Harald stood back and watched the others at work.

"Impressive, eh?" He nudged one of the bystanders.  "It sure must be great tae hae such defenders amongst ye.  Ah sure wish we had such great speakers, such great folks living in my hame."


01:06, Today: Harald Gaptooth rolled 26 using 1d20+13 with rolls of 13.  Streetwise.

The party is able to make its way out, and, in a matter of only a few hours, the seven of you are able to coordinate a time to trigger the deactivation of all three items at the same time.

The really interesting challenge, though, is getting to the Salts. This area is, curiously enough, a lagoon. Why in the Seven Heavens the gods of good have a lagoon on their plane is anybody's guess, but nevertheless, there it is.

Agon would know that this is a very calm, placid place, free of pests; the native "insects" are mostly pretty butterflies and the like. He also happens to know that when all three symbols are shut down, this peaceful swamp will be turned into a massive maelstrom, and the lucky party must head down INTO the whirlpool to find the Arrow--along with whatever guardians protect it.

How do you all propose to do that? Creative ideas will be rewarded.

In reply to EpicOne (msg # 289):

"Might the rituals of Banish Vermin, Endure Elements, and Phantom Steed be of use?" Gromley suggested to Argon.

"There's no much that can move a dwarf if'n he sets his mind tae it" said Harald gruffly.  "If ye all line up ahind me, Ah'm sure Ah kin shove ma way intae ony wee bit o' wind."

'It's not just diving down into the Maelstrom we need to contend with' Martha reminds everyone, 'but also this terrible guard from the Dawn War we were warned about'. I can help with Endure Elements - we can ward everyone against lightening and thunder for an hour (at the cost of healing surges).

'Do you think Phantom Steed could summon us a pack of seahorses?' Martha asks Gromely, trying not to ask about where Banish Vermin comes in. 'Do you know a water breathing ritual?' she asks the gnome, and Agon.

'I can also surround us with a Cloak of Courage before we enter, which will temporarily shield us from damage.'

In reply to Martha (msg # 292):

"Embarrassingly, no my lady. I can control every one of my biological functions, and in addition to making me very popular with the ladies-I also do not need to eat, drink, breathe, or sleep. I do like to do all those things of course. But as a result, never bothered learning that particular ritual."

Interesting--Agon, Gromley and Zog, roll Arcana checks to see if you can make a Phantom Steed ritual twist to your needs for seahorses....

"We have to go into the middle of a whirlpool in order to get the arrow? Well, I do know that the air elementals cause a similar effect with wind rather than water. The vortex they create gets faster and tighter towards the bottom.  It might be better to fly over the middle, drop in that way rather than going for a long swim, and possibly getting separated as each of us would create different amounts of drag due to weight, size, etc." Sonliin said, drawing a picture in the dirt

20:52, Today: Sonliin rolled 33 using 1d20+25 with rolls of 8.  Nature.

Strictly assisting Agon with a 25.

21:36, Today: Zog the Faceless rolled 25 using 1d20+20 with rolls of 5.  Assisting Agon w/Arcana.

It was but a moment's work for Agon to summon up his horses, now strange creatures combining the features of pegasuses and seahorses.

"These beasts will carry you into hell itself--but the magic is fragile." Agon said stiffly.  The majestic creatures tossed their heads and pranced, but even a single blow would destroy them.

OOC: 22:22, Today: Agon rolled 49 using 1d20+34 with rolls of 15.  benny reroll.

+2 from Zog for a total of +51

Darratheir had already invoked steeds of his own but never one that looked like the ones Agon had summoned. He moved closer to one of them, petting him to get his trust. "We have just fought a legion from the Seven Hells. This is not some water that will stop us from getting this arrow." he said, showing his confidence that things should go well.

He then turned in direction of Martha and offered. "I can take you with me if you want. I'm strong and solid and I could easily keep you close to me so you shouldn't endure too much from the elements."

In reply to Agon (msg # 297):

Gromley assist Agon as best he can.

OOC-Another +2 from me.
15:16, Today: Gromley Underhill rolled 38 using 1d20+26 with rolls of 12.  Arcana to assist with phantom steed ritual.

'If any wants me to cast Protection From Elements (lightening or thunder) on them, let me know. Otherwise I'll just prepare Cloak of Courage'.

I love it when a plan comes together. Darratheir, roll an Athletics check. Harald, you can as well if you like.

I don't feel like using a benny on this one. I hope I'm not wrong. :D
10:31, Today: Darratheir Burnedbear rolled 34 using 1d20+23 with rolls of 11.  Athletics.

01:14, Today: Harald Gaptooth rolled 31 using 1d20+20 with rolls of 11.  Athletics.

Agon and his superhuman assistants conspire and come up with just the right ritual. In a matter of time, the party are now seated on phantom seahorses awaiting the hour to be struck.

At the appointed hour, Agon says his words of power. Elsewhere on the plane, the others who agreed to assist proceeded to shut down their seals at the same time. The result is a maelstrom right underneath the party--shrieking winds and roaring thunder. The party is immediately thrown around madly. The phantom steeds are thrown around, keeping the party afloat but with no bearing or direction.

Fortunately, the party has a pair of strong individuals among them. Harald and Darratheir wrestle their steeds toward the others and grab onto the other steeds, creating a chain of arms, and then the party rides the whirlpool as one down the proverbial drain to the bottom of the maelstrom.

The churning water of the lagoon roars as waves rise into a wall of crushing, swirling water, hurling you like rag dolls into an area of the lagoon bed somehow devoid of water. The thundering wall of water rotates around the dry bed with crushing force as the insane rage of the storm plays out above. A titanic creature roars in concert with the storm, its rumbling bellows drowning out even the thunder. Its form seems roughly hewn from shale; brilliant, crackling blue-white lights shine forth from cracks and joints in its body and a billowing cloud of steam and lightning streams from its crown. As it turns to regard you, unending, ageless rage burns deeply in eye-like voids and a thundering howl of fury bursts from blazing, blue-white furnace of its mouth.

The final seal, a flat disk of dull metal inscribed with the combined symbols of Erathis, Ioun, and Pelor, is sunk deep into the rocky flesh of its chest.

Roll initiative! Everyone in the party has temporary hp equal to their surge value thanks to Martha, which I will note on my summary sheet.

Map: https://docs.google.com/drawin...Q50-wFOAK6P78Lk/edit

From his arrival in this place, it had been mostly question of magic seals and how to temporarily break them. Not the kind of thing that Darratheir excelled at and the Dragonborn felt a bit out of place in this group.
Even during the fight on the market place, he didn't really got the possibility to show what he was worth. So he felt proud to be able to control his steed and, with Harald's help, to keep the group safe altogether until they crossed the maelstrom.

When they finally touch the lagoon bed, he turned toward the rest of group. "Is everyone fine ?" he asked before focusing on Harald. "Thanks for the help. I feel like you and me could do great things in the future." he added to the Dwarf.

But they had barely the time to recover from the cross as the guardian of the place made himself known. In a single move, Darratheir turned back to face the gigantic creature and he reached his weapon, ready to fight. "I guess this one will not just surrender and give us the arrow." he said. "And that's all fine with me !" he finally added while a large smile was drawing on his burned face.

10:12, Today: Darratheir Burnedbear rolled 34 using 1d20+16 with rolls of 18.  Initiative roll.

Ooc-08:58, Today: Gromley Underhill rolled 27 using 1d20+22 with rolls of 5.  reactive stealth.

08:58, Today: Gromley Underhill rolled 36 using 1d20+22 with rolls of 14.  Initiative

OOC:09:58, Today: Sonliin rolled 30 using 1d20+13 with rolls of 17.  Initiative.

Martha grabbed tightly onto Darratheir as they rode the seahorses down into the dry lake. When the monstrous apparition appeared, she scoffed at it. 'That's the attitude, Darratheir', she approved of the drgonborn's enthusiasm. 'Nothing is going to stop us on this quest.'

15:21, Today: Martha rolled 45 using 1d20+27 with rolls of 18.  Use bennie on initiative cos rolled a 1!
15:20, Today: Martha rolled 28 using 1d20+27 with rolls of 1.  Initiative.

"Be with me know, grandfather."

Harald briefly touched the battered domino with the sigil of Tymora engraved thereon and prepared for battle.


20:36, Today: Harald Gaptooth rolled 33 using 1d20+18 with rolls of 15.  initiative.

Who knew how long this guardian had been chained by the gods? Agon faded back, desperately trying to remember if there was anything that wouldn't work on their enemy.


12:57, Today: Agon rolled 35 using 1d20+18 with rolls of 17.  initiative.

Rolled not-a-1. :-)
21:39, Today: Zog the Faceless rolled 36 using 1d20+17 with rolls of 19.  Initiative.

The titan roars in blind anger at the party as lightning crackles around its hands…

If you want to roll Arcana checks for monster knowledge, you can on your turn. However, you will not get stat block info on the titan, since he’s a one-of-a-kind; you will get some detail info if you roll well enough, though.

Martha, this is considered the same encounter for Cloak of Courage.

NOTE: You have passed a milestone since the last combat. You have not had an extended rest, however.

All PCs except Sonliin are up!

Initiative:
Martha , Zog, Gromley, Agon, Darratheir, Harald <==
Titan
Sonliin

Map: https://docs.google.com/drawin...Q50-wFOAK6P78Lk/edit