Discord of the Abyss - Prisoners

[~Corvus~]

The bolt from Yarv's crossbow slams into the spider's midsection, and it screeches as the poisons quickly cause it to lose consciousness and fall to the ground.

Spoiler: Combat

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Spider 1: Dead

Spider 2: Unconscious, prone

[Anachronity]

Uonyil looks down at the webbing below. She looks to Phoyx then points towards the near end of the carved stone walkway.
"The web isn't so far from the wall there. If we have some rope then either you or I can jump clear of it and make it down, and the others can follow.

She moves a bit further from the holding area as she talks and focuses on her art, testing her abilities now that she was further from that nullifying stone.

Spoiler: Combat

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Focus on Ice Mastery, mostly just to see if it works. If it does, use Mind Thrust on the nearest spider (if they're not all dead?)
if it doesn't, stab the nearest spider.

[WarHunter]

Phoyx

Tilting his head, Do you have nothing that you wish to get back before we sail out of here?

[~Corvus~]

The sounds of struggle and weapons have come the guard tower just ten feet from you as you've tussled with the spider. Upon Phoyx's question, Eldeth and Buppido emerge from the tower, all clutching metal weapons; they each have the smear of blood on them. Come quickly, folks! Plenty of weapons. Jimjar's been shot though.

Inside the bottom of the outpost, you find a small armory of items:

Spoiler: Armory - updated per last NPCs

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2 chain shirts
3 suits of studded leather armor
2 shields
1 hand crossbow
14 cases of hand crossbow bolts, each case containing 20 bolts
2 shortswords and 2 daggers
3 bags of caltrops (20 caltrops per bag)
1x 100-foot-long coils of silk rope
1 building hammers (not usable as weapons)
1 bags of iron spikes (10 spikes per bag)

[Ramsus]

Antler Warforged Ranger AC: 16 HP: 13/13 PP: 14 PIv: 9 PIs: 14 Conditions: -- Concentration: -- With both spiders down, Antler joins the others at the guard post. He then takes a good quantity of equipment. Taking every single thing nobody else takes by the end just to deprive the drow of it. Spoiler Show Taking: 1 studded leather armor for later, 1 shield, 1 hand crossbow, 2 shortswords, 1 building hammer, 1 rope, 1 bag of spike and.... all the caltrops or bolts nobody else takes. In fact I'll just take everything nobody else takes, why leave it for the drow?

[WarHunter]

Phoyx

Causally strolls to the guard tower and upon seeing the loot releases his pipe as one would do litter. He selects a short sword, shield, crossbow & bolt case, and a bag of caltrops. Mock fights with the sword and shield like a child at play.

[Tjallen]

Already having donned all his gear Yarv, walks over to the orc and looks over his wounds.

As the others come out he calls out to them: "Any cloth, rope, or medical equipment I would much appreciate if you brought along for me, I will be right along, just have to take a look at this wound, see if I can help in a timely fashion, yes?"

[Anachronity]

"We need to move quickly" Uonyil mutters, as much a comment to herself as an order. She grabs a hand crossbow, one case of bolts, a shortsword, and two lengths of rope. She makes a quick glance along the walkway in both directions to try to discern any dangers or adversaries.

[~Corvus~]

Uonyil looks to both sides of herself. On one side, a curved ledge spans the space between their holding cell and the quaggoth den. There are no quaggoth she sees with her cursory glance.

To the other side, she sees a 20-foot bridge, a 20-foot-long ledge, and past that, the wide area of guard posts and barracks where many drow, elite warriors, quaggoth, and demons engage in a nasty melee. Several drow and quaggoth have died, whereas one vrock and two chasme have fallen. Several others fly about, apparently chased by swarms of insects.

Below them and slightly North--towards the direction of the waterfall--a vrock, even though it's entangled by several spiders' webs, has slain two Giant spiders and it fends off four more.

Closest to you all, one giant spider remains very much dead, and another seems to twitch ever-so-slightly as it sleeps from the powerful drow poison laced into a bolt that sticks into its midsection.

[~Corvus~]

Several of the others observe that you've taken new weapons. They take only a small amount of items, willing to trust that they can get by with the PCs willing to help the rest of them survive.

[WarHunter]

Phoyx

This will do for now, alright who is ready to jump with me. stretching his manta wings for the task.

[Tjallen]

Examining the wound and managing to produce the correct antidote, Yarv warns the orc to drink plenty of water before getting up and collecting the ropes and any spare cloth lying around. Walking over to the still unconscious spider, he puts a bolt through its skull to make sure it does not get up again.

Spoiler: Actions!

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Medicine check was 14 and a success!

Dunno how the damage thing works but the crossbow deals (1d10+3)[4] damage I guess

[~Corvus~]

Uonyil looks down at the webbing below. She looks to Phoyx then points towards the near end of the carved stone walkway.
"The web isn't so far from the wall there. If we have some rope then either you or I can jump clear of it and make it down, and the others can follow.

She moves a bit further from the holding area as she talks and focuses on her art, testing her abilities now that she was further from that nullifying stone.

Spoiler: Combat

Show

Focus on Ice Mastery, mostly just to see if it works. If it does, use Mind Thrust on the nearest spider (if they're not all dead?)
if it doesn't, stab the nearest spider.

Uonyil is able to manifest her Ice Mastery once outside the cell; she feels a relief that slowly works its way to her skin, and she no longer feels any coolness of being underground. Rather, the pulse of energy from the earth and the connection to her Source gives her a warmth that pervades her presence.

The spider, asleep, takes the full effect of the Mind Thrust; it twitches in its sleep, and seems ready to wake up. However, another bolt from Yarv ensures that it immediately falls back asleep. The spider's legs curl further inwards, and the creature no longer even pulses with energy. It appears dead.

Spoiler: Combat

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2x Giant Spiders - Dead

~

Yarv handily heals Ront of his poison. Eldeth, upon hearing the recommendation for water, walks over to him and hands him a waterskin which she claims was taken from the guard in the watchpost. She tells everyone that she's also taken all eight of the other waterskins in the guard post, and makes certain everyone has one. They are all half-full, and have a mineral taste to them; it only tastes faintly of sulfur, and she assures everyone that this is expected, and that it's not poisoned.

Prince Derendil nods to everyone. "If we're all ready to go...perhaps we all make a rope and some of us climb down. I don't want Phoyx's wings to be overburdened with weight. He notes that himself, Ront, Jimjar, Buppido, Shuur, and Sarith can all descend on ropes, and the rest could go down with Phoyx. He takes the last coil of 100-foot rope and, without ceremony, ties it to the lowest bar of the prison cell door, and drops it down over the side. It dangles only 5 feet from the water pool below. He begins to descend, and soon both Ront, Jimjar, and Sarith have climbed onto the rope.

Eldeth and Stump wait with the rest of the 4 of you to gain grip on Phoyx and begin the descent with his excellent Vedalken-grown wings.

[Ramsus]

Antler Warforged Ranger AC: 16 HP: 13/13 PP: 14 PIv: 9 PIs: 14 Conditions: -- Concentration: -- "We could use this opportunity while the drow are distracted to check that other stalactite for our belongings. I see an entrance down there." Antler suggests and points to the lower entrance to the next stalactite over. "We could tie a rope up here and swing down. Phoyx could go last and untie the rope on this end so we can take it with us."

[~Corvus~]

The eloquent quaggoth nods at the suggestion as he descends. " sounds good to me. We'll be careful.
Prince Derendil, Ront, Jimjar, Buppido, Shuur, and Sarith all descend the rope and drag it over--as they step on the spiderweb, it's sticky but not so bad they can't move; they just move slowly. In a minute Shuur ties the rope to a thick strand of web, and they remain unmolested by other Giant Spiders.

They motion to the rest of you; Eldeth, and stump both take a piece of studded leather armor and use the armor to glide down the slanted rope.

Just beyond where the rest of the group has gathered--below the many-tiered stalactite where a battle rages above--a Vrock has managed to slay four giant spiders, and though it has several nasty-looking bites on its body, it still looks ready to fight. It takes one step towards your group gathered on the spiderwebs, and screeches a challenge.

Sarith speaks calmly to the group, and everyone stays put. It's too far away to hear exactly what he says, but no one moves and no one seems to engage or threaten the Vrock further. It soon takes off in flight, and joins the conflict above.

[Ramsus]

Antler Warforged Ranger AC: 16 HP: 13/13 PP: 14 PIv: 9 PIs: 14 Conditions: -- Concentration: -- Antler descends the rope after the Vrock leaves (as he waited to be second to last as he's sure he's the heaviest and if the rope was going to snap under the weight it was best that happen after everyone else got down). Once down there, he enters the stalactite building first since it was his idea. Assuming nobody else makes an effort to go in before he can.

[Anachronity]

Now that they'd been afforded a moment of calm, Uonyil examines the group's assorted injuries. Particularly any that Yarv had not already seen to.

[~Corvus~]

Ront has taken two spider bites, and although he no longer suffers the ill effects of its poison, he still doesn't look terribly steady. Still, he is stable, so that's something.

Jimjar has taken a bolt in his left shoulder, and although it's not bleeding, it's rather uncomfortable for him. Since Uonyil is willing to administer aid, he asks that he help her remove the bolt and at least poultice the wound, if not give some magical healing.

[WarHunter]

Phoyx

Once everyone is down the rope, Phoyx unties it and glides down to where everyone else is looking like a kite lacking a head wind and no one running with the string.

[~Corvus~]

Antler enters a small room. A small but comfortable cushion lays over several layers of mats; There's a short coffee table and two cushions for kneeling at it. Tucked in another corner is a glass hookah, a pipe, a small lamp-shaped burner, a small stack of black chalk-like cubes, and a jar from which the pleasant scents of lavendar and lemon waft. Pushed against the wall, and next to a stair, is a 5-foot and sturdy chest made of what looks like a hardened, tough fungus stem. The zurkhwood chest is as hard and tough as walnut, and it has several knobs and holes in its lining.

~~

Outside, a blast from above you rings out: several blasts of fire detonate, and a chasme demon, with recently-crisped and destroyed wings, lands awkwardly near you. Its abdomen, seared on one side, is still intact, but it has several cracks here and there.. As it stands, its head begins to vibrate and it emits a loud drone that assaults your ears as it rounds on all of you. Buppido, Stump, and Jimjar all fall over, and go unconscious.

Spoiler: Combat!

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A CHASME stands from prone then approaches you cautiously. It's now 10 feet away. Make a DC 12 Constitution save against the Drone else fall unconscious.

[Anachronity]

Uonyil clings to consciousness amidst the horrid buzz, desperately launching a mental assault on the creature if only to spare her own skull the agony.

Spoiler: Combat

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Mind thrust: DC 13 Int save or take 5 Psychic damage

[WarHunter]

Phoyx

Makes a loud annoying noise in response and charges with his sword and shield at the ready.

[~Corvus~]

Eldeth the dwarf fires another bullet from her sling; for the third time, she's a terribly ineffective shot and the stone goes wide. Sarith charges past her with a short sword and strikes down with the blade into it's abdomen. The demons body, magically resistant to standard weapons, only cracks slightly despite his powerful blow.

The demon rears with its terrible pointed beak and thrusts it through Sarith's studded leather and his torso. Blood spatters from his body to spray over all of you; he coughs a few times and instead of giving up, he grips his weapon, still embedded, all the more tightly.

Ront and Prince Derendil move in together, and with a nod, they both try to tackle the demon. It spears Prince Derendil, but he remains upright, and as it does so he seems to become infuriated. The two of them wrestle the beast to the ground; for the moment it is prone!

Spoiler: combat!

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Chasme is injured & PRONE but dangerous.
Eldeth is uninjured,.as is Ront
Derendil has been hurt.
Sarith is mortally wounded (death saves to come)

Buppido, Stump, and Jimjar are unconscious.

[Ramsus]

Antler Warforged Ranger AC: 16 HP: 13/13 PP: 14 PIv: 9 PIs: 14 Conditions: -- Concentration: -- Seeing the others fighting, Antler comes back over to them and does his best to spear the demon while the opportunity is available. Spoiler Show Move over to the demon. Attack: (1d20+5)[10] advantage: (1d20+5)[24] damage: (1d6+3)[8] if crit: (1d6)[1] Off-hand: (1d20+5)[16] advantage: (1d20+5)[18] damage: (1d6)[5] if crit: (1d6)[5]

[Tjallen]

Blindsided by the sheer terrible chaos that must have gone into spawning the abomination, Yarv stands frozen at the sound of the drone.
As the bloodsplatters from Sarith's impalement hits him, Yarv starts moving mostly on autopilot. He absentmindedly removes some of the blood with a cloth removed from a pocket, well-worn and much used, as he takes the first step towards the impaled man, he goes cross-eyed and drops like a puppet with his strings cut.

Spoiler: Actions!

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(1d20+2)[4] against DC 12

[WarHunter]

Phoyx
His last attack doing little to no damage he becomes furious(rage) and he attacks again, trying to drive the tip into a gap in his natural armor why he is tackled.

[~Corvus~]

Yarv doesn't even stabilize the Drow man before he, too collapses, but not from injury.
Antler, emerging from the stalactite's lower entrance, manages to take two swipes at the chasme; its abdomen begins to leak an orange ichor that fizzles and bubbles in the air.
Phoyx tries to slip his weapon through the vicious melee, but between the collapsing Sarith, Antler's attacks, and then Ront and Derendil, he doesn't find the angle to best attack the chasme. The demon bucks wildly in their grip and his swings, though they could have been a surety, go wildly awry. He instead scores several rips into the web below the demon, and part of the creature's abdomen slips below the webbing.

Eldeth fires the stone at the chasme's head; the solid shot lands in the demon's left eye, and it shrieks and buckles against the two that grip it. The demon attempts to strike at Phoyx, but what might have been a deadly attack passes half a foot over his left shoulder.

Sarith, on the verge of dying, looses his grip on the sword. He, too falls to the ground.

Spoiler: Combat

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Buppido, Stump, Jimjar, Yarv: Unconscious
Sarith: Dying
Derendil, Ront: Grappling CHASME
Uonyil, Eldeth, Antler, Phoyx: uninjured

CHASME: Restrained

Uonyil has yet to act this round!

Shuushar, unwilling to approach the Chasme demon, instead yells to the Dwarf: Eldeth, I'm going to look for a better weapon for you! He then goes inside the stalactite building Antler had been in and disappears from your sight.

[Anachronity]

Seeing that her assault was having some sort of effect, Uonyil redoubles her efforts to shatter the thing's hellish psyche. She tries to keep her distance from its lunging probiscus as best she can in the confined area.

Spoiler: Combat

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Mind thrust: DC 13 Int save or take 7 Psychic damage
move away from it as best as able.

[~Corvus~]

As Uonyil takes a step back, she not only finds a way to damage its psyche, but seems to find a weakness in its mind; her magics seem powerful enough to break its hold on its life.

Spoiler: Combat!

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The Chasme takes a Critical Failure on its Saving throw! I'm treating this as a critical hit~
@The GM :game_die:
Result: 1d10 (10)
Total: 10
Looks like 17 Psychic damage is enough to push this creature over the edge.

@Anachronity, Describe its demise!

[Anachronity]

Within social circles privileged enough to pour their wine from glass bottles, a little-known party trick is to flatten one's hand and quickly strike the lip of the bottle while it is still filled with liquid. If done correctly, the sudden pressure would blow out the other side of the bottle, leaving its contents to spill forth and surely stain whatever flooring lay beneath it.

The Chasme had let its guard down, and the effects of the psychic assault bear an unfortunate resemblance to the very same.