Kestrel
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Posts: 319
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Post by Kestrel on May 5, 2019 6:27:49 GMT
Though the weathered plank creaks, groans, and splinters, Crucible does make it safely across to the stone pillar at the center of the gorge. There, the light from his shield indeed illuminates the far ledge.
In front of Juliette stands a small, ragged gnome-like creature. Hunched back, sinewy limbs, and a long red cap on its head, the creature grasps a huge and wicked sickle in its gnarled hands. It stamps its iron boots as the light approaches and its red eyes burn with untold amounts of malice. Then, it strikes. Wielding the sickle with surprising speed for both the size of the weapon and the creature, it swings twice at Juliette and then cleaves at the plank beneath her feet.
Attack 1 (Juliette): XJL0zS8y1d20+6
Damage 1: 2d4+4 Slashing
Attack 2 (Juliette): 1d20+6
Damage 2: 2d4+4 Slashing
Attack 3 (Plank): 1d20+6
Damage 3: 2d4+4 Slashing
With the third blow the creature cuts a deep gash into the second of the already fragile makeshift bridges. The wood splinters, groans, and then snaps altogether as the semi-rotten and mildewed plank starts to disintegrate, bits and pieces falling into the black waters below and taking Juliette along with it.
Another Dex save please Juliette ! I'm also open to other actions if you have any ideas, but the makeshift bridge is rapidly falling away underneath you. 1d20+6·2d4+4·1d20+6·2d4+4·1d20+6·2d4+4
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Post by Juliette on May 5, 2019 12:10:50 GMT
Dex save: zH0_xlnl1d20+31d20+3
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Kestrel
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Post by Kestrel on May 5, 2019 17:11:03 GMT
The sinewy gnome-like creature wheezes what could have been an attempt at a laugh as the plank crumbles underneath Juliette, but then it gnashes its teeth and stomps its iron boots some more as the paladin, ever fast on her feet, leaps from the makeshift bridge and onto the opposing ledge unharmed.
It's not 3personal5me 's turn!
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Post by 3personal5me on May 5, 2019 18:25:43 GMT
Crucible would sigh, if he could. The gap was atleast fifteen feet. He contemplated the jump as he slipped his mace back through the loop on his belt. While he considered himself athletic, he wasn't sure he could make the jump. If he managed to grab the ledge, he would have to hope the old stone didn't crumble, or was slippery, or a dozen other things that could go wrong. He took a deep breath, grabbed the plank behind him, and heaved it over to make a new bridge.
The jump was a bad idea anyway.
He may not be able to cross yet, but he wasn't going to waste time once he could.
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Post by Juliette on May 5, 2019 19:18:51 GMT
(Pre-rolling the attack; bonus action to add Hunter's Mark)
To-Hit: OLEU_8g91d20+5 If Hit, Damage: 2d6+31d20+5·2d6+3
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Post by Juliette on May 5, 2019 19:28:58 GMT
Juliette leapt from the crumbling plank with little care for sense or reason. She knew nothing about what lay beyond. She could be cutting herself off with an army of enemies before her for all she knew; and yet, that was unimportant. The only important thing in all of this was the eradication of the souls responsible for the blasphemy she had witnessed.
She came to a halt before the tiny creature, and the disgust in her gaze was clear. A foul, tiny abomination wielding some oversized implement of violence. Not a weapon; just a sharp hunk of metal crudely fashioned, to her gaze, into a mockery of the arms that civilised souls wielded. Iron-shod boots and a red cap, was it?
“Frustrated, are you?” She snarled, and as she spoke, black tendrils coiled from his shadow, snaring and piercing into the creature’s own as she focused her divine fury upon it. The mark of her Goddess branded itself into the unfortunate soul’s shadow, and the sneer on her lips could not be more satisfied.
“Know this, wretch. There shall be no mercy for you. No succour. You are judged, and found wanting.”
One blade flashed out, knocking aside the sickle, before she drove the second down and into the monster’s chest. Her shadow, naturally, mirrored the motion – and as it did, the shadow was torn and ripped in turn with the flesh, Shar’s chosen instrument of vengeance carving a thick ruin into the monster’s flesh.
The cramped conditions prohibited her making way for Crucible, which was frustrating, but she would not back down now that she had a target within arm’s reach of her blades. It was only in these moments of righteous slaughter that she found anything like satisfaction. They had already been down here a painfully long time, they would need to pick up the pace if they had a hope of finding the kidnapped victim whole – even if that was a secondary concern for her.
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Kestrel
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Posts: 319
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Post by Kestrel on May 5, 2019 19:50:13 GMT
The creature's beady red eyes followed the shadows as they swarmed around it but, if it was concerned or afraid or simply more angry, it was hard to tell. Its face was twisted into an eternal scowl. It did gnash its teeth and let out a frenzied howl, though, as Juliette's blade found purchase on its gnarled flesh. The black stain of some blood soon mirrored the black shadows wrapped around the gnome-like creature's filthy tunic. It stamped its feet, thrashed its arms, and howled some more, and then suddenly lunged at the paladin with the flat of its sickle.
Strength (athletics) check: 7gtZ6QMx1d20+6
With a heave the creature pushed Juliette back 5 feet. However, thanks to Crucible, the paladin would find herself not falling into the darkness but simply stumbling back onto the placed wooden plank. The creature then howled one third, final time and ran back away from the ledge, moving into the blackness of the corridor and seeming to dart into a side passage.
Due to my unfortunate mistake the initiative order is a little switched around, but we'll stick with 3personal5me being next! 1d20+6
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Post by Juliette on May 5, 2019 21:10:53 GMT
”COWARD!”
Juliette’s voice chased the fleeing monster as she recovered from the momentary shove off-balance. She paused to look over her shoulder, checking that Crucible was still there – which, of course, with the light, he was. It took her a long moment, and then –
She reined in her anger.
She was being everything she despised in the less dedicated. She was being impulsive. Irrational. As certain as she might be that the darkness would ultimately serve to bring about the downfall of these pathetic creatures, she could not allow herself to be drawn into their territory.
She had seen the result too many times. She had watched what happened to heroes in the Shadowfell. Those who trusted only in righteousness to see them through made the bellies of ravens fat soon enough.
She stepped to the side, and stowed her blades, drawing her crossbow again.
“You first.” She said, to Crucible, and – saying it, clearly rankled her, but there it was. “I have marked the blasphemy’s soul. If you serve as a light, I can follow its trail, and between us, we can put an end to this charade.”
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Post by 3personal5me on May 5, 2019 21:32:01 GMT
He nodded, agreeing with her decision. For how passionate she was, Crucible was surprised how clear headed she remained. With some awkward positioning, the two managed to switch places. "I will defend us, and the Light of Moradin shall escort us into the heart of the darkness. I trust you will finish the job when we get there". His shield held before him, both spotlight and defense, he began to advance down the hallway.
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Kestrel
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Posts: 319
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Post by Kestrel on May 5, 2019 22:06:27 GMT
After reorienting themselves within the narrow tomb passageway and completing the gorge crossing in full, both Juliette and Crucible head south into the darkness from whence the gnome-like creature came. It is nowhere to be seen. The light from Crucible's shield, however, reveals two different passageways heading to the east. The first is narrow and low to the ground, like a crawlspace in the tomb or an old drainage system, and its inner depths are shadowed as the low overhanging wall blocks most of the shield light. The second is a sharp curve at the very end of the main passageway.
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Post by Juliette on May 6, 2019 5:23:08 GMT
Pre-rolling survival check: K4cSQSwt1d20 or 1d201d20·1d20
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Kestrel
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Icon by @ArtByRue on Twitter!
Posts: 319
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Post by Kestrel on May 6, 2019 20:45:45 GMT
Feeling the pull and ebb of her Hunter's Mark and well versed in tracking the more sinister creatures of the world, Juliette can discern that the gnome-like creature has, indeed, fled into the smaller of the two passageways. The dust near to the passageway entrance has been disturbed by a pair of large, heavy boots, and a small trickle of black blood lies pooled just within the light of Crucible's shield.
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Post by Juliette on May 6, 2019 21:03:14 GMT
Pre-rolling: VdbVwWky1d20+5 or 1d20+5
Damage: 1d12+31d20+5·1d20+5·1d12+3
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Post by Juliette on May 6, 2019 21:07:01 GMT
"Here."
Juliette knelt at the smaller corridor, and sighted down into the darkness. Disgusted as she was with the creature, she didn't doubt for a moment that it was dangerous. Only very stupid people failed to recognise the danger posed by the monsters that they hunted, and whilst she doubted that a gnome with a barbaric sickle would be her end, she wasn't going to take any chances.
The recoil on her crossbow bucked against her arm and made her hiss, but the weapon unleashed its deadly payload in a straight shot down the corridor. In the very next instant she was drawing out a second bolt, slotting it neatly into place, and using the lever to draw the massive weapon back into readiness.
"Be on your guard." She murmured. "Fire may be the next best option. I do not relish the thought of following it into its lair."
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Post by 3personal5me on May 7, 2019 4:39:42 GMT
"Fire may not be enough for this one", he replied as he returned to walking. "Perhaps a bolt of divine energy shall destroy him". He was quite fond of the Guiding Bolt spell. The power of Moradin, distilled into a projectile. The fact that it made your foe easier to see certainly was helpful. "While I remain optimistic, I feel it necessary to point out that I have a gut feeling. And that gut feeling is that we may need to keep some extra firepower in reserve".
This creature was more fearsome than a zombie, yes. But it was unlikely such a creature was behind everything else here. And he would be remissed if he was caught by surprise without an ace up his sleeve.
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