Nicolai has seen many stalks ended prematurely (and ended a few himself) through the target's sudden awareness of eyes upon him.  The secret to not being seen, as best he's been able to determine, is to not see.  So he sinks behind a rock and lets his eyes unfocus, not staring at anything in particular, keeping the guards in his peripheral vision where any movement will be immediately obvious.  Not coincidentally, Amaldaris is also in his peripheral vision...

Amaldaris and I can probably rush them, but they're not in a good position for an ambush, he sends to Corros.  I can't guarantee they won't get off a warning.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:59, Tue 05 June 2018.

"Let's see if we can draw them toward us.  I'll hit 'em with eau de mephitidae," Ulfgar said with a grin.  He adjusted his gear and once satisfied that any extra ratting bits were tightened or tucked away, he started to creep forward slowly and carefully, evaluating each footfall before placing it.

Ulfgar Frostbeard
Moving stealthily toward the drow (1/2 speed or less)
Casting Druidcraft (making a skunk smell), centered on the one furthest back.

Nicolai mentally translates Ulfgar's archaic phrasing, sends a wordless chuckle down Corros' link, and flows forward a half-dozen paces behind the skin-dancer.  He's never been an advocate of fair fights and opening this one with a skunk-bomb appeals to his sense of unfair play.  Even better, he's experienced that particular unpleasantry before - the Throne's Reach had its own contingent of ulfskennar who were fond of it as a less-lethal mechanism.  So he's well aware that the sentries won't be able to sound an alarm for a few brief moments, which is all the time he and his associates should need.

Nicolai
Moving stealthily forward, 20 feet behind Ulfgar
Preparing to commit a stabbing

With the others waiting, ready to spring an ambush if the ruse works, Ulfgar advances as stealthily as possible, until he can see the Drow guards' pale hair at the foot of the corkscrew tunnel. He begins casting his druidic spell, realizing almost immediately that his whispered incantation is audible to the two sentries. He carries on, nonetheless. The net effect of this action is what the party hoped for. The sentries leave their post to investigate, advancing on the dwarf as an invisible barrier of stench rises behind them. Fortunately, the Drow guards neglect to raise a general alarm. If the party can end this fight quickly and quietly, they may be able to avoid provoking a much bigger one.

OOC: The two Drow guards are advancing towards Ulfgar. Nic acts first; after that, it's first-come first-served; regardless, the Drow will act tomorrow evening.


Your Turn.

-
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:55, Sat 16 June 2018.

Taking the one on the left, Nicolai sends to Corros.  He plots an invisible line, just within the distance he knows he can cover within a competent opponent's reaction time, and as the Drow crosses that line, he springs.  His rapier and dagger come out as he steps in, leading with the smaller blade to draw his opponent's eyes to it and away from the low slash angling up into the guard's armpit.

Nicolai
AC 16; HP 61/61; Superiority Dice 4/4
Move: Into melee with the Drow on the left side of the passage
Free (Dual Wielder feat): Draw rapier +1 and dagger +1
Bonus: Feinting Attack (-1 superiority die; gain advantage and +1d8 damage on first attack)
Attack #1: Rapier +1 (attack +7 with advantage, damage 2d8+2d6+4)
Attack #2: Rapier +1 (attack +7, damage 1d8+4)
Reaction: If target survives, attacks me, and misses, Riposte (-1 superiority die)

Jenna takes a step to one side as the two sentries head towards them, stepping out of the shadow of the tunnel so that she can properly see the dark elves as they advance. Her lips are already moving in prayer, calling on the power of the Goddess again as she raises her hands, fingers extended towards the one on the left, as Arma's grace ripples through her, causing her back to arch slightly as a bolt of radiant energy shoots through the gloom towards its intended target.

Jenna
AC: 21, HP 56/56
Casting Guiding Bolt (Level 2) at left hand Drow

Got it, Corros sends back Nic's way.  Instead of focusing his attacks, the half-elf splits the difference, sending one blast of energy at each of the Drow guards. The attacks allow him to stay back, out of the range of the weapons the dark elves hold.  At least unless they manage to push through the rest of the party.  Which means they have bigger problems than these two Drow.


Corros
AC 13, 61/61HP
Eldritch Blast x2, one at each sentry, d10+5, +8 to attack
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:02, Tue 19 June 2018.

Gronk moves up to his customary slot next to Nicolai, the grey-green brawn to the Ardani's brains. The half-orc gladiator strikes hard and fast at the right-hand Drow, attempting to silence the dark elf guard before he can raise the alarm.

Gronk
83/88
AC 19
Spending 1 superiority die to attempt trip attack v D2
2x melee attacks (+9) v D2

-

Lured by the dwarf druid's spell (not its intended result, but a welcome one given the tactical situation), the two Drow sentries inadvertently move into range of Nic's rapier. Jenna's Guiding Bolt flashes by the advancing drow's white-capped head, wasting its radiant energy on the tunnel roof. The flash, nevertheless, causes the dark elves to pull up short. Nic's already lunging out to meet them. A deft feint of the Ardani's pirate rapier has its desired effect; the blade dances deceptively, slipping the started Drow's guard and finding its heart. The mortally wounded guard sinks to the floor. Corros' spell has better luck that his paramour's, striking the second Drow in the chest. The guard reels but stays on his feet. Not for long. Gronk's morning star ends him, concluding the ambush.

Stepping over the bodies, the party moves slowly, quietly towards the chamber into which the tunnel opens, stopping short as they encounter Ulfgar's druidic flatulence. The hirsute dwarf dismisses the spell, removing the invisible stink barrier. The adventurers close the gap, sneaking a peek at the scene beyond.

They look into a huge chamber, larger by several factors than the largest they've seen so far. It's lit by several pools of slow-burning oil. Heat, scored by the sharp tinking of falling picks, rises to meet the spies. Dozens of diggers are hard at work enlarging the cavern, shovel-full by shovel-full, guarded by more Drow. Several large piles of slag rise from the chamber floor. The captives are hard at work excavating what appears to be a large ribcage. A single rib is two or three times as tall as a Drow guard.

The party has a good vantage point- high ground, only one way up. The flip side of this, however, is that there is only one way down- a long, narrow path winding its way along the near wall to the cavern floor, exposed to the workers and guards below.

"A Priestess of Lloth," Amaldaris whispers, pointing out a Drow clad in flowing black robes. The monk continues, "...and a mage, a dozen warriors at least and... abomination- a Drider," This last is a creature like a perverted centaur: the head, arms, and torso of a bare-chested Drow, atop the body of a huge spider.


Your Turn.

-
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:14, Wed 20 June 2018.

"Hmm," Nicolai replies noncommittally, studying the Drider.  He's hear rumors of them before but seeing one in the unspeakable flesh is more disgusting than he anticipated.  "Does anyone see our people down there?"

"Hmm... not sure.  What do they look like?" Ulfgar offered.  A plan started to form in his mind on how to handle the problem below.

"Oh that can't be good," Corros mumbles when he sees the massive rib-cage.  The view comes when he leans over the ridge, disappears when he slips back.  "Statue, idol, avatar, or actual Devourer?" he asks, not supposing that it really matters until they've dealt with the Drow. Half-elven eyes scan the dark elves below. "I can keep their mage in check for a bit, but he's gotta die first, yeah?"

"Aye, the mage should die quicker than a cat can lick its own butt," Ulfgar said.  He brief the others on the plan he'd been hatching.  After some shared refinement of the idea, he was ready to proceed.

"Alright, time to deal with these dark scum," Ulfgar said.  He cast a spell, touched Romanelli, the immediately turned into a giant spider.

Ulfgar Frostbeard
Moving into the cavern caring Gronk in spider climb after casting Greater Invis on Nic
AC: 14, HP: 26 [Spider form]
Greater Invis casting, quickly wrapping a few webs around Gronk, then carrying him into the cavern using spider climb

This message was last edited by the player at 23:22, Sat 23 June 2018.

Nicolai sets his shoulders and grimaces as his skin prickles under the shrouding magic.  It's not the first time he's been cloaked in shadow-magic, but his previous experiences were blessings of Mórag passed through the bards of the Throne's Reach.  This working feels rougher - as befits the skin-dancer, he supposes.

As Ulfgar takes to the wall, the Ardani draws his blades and creeps down the path to the Drow work site, keeping one eye cocked at the ceiling.  He may be invisible but he's not silent, so he takes his time and chooses his footing carefully, avoiding loose gravel as best he can and staying out of the more-trafficked work areas.  His focus narrows as he closes on the mage.

Nicolai
Creeping toward the mage on little cat feet
AC 16; HP 61/61; Superiority Dice 3/4

"A moment." Jenna said as preparations were made. The Priestess then closed her eyes, her left hand moving to the amulet that she wore,  fingers grasping it while her thumb moved over the inscription that was etched on it, a sacred prayer to Arma. Her lips moved in time with her hand, saying the words softly as her thumb moved over them, her hair beginning to dance and move of its own accord as she felt the Warrior's divine grace and radiance course through her, her body serving to channel that holy power that rippled out in unseen waves that enveloped her four trusted companions, bathing them in Arma's Blessing.

Once the prayer was completed her eyes opened again and she nodded. "I am ready." She then turned to Corros, placed her hand on his shoulder, her eyes meeting his. "Stay behind me, yes?" Her body would be his shield, her hammer would smite down any who meant him harm.

Using Amulet to cast Bless on Corros, Gronk, Nic, and Ulfgar then moving in to battle once Nic kicks everything off

"These knees aren't what they used to be. I'm afraid I'll only slow you down. Perhaps I should stay here, make sure reinforcements can't hit you from behind," Deepdelver offers. There's not much that the old dwarf can do, in the face of more than a couple of Drow warriors, but he can at least shout a warning, slow them down a bit. "I can use this, too- target the magic users," he adds, unslinging his double-slotted heavy crossbow.

OOC: If you'd rather he join in on the assault, that's fine. I run Deepdelver as a Veteran NPC, w/ 58 HP, AC 17, and two +5 attacks per turn.

-
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:24, Fri 29 June 2018.

Gronk's not an ideas guy, but he can see that the numbers are clearly against the party- something needs to be done to redress the imbalance ("even the odds", in Gronk's less learned vocabulary). He speaks up,

"We need to try to rally the slaves, get them to help."

He has some experience with slave revolts, having taken part in one as a gladiator in Freeport, but he wasn't one of its leaders and he recalled, with some sadness, that it didn't end well for most of the participants. Here, there was the likelihood of a language barrier, and the tactical consideration that he and his allies would be badly outnumbered the second they set foot on the cavern floor- there likely wouldn't be a moment to spare once the fight began.

Gronk is not a big fan of the ordinary, house spider, so the thought of being transported by one nearly as big as himself, albeit a temporary, allied, sentient spider, is rather unsettling. He girds himself for the experience, reluctantly allowing Ulfgar Spider to wrap him in sticky filaments and lift him off the ground. The jacked Half-Orc soon discovers that he's not a very big fan of heights either. Since there's little else that he can do, as a passenger, during the climb down, he tries his best to channel his high anxiety into fighting spirit. Gronk's seen what his allies' magic can do, so it's pretty clear to him that the Drow magic users will need to be dealt with first.

-
This message was last edited by the player at 17:23, Fri 29 June 2018.

Prepared- as best they could, under the circumstances- for battle, the party puts their audacious surprise assault plan into action. Cloaked by Corros' Greater Invisibility spell, Nic creeps carefully down the long, narrow, exposed path leading to the chamber floor. The creatures below seem not to notice. After a couple of minutes, having seen or heard nothing of their invisible ally- the party assumes that Nic is close to being in position near the Drow mage (perhaps he signals Corros psychically?). Ulfgar, in giant spider form, steps out, on eight legs, on to the cavern roof, Half-Orc cargo slung underneath. As he starts down the near vertical chamber wall, one of the Drow guards spots him. The Dark Elf calls out a warning, tone more surprised than alarmed, and the rest of his comrades look up. The sight of a giant spider is not uncommon to the typical Drow, but this one, unaffiliated and arriving unbidden, is out of the ordinary. The priestess, sitting in an eight-legged sedan chair rises, shouts a command, apparently directed at the spider, but Ulfgar has no idea what she's saying, so he nonchalantly (for a giant spider) continues his downward climb. Several Drow guards ready their crossbows.

It's now or never. Nic is close enough. He lunges at his target, sinking his darting blades into the Drow magic user. (DM -30HP; DM is Surprised!) The Dark Elf coughs out a breath and and arches his back in agony. He spins on his heel to lay eyes on his attacker, but there's no one there (Nic is still invisible).

At this point, a little over half-way down the cavern wall, Ulfgar-Spider drops his Half-Orc cargo on the nearest cluster of Drow guards (the Magic User and Priestess are not close enough to the wall for him to land Gronk within melee range of them). The surprisingly agile gladiator twists and turns in midair, somehow managing to land on his feet, uninjured by the fall and ready to brawl (successful Acrobatics check). OOC: Due to his arachnoid characteristics, Ulfgar-Spider can drop to the floor from his current position and not take any fall damage or go prone. Instead of dropping here, he can move laterally, up to 30', and drop from that position.

Amaldaris drops his spear and steps off of the narrow landing high above the cavern floor, tucking himself into a ball as he falls, glancing once off the jagged chamber wall. He too lands on his feet, miraculously no worse for wear, near a pair of Drow warriors.

With their companions already entering into melee combat below them, Corros and Jenna start descending the pathway overlooking the battlefield. OOC: Jenna and Corros, you have options. You can spend your non-move action to Dash, covering 60 feet of the pathway instead of 30. This will essentially get you to the cavern floor this round, but you won't be able to take an attack action as well in the current turn. Alternately, you can move 30 feet and then launch a ranged spell attack, but this means you won't be able to reach the floor/melee range until the next round. Or you don't have to move at all- you can stand on the landing and sling spells from range (60' minimum). Obviously, you both don't both have to do the same thing.

Deepdelver's crossbow is loaded, cocked, and aimed at the Drow Priestess...

OOC: This is a surprise round. Your next action will precede any actions by the Drow.

Nic is engaged with DM. There are also a Drow guard within 30' (D7).

Gronk is engaged v D5 & D6. Ulfgar-Spider is roughly above this particular melee.

Amaldaris is engaged v D3 and D4 about 30' from the foot of the path.

Two Drow, D1 & D2 are at the foot of the path down which Jenna and Corros have begun to descend.

Two Drow guards stand near a ground-level passageway more than 60' from the foot of the pathway (D8 & D9).

Three Drow (D10, D11, and D12) closely guard the two dozen or so slaves. Based on the experience from your last engagement, one these three is likely an Elite Warrior. It's probably D12, who stands atop one of the slag heaps nearest the excavation.

Oh, and don't forget about the Drider.


Your Turn.

-
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:48, Sat 30 June 2018.

Ulfgar moved to try to deal with the Drow Priestess in some fashion.  He let his eight legs carry him 30 feet, then fired off a web glob, hoping to entangle the servant of Lloth.

Ulfgar-Spider
Moving 30' toward Drow Priestess
AC: 14, HP: 26 [Spider form]
Firing off a Web (Recharge 5-6): Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 30/60 ft., one creature. Hit: The target is Restrained by webbing. As an action, the Restrained target can make a DC 12 Strength check, bursting the webbing on a success. The webbing can also be attacked and destroyed (AC 10; hp 5; vulnerability to fire damage; immunity to bludgeoning, poison, and psychic damage).

Jenna took a deep breath then moved down the path as rapidly as she could, the tenets of her faith echoing in her head, as though she was back in the Cloisters, being schooled in the ways of the Warrior by the elder gray clad Priests.

A Priest of Arma defends the weak and protects the innocent. The slaves that were toiling in this cavern were weak. They must be defended.

A Priest of Arma fights until victory is achieved or she dies trying. Perhaps this would be her last battle, perhaps not. She had been told to seek out redemption in the company of strangers. Surely falling in Arma's name would redeem her. Would it not?

There was no further time to dwell on such matters. Each step had taken her closer to the foe, about half of the distance to the two Drow who stood at the foot of the path now covered. Jenna paused, raised her right hand, opened the conduit to the Goddess's divine power, her eyes turning white as Arma's grace coursed through her, her body a channel, guiding that grace into a bolt of radiant energy that leapt from her fingertips towards the Drow Priestess. Even as it left her fingers Jenna knew that the bolt was not as powerful as those that she had launched at the last group of Drow. Her connection to the Goddess was growing weaker, needed prayer to renew it.

Jenna
AC: 21, HP 56/56
Advancing 30 feet then casting Guiding Bolt (Level 2) at Drow Priestess

Corros swallows as the odds in front of him begin to make sense.  The attack may have been rash, but the adventurers are committed now.  His friends are below and his lady is running forward.  The warlock doesn't consider himself a coward, but he can't do a lot up close, so he hangs back, trying to play the role of spoiler and protector.  The wand he'd been given comes up and lets go with three magical darts, the glowing missiles flying forward and arching towards the Drow mage. Corros hopes that maybe this will be enough to bring the dark elf down, that by sacrificing accuracy for power, they can tilt the killing in their favor.

Already he can feel The Library pulling power into the air around him, ready to lash out at any magic that should reveal itself on the battlefield.

Corros
AC 13, 61/61 HP
3x magic missiles at DM, 1d4+1 each  (4/7 charges remaining)
Counter Magic spell readied as reflex action

Gronk faces off against the two nearest Drow warriors. Based on recent experience, he knows that they're not the toughest of opponents- there are clearly much bigger fish to fry just beyond them. But these two are barring his way to more dangerous adversaries and he has to deal with them first. And then there are the slaves,

"Come on, you guys! Help us out here!" is all that he can think to shout at the chained prisoners in the moment. This isn't really the time to talk, though. So, hoping the slaves rise up, the big Half-Orc presses forward, attacking first the Drow to the right.

Gronk
HP 83/88; AC 19
Superiority Dice 3/4
2x +9 attacks v D5 (dam 1d8+8); action surge, depending on results
Riposte on tap

-
This message was last edited by the player at 16:10, Thu 05 July 2018.

There's a flare of light, like a sunbeam leaking through a crack in a door, as Nicolai withdraws the Sun Blade from the Drow mage's back.  As the subterranean elf spins, Nicolai steps back and maneuvers around him.  The cloak of Ulfgar's magic still clings to him, muting his senses and quenching the manifested weapon's glow.  He comes in again on the mage, angling for a flurry of stabs to the vitals that will remove his target from the fight permanently.

Nicolai
AC 16; HP 61/61; Superiority Dice 3/4
Statuses: Invisible (Ulfgar); Bless (Jenna)
Attack x2: Sun Blade (attack +8 w/ advantage, damage 1d8+5 radiant) on Drow mage
Bonus: Rapier +1 (attack +7 w/ advantage, damage 1d8+4 piercing) on Drow mage
Special: First successful attack gets +2d6 sneak attack damage

Contingency: If Drow mage drops before all attacks are expended, move into melee with Drow priestess and continue stabbing

After dropping Gronk into position near the chained slaves, Ulfgar-Spider skitters vertically along the rough chamber wall, closing the distance of the angle to the Drow Priestess. From his spinneret, the Wildshaped druid shoots a sticky glob of web at the enemy leader, but it sails past her, splatting harmlessly against the chamber floor.

The party's magic users pause halfway down the path, casting spells to support their committed comrades, currently outnumbered on the floor of the chamber. Jenna's Guiding Bolt smashes into the Drow Priestess in a burst of radiant light. (Crit! Jenna hits DP for 37HP damage; DP grants advantage to next attack)

Incandescent bolts of purple energy streak forth from Corros' outstretched Wand of Missiles, exploding against the hapless Drow Mage. (Corros hits DM for 13HP damage; Surprise condition negates enemy reaction)

OOC: Jenna and/or Corros can reach the chamber floor this round, and take non-movement actions.

After a ham-handed attempt to rally the chained slaves, Gronk smashes down his first opponent, then his second. (D5 & D6 are dead!)


Hands cutting through the air in a blur, Amaldaris dispatches one of the Drow guards, then stuns another with a palm strike to the side of the head. (D3 is dead! D4 -10HP; D4 is stunned)

Taking advantage of the shock of his first attack, and Corros' magical fire support, Nic strikes down the Drow mage in a flurry of unseen blade strikes. (DM is dead!)

Deepdelver, still atop the landing high above the chamber floor, fires two crossbow bolts at the Drow's apparent leader; only one hits home. He bends to reload and re-cock his weapon. (DP -7HP)

Facing her fallen magic-user, the Drow priestess' hands curtly weave an arcane tapestry in the air before her, surrounding Nicolai in a halo of shimmering Faerie Fire (Nic is no longer invisible; attacks against Nic grant advantage; advantage granted by spell negated by effects of sunlight emanating from Sun Blade). The nearest guards close on the now-exposed Ardani from his right and left. The elusive rogue dodges both of their attacks.

Compounding Nicolai's growing troubles, the two Drow guarding the floor-level entrance at the far end of the cavern race [towards Nic] to defend their priestess.

Perhaps sensing some kind of animal kinship, the Drider homes in on Ulfgar-Spider. The foul beast bends its bow and sends an arrow at the intruding arachnid. The arrow clatters off the rock between the druid's spider legs, drawing a hiss of frustration from the Drider. Carried on its own eight legs, the cursed servant of Lloth races up to and onto the cavern wall, drawing, as it does so, its sword. Closing to within range of its prey, the Drider lashes out, twice. One slashing blow connects, drawing ichor (Ulfgar-Spider -7HP).

Yelling something in his mother tongue, the Drow warrior standing atop the slag pile nearest the prisoners leaps down and charges at Gronk. His first strike misses, and the Half-Orc gladiator takes advantage of the mistake, delivering a savage counter. (Crit! Gronk hits D12/DEW for 25HP dam). Somehow managing to stay on his feet, the Drow pushes forward, sinking his blade into Gronk's exposed shoulder, delivering poison as it draws blood. (Gronk takes 7 piercing & 10 poison damage)

One of the Drow guarding the slaves follows his officer's lead, closing quickly on the Half-Orc. Gronk's Lemnish shield easily turns the Drow's falling blade aside. A second guard attempts to join in on the melee, but is dragged down from behind by his own slaves. (D10 is grappled)


Your Turn.

-
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:31, Thu 05 July 2018.

This, Nicolai thinks as his skin crawls under the priestess' spell, is the problem with cloaking magics.  Then, as Ulfgar's working evanesces away from him, the Sun Blade in his left hand flares into incandescence.  The swordsmen facing him stagger involuntarily and he slips between their blades.

Capitalizing on the guards' momentary distraction, he closes with the priestess.  It'll only buy him a few seconds before he's encircled, but the other elves' defense of her suggests she's their leader, which makes her death his next priority.

Nicolai
AC 16; HP 61/61; Superiority Dice 3/4
Statuses: Bless (Jenna); Faerie Fire (DP); emitting sunlight (Sun Blade)
Bonus: Cunning Action to Disengage from D1 and D2
Move: Into melee with DP
Attack x2: Sun Blade (attack +8 [first attack has advantage from Jenna's Guiding Bolt], damage 1d8+5 radiant) on DP
Special: If first attack is successful, it gets +2d6 sneak attack damage
Reaction: If any enemy attacks and misses, -1 superiority die to riposte (Sun Blade attack, +1d8 damage)