PF2e Abomination Vaults IC

[Thunder999]

OOC Thread

Now with a Dice Thread

Spoiler: A warning and popular nursery rhyme in Otari

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When the fog is creeping,
And the moon is low;
When the town is sleeping,
Gauntlight starts to glow!
That’s when she arises
For her midnight lunch.
Naughty kids are prizes
For her teeth to crunch.
But if you obey me,
And obey the rules;
You’re safe from Belcorra;
She just eats the fools!

Earlier today Wrin Sivinxi reached out to each of you, claiming she saw a strange glow atop the Gauntlight, and while at the time none of you could see anything, she was insistent that you investigate.

That's how you found yourselves on this overgrown trail a half hour from town.
Not much is initially visible through the cloying mists of the Fogfen, though the chorus of croaking frogs, buzzing mosquitos and sloshing water is ever present.
As you drew closer the mists part and the shadow of the ruins looms above you, a sprawling ruin of stone and wood squats atop an island in the soggy marsh. The upper floors have largely collapsed, leaving only the stone walls of the ground floor intact. Above these ruins towers an out‑of‑place monument a colossal lighthouse whose painted walls and iron‑cased crown have resisted the corrosive effects of the surrounding swamp.
In the dark of evening an eerie blue glow can just be made out atop that lighthouse, your friend was right.

Spoiler: Map, you start at the very bottom

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[Infernally Clay]

Sachiko Kaminaga Kitsune Thief Rogue AC: 18 | HP: 16/16 Fortitude: +3 | Reflex: +9 | Will: +6 | Perception: +6 Hero Points: 1/1 Active Effects: None Conditions: None

"Quiet now," Sachi says to the others, "Let's not draw too much attention to ourselves before we know the attention of whom or what we might be drawing."

She then approaches the large double doors.

[Zero Prime]

Khaza'dun, High-helm Exile AC: 17 | HP: 23 | Current: 23 | Hero Points: 1 Fortitude: +8 | Reflex: +6 | Will: +5 | Perception: +7 Active Effects: None. Conditions: None.

The stocky dwarf had insisted at being near the front of the group, he didn't want to risk any predators from the Fogfen stalking the group. Khaza'dun wasn't convinced that Sivinxi's warnings were, in fact, a threat to Otari. However, given his past in High-helm, he wasn't one to dismiss a threat, especially when delivered by a woman who claimed to read the future in the night sky.

"Careful child," the old dwarf whispered, he crept forward, his maul held parallel to the group, he moved cautiously, staying behind the young rogue. "Unknown threats lurk and we had best be prepared." He kept his head on a swivel, swinging back and forth scanning the woods, and the crumbling walls around them.

Spoiler: Out of Character Actions

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OOC: Move towards the double doors at the Gatehouse. Will use the Scouting Activity to give the group +1 circumstance bonus to Initiative.

[Xihirli]

Firtina glanced at Sachi, then her eyes slowly rolled up to the halo floating over her head and glowing.
She remembered Mother Mildred telling her that her light was a gift from Pharasma, showing all the way to their fates as a shining beacon.
She didn’t like having it off.

"So we want to go in… unnoticed?" she confirmed, reluctantly willing her halo to flicker out.

[CasualViking]

Khalendel "Quiet and dim would be best". Khalendel slips into the bushes, crouches down and levels his crossbow at the door.

---

^{AC: 18| HP: 15/15 | Perception:[/B] +6 (lowlight) | Hero Points: 1/1 | Active Effects: None | Conditions: None}

[Bobthewizard]

Lera Trask Human Kineticist AC: 18 | HP: 20/20 Fortitude: +9 | Reflex: +6 | Will: +4 | Perception: +4 Hero Points: 1/1 Active Effects: Armor in Earth, Gate Conditions: None

Lera stays just behind Khaza'dun and Sachiko. They had all done a couple small jobs together for Wrin in the recent past, but nothing that had led to any real danger or violence. It's been enough that she has learned that her companions are reliable and have good-hearts, though.

As she approaches the door, the mud that always drips off of her now seems to rise up and swirl through the air. Not enough to coat the others, but just enough for them to barely notice. They've all seen it before and know this is part of her magic.

"Let's see what's in here."

Spoiler: OOC

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channel elements

Spoiler: background

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Lera grew up on a farm on the edges of the Fogfen swamp. She spent her childhood swimming through the mud and detritus of the swamp, eventually becoming one with the filthy water. One day, while she was out playing in the water, a great beast of mud rose up and swallowed her. Inside its mouth, she bit its inner cheek as hard as she could and the creature spit her out. She lay on the boggy ground, covered in slime, for several hours. That was enough to infuse the essence of the creature in her. Over the next few years, she developed the ability to create and mold the mud, earth, and water around her. She spent more time in the swamp, and less time around other people.

She knows that there are even more monstrous things out in the swamp known as Fogfen; she's seen these things through the mist, gliding through the murky water and heaving themselves over sodden bits of land. No one in Otari believes her tales of swamp monsters from the depths. She'll just have to prove to them that there are truly monsters out there, and that they were wrong to doubt her.

[Thunder999]

Thw building, once a watchtower is coated in Swaths of mildew and mold, forming green and black smears on the dull stone walls. The doorframes are long since rotted, allowing you to see right through to the other side, a few collapsed chairs lie on the floor amid small heaps of foul‑smelling gray lumps, the stench stinging your nostrils. Thick sheets of dusty cobwebs hang from above, obscuring any view of the ceiling.

Despite the cobwebs, all of you other than Khaza'dun, who perhaps did not look up enough, see a strange network of sodden ropes and planks in the 3ft gap between the cobwebs and the 10ft high ceiling.
Khalandel recognises the foul smelling gray lumps as the excrement of an unpleasant, but cowardly species of Fey known as Mitflits or Mites, perhaps it is they who use those ropes and planks.
So, do you head inside?

[Bobthewizard]

Lera Trask Human Kineticist AC: 18 | HP: 20/20 Fortitude: +9 | Reflex: +6 | Will: +4 | Perception: +4 Hero Points: 1/1 Active Effects: Armor in Earth, Gate Conditions: None

Lera sees the cobwebs above. She also sees that the others have looked up except for Khaza'dun. She taps him on the shoulder before he enters and points up, whispering.

"Up there. Spiders, maybe?"

But she sees no choice other than to enter. Hopefully when the spiders attack, we at least won't be surprised.

[Infernally Clay]

[QUOTE=Infernally Clay;25929305]

Sachiko Kaminaga Kitsune Thief Rogue AC: 18 | HP: 16/16 Fortitude: +3 | Reflex: +9 | Will: +6 | Perception: +6 Hero Points: 1/1 Active Effects: None Conditions: None

"Allow me to check the coast is clear first," Sachi says, sneaking inside, "I'll whistle if it's safe to enter."

Spoiler: OOC

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Sachiko will take the Sneak action as she enters the building and attempt to Seek any living creatures inside.
Stealth check: (1d20+7)[21]
Perception check: Got a 10 in the OOC

[Xihirli]

Firtina nods to her friend and remains as quiet as possible, staying back and keeping an eye on the webs.

Spoiler

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I’ll be taking the Seek exploration action. (1d20+7)[27]

[CasualViking]

Khalendel Khalendel sneaks up to the left side of the door, hiding behind wall. stealth - (1d20+5)[7]

---

^{AC: 18| HP: 15/15 | Perception: +6 (lowlight) | Hero Points: 1/1 | Active Effects: None | Conditions: None}

[Thunder999]

Sachiko slips in unnoticed, but Khalendel is noticed by the Mitflits.

The shout down from above, in a rather odd squeaky voice, you think they might be trying to do an impression, alas it is in a language none of you understand (Undercommon for the curious) and pretty terrible anyway. When noone follows the suggestions that they couldn't even understand, they shriek in rage.

None of you can see what Mitflit2 does, he's far too sneaky.

Mitflit1 on the other hand hurls a pair of darts at Lera then takes cover on the plank.

Spoiler: Rolls

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(1d20+8)[20] vs AC 18 for (1d4-1)[0]
(1d20+4)[5] vs AC 18 for (1d4-1)[1]

Spoiler: Map

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It's now the entire party's turn, they're only 7ft up, so you can swing at them in melee just fine.

[Zero Prime]

Khaza'dun, High-helm Exile AC: 17 | HP: 23 | Current: 23 | Hero Points: 1 Fortitude: +8 | Reflex: +6 | Will: +5 | Perception: +7 Active Effects: None. Conditions: None.

Khaza'dun watched as Sachiko and Lera moved towards the courtyard, however, a sudden, screeching, laughing drew his attention and a barrage of darts clattered against stone and armor as two of them threw darts at Lera before retreating to the sodden boards that hung above the chamber.

"Ach! You little blighters! C'mere 'n feel the weight o' me maul!" Short, stout legs propelled the dwarven fighter forward, moving towards the center of the chamber, putting the mitflits them all within reach of the veinstone maul. Then lifting the massive maul over his head he began to swat at the gruesome creatures who flew above his head.

Spoiler: Out of Character Actions

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OOC: Action 1: Stride NW-N-N-N
Action 2: Strike #1 M1 (1d20+9)[15] vs AC; (1d12+4)[15] blunt damage.
Action 3: Strike #2 (-5 MAP) M1 (or M4 if M1 is dead) (1d20+4)[7] vs AC; (1d12+4)[9] blunt damage.

Reaction: Attack of Opportunity (if Provoked by Move, Manipulate or Ranged Attack) (1d20+9)[23] vs AC; (1d12+4)[8] blunt damage.

[Infernally Clay]

Sachiko Kaminaga Kitsune Thief Rogue AC: 18 | HP: 16/16 Fortitude: +3 | Reflex: +9 | Will: +6 | Perception: +6 Hero Points: 1/1 Active Effects: None Conditions: None

Sachi ducks under the first mitflit and attacks the one behind it, taking advantage of the surprise to hopefully deal a decisive blow.

Spoiler

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Move beneath Mitflit4.
Surprise Attack means creatures who haven't acted yet are considered flat-footed against Sachiko.
Attack #1 - Rapier vs Mitflit4. To hit: (1d20+7)[14], to damage: (1d6+4)[7], sneak attack damage: (1d6)[4] (11 total)
Attack #2 - Rapier vs Mitflit4. To hit: (1d20+2)[16], to damage: (1d6+4)[9], sneak attack damage: (1d6)[2] (11 total)

If the first attack kills Mitflit4, instead of the second attack move towards M3.

[Thunder999]

Khaza'dun strikes true with his first swing, crushing the creature with a single blow and painting the cobwebs red, his second swing misses, but before the other mitflit can react Sachiko has pierced its heart.

Only one mitflit is still visible, and it's looking decidedly nervous.

[Xihirli]

Firtina frowns as the blood is spilled and addresses the Mitflit, trying to talk it down.

"Come down here and speak to us, it would be a shame if more blood had to be spilled. We can protect you if you surrender."
Just in case though, she swirls her hands and her halo reappears, not over her head but in between her and the Mitflit, forming a thin barrier in front of her.

Spoiler: Actions

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1: Stride forward to get within 10 feet of remaning Mitflit
2: Try and get it to surrender which might be a demoralize check, (1d20+6)[7] if so.
3: Cast Shield to get +1 AC.

[CasualViking]

Khalendel Khalendel winces as the stick crunches beneath his foot. "shingles!" he hisses. "Useless fool, getting in the way". He looks at the last of the small gremlins, trying to suss out what their weakness might be. *Exploit Weakness vs. M3 eldritch lore - (1d20+7)[26]. He levels his crossbow at it, but holds off on pulling the trigger (**Ready action to shoot if it attacks).

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^{AC: 18| HP: 15/15 | Perception: +6 (lowlight) | Hero Points: 1/1 | Active Effects: None | Conditions: None}

Spoiler: Exploit Weakness

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Standard DC for level.

Critical Success You remember the creature's weaknesses, and as you empower your esoterica, you have a flash of insight that grants even more knowledge about the creature. You learn all of the creature's resistances, weaknesses, and immunities, including the amounts of the resistances and weaknesses and any unusual weaknesses or vulnerabilities, such as what spells will pass through a golem's antimagic. You can exploit either the creature's mortal weakness or personal antithesis (see below). Your unarmed and weapon Strikes against the creature also become magical if they weren't already. Also, gain knowledge as from a successful Recall Knowledge check (from Diverse Lore feat)
Success You recall an important fact about the creature, learning its highest weakness (or one of its highest weaknesses, if it has multiple with the same value) but not its other weaknesses, resistances, or immunities. You can exploit either the creature's mortal weakness or personal antithesis. Your unarmed and weapon Strikes against the creature also become magical if they weren't already. Also, gain knowledge as from a successful Recall Knowledge check (from Diverse Lore feat)
Failure Failing to recall a salient weakness about the creature, you instead attempt to exploit a more personal vulnerability. You can exploit only the creature's personal antithesis. Your unarmed and weapon Strikes against the creature also become magical if they weren't already.
Critical Failure You couldn't remember the right object to use and become distracted while you rummage through your esoterica. You become flat-footed until the beginning of your next turn.

With a gesture and a word of magic, he calls on lightning to strike the other two. **Electric Arc, (1d4+4)[5] electricity to M1&M4, Basic Reflex 17.

[Bobthewizard]

Lera Trask Human Kineticist AC: 18 | HP: 20/20 Fortitude: +9 | Reflex: +6 | Will: +4 | Perception: +4 Hero Points: 1/1 Active Effects: Armor in Earth, Gate Conditions: None

Lera walks into the room with the others. She is still not sure what these things are, but they are attacking us and need to be eliminated.

"I guess they aren't spiders. I don't think it's going to surrender."

She throws a muddy dagger at the last visible mitflit, and then tries to find the hidden one.

Spoiler: OOC

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Action 1: Move into room (15' north)
Action 2: Elemental Blast at Mitflit #3 (1d20+7)[20], (1d8)[6] bludgeoning
Action 3: Seek Mitflit #2, Perception (1d20+5)[17]

[Thunder999]

Lera's muddy dagger digs into the creature, but leaves it standing.

If flees northwest (Only fighters get AoOs, so its perfectly safe to do so) and disappears from sight.

Spoiler: map

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I hope these are OK, I'm just editing map images in paint.net
That line was always there, just not on the map and I forgot to add it.

[Bobthewizard]

Lera Trask Human Kineticist AC: 18 | HP: 20/20 Fortitude: +9 | Reflex: +6 | Will: +4 | Perception: +4 Hero Points: 1/1 Active Effects: Armor in Earth, Gate Conditions: None

"Let's see if we can stop them before they warn something more powerful."

Lera follows after the Mitflit. If she catches up to it she creates a grapefruit-sized rock and throws it at the creature.

Spoiler: OOC

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Action 1: Stride North 30'
Action 2: Seek Mitflit #2 or #3, Perception (1d20+5)[12] or Balance if she needs to in order to cross the bridge.
Action 3: Elemental Blast at Mitflit #3 (or #2 if that's the only one she sees) (1d20+7)[15], (1d8+3)[9] bludgeoning
If she doesn't need to Seek or Balance, then change the blast to two actions and add 4 to the damage.

[Thunder999]

The mitflit is in plain view, part way along that vine (the conspicuous straight line), it might not have drawn attention normally, but the fleeing gremlin stands out clearly without cobwebs to hide behind. you are nonetheless rather glad you took the time to look around, as the bridge has been sabotaged and will not support the weight of a medium creature (nor will the vine, though that's not sabotage). The water is only around 5ft deep at the bridge (though deepens further out, so not a very dangerous trap, but it would certainly slow any pursuit.
The mitflit falls to a watery grave as a boulder the size of its head finishes it off.

Spoiler: OOC

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I decided to keep your seek action so you'd find the trapped bridge
Sachiko may act, but then it's a monster.

[Xihirli]

Firtina is not far behind and frowns at the death of the mitflit.
"I hope we don’t have to kill too many more…" she mutters.
"Or this might not be worth it."

[Thunder999]

Lured by the disturbance a slime coated, tusked frog the size of an orc leaps out from the water and tries to impale the nearest person, Lera, on its tusks

Spoiler: OOC/rolls

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It literally leaps because the water is greater difficult terrain, twice in fact as it was a fair ways out.

Your characters will never learn this, but that Mitflit on the vine dropped a chunk of meat into the water to lure this thing as part of their escape plan, alas they only have a 20ft speed so it was still in blasting range.

(1d20+12)[25] for (1d8+5)[9] piercing damage

If you want to recall knowledge then it's either Nature or Esoteric Lore out of the options you have.

Spoiler: MAP

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That's as far outside as you can get without triggering the trapped bridge.

[Bobthewizard]

Lera Trask Human Kineticist AC: 18 | HP: 11/20 Fortitude: +9 | Reflex: +6 | Will: +4 | Perception: +4 Hero Points: 1/1 Active Effects: Armor in Earth, Gate Conditions: None

When she sees the tusked frog jump out of the water the first time, she smiles at her discovery.

"Ah hah, I knew these things were real!"

But her curiosity will have to wait as the frog jumps a second time and buries a tusk deep into her thigh. She lashes out with a muddy spear, trying to stab it in the face, immediately followed by a rock sword that slashes at the creature.

Spoiler: OOC

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Action 1-2: Weapon infusion Blast (1d20+7)[13], (1d8+7)[9] piercing
Action 3: Weapon Infusion Blast (forceful), (1d20+3)[11], (1d8+3)[7] slashing

[Thunder999]

The slurk manages to evade both attacks

[Xihirli]

Firtina takes an odd approach and jumps in the water, wading to get behind the Slurk and prevent its movement. Still keeping her hardened halo in front if her, she tries her best to ribbit in a threatening manner.

Spoiler: Actions

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1: Stride to the adjacent square to the frog, one to the north of it. Come flank with me, friends!
2: Cast Shield to jump all the way to AC 14.
3: I’ll also go for a demoralize at a presumed language barrier penalty. (1d20+1)[13]

Queing Shield Block reaction to reduce any hits I take by 5 damage.

[Zero Prime]

Khaza'dun, High-helm Exile AC: 17 | HP: 23 | Current: 23 | Hero Points: 1 Fortitude: +8 | Reflex: +6 | Will: +5 | Perception: +7 Active Effects: None. Conditions: None.

The large dwarf watched Lena charge forward as the monstrous tusked, frog looking beast emerged from the brackish slime. "Stand back lass, let it come to us. Hold the gate." A sound, defensive strategy, never give up the advantage. And then he watched the thrice-blessed Sister of Fates went for a bath in the filthy water, in some exuberant display of foolhardiness. "And now you've alerted the rest of it's friends," Khaza'dun grumbled, hefting his maul, and moved forward to back up Lera, wearily sighing. "Children," he muttered to himself.

Spoiler: Out of Character Actions

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Action 1: Stride N-N-E to end up in the corner of the walls, to Lera's SE.
Action 2 & 3: Ready an Action to Strike a hostile creature who moves into maul range. (1d20+9)[10] vs AC of triggering creature, for (1d12+4)[12] damage.

[Infernally Clay]

Sachiko Kaminaga Kitsune Thief Rogue AC: 18 | HP: 16/16 Fortitude: +3 | Reflex: +9 | Will: +6 | Perception: +6 Hero Points: 1/1 Active Effects: None Conditions: None

Sachi merely shrugs at Khaz. "I guess we had best get them out of trouble."

She then moves forward, positioning herself north of Lera, before slashing at the slurk.

Spoiler

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Rapier attack. To hit: (1d20+7)[26], to damage: (1d6+4)[10] piercing damage.

[CasualViking]

Khalendel Khalendel hustles into the room, and looks at the creature. "Oh, that's a Slurk. No particular vulnerabilities, but it doesn't like salt". He pulls the trigger, and a bolt hits the slimy creature with a satisfying thunk. *Move (30', just north of where Sachiko is on the map), *Exploit Weakness (crit success), *Crossbow (AC 25, 11 damage with Exploit).

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^{AC: 18| HP: 15/15 | Perception: +6 (lowlight) | Hero Points: 1/1 | Active Effects: None | Conditions: None}

[Thunder999]

Sachi lands a solid stab on the Slurk, though it proves much sturdier than the Mitflits and remains standing.
Khalendel thinks for a moment and realises he's actually heard a few tales of these creatures, though not within his time in Otari. Slurks are usually found deep underground, while many theorise they are a long forgotten failed attempt and animal husbandry by dwarves, these days they're usually trained by Kobolds as guard-beasta and mounts. It is very unusual to see one here. Their defining feature is their slime in its many forms, they can spray gouts of sticky goo to inhibit its foes (OOC ranged attack for Clumsy 1 and a 5ft speed penalty), spray a vast quantity of slipper slime from their backs that renders the entire area around them slipper and uneven (OOC 3 actions, generates a 5ft radius of uneven ground around the creature) and they're coated in a third slime which both protects them from their own excretions and makes them truly slippery opponents (+2 to fortitude DCs vs grapple and shove). They're weak minded beasts, not particularly agile and very resilient (fort>ref>will)
(You also crit for the recall knowledge DC, nice)
The bolt fizzes a little on impact, and though pained the Slurk still stands.

The Slurk stabs right back at Sachi with its vicious tusks, the first swing misses, but the follow up leaves her bleeding out. This beast is clearly very dangerous.

Spoiler: OOC/Rolls

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(1d20+12)[16] vs AC 18 for (1d8+5)[8] damage to Sachi
(1d20+7)[20] vs AC 18 for (1d8+5)[11] damage to Sachi
(1d20+2)[22] vs AC 18 for (1d8+5)[9] damage to Sachi
This creature has literally nothing that doesn't take MAP (other than the 3 action grease which won't even do anything with it and you in the water already), so stabby stab stab it is, it's stupid (-4 int mod) anyway. So no need for smart tactics.