Ch. 4: The party is greeted by an Aboleth!

Dungeon Master (GM): So we left off after Balen the Bard Jester took a dunk in the water, while believing he was on a path, and came out informing everyone that something just tried to mess with his mind. So, let's take it from there, after Balen and Grax exchanged barbs.   GreyWolfVT (Grax): we were going to throw Balen in i thought while holding an anvil for me.   Dungeon Master (GM): I don't think grax thought to throw one into a bag of holding!   GreyWolfVT (Grax): he claimed he could breath underwater i wanted to test that theory   Dungeon Master (GM): ha ha   Maevis/Quintolos: Lets have Cass fly us all over and then send Balen ahead again   GreyWolfVT (Grax): alright works for me   Devin M.: Hello, I finally remembered before it was too late.   GreyWolfVT (Grax): (ooc: I just hate that we get stuck with dead weight again due to player drop outs)   Maevis/Quintolos: Hey Devin Glad you made it   Dungeon Master (GM): ok though you do not yet know how far the illusion extends and she can only take 1 over at a time. I shall reveal the map so you can see where Cassandra can fly to.   GreyWolfVT (Grax): ok Hi Devin.   Dungeon Master (GM): Up ahead you see that there is a waterfall & a pathway that goes up to a cave opening. The pathway sees to pass under the waterfall in several places as it rises up to another cave opening.   Maevis/Quintolos: Going under a waterfall may be tough   Dungeon Master (GM): Ed & Devin any plans on how to go about Cassandra moving you guys?   GreyWolfVT (Grax): no idea   Dungeon Master (GM): well there is the cave mouth at the top of the path.   Devin M.: Could someone tell me what we're doing here, in a short summary? I've been busy lately.   Maevis/Quintolos: Trying to get to The Lost City and pillage it   Dungeon Master (GM): that plus a main objective is to eliminate the Yuan-Ti and any chance of Sertrous ever coming back.   Xilicien - Magic-User: We could investigate the cave.   Dungeon Master (GM): don't forget you other option is to get up on the plateau and maybe climb down, or fly down. Plus, Ranme mentioned about another possible secret entrance.   GreyWolfVT (Grax): is it possible the waterfall is illusionary? Or is it absolutely real no doubt about it?   Dungeon Master (GM): you can roll a wisdom check in an attempt to disbelieve anything you see here, just point out what you are trying to disbelieve.   Grax the Fighter / Thief, makes a WISDOM CHECK! Rolls:  6  Needs ≤  11   Dungeon Master (GM): and that was for the waterfall?   GreyWolfVT (Grax): yes I disbelieve the waterfall is there or "think" I do   Dungeon Master (GM): you try to shake off that the waterfall is an illusion however it still remains!   GreyWolfVT (Grax): alright hmm now i am wondering if the dirt path is real or if that really is the river since Balen did actually end up in deep water on the "path"   Grax the Fighter / Thief, makes a WISDOM CHECK! Rolls:  11  Needs ≤  11 for the dirt path   Maevis/Quintolos: Back   Dungeon Master (GM): Ok, in an attempt to clear your mind of the obviously illusionary pathway part of the path disappears to reveal the river underneath it.   GreyWolfVT (Grax): alright!   Dungeon Master (GM): however, you can not jump over it.   GreyWolfVT (Grax): I figured as much on that part but at least that gives us some sort of idea of what really is going on here   Dungeon Master (GM): that red line is the indicator of the length.   GreyWolfVT (Grax): so what part of the path actually disappeared to reveal that it really was river? what red line?   Maevis/Quintolos: Question hehe If we believe really believe there is a path Can we walk on it?   Dungeon Master (GM): where the red line is is actually river area ha ha   GreyWolfVT (Grax): i don't see any red line all i see is the same map as before   Dungeon Master (GM): maybe by also praying to your gods, one will appear?   GreyWolfVT (Grax): -.- yes it now actually shows for me   Dungeon Master (GM): ok   Maevis/Quintolos: I see it   Dungeon Master (GM): actually it's all river no path at all where the illusion is!   GreyWolfVT (Grax): ok now you confused the hell out of me   Maevis/Quintolos: So she has a long way to fly   Dungeon Master (GM): it's 70 feet to the continuation of the real path   GreyWolfVT (Grax): i thought you were saying that one side of the red line was not really path not that entire length from start to end of the line is all river   Dungeon Master (GM): from the laid brick on your end to the end of the red line is all water, nothing to walk upon ok there you go.   GreyWolfVT (Grax): there now it makes sense to me   Dungeon Master (GM): ok

GreyWolfVT (Grax): so basically we would want Cass to fly us to the other end of that if possible then figure out the waterfall part when we are there but also we know something appears to be in the water possible due to Balen's other part of his "statement"   Dungeon Master (GM): ok, so thus, whom is the first one she will fly over.   Maevis/Quintolos: Lets go with Quintolos   Dungeon Master (GM): ok ok, as Cass flies back over i need a save vs spells for Quintolos.   Maevis/Quintolos: Will be watching ahead mostly for any trouble   GreyWolfVT (Grax): well shoot we should have flown the dead weight over first   Quintolos SAVES VS. SPELLS Rolls a  9  needs ≥  14   (To Maevis/Quintolos):  He has been Charmed and has been asked to dive into the water. Act it out as you like.   Maevis/Quintolos: Quint dives into the water!   GreyWolfVT (Grax): oh lord.... appears i didn't see through "all" of the illusion alright perhaps where we think the river is it really isn't....   (To Maevis/Quintolos):  you are greeted by tentacles that pulls you into an object with a mucousy membrane.   Maevis/Quintolos: Glug Glug Down Down Deep below   Grax the Fighter / Thief, makes a WISDOM CHECK! Rolls:  1  Needs ≤  11 attempting to disbelieve that the river is where we see it (on the map that is)   GreyWolfVT (Grax): (not the illusion i saw through already)   Dungeon Master (GM): the rive stays as it is, where it is   Grax the Fighter / Thief Says: "What yah forgot how ta swim?"   GreyWolfVT (Grax): ug illusions see if Cass can fish Quin out somehow i guess   Dungeon Master (GM): I need a save vs poison for Quintolos   GreyWolfVT (Grax): yeah i got that the first time after i failed the darned roll... hmm so that isn't water apparently   Maevis/Quintolos: Saving throw vs poison: rolling 1d20( 5 ) = 5   Dungeon Master (GM): ok i'm sure that is a fail   Maevis/Quintolos: failed   Dungeon Master (GM): whispered result coming   (To Maevis/Quintolos):  Ok, you begin to drown, however the creature is telling you to not worry as you will soon breath water. Then you will go with him to your new home.   Dungeon Master (GM): ok, so now the rest of the party sees that Quintolos suddenly decides to go for a swim and it's been longer than a typical person can stay under that he has been under but you see no body floating to the surface.   GreyWolfVT (Grax): well last i knew none of us had a boat and only Cass can fly so not sure what anyone else here can do for him other than i said send Cass back to try and fish him out other than that i am at a loss as to what to do   Xilicien - Magic-User: Well, he's dead.   Dungeon Master (GM): ok she flies over head and since the water is clear she can make out something in the water that looks like Quintolos but that he is apparently in the grip of something with tentacles   Maevis/Quintolos: (Send Balen after him ) :D   GreyWolfVT (Grax): alright.   Maevis/Quintolos: Have two choices either fight underwater or He’s dead and gone   GreyWolfVT (Grax): well I can't fight underwater, I’m not a merman   Dungeon Master (GM): as a reminder you have the cube of force   Dungeon Master (GM): brought up that handout to help in seeing what can be done.   GreyWolfVT (Grax): and the only person that ever knew how to properly use that was Ullek telling me i have a cube of force is like saying i have a particle cannon   Dungeon Master (GM): I would think that he would tell the guy he gives it to how to operate it!   GreyWolfVT (Grax): couldn't tell yah how to use either   Dungeon Master (GM): that would be holyhand the dwarf cleric that had it before. It's on Balen's sheet   GreyWolfVT (Grax): yeah and the actual player that knew how to use it was Ullek being on his sheet doesn't mean squat to me i still have no bloody clue in RL on how to use the damned thing to save someone under water   Dungeon Master (GM): I though someone had a helm of water breathing   Maevis/Quintolos: Dont recall seeing that   GreyWolfVT (Grax): I'm looking to see if anyone does but i don't think that was in this group or game   Dungeon Master (GM): oh ha Quintolos' cloak of the Formene let's him breath underwater   Maevis/Quintolos: haha funny   GreyWolfVT (Grax): no helm of water breathing that i see on the combined magic item list   Xilicien - Magic-User: *breathe   Dungeon Master (GM): i thought that helm was on a previous party member which means this group should have gotten it. it was the stuff from the party before that, that I had you roll for.   GreyWolfVT (Grax): hmm ok well at least Quin can breathe underwater due to his cloak

Maevis/Quintolos: Yep   Dungeon Master (GM): ok so you know he's there with something with him and don't know why he's isn't struggling to get away.   Maevis/Quintolos: Yep   Dungeon Master (GM): may as well reveal it since it's now like a transparent jellyfish.   GreyWolfVT (Grax): alright....   Xilicien - Magic-User: So, if we just shock the water...   Dungeon Master (GM): anyone have a lightning bolt? thing is, is that it will affect Quintolos as well   Xilicien - Magic-User: Maybe, if one of us hits it, it will let go?   Dungeon Master (GM): i'd roll to see if it loosens it's grip on quintolos   Xilicien casts the MAGIC MISSILE Spell at Aboleth, the enemy! Level 1 Magic-User * Evocation/Invocation Components V, S Casting Time 1  segment Range 130  ft Duration Instant Area of Effect Targeted Creature(s) in a  10  square ft area Saving Throw None Damage:   5 ,  3 ,  3 ,  2  and  2  Force Effects:  Fires  4  missile(s) at one or more targets designated by the caster before the spell is cast. Each missile unerringly strikes it's target causing 1d4+1 points of damage.   Dungeon Master (GM): 13 damage to the Aboleth! (To GM)rolling  53 = 53   Dungeon Master (GM): ok so the creature moves towards the party now, however no sign of Quintolos coming out of the water yet!   (To Maevis/Quintolos):  The Aboleth tells Quintolos to remain where he is.   GreyWolfVT (Grax): i guess Balen activates the cube of force using 6 charges?   Xilicien - Magic-User: Prepare yourselves!   GreyWolfVT (Grax): ....\   Dungeon Master (GM): ok and that would keep out all things   GreyWolfVT (Grax): right   Aboleth, Attacks with the TENTACLES at Balen & Maevis enemy! Tentacle #1 Strike Hits an AC of  10  For  1  S/M/L Damage! Tentacle #2 Strike Hits an AC of  -8  For  5  S/M/L Damage! Tentacle #3 Strike Hits an AC of  5  For  3  S/M/L Damage! Tentacle #4 Strike Hits an AC of  -5  For  6  S/M/L Damage! Plus save vs. spells or the victims's skin will change into a clear, slimy membrane in  2  rounds!   GreyWolfVT (Grax): though i was hoping to keep out all things except Cass and Quin but i don't see a way to do that and still keep the monster out   Dungeon Master (GM): as the Aboleth, tries for Balen, it finds out that it can not reach him as the cube is blocking him! Ok so you see this creature with several eyes and a slimey coating on it's skin now trying to attack you guys. So what now do you do?   GreyWolfVT (Grax): now am i to understand that this cube would allow us to walk in the river and it would keep the water out? so we could walk right over to Quin? or am i misunderstanding this cube?   Maevis/Quintolos: As I understand it cube is stationary   Dungeon Master (GM): hmm, good question as is there a force field under your feet as well   GreyWolfVT (Grax): right but the wielder is carrying it so the field is around the one wielding it   Dungeon Master (GM): it extends 10 ft out & 10 ft high, with the ‘keep out all things’, in effect   GreyWolfVT (Grax): but yeah the question is does it prevent water from getting in and does it go under us or at least under our feet   Dungeon Master (GM): funny it does not mention about that.   GreyWolfVT (Grax): otherwise us walking into the water would just fill the field with water and essentially drown us? but then again it only prevents things from getting in not us leaving it this scenario really does test how well the cube works it would be cool to walk at the creature and the force field just squishes the damned monster we just press into it until it hits the stone   Dungeon Master (GM): ok so if we play it as being stationary then you can't leave the space until Balen deactivates it.   GreyWolfVT (Grax): right but if Balen carries it and moves it should move with him you would think   activating the cube shouldn't make it so the cube is stuck to the ground   Dungeon Master (GM): If we say it moves with the user then everyone would have to be careful not bumping into the force walls.   GreyWolfVT (Grax): yeah that is how i recall Ullek using the thing in HolyHand's Hands   Dungeon Master (GM): and I would have to say there is no bottom as it would complicate your movement of so.   GreyWolfVT (Grax): right... well it was an idea it doesn't prevent us from still attacking the monster   Dungeon Master (GM): Roxxi so your experience / knowledge is that the cube can only stay in one place? right nothing is said to indicate attacks can not come from inside the cube.   Maevis/Quintolos: Yes my experience has been it just sits there and does not move   GreyWolfVT (Grax): just supposed to prevent things from getting in to us from what the info said on the character sheet based on so many charges it prevents different things from getting in   Dungeon Master (GM): I will go on Dragonsfoot about it no matter what the decision is here. I could roll on it and that is how it will be played from here on out.   GreyWolfVT (Grax): i don't see anything about it being stationary

Dungeon Master (GM): for this particular cube only   GreyWolfVT (Grax): but it does say When the force screen is up, the following attack forms cost extra charges from the cube in order to maintain the integrity of the screen. Note that these spells cannot be cast either into or out of the cube: catapult-like missiles 1 : flame strike 3   GreyWolfVT (Grax): very hot normal fires 2 : lightning bolt 4 horn of blasting 6 : meteor swarm 8 delayed blast fireball 3 : passwall 3 disintegrate 6 : phase door 5 fireball 3 : prismatic spray 7 fire storm 3 : wall of fire 2   Dungeon Master (GM): yea only mentions extra charges   GreyWolfVT (Grax): so long as nobody tries to cast those inside it we wont have to spend more charges to keep the force wall up   Devin M.: My entire browser closed for a moment without warning, so that's annoying.   GreyWolfVT (Grax): that would be very annoying   Maevis/Quintolos: Then again the group that I played with would use it to crush things or break things so may have just been DM rules   Dungeon Master (GM): interesting, and i can see why   GreyWolfVT (Grax): alright hmm well doesn't help that it does not say anything about being immobile and any past use it was in a place that was not filled with water so i can't say how that would work anyway   Dungeon Master (GM): right and it moved along with you   GreyWolfVT (Grax): all i remember is we used it and all walked as a group essentially   Dungeon Master (GM): so i guess we just do it that way   GreyWolfVT (Grax): so that nobody would "fall out" of the field   Dungeon Master (GM): so where are you moving to then?   GreyWolfVT (Grax): nowhere i don't want to fill the cube with water or rather fill the force field end of this thing with water from the underside   Dungeon Master (GM): ok so the abolith continues to strike at the cube of force trying to get to you guys.   GreyWolfVT (Grax): if anything i would say we just try to attack it since we can fire arrows and what not   Dungeon Master (GM): ok make init rolls then for those i guess with a ranged attack   GreyWolfVT (Grax): but then again it is 3 min of 10 and i am headed off by 10   Dungeon Master (GM): ok we can just wait to start combat next week then.   GreyWolfVT (Grax): might give us more time to read up on the cube too   Dungeon Master (GM): in the meantime i am posting about the cube to get more info on it   Devin M.: I have 1 more attack spell prepared & I'd prefer to save it if I can, so I may be passive for a while during the combat, unless someone has a spare ranged weapon I can use.   GreyWolfVT (Grax): alright well sorry for causing all the trouble but i gotta run   Dungeon Master (GM): ok Ed See ya! I guess we stop here then unless you two want to go at the aboleth   Maevis/Quintolos: not really   Dungeon Master (GM): ok so we shall stop here till next week. I think on the 13th there will just be no game because as I remember there is no internet there and we are only staying like a week. so no verizon either.   Maevis/Quintolos: Maevis has those Shuriken shells of crushing   Dungeon Master (GM): you can use them of course   Maevis/Quintolos: will try it Alright so 2 weeks no game   Dungeon Master (GM): uh huh   Devin M.: I'll call it a night for now, and hopefully I'll remember that Sunday is a thing whenever we're next scheduled to play.   Maevis/Quintolos: Hopefully Devin   Dungeon Master (GM): yea next sunday should be a game ok guys thanks for playing tonight!   Devin M.: Your're welcome, bye & goodnight!   Dungeon Master (GM): see ya!