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Post by Kai Wren on May 7, 2020 6:44:50 GMT
Caravan work was boring work, as a rule, but it was also steady work. There was, commonly, little danger in it and the route between Waterdeep and Neverwinter always needed people to help walk it. Though the Lords Alliance kept the roadways as safe as possible, there was always the chance that something unexpected might happen – and there wasn’t a merchant anywhere in Faerun who didn’t feel better to have some hired muscle by their side. The gnomish woman, Keralinis Sparkcandle who has employed Echo, Miri and Umbrae is a cheerful sort, at least. Bright-haired and brighter-eyed, she has made her new employees feel like friends more than hired hands. Her caravan is currently empty; she has finished selling her wares in Waterdeep and, pocket filled with coin, she is heading back to her workshop in Neverwinter to prepare the next set of wonders, about which she has talked excitedly. A self-filling beer keg! Blankets that warm themselves in winter! Lumps of metal that can be made to attract arrows and bolts from bandits in the wilds! Truly, she has countless ideas for innovations that could make life that little bit better and safer for the populace. Unfortunately, from the way she talks, she has to spend most of her time making water-clocks and other simple, popular pieces just to cover the rent and dues to her guild. But, isn’t that always the trial of the artificer? The sun is high in the sky on the next leg of their journey, illuminating the wending trail through the rolling hills and picturesque countryside that makes up most of this part of Faerun. It is a pleasant day, and Keralinis has been chattering away discussing the intricacies involved in making a watch that could automatically determine the time of day as its bearer travelled across the length and breadth of the world, when quite suddenly there is an almighty CRASH from a hill up ahead. Before them, an enormous boulder rolls down the side of the hill, to smash into the road below and settle as an obstruction. That seems to attract Keralinis’ attention, and stop her mid-stream of thought. “Oh my.” She says, adjusting her goggles. The boulder is still a good fifty feet away, but even so, it seems rather to have taken her by surprise. “I suppose that means we’re about to be ambushed. Dear me. It’s going to take hours to move that thing once you are done with them.” (Wordcount 412 - You may feel free to enter with an action - moralhazard Jarovbees Kestrel ) |
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Kestrel
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Post by Kestrel on May 7, 2020 17:40:34 GMT
Really? Huh! No way! That was pretty neat!
Echo grinned, her tail swishing behind her, as she kept stride with the wagon and listened to their boss ramble on and on. Caravan work was not exactly her usual thing – if anything her and Wisp, uh…robbed them – but the wild inventions Sparky was telling them about made up for it. That, and they needed the money. Kinda badly. The tabaxi flicked her ears. At least she could have ended up like her partner! Being hired to clear out some smelly, gross tomb sounded waaaaay worse than this. And she got to learn about a whole bunch of new things, too! Like a beer keg that warmed up its beer and some lumpy metal that self-filled with arrows and silky poults! And something else about a clock that only told you when the rent was due? Odd, but practical, she supposed.
The crowd was not half bad, either!
Other than Sparky herself, there was some lady named Um Bray (Or was she just nervous and called Bray? Huh.) and, same as the last caravan job she took…Miri! Echo guessed this was just a thing now. Which was okay! Hanging out with her was as fun as ever and, really, the whole day had been going by as smooth as anyone could have hoped. Nice weather. Nice road. Nice gigantic boulder rolling towards the-
Echo paused mid-step. Wait. No. That last one was very much not good.
With a harsh crack the boulder rolled down a close hill, smashing into the road and sending up a puff of dust and dirt and a spray of pebbles and sharp chipped rock that, thankfully, scattered around a good distance away. Definitely weird. Sparky, cut off by the sudden intrusion, seemed to agree as she mentioned an ambush. The thief loudly sighed.
“Ugh. You were, like, just getting to the cool stuff, too!”
Slipping the crossbow off her back, Echo skipped a few feet to the front of the caravan, one hand neatly loading a bolt onto its tiller, and raised the weapon. Like, really! This was such a dumb way to hit a caravan, anyway. All the big bouncy rock did was alert all of them! Amateurs. Orrrrr maybe just big, vicious, screaming orcs or trolls or something.
Um…hopefully the first one.
Squinting, the tabaxi scanned the surrounding countryside. Either way, the first thing that charged, moved, or otherwise twitched in a menacing manner was gonna get a bolt between the eyes.
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Action: Readying an attack against the first thing that possibly comes out!
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Post by moralhazard on May 8, 2020 21:04:58 GMT
“I’m just saying, if you need a volunteer,” Miri said, meandering down the road after Keralinis, “to check whether the quality of the beer worsens over time as the keg continues to refill itself, for a modest fee I’d be happy to make my services available.” Miri grinned, bright white teeth flashing in her face.
It had been a long walk already; guarding a caravan was always the worst of the worst. Every time she finished a trip, Miri promised herself never again; every time she began one, Miri remembered within minutes why she had promised herself never again, and regretted going back on the pledge.
This time, a trip to Neverwinter sounded appealing, after too many months in Waterdeep. A change of sights, Miri had thought, and a change of bars, and maybe a change of criminals. She’d pick up a few bounties, see the sights a bit, get roaring drunk on a different sticky bar stool (and, likely, eventually, a different sticky bar floor) and that, surely, would shake out the cobwebs.
Keralinis had not quite declined her offer, which Miri thought an excellent sign of future collaborations to come. It was hard, really, to listen to every single word that came out of the gnome’s mouth. Miri was pretty sure that Echo hadn’t been listening for at least the last ten minutes in favor of the large blue butterfly flitting along the side of the road, but, then, she could never really tell with the tabaxi.
Yes, Miri thought, caravan jobs were boring; that was, really, the one constant of them.
With the perfect timing that only irony could ever manage, an enormous boulder rolled down a hill not more than fifty feet away from them, scattering dirt and sending a flock of birds startled into the sky.
Miri raised her eyebrows, drawing the first of her two short swords in a limber motion. As Echo went to the front of the caravan, she turned sharply and went to the back. “Why block us in front the from if they don’t mean to come from behind?” Miri asked. She tapped her temple lightly with the hilt of the sword, scanning the woods and road behind them.
Free motion: Miri draws one shortsword
Action: Perception check for woods and road behind them: gviGBk3N1d20+3 1d20+3
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Jarovbees
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Playing: Solstice (Paladin 6)/Umbrae (Sorcerer 1/Warlock 4)/Avren Wands (Rogue 2/Sorcerer 1)
Posts: 706
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Post by Jarovbees on May 8, 2020 22:23:02 GMT
As far as jobs went, Umbrae wasn't one to complain about the current situation. Boredom was rarely her enemy, and she didn't mind the gnome's cheerfulness or chattering. As long as such traits were expected of herself, she was quite content to listen and make a comment here or there out of politeness' sake. The notion of a self-warming blanket actually did seem to pique her genuine interest; such an item would be well-appreciated on these road trips.
The other company was agreeable enough, or at least didn't irritate her enough to quit the job before its end. Miri was already known to her, and though the connection was superficial, it was something of a relief to be familiar with at least one person on the job. The tabaxi Echo seemed her total opposite in many ways, outgoing and energetic to Umbrae's quiet aloofness. She couldn't begin to fathom that kind of outlook, but that wasn't a real issue as long as personal space was respected and all was quiet long enough for some actual rest when it was needed. And in any case, she always had her broom of flying to ditch any conversations she'd rather not continue.
The loud crash made Umbrae jump, startling her out of her own thoughts, and she reached for her broom was the boulder ceased rolling. "Well, this is why we're here. Time to earn our keep...." Noting the courses of action taken by the other two, she straddled her boom and simply ascended upward. As a pure arcane practitioner, Umbrae was not built for close-quarters combat. The more distance she could create for herself, the better. Just in case that wasn't enough, she also cast a spell and spectral frost quickly formed over her clothing, creating a protective shell.
That done, she hovered and waited for any ambushers to reveal themselves. The most dangerous-looking one would be hexed as soon as she was within range. Hopefully that would be enough of an edge for them....
Free motion: Ascending 30 feet on her broom.
Action: Casting Armor of Agathys at 2nd level
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Post by Kai Wren on May 16, 2020 12:41:42 GMT
It doesn’t take long for something to make itself known to Echo’s twitchy gaze. There are some times when such paranoia could be dangerous; she might shoot a bandit or mercenary who could be negotiated with or persuaded off from this course of action. Luckily for her, this is not one of those times.  "] The enormous, lumbering figure hauled itself from the top of the nearby hill, having apparently dropped the boulder down in front to block off the wagon. The creature was a good ten feet tall, and would probably be taller if it straightened itself – though it maintained a habitual slump, its heavy-set brow and bald flesh seeming misshapen, lumpen, even. Glimmering yellow eyes stared down at its prize, and its gaping maw spread in a leering grin, revealing prominent tusks and pointed teeth. Umbrae was able to get a good aerial view pretty quickly. Whilst Miri’s thought was a good one, it looks like the enemies weren’t quite smart enough to set up an ambush in that fashion – or maybe they just didn’t trust their ability to remain hidden on the main road, which seems reasonable. The ogre is certainly not a stealthy combatant, and scurrying from the other side of the road, just ahead of the wagon, are a group of six goblins armed with bows and arrows. Seeing the Aasimar take to the skies, fully half the goblins directed shots in her direction as the others fired in the general direction of the wagon, which caused Keralinis to squeak in shock and duck down to take cover. They were, apparently, intent on providing covering fire for the ogre as he made his way down towards the wagon, dragging an enormous club – really more a tree that had the branches broken from it – along the ground as he stomped towards the wagon with greedy malevolence in his gaze.  (Wordcount: 312/724) (Okay! I have tried to put people where I think it makes sense. Echo can make an attack at the ogre - distance when revealed is going to be approximately 40ft. Everyone else, roll for initiatives!) Ogre Init: Kan_WlST1d20-1Goblin Init: 1d20+2Goblin Attack vs Umbrae 1 1d20+4 / Damage if hit: 1d6+2Goblin Attack vs Umbrae 2 1d20+4 / Damage if hit: 1d6+2Goblin Attack vs Umbrae 3 1d20+4 / Damage if hit: 1d6+21d20-1·1d20+2·1d20+4·1d6+2·1d20+4·1d6+2·1d20+4·1d6+2 |
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Jarovbees
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Playing: Solstice (Paladin 6)/Umbrae (Sorcerer 1/Warlock 4)/Avren Wands (Rogue 2/Sorcerer 1)
Posts: 706
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Post by Jarovbees on May 16, 2020 13:21:43 GMT
Umbrae init: EYAUu|j|1d20+11d20+1
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Post by moralhazard on May 16, 2020 14:50:30 GMT
Miri init: uaQWaxgN1d20+61d20+6
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Kestrel
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Post by Kestrel on May 17, 2020 23:17:35 GMT
Attack: 13t5FNmJ1d20+5
Damage: 1d8+3
Initiative: 1d20+3
1d20+5·1d8+3·1d20+3 |
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Post by Kai Wren on May 20, 2020 19:50:23 GMT
Hey guys! Initiative is as follows: Kestrel Miri Ogre Goblins Umbrae Kestrel you are up! You have hit and harmed the ogre! |
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Kestrel
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Post by Kestrel on May 23, 2020 9:12:12 GMT
Echo yelped, firing her crossbow more by accident than anything as her hand flinched, as a big…fleshy…lumpy…ugly…thing lumbered over the hill and began to make its way down toward the wagon. She squinted. Long pointy yellowed teeth? Even yellower hungry eyes? A hulking, gross body with trunk-like legs that, with each thumping step, kicked up a mini avalanche of dirt and stones and dust? Check, check, aaaaaand…yup, that was a check! Unfortunately. Even from there, the ground beneath Echo’s paws trembled. The tabaxi swallowed as her tail flicked back and forth. Or maybe that was just her knees.
After all, she did just notice the at least Two and a Half Echo’s Tall Tree it was carrying too. Because of course it was!
Echo quickly loaded another bolt into her crossbow. The little horde of screaming, bow-firing goblins that ran up was just the spoiled cream on the bland bakery cake. Luckily (or maybe very, very, very unluckily) her first bolt sailed true through the air and sank into the Thing’s knotted shoulder – the small trickle of blood that came out, really underling the small bit, was at least something. Which was better than nothing! Echo’s ears drooped. Although nothing being on the road would really be much better than this something.
Spinning, the thief then sprinted back and around to the other side of the wagon where Miri was – pausing just long enough to tap the woman on the shoulder, point wildly at the approaching creature, and yell “There’s a bad thing!” almost coherently – and dropped to one knee. Levelling her crossbow, Echo clicked her tongue. This felt a lot like sticking needles into a pin cushion…a pin cushion that was possibly about to squash them all with a big piece of wood, but maybe if she pissed it off enough she could at least lead it away from the wagon. Give her companions a chance to take care of its friends. Looking up at their now flying human (...cool) the tabaxi called out.
“Hey, um, Bray! I dunno what you can really do, but feel free to totally impress us with some super neat magic or something!”
Please? Then, she fired again.
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Move: 30' back and away from the wagon.
Action: Making another light crossbow attack against the ogre~
Attack: lvKj8NJF1d20+6
Damage: 1d8+3
Bonus: Giving Umbrae a Bardic Inspiration die!
1d20+6·1d8+3 |
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Post by moralhazard on May 23, 2020 13:14:16 GMT
Miri scanned through the road behind the cart, deft eyes studying every inch of the landscape and finding precisely nothing. “Maybe it was just an accident,” Miri suggested. Thud. Thud. Swish; thunk; swish swish swish. “Maybe not,” Miri conceded. Short sword still in hand, she turned; Umbrae had gone directly overhead on her broomstick, and Echo, the twitchy tabaxi, was already sprinting straight towards her, squealing something Miri couldn’t make out. That was all right; Miri was pretty sure it had something to do with the enormous ogre carrying what looked like an entire tree, and the tiny trickle of blood oozing down its shoulder. “Selune bless,” Miri pressed her lips to the crescent on her wrist, or rather the sliver of exposed skin near where the crescent would be if she hadn’t been wearing armor, and took off. It wasn’t brave or self-sacrificing in the least; rather, if they let the ogre close, Miri thought, he would destroy the cart in a heartbeat, and she wouldn’t get paid. And that, Miri felt, would suck. It would suck a LOT. Miri ran full out, chanting the words for her booming blade spell as she went. When she had closed the distance, she bravely struck! And then promptly repeated back and away, into the woods. She was trying to draw the thing off, not be flattened or turned into a pincushion.
HP: 34/34 Movement: 60 ft (includes dash), diagonally towards the ogre and then back into the woods Action: Booming blade! Short sword strike at ogre: eEOOd0lu1d20+5If successful, damage: 1d6+3If successful, sneak attack (Swashbuckler): 3d6If successful, extra booming blade (thunder) damage: 1d8Bonus action: Dash  1d20+5·1d6+3·3d6·1d8 |
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Post by Kai Wren on May 28, 2020 11:09:28 GMT
Ogre attack: 2|HwJq__1d20+6 / 2d8+4
Goblin attacks vs Umbrae:
1: 1d20+4 / 1d6+2
2: 1d20+4 / 1d6+2
3: 1d20+4 / 1d6+2
4: 1d20+4 / 1d6+2
5: 1d20+4 / 1d6+2
6: 1d20+4 / 1d6+21d20+6·2d8+4·1d20+4·1d6+2·1d20+4·1d6+2·1d20+4·1d6+2·1d20+4·1d6+2·1d20+4·1d6+2·1d20+4·1d6+2
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Post by Kai Wren on May 28, 2020 11:12:58 GMT
The barrage of attacks have the ogre reeling. A second crossbow bolt joins the first, and before he can even begin to start smashing his way towards the source of his pain, Miri has darted in and thrust her blade deep into the monster’s side. Big and unwieldy as he is, it is easy for Miri to land the blow, but difficult to tell precisely how effective that actually was. The brute’s roar was a match for the explosive boom of magical power which thundered through the area as he stomped after the fleeing rogue; she, at least, was theoretically within his reach. Miri’s attempt to draw the ogre’s attention was completely successful; the massive trunk he was using as a weapon smashes into the trees that the rogue was hoping to use for shelter. Thankfully, whilst there is a great splintering and shattering of wood, the massive club fails to make contact with her – which is definitely good news, because it seems like the ogre has murder in his eyes! With no other immediately obvious target – both Echo and their employer have retreated pretty successfully – the goblins unleash a more focused wave of arrows directly at Umbrae, though she is able to avoid the majority of the incoming danger – just one arrow amongst the half-dozen finding its home! ( Jarovbees you are up – Ogre has moved to the edge of the forest, the goblins haven’t moved because I am lazy) |
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Post by moralhazard on May 28, 2020 14:06:52 GMT
Extra booming blade (thunder) damage from the ogre’s movement: s7ii6Bic2d82d8
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Jarovbees
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Playing: Solstice (Paladin 6)/Umbrae (Sorcerer 1/Warlock 4)/Avren Wands (Rogue 2/Sorcerer 1)
Posts: 706
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Post by Jarovbees on May 28, 2020 15:11:50 GMT
The one arrow that got close enough to Umbrae was met with a quick gesture and uttered word, prompting an invisible barrier of magic to appear and deflect it at the last moment. She knew just how fortunate she had been to avoid the rest, though, and decided to focus on the goblin numbers in hopes of whittling them down somewhat. If she gave them a taste of the arcane power at her fingertips, those surviving might flee. Then she would be free to assist Echo and Miri more directly; that was less of a possibility while being pelted with so many arrows, after all.
Bolstered by Echo's support (and that nice bit of crossbow work), Umbrae renewed her spellcasting, settling a hex on the nearest goblin before unleashing her blasts of eldritch energy. One streaked toward the hexed goblin, the other at his nearest companion. Right afterward, she guided her broom away to the other side of the road in hopes of getting out of the range of their arrows while still keeping then within her own blast range.
Reaction: Shield (AC 20 until next turn)
Bonus Action: Hex on one goblin
Action: Eldritch Blast at the nearest two goblins
wJhQ_3Qq1d20+8 1d20+8
If hit: 1d10+4 1d6 for the hexed one/1d10+4
Movement: Flying 50' northwest away from the goblins, but keeping the ogre within range too. 1d20+8·1d20+8·1d10+4·1d6·1d10+4
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