Ulfgar shook his head no.  "Not sure where that leads..." he said, tilting his head back toward the other, open passage.

"Keep in mind, if I cast the Stone Shape spell, we'll get them when they're armed with picks and such.  Hell, if I time it right, I might get a few mid swing, which'll throw 'em way off balance." Frostbeard offered.

”We don’t know for sure who is on the other side of the rock.” Jenna said. There was a chance it might be the gnomes. Or someone else that didn’t want to kill or enslave them. Granted it was probably a slim chance so Jenna took up a position where she could fire a Guiding Bolt at the opening should Ulfgar make it reappear.

"Okay, the front door it is," Corros nods. "Let's just make sure we don't slam some slaves we're trying to save, yeah?  After that, we'll deal with whatever else is out there."  The power of The Library is already beginning to coalesce in his hands, a Shatter spell starting to take form.

The slim warlock takes his place behind Jenna, taking comfort in her presence and knowing that's where she'd prefer him to be anyway.  In a totally non-dirty way.

Nicolai nods, checks his angles, and puts his back to the stone in a place where he'll be just out of the peripheral vision of anyone coming through the door.  Assuming "anyone" has a normal humanoid eye arrangement, anyway.  He unsheathes his rapier with his stronger left hand and lets the sun blade's hilt drop into his right.  He doesn't awaken the artifact yet, though, saving that for a last-second surprise.

The sound of picks striking stone continues, growing louder as the rock on the opposite side is chipped away. It's repetitive and jarring, especially with only anticipation to accompany it. Finally, bits of rock crumble from the near side of the barrier. A small hole appears, then the pointy end of a pick. It disappears, reappears, gets hung up temporarily on the ledge of the opening. No light shines through. Whoever/whatever is digging apparently does not require light to see. The hole grows, then the wall collapses, creating a opening the size of a standard door. The companions stand back, trying to stay out of the diggers' line of sight. A grey dwarf steps through the hole, followed a moment later by another. They don't see the lurkers until...


Your Turn.

-

With the enemy identified, Corros grasps the power whirling around his fingers and calls forth The Library.  He can see the figures emerging from the newly mined door.  A combination of harsh words and fine finger movements delicately places a spell of destruction a foot or so behind the second dwarf to emerge and announces the presence of The Five with an ear shattering explosion.

This place really does attract all kinds of trouble.

Corros
AC 13, 61/61 HP
Casting Shatter directly behind the second dark dwarf to emerge, 4th level, 5d8 damage, save for half

A violent explosion shakes the ledge, completing the destruction of Ulfgar's magical stone wall. Buffeted by the blast, the lead pair of Duergar stumble but don't fall, the worst effects of the explosion behind them. There are others beyond the opening, revealed now by its violent widening. Two figures are flung down by the destructive power of the warlock's spell. There are others behind them, still on their feet and preparing to fight.

D1 -10HP
D2 -10HP
D3 -10HP
Orc = dead
Human = dead
D4 uninjured
D5 uninjured
D6 uninjured

Your Turn.

-

Jenna points towards the first figure that she can see that appears to be unharmed, calls on the Goddess's divine power to let loose a bolt of radiant energy.

Jenna
Ac 21
Hp 56/56
Level 3 guiding bolt at D4

Ulfgar cast a spell as the evil dwarves emerged through the opening.  "Ewch ati!" he commanded, as green Faerie Fire enveloped the doorway area.  Hopefully some would stick to these menotho-knurlags*!

*Dwarven Equivalent to 'Bad Hombres'

Ulfgar Frostbeard
Casting Faerie Fire in the middle of the group.  20ft cube, DC16 DEX Save to avoid.  Effect: An attack can be made with advantage against any creature or object that is affected by this spell and that creature or object cannot become invisible.

Gods Corros curses silently.  He doesn't specify which ones.  Time in The Library has dissuaded him of the unique nature of any one of them.  Instead, he invokes all of them.  It makes the swearing feel extra good.

And he deserves to swear.  He can see well enough behind the first group of advancing dwarves that he has blasted another pair of humanoids into shapeless piles at the feet of his adversaries.  The warlock really hopes they weren't slaves but willing accomplices.  The Five probably owe it to them to try and find out.

Corros steps slightly to the side and flings two blasts of energy into the face of the first dwarf to emerge.

They're going to have to press hard to get to his victims in time.

Corros
AC 13, 61/61 HP
Casting 2x Eldritch Blast at D1, +8 to attack, d10+5 damage each.

The Sun Blade ignites as Nicolai subvocalizes the phrase of command.  Given the magical energies shrieking and reverberating through the cavern, let alone his own weapon's thoroughly unsubtle nature, he doesn't really need to be discreet, but some things are ingrained deeper than mere habit now.

He notes the crumples forms of the human and orc as obstacles to be avoided.  A small part of his mind tugs at the same concern that's dawning for Corros, but - sucks to be the hostage is a universal truth.

The better part of his attention is turned toward the dancing fires of Ulfgar's magic wrapped around the underdwarves.  It's as good a mechanism as any for choosing a target.

Nicolai - AC 16 • HP 61/61 • Superiority Dice 4/4

Statuses: emitting sunlight (Sun Blade)

Wait: a moment for magic attacks to resolve
Bonus: activating Sun Blade
Move: into melee with nearest Faerie Fire'd Duergar
Attack x2: Sun Blade (attack +8 with advantage, damage 1d8+5 radiant) on duergar
Special: First successful attack gains +2d6 sneak attack damage from Faerie Fire advantage

Gronk moves into his customary position beside Nicolai, morning star cocked and ready to deliver a smashing blow at the first Duergar that steps into range.

Gronk
Moving into melee beside Nic
2x +9 melee attacks (possibly w/ advantage); 1d8 +8 damage
Riposte on tap

-

Jenna might be too close to the point-dwarf for her Guiding Bolt spell to work. The Duergar might be exceptionally lucky. Either way, the priestess' spell fails and the Grey Dwarf somehow avoids the effect of the druid's Faerie Fire spell as well. No matter. Corros Eldritch blasts catches the first Duergar full force, blasting it backwards in a smoking heap.

Nic and Gronk combine to kill the second Duergar, the half-orc's brute force complementing Nic's sophisticated swordplay.

Just beyond the blasted threshold, four more Duergar glow with a shimmering, green light, enveloped in Ulfgar's Faerie Fire. A seventh Grey Dwarf, at the very back of the ragged formation, is there one second, gone so fast that the adventurers are left to wonder if they'd just imagined him.

The Duegar are taken completely by surprise by the unexpected onslaught.

D1 is dead!
D2 is dead!
D3 wounded, granting advantage
D4 granting advantage
D5 ""
D6 ""
D7 invisible?


Your Turn.

-

"Next," Nicolai hisses, pointing at the third Duergar in line.  He steps forward with Gronk to continue their work.

Nicolai - AC 16 • HP 61/61 • Superiority Dice 4/4

Statuses: emitting sunlight (Sun Blade)

Move: into melee with D3/D4
Attack x2: Sun Blade (attack +8 with advantage, damage 1d8+5 radiant) on D3
Bonus: attack with rapier (attack +7 with advantage, damage 1d8+4 piercing)
Special: f1irst successful attack gains +2d6 sneak attack damage from Faerie Fire advantage

Contingency: if D3 goes down, shift remaining attacks to D4

Corros advances with the violence being inflicted on the dwarves.  The Five are like a wave in this moment, rolling back their enemy.  The disappearance of the final dark dwarf <i>does</>T raise a few red flags in the warlocks mind, flags that he will address should they become a problem.  For now, he wants to close the distance between himself and the human soon to be permanently dead body on the ground.

With the Library wrapping it's protective energies around him, Corros moves and unleashes another blast of energy.


Corros
AC 13, 61/61 HP
Advancing toward the bodies on the ground behind Nic and Gronk (move action)
Casting 2x eldritch blast at the next D in line. +8 to hit, d10+5 damage each
Counterspell ready for possible enemy spell caster as reaction

"Let the flames cleanse these Dwarven abominations!" Ulfgar intoned as he created a small mote of fire in his hand and tossed at the fifth of the original Duergar foes.

Ulfgar Frostbeard
Staying 25 foot away from D5
AC: 18, HP: 84
Casting Cantrip Produce Flame @D5.  +8 to hit (w/Advantage), 2d8 fire damage.

Jenna has no time to dwell on the fact that her first attack has missed. Rather, she moves to one side so that she can get a clear shot as Nicolai and Gronk advance, the air around her suddenly alive with raw energy as Corros and Ulfgar launch their own onslaughts. Eyes that are milky pools of white pick out the next in line, the green aura that surrounds him highlighting him as she raises her hand, invokes the Goddess's name and sends her own bolt of radiance arcing towards him.

Jenna
AC 21, HP 56/56
Casting Level 3 guiding bolt at D6
This message was last edited by the player at 21:44, Mon 17 Sept 2018.

Gronk moves in step with Nicolai, ready to knock down the next row of Duergar. The half-orc, ex-gladiator has developed an unspoken understanding with the Ardani, a symbiotic working relationship that imperils anyone or anything that stands in their way.

Gronk
Moving into melee beside Nic
2x +9 melee attacks (possibly w/ advantage); 1d8 +8 damage
Riposte on tap

-

Nic cuts down his first target (D3) with a quick flourish, then wounds the next Grey Dwarf (D4) with an almost casual flick of his wrist. Corros finishes the latter Duergar off with an Eldritch Blast, clearing his allies' respective paths to the next rank of Grey Dwarves. Ulfgar burns his target (D5) with a mote of magical fire; Gronk finishes off the scorched Duergar with a forehand blow from his trusty morning star. Jenna's bolt of divine radiance is so powerful, nothing is left of her target (D6) but a smoking, greasy stain on the tunnel floor. It's hard to tell over the sound of heavy breathing and echo of ringing steel, but the companions believe they can hear the soft slap of feet against rock receding down the now empty tunnel beyond. Bodies- six Duergar, one orc, and one human- litter the floor at their feet.


Your Turn.

-

The half-elven warlock doesn't waste time looking for more enemies, not with life literally bleeding out of the bodies on the ground.  His friends have proven time and again that they will protect him while he works, with their own bodies if need be.  Fear that he has struck down two relative innocents drives him into action.

Corros kneels near the human and presses his hands against the dying man's forehead.  He's never cast this spell, but it doesn't matter.  The Library pours the knowledge into its servant's mind, the words escaping his lips to halt bleeding and keep a soul from taking flight.  Even with the cantrip, the damage has been done and will take more than his meager healing powers to address.

And he knows they can't stay here for long.


Corros
Casting Spare the Dying on the human.

Nicolai fistbumps Gronk, then steps to one side of the door and puts his back to the wall.  "There's still one out there," he tells his battle buddy.  "Let's get set up in case he comes back with more friends."

Jenna watches as her enemy quite literally disintegrate before her eyes, the power of the Goddess striking him from this place as though he had never existed. Such was Arma's glory, Her might. Surely it was folly for any to try and stand against Her! And Jenna was the instrument of Her will, the conduit through which Her grace flowed out.

The Priestess takes a deep breath, a shiver visibly coursing through her a Corros moves forward. Corros. Her eyes close for a heartbeat as she steals a moment to revel in her lover's nearness. Yet what would Arma say? If Jenna was Her conduit then what did that mean when she was with Corros? It was a question that she knows not the answer to.

And one that there is no time to dwell on. For where these dark dwarves came from there were probably others. If, indeed, they had managed to kill all of these ones. Jenna is unsure and so shifts slightly so that she can send another bolt of Arma's power through the opening should any show themselves.

Gronk, relaxing just a bit in his fighting stance, smiles at the fist bump, and proclaims, "Coach told me never to get cocky but, damn, we're good."

He takes a few steps forward, stands in the middle of the tunnel, vigilant and ready to restart the fight, forming an ad-hoc half-orc roadblock so that Corros and the other casters can do their work.

-
This message was last edited by the player at 18:18, Sat 22 Sept 2018.

As Corros finishes his incantation, the dead man's eyes flutter open. He gasps. It takes a few seconds for Corros to calm him down. He has trouble speaking at first, and when the words finally come, he explains that there are gaps in his memory. In bits and pieces he recounts the tale of his capture.

"We were digging...

"Monsters attacked us. We ran. It was dark, I couldn't see anything...

"I heard someone calling my name- thought I did, at least. It was strange. It was like the voice was coming from inside my own head. I know this sounds crazy but... I started to follow it, then I...

"I fell."

He's quiet for a full minute, eyes closed as he dredges the dark recesses of memory.

"The next thing I can remember is... being in chains."

He looks pointedly at one of the fresh Duergar corpses. "These bastards caught me, I guess. Brought me here. Told me to dig."

When questioned about a certain elven monk, and a half-elf ranger he thinks hard for a few seconds.

"No, no elven monk but yeah, I remember a half-elf woman. She... I think she got away. I can't tell you when or where, though. Hells, I'm not even sure how long I've been down here."


Your Turn.

-

When revived, the Orc simply glares and snarls. He refuses to answer any questions. He clearly does not trust his strange saviors. He's too weak to fight, or perhaps he would.

-
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:06, Sun 23 Sept 2018.