JD's Abomination Vaults

Game Master Jack Daniels

Hagrym also voted to head out in the morning. ”Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, you know! Maybe we can get some biscuits and honey for the road as well. We’d be all peppy and full of energy,” he adds as he looks around at the others.

"Nothing better than a good breakfast," Jon concurs, "Let's go in the morning."

Ok, that's 3 votes so will rely on that.

That night, as you are sitting down to have dinner, either together as a team or in your respective homes, sounds of screams of terror jar you into action! You rush out of your home or local tavern to discover what is amiss when you see people running down the hill, screaming, "The undead rise in the graveyard!" As you gather your senses, you look to the south and see the walking dead, bathed in an odd blue light, plummet over the cliff's edge to their grisly destruction to rain down upon the domes of the Dawnflower Library! Image posted in Slides.

What do you do? The undead who jump off are destroyed when they hit the ground or the domed roof of the library. They are not a danger.

"Holy Boneyard! Garidan shouted out loud before heading back to the house and putting on his armor and gear. In the light of his trusty lantern he runs towards the graveyard.

”You think those undead will smash through the roof of the library? We need to get down there and put a stop to that if we can,” Hagrym calls out, clearly so panicked that he didn’t even consider his breakfast needs. He gets dressed as quickly as possible and headed towards the graveyard .

Jon snorts awake at the people's cries. "No rest for the wicked," he mutters, getting to his feet, buckling on the belt his weapons hang from and grabbing his duster as he runs off to the graveyard.

"It doesn't seem likely that they could, Hagrym, but we'd better stop them all the same. Nothing good can come of standing by and letting this run its course."

Like any good paranoid dwarf, Mac doesn't take off his armor unless he is sleeping, going to the bathroom, or getting intimate, so he is fully garbed in his armor during dinner. When he sees the undead spectacle, he curses, "This is the taint of void magic. I will enjoy sticking my new greatpick in some bastard's eye." He gathers the party and we head off to the graveyard.

The party dons armor and weapons and heads over to the graveyard. You follow the hillside road to the western cliffside. When you reach the zenith, you see the likely cause of the undead rising: the blue light of the Gauntlight covers the graveyard.

Sensing the responsibility for the town's safety, the party decides to deal with the menace and enters the graveyard through the entrance flanked by 2 stone statues. The blue light from the lighthouse does not appear to be harmful to you. You quickly see the recently dug empty graves. Your attention is drawn to unsettling moans, as 4 skeletons and a zombie turn the corner around a mausoleum, heading toward the party!

Initiative:
Skeletons: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Zombie: 1d20 ⇒ 11
Garidan: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Hagrym: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Jon: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Mac: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Pen: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Order: Mac, Pen, Skeletons, Hagrym, Garridan, Jon, and Zombie.

Images of skeleton guards and zombie in Monsters Slide. Picture the skeletons without armor and weapons, just claws. The skeletons are also color coded in the combat map so please reference them in your attacks.

Mac and Pen are up.

Round 1: Mac
Seeing the undead, Mac grips his weapon and yells to the team, "Let them come to us!"
Mac readies an action to strike the first enemy that comes within his reach.
Greatpick: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23
Damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Penflower is confused by everything that's happening. Trusing his sword, he moves forward and attacks the middle blue skeleton.

Stride, Strike, Raise shield

Strike: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Wow, max damage on a crit. Not going to see that one for a while.

Pen rushes forward and smashes the blue skeleton into pieces.

Round 1: Skeletons
Sensing life, the skeletons attack the elf.

Orange skeleton:
1st Claw attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24 --- hit. Pen uses his reaction to deflect with his shield.
Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 - reduced to 1 hp.
2nd Claw attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 --- miss
3rd Claw attack: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (14) - 2 = 12 --- miss

Purple skeleton:
1st Claw attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19 --- Miss
2nd Claw attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17 --- miss
3rd Claw attack: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (20) - 2 = 18 --- hit, not a critical
Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Yellow skeleton:
Step + 2 claw attacks
1st Claw attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 --- Miss
2nd Claw attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22 --- hit and critical!
Damage: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 2) + 4 = 7

Pen takes 14 damage this round. Hagrym, Garridan, Jon are up.

Jon draws◇ his pistol, but leaves his other hand free and strides◇ a little closer. (Free draw and stride via Into the Fray)

Using his other hand, he draws◆ one of the lesser ghost charges he had created that morning and lobs it◆ at the yellow skeleton.

Ghost Charge Bomb Strike: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28 Nat 20!
Vitality Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 1 (The additional +1 splash damage is not multiplied on a crit)
(The yellow skeleton takes the bomb damage + 1 splash damage and is enfeebled 1 till the start of my next turn in addition to everyone within 5', namely the purple skeleton, taking 1 splash vitality damage. Vitality damage only harms undead or creatures with void healing, so Pen will be unaffected by the bomb.)

Jon then aims his pistol at the yellow skeleton and fires◆.

+1 Double-Barreled Pistol -5 MAP: 1d20 + 11 - 5 ⇒ (2) + 11 - 5 = 8
P/Concussive Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Rule question here that I should know the answer to, but can’t find this morning….hiw close do I have to be to Pen to use battle Magic and to try and heal him? I will post assuming I can try to heal him at some range. If I cant’t, I’ll just cast Divine Lance at a baddie.

Hagrym yells at the elf. ”What does let them come to us mean to you,” he grumps as he tries to heal the daft fighter and keep him from becoming skeleton food.

Medicine 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

Regain 2d8 + 10 + 5 ⇒ (2, 5) + 10 + 5 = 22, I think as the extra +5 is from Medic…

Garidan eyes the skeletons.
Exploit Vunerability: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24 vs standard DC for its level and vs Recall Knowledge DC, what resistances?

Take two as I’m not getting that close to four enemies at once….

Harm pulls his trusty holy symbol and calls upon the divine power of Torag to punish the offending undead.

Divine Lance spell attack 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Damage 2d4 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6

since this is my first appearance in a combat I'm gonna help the GM a little, just to get familiar with Exploit vulnerability.
Also, it's just simple skeletons, so I can make an educated guess with basic meta knowledge. I won't and probably couldn't do it again.
The skels are ~level 0, so Standard DC for their level is 14, whitch I critically hit.
I additionally, probably, crit'ed the RK check that goes along with EV due to Diverse Lore feat, but has a separate DC.
EV Critical Success: You remember the creature's weaknesses, and as you empower your esoterica, you have a flash of insight that grants even more knowledge about the creature. You learn all of the creature's resistances, weaknesses, and immunities, including the amounts of the resistances and weaknesses and any unusual weaknesses or vulnerabilities, such as what spells will pass through a golem's antimagic.

Garidan holds his lantern high. In the dim light he can clearly ◆identify these skeletons, as he has encountered several before in his life.
Knowing there annoying resistances, he ◆swaps his spear for his sidearm, a light hammer tucked into the back of his belt. "Get yourself a bludgeoning tool! And let Pharasma's blessing be with you Pen" , he prays, when ◆casting Guidance on Pen.

Yellow skeleton takes 3 damage.
Purple skeleton takes 1 damage.
Garidan: Skeletons have resistances: cold 5, electricity 5, fire 5, piercing 5, slashing 5.
Since Hagrym did not specify an enemy, 1d4 ⇒ 2; he strikes purple skeleton and destroys it.

Round 1: Zombie
The zombie slowly moves toward Pen, stepping and inadvertently flanking him, giving him the flat-footed condition (-2 AC). His 2 fists are deflected by the elf's shield.

Fist Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17 --- barely misses
2nd Fist Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11 --- miss!

Mac and Pen are up in Round 2.

That Raise shield action saved me a skeleton and a zombie claw. Worth it!

Despite the many attacks, Pen still has fighting in him. He adjusts his stance and swings his sword at the zombie, thinking it's probably stronger than the skeletons. Then he uses his shield.

Arcane Cascade, Strike, Raise Shield

Attack on Zombie: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Slashing damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Round 2: Mac

Mac shakes his head, as Pen breaks the line and rushes in, trading 1 attack for 8, but is surprised that Pen's recklessness does not cost him more. Mac moves in and attacks the zombie as well with his greatpick.

◆◆Sudden Charge ◆Strike

Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19
Damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Pen and Mac's attacks bring down the zombie shambler.

Round 2: Skeletons

The orange one steps and attacks the flanked Pen.
1st Claw: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23 --- hit
Pen shield blocks
Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 --- no damage
2nd Claw: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16 --- miss!

The yellow skeleton attacks flat-footed Pen as well.
1st Claw: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22 --- hit
Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
[ooc]2nd Claw: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19 --- hit
Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 --- Pen collapses to the ground, gaining Dying 1 condition.
The yellow skeleton steps toward Mac.

Rest of party is up.

"Oh my. Someone help him!" Garidan shouts surprised. Then he rushes forward hammering the yellow skeleton. He holds his lantern up high directly shining into the skeletons former face. Drawing arcane symbols in the air he also pours a tiny drop of his healing potion on his hammer.
Light Hammer: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
Bludgeoning Damage plus Implements Empowerment plus Personal Antithesis : 1d6 + 3 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 + 3 = 9 x2

seeing the skeleton crumble to ashes he focus on the last one.
Exploit Vunerability: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

BTW, the last attack missed, since I had my shield up with AC 21.

BTW, the last attack missed, since I had my shield up with AC 21.

You were flanked, so -2 to AC, so 19 attack roll hit.

"Oh my. Someone help him!" Garidan shouts surprised. Then he rushes forward hammering the yellow skeleton. He holds his lantern up high directly shining into the skeletons former face. Drawing arcane symbols in the air he also pours a tiny drop of his healing potion on his hammer.

[dice=Light Hammer] 1d20+7
[dice=Bludgeoning Damage plus Implements Empowerment plus Personal Antithesis ] 1d6+3+2+3 x2

seeing the skeleton crumble to ashes he focus on the last one.
[dice=Exploit Vunerability]1d20+8

The yellow skeleton shatters to pieces from Garidan's blow. Garidan's unarmed and weapon Strikes against the range skeleton become magical if they weren't already. The undead creature can be harmed by vitality energy.

Hagrym strides toward the fallen elf (any square will be fine, GM) and uses a 2 action heal spell on his downed friend.

Heal 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Jon aims at the remaining skeleton and fires◆ his second barrel.

+1 Double-Barreled Pistol: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29
P/Concussive Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Jon reloads◆ and fires◆ again, if the skeleton is still standing. (If the skeleton was killed by my first shot, I'll reload both barrels instead.)

+1 Double-Barreled Pistol -5 MAP: 1d20 + 11 - 5 ⇒ (4) + 11 - 5 = 10
P/Concussive Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Hagrym saves Pen and Jon's shot downs the final skeleton. Pen has Wounded 1 condition. Combat over. Do you continue exploring the graveyard? The graveyard continues to be bathed in the blue light from the lighthouse.

Penflower looks at the group a bit embarrassed and says "Thank you. I don't know what came over me."

I know what came over me. I was in my trip and had little time to post, so I skimmed through the text and thought Mac had charged in, so I came to have another body share the damage. I apologize. Won't happen again.

"Well, you're still here, aren't you?" Without looking at the others, Garidan held his lantern high and carefully moved forwards, deeper into the graveyard. His sense of duty automatically pushed him forwards.

Jon holsters his pistol and follows Garidan. "What do you think that light is?" he asks, motioning toward the lighthouse.

Hagrym approaches the wounded elf and tries yet again to staunch all his bleeding. ”I thought you all elves were all patient and calculating,” Hagrym laughs and slaps the elf on the back, letting him know it was okay.

Treat wounds Medicine 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

”Yerp…guess I should have paid more attention. Maclin, can you give this a good once over?”

Mac helps Pen up from the floor when he is awakened by Hagrym's magical healing. He then wraps up his wounds at Grym's suggestion. "Ready to continue? Don't go rushing off like that again."

Medicine Check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Healing: 2d8 ⇒ (5, 3) = 8

We continue investigating the graveyard.

"Thanks!", Penflower says and stretches a bit before moving on poking around the graveyard.

Pen, you can amend your profile to reflect full hit points after the healing.

The party surges forward into the graveyard. After a few hundred feet, the sounds of the moans to the south and west reveal 3 more zombies, looking to feast on your bones.

Initiative:
Zombies: 1d20 ⇒ 3
Party goes first since all of you have at least +3 on initiative rolls.
Again the zombies are color coded (blue, orange, and yellow) to make my life easier.

"I have no clue, Jon. But I feel it's responsible for this uprising."
Garidan ◆moves towards the orange zombie and holds his lantern in its face, then slams it with his small hammer.

◆Exploit Vunerability: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16 vs standard DC for its level and vs Recall Knowledge DC (+1 from lantern)

◆Light Hammer: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
damage: 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

I've already added 8 HP from Mac. Do you mean to tell me there's more healing?

Penflower sees Garidan moving forward and is quick to go with him, flanking the zombie.

Stride, Strike, Raise Shield

Strike: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Maybe this crits with the flanking?

Pen, Hagrym initially healed you for 13 and I healed you for 8 = 21, so you should be full hps.

Round 1: Mac

"More undead on the way." Since the orange zombie seems to be handled and the other 2 are too far away for his stubby legs, Mac strides forward and readies an action to attack if one comes within range.

Readied attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16
Piercing Damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Hagrym clutches at the holy symbol around his neck, and again calls upon Torag’s blessings to strike out at the yellow zombie.

Divine Lance attack roll 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Damage 2d4 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4 plus
2d4 ⇒ (1, 2) = 3 critical damage

Jon draws his pistol◇ and once again leaves his other hand free and strides◇ up near Mac. (Free weapon draw and Stride toward enemy via Into the Fray)

Jon aims and fires◆ at the yellow zombie.

+1 Double-Barreled Pistol: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19
P/Concussive Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Then Jon reloads◆ and fires at the yellow zombie again◆.
+1 Double-Barreled Pistol -5 MAP: 1d20 + 11 - 5 ⇒ (20) + 11 - 5 = 26 (Nat 20!)
Fatal Crit Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 (This result is doubled.)
Fatal Extra Damage Die: 1d8 ⇒ 3 (This is added to the total crit damage but not doubled.)
Sword & Pistol: The yellow zombie is off-guard to my next melee attack if it's made by the end of my next turn.

Jon grins, "Eat dirt, unholy scum!"

Garidan's hammer attack magically inflicts 14 slashing damage on the orange zombie.
Pen follows up with a slash that brings the orange zombie down, beheading it.
Hagrym's divine lance inflicts 7 spirit damage on the yellow zombie.
Jon's two shots bring down the yellow zombie, as its head is blown off.

Round 1: Zombie
The blue zombie strides forward 25 feet and attacks Jon, the closest enemy, which does not provoke Mac's readied action.

Fist Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23 --- hit
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 bludgeoning damage to Jon

Party is up in Round 2.

Round 2: Mac

Mac groans, as Jon moves past him, nullifying his readied action. He steps and unleashes 2 attacks on the zombie with his greatpick.

◆Step ◆Strike ◆Strike

1st attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20
Damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
2nd attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Garidan ◆moves behind the zombie to flank with Jon and again, holds his lantern in its face, then slams it with his small hammer.

◆Exploit Vunerability: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 vs standard DC for its level and vs Recall Knowledge DC (+1 from lantern)

◆Light Hammer: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Bludgeoning damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 = 7

Mac's 2 blows and Garidan's hammer dismantle the zombie and it collapses to the ground. However, before the party can recover, the blue light from the Gauntlight intensifies over the party, causing gooseflesh on those it touches. For a brief second, the party sees a female ghostly visage in the light, that of the woman in the portrait....Belcorra!

Instantaneously, a barbed spider-like oil-covered creature manifests in the party's midst over the zombie's corpse —and, just as quickly, Gauntlight goes dark.

Initiative:
Spider creature: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28
Garidan: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Hagrym: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
Jon: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Mac:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Pen:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Order: Monster, then party.

Round 1: Monster
As soon as the creature appears, it immediately goes on the rampage and attacks both of its enemies with its jaws, dripping with venom! It rips a chunk of flesh from Garidan, but luckily misses Jon twice.

1st Jaw attack on Garidan: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22 --- hit
Damage: 2d8 + 5 ⇒ (8, 7) + 5 = 20
Garidan, please roll a DC 21 Fort save vs, poison.
2nd Jaw attack on Jon: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17 --- miss!
3rd Jaw attack on Jon: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12 --- miss!

Party is up - do not forget Fort save, G! This is a CR 4 creature but the last fight for the night so do not hold back. You will rest for the night after this so unleash everything you got. Everyone has 1 Hero Point by the way.

Now here's something I've been doing wrong all along. To enter Arcane Cascade, I must have cast a spell in my last action. I have 2 questions: 1 - In the case where a combat restarts like this, do I have to reenter the stance? (Stances general rules state that it lasts until the end of this encounter) 2 - Does this pass to the next round? I mean, the requirement says that "You used your most recent action this turn to Cast a Spell or make a Spellstrike." If my last action in a round is to cast a spell or make a spellstrike, does this mean that I qualify for the stance in the first action of the next round?

Penflower is surprised to see the creature manifest. He quickly repositions himself to allow Mac and him to be flanking the creature. He then makes the intricate motions and words that allow him to funnel fire magic into his sword attack.

Stride, Spellstrike with Ignition

Spellstrike: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Fire damage: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 4) = 8

However, the visage and a spidery creature make him lose his focus so his swing is clumsy.

Fort: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

As surprised as the rest, Garidan shouts in pain, but his body is tough and trained and the poison doesn't bother him. Carefully he steps back and swaps to his trusty old spear, which he can use to attack the spider from further away. He then shines some light on the monster and examines it.

◆Exploit Vunerability: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24 vs standard DC for its level and vs Recall Knowledge DC (+1 from lantern)

Round 1:Mac

"Whoa, that thing hits hard!"

Mac rages and steps to get flank, making spider off-guard.

Greatpick: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21
Damage: 1d10 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 2 = 16

Harm moves just to the left of Jon (if you’d love me, please GM) and casts Bless on the party! ”we are going to help your helping hand in this one, Torag! This one looks like a doozy.”. He raises his shield after casting the spell.

Garidan's lantern reveals that the monster is an aberration, vulnerable to fire, most likely due to its oily secretions. Jon is up.

"FIRE! We need to burn it!"