Nimly's Adventures

Chapter 16 - Anguish and Arrests

15th of Mirtul, 1492 DR

At Captain Anara’s signal, her team begins to move forward, most of them in position to take the gathered bandits by surprise.

Roll Initiative.

—-—-

Surprise Round

Captain Anara's piercing gaze locks onto the Bandit Leader, her eyes narrowing as she whispers words of a dark incantation. The air around her hums with power as the Dissonant Whispers invade the leader's mind. In sudden agony, he clutches his head, eyes wide as the psychic force assaults his thoughts, leaving him reeling and desperate to escape the torment.

Meanwhile, Nimly, ever quick with his wand, aims the Web at the largest cluster of bandits. With a flick of his wrist, a thick, sticky web shoots forth, enveloping Bandits 1, 2, and 3 in its grasp. The bandits struggle against the webbing, but it clings to them relentlessly, holding them fast.

Thorn, with a feral snarl, pounces on Bandit 5. His sharp teeth sink deep into the dwarf's leg, eliciting a cry of pain. The dwarf stumbles, his bravado faltering as Thorn's bite takes its toll.

Not far off, Guard 2 moves with deadly precision, his spear thrusting forward to strike at Bandit 2. The blow is swift, but the impact is unmistakable, leaving the bandit gasping in shock and pain. At the same time, Guard 4 charges with fierce determination, her sword slicing through the air with practiced ease. She strikes true, her blade biting into the flesh of Bandit 1, the force of the blow driving him back.

Round 1

Captain Anara’s voice rings out with Vicious Mockery. Her words, laced with all the derision she can muster, cut straight into the Bandit Leader’s mind. The words twist and turn, sapping his resolve and causing him to falter. While the grip on his weapon tightens, his confidence wavers. 

Nearby, Thorn continues his relentless assault. With a feral snarl, he lunges at Bandit 5, his sharp teeth sinking deep into the dwarf’s calf once again. The bandit cries out in pain as Thorn tears through muscle and sinew, leaving a gaping wound that bleeds profusely. Nimly looks over towards Thorn’s cowering bandit, and setting his sights, flicks his wrist, launching an Eldritch Blast at Bandit 5. The bandit takes the blow to his gut, letting out a surprised oomph from the impact.

Guard 2 moves up swiftly to assist Guard 4 in the effort to subdue Bandit 3. With a textbook swing of his blade, he strikes true, his sword biting into the bandit’s side, drawing a deep gash. Guard 4 locks his sights on Bandit 1, finding his moment to strike. His blade arcs through the air with deadly precision, slicing through his defenses and dealing an incapacitating blow. Bandit 1 crumples to the ground as darkness claims him. 

The Bandit Leader, his eyes blazing with fury, lunges at Captain Anara with all his might, but his attack is clumsy, his focus clouded by her mocking words. Anara sidesteps his wild swing and the Bandit Leader’s blade cuts through nothing but the air.

Stuck fast in the web, Bandit 2 struggles in vain. The sticky strands cling to him, refusing to let go. Bandit 3 also strains against the web’s grasp, but his struggles only seem to entangle him further. Bandit 4, in growing desperation, sees an opening and swings at Guard 4. His blade swings wide, missing its mark. Bandit 5 takes a wild stab at Thorn, but the nimble rat is too quick. The blade swishes through the air harmlessly as Thorn dances back, his eyes gleaming with fierce determination.

Guard 1, shaking off the remnants of his initial surprise, plunges forward into the fray near Thorn. Guard 3, regaining her footing, rushes forward to assist Guard 2, her blade ready to strike. Meanwhile, Guard 5 delivers a powerful blow to Bandit 4. His sword connects with a satisfying thud, the force of the strike driving deep into the bandit’s leather armor, leaving a bloody wound. 

Round 2

As she narrowly dodged the last swing, Captain Anara casts Heat Metal as a level 4 spell on the Bandit Leader’s scimitar. The metal glows red hot, and with a howl of pain, he flings the weapon away, his hand seared by the intense heat. Nimly, seizing the opportunity, launches another Eldritch Blast at the Bandit Leader. The blast strikes true, causing the Bandit Leader to stagger further. Thorn pounces again on Bandit 5. His teeth sink into the dwarf’s arm, delivering a vicious bite. The bandit cries out in pain, struggling to fend off the relentless rat.

Guard 2 steps forward and targets Bandit 2, who remains hopelessly restrained by the webs. With a swift slash, the guard’s blade finds its mark, and blood begins to drip from the bandit's shoulder. Guard 4, seeing Guard 5 engaged with Bandit 4, moves to assist. With a well aimed strike, he adds to the attack, his sword cutting deep into the flagging bandit.

Bandit 2, desperate to escape, critically fails his saving throw. Not only does he stay stuck fast in the web, but in his frantic struggle, he loses one of his boots to the sticky strands, further hindering his movement. Bandit 3, gritting his teeth, tries once again to break free, but the web holds him firm, keeping him trapped and vulnerable. Bandit 4, in a last-ditch effort, swings his weapon at Guard 3. His strike lands, cutting into the guard. The guard remains standing during the assault, determined to see the fight through. Bandit 5 swings wildly at Thorn, but he is too quick, ducking under the blow with ease.

Guard 1 moves up beside Thorn, his sword flashing as he strikes at Bandit 5. The blade finds its target, slashing out across the bandit’s ribs. Guard 3 takes a position beside Guard 2, swinging his sword at Bandit 3, but his attack goes wide, missing the mark. With a mighty heave, Guard 5, brings his sword down on Bandit 4. The blow is powerful, leaving the bandit lying unconscious on the ground.

Round 3

Captain Anara shimmers slightly, her voice ringing out with authority as she yells, "Stop this at once!" As she shouts, Raulothim's Psychic Lance originates from her forehead and streaks toward the Bandit Leader. He tries to resist, but his mind falters, and the lance pierces his skull with devastating force. The Bandit Leader crumples to the ground, whimpering, utterly incapacitated.

With their leader down and no hope left, the remaining bandits lose their will to fight. The battle ends as the subordinates surrender, some lying where they’ve fallen, others still struggling in vain to free themselves from the unyielding webs.

—-—-

Captain Anara sheathes her sword. “Good work, everyone. Let's secure the area and gather any intelligence or supplies we can find." Nimly dismisses the web as the guards move to secure the defeated bandits. He looks to Captain Anara for further instruction. 

She looks around the chamber. Some guards are tending wounds, while others are securing prisoners. "Alright, listen up! We're going to split into two groups. Three of you will remain here gathering information from the captured bandits. The other two will join Nimly and myself in exploring the mine further. We need to be thorough and careful." She turns back to Nimly. "You two will scout ahead while we finish binding the prisoners. Let's see what else this place is hiding."

Nimly reaches out to Thorn to arrange their next move. Let's move ahead cautiously. Stay about 30 feet ahead of me and keep to the shadows. Alert me if you sense any danger.

Thorn chitters in response, understanding the goal. The giant rat's form seamlessly melds into the darkness as he moves silently down the passage, his keen senses attuned. Nimly follows, moving slowly and keeping pace, his eyes and ears alert for any signs of trouble. The rest of the party gives them a good lead and follows after. 

The scent of earth and decay is thick in the air, mingled with a faint metallic tang from the remnants of the mining operations. It's a heavy, cloying smell that clings to their clothes and fills their lungs with each breath. The deeper they go, the more stagnant the air becomes. The sounds of their footsteps echo softly off the damp stone walls. Thorn’s ears twitch, and he mentally alerts Nimly to a faint, arrhythmic tapping coming from a side tunnel. The sound is barely audible, a distant echo from deeper within.

As they move forward, Nimly notices a barely visible crack in the wall that could be an entrance to a hidden chamber. He channels his magic with a subtle movement of his hands and casts Mold Earth. Neat, blocky script appears on the wall in glowing green letters: “Investigate possible side chamber.”

The pair can still hear the sound emanating from the side tunnel. Turning his attention back to the ground at his feet, Nimly uses Mold Earth again to create a green arrow pointing towards the source of the tapping. "Alright, Thorn, let's see what's making that noise. Stay alert." Thorn chitters softly and resumes his stealthy advance, moving 30 feet ahead of Nimly. They maintain a slow, deliberate pace.

As they move forward, the tunnel walls close in, the space becoming more confined and claustrophobic. The ground underfoot is uneven, a mixture of loose gravel and hardened earth, making each step a cautious endeavor to avoid stumbling. The occasional wooden support beams creak ominously, their age and disrepair a silent testament to the dangers of the abandoned mine. The arrhythmic tapping grows louder as they progress, echoing off the stone walls. 

Nimly and Thorn continue, their senses on high alert. As they get closer to the source of the tapping, Thorn mentally alerts Nimly that they are nearing something significant. With an Insight check (15), Nimly is fairly sure that the tapping sound is the result of multiple picks and other heavy tools being used to remove rock.

Nimly sends out a mental command. Come back to me and we’ll approach together. As Thorn returns, Nimly casts Silent Image, conjuring a 10-pound rat with the stylized mountain of Grumbar tattooed on either side of its ribs and on its forehead. The conjured rat waddles nonchalantly ahead, making no effort to remain unseen.  Nimly and Thorn follow quietly, keeping the rat image in sight as they move closer to the source of the mining activity. The sound grows louder, the overlapping rhythm of the taps causing a continuous din in the tunnel.

On the whole feeling optimistic, Nimly and Thorn continue forward. The rat image waddles ahead as a possible sign of good will to any creature that would see the markings of Grumbar as favorable. The curiosity in them burns. Their steps are careful and slow, sure and cautious. 

As they move down the tunnel, they notice the faint glow of torchlight ahead, casting flickering shadows on the walls. They finally reach a wider chamber where a small group of dwarves are wearily at work, frazzled and beaten down. The miners are chiseling away at the walls, extracting an unfamiliar type of ore or crystal. They have ragged clothes and their demeanor suggests they might be captives, engaged in forced labor. Among the miners, a couple of armed bandits can be seen, keeping a bored eye on the workers. They do not seem to have noticed Nimly yet.

Nimly mentally instructs Thorn to stay close and hidden, ready to engage from ambush if the situation turns hostile. The gnome, remaining out of sight as best he can, dismisses both previous uses of Mold Earth. He then refocuses his magic, casting Mold Earth twice to transform the tunnel floor ten feet ahead of him. Smooth gray crystal protrusions emerge, creating difficult terrain and potentially hindering any approach from that direction.

Nimly stands up and walks to the left to be centered in the tunnel and clearly visible, with Thorn still hiding nearby. He calls out in a loud high tenor. “Ahoy there, you rascals! I am Nimly, and I am making a citizen’s arrest on behalf of all the downtrodden peoples of Faerûn. I will take you both into custody now and personally transport you both to Everlund to face justice for the crimes of kidnapping and slave trafficking. Lay down your weapons, please. No one needs to get hurt.”

The chamber falls silent as the bandits and miners turn to face Nimly. The bandits, momentarily stunned by the sudden appearance and declaration, quickly recover and exchange glances. “Eh, whaddya want there, and on o’s authority?” 

Nimly puffs up his chest. "It is a citizen’s arrest! I have the moral authority to right wrongs wherever I find them. As to why I’m here, I believe that Grumbar has led me here to stamp out the rot within the mining community. You both will be an example. I haven’t got all day. Let’s go or we gotta do this the hard way." (intimidation:4)

The bandits exchange uncertain glances, clearly unsettled by Nimly's confidence and the confusing invocation of Grumbar. However, the tension in the air suggests that they are not entirely convinced to surrender without a fight. One steps forward, his grip tightening on his weapon. "You think you can just walk in here and take us down? We've got orders, and we're not about to let some gnome stop us!"

Roll Initiative.

—-—-

Round 1

Nimly raises his hand, fingers crackling with arcane energy. With a swift, graceful movement, he casts Eldritch Blast. The bolt of force cuts through the dim light of the cavern. The spell slams into the chest of the nearest bandit. The impact drives the bandit back, his breath escaping in a pained gasp as he stumbles, clutching his chest, the force wracking his body.

Thorn remains hidden off to one side of the tunnel, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. He waits, muscles coiled like a spring, ready to strike as soon as the brutes venture closer, his patience as deadly as any blade.

Bandit 1, teeth bared in a grimace of pain and fury, struggles to close the distance between himself and the gnome. Each step is a grueling effort, the uneven ground beneath him shifting treacherously, turning his advance into a slow, arduous ordeal.

Bandit 2 draws his light crossbow with a fluid motion. He takes aim, his eyes narrowing as he focuses on Nimly. The bolt flies from the crossbow with a sharp twang, whistling through the air towards its target. But Nimly, light on his feet, twists just in time; the bolt misses him by mere inches and clatters harmlessly off the cavern wall behind him.

Round 2

Nimly's eyes narrow, the shadows of the cavern reflected in their depths as he focuses on Bandit 1. With a swift motion he conjures another Eldritch Blast. The spell streaks through the air, striking the bandit square in the chest. The impact is devastating, sending the bandit hurtling backward, his body crashing against the unforgiving stone of the cavern wall. He slumps to the ground, unconscious. 

Thorn chitters with anticipation before launching himself forward in a blur of fur and fury. The giant rat meets Bandit 2 head on, sinking his teeth deep into the man's leg. The bandit cries out from pain and terror. 

Desperation flashes in Bandit 2’s eyes as he struggles to fend off the relentless assault. He swings his scimitar at Thorn, his grip tight with fear; the blow is hasty and wide, slicing through empty air as Thorn deftly dodges to the side. 

Round 3

With a calm, practiced motion, Nimly flexes his fingers, gathering the dark energy once more. The air hums with latent power as he focuses on Bandit 2, the shadows seeming to thicken around him. With a swift flick of his wrist, the Eldritch Blast streaks forth, a beam of force cutting through the dim light like a bolt from the abyss.

The blast strikes Bandit 2, the impact so powerful it lifts him off his feet. The bandit’s eyes widen in shock as he’s hurled backward, his body slamming into the cold, hard ground with a sickening thud. The force of the blow leaves him motionless, the fight drained from his body. He lies still, his chest rising and falling in shallow breaths, his strength sapped, as he joins his fallen comrade in the dust of the cavern floor.

Nimly lowers his hand, the last remnants of the spell dissipating into the air.

—-—-

The sound of running steps echo through the chamber as Captain Anara and the two guards catch up to Nimly and Thorn.

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Intrepid adventurers and DMs, I hope you enjoyed this continuation of Nimly’s story.

May your rolls be critically high or dramatically low, adding flavor and excitement to your campaigns!