PF2e Abomination Vaults IC

[Xihirli]

Firtina keeps right on making a motion like a clock with her holy symbol, desperately pulling at the threads of time to wind back the intense damage on Lera.

Spoiler: Stay up stay up stay up stay up

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1/2: Heal! (1d10+8)[17]
3: raise my own shield.

[CasualViking]

Khalendel Another bolt bounces ineffectually off the vile creature. Frustrated, Khalendel tries to fry it with lightning instead. *strike - (1d20+9)[13] damage - (1d8+5)[11], **electric arc - (1d4+4)[7] basic ref dc 18

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^{AC: 19| HP: 23/23 | Perception: +7 (lowlight) | Hero Points: 1/1 | Active Effects: None | Conditions: | Affixed Talismans:}

[Thunder999]

The creature manages to avoid the majority of Khalandel's lightning, earning only a tiny scorch mark.

The delayed wounds from the monster's last bite reform on Lera's skin as Firtina's magic fades, though the intermediate healing keeps her conscious to fight back.

Lera struggles against the creature's grip, but is unable to break free, she puts the last of her effort into a powerful swings with a blade of rock, but just can't manage to hit the undead leech.

The bloodsiphon feasts once more upon her life, swelling with blood and Lera falls to the ground, pale and bleeding as the creature turns its maw on Sachiko, there's no dodging this time as its rows of teeth take a nasty chunk out of her, though it doesn't have time to get a proper grip.

Spoiler: OOC

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Success on reflex save for 3 damage to the Bloodsiphon, but it heals as it feeds and has now taken effectively 49 damage.
I decided to control Lera for the rest of the fight, alas that was a roll of 3 on the escape attempt.
She takes the delayed damage dropping her to 13hp, then its 6+12 blood drain.
Lera is once more unconscious, prone, drained 1 and dieing 2.
Sachiko is hit for 15 damage and Nimble Dodge will not help.

This creature really likes getting to stand still, would be much less effective if it had to move.

[Infernally Clay]

Sachiko Kaminaga Kitsune Thief Rogue 2 AC: 19 | HP: 9/24 Fortitude: +4 | Reflex: +10 | Will: +7 Perception: +7 | Stealth: +10 Cantrips: Ghost Sound, Detect Magic, Electric Arc, Gouging Claw, Mage Hand, Shield Hero Points: 1/1 Active Effects: None Conditions: None

Sachi continues the attack. "Just die already!"

Spoiler

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Action #1 - Attack vs Bloodsiphon. To hit: (1d20+9)[11] to damage: (2d6+4)[12] piercing damage.
Action #2 - Attack vs Bloodsiphon. To hit: (1d20+4)[15] to damage: (2d6+4)[12] piercing damage.
Action #3 - Cast Shield (AC is now 20)

[CasualViking]

Khalendel *Reload *reload *attack - (1d20+9)[15], damage - (1d8+5)[8]

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^{AC: 19| HP: 23/23 | Perception: +7 (lowlight) | Hero Points: 1/1 | Active Effects: None | Conditions: | Affixed Talismans:}

[Xihirli]

Firtina, with only a single Heal left, decides to keep it. She shines out a more limited amount of light, freezing Lera’s vitals in time so they could not worsen.
She also places some power of fate on Sachiko.
"We all share a destiny, buried underground. Deliver it, Sachiko!"

Spoiler: Actions

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1/2: Stabilize
3: Guidance Sachiko

[Thunder999]

Another round of attacks fail to find their mark, Lera is stable, but not able to help.

With Sachiko still in melee range the creature clamps it jaw on her, her shield keeps it from getting to her neck, but it's still enough to drop her unconscious. With both of the adjacent creatures uncoscious it lumbers slowly over to Firtina and takes a nasty bite out of her, she remains standing and is thankfully not grabbed.

Spoiler: OOC

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Without that Shield spell you'd have been Crit, but it's still a hit, 15 piercing damage from the attack, shield block won't save you from going unconscious, so no need to lock yourself out of the spell. Dieing 1, Drained 1, Prone, Unconscious, no weapon in hand.
Firtina takes 18 damage.
No change to the creature's hp 49 effective damage inflicted.

Khalandel may use his implement reaction since it's moving.

[Xihirli]

Firtina shrinks back at the attack and her halo spreads around, freezing in place and then running counterclockwise to spin time back.

Spoiler: REVERSING FATE

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(1d10)[5]

[CasualViking]

Reaction shot! (1d20+9)[14], (1d8+5)[13]

[Thunder999]

Khalandel's reactive shot misses the creature as it lunges for Firtina, Firtina reacts quickly to the injury, a wave of Vitality filling the room, a welcome respite for the living as wounds heal and lost blood is replenished, Sachiko and Lera even return to consciousness, the undead creature seems to shudder slightly, though there's little visible damage.

Now conscious, Lera rises to her feet, backs up and hurls a blade of stone, unfortunately she misses.

Spoiler: OOC

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Sachiko is Wounded 1, Prone and has no weapon in hand.
Lera is Wounded 2.
New total of 51 effective damage inflicted to the creature since it passes saves.

[Infernally Clay]

Sachiko Kaminaga Kitsune Thief Rogue 2 AC: 19 | HP: 5/24 Fortitude: +4 | Reflex: +10 | Will: +7 Perception: +7 | Stealth: +10 Cantrips: Ghost Sound, Detect Magic, Electric Arc, Gouging Claw, Mage Hand, Shield Hero Points: 1/1 Active Effects: None Conditions: Wounded 1

"Thanks for the save..." Sachi says, recovering her breathe, "Just hold on for a sec. I'll be right there."

Spoiler

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Action #1 - Stand from prone.
Action #2 - Interact to pick up rapier.
Action #3 - Battle Medicine on self (DC 15): (1d20+5)[20], to heal: (2d8)[6] hit points.

[CasualViking]

Khalendel Having seen a little more of the creature, Khalendel once again takes a moment to try and figure it out...*Exploit weakness - (1d20+8)[18] *reload *strike - (1d20+9)[23], damage - (1d8+5)[9]

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^{AC: 19| HP: 23/23 | Perception: +7 (lowlight) | Hero Points: 1/1 | Active Effects: None | Conditions: | Affixed Talismans:}

[Thunder999]

Khalandel isn't able to do any better with his second attempt at Exploit Vulnerability, but does finally land a hit.

The creature bites firtina and grabs firmly on before feasting on her blood, at which point her lshe falls to the ground unconscious.

Lera hurls a large blade of rock, which bites deep into the monsters skin, but misses a follow up.

Spoiler: OOC

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New total of 67 effective damage inflicted to the creature.
I did a 2 action then one action weapon infusion blasts for Lera, 10 damage+5 weakness for 15 to the monster. You might just be able to kill it this round.
Firtina takes 10 piercing on the bite and 12 blood drain, so she's Drained 1, Dieing 1 and Prone

[CasualViking]

Khalendel *reload *reload *strike - (1d20+9)[10], damage - (1d8+5)[12]. Hero point reroll if I don't hit at least 18: (1d20+9)[22]

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^{AC: 19| HP: 23/23 | Perception: +7 (lowlight) | Hero Points: 1/1 | Active Effects: None | Conditions: | Affixed Talismans:}

[Infernally Clay]

Sachiko Kaminaga Kitsune Thief Rogue 2 AC: 19 | HP: 5/24 Fortitude: +4 | Reflex: +10 | Will: +7 Perception: +7 | Stealth: +10 Cantrips: Ghost Sound, Detect Magic, Electric Arc, Gouging Claw, Mage Hand, Shield Hero Points: 0/1 Active Effects: None Conditions: Wounded 1

"Just die already!"

Spoiler

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Action #1 - Move to 4,1
Action #2 - Attack vs Bloodsiphon. To hit: (1d20+9)[18] (used hero point to reroll, got 21 to hit in dice rolling thread), to damage: (2d6+4)[11] piercing damage, plus (1d6)[4] sneak attack damage.
Action #3 - Attack vs Bloodsiphon. To hit: (1d20+4)[9], to damage: (2d6+4)[11] piercing damage, plus (1d6)[1] sneak attack damage.

[Thunder999]

Khalandel nearly pulls the trigger while reloading, but jerks his arm up just in time to land a hit, the creature is clearly hurt by the attack.
Sachiko comes in from behind and skewers it one final time.

The unholy abomination bursts like a balloon in an explosion of blood red gore and twisted void energy.
Despite her impresive reflexes Sachiko is simply too close to dodge and she falls to the ground bleeding as the void energy reopens her wounds, Lera avoids much of the blast, but is still unable to stay on her feet, also falling to the ground. Firtina's unconscious form stood little chance.
Khalandel takes a nasty beating, but he's not been worn down nearly so much by this fight and remains standing.

Spoiler: OOC

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Khalandel needed to reroll the natural 1, but with the creature Off-Guard an 18 hits, so Sachiko need not spend her hero point.
Death Burst (AKA the reason I encouraged you to retry that recall knowledge):
Sachiko fails with a 16, taking 15 Void damage, she's now dieing 2.
Lera succeeded, but still takes 5 damage, which drops her to dieing 3.
Firtina critically fails, so down to dieing 3 for her too.
Khalandel fails for 16 and gets to be the last elf standing.
Loot: a 25gp Onyx gem pried from the undeath machine
340/1000xp

[Thunder999]

A Minor Elixir of life is enough to revive Firtina, but it turns out she's out of Heal Spells, by the time it's in hand, Lera has succumbed to her wounds, the rest of the party remains stable long enough to be healed.

You retreat back to Otari.

After burying Lera (hopefully that reanimating light doesn't return), Wrin invites you over to her house and explains that she's asked Laila to help out, notcing you're short handed.

Spoiler: OOC

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So, I rolled recovery checks, Lera failed, it's a more heroic fate than just leaving would have been.

[Esprit15]

Laila Hakobyan Human Braggart Swashbuckler 2 AC: 19 | HP: 28/28 Fortitude: +5 | Reflex: +10 | Will: +6 Perception: +6 | Stealth: +8 Hero Points: 0/1 Active Effects: None Conditions: None

“Hello, it is a pleasure to meet you all,” the human woman says with a polite bow. She looks each of you up and down with a slight nod of the chin. Her eyes narrow slightly and she smiles. “My name is Laila Hakobyan. Lera has spoken quite fondly of each of you. I offer my condolences to your late companions.”

[Thunder999]

Healed and rested up, the party, now including Laila, returns to Gauntlight.

It doesn't take long to reach where you left off. You already checked everything to the west of the staircase, all that remains in that direction is a set of stairs leading even deeper, though what dwells below is likely even stronger than the Bloodsiphon guarding them.

To the east however, there's a locked door, the key you found in the structure directly above you fits the lock, the door is still stiff, but at least you don't need the crowbar.
Within lies a damp stone chamber, there are seven square alcoves, each containing strange magical apparatuses or alchemical sets of tools spread along the walls. The alcove to the north contains a large glass tank filled with liquid. A goblin’s corpse, clad in outdated servant’s clothing, floats inside it. A semicircular worktable covered with tools, moldy papers, and a large open book stands in front of the tank.

An investigation of the notes on the table reveals that they pertain to both necromancy and construct creation.

The only other thing of note in the room is an incomplete construct, a Soulbound Doll, in the alcove adjacent to the preserved goblin corpse, it currently resembles an armless, legless goblin, a small indentation on the back is an exact match for the gem you found on the Soulbound Doll in the room filled with broken glass.
You could slot the gem in pretty easily, and the creature should be harmless.

Other than that, you seem to be done with this area. It really is odd that this level of the structure would be so small, and not even located beneath the gauntlight itself.

Spoiler: OOC

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So OOC warning, each level of the dungeon is for characters a level higher, the surface was for level 1s, first floor down level 2s, go deeper and you'll face encounters meant to be fought at level 3. You can try it, but pretty much everything down there should be at least as hard as the Blood Siphon, on paper at least (that Blood Drain is seriously nasty though, self healing, solid damage and no rolls required).
I rolled recall knowledge and perception checks as appropriate for this room.

You have 3 options:
1. Venture deeper via the staircase near the Bloodsiphon, heading to a harder part of the dungeon.
2. Stick that gem in the incomplete construct and see if you can get more than a single sentence out of the soul fragments within, now that it won't be able to go beserk and try to kill you.
3. Try to search the rest of the surface for a way deeper that you might have missed.