Luke's Crimson Throne Campaign (Inactive)

Game Master GM Crimson

HOSPICE OF THE BLESSED MAIDEN (Midland--West Dock; 12 Desnus)

Firinne's spell both exposes and blinds Davaulus with golden glitter. Miakoda's spiritual weapon harms the good docotor further before Nebbin's greatsword cuts the man down for the count.

The last physician takes one blow from an elemental and then two more as he opts to try to flee through the summoned creatures. The damage is enough to drop the masked man and he falls to the floor, slowly bleeding out.

If Rolth's still present, he doesn't respond to Emileva's taunting challenge.

Since Nebbin was last in initiative order, I ignored his Miss Chance roll vs. Davaulus.

Let me know your next actions. It's a fairly safe assumption that the stuff in the vats is the cause of (or at least related to) the city's outbreak of blood veil.

As a reminder, I was doing nonlethal.

Nebbin looks around. "He got away again!" he laments, frustrated.

"We should get Kayleigh. She'll know how to get rid of this stuff. Or maybe send a message to Field Marshal Croft."

HOSPICE OF THE BLESSED MAIDEN (Midland--West Dock; 12 Desnus)

A closer examination of Dr. Davaulus's body reveals that Nebbin struck him with the flat of the blade; instead of a corpse, his form is merely battered, glitterdusted, and unconscious.

Yep, totally missed (or forgot) the nonlethal bit.

Waiting to see if folks heal, check/open any doors, try to tie up/revive/interrogate Davaulus, etc. Buff spells continue to tick down....

Hmm. I'm loathe to leave Davaulus alone; we've had too many leads evaporate. I could haul him along with us -- though it would potentially leave him susceptible to any area effects, but hopefully he's not actually too wounded.

Nebbin looks around. "Rolth still might be nearby! Let's keep looking!"

Moved Nebbin to the nearest door, since I figure we can start with that (assuming no objections). I'll sheathe my sword and carry Davaulus if no one has another suggestion. Though thinking about it, maybe it makes more sense to have Miakoda/Andrezi stay next to him and I'll just carry him if we need to actually move him.

"Go look for him!" Andrezi says through a wheezing breath. "I can stay and make sure that he remains docile."

My spells are spent, and I currently have a Speed of 5. Go hunting and I'll stay put. Everyone else should go though.

Fírinne starts to do as she is commanded once more, but stops and turns to Andrezi, giving him a skeptical look. "Are you certain?" she asks.

"Go," he wheezes the word out, making a weak waving gesture. "My elementals will keep me safe."

I recognize that I'm putting myself out of the action and am very much okay with that. Please be heroes :)

For her part, Emi never pauses in her search for Lamm. She walks all the balcony area first. When that area has been worked, she comes down and starts checking the room in all it's nooks and crannies. While she does all this, she continues to curse and shout at Lamm.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

Emi's going to need some healing if we're not done down here.

HOSPICE OF THE BLESSED MAIDEN (Midland--West Dock; 12 Desnus)

Emi's search for Lamm and general ranting is somewhat time-consuming and likely loud enough to alert any foes beyond the three unopened doors in the vast hall. Andrezi's haste spell expires, and the mage warns the rest of the party that his elementals will soon vanish and the glitterdust spell that currently reveals Dr. Davaulus's otherwise invisible form will soon expire as well.

Some tough decisions must be made. With Andrezi and daily spells both exhausted, the mage would likely be in serious jeopardy should another big fight break out. But retreating brings its own problems, such as possibly leaving any remaining foes time to regroup or maybe even call in reinforcements. Also, there's the added problem of dozens of afflicted blood veil victims who are now without any care whatsoever.

Lastly, you've yet to find poor Deyanira Mirukova's missing brother, Ruan.

What's the plan?

"We have to keep looking!" Nebbin says, not willing to leave without fully searching this place. "Once we're done, I think we need to send a messenger to Kayleigh so she can take care of all the sick people here. She'll have them better in no time."

I think we risk that there could be another fight (I miss 2e; cantrips that are useful!); then we can send a messenger to Kayleigh and maybe Croft.

Yeah, we've reached the point where we can't reasonably continue, but both leaving and staying in place are undesirable for different reasons.

Emi finally gives up, throwing her weapon at a wall with a final curse. After crying a bit, she calms down enough to retrieve her falchion and offers an opinion.

"We might be able to be like the stopper in a bottle if we keep the way out of this basement blocked. If Kayleigh could come help out and we rest for a while, we could finish cleaning the place out when we're back to ready for trouble"

"I think Lamm is long gone," Fírinne says, frustration plain in her voice. "The spell he cast could have taken him blocks away in an instant. Much as I hate to let him go, I think we need to focus on saving the lives here first."

I've been assuming that you folks haven't been looting the fallen as you've progressed swiftly into the hospice. Dr. Davaulus, however, has a few items of note beyond his armor and weapons: a keyring with 3 keys, including a weirdly-shaped one that Emi would recognize as fitting the freight elevator; a glass vial; a small flask labeled "elixir of true healing;" an amulet; and a sack of mixed platinum and gold coins worth 580 gp.

#praedam

I assume we can go back and loot folks now that the fighting is over.

"Bring what you find... to me," Andrezi says, sucking in a breath midway through the sentence. "I can study and identify any magicks."

He then whispers a spell that lets him detect magic, and follows through on his words.
Will take 10 on Spellcraft checks for a 26. Should succeed on anything CL 11 and below

HOSPICE OF THE BLESSED MAIDEN (Midland--West Dock; 12 Desnus)

While the others gather up the fallen's weapons, armor, and other loot, Andrezi guides them in what goodies have priority. Here's the magical stuff he detects:

On Dr. Davaulus: +1 mithral shirt; +1 human-bane rapier; amulet of natural armor +1; potion of remove disease; eversmoking bottle (mislabeled as an "elixir of true healing").

On the Queen's Physicians: plaguebringer's masks (blood veil) (5).

On the Cultists of Urgathoa: +1 breastplates (8); potions of cure light wounds (32!!).

For the sake of completeness, here's the rest of their gear: the Gray Maidens had full plate armor (4), heavy steel shields (4), longswords (4), and longbows (4) with 75 arrows. The Queen's Physicians also had suits of leather armor (5), masterwork clubs (5), and healer's kits (5). Plus, the cultists also had silver (un)holy symbols of Urgathoa.

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As your party searches through the treasure pile (and hopefully heals a bit--Hint! Hint!), you become aware of more enemies approaching from the east. The distance between the groups allows the head bad gal to monologue a bit.

“And so you have found your way to me, hopeful heroes," calls out a six-foot-tall woman clad in a blackened breastplate with an unusual trailing half-gown of the same color that drags behind her. She's armed with a frightful scythe, as are the two cultists of Urgathoa that preceed her. "Know that you stand before the architect of your city’s death. You call this sending blood veil, yet I know it as the gentle kiss of the Pallid Princess. You cannot cheat death now--it is inevitable. You may prostrate yourselves at my feet, and I shall make your ends all the more swift for it. Swifter, in any event, than this delightful end your lovely queen has enjoined me to create!”

The woman's paleness is striking; she's much paler than even Kayleigh, like a corpse warmed over. This triggers something in the memories of Nebbin and Emileva (and possibly for Firinnes and Andrezi; I think the reference is from before Miakoda joined the game): the "Pale Lily" mentioned in the correspondence between Rolth Lamm and the now-passed Jolistina.

Let's do a brief pause to deal with the healing issue--Emi and Firinne are dangerously low on hps for this encounter. I believe Miakoda still has a few healing channels left (I found one post where she used three)...or else maybe we can assume a mass-chugging of potions of CLW.

I ticked off an additional 3 minutes from the duration of buff spells (as the module specified the BBEG emerged to investigate 4 minutes after hearing sounds of battle in the room where you folks had your last big fight), meaning that Nebbin has 2 minutes left on his enlarge person spell and Andrezi's still got 6+ hours on his mage armor; everything else has expired. (Though you might have enough time to re-buff since the enemies are a ways off.)

INITIATIVE ORDER/CONDITIONS: Round 1 (Bolded may act/post)
Last Positive Energy Channel: Post #6271 (3; 23 hps total); Last Cure Spell: ???
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Nebbin (77/81 + 14 temp; enlarge person 2/7 mins.)
Emileva (33/73 + 5 temp; ST n/a)
Firinne (18/47 + 5 temp; diseased)
Lady Andaisin (uninjured)
Cultists of Urgathoa
---Cultist of Urgathoa #1 (uninjured -- 26/26 hps; magic weapon; shield of faith; divine favor)
---Cultist of Urgathoa #2 (uninjured -- 26/26 hps; magic weapon; shield of faith; divine favor)
Andrezi (48/51; mage armor (6+ hrs.); exhausted; -1 Cha (drain))
Miakoda (48/52)

Does Emi have time to switch her breastplate for one of those nice +1 versions? 8 of them! When it rains it pours!

Does Emi have time to switch her breastplate for one of those nice +1 versions? 8 of them! When it rains it pours!

The official time it takes to don a breastplate is 4 minutes, but that can be halved if someone helps you. So I guess the official answer is "Maybe/Probably." Aw, hell--let's make that a Yes.

Remind me to switch to that mithral shirt when we get a chance. But I'll stick with what I have now. In part because I'm GIANT!

Andrezi is efffectively useless for this fight, but he can help people don armor. He would definitely cough and wheeze his way through helping the group

Given how tapped Andrezi is (and thanks to a tip from the GM), if no one objects Andrezi would grab an item or two from past loot so that he can be useful

Before combat...
Andrezi takes a few moments to riffle through the group's bag of loot. When he spots the pearl, he raises an eyebrow and takes a moment to see if there's magic within. Take 10 on Spellcraft for a 26. Guessing it's a pearl of power, which would be very helpful right about now. Depending on what it is, he might use it right away.

He also spies a pair of wands, which the others inform him about. He stows the one that imbues people with a cat's grace, but holds the other one that animates the dead. "Pray that I never have to use this one. I dislike the magic it contains."

Now...
"I suppose... you don't... want to surrender?" Andrezi breathes out a quip, his exhaustion stealing the grace from his words.

Potion of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Potion of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Potion of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Potion of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Potion of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Potion of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
6 potions gets me back to full (less if Miakoda does some channeling or other healing), and then I'll spend 2 arcane points to reprepare shield and blade tutor's spirit, plus use my pearl of power to reprepare glitterdust. If her monologue gives us time I'd like to recast those two buffs but it's okay if not lol.

"I thought you'd be taller," Fírinne replies with a shrug, then taps the tip of her rapier on the ground before her. "Come on, then, and we'll show you what you're made of."

Firinne, are you not going to grab that nifty +1 Human Bane Rapier to use? If not, Emi might pick it up for this fight along with a shield. It would mean a bit less damage, but tanky might be better considering our particular situation here.

You can have it! I considered taking it, but she has an emotional attachment to her current weapon.

Some quick notes:

@Andrezi: I found the stablocks for the encounter where the party got those items, but I see no notes there as to what the actual treasure was. Going from memory, I'm pretty sure the amulet was (yet another) amulet of natural armor +1; let's say the pearl is a pearl of power (2nd-level spell).

@Firinne: No problem using arcane points and your pearl of power during the short downtime. Let's say you can recast one spell during the monologue. The other PCs may take a single action as well. Sort of a Surpise!-We-Caught-You-Monologuing! half-round.

If Miakoda doesn't post, I'll assume potion-guzzling and move us along later today.

Emi has no potions so could be just shit out of luck. That makes my decision for me I guess.

After she donned the new breastplate, Emi adds one of the Grey Maiden shields and takes the doctor's rapier. She leaves her falchion in its scabbard.

On the Cultists of Urgathoa: +1 breastplates (8); potions of cure light wounds (32!!).

Heal up!

Huh, thanks. Either I didn't notice or forgot. I'll stick with the rapier and shield though, at least for a bit to see how it goes.

Emi does some heavy drinking.

CLW 1: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

CLW 2: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

CLW 3: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

CLW 4: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

CLW 5: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

CLW 6: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

CLW 7: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

CLW 8: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

GM - Thanks. Given that it's 2nd level Andrezi will recall Glitterdust. Otherwise I'm all set and ready to see Nebbin, Emi, and Firinne stick it to the baddies

Channel 1/5: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 4) = 13
Channel 1/5: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 5) = 14
Channel 1/5: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 5) = 11
Channel 1/5: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 4) = 10

Miakoda used 3 healing channels in Post #6271, so she should only have 2 remaining. Did you want to use both now or just one and save one in case of emergency? (Either works, as there are plenty of potions of cure light wounds to go around.)

Also, is anyone gonna use the bonus action I gave everyone as a penalty for the BBEG monologuing?

Nebbin -- remembering poor Madame Carrington -- decides to finally take the fight to these cultists. They've done enough damage and he understands that they truly must die. He doesn't glory in it -- but his usual remorse at wielding his blade seems beyond him.

Move into the room (using the free/bonus action and my move action), then Strike!
Mwk greatsword, raging, power attack, vital strike: 1d20 + 15 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 15 - 2 = 30
Damage: 4d6 + 14 ⇒ (2, 4, 1, 3) + 14 = 24

Ohh, yes! Andrezi would cast Bull's Strength on Nebbin while they monologued.

Ohh, yes! Andrezi would cast Bull's Strength on Nebbin while they monologued.

Wait a sec.... I thought you were out of spells save for the glitterdust spell you'd recalled with the pearl of power?

Emi had wanted to force the new pack of cultists to fight their way through the door to get get to them, thereby cutting them down more or less less one-by-one. So, when Nebbin charges off into the room beyond to meet them, Emi can only grimace and roll her eyes at opportunities lost.

She follows behind Nebbin though, resigned to making do with a general brawl. She does use the huge man as cover though until she can maneuver into a position to strike.

Double move to behind Nebbin.

Andrezi Mardu wrote:

Ohh, yes! Andrezi would cast Bull's Strength on Nebbin while they monologued.

Wait a sec.... I thought you were out of spells save for the glitterdust spell you'd recalled with the pearl of power?

Yeah, I forgot about that one. I double checked the thread and I haven't cast it yet. After this, the only spells Andrezi has left are Alarm, Feather Fall, Liberating Command, Glitterdust, Knock, and Stone Shape. So... not much of combat use outside of Glitterdust.

Don't underestimate Stone Shape!

Fírinne takes a more measured pace as she steps into the room, laying another spell onto her blade as she does so.

Casting blade tutor's spirit and moving in.

NOTE: Between Miakoda's positive energy channel(s) and all the potions of cure light wounds, I'm just going to assume that everyone's at full hps going into this fight.

Also, since Nebbin acts first in the Initiative order, he'd have been gone before Andrezi could cast bull's strength on him; same is true for Emi and Firinne. ANDREZI may retcon his monologuing action to his turn.

HOSPICE OF THE BLESSED MAIDEN (Midland--West Dock; 12 Desnus)

Nebbin, on a mission, rushes out to engage the nearest cultist; a moment later, the fellow's barely still upright, courtesy of a wicked slash from the big man. As they enter the room, Emileva and Firinne notice two more enemies present: a pair of zombies move with unusual grace and speed atop the catwalks; they're nearing the stairs down.

"Pale Lily" shakes her head as the intruders opt to resist what she believes to be the inevitable. Casting a spell upon herself, she strides forward to go toe-to-toe with the party.

Meanwhile, the two cultists choose polar opposite tactics: the guy put on death's doorstep by Nebbin steps back out of range of his blade and targets him with a spell. (Will DC 15; if you fail, see the spoiler below.) The second charges Firinne while swinging his scythe, missing by a wide margin.

The zombies swiftly close with Emi and Firinne (but can not yet attack).

ALL PCs are up! (Andrezi and Miakoda to end Round 1; Nebbin, Emileva, and Firinne to kick off Round 2.)

Thanks for catching that, GM, I'd have used both channels for the sake of healing quickly.

Religion: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

"Be wary, those are no ordinary shamblers--they still have their minds and their skills from life," Miakoda nods towards the two zombies as she catches up to the melee. "Try not to scatter too far..." she suggests before beginning a new prayer.

Double Move, planning to cast Blessing of Fervor next turn.

Will save (+2 when raging): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

Nebbin ignores whatever the spell was and continues his assault.

"Leave this city alone!" he hollers at Pale Lily. Still, he instead steps forward and tries to end the threat of the injured cultist.

Mwk greatsword, raging: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (2) + 15 = 17
Damage: 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (4, 1) + 8 = 13
Mwk greatsword, iterative: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25 will attack Pale Lily if the first swing managed to hit/put down the cultist
Damage: 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (3, 5) + 8 = 16

HOSPICE OF THE BLESSED MAIDEN (Midland--West Dock; 12 Desnus)

Pale Lily offers Nebbin a condescending smile as she intones, "Gladly...once this city is a necropolis and stands in testament to the might of Urgathoa!"

Her cultist-bodyguard somehow manages to cheat death at Nebbin's hand...but only for an instant, as the big guy's follow-up lops off his head. Miakoda joins the party, calling out a warning about the zombie threat.

ANDREZI, EMILEVA, and FIRINNE still up.

If Andrezi couldn't cast Bull's Strength on Nebbin during the monologue then he'd cast it on himself.

Bolstered by the strength magic but still clearly exhausted, Andrezi moves to catch up with the others. Double move

Emi heeds Miakoda's warning and turns about to face the approaching zombie. She keeps her shield high so she can just see over its top since the zombies down there seem to explode. From behind it she quickly punches twice with her rapier.

Attack: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 11 - 2 = 24

Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 4 = 14

Attack: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 6 - 2 = 14

Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 4 = 14

Spellcraft #1: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31
Spellcraft #2: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14

Fírinne sidesteps to prevent herself from being caught between the zombie and the cultist, then delivers a pair of cold infused strikes with her rapier.

Cast ray of frost defensively, DC 15: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Rapier #1 vs Cultist #2, SC: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18
Piercing + Cold: 1d6 + 11 + 1d3 ⇒ (2) + 11 + (2) = 15

Rapier #2 vs Cultist #2, SC: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14
Piercing: 1d6 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16

HOSPICE OF THE BLESSED MAIDEN (Midland--West Dock; 12 Desnus)

Emi stabs her zombie foe once before missing with the follow-up; the piercing blade doesn't do as much damage as she'd hoped against the walking corpse. An overhand clubbing blow smashes into her temple and shoulder painfully (12 bludgeoning damage) as the zombie fights back.

Firinne stabs her cultist opponent once, thanks to him bot having fully recovered from his previous charge. She also dodges a blow from the southernmost zombie. When the cultist tries to hack her with his scythe, the deft tiefling dodges and runs him through.

Nebbin takes a (relatively) weak strike from Pale Lily (6 slashing damage after DR) before dodging another swipe.

ALL HEROES are up!

Andrezi takes a few shuffling steps closer before beginning to create a conjuration. He works through the gestures, controlling his breathing enough to get the words out right, and moments later a burst of golden particles appears over Paly Lily.
Glitterdust. DC 19 Will save or be blind. If they fail they get to make a save again at the end of their turns

Emi shrugs off the blow and fights back with even more determination.

Attack: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 11 - 2 = 29

Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 4 = 10

Attack: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 6 - 2 = 21

Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 4 = 9

If a Crit is Possible: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 11 - 2 = 15

Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 4 = 12

Fírinne kicks the cultist off of her blade before turning her attention to the zombie, this time charging her blade with positive energy.

Cast disrupt undead defensively, DC 15: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

Rapier vs Zombie: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19
Piercing + Positive: 1d6 + 11 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 11 + (4) = 21

Rapier vs Zombie: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
Piercing + Positive: 1d6 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13 +4 if the first attack missed.

Oops! I forgot the rapier is +1. Please add +1 attack and damage to the above.