Brindle can see Wrukaog and sees the door open in front of him. He can't see what is in the room beyond Wrukaog but that scraping sound gave the impression of something big and Wrukaog's sudden tensing and raising his greataxe is an all-too-familiar sign of imminent violence. So Brindle casts a spell at the big orc and he suddenly doubles in size.

Only then does Brindle dash forward to enter the workshop.

OOC: Cast Enlarge Person on Wrukaog.

Wrukaog was already leaning forward and gathering himself to attack the hydra before he suddenly found himself growing larger, through the doorway and closer to the giant reptile. That just made him even more angry and fuelled the rage that was always bubbling just below the surface and uncontrollable rage suddenly engulfed his mind. He was now so big and so close to the hydra that he only needed to step forward a single pace to reach the hydra with his oversized greataxe.

He swung his greataxe wildly at the giant lizard and followed through with a second blow as well.

OOC: Power attack!

Wrukaog_ rolled 13,14 using d20+12,d20+7.  To hit hydra, raging, power attack 7. – 13,14
LOL - I think he missed!

Without so much as backward glance or battle cry, Tesseryn steps with measured stride in Wrukaog's wake, passing left of raging orc and quickly among the watching nest of sinuous necks with sword high to parry bites and pierce deeply the scaly body beyond.

21:52, Today: Tesseryn Brightsoul rolled 20 using 1d20+7.  attack hydra - combat expertise +5 AC
21:53, Today: Tesseryn Brightsoul rolled 11 using 2d6+7.  dmg hydra.

Being next in line, Aurion glides forward eagerly to take a peek at the object of the commotion up ahead that has the fighters rushing in and Brindle casting already. He stops to the right of the door and gapes. Looking back he reports to the gaggle behind "Its a hydra with four, five, no, six heads! Exactly what Wrukaog was hoping for."

Not to be outdone by the halfling he casts from the safety of the doorway, shooting a crackling ray of electricity that snakes past the oversized orc and on towards the hydra.

22:15, Today: Aurion Moonbeak_ rolled 9 using 1d20+4.  ranged touch - seeking ray
22:16, Today: Aurion Moonbeak_ rolled 13 using 4d6.  electrical damage.

Once more, derring-do triumphs over derring-don't !  The sight of a huge, six-headed, yellow toothed reptile of indeterminate temperament might cause less staunch beings to race off and change their trousers, but not our heroes !

Wrukaog races forwards, doubling in size as Brindle thoughtfully casts a spell upon him, though as he gives way to the red mists of battle, the big Orc's preference for hearty swings of his great axe proves rather ineffectual as the Hydra's heads duck and weave.

Sneaking past, Tesseryn's only slightly less manic charge proves more fruitful as the ex-Paladin dodges the snapping jaws to plunge her blade into the creature's exposed breast, eliciting a hiss of pain.

Aurion, sensibly standing waaay back, launches a ray of electrical energy that appropriately snakes it's way into the fray ... only to discharge into the floor at the Hydra's feet, blackening the stone. 

With no Elf now before him to offer any measure of support, Vova, licking his lips, staggers on his way down the stairs, his hand grasping at the wall to steady himself, oblivious to the calls from the crowd behind him who either want to know what's happening or are keen to join in.

Faced with a large foe that failed to connect on three heads and a smaller but seemingly deadlier one on the others, the Hydra chooses to lash out at both.  Tesseryn's metal shell proves proof as the creatures teeth fail to penetrate her armour, but Wrukaog is not so lucky as two of the heads chomp down on the big Orc ! 

OOC: Map of the proceedings for Group 0 updated ...

 The energy in Vova's response has something of the quality of a wandering bob-a-job princeling being introduced to a frothing village lunatic, as the rake smiles approvingly at Wrukaog and announces "Oh, how terribly interesting, and how long have you been killing?" - while Brindle and Tess's reply see a slightly more honest, or at least animate sort of grin that curdles a little at the mention of 'wizards', "Hold on, who..?"

 Which is when Aurion informs him that he's dead. This generates a brief pause and a look of bafflement shot the way of Vic, who in a rare show of solidarity contrives to shrug his wings in the fashion of someone who also doesn't know what's going on with that. Vova holds up a finger, opens his mouth, clothes it again then sniffs himself a time or two in... places before looking puzzled "I... think I'd notice if I was dead. Wouldn't I?"

 The squonq sound from Vic at this point, while containing no actual words as such manages to convey the idea that there have been times when Vova wouldn't have noticed if he was being killed, let alone actually dead and that, as such his credulity fails the credibility test.

 "Done..?" he then asks, sounding even more puzzled by that only to blanche and look back at the peacock, who stares flatly at him as he asks "Oh bugger me, I didn't end up back on that bloody island, did I?", momentarily skipping the question from the viper (which Vic addresses by turning to eye the smaller snake and explaining 'Squonk' in an expressive sort of 'I did not sign up for this' coupled with a bit of 'what can a familiar do?' sort of fashion).

 It's around this point where Vova manages to look a little dizzy, as if he's eaten something which disagrees with him - but since he seems to agree with it there's probably no harm done since he promptly makes an 'Oooh' sound and does another sweep of the room to collect the (presumably drugged) snacks, swaying alarmingly as he does so. This occupies the early part of the Hydra encounter and appears to leave him profoundly ill-equipped to offer much assistance going forward although he does happily exclaim "Kitty!" upon seeing the creature and start pelting it with sweetmeats from his newly-filled pockets.

Giant Wrukaog only has room in his head for one plan at a time at the best of times. This isn't the best of times, but he is still fully committed to his first plan, so he swings his giant-sized greataxe again and again at the body of the hydra.
Wrukaog_ rolled 32,27 using d20+12,d20+7.  To hit hydra, raging, power attack 7. – 32,27 - two potential critical hits!
Wrukaog_ rolled 14,15 using d20+12,d20+7.  Confirm critical hits with both attacks? – 14,15 - apparently not.
Wrukaog_ rolled 38,43 using 3d6+35,3d6+35.  Damage on hydra, 2 big hits. – 38,43

With Wrukaog back in form, Tesseryn has an inkling that the battle may soon be over, therefore abandoning caution and hacking at the hydra's body with gusto.

The crackling and blackening of the cobbles cause her to side step warily.  "Aim higher!" she calls to Aurion, with only a hint of merriment.

When the meaty treats start raining raining down she glances back to the doorway and catches Vova's eye.  "Make way for Gratchscartch!" she grins.

08:00, Today: Tesseryn Brightsoul rolled 23,13 using 1d20+8,1d20+3.  attack hydra, power attack+4
08:01, Today: Tesseryn Brightsoul rolled 23,18 using 1d20+8,1d20+3.  damage. dice roller error, i forgot to delete the previous multi-roll
08:02, Today: Tesseryn Brightsoul rolled 22 using 2d6+15.  damage.

"Its a metaphor." Aurion explains, "I've darkened the doorstep, now you make good on the threat."

"Or possibly not dead..." he replies to a confused-looking Vova. "Perhaps there are many ways one can become a chosen champion of their gods. You'd remember a life-changing event life death. So perhaps you were simply sent? Which god was it, if you don't mind me asking? That's usually a good clue as to what they'd hope you'll do here."

He readies another falsely-named Seeking Ray in case the hydra looks likely to bite the oversized orc again.

Brindle grins at Vova's antics and Aurion's bizarre questions but doesn't try to interrupt either of them. Instead he ducks under Aurion's outstretched arm and scurries across the eastern end of the hydra's lair to have a quick look down the passageways that lead off from that end of the room.

Much hilarity ensues.

Having finally gained some perspective on his new outlook, Wrukaog wields his great axe with gusto if not abandon, the Bigger Orc carving up the six-headed beast like a turkey (any sort of game bird really, which might not sit well with Vic), leaving the ex-Paladin to lean in with her sword to deliver the coup de grace, handily slaying the Hydra and sparing the need for Aurion to trouble himself at all, much to the relief of the stone flags.

It is left to Vova, reeling and only somewhat conscious, an entirely familiar state of being for him, to lurch forward and ceremoniously shower the corpse with dainties.  Somewhere at the rear of the pack Gratchscartch's ears twitch at the mention of his name, but the Gnoll's nose knows there's no meal for him in the offing and he holds his ground, preferring to have a good scratch while he waits.

Sensing that the combat would be resolved, Brindle had scampered across to the nearby corner to peer down the many passageways leading off, only to discover that they branch yet further, though the one leading southwards down the edge of Black Tower goes for something a bit different, opening out into a wider chamber with the barest hint of a doorway at the furthest reaches of sight.

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

Brindle glances down each of the passageways he can see from the corner then decides that the southward passageway looks most promising. He sets off at a run down the southern passageway so he can see what lies down the passage leading off to the west around Halphed's 'larder' and in the larger southern chamber.

 From Vic's perspective, the thing about seeing the hydra carved up like a game bird is that said bird isn't him and any thought that Vic himself might not merrily and with great gusto do exactly the same thing to anyone who crosses him if he could manage it is so happily laughable as to demand no consideration.

 Vova, on the other hand seizes one of the fallen heads and makes a game effort at trying to revive 'Kitty' by offering it a sweetmeat... The fact that said head is, at the time lying a good five or six feet from the rest of the body not seeming to put him off his effort (or indeed, register upon the man in the slightest), but he's happy and he's not hurting anyone and frankly, where's the harm?

Tesseryn slaps a congratulation upon Wrukaog's thigh.  Truely he is a force of nature!

"That was quick thinking, distracting the hydra with meat."  she compliments Vova, watching with fascination as he toys with the carcass.  "Feel free to take its parts as trophy, or for ingredients." she adds, fishing to understand his motivation for bonding with the corpse.

She moves to the opening in the north wall and stands at the junction of passages, keeping an eye on Vova and Brindle, and trying to sense whether evil is near.

Seeing Brindle trot off ahead confirms one thing: no sightings of Haffrung just yet.

Aurion makes his way back to where Halphed loiters. "Your friend Brindle has gone on ahead looking for Haffrung. Is he going the right way? Perhaps you should stay close and keep him company." He points in the direction Brindle went.

Ooo, wizard's study, Aurion notes through the open doorway. He peers in from the doorway, fingers itching to start plucking books from that shelf, two snakes peeking from his hood and tasting the air with their forked tongues. In an abundance of caution, he casts Detect Magic as he gazes in.

Wrukaog calms down quickly once the hydra is dead. He laughs when he sees Vova playing with the severed head. So then he starts lopping off the other five heads and kicks them across the room to Vova as well.

Next time he sees [insert name of our NPC cleric] he says, "You got the stick what makes cuts heal quicker? I got bitten. Hydra bites. You fix it."

"Vashalla," Tesseryn interprets helpfully on behalf of the big orc, "It is a blessing for us to have your support and the presence of Ishtar with us.  We apologise that the fight with the hydra was so brief that you and your companions were denied an opportunity to draw your weapons.  Wrukaog bore the brunt of the beast's counterattack.  Would you mind curing his wounds  using Agrela's Beaker of Tears?"

OOC: I think Vashalla is still carrying Brindle's Wand of Lesser Vigor as well. Brindle can't use it himself but has already told Vashalla the command word, "Blooming". You might as well use a charge from that wand as part of the healing that Wrukaog needs. It provides fast healing 1hp/round for 11 rounds.

Brindle, followed closely by Halphed (at Aurion's urging) trots down the southern passage where the Halfing firstly notes that the western passageway south of the larder is perhaps forty or fifty feet long and ends in a door, and secondly that the area further south of where you gather is familiar territory - the place where you fought the Minotaurs and Trolls, many cold dead bodies ago.

The latest of which suffers the further indignity of multiple beheadings as Wrukaog delightedly provides Vova with a full set of six severed heads to play with, even as there is a shuffling of the rearguard (Valshalla the priestess having to kick a good many of the men out of the way before they'll allow a lady to go first) whereupon she in turn smiles serenely at Tesseryn's wise suggestion, prompted by Wrukoaog himself, and quietly sets to healing the big Orc with the various magical curatives that you have bestowed upon her, seemingly little perturbed by the blood that spatters her as she works around his efforts with the axe.  One supposes that priestesses are used to such trifles.

In her wake, Vic struts forth to take up his place beside Vova that he might stare reprovingly at his charge's efforts to revive the dead beast (one would like to place the blame for that on the large amount of sedative that Vova has imbibed, however one would only be fooling oneself).

Which leaves the rest of the crowd milling around while Aurion peers excitedly into the wizards workroom and laboratory, casting one of his favourite spells.

At which point the gorilla that rounds the corridor just behind Tesseryn lets loose with an ear-piercing cry of anger and grief ...

OOC: Maps of the proceedings for group 0 (situational) and group 4 (dungeon level) updated ...

Giant Wrukaog snarls at the terrible noise the gorilla is making. Hefting his greataxe again, he strides towards Tesseryn. Anyone in the way, including Vova and Vic, would be well advised to get out of his way. He is soon looming up over Tesseryn's shoulder and his greataxe swings toward the noisy gorilla.
Wrukaog_ rolled 30 using 1d20+16.  To hit gorilla.
Wrukaog_ rolled 28 using 3d6+17.  Damage on gorilla from enlarged greataxe.

Brindle is startled by the gorilla's sudden shriek but when he turns around and sees Tesseryn confronting the gorilla, that reaction does seem to make sense. Nonetheless, he immediately realises it is likely to attract unwanted attention and the last thing he wants is to be separated from the party when ore trouble arrives, so he races back up the passageway to rejoin the party, taking Halphed with him.

 The compliment is largely lost on the merrily day-tripping Vova, who's lightly patting 'Kitty' on the head and carrying on a sort of conversation with it, but the arrival of five more 'kitties' (one of which hits him in the head and knocks him onto his back) snaps him out of his happy reverie and leaves him staring up at Wrukaog with a puzzled, and then outraged face as he registers that the warrior is suddenly very, very big.

 "You ^made _me small!" he accuses - not seeming to appreciate that he is in fact, lying down - but since that's not likely to change anything he's mostly left to puzzle out bipedal motion for himself, which he does mostly when Vic starts pecking at him hard enough to draw blood.

 Both arms wrapped around half a dozen severed Hydra heads, most of which are facing forward (and not actually seeing anything) Vova stumbles after the group, being aggressively pecked at any point where he stops moving, starts to sit down, attempts to go the wrong way or starts singing that damn' song about a little goblin.

A gorilla standing behind one and screaming in one's ear really just makes one want to join in, and Tesseryn is no exception, yelling loudly as her legs drive her forwards a few paces, not really concentrating on the direction, just noticeably away from whatever it is that's at her back.

Even the sight of Giant Wrukaog bearing down upon her doesn't cause her to waver from her path.  Better the terrifying beast you know and all that.  It does give Vova pause, however, if only to voice largely confused objections, though encouraged by Vic's beak that worthy does manage to rise from the ground to stumble after the big Orc, arms full of severed Hydra heads, the blood running freely down his Owlbear fur cloak.  It's not a good look.

All that screaming causes Aurion to turn around, though the look from the Elf is more chiding than concerned, as his concentration is interrupted.

Wrukaog's axe at least serves to quieten the gorilla, its scream fading to a strangled gurgle as it hits, upon which it does a swift about turn and races off east down the passage behind it.

At which point Brindle arrives with Halphed in tow.  The Halfling's best friend is quick to offer his advice.

"Oh dear.  I'm afraid that was Haffrung.  He probably wasn't very pleased about what you did to his pet," Halphed glances at the many-necked corpse of the beast currently cooling nearby.

Wrukaog doesn't hesitate. A fleeing opponent is a free hit!

Wrukaog_ rolled 21 using 1d20+16.  Attack of opportunity - to hit gorilla.
Wrukaog_ rolled 27 using 3d6+17.  Damage on gorilla from enlarged greataxe.

Even if his axe misses or merely wounds the gorilla-Haffrung, giant Wrukaog immediately races after it, swinging his enormous greataxe with murderous intent.

If the passage is too narrow for giant Wrukaog to chase the gorilla, Brindle will immediately dismiss the Enlarge Person spell he cast on Wrukaog.

Then he urges others to help catch the gorilla.

"Don't let him get away!" he cries.