IC Story Thread: Ch.1, Ad.3 - Black Hand

+2 here, but is says 'doubled' (not quite sure what I have to double, though! 😅)

Will it look odd that we attacked Astalor? We need to keep him gagged and restrained, probably tie him up. Maybe we can say that the priest will force him to kill himself, if we don't immobolize him?

Classic "no plan" moment 🤣🤣🤣

Dr_B, You likely chose Persuasion for your "Expertise" ability, which doubles your Proficiency Bonus for the chosen skill(s).

As a bit of DM guidance, because I believe one or more of you don't have much experience with 5E...

Please review your character sheets.

You guys all have lots of abilities that you basically never use.

No bonuses for anything Charisma-related here. Éothain's Lore ability, however, is at +4. If someone can persuade the crowd that we are trying to help Bangdu Caun, who, to follow up on Dr_B's suggestion, "is wounded and appears to be bewitched by the priest's magical lightning," Éothain will try to recall stories of past similar leaders and what led to their downfall. He will also assume a defensive posture against the priest, ready to attack only if attacked.

I wish now that Éothain would have spent time before the demonstration talking to more horses in camp about their masters. It would help to know more about the people in the crowd.

What you guys do know about these people is:

They're from places that are known strongholds of the Enemy - Dunland, the East, the Harad.

That they... somehow... whether by seeking it out/participating in some group or activity or conceivably but unlikely by accident/if it was just handed to them - gained possession of Astalor's propaganda pamphlet that lead them here.

It's no small undertaking to travel to this place, particularly with children as some have, so it's unlikely they had just a casual interest in what Astalor was "selling" (which is, "Help me spread the power and influence of Morgoth."

They're not really warriors by training/profession.

There may have been some other things, but I'm not sure what other kinda of information you're looking for that would be helpful.

Heh, nice roll! But unfortunately good social checks are not mind control and what you're telling them is a bit of a stretch...

They were about to try to take Astalor from you guys and generally just try to break up the fight.

So as a result of your persuasiveness, two of them will Grapple the cultist, and the third - while allowing you to retain control of Astalor - is still trying to convince you to let him go.

@rpgventurer,@Stefron you can act if you would like!

It's an opposed Athletics to continue your grapple. @Stefron please roll your opposed check.

We'll remain in Initiative, so after Stefron's opposed grapple check, it is your three turns.

Yes, absolutely! That would be taking the Help action. Which gives @Stefron Advantage on the Grapple check. Prior to that it sounded like you were focusing on keeping him gagged.

I probably need a Deception check for this to adjudicate the effectiveness of this fairly.

Not a bad roll...

Opposed Insight.

Oh jeez lol...

EDIT: Another opposed Athletics, but at least it eats up everyone's action, except for the last bystander...

Scrappy cultist, he remains free!

What would the last guy do now, lol... what a mess.

I mean, the three guys came up here with the goal of kind of settling everything down[, and stopping the fighting.

I think he would ALSO try to grapple the cultist lol

Bunch of rolls against myself here, sorry guys.

EDIT: lol ok, the cultist is fighting like a mad man! And it is back to the top.

Eothain this guy is free, and about to do violence to you.

What do you all do?