The Harbinger of Ferocity

D&D 5e -- The Lost Children

I would hope one could follow a drunken bear easily. Seems they led us to their camp however, for better and worse alike. We will see in due time, especially as this becomes more convoluted in the chaos of battle.

D&D 5e -- The Lost Children

The woman shook herself off after the now bleeding wound, shooting her companion a brief glance and a low hiss. She knew he understood what it meant, the note that she passed on being that he was free to chase off the others. At that offer, the permission to route them and scare them into fleeing further, she knew she wouldn't need to add anything. Jamil of Azalorn was an ornery cat, at least when it came to mortals. He tolerated them only by her graces, which more often than not seemed to be her naivety and his willingness to put up with "teaching" her otherwise. Regardless now, all seemed to be in agreement for the moment.

She leapt back from the unconscious man, pouncing a short distance and turning in place back forward as she examined the seen of the retreating crossbowmen and their apparent leader. The young elf, young at least by elven standards given they had such pronounced long lives, was not about to let them get away too easily, at least if she could help it. Shooting a glance from side to side, the leopardess paused for a moment, her jaw going a bit slack.

The short man came back, slinking around where she and the huntress had bound up the man earlier, bow in hand; something was off about it and she visibly wasn't pleased with the expression that came to her rosetted face. Blinking a few times, she shapechanged back to her elven self, rising from crouching and returned her attention forward. In a very methodical, practiced gesture, she called upon the woods to hopefully stall and prevent the attackers' escape. It wouldn't kill them, at least she didn't think the forest was that wounded or angry, rather merely bind them! That was the safer choice!

Her hands lifting from her sides and going from open palms to clenched fists, she put both of them into the air as the magical effect completed, finished by her command, "To life!". At this beck, amid the now ever more distant chaos, she attempted to guide the grasping limbs, roots, branches, vines and all manner of animate plant life. She glanced back then to the dwarf, at first smiling that her magic went so well, but noticing the man was still up to something.

"Hey! What are you doing? The bandits are trying to get away!" She pointed a fair hand's finger outstretched in the direction of the moving, perhaps now slowly or not at all moving, battle. "Use your bow or something, just don't kill them if you can help it! We need to know about the star and animals!"

Effects

Shaedra Galandoel tells Jamil of Azalorn that he can continue to drive off the attackers. She then positions herself to see the fleeing crossbowmen and maybe the seeming captain. She uses her bonus action to shapechange back from her leopard form into her normal one after and begins casting a spell. She casts Entangle, now concentrating on its effect. She positions the 20 foot area so that it is large enough to ensnare as many crossbow wielding bandits as possible, even the captain if fate is smiling on her, but with its largest area furthest away from her apparent allies, not wanting to slow them down or even bind them up in the plants. Her goal is to prevent them from running away.

The affected area is now difficult terrain to maneuver through. However, each creature currently in that area must make a Strength saving throw at DC 13 or be restrained for the next minute or when the spell ends. If entangled, the victim may make another Strength check to free itself as an action on their turn; if they succeed, they are no longer restrained.

@Guardian Angel Haruki@JBRam2002@Pennydumb123@rush99999@ihinka@Cu Chulainn@0 Azzy 0

Dungeons and Derps - The D&D Experience

As far as the actual gaming experience goes at a live table, I am one of those unfortunate forever Dungeon Master sorts. When I do get to play, the other Dungeon Master either runs out of time to run their game or they "Get bored with it.", whatever that means. Fortunately my previous group was decently sized, five players in all, so when I assumed it again after the just prior game folded because of the previous example, I chose to do something different. Very different at that, which was to play a grim-dark d20 Modern urban supernatural setting... with a twist - they were to play themselves. They began as basic as one could be, no special classes or real exceptionalism lifted from Third Edition or d20 Modern, barring the obvious; their ability scores were all rated by themselves and their peers, averaged out, adjusted to all be an even total, so on and so forth. I put a tremendous amount of work into making this a totally different experience.

Then I let them out into a world where the stranger things lurk, hidden away but never far. This went about as well as you expect initially, they spent most their time dealing with regular people, albeit quite bad people - murderers, drug addicts and dealers, corrupt police, arms dealers, so on and so forth. But when they finally got a taste of the unusual, they became nervous, rightfully so. Even a bit compromised on their morals.

But we aren't here to talk about that, no, we are here to talk about interrogation techniques. Mind you some of these people, in reality, are how should we say... familiar, to some? They waterboarded a few cultists they captured, brainwashed college students who were beguiled by a vampire and began to dabble in darker things after being led into it by what amount to human traffickers for the cult. That seemed to work well, they got their information, but there was this one cultist who they could not break, even once the enchantment actually wore off; the person legitimately wanted to be part of this cult.

Now, previously the had just executed their captives if they proved too difficult, but our ranger had a better idea. He had heard of few various tactics, stripping them and throwing them bound in a cold room and spraying them with water from time to time to prevent them from sleeping, playing extremely loud and disturbing music - his choice being Soviet era Red Army choir music. But none of that worked, except for one off hand thing he had heard of.

He tells me as we sit there, the party still in heated debate about if any of this is even tolerable, as they are saving non-cultists and hurting the cult, thus the vampire as well, with the information they keep extracting, that he, "Goes to the store, looking for any grocery store that has live lobsters."

Confused, yet curious what this has to do with anything as the rest of his party still are in heated debate, I allow him to find one. He purchases three live lobsters and returns to their compound. He then notes that he takes the bands off the lobsters' claws and waits a bit, mind you the prisoner has been subject to their situation for several days and are utterly sleep deprived, barely eating, and barely hydrated. He then talks to said prisoner, warning them that if they do not comply they will face dire consequences. Delirious, crazed, rather insane as we had a sanity mechanic, prisoner isn't too convinced. So, blindfolded and bound, shivering in ankle deep water, the prisoner is left with three live, lobsters.

Three very angry lobsters.

Yes, I rolled to see where the lobsters would go and what they would do in their milling about, but eventually man and crustacean met. The prisoner panicked and the lobster defended itself, snapping at him. Again and again this happened, the more hysterical one was, the more said lobster would defend itself when harassed by the blind, futile flailing and screaming.

My players eventually broke a prisoner using lobsters. They had... issues, to say the least, apparently. I suppose that is what I get for a grim-dark setting though.

Frokane's Mildly Politcal Hangout Thread

It matters nothing that if you were the one who brought it up or not, as you seem to be reading too much into it as the statement itself addresses, but I suppose we have little to discuss if you are going to be passive-aggressive about everything and utterly disbelieve all I say simply because of whatever has possessed you, now don't we, @Dynamo Frokane? Do prattle on though with what you consider "selective acknowledgment" - it isn't as though I have told you before openly in public format, I am not your mercenary to fight your battles for you or anyone else here, and I say what I wish to who I wish for whatever reason I wish. I have nothing to further add, doing so with be a complete waste of time, so take it as you will; I am sure you were already confident of your answer no matter what I said in return.

Now for something more on the record, as much as I doubt California would split, we would do well to have the state of New California, cut off from the rest. Not that I wish it to fall into the ocean or the like, but as with just about any major city, let alone the sprawl California is there, they are a metaphorical cesspool of failed progressive ideals, albeit not as bad as say Chicago or Detroit, but on a much grander scale in contrast and a very costly one to itself as an entire state. Do I think for a moment that "New California" will stick? No, I doubt that, but I give kudos to them for trying yet again.

D&D 5e -- The Lost Children

I just wish that battles didn't go on for months

@Pennydumb123

Combat takes as long as it does the more people delay posting. Play-by-post combat relies heavily on a proactive, active, and reactive party. The more motivated and swift they are, the sooner it moves. Thus far? This group, for the sheer number of players it has for itself, is moving reasonably fast. That is promising to say the least.

Frokane's Mildly Politcal Hangout Thread

Why I mentioned you specifically in this case should be overtly transparent, @Dynamo Frokane. It is your topic after all, hence the related comment about "leadership", and I freely admitted my stance on the current issue in the same breath. Seems pretty clear motive wise there and fits the trend, but I suppose I would know nothing of that in my case. But I digress to something more interesting.

As far as the proposed Haiti commentary goes, I do not see an issue with the commentary even if it were said. The information is freely available, but Haiti, and several African nations said to be what he was speaking about, among others are absolutely abysmal places to live, rife with poverty, crime, famine, and disease. Even if he had said the "shithole" comment, which there is more evidence to suggest not, supposedly a recording as well, not much reason to even care.

As for the way of it being said? Distasteful. But the truth isn't always kind or pleasant, making no difference to me in the end.

Frokane's Mildly Politcal Hangout Thread

Yes, because you know just how much I enjoy going round and round with pointless, groundless, absurdist conversation contrary to all understandings of regularly measurable facts, @Dynamo Frokane. You know those are my favorite. Do continue to hold your irrational grudge though, I am sure that will see you far.

D&D 5e -- The Lost Children

Granted this is our first combat, but I did not expect for the players to be so out and out about their wanting to kill the bandit captain so badly. Where were so many of you in my prior games? Everyone wanted to talk their way out while these people are attempting to rob and murder us! The one time I play a not-so-bloodthirsty druid.

Frokane's Mildly Politcal Hangout Thread

If you ever need a reminder of who leads this thread, just take a look at the title ;)

@Dynamo Frokane

Apparently we do not need that sort of structure and organization to have any form of functional conversation or expectation, here or greater things, so your post is now moot. Or if I am even remotely understanding any of the still as of yet ongoing discussion. However, there are other interesting things abounding, namely the real reason Hawaii had an Emergency Alert System warning of an incoming missile.

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

The audacity the scaled thing had to so much as encroach on Brannor was infuriating, every underlying fiber of his physical and spiritual essence grew taut. It seemed to possess the same arrogance as the larger scaled ones yet neither the intellect or perceptivity to know better or assume better. There was no question in the wilder's mind that were things different he would make an example of these filthy creatures, whose hearts were as vile and insufferable as their exteriors. He could only direct his glare to Orchid, that restrained fury, and press on, performing whatever other duties the half-blood warrior had arranged for them throughout their deception.

Feigning ignorance to the awareness of his environment, marching, rather slogging into the mud with his bloodstained boots and leggings, his churning was more his focus. Not just the one of the motions he put himself through with their ruse, but more than anything that the time for action was close and that the enemy was, while watchful, seemingly unaware. The smoking man, puffing upon his sickly pipe was a sample of this and Brannor said nothing of it until the pair were long out of his ear and eye shot. After all, he had word to give to the fellow primal, but it took time. When the opportunity arose, he made his effort and spoke to his "captor" during their walk and work.

"Your friend with the pipe isn't fond of you. Rumor had it that you and your friends who brought me in won't be allowed to leave out the camp. Seems you make enemies everywhere you go, from your 'allies' down to the lowly guards at the entrance." His low, almost raspy and deep voice mentioned, taunting.

He fully expected Orchid to strike him or berate him at that point for so much as speaking up, let alone seemingly mocking him however subtly it was said between the two. In either case, the knight-aspirant only prayed that the man understood the message - it was not as though he could legitimately repeat it without risk of someone potentially overhearing the secret exchange. Fortunately, his reputation for defiance might well see him through.

@Hekazu@Ryonara@Lucius Cypher@Gordian Nought