Session #2
The party reaches the entry hall and finds that the exposure to the salt air has left the hinges to the outer gates rusty. One door is slightly ajar that small party members such as Alias and Lucille could slide through, but larger, medium-sized members would struggle. Alias offers to sneak into the entry hall.
Stealth: 8
(1-in-6 chance of an encounter: 2 - No Encounter)
Alias is able to spot the three points of interest in the entry hall. To her left and right are two single doors leading off while a pair of double doors stood in front of her with gem tipped torches that glowed in shades of purples and blues that cast an eerie glow. It reads across the inner chamber doors: Beware Ye Who Embrace the Dark!
“How comforting,” Alias notes before she returns to the opening break and tells Cuthbert the coast is clear.
Cuthbert and Fenthick work together to make an Athletic’s check to make a controlled movement with the rusty door to prevent as much noise as possible from issuing from the hinges. This roll would normally be at a Disadvantage, but working together, Fenthick and Cuthbert nullify the Disadvantage into a straight roll. The result is:
Athletics: 16 vs. 13 - Success. There are minor squeaks from the door, but there is no long drawn out screech that fills the castle. The party gets one door open and they pass through to join Alias in the antechamber in front of the throne room door.
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“Well, that certainly is ominous,” Alias commented on the doors ahead of her, “Maybe we should sweep the outer rooms before going ahead?”
“Works for me,” Cuthbert said, “Hopefully those damn stirges only nested in one room in this castle.”
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The party takes the right passage (North) moving 20 feet before reaching the door across. Alias is in the lead, keeping her eyes out for anything obvious. Reaching the door, she is confident that the door is safe to access. She does perform a listen at the door.
Alias Perception: 21 vs Steel Spider (+4): 22 & 10 - She is able to hear something clicking in the room that sets her suspicions. She checks over the door to confirm that the door is not an issue, but she alerts the party that something is off about the room and to be ready.
Alias attempts to quietly move into the room. Stealth (+6) w/ Disadvantage = 14 vs. Passive Perception: 12 - The spiders cling to the walls of the tower. They are active, but time has left them idle and they do not immediately sense the door opening. Alias is able to quietly stick her head in and find an empty storage room. The arrow slits at the corners of the room allow fresh, salty air, which at least makes the room smell clean. Alias takes a few steps in and performs a Perception.
Perception: 5 vs. Steel Spider Stealth (+4): 16 & 6 - She is suspicious, but her Darkvision can only see so much up the tower’s wall. She does not immediately spot the sleek gray forms on the upper walls of the room.
She waves Cuthbert to follow in. He does not make any attempt at Stealth, and the clanking of his armor alerts the spiders. At the same time, as they move, they can be detected.
Spider Stealth: 9 & 12 vs. Passive Perceptions: 12 11 - One failure is enough that Alias spots the first Steel Spider and eventually sees the other one.
Initiative - Round #1
Party: 5
GM: 4
Alias shouts out a warning and draws her hand crossbow. She performs a Hide check to try and slip the spider’s notice for a Sneak Attack. Feint/Hide: 14 - Success.
Attack: Natural 20 - Hit! D: 12+3 = 15 + Crit: 12+3 = 15 = 30 to Spider #1 (Magical - Full Damage). Steel Spider #1 HP: 15/45
Cuthbert moves in and takes up position in front of Alias.
Lucille charges behind Cuthbert and takes a step to the side, firing at Steel Spider #1. Attack: 24 - Hit. Damage: 5 (Piercing, Magical): Steel Spider #1 HP: 10/45
Nindur moves next, but stops at the entrance and steps aside to let Fenthick move through.
Fenthick moves through and interposes himself between himself and Lucille.
Steel Spider #1 is shorting out, but it is fearless. It moves down and fires a net at (Random Roll (d8) - 1-2 (Cuthbert) / 3-4 (Alias) / 5-6 (Lucille) / 7-8 (Fenthick): 2 - Cuthbert. He makes a Dex Save vs. 13 to avoid the net. Save: 18 - Save! He dodges the iron netting that the spider creates. It begins to descend to the ground.
Steel Spider #2 fires a net at (d8): 8 - Fenthick. Fenthick Save: 16 - Save. He is able to dodge the wired netting as Steel Spider #3 moves towards the ground to engage the party.
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Round #2
Alias performs a full-round Aim, giving up her move for a Sneak Attack. Attack: 15 - Miss
Cuthbert moves and attacks Steel Spider #1 w/ Warhammer. Attack: 20 - Hit. Damage: 5 (Bludgeoning; Magical). Steel Spider #1: 5/45 - Crusher Feat pushes it back 5 feet.
Lucille fires an arrow at Steel Spider #1 w/ Short Bow. Attack: 26 - Hit. Damage: 6. Steel Spider #1 HP: 0/45 - It shorts out and its internals explode, creating smoke billowing out of ports. It is destroyed.
Nindur casts Ray of Frost at Spider #2 from the doorway. Attack: 20 - Hit. Damage: 5 (Cold)
Fenthick holds and will swipe at Steel Spider #2 if it gets in immediate melee with him.
Steel Spider #2 (Net Reload (5+ on d6): 3 - No Reload) - It moves on (d6 = 1-3 (Cuthbert) / 4-6 (Fenthick) the obvious takes): Result 5 - Fenthick. It moves and takes a swipe from Fenthick.
Fenthick attack: 16 - Miss
Steel Spider #2 slashes at Fenthick with Multiattack: 13+4 = 17 & 12+4 = 16 vs. AC: 19 - Miss / Miss
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Special: At the start of round #3, I asked the oracle the following:
Q: Is the third steel spider attracted by the fight?
A: Yes, no modifier
Q: Does the Steel Spider come up from behind Nindur?
A: Yes, no modifier
Before we begin the round, let’s give the Steel Spider a pure Stealth vs. Passive Perception to see if it surprises the Mage.
Steel Spider Stealth: Natural 20 - It gets a drop on Nindur and fires its Net. Nindur must make a Dex 13 Save to negate net, but at Disadvantage.
Nindur Save: 4+2 = 6 < 13 - Failure. Nindur is hit from behind and is knocked prone at the start of the round.
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Nindur: “Sounds like someone is tapping nails on stone-” He cries out as he feels the sudden impact of metallic wires strike and wrap around him, knocking him to the ground.
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Round #3
Alias points out that Nindur is in trouble and takes a full aim at Spider #3. Attack: 21 - Hit. Damage: 14 (Piercing, Magical). Spider #3 HP: 31/45.
Nindur is trapped this round. Next round he must make a Str Save or feel the wires begin to constrict and cut into him.
Cuthbert moves forward and engages Steel Spider #3 to keep it off of Nindur. He casts Humming Smite which has a Concentration, up to 1 minute (10 rounds) and deals 1d6 Thunder damage. 1st Level Spell Slot (⅔ Slots Remaining). Attack: 8 - Miss
Lucille fires an arrow at Steel Spider #2. Attack: 16 - Miss
Fenthick casts Spiritual Weapon, summoning a Hammer of Light. 2nd Level Spell Slots Remaining (⅔). The Hammer attacks on this turn.
Hammer Attack: 20 - Hit. D: 4 (Radiant) damage on Steel Spider #2. Damage: 36/45
Steel Spider #2 (Net Reload (d6): 2 - No Reload): It slashes at Fenthick. Attacks: 11 & 6 vs. 19 - Miss/Miss
Steel Spider #3 (Net Reload (d6): 6 - Reload!): It spends an attack, firing a net at Cuthbert. Cuthbert Save: 18 - Success. Steel Spider #3 targets the following (d6 w/ 1-4 = Cuthbert / 5-6 = Nindur. Result: 2) - It detects Cuthbert as a potential threat and advances on him, slashing at him. Attack: 6 - Miss
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Round #4
Nindur Save vs. Str: 4 - Failure. Constriction (d10 Slashing): 9. Nindur HP: 21/30
Alias moves to gain some distance to the fight that has spilled in the hallway between Cuthbert and Steel Spider #3. Her movement means she must attempt a Cunning Action (Stealth) to gain Sneak Attack. Stealth: 18 - Success. Sneak Attack: 9 - Miss
Cuthbert attacks Steel Spider #3. Attack: 24 - Hit. Damage: 7 (Magical, Bludgeoning) + 2 (Thunder) = 9. Steel Spider #3 HP: 22/45. Steel Spider #3 is immune to Deafened, but is knocked back 5 feet by Crusher 5 feet.
Lucille fires an arrow at Steel Spider #2. Attack: 18 - Hit. Damage: 9. Steel Spider #2 HP: 27/45.
Lucille takes a 5 ft. step as she also has Horde Breaker (which I had forgotten). She is able to then fire a second shot, this time at Steel Spider #3. Attack: 19 - Hit. D: 5. Steel Spider #3 HP: 17/45.
Light’s Hammer (Spiritual Weapon) Attack: 15 - Miss
Fenthick attacks with his Mace. Attack: 19 - Hit. Damage: 7/2 - 3 (Non-magical Bludgeoning. Steel Spider #2 HP: 24/45
Steel Spider #2 (Net Reload (d6): 1 - No). It attacks Fenthick w/ two attacks: 22 & Natural 20 - Hit & Crit! Damage: 6 + 12 = 18. Fenthick HP: 5/27.
Steel Spider #3 (Net Reload (d6): 2 - No). It moves and meets Cuthbert. Due to crusher and Cuthbert moving up after delivering a blow, the two are now deep in the hall and away from the others. Steel Spider #3 slashes at the Paladin. Attacks: 12 & 6 vs. AC: 22 - Miss / Miss
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Round #5
Nindur Save vs. Str: 18 vs. 10 - He is able to pry the wire net open to one side long enough to slide with several cuts in his skin from where the wire had bit into him earlier.
Alias takes aim and fires a Sneak Attack on Steel Spider #2 as she notes that Fenthick has taken a terrible shot to the side. Aim gives her automatic Sneak Attack: 21 - HIt. Damage: 12 (Piercing, Magical). Steel Spider #2 HP: 12/45
Cuthbert attacks Steel Spider #3. Attack: 24 - Hit. Damage: 12 (Bludgeoning, Magical) + 6 (Thunder) = 18. Steel Spider #3 HP: 0/45 - Destroyed! - Steel Spider #3’ mechanical head explodes in a heap of smoke from a terrific blow delivered by the Paladin.
Lucille moves and fires an arrow at the side of the Steel Spider to try and draw its attention. She extolls Fenthick to get back. Attack: 24 - Hit. D: 9 (Magical Piercing). Steel Spider #2 HP: 3/45
Hammer of Light: Attacks Steel Spider. Attack: 22 - Hit. Damage: 10 (Radiant). Steel Spider #3 HP: 0/45 - Destroyed.
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The party is left huffing and puffing for a moment. Fenthick is obviously sporting a nasty gash on his side, and Nindur’s skin is cut in several places by the wires. The party needs to take stock of their situation. Cuthbert is able to use his Dwarven strength to drag Steel Spider #3 into the room as Alias uses some climbing pitons to spike the two doors entering the tower, effectively keeping monsters from easily passing through the door.
With the party relatively secure, Fenthick does the following:
Fenthick first uses a Healer’s Kit on himself. He heals himself 1d6 + 4 + 4 (Level). Out of combat, he receives a full rest of 10+4 = 14. Fenthick HP: 19/27
Fenthick then burns a Scroll of Cure Wounds (Light) to treat Nindur. This Scroll was made under the assumption that the Priest who enchanted said scrolls had a 14 (+2) Wisdom for a Scroll that deals 1d8+2. Out of Combat gives Nindur 10 HP. Fenthick’s Scrolls remaining (Cure Wounds (Light) (x1), Protection from Good & Evil (x1). Nindur HP:
Nindur assists Cuthbert in trying to salvage any components from the steel spider. Cuthbert leads the operation, giving his training as a smith. The pair are able to recover the following:
“We might as well rest while they are breaking down those murder machines,” Alias suggests.
“Good idea,” Fenthick said, “I need to apply a few more tinctures to this wound.”
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A short rest is called for. This allows for Fenthick to roll a Hit Die (d8+1 = 9 - ¾ Hit Dice Remaining). Fenthick HP: 27/27.
Lucille sets out her bedroll and takes a short nap near the window while Alias takes a turn, resting her eyes next to a door to ensure nothing tries to break things down. At the same time, Nindur and Cuthbert busy themselves packing away the arcane cores in Nindur’s pack. The Arc-Spooler, Cuthbert sets the Arc-Spooler to the side. He does not want to bother Alias to see if she wants to actually work on the trap.
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