In spite of the danger, Kira found herself smirking at Thane's oggling of the naked woman.  She had scooted around with Arnan as well after setting the torch down, waiting until Miss Floaty Boobs was focused on Thane to draw her own bow and knocking an arrow.

"Oh, but I am not in charge of anything. No, I am Auril's Chosen Daughter, and I work to do the Frostmaiden's will upon the land," the Ice Witch says.

The, studying Thane as one might look at an insect crawling across the floor, she continues. "There is too for you. All of you! Bow down and ask for Auril's mercy, and you too shall be spared winter's embrace!" She looks at the adventurers hopefully.



"This was to come regardless. The Frostmaiden's grip grows stronger with each passing day, the sun fading beyond the veil of distant horizons. Indeed, you must have noticed it too!

Winter's early onset. All will be buried beneath ice and snow, save for those who throw theirselves at Auril's feet, begging for mercy to see them through the coming days.

As to my legacy. Yes!" she beams. "This is why I work so tirelessly to bring followers to the Frostmaiden's bossom. Join me. Help me save Icewindale. No...all of Faerun!"

The young girl's cobalt eyes shine brightly now as she envisions the future, a future with strong allies such as those gathered below.

"You must do as I say," she implores. "Give your hearts and minds to the Frostmaiden and together, we can accomplish great deeds in her name!

What say you?"

The Ice Witch continues to float above the adventurers, bouyed by the whipping wind and ice crystals.

Morgrim growled, a throaty roar that reverberated about the chamber and echoed up through the aperture to the heavens on high.

“Well, you sure seem devoted to doing Auril’s will, I’ll give you that!” Thane replied, stalling for time.  His warrior mind was trying to figure out how to deal with the woman given that she was flying out of reach and apparently causing the strong winds.  Magic was not his thing at all, so he just resolved to take whatever came as it came.  He also decided to try to provoke her into doing something rash by using a tool he knew fairly well: mockery and confrontation.

“I used to be religious like you, until I figured out that the gods weren’t really real,” he continued in acrid tones.  “A fine follower of Tempus was I, ooooooh yes I was!  Until the god of battles let my whole company get wiped out by Drow a few years back!”  Thane sneered at the memory and continued his talk.  It was speeding up and becoming staccato-like, a verbal barrage.

“If your precious Auril really exists, why does she need YOU to do her will?  Ever think about that, eh?  If Auril is REAL, why can’t she do things on her OWN, instead of ‘working through’ a skinny, scrawny young woman who should rather be bearing children and giving suck to her babies instead of freezing folk alive who ain’t done nuthin’ wrong?”  Thane was clearly worked up now.  There was real passion behind his words; obviously he was giving vent to some personal truths.

“This Auril sounds like an utter bitch, and you’re just as bad of one for falling in with her empty lies!”

---

Posting from my phone.  Will color Thane’s words later from my laptop when I get a chance tonight.

The Ice Witch's demeanor visibly darkens as Thane not only blasphemes Auril, but all of the deities in general! For a Faerunian to claim the gods to not be real is preposterous and outrageous. Nonetheless, Hedrun listens as Thane continues his rebuke and, as far as she is concerns, condemns himself to an eternity spent in The Fugue.

But then, his words turn to isues she heard all too often while growing up in the Elk Tribe. There, the elders threw about words like honor, duty, station and place like they were going out of style. To hear this outsider bandy about the same sort of talk throws her into a final fit of rage.

"You will learn respect, even if it means I must bring upon your death, foolish outsider!" she shouts.

With this, the Ice Witch summons three elemental spirits to do her bidding as she rises higher into the sky, toward her sanctum, buoyed by the winds that rage above.

Comprised of frigid air and water, these imp-like creatures descend upon the adventurers, their mishapen mouths a mask of pitiless cruelty.

Meanwhile, unbeknonwst to the adventurers, their advance had been carefully monitored by a silent undying enemy, whom having been freed from over a century of imprisonment in the snow and ice, has also returned to haunt Icewindale, seeking to finish a conquest he began 129 years ago and to visit vengeance upon all who opposed him. Unearthed from the ice and risen in undeath, Akar Kessell, has helped spread black ice across Icewindale and has found a temporary ally in The Ice Witch.

Akar Kessell stalks invisibly behind a looming statue and springs his own attack on the unsuspecting party at the moment the ice mephits appear!

Akar throws three rays of scorching fire at the adventurers, one directed at Thane, Beargrim and Arnan!

Thane and Arnan manage to dodge out of the way just as jets of fire come screaming past their head, but Beargrim takes a shot to the side!

Up above, the ice mephits circle above the adventurers and seem to have their own devious plans...

OOC: Akar is about 30 feet distant, standing in the shadows of a statue. He is no longer invisible. The ice mephits just formed in the air and are circling about 40 feet above the party. Morgrim took 7 points of fire damage.

Ice Mephits, 3
AC: 11
HP: 21/21, 21/21, 21/21

Akar Kessell
AC: 12
HP: 112/112


PC        AC    HP    Insp  Spell Save  Conditions & Notes
Arnan     14   28/28    1      NA       AC 16 w/ shield
Hengar    12   25/30    1      NA
Kira      14   21/21    1      NA
Thane     18   27/31    1      NA
Dalgura   15   24/24    1      13
Morgrim   15   27/27    1      13       Brown Bear: AC 11, HP: 15/34


PCs are UP!!!

Beargrim bristles with rage and bounds across the empty chamber to crash headlong into the troublesome mage. His teeth and claws both find purchase in the wizard's flesh as he gladly rends his foe.

Move to engage
Multiattack
1) Hits AC 16 for 10 damage
2) Hits AC 23 for 15 damage

20:26, Today: Morgrim Ironhammer rolled 10,15 using 1d8+4,2d6+4 with rolls of 6,6,5.  Damage.
20:26, Today: Morgrim Ironhammer rolled 16,23 using 1d20+5,1d20+5 with rolls of 11,18.  Attack.

Dal didn't have a lot of good actions available to her but she saw that Grim was going after the big bad guy.  NOT surprising.  So to try and give him a chance to hit, Dal called upon her Goddess.  "Mighty Sharindlar help me.  Let your might be channeled into a bolt and send it toward the undead creepy thing.  May your radiance strike true and kick his ass because I know you can.  In your name I pray."   Dal stretched out her hand and sent a bolt at Akar her belief firm that Sharindlar would aide her.

ooc:  Guilding Bolt (p. 248)  range 120' lasts 1 rd, Make a spell attack against target.  On a hit, the target takes 4d6 radiant damage and the next attack roll made against this target before the end of your next turn has advantage, thanks t the mystical dim light glittering on the target until then.


19:48, Today: Dalgura Ironhammer rolled 22 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 17.  hit Akar?
19:49, Today: Dalgura Ironhammer rolled 17 using 4d6 with rolls of 4,5,4,4.  damage to Akar from Guiding Bolt.

For a fleeting moment, Arnan was undecided which foe to attack as Beargrim and Dalgura attacked the spellcaster. But the scout well knew that hesitation in battle could oft lead to a quick death.

He also knew that he could reach the ice creatures swirling above with his bow, whereas most of his companions would be hard-pressed to do so. So he lifted his bow and fired the arrow that had been nocked and waiting at one of the ice creatures, then followed it up in quick succession with  a second arrow, both of which struck their target.

---

OOC:

Action: 10:57, Today: Arnan Aldwynne rolled 10 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 3.  Ranged Attack v. Ice Mephits (AC 11).

10:58, Today: Arnan Aldwynne rolled 4 using 1d8 with rolls of 4.  Precision Attack Die-Roll.

Total Attack Roll: 14 Hit!

10:59, Today: Arnan Aldwynne rolled 11 using 1d8+3 with rolls of 8.  Damage (Longbow).

Bonus Attack: 11:03, Today: Arnan Aldwynne rolled 24 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 17.  Action Surge Attack (AC 11). Hit!

11:04, Today: Arnan Aldwynne rolled 8 using 1d8+3 with rolls of 5.  Damage (Longbow).

Total Damage: 19

Notes: Arnan has used one of his four Battle Master Superiority Dice. He has also expended his Action Surge bonus Attack.

"What is this?!?" Thane exclaimed, shock and anger mixed into one tone.  Knowing that a spellcaster is bad business, he quickly followed Morgrim and engaged the wizard.  He used the weapon he had in hand - a hand axe.  He slashed with confidence and cut into the odd-looking being.  "Kira, I need your light!" he called out to the rogue, hoping she come join the melee, but really just wanting her and her precious torch to be nearby.

---

Move: move 30 feet into melee
Action: Melee vs Akar Kessell (w/ advantage due to Dal's spell)

11:03, Today: Thane Harkensen rolled 20,8 using 1d20+5,1d6+3 with rolls of 15,5.  Melee vs Akar (AC12, Hand Axe).
20:29, Today: Thane Harkensen rolled 18 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 13.  Attack Roll (advantage) vs Akar.
Hit AC20 for 8 slashing damage

Kira draws her short bow and aims for the ice mephit that Arnan just shot. The rogue's aim is on point and she puts an arrow right into the little sucker's torso.

15:29, Today: DM Shard, on behalf of Kira, rolled 22,7 using d20+5,d6+3 ((17,4)).

Hengar rushes forward and throws an axe at the undead spellcaster skulking in the shadow of the black ice statues at the side of the temple. Then he joins Beargrim and Thane in melee combat.

OOC: Hit for 7 damage.

Beargrim, Thane and Hengar charge the undead sorcerer while Dalgura, Arnan and Kira send a volley of missiles and magic at the foes now swirling about the black ice temple.

Arnan and Kira focus their attacks on a single ice mephit, causing it to explode in a burst of jagged ice that falls to the ground like a hail storm! The other two mephits hiss in anger and descend upon the adventurers. One swoops in toward Arnan, Dalgura and Kira, the other Beargrim, Hengar and Thane. Both exhale a cone of cold air, the icy breath sweeping over the party members.

Meanwhile, in melee, Beargrim, Thane and Hengar notice their attacks seem to not be as effective against their undead foe. The skeletal figure in dark robes cackles manically as it draws eldritch power to itself. Moments later, the figure is joined by three duplicates of itself, these mimicking eachother in the same manical laugh. Then, all four utter arcane words and a volley of 12 magic missiles streak from their outstretched hands, all bound for Beargrim.

"You will make a fine pet in undeath!" they say in unison. Then, Akar Kessell reaches out with its skeletal hand and draws Beargrims life essence from his very soul! "Yesss!! Soon you shall be mine to command!!"


OOC: All four Akar Kessels are in melee with Beargrim, Thane and Hengar.

One ice mephit is 15 feet above Arnan, Kira and Dalgura and the other is 15 feet above Thane, Morgrim and Hengar.

Everyone needs to make DC10 Dexterity saving throws and will take 5 cold damage on a failed save or 2 cold damage on a successful save. Note: combined with the damage inflicted to Morgrim below, unless there is an intervening event I am unaware of, Morgrim will be reduced to below 0 hit points as a Brown Bear and will revert to dwarf form on a failed save. Stat block below still shows bear form.

Morgrim is also hit for 10 points of force damage.

Ice Mephits, 3
AC: 11
HP: 0/21, 21/21, 21/21

Akar Kessell x4
AC: 12
HP: 76/112


PC        AC    HP    Insp  Spell Save  Conditions & Notes
Arnan     14   23/28    1      NA       AC 16 w/ shield s
Hengar    12   21/30    1      NA       s
Kira      14   19/21    1      NA       s
Thane     18   25/31    1      NA       s
Dalgura   15   24/24    1      13
Morgrim   15   27/27    1      13       Brown Bear: AC 11, HP: 3/34 s


PCs are UP!!!

This message was last edited by the GM at 00:13, Tue 02 Oct 2018.

16:29, Today: Morgrim Ironhammer rolled 19 using 1d20 with rolls of 19.  Dex save (brown bear).

Morgrim passes the dex save and takes 2 damage. Looks like you edited the post and now I'm not sure if I have to make a second save as well. Morgrim's hitpoints were also adjusted from 1 to 5, so with the save he maintains his shape I think. Am I missing something?

Arnan shuddered as the unnaturally cold air swept over him, then muttered "What the hells?" when the foul  magicker suddenly became four identical versions of himself.

The scout was unsure what would happen if he put an arrow into one of the cackling skeletal figures, but he hoped that if some of the images were illusions, his target might be revealed to be either real or magicked fakery. In turn, that might aid his companions in deciding which image to target.

His arrow sped true and hit one of the figures that was arrayed before the adventurers . . .

OOC:

13:26, Today: Arnan Aldwynne rolled 7 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 4.  Dex Save (DC 10). Fail.

Free Action: Speak.

Action: 13:29, Today: Arnan Aldwynne rolled 24 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 17.  Ranged Attack v. Akar/Mirror Image. Hit!

13:29, Today: Arnan Aldwynne rolled 5 using 1d8+3 with rolls of 2.  Damage (If Applicable).

Hearing Thane call to her, needing light, Kira only managed to dodge most of the attack from the ice mephit.  She had tried to work again with Arnan on the one attacking them but could only scream out an obscenity along with the apology.

---

12:45, Today: Kira rolled 20 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 15.  Dex Save.
12:47, Today: Kira rolled 6 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 1.  Shortbow on Mephit.
No damage or sneak attack rolled ... for obvious reasons.  :(

Morgrim lashes out at the sudden refracted multitude of foes with a defiant roar. Channelling what little divine reserve he still had into his wounds, Beargrim's flesh knit closed. He would last a little longer this day.

Action: Multiattack
1) Hits AC 14 for 11
2) Hits AC 24 for 16

Bonus action: Combat wildshape heal: Morgrim expends 1 lvl 2 spell slot and regains 15 hp in bear form.

19:40, Today: Morgrim Ironhammer rolled 11,16 using 1d8+4,2d6+4 with rolls of 7,6,6.  Damage.

19:38, Today: Morgrim Ironhammer rolled 14,24 using 1d20+5,1d20+5 with rolls of 9,19.  Multiattack.

19:40, Today: Morgrim Ironhammer rolled 15 using 2d8 with rolls of 7,8.

Thane felt the cold wash across his armor and he ducked just enough to avoid the full blast.  "Damn your magicky tricks!" he cursed at the undead mage, who was rather more tough than he'd suspected.  Then he remembered his silvered flail, and reasoned that it would be a much better weapon to use than his plain hand axe.

He dropped the hand axe in clatter and unloosed the flail from his belt.  "I'll find you, fiend!" he challenged and lashed out at the nearest image...

---

Free: Make Dex Save
19:17, Today: Thane Harkensen rolled 12 using 1d20 with rolls of 12.  Dex Save (DC10).
Suffered 2 cold damage
Free: Drop hand axe
Action: Draw and attack with Silvered Flail
19:18, Today: Thane Harkensen rolled 19,4 using 1d20+5,1d8+3 with rolls of 14,1.  Melee vs Akar Kessel (AC12) (Image or not?).  Hit AC19 for 4 (bludgeoning, silver) damage

Hengar faces off against the undead foe, using his axe to keep the thing at bay until he finds an opportune moment to strike. Unfortunately, none materialized and the dance continues.

OOC: Miss

Dal had done her best with her limited spell but was too busy dodging cold attacks from little frigid bitches that flew in the air.  She did manage to dodge the one attack and saw one of the bitches flying  so she couldn't try and smash it with her weapon.  Sharindlar would help her.  Dal was confident in that.  She would try to catch the flyer with her sacred flame that Shrindlar was so gracious to bless her with.  Hopefully the mephit would be busy dodging the others that Dal could catch her.

"Mighty Sharindlar please help us.  We are trying to triumph over the evil that is here so that your light may spread again.  May your radiance blind the evil and stop them for my healing is low and there are many.  In your name and by your grace, Amen."

Dal held out her hand and holy symbol aiming for the Mephit that she could see.

ooc:  Sacred Flame ( p. 272) - save on dex saving throw or take d8 radiant damage.
            20:02, Today: Dalgura Ironhammer rolled 1 using 1d8 with rolls of 1.  damage from sacred flame if mephit fails save. (yeah, pin prick to it.  IF it hits).

19:20, Today: Dalgura Ironhammer rolled 18 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 17.  dc 10 dex save . (Dal saved, takes 2 points of damage)

Arnan and Thane manage to see through the mirror images enough to home in on the real enemy, or at least they guess correctly. Both strike their foe, though only Thane's attack proves as effective as it could be. The fighter seems to have guessed correctly in terms of overcoming the enemy's defenses.

Meanwhile, Beargrim savages two of the mirror images, causing both to dissipate in a shower of magical light. Twin Akar Kessells now remain, each moving in precise unison.

Finally, Dalgura directs a ray of radiant energy at one of the ice mephits, though it is but a superficial hit and does little but agitate the creature more than previously.

Akar Kessell wheels backward a few paces, taking cover from the adventurers now massing against him. After spending a century of imprisonment in the snow and ice, contemplating the evil he would unleash upon Icewind Dale, the undead apprentice of the Arcane Brotherhood has not intention of seeing his conquest and vengeance go unsated. He assesses the bear to be his greatest threat. Bear first, then the rest, he thinks.

His face drawn in total concentration, with both palms outstretched, the wizard shoots a volley of 12 magic missiles at Beargrim!

When the magic dust settles, the bear is gone and in its place stands a dwarven druid, still smoking from the sudden impact of so many magic missiles.

The ice mephits circle above the adventurers and eventually come together over Dalgura, whom they descend upon with icy claws ready to rip through the cleric. Dalgura dodges aside each, much to their dissatisfaction.


OOC: Two Akar Kessels are in melee with Beargrim, Thane and Hengar.

Both ice mephit is engaged in melee with Dalgura. Kira and Arnan are about 15 feet away and the others are 30 feet distant.

Morgrim is hit for 21 points of force damage, 18 of it absorbed as a bear, the remaining 3 from his normal hit points.

Ice Mephits, 3
AC: 11
HP: 0/21, 20/21, 21/21

Akar Kessell x2
AC: 12
HP: 69/112


PC        AC    HP    Insp  Spell Save  Conditions & Notes
Arnan     14   23/28    1      NA       AC 16 w/ shield
Hengar    12   21/30    1      NA
Kira      14   19/21    1      NA
Thane     18   25/31    1      NA
Dalgura   15   22/24    1      13
Morgrim   15   24/27    1      13


PCs are UP!!!

This message was last edited by the GM at 02:05, Thu 04 Oct 2018.

Morgrim coughs and points at the mage with a gloved hand. "You're good, boyo," he said. "But I can do this all day long." Regaining his focus once more, Morgrim threw himself back into the body of a bear and launched himself at Kessell.

Deception check to bluff Kessell (8). This is Morgrim's final use of wildshape until he rests.

Bonus: Wild shape
Action: Multiattack
1. Hits AC 18 for 7 damage.
2. Hits AC 18 for 12 damage.

13:54, Today: Morgrim Ironhammer rolled 8 using 1d20 with rolls of 8.  Deception.
13:58, Today: Morgrim Ironhammer rolled 7,12 using 1d8+4,2d6+4 with rolls of 3,5,3.  Damage.
13:57, Today: Morgrim Ironhammer rolled 18,18 using 1d20+5,1d20+5 with rolls of 13,13.  Multiattack.

~I wish that I could do more,~ Arnan thought to himself as he nocked another arrow. His arrows were mere pin-pricks compared to the heavy damage that Beargrim and Thane were inflicting.

The scout had noted that the magicked "false" images were destoyed if they were struck, based upon what Beargrim had previously done. Now there were only two mages battling Beargrim -- the true one, presumably, and one remaining false one.

~Mayhaps the best service that I can render is to destroy the remining false image, so that everyone else will know whom to attack,~ Arnan reasoned. ~I cannot tell which is which, of course -- so I must trust to my Luck to destroy the last image.~

With that thought in mind, Arnan swiftly drew back the bowstring and shot the arrow.

---

OOC:

Action: 12:09, Today: Arnan Aldwynne rolled 11 using 1d20+7, unique dice with rolls of 4.  Ranged Attack v. Akkar/Mirror Image.

12:11, Today: Arnan Aldwynne rolled 8 using 1d8 with rolls of 8.  Precison Attack (Superiority Dice).

Total Attack Roll: 19

12:11, Today: Arnan Aldwynne rolled 9 using 1d8+3 with rolls of 6.  Damage (If Applicable).

Notes: Arnan has used two of his four Battle Master Superority Dice.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 16:43, Sat 06 Oct 2018.

As much as Kira wants to break off and try to help take down the over-ripe guy who just unloaded on Beargrim, Kira knew she had to work against these frigid beings so they wouldn't hurt Arnan and Dal.  Then they could all gang up on Stinky.  Then as her arrow just missed the dang thing she reminded herself to focus and quit looking around too much.

---

20:45, Today: Kira rolled 10 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 5.  Shortbow on Mephit.  Miss dangit!

Dal concentrated again.  If she hit the mephit again it would be good.  It was a little annoying bugger but Dal had confidence that her Goddess would help her.  Sharindlar didn't like evil any more than Dal did so Dal called upon her again.

"Thank you for your help before Mighty Sharindlar but our struggle against the evil Ice Queen and her minions continues.  I know that with your continued help we shall eventually triumph.  Please guide your sacred flame towards that little...please guide your sacred flame towards that mephit again.  It is quick but not as quick as you.  It's evil needs to end.  In your name I pray."

Dal flung her hand out again towards the same mephit and held on to her holy symbol.  It gave her strength and she knew that Sharindlar would see how ernest Dal and the group was.  Sharindlar would see that they were fighting great evil and would lend her support.


ooc:  Sacred Flame ( p. 272) - save on dex saving throw or take d8 radiant damage.

08:34, Today: Dalgura Ironhammer rolled 4 using 1d8 with rolls of 4.  damage to mephit---if hits.

Continue continues to direct his martial prowess against his foe. His years of experience in the Luskan militia put to the test, he strikes the wight again with his silvered flail, an effective weapon against the undead menace.

"Use silvered weapons, if you have them!" he calls out to his friends.

OOC: Hit for 11 points of damage.

10:08, Today: DM Shard, on behalf of Thane Harkensen, rolled 12,11 using d20+5,d8+3 with rolls of 7,8.  attack Akar Kessel.