D&D 5E The Kalarian Precipice - Chapter Two

[Metea]

Metea- Further Down

A trap! And in the hallway! Metea wondered if it had been built while the miners were abandoning this place. A bit of a petty final defiance against Dolstian Law.

Or had something else moved in?

Metea perked up at the noise down in the depths, but despite squinting could not make it out. Still, she'd feel eldritch energy crackle within her veins. A battle? Her patron's voice whispered to her. She had something that could deal with any attackers. Something much better than a dagger...

Metea hung back, though, behind the ranger and the barbarian. She did not much want to walk into a trap!

<Initiative- also 3, by gentleman's agreement, Dain can go first of the two?>

 

[jgkane]

"Metea," the protest comes too late to do any good, and Carthum is left watching the parchment curl and ripple in her hands until it is no more.

His next thoughts are his own, but one fate remains clear- whatever his sister does, he must protect her. Even if it is from her own mistakes. He does not agree with much of what is happening here, and he does not trust the woman; but he does trust his god.

Grimacing, the half-orc would sign with his mark as well- as with the others, he does not put down a name, but a mark of a shield.

Commitment is often very hard to do, the first time, but gets easier as practice becomes habit

 

[Otiroth]

Otiroth: Further down

From his position in the rear of the group, Otiroth couldn't see too much. He'd sent his dancing lights as far as they'd go- though hopefully without alerting anything too deep- but while they'd given a head's up on some of the tunnel, there was so much of it that they couldn't illuminate everything.

The enormity of the mines was truly impressive. Often, people were awed by sweeping cathedrals or gargantuan forests, but this humble mine was an undertaking all its own. Otiroth had heard the great delvings of the mountain people were even more impressive, and now was curious to see them.

But, enough of that! Something moved in the dark, and it didn't sound like just a few tumbling rocks! "Show yourself!" He'd add to Dain's shout. The newcomer knew they were there- so there was no use hiding that. But if they were intruding on some kobold's home or something, perhaps they could prevent a fight?

Or perhaps there would be baked kobold this evening.

<Init roll=5>

 

[Carthum One-Tusk]

Carthum One-Tusk: Further down

Carthum watched the process, though his dark vision was not too much different than the humans', at the moment, with Otiroth's lights creating a bright glow.

But the trap- what was it? There were a couple easy ways to find out. However, more movement approached them- this, from further down in the dark, and Dain's reaction made him think of something vile and predatory coming towards them.

"No, not forward. Back!" Carthum said. "If there is a creature that would fight us coming, let it spring the trap for us!"

He was not sure his council would perhaps do any good, but he had to try. And if the creature spoke Common, well, they were done for anyway.

He'd raise his mace.

<Initiative check- 1. haha>

 

[Jeovanna]

Jeovanna- Further Down

Jeovanna let Annit back down to ground level, easily enough, as if the woman had been no weight at all.

She would step to one side of the narrow hallway- she didn't want to stand directly beneath the trap either! "Can't we just smash it?" Jeovanna asked impatiently. A hefty stab from her sword should do the trick, right? Or would it just loosen it up?

They were not alone in the tunnels, though. The mining steps were tight enough that she imagined two fighting abrest would actually be a bit of a challenge, but she'd draw her great sword regardless. There were plenty of maneuvers that worked just fine, whether they were a mining tunnel or a cramped alleyway.

<Initiative- 7>

 

[97mg]

Coming up the steps

Dain’s torch flys and cuts an arc of light through the cool air, before landing and bouncing down several rungs of steps. The sounds of something metallic upon stone hastens greatly then, almost rhythmically tapping in increasing volume… towards you.

A torch’s slow dancing flames reflect off metal rusty and pitted as the cause rushes into view.

Annit’s jaw drops, and she takes a few steps back.

A set of tired armor worn by… nothing. It is as though the wearer is invisible, or simply isn’t there at all. Armor suspending in nothingness as though a puppet, hurries upwards closer and closer.

Tap… tap… tap...

<Dains torch is 40ft down the 100ft steps, with a radius of 20ft dim light. At its current pace the armor (which is 50ft away now) will be close enough to engage next round. I’ll commence using your initiative rolls then. You can all have one round of actions before its arrival in the following sequence:

Init 7 - Jeovanna
Init 5 - Otiroth
Init 3 - Metea & Dain
Init 1 - Carthum

Note: The steps are only wide enough for one character to swing melee weapons at a time. Range weapons and spells can of course be cast from higher up the stairs if you desire. I'll send an email shortly to confirm everyone's location.>

 

[Jeovanna]

Jeovanna: Further Down

Their battle was joined, but not by a man, nor a beast...

"By the gods! Is this more sorcerery?" A nervous laugh. It was still coming!

"If you can speak, do so now, or be destroyed!" Jeovanna snarled. But Otiroth had already tried, and unless there was an instant surrender from the walking armor, Jeovanna's blood was up. She'd adjust herself on the stairs. She couldn't fully swing her sword with Dain in front of her! Jeovanna adjusted her stance, exactly like a guardsman on drills, to a more 'stabbing' position with her great blade.

This was really more a job for a lighter longsword, though, and if Jeovanna's arms hadn't been so strong, she wouldn't have even attempted it!

Jeovanna prepares herself, to stab at the creature's empty face and head when it comes into range.

 

[Otiroth]

Otiroth: Further Down

"Indeed! Sorcery!" Otiroth agreed. "But don't fret woman, for we have some of our own!"

He cast a brief look at Metea, then. Questioning her. Challenging her.

Well, he would very much like to study this armor once they destroyed it! They'd already called on it to back down... and perhaps Otiroth was over eager to use his magic once more. Otiroth's fingers sparked once more, as if he were trying to light a match, and a mote of coiling flame arched over his comrade's heads, barely missing the ceiling as it went, before falling towards the animated armor.



<Spellcasting: firebolt. Ranged spell attack- 7. Spell damage=10>

 

[97mg]

Coming up the steps

Unfortunately, it seemed the ghostly armor either wasn’t listening to the warnings, or simply couldn’t speak on account of not having a “face”.

It kept coming, clunking it's way up the steps through the additional illumination of Otiroth’s bolt of flame. Fingers of red heat tickled the dark ceiling as the spell arched it's way down towards the assailant, but it missed, colliding into a sparking mess several steps below their target. It wasn’t a bad shot per se, just a very tricky one, a moving target made up mostly of thin air and all.

The old plate mail dashing towards them was still coming, but there was still time perhaps, for Metea, Dain and Carthum to do something about it…

<Jeovanna: If you are a few steps behind Dain with such a large weapon, I’ll allow you to attack over Dain’s head - with disadvantage (2x d20 for attack rolls, take the lowest). Sound ok?>

 

[daindarkspring]

Dain- A Few Steps Down

The impending battle roused Dain, and he felt prepared for what was coming. Prepared mentally, and with a sturdy soul to match.

At least I was no coward in my prior life!

Arcs of flame roared over his head and he stepped to the side, his sword taking an offensive position behind him and low to the ground. When the eldritch fire exploded, he covered his eyes with one hand but nonetheless saw the armor continue its slow but steady assault! He was aware of Jeovanna right behind him, and saw the glint of her great sword in the dying light of the magic flames. She meant to strike!

Obviously, the creature before them would not pause for parley, as the sorcerer's words fell on deaf ears. It was possessed of a simple purpose, most likely.

Dain was closest, whether for good luck or ill. And he would have his chance to protect his comrades! Knowing that Jeovanna's great sword was behind and above him, he attacked low, lunging forward with an attack at the armor's knees. His blade had never felt better in his hands, now that it was fulfilling its true purpose!

<21 attack roll>
<6 damage>