The Revenant Medusae

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Medusae Combat - Round 1

Medusae Combat - Round 2

Medusae Combat - Round 3

Medusae Combat - Round 4

Medusae Combat - Round 5

Destroying the Medusae Revenant

Ashes and Iron

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Medusae Combat - Round 1

A banshee‐like shriek rends the air as the Medusae Revenant unleashes her horrid Deathshriek. Ice cracks in every heart—Dorf, Orin, Uptharr, and Fizzbum falter, frozen in mid‐action, while Azalie, Mutt, Hruna, and Mellon steel themselves and remain standing.

Azalie with blindfolded eyes and whispering, “Mellon—circle above and guide me to the guardians.” She casts Speak with Animals, and Mellon, keen‐eyed, rockets toward the ceiling, then calls out the location of a Stone Gargoyle Guardian. She then swiftly positions herself in the Northwest corner next to a treasure chest.

With a deep, mocking roar, one Gargoyle lumbers forward, claws raised. As it brings its first swing down on Azalie, Mutt shouts a cutting jibe—“Even for a gargoyle, you’re ugly!”—and the distracted construct misses. Its second claw slashes true, tearing into Azalie for 13 slashing damage, stone biting through her armor.

Meanwhile, Fizzbum blinks back to awareness—no longer stunned—and rushes to bolster his allies.

Hruna plants her boots with a thud, Averting her eyes from the Medusae and eyeing the advancing constructs with grim determination. She reaches behind her belt and draws her shortsword. "Aye... I’ll not be standin` idle while snake-bitch and her rock-pups try t’ turn us t’ lawn ornaments!" She cracks her neck, eyes narrowing. "Ye hit ‘em head-on, I’ll take th’ flank. Any beastie comes near me’ll be leakin’ dust before it blinks."

Orin likewise shake off the paralysis, readying himself for the fray.

A gargoyle advances toward Dorf, and Hruna springs into action.

Angrily

"Oh no ya don`t beastie! Get yer claws off me Dorf". Hruna brings her shortsword down on the Stone Gargoyle. but the gargoyle’s rocky arm parries her strike, leaving her blow impotent.

That same Gargoyle attacks Dorf, slams its claws into the barbarian. The first strike connects for 11 slashing damage (halved to 6 by his raging resilience), and the second blow also lands for another 6, automatically grappling the stunned Bararian. Dorf grips the rocky wrists pinning him, teeth clenched in defiance as he fights to break free and his paralysis wears off.

The last gargoyle advances to Mutt; its first claw swipe glances harmlessly by. Its second rasping blow finds him, slashing through his defenses for 11 damage. Gritting his teeth, Mutt pulls a vial from his pouch—“Dust of Resilience!”—and coats himself in protective powder. Then, voice ringing with scorn, he unleashes Vicious Mockery at the Gargoyle. Psychic insults lash out; the construct fails its save, gains disadvantage on its next attack.

Finally, Uptharr blinks and regains his senses—ready to spring into action.

Round 1 ends.

Medusae Combat - Round 2

The Medusae Revenant fixes Orin in her cold, hollow gaze and intones,

“Look at me, child of breath…and remember eternity.” 

Orin steels himself, succeeding his save and suffering only 5 necrotic damage from her Gaze of the Deathless 

Her serpentine hair bristles as she unleashes twin Eldritch Blasts. One beam slams into Fizzbum Lilypad, striking with deadly precision for a critical hit of 12 force damage. The second rockets at Uptharr, who raises his cracked mirror shield; the blast shatters the shield but reflects back, dealing 10 force damage to the Revenant herself .

Seizing the opening, Azalie lunges forward with her Flameblade +2.

• Her first blow scorches the nearest Stone Gargoyle Guardian for 11 fire damage .

• Fueled by righteous fury—“RrrrrrrrAaaahhhhh!”—she lands a critical hit, carving 26 fire damage into its stony flank .

High above, Mellon sweeps down to flank the wounded guardian (ID 4443). Roaring in anger, the gargoyle lashes out at Azalie but both claw strikes miss.

Fizzbum, blinking free from the previous stun, bounds 25 feet into position. He whispers urgently, “I’ll get ya fixed up, Ms. Azzy!” and sends a quick Healing Word to Azalie, restoring 8 HP .

Then with a crack of green energy, he casts Thorn Whip: the magical vines lash around the second gargoyle’s leg, yanking it off balance and hurling it into the spiked pit for 9 piercing damage plus 6 bludgeoning (cut to 3 by its resistance) as it crashes down.

Down below, the trapped gargoyle heaves itself toward freedom—claws gouging the wall—but ultimately tumbles back into the pit in a cloud of dust.

As its weight shifts, Dorf breaks the grapple with a triumphant roar, passing his escape save and freeing himself from its crushing grip .

From the corner, Hruna curses—“Ack! me blade’s bouncin’ off like a spoon on stone!”—and disengages before slipping 10 feet back, then moves another 10 feet toward a flanking position.

Rallying behind them, Orin  calmly raises his hands and unleashes Shatter, a thunderous ring of force. The Medusae and both gargoyles each withstand the blast, succeeding their saves and taking 10 thunder damage apiece .

Dorf, face set in grim determination, charges back in: he hurls Precious, dealing 13 piercing damage, halved to 6 by the gargoyle’s resistance (ID 4458). His follow-up swipe with his Frostclaw Gauntlet arcs wide against the unyielding stone .

The nearest Gargoyle Guardian springs at Dorf with twin claw attacks—both miss, stymied by his raging resilience . Its companion advances on Mutt, swinging twice: the first miss (disadvantaged by mockery), the second clips the bard for 7 slashing damage, halved to 4 by his Dust of Resilience.

Seeing Uptharr hesitate under earlier wounds, Mutt  steps forward, offering a stirring rally as he grants him a Bardic Inspiration die . Then, with a grin, he casts Shatter at the Medusae once more—both gargoyles and the Revenant succeed their saves and each takes 10 thunder damage .

Finally, Uptharr strides into the breach and attacks the battered Stone Gargoyle Guardian with his Shortsword +2: his first strike bites in for 9 slashing damage, halved to 4 by its resistance . His bonus attack swings wide .

Round 2 ends

Medusae Combat - Round 3

The Medusae Revenant’s serpentine hair snaps as her hollow gaze fixes on Fizzbum.

“You… little weed. You think yourself clever?” she hisses, unleashing her Gaze of the Deathless. Fizzbum steels himself, shaking off the compulsion and taking only 6 necrotic damage.

Not missing a beat, the Revenant stretches out her other hand and whispers, “You charge like a beast—let me show you still death.” Dark magic streaks toward Dorf, ensnaring his limbs in paralysis—but the barbarian’s fierce spirit fails its save and becomes paralyzed.

With Dorf frozen, Azalie springs into action. “Get away from me!” she snarls, her Flameblade +2 scorching stone.

• Her first slash carves 11 fire damage into the nearest gargoyle (ID 4476).

• A follow‑up strike lands a second 11 fire damage blow as molten edges cleave deeper

• 
  

Enraged, the Stone Gargoyle Guardian lashes back at Azalie:

• Its first claw miss…

• But its second rakes her for a brutal 14 slashing damage .

Seizing the flank, Mellon swoops low, talons poised to strike..

Meanwhile, Fizzbum darts 15 feet closer and calls out,

“I’ll get ya fixed up, Ms. Azzy!” He sends a swift Healing Word into Azalie’s side, restoring 9 HP). Then, with a crack of magical green,

he casts Conjure Animals, calling forth a spectral tiger to the fray—its fangs bared but its leap falls short, biting and missing the Revenant.

Untouched by the Revenant’s petrifying stare, the tiger resists with a defiant shake, The second tiger, meets the Medusae's gaze, and begins to petrify, failing it's save throw..

On the edge of the pit, Hruna curses as she pulls out her Drow Short Sword., “I’ll nae be shatterin’ statues wi’ a butter knife!” She disengages then lunges at the guardian—only to have her blade glance off unyielding stone.

Orin Kalladris surveys the chaos, strides 25 feet into position , then unleashes a sizzling Shocking Grasp against a gargoyle. Lightning crack les him for 11 damage, its rocky hide smoking .

Above the pit, the gargoyle struggles up the wall but slips, crashing back with a shower of rubble.

The nearest gargoyle guardian charges Dorf with twin claw attacks: both hitting, dealing 7 points of damage each strike and grappling the Halfling who is still paralyzed by Hold Person.

Turning its attention to Mutt, the guardian swings twice: the first reckless strike misses; the second claws Mutt’s jaw for 12 slashing damage, halved to 6 by his Dust of Resilience .

Mutt fires his Flamburst crossbow at a Stone Gargoyle across the battlefield, hitting for 14 damage, the gargoyle crumples into a heap.

Seizing the momentum, Mutt Bromwell steps forward, voice clear: “Dorf—stay steady!” He grants the barbarian a Bardic Inspiration die,

With his allies rallied, Uptharr strides into the breach and strikes the battered guardian with his Shortsword +2 and holy fervor:

• His first attack, a divine smite, scores a critical hit for 56 radiant damage, searing through stone and spirit .

• He follows up with another swing for 13 radiant.

  
  

Round 3 ends

Medusae Combat - Round 4

The Medusae Revenant throws back her head and unleashes a bone‑rattling Deathshriek, the sound echoing like a banshee’s wail through the chamber.

• Mutt clamps his ears and grits his teeth, managing to resist the horror.

• Azalie steels herself and endures the piercing scream.

• Dorf, bolstered by Bless and bardic inspiration, manages to shake off the stunning fear, though his body remains rigid under the Hold Person spell.

• Orin, Uptharr, and both tigers falter—ears ringing, their muscles seize as the shriek leaves them stunned.

• Fizzbum manages to keep his wits, his wide eyes darting between the undead horrors.

With the echo still fading, the Medusae snarls, “You think your little pets will save you??”, and hurls crackling Eldritch Blasts at Fizzbum.The first beam strikes him squarely for 9 damage, but he manages to maintain his Concentration on his conjured tigers. The second beam sizzles past his head, scorching stone.

Azalie sprints across the chamber, averting her gaze as she flanks the Medusae. Bloodlust creeps in as she smiles deviously, flameblade igniting in her hands.

• Her first swing bites into the Medusae’s leathery flesh for 10 fire damage.

• A second, surging slash sears the revenant for 14 fire damage.

• With a quick twist, she drives her bronze dagger home, dealing 7, halved to 3, as the undead resists the blow.

The Medusae hisses but maintains her Hold Person on Dorf through sheer will, surviving each concentration check.

Mellon wheels overhead, circling the battlefield and crying out, awaiting Azalie’s command to strike.

The heavy scraping of stone fills the chamber as the gargoyle guardians surge into motion.

The First clambers from the pit, closing on Orin and raking him with jagged claws for 14 damage.

The next Gargoyle in the pit, clutching Dorf in its claws, hurls him across the chamber, sending him crashing at the Medusae’s feet. (He will later take 3 damage after his rage halves the impact from the pitfall caused by Fizzbum’s magic.)

The third lunges at Mutt twice; both strikes swipe empty air as the rogue dances back.

“Why don’t you hang out with your buddy for a while!!! Will somebody get that Bad‑Eyed Boggy face off me, please!” the gnome cries.

• He lashes a Thorn Whip at the gargoyle clutching Dorf, yanking the creature off its perch and sending it crashing into the pit below.

  • Gargoyle takes 9 damage, halved to 4 by its stony hide.

  • Dorf tumbles with it, slamming into stone for 3 damage (after resistance).

• Shaking and desperate, he downs a Greater Healing Potion, feeling 25 HP of vitality surge back.

• He darts along the edge of the battlefield, putting distance between himself and the undead horrors.

  
  

The conjured tigers snarl in defiance of the Deathshriek, but the magical petrification spreads.

• One stiffens mid‑step, its stripes turning to cold stone—it is fully petrified.

• The other freezes in place, its roar dying in its throat as stone creeps up its legs.

Hruna charges forward, short sword flashing. “Fall, beastie!” she cries, stabbing a gargoyle.The blade chips its stone hide, dealing 4 damage, reduced to 2 by resistance. She keeps moving, eyes locked on the pit where the gargoyles fell.

Still reeling from the Deathshriek, Orin’s body betrays him; he staggers in place, stunned, until he shakes off the effect at the end of his turn.

Dorf lies rigid, paralyzed by the Medusae’s Hold Person. He fights the magic but fails to break free. A creeping gray sheen begins to crawl up his arms, but he resists the petrification effect this time.

“You’re looking a little fragile there, friend,” Mutt quips, bracing his crossbow. He fires a point‑blank Flameburst bolt into a nearby gargoyle, shattering it for 14 damage—it collapses at his feet.

With a glance over his shoulder, he calls a healing word to Orin, mending some of his injuries and restoring 14 HP.

The paladin reels from the shriek, ears ringing, body trembling—but by the end of his turn, he shakes off the last of the stun, gripping his weapon tight and ready for the next round.

Round 4 ends

Medusae Combat - Round 5

“Look at me, paladin—your god does not have power here.” The Medusae Revenant hisses, her eyes blazing as she channels her Gaze of the Deathless directly at Uptharr.

The paladin grits his teeth and growls, “My god has not forsaken me, devil.” He resists the pull of her gaze, taking only 6 necrotic damage—half the intended 11—and averts his eyes just in time to avoid further corruption.

Frustrated, she turns to Azalie, stepping in with two quick dagger strikes.“So you want to blind yourself to me? I have more than one way to petrify you, darling.”But her Stone Dagger misses both times, either glancing off armor or finding only empty air as Azalie, half-blinded and panicked, fends her off.

Azalie is trembling. “Please don’t call me darling.” Her first swing of the Flameblade +2 misses wide. Still flanked and flustered, she takes another strike—“Take this!”—but her restrained limbs cause her to falter again.

Her breath catches. Panic rising, she reaches out with her will, marking the Medusae with a Hunter’s Mark. As her eyes meet the undead horror's, her blood runs cold. Her limbs lock. She has seen too much.

Azalie fails her petrification save and becomes Restrained, her body stiffening as stone creeps up her arms.

Mellon flits across the battlefield, shifting 5 feet along the edge of danger, still awaiting the command that never comes.

One gargoyle claws at Orin, but all it strikes are his Mirror Image duplicates—one after another, both attacks dissipate illusions with satisfying bursts of arcane shimmer.

From the pit, another gargoyle scrambles up the crumbling ledge, but fails—crashing loudly back down into the stony trap below.

Fizzbum’s tiny body trembles. “No more grabbing my friends!!” he shouts. A Thunderwave rips through the cavern from his outstretched hands. The magic surges out, catching two gargoyles and his last summoned Tiger in the blast.

• The Tiger fails its save and is obliterated, taking 18 damage and vanishing with a thundering pop.

• One gargoyle makes its save and takes 9 thunder damage.

• The other fails, taking the full 18 thunder damage, and is smashed against the pit wall. It would’ve taken an extra 3 bludgeoning, but its body resists the mundane impact.

Fizz stumbles forward, positioning himself near Orin, and breathes out a desperate word of healing toward Mutt, restoring 9 HP to the rogue.

Hruna dashes forward into the fray but stumbles on the uneven stone, her sword strike missing wide. Her momentum carries her into the battle line beside Uptharr.

Orin sidesteps slightly and turns on the gargoyle that just destroyed his illusions. Lightning coils around his fingers as he casts Shocking Grasp, delivering a direct hit for 15 lightning damage. Sparks crawl across the gargoyle’s torso, and it recoils, its body shuddering as it’s momentarily deprived of reactions.

Dorf growls through gritted teeth, his muscles seizing as the last remnants of Hold Person try to lock him in place. But this time—he breaks free, forcing the magic from his limbs. A stony sheen creeps up his legs—but he resists it, flexing as it cracks and flakes off.

The halfling barbarian is free and fully mobile once more.

A gargoyle below scrapes and climbs, again failing to rise from the pit. It crashes down into the rubble with a heavy thud, wings flaring in frustration.

A short distance away, Mutt levels his Flameburst Crossbow and fires at the Medusae while keeping his gaze averted. The bolt hisses through the air and strikes true, But it only hits one of her mirror image duplicates.

Charging forward ten feet, Uptharr meets one of the gargoyles head-on. With a holy cry, he swings his Shortsword +2, cutting deep.

• First strike: 13 damage, halved to 6.

• Second strike: another 12, also halved to 6.

Despite the stony resistance, the blows chip away at the guardian’s cracked hide.

Round 5 ends

Destroying the Medusae Revenant

The Medusae's skeletal fingers curl tighter around her dagger, red eyes flashing like twin dying stars.

“You are too easy to hit when you refuse to look at me!” she hisses, and lunges for Azalie, blade-first.

But before the strike lands, Mutt shouts sharply from across the room, lacing his voice with cutting magic. The words twist through the air—discordant, sharp—and the dagger’s arc veers wide, missing Azalie by inches. (Cutting Words reaction used)

Frustrated, she pivots on her cracked dais, her glowing eyes now fixed on Dorf.

“Look at me, halfling! Behold your doom!”

The blade finds its mark—slicing across Dorf’s ribs with a sickening shhk. A surge of magical stone begins to spread from the wound. (20 damage halved to 10 from Rage; DC 13 CON save)Dorf grits his teeth, the transformation starting... but he endures. (Success)

Azalie, flanking now, grunts as her first strike goes wide.

“Mellon, attack from behind!” she commands, rebalancing. Her second swing hits true—her flameblade carving across the Medusae’s torso in a brilliant arc. (10 fire + 3 from Hunter's Mark = 13 total)

Hruna flanks with her drow-forged short sword, striking from the opposite side. “Aye, let’s cut ’er down to size!” she cries, but the blow is narrowly deflected

Fizz, seeing an opening near the pit, conjures a ball of flickering flame and hurls it toward the final Stone Gargoyle Guardian clawing its way upward. The impact hits dead center—a critical hit, and the gargoyle explodes in a flash of fire and stone, crumbling to dust at the bottom of the pit. (22 fire damage, target destroyed)

From near the throne, Orin raises his hand, cold light gathering at his fingertips. A Ray of Frost streaks toward the Medusae, slamming into her face. Frost creeps across her scalp—but her undead flesh resists. (9 cold damage)

But the spell costs him—his limbs falter as the creeping petrification tightens its grip. His skin stiffens, joints locking. (Failed DC 16 CON save, Orin is restrained)

Dorf, fueled by rage, swings wildly with "Precious," his flame-licked sword. The first blow shatters one of her mirror images, sending magic shards bursting into the air. His second swing bites deep—a savage hit across her abdomen—(19 piercing and fire damage). And the final strike, an off-hand swing with his flameblade, slashes across her chest. (10 fire damage)

Her shrieks become fractured and unearthly—cracks running through her torso, magic leaking from every wound.

And then…

Mutt steps forward.

He breathes once—deep and slow.Lifts his flameburst crossbow.And fires.

The bolt whistles through the air and strikes her heart—a perfect shot even as he averts his gaze.

The Medusae freezes. Her body begins to flake away. A low hiss escapes her lips—part fury, part relief. Then, in a rush of air and light—she crumbles into ash.

Her skeletal serpents wither into dust. The throne is empty. The chamber, silent.

Across the room, the final gargoyle, still scrabbling in the pit, collapses mid-motion and falls into the rusted spikes below. The red glow fades from its eyes. Gone.

The fight is over.

But it has left its mark.

Orin remains stiff, locked in the grip of magic (Orin you must make another DC 16 Save Throw, or become fully petrified). Dorf’s stone-cracked becomes flesh again, as he shrugs off the last bit of the petrification effect that gripped him. Blood, sweat, and soot mark every face.

At the heart of the ash pile, lies a prize, A Stone Dagger, coarse edge and terrible, hums faintly with power. A relic of the undead. A thing meant not for mortal hands.

Across the chamber, in the northwest corner, an iron-bound chest rests undisturbed. Its surface thick with dust, sealed tight.

Decide who will take the Stone Dagger, and who will pick the lock on the Treasure Box.

What do you do?

Current Time: 12:14 PM

Date: Ninthday, 29, Alturiak, 1742

Temperature: 49°

Current Phase: Exploration

Corruption Level: Rising slowly.

Ashes and Iron

The silence after battle hangs heavy. The last motes of ash drift from the throne to the flagstones.

“Take that, bitch.” Azalie spits on the ground where the Medusa once stood.

“Way to go, Mutt!” Her excitement could almost be mistaken for genuine battle adrenaline—almost. She clears her throat. “…Ehm…I almost had her.” Her foot traces the dirt in a shy, childlike manner.

She pulls a potion from her belt and hands it to Mellon with a sharp nod. “Get this to Orin before the stone takes him.”

the hawk finds the wizard already standing. She turns her attention to the rest of the chamber, checking the walls and corners as her gaze passes deliberately over the dagger without touching it.

As silence descends upon the chamber, Mutt lowers his crossbow and chances a look at where he believed the medusa to be. Seeing a pile of stone and bone dust where the creature once slithered, he finally allows himself to relax by a degree. He quickly scans the rest of the group and is relieved to see they all seem to have made it through OK. They were bloodied and would undoubtedly be sore later, but the medusa wasn't able to add any more statues to her garden. He shoulders his crossbow and slowly walks over to where the stone dagger lay. Hissing through his teeth, he shakes his head at the ancient blade. It felt...malevolent somehow. Mutt removes an old shirt from his pack and lays it near the blade. Summoning his mage hand, he commands it to pick up the blade and wrap it in his shirt. Behing careful not to let the blade touch anything, he commands the hand to put it in his pack.

“Best we do not leave this thing lying around until we can figure out what to do with it.”

Orin steadies himself, dusting the last flakes of petrification from his skin.

“I wouldn’t try to wield that just yet. Give me time to identify it before anyone touches it.”

Near the Spiked pit, Fizz crouches beside the powdered remains of the gargoyles, sifting some through his fingers. The gritty residue crumbles easily. The coarse grit of limestone makes up most of the structure, with sandstone at the joints—lighter, more flexible for movement. No sign of lingering enchantment; the animating magic died with the Medusae. He sprinkles a pinch into his soil pouch for later study.

Scooping up a bit of the dust and sprinkling it in his soil pouch Fizz stays lost in thought until Mutt calls to him twice for an assist.

"Fizz, would you help us check to see if this chest is trapped? A little Guidance would be appreciated before I attempt to pick the lock as well." Mutt gestures and casts Enhance Ability on himself, giving him Cat's Grace.

"Sorry! What?... oh, the chest! Sure Mr. Mutt! I'll check it!"

In the shadowed northwest corner, the iron-bound chest waits. The thick dust on its surface is undisturbed. Fizz kneels beside it, running careful fingers over the bands and hinges, searching for traps. After a thorough check, and satisfied no traps are present, he steps back and taps Mutt on the nose with a quick Guidance spell. “Good luck.”

Uptharr stands by the doorway, arms folded. “Be quick. This place feels wrong without her voice.”

The mage hand drifts forward again, thieves’ tools in tow—only to find no lock at all. Instead, the chest’s face bears five narrow slits, each about the size of a copper coin but just slightly smaller. Cold iron edges frame each opening.

The chest remains silent. Waiting.

Current Time: 12:20 PM

Date: Ninthday, 29, Alturiak, 1742

Temperature: 49°

Current Phase: Exploration

Corruption Level: Rising slowly.

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