Out of the Abyss (Inactive)

Game Master caster4life

"We certainly should. Seven mirrors, one apiece."

I've taken the gold off the first row, and added the mirrors in farther down.

Mirror is a good idea. We should also get something to turn someone back into flesh.

Any potions or scrolls to that effect?

Odak turns back with others to purchase... stuff. He holds the mirror up looking at his own face. For just a moment, a clarity forms in his eye and he seems confused. In the next moment though, he simply uses the reflection to see what is in his nostrils.

Zoltan breathes slightly better once the mirrors are bought. He says to Odak: "Right, that's one way, but I wish to practice how we can use them to fight. Should we each have one, then how do we aim our blows? Perhaps some of us wield them and act as shiel- mirror-bearers? Now, if I hold it this way... Don't move for now! ...and I want to hit you- Oh no! Sorry about that! Now , this is harder than it sounds. See, left is right, and right is, well, left, of course, but to swing properly without looking at you directly... Ok, your turn!" and he forces everyone to practice and figure out some kind of group tactics.

Awesome idea, Zoltan. Inspiration. You can use that to get advantage or cancel disadvantage at some point while fighting the medusa, if it comes to that.

The heavily guarded door is opened for you and you head into dark, cold, uninhabitated tunnels. They are just like the rest of Blingdenstone, clearly carved out for occupation, except they haven't been occupied in a long time. You soon come to a fork in the dark tunnels and, remembering the threat was to the southeast, you take the right fork. Every step echoes against walls beyond your vision. The air is cold and damp, and you can hear a waterfall somewhere in the blackness, along with faint echoes of battle.

Do you want to head toward the echoes or try to avoid them?

"A fine point, Zoltan. Let us get more accustomed to using these."

Galinndan sheathes his silver blade and holds his mirror in his hand.

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

When he hears the sound of battle, he turns in that direction and keeps walking.

He says softly:

"There is fighting ahead. Let us investigate."

"Lead da way." Cyrus grunts in agreement.

Galenus preps a flask, ready to throw when danger rears its ugly head.

Thanks! I feel inspired!

Zoltan nods back at Galinndan and follows the group, falling back tot he end of the line and keeping an eye on what may creep up behind them.

You head toward the sounds, walking amongst the abandoned homes carved into the stone.

Suddenly, a horrible-looking deep gnome appears in front of you! Fear grips your hearts!

DC 13 wisdom saves! Frightened for a minute if you fail. Something worse if you fail by 5 or more! Can repeat the save at the end of every turn to remove frightened.

The horrible apparition reaches out to touch Galenus! The dwarf gasps in pain as the strange-looking svirfneblin's hand sucks some of his life out! (16 necrotic damage).

Everyone, GO! Religion check to know about this thing.

Gyahh! Galenus screams in pain, instinctively throwing his vial of fire at the apparition.

Will: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

Firebolt: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

But he misses horribly and it shatters against a wall somewhere over there.

Wisdom save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Zoltan cries in surprise at the sight of the deep Gnome attacking Galenus. He makes his way forward to try and stop him from hurting his idol.

"Leave us be!"

Warhammer: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 151d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Do I recognize that thing?
Religion: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Will save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

There is a blur as Galinndan launches himself at the apparition!

Zephyr strike

Even with a mirror in one hand, his blows are not to be dismissed.

+2 short sword: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 2 = 13

+2 short sword, advantage with zephyr strike: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 4 + 2 = 20

Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 = 9

+2 if humanoid

Cyrus, Odak, and Kanzen still can go.

Wisdom: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

Surprised and frightened, Odak yelps and stumbles backward crashing into one of his team mates as he tries to flee from the apparition. Once a safe distance is established, he turns and girls a green bolt of fire at the creature.

Firebolt w DISADV: 2d20 ⇒ (7, 7) = 14 +4
Fire Damage if an 11 hits: 1d10 ⇒ 10

Odak, you can repeat the save at the end of your turn. Kanzen and Cyrus still to go.

Wis: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Shortbow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (6, 6) + 4 = 16
CS: 2d8 ⇒ (1, 2) = 3

Cyrus puts an arrow right through the apparition's creepy face.

Terrified, Kanzen hesitates and doesn't manage to contribute to the battle. Galinndan, Odak, and Cyrus all hit the creature, which Zoltan identifies as a ghost. It resists the fire and Cyrus' non-magical weapon and reaches out to attack again. Since Galinndan struck the ghost the hardest, the creature looks intently at him.

Galinndan, make a charisma save. Depending on that result, I'll update the round.

Given my roll, does Zoltan know how best to defeat it?

Zoltan knows that little will harm a ghost efficiently besides magic weapons and radiant damage.

Resists most energy types and non-magical weapon damage. Immune to cold, necrotic, and poison. All the mean stuff that it wants to do to you require it to be close.

Repeating: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

uh oh.... does the “bad” stuff still happen on the resave? If so, I guess it’s good that Odak is a dwarf.

Thanks. Can Zoltan share this with his companions this round?

Been a busy few days, just caught up!

Galinndan is nearly taken in by the apparitions power, but a well of pure stubbornness bubbles within him.

Charisma Save: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (7) - 1 = 6

Charisma Save, inspiration reroll: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15

Ok cool we'll go with that.

The ghost tries something but nothing happens!

Everyone, GO!!

Irked by the ghost, Galinndan continues slashing at it!

+2 short sword: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 2 = 8

Galenus preps and lobs a flask of fire.

Firebolt: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Fire Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
CS: 1d8 ⇒ 3

Cyrus fires another round at the ghost.

"There's not much that affect ghosts! Avoid cold, that's for sure, and use magic if you can... Perhaps it's best to just leave it alone and choose another path? It's probably not gonna follow us." Zoltan offers as he fires a bolt at it from the back.

Crossbow: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 101d8 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

The ghost winces in pain as three attacks hit it but it seems to resist the worst of each of them except for Galinndan's magic sword. The deep gnome specter looks around in fear, wide-eyed.

Odak and Kanzen still to go.

did anything bad happen on my last failure?

Odak backs up further and throws another green flame bolt at the creature. He seems to be oblivious to Zoltan’s advice.
Flamebolt: 1d20 + 4d6 ⇒ (1) + (5, 5, 5, 2) = 18 Disadv: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Fire Damage: 1d10 ⇒ 5

wisdom save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

No you get to repeat the save to try to throw off the frightened condition. Repeated failures just means that you remain frightened.

Skipping Kanzen.

The ghost gets harmed even further and shrieks out, dashing away to the south then east around a corner!

And provoking from Galinndan. I don't think Galenus or Odak were wielding weapons. Party, GO!

Zoltan raises his hand and asks his companion to hold: "Do we need to destroy it? If it flees, I say we let it."

Pausing to see what the others do. I'm assuming that this is not on our way, and not our objective, which is why I'm suggesting we don't pursue.

By reflex, Galinndan drives his blade towards the foe.

By choice, he does not stop it.

By chance, he misses.

AOO +2 short sword: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

He pursues, at least briefly, ready to strike.

+2 short sword: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

By reflex, Galinndan drives his blade towards the foe.

By choice, he does not stop it.

By chance, he misses.

Nice!

Galenus was ready to throw another vial of fire at the ghost, but held his hand when Zoltan asked to stop it. Of course we don't need to. Such a thing is too far beneath me to worry about it.

Action: Dodge
Bonus Action: Hide

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Cyrus creeps into the next room after the fleeing ghost.

Cyrus sneaks after the ghost and finds a small deep gnome dwelling with a skeleton on a bed. The skeleton's arm seems to be reaching under the bed...

Galinndan follows where the ghost fled to, seeking to finish it off.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Galinndan finds the same thing as Cyrus.

Want to try anything?

Zoltan did not follow. He keeps behind and listens with a sense of dread.

"Cyrus, cover me as I see what that skeleton conceals."

Galinndan gets on his knees near the bed and looks underneath, with short sword between him and the skeleton.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Galenus waits to see if either Cyrus or Galinndan call out to the others for anything.

Galinndan's sharp elf eyes spot a hidden compartment! He finds a rotted pouch containing six gems (100 gp each) and a potion!

Arcana: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Galinndan seizes the contents of the compartment and grins at Cyrus, showing the goblin his find.

"Something for our trouble at least. Now, let us return to the others."

Galinndan keeps a lookout for the ghost in case it tries to strike from behind, but otherwise speedily returns to the others.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

"Found near a gnome skeleton on a bed.", he says as he shows the gems and potion to the others.

"Let us press on."

Zoltan draws a breath of relief when the others return safely and returns to his position at the back of the group as they venture forth into madness.

You notice a waterfall a little farther on with stone stairs on either side of it. Climbing up the stairs, you find a stone chamber. A shallow, swiftly flowing stream bisects this cave. Crystalline formations sprout from the floor on both sides of the stream, and rough-hewn staircases at the back of the cave climb 30 feet to a barren stone ledge with a pair of winged statues perched atop it.

Zoltan readies his crossbow to cover the others as they climb up the stairs, keeping an eye out for danger.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7