Dungeon Master S's "Abomination Vaults" AP

Game Master Chris Marsh

Bibi takes a quick scan of the area, taking in the tactical implications while trying to stifle the horror of facing walking corpses. She stage whispers to her friends I'm prioritizing the zombies, my rapier won't be much good against the skeletons. I'll try to wait for a flank.

then she draws her rapier, and hustles up quietly next to the guard on their left. Hey--don't worry. We'll handle this--just step back & be ready to run for help if needed! Finally, the little thief flits through the shadowy gravestones, waiting for The Opportune Moment.

Do I need to roll Stealth/Sneak again, or is the first move/round covered by my initiative roll?

AFAIK, it's your initiative roll until you do something that requires it. There's a great video on how stealth works in 2e, but I admit, I still haven't committed it to memory.

Bibi sneaks into the site as the guards look on. The undead closest see the commotion at the gate and move in.

One gets close enough to the guard to slash with its finger bones:
Black ATK: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10, but even a scared guard is still well armored.

Round 1:
Bibi: Sneak
Skeletons: grrrrr
Zombies: arrrrg
Noroc: Go
Peldur: Go
Talborel: Go
Carrufikus: Go
Elena: Go

Carrufikus moves up and casts Disrupt Undead on Black!

Positive Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

DC 18 Basic Fortitude Save

◈ Stride into range.
◈◈ Cast Disrupt Undead

Noroc steps up near the just-attacked guard. Pardon me, Grisman, he says, familiar with the fellow. This won't take a minute.

spell attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
good: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Stride, verbal & somatic components for divine lance.

Noroc politely works around Grisman the Guard and strikes the skeleton with a divine lance of light, shattering it into a thousand pieces!

Carrufikus strides forth to go after the other closest skeleton moving the attack to the Green REF: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25, and despite its quick reflexes, Carrufikus's spell destroys another!

Round 1:
Bibi: Sneak
Skeletons: grrrrr
Zombies: arrrrg
Noroc: Kill
Peldur: Go
Talborel: Go
Carrufikus: Kill
Elena: Go

The remaining undead cannot help but be drawn towards the fight via their hatred of life and positive energy. They look like they're all about to charge in!

Grossed out by seeing the walking corpses, Peldur swallows back the bile and rushes the nearby skeleton, knowing it means to being only death to whomever it can reach.

He quickly strikes out at the skeleton, hoping he is able to destroy it.

Punch: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Punch: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Stride, Stride, Flurry of Blows

Peldur's fists work as well as the magic of the others. His first punch is a hook that obliterates the skeleton's skull!

Round 1:
Bibi: Sneak
Skeletons: grrrrr
Zombies: arrrrg
Noroc: Kill
Peldur: Kill
Talborel: Go
Carrufikus: Kill
Elena: Go

Bibi peeks about from her hiding place, and gives a discreet fist-pump in celebration of the quick kill shots!

Tal bolts for the tree in front of him (Stride x2) and lines up a Point-Blank Shot with the nearest zombie (Yellow). He is unfazed by the appearance of the undead. This is old hat. It's time to work, and pin these things back in their graves.

Point-Blank Shot:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21, Damage on hit:1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Talborel's arrow is "dead" on target. The zombie continues to shamble forward, but at an even jerkier pace.

Round 1:
Bibi: Sneak
Skeletons: grrrrr
Zombies: arrrrg
Noroc: Kill
Peldur: Kill
Talborel: Hit
Carrufikus: Kill
Elena: Go

Action 1: Stride
Action 2: Stride
Action 3: Recall Knowledge (w/Dubious Knowledge)

Elena rushes in as Peldur and Talborel attack the undead. She stops long enough to study the nearest zombie, hoping to shed some light on what they can do.
Recall Knowledge with Dubious Knowledge feat. Arcana is +8, Religion is +5

A bit rushed, Elena thinks about what she remembers about zombies. She remembers that they are weak against both positive energy and slashing weapons (so much so that a slashing dagger from Bibi is going to be more effective than her stabbing.)

Round 2:
Bibi: Go
Skeletons: TBD
Zombies: TBD
Noroc: TBD
Peldur: TBD
Talborel: TBD
Carrufikus: TBD
Elena: TBD

Hearing Elena's information to "Slash don't stab!" Bibi drops her rapier and draws her dagger. She then scuttles forward, keeping hidden behind the gravestones, and waits for Peldur to close too.

Circling back to the rune, via slack...

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17 to ID the Rune

Bibi preps for a telling blow as the undead rush forth! The wounded zombie gets close enough to try and pummel Talborel: ATK: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15, but his arm breaks.

Round 2:
Bibi: Sneak
Skeletons: Close
Zombies: Close and ATK
Noroc: Go
Peldur: Go
Talborel: Go
Carrufikus: Go
Elena: Go

Tal, with the missive from Elena, draws his shorts word, and slashes out with it.

Shortsword:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27, 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8 Slashing... Crit for 16. I hope that drops it.

I have one more action... Notices the skeleton has closed and he'll HUNT PREY, boosting his AC on the Red Skellie.

Tal drops his bow, switches to the shortsword, then promptly decapitates the zombie!

Round 2:
Bibi: Sneak
Skeletons: Close
Zombies: Close and ATK
Noroc: Go
Peldur: Go
Talborel: Crit kill
Carrufikus: Go
Elena: Go

No need to drop the bow good sir. ;)

The bow stays in hand!

Bibi, seeing the undead close on Peldur, makes 2 gestures to him. The first, she points to herself then to the zombie; the second, she points to Peldur then the skeleton.

She hopes he gets it...

Action 1: Step
Action 2-3: Electric Arc

With the undead lumbering close the mage opts to take a cautious step back before beginning an incantation. Runes of evocation appear in the air until, with a gesture, an arc of electrical energy leaps out at the two creatures harrying Peldur!
Electric Arc vs Orange/BLue (DC 18 basic Reflex): 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

REF Orange: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (10) + 0 = 10
REF Blue: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Electricity arcs over Peldur's head, burning zombie flesh and cracking bone!but not having any effect on the skeleton.

Round 2:
Bibi: Sneak
Skeletons: Close
Zombies: Close and ATK
Noroc: Go
Peldur: Go
Talborel: Crit kill
Carrufikus: Go
Elena: Arc

Peldur focuses on the skeleton.

Punch: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Punch: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

He then settles into a lower stance, ready to take on the zombie when Bibi fails.

Flurry of blows, Tiger Stance

Carrufikus casts another Disrupt Undead at Blue or Red!

Positive Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

DC 18 Basic Fortitude Save

◈ Stride into range.
◈◈ Cast Disrupt Undead

Noroc nods to Grisman as he races off into the graveyard, taking aim at Blue (or Orange, if Blue is down).

spell attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
good: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 doubled!

Stride, verbal & somatic components for divine lance.

Peldur's opening jab passes over the skeleton's shoulder, but he follows it up with a perfectly placed rabbit punch, breaking the skeleton's neck severely enough to drop it. He drops ready for more.

Carrufikus aims the perfect spell which FORT: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15 explodes!

Noroc follows up with a perfectly placed divine lance, though the zombie stays up!

Round 3:
Bibi: Go
Skeletons: Close
Zombies: TBD
Noroc: TBD
Peldur: TBD
Talborel: TBD
Carrufikus: TBD
Elena: TBD

Bibi springs up from her hiding place, deftly reversing the grip on her dagger so the blade is along her forearm. She closes with the zombie and slashes twice, once across the hamstring to bring it lower, and a second time across the neck!

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
damage: 1d4 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 4 + (6) = 11

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
damage: 1d4 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + (2) = 9

It's alright, Peldur. I got this one for ya, yer safe now!!

just alerted that the first attack took the creature down, so in lieu of a second attack, take a Stride

After winking at Peldur, Bibi sees that there's still a zombie closing on Talborel. She starts closing, planning to set up another flank, while piping out Don't worry, Tal!! I'll come save you too!!!

Bibi final breaks out of the shadows and cuts the head off the zombie with a single, perfectly placed line of her dagger!

The remaining zombie closes on Talborel!

Round 3:
Bibi: 1 action remaining
Zombie: Close
Noroc: Go
Peldur: Go
Talborel: Go
Carrufikus: Go
Elena: Go

Tal can't help but remember a battle long ago, and he strides back to protect his Magic-User. He drops his shortsword and hunts his prey, letting loose with a point-blank shot on the last remaining zombie, hoping for a shot to the brain.

Point-Blank Shot:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9, but the memory of the old battle takes him out of the void, and the shot is way wide.

Stride, Hunt Prey, Strike w/Crit Failure

Seeing Grandpa Talborel move back to cover Elena and Carrufikus, Peldur dashes forward to engage the last zombie.

Punch: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Kick: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Stand, Stride, Flurry of Blows

Noroc moves over to get a line on the last walking dead creature he can see.

spell attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
good: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Stride, verbal & somatic components for divine lance.

Action 1-2: Produce Flame
Action 3: Shield

Having seen her electrical magic mostly fail against the skeleton, Elena works through a different spell. A small, glowing ball of flame takes shape in her hand, which she briefly aims before hurling it!
Produce Flame vs Grey: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Damage (Fire): 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

She follows this up with a spell to shield herself from harm.

In an effort to take out the last zombie, Carrufikus casts another Disrupt Undead on the remaining zombie.

Positive Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

DC 18 Basic Fortitude Save

◈ Stride.
◈◈ Cast Disrupt Undead

even though it surely looks like this is now a pile of rotten flesh--NON-ambulatory, that is--I'll post my action just in case.

Bibi quickly rounds the zombie, flanking with Peldur. She slashes out with her dagger again...and again.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
damage: 1d4 + 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + (4) + 4 = 10

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
damage: 1d4 + 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + (6) + 4 = 14

It's OK Peldur, I saved you again!! Bibi gives him a big grin as she wipes her dagger on the fallen zombie's rags

Noroc makes the easy shot, harming the zombie. Peldur immediately hits it with a powerful hammer fist on the nose, followed by a rib breaking roundhouse kick. Talborel's arrow goes way overhead, but underneath it is Carrufikus with another spell FORT: 1d20 ⇒ 6 that finishes it off!

Everyone looks around quickly, and sees only a quiet cemetery. The locals begin to cheer as the party demonstratively destroys the unquiet dead.

For finishing off the skeletons and zomb---

The light from Gauntlight flashes again. This time it's not a wide arc, but a concentrated beam of pale green light. The beam moves about the cemetery as if searching. When it comes to the center of the party a horrible creature appears! A man-sized crab-like creature slimy and barbed, appears in the beam!

It appears feral, but it speaks with a slimy, gurgling voice, "Belllcuuurrra." and moves to attack!

With both Elena and Talborel a short distance away, it closes in on them. The four guards gasp in horror as it gnashes at Talborel with a claw, before launching a leg spike back at Peldur

Dadachik v. Talborel: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26 for DMG: 2d8 + 5 ⇒ (5, 3) + 5 = 13 FORT save
Dadachuk v. Peldur: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26 for DOUBLE DMG: 2d4 + 5 ⇒ (3, 2) + 5 = 10

Round 1:
???: ATK
Talborel: Go
Elena: Go
Carrufikus: Go
Bibi: Go
Peldur: Go
Noroc: Go

Fortitude Save:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Arcana:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Tal attempts to stare down the creature and he focuses on it, with eyes that have seen a thousand battles against foes uncounted.

Hunt Prey

Intimidate w/Intimidating Glare:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Then he pulls an arrow and fires at point-blank range, going for the creature's maw.

Point-Blank Shot:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20, Damage on hit:1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

With the glare, I need not speak it's language.

Arcana: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

Unclear what this feral spider is, Carrufikus know enough to cast a spell at it. He moves his hands in somatic movements and casts Ray of Frost as he points his finger and blast a cold ray at the creature.

"Fizzlefrost"

Ray of Frost: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
Cold Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Taloborel resists the poison, but has no idea what this thing is Occultism, still not enough. He gives it a wordless glare, but the thing seems unaffected. His arrow ricochets off the carapace!

Carrufikus is also at a loss, but his spell strikes true, lightly damaging it.

Round 1:
???: ATK
Talborel: Miss
Elena: Go
Carrufikus: Hit
Bibi: Go
Peldur: Go
Noroc: Go

Bibi scrambles forward, flanking the beastie with Tal. Noting the carapace, she switches her grip on the dagger to the more common "pointy-end-goes-in-the-other-man" (switch to Piercing)

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 <--hero point reroll, below
damage: 1d4 + 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + (5) + 4 = 13

Attack, reroll: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
damage: 1d4 + 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + (5) + 4 = 10

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
damage: 1d4 + 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + (3) + 4 = 8

If attacked, will use Nimble Dodge, prioritizing a claw attack.

Noroc moves in cautiously (use a full Stride to avoid any AoO unless it has reach) and pulls out his "walking stick", confident this oversized crustacean will be more receptive to its blade.

Strike: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
slashing: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Interact to draw, Stride, Strike.

Bibi gets lucky with her rapier, finding a weak spot and driving it home! Noroc follows up right behind, able to leave a similar wound!

Round 1:
???: ATK
Talborel: Miss
Elena: Go
Carrufikus: Hit
Bibi: Hit
Peldur: Go
Noroc: Hit

Arcana: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Action 1: Recall Knowledge (w/Dubious Knowledge)
Action 2-3: TBD based on knowledge

Elena takes a moment to study this strange crab, hoping something she read will give her a hint as to its nature.
Recall Knowledge w/Dubious Knowledge. Arcana/Crafting/Occultism/Society +8, Nature/Religion +5

Elena isn't sure about this, and she really struggles. She can't pinpoint the creature, but she can't help but know if the slimy coating and otherworldly form either protects it from fire.... or makes it weak to fire. Hard to tell.

Action 2-3: Electric Arc

Cursing herself in the moment, Elena works through casting a spell that doesn't draw from elemental fire. Muttering arcane syllables she points a finger at the creature, releasing a arc of electricity at the monster.
Electric Arc vs Crab (DC 18 basic Reflex): 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

REF: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30 The creature completely dodges Elena's spell!

Round 1:
???: ATK
Talborel: Miss
Elena: Miss
Carrufikus: Hit
Bibi: Hit
Peldur: Go
Noroc: Hit

Peldur lowers down into Tiger Stance, then steps in and strikes out at the monster crab.

Tiger Stance, Step, Flurry of Blows

Claw: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Claw: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Peldur closes in, but can't connect. Each of his blows sliding off the carapace. It lashes out at Peldur in return: Dadchuck: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14 MISS

The strange and unidentified creature then sprays a fan of toxic oil over Elena, Noroc, and Talborel. DC 21 REF Save

Round 2:
???: ATK
Talborel: Go
Elena: Go
Carrufikus: Go
Bibi: Go
Peldur: Go
Noroc: Go

Bibi keeps her advantageous flanking position, and her little arm pumps repeatedly as she tries to find the weak points in the carapace with her dagger.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
damage: 1d4 + 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + (2) + 4 = 10

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
damage: 1d4 + 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + (3) + 4 = 10

Attack: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (15) - 1 = 14
damage: 1d4 + 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + (5) + 4 = 12

Reflex Save:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

Tal takes the full oil shot. Wounded, but stoic, he drops his bow and draws the magic morningstar and his main-gauche. He attacks with the morningstar, hoping the blunt force from the weapon will crack that shell like he was at a Dimernesti Clam Bake.

Through clenched teeth, face dripping with viscous flammable oil, he hisses Get away from my Mage.

Morningstar +1:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Flanks with Bibi