CotCT 5e IC

[Amnestic]

You see no new figures as you quietly discuss plans, eventually settling on your two-pronged approach. The so-called diplomacy team heads around to the north end of the building, where light is pouring from the slightly ajar door. Your approach is across a similarly rotted set of wooden planks as what Creissus snuck across before, creaking with each step. With the three of you, it's harder to conceal your movements (if you even intended to) and after a moment you hear a high pitched voice inside call for a stop. A heartbeat passes as silence falls, then another, then another, before a face juts itself around the door frame. They're a gnome, you can immediately tell. The skin stretched around their widened eyes seems to have set in there, as if they have had their entire eyesockets extended to allow them to see more. The long brown hair atop his head doesn't fall against shoulders, instead each strand is spiked up, perfectly straight, as if made of wood instead of hair. It's only the ever so slight drift when he moves, his manic eyes darting between the three of you, that it takes on more of a hair quality.

In the same high pitched voice that called for quiet earlier, he practically screeches "Feck do you want!?" out, his voice cutting into the gloom of the night. The room behind him has gone quiet. No more churning of flesh and guts or tink-tink-tink of metal points on metal.

At the same time, the lockpicking team gets to work on opening the double doors in the darkness.

Spoiler: OOC

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Gonna need a lockpicking check now that you're on the clock. I'm guessing from Scipio since he's the one who has thieves tools. DC13 to open.

[Bunny Commando]

Scipio Arquetius - HP: 10\10 - Conditions: None - Active Effects: None - Harrow Points 2

---------------

Scipio blends in the shadows of the Docks, quite happy he doesn't have to do any kind of talking; here, where close to one can see him, he seems much more comfortable. He approaches the locked doors cautiously, hand on the hilt of the knife he carries by his side, most probably afraid a hostile voice is suddenly going to stop their advance. When the group arrives at the doors he quietly kneels and starts rummaging through the stuff he carries in the backpack, whispering to Loric first "Have a care, keep your eyes peeled; don't want to be caught with my pants down like an idiot." then he mumbles to himself "Here you are." when he finally finds a small leather bag which he immediately opens, revealing a set of lockpicks of various sizes and shapes; he looks Pogdan in the eyes and says "If you have any blessing from Abadar, sir, now's the time." before starting to work on the lock. He certainly knows what he's doing, but doesn't seem to be a professional - he frowns, huffs and has clearly having some troubles getting the better of the lock.

Spoiler: Here goes nothing

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(1d20+3)[6]

[Zero Prime]

Aubin D'Ambrosio, Hellknight deserter AC: 15 | HIT POINTS: 12 | CURRENT 12 | HIT DIE: 1d10 | CURRENT: 1d10 INITIATIVE: +4 | PASSIVE PERCEPTION: 11 | PASSIVE INSIGHT: 13 ACTIVE EFFECTS: None. CONDITIONS: None. Aubin cleared his throat, looked to his companions, and hoped the others had made it to the back undetected. "Ser, I am Magistrate Ballard, of the Korvosian Bureau of Taxation. Armiger Crassius of the Order of the Nail accompanies. Open the door, and summon the owner, as we must inspect the premises to ensure that all incomes are being properly reported to the authorities."

Spoiler: Out of Character

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OOC: Deception check, as required, (1d20+4)[21]. Hopefully that works!

[TriciaOso]

Podgan nods in acknowledgment, and offers a quick prayer before touching the guard's shoulder.

Spoiler: OOC

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Guidance: (1d4)[3]

It feels extremely strange to pray to Abadar for this; he's prayed for lock-picking to go well in his life, that much is for sure, but never to the god of law. It comes out as much a prayer for metaphysical guidance as physical.

[RandomWombat]

Loric the Tanner Human Monk AC: 16 HP: 10/10 PP: 13 PIv: 10 PIs: 13 Conditions: -- Walking alongside the gnome and his human associate, none of them having yet introduced themselves - as far as they knew this would be a one-time gig together - Loric stands guard, facing away to watch their flank as the man works his trade. He stands with his staff in hand, the head lowered into a waiting position. One with combat experience would recognize it as more of a spearman's stance than a staff stance.

[purepolarpanzer]

Creissus "Crease" Walrun Ornetto IV Human Bard AC: 14 HP: 10/10 PP: 10 PIv: 11 PIs: 12 Conditions: -- Concentrating on: Bardic Inspiration- 1d6 3/3 Creissus doesn't miss a beat, picking up immediately after his companion. His normal relaxed demeanor is gone, replaced with cold steel in his spine and his eyes as he affects the demeanor of a Hell Knight. It has come to the city's attention that your master dresses well for the owner of a humble fishery. We will get to the bottom of this, and I assure you that anyone who complies will be ignored when final determinations are made. Any who stand in our path will be considered accessory to any crimes we may discover, pursuant to Code 2319. So it is written, so it shall be executed. He puts a hand on his rapier's hilt, tapping it with his finger as though he is more than eager to punish the guilty, looking down at the gnome with a vague insinuation of guilt.

Spoiler: OOC

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Providing assistance to Aubin's already excellent roll. Feel free to roll again and see if we can get a higher roll.

[Amnestic]

The gnome glares at the two speakers, then looks beyond them to Shadi, his eyes raised. "Hellknights hiring horser muscle now is it? Tch." He spits, though where his distaste is directed - at the 'magistrate', the 'hellknight', or Shadi, isn't clear. Perhaps all three. "Pretty sure we're all paid up for the month, wait here for a minute, I'll fetch someone to talk this through." He doesn't wait for an answer, slamming the door shut in your faces. You hear grumbling grow quieter as he moves away, leaving you temporarily in the cold. He did seem to believe you, at least, and the door notably isn't locked, just shut.

At the same time around the side of the building, Scipio's finds his fingers faltering, but the image of Zellara's card reading blossoms into his mind unbidden. For a moment he sees two fates ahead of him. Unknown footpaths. One on the left, where his lockpicking fails, the other to the right, where the door swings open. Choosing the rightpath, his composure returns, buoyed by Pogdan's blessing, and the lock clicks open with a satisfying metallic sound. Now free, the heavy door swings open. The reek of brine and the stink of week-dead fish grows as you gain access to the fishery. A single desk sits in the middle of this room, with a moldy chair pushed up against it. The thick layer of dust and grime says it hasn't been used in months, if not years. You see the edge of ratty furs and straws heaped beneath the desk. Though you can't see what actually lurks beneath it, you hear a shuffling sound and a low growl. Sleepy at first, but quickly waking.

Spoiler: OOC

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Only Loric rolled high enough on the initiative to potentially act before whatever is beneath the desk, so what comes next will depend on if he moves in or not.

[Zero Prime]

Aubin D'Ambrosio, Hellknight deserter AC: 15 | HIT POINTS: 12 | CURRENT 12 | HIT DIE: 1d10 | CURRENT: 1d10 INITIATIVE: +4 | PASSIVE PERCEPTION: 11 | PASSIVE INSIGHT: 13 ACTIVE EFFECTS: None. CONDITIONS: None. Aubin tested the door cautiously with the toe of his boot, quickly noticing that it was not locked, he looked to his companions and shrugged. "That simple, direct violence you wished for," he whispered to the stoic Shoanti woman, "is certainly within your grasp. Have a caution though, that these cretins do not shield themselves behind the bodies of street rats and orphans." Crossing the threshold, he drew the renaissance pistol from it's holster, deftly loading a paper cartridge into the barrel and ensuring the strike plate was clean.

Spoiler: Out of Character Action

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OOC: Aubin will step in, load his pistol, and survey the entryway looking for any threats, or cries of alarm. Perception check, as it is, (1d20+1)[2]. Yup, totally not an ambush, not at all.

[Amnestic]

The door that the gnome shut doesn't stay shut for long, as the 'negotiating' group pushes it open, spilling the light back into their faces. The sitnk in this room, a mixture of fish and sweat, is enough to make the eyes water. To the east, a large wooden trough holds a hideous mound of half-rancid fish, seaweed and brine. Filthy river water and fish blood stain the floor around this trough, and a pair of wooden schutes lead through holes in the eastern wall into a larger room beyond. To the west, a desk and chair sit in one corner, while a tall cabinet sits in the other. Four emaciated children - some of his 'Lamms' - stand around the trough, pitchforks too large for them in hand, half dug into the mound of fish carcasses. They all peer at the entering group, fear in their eyes and terror stilling their motions. "Oh I sees," the gnome says gleefully, a smile filling his manic features, "Want to do this the hard way do ya?" He pulls a razor sharp kukri from his belt, the blade gleaming in the lantern light.

Loric gets enough of an eye to see that a dog - a muscly hound with ill temper in its eyes - is waking up. A guard dog in all sense of the word, yet if acted on quickly you might be able to silence it before it alarms the entire building.

Spoiler: Map

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The aside from the doors you've opened besides your characters, the rest of the doors you can see are shut - including the one between the dog and the blonde to the east, that's just revealed because Creissus scouted it.

Initiative wise only Shadi and Loric rolled high enough to beat the enemies, so those two->Enemies->Everyone.

For the sake of PbP simplicity actual initiative order for the party won't matter a great deal, and in the event something happens where one person wants to do something before another, I'll usually go with whatever outcome is most beneficial - though the same will often apply for the enemies in turn. Also it happened here but in the case of initiative ties between player+enemy, I'll always preference the players going first because it's more fun that way.

This is also a good opportunity to mention the Tumble variant rule from the DMG is in effect, since chances are you'll be tripping over orphans aplenty and chances are you don't want to be murdering children. I hope. I really hope.

TUMBLE
A creature can try to tumble through a hostile creatures space, ducking and weaving past the opponent. As an action or bonus action, the tumbler makes an Acrobatics check contested by the hostile creatures acrobatics check. If the tumbler wins it can move through the hostile creatures space once this turn.

[TriciaOso]

Podgan prays once more for Abadar's guidance as things begin to escalate. Please, oh God of Law and Ditches, help us. Even just a little bit. Please.

Spoiler: OOC

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Cast bless on me, Scipio and Loric -- won't help Loric his first turn, though.

[3SecondCultist]

Shadi, Who Was Skoan-Quah Human Stone Sorcerer HP: 10/10, AC: 16 PP: 14, PI: 14 Active Effects: Stone's Durability Conditions: None Concentrating: —

Three times, Shadi stays quiet. She does not protest at being selected to be part of a 'diplomatic' greeting party, for the others surely know better and perhaps she might be of use as a silent looming figure. People tend to dislike her when she stands places. She does not speak up to stop Aubin when he claims to be a tax officer and names the rotund piper as a Hellknight, despite the fact that her presence unravels such a feeble fiction. Finally she does not rise to the bait when the horrid gnome decides to throw that old word at her.

The first time the Shoanti goes to say something is when Aubin steps through the door and addresses her directly. She lets out a cavernous sigh, pulling out her sword from its resting place - nearly three full feet of honed steel, with a handle of wrapped cloth and bone - and closes her eyes. For the second time that day, she allows herself to be one with the soil here. There is certainly enough of it; wet and churned and despoiled by bones and detritus though it may be, the earth always remains. She calls to it and feels it answer, sluggishly as is its wont but soon it arrives in roils.

Underneath the feet of everyone standing nearby is a faint tremor, and suddenly waves of calcified stone appear as though out of nowhere all over Shadi's skin. Mostly limestone this time, the chalky joins in stark contrast with the dark soft skin underneath, but there are whorls of granite and marble. The suit of armor - for there is no mistaking it from anything else - expands to cover nearly every inch of Shadi, save for visor-like slits for her eyes. She steps forward with an audible crunch, elbowing Aubin out of the way with a roughness that is certainly not accidental.

"Knowing and wishing are not the same," she chastises softly, her voice the same under her new helm. "At least you are good at wasting time."

Spoiler: OOC

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Shadi is using her action to activate Stone's Durability and bring her AC up to 16, then she is moving past Aubin to take the frontline position. Ideally she will close with the gnome and let herself be flanked by the children, which would then let Crease and Aubin move in to flank them. I've got my Shield spell at the ready.

[RandomWombat]

Loric the Tanner Human Monk AC: 16 HP: 10/10 PP: 13 PIv: 10 PIs: 13 Conditions: -- Ears detecting the unmistakable sound of a guard dog awakening, Loric springs into action. He slips into the room, adjusting the position of his staff to strike around the obstacle of the desk shielding the beast from the door. He attempts to kick it in the throat to shut it up, then drives the staff into its head, aiming for a killing blow. But his body is slow than it once was - out of shape, out of practice. Spoiler: Rolls Show (1d20+5)[10] attack with staff (1d8+3)[8] damage (2h) (1d20+5)[25] bonus action attack with unarmed kick (1d4+3)[6] damage (I believe the monk's bonus action attack counts as a normal attack, not offhand, since offhand features usually specify)

[Amnestic]

"Get 'em, or I'll feed you to the dog!" The gnome's battlecry is as much manic aggression as it is desperation as he watches the stone 'armour' form up on Shadi's skin. Whatever he'd been expecting from your group, it hadn't been that. The children, fear still in their eyes, nevertheless move forward. They brandish their stinking, fish-gut laden pitchforks at Shadi, thrusting forward with ill-timed and worse-balanced strikes. Only one attack actually strikes the stone skin, but even that one doesn't come close to chipping at her defenses. They are, at the end of the day, starving children. The gnome is either luckier or more skilled. Using the children's poor attacks as a distraction he slips his blade in a small area on the back of the knee, where the stone is a bit thinner and slices hard across it. While the blade comes away clean of blood, the damage is still felt. Satisfied, or perhaps overly cautious, he dips away from Shadi, taking cover behind an orphan.

When Loric strides in the hound is still waking up, blinking sleep from its eyes. The snap kick to its throat does more than simply choke down the animal's yelps however, the powerful blow crushes the beast's throat entirely. It chokes on nothing for a few moment before slumping over, the shock ending its consciousness, and the lack of air ending its life soon after. The darkness of the front room of the building settles in again, but the movement and brief fight hasn't gone entirely unnoticed. You hear movement behind the door to your east, though with the desk shoved up against it, it's unlikely you'll be able to push through. It's impossible for the lockpicking team to miss the yelling and sounds of fighting to their north either.

Spoiler: Map

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Loric oneshots the dog.
Shadi takes 4 slashing damage and the angry gnome then disengages to take cover behind a child.

We're not using the flanking rules, but I might poll the group after this 'dungeon' if they'd like to change that.

Everyone's up now, though Pogdan's already had their turn posted.

[Zero Prime]

Aubin D'Ambrosio, Hellknight deserter AC: 15 | HIT POINTS: 12 | CURRENT 12 | HIT DIE: 1d10 | CURRENT: 1d10 INITIATIVE: +4 | PASSIVE PERCEPTION: 11 | PASSIVE INSIGHT: 13 ACTIVE EFFECTS: None. CONDITIONS: None. Deftly stepping around the Shoanti warrior, Aubin moved into the room. As he feared, Lamm's associate moved into the crowd of orphans, trying to use the starving, street rats as cover. A frown on his face, he gracefully leapt onto the desk in the north western corner, allowing his comrade in arms a clear path to entry, from his elevated position he took aim and pulled the trigger. "You should have surrendered good ser, this, is now, upon you." The hammer fell forward, sparking the strike plate, with a roaring, thunderous boom, a cloud of acrid, powder smoke hung in the air as the bullet struck true.

Spoiler: Out of Character Actions[/spoiler

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OOC: Move Action; Acrobatics to hop onto the Desk in NW corner, possibly drawing an AoO from Orphan to Shadi's immediate N. Acrobatics check (1d20+6)[14]. Attack action, fire Pistol at the Gnome, (1d20+8)[16], for (1d10+4)[13], piercing damage.

[purepolarpanzer]

Creissus "Crease" Walrun Ornetto IV Human Bard AC: 14 HP: 10/10 PP: 10 PIv: 11 PIs: 12 Conditions: -- Concentrating on: Bardic Inspiration- 1d6 2/3 About the time the firearm went off, Creissus realized that battle had been joined, Surveying the situation, he decided that rather than leap into action against the gnome with the razor (and therefore putting himself at risk), his efforts would be better applied to disarming and subduing the cluster of children currently poking and prodding at Shadi. Unslinging his guitar from his back, he took a moment to adjust his hat for maximum jauntiness before entering the room with a struck chord and a perfect note. Children, oh children Please put down your arms For we mean you no harm We'll free you and feed you Though most don't give a damn We'll deliver you from the clutches Of the foul Gaedren Lamm Finishing his impromptu verse, Creissus, always his own worst critic, has to swallow a look of disgust at his malformed rhyming structure. Switching to spoken word, he punctuates the song by saying Throw down your forks and wait outside, and we'll feed each of you till your bellies are rounded over once we punish your foul master! He adds one final strum of his guitar, sending a wave of inspiring magic at Shadi to aid her sword arm. He was certain this fight was far from over.

Spoiler: OOC

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Moving inside along the western wall. Aubin should have already triggered the reaction attack of the child near the door. Attempting a Persuasion to get the children to stand down- (1d20+7)[9]. Using a bonus action to give Shadi inspiration- feel free to add a d6 to an ability check, attack roll, or save you make in the next 10 minutes.

[Bunny Commando]

Scipio Arquetius - HP: 10\10 - Conditions: None - Active Effects: Bless - Harrow Points: 1

---------------

Even though everything's happening way faster Scipio had imagined, the old training of the Korvosan Guard kicks in and he moves in, quite ready to storm the place. Sounds of battle comes from the north, then the unmistakeable sound of a pistol being discharged; he rushes forward towards the door and crashes into it, trying to open it with a solid shoulder bash and his own weight. The scene he finds in the room leaves him dazed for a moment - Aubin on a desk with a smoking gun, Crease singing a limerick to a bunch of kids and Shadi that doesn't look much like the woman he met that evening.

Time is of the essence, however, and he tries to identify the threat Aubin shot at: what Scipio had mistaken for a child is instead an armed gnome; he picks something from one of his pouches, a small crystal that he immediately breaks before trying to strike the gnome down with the spear now emitting a low, discordant sound.

Spoiler: Here goes nothing

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Scipio moves and uses his free object interaction to open the door; he casts Booming Blade on the gnome as soon as he's in the room.

(1d20+5)[9] (1d4)[4] Damage (1d6+1)[7]

[TriciaOso]

Podgan takes a deep breath and hurries after them. His stomach churns when he sees the children in the mix.

Well, what did you think you would happen? he berates himself. What would you have done?

[RandomWombat]

Loric the Tanner Human Monk AC: 16 HP: 10/10 PP: 13 PIv: 10 PIs: 13 Conditions: -- The strike intended to be a killing blow strikes beside the beast's head, but it proves unnecessary. Pulling his weapon back, Loric hears the gun go off, undoing the work he'd hoped to accomplish keeping a modicum of silence. Recalling Cressius' earlier warning that the door would be blocked, he swiftly moves back out through the door and circles the building along the old boardwalk to ensure their accountant does not escape. Spoiler: Rolls Show Move 2 W, 3 S, 9 E.

[3SecondCultist]

Shadi, Who Was Skoan-Quah Human Stone Sorcerer HP: 6/10, AC: 16 PP: 14, PI: 14 Active Effects: Stone's Durability Conditions: None Concentrating: —

Shadi barely feels the brunt of the children wailing on her, but her stare is fixed on the cowardly gnome as he cuts through her armor and goes to hiding behind a child. Her armor shifts and cracks, the only warning sign of what comes next. She pushes down the sliver of cold doubt that she faces at the idea of what she is about to do.

"Do you think that hiding behind them will protect you?"

With her front leg, the Shoanti warrior stomps her stone-covered foot directly into the floorboards. The second she makes contact, the entirety of the building begin to quake and rumble ominously as a localized blast of tectonic force erupts from her position.

Spoiler: OOC

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Shadi is casting Earth Tremor. All creatures other than Shadi within a 10 ft radius (which should be the gnome, the kids, and Aubin) have to make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw or take (1d6)[3] damage and be knocked prone. Hopefully I roll low enough not to become a mass child-murderer!

[Amnestic]

The snap of Aubin's bullet through the fishery brings everything to a halt for a moment as all involved need a moment to recover from the sound. No moreso than the gnome, whom is struck hard by it, penetrating straight through the armour into their shoulder. Their arm falls limp as blood begins to trickle down it, but it doesn't cause a surrender. The kukri slips from their injured grip, but it's scooped up by their one remaining good hand.

When Shadi shakes the earth with her spell it's difficult for everyone involved to remain standing, and indeed three of the orphans find it to be too much. The vibrations running up their emaciated forms cause them to drop to the ground, shivering and shaking. The last one in this room drops their pitchfork, ignoring Creissus' words, and runs past the unconscious forms of his friends. He ignores the gnome's yelling, ignores the looks on your faces, and breaks into the cold night. Fear compelled him to fight, and now fear has driven him away. Cursing his luck, he barely avoids Scipio's booming spear. His attempt to retaliate falls short, his aim hindered by using his offhand and the bullet in his shoulder. Face contorted with fury, the gnome leaps across the fish guys, accumulating some stink along the way. He slams through the door into a larger room, but makes no effort to close it after himself. His mind seems set solely on escaping, now that his shield of orphans has been broken.

"Gruller, what the hell is going on!?" you hear a voice call. It's snide, as if his nose is permanently raised at everyone and everything, but the superiority in tone is hindered by the confusion of a gunshot being fired a few rooms away from him. "Some crazy Magistrate jus' shot me!" the gnome calls back, the deception you facilitated still holding strong despite his injuries. "There's four of 'em at least, maybe more." A third voice, one close to Loric, begins giggling. It's a mad laugh, one of excitement and glee due to them being attacked. He's dressed lightly, with a longbow slung over one shoulder and a brutal flail in one hand which he bangs upon the raised walkway. "Get ready little ones. If you let them through you'll be sent below." More laughter. It bubbles from his throat, breaking forth from a giggle to a roar before subsiding once more, though his 'comrades' and the children clustered around the base of the room clearly don't find the matter funny. The children all clutch at the pitchforks they've been using to stir the slurry, while the well-dressed man unhooks a vial from his belt, gleaming with green liquid.

Spoiler: Map

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I'm revealing the next room because I'm anticipating at least one of you will get in there on your next turn and it saves me waiting a few hours and then revealing it anyway.

Aubin takes 1 from the earth tremor, but stays standing.

Unfortunately, the gnome made his save too. He attacks Scipio, but misses, then dives across the fishy guts and slams through into the next room (disengaging in the process).

3 of the kids (marked in red) are down for the count from the earth tremor, and are making death saves, though they all passed their first one. The one who didn't get knocked down runs past you all into the night. Sadly, Creissus' pleas fell on deaf ears.

If Loric wishes, they may try to break through the boarded up windows to burst into the room. AC12, 4HP because they're rotted.

[TriciaOso]

HP: 10/10 Concentration: No Active Conditions: No

"No!" shrieks Podgan, as the children collapses before the Shoanti's magic. One of them survives and escapes, but the others...

He darts forward and skids to his knees beside the nearest child; completely unaware of the combat around him at all. He looks over the injured child, and his stomach churns with horror at the damage, but a veil of cold calm falls over him. He's trained for this. He saw too many of his friends fall and wasn't able to help them, but he is not that child any more, and this child--this child will live.

He can't reach the others right now, but waves a hand at the farthest out of reach, speaking a holy syllable and sending healing magic into the child.

Just one more.

Spoiler: OOC

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26 Medicine check for one, 6 hp for the other.

[Bunny Commando]

Scipio Arquetius - HP: 17\17 (7 THP) - Conditions: None - Active Effects: Bless, False Life - Harrow Points: 1

---------------

After Shadi's stunt, Scipio seems to decide it would be wiser to give her a wide berth - instead of immediately pursuing the gnome he stays put, takes a small bottle with some glowing liquid in it from one of his pouches and promptly drinks it; whatever was in the bottle was quite certainly of magical nature, since now his veins are unnaturally engorged. He then cautiously moves and peeks around the corner where one of the kids is laying down unconscious and whispers to Pogdan "Going to cover you, sir. And watch out for the Shoanti, she doesn't seem to care who gets in her way."

Spoiler: OOC

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Scipio casts False Life for (1d4+4)[7] Temporary Hit Points, then moves where the lowermost kid was.

[RandomWombat]

Loric the Tanner Human Monk AC: 16 HP: 10/10 PP: 13 PIv: 10 PIs: 13 Conditions: -- After a brief glimpse through the grimy window in passing, Loric crouches down and moves past the next window as quietly as he can to check the back of the fishery for threats. His staff remains ready in hand. Spoiler: Rolls Show Action to Hide. (1d20+3)[8] Move 3 E to check around the corner. If the green guy moves past the window, can he attempt an AoO through it with his staff? If so, (1d20+5)[7] to hit +2 from Bless (1d8+3)[6] damage

[purepolarpanzer]

Creissus "Crease" Walrun Ornetto IV Human Bard AC: 14 HP: 10/10 PP: 10 PIv: 11 PIs: 12 Conditions: -- Concentrating on: Bardic Inspiration- 1d6 2/3 Crease drew his rapier and moved around Shadi, careful not to step on the bodies of the children Pogdan was aiding. He shot the barbarous woman a look of mingled fear and disgust on his way by, having just seen her level magic at children. He hoped she had just panicked when she was surrounded, but now was not the time. Moving past, however, he came up behind the gnome and began waving people into the room. Hellknights! Advance! Round up the children, and put the adults to the sword! Then he began to mutter under his breath, his attention splitting between the wounded gnome and the madman with the longbow. With his left hand Creissus played a brief rat-a-tat-tat on the drum on his side, sending out damaging and frightening psychic magic at both of them.

Spoiler: OOC

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Rolling a deception to give the impression that back up is on it's way- (1d20+7)[17]. Moving adjacent to the gnome and casting dissonant whispers on him and the longbowman, using his twin spell metamagic with a sorcery point so he can target both. They each make a DC 13 Wisdom Save- gnome (1d20)[10], and bowman (1d20)[3] to halve this damage (3d6)[8] psychic. If they fail they also must use their reactions to get as far from me as possible. If the gnome fails Crease makes an AoO- (1d20+5)[17] to hit and (1d8+3)[6] damage.

[Zero Prime]

Aubin D'Ambrosio, Hellknight deserter AC: 15 | HIT POINTS: 12 | CURRENT 11 | HIT DIE: 1d10 | CURRENT: 1d10 INITIATIVE: +4 | PASSIVE PERCEPTION: 11 | PASSIVE INSIGHT: 13 ACTIVE EFFECTS: None. CONDITIONS: None. "NOOOOO!" Aubin watched the chaos unfold, events progressing in, what seemed like slow motion, horror and shock writ clear on his face. Two voices called over the roar of the weapon, one confused, calling to the commotion, the other committing yet more children to the criminal's defense for fear of some lurking punishment. However, the most shocking, was the actions of his own companions, the Shoanti woman, driven be vengeance, rage, or simply, callousness, summoned her magics, sending forth a tremor that shook the foundations of the fishery, cracking floor boards, and sending her assailants, including the children, sprawling. Watching the Factor attend to two of the more seriously injured street rats, Aubin dashed to the third, stowing his pistol in it's sheath as he did so, he knelt beside the child, checking his breathing and trying to determine the extent of his injuries and stabilize their condition. "Stay with me son," he murmered as he worked on the injuries, "I know it hurts, but we're here now, we've got you, just a little longer."

Spoiler: Out of Character Actions

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OOC: Busy week, and while we were trying to help Cultist struggle with the consequences of their posted actions, I forgot I hadn't yet posted. So sorry for the delay! I will move to the third critically injured child, and try to apply a Medicine check to stabilize them. I am, however, untrained in Medicine, so it is a straight Wis- check, (1d20+1)[2].

Son of a ... and Harrow are Dex- only. Sorry kid >.<

[3SecondCultist]

Shadi, Who Was Skoan-Quah Human Stone Sorcerer HP: 6/10, AC: 16 PP: 14, PI: 14 Active Effects: Stone's Durability Conditions: None Concentrating: —

Shale, blood and bone. She knows the song of the steppe, the manifold heat of the shimmering Storval Plateau playing melodiously over her skin while the cool thrummings of bedrock form the baseline. Shadi has heard it in her dreams since she was a girl, ready to forge out and choose her destiny.

As she watches the children collapse under the swell of the magics, their own bodies crumpling under the strain of the force she conjured, Shadi knows that she chose the wrong music. The Shoanti tribesman sees them fall as if from far away, reaching out a futile hand as though to reverse time and bring them back. They should have stayed standing, some part of her tries to rationalize. I have used those magics before, and my opponents still stood at spell's end. She had hoped they would be knocked down, the way to the true enemy clear; yet she has underestimated her own strength.

And innocents now are to pay the price.

Her debt grows. She is no healer, and as the rest of the group that accompanied her begins to tend to the fallen - the children - she steps over them, face affixed in a granite glower as she brings her sword up to try and cut down the true enemy: the fleeing gnome.

Spoiler: OOC

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Shadi is going to move through the open door to try and attack Gruller the gnome with her greatsword.

Attack: (1d20+5)[14] for (2d6+3)[11] damage

[Amnestic]

Resolute in the face of her foe, Shadi's blow strikes true and hard. The gnome had little chance of standing up to her strength when fully brought to bear, and the sharpened blade neatly slices straight through his leather armour, through his body, and out the other side. Now in two parts, the gnome's body collapses to the steps, steadily rolling down it. This display of power is enough that it stops any of the children from climbing the stairs, even as the giggling half-orc urges them on with yells of "Get them! Get them!"

Aubin's fingers, perhaps still shaking from the after effects of the spell or simply nerves, find it difficult to locate the exact point of injury and stabilise the child before him. Its breathing ragged, stuttered. Pogdan has more luck, his training and experience in the healing arts paying off dividends. By carefully positioning the boy, raising his head, adjusting his posture, the breathing settles. Though he remains unconscious, he's in no further danger. Likewise when a divine word falls from Pogdan's mouth to wrap one of the children in its warm embrace, they awake immediately, springing to their feet and bursting past Creissus into the night. They do not look back, or thank you, all they do is run.

Creissus slips past the children, and Shadi, to enter the room proper. His spell wraps around the frustrated and angry minds of the two adult opponents in the room, forcing them into a retreat, albeit a temporary one. The moment the spell's malicious grip on them ends the giggling half-orc turns around, slamming his flail into the fishery wall and lodging it there, before unslinging his longbow and loosing an arrow at the 'nobleman'. It strikes, though thankfully avoids marring his face, instead skating across the edge of his wrist and slicing through the cuff of his clothes.

The sneering blonde returns just as well, though his attack is less effective. Once back up to the railing after his previous retreat, a bottle of acid is retrieved from a bag or pocket or pouch and hurled at Shadi. Though the glass vial shatters against her skin unleashing a noxious green liquid, it has no effect. It sizzles against stone but ultimately its effect is that of water; at best it has made her slightly damp.

Around the side of the building Loric's exploration continues. Peeking around the riverside of the building, he spots nothing less than a ship's hull, or what remains of it. The rotten deck of this ancient sailing ship seems to be barely intact; its hull is worn and thick with seaweed and barnacles. The ship is held together primarily by the layers of old rope that lash it securely to the pilings that support the fishery and the nearby boardwalk. The rickety walkway leads along the ship’s starboard, a foot below its railing. A single wooden door leading into the aft cabin bears a crude painting of a red fish on its surface. Though it's difficult to make out at the angle, it looks like there's a second path exiting out from the side of the ship below the building, to a lower floor of the fishery. A lower floor that, at least from your investigations so far, there is no other clear path to.

Spoiler: Map

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Shadi ends Gruller's life.
As noted, Aubin's stabilisation attempt was unsuccessful, but Pogdan stabilised one and healed another, who's now out the door.
For the sake of not losing out on a spell or slash, I retargeted Dissonant Whispers from the gnome to the blonde man, so both he+Giggles took the damage. Giggles retaliates and hits Creissus with an arrow for 5 piercing damage.
Loric gets a peek around the corner. No other doors into the fishery, but the window remains an option.

[TriciaOso]

HP: 10/10 Concentration: No Active Conditions: No

Podgan moves to the last child, gently pushing Sir Aubin towards the door, and whispers a prayer to Abadar; not healing the child, but stabilizing him. If he hadn't panicked, he realizes, he could've done the same for the first one.

He can hear children in the next room, and seeing Crease and Shadi disappear through the door, he feels anxiety lurch in his chest. He pushes into the doorway--not enough to pass, but well enough to see into the room--and vanishes, reappearing in the midst of the children. He is hardly bigger than any of them, but his armor and his shield are enough to feel secure in the face of their pitchforks or even the giggling half-orc's bow.

"Don't be afraid!" he says to them. "Please. You don't have to fight for them." He looks at the half-orc and blonde man in disgust and terrified fury, then under the catwalk. He can't reach it, but perhaps the children can.

"We won't let them hurt you anymore." He hopes he can keep his promise.

Spoiler: OOC

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Spare the Dying; movement; Misty Step.

Persuasion: (1d20+1)[3].

If Podgan takes damage from one of the adults, he will use his reaction to turn invisible and give the other one disadvantage, but not if it's one of the children.

[RandomWombat]

Loric the Tanner Human Monk AC: 16 HP: 10/10 PP: 13 PIv: 10 PIs: 13 Conditions: -- Peering around the corner, Loric's eyes take in the wreckage of the ship. No longer seaworthy, it sits here as much a gutted corpse as the fish that flow through this place. Then, his eyes trace the small walkway leading beneath the fishery, into the hidden places. But the sounds from inside pull him away from thoughts of hideaways and of prey. Stepping in front of the window and adjusting his stance, he drives the staff through to strike the half-orc in the back. With an opening made in the window, he reaches through to grab the giggling monster and try and slam his head into the window frame. Spoiler: Rolls Show Move 1 W. Attack on Giggles through the window. (1d20+5)[10] to hit with staff (1d20+5)[11] Hide Advantage if applicable + (1d4)[2] Bless + 3 (Bardic Inspiration in Discord) (1d8+3)[7] damage (1d20+5)[19] to hit with unarmed strike bonus action + (1d4)[4] Bless (1d4+3)[4] damage

[Bunny Commando]

Scipio Arquetius - HP: 17\17 (7 THP) - Conditions: None - Active Effects: Bless, False Life - Harrow Points: 1

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Scipio warily watches the Shoanti charge and doesn't seem too keen to follow her down the stairs - Pogdan has however other plans and when the gnomish priest disappears, the former watchmen mutters a curse and looks around, trying to find another way instead of cluttering the fleet of stairs where his "companions" are now standing. He waves at Aubin, a hint to follow him, and then moves towards the room they entered the compound - a door unlocked, a small corridor, then another door unlocked as well; he moves urgently, most probably quite worried for Pogdan, and seems a bit startled when he finds someone of apparently upper standing on the other side of the door.
Hesitation doesn't last long, though; from one of the pouches Scipio picks a small, dark crystal he cracks before trying to stab the nobleman with the spear that's emitting a low yet dangerous humming now.

Spoiler: Saving Private Pogdan

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Scipio moves and then casts Booming Blade on the "nobleman".

Booming Blade (1d20+5)[10] Damage (1d6+1)[4]
Extra Damage (if he moves) (1d8)[1]