Erik Soong's Call of the Netherdeep

(Posting Nivi's saves while waiting for my OOC questions.)

Nivi's DC16 DEX Save to reduce damage:  19 + 2 from Bless = 21 (success, 3 damage taken)

Nivi's DC10 CON Save to maintain concentration on Blade Ward after damage:  8 + 4 from Bless = 12 (success, barely)

Nivi is very young for a high elf, which is to say she's still just over one hundred years old.  She has seen some bad things, given her line of work.

But nothing really that allows her to put the abyssally horrific scene before her into perspective.  There is not much to say.  Or do, for that matter, except for fight and perhaps die.  That's all right.  Was going to happen sooner than later anyway with your life choices, girl...

So she says nothing as she weaves her way through the room, down as ever towards Desu.  Her free hand flashes silently in Thieves' Cant, not brash for once but almost... melancholy, if Clasp hand-talk can be said to be melancholy.  Asking Desu what she has often asked herself.

Feinting and cutting through the crowd of fiends and captives, things seem to slow down for Nivi as she draws near Desu.  Have to stop her from getting to the Taskhand.  Pale green energy suffuses her blade as it drives through the (Lucky) hand-talk distracted Desu's torso in Nivi's prison-shanking style.

Movement and Bonus Action:  Cunning Action dash 50':  S - SE - NE - 10' E - SE - S - E - Attack Desu - W - N (avoiding Fiend 4's melee range).
Action:  Nivi casts Booming Blade with her rapier on Desu at advantage using a Luck point.  3d20s thanks to Elven Accuracy.
Booming Blade with rapier to hit Desu:  27 (Natural 20) + 4 from Bless = 31
Booming Blade with rapier damage on Desu:  9 (base) + 21 (sneak attack) = 30 piercing + 15 thunder from Booming Blade = 45 total
Booming Blade additional Secondary Damage if Desu moves voluntarily before Nivi's next turn:  4 thunder
Vex Weapon Mastery:  Nivi has advantage on her next attack against Desu before the end of Nivi's next turn.

Desu may make an unarmed strike opportunity attack as her Reaction on Nivi.  BUT - if Nivi thinks that moving further after her attack will expose her to an opportunity attack with reach from the boss demon, then she makes sure not to leave its melee range.

Nivi is concentrating on Blade Ward, 4 rounds left after this round is over, subtract a d4 from all inbound attack rolls.
She has other Reactions available (Shield, Silvery Barbs, Uncanny Dodge) and may use one of them.

DM: Morgan is correct. You can move through ally spaces freely. You just cannot end your turn in another creature’s space. 

Quote from AngelesPaladin >>

Dex Save: 10 (9+1)

(OOC: I would argue that Sky takes 3 damage instead of 6 due to his Heavy Armor Mastery.)

Damage Reduction. When you’re hit by an attack while you’re wearing Heavy armor, any Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing damage dealt to you by that attack is reduced by an amount equal to your Proficiency Bonus.

 No argument necessary. You are correct. My damage figures were made in a vacuum and did not factor in individual talents. Aside from skimming to make adjustments when building encounters, I almost never peep your individual PC sheets. I rely on you to announce any special features you have that would modify my figures, and thank you for doing so!

Quote from Wysperra >>

OOC: Ylis has Primal Order Magician for a bonus to Arcana. If that doesn't count then the party has nobody with Arcana.

Ylis Arcana check if it's ok 13

 I will allow it! 

DM: 

Ylis knows of this bubbling, steaming, gnoll-like creature. They are essentially cousins of traditional gnolls. They are called Yamcha’olls, or roughly translated to common, Cacklers. The name is simultaneously a misnomer and a bit on the nose for a name depending on how you look at it. They aren’t prone to giggles. Most of the time they don’t make much sounds at all. They can create a big sound, once in their existence, in the form of a terrible explosion.

They are suicide infantry and their purpose is to find a group of enemies, grab onto one (typically a leader when one can be identified), then explode, causing a great deal of damage in a tight blast radius.

Quote from Erik_Soong >>

DM: Morgan is correct. You can move through ally spaces freely. You just cannot end your turn in another creature’s space. 

 (OOC: Ok, thanks for the clarification.)

Frekor moves through the corridor and passes Jaracanda on her right getting as close to the fiend in front of her to fight it, since it has a way to hurt everyone in the corridor.   (Frekor uses all his speed to move 30 feet, finishing his movement diagonally to Fiend 2 on the top left on the board.)

The ranger then looks at the fiend. "You will be my first victim" says to his enemy before attacking it.   (Bonus action: Hunter's Mark proc.)

The elf stabs the fiend with his shortsword. (First attack:   To hit: 27,  Nat 20+7. Not rolling for Bless because of the nat 20.   Damage: 8, 3+1+4.  Hunter's Mark Damage: 6, 2+4.   Using Vex on next attack.)

The stab sank into the fiend deeper because of its speed.  (Colossus Slayer damage: 6,   5+1.)

After that, Frekor slashes it with his scimitar.  (Using Nick:  To hit: 13,  5+7+1 from Bless.   If it hits: Damage: 7,  3+4.  If it hits: Hunter's Mark: 6.)

The warrior proceeds to stab the fiend once more.  (Second attack:   To hit: 26,  15+7+4 from Bless.   Damage: 5,  1+4.  Hunter's Mark Damage: 3.)

(OOC: edited to add the extra damage because of the Crit.)

After Nivi moves, Sky's one-shoulder cloak flutters a bit behind him as he moves down the corridor, coming halfway up the stairs right by Jacaranda before seeing the ... strange hyena-like thing moving slowly, it still 10 feet away.  (20 feet of movement)  

He wraps his hands together as if making a snowball -- only it's with the air around him.  Nevertheless, a small wispy cloud begins to form between his palms, before he tosses it towards Desu, with the small cloud ending up 10' directly to the east of Fiend 4 and 10' away from Desu.  The small cloud-ball makes a graceful arc in the room, and as soon as it hits the floor, Sky appears there, via Cloud's Jaunt, a teleportation effect.  He says to Desu, quietly but confidently: "Hi." (Bonus Action)

If Desu is still standing, he'll attack her with his halberd at range.  He's within reach of Fiend 4 if she isn't.  (Attack 1: 14 -- 3+9+2 bless.  Probably a miss? If damage needed: 11 radiant (5+6).)
(Attack 2: 32 to hit: 19+9+4 bless.  Damage: 8 radiant (2+6, used Savage Attacker feat to reroll damage, but it was even worse).

Randa fires off two arrows, the first, the massive demon tries to snatch out of the air. Instead, the arrow of mystical steam blows a tiny hole in its hand. It regards the damage with what looks like could have been surprise, but for the frozen expression and mouth hanging open. The second wedges itself into the lower jaw itself. The impact blows open a respectable hole, but when the arrow begins to glow with the extra enchantment of the Banishment effect. The fiend shakes it off like a dog drying off.

“Ah, capture is a wasted effort for these mortals. Kill them.” Its voice the sound of sheets of paper sliding against one another. The cackler silently chuckles to itself and its bubbling skin somehow becomes a bit more active.

Morgan enters the room and drops a massive Fireball, which, with these tall ceilings and lower levels, is a staggeringly large orb of fire. All four fiends are encased in flames, and, to the surprise of some perhaps, so too are two other creatures previously unnoticed. They yelp in shock, but notably not in pain. Their existence betrayed by lingering smoke on cloaks from flames so narrowly avoided, but avoided nonetheless.

The undead fiend dives through the roaring flames and while many still catch it, it seems to shrug it off. The spider-like creature fares similarly. The cackler continues to shuffle along, the flames singing flesh, but notably not nearly as much as one would think. The only fiend that seems to take on the full fury of Morgan’s spell is the needle-spewing elephant-head fiend.

It wails as most of its surface flesh is consumed by the flames. The flesh of the head peels away under the intense fire, leaving only a single eye still functioning and cords of muscle can be seen working along its now skinless body, still peppered with needles.

It appears to be readying a savage counterattack, new needles sprouting from its body and wiggling wildly, suggesting that they may be fired, when Ylis blasts its fleshless head open with a Starry Wisp. Even still however, it remains standing. Dimly illuminated, the creature sprouts even longer, far more menacingly needles, as long as short swords. They slide out of its body to the surface, a feat that, missing head notwithstanding, should be anatomically impossible.

DM: The creature is Bloodied.

Then Frekor rushes into the room. His flurry is impossibly fast and even if no one can spare the attention to notice it, it must be said that his skill with the blade would impress even the most dedicated masters of the blade. Before the fiend can launch its payload of death, Frekor has bled it so much that it literally runs out of blood to spill before it falls.  Frekor stands over the heap and it immediately begins to liquify, the dim light of Ylis’ spell fading with it.

Nivi weaves around the cackler expertly, staying well out of its reach as she closes the distance to Desu. Once there, the unarmed Desu can only raise her hand in a feeble attempt to defend herself as Nivi runs her through. There is recognition in her eyes still, the words of the Thieve’s Can’t processing. She looks down at the weeping hole in her belly. From nowhere, a dagger seems to find her hand. She readies to place it where Nivi would most likely not enjoy it, but then Desu finds herself wrapped in thunderous magic. It is enough to halt her pursuit as Nivi retreats.

Nivi glances up at the towering fiend to check on whether it would attack her but finds its frozen expression almost bored, despite the bleeding holes it now bears. It regards Desu. “Either way.” It hisses at her.

She nods at it. Then Sky appears with his greeting. The first attack he makes on Desu is easily avoided and she makes the mistake of grossly underestimating him to the point of dismissal. However, she is trapped in a thunderous magical wall and is well aware of what happens if she moves beyond it. Pinned down, Sky’s second attack is far more successful and Sky gains Desu’s attention with it. Her leather armor absorbs the greater part of the blow, but the impact still hurts like the blazes.

Sky, as you entered this desecrated room, you feel that certain magics have become inaccessible to you here. Your divine senses finally understand the extent of desecration; healing magic is stymied within this room. 

@Everyone, is this where everyone wants to be? Particularly Nivi and Sky, who did less direct movement. 

OOC: I think the other squares were occupied when I posted, so Ylis is fine where she is.

Quote from Erik_Soong >>

@Everyone, is this where everyone wants to be? Particularly Nivi and Sky, who did less direct movement. 

(OOC: When I posted, I used all my speed and if I calculated right, I would be on C3.)

(OOC: C9 for me)

The stage is set. The heroes have made their move in spectacular fashion and have instantly felled a demon. The Aurora Watch and even Taskhand Thelyss himself could not have done better and he is present to confirm that fact himself.

The massive demon overlord shares a look with Desu. It performs a series of alien sounds, its long, taloned fingers performing arcane gestures and casts a spell on Desu. Still wrapped in thunderous magic, her movements now have such speed that even her expressions are hard to read.

Desu attempts to lash out at Sky first, testing whether his defenses are as daunting as his offense. Then throws a dagger at Nivi in response to her savage attacks.

DM: 24 to attack on Sky, 11 Piercing Damage.

DM: 21 to attack on Nivi, 11 Piercing Damage and 4 Poison Damage.

Then, to twist the knife so to speak, Desu throws a knife into the chest of one of the captives, silencing their desperate whimpers.

She then breaks through Nivi’s magical barrier, letting out one shout of pain as it explodes around her. Her movements are exceptional in their evasiveness and she deliberately sweeps in close enough to Sky that he can feel her breath on his neck before she kicks off of his thigh and leaps toward the southern stairs, where she climbs and pairs up with her undead-looking fiend (F2).

DM: Disengage used as BA, no Opportunity Attacks.

Before Sky can pursue, a blade burrows through his armor.

DM: 21 to Attack on Sky, 7 Piercing Damage plus 11 Sneak Attack Damage.

Invisibility fades from a Clasp agent, their wide grin the only thing Sky can see from behind the heavy cloak.

The cackler ambles up the stairs and attempts to grab hold of Randa.

DM: Randa, please make a Dexterity or Strength Saving Throw, your choice. DC 13. Upon failure, you are Grappled and the cackler begins to glow.

The spider-like fiend skitters along the ceiling, some 25ft up, drawing closer to Nivi, where it vomits up a string of webbings at her.

DM: 21 to Attack on Nivi. On hit, Nivi is both Grappled and Restrained. Escape DC 13 or a successful Attack.

The undead looking demon watches Frekor dispatch its partner without mercy. It is enough to cause it to take a step back. Though death holds no sway over these unholy things, pain still hurts. It collects itself and focuses its psychic energies on Frekor now.

The people Frekor most cared about from a life long past scream their feelings of abandonment and betrayal at Frekor. How could he have left them? Why? Did he not really love them? After all the time they devoted to raising him, teaching him, clothing him, filling his belly, he leaves them to the sword?

DM: Frekor, please give me a Wisdom Saving Throw, DC 14 as  you try to shake off what feels like your own, impossibly intense fears of abandonment and loss. On failure, you are Incapacitated until the end of the next monster turn.

Another Clasp agent appears right next to Morgan, jamming their blade at him.

DM: 14 to Attack, 9 Piercing Damage and 11 Sneak Attack Damage.

DM: Allowing space for possible Silvery Barbs, but if anyone rolls their Saves before, they cannot benefit from it. The spell specifies that it works on the recipients NEXT roll. Also, I don’t want to remake the grid, but use the previously shown grid to specify where you move.

Forgot to specify that Desu is Bloodied. 

Ylis says, "No no no" and casts Silvery Barbs

Re-roll the attack on Morgan.

Give Frekor Advantage on his WIS save.

OOC: Don't forget your are Blessed people.

During the enemies' turns (will post Nivi's own turn tomorrow):

By desperate instinct, Nivi raises her free hand to ward off the poisoned blade that Desu hurls at her and a pale green arcane shield deflects the weapon just before impact, as it does for the arachnid demon's (Fiend 3's) web attack.

Reaction:  Nivi uses her final spell slot to cast Shield and her AC increases from 17 to 22 until the start of her next turn.  Both attacks against her were a 21 to hit.  Which would hit her 17 AC even with any 1d4 reduction from Blade Ward but would miss against AC 22, which they do.

Note on Position:  I think there was some back and forth on Nivi's position in OOC chat that may have suggested differently, but I'm fine with where she is on the map and actually prefer it.  I'm happy to leave her there.

DM: Reroll was a dirty 20, so we will keep the original roll of 14 in case he has Shield.

Quote from Erik_Soong >>

The undead looking demon watches Frekor dispatch its partner without mercy. It is enough to cause it to take a step back. Though death holds no sway over these unholy things, pain still hurts. It collects itself and focuses its psychic energies on Frekor now.

The people Frekor most cared about from a life long past scream their feelings of abandonment and betrayal at Frekor. How could he have left them? Why? Did he not really love them? After all the time they devoted to raising him, teaching him, clothing him, filling his belly, he leaves them to the sword?

DM: Frekor, please give me a Wisdom Saving Throw, DC 14 as  you try to shake off what feels like your own, impossibly intense fears of abandonment and loss. On failure, you are Incapacitated until the end of the next monster turn.

DM: Allowing space for possible Silvery Barbs, but if anyone rolls their Saves before, they cannot benefit from it. The spell specifies that it works on the recipients NEXT roll. Also, I don’t want to remake the grid, but use the previously shown grid to specify where you move.

 (Frekor Wisdom Save: 19,  16+3. Success without Bless nor Advantage. Thanks for the help anyways.)

Frekor syphons the magic on the now bubbling body of the fiend he killed and directs it to Desu. "You are next." says before moving towards her. (Bonus action: Hunter's Mark moves from dead fiend to Desu.)

He moves next to the wall in the room and runs towards Desu before attacking. (He moves to E5 in the map, ending at range to attack Desu, but staying away from Fiend1.)

Frekor knows that they could get answers of the Clasp's plans from Desu, who seems to be the lider of the group here. However, risking her escaping is not an option for him. He already left bad people get away earlier and he is NOT doing it again.

The ranger lunges his shortsword towards Desu's stomack.  (First attack:   To hit: 24, 13+7+4 with Bless.   Damage: 10,  6+4. Piercing Damage. Hunter's Mark Damage: 4 Force damage. Using Vex for next attack.)

With a swift movement of his scimitar, Desu's torso gets sliced by Frekor.  (Second attack:  To hit: 27,  Nat 20+7. No need for Bless. Damage: 11, (3+4+4). Slashing Damage. Hunter's Mark with crit: 2, 1+1.  Colossus Slayer with crit: 11, 8+3.)

(OOC: Damn! From bloodied to probably 0hp. If that is the case, I pictured it like the slash split her in 2 through her abdomen.)