Murder, She Rolled (D&D 5th Ed)

"... Really? So far all I have gotten for the expedition is further... 'enchantment' with the lovely city" says Adelaide as she looks at the colorful neighborhood they had been introduced to.

Northern District, Entrance
"Oh, I wouldn't say that, you've already helped me tremendously, brother," Vondal said. "I don't suppose you know anything more about these cults?"

Northern District

"You know how it is with the short-lived races, dwarf - always forming some cult or other around the latest fool who tries to cheat death. I have seen my fair share of them: in the last century alone, I have seen the Cult of the Cerulean Oyster rise and fall, and encountered my fair share of Elvish impersonators, and now this new 'Cult of the White Hand' springs up - but if the last wave of bounty hunters did their work properly, they are no longer a concern." The elf broke off sharply, fixing Vondal with a wary eye. "Look here, brother. As much as I would like to trust you, I do not even know your name, and unless you can find someone to vouch for you, I would advise you - any outsider, in fact - to leave the business of Golimar to the people of Golimar. As sad and pathetic as we may be, at least we do not burn down half the city in the pursuit of criminals."

edited 4th Oct '15 10:11:37 AM by Pyrite

"Well, if we have to make some money in this place we better know it well, despite the...look, and feel, and smell...right?" Daren tried to argue.

"I say we try take out of this guy as much info as we can about suspects on Ned's muder, aswell as location of people with shady businesses and where we can find that elf and dwarf we've seen last night, using ale. Far as we know, maybe this guy could be a suspect, too, but my intuition tells me the opposite."

He would wait to see if anyone got any opinion until Al was too far ahead and they have to go after him in order to not lose sight of him.

"Ade, you're a holy warrior and I can sing. This is really Daren's area of expertise and it's probably best to defer to him," Ander suggested.

Northern District, Entrance
"I am Vondal Battlebeard, seventy-third of my line from Melvira Battlebeard herself, and acolyte of the Lady of Pain," Vondal said in a huff. "I serve the goddess loyally, and cannot be swayed by chaos, nor seduced by anarchy. To not trust me is to not trust the Order of Serena itself, and that is not an accusation you can make lightly. You may not trust me now, but know that I will complete the task set out before me. Regardless of what challenges the world sets before me, no matter what vile machinations of Golimar place themselves in my path, none shall be capable of overpowering the goddess who walks beside me."

He turned to leave. "Now then, Brother Da'nass, I thank you for your assistance, and should you choose to offer more, then seek me out and I shall gladly accept it. For now, I leave you to tend to your duties, and I shall tend to mine."

With that, Vondal started to walk around the area looking at shrines, trying to find the shrine of his order in particular.

Also he might ask a guard for directions or something during travel time if it's not clear where to go.

Northern District

It wasn't long before Vondal found the shrine of Serena - but it was a sorry sight indeed. Its walls had been seared to the darkest black, and the ornate holy symbols had been reduced to slag. Where perfume and incense should have been, there was only the lingering scent of smoke on the wind.

It was not the only shrine affected. The shrines of a hundred gods lay in the ashes in a similar state.

"I am sorry. I mentioned the fire, did I not?" Da'nass's voice was low and grave as he approached. "Weeks ago, a group of outsiders came to Golimar, just like you did. Their bounty was the Cult of the White Hand - Neruok's fanatics, who met in the catacombs beneath this graveyard. It should have been an easy task - the adventurers were just supposed to report back with their findings and go no further."

He coughed lightly. "Something happened, and then they decided to convert the graveyard into a crematorium. Fennis tells me that the cultists were slain to a man... as was my superior, two dozen worshippers, and a stray cat. The ones responsible are no longer welcome in Golimar, but that is scant comfort, and my only consolation is that all the gods are probably greatly displeased with them, the Lady of Suffering included. Which reminds me."

Da'nass reached into his robes and fished out a scrap of paper, scribbling a name and an address onto it. "Go there and ask for Mistress Hanira. If anyone can vouch for you, it is your fellow cleric - your goddess should know Her own. Depart with the blessings of the Three, Battlebeard, and may they not take you before your time."

edited 7th Oct '15 8:03:40 AM by Pyrite

East District

"Really, you can sing?" A gruff, somehow oily voice interrupted Daren. "I dunno, he don't look like much. I bet you can sing loads better, huh toots?" The voice belonged to an equally gruff and somehow oily man who oozed into the group, grinning smarmily at Adelaide. He was wearing a leather jerkin rubbed black with soot, and as he spoke he pulled a little metal implement out of a pocket to run through his oily hair. "Howzabout we go somewhere private and you can show me?" It seemed as though the Bulettes had indeed noticed the little group; several were circling them slowly, and two had grabbed Drunk Al by the arms.

"Hey, who left a garden gnome in the middle of the street?" Another member of the gang nudged Miron with the toe of his boot, grinning. "An' they even dressed it up, how cute. Hey, tiny, we don't like wizards around here. You a corpse-fondler like the last one, too?" He nudged a little harder.

"Oh good, a bard," a third said, poking Daren in the chest. "This is the wrong street for you, fiddle boy. Go hang out on the backstreet with the rest of those singer boys, huh? Tell 'em we'll be around for our cut later."

One of the gang members holding Al frowned. "But Bert, we don't take cut from the Boys. That's Cracked Tooth territory, you know? Nobody messes with them."

Daren tried to whisper with Ander but figured that would not be possible due to the immediate threats and attention. He would have to hope that their adventuring togheter communicated what he wanted with a look. As he looked at Ander, he tried to convey "friend, if you're going to use your magic to inspire me, that's as good time as any."

He steped up, grabbing the one that was poking at him by the neck as if in a friendly hug around his neck and shoulders, but actually pulling their body togheter so he could conceal his "persuasion aid": a dagger, with only the point sticking out from his fist uncomfortably into the thug's chest. He used the fact that his face was close to the foe's ear to whisper menacingly, with some ironically friendly, calm tone.

"Now, this little bird is flying too far away from his nest, aye? Why don't you listen to your friend and leave us good people be? We're working with the ones that act in this territory, that doesn't belong to you. It's funny how people doesn't know us in these parts - and to think we had to decapitate Ned, the owner of that Inn, just to show what happens to whoever opposes to us. You can go ahead and try and kill us, but you better be fucking fast, because the ones that employed us won't be pleased. And then it will be your head your companions will have to fish down the river."

rolling for deception. If possible, with inspiration from Ander?

Ander sings a song of bardic inspiration with lyrics that basically say "I know that I should say 'we're not looking for a fight' or something along those lines, but the truth is that I've been looking for violence for two days"

Daren's roll for Deception - actually, Intimidation, but it turns out the same either way - with Bardic Inspiration: 1d20+5, +1d6, -1 (hangover) = 11+5-1 = 15. Anders has one use of Bardic Inspiration left before the next long rest.

Opposing Intimidate check from the Thug: 1d20+2 = 22.

...Oh dear.

edited 8th Oct '15 5:57:13 AM by Pyrite

Still strumming his Lyre, Ander leaned over to Daren and, with a grin, said "I don't think it worked. We're fighting now, right?"

edited 10th Oct '15 6:05:44 AM by deadpool616

Northern District, Shrines
"I'm glad you decided to trust me after all. You have my gratitude, brother," Vondal said, clutching the piece of paper tightly and glancing at it for a moment before putting it into a pocket. "I will remember your kindness. Should you need any assistance in the coming trials, seek me out and I will come to your aid."

He crouched down, picking up a handful of ashes from the shrine as he said silent prayer. He scattered the ashes onto the ground again, then turned around and headed for the address Da'nass had given him.

Eastern District

Adelaide let out a long, drawn out sigh at the current proceedings. She was a country girl, involved in the military for as far back as she could remember. Navigating a city with gangs, thugs and thieves trying to get information out of them was something she was way out of her element for. Thus, she relied on her allies and mostly stayed with her mouth shut as they led her forward...

But now... well, between wrongfully admitting to the very murder they were trying to solve in order to intimidate some thugs as well as drawing their attention and seeming ire, Adelaide was losing confidence in this avenue of action.

Taking a deep breath, the silver haired woman frown and steps forward... hitting the ground hard with the butt of her glaive as she then holds the weapon with both hands "Everyone... there is no need to start anything here I'll have to finish. We didn't kill Ned, nor are we involved with anyone like that" goes the honest to a fault soldier girl, shooting Daren a glare for the bluff "We're just looking for people that can give us some answers about what happened there"

Rolling for Persuasion, in an attempt to convince the gangsters not to fight: 1d20+0 = 4. Adelaide fails to convince the gangsters to step down: a fight is inevitable.

Daren grins as he is pushed back. "Alright, you guys are pretty scary...but you're no army."

He sheates his ornate dagger, the one his friends knew he would never spill blood on, and unsheates his twin shortswords, twirling their blades in the air and crossing them one, two, three times, ending on a battle stance. Then tilts his head as if warming up.

"Yeah Ander, we're right, this little birds are flying to far away from their nests. Let us go and educate Bertie-boy over here properly."

edited 11th Oct '15 8:16:42 AM by Kyef

Eastern District

Bert wormed his way out of Daren's grasp, rubbing his chest in discomfort, but he was otherwise unimpressed by the half-elf's posturing. "Bullcrap. You couldn't even murder your way out of a paper bag. Whaddaya think, Ernie? These chumps think they can pull a fast one on us." He turned to his companion, his hand inching to his waist.

Ernie snorted derisively as he reached for his own weapon. "Nobody outsmarts Bulettes! Jus' say the word, Tony..."

The greasy gangster hefted a wicked-looking mace, and nodded to his two underlings. "You'd best put yer money where yer purdy mouth is, miss, because nobody messes with us an' gets away with it."

Sensing trouble, the bystanders of Golimar immediately dispersed to safer environs, where they could peer at the coming altercation from the shadows.

edited 12th Oct '15 7:27:32 AM by Pyrite

COMBAT POST - OOC

Rolled Initiative:

• Ander (21)
• Adelaide (19)
• Gangster Tony (16)
• Daren (15, tiebreaker 23)
• Gangster Bert (15, tiebreaker 16)
• Miron (in absentia) (6)
• Gangster Ernie (2)

Current positions: The fight begins in an open square - plenty of room to move around, with two main exits: one behind the gangsters and the other behind the party. Unfortunately, because of the preceding circumstances, you start only 20 feet apart. No one is surprised.

• Tony is flanked by Bert and Ernie.
• Daren, Adelaide and Anders are standing in opposition to them, with Miron behind them for now.

edited 19th Nov '15 6:57:46 AM by Pyrite

"Finally!" Ander said as he drew his rapier and took a stab at Bert.

edited 12th Oct '15 7:39:59 AM by deadpool616

COMBAT POST - OOC

Ander uses a Move action to move 20 feet up to Bert and Attacks him.
Attack roll: 1d20+4=13
Bert's AC: 12 (Hit)
Damage roll: 1d8+2=5

COMBAT POST - IC

Bert curses violently, flinching as Anders draws first blood with a deep stab to the arm.

edited 12th Oct '15 5:17:42 PM by Pyrite

edited 12th Oct '15 10:22:07 AM by Kyef

Adelaide moves just after Anders, moving so that there were five feet of distance between her and Tony and putting her glaive then to good use. Lets see now if the combat training of a soldier is up to par with the combat prowess of some city thugs.

Adelaide makes a long arc with her strike, swinging in a diagonal swing... that would hit with the flat of her spear's blade. She didn't mean to kill anyone unless there was no further resource. However, that blow wasn't the only thing she'd do... because by her training with polearms and balance in handling the sheer momentum of that blow, she spins the weapon in place stroking at the man's side with the other end of the weapon.

Mechanics: Move to a position 10 feet away in front of Tony, all gangsters should then be within her 10 feet range with the polearm, with Tony right in front and the other two diagonal to her. Polearm Master grants an oportunity attack when any creature enters my reach, however that won't apply to Adelaide given that she herself put them all within unless they retreat and then enter her range again. Attack with glaive for 1d20+5 to hit and 1d10+3 damage, then bonus action to strike the back end of the glaive for 1d20+5 to hit and 1d4+3 to hit, slashing and bludgeoning damage respectively. As a warrior in melee, I can choose to make my strikes deal nonlethal damage which I am doing currently. Additionally, due to Great Weapon Fighting Style, 1 and 2 in damage dice are rerolled once for both attacks.

edited 12th Oct '15 4:57:47 PM by daltar

COMBAT POST - OOC

Adelaide moves into position and strikes:

• First Attack Roll: 1d20+5 = 13
• Tony's AC: 11 (Hit)
• Damage: 1d10+3 = 13
• Second Attack Roll: 1d20+5 = 24 (Hit)
• Damage: 1d4+3 = 4 (I rerolled, it was still 1.)

Tony moves to 5 ft of Adelaide - out of position for Pack Tactics, but not proccing her Reaction - then Multiattack with mace:

• First Attack Roll: 15
• Adelaide's AC: 16 (miss)
• Second Attack Roll: 16 (Hit)
• Damage: 4

COMBAT POST - IC

Tony takes a deep cut to the torso and a smack to the gut - he reels, winded, and manages to get out a "Bitch!" before he moves in to get revenge. His first blow glances harmlessly off Adelaide's armour, but the second one finds its mark and clips her in the shoulder.

edited 12th Oct '15 5:32:51 PM by Pyrite

"Don't kill'em!"

Daren finally closes in with the guards, throwing and flipping his shortswords in each hand and grabbing each one by the edge, in a half-swording technique, in a way that he can hit with the pommel and guard of the weapons.

He approaches and feints an upward innefective attack at Bert to raise his guard, but then spins and reveals his true attack with the other hand: a low swing to the groin, taking advantage at his awkward stance as he retreats from Ander's hit. He uses his other hand to swing the other pommel at Tony, turning his back to the enemies for a second but then turning back to his defensive position with a grin."Wanna see you make Bertie-babies now." he thinks.

He approaches and makes a sneak attack at Bert, rolling 1d20+5 to hit and 1d6+3+1d6 damage if he hits. He does a regular attack at Tony with his bonus action and rolls 1d20+5 to hit and 1d6 damage.

COMBAT POST - OOC

Daren Moves up between Bert and Tony, and uses his Main Hand Attack on Bert and Off-hand Attack on Tony.

• Main Hand Attack Roll: 1d20+5 (-1 for hangover) = 8 (Misses Bert's AC of 12)
  *Off-hand Attack Roll: 1d20+5 (-1 for hangover) = 9 (Misses Tony's AC of 11)

Bert attacks Daren:

• Main Hand Attack Roll... 1d20+4 = 1+4 (Automatic miss!)

Miron casts magic missile at the darkness Ernie: 1d4+1, 1d4+1, 1d4+1 damage = 2+5+4 = 11. Ernie is reduced to 0 HP.

Ernie's death saving throw: 1d20 = 6. Strike One.

COMBAT POST - IC

Daren's wild swings whiff against both his targets, who stare at him nonplussed.

Bert grips his scimitar with one hand, clutching his crotch fearfully with the other. Then, sensing an opening, he grins evilly and swings his scimitar down at Daren's head... only to miss dreadfully, sending a spray of sparks flying as his blade slams into the cobblestones.

Ernie groaned in disappointment as he watched his partner miss and moved in to assist... but Miron was faster. The gnome raised his fingers, sending a stream of arcane darts flying straight into him - two to the chest, and one right between the eyes.

The gangster toppled to the ground, twitched a little, and then lay still.

Bert screamed, aghast.

"ERNIE! NOOOOOOO!"

The first round has ended.

edited 13th Oct '15 3:24:09 AM by Pyrite