The Long Road - Game Thread

Hildigrim frowns at Quillary, but doesn't comment on her tears. Looking away thoughtfully, he finally takes a deep breath and stands again, feeling more stable on his feet. "Well, my good friends," he says cheerfully, "we have had quite an adventure today. I will have much to write about in my new journal. I realize I can't record any of the specifics of the mission — orders and all — but we did meet the Blackstaff, enter a magical dream state in which we relived actual past events by interacting with them, and witnessed a life-altered magical disaster. Oh!" he says, raising a finger. "And I spent a short time in a demiplane." He puts the finger on his chin. "At least, I think it was a short time. I have no idea how time works in a situation such as that." He looks at the others. "How long was I gone?" He pauses, then calls, "Volo," and the tiny owl appears on his shoulder. Scritching the creature's neck feathers, he asks, "Do you remember being there, or was that just a magical impression of you?"

Quote from Guiltysparc >>

OoC - That was really cool.  Also, how long ago did these events happen?  I'm sure you told us...

(OOC: I keep thinking it is DR 1521, but on the Campaign page Mingofaust has the note that the current year is DR 1492. Looking through the Forgotten Realm wiki, Elmwood blew up in DR 1491.

I thought it would take more than a year to rebuild "bigger than it was before", especially with all the catastrophes from the source books going on, but I guess the answer is "magic". Since it is a convenient port for merchant ships in the Moonsea, and Mulmaster is a wretched hive of scum and villainy, I guess there were a lot of resources available to rebuild Elmwood.

The module is set in Elmwood, but it is more convenient to transport the events near to the players in Waterdeep, instead of the other way around.)

Since Volo is a spirit that changes form, and bounces back and forth between "reality" and extra-dimensional space, Volo does not really understand Hildigrim's question about if he was there or not. (Hildi will not get a definitive answer from his magic owl, either way.)

While the rest of the group is discussing all the crazy stuff that went on during the "Princes of the Apocalypse" (sourcebook), Drusk sees that Pascal is tapping the orb fragment with a finger talon. "Humans are some weird folks... Why even make somethin’ like this... Hmm, this thing is getting louder and brighter by the second. And gettin hot to the touch...".

As that thought sinks in, Pascals slowly steps back from the fragment towards the rest of the group, and the rest of you start inching towards the cellar exit.

... OH DEAR.

Pascal inches quicker! 

Quillary looks over, notices what is happening, and does not inch, but rather sprints for the exit. She's had enough of this!

(OOC: If you ever wondered how bad guys in shows have the time to monologue and assemble a complicated device before the heroes can stop them... it is happening now. Consider this a "surprise round" lasting 30 seconds.)

Before anyone can reach the door, there is a bright flash. To your relief, there was a shockwave of hot air, but no flames or damage. Looking back, the magic circle nearest the fragment activates in blue light. It vomits a mass of what looks like magma, which spreads into a crude humanoid form. It reaches out with an "arm" for the fragment, and puts it into its "mouth".

That mass of magic lets off a cloud of smoke. When it clears enough, you see a burnt husk of a man in tattered red and orange robes, no longer completely human but also not undead. You then hear a familiar voice: "I live again. The orb of Imix preserved me." There is awe in Jacobson's voice, before it turns bitter. "Ravia ... Ravia ... why did you betray me? I will live, until I find the answer... You ... you five were touched by the fire of Imix. I can feel it ... Give it to me. I need it. It will sustain my life!"

"What-Used-To-Be-Jacobson" becomes sheathed in fire. (A Fire Shield is active around him.) The man takes out a brazier, that springs to life with fire immediately. He takes out two crystals, which look like the ones Ravia got in Elmwood, and throws them into the fire. Large fiery spirits encased in black iron emerge, scimitars drawn.

(One of the crystals was clearly cracked, before it was tossed in the brazier. The creature formed from that crystal has cracked & thinned armor, and will be easier to hit. The other has fully formed plate armor.)

Use the map of the cellar (post 2948) for now. The 3 enemies (2 large, 1 human-sized) are in the northern 10' of the room. The party is clustered by the SE exit, with Quillary at the bottom of the stairs. (Tell me where you want to move, for this first round, and I'll post an updated map for the 2nd round.)

The party will go, and then the Fire Elemental Myrmidon (plate armor), the other Elemental (broken armor), and Jacobson.

Since Jacobson has Flame Shield active, Volo will be toasted if it gives Help against him. (Although the other two are fire elementals, their armor contains the flames. Volo can safely give attack Help against those two.)

Party is up!  (OOC: Do you want Drusk to cast Bless for the group, or activate his Spiritual Weapon this round? To keep things simpler, if he casts Bless, add +2 to any attack rolls or saving throws you make.)

Pascal groans, “Let it go, man! She wasn’t even that hot!” Pascal

Meanwhile, please spiritual weapon! And Pascal toward the back.

OOC > Two hammers better than one! Spiritual weapon is my vote. I'm going to take a moment to think of a move.

(Don’t forget to post your Round 1 action. If you are waiting for the others to suggest a group strategy first, that is fine.

If you wanted to rant at Jacobson in a longer, more brutal takedown, use your Action to make a Deception check. And post some of the dialogue you are yelling at him... The effect may not be as good as combat, but it is an option (for everyone) if you want to try it.)

Jorin lives only for battle and not words!

except these words...

"Jacobson, you are a bastard and will pay for the innocent lives you took!  Friends, to arms!  Break down the broken one first!" Deception? 4

Forget that! Pascal is a pyromancer up against living flames! THIS IS A NIGHTMARE!

Anyway.

Pascal is going to Twin Chromatic Orb with Frost! 1 to Jacobson and 1 to Cracked Myrm!

Attack: 21 Damage: 13 cold

Attack: 12 Damage: 13 cold

(The cracked one still has an AC of 13. Still have the Inspiration, if you want Pascal to re-roll.

For Jorin's "deception"... do you think this guy has any guilt about innocent lives? Or will be any less murderous by insulting the woman he loved? If you want Jorin to vent at him, you can still do a normal Attack with his action... If you can think of a way to somehow break Jacobson's conviction or his spirit... THEN you would use an action to roll Deception.)

Drusk will move up to the cracked foe, cast Spiritual Weapon to bash the it (bonus action), then use Sacred Flame. (They are immune to fire, but not radiant damage.)

• Attack: 23 Damage: 11  (hits)
• Elemental DEX save vs. DC 14 or take 6 radiant: 13   (just fails)

... ALRIGHT I’ll use it: 12. 
...

...

...

WHY PASCAL WHY

OoC - Ah, ok, i wasn't sure what i was doing, lol.  Maybe intimidation?  Probably not going to intimidate a giant fire creature.  I would also be happy giving someone my axe...

• Bonus Action: RAGE
• Action: Battleaxe!  Attacking the broken armor one
  • First Attack: 29 Damage: 16
  • Second Attack: 17 Damage: 15
• + 1 radiant damage to the first blow that connects!

Quillary turns to face the fire creatures, her face a mask of terror. She shrinks back into the stairs, but manages to call out some guttural words, and a coruscating pattern of light descends on the enemy.

Move: Cower.

Action: Cast Faerie Fire on the three of them. Dex Save vs DC 15 or everyone has Advantage against them.

Jorin calls out to Quillary, "Now is not the time for fear, Quillary, find the strength I know you have!"

DEX saves - Jacobson: 20, Myrmidon: 21, Cracked: 21

Jacobson is lit up like a Christmas tree. (Advantage on attacks against him from now on.) The 2 fire elemental shrug off the Faerie Fire.

Hildigrim to go.

Hildigrim watches with huge eyes as Jacobson comes crawling out of the magma and then brings forth two elemental creatures. "Did ... did we do that?" he asks in a small voice. But when the others begin attacking, the halfling jumps into action as well, happy he has Volo to help this time. He sends the tiny owl to swoop around the elemental with cracked armor, and he fires an arrow as it is distracted.

+1 shortbow attack: 27; damage: 10 piercing damage

Sneak attack if appropriate: 10

Jacobson continues to be a mix of blood-lust to kill our group, and weepy about his love betraying him. He casts Mage Armor on himself (now AC 15). The Flame Shield is still burning.

Both of the fire elemental minions use Fiery Strike this round (+5 fire damage on every hit). They are blocked by Drusk and Jorin, so each takes 3 attacks.

• vs. Drusk A1: 12 Damage: 9
• A2: 11 Damage: 12
• A3: 15 Damage: 12
• vs. Jorin A1: 17 Damage: 14
• A2: 16 Damage: 13
• A3: 20 Damage: 11

(OOC: Holy crap! All 6 strikes missed. Waste of the Fiery Strike ability.)

Start of Round 2

The regular Myrmidon took 13 damage from Pascal's frost bolt. The cracked-armor Elemental took 69 damage (under half health). Jacobson has Mage Armor and a Fire Shield as protection, and is glowing from Faerie Fire.

Every member of our party took 6 psychic damage from the earlier memory-fragment spell, but no other damage.

Party is up again!

Wait I aimed for Jacobson

Quote from JcAndD >>

Wait I aimed for Jacobson

(Yes, you did. Not sure why I thought otherwise, sorry... Jacobson takes 6 cold damage, since a Fire Shield gives him resistance to cold.)

Drusk will continue blocking the Myrmidon from charging those further south. The cracked elemental (in front of Jorin) gets another Spiritual Weapon and a Sacred Flame.

• Attack: 15 Damage: 8
• DEX save vs. DC 14 or take 2 radiant: 4