Xantria will brighten for a moment seeing a fellow Gnome.

Her eyes dance with merriment then she looks up to her companions to see if they will come along.

At the tower Thum had tied 5 crossbows together for easier carrying. He carried them over his shoulder. Also, much earlier he took a longsword and a breastplate from some foe he killed.

He smiled as he entered his 'second home' the Swinging Sword. "KAYLESSA!  You are such a sweet sight." He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. "It's good to see you. Ale and stew please?"

At the call of 'monsters fighting' Thum cursed a little. He put his bundle of crossbows on the bar. "I will be back for these later." He then took a full mug of ale and drank it all down in about 4 seconds. "Let's go and fight like bears."

"Harburk, I will come with you."

He took his great axe and headed for the door.

Apart from the obvious of being a Halfling, Peregrin dresses like what one might expect of a huntsman, wilderness guide, or explorer. When travelling, as he was earlier during the day, he wears light leather armor with a rapier at his side and a shortbow slung over his back. In town and not expecting trouble, he may leave his pack, shortbow, and any larger equipment behind in his room, but he had no yet secured one for the evening. Thus, his pack and bow lay under his feet at the table.

In demeanor, he looks pleasant, even if slightly dusted with dirt. While he does not present with the air of a soldier, he keeps himself squared away and gives fair attention to his appearance and appears to have a comfortable lifestyle.

He takes great interest in the motley band of adventurers coming into the restaurant, and he listens carefully to how the innkeeper address certain ones by name, and others not at all. As the conversations continue, he shakes his head affirmatively to Prigs. Then, the boy rushes in. "Monsters?" Peregrin says aloud, presumably to Prigs, "and men?" Certainly, this he has to see with his own eyes.

In a swift single movement, he hops off of the stool and reaches down with his left hand to grab his pack and bow. For the moment, he does not take the time to engage the newcomers but rather scampers in between them and out the door. Once in the street, he shields the sun from his eyes and peers, hoping to see something. "Do you think it's the cult?" he asks Prigs once he is outside is well.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:09, Sat 20 Mar 2021.

Kaylessa wrinkles her nose and smiles at the kiss from the  half orc. "Thum....you need a bath. You smell worse than the pigs."

The human woman looked at their belongings, and nodded. "I'll watch your stuff...go and play."

Praelia had not joined the others at their table as she had not been invited.  Clearly some resented her presence, especially the gnome, and she would trouble them no further.  Her mission beckoned and she would spend a night in rest and then return to the road.  She took a seat at the bar and requested a room for the night from the innkeep.

When the boy called his news, Praelia placed her pack behind the bar and dropped a gold coin on to the bar.  As she stood she called to Kaylessa, "Put my pack in my room please."

Without a second thought she snatched up her glaive and other weapons and ran out of the inn towards the trouble.  On realisation, she slowed and waited for the Commander to offer her services to the town defense.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:05, Sat 20 Mar 2021.

Naeldil having kept an eye on the rogue and a healthy distance from him during the whole trip, was looking forward to having some rest and relaxation. Her mood was far less cheerful than when they departed. Alas! That was not to be. The elf rushed outside, fearing that they had been followed by the angry cultist, at least if one was to go by the description.

Thalia's mood on the way back to town was downcast and she wore a gloomy expression on her face. Not even her sister could lift her spirits it seemed. When they arrived she felt grimy and dirty and uncomfortable altogether. "Hello Kaylessa." she greeted the innkeeper. "A room for me and a bath, if you please." she asked unusually polite. "Some hot tea would be welcome, too." she added in a subdued voice, then dropped on a seat.

The sorceress kept brooding while the people around her went about their business. Only when the boy showed up, requiring the guard commander to help against the monster raid, did she look up. "You go and help the good folk here, but this is not my fight." she commented, looking at her sister. "I will go back to Mulmaster and tell the Belabantras what we found out about their daughter. Selune be with you." the aasimar explained.

Tanique nodded to her sister
"Good luck,  Thalia.   I'll see you back home the next time I'm passing through "

Xan's eyes shimmered a bit and she sniffed.

"I am sorry I couldn't convince them to stop Thalia." Her face downcast.

"I am going to see if I can help the town, for all I know it may be the cultists out there."

In reply to Xantria (msg # 14):

Tanique smiled down at her little friend
"Now, now....don't you worry, my dear.  You know our Thalia.   She has her own appointments to keep"

"I know, Im just going to miss her a lot. The both of you made this adventuring fun for me." She sniffles a bit more but follows Sister Tanique.

Tanique paused and gave her small friend a hug

Xan hugged Sister Tanique back.

"Let's keep each other safe."

Joining Peregrin outside, Prigs tries to remember which way is north, and joins his friend in gazing towards it. To his question, he answers: "Sounds awfully lot like so. You don't usually hear about monsters joining forces with people, I bet you would need to be just as evil as the monsters to gain their help."

With Bafruk in his room obvious to what is happening and Thalia in her own world, the rest seem to mill out into the street, Thum and Praelia looking at each other and almost sensing an upcoming battle. The new gnome and halfling follow after with tanique and Xandria costly following, and the nimble elf the rear.

The distance to the edge of town was a few short streets away, but as you go, you notice both the noise and commotion growing as you approach. Turning the final corner, hidden by the towns stable, you come to see an unusual and horrendous sight.

On the road is a body of a person, unrecognisable due to the damage. Not t meters back are three figures, in what seemed an argument. The two humans, dressed in stone like armour were berating a third figure. These humanoids wore stone masks, one held a stone headed maul, the other a stone buckler and a pick. The last of the three Stood to the side a little. This one, both not human or in stone armour was imposing on his own. The green Dragonborn was over six feet tall, wearing a dark black suit of chain mail, and held a wicked looking sword and a shield.

But it was what was between you and them that got your attention. Three huge insect-like beast, tearing at the flesh of the body, their chitionious armor brown now stained with red along their maws, their six legs clicking.

The three figures notice you, and stop talking. The Dragonborn seems in particular focused on Praelia, smiles a wicked smile.

Even as you stop and take the scene in quickly, the insectoids stop feeding.

....seemingly more prey has come to them.

<OOC: you’ve turned a corner to see this sight. In front of you (about 30 feet) are 3 insect like beasts. Anyone wanting to identify them roll a nature check.

Behind them another 40-45 feet are the three figures (two humanoids in stone like armour, and the Dragonborn. They seem to have an alliance, but don’t like each other much)

Now what?>


This message was last edited by the GM at 01:10, Wed 24 Mar 2021.

OOC: Correct me if not practical, but using a bit of theatre of the mind

As soon as they round the corner, Peregrin sees the activity in the street and instinctively hunches back behind the edge of the stables. When he recognizes that this looks like conflict, he glances at Prigs, "Take cover," as he scrambles on top of one of the barrels outside the stables and onto the roof.  Once atop, he lies down to remain hidden, or as much as possible, setting his pack down and readying his bow for what appears to be an unavoidable brawl.

Move: Climb onto roof, Stealth: 25, Action: Ready to shoot an opponent if it engages in melee with a friendly; otherwise holding for now.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:33, Tue 23 Mar 2021.

Looking about in the sky as she walks along for vultures or other birds.

"I don't see any..." rounding the stable.

"Wow those guys must be really strong look at them in that stone armor ! Oh another dragon person." Xan waves.

Her eyes then settle on the bugs.

"GarlGlitterGoldThoseThingsarebiggerthenmeImlikebitesized ! Ziiiiiiiip.

Xan hides behind the stable teeth chattering.

She prepares as best she can to help her friends but is trying to calm herself for the moment.

Thum saw the large bug things. He's sure he has heard about them before. He was trying to remember when he saw the men in stone armor. Those were the bastards that hurt his sister. His blood boiled. He wanted nothing more than to cut them to little bits. But first, he had to get past the bugs.

OOC:
08:16, Today: Thum rolled 7 using 1d20+2.  Initiative .
08:16, Today: Thum rolled 14 using 1d20-1.  Nature check.
With an Initiative roll of 7, I'm going wait a little while before posting my actions.  However, those know know Thum know he's mostly likely gonna charge one of the bugs. If nothing else, to prove his bravery


This message was last edited by the player at 14:25, Tue 23 Mar 2021.

08:22, Today: Xantria rolled 10 using 1d20+1.  Initiative.

Wrenn-Gimble 'Prigs' Burren rolled 11 using 1d20+4.  Nature.
Wrenn-Gimble 'Prigs' Burren rolled 8 using 1d20+3.  Initiative.

Seeing these insectoid monsters, Prigs stops and takes a ready stance. He moves his left hand down his right arm, giving off green sparks. The move ends with a quick flick, throwing a green light to fly over the beasts. There the light burst into a rain of small green sparks, falling all over the bugs.

Action: Prigs casts Faerie Fire. 20-foot cube (I would think I can get all the insects in it), Dex save DC 14 or we have advantage on attacks against them for one minute (concentration).

At Peregrins word of advice, Prigs huffs. "Don't worry about me, I'm sure these beasts can't handle a canned meal", he answers with a smirk. With a quick touch to the neck area of his armor, a helmet grows out of it, covering his head.

Bonus action: deploy helmet. I don't know why they made it take a bonus action when it gives no mechanical benefit, but oh well.

Not fancying her chances at piercing a rock with her arrows or the sturdy looking flesh eating bugs, the elf promptly made the decision to have an arrow flying at the not so beloved member of the grim crew visiting the town.

19:03, Today: Naeldil rolled 16 using 1d20+3.  Initiative.
19:03, Today: Naeldil rolled 6 using 1d20+2.  Nature.
19:10, Today: Naeldil rolled 26 using 1d20+7.  Attack the knock off Praelia.
19:10, Today: Naeldil rolled 6 using 1d8+3.  Damage.
19:11, Today: Naeldil rolled 3 using 1d8.  Colossus if wounded before my turn.

18:17, Today: Peregrin Boffinbread rolled 12 using 1d20+4.  Initiative.

Tanique gasped at the disgusting scene, firing her crossbow at a bug

OOC :
19:07, Today: Sister Tanique rolled 9 using 1d20.  Crossbow.
19:05, Today: Sister Tanique rolled 8 using 1d20.  Initiative

Praelia roars loudly at the sight of her quarry.  She points out the dragonborn to Naeldil.  "I want that one taken down, preferably alive.  Preferably."  If the dragonborn died she'd be disappointed but satisfied.

Without waiting for an acknowledgement Praelia charged straight at the bugs between her and her quarry.  Her glaive swept out in vicious arcs, caution thrown to the wind as she sighted her quarry.


OOC: Praelia doesn't care what the bugs are, just that they're in her way!

Initiative: 12
Move to attack a bug (middle one - affected by faerie fire)
Attack with advantage (Glaive): 19
Bonus - Bonus attack: 17
Dex Saving Throw (vs Faerie Fire): 19 (Success)
This message was last edited by the player at 00:12, Sun 28 Mar 2021.

A little embarrassed the paladin charged in before he did, to roars, "Fight like a fuckin' bear!" And runs at one of the bugs. (not one that Praelia is attacking)

OOC:
Raging, cuz he hates those guys in stone armor

00:15, Today: Thum rolled 15 using 2d12+5, dropping the lowest dice only.
00:14, Today: Thum rolled 12 using 1d20+5.  Great axe making a great attack.

I've been forgetting to use my feat... once per turn I can roll 2 damage dice and pick the higher roll
Savage Attacker PHB, pg. 169

I forgot the advantage roll (Sorry Prigs)
08:30, Today: Thum rolled 11 using 1d20+5.  attack advantage roll.
The 12 to hit roll stands
This message was last edited by the player at 14:33, Wed 24 Mar 2021.