"Ack!"  Zaiya's head snaps back as the debris cracks into it--slightly singed and seeing red, but it didn't look like any serious hurt despite the burning nature.

Her eyes flashed angrily, but she turns her attention to Moira then, and smiles sweetly.

"Oh my, that is absolutely what we need to tamper with here~"  She singsonged.  "They're bound to this place by the rune Ild, chasing them and fighting them is a waste of time, they explode when disrupted.  If we wreck the anchor though..."

Her grin was far more toothy than most.

"Well, I can avenge my poor forehead.  Lead on!"

"They do what?!" Moira gawped at the very idea.  Magic... why did magic have to be so damn weird?!  She shook it off all the same and waved the others along to follow along where the so-called Anchor had done quite a number on the poor building it landed on ahead.  "This'll be up t'you and U'lin t'figure out, near as I can tell.  Don't think swords and arrows'll be much use, but I'll see 'bout keepin' th'critters at bay while y'work."

Moving down the street, one can feel the heat from the flames and smoke choking the nearby buildings. Quick feet and the keen eyes of Moira and U'lin swiftly lead the party to what seems to be a collapsed butchery. Nested within, over ten feet high, is an enormous boulder streaked with metallic rings and etched in giant runes. Waves of heat pour of the projectile, far more intense than the flames before. Zaiya immediately recognizes this as the probable anchor and source of the magmins destroying the town.

As the party approaches, more giggles and chatter echo from around. U'lin in particular senses the growing presence of more and more entities, as smokey faces and fiery eyes take brief shape within the surrounding buildings. When the group gets within 30 feet of the boulder, the giggles turn angry, even malicious. Smiles turn to scowls. More and more of the magmins gather - the more keen-eyed of the party counts at least a dozen gradually closing in on the group's position.

Disabling the anchor will require 4 successful DC 14 Arcana/Religion checks/3rd level casts of Dispel magic. Only someone proficient in Arcana or Religion can attempt these checks. With each attempt, the boulder's intense heat will cause 2d6+2 fire damage to the person performing the check, DC 12 Con save for half.

Naturally, should the group attempt this the surrounding magmins will turn hostile. As it is, they are simply watching. The party may make any preperations they wish before attempting to deal with the anchor, though note that every round spent on preperation, the more magmins will gather.

"Right, no time like the present!"  Zaiya claps her hands together.  "Leave this to me, I can probably handle this within a short time, and the fire's just hot, not, you know, horribly scorching for me."

She eyes the stone warily, but between her defenses and her innate resistance...  It should be fine, right?

U'lin nodded in agreement with Zaiya's suggestion, but didn't make move to depart or such.  "Though we could try it together, for swiftness, before the magmin gather more.  Give me a moment to try once before they see, then come join in dismantling the anchor.  Claire and Moira protecting us should be sufficient, with their excellent skills, and you working on the anchor - I'll either try to help as well, or help defend as we need."

The firbolg half-closed his eyes as he held the holy symbol around his neck, whispering softly in quick prayer for guidance, then smiled at his allies.  When they nodded readiness, he smiled wanly... and faded from sight as he stepped aside...

---

OOC:
U'lin's plan is cast Guidance on himself (std), use his 1-round invisibility(bon), and move to the anchor without drawing attention/starting issues.
If he can make his check, it will be with guidance.

U'lin will then in regular rounds either try his chances or help defend as needed.

OOC: The guidance is fine but the invisibility will cause an immediate reaction.

It does not seem like anyone else is doing extra buffs, so I'll start the combat like this! (U'lin you can assume you are invisible and in front of the Anchor when combat starts. Gonna draw up a map...

As U'lin vanishes the giggles stop. Faces in the flames frown, as angry red eyes step out from the smoke and fire. A cluster of magmins- three, four, ten-!

Behind, the anchor pulses with a latent energy...

Round 1 - Operation Firebreak

Combat Map
Lighting Conditions: Bright
Terrain: Rubble, Smoke

LINK TO MAP

You may assume you start anywhere inside the green square. U'lin you start your turn invisible and next to the boulder

The well still has some water, but its deep and requires an Action to draw a bucket from. Curiously, the rope has yet to burn or break.

Initiative:
26  - Moira (25/33) [Darkvision] <<<<
22 - Magmins Red (?/?)
13  - Magmins Blue (?/?)
8  - Claire (34/39) []
7  - U'lin (35/38) [
4 - Zaiya (32/32) []
0  - Flame Anchor (0/4 Checks Complete) []

This message was last edited by the GM at 17:37, Fri 11 Dec 2020.

"Here they come!  Pick th'nearest ones off!" Moira gave a warning call amid the looming of the Magmins.  Before one could even take a step toward them, however, she swiveled about with a swift pull of her crossbow brought to bear and plucked a bolt squarely into a distant critter at its rooftop perch.

Bonus Action: Steady Aim
Moira's speed drops to 0 until the end of this turn and she gains Advantage on her next attack.

Action: Crossbow vs. Magmin T-7 w/Advantage
Moira Ruadh rolled 23 using 1d20+7

Damage: 18
Crossbow - Moira Ruadh rolled 8 using 1d8+3
Sneak Attack - Moira Ruadh rolled 10 using 3d6

"Right!  I'll leave this all to you folks then!"  Zaiya whips out her athame and starts backing off.  "Nice...  Easy...  And... CHEESE IT!"

And with that, she breaks off for a run towards the pillar, scratching at it with her magical blade in the areas that looked about right to shut this whole thing down.

Given how it pulsed and twisted and flickered, it seemed she wasn't wholly wrong!  Though she did spit out several curses as even her fiendish resilience faltered before the burns.

OOC: Zaiya moves to Q or R 14--whichever is closer--and takes her action to scribble on the anchor.  She succeeds the Arcana DC to give us one success, but fails her con save and takes 5 Fire Damage after resistance

U'lin emerged to sight, holding a smithing hammer - perhaps not the mightiest of sledges, but a comfortable tool in his grip.  The priest looked behind the pulses of the anchor's surges, trusting in his divine bond, and sussing out the sensitive locations in the magical construction.  When he caught a moment of energies coalescing at a critical point, he smashed a precise blow against the nexus, scattering the energy.

Outwards.  A painful blast of flame washed over U'lin, and he winced as he recoiled.

The movement did bring to line of sight -between tears to wash away the raw pain- of a pair of magamen.  Another movement and draw of divine power created the trebuchet of Gond, and it slammed a golden blow upon the nearest of the two.

"Two more on the east!"

---

OOC:
Action: disable the anchor
20:14, Today: U'lin rolled 20,4 using d20+3,d4.  Religion.
Success - 24 on a dirty20

20:25, Today: U'lin rolled 10 using 2d6+2.  fire.
Ouch.
20:25, Today: U'lin rolled 10 using 1d20+3.  Con Save.
Ouch!

---

Mv: S12 - looks like LOS through the hole at magmin Y11
Then return to T12

Bon: Spiritual weapon at Y11.
20:48, Today: U'lin rolled 16,10 using 1D20+7,d8+4.  Spiritual Wep.
AC16, dmg10(force)

Moira's bolt immediately snipes one of the magmins - and the creatures explodes in an eruption of flame and molten flesh.

The horde screeches and rushes forward, flinging themselves haphazardly through the air at the intruders!

Four of them swarm Moira, dashing as fast as their smaller legs can carry. The nearest two actually leap off the ground to fling their bodies at the halfling's skulls, eyes blazing with malice. The sheer heat of the summoned creature's molten bodies causes the looser bits of Moira's attire to immediately burst in the flame (Attacks on Moira - hits AC 22 for 10 fire damage, 2 after resistance and Uncannny Dodge, AC 17 for 5 fire damage, 2 after resistance. Moira is now on Fire!).

The other two skirt around the well, trying to get to Claire. The furthest one barely makes it up to the paladin, the second leaping down to try and tackle her in the shoulder - yet falls flat (hits AC 15, miss).

The other group of magmins, seeing the threat to their "anchor", attempt to swarm U'lin and Zaiya as the pair begin to break the bindings on the stone. U'lins conjured weapon destroys one, but the remaining four manage to get close. Two of the group are fleet enough to lunge at the cleric and wizard in turn (one attack against U'lin, hits AC 13, miss. one attack against Zaiya, hits AC 22 for 8 fire damage, and Zaiya is on Fire!).

As the spellcasting duo examines the stone, U'lins keen eyes and Zaiya's keen intellect discern the minute flaws in the wards and runes that cover the giant's weapon. A tweak here, a cut there and...there is a sudden burst of heat and light, scalding to touch (U'lin and Zaiya both take the fire damage for failing their Con save), and over half the runes on the stone turn dark. As if in response, the stone begins to shake and tremble, an odd humming noise building within it...

@Zaiya Alvina - Passive Arcana DC 15: You recognize this as a failsafe. Should you not shut the stone down within the next round, a defense mechanism will be triggered. Alternatively, someone can attempt to interrupt the trigger, which will require a DC 11 Arcana or Thieves Tools check to shut off. Doing so will consume your action for the round though!

Claire- you're up. Moira can post as well since she goes at the start of the next round.

Round 2 - Operation Firebreak

Combat Map
Lighting Conditions: Bright
Terrain: Rubble, Smoke

LINK TO MAP

Status Conditions - On Fire! : at the start of your turn, you take 3 points of fire damage. You (or one of your party members) may spend an action dousing yourself in water (one waterskins worth) to extinguish the flames.

The well still has some water, but its deep and requires an Action to draw a bucket from. Curiously, the rope has yet to burn or break.

Initiative:
26  - Moira (27/33) [Darkvision] <<<<
22 - Magmins Red (?/?)
13  - Magmins Blue (?/?)
8  - Claire (34/39) [] <<<<
7  - U'lin (25/38) [
4 - Zaiya (23/32) []
0  - Flame Anchor (2/4 Checks Complete) [???]

This message was last edited by the GM at 12:07, Sun 13 Dec 2020.

The little gremlins sure moved fast! Claire barely found herself with time to react before the swarm was all over them. The priestess took a step back, winding up for a wide swing with her gleaming oathblade. "Take this ya imps!"

Greatsword Attack: 24 [On N9 magmin]
00:38, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 24 using 1d20+5.  Greatsword Attack.

Greatsword Damage: 8
00:40, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 4,4 using d6,d6+2.  Greatsword Damage, re-rolling 1s and 2s due to GW fighting style.
00:41, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 2 using 1d6.  Reroll previous roll of 2.

Greatsword Extra Attack: 20 [On N9 magmin if it isn't dead, if it is, target M9 magmin]
00:44, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 20 using 1d20+5.  Greatsword Extra Attack.

Greatsword Damage: 12
00:45, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 5,3 using d6,d6+2.
00:45, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 5 using 1d6.  Re-roll damage roll of 1.

Greatsword Bonus Attack (Great Weapon Master, if it triggers): [On M9 magmin]
00:39, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 24 using 1d20+5.

Greatsword Damage: 7
00:41, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 4,4 using d6,d6+2.  Greatsword Damage, re-rolling 1s and 2s due to GW fighting style.
00:41, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 1 using 1d6.  Reroll previous roll of 2.

Edit:
Dex save: 3 (Nat 1)
02:25, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 3 using 1d20+2.  Dex save.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:25, Sun 13 Dec 2020.

The magmin nearest to Claire (N9) bursts like an overripe fruit as Claire's two swings slice it open. Fire and smoke rush past the paladin's face as the flames lick at her cloak (N9 dead, 7 points of fire damage to Claire, Dex Save DC 11 for half).

The second magmin skews to the left as Claire's weapon continues its swing towards it. The enchanted metal bites deeply, severing the creature's arm. It howls, but does not explode or fall, clicking angrily at the wound.

Moira met the charge of the Magmins with swords at the ready; flashes of steel and grunts of effort set against their claws, though even with her magical protection she could feel the flames work through regardless.  Deflecting raking swipes off sword and armor alike could only do so much.  For once, she found it a strange comfort in the experience of having been set on fire in misadventures prior and thus didn't panic when spots of her clothing ignited here and there.

What did cause a moment's panic in her, however, was a shout from the scholarly folk for her aid.  She barely made sense of what was being asked and responded more on reflex as she swung about in place to sweep up a blinding cloud of ash and debris into the faces of the Magmins around her.  With her foes momentarily distracted, the nimble Halfling dove away and hurried to the anchor where instruction from the casters could guide where her small hands and sharp eyes were needed.

Though she knew precious little of magic and the greater works of engineering which were the specialties of Zaiya and U'lin, Moira did know traps.  Traps were simple - they were nothing more than a series of triggers, in effect, an even the most grand-seeming and obtuse of traps were actually extremely basic at their heart.  They had to be; the more moving pieces something had, the more likely it would fail when needed.  But on that same note, they were also victim to simple hindrances as well.  Thus as she traced her gold-hued fingers along the surface of the anchor to feel places where its heat surged and where vibrations rumbled within it, Moira found a spot that seemed to catch her notice.  With a single hard 'THNK!' of the heel of her palm, she dealt the arcane anchor a solid whack... which promptly caused the humming to die down, seemingly disabled.

"Percussive maintenance." Moira popped off with before, on a quick salute and wink, she hurried back to hold the line.

Bonus Action: Disengage

Partial Movement: 20' to the Anchor

Action: DC 11 Thieves Tools check w/Disadvantage from Exhaustion
Moira Ruadh rolled 25 using 1d20+9

Remaining Movement: 10' back to N11

As the humming grows, the magmins seem to grow more excited. They chitter and squeal, throwing themselves forward as the glow from the boulder builds and builds-

Only for Moira to, in an act of halfling grace, sidle right up to the stone and thunk it right there just so. The halfling rolls away, small flames licking at her body (Moira you take 3 1 damage from being on Fire, then take another 8 4 fire damage from touching the boulder, DC 12 Con save for half) Tiny cracks sprout from the spot hit, and a small puff of tarry-black smoke puffs out into the heated air. The humming fades.

The magmins snarl.

Three of them rush Moira, screaming and spinning with literal fiery rage (one miss, two hit Moira rolling 20/20 for 10 5 fire damage and 3 1 fire damage). Another three dive for Zaiya (three hits on Zaiya AC 18, 23 and crit! for 10 5, 6 3 and 14 7 fire damage), while the remaining pair tries to distract U'lin from the boulder (both miss, rolls 17/17). The lone remaining magmin, still missing an arm from Claire's strike, attempts to headbutt the paladin (miss, rolls 14).

Round 2 - Operation Firebreak

Combat Map
Lighting Conditions: Bright
Terrain: Rubble, Smoke

LINK TO MAP

Status Conditions - On Fire! : at the start of your turn, you take 3 points of fire damage. You (or one of your party members) may spend an action dousing yourself in water (one waterskins worth) to extinguish the flames.

The well still has some water, but its deep and requires an Action to draw a bucket from. Curiously, the rope has yet to burn or break.

OOC: U'lin I put you at S12 instead of T12 since you would not have been able to interact with the Boulder otherwise. I moved the magmins around a little to reflect it, but they would have crowded around the boulder/Zaiya anyway, hence the current odd positioning.

Initiative:
26  - Moira (27/33) [Darkvision] - OOC: HP not updated for round, depends on Moira's save/reactions
22 - Magmins Red (?/?)
13  - Magmins Blue (?/?)
8  - Claire (34/39) [] <<<<
7  - U'lin (25/38) [ <<<<
4 - Zaiya (23/32) [] <<<<  - OOC: HP not updated for round, depends on Zaiya's reactions
0  - Flame Anchor (2/4 Checks Complete) [???]

Con Save vs DC 12
Moira Ruadh rolled 17 using 1d20+1

I think I got my own process muddied up.  Has Moira already used her Reaction for this round to "Uncanny Dodge", or was that last round?  She's pretty much going to have it set as Uncanny Dodging the biggest attack that hits her by default.

As Moira hustled back into the fray, she cursed at the swarming enemies - it seemed they were extra annoyed at having their fun further spoiled, though she didn't think whatever the anchor could've done would've been as mild as a mere bit of rubble falling on their heads.  That thought, however, sparked a sudden moment of inspiration in the Halfling as she ducked aside from a slash.

"Claire!  Th'blighers burst when they die, so don't kill 'em!  Bop 'em on th'head - see if knockin' 'em out'll do th'trick!" she called in quick warning.

Free Action: Talking Shop
To clarify, Moira is suggesting we try using Non-Lethal damage on the Magmins, on the thought that just knocking them Unconscious might take them out of the fight but prevent them from exploding.

OOC: You should have just refreshed, so yes you still have the Dodge.

U'lin's eye lit up as the energy rebounded from his strike.  Even as he shouldered off the elementals attacking him, the firbolg priest tracked backwards the receding flows of energy, remembering the homilies of evil rebounding upon the evildoer, and applying the focus here.  When the streams collapsed to a same central point, he struck there, one perfect blow at the heart of the elemental magics endangering the folk and creations of this land.

One blow.  But a powerful and well-place one blow.

A flick of his will called the spiritual weapon back to the battle, shifted so quickly away from where he had deployed it, and he tried to draw attention from the magamin horde on Zaiya, yelling and brandishing the holy symbol on his shield.

---

OOC:
Std: disable anchor
09:10, Today: U'lin rolled 23 using 1d20+3.  Religion.
NAT20 ba-beeeeee!
Double success, DM? :p

Bon: move the spiritual hammer 20' closer, misses being able to attack by 5' again.

"You're telling me!", Claire coughed, batting away the thick plume of smoke that had exploded right in her face.

Turning momentarily from the wounded magmin in front of her, it became clear that too many of the critters had slipped past Moira and herself. "Hey! Get away from her!" Stepping back, Claire hurls herself into the band of magmins swarming their party's beleaguered wizard. She rips her scabbard from her belt, resheathing her oathblade in it before making another wide bludgeoning sweep through the teeming horde.

All attacks aiming to deal non-lethal damage.

Greatsword Attack: 8 [On O12 magmin]
16:55, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 8 using 1d20+5.  Greatsword Attack.

Greatsword Damage: 9
17:00, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 3,4 using d6,d6.

Greatsword Extra Attack: 19 [On P12 magmin]
16:55, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 19 using 1d20+5.  Greatsword Extra Attack.

Greatsword Damage: 12
16:57, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 5,5 using d6,d6.

Greatsword Bonus Attack (Great Weapon Master, if it triggers): 12 [On P11 magmin]
16:58, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 12 using 1d20+5.

Greatsword Damage: 12
16:58, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 4,2 using d6,d6.
16:59, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 6 using 1d6.  Reroll previous roll of 2.

"Ack!"  Zaiya hisses--a barrier forming with a gesture catching one of the horrible fire gremlins, but the other two start crawling over her mantle and jabbing her with sharp, fiery things.

"I don't get paid enough for this!"  Zaiya winces, but scribbles out the last few sigils.  "Too slow though!  We win!"

OOC: 26 on the Arcana check, reaction to cast Shield to negate that first attack, that makes 4/4, buhbye embergremlin things!

In an echo of Moira's move, U'lins strike draws another gout of thick, oily smoke. The enchanted boulder shudders as its glow turns erractic, its connection to the Weave disrupted. All this is clear as day to Zaiya's experience and finely honed arcane senses- a few scratches with her athame over the sigils here and here and-

With a quiet whine, the boulder unceremoniously flickers out. As the glow on the sigil fades, the magmins fighting to dogpile Claire and Moira freeze. A collective hiss of disappointment ripples through the fiery horde, even as Claire's blade knocks the nearest ones back. The sigils on their forehead flash- once, thrice- multiple times, faster and faster.

Then, one by one the magmins vanish, leaving behind only a faint trail of burnt ash.

[Combat End]

Operation Firebreak Complete!

Without the magic of the magmins and the boulders, the surrouding flames seem dimmer- faded, weaker. Navigating out of the flaming mess is still tricky, but easier now that sentient creatures of fire are not dogpiling the party. Once out, the party discovers that a second team of guardsmen have managed to tackle the second anchor- with the majority of the magmins drawn by the party's approach, the pressure on the surrounding firebreak lessened enough for the Lord Protector to assemble a team to disable the remaining anchor. While the men and women sent on that group suffered their own share of heavy burns (not having quite the protections the party has), their efforts paid off. Soon, teams of citizen militia are able to advance on the southern quarter, using bags of sand, water and dirt to gradually snuff out the flames.

---

"...you have done Triboar a great favor tonight," Lord Protector Daratha Shendrel manages a smile as the four adventurers return to the keep, "with this, we can finally begin to contain this entire mess. Had we needed to wait for the rest of the Guard to return, I fear the cost in lives and infrastructure would have been too great."

Around here, the collected officers nod. A few barely manage to stifle their yawns as the cost of the night's disaster begins to take its toll.

"There is room in the keep, if you wish to rest there. Water, spare towels and salve for burns- your alchemist friend has been most helpful in that regard," Daratha adds, with a nod at the healing tent. Somewhere in the mess of healers and patients, a tired but oddly fulfilled Emma continues to crank out salves in the name of Gond.

"Much still needs to be done- many citizens have lost homes and family. A few fires are still raging in the south-west quarter. And the orc army is yet defeated- though my scouts report they seem to be having infighting of their own. If you are able to, the healing tents could use a few hands. So does the firefighting efforts in the south quarters."

"But these are matters that Triboar can handle with the time you have bought us and the people you have saved. No one will begrudge you should you decide to rest."

If you guys have questions for Lord Protector Daratha, or intend to help out through the night instead of resting, do state so here. Note that if you skip the long rest, you will need to make a DC 10 Con save (DC 15 for U'lin and Moira since they already skipped a day of rest) or suffer a level of Exhaustion.

"Yeah, some medicine and a good night's sleep would be great right about now""  Zaiya agreed, looking singed and scorched and only the careful fire-treatment on her clothes kept them from getting burned to cinders through all the experiences of being on fire.

They still looked pretty drooped and stained by the smoke though, cleaning it was going to be the worst.

But her spells were depleted and she needed time to work on some other stuff too, some downtime right about now would be critical.

"I think that we should all rest, and fully,"U'lin suggested slowly, and wearily.  "If there is anything like the elementals or constructs or giants tomorrow, we will need clear heads and restored powers granted.  Likewise if our path takes us to the mage's tower, we will need our full might as much as if our path takes us after the giants - which is a strong need to confront danger reaching across a hundred Triboar's peoples.

"But we are glad that we arrived in time, and were able to be of some service.  Gond's grace, and the Earthmother's care, and Waukeener's measuring in good measure.

"Zaiya, I have only a couple minor healing blessings left, but I will share them with you after we are done here."

"Agreed. We'll be of little help to anyone if we can't even stand on our own two feet. Even fields got to lie fallow."

The Lord Protector's praise buoyed Claire's spirits considerably. Things remained bad, but hopeful. A very different feeling compared to when they had first left Nightstone.

"Sergeant Reynes will lead you to your quarters then," nods the Lord Protector, "towels, water and rations will be brought to you shortly. We will speak again tomorrow morn, when things are hopefully more under control."

"Rest well, young adventurers. And Gods bless us all."

[Chapter 3-2: Triboar Aflame END]