Wizard's Rumspringa [IC]

[~Corvus~]

Peren has a tough time appreciating the natural cavern and its grown buildings. He wonders instead about what he does not see. Could this place have shadows, spiders, zombies? "What disaster caused everyone to flee? And did they all go to Sheerfast?

[TriciaOso]

"Safe?" Icosa says in response to Therai's question. "Not safe at all, no. Very unsafe."

To Peren he says wearily, "The plague. And before that, the Kings Over Sea." He gestures at flags hanging in the intersection, heavy purpple flags marked with a circle of wiggly shapes that might be a crown.

"Few survived to seek Sheerfast. Now the city belongs to the dead."

[Jaryn]

Therai grunts in response and starts looking about, trying to peer into the shadows without getting close.

"In that case I guess we'd better try and get through it as quickly as possible. But it is a shame we won't get to explore something quite so different. If..." He stops, aware that he probably shouldn't discuss Nanny in front of others.

"Peren, any thoughts on getting us through this place alive?"

[~Corvus~]

Peren asks Icosa, it depends on the kind of dead that threaten this place, but is there a safe way through the city? Alternatively, is there a tall building we can look out from and see the path to exit?

[TriciaOso]

"Yes, I have a route I use. We are following it," he says in a low voice, looking around cautiously. "No high places--we are underground, my friends. Many levels."

Ahead, the boulevard ends in a large open square with a fountain in the center. The fountains spray extends up through multiple levels of the city, surrounded by balconies. Many of the barriers are broken, or even whole balconies are sheared off, and to the east, the levels have collapsed entirely into a slope of rubble.

"This will take us to a higher level much faster," he says quietly, pointing up the slope.

[Jaryn]

"Sounds good to me." says Therai, looking up the slope in front of him.

"Ah Tryslin, Roscoe, have either of you ever seen such a fascinating place? And are you both holding up all right?"

[~Corvus~]

Peren runs his hand over the stone, feeling its age and texture. "Some plague to cause all this damage. He shivers, wondering what demon had orchestrated the catastrophe here. I can't imagine living underground, though. It must be so comforting for other races, like dwarves, but it feels...so different from home. Peren pauses to look at a building, and fires a blast of Eldritch energy at one that is partially crumbled.

Spoiler: Rolls

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I assume it's not tough to hit a large building?
(1d20+5)[25]

(1d10)[5] Force damage (Doubled: he got a crit) against the crumbled building.

He watches to see what happens when it's hit.

[TriciaOso]

"No, the plague simply killed... but once people died or abandoned the city, the wild folk and the--"

The blast punches a hole through some load-bearing structure, and the building collapses, bringing down some of the ceiling above it, and rubble from a building above crashes down, widening the opening and causing deeper rumbles from further up. A flood of shattered stone steams into the street. The blessing of the demon within Peren uncoils and celebrates in unseen death caused by the collapse.

Icosa's green face blanches, and without a further word, he cracks the reins of his mount and begins to scurry up the slope without looking back.

If he did look back he would see dozens and dozens of pale, dead-looking goblins and hobgoblins shambling out of the other buildings around the square, baying for blood.

Spoiler

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So, uh, please indicate if you want to stand and fight or run.

If you choose to run, please make an Athletics check; if you want to stand and fight, a Constitution saving throw is appropriate.

[~Corvus~]

Peren, near the front of the group, delays his exit for just a few moments to usher the party up the hill. It was his mess; he should cover for them. Damnations, that's a lot of dead! Everyone, up the hill, now!! I'll give you a hand if you need it, let's go!!

Spoiler: actions

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Peren can wait just a tad for his group. Instead, he will choose 1 party member to whom he will grant Advantage on their Athletics check.

Con save: (1d20)[8]+2 = 10

[Jaryn]

"Peren, next time you feel the urge to blast something, just wait a moment!" Therai pants as he runs.

Spoiler: Rolls

Show

(1d20+5)[15]

[~Corvus~]

let's save the recriminations for later, Peren thinks as he watches Therai go past him. He nods, though, to acknowledge his mistake.