This fight reminded Sand of the battle he fought when he was alone with the ponies, against some of the undead horrors he encountered while travelling to Vertigo, many against one. Only this time, he was part of the many. There was a lot to process but the analytical mind of the warforged was up to the task. Scamp was still bringing the spear, so the throwing option was out of the book, as Clacker continued on his previous instructions, trying to wedge himself in the mass of bodies in the corridor to protect Andraste, and took a bite out of the paralyzed drow, unable to go closer to the leader.

Sand evaluated his chances to shoot at the leader and dismissed them, the press of the bodies too dense, the drow leader partially hidden behind his companion. Instead he decided to jump in the wolf's den and reached out behind his back to pick up his oversize shield, extended his hand where Scamp dropped the spear with a grateful hoot and move to the back of the corridor, ready to strike at the drow.



Clacker moves, standing as close to Andraste as possible
Sand’s BA, Force rend from the defender on the caster, 19 / 16 to hit (advantage), 12 (double dices value crit) force damage
Sand’s action, don his shield
Sand's move, bring him to the back of the corridor, creating a pinching maneuver with Andraste on the drow leader
This message was last edited by the player at 13:28, Sun 12 July 2020.

This message was last edited by the player at 14:11, Sun 12 July 2020.

Thorn suppressed her annoyance as she glanced down at the blue light liming her body. Faerie Fire. All the more reason to avoid their line of sight. Scanning the hall, she saw that while both Drow yet stood, the caster's body was frozen, his rapier menacing naught but empty air. Perfect. Again she flung her chakrams. One cut deep into the male's chest while the other slashed across his throat. Arterial spray splashed Aisling as he buried a razor sharp talon in his enemy's eye. Then the pair vanished around corner before the body hit the floor.

Thorn attacks with advantage.
Primary Weapon: 22
Damage: 11
Off-Hand Weapon: 16, 21
Damage: 12
Aisling makes a melee attack with advantage.
Attack: 10, 16
Damage: 10
Distracting Nuisance: When the stimfay successfully hits a creature with its talons, that creature cannot make opportunity attacks until the beginning of its next turn.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:08, Mon 13 July 2020.

In reply to Mathorn (msg # 57):

Once again, the Drow leader thought to himself, they underestimate the superiority of the Drow.  Sure, it was a pity that Yaznar was dead, but that was inconsequential to the task at hand.

In one swift movement the leader drops the hand crossbow and scoops up the rapier of his fallen brethren, rips the necklace off the glowing human woman's neck, and disappears in a puff of black smoke, only to reappear next to the Elven woman, whose music has been nothing but trouble and headaches.  So he buries his newly acquired rapier in her, up to the hilt, driving his point home as he whispers You....Are....Nothing.  (9 weapon damage + 12 poison damage)

Searing pain erupts into the Drow, wracking his body with an unholy light.  Angry and frustrated, he looks around to see where THIS could possibly be coming from.

He awkwardly makes a quick and silent hand gesture, using his hand with the necklace and dealing with this new found pain, and squares to face off with the other Thorn in his side, ...but not before a huge smile crosses his face, as another Drow enters the inn from the same doorway he originally entered in.

This is why the Drow were the dominant race and destined to take over the surface world.  Not once did any of these imbeciles think that there were more than just the two of them.  Sure, they didn't know how important this mission was, but that was besides the point.  We could have stripped this place of all life if that was our end goal, but to think that the surface scum never once thought to secure the door the Drow had come from, shows their incompetence and naivety.

The newest Drow, another Male, came rushing in with the speed of a Cheetah, and with similar speed, completes an arcane gesture sending waves of sticky webbing 20 feet long, and 5 feet deep throughout the mouth of the hallway, enveloping the foolish creatures within.  With the same speed it entered, the Drow takes the necklace from the Drow leader's hand and runs towards the mouth of the doorway he came in.  Thorin, takes a swing at the Drow as he rushes past, but the Drow is just too fast, his fist connecting with empty air.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:34, Wed 15 July 2020.

Searing pain flooded my abdomen. Looking down at the rapier hilt protruding from my body, I cringed. I had forgotten the drow were able to mimic my own ability with a spell. The drow next to me was in rough shape as well, serves him right. The other drow was now the problem. He cannot be allowed to crawl back to the Underdark with that amulet. Not if I can prevent it. The mystery drow probably wouldn’t expect me to stop him. In his eyes, I would be indisposed with his leader. Playing the same melody on my pan flute, I let the spell out.

You picked the wrong Eladrin to attack. How much do you know of the Queen of the Feywild? My Mother will not be pleased to hear of this.

Action: Hold Person on fleeing drow. Wis save DC 13
This message was last edited by the player at 16:20, Mon 13 July 2020.

As the strange metal rings and mechanical bird, I think it is supposed to be a type of Raptor,  streak passed me and savage the one Drow the leader rips a necklace from the strange woman’s neck before he is enveloped in a burst of dark smoke.

I look around quickly eyes wide. Where did he go? I turn just in time to see Althaea reel back from a blow, the Drow leader standing before her bloody rapier in hand. “Enough.” I call out and point my sword at the Drow calling on Rao’s power to punish those who violate his peace.

Suddenly, a dense web fills the hallway between me and the main room but I am able to force my way through coming out opposite the Drow leader from Althaea and sweep my sword low striking his leg hoping to hobble him.

Seeing another Drow frozen in place while fleeing I call out to the others, “Get the runner.”

Turn Summary
Move: Push through the web to flank the Drow leader
Action: Attack with advantage (20 to hit for 10 damage)

A lot happened in a few seconds. Blood gushed out of the frozen drow as the strange metal disks fly by him, nearly decapitating him. The drow that Sand was about to strike disappeared and struck Althaea in the back, before Andraste gestured at him and holy fire engulfed him, the drow screaming in pain.  And another Drow ran past, casting some kind on spider web in the passage, that Andraste powered through, before taking the stolen necklace from his companion and running out of sight, the paladin calling to get the runner.

But first, Sand needed to get out of the sticky strands, failing to avoid the initial strike (10 dex save). With a mighty heave, he started ripping the silk from the wall,(15 str check), before getting stuck again as he tried to walk through the rest of the web (12 dex save). If he knew how to curse, he would certainly be doing it now!

Clacker had more success, (15 dex save) dodging the web and running to Andraste, still following the trail on the drow, trying to cut his leg off with his mandibles. (16 to hit, 10 Force damage)

The owl familiar had been hovering over the battlefield, noting all that happened. He saw the drow take the bauble that had fascinated him a few minutes ago, give it to a fast moving enemy that was trying to escape. The little fey spirit wanted to see that bauble again, so he tucked his wings, dive bombing the running drow to try to grab the necklace from him.

Clacker moves to the leader and attacks with Sand’s BA
Sand uses his action to rip out of the web and moves out of the hallway as far as possible
Scamp tries to grab the necklace from the now paralyzed Drow
This message was last edited by the player at 16:44, Mon 13 July 2020.

Fear. It almost paralyzed Thorn at the appearance of the swift new Drow. A Monk. She was already wounded. He would close with her and then . . . she knew what would happen. As she fought to regain control of herself, to remember that things were different now, the Drow cast a web across the floor. Relief flooded her - he was just another mage.

Her mind clearing, she analyzed the battlefield. Althaea had frozen the new male as well, but she was badly wounded and still locked in combat with the leader. Trusting Aisling to distract him, Thorn released both chakrams. As she had anticipated, her enemy easily avoided the kite's metallic pinions, but in his graceful evasion he unthinkingly dodged to the exact spot where her chakrams converged. And ripped him apart.

Unwilling to take chances, even with an immobile caster, she ducked back behind the relative safety of the bar.

Aisling helps and then returns to Thorn.
Thorn attacks with advantage. She takes cover behind the bar.
Primary Weapon: 25
Damage: 8
Off-Hand Weapon: 7, 22
Damage: 12
This message was last edited by the player at 17:05, Mon 13 July 2020.

The chakram user once again found her mark. With the drow leader fallen beside me, I tucked my wand beneath my chin and pulled his rapier from my torso, dropping it to the floor before grabbing my wand from where it was nestled against my chest. This drow definitely underestimated my ability to restrain others. This fight could have gone a completely different direction had I not arrived before them. Due to the late arrival of this drow, I wondered if there were still more lying in wait, or how they came to be here in the first place.

Thorin, do you think you could investigate the storage area where the drow emerged from? I want to be sure we will not have any more surprise guests this evening.

Moving across the room to stand next to the paralyzed drow, I made a quick stab with my own rapier. My attack would not be enough to fell the drow, but I would take advantage of his suspended state to weaken him.

Free Action: Speak to Thorin.
Item Interaction: Pull rapier from my abdomen, drop it on the floor.
Move: 30ft to stand beside paralyzed drow.
Attack: Rapier (22, 21 to hit with advantage) 12 piercing damage

I watched as what I thought of as the Drow Leader was cut down by those flying discs as he evaded the metal bird. That was inconvenient; I was hoping to talk to him, maybe find out what he was after. Oh well, there is at least one more left maybe I will have better luck there.

Turning I advance on the frozen drow, beads of sweat form on his brow as he struggles to break free from the spell holding him. Althaea gets there before me and lunges at him with her rapier. The chances of taking this one alive are dwindling fast. I advance quickly and raise my sword high before bringing the hilt down on his head, "We want him alive if possible." I tell the others. If I can end this I can see about helping any of the injured

Turn Summary
Move: Advance to the last Drow in view.
Action: Attack with advantage (21 to hit for 17 damage)
This message was last edited by the player at 00:59, Tue 14 July 2020.

We want him alive if possible

Andraste had come up beside me and brought her sword down on the drow's head, knocking him unconscious. I was not sure if he would have continued to be held by my spell for another round. Pulling out my rope from where I kept it on my belt, I tied up the drows hands and feet so once he regained consciousness, he could not flee.

Looking around the tavern for Rory and Corsica, I called out, Rory, Corsica, is anyone injured?

Chakrams still at the ready, Thorn quickly scanned the room for additional threats. Finding none, she transferred her Hunter's Mark to the surviving Drow to improve her chances of killing or tracking him should he escape his bonds. Then she strode over to the corpses and began searching them with calm efficiency. Although deftly setting aside valuables, she clearly considered them a secondary concern. Aisling observed the proceedings with keen interest.

Thorn:
Transfers Hunter's Mark to the surviving Drow.
Investigation Check 5
Aisling:
Investigation Check: 5
They're looking for evidence of where the Drow came from and/or why they want the necklace. Also, shinnies.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:08, Tue 14 July 2020.

The Drow crumples under my blow and I take a second to look around for any more threats. With none in sight I turn back to find Althaea already binding the Drow's hands and feet. That is excellent; it is nice having help again.

I take a quick look around the room to check for injuries. The worst I can see is a woman who appears to have fallen into the fireplace during the fight, she is barely breathing, the smell of charred pork wafting off of her scalp. I move up beside her and take her hand while saying a soft prayer for Rao to intercede. I feel a chill run down my arm as his healing powers flow through me and in to her, her breathing improves and the burns recede leaving pale skin in their wake. This is still relatively new to me and I am thankful that he feels I am worthy to be his agent. I bow my head in silent thanks, pale blow hair damp with sweat hanging around my face.

Alright, whats next.

Sand groaned as he struggled in the web, watching the leader of the drows cut down by the metal disks, after a beautiful demonstration of coordination between the other metallic bird and it’s owner. Then both Althaea and Andresta  moved out of his view and suddenly the magical strands disappeared, like nothing had even been there, unbalancing the construct, that nearly fell at the lost of resistance. A couple of heavy steps later, he was able to get out of the hallway and surveyed the situation. The mysterious warrior was looting the bodies of the drows, Andresta was looking after a badly burned woman, Althaea tying up the third attacker,  Clacker watching over him, mandibles clacking  in anticipation for any unwanted movements.

A groan attracted his attention behind the bar, where a wounded man was lying down, a crossbow bolt in the chest. Sand didn’t know much about human anatomy, but he knew a serious wound when he saw one. Pulling on the bolt to remove it, he started a little chant, as magical healing energy coalesced over the man. (Cure Wounds, 6 Healing)

Scamp had not found the bauble he was looking for in the hands of the dark skinned humanoid. Hooting in frustration while Althaea was binding the drow, he started to look frantically for the necklace on the unconscious drow (investigation, 5)
This message was last edited by the player at 02:51, Tue 14 July 2020.

The remaining Drow, now unconscious and tied up, lies against the Northern wall, his back up against it.

Thorin, cautiously moves forward and closes his eyes.  You hear the sound of wood creaking and groaning inside the storage room, protesting against whatever magic Thorin silently casts.  When the magic is done, Thorin's eyes open and he turns to the group.

They broke in through the wall.  A tunnel lies behind the wood.  For now, we are safe, but will be up for discussion once we clean up this mess.

Hearing her name, Corsica, never one to keep her mouth shut, yells out: Doing OK back here.  None injured luckily.

With the chaos finally abated, Andraste and Sand rush to help those in need.  Andraste tends to the woman with serious burns, and Sand over to Rory, who was just a moment ago groaning and gurgling from behind the bar.  Meanwhile, Thorn searches through the bodies of the Drow.  Unfortunately, in the little times she has, she comes up short, fumbling through the pockets.

It's at this moment, Sebastian, who was huddled up in a corner speaks up.

SEE THORIN, this is EXACTLY what I've been talking about!  We need that cache more than ever!  Luckily these brave heroes were able to stop them, while we were all defenseless!  I couldn't have done anything that they could have done, and would probably just have gotten in the way!  We need those weapons to defend ourselves and need to take this seriously, just like I've been saying ALL ALONG!

Thorin, rubbing his temples, something you've seen at least 4 times just this evening, and says, You're still going with them Sebastian, cut the crap.

Sebastian, now red in face, says: Are you serious?  They almost killed us all!  The singing one shed more blood on the floor than that of the enemy!; this one over here tried to persuade the DROW to drop their weapons!?!? DROW!; The giant metal one is just a glorified animal handler!  Speaking of which, what the hell is that metal bird doing to the captive? This whole thing is a fucking circus!

Did it escape your attention that we were doing just fine, until this mismatched troupe showed up?  THEY brought this upon us.  Maybe one of them was followed?

Until they can show us they have good intentions, THEY should be the ones going to the Keep, not me.  If they are one of the enemy, you're basically giving me a death sentence!

Still rubbing his temples, with no end in sight, Thorin calmly says: Corsica, can you please be a dear and escort these people to their caves.  Jacob, go alert the guard of what's happened, and anyone who is sleeping is shit out of luck.  Get them up, moving, and helping to fortify our defenses until we know what the Drow's goal is.
 Help them anyway you can.  We'll be working double time tonight.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:31, Tue 14 July 2020.

Knowing what Scamp was looking for, I bent down to help the owl. He did not appear to be having much luck in finding the amulet. Sand came over to calm Scamp and I aided him in looking the drow over for the amulet. We did a thorough search of the drow but were only able to find a component pouch, a dagger, and an uncut gem the size of a marble. I was curious about the gem, there may have been a spell cast that we were unaware of preventing us from finding the amulet and it might tell us what spell. [Intelligence: 14 to determine the gem]

I could hear Sebastian start ranting about how brave we were to fend off the drow only to end it with how utterly incompetent everyone really was. I had enough of him that was for certain. He needed to be put in place.

You're giving yourself a death sentence, Sebastian. What have you done since you came to Vertigo? Did you learn how to fight or defend yourself? Did you learn any other useful skills? Are you able to weave magic for healing or protection? While I cannot say why the drow came here so shortly after some of our arrival, I can say that my magic was a big part of stopping them. And if you do not lose that temper of yours when you spittle out words in my direction, you will be the next one I use that magic on. I turn to glare in his direction as I say, Do I make myself clear? [Intimidation: 20]

I start chanting under my breath to see how he will react, knowing full well I cannot cast a thing without the melody from my pan flute to aid the spell. Perhaps he has not been paying enough attention to that, though.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:18, Tue 14 July 2020.

With the man’s breathing stabilizing after the spell healed him, Sand stood from behind the bar.

Sand helped injured man here. Come tend to him.

The furious hooting of the owl caught his attention and he moved over, directing the owl to leave the drow, his clothing covered with small rips from the talons and beak of the frantic familiar. Helped by the bard, he managed to find a small pouch and a dagger, but no necklace… where was it? It was obviously magic, the drow had not left the room so there was still a chance that it was still in the inn. (Investigation with advantage 22, 10)

Sand will attune to magic, maybe Sand find necklace.

Just as he started his detect magic ritual, Sebastian started an argument to which Althaea replied, her words dripping with disdain. Concentration broken, he move away from the pair to start again.

Clacker on the other end, did not like at all the tone Sebastian was taking, the mechanical beetle taking a few steps towards the dandy, clacking it’s mandibles to show it’s displease.

After 10 minutes, Sand started to slowly walk around the room, sensing for all the magical energies present in the inn. He was looking for the necklace, but still payed attention to all the magical emanations he could find, his own cape glowing with arcane light.

This message was last edited by the player at 05:05, Tue 14 July 2020.

Covered once more by her hood, Thorn considered the prisoner. She did not understand why he yet lived. Unless they intended to bring powerful truth magic to bear, they could not think to gain any useful intelligence from him. That he was opportunistic, she had no doubt, but she could not imagine he would fear them more than the one who sent him. That being the case, what could they possibly offer him to induce such a betrayal?

And try as she might, she could find no reason at all why the mage wasn't gagged to prevent him from casting spells the moment he awoke. She tore off a large piece of the shirt from corpse she'd been searching and stalked toward the unconscious male, roughly stuffing the cloth into his mouth and securing it thoroughly. That was something at least, but she still planned to stay well clear when they indulged in the exercise in futility that was questioning him.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:58, Tue 14 July 2020.

In reply to Althaea Sylvaranth (msg # 70):

Eyes going wide, Sebastian can't do more than stammer out..Well...um...I've done more than you'll ever know...hrmph. before stomping off, like a petulant child, but with a little extra pep to his step.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:35, Tue 14 July 2020.

The woman appears to be fine now and none of the other patrons seems to be injured. I watch as Sand helps up a man from behind the bar. There is a bloody hole in the man's shirt but it looks like Sand was able to help him. Sand looks towards the surviving Drow which Scamp was pecking and trying to open pocket with its talons all while hooting loudly, and bobbing up and down. Sand soothes the owl while Althaea and the other elf seem to be searching the Drow and his fallen comrades. Maybe they will find some clue as to what their objective was. Thorin has checked the backroom and informs us of the tunnel the Drow had used and that it is currently secure and begins to rally the town's defenses. Good, I feel better with someone local in charge it makes it easier to get things done.

God I am tired; this has been a long day. Well, still some things to do before I can rest. I look over to see the elf woman cut a strip off one of the dead and uses it to gag the unconscious Drow. Good thought that, I forgot he was the one to cast the web spell; I need to do better. I make my way over to the Drow and remove a sack from my backpack and seal it around his head; the weave is loose enough that he should have no difficulty breathing but tight enough that he should not be able to see out of it.

Suddenly the Half-elf man begins to bluster from his place in the back corner, at first praising us for saving them then condemning us as barely competent. The more he speaks the more I am sure that I was right on both accounts earlier; he is a desperate poser who is grasping onto past status to comfort him in the uncomfortable circumstances he finds himself. Althaea is quick to cow him back into silence; I understand why she lashed out at the man but fear is a poor way to manage a situation. At least she did not draw her dagger this time. It truly is the small victories that keep us going.

I turn back to face the strange elven woman. "Many thanks neighbour. That fight would have ended very differently if you had not intervened." I say to her bowing slightly at the waist. "I think it best we take this one elsewhere so that we can have a conversation. I do not want him overhearing anything of interest while we do." I move to hoist the Drow over my shoulder and head towards the exit. "My name is Andraste Giltris. What do you wish to be called?"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:47, Tue 14 July 2020.

In reply to Andraste Giltris (msg # 74):

At Andraste's polite question, Thorn's manner altered suddenly and completely.

While her face remained as impassive as before, her posture, so confident and poised in combat transformed utterly becoming docile, even submissive. She was apparently making no active attempt to hide, yet her eyes were averted, her head slightly bowed, her presence so muted that the eye naturally glanced over her as it would the vacant air.

Her voice, clarion in the din of combat, was soft now – only just loud enough to be heard clearly – and she spoke slowly as if unable to find the proper words or considering each one with the upmost care. "Thorn."

She followed the half-elven woman, walking not beside her, but to her left and a few steps behind.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 14:10, Tue 14 July 2020.

Huh not as I expected. Either she is used to having to be submissive or she does not trust me. Could be both I suppose. Oh well it is not like she knows me, I will just have to work to earn her trust. Alright, softly spoken, avoiding eye contact lets see if she responds to a gentle approach.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Thorn. You may call me Giltris." I keep my voice as soft as hers. "I feel much safer having you keep an eye on him while we do this. It will be a little while before he wakes up do you want some food or anything else while we wait?"

In reply to Andraste Giltris (msg # 76):

A pause. "Healing, maybe. If not, I'll manage," Thorn replied in her strangely accented Common.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:25, Tue 14 July 2020.

I turn to face her and offer her my right hand, voice soft, "I can do that but you will need to take me hand."

In reply to Andraste Giltris (msg # 78):

Thorn reached out, her hand stiff at the unfamiliar touch, but she met Giltris' eyes for just a moment and gave a sharp nod of respect before glancing away once again.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:01, Tue 14 July 2020.