PF2e Abomination Vaults IC

[Bobthewizard]

Lera Trask Human Kineticist 2 AC: 19 | HP: 34/34 Fortitude: +10 | Reflex: +7 | Will: +5 | Perception: +5 Hero Points: 2 Active Effects: Armor in Earth, Gate Conditions: None

Lera looks at the brownie and smiles. This seems much better than a wisp although she has heard they can be devious sometimes so she doesn't want to cross it.

"Sure. And we should get back to the blood room and investigate that door before the haunt returns. Let's do all that before we dive into the dungeons below."

Spoiler: OOC

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I thought we had already opened that door, but I could be wrong.

Spoiler: notes

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First, this building used to belong to someone named Volluk Azrinae.
Second, Volluk was an apprentice to someone else named Belcorra, and even though this Volluk seemed
mean and dangerous, Belcorra seemed much worse!
Finally, the spooky magic lighthouse can do more than just shine an eerie light; it can also shoot a beam
full of ghosts (this seems to fit with that painting you saw)

[Xihirli]

"We already got the door open with the crowbar, if that's the door you're referring to," Firtina says, recalling the door they couldn't force open before they'd spoken to the Guild.
"But yes, let us return to the Blood Room."

[Thunder999]

You climb the stairs in the room, the remnants of the haunt still visible on the floor, the door at the top is locked, but the bronze lighthouse engraved key opens it.

The view within the gauntlight itself is quite something:
Rows of black metal bars encase this circular chamber like a cage. Shimmering waves of force flicker between the bars and give the illusion that softly glowing glass encases this entire area. The room appears empty save for a human‑sized encasement of glass and iron that flickers and glows with an unsettling, almost nauseating pale blue shimmer—Gauntlight’s lantern, drops of blood are spread over the lantern (remember when all that blood that flowed upwards?)

After you all enter the blood on the lantern seems to boil and shimmer, forming into a dense cloud of living mist.

Spoiler: Initiative

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Firtina (1d20+8)[24] Perception
Lera (1d20+5)[22] Perception
Khalandel (1d20+7)[23] Stealth
Mist (1d20+9)[20] perception
Sachiko (1d20+10)[12] Stealth

Everyone but Sachiko may act before the mist does

Spoiler: OOC

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You probably should finish your level ups before actually acting, I did use Firtina's perception as it would be at 2nd level.

Spoiler: EDIT:map

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[Thunder999]

Khalandel knows this creature is a Vampiric Mist, an aberration which feasts upon blood, they known to be are linked to will-o'-wisps, in that both of these entities are often encountered in areas where the Outer God Nhimbaloth has brushed close to the world. Often, the wounds on a corpse fed upon by a vampiric mist bear Nhimbaloth's mark: a cluster of seven perfectly spaced punctures through which the victim's blood has been drained. It is probably connected to the haunt below, though you don't know exactly how.
They attack with tendrils that drain blood leaving bleeding wounds and potentially sapping the life from their victims. (Bleed damage and potentially Drained)
They're weak to fire and resistant to physical attacks (both 5 points)

Spoiler: OOC

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That's 1 action from khalandel to exploit vulnerability
Sachiko has also spent an action recalling knowldge, but failied

[Bobthewizard]

Lera Trask Human Kineticist 2 AC: 19 +2 shield | HP: 34/34 Fortitude: +10 | Reflex: +7 | Will: +5 | Perception: +5 Hero Points: 2 Active Effects: Armor in Earth, Gate Conditions: None

Lera shoots cold water at the mist hoping to freeze it enough that the others can land their attacks without their weapons just flowing right through the mist.

"Everyone stay behind me."

Spoiler: OOC

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2 action blast (1d20+8)[11], (1d8+4)[9] cold damage
Action 3: Raise Shield

Spoiler: notes

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building used to belong to Volluk Azrinae - seemed mean and dangerous
Volluk was an apprentice to Belcorra, much worse!
lighthouse can also shoot a beam full of ghosts

[CasualViking]

Khalendel Khalendel looks at the mist, reaches out a finger to touch it... then realization crosses his face, and he quickly puts two bolts in the mist. *strike - (1d20+8)[26], damage - (1d8+2)[9] (+vulnerability), *strike - (1d20+3)[20], damage - (1d8+2)[5] (+vulnerability)

---

^{AC: 19| HP: 23/23 | Perception: +7 (lowlight) | Hero Points: 2/2 | Active Effects: None | Conditions: None}

[Infernally Clay]

Sachiko Kaminaga Kitsune Thief Rogue 2 AC: 19 | HP: 24/24 Fortitude: +4 | Reflex: +10 | Will: +7 Perception: +7 | Stealth: +10 Prepared Spells: None Hero Points: 1/1 Active Effects: None Conditions: None

"I'll gladly let you take the lead," Sachi says, staying put as a tail appears from behind her and flings wisps of blue flame at the mist.

Spoiler

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Attack #1 - Foxfire. To hit: (1d20+8)[15], to damage: (1d4+5)[9] fire damage.
Attack #2 - Foxfire. To hit: (1d20+3)[8], to damage: (1d4+5)[8] fire damage.
Attack #3 - Foxfire. To hit: (1d20-2)[16], to damage: (1d4+5)[7] fire damage.

[Xihirli]

"Be careful, I couldn’t guess at how to really hurt this thing."
Firtina steps back and tries a more of light to see if that will manage to harm it.

Spoiler: Actions

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1: Step back away from the mist.
2/3: Divine Lance! (1d20+8)[9]; (2d4)[7]

[Thunder999]

Lera's blasts of cold fail to connect with the shifting cloud of vapor.

Khalandel has better luck, the phyiscal bolts struggle to harm such a fluid creature, but he knows its weakness and a little charcoal rubbed on each bolt sees the vapor smoldering on impact.

Firtina's Divine Lance would have worked, but her aim was off, hitting nothing.

The mist itself steps closer to Khalandel, the only one to actually hurt it, it's foggy body wrapping around the lantern to fit where a more solid creature could not, tendrils the shape of skeletal arms lash out, striking him twice and leaving 7 perfectly spaced puncture wounds from which blood pours, the mist seems to feast upon the blood as it flows and Khalandel feels rather faint.

Sachiko unleashes a barrage of magical foxfire from her tail, but not a single ball actually hits, perhaps she's gotten a little too used to that enchanted rapier.

Spoiler: OOC

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Misses from Lera and Firtina
Khalandel hits twice, the weakness and resistance effectively cancel out to do 14 total damage.
The mist is intelligent so targets the most dangerous person, both tendrils hit for 8+3=11 total slashing damage, he'll take another 6 points of persistent bleed at the end of his next turn. He failed his save both times, but the effects don't actually stack, so he's just Drained 1 (this actually makes his second save lower, but doesn't change the result).

You may all act again.

[Infernally Clay]

Sachiko Kaminaga Kitsune Thief Rogue 2 AC: 19 | HP: 24/24 Fortitude: +4 | Reflex: +10 | Will: +7 Perception: +7 | Stealth: +10 Prepared Spells: None Hero Points: 1/1 Active Effects: None Conditions: None

"Hang in there, Khal!" Sachi says

Spoiler

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Action #1 - Attack with Foxfire. To hit: (1d20+8)[23], to damage: (1d4+5)[9] fire damage.
Action #2 - Attack with Foxfire. To hit: (1d20+8)[24] (19 to hit w/ -5), to damage: (1d4+5)[8] fire damage.
Action #3 - Attack with Foxfire. To hit: (1d20+8)[22] (12 to hit w/ -10) to damage: (1d4+5)[6] fire damage.

[Thunder999]

Sachiko attacks again, landing two searing hits.

Spoiler: OOC

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14+8+9=31 total damage dealt

[Bobthewizard]

Lera Trask Human Kineticist 2 AC: 19 | HP: 34/34 Fortitude: +10 | Reflex: +7 | Will: +5 | Perception: +5 Hero Points: 2 Active Effects: Armor in Earth, Gate Conditions: None

Lera again shoots cold water at the mist hoping the mix of fire and ice confuses it and lowers its defenses. She keeps an eye on Khal but waits to see if he recovers on his own.

Spoiler: OOC

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Action 1-2: 2 action blast (1d20+8)[28], (1d8+4)[7] cold damage
Action 3: 1 action blast (1d20+3)[6], (1d8)[4] cold damage

Spoiler: notes

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building used to belong to Volluk Azrinae - seemed mean and dangerous
Volluk was an apprentice to Belcorra, much worse!
lighthouse can also shoot a beam full of ghosts

[Thunder999]

Lera's attack hits the creature hard, the flowing vapour freezing out of the air, falling to the ground as red tinged snow.

Spoiler: OOC, healing details

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Rolled lots of dice in the dice thread, it takes 11 rounds for Khalandel to get a successful flat check, that's with first aid, he can survive it if Firtina drops a single 2 action Heal when he gets low, which I suggest doing since I also suggest you rest now, to remove the Drained condition and let Firtina get her extra spell.
60/1000xp

There doesn't seem to be anything else in this room, the lantern is certainly beyond your ability to harm, sinister though it is.

[Xihirli]

Firtina does furrow her magic into Kal, undoing a bit of his fate and winding back the clock while she put up a protective barrier in front of herself.

Spoiler: Actions

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2-action heal on Kal (1d10+8)[18];
Shield on myself.

[Bobthewizard]

Lera Trask Human Kineticist 2 AC: 19 | HP: 34/34 Fortitude: +10 | Reflex: +7 | Will: +5 | Perception: +5 Hero Points: 2 Active Effects: Armor in Earth, Gate Conditions: None

Once Khal is healed, Lera tries in vain to destroy the lantern, causing a small earthquake underneath it and blasting it with rocks and ice. But nothing seems to damage the light. She gives up and sits on the floor, clearly disappointed.

"I thought we should destroy it, but I don't think I can."

After a few moments, she gathers herself and stands up.

"Khal still looks to be in rough shape. Perhaps we should head back home and try again tomorrow. Is there anything else we can do about the haunt below us?"

Spoiler: OOC

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Spoiler: notes

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Wrin, our contact
Yinyasmera, at Crook's Nook. 50gp to find her crew.
building used to belong to Volluk Azrinae - seemed mean and dangerous
Volluk was an apprentice to Belcorra, much worse!
lighthouse can also shoot a beam full of ghosts

[Infernally Clay]

Sachiko Kaminaga Kitsune Thief Rogue 2 AC: 19 | HP: 24/24 Fortitude: +4 | Reflex: +10 | Will: +7 Perception: +7 | Stealth: +10 Prepared Spells: None Hero Points: 1/1 Active Effects: None Conditions: None

"We can head back for now if you'd like," Sachi says, "Now that we know where to go next and the path is open for us. I need to consult some books I have at home anyway. I'm getting the hang of this magic stuff."

[Thunder999]

You return to town to rest and perhaps restock.
It's dark by the time you once more have sight of gauntlight, and that's when it happens.

Gauntlight shudders and its light suddenly blazes with a sickly, pale‑blue illumination. This beam arcs south, falling not directly on Otari, but onto the sprawling graveyard located at Otari’s western edge.

[Infernally Clay]

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

Once Sachi has reconvened with the others, she brings attention to the urgency surrounding the ghostly light. "We should check the graveyard before we return to the tower. We don't know what it might have awoken."

[Bobthewizard]

Lera Trask Human Kineticist 2 AC: 19 | HP: 34/34 Fortitude: +10 | Reflex: +7 | Will: +5 | Perception: +5 Hero Points: 2 Active Effects: Armor in Earth, Gate Conditions: None

Lera agrees with Sachi.

"That's an excellent idea. They might need help back in town. I'd hate for us to be hiding out here while others have to deal with this mess."

She prepares to go with the others to investigate the graveyard.

Spoiler: OOC

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Spoiler: notes

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Wrin, our contact
Yinyasmera, at Crook's Nook. 50gp to find her crew.
building used to belong to Volluk Azrinae - seemed mean and dangerous
Volluk was an apprentice to Belcorra, much worse!
lighthouse can also shoot a beam full of ghosts

[CasualViking]

Khalendel "That is.... exceedingly ominous. It's not just me, is it? The lighthouse doesn't do that regularly. I fear we can absolutely expect trouble at the graveyard". Khalendel rubs his chin and huffs out a long, exasperated breath. "Best get going, then"

---

^{AC: 19| HP: 23/23 | Perception: +7 (lowlight) | Hero Points: 2/2 | Active Effects: None | Conditions: None}

[Thunder999]

An unholy sight greets you as you arrive at the graveyard, the whole place illuminated by eerie blue light.
The soil of Otari’s graveyard roils and churns. Dozens of skeletons and shambling corpses haul themselves free from the ground and rush to the south. Without any hesitation, the walking dead plummet over the cliff’s edge to rain down upon the domes of the Dawnflower Library below.

The guards have managed to seal of the graveyard, but seem terrified and are unwilling to enter, you're on your own for this. Fortunately the undead are pretty spread out.

You rush through the gates, the guards barring them behind you, there's 8 undead in total, but thankfully none of them were buried with arms or armour.

Sachiko, Lera and Firtina all act before the enemy.

Spoiler: Initiatives in order

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Sachiko (1d20+10)[29] Stealth
Firtina (1d20+8)[24]
Lera (1d20+5)[23]
Skeleton 3 (1d20+2)[20]
Skeleton 5 (1d20+2)[19]
Skeleton 4 (1d20+2)[15]
Zombie 2 (1d20)[14]
Khalandel (1d20+7)[13] Stealth
Zombie 3 (1d20)[12]
Skeleton 2 (1d20+2)[6]
Skeleton 1 (1d20+2)[3]
Zombie 1 (1d20)[3]

Spoiler: Map

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[Xihirli]

Firtina’s light takes on a dangerous, cancer-inducing glow.
"They need to be destroyed," she mutters. "Khalendal, go forth and break."

Spoiler: Actions

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Actions 1/2: Magic Weapon on Khalendal’s weapon of choice
3: Shield

[Bobthewizard]

Lera Trask Human Kineticist 2 AC: 19 | HP: 34/34 Fortitude: +10 | Reflex: +7 | Will: +5 | Perception: +5 Hero Points: 2 Active Effects: Armor in Earth, Gate Conditions: None

Lera summons two shards of obsidian, dripping and gleaming with water. She hurls the shards at the nearest zombie, hoping to tear its flesh apart. The shards spin through the air. Lera then calls out to the others, knowing that if we split up, the undead will be able to surround us and pick us off one by one.

"Let's stay together!"

Spoiler: OOC

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2-Action blast, thrown (1d20+8)[19], (1d8+8)[11] slashing
1-action blast, thrown (1d20+3)[12], (1d8+4)[12] slashing

Spoiler: notes

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Wrin, our contact
Yinyasmera, at Crook's Nook. 50gp to find her crew.
building used to belong to Volluk Azrinae - seemed mean and dangerous
Volluk was an apprentice to Belcorra, much worse!
lighthouse can also shoot a beam full of ghosts

[Infernally Clay]

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

"Sounds like a plan to me," Sachi says as lightning leaps from her hands towards the zombie and skeleton nearby.

Spoiler

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Cast Electric Arc vs Zombie #1 and Skeleton #3. (1d4+4)[5] electric damage. DC 17 Reflex save.

Zombie #1 saving throw: (1d20)[19] plus mods.
Skeleton #3 saving throw: (1d20)[5] plus mods.

Cast Shield. +1 bonus to AC (to 20).

[Thunder999]

Lera's thrown blades of volcanic glass easily hit the slow, shambling creature, slicing the corpse apart. It's destroyed before Sachiko's lightning even touches it.
The lightning still jumps to the skeleton, electricity arcing between exposed ribs, yet the creature seems to be entirely unharmed.

The attack does seem to have gotten its attention though, as it runs towards Sachiko and rakes at her with its clawed hands, though is unable to penetrate her armour.

A different skeleton sprints down to Lera and gets off a single claw swipe, this one slips through her cocoon of earth to do some damage.

A zombie and a third skeleton close the distance, but are unable to do any more.

Spoiler: Map

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Spoiler: OOC

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The zombie died easily since both attacks hit, the skeleton took no damage despite clearly not passing the save.
I'd prefer to roll enemy saves in future.
Skeleton3 missed both its claw swipes.
Skeleton4 only had one action after closing the gap and hits Lera for 5 points of slashing damage.
Skeleton5 and Zombie2 spent all their actions moving and are now neatly lined up in front of you.

It is now Khalandel's turn.

[CasualViking]

Khalendel Khalendel peers at the skeletons, frowning in disgust, and shoots the nearest twice. [I]*Exploit weakness - (1d20+8)[26] Skeleton 3 *strike Skel3 - (1d20+9)[29], dam - (2d8+2)[5]+Weakness, *strike Skel4 - (1d20+4)[18], dam - (2d8+2)[12]+Weakness.

---

^{AC: 19| HP: 23/23 | Perception: +7 (lowlight) | Hero Points: 2/2 | Active Effects: None | Conditions: None}

[Thunder999]

Khalandel knows these skeletons well, they appear to be Skeleton guards, though deprived of the weapons they normally wield.
They have many resistances: cold, fire, electricity, piercing and slashing, (all 5 points) a broad but common-to-undead set of immunties: death effects, disease, mental, paralyzed, poison, unconscious and no true weaknesses. They're possessed of exceptional agility, but otherwise rather pathetic. Any attack that they don't resist will shatter their bones with ease.

With no natural weaknesses, Khalandel has to improvise something a little more individual to this particular skeleton.
While a crossbow is ill-suited to the task, Khalandel makes up for it with impeccable aim, his bolt entering an empty eye socket and knocking the skull clean off as the skelton collapses on the spot.
A second bolt finds a second target, no weakness here and while the shot isn't as well aimed, the glowing runes from Firtina's spell lend his weapon supernatural power and the sheer force punches through all resistance once more.
Two shots, two kills.

Another zombie sprints towards Sachiko.
The skeleton near the cliff runs at Khalandel and lands a solid strike with one of its claws.
Finally you see one last skeleton sprinting closer, though it doesn't even manage to reach melee range.

Spoiler: Map

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Spoiler: Initiative

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Dead enemies removed.
Sachiko (1d20+10)[29] Stealth
Firtina (1d20+8)[24]
Lera (1d20+5)[23]
Skeleton 5 (1d20+2)[19]
Zombie 2 (1d20)[14]
Khalandel (1d20+7)[13] Stealth
Zombie 3 (1d20)[12]
Skeleton 2 (1d20+2)[6]
Skeleton 1 (1d20+2)[3]

Spoiler: OOC

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Khalandal crit the first skeleton for 13, resistance reduces it to 8, but these things have really low hp, so it dies.
Second attack is 12-5=7 so a second kill thanks to a great damage roll.
Two swings by the only enemy with enough actions, a hit for 6 slashing damage to Khalandel, then a miss.

Sachiko, Firtina and Lera may act.

[Bobthewizard]

Lera Trask Human Kineticist 2 AC: 19 | HP: 34/34 Fortitude: +10 | Reflex: +7 | Will: +5 | Perception: +5 Hero Points: 2 Active Effects: Armor in Earth, Gate Conditions: None

Lera turns and see the zombies and skeletons coming from our right, fear wells up inside her and the ground begins to shake under the new arrivals. She then uses a stone club to bash the skeleton in front of her.

"Stay together!"

Spoiler: OOC

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2-action overflow tremor catching Z3, S1, S2. (1d8)[1] bludgeoning, DC18 Fort save, prone on crit fail.

Channel elements with 1-action blast on S5, [roll]1d20+8[roll], (1d8+4)[10] bludgeoning

Spoiler: notes

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Wrin, our contact
Yinyasmera, at Crook's Nook. 50gp to find her crew.
building used to belong to Volluk Azrinae - seemed mean and dangerous
Volluk was an apprentice to Belcorra, much worse!
lighthouse can also shoot a beam full of ghosts

[Thunder999]

Skeleton1 and Zombie3 are entirely unaffected by the minor tremor, but Skeleton2 falls prone on the ground.
Lera's club is easily evaded.

Spoiler: OOC

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Two successes that half 1 damage to 0, but one skeleton rolled badly enough to crit fail
Skeleton2 is Prone and has taken 2 damage.

[Infernally Clay]

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

"You already said that!" Sachi yells back at Lera before attacking the enemies before them.

Spoiler

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Action #1: +1 Striking Rapier attack vs Zombie #2. To hit: (1d20+9)[27], to damage: (2d6+4)[9] piercing damage.
Action #2: +1 Striking Rapier attack vs Zombie #3. To hit: (1d20+4)[7], to damage: (2d6+4)[11] piercing damage.
Action #3: Cast Shield. +1 bonus to AC (to 20).