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An underground passage, beneath the Durst Mansion, continuous...
An underground passage, beneath the Durst Mansion, continuous...
Sheila takes a few steps down the passage, a narrow stairwell under the trapdoor. Her oil lamp hanging on a chain casts a soft glow. Hank helps Bobby descend. Sheila motions for them to be quiet, nearing the end of the steps to a solid door.
SHEILA
SHEILA
Shhh!
GM says:
GM says:
Make an AWARENESS roll.
AWARENESS (12), rolls a ⬙(8) = Success
AWARENESS (12), rolls a ⬙(8) = Success
SHEILA
(pressing her ear to the door, whispering)
SHEILA
(pressing her ear to the door, whispering)
I can barely make out something. Maybe breathing? Slow. Heavy. Sleeping?
HANK
(readies himself, nods to Sheila. They've done this before.)
HANK
(readies himself, nods to Sheila. They've done this before.)
Okay.
BOBBY
BOBBY
(nodding as well)
Sheila pulls her hood, making herself, and the oil lamp she is holding, invisible. Hank and Bobby together, as gingerly as possible, crack the door to allow her to slip inside.
Hank's SNEAKING (14), with a boon from HELP, rolls a ⬙(5, 20) = Success!
A Shrine to the Darklord, in the Durst Dungon, continuous...
A Shrine to the Darklord, in the Durst Dungon, continuous...
Firelight from stately braziers illuminate the room, making a fearsome sight from the moldy skeletons hanging from rusty shackles against every wall. A wide alcove in the south wall contains a painted wooden statue of a gaunt, pale-faced man wearing a black cloak.
The remnants of a deadly battle lie about the chamber: broken bits of furniture, scattered weapons, and two bodies shrouded in dark robes. And in the far corner...
SHEILA
SHEILA
Sarusandra!
SARUSANDRA
SARUSANDRA
(startled, scrambling to her feet and readying a sword, which covers itself in blue flame)
SHEILA
(taking off her hood)
SHEILA
(taking off her hood)
It's me, Sheila!
SARUSANDRA
SARUSANDRA
Ah, the "heroes." I would have thought you might have changed your mind. And you would have been correct to do so.
She lowers to the floor, trying in vain not to give a hint of her injuries. Around her are bandages and bloodied rags, as she nurses her wounds.
SHEILA
(rushing to her side)
SHEILA
(rushing to her side)
You're hurt! Let me help you.
SARUSANDRA
SARUSANDRA
No, it's fine. It's-- Very well.
Sheila takes over from Sarusandra's attempt to bandage herself, as Hank and Bobby enter.
Sheila's HEALNG (12), rolls a ⬙(7) = Success!
BOBBY
BOBBY
Whoa! Neat! This must have been *some* battle!
HANK
(taking everything in with awe and horror)
HANK
(taking everything in with awe and horror)
What is this place?
SARUSANDRA
SARUSANDRA
A shrine to the Darklord, to whom the cultists make acrifices in the vain hope that he will reveal his secrets to them. The Priests of Osybus lie there. Those of whose cloaks you have decided to weakly disguise yourselves.
(motioning to the robed figures on the floor)
BOBBY
(laughing, examining the body)
BOBBY
(laughing, examining the body)
What? We don't look like Ossybutts to you? Meh, that's fine. Maybe next time we should get a cool skull tattoo like this guy has!
SARUSANDRA
SARUSANDRA
Tattoo of a skull!? Damn myself! How did I miss it!
(struggling to her feet with alacrity)
Quickly! Before it's too late, we must destro--
In a flash, the tattoo on the fallen priest flares with a green flame, and the man floats suddenly upward, his eyes similarly a-flame, with mouth wide with an unholy scream. Bobby scrambles backward.
GM thinks:
GM thinks:
Roll for the Revived Priest's BOON OF UNDEATH.
🎲(D4) = 1, Ectoplasmic body.
PRIEST OF OSYBUS
(his revived body dripping globs and globs of green ectoplasmic goo)
PRIEST OF OSYBUS
(his revived body dripping globs and globs of green ectoplasmic goo)
Defilers!! Die! Die in the name of our Darklord Strahd!
GM says:
GM says:
ROUND ONE, draw for Initiative.
BOBBY
BOBBY
🎴(4)
HANK
HANK
🎴(1)
SHEILA
SHEILA
🎴(3)
SARUSANDRA
SARUSANDRA
🎴(2)
MONSTERS
MONSTERS
🎴(6)🎴(8)
HANK
HANK
Everyone! Get back!
(retreating to get a good shot, he fires an energy arrow at the now-undead priest)
BOWS (14), rolls a ⬙(12) = Hit!
Damage D10 (8) + Damage Bonus D6 (2) = 10 piercing damage - armor (2) = 8 damage
SARUSANDRA
SARUSANDRA
Speak to us of defilement?!
(summoning her energy, leaping forth with her blue-flame sword)
SWORDS (12), rolls a ⬙(2) = Hit!
Damage 2D6 (2,2) + Damage Bonus D4 (3) = 7 - armor (2) = 5 slashing
SHEILA
SHEILA
(flipping up her hood, making herself invisible)
Hey, slimey! Over here!
BLUFFING (10), with a boon, rolls a ⬙(7, 9) = Success = giving HELP to Bobby
BOBBY
BOBBY
Psyche! Made you look!
CLUBS (14), with a boon from HELP, rolls a ⬙(11, 13) = Hit! with Massive Blow = -3 WP
Damage 2D8 (4,7) + Damage Bonus D6 (4) + Massive Blow D8 (4) = 19 bludgeoning damage - armor (2) = 17
PRIEST OF OSYBUS
(reeling from the series of attacks, it cowers, then billows forward, producing a Soul Blade that extends from its hand tattoo)
PRIEST OF OSYBUS
(reeling from the series of attacks, it cowers, then billows forward, producing a Soul Blade that extends from its hand tattoo)
*YOWL!**
Monster Attack 🎲(D6) = 3, Slashing Soul Blade!
Targets 🎲(D3) = 1 = 🎲(D3) = Bobby. Uh oh!
Damage D10 = 6 - helmet (1) = 5 slashing damage
Moving with sudden speed, the priest moves through the area, slashing with its Soul Blade and catching Bobby as it passes. SNICKER-SNACK!
Monster Attack 🎲(D6) = 2, Necrotic Bolt!
Random Target 🎲(1) = Hank
Damage 2D8 (8,8) = 16 OH $#@5!
With its other hand raised, another tattoo flashes. This time, black lightning strikes forth, hitting Hank and forcing him to the ground.
**THRAK-KLEDOOM!" Once finally down, Hank quits struggling, and lies still.
GM says:
GM says:
ROUND TWO, draw for Initiative.
BOBBY
BOBBY
🎴(6)
HANK
HANK
🎴(5)
SHEILA
SHEILA
🎴(4)
SARUSANDRA
SARUSANDRA
🎴(7)
MONSTERS
MONSTERS
🎴(2)🎴(3)
DAMN!
PRIEST OF OSYBUS
(floating, its body dripping of ectoplasm)
PRIEST OF OSYBUS
(floating, its body dripping of ectoplasm)
Death to all! May your deaths please the Darklord!
Monster Attack 🎲(D6) = 4, Soul Theft!
Random Target 🎲(4) = Sarusandra
Damage 2D6 (2,1) = 3 - leather armor (1) = 2 + WIL roll versus paralyzing
Sarudandra's DEFAULT WIL (10), rolls a ⬙(17) = Fail!
Floating steadily toward Sarudandra, the priest-wraith pierces the Inquisitor with its Soul Blade. Sarusandra gasps, clutching at the sword as the priest slowly withdraws it, leaving Sarusandra nearly out of breath, standing stock still.
SARUSANDRA
SARUSANDRA
**Erk!**
PRIEST OF OSYBUS
(turning to Bobby, the only visible combatant left worthy to target)
PRIEST OF OSYBUS
(turning to Bobby, the only visible combatant left worthy to target)
And now, you, boy!
Monster Attack 🎲(D6) = 64, Boon of Undeath -- ecotoplasmic body
As ectoplasm continues to drip from its body, staining the floor with hissing piles of goop, the priest screams at Bobby, and a glob of acid-like plasm jets at him!
BOBBY
(diving out of the way)
BOBBY
(diving out of the way)
Oh my god! Gross!
Bobby's EVADE: (12), rolls a ⬙(3) = Success!
From behind the priest, one of the braziers levitates, its fire flickering as it moves. It drives forward into the back of the priest, revealing Sheila holding it.
SHEILA
SHEILA
Pick on someone your own age!
IMPROVISED WEAPON via BRAWLING (10), rolls a ⬙(13) = PUSHING IT!
rolls a ⬙(16) = Ineffective + Angry!
PRIEST OF OSYBUS
(screaming, it bows forward from the hit but is unharmed)
PRIEST OF OSYBUS
(screaming, it bows forward from the hit but is unharmed)
**YEE-ARRGH!**
GM says:
GM says:
Hank, make a DEATH ROLL.
Hank's CON (16), rolls a ⬙ (6) = One success!
GM says:
GM says:
ROUND THREE, draw for Initiative.
BOBBY
BOBBY
🎴(3) -->(1)
HANK
HANK
🎴(8)
SHEILA
SHEILA
🎴(7)
SARUSANDRA
SARUSANDRA
🎴(1) --> (3)
MONSTERS
MONSTERS
🎴(4)🎴(2)
DAMN!
SARUSANDRA
(her grunting turns into a battle yell as she struggles in her paralyzing grip)
SARUSANDRA
(her grunting turns into a battle yell as she struggles in her paralyzing grip)
ARGH!! Go, Barbarian! Now! Quick!
BOBBY
(winding up for the strike)
BOBBY
(winding up for the strike)
Yes, ma'am!!
CLUBS (14), rolls a ⬙(3) = Hit!
Damage 2D8 (1,6) + Damage Bonus D6 (2) = 9 bludgeoning damage - armor (2) = 7
PRIEST OF OSYBUS
PRIEST OF OSYBUS
aaa-AAA-AAAAHHHH!
Bobby's cudgel crashes against the priest, and the ectoplasm shudders around its body, turning into green flame. It screams as the flame consumes itself, until FOOMP!
All is silent again.
BOBBY
BOBBY
Righteous!
SARUSANDRA
(coming out of her paralyzed stance, she crumples to one knee)
SARUSANDRA
(coming out of her paralyzed stance, she crumples to one knee)
Yes. **huff** Yes, a righteous blow against a profane enemy.
BOBBY
BOBBY
Uh, yeah. That's what I meant.
SHEILA
(dropping the brazier, running over to Hank)
SHEILA
(dropping the brazier, running over to Hank)
Hank! Hank, are you all right?!
HANK
(reviving as he's propped up by Sheila)
HANK
(reviving as he's propped up by Sheila)
Oh. **Oof** Heh. I'm all right. Now.
They take a quick beat to look into each other's eyes.
BOBBY
BOBBY
Oh, come ON, you two...
to be continued in 7.7 Durst Dugneon, Part II . . .
GM FOOTNOTES:
For some reason, when playing the NPCs in Chapter 5, the Spelljammer world, it made sense for them to just give Help actions. Here, it felt like I couldn't do that with Sarusandra and I really needed her to be a NPC with stats and able to do damage and everything. Good thing, too.
(Note: Technically, she entered the battle also having low HP. In the adventure, it's about 40% of what she would normally have, so I considered her to be fighting with just 5 health!)Also, LOOK. Two fights into this chapter, and each time the party nearly drops. This time, I adjusted the heck out of the enemies, halving everything. The priest was modded after a demon from the core rulebook, with HP? halved, armor? halved, and most damage taken down 1 die step or halved. The original adventure had TWO creatures to encounter, but I just used one. And it STILL nearly killed everyone because even in stretch rest you can only heal a certain d6 or MAYBE 2d6 of your health. So you enter subsequent battles nearly spent already. Rules as written, I even cannot TRY to do a shift rest as I'm in a dungeon. Although narratively I also cannot, because it's the Death House that famously traps characters inside.
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