~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Renard took a step backwards from the portcullis, placing himself at reach.
He then used his spear and try and open the path for the others.

Renard succeeds in breaking and bending a bar,
then another bar, making a wide-enough gap in the
portcullis to allow all adventurers to pass through.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please look at the map.

Once all the adventurers are together and beyond the now-broken portcullis,
the vastness of the ancient crumbling fortress can be properly appreciated.

Looking around, the majority of the courtyard is empty,
except for an enormous pile of rubble in the center.
This is the remnants of the tower of the Ghost Tower.

However, the walls of the fortress are somewhat intact,
despite having many crumbing holes. At each corner, where
the walls meet, is the remains of a watch-tower. There are
four of these, one at each corner of the fortress. Only
the ground floor remains of each of these four watch-towers,
and each contains a doorway, with closed door.

The adventurers have not moved from their location,
and remain standing just beyond the now-broken portcullis.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please look at the map.

There's no tower, but still a few points of interest ...

The small goblin form jumped at teh newcomer, and placed a hand over his chest. "Damn....don't sneak up on us -  scared the snot outa me." From the goblin, a strange being came from his satchel. The floating copper mass seemed like a shifting ball of moltem goo as it grew eyes

Kryadilk sighed and looked at it.  "Goo! Settle down.  I know, i'm sorry i scared you.  What.....no, just relax." the glob settled it's shifting and he looked at Lux. "Another sword is welcome. Being a bard and minstrel, i assume you hold some magic too."

He placed the empty flasks in his bag. "Kryadilk" He said.

Looking at the opening, he sighed. "Now....who wants to lead into the haunted tower of death?"

Renard nodded to Kryadilk, "I will take point." He began walking toward the crumbled tower.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~
~ Please look at the map.
~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Renard begins walking towards the enormous pile of rubble.
After only a few seconds of walking, he notices movement ...

Two huge snakes writhe across the rocky surface of the enormous pile of rubble.

To his right (to the north of the courtyard / map) Renard also
notices a third huge snake slowly writhing it's way down into
the courtyard from one of the crumbing gaps in the fortress wall.

At this moment, Renard believes that none of
the three snakes he has spotted has spotted him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~ On the map the grid is 10', so multiple adventurers
~ can fit inside one square, neatly packed together.

~ The snakes are 20' x 20' on the grid. That's big.

~ The adventurers have a little bit of time here to do whatever they like ...
~ ... but unless the adventurers leave the area, the snakes are sure to notice
~ them soon, and initiative will be rolled and combat begun. Likewise, if any
~ adventurer does anything aggressive, or moves towards the snakes, then we
~ should also roll initiative.

Kryadilk follows the human, close to Matrim, knowing that should danger come, he will be the first to engage. When he points out the snakes.....BIG snakes, he takes a gulp, and removes a small flask, one of many he has with a clear fluid containing a slight orange tinge.

"If we have to fight them, not all at the same time - one of them could swallow me whole!"

Matrim watches the newcomer warily, letting his silence hang in the air. Once Renard and Kryadilk give their assent, Matrim will give a slight nod in agreement, but will watch the minstrel.

Once inside of the haunted tower, and seeing the snakes, Matrim will quietly whisper "We could use the portcullis as a choke-point. I can bellow and we retreat, using the small hole as a way to keep their numbers from overwhelming us."

"Agreed" Renard said as he made his way backwards.

Kryadilk nodded and moved back. "You get trhem over here, and i have a few tricks that will hurt them - acid, poison. It will slow them down at least while you....well, hit them flat."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Feel free to propose a very specific plan.

Something like this is best :

~     We all stand ??? and wait while ??? does ???.
~     ??? will make the first move, to attract the
~     attention of the snakes.

If the plan can occur without initiative rolls,
then the adventurers will put the plan into action.

Otherwise, we'll roll initiative
to determine an order of events.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

When the majority of the party seemed to give at least passing consent to allow him to join, Lux let out a small breath of relief, glad he didn't have to go back empty handed. "Sorry, friend. I did my best," he apologized to the goblin with a charming smile, before moving up to inspect the situation with them.

Spotting the snakes, he slightly hesitated before speaking up as they stepped back. "I can occupy one," he offered. "I have a spell that will keep one confused. Though, how many are we dealing with? Is it only three? Seems like a relatively small den of snakes... even giant snakes..." As he spoke, his gaze rolled slowly around, looking for other signs of unwelcome slithering guardians of the tower that perhaps they could not see as well.

(Luxem rolled 9 using 1d20+6 ((3)).)

The goblin looked at the human. "i'm an alchemist - most of my bottles here are designed to hurt or heal.  Some can slow them down - this blue goob explodes with sticky tendrils....imitates the effects of a spider web.  Another is slippery like oil.  Another is a dust that lights up once it hits the air.  Everything else is either fire, acid or poison."

He looks at the places with a little fear.

---

<OOC: Kryadilk rolled 13 using 1d20+4.  perception check.>
This message was last edited by the player at 11:02, Sun 23 Oct 2022.

Renard backed away slowly being wary for further danger.

08:40, Today: Renard rolled 8 using 1d20+6.  Perception

"Confusing one should help our odds. I like it." Matrim says to the new minstrel.

"Lets hope ol' Rusty here can stand up to these snakes. Otherwise this will probably devolve into a fight for your life kind of melee." Matrim gives a grin of anticipation as he ends the statement.

Matrim keeps an eye on his ever growing list of friends. Once they back behind the choke-point, Matrim will make some noise by throwing a rock in the general direction of the snakes, then bellowing at them. Matrim will step back behind the hole they made in the portcullis, ready to swing at the first snake to enter his range.

Ok, it looks like a plan has formed.

Final preparations before the fight :

Anyone who has not, please :
- make a perception roll,
  ( if you have already done one, that's it )
- make an initiative roll,
- declare where you want to stand,
- declare your first round movement / actions / etc,
 - can include if/or ...
  ( ... if Matrim does this, i do that, otherwise, i do this other thing ... )

Once everyone has done that,
we'll see how round one turns out.

Welcome to the Ghost Tower of Inverness.
( the rubble is the tower, ok )

Renard put up a hand, "Hold a moment." He was thoughtful, "I could make us all a bit heartier or," ((Aid spell)), "or I could make one of us about twice their size." He looks squarely at Matrim when he said that.

"Either will require my focus, so I can't do both. The other best alternative is to curse them, and so long as the magic takes hold, they will have a much more difficult time with this fight. I leave the choice to you all." ((Bane))

---------------

Depending on which is picked he will cast and make that his concentration spell. Bane will need to be his first round action if it is chosen, if not then his first action will be Thunderwave.

17:53, Today: Renard rolled 16 using 1d20+4.  Initiative
This message was last edited by the player at 21:54, Sun 23 Oct 2022.

"Personally, I'd say a bigger man shaped door is preferable. If you can keep them at bay, I think between the goblin and I, we can handle any injury that comes our way." He nodded to first the goliath, and then the goblin. He liked this new group better already. Strategy was your friend, after all. He was happy to see it put to use.

He reached back and pulled his lute from his back, strumming his slender fingers easily along the strings, causing a music scale to softly hum in the air, his equivalent of swishing a sword.

---

16:26, Today: Luxem rolled 9 using 1d20+4 ((5)).

Preparing to cast Phantasmal Force on one of the snakes farthest away from the fighting.

<OOC: Kryadilk rolled 12 using 1d20+2.  iniative.>

Kryadilk moved behind the warriors, staying close to the portcullis, but reached into his pouch and fiddled around with a flask, tipping some liquid and powder in.  The liquid turned a odd purple color. he frowned and put that in a side pouch.  Then he grabbed as small, crystalline flasks, ready for what came.

He looked at the newcommer and his options. "If either, i'd rather they had a harder time hitting us, than us being stronger. Matrim is already big enough for those snakes to look like worms to him."

---

<ooc: Preparation - Use Experimental elixir

Kryadilk rolled 6 using 1d6.  experimental elixir.

Prepare to cast firebolt>

Bhelmyr welcomes the newcomer, than puts in his two cents. "If the snakes can slither over the walls, they'll get past Matrim, no matter how big you make him. Might be better to curse them, instead."

---

Bhelmyr will stand behind Matrim. He will cast Spiritual Weapon (an axe, as usual.) If two or more snakes stand close enough together, he will cast fireball, carefull not to hit Matrim or the crumbling structures between the snakes and his party. If the snakes are far apart, he will cast magic missile.

19:51, Today: Bhelmyr Godstouched rolled 16 using 1d20-1.  perception.

19:51, Today: Bhelmyr Godstouched rolled 7 using 1d20+2.  initiative.

19:52, Today: Bhelmyr Godstouched rolled 11 using 3d3+3.  magic missile, lvl 1.

19:52, Today: Bhelmyr Godstouched rolled 26 using 8d6.  fireball Dex DC 15.

19:54, Today: Bhelmyr Godstouched rolled 24,4 using 1d20+7,1d8+3.  spiritual weapon attack, damage.

Matrim pauses a moment, a considering look on his face. He sighs, and says "Bhelmyr is right. As much as I would enjoy being twice my size, cursing them would be the better option in this battle. Another time, Renard."

Matrim's first round will consist of yelling at the snakes to get their attention once everyone has gotten behind him or the portcullis, then taking the Dodge action and standing his ground.


Initiative roll: Matrim Rogthor rolled 11 using 1d20+2
Action: Dodge

Myra kept at the back of the group silent but ever watchful. It still pained her to have already lost a friend and going into another dangerous place, well it just didn't seem worth losing another ally, but that didn't mean she would abandon her comrades when they chose to continue on. She would do everything in her power to keep from losing another friend... anything...

---

20:24, Today: Myra Highbrow rolled 10 using 1d20+8.  Perception roll.

20:25, Today: Myra Highbrow rolled 13 using 1d20+4.  Initiative.

Myra stays hidden at the back of the group behind whichever character stays the farthest back and can be hid behind by Myra.

Bonus Action:
20:28, Today: Myra Highbrow rolled 23 using 1d20+7.  Stealth Check.

Hold Attack (With +1 bow and +1 arrow) until the first snake that isn't confused and is within range attacks an ally:

20:32, Today: Myra Highbrow rolled 16 using 2d20+9, dropping the lowest dice only.  Attack roll w/ Advantage.
20:33, Today: Myra Highbrow rolled 11 using 1d6+8.  Damage roll.
20:34, Today: Myra Highbrow rolled 7 using 3d6.  Sneak Attack Damage roll.

Movement:
None

GHOST TOWER OF INVERNESS
Adventurers versus the snakes in the courtyard.
ROUND 1
-----------------------
DM rolled 5 using 1d20+2. snake initiative
-----------------------
Renard
Myra
Kryadilk
Matrim
Luxem
Bhelmyr
snakes
-----------------------

The adventurers do not move any closer towards
the snakes, but rather form themselves into a
defensive position near the portcullis they
recently forced their way through.

With weapons and spells at the ready, the
adventurers watch the two snakes on the
massive pile of rubble, and the third snake
further away to the north, near the far
northern wall.

The adventurers wait a few moments. As was
certain, their presence is detected by one
of the snakes on the rubble, who begins to
slide towards the adventurers. It's nearby
comrade notices the movement and follows,
soon also catching scent of the food ...

Renard watches the two snakes slither closer,
(while keeping an eye on the third snake further away)
and when they are just close enough,
he casts bane over the two snakes.
DM rolled 3 using 1d20-4. snake CHA save. fail
DM rolled 15 using 1d20-4. snake CHA save. fail
Renard feels the spell take hold of both
snake minds as he begins his concentration.
(Both snakes now have bane effect upon them.)

Myra moves to hide behind Matrim, who has
already begun to move to the front of the
group. From behind and between Matrim's legs,
Myra fires an arrow.
Thunk !
The arrow sinks deep into one snake's neck.

Kryadilk also stays behind the larger folk. Unfortunately,
the larger folk do not provide ample covering for both
Myra and Kryadilk, and both adventurers soon find
themselves no longer hiding.

Nevertheless, Kryadilk quickly releases a fire bolt,
sending it towards the nearest snake ...
DM, on behalf of Kryadilk, rolled 11 using 1d20+7. fire bolt versus snake.
... which just barely misses the slithering beast.

Matrim takes action to defend his friends, yelling at
the snakes to get their attention. He takes a few strides
forward, placing himself next to Renard, at the front line.
Matrim readies himself for the incoming attack. (dodge action)

Luxem watches his new friends move into position.
As he does, he strums a tune on his lute ...
DM (rolled 11 -3 = 8) snake INT save. fail
... casting phantasmal force into the second nearby snake's mind.

Planting his feet firmly on the ground,
Bhelmyr first summons forth his faithful spiritual axe,
sending it to attack the nearest snake.
The spiritual axe chops at the snake's neck as Bhelmyr casts
and releases a fireball, engulfing both snakes in flame. BOOM !
DM (rolled 6 -2 = 4)using 1d20+2. snake DEX save. fail
DM (rolled 20 -4 = 16)using 1d20+2. snake DEX save. barely passes

[ The first map details the scene at this moment. ]

Burnt and enraged, both snakes slither in close to Matrim and Renard.

[ The second map details the scene once the fireball ]
[  has cleared and the snakes have slithered closer. ]

The first snake attempts to coil around Matrim and constrict him.
DM rolled 9 using 1d20+6.  snake constrict versus Matrim. miss

The second snake attempts to bite Matrim.
DM rolled 12 using 1d20+6.  snake bite versus Matrim. miss

Matrim successfully dodges both attacks coming his way.
(The dodge-effect of disadvantage on the snake's
 attack rolls effectively saved him here.)

---------------------------------------------

snake 1 : bane, taken 18 damage from Myra, taken 26 damage from Bhelmyr's fireball,
snake 2 : bane, phantasmal force, taken 4 damage from Bhelmyr's spiritual axe, taken 13 damage from Bhelmyr's fireball,
snake 3 : i'm fine !

Luxem, please detail what the Phantasmal Force does.
What does the snake see, etc? If it suffers damage,
that's fine, we can do that now, before round 2.

Everyone please check out the map link, thanks.

final edit : I forgot to apply the bane effect on the snake attack rolls.
             Apologies. They still missed, though.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:07, Thu 03 Nov 2022.

Renard struck out at the first snake as it came into range of his spear.

Reaction attack (Polearm Master)
08:52, Today: Renard rolled 10 using 1d6+5.  Damage.
08:52, Today: Renard rolled 14 using 1d20+8.  Reaction attack.

He struck out again and spun the spear so that the butt end hit.

Action & B/A Attacks
08:54, Today: Renard rolled 3 using 1d6.  Def Flourish (damage and AC bonus).
08:54, Today: Renard rolled 6 using 1d4+5.  damage.
08:54, Today: Renard rolled 26 using 1d20+8.  B/A attack.
08:53, Today: Renard rolled 8 using 1d6+5.  damage.
08:53, Today: Renard rolled 12 using 1d20+8.  Attack (last roll was a mistake).
08:52, Today: Renard rolled 8 using 1d6+5.  Attack.

No Move
End Turn

Kryadilk watched as the two snakes came close, and grabbed a flask, small, orange.  He moved it into his hand and threw it. The crystal shattered and the liquid exploded into a fiery eruption as it made contact with the air.

---

<OOC: Action - Cast firebolt at the northern most snake

Kryadilk rolled 19 using 1d20+7.  attack - firebolt.
Kryadilk rolled 11 using 2d10.  damage - firebolt.

Bonus Action - None>

Having the enemies in range now, Matrim will quickly say to Renard "Do not worry. While my eyes may become glazed, I will recognize you as friend."

Matrim will unleash his RAGE, and swing once at both snakes.


Snake 1:
To Hit: Matrim Rogthor rolled 19
Damage: Matrim Rogthor rolled 14

Snake 2:
To Hit: Matrim Rogthor rolled 20
Damage: Matrim Rogthor rolled 13

Bonus Action: RAGE
Action: Attack
Movement: None

Lux gulped and stepped back a few paces even as his fingers continued to strum at his lute to continue the concentration of his spell. His mind conjured what he wanted the snake to experience, hoping to drive it back or at least distract it enough to give his new allies a reprieve.

From the snakes point of view, a low, maniacal growl rang up from behind it, and a towering great weasel the size of a bear reared up to hiss at it, eyes gleaming in the dark. The natural predator and killer of snakes, the great mongoose slashed out at the snake to strike it, so fast the snake barely had time to react to the harsh bite it received.

"Foul creatures, you're lucky you're too ugly to skin for boots," he snapped as he flourished on his lute, and kept moving back so he was just within range of his new allies.

--

Snake 2 is affected by Phantasmal Force to perceive a gigantic mongoose attacking it from the east side.

Luxem uses Vicious Mockery (Action) against Snake 1. Snake 1 must succeed at a Wis 16 save or take 8 psychic damage (01:00, Today: Luxem rolled 8 using 2d4 ((4,4)).)

Luxem expends a use of Bardic Inspiration to use Mantle of Inspiration (bonus action). 8 temporary HP to all of his new friends, and they can also immediately use their reaction to move up to their walking speed without provoking attacks of opportunity.)
This message was last edited by the player at 07:09, Mon 07 Nov 2022.