Chapter 1: A Fateful Competition

[fenrirlokison]

 Piper HP: 21/21 | AC: 16 | Pass percep: 14

Piper cheers and jumps as Wandile wins the first contest, "Easy peasy for my long armed muscled friend!", she beat on her drums excitedly.

 

---

 

Bardic inspiration (free d6 to add to one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw) on Wandile

 

Edited February 23 by fenrirlokison (see edit history)

[Brian Skies]

The female drow congratulates Wandile before stepping away from the table. In her place, however, came Maryl Bronzefang herself. "I see you've defeated my companion. You'll find I'm much more difficult to beat." Maryl puts her elbow on the table and a big smile comes across her face. She seems excited.

 

---

 

Vir places the bronze key in the lock. Turning the key opens the wooden box, indicating that the bronze key was the correct answer.

The second challenge involves a star map resting on the table. It depicts the moons and constellations visible in the Exandrian night sky, accompanied by the following riddle in Common:

Two birds sit in a speckled field,
One silver and calm, one scarlet with woe.
Nigh all year, the red one yields
To silver's illusions, mischief, and shelt'ring glow.

 

[TheRaconteur]

Vir Corath - Kryn Bladesinger

AC: 16 (19)  |  HP: 24/24 | Initiative: +4 | Passive Perception: +9 | Bladesong: 2/2

---

"Catha and Ruidus."

Vir said instantly, though the game keeper had not actually asked a question. It was more akin to what they'd been expecting when they'd been challenged to a game of riddles.

"The Barbed Fields? And you say it with such bravado! 'Out in the country' indeed. We've never had work out that far, but I've heard it is not a place for the faint of heart. Impressive, little priest, impressive indeed."

He'd said he was raised in a Luxon Temple, but the Barbed Fields were not a place where one traveled alone and drew breath for long. Vir's Clan had little enough reason to be out there, their eyes had typically been turned East, and the war had only strengthened that trend.

Actions

 

 

[PureChance]

Wandile Dandala

Bugbear Echo Knight 

---

AC: 15 (Chain Shirt) | HP: 31/31 () | HD: 3/3 | Speed: 30 ft. | Initiative: +2
Senses: Passive Perception 13, Insight 11, Investigation 11. Darkvision 60ft.
StrSave: +6
Athletics: +6

Carrying Capacity: 540 lb.
Lift/Push/Drag: 1080 lb.: 18 (+4) | DexInitiative: +2
Save: +2
Acrobatics: +2
Slight-of-Hand: +2
Stealth: +4: 14 (+2) | ConSave: +5: 17 (+3) | IntSave: +1
Arcana: +1
History: +1
Investigation: +1
Nature: +1
Religion: +1: 12 (+1) | WisSave: +1
Animal Handling: +1
Insight: +1
Medicine: +1
Perception: +3
Survival: +3: 12 (+1) | ChaSave: +1
Deception: +1
Intimidation: +3
Performance: +1
Persuasion: +1: 12 (+1)
Languages: Common, Undercommon,

---

 

Wandile meets the orcish woman with respect, rolling out his shoulders beneath the leather jerkin. "Very well," he replied, "let me put you to the test!" He joined his hand to hers carefully - his own rough fingers mirroring hers as they curled onto the wiry hair across the dorsum of his hand. Invigorated by his little companions cheering, he engaged with a grunt, once again putting his all into the match.

 

OOC

Action: Athletics 2, Electric Boogaloo+Bardic Inspiration

Bonus Action: —

Movement: -

Reaction: -

Object Interaction: -

Actions & Resources

Actions:

Maul . Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 2d6 + 4 bludgeoning damage.

Flail . Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 1d8 + 4 bludgeoning damage.

Javelin [4] . Thrown/Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, ranged 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 1d6 + 4 piercing damage.

 

 

Bonus Actions:

Manifest Echo . magically manifest an echo of yourself in an unoccupied space you can see within 15 feet of you. This echo is a magical, translucent, gray image of you that lasts until it is destroyed, until you dismiss it as a bonus action, until you manifest another echo, or until you're incapacitated. Your echo has AC 14 + your proficiency bonus, 1 hit point, and immunity to all conditions. If it has to make a saving throw, it uses your saving throw bonus for the roll. It is the same size as you, and it occupies its space. On your turn, you can mentally command the echo to move up to 30 feet in any direction (no action required). If your echo is ever more than 30 feet from you at the end of your turn, it is destroyed.

When you take the Attack action on your turn, any attack you make with that action can originate from your space or the echo's space. You make this choice for each attack.

When a creature that you can see within 5 feet of your echo moves at least 5 feet away from it, you can use your reaction to make an opportunity attack against that creature as if you were in the echo's space.

Echo Swap . You teleport, magically swapping places with your echo at a cost of 15 feet of your movement, regardless of the distance between the two of you.

Second Wind . 1/1 (Short Rest) Regain hit points equal to 1d10 + your fighter level.

 

Reactions:

 

 

Class Features:

Action Surge . 1/1 (Short Rest) You can take one additional action.

Unleash Incarnation . 3/3 (Long Rest) When you take the Attack action, you can make one additional melee attack from the echo's position.

 

[Brian Skies]

Maryl's face quickly becomes serious. She grasps Wandile's hand and attempts to push with all her might. She gains a slight edge over Wandile, but they otherwise reach a stalemate.

Maryl and Wandile have reached a stalemate. Roll for Strength(Athletics) again. Wandile would have succeeded the check without the Bardic Inspiration, so we can say that the Bardic Inspiration hasn't been consumed yet.

 

---

 

"Correct!" says Elder Colbu Kaz. "One riddle left. Do you have the wit to solve that one as well?" He strokes his chin as he gazes upon Garn and Vir, clearly intrigued to see what the two will do next.

On the final table is a row of seven small bottles with colored liquids. The following riddle is included:

Two of us are brewed from blight
And always sat to purple's right.
Three are juice, one burns like flame,
And no two colors taste the same.
Even flasks hold naught but pain,
And shade of sky will leave a stain.
Though tasty are those at each end,
Neither is the winner's friend.
A puzzle for the keen and wise,
Drink the light to claim your prize.

The bottles, numbered from left to right, have the following colors:

Bottle 1: Purple
Bottle 2: Green
Bottle 3: Sky-blue
Bottle 4: White
Bottle 5: Purple
Bottle 6: Green
Bottle 7: Red

Elder Colbu Kaz only allows two guesses for this riddle.

 

---

 

The contestants line up on the dock, preparing themselves for their plunge into the Ifolon River. Aside from Wipp, there is a blue-skinned woman, a lanky male orc, a broad-shouldered female human, and a surly male goblin. Omo, the officiant for this race, raises her hand. She yells to be heard over the chattering crowd. "Ready! Set! Plunge!" Suddenly, Omo's arm drops, the crowd roars in excitement, and the contestants are off.

Roll for initiative. Each time you plan to move more than 30 feet, roll a Strength (Athletics) check.

 

[Rumrunner]

Namira - MW Sheet

---

 AC: 14 |  HP: 24/24 |  PP: 14 | Spell slots 2/2 | Conditions: N/A

---

At the drop of the arm Namira cheered Wipp on as he leapt far into the water. At flexing and showing off for the cheering he's a little slow off the start but then he's off like an arrow. Flying through the water he overestimates his strength and endurance, and while he had some substantial gains, he looses some of his breath and his forced back.

 

Dice Ex Machina

Rolls a 6 init, then a 3 strength... that would have him go 80ft, but forced back 15, so 65 onward, but now has a level of exhaustion if I recall correctly. I'm not sure what the DC is, but I'm confident it's higher than a 3.

 

[PureChance]

Wandile Dandala

Bugbear Echo Knight 

---

AC: 15 (Chain Shirt) | HP: 31/31 () | HD: 3/3 | Speed: 30 ft. | Initiative: +2
Senses: Passive Perception 13, Insight 11, Investigation 11. Darkvision 60ft.
StrSave: +6
Athletics: +6

Carrying Capacity: 540 lb.
Lift/Push/Drag: 1080 lb.: 18 (+4) | DexInitiative: +2
Save: +2
Acrobatics: +2
Slight-of-Hand: +2
Stealth: +4: 14 (+2) | ConSave: +5: 17 (+3) | IntSave: +1
Arcana: +1
History: +1
Investigation: +1
Nature: +1
Religion: +1: 12 (+1) | WisSave: +1
Animal Handling: +1
Insight: +1
Medicine: +1
Perception: +3
Survival: +3: 12 (+1) | ChaSave: +1
Deception: +1
Intimidation: +3
Performance: +1
Persuasion: +1: 12 (+1)
Languages: Common, Undercommon,

---

 

Maryl was definitely proving better competition than the drow recruits, as he'd expect for the champion. Gritting his teeth, his fangs jutted further and his eyes narrowed as he concentrated on driving the woman's arm to the table. Beneath wiry hair, light brown shot with grey, his biceps bulged. "Just... hitting... my... stride!" he managed to growl out.

 

OOC

Action: Athletics 3 Bardic Inspiration held in reserve.

Bonus Action: —

Movement: -

Reaction: -

Object Interaction: -

Actions & Resources

Actions:

Maul . Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 2d6 + 4 bludgeoning damage.

Flail . Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 1d8 + 4 bludgeoning damage.

Javelin [4] . Thrown/Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, ranged 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 1d6 + 4 piercing damage.

 

 

Bonus Actions:

Manifest Echo . magically manifest an echo of yourself in an unoccupied space you can see within 15 feet of you. This echo is a magical, translucent, gray image of you that lasts until it is destroyed, until you dismiss it as a bonus action, until you manifest another echo, or until you're incapacitated. Your echo has AC 14 + your proficiency bonus, 1 hit point, and immunity to all conditions. If it has to make a saving throw, it uses your saving throw bonus for the roll. It is the same size as you, and it occupies its space. On your turn, you can mentally command the echo to move up to 30 feet in any direction (no action required). If your echo is ever more than 30 feet from you at the end of your turn, it is destroyed.

When you take the Attack action on your turn, any attack you make with that action can originate from your space or the echo's space. You make this choice for each attack.

When a creature that you can see within 5 feet of your echo moves at least 5 feet away from it, you can use your reaction to make an opportunity attack against that creature as if you were in the echo's space.

Echo Swap . You teleport, magically swapping places with your echo at a cost of 15 feet of your movement, regardless of the distance between the two of you.

Second Wind . 1/1 (Short Rest) Regain hit points equal to 1d10 + your fighter level.

 

Reactions:

 

 

Class Features:

Action Surge . 1/1 (Short Rest) You can take one additional action.

Unleash Incarnation . 3/3 (Long Rest) When you take the Attack action, you can make one additional melee attack from the echo's position.

 

Edited February 27 by PureChance (see edit history)

[fenrirlokison]

 Piper HP: 21/21 | AC: 16 | Pass percep: 14

"Oh my! We have an exciting stand off everyone! Look at those muscles! Look at their fierce, intense faces! You can feel the struggle!" , she says excitedly hoping up and down around the two. "Which one will be the victor?"

 

---

Used

Bardic inspiration (free d6 to add to one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw) on Wandile

 

[TheRaconteur]

Vir Corath - Kryn Bladesinger

AC: 16 (19)  |  HP: 24/24 | Initiative: +4 | Passive Perception: +9 | Bladesong: 2/2

---

"Would you like the other purple one Garn? It's not the answer, but it should be quite delicious."

They'd hardly be able to call themselves a warrior scholar if they were unable to solve the riddle before them. Vir selected the fifth bottle from the left, the purple one, and uncorked it. Without looking inside, they drank it, offering the riddle keeper a salute when they were done. 
 

Actions

 

 

Edited February 27 by TheRaconteur (see edit history)

[DragonZaid]

Garn
Chaotic Good Kobold Cleric (Light Domain) 3

AC 18Armor: Scale Mail: 14 + Dex (+2) = 16
Shield: +2 | HP 24/24 | Init. +2 | P.P. 14 | Move 30 ft. | Spell Attack +6 | Spell DC 14

Saves: Str +0 | Dex +2 | Con +2 | Int +0 | Wis +6 | Cha +0

Skills: Insight +6, Medicine +6, Persuasion +0, Religion +2

Gear: scale mail, shield, holy symbol (The Luxon), dagger

 

---

"Whoa, you're good at these!" Garn said, impressed. "Ooh, the purple ones, they look like blueberry. I think you got this one right too." He grabs the first purple bottle and drinks it. They were probably finished with the riddles now anyway.

 

OOC

Notes:

 

Action:

Bonus Action:

Other:

Possible Reactions:

 

Active Effects:

[Brian Skies]

Maryl lets out a grunt as she squeezes Wandile's hand even harder. She clearly wants to capitalize on her advantage, no matter how small. It is not enough, however, as Maryl seems to run out of steam, and Wandile slams her arm onto the table for the victory.

Vars is about ready to declare Wandile the champion when a female ogre in leather armor stands up. "I wish to challenge the current champion." She walks over toward the table vacated by Maryl and places her massive arm onto the table.

 

---

 

Garn drinks the first bottle. It is filled with berry juice. It is quite tasty.

Vir drinks the other purple bottle. They feel warmth settling in their stomach as their skin emits dim silvery light out to a range of 5 feet for 1 minute.

Elder Colbu Kaz looks impressed. "You did it! You found the glow potion! With this, you've correctly solved all my riddles. I award you the medal of wit." The Elder hands Vir a medal that is sculpted and painted to look like the head of a fox.

Medal of Wit Wondrous Item, Common You can press this medal to your temple as an action. Doing so gives you advantage on Intelligence checks and Intelligence saving throws for 1 hour. Once this property has been used, it can't be used again, and the medal becomes nonmagical.

The elegant drow in wizard's robes approaches Vir and Garn. He also seems to have earned a medal of wit. "Your cunning is a cut above that of everyone else in this backwater," says the drow. "Do you plan on participating in the grand finale at sundown? I'd be interested in testing my wits against you."

 

---

 

The contestants jump off the pier and quickly dash toward the spear. The Orc and the Goblin get off to a strong start, but Wipp and the blue-skinned woman are much faster in the water. If not for the strong current, Wipp would have been first to the spear. However, it is the blue-skinned woman who manages to reach it first.

As the spear is pulled from its rotted post, the water begins to churn more severely. Two Ifolon striped sharks emerge from the surface of the water, hungry for their next meal.

 

Initiative Order: Male Orc 60ft Male Goblin 60ft Ifolon Striped Sharks Blue-Skinned Woman Grabs Spear Wipp 65ft Female Human 30ft

 

[PureChance]

Wandile Dandala

Bugbear Echo Knight 

---

AC: 15 (Chain Shirt) | HP: 31/31 () | HD: 3/3 | Speed: 30 ft. | Initiative: +2
Senses: Passive Perception 13, Insight 11, Investigation 11. Darkvision 60ft.
StrSave: +6
Athletics: +6

Carrying Capacity: 540 lb.
Lift/Push/Drag: 1080 lb.: 18 (+4) | DexInitiative: +2
Save: +2
Acrobatics: +2
Slight-of-Hand: +2
Stealth: +4: 14 (+2) | ConSave: +5: 17 (+3) | IntSave: +1
Arcana: +1
History: +1
Investigation: +1
Nature: +1
Religion: +1: 12 (+1) | WisSave: +1
Animal Handling: +1
Insight: +1
Medicine: +1
Perception: +3
Survival: +3: 12 (+1) | ChaSave: +1
Deception: +1
Intimidation: +3
Performance: +1
Persuasion: +1: 12 (+1)
Languages: Common, Undercommon,

---

 

Wandile turned to Vars as he finally forced Meryl's hand down, raising his other arm in victory. "Well fought Maryl Bronzefang - on a different day the field would have been yours!" he offered the orc, clapping her arm in his. "Tell me, where did you serve?"

Her answer was interrupted by the ogre stepping forward, and Wandile eyes her warily, rubbing his arm. This would be the third in the row. It wasn't that he doubted his abilities, just that his stamina was starting to flag. He turned to Vars, eyebrow crawling up his forehead like a hairy caterpillar, "I had to beat a gatekeeper before taking on the challenger - perhaps this fine lady should prove she can take on Meryl first?" he proposed.

 

OOC

Action: Bardic Inspiration held in reserve.

Bonus Action: —

Movement: -

Reaction: -

Object Interaction: -

Actions & Resources

Actions:

Maul . Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 2d6 + 4 bludgeoning damage.

Flail . Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 1d8 + 4 bludgeoning damage.

Javelin [4] . Thrown/Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, ranged 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 1d6 + 4 piercing damage.

 

 

Bonus Actions:

Manifest Echo . magically manifest an echo of yourself in an unoccupied space you can see within 15 feet of you. This echo is a magical, translucent, gray image of you that lasts until it is destroyed, until you dismiss it as a bonus action, until you manifest another echo, or until you're incapacitated. Your echo has AC 14 + your proficiency bonus, 1 hit point, and immunity to all conditions. If it has to make a saving throw, it uses your saving throw bonus for the roll. It is the same size as you, and it occupies its space. On your turn, you can mentally command the echo to move up to 30 feet in any direction (no action required). If your echo is ever more than 30 feet from you at the end of your turn, it is destroyed.

When you take the Attack action on your turn, any attack you make with that action can originate from your space or the echo's space. You make this choice for each attack.

When a creature that you can see within 5 feet of your echo moves at least 5 feet away from it, you can use your reaction to make an opportunity attack against that creature as if you were in the echo's space.

Echo Swap . You teleport, magically swapping places with your echo at a cost of 15 feet of your movement, regardless of the distance between the two of you.

Second Wind . 1/1 (Short Rest) Regain hit points equal to 1d10 + your fighter level.

 

Reactions:

 

 

Class Features:

Action Surge . 1/1 (Short Rest) You can take one additional action.

Unleash Incarnation . 3/3 (Long Rest) When you take the Attack action, you can make one additional melee attack from the echo's position.

 

[TheRaconteur]

Vir Corath - Kryn Bladesinger

AC: 16 (19)  |  HP: 24/24 | Initiative: +4 | Passive Perception: +9 | Bladesong: 2/2

---

Vir accepted the medal, and were curious about the grand finale. They were looking for coin to fund their continued mission, and a grand competition seemed a fair way to earn it. They'd rather be hunting their quarry, but they had to tend to the needs of the body and mind as well.

"Can he participate as well?"

They indicated the Kobold sitting with them, Vir nodded politely in the Wizard's direction.

"I'll be there, but I'd prefer to have not stepped on his toes."

They felt no small amount of guilt in goading Garn on to try the Gold Key. They'd not figured it out yet, and the Kobold had seized the initiative and guessed wrong. They'd hate to have forced him out of the grand tournament, even if he'd guessed wrong on his own the first time. They were looking for allies as much as they were looking for coin.

Actions

 

 

Edited February 29 by TheRaconteur (see edit history)

[fenrirlokison]

~  Piper HP: 21/21 | AC: 16 | Pass percep: 14

"By the gods Wandile put her arm into the dirt!! She's going to have to put that arm into some hot water and soak it! Wandile is the winner!!! Wandile! Wandile! Wandile!" , she chants as she jumps up and down around the table. She stops as the ogre challenges him, "Another challenger has stepped up! What will the champion do?"

 

---

Used

Bardic inspiration (free d6 to add to one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw) on Wandile

 

[Rumrunner]

Namira - MW Sheet

---

 AC: 14 |  HP: 24/24 |  PP: 14 | Spell slots 2/2 | Conditions: N/A

---

Knowing he couldn't make it to the spear, Wipp chose a different tactic. Summoning his demonic presence he forced his mind upon the blue woman, striking her with fear. He sent images of him invisibly burrowing through her soft bits, and operating her from the inside like a sort of sock puppet, among other mental horrors that one dare not attempt to put into words for his bond had lent him the creative whimsy of an elemental goblin. If the fear took her, she'd not be able to come closer to him, and others would have a chance to take the spear.

"Farah, can you cover me some? I will let none come close with the spear if I can stop them" She said, holding her flute.

Dice Ex Machina

Using the Quasit's scare ability, buffed from pact of the chain:
One creature of the quasit's choice within 20 feet of it must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, with disadvantage if the quasit is within line of sight, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Namira will cast hold person on anyone who comes within range with the spear.