Expedition: Ablesforth: The Demon Hole: Part 2 - 30 Aug 2021

[Marullus]

This case is clearly offensive in it's action. I don't recall the previous one precisely; I think you were fleeing?

I am holding here for a post from Pendleton as the only active PC.

[Zhym]

Pendleton seriously considers fleeing. He warned Ablesforth about pressing their luck...and now here they are. And he's just one person, out of spells that would do any good.

But he wouldn't want to be left to these things, even if he fell from his own folly.

"Fall back!" he cries to the Templars as he lunges for the cleric's prostrate form to drag it away from the battle—hoping as he does that his ward versus the infernal will protect him.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Last time Able was acting as a barrier in a doorway keeping some infernal from entering the room where the others were fighting. He cast it twice, then entered the battle, pouring holy water onto the downed sniffers.

Oh well.

Pendleton should grab Able's Maul and the necklace of ESP

[Zhym]

Ooh, I forgot about the necklace of ESP. Pendleton could definitely make use of that! Marullus, can I change my action?

Although, if Pendleton gets the necklace by abandoning Able and the Templars live to tell about it, the thought he'll most often hear from people is, "There goes that asshole Pendleton."

[Marullus]

Pendleton rushes forward, his wards still protecting him, to grab Ablesforth's body where he lies on the floor. Idriss goes to help him - their pair of wards protects the fallen cleric enough that they can grab him and get him safely away from the half-headed demonspawn.

Bolstered by Pendleton's bravery, the three Templars press their attack on the creatures. Molay slices one deeply, dropping it to the floor (critical hit, -10) while the combined efforts of Jacques (-3) and Dolph (-4) take down another. The remaining three are pushed back, unable to land blows against three guardian warriors.

Idriss leads the way as you back through the doorway as Pendleton drags Ablsforth, becoming visible detectable. You make it out of the knotwork room and into the room with the insulting statue. "Fools! Your death is near!" it sneers at you.

"Lookout! There's more!" yells Idriss. The three follow as the Templars hold them at the doorway, but Idriss calls your attention to eight more coming through the doorway straight behind you which leads to the barracks A flock of ten human eyeballs floating, detached, in the air above them and staring at you, lidless and creepy.

(Round 3. Actions!)

Date: 31 August 2021, 1:40pm
Light: Dolph's torch (until 1:53pm)
Effects: Protection from Evil (Pendleton/Idriss); Invisibility (Pendleton)
Injuries: Ablesforth (near death, unconscious); Jacques (moderately injured); Pendleton (mildly injured), Molay (mildly injured)

initiative: us [1d6] = 5 them [1d6] = 1
Molay longsword (Thac0 15) [1d20] = 20 [1d8+3] = 2+3 = 5 Jacques longsword longsword (Thac0 16) [1d20] = 17 [1d8+2] = 1+2 = 3
Dolph Two-handed Sword (Thac0 16) [1d20] = 15 [1d10+2] = 2+2 = 4
Spawn [1d20] = 13[1d20] = 10[1d20] = 10

[Zhym]

Pendleton glances at the new front of halfheads with mounting despair and pours a potion of healing down Ablesforth's throat.

Potion of Healing: [1d6+1] = 3+1 = 4
Potion marked off.

Did Pendleton do something to remove his invisibility?

[Marullus]

Did Pendleton do something to remove his invisibility?

Entering the melee and using his Warding to protect him as he bodily pulled Ablesforth's body away from the demons.

What is Pendleton's plan? What directions does he yell to the Templars?

[Zhym]

I wouldn't have thought that any of that would have counted as an offensive action.

But it's not like it makes a difference.

[Marullus]

Fair enough.
I re-read the book and it is more stringent than I am. I'll allow you to still be Invisible. (It gives you a -4 AC bonus, which isn't insignificant.)

Edit:
Sorry, I'm discombobulated.
* You were detectable (like stepping in a puddle) because your actions. I'll adjust that it didn't ruin your actual invisibility.
* You already know that the Invisiblity doesn't provide significant benefit (including AC bonus) against the eyeless demons. So you're right... not much impact in this case.
* I went back and added the floating eyeballs. It does effectively mask you from THEM.

[Rusty Tincanne]

If we have another Web spell, that would be useful against the newest batch.

Does Idriss have any spells left? Able can cast Hold Person twice. And he has Light and Dispel Magic...

If we could get past the blood room door, we could open it, and (hopefully) set the halfheads back.

[Marullus]

Idriss has used up Magic Missile(s) and Mirror Other.

He has Light, Floating Disc, Locate Object, Mirror Image (on self), and Stinking Cloud.

What is Pendleton's plan? What directions does he yell to the Templars?

[Zhym]

Pendleton's plan is still to get Ablesforth on his feet. Well, it's more of an action then a plan. His plan is to hope that Able has a bright idea. As for giving instructions to the Templars, Pendleton trusts them to handle battle.

If we have another Web spell, that would be useful against the newest batch.

Yup. But remember when Pendleton said he was all out of Web spells? Still true. :/

[Rusty Tincanne]

I was... I was unconscious when he said that.

The last few times we we're attacked by multiple groups of sniffers, the PFE was reset with each group. So the Templars should leave the new sniffers alone.

Then again, I was dead wrong about Hold Person...

[Zhym]

I was... I was unconscious when he said that.

I'm pretty sure Pendleton said that back in the room with all the traps, before Able decided to press our luck by attacking the sniffers.

Pendleton really should just grab the ESP medallion and run. Or should have, if we weren't surrounded now.

[Marullus]

-An unconscious character with 0 HP who receives magical healing will wake the following combat round and use it recovering his or her wits, but be able to act without penalty in the round after that.

Pendleton bends down invisibly and guides the healing potion into Ableforth's mouth by touch. The unconscious cleric drinks it numbly, letting the healing energies infuse him until he comes awake, spending a moment to gather his wits.

Idriss casts his incantations, a second copy of himself appearing, both of the wizards holding their acrobatic balance pole/staff horizontally in a defensive stance against the onslaught of demonspawn. Dolph breaks away, leaving Jacques and Molay to hold the northern doorway alone, and rushes to help Idriss against the newly-multiplied threat.

The three at the northern door are beaten back - Jacques slices one viciously (-7) where it falls back from the fight, but Molay is overwhelmed, his sword wrenched from his grasp (critical fumble) and blocking the doorway with his shield.

At the southern end of the room, Idriss tries his best to hold back all eight of the half-headed spawn, their flying eyeballs drifting into the room and spreading out to watch the fight. Dolph is barreled over by the herd (critical fumble), which lets one of the spawn through to where Pendleton is ministering to Ablesforth. The cleric, just coming to consciousness, is slashed by the half-head's claws (-2) before Pendleton can interpose his invisible body, styming worse damage.

Jacques and Idriss continue to hold the onslaught, Jacques sword slicing down a second spawn (-9) and leaving only one more slathering at the northern door. Idriss's body double evaporates as the spawn pile upon it (it having no warding), but he allows precious time for Dolph to get back to his feet and Ablesforth to rise, his wits once again with him.


(Round 5. Actions!)

Date: 31 August 2021, 1:40pm
Light: Dolph's torch (until 1:53pm)
Effects: Protection from Evil (Pendleton/Idriss); Invisibility (Pendleton)
Injuries: Ablesforth (severely injured); Dolph (severely injured); Jacques (moderately injured); Pendleton (mildly injured), Molay (mildly injured)

[1d4] = 1 images
initiative: us [1d6] = 5 them [1d6] = 6
Spawn [1d20] = 10[1d20] = 7[1d20] = 7[1d20] = 2[1d20] = 16[1d20] = 19
Spawn [1d20] = 6[1d20] = 3[1d20] = 2[1d20] = 18[1d20] = 12[1d20] = 14
All three at north miss.
Four in south have potential (1-2 Idriss, 3-4 Dolph, 5 Pendleton/Ablesforth)
spawn target [1d5] = 5[1d5] = 2[1d5] = 2[1d5] = 2
[1d4] = 2 claws
Molay longsword (Thac0 15) [1d20] = 1 [1d8+3] = 6+3 = 9 Jacques longsword longsword (Thac0 16) [1d20] = 18 [1d8+2] = 5+2 = 7
Dolph Two-handed Sword (Thac0 16) [1d20] = 1 [1d10+2] = 8+2 = 10

initiative: us [1d6] = 2 them [1d6] = 3
Spawn [1d20] = 9[1d20] = 6[1d20] = 6[1d20] = 1[1d20] = 16[1d20] = 18
Spawn [1d20] = 12[1d20] = 9[1d20] = 9[1d20] = 4[1d20] = 19[1d20] = 1
spawn target [1d5] = 2[1d5] = 4[1d5] = 1
[1d4] = 2 claws
Jacques longsword longsword (Thac0 16) [1d20] = 10 [1d8+2] = 7+2 = 9

Question: Dolph wasn't listed on my injured line of the previous post, but I had him severe (7/23) in my records. He's now at 5/23 and Ablesforth is at 2/24. I am assuming I just forgot to mention Dolph, in which case I apologize. If there was healing done to him that I didn't record, please post it and I'll adjust the main records.

[Zhym]

Pendleton tries to keep out of the way of combat and looks for a way around the southern sniffers for a way to escape. "We could retreat northeast, loop around through the knotwork room , then back here," he suggests to Able in a low voice. "If the demonspawn all pursue, we'd pull them away from blocking our escape."

Here's the general idea:

escape.png (144.16 KiB) Viewed 262 times

"Yakkety Sax" while the demonspawn all chase us is optional.

[Rusty Tincanne]

If we can pause a moment, please...

That narrative sounds like Able was attacked by one of the new sniffers, not the previous group. If that is true, then I am really confused. In our previous encounters, when we attacked one group of sniffers, our PFE was reset when we met up with another group. Is this not the case anymore? Because, along with using Hold Person "offensively", that was part of the plan, as stated both in and out of character.

I am okay accepting that I used Hold Person more aggressively this time (though in the past he had used it in the midst of a battle to incapacitate and then kill sniffers), but if the PFE isn't reset each time, then these characters came in here under very false pretenses. (Though that is probably not the correct will to use ...) And mostly, I never intended to cause a TPK.

[Marullus]

Pausing is fine.

I actually don't understand the logic. How can you be actively engaged in battle, have more opponents arrive, and expect they to respond to your pacifism?

In the past, wasn't there a break in the battle? You finished fighting one group, then a second group arrived?

[Rusty Tincanne]

Hey! Who said your job is to make me feel dumb!?
J/k. True enough. But that merely confirms my naivety. You'd think a cleric would know better how this stuff works before trying it out....
Okay then... per Marullus's compass bearings:

Able tells Idriss to gather up the wounded, then follow him. Using Pendleton's bravery as cover, Able runs East to the next room, calling the others to follow him. He begins the Prayer of Sanctuary, hoping he can prevent the infernal from entering the room. Or at least some of them.

[Marullus]

Idriss and Pendleton continue to interpose their warded selves to keep the spawn corralled at the rear while Dolph and Jacques strike down the last demon at the other door with their imbued weapons. Backing away to the east door into the ransacked dining room, Ablesforth drops to his knees and prays for Eruanna to protect this room as a sanctuary for their rest as the others close the doors.

There is a tense moment, then the door springs open again, two of the half-heads bursting in. Dolph, Jacques, and Molay keep it at bay until a fierce blow from Molay lays it low. They throw the body back into the room with the statue, which yells, "You doom is sealed!" Then they close the door.

Just as you think you have a moment to rest, you see movement at the portcullis on the far wall. Thirteen more of the half-headed spawn and a handful of floating eyeballs inspect the bars, sniffing in at your campsite, but then they move on, wandering back the way they came.

Finally, it is quiet and you catch your breath. Dolph lights a new torch and looks at Ablesforth expectantly.

(Please subtract one torch.)

Date: 31 August 2021, 2:00pm
Light: Dolph's torch (until 2:53pm)
Effects: Protection from Evil (Pendleton/Idriss); Invisibility (Pendleton)
Injuries: Ablesforth (severely injured); Dolph (severely injured); Jacques (moderately injured); Pendleton (mildly injured), Molay (mildly injured)

Saves [1d20] = 1[1d20] = 18[1d20] = 18[1d20] = 13[1d20] = 8
Saves [1d20] = 10[1d20] = 8[1d20] = 7[1d20] = 3[1d20] = 17
Two spawn come through the door in pursuit, seven leave.

Third batch (13 of them) arrives next turn. Will also have to save (as a group).
[3d6] = 13 spawn
Save [1d20] = 6
They'll wander on.

Molay longsword (Thac0 15) [1d20] = 9 [1d8+3] = 3+3 = 6 Jacques longsword longsword (Thac0 16) [1d20] = 6 [1d8+2] = 1+2 = 3
Dolph Two-handed Sword (Thac0 16) [1d20] = 13 [1d10+2] = 1+2 = 3
spawn [1d20] = 16[1d4] = 1 [1d20] = 13[1d4] = 4

Molay longsword (Thac0 15) [1d20] = 6 [1d8+3] = 7+3 = 10 Jacques longsword longsword (Thac0 16) [1d20] = 3 [1d8+2] = 6+2 = 8
Dolph Two-handed Sword (Thac0 16) [1d20] = 5 [1d10+2] = 2+2 = 4
spawn [1d20] = 6[1d4] = 3

Molay longsword (Thac0 15) [1d20] = 14 [1d8+3] = 7+3 = 10 Jacques longsword longsword (Thac0 16) [1d20] = 11 [1d8+2] = 6+2 = 8