an hour, and then move to someplace else once Chase is conscious again. If Chase does NOT still have his hit die, then it's going to take longer...

Jan 24, 2025 12:03 pm

Jan 24, 2025 2:34 pm

"So, Lhari. Me and my friends came looking for someone of ours who's been taken by some of your folk," she stated flatly, looking intently at the prisoner. "We thought to look here, 'cause Bertram had tried to poison us earlier. We ran into Derek, downstairs. We knew Derek had tortured and killed someone the day before, so we wanted to catch him. He killed a friend of mine, downstairs," she added, calmly, though a soft choking could be heard in her voice at this point.

"As the coward that he is, he fled, leaving your other friends to die in his stead. I think one of your friends still breathes... Bertram, well, he should've stayed in bed, I guess," there was some more iron in her tone again.

"So did you see our buddy here? Small fellow, a halfling? And once you've told me what you know about that, why did you come out to fight for that foul butcher, Derek?"

OOC:

That's a fail on persuasion.

Last edited Jan 24, 2025 2:35 pm

Rolls

Persuasion vs DC 15 - (1d20+1)

(3) + 1 = 4 ❌

Jan 24, 2025 4:07 pm

Jan 24, 2025 4:31 pm

"I haven't seen no halfling. We were just asleep, minding our own business, when we hear Derek yelling about how you killed Hamiff. We jumped up and came out to find you busting up the Inn, killing guests." Lhari's words are surly, but there is a whining undertone that indicates his fearful certainty that you're going to kill him, too.

OOC:

Note that I looked it up. Aanbo and Chase used the healer's kit and a hit die each after the street fight with Grover the constable and his two armored goons. Though he has enough XP to train to 2nd level, Chase is still a first-level character, so he only has one hit die.

So FYI: for Chase to revive will take magic (spells or potions) or a long rest to restore his hit die which he can then spend to heal with a healer's kit application.

Jan 24, 2025 5:50 pm

Aanbo considers what to do, now that he is in the common room. He can't think of anything that would shift blame away from them; the corruption appears to be deeply rooted in the very nature of some villagers. It doesn't help that the Dungeon Busters are complete strangers that have not yet earned the trust of Orlane.

Instead, Aanbo searches for the spiral symbol on Bertram, exposing it into view if he finds one. He then grabs HA to check if the man is still alive, and takes him back upstairs to join the others.

Jan 24, 2025 8:04 pm

OOC:

Gotcha

Jan 24, 2025 8:55 pm

"Good news then that Hamiff ain’t dead, Lhari. We beat him senseless, but he’s alive. Which just goes to prove Derek wasn’t only a torturer and a brute, but also a lousy liar," Myrtha continued, trying to prod at the man’s uncertainties.

"So, you were just sleeping here, minding your business while Derek tortured and killed two rooms down? Did you take turns torturing, Lhari?" she added, suddenly standing up as if she had lost her patience. "Take off your shirt.".

She expected the order to be followed immediately and suggested as much through posture and tone of voice.

OOC:

It would, of course, be totally perfect if Aanbo showed up with the unconscious and bound Hamiff just about now, to drive home the point that they were not wholesale killers on a rampage…

You might consider her last words as an intimidation attempt, though she is also deliberately flipping gender roles and trying to make him uncomfortable.

Myrtha is actually trying to figure out how involved Lhari was to the actual torture and poisoning. She’s also looking to see if there are any spiral tattoos or necklace on Lhari as well.

Last edited Jan 24, 2025 8:59 pm

Jan 25, 2025 5:57 pm

Bertram's corpse actually has a spiral branded on its upper arm, the burn scars still raised but not red or infected anymore. Aanbo hefts the limp unconscious body of H.A. and begins staggering with the beefy human up the stairs. He tries not to hit the man's head on the wood paneling of the stairwell as he goes, but he's not entirely successful.

"I've never tortured anyone, nor murdered anyone either. I'm not responsible for the actions of others, any more than you're responsible for the people that one has killed," he nods at Chase asleep in the bed, "Or than he's responsible for the people you've murdered." But he recoils when Myrtha stands up and he is reminded just how uneven the power balance is here. He whips off his nightshirt at her command and Myrtha catches his eyes flicking toward the clothing, shields, and weapons that Theran and Myrtha collected from the footlockers and piled by the door out of his reach. Lhari has a green spiral tattooed high up on his left deltoid.

Aanbo arrives in the dining room and hits H.A.'s legs on the door jamb. "Whoops," the monk mutters, puffing from the exertion of carrying this big loaf up a flight of stairs and down the long hallway. He nods to Theran, who remains absorbed in looking through the lockbox and doesn't immediately leap to his feet to help carry the dead weight. Aanbo sighs and steps through the adjoining door into the barracks with Myrtha and Lhari, being careful to not bang the human's legs...but this means that H.A.'s head bonks against the door frame instead. "Ouch." Aanbo remarks, and then heaves the unconscious and bound man onto a bed with a groan. He stretches his back with an audible crack. Seeing that the other captive is alive just as Myrtha had said, Lhari cries "Hamiff!" with surprise and relief.

Jan 25, 2025 6:04 pm

Aanbo looks at the green drawing. "So," he says, pausing to again catch his breath, "what does that mean?" He wants to point at Lhari's tattoo, but his hand aches from the recent battle and portage of weight so it just looks like a dismissive wave as he absently traces the spiral in the air.

Jan 25, 2025 7:15 pm

Theran had been looking at the coins he didn't recognize with curiosity... so much so that he realized Aanbo had returned with the other combatant. Shutting the box and turning his attention to what was happening around him.

"Apologies. There is a good bit of coin, and some coins I simply do not recognize."

Turning to the... hostage... Theran awaits his answer as to the symbol and its meaning.

Jan 27, 2025 5:58 am

Lhari would smile if he wasn't quite so nervous. "It's the mark of a true Orlane patriot! It means the pride of being an Orlane native, devoted to our community and our god." He looks at the door where Theran enters as he's making that last remark...and frowns, puzzled. "Coin? Where did you find a 'good bit of coin'?"

Jan 27, 2025 1:05 pm

"Hm? Oh. The strongbox Derek had hidden in his room. Why do you ask?" Theran's voice is very nonchalante, but something in his eyes says he just realized... these coins may prove more valuable than originally thought.

Jan 27, 2025 4:16 pm

"Interesting," says Aanbo. "I did not expect Orlane to have close relations with troglodytes. What god do you follow that has you marked with the same tattoo on those foul beasts?" The monk describes how the troglodyte at the farm bore the spiral symbol.

Jan 28, 2025 6:18 am

"He...he kept money for himself? When did he...?" Lhari's mouth snaps shut and his brow furrows with a frown in response to Theran's casual reply. "That's not for the good of the community!"

Jan 28, 2025 2:50 pm

"No, no it's not. It's good for Derek though." Theran says with a shrug. "But it raises the question... was he just stealing from travelers? Or was he being paid for something else?"

Jan 28, 2025 8:14 pm

"You mean being paid for all the torturing and killing?" she asked.

"Guess it’s one of those things she asks of those who’ve met her…" she suggested.

Jan 29, 2025 3:15 am

"From its founding, Orlane was dedicated to the goddess of agriculture, Merikka." Lhari explains to Aanbo, clearly reciting a bit of familiar folklore/history. "While troglodytes have never been welcomed to the Temple of Merikka with the good people of Orlane, the goddess has domain over all food that grows from the earth, and troglodytes need to eat, too. Some acknowledge her sovereignty as we do."

Jan 30, 2025 3:09 pm

Lhari is clearly pretty upset at the revelation that Derek had stockpiled loot. "Why would he do that? How could he have done that? Everything we need is provided..." Eventually what Myrtha has said registers, and he gets hot. "What? NO! She does NOT condone torture! If he was torturing people, then he was no true believer!"

OOC:

At this point, we could abstract this conversation if you like. This could speed up the process of getting to the long rest that Chase needs to restore his hit die and recover consciousness (not to mention Theran's spells). What information are you trying to get out of your captives? What are you going to do with them?

Feb 5, 2025 6:36 pm

Aanbo double-checks the bindings on Hamiff. "Okay," he says, looking at Lhari. "You must take instruction from someone. If we wanted to become true patriots of Orlane, who would we talk to? What would we have to do?"

He continues the questioning like a diligent miner prospecting for ore. "It's obvious that non-Orlane citizens are taken into custody. What happens to them? I think it was Hulbar or Donovan that mentioned the temple. Is that where they go?"

OOC:

Basically, Aanbo will try to determine who's in charge of the operation. He's become aware that not everybody knows everything, but if Lhari can at least finger several people that we don't already know are with the goddess, that might be a good start.

He'll also want some info on the temple itself; how it's laid out, if it goes underground and if so how deep, any non-Orlane citizens within the temple, etc. He's aware that he didn't exactly hear (at least I don't remember) Hulbar nor Donovan talk about the temple, but Aanbo thinks that if Lhari didn't know what Derek was up to, he might believe the story that the other dwarves said something.

Feb 7, 2025 6:08 pm

Once everyone is awake, Theran recounts his side's experience after they split at the barn.

"We hauled the body with us, and found an entrance directly into the cellar. We explored as we moved, cautiously. We thought we heard a commotion on the street above, but couldn't risk being caught with a literal dead body."

Theran grabs a chair and sits, the day starting to catch up with him. He cracks his neck and runs fingers through his long hair as he considers how to phrase what comes next.

"This inn has a lot of hidden passages. I'm not surprised they're able to keep things hidden from the villagers... even the ones they're allied with, apparently." The wood elf shoots a poignant look at the captive cultist. "We found another hidden door with a small room, and another door that opened into a tunnel. We heard a noise beyond the door, but by the time we actually opened it we couldn't see anything or anyone. I have to wonder what other buildings connect to the tunnels. We didn't explore it, but I have to believe more of the town is part of the network.

Regardless, we stashed the body. Gods, it feels terrible saying that, but..." Theran shakes his head and splays his hands in front of him, giving a shrug and a sigh.

"After we did that, we headed up into the inn. A fight broke out. I... I tried to keep Reptile alive, but... I failed, clearly. You saw the aftermath down there. We charged upstairs after that monster," Theran punctuates his word by jabbing his staff roughly into the corpse of the scarred man as he continues, "and my earlier reconnaissance paid off, since the hidden passageway wasn't a secret. But that's about where you all joined back up with us, and you know the rest."

Theran falls quiet and looks at the remaining Dungeon Busters. "I'm worried about leaving, because that gives them time to regroup and to twist this tale to suit their own ends. But... someone beyond us needs to know what's happening here, and frankly I think we need help. I feel like this is bigger than the four of us can handle."

Last edited Feb 7, 2025 6:10 pm

Feb 7, 2025 7:41 pm

OOC:

Sorry for not responding sooner; I really thought I had posted responses to Aanbo's post already.

Aanbo asks Lhari: "If we wanted to become true patriots of Orlane, who would we talk to? What would we have to do?"

Lhari is not good at disguising his anger, unhappiness, and fear with this situation or his reluctance to answer these questions directly, but he does respond. "True patriots of Orlane wouldn't kill its citizens, for one thing!" He gets a sly look on his face. "...or if they did, they'd show up to repent at the Temple. She is very forgiving, and will embrace all those who are genuinely contrite."

Then Aanbo continues: "It's obvious that non-Orlane citizens are taken into custody. What happens to them? I think it was Hulbar or Donovan that mentioned the temple. Is that where they go?"

Lhari frowns at this. "I don't know what you mean about 'taking non-citizens into custody.' The only ones we tried to take into custody were you, and that was only after you went berserk and attacked the other customers here at the Inn. I know murder may seem like no big crime to big city adventurers like you, but around here we take it pretty seriously. After you killed Hep and Poe, and nearly killed Bertram, a bunch of us were all for going right then and stringing you up. That'd be justice!

"But some of the others reminded us of Her mercy and how She redeemed even hardened criminals to become productive members of Orlane that truly serve the Homeland." In Lhari's fervor, you can hear the capital letters in his speech as a beatific smile transforms his face. "So a group of us went out to capture you and take you to the temple to be redeemed." His face flushes dark again as his brows furrow in a frown. "You probably murdered them all, too, didn't you? Didn't you? Maybe some monsters shouldn't be redeemed."

Feb 7, 2025 7:48 pm

Aanbo and Theran both notice that truculent captive Lhari visibly quails and gives an involuntary shake of his head when Theran recounts how they opened the door in the basement.

Feb 7, 2025 8:03 pm

"You took in Jonbon," says Aanbo, though he is indifferent to whether or not Lhari recognizes the name. It's clear that Lhari is not very high on the need-to-know list.

The monk continues, "So murder is not what a citizen of Orlane would do, but apparently poisoning people is. That is what Bertram did to our meal before he and his fellows (presumably Hep and Poe) said they'd take us to Her. Do you think the goddess would forgive us for defending ourselves from being kidnapped?

"Whatever. You probably do not know, much like you did not know that Derek was torturing people and hoarding gold." Aanbo sighs. "I feel sorry for you, Lhari. You have been lied to, probably for a long time, by people like Constable Grover and Bertram. By people that are manipulating you and others like you into doing their dirty tasks while they profit.

"You might think that we are lying, but you have been made to ignore how every person we've encountered was given a chance to stand down and resolve conflicts peacefully. The others chose to attack with intent to kill, and we were forced to meet them with equal intention. Those who chose peace, like you and Hamiff, are still alive. Our mercy should be apparent to you now."

With that, Aanbo listens to Theran's summation of events. He adds his own to fill in the gaps. "Chase and I explained what we could to the Mayor and Constable. It seems that the Constable and half of the accompanying villagers are under the spell of this spiral tattoo and were reluctant to believe us, while the Mayor and others prove reasonable. We willingly surrendered to the custody of the Constable and were escorted in this direction, when out of sight from the others we were attacked by Grover, Donovan, and Hulbar. They tried to make it appear as though we initiated the attack. We knocked them unconscious and left them bound and disarmed on the road, when we heard the conflict in this tavern. The rest, you know."

Aanbo purposefully left out the elves' and Alan's involvement, lest Lhari report them for their non-compliance.

Feb 7, 2025 9:21 pm

Despite her exhaustion, the warrior listened carefully to the exchange, grateful for Aanbo’s and Theran’s interventions. She was surprised that they spoke of the dead man that Theran, Reptile and she had carried back to the inn.

"Suppose we ought to show Lhari here what Derek did to that poor soul," Myrtha stated, feeling disgust at the lad’s blind faith in his seniors. "Maybe take him downstairs to see what lies behind these hidden passages. Patriots, he thinks… but these are just murderers and liars."

Standing up again, she added. " Wager there’s more hidden gold, and perhaps papers, in Bertram’s room too… we ought to secure those, before moving on."

Feb 7, 2025 9:25 pm