"The end is yet nigh, my friends. Take what you can now just in case, but do not forget to send them off." Abe squints at the monitor lizard still attack people. "That one too. If it is bound to the Ranger, that connection too might need to be severed along with them and the box." By the time Aasimar finishes speaking his piece, he stands aside Mumed, intent on gathering as much of his more useful things as possible, if not already seen to.
Though if so already, the angelic song he sings next is only adjusted, not held back in check. A final note to wish Boomshaka healthier, and if it came to it, a longer dirge for a brave little lizard.
Movement: To BU-22.
Action: Loot Mumed if not already looted. (Or if already looted) Cast (Cantrip)Toll the Dead(Wis Save - DC 19) on Monitor Lizards for 21 necrotic damage.
Bonus Action: Casts (5th level)Healing Word on 36 to Boomshaka and 7 to Abe.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Tupoc nods one last time at Baern's corpse before flying over to the monitor lizard. "I will deal with this one, the rest of you sort through what we have found." He launches a full round of attacks at the lizard, attempting to Constrict and Bite it.
Tupoc recognizes that one enemy is still conscious. The monk lands on {BR20} and wraps its partially serpentine body around the Monitor Lizard:
-> Monitor Lizard's STR saving throw {DC19}: 0
The Lizard is brought up and Tupoc tries to end its life with a bite:
-> Monitor Lizard's CON saving throw {DC17}: 14
-> Tupoc would have advantage on the second and third attack rolls: 28, 24
The damage is done and the little reptilian stops breathing (Monitor Lizard takes 33 magical bludgeoning and piercing damage and is DEFEATED).
Immediately after life leaves the creature's body, the stone floor in the center of the room finishes collapsing. Just underneath it, a large and bright purple gemstone emanates a blinding light of the same color. It floats in place.
Abe approaches the stone but makes a stop by Mumed's fallen body. While healing his dragonborn friend (Boomshakala heals for 32 HP) and himself (Abe heals for 7 HP), the aasimar collects Mumed's equipment:
Yessaris & Attorney - concentrating on and benefiting from Haste (counter: 3), and benefiting from Aid (4th level); Attorney is DEFEATED but benefiting from Aid (4th level);
Nox and Boomshakala arrive at the same conclusion. Earning to put an end to this fight, they attack an unconscious Baern, who soon after stops breathing (Baern takes a combined 29 force and lightning damage and is DEFEATED; DEATH saving throws - successes: 0, failures 3).
The purple gem's light becomes even brighter! The corpses of all seven opponents begin to slowly turn into dust and siphon into the gem. You gather you have mere seconds before they (and the equipment on their persons) are completely gone.
YOU ARE NOW OUT OF INITIATIVE. YOU MAY DO AS YOU WILL.
Selrahc will loot Baern's body. Before the body fully fades away he closes Baern's eyes and will whisper, "We will fight for you." He will stand and look at all the other bodies fading away and will shout, "We will fight for all of you. Lysanderoth will be defeated. No one shall ever play in his trials again."
Nox drop the stuff she looted from the 3 boddies. she'll cast ritual spells, first Detect magic to seperate Sparklegem and Ingus items between magical and non-magical items. Then identify on magical items that aren't ammunition or consumables.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Yessaris holds up his shield against the ever growing light, but much of it still slips past it. "Finish up whatever you started and gather around. If it turns out this gem needs not the cube to transport us, having some left behind would be most unpleasant."The Yuan-Ti would then gather as much of his discarded items and weaponry as he could and place back onto his person. As soon as all of that is out of the way, he is back by the crystal, watching it warily through narrowed eyes and cube in hand; attempting perhaps in vain to anticipate the end results of the absorption.
"You're worrying too much, Yessa. Try to relax. As soon as its done its thing, we can all breathe easier and focus on how we shall face Lysanderoth."Abe chides and waggles a finger. And yet, as he jewel continued to devour more of their foe's former essence, he takes some precautions by at least equipping Mumed's shield. "Pops.... if your listening... See that I'm right? I know being Morninglord keeps you busy, but I /really/ don't want to die again TOO soon." He whispers to himself, clenching his holy symbol tightly to his form.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Selrach (investigation): While searching Baern's body, you come across an item that he had tucked away out of sight. A beautiful dwarven-made ring, chiseled out of a sole piece of crystalline gem. Being a connoisseur of all things gems, you know this to be a Ring of Protection.
Yessaris (arcana): You know this to be another gem-key to be used in the stange interplanar cube the party has been carrying (more on its absorption powers below).
The party quickly collects all items they have managed to take stock of during the fight and form a pile a bit off-center of the chamber (which still holds its overall illusion). As the six remaining trialists begin dividing up the spoils (please do so OOC and remember the three-item attunement rule), Nox makes sure to Identify those that still allude the party.
Note: The other items in Ingus' and Sparklegem's persons were not magical. Please click the links above to have a look.
(@Palfatreos: You do not have the time to cast Identify ten times in a row, whether you are doing it as a ritual or not. So, for the sake of simplicity and this one time only, please go ahead and deduct enough spell slots from your character sheet such that the sum of their levels equals to 10. For instance, you can choose to deduct two 5th-level spell slots or three 3rd-level spell slots plus a 1st-level one. It is up to you, but please let me know what your choice is. We will say that Nox managed to upcast Identify this time in such a way that you did several items at once and in mere seconds.)
The central gem finishes swallowing its guardians in shiny sand form. However, sand continues to flow into the gem after it is already done with the seven bodies. The stones and grout and whatever else forms the structure of the Labyrinth you are in begin to be sucked into the gem as well. You do not feel like you are being pulled in, but whatever time you have left before it all comes collapsing on your heads cannot be long enough for you to feel comfortable about it.
Boom walks up to to the others and pours out his Xavier findings minus the rapier that was taken. "Would anyone care for some of these items?" says Boom motioning to the stockpile. "They are a bit heavy" he says with a groan.
Selrahc will grab the Ring of Protection and put it in his pocket. He will then grab Baern's Greataxe, if he has to then he will toss his maul to the side to relieve some of the weight carried.
If he can then he will pick up the other items from Baern's corpse before they all disappear.
He will look at the cube, "We need to leave. Now. Let's go back to the ward."
Tupoc takes the Bracers of Defense and whatever else is needed to lighten Boom's load before nodding. "A quick escape to rest may be in order, should we be able to. Shall we?"
As the magical sunction grew to truly warrying levels, Abe hurriedly goes over to shove at least a few of Mumed's harder to move spoils into the bag. "Just toss it Nox' bag here, Boom and get moving. This is looking less and less like a time to be picky." He said, but looks to Selherac's discarded Maul with a grimace. "I think I have spell in this thing here--."He gestures to the necklace and beads about the neck. "But it'll take a minute to get going. I... I can try to get it started as we go. But we should be moving." If there's no further objections, Abe looks for an exit to rush down or Nox to direct the group through the illusion should it still stand.
Yessaris remains steadfast in his staring down at the gem as people made their move, silently contemplating a move. Finally he doffs his shield and starts fiddling with the cube until he founda receptacle that looked "right" for the cube. And just like before, he draws upon some of the latent magic within his gauntlets just prior to sacrifices some of the inherit magical prowess to fueling unlocking the puzzle. It only needed to be for a moment. But within it, if able to find or activate some hidden mechanism to expose it, he then reaches out for the gem and tries to slot it in. If mere proximity or the slightest touch starts to draw him in however, he immediately abandons the attempt, cursing his fortune before trying to run after the others.
Arcana: 16. Plus Guidance: 1. (if the above is necessary)
(@Lerus: Sacrificing a 4th level spellslot to try and fuel the cube.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(@Palfatreos: Got it!)
Most of the party continues to pile up magic items and claim the ones that jump out to them. Surpluses go into the Bag of Holding. Everyone but Yessaris is making these decisions on the fly and shoving items either into their personal packs and pockets or into the communal bag. This takes more time than you'd think and the walls are crumbling at an accelerated rate now.
Meanwhile, the artificer stares at the glowing gem and brings forth the portal-making cube. Drawing from the few times Abe and he played with the cube (either their current or former selves), Yessaris begins to turn the two dials with runes in search of a match. As he approaches, he soon realizes his search is futile. At this distance, the cube and the gem resonate. They seem to work in tandem and irrespective of any wielders. The dials tick, the gears turn, the many plates shift, and the gem shoots itself into the cube. The sands being sucked into the cube have now become a veritable sandstorm. Visibility deteriorates, pieces of stone fly dangerously close, and the wind howls.
Knowing the next step, the yuan-ti tries to take back some control by offering a piece of his magical fuel to the hungry cube. Almost as if capable of greed, the artifact begins to demand more and more power. Yessaris intended to offer some mid-level magical capabilities (4th-level spell slot) but that is not enough to satiate the cube. It takes away another chunk of magic:
-> The cube sucks in additionally spell slots from Yessaris, which must add up to a level of: 5 (@Ori's choice akin to what @Palfatreos just did).
The cube's greed is still not satiated. The artifact glows bright purple now, the color of the magical gem-key that took a life of its own inside its "keyhole." Overall magic around the party is sucked in as well. Sparklegem's room magic (Mirage Arcane) is sucked in. The party's own command over the Weave fades for a moment. Some of the magical items that did not quite make it into the Bag of Holding take flight and quickly become dust, being sucked into the cube as well:
-> Number of magical items the party inadvertently sacrifices to the cube: 6
(@All: You may collectively pick which items are sacrificed. They can be any magical items you have either in your persons or that you had just collected. Recently dropped items like Selrahc's Maul, +1 may also be used for this purpose).
Then, a thin blinding light shoots from the bottom face of the cube straight into the ground. The entire surface becomes a pool of liquid floor, akin to the many patches of liquid wall the party encountered earlier in the Trials. They all get pulled in!
....
Some time passes while the party floats in pure darkness and silence. You are barely conscious but unable to move at first. There is no way to tell how much time has passed since the cube was activated. You try to gather your surroundings but see nothing but each other floating about. You fade in unconsciousness for a while longer.
....
Another uncountable amount of time passes. Blinking yourselves awake, you find yourselves in a verdant floating isle. It is small enough that you can tell it floats lonesomely is a inter-planar sea of foggy nothingness... perhaps the Astral Plane, but you can't be sure. The isle is solid though, and despite its small size, it is still large enough to warrant some exploring.
No more than a few dozen feet from you, a lone man with black hair sits on a blanket, having a nice picnic.
(OOC: Congratulations! You've reached 20th Level! You also gain the benefits of a short rest.)
"The end is yet nigh, my friends. Take what you can now just in case, but do not forget to send them off." Abe squints at the monitor lizard still attack people. "That one too. If it is bound to the Ranger, that connection too might need to be severed along with them and the box." By the time Aasimar finishes speaking his piece, he stands aside Mumed, intent on gathering as much of his more useful things as possible, if not already seen to.
Though if so already, the angelic song he sings next is only adjusted, not held back in check. A final note to wish Boomshaka healthier, and if it came to it, a longer dirge for a brave little lizard.
Movement: To BU-22.
Action: Loot Mumed if not already looted.
(Or if already looted) Cast (Cantrip)Toll the Dead(Wis Save - DC 19) on Monitor Lizards for 21 necrotic damage.
Bonus Action: Casts (5th level)Healing Word on 36 to Boomshaka and 7 to Abe.
(Edit: That 36 on Healing Word should be a 32.)
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Tupoc nods one last time at Baern's corpse before flying over to the monitor lizard. "I will deal with this one, the rest of you sort through what we have found." He launches a full round of attacks at the lizard, attempting to Constrict and Bite it.
Constrict Attack: 22 Damage: 13, DC19 Str Save
Constrict Attack: 24 Damage: 12, DC19 Str Save
Bite Attack: 26 Damage: 7, DC17 Con Save
Officially Joined the Expanded Signature Club
Will be on Hiatus: Currently Clear
Tupoc recognizes that one enemy is still conscious. The monk lands on {BR20} and wraps its partially serpentine body around the Monitor Lizard:
-> Monitor Lizard's STR saving throw {DC19}: 0
The Lizard is brought up and Tupoc tries to end its life with a bite:
-> Monitor Lizard's CON saving throw {DC17}: 14
-> Tupoc would have advantage on the second and third attack rolls: 28, 24
The damage is done and the little reptilian stops breathing (Monitor Lizard takes 33 magical bludgeoning and piercing damage and is DEFEATED).
Immediately after life leaves the creature's body, the stone floor in the center of the room finishes collapsing. Just underneath it, a large and bright purple gemstone emanates a blinding light of the same color. It floats in place.
Abe approaches the stone but makes a stop by Mumed's fallen body. While healing his dragonborn friend (Boomshakala heals for 32 HP) and himself (Abe heals for 7 HP), the aasimar collects Mumed's equipment:
At this distance, Abe has to bring a hand to his eyes if trying to look at the bright purple stone.
END OF INITIATIVE ROUND 13
MAP for THE THIRD ATTEMPT:
(Nox and Boomshakala are up next).
"This fight has lasted long enough" Nox drops 3 magic missile from her staf on Baern. 11 force damage.
Nox - Adult Oblex - The Trials
Jartrin Ephok - Dragonborn - Zanoliv
Bunol - Grim Angel - The Floating Lands of Goriate
Boom leans down and places his hand on the fallen opponent and delivers a Shocking Grasp
Attack: 19 Damage: 24
Nox and Boomshakala arrive at the same conclusion. Earning to put an end to this fight, they attack an unconscious Baern, who soon after stops breathing (Baern takes a combined 29 force and lightning damage and is DEFEATED; DEATH saving throws - successes: 0, failures 3).
The purple gem's light becomes even brighter! The corpses of all seven opponents begin to slowly turn into dust and siphon into the gem. You gather you have mere seconds before they (and the equipment on their persons) are completely gone.
YOU ARE NOW OUT OF INITIATIVE. YOU MAY DO AS YOU WILL.
Selrahc will loot Baern's body. Before the body fully fades away he closes Baern's eyes and will whisper, "We will fight for you." He will stand and look at all the other bodies fading away and will shout, "We will fight for all of you. Lysanderoth will be defeated. No one shall ever play in his trials again."
Kandalou Dle'tan - Level 9 Githyanki Fighter (Champion) - Rrakkma PbP
Being previously informed of the items the dwarf was carrying, Selrahc quickly colelcts them before it is too late:
(@Superbad: Please roll an investigation check).
Nox drop the stuff she looted from the 3 boddies. she'll cast ritual spells, first Detect magic to seperate Sparklegem and Ingus items between magical and non-magical items. Then identify on magical items that aren't ammunition or consumables.
Sparklegem: https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/play-by-post/28977-the-trials-vale-tudo?comment=1954
Ingus: https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/play-by-post/28977-the-trials-vale-tudo?comment=1967
Nox - Adult Oblex - The Trials
Jartrin Ephok - Dragonborn - Zanoliv
Bunol - Grim Angel - The Floating Lands of Goriate
Selrahc Investigation: 3
Selrahc will take as many of the items as he can, prioritizing (from most important to least) the greataxe, belt, sash, and bracers.
Kandalou Dle'tan - Level 9 Githyanki Fighter (Champion) - Rrakkma PbP
Yessaris holds up his shield against the ever growing light, but much of it still slips past it. "Finish up whatever you started and gather around. If it turns out this gem needs not the cube to transport us, having some left behind would be most unpleasant." The Yuan-Ti would then gather as much of his discarded items and weaponry as he could and place back onto his person. As soon as all of that is out of the way, he is back by the crystal, watching it warily through narrowed eyes and cube in hand; attempting perhaps in vain to anticipate the end results of the absorption.
Arcana: 12.
"You're worrying too much, Yessa. Try to relax. As soon as its done its thing, we can all breathe easier and focus on how we shall face Lysanderoth." Abe chides and waggles a finger. And yet, as he jewel continued to devour more of their foe's former essence, he takes some precautions by at least equipping Mumed's shield. "Pops.... if your listening... See that I'm right? I know being Morninglord keeps you busy, but I /really/ don't want to die again TOO soon." He whispers to himself, clenching his holy symbol tightly to his form.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Selrach (investigation): While searching Baern's body, you come across an item that he had tucked away out of sight. A beautiful dwarven-made ring, chiseled out of a sole piece of crystalline gem. Being a connoisseur of all things gems, you know this to be a Ring of Protection.
Yessaris (arcana): You know this to be another gem-key to be used in the stange interplanar cube the party has been carrying (more on its absorption powers below).
The party quickly collects all items they have managed to take stock of during the fight and form a pile a bit off-center of the chamber (which still holds its overall illusion). As the six remaining trialists begin dividing up the spoils (please do so OOC and remember the three-item attunement rule), Nox makes sure to Identify those that still allude the party.
The central gem finishes swallowing its guardians in shiny sand form. However, sand continues to flow into the gem after it is already done with the seven bodies. The stones and grout and whatever else forms the structure of the Labyrinth you are in begin to be sucked into the gem as well. You do not feel like you are being pulled in, but whatever time you have left before it all comes collapsing on your heads cannot be long enough for you to feel comfortable about it.
Selrahc will grab the Ring of Protection and put it in his pocket. He will then grab Baern's Greataxe, if he has to then he will toss his maul to the side to relieve some of the weight carried.
If he can then he will pick up the other items from Baern's corpse before they all disappear.
He will look at the cube, "We need to leave. Now. Let's go back to the ward."
Kandalou Dle'tan - Level 9 Githyanki Fighter (Champion) - Rrakkma PbP
Tupoc takes the Bracers of Defense and whatever else is needed to lighten Boom's load before nodding. "A quick escape to rest may be in order, should we be able to. Shall we?"
Officially Joined the Expanded Signature Club
Will be on Hiatus: Currently Clear
@lerus I'll take number 1 2 and 7
Nox - Adult Oblex - The Trials
Jartrin Ephok - Dragonborn - Zanoliv
Bunol - Grim Angel - The Floating Lands of Goriate
As the magical sunction grew to truly warrying levels, Abe hurriedly goes over to shove at least a few of Mumed's harder to move spoils into the bag. "Just toss it Nox' bag here, Boom and get moving. This is looking less and less like a time to be picky." He said, but looks to Selherac's discarded Maul with a grimace. "I think I have spell in this thing here--." He gestures to the necklace and beads about the neck. "But it'll take a minute to get going. I... I can try to get it started as we go. But we should be moving." If there's no further objections, Abe looks for an exit to rush down or Nox to direct the group through the illusion should it still stand.
Yessaris remains steadfast in his staring down at the gem as people made their move, silently contemplating a move. Finally he doffs his shield and starts fiddling with the cube until he founda receptacle that looked "right" for the cube. And just like before, he draws upon some of the latent magic within his gauntlets just prior to sacrifices some of the inherit magical prowess to fueling unlocking the puzzle. It only needed to be for a moment. But within it, if able to find or activate some hidden mechanism to expose it, he then reaches out for the gem and tries to slot it in. If mere proximity or the slightest touch starts to draw him in however, he immediately abandons the attempt, cursing his fortune before trying to run after the others.
Arcana: 16.
Plus Guidance: 1.
(if the above is necessary)
(@Lerus: Sacrificing a 4th level spellslot to try and fuel the cube.)
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
(@Palfatreos: Got it!)
Most of the party continues to pile up magic items and claim the ones that jump out to them. Surpluses go into the Bag of Holding. Everyone but Yessaris is making these decisions on the fly and shoving items either into their personal packs and pockets or into the communal bag. This takes more time than you'd think and the walls are crumbling at an accelerated rate now.
Meanwhile, the artificer stares at the glowing gem and brings forth the portal-making cube. Drawing from the few times Abe and he played with the cube (either their current or former selves), Yessaris begins to turn the two dials with runes in search of a match. As he approaches, he soon realizes his search is futile. At this distance, the cube and the gem resonate. They seem to work in tandem and irrespective of any wielders. The dials tick, the gears turn, the many plates shift, and the gem shoots itself into the cube. The sands being sucked into the cube have now become a veritable sandstorm. Visibility deteriorates, pieces of stone fly dangerously close, and the wind howls.
Knowing the next step, the yuan-ti tries to take back some control by offering a piece of his magical fuel to the hungry cube. Almost as if capable of greed, the artifact begins to demand more and more power. Yessaris intended to offer some mid-level magical capabilities (4th-level spell slot) but that is not enough to satiate the cube. It takes away another chunk of magic:
-> The cube sucks in additionally spell slots from Yessaris, which must add up to a level of: 5 (@Ori's choice akin to what @Palfatreos just did).
The cube's greed is still not satiated. The artifact glows bright purple now, the color of the magical gem-key that took a life of its own inside its "keyhole." Overall magic around the party is sucked in as well. Sparklegem's room magic (Mirage Arcane) is sucked in. The party's own command over the Weave fades for a moment. Some of the magical items that did not quite make it into the Bag of Holding take flight and quickly become dust, being sucked into the cube as well:
-> Number of magical items the party inadvertently sacrifices to the cube: 6
(@All: You may collectively pick which items are sacrificed. They can be any magical items you have either in your persons or that you had just collected. Recently dropped items like Selrahc's Maul, +1 may also be used for this purpose).
Then, a thin blinding light shoots from the bottom face of the cube straight into the ground. The entire surface becomes a pool of liquid floor, akin to the many patches of liquid wall the party encountered earlier in the Trials. They all get pulled in!
....
Some time passes while the party floats in pure darkness and silence. You are barely conscious but unable to move at first. There is no way to tell how much time has passed since the cube was activated. You try to gather your surroundings but see nothing but each other floating about. You fade in unconsciousness for a while longer.
....
Another uncountable amount of time passes. Blinking yourselves awake, you find yourselves in a verdant floating isle. It is small enough that you can tell it floats lonesomely is a inter-planar sea of foggy nothingness... perhaps the Astral Plane, but you can't be sure. The isle is solid though, and despite its small size, it is still large enough to warrant some exploring.
No more than a few dozen feet from you, a lone man with black hair sits on a blanket, having a nice picnic.
(OOC: Congratulations! You've reached 20th Level! You also gain the benefits of a short rest.)