Seeing the fracas, Cole springs to action and whips out Vera, ready to slice the statue that is attacking Jack.

Whump. At least that's what it sounded like to Jack as the previously inanimate object attempts to tackle and drown him. "I think I know what happened to the first statue!" Jack proclaims sardonically.

Sizing up his situation and noticing the nearby water, Jack puts all his strength into escaping the clutches of the statue and positioning himself toward the west wall and away from the flowing stream. "No thanks, I already bathed yesterday, no need for another one so soon after." he adds as he attempts to get better position and hopefully draw a weapon.

Elwood goes after the animated statue with his mace.

Anthony yelps and jumps back a foot. He then moves to help Jack out of the water, trying to stay well away from any statues. "Guardians. Animated guardians. It remains to be seen whether they animate as you pass them or upon another trigger, but we know better what to expect. Oh, that I had a spell to destroy stone. One to add to my wish list, indeed!"

He looks down the water. "This does tell us, however, that there is something worth protecting down that way. The real question is how to get past them. Perhaps there is a pass-phrase or the like that could be used."

As the party scrambles to action, the statue heaves mightily and tackles Jack into the stream.  The sheer weight of the statue causes 1 point of damage to Jack as it crashes on top of him.  The fighter is stunned for the rest of the round, but may try a strength check next round to try to get free.  Oh, and he is submerged in the stream with his breath knocked out of him.  Not good.

Dreya does her druid thing and enchants 3 pebbles with magic stones.  She can begin throwing them at the statue next round.

Cole flies to the fighter's rescue.  He slashes at the statue's exposed back for 3 points of damage causing chips of stone to explode from the statue.

Elwood tries to assist Cole, but his mace blow bounces harmlessly off the stone monster.

Anthony tugs at the statue to try to lift it off the soon-to-be-drowning Jack, but the weight is too much for his wee wizard arms.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
13:09, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Anthony, rolled 17 using 1d20.  Strength check to pull statue off Jack.
13:07, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Elwood, rolled 11 using 1d20+2.  Attack statue.
13:05, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Cole Hiller, rolled 3 using 1d8+2.  Damage to statue.
13:05, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Cole Hiller, rolled 24 using 1d20+6.  Attack the statue.
12:59, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Statue, rolled 1 using 1d6.  Crush damage to Jack.
12:57, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Statue, rolled 25 using 1d20+8.  Overbear Jack.
12:57, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Monsters, rolled 6 using 1d6.  Initiative.
12:56, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Party, rolled 2 using 1d6.  Initiative.

---

Elwood gets into the stream to help Anthony and Jack lift the statue off of Jack.

Dreya seems to freeze for a moment, staring at the spot where Sir Jack's head disappeared below water, her hands clutching the few pebbles she magically infused with the pull of natural energy around her. How...how would the half-elven breathe? Especially if the others could not get the statue off of him. Maybe, maybe she could...

Even as the thought flitted in her mind, Dreya is moving across the distance between her and the half submerged statue, shoving her magic pebbles into a pouch. Hands quickly untie her fox fur scarf from about her neck, the red-fured garment fluttering to the cave floor. The ties of her cloak are tugged free, the cloth fluttering to the dirt to join the scarf.

Then Dreya is plunging herself bodily into the water, the bite of icy coldness soaking through hide armor and cloathing alike.  With a huge lungful of air into her chest, she submerges completely under the surface, seeking Jack's face with her own. If she can, Dreya will try planting her mouth against his and breathing out air into Jack's mouth in her only idea for helping him breathe. And she will repeat as necessary whilst the guys push on the statue, her head breaking water just to draw in another breath of air to bring to Jack stuck within the water's depths.

[00C - this is providing Dreya can even gain access to Jack's head or if the statue is covering it too much.]
This message was last edited by the player at 13:07, Tue 30 May 2017.

Glub. Glub. That's about all the gets out of his mouth before Jack decides to simply hold his breath and save his air now that he's under water. His head a bit cloudy after being slammed and dumped into the stream, it takes a few moments to process exactly what's going on. When he starts to comprehend the predicament he's in, Jack uses all his strength to try and work his way out from under the statue and escape the flowing stream.

Seline not sure how she can help does the first thing that jumps to her mind and casts dragon image against the statue

Changing tactics, Cole sheaths Vera and rushes to aid the others in trying to wrest Jack from underneath the stone menace.

His arms proving unequal to the task, Anthony backs away and unleashes a bolt of magical energy at the statue causing Jack problems!

Cast Magic Missile.

With a mighty effort, Elwood, Jack, and Cole manage to heave the statue off of Jack and back onto shore.  As Jack comes up gasping from the cool embrace of the stream, Dreya flings her lips against the fighter's mouth and blows like his life depends on it.  I'd have Jack roll a charisma save to resist her supernatural charms, but some things just aren't talked about in polite company.

Seline and Anthony launch magical attacks against the statue.  Seline's Dragon Image does not appear to have any effect, but the magic missile crashes into the monster for 4 points of damage.  The wizard's spell seriously damages the statue.  Cracks and fissures appear throughout its torso, but it continues to struggle violently against Elwood and Cole in an effort to tackle the lip-locked Jack back under water.

Now that the statue is restrained, it is an easy matter for Jack to beat it to rubble.  Assuming no one objects to finishing off the statue, the party can assume it is out of commission.  There are still 2 more statues in alcoves between the party and the tunnel leading to the Temple of Pain.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
17:14, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Anthony, rolled 4 using 1d4+1.  Damage to statue from magic missile.
17:09, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Monsters, rolled 1 using 1d6.  Initiative.
17:09, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Party, rolled 6 using 1d6.  Initiative.

---

This message was last edited by the GM at 22:21, Thu 01 June 2017.

Anthony looks at the statues. "I hate to waste a spell on what I can surmise: those statues are likely magical. We may need to plan to destroy them before we go past."

Teeth chittering together as the soaked druid makes her way out of the stream, looking very much like a drowned rodent, she looks toward the statues as water drips onto the dirt at her feet.

Her gaze flicks to the roots dangling from the ceiling above the statues. Raising a hand, she urges the roots to grow and entangle.

Casts Entangle

Elwood looks at the roots entangle nges the statues. "That might work.  Anthony,  you're right,  we need to save or spells for Oswald.  I still have some of that chain in my backpack.  Maybe we can use that?  Lasso the chain around the neck of one, then hold tight as someone moves past them.  The statues only seemed to be fixated on anyone who passes them.  The rest of us can hold each one back with the chains and pulverize them."

"While I agree with what is being said, I don't think I will be of much use destroying the statues, if there is a way to destroy them without crossing their path that would be best."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:03, Mon 05 June 2017.

"I will aid in holding the statues back or beating them, whichever in needed."

Jack's face starts to turn red after Dreya's lifesaving techniques. He tries to think of something witty to say but comes up empty. "Ummm. Thank you." is about all he gets out in a hushed tone.

As the rest of the party starts addressing the problem of the remaining statues, Jack dumps some water out of his boots and gives his arms a few good shakes, trying to shed some excess and dry off a bit.

Looking ahead at the remaining statues, he thinks aloud "What happens if we wave our 10' pole in front of them or tap the ground with it?"

Regardless of what is decided, Jack stands ready to smash the statues if needed.

This looks like a problem for our temporary party leader to solve (or at least pick from available options).

In the meantime, Dreya's spell has the desired effect of causing roots to stretch down from the ceiling and seize the two remaining statues by the head.  You also note roots are twitching from the ceiling for a considerable distance down the corridor heading north.  You will have to wait until the spell's effects end or crawl if you want to go forward.

Anthony nods, and the party agrees to try Elwood's plan, hoping that Dreya's Entangle spell will hold the statues back enough as well. Anthonly volunteers to go first, since he isn't much good for holding or bashing.

Dreya stares at the ceiling with intense concentration, brow furrowed in effort.

Elwood, careful not to pass the statue and staying out of the entangle roots, tosses a loop of chain around the statue,  making site the chain is wrapped tightly around the statue's neck.  He grabs the ends tightly with both hands (hanging his shield behind his back).

"Oh...should I stop the roots?" Dreya asks.

Anthony shakes his head. "Please do not stop, Dreya. We need them in place now."

In reply to Elwood (msg # 198):

Lassoing can't work right now.  Roots have dangled from the ceiling and wrapped around the statue's neck.  To use a lasso, you would need to be able to toss the loop over the head of the statue, but the roots would block that currently.  You could try simply pulling the chain around the statue's neck.  Doing so would require you to move at least your arm in front of the statue.  The statue is too close to the back of the alcove for you to try to whip the chain around in an effort to avoid putting part of your body in front of it.

How do you want to proceed with the chain?