RQG 208 - Threshold

## Content Warnings

Physical violence & graphic injury, Grief & loss, Panic & anxiety (inc. compulsive behaviour). Discussions of: death (inc. character death), poisoning & drugging, human remains. Mentions of: fire, spitting, body horror, blades. SFX: bubbling, electricity & static, tinkling & clanking, crackling, explosion, brief beep

## Summary

Join Alex, Helen, Bryn, Lydia, and Ben as they take a last stand against their assailant.
This week Zolf absolutely smites, Azu cleans up, Cel breaks through with science, and Hamid consults the expert.

## Synopsis

Cel faces the creature and breathes their dragon breath potion at it, shooting a jagged beam of electricity. They realise that enough people have safely reached the lab for the mission to continue, and they shut the door, assisted by Ada. Azu attacks with her axe, but misses the creature. She then heals herself. The second slinky squiggles towards Skraak, it attacks him but misses twice and continues to wriggle around his head.

On the other side of the door, Hamid wakes up to Wilde asking if he’s okay. Wilde briefly explains the situation to him. Meanwhile, the creature attacks Cel with its knife arms; they manage to dodge one just in time, but the other slices them in the shoulder. As it attacks, Skraak notices that the creature seems to be healing itself and they warn the rest of the group. They leap towards it with the stalking dagger, only managing to cut it lightly.

Zolf, having issued his threat, steps back from the creature and slams his glaive into the floor. Eleven ice javelins form from the moisture in air, all pointed directly at the creature. Zolf stabs his glaive into the creature, and each javelin flies at its form, rapidly tearing it to pieces until it is utterly obliterated. On the other side of the door, Hamid hears a thundering explosion and panics, thinking his friends are in danger. He begs Ada to unlock the door again, but she refuses, insisting that she shouldn’t have opened it in the first place. Hamid casts knock in order to open the door; Ada struggles against it to keep the door closed. From the other side, Cel calls out that they’re okay and the fight is almost over; they shoot an arrow at the slinky attacking Skraak and push open the door. Azu swings at the remaining slinkies with her axe, destroying them entirely.

Cel collapses through the open door and Hamid rushes over to check on them. Zolf turns to Azu, giving her a strong forearm handshake and thanking her for saving them. Ada addresses everyone, begging them to hurry up. Azu and Zolf pick up the dead bodies of Augusta and Sumutneyrl and drag them inside. Ada locks the door after them. Cel asks if the creature they were fighting was some version of Barrett, but no one is sure. Hamid worries that Einstein is missing, wondering if he escaped, was killed, or possibly turned into a creature like the one they just fought. Ada quickly insists that everyone show their eyes to check for the blue vein infection, they all oblige and she relaxes slightly, but runs over to frantically inspect the equipment.

Zolf goes over to Wilde and hugs him. Wilde worries that Zolf almost lost him twice because he wasn’t powerful enough, but Cel assures him that he couldn’t possibly have prevented either of his deaths. Zolf approaches Ada, asking her if the situation with Babbage has changed in any way. The party notice that she seems to be in shock and is retreating into her work. Azu tries to comfort her and Zolf continues his questioning, but she doesn’t respond. Cel notices her panic and begins carrying out maintenance alongside her, gradually beginning to ask questions as Ada relaxes. She eventually explains that everything is ready, but they should tell Babbage what has happened. Ada leads them to the machine, presenting a ‘ghostbusters-esque’ tech backpack with the kill switch retrieved from Svalbard, modified and attached.

Ada offers the party members a chance to talk one-on-one with Babbage; Cel denies, explaining that they’re not the best candidate for a social interaction. Hamid, having finished helping the others with the bodies, accepts Ada’s offer. He puts on a pair of headphones and introduces himself to Babbage. He explains that Tesla and Augusta are dead and Einstein is missing, but the device remains intact. Babbage assures him that everyone knew the risks of the mission. Hamid offers to fix the flaw in his design that he and Cel noticed, and Babbage agrees, thanking Hamid for his help and asking to speak with Ada.

## Quotes

**Ben**: "So immediately take 143 damage"
**Alex (laughing)**: "sorry, sorry just give me a second. Just give me a second"
**Bryn**: "We just need to state that very clearly for the record, ben has just inflicted 11d6 + 143 damage on this thing"
―Zolf instantly destroys the creature

## Dice rolls & mechanics

* Azu channels positive energy: 20
* Zolf channels positive energy: 23
* Sense motive on Ada: Cel (2), Azu( 20), Zolf (21)
* Zolf diplomacy check: 10 (fail)

## Combat Breakdown

**Combat continued from previous episode, ongoing effects:**

* Holy whispers: creature sickened for 11 rounds, party gain +2 sacred bonus on attack and damage rolls for one round
* Smite evil: +3 to attacks and saves for Zolf

**Initiative:** Hamid (24), Cel (24), Azu(21), Slinky 2, Creature, Skraak (12), Ada, Zolf (6)

**Round 3**

* Cel: breathes dragon fire, creature makes the save for half damage: 19 damage
* Azu: attack with axe: 22 damage, lay on hands and regains 17 hit points
* Slinky 2: attacks Skraak, misses
* Creature: attacks Cel: 25 damage, perception checks to notice that it can heal itself: Zolf (22), Azu (24), Skraak (25), Cel (25)
* Skraak: attacks with stalking dagger: 4 damage
* Zolf: ranged touch attacks with glaive:180 total damage
* Hamid: casts knock: 36
* Cel: shoots crossbow: 25 damage
* Azu: attacks with axe: 27 damage