[5E] Post-Apocalyptic America-IC

[esorscher]

If the dead are watching, they appreciate your burying them--if not, at least it might help you to feel a bit better about what you have witnessed. While Abrovuch and Ruckus dig with Talonor's assistance, the rest of you push the wagon off the side of the road, and hide it amidst some shrubberies and bushes. Many hands make light work, and it doesn't take you long to dig four graves, deep enough to keep the scavengers away. You perform the rituals your personal cultures have taught you, and feel good about what you have done.

The sun is about halfway across its afternoon journey when you resume the work you have been hired to do. You follow the bear's tracks further up the road, and off it, across a field and through some trees. As you walk you can smell the unmistakeable scent of blood and rotting flesh, confirming you are on the right trail. The sources of the odor become apparent as you see bits of discarded carcass littering the path, sprinkled between bones and sinew. There is no expressed pattern to the victims of the beast; it has hunted animals of any size and shape, seemingly motivated only by hunger. You interrupt a fox at work on a bit of dead deer. It glares at you, and grabs a bit of flesh between its teeth before running off perpindicular to the trail you are following.

The ground gives way to old, broken chunks of pavement with grass poking up between it, but the smears of blood make it easy to follow the beast's path. A few broken buildings stand in your way, but you easily get around them. You press on, and pause at the top of a semi-circular, leveled descent with old plastic seats in various states of decay--an ancient venue for concerts, you imagine. The ground has given way below one of the sections, and another has the collapsed overhanging roof crushing it, but there is a set of stairs you can take to the bottom of the pit. At the bottom of the pit behind the stage you spy where the wall has caved-in, and notice that the discarded bits of meat and bone are more abundant there. You see that the trail of blood continues into the building past the caved-in wall, but can't see through the hole in the wall from your position at the top of the stairs.

Determine a marching order through the hole in the wall, roll perception checks and (preemptive) initiative.

[WhismurWanders]

Dottie grumbles, "Ugh, good thing I ate long before we set out" in response to all the carrion they were coming across. She was used to seeing animals in what she jokingly called 'their state of undress' when she had to work hides into leather, but this ... this just seemed wasteful. She took each step carefully, wanting to avoid stepping in anything that might mar the color of her boots. Fortunately the smell didn't seem too powerful, but she found herself sliding a finger under her nose out of habit, expecting the scent of blood to grow stronger as they grew closer.

As they walk through the ruins of sagging stone and weathered plastic, the woman drifts towards the middle of the group. While she could flick a sling bullet pretty far, she didn't expect to reliably hit anything too far away either. Her eyes continue to look over the sights around them, wondering why the beast would decide to hide here, of all places.

Spoiler

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How's the brightness here? Would it be reasonable to light a lantern, or will we be fine with natural light?

[miinstrel]

Cochise "Chase" Alvares Chase takes a position near the front of the group as they assemble at the bottom of the stairs and prepare to enter, his shield and hatchet readied. He touches the claw necklace hanging from his chest and wishes he remembered more of that test of strength... for this bear, if that's what it was, seemed even larger than the brown bear he slew several weeks ago. Spoiler: OOC Show Perception: (1d20+3)[6] Initiative: (1d20+2)[10]

[Armored Walrus]

Abrovuch

Once everyone else heads in, Abrovuch will pause in the entrance. Gripping the teeth of a rusty metal trap, he pulls them apart until the catch snaps into place, then stakes it down in the path of anything that might come up behind the group. He kicks a little dirt over it to conceal it, lights up a torch in his left hand, and grips the haft of his greataxe in his right. Then he follows the group inside.

Spoiler: OOC

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Perception (1d20-1)[11] Initiative (1d20+2)[16]

[zylodrizzt]

Ruckus gathers some supplies (everything in ooc). He knows the bear will have a den somewhere and suggests something We gonna be fighting in the dark. So I be thinking we could make some extra light using some materials from this cart here. If we take some of this cloth rip it up, dip it in oil and wrap that around some arrows. We could light the arrows and it might even give us an edge. if anyone likes his idea he makes it happen.

He takes up a position in the middle of the group not being thrilled with meeting a bear head on. He becomes very quite. Doesnt want the bear to sense them first.

Spoiler: ooc and rolls

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how many oils do I use for how many arrows? Can I do it? So I need a roll?if I can do it does it do anything extra?

Initiative (1d20)[20]
Perception (1d20+2)[9]

[LeoRiser]

Samson Hodgins Samson grips his glaive handle, his jaw set behind his helmet. Destruction like this was something beyond anything he had ever seen before. When animals killed, it always seemed to more... whole, to him. Waste like this he would expect from other people, but this kind of feral ripping was off for them, too. Whatever is possessing this bear, Samson is now more certain that dealing with it is a necessity. Upon descending into the old amphitheater, he moves further up in the group as Ruckus settles back in the middle. Shoulder to shoulder (if it's wide enough, right behind otherwise) with Chase, he nods quietly as the younger man brushes his hand over his necklace. Hopefully all goes well and the two of them take the brunt of the mad beast's ire if it sets upon them. Spoiler: Rolls Show Perception:(1d20+1)[11] Initiative: (1d20-1)[15]

[Wulfnor]

As before, the Ranger has an arrow nocked on the bowstring of his longbow, ready to be drawn back and fired at a moments notice.
"Wait a minute everyone!" Talonor said loudly enough to catch everyone's attention. "Why don't we try to smoke this beast out of it's lair and bring it up here into the open. So we can attack it at the same time from different directions. Like my father did with the Golden Bear that the Duke killed years ago. The shape of this structure should catch any wind, except that coming from the direct opposite direction of the opened end and funnel it right down into the bottom of the pit. If need be, two of us can use someone's blanket to fan the smoke down into the pit. What do you all say, should we give it a try?"

[Wulfnor]

Perception: (1d20+4)[23]

Inittiative, if need: (1d20+3)[13]

[zylodrizzt]

Ruckus ponders that for a moment That be a well thought out idea cept for the thought of ventilation. If there be to much the beast wont be bothered. Maybe someone should check that situation before we just start fires for no reason.

[WhismurWanders]

Dorian looks around the stadium and thinks for a few moments before giving her opinion. "Dunno that we can get a big enough fire going with next to nothing to burn. Not like the plastic chairs will go up in flames, and smoking out a bear would take a LOT of smoke. And if the beast has another way out, suddenly it gets the drop on us." She wasn't enthused about the idea, and jerks her head towards the entrance they had already been approaching. "We can take it if we're careful and the light doesn't go out."

[Wulfnor]

"It would not be that hard to retrieve some burnable wood from near by. The plastic chairs will burn just fine when you get a fire hot enough. The smoke from them would be very toxic and should do the job much quicker then just plain wood smoke.

But it sounds like you want to be all gunge-ho and do things the hard way. So I suggest in such narrow confines. We have Samson go first with his Glaive, with a burning torch tied so the flame is burning where the metal headhead is. Ready to at first pierce and then hold the beast as long as he can. While the two of us that are best with our bows immediately follow him. So we can shoot around him and fill the creature with arrows until it dies."

[zylodrizzt]

nobody wants ta be doin things the hard way. Any which way we go it's gonna be a hard way. Suppose its no loss if your idea doesn't work.

Spoiler: question

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can we tell how we would have to enter it need be?

[Hiltabilly]

Naamloze watches the group, studying his surroundings. I am not of much use in the back.
I like the idea of sneaking into the cave to ensure the beast is even in there before we just barge in. If we would prefer to simply charge in, I am not opposed to following Samson.


Perception: (1d20+2)[18]
Initiative: (1d20+3)[22]
Stealth (if needed): (1d20+5)[24]

[Wulfnor]

Fed up with the indecision. Talonor goes looking for some wood and any other combustible materials to start a fire with. Returning a short while later. Having gathered a large armload of such. He then asks Sampson to use his warhammer to bust up a couple of the time and weather brittled plastic folding stadium seats.

Getting a fire going about five feet from the head of the stairs. If Sampson hasn't done what he asked. He does it himself using his handaxe. Putting a edge of both of the dinner plate sized pieces of hard plastic into the fire and getting them starting to burn. He wait until they were burning good and giving off a lot of black toxic smoke. Asking Sampson to stand by with his glaive.

He grabbed both pieces by the unburnt side. Doing his best to avoid breathing any of the smoke. The Ranger went about a quarter of the way down the stairs and carrying the burning pieces of plastic. Then one after the other he threw them as close as he could to the hole in the wall. Done with his task he scrambling back up the stairs as fast as possible. Realizing he hadn't thrown either of the pieces of plastic very well, as they were lighter then he thought and they sort of sailed on him. Speaking to himself outloud. He said. "Well that didn't work as well as I had hoped!" Going back to where more pieces of broken plastic where, he picked up two pieces that still had a metal hinge attach to them. Figuring the extra weight would cause them to be thrown better then the first two pieces of plastic he had attempted to use. He then placed them partically on the fire to began to burn.

Burning plastic throw (1d20+3)[8]
Burning plastic throw (1d20+3)[13]

[esorscher]

It's not hard for Talonor to singlehandedly accomplish his goal. It takes a bit of effort, and produces more than a bit of noise, but soon, there are bits of burning plastic near the entrance to the cave. The wind favors you, and the smoke starts to blow into the cave. Seeing the shift in tactics, Abrovuch places the trap outside the entrance of the building, so that the smoked-out beast will set it off when it emerges.

Not long after, you hear a tremendous sound from within the cave, a combination of a roar and screech, and you hear the thundering of heavy feet. Before you can continue with any other preparations (like preparing flaming arrows), you see a magnificent creature, with the body of a bear and the face of an owl, erupt from the caved-in wall, knocking the flaming pieces of broken chair aside with a casual swipe. As it steps forward, it sets off the trap Abrovuch placed. The trap snaps shut, dealing 4 damage to the beast. It snarls at you, and hisses.

(Combat has begun. Please limit yourself to one IC post per round. Talking is a free action, but it is not an unlimited action. There is no surprise round)

Initiative:

We will be using the group initiative model. Players who beat the enemy initiative will go first, followed by the enemy, then all players will go, then the enemy will go, and so on until combat is over. I will resolve actions in the way that seems most beneficial to you. For example, if you target an enemy who is killed by another player, I will switch your target to a different enemy.

Naamloze
Ruckus
Owlbear
Party
Owlbear
Party
...

Positioning:

The owlbear is currently at the bottom of the pit, just outside the caved-in wall to the building. You are somewhere between the bottom of the pit and the top of the pit, please describe your position (top row, middle row, bottom row, bottom of pit) when you post. We are using the Theater of the Mind, there will be no map, and it is up to you to describe your actions and movement as specifically as possible--I will do my best to interpret what you are trying to do.

Hiltabily, zylodrizzt, please post at your earliest convenience.

[zylodrizzt]

Look at what yer fumes did, made a mutant. Was it to much ta ask fer ta suffocate.

Even though ruckus prepped some fire bombs he has his stop sign and something that looks like a buzzsaw on a handle. He flings it towards the mutant (moving within 20 so he doesn't take disadvantage) and draws his second one and throw that too. He tries to maintain distance for the first person this beast closes on will be in some serious trouble.

Spoiler: action

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move: within 20 of beast
Attack: thrown buzzsaw axe (1d20+5)[22] second (1d20+5)[7]
Damage: (1d6+5)[10] second (1d6)[2]
Object interaction:draw second buzzsaw axe
Free: speak

[Wulfnor]

Talonor was at the back of the group, at the top of the flight of stair. With the closest of his companions being a couple steps further. Allowing him to easily get a clear shoot at the hugh creature. Which was of the likes he had neither seen or even heard of before. Taking quick aim he got a shot off at it.

Spoiler

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Ambuscade
Longbow ranged attack(1d20+5)[23]
Damage caused if hit(1d8+3)[4]

[Hiltabilly]

Being at the bottom of the pit ready to sneak in, Naamloze was ready for when the beast arose from his cover. Striking with his quarterstaff using both hands, he came down on the owlbear and then followed with a kick towards his leg trying to weaken him and make him fall..

Spoiler: Rolls

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Quarterstaff: (1d20+5)[19]
Advantage if sneak roll counted: [roll]1d20+5]
Damage: (1d8+3)[8]
Unarmed Strike Bonus Action: (1d20+5)[8]
[B]Damage:[/B/ (1d4+3)[6]

[esorscher]

Damage dealt: 26

As the beast emerges from the building, Naamloze brings his quarterstaff down swiftly onto the creature's skull, delivering a sound strike with a solid crack.

Talonor's alertness gives him the advantage at the start of combat, and he uses it to his advantage, firing his bow from his position at the top of the pit. The arrow flies toward the beast, imbedding itself in the creatures hip, deep enough to draw some blood but still blunted by the beast's thick hide.

Ruckus dashes down the levels of the pit to reach a good throwing position, and from the bottom of the pit throws his two axes. The first embeds itself deep in the owlbear's shoulder, and the beast screech-roars again in pain. The second goes wide, smashing harmlessly into the wall behind the creature and falling to the ground with a clatter--as ineffective as if it had never occurred.

The Owlbear screeches and roars as the first volley of attacks reach their target. Angered by the pain, it lashes out at the nearest of you, Naamloze. It swipes at Naamloze with its claws, but the monk sees the strike coming, and avoids it deftly. However, the follow-up bite attempt digs into Naamloze's shoulder (8 damage).

Positioning:
Wulfnor is at the top of the pit.
Samson is somewhere between the top and bottom of the pit.
Dot is somewhere between the top and bottom of the pit.
Abrovuch is at the bottom of the pit, within 20' of the Owlbear.
Chase is somewhere between the top and bottom of the pit.
Ruckus is at the bottom of the pit, within 20' of the Owlbear.
Naamloze is at the bottom of the pit, next to the Owlbear.
The Owlbear is at the bottom of the pit, next to the caved in wall.

Initiative:

Party
Owlbear

[WhismurWanders]

Quickly drawing a bullet and whirling her sling into action as she moves, Dorian lets a bullet fly at the beast as it attacks Naamloze. "Let go of him, you big dummy!" she calls out. She looks around after she makes her attack, searching for a place to hopefully stay out of range of tearing beaks and mauling claws.

Spoiler

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Move as much as needed to get within 25' of the owlbear.
Attack the owlbear; (1d20+5)[16] for (1d4+3)[4]+Sneak Attack (1d6)[5]= 9 bludgeoning damage
If any movement is remaining, Move as far back from the owlbear as possible.

Spoiler: On a Crit

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(1d4)[3]+(1d6)[4]=7

[Hiltabilly]

Naamloze feels the burn as the owlbear bites down on his shoulder. Only held up by his adrenaline, he grabs his quarterstaff in both hands to strike, attempting to crack in his skull and make him pay for the pain caused. Following the quarterstaff strike, Naamloze deftly attempts a roundhouse kick to finish off the beast.

Spoiler: Rolls

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Quarterstaff strike of (1d20+5)[12] for (1d8+3)[5] damage.
Followed by roundhouse kick of (1d20+5)[9] for (1d4+3)[7] damage.

Spoiler: If Critical

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Quarterstaff critical: (1d8)[5]
Unarmed critical: (1d4)[3]

Spoiler: AoO

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If owlbear moves, Naamloze will attempt to strike double-handed with his quarterstaff for (1d20+5)[14] doing (1d8+3)[5] damage

[zylodrizzt]

Ruckus seeing Naamloze in trouble rushes to his aid pulling out his modified baseball bat. That little twig wont do nothin. Get back before you lose your head.

Spoiler: action

Show

Move: next to the mutant.
Attack(action/bonus): Bat (1d20+5)[24] stop sign (if allowed)(1d20+5)[7]
Damage: Bat (1d8+3)[6]+2 if dueling. Sign (1d4)[4]
Free interact/free: Speak and draw weapon

[Armored Walrus]

Abrovuch

"not agian..." Abvrovuch mutters, too softly for any but the closest to hear. He stands flat-footed as the creature gouges Naamloze's shoulder. Then he takes a white-knuckle grip on the splintered haft of his great axe. "Not Again!" he shouts, and swings furiously at the rampaging beast.

Spoiler: OOC

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Moving to engage with the creature. Bonus action to Rage. Attack: (1d20+5)[7] Damage: (1d12+5)[13] Crit?: Damage (1d12)[8]

He screams in the beast's face, hoping to draw its attention from his comrade.

[LeoRiser]

Samson Hodgins With a quiet efficiency, Samson steps forward down the pit until he stands just behind Ruckus and Naamloze. Reaching one hand out, he rests it on Naamloze's shoulder, calmly encouraging the man. "It's alright, we've got this. Keep it up, I've got your back." Then he settles his feet more firmly, planting them as he examines the large beast, watching it for its next move. Spoiler: Rolls Show Move: down to 10' from beast behind Naamloze Action: Lay on Hands to heal Naamloze 5 hp AoO: If beast moves out of my 10' reach with glaive OR attacks anyone else, attack with glaive Hit: (1d20+5)[24] Damage: (1d20+3)[14] If I hit it with an AoO, its speed becomes 0

[Wulfnor]

Talonor got off another shot at their deadly foe.

Spoiler

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Normal Longbow Ranged Attack:(1d20+5)[17]
Damage if hit: (1d8+3)[8]

[miinstrel]

Cochise "Chase" Alvares Chase took a moment to wonder at the strange creature. It was like no bear he'd seen before, but the danger was as real as any predator. With the others rushing to Naamloze's aid, Chase circles around the stage, swiping at it with a roar from the side as the sharpened car axle swings over his head. Spoiler: OOC Show BA: Rage Attack: (1d20+5)[15] Damage: (2d6+5)[11] Crit: (2d6)[2]

[esorscher]

Damage dealt: 62

Naamloze attempts to retaliate, but the Owlbear's hide is too tough, absorbing the force of the blow without buckling. However, the distraction leaves the Owlbear vulnerable to Dot's sling bullet, which strikes it in the back of the ear, causing it to yelp in shock and pain. Naamloze stands, breathing heavily as blood courses from his shoulder, until Samson's timely intervention. He grasps the monk's bloody shoulder, and the healing energy courses from his palm to begin knitting together Naamloze's skin beneath the tattered clothing.

Ruckus charges in, drawing his bat as he does so, channeling the momentum of his movement into his strike, smashing into the creature's hip, prompting another cry from the wounded beast. Abrovuch attempts the same, but his fury interferes with his focus, and his axe bounces harmlessly off the Owlbear's thick skin.

Another arrow from Talanor whizzes overhead, piercing the Owlbear in the throat. A spray of blood erupts from the wound, but the beast is still standing, moaning rather than roaring as its vocal chords fill with its own blood. It lumbers around, looking for a way to escape, but Chase cuts off that path, just as his axe cuts off the creature's head. The head spirals into the air and lands at Dot's feet.

As quickly as it began, the combat is over. The Owlbear's lifeless corpse lays bleeding out on the stage.

[WhismurWanders]

Dottie jolts back slightly as the head unceremoniously lands in front of her feet. She gives it a prodding kick to stop any leftover momentum and leans down to examine it. It was ... strange, seeing an owl's head so large, and now that it had been separated from its ursine body, it seemed simultaneously less strange and even more strange. She gingerly picks up the head, holding it in both hands away from her body to avoid as much dripping blood as possible. She makes her way down to the melee fighters and looks over the beast's lifeless body. "So, any volunteers to hold on to our trophy?"

Her eyes were examining the body. It was a shame so many sharp, cutting weapons had to be used, the hide was almost definitely damaged as a result. Still, her free hand wanders to tap the hilt of her dagger with one finger, already going over how she would skin the beast when she gets the chance. Shame the head came off too, now that she thought about it. An owlbear-skin rug could have fetched a high price, but given how they all had 'salvage rights' to the beast and the cart, it would have been a difficult split. She looks to the others to see what they wanted to do next, silently contemplating how she would negotiate to keep the skin as her part of the deal.

[zylodrizzt]

Ruckus goes and collects his buzzsaw axes. As he does he says Lucky man. Congrats. What are you gonna do with your winnins? Guess its time for a long wagon pull home.

To Dottie Hold onto the trophy huh? What like the mutants head? Or are we gonna be cutting up the beast? Either way I'm sure some good price or at least some meat could be valuable. I'll help carry some in any case. Guess we could fashion something to drag it to the cart and put it up there as proof.

[miinstrel]

Cochise "Chase" Alvares Huffing as the adrenaline and exertion fades, Chase looks down at the body. Without the head only the matted feathers marked it as anything but a bear. My winnings? he thought, frowning a moment. That's right, a cow to the killer of the beast. Chase gives a shrug to Ruckus answering simply, "I guess make some cream. I like cream." He hadn't the faintest idea how to make cream. Leaning down Chase plucks a few of the larger feathers and finesses them into his braid - something he'd heard his parents say their ancestors did. A link to his heritage seemed all the more important among these strangers. "We thank you for your sacrifice, brother... bear... owl... thing. Your death will not be wasted but will give life and safety to many." He runs his hands along the creature's pelt, feeling the enormous muscles and inspecting the claws. "I will take the head, seems right as I took its life. Dottie, I think we can still use much of this. He is large, we should work fast before the rot sets in. Did you bring your skinning knife? We can work while the others look around." Spoiler: OOC Show Going to start harvesting the owlbear hide, presumably with Dottie. If Survival: (1d20+3)[4] 11 (OOC) If Leatherworker's Tools (Dex?): (1d20+4)[7] 22 (OOC)