Curse of the Crimson Thread: Seven Days to the Grave II [IC]

[Moriar]

As the Lady becomes distracted from Lilim, a toothy smile nearly splits Vivinos face in two.

Claws and teeth look to make quick work of her organs.

Spoiler: slice and dice

Show

Using flank, raging, and enlarge person.

Claw 1 to hit (1d20+13)[19], damage (1d8+7)[10], and sneak damage (4d6)[15]

Claw 2 to hit (1d20+13)[23], damage (1d8+7)[12], and sneak damage (4d6)[18]


Bite to hit (1d20+13)[20], damage (1d6+7)[12], and sneak damage (4d6)[13]

[lostsole31]

R7T6: As the Lady becomes distracted from Lilim, a toothy smile nearly splits Vivino;s face in two. Claws and teeth look to make quick work of her organs. The first claw slams against her breastplate, but the second slashes her right along the tendons of her right hand for 32, and his bite just manages to find purchase in her upper right arm for 27.

End Round 7, Begin Round 8 ...

R8T28: Harsk's skin continues to ripple and shudder painfully as he concentrates.

R8T22: The ghostly scythe at the end of the hallway slashes Harsk for 8 force. The one attacking Vivino cuts along his belly for 10 force, and then his chest for 8 force. Lady Andaisin steps close to Vivino and carefully casts a spell, her hand seething with dark fire. She puts her palm directly on Vivino's head, and that dark energy crosses over into Vivino.

Vivino, roll a Fort save vs. a necromantic death effect!

[Moriar]

Spoiler: Fort save

Show

Fort save (1d20+12)[13]

[lostsole31]

R8T22: The fell energies of the priestess rock through Vivino's body for 55 damage!

R8T21: Lilim, seeing how good Vivino is at flanking, flies back into flank. She fights more for accuracy than power with that strange scythe of her own, cutting alongside the enemy's left flank for 32.

R8T17: Lem continues to tell jokes. Not that any can see, but Lem feeds a potion into Harsk to fully heal him.

R8T12: Seelah is just riding on Sterling, but trusting in the alicorn's judgment. Sterling is only at a 5' altitude because he doesn't want to smack Seelah's head on the celing. The alicorn proves incredibly swift as it flies all the way around, calling out to Iomedae to give him the power to strike dead the evil woman. A holy glow surrounds the mount and oddly, it still takes Lem's rather bawdy jokes about Lady Andaisin's presume sexual escapades for the holy creature's attack to hit true in her right lower leg for 20.

R8T10: Dane double moves around the fountain to stand by Vivino. "Now don't go anywhere, boy, that I might heal you!"

R8T6: Vivino, what do you do? You are flanking Lady Andaisin again.

Harsk on deck, Lady Andaisin in the hole ...

[Moriar]

"Aye, as much healing as you can muster would be appreciated." Vivino says.

"Now let's see how much more blood this 'Lady' has left in her."

Spoiler: hit hit hit?

Show

Continue raging.

Claw 1 to hit (1d20+13)[31], damage (1d8+7)[15], and sneak damage (4d6)[15]

Claw 2 to hit (1d20+13)[18], damage (1d8+7)[9], and sneak damage (4d6)[12]

Bite to hit (1d20+13)[21], damage (1d6+7)[13], and sneak damage (4d6)[16]

[lostsole31]

R8T6: "Aye, as much healing as you can muster would be appreciated," Vivino says. "Now let's see how much more blood this 'Lady' has left in her."

The first claw slashes against her upper left arm for 32, the second pongs off her armor, but the bite on her other upper arm does 31 tears her arm off at the shoulder. She falls out of the air, her back breaking horribly on the stone of the fountain. Her legs hang at an odd angle out of the fountain and towards the floor, while her 180-degree turned back as her her head and shoulders hidden in the pool. Meanwhile, there was a splash of the disgusting fluids on Dane, though Vivino moved his leg so as not to get splashed by the strange fluids of the fountain.

End Round 8, Begin Round 9 ...

R9T28: Harsk sees that but doesn't stop, though nothing weird or painful seems to happen to his body.

R9T22: The scythe attacking him hits against his armor and then misses. Even though Lady Andaisin is definitely dead, the same thing happens with the scythe attacking Vivino ...it keeps attacking him, but it's altitude drops some as if operating from an unseen string between Lady Andaisin and Vivino! It cuts into his right shoulder for 4 force, and then down to his right knee for 6 force.

R9T21: Lilim flies down to the ground. "I-I don't know how to stop it or even what it is!"

R9T17: Lem's comedy stops. "Everyone listen up! The spell is spiritual weapon. The caster imparts their will to the spell, and doesn't need to actively control it. This isn't the first time I've heard of this happening, just like an assassin who gets killed still has the poison working through the victim's blood after they die. Everyone use weapons to aid Harsk and Vivino. Vivino, stop raging and go small and ride this out! It should end in a minute. It's short duration."

R9T12: Seelah and Sterling reposition to help, and Sterling tries to help block this thing from landing a blow on Vivino.

R9T10: Dane is more focused on the critical act of healing, casting a spell on Vivino for 17. Still, he seems affected by something, looking at the area where the white waters splashed on him and strange marks are forming ... strange marks that show the early signs of having contracted blood veil!

R9T6: Vivino, what do you do?

[Moriar]

"Alright Lem, I'll do as you suggest." Vivino says as his claws return to normal hands and his size returns to normal.

"Though if someone can help Dane...where the water splashed him it doesn't look good. Should we pull the Lady out of the water to preserve what is on her?" Vivino will analyze Dane without touching to figure out what he can.

Spoiler: Ride it out

Show

Stops raging and cancels the enlarge person.

Then will use senses and lore if possible to figure out what's happening to Dane. If he can figure out something useful will share it with the others.

[lostsole31]

R9T6: "Alright Lem, I'll do as you suggest." Vivino says as his claws return to normal hands and his size returns to normal. "Though if someone can help Dane...where the water splashed him it doesn't look good. Should we pull the Lady out of the water to preserve what is on her?"

Vivino analyzes Dane without touching to figure out what he can. "Looks like rapid onset of the blood veil - no incubation period. Now, I don't know if that means the entire thing is going to be super fast and we're in danger of losing Dane within a minute or if it was just the incubation period that was bypassed."

End Round 9, Begin Round 10 ...

R10T28: Harsk seems to be at peace now, still concentrating.

R10T23-22: Lem's weapon is heard clanging as the first scythe strike just misses Harsk, but the second scores a line along his abdomen for 9 force. The scythe attacking Vivino lowers in altitude and catches him in the lower right arm for 7 force, but misses the second attempt. Meanwhile, Lady Andaisin's broken body crackles with unholy power and is lifted into the air.

R10T21: Lilim gasps out, "She is definitely dead. There is something else going on with her." She then uses her scythe to help protect Vivino.

R10T12: "Agreed," says the noble voice of Sterling as he alights. "My smite on her ended with the giant's final, mighty blow."

Sterling uses his horn to also try and minimize contact on the badly wounded Vivino.

R10T10: Dane looks at the rash of blood veil, not yet bad enough to cause him more than minor discomfort. "I think it just cut around incubation is all ... I hope," he gulps, "but it seems we're about to have a new problem, and we have got to heal Vivino. Vivino, pause for the scythe to attack you once more, gaining protection from your allies' help, and then move to your mace, pick it up, and defend yourself."

He then casts a spell and touches Vivino for 8 healing.

R10T6: Vivino, you are fatigued and badly wounded. Do you take Dane's advice?

Spoiler: Crunch

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He's basically telling you to delay until AFTER the next scythe attack, that way you get the protection from Lilim and Sterling who aided your AC. Then to go to your mace, and the whole while - with or without mace - go into "total defense."

Harsk on deck, Lem in the hole ...

[Moriar]

"That is good advice Dane." Vivino agrees.

Spoiler: waiting

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Delaying to do exactly as Dane suggested. When he eventually has his mace and is defending, will also be using Stalwart with the defense.

[lostsole31]

R10T6: Vivino agrees. "That is good..."

End Round 10, Begin Round 11 ...

R11T28-23: Harsk finally relaxes as Sigur appears. Harsk looks to his dead brother. "Protect me against the scythe as best you can. We killed the big bad, we thought, but something is happening in that chamber. Traveling far faster than any dwarf has a right to, Harsk zooms into the chamber, having drawn his fiery crossbow. He has it trained on Lady Andaisin's dead body, ready to shoot.

"... advice, Dane."

R11T22: Harsk's scythe zooms faster than he moved, looping around in front of him. It hacks past his armor, but is stopped by Harsk's tough skin, and the second attack misses. Even with everyone trying to help Vivino, he gets struck twice - in the belly for 6 force, and in the left shin for 9 force.

Meanwhile, Lady Andaisin's sundered flesh explodes with boils and pustules, while torrents of Urgathoa’s foul humors flood forth and congeal into a sickening new body for the unliving saint. Lady Andaisin is instantly reborn as a daughter of Urgathoa, entirely bent on revenge! All of Lady Andaisin's equipment that was still on her falls to the ground and into the fountain.

What was once a woman now towers as a monstrosity of ectoplasmic flesh, horns, and a tremendous scythelike claw. She is floating 5' above the fountain. She begins to cast a spell, and Harsk lets loose his readied shot, hitting the monster in the head for 7 + 2 fire. Lem also casts a spell at it, but it seems to have no effect, and Lem is now visible again. Dark energy surrounds the off-hand (non-scythe) and Andaisin Transformed goes to touch Vivino but misses.

Vivino, do you come out of delay now?

[Moriar]

Looking up at the Lady with grim determination and reluctance, Vivino tumbles away to prepare.

Once away he drinks another extract and his location becomes difficult to determine.

"Attack with all that you have, and if you are not a fighter then any healing you can spare I would appreciate. "

Spoiler: preparation

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Tumbles away to end up 10' directly south of Seelah on her mount; directly next to the smaller blue circle. Hopefully 15' away from the Lady is far enough to avoid AOO.

Tumble roll (1d20+11)[13]

Then drinks displacement extract.

[lostsole31]

R11T21.5: Looking up at the Lady with grim determination and reluctance, Vivino tumbles away to prepare. Her off-hand with the dark energy grazes Vivino's foot as he clumsily moves away, and the dark energy washes into him.

It took him more energy to move to where he wanted, and he doesn't quite have the time to draw forth the extract he had hoped. "Attack with all that you have, and if you are not a fighter then any healing you can spare I would appreciate. "

R11T21: Lilim throws herself into physical confrontation with the monster. Her own scythe strikes Andaisin Transformed in the lower chest for 38 PE, and the second strikes with a soft crit for 35 PE her left off-hand as it was extended to touch Vivino (which he resisted). Lilim then bites the creature in its right upper arm for 8, and slashes with each of her talons (missing).

R11T12: Sterling concentrates while moving a little south to screen Vivino, and touches him with its horn, providing 20 healing.

R11T10: Dane calls out. "Okay, this is a Daughter of Urgathoa, an undead saint of the Pallid Princess. Skin nearly as hard as my own armor. Her great claw has concentrated blood veil transmitted to any strike, and just like a real scythe, will leave devastating wounds."

He then holds up his weapon. "Drunken Fool, through Drinking Companion I ask that you grant me purity in this battle."

He attacks twice, throwing his power at her, but both times misses.

R11T9-7: Biter moves up to be next to Harsk. Sigur needs no prodding. Like his brother he is far faster than any normal dwarf. However, he does open up an attack from Andaisin Transformed, who clips him on his right hip for 17 mod. Luckily, Sterling's holy aura protects him from disease.

End Round 11, Begin Round 12 ...

R12T24: Harsk speed-loads his crossbow and he crosses to Vivino, his claws getting a little thicker than before, but still not quite as long as Lilim's size-appropriate talons. He concentrates, and then touches Vivino for 18 healing.

R12T23: Lem starts cracking jokes about how silly Lady Andaisin looked when Vivino made her body all twisted in death, and likewise makes fun of her current form.

R12T22: Hark's scythe pursues him and cuts his right hand for 6 force, though the second strike gets stopped by his tough skin. Likewise with Vivino's scythe that ducks over, around, and past any intervening allies. Vivino's left upper arm gets hit for 6 force, but he dodges the second strike. Andaisin Transformed drifts a little bit south, concentrating on a spell, and then casting it on herself, giving her a protect gray glow.

R12T21: Vivino, what do you do?

Lilim on deck, Seelah/Sterling in the hole ...

[Moriar]

"Well done all, keep it going. Hit hard and heal hard!" Vivino calls out.

He drinks the extract he had out and then tumbles into flanking position.

Spoiler: 2nd time the charm

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Drinks the displacement extract and then tumbles next to Lem. Which I think is flanking.

Moving sw one square, then west 3. Then tumbling north 2 squares.
Tumble roll [roll]1d20+11[/roll]

---

* post roll count doesn't match database

[lostsole31]

R12T21.5: "Well done all, keep it going. Hit hard and heal hard!" Vivino calls out. He drinks the extract he had out and then goes to tumble away, doing an exceptionally bad job as the monster attacks him, but then is confused by the position what should have been a solid hit misses.

R12T21: Lilim presses the attack as before. Her scythe hits the off-hand for 37 PE, then in Andaisin's head for 39 PE, and it is this final strike that destroys the abomination!

But combat isn't over as those damnable spiritual weapons are still in play.

R12T12: "Success! Now to keep our heroes alive while holding out with these force weapons," says Sterling as he touches his horn to Harsk for 12 healing.

R12T10: Dane closes on Vivino and casts a spell, and succeeds in touching him despite the defense, giving Vivino 13 healing.

R12T9-7: Biter rushes in to try to keep his master from getting hit again. Sigur does the same.

End Round 12, Begin Round 13 ...

R13T24: Harsk drops his crossbow, takes out his battleaxe, and sets up to parry the attack.

R13T23: Lem stops his performance and moves up, ready to parry Viv's scythe with his rapier.

R13T22: Harsk's scythe is parried. Lem does well, but it isn't enough and Vivino is hit in his upper leg for 9 force.

R13T21.5: Vivino, what do you do?

[Moriar]

Vivino watches warily at his spiritual weapon and aims to block anything that comes his way.

"That was very impressive team. Keep an eye on her in case there are any further tricks she has up her sleeve"

Spoiler: De-fense!

Show

Goes full defense using the stalwart feat if it helps as well.

[lostsole31]

R13T21.5: Vivino watches warily at his spiritual weapon and aims to block anything that comes his way. "That was very impressive, team. Keep an eye on her in case there are any further tricks she has up her sleeve."

R13T21: Lilim flies to the other side of the room and sets down by Vivino.

R13T12-10: Dane casts a healing spell but misses Vivino because of displacement as Sterling, Sigur, and Biter protect Harsk.

End Round 13, Begin Round 14 ...

R14T24: Harsk's muscles ripple and it looks like he puts on several pounds of muscle before your very eyes even as he tries to ward away the attack.

R14T23: Lem gives aid to Vivino.

R14T22: Harsk & Co. easily deflect the attacks, as does Vivino (and Lem).

R14T21.5: Vivino, what do you do?

[Moriar]

Vivino will keep watching around for any other surprises but keep dodging the spectral blade.

Spoiler: keep dodging

Show

Maintain total defense

[lostsole31]

R14T21.5: Vivino will keep watching around for any other surprises but keep dodging the spectral blade.
R14T21-12: Lilim and Sterling aid their charges.
R14T10: Dane misses Vivino again.
R14T9-7: Biter and Sigur keep protecting Harsk.

End Round 14, Begin Round 15 ...

R15T24-23: Harsk defends himself. Lem aids Vivino. Lem tells Vivino, "Back up against the wall where that curve is."
R15T22: Harsk's scythe disappears from view. Vivino's scythe completely misses him.

R15T21.5: Vivino, what do you do?

[Moriar]

"Good idea Lem," Vivino says as he continues to dip and dodge.

Spoiler: the 5 D's

Show

Moves to where Lem directed.

Then continues total defense.

[lostsole31]

R15T21.5: "Good idea Lem," Vivino says as he continues to dip and dodge.
R15T21: Lilim steps up to defend Vivino. Seelah/ Sterling stand back and delay. Dane steps up to aid Vivino. Biter and Sigur delay ...

Round 16 ...
R16T24: Harsk closes to give aid.
R16T23: Lem closes to give aid. Vivino is completely surrounded by allies as ...
R16T22: The scythe hops over and then in front of Vivino and is completely repelled.
R16T21.5: Vivino defends.
R16T10: Dane aids.

Round 17...
More skin-rippling from Harsk, but he continues to defend Vivino.
Vivino & co. defend.

Round 18 ...
It almost seems like light coloration shifts around Harsk's face and beard.
Vivino & co. defend.

Round 19 ...
Vivino & co. defend, after which Vivino's displacement ends. The spiritual scythe is still going strong.

[lostsole31]

Round 20: Blocked!
Round 21: Vivino gets hit by a lucky shot in his left knee for 13 force.
Round 22: Blocked!
Round 23: Blocked!
Round 24: Blocked!
Round 25: Vivino gets hit in the upper right leg for 5 force.
Round 26: Blocked!
Round 27: The spiritual scythe finally disappears!

Combat Ends ...

[Moriar]

Vivino takes a minute to recover..."Thank you all for your help. Let us gather what we can and figure out our next move."

He will carefully gather the Lady's equipment and search the cultists.

"Can someone rinse these off and perhaps identify?"

Spoiler: Over

Show

Will carefully use two of the cultists weapons as big chopsticks to pull out any equipment that fell in the fountain without touching the water.

Also use senses and lore to finally start looking around this room properly.

[lostsole31]

.... and Lem will back that up with prestidigitation.

The wisdom put forward by the dwarves - Dane and Harsk - is to get a general sense of what there is, but NOT to waste time identifying anything right now, but to do that once in a safe place, like Master Shyamal's.

The cultist of Urgathoa had:

• Masterwork Scythe
• Masterwork breastplate
• Vial of magical fluid.
• A key

The three unexceptional juju zombies had a normal short sword each.

Jaethal had the following...

• Javelins (4)
• Dagger
• Hide Shirt
• Courtier's Outfit w/ 50 gp jewelry
• Large Belt Pouch w/ 2 platinum, 74 gold, 2 silver, and (3) gems
• Silver Unholy symbol of Urgathoa, which gets destroyed by Sterling's hooves
• Spell Component Pouch (worthless to anyone else)
• Masterwork Thieves' Tools
• Backpack w/ 50' hemp rope, a bar of soap, and an executioner's outfit

Lady Andaisin had the following ...

• Masterwork scythe, magical
• Masterwork breastplate
• Onyx unholy symbol of Urgathoa, which gets destroyed by Sterling's hooves
• Spell Component Pouch (worthless to anyone else)
• Magic Belt
• Magic Cloak
• Vial of magical fluid
• Belt pouch w/ 27 gold, 3 silver, 3 copper

Harsk assists Dane on a cursory check of the area. While examining the statue of Urgathoa they find a concealed compartment at its base. Within lie a number of ceremonial instruments used by Lady Andaisin for various rituals:

• (2) grim candelabras made from human hands encased in silver
• several sticks of exotic incense
• (2) magical wands
• (2) magical scrolls
• (3) blocks of magical incense
• (1) magical set of Harrow cards

There are a bunch of small, discarded coffers in one of the corners. One is still magical and closed. It is this object that is likely what was asked for by Ramoska Arkminos.

[Moriar]

"Good job all. That makes sense to wait until later for identifying; let's take everything for now.

Looks like we have what we came for from this person. Is the next step to return it to him or is their further to explore here to accomplish our goal?" Vivino asks.

"Even if there is more to do here we might want to return to the vampire before that poor man suffers further. Thoughts or suggestions?"

[lostsole31]

"Actually, I think we've explored everywhere," says Lilim.

"We need to return to that nosferatu and be done with this that we may save that man's life," says the blinded Seelah.

Dane, a voice of reason says, "We can't take everything with us in one haul, folks. We don't have the proper equipment for loading things up, and some things - like that scythe and those breastplates - resist that anyway as they are bulky items."

Vivino, forgot to mention, but way back around Round 19 or so, Vivinoi stopped being fatigued.

[Moriar]

"Well let's use that back pack we found and use those clothes and rope to make bundles. Then we should be able to carry at the magical equipment and hopefully the masterwork as well; plus that key."

"Seelah, would you and your magnificent friend help carry the rest?" Vivino asks.

"At worse, after the magical items are carried we can make trips to the elevator. Let's go save the man's life."

[lostsole31]

"I am not a beast of burden, nor shall I become one," says Sterling with finality.

"I will remain here with Sterling to guard our treasures, as it was too congested for him to be of use should something happen on that walkway or in that tiny lab," says Seelah. "That way, if there is any betrayal, you are not weighed down with extra materials - save the death's head coffer, of course."

[Moriar]

"Nor was I asking you to help carry beyond one trip but we will resoect your wishes of course." Vivino says to Sterling.

"Thank you Seelah.

"Let's get this over with. Let us go complete this deal with the vampire." Vivino drinks an extract and more of his wounds close.

Spoiler: yum

Show

Drinks a cure mod extract.

[lostsole31]

The party gets back to the catwalks and the laboratory. Harsk stands across the way to the south with Biter and Sigur, ready to provide long-range missile support if a fight breaks out.

What do you (plural) do?

[Moriar]

Vivino will knock on the door. "We have brought what you requested, are you ready to honor our deal?"

Spoiler: Ifs

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If he agrees then will open the door. Then will show that they have the object requested and then say, "Release him please and let us conclude our business."

If others have something they wish to do/say will hold off on saying the part in spoiler.