Deciding to violently object to idea of submitting to the cube's digestive plan, Vailin struggled violently.  Something outside the cube caught his attention for the briefest moment... a shadow of some kind, but it was gone, fleeting like the mist in the morning sun.  With a mighty heave, the armoured man pulled himself out of the cube, and rolled away, summoning resolve from the depths of his will.  Rolling to his feet, he raced full speed away, before coming to a half, his skin red and irritated from the acid vitrious of the cube.
ROLL: Vailin healed 7hp using second wind.
ROLL: The cube rolled a natural 1 on the Opportunity Attack and missed.

Ayrron heard Aelina's call, and spun around and moved forward, holding his finger up to the kender.  "Just a second... Cube of death first!" he said as he moved closer to it and planted his hoopak in the ground, drawing a stone from his pouch.  Pulling back, he let a stone fly and saw it thud into the cube with some satisfaction.
ROLL: Ayrron rolled 22 to hit, and dealt 5 bludgeoning damage, halved to 2.

It was hard to tell how the cube felt about it's prey escaping -- it was a cube, and it had no expressions to read.  But the cube continued to ooze its way across the floor, sliding closer to Ayrron, Valik, and Vailin like some mindless eating machine.

---

OOC: Aelina's up next, followed by Valik.

Round 15
Init	Combatant	AC	HP	Conditions
24	Valik	16	18/25
16	Vailin	18	16/19	DM Inspiration
13	Ayrron	14	8/15
6	Gelatinous Cube	??	-147/??
>> 1	Aelina	13	4/17

Resources used:
Aelina: 0 bardic inspiration
Ayrron: 0 sling bullets
Ayrron: 1 magical tinkering
Ayrron: 0 fearless
Ayrron: 0 taunt
Ayrron: 1 kender pockets
Vailin: 7 crossbow bolts
Vailin: 0 second wind
Vailin: 0 action surge
Valik: 14 crossbow bolts
Valik: 0 second wind
Valik: 1 stone's endurance
Valik: 0 action surge

Spell Slots Remaining:

Character	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Aelina	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Ayrron	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Map: https://i.patchwolf.com/Waroft...oD/Tunnel-R15i05.png

This message was last edited by the GM at 22:21, Tue 12 Dec 2023.

The other inhabitant didn't seem to be hostile (yet), and no traps had been set off by Ayrron's movement, so Valik went north as he fired another bolt at the undying jelly monster.

---

Action	Gale hits AC 20 for 18 Piercing
Rolls	14:00, Today: Valik rolled 20,18,11 using d20+3,1d10+14,d20+3.  Gale Crossbow
Move	30 ft north
Reaction	Stone's Endurance if I take a hit, -5 damage
Rolls	14:01, Today: Valik rolled 5 using 1d12+2.  Stone's Endurance

This message was last edited by the player at 04:43, Thu 14 Dec 2023.

The bard continued moving back as much as she could before using the near-infrasonic song that was her main attack.

move	as far away from the murder cube as possible
action	cast toll the dead, Wis DC  14 or 5 necrotic damage
roll	Today: Aelina rolled 5 using 1d12 with rolls of 5.  toll the dead

The bard continued moving back as much as she could before using the near-infrasonic song that was her main attack.
ROLL: The cube rolled a natural 20 on it saving throw, and takes no damage.

The other inhabitant didn't seem to be hostile (yet), and no traps had been set off by Ayrron's movement, so Valik went north as he fired another bolt at the undying jelly monster.
ROLL: Valik rolled a 20 to hit the cube, and dealt 18 piercing damage, halved to 9.

---

OOC: Vailin's up next, followed by Ayrron.

Round 16
Init	Combatant	AC	HP	Conditions
24	Valik	16	18/25
>> 16	Vailin	18	16/19	DM Inspiration
13	Ayrron	14	8/15
6	Gelatinous Cube	??	-156/??
1	Aelina	13	4/17

Resources used:
Aelina: 0 bardic inspiration
Ayrron: 0 sling bullets
Ayrron: 1 magical tinkering
Ayrron: 0 fearless
Ayrron: 0 taunt
Ayrron: 1 kender pockets
Vailin: 7 crossbow bolts
Vailin: 0 second wind
Vailin: 0 action surge
Valik: 14 crossbow bolts
Valik: 0 second wind
Valik: 1 stone's endurance
Valik: 0 action surge

Spell Slots Remaining:

Character	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Aelina	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Ayrron	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Map: https://i.patchwolf.com/Waroft...oD/Tunnel-R16i20.png

Vailin begins to move back and to the right.  "Stay back and spread.  We spread out it has to choose a direction."  The warrior wanted to keep himself the focus but was unsure how to make himself more appealing to a jelly cube.  He pulled out his crossbow and fired as he moved.  He wasn't expecting to damage it much but he wanted it focused on him so the others could do real damage.

Move	20ft NE, 10 ft E
Attack	Fire crossbow.  Hit: 12 Damage: 3
Bonus	None

This message was last edited by the player at 00:26, Fri 15 Dec 2023.

Vailin begins to move back and to the right.  "Stay back and spread.  We spread out it has to choose a direction."  The warrior wanted to keep himself the focus but was unassure how to make himself more appealing to a jelly cube.  He pulled out his crossbow and fired as he moved.  He wasn't expecting to damage it much but he wanted it focused on him so the others could do real damage.
ROLL: Vailing rolled a 12 to hit, and dealt 3 piercing damage, halved to 1.

---

OOC: Ayrron's up next, followed by the cube, then Aelina.

Round 16
Init	Combatant	AC	HP	Conditions
24	Valik	16	18/25
16	Vailin	18	16/19	DM Inspiration
>> 13	Ayrron	14	8/15
6	Gelatinous Cube	??	-157/??
1	Aelina	13	4/17

Resources used:
Aelina: 0 bardic inspiration
Ayrron: 0 sling bullets
Ayrron: 1 magical tinkering
Ayrron: 0 fearless
Ayrron: 0 taunt
Ayrron: 1 kender pockets
Vailin: 8 crossbow bolts
Vailin: 0 second wind
Vailin: 0 action surge
Valik: 14 crossbow bolts
Valik: 0 second wind
Valik: 1 stone's endurance
Valik: 0 action surge

Spell Slots Remaining:

Character	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Aelina	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Ayrron	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Map: https://i.patchwolf.com/Waroft...oD/Tunnel-R16i15.png

This message was last edited by the GM at 22:43, Thu 14 Dec 2023.

The kender, closest to the cube now was not keen to visit within in beast again, and grasping his weapon, moved back while reaching into his pouch. "When we're done, i'm going to have to applauded the teachers for this test." he said with a note of sarcasm.

He planted his hoopak in the ground again, and pulling back, let the stone fly with such force.

---

Initiative	Ayrron rolled 13 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 11.  iniative.
Bonus Action	None
Action	Attack Using Magic Stone
	Ayrron rolled 25 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 20.  Attack - Hoopak (Magic Stone) <CRITICAL>
	Ayrron rolled 12 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 6 & 3.  Damage - Magic Stone
Movement	Northwest 30 feet

The kender, closest to the cube now was not keen to visit within in beast again, and grasping his weapon, moved back while reaching into his pouch. "When we're done, i'm going to have to applauded the teachers for this test." he said with a note of sarcasm.  He planted his hoopak in the ground again, and pulling back, let the stone fly with such force.  The stone flew through the air almost in a straight line, burying itself withint the cube's endoplasm, before the magical energy inside detonated like a small bomb.  Concussive force shot through the gelatinous cube, which rippled and wobbled violently, before sliding along the floor towards Vailin.
ROLL: Ayrron rolled a natural 20 (total: 25) to hit, and dealt 12 points of bludgeoning damage.

The cube was less cube-shaped now.  Without the walls to help contain its space, and with the cumulative effects of concentrated fire placed upon it, it seems more like a lumpy slime than a cube at this point.

---

OOC: Aelins's up next, followed by Valik.

Round 16
Init	Combatant	AC	HP	Conditions
24	Valik	16	18/25
16	Vailin	18	16/19	DM Inspiration
>> 13	Ayrron	14	8/15
6	Gelatinous Cube	??	-169/??
1	Aelina	13	4/17

Resources used:
Aelina: 0 bardic inspiration
Ayrron: 0 sling bullets
Ayrron: 1 magical tinkering
Ayrron: 0 fearless
Ayrron: 0 taunt
Ayrron: 1 kender pockets
Vailin: 8 crossbow bolts
Vailin: 0 second wind
Vailin: 0 action surge
Valik: 14 crossbow bolts
Valik: 0 second wind
Valik: 1 stone's endurance
Valik: 0 action surge

Spell Slots Remaining:

Character	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Aelina	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Ayrron	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Map: https://i.patchwolf.com/Waroft...oD/Tunnel-R16i05.png

Valik nearly called out the same commands Vailin had, swallowing the words as there was no more need to speak them. He fired at the lumpy mess again, the number of blows they had delivered beginning to weigh on him.

---

Action	Gale attack hits AC 5 for 23
Rolls	20:49, Today: Valik rolled 5,23 using d20+3,1d10+14.  Gale Crossbow
Move	15 ft NW
Reaction	if I take a hit, Stone's Endurance -11 damage
Rolls	20:52, Today: Valik rolled 11 using 1d12+2.  Stone's Endurance

Her last spell did not seem to have much of an effect, contrary to the bolts her warrior friends were shooting, so she decided to use a little of her vocal magic to encourage them. "Valik my friend, show that disgusting blob how your crossbow deals with such of its ilk!" She did not have a range weapon herself but tried her spell again.

Move	enough to stay in max range of Toll the death.
bonus action	Bardic inspiration (1d6) on Valik
Action	toll the dead, Wis DC 14 or 9 damage
Roll	Today: Secret Roll: Aelina rolled 9 using 1d12 with rolls of 9.  toll the dead

Aelina's last spell did not seem to have much of an effect, contrary to the bolts her warrior friends were shooting, so she decided to use a little of her vocal magic to encourage them.  "Valik my friend, show that disgusting blob how your crossbow deals with such of its ilk!"  She did not have a range weapon herself but, backing up to almost the wall, she tried her spell again.  The infrasonic tone struck the cube, which quivered, shuddered to a stop, and then collapsed in on itself, now resembling a large, wet, and lumpy mass on the ground
ROLL: The gelatinous cube rolled a 0 on its Wisdom Save, and took 9 damage, halved to 4.

"Ah.  Well done, lassie.  That was number two, was it?  I wonder how you'll fare against the next one?  I think the most I've seen someone hold out was six, but that was a long time ago.  I think the next one might do you all in."  The kender at the raised dias picked up his flute and blew a few experimental notes on it, then wiped away at one or two spots along its length.

---

OOC: Combat's over for the time being.  I'm leaving the table below for just in case... and to make you all a little paranoid.

Round 17
Init	Combatant	AC	HP	Conditions
>> 24	Valik	16	18/25	Bardic:1d6
16	Vailin	18	16/19	DM Inspiration
13	Ayrron	14	8/15
6	Gelatinous Cube	??	dead
1	Aelina	13	4/17

Resources used:
Aelina: 1 bardic inspiration
Ayrron: 0 sling bullets
Ayrron: 1 magical tinkering
Ayrron: 0 fearless
Ayrron: 0 taunt
Ayrron: 1 kender pockets
Vailin: 8 crossbow bolts
Vailin: 0 second wind
Vailin: 0 action surge
Valik: 14 crossbow bolts
Valik: 0 second wind
Valik: 1 stone's endurance
Valik: 0 action surge

Spell Slots Remaining:

Character	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Aelina	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Ayrron	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Map: https://i.patchwolf.com/Waroft...oD/Tunnel-R17i25.png

The kender took a breath as the cube dissolved and smiled at his friends. Then the kender spoke and he frowned at him. He made his way to the door and looked for a way to close it. "Nope.....had enough of those things for today." He muttered.

Vailin quickly moved towards the cube to see if any of his or Valik's bolts were recoverable.  If there was anything else of interest he would quickly grab it.  This was more based on pragmatism than greed.  In this trial they needed every advantage they could and who knew what could be useful.

He then joined the others.  "What do we have here?  Another test?"

Approaching the door, Ayrron found it swung open into the tunnel beyond.  There were no handles or anything by which to grab and pull the doors closed.

The cube's remains contain nothing of note, bar a few bones and stones.  Anything softer had been dissolved in the jelly's acidic interior.

"Six!? That's not happening." Valik looked at the odd...portal-thing behind the kender. He knew nothing about such things, but if there was something useful he could learn from a look, he might as well put his eyes on something the others were not. He had a feeling the next test was going to come from either the fires or the sarcophagi, if not both, but everything would get a look in time.

The kender looked at the door and saw no way of closing the door short of from the outside, and he grimaced. He strode over to Valik and nodded at his thought, and began inspecting the sarcophagi.

When the cube finally dissolved in death, the bard exhaled in relief, before the too calm seated kender said there were more of those things coming. With a groan, she dusted herself and got closer to the dais. "I certainly hope there is not a next one. I am Aelina, and you are? That is a pretty flute, I prefer string instruments myself, I can sing as I play."

"Oh we must all master many weapons," the kender said.  "Lute, flute, drum, and harp.  Song, dance, and perform-ance.  Leaf is my name -- Pokerstickleaf Thwackstaff, recorder of stories and collector of tales."

The sarcophagi each bore a crude carving of the person presumably entombed within.  Each had a name carved into the stone, but they had been worn away to near intelligibility.

OOC: Make a perception roll if you want to try to make out the names on the sarcophagi...
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:36, Wed 03 Jan.

Vailin moved to check the perimeter before joining the others.  Upon seeing the kender he looked towards Ayrron.  "Friend of yours?"

"Fires. Deadholds. Mist. If there are other jellies coming, we need to know what the next test is, and how to beat it. There are words, names maybe, on the deadholds."

Ayrron checked out the sarcophagi and walked over as Vailin spoke. The kender frowned as he did. "What...you think we all know each other? Do you know every human?" he crossed his arms and shook his head. "Never met him in his life."

Vailin looked at Ayrron strangely.  "I thought I saw you and Aelina spoke to him.  I had assumed you knew him from the tower or some such."

The kender stood up, tucking his flute into a long leather pocket strapped to his thigh.  "No, I wouldn't expect you had," he said with a merry twinkle in his eye.  "None of you were more than a twinkle in your fathers' eyes when I last walked the surface of Krynn."  He grabbed a hoopak from the floor, stood up to his full four-foot height, and planted the pointed end of the hoopak on the stone floor like it was a banner on a field of war.

"I am Pokerstickleaf Thwackstaff, and I am the last part of your Test, but it looks like you're not ready for me just yet."  He pointed at the open door.  "You definitely don't want to face me and one of those at the same time..."

From the open door, a faint but familiar sucking sound could be heard advancing down the corridor.

Looking at the sarcophagi, Ayrron could make out one of the names written -- his own!
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:32, Wed 03 Jan.

"We need to get that door closed!" Valik rushed over to the door, looking for a way to do just that.

Vailin was already propelling himself towards the door before Valik had the words out of his mouth.  Like the goliath, last thing her wanted was another fight, if possible.