In the settling smoke caused by her destruction of one of the shadowy figures, the second, far more deadly enemy broke through like tornado of blades; it swung swipe after swipe of the greataxe it bore with inhuman speed, attempting to off set her while it proceeded forward with single minded determination. It swung again at an upward angle from below, only to avoid Thea's sword and inflict a tremendous strike at its full power. The impact from the dark weapon was more than enough to get her attention, as was the almost visible aura of frenzy the attacker had as it stood before her, withdrawing by a step and already seeming to ready its next attack. If anything, it seemed to have no other purpose in the world but to attack with relentless and wild abandon. Whatever this enemy was, born of the seeping darkness, it was only the beginning of fell omen for the heroes of the Kingdom of Light.
The gnome chimed in, preparing a spell upon seeing the young paladin weather such a brutal strike, "You helped Birbin once, now Birbin will help you! Just try to hold out, friend!"
Arcane energy again appeared in his hands, floating about his palms albeit not the familiar glittering sort they had accustomed to, rather this time a shifting series of rainbows and prismatic lights. The real question was, what had the reborn sage of Wick been preparing? Unquestionably her own magical reprisal against the darkness...
Thea defeats one of the two Shadow Soldiers, her attack narrowly besting their well armored defense. Unfortunately, the Night Fury closes the gap and unleashes a brutal attack, inflicting its maximum 15 slashing damage.
The morning, already peppered by the varying amounts of seductive antics and now forged ebony, rose in its evanescent canopy, enlightening the combat between Theodore, Katia, and Thea. Her Beloved had already elevated to a tactical advantage, rising swiftly to the rooftops, to monastically strike with fire and fury, when the opportune window cracked a sliver once again. The gnome cast his lot, too, offering another hand against the mounting dusk during dawn, sparkling with the variegated stripes of a kaleidoscope, hued with polychromatic splendor.
If Birbin struck and missed, the warlock estimated not to be within the vicinity. The reborn sage darted further into the alley, away from smoky mischief and glittering pandemonium from the minuscule wizard. Distance would be an advantage in this chess match with death and its minions. Elevating her staff, her focus surged with the Eldritch might which her patron imbued within the wood and her master, Shujaat, into the gem. The detonation rang true, seething through the air and etching into a monstrous wisp before the bard. To add insult to injury, the cleric cursed the armed shade, depriving it of muster and strength.
“Cesar! Now!”
Wick will move down 3 squares DOWN and 3 squares RIGHT, for 30 movement. She will cast Eldritch Blast at the specific large Shadow in front of Cesar, 19 causing 2 damage. As a Bonus Action, she will use Hex as a Bonus Action for 5 more damage, impairing the Shadow’s Strength. Wick
Lesser Restoration: 1/Day after finishing a long rest (unused) Arcane Recovery: 1/Day after finishing a short rest (unused) Fey Presence: 1/short rest (unused)
The shadowy fiend, at first squaring itself off against the heroic paladin and ready to strike her down following the brutal assault she weathered, turned about to face the mage who cast some sort of curse upon it. Immediately after, before it could so much as react, it was blasted with a bolt of ethereal energy. While it had braced for impact, being far from out of the fight, Wick's efforts had at least diverted its attention now to her and the sword-bearing bard. Turning its sword about in its hand, it readied to square itself off against the seafarer - unaware that it had stood better odds before, attempting to harry the already injured Thea.
Flinging both hands out from his chest, Birbin too cast a spell, although one of radically different flavor and power. A cone of brilliant light swirled forth and enraptured the two shadows in its path, leaving their outlines glinting in rainbow radiance and their bodies incoherently staggering about. A bit late to have offset the injury the woman suffered from the greater of the two's attack, but now her revenge was all but guaranteed. The lesser servant of darkness, the same size of the gnome, stood almost mesmerized by the light, perhaps now totally unaware of its foes.
Not one to be left out of the magical fray, the wizard - in one swift motion - set himself forth with a blade of deadly ice between his fingers. With elven grace, he cast out the shard, only to have it accidentally split into two during its flight and impact the midnight foes to the left and the right of his target. For a moment the man blinked in disbelief, free hand still rest upon the hilt of his elegant sword before he nodded; fate had guided his strike, even if it was clear it wasn't meant to have gone that way. The Light saw him through in it and, with a turn upon his heel, he drew his weapon and challenged the foe beside Cesar; the two swordsmen now bearing down on one enemy.
"I assume you can handle a one on one fight?" Haemar inquired almost tauntingly, gesturing with his sword to the enemy between them and the paladin, only to then calmly look back at the last rogue uncontrolled.
Wick's Eldritch Blast strikes the Shadow Soldier and briefly engulfs it in magical energy, aided by the Hex spell. Birbin's burst of rainbow light weaves around the Night Fury and the Shadow just behind, blinding them both; all attacks made against the two are at advantage and their attacks are at disadvantage until Birbin's next turn.
Haemar conjures an Ice Knife and flings it at the distant Shadows to try to ward them off. His initial attack misses, but the ensuing explosion of icy shards defeats two Shadows, oddly missing his actual target.
Cesar Lorenzo Tidesong Bolivar The Vale, Cue the Fighting Music.
The attack was sudden. Just a few moments ago, Cesar was, again, shirtless and strumming his lute like a buzzed fool. Now, he's in the middle of the street, getting attacked by even more shadows.
And it looks like they brought one of their more elite units, too. This'll be exciting.
“Cesar! Now!”
It all went by at a flash. Spells be flung and bolts being shot, zipping through the field. Some of the shadows were dead before Cesar could even react. He felt rather sluggish that day, brandishing his longsword and taking a few moments to get his bearing.
"With pleasure," Cesar grinned after Wick called for him to attack the Shadow in front of him. It certainly was bigger than the others, but that didn't intimidate the bard. Spinning his sword in his hand, a dazzling glow began to surround the blade, before Cesar swung his sword at the Shadow.
The sailor's attack, however, missed sloppily. The Shadow had only to step back a few inches to avoid it, as only the most sluggish of enemies would've been hit by Cesar's last attack. Blaming it on the alcohol, Cesar's nerves flared.
"Come in, then, puto,strike me!" Cesar exclaimed in anger as he entered a combat stance, holding his sword with two hands.
Cesar HP: 21/21 Level 1 Spell Slots: 3/4
Cesar used his bonus action to cast his personal spell, Dazzling Blade, using a Level 1 spell slot. He attempted to attack the Shadow in front of him, missing with a measly 8 on his attack roll.
Like a flurry of activity, the small inky beasts scampered low across the ground, alternating between two legs and dashing about on a hand or two. The first, drawn to the beck of Cesar, leapt at the man's exposed back as he dealt with a far more dangerous contender who seemed, if anything, at least fixated on him. His wizardly companion, not more than a few feet away stepped in to intervene although the damage was already done; black claws struck at the bard's back and the offender fell back down to the ground upon its palms and soles.
Birbin, on the other hand, was far more lucky. Perhaps he had that ounce of feyfolk in his blood or, more close to truth, the bumbling gnome again stumbled his way into success. His spell cast, he thrust a fist into the air and only found a whiff pass by him as the ebon attacker swung. Immediately his celebratory expression ended and turned into a disappointed frown. Not so much because he was attacked, rather because the other size par foe he had, the one he dazzled with his magecraft, stumbled around and right past the chaos that was the front line. Fortunately, by the time it reached the roof, the clearly staggering creature was swinging wildly - badly enough that the sun-blessed monk needed to do little more than sidestep her attacker. As an added boon, the enemy was tantalizingly close to the edge and not obviously wholly aware of her location, let alone its environment; that bit of mischief she naturally felt wouldn't be ill placed either in this battle.
Scene unfolding before him, the slayer of monsters and other diabolical creatures watched his enemies erupt into their usual chaos. Fighting these things was, perhaps, one of the most disorganized and riotous experiences to be had, yet it did offer a challenge nothing else before had; it lent credibility to the notion that the Kingdom of Light truly had been matched equal in the past... perhaps even edging closer back to that now.
A Shadow comes darting in behind Cesar, apparently drawn in by his taunt and missed by Haemar's attack. It swipes at him and deals 4 slashing damage. Birbin dodges a careless attack by another remaining Shadow. The last of the Shadows scrambles past the the head of the assault and scampers up the wall after Katia. It attacks her, ultimately finding failure by wildly missing, still in part mesmerized by the light.
Theodore could not be sure whether he had hit on the first shot, but he knew for a fact that the big thing was now threatening Thea to the best of its ability. He cranked the crossbow's reload mechanism with as much speed as he could muster, pulling the string back and placing another bolt onto it before shouting the same words that Thea had mumbled: "علامة هنتر"
He raised his crossbow towards the flailing monstrosity of a shadow, the creature both blinded by Birbin's magic as well as made vulnerable by Theodore's abilities. The bulk of the creature allowed him to avoid shooting at Thea even if the shadow did happen to be behind her from his point of view and as soon as he could be sure of his aim he let the bolt loose. And this time there was no question whether the shot would hit or not. "Focus fire! Take it down!" he bellowed as his hands darted back to the loading crank once more.
Theodore still does not move from his position, but what he does do might be more important here. He casts Hunter's Mark, targeting Night Fury, now receiving boosted damage against it from both Slayer's Eye and the mark. He then makes an advantaged attack roll that results in a critical (Nat 20 (26) and 9), the attack thus doubling the amount of dice rolled to deal 27 damage.
HP: 28/28 AC: 16 Concentrating: Hunter's Mark on Night Fury Radiant Consumption: Available Slayer's Eye: Active on Night Fury
When the shadow crawled up the side of the building, Katia growled in annoyance. It seemed these mindless foes were beginning to adapt to her strategies. That's less than ideal. Katia swung her staff towards the dark spot that dared to rush her, intending to send the shadow flying from the roof.
Should the fist strike be successful, Katia's intentions were simple: help the less-than-intelligent wizard via a roundhouse kick to his foe's noggin. On the other hand, should her first strike not fell the shade that accompanied her, the second most definitely would. "They're adapting! This isn't good!" she called out as her final blow landed.
Katia movement: If the first shadow takes two hits to kill, no movement. Otherwise, drop from the roof behind Birbin and help him out on the second strike (climb to avoid fall damage). Final position: Either no movement or 3 squares east, 1 square south.
Katia’s first attack is with her quarterstaff, two-handed: 16, dealing 8 bludgeoning damage if it hits.
Katia’s second attack is an unarmed strike: 25 - Crit!, dealing 7 slashing damage.
HP: 20/20. AC: 15. Ki: 2/3 (Recharge Short Rest). Feline Agility: Available. Golden Surge: Available. Rolls are on Discord.
Theodore's bolt struck true at this range, striking dead center in the chest of the far larger shadow. Like a rage of pitch colored flame, it evaporated, burning away into smoke that did not cloud the sky or cling to the ground. As it did however, the black beast froze, almost as if lost in time, fading from top to bottom until there was no more to menace their good paladin. It was certainly more extreme than the other aspects of darkness, that was for certain, almost as though its ties here to the world were far, far stronger, ever more real. Perhaps the purple wizard had been correct, that the enemy was too soon, and if that were correct, the darkness here was growing in power much like it had been in their own world just before it fell away into that abyss.
The philosophical musings ended as one of the small shadows crashed into the earthen road from above him, landing several feet away and too dispersing back into the nothing from which it crawled. Dashing across the roof and sliding down with feline grace, the one responsible delivered a swift arcing kick clear across the gnome's head; the second shadow she landed a blow upon too evaporated away. Two foes down in quick succession and the pair had all but evened the odds of the skirmish.
All of this unfolding, the bard perhaps got more than he bargained for. In one step, the seemingly chain wearing being stepped in, turned aside his sword and lashed forward with its own as one swift, practiced action. The attack struck well enough to perhaps be a surprise, as was the fact it almost did so as if commanded in its own strange way. The cold ebb of seemingly losing part of one's self was what followed, rapidly consumed by the apparent anger that had gripped Cesar.
Theodore's critical strike eliminates the Night Fury, sending it up in smoke. Not long after, Katia defeats the other two Shadows on her side of the village. Fixated on Cesar, the Shadow Soldier strikes and lands a blow, dealing 5 piercing damage to him as it uses its shield to bypass his two-handed form.
Thea let out a startled noise when the Night Furies axe came down on her person, wincing though there was no pain. "ابن العاهرة!" she shouted, her sword at the ready as she glared at the creature before her. However, before she got the chance to exact her own revenge an all too familiar bolt introduced itself to the creature before it seemed to evaporate into nothing. "My hero!" she teased the male, but in truth, she was relieved as she knew she did not have much strength left to her as that lost blow had taken far more than she had been willing to part with.
Shifting her attention the the creature behind her and before Cesar, she uttered a few curse words under her breath before readying her Great Sword. "I am going to kill you," she growled at the creature before her. Lacking the ability to exact her vengeance against the creature who had attacked her, she chose to make it's comrade her outlet. Bringing her weapon down, she slashed the Shadow Soldier across the chest, her blade moving through it with relative ease thanks to it's make up. While she wasn't sure if it was enough to destroy it, she still felt that wonderful spark of pleasure that she had done nearly the same amount of damage to this enemy that his comrade had done to her.
Health: 10/28 AC: 18 Spells used: 1/2 Hunter's Mark: Active - Concentration 1hr Vow of Enmity: Used
Rolls on Discord: Atk w/ Vow of Enemity: 2d20kh1 (15, 9) + 4 Total: 19 Rolled with Advantage Great Sword Attack: 2d6 (2, 2) + 2 Total: 6 Great Weapon fightng re-roll: 2d6 (6, 5) + 2 Total: 13
Ask me for Translation if you really want it... if you know Celestial.
Despite extensive skirmishes with shadows, the warlock’s estimation of weakness and strengths constantly remained uncertain, particularly of the endurance of these ebon monstrosities; their constitution persisted into the smoky fabric underlying their physical tapestry suddenly became unraveled into a buoyant smolder. The imminent pyrolysis of the spiritual adversaries both fascinated and disgusted the librarian. Their battles were dissimilar to simply charring wood, which gradually demonstrated its thermochemical decomposition in relation to persistent pressure and heat. Their dusky foes’ expiration seemed more in lieu of a volcanic eruption of ash, plumed from the blistering, evil magma that spawns their movements and wills.
“Death is an obsessed moth that continues to flock to the light.”
The gemmed baton sang again with magical prowess, at its height. Staying still, the rod in elevation merely telegraphed the next purposed blast to their allies nearby. Muttering initially to herself as she captured the mystic recoil, she bellowed to those in earshot.
“Our ardor will singe its wings.”
Wick will stay put.
She will cast Eldritch Blast again at 16 causing 9 damage, if it hits. As a Bonus Action, she will use Hex as a Bonus Action for 5 more damage, totaling 14 damage, also impairing the Shadow’s abilities involving Strength . Wick
Lesser Restoration: 1/Day after finishing a long rest (unused) Arcane Recovery: 1/Day after finishing a short rest (unused) Fey Presence: 1/short rest (unused)
Between the combined might of sword and spell, the last guardian of the darkness fell and disappeared. It collapsed to the ground with a metallic chunk, its "flesh" having evaporated into smoke and its set of heavy chain, shield and blade soon followed, drifting away. All of it having become nothing once more, a flurry of sparkling magic raced around the aasimar and her greatsword, just past her while the gnome shouted something oddly magical. The projectiles smacked clean into the small fiend, bits of glittery silver dancing on the earth before their elven wizard set down upon it with an added strike to finish the foe...
Then all was quiet again in the town. Not a single unusual sound to be heard, just as there was an absence of sound to be expected. No mooing of cows, clucking of chickens, bleating of sheep - not even the cry or laughter of children. Just eerily empty, to which the gnome noticed as he lifted the brim of his hat, looking one way up the dirt path and the other way back to the gate. He sighed and shook his head before brushing the back of his palm against it; he then put away a ring upon his finger into his large robe's deep pockets.
"Not good... we need to go to the Hall right away. The shadows are getting more restless it seems! Every day more bold, so bold as to be out in dawn now!" Birbin's bright eyes shot up to the sun rising still upon the mountain.
The burning, warm orb appeared fixed, almost as though it were not to move over many, many hours to come. This the survivors of Turyn knew, how long their day had been before, but this? This did not bode well for their adventure through the town, to which their guide apparently announced there after.
"Trouble probably won't be far, so expect more of the bad guys!"
Thea and Wick defeat the remaining Shadow Soldier, allowing Birbin the opportunity to finish the last Shadow off with a casting of a magic barrage. The skirmish has ended and the heroes once again have succeeded. They receive 425 Experience Points.
All players must again roll initiative so that if combat does break out, it may begin immediately.
At first look, his exceptional shot did not seem to have any effect. It was always like that with the shadows, but Theodore still felt his heart sink. This feeling was soon replaced by a feeling of triumph as the shadow began evaporating. The process was slower than that of the other shadows, but it evaporated to nothing all the same. He grinned from ear to ear. Such feats did not happen every day, not even every month. Maybe that was about to change now that they were the chosen champions to Light, but that would be seen.
He operated the loading mechanism almost absent mindedly after his great success, but that was not punished as all of the remaining shadows were cut, pummeled and cast out of existence around him. The threat was gone for now. First thing Theodore did was check up with Thea. "That looked like another bad hit... and you weren't too pleased about it either if I heard you right", he commented while eyeing her up and down. How this world still refused to show any signs of wear and tear worried him, but he'd have to learn to live with it. "You are good now, right?" he asked for a clarification. Once he could be sure she was well enough, he would head on to look for his bolts.
While others were doing their own thing, he tossed the killing bolt that had clattered to the ground at the last location of the axe-wielder into his case and sealed it by snapping the lid shut and taking his mask to his hand. Everyone was more or less ready to get back on the move, so after giving Thea one more passing glance he donned his mask again and turned his eyes forward. He kept the loaded crossbow at the ready and waited for the frontline of their formation to get before him. This time he stayed rather close to the lot though, for a reason he would divulge soon.
Once they had cautiously advanced for fifteen minutes or so, that being about halfway to their destination, assuming they would not be encountering any resistance prior to that, Theodore would reveal his card and requested the heaven's above to warn him of impeding danger, an ability he had not had access to before. However, it had occurred to him after the fight that he was feeling stronger, as if the divine hand of heavens themselves had sprinkled their magnificent might on him to bring even more power to the last champions standing. His martial prowess had not changed, but he did feel a closer connection to the divine. Hopefully they could protect him and his companions from another assaulting wave of shadows, if one was to come.
The local believed there would though. As did the Templar's combat sense.
Theodore has levelled up, taking a level in War Domain cleric for himself!
After the fight, Theodore picks up one of his bolts, the other remaining lost. Probably sticking out of some further away wall. Once the party gets on the move, he will follow the front rank closely, casting Detect Good and Evil after 15 minutes if a group of enemies has not lashed out at them prior to this. The statistics block assumes this cast has gone through.
The initiative rolled earlier remains at 16
HP: 35/35 AC: 16 Concentrating:Detect Good and Evil Radiant Consumption: Available Slayer's Eye: Inactive War Priest: 0/2 uses expended
The battle was over almost before it had begun, the shades evaporating into mist as their blows struck true. As the ranger searched for his bolts, Katia stood pensively, keeping an eye out for danger. With the foe adapting their techniques, they would need to be smarter about their planning. Katia couldn't see why the gnome, who claimed to be a wizard, had so little intelligence to not know more about their foes. Benefit of the doubt would tell her that these tactics were new to him as well, but it still did little to ease her concerns.
"If we do not take care, we shall be ambushed at every turn," the tabaxi announced once Theodore had replaced his mask. "Silence and stealth might be wise. I shall take the high ground and hopefully see them coming ahead of time." Katia made it a point to turn to the gnome and spell out her intentions in small words, slowly and carefully and with sufficient pantomiming to ensure he understood that she would be moving along the rooftops. It would do no one any good if he were to repeat the bumbling mistake of the night before.
Katia briefly wondered whether rogues or sneaks existed in this city prior to the infestation of the shadows. Potentially they did not, judging both by Birbin's response to her earlier attempts at stealth and by the fact that few people seemed left alive in this town. Perhaps a quieter approach to the shadow problem would have left more people alive. She also felt her mind wander to what kind of heroes may have been collecting in this Hall, and how the rown must have treated them to have such a large building dedicated to their accomplishments. She also wondered why Birbin didn't simply reside in said Hall, as it was surely better reinforced than a mere tavern, and definitely safer than an extended stroll in the streets. In fact, if she had not already convinced herself of the gnome's ineptitude and inability to plan, she would have wondered if this were not some staged method of forcing unnecessary fights with the shadows.
Before she took to the rooftops, Katia approached Cesar with one of the healing elixirs that Birbin had presented her earlier. "You look like you could use this," she whispered in his ear, pressing the glass vial into his hand. "Don't go dying on me, okay?" Katia kissed the sailor lightly on his cheek and, without giving him a chance to respond, scaled the side of a nearby building and darted forward along the rooftops, dashing to the nearest intersection of streets to keep a lookout until the rest of the group caught up.
Stealth Roll: 15. Initiative: 17.
HP: 27/27. AC: 15. Ki: 3/4 (Recharge Short Rest). Feline Agility: Available. Golden Surge: Available. Speed: 50. Climb: 40. Passive Perception: 14. Rolls are on Discord.
Once the last shade vanished into wisps of smoke, the wardens of light attempted under covert guise and with the directorship of Birbin, their trek through the town. The Tabaxi fled to the rooftops and beckoned secrecy from the gnome, all after buckling a caress upon Cesar, the bard heralding from the monk’s former verve. Jealousy sprouted from her teeth as they clenched, only a moment, soon dismissed as the monster slayer followed the front rank closely, summoning divine strength to aid their cause as they maneuvered from building to open court to the hopeful Hall.
The ebon darkness, though gone for a time, seemed strangely comforting to Wick. The warlock noticed necromantic tendrils spontaneously encircling her attire, very subtly, but forbidden nonetheless. They granted strength and vigor of a maturity, macabre but resilient; a false life shouldering the same vacant shell as the shadow soldiers. Its strange sense of familiarity reinvigorated the graveyard spiral of hatred that claimed her first existence against the undead and doomed specters preventing her from her final resting place. She scorned the temporary constitution away, but a remnant remained, brooding, like a famished lion in wait. The counterfeit structure lingered, offering its agonizing vim to the reborn sage as she marched behind, sloppily distracted by such an immense dusk invisibly lurking within herself, that did not suffer from the painful animosity she exhibited towards their common enemy.
A skeletal armor that the cleric would reluctantly carry, masked as a dead carcass growing from an endangered crucifixion.
Lesser Restoration: 1/Day after finishing a long rest (unused) Arcane Recovery: 1/Day after finishing a short rest (unused) Fey Presence: 1/short rest (unused)
"Good idea! Quick and quite like a cat!" The gnome wizard replied, his back turned for the moment from Katia, not quite realizing what he had said until he turned heel to face her again. His mouth opened and he raised a finger before then pausing, clearly confounded by something, only to then lower it and carry on with his address; "Oh. Oh! That makes sense now! Birbin sees your game!"
He went on for a moment by himself, transitioning between the words "Katia" and "cat", mouthing them silently. It seemed as though the small outlandishly dressed man was not quite right in the head; more than a bit touched and perhaps verifiably insane as nothing about him seemed rational, as though he was an embodied extreme of what one thought a gnome to be. It was maybe this that unsettled the monk the most, that it was clear the little folk was likely as much a hazard as he was any boon. Whatever the case was with Birbin, the wizard was a far cry from the cunning and kind Haemar or the studious Wick she had so long traveled with to end up here - wherever here was.
Plodding along then, as they moved as subtly as they could thereon out, the front rank consisted of the slayer, their company and their own wizard. For one reason or another, the paladin had stepped back for reasons of her own; a quality not impossible to notice, but not immediately alarming. Just off, eclipsed only by whatever it was that Wick had done. That was what seemed strange. She had gained an odd air of morbidity about her that was... unexpected? Even for someone who delved into the more strange mysteries of the Light and the Darkness?
It added to the uneasy ambiance of the dawning hours, many corners of the wooden and stone buildings drenched in shadow on one half, the other exposed to welcoming light. Only twilight in this town was more uncomfortable, because at least with the night, one could only imagine the skittering darkness that wandered the streets, ready to devour another unwary soul. Day was safety, a welcome safety, like a great ball of eradicating might that would come to hang in the sky - how their hearts, deep within, longed for its familiarity.
After their approach however, nearing the strange and sizable Hall, they immediately noted with little effort the attempts by the darkness to breach its two large wood doors. As wide as two healthy men at the shoulder, each of these doors, they had many mars and marks upon their surface. Bits of splintered wood hung frayed from their faces, carved by what seemed to be swords, axes and any number of other weapons. From her advantageous height, Katia was not only the first to notice this, but to see what they had not seen before; the shadows, how they, as they appeared to be, were but inky spots of silhouettes on the ground.
Several of them laid in wait at the doors atop a small series of stairs, as flat as could be. To those below and some thirty paces away, they were impossible to bear witness to. That was how they seemed to rise up from the nothing and more eerily, it suggested that they in some way might be echoes of actual people themselves...
The party advances to the Hall, a longhouse dedicated to the heroes of the town. Despite Theodore's magical aura, it is Katia upon a rooftop a ways away who spots the enemy on the steps and around the building who could not otherwise be seen on foot. She can see three Shadows, three Shadow Soldiers, one Night Fury and some other, unclear shadow form that has no real distinct qualities.
So that's how they're hiding. Katia surveyed the enemies in the distance, trying to gauge their strength. From a hundred feet or more, some of the specifics were unclear, but it was likely this group of foes was even stronger than the previous one. A glance down at her allies showed Katia that they were walking unaware into a trap. Tactics be damned, there was no way in the nine hells that this tabaxi would let her friends be ambushed like that.
Katia scrambled down the side of the building she was perched on, then tapped Theodore on the shoulder. "Big group of shades, flat to the ground. They bar the entry to the Hall," she said quietly so as to not draw the shadows' attention. As quickly as she had approached, she darted away again, moving back to the high ground. The courtyard surrounding the Hall held little in the way of cover, making it an ideal defensive location and fairly difficult to infiltrate. Of course, that was likely the intentions of those who created this building. In Katia's mind, that was simply more reasons to attempt to reclaim the Hall from the shadows.
Action: Dash
Movement: imgur.com/QM895K7 - if not 100 ft, keep moving East until movement is expended, staying on top of the buildings (Hard to know distance since I don't know building height).
Their approach was proven to be cautious enough as no further shadow attacks were sprung on them before Katia returned to them. Her message was a positive change to the last fight too: This time they had seen the enemy first. According to her, there was a big group of the shades before them. He could have sworn the divine power granted to him would have been their first warning, but if they had chosen to send the warning through the tabaxi monk's eyes, he would accept it.
"Hold a second", he tried to silently get the attention of the others in the group. "In case you didn't hear what she just said, there's a group of shadows up there before us. Any plans on how to do this?" While he asked others for their opinions, he began formulating his own plan. If they knew more exactly where they were, he had the means of driving them away from a single point, though the point would have to be him. If nothing else, rushing straight in with others serving as a spearhead and then him using his unique ability... yes, that could work.
If that turned out not to do the trick, he would also have the latent luminescence within his very body that had awakened. While it was the most powerful instrument of cleansing light at his disposal, it would also serve to harm his allies. Hopefully there would be no need to go that far.
Theodore has called for a brief stop for discussing strategy. He has begun thinking about his own plans, but has not yet got too far, having only assessed what he himself has available.
The initiative rolled earlier remains at 16.
HP: 35/35 AC: 16 Concentrating:Detect Good and Evil ??? time remaining Radiant Consumption: Available Slayer's Eye: Inactive War Priest: 0/2 uses expended
"In case you didn't hear what she just said, there's a group of shadows up there before us. Any plans on how to do this?"
Yes. With pure fury.
The librarian realized her fettered hatred had to be curbed by higher faculties. A stratagem needed to be formulated quickly prior to their vengeful strike upon the gated entrance of the Hall.
And soon.
She swiftly herded words in the form of a whisper, in efforts to devise a blueprint, with furious hopes to undermine their forces.
“We should loose upon them a blazing volley in a cloud of fiery rain, burning the sky itself. Our arrows of light should be fletched with the feather of angels, but bear the wrath of demons.”
Wick suggests to the group to utilize their most effective, damaging long range attacks. Simultaneously. To cover those who charge in.
Of all his companions, only Wick seemed to have anything to say for herself. Most of the streetwalkers stared at the tips of their toes or looked around, as if bewildered by the thought of there actually being more shadows. Well, some of them actually seemed to be paying attention too, but Theodore could not be sure. He groaned in frustration, but removed his mask to unlock his bolt case before imminent combat and drew out the used bolt he had recovered, using it to draw shapes on the road.
"All right, eyes over here. The divines will alert me if the enemies try to sneak up on us. Now, it's likely correct for me to strike from the side... I don't know exactly how the enemy has divided itself, but my bolts will carry the searing light that should drive them off... and it's for the best if we can corral them to one side only. Easier to track them that way, and use our spells to full", he shared with the group as he sketched a crude representation of the battlefield before them. "I guess I will be the one starting up on this combat, and for that I'll need to try and get an advantageous position... and if all goes south, I've still the great luminescence to fall back on. So, what will you do?"
He hoped the others would elaborate on their own strategies, now that he had laid out the groundwork for their approach. Going to the battle in the dark, while it had proven to be effective in the last few, always had its risks. Knowing the approach of his compatriots, or at least the planned approach, would prove useful. And they would move out soon.
Once we are ready to proceed, Theodore will attempt to sneak onto the roof of the last house before the gap between it and the thing I assume to be a wall. I hope he has a clear line of sight onto the stairs from there. With his crossbow effective range of 100, he will initiate combat once his allies are at a striking distance. His shot will be on the middle small shadow, the one in front of the door next to the two others and the bigger blob.
Stealth (Disadvantage due to Scale Mail) - 1517 Attack (Assumed advantage from surprise/Natural Explorer) - 1820 WIS save DC for his target and those within 5 feet of them - 12 Damage on main target only - 8 piercing damage Damage and effects on a failed save - 3 radiant damage and Frightened until my next turn. Damage on a successful save - 1 radiant damage
Initiative rolled earlier remains at 16
HP: 35/35 AC: 16 Concentrating:Detect Good and Evil will be broken upon starting combat by the cast of Stroke of Wrath. Concentration continues on that in case attack misses, otherwise nothing. Radiant Consumption: Available Slayer's Eye: Inactive War Priest: 0/2 uses expended
Your worst enemy, she reflected, remained your frail body’s own nervous system.
At any moment the tension inside was liable to translate itself into some visible symptom. The thought of shadows, pleasantly carrying a haughty presence without interference nor intervention, just several meters away, contorted the left side of the Aasimar’s face ever so slightly. This sort of spasm occurred when hatred quaked, but then settled.
It happened again, as her staff chiseled into the road.
Only a twitch, a quiver, rapid as the fluttering of a hummingbird’s wings, but now obviously habitual. She remembered pondering of her former self, that poor devil slaughtered before reaching her promised abode of the afterlife. What was more frightening was this reflex was not only unconscious but incessant. More so, there was no way of guarding against the facial ripple, so far as she could see, as if the muscles of her cheek were cringing from a provoked seizure.
She drew in a subtle breath to calm herself, but the teeth remained on edge, conspiring against her chin to demonstrate themselves to this fallen world. The saliva pooling, begging the quandary of swallowing or spitting. The warlock wasn’t married to either option, hoping the odor of battle would eliminate this villainous distraction, upon more worthy enemies. The stench of war, inextricably mixed up with magic and metal, breached the paroxysm for an invariable confession, as she prepared an orb of radiance in her dominant hand.
“We hold sacred the powers of light and life. Truth and honor are our greatest weapons. However, this apparent opportunity should risk decency. I will lie, awaiting to strike our enemy, once we have reached your vantage, as I neither lack the range nor any quarrel with rectitude.”
As our enemy is 130-140 feet from Wick at her current position, Wick will cast as a Bonus Action, Expeditious Retreat, in an effort to climb easier and to obtain high ground. Once she is above with Theodore and Katia, Wick will then ready her Globe of Light.
Spell Slots: Warlock (Level 2): 1/2 First Level used on Hex Full Spell Caster (Level 2): 1/3 First Level used on Expeditious Retreat Globe of Light Limit: 0/1 (used)
Lesser Restoration: 1/Day after finishing a long rest (unused) Arcane Recovery: 1/Day after finishing a short rest (unused) Fey Presence: 1/short rest (unused)
