Age of Ashes (Team Dahak)

Game Master Delta Arena

Markus

There are no magical effects present in the area, besides the necromantic ward that permeates this wing of the basement, but there are remnants of ritual necromantic magic coming from the table Mosquito is dancing on. Whatever ritual took place, it took place relatively recently and it has a distinct signature that sets it apart of the ward.

Mosquito

Dust and ashes fly from the table as Mosquito dances, sending them flying all around the room, and towards the shelves.

Kiilo

Kiilo’s voice fills the small room. Even singing softly, his voice can be heard with clarity.

The song moves Alak to the point where he doesn’t speak out against the mockery of a Goblin dancing in this space.

Markus doesn't want to kill Mosquito's mood at first, but he can't stop himself and says "Hey, Mosquito, that uhm... that table was recently used for a necromancy ritual. I don't know how safe it is to be on it right now... sorry".

Regardless of Mosquito's reaction, he proceeds to look for other hidden things in the room.

Search the room. Perception +6

A few scraps of papers seem to have been left behind on the shelves. but there doesn't seem to be anything hidden behind or in between the shelves. What really calls your attention are the footprint tracks on the dusty floor connecting the table and the far door.

Mosquito giggles at Kiilo's musical accompaniment. The Cayden Cailianite frowns at the icky information that Markus relates. He shrugs and continues to dance!

After a few more minutes, the Swashbuckler jumps down and begins following the tracks....

There are two sets of tracks, both led by the same creature. One set going from the far door to the table and a second going from the table to the far door. Following the tracks to the far door leads to a narrow space filled with storage racks and cabinets. Some are empty, though others still contain dusty banners with the Order of the Nail’s sunburst insignia, Asmodean paraphernalia, and other trappings clearly designed for formal funerals. In the back of the room, a dirt-walled tunnel opens up and stretches into the gloom; the two sets of tracks lead to and from this tunnel.

Markus takes a look at the trinkets and checks the book he acquired about devil summoning, to try and see if there are any matches.

Afterwards, he creates a magical light and has it enter the tunnel to try and see anything in there.

Cast Light and concentrate to make it move into the tunnel.

The imagery is similar, with both sets of trinkets being Asmodean in nature, but there is no sulphur, or salts, or protective trinkets here in the basement that would indicate devil summoning. Instead, there are bandages, and veils, and urns, that would suggest funeral procedures.

The walls of the dirt tunnel are smooth, and the tunnel goes on further that you can see from inside the room.

Markus says "Well, I am very curious to know where this tunnel will lead... But maybe we should leave it for last?"

Mosquito frowns at the tunnel.
Wees shuts da door. Anybodys good with da traps? Wees goes exploring more ov dis castle after.

"I think that's a fair plan; we want to ensure that it is very unlikely anyone comes down that tunnel behind us."

Mosquito giggles
Maybe wees puts da bear in da tunnel...

What is your plan? There are plenty of cabinets that you could move to block the door.

Markus directs the others into making a makeshift door with the available furniture.

Lore Engineering: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Crafting: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Mosquito begins picking things and putting things back down when he realizes that they have a barbarian.
Dis bees Brilliant Burnis jobs!

Before long, and thanks to Markus' guidance, the furniture is in place. It is heavy enough to block the door and the overlaping pieces keep it in place.

Where to after building the barricade?

The door that Brilliant Burnis is at.

Mosquito ventures over to stand patiently behind Brilliant Burnis.
Psst...open says Mees!

Vrosi will open the door.

The door opens to a dark chamber lined narrow stone walls filled with coffin-sized compartments that stretch from the floor to the ceiling. Most of the compartments are occupied with shroud-covered bodies, though a few of them are empty.

Everyone is certain of the Goblin's choice of activities during situations like this ...

....the small fellow seems certain to run inside, screaming and laughing and hoping from one coffin sized compartment to the next coffin sized compartment....

Everyone can see this happening in their mind's eye, so.....

Could happen any minute....

The Cleric of Cayden Cailian seems to be wanting to have fun on this adventure. He also seems expectant of his friends to join him....

(Of his friends having fun. Not necessarily how he does it though...)

Everyone is certain of the Goblin's choice of activities during situations like this ...

....the small fellow seems certain to run inside, screaming and laughing and hoping from one coffin sized compartment to the next coffin sized compartment....

Everyone can see this happening in their mind's eye, so.....

Could happen any minute....

The Cleric of Cayden Cailian seems to be wanting to have fun on this adventure. He also seems expectant of his friends to join him....

(Of his friends having fun. Not necessarily how he does it though...)

and so it was in the fullness of time, the Oracle of Easivra found himself to be not only the accomplice but also the accompanist of Cayden's Chosen

A sudden chill curses through the room as Mosquito dances, a chill that not even the song of Easivra warms up. Something tells you that you are not alone.

I have set up the tokens in the map based on your posts.

Markus, you can take your turn first.

Wait, against what are we rolling initiative? Against the chill? If it's just that, I'll cast Glass Shield and roll Perception and instruct Cranky to roll perception too.

Mosquito taps the Wizard on the shoulder.
Mees bees bet'n Dat Ifn Youses Recall knowledge of Religion Dat Youses will know.

The Cleric smiles innocently.

Recall Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Given where you are, and the already known presence of necromancy, you believe that the unnatural chill is cause by ghosts hiding in the room. From what you know, the spirits of hellknights are sometimes known to remain in the material plane, where they fuse with the helmets they wore in life to create an undead ghost know as a hellcrown. Hellcrowns keep no memories or personalities.

Recall knowledge would be your first action, you have two more.

Markus relays what he remembers "So, what we're feeling is probably a Hellcrown, which is a hellknight custom to stay in the material plane after they die, fused with their helmets. They have no memory of their life, so it seems a little pointless..." He glances at Alak and mouths "Sorry". He casts a shield spell and orders Cranky to keep its ears open.

Cast Glass shield, instruct Cranky to roll Perception (secret roll, +6).

Markus

The conjured shards of glass fly around Markus in a protective bubble.

”No apology needed. In spite of showing the resilience of the hellknights, they have lost their discipline. If they truly have no memories, then they don’t even think of themselves as hellknights. So neither should I think of them in that way.”

The softest clinking of the metallic helmets raise Cranky’s ears. He growls before letting everyone know that the four hellcrowns are hiding in the niches by the southern wall.

The hellcrowns now start their turn as Hidden rather than Undetected.

I assumed that Cranky’s second Action would be to Point Out what he detected.

Hellcrowns

The spectres fly from the mortuary niches, a dark, horned helmet followed by a shroud in the shape of a spine.

They are now out in the open and, therefore, Observed

Suddenly, a barrage of rusty nails surges from the darkness of their shrouds.

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

But Alak seems to be proven right about their discipline, as most of the nails fly aimlessly, hitting the walls of the ossuary. Two nails, however, manage to hit Mosquito, locked in the tight corridor as he is.

That's a total of 8 damage to Mosquito

AB: Stride*, Strike*x2

You can all take your turns

Hey! Does Dems bads hellknight's bees floating and...Ouch! Hey! Dat hurts! Does Dems bads hellknight's bees shoots da rusty nails? Ouch! Dere goes a nutter one!

Mosquito prays for Protection before Raising his Shield!
Helps!

AC 22

◇ Vrosi begins raging

◆ He gets out his mikazuki

◆ Strides

◆ And strikes at Navy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18for: 1d6 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 3 = 9 bludgeoning damage.

Mosquito

Cayden does not abandon his cleric, and grants him the blessing of protection.

Vrosi

Vrosi advances against the two spectres and bashes his mikazuki against one of them, denting the metal on the helmet.

Navy is Moderately Injured.

Kiilo and Markus, you can take your turns.

Markus sprints forward and makes rubble fly towards two hellcrowns that are lined up.

Stride, Pummeling Rubble

Pummeling Rubble, DC 18: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7

Kiilo frowns seeing the new undead, and thanks Easivra for her blessings.
He lashes out at one of them.

VitalityLash: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 3) = 8 (Basic FORT save)

Markus

Vrosi’s reflex save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Markus pushes a barrage of rubble in the direction of the hellcrows, which happens to be Vrosi's direction as well. One of the hellcrows Teal is fast enough to avoid the worst of it, but the pebbles hit Vrosi and the second hellcrown straight on.

Vrosi takes 4 damage from the AoE

Kiilo

Kiilo lashes out at the hellcrown Teal with Easivra's divine energy. The shroud of darkness flickers and weakens at assault, leaving it translucent.

Teal is enfeebled 1

Alak

”Let me show you how it’s done”

Alak advances on the hellcrowns and lashes out with one heavy strike of his greatsword.

Alak's swing is a powerful one, and it manages to break one of the horns off of the helmet and leave a wedge in it.

AB: Stride*, Vicious Swing**

Hellcrowns

The hellcrowns lash out with their barrage of nail, spraying the rusted pieces of metals across the room.

Vrosi’s save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Vrosi’s save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

Vrosi, close to the source, is fast enough to move out of the way before the nails start flying.

Markus’ save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

The nail drives through Markus, but it doesn't stay in his flesh.

Markus’ save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Markus, you are enfeebled 1 and taking 1 continues bleed damage

Kiilo’s save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

The nail pierces into Kiilo's wing, digging deep into it.

Kiilo, you are enfeebled 1 for 1 minute and taking 1 Continues Bleed Damage as the nail is embedded in you.

Kiilo’s save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Mosquito’s save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Mosquito’s save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Mosquito lets the nails fly towards him, each of them bouncing off of his magical protection.

It is then that the shadows begin to flicker and dance on the shrouded bodies of the hellcrowns. Visions of torture are presented to each of you. Whips cracking, the wheel of the rack turning, the nails of the maiden, the endless drop of water, the swing of the pendulum, the hammer hitting the nail.

Kiilo's Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

There is no fear in Kiilo's eyes, only defiance.

AB: Strike*x2, Terrifying Stare*

Damage: Markus takes 10, Kiilo takes 6.

Navy is Critically Injured, Teal is also Critically Injured

Hopefully I didn't miss anything

You can all take your turns

◆ Attack Navy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13for: 1d6 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 3 = 7

◆ Attack Navy: 1d20 + 7 - 5 ⇒ (20) + 7 - 5 = 22for: 1d6 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 3 = 11

◆ Attack Navy (or Teal if Navy is down): 1d20 + 7 - 10 ⇒ (2) + 7 - 10 = -1for: 1d6 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 3 = 11

Mosquito Raises his Shield, Strides to Teal Freaky Skull and ..
Melee(T) Rapier: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 151d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9 Traits P Deadly d8 Disarm Finesse

His Rapier seems to fit perfectly through its eye socket... literally through its empty eye socket....

Vrosi

Vrosi's first strike passes through the shroud. The second strike, however, knocks the helmet to the ground. It crashes against the stones of the ossuary and the darkness disperses.

Navy is down

Mosquito

In goes the rapier through the socket, only to hit harmlessly against the back of the helmet. Mosquito pulls the clean rapier back.

Unfortunately for Mosquito, 15 does not hit. Teal remains Critically Injured but still standing.

Markus and Kiilo, you can take your turns

Kiilo found these creatures to be an afront to goodness; he lashes out again at Teal

VitalityLash: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 6) = 9 (Basic FORT save)

Markus pulls out a few needles from his pouch and, casting a spell, throws it at the hellcrown. Then he puts his shield back up.

Needle darts at Teal, Glass shield

Needle darts: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
Damage: 3d4 ⇒ (3, 1, 2) = 6

If this crits, it's double damage and 1 persistent bleed damage, if they're not immune/

Kiilo

The shroud dissolves into the air as Kiilo counteracts the non-life keeping it together. The inanimate helmet falls to the grounds.

Kiilo you take 1 persistent Bleed Damage, but it stops after that.

Markus

Shifting your attack to red

Fighting fire with fire, Markus responds with metallic needles of his own, sending them to the other end of the room. In spite of the distance, the wizard’s aim is true, the pierce through the shroud and the helmet. Blood-like liquid rust begins to drip from the puncture.

Surprisingly, they are not immune to bleed.

Then, knowing that retaliation is coming, the glass dome shines around Markus.

Alak

The hellknight rushes towards the enemy, trying to push the advantage and swings his sword to the closest one.

Taking advantage of the weakness created by Markus’ attack, Alak breaks the rest of the helmet open with his greatsword, and the shroud vanishes.

AB: Stride*x2, Strike*

Hellcrown

Hovering through the air, the remaining hellcrown moves closer to the centre of the room, but not before launching a nail at the nearby hellknight.

Which Alak comfortably deflects with his sword.

Once in position, a second nail appears from the shroud, this time directed at Markus.

The nail flies straight towards the wizard, only to glance off of the magical dome and into the ceiling. Once again, the magical protection pays off.

AB: Strike*, Stride*, Strike*

Only one left standing

You can all take your turns

Markus readies his needles again and throws them at the hellcrown before renewing his glass shield.

Same as last round.

Needle darts: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Damage: 3d4 ⇒ (1, 4, 2) = 7

Vrosi will make a Sudden Charge.
Strike: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Then, will strike at it again: 1d20 + 7 - 5 ⇒ (2) + 7 - 5 = 4

Mosquito quickly realizing that the stupid skull floating dude is destroyed. Frowning the goblin watches Brilliant Burnis rush off towards another stupid skull floating dude!

Striding and Striding to get into a Flank with Brilliant Burnis, the Swashbuckler Strikes!
Melee(T) Rapier, flank: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 251d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 Traits P Deadly d8 Disarm Finesse

The goblin grins.

Markus

The needles arc in the air before crashing into the hellcrown with distorted thuds.

Vrosi

Their memory might be gone, but their training is in their very essence, as the hellcrown is able to dodge both attacks.

Mosquito

Swiftly blocking the hellcrown's retreat, Mosquito gets into position and skewers the helmet. The helmet is ripped of from the shroud, and the shroud vanishes, leaving behind the damaged piece of armour.

The last of the hellcrowns is gone.

Alak

Alak takes the damaged helmet and sets it back into one of the mortuary niches.

”You may rest now.”

"Any ideas for what might be causing the dead to rise?" Asks Alak

Mosquito absently draws circles in the dust on top of random sarcophagus' as he speaks with Alak.
Wees found sum ritual stuffs Dat calls da deads. Wees found da secret tunnel Dat da foot prints on da person Dat did da rituals.

Mosquito begins playing tic-tac-toe with himself. It appears that he loses every time....

"How extensive it the necromantic influence? And how much of a danger does this person present?"

Markus says "We don't know much. This is probably remnant of... whatever was happening in this citadel before it fell. Or even this may have been the cause for its downfall. When it's safer, I'll want to spend some time here studying whatever documents I find. But here, there isn't much to go on."

"Then where to next?"

I propose the smaller grayed out room to the right (north) of us.

Once everyone is patched up by someone during Treat Wounds, or any Focus Spell that Heals, Mosquito runs to the smaller grayed out room to the north of them....
Exploration mode Defend

The well known for his patience goblin probably will also open any door, window, basket or even pantry he happens to run into....