Expedition: Fingers/Ghostly Trial - Part II - 23 July 2021

[DavetheLost]

Hengist raises his holy symbol to turn the spectral figures.

Turn Undead [2d6] = 5

[Zhym]

Hengist raises his holy symbol to turn the spectral figures.

Turn Undead [2d6] = 5

*Gulp*

Hopefully Allmond can turn them. I really don't want to fight three spectres hand to hand!

[Marullus]

Reacting quickly as the ghosts approach, Hengist and Allmond raise their holy symbols and call upon the power of Baudh to drive the spectral beings away. The ossuary around Hengist's neck again flares with a brilliant light! He shines with the resplendance of the sun god and the necromancer's ghost turns and flees, dissappearing into the depths of the tomb.

Markd strides forward with Cathelon's staff as the Ogre spectre charges with a wicked grin on its translucent face. Markd comes around with a solid upercut to the ghost's chin - the staff emits a thunderclap at the impact and a wave of force washes through the room! The ghost explodes utterly into motes of light! (Triple damage, -27hp)

Fingers tries to fall back and shoots with his longbow, the arrow hitting the kobold's ghost squarely but passing straight through without apparent damage. The kobold snears and comes at him! Just as the translucent kobold is almost upon him, Sprinkles, the faithful hound, leaps forward with a snarl and intercedes. Though the dog's teeth appear to cause no harm to the translucent figure, it does divert the spectre, who's ghastly fingers plunge into the dog's side. There is a long mournful howl of suffering from the dog as part of its lifeforce is ripped away. (-1hp, -1HD) Bandy leaps to the hound's aid and slices the ghost with his sword (-4).

The kobold ghost flinches off the blow and sneers, unaffected by the destruction and flight of the other two ghosts, and tries to finish off the dog....

(Actions!)

Date: 10:01pm, 24 July 2021
Light: Magic Chandeliers
Effects: None.
Injuries: Markd (superficial wounds)

Initiative: Them [1d6] = 5
Initiative: Markd re-roll [1d6] = 6Hengist HD turned [2d6] = 3 Allmond Turning [2d6] = 7 HD [2d6] = 9
Kobold Spectre [1d20] = 12 [1d8] = 1 targeting [1d4] = 1
Morale (10) [2d6] = 9

[Zhym]

Fingers's magic bow was able to damage the other spectre gargoyles. Does it not apply to hitting a spectre?

Also, is this not enough to have held Sprinkles from attacking (and preferably had Fingers and Sprinkles protected by other combatants)?

"Ohhhh crap," he says when the three spectral monsters threaten. He calls Sprinkles to heel and looks for someone to hide behind. Hopefully someone large, where Fingers can back towards a door.

[Marullus]

I didn't recall a precedent with Fingers shooting a gargoyle - I went back and checked the first combat with gargoyles and noted that I set a precedent that Bremen's magic crossbow didn't enchant its bolts, so was carrying that forward. I think I'd rather keep that ruling.

** If you'd like to change from longbow to longsword in that case, I'll allow it.

My general rule was that you're free to be targeted in a wide-open space, with PCs interceding in constricted spaces (hallway combat) or by choice (someone says they're guarding you). Stating that you're trying to hide behind the other PCs when they haven't expressed a desire to guard you and intercept the attacks is iffy at best. In an open space, opponents can flank and even when I give higher likelihood of targeting specific PCs, I still keep everyone targetable in the roll.

As modifying it in this case would be you asking directly that I shift a level draining hit onto a PC to save your NPC guard dog, I won't do so unless another PC states directly that they would have jumped in the way to save Sprinkles (by their own choice).

[Zhym]

I edited my post above: there's precedent for Fingers's bow damaging creatures that can only be damaged by magical weapons (see the link).

If I have to switch the attack to the sword, can I take advantage of Fingers's elven cloak and have him do a backstab on the spectre?

Whether or not Fingers was able to find someone to hide behind, he did call Sprinkles to heel knowing that the dog couldn't hurt the spectre. It'd be nice to have that result stand, at least. If the attack is on Sprinkles regardless of whether the dog attacked or not, Fingers would absolutely (well, probably) have stepped in front of his dog to take the attack (okay, maybe).

Or there might be a PC with lower AC who the spectre would have missed. Any volunteers?

ETA: Sprinkles is +1 to hit and +1 to damage. I don't suppose that counts for allowing him to damage creatures that can only be hit by +1 weapons, does it?

Out of more than idle curiosity, why was the spectre's targeting roll 1d4? There are six of us, aren't there? Including Sprinkles?

[Marullus]

Yes, I set precedent both ways; I am keeping "it doesn't work" and allowing you to change to longsword because I gave you a bad precedent.

No backstab. They're completely aware of you.

If you want to jump in to protect Sprinkles with your own body, you may (or another PC may).

Let's move to next round.

[Zhym]

So you're ignoring Fingers's instructions to Sprinkles to heel, but you'll allow it to stand if someone else volunteers to take the hit? Gosh, thanks for that.

And without a backstab, Fingers's sword doesn't really have a chance.

No backstab. They're completely aware of you.

Fingers's only action in the trial room was to whisper something about the handwriting in the book. That's enough for everyone in the room to be aware of him despite the magic cloak?

When you updated the rules on turning, the previous rules stood for that combat. It would be nice if you'd let the rules you set for Fingers's bow stand for this adventure.

Or just be arbitrary. Whichever.

[Marullus]

If you want him to heel, the attack hits Fingers. That's the choice you get to make. Let me know if you want that option.

Let's move to the next round.

[Zhym]

Why bother? What I post only has a passing resemblance to what happens.

And it's funny how the monsters were the only ones who got a chance to position themselves. A lot happened in that one update—we couldn't have gotten our backs to the wall or arranged ourselves for combat? Fingers couldn't have been inconspicuous while the trial was developing? Yeah, sure, I should have said so when we entered the room, but still. Fingers has one standing NPC order: never be in the front lines. Of course, now that the attacks are rolled and we see the spectre hit, no one is going to get into that position. Which is why changing the rules after the fact and fast-forwarding until it's an evil-villain "you lose the levels or your dog does—you choose!" kind of choice, well, sucks.

So you'll pardon me if I'm not eager to post for the next round. Or maybe you won't. Fuck if I care.

[Zhym]

Anyway, under the circumstances, I feel absolutely no shame or guilt about metagaming the shit out of the next round. So I'm waiting to post Fingers's actions after the other PCs have posted (and rolled initiative).

[Marullus]

A 'standing rule' that you can never be targeted because you hide behind the other PCs is not fair. Other PCs can choose to shield you in their actions but you cannot force it on them.

You aren't in the front line because your guard dog is always in front of you - that's it's purpose and training, to jump in front of something trying to hit you. If you want to keep your dog safe that is your IC choice, but it means you ARE on the front line. The attack came at Fingers - it isn't an 'evil villian GM' it is how guard dogs work.

I pulled a lot of punches already. We're moving to the next round. Take a break and come back later.

[Zhym]

A 'standing rule' that you can never be targeted because you hide behind the other PCs is not fair. Other PCs can choose to shield you in their actions but you cannot force it on them.

Why not? Isn't that what a marching order is?

We also did something very similar with the spectre in the family tomb: we explicitly set up Fingers behind the tough fighters. You have respected Fingers staying the heck off the front lines before, including when I pointed out that he expressly stated that he would not be in front (when he stepped back for someone else to light some oil, long ago). The difference here is that (1) we're in an "open" combat of your own devising, with no opportunity for us to arrange ourselves; (2) none of the players knew until after the combat that we had to explicitly say whether anyone is allowed to hide behind anyone else; and as a result, (3) the decision of whether to use a formation we've used before is now with the knowledge that someone is going to get hit.

Should we have paused the combat to see if anyone (including NPCs) lets Fingers hide behind them? How was I supposed to handle that?

If Finger's stated action had been running away instead of backing away, would you have allowed him to avoid combat? Or was there no move Fingers could have made that would have let him avoid being a target?

Unfortunately, you've rejected all of the suggestions I've made that would give a chance of all that not mattering: letting Figers's bow work the way it always has worked, letting Fingers have been hidden with his cloak, letting XP-enhanced Sprinkles have the same effect an XP-enhanced weapon would have. From this side of the DM screen, you ignored my stated action and changed the rules on me. And now I have the "it's you or your dog" choice. Maybe you have reasons, but it all seems pretty capricious to me.

[onlyme]

is there any chance of anyone recruiting a good spectre to fight the bad ones, or have they all fled completely including the cardinal?

[onlyme]

And markd swung his staff again

: Staff (thac0 16) [1d20+5] = 14+5 = 19 ; damage [1d8+5] = 3+5 = 8

[Marullus]

Good enough.

Markd's follow-up swing impacts the kobold's ghost as it grapples Sprinkles, dissipating it into a mist. Sprinkles whimpers on the floor, the party catches it's breath.

The chamber is now empty, the glowing chandeliers illuminating it. An oppressive pall that hung over the tomb at the edge of your perception is now gone, the enchantment of the trial broken. The book still lies open on the table. The crumbled remains of the kobolds, ogre, and humans who were in thrall on the benches lie on the floor amidst the bench rows.

Date: 10:02pm, 24 July 2021
Light: Magic Chandeliers
Effects: None.
Injuries: Markd (superficial wounds)

[Zhym]

Fingers drops his bow and collapses on Sprinkles, enveloping his dog in a big hug. "Bad dog!" he says. The words are harsh, but his tone is gentle. "I told you to heel. You should have heeled. Bad, bad dog." He rubs Sprinkles behind the ears as he continues uttering soothing admonishments.

He scowls angrily at Silmaril. "Fat lot of help you were," he spits at the bow. "What, gargoyles are good enough for you, but not ghosts?"

"Awright," he says, picking up his bow with a disgusted scoff and standing up. "Let's see if any of these jagoffs have any treasure worth taking. And then maybe we can get back to sleep."

[onlyme]

Markd picks up the book, looking to see if the page turned to something important. He will stow it, along with the staff.

He will then hold out his knife, in case something comes back looking for them.

(where did the fleeing spectre go? do we have free run of the room?)

[Alethan]

Bandy lets out a long sigh of relief as Markd thrusts his exploding staff into the kobold destroys the final spectre.

After pausing for a moment to make sure there is no further danger, Bandy looks around for Agheth, hoping he can at least wave goodbye to her. Then he joins Fingers in searching the dried remains for anything of value.

[DavetheLost]

Hengist slowly lowers his holy symbol then joins his companions in surveying the contents of the room.