Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer Creatures
Frozen Sick
D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Basic Rules (2014)
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Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer CreaturesFrozen SickD&D Beyond Basic RulesBasic Rules (2014)Sign in to view your library & saved favorites.
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He would have actually taken the hide action when he was overhead, resolved based on static stealth (take 10 +7 = 17) vs passive perception of those with line of sight. Because of the position of the manifest mind, I decided I'd allow Tetrevess alone to make a check to possibly see something if she rolled above her passive score. Her announcement would have people actively searching for him. If one were looking at the right place at the right time there was no visual impediment to seeing him, he was just hiding on the ceiling and moving to an unoccupied corner.
Relative to the observer he would be behind a row of occupied pews in a dimly lit corner, he would be very familiar with darkvision and also see just fine. But the roomnis filled with some 30 chanting people, it's not just a big empty cave. Picture it,, you're looking where girralons are or maybe the fire column that wrapped around the altar or the draconian paladin fighting your ally in the alcove and yiur going ro notice something drop from the ceiling to the corner where nothing is happening while a chandelier falls in the middle if a room full of noisy people. Even if someone tells you "he's over there" you'd still have to scan the room past 10 or 11 heads ro locate him.
He had enough fly speed to get anywhere in the room and if he really wanted to he'd just slip onto the ethereal plane, but that seemed like too much, so I just picked a corner and told him to hide. If I physically placed him behind the pews it would give him some amount, (probably 3/4) of cover, which I didn't want to impose. I do regret not announcing that it was the hide action, though. The trouble is when it occurred and announcing it to the players kind of gives it away. At rhe time he took the action PCs would have likely assumed he was still in the ring of radiance, when in fact he'd flown up to the ceiling and out. I put the chandelier in the center for some more drama and increasing urgency, just to make himgs more dynamic, he could have been ethereal at the time and originally I thought I would do that, but then I thought, why not let them see if they notice something, then rather than just the swinging chandelier, just tell the player who spots him that see him. Tetrevess saw him, so no check needed, this could spur the others to actively rather than passively search for him, requiring the check, I still think.
Please know this is all intended to improve narrative drama and not just have things not die. (It's pretty easy for me to just make things not die). This is just how they would react and the flexibility of theater of he mind vs hard movement mechanics. In this case, I think 3D render might have been a good choice for the room, so we could really stick the camera where PCs are, set the lighting to the right distance and see just how it looks. Unfortunately, that just takes more time than I have and I didn't really predict the value of it for this room, though in retrospect this room seems like an obvious choice if you're going to render just 1 room for the whole tomb, it's got some cool things in it.
Truthfully the thing I was trying to get to is kind of spoiled now from all of this, but it was a means to one interesting thing the guy csn do. He actually can do a lot of things, just few that look like anything. He leads the chant and can do so telepathically, he can become ethereal, but unless you have truesight or something it just looks like he's disappeared, he can command one other creature to do things, but then he's still just standing there and usually.rwlling them.things telepathically. He can try ro.persuade a PC, but they can just choose to ignore it. My hope was to make him slightly interesting while staying within the game's rules. There are exactly 3 other things he can do, two of them at least half-way interesting.
TL/DR: he used the hide action on the ceiling, before the movement. In a chandelier (to me] counts here as "heavily obscured" as much as 'dense foliage'. And there's kind of a twist if you haven't spoiled yourself one way or another (that's not in the spoiler above, though).
Tesserevett:
Related note: the inception of the idea to cast a different spell is kind of doing what an incubus is known for, but it does kind of edge the line of player agency, so I left it up to Tesseverett to decide how to play it. For the record, ignoring the voice in his head is presented more as an internal conflict of choice rather than a flat refusal of a command issued by another person. It's just not that easy to express in short form.
<She's invisible still right? Yup she's hidden. I'm not rolling. She hides successfully. She should probably move, though or that giant bird may step on her inadvertently, friendly though it js. This is just a suggestion, noting that the bird currently freaking out in the room, while friendly to her, cannot see Ana.>
Initiative
Ana 23
Sam 21
NPCs 12
Gravity 8
Tetrevess 5
https://www.owlbear.rodeo/game/i8fcgkwXK
Samogri - You are up. Please make a perception check IF you are looking for the incubus among the dozens of people filling the packed chapel, per the direction of Tetrevess, who spotted him leaping from the chandelier as it crashed to the floor.
<Regarding the map posted above, I just realized the half-dragon won't climb onto the bird until after Sam acts. He's still on the ground next to Gravity right now.>
Perception check 9
(Gravity's Turn: Round 5)
Gravity seems frustrated with the current state of the combat since none of her 'innovative' plans are providing her with satisfactory results. She stomps on the mechanical guide (flavor text) then paces up and down in the alcove impatiently while her head emits violent streaks of electric spark.
She moves near the oversized frightened bird and attempts to cast Heroism on the creature when she will include herself in list of the maximum number of targets allowed by the spell. Finally, she'll command the bird:
"Fly away, shoo!"
InkedBee (Undead_Analyst)
Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts - Jenviel Tsumara: Fallen Aasimar- Monk|Crimson Sands of Time - Navarra Iltazyara: Human- Druid/Warlock| Bleak Prospect - Ermasnietsz: Reborn- Clockwork Soul Sorcerer
Samogri fails to locate the incubus among the sea of chanting humanoids. He can still act this round, however. (I should have restated the DC there was a 17, (previously mentioned in a spoiler)).
(So, what should I do with the bird? It's friendly to you and it's calming down a bit. It's just... there? I mean it's a really large thing in a big room sure but where's it supposed to go? I imagine you could probably tell it to attack something if you wanted to, though it wouldn't inherently understand you, an animal handling check could do this. Assuming this battle ends, and it doesn't crush half the people being forced to change to perform this ritual against their will, what would you want to have happen afterward?)
I just also wished to remind that the half dragon is Phenex's thrall, and came here with the intention of destroying the balor Tarnhem, so more on your side than not. Noting this, I'll make Overt the fact that I've been rolling saves against Phenex's charm everyone he takes damage, so with a little poke, you could get a half-dragon paladin to help you out here.
<@Inkedbee (+ @everybody): you mentioned the mechanical guide and it made me realize that it/she could be surprisingly relevant to this scene. She us a construct, medium in size, with large ornate wings. She is called Logan (by me) but originally given rhe mantle 'Eludicia' a reference to a fan made creature that won a contest for 3.5: a Succubus paladin. Succubi and incubi are cannonically, (as I earlier eluded to), the same beings, presenting themselves in different forms. I imagine there could be some creative ways to use this information. Unfortunately I don't know of a 5e statblock for her; (The other agent option did get a Stat block in Tasha's). But these constructs are Kwalish's creations, not the original, so their stars would vary anyhow.>
(@Wile_E_Coyote, According to the description of the magic item (Feather Token(Bird)), the bird can't attack and it only follows the simple commands from Gravity. Since Pentival has mounted the bird, when the bird attempts to fly the action might be detrimental to him (e.g. losing balance and falling down) and he won't be able to attack Gravity using melee weapons. I will see what I can do about the mechanical guide.)
InkedBee (Undead_Analyst)
Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts - Jenviel Tsumara: Fallen Aasimar- Monk|Crimson Sands of Time - Navarra Iltazyara: Human- Druid/Warlock| Bleak Prospect - Ermasnietsz: Reborn- Clockwork Soul Sorcerer
<agreed it can't take the attack action, but it's been determined that it poses an environmental hazard fur to its gargantuan size. Snow can't make an attack, but there is the potentialfor an avalanche.>
(Edit: Is it possible for the bird to move inside the wall of fire with Pentival mounted on its back instead of hurting the other victims? Can the mechanical guide remove the weapons from the altar?)
InkedBee (Undead_Analyst)
Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts - Jenviel Tsumara: Fallen Aasimar- Monk|Crimson Sands of Time - Navarra Iltazyara: Human- Druid/Warlock| Bleak Prospect - Ermasnietsz: Reborn- Clockwork Soul Sorcerer
Knowing that her spell will run out in a matter of seconds, still quite a few seconds, but seconds still, and guessing that since the ritual was continuing the incubus was still around, Ana strained her sight and hearing to try to figure out where he was.
Perception: 19
1. One could force the bird into the wall if fire. It won't stride in willingly. It will go where told if it's safe. The half-dragon has calmed it but doesn't control it; Gravity does.
2. I know of 2 NPCs that can remove them. Neither is in the room. As a reminder, 2 NPCs told you to go here (the chapel): the balor and Moghaddam.
Among the chanting humanoids, in the back row (on the left as pictured in the map) sits a wizened old woman. She chants in unison with the others. She wears tattered and dingy clothes, her eyes are clouded with cataracts.
Ana considera for a moment, realizing that the woman sitting in the back wasn't there a moment ago.
Tetrevess:
You saw Phenex fly to the corner, crawl between the last two rows of pews and see an old woman rise from the floor to sit in a vacant spot by a black rock, already chanting as she emerges.
Order of initiative (for this 'round' [= 1 initiative cycle (rolling)] 【everyone in initiative posts】, at least, please wait for your initiative to post)
Gravity
Tetrevess
Ana
Sam.
Gravity is up.
<Hey guys, sorry I've been a bit busy the past few days. I think things are a bit more calm, but still anticipate a busy weekend. Also sorry for trying to cram roleplay into combat - the system isn't fully designed to merge the two and pbp makes it more challenging. I still think it's worth trying, though and with practice I think I can do it more effectively. Thanks.>
(I’m not sure if I went last round.). Tetrevess yells out “the old woman in the back is the Incubus! Break her concentration and perhaps we can end this abominable ceremony!”
he moves down the hall to where he can just target the incubus, and then shoots a firebolt at the woman (understand fire resistance may not mean much damage!).
24 to hit
19 damage
The old woman gets blasted in the race with a streak of flame. "Waaaah! Aaaaah! Aaaaaghh! Aaaagghh!" She screams wildly as she stands, batting at her flaming shawl. As the flames subside, she becomes silent, returning to her seat beside a black rock.
"Vytli zicy zmy easyr ao zmywy wafdw. L calwfpy zmy ywwylty ao zmy oizmyr: zmy kidar, tirlmyp. Lyz zmy pyl il sapyl vorv zmy zilliru ypeasyr hafr eraemyz zmy sal, atyryritc!" she continues to chant, her robe still burning as the flame dwindles, her face now charred around the open wounds.
That's what everyone is chanting. It's infernal according to Lingojam.
(That's cast from the wizard directly or the manifest mind? It sounds like the former. If so, make the DC15 Wis save, but I'll say the attack happens regardless if the outcome. If I'm wrong, just ignore the save)
(Gravity's Turn)
Gravity murmurs something to one of the arrows stored inside her Quiver while using a Whetstone for sharpening its tip and engraving its surface with ciphered messages. Then, she will insert it as an ammunition of her shortbow, and aim for the ceiling of the chamber.
Special Action: Magical Tinkering
Action: Attack Attack: 12 Damage: 7
On a hit, the arrow will convey the following message in the form of holographic static texts directed at Ana:
Phenex is strong, we need the stone golem. Send a healer, over.
InkedBee (Undead_Analyst)
Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts - Jenviel Tsumara: Fallen Aasimar- Monk|Crimson Sands of Time - Navarra Iltazyara: Human- Druid/Warlock| Bleak Prospect - Ermasnietsz: Reborn- Clockwork Soul Sorcerer
(Yeah cast from the wizard. I was trying to stay out of range of the chanting outside the room, but I am running out of spells I can use the manifest mind for. Also, my spell selection was pretty poor for this module, all in all!).
here’s a wis save… 23
The ceiling was not built very well and rhe incredibly lucky shot causes the roof to collapse! (The giant bird thrashing around might have bumped into something, who knows? Blame the architect, that guy sucks.)
Everyone make a DC 15 Dex save or 21 bludgeoning, 1/2 on a success.
Gargantuan bird: 19
Pentival: 17
Chanting Humanoids:
7, 7, 5, 14, 20, 1, 12, 13, 6, 17, 8, 15, 7, 17, 9, 12, 15, 17, 3, 6, 9, 13, 16, 18, 19, 5, 8, 6, 1, 13, 16, 11.
Phenex: 18
<Golem won't be ready for thee days. Its like, part of the casting time. Now if you could send it to a demiplane with temporal contraction...>
Nearly two-dozen humanoids, mostly tieflings, many captive, some cultists under the sway of Phenex's infernal charm, are crushed under the weight of the debris and rock that once was the roof of a cavernous space bored into a hill, now a crater open to the midday sky. In addition to the huge bird, the half-dragon and the party, (pending saves, and even then I think they all have enough hp) there are
811 survivors. They are still chanting. The altar remains standing.<The room is lit with daylight. Everything is difficult terrain>
Cultists stats (9hp) from IMR, but forgot to add +1 to dex, so the 14s survive. Ceiling collapse from DMG.