Discretion being the better part of valor you drag your tired and soaked bodies to the tumbledown you are all squatting in. Finding a dry place is always difficult this time of year, but eventually you settle down for the night with Speaks humming herself to sleep with what seems like a childhood lullaby.

The monsoon storms thunder and flash throughout the night, Speaks sleeps like the dead and doesn't even shift positions until nearly the middle of the next day. A peaceful night turns into a violent awakening as she tosses and turns, mumbling something over and over as she does. Suddenly she screams  as she sits bolt upright, eyes wide with fear and body shaking.

In reply to GM (msg # 1):

He tries to calm her down.
Morning has broken, like the first morning.  Beuren sings and freaks out at Speaks scream.

I'm ok.  I'm ok.  It was just a dream.  My ancestors reaching out trying to tell me something.  This was just more vivid due to the intoxicants.  Something shadowy.  Under the water.
 Trapped.  Struggling to escape.  Perhaps almost free?  Or maybe the opposite of all that.  Something being drowned, caught in a web or net?  These can be very vague sometimes.

Sitra Mor impassively watches as the dream tumbles out. "Ominous," he concludes.

Batri rolls to his feet, the blade that he clutches At night like a child does their doll unsheathed and pointed in the direction of Speaks With Ghosts.  The blade waves slightly between his companions, a low growl coming from his throat.  His hard eyes and tense body soften when he realizes it is just his friend though he seems miles away as He sheathes his blade.  A slight quiver foiling his first attempt.

“All of these ominous portents are becoming unsettling.  I’m beginning to think carrying messages for nobles while avoiding their assassins was preferable.”  He sighs, “Other than the dream, Speaks with Ghosts,  you are well?  Better than last night?”

Better.  So do we move with purpose today?  Do we have any idea where the woman's family is to be found?

"No, we're going to have to ask around to find them. But that's still a lead."

“We are going to start attracting attention if we keep this up.  Are we sure we care about this girl enough to risk our selves?  We could look elsewhere for work...  After all, we are hale and hearty.

I feel like my dream had something to do with what happened yesterday.  I'll give it at least one more day.  If we find nothing, then I'll happily look for work elsewhere.

Batri shrugs, “Fine then.  What makes you thunk they are related?  Give us all of the details of your dream.”

Where is my coffee?  Feels like I missed a day or someting.  I agree with Speaks and I think we should snoop one day more and see shat we can find.  He rummages through his pack looking for anything with caffeine.
I am leaving the misspell on that as it is hilarious.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:27, Fri 31 July 2020.

Hey, does the tavern serve pancakes?  I could go for coffee and pancakes.

"I don't know but we can ask," Sitra Mor says as he stands and stretches. "Shall we get started?

Sitra Mor starts focusing on Sixth Sense

There was a pond with several animals gathered around it.  The animals stared at me as i approached.  A voice kept saying, "What do you see?"  Looking into the pool, I saw an indistinct shadow struggling under the water.  The voice asked one last time, "What do you see?"  And then I woke up.  I have no evidence that it is related to yesterday's events, but otherwise the choice is to sit around and do nothing.   I say we try to find the woman's family.  I thought someone said her last words were possibly a family name?  Why don't we start there.

“Her last words were the folk story we chased last night.  It was people in the crowd who said she looked like one of  Hyati’s girls.  I still think it more likely the name of her pimp than family, but both are found the same way.”  He shrugs, “We might also get a new perspective on the street we found her on.  A new day will bring different activity to the street and maybe we can see a pattern.”

The mid-day sun is well hidden behind the darkening clouds preparing for the afternoon downpours. Rumbles of thunder can be heard deep inside them.

The heat doesn't seem daunted by this and the insects perform their biting dances within the safety of the tumbledowns shelter.

The days outdoor activity will be all but stopped until the sun sets and the relatively cooler night settles in.

Is it true night or just dusk?  I ask as we can look for the family if just dusk, but at night, not so much.

Batri slaps his neck leaving a bloody smear, “Back to the Mistake?  We can get another look at the street first and ask around  the tavern to see if we can hone in on that name?”

He looks at the sky, “With some luck we won’t get too wet.”

"Let's check with the people who work around the Mistake. Someone nearby mentioned it so they might be working nearby."

You head out towards the Last Mistake, making inquiries as you go along. Once reaching the street the tavern is on you first stop in for some lunch, which consists of Beef steak, Soft cheese, Sharp cheese, Blueberries, and Rice.

Beuren begins asking around the tavern and learns that Hyati is the name of a woman who makes a living repairing sails, fishing nets, and the like. She lives at the edge of the West District near the Sunset Docks (Successful Investigation Check).

Continued questioning by Sitra finds that Hyati is the mother of the girl that was discovered last night. He continues on trying to find a link between the girl and the legendary Ava Maihi, he learns that the daughter, whose name was A'ikud, was a very attractive girl, but she was constantly passed over for marriage and felt that it was her appearance that was the cause of it (Successful Investigation Check).

Speaks makes a passing comment that maybe it was her personality or low station, which is confirmed by the people you've been talking to, apparently she was difficult to be around for any length of time (Passive Insight check Successful).

Well, we should at least talk to her mother.  Find out if she had any new friends who have since vanished.  That sort of thing.  Any other ideas?

“Sounds like a plan.  Hopefully she isn’t as insufferable as her daughter Iowa’s supposed to be.”  He pats Beuren on the back, “You ready to woo a woman?”

Immediately His grin is toothy and wide, “Or I could encourage her to tell us what she knows.”  He cracks his neck first to the left then to the right before punching his left hand into his right, “I don’t want to get out of practice.”  The end of the sentence is muffled by his laughter at what he seems to consider a good joke.

Heading out to Hyati's home takes little time, the heat of the day and the beginning downpours insure that most of the district remain under cover or indoors. Her shop is part of a collection of hovels that have been assembled from whatever could be found, old ships, collapsed buildings, etc. that occupy what used to be a town square near the Sunset Docks.

Sometime in the past, an entire section of the bayside of the square collapsed into the bay creating an ideal location for local fisherman to dock their small boats away from the much larger ships that use the Sunset Docks.

Outside her shop hang several nets on separate racks, each net in various stages of repair. Sitting on a stool, just outside of the doorway, is a woman who has interrupted her sewing to rest her head in her hands, sobbing.

In reply to Batri Shom (msg # 22)I am ready to woo everyone.

In reply to GM (msg # 23):

He smoothly asks: What is the matter?

The woman takes a moment, attempting to compose herself, wiping away her tears, "I apologize good sir." she replies, "A wayward thought of past joys." she sniffles through a wane smile.

"How..how can I help you?"

In reply to Hyati (msg # 26):

What past joys?  What worries fair lady?

She shakes her head, "I do not wish to burden you with my woes. Perhaps you are here to have a sail repaired?"

In reply to Hyati (msg # 28):

Maybe later.  Do you have a second or two?  My friends and I are trying to help another friend.  Maybe you might be able to help us.

The woman slowly puts down the net she was working on, her exhaustion evident in her movements and eyes, "I'll try."

In reply to Hyati (msg # 30):

He asks very gently about her daughter.

Make a Persuasion skill check.

In reply to GM (msg # 32):

11:22, Today: Beuren Evos rolled 1 using 1d20 ((1)).


wow that is shitty.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:23, Thu 06 Aug 2020.

After repeatedly informing the woman that her daughter is dead and in ever increasing detail about her corpse, the traumatized woman runs back into her house horrified and inconsolable (Critical Failure Persuasion Check.).

“I know you claim to be a bard in training.  When do they teach you the part about how to speak to people without, you know, making them live through the traumatic death of their daughter that happened... say the night before?”   He shakes his head, “I’m not one to quit,  but maybe we should just let this one go.  Seems like we have only made things worse at every turn.”

Sitra Mor folds his hands in front of himself and sighs. "Well this is not ideal. Hopefully she spoke to her neighbors when her daughter went missing." Sitra Mor looks around for a nearby shop or home where the owners might have spoken to Hyati.

There are several makeshift shanties around the square, primarily focused on the local fishing industry.

The enormous man shrugs,“Well whose turn is it this time to talk?”

Sitra Mor stops for a moment as a nimbus of energy dances across his head before pivoting and going to knock on a nearby door.

I use Precognition to get a bonus on attacks, saves, and skill checks for the next minute as I interrogate the neighbors.

Making your way around the ruins of the market square the party sets to acquiring as much information as possible. Sitra begins to question a fisherman who gruffly blows him off, even with Sitra's psychic training (Failed Persuasion + Precognition skill check). A few choice words and knuckle crackings from Batri gets the fisherman to be a bit more forthcoming (Successful Intimidation Check).

Some follow up questions over the next couple of hours and Speaks confirmation through his own knowledge of the local history confirm what you have learned (Successful Investigation Skill Check by Sitra and Successful History Check by Speaks):

A'ikud often searched for muscles and smalls crabs among the rubble of the market square that fell into the bay. This is where she was last seen, about a month ago. People disappear all the time in Pheze, so one more disappearance, sad as it may be for those that were near to her, didn't really get noticed. This is particularly true of someone who daily ventured down to the precarious debris field of the collapsing city. Everyone honestly thought she had fallen and been washed away with the surf or got trapped inside any number of "caves" when the tide came in.

Should we investigate where she was last seen?  At low tide would be best.

"I unfortunately agree."

“As good a plan as any.  Besides, maybe we can supplement our dinner with some seafood.  There must be some gain from our explorations after all.”

The party sets out to the edge of the market square and picks their way down the rubble. Several times Batri and Beuren manage to stop one of the others from slipping on algae covered rocks and Speaks keeps Sitra from being dragged off to sea by an overly large wave.

The rain does not relent, adding even more difficulty to the otherwise treacherous climb. Once at the bottom of the 20m debris wall, the low tide has exposed a tidepool flat, hedged in by a haphazard wall of rubble that keeps the lower sea at bay.

Searching around the surprisingly large area, Batri spots an opening. Upon closer inspection it looks like end of a forgotten sewer, but the architecture seems...odd. Sitra examines it closer and finds some heavily worn carvings alongside some very new ones. Speaks With Ghosts thinks that they are markings that would be on a temple though they are not familiar to him.

"Speaks With Ghosts thinks that they are markings that would be on a temple though they are not familiar to 'him'."   <cough, cough>her<cough, cough>

So.....this is obviously something, right?  We should investigate further.

"Yes, we should. Does anyone need to prepare anything?"

<Sitra is still focusing on Sixth Sense.</red>

“It took me many years to learn many hard lessons.  This...  adventure has forced to break more of those rules than I would even care to think of.  He sighs, frustrated, “But, I know you all well enough.  There is no stopping until something is found or we are all dead.”

He draws his scimitar, “At least let me go first.  My corpse will plug the passage long enough for the rest of you to flee if we are attacked.  Sitra, perhaps you have a torch?

Sorta sighs. "Lead the way."

Speaks With Ghosts follows Batri into the tunnel.

The party clambers up into the tight tunnel. The walls and floor are slick with sea algae and ocean spray. As the tunnel opens up, it also becomes much darker as the light from outside becomes blocked by rubble within. While Speaks seems unconcerned about the lack of light, the rest of the party will soon be blinded. Sitra takes Batri's advice and lights a torch, spreading a flickering light out from the middle of the procession.

Puddles of dark, brackish water pool throughout the tunnel. The floors are worked stone, giving credence to a lost temple ruin, the walls are a mix of rubble, worked stone, and bedrock. Often the floor is completely covered with debris and forces the party to climb over or squeeze around to get by.


The tunnel continues sloping downward in erratic drop-offs and slopes, the pools of brackish water are getting larger and deeper the further down you go. The walls and ceilings are covered in thicker patches of damp sea algae and even small thickets of seaweed.

The tunnel opens up a bit more and the torch light illuminates a dead end of collapsed debris.

“Well...  I was hoping for an ancient cult performing human sacrifices.”  He shrugs as he examines the ground for signs that others have gone before them.

OOC:  looking for tracks or signs that others have passed through before us.
Survival(wis) +3 - 13:25, Today: Batri Shom rolled 19 using 1d20+3 ((16)).

"Just because we can't see them now doesn't mean they aren't here."

Sitra checks for hidden passageways.

13:35, Today: Sitra Mor rolled 18 using 1d20+3. Perception.

He has been remarkably quiet.  His failure to assist the group is weighing on him heavily.  Still these are his friends and he will back them to the end.  Sorry guys. I will do better in the future. 

“Don’t worry about it, Beuren.  Everyone has a bad day.  It will pass and you’ll be right as rain.”

Batri and Sitra begin looking around the cavern.

"There's an old door over here," Sitra says as he gestures with his spear to a pile of rubble.

Batri steps around the room carefully as he studies the floor, “You are correct, Sitra.  Let’s look over the door and see if we can safely open it.”

OOC:  can I Help Sitra check the door for any sort of traps?  Sitra is the best at finding traps in the party...

Yes you can

Wait!!!  look there!   Speaks With Ghosts points to a spot on the wall opposite where we entered about 3m up the wall.

“What is it Speaks with Ghosts?”

Just as Speaks yells her warning, a shout from somewhere in the darkness, "Ring the bell! Heretics! Heretics in the Water Bringer!" announces your presence.



There is a map uploaded to the 'Game Play' folder in the dropbox. For the purposes of direction, the top of the map will be considered 'North'. Each square is equal to 5' across. The partially shaded areas are considered dim light from the torch.


We are officially in combat mode. Please do not post anything other than conversation unless you have been told it is your turn. When it is your turn, please post quickly so that we don't bog down the game.

Sitra has the initiative.

Red energy crackles around Sitra Mor's temples as he walks forwards to try and open the door in the wall.

Bonus Action: Focuses on Psychic Hammer.

Action: Tries to open the door.

Successful or not he moves back and presses himself to the wall.

Move 5ft North and 10ft East between the two red marks.

Sitra runs up to the door and despite the door being old in bad shape, it doesn't open. Something is wedging the door shut.

Speaks With Ghosts has the initiative.

Crossbows out, lads!!  Speaks With Ghosts moves to Sitra Mor and grabs the torch from his hand.  Give me that, quick!   She then moves back down the passage with the torch if she can.

Speaks makes his away to the north wall with the torch in hand suddenly illuminating a pair of humanoid creatures, no larger than a child. They appear to be composed of mismatched spare parts and are clinging to the stone walls like spiders. Their unblinking eyes stare back, but are otherwise perfectly still.


Beuren has the initiative.

In reply to GM (msg # 65):

He readies his crossbow.  12:00, Today: Beuren Evos rolled 13 using 1d20 ((13+4 Mod = 17)).

I would like to have him position for a good shot and fire at mismatched spider creature.  The question is, can I, and is is the creature something that appears threatening or intelligent. I can cetainly shoot at creature number 1.  But is it just a Golem or is it even threatening?

If hits.  13:02, Today: Beuren Evos rolled 8 using 1d8 ((8 + 2 to hit)).
This message was last edited by the player at 18:10, Mon 10 Aug 2020.

Beuren drops his trident and draws his crossbow as he spins to face the north wall and the creatures that Speaks revealed. He squeezes the trigger and a bolt arcs through the air and impacts the creature square in the spine. It thrashes around wildly attempting to remove the feathered spike. It's mouth wide in what should be a shriek of pain is silent as it loses its grip on the wall and falls to its death on the rubble below.

A sudden explosion of pain rips through your minds as the silent cries of the little creature tear their way through your brain.

Reaction: Upon death, psychic blast, 20' radius. DC8 Intelligence Save negates any affects. Failure: Incapacitated for 1 round.

Batri and Sitra are able to keep their focus while Beuren and Speaks With Ghosts are overcome by the creatures painful death.

Beuren and Speaks are Incapacitated for 1 round. An incapacitated creature can't take actions or reactions.

Groans of pain come from the arrow slits above Sitra's head, it appears that whoever is up there was not immune to the dying creature. What first sounded like another victim of the death scream turns into the chanting of a spell, spectral skulls, their mandible's clacking out a horrendous laugh, fly out of the arrow slit behind Beuren and encircle him.

Unable to resist their influence, Beuren, still struggling with the pain in his mind is overcome with a terrifying laughter. He collapses to the ground unable to do anything but laugh, and laugh, and laugh.

Beuren failed a DC 12 Wisdom Saving Throw vs. the spell. He will be Incapacitated until the spells duration expires or makes a successful Save.

Batri has the initiative.

It seemed for a moment like all of Batri’s confidence was just bluster as he was the last to act upon the ambush.  Still, when his action came it was decisive if odd. Unlike the others, he sheathes his blade quickly rubbing his hands on his tunic before taking three great strides towards a corner by the eastern wall.  He uses his momentum to spring from one angle of the corner to the other gaining height as he does and vaulting over the wall containing the arrow slits.  There is a scuffling from above punctuated by vicious grunts as he encounters whomever is up there.

OOC: Free: sheathe sword
 Move: run 2n 1e
Vertical jump(4+m) and vault over wall moving 1 more east.  By my calculation I have 1 more hex to move to achieve the next action. He will move as appropriate.

Action - attack/shove. He will use the attack action to grab the nearest individual and toss him over the wall(5 foot push)
Athletics for shove- 18:53, Today: Batri Shom rolled 19 using 1d20+5.  Athletics Incapacitated opponents automatically fail

Bonus action - cunning action dash.  Give him another 30 feet of movement to set up for the push.  Will use any remaining movement to close with any other opponent.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:48, Mon 10 Aug 2020.

Sitra eyes crackle with the same red light from before as he absorbs the psychic energy from the little creature's death scream.

Reaction: I use Power Siphon after succeeding at an Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma saving throw against a magical effect. I restore 2 psi points.

Batri clears the ledge with ease and bowls into the incapacitated enemy hiding behind it. He rolls to his feet and in one swift move shoves the incapacitated figure over the ledge where he lands with sickening thud as his neck breaks. The dim light from the guttering torch makes it difficult to make out details as Batri closes with a second figure.

Meanwhile the companion creature to the one Beuren killed skitters down the wall and launches itself at Speaks, claws shred through the calf of the defenseless ramkurgi adding physical pain to her mental anguish and spraying blood over the laughing philosopher.

New Round

The Cultists have initiative.

Batri's display of athletics and brutality snaps the cultist he's confronting from his mental fog, perhaps a bit too late for him to do anything but accept his coming fate.

The remaining hidden cultist chants another curse and sends a sickly green bolt of crackling energy at hideously laughing Beuren.

Beuren has the Initiative

Luckily for the philosopher, the spell misses him though it seems to give Beuren the needed focus to break the effects of the first spell.

Successful DC 12 Wisdom Saving Throw. Beuren is Prone and unarmed, but is no longer Incapacitated. He cannot act this round.

Batri has the Initiative

Batri draws his blade again intent on his opponent.  “Now you die.”

Some would claim that the scimitar is a weapon of finesse, but in Batri’s hand it is much more a weapon of power blade flexing with each strike.

OOC:  actions draw sword and attack
To hit - 05:57, Today: Batri Shom rolled 25 using 1d20+5 ((20)).   CRITICAL! BOOYAH!
Damage 06:00, Today: Batri Shom rolled 7 using 2d6+3 ((3,1)). (dice doubled for crit)

Move: if he drops his opponent he will climb back down using his move/ bonus to dash otherwise he will remain engaged.  Final position on move 1S 2W 1S

A force of nature, Batri butchers the cultist in front of him, a minor inconvenience on his way back down to the door he was investigating.

Speaks has the Initiative

Speaks tries to clear her head, blood pours out of the wound on her leg and her head throbs with the echoes of the dying creature.

Speaks is no longer Incapacitated but cannot act this round.

Sitra has the initiative

Sitra's hand crackles with the same red nimbus of energy as he points at the twisted hommonculus that just attacked Speaks. A translucent wave rolls forward and into it.

Action: Using Psychic Hammer to attack it. 6 force damage. DC 13 Consitution save for half damage; if failed also knocked prone.

08:08, Today: Sitra Mor rolled 6 using 1d6.  Psychic Hammer.

Edited because I forgot the DC.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:15, Tue 11 Aug 2020.

The energy rolls over the homonculus, its motions become less fluid and more like a malfunctioning clockwork, but it continues clawing Speaks legs drawing forth more blood and dragging the duergar ever closer to unconsciousness.

Successful Constitution Save. Successful Attack. Speaks is down to 4hp.

New Round

Speaks has the Initiative

Speaks will stand up and cast Cure Wounds on herself.
10:04, Today: Speaks With Ghosts rolled 3 using 1d8+2.  Cure Wounds.
Sigh.... She takes out Mossrock and prepares to defend herself against the creature next round.

Spectral images entwine Speaks leg as her ancestors seek to stave off her death.

The homonculus chitters silently like an animated doll as it swats at the sirits rather than Speaks.

Attack Misses.

Batri has the initiative.

The hulking man takes a step back before kicking the door with all of his might in an attempt to get to the mage stuttering for a moment before he goes through in an attempt to throw off anyone on the other side.

OOC: action - kick the door... hard.
Strength roll(?) - 11:36, Today: Batri Shom rolled 23 using 1d20+3 ((20)).   Umm eff you door.

Bonus - cunning action stealth?  Why not - 11:38, Today: Batri Shom rolled 14 using 2d20+4, keeping the lowest dice only ((18,10)).
Move - approach nearest visible enemy otherwise he will start heading through the door and west.

The door disintegrates under Batri massive boot and the goliath quickly realizes that he can only see a tiny sliver of the area beyond the door thanks to a lack of light.

I'll let you repost your actions for everything after the kicking down of the door.

OOC:  he will move 1e and still stealth in case anyone comes through the door

Batri disappears through the doorway.

Beuren has the initiative.

Beuren is Prone and Unarmed.

In reply to GM (msg # 80):

He grabs for his trident and moves to disengage the second humunculus from Speaks. 12:34, Today: Beuren Evos rolled 9 using 1d20+2 ((7)) attack with trident.

12:38, Today: Beuren Evos rolled 5 using 1d6 ((5)) damage with trident.

Telling you, the fighting bard
This message was last edited by the player at 17:39, Tue 11 Aug 2020.

The homonculus easily sidesteps the trident piercing offered by Beuren.

Sitra has the initiative.

Sitra brings his fist down as a wave of force mimics the movement and crushes down on the creature.

Action: Psychic Hammer: 5 force damage, DC 13 Con save for half, falls prone on fail.

14:49, Today: Sitra Mor rolled 5 using 1d6.  Psychic Hammer.

Forgot to label what kind of save.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:56, Tue 11 Aug 2020.

Once again the psychic energy rolls over the homonculus, it remains standing though the damage is more obvious this time as the creatures entire body jitters horribly.

From somewhere beyond the doorway Batri burst through, you hear someone screaming as the sound of his voice moves further away, [Language unknown: "Din latnd! Fiine ll! Artre om Sanvorver! Iou os!"]


New Round

Unless picked up, the torch will gutter out at the end of this round.

Beuren has the initiative.

In reply to GM (msg # 84):

Beuren picks up the torch.  Noting it is going to go out.  Beuren attempts to stab the humuculus with his trident.

17:03, Today: Beuren Evos rolled 3 using 1d20+2 ((1)).

I assume the trident goes flying into the wall.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:06, Tue 11 Aug 2020.

Beuren very nearly drops his trident as he juggles it and the torch.


The homonculus continues its assault on Speaks, raking its claws once again across her leg, brutally savaging the efforts her ancestors had put forth to save her.

Batri has the Initiative.

Batri charges back from the door brushing past Beuren as he does to try toland a sword stroke on the creature. “The mage has gone for help and they are sending something big.  Prepare.”  With that he brings his sword down towards the thing bracing for the coming psychic storm.

OOC: Move directly south of thing 2.
Action attack with scimitar
To hit: 19:01, Today: Batri Shom rolled 11 using 1d20+5 ((6)).
Damage: 19:03, Today: Batri Shom rolled 7 using 2d6+3 ((1,3)).   Includes sneak attack damage because it’s adjacent to an ally

The erratic behavior of the homunculus is proving too difficult even for Batri who narrowly misses the creature.

A low rumbling roar is heard coming from the door that Batri smashed.

Sitra has the initiative.

"They called it the 'Brute'. We should try to keep it at the door."

Sitra swats the air as another wave if telekinetic force slams the creature.

Action: Psychic Hammer, 1 force damage, DC 13 Con save for half, falls prone on fail

19:33, Today: Sitra Mor rolled 1 using 1d6 ((1)).

Sitra finally knocks the creature down, though it doesn't seem to be damaged much by the psychic force this time around.

The homonculus is Prone.

Speaks has the Initiative.

Get ready!  This is gonna hurt us as much as it does him....
Speaks swings Mossrock over her head and brings it down on the creature. Attacking with advantage because of melee attack on a prone target.

18:51, Today: Speaks With Ghosts rolled 8 using 1d20+5.  Attack on prone homunculus.

18:52, Today: Speaks With Ghosts rolled 24 using 1d20+5. Attack on prone homonculus

18:53, Today: Speaks With Ghosts rolled 8 using 2d6+3.  damage roll.

Speaks smashes Mossrock down on the homonculus, despite her wounds, extinguishing the magic that kept it alive and releasing the psychic scream as it dies. You are prepared now and steel yourselves against the pain.

Successful Intelligence Saves. Sitra is outside the blast radius.

Sitra has the initiative

"We should be careful. If there is a monster coming it would be better to fight it in here," Sitra says as he squeezes behind the party.

Bonus Action: Begin focusing on Blind Spot.

Action: Ready Harassing Figment if someone hostile comes through the door.

Move: 1 north, 5 west

Batri has the Initiative.

“You’re right.  Everyone behind me.  Ready your weapons and we will take whatever comes through the door.  They will likely take the arrow loop again so stay behind here.”

Batri trades scimitar for crossbow, settling closer to the wall in a hopes to not be seen at least for a moment and sites in on the door.

OOC:  Action : readying an action to fire my crossbow at whatever comes through the door.

Bonus: hide s best I can pulling close to the rock.
Stealth - 13:52, Today: Batri Shom rolled 12 using 2d20+4, keeping the lowest dice only ((8,11)).

Rolling attack and damage here to speed things up later
To hit - 13:53, Today: Batri Shom rolled 5 using 1d20+4 ((1)).  That’s not going to go well...

Beuren has the initiative.

In reply to GM (msg # 96):

He readies his crossbow to fire on anything that comes in the door.

Rolling attack and damage here to speed things up later


12:14, Today: Beuren Evos rolled 12 using 1d20+4 ((8)).

Beuren Evos rolled 10 using  1d8+2 (2)
This message was last edited by the player at 22:37, Fri 14 Aug 2020.

Speaks has the Initiative.

Speaks casts her last spell of the day.  Cure Wounds on herself. 18:07, Today: Speaks With Ghosts rolled 7 using 1d8+2.  Cure Wounds.  Then she grasps Mossrock in both hands, moves up next to Beuren (East 1 square, South 1 square) and waits to see what come through the door.

The ancestral spirits of Speaks people sooth the savagery inflicted upon her by the homonculus. Refreshed, she moves into position to extract more than a little payback as Beuren drops the torch to ready his crossbow. Just then a creature steps into the light and through the door, for something called 'The Brute' it is rather diminutive, standing only a head shorter than Batri.

It resembles nothing more than a humanoid shaped pile of muscles. It's frame is wrapped in corded muscle upon corded muscle. Its skin is stretched across the barrel-like torso, but its creator seems to have ran out and simply stitched hides from various sources together to cover what they could. Someone's face is likewise attached to straps and worn like a mask that doesn't move as the beasts jaws hang slack below it, some sort of ichor drooling out.

It's hands appear to be small anvils bolted to its overly long forearms, which drag along the stone floor, while its legs end in what had once been boots that have long worn away along with some of the feet that were inside them.

From behind the wall that Batri leans against a shout rings out,

Batrti, apparently surprised by the voice, squeezes the trigger for the crossbow before he can raise it at The Brute and the bolt careens off the floor instead of his target. Beuren's bolt is closer to the mark though it only grazes the beast not able to penetrate its hide. Sitra is only slightly more successful as he unleashes psychic energy at the creature, the only visible effect seems to be an increase in the ichor drooling out from the mask.


Map and character sheets updated.

New Round

Sitra has the initiative.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:58, Sat 15 Aug 2020.

"Damn golems," Sitra says as he concentrates again and red sparks crackle over his head as a translucent rolls towards the thing in the doorway.

Bonus Action: Focus on Psychic Hammer.

Action: Use Psychic Hammer. 5 force damage. DC 13 Con save for half. On Fail fall prone.

14:12, Today: Sitra Mor rolled 5 using 1d6.  Psychic Hammer.

Sitra's psychic energy smashes into the golem and, as the spells name suggests, hammers the golem flat onto the ground.

Golem is Prone.

Speaks has the initiative.

Bonus Action: Rage.  Speaks lets out a mighty roar, moves 5 feet diagonally SE up to the prone Golem and slams Mossrock down onto its head. (Attack with Advantage against a prone target)

RAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!

16:27, Today: Speaks With Ghosts rolled 7 using 1d20+5.  Rage attack against prone golem.
16:27, Today: Speaks With Ghosts rolled 16 using 1d20+5.  Rage attack against prone golem.
Damage if necessary: 8 HP
16:28, Today: Speaks With Ghosts rolled 8 using 2d6+5.

If the creature appears dead after that hit, Speaks will move through the door to the nearest target that she can see. (Haven't seen what on the other side of the door, so not sure what direction that will be)

If the creature is still attempting to rise or move, Speaks will move to the east side of the door to the far side of the creature (2 squares east, 1 square south)

An ancient spirit filled with anger appears behind Speaks, dispersing into a mist it flows into her eyes. She charges forth and smashes her families weapon into the creatures back. The snapping of bone can be heard and a burst of ichor splashes forth from the golems mouth, yet it rises shakily to its feet.

Ignoring the raging duergar, it attempts to stumble towards Beuren.

Speaks can make an attack of opportunity.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:12, Sat 15 Aug 2020.

Don't ignore me!!!

17:14, Today: Speaks With Ghosts rolled 19 using 1d20+5.  opportunity attack.
damage if necessary

17:15, Today: Speaks With Ghosts rolled 14 using 2d6+5.  damage roll.

And stay down!!

Speaks smashes the golems head with Mossrock, the golem collapses to its knees, black ichor bubbling up from ruined mess that was once its head, and then falls forward with a wet thud.

Map has been updated

Beuren has the initiative

Are there any other enemies?  If there are no other enemies he inspects the destroyed golem.

None that you can see.

In reply to GM (msg # 108):

He moves forward to confront whatever horrors await him.   Such a pace that takes him the equivalent of three map squares east and two south placing him substantially near the arrow slit.  Yet while doing this his is preparing his trident to lunge as well as avoiding a clear shot from the arrow slot as best as possible. Effectively, he will be near the party companion (with the mace icon) so as to assist that companion as necessary in actual combat.  And his stomach is queezy.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:13, Mon 17 Aug 2020.

Beuren cautiously moves forward, stopping just before the door and illuminating a slightly larger part of the hallway beyond.

I'm assuming that he picked the torch up and brought it with him. Let me know if that is wrong and I'll edit the map and post.

Batri has the Initiative.

Batri casually trots past Beuren and through the door as he reloads his crossbow and speaks in a language that seems less than familiar to him.  [Language unknown: “Plilma insom lami.  Po p ioufi.  Atipa tedaveouners.”]

Ooc:  move and bonus cunning action to move 1S from beuren(through door)
Action - ready an attack for the first enemy to present themself.

Preemptive to hit roll: 05:49, Today: Batri Shom rolled 12 using 1d20+4 ((8)).

Damage: 05:49, Today: Batri Shom rolled 6 using 1d8+2 ((4)).

You hear someone curse and then quick footsteps running away from the party, followed by the sound of a door slamming closed.

Combat is over. You can post normally.

Map Updated
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:07, Mon 17 Aug 2020.

Hearing the fleeing steps, Batri takes a moment to sling his crossbow and light a second torch. “We should hurry in case there are enough of them to mount a resistance.”

"Agreed. Hopefully with less of those things." Sitra glances at the pile of mangled parts.


Sitra gathers himself to follow behind when the group moves forward.

Speaks comes down out of her rage.
Lead on, Batri.  I'm behind you.

Batri, I am right behind you.  He follows, but is cautiously watching the groups back in case there is an attack from the rear.  His crossbow in loaded and ready to fire.  If there is another torch, he lights it.  He will follow the group at the same pace as their movement but roughly two paces behind the main body of the group.  He is keenly paying attention to any movement or signs of light/changes in light behind them.

Batri shrugs at Sitra, “It never came up.  Besides, its better people assume you can’t understand them.  Then they make mistakes.”

Batri barely gets a few steps before his torchlight falls across a stretch of cavern that is covered in rubble. While not enough to stop forward movement, it is certainly enough to make the walk more difficult.

All squares with the triangles are considered Difficult Terrain

At the end of the cavern, at the very edges of the torchlight, is a door, likely the one that everyone heard slamming closed earlier.




Map has been updated

Batri crouches down, examining the path. “Traps.  Many of them.  Follow my steps and do not stray from the path.”

He then confidently steps into the rubble field.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:30, Mon 17 Aug 2020.

Sitra carefully follow along in the trail in the rubble.

Speaks carefully follows the path

Following the trail, single file, that zigzags through the rubble gets you through without incident, until the door blocks your progress.

This door, while old, is sturdier than the last one.

He is cautiously still guarding the rear of the pack with an eye to being attacked.  Again he proceeds about two paces behind the rest of the pack, but careful to avoid the traps as zigzagging through the rubble.

“Sitra, come examine this door with me.  Let’s see if they have left us more traps.”

OOC: helping Sitra check for traps... 

Sitra takes a look at the door.

Investigate with Advantage.3

18:54, Today: Sitra Mor rolled 11 using 1d20+3.  Investigation.

18:54, Today: Sitra Mor rolled 4 using 1d20+3.  Investigation.

Sitra looks over the door with Batri holding the torch closer and offering advice.

"It looks safe to me."

Batri gently tries the door to see if it is locked.

The door is locked

Batri grumbles as he pulls a diminutive set of tools from his possessions, “Here is where we missed a tiny needle and I die a horrible death.  It was good knowing you all.”

OOC:

Thieves tools - 10:33, Today: Batri Shom rolled 8 using 1d20+4 ((4)).

Guess I’ll be kicking the door

After fussing over the lock for a few minutes, Batri realizes the satisfying click he's looking for is nowhere to be found.

Shit, you kicking the door?  Anyone look for spring traps?

Batri calmly puts his tools away.  “So much for the cold embrace of death.  Speaks with ghosts, would you like to smash this one?  I don’t want to have all the door kicking fun.  Sitra and I promise that it is unlikely you will trigger a trap.

Looks down at her clawed up leg.  "Thought I had already had most of the "fun".

She tries to kick the door open but her recent injuries to her leg make it clear that she can't quite get the proper footing.

15:17, Today: Speaks With Ghosts rolled 4 using 1d20+3.  Strength check.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:21, Tue 18 Aug 2020.

Perhaps together, we might stand a chance, Batri?

Speaks puts a boot to the door the pain is instantly recognizable as her superficially heled leg buckles just enough to remind her of what trauma it had suffered.

Speaks is going to need a moment

Balls of Dormammu, I am not cramming up there with all of you.  Someone knock this shit down.  He paces back and forth, but is still paying attention to the corridor from which they came.

“You recover.  I will give it a go. Next time remember the side opposite the hinges.”  He waits a moment for Speaks to be able to move out of the way on her own power before trying to repeat his earlier performance.

OOC:

And kick.... 16:29, Today: Batri Shom rolled 20 using 1d20+3 ((17)).

Batri kicks the door open, the sound echoes down the corridor on the other side. Beyond the door, the cavern stretches to the south, the western wall is unworked stone while the eastern wall retains the worked stone of the temple. The floor is uneven, where the temple construction has sunk or bulged during its collapse.

Light emanates from another source just around a corner to the southeast, allowing more of the southern tunnel to be seen.

Map has been updated

Batri gestures for the rest to follow as he proceeds slowly down the corridor observant for more traps or ambush.

Batri quietly enters the corridor, his torch illuminating it even further. He creeps to the corner where the other light is emanating and quickly glances in. He spots two individuals, one in red robes with a disfigured face and long, pointed ears, the other is a humanoid hyena with a missing hand, dressed in filthy clothes and leather armor. They are both looking in Batri's direction, the man in the robes appears to be tense and ready for action, the other appears calm and...curious?

The "room" they are in appears to be the sleeping chambers for someone with a pile of furs in the southeast corner near where the man in robes is standing.

They do not appear to have noticed Batri.

OOC: From here can I fell if they are armed?

The robed man has a dagger on his belt. The other is unarmed.

A Furry Convention?

Speaks With Ghosts slips past Sitra and Batri.  If neither of them tries to stop her, she's going to do what she does.  Moving straight down the hall to the east, using a Bonus Action to Rage along the way, She will end up in the square just south of the Hyena-man and swing Mossrock at the red robed man.

Vengeance for A'ikud!!!

17:30, Today: Speaks With Ghosts rolled 6 using 1d20+5.  Attack roll.

As Speaks rounds the corner and charges, the cultist in the red robes reacts as if expecting just such an occasion, he chants some arcane words and a bolt of blue-green energy tears through the air towards the duergar. Speaks uses the last shred of her rational mind to twist out of the way of the oncoming magic, managing to avoid it, but throwing off her balance in return. Her wild swing misses the cultist entirely as chips fly from Mossrocks impact into the stone floor.

The one-handed gnoll does not shy away from Speaks, nor does it take any sort of aggressive stance.

We are now in combat. Do not post any actions until you have the initiative.

Map has been updated

Batri and Beuren have the initiative

Batri charges in to help his friend, pressing behind her to engage the cultist.  As he does he makes eye contact with the gnoll, “If you do not attack we have no quarrel with you.”

OOC:
Move And bonus cunning action to dash 1s 5e 1s
That will trigger an Aoo from the gnoll if it desires.

Attack on cultist withscimitar

To hit 20:05, Today: Batri Shom rolled 25 using 1d20+5 ((20)).
Damage for crit with sneak attack 20:06, Today: Batri Shom rolled 20 using 4d6+3 ((4,1,6,6)).
This message was last edited by the player at 00:10, Thu 20 Aug 2020.

In reply to GM (msg # 146):

He shoots his crossbow at chanting man.  He rolled a 7 on 1d20 (3) +4.  Damage was a 10 at  1d8 (8) +2

Batri's attack severs the cultists head from his body, a ghastly head with the ears of an elf, but the face of someone else stitched on.

Beurens crossbow bolt glancing off Batris armor draws his attention back to the moment at hand.

Combat is over. You can post normally.

Sitra steps up and looks down the alcove as he clears his voice. "Ahem. Hello, are you part of the cult?"

Beuren linger in the back of the group, again guarding the rear.  Not for the first time he reflects on the fact that maybe, just maybe, he should have taken that offer to be the backup drummer for "Elfin John" on the recent tour.

The gnoll remains calm, almost nodding approvingly at Batri and Speaks, behind him on the wall are mounted a collection of hands in various stages of decomposition. Each hand is holding a weapon, also in various stages of decay.

"I'm not. Though I was employed by them."

“Seems they paid you poorly.  For what though?”   He begins rifling through the cultists robes.  “Good job, Beuren.  Keep watch there may be more of them.”

"They didn't pay me,at least not in coin. I simply had to stop people like you from doing what you are currently doing." he grins a toothy smile with some teeth missing. "You won't find anything of value. At least nothing like normal possessions. They don't care about that stuff." he points at the ill-fitting skin mask, "Beauty is all they crave."

“Even the crazed need to eat.”  He shrugs, “So, how did they pay you for your excellent service?”

He stands from his position over the corpse, “And how many more of them are there in here?”

"A promise to restore something lost and a chance to indulge in my art." he replies with glance at the wall of hands.

"Not really sure how many are left. Not exactly stable people." he shrugs.

Beuren is very cautious and still guarding the groups back.  He maintains his current position.

Sitra glances at the wall of hands. "Do you know how many of them there are?"

He shakes his head, "Nope."

"Do they have any more of those...uh," Sitra pauses a moment as he looks for a translation. "brutes?"

"I don't remember more than one, but I really didn't care enough to keep track of these people. They just weren't that interesting or important."

Speaks is quietly letting the talky party members talk, but it's obvious she has great disgust for this gnoll and his cavalier attitude.  Mossrock is still firmly gripped in her hands.

“So...  You worked for them, but have no information for us.  Apparently your skills are only useful to insane cultists.  That, to me, makes you a liability.  So, one more question, why do I let you live?”

His posture shifts ever so slightly as a toothy grin splits his snout, "I haven't sounded the alarm. For one."

For someone who seems uncertain about how many other people are here, you are very confident that raising an alarm would actually be worthwhile.   Why are you lying to us?

"Lying?" his expression changes to reflect a bemused thought, "I guess a bluff could be called lying. But, you're right, sounding an alarm may or may not be worthwhile. It could also be that I genuinely do not care what happens to these people."

He crosses his arms and leans back against the wall, "Right now they're having a ritual. Likely making more twisted creatures or skinning some poor saps face off for the cultists to wear." he shrugs, "I honestly don't care. It's not my face, I'm not pretty enough." he nods towards Beuren and winks.

"After that, they make a meal with any leftovers." he spreads his arms wide, "I do not care if you believe me. A simple walk down that hall to a set of doors and a quick listen will settle it. As for me, I have done nothing to you or stopped you. We can part, go our separate ways, maybe have an ale or two if we see each other again, or..." his voice shifts into a measured, deeper tone, "...we can see what happens when you follow through with your desires."

In reply to GM (msg # 166):

Beuren blushes at the winking gnoll.  If we leave you alone, what are you going to do?  Also, any chance you would consider helping us?

"Leave this hole and find something else to do." he says matter of factly, "As for helping, no, I have some standards. They're crazy, but they haven't done anything to me."

“Sit.  I will bind and gag you.  I can not take the risk of leaving you free while we end these monsters.  When we are done.” He shrugs, “Then we will let you go get and clear. I would rather not discuss other options.  You’re a professional I am sure you understand.”

He mulls it over for a moment, "And if you fail, I have a convenient excuse, though I am left to your word or their whims..." he pauses, waiting for a response.

While the Gnoll was talking, Speaks put down Mossrock and was rummaging through her pack.  She pulls out 50 feet of hempen rope and hands it to Batri.   "I believe the man said 'sit'." 
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 14:04, Mon 24 Aug 2020.

"He did. I assume there is no guarantee you won't gut me the minute I am bound? Why should I agree to this?"

In reply to GM (msg # 172):

"Because I guarantee that you will die here and now if you don't."


09:24, Today: Speaks With Ghosts rolled 3 using 1d20-1.  Intimidation check.

OOC: I may not be Charismatic enough to be Intimidating, but the Gnoll is welcome to do an Insight check on how serious I am.

The gnoll's snout forms a cruel mockery of a smile, his eyes dead, like a shark circling prey, "That, would be a bad day indeed." he says as he takes a seat. Then, just as quickly the, cold menace is replaced with a much more relaxed and jovial one, "I shall await your return and my rescue noble knights."

After the gnoll is tied, Beuren pats the gnoll on the arm.  We'll be back buddy.  Promise.

“We will be back shortly.  Perhaps you should use this time to reflect on the choices that brought you to this moment.”  Batri returns to his place at the front of the group, “Let’s finish this.  I could use a drink.”

Before he leaves Batri studies the hands on the wall, “Art is so subjective.”

OOC: what are the weapons represented?

The wall is covered with examples of nearly every kind of single-handed weapon with some sort of blade, from daggers to sickles. Each in a state of disrepair and being held by a severed hand in a similar state of rot.

Each hand is a right hand and each blade is covered in hash marks in the style usually seen when marking kills.

Batri holds up his right hand and clenches it into a fist as he examines the wall, “What do people call you?  Other than butcher that is.”  He reaches out to an arbitrary dagger stopping just short of touching it.

He nods at the dagger, "Ah yes, that one took a while to finish." he takes a momen apparently following a memory, before responding, "These people call me 'One-Hand'." he wiggles his stump to illustrate his point, "Creative."

“Well, One Hand, if you are not here when we return I will hunt you down and take your other hand.  Otherwise perhaps a drink at a tavern.”

He turns returning to the previous path.

"We are such a diplomatic group," Sitra muses as he follows behind.

"I will be right on this spot." One Hand replies cheerfully.

Continuing on, your torches illuminate the pair of double doors that One Hand spoke of. The tunnel continues on a few more paces before ending. The doors appear to be much newer and sturdier than any doors you've previously encountered.

Map has been updated

Batri cautiously approaches the Edge of the door, listening carefully for sounds on the other side.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:11, Tue 25 Aug 2020.

In reply to Batri Shom (msg # 183):

I do?

The doors are made of a dark metal and carved with swirling symbols in patterns that are slightly nauseating.

Beuren retreats to the back in his role of rear guard for the group.

Batri steps away from the door and whispers to the others, “They are through here.  Chanting...  we might be able to enter quietly though it is hard to count on that.  I would say to burn them out, but there isn’t enough wood for that.”

"We probably don't have time for that anyways. We should disrupt whatever they're doing."

Batri nods, “Then let’s examine the door and hopefully it will be unlocked.  We can open it quietly and then rush the cultists.  Good plan?”

"Well it's a plan."

It's difficult to study the door, the carved shapes seem to twist and move at the edge of your vision.

Sitra Mor leans in to carefully look at the swirls on the door. "I don't think there are any spells on it but the metal is magical."

The metal has a matte texture and is dark gray in color with veins of purple and green.

Sitra squints as he follows the aching patterns on the surface. "I think it's origin is Abyssal."

“Is it going to cause trouble when I open it?”

"I... don't know.",

What the f-ck is going on up there?  Why we stopped?

"I'm not sure what the hold-up here is.  But we can't stand here all day."
Speaks With Ghosts attempts to open the door.

Athletics check (if needed)

17:04, Today: Speaks With Ghosts rolled 8 using 1d20+5.  Athletics check.

The doors swing open easily, the discolored veins in the metal distort and stretch out to where Speaks touches them, like an alchemists lightning in a globe.


A strange light, more akin to a glow, illuminates the area beyond the doors, a thin wooden platform hugs the wall, it's support beams dropping nearly 40' below into a massive cavern covered entirely in enormous mushrooms and strange fungi of all sorts.

The smell of saltwater, refuse, fungal spores and mold threatens to choke your airways and overwhelm your senses. The glow is coming from the vegetation below, the bio-luminescence of many hues is breathtaking.

The wooden platform wraps it's way to the south before widening and serving as the anchor point for a rope bridge that crosses the cavern and connects to what appears to be the continuation of the temple floor on the other side.

It is from here that the slow rhythmic thrum of chants can be heard and something else, a thin string of terror wends it way through the chant in the form of someone pleading, desperately, for...something. What that is can only be guessed at as it is quite suddenly cut off, leaving only the chanting.

Map has been updated.

Speaks looks at her hands after opening the door.  "Hmmmm....that's probably not good." she mutters under her breath.  "So....shall we?"  Looks around at the others before moving onto the platform and looking around the room.

OOC: Is there any way across to the other side without using the rope bridge?
 not sure which to use, Perception or Investigation.

Perception Check

10:43, Today: Speaks With Ghosts rolled 3 using 1d20+2.  Perception. (yep)

Investigation Check


10:45, Today: Speaks With Ghosts rolled 7 using 1d20.  Investigation Check.

If she doesn't see any other way (which I am sure she does not), Speaks will cross the rope bridge.

There is no other way across.

What are the rest of you doing?

Sitra waits for Batri to start across then follows.

I am in the rear as guard.  If they cross the threshold into the room, and there is space. I will be the last one in.

Batri removes a rope from his pack and ties it to Speaks with Ghosts before wrapping it around himself and anything he can use to get leverage.  “Go across then brace yourself.  The others can use the rope for support then I will go last.  Hurry, we want to interrupt whatever they are doing.”

The party makes it across the bridge with relative ease and quickly find out why. Several corpses that look like they were once cultists are strewn about south of the bridge. All are covered in fungus like that in the cavern below.


A symbol of a woman's face with only a single eye in the center of her forehead is carved into the wall of the building next to you. A strange text is painted around the face and across the wall, obviously done by many different hands and at different times. It resembles chaotic and random graffiti more than any structured display.



The chanting is much louder now and is coming from the building with the carvings. The smell of foul incense and heavy smoke seeps out from the door in the south wall. The bio-luminescence from the fungus is pulsing in time with the chanting coming from the building next you.


Map has been updated

We need to stop that chanting, NOW!  The fungus is growing every time they finish a phrase.

OOC: Is there a way across to the door without contacting the fungus?

It is possible to leap over it with an Athletics skill check

“Well, we only live once I suppose. Though I fear we made a mistake with our one handed friend in leaving him behind us.” Batri adjusts his equipment before taking a final deep breath and leaping over the fungus with a running start.

OOC:
Athletics -06:05, Today: Batri Shom rolled 25 using 1d20+5 ((20)).
Like a fucking cat.

Sitra looks down the crevasse and sighs before steeling himself and making the leap.

Action: Focus on Sixth Sense.
Bonus Action: Manifest Precognition.

Athletics to jump across.

09:05, Today: Sitra Mor rolled 11 using 1d20+1d4 ((8,3)).  Athletics w/ Precognition.

Speaks says a silent prayer to her ancestors before leaping over the bodies.


09:14, Today: Speaks With Ghosts rolled 9 using 1d20+5.  Athletics check.

Beuren sings a happy song in his head and leaps. He rolled an 18 with a d20.

The door before you is solid hardwood bound with bands of the same metal from the double doors. The wood is carved with eyes from top to bottom. Acrid smoke slides out from beneath it before dissipating.

Like the double doors, there are no handles or apparent locks.

Well, whatever these doors do, I already got it.  Let's do this.   Speaks will push open the door.

Athletics check if needed.

11:57, Today: Speaks With Ghosts rolled 17 using 1d20+5.  Athletics check.

The door opens easily revealing the inside of the building and a macabre murder scene. Hunched in the flickering light of torches on the walls are a motley collection of thickly tattooed humans with long daggers, twisted monsters, and prone victims. Two of the creatures are horrid, featuring the heads of halflings, the faces peeled off, stitched onto the still bloody shoulders of recently slain children. The creatures’ eyes, and their bodies where skull meets neck, glow the same weird blue as the homunculi you killed earlier and the same blue as the medallion around the neck of the woman in robes on stairs at the back of the room. She booms “Kill them quickly, beautiful ones!” in a bass voice that must be augmented by magic, since it shakes the walls and makes the thick, toxic-smelling smoke that eddies around the room surge forward.

The rooms around the edge of the building are more like cells, with rusting bars running from floor to ceiling, the cell doors are open and each contains future victims, alive or dead is difficult to discern.

Map has been updated

Beuren has the Initiative

Beuren, upon prior consultation, moves 1w casts thunder wave directly north at the little buggers in an attempt to kill their twisted fucking bodies.

Spell save is 12.  Attack bonus is +4. Beuren rolled 8 using 2d8. (3,5)

As a contingency, he prepares his crossbow to shoot.  He moves to the right of Sitra after casting to allow group members the chance to attack.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:13, Tue 01 Sept 2020.

Thunder rocks the cavern and the cultists within the room, sending one flying backwards into Ava Maihri and knocking both to the ground. The two sacrifice victims lying in the center of the room tumble across to impact the staircase, one remains still while the other screams out in agony.

The homonculi seem un-phased while the cultist in the doorway staggers but keeps its footing, a twisted smile warping the fleshy mask sewn to its face. The acrid smoke that had been pooling on the floor is blown back against the far walls and up to the ceiling where it disperses throughout the building making distinct shapes difficult to see.

Ava Maihri and Cultist 2 are Prone.

Any ranged attacks made at targets within the room have Disadvantage.

Map has been updated

Sitra has the Initiative
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:18, Wed 02 Sept 2020.

Sitra backs up against the rock wall so he can see into the room. Though no one else can see it Sitra mind reaches out to brush the mind of the cultist in the doorway.

Move 1 south.

Bonus Action: Focus on Blind Spot.

Action: Manifest Harassing Figment on C3. 1 Psi point.

6 psychic damage. DC 13 Int save for half. On Failure; target can't take reactions and melee attacks against them have advantage until the end of my next turn.

09:03, Today: Sitra Mor rolled 6 using 1d8 ((6)).
This message was last edited by the player at 13:05, Wed 02 Sept 2020.

The cultist screams and begins tearing at his eyes, ripping away the mask before collapsing, blood running from his ears and nose.

The largest of the tattooed cultists draws his sword and moves next to Ava Maihi and readies himself to protect her.

Map has been updated

Batri has the Initiative

The giant pats Speaks with Ghosts on the shoulder, “Time to make poor choices.”  He bounds past the barbarian and into the room, dodging far more gracefully than seems possible for a being of his size towards the head of this snake, raising his sword as he does.

OOC: you only live once

Bonus - disengage - for the remainder of his turn, Batri does not trigger opportunity attacks

Move - 3 N 1 NW

Action - attack Ava mahri
She is prone so I have advantage on my attack.  I have advantage therefore this is a sneak attack.

To hit 14:50, Today: Batri Shom rolled 15 using 2d20+5, dropping the lowest dice only ((4,10)).
Damage - 14:51, Today: Batri Shom rolled 8 using 2d6+3 ((4,1)).

The tattooed cultist moves with lightning reflexes to interpose himself in Batri's path. Expecting the goliath to strike at him instead, the cultist does nothing to block the strike and Batri's blade bites deep and lodges in the cultists ribs.

[Language unknown: "Sa loomur his, ut?"] he says in a voice that is far too soft for someone with his appearance. Batri can sense the smile beneath the bone mask he wears.

Removal of the blade from the cultist will require a Strength Check on your next action.

"Kill them!" shrieks Ava Maihi and the homonculi move to do just that, both of them attempting to rip flesh from Batri's hide and both missing as the goliath blocks and dodges as best he can with his scimitar stuck in the cultist.

Ava Maihi rises from the ground, kicking the cultist off of her as she does so. She then cautiously makes her way up the stairs towards the door, watching the melee below.

Speaks has the Initiative

Speaks looks at Sitra and Beuren.  "Try to kill her before she can flee."

Move 1 N into Batri's space
Attack the cultist with Batri's scimitar stuck in him.

17:29, Today: Speaks With Ghosts rolled 18 using 1d20+5.  Attack roll.
17:30, Today: Speaks With Ghosts rolled 11 using 2d6+3.  Damage roll.

If that drops the cultist, Speaks will move 1 N to stand over him.  If he is still up, Speaks will move 1 NE and allow Homunculus 1 an opportunity attack.

"Batri! Take my axe."  Speaks tries to maneuver so that Batri can take the battleaxe hooked to her back on his turn.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:46, Wed 02 Sept 2020.

Speaks gracefully passes by Batri and smashes the cultist in the chest knocking him flat to the ground, taking Batri's scimitar with him. Shattered ribs and bulging eyes are the last memories of the cultist as he dies.

The remaining cultists have gathered their senses and make their attempts to defend their cult. The cultist in front of Speaks stands and slashes at the duergar with her dagger, successfully getting Speaks attention if little else.

Speaks takes 1 HP Damage

The cultist furthest away, chants some arcane words and sends a series of chattering spectral skulls at Batri. They circle him looking for a crack in his will before dispersing, hideous laughter fading with them.

Successful Wisdom Save


New Round

Map has been updated

Batri has the Initiative

“Don’t mind if I do.” He snatches the axe off of Speaks back, grips it with both hands, and again charges gracefully across the room. Towards his original target, Ava Maihri.[Language unknown: “Ad Pe ndrea UGHEL ic.”]

Ooc:
Free object interaction to take the axe.
Bonus action to disengage can move without triggering aoo

Move NE N NW E

Action attack Ava
To hit: 12:48, Today: Batri Shom rolled 11 using 1d20+5 ((6)).
Damage? 12:49, Today: Batri Shom rolled 8 using 1d10+3 ((5)).(Versatile two handed)

Ava Maihi seductively smiles at Batri, "You should toss that axe into the ocean as fast as you can." she purrs.


She then passes through the door at the top of the stairs.

The cultists continue their assault on the intruders. Cultist 2 slices at Speaks while Cultists 1 chants a few arcane words and a sickly green and purple energy shoots forth from their fingers towards the duergar as well.

Cultist 2 strikes deep, inflicting a vicious wound on the Berbaran. The other cultist cries in desperation as the arcane forces fizzle with nothing more than sparks from her hand.

Critical Hit with dagger for 5hp

The homonculi chitter some unknown language between them before turning to run out of the building. Speaks growls as she smashes one of them into a paste with Mossrock, unleashing her pain into the grotesque construct.

The second construct exits the room, trampling through the growing fungus before charging at Beuren, "Brrrunnng prrrettt-ty wwwooonnnn." it gurgles as its chest bursts open, entrails grasping at the bard. The bard lithely avoids the attack foiling the homonculus' attempt to grapple him.

Map has been updated.

Sitra has the Initiative.

Sitra looks at the thing that strode next to him with disgust as he says, "Unacceptable." Red sparks crackle from his eyes as a massive wave of distorted light surges towards the thing before attempting to jump over the fungus into the doorway.



Bonus Action: Focus on Psychic Hammer.

Action: Manifest Telekinetic Push on 2. 2 Psi Points.
6 points of force damage. DC 13 Str save for half. On fail push back 10 feet.


14:21, Today: Sitra Mor rolled 6 using 2d8 ((5,1)).
Move

14:56, Today: Sitra Mor rolled 9 using 1d20 ((9)). Athletics

Sitra's powerful mind smashes the homonculus like a bug sending it tumbling through the fungus away from the embattled bard. Sitra's body does not perform as well, deciding to hop through the fungus rather than leap over it.

Map has been updated

Beuren has the Initiative

He moves 1w 1nw 1w to get a crossbow shot.

In reply to Beuren Evos (msg # 227):

He takes the shot.  Rolled an 8 with 1d20 (4+4)   If by some miracle he hit he rolled a 5 with 1d8  He is shooting at C2
This message was last edited by the player at 02:13, Sun 06 Sept 2020.

Beuren runs through the fungus and doorway into the room. he rapidly takes aim at the cultist fighting Speaks and fires, missing his target and luckily both Speaks and Batri.

Map has been updated

Speaks has the initiative

Speaks, covered in the blood of her enemies as well as her own, moves 1W to flank Cultist 2 and swings Mossrock at him/her(don't want to assume their gender).

Move:1W
Action: Attack Cultist 2 (no advantage due to Batri being too high on the stairs for a flank-clarified by DM)

10:07, Today: Speaks With Ghosts rolled 14 using 1d20+5.  Attack roll.
Damage if necessary:

10:08, Today: Speaks With Ghosts rolled 9 using 2d6+3.  damage roll.

If that hits and drops Cultist 2, Speaks will move 3E to engage Cultist 1.  Otherwise she will remain where she is.

Speaks jukes to the west as she smashes Mossrock into the cultist, cracking more ribs as his chest caves in. Without stopping she leaves a blood trail in her wake as she moves on to the spell casting cultist that remains.

The fungus outside continues to grow and expand, nearly covering Sitras legs as it enters the room.

Map has been updated.

New Round

Sitra has the Initiative

Pulling away from the fungal growth Sitra moves across the room to escape it. Along the way red sparks crackle across his head and distortion slams into the remaining cultist.


Move 3 squares North.

Bonus Action: Psychic Hammer on C1. 6 force damage; Con save for half, fall prone on a failure.

Action: Dodge.

Sitra's psychic energy proves to me no match for the hardy cultist.

Map has been updated

Batri has the initiative

Batri looks at the axe in his hands then after the fleeing woman and back to the axe before leaping from the stairs and running back the way the party came from.

Ooc:  move 3 S

If the cultist takes an aoo and hits:

Batri stops And , grips the axe with both hands before turning and hacking at the pathetic cultist ineffectually.

To hit: 13:07, Today: Batri Shom rolled 6 using 1d20+5 ((1)).

Otherwise, he takes a deep breath before charging through the fungus.  Batri will take the most direct Safe path to the ocean with a move, full action dash, bonus action dash for 90 feet of total movement per round.

The cultist does not attempt to interfere with Batri's escape.

Map has not been updated.

Speaks has the initiative.

Speaks blurts out as Batri runs past, "Hey!  What the...."   She turns back to Cultist 1.  "Damn it.  She's getting away!!"  Speaks angrily attacks Cultist 1.


15:55, Today: Speaks With Ghosts rolled 14 using 1d20+5.  Attack roll.
Damage if necessary:

15:57, Today: Speaks With Ghosts rolled 9 using 2d6+3.  damage roll.

If that drops Cultist 1, Speaks will move 2 NW and then 2E to the door and open it (Free Interaction), Should still have 15 more feet of movement to move through the door in pursuit of Ava Maihri.
If Cultist 1 is still alive after that, Speaks will move 1W to better position herself between Cultist 1 and Sitra and Beuren.

Mossrock impacts the cultist and while it doesn't lay her out, it does cause a great deal of discomfort.

Map has NOT been updated

Beuren has the initiative.

In reply to GM (msg # 237):

So someone is in front of me?  Shooting crossbow is not a good idea.  Could I do a trident stab without hitting my colleague?

Beuren moves to engage C1 with his trident in stabbing position.  He stabs.

Beuren Evos rolled 17 using 1d20 + 2 (19)   13:35, Today: Beuren Evos rolled 2 using 1d6 ((2)) trident stabbing damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:36, Wed 09 Sept 2020.