Chronicles of the Accursed (Group 2)

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2nd Preparation Round: Korba

Korba wants to get close enough to use his Moonblade.  He says, "I may remain hidden until Zolgu or Firion reveal themselves.  If the cultists and kobolds storm in, I'll try to light them up to make them easier for everyone else to hit."  Then he dashes forward, hiding in what -- for him -- is a translucent crystalline structure.  He steps into the big, opaque crystal so that he cannot be seen by anyone who has not seen through the illusion. 

Movement: 60-ft, dashing
Action: Dash to get close to the entrance, hopefully completely concealed in a feature for the Hallucinatory Terrain.
Bonus Action: Is drinking a potion a bonus action?  If so, Korba drinks the Potion of Necrotic Resistance that he didn't have time to drink before the fight with Talice.
Free Action: Talking. Item interaction - taking out his potion.

Yes, drinking a potion is a bonus action

Hunger DC 18 Dex or 3 acid

2nd Preparation Round: Hewelathan

Perhaps unusually for Hewelathan, he reverts to his regular (half-elven) form, thinking that he may benefit from increased flexibility in casting spells vs. rushing into melee.  Being smaller will also make it easier for him to remain hidden in the illusory mushroom forest for now.  He would like to target Zolgu or Firion, but he thinks that they may send their cultists into the "cave" ahead of them.  Of course, if he's wrong, he can always wild shape back into a bear.  For now, he wants to be ready and waiting when any of them enter the chamber.  He says, "Once there are enough of them in the chamber, I'll engage and try to keep them from getting to the rest of you.  May Selûne protect us!"

Hewelathan maintains his concentration on Moonbeam, leaving it positioned where it is so that the cultists have to pass through it to get into the chamber.  He moves closer and off to the north side, trying to hide behind / within a huge mushroom to get (illusory) total cover while still being able to watch the entrance himself.  He prepares Starry Wisp, planning to fire at the first enemy who enters the chamber.

Movement: 20-ft movement to a "mushroom" in the center-north of the chamber
Action: Ready the spell Starry Wisp 18, Damage: 8 (radiant)
  Trigger: attack the first cultist or kobold who enters the chamber
  On a hit, the target also emits Dim Light in a 10-ft radius until Hewelathan's next turn and cannot benefit from the invisible.
Bonus Action: Dismiss Wild Shape and revert to regular form.
Free Action: Talking.

Concentration: Moonbeam round 3 of 10
  Creatures who move into the AoE for the first time or end their turn in the AoE must roll a DC 16 CON saving throw or take damage: 5 (radiant). If the creature is shape-shifted (as a result of the Polymorph spell, for example), it also reverts to its true form and can’t shape-shift until it leaves the AoE.
  On a successful save, the creature takes half damage only: 2(radiant).

Quote from Ben_Evolent>>

2nd Preparation Round: Hewelathan

Action: Ready the spell Starry Wisp18, Damage: 8 (radiant)

(OOC: @Mister_Whisker - Oops!  I see that I forgot to update my cantrips for the level 5 bump.  That should be damage = 8 + 3 = 11 (radiant) )

Concentration: Moonbeam round 3 of 10
  Creatures who move into the AoE for the first time or end their turn in the AoE must roll a DC 16 CON saving throw or take damage: 5 (radiant). 

(OOC: Oof.  It seems that the Hunger of Hadar has weakened Selûne's power here!) 

Ruby moves outside the tiny hut and takes cover behind an illusionary mushroom. She readies an arcane burst for the first enemy to emerge out of the darkness. 

Quote from Ben_Evolent >>

Quote from Mister_Whisker >>

The only thing Cultist 2 is going to do is wander face-first into Hew's moonbeam + the Astral Lich's hunger of Hadar.

Moonbeam: 8 (radiant) 

(OOC: And I forgot to include: cultist 2 only takes half (4) damage if she passes a DC 16 CON save. 
With the low damage roll from Hunger of Hadar, maybe cultist 2 really will survive long enough to hinder the others!)

Con save: 15

Dex save: 14

Quote from Mister_Whisker >>

Con save: 20

Dex save: 21

The cultust takes 8 damage, but Is still very much alive. Further, as soon as she hits the spells, her daze fades. But she continues her dash to get out of the Hunger of Hadar and alert her master to what she saw inside.

Cultist 2 damage: 46

PCs & Co. are still up! Final prep round! Now is the time for any last-minute "don't die" strategies!

Quote from Mister_Whisker >>

The cultust takes 8 damage, but Is still very much alive. Further, as soon as she hits the spells, her daze fades. But she continues her dash to get out of the Hunger of Hadar and alert her master to what she saw inside

(OOC: Darn!  I had hoped that she'd view it as "damage from the inexplicable environmental hazards on the dead god" instead of "Smiler's allies dealing her damage."  😜  She's done with her turn this round, and if the Hunger of Hadar is still in effect at the start of her turn, note that she'll take additional 2d6 cold damage from starting her turn in the AoE.)  

Tamphalic will use his Chromatic Warding to become immune to lightning damage for 1 minute; Which means the Dragon mask effect turns into:
 If you already have immunity to lightning damage from another source, whenever you are subjected to lightning damage, you take none of that damage and regain a number of hit points equal to half the lightning damage dealt.

So if wants to use Lightning damage, please include Tamphalic in the area of effect:P

((I just remembered I had a familiar before but almost never use it, can I say its here again and cast Dragons; breath lightning on it? If not; understandable, don't think we have other familiair right?))

Gorash readies a Freezing ray: 10 to hit
Selariel meanwhile Heals Tamphalic further (14hp) and than makes sure she is behind a mushroom.

When the cultist shakes off the charm, the Astral Lich shows no mercy.  With truesight, the Lich's gaze sees the cultist clearly in the darkness and wracks her with Starfire chill while the party prepares. 

Starfire Chill Con 18 

12 fire 10 cold

9 fire 12 cold

10 fire 4 cold

11 fire 10 cold

Cultist 2 Con saves

16
15
7
19

Quote from Mister_Whisker >>

Cultist 2 Con saves

4
20
4
15

The Astral Lich easily finishes off the cultist with four bursts of icy blue flame. Its four legendary actions have been used up (3 + 1 bonus in its lair).

Final Prep Round:

Nickeline casts Healing Word at 2nd level on herself to recover some hit points.

OOC:

Bonus Action: Healing Word HP --> 14 recovered
Action: Ready Sacred Flame on first creature to exit Hunger of Hadar --> DC 15 Dex save to avoid 2 radiant damage

The astral lich floats towards the entrance of the cave and readies an action to unleash its Cosmic Grip after the cultists enemies advance.  It prioritizes spellcasters over kobolds.

Cosmic Grip, 60' cone, DC 18 Wis or 22 psychic and restrained for 1 min 

In any creature ends its turn within 30' of the lich, it uses it's Starfire Chill on it. 

(OOC: @mamoduck - Since Nickeline was kind of out "in the open," I also moved her back and behind one of the illusory mushrooms so that she's not in view of the entrance.  She is still within range to cast Sacred Flame on anyone who emerges from the Hunger of Hadar AoE.)

2nd Preparation Round: Hildegard

With the Lich's whispering darkness, Hildegard cannot see out of the cave anymore.  Since the area just inside that darkness is rather crowded, Hildegard directs Perdita back into the "cave" so that she can see where everyone is hiding.  (OOC: I don't think that Hildegard ever tried to disbelieve Zenxeral/Smiler's illusion.)  Then Perdita moves forward into the middle of the room.  Hildegard takes a defensive position, sitting astride Perdita in her gleaming armor with her shield raised, facing the entrance.  She does not hide behind any of the illusory mushrooms: she wants to present a clear challenge to these dragon cult members, hoping that they focus on her and Perdita and not her friends.  She takes a deep, steadying breath as everyone else gets into position, and she hears Sir Stephen's voice in her head: "The quiet before the storm of battle."  Hildegard says a quiet prayer, readying herself to charge into the battle.

Movement: Perdita moves about 45-ft back into the cave so that Hildegard can see where everyone is hiding and then forward again to take up a position in the middle of the cave.
Action: Dodge

Concentration: Bless round 2 of 10

Perdita: Dodge

2nd Preparation Round: Smiler

Smiler feels his connection to the cultist end shortly after she enters the darkness, and he drops the Suggestion.  He scowls at the Astral Lich but says in a mocking, sing-song voice, "I hope you do not plan to spoil all of my fun, O Deathless one!" 

Smiler looks a the sphere of impenetrable darkness.  Not being able to see is boring, but the strange whispering sounds coming from the space are fascinating and creepy.  With a somewhat unhinged-sounding giggle, he says, "Let's see whether I can bring some laughter to these grim proceedings!"  Then he begins casting a spell.

Movement: Smiler moves to a position northeast of the entrance.
Action: Ready a spell (at will) Tasha's Hideous Laughter
  Trigger: if the Hunger of Hadar AoE vanishes, he casts the spell on the first person / kobold he can see (just outside the cave).  Otherwise, he waits until the second creature emerges from the Hunger of Hadard AoE into the cave, assuming that the others will probably target the first.
  The target must succeed on a DC 15 WIS saving throw or fall to the ground (Prone and Incapacitated).  For the duration, the target laughs uncontrollably if it’s capable of laughter, and it can’t end the Prone condition on itself.
  At the end of each of its turns and each time it takes damage, the target makes another Wisdom saving throw. The target has Advantage on the save if the save is triggered by damage. On a successful save, the spell ends.
Free Action: Talking

Jodie looks over her allies and marvels at the how many potential foes turned allies.  She see the Astral Lich advance and thinks to herself, does a lich need inspiration?  Knowing the Lich's magic is surely stronger than anyone in the party, she deems it worthy to bolster him against Firion and the dragons.

Bardic Inspiration on Astral Lich (Bonus action)

Jodie, unsure of the spellcasters' tactics, moves back toward Ruby and starts strumming a familiar tune awaiting the appearance of enemy spellcasters outside the cave if the lich's dark void is dispelled.

Fire Storm DC 18 Dex or 46 fire

Top of ROUND 1. Two cultists have already gone to the Great Blood Ritual in the sky. Now Temphalic gets to go first, followed by the Remnant of Sserah.