Dungeon Master S's "Abomination Vaults" AP

Game Master Chris Marsh

A strange, squat cast-iron stove with no chimney sits in the southwest corner of this room, while to the north, a large oak table covered with cooking utensils sits against a wall. A skeletal body slumps at the base of the cupboards along the western wall. It smells faintly of spices. The skeleton doesn't move, even after Peldur's entrance...

"It looks like this fella had too much to eat. Let's keep an eye on this one just incase it gets up for seconds."

Carrufikus follows along, looking carefully and detecting magic periodically as he goes.

I'm less worried about the skeleton...I read a story where the heroes were accosted by an animated cooking stove! Thing ET one of them even!!

Bibi moves to inspect the skeleton, making sure she's always facing the stove and ready to spring out of its range if necessary (see what I did there?!?!?)

Bibi inspects the mundane skeleton.

Poisoned? Noroc asks, obviously not clear on the specifics. Don't want that one's cooking, I'd guess.

Elena tries to identify the spices that she can smell.

They're mostly celery salt, black pepper, paprika, and mustard seed.

Peldur takes all the spices and tests how heavy the stove is.

Peldur fills a pouch with moldy spices, and concludes that the stove is too heavy. He also is confident this stove won't animate.

Peldur moves to the eastern door and gives it a once over.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

Then, he kicks it open.

The door seems safe enough (and Peldur sees that it can be easily opened with a push). He opts to kick it open.

A pair of brightly glowing chandeliers illuminates a long banquet table surrounded by luxurious, high-backed chairs. The table is still set as if for a grand meal, but some of the place settings are scattered and toppled, as are a few of the chairs. Four skeletons in tattered finery are scattered about the room, some of them clutching their own necks.

Noroc frowns as he peers into the dining hall. Okay, I was mostly kidding about the poison thing, but I'd guess it was no joke.

He follows Peldur when the street rat heads into the room.

Suddenly four of the bodies disgorge glowing spirits in the form of their skulls. They don't seem to be incorporeal, and they certainly aren't friendly.

Foes: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Initiative assumes Talborel is Scouting
Bibi: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 13 + 1 = 24 Avoid Notice (T)
Carrufikus: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 13 + 1 = 33 Detect Magic (A: +2 (U), N: +11 (T), O: +2 (U) , R: +11 (T))
Elena: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 1 = 12 Investigate (A: +13 (T), N: +9 (T), O: +11 (T) , R: +9 (T))
Noroc: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 10 + 1 = 13 Search (E)
Peldur: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 11 + 1 = 23 Avoid Notice (E)
Talborel: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 11 + 2 + 1 = 20 Scout (Init ties to Tal)

ROUND 1:
Carrufikus (66/68): Go
Religion to ID: TBD
Bibi (52/56): TBD
Peldur (82/83): TBD
Tal (66/66): TBD
Noroc (58/58): TBD
Elena (48/48): TBD

Location: Belcorra's Retreat
Tactical Map
Tracker
Party Conditions:
Terrain Conditions: Elena's light
Enemy Conditions:

At a glance, Carrufikus attempts to identify the undead.

Religion: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

He then proceeds to cast disrupt undead on the creature.

” Perturbare Immortui!"

Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 3, 5, 4) = 16

Basic DC 21 Fortitude Save

Carrufikus knows a corpselight when he sees one. Thankfully they look scarier than they are. Weapons should work normally, but beware! They can also emit a light that harms the living and heals themselves!

FORT: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14 No target listed, so I'm applying to purple. Carrufikus's spell works wonders! The skull shudders from the spell.

The undead rush the door, all hoping to take a bite out of Peldur:
White v. Peldur: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13 MISS
White v. Peldur: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 MISS
Black v. Peldur: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21 MISS
Black v. Peldur: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 MISS
Blue v. Peldur: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24 for DMG: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Blue v. Peldur: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10 MISS

He blocks and dodges almost all of the attacks! the final, wounded, corpselight tilts its skull back as beams of light emerge from the mouth and sockets!
FORT saves from Peldur, Norocc, Carrufikus.

ROUND 1:
Carrufikus (66/68): DI FORT
Corpselights: ATK
Bibi (52/56): Go
Peldur (72/83): FORT + Go
Tal (66/66): Go
Noroc (58/58): NOROC + Go
Elena (48/48): Go

Location: Belcorra's Retreat
Tactical Map
Tracker
Party Conditions:
Terrain Conditions: Elena's light
Enemy Conditions:

Feeling satisfied that his disrupt undead spell did the job, the beams of light strike at the gnome catching him completely unaware!

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

Fortitude Reroll Save: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

Bibi throws caution to the wind in an attempt to gain a tactical advantage. She scrambles up Peldur's back, plants a foot on his crown, and tumbles into the room to set up a flank with him, and takes a stab with Otari's dagger!

acrobatics: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17

Dagger: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15
Damage, Sneak attack: 2d4 + 4 + 2d6 ⇒ (1, 2) + 4 + (2, 4) = 13

Dagger, HERO POINT REROLL: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22

Bibi throws caution to the wind in an attempt to gain a tactical advantage. She scrambles up Peldur's back, plants a foot on his crown, and tumbles into the room to set up a flank with him, and takes a stab with Otari's dagger!

[dice=acrobatics]d20+13

[dice=Dagger]d20+14
[dice=Damage, Sneak attack]2d4+4+2d6

[dice=Dagger, HERO POINT REROLL]d20+14

as per Slack, the Acrobatics check fails. So, retcon post

Bibi slips while trying to jump off Peldur's head, and stumbles back down his back to land behind him. She chuffs out a sigh, and gets ready to try again in a moment (drawing both blades, ready for next round)

Elena casts a protective spell beore moving in closer to help with the fight. Every room has danger it seems!"
Stride x2, Shield

Oh goody, more Fort saves: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Obviously gonna wait and see what the result of my likely crit fail is gonna be...

Fort: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16
Fort, Hero Point: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27

Peldur hops up, planting a foot on the door frame and launches himself over the corpselight in front of him.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24

He lands in a familiar, feline pose and rakes out at the same corpselight in the door.

Claw: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Claw: 1d20 + 13 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 13 - 4 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Carrufikus gets lucky, finding himself unaffected by the corpselight's ability. Peldur, not so much. He resists the worst of it and then some, but doesn't' come out completely unscathed. Negative E DMG: 1d6 ⇒ 1. Noroc takes a heavy hit. Negative E DMG: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 4) = 10 and Frightened 1. The creature revels in his fear, feeding of of hit. Healing: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 5) = 11.

bibi gets shunted back as Ppeldur does what she couldn't, landing a couple of blows on the landing!

ROUND 1:
Carrufikus (66/68): DI
Corpselights: ATK
Bibi (52/56): Shunted
Peldur (71/83): Hits
Tal (66/66): Go
Noroc (48/58, Frightened 1): Go
Elena (48/48): Go

Location: Belcorra's Retreat
Tactical Map
Tracker
Party Conditions:
Terrain Conditions: Elena's light
Enemy Conditions:

Noroc's reaction is memorable.

Trying to keep his knees from visibly knocking, Noroc steps in front of Elena and tries to take down White.

horsechopper +1 vs. flat-footed AC: 1d20 + 12 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 12 - 1 = 29
slashing, magic: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

horsechopper +1 vs. flat-footed AC: 1d20 + 12 - 5 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 12 - 5 - 1 = 9
slashing, magic: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Step, Strike x2.

Carrufikus casts Disrupt Undead once again on the (White) Corpselight.

"Perturbare Immortui!" The gnome commands!

A burst of butterflies streak across the room and begin to tear at the undead!

Positive Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 2, 4) = 14

Basic Fortitude Save DC 21

Noroc relies with a killing blow!

Holding on Carrufikus

ROUND 1:
Carrufikus (66/68): DI
Corpselights: ATK
Bibi (52/56): Shunted
Peldur (71/83): Hits
Tal (66/66): Go
Noroc (48/58, Frightened 1): Crit kill
Elena (48/48): Go

ROUND 2:
Carrufikus (66/68): Will DI
Corpselights: TBD
Bibi (52/56): TBD
Peldur (71/83): TBD
Tal (66/66): TBD
Noroc (48/58): TBD
Elena (48/48): TBD

Location: Belcorra's Retreat
Tactical Map
Tracker
Party Conditions:
Terrain Conditions: Elena's light
Enemy Conditions:

Noroc's reaction is memorable.

How fitting that I just watched the episode Scoobynatural this morning!!

Noroc Zverokruh wrote:

Noroc's reaction is memorable.

How fitting that I just watched the episode Scoobynatural this morning!!

That episode is one of my top hours of TV ever.

That one above is me--sorry, posted with another alias by mistake.

I think it ate my post? But here we go...

Tal strides forward twice from way in the rear and enters the fray with peldur.

He'll shoot the corpselight to his south at point blank range.

1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31 for 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 1) + 3 = 10

Elena girds herself for battle while Tal's aim is perfect Deadly: 1d10 ⇒ 2

Carrufikus disrupts the undead again! Moving to Blue since white is destroyed. FORT: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

The unharmed skull bites down on Tal's neck:
Bite 1: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
Bite 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Bite 3: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (15) + 0 = 15

the severely wounded one erupts with light as the other before it. FORT DC 18 saves from EVERYONE

ROUND 2:
Carrufikus (66/68): DU FORT
Corpselights: ATK and more
Bibi (52/56): FORT + Go
Peldur (71/83): FORT + Go
Tal (66/66): FORT + Go
Noroc (48/58): FORT + Go
Elena (48/48): FORT + Go

Location: Belcorra's Retreat
Tactical Map
Tracker
Party Conditions:
Terrain Conditions: Elena's light
Enemy Conditions:

another Fort save, because of course there is: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

So I was all done being Frightened last round as it faded to Frightened 0...but not any longer.

Noroc is much less successful hiding the fear in him, but he makes himself enter the room and not leave his friends out to dry. Movement provokes from all three, if applicable.

Once in a spot opposite Tal, he chops at Black between them.

horsechopper +1 vs. flat-footed AC: 1d20 + 12 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 12 - 1 = 19
slashing, magic: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

horsechopper +1 vs. flat-footed AC: 1d20 + 12 - 1 - 5 ⇒ (8) + 12 - 1 - 5 = 14
slashing, magic: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Stride, Strike x2.

EVIL DMG to Noroc: 1d8 ⇒ 4 Feed on fear: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 2) = 8

A little scared, Noroc still scores a solid blow on the corpselight he can reach!

ROUND 2:
Carrufikus (66/68): DU FORT
Corpselights: ATK and more
Bibi (52/56): FORT + Go
Peldur (71/83): FORT + Go
Tal (66/66): FORT + Go
Noroc (44/58): Fail + Hit
Elena (48/48): FORT + Go

Location: Belcorra's Retreat
Tactical Map
Tracker
Party Conditions:
Terrain Conditions: Elena's light
Enemy Conditions:

Fort save vs DC 18: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13
Hero Point, please
Fort save vs DC 18: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26

With much of her spell repertoire still very focused, Elena creates a trio of magical darts and sends them out strike a corpselight!
Force Barrage (Magic Missile) vs Black: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 1, 3) + 3 = 11

Fort: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16

I messed up. Noroc (and Carrufikus) each get 2d8. Noroc: 1d8 ⇒ 3 and Carrufikus: 2d8 ⇒ (1, 6) = 7. Elena passed with only DMG: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Elena retorts with 3 missiles!

ROUND 2:
Carrufikus (59/68, Frightened 1): DU
Corpselights: ATK and more
Bibi (52/56): FORT + Go
Peldur (71/83): FORT + Go
Tal (66/66): FORT + Go
Noroc (41/58, Frightened 1): Fail + Hit
Elena (47/48): Pass and MM!

Location: Belcorra's Retreat [ooc]
Tactical Map
Tracker
Party Conditions:
Terrain Conditions: Elena's light
Enemy Conditions:

fort: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Please note: Gutsy Halfling--all successes on saves vs. emotion are critical successes

free daily reroll of a save due to Halfling luck:
fort: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15 <--dammit I guess Mike luck overrides

Bibi tries again to get into the room, to flank a corpselight with Peldur

acrobatics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

...annnnnd makes it??

If so, stab

Dagger v flat footed: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

Damage, Sneak attack: 2d4 + 4 + 2d6 ⇒ (1, 1) + 4 + (3, 5) = 14

Bibi also feels the terror of the unknowable beyond Evil: 2d8 ⇒ (8, 4) = 12 and Frightened 1 - which takes place before your Acrobatics and tumble, though the results don't change. She finally gets into position, but her attack is feeble.

ROUND 2:
Carrufikus (59/68, Frightened 1): DU
Corpselights: ATK and more
Bibi (40/56, Frightened 1): Fail, move, miss
Peldur (71/83): FORT + Go
Tal (66/66): FORT + Go
Noroc (41/58, Frightened 1): Fail + Hit
Elena (47/48): Pass and MM!

Location: Belcorra's Retreat
Tactical Map
Tracker
Party Conditions:
Terrain Conditions: Elena's light
Enemy Conditions:

BOTTING FOR PELDUR

Fort: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32

Peldur LAUGHS AT YOUR FOUR WINDS and lashes out with mighty claws, taking advantage of the flank Bibi set up.

Flurry v flat footed: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31
damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Flurry v flat footed: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Tal, Fortitude:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

I FEAR NOTHING

Tal hunts prey, outwitting the foes.

He shoots Blue again...

1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21, on Hit:2d6 + 3 ⇒ (5, 3) + 3 = 11
1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19....Mmm... Prolly not.

Peldur is a force of nature. He ignores the supernatural light and replies with a pair of powerful blows!

Tal DMG: 1d8 ⇒ 4, only lightly wounded by the light, also connects with a pair of arrows! DMG: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 2) + 3 = 9 His second one strikes the corpselight down!

ROUND 3:
Carrufikus (59/68, Frightened 1): Go
Corpselights: TBD
Bibi (40/56, Frightened 1): TBD
Peldur (71/83): TBD
Tal (62/66): TBD
Noroc (41/58, Frightened 1): TBD
Elena (47/48): TBD

Location: Belcorra's Retreat
Tactical Map
Tracker
Party Conditions:
Terrain Conditions: Elena's light
Enemy Conditions:

Carrufikus casts Disrupt Undead on Purple

"Perturbare Immortui!"

Disrupt Undead: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 5, 3) = 16

Basic DC 21 Fort Save

FORT: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Carrufikus casts a spell that ends a third corpselight!

The remaining undead foe releases the unnatural light! Again it catches all the heroes!

ROUND 3:
Carrufikus (59/68): Kill FORT
Corpselights: Light
Bibi (40/56, Frightened 1): Go
Peldur (71/83): Go
Tal (62/66): Go
Noroc (41/58, Frightened 1): Go
Elena (47/48): Go

Location: Belcorra's Retreat
Tactical Map
Tracker
Party Conditions:
Terrain Conditions: Elena's light
Enemy Conditions:

Fortitude: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24

Assuming that the other PCs don't kill it before her turn in initiative...
Elena repeats the words and gestures from before, creating yet more magical missiles. With a flourish, the barrage strikes the corpselight!
Force Barrage: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 2, 4) + 3 = 13

Fort save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
No less frightened than before, Noroc tries to continue his assault.

horsechopper +1 vs. flat-footed AC: 1d20 + 12 - 1 ⇒ (19) + 12 - 1 = 30
slashing, magic: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

horsechopper +1 vs. flat-footed AC: 1d20 + 12 - 1 - 5 ⇒ (17) + 12 - 1 - 5 = 23
slashing, magic: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

horsechopper +1 vs. flat-footed AC: 1d20 + 12 - 1 - 10 ⇒ (19) + 12 - 1 - 10 = 20
slashing, magic: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Strike x3.

Carrufikus isn't toooooo perturbed Evil: 1d8 ⇒ 8, but yet again, Noroc just can't shake it Evil: 2d8 ⇒ (5, 4) = 9 Frightened 1

It doesn't stop him from doing his job, as he cuts down the last corpselight before Elena needs to bring her magic to bear!

For your victory, each adventurer earns 60 XP.

STATUS
Carrufikus (51/68)
Bibi (40/56)
Peldur (71/83)
Tal (62/66)
Noroc (32/58)
Elena (47/48)

The party searches the room to find a few valuables!

All told the corpses have 48 Gold coins on them (all Absalomian and old) Elena spots a magical bracelet on one and, strangely enough, a single magical arrow in a quiver of rotted arrows under one chair.

Elena lets the group take care of the coins, instead taking the time necessary to identify the magic within the bracelet and arrow.

Worried that she's still a little addled, Elena has no clue.

"Elena, you were most helpful when you identified those beads for me. Let me see if I can return the favor."

The gnome inspects the two items with curiosity, peeking his eyes through the bracelet.

The gnome casts a three action Heal III from his healing Font to help all of his friends heal.

"Reinvigormend!"

Heal III: 3d10 ⇒ (10, 8, 6) = 24

A soothing aura of light engulfs the party making everyone feel better.

STATUS
Carrufikus (68/68)
Bibi (56/56)
Peldur (83/83)
Tal (66/66)
Noroc (56/58)
Elena (48/48)