Chapter 19: Endless Nights

[Dave W.]

Adamant grips the glaive in his left hand and touches the octogram affixed to his chest. In the same cadence as the Chat he says,

"Dread creatures of the Long Night
Flee from the Power of Dol Arrah's Light!"

---

Technically I'm after Kal, but it's a crazy day again so I'll post it and let you fit it in...

Move Action: none
Bonus Action: none
Standard Action: Channel Divinity: Turn Undead. All the undead within 30' have to make a WIS save vs DC 15 or flee for 1 minute.

---

Constant Effects (provided Adamant is conscious):

• Aura of Devotion: Adamant and allies within 10' can’t be charmed.
• Aura of Protection: Adamant and allies within 10' gain +3 on saves.
• Aura of Courage: Adamant and allies within 10' can’t be frightened.
• Sentinel: Adjacent creatures provoke opportunity attacks even if they use Disengage.
• Sentinel: If an adjacent enemy makes an attack against a target other than Adamant, he can use his reaction to make a melee attack against that enemy.

Possible Reactions:

• Fighting Style Protection: An attack against an adjacent ally suffers disadvantage when Addy has his shield up. Adamant doesn't have the shield now.
• Sentinel: If Addy hits with an opportunity attack, the target's speed becomes 0 for the rest of the turn.

[/font]

[Darren]

Still mistrustful of his own magic during Long Shadows, Kal instead reaches to his belt and draws for a crystalline rod which he points at the dead mean, blasting the nearest one with four bolts of energy.

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I can't see the map right now, so I don't know which one exactly Kal is targeting, but I'll trust Jeff's judgment on that.

Kal will use his Eternal Wand of Magic Missles.

Damage is 12.

[Joe]

I will need an updated map so that Streko can move to a good spot and not harm any of Histra's (and our) undead bodyguards. No need to make THEM flee my wrath!! Also waiting to see how Addy and Kal do.

[Jeff]

Fair, Joe. Here we go.

---

Four magic missiles launch from Kal's wand and slam into his chosen victim, one of the spirits at the edge of the ship just in front of Melethos. The spirit is nearly blasted away by the bolts, but still manages to stay upright. 

Adamant's holy symbol blazes like a miniature sun. The flare is brief but intense, and all but one of the corpse-like spirits recoils immediately. Their shrieks of anger take a sour, frightening moan. 

---

• Kal deals 12 force damage to the deadman southeast of Melethos.
→ Spirits' Wisdom saving throw vs. Adamant's Turn the Unholy (top to bottom of those he can see):  12 (fail); 16 (success); 10 (fail); 6 (fail); 4 (fail); 8 (fail); 7 (fail); 13 (fail); 1 (fail) (All but one is Turned for 1 minute or until it takes damage.)

Turned: A turned creature must spent its turns trying to move as far away from you as it can, and it can’t willingly move to a space within 30 feet of you. It also can’t take reactions. For its action, it can use only the Dash action or try to escape from an effect that prevents it from moving. If there’s nowhere to move, the creature can use the Dodge action.

Note: They can't flee until their actual turns come up again. And if they take any damage, the Turning no longer affects them.

Round 2

29 - Shorak
19 - NPCs
18 - Belarin
18 - figures in water
13 - Kal & Tangat
11 - Adamant
9 - Streko
5 - Melethos

Attachments:

[Joe]

Streko watches as Adamant calls forth Dol Arrah's light and sends the vast majority of the undead things scurrying away.

One, however, resists. Streko calls for holy fire to rain down upon it and sends Olladra's heavenly sickle to follow up. "If Olladra's will is needed to turn them, I shall wait until they think it is safe to return. Then , perhaps, I shall destroy them altogether!"
______________________________________________________



Streko casts Sacred Flame. The undead thing must roll dexterity save or take Sacred Flame Damage: 2D8 → 9

As a bonus action, Streko attacks it with his spectral sickle.

Spiritual Weapon Attack → 15

Screwed that roll up. Should be a +8, not a +1 (so the attack should be a 22). Got stuck on the "melee" part of the spell attack. Been a day...

Damage from Attack #1 → 6

[Jeff]

Joe, in subsequent rounds after casting Spiritual Weapon, the sickle gets one attack (using a bonus action); it's only that first round of casting that lets you get a second swipe in. So Streko can use that first attack roll for the sickle, but he still has a regular action to use.

[Brian]

Melethos, his body blurred, as if he were both here and there both, recognizes Adamant's prayer: a beseech to his god to intervene with the undead. He slides back, knowing he's opening himself up to attack but relying on his armor to protect him, and watches to undead faces. Most look afraid... but one doesn't. Sheathing his sword, he grasps the crystal hanging from his neck, feels the anger welling up in him—the desire to dominate, to destroy—and speaks words of power. Beams of red veined in back shoot out from his hand at the undead who looks unaffected by the paladin's prayer.

______________________________________

Movement Action: Melethos moves two squares west. His armor makes any opportunity attacks at disadvantage.

Free Action: Melethos sheaths his sword.

Standard Action: Melethos casts Eldritch Blast at the deadman who resisted the turning.

Melethos: repeat 3D20+7 → 15; 9; 26(8 + 7);(2 + 7);(19 + 7)#eldritch blast attacks Pretty sure the nine misses.

Melethos: repeat 2D10 → 5; 1(5);(1)#damage from eldritch blast

[Joe]

Sept 24, 2020 19:06:58 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Joe, in subsequent rounds after casting Spiritual Weapon, the sickle gets one attack (using a bonus action); it's only that first round of casting that lets you get a second swipe in. So Streko can use that first attack roll for the sickle, but he still has a regular action to use.

Copy. Got it. That makes sense now. Thank you. Will edit post.

Okay, updated!!

[Dave B.]

Shorak goes to the hatch that Kurra called from. He goes down the stairs and if any spirits passing through the hull don't move away because of Adamant's turning, he will fling his boomerang at the first to make a move towards Kurra.

Shorak goes down the hatch to join Kurra, using Cunning Action if necessary.

Shorak readies a ranged attack with his boomerang on the first spirit not turned by Adamant that gets within 5 feet of Kurra.

[Jeff]

Holy fire and a slash of Streko's sickle both harry the lingering spirit, but doesn't quite bring it down. When Melethos moves to get some distance, the nearest spirit ignores him, intend on its retreat. But when he turns and add his fiery eldritch attack to Streko's, the undaunted floating corpse is blasted from the air. Its body falls and vanishes.

Shorak hurries down the nearest open hatch. As soon as he reaches the lower deck at the base of the ladder, standing in the cabin that leads to Kurra's residence, he sees several of the spirit-cadavers have already invaded. They are not condensed in one place yet, but are beginning to surround both Kurra and Calirataia, who stand together in the cargo hold. Moreover, several of them (and various crates and boxes around the area) are lit with flickering green flames. The dryad's faerie fire. But the closest spirit to the dwarf is not; yet Shorak is confidence he can help, though the angle isn't great and the doorway partially blocks his view. The foe is already within five feet of her, so he lets fly.

The boomerang whirls through the tight space, swishing past the head of a spirit near the doorway, and fairly cuts his target in half where it "stands" upon some crates. It falls backward like a real solid wet body, but then begins to fade from view. (I've marked on the map which one he's just dispatched.)

---

• Deadman's Dexterity save vs. Sacred Flame: 7 (failure) / 9 radiant damage
• Spiritual Weapon deals 6 force damage to deadman
• Melethos's spell deals 6 force damage to deadman.
• Deadman is "slain."
• Shorak's boomerange attack vs. nearest spirit to Kurra: 29 (critical hit) / 12 slashing damage and 30 slashing sneak attack damage!
• Deadman is "slain."

Calirataia summons a snaking whip into her hands which resembles a vine riddled with wicked thorns. She slashes the nearest spirit with while Kurra swings a small glowing warammer up at the next one in line pressing in toward her. There is a small concussive blast when she hits it; the artificer's weapons seem to pack an extra punch. But neither foe goes down yet.

Shorak sees at least five down here.

Meanwhile, Sem hurries to the galley hatch and opens it, looking ready to fight, but he doesn't just rush down alone. Instead Thul sprints to him and shoves him aside. "Down or move," he grunts, and disappears below with the Hammer of Syndra still blazing.

Starg goes, too, and heads down as quickly as the old minotaur can manage himself.

"I think there are some down here, too!" Sem shouts up to Kal.

Histra moves to the starboard side, while the harpy-ghoul moves in front of Belarin as if to stand between him and any returning spirits. "There are none here yet," the necromancer says.

---

• Calirataia's Whip of Thorns attack vs. deadman north of her: 25 (hit) / 6 piercing damage to deadman
• Kurra's hammer attack vs. deadman northeast of her: 11 (hit) / 6 bludgeoning damage and 5 force damage to deadman
• Sem moves. Starg and Thul move out of sight.

Round 3

29 - Shorak
19 - NPCs
18 - Belarin
18 - figures in water
13 - Kal & Tangat
11 - Adamant
9 - Streko
5 - Melethos

I'll update the top map after Belarin goes. The spirits up here that remain are all preparing to flee still, FYI.

Attachments:

[Ken]

Seeing the impact of Adamant's invocation of Dol Arrah's power on the undead near him, Belarin follows Shorak down the ladder. He quickly spots one of the undead near the bottom, illuminated by a spell that he himself has used several times.

Hopping off the ladder, he slashes at the undead with his pact dagger - which now glows with green flame!

____________________

Belarin moves down the ladder and, as part of his Attack action, casts green-flame blade.
Attack: 1d20(17) + 9 = 26. I rolled a second time for advantage, but it wasn't as good.
Damage: 1d4(2) + 5 = 7 plus 1d6(2) (dagger + sneak attack) for total 9 points of slashing damage, plus 2d8(7,1) = 8 points of fire damage.

[Jeff]

Belarin's dagger satisfyingly slashes into a physical form, or at least it appears to, and the dead man's eyes widen with anger. Whatever these things are, they are not mindless. 

They press in. Belarin and Shorak both evade the reaching arms of the spirits, but three close in on Kurra and two manage to reach their limbs inside her. She gasps from their touch. 

Above, every single spirit in side drops or glides downward in retreat, wailing as if they were sailors thrown from the deck in a raging storm. Terrified. Soon they're all back in the water.

None of you can see what's happening where Thul and Starg have gone.

---

• Belarin's attack deals full slashing damage and half fire damage.
• Deadman's attack vs. Kurra: 14 (hit) / 10 necrotic damage to Kurra
• Deadman's attack vs. Kurra: 8 (miss)
• Deadman's attack vs. Kurra: 20 (hit) / 10 necrotic damage to Kurra
• Deadman's attack vs. Belarin: 14 (miss)  
• Deadman's attack vs. Shorak: 15 (miss)

Round 3

29 - Shorak
19 - NPCs
18 - Belarin
18 - figures in water
13 - Kal & Tangat
11 - Adamant
9 - Streko
5 - Melethos

Attachments:

[Darren]

Watching the figures retreat, Kal grins. "Good job, Adamant," he says, as he breaks into a sprint. "Stay up here and watch for their return." Kal slides down the ladder into the hold, alert for any danger below.

_________________
Kal will Dash. I think that can get him down the ladder and into the hold....? If I counted right, that would put him right at the bottom of the ladder? If not, he'll stop right at the top and move down next round.

[Jeff]

Which ladder? There's basically two ways down (the hatch above Kurra's abode is almost always locked).

[Darren]

Sept 25, 2020 12:04:00 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Which ladder? There's basically two ways down (the hatch above Kurra's abode is almost always locked).

The one at the front of the ship. Where Shorak is.

[Jeff]

A Dash (60 ft. of movement) will put Kal right at the top of that hatch, still on the uppder deck.

[Darren]

Sept 25, 2020 13:00:40 GMT -4 Jeff said:

A Dash (60 ft. of movement) will put Kal right at the top of that hatch, still on the uppder deck.

Works for me. He will stand next to the hatch and not on top of it so that others can get past him.

[Jeff]

  

Round 3

29 - Shorak
19 - NPCs
18 - Belarin
18 - figures in water
13 - Kal & Tangat
11 - Adamant
9 - Streko
5 - Melethos

[Dave W.]

Adamant keeps chanting. Without a clear opponent he makes ready in case some creature comes up to the deck.

---

Adamant will stand ready to attack if a deadman comes up to deck. Reminder that the gliave has reach too.

[Joe]

Sept 25, 2020 20:45:07 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

Adamant keeps chanting. Without a clear opponent he makes ready in case some creature comes up to the deck.

---

Adamant will stand ready to attack if a deadman comes up to deck. Reminder that the gliave has reach too.

"Brother," Streko calls out to Adamant, "I must go down below, see if I can assist there." He turns to Melethos. "I'm ending my weapon spell here, as I may need to concentrate on any situations down below."

With that, Streko moves through the hatch and begins stepping down into the lower deck. He stops as he hears commotion just beneath him.

One of them is just below him. Instinctively, he calls forth a column of radiant flame that seems to flow from his feet down onto the undead creature below.
__________________________________________________________________

Sacred Flame on the creature just beneath him.

[Jeff]

Streko lingers on the ladder down, blocking anyone else from getting around him without some difficulty. His holy fire hits the corpse-spirit squarely, burning a hole clear through it, but it stands yet.

Deadman's Dex save: 13 (failure) / 12 radiant damage

[Brian]

The deadman flee, but Melethos knows it is only temporarily. Moving to stand next to Histra, he once again channels his new power, throwing a hand out and speaking powers of arcane power, and three bolts of energy fly toward the nearest deadman.

__________________________________

Movement Action: Melethos moves one square east and one square south.

Standard Action: Melethos casts Eldritch Blast at the deadman closest to the ship, the one nearest Histra.

Melethos: repeat 3D20+7 → 24; 19; 23(17 + 7);(12 + 7);(16 + 7)#attacks from Eldritch Blast

Melethos: repeat 3D10 → 1; 7; 4(1);(7);(4)#damage from Eldritch Blasts

[Jeff]

Melethos's magic blasts the spirit where it floats on the water; it whirls to regard him, its fear forgotten.

12 force damage to that particular deadman, which is no longer Turned.

Attachment Deleted  Attachment Deleted

Round 4

29 - Shorak
19 - NPCs
18 - Belarin
18 - deadmen
13 - Kal & Tangat
11 - Adamant
9 - Streko
5 - Melethos

[Dave B.]

Shorak disengages from the spirit that is right by him and Belarin. Drawing his dagger with his free hand, the changeling/half-drow steps over to the one next to the ladder and sheathed in faerie fire. He feints with his dagger and then lunges forward, driving the point of the dagger towards the center of its mass.

Shorak uses Cunning Action to disengage and moves one square NWish.

Advantaged melee attack vs. deadman: 1d20+9=17, 1d20+9=21. Piercing damage: 1d4+5=6. Sneak attack damage: 5d6=16.

[Jeff]

Shorak easily stabs and dispatches the spirit before him; the dryad's faerie fire seems to guide his hand.

Kurra swings her hammer, and when it hits, another concussive blast rocks the spirit before her. Calirataia's whip of thorns harries her own foe.

On the deck, Sem starts down the ladder of the hatch below him. From there, he discharges more magic missiles from his wand, but none of you can see the result.

Brack has the ship moving again, if cautiously, beginning to move past the sinking ship.

  

• Another deadman is "slain" by Shorak.
• Kurra's attack vs. deadman east of her: 26 (critical hit) / 7 bludgeoning damage and 7 force damage
• Calirataia's attack vs. deadman north of her: 20 (hit) / 9 slashing damage
• Sem's casts magic missile.

Round 4

29 - Shorak
19 - NPCs
18 - Belarin
18 - deadmen
13 - Kal & Tangat
11 - Adamant
9 - Streko
5 - Melethos

[Ken]

Belarin dashes past Shorak and the fading tendrils of the undead he'd just killed. In the next room, he sees Kurra and the dryad harassed by several more of the angry spirits.

With the dagger in his right hand, he slashes from left to right at the closest undead, once again releasing a wave of green fire.

____________

Belarin moves into the next room and attacks the closest undead with advantage, again using his dagger and Green-Flame Blade.
Attack: 1d20(15)+9=24. rolz.org/info?zy289btmo7:kflksxwb
Dagger damage: 1d4(1)+5=6. rolz.org/info?zy289btmo7:kflkwhoc
Sneak attack damage: 1d6(4)=4. rolz.org/info?zy289btmo7:kfll00f9
Flame damage: 2d8(5,4)=9.
rolz.org/info?zy289btmo7:kfll38in
And if the other spirit that's on the crates is within 5 feet of the main target, it gets 2d8(2,8)+2 = 12 points of fire damage.

[Jeff]

Belarin's pact dagger stabs into his chosen enemy, burning it partially, while a portion of the green flame springs to the next one. That second spirit, already blasted by Kurra's hammer, is destroyed as a matter of course. But the first lingers, and whirls to attack Belarin. The warlock and fledgling wizard is too quick for the easy grab, evading it.

Kurra, however, is unable to avoid another grasp of the other's spirits chilling hands.

Above, the retreating spirit struck by Melethos's magic fire turns and flies back up, this time clear through the air, and lunges toward Adamant. The paladin's glaive meets it, impaling its body as truly as if the creature were solid. But the spirit pushes through it, sliding down the shaft of the weapon and plunges one hand through Adamant's own faceplate. A deathly cold passes through his body before he pulls away from the undead fingers.

All the rest vanish into the dark river, still fleeing from Adamant's holy light.

    

• The deadmen take half damage from fire.
• Deadman's attack vs. Kurra: 20 (hit) / 1- necrotic damage to Kurra
• Deadman's attack vs. Belarin: 13 (miss)
• Deadman (top deck) moves.
→ Adamant's reaction: opportunity attack (with glaive-reach) vs. deadman: 21 (hit) / 12 slashing damage
• Deadman's attack vs. Adamant: 19 (hit) / 10 necrotic damage to Adamant

Round 4

29 - Shorak
19 - NPCs
18 - Belarin
18 - spirits
13 - Kal & Tangat
11 - Adamant
9 - Streko
5 - Melethos

Attachments:

[Ken]

Belarin yells back toward the ladder, "Just two left down here! Check the rest of the ship!"

[Darren]

Kal is intent on rushing down the ladder, but he hears Belarin's call and sees the deadman attacking Adamant, and quickly shifts his position. Drawing Skyfang, Kal begins to coalesce magic energies around him, then remembers his own admonitions to the other and realizes he doesn't quite trust the wild energies during Long Shadows. Instead, he lunges at the creature, blade first, slashing at it as he had trained himself to do so long ago in Sentinel Tower.

_________________
No one seems to be having a problem with magic, but I'm trying to play Kal true to the character, so he's still avoiding it.

Kal will attack the deadman with Skyfang.

Attack roll was an 8, so....that's a miss. Obviously it doesn't matter, but I'm not sure if the deadman counts as a "evil spiritual creature" for purposes of the extra damage that Skyfang does.

[Jeff]

No mention of moving, though, Darren? To attack with a dagger, Kal would have basically had to push through and/or attack through some of that rigging to be adjacent to the spirit. So I would have imposed disadvantage on that anyway. So that's what I'm assuming he's doing. Because if he moves to stand on the opposite side of Adamant, then he couldn't reach with a dagger. A miss, in any case.

AS for Skyfang's power, it has remained somewhat mysterious: but it does seem like that extra damage is meant for things like fiends (devils, demons, or extraplanar evil beings, possibly even efreet!). Not undead.