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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 8954453" data-attributes="member: 16069">Dark Squad in the Secrets of SaltmarshSession #113: Fello-WIN!Dark Squad (in alphabetical order, no egos here).Daktari/Dak (played by Haggis) Male Human Uthgardt Sky Pony Barbarian Lvl 8Fellowyn Silverstream (played by George) Male Eladrin Wizard Bladesinger Lvl 8New Tricks/Newt (played by Bear) Male Tabaxi Warlock Lvl 8Ramshambo/Ram (played by Kev) Male Half-Elf Rogue/Fighter Lvl 7/1Vincenzo/Vinnie (played by Haggis) Male Shifter (Wildhunt) Druid Lvl 8DEAD PCs<s>Nicholai Barbaros Kostyiev/Nicky (played by George) Male Dhampir Cleric of Twilight Lvl 8 </s>RIPNPCs<s>Inverna Nightbreeze (played by George) Female Wood Elf Fighter Lvl 8 (Sidekick) </s>RETIRED<s>Garumn Male Mountain Dwarf Paladin of Moradin Lvl 5 </s>RIP*<s>Tarbin Tul (played by goonalan) Male Human Bard </s>RETIREDUbmo (played by Goonalan) Supreme Being Lvl 1 (When we remember) *Trapped in the Land of the Bad Dead Ancestors.Servants/FamiliarsGerald (Bat/Giant Bat) servant/mount of New TricksOwly (Owl) Vinnie’s familiarThe Dark Squad’s to-do list-<ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">An extraordinary meeting of the Saltmarsh Town Council, the Dark Squad are going to get hired to end the smuggling menace (see below), scheduled for 10th Flamerule.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">The smuggler's ship will be turning up sometime between the 14th and 17th of Flamerule, the Dark Squad (and particularly Ram) are keen to meet the vessel, particularly Ram- why, because as the rogue said- “I'm getting a boat.”</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Find the other four Symbols of Ub, one was left in Deepbridge (Duergar fortress in the Underdark). The others need to be found, they belonged to- Rambles 'Shambles' Bowspirit (halfling killer from Lowhill), Antonio De La Crane (posh kid druid alchemist) & Giggles (crazy wood elf). All of these folk lived in the Saltmarsh region, the Dark Squad have found the De La Crane Manse (in the Dreadwood) and the De La Crane Crypt (in Saltmarsh Cemetary).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Nightshade is in the Deep Dreadwood- except she's not there any more, but a big red dragon is?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Blackedge and the Goblin Stair?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">To join the Pact of the Wild Flame prepare the Witch's Tor for the coming of the starfall, the Witch's Tor is in the Drowned Forest, in the Mere of the Dead Men.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">To join the Pact of the Wild Flame track down the last member of the Pact, a wild elf adventurer called Giggles- and finally put her spirit to rest, and also recover her maze button. Location unknown. SEE 2. ABOVE.</li> </ol>This is session 113, and I haven't said this for a while- this one was cracker. We're back on it.Blah, blah, blah last time... and the Dark Squad are just finishing off a pack of zombies, and dragging the vomiting Tabaxi out of a stinking cloud.[ATTACH=full]277157[/ATTACH]“Prep-air fur ze mos' dane-jerus spell in awl donjon avec dragoons!”Produce Flame.Vincenzo delivers this line every time, it keeps him happy.I guess.Then the foul stench dissipates and the Dark Squad press on... Note Newt and Fellowyn were leading the way for a short while, that is until Ram caught up with them and pointed out that there were two very obvious pressure plates close to the wandering pair's location.That's Passive Percetion 18 versus 12, no contest.[ATTACH=full]277158[/ATTACH]The rogue confirms the presence of the two pressure plates (X marks the spot) but alas cannot discern what they trigger.Therefore, “Don't trigger 'em”, is Ram's advice to his colleagues.But Newt... well, he's in a funny mood this evening.The Tabaxi spots another great stone skull down a nearby passage, and... rushes over to investigate, even as he colleagues shout a variety of warnings.[ATTACH=full]277159[/ATTACH]But here's the thing, as Newt approaches the great stone skull the statue's eyes light up, and it's a healing light. Newt is getting hit points back.And keener still to let his colleagues know.And to crow.That is right up to the point that he suddenly keels over and sprawls on the floor.Five minutes later, after quite a lot of laughter- and a chat about how to make it happen, eventually Daktari rushes in and grabs one of Newt's legs and drags him back to the Squad.Newt is somewhere between asleep and unconscious, and another failed save later and scratch the sleep, the Tabaxi is definitely unconscious.It takes another (strained) chat, several skill checks and a healing spell, eventually Newt is awoken.He's obviously very contrite.[ATTACH=full]277160[/ATTACH]Sorry, did I say that Newt was very contrite, my mistake, that should read- Newt is not very contrite.There, that's better.However, there then follows another chat- this one aimed at Newt, basically- stop rushing about, let the rogue check things out first.Chatting done.[ATTACH=full]277161[/ATTACH]See the difference between this image and the last? Got it?That's right Newt steps on the nearest pressure plate.Nothing happens.But this time the Tabaxi is apologetic, he didn't mean to move his guy here.Newt gets another telling off, and Ram is sent ahead.A door is found, and there's nowhere else to go, save all the way back the way the PCs came in.The door however, as determined by Ram, is not only trapped but he's also certain that the trap's mechanism is beyond his skill.[ATTACH=full]277162[/ATTACH]Actually what just happened there is Ram rolled a '1' followed by a '1', unfortunate, but he can't see his rolls of course, they're just for me.Ram's plan, much to the chagrin of his colleagues, is he's going to kick the door in. His friends retreat sharpish.Although the rogue's scheme is curtailed when Fellowyn's Mage Hand does the trick- the door was neither locked nor trapped.However...[ATTACH=full]277163[/ATTACH]Over the far side of this square chamber is a large statue of a Minotaur-like-demon creature, or something similar, around the base of the edifice are scattered various offerings- mostly coin but also a few semi-valuable odds and sods. Even more disconcertingly there are three human skulls set in metal compass roses upon the floor.The skulls are animate, they watch Fellowyn enter the chamber, champing their teeth and swiveling in their settings to track the PCs movements.Newt, oh dear.Newt rushes in, spies the demonic statue and the treasure surrounding it and debases himself before the stone forged demon, cackling and flannelling ('oh great demon of the nine pentangles', that kind of thing) while filling his pockets with the treasure.At the very last moment, and out of the corner of his eye Newt spots the minotaur demon suddenly come-alive. Alas, he is however not quick enough to escape the creature's ire.[ATTACH=full]277164[/ATTACH]Which Jim captures beautifully in this image. Click to enlarge the picture in order to possess it's true splendour.The Tabaxi, miraculously, manages to ride the blow- the minotaur demon is now seen to be nothing more than a (minotaur) skeleton creature wearing the tatters of platemail armour, and wielding a greataxe.I roll something like nine damage on 2d12+6.The front line of the Dark Squad step in...[ATTACH=full]277165[/ATTACH]But here's the thing- see Ubmo, top left, well the Supreme Being has just exploded (again).At the same time the rest of the PCs are noticing that the three swiveling watching skulls that were located in compass housings on the floor here are now... gone.Vinnie vocalises what many are zinking, I mean-thinking.“Flay-m-skulls!”But let's just take a moment to congratulate the work of Fellowyn so far, the Bladesinger has been having a hard ride so far. He's light on magic items, he's not got a great spell list and... it takes a lot of self-buffing to get him up to speed.However, in this session, so far... Fellowyn is semi-kicking ass.But there's more to come from the ancient, underpants and bathrobe wearing elf wizard.[ATTACH=full]277166[/ATTACH]So, then the first Flameskull makes it to the party, spins around the corner- cackling and jawing, and...YOINK!Is (mentally) tagged by Fellowyn.Counterspell!Hang on.What just happened there?See the circle drawn on the above image, that was the range for the Flameskull's Fireball, only now... what Fireball spell? The flying undead former evil wizard's skull is suddenly bereft of ideas.Fellowyn saves the day.[ATTACH=full]277167[/ATTACH]The fight goes up a gear. Note Fellowyn has already cast Haste on the Raging Daktari, my 250HP plus minotaur skeleton is taking a beating.Just to make clear the skeleton has plus nine or ten to hit, does big damage and has a Legendary Action (three times per turn). The Legendary Action in question is entitled Hoof to Groin, and when it lands it really hurts.However the great beast lands the attack so infrequently that Ram's Uncanny Dodge gets renamed to Uncanny Groin.More's the point- see the image above?The next thing that happens is Ram sticks his Undead bane rapier (Deadend) into the minotaur skeleton, which duly collapses, and then in the same move rushes out of the chamber and shatters the Flameskull with his scimitar.That's how it's done.[ATTACH=full]277168[/ATTACH]There is cheering, the skeleton minotaur falls- at last, but then a moment later the second Flaming Skull zoops around the corner and...See the Fireball circle on the above image.Well...YOINK!Counterspell.Fellowyn does it again.The DM is not at all pleased, particularly as seconds later the second Flameskull is smashed to pieces having only fired off a bunch of Magic Missiles.Note all Flameskulls arrived at the party with their Blur spells in full operation, that didn't help 'em much, all three failed their concentration checks very quickly- FGU does this automatically (the rolling of the checks that is).However with no enemies in sight, and a raging Hasted barbarian still on the boil... Daktari rushes back the way the Dark Squad came from, in search of the last Flameskull.[ATTACH=full]277169[/ATTACH]Here it is! And also everywhere (in shadow) that the PCs have been and seen so far. Nice picture George!Note, you can also see the blood splashes on the map, signaling where the various enemies met their end, that's new on Fantasy Grounds.Daktari rushes towards the last Flameskull and...CLONG.[ATTACH=full]277170[/ATTACH]It's hard to see but just before the barbarian is a line drawn across the passage, that's the portcullis that has just fallen.The Dark Squad are trapped.Briefly.Daktari is raging, hasted and... has Shatterspike, a longsword that does lots more damage against constructs (and inanimate objects).Daktari crits the portcullis and cuts a perfect circle through the bars, moments later and he's through- although out of actions, but still shouting-“YOU CAN RUN, (whispered) although you have no legs, BUY YOU CANNOT RUN FASTER THAN I AM!”Daktari sometimes gets confused by words when he is shouting.The rest of the Dark Squad come running too.And, at last, the Flameskull drops a Fireball on the Dark Squad, and then attempts to get the hell out of dodge.That doesn't happen.[ATTACH=full]277171[/ATTACH]The Hasted barbarian is on the Flameskull in seconds.End time.The Dark Squad take a well earned rest, back in the (former) minotaur statue chamber, they also discover that the two pressure plates Ram pointed out earlier can be used to reset the portcullis trap.Although, Daktari has already mostly junked this.Then, during their rest- a cool, calm and collected voice warns them not to stay in this place, makes a few undramatic threats- 'you will die here', that kind of thing and then... the voice is gone. It doesn't answer questions, although the PCs ask plenty, or else shout at the ceiling of the chamber. The voice is nothing like the voice of Rambles 'Shambles' Bowspirit which they have heard, repeatedly, during their sojourn in the previous tomb.The voice, and its listless threats, have the opposite effect. The Dark Squad recommit to this escapade, they're going to find the maze button of Rambles Shambles Bowspirit.They go on, this time heading east along the entrance hall.And with a sneaky peeky silent Ram checking things out ahead.Another chamber is found, and the door in- which is unlocked and untrapped, which scores high on the suspicious scale.Ram enters anyway, and a short while later- while investigating what looks to be an empty chamber he triggers a trap, a magical trap which he had no chance of finding.The area within the circle (see image above) is suddenly filled with dark twisted tentacles of blackness, some of them like disembodied arms and hands that reach out from walls, ceilings and floors.The temperature drops suddenly, and those within the sphere begin to suffer necrotic damage (but only a little) as a quartet of zombies shuffle forward to attack.The PCs are also at disavantage on their attacks here, while the zombies... they have advantage.[ATTACH=full]277172[/ATTACH]But let's not dress it up- 4.3 seconds later and Newt drops a Fireball of his own into the mix, the zombies are all destroyed and the trap, and it's pervasive necrotic energies are as suddenly spent.The area is searched some more- nothing found, while Ram continues his course, sneaking off ahead.[ATTACH=full]277173[/ATTACH]Which brings us here, Ram is not convinced that the corridor to the north is the way to go- it looks a little 'risky', and then the two skeletons up there start shooting the rogue, that seals the deal.Well, almost...Daktari, in his Slippers of Spider-Climbing, races onto the western wall and rushes along the obviously trapped passage.[ATTACH=full]277174[/ATTACH]But here's the thing, when I first saw this map- and this corridor, my first (and only) thought was- there's no trap connected to the holes in the ground. It's a ceiling collapse, and triggered by any contact with any surface in the area shown on the map above.Daktari however makes his save, and just keeps on running, even as the ceiling and walls behind him collapse to seal the way back.Collapse for 6d10 damage, just so we're all on the same page.And soon after there are a bunch of skeletons here, but... they're just skeletons, and besides the rest of The Dark Squad soon make their way around to the barbarian... although there are a few more skeleton archers positioned to make pot shots.[ATTACH=full]277175[/ATTACH]There's also a few other places that perhaps need to be explored yet.The skeletons are soon smashed to bone fragments, and that... that's all for tonight.A reminder, next week we're still on the Dark Squad, although now that I've had a look at your WFRP character sheets then the first half-hour or so of the session is going to be spent getting these in order.There's still stuff to do for some of them.The week after- WFRP.Toodles.Stay safe and well you lovely people.Cheers the Dark Squad and goonalan.</blockquote>

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