DreamLyrics™ Play-by-Post Forums Fantasy SKT: The Storm King's Thunder 3H - Second night in Yartar

>>As for the statement that only one person is on the rope at a time, that is false. For Arus to be halfway down when Bern reaches the bottom, he would have had to start climbing when Bern reached the midway point.<<
Not true.

Bern takes his turn and reaches the halfway point. Arus waits at the top. Next turn. Bern goes first and reaches the bottom. Arus goes next and reaches the halfway point. As long as we move and descend in initiative order there is NEVER more than one person on the rope.

Remember that while in real life everyone would be moving simultaneously. D&D is not real life. People go on their turn and everyone else is frozen in time while that movement is happening.

You're allowed to make any decision you like, but that is not going by the rules of the game. What happened to being a RAW DM?

[[ Bern Init MikeD rolled d20+3 and got 20 ]]

OOC: So far all I asked for was for Bern, Arus and Kriv's initiative but I'll take the others. We are not in melee although you're treating it as such. Note that if we were in melee, moves would be handled as Zeim said. The challenge of descending to the next room is a separate event - a non-combat challenge. So far initiative:

Bern 20
Davroar 18
Arus 11
Kriv 3

DM
Bern reaches the bottom of the rope and Arus follows him down. Bern steps forward in the darkness, takes out his coin but sees little. When Arus reaches the bottom he scans the room and unlike Bern, he sees the entirety of the chamber. The scene was similar to the one that Jaliera had reported. The doors at the far end of the chamber are now closed. What is different this time is that the kuo-tao spellcasters from above have not attacked. Arus can see that they are ready to cast their spells. They just haven't. They seem to be waiting for something.

Kriv jumps down and lands in the spot next to Arus and Sindar begins his descent."

OOC: Those in the chamber (Bern, Arus and Kriv) can act. Let's get Bern's action first. He sees no targets because they are out of range for his vision and he has no clue where they are. Kriv sees similarly. I could use an initiative for Sindar.

<Bern>

Down on the ground, he takes a step out of the way and gets out his 'coin' light. He can't see anything, but he is pretty sure that 'they' are down here. He gets his bow out and gets ready for any 'targets' that show up.

Arus

Whilst Bern sorts illumination and his bow, Arus steps forward and plants the base of his trident in the muck.

"Good evening." He says formally, "Our apologies for the late hour but the commonwealth of Yartar wish to express their concern that thou art just too big a turd for this sewer."

[OOC And that's diplomacy? ]

Zhu

She watches the others descend, actually concerned when they are not attacked. "There is a reason they haven't attacked you. They must want to delay combat as long as possible for some reason."

Kriv

Rising from his landing, the noble muttered a few syllables in his native Draconic, Glasstaff held warily in case its defences were needed.

Casting Protection from Evil and Good on self.

DM

When Kriv reaches the ground and Sindar is finally shimmying down the rope, everyone can hear the response to Arus's form of diplomacy.

"My, my, we have gotten off on the wrong foot? I apologize for Blopidy Blop. He is a faithful servant and only sought to protect his god. They should not have attacked that poor little flying creature. Why don't you come into my office, straight ahead, and we will work this all out. I am sure we can work things out. Arus, do you speak for your group or is there another spokesperson, perhaps one not so angry, for this parlay? Perhaps Sindar, I hear that he has a lovely voice!"

Only Arus can see the whole room and none of the assumed enemy have moved.

(OOC - BTW, if there is no combat Zhu will save her spells and let Davroar and herself climb down the rope by hand.)

Kriv

"Can we 'work all this out', given that would include not abducting and cocooning the citizens of Yartar and otherwise ceasing this operation?" mused the Dragonborn scholar.

Arus

Kriv makes a fair point, though Arus is pretty sure they can work something out... it just might not involve much talking.

But if the Monster wants to talk to Sindar it allows more time for the party to get into position for the alpha strike.

"Aye, difficult indeed. Sindar is the man for such verbal wrangling, let him come forth."

Of course, the party are all aware that their thoughts might be being read by the Monster and it has shown it knows their names.

So if it goes along with their plan, that means the party are probably going along with its plan too.

In the end, it might come down not to who strikes first but who strikes hardest.

(OOC - Nep/Aqua - Let me know when it is Zhu's turn to descend.)

Zhu

Glancing down the hole she nods to Davroar. "Since there's no fighting, lets climb. I'll go, you come after. I'd suggest summoning the animals as soon as you're down."

Acrobatics (Dex)
Zhuirentel Elendaril
21