The Lost Sanctuary

[at]

Jun 30, 2024 3:27:18 GMT -5 crazydave said:

I was planning on waiting to act until after Neera, since she's our biggest attacker, but I can act first if you would prefer.

(Sometimes against a mirror image spell quantity is the better initial strategy over quality - particularly when a target is shielded against magic missiles and similar multi-hit attacks)

[crazydave]

Oh, that's a good point. If it's OK, then, I'd like to take a second to take stock of the situation.

The demon appears to be healing from our attacks, save the arrow used by Vadania, which inflicted a wound that is not healing. Further, the demon is protected by a mirror image spell and is shielded against magic missiles and similar multi-hit attacks.

Further, there is a frozen naga in the fray against us, as well.

Am I missing anything?

[harknail]

The frozen Naga has been sent after Vadania to keep her from shooting at the demon.

[at]

Jun 30, 2024 22:24:11 GMT -5 crazydave said:

Am I missing anything?

The shield is just a regular shield spell - the demon has not shown any particular protections against other attacks but the shield spell itself has been visible while deflecting physical strikes.

Its healing is similar to something the party has seen before.

[crazydave]

Can you remind me of what it's similar to? I apologize, I seem to have completely forgotten!

[at]

Jul 3, 2024 1:39:05 GMT -5 crazydave said:

Can you remind me of what it's similar to? I apologize, I seem to have completely forgotten!

The naga spellcaster in the desert was drawing power from the shadows that contained part of the staff that Brenner now carries. There is a similar vortex of shadows high above this cave.

[crazydave]

Alright, let's see about taking out those mirror images to clear the way. Thank you for letting me clarify things!

Archibald maneuver: UQLRpFvLp_1-5; available maneuvers: Charging Minotaur, Crusader's Strike.

He will attack with Crusader's Strike. p_1-20+13 = 29 to hit; p_1-4p_1-4+7 = 13 damage (+1/+2 depending upon alignment), and if this attack hits, he regains p_1-6+5 = 6 HP.

Brenner will attack with his Wand of Scorching Ray. p_1-20+4 = 12 vs touch AC; p_1-6p_1-6p_1-6p_1-6 = 11 fire damage.

1-5�1-20�1-4�1-4�1-6�1-20�1-6�1-6�1-6�1-6

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The demon continues to weave and block with its bladed arms, at times Archibald believes he has caught the true image only for his blade to pass harmlessly through thin air. Brenners attack similarly finds little purchase but the towering illusions are easy to hit compared to the demon itself - it is clear it will not take the party long to whittle them down but each passing moment the demon grows stronger once more.

[harknail]

Just to confirm, the images disappear when they are hit? Like the images from Mirror Image spell?v

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Jul 4, 2024 14:53:45 GMT -5 harknail said:

Just to confirm, the images disappear when they are hit? Like the images from Mirror Image spell?v

Correct - it's a regular mirror image spell for the most part - for all the demons tricks its not the most powerful spellcaster you've faced.

[harknail]

I was thinking of popping a lot of images with magic missiles, but Vadania is out of magic missiles for today :-(

Can you refresh my memory as to how we dealt with the shadows last time? I think it had something to do with the staff, but that the staff used up its power doing so, so that won't work again.

[at]

Jul 5, 2024 18:33:20 GMT -5 harknail said:

Can you refresh my memory as to how we dealt with the shadows last time? I think it had something to do with the staff, but that the staff used up its power doing so, so that won't work again.

The shadow-magic was drawing its power from the staff head - by using the other half (the staff itself) you were able to disrupt it

[at]

Cave map update (let me know if positions differ from what you expect)






[Tag Vadania, Neera, Ylva, Moriana]

[harknail]

Nice map! I thought the ice naga was on Vadania, this makes it MUCH easier.

Vadania will take a couple a shots at the controlling monster while saying, "Brenner, the handle of your staff might disrupt that darkness above us."

Attack: FOYXiF|bp_1-20+11+1=miss
Damage: p_1-8+1+1+p_1-6(fire)+p_1-6(fire)=n/a

:-(

1-20�1-8�1-6�1-6

[harknail]

Neera will keep hacking away, trying to damage it faster than it can regenerate.

Attack 1: yaIt8hibp_1-20+14=23
Damage 1: p_1-6p_1-6+7+p_1-6(lightning)=17
Attack 2: p_1-20+14-5=21
Damage 2: p_1-6p_1-6+7+p_1-6(lightning)=171-20�1-6�1-6�1-6�1-20�1-6�1-6�1-6

[harknail]

Ylva keeps trying to pull the thing down...
Attack: Cy53q35gp_1-20+10=29
Damage: p_1-6p_1-6+6=9
Trip: p_1-20+11=311-20�1-6�1-6�1-20

[at]

Neera slashes through two more of the illusions as she seeks the true demon, but Ylva is not so easily fooled and follows her nose rather than eyes directly to her target as she pulls away at its legs while it is distracted by the other fighters.

(Does Ylva get a free attack on a trip?)

[harknail]

No, successful trip results in target going prone (till they get up again), but that's all.

[at]

Moriana draws her bow and fires upon the demon as it scrambles upright, reducing its illusory defense to only a single duplicate before it swats angrily at Ylva throwing the wolf backwards into the cave (24 damage, opposed roll vs bull-rush effect - strength test, ylva gets +4 due to size).

The frozen naga also abruptly ends its attempt to push towards Vadania to defend its creator against the more immediate threat of Archibald but the experienced warrior has grown quickly accustomed to its attacks and is able to duck away from harm.


As the demon completes its rise back to a standing position it lifts its bladed arms high and the cave dims as shadow seems to be drawn from all corners accelerating the healing of its wounds, and for a moment Vadania believes she can see something glowing within the sphere of darkness overhead before it is once again consumed in shadow.



[Tag All]

[crazydave]

Hm. If the demon is drawing from shadows to heal itself... I don't suppose anybody has a Daylight spell on-hand?