So we're still fighting Calitrax and are still fighting Calitrax at the end of the session. A lot of the same stuff happened as last week. The cycle of lair actions continues. I'm kinda just gonna reflect on highlights and fun stuff in a loose order because overall combat is combat and how exactly it all goes down will have a limited bearing on the narrative result. We will either win or we won't - But I hope we do!
Flynn decides to give smashing a necrostone one last try in dao form, just as wights surround him. Berrik tears out multiple pages from Ezra's spell book to cast Storm Sphere and then later Chain Lightning to keep them at bay. Lotty keeps lobbing her trident/wrench of certain death to keep Sally from healing. Flynn drops dao form and goes back to his perfect goblin physique, flying up to get a good vantage point. As he targets a stone with a few well-placed Eldritch Blasts, Sally looks a little panicked. Null, having noticed by this time that Sally's crown was an illusion, asks her point blank if the stones are her phylactery. The lich covers her mouth to prevent her inner thoughts from spilling out, but it's clear from her reaction that they are.
*shocked Pikachu face*
Wait, why did we barely pay any attention to the stones last week? Wasn't it obvious that their presence was intentional and not just for aesthetic?
Reader, would you believe me if I told you that we knew the stones were important even if we didn't realize that they were a phylactery? Would you think me mad for suggesting to you that we had discussed a plan weeks ago to focus on destroying these macabre totems? You oughtn't, if you had ever met the Ashen Company.
Reader, I cannot emphasize enough just how bad we are at this.
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Anyway, back to the action. Flynn and Null attack the stones with renewed focus. Null remembers how much stabbing a necrostone hurts and also remembers (too late and one superior health potion later) that being too close to one prevents healing. Sally gets annoyed with Berrik and Lotty's antics and puts them in a Forcecage, but they aren't there long thanks to Berrik Disintegrating the magical prison. This gives Sally ideas, because the lich then proceeds to attempt to Disintegrate Null. The rogue evades the beam's worst, but still ends up with a burn and an alternative hairstyle. She's still standing! But only for a sec, because the necrotic damage from the next lair action knocks her out. Calitrax sees an opportunity for murder, and quickly brings Null down to two failed death saves. Flynn sees this and aggros the lich by shouting distracting threats her way. Berrik casts Life Transference to bring his friend back from the brink. Null's back in the game.
Flynn, clearly the greatest warlock in the room, destroys the first necrostone as a now furious Calitrax descends upon him, We keep scrapping. Sally summons a bunch of skellies to surround Flynn and then casts Feeblemind on Berrik, sick of the wizard ruining her plans. It lands, but Lotty is able to get to him quickly with a Greater Restoration. Null tries to inflict emotional damage (while also trying to gauge where her mother is) by asking Calitrax where Trolley went. The lich can't hide her despair at being abandoned by the hag (and presumably her master), but doesn't elaborate further. Sally refocuses and keeping fighting.
BUT, the fates have aligned enough that the Ashen Company feels renewed? So weird! We all gain a short rest. Flynn gets all his spells back. We can heal a bit. Berrik recovers an extra spell slot. Calitrax gets nothing and seethes. Homegirl only has 3.5 necrostones left and is getting low on hight level spell slots, but tbh that's on her.
Sally's next trick is casting Forcecage to get Lotty, our sturdiest party member, out of the fight. Flynn tries to Counterspell, but it falls short. And that's the last thing for this week! Hope we wrap this up next time! Hope she has cool loot! Okay bye.
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