Family Of Experiments [IC]

[Dr.Gunsforhands]

(1d20+3)[10]

Cutty draws her bow and shoots up at the diving enemy before ducking back into the dark to hide.

"They're still there! I don't think they're going to leave," she confirms. "Bambi, can you help me deal with them? You can tell us whether they taste more like deer or chicken!"

[JNAProductions]

The first shot punches clean through part of the Peryton's wing, but the Peryton seems unfazed-as Beth knows, they resist nonmagical weapons.

Spoiler: OOC

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6 damage to Peryton 1.

Muk, hearing the commotion, but still holding Beth's hand, asks "What's going on? Are we okay?"

[Dr.Gunsforhands]

"You should be," whispers Cutty, as reassuringly as she can given the circumstances. "Just keep your head down and make sure the goats don't run off, okay?"

[JNAProductions]

"Okay," Muk says. "I trust you guys."

[Xihirli]

Spoiler: OOC

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I believe I'm next...

One of Beth's eye stalks saw the Perytons swooping down through the darkness that her special eyes pierced through. From her left-most eye, a beam of dark energy darted out to strike the Peryton.

Spoiler: ABILITY

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I am using the Drain Attack from my Chill Touch eye stalk from cover of darkness.
(1D20+5)[19]; advantage from being unseen (1D20+5)[21]
Damage: (1D8)[2] necrotic; crit (1D8)[2]

Nimble escape hide BA: (1D20+2)[6] stealth

”Aha! My power is absolute! I fight in silence in order to keep my position impossible to discern!"

[Izzarra]

Bambi steps out of the globe and gets ready throw the javelin when one of the Perytons gets closer.

Spoiler: OOC

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Hold attack until one of them gets within close range.
(1d20+7)[20]
(1d6+5)[11]

[JNAProductions]

Spoiler: OOC

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Okay, so that's 14 on one, with Bambi's javelin.

The Perytons, or at least the two uninjured so far, dive down and slam into you with antlers and talons.

The other circles at about 30' up, preparing for their own strike.

Spoiler: Attacks

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(1d20+5)[11]
(3d8+3)[13]

(1d20+5)[15]
(3d8+3)[17]

(1d20+5)[8]
(2d4+3)[7]

(1d20+5)[11]
(2d4+3)[10]

Focusing attacks on Bambi, who seems the bulkiest and scariest.

Muk, following instructions, stays in the darkness. Beth can feel Muk's hand squeezing tight onto her, the big lug being quite scared for his friends.

[Dr.Gunsforhands]

"Bambi!"

Cutty slips out of the darkness to surprise the beast that hurt her friend, striking it with a tentacle from just out of the deerbird's goring range.

Spoiler

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It occurs to me that the bad stealth check might not matter if they still couldn't see Cutty at all. Also it's adjacent to Bambi, so I guess I get sneak attack even without advantage?

Attack: (1d20+7)[21]
Advantage die?: (1d20+7)[12]

Damage: (3d6+5)[16] bludgeoning/wing-wrenching

[Xihirli]

Beth’s left-most eye stalk held an eye that seemed entirely pupil, all black. Though only she could see that at the time with her purple-irised and entirely white eyes on their own stalks.

”It now occurs to me that none of us are very good at helping those who fall."

A pause.
A dark grey eye beam fired.

Spoiler: ABILITY

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Once more using the Drain Attack from my Chill Touch eye stalk from cover of darkness.
(1d20+5)[20] advantage from being unseen (1d20+5)[25]
Damage: (1d8)[4] necrotic

Not hiding.

[JNAProductions]

Spoiler: OOC

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(1d8)[4] extra damage, since this time you DID crit.

Roll+18 damage on one, 8 on one other.

The Perytons, facing more resistance than they had expected, with one pretty heavily injured and the other feeling the full wrath of Bambi on itself, decide to beat a hasty retreat. The circling one above squawks to the ones in reach, and they fly away with haste.

Spoiler: OOC

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You can get a few ranged parting shots if you like, but you're unlikely to wipe them. I'll proceed under the assumption that you're not gonna give chase-if you decide to, let me know and I'll edit this post again.

Muk, hearing the sounds of the Perytons fleeing, asks "Did we get them?"

[Xihirli]

Beth let the shadow fall so that the giant could watch the fleeing birds.

”We drove them off for now, but they have vowed revenge. One day we will have to settle this feud between us."

[Izzarra]

As the Perytons made their attacks Bambi lets out a growl the breaks out into a almost maniacal laugh as he parries three of the attacks and shrugs off the one that manages to slip through but cannot do more then tear some cloths.

"Yes, fight me. I want a good fight."

Then just as things were starting to get fun they fly away.

"No. come back. Want more fight."

[Dr.Gunsforhands]

"Yeah! Hear that, deerbirds?! We've got plenty more where that came from!" The little purple squidling blows a particularly floppy raspberry at the fleeing perytons, giddy in her family's quick victory.

Once the beasts are out of earshot, Cutty turns a little more serious. "Um, Bambi? Are you sure you're okay? We do have some potions if you need them."

[Izzarra]

Bambi is sad that they did not stay and fight.

"Will potion fix shirt?"

Spoiler: OOC

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AC of 20, none of the attacks hit.

[Dr.Gunsforhands]

"Well, no..."

On closer inspection, it seems that Bambi's torn shirt wasn't hiding any injuries under it. Cutty looks relieved. "Oh! Good, I guess you're okay after all! Never mind then."

[Xihirli]

Beth floated down to the others and gave Bambi a quick hug.
"Astounding job, Bambi. You did wonderfully."

[JNAProductions]

Muk steps from the darkness, shaking a little. "Is everyone okay?" he asks.

Inside the darkness, Beth can see the goats are calmly grazing, completely unperturbed by the battle.

Spoiler: OOC

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I won't be tracking XP, since I find that tedious and generally not worth the time.

But you've successfully defeated one encounter, and quite possibly made new enemies!

[Dr.Gunsforhands]

"We're fine!" says Cutty. "We should be good to start searching the ruins now, right?"

[JNAProductions]

Muk's face breaks out in a broad smile, and he hugs Bambi (being the only one close enough in size to make it a reasonable action). "I'm glad!" he says.

The ruins lie within sight, and your last few hours of travel are undisturbed. The surface of the ruins are quite ramshackle, with plenty of ingresses, though you know from your father's notes that there's underground levels to it too.

[Xihirli]

Beth pointed one eye at the sky to get a good look at the time.

”We should still set up a good campground. Maybe underground, so no more bird monsters will see us."

[Dr.Gunsforhands]

"Yeah, okay," says Cutty. She advances towards an overgrown arch that looks like it may have once been a door. "I'll go in front and check for traps, okay?"

Spoiler

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Search: (1d20+4)[6]

[Xihirli]

Beth wiggled her colorless eye, which she could use to improve the focus of others.

”Good idea. Do you want me to - oh there she goes."

[Izzarra]

"You guys are so nice to me. I go look for dinner."

Spoiler: OOC

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Survival to fine some food to supplement rations. (1d20+4)[5]
Edit: Well bummer.

[JNAProductions]

Spoiler: OOC

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Xi, you double posted by accident. Go ahead and delete one, just to avoid clutter.

Bambi starts looking, but Muk says "Let me help! I can find stuff too!"

With Muk's assistance, you're able to find a decent amount of roots and berries-not enough for a meal on its own, but more than enough to supplement your rations and make for a much tastier meal!

Spoiler: OOC

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Advantage, from Muk's Help. (1d20+4)[13]

The surface seems perfectly safe. While you do see evidence of what used to be tripwires or pit traps, they're old and defunct now. The ravages of time and weather have rendered them inoperable or exposed, making them function quite poorly as traps. However, you know that below is more easily preserved, and traps could be anywhere.

[Xihirli]

”Hmm. Perhaps... Perhaps we should camp on the surface, since the traps seem expired here."

[Dr.Gunsforhands]

"Well, out here is where those buzzards are," notes Cutty, "maybe we can go down one level, or find a structure with a roof at least?"

[Xihirli]

Beth bobbed in midair, which was what nodding looked like while she was meditating.
”Ingenious. Allow me to make some safety rats."

She spat on her wand and wiggled it back and forth. Nothing seemed to happen.
”Follow me! I know what I'm doing!"

Spoiler: OOC\

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I actually prepared a ritual, so I'm using spell slots to summon two Unseen Servants to go ahead of us, one "Zelma" fifteen feet ahead of the other ("Zoe") and me floating 15 feet behind her, since I have truesight and can see them. They'll trigger any traps as we go down a level. Hopefully.

[JNAProductions]

Spoiler: OOC

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So, here's what I'll say-Unseen Servants are tiny specks of telekinetic force. If they actively press on the floors and walls, they'll trigger MOST traps. But it'll be slow going, since they can't just walk normally, lacking legs and all.

Beth keeps a close eye on... Something, while you descend (slowly) into the deeper depths. Muk asks "Does she do this a lot?"

It's a tight squeeze to get the goats in behind you all, and a lot of coaxing from Muk. Just as you're reaching the bottom, about fifteen ahead of Beth, there's a soft phoomph, and a dart shoots out from the wall, sticking into the other one.

You set up camp at the first available room, which is (luckily) only about twenty feet in. It's not the largest, but it's got enough space for all of you.

[Dr.Gunsforhands]

"Does she do this a lot?"

"Yep! Allllll the time," says Cutty. "It's really good, though! She can see things that most people can't, and can push and pull things by looking at them."

After they get past the first trap, she feels pretty good about setting up camp. "That means hardly anything comes this way, right? We should be pretty safe right here!"

[Xihirli]

Beth plopped down on the ground, putting her head on her backpack to keep its weight off of her tiny goblin body.
”Yes, my eyes see that which is hidden. I will watch the night first, if you'd like."