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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Nthal" data-source="post: 7937930" data-attributes="member: 6971069">Six Bridges, Four Pillars, Three mistakes, and One ladder. - 03/08/2020 The first time I met someone from the ‘God Void’ he was about to put a bunch of hardheads in the deadbook because he thought he was in the Abyss.  Turns out for folks from Krynn, anything off plane was considered the Abyss, and considering how dangerous some places can be, it wasn’t exactly unwarranted. But, he did learn from that mistake, made good and made an excellent bouncer for a bar.  The lesson to take away here, is that adjusting to reality is how your survive.As the laughter died down, I started to look around at the tunnel.  It was apparent that it was worked with tools, but parts of it appeared to be a natural tear in the rock.  The floor that I sat on was only partially smoothed out, having rough uneven footing.  As my eyes followed up the walls, they too were not clean and smooth.  But there was no timber holding up the ceiling like in the quarry I had been in. “This was built.  Why?” I asked, looking at the goblins.Drik shrugged.  “Was always this way.  Booyagh, Wanted another path.  Most never used it.” Drok nodded.  “We forced here once.  Worgs hated tunnel.  Booyagh angry.“Anything else?” Iesa asked.“Simple, No branches.  Nothing here but rock,” Drik said shrugging again.“That makes it easier,” Iesa said with a look on his face that made it clear that he had an idea.“Well what is it?”  Daneath asked looking at his brother.“I want to investigate.  Can you make me invisible Beepu?”“I can, but it will not last forever,” the gnome said looking at Iesa critically.  “Foggle is adequate for this.”Iesa shook his head.  “No, your descriptions of what Foggle sees isn’t as good as my own eyes.”“I cannot argue with that I suppose.  What are you thinking?” Beepu asked critically.“I think that taking them before it gets dark, while we can see,” Iesa started.“That’s not a bad idea,” Daneath nodded with approval.  “At least the part about scouting.  We haven’t seen or heard any worgs since the village.  And how many are left here.”“There will be slaves,”  Drik said sadly. “Few here last time.  Might be more now.” Drok added.“Well, we get can some rest then if they do not patrol the tunnel,” Beepu observed.“Well, let’s have Gossamer and Foggle watch the tunnel entrances, while we wait for Iesa to return.” I suggested.  “I’m going to get some rest now unless you need me.”“I should be fine.” Iesa said.“Well, this will take a moment,” and Beepu started to cast his spell.I didn’t watch.  I just turned myself and leaned against the wall and tried to relax.  It was a little absurd; trying to relax and rest so close to a bunch of hobgoblins.  But after running for my life moments ago, and the long hike, I have learned that If needed I can nap anywhere.  A quick dreamless slumber.My head jerked up and my eyes fluttered open at the light touch of a hand on my shoulder.  I was looking at Beepu and I simply nodded and rubbed my eyes.   Standing and yawning, I stretched my arms overhead and looked around.  Everything seemed lighter, and looking towards the entrance to the cave, I could see no sunlight streaming in.  Smirking I knew it meant it was near nightfall.  The reversal of light and darkness for me was still amusing.  Daneath and Iesa were talking quietly, while the goblin pair were busy checking their swords, and swapping around the limited number of quarrels for their crossbows.  Beepu was pacing, his brows furrowed, and his eyes closed as he whispered to himself.I walked over to the brothers to see what they had planned.“Morning, princess,” Iesa smiled at me.“If I’m a princess, I demand an upgrade of my accommodations.  Otherwise, I’ll send for the headsman,” and I motioned my head towards Daneath."Hmm…clearly I’m mistaken,” Iesa said with a mock apology.“It’s obvious you idiot; princesses don’t snore and drool like that,” Daneath dead panned.“Hey wait a---” I started“—Anyway,” Iesa said cutting me off, “What you missed was the plan.  Basically, there pillars of rock with bridges in between all over the canyon.   The gate has a couple of guards, as does a pair of pillars above the slave pen, where there are sentries.”“Where are the—” I started again.“—getting there.  You are pushy after a nap.  Anyway I saw most of them enter a cave directly across the canyon, from where we will be entering.  One thing is that according to Drik—”“It was Drok,” Daneath said.“You sure?” Iesa said confused.“Yes.  Now get on with it.” Daneath replied impatiently.“Right, according to Drok, they have a big horned thing.  Like a bugbear, but not one.”“I said that!” one of the goblins.“I know, Drok.”“No.  That Drok.  I Drik,” said the annoyed goblin.“Daneath, you really should learn to tell them apart,” I said.“No point!  Both are goblins,” Beepu muttered, still focusing inwards.“True.  We taller,” Drik chimed in.“Now wait a—” Beepu’s eyes snapped open and his face was red in anger and he was about to launch into a tirade when I held up my hands and interrupted.“--Alright, alright!  We don’t need to make it easier for the hobgoblins.  Sounds like a minotaur.”Daneath and Iesa straightened up in surprise. “How do you know that?”“I don’t.  But I knew one who was hipped in Sigil.  Was a sailor and his ship fell through a portal into the Ditch.  After everyone convinced him that he wasn’t in the Abyss he was hired as a bouncer foor a bar called The Mazes.   Cool cutter, as long as he kept his temper.  Basically kinda looked like a bugbear in size with a bull’s head.  Right…Drik and Drok?” I quickly said.Both the goblins nodded.“So what do we do about him?” I asked.“Beepu says he can collapse the cave and trap them all inside,” Iesa said.“Really?” I said looking at Beepu in surprise.  “You can do that?”“Of course I can.  I am sure of this.” Beepu said. “Ok, how do we run this?”Daneath smiled a moment.  “Iesa is going to sneak in and take care of the guards on the pillar over the prisoners.  Beepu will turn both he and you invisible. Then he will collapse the cave, and I will charge like a madman to the gates, while you pick them off.”I thought a moment. “So that way we keep the prisoners safe.”“Exactly,” Daneath said proudly.“There were two posts though by the prisoners.  What if the other group sees or hears the group being taken on?”“I’m sure I can handle that,” Iesa said smugly.“What if I made sure they never heard you?” I offered.“Go on,” Iesa said with curiosity.“I can make one spot absolutely silent.  That one group can’t yell for help.  I just need a little time to cast it, before I get turned invisible.”“You have that as a ritual?  That is indeed useful. You will need to show me the formula later,” Beepu said with an almost greedy tone.“Sure, when we get back to somewhere civilized.  You sure you can collapse the cave?” I pressed.“Yes, yes, yes.  I am very certain.” Beepu waved his hand nonchalantly at the question, unconcerned.“Fine, and Drik and Drok?”The two goblins smiled wickedly, “We show hobgoblins they clumsy,” Drik said.“Very clumsy,” Drok agreed.We made our way through the tunnel towards the far side.  It wasn’t long before we reached the end of it, and beyond I saw the night sky and the far wall of the canyonCanyon was really overstating it; big crevice in the rock was more like it.  Ahead a rope bridge with wooden planks let to a central pillar, and another one led beyond to another cliffside.   On the cliff to the left a ledge lead to another bridge crossing to a lower pillar of rock, and that rock too had a bridge to a second pillar of rock.  Both had four hobgoblins, looking down at a set of wooden cages.  Following the far wall to the right, it passed by a cave, and another bridge leading back towards the rock on our side but stopping at another pillar.  Yet another bridge led to another smaller cave, while a ladder led down to the floor of the canyon.  Finally, at the far edge, was a palisade of wood, with a gate.  There two hobgoblins stood guard, looking away.I nodded to myself thinking that this could work, then I frowned.  I turned to Drik and whispered: “Where are the Booyaghs?”“Other cave,” he whispered back, pointing at the wall on the right side.“Did you see him Iesa?” I turned to the rogue with concern.He shook his head, “No.  didn’t have the time and I didn’t want to risk being found.”“How many are there?” I turned back to Drik and Drok.“One,” said Drik.“Maybe,” said Drok.“Great,” I muttered aloud.  “Beepu, lets get our friends airborne to keep an on things, once the fighting starts.”“A good idea.  I do not want to be surprised by reinforcements.” He nodded.Gos, after things start, take to the air and keep an eye out for the Booyagh.--Sure I ca…a what?A magic caster.  Any kind.--Uh…sure.  How do I know it won’t target me?Hopefully because you aren’t attacking it, and we’ll be more problematic.--I guess I can count on you to be a bigger pest.Thanks a lot.--Any time.I shake my head and look at the rest.  “Ok, I’m starting.  When I signal, I will be halfway through, so you should make your way there then.  I can’t move it, or easily recast it though.”“Got it,” Iesa said.  “Kiss for good luck?”I looked at him quizzically at the sudden boldness, “I…better to ask your brother for one,” I said trying to focus on the moment.“I’m more of a hugger,” Daneath deadpanned.“Hah, hah,” Iesa said in a wounded tone.  But I wasn’t sure if it was really in jest.I started to whisper quietly looking at the far platform on the left.  I started to move my hands, pulling threads from the strand and weaving a pattern, anchoring it to the top of the pillar where four of the hobgoblins guarded the prisoners.  Slowly I pulled on threads from light and dark strands.  Slow enough that I would leave myself enough energy to pull sudden bursts if needed.The others watched me in silence, waiting.  Eventually I looked at Iesa and nodded.  He quickly turned, and started across the wooden boards quietly, lightly stepping on the slats in an effort to make no noise.I could feel the energy begin to bind, and the threads tying themselves into knots as they started to grip and catch each other.  I watched as Iesa made his way quietly across the second bridge, reaching the cliffside path.  Once he was there, I started to pull the threads tightly.  They began to bind and knot and in my mind a sphere took shape.It seemed to go on forever, but finally I could feel the magic beginning to take hold in the weave.  Looking across the canyon, I saw that Iesa was ready, and with a final whisper I pulled on all the threads at one, breaking them from the weave itself, creating a field that, as long as I focused on it, would stay sustained.The instant I stopped whispering, Beepu’s hands went into motion, and quickly I watched our bodies fade from view, like shadows did for me when darkness finally reached across the landscape. “Done.  Let us go,” I heard Beepu’s voice say, and we both tried to make our way across the rope bridge.  The posts and the wood of the bridge didn’t seem new, with the boards showing their age with grey weathering.  But the ropes themselves seemed newer, with little signs of fraying.  The boards barely creaked as we made our way across to the pillar.  Being the central one in the cluster, it would give us a great view of the entire canyon, and it would allow us to react as needed.Daneath stayed behind in the cave, not wanting the sounds of his armor to attract attention until it was time.  Drik and Drok however, crossed with us, their small bodies making little sounds as they crossed to the pillar.  Once there, they started to scuttle down the rock sides to the ground below.  I looked across towards where I saw Iesa making his way toward the first set of guards.But his time was running out, as the guards noticed the change in the noises around them.  They started to look around confused.  I could see their mouths open and one looked like he was trying to bellow his loudest shout.  The four stood there in confusion, when Iesa struck.He was quick, Laying down two quickly to the ground.  The two others didn’t even notice, oblivious to the threat that stalked them in the silence that surrounded them.  By the time they did notice, they too were brought down by Iesa’s blades.  I smiled to myself.So far so good.--Don’t get cockyOh please, as if…what the?There is a belief in Sigil that things happen in sets, the most common is the “Rule of Threes.”  Three things happen in the multiverse in close proximity to something important.  And so, the Rule of Three struck today. Three mistakes.I watched in confusion as Iesa stopped on his platform and pulled out his bow and notched an arrow.  I was about to send him a magical message, when I realized that Iesa would be unable to hear it.  I wanted to tap Beepu to point it out, but I wasn’t sure where Beepu was on the pillar we shared.  I then heard the not the twang of the bow, but just the whistling of the arrow sail past the second group of guards, striking the canyon wall beyond. The first mistake.The hobgoblins looked around in confusion at the noise, and quickly turned and saw Iesa.  They then shouted and charged at him, quickly closing the gap.  I watched Iesa react in surprise, switching his bow for his rapier.“What in the hells is he doing?!” Daneath huffed as he ran past my hidden form, running across the bridge to the far wall.  It was the same thought I had, and all I could do is whisper aloud; “I guess it’s your turn Beepu.”“Quite right,” I heard his voice say, and then light footsteps move away.  I then could feel a surge and watched him reappear on the far side of the bridge gesturing towards the cave.   I could hear the noise of earth and stone churn, and I watched as dust plumes billowed from its mouth.  Insides I heard yells, shouts and a couple of screams.  I couldn’t see Beepu well, but I imagined him smiling, which almost put a smile on my face until I realized something. The plan was for Beepu to cause a cave-in, blocking the cave.  But other than the clouds of dust, there was no such blockage.  Daneath had crossed the bridge and passed by Beepu running back towards me.  From out of the cave came exactly what I predicted, a very dusty and very angry minotaur.  He emerged and bellowed a hideous roar and charged straight into Daneath.  Daneath, nearly was knocked over by the blow, and started to defend himself.  But this wasn’t the plan!  He was supposed to help Iesa, while the cave was blocked.  But the cave was anything but, and more hobgoblins emerged from the rubble strewn floor.“What happened?!?” I yelled at Beepu.  “Why isn’t it blocked?”“I could not alignt the spell to erupt from the ceiling and cause additional rock to fall.  I was certain that was going to work!” he replied.  He started to roll up his sleeves ready to do more work.The second mistake.Iesa was pinned down, with four very angry hobgoblins attacking him.  Daneath was holding his own against the minotaur, who’s bulk prevented the other hobgoblins from getting closer.   But I saw one, running along the cliff face path, and towards the other bridge.I didn’t know what to do.  With only a moment to decide I threw dark strands towards the same cave that Beepu had just damaged.  And with a quick pull I snapped it, and from within I could hear the shattering of bone and screams from within.  I could even see the minotaur spit blood, and the hobgoblin behind him fall to his knees and then face down, no longer moving.  I smiled and felt the rush of excitement as I felt their lives fade away.My eye then was drawn to who I thought was the lone coward.  I expected him to run across the bridge, descend the ladder, and head towards the gate.  Instead he ran across the second bridge shouting something in goblin.  He didn’t slow at all and charged into the other cave.“We’d better help Daneath,” I yelled, now fully visible.   I ran across the bridge, pulling on dark strands and summoning a miasma onto the minotaur and a hobgoblin behind him.  Beepu ran close behind me and leveled a bolt of fire at one of Iesa’s opponents, knocking him down.  Iesa was hard pressed, and I watched with horror as I saw a hobgoblin make a savage cut across Iesa’ midsection, and blood spray everywhere.  Two more remained on him, and he looked to be in bad shape.--You have a problem!What do you--“--How DARE you!” I heard, and I turned to see a hobgoblin in leathers standing at the entrance of the other cave.  He made a quick slashing movement with his hand and I watched a bright pea sized red light leave his hand and streaked straight towards, Daneath, Beepu and I.  My eyes widened in horror as the pea, blossomed into a flower of fire and heat in front of me.The third mistake.My mistake.The flames engulfed us.  I have had burns before. Several times I had felt the pain of hot metal searing my skin until it smoked and charred.  But only a part of me.  Now my entire body screamed in pain as the fireball seared my flesh.  The smell of burnt hair, leather and skin filled the air as the flames faded away.  I felt nauseous and it took everything I had, not to sink to my knees.    I was shaking my head, trying to clear it and focus, when I felt another sharp pain in my thigh. I screamed and looking down I saw the cause.  A quarrel was now lodged in my leg, and blood was streaming down my leather breeches.  I turned to find the source, and I watched as Iesa was retreating along the cliff face, to join his brother.  In the meantime, the hobgoblins had drawn crossbows and now were firing them at us, and I was the lucky recipient of the first volley.“This is bad,” Beepu shouted, throwing another bolt of fire towards the pair with the crossbows.  The blast sailed between them and struck the rock wall some distance behind them.“Start with hitting them,’ I grimaced in pain and I threw a pair of bolts towards them, striking each, but weakly.  They didn’t fall, and I was unsure if they were even seriously hurt.  I saw that Iesa had placed himself on the bridge and was able to stab the minotaur who still was trying to cleave through Daneath’s shield with a greataxe.  I noticed that he too was singed, and its course hide was smoking from the fiery blast.  Daneath was still swinging, but his blows against his foe seemed ineffective.  But worse I saw more hobgoblins running from the gate and start to climb up the ladder.  It was only a matter of time before we would be overrun. And then to make this worse, I watched the Booyagh take to the air and fly.  He simply laughed at us, and our plight.  He started to make preparations to cast another spell at us.I looked above at the stars and prayed.  This wasn’t going well at all.  It sounded like a good plan.  A great plan.  A plan that was falling apart all because of errors.  Daneath would be soon overrun, all four of us were badly hurt, and I had no idea what spell the Booyagh was about to unleash upon us.Please Kelemvor.  Not now.  Not yet.  We need—“CLUMSY!” was the word I heard, from the top of a goblin’s lungs.  Looking across at the other pillar, I saw Drik and Drok push the ladder that led up to it, backwards.  There were four hobgoblins on it who screamed, as the ladder fell backwards back onto the canyon floor.I smiled; and there it was; The Fourth Rule.  The exception.  Three mistakes, and one perfectly timed event.“Well, who knew.  That is a help.” Beepu said and he started another spell and from behind the minotaur a familiar fog bank appeared, covering the hobgoblins and minotaur, but keeping Daneath and Iesa’s vision clear.  Iesa had moved onto the bridge, and now was firing arrows at the hobgoblins firing crossbows at us, bringing one down.I quickly pulled on some strands and the rock in front of Daneath twisted and churned, into an uneven surface.  Daneath moved swung at the Minotaur, and backed up onto the bridge.  The minotaur was moving slowly, trying to find its footing, swinging at Daneath wildly, its axe throwing it offbalance.That was all Daneath needed, and he quickly riposted, thrusting his sword deep into the gut of the Minotaur.  It bellowed in pain, dropping its axe and clutched its midsection, and finally stumbling and falling off the path to the canyon floor below.“Let me confuse them a bit,” Beepu said, and I watched right behind the churned earth, now stood a pile of rubble and stone.  I was confused how Beepu did it at first, when I realized it wasn’t real; it had to be an illusion.  But with the fog blocking the sight of the hobgoblins on the cliff path…how would they know?Iesa’s bow twanged again, and the last of the crossbow men fell on the other pillar.  Meanwhile the Booyagh in the air tried to hit our dirty pair, Drik and Drok with a bolt of fire but it somehow missed.  They fired their crossbows at the flying hobgoblin, only scratching him. But then they ran across the bridge, and into the fog.  The hobgoblin shouted in anger, unable to target the pair.  He then flew over us and towards the pillars that overlooked the prisoners.“Beepu, can you get him?” I yelled pointing at the flying figure.“I can, why can you not bring him down?”  Beepu replied flustered.“So, I can kill the others on the path!  Drop the fog.” “Drop the…Oh I see.  Fine!” and he waved his hand and the fog started to disappear from sight.  Soon I could see the hobgoblins that remained from the cave and several more that had climbed the ladder before Drik and Drok dropped it.  They stood dumfounded at the “new” rock wall that was in front of them and were unsure on how to proceed.  I quickly pulled and snapped the strand and another ear shattering explosion rocked the path, and all but one hobgoblin fell over.  The exhilaration returned and grew as I watched Drik and Drok race across shouting “CLUMSY” and quickly bringing down the remaining hobgoblin on the path.“Take that!” Beepu threw a bolt of fire and it hit the Booyagh square in the chest.“Your feeble magic means nothing to me!” the hobgoblin retorted, and he returned a blast in kind, narrowly missing Beepu, who quickly scrambled behind a post holding up a bridge.“How about this then?” and I turned to see Iesa had drawn the dagger that the Kershak had wanted so badly.  Its blade now dripped with some foul concoction, and I watched Iesa hurl it straight at the surprised hobgoblin.  The blade spun in the air, and struck the flying Booyagh in the right breast, causing him to spit blood. The Booyagh sneered and pulled the dagger out with a look of contempt at Iesa.  Then suddenly his face contorted in pain, causing him to drop the dagger, which skittered across the rocks.  And then he fell from the air, his spell no longer sustaining him.  He landed face first onto the pillar with a sickening crunch of bone on rock.We heard commotions by the gate, but our focus was now on the figure who lay on the rock.  Somehow, he managed to stagger to his feet, and looked at us in fury.“The Prophesized One will win!” and with a quick gesture with his hands, the hobgoblin disappeared from sight.“What the?  Where is he?” Daneath shouted.“He’s invisible!  Beepu...do something!”  Iesa yelled.“I have to see him to do something you dolt,” Beepu retorted angrily.“Wait, can’t you cast something at an area?” I looked at Beepu with an idea in my mind.“Of course.   Where do you propose?”I held up my hand.Gos?  Can you see him?--Who? The Hobgoblin running on the path?   Of course.  Why can’t y—No!  is he heading to a bridge?--Yes, he’s about to cross the one nearest the gate, and looks to be heading to his cave.Fly over him and tell me when he gets there.I grabbed the gnome by the shoulders and pulled him to the far side of the pillar. “Beepu, cast whatever you have at that bridge, when Gossamer is right above it.  Don’t argue.”“Alright.  Fine,” he said with a confused tone, and he readied a spell and glanced between the bridge and me.--He’s there!“Now!”Beepu simply threw some sand in the air.  Suddenly the figure of the hobgoblin appeared and fell down unconscious on the bridge.  Then his momentum carried him, and he rolled off the edge on to the canyon floor below. However, Gossamer also quickly fell from the air plopping on the bridge as well.  Seeing this, I reached down and pulled the crossbow quarrel from my leg with a yelp.  I then ran across the bridges to reach my familiar.But Drik and Drok were faster and reached the fallen tressym before I could limp there.  They gently picked him up, and with great care, trotted over and gingerly handed his body to me.I pressed my hand to his chest and could feel the warmth and the beat of his heart.  Any emotion or passion I felt about the death of the hobgoblins was gone now, replaced by the feeling of immense relief knowing that my familiar still lived.  I stood there, cuddling the sleeping cat in my arms, still bleeding from the puncture wound left by the crossbow as the others approached me.“How did you—” Daneath started, very confused.“Ah.  It’s a tressym ability.  They can see invisible things.”  Beepu said matter of factly.“Really?  Anything hidden?” Iesa asked surprised.“No.  Invisible.  Not hidden.  So, if you hid in a bush, he might not see you.” Beepu responded.“Probably would smell him,” Drik said wisely.“Very likely,” Drok agreed.“What the…oh come on!” Iesa said exasperated.I just stood there, smiling, eyes closed, silently holding Gossamer tight, not wanting to wake him from Beepu’s enforced slumber.  The tears in my eyes filled with the same warmth that I had in my heart.  And at that moment, nothing else mattered in the world. Not the pain in my leg.Not the Prophesied One.Not even Sigil.   Session notes:So the mistakes were real;  Iesa thought the silence was bigger and followed him.  I did really choose the bad target, but Beepu’s is more interesting.What you read here, is basically me in character the equivalent of ‘did you ask the DM about that?’   He didn’t so when he did try to collapse the cave, it led to I think an hour derailment, as we discussed the rules here and the basic concept that in 5e, spells only do what they are described to do.  Erupting Earth wasn’t going to cause a cave in.  The DM listen to the plan, and even noted my characters question “are you sure you can do that” and was surprised that the player didn’t ask.For my part I assumed that the player had already talked to the DM based on the answer, so I was partially surprised at the events that occurred.And it did lead to a memorable battle as you can see.</blockquote>

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