The chamberlain, the king, and the dragon (drobe)

[sheadunne]

Let's see how this goes. I will use athletics to try and end up in L5 (leaving Thurgon the choker in S7).

Athletics: 15+5=(20) Success! (barely)

I'm assuming that happened prior to initiative? If not, then ignore the below.

Theren will use Weapon Master's Strike (shifting causes OA) to impale the Choker.

Strength vs AC: 19+7=(26) Looks like barely a hit. My d20 hates me right now.
Damage: 10+9=(19) At least my d10 is happy. (although it's a minion so . . . lol)

Theren will prepare himself for the quicklings.

 

[LostSoul]

Quinn struggles to stay on his feet as the cold numbs him, and he drags his near-frozen body to F15.

The dryad appears to be faltering with the promise of forgiveness. Quinn tries to recall a moment in Sehanine's long-storied history where she accepted the fallen back into her loving embrace.

History (1d20+17=28)

"You are not yet lost," Quinn says to the dryad. "Recall the legends of Myann and Y'dril - lovers separated by a gulf of darkness, brought back to the light through their faith in each other!"

As he speaks, he drags the swarms away from Thurgon, chasing after illusory enemies. Visions of Avarice (1d20+18=25, 1d20+18=22) (Trying to pull them away, closer to the centre... which is I14, so that doesn't work anyway. Oh well.)

HP: 9/64
Saving Throw (1d20=7)

 

[Manbearcat]

Let's see how this goes. I will use athletics to try and end up in L5 (leaving Thurgon the choker in S7).

Athletics: 15+5=(20) Success! (barely)

I'm assuming that happened prior to initiative? If not, then ignore the below.

Theren will use Weapon Master's Strike (shifting causes OA) to impale the Choker.

Strength vs AC: 19+7=(26) Looks like barely a hit. My d20 hates me right now.
Damage: 10+9=(19) At least my d10 is happy. (although it's a minion so . . . lol)

Theren will prepare himself for the quicklings.

Iron Armbands of Power (+ 2 item bonus to melee damage rolls) so that would be 21 but 20 more than you need! I'm assuming that since you didn't roll a saving throw to fall prone outside of the hindering terrain that you're going to accept the 5 damage so you're pulled into the thorny brambleweed. Your deft spearwork leaves the creature run-through however. It loosens its grasp as death takes it and it falls from its perch to the ground.

You said you want to engage the Quicklings. Your passive perception is sufficient to note the swaying of the flora that signifies its movement. It will cost you an extra square of movement to get out of the brambleweed tree. However, you can get to I2 or I3 with your move action now that you are no longer immobilized. You will need to pass a 5 or better to meet the Medium DC Athletics check for the Challenging terrain.

Quinn struggles to stay on his feet as the cold numbs him, and he drags his near-frozen body to F15.

The dryad appears to be faltering with the promise of forgiveness. Quinn tries to recall a moment in Sehanine's long-storied history where she accepted the fallen back into her loving embrace.

History (1d20+17=28)

"You are not yet lost," Quinn says to the dryad. "Recall the legends of Myann and Y'dril - lovers separated by a gulf of darkness, brought back to the light through their faith in each other!"

As he speaks, he drags the swarms away from Thurgon, chasing after illusory enemies. Visions of Avarice (1d20+18=25, 1d20+18=22) (Trying to pull them away, closer to the centre... which is I14, so that doesn't work anyway. Oh well.)

HP: 9/64
Saving Throw (1d20=7)

1) This will successfully complete the Skill Challenge. A lot will change that has mechanical relevance for this encounter and within the fiction. I will make you an offer and resolve the fiction tonight when I get home. However, I need an an answer to a question: Mechanically are you wanting a reformation of your character with the dryad's patron or just an alternate advancement thematic boon (in the stead of a magic item).

2) That does indeed hit the two Swarms (Will 21). Were you going to pull them further toward the center? As a side note; Thurgon @Morrus; won't actually be on the ground as of yet. He'll be landing in the vicinity with his leap from the balcony at the beginning of his initiative (right after your action).

[MENTION=42582]pemerton[/MENTION] Before you act I need to give out a wee bit of information for the encounter at large and to you specifically as you near the Dryad.

 

[LostSoul]

1) This will successfully complete the Skill Challenge. A lot will change that has mechanical relevance for this encounter and within the fiction. I will make you an offer and resolve the fiction tonight when I get home. However, I need an an answer to a question: Mechanically are you wanting a reformation of your character with the dryad's patron or just an alternate advancement thematic boon (in the stead of a magic item).

2) That does indeed hit the two Swarms (Will 21). Were you going to pull them further toward the center? As a side note; Thurgon @Morrus; won't actually be on the ground as of yet. He'll be landing in the vicinity with his leap from the balcony at the beginning of his initiative (right after your action).

1) I'll take the reformation of character. That is a powerful reward cycle at work! As a side note, I notice that Quinn has felt a softening of his nihilism, which was probably not that evident in his last action but would probably reveal itself in his interactions with the patron.

2) I don't think I can move them towards the centre; at any rate, I didn't realize that Thurgon had yet to act, so I'd rather just leave them be.

 

[sheadunne]

Iron Armbands of Power (+ 2 item bonus to melee damage rolls) so that would be 21 but 20 more than you need! I'm assuming that since you didn't roll a saving throw to fall prone outside of the hindering terrain that you're going to accept the 5 damage so you're pulled into the thorny brambleweed. Your deft spearwork leaves the creature run-through however. It loosens its grasp as death takes it and it falls from its perch to the ground.

You said you want to engage the Quicklings. Your passive perception is sufficient to note the swaying of the flora that signifies its movement. It will cost you an extra square of movement to get out of the brambleweed tree. However, you can get to I2 or I3 with your move action now that you are no longer immobilized. You will need to pass a 5 or better to meet the Medium DC Athletics check for the Challenging terrain.

Did realize there was a save to make, but either way 5 damage is fine.

I do ignore difficult terrain from plants with the Boots of the Dryad. I'm not sure how that applies in these particular cases.

Athletics: 15+8 = (23)

Location: I3

 

[Manbearcat]

1) I'll take the reformation of character. That is a powerful reward cycle at work! As a side note, I notice that Quinn has felt a softening of his nihilism, which was probably not that evident in his last action but would probably reveal itself in his interactions with the patron.

2) I don't think I can move them towards the centre; at any rate, I didn't realize that Thurgon had yet to act, so I'd rather just leave them be.

1) Good deal. I'll discuss that with you later and we can sort it out.

2) Invocations of love as animating factors for belief and reformation are pretty hard to square with nihilism so it wasn't subtle!

Did realize there was a save to make, but either way 5 damage is fine.

Its just an offer. If you get moved into hindering terrain (such as over a cliff or into damaging briars) you get an opportunity to make a saving throw to instead fall prone at the last square before the terrain. If you would rather accept the damage then that is entirely at your discretion. No worries.

I do ignore difficult terrain from plants with the Boots of the Dryad. I'm not sure how that applies in these particular cases.

Athletics: 15+8 = (23)

Location: I3

Yup. Forgot about your boots. Good call. You don't have to make any of those checks against the challenging terrain due to the flora and you ignore the difficult terrain features of the trees and brambles.

 

[Manbearcat]

@LostSoul I need you to roll low damage expression again (same as before) and let me know the damage. The Skill Challenge is successful and the Dryad is no longer an antagonist but there are other moving parts where her HPs may be relevant.

The Dryad reels from Quinn's words; the proverbial straw breaking the camel's back. She falls to her knees in the water of the pool and holds her hands to her ears as if stifling a cacophony of sound that no one hears but her. She shakes her head violently no. The blackened orbs of her eyes clarify into the color of autumn. The dangerous thorns recede, the black necrotic ichor suddenly vanished.

Quinn, you hear the tormenting whispers in your own mind. It is a soft yet sinister voice. The voice of a woman; sultry and so very dangerous. The storm of whispers clarify themselves to you "I will reveal to you all of my mysteries and spare this one if you take her place. As my loyal servant, the dark recesses of the world and the space between all things will be known to you and you alone."

@pemerton As Thurgon lands into the water from his great leap from the balcony, this scene plays out before him. A thrumming begins in the hand hefting his worthy hammer. As you land, an instantaneous divine revelation floods your mind's eye. You see malevolent corners in the dark, shadowy eyes stalking the noble knights of your order, and an eladrin of such immeasurable beauty that it almost steals your breath. You see her and the former Lord Commander of your noble order embraced in a bedding. You see the flash of a knife and and an endless flow of red as it is plunged repeatedly into his bared chest.

You know beyond all doubt that Kord just initiated communion with you and you know this miserable creature before you brought the darkness down upon your order.

 

[LostSoul]

Her aching heart (2d8+6=21)

 

[Campbell]

[MENTION=6696971]Manbearcat[/MENTION], [MENTION=42582]pemerton[/MENTION], [MENTION=386]LostSoul[/MENTION], [MENTION=27570]sheadunne[/MENTION]: I'm really enjoying the way this exercise has taken on a life of its own. Is there any interest in continuing the game past the current scenario?

 

[Manbearcat]

@Manbearcat , @pemerton , @LostSoul , @sheadunne : I'm really enjoying the way this exercise has taken on a life of its own. Is there any interest in continuing the game past the current scenario?

I'm not sure if there is any interest outside of yourself but I can continue past the current scenario, albeit at a less prolific rate.