Session 2: Filth Spear

Quick summary

Having just easily dispatched small groups of scavengers and zombies in the previous session, our heroes bravely continued exploring the cathedral basement in the town of Tristram.

They boldly entered the nearby laundry room, interrupting a crew of Fallen Ones doing their filthy laundry. Pukerat the Unclean attacked with his filth spear repeatedly, while his shaman lieutenant resurrected the weaker fallen as easily as they could be dispatched. Sera was wounded severely, but bravely stood her ground to defend her friends. Ben focus-fired the shaman and Pukerat with his Ray of Frost, while Ciaran and Sera thinned the herd. Pukerat managed to down Sera with his final filth spear, triggering Ciaran to end the fight with Thunder Wave.

Ben got a nat 20 on the Magic Find roll, finding not just everything in this room, but also in the already-cleared kitchen across the hall. Most notable among the loot was the Carin Shard, which shoots bone-themed magic missiles. There was also a garment that appears to have a gem slot.

The party returned to Tristram, first popping over to Pepin’s for some potions and healing. Cain identified the Carin Shard and told them about gems. The next morning, they grilled Griswold about gems, whose tools conveniently have gone missing!

The party went back below the cathedral and entered the next room: an ossuary populated by many skeletons, chief among them Boneripper, who was basically Wolverine but large. Boneripper slashed up Ciaran a bit, but the party quickly focused him down. The party then easily dispatched the remaining skeletons, causing the red ones to explode.

The party then searched the room, finding an unidentified magic ring and some other loot. This room is cleared, but more danger awaits. There is skittering to the north and bat-like chirping to the east…

Cathedral: Level 1 (Cont.)

Dirty laundry

In the nearby laundry room, the party encounters a small tribe of Fallen Ones who are evidently using the facilities to rid themselves of the stench caused by their leader, Pukerat the Unclean. Pukerat’s crew consists of himself, a shaman, and six weaker Fallen Ones.

Fallen Shaman and Pukerat immediately put Sera low with some lucky hits. Ben casts Magic Missile, taking out a fallen. Sera uses Lay on Hands and takes out another. Ciaran heals Sera and shoots his Starry Form Archer arrow at Pukerat.
Fallen Shaman resurrects a fallen! Pukerat misses twice. Ben upcasts Magic Missile, finishing a fallen and barraging the shaman. Sera swings her warhammer. Ciaran uses archer arrow and Starry Wisp to knock out more fallen.
Fallen Shaman resurrects another. Pukerat lands a crit on Sera. His minions don’t fare as well. Ben takes out the Fallen Shaman with Ray of Frost. Sera smacks another fallen. Ciaran uses Guiding Bolt and Archer arrow, but misses.
Pukerat lands two filth spears on Sera, taking her to 1 HP. Ben uses Ray of Frost on Pukerat. Sera heals herself with Cure Wounds and a potion. Ciaran attacks a fallen with his staff, but misses.
The weaker fallen continue to miss Sera, but Pukerat lands another spear. Ben uses Ray of Frost on Pukerat. Sera kills another fallen, sending it flying. She gets Heroic Inspiration for standing her ground. Ciaran uses Shillelagh, but gets another natural 1. His Archer arrow does connect with Pukerat, though.
Pukerat is finally down to one spear, and walks up to stab Sera, downing her. Ben uses Ray of Frost on Pukerat. Ciaran casts Thunder Wave, ending the fight.

The party recovers. Ben is shaken and advises returning to town. Sera suggests searching first, which reveals a ton of loot. Ben is exceptionally successful in uncovering valuable items, finding an unidentified magic wand and some fancy socketed acolyte robes, among other valuables.

Retreat to Tristram

Despite wanting to find Leoric and Albrecht with haste, the party agrees it is necessary to recover before delving further. They first visit Pepin, who heals them and sells them four potions of healing.

The party then stops by Cain, who identifies the wand as the Carin Shard, which shoots magical bone missiles. He asks them about the prince, and comments on the strength of the demonic forces from below. He also gives the party a primer on the history behind magic gems and item sockets, and explains that Griswold is actually a rare and venerated expert on this topic.

The party sleeps at Ogden’s tavern. The next morning the party visits Griswold, who explains that gems are compatible with specific chakras (slots) in the head, body, and hand (weapon). He knows how to forge them into equipment, but his magic tools have recently vanished without a trace.

The Ossuary

The party heads back to the cathedral basement and opens the door to the ossuary, which reveals a pack of armed skeletons. Boneripper and two Burning Dead are just out of sight.

Ciaran swaps initiative with Sera.
Sera empowers her weapon and smacks undead with radiant damage, also pushing it. Ben uses Carin Shard, dropping one skeleton. Ciaran swings his Shillelagh.
Sera swings again. Boneripper appears and attacks Ciaran. Burning Dead joins the fight. Ben uses Chromatic Orb on Boneripper. Ciaran uses a star-themed Thorn Whip on Boneripper. The other skeletons narrowly miss Sera.
Sera performs a critical hit, destroying Boneripper with radiant damage. Ben pings skeletons from the doorway with Magic Missile. Ciaran uses Starry Wisp.
Sera swings and adds Divine Smite, obliterating a red Burning Dead, triggering a small fiery explosion. Ben pings down more skeletons with his Magic Missiles. Ciaran uses another Thorn Whip, avoiding the explosive skeleton.
Sera hits and knocks back the second Burning Dead. Ben hits it with Ray of Frost. Ciaran Thorn Whips, but misses.
Sera finishes the Burning Dead, knocking it back to avoid the explosion. Ben finishes a skeleton with Ray of Frost. Ciaran kills a skeleton with Starry Wisp.

Afterwards, the party searches the room, and is once again exceptionally successful. They most notably find an unidentified magic ring and a couple of magic gems.