A Candlekeep Mystery (IC)

[FitzTheRuke]

GM: Encounter: Black Dragon Agents vs Gnolls

Spoiler: Map of Gnoll Hill Camp

(General Features)
Difficult Terrain: Bushes, Shrubs, Rocks, Wooden Posts. Hazzard: Fire Pit
Visibility: Bright (It's daytime)

Spoiler: Allies

Name * AC * HP * Hit Dice * PasPrc * Spells * (Notes)
(PCs)
Hawthorne AC14 HP 31/31 THP 7/7 HD 4/4 PP17 PInv17 PIns15
Kaliban AC18* HP 33/35 THP 0/7 HD 4/4 PP10* PED 3/4 (d6's)
Ethian AC19* HP 26/27 THP 7/7 HD 4/4 PP16* PIns16 SS 4/4 3/3 CD 1/1
Argenti AC14 HP 31/31 THP 7/7 HD 4/4 PP13 SS 1/2
Ruznami AC15 HP 26/26 THP 7/7 AW10/10 HD 4/4 PP10* PInv15 SS 4/4 3/3
---RuzMirror AC12 2/3 Images (Target8+)
(NPCs)
Broun AC11 HP 1/18 PP12* (Exhaustion 4)
Shedrick AC13 HP 16/16 THP 7/7 PP11 (has a Healing Potion)

Spoiler: Enemies

Hyena AC11 HP 0/9 PP13* (dead)
Gnoll1(Boss) AC15 HP 0/32 PP11 (dead)
Gnolls AC14 HP 22ea PP10*
G2 22/22; G3 0/22 (dead); G4 9/22 G5 0/22 (dead)

GM: End Round Three; Begin Round Four

 

[VLAD the Destroyer]

Kaliban senses the gnoll behind him. Without thinking his mind creates a force shield between himself and the gnoll. The arrow that was fired stops inches from Kalibans back and drops to the ground.

OOC: Using my reaction to use Protective Field. It reduces damage taken by 1d6+int. Protective field Reaction: 1d6+3 8 Sorry probably should have mentioned that feature so you were aware.

 

[DEFCON 1]

With all the gnolls taken care of on the west side of the encampment... Hawthorne listens and hears the thwack of an arrow hitting a shield around back to the east side. He once again silently moves around the north end of his tent, cocks another crossbow bolt into his weapon, then peaks out from behind it to see another gnoll back partially behind the eastern tent.

He whispers to himself "Come on, you... step out... step out... don't make this shot harder than it is..." then raises the crossbow and fires, hoping to catch the gnoll and not the tent...

OOC: Move to N6 using Stealth: [7] + 4 + 10 (PwT) = 21 Attack G2 (behind partial cover) w/Advantage: 2/2: [2] + 4 = 6

But sure enough, the young man was not able to get his aim right across the camp and the bolt impacted against the canvas of the large tent, rather than his target.

 

[Leatherhead]

Gnoll after gnoll falls. With success comes confidence. With confidence comes risky behaviors.

Argenti effortlessly strode on top of the rock she had been using for cover to get a better look at the battlefield, spotting the archer beyond the fire pit. Eye's narrowing on the beast, the warlock winds up to hurl another green stone. "Whoo!" The pitch lands square in the gnoll's stomach, eliciting a yipe of pain.

OOC: Mantaining Concentration on Pass Without Trace. Moving out of cover and climbing on top the rock E-14 with the Genasi's racial Earth Walk power (which lets Argenti ignore difficult terrain made of stone) to get a view. Then blasting Gnoll G2 Eldritch Blast: 1D20+6 = [10]+6 = 16 Eldritch Blast Damage 2 is bludgeoning the rest is force: 1D10+4+2 = [9]+4+2 = 15

 

[KahlessNestor]

Ruznami Warmaker
Road
Day 1/Afternoon
Round 3

Ruznami signalled to Archimedes, and the owl swooped down at the gnoll that was in Kaliban’s face as the dwarf wizard marched up the hill to the gnoll and swung his warhammer, striking the gnoll hard, but not killing it.

***

Help from Archimedes next turn
Detect Magic (96r) - CONCENTRATION
Mirror Image: 2 duplicates (AC 12, target on a 8+)(8r)
Twilight Sanctuary: 7 thp/r w/in 30’ of Ethian
Arcane Ward: 11/11 hp
Comprehend Languages (596r)

Spoiler: Actions and Rolls

Save:
Move: to M12
Free Object Interaction:
Action: Warhammer Gnoll 4
Warhammer 2H Advantage: 2D20.HIGH(1)+4 = [12, 7]+4 = 16
1D10+2 = [5]+2 = 7
Bonus Action:
Reaction: Opportunity Attack, Absorb Elements, Shield
Concentration: Detect Magic
Conditions:
Inspiration:

Spoiler: Mini Stats

Ruznami
Initiative: +2
Perception: +0
Speed: 25
AC: 15
HP: 26+7thp/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: Party

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

 

[VLAD the Destroyer]

Kaliban takes advantage of Archimedes distraction and slashes at the gnoll. The strike lands true, piercing the creatures heart. Turning in a fluid motion the gnome spins and moves to engage the final gnoll. Pushing himself he slashes again but his luck doesn't hold out and the gnoll deflects the blow with his weapon.

OOC: Action: Rapier strike at G4: 1d20+5 24 1d8+3 8 Move: Moving to S11 to attack G2. Action Surge: Action surge attack against G2: 1d20+5 16 1d8+3 7

 

[FitzTheRuke]

...As the last gnoll deflected his blade with her bow, Kaliban ducked low and brought the blade up suddenly. The bow split in two and the blade pierced the gnoll's abdomen and she fell to the ground kicking and howling before she lay still on the ground.

Back down the hill, Shedrick helped Broun to cover. For a moment he considered feeding the valuable healing potion to the half-orc driver, but he heard the gnoll's death-wail and the silence that followed. He kept the stopper on and instead patted old Broun on the shoulder and said, "You'll be all right, old man. We've got a healer."

Broun would normally have objected to being called old, but at the moment he just sighed and nodded in relief. The lack of objection and the general look of defeat on a man who he knew well (and found intimidating) shook Shedrick worse than had the threat of battle, and he bitterly regretted the jibe.

OOC: Kaliban blocked some damage; Hawthorne hid, but missed his target; Argenti did 15 to G2; Ruz did 7 to G4; Kaliban killed G4 and then killed G2 (a 16 hits); Shedrick got Broun to cover.

GM: End of Encounter

 

[Steve Gorak]

As Ethian bridges the distance to the last gnoll, he begins chanting to bring forth holy light.

OOC: move as close to G2 Action: cast sacred flame on G2, dex save dc 14 or 7 radiant damage

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Perhaps it was Ethian's flame, or perhaps it was Kaliban's blade that felled the last gnoll. Either way, the hill fell silent and the group that had gathered in Candlekeep had their victory. A solid, well-earned victory. They had all done their part, and their assault had gone so well that the only injury was a small scratch to Ethian's ribs from a near-miss from a spear thrust. His tunic needed mending, but his skin was barely broken.

On the other hand, Broun had been badly beaten. In addition, they needed to find the two missing horses before dusk, which was now less than an hour away. The tents were large, but according to Broun, there were no other gnolls. This group was most likely out of the Wood of Sharp Teeth (named for its history of werewolves, demons, and demon-worshipping gnolls) which began some thirty leagues to the east. Gnolls raiding along the Coast Way was not unheard of. It was rare for them to venture quite this close to Candlekeep, however.

With his ritual enhancing his sight, Ruznami noticed, on the body of the pack-leader, two items that he quickly realized were potions, stored in purpose-carved gourdes. One was easily recognised as a healing potion (though darker in liquid and earthier smelling than he was used to). The other looked and smelled like rotting blood, but it gave off an aura of infernal magic.

 

[KahlessNestor]

Ruznami Warmaker
Road
Day 1/Afternoon
Round 0

Ruznami panted a bit at the exertion and excitement as he stared down at the gnoll he’d killed. The first sentient being he had killed… The dwarf turned and threw up. When he was finished, he pulled out his canteen to wash the vomit from his beard and clean his hammer before whistling for Archimedes.

A glimmer of color caught his eye. He went over to the gnoll leader and pulled out two gourds containing potions of some kind.

“Got something,” Ruz reported to the others as he studied the magical auras around the potions.

OOC: What schools of magic are they?

***

Detect Magic (95r) - CONCENTRATION
Mirror Image: 2 duplicates (AC 12, target on a 8+)(7r)
Twilight Sanctuary: 7 thp/r w/in 30’ of Ethian
Arcane Ward: 11/11 hp
Comprehend Languages (597r)

Spoiler: Actions and Rolls

Save:
Move:
Free Object Interaction:
Action:
Bonus Action:
Reaction: Opportunity Attack, Absorb Elements, Shield
Concentration: Detect Magic
Conditions:
Inspiration:

Spoiler: Mini Stats

Ruznami
Initiative: +2
Perception: +0
Speed: 25
AC: 15
HP: 26+7thp/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: Party

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