JD's Abomination Vaults

Game Master Jack Daniels

Garidan answers the call. "I never expected diplomacy to work with this folk anyways." He lights his lantern and ◆strides inside into a flanking position.

◆Exploit Vulnerability EV: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28 vs standard DC for its level and vs Recall Knowledge DC (+1 from lantern)
◆Breaching Pike, 10 ft Reach: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
Piercing Damage plus Implements Empowerment: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 2 = 9 if it has a weakness >3, then my weapon does damage of this type, otherwise I use Personal Antithese for +3 damage

The morlock king does not have weaknesses, but he does suffer from the same light blindness that befalls his kind, so Graulgust and the morlock bodyguard scream, as Garidan's bright light blinds them temporarily. Garidan inflicts 12 damage on the king.

Round 1: Morlock
The blinded morlock draws his club and lashes out blindly but misses everything.
DC 11 Flat check: 1d20 ⇒ 9 --- fails
DC 11 Flat check: 1d20 ⇒ 1 --- fails.

The party hears movement approaching the southern door. Also, out of the southern tunnel, appears a medium-sized slug-like creature, acting almost as a pet.

Hagrym and then top 3 are up again in Round 2. Since you plan to rest after, go all out because this will not and should not be easy.

Hagrym does indeed cast Bless, calling upon Torag to enhance his friends’ attacks. He pulls out his weapon to go with his shield as he prepares for the reinforcements.

"Garidan, you don't have a bag of salt to throw on that thing, do you? Jon says, nodding to the newcomer.

"Thanks, Grym!" Jon says as he revels in the sacred energy filling the area and shouts back at the morlock king in an attempt to demoralize him now that he has a loud boomstick out to threaten him with.

Demoralize ◆ (auditory, bravado, concentrate, emotion, fear, mental): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Then he fires◆ on the king once again.

+1 Double-Barreled Pistol + 1 status: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 11 + 1 = 26
P/Concussive + Precision Damage: 1d4 + 1d4 ⇒ (2) + (2) = 4

Then he makes another reloading strike◆, flicking his whip this time at the morlock adjacent to him (not the king--should probably give some attention to the one right next to me too lol).

Whip -5 MAP: 1d20 + 8 - 5 ⇒ (18) + 8 - 5 = 21
S Damage, nonlethal: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Mac feels the blessed energy rushing through him. Looking at the monster in the tunnel, That is one ugly mother...". He then rages and attacks the king.

◆Rage ◆Strike ◆Strike
Attack vs. off guard King: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 11 + 1 = 23
Damage: 1d10 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 2 = 14
Attack vs. off guard King: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 1 = 15
Damage: 1d10 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 2 = 12
AC: 18/+5 temporary hit points

Jon's demoralize attempt is successful! King becomes Frightened 1.
His bullet strike hits, inflicting 4 damage.
Jon's whip also lands inflicting 6 damage on the morlock bodyguard.
Mac's first strike lands, inflicting 14 damage. His second misses.
Graulgust:-34 damage total.
Morlock body guard: -30 damage (6 nonlethal).
Slug-like creature: No damage.
Pen is up.

It's been 24 hours. Pen delays.

Round 2: Graulgust
The wounded morlock king recovers his sight. He intones magic and three illusory images of him swirl in his space.
◆◆Casts Mirror Image - does not have manipulate trait so no reactive strike from Mac.
◆Strike: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16 --- he tries to club Jon and misses.

Pen's action is still pending. Garidan is up also.

Garidan keeps piercing at the so-called king.

◆Breaching Pike, flanking: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 1 = 19
Mirror Images: 1d4 ⇒ 3
Piercing Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 + 3 = 11
◆Breaching Pike, flanking: 1d20 + 7 - 5 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 7 - 5 + 1 = 23
Mirror Images: 1d3 ⇒ 2
Piercing Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 2 + 3 = 13

He then studies the slug.
◆ Exploit Vulnerability EV: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19 vs standard DC for its level and vs Recall Knowledge DC (+1 from lantern)

Edit:added Bless

Did you add Bless, Garidan?

Penflower repositions and swings his fiery weapon.

Stride to flank the king, spellstrike with ignite

Spellstrike, bless: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 1 = 28
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Fire damage: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 4) = 9

Double it all on crit.

Graulgust has one mirror image remaining. 1-3 on d6 strikes him.
1d6 ⇒ 6
Pen's potential critical strikes the mirror image harmlessly. Phew!

Round 2: Morlocks and Grothlut
The wounded morlock bodyguard recovers its sight and full-attacks the raging Mac, but cannot penetrate the dwarf's defenses.
Club: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15 --- miss
Club: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 --- miss
Club: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5 --- miss.

The door to the south opens and three more morlocks appear, smaller in size but bulkier, responding to their king's call. However, Garidan's bright light immediately blinds them and they remain in the adjacent room, as their eyes sting from the light. The 3 morlocks are color coded and are translucent to evidence their blind condition.

Round 2: Grothlut
The misshapen grotesque abomination moans and you start feeling sick to your stomach. All the players, at the start of your turn, must roll DC 17 Will saves or be sickened 1. If you roll 7 or less, you are sickened 2.

After its moan, the creature slithers forward. ◆Step

With its last action, it attempts to claw Garidan, but the guardsman ducks the awkward swing!
Claw: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14 --- miss!

Hagrym to end Round 2 and Jon and Mac to start Round 3. Do not forget saves vs the moan.

4 d20 rolls this round: 6,3,6,3.....seriously??!

Been busy at work, sorry for delay. Will post full round later today. In the meantime, here is the save: Will Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10.

Will 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

Feeling his stomach continue to roil, the cleric sustains his bless spell, keeping the group in the area.

He then casts divine lance at the abomination.

Sickened Blessed Spell attack 1d20 - 1 + 1 + 8 ⇒ (18) - 1 + 1 + 8 = 26
Damage 2d4 ⇒ (3, 2) = 5

Will (T): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Jon's stomach settles and he steps◆ west 1 square, then fires◆ upon the king.

+1 Double-Barreled Pistol + 1 status: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 11 + 1 = 27
P/Concussive + Precision Damage: 1d4 + 1d4 ⇒ (3) + (4) = 7

Then Jon strikes◆ the king with his whip and deftly reloads one barrel of his pistol.

Whip Reloading Strike -5 MAP: 1d20 + 8 - 5 ⇒ (5) + 8 - 5 = 8
S Damage, nonlethal: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

The whip cracks harmlessly far to the king's side.

Round 3: Mac

Mac holds his stomach, as the moaning makes him feel queasy. He grips his warpick, looks at the king with no more images, and attacks with full abandon. If the king drops, apply the attack to the morlock bodyguard.
Strike vs. off-guard King: 1d20 + 11 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 11 + 1 - 1 = 25
Damage: 1d10 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 2 = 14
Strike vs. off guard king: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 6 + 1 - 1 = 22
Damage: 1d10 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 2 = 11
Strike vs. off guard king: 1d20 + 1 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 - 1 = 3
Damage: 1d10 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 2 = 16

Ok, will optimize your actions.
Hagrym inflicts 5 damage on the Grothlut.
Mac's first 2 attacks kill the morlock king, the 3rd misses.
Jon's shot critically strikes the bodyguard and kills him.
Garidan is up.

Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Garidan tells the group about the Grothlut and ◆strides past it. Before striking he puts some salt on his spear tip.

◆Breaching Pike, 10 ft Reach: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (13) + 7 + 1 - 1 = 20
Piercing Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 + 3 = 9
◆Breaching Pike, 10 ft Reach: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 5 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 1 - 5 - 1 = 3
Piercing Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 2 + 3 = 13

Garidan lands one good blow on the abomination.
Total damage to Grothlut: -14.

Round 3: Morlocks
The three morlocks in the room are still blind so they do nothing.

Round 3: Grothlut
◆Step
◆Claw
◆Digestive Spew

The creature steps forward to attack Garidan.
Claw attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19 --- hit (due to sickened condition, Garidan's AC is now 18.
Damage: 1d10 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

The creature then spits acid at Garidan. but misses.
Ranged attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9 --- direct hit misses
but Jon, Garidan, and Mac each take 1d6 ⇒ 2 splash damage from the acid.

Pen, Hagrym and then rest of party in Round 4.

Both my attacks were directed at the king, not the bodyguard.

Both my attacks were directed at the king, not the bodyguard.

I directed your attacks to the bodyguard when Mac killed the king.

I finally get to use magus special actions! Yay!

Penflower casts a spell that joins a strike and raises his shield.

Action 1: Cast Shielding Strike. It's a spell that, at the same time, I strike (Grothlut), raise a shield and recharge Spellstrike. Second action is Arcane Cascade. Third action is Magus' Analysis, which is basically a Recall Knowledge that with a 1 circumstance bonus if the strike hits.

Strike: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Recall knowledge: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

The cleric sustains his bless spell, keeping the group in the area.

He then casts divine lance yet again at the abomination.

Blessed Spell attack 1d20 + 1 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 8 = 11
Damage 2d4 ⇒ (4, 4) = 8

Jon turns to the abomination and fires◆ on it.

+1 Double-Barreled Pistol + 1 status: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 11 + 1 = 28
P/Concussive + Precision Damage: 1d4 + 1d4 ⇒ (2) + (3) = 5

Then he cracks his whip at it with a reloading strike◆.
Whip -5 MAP + 1 status: 1d20 + 8 - 5 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 8 - 5 + 1 = 16
S Damage, nonlethal: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

He cracks the whip◆ one more time to fill his other barrel.
Whip -10 MAP + 1 status: 1d20 + 8 - 10 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 8 - 10 + 1 = 19 Nat 20!
S Damage, nonlethal: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 x 2 = 6

Round 4: Mac

Mac winces at the acid splash. He strides and attacks the Grothlut.
Attack: 1d20 + 11 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 11 + 1 - 1 = 13 (miss)
Attack: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 1 - 1 = 20
Damage: 1d10 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 2 = 15
AC: 17 (Sickened 1)
Temp HPs: 3

Round 4: Morlocks

Pen misses.
Hagrym misses.
Jon's strike crits, inflicting 16 damage. His whip lands on the off-guard creature as well for 6 more damage.
Mac's first attack misses, but his second attack is true and kills the Grothlut!

The morlocks regain their sight and seeing their dead king, scream "Vengeance!" in Sakvroth.

Orange Morlock:
He steps north and attacks Pen.
Attack with dagger: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16 --- miss!
Attack with dagger: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19 --- miss

Yellow Morlock:
The morlock steps north and shares his companion' square to attack Pen.
Attacks Pen: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 1 = 18 --- miss
Attacks Pen: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 1 = 13 --- miss

Blue Morlock:
He steps north, past Pen and attacks Garidan because he carries the light.
Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11 --- miss
Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 --- miss

Another morlock with a dagger and 2 more in loin cloths with clubs appear in the southern room and are blinded by Garidan's cursed light.

Pen and Hagrym to end Round 4 and then Jon, Mac, and Garidan to start Round 5. This would be a more climactic fight but for the morlocks' light blindness.

Garidan Round 4, I think you skipped me.
Garidan holds his trusty, rusty lantern up high, the steps into the slug corpse to get a better position.

◆Exploit Vulnerability blue EV: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 vs standard DC for its level and vs Recall Knowledge DC (+1 from lantern)
◆attack blue : 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Piercing Damage plus Implements Empowerment: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 2 = 10

Apologies, Garidan. You can act twice (3 more action) in this round. Your knowledge check revealed nothing.

Does my recall knowledge reveal anything?

Penflower thinks his position is good, to stop other morlocks from surrounding them. He swings his sword blazing with arcane energy and raises his shield.

Spellstrike with Ignition at yellow, Raise shield

Strike, bless: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 1 = 17
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Fire damage: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 1) = 5

The bless spell will remain for five more rounds, everyone.

Hagrym continues casting divine lance at the baddies, this time the blue clad morlock.

Blessed Spell attack 1d20 + 1 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 1 + 8 = 26
Damage 2d4 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4

If that is a critical…

Damage 2d4 ⇒ (4, 1) = 5

Pen's sword cuts the yellow morlock with its fire. -12 damage.
Hagrym's beam strikes the blue morlock in the chest, inflicting 9 damage.

Garidan Round 5

◆Exploit Vulnerability yellow EV: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 vs standard DC for its level and vs Recall Knowledge DC (+1 from lantern)
◆attack yellow: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 1 = 9
Piercing Damage plus Implements Empowerment: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 2 = 11
◆attack blue: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 1 - 5 = 8
Piercing Damage plus Implements Empowerment: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 2 = 11

Jon points his pistol at the blue morlock and shouts

Demoralize ◆ (auditory, bravado, concentrate, emotion, fear, mental): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Then he fires◆.

+1 Double-Barreled Pistol + 1 status: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 11 + 1 = 31
P/Concussive + Precision Damage: 1d4 + 1d4 ⇒ (1) + (2) = 3

Then he fires◆ again. (If that killed the blue morlock, I'll aim it at the yellow one instead.)

+1 Double-Barreled Pistol -5 MAP + 1 status: 1d20 + 11 - 5 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 11 - 5 + 1 = 10

Round 5: Mac

Mac strides to flank the morlocks with Pen.
Attack vs. yellow off-guard: 1d20 + 11 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (11) + 11 + 1 - 1 = 22
Damage: 1d10 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 2 = 7
If that does not kill it and it looks close to death, Mac uses Hero Point to reroll damage.
Damage: 1d10 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 = 9
Attack vs. orange off-guard: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 1 - 1 = 26...critical
Damage: 1d12 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 2 = 10 x2=20 + 1d12 ⇒ 11=31

Garidan's attacks miss.
jon crits the blue morlock, killing it and misses the second shot.
Mac uses HP to kill the yellow morlock and then crits and kills the orange morlock.

The last 3 morlocks enter the room and ultimately get eliminated by the party. The dangers in the battle were the king and the grothlut and they're dead. With the party now outnumbering the morlocks, there is no suspense or drama as to who will win the battle, so will hand wave it. Hope you don't mind.

You do a check of the rooms around and find the morlocks' quarters and the Grothlut's den and find 40 gp in total, but nothing else of interest. Posted map of the morlocks' territory. Module assumes you would encounter them going south from the stairs you took down but you guys went all the way around and found the king's place first. Seems the module gave the morlock king no treasure.The only places left to explore on this level are the underwater cavern to the north of the drake's lair and the room west of the undead minotaur room, where you last saw the green ribbon of light related to Otari. To recap, so far, you have found 2 ways down to the 3rd level: the "elevator" next to the dead worm room and the stairs down near the drake's lair. Also, if you remember, you came down to this 2nd level by the stairs in the main keep. There was also a set of stairs heading down in the ruins, near where you fought the raven soul doll. So those are your places to explore or you can go back to town. Let me know where you wish to go.

That's fine. Jon scowls at the king. "Not only was he lying about paying us, he didn't have anything to pay us with to start. Hopefully we'll find a treasure chest." Jon reloads both barrels of his pistol and holsters it, then counts out his ammunition. "Including what I've already got loaded, I'm down to my last 7 bullets, enough for one or maybe two more fights. After that, I'm just a drifter with a sword and a whip. And I'm wounded. I'm all for retreating for the night and coming at this fresh tomorrow once we've cleared this floor although I can't go underwater without something waterproof to put my ordnance in."

”I agree. Torag admires a hard worker and all, but he’d not be too keen on a fool who presses on with limited resources. I’m not a swimmer but I wonder if there is a way to get to the dragon’s cavern when we return? I’m sure there is treasure in there,” he points out to the others.

"I also agree. Maybe we can avoid the swimming part for now. I still would like to clear the rest of this level, so we should head west of the undead minotaur room. Jon still has 7 bullets left, so now we have a counter. Hagrym, bandage up Garidan and Jon." Garidan is down 13 hps and Jon is down 6.

Medicine check on Garidan: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Medicine check on Jon: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Nope, sorry guys. We can wait an hour for me to try again if Hagrym's rolls also suck.

Hagrym looks at Garidan and tries to apply some salve.

TreatInjury 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

Hit points regained 2d8 + 10 + 5 ⇒ (7, 6) + 10 + 5 = 28

He next tries the same trick with Jon.

Treat Injury 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

Hit points regained 2d8 + 10 + 5 ⇒ (7, 6) + 10 + 5 = 28

After 20 minutes of rest, Hagrym has healed the party back to full and you continue exploring.

You head east and then north, all the way back to the undead minotaur room. You take the western door that heads east for 10' and then south, where you see some stairs.

Due to Mac's Stonemason's Eye ancestry feat, he spots at the top of the stairs, an incongruency in the western wall. The party stops to investigate and you discover a secret door in the western wall to a set of stairs leading down to Level 3. This is now the 3rd way of heading down to Level 3 the that you have found.

You head south and see a short flight of stairs leading down 10' to a moldy beach and a flooded cavern. You piece the geography together and make the educated guess that this cavern connects to the drake's lair.

Congratz - you have explored almost all of Level 2 except the drake's underwater cavern. I have posted map. You also have the other set of stairs down from Level 1 on the island to the north. Do you head there?

Yes, we head back up and take the other stairs down on the island to the north.

The party returns to the surface, crosses the bridge, and recalls the area where it met the brownie, Spookywisp, and encountered the raven doll. The party takes the stairs down and emerges in a short hallways with doors to the east and west. To save time, you head east. You try the door and it is locked. Before you try to bash or pick it, you try some of the keys in your possession and the large silver key that you previously found on the level above works and the door unlocks and opens to reveal:

Seven square alcoves, each containing strange magical apparatuses or alchemical sets of tools, ring this damp stone chamber. The alcove to the north contains a large glass tank filled with liquid. A goblin’s corpse, clad in outdated servant’s clothing, floats inside it. A semicircular worktable covered with tools, moldy papers, and a large open book stands in front of the tank.

Mac's keen eyes spot a secret door in the SW alcove.

What do you do?

Hagrym detects for magic in the room, wanting to be sure any items were procured before the group moved on and forgot to check.

Mac looks at the glass tank with the goblin corpse. "Geez, what were they doing to that poor goblin? Pen or Garidan, can you look at the papers and the book and decipher what was going on in this room? I found a secret door in the SW alcove. Let's see what is in the other alcoves." Mac takes a look around the rest of the room, moving from one alcove to another.

Garidan wonders again about the strange findings in the tower. Then he checks out the papers and the book.
RK: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 8 - 2 = 16

Not sure about the contents he investigates the Goblin corpse.
RK: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 8 - 2 = 9

Jon eyes the goblin corpse warily, then checks out the papers and book when Garidan is done with them. "I know a thing or two about alchemy, so I might as well take a look at these."

We found 40gp. We're 5. So, let's everyone get 5gp?

Penflower looks at everything a bit horrified. He decides to take a good detailed look at the book. He adds "Let's not touch anything before we know more.

Garidan looks at the papers and book on the desk and deduces that The workshop is devoted to both construct construction and necromancy.

Jon reviews the documents more in depth and discovers that the workshop's emphasis is transferring mortal souls into a construct or a swarm of vermin.

The NW alcove contain a soulbound doll, similar to the doll of the raven that you previously handled. The doll resembles an armless, legless goblin. The doll also has an indentation in its back, similar to the raven soulbound doll, where a gem could fit. Mac does not not find anything else of interest in the other alcoves.

The division of the 40 gp would be 8 gp per person.

Thanks for the correct math

Penflower says "So this seems to be where the passing of the soul to the doll was researched." He tries to find the name of the author, or any name for that matter.

Um guys, didn't we find a black soul gem in the back of the raven doll, sort of like a battery? I think we still have it. This doll has a compartment in the back also. What do you think about powering up the goblin doll with the black gem? I mean, the doll has no arms or legs, so I doubt it could hurt us when it "wakes up". Thoughts?