Basil_Bottletop

go for it.

Armando Railwalker Gnomish Warlock AC: 13 (leathers) | HP: 9/9 | Initiative: +2 | Passive Perception: 11 Spell Slots: 1st 1/1 | Spell Attack: +4 | Spell DC: 12 DM Inspiration: 0/1 The misfire as the creature slithered into hallway was due in part by its sheer ugliness. Armando hadn't a proper idea of where to aim and shooting blindly was as awful as shooting skyward. He opened his mouth to apologize to those that might feel as though they were properly targeted, but no words came out. Instead, he watched as the creature swallowed the lamp and his own eyesight slipped from vivid colors and distinct details, to that of the dark sight. Muted greys and blurred approximations filled his view. The voice startled him and he looked around to see if anyone else had heard it too, only to see that most of the others were already pressed back into the fray. Armando let go of his crossbow and it swung wildly back beneath his arm. Scurrying forward to match the distance that Allera held in the hallway, he was able to truly see what frightened them all. It's worm-like body and slithering fleshy movements reminded him that there were other creatures of the deep that might enjoy such treats. The gnome made a fist and pointed his thumb in the direction of the creature. Under the cover of complete darkness, Armando's confidence somehow shined. His four fingers flicked outward and an opaque-blue spitfire shot out from his palm in the direction of the creature, just as he uttered a noise that sounded like pushing water through ones teeth. Mechanics Main Hand: Empty Off Hand: Empty Action: Casting Eldritch Blast Bonus Action: Move: Moving to the spot E of Allera Manipulate: drop weapon

Wyck would take the company if Rillik decides to walk with the others, but I don't see him volunteering for scouting duties.

Wyckmere Mirth Wyck could feel the anxiety in the air as everyone stutter started through various ideas on how and when and where to start up again. He waited patiently, hoping to hear from D'Artegenon soon but knew better than to prod him about it. There had been a time when prodding him felt proactive, but it rarely resulted in anything but wasted words. He heard the half-orc's groans before he saw him stirring. His eyes flashed back toward him to await the instruction, having drifted away to the ever-departing kobold and bugbear. But as the half-orc spoke, Wyck's face twisted into a semi-veiled look of confusion. He'd not ever heard the half-orc muster up multiple pathways for consideration, nor had they ever been on such a mark for so long or over such great distances. When D'Artegenon mentioned meeting yet another contact at a temple, it was all Wyck could do to keep his lips firmly pressed in rebuttal. They were including three more moving pieces and potentially more once they found this glacier. That was multitudes more than they'd ever had to press before and made even more difficult that this was not a singular location. In Havenmere, it had been four people and it had been no more than a week of discovery before their mark revealed themselves and ultimately showed them what they came to see. See. Not all this other stuff. The idea of six, plus a dragon-cursed dog, and days of travels suddenly felt very taxing on his mind. He shook the feeling as best he could and adjusted his pack on his shoulder, recouped his stiff upper lip, and fell in line behind D'Artegenon's march. Once they were back to moving, Wyck double-timed up to catch D'Artegenon's elbow and held a curt, whispered, council with him before falling back in line behind him a few feet. Whatever was said seemed to lighten his steps and his mood, and he no longer kept his rigid shadowing of the half-orc's movements.

Belfyr - Half-Elf Ranger AC: 15 | HP: 20/20 | HD: 3/3d10 | Initiative: +3 | Gathered Swarm | Favored Foe | Spell Slots: 1st 3/3 2nd -/- | DM Inspiration: 1/1 A hidden smirk crept across Belfyr's face as Iymbryl turned to face their pursuers. Like a child who knows that their comrade is about to step in cow dung or come face-to-face with their young crush. He knew not what would become of the encounter yet, but he knew it would not be dull. Their declaration, or lack of staggered dumbfoundedness, wiped the smirk from his face. He thought of what he'd done most recent and if it could be construed as Ragesian magic by the ill-informed. It was true he'd been far more open about his capabilities in the last few days, but nothing that might suggest he was a magi. Belfyr's flitted will'o'wisps knew to hide beneath his sleeves in public and even now were content to slumber in the folds of his clothes. In his mind, the face of Olvyn came to him and he cursed the wizard for somehow bringing them to a standstill even while not being with them any longer. He spoke before he meant to, his mind content to let Iymbryl deal with this himself, but his tongue had other ideas. "It's the school you seek, there are wizards there worth questioning." Mechanics Main Hand: Quarterstaff Off Hand: Empty Action: Bonus Action: Your bonus action goes here. Move: Not moving Manipulate: Your one free object interaction goes here. Bookkeeping Full Statblock Half-Elf Ranger (Swarmkeeper) 3 NG AC 15 HP 20 Speed 30 ftft Str 14 (2) Dex 16 (3) Con 10 (0) Wis 14 (2) Int 10 (0) Cha 12 (1) Attacks Longbow Quarterstaff Half-Elf Features: Darkvision Fey Ancestry: Adv on saving throws vs charmed, Magic can’t put you to sleep. Skill Versatility: Persuasion, Survival Ranger Features Favored Foe: Tasha's pg 57 Natural Explorer: Fighting Style: Defense +1 to AC when worn Spellcasting Ranger Archetype: Swarmkeeper Gathered Swarm Swarmkeeper Magic: bonus Mage Hand, Faerie Fire Primeval Awareness: PHB Equipment Assets: 84 gp Carried/Worn Total for Pack o Longbow o Quiver w/20 arrows o Common Clothes o Studded Leather o Quarterstaff o Herbalism Kit o Mess Kit o Cooking Utensils Spell Casting Spell Save DC: 10 Spell Attack Mod: +2 Spells Known: Spell Slots: 1st 3/3 2nd 0/0 Cantrips Mage Hand 1st Level Faerie Fire Cure Wounds Goodberry Hunter's Mark 2nd Level

Armando Railwalker Gnomish Warlock AC: 13 (leathers) | HP: 9/9 | Initiative: +2 | Passive Perception: 11 Spell Slots: 1st 1/1 | Spell Attack: +4 | Spell DC: 12 DM Inspiration: 0/1 The gnome's view had been down and away, and more directly, it had also been looking for tiny things crawling about to prove his theory. The commotion broke him from his search and he looked up to see the horrible creature all but eat Riffraff. He stumbled backwards into the wall and his face distorted into madness. The back of his head stopping only because of the cool stone wall behind him. He clamored to get his crossbow out and loaded, hands shaking and eyes blurry. He raised it up but couldn't get an immediate shot with the crowd of people around both the ratfolk and the monster. It was then that he realized not being able to see the creature fully and clearly was more scary than when it had first appeared. If the grotesque thing showed it's gaping maw again around that corner, he was going to shoot it. Mechanics Main Hand: Empty Off Hand: Empty Action: fire crossbow once Riffraff is away from it's grasp. Bonus Action: Move: load crossbow Manipulate: draw weapon

Arcana Check for the monster.

The Cabin at the End of the World. I'm almost halfway through it and I'm really hoping for a decent payoff. It's been pretty predictable so far, even though I've not even seen the movie (but I did see the trailer for it, which covers the premise of both book and movie).

Wyckmere Mirth Wyck chuckled at the idea that a dragon sought a dog. Audibly to some. If anyone looked at him, he simply turned away or tried to hide his smirk. The idea was outlandish, but he wouldn't dismiss it outright for the sheer sake that it was humorous. Made only moreso because here was multiple adults all considering the possibility. The amusement was worth the effort they'd put forth so far. The fabric continued to fold in on itself, it seemed. Wyck wasn't sure any of the layers were truly pertinent to his needs or those of his marks, but the blanket was getting thick and scratchy. He watched as Rillik detached herself from the conversation and find a comfy tree to lean against. He still wasn't quite sure where the two gnomes fit into this whole thing, but it wasn't the first time the final details weren't revealed until very late. At her suggestion, he turned toward D'Artegenon to see his command.

This doesn't add anything to the OOC conversation, but I was in the same mental/writer's camp as Harding when I started reading up on IC posts this morning. (It's good to hear you're not alone when you drop some info out there. In this case, I don't have much more to add just that I agree.)

Belfyr - Half-Elf Ranger AC: 15 | HP: 20/20 | HD: 3/3d10 | Initiative: +3 | Gathered Swarm | Favored Foe | Spell Slots: 1st 3/3 2nd -/- | DM Inspiration: 1/1 Belfyr left Olvyn and the Councilman without any more commentary on the matter. Being the last word had not been something Belfyr was keen to conquering in his life and it wasn't going to start now. He joined the others in the hallway and quietly passed outside without much hassle. At Anne's prompting, Belfyr brought the rams-head sceptor back out and inspected it as if for the first time. "I don't know, figured it'd catch a coin if we tried to sell it. Here, it's yours." He said, offering the thing to her earnestly. The look in his eyes suggested that it might take some heavy negotiating to change his mind. ~*~*~ It was becoming quite common now to hear the patterned tap-tap-tap of Belfyr's staff as they walked. It never held much of his weight, but it was as much a walking stick as it was a crutch. It gave the pretense of a safe cadence for the group, but it also worked to signal when the half-elf changed his own direction or steps. Like a bird chirping to its brethren that something was about to change. Belfyr joined Bronn and the others in the alleyway and nodded at the assessment made by Bronn. "I saw it too. Wolves in the tall grass, they are not." He added, waving a hand in the direction of the street. "But they are dressed as guards and we have ourselves a real one with us. Is there nothing we can do to turn this sideways in a public way?" Mechanics Main Hand: Quarterstaff Off Hand: Empty Action: Bonus Action: Your bonus action goes here. Move: Not moving Manipulate: Your one free object interaction goes here. Bookkeeping Full Statblock Half-Elf Ranger (Swarmkeeper) 3 NG AC 15 HP 20 Speed 30 ftft Str 14 (2) Dex 16 (3) Con 10 (0) Wis 14 (2) Int 10 (0) Cha 12 (1) Attacks Longbow Quarterstaff Half-Elf Features: Darkvision Fey Ancestry: Adv on saving throws vs charmed, Magic can’t put you to sleep. Skill Versatility: Persuasion, Survival Ranger Features Favored Foe: Tasha's pg 57 Natural Explorer: Fighting Style: Defense +1 to AC when worn Spellcasting Ranger Archetype: Swarmkeeper Gathered Swarm Swarmkeeper Magic: bonus Mage Hand, Faerie Fire Primeval Awareness: PHB Equipment Assets: 84 gp Carried/Worn Total for Pack o Longbow o Quiver w/20 arrows o Common Clothes o Studded Leather o Quarterstaff o Herbalism Kit o Mess Kit o Cooking Utensils Spell Casting Spell Save DC: 10 Spell Attack Mod: +2 Spells Known: Spell Slots: 1st 3/3 2nd 0/0 Cantrips Mage Hand 1st Level Faerie Fire Cure Wounds Goodberry Hunter's Mark 2nd Level

Armando Railwalker Gnomish Warlock AC: 13 (leathers) | HP: 9/9 | Initiative: +2 | Passive Perception: 11 Spell Slots: 1st 1/1 | Spell Attack: +4 | Spell DC: 12 DM Inspiration: 0/1 The gnome had remained near the scoot-room while the others explored the small chamber. He'd seen the artwork and the stone and assumed that the others would see and conclude similarly and they'd be off again. Hopefully the dead-end would mean a trip back to the camp where he could sleep or eat or both. As the others fussed with the stone, Armando found himself meandering around the artwork again. It still did not appeal to him, but he could see the craftsmanship in it. Someone had meant for it to be seen, he was sure of it. Given his relative difference in height to the rest of the party, he heard but did not notice the gas right away. When it did hit him, his eyes began to water and his joints began to ache. He pressed a hand against the wall to stabilize himself, which did well enough to keep him on his feet so that he could scramble into the secondary room with the others. Once in the second room, he fell to his butt and used the back of his fists to clear away his eyes. "It'sa dangerous to be here." He complained to no one. Once they were noticeably clear of the gas and gook, he pulled his hands away. The fists remained although he wasn't quite sure what he was angry about. He watched as the ratfolk moved about, keeping a close tab on him as he moved from space to spot to crevice. A thought occurred to him and his body moved even before he had any time to put words to it. He followed the ratfolk's original path, ensuring if a trap was triggered that it wasn't he that triggered it, and sought out one of the corners or the first alcove. There, he looked for spider webs or dead beetle carcasses. "Spider webs would mean bugs, which might mean nothing's in here to get us." He confidently remarked. Mechanics Main Hand: Empty Off Hand: Empty Action: Bonus Action: Move: Manipulate:

[He looks to his coughing companions who learned a valuable lesson the hard way.] This sentence hits a bit funky coming from one of the people who didn't find the trap. "Serves you guys right for trusting me to find the traps."

That's my fear too. I'm already in a few 5e games and at least one PF 1 game at the moment. I already mix all the rules up. Adding another variant sounds like a wonderful idea because I'd like to learn it...but then I'd have to unlearn other stuff.