Departing Starsong Hill astride giant owls, the adventurers soar high above the lands below, trekking south to Thornwaste. First, they sweep over the dark tangle of bramble and pine of the Witchwood, but then later, several hours later, beyond the dark roll of woods, they spot several plumes of smoke on the horizon, in the settled lands of Elsir Vale!

Ahead, they spot The Dawn Way. Along its stretch, they see smoke rising from where they guess might be the towns of Nimon's Gap, Terrelton and...yes, even Drellin's Ferry!

Passing over the first, Nimon's Gap, they see a burned out husk of charred debris where the town once stood. There is no movement within the town and their wild elf guides do not linger too long to permit anything more than a cursory view of the ruin and devastation.

Later, they come up on Terrelton. It too is now little more than burned out buildings and debris, the Red Hand's trail of destruction utterly complete and without any regard for life or property. Smouldering fires burn here or there, but save for a few stray dogs picking through the debris, there are few signs of activity within the remnants of the small town.

The wild elves veer their winged mounts in a more southerly direction now, avoiding passing directly over Drellin's Ferry, but in the distance, the adventurers can see the same dark smoke rising from that town. For now, they can only speculate as to the fate of the town where their adventures began. If Terrelton or Nimon's Gap are any indication, the prospects are quite grim indeed.

Several hours pass as the adventurers fly over the vale's sparsely settled, southern reaches. Soon, they pass into the Thornwaste. The land is truly a maze of broken hills, briar-choked ravines, and thistle-clogged fissures. Viewing this terrain from overhead, if there's one thing the group can be thankful for, it is the benefit of passing through this inhospitable land astride a giant owl and not overland!

Their wild elf guides deftly navigate toward a mesa in the distance, eventually landing on a low hill a few hundred yards distant. The wild elves have been given strict instructions to offer transportation to and from the Ghostlord's lair, but are forbidden from entering the lair. Instead, the wild elve guides busy themselves by setting up camp atop the hill while the adventurers view what must certainly be the lair in the distance...

Rising from a low mesa is an intimidating sight. A massive lion of stone crouches, as if ready to pounce on a nearby hill. The cyclopean monolith is composed of a dull tawny stone. It looks to be about 240 feet in length, and the top of its maned head rises over eighty feet from the ground. There seems to be some sort of hollow between the lion's front paws, in the area bordered by its chest. Likewise, hints of a dark cave are apparent in its gaping maw.

It is now late afternoon, about 4 hours before sunset.

"We should go in now," Eoni said, shouldering her pack.  "If he's not here, we'll need all the time we can to find him.

"If he's in there, I don't expect it will take us too long to find him.  Or for him to find us."

She reached up and touched the lighted tiara upon her head as she looked for the others to prepare themselves.

"Remember, we're not here to fight.  We're here to talk."

Valthur has little chance to inspect the devastation across the vale because his eyes are closed for a great deal of the trip. But even with his limited glances, his heart darkens at the ashen sites along the way.

Once on the ground, he stands awestruck by the gigantic stone lion until Eoni urges them on. Her call to head out comes far too soon, as far as he is concerned, but he also understands the urgency. With an inaudible "Moradin help us", the dwarf gathers his belongings and sets out after the Sister of Avandra.

"Right. Let's go talk to him. Her. It. Whatever...." Taerix stows his weapons and is ready to go on when the others are.

Sarah looks positively glum as she trudges along.

The party approaches the massive stone lion on foot. Flanked by massive stone paws to the north and south, the adventurers see a hollow hidden in the shadow beneath the great stone head above. A worn stone path leads between the great paws to a low stone ramp. The ramp climbs up to an impressive archway leading into the lion's chest. Two basalt statues of skeletal lions stand facing each other on either side of the arch, as if passing judgment upon any who would travel between them.

Beyond the 20-foot ramp, within the hollow between the lion's chest, a shadowy cavern of indeterminate depth can be seen.

"We don't all need to go in," the Sister said, turning back to the others.  She looked to Marklin, carrying the chest, and reached out for it.  "I can take the chest in myself.  Everyone can wait for me here.  "

She looked back at their Tiri Kitor escort.  If anything went wrong inside, the others would have a chance to escape with them.

"This shouldn't take too long."

"Nuh-uh," the fighter says. A few moments pass as he considers, "You sure about this? Going off into that thing, by yourself?"

As they travelled, Aldara mulled over how she could have done things differently in life...such as going East, rather than West when her training was done.  While she disapproved and groaned earlier, the prospect of travelling with the others emboldened her.  Well, just a little bit.

When Eoni informs the others that she is willing to go herself, Aldara shakes her head.  A wizardly touch might be needed, after all!  "Ah... I could sort of shadow you, if you'd like.  That way, if my input or even incantations are needed, I'll be close at hand."  Her body language and facial expressions betray her intentions, which are actually fairly well-meaning!
This message was last edited by the player at 07:39, Sun 16 Dec 2018.

Sarah shifts uncomfortably from one foot to the other.  Then, she repositions herself and cranes he neck so that she can see the entrance's opening.  Seemingly satisfied, she straightens; but, she doesn't say anything.

"If this is going to work," Eoni said, "we can't use any deception.  This is about trust.  We have to be different than the ones that held this over him.

"So no invisibility," she concluded, nodding to Aldara.

She took a deep breath before continuing.  "This may go two ways.  He can be grateful or he might not.  If he's not, it may not matter how many of us go down."

Valthur weighs Eoni's words for a long while, then takes a step forward. "We've gone this far together, Eoni. I say we keep it that way. Plus you may need my dwarven knowledge of the underground to assist you through these passageways."

Taerix, like Sarah, remains silent, but nods at Valthur's words.

"All right," the Sister said, torn between pride in their courage and fear for what was to come, "let's get this done.

"Valthur, lead the way."

Filing cautiously up the low ramp toward the archway in the hollow of the lion's chest, the party soon arrives at the mouth of a large chamber with rough-hewn walls and a domed ceiling rising 15 feet overhead. To the north, the adventurers see a large heaped mound of crushed nettles and briars, these arranged in some sort of nest. To the south lies a massive mound of bones. The chamber smells strangely musty and acrid.

"Valthur," Eoni whispered quietly, "do you see any other exits?"

This definitely wasn't what she'd expected to find.  This looked like an animal den.  A large predator by the size of the bone pile.  Sellyria had mentioned lions.

Where was it now?

"Humpgh," Valthur exhales with a bit of disappointment. "A lot more impressive on the outside than on the inside."

The dwarf examines the chamber for other exits, then approaches the briar nest with his axe at the ready.

With a little investgation, Valthur finds a cleverly disguised (perhaps to all but a Dwarf!) secret door hidden in the cavern's south wall. Moving on from this task, Valthur sifts through the briar nest and finds a few cobalt blue scales within the nest, but little else of interest.

Sarah watches Valthur's efforts with the stonework with interest, hoping to learn something about hiding (and finding) traps and secret doors.

[Private to DM Pawn: And . . . take at least two of the scales if I can without anyone seeing.  I recognize that the size of the scales is presently unknown and may make this impossible.]

Once the dwarf was finished with his investigation of the nest, Eoni nodded for him to take the lead once more as they pressed onward through the entrance he'd discovered.  Her Tiara was more than enough to light their way as they progressed into the dark interior of the lion's belly.

Aldara, too, watched the dwarf work.  Her interest was academic, rather than practical.

Always, the mage stays close to the better-armed members of her group.

When the group moves on, Taerix takes up the rear as usual, watching behind them for any danger coming from that direction.

Valthur makes sure to show the scales to the others before proceeding down the passageway. "Don't know what kind of monstrosity leaves behind scales like this, but I suspect it isn't something friendly."

With that concern raised, and at Eoni's nod, he leads them into the passage, slightly emboldened by the fact that he successfully its entrance a few moments earlier. "It's really a knack for us dwarves," he brags softly over his shoulder as he proceeds. "Something in our blood, I suspect. Hiding an underground door from an Ironhelm is like hiding a bone from a hungry dog."

Passing through the secret door, Valthur leads the party up a long 10-foot-wide hallway that climbs in a complete circle, sloping gently upward from the secret door. The party files up the corkscrewing corridor for about 30 feet when two ghostly lionesses spring forth from the very stone walls, bearing their spectral jaws and flashing their sharp claws!

With a low growl that close in on either side of the the party's line, one bears down on Valthur and the other, Taerix.

The ghost lions tear into the halfling and dwarf, clawing and biting them. Despite their spectral form, the ghost lions very much do real physical damage!

OOC: Taerix takes 3 points of damage. Valthur takes 8.

Ghost Dire Lions, 2
AC: 6
HP: 16/16 (Valthur), 16/16 (Taerix)
[Private to GM: 1d3/1d3/1d6]



PC         AC   HP    9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1  0 -1 -2 -3
Aldara     8  15/15   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Eoni       8  24/24   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Marklin    2  19/19   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Sarah      4  21/21   8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Taerix     1  19/22   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Valthur    4  18/26   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

[Private to GM:

  HD       9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1   0   -1  -2  -3
Up to 1    10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20  20
1+ to 2    9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20
2+ to 3    8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20
3+ to 4    7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19
4+ to 5    6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18
5+ to 6    5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17
6+ to 7    4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16
7+ to 9    3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15
9+ to 11   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14

]

PCs are UP!

"In the name of Avandra!" Eoni shouted, gripping the wooden symbol about her neck.  "Let us pass!"

She concentrated on driving the spectral forms from them through the strength of Avandra's Grace.

OOC:
Eoni Daflin rolled 8 using 2d6.  Turn Undead Lions?
Eoni Daflin rolled 10 using 2d6.  Turn Undead HD.

[Private to GM: This would successfully Turn 2 5HD creatures or any 2 of lesser than 5HD.  If they're susceptible to turning...]

Taerix draws his sword, and hoping that his sword works on these apparitions, swipes right into the lion that hurt him!

Kane Taerix scored 7 points of critical sword damage.

12:15, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 21 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 20.  Attack lion.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:05, Fri 21 Dec 2018.

Sarah is doubly distraught: She has no room to hide, and she did not prepare her newly-cherished crossbow.  She grabs some of her darts and flings them at the lion attacking Valthur.


13:18, Today: Sarah rolled 21,3 using d20+3,d4 with rolls of 18,3.  Throw Dart (11 to hit).

Taerix's sword and Sarah's darts seem to have no effect on the ghostly lions, each passing harmlessly through the incorporeal guardian. Then, Eoni channels the power of her deity in an attempt to turn the lions back.

This does seem to work. Both retreat back into the stone and are seen no more!

After a few brief moments of terror, the ghostly threat has abated.

Wordlessly, Sarah retrieves her darts.

"We must be almost there," Eoni said, silently thanking Avandra for her strength.  "Let's press on."

"Many thanks, Eoni," Valthur nods to the sister of Avandra as he tends to his wounds as best he can. "Those spectral lions bit hard."

After their encounter with the ghost lions, Valthur leads the party up the winding corridor. Based on his keen stonesense, Valthur judges the overall length of the tunnel to be over 200 feet long. Additionally, based on his mental calculations, the corridor makes one complete rotation before terminating at what initially appears to be a dead end of solid stone. But, it only takes the party a few moments to notice what appears to be the outline of a secret door!

Save for returning the way they came, the adventurers see no other obvious exits beside the secret door.

Sarah studies the door -- for educational purposes.

[Private to DM Pawn: Did I successfully grab a couple of scales, or were they too big to grab and secrete?]

"Well what have we here," Valthur mumbles while examining the secret door. "My dwarven eyes spotted this one a mile away."
He dusts the crack between door and passageway, hoping to get a feeling for how long it has been since its last use as well as to see if the door is somehow trapped.

ROAR!!!

Moments after Valthur moves in to take a closer look at the secret door, another ghostly lion, this one one much larger than those encountered previously, jumps out of the stone wall!

Landing a few feet in front of Valthur, the ghost lion springs up into a defensive position and its spectral mane flares wildly behind it. If that were not enough to send chills down all but the hardest of adventurers, its corrupting gaze might do the trick. All who see the lion feel a momentary wave of fear sweep over them as they fight to retain their wits about them in the face of such a formidable foe!

OOC: All PCs must make Saves vs Death Ray, taking 12 points of damage on a failed save and 6 points of damage on a successful save.

Ghost Brute Lion
AC: 6
HP: 23/23


PC         AC   HP    9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1  0 -1 -2 -3
Aldara     8  15/15   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Eoni       8  24/24   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Marklin    2  19/19   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Sarah      4  21/21   8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Taerix     1  19/22   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Valthur    4  18/26   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

[Private to GM:

  HD       9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1   0   -1  -2  -3
Up to 1    10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20  20
1+ to 2    9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20
2+ to 3    8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20
3+ to 4    7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19
4+ to 5    6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18
5+ to 6    5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17
6+ to 7    4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16
7+ to 9    3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15
9+ to 11   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14

]

PCs are UP!

Eoni staggered back from the lion's fearsome gaze, feeling the energy draining away from her.  The Grace of Avandra sustained her, fighting back the drain and giving her strength.

Taking a steadying breath, she gripped her wooden symbol and shouted back at it, "In the name of Avandra!  Let us pass!"

OOC: Eoni Daflin rolled 14 using 1d20.  Poison/Death Ray (9) Ghost Lion.
SUCCESS, 6 damage

Eoni Daflin rolled 5 using 2d6.  Turn Undead, Brute Lion.

[Private to GM:
This turns a single 4HD or lower undead.]

Sarah twists as if to avoid the lion, because physical avoidance is what she knows best.  Alas, such efforts will not succeed against this threat, and she takes the full brunt of its effects.


She gasps in pain and surprise, because she has never felt such agony.  Instinctively she shrinks away from the lion and, if possible, toward the rear of the party.


20:24, Today: Sarah rolled 8 using 1d20 with rolls of 8.  Saving Throw vs. Death Ray (12)

[Private to DM Pawn: . . . and try to hide.
]

Valthur winces in a combination of nausea and pain as the spectral lion's gaze washes over him. But the dwarf remains standing, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow as he grips his trusty axe.
22:35, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 10 using 1d20-1 with rolls of 11.  Save vs. Death Ray/Poison (6).

"Enough of your tricks, ghost lord," he calls, not waiting to see if Eoni's magic can hold the phantom at bay. "Put away these toys or I'll chop them to pieces!"
22:39, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 20 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 17.  Axe vs. spectral lion.
22:39, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 11 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 8.  Axe vs. spectral lion.
22:39, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 13 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 10.  Axe vs. spectral lion.
22:40, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 6 using 1d8+3 with rolls of 3.  Damage.

OOC: Uh, did I just tap the roll button 3 times instead of once?!?!? How embarrassing. Looks very suspicious, I'll admit, but I posted all 3 rolls here for you all to judge. Fortunately, all 3 rolls are good enough to hit AC6 (I need a 10), so I think I can legitimately count this as a hit! I'd propose if anyone else makes this stupid mistake, the first roll is the one that counts.

Marklin manages to avert his eyes in time to avoid the brunt of the ghost lion's corrupting gaze, but he is distracted enough to cause him a moment of hesitation and he is unable to land a blow against the elusive monster.


23:06, Today: DM Pawn rolled 8,8 using d20+1,d8+1 with rolls of 7,7.  attack.

23:06, Today: Marklin rolled 16 using 1d20 with rolls of 16.  Death Save.

05:16, Today: Aldara rolled 10 using 1d20 ((10)).
Saving Throw versus Death Ray.  Oof.

Versed in magic, but never mindful enough to take precautions against threats of a magical nature, Aldara is wracked with horrible, horrible pains.  She cries out, not quite knowing what is hurting, and withdraws with Sarah, almost falling over herself.

The halfling is mostly shielded from the ghost lion's gaze, thanks in large part due to presence of so many big folk in the tunnel.

Taerix fumbles for his bow and fires off a hasty shot, the result of which is little more than an expended arrow.

09:30, Today: DM Pawn, on behalf of Kane Taerix, rolled 6,6 using d20+3,d6 with rolls of 3,6.  attack.

09:30, Today: DM Pawn, on behalf of Kane Taerix, rolled 9 using 1d20 with rolls of 9.  Death Ray (6).

A wave of nausea rushes through the tunnel as the ghost lion catches all in its corrupting gaze.

Eoni is not powerful enough to turn the ghost brute lion and its disregards her divine invocation and gets to work seeing to its undying task...

The undead stalker springs forward and charges Valthur, both claws extended, one of which rips into the dwarf. Moments later, its all Valthur can do to avoid having the thing bite his head off, rolling to the side just in time to avoid such a fate.

Landing, the great cat bears its fangs and roars, its glowing orbs flickering with unlife.

[Private to Sarah: Sarah attempts to hide, but the ghost lion is still aware of her presence.]


OOC: Valthur takes 2 points of damage from one claw attack.

Ghost Brute Lion
AC: 6
HP: 17/23


PC         AC   HP    9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1  0 -1 -2 -3
Aldara     8   3/15   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Eoni       8  18/24   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Marklin    2  13/19   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Sarah      4   9/21   8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Taerix     1  13/22   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Valthur    4  10/26   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

[Private to GM:

  HD       9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1   0   -1  -2  -3
Up to 1    10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20  20
1+ to 2    9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20
2+ to 3    8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20
3+ to 4    7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19
4+ to 5    6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18
5+ to 6    5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17
6+ to 7    4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16
7+ to 9    3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15
9+ to 11   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14

]

PCs are UP!

Marklin rushes forward to engage the lion but is unable to land a hit. He curses his weapon, "A bastard sword indeed!"

He had been trained to fight with spear. How the Gods saw fit to bestow a boon of a magic sword upon him is only further proof of his privately held belief the deities have a dark sense of humor and only exist to inflict suffering and misery on their mortal thralls.

09:47, Today: Marklin rolled 5,2 using d20+1,d8+1 with rolls of 4,1.  attack ghost lion.

Taerix steadies his nerves and calmly fires another arrow, this time with much more success than before.

OOC: Hit for 2 points of damage.


09:53, Today: DM Pawn, on behalf of Kane Taerix, rolled 14,2 using d20+1,d6 with rolls of 13,2.  attack.

Seeing the lion single Valthur out as it's target, Eoni moved swiftly to buoy his vitality.  "May Avandra's Grace flow into you and keep you whole," she intoned, laying a hand upon his shoulder as she kept the dwarf between herself and the ghost lion.

She was disappointed in her failure to drive it away with her divine prayer, but Avandra would see them through this challenge.

OOC: Eoni Daflin rolled 4 using 1d6+1.  Cure light wounds, Valthur.
Valthur healed 4 hit points.

14:38, Yesterday: Aldara rolled 6,1 using 1d20+1,1d4 with rolls of 5,1.  Aldara Dagger (Thrown, Medium).
Throwing a dagger, but in vain!

Finding a little bit of resolve despite her pain, Aldara reaches clumsily for the nearest of her daggers, and throws it.  Still wracked, the mage's throw goes wide.

Sarah, believing that she intuited the reason for her failure with her darts, retrieves her club and tries to bash the lion on the side.

15:00, Today: Sarah rolled 10,4 using d20+1,d4+1 with rolls of 9,3.  Attack Ghost Lion (10 to hit).

Valthur winces as the specter rips into him again. Sweat drips from his brow as he counters with a strike of his own. He senses a successful hit, although the ghostly makeup of his foe makes it difficult for him to determine exactly how successful.

22:07, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 18 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 15.  Axe vs. spectral lion.
22:07, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 5 using 1d8+3 with rolls of 2.  Damage.

The adventurers seem to be making some headway against the spectral lion now, but the undead beast fights on, unaware of the overwhelming odds it now faces. It rakes Valthur with its claw and grabs the dwarf's shield arm in its powerful jaws and sinks its ghostly teeth through his greaves.

A painful wound to be sure, but not enough to take Valthur out of the fray!


OOC: Valthur takes 4 points of damage from one claw attack.

Ghost Brute Lion
AC: 6
HP: 6/23


PC         AC   HP    9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1  0 -1 -2 -3
Aldara     8   3/15   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Eoni       8  18/24   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Marklin    2  13/19   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Sarah      4   9/21   8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Taerix     1  13/22   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Valthur    4  10/26   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

[Private to GM:

  HD       9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1   0   -1  -2  -3
Up to 1    10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20  20
1+ to 2    9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20
2+ to 3    8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20
3+ to 4    7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19
4+ to 5    6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18
5+ to 6    5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17
6+ to 7    4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16
7+ to 9    3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15
9+ to 11   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14

]

PCs are UP!
This message was last updated by the GM at 23:40, Thu 03 Jan 2019.

20:39, Today: Aldara rolled 9,4 using 1d20+1,1d4 ((8,4)).
Throwing dagger at the scary cat.

Aldara throws, and bungles, another dagger.

Valthur grimaces as the sweat begins to sting his eyes, but he has little time to wipe it away. He growls in pain as the savage lion rakes him again, and replies with a score of his own, albeit equally non-decisive.

"Moradin, help me," he murmurs under his breath. "I cannot stand against this ghostly apparition much longer, but I dare not retreat from it now."

21:55, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 11 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 8.  Axe vs. spectral lion.
21:56, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 5 using 1d8+3 with rolls of 2.  Damage.

[Private to GM: Point of clarification, Valthur doesn't carry a shield anymore. He ditched it when he switched to the battle axe, which according to Labyrinth Lord is a two-handed weapon. He still has AC 4 thanks to the +1 chainmail. Lemme' know if I've calculated anything wrong (assuming I live past the next couple rounds, that is).]

Sarah swings at a what she thought was a wisp of the lion's ghostly body, but the lion's incorporeal state makes it hard to judge the target . . . .

07:32, Today: Sarah rolled 3,4 using d20+1,d4+1 with rolls of 2,3.  Attack Ghost Lion (10 to hit).

The Sister of Avandra once again laid a hand on the dwarf's shoulder to imbue him with the Mercy of Avandra's Grace.

"May Avandra's Grace sustain you in our time of need," she intoned, concentrating on their great need to overcome the forces of the Red Hand through this quest to return the phylactery.  She felt a glimmer of Avandra's gaze turned in her direction as the Grace of her Mercy flowed through her into the dwarf.  She felt as though a smile had crossed her deity's lips as she watched the epic quest they had undertaken to save the Vale against all odds.  The friends they'd made, the lives they'd saved.

When she'd first set out from the cloistered environs of her convent, she was unsure of purpose and direction.  Now, she knew exactly what needed to be done.

OOC: Eoni Daflin rolled 7 using 1d6+1.  Cure light wounds, Valthur #2.
Valthur healed for 7 points.

Marklin, with a powerful sword strike, and Taerix, with a well-aimed arrow, deliver the final two blows needed to fell the ghost brute lion. The semi-corporeal monster dissipates into a stream of fleeting energy, exiting the prime material plane with a hollow roar.

Moments later, the tunnel becomes deathly silent.

Now that the undead monster has been defeated, Valthur is able to access and manipulate the secret door...

The stone wall shifts to reveal a 15x25-foot chamber beyond. This room appears empty, except for a low stone bench set against the western wall. Carvings of undead lions on this wall loom over the bench, as if about the pounce on anyone foolish enough to sit there. A stone spiral staircase rises up near the northeast corner, and stone doors to the north and east provide additional exits.

Sarah drops her club and sinks to her knees, holding her stomach as if she were sick.

"Sarah!" Eoni exclaimed, hurrying to the girl's side.  "How bad is it?  Does anyone else feel a pain in their stomach?"

The Sister looked around to see if this were some side effect of the lion's attack.  She didn't feel it, but others may have suffered more seriously than she had.

"I've -- I've never felt anythin' like that b'fore," the girl gasps.  Slowly, the color returns to her face and she tries to stand.

Her effort is successful, although she appears to be in a fair amount of discomfort. "I dunno know what that lion thing did, but I don' like it.  Never hurt so bad
. . . "

"Maybe you should wait out here, dear," Eoni offered the girl.  She looked around to see if anyone else was the worse for wear.

"Not by herself, surely? Sarah, if you can't go on, I'll see you back out."

"There's no need to fear, Missy," Valthur offers. "Twas a ghastly apparition, to be sure, but it's gone now.

"Eoni, my thanks to Avandra for the healing. As for moving ahead, I say we stick together. There's safety in numbers."

Sarah hesitantly asks: "Is . . . is there somethin' that'll take the pain away?"

"Moradin's beard," Valthur exclaims, turning back to Eoni. "The poor girl's scared out of her wits. I know Avandra can heal flesh and bone like she did for me, but can she do the same for the soul?"

"I don't know about no soul; it just hurts."

"I don't have enough strength to make everyone feel better," Eoni admitted, looking over to see the sorceress slumped against the wall looking like she'd just awoken after a hard night's drinking with Marklin.  "We're almost there, though.  We just have to return the phylactery and then we can all leave.

"Why don't Sarah, Taerix, and Aldara wait here," she suggested, picking up the glowing club from where it had fallen and gently placing it back into her small hands, "and Marklin, Valthur, and I will try these stairs.

"If anything happens, we'll shout out and you can come running.  Or you'll see us running back to you.

"How does that sound to everyone?" she asked, looking around at the others with a forced smile.

"Split up the party!?" Marklin asks incredulously. Glancing back at the roughed up companions he continues, "All it's going to take is for a strong breeze to come along and do 'em in, state they're in!"

The fighter shakes his head in mock disbelief, "And, who's going to look after 'em if something shows up?"

Sarah takes her club and gets up.  "Not stayin'" she says softly, but with conviction.

[Private to DM Pawn: Just so you know what I'm doing: Sarah took 12 points of damage in a single blow -- more than she's taken in a single blow and enough that, until recently, would have killed her.

Adrenaline let her fight, but with the fight over, I thought it worth roleplaying the pain (and hopefully get some healing)

Relatedly -- I have a potion of healing, but no stats on it.  Is it a standard potion from the DMG?]

The Sister didn't feel pointing out the obvious would sway their decision.  If they hadn't all come with her, only half of them would be as beat up as they were.  She didn't have the strength to heal all of them.  If they ran into another lion like the last...

"All right," she sighed, waving at the spiral staircase.  "Valthur, lead the way."

Valthur nods and heads for the staircase.
"Very well, let's get this over with."

Catching her breath and looking to be in very poor shape, as if she were conscious during her earlier ordeal with the one razorfiend's juices, Aldara does not even have to say that she is not at all opposed to remaining behind.  Catching her breath, the sorceress offers, her voice unsteady, "I... You'll need me if we need to escape." She takes a swig from her waterskin, hoping to steady herself.

Taerix resumes his place, keeping one eye on Sarah and the other, so to speak, on the way they had come.

Valthur leads the wounded party away from the entrance chamber, up the spiral stone staircase. The staircase leads upward 15 feet to a domed chamber with stone ribs rising to support a central keystone overhead. Massive stone double doors block passage to the east.

"Let's try knocking this time," the Sister suggested of the double doors.  "Wait a moment, though," she added as an afterthought and bowed her head.

"Avandra bless us and guide our steps as we near the end of our long journey," she intoned. "Let your Grace fill us and give us the courage to do what must be done."

"All right," she said, looking determined.  "Let's go."

OOC: Bless, +1 to hit and damage for the next 60 minutes.

Valthur wipes the sweat from his face with a blood stained hand. As he does, he considers the likely outcome of their mission. "This ghostlord, whoever he is - if he can summon spirit lions like the one we just met, will have no problem killing us ll if he so chooses, especially in the sorry state we're in... and yet, what other choice do we really have?"

With a deep breath, and checking (hoping?) one last time for someone wishing to stop him, the dwarf mumbles an inaudible "Moradin help us" and knocks firmly on the stone doors.

OOC: Valthur will knock upon the door unless someone intervenes.

Valthur knocks on the heavy stone door and moments later the party hears brief scuffling on the other side, followed by a muffled voice:

[Language unknown: Riwi...Laheas rievfo?]

Then a different voice:

[Language unknown: Ame romithare wh derichres ingantion. Iv ardad.]

The the sound of shuffling feet and a metallic clinking sound.

Moments later, the stone door is thrown open and Valthur is now standing face-to-face with an obviously surprised, very bald, orange-faced hobgoblin in dark brown robes. Behind him, two similarly attired hobgoblins look just as suprised.

The hobgoblin's mouth hangs agape, its jaundiced eyes wide-set and alert.

Aldara hangs at the back of the group, wary of the goblinoids, but provisionally open to communication.

"Vaaaalthur?" Eoni asked nervously.  This had been an unexpected turn in their exploration.

At Eoni's prodding, Valthur does his best to negotiate with the surprised hobgoblins in their tongue. He attempts to look confident, but at the same time not overly aggressive. In the end, the effect looks more like he just finished drinking a mug of rotten mead, but he nonetheless carries on.

[Private to group Goblin: "Uhhh, we've come to speak to the the ghostlord. We have something that he may find desirable."]

Clearly outside his element, he turns a quick glance to Eoni for suggestions.

The robed hobgoblin at the door's surprised look remains; however his two companions behind him, further inside the stone chamber, surprised looks are replaced by one of interest.

[Language unknown: K ndearebut popo, Chatmi Prndceti...an iouestbut?! Int an lin prun ta as inckna ekel mo pami pond ek ti eve whear ithprosetoun. Waul Ntistiwheiou ac oulsheout...es...ivndha plou losa llsslo ha pofola for se...thoredout."] This coming from one of the hobgoblins further back in the room. The one at the door remains standing there, the surprised look not vanishing from his face.

The two hobgoblins in the room appear quite tense now.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:53, Wed 09 Jan 2019.

Sarah hand slowly moves to where she keeps her darts . . .

Hobgoblins finally registered in Eoni's mind.  Perhaps they shouldn't have been surprised, given their current quest.

"Valthur," she said steadily, "tell them we're here with a gift for the Ghostlord."

Taerix keeps his hands ready to go for his weapons, but out in the open where the hobgoblins can see them for the moment.

Master negotiator that he is, Valthur holds up a single finger to ask for a moment of time. [Private to group Goblin: "Ahhhh, one moment please."]

He turns to the others. "I told him we have a gift for the ghostlord and the ugly one in the back wants to know what it is!"

"Tell them it's a locked chest," the Sister said carefully.  "A gift from Azarr Khull, and we may only deliver it to the Ghostlord.  The Ghostlord has the only key."

She'd actually been worrying about the chest for a while now.  How was the Ghostlord supposed to open it?  They'd never found the key and she didn't know if bashing it open would damage the phylactery itself.

The problem of the locked chest set aside once again, they had more immediate concerns to address with these hobgoblins.

Valthur turns back to the hobgoblins, this time with a bit more confidence. [Language unknown: Pa m wh anla korbe Ntiithder Iounderea. E enbelo beeino ic a intnteticard verandlatint in ie lontnire. Ai the sti pe. ]

The two robed hobgoblins with the room turn and look at one another for a few moments, while the third, at the door, remains wide-eyed and alert, standing between the adventurers and his compatriots.

One of the hobgoblins int he room shrugs his shoulders and gestures with his head toward the door. [Language unknown: "Na lesit. Ai iv te any om Tahiusis isil, il te ho ar ntitch wi oerom, ndearence. Redad anyca icel ons lewiss Ek ome preos wiis. Setourwhi, derintshe..."]

With this, the hobgoblin rebukes his companion at the door, [Language unknown: "Foil, stiastome ssla oerbleeen unompa. Ulmi ss foris moom ntithawas andri, nteicales, lo plck iliner alss fiatdilo ofwila, m oveortsom."
]
The hobgoblin at the door looks confused for a moment but then complies with the other's request and opens the door wide. He beckons the adventurers to enter.

Although the chamber is empty of furnishings, it is far from unremarkable. The ceiling arches overhead, supported by stone ribs that run up the walls. Each of these ribs bears carvings of thorny plants and twisted branches. Between each rib, the stone walls are carved with the images of lions pouncing on and mauling human victims. Massive stone double doors stand to the east and west.

The adventurers are standing just outside the west double doors, though the hobgoblins have invited them inside the chamber, to await the Ghostlords arrival. The hobgoblins wear only simple monastic robes and do not appear to carry any weapons; however, all three wear a looped chain around their waist, the end of which is an iron skull fashioned in the likeness of a dragon.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:24, Fri 11 Jan 2019.

Aldara makes her way through with the others, but still near the back of the group.  She can not help grimacing at the artwork as she walks.  It was way too close to home for the enchantress, and whatever was harmed on her, for her to enjoy at the moment!

Given the change in circumstances, Sarah leaves her darts where they are.

"I think it's time for the chest now, Marklin," the Sister said as they entered the chamber.  It had rested safely in the armsman's backpack for their journey, but now it had reached it's final destination.

Hopefully, it would not also be their final destination.

Taerix quietly follows the others, keeping an eye on the hobgoblins without trying to look like he's keeping an eye on the hobgoblins.

Marklin looks inside the chamber and doesn't look too happy about seeing his companions waltz inside. He mutters in a low voice, "Great, so now we're throwing our lot in with the likes of hobgoblins?!" The fighter shaoes his head in disbelief, breathes out loudly, and comments, "This aint going to go well. Mark my words."

He turns to Valthur for solidarity on this point.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 21:34, Fri 11 Jan 2019.

"They're going to get the ghostlord," Valthur explains to the others. "We are supposed to wait here."


"I don't like this any more than you, my friend, but if this fillacatory somehow convinces the ghostlord to be on our side, then I guess it's worth walking into this death trap."

He turns to Eoni for reassurance. "That is the plan, right? This box is supposed to make him play nice? How sure exactly..." His voice trails off as he considers the very real chance that the ghostlord may prefer to simply kill them all and pry the box from their dead fingers.

Seeing Valthur enter the chamber with the hobgoblins in monastic robes, Marklin looks skyward for a few moments and whispers a few words, then shrugs and enters the room with the others. He takes a position nearest one of the robed hobgoblins, his posture tense and his sword arm always hovering within a few inches of the pommel protruding from his scabbard.

One of the hobgoblins says to another, "Tell the, Ghostlord, a visitor has come bearing a locked chest and is waiting here and will only release the item to the Ghostlord alone" The other nods in understanding and moves to depart, walking briskly toward double doors to the east.

The hobgoblin opens the doors only wide enough to barely permit his entrance, but curious party members might catch a brief, partial glimpse of the chamber that lies beyond. Natural light filters into this large chamber from somewhere to the east, where they might also see what looks like large stone teeth reaching up from the chamber's floor and also down from the chamber's roof. Then the door closes swiftly.

Several tense moments pass in the strange chamber as the two remaining hobgoblins stand in a curious, wide-hipped stance, the palms of their hands steepled at mid-chest height. The hobgoblins say nothing and remain as still as statues, adding to the tenseness that fills the dusty air.

"Marklin," Eoni said, prompting the armsman, "let's get the chest out."  She moved to help him, ignoring the hobgoblins.  She was surprised when they began speaking Common and hoped they hadn't read anything into the dwarf's comments.

Marklin releases a long, guarded breath of air and twists the corner of his mouth while giving Eoni an 'Are you sure about this?' look. Resigned to this course of action, Marklin assists with the task as instructed.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:36, Sat 12 Jan 2019.

Sarah busies herself pretending to study the carvings on the wall furthest from the hobgoblins.

Valthur shifts his weight nervously from one foot to the other while he waits.

The party waits in awkward silence while the two hobgoblin monks stand in their peculiar, relaxed by alert pose. This drags on for what seems an eternity, but eventually the silence is broken by the sound of heavy footsteps coming from beyond the double doors to the west, the door the adventurers came through.

A few moments later, the double doors on the chamber's east wall open and in walks the hobgoblin monk who had disappeared to send word to the Ghostlord, and behind him, a strangely attractive hobgoblin woman with red hair woven into numerour braids and fitted with tiny bits of metal and ivory. The woman wears form-fitting leather trousers over shapely legs and over this, an open-sleeved chain shirt that glows in the chamber's dim light. She carries a pronged staff in her left hand and a coiled whip hangs from her leather belt.

The hobgoblin woman breezes into the chamber, the three monks positioning themselves between her and the adventurers. She then takes in the assembled band of adventurers, her striking bright blue eyes equal parts alluring and predatory. She gazes at the party for several seconds, offering a playful, seductive smile to each. No member escapes this level of examination.

When her thorough examination is complete she says, "Welcome messengers. I am told you have come bearing a gift from Azarr Kul?" Her voice is velvety smooth and there is only the slightest hint of the rough hobgoblin accent in it.

"A gift for the Ghostlord," Eoni replied, nodding toward the chest Marklin held, "and a test for us, I suppose.

"We're not the messenger's you'd expect," she conceded, "but it was obvious which way this war was going.  We wanted to be on the winning side.

"Let us present our gift to this Ghostlord and we'll be on our way."

The hobgoblin woman's mouth slowly twists into a confident smile as she tilts her chin slightly upward, revealing the attractive line of her neck, around which is an elegant mithral choker.

"Yes, unexpected guests you are, but guests bearing gifts nonetheless." She regards Marklin for a few moments and then says to him, "Unburden yourself with that heavy thing. Bring it forward. I accept your gift."

Clicking her tongue once she says, [Language unknown: Rengis, i stpeur oun liteto ceeen noplmi et ven hoicli aielse.]

One of the hobgoblin monks walks toward Marklin, ready to take possession of the chest.

"I believe we have a misunderstanding," the Sister said, holding up a hand to forestall the transfer.  "We were told the Ghostlord was... very old.  As well, the description we were given was... unappealing.

"We were ordered to present this only to the Ghostlord."

The hobgoblin woman responds coolly, "Then yes, you may have misunderstood." She offers a smile and continues, "Any gift you have brought, from Azarr Kul to be given to the Ghostlord, I will gladly receive."

She throws her head back, her braided locks fanning out behind her like a regal plume. "I am Wyrmlord Ulwai Stormcaller, third in command of the Red Hand. Please kindly have your manservant hand over the chest, so that we may bring it to the Ghostlord at once."

She fixes her keen blue eyes on Eoni while awaiting a response.

"As you wish Wyrmlord," the Sister relinquished with a short bow, adding a nod to Marklin.

"There is, however, a message I was told to memorize for the presentation," she added.  "It's a bit complicated, with a dance."

Marklin holds the chest out for the hobgoblin monk though is not happy to do so. The hobgoblin monk comes forward and takes possession of it.

Wyrmlord Ulwai smiles confidently. "Very well, let's see your, little dance," she says.

[Language unknown: "La stee omut taithe ngnt! Ce o mitrisce,"] Wyrmlord Ulwai says to the monks.

"Very well," she said, taking a deep breath, shaking out her hands and feet. "It wasn't easy to remember."

She began slowly chanting out the words as she concentrated on moving her hands and feet in an unfamiliar pattern.  Although unsure at first, she finished the last with a practiced flourish.

"Ghostlord grant us your good will,
we're all ready with our skill.

Avandra's Grace and blessed will,
keep us safe and evil still."

[Private to DM Pawn:
Hold Person concentrated on the Wyrmlord.  Save vs Spells at -2.
Now we see who catches on...]

Wyrmlord Ulwai bemusedly watches Eoni perform her dance, though in truth her thoughts are what might lie within the iron chest. This causes her to let down her guard just enough to give the Sister of Avandra the time needed to weave her spell.

A look of recognition and subsequent rage flashes across the Wyrmlord's face just moments before Eoni completes the final somatic components of her spell. Motes of divine energy coalesce around Wyrlord Ulwai's mind, and try as she might, she is unable to throw off the mystic web that descends over her mind. Wyrmlord Ulwai becomes rooted in place, caught in catatonic state!

But, this ruse does not escape the notice of the Doom Hand Monks who quickly look back and forth between their leader and the adventurers. The hobgoblin carrying the chest lets go of the bulky item and it slams to the stone floor with a loud, metallic crash.

[Language unknown: Miand! Ieevha! Naekil caic miprhepl ta to Eronosie!] one calls out. The others grab the chains at their side and, with a quick flick of their wrists, have their Dragonchains ready for battle!

With lightning precision, they both target Eoni, striking her twice with their deadly dragonchains. One of which begins to coil around her arm quickly!

OOC: Eoni takes 7 damage and must make a Save vs Dragon Breath to avoid being grappled.

Doom Hand Monks
AC 8
HP: 11/11, 11/11, 11/11

Wyrmlord Ulwai Stormcaller
AC: 4
HP: ??/?? [Private to GM: 32/32] (Held for 9 rounds)


PC         AC   HP    9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1  0 -1 -2 -3
Aldara     8   3/15   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Eoni       8  11/24   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Marklin    2  13/19   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Sarah      4   9/21   8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Taerix     1  13/22   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Valthur    4  17/26   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
[Private to GM:

  HD       9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1   0   -1  -2  -3
Up to 1    10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20  20
1+ to 2    9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20
2+ to 3    8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20
3+ to 4    7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19
4+ to 5    6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18
5+ to 6    5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17
6+ to 7    4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16
7+ to 9    3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15
9+ to 11   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14


PCs are UP!]

This message was last edited by the GM at 23:44, Mon 14 Jan 2019.

Taerix was sure he'd be shooting something before too long. In this case, he readies his bow and shoots an arrow at the monk trying to grapple Eoni. Unfortunately, he just wings it.

23:00, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 1 using 1d6 with rolls of 1.  Arrow damage.

22:59, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 11 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 7.  Shoot the monk.

As the wyrmlord directs her lackies to engage, Valthur expels a sigh of relief. "Bad choice, uglies! I've been waiting for this."

He swings at the first hobgoblin he sees, and the result brings him a certain sense of satisfaction. He never liked negotiations. The melee in front of him now was definitely more in his area of expertise.

23:19, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 11 13 using 1d20+2 4 with rolls of 9.  Battle axe vs. nearest hobgoblin.
23:20, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 8 10 using 1d8+2 4 with rolls of 6.  Damage.

Oops, forgot the modifier for Valthur's axe is +3 (+2 for STR and +1 for the magicalness of the axe itself)... yes, I know, it's a poor fighter (dwarf) who can't even remember his own modifier. How embarrassing.

Oops part 2, forgot the +1 for bless, as well (making his axe +4 total)


[Private to GM: I think I'm at 17 hit points now, thanks to Eoni's healings in msg# 45 (4 hp, which I lost right away to the lion) and msg# 53 (7 hp).]
This message was last edited by the player at 02:29, Tue 15 Jan 2019.

Aldara gasps at just how everything plays out!  Then, she collects herself and readies a spell for the monks.  She attempts to call an illusion up, of a spider the size of a dog.

Phantasmal force to create an image of a dog-sized spider to "attack" the hobgoblin who is trying to grapple Eoni.

Eoni used her free hand to untangle the chain that bound her and dodged behind Marklin as the armsman stepped up.  She wanted to secure the chest, but it's latest handler stood almost directly above it.

She really hoped the phylactery wasn't fragile.

Marklin hurriedly draws his sword and rushes up to engage the hobgoblin Valthur just struck. The veteran swordsman plunges his blade into its chest, easily dispatching his foe.

"Woulda been nice to know this was in the cards, Captain!!!" he shouts over his shoulder while keeping an eye on the two hobgoblins now twirling the dragon-headed chains with great fluidity.


18:14, Today: Marklin rolled 14,7 using d20+2,d8+1 with rolls of 12,6.

"They're with the Red Hand!" the Sister shouted back at Marklin.  "Of course this wasn't going to end well!"

Sarah is practiced in reaching for her darts, and she grabs a couple and flings them at one of the hobgoblins.  She is cautious, to avoid hitting her companions -- perhaps overly so, as her missiles veer wide of the target.

20:39, Today: Sarah rolled 6,1 using d20+3,d4 with rolls of 3,1.  darts (9 to hit).

Taerix and Valthur combine attacks against one of the Doom Hand Monks, taking thhe hobgoblin down early in the battle.

Meanwhile, Aldara weaves an illusionary spider that is soon squaring off against another hobgoblin. For its part, the hobgoblin believe the illusion to be real and attempts to strike the spider with a flurry of blows, but Aldara manipulates the monster in a fashion that confounds the nimble monk.

The third monk rushes forward and leaps across the space between it and Eoni, attempting to kick the cleric int he face. Somehow, Eoni dodges to the side and the hobgoblin lands beside her and attempts to sweep her legs out from underneath her. Again, she jumps free of the attack, albeit barely.

Finally, the western double door crashes open and in rush three more Doom Hand Monks and behind them, two Doom Hand Clerics of Tiamat wielding heavy maces and steel shields emblazoned with the holy symbol of their patron deity.

[Language unknown: "Son adro weons thundewitble e taan Onsencughstr! Me shenc oneerethiugh setol eloun ha tiningiouour! Ururto sta eraoreion Aswhitla amethienchas altant!"] one Doom Hand Cleric shouts in their harsh tongue.

The other calls out in the Common Tongue, "Doom, despair and death await you all! By the Red Hand of Doom, we shall bring it! Surrender now, and we may see fit to allow you to live to see another dawn!"


OOC:

Doom Hand Monks
AC 8
HP: 0/11, 4/11 (next to Wyrmlord), 11/11 (Eoni), 11/11 (behind party), 11/11 (behind party), 11/11 (behind party)

Doom Hand Clerics
AC: 3
HP: 20/20, 20/20 (both behind party)

Wyrmlord Ulwai Stormcaller
AC: 4
HP: ??/?? [Private to GM: 32/32] (Held for 8 rounds)


PC         AC   HP    9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1  0 -1 -2 -3
Aldara     8   3/15   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Eoni       8  11/24   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Marklin    2  13/19   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Sarah      4  14/21   8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Taerix     1  13/22   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Valthur    4  17/26   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
[Private to GM:

  HD       9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1   0   -1  -2  -3
Up to 1    10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20  20
1+ to 2    9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20
2+ to 3    8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20
3+ to 4    7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19
4+ to 5    6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18
5+ to 6    5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17
6+ to 7    4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16
7+ to 9    3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15
9+ to 11   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14


PCs are UP!]

This message was last edited by the GM at 23:25, Wed 16 Jan 2019.

Marklin steps over the body of one Doom Monk to get to the one standing guard over the held Wyrmlord. With an efficient slash of his sword, the veteran fighter cuts down another hobgoblin and calls out over his shoulder, "The broad gets it next!"

"We've brought your phylactery back!" the Sister shouted, pointing at Valthur and not the chest at her feet.

Marklin may be able to buy them some time, but they needed something the hobgoblins might really be scared of.

Sarah draws her sword and dashes forward to aid Eoni.  She successfully nicks the hobgoblin, if barely.

19:47, Today: Sarah rolled 9,4 using d20,d8 with rolls of 9,4.  Attack Monk (9 to hit).


[Private to DM Pawn: OOC: You may recall that I drank that healing potion . . . my HP should be 14]

Taerix didn't wait for the clerics to finish their speeches. He nocks an arrow and lets it fly. He might die here, but he would take somebody with him....


22:55, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 7 using 1d6+1 with rolls of 6.  arrow damage.

22:55, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 16 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 11.  Shooting Cleric.

Valthur rushes to Eoni's aid, striking the monk who had attempted to kick her. "Let's see how you do against someone who actually fights back!"

21:53, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 8 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 4.  Axe vs. Hobgoblin by Eoni.
21:54, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 7 using 1d8+4 with rolls of 3.  Damage.

OOC: Good thing we figured every possible bonus at Valthur's disposal last round... he needed all of it here.

Aldara cries out in frustration and despair, but continues to manipulate the "spider"... She commands the unreal creature to bite the very real hobgoblin.

I guess the spider can "bite" the dopey monk who thinks it's real.

Marklin, Valthur and Sarah work together to dispatch the three hobgoblin monks that had been standing guard over Wyrmlord Ulwai, while Aldara and Taerix turn their attention to the enemies that just burst onto the scene from behind, through the double doors to the west.

Aldara commands her spider to attack one of the Doom Hand Monks and it scores a hit! The hobgoblin recoils in horror from the thing, but has enough presence of mind to defend itself and delivers a solid kick to the spider's chelicera. Aldara's illusion fizzles into little more than shards of glittering light and then to magic dust that falls onto the floor. The hobgoblin seems confused by this chain of events.

Then, one of the armored clerics at the door calls out, [Language unknown: "Oerearugh! In sti onel, poss tedta!"]

A second later, one of the Doom Hand Monks rushes forward and strikes Aldara with a heavy fist, causing everything to go dark for Aldara. Her legs give out and she falls to the floor, slipping closer to death's door...

Another monk moves to intercept Taerix, but the halfling proves too elusive.

Finally, one of the Doom Hand Clerics begin gesturing wildly, reciting the fell words of its evil deity, Tiamat. Throwing his hands about, the hobgoblin channels abyssal energy and calls, "Bow down before the might of Tiamat...we command you!"

Dark waves of energy radiate outward from the cleric.

Meanwhile, the other Doom Hand Cleric dispels the hold person spell keeping the Wyrmlord rooted in pace, by casting the reverse of the spell, free person.

The Wyrmlord slowly regains control of her body and she begins reciting words of magic as her pronged staff begins crackling as arcs of brilliant white light coalesce around it...


OOC: Aldara took 4 points of damage and is now dying and must start make Death Ray Saves.

Cleric 1 targeted Eoni, Marklin and Valthur with a Hold Person spell. All must make a save vs spells or be paralyzed for 9 turns.

Doom Hand Monks
AC 8
HP: 0/11, 0/11, 0/11, 11/11 (7 dmg, poisoned), 11/11 (Aldara), 11/11 (Taerix)

Doom Hand Clerics
AC: 3
HP: 13/20, 20/20 (near double doors to the west)

Wyrmlord Ulwai Stormcaller
AC: 4
HP: ??/?? [Private to GM: 32/32] (Near double doors to the east)


PC         AC   HP    9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1  0 -1 -2 -3
Aldara     8  -1/15   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Eoni       8  11/24   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Marklin    2  13/19   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Sarah      4  14/21   8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Taerix     1  13/22   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Valthur    4  17/26   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
[Private to GM:

  HD       9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1   0   -1  -2  -3
Up to 1    10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20  20
1+ to 2    9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20
2+ to 3    8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20
3+ to 4    7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19
4+ to 5    6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18
5+ to 6    5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17
6+ to 7    4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16
7+ to 9    3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15
9+ to 11   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14


PCs are UP!]

This message was last edited by the GM at 14:54, Fri 18 Jan 2019.

Marklin succumbs to the Doom Hand Cleric's command and seizes up, caught mid-swing, his face twisted in agony as he loses control of his body...

Valthur steps toward the wildly gesturing cleric, but freezes in place a moment later, his muscles locked in a wave of arcane paralysis.

20:27, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 5 using 1d20-1 with rolls of 6.  Save vs. Spells (10 or higher).

Taerix realizes he must stop the Wyrmlord! His muscles start to tense from the cleric's words, but somehow he fights through it and shoots an arrow at her. Unfortunately, the spell throws off his aim, and the arrow sails wide.


20:50, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 10 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 5.  Arrow at Wyrmlord.
11:05, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 20 using 1d20 with rolls of 20.  Save vs. Spells.

The Sister resisted the fell waves washing over her and pushed through to grab the chest.  She dashed for the open double doors just beyond the crackling Wyrmlord.  Out of the corner of her eye she saw both Valthur and Marklin freeze up as she barrelled headlong into the next room.

An errant arrow sank into one of the doors as she passed.  More reinforcements must have arrived!

Their only hope was to sway the Ghostlord to their cause.

"Ghostlord!" she shouted, veering off to one side, hopefully lost from sight of the Red Hand shamans.  "We of the Vale return your phylactery!"

OOC: Eoni Daflin rolled 14 using 1d20+1.  Spells/Staff (12), Resist Hold Person.

Sarah had moved up to defend Eoni -- a task seemingly accomplished through the combined efforts of herself, Marklin and Valthur.

When Valthur ran toward the clerics on the west, Sarah did not go with him.  Instead, she stayed with Eoni, and when she ran to the double doors Sarah followed her into the next room -- looking quickly for potential dangers.

[Private to DM Pawn: OOC: And a place to hide.]

Eoni and Sarah flee through the double doors to the east and they emerge through the throat of the stone lion's maw, into a large balcony built into the lower jaw of the stone lion's maw. Large stone teeth, each three to five feet high, ring the balcony's edge. The lion's upper jaw arches ominously above, the roof of its mouth fully fifteen feet overhead. The balcony is about 45 feet deep and 30 feet wide. Sunlight filters through the lion's maw and on the horizon, Eoni and Sarah see the blasted landscape that is The Thornwaste.

Save for the stone doors the two just came through and a rolled rope ladder near the balcony, Eoni and Sarah see no other obvious exits. Sarah immediately hides behind one of the large stone teeth.

Meanwhile, back in the adjoining chamber, Taerix is left to face off against three Doom Hand Monk and the Wyrmlord.

[Language unknown: Ineek, Pr fo Onewhiwhe. Pros om ut somhisoundin! Nde, Was thaounent p lo. Ivekorsta ul ilouwh lar earndeven hatne estwitnot rea Hopessno!] the Wyrmlord calls out, then she gestures to the stone doors Eoni and Sarah just fled through.

Two Doom Hand Monks and a Cleric swarm Taerix, but the halfling manages to parry away all but one of their blows--a solid kick to the shin.

Meawnhile, one Doom Hand Monk and a Cleric charge through the double doors with great speed. One strikes Eoni with its mace, but she manages to dodge the monk's blows. Finally, Ulwai spins on her heels, and strides through the doors. Her eyes narrow as she sees Eoni yelling out into the distance. With an efficient crack of her whip, the air fills with white hot-lightning. The whip snakes out and strikes Eoni, delivering a painful shock!

"Surrender now, and Tiamat may see fit to gift you with a moment of mercy!" she calls out to Eoni.


OOC: Aldara is now dying and must make Death Ray Saves (x2)

Taerix took 3 points of damage.

Eoni took 6 points of damage.

Marklin and Valthur are under the effects of Wyrmlord Ulwai's Hold Person spell.

Sarah is hiding.

Doom Hand Monks
AC 8
HP: 0/11, 0/11, 0/11, 11/11 (Taerix), 11/11 (Eoni), 11/11 (Taerix)

Doom Hand Clerics
AC: 3
HP: 13/20 (Eoni), 20/20 (Taerix)

Wyrmlord Ulwai Stormcaller
AC: 4
HP: ??/?? [Private to GM: 32/32] (Standing within double doors to the east)


PC         AC   HP    9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1  0 -1 -2 -3
Aldara     8  -1/15   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Eoni       8  5/24   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Marklin    2  13/19   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Sarah      4  14/21   8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Taerix     1  10/22   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Valthur    4  17/26   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
[Private to GM:

  HD       9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1   0   -1  -2  -3
Up to 1    10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20  20
1+ to 2    9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20
2+ to 3    8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20
3+ to 4    7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19
4+ to 5    6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18
5+ to 6    5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17
6+ to 7    4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16
7+ to 9    3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15
9+ to 11   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14


PCs are UP!]

This message was last edited by the GM at 18:10, Mon 21 Jan 2019.

Where was the Ghostlord?!

In a panic, the lone Sister backpedaled, calling upon Avandra's Grace for perhaps her last time on this earth.

"Avandra's blessing, all be well," she intoned, gesturing rapidly, "save your daughters break this spell!"

Seeing the immediate failure of her spell, she dropped to her knees, holding up the chest to forestall her execution as she shouted, "All right!  I have the chest!"

[Private to GM: Dispel Magic 20x20 cube past her attackers into the other room 120' range.  Ends ongoing spells, Bless and Hold Person on Valthur and Marklin.  She's trying to avoid Taerix, but she wouldn't mind accidentally catching any of the others in case they've got something going.  Hopefully the folks in this room think she's given up with a failed spell and don't realize the others are free until they get a swing or two in.

She's down to 1 first level spell slot.]

Going for his sword, Taerix tries to cut open one of the monks. Connecting, he thinks, It's a start.


20:57, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 5 using 1d6+2 with rolls of 3.  Sword damage.

20:56, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 14 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 12. Attack monk.

Aldara is.  Her body is attempting to prevent itself from making all of her a was.

04:50, Today: Aldara rolled 1 using 1d20 ((1)).
Saving Throw versus Death Ray.

PM

[Private to DM Pawn: From her hiding place, Sarah evaluates the security of her position an the feasibility of climbing down the balcony to the ground below.]

With Avandra's blessing, Eoni dispels the hold person spell affecting Marklin and Valthur. The two regain control of their bodies and are able to rejoin the fray!

Regaining control of his body, Marklin charges headlong at Wyrmlord Ulwai, whom is now occupying the threshold between two chambers. With sword in hand, the big fighter lumbers forward and swings with a powerful overhead chop.

Ulwai hears his footfalls just moments before he is in position to cleave the hobgoblin woman's head from her shoulders...and she jumps to the side and is struck with a glancing, if not powerful blow.

OOC: Marklin hit Wyrmlord for 4 points of damage.

While still paralyzed, Valthur hears the orders given by the wyrmlord to her servants, but is unable to lend any resistance of his own.

Then miraculously, through the blessing of Avandra, Valthur feels his frozen muscles begin to twitch. As control returns, he races to the fallen Aldara, sliding off his backpack while he does. He frantically unstoppers the potion of healing he's kept there and pours it into her mouth. "Come on, magical missy," he pleads. "Wake up and conjure up something from that book of yours!"

As he waits for Aldara to hopefully return to consciousness, he surveys the grim scene, spying Eoni on her knees. Suspecting she couldn't understand the wyrmlord's instructions to the others, he tries to rally the cleric's hope. "Don't give up, Eoni. She's worried you're going to alert the ghostlord! You must be close!"

OOC: Aldara gets my one and only potion of healing (saved all the way from April 2018)!

From her place of hiding, Sarah hears the information Valthur shouts to Eoni . . .


[Private to DM Pawn: OOC: Any chance of attacking the Wyrmlord from behind, now that Marklin has distracted her?

Also, am I right in thinking it would take a long time to climb down and re-enter the temple?  Asking for a friend.]
This message was last edited by the player at 15:15, Tue 22 Jan 2019.

Valthur pours the healing potion into Aldara's mouth and the enchantress is immediately revived!

Awaking to a flood of light and the sound of battle, Aldara sees Valthur kneeling over her, glass vial raised to her lips.

OOC: Adara heals 7 points of damage and is conscious!
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:23, Fri 25 Jan 2019.

Sarah quietly emerges from her hiding spot behind one of the large stone teeth at the edge of the Lion's Maw. She sidles her way toward the Wyrmlord, taking advantage of the distraction occasioned by Marklin's attack.  She is poised to strike, but seems to hesitate.  Perhaps it is a loss of nerve occasioned by . . . doubt?  Fear?  Wonder at why she left the safety of her hiding place?

Whatever the cause, her careful planning and skillful approach are for naught.


17:32, Today: Sarah rolled 10 using 1d100 with rolls of 10.  Move Silently (43).
17:35, Today: Sarah rolled 9 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 5.  Attack Wyrmlord (13 to hit).

Sarah steadies herself, and fortuitously finds a another opportunity . . .

Perhaps her mind is clearer because she is too committed for second thoughts to be worthwhile.  Perhaps the gods she has never found useful find use for her this day.  Perhaps the ghostlord acts through the girl.  Regardless, the Wyrmlord feels the full brunt of Sarah's surprise (and surprising) second strike.


10:41, Today: Sarah rolled 15 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 11.  Attack Wyrmlord, Take Two (13 to hit).


10:42, Today: Sarah rolled 8 using 1d8 with rolls of 8.

Doubled is 16.

Valthur attempts to speed Aldara's return to consciousness with repeated pats against her face. "Come on wake up come on wake up!"

His heart leaps when he sees Sarah appear from the shadows and strike the wyrmlord. Now if only he could get there to help!

Aldara's eyes flutter open.  She jerks, and then coughs violently.  Grunting, and spitting the rest of what's in her mouth out, the mage feebly rises to her feet, grasping with one hand as if expecting someone to help her up, or to find something to grab on to.

The confused and very pained mage attempts to weave some webs to hinder the Clerics that are harassing her group.

Web on those (bad guy) Clerics!  Aiming it in a way that causes the least amount of hindrance to allies.

Aldara regains consciousness and out of the corner of her eyes sees Taerix bravely fighting off a trio of Red Hand hobgoblins. The enchantress quickly composes herself and casts a web spell, trapping all three foes beneath a mass of sticky webs, leaving Taerix unaffected by the spell!

Meanwhile, on the adjoining Lion's Maw Balcony, Marklin strikes at Wyrmlord Ulwai and moments later, Sarah leaps out from the shadows and plunges her sword into the hobgoblin leader. Wyrmlord cries out sharply and nearly falls to her knees as a jolt of pain runs through the body.

Steadying herself, the hobgoblin stormcaller draws a magical bolt of lightning from her wand and directs it at Marklin. The fighter dodges aside but is still singed in the process. The air around the Wyrmlord is now charged and electric, her hair flowing about her head in impossible ways.

[Language unknown: Urdiek! Hiitfo a k! M es...ildiee....

Proer...sonev ion lantac arpr ofndle re nc th day!

Wasut stted wa estratati!!!] she rages.

The Doom Hand Cleric near the Wyrmlord rushes to her side while chanting, laying his hands on the woman in order to heal her wounds. Meanwhile, the Doomhand Monk nearest the Wyrmlord breaks off and attacks Sarah with a flurry of kicks and punches, one of which connects.


OOC: Aldara gained 7 hit points from Valthur's potion of healing and is now conscious.

Marklin takes 9 points of damage from the lightning bolt.

Sarah takes 2 points of damage.

Wyrmlord was healed for 7.

Doom Hand Monks
AC 8
HP: 0/11, 0/11, 0/11, 11/11 (Sarah)
6/11 (webbed--near Taerix, will break free in 7 rounds), 11/11 (webbed--near Taerix, will break free in 6 rounds)

Doom Hand Clerics
AC: 3
HP: 13/20 (next to Wyrmlord), 20/20 (webbed--near Taerix, will break free in 4 rounds)


Wyrmlord Ulwai Stormcaller
AC: 4
HP: -13/?? [Private to GM: 19/32] (Standing within double doors to the east)


PC         AC   HP    9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1  0 -1 -2 -3
Aldara     8  7/15   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Eoni       8  5/24   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Marklin    2  4/19   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Sarah      4  12/21   8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Taerix     1  10/22   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Valthur    4  17/26   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
[Private to GM:

  HD       9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1   0   -1  -2  -3
Up to 1    10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20  20
1+ to 2    9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20
2+ to 3    8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20
3+ to 4    7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19
4+ to 5    6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18
5+ to 6    5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17
6+ to 7    4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16
7+ to 9    3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15
9+ to 11   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14


PCs are UP!]

This message was last edited by the GM at 22:46, Fri 25 Jan 2019.

Unceremoniously dropping the chest, again, the Sister swung her backpack around like a shield.  Instead she pulled a scroll from a side pocket and dropped the pack as well.  Quickly unfurling the parchment she released the divine energies bound within, directing them at the three hobgoblins before her.

[Private to GM: Scroll of Hold Person.  It probably affects the lowest HD first.  Monk, Cleric, Wyrmlord.
Eoni Daflin rolled 2 using 1d4.  People held.]

Keeping clear of the new webs, Taerix switches again to his bow, taking aim at the trapped hobgoblin cleric. Unfortunately, the shot almost didn't leave the bow, sticking in the webs. He needed more time to really do this properly.


20:04, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 6 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 1.  shoot cleric.

As Aldara sputters to life and quickly lends her magic to the battle, Valthur pats her on the back. "Atta' girl, missy! You take care a them an let Valthur deal with the wyrmlord!"

Satisfied with the mage's health, the dwarf draws his trusty axe and returns to the battle.

00:50, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 21 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 18.  Axe vs. Wyrmlord.

00:51, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 5 using 1d8+3 with rolls of 2.  Damage.

Sarah is surprised by the monk's unusual fighting style.  She swings her sword into the hobgoblin's flailing limbs.  Whether the monk's arm hits her sword or her sword hit his arm is immaterial; the contact results in a rivulet of blood.


08:40, Today: Sarah rolled 14,3 using d20,d8 with rolls of 14,3.  Attack Monk (9 to hit).

4 damage total due to Bless
This message was last edited by the player at 18:57, Sat 26 Jan 2019.

Despite being nearly dead on his feet, Marklin presses the attack against Wyrmlord, his blade singing through the air as he deftly executes a series of feints and parries before scoring a telling blow.

"Time's up lady!" he says through gritted teeth.

08:25, Today: Marklin rolled 16,7 using d20+2,d8+2 with rolls of 14,5.  attack wyrmlord.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:29, Sun 27 Jan 2019.

Aldara throws a dagger at Wyrmlord Ulwai and her aim is true!

OOC: DM post. Hit for 1 point of damage.

The Doom Hand Monk engaged in melee with Sarah feels a magical force enter its mind and the hobgoblin's muscles soon free up as Eoni's spell takes effect.

Meawnhile, the enemies trapped within Aldara's web attempt to extract themselves out of the sticky mess, but this may take some time.

Finally, Wyrmlord Ulwai is now badly wounded and she begins to mentally calculate the probability of her survival and doesn't like the odds in present circumstances. Far too much is at stake to perish here. The plan would go forward regardless. No sense throwing her life away, here, in this forsaken place.

Still, she must rally those who will remain behind. Speaking in a strong, clear voice, she sings:
[Language unknown: "Urwewa na ma dist Yin Ecthi, Whiun Staanyatienc!
Ti Ekit ou ie Iemiad ess seis ro moro-usmo.
Nteca an thopreout ousiveter olie tic earderwhe lincur!
Thuic Niout Ard n Haur ardbutons i...
N il eaudayres!
Lathatant ave...
Ouher teul mi was!
Roore nt at ei Atpre Thlar t Ove!!!"]

Then, she utters a few magic words and disappears right before the adventurers eyes!

Her song inspires the Doom Hand Cleric battling Eoni. The hobgoblin smacks her hard with his heavy mace, causing the woman to lose consciousness!

Then, seeing the Doom Hand Cleric take out Eoni, the monks trapped in webs seem to hack more feverishly to affect their release.


OOC: Eoni was hit for 5 points of damage and is now unconscious.

Doom Hand Monks
AC 8
HP: 0/11, 0/11, 0/11, 7/11 (Held, next to Sarah)
6/11 (webbed--near Taerix, will break free in 6 rounds), 11/11 (webbed--near Taerix, will break free in 5 rounds)

Doom Hand Clerics
AC: 3
HP: 13/20 (Eoni), 20/20 (webbed--near Taerix, will break free in 3 rounds)


Wyrmlord Ulwai Stormcaller
AC: 4
HP: -26/?? [Private to GM: 6/32] (Disappeared)


PC         AC   HP    9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1  0 -1 -2 -3
Aldara     8  7/15   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Eoni       8  0/24   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Marklin    2  4/19   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Sarah      4  12/21   8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Taerix     1  10/22   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Valthur    4  17/26   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
[Private to GM:

  HD       9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1   0   -1  -2  -3
Up to 1    10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20  20
1+ to 2    9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20
2+ to 3    8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20
3+ to 4    7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19
4+ to 5    6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18
5+ to 6    5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17
6+ to 7    4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16
7+ to 9    3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15
9+ to 11   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14


PCs are UP!]

Seeing Eoni fall, Marklin rushes up to prevent the hobgoblins from savaging her body. More to the point, he strikes the hobgoblin cleric hard with his sword.


OOC: Hit for 7.


18:38, Today: Marklin rolled 15,7 using d20+2,d8+2 with rolls of 13,5.  attack Doom Hand Cleric.

With the weakening wyrmlord suddenly out of the picture, Valthur turns his attention to his fallen captain. Seeing Marklin strike convincingly against the Doomhand Cleric, the dwarf races in for what he hopes will be the finishing blow.

19:57, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 5 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 2.  Axe vs. Doomhand Cleric.

Instead, his axe strikes squarely against the cleric's shield, reverberating through his hands all the way to his broad shoulders. "Gah!"

Avandra watch over us and keep us safe...

[Private to DM Pawn: She should probably be at -2 unless the Doom Hand Cleric didn't get +2 to damage.
Eoni Daflin rolled 18 using 1d20.  Poison/Death Ray (9).
1 Success]

05:22, Today: Aldara rolled 10,1 using 1d20,1d4 ((10,1)).
Another dagger, Wyrmlord Bloke.

Bolstered by her success, Aldara throws another dagger at the Wyrmlord.

Now that Taerix has his bow confidently in hand, he again shoots at the webbed cleric. That's more like it... you don't need telepathy to see the satisfied look on his face.


09:20, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 25 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 20.  Shoot the cleric.

Kane's maximum damage, including the Bless is 7 points.

Sarah would deftly duck around her frozen foe and drive her sword into his back.



11:14, Today: Sarah rolled 20,9 using d20+1,d8+1 with rolls of 19,8.  Attack Held Monk.

I am separated from my copy of the rules, but I guess all my questions about whether I can backstab the held monk or get any other bonuses are now moot.

The adventurers dispatch a Doom Hand cleric and a hobgoblin monk with a few effective blows. In the end, all that remain are a pair of webbed hobgoblin monks and a cleric. Wyrmlord Ulwai is nowhere to be seen. Presumably, she left her companions to die, but there is no way to verify as she simply disappeared from sight in the middle of battle.

The three hobgoblins struggle to free themselves from the web, but the adventurers have enough time before they break free to dispatch these too, should they wish to do so. For what it's worth, the hobgoblins show no signs of willingness to accept surrender.

The more pressing issue is Eoni, who now lies on the ground, struggling to remain alive...


OOC: Eoni has made 1 Death Save

Doom Hand Monks
AC 8
HP: 0/11, 0/11, 0/11, 0/11 (Held, next to Sarah)
6/11 (webbed--near Taerix, will break free in 5 rounds), 11/11 (webbed--near Taerix, will break free in 4 rounds)

Doom Hand Clerics
AC: 3
HP: 0/20, 20/20 (webbed--near Taerix, will break free in 2 rounds)

[Private to GM: Wyrmlord Ulwai Stormcaller
AC: 4
HP: -26/?? [Private to GM: 6/32] (Disappeared)
]

PC         AC   HP    9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1  0 -1 -2 -3
Aldara     8   7/15   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Eoni       8   0/24   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Marklin    2   4/19   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Sarah      4  12/21   8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Taerix     1  10/22   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Valthur    4  17/26   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
[Private to GM:

  HD       9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1   0   -1  -2  -3
Up to 1    10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20  20
1+ to 2    9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20
2+ to 3    8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20
3+ to 4    7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19
4+ to 5    6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18
5+ to 6    5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17
6+ to 7    4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16
7+ to 9    3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15
9+ to 11   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14


PCs are UP!]

The Sister's life blood leaked onto the stone floor from a nasty, perhaps fatal, head wound.

[Private to DM Pawn: Eoni Daflin rolled 10 using 1d20.  Poison/Death Ray (9).
2 Successes.]

With the battle won, Valthur steps first toward the entangled hobgoblins to complete the gruesome task of finishing them off when he spots Eoni in a pool of blood on the floor. He changes direction and rushes to the fallen cleric instead. "Hold on sister. Valthur's here to help."

The dwarf does his best to stop the bleeding and bind Eoni's wounds where he can.

23:15, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 19 using 1d20-1 with rolls of 20.  Wisdom/first aid check to stabilize Eoni.
Much to his surprise, the stopping and binding works better than he expected.

As he continues to tend to Eoni's wounds, he reconsiders the remaining hobgoblins. "Marklin! See what you can do about those buggers in Aldara's web."

Marklin nods grimly to Valthur's request and stalks toward the webbed hobgoblins. His countenance a grim mask, he proceeds to dispense with each of the trapped foes, his jaw set throughout.

They shout out in protest but their cries soon mute to a wet gurgling sound, followed by silence. A few moments later, the hobgoblins hang lifelessly from crimson-stained webs, their heads draped at odd angles that leave little to the imagination.

Stalking back to his companions with bloodied sword in hand, he pulls out a rag and proceeds to absent-mindedly clean his blade while watching Valthur tend to Eoni.

"The Captain going to be alright?" he asks.

Taerix watches Marklin end the hobgoblins, knowing that he's out of Healing Potions for Eoni.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:58, Sat 02 Feb 2019.

Marklin's words hang over the battle scene as Valthur examines the cleric under his care. The irony of trying to tend to her wounds would be humorous in another situation. In this case, however, the mood is grim uncertainty, and the answer to Marklin's question only becomes evident to Valthur as he admits it aloud.

"I... don't know."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:05, Sun 03 Feb 2019.

Sarah scoots from corpse to corpse (particularly the clerics) to see if they have any healing salves or potions.

[Private to DM Pawn: Or treasure.]

A search of the two clerics and monks turns up a total of four potions, all of them healing potions. Save for the weapons and armor, all of it mundane but in good repair, they have little else of value on their person.

[Private to Sarah: The hobgoblins have a few silver coins a piece, totalling perhaps 70 sp.]

"I think these can help," Sarah announces as she reveals her discovery of healing potions, and she watches anxiously as the healing magic is administered to Eeoni.

[Private to DM Pawn: OOC: I see no reason to mention my discovery and acquisition of the coins.]

"Oh, Missy," Valthur cheers with a wide smile, taking one of the bottles from Sarah. "You've really outdone yourself this time!"

He unstoppers the potion and administers it to the cleric. "Come on now. Wake up, Eoni."

Coughing on the elixir, the Sister came quickly around.  She leaned forward away from the dwarf's cradling arm and looked around furtively, searching for something.

"Where's the chest?" she asked urgently.  "Did we lose it?"

OOC: Eoni Daflin rolled 6 using 1d6+1 with rolls of 5.  Healing potion.

"Of course we didn't lose it. It's still here," Valthur reassures the sister while nervously looking over his shoulder to verify the chest is indeed still within their possession.

The chest is still there. Unfortunately, for the Red Hand, Wyrmlord Ulwai did not have time to carry it off, so dire was her disposition.

"Is everyone else all right?" she asked, unsteadily regaining her feet.  "We need to find the Ghostlord and end this.

"Valthur," she said turning to the dwarf, "keep an eye on the stone for hidden passages.  I thought the Ghostlord would be at the top, but I haven't seen anything on this level.

"If you don't find anything, we'll head back down the stairs and try those other doors.  Keep an eye out for any more hobgoblins."

She bent to pick up the chest.  It was heavier, now.

"I got banged up pretty good, but I'll manage," the fighter says with some measure of stoicism.

Seeing Eoni struggle with the chest he moves to cut her off. "Here. Let me take care of that, Captain."

"Let Avandra grant you some respite," the Sister said, placing her hand upon the armsman's shoulder as he took the chest.

"Avandra lend this man your Grace," she intoned, "renew his spirits, ease his aches."

OOC: Eoni Daflin rolled 6 using 1d6+1.  Cure light wounds, Marklin.
Marklin healed for 6.

Taerix is looking a bit winded, himself, but watches for enemies silently as Eoni awakens and heals Marklin.

Valthur examines the stone work while pondering aloud. "The wyrmlord told the others to stop you two when you entered this lion's mouth, Eoni. She said to stop you before you got to the ghostlord. So I'm thinking he has to be here somewhere."

00:57, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 3 using 1d6 with rolls of 3.  Search for secret doors.

When he reaches the coiled rope ladder, he looks over the edge to see where it might lead.

Valthur finds no evidence of secret doors in the adjoining guardroom outside the Lion's Maw or the Lion's Maw itself.

The coiled rope ladder is secured to sturdy stone teeth but it is not unfurled at the moment. Glancing over the edge of the balcony, Valthur sees the approach to the Ghostlord's Lair. The same entrance they initially entered.

The sides of the stone leading down the lion's haunches are quite striated and weathered and it does not look like they would be too difficult to climb down, at least for one with any degree of climbing skill and/or agility.

Save for out the Lion's Maw, the only other exit the party finds is the stone staircase they came up to reach the adjoining guardroom. At the bottom of that spiral staircase, the chamber contained three exits:

1. The secret door leading off the sloping corridor where the party was attacked by Ghost Lions.

2. A closed stone door that led north.

3. A closed stone door that led east.

When Valthur looks over the edge, Sarah says -- without walking over or looking over the edge -- "I can climb down there."

"I thought the ladder might have been how they bypassed the lions we ran into," Eoni said in response to Sarah's declaration.  "It wouldn't hurt to see if it leads anywhere other than the ground."

"They were so worried," Valthur sighs in frustration. "That ghostlord has got to be close!"

He continues a fruitless search for secret openings while divulging the rest of his memory from the recent battle. "I don't suppose any of the rest of you speak the goblin tongue, so I'll translate. That chicken shit wyrmlord, before she bailed, kept talking about the powers of Tiamat and kept bragging about the Red Hand of Doom. Brindol first, and then the rest after that."

If unfurled, the rope ladder would clearly lead the stone lion's haunches to the winding path the party used to enter into the Ghostlord's Lair. The rope ladder essentially looks like an emergency exit, though it does not appear to have been used in some time.

"It'd probally show signs of use if it was for anythin' other then 'mergencies," Sarah says.

She peers up, instead of down -- though it is unlikely that there is anything there to notice, Sarah finds it interesting that the Wyrmlord's concern increased when she and Eoni came in this room.

"Let's see if we can open the chest," Eoni suggested, looking around for anything that might help open a locked iron chest.  "Perhaps they'll be drawn together once it's opened.

"Maybe pry it open rather than break it," she offered without much conviction.  "We don't want to break anything inside."

While Eoni locks around, Sarah goes to the chest and tries to open it . . .


But she fails miserably.


10:22, Today: Sarah rolled 96 using 1d100 with rolls of 96.  Pick Locks (45).

Taerix will sacrifice one of his daggers if it would help pry the chest open.

Valtur watches the others work on the chest while he considers other options. "Maybe there's a magic word we have to say. Like his name. Do we know the ghostlord's name?"

Sarah discovers the lock is quite complex, beyond her skill to open with finesse. Additionally, the iron box is quite sturdy and is of exceptional worksmanship. It is unlikely to be pried open with a dagger, but of course, anything is possible.

Nobody in the party recalls hearing the Ghostlord referred to as anything but that. Perhaps the Ghostlord had another name at one point, but none within the adventuring party have any knowledge of such things.

"Magic word? Ha!" Marklin spits out in protest. "Let's just heave that thing onto the ground and bust it open like a gnome whizzligig!"

"Then we'll collect up whatever sweet treats spill to the floor!"

Marklin moves to approach the iron chest, ready to execute his plan if uncontested.

OOC: Gnomish whizzligigs are human-sized paper mache mannequins, usually in the outlandish shape of caricatured humanoids and beasts, filled with candies and small prizes, designed to be smashed open during parties. They gain the name whizzligigs due to the fact they are also typically enchanted with minor illusions to make sounds and brilliant colors when struck with the fizzbooper.

"We're not going to smash it just yet," the Sister said of Marklin's destructive suggestion.  "We'll save that as a last resort.  We can't risk it being damaged.

"Let's go back down and try one of those doors.  But let me try calling him one more time.

"GHOSTLORD!" she shouted up to the ceiling.

OOC: Give that north door a try.

"GHOSTLORD....GHOSTLORD....ghostlord..._ghostlord..."

Eoni's voice echoes off the stone walls, but no acknowledgement or response is forthcoming.

In any event, the party eventually descends the spiral staircase and proceeds to the stone door along the Welcoming Chamber's north wall. The door is unlocked and does not appear to be trapped. Opening the door reveals a chamber...

This chamber contains a low stone slab of a table against the north wall. Clotted blood and less identifiable bits of tissue cling to the tabletop, filling the air here with a cloying stench. A stone shelf above the table is cluttered with jars, vials, urns, and stained surgical instruments. To the immediate right of the table, a square pit opens in the floor. More blood is splattered around the pit's rim. From the pit, a gore-splatted shaft descends into darkness beyond the party's light source.

Save for the door leading into the room, the party sees no other exits.

OOC: Looking down into the pit, the party can see 60 feet, with no bottom. Darkness beyond.

"I don't think he's down there," Eoni said, leaning over to peer down the bloody shaft by the divine light of her tiara.  "Does anyone see anything else in here?  Or anything we could use to open the chest?"

Sarah scans the shelf.


[Private to DM Pawn: And drinks another potion.
18:31, Today: Secret Roll: Sarah rolled 3 using 1d6+1 with rolls of 2.  healing potion.]

Valthur scans the room and takes a quick look at the table and shelf. He also takes a peek into the pit, his stomach tightening into a knot as he does.

"This place gives me the creeps," he finally concludes aloud. "I say try the eastern door in the next room. It's the only thing we haven't tried."

Valthur opens the east door revealing the chamber beyond...

Simple sleeping mats of woven reeds, eight in all, line the southern and eastern walls. The walls are hung with numerous strands of large scales strung on leather strips, with colors ranging from white to green to blue to red to black. Teeth and claws of ominous size hang from strips of leather overhead, creating a menacing false circle seven feet up.

These adornments pale before the figure crouched in the northwest corner of the room. Here stands an intricate statue of a great five-headed dragon with a stinger-tipped tail. The statue is painted in glaring color, the dragon's heads and hues matching the colors of the scales on the walls. The statue reaches nearly to the ceiling, its long necks arching up and then back down to loom over a point just in front of its raised claws.

Two doors lead off this chamber, both located on its north wall.

"Eight mats," Eoni counted.  "That's good."  She looked up at the five headed statue.  "That, less so.  Not what I was expecting here.

"Let's try one of these doors," she waved at the first door.

All of those scales had to some from somewhere.  Hopefully, far away from here.

Sarah looks at the scales.  Then, she pulls out the scales of unknown origin that she picked up earlier to see: Do they look similar?

The colored scales look quite familiar those she previously acquired, draconic in nature for sure.

Moving beyond the presumed temple and barracks room, the party investigates the adjoining chambers.

Behind door #1, the party finds a room containing nearly two dozen crates and barrels, each labeled with a word or term that seems to indicate its contents. The words and phrases are written in the goblin tongue and are as follows: water, dried meat, bread, and incense. Opening the crates reveals them to be correctly labeled. All told, there are barely enough supplies remaining to last a small detachment of eight soldiers a few more days.

***

Behind door #2, the party finds a room furnished as a combination bedroom and study. A collapsible cot heaped with soft, elegant furs and clean blankets has been set up against the north wall, next to a small, simple desk and chair. Several papers sit in a neat stack on the desk.

Always drawn to the paperwork, the Sister picked up the pile of papers looking for anything decipherable.  Likely handing them to Valthur if they turned up an indiscernible script.

As might a small child (which she sort of is), Sarah peeks her nose over to look at the writings as well.


[Private to DM Pawn: OOC: Read Language 80%, if it helps our cause]

The stack of papers on the desk hold the lyrics and musical notes for what looks like an operatic work-in-progress--a stirring tale that chronicles Tiamat's destruction of five good dragons who had tried in vain to defend a site sacred to Bahamut from her clutches. Despite its cruel undertones and frequent scenes of violence and torture, the opera appears reasonably well thought-out.

Save for some extra writing supplies and the opera manuscript, there is little else of value in this tidy room.

"Are we sure we wanta find this Ghostlord?"

If Taerix can reach the jars, vials, and urns in the other room, he is on the lookout for anything that smells acidic enough to hopefully get the party into the chest.

"If he's still here, he must be hidden somewhere up in that maw. That's where all the guards were and that sleazy wyrmlord seemed to think he was there somewhere. Maybe there's a spell hiding him."



"The girl maybe on to something. I mean, what if we just destroyed whatever is in the chest? That would take care of the threat of any alliances, wouldn't it?"
This message was last edited by the player at 06:40, Mon 11 Feb 2019.

"I don't know how the phylactery works," the Sister admitted,  "but the Red Hand is using it somehow to force the Ghostlord and his army to fight on his side.

"I'm still hoping that if we return it, he'll withdraw his forces from the field or turn them on the Red Hand.

"Even if it did kill the Ghostlord, his army may still be out there.  I don't know whether it would follow the Red Hand or just start attacking everyone."

She flipped the furs and blankets around to ensure there wasn't anything of interest.  This Wyrmlord seemed to travel light.

"Let's go back to the room with the stone seat," she suggested.  "The one with the stairs leading up.  We'll try to put the chest on the seat and see what happens.

"After that," she shrugged, "we'll try to break it open."

Taerix doesn't find any acid in any of the adjoining rooms. Meanwhile, Eoni flips the furs and blankets looking for anything else that might prove useful, but discovers nothing noteworthy.

Wyrmlord Ulwai apparently did travel light. The same can be said of the Doom Hand Clerics and Monks. Judging by what scant possessions left behind, it does not appear the hobgoblins have been here very long and did not intend on remaining here for much longer.

"All right," Eoni concluded.  "Let's set it on the stone bench and see what happens."

Placing the iron chest on the stone bench in the Welcoming Chamber does not produce any noticeable effects.

It is still very iron, very sturdy, very closed and, very locked.

"Break it open," the Sister relented with a sigh, waving the armsmen forward.  "May Avandra's luck be with us."

Sarah shrinks away.

[Private to DM Pawn: Hide]

Marklin complies with Eoni's command. He strides forward, iron chest raised overhead, and forcefully slams it down onto the stone bench, taking care to jump back at the last moment.

Sparks fly off the iron chest as it crashes noisily into the stone. The chest does not break open like a gnomish whizzligig, but it definitely took some damage.

Marklin grunts and moves forward to pick up the chest again. "Oh, she'll open up, sure as a Brindol strump..."

Catching himself, he comments, "Well, pleasant company being as it is. Let's just say I'll ger her open!"

The big fighter picks up the chest and slams it down, again, and again. After several minutes of effort, the iron chest is so mangled and mishapen that Marklin, now sweating profusely, is able to pry its lid open!

Inside are six large leather sacks, each containing 100 silver and 20 gold pieces. Now mixed in with these sacks are the shattered remains of what looks like the delicate remains of a wooden and silver box...now completely mutilated. Scattered amongst its shards is a single folded letter that smells of strange perfume. Finally, within the debris the party also finds copper chain neckace fitted with 20 large feline teeth and an attached leather pendant. Four lion's claws radiate off the intricate pendant. Each of the teeth and claws have runes carved into them.

The letter reads as follows:

Saarvith --

    Take great care with the enclosed phylactery. I need not explain to you what the Ghostlord would do if he knew where I had sent this little bauble for safekeeping. Hide it somewhere safe--perhaps it could be trusted to your dragon friend's keeping? Keep it hidden until Brindol is taken. Should it fall into the hands of someone who could return it to its owner, the consequences of our effort would be dire indeed.

                                                         -- Ulwai

Valthur examines the eerie necklace. "So that's what a facilitory looks like... I guess I expected something a little more substantial for all the trouble it's caused us."

A thoughtful pause ensues while he recollects Ulwai's exact words. "[Language unknown: ouramelin weha entverred ommi vorartith fiiou cawahi ivfo Thontetedson!t] That's what she said. That's goblin for 'after the other two before they alert the Ghostlord!'

"He's got to be up in the lion's mouth. Why else would she be so worried when you went in there? Maybe if we bring his little necklace up there with us?"

The Sister handed everyone one of the small coin sacks and said, "We'll take it up and try calling out again.  Maybe this time, it will draw him out."

She tucked the coins and letter into her backpack, then gently took the necklace from Valthur.  "Let's give it a try."

The party climbs the stone staircase yet again, files through the antechamber and into the Lion's Maw. There, they loudly call out for the Ghostlord.

Again, there is no response.

Valthur has noted the Ghostlord's lair is constructed of heavy natural stone and it's quite likely sound would not carry very far through such stone. Assuming the Ghostlord is even here. There has been no physical evidence of his presence thus far and, to the party's knowledge, they have explored all known passages.

"We must be missing something," Eoni said in consternation.  She put the necklace on to keep it safe and out of the way while they figured this out.

"I've always worried he might be with the army," she said, pacing the perimeter of the maw, "but as Valthur said, she was worried about us in this room.  That must mean something.  I don't think it was a trick because she said it in their tongue.  She couldn't expect we'd know what she'd said.

"He may only be able to appear after the sun drops, but again, she was worried now.

"Let's all take another careful look around the room to see if there's anything in here we're missing.  Scratches on the wall or floor, dust scraped away from somewhere, tracks, anything.  If you spot something, let Valthur know so he can take a look.

"Aldara," she asked the sorceress, "do you have anything to search out secret doors?"

Sarah looks in the lion's mouth for secret doors.

"Are you sure you wanna' wear that thing, Eoni?" Valthur asks as the cleric dons the necklace. "There be dark magics buried inside it, I'm certain."

He examines the teeth on the necklace to see if they correspond in some way to the giant stone teeth on the balcony. Then he takes a long look at the ceiling for anything out of the ordinary. He knows he is grasping at straws, but is equally certain that they must be missing something.

Finally with a sigh, he grabs the rope ladder and tosses it over the edge of the balcony. "Maybe you're right and he won't come out until sunset. Until then, I say we go down and look for tracks while we still have daylight. Maybe he fled during our little melee."

Taerix checks the roof of the giant maw for openings that lead higher into the huge lion. If that fails, he follows Valthur.

"I don't think wearing it does anything," Eoni said, looking down at the necklace hanging beneath the wooden symbol of Avandra.  "I just didn't want to break it.  It's been through enough already."

She peered out the maw and down between the beasts' mighty paws.  "The story did say he died down there," she said, "but how did the Wyrmlord find him?

"Why don't you and Sarah climb down and look around," she suggested to the dwarf.  "If you near the camp, let them know how we're doing."

The Sister continued to pace as she thought out loud.  "I'm guessing the phylactery was somewhere within the lion.  She came in with her men, found it, and sent it far away, forcing the Ghostlord to join their cause.

"She was able to find him."

She lamented the others not having saved one of the Wyrmlord's minions for Aldara to question.  Though waking to victory was nothing she'd quibble about.  It was a very near thing.

This was not happening as easily as she'd hoped.

Valthur carefully sets his feet on the rope ladder to descend it to the ground below. "All right, Missy," he calls to Sarah. "Let's get on the ground and see if we can find any ghostlord tracks, whatever those might look like."

Sarah and Taerix search the lion's maw for any secret doors but neither finds anything to indicate their presence.

Meanwhile, Valthur throws the rope ladder out the lion's maw and it furls down to ground level. The rope ladder is quite dusty, indicating it hasn't been used in some time. Valthur examines the rope and judges it to be quite sturdy and in good repair though.

The ladder leads down to the ground level entrance, back where the party first entered the Ghostlord's lair.

Failing to find anything new in the maw, Eoni went to the other two adjoining rooms and shouted out in each for good measure.

"GHOSTLORD!  We have your phylactery!"

Sarah climbs down, looking for anything of note as she does.

Valthur follows Sarah down the rope ladder. "Whaddya' see down there, Missy? Any signs of our ghostlord?" Once on the ground, he checks for tracks and takes a long exterior look at the entire structure to see if there is anywhere else that a prisoner might be found.

Taerix will only bring up the rear if everyone goes down the ladder. Otherwise he will stay up here with whoever else does.

Valthur thinks out loud as he inspects the ground with Sarah. "Maybe we have to put that blasted necklace on one of the statues... or one of those teeth in the mouth up there. Can a ghostlord turn himself into stone?" He kicks at a few stones in front of him. "Okay, it's a stretch, I know. An all-powerful ghostlord and he turns himself into a rock that looks like a lion's tooth? What am I even thinking?"

Sarah and Valthur climb down the rope ladder and see their own tracks from a few hour prior and those of the hobgoblins as well. Additionally, there are also, predictably, feline tracks in the area, but little else of interest. Standing in the shadow of the stone lion's massive head, they see only the entrance, through the lion's chest, they previously entered.

Meanwhile, back inside the lion, Eoni passes from room to room while calling out for the Ghostlord. These efforts prove futile however, as no answer is forthcoming. Finally, the cleric opens the door leading into the chamber with the gore-splattered pit and sees something that had previously gone undetected--the outline of a door in the chamber's southwest corner!

The door is cleverly constructed to at first glance appear to be a natural part of the stone itself, but it is now quite obvious. The door looks like it is meant to be pushed inward.

Though tempted to proceed as they were, the Sister asked Taerix to retrieve the others before they proceeded.

"Can you see that Marklin?" she asked, nodding in the direction of the now obvious outline.  Had they just missed it, or was wearing or possessing the phylactery somehow revealing it to her?

Taerix calls quietly down to Sarah and Valthur. "Hey, you two! Eoni found another door up here!"

Marklin nods in agreement with Eoni's query and responds, "Yeah. I see it."

Moments later, he comments, "We should go get the others..."

Then, he does so.

Sarah nods and climbs up.  Ahead of Valthur, if possible.

Valthur follows Sarah up the ladder. "I knew it! I knew there must be some other room up there."

Once everyone had gathered in the light of her tiara, Eoni nodded for Valthur to push open the secret door.

Beyond the secret door, a narrow corridor of worked stone curves away to the west, terminating at a closed stone door. Valthur might notice the exquisite, almost supernatural worksmanship of the corridor's walls. Curved stone corridors are quite difficult to accomplish and usually feature several joining creases and grooves where sections of wall come together. Here, none are visible. Fine work indeed!

No sound is heard beyond the stone door and it does not appear to be trapped. Presumbaly, this  door is likewise opened. Immediately to the open door's left, another closed door appears. To the right, a corridor jogs off to the north before turning west, continuing on for about 20 feet, and then, it too also terminates at a stone door.

No sound is heard beyond either of these two doors.

OOC: Doorway #1 is located immediately south. Doorway #2 is around the corner, to the northwest.

"Let's try this one," Eoni said as they approached the second door.  "We must be getting close, now."

Valthur follows Eoni's lead, giving the door a once-over for traps and then attempts to open it.

OOC: By "second door", do you mean the one to the west or the one north first, and then west? I thought the former, but may be mistaken.  Never mind, I figured it out thanks to the OOC section of GMs last post - the second door is the northwest one, right?
This message was last edited by the player at 05:47, Wed 20 Feb 2019.

Her magics dealing mostly in invoking trickery but not in purging such or even pointing out mundane secrets, Aldara can do little for her companions -- at present.  At least, not with her magic.

Physical assistance, on the other hand... That was do-able.  Should the Dwarf encounter any difficulties in opening this door, then Aldara will offer one of her untouched iron spikes to his cause.

Taerix is at the rear, as usual, watching for danger coming up from behind... especially that invisible Wyrmlord!

The second, northwest door, opens to reveal a room containing a low divan, several shelves of books, and numerous shelves and displays of all manner of lion-related artwork. Paintings, statuary, tiny coffers, pottery, sculptures, fine jewelry, and the like line the walls and shelves. Everything here is covered with a thick layer of dust.

"Let's try the other door before disturbing this room," Eoni suggested after seeing no sign of recent activity.

"We must be close," she added, touching the phylactery about her neck.  "This looks like it may have been his personal quarters."

Backtracking to the door immediately south of the first door they passed through, the adventurers open the stone door...

The door opens into a long chamber awash in sickly yellow light shining up from the glowing surface of a large pool of mustard-colored water. Some sort of large shape is floating inside the pool. The pool's rim is made out of dozens, perhaps hundreds, of lion's skulls that have been fised together with gray mortar. Shadowy alcoves line the north and south walls, three on each side, and to the west of the sickly pool stands a fifteen-foot tall statue of a rotting lion. The morbidly majestic figure's head reaches nearly to the ceiling.

A corridor seems to extend off the east end of the long chamber, though it is impossible to see where it leads without entering the strange, yellow-hued room.

OOC: The door the party opened is located in the long chamber's (~ 20 x 40 feet) northeast corner.

Sarah looks at the surroundings, including the ground.  The room with artwork was covered in thick dust, suggesting nobody had been there in a while.  This room appears . . . ?

Eoni paused to see if Sarah saw something she hadn't.

The long chamber is dusty but appears to be trafficked somewhat frequently.

Sarah brings the others' attention to her discovery. "This must be the way."

"Let's follow the tracks," Eoni suggested, agreeing with Sarah's observation.

Valthur leads the party into the room
"Stay clear of that pool," he suggests. "And the alcoves... and that gigantic lion over there. Come to think of it just steer clear of everything!"

"You really don't have to tell me twice..." A still-smarting Aldara assures the Dwarf.  "I've read about hungry jellies that like to lie in wait for passerby."

Valthur leads the party into the long chamber and, moments after all have passed through the doorway, six grotesque ghoul-like creatures lunge forward from the alcoves flanking either side of the room!

Cast in the dim-yellow light of the glowing pool, the slavering monsters howl with delight as they leap free of the alcoves. Two sinuous, salmon-colored tentacles whip wildly from their distended bellies as they press in on the adventurers with great rapidity.


OOC: Please check your hit point values below and let me know if you see any errors. I believe this is updated, but verify. Thanks!

Bonedrinkers
AC: 6
HP: 10/10 (Valthur), 10/10 (Marklin), 10/10 (Aldara), 10/10 (Eoni), 10/10 (Taerix), 10/10 (Sarah)


PC         AC   HP    9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1  0 -1 -2 -3
Aldara     8   6/15   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Eoni       8   4/28   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Marklin    2  10/19   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Sarah      4  15/21   8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Taerix     1  10/22   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Valthur    4  17/26   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
[Private to GM:

  HD       9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1   0   -1  -2  -3
Up to 1    10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20  20
1+ to 2    9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20
2+ to 3    8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20
3+ to 4    7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19
4+ to 5    6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18
5+ to 6    5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17
6+ to 7    4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16
7+ to 9    3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15
9+ to 11   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14


PCs are UP!!!
]
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:10, Mon 25 Feb 2019.

Sarah learned her lesson from earlier: when in doubt, use the magically enhanced club.

She swings the enchanted piece of woods and connects solidly with the ghoul-like creature's ribs.


10:28, Today: Sarah rolled 12,3 using d20+1,d4+1 with rolls of 11,2.  Round 1 (10 to hit).

OOC: The HPs you have for me are consistent with my records.

"In the name of Avandra!" Eoni shouted, fumbling for the wooden symbol about her neck without getting it tangled with the phylactery.  "Leave us be!

"We are here to see the Ghostlord!" she added optimistically.

[Private to GM: Eoni Daflin rolled 9 using 2d6.  Turn Undead, Bonedrinkers.
Eoni Daflin rolled 11 using 2d6.  Turn Undead HD, Bonedrinkers.
Good rolls, hope they're undead.  Turns 11HD worth of 7HD creatures.]

OOC: Eoni should be at 4 HP.

Taerix tries to duck those tentacles as he swings in with his sword. He doesn't want this giant lion to be his tomb.

18:45, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 5 using 1d6+1 with rolls of 4.  sword damage.

18:43, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 17 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 16.  sword attack.

"Moradin's beard! I knew it! Didn't I say watch out for the alcoves?" With a flash of his axe, Valthur chops decisively against the nearest of the tentacled ghouls.

OOC: My notes match yours - Valthur's at 17 hp... for now (gulp).

00:09, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 10 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 7.  Axe vs. Bonedrinker.
00:09, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 10 using 1d8+3 with rolls of 7.  Damage.

Aldara was at -1 a while back.  Ought to be at 6, now!

Anticipating a world of pain, Aldara prepares herself.  She invokes a spell of protection around herself.

Casting protection from evil.

Having expected an ambush, Marklin has his broad sword out in a hurry and thrusts deeply at the first bonedrinker that draws near. His blade bites deeply and the strange thing collapses to the ground just as quickly, though not with emitting a horrific death howl.


18:11, Today: Marklin rolled 10,10 using d20+2,d8+2 with rolls of 8,8.  attack.

Marklin and Valthur make quick work of two bonedrinkers while Eoni turns the remaining four. Howling in agony upon hearing holy words and feeling a divine presence wash over them, the undead horrors turn on their heels and flee back into the alcoves they had been lurking inside prior to the adventurers arrival.

Cowering within these dark spaces, the party occasionally hears the creatures' guttural whimpers and unsettling throat clearings.


OOC:

Bonedrinkers
AC: 6
HP: 0/10 (Valthur), 0/10, 10/10 (Aldara), 10/10 (Eoni), 5/10 (Taerix), 7/10 (Sarah)


PC         AC   HP    9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1  0 -1 -2 -3
Aldara     8   6/15   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Eoni       8   4/28   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Marklin    2  10/19   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Sarah      4  15/21   8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Taerix     1  10/22   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Valthur    4  17/26   7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
[Private to GM:

  HD       9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1   0   -1  -2  -3
Up to 1    10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20  20
1+ to 2    9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20
2+ to 3    8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20
3+ to 4    7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19
4+ to 5    6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18
5+ to 6    5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17
6+ to 7    4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16
7+ to 9    3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15
9+ to 11   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14


PCs are UP!!!
]

"Leave them," the Sister declared, looking to see that everyone was all right.  "Let's stick with the tracks.  We don't want to stir the Ghostlord's ire by destroying his guard any more than we must."

Valthur gives Marklin a concerned glance as if to say I'd rather take care of the rest of these creepy things first, but leads the team along the tracks toward the eastern corridor without audible protest. "Stay clear of the pool," he reminds the others.

This area appears to be heavily trafficked and there are signs of movement throughout this long chamber. No easily discernible tracks lead to any one particular place.

Immediately east of the long hall, a short arched corridor leads into an oval-shaped chamber, empty except for a single massive sphere of polished black stone that floats over a low dais. The stony sphere is about four feet in diameter, and whirling streaks of pale orange vapor orbit the stone in a frenzy of activity. Closer observation reveals that there are seven different orbiting shapes...each of which almost resembles a distorted ghostly lion.

Save for the doorway the adventurers entered and the short tunnel leading into the oval chamber with the floating stone, the party does not notice any other entrances or exits.

Eoni stood before the sphere and called out, "Ghostlord!  We have come to return your phylactery!"  As an afterthought, she took it off and proffered it to the ominous stone.

She wasn't sure what she was expecting of the sphere, but as she'd called upon him so many times already, she felt compelled to make it work at least once.

Tense moments pass as the party awaits a response to Eoni's call, the swirling yellow pool casting strange shadows on the walls, the stench of death thick in the long chamber. After what seems an eternity, the adventurers hear the rumble of stone upon stone, as a secret door along the chamber's south wall slides open.

The chamber grows unnaturally cold, and then a terrible figure strides into the room. The creature's flesh is yellow and shrunken, clinging to his bones in ragged tatters, and pale green flames dance where his eyes should be. The ancient figure wears old, tattered armor made from lion pelts.

"Phylactery?" he hisses in a thin, death-wracked voice. "You dare trespass in my domain speaking of my phylactery?"

Upon seeing the adventurers in the adjoining chamber, the Ghostlord cocks his head curiously and begins to scrutinize each in turn. Then, his eyes settle upon the strange necklace now resting atop the omenous stone.

"My phylactery!" his voice now rising uncomfortably. "Hand it over at once!!!" he demands while stalking closer, his body shifting steadily across the floor but making no sound...

Sarah shrinks away as the Ghostlord shuffles into the chamber, and urgently looks for a place to hide.

[Private to DM Pawn: Hide, even if it's in a sub-optimal place.  (Sarah distrusts magic and is frightened of the supernatural.)]

Suddenly weak in the knees, Eoni carefully retrieved the necklace and turned to face the deathly visage.  "We come…" she croaked before clearing her throat and starting over more resolutely.  "We of the Vale have recovered your phylactery from the Red Hand.

"This war was not of our making.  Was not of your making.  We have come to return what is yours."

She leaned forward with a bow, holding out the phylactery with head down.

Taerix joins Eoni quickly, hoping that if the Ghostlord takes a swing at her that he might somehow get in the way and take the blow himself.

Valthur's hands strain against the handle of his axe. He suspects if the ghostlord chooses to lash out against any of them, their chance of survival would be minuscule. But surely he wouldn't attack the very party who offered him his prized necklace, would he? There must be some honor in his wretched soul, mustn't there?

With skeletal hand outstretched, the deathly, robed figure strides toward Eoni with a purposeful gait. The green flames flickering in his eye sockets flare brighter with each step, those spectral orbs trained on the phylactery Eoni now holds before her.

"Yes, yes," he intones, "you have chosen well to return what is rightfully mine. And those who attempted to rob me...shall pay..."

The Ghostlord draws to within arm's reach and gingerly takes the proffered phylactery, his bony fingers tremoring as they grasp around the strange rune-carved amulet. Holding it aloft proudly, a cruel smile forms on his face, his rotten and broken teeth exposed for all to see. Throwing his head backward, the Ghostlord cackles in what begins as a dry, controlled tone but what ends in unbridled, evil pleasure.

"Mine...yes. We are back where we belong...all previous debts, deals and bargains, null and void!" he says with finality.

The Ghostlord appears to be talking to himself, though a few of the bonedrinkers have now emerged from their alcoves and watch the scene with great interest. The Ghostlord seems momentarily unaware of the party's presence and he whispers something unintelligible.

Seeing the Ghostlord momentarily distracted, the Sister turned quietly and tried to herd the others back out of the room.  Mission accomplished, the odds of catastrophe increased the longer they lingered.

She'd been expecting the extirpation of his deal with the Red Hand, but the way he'd said it...  All debts, deals, and bargains, null and void.  What else had they nullified?

The Sister was now worried they may have unleashed much more than she'd bargained for.

With hands still clenched on the handle of his trusty axe, Valthur slowly backpedals toward the exit.

Marklin nervously grips the pommel of his sword, uncomfortable with the prospect of handing anything over to the hideous thing calling itself the Ghostlord. The fighter is no great judge of character, this point made patently clear by a string of instances he would just as soon forget, but it was pretty plain to his simple mind the Ghostlord was the epitome of pure chaos.

Glancing over at Eoni and Valthur, the Marklin takes his cue and likewise slowly retreats from the long hall, back through the secret door leading to the tunnel and ultimately, the exit from this dread place of necromantic art.

Sarah has no intention of being left alone.  She scurries from her hiding place to exit with the others.

[Private to DM Pawn: Sticking to the shadows as much possible].

Taerix refuses to be left behind, and accompanies the others out of the room.

Taking advantage of the Ghostlord's preoccupation with its own dark designs, the adventurers retreat from the strange vault and file quickly through the secret door from whence they came. The bonedrinkers observe their movements with great interest, but seemingly give no chase. Their feet carrying them faster with each step, the party is soon hastily making their way out to fading daylight and the hot, dry air of the Thornwaste. In the distance, the party sees spectral lions converging upon the Ghostlord's lair, seeminglky drawn to their master now that he is in possession of his cherished phylactery once more. Like the bonedrinkers, the ghost lions pay the adventurers no heed and instead are drawn into the great stone lion's maw, where they disappear inside and are no longer seen.

Their mission complete, the adventurers proceed as quickly as possible toward their rendezvous point, hopeful the Tiri Kitor elves have remained true to their word and will be awaiting their return. Though they have no way of knowing so, in the annals of future sages, this day would be accounted as a pivotal moment in the War of Elsir Vale. On this day, through their actions, the adventurers' return of the Ghostlord's philactery gives hope to the people of Brindol and beyond. At this very moment, the Red Hand has blazed through much of the western vale and presses steadily toward the walls of Brindol. Now robbed of the bargaining piece he had to hold against the Ghostlord, Wyrmlord Kul must proceed with the planned invasion without the aid of the undead host that would have most assuredly tipped the scales decidely in the Hand's favor.

But the war is far from over, and much still lies in the balance if the Horde's advance is to be thwarted. But, at least some small shred of hope remains for the people of Elsir Vale, and hope is greatly needed in the coming days. As the sun sets on the blasted sun-drenched landscape of the Thornwaste, miles away, thousands of small bonfires now blaze within eyesight of the walls of Brindol, her forces gazing out in the distance, wondering if this night will be their last...