Morning. you take Urvin’s wagon and wait for ireena at the gate.

after a bit she sneaks out under cloak and cowl.

“whew! i was going to go mad if i had to be part of that jamboree!”

You follow the directions to the winery.

You don't get a very good idea of the layout of the land, because the 100' pines are so close together it is stifling. The forest seems to exhale at you, then breathe in, hoping to inhale your very last inches of hope.

Sign posts indicate this cobblestone road is The Old Svalich Road. You go west. You come to a fork and the sign indicates The Winery is south. You go south.

After a half mile, the road becomes a muddy trail that meanders through the woods, descending gradually until the trees part, revealing a mist-shrouded meadow. The trail splits. One branch heads west into the valley, and the other leads south into dark woods. A wooden signpost at the intersection points west and reads, “Vineyard.”

You go west.

A light drizzle begins to fall. Unpainted fences blindly follow the trail, which skirts north of a sprawling vineyard before bending south toward a stately building. The fog takes on ghostly forms as it swirls between the neatly tended rows of grapevines. Here and there, you see rope-handled half-barrels used for hauling grapes. North of the trail is a large stand of trees. An old man wearing a dark cloak and cowl stands at the edge of the trees, beckoning you.

Lando helped Ireena into the wagon with a smile. "I'm glad we could spare you that.  I hope your brother fares well.  We'll need to address the problems in Vallaki once we get the wine back."

He left a letter with Urvin to be delivered to Ismark once they'd left.  It read, "My dear Ismark, Ireena has joined us on our travels today. I would have told you in person, but we needed to set off early.  She will be safe in our company until we return.  Your servant, Lando Courtigan."

As they traveled he commented on the landscape around them, "The forests are quite lush here, and when you get into open country, the scenery is rather pleasant."

When they saw the old man he said without getting too close, "Hail and well met, neighbor.  How may we be of service to you togay?"

Zrakrud remained quiet, mostly in awe of the Forests about them. He had never seen such thing. Where he was from, you'd be lucky to see one or two trees in a days travel. He's seen more tree's in his short time here then he would have ever seen back at home. This was a strange place, he began to formulate how he could possibly bring any of this home. Finally as they neared the turn off "Are all your homes like this? Tree's and other plant life everywhere? I've seen more trees, wood and metal in the few days I've been here then I've seen in the entirety my life prior to this."

Skuldja looked to Zrakrud. "Yep, there's lots of plants everywhere as far as I know. Lots of metal too. I think dwarves work together to bring it out of mountains."

Brankx walked behind the rest as they made their way, watching Lando fawn over the woman, and the others over the land. He rolled his eyes. “Yeah....lots o’ plants....makes me want ter chop them down and burn them. Now, can we damn well keep moving or just wonder at new things. Maybe how pretty th’ gloomy clouds are, or how nice th’ blood sucking vampire will be?”

He walked up to the man with Lando, and sighed audibly at his greetings towards him.

...the dwarf was surly

"Help. I need your help. I am Davian Martikov, owner of the Wizard of Wines. Druids attacked the winery and took my whole family hostage just earlier this morn'. I've been making my way to Vallaki to find help, but I'm old and can't get far fast. You lot look capable. It's four druids and their twig blights, about two dozen of the wretched things. Easy to kill, but my family are not warriors...will you help me?"

To Zrakrud he said, "my home is in the city which isn't so over grown, but yes out in the countryside there are quite a few trees and other plants."

To Brankx he chuckled and said, "your dourness puts other dwarves to shame, my friend.  Just because we're in this situation against our will doesn't mean we can't make the best of it, and I for one enjoy lush scenery."

To the old man he said, "We've just come from Vallaki.  What more can you tell us? how many people did they take?  Which way did they go?"

Rolling insight on the old man because I don't really trust anyone around here
20:15, Today: Lando rolled 24 using 1d20+5.  insight.

Brankx looks at Lando with narrowed eyes, and just sighs at his positive outlook. "If ye see lush scenery, ye need ya eyes checked boy!"

He crossed his arms, clearly showing his dwarvish dourness.

Skuldja brandished her great sword and nodded to the man. "It would be my pleasure to help you."

If Zrakrud's piercing glare could cut it probably would cut Brankx about now. But instead he stared for only a moment before turning to the one asking for help. The others had asked enough questions that would provide them with answers.

Davian doesn’t appear to be lying, but there is something he’s hiding, that’s obvious to Lando.

He explains the 9 people in his family:
Adrian, his eldest son
Elvir, his youngest son
Stefania, his adult daughter
Dag Tomescu, Stefania’s husband
Stefania and Dag’s four children: a teenage son named Claudiu, two young boys named Martin and Viggo, and a baby girl named Yolanda.

Davian isn’t sure who was taken where, but suggests the druids went to a place called Berez (U) and/or Yester Hill (Y). The Winery is W. He describes the areas and how to get there. “But first let’s see if anyone is still home. If you have a weapon to spare I will help you. I’m not too hearty but I won’t stand by as my family suffers.”

Have i given you the map yet??? https://media-waterdeep.cursec...hments/2/670/001.jpg

And of course, Ireena isn’t mute. “Fear not, Davian. I know it is the Night Mother’s grace that we have arrived at this time. We will be your salvation.” She turns to you, “Well? Any more questions? Blights are weak to fire. Druids are weak to a hot bath and a bar of soap.” She grins at her joke. But you can see through the ruse. She is terrified. She raises her pretty fingernails and a spark of magic appears. “What? I’m not helpless you know.” Her fingers shake.

Skuldja grinned widely at Ireena's joke. "I will keep the blights weakness in mind. Fire can be a great tool of destruction." Skuldja was excited to fight some blights. She moved a safe distance away and started swinger her great sword around, practicing techniques she had been taught by her tribe.

The dwarf ignored the glare from Zrakrud, and listened to the man, then Ireena. Despite himself, the dwarf chuckled. “Ye got a dark sense of humour girl….we gonna get on just fine.” He pulled two daggers and nodded. “I think we gotta trim th’ leave o’ these Druid bastards and teach ‘em a lesson”

The dwarf looked at Ireena. “Keep th’ blights busy, and I can deal with th’ druids”

Lando laughed at Ireena's joke. "Right then, we have a plan.  Brankx will take care of the druids, and we'll kill the blights.  There are a lot of them, but I do have some area magic, and some oil for fire. Unfortunately, I have few weapons, only a crossbow for range, and a dagger if they get close." He put his two oil flasks in his front pockets for easy access.

"My specialty is cold magic. I was born with frost on my fingers they say. I can help with the druids more so then those blight creatures. What ever they may be" Zrakrud offers as the crystal about his frosts over a moment as he focuses upon the spells that he has prepared.

Situated in the midst of the vineyard, the winery is an old, two-story stone building with multiple entrances, thick ivy covering every wall, and iron fencing along its roofline. The trail ends at an open loading dock on the ground floor.

A wooden stable of more recent construction is attached to the east side of the winery, next to the loading dock. West of the winery is a crumbling well and a wooden outhouse.

https://media-waterdeep.cursec.../697/600/825/028.jpg

You approach from the north and see movement in the loading dock (w2). You are 10' away from the opening and spot 3 twig blights: a monstrous bundle of animated sticks with evil black eyes. Despite their size they seem brittle enough to bash. And 1 druid: this evil master of nature is a wild man, his clothes made of bone and hide.

The dock is 20' wide and 25' deep, a 5' tall and 5' wide dock surrounds a large horseless wagon loaded with wine barrels. The top of this wagon is 5' and the barrels stick up another 3'. There is room on the wagon to stand on top, or hide underneath.

-----
Welcome to our first battle! Players first, no regard to init, I'll resolve in order of posts and always in player's favor. AOE spells don't need to worry about placement, I'll just roll a d6 or d8 depending on the spell to see how many it hits. I'll put MR for melee range to describe what enemies are provoking AOO.

TWIG BLIGHTS AC10 HP10
1
2
3

DRUID AC15 HP30
1

Zrakrud takes a step to the side as his begins to hum loudly, slowly the humming gets louder as he begins to writhe, step and weave his staff about him. Each step in rhythm as he begins his incantation.

OOC:

Begin Bladesong -- +3 AC, +10 Speed

Cast Tasha's Mindwhip: Int Save DC 13 or take 11 damage


11:21, Today: Zrakrud rolled 11 using 3d6 with rolls of 4,6,1.  Tasha's Mind Whip.

quote:

You psychically lash out at one creature you can see within range. The target must make an Intelligence saving throw. On a failed save, the target takes 3d6 psychic damage, and it can't take a reaction until the end of its next turn. Moreover, on its next turn, it must choose whether it gets a move, an action, or a bonus action; it gets only one of the three. On a successful save, the target takes half as much damage and suffers none of the spell's other effects.

This message was last edited by the player at 17:06, Wed 16 June 2021.

Seeing the druid, Skuldja charges him roaring, with extreme blood lust. "RAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

She swings wildly, leaving herself open for attack, and just misses the Druid's head.

OOC:

Raging and using reckless attack on the druid. Everything has advantage to attack me. Dang, I rolled really bad lol.

03:00, Today: Skuldja Blackrazor rolled 10 using 2d20+5, dropping the lowest dice only.  Reckless Attack on Druid.

Lando said to Ireena, "stay by me.  We'll deal with the twig bights so that the others can focus on the druid." From his position a safe distance away, he leveled his crossbow, and his shot was true hitting one of the creatures in the middle.

Action: attack a twig blight
10:32, Today: Lando rolled 23 using 1d20+5.  attack.

10:32, Today: Lando rolled 9 using 1d8+3.  damage.

No movement.

Seeing Skuldja run in roaring, Brankx seized the overt unity, a dagger in each hand, and followed the warrior, as he attacked straight on, the dwarf nimbly stepped to the side, his blades flashing in an ‘x’ like arc at the druid, the dwarf a mask of grim determination.

<OOC: Attack time

Movement action - move up to druid
Action: dual wield attacking with two daggers.

Brankx rolled 17 using 1d20+4.  Attack - druid.
Brankx rolled 21 using 1d20+4.  Attack - druid.

Brankx rolled 4 using 1d4+2.  Damage - dagger.
Brankx rolled 5 using 2d6.  Sneak attack.
Brankx rolled 1 using 1d4.  Damage - dagger.

Bonus action: disengage 10 feet>

The one lando shot explodes a moment later. Ireena blows on her pointer finger like it's a gun. A small waft of smoke lingers from it. She smiles.

(quick note, no one gave Davian a weapon so he is just following along staying safe)

The one Zrakrud incants stops completely. Indistinguishable from a tree. All sense of murderous life from it is gone. All sense of any life from it is gone.

Ireena finishes off Lando's attack, stealing his kill.

Brankx gets very good hits on the druid, thanks to the distraction from Skuldja.
---
Our last twiggy runs to Brankx to ultimately miss striking him.
The druid looks like he wasn't expecting this. "Nananananaaaaaaa THUNDA!"

A massive blast of sound pushes against Branx and Skuldja, yet doesn't touch the twig blight. He turns and (if not dead aoo) runs into the house (w9)
Con Save dc12 for half of 9dmg and no push. Either of you not pushed gets an AOO on the druid.

----
TWIG BLIGHTS AC10 HP10
1 dead
2 dead
3 MR (melee range) Brankx

DRUID AC15 HP30 (w9)
1 hp-10

Skuldja stands firm against the blast of sound and then swings wildly at the druid, missing him again. She screams out at him in frustration.


16:27, Today: Skuldja Blackrazor rolled 10 using 1d20+5.  Attack of Opportunity.
16:26, Today: Skuldja Blackrazor rolled 20 using 1d20+4.  Con Save.

Zrakrud in one consistent motion continues to writhe and dance to his own chant as he spins and turns, a blast of cold air stretches out from his finger tips towards the remaining blight, just missing Branx and Skuldja.

OOC: Move up to 45' to cast Frost Fingers to avoid hitting others DC 13 or 9 damage.

3:53, Today: Zrakrud rolled 9 using 2d8 with rolls of 4,5.  Frost Fingers

Freezing cold blasts from your fingertips in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a Constitution saving throw, taking 2d8 Cold Damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. The Cold freezes nonmagical liquids in the area that aren't being worn or carried. At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the damage increased by 1d8 for each slot level above 1st.