JD's Abomination Vaults

Game Master Jack Daniels

Round 2: Mac

Mac attacks the hopefully prone mist stalker.
Flat check: 1d20 ⇒ 12
◆◆Intimidating Strike: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17 -- if hits, Frightened 1
Damage: 1d10 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 2 = 7
Flat check: 1d20 ⇒ 11
◆2nd attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Damage: 1d10 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 2 = 7
AC: 19
HP: +6 temporary hps

Summary of Round 2 so far:
Garidan's guided grapple is successful and the mist stalker falls prone and is off-guard.
Both of Pen's attacks miss. Pen knows elementals from the Plane of Water speak Aquan and are immune to bleed paralyzed, poison, and sleep. Spellstrike is recharged.
Jon's bullet and whip both miss as well.
Mac' first attack barely misses, while the second strikes for 7 damage, total damage: 24.
Hagrym is up!

DC 5 check for mist 1d20 ⇒ 14

Hagrym again tries to make out the person inside the mist. He clutches his holy symbol
And uses a divine lance cantrip against it.

Spell attack 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22
Damage2d4 ⇒ (4, 1) = 5

Hagrym's spell inflicts 5 more damage for a total of 24.

Round 3:
◆The prone mist stalker stands, after which he provokes a Reactive Strike from Mac, and proceeds to miss Garidan twice with its tentacle attacks.
DC 5: 1d20 ⇒ 16 --- Success
Reactive Strike: 1d10 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15 --- Miss!
◆Strike vs. Garidan for tripping him: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17 --- miss!
◆2nd strike vs. Garidan: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15 --- miss!
Party is up!

"Haha. let's go again!" Garidan repeats his maneuver.

◆concealment: 1d20 ⇒ 16
Athletics to trip vs Ref DC: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 8 + 1 = 23

And then he gets cocky.
◆concealment: 1d20 ⇒ 3
Athletics to grapple vs Fort DC: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (2) + 8 + 1 - 5 = 6
and completely misses his second grab.

◆Cast Guidance on Mac

Round 3: Mac

Mac is impressed with Garidan's Athletics skill, as he accepts the buff and attacks the prone (?) Mist Stalker.
DC 5: 1d20 ⇒ 18
◆◆Intimidating Strike: 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 12 + 1 = 32...will assume that is a critical - creature is Frightened 2!
Damage: 1d12 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 2 = 16 x2 = 32 + 1d12 ⇒ 7 = 39
◆DC 5: 1d20 ⇒ 1...Strike misses!
AC: 19
HP: +6 temporary hps

Jon fires◆ his last remaining basic black powder round at the mist stalker.

DC 5 Flat Check vs Concealment: 1d20 ⇒ 7
+1 Double-Barreled Pistol (rng. 30'): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26
P/Concussive + Precision Damage: 1d4 + 1d4 ⇒ (3) + (2) = 5
Sword & Pistol: If that was a hit, it is off-guard to my next melee attack.

Jon tries a reloading strike◆ with his whip.
DC 5 Flat Check vs Concealment: 1d20 ⇒ 11
Whip -5 MAP: 1d20 + 9 - 5 ⇒ (15) + 9 - 5 = 19
S Damage, nonlethal: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Sword & Pistol: If that was a hit, my next ranged attack does not provoke Reactive Strike or similar reactions from my target.

This time, he reloads another acid round and activates◆ it in case placement is more favorable or his allies are willing to take a little pain. "If you don't mind getting hit with a bit of the splash, I can add a little kick with acid in my next shot. You guys willing?" (Acid ammunition inflicts 1 splash damage.)

Lol...hard to be frightened when you're dead...as Mac's pick penetrates the creature's brain killing it instantly. Nice tactics, Garidan and Mac. Jon and Hagrym are wounded.
Jon: -18 damage
Hagrym: -13 damage

The mist clears and you can head east or west.

"I really need a weapon that can be used to trip an enemy."Garidan mumbles while checking if the mist stalker had anything on him.

"I recommend whips, myself," Jon says, giving his a little crack before coiling it and stowing it on his belt. Then noticing the gash staining his shirt with blood, he says, "I'd be obliged if one of you gents could patch me up. That tentacle was halfway to punching my ticket."

"Yes, a whip. But maybe some sort with a little more, aehm, hurting?"

Penflower wipes the sweat from his forehead with all the mist. He says "That was annoying. I've heard of mages who can blow strong winds, that would have been really useful now. Sadly I don't know spells like that." He recommends going

1 is west: 1d2 ⇒ 2

"I really need a weapon that can be used to trip an enemy."Garidan mumbles while checking if the mist stalker had anything on him.

A guisarme has reach and trip, while a war flail has disarm, sweep, and trip.

Mac tries to patch up his cousin, while Hagrym patches up Jon.
Mac Medicine Check vs. DC 15: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Treat Wounds: 2d8 ⇒ (7, 7) = 14

Hagrym auto-succeeds on Treat Wounds and cures Jon for 2d8 + 15 ⇒ (1, 3) + 15 = 19, so Jon is fully healed.

With the party fully healed after 10 minutes, we head east, with Pen in the lead.

You found no treasures on the mist stalker. After healing and resting for 10 minutes, the party heads east through the door to reveal:

Hundreds of stone shelves are carved into the walls of this fifteen-foot-wide hallway. While there are many gaps in the collection, a staggering number of books, scrolls, and folios remain. Signs hang above several doors off of this hall. A faint, blue glow flickers beneath a sign to the south.

All of the signs in the library are written in Sakvroth, which Jon can understand.
The room to the NW is marked with a sign: Repair Storage.
The closest room to the east is marked with a sign: Safety.
The closest room to the south is marked with a sign: Workroom.
The room to the far east is marked with a sign: Personal Quarters.
The room to the far east and south is marked with a sign: Scrivener's Office.

As you are about to decide which way to go, four figures turn into the corridor from the NE, bringing with them a whiff of undeath. Four ghouls, all dressed in long, pale-blue robes, blood-soaked, come into view. They do not immediately attack, but instead lick their lips in anticipation, with these incredibly long tongues, as they look you up down. One of them speaks in a gruff voice in Common, "Are you here to donate flesh to the Canker?"

What do you say or do? The ghouls are color coded: Red, green, yellow, and blue. You may have to zoom in to 200% to see them.

Penflower is wary of the presence of the ghoul cult in this level. He tells the others "It's better if I take the hits this time, I'm immune to their paralysis."

They get to the corridor and the elf looks excited at the shelves. He almost forgets about the inhabitants, wanting to shuffle through the literature. But the stench brings him back to reality. As the ghouls talk to them, he answers without thinking "We understand there's a filthy cult to Belcorra in the level above. We want to know if you want to join forces in defeating their ridiculous rituals."

Hagrym wasn’t sure siding with the ghouls would end well, but he didn’t see the smarts in fighting the three now, at least before they answer to d the question posed by Pen.

The ghouls look surprised at Pen's remarks. "While we agree that the morlocks are misguided fools, make no mistake, that Belcorra is the apex and inspiration for everything we do. And that is why we are collecting donations in the form of eyes, limbs, and and corpses for the body she will inhabit upon her glorious return." The ghouls' eyes narrow, "Starting with yours..." They move to attack with malice in their eyes.

Initiative:
Ghouls: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22
Garidan: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
Hagrym: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
Jon: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Mac: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Pen: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Order: Mac, Pen, Ghouls, Hagrym, Garidan, Jon.

Round 1: Mac

Mac grunts, "Seems everyone and their mother bends the knee to Belcorra in this compound. Guess we have to take them all out."

◆Rage
◆◆Sudden charge and attack the blue ghoul.
Strike: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24
Damage: 1d10 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 2 = 14
AC: 19
HP: +6 temporary hps

So much for letting me go first.

Penflower sees Mac flying into combat. He sighs and goes after him. Unfortunately the ghouls are somewhat far from him, so he only moves and raises his shield, readying a strike if they come close.

Stride, Raise Shield and ready action. Trigger: Any of them come in my range. Action: Swing sword.

Readied action: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Mac lands a powerful blow on the blue ghoul, but not enough to kill it.

Round 1: Ghouls
Blue Ghoul on Mc:
Claw on Mac: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14 --- miss
Claw on Mac: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19 --- hit
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 - 3 temporary hit points left.
Mac Fort save vs. Paralysis DC 15: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22 -success
Jaw on Mac: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 --- miss.

Yellow Ghoul on Mac:
Claw on Mac: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23 --- hit
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 --- 2 damage, 1 temporary hit point left
Mac Fort save vs. Paralysis DC 15: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25 -success
Claw on Mac: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24 --- hit
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 - 4 damage, no more temp hit points
Mac Fort save vs. Paralysis DC 15: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25 -success
Jaw on Mac: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9 --- miss.

Green Ghoul on Pen:
Ready action takes 2 actions in PF2e so you cannot stride and raise shield - your movement took you into melee range so Pen swings but misses.
Claw on Pen: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24 --- hit
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 but Pen shield blocks as reaction and takes no damage, but shield takes 5 damage.
Claw on Pen: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18 --- miss
Jaw on Pen: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17 --- miss.

Red Ghoul on Pen:
He displays intelligence and strides to flank Pen, putting him off-guard.
Claw: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25 --- hit
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 --- 3 damage, Pen is immune to paralysis.
Jaw: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11 --- miss

Rest of Party is up to end Round 1 and then to start Round 2.

Garidan grumbles at the missed opportunity to strike a deal with these sentient creatures. But he's not to sad about killing them either.
Hefollows Pen into a flanking position and shines bright light at the Ghouls. Somehow his mind is blank and he can't remember anything. The following attack also goes wide.

◆ Stride
◆Exploit Vulnerability EV red: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12 vs standard DC for its level and vs Recall Knowledge DC, +1 from lantern
◆attack red, flanking: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
Piercing Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 = 6

Into the Fray: Jon draws◇ his pistol but leaves his other hand free. Jon strides◇ closer to the enemies.

Jon isn't quite close enough yet, so he steps◆ forward, draws◆ one of his ghost charge bombs, and lobs◆ it at the yellow ghoul.

Ghost Charge Bomb (20' rng increment): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
Vitality Damage + Splash: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Hit or better: If target took damage, it is enfeebled 1 until the start of my next turn.
Failure or better: Target and each creature within 5' of it take 1 vitality splash damage.

Hey, GM, if I understand shield block correctly, the shield (and wielder) only take damage if it goes above the shield's hardness. Since the damage was 5, neither I nor the shield is damaged. Please confirm.

Penflower sees the ghoul's tactic and tries to stop it. He swings his sword at the ghoul flanking him with the full fury of fire, then he puts his shield up.

Spellstrike with Ignition on red, then raise shield.

Spellstrike: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Fire damage: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 5) = 16

Hagrym strides twice, stopping just to the left of Garidan. He raises his shield to protect against any stray attacks of red that might come his way, until he can cast a spell next round.

If someone would please move me.