Winter Is Coming [IC]

[JNAProductions]

You look behind you for a moment. Nothing but corpses and water, slowly forming into ice on the barren tundra.

Farther than I thought... you hear Argos' voice, echoing across the plains. Farther than most...

But you've yet to face me. You will die today, should you try to stand against me, his deep bass continues. Steel yourselves, "heroes". Your doom is at hand.

You see him striding across the plain. He stands... Shorter, than you expected, at least. 5'5", maybe 5'6". The two men flanking him are giants by comparison, clad in full icy plate with shields, the same as Argos. And even the two women, slightly further to his left and right, are taller than him.

He is now 150' away.

Order
22-Assassin 2
20-Thia
18-Argos
17-Assassin 1
14-Naveith
11-Rothbar
11-Bulwark 1
4-Spatha
1-Bulwark 2

[The Outsider]

Rothbar's eyes narrow. This is the man, no, the thing responsible for so much bloodshed and defilement. At long last, the opportunity to bring justice has come. Atop his mighty warhorse, he raises his shield and longsword high and dashes forward. "Oh, it be someone's doom alright," he bellows. "Your doom, and the doom of all the WRETCHED DEMONS FOLLOWIN' YE!" He dashes forward on his warhorse, ready to rain destruction down upon them.

[Pyrophilios]

Spoiler

Show

Ini
4

Closing the distance to 100ft as a movement action on the broom of flying about 15ft above the ground

Someone else can use the horse. It's wearing barding AC 18 and will try to attack Argos unless told otherwise by its rider. Horse Ini 10

Opening up with Eldritch Blast at Artgos:

Blast 1 (1d20)[17]+14, damage (1d10)[9]+8, if crit (1d10)[10]
Blast 2(1d20)[14]+14, damage (1d10)[10]+8, if crit (1d10)[2]
Blast 3(1d20)[6]+14, damage (1d10)[7]+8, if crit (1d10)[1]
Blast 4(1d20)[10]+14, damage (1d10)[2]+8, if crit (1d10)[7]

Force Damage

The sound of breaking ice, as Spatha moved his head a little. He had beens staring straight ahead for quite a while now. Towards his target. Their target. he reminded himself. To have found such formidable companions was a boon. He silently thanked his Patron. Retribution was coming and he would be the axe of the executioner.
"Leave his companions be for the moment. Maybe I can turn them against their lord, or at least some of them."

Standing on the little magical trinket of a broom, he gained moderately on altitude, until he could see above the heads of Argos' retinue, and moved forward. Eldritch energies danced along the Staff of Power. The Eldest had told him to use it to its fullest potential, but not beyond. Though this day seemed like a good day to find out if it was indeed the weapon, it was promised to be.
The broom was slower than the horses, but not by much and his reach with the blast was unmatched by any spell.
So he took up his staff, aimed and unleashed four lances of pure force upon the tyrant.

[The Outsider]

Spoiler

Show

Initiative: (1d20)[11]

My warhorse is going to dash 120 feet across the battlefield. Then, once I'm within 30 feet of Argos, I'm going to cast Misty Step as a bonus action, teleport directly on top of him, and attempt to smite him with my action. (I'm also bringing my horse with me, as per Find Steed).

Attack 1: (1d20+14)[24], (1d8+8)[10] magical slashing plus (1d8)[6] radiant. Let me know if this guy triggers fiend damage.
Attack 2: (1d20+14)[23], (1d8+8)[14] plus (1d8)[6].
Crit:(1d8)[7]
Crit:(1d8)[8]
If either attack hits, I'll expend a 5th level spell slot for an extra (6d8)[28] radiant damage.

Rothbar surges forward, his focus singular. As his horse crosses the battlefield, he invokes a prayer to the Ancient Spirits, and a silvery mist envelops them both. Suddenly, he appears on top of Argos, sword poised to strike. "TASTE STEEL, FIEND!" he bellows as he brings down his sword, radiant power coursing through him.

[Twelvetrees]

Spoiler: Thia Liadon

Show

Hit points: 244/244 (The twenty additional hit points are from Spatha's Aid spell, if it was cast)
Second Wind: 1/1
Action Surge: 2/2
Indomitable: 3/3
Cape of the Mountebank: 1/1
Winged Boots: 240 minutes/240 minutes
Oathbow: 1/1
Potion of Superior Healing: 1/1

An elf clad in dyed green leathers and carrying a bow the same height as herself stands off to the left of her companions. Thia bounces on the balls of her feet, glancing up every now and again as challenges are shouted back and forth.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

If possible, I'd like Thia to start with at least 25 feet between herself and anyone else. Off to the left, just barely within Rothbar's auras. I figure there's no sense in making it easy to hit us with area effects.


Test rolls, ignore this section, I'm figuring out when editing a post breaks things so I don't do it mid-fight.
(1d20)[5] Edit1: Writing on the same line.
(1d20)[17] Edit2: Messing with the roll. Edit3: Changing it back.
(1d20)[12] Edit4: I think I understand.

Edit5: Does trying to add another roll break all of them?
[roll]1d20[/roll]
Edit6: It does not. Good.

[JNAProductions]

As Rothbar, mounted on his noble steed, lunges forward, one of the women flanking Argos sprints towards him. She throws her knives, first at the horse, then at the rider.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Four attacks. Starting with the horse.

Once the horse is poisoned, moving on to the rider.

(1d20+12)[17] Hit Roll
(1d4+11)[13] Piercing Damage
(2d6)[7] Cold Damage

(1d20+12)[18] Hit Roll
(1d4+11)[13] Piercing Damage
(2d6)[7] Cold Damage

(1d20+12)[32] Hit Roll
(1d4+11)[12] Piercing Damage
(2d6)[6] Cold Damage

(1d20+12)[20] Hit Roll
(1d4+11)[15] Piercing Damage
(2d6)[3] Cold Damage

Each hit provokes a DC 16 Con save against poison.

[Twelvetrees]

Spoiler: Thia Liadon

Show

Hit points: 244/244 (The twenty additional hit points are from Spatha's Aid spell, if it was cast)
Second Wind: 1/1
Action Surge: 2/2
Indomitable: 3/3
Cape of the Mountebank: 1/1
Winged Boots: 239 minutes/240 minutes
Oathbow: 1/1
Potion of Superior Healing: 1/1

*Thwip* *Thwip* *Thwip* *Thwip*

The barest fraction of a second after the woman throws her knives, Thia has four retaliatory arrows in flight. She then bounds backwards, treading up into the air as if she were running up an invisible hill.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Action to attack with Oathbow, firing four arrows at Assassin 2, taking the penalty from Sharpshooter for all attacks.

Attack 1: (1d20+8)[20] Crits on an 18-20
Hit: (1d8+17)[21] magical piercing damage
Crit: (1d8)[4] magical piercing damage

Attack 2: (1d20+8)[26] Crits on an 18-20
Hit: (1d8+17)[18] magical piercing damage
Crit: (1d8)[4] magical piercing damage

Attack 3: (1d20+8)[23] Crits on an 18-20
Hit: (1d8+17)[20] magical piercing damage
Crit: (1d8)[2] magical piercing damage

Attack 4: (1d20+8)[20] Crits on an 18-20
Hit: (1d8+17)[22] magical piercing damage
Crit: (1d8)[2] magical piercing damage


Movement with Winged Boots to fly 35 feet up and back, ending 185 feet away from our enemies and 35 feet off the ground.

[JNAProductions]

The women is hit hard, taking all four arrows to the body. She grimaces.

Spoiler: Damage Totals

Show

85 on Assassin 2

Argos shouts encouragement to the woman, then speaks a word, and a sheet of thick ice springs up around the injured woman as he strides forward.

He draws near Rothbar, and strikes with his spear, repeatedly.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

(1d20+12)[29]
(1d12+6)[11] Piercing Damage
(2d12)[11] Cold Damage

(1d20+12)[28]
(1d12+6)[10] Piercing Damage
(2d12)[18] Cold Damage

(1d20+12)[13]
(1d12+6)[12] Piercing Damage
(2d12)[16] Cold Damage

(1d20+12)[17]
(1d12+6)[7] Piercing Damage
(2d12)[4] Cold Damage

(1d20+12)[20]
(1d12+6)[14] Piercing Damage
(2d12)[23] Cold Damage

For each time you take cold damage, make a DC 18 Con save. On a failure, reduce your move speed by 10'. This stacks with itself, though you get a new save at the end of your turn to shake off all the slowing.

Also, make your saves against the Poison from the woman-if you fail that save, you are Slowed (as per the Slow spell) meaning your AC is reduced by 2, among other things.

The other woman springs forward, arriving just past Argos, and strikes into Rothbar in melee.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

(1d20+12)[13]
(1d4+11)[12] Piercing Damage
(2d6)[5] Cold Damage

(1d20+12)[26]
(1d4+11)[14] Piercing Damage
(2d6)[5] Cold Damage

(1d20+12)[30]
(1d4+11)[13] Piercing Damage
(2d6)[10] Cold Damage

(1d20+12)[24]
(1d4+11)[12] Piercing Damage
(2d6)[4] Cold Damage

And DC 16 Con saves against the Poison.

[Holy-hunter]

And just like that, combat was upon them.
Navieth let out a roar as he charged forwards on his comrades horse. He couldn’t allow himself to be outdone. Not again.
He drew a spear and launched it with all his might.
He was beyond his optimal range but couldn’t wait any longer. Rothbar was already in the thick of it.

Spoiler

Show

Dropping in initiative to the horses
Throwing spear at the woman hit by arrows
[roll]1d20+13
Disadvantage 1d20+13

Damage 1d6+7

[The Outsider]

I'm going to follow through with my action as typed previously. Since Argos is right on top of me, I'm going to hit him with what I've got.

[JNAProductions]

The first man steps a small amount forward, and brings his hammer crashing down onto Rothbar. As he strikes, he widens his stance, with small tendrils of ice flowing up his legs.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

(1d20+11)[22]
(1d8+10)[11] Bludgeoning Damage
(1d8)[2] Cold damage

(1d20+11)[21]
(1d8+10)[15] Bludgeoning Damage
(1d8)[6] Cold damage

(1d20+11)[13]
(1d8+10)[12] Bludgeoning Damage
(1d8)[1] Cold damage

[Pyrophilios]

Spatha watched grimly as his fellow holy warrior was targeted by Argos' mob. He was still to far out to do anything about it. If they had had more time to refine tactics...
But this was war and ifs and shoulds were not worth the air it would take to utter them.
With grimm determination he moved closer, so he could get in range for his one big spell...

[JNAProductions]

The second man moves to Rothbar, ice encapsulating his legs the same.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

(1d20+11)[12]
(1d8+10)[16]
(1d8)[1]

(1d20+11)[25]
(1d8+10)[12]
(1d8)[4]

(1d20+11)[12]
(1d8+10)[11]
(1d8)[2]

The first woman, shielded by the ice, springs around the wall and lashes out with her cold-wreathed fists, before ducking back under cover.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

(1d20+12)[24]
(1d10+11)[17]
(1d10)[7] Cold Damage

(1d20+12)[15]
(1d10+11)[20]
(1d10)[9] Cold Damage

(1d20+12)[30]
(1d10+11)[19]
(1d10)[5] Cold Damage

(1d20+12)[20]
(1d10+11)[15]
(1d10)[9] Cold Damage

You get one attack of Opportunity, since she did NOT Disengage. However, if you hit but don't crit, she'll add (2d6)[8] to her AC from an Inspiration die.

[The Outsider]

Spoiler: OOC

Show

I believe that since I got Slowed by the poison, I can't take reactions.

[Twelvetrees]

Spoiler: Thia Liadon

Show

Hit points: 244/244
Second Wind: 1/1
Action Surge: 2/2
Indomitable: 3/3
Cape of the Mountebank: 1/1
Winged Boots: 239 minutes/240 minutes
Oathbow: 1/1
Potion of Superior Healing: 1/1

Thia climbs higher in the sky, attempting to get a better view of her target before sending four more arrows flying across the open expanse.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Movement with Winged Boots to fly 35 feet up and back, ending 220 feet away from our enemies and 70 feet off the ground.

Action to attack with Oathbow, firing four arrows at Assassin 2, taking the penalty from Sharpshooter for all attacks. Sharpshooter also means she ignores anything less than full cover. If Assassin 2 has full cover, these attacks will instead be heading towards Assassin 1.

Attack 1: (1d20+8)[11] Crits on an 18-20
Hit: (1d8+17)[23] magical piercing damage
Crit: (1d8)[3] magical piercing damage

Attack 2: (1d20+8)[22] Crits on an 18-20
Hit: (1d8+17)[21] magical piercing damage
Crit: (1d8)[2] magical piercing damage

Attack 3: (1d20+8)[18] Crits on an 18-20
Hit: (1d8+17)[22] magical piercing damage
Crit: (1d8)[7] magical piercing damage

Attack 4: (1d20+8)[16] Crits on an 18-20
Hit: (1d8+17)[22] magical piercing damage
Crit: (1d8)[4] magical piercing damage

Rothbar's plight leaves her shaking with nerves, causing two arrows to fly wide.

[JNAProductions]

Argos stabs again, bringing Rothbar down to barely clinging to life.

Kill him, he says coolly, directing the woman not behind the wall of ice.

She steps forward, wincing slightly at the arrows embedded in her, and stabs Rothbar, repeatedly.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

(1d20+12)[27]
(1d4+11)[13]
(2d6)[5]

(1d20+12)[29]
(1d20+12)[22] Advantage if applicable
(1d4+11)[13]
(2d6)[11]

(1d20+12)[19]
(1d20+12)[16] Advantage if applicable
(1d4+11)[13]
(2d6)[8]

(1d20+12)[28]
(1d20+12)[19] Advantage if applicable
(1d4+11)[12]
(2d6)[10]

If the first attack misses, add (2d6)[10] to it. If not, she'll hold onto her Inspiration die.

[The Outsider]

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Alright. By my count, the last attack drops Rothbar below zero, activating his Undying Sentinel ability. So he's at 1 HP and hanging on for dear life, but he is alive.
Whoops, missed the post detailing Argos' attacks. Recalculating.
Y'all are way ahead of me. Rothbar is down.

Rothbar lets out a wheeze as the assassin's blade finds his lungs. Others would be possessed by regrets or denial, but Rothbar is calm. He long suspected that he'd die fighting, and while he'd prefer to be alive, it's not a bad way to die. Then darkness takes him, and he thinks no more.

[Pyrophilios]

With dawning horror, Spatha realized that every help came to late for Rothbar. The dagger sticking out from the paladins eye socket was disheartening to see.
"Fall back!" He called out to Naveith as he realized that the giant Goliath tribesman was heading for the same fate as his late brother in arms.

[Holy-hunter]

Naveith watches in horror as his comrade is slain before him.
If not for his headband of intellect and Rothbar’s words of wisdom, the barbarians rage would have overcome him. But not today, not yet anyway.

Throwing another spear he quickly retreats back 100ft to near where he started.

Spoiler

Show

(1d20+13)[22](1d6+7)[10]

[JNAProductions]

The man looks to Argos. Argos simply gestures towards the wall. He focuses a moment, shattering the ice at his legs, and walks behind the wall with the woman.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Assassin 2 and Bulwark 1 are now behind the Wall of Ice. The other three peeps remain exposed.

[Pyrophilios]

"This was the last good man you killed." Spatha was surprised with himself. In all the fights, skirmishes, police actions and most of all battles he had participated throughout all his existence he had burried thousands of his faithful comrades in arms. But of all those, this death made him boil with anger. Still, he remembered with crystal clarity the lessons he had learned, oh so painfully, throughout all this time.
Divide and conquer.

The runes along the staff glowed for a moment as he moved forward. For a moment it seemed as if nothing had happened, until one of the Assassins tried to step forward and collided with an invisible dome of force.

"Now, let's destroy the two outside and level the playing field."

[Twelvetrees]

Spoiler: Thia Liadon

Show

Hit points: 244/244
Second Wind: 1/1
Action Surge: 2/2
Indomitable: 3/3
Cape of the Mountebank: 1/1
Winged Boots: 239 minutes/240 minutes
Oathbow: 1/1
Potion of Superior Healing: 1/1

Watching Rothbar fall, Thia's breath hitches in her throat. She shakes her head and steadies her aim. The time for grief will come later.

Her bow creaks as she draws it back, then snaps forward as she sends arrows zipping towards the icy wall and the enemies hiding behind it.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Movement with Winged Boots to fly 35 feet up and back, ending 255 feet away from our enemies and 105 feet off the ground.

Action to attack with Oathbow, firing four arrows, taking the penalty from Sharpshooter for all attacks. Targeting the Wall of Ice first, then focusing on Assassin 2.

Attack 1: (1d20+8)[24] Crits on an 18-20
Hit: (1d8+17)[25] magical piercing damage
Crit: (1d8)[7] magical piercing damage

Attack 2: (1d20+8)[22] Crits on an 18-20
Hit: (1d8+17)[24] magical piercing damage
Crit: (1d8)[4] magical piercing damage

Attack 3: (1d20+8)[22] Crits on an 18-20
Hit: (1d8+17)[25] magical piercing damage
Crit: (1d8)[3] magical piercing damage

Attack 4: (1d20+8)[28] Crits on an 18-20
Hit: (1d8+17)[22] magical piercing damage
Crit: (1d8)[4] magical piercing damage

The first two arrows shatter a section of the wall and the next two slam into the woman behind it.

[Holy-hunter]

Realising the spell the enemies were under, the barbarian grunts as he charges back towards them and throws a spear at the now exposed assassin.

Spoiler

Show

rolled in ooc
21 to hit
9 damage

[Pyrophilios]

Spatha saw the assassine go down from spear and arrows. So it was true, the Ravenqueen was on whoever's side had the better artillery.
He refocused his aim and let a salvo of forceblasts rain down on the remaining shield bearer.
He hoped Argos was watching, as they killed his retinue one by one.

[Twelvetrees]

Spoiler: Thia Liadon

Show

Hit points: 244/244
Second Wind: 1/1
Action Surge: 2/2
Indomitable: 3/3
Cape of the Mountebank: 1/1
Winged Boots: 239 minutes/240 minutes
Oathbow: 1/1
Potion of Superior Healing: 1/1

The unceasing rain of arrows continues as Thia gives vent to her ire. With no icy barrier to protect him any more, the shieldbearer is a sitting duck.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

No movement.

Action to attack with Oathbow, firing four arrows, taking the penalty from Sharpshooter for all attacks. Targeting Bulwark 1.

Attack 1: (1d20+8)[20] Crits on an 18-20
Hit: (1d8+17)[24] magical piercing damage
Crit: (1d8)[1] magical piercing damage

Attack 2: (1d20+8)[25] Crits on an 18-20
Hit: (1d8+17)[21] magical piercing damage
Crit: (1d8)[7] magical piercing damage

Attack 3: (1d20+8)[15] Crits on an 18-20
Hit: (1d8+17)[25] magical piercing damage
Crit: (1d8)[5] magical piercing damage

Attack 4: (1d20+8)[12] Crits on an 18-20
Hit: (1d8+17)[23] magical piercing damage
Crit: (1d8)[3] magical piercing damage

His thicker armor proved its worth, however, deflecting three of the four arrows that flew his way.

[JNAProductions]

The man stands strong, but even with Argos re-forming the wall as much as he can, there's naught that can be done. The Bulwark closes his eyes, as Argos speaks in an unfamiliar tongue.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

I'm not gonna require y'all to roll dice when you've got the massive range advantage and the Bulwark being too slow to do anything.

So, take your positions for when the Wall of Force drops. Those inside will be observing and having actions readied.

[Pyrophilios]

The next minute was a repetition of the same tactic: Spatha expended another 5 charges of his staff to sequester Argos from his caged minions. Between arrows, javelins and force blasts, Argos soon stood alone in his prison of magic.

"Time to end this. Take your positions. I'll end the spell on three." Spatha whispered to his companions.

[JNAProductions]

The spell ends, and in a brief moment, is recast, aiming to separate Argos from his minions.

Argos is alone in the cage, while his two followers are left outside.

The woman, ready for the moment of release, whips out her knives towards the nearest target, Thia, while the man encases his legs in ice while steeling himself.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Attack in the OOC thread, since this is an edit.

[Twelvetrees]

Spoiler: Thia Liadon

Show

Hit points: 244/244
Second Wind: 1/1
Action Surge: 2/2
Indomitable: 3/3
Cape of the Mountebank: 1/1
Winged Boots: 238 minutes/240 minutes
Oathbow: 1/1
Potion of Superior Healing: 1/1

After repositioning to be high in the sky, Thia sends more arrows winging down to earth.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

No movement.

Action to attack with Oathbow, firing four arrows, taking the penalty from Sharpshooter for all attacks. Targeting Bulwark 2.

Attack 1: (1d20+8)[27] Crits on an 18-20
Hit: (1d8+17)[22] magical piercing damage
Crit: (1d8)[4] magical piercing damage

Attack 2: (1d20+8)[24] Crits on an 18-20
Hit: (1d8+17)[20] magical piercing damage
Crit: (1d8)[4] magical piercing damage

Attack 3: (1d20+8)[17] Crits on an 18-20
Hit: (1d8+17)[18] magical piercing damage
Crit: (1d8)[7] magical piercing damage

Attack 4: (1d20+8)[15] Crits on an 18-20
Hit: (1d8+17)[21] magical piercing damage
Crit: (1d8)[1] magical piercing damage

Two of them find their mark in the gaps in the armor of the man who froze his legs in place.

[JNAProductions]

The man roars in pain.

Argos shouts out orders in the unfamiliar language as he erects another wall of ice, this one a half-dome near to Spatha. The woman races underneath it, hurling daggers, though she seems out of ammo after this burst. The man stands his ground.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

(1d20+12)[13]
(1d4+11)[14] Piercing
(2d6)[8] Cold

(1d20+12)[28]
(1d4+11)[14] Piercing
(2d6)[3] Cold

(1d20+12)[19]
(1d4+11)[14] Piercing
(2d6)[8] Cold

(1d20+12)[17]
(1d4+11)[13] Piercing
(2d6)[7] Cold

Once again, DC 16 Con saves on any hits.