Iron Crisis Pt3 IC

[Amnestic]

Caelyn's flames burn away the two weakened enemies, leaving only one still stood in melee. Grok's glaive whips out at it, striking twice, but he's still standing, whip in hand, serving as an adequate distraction for the xvart. It unleashes another torrent of flames of its own, these ones at Grok and Senna. The beamblasts bite with scorching pain, and then it disappears behind a corner, tiny feet carrying it off away from you. If you're not mistaken, you hear the sound of a door opening - a clear sign of its retreat.

Spoiler: Map

Show

Caelyn's fire kills the two low-health meleemen. Grok's glaive hits knock the last one standing down to single digits.

The xvart casts Scorching Ray (3rd) and takes advantage of its pack tactics to crit Grok twice and hit him once, dealing 14, 6, and 12 fire damage in total. It missed with its other ray.
It also throws a fireblast with its bonus action at Senna, hitting for 8 fire.

It then disappears around a corner, out of line of sight. It sounds like it is retreating.

Initiative:
N: (1d20)[15]
X: (1d20)[15]

Grepha: (1d20+5)[13]

G: (1d20+5)[12]

Senna: (1d20)[11]
Sam: (1d20+5)[8]
Leaf: ((1d20)[3]

S:(1d20)[3]

Caelyn: (1d20)[1]
Grok: (1d20)[1]

[RandomWombat]

Cheerful Sam | Grepha Half-Dragon Warlock/Bard | Imp Warlock AC: 12 HP: 37/62 | AC: 13 HP: 20/32 PP: 10|13 PIv: 15|12 PIs: 11|13 Daveorn Disguise, Sanctuary (Senna), Bardic Inspiration (Grok, Caelyn) | Spider Form The tiny spider lunges at the last guard, fangs bared. Spoiler: Rolls Show Sam Not turn Grepha Bite on the last guard (1d20+5)[15] to hit (1d20+5)[16] True Strike (1d4+3)[6] damage +(3d6)[11] poison, (1d20)[10] vs DC 11 to resist

Leaf Tabaxi Rogue 8 AC: 17 HP: 35/63 PP: 18 PIv: 15 PIs: 14 HD: 8/8d8 Restrain: 3/3 Dawn Arrows: 7 acid, 5 fire, 7 cold Conditions:

Aergid Silver Dragon Wyrmling AC 17, HP DEAD /45 PP: 14 PIv: 11 PIs: 12 Bite +6 1d10+4 Breath 15' cone 4d8 DC13 Con Recharge 5-6 Paralyzing 15' cone DC13 Con paralyzed 1 minute DEAD!!!!!

Leaf poises himself for the chase, feline instincts clicking as their foe runs.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Not turn

[Amnestic]

Grepha's stab narrowly strikes the guard in the neck, and though the venom isn't as potent as she may have wanted, the accumulated injuries all add up to another corpse at your feet.

Spoiler: Map

Show

Didn't update the map 'cos I'm lazy, Grepha's moved in and the guard's dead.

Everyone's up, except Grepha. Only the xvart remains. They're not quite out of 'encounter' distance, so the choice to chase them down or to stop and recover is up to you.

Initiative:
N: (1d20)[15]
X: (1d20)[15]

Grepha: (1d20+5)[13]

G: (1d20+5)[12]

Senna: (1d20)[11]
Sam: (1d20+5)[8]
Leaf: ((1d20)[3]

S:(1d20)[3]

Caelyn: (1d20)[1]
Grok: (1d20)[1]

[Archmage1]

Grok Dwarf Paladin 8 AC: 20 HP: 57/86 PP: 10 PIv: 9 PIs: 10 SR 2/2, Conditions: Blackened and bloodied, Grok starts to head towards the door immediately as the final guard falls, knowing that vengeance was risked should the Xvart escape. Spoiler: OOC Show Move to the door leading to the next chamber. Then some combination of either double move, Abjure Enemy, or misty step to prevent escape. Double move > Abjure Enemy > Misty Step, in the list of preventable retreats.

[RandomWombat]

Cheerful Sam | Grepha Half-Dragon Warlock/Bard | Imp Warlock AC: 12 HP: 37/62 | AC: 13 HP: 20/32 PP: 10|13 PIv: 15|12 PIs: 11|13 Daveorn Disguise, Bardic Inspiration (Grok, Caelyn) | Spider Form Hurrying out into the hall, Sam sends a pulse of psionic power and two bolts of energy at the xvart - should he catch a line of sight. Spoiler: Rolls Show Sam Move into the hallway. Bonus action Mind Thrust if xvart is in range, (1d20)[16] DC 15 Wis vs (3d6)[13] psychic damage and one action/bonus/reaction on next turn. If xvart is not in range, bonus action Tumble Dash to pursue. Action for Eldritch Blast, sparing him the launches (1d20+7)[14] to hit Blast 1 (1d10)[1] force damage on hit (1d20+7)[10] to hit Blast 2 (1d10)[7] force damage on hit Grepha Not turn

Leaf Tabaxi Rogue 8 AC: 17 HP: 35/63 PP: 18 PIv: 15 PIs: 14 HD: 8/8d8 Restrain: 3/3 Dawn Arrows: 7 acid, 5 fire, 6 cold Conditions:

Aergid Silver Dragon Wyrmling AC 17, HP DEAD /45 PP: 14 PIv: 11 PIs: 12 Bite +6 1d10+4 Breath 15' cone 4d8 DC13 Con Recharge 5-6 Paralyzing 15' cone DC13 Con paralyzed 1 minute DEAD!!!!!

Leaf is already on the run, drawing another arrow from his quiver.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Move into hallway, bonus action to Dash after the xvart if necessary to get into line of sight.
If he's visible from the doorway, bonus action to Hide (1d20+11)[28] (1d20+11)[30] in the doorway before popping out for a sneak attack.
Shoot with a cold arrow if able to get in range.
(1d20+11)[28] to hit
(1d6+8)[11] damage, +(1d6)[4] cold
If Hidden:
(1d20+11)[14] and (1d20+11)[17] Elven Accuracy
and (4d6)[19] sneak attack damage

[purepolarpanzer]

Caelyn Syol'arael Wood Elf Druid AC: 15 HP: 44/59 PP: 18 PIv: 10 PIs: 18 Conditions: Concentrating on: 8 / 8 d8 HD Spell Slots- 4/4 1st, 3/3 2nd, 3/3 3rd, 1/2 4th 1/2 Wildshape Weapon still enhanced, Caelyn dashes slightly quicker than most to get within range of smacking the xvart.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Dash 70 ft to catch up with the blue fart. Hit it if it provokes an attack- (1d20+8)[28] to hit and (1d8+6)[11]

[Spore]

Senna Human Arcana Cleric AC: 19 HP: 16/64 Spells: 1st: 3/4 2nd: 2/3 3rd: 3/3 4th: 2/2, Turn Undead: 2/2, Short Rests: 2/2 (+d8) Harness Divine Power 2/2, 2nd Conditions: Con reduced to 14 (Slimy Dooooom), Longstrider on Grok (1h) Seeing as the others already rush headlong into another murder frenzy, Senna wonders if Bhaal's curse infects his other friends much more than them. She chimes another smaller bell and follows. Spoiler Show Casting Longstrider on the charging dwarf, following the others.

[Amnestic]

The party hurriedly gives chase, sprinting from the small office back into the hall, where they see the xvart rushing towards and open door. Sam's spells go wide in his haste, but Leaf lines up an attack for just as Grok and Caelyn reach him. The blue-skinned creature quickly incants another spell, surrounding himself in flames, and though they beat back Grok's glaive, Caelyn's club finds its mark, caving in the small creature's skull just as surely as she did Nortuary. The flames lick at her arms, but die down just as quickly.

The encounter ends with you standing victorious, if a little banged up, but you are in the heart of the Iron Throne. It's impossible for someone not to have heard what's going on...isn't it?

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Senna moves forward.
Save made vs. Mind Thrust and EB's missed from Sam.
Leaf moves in and attacks readies an attack.

Grok double moves in. Leaf's attack triggers, dealing SA damage.
Caelyn double moves in.

The Xvart casts Fire Shield and moves away. Grok's OA misses, even with BI. Caelyn crits for 22, finishing the Xvart off.

Combat over, with another kill for Caelyn. Oh me oh my. She does take 11 fire damage from Fire Shield in the process though.

That was a Deadly encounter, so 15 experience earned.

Time to decide if you're going to immediately move on or if you're going to spend time ransacking the offices first. Also if one of you wants to pop a Short Rest, now might be the time to do so.

[Archmage1]

Grok Dwarf Paladin 8 AC: 20 HP: 57/86 PP: 10 PIv: 9 PIs: 10 SR 2/2, Conditions: Longstriding Pausing to listen at the hall for a moment for any response, Grok quickly looks back to the rapidly approaching party. "We've got to be quick, before they get away. Patch yerselves up, check that investigator for evidence, then we need to be going up. The leader's always at either the top or the bottom." Spoiler: OOC Show Some Lay on Hands usage is highly likely to occur in the near future, but that's going to depend on how widely spread our damage is, and who short rests.

[Spore]

Senna Human Arcana Cleric AC: 19 HP: 64/64 Spells: 1st: 2/4 2nd: 3/3 3rd: 3/3 4th: 2/2, Channel: 2/2, Short Rests: 2/2 (+d8) Harness Divine Power 1/2, 2nd Conditions: Con reduced to 14 (Slimy Dooooom), Longstrider on Grok (1h), Detect Magic (concentration 10 min), Proficiency in Investigation Senna takes a deep breather and tries to ignore her superficial wounds. By the Divine Scribe, we may still be able to find some information. she prays an orison to her deity, and starts looking for obvious paperwork. Maybe even some magic paperwork? Spoiler Show Short Resting for 50% HP plus two maximized dice from your Human variant (correct?) meaning 32 + 2*8 = 48 health regained, correct? Also using Harness Divine Power to get the slot back that I used on Magic Aura. Also using Channel Divinity to get Investigation proficiency then resetting the uses with the short rest. Investigation (1d20+4)[9] Also Detect Magic cast normally.

[RandomWombat]

Cheerful Sam | Grepha Half-Dragon Warlock/Bard | Imp Warlock AC: 12 HP: 62/62 | AC: 13 HP: 32/32 PP: 10|13 PIv: 15|12 PIs: 11|13 Daveorn Disguise, Bardic Inspiration (Caelyn) | Spider Form Coming down from the perverse high of combat, Sam lowers his hands and steps back into the office, doing everything he can not to scream. Somehow, everything had gone wrong again. "At least we were not asked to promise quiet or subtlety," ever the optimist, Grepha crawls atop a desk. She takes note of Senna's examinations, and voices her own observations, "I would have expected someone to overhear this. Do you detect if this place is ensorcelled with soundproofing? It would not be unusual for them." She hops down from the desk and follows Sam as he walks past, rightfully concerned. Sam stares down at Nortuary's mangled corpse. He was dead because Sam dragged him into the investigation with half-baked manipulations. Swallowing down something far less wholesome than the guilt or disgust he should feel for the act, he kneels down and searches the man for any documents or files of use. Grepha makes certain to help look... for anything else of use. Spoiler: Actions Show Sam Short Rest for recovery. Search Nortuary's body. (1d20+5)[11] Investigation (1d20+5)[24] Grepha Help Grepha Short Rest for recovery.

Leaf Tabaxi Rogue 8 AC: 17 HP: 63/63 PP: 18 PIv: 15 PIs: 14 1/2 Short Rests Restrain: 3/3 Dawn Arrows: 7 acid, 5 fire, 6 cold Conditions:

Aergid Silver Dragon Wyrmling AC 17, HP DEAD /45 PP: 14 PIv: 11 PIs: 12 Bite +6 1d10+4 Breath 15' cone 4d8 DC13 Con Recharge 5-6 Paralyzing 15' cone DC13 Con paralyzed 1 minute DEAD!!!!!

Twirling the next arrow he'd already drawn, Leaf puts it away. He follows Senna into the office. "I have a cat's eye, but not so much of a reader. Just let me know what words you want me to look for."

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Short Rest for recovery.
Give Grepha Help on Investigation.

[purepolarpanzer]

Caelyn Syol'arael Wood Elf Druid AC: 15 HP: 44/59 PP: 18 PIv: 10 PIs: 18 Conditions: Concentrating on: 8 / 8 d8 HD Spell Slots- 4/4 1st, 3/3 2nd, 3/3 3rd, 1/2 4th 1/2 Wildshape Caelyn's grip on her staff tightened to a white knuckle grip. "The grip of Bhaal is too strong for my force of personality. I could not stay my hand, and resisting made me laugh like a bloody lunatic. I am sorry that I could not stay my hand, all of you. Until we find some cure or way to temper down the foulness of our blood, I am afraid I will not be able to hold back. At least, not without appearing a blood thirsty loon. I choose to try to stay stoic, though the fire in me burns hot in response to my will being subsumed. I'm... disturbed by the futility and mockery that comes when I resist." Caelyn began searching through documents, attempting to help the more studious among them find something important.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Help action to advantage our highest bonus on the search.

[Amnestic]

You split up to cover as much ground as possible and find that those you defeated bearing perilously little. Nortuary is wearing a pair of magical gloves, but his mundane effects constitute mostly writing tools and a small notebook. A skim read of it finds it to be a work journal of sorts, chronicling mundane activities of the Iron Throne in cities abroad from Baldur's Gate. The more recent entries are mostly complaints about not being able to get any solid answers from anyone in the Gate, and being stymied at every turn, along with promises to see Rieltar and Sarevok expelled for his ill-treatment.

The guards are decked out in mundane gear, with a scattering of coin between them. The xvart, like Nortuary, doesn't seem to have kept any important notes on him - or perhaps he abandoned them before he began his attack, just in case. His headband, however, proves to likewise be magical. The rest of Senna's investigations find mundanity upon mundanity though. While the area is suffused with magic, probably from spells cast by others over time, there's nothing that strikes you as particularly notable, about either the paperwork nor about the construction itself.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

You find a grand total of 35gp between the enemies you killed.

Nortuary had Gloves of Heroism.
Gloves of Heroism
Wondrous Item (gloves), Uncommon
Whenever you Channel Divinity (whether Cleric or Paladin) you gain the effects of the Heroism spell for 1d4+1 rounds (no concentration required).

The xvart had a Badly Warped Headband of Intellect
Badly Warped Headband of Intellect
Wondrous Item (Headband), Uncommon

Originally a far more potent item, this item has seen wear with age and damage. When worn, it sets the wearer's Intelligence score to 15. If it is higher, this has no effect.

[Archmage1]

Grok Dwarf Paladin 8 AC: 20 HP: 77/86 PP: 10 PIv: 9 PIs: 10 SR 2/2, Conditions: During the search, Grok also touches some of the more seriously wounded individuals, helping to get them more up to another, harder battle. As he offers some healing to Caelyn, he also tries to offer her some advice. "People do awful things, and murder? That's hard. So long as you regret what you did, that you work to do better, and make sure it matters? That's all anyone can do." However, after the hunt is concluded, his face(If it weren't concealed by his zombie disguise helmet) would show a fierce scowl. "Then we need to go up, and pray that they've not destroyed the evidence yet. I'll not let these things escape so easily." He puts action to words, heading towards the stairs, intending to breach the top floor and blow the entire conspiracy wide open.

[RandomWombat]

Cheerful Sam | Grepha Half-Dragon Warlock/Bard | Imp Warlock AC: 12 HP: 62/62 | AC: 16 HP: 32/32 PP: 10|13 PIv: 15|12 PIs: 11|13 Daveorn Disguise, Bardic Inspiration (Caelyn) | Spider Form, Mage Armor, Invisibility Sam takes Nortuary's notebook. Even if it does not have evidence of wrongdoing, it contains evidence of Rieltar and this Sarevok acting without the blessing of their parent company. Perhaps it would be of use to someone in the Gate's hierarchy... One last glance at Nortuary's caved in head, and Sam looks away. He feels a deep existential fear at the idea of being captive, a puppet in his own body like Caelyn was forced to be. To kill on their own terms or be reduced to a giggling caricature, is that what began Vyvian's fall? "We'll find a way," he affirms to her, then stands up and smooths out his demeanor, getting back in character. However blown half of their cover may be, the events here could still be placed on the shoulders of a dead vampire. Grepha resumes her invisibility, after wreathing herself in protective shadows. She moves alongside the others as they follow Grok's vanguard. Spoiler: Actions Show Sam Following 10 feet behind Grok. Grepha Following beside Sam.

Leaf Tabaxi Rogue 8 AC: 17 HP: 63/63 PP: 18 PIv: 15 PIs: 14 1/2 Short Rests Restrain: 3/3 Dawn Arrows: 7 acid, 5 fire, 6 cold Conditions:

Aergid Silver Dragon Wyrmling AC 17, HP DEAD /45 PP: 14 PIv: 11 PIs: 12 Bite +6 1d10+4 Breath 15' cone 4d8 DC13 Con Recharge 5-6 Paralyzing 15' cone DC13 Con paralyzed 1 minute DEAD!!!!!

Staying low, Leaf carefully moves between cover spots as their party advances, arrow at the ready for a sneak attack.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Follow far enough back to remain in cover and Hide (1d20+11)[21] (1d20+11)[16] while following Grok.

[Spore]

Senna Human Arcana Cleric AC: 19 HP: 64/64 Spells: 1st: 2/4 2nd: 3/3 3rd: 2/3 4th: 2/2, Channel: 2/2, Short Rests: 2/2 (+d8) Harness Divine Power 1/2, 2nd Conditions: Con reduced to 14 (Slimy Dooooom), Longstrider on Grok (1h), Detect Magic (concentration 10 min), Proficiency in Investigation As the dwarf approaches, the redhead shakes her head. My injuries look worse than they are. The blade did not pierce my spleen, albeit barely. I will update the Duke though. Senna pulls out a small metallic wire and rubs it between her fingers. As she summons the magic, a fine string of blue ink starts appearing in front of Senna, writing a small letter. Sire, have been spotted. Rieltar or Sarevok are to blame. No evidence found. Exfiltrate or advance? We can contact again. Signed, Priestess of Scribes Spoiler Show Casting Sending targetting Duke Eltan.

[Amnestic]

"Continue the mission." is all you get back from Duke Eltan.

As you rush through the halls back towards the stairs, you notice that those you had seen have made themselves scarce - clearly you were heard, and the majority of those who heard you decided to disappear before they got caught up in the fighting. As you clatter up the stairs at full speed, Grok comes face to face with two seasoned warriors standing ready for you, both clad in full plate. One wields a halberd that glows with magic, while the other wields a longsword and shield - even beneath his armour his muscles seem to be bursting out from beyond them, an unnatural strength held within. The centre of the room is dominated by an ornamental lion statue that could, if used properly, provide a modicum of cover. Four doors lead beyond this room, two directly opposite from you, one to your left that hangs open, to a hall beyond, and one to your right, that remains shut for now.

Spoiler: Map

Show

In case it isn't clear on the map, there are four doors from the room you are in. One is open, on the right. There are two on the south wall, directly south of the enemy tokens, and one on the west wal, directly east of the enemy.

Caelyn and Leaf are both off the map down the stairs, 5ft and 10ft behind Sam. Climbing up the stairs requires either reaching the top (Grok's square) or climbing from Senna's square (which costs double movement to do). Sam and Senna are both below the lip of the the floor, and unable to see above it from their current position, though Senna could jump on the spot to do so.

The one on the left on the map has a halberd, the one on the right a sword+shield, both are in plate.

Sam, Grok, Grepha, and Caelyn are up.

Normally I give initiative ties to the party but giving it to the enemy let me split them into teams of 2 each, so this works out slightly better.

Initiative:-
Sam: (1d20+5)[25]
Grok: (1d20)[20]
Grepha: (1d20+5)[19]
Caelyn: (1d20)[18]

ER: (1d20+3)[17]
OC:(1d20)[16]

Leaf: (1d20)[16]

EW:(1d20)[11]
HFL:(1d20)[8]

Senna: (1d20)[8]

HR: (1d20)[6]
HFH:(1d20)[3]

[Archmage1]

Grok Dwarf Paladin 8 AC: 20 HP: 77/86 PP: 10 PIv: 9 PIs: 10 SR 2/2, Conditions: Coming up out of the stairway like two hundred and fifty pounds of dwarven muscle, Grok doesn't hesitate to charge his fellow halberd wielder, bracing himself properly for maximal force behind his vicious thrusts as he tests the guard's defenses and his skill. Like before, he keeps quiet, hoping that it might delay hostile responses. Spoiler: OOC Show Move five feet South. Use Brace. Attack Twice: (1d20+9)[28] Attack 1 (1d10+6)[13] OR (1d10+6)[13] (Whichever is higher) Damage 1 (1d20+9)[11] Attack 2 (1d10+6)[14] OR (1d10+6)[11] (Whichever is higher) Damage 2