Blood and Gold IC

[Inmate XIII]

Few expected The Neverenes to invade Luskan, fewer still expected the invasion to end so quickly. In the end, the City of Sails became a city enslaved; existing solely to provide luxuries to its new master.

The Luskar weren’t pleased with the new way of things, but the grip of Lord Neverember was iron-clad. Many fled into the Neverwinter Wood, where the Luskar Resistance movement hid, plotting in vain to retake their city. Others fled to sea, only to find that the sea of Swords now belonged to the longships of Icewind Dale. Most however, for one reason or another, stayed in the city under the Neverens’ harsh rule; a rule where even the smallest crime was sentenced with a lifetime of servitude in Neverwinter.

Which brings us to the beginning of our story aboard the LPS Frontier, a cargo ship retrofitted to carry a load of prisoners to Neverwinter. While the majority of its human cargo are chained up in the hold, a small group of prisoners have earned themselves the dubious honor of being locked up in the ship’s brig, on the lowest deck.

Two pirates, a half-elf and a tortle, a kenku warrior, a tabaxi thief, a member of the Luskar Resistance, a mute tiefling, and an aged Icewind cleric.

---

Your cells are positioned on the bottom deck of the ship, across from various crates of food and supplies for the journey.

The past three days have been boring, to say the least. Aside from the brief interlude when they brought down a well-beaten tabaxi named Scrape to join the rest of you and your daily ration of watered-down porridge, the only thing you’ve had to break the doldrum was chatting amongst yourselves.

That all changed though about half an hour ago. What began as mere shouting from the decks above you soon escalated into frequent thumps against the hull. Now, you can hear the sounds of fighting above you.

The commotion has drawn all of you to the bars of your cells, and you wait with baited breath.

CRUNCH

Whether it was through pure luck, or the favor of the gods that you all happened to be standing away from the wall, we may never know, but it was fortunate that you were as a massive wedge of steel forced its way through the Frientier’s wooden hull between where the tortle and tiefling stood, showering all of you with splintered wood and mangling the iron bars of the cells.

Not hesitating a bit, the tiefling squeezes his way through a gap in the cage and disappeared down the hall and up the nearby staircase. For the rest of you, only a twisted mass of iron, barely bolted to the hull, stands between you and freedom.

[Bobthewizard]

Scrape Tabaxi Warlock AC: 13 HP: 30/45 Spell Slots: 1 / 2 Grasp of Deep: 2 / 4 PP: 14 PIv: 9 PIs: 14 Conditions: Exhaust 1 Seeing the hunk of metal breech the wall of the ship, and the iron bars twist so that the cages become useless, Scrape watches the Tiefling escape and decides to join him. "Well, Polluck, it looks like we don't need to steal the keys or breaks the bars. Let's all go upstairs and see what this commotion is. If the ship is being attacked, maybe we can help the attackers and earn our freedom." He slips out of his cage and looks to the others to see if they need any help getting past the bars.

[PartyOfRogues]

”Freedom at last!” Zahnan called out, slipping between the bars, “Come my friends, let us fight for the resistance.”

[Tycho42]

Sword slips out dextrously and files in behind the others at first until they get towards the stairs at which point he holds up an arm weakly for a pause while he creeps ahead to get a quick sight of what might face them.

Spoiler: Actions

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Stealth (if needed) - (1d20)[9](9) + 8 = 17
Perception - (1d20)[17](17) + 5 = 22

[Ramsus]

Captain Xyrryn Sapphirica Aquatic Half-Elf Bard AC: 13 HP: 30/45 PP: 11 PIv: 9 PIs: 11 Conditions: Exhaustion 1 Concentration: -- As the wedge of steel plows through the hull, Xyrryn and her mermaid crew member Waverly are almost rocked off their feet, only managing to stay standing by leaning on each other for support. The ghost (I'm sure that took everyone some getting used to) Grimhild, who had been inspecting the interior of the crates and barrels with the assumption she'd need a catalog of the ship they would most likely be taking over, turns around in surprise. Salt, the well muscled water genasi, stood still in surprise for a few moments before seeing the others wriggle their way through their cages. Seeing that he wrenched what he could out of the way, holding it open for Xyrryn and Waverly to get out before he did himself. "Thank you Salt. Do you think you can help that one out of their cage as well? I don't know what the tiefling was thinking, but unless we plan to dive into unknown waters we're going to need to rely on each other." Xyrryn says and indicates the cleric's cage. Salt nods and replies, "O'course Captain." and goes to bend or lift or pull what he can to get the cleric free. "Ahhhh, freedom!" Waverly sighs more than says. "Grimhild, why don't you help our kenku friend scout?" Xyrryn says to the ghost, who understands it to be a command and doesn't even waste time replying and just goes to do it. Spoiler Show Helping Sword (by way of ghost)

[magnorun]

"Well, that worked better than any of my ideas," says Pollock as he extricates himself from the wreckage of the cages. Scanning around the debris for a improvised weapon, he settles on a long piece of metal which he holds like a spear. You notice that unlike everyone else, the Tortle somehow seems as comfortable with his hunk of metal as a master smith with his hammer. As he maneuvers to the front of the column he says "This'll work well enough, but if anyone sees the galley as we go up, let's stop in for some actual knives...and hopefully a cast iron skillet."

Spoiler

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Stealth [roll0]

[magnorun]

Spoiler

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Stealth (1d20+7)[18]

[Bobthewizard]

Scrape Tabaxi Warlock AC: 13 HP: 30/45 Spell Slots: 1 / 2 Grasp of Deep: 2 / 4 PP: 14 PIv: 9 PIs: 14 Conditions: Exhaust 1 Seeing everyone get out of their cages and start to charge up the stairs, Scrape recommends caution. "Wait! The rat I was talking to isn't a rat. His name is Kapa. He can turn invisible and I can see through his eyes. Let's have him go up and see what's going on." A small, red humanoid with a long tail with a stinger on the end appears next to Scrape. "Hi Kapa. Go look upstairs for us." Without saying anything, the tiny demon disappears before your eyes. Scrape then turns to the old man, "You'll be safer down here for now. Once we secure the ship, we'll come back and free you." Spoiler: OOC Show Sends familiar up the stairs and looks through its eyes.

[Inmate XIII]

The old man gives Scrape a large, toothless grin, then presses his shoulders against the bars of his cage and with a mighty shove, separates the remains of the cage from the wall of the ship.

"Safe? SAFE? Young whelp, you speak to a chosen cleric of Tempus!" He picks up a wooden plank from the deck and pricks his finger with one of the nails protruding from it. "To battle my friends! 'Tis a good day to die!" Waving it above his head, he charges up the stairs right past Sword.

[Bobthewizard]

Scrape Tabaxi Warlock AC: 13 HP: 30/45 Spell Slots: 1 / 2 Grasp of Deep: 2 / 4 PP: 14 PIv: 9 PIs: 14 Conditions: Exhaust 1 Scrape closes his eyes for a few seconds, ignoring the old man trying to get out of his cage. As he gets reprimanded and pushed out of the way, he opens his eyes and returns to his own senses. When he sees the old cleric run up the stairs, he smiles at the man's enthusiasm. "Not a word from him for 3 days and now all this energy. I love it! I only saw the deck above us, and it is mostly empty. Most of the slaves are gone, but some are fighting off the crew. I saw 9 unarmed prisoners and 5 sailors armed with clubs. Should we help the prisoners above us or move past them to get to the deck?" Spoiler: OOC Show Sends Kapa up another flight of stairs. He won't be able to use an action to look through its eyes but it can speak with Scrape telepathically and tell him what it sees.

[Ramsus]

Captain Xyrryn Sapphirica Aquatic Half-Elf Bard AC: 13 HP: 30/45 PP: 11 PIv: 9 PIs: 11 Conditions: Exhaustion 1 Concentration: -- "We'll need a crew if we take the ship, but either way the more bodies on our side the less likely one of us is the one to take a sword to the gut." Xyrryn replies and begins marching up the stairs to go rally the troops or something. Assuming nobody stops her.

[Tycho42]

The kenku hurriedly whispers to his new companions, “Find me the head of this snake; I will challenge it to single combat and sever that head.” He also makes a vague gesture towards the captain on their side by way of explanation.

[magnorun]

"Crews often find it intimidating when a bunch of people rush at them from the hold, so the more people we have when we do that, the more likely they are to surrender; I'm helping the people on the next deck before continuing on." Pollock tightens his grip on his steel bar and bounds up the stairs. "Never been in a prison break before, or a slave uprising; well, that's two more to cross off my bucket list," he laughs as he ascends.

[Bobthewizard]

Scrape Tabaxi Warlock AC: 13 HP: 30/45 Spell Slots: 1 / 2 Grasp of Deep: 2 / 4 PP: 14 PIv: 9 PIs: 14 Conditions: Exhaust 1 Scrape goes up the stairs after the others, calling out to the old cleric on his way up the stairs. "Cleric of Tempus, help us free the prisoners right above us before we take the deck. There are enemies on this level we need to defeat. Spoiler: OOC Show Still speaking telepathically with Kapa, waiting for a scouting report from above.

[Inmate XIII]

As your group charges up the stairs, one of the crew members points at you and begins shouting. He and two others break away from the melee to engage you.

Spoiler: OOC

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Combat starts, the players move first.

Your opponents are 20 ft. away from you and packed tightly together, there's no way to get around them as the narrow confines of the ship block any attempts to pass them.

The other prisoners and slavers are another 20 ft. beyond your opponents and are too busy with each other to interfere. The staircase to the next level is 30 ft. beyond them.

[Tycho42]

Spoiler: Actions and Contingencies

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Sword is going to look to move into a position that will grant flanking to someone else, or respond to another person setting up a flanking position. In that way he’ll mitigate the effects of Exhaustion for another person.

He will then use Fighting Spirit to grant himself advantage as a bonus action, and give himself 5 bonus HP. He’ll attack the one he is set up to attack. Since I don’t know the weapon stats, I’ll leave that off.

Attack Roll - (1d20+8)[12](12) without disadvantage because of Fighting Spirit

Sword flits around, finding the right position for one of the enemies, vile as they are. Silently, he lashes out at them, the shard slicing through the air. As he does so, he draws on his inner reserves to fight through his exhaustion and weariness.

[Bobthewizard]

Scrape Tabaxi Warlock AC: 13 HP: 30/45 Spell Slots: 1 / 2 Grasp of Deep: 2 / 4 PP: 14 PIv: 9 PIs: 14 Conditions: Exhaust 1 After telling everyone what Kapa sees above, "Above us more prisoners are fighting with the captors, along with the cleric. Kapa doesn't see the tiefling," Scrape holds up his hands and yells at the oncoming guards, "Sabog!" Spoiler: OOC Show Both Eldritch Blasts on the leader, Repelling Blast on both blasts to push 10' each, Lance of Lethargy if either hits to slow him by 10' #1 (1d20+7)[16], damage (1d10+4)[5] #2 (1d20+7)[16], damage (1d10+4)[13] He'll have Kapa stay invisible and keep an eye on the floor above us. I'm using Filipino for primordial. Anyone have a better idea?

[magnorun]

"Avast, ye scurvy bastards!"
Pollock yells as he rushes the nearest guard and unleashes a barrage of attacks against the poor unlucky fool.

Spoiler

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Attack (1d20+8)[17] (1d6+5)[9]
If it hits Bonus Action to Grapple with Disadvantage (1d20+11)[16] or (1d20+11)[17]
If successful then Extra Attack to Shove Prone (1d20+11)[28] or (1d20+11)[17]

If 1st Attack misses then Extra Attack to swing the spear again (1d20+8)[18] (1d6+5)[11]
If it hits then Bonus Action to Grapple (1d20+11)[18] or (1d20+11)[22]

If 2nd Extra Attack misses then Bonus Action to make one final spear thrust (1d20+8)[13] (1d6+5)[11]

[Ramsus]

Captain Xyrryn Sapphirica Aquatic Half-Elf Bard AC: 13 HP: 30/45 PP: 11 PIv: 9 PIs: 11 Conditions: Exhaustion 1 Concentration: -- "Ah, the welcome party!" Xyrryn says loudly enough to draw attention to her. "Well I suppose I should give myself a proper introduction." as she says this a twisted grin appears on her face and she stares down the closest one of their assailants, letting her anger fill up her song. As she sings in the background her crew adds extra instrumental oomph to the song. Grimhild plays a spectral violin, Waverly uses her unusual aquatic vocal to imitate something like a cello while occasionally banging two metal objects together to approximate cymbals, and Salt just stomps the floor or pounds the walls for percussion. Which certainly doesn't make the song less intimidating. Spoiler: Song Show An extended version of this, so that it'll probably last maybe the whole ship fight. Depending on how long this takes and if I find a more appropriate song for a change in situation. Spoiler Show Vicious Mockery on the guy who wasn't pushed back: DC 16 Wis save or they take (2d4)[5] psychic damage and have disadvantage on their next attack roll.

[PartyOfRogues]

Zahnan sets to work quickly with his new tools, carving a small magical cannon out of wood and commanding it to fire at the guard in the back.

Spoiler: Eldritch Cannon Info

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At 3rd level, you learn how to create a magical cannon. Using woodcarver's tools or smith's tools, you can take an action to magically create a Small or Tiny eldritch cannon in an unoccupied space on a horizontal surface within 5 feet of you. A Small eldritch cannon occupies its space, and a Tiny one can be held in one hand.
Once you create a cannon, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest or until you expend a spell slot of 1st level or higher. You can have only one cannon at a time and can't create one while your cannon is present.
The cannon is a magical object. Regardless of size, the cannon has an AC of 18 and a number of hit points equal to five times your artificer level. It is immune to poison damage, psychic damage, and all conditions. If it is forced to make an ability check or a saving throw, treat all its ability scores as 10 (+0). If the mending spell is cast on it, it regains 2d6 hit points. It disappears if it is reduced to 0 hit points or after 1 hour. You can dismiss it early as an action.
When you create the cannon, you determine its appearance and whether it has legs. You also decide which type it is, choosing from the options on the Eldritch Cannons table. On each of your turns, you can take a bonus action to cause the cannon to activate if you are within 60 feet of it. As part of the same bonus action, you can direct the cannon to walk or climb up to 15 feet to an unoccupied space, provided it has legs.
Eldritch Cannons
Cannon Activation
Flamethrower The cannon exhales fire in an adjacent 15-foot cone that you designate. Each creature in that area must make a Dexterity saving throw against your spell save DC, taking 2d8 fire damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one. The fire ignites any flammable objects in the area that aren't being worn or carried.
Force Ballista Make a ranged spell attack, originating from the cannon, at one creature or object within 120 feet of it. On a hit, the target takes 2d8 force damage, and if the target is a creature, it is pushed up to 5 feet away from the cannon.
Protector The cannon emits a burst of positive energy that grants itself and each creature of your choice within 10 feet of it a number of temporary hit points equal to 1d8 + your Intelligence modifier (minimum of +1).

Spoiler: Rolls

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(1d20+7)[17]
(2d8)[13]

[Inmate XIII]

Sword opens the fight by closing the distance, low and fast, then swoops up to the slaver in the center; striking with lightning speed, he whips right around the clumsy human’s attempts to block and lands two deft stabs in the man’s unarmored chest with the jagged shard of metal he was using as a makeshift dagger. The slaver shouts and tries to smack the kenku with his club, but barely raises it over his head before two bolts of unstable, crackling magic crash into his chest, sending him flying backwards.

Meanwhile, Pollock engages the cur on the left, thrusting out with his spear and landing it deep in the slaver’s shoulder. Using his momentum, the tortle reaches out to grab his opponent by the shirt, but the slaver gets the better of him and shoves Pollock off. Hardly one to be deterred, Pollock laughs and swings the spear around again, clocking him in the side of the head.

Seeing all this, Xyrryn fixes the man on the right with a wicked glance and begins her song. He seems more confused than discouraged, but does seem to be gripping his weapon less tightly.

As his friends are fighting, Zahnan seems to have found exactly what he’s looking for: a set of Woodcarver’s tools. In short order he creates a miniature cannon on the ground next to him and with a smirk, points at the unlucky rube who had just been brutalized by Scrape and Sword. With a roar, the cannon fires. The sailor glances down at the new hole in his chest before collapsing forward.

Spoiler: OOC

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The center slaver is dead, the left is bloodied, the right has no visible wounds, but is blinking furiously, as if trying to ward off a headache,

---

Not initially noticing their newly dead comrade, the slavers begin swinging at their enemies. The leftmost one swings at Pollock, smacking the tortle twice with his club; the first glances off the tortle's shell, wile the second finds purchase. The second slaver lashes out none-too-confidently twice at Sword, but only hits air as the kenku easily dances around the strikes.

Spoiler: Rolls

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LSa1: (1d20+4)[6] (1d4+2)[4]
LSa2: (1d20+4)[21] (1d4+2)[4]
Second attack hits for 4 damage.

RSa1: (1d20+4)[23] (1d20+4)[7] (1d4+2)[4]
RSa2: (1d20+4)[7] (1d20+4)[22] (1d4+2)[6]
Both attacks miss.

[Tycho42]

Sword strikes wordlessly, spinning to the right as he rolls behind the slaver to the right, lashing out with his improvised dagger once more. No emotion shows from the deep corvid eyes.

Spoiler: Attacks and Contingencies

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The plan is to move to the uninjured one on the right, making the attack. If someone moves to flank (since we are all in group initiative) I will benefit from a regular attack, so I am going to roll the two dice, and let our DM choose the appropriate resolution.

Attack 1: (1d20+8)[15](15) : Damage (1d4+5)[3](3)

W/Disadvantage if applicable: (1d20+8)[8](8) : Damage (1d4+5)[1](1)

Attack 2 : (1d20+8)[2](2) : Damage (1d4+5)[3](3)

W/Disadvantage if applicable: (1d20+8)[15](15) : Damage (1d4+5)[4](4)

[magnorun]

Goading the sailor, Pollock quips, "Who taught you how to hit, a pixie?" With a flourish of the jagged metal bar he lets loose a torrent of blows while moving himself into a more strategic position. "Maybe let's not kill them all; most of these prisoners probably don't know the keel from the bow, so some of these lads may be useful," he shouts as you notice his movements are aimed at non-vital areas.

Spoiler

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Using the Knocking a Creature Out rules so that if my attacks would kill them I just knock them out instead. Using as many attacks as needed to put down my guy, then moving to flank with Sword and give him the rest.
Attack 1 w/spear (1d20+8)[15] (1d6+5)[9]
Attack 2 w/hands (1d20+8)[13] (1d6+5)[11]
Bonus Action Attack w/kick (1d20+8)[28] (1d6+5)[6]

Spoiler

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Crit damage [roll]1d6[/roll]

[magnorun]

(1d6)[1] Crit Damage (apparently you can't add rolls to posts in edits)

[Bobthewizard]

Scrape Tabaxi Warlock AC: 13 HP: 30/45 Spell Slots: 1 / 2 Grasp of Deep: 2 / 4 PP: 14 PIv: 9 PIs: 14 Conditions: Exhaust 1 Impressed by his companions, Scrape continues to blast at the guards, trying to push them back. Two blasts of shimmering magic burst from his fingertips at the enemy. Spoiler: OOC Show Split the Eldritch Blasts on the two in front of us, Repelling Blast on both blasts to push 10' each, Lance of Lethargy on the first hit to slow it by 10' #1 (1d20+7)[25], damage (1d10+4)[5] #2 (1d20+7)[24], damage (1d10+4)[6] Kapa stays invisible and keeps an eye on the floor above us.

[PartyOfRogues]

Zahnan fires his cannon and throws a dart at the enemy on the right, trying to incapacitate him.

Spoiler: Rolls

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Dart
(1d20+2)[12] To Hit
(1d4+14)[18] Damage
Cannon
(1d20+7)[27]
(2d8)[2]

[Ramsus]

Captain Xyrryn Sapphirica Aquatic Half-Elf Bard AC: 13 HP: 30/45 PP: 11 PIv: 9 PIs: 11 Conditions: Exhaustion 1 Concentration: -- Xyrryn continues singing, focusing her musical magic anger on the least hurt one. Spoiler Show Vicious Mockery: DC 16 Wis save or they take (2d4)[6] psychic damage and have disadvantage on their next attack roll.

[Inmate XIII]

With an almost arrogant chuckle, Pollock retaliates by thrusting his makeshift spear into his opponents thigh, then follows it up with a powerful haymaker to the slavers temple. Eyes immediately glazing over, the slaver falls like a sack of flour, completely limp, knocked out cold on his feet.

At the same instant, Sword gracefully slips around to the back of his target, leaving an opening for the tortle to bound over to where the kenku once stood. Pollock opens up with a swift kick to the sack, while Sword plunges his dagger into the slaver’s back.

Half-panicked, the slaver makes the critical mistake of stumbles sideways, leaving himself wide open. Two shimmering lights, like whips of crystal clear living water snake their way out of Scrapes outstretched hand, leaving a misty cloud as they pass, and strike him in the torso. His chest bursts like a ripe melon, and he falls too, the light gone from his eyes.

---

As you glance around you, you realize that you’re all alone on the deck. The other prisoners, having subdued their captors, have escaped above.

From above, Kappa reports: the majority of the fighting has moved to the top deck of the ship, but a few stragglers still remain above.

[magnorun]

"Well that was easy. Oy, Scrape, that imp o' yours happen to see where the gallery's at while scouting around?"
Stepping around the dead men and their quickly growing puddles of blood, Pollock grabs the one he knocked out by his hair and drags him over to his one living comrade. Grabbing some rope (or if there is no rope, then he cuts off some of the dead men's clothes) he swiftly ties the two up and then moves to rejoin the party.

[Bobthewizard]

Scrape Tabaxi Warlock AC: 13 HP: 30/45 Spell Slots: 1 / 2 Grasp of Deep: 2 / 4 PP: 14 PIv: 9 PIs: 14 Conditions: Exhaust 1 Scrape starts to bound up the stairs. "It looks like the fighting keeps moving upwards. There's still some on the floor above us. Let's go see if we can help." Spoiler: OOC Show Once we get to the 1st floor, Kapa stays invisible and moves up to the deck.