(5.24 PBP) Vault of the Dracolich (IC) Redux

VLAD the Destroyer · Thursday at 2:37 PM

Darius follows the others glancing towards the dark mass of stirges. He is no more than a shadow as he move past the creatures and move towards the slime and algae covered slope further into the caverns. In his haste to be away fro the creatures Darius misses the wet slime covered rocks. He steps and his foot slips and he begins to slide towards the churning rapids of the underground river. There is a brief look of shock on his face before the air warps and he suddenly standing on solid footing. He continues more deliberate in his footing.

OOC:

Stealth: 1d20+4 23
Acrobatics Check: 1d20+2 8
Acrobatics Check Lucky Reroll: 1d20+2 17

I used Lucky to re-roll my 8 acrobatics check.

Darius: AC:15 HP:34/34 HD:4/4 PP:11 SSdc:14 3/4 3/3 PED(d6):3/4 MS:1/1 Lk:0/2

FitzTheRuke · Thursday at 5:34 PM

Team Fusion

Copper made his way to the middle of the pack, deftly passing a few of his slower-moving allies. Stryke stayed not far behind him. The Drow had only a passing familiarity with the Goliath, but it was better than the relationship that he had with most of the others, where he had exchanged only a few words at most.

Over the roar of the falls, the sound of the Stirge-nest went unheard, but its buzzing could be imagined, even almost felt, by all. The sound of their own travel was similarly masked, so the greatest threat to attracting the attention of the blood-suckers was their lights. Some of the group did not need light to see, but they all needed it to see well - textures like the patches of algae were difficult to make out through darkvision alone.

They kept their light sources masked, covered in cloaks, or in the case of the glowing sword - partly sheathed. But they held them as close to the ground as they could, moving slowly along the ledge and around the point above the falls.

Loklafd stumbled on his peg-leg, but Lorent caught his arm and prevented him from falling. A lone Stirge flew near, as if investigating the commotion, but Lorent chirped a strange sound and it flew away, confused.

At one moment, it seemed as if Darius would fall, but a fortuitous shift kept him safe. It was possible that no-one else were even aware of how close he'd come.

OOC:

Copper, Lorent, Darius, and the NPCs are safely through! Just @Tonguez Shade-9, @Hriston Terrin, @Lidgar Bjorn & Bill, & @Steve Gorak Aywin to go. I'm sure it will all be fine...

TaranTheWanderer · Thursday at 7:11 PM

Merrick Thorburn Race: Human	HP: 25/53 AC: 15/17(with shield)	Buffs: Jump 4/10 rounds Inspiration: 0
Rage: 0/3	Inner Healing:0/4	HD: 1/4
STR: 16+3(+5) DEX: 14+1(+2) CON: 16+3(+5) INT: 8-1(+-1) WIS: 10+0(+0) CHA:11 +0(+0)	Athletics+5 Intimidate: 2/5 Perception: 2 Performance 2 Stealth: 4 Survival: 2	Daily: JUMP: 0/1 At will Thaumaturgy Message

Merrick runs around the corner and then, with a mighty leap, closes the distance between himself and the Beast's henchman Siobhan, lashing out with his glaive twice and while she is able to dodge the first attack, the blade GRAZING her cheek, the weapon spins around with the butt hitting the warrior squarely in the face.

1. Move 10 feet to BC21
Use 10 feet to jump 30 feet to BI26

2. Attack twice with advantage: 2D20.HIGH(1)+5 = [5, 3]+5 = 10 miss (3 auto damage)
2D20.HIGH(1)+5 = [4, 20]+5 = 25 Critical hit

Damage:
crit damage: bludgeoning then radiant: 2D4+5+2D6 = [1, 1]+5+[2, 2] = 11

(ugh...terrible damage for a crit) Total damage: 14

3. Move back 10 feet to BG24

Steve Gorak · Friday at 12:07 AM

Team Fusion - Aywin

Aywin, normally quite calm, what somewhat unnerved by the stirges. This made him extra careful, and he was surprisingly quiet as he passed the corner and moved over rocks and debris.

OOC:

Lucky stealth roll of 15 (he has disadvantage because of his armor, I rolled 15 and 19! Yay!)
athletics: 17

Tonguez · Friday at 12:38 AM

TEAM FUSION - SUBJECT:SHADE-9 - Don't disturb the hornets nest!

Shade-9 moved with deliberate precision along the north-eastern shoreline, each step placed with calculated care as he assessed the rock beneath his feet, slick with a thin sheen of clinging algae. Behind and ahead, the team stretched out in a careful line, each member picking their way forward while keeping one wary eye on the looming darkness of the stirge nest.

Shade-9 did not look at it. Its presence had already been mapped. Though he did wonder if the organic compounds in the fluid processes of his own synthetic body would be palatable to the tiny parasites. The warforged stalker would need to file that speculation away for future investigation.

[TACTICAL FORMATION] Staggered Single File - Stealth Protocols - Enhanced by Environmental Masking from Waterflow
[TERRAIN ANALYSIS] Uneven, low friction surface with organic algae film. Downward slope to waterflow
[HAZARD RISK] High, Requires Mitigation of Falling and Tripping Hazard. Water indicates drowning hazard

[THREAT PROFILE:Stirge Nest] -Tier 1/8. Swarm aspect and persistent feeding behaviour.
[Mission Protocol: Avoid or Destroy]
[Detection Risk] Moderate. Visual > Auditory]

When the party's two familiar spirits sallied forth to investigate their respective trajectories, Shade-9 watched their flight and then picked his own way forward to where Saphirrion was sniffing at the shimmer veil, its hackles raised and whiskers twitching. The Warforged Stalker for his part, switched his optics to better detect the magical energies present both in the veil itself and in the space beyond..

OOC:

Stealth: 1D20+5 = [14]+5 = 19
oops forgot my expertise +2 in Stealth but 19 should be good anyway

Survival: 1D20+2+4 = [18]+2+4 = 24

If I can get there I will cast detect magic on the veil and area beyond the threshold

Hriston · Monday at 10:56 AM

Fearing being noticed by the stirges and knowing sneaking is not a talent with which he is endowed, Terrin holds his shield to block their view of the silvery light emanating from the lamp hanging from the end of his staff and pauses to place a hand on his mail-clad breast, uttering a harsh sounding word in a strange tongue: Šuḫurtu!

OOC:

Terrin casts guidance on himself, choosing Stealth.
Dexterity (Stealth): 1D20+1D4 = [7]+[1] = 8

He relies on his natural awareness of things both seen and unseen to try to avoid the hazards of the path forward.

OOC:

Wisdom: 1D20+4 = [5]+4 = 9

Lidgar · Monday at 4:12 PM

While Bill scouted ahead towards the veil, Bjorn stayed towards the rear of the party as they rounded the bend, his sticky tongue at the ready should anyone slip into the rushing water below. He crept softly in the shadows, using his keen instincts to find a safe path over the slippery rocks.

OOC:

Bill will go ahead of the others to also investigate the veil. Bjorn will stay towards the rear, ready to use his tongue to snatch anyone that slips.

Survival check: 1D20+6 = [15]+6 = 21

Wasn't sure if we all needed stealth checks, but just in case:
Stealth check: 1D20+4 = [15]+4 = 19

And should someone slip, bite attack for tongue:
Bite attack (tongue): 1D20+3 = [12]+3 = 15

FitzTheRuke · 2026-04-07T17:38:52+0100

Team Caves

Realizing that this stalemate could not last, Urgan lead the way into the chamber, risking everything for victory. He concentrated on attacking the mind of the mercenary captain, who was no pushover in his intelligence or strength of will, if weak in scruples. After a brief moment, Bardaby hollered a foul oath and forced Urgan out, then slowly made his way to his feet. His face red with anger.

"Just kill them! A bonus hundred for each head. I will pay out of my own pocket." He turned to the cultists at the scrying pool and said, "That goes for you, too! Add it to the horde if you must!"

By the time he was through speaking, Merrick had leaped into the room and slashed Siobhan's face, before retreating back to defend Urgan. It wasn't the only scar that the shieldmaiden bore, but it added another level of grimness to her expression. She screamed a battle-cry and her group charged forward, following Merrick.

Shamal rushed in to join his allies, cutting down one and then another of the mercenaries, but the numbers were against them. He received a slash in return. Siobhan thrust her sword into Merrick's leg and fire erupted among the group as the cultists shouted words of magic and, "By the Red!"

Urgan was burned and couldn't see anything of the waters in the scrying pool. Torhak appeared briefly behind him and shot Siobhan with an arrow before disappearing back into the shadows.

The lone mercenary fired his crossbow and the quarrel struck Shamal in the shoulder. The group was badly outnumbered and low on resources - terribly outmatched. So it was a very unwelcome sight indeed when the teleportation chamber's red stone began to glow and a group of angry cultists burst forth. They had wild-eyes and strange, black lips and drooling mouths, that implied that they'd all been blessed with the 'gift' of Green Dragon's Breath from their cult-priests.

OOC:

Let's see... lots to track: Merrick did 14 & Torhak did 9 to Siobhan. Urgan did 10 to Bardaby before he broke free and he saved against the sliver. The cultists mostly missed but they got Urgan for 6 fire. Siobhan did 8 to Merrick. Shamal did 13 to the Merc Company who got him back for 12. Finally, the lone Merc shot Shamal for 6. The group of Cultists just arrived.

FitzTheRuke · 2026-04-07T17:39:58+0100

GM:

TEAM CAVES
Encounter: Scrying Vault
Time: ~18:15 on 4 Tarsakh 1483DR

(General Features)
Difficult Terrain None
Cover Walls.
Hazards None
Visibility Bright (Glowing Glass)

(PCs)
Merrick AC:15/17* HP:17/53 HD:0/4 PP:12 Rg 1/3 InH:0/4 Jump 0/1 C: Jump
Shamal AC:18 HP:14/40 EXH:1 HD:1/4 PP:14 SSdc13 0/3 Bhaal 1/3 CD:0/2 DS:0/1 HI:0/1 LoH:0/20
Torhak AC:15 HP:24/40 HD:4/4 PP:16.DV180 SSdc12 3/3 DA:1/2 HM:2/3
Urgan AC:15(12) HP:20/26 THP:2/2 HD:4/4 PP11.DV60 SSdc14 2/4 0/3 ArcRec 0/1 AR:1/2 MgArm:to 22:10
(NPCs)
Scamp AC:11 HP:5/5 PP:13.DV60 Spd.50'
Ironthorn AC:13 HP:13/13 Res.P/Lning Regen:3/R HD:3/3 PP:15.DV60 MoO:2/2

(BGs)
Bardaby AC:16 HP:54/72 PP:12
Cult Priest AC:14 HP:55 PP:13*
Cult Fanatic AC:13 HP:33ea PP:12
-CF1 33/33 CF2 33/33
Mercenary Unit AC:15 HP:12/64 PP:11
Merc Guard AC:15 HP:12 PP:11
Siobhan AC:17* HP:20/57 PP:11

GM:

Begin Round Five

FitzTheRuke · 2026-04-07T17:58:38+0100

Team Fusion

They made their way along the side of the falls, circling clockwise in single file, while covering their lights as best they could and carefully traversing the slippery algae and rocky tripping hazards. Terrin came very close to falling as he slipped on a hidden patch and banged his knee, but Bjorn's frog-tongue stopped him from sliding downward, and he was able to crawl forward before righting himself. His lantern flashed briefly before being hidden once more behind his shield. If the stirge-nest had been disturbed by it, they showed little sign.

Soon the group were around the bend, and the lights, while still kept close, seemed safer to shine about. The fallen stalactite was lumpy and dark and covered with some sort of unnatural-looking vines that hung down into the crevice or dipped into the water of the falls. Some of them swung lazily back-and-forth as if being rocked by an unseen hand.

Shade-9 and Sapphirion investigated the shimmering grey veil. To the celestial, it was the smell that bothered him, and to the construct's sensors, it showed a faint glow of Evocation and Conjuration under a strong layer of Necromancy. It was, they agreed, a Necrotic Curtain, draped across an archway that would only permit the unliving - Undead, Constructs, and some certain Elementals, to cross. The living would be wracked with pain to the point of likely death - perhaps even disintegrated, if they were to even touch its surface.