Chapter 1: A Knife in Darkness

[ravenn4544]

Og

Init [1d20] = 11

[tibbius]

ok ... that was a dumb way to hold things up. Here on, I'm going to assume you all "Take 10" on initiative rolls unless you cleverly insert a roll of your own accord.

Lathi and Ishbak stand poised for action as Jabdar glides toward the group of priests at the gate. Two of them step forward to interrupt his passage; there is a flurry of motion; the silver dagger flashes up and down; one of the priests collapses in a crumpled tangle of black robes; a third priest lunges forward, clawing toward Jabdar's face; Jabdar ducks; a lock of his hair, and the priest's hand, begin to glow with crumbling moonlight; the priest screams out in agony, his voice shrieking echoes across the square. The priest stumbles sideways to half-sit, half-lean against the wall of the dark building, clutching his glowing crumbling hand against his stomach as he sobs.

The other two priests stand indecisively as Jabdar takes another soft step toward the gate.

[Scott308]

Ishbak Arus

Ooh...now I'm really interested in that blade! The rogue hangs back, trying to remain inconspicuous while waiting to see what transpires next.

Initiative: [1d20+5] = 19+5 = 24
Sorry about that. I wouldn't go with "take 10" for initiative if we don't respond, give them 1s. I've got a Paladin I play that would looove to get a 10 on initiative. I played through all of Descent into Avernus and rarely ended up with more than a 5. There were too many fights where he didn't even get a turn as the rest of the party would wipe everyone out.

[Rex]

Lathi

Lathi will keep a short distance behind Ishbak, but close enough he can come to his aid if need be.

[ravenn4544]

Og looks on quizzically at the what appears to be murder. “What the hell is going on here?” He whispers.

[tibbius]

"Stop him, you fools," groans the priest with the glowing hand. He shoves himself backward against the wall and pushes himself to his feet, still clutching his hand to his belly. Pale white light leaks between the fingers of the hand that isn't glowing, casting lines of light and shadow on the cobbled ground.

Reluctantly, the two remaining priests move behind Jabdar to grab him by the shoulders ... what do you do?

[Monsieur Rose]

Xara

Xara can't stand by as this madness continues. She emerges from the shadows and moves into the light. "Jabdar!" She yells. "What is the meaning of this? Drop the dagger! Leave the temple. You do not belong here."

She holds the daggers in her hands but stays out of combat for now.
Initiative as needed: [1d20] = 5+3 =8

[Scott308]

Ishbak Arus

Already disliking Jabdar after the way he and his goons treated them, the plea from the priest is all Ishbak needs to spur him into action. Approaching quickly, he stabs at the assailant with the shortsword in each of hands.

Shortsword: [1d20+7] = 5+7 = 12; Damage: [1d6+5] = 4+5 = 9; Crit or Sneak Attack: [1d6] = 5; Crit AND Sneak Attack: [3d6] = 11
Bonus action:Shortsword (Offhand): [1d20+7] = 10+7 = 17; Damage: [1d6] = 3; Crit or Sneak Attack: [1d6] = 3; Crit AND Sneak Attack: [3d6] = 14
Does he get sneak attack damage, since Jabdar will have another enemy within 5' of him? Also, how about advantage since he had been sneaking and may have been unseen and unheard by Jabdar.

[Rex]

Lathi

Seeing Ishbak strike, Lathi attacks as well.

Quarter Staff (2-handed) [1d20+6] = 7+6 = 13 to hit [1d8+4] = 4+4 = 8 damage

Bonus unarmed attack [1d20+6] = 5+6 = 11 to hit [1d4+4] = 2+4 = 6 damage

[sirravd]

Anathotesh also strikes.
[1d20+4] = 9+4 = 13[1d8+2] = 6+2 = 8

[tibbius]

In a flurry of motion, Jabdar spins around and stabs one of the priests just before Ishbak and Lathi reach him. Their blades and staff bring him down. The silver dagger clatters and bounces on the smooth stone paving at the threshold of the gate.

Moments later, the two surviving priests cower against the wall next to the still open gate. Jabdar and two other priests lie crumpled in slowly spreading pools of liquid darker than the night. The moonglow from the stairwell almost has faded; whatever was the source of the light down there must have gone around a corner. The silver dagger lies on the ground just inside the gate.

"Who are you?" demands the priest without the glowing hand.

[ravenn4544]

Og creeps up on to the scene - bravely keeping his distance from any further attack. He listens...

[Rex]

Lathi

"We were in the area and were trying to help you defend yourself from this attacker."

[sirravd]

"I am Anathotesh of the house of Nesh," Anathotesh proudly announces, "at your service."

[tibbius]

Running footsteps approached the square from the south.

"I am glad you are here," said the priest. "I will bring my superior back to the chapter house for healing of his hand. We will send help soon for the bodies." He helped the priest with glowing hand to stand, wrapped his arm around the man's waist, and supported him as they both began to shuffle across the square toward the west side.

The square was about a hundred feet across in each direction.

[Monsieur Rose]

Xara

"Psst." Xara whispers to those nearby so that the priests can't hear her. "Cover me." Xara whips off her cloak and reaches down to pick up the dagger with it, being careful to not touch it with her hands.

That done, she wraps it up and carries the cloak like a package. She heads towards her temple. "Come on, let's get out of here."

[Rex]

Lathi

Lathi follows Xara, keeping an eye out for others showing up.

[sirravd]

Anathotesh also follows Xara.

"So––what precisely just happened? I'm rather confused. What sort of associates did my father have?"

[Scott308]

Ishbak Arus

That man ran the organization that currently guards his warehouse. We spoke with him earlier. He is...was...not a nice person, and neither are his thugs. However, I do not know that he really had any control over what he was doing. It seemed the dagger was causing him to act like he did. Why the priests were attacked, I do not know. As for the types of people your father associated with...I'm sure there were a number of fine, upstanding members of the upper-class. But he also associated with a number of less-than-savory types- present company included.

[ravenn4544]

Og wonders, "What about those stairs? Do we take them and see - since we are just waiting, of course.." He'll also search through any bodies left lying that haven't been carried off.