Salazar, seeing his boon companion collapse into a heap, growls low in his throat, strafes sideways around the Specter, to use his shield to push Paulo a bit further out of harms' way. The specter feints in his direction and the young noble takes a poorly balanced backhand swing to fend it off, but in concentrating on the young sailor's condition, he has allowed the flail to lose momentum and the strike does not connect.
Attack: 1d20 (7) + 4 Total: 11 Bonus: Shield Master push to Paulo for story, not mechanical reasons. Move: Some strafing but nothing out of the Specter's reach.
As Paulo falls, Ord pales and begins to shake. The less than doughty dwarf crouches behind his shield and sees all his feckless desires for adventure flash before his eyes, mocking his naivety.
But as he witnessed his companions fighting on, Ord stands a little straighter. And as he looks inward and seeks Amaunator’s light he stands straighter yet.
Seeing an opening as Salazar battles the spectre and shifts Paulo, Ord calmly crouches and gently touches Paulo’s shoulder, Amaunator protects. Receive his Light, the Light of creation. And rise!
A soft golden light suffuses Paulo and washes over his dire wounds, leaving only newly healed flesh behind.
Current Status of Players: Salazar: Third into the room, 12/12 HP Lesley: Last (and Paulo) into the room, Near Death -- 1/7 HP Ord: Second into the room, 11/11 HP Paulo: Last (and Lesley) into the room, 10/10 HP
Current Status of Enemies: Specter: In melee with Ord and Salazar, bloodied, badly injured -- 20 damage taken
It is now the Specter's turn!
The specter then turns onto the divine priest. Trying to summon up its necrotic energy, but it is of no avail. Instead, its partially translucent hand becomes even more incorporeal as a jolt of lightning rushes over the creature, causing for its arm to simply go through Ord (no pain, but it is still rather frightening). Meanwhile, Elonast cheers you on. "You're doing it! I'm sure you all can make it!"
As soon as Ord steps out from behind his shield he feels a chilling sensation. He looks down and sees the specters hand has placed itself directly inside of Ord's chest. The creature then seems to grab something as Ord goes rigid, seemingly frozen in place. The creature responds with a tug as a red, pulsing, beating heart leaves its owners body. The hand of the apparition then turns jet black as Ord's heart twists, convulses, until it eventually rots away into dust. Just like that, the life fades from Ord's eyes as he collapses to the floor. In a brutal onslaught, his companions unleash a plethora of attacks and spells, and thus the creature vanishes into the ethereal plane, but the damage is done.
Salazar and Lesley rush over to their fallen ally and begin to push on Ord's chest trying to resuscitate him, hoping beyond hope that their companion is saveable... but it is to no avail. Paulo, meanwhile, pushes the grief down and focusses on what he knows, what he does best. So he looks around for traps and (with a passive Wisdom [Perception] for traps of 21) without more than a cursory glance notices that tiny coils of electricity spread their away up and down the pillars and to the chest. He also perceives some kind of button on each of the pillars, but he is unsure of their purpose (which can be gleaned from an Intelligence [Investigation] check).
Meanwhile, Elonast flits from Paulo's shoulder and onto Ord's still body. As she speaks in all of your minds. "It is of no use... Specters can kill with but a single touch. The champion of light has fallen... but he cannot have died in vain. We must complete the mission. For Ord's sake."
Salazar knows something is wrong as soon as Ord's Light cantrip dissipates from the Flail he is whirling. The strange flashing light bouncing over the room vanishes in an instant. In shock and outrage, he brings the flail down on the specter hard, tearing through the ectoplasm with blunt force. The follow-through cracks and chips the floor beneath his feet. His arm stinging from the impact, numb fingers release the flail. Dropped for the moment is also the shield, because Salazar's hands have begun stripping away the Dwarf's armor enough to feel at the chest; the other hand searches for breath where there is none to be found. (Medicine Check. Live you Dwarf! Live!: 1d20 (15) + 1 Total: 16 is in vain.)
"Cleric, stay with me! You dare not be undone so easily!" Salazar's voice is growing frantic. "This is all wrong. This was to be me! I am the untrained one. The castoff! I was sent here to die to serve family convenience, not you friend! How is this possible?"
With cold determination and a snarl, he looks up at Paulo. "You and the wizard. Find the Phylactery. We take it to The Harpers, but we make sure it is utterly destroyed... and I want that lich to watch as we do it."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Lesley is a bit shellshocked right now. His ears are completely drooped and he has dumbfounded and shocked look on his face. Lesley silently stumbles over to Paulo and begins looking the buttons over with him, (Investigation: 18).
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM - Elustran Days ~ Fate/False Revelation
Rex'aliha - Hoard of the Dragon Queen ~ Mozu of Worms- The Stormpoint Mountains ~ Muireach Maon- Shepherd’s Crossing ~ Crownsguard - Storm King’s Thunder ~ Gunnar Wayland -Boats, Rocks, and Ruffians ~ POUF!- Ex-Ravens ~ Pascal LaRoux - Long Road Dragon Heist
Looking over the pillars, Lesley realizes something about the wiring, ”Paulo... those will, um, shock you if you don’t disable them correctly or if we try to open this without properly disarming them. Pressing the buttons should do it. Like so!” Lesley says as he pushes the button and continues to look over everything, “Once we get the phylactery, we won’t be able to destroy it ourselves, it needs to be wiped out with either a weapon of legend or a ninth level spell. Anything else won’t put a dent on this thing.”
As Lesley presses the buttons on the pillars the electricity coursing around the room begins to settle down and a fizzle can be heard from the pillars. It seems that whatever was defending the chest has been deactivated. All that remains is to open the chest...
The lock clicks open, and inside you find a single book... bound in humanoid skin you see several glyphs written upon it, and immediately you hear Elonast's now-morose voice. "You've... done it. Quickly... I... We must..." She trails off, seemingly at a loss for words as a result of what has happened.
Lesley grabs the book and walks over to Ord, who he lifts gently like a kitten and puts him over his shoulder. With a somber, low expression, Lesley mutters, “It’s time for us to leave...” He motions for Elonast to lead them out and starts walking in silence.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM - Elustran Days ~ Fate/False Revelation
Rex'aliha - Hoard of the Dragon Queen ~ Mozu of Worms- The Stormpoint Mountains ~ Muireach Maon- Shepherd’s Crossing ~ Crownsguard - Storm King’s Thunder ~ Gunnar Wayland -Boats, Rocks, and Ruffians ~ POUF!- Ex-Ravens ~ Pascal LaRoux - Long Road Dragon Heist
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Wait. Just the book? No wealth, scrolls or potions or anything? Nothing of use to us? Certainly such a creature was protecting more than just one book!" Salazar, not understanding how such arcane matters work, is thoroughly confused and looks in the container for any other contents. (6 Investigation) ((Out of Character: This is what he'd do, as his expectations come from books and Minstrel's Tales, not experience.))
As Lesley and Paulo are having a silent argument about whether the book is real or not, Lesley rolls his eyes as it to say “Fine!” and opens the book to confirm its validity. He is currently thumbing through the pages with one hand.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM - Elustran Days ~ Fate/False Revelation
Rex'aliha - Hoard of the Dragon Queen ~ Mozu of Worms- The Stormpoint Mountains ~ Muireach Maon- Shepherd’s Crossing ~ Crownsguard - Storm King’s Thunder ~ Gunnar Wayland -Boats, Rocks, and Ruffians ~ POUF!- Ex-Ravens ~ Pascal LaRoux - Long Road Dragon Heist
Disappointed that there was no magicks in the vault that can restore Ord to life or bolster Lesley’s state, Salazar creeps back past the ghouls and out to the entrance.
Morose, he gives neither the treasures on the wall nor the bait wealth in the cells a second glance.
Lesley has now closed the book and looks visibly shaken. He has confirmed that it is a bad book, a very bad book. Putting the book away, Lesley will quickly and quietly follow Salazar out to the boat.
Salazar, seeing his boon companion collapse into a heap, growls low in his throat, strafes sideways around the Specter, to use his shield to push Paulo a bit further out of harms' way. The specter feints in his direction and the young noble takes a poorly balanced backhand swing to fend it off, but in concentrating on the young sailor's condition, he has allowed the flail to lose momentum and the strike does not connect.
Attack: 1d20 (7) + 4 Total: 11
Bonus: Shield Master push to Paulo for story, not mechanical reasons.
Move: Some strafing but nothing out of the Specter's reach.
As Paulo falls, Ord pales and begins to shake. The less than doughty dwarf crouches behind his shield and sees all his feckless desires for adventure flash before his eyes, mocking his naivety.
But as he witnessed his companions fighting on, Ord stands a little straighter. And as he looks inward and seeks Amaunator’s light he stands straighter yet.
Seeing an opening as Salazar battles the spectre and shifts Paulo, Ord calmly crouches and gently touches Paulo’s shoulder, Amaunator protects. Receive his Light, the Light of creation. And rise!
A soft golden light suffuses Paulo and washes over his dire wounds, leaving only newly healed flesh behind.
Ord casts Curse wounds and heals Paulo for 10
Round 4 Ends, Round 5 Begins
Current Status of Players:
Salazar: Third into the room, 12/12 HP
Lesley: Last (and Paulo) into the room, Near Death -- 1/7 HP
Ord: Second into the room, 11/11 HP
Paulo: Last (and Lesley) into the room, 10/10 HP
Current Status of Enemies:
Specter: In melee with Ord and Salazar, bloodied, badly injured -- 20 damage taken
It is now the Specter's turn!
The specter then turns onto the divine priest. Trying to summon up its necrotic energy, but it is of no avail. Instead, its partially translucent hand becomes even more incorporeal as a jolt of lightning rushes over the creature, causing for its arm to simply go through Ord (no pain, but it is still rather frightening). Meanwhile, Elonast cheers you on. "You're doing it! I'm sure you all can make it!"
It is now Paulo's turn!
DM of Tomb of Annihilation (and more) Group 2 and Group 3
Paulo stabs and unfortunately misses.
Lesley unleashes another jolt of energy, “If you could leave I would greatly appreciate it! Learn to let go of your unfulfilled life!”
Action: Witchy Boltin’ Jolt
Move: None
DM - Elustran Days ~ Fate/False Revelation
Rex'aliha - Hoard of the Dragon Queen ~ Mozu of Worms - The Stormpoint Mountains ~ Muireach Maon - Shepherd’s Crossing ~ Crownsguard - Storm King’s Thunder ~ Gunnar Wayland - Boats, Rocks, and Ruffians ~ POUF! - Ex-Ravens ~ Pascal LaRoux - Long Road Dragon Heist
The specter’s incorporeal Nature fluctuates & Salazar’s strike does not find purchase. (4+4 to hit)
EOT.
Ord stands straight and glares at the apparition. The normally timid dwarf is full of courage.
Enough! Amaunator take this fiend!
Ord summons Amaunator’s cleansing light to strike the spectre. DC 13 dex save or 4 radiant damage.
Mad rhe light strikes the spectre Ord cheers and steps from his defensive crouch behind his shield.
As soon as Ord steps out from behind his shield he feels a chilling sensation. He looks down and sees the specters hand has placed itself directly inside of Ord's chest. The creature then seems to grab something as Ord goes rigid, seemingly frozen in place. The creature responds with a tug as a red, pulsing, beating heart leaves its owners body. The hand of the apparition then turns jet black as Ord's heart twists, convulses, until it eventually rots away into dust. Just like that, the life fades from Ord's eyes as he collapses to the floor. In a brutal onslaught, his companions unleash a plethora of attacks and spells, and thus the creature vanishes into the ethereal plane, but the damage is done.
Salazar and Lesley rush over to their fallen ally and begin to push on Ord's chest trying to resuscitate him, hoping beyond hope that their companion is saveable... but it is to no avail. Paulo, meanwhile, pushes the grief down and focusses on what he knows, what he does best. So he looks around for traps and (with a passive Wisdom [Perception] for traps of 21) without more than a cursory glance notices that tiny coils of electricity spread their away up and down the pillars and to the chest. He also perceives some kind of button on each of the pillars, but he is unsure of their purpose (which can be gleaned from an Intelligence [Investigation] check).
Meanwhile, Elonast flits from Paulo's shoulder and onto Ord's still body. As she speaks in all of your minds. "It is of no use... Specters can kill with but a single touch. The champion of light has fallen... but he cannot have died in vain. We must complete the mission. For Ord's sake."
Total ToA Death Count Among My Games:
01DM of Tomb of Annihilation (and more) Group 2 and Group 3
Salazar knows something is wrong as soon as Ord's Light cantrip dissipates from the Flail he is whirling. The strange flashing light bouncing over the room vanishes in an instant.
In shock and outrage, he brings the flail down on the specter hard, tearing through the ectoplasm with blunt force. The follow-through cracks and chips the floor beneath his feet. His arm stinging from the impact, numb fingers release the flail. Dropped for the moment is also the shield, because Salazar's hands have begun stripping away the Dwarf's armor enough to feel at the chest; the other hand searches for breath where there is none to be found. (Medicine Check. Live you Dwarf! Live!: 1d20 (15) + 1 Total: 16 is in vain.)
"Cleric, stay with me! You dare not be undone so easily!" Salazar's voice is growing frantic. "This is all wrong. This was to be me! I am the untrained one. The castoff! I was sent here to die to serve family convenience, not you friend! How is this possible?"
With cold determination and a snarl, he looks up at Paulo. "You and the wizard. Find the Phylactery. We take it to The Harpers, but we make sure it is utterly destroyed... and I want that lich to watch as we do it."
Lesley is a bit shellshocked right now. His ears are completely drooped and he has dumbfounded and shocked look on his face. Lesley silently stumbles over to Paulo and begins looking the buttons over with him, (Investigation: 18).
DM - Elustran Days ~ Fate/False Revelation
Rex'aliha - Hoard of the Dragon Queen ~ Mozu of Worms - The Stormpoint Mountains ~ Muireach Maon - Shepherd’s Crossing ~ Crownsguard - Storm King’s Thunder ~ Gunnar Wayland - Boats, Rocks, and Ruffians ~ POUF! - Ex-Ravens ~ Pascal LaRoux - Long Road Dragon Heist
Looking over the pillars, Lesley realizes something about the wiring, ”Paulo... those will, um, shock you if you don’t disable them correctly or if we try to open this without properly disarming them. Pressing the buttons should do it. Like so!” Lesley says as he pushes the button and continues to look over everything, “Once we get the phylactery, we won’t be able to destroy it ourselves, it needs to be wiped out with either a weapon of legend or a ninth level spell. Anything else won’t put a dent on this thing.”
DM - Elustran Days ~ Fate/False Revelation
Rex'aliha - Hoard of the Dragon Queen ~ Mozu of Worms - The Stormpoint Mountains ~ Muireach Maon - Shepherd’s Crossing ~ Crownsguard - Storm King’s Thunder ~ Gunnar Wayland - Boats, Rocks, and Ruffians ~ POUF! - Ex-Ravens ~ Pascal LaRoux - Long Road Dragon Heist
As Lesley presses the buttons on the pillars the electricity coursing around the room begins to settle down and a fizzle can be heard from the pillars. It seems that whatever was defending the chest has been deactivated. All that remains is to open the chest...
DM of Tomb of Annihilation (and more) Group 2 and Group 3
Lesley opens to box.
DM - Elustran Days ~ Fate/False Revelation
Rex'aliha - Hoard of the Dragon Queen ~ Mozu of Worms - The Stormpoint Mountains ~ Muireach Maon - Shepherd’s Crossing ~ Crownsguard - Storm King’s Thunder ~ Gunnar Wayland - Boats, Rocks, and Ruffians ~ POUF! - Ex-Ravens ~ Pascal LaRoux - Long Road Dragon Heist
Paulo moves forward, absently drawing out his picks. 14 Thieves' Tools.
Day 9, 1821 hours
The lock clicks open, and inside you find a single book... bound in humanoid skin you see several glyphs written upon it, and immediately you hear Elonast's now-morose voice. "You've... done it. Quickly... I... We must..." She trails off, seemingly at a loss for words as a result of what has happened.
DM of Tomb of Annihilation (and more) Group 2 and Group 3
Lesley grabs the book and walks over to Ord, who he lifts gently like a kitten and puts him over his shoulder. With a somber, low expression, Lesley mutters, “It’s time for us to leave...” He motions for Elonast to lead them out and starts walking in silence.
DM - Elustran Days ~ Fate/False Revelation
Rex'aliha - Hoard of the Dragon Queen ~ Mozu of Worms - The Stormpoint Mountains ~ Muireach Maon - Shepherd’s Crossing ~ Crownsguard - Storm King’s Thunder ~ Gunnar Wayland - Boats, Rocks, and Ruffians ~ POUF! - Ex-Ravens ~ Pascal LaRoux - Long Road Dragon Heist
"Wait. Just the book? No wealth, scrolls or potions or anything? Nothing of use to us? Certainly such a creature was protecting more than just one book!" Salazar, not understanding how such arcane matters work, is thoroughly confused and looks in the container for any other contents. (6 Investigation)
((Out of Character: This is what he'd do, as his expectations come from books and Minstrel's Tales, not experience.))
As Lesley and Paulo are having a silent argument about whether the book is real or not, Lesley rolls his eyes as it to say “Fine!” and opens the book to confirm its validity. He is currently thumbing through the pages with one hand.
DM - Elustran Days ~ Fate/False Revelation
Rex'aliha - Hoard of the Dragon Queen ~ Mozu of Worms - The Stormpoint Mountains ~ Muireach Maon - Shepherd’s Crossing ~ Crownsguard - Storm King’s Thunder ~ Gunnar Wayland - Boats, Rocks, and Ruffians ~ POUF! - Ex-Ravens ~ Pascal LaRoux - Long Road Dragon Heist
Disappointed that there was no magicks in the vault that can restore Ord to life or bolster Lesley’s state, Salazar creeps back past the ghouls and out to the entrance.
Morose, he gives neither the treasures on the wall nor the bait wealth in the cells a second glance.
Lesley has now closed the book and looks visibly shaken. He has confirmed that it is a bad book, a very bad book. Putting the book away, Lesley will quickly and quietly follow Salazar out to the boat.
DM - Elustran Days ~ Fate/False Revelation
Rex'aliha - Hoard of the Dragon Queen ~ Mozu of Worms - The Stormpoint Mountains ~ Muireach Maon - Shepherd’s Crossing ~ Crownsguard - Storm King’s Thunder ~ Gunnar Wayland - Boats, Rocks, and Ruffians ~ POUF! - Ex-Ravens ~ Pascal LaRoux - Long Road Dragon Heist