A Candlekeep Mystery (IC)

[FitzTheRuke]

The scream had sounded like a woman in peril, but there was a strange, almost metallic echo underlying the voice. Ethian waited for the owl familiar to pass over his head, and then continued up the stairs. Archemedes flew, as directed, toward the room in the south-west corner, but when he arrived at the upper landing, the door was shut. As were the doors to three other rooms. However, a wide archway led to a library to the south (over the entryway downstairs, where the others were gathered).

Archemedes began a fly-around scout. As he flew under the archway, he reported by telepathic link to Ruznami, a strange humanoid figure crouched in the shadows next to a bookcase. It was wearing tatters that appeared to have once been fine clothes. Before Archemedes could make out any features, the shadows pulled tight around the creature and it was suddenly behind the owl. Archemedes tried to beat his little wings to get away, but it reached out with some sort of claw-like appendage and Ruznami felt a sudden pain, and then nothing. Archemedes was gone; crushed in a vice-grip.

This had all happened so fast that Ethian had only just reached the top of the stairs. The elf saw the creature through the shadows of the library as it crossed the floor, moving out of sight. As it did, it turned once toward him, and its human-like head held large round bug-like multi-faceted eyes. A wave of sorrow and regret washed over Ethian, but it wasn't the elf's own emotions - it came from the creature.

OOC: Normally, I'd set up a whole combat-starter, but I'm not sure what will happen here. Everyone can post like for round one, though. Spoiler: Rolls "The Creature"Stealth Check: 1D20+6 = [1]+6 = 7 Nope. Archemedes saw it. Claw Attack: 1D20+4 = [9]+4 = 13 2D4+2 = [1, 1]+2 = 4 But got killed.

 

[Steve Gorak]

As he sees the creature, Ethian utters a small prayer Sehanine, please help me make the right decision

OOC: cast guidance

Upon sensing the creature’s pain and sorrow, a wave of empathy overwhelms him: “I…I am sorry to intrude, we heard a scream, and thought someone needed help. We meant no harm.”

OOC: Insight to sense the creature’s intentions, guidance is used: 26

 

[DEFCON 1]

"Harm? What harm? Is someone being harmed, Ethian? What's going on? Kaliban, could you move up the stairs a little faster please? We have a screaming helper causing harm that we need to address!"

Hawthorne stands several stairs down from the landing of the second floor with the gnome and the elf in front of him blocking the way. He turns back to the people behind him on the stairs and raises his hand, "Harm incoming! Ethian's intruding on a harm thought and he's sorry for it! Needs help with nothing meant screaming! I think. It's very confusing. Not sure I got it all, Ethian was turned away from me while talking to someone else up here."

 

[VLAD the Destroyer]

Kaliban nods to Hawthorne and follows Ethian up to the second floor. He makes sure to hold the weapon down in a non threatening manner.

 

[Leatherhead]

Argenti is particularly confused by Hawthorn's outburst. "Shedrick, what does that phrase mean?" Waiting for his answer, she stays near the back of the party with him.

 

[KahlessNestor]

Ruznami Warmaker
Vermellion
Day 24/Morning
Round 1

“Something is up there!” Ruznami warned the others, then he winced. “Gah! It killed Archimedes!” he exclaimed, angrily gripping his hammer as he followed the others up the stairs. He muttered magical words and made a sigil in the air with his hand, starting a field of energy shimmering around him to protect him from weapons.

***

Blade Ward (1r)

Spoiler: Actions and Rolls

Save:
Move:
Free Object Interaction:
Action: Cast Blade Ward

Bonus Action:
Reaction: Opportunity Attack, Absorb Elements, Shield

• Opportunity Attack:

Concentration:
Conditions:
Inspiration:

Spoiler: Mini Stats

Ruznami
Initiative: +2
Perception: +0
Speed: 25
AC: 15
HP: 26/26 HD: 4/4d6+2

Archimedes (Owl familiar)
Initiative: +1
Perception: +3 Advantage, Darkvision 120
Speed: 60 (fly); 5 (walk)
AC: 11
HP: 1

Prepared Spells
Cantrips: Blade Ward, Booming Blade, Fire Bolt, Lightning Lure
1) 4/4 Absorb Elements, Magic Missile, Protection from Evil and Good, Shield
2) 3/3 Arcane Lock, Mirror Image, Scorching Ray
Rituals
(1) Alarm, Comprehend Languages, Detect Magic, Find Familiar, Identify
Spellbook
(1) Absorb Elements, Alarm, Comprehend Languages, Detect Magic, Find Familiar, Identify, Magic Missile, Protection from Evil and Good, Shield
(2) Arcane Lock, Mirror Image, Scorching Ray

Spoiler: Goals

Leave flowers on the grave of Lukas Grosvenor’s wife Lorna.
Look for Lorna’s necklace in the hollow tree.

Spoiler: Party

Hawthorne Grandview - male Human rogue inquisitive
Kaliban - male deep gnome psi-warrior

 

[FitzTheRuke]

By the time everyone was on the stairs, the strange figure had backed away from Ethian, who stood with his hands out. As Ruznami and Hawthorne reached the top of the stairs, they saw it briefly before it twisted into the shadows, causing the very darkness to fold around it, and suddenly it was gone.

 

[KahlessNestor]

Ruznami Warmaker
Vermellion
Day 24/Morning
Round 0

Ruznami blinked as the strange figure disappeared literally into the shadows. “Anyone know what that was?” the dwarf asked, tugging nervously at his white beard as he tried to wrack his brain for anything from all the books he had read that might match something like that.

Arcana, History, Religion: 1D20+5 = [7]+5 = 12
1D20+5 = [3]+5 = 8
1D20+5 = [19]+5 = 24

***

Spoiler: Actions and Rolls

Save:
Move:
Free Object Interaction:
Action: Cast Blade Ward

Bonus Action:
Reaction: Opportunity Attack, Absorb Elements, Shield

• Opportunity Attack:

Concentration:
Conditions:
Inspiration:

Spoiler: Mini Stats

Ruznami
Initiative: +2
Perception: +0
Speed: 25
AC: 15
HP: 26/26 HD: 4/4d6+2

Archimedes (Owl familiar)
Initiative: +1
Perception: +3 Advantage, Darkvision 120
Speed: 60 (fly); 5 (walk)
AC: 11
HP: 1

Prepared Spells
Cantrips: Blade Ward, Booming Blade, Fire Bolt, Lightning Lure
1) 4/4 Absorb Elements, Magic Missile, Protection from Evil and Good, Shield
2) 3/3 Arcane Lock, Mirror Image, Scorching Ray
Rituals
(1) Alarm, Comprehend Languages, Detect Magic, Find Familiar, Identify
Spellbook
(1) Absorb Elements, Alarm, Comprehend Languages, Detect Magic, Find Familiar, Identify, Magic Missile, Protection from Evil and Good, Shield
(2) Arcane Lock, Mirror Image, Scorching Ray

Spoiler: Goals

Leave flowers on the grave of Lukas Grosvenor’s wife Lorna.
Look for Lorna’s necklace in the hollow tree.

Spoiler: Party

Hawthorne Grandview - male Human rogue inquisitive
Kaliban - male deep gnome psi-warrior

 

[Kobold Stew]

"No idea. Are you alright, sir?" asks Crock Jon standing behind Ruznami. He looks around to see if he can help anyone.

 

[Steve Gorak]

Still shaken by the emotions he felt, Ethian says half to his myself, half to the others: “I’m not sure what it was, but it could have attacked me and it didn’t. I also felt it’s sorrow and regret wash over me…” he whispers to himself Lady Sehanine, help me discern what the creature was

OOC: cast guidance that will be used for Religion check (not sure what other check to do): 13