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Return [To Madness]: Act 1, Scene 2

A classic 2e Puzzle dungeon for High Level characters
Beware, this one is substantially longer and (IMHO) even harder than the legendary Tomb of Horrors!
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Styrius
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Re: Return [To Madness]: Act 1, Scene 2

Post by Styrius »

Axid is in no hurry to enter the room, discretion being the better part of valor. He offers updates on what he sees which doesn’t change much it would seems since the snake heads left the area.
You are talkin' to the holy symbol wearing,
Ruby ring wearing, kiss stealing; Woo!
Praying/healing, beholder riding, griffin flying
Son of a blowgun, and I'm having a hard time holding these Aboleth shoes down! WOO!
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TristenC
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Re: Return [To Madness]: Act 1, Scene 2

Post by TristenC »

Sensing something wrong, Stephen centers himself and reaches out again. He subtly manipulates the sensation until suddenly the life force of those around him springs up in his mind. Not only can he sense his living companions in the room with him, he detects the invisible quasit familiars belonging to the Necromancers. In the chamber below he registers Landro and Jack, but not the undead nor the green figures. Allikhain watches as well, shaking her head as she sees nothing new. Jag moves over to watch as well.

Alrius stalks Northward and out of sight of all but Axid's psionic viewpoint, attacking the Spectre and wounding him. Mourkol's silence stretches on as the other undead assail him. Finally he rises above the fray and floats back to the mouth of the portal, facing Ke'Sha. Your other little pets seem to be out of control. He says with clear irritation.

One of the green figures follows the Wight, attacking her but proves unable to to harm her. The other two turn their attentions on the living party-members. One moves from below the portal, stalking over to Jack. The large figure swipes at the rogue. The almost iridescent green arm makes contact, eliciting a cry of agony from the human. The other figure strikes the Firbolg in a similar manner, with similar results. They are draining our Life Force! He shouts back to the others. With mighty effort, Landro wrenches his sword free of the mirror and carves a wide swath through his opponent, sending twinkling shards flying as they sublimate into thin vapor trails.


[Actions Round 5?]
====

R4 init:
Drommacus (1+ ): 1
Stephen (2+Detect Life): 2
Allikhain (3+ watch): 3
Jagrinder (4+move ): 4
Gur (4+): 4
Nidrith (2+2 Mag ss): 4
Axid (5+): 5
VF4 (2+3 natural attk): 5
Alrius (4+2 Mag ss): 6
VF3 (4+3 natural attk): 7
Thallena (5+3 nat attk): 8
VF1 (5+3 natural attk): 8
Mourkol (8+move): 8
Jack (7+2 MLS): 9
[3 troll zom and Skel: Init 8+ x]
Ke'Sha (8+5 DFB sp): 13
Landro (10+13 M2H): 23
T: ???
E: ???

Drommacus holds

Stephen attempts to use Life Detection
[1d20] = ??
Stephen senses Life in 100 yard radius spends 3 psps
And Power Manipulation
(19) [1d20]=10, pass Cost: 5 PSPs

Allikhain watches for invisible creatures through the portal

Jag moves to look through the portal

Gur holds


Nidrith stabs with her Magical short sword at Mourkol (AC 2)
Thac0 14 vs AC 2, Need 12+
[1d20] = 1, Fumble!
Nidrith drops her magical short sword!
South, 5 feet away

Axid holds

VF4 moves NorthWest 25 feet to engage Thellena in melee!
VF4 attacks Thallena. No Effect


Alrius moves North 40 feet to engage Mourkol in melee!
Alrius stabs with hIs Magical short sword at Mourkol (AC 2)
Thac0 14 vs AC 2, Need 12+
[1d20] = 17, Hit!
For [1d6+1] = 6 damage!
Mourkol is Barely damaged

Nidrith and Alrius vs Mourkol [1d20]=1, [1d6+1]=1+1=2, [1d20]=17, [1d6+1]=5+1=6


VF3 moves West 30 feet to engage Jack in melee!
VF3 swipes at Jack (AC 1)
Thac0 ?? Vs AC 1
[1d20] = 14, Hit!
Jack is Drained of 2 levels of Life Energy!!

Thallena attacks Mourkol. No Effect!

VF1 swipes at Landro (AC 0)
Thac0 ?? Vs AC 0
[1d20] = 19, Hit!
Landro is Drained of 2 levels of Life Energy!!

VF2 vs Jack, VF 1 vs Landro [1d20]=14, [1d20]=19

Mourkol withdraws up (out of melee range) and moves SouthEast in front of the portal


Jack slashes with his Frost Brand Longsword in his right hand at VF3 (AC?)
Thac0 6 vs AC ?
[1d20]= 7, Hit!
For [1d12+9]= 16 damage!
VF3 is Damaged!

Jack stabs with his Magical Dagger (+2/ +3vs Large creatures) in his left hand at VF2 (AC?) from behind (+2)
Thac0 5 vs AC ?(+2)
[1d20]=1, Fumble!
Jack drops his magical dagger! 5 feet South

Jack vs VF1 [1d20]=7, [1d12+9]=7+9=16, [1d20]=1, [1d3+9]=3+9=12


Ke'Sha prepares to use his Control Undead ability when the undead come into view.

Landro tries to pull his sword from the mirror frame (Str 19)
[1d20] = 5, pass! Landro frees his sword!

Landro slashes with his Magical Giant 2-Handed sword (spec) at VF1 (AC?)
Thac0 2 vs AC ?:
[1d20] = 5, hit!
For [3d6] = (14 x2) +11 => 39 damage!
VF1 is Critically Damaged!

Landro str chk and attk VF1 [1d20]=5, [1d20]=5, [3d6]=14


The tiny blue circle with the Black dot inside is the point of Axid's Clairvoyance/ Clairaudience.

The purple circle is the area of 'Silence', centered around where the Blood Bubbles land

The red bar is where Axid saw the secret door before it closed.

The small circle by Nidrith with the letter 's' is her dropped short sword

The small circle by Jack with the letter 'd' is his dropped dagger
Screenshot_20250908_124645_Dungeon Sketch.jpg
Screenshot_20250908_124707_Dungeon Sketch.jpg
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Nocturno
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Re: Return [To Madness]: Act 1, Scene 2

Post by Nocturno »

Jack attacks!
"This is awful, now I remember why I hate working in groups."

Jag just observes. Maybe he can figure out how they life is drained, and how he could help recover it.
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Re: Return [To Madness]: Act 1, Scene 2

Post by BishGada »

"Draining life? They might be from the negative plane." Ke'Sha comments and thinks to himself, 'Have you given me time to learn my spells I might have been able to restore you...' "Hold on, my minions will soon attack them. Stay in full defense."

======================================================================
(OOC: If the golems are drawn from the negative plane, would you say Ke'Sha can try and control them, at least some control enough to stop them from attacking?
Would you say Allakhain limited wish can restore both comrades levels?
)
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Re: Return [To Madness]: Act 1, Scene 2

Post by Lord Torath »

Well, the good news is that there are no more living enemies in the immediate area. The bad news is the two snake heads have fled, and are probably bringing word of our intrusion. They are not within 300 feet of me, so they are moving at speed.” Stephen says quietly.
It seems as though the ‘golems’ can only affect and be affected by living things. They are not solid to my senses, and seem to only have form when attacked by living beings. I’m not certain if a demon would be able to affect them. Might be worth a try, though,” he says, eyeing Drommacus.

I’m going to try something.” Stephens reaches out with his Will, tugging on the the connection between the ‘golem’ closest to Jack and the Negative Energy plane, attempting to bring it fully onto the prime plane. Unfortunately, his diminishing Will means he fails to find a conduit between the 'golem' and the Negative Energy plane. “Koro's Luck! Where's the connection?” he mutters under his breath.
==============================================================================
OoC:
Stephen maintains Life Detection and the Dimensional Door.
Stephen attempts to wrench VF2: Wrench VF2 Power Check (Wis-4) 16: [1d20]=18 Failure: Cost: 8 PSPs (15/2)
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Styrius
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Re: Return [To Madness]: Act 1, Scene 2

Post by Styrius »

Seeing nothing else of note, Axid ceases clairvoyance.
You are talkin' to the holy symbol wearing,
Ruby ring wearing, kiss stealing; Woo!
Praying/healing, beholder riding, griffin flying
Son of a blowgun, and I'm having a hard time holding these Aboleth shoes down! WOO!
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BishGada
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Re: Return [To Madness]: Act 1, Scene 2

Post by BishGada »

"Hmm... not trying to contradict your educated search, but maybe they are within 300 feet, but on a different dimension, the same way the current part of this dungeon didn't existed for us, until we got the tattoo of the first symbol. Maybe they are even behind a door next to us, that we just can see yet." Ke'Sha tries to remember is he could see the woman's symbols during her attack on Alrius.
Ke'Sha sends William down through the portal. "Please see if you can hit these creatures."
============================================================
(OOC: Ke'Sha will still try to re-control his minions. He will also send one of the trolls to attack the golems. Did anyone beside Jack and Landro attacked the golems?
Having your explanation of his vast knowledge in control and that the golems are not undead, he won't try controlling them with his mind, but with his minions swords.
William attacks the closest golem: William's attack/dmg [1d20]=9 [1d4+4]=4+4=8 [1d20]=11 [1d4+4]=2+4=6 [1d20]=2 [1d8+4]=4+4=8
)
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