Once everyone is back in the centre room, and the items have been stowed, Matrim will begin the descent to the next floor; weapon at the ready in case of the monster or other enemies.

The adventurers continue exploring the abandoned cairn,
moving down the second spiral staircase (in D1), to the lower level (D15) ...

-------------------

Current map, and an old map, so you can look at all the runes found.

One weird rune pair floats in the first room of the first dungeon level,
while another weird rune pair floats in the first room of the second dungeon level.

MAP OF LEVEL 2 (current)

RUNES OF LEVEL 1 (old)

-------------------

D15 : Lower Landing

The staircase spirals down to the smooth floor of this level. This room
seems more cramped than the ones upstairs, probably due to the lower ceiling.
There is a doorway in each of the five walls. A large black rune, identical to
the one in the room above, but with a smaller rune floating above it, hangs in
the air. Each rune is located above a small glowing dot.

The adventurers continue exploring, moving into area D26 ...

D26 : Vault Entrance

This five-sided room is barely large enough to accomodate the spiral
staircase that leads downward into the darkness. The last vestige of
a continual light spell fades in and out on the ceiling.

This spiral staircase leads from dungeon level 2, down to dungeon level 3.

The adventurers continue exploring, moving into area D22 ...

D22 : Forge Antechamber/Supplies

Fragments of crates and other refuse litter the floor of this room.
A metal pipe emerges from one wall, hanging over a small grate in the
floor. The smell of metal and smoke is faint in the air. A dim glow
comes from the center of the ceiling.

As the adventurers stand in this room, they notice :
- There are two passageways leading from this room, leading deeper into the dungeon.
- An awful stench of rotting refuse comes from the first (upper) passageway.
  The adventurers cannot see far down this passageway, as though the area
  may be cloaked in deliberate magical darkness.
- Flickering, moving light can be seen coming from the otherwise-dark room beyond
  the other, shorter passageway. The adventurers believe that a light source is
  moving-around near the ceiling of the room.

How do the adventurers proceed ?
- Investigate the longer passageway leading into a terrible stench of darkness ?
- Investigate the shorter passageway leading to flickering lights on the ceiling ?
- Move back to area D15 (or elsewhere) and proceed differently ?

Whatever the decision, initiative rolls too, please ...

-------------------

Matrim will slowly head down the corridor towards the flickering lights, weapon at the ready.

Initiative: 19

Action: Holding Dodge Action. Trigger is if an enemy makes an attack or comes into range.

Myra stands back letting the others go before her as she stays at a distance, her bow at the ready with a +1 arrow. She keeps her eyes keen for any possible movement.

15:41, Today: Myra Highbrow rolled 12 using 1d20+4.  Initiative.
Holding action to shoot the first enemy that attacks from an adjacent square to an ally that Myra can see.

15:47, Today: Myra Highbrow rolled 14 using 2d20+9, dropping the lowest dice only.  Attack roll.
Sorry rolled with advantage by mistake. One roll was a 5 and the other a 6. The result above is from the 5.
15:51, Today: Myra Highbrow rolled 10 using 1d6+8.  Damage roll.
15:52, Today: Myra Highbrow rolled 12 using 3d6.  Sneak Attack Damage roll.

Tali, as always a few steps behind Matrim, and as usually appearing unarmed, steps lightly, her hands twitching at her side.

Many clerics had the power to dismiss magical darkness using a likened light spell, and wizards could also dismiss the darkness, but Tali either had not the spell to do this or simply did not have the spell on hand. Her magic was focused on nature - her speciality.

So she focused on what she could- keeping her friends healthy.

---

<OOC: will follow Matrim 5 feet back

Talianythn rolled 14 using 1d20+2.  iniative.>

At this stage ...

Matrim (with high initiative) takes a few steps down the short hallway,
and can see from the flickering-moving pattern-shadows cast into the
hallway, that there are at least three flying-moving light sources in the
room at the end of the hallway. Matrim has not yet moved close enough
to see the light sources ...

... and Bhelmyr has yet to roll initiative and act,
so we'll wait for him before going any further.


MERRY CHRISTMAS !

Bhelmyr will follow Matrim's lead.

Oops, I rolled, but I didn't post anything!
23:16, Fri 17 Dec: Bhelmyr Godstouched rolled 4 using 1d20+2.  initiative.

Combat ! Round 1

19 Matrim
18 Grundold
17 Fulthor
14 Talianythn
12 Myra
11 Bryce
8 Gilthan
4 Bhelmyr
3 Daniel

19 ???

----------

The adventurers and hirelings are crammed in D22 : Forge Antechamber/Supplies,
while Matrim takes a few steps down the short passageway towards D24 : Forge.

D24 : Forge

The smell of fire and metal hangs heavy in the air here. Three
great forges are set into the walls, each with a large anvil nearby.
The three forges interiors' all glow with a dim redness, but no fires
are lit within them. A strange scorch-mark has been burned on the floor
in the shape of a thin 5' tall humanoid.

Matrim stands at the entrance to the room.
He can see, flying swiftly about, in a wild random manner,
near the ceiling of the room, three small thin creatures.
They are humanoid, about 3' tall, winged, thin, and odd-looking.
Their thin, pointy bodies glow with a faint redness.

As Matrim watches, he seen an occasional glowing-red drop of
something fall from one of the creatures. Matrim sees that
when a drop hits the floor, it smolders and burns for a few
seconds, before cooling and fading. The creatures have not
noticed Matrim yet.

----------

Check out the MAP.

Check out the initiative order.

Matrim can add/alter a couple-of-steps of movement and an action.
Other adventurers can expand upon their round 1 actions, too,
now that Matrim has spied what is in the next room.

Also, HAPPY NEW YEAR !

Matrim will stop, back up a few steps, and say to his comrades "Use Ranged weapons if you have it. They drip molten fire."

Matrim will also ready 2 lightning bottles.

Round 2:
Matrim will charge into the room, ending up by the southern exit, but not going through it, and lob a lightning bottle towards one of the three flying creatures (The farthest one)

To Hit: Matrim Rogthor rolled 12 using 1d20+2
Damage: Matrim Rogthor rolled 6 using 2d6

Action: Throw lightning bottle at one of the fly creatures.
Movement: Up to 40 feet towards the southern exit, but not going through it.
Edit: If hit, teh creature cannot take reactions until my next turn.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:43, Sat 01 Jan 2022.

At Matrim's instructions,
Grundold Greyaxe the stern dwarf simply grunts, and grips his battlexe tightly,
while Fulthor swaps his longsword for his light crossbow and nods his
understanding at the goliath.

------------

Next up : Talianythn

Tali looked at the creatures over Matrim's shoulder with a perplexed look. She had never seen such a thing, but Matrim was sure they were dangerous. This moreso when one dripped something that hissed on the floor.

Tali was a follower of nature, and her magic was based in live, something that fire readily consumed. She began a chant and sent a column of flame erypt from the ground up to the closest beast

---

<OOC: Action - Cast sacred flame.

De 15 saving throw or take 10 damage

Talianythn rolled 10 using 2d8.  sacred flame damage.

Bonus action - none>

Myra takes aim at one of the ones Tali didn't shoot at and releases an arrow at it.

Myra attacks with a +1 arrow at one of the ones not already aimed at.
12:37, Today: Myra Highbrow rolled 9 using 1d20+8.  Attack roll.

And not that I think it hits, but...
12:43, Today: Myra Highbrow rolled 11 using 1d6+8.  Damage roll.

Myra, we can use the rolls you made a few posts above,
as those rolls were intended for round one (which is now),
and have not been used.

OOC: Ah ok. Thank you! Yea I rolled without remembering that I did that and thought it didn't count because not all the conditions were met.

Watching to see how his allies attacks fare, Bhelmyr will evoke three darts of magic force at the creature that seems to be hit the hardest, or if neither are hit, whichever is closest to his wounded allies.

Move: Next to Matrim.
Action: Level 1 magic missile at specified enemy for 10 damage

13:33, Today: Bhelmyr Godstouched rolled 10 using 3d4+3.  Magic Missile combined damage, level 1.

Combat ! Round 1

19 Matrim
18 Grundold
17 Fulthor
14 Talianythn
12 Myra
11 Bryce
8 Gilthan
4 Bhelmyr
3 Daniel

19 ???

----------

Check out the MAP.

----------

Matrim charges into the room, ending up by the southern exit.
He lobs a lightning bottle towards one of the three flying creatures,
hitting it squarely in the chest.

The lightning bottle explodes in a small blast of shocking-blue-electricity,
zapping the little flying creature ! It's definitely injured and irritated.

Grundold knows he's slower than the other members of the party,
so moves to near the passageway leading into the chamber,
and waits.

Fulthor also moves forward.

Talianythn moves forward, into the entrance to the chamber,
and casts sacred flame at the injured flying creature.
DM rolled 13 using 1d20+1.  ?? dex save
The sacred flame scorches the already-zapped and irritated creature.

The creature's irritation increases considerably, as it falls to the ground,
scorching the dirty-dusty floor with a weird otherworldly-heat.
Injured, but not dead, it flaps around on the ground for a few seconds,
before standing up on thin-spindly little legs,
to look around angrily.

Myra follows Talianythn into the narrow passageway.
Myra kneels down next to Talianythn, in order to see past her and into the chamber.
She takes aim at one of the creatures Talianythn didn't shoot at and releases an arrow at it.
The arrow flies past the creature,
smashing into the ceiling and breaking.

The arrow slams into the little torso of the creature.
The arrow carries the little creature through the air,
and while lodged through the creaure's body, finds a crack in the wall,
resulting in a pinned-to-the-wall little creature.
The little creature is dead.

Bryce and Gilthan both takes a few steps forward.

Bhelmyr pushes forward, ending up behind Myra in the cramped passageway.
Bhelmyr also kneels and peers past Myra and Talianythn into the chamber.
Spying the injured creature standing in the chamber, Bhelmyr casts magic missile.
The missiles twist their way past the adventurers in the narrow passageway,
entering the chamber and slamming into the little creature,
tearing it's body apart !
The creature explodes in a small burst of molten lava.
(Luckily nobody was standing right next to it !)
The creature is dead.
(Two more remain flying around in the room.)

Daniel, still feeling a little-beaten-up,
*shrugs* and loiters near the rear of the group.

----------

Two One of the little creatures flyies around in random-circular-patterns
near the ceiling of the room. Noticing the intrusion into their lair,
they fly it flies towards Matrim and attacks.

One of the little creatures hovers in the air just above Matrim.
(within melee range)
With a little lava-grin, it exhales a 15' cone of fire, engulfing Matrim in flame !
DM rolled 9 using 2d6.  fire breath
(Matrim, make a DC 11 dex save. pass = 4 damage, fail = 9 damage)
Matrim is burned !

The other little creature also flies close and hovers near Matrim.
This creature flaps it's wings in rapid-motions and waves it's
little spindly arms about, all while chanting in a teeny-tiny voice.

Matrim <REMOVED>

Matrim can see the inside of the furnaces more clearly than before.
He can see the swirling red-hot magic of the furnace interiors.
He sees dark shadowy shapes twist and move within the
red-hot magical furnace interior.

----------

DM has NOT adjusted BIOs for damage taken.
Depending on Matrim's saving throw rolls,
he'll take either 14 fire damage, or 19 fire damage.

Matrim, please make those rolls as detailed above,
then adjust your own BIO. Thanks !

Adventurers can move (squeeeze) past each other in the narrow hallway,
with only a minor hindrance to move-distance,
so feel free to move into the room next round.

----------

edit :
- forgot to use the good rolls for Myra's attack
- I've striked out all the actions of the now-slain creature
- Matrim only takes the damage from the fire-breath (4 or 9)
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:40, Sun 16 Jan 2022.

Dex Save: Matrim Rogthor rolled 18 using 1d20+2

Shrugging off the fire damage, Matrim will lob his second lightning bottle into the furnace, hoping that if there are things and not just shadows in it, they will get damaged.

To Hit: Matrim Rogthor rolled 9 using 1d20+2
Damage: Matrim Rogthor rolled 2 using 2d6

Bio Adjusted: 4 fire damage
Movement: None
Action: throw lightning bottle
Free action: Draw Bone-breaker 

OOC: Correct me if I am wrong please, but we are down to one of those little creatures right?

Myra wastes no time in drawing back her bow string, moving to get a clearer shot, and taking it at the last remaining enemy.

Move: Into the room for a clearer shot.
Action: Myra attacks with her +1 bow and a +1 arrow at the last enemy still alive.
20:45, Today: Myra Highbrow rolled 18 using 1d20+9.  Attack roll.
20:46, Today: Myra Highbrow rolled 14 using 1d6+8.  Damage roll.
20:46, Today: Myra Highbrow rolled 6 using 3d6.  Sneak Attack Damage roll.
Hit with an 18 for a total of 20 damage.

Sorry for any confusion.

- There is only ONE of the little creatures visible and alive.
- TWO have been slain.
- (Matrim is investigating the shadows inside the furnaces ...)

Bhelmyr moves into the room, careful not to get too close to any of the little creatures that may remain. If there is still another left, he burns it with celestial radiance.

Action: Sacred flame. DC 15 dex save or take 6 damage.
16:02, Today: Bhelmyr Godstouched rolled 6 using 2d8.  Sacred Flame Damage, Dex DC 15 to avoid.

Tali saw the dispatching of two if them, and Matrim exploring the shadow. Bhelmyr and Myra seemed to have things u derived control so she backed the goliath up. "Careful Matrim....we don't know what else lurks and you already have some burns."

---

<ooc: Tali will hd her action this round>

Combat ! Round 2

19 Matrim
18 Grundold
17 Fulthor
14 Talianythn
12 Myra
11 Bryce
8 Gilthan
4 Bhelmyr
3 Daniel

19 ???

----------

Check out the MAP.
(UPDATED !)

----------

Matrim shrugs off the fire damage and lobs his second lightning bottle into the furnace.
KAZAAK-FWOOSH !!!
The furnace flares up in a sudden blaze consisting of magical red flame, molten pieces of lava,
and magical electricity. This stirs something inside the furnace, and as the blaze dies down
after a few seconds, Matrim can see multiple shapes moving rapidly about within the furnace !
It looks like at least two more of the little lava creatures have been stirred into activity !
Watching this, Matrim draws his weapon, Bonebreaker.

Grundold *sighs* and taps his food impatiently.
Blasted *grumble grumble* What's the damn hold up ?
Let me past so my axe can find it's mark !

Fulthor , standing nearby, listens to the disgruntled dwarf.
Smiling, he says, Patience, friend. Can only fit so many sardines into a tin, haha !

Talianythn moves into the room, and up to Matrim,
healing the goliath with her cure wounds spell.
Matrim is fully healed.

Myra wastes no time in drawing back her bow string,
taking a single step forward into the arched-entrance oo the chamber to get a clearer shot,
and releasing her arrow at the one visible flying creature near Matrim.
The arrow slams through the creature's body, carrying it towards the nearby wall.
The arrow pins the creature to the wall, where it helplessly writhes, unable to get free !

Bryce and Gilthan hold their weapons ready ...

Bhelmyr steps past Myra into the room.
Surveying the situation, he sees the helpless creature pinned by Myra's arrow.
With a simple gesture, Bhelmyr brings a sacred flame down upon the creaure ...
(I am treating the pinned creature as grappled,
and also making it use disadvantage on the dex save.)
DM rolled 9 using 2d20+1, dropping the highest dice only
The creature, pinned with an arrow through it's torso,
writhes in terrible agony as the sacred flame of Bhelmyr
scorches it's red flesh down to the bone, killing it.

Daniel takes a few steps forward, to get a better view into the room.

----------

Suddenly, from within the furnace where Matrim threw the lightning bottle,
burst two more creatures : magma mephits !

The first new magma mephit, furious at being stirred into activity,
flies a few quick circles in the air, before stopping momentarily near Matrim and Talianythn ...
... to breath out a cone of fire, engulfing Matrim and Talianythn !
DM rolled 12 using 2d6.  fire damage : mephit breathe

The second new magma mephit, also furious, also flies around the room.
As it passes Bhelmyr, it also breathes a cone of fire, engulfing Bhelmyr !
The cone of flame almost reaches Myra, crouched in the arched-entrance.
DM rolled 3 using 2d6.  fire damage : mephit breathe

----------

Matrim and Talianythn, please make DC 11 DEX saves.
pass = take 6 fire damage
fail = take 12 fire damage

Bhelmyr, please make a DC 11 DEX save.
pass = take 1 fire damage
fail = take 3 fire damage
(this mephit has terrible aim and the flames were
waaay off target, barely grazing Bhelmyr)

- DM has adjusted BIOs:
 - Matrim healed by Talianythn

During this fight :
- Three magma mephits have been slain,
- and two new magma mephits have erupted from the furnaces.
- There are two visible enemies now : the two new magma mephits.

----------
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:24, Tue 25 Jan 2022.

<OOC: Sorry....Must have cut off mid post.

Will cast Heal woulds, second level on Matrim if he is wounded this round\

Talianythn rolled 14 using 2d8+3.  cure wounds.
Heals 14hp IF wounded>
This message was last edited by the player at 22:08, Sat 22 Jan 2022.

Updated the ROUND 2 post, above.

It's now time to :
 - make those saving throws
 - declare actions for ROUND 3.

Let's slaughter these pesky magic heat-source creatures,
and check out the rest of this ancient dungeon !

Myra draws back and shoots at one of the mephits.

Move: None
Action: Myra attacks with her +1 bow and a +1 arrow at the mephit that looks the least wounded.
05:43, Today: Myra Highbrow rolled 25 using 1d20+9.  Attack roll.
05:44, Today: Myra Highbrow rolled 11 using 1d6+8.  Damage roll.
05:45, Today: Myra Highbrow rolled 11 using 3d6.  Sneak Attack Damage roll.
Hit with an 25 for a total of 22 damage.
Bonus Action: None