JD's Abomination Vaults

Game Master Jack Daniels

The chainmail is noisy so gives a -2 penalty so total of 18 for Hagrym's Stealth check.

The female ghost is stunned by Mac's speech, as her anger dissipates at the weight of his words. She pauses as if replaying the relationship with Volluk in her mind. She murmurs "It's always Belcorra this and Belcorra that. She does always come first...." The ghost is lost in her internal reflection that she does not notice Hagrym move toward the skeleton and pry the object from its grasp. It is a framed portrait of a handsome drow. The name "Volluk Azrinae" appears on a tiny gold plaque at the portrait's base. Added a pic of the portrait to the Monster slides.

The ghost excuses herself, as she looks back at the party. "Keep working...I need to think." She phases through the wall to the east.

Mac notices the wall that the ghost phased through is an actual secret door. There are no further exits from this room. Now what? Back to the library or something else?

Hagrym holds up the portrait he had miraculously stealthily taken. ”It says Volluk Arzinae,” he whispers, nodding at his cousin’s power of clever deduction.

"Nice work, Grym," Jon says, setting down his quill. "You too, Mac. Back to the library?"

Penflower says "I think we can help her find peace. It certainly has to do with this love she feels, but if she is still here, then there is still something we can do. I feel bad for her, truly. Jealousy is a horrible feeling. If we promise her we'll kill Belcorra, maybe she'll find peace?"

"Thanks, Jon. I am glad that it worked. I think we got what we came for and she was indeed the book lady. Though I am curious as to what is past the secret door, that would most likely involve fighting a ghost, which we should avoid. At least for now. Pen, I think she's in a vulnerable spot right now and anything might set her off. I agree with Jon. Back to the library and through the SW door. Hagrym, hold on to that portrait." That portrait seems important, right?

Pen says "Or maybe she knows where to look for a contract with, say, a devil?"

Havrym nods and carefully places the portrait into his satchel.

Garidan has not opined (he might be gone), but will assume you going back to the library and taking the western door.

Long shelves with several chairs drawn up to them ring this room on all sides, save the north. Rancid stains of old blood and decay cake the shelves and floor.

Mac, Hagrym, and anyone else with +9 or higher in Perception find a secret door. You check for traps and locks and finding neither, you open it to reveal:

A small alcove, its floor decorated with a silvery circle of inlaid runes, sits in the eastern wall of this empty room. A door leads to the south.

You go through the southern door down some stairs into a natural cavern.

The dripping, sloshing sound of water fills this large cavern chamber. The air is cold and damp, and to the east sits a sizable pond. A lazy rivulet of overflow trickles to the north down a sloping tunnel, while a five-foot-diameter opening gapes in the ceiling above the center of the pool.

You are not surprised when an amorphous blob of yammering mouths and oozing, fleshy sludge crawls out of the water 20' away from the front line of Pen and Mac, hungry for flesh. Its mouths constantly jabber and babble in a stream of sound that threatens to disrupt your thoughts!

Initiative:
Blob: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19
Garidan: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
Hagrym: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
Jon: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
Mac: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Pen: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Order: Jon, Mac, Hagrym, Blob, Pen, and Garidan.

Jon, Mac, Hagrym: You must attempt a DC 19 Will save at the start of your tun. On a failure, they are confused for 1 round. On a success, they are temporarily immune for 1 minute.

Will 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32

Hagrym delays, wanting to see how the others dealt with the awful noise before deciding on an action.

Will save: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
Must be that dwarven resilience for both us us to roll nat 20s!

Round 1:
Mac rages (◆), moves 20' to be adjacent to the creature (◆) and strikes the blob with his greatpick (◆).
Strike: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31 --- could be critical!
If critical: 2d12 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (2, 3) + 4 + 2 = 11x2 = 22 + 1d12 ⇒ 9= 31 damage.
If not a critical: 2d10 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (9, 5) + 4 + 2 = 20
7 temporary hit points.

31 to hit is a critical, so 31 damage! The blob looks tough. Jon is up and Hagrym, whenever he wants to act.

Into the Fray ◇ when Initiative is Rolled Jon draws his pistol and scorpion whip.

Will (E): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16 Hero pointing
Will (E): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

It's about to get crazy up in here :P

Into the Fray ◇ Jon's eyes go wide and he strides◇ towards the blob. (Into the Fray says I just have to advance towards an enemy I can perceive, not that I have to approach the nearest one with my free Stride action.)

Jon fires◆ off one black powder round, reloading strike◆ to load in another black powder round, and finishes by firing◆ the black powder round he just loaded.

Confused condition means @GM chooses my targets at random, and I have to use all my actions to Strike or cast an offensive spell.

+1 Double-Barreled Pistol Possible Targets: Anyone: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24
P/Concussive + Precision: 1d4 + 1d4 ⇒ (1) + (2) = 3

+1 Scorpion Whip -5 MAP Possible Targets: Mac or Blob: 1d20 + 11 - 5 ⇒ (13) + 11 - 5 = 19
S Damage + Precision: 1d4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 = 5

+1 Double-Barreled Pistol -10 MAP Possible Targets: Anyone: 1d20 + 13 - 10 ⇒ (12) + 13 - 10 = 15
P/Concussive + Precision: 1d4 + 1d4 ⇒ (2) + (3) = 5

Yay we're back! Also, I lold at "You are not surprised when an amorphous blob of yammering mouths "

1d5 targets in order of proximity:
Mac: 1
Blob: 2
Pen: 3
Garidan: 4
Hagrym: 5
1st attack: 1d5 ⇒ 4 - Garidan takes 3 damage from Jon's bullet.
2nd attack: 1d5 ⇒ 4 misses Garidan
3rd attack: 1d5 ⇒ 2 misses the blob.

Round 1: Blob
The blob with multiple mouths bites Mac, who just crit it, and inflicts a bleeding wound on the dwarf.

◆Bite: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22 -- hits
Damage: 2d8 + 5 ⇒ (2, 1) + 5 = 8 minus temporary hps: 1 damage to Mac
◆The creature tries to latch on and GRAB Mac: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13 -- fails
◆2nd Bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 --- misses!

Party is up! Garidan and Pen, you have to make DC 19 Will saves at beginning of your turn or be confused as well. Jon, you will also have to make a new Will save at beginning of your turn in Round 2. Hagrym, if you do not post a Round 1 action, you will lose it.

Will: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

"Interesting..."
◆Exploit Vulnerability EV: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25 vs standard DC for its level and vs Recall Knowledge DC (+1 from lantern)

Will: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

"What's going on? Who are you? Who am I? Why is Katy Perry swimming here? And who is Katy Perry?"

From what I read, GM chooses my targets randomly. Or I could just roll myself.

Hagrym casts Divine Lash at the enemy.

Spell attack 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
Damage 2d4 ⇒ (4, 4) = 8

Garidan: The blob is a gibbering mouther and it is weak to bludgeoning 5.

Pen, roll your attack roll and damage and then I will roll to see who you target.

Hagrym, your spell fails to hit the mark.

Round 2: Mac
Mac twists out of the creature's grab attempt and attacks it 3x with his greatpick.

Strike: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26
Damage: 2d10 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (8, 5) + 4 + 2 = 19
Strike: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Damage: 2d10 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (6, 7) + 4 + 2 = 19
Strike: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Damage: 2d10 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (6, 7) + 4 + 2 = 19

@GM It doesn't matter since I missed anyway, but my 2nd attack couldn't have targeted Garidan since it was a whip attack and he wasn't in range--it would have had to have aimed at Mac or the blob.

Round 2
Will (E): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11 The fun never ends!

Jon still looks dazed, but seems to notice something is wrong as he decides to attack◆ thrice◆ with his scorpion whip◆ instead of firing his pistol.

+1 Scorpion Whip: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28
S Damage + Precision: 1d4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 = 4

+1 Scorpion Whip -5 MAP: 1d20 + 11 - 5 ⇒ (4) + 11 - 5 = 10
S Damage + Precision: 1d4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 = 5

+1 Scorpion Whip -10 MAP: 1d20 + 11 - 10 ⇒ (7) + 11 - 10 = 8
S Damage + Precision: 1d4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 = 6

Round 1

"You need to bludgeon it!"

Garidan ◆ strides behind Mac and powders crumbled bricks onto his whip before attacking once.

◆Scorpion Whip: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Bludegoning Damage: 1d4 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 = 8

Attack someone: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 191d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Pen, will assume your normal attack routine of Spellstrike with Ignition, since you are unaware that you are attacking your friends. You move forward and target 1d5 ⇒ 5 - Hagrym and thankfully missed.
Garidan lands a blow and inflicts 13 bludgeoning damage on the Gibbering Mouther.
Round 2:
Jon remains confused and he moves and targets 1d5 ⇒ 3 - Pen - inflicting 4 damage. His second attack misses.
Mac goes to town on the blob, inflicting 38 damage, with 2 hits. Total so far: 82.
Hagrym is up before the blob's turn.

Hagrym ducks the attack, knowing his friend wasn’t in his right mind. The cleric again casts Divine Lash at the enemy.

Spell attack 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Damage 2d4 ⇒ (1, 2) = 3

Hagrym's spell is successful inflicting 3 damage for a total of 85.

Round 2: Gibbering Mouther
The wounded blob is angry and raises its body, trying to engulf Mac in its body!

Actually, reading the rules, Mac can take a reactive strike first since it is leaving threatened area to move into his area and then make Reflex save.

◆◆Engulf: Creature strides up to double its speed and tries to engulf Mac! If he does not want to be engulfed, Mac needs to make a DC 22 Reflex save. If Mac makes it, he can choose to be either pushed aside (out of the monster's path) or pushed in front of the monster to the end of the monster's movement. If he fails, Mac is grabbed, slowed 1, and has to hold his breath or start suffocating. In addition, he takes 3d8 ⇒ (1, 4, 6) = 11 piercing damage. An engulfed creature can attack the monster engulfing it, but only with unarmed attacks or with weapons of light Bulk or less. The engulfing creature is off-guard against the attack.

Lastly, the blob attacks Garidan with its bite.
Jaw attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
Damage: 2d8 + 5 + 1d6 ⇒ (6, 1) + 5 + (2) = 14

Jon and Pen can make new Will saves and then the players are up to end Round 2 and start Round 3.

Will (E): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27 Finally!

Jon shakes his head and sees the various whip and bullet wounds on his comrades. "Sorry, that thing messed with my head, but it's clear now!"

Jon levels his pistol and fires◆ at the blob, not aiming at any of his friends this time.

+1 Double-Barreled Pistol (rng. 30'): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33 Nat 20 baby!
Fatal Crit Damage - Concussive: 1d8 + 1d4 ⇒ (4) + (2) = 6 x2 = 12 + 1d8 ⇒ 3 = 15

Then he performs a running reload◆ with another black powder round while striding to provide flanking for Garidan with his whip and fires◆ it at the blob.

+1 Double-Barreled Pistol -5 MAP (rng. 30'): 1d20 + 13 - 5 ⇒ (20) + 13 - 5 = 28 ANOTHER NAT 20 BABY I AM BACK!
Fatal Crit Damage: 1d8 + 1d4 ⇒ (5) + (1) = 6 x2 = 12 + 1d8 ⇒ 2 = 14

Will save DC 19: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Penflower regains his focus and walks to flank the creature with Mac. Then he swings his sword and puts up his shield.

Strike: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Mac's Reactive Strike: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25
Damage: 2d10 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (9, 9) + 4 + 2 = 24
Reflex Save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
Mac fails the save and takes 11 damage for a total of 12.He holds his breath to not suffocate as he gets engulfed.

The cleric keeps peppering the mouther with his Divine Lash ability.

Spell attack 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Damage 2d4 ⇒ (4, 4) = 8

Mac inflicts 24 damage, taking the total to 206, before he is engulfed. Both of Jon's bullets land killing the wounded blob and freeing Mac. Damage summary:
Mac: -12
Pen: -4
Garidan: -3.

If you search the pond, you discover coins in the amount of 190 cp and 64 sp. There is also a downward sloping tunnel to the north, which will require swimming.

Other than the secret door where the ghost book lady is, you have found all there is to find on this level and there are three passages heading further down:
1. Stair heading down near private washroom and abandoned guard post.
2. Stairs heading down from the main combat in the library room.
3. Tunnel through the water.

Where to now?

Not looking forward to having to hide most of his ammunition if they swam, Jon says, "How about we check out the stairs near the washroom first? I'd rather not get my powder wet right now."

190 cp + 6.4 sp work out to 8.3 gp, which I've added to the loot sheet.

I'm at -17 actually
"A little help here" Garidan says, holding a bleeding bite wound.

Penflower says "Well that was scary. I didn't know who I was for a second. Glad you guys stayed on your toes."

After healing, I agree with washroom.

Hagrym tries to treat wounds on Garidan.

Medicine check 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16

Hit points gained 2d8 + 5 ⇒ (3, 6) + 5 = 14

He then tries to heal the other wounded.

Mac medicine 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22
Hit points gained 2d8 + 10 + 5 ⇒ (1, 3) + 10 + 5 = 19

Pen medicine 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32
Hit points healed (assuming critical) 4d8 + 10 + 10 + 5 ⇒ (7, 6, 5, 6) + 10 + 10 + 5 = 49

Garidan medicine 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16
Hit points healed 2d8 + 5 ⇒ (7, 2) + 5 = 14

I didn't take damage, but thanks!

Hagrym, due to Assurance, you always roll 10 so you always succeed on check. Only reason to roll is if you're trying to roll a critical. Otherwise, you always auto-heal 2d8+15 hit points.

Mac thanks Hagrym for the healing. "We're still missing the devil's contract and the only place we have not searched is the secret door in the ghost's room. What are the odds that is in there? I really want to look, but if we're not all in total agreement in fighting the ghost, I guess we leave it alone for now."

We go down the stairs by the washroom with Mac and Pen in the lead, as usual.

Pen comments on Mac's idea "We just need to figure out how to put her soul to rest. It clearly has to do with Arzinae, her lover. But I'm not sure what to do. Maybe the fact that we removed the portrait is bad, but I don't know."

The party goes to the washroom and finds the stairs heading down. You head downstairs which leads to a a door made of iron-banded wood. No light source can be seen, which is not an issue for the dwarves. I know Garidan has a lantern. Are Jon and Pen using any independent sources of light?

You open the door after checking it for traps to reveal;

A pair of brightly glowing chandeliers illuminates a long banquet table surrounded by luxurious, high-backed chairs. The table is still set as if for a grand meal, but some of the place settings are scattered and toppled, as are a few of the chairs. Four skeletons in tattered finery are scattered about the room, some of them clutching their own necks.

As you walk into the room, four of the skeletons seated at the table begin to glow with a bluish glow, in the same fashion as the corpselights that you fought on the top level of this dungeon near the chapel. Now, instead of 2 corpselights, there are 4 of them. It was a tough fight at 1st level, let us see now.

Initiative:
Corpselights: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Garidan: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Hagrym: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
Jon: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
Mac: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
Pen: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Order: Party and then monsters.

To remind you, corpselights are undead wisps, slew of undead immunities, including sneak attack damage, AC 17, and have about 40 hps. When the skeletal body is destroyed, you can target the wisp and destroy it before it claims a fresh corpse.

Party is up! Skeletons are color coded.

◆Exploit Vulnerability EV: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31 vs standard DC for its level and vs Recall Knowledge DC (+1 from lantern) -->crit, most likely

"Corpselights! You told us about them before. But they're weak to blunt weapons because of their skeleton bodies." Garidan ◆ swaps his chain for a light hammer and murmurs something occult, the others haven't heard yet. A glowing ◆ shield appears in front of him.

Penflower says "Ah, my sword will have to do." He casts a shield spell, and takes a step forward to let Garidan reach the skeletons.

Trying something new. Cast Shield, enter Arcane Cascade, then move 5ft to give Garidan some space.

I'll use my candlecap for light. It's dim light for a 20' radius, but with my low-light vision, it works just as well as normal light for me.

Into the Fray ◇: On rolling initiative Jon draws his pistol but leaves his off-hand free.

Jon strides◇ 15' in towards the yellow corpselight.

"Mac said last time they hate sunlight, right?" Jon says. "I brought a pocket full of it this time." (Page 5 of the gameplay thread, if you're curious)

Jon draws◆ his moderate bottled sunlight in his off-hand and gives it a shake◆, filling a 20' radius with bright light, then lobs◆ it at the yellow corpselight.

Bottled sunlight sheds bright light for an hour when activated and can be thrown as a bomb at any point during that hour, dealing 2d4 vitality damage, 2 vitality splash damage, and 2d4 fire damage. Against creatures with a sunlight weakness, I don't roll for the vitality damage; it just takes the max (8 for 2d4).

Bomb (20' rng increment): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
Vitality Damage vs Sunlight Weakness + Vitality Splash + Fire Damage: 8 + 2 + 2d4 ⇒ 8 + 2 + (1, 4) = 15
On a failure but not a crit failure it still takes the 2 vitality splash damage.

Also, I'm walking around with a Light spell bobbing over my head.

Hagrym casts Bless on the group.

Sorry for delay, all. Traveling, will post tomorrow.

Ok, will be a short post.

Mac rages, moves, and attacks blue skeleton.
Attack with Bless: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 13 + 1 = 22
Damage: 2d10 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (8, 10) + 4 + 2 = 24

Summary of party's actions:
Garidan, you are correct that they are weakness 5 to bludgeoning weapons as well as powerless in sunlight. Garidan buffed himself.
Hagrym blessed the party.
Mac moves and struck blue skeleton for 24 damage.
Jon throws his bottled sunlight at the yellow corpselight, inflicting 13 damage. The bright flash inflicts Stunned 2 and Clumsy 2 for 1 round.
Pen buffed himself.

Round 1: Corpselights
The yellow corpselight stumbles forward 5' toward Jon, ending its turn.

The blue corpselight emits a sickly blue beam of light from its mouth and eyes in a 20-foot cone, that strikes both Mac and Pen. Mac and Pen must each make DC 18 Fortitude save or take void damage.

The red corpselight moves and strikes at Jon twice!
Claw: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24 --- hits
Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Jaw: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 --- misses

The green corpselight moves and strikes at Mac twice!
Claw: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16 --- miss
Jaw: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24 --- hits
Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 - I believe Mac loses his temporary hit points.

Do not forget the saves, Mac and Pen, and party is up.

Jon steps◆ back, draws his whip◆, and fires◆ on the yellow corpselight with an ordinary black powder round.

+1 Double-Barreled Pistol (rng. 30'): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30
Concussive + Precision Damage: 1d4 + 1d4 ⇒ (3) + (2) = 5

posting now, but waiting until Hagrym moves in and I'm in Bless range

Garidan ◆ moves in between Jon and the attacking skeletons, then strikes with his hammer (at yellow). As he is used to by now, he sprinkles a drop of holy water onto his hammer, making it even more potent.

◆Light Hammer, bless: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 9 + 1 = 20
Bludgeoning Damage, Personal Antithesis: 1d6 + 3 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 2 + 4 = 13
◆Light Hammer, bless: 1d20 + 9 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 9 + 1 - 4 = 22
Bludgeoning Damage, Personal Antithesis: 1d6 + 3 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 + 4 = 11

+1 AC from Shield Spell

Fort save with Arcane Cascade bonus: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

Penflower walks fast past a skeleton to help Mac, seeing that the skeletons are busy with Mac, then he swings his sword while setting it ablaze.

Stride, Spellstrike with Ignition

Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Fire damage: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 1) = 8