Abishai's Dragons of Icespire Peak

Zephyros, glad to be away from the relentless lightning strikes sits on the staircase for a moment, spinning the copper ring in his hands. Looking first to Alisande, then to Rasziel, the warrior asks, "Think you can clean this thing up for me? It's kinda gross." He listens to Gareth worry over Meira, 'huh... over the edge?'

Looking at Meira he stands up to walk closer to the rogue, "Looks like we both got a bit electrically charged up there. You need a short rest to catch your breath?"

He glances over at the entrance, seeing the door still open, he walks over to it and looks outside while thinking to himself. 'I can't leave such evil to exist in the world.' Resolved, the battle hardened veteran takes up his trident in both hands and, once they're ready, leads the group down the stairway into the darkness. "Anyone have a light?"

Although the lightning strikes her, Meira does as much as she can to avoid all of the strike. (OOC - Using Uncanny Dodge, if she can, to halve the damage. Technically it requires 'an attacker that you can see' which I'm thinking we must be able to see it coming to get a DEX Save. Even though there's no specific source. Of course, it's a DM ruling.) 

She eyed Alisande closely when she remarks about how terrible she looks. "You're so kind," she says with a tiny grin coming to her lips. She's still a little uncertain after the earlier words they'd had. But she simply comments, "Thought I'd try something new. Guess it didn't work?" 

She tells Gareth, "Something was whispering to me up there. I guess inside my head. It told me I hadn't been invited and should jump off their tower. And my mind went kind of blank and I was doing that." She shivers a little, thinking about how very close to jumping she had come. As she sees the door exiting the lighthouse wide open while the one down is foreboding, she laughs. "Just like the whispers I heard, they clearly want us to go. They must be scared of us!" 

When Zephyros asks her, she nods. "Yea, we could probably use a rest to recover a bit."

"I believe it was the coven using the eye to dominate you Meira." The young dark-haired purple-robed man says with a few coughs. "It was fortunate that Zephyros destroyed the eye. A rest here now is a prudent decision, but the hags coven should be dealt with before it sperads more of their wickedness." He continues as he uses his infernal magic to let the ring float before him as his magic cleans it. He himself saw as well in darkness as any devil and carried no source of light.

Gareth gives Meira one last concerned look before nodding. "You scared me there for a second," the ranger says. 

He looks at Alaketh and nods. "This coven is too dangerous to live," he agrees. "But Meira took quite the zapping up there. Let's catch our breath and then press on."

In response to Zephyros' query, the ranger removes a torch from his pack. "Unless anyone can provide a little magical light?" he looks around, his eyes landing on Alisande. He doesn't need the extra light, but he realizes that Meira and Zephyros do. Alaketh seems to have his own strange magical way of seeing in the dark. 

[[OOC: @Meira no problem using uncanny dodge here to half the damage to 10. @Gareth & Rasziel who is Alaketh?]]

Zephryos,

As Rasziel cleans the copper ring for you, you walk over to the threshold of the entrance door. As you do, the door slams shut with a loud BANG!

After the group rests, Alisande pulls out her wand and with a quick swish and flick the tip illuminates, providing light to the area while putting a restraining hand on Gareth, "Save your torch master hunter, this I can do." You all begin your decent into the bowels of the lighthouse tower...

...The closer to the bottom you get, the dimmer the light from Alisande's wand becomes as if repressed by some dark will. A thick foggy mist fills the space making visibility low. The scent of sea water and decay intermingle in your noses. At the bottom of the stairwell, your boots land upon wet stonework. The waves outside crashing against the walls, some of the water pouring through multiple cracks, and draining into a central pool at the center of the 70' cylindrical room.

A single figure takes shape in the mist. A beautiful sea elf woman with gentle eyes looks longingly at Zephyros and stretches out her hand lovingly, "You came back to me.."

Meira will take a moment to find a place to sit and take a bit of a rest. Just enough to recover a little bit. Trying to find a bit of an out-of-the-way spot, she fusses with her hair a little bit, wondering if it truly had been messed up by the lightning blast. With the hood of her cloak pushed back, it is clear how her hair has been cut very short at some point since they had arrived back in Phandalin after the trip back from Gnomengarde. Now it was close shaved on each side and very short otherwise. It's very reminiscent of the boyish haircut that Sandor had sported. 

She's on her feet after the rest, ready to go.  She pulls her goggles into place, giving her dark vision for when they head down the stairs. 

(Using 2 hit dice during rest: 6, 8. Fully healed.) 

Once downstairs, Meira takes a close look at the figure of the sea elf in the mist. She tries to see if she can tell if it's an illusion or otherwise not real. (Perception: 7, or just 4 if WIS Check) 

The young dark-haired purple-robed man would rest by a wall and then follow the others descending deeper into the lighthouse. As the misty vision of the beautiful sea elf woman appears he mutters. "It is a trap Zephyros, don't walk into it." He then calls out into the into the wet and misty chamber. "Show yourselves wicked hags, your little game is up, you might as well end this by facing us, if you dare..."

Deception to taunt the hags to reveal themselves: 10
Another roll if the deception proficient Azazel can whisper advice on the wording of the taunt: 26

Gareth sits with his back against a wall to rest, closing his eyes. He is somewhat surprised that Meira doesn't accompany their rest with another song, but then again, she did almost get electrocuted. More than anyone else, she needs a break after what happened at the top of the tower.

Feeling much better after their brief respite, the ranger follows the others down the stairs and through a thick fog. At the bottom of the stairs, the stonework is wet and the smell of the sea hangs pungently in the air. Waiting for them is a beautiful sea elf woman who beckons to Zephyros.

"Your wife is dead," Gareth says gently to the veteran warrior. "Whatever is down here is preying on your grief, twisting it for their own dark purposes. We should make them pay for that."

Zephyros takes two steps closer to his love, Silvara. Hoping beyond hope this was his lost love, his wife. The mist surrounding him ignored as he focuses on the Sea Elf before him, stopping his forward progress as Rasziel urges caution. His eyes fill will tears at the sight of this beauty, flashes of warm memories filling his mind. "Silvara?" he calls out just before Gareth speaks. A flash of anger fills him at the rangers words. 'Is she dead? ' The bearded veteran grits his teeth and his tear filled eyes squint into a glare, releasing the tears to run down his cheeks. 

"Why do you torment me?" He asks in honest, leveling his trident at the Elven woman standing before him. 

The misty fog heavily obscures the area. Alisande's spell projects dim light in a 10' radius around her. At her command the single light, dances into four and illuminates a larger area in front of the group. The beautiful Sea Elf's smile cracks, her skin darkens to a sickly blue, and hair turns to seaweeds. The illusion collapses as three voices begin laughing as one. "Hahahaha... the escaped soul returns to drown. Join your crew, join your love. Tonight, the storm feasts on your souls." [[OOC: As the illusion collapses, you can avert your gaze as none of you are surprised by these turn of events. Otherwise, please give me a DC 11 Wisdom saving throw.]]

DC 11 Wisdom saving throw:

 Perception Check DC 12 if you don't avert your gaze, Zephyros automatically succeeds due to proximity if he doesn't avert his gaze:

 Combat has started, Round one initiative:

• 23 Gareth
• 19 Rasziel
• 19 Unknown adversary x3
• 15 Unknown foe
• 14 Alisande
• 13 Meira
• 13 Unknown ally
• 10 Zephyros
• 10 Unknown enemy x3
• 8 Sea Hag
• 8 Unknown foe x3
• Unknown adversary

Map:

Gareth watches with horror as the beautiful sea elf transforms into her true form, that of a monstrous sea hag. He doesn't even think to look away but maintains his gaze as he draws his longbow and prepares to strike the wretched creature down.

WIS Save - 11 (That was a close one!)

Longbow+1 Attack 1 - 30 to hit for 9 piercing damage + 5 HM damage

Longbow+1 Attack 2 - 29 to hit for 12 piercing damage + 1 HM damage

BA: Hunter's Mark on the Sea Hag

Rasziel snarls but defiantly faces the grisly appearance of the bloated hag, unleashing two purplish beams of infernal force towards it.

Wis save: 20

Eldritch Blast: 19 Force: 9
Eldritch Blast: 24 Force: 10

Gareth just barely avoids the frightening effect of seeing this Sea Hag for what it truly is and manages to mark his target, giving him greater instincts on where to place his arrows. One arrow sinks deep into the hags left shoulder, while a second arrow hits the hags right shoulder. The hag has no time to scream out in pain before two blasts of eldritch fire hit her in the chest. While the attacks were damaging, you get the sense they didn't hit as hard as you expected them to. As the hag staggers back a step, three Luring songs begin to sound from the darkened mist. One to the southwest, one to the south, and one to the southeast. [[OOC: Everyone, please give me three Wisdom saving throws. Gareth has advantage on these saves.]]

Wisdom saves:

 A Night Hag steps forward through the mist just as a black beam streaks out towards Zephyros striking him in the chest and draining power from his arms. Attack 14/18 + 6=20 She says, "Your bodies will serve me after your death!"

Alisande's saves:

1. Wis 12
2. Perception check 8
3. Wis 18
4. Wis 16
5. Wis 20

Alisande recoils at the sight of the Sea Hag, but doesn't shrink back, instead she hops on her broom and flies down closer to the creature. She points her wand towards the Sea Hag and mutters an incantation. A burst of fire sprouts from the tip of her wand and hits the ground harmlessly next to her target. Attack: Nat 1

Meira is up and then Zephyros!

• 23 Gareth
• 19 Rasziel
• 19 Harpy x3
• 15 Night Hag
• 14 Alisande
• 13 Meira
• 13 Unknown ally
• 10 Zephyros
• 10 Unknown enemy x3
• 8 Sea Hag
• 8 Unknown foe x3
• Unknown adversary

((Gareth's wisdom saves.))

WIS Save: 23

WIS Save: 16

WIS Save: 18

Rasziel Wisdom saves: 23 14 14

(Meira WIS Saves: 16, 19, 22)

Meira had averted her gaze as the thing that appeared to be Silvara changes form.  She holds her position near the bottom of the stair (Steady Aim) and does her shortbow at the creature.  

(Attack: 19, Damage: 11 piercing + 8 sneak attack)

Zephyros Wisdom Saves: 18, 20, 7, 22

The armored warrior stares, stone faced and resolute as Silvara turns into this ugly creature. "It looks like I've already taken your eyes! Now I will destroy you!" Having exhausted all of his tears already, Ironheart prepares for battle. Just as he's about to impale this monstrosity that so cruelly pretended to be his lost love, the Harpy song to the south calls to him. As if in a trance, Zephyros moves towards the song bird.

Meira's arrow sinks deep into the Sea Hags gut, she's looking pretty rough. As Zephyros moves 15' south, he falls into a large pool of salt water in the center of the lighthouse basement.  Swimming across he comes to the other side. [[OOC: Zephyros, please give me an athletics check to see if you climb out the other side.]]

Three zombie sailors come shambling out of the darkened mist, all three focused on rending Meira's flesh from bone. Meira expertly avoids attacks from two of the undead, but the third finds an opening and slams into her. Attack 18 damage 6 bludgeoning. 

The Sea Hag, peppered with arrows and purple hell fire, refuses to engage Zephyros as he passes by. Instead she jumps into the water and submerges, disappearing from view.

From the pool, a merrow emerges and flings a perfectly aimed harpoon at Alisande. Thanks to her firebolt attack, the merrow has a target to throw at through the mist. Attack 21/20 damage 7 piercing damage. It then pulls at the witch, but fails to as she proves too strong. Alisande's strength 18 vs. Merrow strength 17. Another merrow swims up behind Zephyros and... [[OOC: waiting for the results of the previous athletics check.]] A third, much smaller slithering monster climbs out of the pool on the south side and fires an arrow at Alisande. Attack 24/19 damage 8 piercing + 8 poison damage.

The Green Hag does an unknown action on its initiative, which brings us to the top of round two!

Athletics Check: 18