Matt's Crypt of the Everflame (Inactive)

Game Master into the aether

Almost forgot…

Angoldir determines the door to be neither trapped nor locked.

A shallow reflecting pool divides this long chamber, running from one end to the other. The water looks cloudy and stagnant. What must have once been marvelous murals covering both walls are now scorched and ruined, the original subject lost in the destruction.

The passageway leading out of this chamber to the west is blocked by a heavy iron portcullis.

What would you like to do?

Ja'ali rubs the handbill's crinkled surface between his fingers, he looks at it with a combination of confusion and curiosity.

"Strange. This certainly doesn't seem like something that would be in an 'ancient' crypt. Angoldir? Any ideas?"

"Probably one of the new guys! Seems people left gifts. Wouldn't be out of place for some of them to turn to zombies, right? Zombies do the whole: if it kills ya you become one, right?"

Psamtic, in usual fashion, smells the door she was headed to. "Nothing. It's still too stinky!"

"Ashrea, where have I heard that name before?"

knowledge (local) (guidance): 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 7 + 1 = 25

"Oh, now I remember! It was on my list of places to go once I got out of the convent."

"While that may be true, Psamtic," Algoldir replies thoughtfully, "a much more common way for zombies to happen for someone - or something - with necromantic power to reanimate them. I worry that one might be down here - perhaps that 'master' the man upstairs told us about."

Map actually updated with the next room! (sorry about that.) What would y'all like to do next?

Psamtic opens the door to the room and shouts, "Guys, looks like there's water here. Mama said not to play near water, so let's tread carefully."

Psamtic walks forward slowly to the other door, checking for traps as she goes. (I won't move the token, as I personally believe something's going to happen as she walks forward)

First 10 foot square perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Next square: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
next square: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

...and so on.

Psamtic cautiously advances through this room, looking for traps. While she doesn’t spot any, she does catch her own reflection in the pool, and what she sees is a horrid, rotting reflection of her own face!
WILL: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
She starts to flee, screaming, toward the entrance of the dungeon!
frightened rounds: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Suddenly, as if alerted by the sounds of Psamtic’s screams, the sound of dozens of fluttering wings can be heard from the room beyond the portcullis.

As he follows Psamtic, Angoldir’s ears perk up at the sound of fluttering wings.

Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 8 + 1d6 ⇒ (8) + 8 + (5) = 21

”Sounds like a swarm,” he says as he reaches into his pack and pulls out a glowing orange bottle. ”If you do not have your own splash weapons, there are more in my pack.” He then prepares to throw when the creatures reveal themselves.

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Fire damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Miss: 1d8 ⇒ 3

Angoldir hasn’t actually spotted the bats yet because they’re still in the darkened room beyond the portcullis. But when you do eventually see them—they’re bat swarms. Like all swarms, they can cause distraction and AOE attacks are especially effective against them. If they bite you you’ll start bleeding.

Looks like Zoot is up.

Zoot moves to the door to see what is the matter. That's 10 feet of move so far. How deep does the pool appear to be?

Zoot moves up behind Angoldir and the now-screaming Psamtic but can’t really get a good look at the pool; from there she can tell it just looks cloudy and yucky. Still have more movement and a standard.

"Here's hoping there's enough water in there for the two of us!"

She slams into Psamtic and bounces off the huge warrior woman.

Wait! The map's different! There's a gaunt stick figure in the way now!

Now the question becomes does Zoot just slam the door on them both for screwing up her big hero moment. (She totally would have made that roll you know. Totally.) Hmm, decisions... ... ....

Seeing Angoldir in her way, Zoot steps back gives him a friendly tap on the shoulder and says "Good luck. I'll be praying for you."

Casts guidance on Angoldir.

Angoldir gets ready to throw a glowing orange bottle at the bats when he can see them. Zoot gives Angoldir some divine guidance.

The bats come fluttering into this room. Angoldir connects with his bottle of fire. One swarm of bats stops on Angoldir and Psamtic.
swarm damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1
The other flies through and stops to feed on Zoot.
swarm damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Angoldir, Psamtic and Zoot are bleeding 1; all three need to make FORT saves against swarm distraction.

Psamtic runs screaming towards the stairs leading up (double move maybe, will retcon if she fails the FORT save).
--
Round 1-2: the bold may act!
--
Zoot (-2 HP, bleeding 1, FORT save needed)
Angoldir (-2 HP, bleeding 1, guidance, FORT save needed)
bats
Ja’ali/Bhenqai
Psamtic (-2 HP, bleeding 1, FORT save needed)

fort save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

"EEK! GET THEM OUT OF MY HAIR!!"

Zoot rushes back into the room with the pool, through a hail of bats, and jumps into the shoggoth in the pool.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16 I assume that makes it

"AAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaa!"

And she's gone.

Fortitude, Guidance: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 + 1 = 21

Ignoring the bats swooping around him, Angoldir reaches into his pack and pulls out another bottle of alchemist's fire. "I fear that I will not be able to disperse all these bats without assistance," he calls to Ja'ali as he steps closer to the pool and tosses the bottle at the bats, "and unfortunately the rest of our allies are otherwise preoccupied at the moment."

Ranged Touch, Inspiration: 1d20 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (7) + 4 + (5) = 16
Fire damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Miss: 1d8 ⇒ 2

Continuous Fire damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Looks like the best place to throw would be the closest square of the black swarm. Silver lining - both swarms will take the splash damage!

”I’ll try what I can!”

Ja’ali looks at Bhenqai with sorrow in his eyes.

Sorry, buddy…

The half-elf snaps his fingers and the genie vanishes. He then runs towards Psamtic, hoping the swarms won’t come after him.

Zoot, made nauseous by the bats, makes to dive into the brackish pool. When she sees the rotting reflection of her own face she’s horrified.
WILL: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
So horrified, in fact, that she abandons her idea of jumping in and instead starts screaming and running for the stairs.
frightened: rounds: 1d4 ⇒ 4
Psamtic regains her composure. (no longer frightened.) Angoldir remains relatively calm as he asks for Ja’ali’s assistance and throws another orange bottle at the bats swarming around him, connecting. Ja’ali dismisses his genie, then retreats towards Psamtic.

The bats near Angoldir and Zoot continue biting.
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2
The other bat swarm chases down Psamtic and starts munching on her.
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Angoldir, Psamtic and Zoot are bleeding 1; all three need to make FORT saves against swarm distraction.

Zoot runs screaming. (distance will depend on results of FORT save; moved 30' so far)
--
Round 2-3: the bold may act!
--
Zoot (-4 HP, bleeding 1, FORT save needed, frightened rounds: 1 of 4)
Angoldir (-5 HP, bleeding 1, FORT save needed)
bats
Ja’ali
Psamtic (-2 HP, bleeding 1, FORT save needed)

Fortitude: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

The screeching bats are too much for the old elf, and he moves through the crypt trying not to gag. At least the alchemist's fire stays active when I am not, he thinks to himself through the smell of burning fur.

Continuing Fire damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Sparks of electricity arc off of Ja’ali as he concentrates toward the bats surrounding Psamtic. The half-elf screams as a bolt of lightning strikes down from the ceiling on top of the swarm! Converting a Summon Monster I SLA into call lightning. Strangely enough, call lightning is actually an AoE (“…5-foot wide, 30-foot long, vertical bolt of lightning…”)

Electricity Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6 DC 15 Reflex for half

Ja’ali then moves into the intersection, just far enough away from his allies that the swarms are more likely to go after them than him.

The burning bats near Psamtic fall to the floor as the lingering fire from Angoldir’s last attack toasts them.
--
Round 2-3: the bold may act!
--
Zoot (-4 HP, bleeding 1, FORT save needed, frightened rounds: 1 of 4)
Angoldir (-5 HP, bleeding 1)
bats
Ja’ali
Psamtic (-2 HP, bleeding 1, FORT save needed)

@Ja'ali: didn't quite post in time but that swarm is gone. Go ahead and adjust your turn.

Ja'ali would move up 5 more feet to be able to target the other swarm and strike it with lightning, just keeping the roll above, if that's alright.

Sounds great. Psamtic is up.

Sorry about the delay.

fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Psamtic begins moving back towards somebody who seems capable of dealing with the swarm as she screams "No! Get THEM OFF! AAAH! NO! GET THEM OOOOOOF!" and as the bats finally drop, she thanks Ja'ali.

"I can deal with one bat, but a plethora of flaming bats may be too much for me."

The remaining swarm flies over to munch on Angoldir and Ja’ali.
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Zoot continues screaming and running for the entrance.
—
Round 3-4: the bold may act!
—
Zoot (-5 HP, bleeding 1, frightened rounds: 2 of 4)
Angoldir (-12 HP, bleeding 1, FORT save needed)
bats
Ja’ali (-6 HP, bleeding 1, FORT save needed)
Psamtic (-3 HP, bleeding 1)

The swarm distraction DC is 11

Fort: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Ja'ali clutches his stomach as he moves as fast as possible away from the swarm of bats!

Running Music ♪♫

"Woah, wait, Ja'ali, where ya going? You're supposed to kill these....things......"

Psamtic stands there, awkwardly waiting for lightning to come. It doesn't. (Psamtic will stand there, hoping to draw the swarm to her. She's the tank, after all.)

Angoldir's up!

Fortitude vs DC 11: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Angoldir moves again out of the swarm. ”Psamtic, if you move into the bats they will not chase the rest of us,” he calls to his companion as his blood drips onto the moldy floor.

On mobile - heading towards NW corner of current room if someone can relocate his tokens.

Moved Angoldir’s token.

Angoldir and Ja’ali both feel ill after being swarmed. The bats fly to their nearest living target to feed on—Psamtic.
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Zoot continues screaming and running for the entrance.
—
Round 4-5: the bold may act!
—
Zoot (-6 HP, bleeding 1, frightened rounds: 3 of 4)
Angoldir (-13 HP, bleeding 1)
bats
Ja’ali (-7 HP, bleeding 1)
Psamtic (-10 HP, bleeding 1, FORT save needed)

The swarm distraction DC is 11

As the bats land a good hit, Psamtic activates her rage and swings blindly at the bats. (I'm going to assume this is a swarm that's immune to weapon damage).

Fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

"Go back to the pit you crawled out of you...you......DIIIIEEEE!"

"There are tools in here that might be of more use than your blade," Angoldir calls as he pulls out a wand from his backpack and tries to work its magic, though his hands are shaking from the effort.

Use Magic Device: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Feeling somewhat better now that the bleeding has stopped, the elf continues, "If you would like, I can try to toss it to you. I would advise against coming over here as the bats will happily feed on both of us."

Ja'ali finishes upchucking a pile of bloody puke as he wipes away the tears in his eyes.

"That...smelled...horrible!"

Electricity crackles in his hands as the half-elf steps back into the chamber and a bolt of lightning once more strikes down on the swarm of bat!

Electricity Damage (DC 15 Reflex Halves): 1d6 ⇒ 3

REF DC 15: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
Ja’ali zaps the bats but they manage to avoid much of the lightning. Psamtic swings her axe at the bats ineffectually. Angoldir heals himself with a wand and calls out to Psamtic with an offer of weapons more suited to killing a swarm of bats. Zoot can still be heard screaming and running in the distance.

The bats fly over to Ja’ali and attack.
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3
—
Round 4-5: the bold may act!
—
Zoot (-7 HP, bleeding 1, frightened rounds: 4 of 4)
Angoldir (-7 HP)
bats
Ja’ali (-11 HP, bleeding 1, FORT save needed)
Psamtic (-11 HP, bleeding 1)

The swarm distraction DC is 11

Fort: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

"Not aga--!"

Absolutely sick by the smell, Ja'ali runs towards Angoldir. The half-elf seems like he's trying to say something but can't in between dry heaves.

"FIRE? GIVE....PSAMTIC.....BOOM?"

Psamtic bounds over to Angoldir and gets ready to grab a flask of whatever he hands her, and then she preps to throw it at the swarm.

"I see that you are not feeling well, Ja'ali," Angoldir says calmly, "but I fear I would only bring the bats back to attack you - and it is less than probable that I would be able to activate the wand successfully. I would advise staying as far away from the swarm as possible and letting Psamtic and I draw its attention for the time being, but I do recognize that you will be in need of medical attention shortly." He moves past the half-elf and pulls out a bottle, tossing it at the swarm with a yell to catch their attention.

Ranged touch: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Acid damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Between Ja'ali's two lighting strikes and this bottle, that hopefully will disburse the swarm and Algoldir can try to heal Ja'ali. If not, Zoot should be headed back soon.

Angoldir’s flask of acid connects with the swarm of bats and it is dispersed! Because people are bleeding we probably need to stay in initiative
—
Round 5-6: the bold may act!
—
Zoot (-8 HP, bleeding 1)
Angoldir (-7 HP)
Ja’ali (-12 HP, bleeding 1)
Psamtic (-12 HP, bleeding 1)

Ja’ali spies his bloodied hand and desperately tries to hold back another gag.

”Dawnflower’s scimitar...I’m not sure if I’ll...Zoot! We’ve got an emergency! Get here now!”

The usually polite half-elf turns bitter as he screams for the cleric, but he cares little for civility when he is losing so much blood.

Delay until after Angoldir. Took the bleed damage nonetheless.

Angoldir's face lights up as he suddenly remembers something. Fishing around in his backpack, he produces a small bottle labelled "Healing" and hands it to Qadar, who laboriously flies over to Ja'ali and drops it in his hand. "Almost forgot we had that," he says as he turns to Psamtic. "I will tend to your wounds until Zoot returns to us, but I can tend to them sooner if you approach."

Potion of cure light wounds from the very start of the adventure. Angoldir spend his two actions to pull out the potion and hand it to Qadar, then Qadar used his two actions to fly to Ja'ali and hand him the potion.

Ja’ali’s vision begins to blur as he grabs the vial and chugs its contents!

Cure: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

The half-elf’s wounds close, if only enough to stop the bleeding. He places a hand against the wall for stability as he pants, trying to get a hold of himself once more.

The little bird delivers Ja’ali some relief from his bleeding wounds.

Looks like Zoot would be able to heal herself, either via the wand you found (with Stumpwater Jack’s note), a spell, or a channel. And then get back to the group well before Psamtic would go unconscious from bleeding. So we can call it here and let you all decide what resources you want to use to get patched back up.

Let me know what you’d like to do/where you’d like to go next!

"Psamtic...hurts......."

Ending rage. Fatigue for 4 rounds.

Psamtic somberly sits down and waits for somebody to come by with some healing. As she stares at the ground, she repeats softly one word: "sorry."

Looks like Zoot would be able to heal herself, either via the wand you found (with Stumpwater Jack’s note), a spell, or a channel. And then get back to the group well before Psamtic would go unconscious from bleeding. So we can call it here and let you all decide what resources you want to use to get patched back up.

Let me know what you’d like to do/where you’d like to go next!

Zoot has band-aids™ too!

heal (with kit): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

Assuming folks might still be wounded she would once reunited with the party, channel romantic giddiness thrice throughout the party: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 6) = 12

”Bats...why bats...? Please just give me a minute...”

Ja’ali moves away from the group and after a minute returns with Bhenqai spending a minute to re-summon eidolon.

Angoldir rests a hand on Psamtic's shoulder. "There is nothing to apologize for," he says simply. "Much like myself with the golem golem earlier, sometimes we must rely on others who can achieve what we ourselves cannot. That is nothing to apologize for."

As Zoot heals the other members of the party, Angoldir cranks his wand back into its sheath and examines the pool that had so dreadfully terrified Zoot and Psamtic.

Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Angoldir looks into the fetid water and, like the others before him, sees a horrid, rotting reflection of his own face. But he’s able to understand it isn’t real and remains unafraid.

Where would you like to go next?