"It appears an orderly surrender is not an option! If they open that metal door I might be able to get inside. Which may or may not be a good idea!"

Ehrendil slings his bow onto his back, and draws his rapier as he moves closer to the northern door, and crouches so he is at eye level with the metal slide.

---

Move to the square between Zenna and Gorm on the current map.

If the metal door is open on Ehrendil's turn:
Bonus action: cast Misty Step, teleport to a point in the centre-right of the room behind the guards at the door.
Action: Attack the closest guard with rapier.
Ehrendil Vakalyn rolled 7 using 1d20+6.
Extra Attack: Attack the closest guard with rapier.
Ehrendil Vakalyn rolled 8 using 1d20+6.    Great time for a natural 1 followed by a 2!

If the metal door is closed, I will post different actions; move will remain as is.

Officially now hoping that they close the metal door before Ehrendil's turn! :-D
[Edit: forgot extra attack. Didn't help!]
This message was last edited by the player at 22:41, Sun 11 Sept 2022.

Suddenly the metal doors slide open in unison at a wordless shout from inside the room. A bolt shoots out of the northern door and lodges itself in Zenna's side, while two blasts of arcane energy take down the guard at the southern door just as she was raising a crossbow. The other guard to the south slumps to the ground, snoring loudly.

---

Map updated!

All the readied actions were getting confusing =). Let's try Round 5 again now that the sliding windows are open.

Everyone except Ehrendil up now, including Zeb for his Round 6 action.

Round 5 So Far:
Zeb readies a sleep spell.

Guards R1 and R3 slide open both metal doors. R2 begins to attack as before. This triggers a number of readied actions:

- Makari casts Eldrith Blast at R3 - HIT twice for 22 force. R3 is dead.
- Gordol fires an arrow at Zenna - HIT for 9 piercing
- Zeb casts Sleep - R2 falls asleep.

Ehrendil casts Misty Step to teleport into the room and attacks Gordol - MISS.

12:24, Today: Secret Roll: DM, on behalf of Zeb, rolled 26 using 5d8 with rolls of 6,8,5,1,6.  Zeb sleep.

Makari gave a small grunt of satisfaction as his spell managed to catch one of the guards inside it looked like. Or at least made them duck down out of sight. Time would tell.

He moved down the hallway, just past Morg to better see in to the room once more. Then he cast the spell once again - as his other spell of choice might hit his ally who was suddenly in the room with the enemy!

11:06, Today: Secret Roll: Makari rolled 20,13,15,14 using d20+8,d10+5,d20+8,d10+5 with rolls of 12,8,7,9.  Eldritch blast in to the room (old bearded guy?).

Doing his best to remain hidden behind his larger companions, Zeb launched an arrows into the room at the first enemy he saw who was neither slumbering nor surrendering.

---

Move: Behind Morg as needed to fire into the room.
Cunning: Hide (14 Stealth roll)
Action: Attack hits AC 17

If that hits, deals 16 damage with sneak attack or 10 without (SA applies if he has advantage on the attack or there's an ally within 5')

Zeb rolled 14 using 1d20+10 with rolls of 4.  stealth (hide)
Zeb rolled 16 using d6+4+3d6 with rolls of 6,4,1,1.  damage.
Zeb rolled 18 using 2d20+8, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 10,7.  attack (rolled with advantage in case Hide was successful but first roll was higher anyway). This should actually be 17, the extra +1 only applies when using the magic dagger.

Nothing if not persistent Gorm backs up a few feet, lunges forward and hits the door again with her two front paws, and a whole lot more mass than it was really designed to interact with.

Morg tries to get into the room and knock the cultists unconscious.

---

Move: up to 25' into room up to closest cultist.

Action: knock-out (not lethal) attack with greatsword - natural 1.
Extra attack: knock-out (not lethal) attack greatsword - hits AC 19 for 12 slashing damage.

13:42, Today: Morg Danforge rolled 9 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 1.  Attack, non-lethal, with greatsword.
13:42, Today: Morg Danforge rolled 19 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 11.  Extra attack, non-lethal, with greatsword.
13:42, Today: Morg Danforge rolled 11 using 2d6+5 with rolls of 1,5.  Slashing damage, non-lethal, from greatsword (may reroll 1s and 2s).
13:42, Today: Morg Danforge rolled 2 using 1d6 with rolls of 2.  Reroll 1 with Great weapon fighting fighting style.

Zenna charged forward. She stepped right to the entrance of the room and vanished. She appeared inside the room ten feet south of Ehrendil. There she unleashed a firebolt at the man north of Ehrendil.

---

Move to entrance of the door before using Fey Teleportation (Misty Step) as bonus action to 10' south of Ehrendil.
Continue moving 10' to the east next to the wall.

Cast: Firebolt at the person just north of Ehrendil
rolled 21,7 using 1d20+7,2d10 with rolls of 14,3,4.  ATK/DAM

This message was last edited by the player at 00:17, Fri 23 Sept 2022.

Two blasts of magical energy fly from Makari's fingers and slam into a short figure in the center of the room. A cloud of frosty air surrounds the figure, and as he turns towards the southern door his one beady eye glares at Makari through the open window. His other eye is hidden behind a dark eyepatch, but something behind that dark cloth glows a bright blue.

Stepping back, the figure wreathed in frost mutters an incantation, and suddenly there are 3 of him, each utterly indistinguishable from the others. An arrow fired from Zeb's bow seemingly strikes true on one of those forms, yet instead the form evaporates into an icy mist, the arrow clattering to the floor.

Both Ehrendil and Zenna appear suddenly inside the room, and begin attacking the occupants. The bear crashes through the northern door after them.

---

Map updated!

Everyone except Gorm is up now, though Gorm can post now and modify their post after Gordol and Khalt take their turns (if applicable).

@Morg, if you prefer to throw a javelin or something for your Round 5 turn we can retcon that in.

Round 5 Summary:
Zeb readies a spell.

Guards slide open both metal doors and begin to attack as before. This triggers a number of readied actions:

- Makari casts Eldrith Blast at R3 - HIT twice for 22 force. R3 is dead.
- Ehrendil casts Misty Step and teleports into the room.
- Gordol fires an arrow at Zenna - HIT. Zenna uses her reaction to cast Shield and avoid damage.
- Zeb casts Sleep - R2 falls asleep.

Makari moves and casts Eldritch Blast at Khalt through the open window - HITS twice for a total of 27 force.

Ehrendil teleports into the room and attacks Gordol - MISS.

Morg has no one to attack.

Zenna teleports into the room and casts Firebolt at Gordol - HIT for 7 fire.

Gordol drops his crossbow and draws a shortsword. He attacks Ehrendil twice - MISS.

Khalt moves next to Gordol and casts Mirror Image.

Gorm breaks down the northern door.

Round 6 So Far:
Zeb moves behind Morg and fires through the open window at Khalt - HIT - one Mirror Image is destroyed.

Guard drops crossbow and attacks Gorm with longsword - MISS.

Round 6 Initiative Order:

Who	Init	Status
Zeb	23
Guards	19
Makari	18
Ehrendil	16
Zenna's Owl	12
Morg	11
Zenna	9
Gordol	9
Moonclaw	9
Khalt	4
Gorm	4

This message was last edited by the GM at 20:28, Sat 08 Oct 2022.

"Gorm!" Ehrendil shouts, happy to see the massive bear join the fray. "Back door's open!" he shouts, as he focuses on duelling with his opponent.

---

Bonus: activate Planar Warrior on Gordol
Attack: Ehrendil Vakalyn rolled 19, for 6 force damage.
Ehrendil Vakalyn rolled 5 Planar Warrior force damage.
Free: Ehrendil Vakalyn rolled 4 Favoured Foe force damage.

Extra Attack: Ehrendil Vakalyn rolled 24, for 4 piercing damage.

Total damage: 15 force and 4 piercing (assuming 19 hits).

Makari smiled slightly as Gorm made their dramatic entrance in to the room via the door on the far side. He wished he could affect something similar on this side, but the door was not easily thwarted by his magic.

He moved a little to get a better angle in to the room and potential targets. Then he cast his most-used spell and fired off another pair of the eldritch blasts in to the room.

Morg readies his sword in case the door is opened or an enemy exits.

---

Move: to closest cultist if the door is opened, and no enemies in melee range.

Action: Ready greatsword attack on a hostile cultist.

Reaction: if hostile cultist in melee range: knock-out (not lethal) attack with greatsword - hits AC 23 for 12 slashing damage.

09:41, Today: Morg Danforge rolled 23 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 15.  Attack hostile cultist with greatsword.
09:41, Today: Morg Danforge rolled 10 using 2d6+5 with rolls of 2,3.  Slashing damage to hostile cultist from greatsword (may reroll 1s and 2s).
09:41, Today: Morg Danforge rolled 4 using 1d6 with rolls of 4.  Reroll the 2 with Great weapon fighting fighting style.

Ehrendil stabs towards Gordol's chest, but instead scores a wicked gash with his rapier to Gordol's side as he twists away from the blade at the last second. Pivoting from his dodge Gordol stabs back at Ehrendil and cuts him deeply in the thigh.

Spinning toward the northern door as the bear crashes through, Khalt calls out another order. "Rally to the poop deck!" Khalt's rough voice suits his grizzled appearance, as many scars crisscross his face and hands, and old wounds keep his matted grey hair sparse and parted strangely.

Khalt's face glows with the light of a luminous blue orb in place of his right eye, and it flashes brilliantly as he fixes his gaze on Gorm. A bolt of blue ice blasts directly from his eye socket and narrowly misses the bear.

---

We've made it most of the way through Round 6 now, but Zenna and Gorm can still post. Zeb is also up now for his Round 7 action. Let me know if this is getting too confusing, but the initiatives are a little spaced out for this encounter and I'm trying to have a decent pace of updates ;).


Round 6 Update:
Zeb moves behind Morg and fires through the open window at Khalt - HIT - one Mirror Image is destroyed.

Guard drops crossbow and attacks Gorm with longsword - MISS.

Makari casts Eldritch Blast at Khalt - HIT twice and destroys Khalt's remaining mirror images.

Ehrendil attacks Gordol twice- HIT for 15 force and 4 piercing. Gordol uses his reaction to halve the force damage.

Morg readies an action.

Zenna placeholder.

Gordol attacks Ehrendil twice - HITS twice for 17 piercing .

Khalt casts Ray of Frost at Gorm from his missing eye - MISS.

Gorm placeholder.

Round 7 So Far:

Zeb placeholder.


Round 7 Initiative Order:

Who	Init	Status
Zeb	23
Guards	19
Makari	18
Ehrendil	16	Favored Foe: Gordol
Zenna's Owl	12
Morg	11
Zenna	9
Gordol	9
Moonclaw	9
Khalt	4
Gorm	4

12:24, Today: Secret Roll: DM, on behalf of Zeb, rolled 26 using 5d8 with rolls of 6,8,5,1,6.  Zeb sleep.


This message was last edited by the GM at 20:34, Sat 08 Oct 2022.

Free of the problematic door Gorm steps over its wreckage with an almost casual ease and lashes out at the first unlucky soul to find themselves near the door that until moments ago could have been seen as a form of protection.

Zeb's eyes narrowed at the cultist's command. He didn't like the idea of this lot running off to anywhere. He especially did not like the idea of the cult leader - if that was what he was - firing bolts of magical energy from his eye. Taking careful aim, the gnome launched an arrow toward the man's hip, where the pieces of his armor came together.

---

Bonus Action: Steady Aim.
Action: Fire bow at Khalt. Hits AC 18 for 20 damage.
Cunning Action: Hide? If I can do that same round as Steady Aim.

Zeb rolled 14 using 1d20+10 with rolls of 4.  stealth (hide).
Zeb rolled 20 using d6+4+3d6 with rolls of 4,2,4,6.  damage.
Zeb rolled 18 using 2d20+7, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 4,11. attack.

There were the only two inside engaging the cultists. Zenna needed to get the others to even the fight. She didn't know how long Ehrendil would be able to hold out. She rushed the cultist  blocking the doorway against Morg. The scimitar slashed down trying to move the cultist away from the door.

---

Bonus: Start Bladesong
Move: 40' or so to attack the foe just inside of Morg's position.
Action: Attack cultist w/scimitar
rolled 18,3 using 1d20+5,1d6+2 with rolls of 13,1.  ATK/DAM

Bladesong, gain the following:
+3 Bonus to AC, Concentration Checks
+10' speed
Advantage on Dex (Acrobatics) checks

"We're beaten lads," Khalt shouts from the middle of the room, drawing a dagger from his belt and quickly throwing it to the ground. The others follow suit, throwing their weapons down and kneeling on the stone floor.

"What be yer will?" Khalt asks the group uncertainly, all timbre of confidence gone from his voice.

---

XP:
3 Reavers - 900
Khalt (one-eyed shiver) - 700
Gordol (dark tide knight) - 700

Total XP per PC: 14,081

Everyone will gain a level after the next successful long rest.

Round 6 Summary:
Zeb moves behind Morg and fires through the open window at Khalt - HIT - one Mirror Image is destroyed.

Guard drops longsword and attacks Gorm - MISS.

Makari casts Eldritch Blast at Khalt - HIT twice and destroys Khalt's remaining mirror images.

Ehrendil attacks Gordol twice- HIT for 15 force and 4 piercing. Gordol uses his reaction to halve the force damage.

Morg readies an action.

Zenna

Gordol attacks Ehrendil twice - HITS twice for 17 piercing .

Khalt casts Ray of Frost at Gorm from his missing eye - MISS.

Gorm attacks remaining conscious guard - HIT twice for a total of 21 damage.

Round 7 Summary (prior to surrender):

Zeb fires and arrow at Khalt - HITS for 20 piercing.

"Answers to some questions, to start. But, first..."

Ehrendil tears a strip of cloth from one of the beds, and ties it across Khalt's blue-gem eye.

As he waits for the rest of the group to enter the room, the ranger adds, "Gorm would you mind sitting behind this group, just to be sure they don't try anything?" Having the large bear nearby, put the elf at ease.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:16, Sun 09 Oct 2022.

Gorm looks over at the elf, then at the group of people kneeling down, and executes an impressive replica of a shrug for someone standing on their forward limbs.  She then shuffles around behind the individuals in question and sits down close enough to them that she is almost on one of them and even the lucky few can feel her warm breath still heavy and fast from the exertion of breaking their door and former allies.

Makari let out a sigh of relief as the other group surrendered, but he stayed vigilant for the moment to make sure it wasn't some sort of trick. He kept his staff in hand and let the others handle things. He kept a watch, but also listened for anyone else coming towards the room.

Zenna cleaned her sword before returning it to the sheath. "Here's the first question. Who are you folks and why are you here?" She grabbed a seat that had fallen over and brought it to the far corner of the room. There she was able to see everyone present.

"We be guards, naught but simple guardsmen," Khalt says in reply to Zenna's question.

"We protect the holy prophet Gar Shatterkeel from the Cult of the Black Earth, though truth be told they ain't so bad, despite bein' landlubbers and such. Never thought nothin' would be powerful enough to overwhelm one o' the cult's guard posts, truth be told."

"You make it sound like you see the Black Earth cultists frequently. Do they attack this place regularly?"

"This holy prophet Gar Shatterkeel, is he another cultist?" Zenna tried to recall the name.

---

rolled 13 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 9.  History

Morg walks over to Zenna, and whispers to her "We killed Gar (the one who had the trident) just before you, Ehrendi, and Zeb joined us. He was an evil cultist, and possibly working with a pirate."

Zeb's hand walked a perimeter around the prisoners, stepping with its fingers as if they were legs, though it was perfectly capable of moving without doing so. "What about dwarves?" the gnome demanded from a distance. "Have you seen a party of dwarves?"