‘Eκάτη's Endless Night

Game Master ‘Eκάτη

Cuthalian's sword cuts through one of the derro, and he falls dead before he realizes what is happening. Meanwhile, the flow of sacred energy is diverging in all directions from Terzanin. Even though not many derro will be affected by this, but this place is definitely getting a little lighter.

W white: 1d20 ⇒ 8 W pink: 1d20 ⇒ 1
Both received full damage. The rest were not affected, since the channel is a burst and not a spread.

The priestess, or whoever she is, is furious that someone dared to interrupt the chant. Screaming madly and bulging her tongue and eyes, she rushes forward grabbing on the move the falchion lying next to the mushroom body. She attacks the first person she sees, ignoring the fire that could well scorch her (but cannot). Bull Rush: 1d20 ⇒ 9 With all the acceleration, she crashes into Cirok and he realizes that although this figure is shorter than him, it has a power! He is thrown back and steps with his (probably stylish) boots into the red blood substance with a slurp. Blood flies onto his clothes and even pours inside his boot.

- ROUND 1 -

M Derro
Colgrim
Cirok
F Derro (white -18, pink -18)
Cuthalian
Terzarin
Priestess?
==> Soryan

Four more eldritch wasps of true Force magic fly from Soryan Dirge's outstretched fingers, lancing through the air at the Priestess, or whatever she is.
Magic Missile Still Works, Y'all!: 4d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 4, 3, 1) + 4 = 13

Ranged Trip: 1d20 ⇒ 13 Ranged Trip: 1d20 ⇒ 8 Ranged Trip: 1d20 ⇒ 14

Three derro trapped in a cave with Cuthalian decide to use their favorite battle tactics, that is, to knock down and beat the recumbent. Their curved clubss on long ropes are perfect for this, but... This elf is too nimble and moves his feet too agile for that.

(trip and move action to return clubs in their hands)

Meanwhile, Soryan's four magic projectiles reach their target. Although the derro woman suffered obvious damage, but you don't think that in her rage she noticed it... yet.

- ROUND 2 -

M Derro
==> Colgrim
==> Cirok
F Derro (white -18, pink -18)
Cuthalian
Terzarin
Priestess? (-13)
Soryan

Colgrim Rages 30/32 and moves over to try to squash the white Derro

Longhammer+1,Rage,PA: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 322d6 + 21 ⇒ (4, 6) + 21 = 31

Colgrim , a furious derro who just pushed Sirok away is blocking your path (the squares are slightly stretched into premogons, but they are still game squares). You can Tumble Through to break into the cave (acrobatics).

Colgrim just waits then.

Colgrim, it's a pity to waste a good punch! .)

Colleagues, please bot Cirok.

Cirok Brokencrown
.

Flanking the Witch with Colgrim, Cirok lashes at the villainous lady with his enchanted dagger.
Bot for Cirok, hope this is okay: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (9) + 16 = 25

More Blood for Blood Currency: 1d4 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Thanks, Molech! Cirok's dagger finds its target (but without a sneaky attack, there is no flank - I did not let Colgrim in there, see above), and some more of her blood spills onto the rocks, flowing in rivulets to the lake of blood below.

With hysterical screams, four female derro run out of the cave. One of them immediately dies under the blow of Colgrim's hammer (I will use your beautiful roll above as an AoO).

This is where the madness begins with AoO! Three of them are still alive (so far) and each one provokes AoO! So Сirok and Terzarin can make at least one AoO, as well as each of you three can inflict up to three attacks of opportunity if you have Combat Reflexes.

I will roll attacks for them after I see your AoO. Perhaps everyone died at the feet of their leader.

So! Cirok, Terzarin and Colgrim (if dwarf has Combat Reflexes) - AoOs please!

Short Sword vs Colgrim: 1d20 ⇒ 131d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Short Sword vs Colgrim: 1d20 ⇒ 11d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Short Sword vs Terzarin: 1d20 ⇒ 91d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

This derro women manage to successfully get to you (almost all), but none of their punches find their target.

- ROUND 2 -

M Derro
Colgrim
Cirok
F Derro (white -18, pink -18)
==> Cuthalian
==> Terzarin
Priestess (-21)
Soryan

Terzarin has a crossbow out, so doesn't get an AoO. He does channel again, to harm.
Channel: 6d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 4, 5, 5, 3) = 25 DC 16 Will save for half

Cirok takes an Attack of Opportunity on an advancing Derro!
Melee +1, returning dagger : 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 161d4 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Cirok kills another derro with a swift thrust to the neck. Meanwhile, Terzarin unleashes a wave of pure light, piercing the hearts of those who have surrendered to darkness...

W: 1d20 ⇒ 1 W: 1d20 ⇒ 18 (+ one auto-death)

Two more derros who had run out of the cave fell dead. The remaining one's pure, unclouded rage helps her cope with the wave of light, and she remains standing alone in front of you, and it doesn't seem like this scares her in any way.

- ROUND 2 -

M Derro
Colgrim
Cirok
F Derro DEAD
==> Cuthalian
Terzarin
Priestess (-32)
Soryan

Cuthalian steps into the crowd of derro and continues moving through the forms as his master had taught him (power attack, great cleave). (-2 to AC or AC 24 currently)

sword, PA, furious focus, blue: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21
sword, PA, yellow: 1d20 + 13 - 3 ⇒ (11) + 13 - 3 = 21
sword, PA, black: 1d20 + 13 - 3 ⇒ (14) + 13 - 3 = 24
sword dmg, PA, blue: 1d10 + 10 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 10 + 9 = 21
sword dmg, PA, yellow: 1d10 + 10 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 10 + 9 = 21
sword dmg, PA, black: 1d10 + 10 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 10 + 9 = 27

Concerned that Cuthalian is gone from line-of-sight and her allies are a five-foot-step away from a Witch's Cone or area-of-effect, Soryan Dirge prepares to cast a powerful spell, hoping he won't need it.

Cuthalian takes a step into the cave. None of you fully see how incredibly he dances with a blade. And in vain. These fast swings and incredible use of momentum from strike to another strike... It's like a song, but a song of violence. Three bodies fall to the floor gurgling with blood almost simultaneously.

Meanwhile, the priestess contributes her share of madness to the ongoing massacre. It is not known whether she notices that she is alone or not, but she brings down both blows of the axe on Terzarin. He manages to dodge the first one, but the second one leaves a deep wound on his shoulder! (-21 hp)

- ROUND 2 -

M Derro
Colgrim
Cirok
F Derro DEAD
Cuthalian
Terzarin (-21)
Priestess (-38)
==> Soryan

- ROUND 3 -

M Derro DEAD
==> Colgrim
==> Cirok
==> Cuthalian
==> Terzarin (-21)
Priestess (-38)
Soryan

Moving into position and thinking upon his studies of Arcane exploitation, Soryan Dirge inwardly reaches into his inner pool of magic and lashes out with an Arc of Flame, a line of fire that cuts in front of his allies and fills the space of the Priestess.

.

Move Action to get into Line. .... 1 Point from Arcanist Reservoir Pool to wield Flame Arc, Arcanist Exploit.
Burn Baby Burn!: 3d6 + 3 ⇒ (5, 2, 1) + 3 = 11 Ref DC 16 for half

Colgrim runs in against the priestess and bashes her

Hammer,PA: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 272d6 + 17 ⇒ (3, 6) + 17 = 26

Cirok grins at the Priestess. The Rogue Strides into a Flank with Colgrim!
Melee +1, returning dagger , flank: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 341d4 + 7 + 4d6 ⇒ (3) + 7 + (2, 1, 2, 4) = 19

CRIT? Melee +1, returning dagger , flank: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 301d4 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Cuthalian walks out of the cave ready for further conflict. Seeing the crazy witch, he steps toward her and he flows into a Reaper's Pass (single attack with power attack and furious focus).

atk: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15
dmg: 1d10 + 10 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 10 + 9 = 27

I apparently tripped on the reaper's cloak

Colgrim, priestess was in front of you. I returned you to correct place on the map. Cirok, no flank unless you will use acrobatics to tumble through (what you can try now if you want; if it doesn't work out, you'll get AoO, but you'll still be able to launch your critical attack after). Terzarin is UP.

Acrobatics (Dex): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (19) + 17 = 36

Сolgrim unleashes a powerful blow on the derro priestess, at the same time the fire of Soryan's spell scorches the creature. It seems that Сuthalian misses only because of the abundance of attacks by his comrades, but Сirok took advantage of the mess, deftly shifted to the flank and delivered a well-aimed blow to the area of the heart...

Terzarin covers himself with his staff, goes into full defense and takes a step back. And this turns out to be a great solution, as the priestess blindly moves after him, brandishing an axe. Obviously, she has a monstrous strength in her hands, which sometimes happens to madmen and lunatics, but the elf manages to dodge both deadly blows... It seems that the light energy that he just channeled causes her to hate him especially bitterly. It's amazing that with such wounds derro can still stand on her feet. It is impossible to explain this otherwise than by dark magic or the wonders of the blind rage of a fanatic.

R3-R4. Priestess (-101). Party is UP

Soryan Dirge Moves over to angle another Arc of Flame at the raging Priestess -- without hitting any of his allies -- and once again reaches inwardly to his Pool of Arcanist energy to unleash more fire against the villainess.

Fall Down, Lady!: 3d6 + 3 ⇒ (3, 4, 2) + 3 = 12 Ref DC 16 for Half.

Cirok grins at the Priestess. The Rogue takes full advantage of being in a Flank with Cuthalian!
Melee +1, returning dagger , flank: 19 + 14 = 331d4 + 7 + 4d6 ⇒ (3) + 7 + (3, 6, 5, 2) = 26
CRIT? Melee +1, returning dagger , flank: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 191d4 + 7 + 4d6 ⇒ (3) + 7 + (4, 1, 6, 1) = 22
Flank not included

Colgrim thinks Cirok has this in the bag and doesn't want to kill steal and so holds his attack.Done

If needed Cuthalian follows up with an attack or two to make sure the crazy woman goes down.

sword, PA, furious focus, flank: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 13 + 2 = 32
sword2, PA, flank: 1d20 + 8 - 3 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 8 - 3 + 2 = 19
sword dmg, PA: 1d10 + 10 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 10 + 9 = 28
sword dmg, PA: 1d20 + 10 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 10 + 9 = 39

Under a hail of blows, this crazy woman falls dead. Death comes instantly, it seems like a second ago there was a violent vile life in her, and now there is no trace of this fierce urge to kill and the energy of destruction that fed her. Instant death, as if the soul was pulled out of the body in a second.

The cave is plunged into silence. There are nine derro bodies lying around you, and their blood is slowly draining into a pool of blood. The buzzing of insects can be heard, which seems deafening in the ominous silence. In the cave, covered with drawings, under the image of the three-eyed jackal - the obvious symbol of Lamashtu - there is still a body with mushrooms sprouted in it.

And in this silence, broken only by your heavy breathing and the buzzing of insects, from somewhere in the east comes what you least expect to hear - the cry of a baby.

You have three caves to the south and a passage to the east, which you can try to walk along the edge along the shore without stepping into a pool of blood. And you can also just go from here.

"She was...ferocious. I'm glad you all worked so well together to end her evil ways. Praise the light."

Terzarin channels to heal before anyone steps away to explore.
Channel: 6d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 5, 5, 1, 5) = 24

"Ah, that feels much better."

A fierce battle lust in her, much like the Slayers from My lands. Hmm this altar should be cleansed of taint.

Cirok winks at Colgrim.
Never hurts to be thorough. Unless you are the target, of course.

The Rogue divests the dead Derro of anything of value or note worthy before presenting an inclination to go see a sound about a crying baby...
Exploration mode Avoid Notice

The Rogue then recalls that this is not second edition...
Stealth (Dex), fast stealth 30', cover: 1d20 + 17 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 17 + 4 = 31

Soryan Dirge steps in and comforts Colgrim, a friendly hand on the back shoulder, "Are you okay, BarrelHouse? I saw you hold back for a moment and not strike the killing blow -- as though you were willing to let Cuthalian steal the kill from you. It was so uncharacteristic from the Dwarf we all saw in battle back home. .... But I know what you're going through, I've been completely out of sorts myself, too, sometimes. I just wanted to make sure you're-- Is that a baby Crying?!"

Soryan Dirge stops himself as the buzzing of insects is interrupted by a wailing that echoes through the caves. He sees Terzarin the Lightbringer channel the Healing magic of-(Dude, your Profile doesn't say who your Deity is!), and though not injured, Soryan Dirge feels blessed by the Divine energy. And he sees Cirok Brokencrown racing to loot the dead and begin to investigate stealthily around.

"The wailing may be a trick or trap -- if it is a baby, it's like as not a Surface Elf or Human." He sheepishly looks toward Colgrim Barrelhouse, "Or Dwarf or Gnome or Halfling.

"We should continue to be cautious. If there's a baby there, it's been there a long time already."

Finally, unless the rest of the group immediately begins leaving to follow the infant's sounds of pain, Soryan Dirge points out the blood awkwardly draining into the pool, "Yeah, Disturbing with a capital 'D.'" Then he enters the cave to inspect the body with the growing fungus, the mural of Lamashtu, and the writings on the wall. "If it's okay with you all, I'd like to take a moment to learn what I can here, then go fight the Swarms of those Insects."

And he looks to Cuthalian and Colgrim with a nod indicating he'd love their muscle to come into the cave with him in case he needs protecting from those in Blood Currency far stronger than he.

I am doing fine, I was just going to let Cuthalin have the kill. When a comrade is going in for the kill, it would be wrong to deny them the final blow.

Curious about the potential for dark Lore and vile Knowledge, Soryan Dirge studies the mural of Lamashtu, blood pooling, and body of putrid fungus -- hoping his allies are willing to pause a moment before pursuing the sound of a babe in the Underdark.

Colgrim accompanies Soryan as the elf studies the mural.

"Take your moment then we need to go check on the crying babe. I'll be happy if it is a child but like you said, it's likely a ploy to draw us in." Cuthalian says. Inside he wonders what they would do with a baby. If it's non-drow the drow back at the house will kill it. If it's drow and not of house vonnarc, they will kill it. "It will be easier if is a trap." he says putting words to his thoughts.

I can just imagine us trying to raise a derro babe in secret, hah!

"Uncle Barrelhouse"

I can just see it now, telling the tale of how I died covered in blood and poop.

Cirok winks.
That is parenting.

"It's probably a haunt. This whole place needs to be purified. Anything else to search here before we go? We should search the bodies, of course."

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18