Board 8 > The DnD CYOA.

(+) Yeah! (+)

I understand the directive perfectly. We will forge a narrative that is challenging, memorable, and respects the agency and intelligence of the players. Failure will not be a dead end, but a catalyst. Success will be earned in blood, wit, and sheer desperation. The 11 characters you have provided will be the movers and shakers of this world, the formidable forces that your party will ally with, flee from, or challenge. Their stories are now intertwined with yours.

Let us begin.

*******************************************************************

The first thing you feel is the cold. Not the crisp chill of a winter morning, but a deep, gnawing cold that has sunk into your bones, a damp and miserable ache that seems to radiate from the iron itself. The second is the jarring, rhythmic thump-and-jostle of iron-shod wheels on a packed-earth road, a brutal massage that resonates up your spine with every rut and stone.

You are awake. All four of you.

The world comes into focus through a haze of confusion and headache. You are in a cage. Thick, rusted iron bars form a crude box, barely large enough for the four of you to sit or crouch in the damp, grimy straw that covers the floor. The cloying stench of rust, old sweat, and something vaguely like animal musk hangs heavy in the air, mingled with the sharp, unnerving tang of ozone, as if a storm is brewing just under your skin. Cold iron manacles, heavy and unforgiving, bind your wrists.

A quick, frantic mental inventory confirms the worst: your weapons, your armor, your packs, your holy symbols and arcane focuseseverything is gone. You are left with nothing but the threadbare common clothes on your backs and the iron on your wrists.

Through the bars, the world is a smear of bleak, depressing gray. You are on a wagon, part of a small, grim caravan of two identical caged carts, trundling across a windswept moor under a bruised purple sky. Gnarled, skeletal trees claw at the horizon, and the wind whips across the desolate landscape with a mournful howl. In the distance, jagged peaks tear at the low-hanging clouds.

You are not alone in your misery. The cage is cramped, forcing you into uncomfortable proximity with three strangers.

A hulking young human, built like a battering ram with the lost, confused eyes of a boy who has been pulled from a world he understood into one he doesn't. He clutches his hands together, the muscles in his forearms tense.

A small, wiry kobold, his charcoal-colored scales bristling with paranoid energy. His amber eyes dart everywhere, from the lock on the cage door to the sky above, his long tail twitching restlessly in the straw. One of his teeth juts out over his lip, giving him a permanent snarl.

A tall, lean rabbit-man, a Harengon, whose long ears twitch with every sound. He seems eerily calm, though his nose is constantly testing the air. There's a strange, distant look in his eyes, as if he's listening to a conversation no one else can hear.

And a warforged, a being of metal and wood, sitting with an unnerving stillness. While the others betray their discomfort, it remains impassive, its glowing optical sensors taking in every detail with a silent, analytical patience.

Your captors are visible. At the front of your cart, a man in ill-fitting chain mail holds the reins. He has a cruel, brutish face and a smug grin. Riding alongside the cart is a woman clad in immaculate steel plate armor, her face obscured by a closed-visored helmet. She carries a shield bearing the stark emblem of a single, black raven. She rides with a ramrod-straight posture, a silent, implacable sentinel.

Up ahead, leading the two-cart caravan, is a man who exudes authority. He's powerfully built, his glaive resting easily on his shoulder. You can hear his voice, a condescending bark, as he addresses the silent, armored woman.

"See to it they remain quiet, Hildir," the man, Darius Rourke, sneers without looking back. "I don't want to hear a peep out of them until we reach the spire."

The woman, Raven Hildir, simply nods, a clipped, professional gesture. "Sir," is her only reply, her voice flat and devoid of emotion from behind her helm.

A low grumble of thunder rolls across the moor. It is not a promise of rain, but a threat. You are weak, unarmed, and being transported by dangerous, organized soldiers to an unknown destination called "the spire" for an unknown purpose.

This is your reality.

What do you do?

For Pass Quarterman:
A: Grip the bars of the cage and test their strength, looking for any sign of weakness or rust. (Make an Athletics check)
B: Yell out to the guards, demanding to know where you are and what's going on. Let your voice carry the weight of your frustration. (Make an Intimidation check)
C: Watch the guards intently. How do they move? How do they hold their weapons? Youre used to sizing up an opposing team; this is no different. (Make a Perception check)
D: Look at the others in the cage. "Anyone got a clue what the play is?" you ask, trying to size up your new, unwilling teammates.
E: Anything else.

*
*
*

For Zix:
A: Hiss quietly, your eyes narrowed. You focus on the guards, trying to read their intent. Are they competent? Cruel? Stupid? A predator must know its prey. (Make an Insight check)
B: Slink to the cage door and examine the lock with a practiced eye. Its not your thieves tools, but you know mechanisms. How complex is it? (Make an Investigation check)
C: Your senses are sharp. You scan the bleak landscape. Are there any hiding places? Any creatures stirring in the distance? Any features of the land that could offer an advantage? (Make a Survival check)
D: Bare your snaggletooth at the others. "Who are you? Pathetic meat-sacks got Zix captured. This is your fault. Speak!" (Make an Intimidation check)
E: Anything else.

*
*
*

For Ark:
A: Close your eyes for a moment, focusing inward. "Clover? Any bright ideas? Stealing memories is one thing, but stealing my crossbow is just rude." You confer with your patron.
B: Catch the eye of the silent, armored woman, Raven. You offer a disarming, small smile. "That's a lovely shield. Does the bird have a name? I find it's always good to be on a first-name basis with one's captors." (Make a Persuasion check)
C: You let your arcane senses drift, trying to feel the flow of magic in this place. Is there anything unusual about the cage, the guards, or this unnerving landscape? (Make an Arcana check)
D: Quietly address the others. "Alright. New plan. First, we get out of the cage. Then, we have a very strongly worded discussion with management. Any objections?" You try to start coordinating.
E: Anything else.

*
*
*

For CU-P5:
A: Observe the guards with calm, analytical focus. You track their patrol paths, their alertness, their interactions. You gather data on their behavior. (Make an Insight check)
B: You are a machine of precise design. You meticulously examine the construction of your manacles and the welds of the cage bars, looking for design flaws or points of structural weakness. (Make an Investigation check)
C: Address the female guard, your voice a calm, modulated tone without inflection. "Query: What is the designation of this 'spire'? What is the purpose of our containment?"
D: Silently assess your fellow prisoners. You note their species, their physical condition, their emotional state. They are variables in an unfolding equation. You must understand them.
E: Anything else.

Three votes locks in a choice, though if 24 hours have passed and I am able to update, I will go with whatever is ahead. If there is a tie, I will vote myself to keep up the pace.

Pass: A
Zix: A
Ark: D
CU-P5: C

Pass: D
Zix: A
Ark: B
CU-P5: C

Pass: A
Zix: A
Ark: C
CU-P5: C

Pass: A
Zix: A
Ark: B
CU-P5: A

I didn't expect to see Raven and Rourke so early, in seemingly the antagonist role.

I should probably read the character sheets for our chosen four, but is there a TLDR?

I use the summary in the voting topic to get an idea for each character.

Having those summaries and the character sheets for close access when those areas purge would be great though.

Ark
Ark is a quick-witted and twitchy Harengon Warlock who shares a psychic bond with Clover, his amnesiac Archfey patron. Forged in shared trauma, their partnership is defined by sarcastic banter and mutual reliance as they seek to uncover their lost memories. Ark is a master of deception, which is complicated by a magical inability to tell a direct lie, forcing him and Clover to be exceptionally clever with their words. Their shared goal is to embrace their anomalous nature and become a "glitch in the system" of fate.

Billy Ray
An ageless Tiefling (POKEMON) Bard of supreme and unshakable confidence, Billy Ray views himself as the ultimate object of desire. With unbelievably high personal stats, he is a force of nature whose entire existence is a performance designed to captivate and enthrall. His charm is otherworldly, his musical instruments are bizarre, and his goals are centered entirely on reinforcing his own magnificence. His only flaw is a strange sensory anomaly: he can only smell cat pee.

CU-P5
CU-P5 is a serene and profoundly naive Warforged Monk who wanders the world with no memory of its past. It operates on a simple philosophy of being a "leaf on the wind," driven by a gentle curiosity to experience everything the world has to offer and make new friends along the way. This peaceful, inquisitive nature stands in stark contrast to its deadly martial arts training and disciplined mechanical body.

Gabriela Reyes
Gabriela is the beacon of hope in the group, a kind-hearted Half-Elf Warlock whose celestial magic is dedicated to protecting and healing her companions. She is an eternal optimist, driven by a powerful love for her family and the singular goal of finding her long-lost brother. Her genuine goodness and performer's charm make her easy to like, but her extreme naivete and tendency to see the best in everyone is a significant and dangerous vulnerability.

Moxsy
Moxsy is a highly intelligent Goblin Wizard whose calm, flat demeanor conceals a chaotic and impulsive spirit. A survivor of a criminal upbringing, she uses her arcane prowess as a tool to ensure her own freedom and to reclaim a specific, important item that was stolen from her. She is a brilliant tactician who assesses every angle, but she is frustratingly prone to ignoring a perfectly good plan simply because a more chaotic idea occurs to her.

Pass Quarterman
Pass Quarterman is a star athlete, a Human Barbarian ripped from his modern world and dropped into a fantasy realm. He possesses incredible physical strength and the confidence of a hometown hero, but this masks a deep-seated indecisiveness. Used to having his "plays" called for him, he is completely lost when faced with complex decisions or emotional situations, desperately looking for a leader to give him clear instructions so he can one day get back to his girlfriend and the life he left behind.

Raven Hildir
Raven is a Human Fighter who embodies the ideal of a guardian. A former soldier, her entire being is dedicated to the protection of the weak, and she is a master of defensive combat. This singular focus has left her socially awkward and intensely self-reliant, viewing most social interaction as a distraction from her duty. Her actions speak far louder than her few, tactical words.

Robyn Blackwell
Robyn Blackwell is a stout Halfling Cleric and Folk Hero, acting as a pillar of strength for the common folk. She is powered by an unshakeable faith in her divine destiny, which makes her a confident and inspiring leader. However, this same certainty makes her blind to her own faults and the potential for failure. Her salt-of-the-earth wisdom is curiously punctuated by her habit of misusing long words to sound more intelligent.

Stein
Stein is a boisterous Mountain Dwarf Barbarian with a simple, all-consuming passion: finding and throwing large rocks. He is a force of nature whose worldview is shaped by the mountains, believing any problem can be solved with the application of sufficient brute force. His quest for glory is not for a title or riches, but for the personal satisfaction of becoming strong enough to throw any rock he can see.

Tawmid
Tawmid is a young Goblin Knowledge Cleric who believes the greatest crime is locking away information. A former book smuggler, he sees his divine calling as a continuation of his old work: liberating secrets from the powerful to protect the powerless. He is brilliant and an expert in all things arcane and religious, but he is deeply condescending and rude to anyone he deems "willfully ignorant."

Zix
Zix is a paranoid and ambitious Kobold Druid, a survivor of a warren ruled by a tyrannical dragon. He wields the raw power of nature not as a gentle guardian, but as a vicious weapon to claw his way up from the bottom of the scrap heap. He is a bundle of insecurities that manifest as prickly aggression and a deep-seated inability to trust, his every action aimed at gaining enough power to one day face the master he both reveres and despises.

I will vote so I can post a continuation before turning in.

Pass: A
Zix: A
Ark: B
CU-P5: C

These are coincidentally also the choices picked.

For Pass Quarterman:
A: Grip the bars of the cage and test their strength, looking for any sign of weakness or rust. (Make an Athletics check)

For Zix:
A: Hiss quietly, your eyes narrowed. You focus on the guards, trying to read their intent. Are they competent? Cruel? Stupid? A predator must know its prey. (Make an Insight check)

For Ark:
B: Catch the eye of the silent, armored woman, Raven. You offer a disarming, small smile. "That's a lovely shield. Does the bird have a name? I find it's always good to be on a first-name basis with one's captors." (Make a Persuasion check)

For CU-P5:
C: Address the female guard, your voice a calm, modulated tone without inflection. "Query: What is the designation of this 'spire'? What is the purpose of our containment?"

You all act at once, a flurry of desperate appraisal and cautious action within the confines of the rattling cage.

First, the rolls.

Pass Quarterman's Athletics Check: (d20 + 6) = (18 + 6) = 24
Zix's Insight Check: (d20 + 3) = (15 + 3) = 18
Ark's Persuasion Check: (d20 + 3) = (4 + 3) = 7

Pass, you ignore the others for a moment, your entire focus narrowing to the cage itself. You're a Folk Hero, a star athlete; you understand physical limits better than anyone. Your hands, despite the chafing manacles, find purchase on two of the vertical bars near the cage's corner. With a low grunt, you flex, putting your formidable strength into the motion. It's not a sudden jerk, but a steady, powerful strain, the kind of controlled force you'd use to drive a blocking sled across a field.

Under the immense pressure, the rusted iron doesn't just hold firmit groans. A low, protesting screech echoes in the cage. For a terrifying second, you feel the metal begin to give. But it's not the bars themselves that bend. Instead, you feel a distinct shift from where the bar is joined to the cage floor. The weld, old and weathered, is the weak point. You couldn't rip it free with your bare hands, not without leverage, but you know with absolute certainty that with the right toola crowbar, perhapsor a significant, sharp impact, you could pop that join right out of its housing. It's a small spark of hope, but a real one.

-----------------------------------------

At the same time, Zix, you press yourself against the bars, your small size making you less conspicuous. Your amber eyes, sharp and assessing, ignore the cage and focus on your captors. You see more than just guards; you see a power dynamic as clear as a dragon's hoard. The leader, Darius, swaggers with an arrogance that screams overcompensation. He barks orders, but his eyes dart around, not assessing threats, but checking to see if his authority is being acknowledged. He is dangerous, yes, but also brittle. He's a bully who would likely shatter if genuinely challenged by a greater power.

The woman, Raven, is different. Her silence isn't subservience; it's a wall. Through her flawless discipline, you see a flicker of utter contempt for her superior. She obeys his orders to the letter, but her posture, the way she keeps a measured distance, the way her head remains facing forward even as her helmet seems to track everything around herit all speaks to a coiled spring of professional resentment. She is not loyal to him; she is loyal to a duty you cannot yet comprehend. She is the true threat here. She is competent.

Ark, you decide on a different approach. You catch Raven's gaze and offer that disarming smile.

"That's a lovely shield,"you say, your voice light and conversational."Does the bird have a name? I find it's always good to be on a first-name basis with one's captors."

Your attempt at charm lands with a dull thud. Raven's helmet doesn't even twitch in your direction. There is no response, not even the slightest acknowledgment that you spoke. It is as if you are nothing more than a rock, incapable of speech.

Before you can try again, CU-P5, your calm voice cuts through the air, a stark contrast to the rattling cart.

"Query: What is the designation of this 'spire'? What is the purpose of our containment?"

This time, there is a reaction. Raven Hildir turns her helmeted head, the motion sharp and sudden. The black visor seems to fix on you, CU-P5, and for a moment, you feel the full weight of her attention. Her voice, when it comes, is flat, cold, and final.

"Cargo does not speak."

She turns away, her posture once again facing forward, her duty fulfilled. The message is clear: You are objects, not people. Further attempts at conversation with her will be ignored, or perhaps met with more direct methods of silencing.

The wagon continues its bumpy, miserable journey across the moor. You have a potential weakness in the cage, a better understanding of your captors' personalities, and a definitive wall of silence from your guards. The bruised sky overhead darkens ominously.

What is your next move?

For Pass Quarterman:
A: Quietly convey your discovery about the weak weld to the others. "Corner bar is loose at the bottom. Hit it hard enough, it'll pop."
B: You're angry about being ignored and manacled. You slam your shoulder into the weak corner of the cage, trying to break the weld now. (Make an Athletics check with disadvantage due to the awkward angle and manacles).
C: Stare daggers at Darius Rourke. You want him to see you. You want him to know you're not just "cargo." (Make an Intimidation check).
D: You are used to being told what to do. You look at the others, your expression blank. "So... what's the play?" you ask again, more urgently.
E: Anything else.

*
*
*

For Zix:
A: Now that you know the dynamic, you try to exploit it. You shout towards the lead cart, "Your fancy tin soldier doesn't respect you, boss! She thinks you're weak!" (Make a Deception or Persuasion check to sow discord).
B: You whisper your findings to the others, your voice a low hiss. "Leader is a coward. Woman is the real danger. We need a plan. Now."
C: You noticed Pass testing the bars. You slink over to the corner he identified and use your sharp claws to scrape at the rusted weld, trying to weaken it further. (Make a Sleight of Hand check).
D: You focus on your Draconic heritage. As a bonus action, you could let out a Draconic Cry. It might be useless now, but it would certainly get their attention.
E: Anything else.

*
*
*

For Ark:
A: "Well, she's a ray of sunshine," you think to Clover. You try to get a different read from your patron. "Any Fey tricks for getting out of cold iron? This is seriously cramping my style."
B: The guards won't talk, but maybe the other prisoners will. You turn to the others. "Okay, new-new plan. Introductions. I'm Ark. We're clearly in this together, so we might as well know who 'we' are."
C: You try a different kind of magic. You focus on Raven Hildir and cast Mage Hand cantrip, intending to tickle the back of her neck under the helmet. It's petty, but it might be funny.
D: You know you can't lie directly. You yell to the guards, "I can't tell you that we're planning an escape, because that would be a lie!" You try to use your flaw to create confusion. (Make a Deception check).
E: Anything else.

*
*
*

For CU-P5:
A: Process the new data. Raven is hostile to communication. Pass has identified a structural weakness. You begin formulating a plan. "Data indicates a structural vulnerability at the lower-right-anterior corner weld. A kinetic force of sufficient magnitude may induce structural failure."
B: You saw Pass's attempt. You move to the spot and add your own metallic weight, striking the corner with a precise, calculated blow from your shoulder. (Make an Athletics check).
C: You activate your telepathy, pushing a simple, direct message into the mind of Darius Rourke: <Cease transport. Release us. This course of action is illogical.>
D: Your internal chronometers are precise. You begin tracking the time and the caravan's speed, attempting to calculate the distance to this "spire." (Make an Investigation check).
E: Anything else.

A
? (not A)
C
D

Pass: A
Zix: B+C
Ark: C
CU-P5: D

Pass: A
Zix: B
Ark: C
CU-P5: D

Pass and Zix relaying info while Ark is already in the middle of trying to troll the one Zix says is the actual threat lol. CU-P5 calculating everything simultaneously while working out additional information on the situation.

Pass: A
Zix: C
Ark: A
CU-P5: D

Tried to generate some images of our heroes:

CU-P5:

https://freeimage.host/i/FNNPcqQ

Zix:

https://freeimage.host/i/FNNj1Bs

Ark:

https://freeimage.host/i/FNNvV3u

Pass Quarterman:

https://freeimage.host/i/FNN47yu

These are totally not canon, I just wanted something in my mind. Feel free to correct where it looks wrong if you're the original creator!

I might give a try at it too for fun lol

A try at the crew (one of Pass' hands got screwy but we can pretend its a glove!)
https://i.imgur.com/ic17ft5.jpeg

I hope Pass at some point talks about, yknow, not being a part of this world at all LOL

Pass is just Arthur King from King Arthur & the Knights of Justice...except without the rest of his football team. Though I find it hilarious the AI's drawing of him was as a contemporary baseball player. (I also like how the bars appear to go through Pass and Ark or somehow behind them.)

https://i.imgur.com/jrjgOWC.jpeg

This will totally not backfire at all.

It really has a hard time with those bars LOL

azuarc posted...

Pass is just Arthur King from King Arthur & the Knights of Justice...except without the rest of his football team.

More like?:
https://i.imgur.com/xX1P1uG.jpeg

Pass: A
Zix: C
Ark: C
CU-P5: A

Pirateking2000 posted...

More like?:
https://i.imgur.com/xX1P1uG.jpeg

Don't know the reference, sorry.

Pirateking2000 posted...

A try at the crew (one of Pass' hands got screwy but we can pretend its a glove!)
https://i.imgur.com/ic17ft5.jpeg

I love this. They are so cute.

The cage becomes a hive of quiet, desperate activity.

First, the rolls.

Zix's Sleight of Hand Check (DC 13): (d20 + 3) = (17 + 3) = 20 (Success)
CU-P5's Investigation Check (DC 14): (d20 + 3) = (12 + 3) = 15 (Success)
Ark's Sleight of Hand Check (Contested): (d20 + 3) = (8 + 3) = 11
Raven Hildir's Perception Check (Contested): (d20 + 3) = (19 + 3) = 22 (Raven succeeds)

Pass, you lean in, your voice a low rumble barely audible over the clatter of the wheels. "Corner bar is loose at the bottom," you whisper, nodding your head slightly toward the spot you tested. "Hit it hard enough, it'll pop." The information hangs in the air, a concrete plan in a sea of uncertainty.

Zix, needing no further encouragement, immediately slinks toward the corner Pass indicated. You are a creature of shadows and opportunity. With your back to the guards, you press yourself against the bars as if trying to get comfortable. Your sharp, dark claws, however, are anything but idle. You begin to scrape at the rusted, weakened weld, your movements small and precise, perfectly timed with the jostles and creaks of the wagon. Flakes of orange rust fall away into the straw, and under your persistent work, a tiny fissure in the metal widens into a noticeable crack. The sound is completely lost in the cacophony of the caravan. The weld is significantly weaker now. A single, well-aimed, powerful blow would surely break it.

Meanwhile, CU-P5, your optical sensors are a whirl of data collection. You ignore the immediate discomforts of the cage and focus on the external constants. The diameter of the wagon wheel. The frequency of its rotation. The shifting angle of the light from the bruised sky, which you cross-reference with an internal star chart to determine the time of day and your general direction of travel. You calculate the horses' gait, their average speed over the uneven terrain, factoring in the slight slowing on inclines. After several minutes of silent, intense processing, you reach a conclusion. The caravan is maintaining a steady pace of roughly three miles per hour. Based on the perceived time elapsed since you awoke, you estimate you have traveled six to seven miles. The "spire" is likely a landmark, not a town. Given the terrain, if it's visible on the horizon, your journey is finite. You calculate you have, at most, another two to three hours of travel before you arrive.

Ark, you are feeling mischievous. A talking rabbit-man being ignored is an insult to the very nature of storytelling. You decide a little petty revenge is in order.

"Right then, Clover," you mutter under your breath, a smirk playing on your lips. "Time for a little... percussive maintenance."

You whisper the arcane words, a faint shimmer of ozone in the air, and make a subtle gesture with your manacled hands. An invisible, spectral hand coalesces from the ambient magic. Your target: the back of Raven Hildir's neck. Your goal: a little tickle to break her iron composure.

You were not subtle enough.

The instant the verbal component leaves your lips, Raven Hildir's head snaps around. Her movement is not human; it is the predatory, instantaneous reaction of a wolf spotting a threat. The black, mirrored visor of her helmet fixes directly on you, Ark. She saw it. She heard it. She perceived the shift in the air as you drew on your magic. The spectral hand dissolves into nothingness before it's even fully formed.

She says nothing. She does nothing. She simply... stares.

The silence that follows is heavier and more terrifying than any threat. The world seems to shrink to the space between you and that unfeeling black visor. The rattling of the cart, the howling wind, it all fades into a dull background hum. There is only the chilling, absolute certainty that you have been caught, and that this silent, implacable guardian is now focusing the entirety of her considerable attention directly on you.

The air grows thick with menace.

What do you do under the weight of that gaze?

For Ark:
A: You can't lie, so you use the truth. "It was just a harmless prank, I swear! A little gallows humor, you know? Can't blame a rabbit for trying to have some fun on the way to his own execution!" (Make a Persuasion check).
B: You try to brazen it out. You give her a wink. "Caught me," you think towards Clover, trying to appear nonchalant.
C: You use your Fey Presence. As an action, you can try to frighten her. It's a gamble, but it might break her focus. (She must make a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw).
D: You immediately avert your gaze, trying to look as small and non-threatening as a six-foot-tall rabbit-man can. You say nothing.
E: Anything else.

*
*
*

For Pass Quarterman:
A: You see the guard focused on Ark. This is your chance. You immediately slam your shoulder into the weakened weld with all your might. (Make an Athletics check).
B: You step between Ark and the guard's line of sight as much as you can. "Hey! Leave him alone. He didn't do anything." You try to draw her attention. (Make an Intimidation check).
C: You see the opportunity, but hesitate. You look to the others. "Now? Is now the time? What's the play?"
D: You ignore the drama and focus on the other guard, the driver. Is he paying attention to what's happening? (Make a Perception check).
E: Anything else.

*
*
*

For Zix:
A: The guard is distracted! This is the moment. You shout "NOW! BREAK IT NOW!" to Pass, urging him to take the shot.
B: While Raven's attention is fixed on Ark, you use your bonus action to let out a piercing Draconic Cry. The sudden, sharp shriek next to her might startle her and give the others an opening.
C: You see the guard staring at Ark and know this is bad. You try to create a different distraction, perhaps by faking a seizure or pretending to choke on a piece of straw. (Make a Performance check).
D: You see this as a perfect opportunity to strike. You prepare to use your claws on the driver the second the cage door opens.
E: Anything else.

*
*
*

For CU-P5:
A: You analyze the situation. The guard's attention is focused, creating a tactical window. "The probability of a successful escape attempt has increased by 47%," you state calmly. "I advise immediate kinetic action on the designated structural weakness."
B: You decide to force the issue. You use your Telepathy to send a sharp, distracting message to Raven: <THREAT DETECTED. REAR. IMMEDIATE.> (Make a Deception check).
C: You use your Battlemind's Demand on Raven. As a bonus action, you can try to force her to have disadvantage on attacks against anyone but you. It's a psionic assault to protect Ark. (She must make a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw).
D: You prepare for the inevitable. You shift your weight, ready to use your body as a shield or a weapon the moment the cage breaks.
E: Anything else.

I had a couple images generated of Zix that fit a bit better for what I had in mind!

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/3/31c9be91.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/6/65ece32a.jpg

Poor poor Ark. I'm noticing a trend with this silly rabbit.

Ark: A
Pass: A
Zix: E (Perhaps a perception check to try and see where our stuff might be as Pass gets us out? We might be able to get out, but if we don't have our weapons and equipment, we'll be sitting ducks.)
CU-P5: D

Poor Ark. It's like the a.i decided he is comic relief or something. Just to be sure, I reinforced the fair dice rolling instruction and got this:

Yes, absolutely. I want to be completely transparent about this.

I am committed to simulating 100% fair and random dice rolls as you requested. For every check, I am generating a random number between 1 and 20, and then adding the appropriate modifier from the character sheet you provided.. Ark's failed attempt at persuasion and his fumbled spellcasting directly led to Raven's threat, which has raised the stakes and changed the dynamic in the cage. This is a direct consequence of those lower rolls. Conversely, the high rolls have given you a tangible opportunity for escape.

I will continue to roll honestly for every single check, for both the party and the NPCs. The story will unfold based on the fall of the dice, for better or for worse. Your successes will be genuinely earned, and your failures will be genuine challenges to overcome.

Thank you for asking. It's important that you trust the process.

Ark: A
Pass: A
Zix: A
CU-P5: D

Ark: B
Pass: A
Zix: E (get idea of where their stuff might be?)
CU-P5: D

Because the rules are fuzzy on this -- in 5e, some dungeon masters rule that if your hands are manacled, attacks are made with disadvantage and spells with a somatic component cannot be cast at all.

To make it simple and clear, my ruling is that all attacks, spells or otherwise are made at disadvantage. So two d20's will be rolled and the lower one is used.

To be able to make good choices, you guys deserve clarity on the rules.

B
C
D
B

I apparently have a very different take on the situation than everyone else.

A
A
A
B

Uppercase

Ah right group is manacled. Guess it depends on what the play is versus in character. Like with Ark I figure A or B character wise (with B playing off as more smooth like an accidental direct distraction if gang tries to book it now)

From what I remember of Pass' info A or C seems to fit though B can also work again depending on whether group is trying a jailbreak now. I think his info mentioned he is better when directed so depends if people want to play into that

Zig already noted for Zix (and alts being like A if we want to go loud in bumble fucking fashion or other violent approach options

CU: Maybe A on the directing Pass front or D if just going off the cuff jailbreak route

Are you sticking with your earlier post, Pirate? You seem to be considering alternatives. If you stick with your earlier post:

Ark has 3 votes for A

A: You can't lie, so you use the truth. "It was just a harmless prank, I swear! A little gallows humor, you know? Can't blame a rabbit for trying to have some fun on the way to his own execution!" (Make a Persuasion check).

And 2 for B:

B: You try to brazen it out. You give her a wink. "Caught me," you think towards Clover, trying to appear nonchalant.

*
*

Pass has 4 votes for A:

A: You see the guard focused on Ark. This is your chance. You immediately slam your shoulder into the weakened weld with all your might. (Make an Athletics check).

*
*

Zig has 2 votes for A,

A: The guard is distracted! This is the moment. You shout "NOW! BREAK IT NOW!" to Pass, urging him to take the shot.

And 2 votes for E: attempt to perceive where the weapons, equipment and items are, and one vote for D.

*
*

CP-U5 has 3 votes for D

D: You prepare for the inevitable. You shift your weight, ready to use your body as a shield or a weapon the moment the cage breaks.

and 2 votes for B.

I will wait for 30 minutes, if there are no other responses I will cast my vote. I will then break the tie on Zig in favor of E: attempt to perceive where the weapons, equipment and items are. If there is another vote or someone changes their vote disregard this post.

Well Ark and Pass seem locked regardless so way I see it for flow having Zix command Pass might fit better with Pass' traits but would check with @Zigzagoon

From there depends if people want CU going in directly or cause more confusion saying there is another threat behind her as all the craziness is happening lol. I'd assume D works more

Pirateking2000 posted...

Well Ark and Pass seem locked regardless so way I see it for flow having Zix command Pass might fit better with Pass' traits but would check with @Zigzagoon

From there depends if people want CU going in directly or cause more confusion saying there is another threat behind her as all the craziness is happening lol. I'd assume D works more

A is fine for Zix, it just seems kinda pointless since Pass is going to be doing it anyways.

Zigzagoon posted...

it just seems kinda pointless since Pass is going to be doing it anyways

He will be motivated and pumped by coach shouting the command at him

All star athlete from the regular world motivated by some strange lizard thing.

I can see it.

So funny that in a party with a warforged, kobold and a harengan the human is essentially the alien.

Alright, I will break the tie in favor of E: perceive items and weapons. New post coming up.

The moment hangs, taut and heavy, under Raven's piercing gaze. But in that focused instant, a cascade of desperate actions tumbles forth, shattering the fragile stalemate.

First, the rolls.

Ark's Persuasion Check (Disadvantage, DC 15): (2d20l1 + 3) = (1 + 3) = 4 (Critical Failure)
Pass Quarterman's Athletics Check (Disadvantage, DC 10): (2d20l1 + 6) = (16 + 6) = 22 (Success)
Zix's Perception Check (DC 13): (d20 + 5) = (18 + 5) = 23 (Critical Success)

Ark, you attempt to defuse the situation with your words, trying to pass off your magical transgression as a harmless joke.

"It was just a harmless prank, I swear!" you stammer, forcing a nervous chuckle. "A little gallows humor, you know? Can't blame a rabbit for trying to have some fun on the way to his own execution!"

Your attempt is not just ignored; it is received with utter contempt. The result is instantaneous and violent. Raven Hildir takes one step forward. In a movement so swift you can barely track it, her gauntleted hand flashes through the bars of the cage. There's no malice in the action, just cold, brutal efficiency. The metal back of her glove connects with the side of your head with a sickening CLANG.

Unarmed Strike Damage (Improvised Weapon): (1 + STR mod[+3]) = 4 Bludgeoning Damage

Pain explodes behind your eye. The world whites out for a second, and you reel back, stumbling against the far side of the cage. Your ears ring, and the coppery taste of blood fills your mouth. You take 4 points of bludgeoning damage. The message is delivered without a single word: Do not test her again.

But she made a critical error. In focusing on you, she gave the others the only opening they would get.

At that exact moment, Pass, you act. You see Raven step forward, her back partially turned, her attention entirely on Ark. It's the opening you've been waiting for. With a guttural roar that is part fury and part desperation, you slam your entire body weight into the weakened corner of the cage.

The sound is not one of bending metal, but of a catastrophic fracture. CRACK! The weld, expertly sabotaged by Zix's claws, shatters completely. The rusted bar, now attached only at the top, shrieks as it's bent outwards, creating a gap just wide enough for a person to squeeze through. Freedom is a single, desperate scramble away.

While this chaos erupts, Zix, your sharp eyes are scanning the caravan. You ignore the immediate drama, focusing on the prize. Your gaze darts to the second wagon, the one traveling behind yours. It appears empty of prisoners, but it's heavily laden. Thrown in the back, tangled in a heap under a rain-soaked canvas tarp, you see it: your gear. You spot the distinctive curve of Pass's Louisville Slugger, the edge of CU-P5's quarterstaff, and the familiar leather of your own druidic satchel. It's all there, unguarded, in the back of the second cart.

CU-P5, you do not act, but you prepare. Your internal mechanisms whir, calculating angles and trajectories. You shift your metallic body, planting your feet firmly in the grimy straw, coiling your limbs like a spring. You are no longer a prisoner; you are a weapon system waiting for the signal to launch.

The driver of your cart, the brutish man, shouts in alarm, pulling hard on the reins. The wagon lurches to a stop. Up ahead, Darius Rourke whirls around, his face a mask of incandescent rage at the sound of the breaking cage.

"INCOMPETENT FOOL!" he bellows at Raven, his eyes burning with fury. He drops from his horse, his massive glaive held at the ready. "CONTAIN THEM!"

The air crackles. The moment for planning is over. The fight for your life has just begun.

THE BATTLEFIELD: You are in a cage with a broken bar on a stationary wagon. The brute driver is on the seat at the front of your wagon, about 5 feet away. Raven Hildir is on foot, right next to your cage. Darius Rourke is on foot, about 25 feet ahead of your wagon, near his horse. The second wagon with your gear is about 15 feet behind yours. The terrain is open, windswept moor. Squeezing out of the broken cage will require an action and a successful DC 10 Acrobatics or Athletics check.

INITIATIVE ORDER:

1. Ark (23)
2. Zix (22)
3. CU-P5 (20)
4. Darius Rourke (19)
5. Raven Hildir (14)
6. Brute Driver (8)
7. Pass Quarterman (5)

The air is electric with sudden, violent potential. The cage is broken. Your captors are furious. It's your turn to act.

Round 1

Ark, you are up first. The side of your head throbs where Raven struck you, a painful reminder of her speed and brutality. But the cage is open. Before you is a scene of chaos: the brute driver fumbling with his own weapon on the cart's bench, Raven turning to face the new threat, and the furious Darius stalking towards you. The second cart, containing all of your precious gear, sits tantalizingly close behind you.

What do you do?

For Ark:

A: Scramble out of the cage. You're quick and nimble. You can dive through the opening and land on the muddy ground. (Make an Acrobatics check with Disadvantage. DC 10 to succeed).

B: Cast a spell. From within the cage, you can still bring your power to bear. You could try to put the Brute Driver to Sleep, or hinder Darius and Raven with Faerie Fire. (Spellcasting has Disadvantage due to manacles).

C: Use your Fey Presence. You can attempt to Charm or Frighten the Brute Driver and Raven, who are both within 10 feet of the cage. (Action, they must make a DC 13 Wisdom Saving Throw).

D: Rabbit Hop. As a bonus action, you can try to leap from the cage. It's a risky move, but it might get you clear of the immediate danger without provoking an attack.

E: Anything else.

Glitch In the System indeed. In the world's continuous attempts to murder him, Ark allows his companions to succeed

Poor Ark. I know we have "reserve" characters that could join the party (like Raven), but I feel like they're only going to do so after Ark flops for good.

I'm not familiar with 5e, so I had to look up what advantage/disadvantage is, and somehow getting an acceptable roll twice for Ark to escape the cage doesn't feel like good odds. (Technically, it's 42%.)

I'm not really clear on what D is suggesting Ark does, but getting out and away seems like the smart choice. Is this saying do what's in A and then more?

Way I figure it, Ark being in or out of the cage doesnt matter much because manacled and apparently his stuff isnt among the pile Zix found unless I missed something. Best I figure is for him to chill in the cage for the moment to not draw attention (compared to those actively out) and try to remove / affect enemy party more subtly with sleep (potentially remove brute; Arks charisma is nice) or fey presence (though I was thinking of that more when Darius was closer to maybe catch em all

Then in the interest of having something to do with the initiative that might also let the others extricate themselves in the meanwhile, I'll vote C.

Sleep doesn't require a roll. Could be a strong option. Fey presence doesn't require somatic components, so would not be disadvantage nor advantage for the opponent.

The other options are a "risky move" or a check with disadvantage, with Ark's diminished health that would seem risky to me.

B - Sleep on Brute Driver