Dungeon Master S's "Abomination Vaults" AP

Game Master Chris Marsh

Will 1:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34
Will 2:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32

Talborel has seen horrors unimagined in his long life... This shade is nothing!

But will physical arrows do anything measurable against this remnant of a sad life?

He opts for another tactic. He draws a thin, small blade and mimes, "going to work", on the grimlock corpse.

He locks his intimidating glare on the creature, trying to get at the soul underneath all the fear and anger.

"Depart this plane and your pain ends. Stay... And you will know no rest. Ever." Intimidation: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12... HERO POINT... 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31

DC 22 Will: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28 success
Noroc is shaken, but stirred to action. He sends out a blazing ray of light tinged with holy energy.

spell attack: 1d20 + 12 - 1 ⇒ (11) + 12 - 1 = 22
If that would fail, Noroc will use his hero point

fire: 5d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 5, 4, 6) = 23 plus good, if fiend/undead: 5d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 3, 2, 5) = 17

Then bestows some guidance on Bibi. Don't leave Tal in there alone!

Cast a Spell ◈◈, Cast a Spell ◈.

Will: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13
Will, Halfling Luck reroll: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

Bibi's eyes go wide, and sweat beads on her brow. Yeah, but...I don't know if I'm more afraid of the specter or of Papa Tal right now!!

Regardless, she bolts inside and gets around the creature, striking out as best she can.

Attack: 1d20 + 15 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 15 - 2 = 20
damage, Sneak Attack: 1d6 + 4 + 2d6 ⇒ (4) + 4 + (2, 6) = 16

Dagger: 1d20 + 11 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 11 - 2 + 1 = 12
Damage, Sneak attack: 2d4 + 4 + 2d6 ⇒ (1, 2) + 4 + (1, 3) = 11

Through sheer determination, the secular surety of Tal's words dims the spectre for a short while! The resistance to its touch and fear aura emboldens the elf.

It's too much for Bibi though, who cannot bring herself to strike with confidence. Noroc has no problem though, blasting the spectre to great effect!

Round 1
Carrufikus (63/80, Frightened 1): Spell
Specter: Strike
Bibi (frightened 2): Miss
Tal (HP: 72/83): The Power of Tony Compels You
Peldur (49/92): Will + Go
Elena: Will + Go
Noroc (54/68, Frightened 1): Boom!

Location: The Library
Tactical Map (Slide 5)

Tracker
Party Conditions: Noroc: DR 5/Physical
Terrain Conditions: light
Enemy Conditions:

Will: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

Gah! This creature of death is so scary!

Despite the puddle at his feat, Peldur relies on instinct to drop into Tiger Stance and lash out at the phantasm.

Claw, Flurry: 1d20 + 14 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 14 - 2 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Claw: 1d20 + 14 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 14 - 2 - 4 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Claw, Flurry: 1d20 + 14 - 2 - 8 ⇒ (14) + 14 - 2 - 8 = 18
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

The feat gets to Peldur, whose strikes are off by a fair bit.

Round 1
Carrufikus (63/80, Frightened 1): Spell
Specter: Strike
Bibi (frightened 2): Miss
Tal (HP: 72/83): The Power of Tony Compels You
Peldur (49/92, Frightened 2): Miss
Elena: Will + Go
Noroc (54/68, Frightened 1): Boom!

Location: The Library
Tactical Map (Slide 5)

Tracker
Party Conditions: Noroc: DR 5/Physical
Terrain Conditions: light
Enemy Conditions:

Will save vs DC 22: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25

Elena speaks a phrase from The Whispering Reeds a tome filled with darkness that she has taken to studying. Each word is a blasphemy that she directs at the incorporeal dead creature. A blasphemy that delivers pain.
Whispering Reeds, Positive damage (DC 27 basic Will): 5d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 3, 3, 6) = 20

Will: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20

Elena uses the text to punch holes into the specter's incorporeal form. It screams with an anguish and anger that mortal's cannot match.

Round 2
Carrufikus (63/80): Go
Specter: TBD
Bibi (frightened 2): TBD
Tal (HP: 72/83): TBD
Peldur (49/92, Frightened 2): TBD
Elena (Frightened 1): TBD
Noroc (54/68, Frightened 1): TBD

Location: The Library
Tactical Map (Slide 5)

Tracker
Party Conditions: Noroc: DR 5/Physical
Terrain Conditions: light
Enemy Conditions:

Carrufikus tries to calm his nerves as he casts vitality lash at the specter!

Vitality Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 4, 6) = 14

DC 22 Basic Fortitude Save

FORT: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29

Screaming, the specter reaches out for Tal, Vile Touch: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (20) + 16 = 36 for Double: 2d8 + 8 ⇒ (8, 8) + 8 = 24 and it grows in power as everyone sees the elf's vitality pulled into the undead! Will Save

Round 2
Carrufikus (63/80): Lashing
Specter: ATK![b]
Bibi (frightened 1): Go
Tal (HP: 24/83): Will + Go
Peldur (49/92, Frightened 1): Go
Elena: Go
Noroc (54/68): Go

Location: The Library
Tactical Map (Slide 5)

Tracker
Party Conditions: Noroc: DR 5/Physical
Terrain Conditions: light
Enemy Conditions:

Papa--withdraw!!

Bibi keeps on stabbing.

Attack v. FF: 1d20 + 15 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 15 - 1 = 17
damage, Sneak Attack: 1d6 + 4 + 2d6 ⇒ (5) + 4 + (3, 6) = 18

Dagger v. FF: 1d20 + 11 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 11 - 1 = 26
Damage, Sneak attack: 2d4 + 4 + 2d6 ⇒ (2, 2) + 4 + (2, 2) = 12

Bibi stabs at the specter, connecting once.

Round 2

Carrufikus (63/80): Lashing
Specter: ATK!
Bibi (frightened 1): Hit[b]
Tal (HP: 24/83): Will + Go
Peldur (49/92, Frightened 1): Go
Elena: Go
Noroc (54/68): Go

Location: The Library
Tactical Map (Slide 5)

Tracker
Party Conditions: Noroc: DR 5/Physical
Terrain Conditions: light
Enemy Conditions:

Noroc evaluates the situation and concludes that he's quite happy where he is. He takes another proverbial swing at the undead creature. Cast divine lance.

spell attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27
good: 3d4 + 4 ⇒ (4, 2, 1) + 4 = 11

He then gives Peldur some cosmic aid. Cast guidance.

Cast a Spell ◈◈, Cast a Spell ◈.

Noroc's spell is well aimed.

Bibi stabs at the specter, connecting once.

Round 2
Carrufikus (63/80): Lashing
Specter: ATK!
Bibi (frightened 1): Hit
Tal (HP: 24/83): Will + Go
Peldur (49/92, Frightened 1): Go
Elena: Go
Noroc (54/68): Hit

Location: The Library
Tactical Map (Slide 5)

Tracker
Party Conditions: Noroc: DR 5/Physical
Terrain Conditions: light
Enemy Conditions:

1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28

Tal bites down the painful cold but manages to counter-attack. He draws his bow, steps back and shoots magical arrows at the shade.

1d20 + 16 ⇒ (11) + 16 = 27, Damage on Hit:2d6 + 5 ⇒ (6, 1) + 5 = 12
1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26, Damage on Hit:2d6 + 5 ⇒ (5, 3) + 5 = 13

Tal's will is powerful, but a mortal, even an elf, is hard pressed to shake off the touch. Stupified 2 for 24 hours. It doesn't stop the reprisal though.
Bibi stabs at the specter, connecting once.

Round 2
Carrufikus (63/80): Lashing
Specter: ATK!
Bibi (frightened 1): Hit
Tal (HP: 24/83, Stupified 2): Hit
Peldur (49/92, Frightened 1): Go
Elena: Go
Noroc (54/68): Hit

Location: The Library
Tactical Map (Slide 5)

Tracker
Party Conditions: Noroc: DR 5/Physical
Terrain Conditions: light
Enemy Conditions:

28 Didn't do it!?!

Elena speaks a quick word of arcane protection, creating an aura that slows any attacks that come with five feet of her.
Cast Protective Ward. +1 AC for any allies within 5ft of hee

She then performs a now very familiar spell, hurling electricity at the dead foe.
Electric Arc vs Specter (E), DC 22 Reflex: 4d4 ⇒ (3, 3, 4, 4) = 14

Tal resists what was sure to be a most terrible fate. Elena speaks out some protection while hurling an evocation: REF: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (15) + 17 = 32, but the specter dodges all of it.

Round 2
Carrufikus (63/80): Lashing
Specter: ATK!
Bibi (frightened 1): Hit
Tal (HP: 24/83, Stupified 2): Hit
Peldur (49/92, Frightened 1): Go
Elena: Miss
Noroc (54/68): Hit

Location: The Library
Tactical Map (Slide 5)

Tracker
Party Conditions: Noroc: DR 5/Physical
Terrain Conditions: light
Enemy Conditions:

Peldur continues to strike out, hands shaped like claws as he rakes at the specter.
Flurry 1 vs Specter: 1d20 + 14 - 1 ⇒ (6) + 14 - 1 = 19
Damage (S): 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Flurry 2 vs Specter: 1d20 + 14 - 1 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 14 - 1 - 4 = 28
Damage (S): 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Claw vs Specter: 1d20 + 14 - 8 ⇒ (20) + 14 - 8 = 26
Damage (S): 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Claw vs Specter: 1d20 + 14 - 8 ⇒ (10) + 14 - 8 = 16
Damage (S): 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Pledur's flurry overwhelms the strings that tether the spectre to this world, and with a scream it vanishes! Hero Point to Elena for botting. Each explorer earns 60 XP.

Wow...that could have ended much MUCH worse!! Bibi gets a quick case of the Heebie Jeebies as a shiver runs through her tiny frame. She then starts searching the place, under the general rule of The Worse The Baddie, The Better The Treasure.

perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21

Bibi looks about. The shelves contain two sets of healer’s tools, a set of expanded healer’s tools, and alchemical reagents worth 10 gp.

Wow...that could have ended much MUCH worse!!

It could? Noroc says, then thinks on it a second. Oh...it could, yes. He looks about the room with some distaste and turns to Elena. This spectre was the life essence of this long-passed morlock, right? If I'm understanding things correctly? Does such a fate await all of us...?

DM Mistake on the map. I gave you the room, fight, and treasure, of the one behind you. This room is a closet... My bad. Map updated.

Welp, it happened :)

"I would not make any assumptions about our afterlives. This poor creature was likely tortured, breaking its mind and soul and leaving it unable to move on. I don't know that any of us would stand to let that happen to another of us. I know I won't."

Elena makes her way to the door then gestures down the hallway. "Our task to stop the malevolent creature behind this place continues. Let's check what's behind those double doors to the west."

"Desna willing, there is no way that I will going into spirit form any time soon! The people of Otari are depending on us. Let's cleanse this place of all malevolence! Lead us onward, Bibi."

The way west is barred. You'll have to either.... bend them or lift them Athletics. You could try squeezing through them. Acrobatics, Trained Only. Small creatures get +2

Carrufikus tries to impress his friends by squeezing between the bars!

"This is when it pays to be small!"

Athletics Check: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 8 + 2 = 26