Expedition: Ablesforth: The Demon Hole - 14 July 2021

[Marullus]

Idriss dropped a Stinking Cloud spell in the low, un-vented cavern on your way in...and in LL Basic, the duration is"permanent." It has spread out a bit (+2 bonus on your save) but remains a hazard on your only known way in or out.

[Zhym]

Ouch.

Can we pause before having anyone re-enter the cloud? We should probably discuss (IC) how to get everyone through the cloud.

[Rusty Tincanne]

It isn't a "the a copy over your face, hold your breath and run for it" you're of thing?

[Marullus]

Pausing is fine. I will wait for actions.

Running for it is an option. Mechanically, everyone makes a save. If you fail, you are wretching and need to be dragged out to fresh air.

[Rusty Tincanne]

I don't remember make the save on the way in. Is that because it spread out? Where is everyone now? Is Grumble through (and out of the cave)? Did Dolph and Pendleton get through to pour the holy water?

[Zhym]

Can we get any bonus by holding our noses and breath as we run though, or by using candle wax to plug our noses (assuming anyone has candles)?

[Rusty Tincanne]

or a wet, wool blanket?

[Marullus]

Grimble is not here, so you can assume he is not disabled by the fumes.

I asked Pendleton to make a save for his holy water pouring - Zhym asked to redact it.

This is a 3rd level magical stench - holding your breath or using a hankie or wet blanket is not sufficient to defeat it. If you can find a creative solution, I will modify the roll or allow a different roll.

Please don't spend forever min-maxing to try and avoid a savings throw.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Right. I must have good over your update because I missed pretty much everything of any importance and from the video link.

Able shakes off the knee buckling vision and attempts to find a way around the stinking cloud. Brother Mylo'll be wanting t'hear 'bout that, he thinks. He tries hard to avoid making too much noise to avoid attracting the sniffers.

[Dram]

Neegan- Makes a run for it.


Savings throw(8)
check roll[1d20] = 5+2=7

[Zhym]

Pendleton regards the noxious cloud with a frown. "In retrospect, placing a debilitating cloud in the path of our escape was not the most perspicacious move," he says. "I suppose there is little to do now but hope for the best—unless anyone can conjure up a stiff breeze? No? Well, here goes."

Save v. Poison (13): [1d20+2] = 17+2 = 19

Holding his breath, Pendleton steps into the fumes. If Dolph also avoids being incapacitated, Pendleton will execute the previous plan of pouring holy water on the half-heads before continuing on through.

[Marullus]

Pendleton successfully avoids retching at the vile stench, pouring out his holy water vials on the three incapacitated sniffers. They dissolve into goo, screaming as they disintegrate while still alive. Dolph and Idriss wade deeper, able to keep the others at bay as the wizard does his work, at first. The miasma is too much and overcomes both of them! The pair of Templars drops to the floor gagging on the stench that Idriss' spell has created here.

Neegan quaffs his last potion (+4) and follows Ablesforth and Dare as they try to quietly make their way across the cavern, finding no way around the brown magical haze. Alerted to the party by the screams of their dying companions and the collapsing, retching noises of two of the party members, the remaining nine sniffers lunge forward, flailing blindly at the party as they try to grasp at each sound, each footfall.

Dare's nimble and quiet feet carry him cleanly out the other side of the miasma to the narrow passage between this cavern and the next. One of the creatures dives at Dolph while two dive at Idriss, each of them howling in dismay at finding the incapacitated foes protected by divine aid. Two of them come at Ablesforth, he deftly avoids offensive action as it takes all his focus to wend his way around them without vomiting. One lunges at Pendleton but as the wizard dodges away the creature inhales a thick pocket of miasma - the sniffer goes down writhing in agony and clawing at the remaining portions of its nasal passages (critical fumble)

Two come at Neegan, who makes a run for it, evading their swiping claws as his short legs churn... he almost makes it out of the miasma when he has to at last take a gasping breath: he falls to his knees gasping and choking as his gorge splatters on the rocks and the creatures catch up once more behind him...

Ablesforth, Dare, and Pendleton are safe on the other side of the miasma. Neegan is incapacitated nearby with eight viable sniffers coming up behind him to attack him and/or pursue the party. Idriss and Dolph are both incapacitated but warded, deeper in the cavern on the other side of the eight sniffers...

Date: 23 July 2021, 4:20pm
Light: Ablesforth's light spell (start at 3:30)
Effects: Invisibility (Pendleton) Protection from Evil (Ablesforth, Idriss, Dolph), smoldering incense (until 8:20pm),
Injuries: Neegan (moderate/severe wounds), Grimble (moderate wounds)

Saves: Ablesforth [1d20] = 18 Neegan [1d20] = 15 Dare [1d20] = 14 Idriss [1d20] = 10 Dolph [1d20] = 4
Targeting [1d7] = 1 [1d7] = 3 [1d7] = 6 [1d7] = 2 [1d7] = 6
Targeting [1d7] = 4 [1d7] = 5 [1d7] = 2 [1d7] = 5
Spawn on Pendleton [1d20] = 1 [1d4] = 2
Spawn on Neegan [1d20] = 6 [1d4] = 4 [1d20] = 3 [1d4] = 3

[Rusty Tincanne]

Able sighs as his companions drop to the floor. He lashes a rope around himself and hands the other end to Dare and Pendleton. Coat yerselves in holy water. Seems to keep 'em from grabbing atcha.He wades back in and drags them out, starting with Neegan, once again carefully dousing the dwarf with holy water to keep the sniffers at bay.

Hopefully he doesn't need to make another save for this since he just emerged. If he is able to go in without dropping to the ground on a puddle of vomit, he will pass Neegan to Dare and Pendleton, then he will drag it Idriss and Dare while the non-warded characters get out of the caves.

[Marullus]

Pendleton? Dare?

[Zhym]

Can Pendleton go back into the cloud without making another save? And has the "coat yourself in holy water" thing been tested before?

[Marullus]

Can Pendleton go back into the cloud without making another save?

Neegan can be grabbed without a save.
Going in for Idriss and Dolph requires a save.

And has the "coat yourself in holy water" thing been tested before?

Ablesforth is asserting IC that it has.

[Zhym]

Pendleton knows he should just stay the heck out of harm's way—and there's more than enough harm here to stay the heck away from. But he also realizes that he'd want someone to save his butt if he were the one on the ground. So, hoping Able is right about the deterrent effect of a holy water baptism, Pendleton pours some on himself and tries to retrieve Neegan.

[Rusty Tincanne]

It was something Able tried on Neegan earlier and seemed to work.

Ablesforth illuminates his holy symbol, shining brightly with the power of Eruana, and approaches the "sniffers" who seem startled to be spoken to in the Infernal tongue. As the holy water drips sizzle, they hiss and back off, routing and fleeing through the door on the left immediately outside of the sleeping area, escaping the party.

[Zhym]

Hm. That could have been from the holy symbol, not the water. Oh well. I guess we'll find out. Might make more sense for Pendleton to sprinkle the holy water around him as he walks instead of trying to bathe in it, though.

[Dram]

Is Neegan still in the noxious fumes or still in them? And will he be on the exit side or still inside?