Summary LXI: Versus the Deathstealers: Overwhelming Force
The results are in...
Stone Soules 3 Deathstealers 0
There was also an early development during Sahrak's return trip-- his
caravan was attacked by a dozen gnolls. The dozen guards fought back--
only one guard was killed permanently, but so was the owner merchant.
Oops. And there weren't enough animals left to pull the caravan back to
the nearest town, so it was certainly a pyrrhic victory. But both Sahrak
and his new henchman survived.
When we last left our heroes, the Stone Soules were preparing to assault
the deathstealers.
This is an abbreviated list in order of all preparations we did-
1 rope golem- cast to distract the deathstealer
2 'lucky day' candies and magical insense
3 Endure Heat cast on everyone by Lorm from scroll- purpose- so
that the party can withstand a Fireball should we need to use one in
close quarters to destroy undead.
4 Prot. from Evil 10'rad cast to keep DS and lesser undead at bay
after opening the door
5 Find Traps cast to detect traps
6 Dispel magic - cast by Eli (rather skillfully)
the magical door trap was removed- Mordrick made his remove traps for the
mechanical trap.
The door was opened- it was determined that the DS were not immediately
nearby.
teleportation damper was thrown down.
7 Implores - cast by Alegra and Xavier- both failed
8 Lorm cast Insect Plague to kill lesser undead
9 Lorm cast Implore to summon a Deva
The Grimm joined the party - adding its Prot. abilities as well.
Here is a summary of the battle:
In preparation, Lorm created a rope golem, and all three clerics (Xavier,
Alegra, and Lorm) took Lucky Days, and used the incense that maximizes
spell power, which worked for both Alegra and Lorm successfully.
_Insect Plague_ smashed up most of the ghouls on the first six levels
(there were 9 floors total). One deva was successfully summoned (by Lorm).
From the door we defeated the first deathstealer with a single _Abjure_,
as well as a whole group of undead. Fighting through hordes of undead with
_Wall of Fire_, quadruple turning and destroying ability, a deva in the
front, the double wands of fire and lightning, and the multiple _Protection
from Evil_ spells, we reached the middle levels and abjured the second
deathstealer successfully.
The charge continued. Over two hundred ghouls, ghasts, and shadows were
destroyed in the vicious fighting. The third deathstealer decided a
confrontation would not be a wise thing considering the banishing of two
companions, and attempted to evade the party, which grew increasingly
desperate as the Protection from Devils scroll began to run low. The
scroll lasted almost double its expected duration, thanks in part to the
Lucky Day (these were a REALLY good move). Unfortunately it ran out just
moments before we tracked down the third deathstealer, which had taken
refuge in a room that shielded it from detection in some way.
Alegra and Xavier threw their _Abjure_, but both failed. We then hit it
with everything we had. Rangorn's +4 magic arrow missed (surprise), Eli
smashed it with LIMM/ Magic Missile, the wands were fired, Theo and Ceydric
swung at it, but the spectacular damage was done by the Quaal's Feather
token. Raven's 4-shot with token did over 100 points of damage!
Then the deathstealer attempted to leech the damage onto Theo.
This was bad. If it succeeded, we would have to deal with a fully healed
deathstealer that regenerated at an incredible rate (20 hp a segment) and
was ready to use the next ability on its list.
Fortunately for everyone, Theo resisted successfully. The deathstealer
dropped from the 170 points of damage done to it in a single segment. It
regenerated physical damage the above rate though, and Ceydric attempted to
saw its head off while Theo hit it, and Eli shot Magic Missiles at it, and
the clerics and archers poured holy water all over it, which did permanent
damage. Though it nearly recovered in time, it received too much permanent
damage and disintegrated into ash. Whew!
Treasure recovered: money (Lorm got half after salvage tax), a magic user
scroll with minor spells, a major clerical scroll, and the deathstealer's
spear, with which it hit Lorm (who resisted one of it's weird abilities).
The spear is a sentient weapon named Seeker, created by the forces of Law,
specifically made to destroy chaotic clerics, but powerful against most
other things too.
We can knock that off the list! Now there's only a few hideous trapped
evils left!
Joel/Rangorn
There were two mistakes (at least) on the log:
1) Alegra and Lorm, not Xavier, threw the last two unsuccessful _Abjure_
spells at the final deathstealer.
2) The spear Seeker was taken by Faranyn (although the Stone Soules used an
exemption on it) and should it NOT be included on the list of recovered
treasure. And being sentient it is understandably insulted to be called
treasure. As a final note, the spear does not speak most of the party
languages-- only dwarven and fire giant.
Joel/Rangorn
More specific information:
Various Undead were obliberated by clerical turning as they rushed the wall
As Lorm gave the 2 round warning for the DS approaching- he read the
Prot. from Devils scroll. Rangorn read the prot. from Paralyzation scroll.
The first DS came having ingested a potion of human control.
Unfortunately it needed two segments to use this ability and the held
Abjures went off instantanouesly by Xavier and Alegra- Alegra was successful.
Note that the DS caused a darkness/shadow light effect that
momentarily made it very
difficult to see until the Deva quickly used her ability to cover the area
with pure moonlight.
The Auroran Deva had a Two handed staff? with a ball of fire at the end-
She attacked the DS as he approached but missed.
> as well as a whole group of undead. Fighting through hordes of undead with
> _Wall of Fire_, quadruple turning and destroying ability, a deva in the
> front, the double wands of fire and lightning, and the multiple _Protection
> from Evil_ spells, we reached the middle levels and abjured the second
> deathstealer successfully.
using teleportation dampers to twart their ability to teleport. Lorm used
his charged staff to Abjure the second DS.
> The charge continued. Over two hundred ghouls, ghasts, and shadows were
> destroyed in the vicious fighting.
Particularly interesting was the tactic of the Deva forcing 60 - 70
undead into a wall of fire. This greatly speeded our attack.
After evading enough so that our protection scroll had run out, the third DS
fortified himself and prepared for our attack
We cast two prayers, a few Prot from evils, Aids, Spiritual Hammers, and
engaged the enemy.
> Alegra and Lorm threw their _Abjure_, but both failed. We then hit it
> with everything we had.
- It simultaneously attacked Lorm with the spear of chaotic cleric hating
Lorm took significant damage which was significantly reduced by his
armour. He easily made his save verses to avoid being stunned by the spear.
Rangorn's +4 magic arrow missed (surprise), Eli
> smashed it with LIMM/ Magic Missile, the wands were fired, Theo and Ceydric
> swung at it, but the spectacular damage was done by the Quaal's Feather
> token. Raven's 4-shot with token did over 100 points of damage!
> Then the deathstealer attempted to leech the damage onto Theo.
> This was bad. If it succeeded, we would have to deal with a fully healed
> deathstealer that regenerated at an incredible rate (20 hp a segment) and
> was ready to use the next ability on its list.
for example stealing all of Eli's spells from memory.
> damage. Though it nearly recovered in time, it received too much permanent
> damage and disintegrated into ash. Whew!
holy water did all the permanent damage.
For those curious of the defeat of devils w/o losses- we handled things
quite well- neither overkill nor underestimation (IMHO)
Jack/Xavier