Mines of Madness - D&D 5th Edition (Inactive)

Game Master wicked_raygun

Dervel casts Sacred Flame at the gargoyle.
damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

Spell save DC 12, Reflex for no damage.

"Who has that pick? Perhaps it will do more damage against this statue?"

Dexterity Save : 1d20 ⇒ 20

0.o

The Gargoyle cackles as it dodges first Grith's fire and then Derval's. Alton's arrow flies wild as well. Only Randal is able to get in a solid hit.

Vasayo is up.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Oh, sorry. I thought since Vasayo is at ginormous 5 HP, he will keep hiding till he doesn't hear any sounds of battle anymore.

No problem, Vasayo.

The Gargoyle rears back and attacks Derval again.

Bite vs. Derval, with Disadvantage : 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Bite vs. Derval, with Disadvantage : 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Damage : 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8, Miss.

Claws vs. Derval, with Disadvantage : 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Claws vs. Derval, with Disadvantage : 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Damage : 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8, Miss.

Everyone is up again.

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"Maybe I was right about this thing being invincible..." Grith wonders aloud as he fires another bolt.
Firebolt: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22, Damage: 1d10 ⇒ 1
sigh...

Grith has the Diamond War Pick.

Alton lines up his aim against the Gargoyle. In a flash he lets two arrows fly.

Shortbow, attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Shortbow, damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Shortbow, attack, action surge: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Shortbow, damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Also. ****. "When you roll a 1 on an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll." How many times have I forgot that by now?

Would it be possible for someone to take the pick off of Grith's Backpack as a bonus action and start hitting with it in the same round?

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I should be able to draw it as a non-action. I can use it next round just as well too.

Would it be possible for someone to take the pick off of Grith's Backpack as a bonus action and start hitting with it in the same round? -Posted with Wayfinder

I'll allow it.

-Posted with Wayfinder

it was just am idea. I don't think anyone has proficiency with the weapon, so it really doesn't matter who uses it.

Vasayo stays hidden, thinking that as soon as he shows his face again, that thing will be all over him and he is close to falling unconcious.

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The pick axe is treated as a War Pick, which is a martial weapon that deals 1d8 piercing damage.

The Gargoyle roars in pain as Grith and Alton harm it.

Randal and Derval are up.

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Randal tries a sacred flame on the gargoyle

1d8 ⇒ 3

DC: 13 Dex save to avoid.

Dexterity Save: 1d20 ⇒ 7

The radiant energy penetrates the Gargoyle and burns him from within. The monster stumbles and falls against the wall. He is clearly in great pain, and yet he smiles.

"Ah, sweet oblivion. Freedom at last. I have waited so long for this."

The gargoyle's breaths are erratic and the light in his eyes is fading fast.

"I have guarded this door for centuries. Never allowed to move. Never allowed to die. Curse all wizards!" He coughs up a wad of blood, and spits it out.

"You seek the Forever Stone, do you not? Fools. You would be smarter to turn back. Nothing good lies behind this secret door. But if fools you be, then ask me the password, while I yet draw breath. I cannot tell you freely, but I am compelled to answer if asked. Damned wizard thought he was so clever. No one ever just asks for the password."

Randal looks to the others and then back at the gargoyle. " Well, what's the password? "

The Gargoyle grins nastily and says, "Glitterdark." The secret door swings open. He chuckled quietly. "Madness. It's all..."

And then the Gargoyle died.

" Are you all right Vasayo? " Randal says, looking around for the rogue. Maybe we should find somewhere defensible and try to get some rest before we keep going. "

"I could do with a short rest. Are the rest of you all spent? I prefer not to linger here, but I'd more prefer to not get anyone killed just yet."

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" The power my god grants is spent for the day. It would probably be safer if I could rest and then commune with him again. "

Vasayo steps out of the dark corner he was hiding in.
"I'm not so good and I don't think just taking a deep breath will cut it. I'm for finding shelter and rest. "

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"I too would rest for a longer time."

Is the general consensus is a long rest then?

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Alton shrugs. "A breather wouldn't bother me, eh?"

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"Well alright. I'm doing fine so I'll take first watch."
Where's a good niche to camp?

I'll take the second watch, eh?

" I'll be fine to take the third watch. Maybe we could just set up here in the gargoyle's nook. I wonder if that door will close with the password too? Glitterdark!" Randal speaks the password to see if the door will close.

Preception for watch : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

Do we go by the standard rules for resting and regain full HP and half our levels worth in hit dice? And where exactly are we on the map?

"We should find a room we can close off. I really don't want those floaters from the deep drop to come visit us here."

You are currently in Room 26. I'll adjust the map to reflect that.

Randal discovers that the password opens and closes the magical door.

The group decides to sleep where they are taking turns. But unfortunately they are each plagued with horrible nightmares, and are only able to sleep fitfully. You awake feeling weak and rattled.

You regain your hit points, spells, etc, but not any hit dice.

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arcana: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
"I doubt we'll be getting any better sleep than that in these mines. They hold dark arcane energies that infiltrate a sleeping mind."

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"I'm OK with that for today, but we should seek an exit so we can rest somewhere outside in the evening. Well, or whatever time it is we leave. Im not so sure it really is morning now... " Vasayo says, sunken in thought. No way telling how much time has passed other than maybe counting candles or light spells.

"I will move in the front. Since this didn't work out too well for me yesterday, I'll take one of those healing potions with me."

As soon as anyone is ready, Vasayo speaks the word to open the secret door, equips his Shortbow and an arrow with a light spell on it and leads the way.

I imagine Grith has a light spell for me. I figured it'll be more useful on an arrow than a coin. I'll shoot it and then run for a hiding spot, still able to track my target.

-Posted with Wayfinder

I have dancing lights actually, so we can use that.

Room 27

Ahead is a 30-foot-square chamber. Most of its walls are covered with a ghastly painted mural depicting piles of dead adventurers, except in the middle of the north wall, into which is set a 10-foot-wide, floor-to-ceiling slab of polished black obsidian. In the middle of the room rests a bloodstained altar, splayed upon which is an armored corpse with a ceremonial dagger sticking out of its chest.

It looks like this.

What do you do?

"Vasayo, be a good lad and fetch us that knife?" Grith requests without the slightest hint of concern. "That man is clearly done with it."

"Well of course good sir," Vasayo answers making a grimace and a curtsey. "This doesn't look dangerous or anything at all! I'll take my time, better to be safe than sorry on this one."

He scans the room for traps, carefully searching for any trip wires, loose plates or suspiciously placed holes in the walls. He tries to see if maybe in some places the dust is thicker or if maybe footprints can be found on the floor. After a few minutes of observation, he carefully steps into the room, now a short sword in hand in place of his previously drawn bow, and continues his observation. Only when he feels confident he didn't miss anything, he draws the dagger from the dead man's skeletal remains.

I'm intending to take 20 on the Perception and Investigation rolls, making it a 24 each. Since this might not be possible, I'll roll the first rolls up front. Vasayo first observes, then steps into the room, so the Perception check is made before entering. Of course I'm sure this room will assault my brain and try to convince me to kill myself, but Vasayo doesn't know that.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Investigation: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Well, after those rolls, taking 20 might not even be necessary...

From the door, Randal looks over the room, the altar, the way the corpse is tied and stabbed etc looking for any indication that this was some sort of religious ceremony. (Also is that corpse undead.)

Religion (Int) : 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

The corpse seems to be the regular kind of dead, but the manner in which he was placed with his arms crossed and no apparent bindings suggests to Randal that this person was a willing sacrifice.

The altar is bloodstained, and dried tracts reveal carved grooves that funneled the blood into tiny holes leading down below.

Vasayo finds no traps, but when he eventually removes the dagger, you all can hear the secret door - the one that opened with the password "Glitterdark" - slam shut.

And then in the obsidian slab blocking the way forward you see mirror images of yourselves. They whisper together in a sad monotone, "One must die."

Relax. You've done nothing wrong. This is the only way forward to the Forever Stone. This adventure is just messed up.

-Posted with Wayfinder

"Oh I hate this place!" Vasayo exclaims. "Any ideas guys? I ain't sacrificing anyone here, no matter what!"

Vasayo keeps searching the room for, well, anything. He starts with the dead body on the altar.

"Maybe we didn't think this one through..." Grith considers while thinking of a solution to the problem.

The armor on the dead body is ruined and therefore worthless. If he had any weapons, they were taken.

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Vasayo shoves the dead body off of the altar, then searches it further.

"Well, it might be a stupid idea, but would someone try the diamond pick on the obsidian? I mean, hey, better try that out before sacrificing someone, right?"

The pick axe bounces off the obsidian slab with the tell tale sparks of a powerful abjuration. You spend half an hour testing the slab with your weapons and small spells, but the slab remains unblemished.

Attempts to open the secret door using the password "Glitterdark" fail as well. Raw force is equally fruitless.

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"Are there any other doors in there, Vasayo?" Grith asks, hoping the rogue can find his own way out.

"I am afraid not."

As I said, 24 Investigation and Perception, since I take 20 on the roll. Also, do I find anything unusual on the altar, after shoving the dead body off of it?

Vasayo keeps searching for anything unusual. If he deems the altar safe, he even lays himself on it. Maybe it is that simple as a preassure plate on the altar, with the skeleton too light. ALso, he looks for animal tracks. Maybe the sacrifice of even a mouse will do, who knows?

The group spends another hour frantically trying anything they can think of. They find nothing under the body. And simply laying on the altar does nothing.

The one thing that they do discover is that the dagger disappears and returns to the altar when brought out of the room.

Attempts to find any animals fail as well.

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How did we get the dagger out of the room though?

There is a hallway between area 26 and 27. Remember it's the Glitterdark door that is sealed tight.

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There was a tunnel leading from the secret door into this chamber if I recall correctly.

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Vasayo places himself on the altar and cuts his arm with the ritual dagger just enough for a bit of blood to run onto the altar.

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Supposing the above doesn't work
"Well alright, I think it's time to try some heavier magic. This is going to be loud, so be ready. We could well wake some sleeping horrors."
If Grith receives no objection, he conjures an invisible magic fist to attempt to open the door.
Casting "Knock"

On the secret door we came in through or the obsidian thingy that is blocking our way?

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Obsidian thingy I was thinking.