Ambergris > In Search of a Song

[Tell]

Hunching down Lesh quietly garters his rope while looking to the others. Do we get blow decks or do we attack the guards one by one? Unless otherwise instructed Lesh points to the closest guard (near the aft mast?) and stealthily approach close enough to cast Hold Person. If the fails a WIS saving throw of 13 Lesh will bind and gag him to the mast. Or if a target near the bow is preferable he will do the same but leave the guard hanging upside down over the side (Batman Arkham style).

Sheath: [1d20+5]=6+5=11 plus 3 from Guidance = 14

[hedgeknight]

Just to make it a bit less "foggy" , the guards are stationed in pairs, not by themselves.
Let me know if Lesh still plans on doing what you posted above...

[Spearmint]

Ambergris

Having made it to the stern castle and rolls over the side. He points to the two guards and hushes them, his finger to his lips. Looking at the balista, can it be turned fully to point not out to sea but at the two stern castle guards. I would like to load a spear and spin the mount around. At least then, even if I step aside I could 'mage hand' the trigger release and skewer one or both of them.

We don't really want to get into a mad melee. If we are trying to get into the cabins and search stuff then what about this:

Lesh and Tarina creep down the stairs and deal with the two crew by the first mast. Once they are knocked out and if I can silence the other two, then hopefully the swirling mist hides us sufficiently to sneak downstairs.

[hedgeknight]

Just to be clear:
Ambergris > use ballista to try and take out both of the guards on the sterncastle.
Lesh & Tarina > take out the two guards near the closest mast below the stairs leading to the main deck.

Want to make sure this is indeed your plan before I write it up.

[Spearmint]

Well I asked about a feasibility study, if it can be done quickly and quietly. The last thing we want is alerting guards.

And as an alternative suggestion to Lesh and Tarina creeping up on them, though that would be fine too and they might be more suited to that.

[Tell]

Lesh looks at Ambergris then at the ballista and tries to gage the distance to the sterncastle. He looks at Ambergris again, shakes his head slightly, then grins with ALL his teeth showing. When Ambergris turns to move, Lesh does as well, moving as quietly as lizardly possible, approaches the guard at the closest mast he prays or more likely swears, "Kelemvor us help."

[Spearmint]

Ambergris

Takes the advice from Lesh not to try the ballistae so he allows him and Tarina creep forward and hopefully silently dismiss the pair, ignorant of doom creeping up upon them.

To help silence any cry, the warlock invokes a ghostly skeletal hand which grabs the throat of one of the guards, choking him violently and squeezing the breath out of him.

Ambergris cast Chill Touch [1d20+2]=18+2=20 skeletal hand squeeze [1d8]=3

[Tell]

Following Ambergris' lead Lesh also casts Chill Touch against the other guard nevermind I don't have that spell, so new plan... Lesh approaches stealthily sliding a forearm around the other guard's neck he casts Inflict Wounds.

Stealth: Three Bonus: [1d20+3]=17+3=20
Inflict Wounds: [1d20+6]=3+6=9, damage: [3d10]=19

[hedgeknight]

Ghosts in the Fog

Lesh and Tarina move as quiet as ghosts along the stern castle and down the stairs to the main deck; the two pirates at the mast are unaware of death creeping up on them. The pair move as one, each reaching for one of the guards. Lesh summons a spell from the bowels of the grave to inflict a killing wound on his target...but as he reaches out, the pirate senses something isn't right...but it is too late for the poor bandit. A ghostly hand forms from the fog, grabbing the man by the throat! His eyes bulge...and Lesh is able to grab hold and unleash the call of the grave upon him, wracking him with deathly pain! As the man slumps, his companion is about to call for help when Tarina drives her scimitar clean through him!


She puts a hand over the dead bandit's mouth and lowers him to the deck, just as Lesh does his man. Breathing nervously, Tarina looks up at Ambergris and nods. She leans in as close as she can and whispers to Lesh, "What about the other two? Do we leave them and head downstairs or try to take them out too?"

[Tell]

Lesh looks back to the ol warlock then pointing forward then pointing down. Asking the sailor's opinion which is the wiser course of action?

[hedgeknight]

Tarina wipes the dead man's blood off on his shirt and peers into the fog.
"We need to do something fast! They are going to figure out we're here any minute."

[Spearmint]

Ambergris

Sneaking past them and gaining entrance to the cabins is best.

"You two sneak by. I will create some diversions." he says and from the helm casts his ghostly havoc wreaking touch again upon one of the guys standing by the nearest mast.

Ambergris cast Chill Touch [1d20+2]=18+2=20 skeletal hand squeeze [1d8]=7

[hedgeknight]

One of the guards opposite them suddenly drops his spear and grabs his throat. It seems as if there is a spectral hand made of fog choking off his windpipe! His companion takes a step back from him, his face a mask of shock and dismay.
The choking man reaches for him to help, wheezing and trying to speak. The other man takes yet another step back, closer to the steps on that side of the forecastle.

Actions for Lesh?

[Tell]

Lesh hesitates but follows Ambergris' instruction by attempting to sneak into the cabins. With his weapon in hand he crouches just outside the door to listen briefly before pushing through the door. He looks around for signs of danger. Noting where Tarina is. What does he see?

Stealth: [1d20+3]=20+3=23
Perception: [1d20+5]=6+5=11

[hedgeknight]

From atop the stern castle, Ambergris watches the guard on the deck opposite drop to the floor. The guard's companion hesitates before going to the man's side, attempting to help him. A call for help comes from the guard and two others appear from the fog atop of the fore castle, while the two guards atop the stern castle hurry down the steps to help.
All of this takes place within mere feet of where Ambergris huddles in the fog.

On the deck below, Tarina grabs Lesh by the arm and pulls him toward the steps leading to the lower deck. As they drop below, they hear the cry for help come from the guard. Tarina hisses and curse and Lesh pauses outside the door, listening. Inside he hears footsteps and then someone says, "That bitch is attacking! We gotta get out there and help!"
Suddenly the door is wrenched open and there stands two men, swords in hand.
"Hello boys; ya miss me?" Tarina says with a grin.
The two men lunge to attack!

Actions!
I need initiatives and actions for Ambergris and Lesh.

[Spearmint]

Ambergris

Focuses his warped mind upon one of the guards in the huddle. He tries to wrack his brain with ethereal cackling voices, prophesying his doom in the fog veiled boat unless he and his comrades abandon ship.

casting Dissonant Whispers

Ambergris casts Dissonant Whispers [3d6]=13 damage

Dissonant Whispers: 1 action, 60'ft range, V, instantaneous duration.

You whisper discordant melodies that one creature of choice within range hears, wracking it with terrible sonic and audio pain. The target must make a wisdom save. failed save takes 3d6 psychic damage and the creature must immediately use its' reaction to speed away from you. Successful save stake 1/2 damage only

[Tell]

Initiative:[1d20+3]=6+3=9

Lesh considers pushing Tarina into their path but with an irritated clicking noise "gra, gra, gra..." he instead mutters a few arcane words and makes a complicated hand gesture to cast Guiding Bolt against the nearest guard. (I think I can cast another spell so long as it counts as a bonus action?) Without slowing he tears a purity seal (a small parchment with a bit of red wax and holy text written on it) from his belt, folds it, and mutters a few more arcane words to cast Shield of Faith on himself.

Initiative:[1d20+3]=6+3=9
Guiding Bolt: [1d20+5]=6+5=11, damage: [4d6]=15

Guiding Bolt Type: 1st Level Evocation; Time: 1 action; Range: 120 ft; Components: V, S; Duration: 1 round; Source: PHB, pg. 248
A flash of light streaks toward a creature of your choice within range. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On a hit, the target takes 4d6 radiant damage, and the next attack roll made against this target before the end of your next turn has advantage, thanks to the mystical dim light glittering on the target until then.

Shield of Faith Type: 1st Level Abjuration; Time: 1 bonus action; Range: 60 ft; Components: V, S; Duration: Concentration, up to 10 minutes; Source: PHB, pg. 275
A shimmering field appears and surrounds a creature of your choice within range, granting it a +2 bonus to AC for the duration.

[hedgeknight]

All Hands on Death...Deck!

While his companions scurry below, Ambergris summons a deathly dirge of demonic doom...and as a purple haze runs through his brain, one the crew of the Uncivil Serpent suddenly staggers and falls to his knees. Choking on pain, the man grabs his head in both hands as if it is going to explode...and perhaps inside his skull that is exactly what happens, for his hands drop to his waist and he pitches face forward and expires with a long wheezing sound.
The others jump away from him (and the other dead man), looking wildly about in the fog.
"There's a witch aboard or worse! Something demonic!" one of the men says, his voice quavering.
"Shut yer hole!" another man commands. "I hear something!"

While below, death is being dealt in a more visceral manner...
Muttering arcane words and gesturing with hands used to caring for the dead, Lesh unleashes a bolt of light that blows a hole clean through the man in front of him!
Before the man even realizes he is dead, Tarina shoulders him aside and drives her sword deep into the other bandit's gut. The man squeals like a stuck hog and bleeds like one too, staggering backward as Tarina advances. The man tries to plead with her, even as he swings wildly with his own scimitar; Tarina deflects it with a laugh.

Initiative: [1d20]=1


So...topside, Ambergris can see four men...and he hears the screams from below.
Below deck, Lesh knows there is one man in the room and Tarina is trying to kill him.
Actions!

[Spearmint]

Ambergris

From his viewpoint crouched by the stern rail overlooking the deck, he focuses on the men and picks one, the quavering voice as he seems most susceptible to suggestion or fear.

Using my 'Awakened mind' gift I communicate to him telepathically, "We are all going to die. There are demons in the fog, we are all going to die. Run away, run away."

He tries to intimidate the sailor (having warlock proficiency with such skills and checks) so that he makes the decision to exit the ship and hopefully induce panic in his ship mates.

[hedgeknight]

Ambergris...From his viewpoint crouched by the stern rail overlooking the deck, he focuses on the men and picks one, the quavering voice as he seems most susceptible to suggestion or fear.
"We are all going to die. There are demons in the fog, we are all going to die. Run away, run away."

Ambergris sends out a telepathic suggestion...a message of doom. His target jerks and looks around...and at about that time, there is a roar in the air like that of a spectral crowd of onlookers, cheering for blood, cheering for death.
(The roar is an actual crowd of people...those standing on the deck of the Low Lantern watching Hitoshi and Ostis fight to the death.)

The man grabs one of his companions. "W-we need to get our asses outta here before T-Tarina kills us all!"
"We promised Dead-Eye we would kill that bitch!" says another of the men.
"Yeah, but something ain't right and we ain't gonna make it outta this...unless we go now!"
He heads toward the dock, and another of the men goes with him.
The other two, however, head down the stairs...