D&D 5E The Kalarian Precipice - Chapter Three

[Otiroth]

Otiroth: Into the shadows

Otiroth grimaced, his expression one of a man who felt on some level that he had survived something not through wisdom or skill, but through chance.

It was not a pleasant feeling, though he could not elucidate what it had been.

"It is a spell," he'd clarify to Jeovanna- which was the only reason he knew the word Metea had used, for their study into magic overlapped by design, "it can go wherever it wishes, when it wishes."

A fiend. If it anything was to be behind such unnatural magic... it seemed a good candidate! But it could also be merely a pawn as well... either way, his pride demanded that they slay it.

 

[Carthum One-Tusk]

Carthum: Into the shadows

Carthum turned Suru's light, gleaming from his shield, onto the demon behind them.

"If it can go anywhere it wishes, then go back to your den, fiend! We have slain worse than you this day," Carthum growled.

 

[daindarkspring]

Dain - Into the Shadows

Dain's blood was up as he rushed forward, but he skidded to a stop when the action seemed to suddenly be...behind them?!

Spinning around, still holding his torch aloft, he tried to make out with certainty what the others were seeing. Teleporting? It was a vaguely familiar word...but seemed out of place in the dark hole they were currently in.

"Words won't kill it! Strike at it with something besides your tongues!" Dain was rushing forward, but the others were in front of him and he was somewhat reluctant to leave their rear unguarded. His head kept swinging back over his shoulder...

 

[97mg]

Into the Shadows

Round 1
Initiative:
Jeovanna: 22
Dain: 18
Metea: 16
Annit: 13
Critter: 10
Otiroth: 9
Carthum: 5

The small beast snaps it's claws threateningly, as though hurling insults at you with their rude and nasty clicking. It blinks those bulbous eyes too, a response to the glow of Carthum’s shield, as though somehow the light offers up a distraction.

In the few moments it takes for the beast to recover from it's teleportation, a few of you at least have an opportunity to strike… if you dare. The beast most surely, isn’t stupid, having positioned itself where only two foes can face off at a time.

<Two characters may enter close range melee at a time, at disadvantage to attack rolls if moving between friends to get into range. Casting of spells or firing range weapons into the melee is also at a disadvantage.

Anyone entering melee must make a DC11 Wisdom Save (d20+Wis Modifier) at the start of their round. On a fail, a sensation of deep terror overcomes you and you are not able to step close enough to strike, and also suffer disadvantage to all attack rolls and checks until next round. Trust me, this thing is hideous!>

 

[Jeovanna]

Jeovanna & Dain - Into the Shadows

Jeovanna charged at the creature, shouldering aside her squishier comrades as she did. It was perhaps not a reaction entirely borne of wisdom... but the creature's 'trickiness' irritated her.

As she closed in, she'd feel a wave of nausea, even fear- that just made her angrier, honestly. A sharp, almost manic laugh burst from her lips, and she'd swing her greatsword solidly at the horrible little imp's hideous body.

More laughter. Keep it under control. Keep it together. It would be okay.

<15 to hit, 7 damage. Wisdom save=12>

***************

Dain's sidestepped two of his companions in his hurry to reach the foe that threatened them. It was chaotic, but then again, they were not a tight-knit unit with a knack for teamwork. Not yet!

When the light of his fire added to the mystical light already illuminating the monstrosity the result was truly horrifying. A compulsion to retch nearly overtook Dain then, but he gripped his blade tightly and grunted in angry determination. "Back to whatever pit you crawled out of, demonspawn!"

He was close enough to get a swing in, even if his positioning was awkward!

<Saving throw = 21>
<To strike = 7>


(Posting for Dain as requested)

 

[Metea]

Metea: into the shadows

Jeovanna shouldering her aside and then laughing... laughing! It would throw off Metea's aim. Or so she would claim, for her attempt to eldritch blast did not even leave her fingertips before fizzling out. She'd claim later not to have been afraid.

At the moment, she felt an almost panic as she looked around, trying to gauge where the others were- she had liked having the hulking barbarian woman on one side of her, Carthum on the other. Now, she was somewhat exposed... well...

Maybe she had kind of positioned Annit between herself and the empty room with all of her stumbling.

Though Metea did not realize it, her eyes glowed with the same yellow light as the demon-fey's... though she was, hopefully, less hideous to her comrades!

<Spellcasting: innate, thaumaturgy. Maybe breaking action economy, let me know if it's a problem!>

 

[97mg]

Annit & Critter: Into the Shadows

Next to Metea, Annit cringed at the sight of their new enemy. She had no issues with letting the barbarian woman and mystery man barge through. Let them at it! With gritted teeth she scanned the group’s side. The fight seemed chaotic, so best try and stand strong and ready. A dagger flashed into her hand. The Tiefling’s insight into the foe’s ability to pop around was almost as disconcerting as the heavy weight of fear, thick in the air.

A horrid squeal erupted from the creature’s mandible as Jeovanna’s greatsword slashed into its hairy chest. That had to hurt, but it wasn’t enough. Then the yellow eyes peered at Dain, and the mandible almost smiled at the ranger’s missed stab. It moved to snatch Dain’s forearm in a claw but luckily, wasn’t fast enough to secure his delicious fresh meat.

Then it made the crackling sound again, and disappeared from sight in the blink of an evil yellow eye.

“We need a circle!” Annit called out. “Back to back!”

Yes, it was unlikely to have left them in peace. It was only a matter of time...

 

[Otiroth]

Otiroth: Into the shadows

"Get ahold of yourself, woman!" Otiroth snapped at Jeovanna.

The idea of running held little merit- the creature could zap in and out as it pleased, it could torment them if it wished and chase them as well. A circle held more merit- and the rock wall was close enough that they could arrange themselves with blades outwards if they were quick enough to manage it. The craggy fallen rocks might even allow Metea and Annit to be able to shoot over the others' heads, if they were sure-footed enough.

Of course, how well they executed this tactical arrangement, having only worked together briefly, and having an even more brief time to prepare it, was the real question.

"Filth," Otiroth snapped, a final moment of defiance as they closed ranks to be to shoot a firebolt into the demon's den- it'd clean it up, if nothing else.

 

[Carthum One-Tusk]

Carthum- into the shadows

Running was not a fantastic option, but staying put had its own flaws- couldn't the demon just choose to avoid them until they dropped their guard, and attack again? How did they intend to draw it out?

Well, it seemed Otiroth had a plan to, if nothing else, irritate it further.

The priest was at his best when standing guard over the others, and there was indeed something quite empowering about standing shoulder to shoulder with Jeovanna and Dain, their more fragile fellows safely behind them. Well, how safe that was depended quite a bit on how precise the demon's teleportation was...

But it had seemed to pause after its teleportation before! If they had but a moment to strike...

 

[Jeovanna]

Jeovanna: Into the Shadows

"Come back! Coward!" Jeovanna snarled.

They'd try to rearrange themselves, but any kind of formation they might've put together in a few seconds was loose at best. Which may have been for the best-if the creature could zap itself about, who knew what else it could do?

Jeovanna's frustration was mounting, and being cajoled about it wasn't helping. "Shut up. Shut up!" She snapped at Otiroth. Couldn't he keep it to himself? He had no idea how difficult this was!

The barbarian was clearly too agitated to make any good use of the trap on her pack. The demon might be too smart to fall for that, anyway. Though she'd not object to another taking it. Basic squad formation, though, was grilled into a prospective guard from day one. She could mostly manage that.