Caer Mortling #3

 

Caer Mortling #3

“I think we should continue clearing the outer walls,” Alias noted after the party had a moment to rest their eyes and bandage their wounds. The main point that the party had agreed on was using the specific tower on hand as their camp while clearing out the castle. One of the rooms had been used as a stirge nest, which would undoubtedly be covered in the offal of housing the hated vermin. Who knew what awaited them in other rooms.

“You’re not excited about clearing out whatever is lingering behind those doors?” Fenthick asked.

“Even though we had a hell of a time with these spiders, the appeal of that message has not grown on me,” Alias said, “Does anyone have a counter to why we should go in there and deal with the matter?”

“What I am worried about are the ogre raids,” Lucille said, sitting up from her bedroll, “We are under little obligation to clear the castle, but those ogres have been raiding farms, killing livestock.”

“Have we found any tracks besides the first set leading into the castle?” Alias asked.

Ives found that a good point and decided to perform a Survival check to spot any signs of ogre tracks.

Q: Are there any ogre tracks?
A: No, no modifier - Either the ogres were lucky, or they realized this corner tower was protected by the steel spiders and they decided to avoid it.

Ives’ still performs a perfunctory search and finds nothing of interest. The party decides to continue their search and clear the castle before checking out the main hall. The party removes the spike from the door leading ‘up’

(East - Map to the right is in a ‘corrected view. Party currently is in tower 4)

The party moves up 30 feet and finds a door on their right (leading into door #5) with Alias taking the lead to keep an eye out for traps. Reaching the doorway, she gives the door a look over. There are no traps to check against. She tries the door and finds it unlocked, leading into an armory filled with crates of ballista bolts, arrows, and crossbolt bolts. Nindur uses Mage Hand to float a lit torch across the room to an empty sconce. He reaches in, and grabs a second spent torch, replacing it with a fresh torch. The room was now lit in dim orange light. Alias moves into the room, keeping her senses sharp.


Alias Perception: Natural 1 - As she gets near the crates, despite her senses sharp, she does not immediately spot the oily substance that appears to slowly slither from under one of the crates.

---

Alias’ eyes lit up at the movement in front of her. At first she was inclined to pass the puddle off as some left over oil, but to watch the substance below writhe and shift, Alias cursed that she was too late in realizing the danger that was in front of her.

---

Surprise Round
Slime attacks Alias with a pseudopod. Attack: 14 - Hit. Slam Damage: 4 - Damage: 23/27. Alias is allowed an Acrobatics-based ‘Escape Artist’ check vs. DC: 13. Escape Artist Result: 25 - She is stung, but not engulfed by the gathering slime.

Initiative - Round #1
Party: 13
GM: 2

Alias performs a full retreat to get back towards the doorway and let the tanks go after this one.

Nindur performs an Arcana check to recall Monster Lore: 21 - He easily recall that Red Slime is vulnerable to fire and acid and that almost any physical attack will only do so much damage before a magical/chemical solution such as fire/acid spells or the use of mundane fire or acid will be needed.

Cuthbert moves half-way into the room to guard Nindur and the others.

Lucille moves a step behind Cuthbert and readies an arrow.

Fenthick moves up to Cuthbert’s level and casts Bless (2/4 Spells Remaining. Concentration. Duration: 1 minute (10 Rounds)) Fenthick blesses himself, Cuthbert, and Lucille with the wisdom of the divine.

The first slime begins to slither out, followed by another, and another until four writhing pools drag out from under the crates. As they move, the party can hear the sound of objects tumbling, it is clear that the slimes have eaten the bottom of the crates and probably various pieces of ammunition at the bottom, as they slither away, drawn by the prospect of consuming flesh and blood, the crates begin to collapse.


Red Slime #1 reaches Cuthbert and tries to attack with a pseudopod. Attack: 19 vs. 22 - Miss

Round #2

Alias moves for a clear shot. She performs a Cunning Action (Stealth) to gain Sneak Attack #1 that is threatening Cuthbert. Stealth: 21 - Success. Sneak Attack w/ Magic Hand Crossbow: 14 - Hit. Damage: 13. Slime #1 HP: 19/32

Nindur casts Magic Weapon (2nd Level Slot; ⅔ Slots Remaining. Duration: 1 Hour (Concentration) - He uses his Mage Hand to deliver the spell to Fenthick’s generally non-magical mace, turning it into a Mace +1

Cuthbert attacks Slime #1 w/ Warhammer. Attack: 20 - Hit w/ Magical Warhammer. Damage: 8. Slime #1 HP: 11/32

Lucille fires an arrow at Slime #1. Attack: 15 - Hit. Damage: 8. Slime #1 HP: 3/23. She uses Horde Breaker on Slime #2. Attack: Natural 1 - Automatic Miss.

Fenthick moves a step so that his Word of Radiance affects Red Slime #1 & #2. Both make Con Save vs. 13 - Slime #1 Save: 8 / Slime #2 Save: 14 - Failure / Save. Damage: 6. Radiant Fire will count as ‘Fire’ or ‘Acid’ and burns Slime #1 totally to 0 HP. Slime #2 unaffected.

Slime #2 turns and slaps at Fenthick. Attack: 16 - Miss

Slime #3 slithers towards Cuthbert and attacks the Dwarf with a pseudopod. Attack: 18 - Miss

Slime #4 slithers at Fenthick and attacks him. Attack: 20 - Hit. Damage: 9. Fenthick HP: 18/27. Concentration: 15 vs. 10 - Success. Athletics Check vs. 13 = 13 - Success.
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Round #3

Alias aims and attacks with Sneak Attack: 24 - Hit. Damage: 11. Slime #2 HP: 21/32

Nindur draws one of his alchemist fires and hurls at Slime #2. Attack: 23 - Hit. Damage: 1x2 (Fire) = 2. Slime #2 is now On Fire and will take 1d6 (Fire) damage unless it can roll and put itself out with a DC: 10 Dex Save. Regeneration negated for this round. Slime #2 HP: 19/32

Cuthbert attacks Slime #3 w/ Warhammer. Attack: 17 - Hit. Damage: 11. Slime #3 HP: 21/32

Lucille fires an arrow at Slime #2. Attack: 19 - Hit. Damage: 5. Slime #2 HP: 14/32.
Horde Breaker on Slime #3. Attack: 18 - Hit. Damage: 6. Slime #3 HP: 25/32

Fenthick casts Word of Radiance affecting all three Slimes. They must make a Con Save vs. 13 or take 1d6 = 5 (Radiance)

Slime #2 Save: 17 - Success

Slime #3 Save: 11 - Failure. HP: 20/32 - Note: Slime #3 can still regenerate from Radiant damage unless reduced to 0 HP.

Slime #4 Save: 21 - Success

Slime #2 continues to lash at Fenthick. Attack: 18 - Miss

Slime #3 lashes at Cuthbert. Attack: 10 - Miss

Slime #4 lashes at Fenthick. Attack: 15 - Miss
---

Notes: Slime #2 was exposed to flame. Regenerated negated for 1 round.

Slime #3 and #4 were struck by magical weapons and Radiant damage, but not fire or acid, they may regain 1 HP from any damage taken.

Round #4

Alias targets Slime #2 and does not move to aim and gain Sneak Attack. Attack: 13 - Hit. Damage: 11. Slime #2 HP: 0/32 - Slain!

Nindur spends an Alchemist Fire (3 Remaining) and hurls it at Slime #3. Attack: 19 - Hit. Damage: 2x2 = 4. Slime #3 HP: 12/32. Fire negates Regeneration for 1 round.

Cuthbert attacks Slime #3. Attack: 21 - Hit. Damage: 6. Slime #3 HP: 6/32

Lucille fires an arrow at Slime #3. Attack: 18 - Hit. Damage: 5. Slime #3 HP: 1/32. Hordebreaker on Slime #4. Attack: 22 - Hit. Damage: 9. Slime #4 HP: 23/32

Fenthick casts Word of Radiance. Slimes must save or take (1d6): 5 damage.

Slime #3 Save: 21 - Save

Slime #4 Save: 23 - Save

Slime #3 attacks Cuthbert. Attack: Natural 20! Crit. Damage: 15. Cuthbert HP: 25/40. He makes a Save vs. Engulf at Disadvantage: 18 - Success.

Slime #4 attacks Fenthick. Attack: 18 vs. AC: 19 - Miss.
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Round #5

Alias targets Slime #4 w/ aiming for Sneak Attack. Attack: 24 - Hit. Damage: 17. Slime #4 HP: 6/32

Nindur attacks Slime #4 w/ Ray of Frost. Attack: Natural 1 - Miss

Cuthbert raises his hand for Lay on Hands, targeting himself. He heals himself 5 HP and brings his HP to 30/40 while lowering his Lay on Hands pool to 15/20

Lucille attacks Slime #4 w/ Bow. Attack: 26 - Hit. Damage: 5. Slime #4 HP: 0/32 - Could possibly regenerate.

Fenthick casts Word of Radiance and forces the Slime to save or take: 6 Damage

Slime #4 Save: 10 vs. 13 - Failure. Slime #4 is destroyed.
---

The party is certainly in a slightly disgruntled mood after that last encounter. Although there is a relief that no one had been drawn in and consumed by the slimes, there were still a few stings that lingered on the body. The party did not break out the healing tinctures or other objects. Cuthbert did call upon a portion of his willpower and connection to the light to mend a dark splotch that had formed after the pseudopod had managed to wrap around one of his arms.

“I’ll be alright,” He waves off Fenthick’s attempt to treat him, “We need to save what we’ve got when we come across a true foe.”

"Being consumed by primordial muck is not a true foe?” Fenthick asked, but he nodded in agreement, patting the dwarf’s shoulder, “Let me know if you change your mind.”

Cuthbert nodded. Although Dwarves and Elves had their disagreements with one another, actually, such prejudice should hardly apply to a Half-Elf like Fenthick, who usually received his own barbs from true elves. Either way, Cuthbert appreciated the cleric’s willingness to use up his health supplies on a comrade.

Alias carefully picked her way through the steaming remains of the slime and made her way towards the small door within the room.