Shae calls out, "You give us no choice but to fight you, though we do not want to." She is ready with her spear as first line of attack but will not be the first to strike and only strikes if the giant strikes first.

She will also move slightly south away from the others (toward Tahldar's wall?) so that they are not all clustered together.

ROUND ONE
Tahldar moves north and are close to the altar (which has the tunnel that goes south to W8). That appears to provide the most cover.

Shae stays slightly south, able to cut either way under attack. Kahan moves slightly south next to her.

The giant is beyond reason.

OOC: My original intent was for this giant to be the final bad guy challenge of the adventure. As it turns out, I underestimated your good will to try to use reason instead of just muscle. So that's on me. I hope you can enjoy this battle, have some interesting moments, and see how the next part unfolds.

You might have noticed the trend here. First you met the old man with white hair who was chained to earthsilver for some years (in the dragon's den) until he went crazy and unable to think straight. Then you met Sark, who was entrapped within the ring of fire, also left with just earthsilver to survive and also losing it a bit. Now you have met this giant who has been trapped completely immobile yet conscious for perhaps centuries and being covered with a stream of earthgold to constantly heal him while he is unable to move but always covered in lava.

The fire giant rushes at Kahan and Shae's location, scooping up lava with both hands to fling at them. He screams in rage as he hurls it at them...

The giant's aim is not good. One scoop goes flying over their heads, and the other lands between them. You are conscious that he will be within arm's reach for the next attack.

Shae is ready for her counter attack, throwing her spear at the giant...The spear makes a solid hit (12 dmg) and then extracts itself (6 dmg) before returning to Shae's awaiting hand.

(Was not clear on Kahan's move. I hope everyone posts and joins in this.)

I will be posting an updated map today or tomorrow.

OOC: Kahan wasn't clear on his move either, and I forgot to come back to this later. That's on me, I've been busy with RL too.

Kahan sidesteps as the lava flings towards him, somewhat torn about having to fight this creature who is just a victim of his circumstances. But putting him out of his misery was just as much of a mercy as trying to help him escape, he figured, so perhaps they shouldn't have too much of an ethical problem with it. He began casting a spell and moved towards the hole next to the altar.

Leo tries to hide in the shadows and sneak around for a backstab type attack.

Here is an updated map with locations. Feel free for movement to state things like north 2 spaces, east 1, or whatever.

Tahldar has few spells available to him that will affect the fire giant.  He wishes he had at least one cold based spell, but alas he does not.

He begins to cast.

OOC:  Rolled 16pts for magic missile

09:10, Today: Tahldar of Tyrannia rolled 16 using 5d4+5.  Magic Missile.

Shae is also thinking of a spell to cast and throws her spear while running two squares south to spread out.

To Leo: You can climb through the tunnel and try to backstab by jumping on the rock just behind him but there is a chance of falling into the lava with a fail of -2 or more.

Shapfren climbs through the tunnel to help out, prepping something in her repertoire as she goes to the pillar next to the northern altar.

Leo takes a deep breath and goes for it...

Current situation:
Everyone is in the place marked in the map above. The wall created by Tahldar blocks access from W8. The tunnel between the two altars is the only way to get around the wall.

Leo is moving through the tunnel to get where he can attack/backstab.

The fire/lava giant is attacking straight on, focusing on Tahldar, Kahan and Shae. The party gets initiative.

ROUND 2
Tahldar casts magic missile. The giant is hit for 16 damage.

Kahan is casting a spell...

Shae runs south to spread out and throws her spear...it misses.

Leo makes it at full speed to the to top of the altar at the north. He has not been seen and can make his attack next round.

Shapfren is also making her way underground to attack but is a bit slower and behind Leo. She can attack from the altar location next round.

Kahan finishes his spiritual hammer spell...which hits the giant but with minimal damage. (5 hp dmg)

The giant slams his right hand down in an attack while scooping up lava and flinging it with his left.

The right hand goes after Shae...who successfully dodges it.

The lava sweeps out toward Kahan and Tahldar...
...Tahldar steps out of the way
...but Kahan is hit by smoldering hot lava that burns and scorches his flesh. (23 damage (of which 7 is burning damage).)



Lava giant: 123/162 hp
AC: -8


This message was last edited by the GM at 01:38, Thu 13 May 2021.

Despite having images of himself swirling around him, he still wants to be out of easy reach of the lava throwing Giant.

Backing up, he begins to cast again.

OOC:  Tahldar is flying so he'll move east away from the Giant and cast another magic missile.  He also still has 4 mirror images going that he cast not long ago and none have been hit yet.  In case he is targeted.

10:39, Today: Tahldar of Tyrannia rolled 17 using 5d4+5 ((2,3,2,2,3)).

If Leo sees an opening he will try to attack.

Edited to add Kahan's spiritual hammer.

Leo can try his backstab but needs to jump to the rock outcropping as mentioned earlier, with a chance of falling into the lava.

"Can anyone use poison, or perhaps a loud shrieking noise? That might work better!" the priest suggests hopefully, wondering if Tahldar or Shapfren had any such spells in their repertoire. He continues focusing on his spell while keeping himself distanced from the others if possible.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:18, Thu 13 May 2021.

Leo will attempt to jump over what he needs to...

Shae tries to distract the giant to attack her as she moves south, hoping her new armor will be of assistance. "Don't we have new spells or items that we found and can use? I remember an ice knife spell and other things in a scroll."

Then she braces herself and tries out the new spell she has been waiting to try as she tries to get the giant to attack her.

(Casting blade barrier.)

When Shapfren pops up out of the northern tunnel, she immediately begins singing and casting shadow monsters--calling forth a two headed troll .

ROUND 3
Shapfren pops up singing from the tunnel, distracting the giant while casting...

Leo jumps to the rock to begin his attempt at a backstab...

Tahldar flies east as he is casting. Magic missiles fly from his hands, hitting the giant. (17 hp dmg).

Shae is casting...

Kahan continues focusing on his spiritual hammer spell...

A two headed troll appears just south of Shae, roaring at the giant. (It can attack next round.)

Shae casts blade barrier, which erupts into a wall of circling, razor sharp blades that whirl and flash around the giant. (I am assuming around the giant since that would be the most harmful to him.)

Kahan's spiritual hammer strikes out...but misses the giant.

The giant focuses his left attack on Shapfren and his right attack on the two headed troll...

...his fist comes down massively on Shapfren, smashing her against the nearby pillar. (35 hp dmg)

...his spray of lava flies up but misses the two headed troll, creating a glowing red wall that splashes harmlessly against Tahldar's magic wall to the south.

And then Leo leaps, making an astounding backstab on the giant. (24 hp dmg.) The giant screams in pain. Leo is on the giant's back, holding onto his scorching hot hair as if holding onto reins. (He will have to continue to try to attack the giant from behind with the risk of being thrown off (and into lava or the ground area), or he can attempt to try to leap back to dry land.) (Giant failed save vs. poison and is now poisoned from Leo's Frehelian dagger. He also suffers from continued bleeding effects.)

The giant also squeals in pain from coming into contact with Shae's whirling blade barrier. (25 hp dmg.)

Lava giant:
57/162 hp
AC: -8
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:54, Thu 20 May 2021.

The battle is getting chaotic and frenzied...Tahldar keeps casting and dips again into his reservoir of spells.

OOC:  Tahldar will cast magic missile again.  14pts total.  (darn dice roller!)

10:11, Today: Tahldar of Tyrannia rolled 14 using 5d4+5.  Magic Missile.

Shae switches to her spear again, throwing and recalling it.

Kahan continues focusing on his spell, moving to the cover of the stone pillars.

Shapfren is reeling from the pain, now nearly unconscious. Following Tahldar's example, Shapfren also fires out a magic missile at the giant while she takes steps back.

Not clear what Leo is doing next. I may have to make a guess...

Leo will continue to try and damage the giant with stabs.

(not sure why I missed the post, it didn't show up red in my feed for some reason.)