JD's Abomination Vaults

Game Master Jack Daniels

Mac would have drunk his Skeptic's elixir (lesser) when we heard the spellcasting - +1 on will saves for 1 minute. Previously, he also would have given Pen and Hagrym each one lesser alchemist's fire to throw if they desired.

Round 1: Mac
Got lucky there winning initiative with his +15 bonus.

"Volluk, I presume?! Look who's calling whom disgusting! Have you seen yourself in the mirror lately?! You're one ugly mother...."

Since we were told he is a spellcaster, have to get in close so he provokes reactive strike if he casts or moves away. I will leave the bombing to the rest of you.
◆Rage
◆◆Sudden charge - move twice and attack - will pray he does not have reactive strike and end adjacent to it on his western side.
Greatpick strike: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26
Damage: 2d10 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (8, 3) + 4 + 2 = 17
7 temporary hit points.

Volluk seems to almost growl as the dwarf insults his appearance. The raging dwarf moves up and strikes him, although some of the damage is resisted, as he is, after all, a swarm of leeches. He does not have reactive strike. Total damage: 10.

Round 1: Volluk
The former drow, now swarm, winces at the blow, but Mac sees that his leeches moves over one another, automatically healing him. Total damage: 3.

The apprentice to Belcorra is no fool so he steps away from the dwarf. Realizing that he is outnumbered, he casts magic and 3 more images of him appear. "Good luck hitting me now, fools!"

◆Step
◆◆Casts Mirror Image

Rest of party is up. There are 4 images of Volluk shifting in his space.

Into the Fray◇: On rolling init Jon draws◇ his pistol, but leaves his other hand free.

Into the Fray◇: first turn Jon strides forward in front of Pen so he's in pistol range. Then he shouts◆ "We're the new Roseguard and we're here to wipe you out!"

Demoralize (auditory, bravado, concentrate, emotion, fear, mental): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Then Jon clears both barrels with a pair◆ of shots◆, hoping to at least destroy some images.

+1 striking Double-Barreled Pistol (rng. 30'): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29
P/Concussive + Precision: 2d4 + 1d4 ⇒ (3, 3) + (2) = 8

+1 striking Double-Barreled Pistol -5 MAP (rng. 30'): 1d20 + 13 - 5 ⇒ (14) + 13 - 5 = 22
P/Concussive + Precision: 2d4 + 1d4 ⇒ (3, 1) + (3) = 7

I didn't go for a bomb because I don't want to waste my limited number of bombs on a 25% chance to hit him. The bullets will at the very least get rid of two images if they don't hit so the rest of you will have a better chance of hitting him.

Pre-combat buffs: Mirror Image, Resist Energy (Fire)

Penflower says "Great, another elf hater... Let's dance, maggot!"

He walks forward, puts up his magical shield and adjusts his stance.

I can stride through Jon, so it's enough to be in a position that Mac can flank, then Shield spell and Arcane Cascade.

Volluk hesitates as Jon mentions the Roseguard.
Jon's demoralize action is successful - Volluk is Frightened 1.
Jon's 1st attack hits: 1d4 ⇒ 2 --- strikes an image - 2 mirror images left + Volluk.
Jon's 2nd attack misses but does not critically fail - strikes an image - 1 mirror image left + Volluk.
Pen moves up.
Hagrym is up.

I will go ahead and post my action, as I will not be affected by Bless even of Hagrym did cast it as I will not be in 15' emanation.

Round 2: Mac

Last round when I attacked, Volluk resisted 7 of my damage and then healed for 7 at the start of its turn, so I ended up doing 3 damage. Have to try doing something different. Great job, Jon, getting rid of 2 images and inflicting the Frightened condition.

◆Interact to draw a Moderate Alchemist's Fire
◆Strike with it - +8 hit with a martial weapon (which bombs are - 20' range) + 1 Dex + 1 item bonus (see description) against his AC-1.
1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 8 + 1 + 1 = 25
With 1 image and him, 1-3 on 1d6 is a hit: 1d6 ⇒ 1...hit
Fire Damage: 2d8 ⇒ (7, 8) = 15 + 2 persistent fire damage
Pen, it also does 2 points of fire splash damage to you but your fire resistance should keep you safe.
◆Step to flank

17 damage again with the persistent; let's see if this is more effective.

Moving game along as it has been 24+ hours...Hagrym can retcon his post in case it is different from moving + Bless.

Mac's alchemical bomb lands, blowing up and harming Volluk severely. 24 damage for a total of 27 damage.. He is pissed off now!

Round 2: Volluk
Volluk heals 7 but takes 2 persistent fire damage at the end of his turn. Total damage: 22.

You realize that since the the swarm literally has no eyes, Volluk cannot be flanked so he is not off-guard. "You think me a caster only?! That will be your downfall!"

◆Strike at Mac: 1d20 + 18 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 18 - 1 = 29 --- hits, 0 damage, but several hundred leeches swarm onto Mac's body!
◆Strike at Pen: 1d20 + 13 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 13 - 1 = 14 --- misses! Pen loses 1 image.
◆Stride: With its last action, Volluk confidently strides into Mac's square, provoking Reactionary Strike from Mac. After the strike, Mac takes 3d8 ⇒ (7, 7, 6) = 20 piercing damage from the leeches. Reflex DC 23 save for half damage. If save is successful, Mac can move to adjacent square as free action.

Recovery check vs. persistent fire damage: 1d20 ⇒ 5 --- Volluk is still on fire.

Mac will take severe persistent damage from the leeches transferred on the successful strike at the end of his next turn. Volluk is no longer Frightened.

Party is up - 1 image left on Volluk from Mirror Image.

Sorry, I was away yesterday. I’ll wait for Jon or someone to pop the last mirror image before bombing.

Reactionary strike vs. Frightened AC: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27
Miss chance: 1d6 ⇒ 3...hit
Damage: 2d10 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (4, 2) + 4 + 2 = 12
Reflex save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
10 damage - 7 temporary hit points = 3 damage = 59/62 hps.

Hagrym, we really need Bless going so that Jon has the best chance to hit with bombs. And if you move and Bless, I'll be buffed as well. Or you can get rid of that last image with a spell attack so Jon does not have a miss chance. Either action is good.
Jon, do not worry about the splash damage, bomb away. I can take it.

Total damage on Volluk: 27.

Jon uses a running reload◆ to step, putting Volluk within the first range increment of his bombs and loading a round of ooze ammunition into one barrel of his pistol. Then he draws◆ and throws◆ a flask of bottled lightning at the spellcaster.

Volluk 1-3, Image on 4-6: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Bomb (20' rng increment): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
Electricity Damage + Splash: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Based on my last roll of 22, that was a miss, but not a critical one, so it still deals 1 splash damage to him.

The electricity damage still hurts Volluk, even with a splash. 8 damage for a total of 35.

Pen is up. Hagrym, need your Round 1 and Round 2 actions. Then Mac to start Round 3.

Hagrym moves forward just beside Jon, to get the whole party in the effect of his Bless spell as he tries to tilt the odds in his group’s favor.

If you’d move please, GM.

For his next action, the cleric pulls and tosses the vial of alchemist’s fire at the evil creature.

Attack with bless1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
Damage 1d8 ⇒ 3 Fire plus
1 persistent fire and 1 fire splash

Volluk has no more images. Thanks Hagrym. Hagrym's vial misses but inflicts an additional 8 damage to Volluk for a total of 43. Mac takes 2 damage - 1 from Jon's splash and 1 from Hagrym's splash. Moved you Hagrym with your 3rd action this round to get everyone within range of Bless.

Fire damage splash is resisted, yes.

Seeing Mac be consumed by leeches makes Penflower glad he has his images up. He wonders how Mac is going to get rid of them. For now he has to focus on Volluk. He walks up to him, charges his sword with fire and swings it at the mass of leeches.

Thinking about it now, if we had time to reprepare spells, I'd prepare Hydraulic Push. I'm sure a strong blast of water would do wonders on this mass of leeches.

Stride, then Spellstrike with Ignition.

Strike, bless: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31
Slashing damage: 2d8 + 5 ⇒ (7, 3) + 5 = 15
Fire damage: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 4) = 10

I doubt that crits. If it does, it's double damage from both sources.

Correction, GM: Mac drew a vial of alchemist's fire at his last action last round, so he could not take a reactionary strike on Volluk as he held his weapon in one hand and the vial in the other, so give Volluk back 5 hps.

Round 3: Mac
I know a lot of persistent damage is coming; hopefully, I can take it.

◆Step back 5' to avoid splash damage
◆Launch vial of alchemist's fire (lesser) at Volluk with Bless: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 9 + 1 = 11
Will use Hero Point to avoid critical miss and reroll that attack. Those vials cost gold!
Launch vial at Volluk with Bless: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 9 + 1 = 17 - that should not critically fail, so Volluk takes 1 splash damage of fire.
◆Step back 5' to get in reactionary strike if needed.

After persistent damage, Recovery check: 1d20 ⇒ 3
Nope.
57/62 hps before persistent damage.

Thank you for correction, Mac. I had forgotten. 38 damage on Volluk.
Pen's attack hits but is not a critical. Volluk resists 7 of the physical damage and takes the full fire damage, but it does not invoke his weakness to splash attacks. Total damage: 18.
Mac's use of Hero Point inflicts 8 more fire damage for a total of 64 damage.
Mac takes 2d8 + 8 ⇒ (6, 7) + 8 = 21 persistent damage at the end of the round from the leeches sucking his blood.

Round 3: Volluk
Volluk heals 7 but will take 2 persistent fire damage at end of round so 59 damage.

Despite the damage, Volluk enjoy Mac's persistent damage. "Suffer dwarf, as my leeches devour you!" He then looks over at Pen, "Scum elf, you dare burn me!" He lashes Pen with a tendril, depositing hundred of leeches all over the elf's body!

Pen, I just realized that Volluk, as a swarm, has tremorsense, which I did not apply last round. Tremorsense is an imprecise sense so you are hidden from him since you are both standing on the ground.
DC 11 Flat check to even hit you: 1d20 ⇒ 19 --- yes
◆Tendril attack on Pen: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (18) + 18 = 36 --- critical
You will take Persistent Damage at the end of your next turn.

Volluk looks around and sees Jon, who just pelted him with a bomb. "You're next!" Volluk unleashes a tendril attack with 10' reach, that also deposits hundreds of leeches onto the gunslinger.

◆Stride 10' north - Mac gets a reactionary strike.
◆Tendril attack on Jon: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33 --- another critical!
Jon will take Persistent Damage at the end of your next turn.

Recovery check vs. Persistent fire: 1d20 ⇒ 9 --- fails!

Party is up!

Mirror image, 1 is me: 1d3 ⇒ 2

1 image remaining

Penflower replies "You have to find me first, bugface". Penflower continues following the creature, casts a special spell that allows him to attack and use his shield and thinks about what kind of creature that is.

Move after him, Shielding Strike conflux spell, then Recall Knowledge (I'm not sure what)

Shielding Strike: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16
Damage: 2d8 + 5 ⇒ (7, 8) + 5 = 20

Recall Knowledge (maybe occultism?): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

That was a really lucky round for me - 19, 18, and 20!
Here are the rules on Persistent Damage:
You make a flat DC 15 recovery check at end of your turn after taking the damage to end the effect.
If you can explain to me how you get the leeches off your body and use 2 actions on your turn, you can get an immediate DC 15 flat check before you take the damage or, if really creative, I may lower the DC of the check.
If any ally assists you and spends 2 actions, you can get an immediate DC 15 flat check before you take the damage.

Volluk's strategy may be to wait out the Persistent damage and see if he wins the fight that way!

[dice=Mirror image, 1 is me]1d3

1 image remaining

Penflower replies "You have to find me first, bugface[/ooc]. Penflower continues following the creature, casts a special spell that allows him to attack and use his shield and thinks about what kind of creature that is.

Move after him, Shielding Strike conflux spell, then Recall Knowledge (I'm not sure what)

[dice=Shielding Strike]1d20+12
[dice=Damage]2d8+5

[dice=Recall Knowledge (maybe occultism?)]1d20+9

Pen, Volluk bypassed your Mirror Images with Tremorsense - you had a DC 11 flat check that he would miss but he made the roll. Read my post above about Persistent damage - you can retcon your action and you really really want to do that.

Ah, so Mirror Image is useless against him. That sucks. So, question. Can I cast Ignition on myself and auto crit? That would mean I take double damage from 3d4 and also 1d4 persistent damage, which I imagine means I catch on fire, possibly burning off my leeches? And my resistance can protect me from my own fire somewhat. If I can, I'll do that with 2 actions and recharge spellstrike with my 3rd.

Ah, so Mirror Image is useless against him. That sucks. So, question. Can I cast Ignition on myself and auto crit? That would mean I take double damage from 3d4 and also 1d4 persistent damage, which I imagine means I catch on fire, possibly burning off my leeches? And my resistance can protect me from my own fire somewhat. If I can, I'll do that with 2 actions and recharge spellstrike with my 3rd.

Pen, very creative solution! I like it. Yes, proceed with that without having to roll a Recovery check. You have Fire Resistance 2, correct?

Damage: 3d4 - 2 ⇒ (2, 2, 2) - 2 = 4 x 2 = 8
1d4 - 2 ⇒ (3) - 2 = 1 persistent fire damage

Thanks. So, I cast Resist Energy (fire) before the fight, so that's Fire resistance 5 at the basic level. Also, doesn't the fire get multiplied before the resistance?

Also....

Penflower says "I'll burn you off myself, butt-face!"

What's the amount and type of the persistent damage? I missed that in all the posts

Absolutely right, Pen. Thanks! So 12 damage - 5 fire resistance = 7 damage and no persistent damage.
Jon, I did not list it because you have not taken it yet. But if you wanted to metagame, you can see that Mac took 2d8+8 for a normal hit, so your critical is going 2x that damage, so you should definitely try to get rid of the persistent damage before the end of your upcoming turn.

Damn good rolls, GM!
Reactive Strike on Volluk with Bless: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 13 + 1 = 15
Ugh - will not waste a Hero Point, since I only have 1 left.
36/62 hit points.

Sorry, I had thought persistent damage was rolled at the time of the attack that caused it, not at the time of taking damage, wasn't trying to metagame.

Jon uses his free hand to begin ripping the leeches off his skin.◆◆

DC 15 Flat Check to end leech damage: 1d20 ⇒ 18 Thank the dice gods.

He throws the last leech down with a splat and squashes it beneath his boot. Then he backs 10' out in a running reload◆ into the hall, still keeping him in bomb throw range, and loads a black powder round into the other barrel of his pistol.

Sorry, I'd have to draw the bomb before I could throw it, so I can't bomb this round, and want to get out of range of his tendrils. I'd be obliged if Grym could sustain the Bless spell to increase the radius and put me back inside it for my next turn.

Round 3:
The stubborn dwarf risks the persistent damage and attacks Volluk three times!
Attack: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 13 + 1 = 17
Attack: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 8 + 1 = 10
Attack: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 1 = 12

Persistent damage Recovery check: 1d20 ⇒ 14

Bad couple of rounds for me rolling.
36/62 damage before persistent damage.

Heightened Ignition is 2d4 persistent damage, you've already rolled the first (3): 1d4 ⇒ 2

Persistent damage fully resisted for now.

With his first action, Hagrym extends the range of his bless effect. He then uses his Battle Medicine ability to try and treat Mac even while the battle rages around them.

Medicine check 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13
Spending a hero point for a reroll 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27

Hit points regained 2d8 + 15 ⇒ (4, 1) + 15 = 20

As always, check my math, guys, lol.

Hagrym, you have +12 on your Medicine check and Assurance so you automatically heal 2d8+15 without rolling. The only reason to roll the check would be to try and hit DC 30 so you can heal 4d8+15. but to do so, you would have to roll 18 or higher on the die, which means 15% chance. I do not see a reason to risk it unless your ally is at 1 hp and about to die. Otherwise the assured 2d8+15 without rolling is the obvious choice. Therefore, I assume you do not roll and get to keep your Hero Point. You extend, move, and use Battle Medicine on Mac, healing him for 20.
Persistent damage on Mac: 2d8 + 8 ⇒ (5, 1) + 8 = 14 so Mac is at 42/62 hps.

Round 3: Volluk

Volluk smiles that he took no damage that round. He laughs at Mac's pathetic swings, convinced his leeches are protecting him. 54 damage. He enjoys that his leeches continue to feast on Mac, but is angered by Hagrym healing the dwarf. "You will pay for your interference!" Volluk lashes out and infests Hagrym with leeches. He then does the same to Pen.

◆Volluk attacks Hagrym with a tendril: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (11) + 18 = 29 --- hit, but not a critical.
◆Volluk attacks Pen with a tendril with 10' reach: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31 - Is that a critical, Pen? It's either a hit or a critical.
◆Step 5' North toward Jon
Flat recovery check: 1d20 ⇒ 2 --- fails, still on fire

Hagrym and Pen are subject to possible persistent damage. Party is up.

Jon grabs◆ the flask of moderate alchemist's fire from his belt pouch and lobs it◆ at the leech swarm.

Moderate Alch. Fire + 1 item + 1 status: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 10 + 1 + 1 = 21 This is my most powerful bomb, so I'm hero pointing that.
Hero Point Reroll: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 10 + 1 + 1 = 25
Fire Damage + 2 Splash: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (4, 5) + 2 = 11
2 persistent fire damage

Then he pulls◆ the flask of lesser alchemist's fire from his belt pouch, ready for use next round.