We Be Heistin’: The Bear’s WDH Game [IC]

[doodoocrispies]

"So I guess we can expect a few people in there. What do you guys think - sneak in the back way?"

"Yes, good thinking Squig. I think the back way is the way to go" Erdan whispers.

[mila88]

"Maybe some of us should go around back and some should approach from the front," Squig whispers back. "A two-pronged attack to prevent them from escaping with Floon. The sneaky ones in the back and the louder, stronger ones at the front. They won't see us coming!"

[Skaaaaaats]

Dengar nods agreement to Squig and Erdan.

"Alright Hans. Looks like you and I up front." He whispers as he unsheathes his greatsword and waits for the others to get into position.

[Alexander256]

Squig giggles at Renaer's impression of Volo. She could see how Volo might seem that way, but she also didn't blame him considering how much he really did know and the significant contributions of his guides.

Hans had a good point. The goal was to find Floon, and hopefully they were headed in the right direction. Curiosity baited her to continue to Renaer, "So the Zhentarim and Xanathar Guild have been fighting a lot, huh? When did it all start?"

[Coconut1864]

Dengar nods agreement to Squig and Erdan.

"Alright Hans. Looks like you and I up front." He whispers as he unsheathes his greatsword and waits for the others to get into position.

Hans bounces to Dengar's side with his sword and shield in hand. Where he once felt trepidation about preparing for battle, after today's events he was feeling a cautious sense of excitement about punishing more evildoers.

"Yes, we'll create some commotion at the front, you guys sneak out Floon. I figure we can handle a good 20, 30 of these guys before we need help," he boasts. "Scratchy, you'll look out for them, right?"

[The Big Bear]

Scratchy looks to you and shakes his head. “Oi! This one’s bigger than the last!” he says to you in the same orcish voice.

While you don’t know exactly how large this place is, Scratchy seems to be indicating the hideout up ahead is quite large and a dual-front approach may leave you thinned out.

[Skaaaaaats]

Scratchy looks to you and shakes his head. “Oi! This one’s bigger than the last!” he says to you in the same orcish voice.

While you don’t know exactly how large this place is, Scratchy seems to be indicating the hideout up ahead is quite large and a dual-front approach may leave you thinned out.

Raising an eyebrow and looking down the passage Dengar whispers back to Scratchy "Ok then. Lets get a look and launch."

[The Big Bear]

Scratchy leads the party down the sewer tunnel, stepping lightly to avoid detection. The main sewer tunnel expands into a circular hub with a pair of arrow slits carved into its outer walls, directly across from each other. He again turns back and puts one finger over his beak as a sign to stay quiet.

Two passages continue north and south. A stone door is set into the back wall of a stone ledge to the west. Scratchy leads the party through the hub and follows the south passage, as you follow him you can hear the sound of snoring coming from the arrow slits. The group is mostly quiet. Although Dengar and Hans' metal armor occasionally creaks, it is covered enough by the sound of loud snores and does not appear to raise an alarm.

Twenty feet down the passage, Scratchy begins to feel along the eastern wall. His hand finds something, and as his hand turns a part of the wall pushes out. He grabs the stone slab and pulls it open to reveal a hidden passage.

Scratchy leads you through a short hallway to a small landing, a set of descending stairs in front of you and a small room to the left, from which you hear the same snoring as before. He turns left into the room and you see him pick up a billy club leaning against the wall. Moving over to a pile of hay, he lifts the club and swiftly brings it down; you hear a soft squeal and the snoring stops. Scratchy looks back at Hans and you get the feeling he would be smiling if he could.

He then leads the party down the stairs into a room, about 20 feet by 20 feet. In the middle of this otherwise empty room is a stone pillar carved with a small symbol: a perfect circle with ten equidistant spokes radiating outward from its circumference. In the middle of this circle is a small circular indentation that bears a passing resemblance to a lidless eye. A set of double doors sits on the other side of the room. He points towards the doors and says "in there" in an elven voice.

[doodoocrispies]

He then leads the party down the stairs into a room, about 20 feet by 20 feet. In the middle of this otherwise empty room is a stone pillar carved with a small symbol: a perfect circle with ten equidistant spokes radiating outward from its circumference. In the middle of this circle is a small circular indentation that bears a passing resemblance to a lidless eye. A set of double doors sits on the other side of the room. He points towards the doors and says "in there" in an elven voice.[/QUOTE]

Before entering, Erdan scans the room (walls, floors, spokes, and pillar) for traps or anything might be unusual or out of place.

Spoiler: Perception Roll for Traps

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(1d20+6)[7]

[The Big Bear]

Scanning the room, Erdan finds nothing of note other than the stone pillar. Upon inspection, it appears the indentation in the pillar is a receptacle for some object; you can feel a faint aura of magical power emanating from the pillar. The room otherwise appears to be empty.

[Coconut1864]

He then leads the party down the stairs into a room, about 20 feet by 20 feet. In the middle of this otherwise empty room is a stone pillar carved with a small symbol: a perfect circle with ten equidistant spokes radiating outward from its circumference. In the middle of this circle is a small circular indentation that bears a passing resemblance to a lidless eye. A set of double doors sits on the other side of the room. He points towards the doors and says "in there" in an elven voice.

Hans tiptoes towards the left of the two doors with his shield and sword in hand. Once he's within a few feet, he looks back at Dengar and motions him up.

[Skaaaaaats]

Dengar slowly moves over towards Hans. "I don't like how this looks." he whispers.

[The Big Bear]

Hans hands his torch to Scratchy as he pulls out his sword. Scratchy stands ready a few feet back with a torch in one hand and the club he found in the other.

Renaer pulls out his rapier and takes a position to the side of one of the doors. He hears Dengar’s concern and nods his head “lets be ready then; Floon could be behind these doors.”

[mila88]

Squig stands next to Scratchy and pulls her cloak snug around her, bracing for the fight. She reaches for the silver key and stretches out her right hand, feeling the familiar frost begin to build up. The first enemy I see is getting hit, she plots to herself.

"For Floon!" she whispers excitedly to the group.

[Coconut1864]

Dengar slowly moves over towards Hans. "I don't like how this looks." he whispers.

Hans tiptoes up to the door and, quietly as he can, tries to work the handle to see whether or not it's locked.

[doodoocrispies]

Hans tiptoes up to the door and, quietly as he can, tries to work the handle to see whether or not it's locked.

With short bow in hand, Erdan attempts to stay out of sight, hiding behind Han's large frame.

[The Big Bear]

Hans lightly presses down on one of the door handles. It moves past the point where a locking mechanism would catch it and Hans slowly releases the pressure as it moves back into place.

He can hear some muffled voices some distance away on the other side of the door; while they are too far for Hans to make out what is being said, it doesn’t sound like they are alerted to the moving door handle as they continue talking.

[Coconut1864]

Hans faces the group, nods quickly, and gently opens the door as he strides forward and reaches for his sword and shield again, as he tries to make out what they could expect ahead.

[The Big Bear]

Hans gently opens the door. As he opens it, he sees that threadbare curtains hang on the wall fifteen feet across from him. The room is about fifty feet wide.

To Hans’ left, a muscular half-orc in dingy robes stands with his foot on the chest of a male human with wavy red-blond hair. Fire burns around the the orc’s clenched fist, and his victim cries and squirms helplessly beneath him.

Seated on a raised platform to the right is a nightmarish figure wearing black robes. It has large white eyes and rubbery purple skin, with four tentacles encircling its inhuman mouth. It cradles and gently caresses what looks like a disembodied brain with feet.

When the door opens the half-orc turns his head toward it. Seeing Hans he says “Looks like the ones you saw in the sewers, Nihiloor” to the tentacled creature. They seem to have been expecting you.

The half-orc then begins to move his hands, clearly in the process of casting a spell. The tentacled creature rises from its stone chair and sets down its pet.

Spoiler: Turn Order

Show

Orc
Erdan
Dengar
Hans
Carric
Human man
Brain thing
Renaer
Scratchy
Squig
Tentacle guy

Rereading the old posts it looks like Squig was the only one who readied an action. Once she makes a roll for frostbite and a post for it we’ll move through the turn order. If Hans and Erdan were planning on attacking the first thing they see I’ll let you guys act before the turn order as well, but make sure in further posts you specify being ready to let an arrow fly or you’ll charge the first hostile thing you see in order to be included in the “surprise round.”

[mila88]

As the door opens, Squig quickly scans the room. To Hans’ left she spots Floon under a mean looking half-orc. She focuses in and launches a Frostbite toward the half-orc, hoping to ease whatever damage might be coming Floon’s way.

She reflects on the half-orc’s words. They were expecting us...Codsworth! I should’ve known. She shakes her head in disappointment.

[The Big Bear]

Frost begins to build up on the arms of the half-orc. He notices and begins to moves his hands with more exaggeration, shaking off the frost with the exaggerated movements.

The orc turns his head toward a set of stairs leading down to the party’s left and yells “Krentz! Get in here, we have guests!” He continues moving his hands, as if preparing a spell, and steps over to one of the curtains across the room from the party. The orc uses his elbow to push the curtain to the side and he steps behind it. The curtain moves back to obscure the orc and the hallway he stepped in to.

[doodoocrispies]

Frost begins to build up on the arms of the half-orc. He notices and begins to moves his hands with more exaggeration, shaking off the frost with the exaggerated movements.

The orc turns his head toward a set of stairs leading down to the party’s left and yells “Krentz! Get in here, we have guests!” He continues moving his hands, as if preparing a spell, and steps over to one of the curtains across the room from the party. The orc uses his elbow to push the curtain to the side and he steps behind it. The curtain moves back to obscure the orc and the hallway he stepped in to.

Erdan pops out from behind his meat shield and launches an arrow at the testicle monster.

Spoiler: Attack + Damage

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Attack (1d20+5)[13] if advantaged (1d20+5)[20]

Damage (1d6+3)[6] + (1d6)[5] (sneak)

[The Big Bear]

Erdan quickly pops up from his crouch and lets an arrow fly at the Nihiloor. Caught off guard, it cannot move out of the way of the arrow in time. The arrow digs into the creature’s abdomen, and the creature lets out a shrill cry. It pulls the arrow out and throws it on the floor while glaring at Erdan.

As it shrieks, you can hear running footsteps coming from the stairs to the party’s left and a familiar voice calls out “on our way, Grum’shar!”

[Skaaaaaats]

Dengar steps around Hans after the orc wizard disappear behind the curtain Will have to go for him later, our mission appears right here
He steps over to the man on the floor and lowers a hand, "Floon? is that you?" and attempts to help the man to his feet.

[The Big Bear]

Floon coughs up some blood as the orc rushes away toward the curtain. Dengar approaches him and offers a hand up. While seeming a bit confused, he grabs Dengar’s hand and is helped to his feet. He’s in bad shape, but can still stand. “Aye, I’m Floon. I don’t know who you are, but thank you” he says to Dengar.

Spoiler: Turn Order

Show

Grum’shar (Orc)
Krentz
Erdan
Dengar
Hans
Carric
Floon
Brain thing
Renaer
Scratchy
Squig
Nihiloor (Tentacle guy)

[Coconut1864]

Seeing Dengar tend to Floon, Hans bolts towards the skewered Nihiloor.

As it shrieks, you can hear running footsteps coming from the stairs to the party’s left and a familiar voice calls out “on our way, Grum’shar!”

Of course, Krentz was that scoundrel from Durnan's bar. ""Hey yeah, get in here Krentz! Hans barks mockingly, as he lunges forward toward's the Nihiloor's belly with his sword.

Spoiler: Sword attack roll

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[roll]1d20+5 [/roll]

[The Big Bear]

Hans runs up the steps to his right and thrusts his sword forward at Nihiloor. It cuts past the creatures robes but scrapes off of a breastplate concealed underneath. It looks threateningly at Hans, and he feels a sensation of anger from Nihiloor in his head.

Spoiler: Turn Order

Show

Grum’shar (Orc)
Krentz
Erdan
Dengar
Hans
Carric
Floon
Brain thing
Renaer
Scratchy
Squig
Nihiloor (Tentacle guy)

[The Big Bear]

After being helped up by Dengar, Floon begins to run to the door the party has come through. He makes it through the threshold and puts his back against the wall to the side of the door.

Renaer sees him and says gladly “Floon! So glad to see that you’re alright!” Floon replies “Renaer?! Oh thank the gods you’re here!”

As Hans misses Nihiloor with his sword the brain creature approaches his side and swipes with one of its claws. It leaves a deep scratch on his metal greaves but doesn’t manage to hit flesh. Hans then feels a strange sensation in his head, but manages to shake the feeling off.

Renaer steps in front of Floon and blocks the open doorway, the other door still closed next to him. “Stay back Floon, we will handle this!” he exclaims. Nihiloor sees Renaer and a curious expression crosses his face.

Scratchy, having seen the orc run behind the screen, gives chase. He yells confidently to Hans “I’ll get him!” He runs across the room and pulls the curtain aside, club raised high in the other hand.

The orc is right behind the curtain and unleashes a torrent of flame into the face of Scratchy as he yells “TRAITOR!!”

Scratchy is completely unprepared as the flames engulf his body and he releases a horrifying and painful screech. It burns away the tattered curtain that was concealing the orc’s position, revealing a small room behind him. Dengar is just out of reach of the flames.

As the flames dissipate, Scratchy's charred body falls to the floor. He is twitching and may still be alive, but is in bad shape. The orc laughs maniacally.

Spoiler: Turn Order

Show

Grum’shar (Orc)
Krentz
Erdan
Dengar
Hans
Carric
Floon
Brain thing
Renaer
Scratchy
Squig
Nihiloor (Tentacle guy)

[mila88]

"Scratchy!" Squig whispers to herself as she watches him fall. I can't save him, she sighs to herself. Her eyes dart over to Hans, who also seems to be in danger so close to Nihiloor. More are coming. She hears the voice call out and the running footsteps. Her mind races to put together a plan.

She peers through Renaer's legs and stares at the room behind the orc. She concentrates hard on Krentz's voice, repeating it in her mind. She stares at the room behind the orc. Suddenly, Krentz's voice is no longer in her head, but projecting from inside the room. "Help! Help! Help!" She narrows her eyes and smiles, backing up 15 ft. slowly. Her eyes remain fixed on the room.

Spoiler: OOC

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Squig casts Minor Illusion to create Krentz's voice yelling "Help! Help!" from inside the room behind the orc. She hopes to distract the orc and/or lead him inside the room.

[The Big Bear]

The orc quickly looks behind him, a look of confusion on his face. “Krentz?” He asks as he looks back and begins to slowly step backward toward the room.

Spoiler: Effect

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The illusionary call for help appears to have fooled the orc. He will likely use his next turn to investigate the room behind him, unless something informs him of the illusion.

Nihiloor hears the screams of help coming from the nearby room. You see him shake his head slightly, perhaps a sign that things are not going as he had planned. Its eyes narrow at Hans as he steps off the raised edge of the platform and slowly floats down to the floor.

As it steps away and descends, Hans pushes the brain monster away with his shield and takes a swipe at Nihiloor. His sword goes harmlessly over Nihiloor’s head.

Nihiloor reaches the ground and approaches Reneaer, the tentacles on his face open to reveal a disgusting nonhuman maw aiming for Renear’s face. He tries to move out of the way but Nihiloor is quicker.

Nihiloor’s tentacles wrap around Renaer’s face; a muted scream can be heard as Renaer’s hands raise to try to push the creature away. Blood begins to trickle down the front of his shirt.

Seeing Renaer attacked by Nihiloor, Carric unleashes a thorny vine toward the creature in the hopes of pulling him off. The vine extends and wraps around Nihiloor’s arm, digging in and drawing blood as Carric grasps the other end and pulls Nihiloor towards him.

Nihiloor is pulled away from Renaer, whose face is now covered in blood and is wearing a horrified expression.

Grum’shar continues walking backwards slowly into the room. He looks around, confused, as he can’t seem to find Krentz.

From the stairs to the groups left, you hear Krentz’s voice yell out “Almost there!” Grum’Shar looks around confused.

Spoiler: Turn Order

Show

Grum’shar (Orc)
Krentz
Erdan
Dengar
Hans
Carric
Floon
Brain thing
Renaer
Scratchy
Squig
Nihiloor (Tentacle guy)