CCC-WWC-04 The Black Hand [5e Adventurers League] [Recruitment Closed] (Inactive)

Game Master Aeshuura

Tana awaits Blacklock and Antonio's return from scouting.

Tana awaits Blacklock and Antonio's return from scouting.

Grinning, but then remembering the nasty fish water running all over his teeth, he smiles with his mouth shut and "Now a clever little eel might slither that way, I'd imagine." he offers to Antonio, before heading back and recounting for all what they saw.

Zar listens to what Blacklock and Antonio have found. "Well from the sounds of it, I don't think they would be too welcoming if we tried to approach from the front. We might as well go through the cave. Maybe we can get a better sense of what we are up against."

"Hah! Remember that old story, where the wizard says to the dwarf: 'And how do you intend to enter? Through the main gate? As a house-guest?! You'd be anxious before you took your seventh step!' haha!"

Chuckling at his own nonsense for a bit, Jarprax eventually get around to saying that taking the side passage seems like the wisest choice.

Tana smiles as Jarprax tells the story...

So, back door?

Yes it looks like it.

Glancing back at the front of the castle-under-the-sea, Shaldinari simply doesn't trust the supposedly abandoned look of the place. There was a reason those other mermen were afraid of the place, and so far none of these Baubles of Bane were just sitting around unguarded.

Then again it's unlikely this supposed backdoor would be completely unprotected either. It might be easier that the front just as long as it wasn't simply some lair for one of those giant eels the merfolk had warned them about during their scouting trip. Nasty things hunkered down in a nice innocent looking hole and waited for something to pass by or wander in to become that days lunch.

With a shrug she nods toward the back entrance and then makes sure she's well behind Blacklock as they start to swim inside the cave.

The 10-foot-round tunnel, obscured by the kelp forest, leads from the base of the cliff that holds the palace to a sizable rectangular room, lined with circular openings on three of its four walls. Large columns provide support for the space, and the entire area is bathed in a dim light from several patches of glowing fungi that covers the floor and walls. It looks like several guards died here, almost as if they died at attention.

You quickly realize that they are undead, when one turns to look directly at Blacklock and Antonio assuming that they are taking point.

Initiative Round 1

Order
Shaldinari -> Zar -> Blacklock -> Skeletons -> Jarprax -> Antonio -> Tana -> Jiro

Shaldinari, Zar, and Blacklock can go first!

"Well if they are all undead, that would explain why the other mermen don't want to come here," Zar says as he sends a ray of frost at the nearest skeleton.

Ranged attack (Ray of Frost): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Damage (cold): 1d8 ⇒ 4

After letting out a odd sounding underwater scream, Blacklock bounces back slowly, setting his xbow for the fight...he kept an eye on one in particular, knowing just the bone to shatter to make the whole thing come down. Or float around, as it were.

Ready for when ally in melee for sneak. Disengage bonus if necessary.

Xbow: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Dmg: 1d8 + 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (7) + (3, 6) + 3 = 19

Already wary of Blacklock's supposedly safer entrance, Shaldinari has her wand in hand and ready when the first undead merman twitches forward. With the thief churning up the water as he scrambles back, she focuses on her target and calmly activates the wand. Three bright bolts of red force fly through the water leaving little trails of bubbles as they rapidly track and strike the first and closest of the skeletons.

Wand of Magic Missiles vs the same skeleton Zar attacked.
Damage: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 1, 3) + 3 = 9

How many skeletons are there? And, are they right in the entrance to the cave? (in other words, does Jarprax think they'll just run inside the cave if he Turns them?

Jiro's missed a bit, I wonder if the start of school is messing with his posting schedule... will bot him in hopes that he will rejoin us soon.

Shaldinari moves around into the room, getting a view and readies her wand!

Zar swims forward a bit, knowing that his ray of frost has a shortened range underwater, but he hopes that the chunk of ice will also spear his target, but the undead merman deftly moves out of the way. Instantly, three silvery bolts streak through the water, trailing bubbles, and slam into the creature! -9 damage to Yellow.

Blacklock levels his crossbow, readying a shot, but before his melee friends can act, the skeletons surge forward and attack! Before Red can attack, the rogue puts a bolt through its head!

Yellow @ Zar: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Blue @ Blacklock: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Green uses the Dash action.
Mustard uses the Dash action.
Purple uses the Dash action.
Cyan uses the Dash action.
Orange uses the Dash action.
Gray @ Antonio: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Black @ Shaldinari: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

A mer-skeleton thrusts its rusty shortsword at Zar, causing the wizard to recoil as he gets knicked! -5 hp to Zar.

Blacklock, performing some aquatic acrobatics, avoids the incoming blade!

The skeletons further off cut through the water with amazing speed, closing the distance, each drawing back to strike!

One of the skeletal assailants thrusts at Antonio, but the seasoned warrior parries the blow, receiving a minor scratch for his efforts! -5 hp to Antonio.

A sneaky mer-leton slips around one of the pillars and catches Shaldinari by surprise and stabs her in her side! -9 hp for Shal!!!

Initiative Round 1

Order
Shaldinari -> Zar -> Blacklock -> Skeletons -> Jarprax -> Antonio -> Tana -> Jiro

@Jarprax, there are now 9 skeletons, the 10th was obliterated by Blacklock.

Yellow -9 hp

Each square is difficult terrain for us from swimming, is that right?

Yes, and these things seem to have a swim speed, putting you all at a disadvantage.

Screw it - I don't like the idea of being surrounded

Though diminished by the darkness and the water, you still see faint arcs of lightning skip across Jarprax's body, as Stronmaus's symbol glows:

"YOU HAVE NO PLACE HERE
FLEE BEFORE THE MIGHT AND WRATH OF STRONMAUS
OR FEEL THE WEIGHT OF HIS HAMMER
AND THE POWER OF THE STORM"

Turn Undead
WIS DC 12 from all skeletons.

Folks, ready your attacks of opportunity!

9d20 ⇒ (14, 12, 17, 9, 18, 8, 5, 3, 13) = 99 5 out of 9 fail.

Map updated. Yellow tint means under the effect of Turn Undead.

About half of the skeletons recoil at Jarprax's declaration and look ready to leave, terrified!

Initiative Round 1

Order
Shaldinari -> Zar -> Blacklock -> Skeletons -> Jarprax -> Antonio -> Tana -> Jiro

Funnily enough Yellow isn't scared! -9 hp

Antonio, Tana, Jiro are up. Will give until the end of day for Tana and Jiro, then will bot them.

Pro-tip: If you hit the ones that are turned, they'll stop being scared and attack you.

Fallowing Jarprax's lead (And not sure if they are immune to another turning attempt.) Antonio raises his holy symbol high in the water.
"Fowl creatures of undeath. I, a servant of Torm, command you to be gone from this place!"

Turn Undead

Not sure how you find the DC for it?

In hopes we are able to just stack all undead and pull one at a time out to kill them off.

Antonio, it will be equal to your spellcasting DC. Should be 12 for you, I think.

4d20 ⇒ (12, 14, 5, 12) = 43 I bet you are glad that they have a -1 Wis mod!!! XD

All but one of the skeletons turn at Antonio's command!

The remaining skeleton seems to snarl in defiance at the two holy warriors!

Only Mustard is unaffected.

Initiative Round 1

Order
Shaldinari -> Zar -> Blacklock -> Skeletons -> Jarprax -> Antonio -> Tana -> Jiro

Jiro reaches into his vest and pulls out the first holy symbol he can grab and holds it aloft - a simple steel set of balanced scales atop a warhammer. "Uh... feel the hammering of the... uh...", the kobold turns the symbol around and looks at it again. "... the uh... being split in half and weighed out by... some god!!"

Then he points the wand of magic missiles at the skeleton that isn't turned and unleashes magical darts into it.

"Any way to get them gathered up while they are scared of you two? I can dump a cloud of daggers on a big group of them, but I can't move the spell after I cast it."

Magic missle damage: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 2, 3) + 3 = 12

The magic missiles hammer into the skeleton, rocking it, but it hangs on with its power of unlife! -12 hp!

I assume that Tana is still recovering, so I will bot her.

After some mental calculation, Tana picks a target, thrusting with her dart!

Dart @ : 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Then she kicks out! Unarmed @ Disadvantage: 2d20 + 5 ⇒ (13, 18) + 5 = 36 Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

The skeleton breaks apart with the kick, settling to the floor in pieces!

And then, there were 8...

Initiative Round 2

Order
Shaldinari -> Zar -> Blacklock -> Skeletons -> Jarprax -> Antonio -> Tana -> Jiro

Okay, Shaldinari, Zar, and Blacklock are up!

Yellow -9 hp, Mustard -12 hp

Blacklock scissor kicks and floats back slowly a few feet, pulling a bolt from a strap on his back and setting it on the serving at the same time. He takes aim at the skeleton's skull, liking to pop it like a spoiled soggy mushroom...

Xbow: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

...but suddenly a little baby crab splats his face out of nowhere, blocking his vision with its pincers and shoving its eye-stalks into his mouth in a disorientating way. "*sphit tooey* Ugh, damnit crab..." his bolt sails away down the foyer.

Also, that was disengage 5 ft to southwest.

In advance for Tanya's round 2

Tana positions herself near Jarprax and will strike the closest skeleton near Jarprax.

Quarter Staff 2 Handed:

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

Tana, remember that underwater, your staff is going to be at disadvantage (which is why I had you using your dart, because thrusting weapons do not have the disadvantage.) It is also why I had your unarmed strikes at disadvantage last round.

Also, you can take your bonus action for unarmed!

Expecting the undead to turn and run, Zar sends a ray of frost at the one that seems unaffected.

Ranged attack at Mustard(Ray of Frost): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Damage (cold + P): 1d8 + 1d4 ⇒ (1) + (1) = 2 really?

Lucky he had 1 hp left!!!

Zar mutters the strange words of arcanum and the burst of ices explodes out at the skeleton, blowing it apart!

Blacklock swims away firing at one of the skeletons, missing due to a strange crab, or so he says... ^_^

Initiative Round 2

Order
Shaldinari -> Zar -> Blacklock -> Skeletons -> Jarprax -> Antonio -> Tana -> Jiro

Yellow -9 hp, Mustard dead

Cursing in a flurry of bubbles as one of the skeletons slips behind her and gashes her in the side, Shaldinari starts to strike back but the the creature starts to flee the holy magic or Jarprax and Antonio. So instead she focuses her wand on the enemy she hit before

Magic Missile vs Yellow for 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 4, 1) + 3 = 9 damage.

Yellow is blasted apart by Shaldinari!

The remaining skeletons all spread out! One heading for the hole leading out the way you came, but the rest leave for deeper into the castle!

Are any of you taking an attack of opportunity? I have drawn their intended path on the map. Will give the weekend to see who is doing what...

Initiative Round 2

Order
Shaldinari -> Zar -> Blacklock -> Skeletons -> Jarprax -> Antonio -> Tana -> Jiro

Skeletons' turn, sound off if you will take an attack of opportunity.

As the skeleton tries to make a retreat Antonio strikes at one (blue).
Thrusting his spear into the rib cage of the undead.

Spear attack one handed: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Damage per.: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 = 8

Jarprax also makes a desperate stab at the Blue skeleton with a javelin:

Javelin: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

On his turn, Jarprax will continue his attack - if he hit the Blue, does it stop running? Otherwise, he'll move to attack Yellow (or whoever else is around).

Javelin: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Thank you, Aeshuura! I will keep the underwater fighting rules in mind. First the disadvantage roll with the quarter staff:

Quarter Staff Round two the second roll for disadvantage: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 111d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Here was the first roll from earlier:
Quarter Staff: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 151d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Unarmed strike:

Unarmed Strike Martial Arts: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 181d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Unarmed Strike Martial Arts: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 101d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

On his turn

Antonio draws the spear back and thrusts it at the skeleton's head.

One handed Spear Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Damage Per.: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 = 8

Not interested in drawing the creature back to her side, Shaldinari lets the skeleton near her flee down the shaft.

Blacklock disengaged on his turn so no OA for him.

Sorry, no access to a computer today. Will adjudicate tomorrow when I can access the map!

Initiative Round 2

Order
Shaldinari -> Zar -> Blacklock -> Skeletons -> Jarprax -> Antonio -> Tana -> Jiro

Jarprax and Antonio thrust at Blue, hoping to take advantage of the opening that the skeleton fishman leaves as it flees! The creature manages to slip against Antonio's strike, but it maneuvers right into Jarprax' javelin!

Blue strikes at Jarprax in retort!

Shortsword @ Jarprax: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 5 hp damage for Jarprax

The bronze draconian priest thrusts again, this time narrowly missing! But Antonio tracks the creature's movement, shattering it!

End combat!

What do you want to do?

Good job, Antonio and Jarprax!!! Tana moves in closer.

What should we do now? She asks them both.

"We need to move quickly, they will be back soon."

Antonio says as he checks Jarprax's wounds. He calls upon the power of Torm and places his hand on the wound. The wound slowly closes up with only the most minor scar.

Lay on hands 5 hp healing on Jarprax

Then Antonio head deeper into the palace.

As you all head off toward the next level, wary of the skeletons that fled from Antonio and Jarprax' divine declarations.

As you enter the central level, you see broken merfolk statues littering a rectangular chamber. The east and west walls hold 10-foot round openings that lead to adjacent rooms. In the dim blue light reveals a stone throne set near the southern wall. A ghostly form floats before it. When it sees you enter, it moves forward with alarming speed, stopping inches from you. In a deep, booming voice it yells, HOW DARE YOU ENTER MY HOME! Its spectral face appears twisted in rage, but it does not immediately attack. Instead, it shouts, Remove yourself from this place! This hell belongs to me and me alone!

Blacklock forgets the effects of water and lets out a "Heh..." nearly choking "...Didn't see a sign outside." he turns to the others "Any of you see a sign out there? 'Knock twice before entering Ghostfish's house'? Besides, belongings as pricey as this 'hell' are ripe for the plucking. Solid platinum pricey. That's a hell worth taking, some might say."

Getting ready to turn this undead like the last ones when the ghostly form does not attack Antonio decides to try and talk to it, since it seems to still have some holed on this life.

"We are here to remove a great evil from this place. A thing that is touched by the god Bane. It could be the cause of this hell that you belong to. If you help us remove it perhaps your spirit could rest."
Persuasion: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Tana follows up on Antonio's comments to the ghost,

Antonio tells you the truth! You seem consumed by the evil of this place, let us help you to remove the evil. Are you aware of the God Bane's disc? Help us to get it away from here and bring you some peace!!!

Persuasion: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

At Blacklock's nonchalant comments about looting the place, the ghost becomes enraged, YOU DARE?!? I AM THE KING OF THIS CITY!!!

Antonio steps forward quickly to calm the spectral monarch, backed up by Tana.

An inner struggle seems to play upon the ghost’s visage. After several moments, it grows calm and speaks, I was once a beloved ruler, known for my compassion and goodwill. That all changed when I came into possession of the stone shell. The changes were subtle at first. Mild annoyance and general displeasure clouded my mind.

Without realizing it, I would spend hours staring at the etchings on the shell’s surface, but I was unable to read them. The longer I spent, the harder it became to maintain my composure. I lashed out at my servants and belittled my advisors. I ordered my subjects put to death for petty crimes. I tortured those who spoke out against me for my own enjoyment.

King Garnon stops and takes a breath, more out of habit than necessity, before continuing, The merfolk are a non-violent race, and eventually, many of my people departed, leaving me with my guards, staff, and trusted advisors.

With my awful task complete, I prepared my own rest and consumed a lethal dose of the same poison. I expected eternal peace, but instead I now endure an eternity of loathing for my crimes. The moments of lucidity are the worst, for in them, I fully realize my own weakness and the depravity of my actions.

It stops, as if finally grasping what Tana and Antonio are talking about, ... The shell... You mean the shell.

"Wow. Uh... well, I'm really sorry the shell caused you to do all that, but, well, yeah - that sure sounds like the kind of thing we're looking for! We are trying to get them to a safe place where they won't drive anyone else to, well, poison themselves and everyone they know."

Then realizing that might not be terribly diplomatic, Jiro adds, "Oh, and maybe getting it away from here will let you finally be at rest!" Then he smiles his toothy kobold smile, still feeling very weird breathing water.

Jarprax listens silently as the others explain to the dead king why they've come. He smiles toothily, in what he hopes is a reassuring manner (it's not).

Absently, his hand rubs at the wound that Antonio healed, his mind distantly pondering the theological significance of this blessing from a foreign deity.

The ghost king looks at all of you, scrutinizing each and every one of you. He stops briefly on Blacklock, but continues moving his gaze to the end of the line before coming back to Antonio, Holy warrior, if you give me your word that your intentions are just, I will lead you to the shell and this relic of Bane.

Stirred from his reverie, Jarprax frowns: That seems... too easy...

Insight: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Meh, I guess it's probably fine...