Coldwater's Abomination Vaults

Game Master Quentin Coldwater

Kka checks the door for traps and doesn't find a trace of any tampering. She pulls open the door, and while the bottom half happily agrees, the top half is stuck and the door tears itself in two with a wet sopping cracking sound. Top half is stuck, you'd need to duck under it to enter. No mechanical effect, just flavour.

Piles of rotting timbers and loose stones lie in heaps throughout this large, L‑shaped hall. Clumps of moss and tangled vines spill down from gaps in the wooden ceiling above each pile of rubble. Several doors lead out to all sides, most barely clinging to their hinges and frames. Debris completely blocks a wooden stairwell that leads up to a large hole in the ceiling. Here and there, the stone walls bear the scars of fire or damage from an ancient battle.
There's enough light from windows and cracks in the ceiling that it's normal light.

Also in this room are three more mitflits circled around a giant maggot or larva of some kind, around six feet long. Pictures on the map to the right. One of the mitflits points at Kka and yells, "Sovražniki so vdrli v našo neprebojno trdnjavo! Plemeniti konjiček, pojdi in se pogosti s sovražnikovim mesom!"

Sam
Kka
Larva?
Green
Kvit
Lough
Cherry Berry
Red
Yellow
Giyozara

Sam and Kka may act!

The way I do Recall Knowledge is that I pre-roll some checks for those who can make it and give them the information. That way, if you want to attempt a check, you don't have to wait for me to reply. Spend one of your actions to Recall Knowledge and open the spoiler tag. I usually give a few pieces of information at once, and if there's more, I'll say so.
Because of how I do this, obviously I can't know who will use this information first, so right now Cherry Berry's and Lough's information are the same (unless one of them crit failed). If one of you makes this check, I'll give new information for the other person.
You can also ask for specific things, such as "what are its weaknesses," or "is it able to cast spells," in which case you obviously have to wait until I answer.
Does this make sense? I try to do this to shortcut a few of the problems of play-by-post combat, but it's not perfect.

I suggest we get the medium PCs over the bridge one at a time. Do not end your turn on the bridge or things could get ugly.

Kka looks under the remains of the door and comes face-to-face with the mitflits and their pet larva. She calls back to the others. "Uh oh, guys? We've got compaany and they don't look haappy to see us. I could use some help over here."

She has the drop on the bad guys, so rather than wait for her companions to cross the bridge, Kka decides to take a shot at the larva thingy. She darts across the hall, skewers the larva with her shortsword, and retreats to hold the door open for the rest of the group.

Action 1 (◆): Stride (30 feet)

Kka has a speed of 30 due to her Nimble Hooves and can just reach the square south of the Larva in one stride.

Action 2 (◆): Strike (Shortsword) with Thief Racket and Surprise/Sneak Attack vs Larva.

Shortsword Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 vs Flat-Footed
Shortsword Damage: 1d6 + 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + (4) + 4 = 9 piercing damage

Action 3 (◆): Stride (30 feet)

Sam never crossed the bridge, but was stationed on one side to cover people crossing -- I just didn't move the token prior to combat.

Sam takes a step northwest, in front of Lough but clearing Kka out from her line of fire. With her bow already drawn, she sends two arrows at the large grub.

Longbow: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Longbow, MAP: 1d20 + 7 - 5 ⇒ (1) + 7 - 5 = 3

◆ Step
◆◆ Two shots at the grub

Kka strikes the grub in its soft, fleshy... well, everything, really. The creature makes a screeching noise and its mandibles click in your direction, but has nothing to grab on to. Sam shoots two arrows, the first one narrowly missing, the second one missing by a long shot.

Kka, I moved you on the map. If you prefer to be one step to the left or right, feel free to do so.

The larva retaliates by sinking its mandibles into Kka's flesh.

Mandibles: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

It then keeps hold of Kka! Kka is now Grabbed!

Green squeals in delight as its friend draws blood, and joins the fray.

Shortsword attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
U-oh.. That's a crit due to grabbed condition.
Damage: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2
4 whole damage! Tremble in fear!

Sam
Kka 11 damage, grabbed
Larva? 9 damage - bloodied (at or below 50% HP)
Green
Kvit
Lough
Cherry Berry
Red
Yellow
Giyozara

Kvit, Lough, and Cherry Berry may act!

kvit will wait for Lough to cross, Kvit is out of range for most spells currently so will need to scootch up.

kka! Noo! Eaten alive by a grub! Oh the ratmanity

Kvit nods to Lough, and he charges across the bridge!

◆◆) Stride
◆) Snagging Strike

He reaches his slaggen claw around the larvae choking his friend, and returns the favor!

Snagging Strike w/ Slag Claw: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 161d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

"Whatch out, they can grab you!"

Thinking that it likely that these creatures are likely immune to their two cantrips, Cherry Berry pulls out their bow and tries to remember more about the creatures.

◆Stride to current location.
◆Interact to draw bow
◆Recall Knowledge(Nature): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Likely these things are neutral, meaning Divine Lance is useless. It's even odds that they are mindless, making Daze invalid as well.

Whoops, sorry for misreading! This does change things.

The larva squirms slowly forward and takes its entire turn getting to Kka.
The mitflit runs forward, draws a dart, and throws it at Kka. Same to hit, but less damage. Especially now Kka isn't flat-footed.
Damage: 1d4 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0

Sam
Kka 1 damage
Larva? 9 damage - bloodied (at or below 50% HP)
Green
Kvit
Lough
Cherry Berry
Red
Yellow
Giyozara

Lough, feel free to re-do your turn.

Kvit nods to Lough, and he charges across the bridge...

...and through to the opposite side, continuing straight into fresh fat larvae!

◆◆) Stride
◆) Raise a Shield (to AC 20)
+
↺) Shield Block (Hardness 5, HP 20)
↺) Attack of Opportunity (slag claw +9 @ 1d6+4 S)
~) Whichever reaction triggers first

"Alright Kvit - open lane!"

As the larva takes a talon to the ... face?, it retaliates by puking up the contents of its stomach all around it, covering Lough and Kka in stomach fluids.

Lough and Kka, please make me a Fortitude save versus being sickened.

◆ Stride
◆◆ Electric Arc Should just be in range of the larva? and the green mitflit.

Kvit walks cautiously onto the bridge, hoping Lough's stomping charge didn't destroy the rest of its structural integrity. Getting within range Kvit opens with an arc of electricity from his palms. It strikes the larva thing before bouncing to the nearest mitflit.

Basic reflex save, DC 17

Fortitude vs Sickened (DC ??): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Kka is happy to see Lough charge in and take the pressure off her, but is far less happy to have larva barf spewed all over her. "Ew!"

Fortitude Save vs DC ??: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

"It'll taake forever to get this craap out of my feathers."

Lough and Kka shake off the intestinal eruption with ease.

Reflex save larva: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Reflex save Green: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Want me to roll damage? Regardless of how much it is, the crit fail will kill the maggot.

The maggot's body, plump and fat, is wracked with electricity. Something pops within its body, and the thing more or less deflates.

The mitflits are enraged by their pet being killed and howl in anger. Yellow darts forward and tries to slip by Lough, provoking from him. Yellow ends up right next to Kvit, but then realises he hasn't drawn a weapon yet. Yellow decides to yell in Kvit's face.
"Neumni špičasti nos! Kako bomo zdaj dvignili letečo vojsko?"

Stupid 20 feet movement speed. Just can't reach you in 2 strides.

Pink creeps a little closer, grabs a dart, and chucks it at Kka.
Dart attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Damage: 1d4 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0
Sigh. Another 1 damage for Kka! Fear and tremble at the might of the mitflits!

Sam
Kka 2 damage
Green ??? damage
Kvit
Lough
Cherry Berry
Red
Yellow
Giyozara

Giyozara, Sam, and Kka may act!

Kka looks on with surprise as a bolt of lightning fries the grub in it's skin in front of her. She turns to Kvit with a not bad look on her face and gives him the thumbs up. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she sees a mitflit come charging up. As she prepares to engage it, a dart appears out of nowhere and bounces off her leathers, leaving a nasty bruise similar to the previous one. "Oh, come on now! Enough with the pitter paatting. It's getting old already."

With a quick feint to the left to put the mitflit off-balance, Kka shifts right and sweeps her shortsword across the gremlin's neck.

Action 1 (◆): Feint vs Yellow Mitflit
Deception (Feint): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 vs Yellow Mitflit Perception DC

Action 2 (◆): Strike (Shortsword) with Thief Racket and Sneak Attack? vs Yellow Mitflit

Shortsword Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21 vs Flat-Footed?
Shortsword Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 slashing damage

If Flat-Footed, then add the following Sneak Attack damage.
Shortsword Precision Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2 slashing damage

Kka's last action will depend on whether the previous Strike killed the mitflit or not.

Giyozara steps forward and points his finger at yellow.

"Do-don-PA!"
Attack roll for Ray of frost, enemy has +1 to AC for being blocked by allies: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Cold damage if hit: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

If Kka's attack killed yellow, I'll move on to green. Ray of frost has a 120ft range and the penalties for firing through multiple friends don't stack, so it shouldn't change anything.

Slag Claw (Cold Iron) of Opportunity: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 191d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Yellow mitflit manages to slip by Lough, but not without a slashing slap across the torso!

Lough's Slag Claw counts as Cold Iron!

Yellow slips by Lough, but Lough retaliates with his claw, leaving a nasty gash on its torso. The claw somehow seems to irritate the mitflit's skin.
Kka throws Yellow off balance, and slices her shortsword neatly through its neck. However, the tough skin seems to resist some of the damage. Very minor damage resistance. Lough seems to go through fine. Luckily, with Lough's aid, Yellow falls to the ground, lifeless.
Giyozara aims her Ray of Frost at Green, which hits. It also falls to the ground. Kvit's minimum damage would have been enough. The battlefield looks a lot more in your favour now.

Sam
Kka 2 damage
Kvit
Lough
Cherry Berry
Red
Giyozara

Since enemies dropped away from initiative, Lough and Cherry Berry may act again, as well as Sam.

"Oh!"

Surprised by his own strength, Lough fight or flight response begins to slowly re-wire itself - he continues to run towards the danger!

◆) Raise a Shield (to AC 20)
◆) Step
◆) Snagging Strike
+
↺) Shield Block (Hardness 5, HP 20)
↺) Attack of Opportunity (slag claw +9 @ 1d6+4 S)
~) Whichever reaction triggers first

Snagging Slag Claw (Cold Iron): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 221d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Red Mitflit is flat-footed while adjacent to Lough!

Lough and Kka shake off the intestinal eruption with ease.

**Dice roll removed**

Want me to roll damage? Regardless of how much it is, the crit fail will kill the maggot.

I should have rolled damage at the same time, sorry

potential Electricity damage to larva?: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

potential Electricity damage to green?: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Cherry moves forward while making an odd gesture with the hand not holding the bow.

◆Stride
◆◆Divine Lance: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 Good Damage

But nothing seems to happen.

Sam charges forward, crossing the bridge and stopping just short of Cherry Berry. She drops into a stance and fires two more arrows at the remaining mitflit.

Longbow, Flurry: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 7 - 2 = 16
Longbow, Flurry: 1d20 + 7 - 2 - 5 ⇒ (13) + 7 - 2 - 5 = 13

Longbow Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4

I'm almost certain that the 2nd one doesn't hit

◆ Stride
◆ Monastic Archer Stance
◆ Flurry - 2 arrows @ pink

Sam's first arrow strikes true. And again, the the arrow doesn't appear to go in as deep into the creature's flesh as it should go. But then Lough walks up and slashes the mitflit into unconsciousness.

Combat over!
If you loot the mitflits, they again have 10 darts each and a shortsword.

I'll re-post the flavour text to remind you of what's here.
Piles of rotting timbers and loose stones lie in heaps throughout this large, L‑shaped hall. Clumps of moss and tangled vines spill down from gaps in the wooden ceiling above each pile of rubble. Several doors lead out to all sides, most barely clinging to their hinges and frames. Debris completely blocks a wooden stairwell that leads up to a large hole in the ceiling. Here and there, the stone walls bear the scars of fire or damage from an ancient battle.

After the short battle and seeing no one was seriously injured, Kvit pokes around the piles of rubble and looks along the walls for remnants of shelving or other places some choice bits of scavenging could be found. Talking to whoever is in earshot."Seems like this place is really just full of these ridiculous pixies. I wouldn't let your guard down though. There may still be more dangerous creatures here. See if you can find anything Squeakers." The large rat runs down Kvit's coat and disappears into various piles of rubble. Kvit's nose and whiskers twitching as he looks around mildly disappointed with his search so far.

Kvit does have scent as an imprecise sense if that ever becomes relevant during searching or looking for hidden creatures

both kvit and squeakers search

Sam also joins the search.

Kvit, thanks for letting me know, that might become relevant at some point. Could you put it in your statline after your perception modifier? Makes it easier for me to remember.

Kvit, Squeakers, and Sam walk through the room in search of anything interesting.

The door straight to the north seems to be stuck in its doorframe. You might need to use some force to get it open. The door to the northeast is completely blocked by rubble from the ceiling, but a hole in the roof might get you over to the other side of the wall. You'd need a minor Athletics check to get across, but failing too hard at it might shift the rubble and collapse the whole thing.

Kvit and Squeakers both notice a secret door to the northwest, along with how to open it.

Nothing here looks to be trapped.

Walking up cautiously and warily, Lough checks to see if the scaly body is still there...

...poking his head sideways from around cover, and affixing his (silver) eye upon it!

Kka joins in the search of the room. Stopping at the northern door, she calls out. "Lough! Looks like this one here could use some of your door-opening superpowers." She then looks at the norteastern door and the hole she'll need to go through to get over the wall. She opens and closes her beak a couple of times in irritation, "<click>, <clack>." "Ugh! I hate climbing."

When Kvit calls out about finding a secret door, Kka gets excited and clip-clops over as quickly as her hooves will carry her. "Nice find Kvit." Looking it over, she says, "Doesn't look traapped. I say we look inside." She reaches for the opening mechanism...

By the way, if Kka can find a way to get to the corpse on the northern shore of the pond without going into the water, she'll do it and search the body.

When the bridge is clear, Giyozara will cross it.

There doesn't seem to be a way to get to the corpse without getting your feathers wet.

Lough backtracks and looks at the pond again. The scaly body is still there. But, most importantly, the thing Cherry Berry noticed has now turned around. You see big bulbous eyes staring back at you just above the waterline, ready to pounce if you set foot in the pond.

"Nothing this way!" Lough ignores the imminent danger...

Identify "big bulbous eyes" w/ Swamp Lore (*) +5 (?)

...heading over to the northern door where Kka has called him, he presses his shoulder into the stuck door with force.

Force Open w/o Crowbar (-2) Northern Door (Athletics, Trained): 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 7 - 2 = 16

"Kka - you got a crowbar? Forgot mine..."

Kka notices Lough coming back from the bridge after checking out the pond situation. "No luck getting to the body eh? Yeah, I couldn't see a way to do it either... at least not one that didn't involve going for a swim with our frogodile friend out there." She shudders slightly at the thought and returns to her examination of the secret door.

"Kka - you got a crowbar? Forgot mine..."

She laughs at the idea that she might have dragged a crowbar with her all the way from Otari. "Ark ark! You're hilaarious Lough. Do I look like the kind of girl that caarries around a crowbar?" After she calms down a little, she adds. "Seriously though, if we're going to be forcing a lot of stuck doors, then we should probaably invest in one next time we're baack in town."

I'd try providing Aid to Lough with forcing the door, but the odds of making a DC 20 roll are about half the odds of a crit failure.

Considering the check to get the door unstuck is less than 20, I'd say Aiding would take a DC15, maybe even less.

Lough pushes his weight against the door. You feel the waterlogged door squelching in protest, but it's really stuck.

Considering the check to get the door unstuck is less than 20, I'd say Aiding would take a DC15, maybe even less.

OK, we have the door with a DC of either 17, 18 or 19, so with Lough's 16, that means that we need +1, +2 or +3 net Aid successes. Athletics is the obvious choice, but the only ones of us with any serious hope of helping with that are Sam +4 and Kka +3. Of course, there's nothing that says we have to use Athletics to Aid, so if you can make a good case for a different skill, then go for it. In fact, Kka will try for a Thievery +7 check instead.

Kka watches as Lough strains against the door. "Whaat's the problem Lough? Are your door-busting superpowers on the blink? Let's see whaat I can do."

As Lough pulls on the door, Kka bends down and listens closely to see if she can tell exactly where in the jam it is stuck tightest. She then pulls out some little wedges and hammers them into those spots with the butt of her sword to see if she can loosen them up.

Action: Aid Lough to open door with Thievery
Thievery (Aid): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

"Wow! It really is stuck tight. Isn't it?" Kka stands and looks for Sam. "Sam! Lough's having trouble with the door. Is there anything you can do to help?" Then to the shorter members. "What about you guys? Any ideas? If we can't get this door open we may have to go back to Otari for a crowbar."

Kvit would indeed let the others know about the concealed door. Upon seeing Lough and Kka attempting to force open the northern door, he would stand nearby waiting for any combat after the extreme noise the two were making. After watching them struggle for a bit he asks "So, uh, can you guys handle opening a stuck door? I could coat the door in grease if you think that would help?

1st level grease spell can target an object, would that help the stuck door?

It would certainly help! But I personally think it's a bit of a waste, considering there's not much penalty for failing other than potentially alerting whatever is on the other side of the door. Though if you do use the spell, I'll grant a +2 to Aid.

And Kka, I will certainly allow creative other uses of skills for aiding and/or regular checks. :)

Giyozara walks up and judges how intact the door is. Knocks on it a few times, trying to figure out if a sufficient enough blast of energy could destroy it.

"I might be able to blow it up if you all back away, but I'm not sure. And it would require a significant amount of my magical power for the day."

With a most conspiratorial voice "Maybe whatever lurks behind this door..." he pauses here, locking frightfully dilated eyes with each of the three crowded around him "...doesn't want to be Found!"

Looking this way and that.

Fearfully confounded!

Kka rolls her eyes at Lough's paranoia. "Relaaax Lough. If there's aanything behind this door, which I doubt, it's pretty clear that it didn't get in this way." She reaches over and pats the door. "This baaby hasn't been opened in years, and the way we're going, it'll probably staay that way for a few more."

She looks over at Giyozara. "As for blowing it up; let's not get too caarried away just yet. You're just as likely to bring the whole tower down on our heads thaan to remove the door."

When Kvit suggests grease Kka nods her head approvingly. "Might work, but we're dealing with a jaammed door, not just rusty hinges; not sure how effective it would be."

"I can always try to force it open, but is that wise? We might alert everyone here that they're about to have visitors"

Kvit nods at Kka's assessment. "Well then, lets not waste any more time on it. I don't want to still be here when it gets dark. Plus this whole place is falling apart. Bashing that door open is likely to bring the rest of it down on us. Lets just try to find a way around."

"How about this door?" Giyozara points to the northern door on the western wall (my icon is currently near the door.)"It doesn't seem as . . . jammed."

"Ok" Lough tries his other shoulder...

Force Open w/o Crowbar (-2) Northern Door (Athletics, Trained): 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 7 - 2 = 14

Screw it. There's no time pressure and no penalty for failing. I'm not gonna let you waste an entire day on bashing a door open.

Lough repeatedly bashes his shoulders against the door, and eventually Lough notices he's going through the door. Looks like the door's rotten inside, and eventually the whole door simply falls apart.

The smooth walls of this circular room are painted a light gray with no indication of seams between blocks of stone. A set of iron stairs winds upward along the curved walls before terminating at a trap door in the ceiling nearly a hundred feet above. A red bloodstain glistens on the floor at the room’s center, as though a human‑sized creature bled to death on the floor very recently, despite there being no body in sight.

"Oh nasty. A lot of nasty things in this complex. I wonder how they all get along."

Cherry Berry looks around. "I think this is becoming more complex than we thought it would."

Kka looks on with concern as Lough repeatedly smashes his shoulder against the door. "Taake it easy there big man. If you're not caareful you'll dislocaate that shoulder." When the door finally gives way, she coos lightly (Tengu equivalent of whistling) and adds, "Caan't argue with success though."

When nothing comes rushing out, Kka pokes her head in, then looks up the iron stairs. "Looks like we found the waay up the tower." She then looks at the stain on the ground. "Aaand, it looks like someone caame down using the express route. Quite recently too. I wonder where the body got to?"

Pulling her head back she says. "I think we should look around down here some more and clear the area of enemies before we head upstairs. I'd hate to be trapped between two sets of bad guys halfway up and end up like that poor sod." She points to the fresh pool of blood to indicate who she's referring to.

How about we look behind the secret door first, then go through the one that Giyozara is in front of. That should take care of that section of the "complex".

Kvit peeks in the next room. At Kka's speculation he would clear his throat and jab a thumb in the direction of the drawbridge. "Seems like it could have very well been from the body we saw on the way in here. Even though I really don't want to go down in the mystery pool, it seems like it may be even more important to investigate that body to see how it died." He pauses for a moment. "Besides blood loss."

"Let's see what is behind this concealed door. If it had been hidden, perhaps these annoying mitflits haven't raided it yet."

I agree secret door next

"I'll just pop it back it" he smiles, thinking on the times he's wedged himself between two or more logs at the mill...

...his eyes wander and sets on the blood-stains - then his imagination fools him. I'm right behind you! Lough spins fast a hundred eighty degrees - not unlike a cat - whirling to see 1d4 ⇒ 3 Cherry Berry behind him! - and having raised his hand high and protracted his claws, curls them back into a harmless fist, relieved two-fold: Firstly, that the "voice" in his head was not right behind him. Secondly, that he didn't accidentally strike out at his new friend.

With some embarrassment, he avoids eye contact with the leshy, and goes to see this "secret door" that Kka and Kvit were talking about.

Preparing, it seems, to be the first to enter...

His heartbeat ringing in his ears!

Lough presses a hidden button next to the secret door, and a piece of the wall slides away. Behind the door, there's not much more than an alcove, with several grooves in the stone floor. The grooves definitely seem man-made, and seem to be from determined scraping with tools.

I've made rolls for everyone who had access to these skills. While they technically aren't secret, I rolled them for you anyway.

”Hmmm, not sure what those grooves are. I suppose they could have once formed a summoning circle and been worn away by time, maybe deliberately destroyed. I’d like to think the original Roseguard would’ve destroyed any evil summoning circles but. . . I dunno. Summons are a bit out of my wheelhouse.”