Episode 1: Pradesh
Leaving some space here for anyone else to interject if they wish. Tomorrow I'll post Aishwarya's response to Valrakas.
If this goes bad, Urban asks to himself, who will be in the fight?
He does an equipment check. Tankards. Plates. A few of the plates are metal it seems. Stools. Not bad, Urban thinks silently. But he still looks around for what might be better. Just in case.
Aishwarya will talk this out though. She's a really smart girl. Who could say no to her anyway? Ha! And the minotaur, seems like a reasonable guy. Animal. Or.. Animal..guy. Urban reflects, confidently. Everyone wants to make a deal.
No need to worry. Urban thinks, as he eyes the heavy-handled ash shovel at the nearby fireplace.
Negotiation of prices?
Are you kidding me?
Bah, haggling over prices... is there nothing left in anyone's veins other than gold?
He grabs two heavy pewter tankards off a serving wench's tray and slams them down on the table, ale suds tumbling over the lip. He roars over the crowd at the minotaur.
Let us show them what it is to live with blood in our veins!
Baracus raises the tankard and consumes it in one gulp, leaving the challenge on the table.
Rolls
d20 roll - (1d20)
(6) = 6
Drinking Contest Mechanics
You can take as many drinks equal to twice your CON modifier before you get drunk and have to make CON saves. You roll a CON save for each drink you take over your drinking limit. The DC is 10 + (the number of drinks you are over your limit). Each failed save (up to 3 failures) gives you a level of Exhaustion. On the fourth failed save you pass out.
Rolls
CON saves - (1d20+6, 1d20+6, 1d20+6, 1d20+6, 1d20+6, 1d20+6, 1d20+6)
1d20+6 : (3) + 6 = 9
1d20+6 : (11) + 6 = 17
1d20+6 : (3) + 6 = 9
1d20+6 : (17) + 6 = 23
1d20+6 : (3) + 6 = 9
1d20+6 : (4) + 6 = 10
1d20+6 : (17) + 6 = 23
Rolls
Drinking! - (1d20+6, 1d20+6, 1d20+6, 1d20+6, 1d20+6, 1d20)
1d20+6 : (3) + 6 = 9
1d20+6 : (3) + 6 = 9
1d20+6 : (5) + 6 = 11
1d20+6 : (3) + 6 = 9
1d20+6 : (14) + 6 = 20
1d20 : (11) = 11
"HAR! Tha's wha' I like about ye lass: feisty!" Valrakas laughs, slamming a fist onto the table. The crafty pirate eyes Urban sizing him up. "An' ye always did surround yeself wit' th' prettiest poppets...these be th' prettiest yet! Why, this one's e'en been cuttin' dolls' clothes out o' his pants! HAR!"
Aishwarya moves astonishingly fast, and in a heartbeat has a slender curved knife pressed against the minotaur's throat. "Accept the contract or don't. But don't you dare insult my friends!"
As this thing starts to escalate Urban can sense the three guys that were sitting with Valrakas when you arrived, now hovering in the periphery of the establishment, readying themselves.
"Whoa easy, lass. No needs fer things t' get ugly like. Ease up, I'll sign yer contract. Aye, bring it 'round tomorrow an' I'll put ink t' it." As Aishwarya withdraws the knife, Valrakas smiles. "Jus' one last thing t' seal th' deal, put our signatures t' this agreement." With a wink he tosses a half-full bottle of rum over his shoulder...right onto the brawniest, ugliest of a table of dwarves behind him. On cue, Valrakas' three cronies smack fists, bottles, bar stools over the heads of the nearest sonuvabitch, and the entire tavern erupts in a full on brawl.
Valrakas springs from his seat and turns his back on you. Is it to charge the oncoming dwarves, or to shield Aishwarya from them?
The party has initiative. Go.
Battlefield features:
You name it! This place is packed with everything you'd expect to find in a bar, most of which can be used as makeshift cover, shields, or weapons: plates, cutlery, tables, chairs, wine bottles, beer kegs, peg legs, gnomes and halflings (that aren't Erden and Ybus), the ash shovel Urban noticed, the fireplace. There's even a low chandelier to swing from.
Then, to his friends, "Help me get the lady out of here!"
After he's done speaking, he begins casting a spell, placing it to affect as many as possible that are blocking their path to the exit.
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 90 feet
Components: V, S, M (a pinch of fine sand, rose petals, or a cricket)
Duration: 1 minute
This spell sends creatures into a magical slumber. Roll 5d8; the total is how many hit points of creatures this spell can affect. Creatures within 20 feet of a point you choose within range are affected in ascending order of their current hit points (ignoring unconscious creatures).
Starting with the creature that has the lowest current hit points, each creature affected by this spell falls unconscious until the spell ends, the sleeper takes damage, or someone uses an action to shake or slap the sleeper awake. Subtract each creature’s hit points from the total before moving on to the creature with the next lowest hit points. A creature’s hit points must be equal to or less than the remaining total for that creature to be affected.
Undead and creatures immune to being charmed aren’t affected by this spell.
At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, roll an additional 2d8 for each slot level above 1st.
HD: 2/2
AC: 12
Spell Slots | 1: 2/4 | 2: 1/2
Rolls
Sleep as Level 2 - (7d8)
(3374661) = 30
Grabbing a flagon, the halfling tries to clamber onto the countertop.
Rolls
Athletics - (1d20+4)
(18) + 4 = 22
Ybus clambers onto the bar top and gets a view of the entire brawl. He finds Aditya huddled behind the counter.
Valrakas and his boys have formed up defensively around Aishwarya, fighting off anyone who comes too near. Taking the cue from Erden, they join your group moving slowly towards the rear. The minotaur is laughing maniacally. Somehow the band is still playing.
Rolls
Attack, Improvised Weapon - (1d20+6)
(9) + 6 = 15
Damage - (1d4+6)
(1) + 6 = 7
STR Athletics Check as Grapple Attempt (If Attack above is a hit) - (1d20+6)
(12) + 6 = 18
Valrakas' horn tips glow and throw sparks, and forked lightning stabs down on the burly Kortellan fool enough to have stood in the minotaur's way. He hooks his horn under another fellow's armpit and with a powerful sweep of his great head sends the man flying across the room.
A tattooed dwarf tries to grab for Aishwarya but is served a knuckle sandwich by Hob, the Kestrel's halfling cook. Nearby, a drunken half-orc gets his nose broken by Valrakas' first mate, a smirking man named Harrison, and takes a kick in the nuts from Rufio, the young deck hand.
Aishwarya herself isn't content to stay within your protective cordon. She darts forward here and there lashing out with kicks and fists at any whoreson that peeks through the gaps.
Rolls
Intimidate - (1d20+2)
(9) + 2 = 11
Rolls
Opposed Intimidation - (1d20)
(18) = 18
Athletics: Shove back attempt - (1d20+2)
(5) + 2 = 7
So be it.
Rolls
Athletics - (1d20+6)
(2) + 6 = 8
The team has been having a highly eventful day starting with the morning rescue of their latest employer, a Pradeshi spice merchant named Aditya, from the hands of his competition cum would-be murderers. From the chili farm they travel by wagon to the wondrous city of Pradesh where the Dasai Festival is in full swing. A chance encounter enables Baracus, Rydler & Erden to rescue a child goddess from the clutches of a demon and his minions, while Urban and Ybus make the acquaintance of Aditya's lovely cousin Aishwarya and their formidable Aunties. Plans are made for the next day: return the Golden Child to her home temple and then escort Aishwarya when she meets with the pirate captain Valrakas Copperhorn, but the meeting comes early when the team comes across the minotaur captain just after midnight in a seedy dockside tavern. Business negotiations are concluded favorably between Valrakas and Ash, whereupon the minotaur and his men start a tavern brawl to celebrate.
Brawl at the Scum & Villainy Tavern
Round 1
Erde's sleep spell downs half a dozen drunken brawlers, partially clearing the way to the rear exit, where he directs the good guys, who have formed up defensively around Aishwarya.
Dancing a jig atop the bar to the tune of the band's music, Ybus finds Aditya huddled behind the counter.
Urban wreaks havoc with an ash shovel grabbed from the fireplace, while Valrakas and his boys bust skulls and nuts. Ash is no slouch either, displaying mad skills with punches, kicks, and her jeweled knife.
Baracus is confronted by a goliath woman intent on proving herself against the biggest mofo in the room. She tries to shove him back, but the half-orc stands his ground and doesn't budge an inch.
Rydler casts protective spells on his friends and on the minotaur captain. fights in tandem with Urban.
Behind you, a tangle of brawlers come crashing down from the upper floor.
Out front, horn blasts and commanding yells signal that the city guard are about to lay down the law.
Front and rear exits are now 60ft and 35ft away respectively through difficult terrain.
Battlefield features:
You name it! This place is packed with everything you'd expect to find in a bar, most of which can be used as makeshift cover, shields, or weapons: plates, cutlery, tables, chairs, wine bottles, beer kegs, peg legs, gnomes and halflings (that aren't Erden and Ybus). There's even a low chandelier to swing from.
Rolls
Kicking Snacks (Dexterity)! - (1d20+1)
(4) + 1 = 5