At this point Khessa consults with her companions: "So? Where to now? The pool to the north or the inviting stone building in the eastern part of the graveyard below? Water or death?"
“If Fadheela has been searching this entire tower it is very possible that she has been in this area. Given the environment it would be unlikely that she could remove her own tracks. Also she could have already set off traps and ran away just like before. I would like to search for any traces of movement recently before we decide.”
Syllen will look around the area without entering the graveyard to see if there are any recent tracks moving towards the room to the east. Also if possible he will see if any of the graves had recent movement.
Given that nobody expresses a strong preference for water, Khessa leads the way through the graveyard, towards the stone building. If the party's target is loot, a building looks more promiding than a pool...
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Good idea, Syllen," Xanrym says. The fact that Syllencannot find any signs of recent movement in the area doesn't discourage Xanrym: "If no one has been here since the Plagueburst, then at least we know that any treasures that are here have not been looted!"
If Khessa and Avery are headed down the stairs, Xanrym says, "Just remember. It sounded like Maroe was the one who created the plague that still afflicts Pedestal. Try not to get too close to anything down there." He moves east so that he has the option of using the column or stalagmite for cover. He sets his lantern on the ground near the edge of the ledge (south of him) so that it shines south and illuminates the graveyard below. He equips his crossbow and readiesTrue Strike, prepared to fire as soon as anything appears in the graveyard below. He assumes that they'll only find hostile undead guardians here, and he doesn't expect that they'll be able to negotiate with them like they did with the Void Necromental upstairs.
(OOC: @drumdigby - How high above the level of the graveyard is the "edge"at the north side of S18? Is it 10-ft or more? Or is it more like 5-ft?)
Movement: Move about 15-ft to set down his lantern and then back up toward the stalagmite. Action: ReadyTrue Strike with Attack, Crossbow, Light (80/320): 25, Damage: 8 (radiant) + 6 (radiant) = 14 (total) Trigger: firing at the first creature or spirit that appears in the graveyard or that seems to attack Khessa and anyone else going down there. Free Action: Set down lantern. Equip crossbow as part of that attack.
Theldrin likes the idea of covering the other party members who enter the graveyard from the ledge. He moves up by the stairs and prepares a Fire Bolt in case of any signs of danger as Khessa leads the way below.
You step down into the graveyard and the ground immediately starts to rumble beneath you. The stakes in the ground pop out as heads and hands begin to rise from the earth and join together in a huge mass of corpses rising to the roof of the cavern in a column. You see in the mass of corpses a sinister pair of eyes, this is a Graveyard Revenant.
At that same time, a grating wail reverberates through the room, and the temperature suddenly drops. Swathed in darkness, two baleful figure rise from the ground behind you, their burning red eyes fixed on you. One of the wraiths whispers in a haunting tone, “You have disturbed the spawning pool of our master. We cannot let you leave with knowledge of this place, as Maroe is close, so close, to achieving perfection.” The Wraiths and Revenant both attack. Initiative.
Group 1: Avery, Coriana, Syllen, Theldrin, and Xanrym
Group 2: Undead Guardians
Group 3: Khessa
Group 1 is up. Two Wraiths and a Graveyard Revenant attack from both sides.
The argument is that in order to ready an action, you are using an action in initiative to prepare the readied action. You can't "ready an action" before initiative begins.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards. DM - The Old Keep
Coriana pivots and unleashes a torrent of lightning against one of the Wraiths. (Wraith 1; Witch Bolt AC 19 (Lucky), 34 lightning damage; Concentration switched to Witch bolt.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards. DM - The Old Keep
Reaction: If Xanrym's readied action triggers before his turn, he fires his crossbow with True Strike as soon as the Graveyard Revenant starts to take shape. (Attack and damage rolls are in the spoiler of my previous post.) If not, then he forgoes that action.
Round 1: Xanrym
As soon as he sees the corpses emerging from the graves, Xanrym shouts encouragement, "Courage, Khessa! The Company is with you!" But then he watches in horror as the bodies join together into a horrible tower of undeath. As he watches the undead amalgamation grow, he hears the wailing behind him. When Xanrym glances back toward the speaker, he sees the baleful eyes of the wraiths. Not wanting to get cut off from their exit, Xanrym slips through the party and back toward the secret door. Once he passes Avery, he pauses to take in the three undead creatures and, playing his Rhythm Maker's Drum, utters a curse upon them: "Your time has passed! Though you rise from the grave, all of your work will come to nought! If you challenge us -- Oblivion!"
Movement: 30-ft of movement to the west side of the room (as shown on the map) Action: Cast spell (LVL 1 slot) Bane on both Wraiths and the Graveyard Revenant. Each target must make a DC 17 CHA saving throw or be affected by the spell. On a failed save, whenever the creature attacks or makes a saving throw while the spell is in effect, they must subtract 1d4 from the roll. Bonus Action:Grant bardic inspiration to Khessa. Once within the next 1 hour when Khessa fails a D20 Test, she can roll a 1d8 and add the number rolled to the d20, possibly turning failure into a success. If she uses the inspiration, but the D20 Test still fails, she keeps the inspiration die because of Xanrym's Unfailing Inspiration. Free Action: Stow his crossbow.
Khessa expected trouble... but not trouble of this magnitude! The horrific sight makes her let out a strangled cry, but Xanrym's words remind her that she is not alone—and if the Company is with her, she will not fail the Company!
The blonde arcane warrior holds her magical Greatsword steady and points it at the grotesque threat, preparing to defend herself or strike—but still determined not to let the horror reach the companions who rely on her.
[[ OOC: Just an explanation for Khessa (unsurprisingly) being last in the round... She will take her Turn when she is up. ]]
Move Conjure Animals(Crows) in such a way as to move past all enemies. Both Wraiths and the Graveyard Revenant need to make a DC 15 Dex Save or take 17 Slashing Damage. Hopefully after Bane is resolved.
(OOC: I am assuming that it has been longer than 10 minutes from when we had the fight with the mirrors. If I am wrong let me know and ignore the next part.)
BA: Activate Starry Form(Archer): Luminous Arrow at Wraith 1 to Hit: 15 Damage: 11 Radiant
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
If Theldrin is able to use his readied action before his turn, he aims a Fire Bolt at the Graveyard Revenant as soon as he sees the mass of corpses starting to form.
Attack: 17 Damage: 4
Round 1:
Theldrin curses under his breath as he sees not only the grisly Revenant forming in the graveyard but Wraiths approaching from the North. Assuming that Coriana's lightning attack looks effective on the incorporeal creatures, he tries to finish off the one that seems to have taken the most damage thus far with a Lightning Bolt before moving back towards the passageway near Syllen.
At this point Khessa consults with her companions: "So? Where to now? The pool to the north or the inviting stone building in the eastern part of the graveyard below? Water or death?"
“If Fadheela has been searching this entire tower it is very possible that she has been in this area. Given the environment it would be unlikely that she could remove her own tracks. Also she could have already set off traps and ran away just like before. I would like to search for any traces of movement recently before we decide.”
Syllen will look around the area without entering the graveyard to see if there are any recent tracks moving towards the room to the east. Also if possible he will see if any of the graves had recent movement.
Survival Roll: 15
Syllen can see no sign of recent movement in this area.
Avery chuckles slightly, "Didn't we also face death on water down here? Seems no different to our options."
Given that nobody expresses a strong preference for water, Khessa leads the way through the graveyard, towards the stone building. If the party's target is loot, a building looks more promiding than a pool...
"Good idea, Syllen," Xanrym says. The fact that Syllen cannot find any signs of recent movement in the area doesn't discourage Xanrym: "If no one has been here since the Plagueburst, then at least we know that any treasures that are here have not been looted!"
If Khessa and Avery are headed down the stairs, Xanrym says, "Just remember. It sounded like Maroe was the one who created the plague that still afflicts Pedestal. Try not to get too close to anything down there." He moves east so that he has the option of using the column or stalagmite for cover. He sets his lantern on the ground near the edge of the ledge (south of him) so that it shines south and illuminates the graveyard below. He equips his crossbow and readies True Strike, prepared to fire as soon as anything appears in the graveyard below. He assumes that they'll only find hostile undead guardians here, and he doesn't expect that they'll be able to negotiate with them like they did with the Void Necromental upstairs.
(OOC: @drumdigby - How high above the level of the graveyard is the "edge"at the north side of S18? Is it 10-ft or more? Or is it more like 5-ft?)
Movement: Move about 15-ft to set down his lantern and then back up toward the stalagmite.
Action: Ready True Strike with
Attack, Crossbow, Light (80/320): 25, Damage: 8 (radiant) + 6 (radiant) = 14 (total)
Trigger: firing at the first creature or spirit that appears in the graveyard or that seems to attack Khessa and anyone else going down there.
Free Action: Set down lantern. Equip crossbow as part of that attack.
Theldrin likes the idea of covering the other party members who enter the graveyard from the ledge. He moves up by the stairs and prepares a Fire Bolt in case of any signs of danger as Khessa leads the way below.
You step down into the graveyard and the ground immediately starts to rumble beneath you. The stakes in the ground pop out as heads and hands begin to rise from the earth and join together in a huge mass of corpses rising to the roof of the cavern in a column. You see in the mass of corpses a sinister pair of eyes, this is a Graveyard Revenant.
At that same time, a grating wail reverberates through the room, and the temperature suddenly drops. Swathed in darkness, two baleful figure rise from the ground behind you, their burning red eyes fixed on you. One of the wraiths whispers in a haunting tone, “You have disturbed the spawning pool of our master. We cannot let you leave with knowledge of this place, as Maroe is close, so close, to achieving perfection.” The Wraiths and Revenant both attack. Initiative.
Group 1: Avery, Coriana, Syllen, Theldrin, and Xanrym
Group 2: Undead Guardians
Group 3: Khessa
Group 1 is up. Two Wraiths and a Graveyard Revenant attack from both sides.
(OOC: do Theldrin and Xanrym get to use their readied attacks before their normal move?)
I don’t think that’s how readied actions work. You can take one action on your turn. It doesn’t have to be your readied action.
The argument is that in order to ready an action, you are using an action in initiative to prepare the readied action. You can't "ready an action" before initiative begins.
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
Coriana pivots and unleashes a torrent of lightning against one of the Wraiths. (Wraith 1; Witch Bolt AC 19 (Lucky), 34 lightning damage; Concentration switched to Witch bolt.)
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
Reaction: If Xanrym's readied action triggers before his turn, he fires his crossbow with True Strike as soon as the Graveyard Revenant starts to take shape. (Attack and damage rolls are in the spoiler of my previous post.) If not, then he forgoes that action.
Round 1: Xanrym
As soon as he sees the corpses emerging from the graves, Xanrym shouts encouragement, "Courage, Khessa! The Company is with you!" But then he watches in horror as the bodies join together into a horrible tower of undeath. As he watches the undead amalgamation grow, he hears the wailing behind him. When Xanrym glances back toward the speaker, he sees the baleful eyes of the wraiths. Not wanting to get cut off from their exit, Xanrym slips through the party and back toward the secret door. Once he passes Avery, he pauses to take in the three undead creatures and, playing his Rhythm Maker's Drum, utters a curse upon them: "Your time has passed! Though you rise from the grave, all of your work will come to nought! If you challenge us -- Oblivion!"
Movement: 30-ft of movement to the west side of the room (as shown on the map)
Action: Cast spell (LVL 1 slot) Bane on both Wraiths and the Graveyard Revenant.
Each target must make a DC 17 CHA saving throw or be affected by the spell.
On a failed save, whenever the creature attacks or makes a saving throw while the spell is in effect, they must subtract 1d4 from the roll.
Bonus Action: Grant bardic inspiration to Khessa.
Once within the next 1 hour when Khessa fails a D20 Test, she can roll a 1d8 and add the number rolled to the d20, possibly turning failure into a success.
If she uses the inspiration, but the D20 Test still fails, she keeps the inspiration die because of Xanrym's Unfailing Inspiration.
Free Action: Stow his crossbow.
Concentration: Bane round 1 of 10
Bardic Inspiration:
Khessa
(OOC: @drumdigby didn't include the picture, but it's seriously horrific...
Nightmare fuel!)
Khessa expected trouble... but not trouble of this magnitude! The horrific sight makes her let out a strangled cry, but Xanrym's words remind her that she is not alone—and if the Company is with her, she will not fail the Company!
The blonde arcane warrior holds her magical Greatsword steady and points it at the grotesque threat, preparing to defend herself or strike—but still determined not to let the horror reach the companions who rely on her.
[[ OOC: Just an explanation for Khessa (unsurprisingly) being last in the round... She will take her Turn when she is up. ]]
Avery attacks a wraith: Attack: 26 Damage: 15; Attack: 17 Damage: 15
Syllen's Turn: 1
Action: Cast Conjure Animals
Movement: Move near Xanrym.
Move Conjure Animals(Crows) in such a way as to move past all enemies. Both Wraiths and the Graveyard Revenant need to make a DC 15 Dex Save or take 17 Slashing Damage. Hopefully after Bane is resolved.
(OOC: I am assuming that it has been longer than 10 minutes from when we had the fight with the mirrors. If I am wrong let me know and ignore the next part.)
BA: Activate Starry Form(Archer): Luminous Arrow at Wraith 1 to Hit: 15 Damage: 11 Radiant
If Theldrin is able to use his readied action before his turn, he aims a Fire Bolt at the Graveyard Revenant as soon as he sees the mass of corpses starting to form.
Attack: 17 Damage: 4
Round 1:
Theldrin curses under his breath as he sees not only the grisly Revenant forming in the graveyard but Wraiths approaching from the North. Assuming that Coriana's lightning attack looks effective on the incorporeal creatures, he tries to finish off the one that seems to have taken the most damage thus far with a Lightning Bolt before moving back towards the passageway near Syllen.
Lightning Damage: 31
Dex 15 Save for half
Wraith 1 Cha Save: 21
Wraith 2 Cha Save: 4
Revenant Cha Save: 24
Wraith 1 Dex Save: 4
Wraith 2 Dex Save: 15
Revenant Dex Save: 12
Wraith 2 Dex Save: 11