Normally, I'd say perhaps we could negotiate with it to guard some twisty passageway of OURs, but since it's been in contact with that thing, it must die.  Squidly taints everything it touches!

I'm not an expert on mindflayer lore, but I was operating under the assumption that their thralls were mindwiped. The MM doesn't specify, so I'll check Volo's and get back to you. If thralls aren't mindwiped, it might be worth revivifying Kerek. If they are, it was pretty much a mercy killing.

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As noted in combat tags, Nic is waiting until Gronk is engaged with the minotaur before he takes his own attacks, so as to ensure he gets sneak attack damage from flanking.

The minotaur is D-E-A-D, DEAD. (ending at -15HP)

Well, you guys made short work of another encounter intended to be quite challenging- this time, without taking any damage yourselves. That's two "big" challenges you pretty much breezed right through. And to think that I was worried about a TPK. Silly me.

I'd say y'all have earned another level, but you guys are too powerful as it is. ;)

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I am always worried about a TPK.  Bear in mind that this edition of D&D is heavy on resource management challenges and we were all burning through a lot of expendable powers to pull off these fights.  This isn't something we can do consistently.

The mandatory eight hour rest to 'recharge batteries' has also struck me as a bug rather than a feature.

Vancian magic has always been a bug, rather than a feature, of D&D.

It probably doesn’t help that we’re camped out on a magic magnet for evil.  I don’t want to give this spot up, but I kinda doubt our ability to fight off a mindflayer again.

Warlock pro: recharge on short rest
Warlock con: 2 spell slots

Rae:

Is the passage way we came into this chamber small/tight enough that I could use Stone Shape to seal us into this area - i.e. put 5 foot of stone between the fleeing party and our chamber?

https://roll20.net/compendium/...tone%20Shape#content

You touch a stone object of Medium size or smaller or a section of stone no more than 5 feet in any dimension and form it into any shape that suits your purpose. So, for example, you could shape a large rock into a weapon, idol, or coffer, or make a small passage through a wall, as long as the wall is less than 5 feet thick. You could also shape a stone door or its frame to seal the door shut. The object you create can have up to two hinges and a latch, but finer mechanical detail isn’t possible.

Of course I'd need a long rest to get back a 4th level slot to unseal us later, but sealing us in might make that rest possible.  #risk/reward ratio

In reply to Ulfgar Frostbeard (msg # 44):

One of the things that I'm really enjoying about D&D is creative spell use. That's a good idea and yes, it is possible. The only issue I see is that there are two openings into the great chamber.

You still haven't learned what it is (no one took me up on my offer to make checks/rolls) but the strange rib-like structure is half of the mystery of the underground complex of the Forgotten Ones. As such, it is definitely a destination for all sorts of underdwellers and interlopers. It is unlikely that a long rest conducted in the great chamber will remain uninterrupted, unless you can somehow seal yourselves inside.

Remember that you do have a safe place to take a long rest (the Deep Gnome ville), but going there means leaving the Great Chamber unattended, which might lead to occupation by other unsavory tenants.

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Hmmm...we could seal one door to give us a better chance to make a deep investigation roll and then retreat and/or nuke the site from orbit.

It's the only way to be sure.

I didn't get past that last sentence before I immediately thought:

We came in through the butthole.

With combat over, Corros is going to get busy with the investigation while the others make with the security work.

By posting the results of that last round of PC attacks on the Minotaur here in the tactical OOC, I tricked myself into thinking that I'd posted about it IC. I did not. My bad. Spartan, I merged a short Ulfgar post so that I could use that slot to post a quick resolution of the battle. Thanks for understanding.

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This message was last edited by the GM at 02:26, Sat 04 Aug 2018.

I am in high threat training this weeek, so posts will be when time allows and when west Virginia Internet will cooperate.

Just wanted to make sure I’m not holding up the proceedings.  Corros wants to get a look at the columns then read the scroll.

Nic is guarding the entrance that's not stoned.

Do we want to open with Corros' Shatter before the melee specialists move in?

Makes sense to me, as long as we can get 3-4 inside the blast radius.

Might have to do a little “Spare the Dying” casting on the human and orc, depending on how this arrangement looks.

Yeah, can’t tell if accomplices or slaves.

Two questions:

1) Rae, was Corros' Shatter spell considered an ambush so he gets another action or are we still in the initial ambush phase?

2) Should we advance quickly and secure the orc and human bodies so as to learn more about them before they fail their death saves and move forever into the great beyond?

In reply to Corros Graelor (msg # 58):

1.) Yes. Y'all achieved surprise this round so Corros can act again before the enemy does.

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This message was deleted by the player at 21:04, Mon 17 Sept 2018.