Matrim Rogthor rolled 14 using 1d20

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

The MAP !

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

Matrim steps into the northern hallway,
closely followed by Talianythn,
then Bhelmyr and Myra.

The hirelings wait in the room with the
large stone slabs and magic candle.

Suddenly !
An iron portcullus slams down from the ceiling behind Talianythn,
leaving Matrim and Talianythn in the passageway,
and Bhelmyr, Myra and the hirelings in the room.

A quick glance at the iron portcullus reveals it to be made of
sturdy iron bars. Four thick vertical bars and a few  thinner
cross-pieces for increased durability. Looking up, a groove in
the ceiling can be seen, from where the portcullus slid down from.
The top-most part of the portcullus is still firmly inside the
ceiling groove, while the bottom-most part of the four vertical
iron bars are wedged into four circular indentations in the floor.

A sound from the room ...
Matrim and Talianythn look towards the room .
They block the view of Bhelmyr and Myra.

In the faint green glow of the room beyond the passageway,
Matrim and Talianythn can see something move into view.

A menacing resemblance to a large human, the thing moves on
two legs and has two arms, but is obviously not of flesh and blood.
It's huge body looks to be constructed of rock and clay,
with rocky-lumpy arms and legs, and a formless rocky shape for a head.

It now stands still, and could be mistaken for a grotesque statue,
but Matrim and Talianythn are certain they saw it step into view
from the shadows of the room. It faces the passageway ...

Tali jumps as the portcullus drops, her face paling as she looks through the bars. Then she heard the sound, and turned, a squeak coming from her mouth. She moved to the side so as to give the others a clear view, while keeping her back to the wall.

"Matrim....did you see that move too?" she whispered.

Hearing the clunk of the iron bars fall into place, Matrim's breath caught. He glanced back, but hearing the squeak from Tali, his eyes shot forward, just in time to see the thing take a couple of steps.

Matrim takes a second to study the huge creature before responding, brain already deciding on what must be done.

"_{Yes, I did.}" Matrim says in a low growl. "_{But if it can move, it can die.}"

Standing to his full height, Matrim places himself between the grotesque creature and Tali.

The memory of an Undead Owlbear floats into Matrim's mind, but is pushed away. Matrim says with more bravado then he feels;

"Myra, Bhelmyr, work on the gate. Tali, do what you can to sustain or aid my fighting until the others can join in.
I will stand until I cannot."

Matrim will charge the creature, RAGE, and attack.

There are no roars of anger. No spittle flying from an open mouth.
This is the cold rage of a man who has one thought in his mind as he faces what could be his death.
The protection of his friend.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:51, Sat 16 Apr 2022.

Matrim will charge the creature, RAGE, and attack.

Everyone, please roll initiative.

DM rolled 13,21,20,18,6 using 1d20+1,1d20+1,1d20+1,1d20+1,1d20+1
five initiative rolls applied alphabetically to hirelings

DM rolled 2 using 1d20-1
clay golem initiative

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

21 Daniel
20 Fulthor
18 Gilthan
13 Bryce
6 Grundold

???
???
???
???

2 clay golem
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:23, Mon 18 Apr 2022.

14:04, Today: Myra Highbrow rolled 9 using 1d20+4.  Initiative.

18:44, Today: Bhelmyr Godstouched rolled 12 using 1d20+2.  initiative.

Initiative: Matrim Rogthor rolled 19 using 1d20+2

Attack 1:
To Hit: Matrim Rogthor rolled 19
Damage: Matrim Rogthor rolled 11

Attack 2:
To Hit: Matrim Rogthor rolled 19
Damage: Matrim Rogthor rolled 17

Bonus Action: RAGE
Action: Attack
Movement: To Golem, up to 40 ft.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:23, Wed 20 Apr 2022.

I'm sorry, I should have also said :
"... and declare actions !"

So, we have initiative rolls for Myra, Bhelmyr and Matrim.
We have Matrim's action.

We need :

- Talianythn's initiative and action.
- Myra's action.
- Bhelmyr's action.

Note where you are, the portcullus, etc.
Myra could attempt to shoot through the portcullus.
An attempt to lift the portcullus may work, with a good strength check.
At this stage, the hirelings will await instructions from nearby
adventurers, the nearest of which are Bhelmyr and Myra.

Tali watched as Mariam sprang into action, and as he did, uttered a short spell, lighting the room with an divine bolt of energy.

---

<OOC: Talianythn rolled 4 using 1d20+2.  Iniative

Action - Cast Guiding Bolt at Golem

Talianythn rolled 16 using 1d20+7.  Attack - guiding bolt.
Talianythn rolled 14 using 4d6. Damage - Guiding Bolt (If Hit)

Bonus Action - Non>

Bhelmyr will try casting radiant flames at the golem. He shouts, "Matrim! Try to stay within sixty feet of me, so I can heal you if you need it!"

Action: Cast sacred flame on golem. Dex save DC 15 or take 11 radiant damage. Ignores cover.
Bonus: Convert 3 Sorcery points into a 2nd level slot.
23:49, Today: Bhelmyr Godstouched rolled 11 using 2d8.  Sacred Flame Damage, Dex DC 15 to avoid.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:58, Thu 21 Apr 2022.

Myra will duck behind Bhelmyr and draw back her bow. She readies to fire an arrow. She waits only a moment for her friend to get into place then shoots. After releasing her arrow and seeing if it hit Myra pulls back to allow the others forward towards the portcullis. "I'm of no use in trying to lift things, but maybe you lot can do it. Help lift the portcullis up and out of the way please. We need to get out of this trap." Myra speaks first in general, then to the hirelings.


OOC:
Bonus Action: Hide
09:17, Today: Myra Highbrow rolled 15 using 1d20+7.  Stealth Check.
Action: Once Matrim is adjacent to the creature or if Myra has advantage on the shot then attack the creature with +1 bow and +1 arrow
09:19, Today: Myra Highbrow rolled 12 using 1d20+9.  Attack roll.
09:20, Today: Myra Highbrow rolled 17 using 1d20+9. Attack roll with Advantage.
09:21, Today: Myra Highbrow rolled 10 using 1d6+8.  Damage roll.
09:22, Today: Myra Highbrow rolled 14 using 3d6.  Sneak Attack Damage roll.
Movement: back out of the way so that the hirelings can step forward and start helping lift the portcullis.

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

COMBAT : ROUND 1

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

21 Daniel
20 Fulthor
19 Matrim
18 Gilthan
13 Bryce
12 Bhelmyr
9 Myra
6 Grundold
4 Talianythn

2 clay golem

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

The MAP !

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

Daniel and Fulthor move forward to stand near Myra and Bhelmyr.

Matrim rages and charges the golem, putting bonebreaker to good use.
Matrim chops! twice across the front of the golem's torso,
smashing large chunks of clay from the creature.

Gilthan and Bryce move forward to stand near Myra and Bhelmyr.

Bhelmyr shouts to Matrim, then casts sacred flame.
DM rolled 13 using 1d20-1. golem dex save
DM rolled 14 using 1d20-1. golem dex save advantage
The golem attempts to twist its massive form out of the way of the sacred flame,
but is too slow. The sacred flame scorches one of the golem's shoulders,
creating a small-but-thick cloud of black smoke around the golem and Matrim.

Myra takes only a few seconds to move into position, aim, and fire.
She watches the arrow disappear into the quickly-dissipating cloud of black smoke.
( The arrow thuds! directly into the centre forehead of the golem,
smashing a large chunk of its clay-head away. )

She then quickly turns and barks orders into the room.

The nearby hirelings take note of the not-to-be-underestimated halfling.

Grundold the dwarf strides forward,
looking Myra directly in the eye.
"Nothing to it", he says.

Grundold moves to the portcullus, plants his feet, takes hold of the bars, and lifts ...
DM rolled 25 using 1d20+5. Grundold athletics
(i swear to god, that was not fudged)

Grundold grunts and grits his teeth.
He keeps his arms straight and grabs the iron bars.
He starts with his knees bent, then straightens his knees ...
... raising the portcullus and creating a gap wide enough to crawl under !
(Grundold will need to roll really well again to maintain the lift,
but for now, the portcullus is partially-raised !)

As the portcullus rises behind her, Talianythn casts guiding bolt,
sending a damaging flash of light straight at the golem.
The guiding bolt punches straight through the golem,
further smashing off chunks of clay.

( As the golem starts its action,
  it should be noted that it just went from
  133 HP to 56 HP. Ouch ! brutal ! )

The golem moves its massive body away from Matrim,
by taking a few large slow steps back towards the shadows ...
(Matrim gets an opportunity attack here, now !)

Matrim sees the golem momentarily glow blue from within,
as though lit-up with an inner magic.
The glow then diminishes as the very badly damaged golem
turns and faces Matrim once more ...

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

Matrim, please make a single opportunity attack against the golem
at the start of your turn. Then act as normal. Thanks.

The golem can only be hit by magical weapons.
- bonebreaker is a great-axe, I think it's +1. I can't remember.
- arrows fired from a magical bow are considered magical.
  They pop! off the bowstring with a little bit of magical spark behind them.

Grundold is holding the portcullus up, high enough to crawl under.
He'll drop it on his next turn if he doesn't roll well enough on athletics.

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

Yup, +1!

Attack of Opportunity:
To Hit: Matrim Rogthor rolled 22
Damage: Matrim Rogthor rolled 12

Deep in his cold rage, Matrim admires his friends. Responding with a sharp "Yes!" to Bhelmyr, and knowing that his friends have his back, Matrim lets the rage take over, and will Recklessly Attack, in an attempt to keep this monstrosity at bay.

Attack 1:
To Hit: Matrim Rogthor rolled 28 (CRIT!)
Damage: Matrim Rogthor rolled 17 (5 on dice doubled, add 7)


Attack 2:
To Hit: Matrim Rogthor rolled 14
Damage: Matrim Rogthor rolled 15

Movement: to the Golem up to 40 ft. if possible stay within 60 ft. of Bhelmyr
Action: Reckless Attack
Bonus Action: None
This message was last edited by the player at 21:54, Wed 04 May 2022.

Tali, worried about this monstrous construct could think of nothing in her spells that would even slow it down, so she trusted her instincts to save her magic Should the warrior need healing. She held out her hand, calling the wyldmother to burn this beast in helping him.

---

<OOC: Action - Cast Sacred flame

Talianythn rolled 10 using 2d8.  sacred flame damage.

Dex save dc 15 or takes 10 Radiant Damage

Bonus Action - None>

Myra wasted no time in crawling under the portcullis and out the other side. She then drew back her arrow once she was on her feet once again and shot aiming at the golem. Once her arrow was released Myra ducked behind Tali hoping to hide herself from the creature.

OOC:
Action: While Matrim is adjacent to the creature Myra will attack it with the +1 bow and a +1 arrow.
16:06, Today: Myra Highbrow rolled 16 using 1d20+9.  Attack roll.
16:07, Today: Myra Highbrow rolled 14 using 1d6+8.  Damage roll.
16:07, Today: Myra Highbrow rolled 12 using 3d6.  Sneak Attack Damage roll.
Movement: Crawl under the portcullis and out the other side.
Bonus Action: Hide
16:08, Today: Myra Highbrow rolled 13 using 1d20+7.  Stealth Check.

Bhelmyr will scramble under the portcullis and move as close to Matrim as he can before summoning his spectral axe. If he can get in melee range in a single move, he will also swing his battleaxe, otherwise, he will send more sacred fire.


Move: 25 feet toward golem
Action: If close enough, attack golem with Battleaxe (+1 thanks to leather strap,) hitting AC 20 for 10 slashing damage Otherwise, cast Sacred flame, Dex DC 15 or take 5 radiant damage
Bonus: Cast Spiritual Weapon on golem, hitting AC 22 for 5 force damage

18:06, Today: Bhelmyr Godstouched rolled 22,5 using 1d20+7,1d8+3.  spiritual weapon attack, damage.
18:07, Today: Bhelmyr Godstouched rolled 5 using 2d8.  Sacred Flame Damage, Dex DC 15 to avoid.
18:09, Today: Bhelmyr Godstouched rolled 20,10 using 1d20+6,1d10+3.  battleaxe+1 two-handed attack, damage.

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

As the golem moves away, Matrim takes an opportunity attack,
slashing the golem across the side, knocking chunks of clay onto the floor.

< The golem has it's move, above ... >

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

COMBAT : ROUND 2

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

21 Daniel
20 Fulthor
19 Matrim
18 Gilthan
13 Bryce
12 Bhelmyr
9 Myra
6 Grundold
4 Talianythn

2 clay golem

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

The MAP !

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

Matrim moves towards the golem and attacks recklessly,
smashing his axe through the golem,
then swish! ... hitting nothing but air ...

Bhelmyr scrambles under the portcullis and moves through the short passageway,
stopping just inside the chamber.
Bhelmyr can see Matrim and the golem, but is not close enough to enter melee himself.
Bhelmyr summons a spectral axe and casts sacred flame.

DM rolled 15, 7 using d20-1,d20-1 golem dex save : advantage

The spectral axe chops! into the golem,
while the golem is able to just avoid the sacred flame.

Myra wastes no time in crawling under the portcullis.
Myra moves forward and stops just behind Bhelmyr.
Myra draws an arrow, takes aim, and shoots at the golem.

Myra watches the arrow thud! through the neck of the golem,
smashing clay, and removing the head,
which falls to the ground and smashes into large clay chunks.

The golem stops moving, sways a bit ...
... and falls to the ground with a loud thud !

It is immobile. Defeated. Dead.

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

Combat ends.
Everyone catches their breath.

Grundold successfully jams his battleaxe under the portcullis,
the other hirelings stand around scratching their chins,
and the adventurers find themselves in :

D21 : Wizard's Room

This room appears to have been swept clean at one point, but has
recently grown messy again. A stone bed and a stone table are here.

Bed-coverings and pillows are heaped onto the stone bed.
The stone table has some scattered papers and a dirty mug on it.

On the floor next to the stone table are three long-swords, two short-swords,
a bastard sword, a scimitar, and two daggers.

The room is otherwise empty.

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

There are two unexplored passageways remaining on this dungeon level.
There is the spiral staircase up in area D15.
There is the spiral staircase down in area D26.

After making very sure that the golem was dead Myra goes to retrieve whatever arrows she can.

Tali looked around the room, steering clear of the now dead golem she checked for anything hidden. As she did, she spoke. "Bring the swords - one may be magical and when i rest i can determine if it is or not."

---

<OOC: Talianythn rolled 20 using 1d20+4.  investigation check.>

Myra can retrieve only one arrow (you decide which one!),
while Talianythn takes a closer look at the chamber.

Talianythn can see that this chamber has been re-purposed by the bandit gang.

She believes that the bandit gang used it as a bedroom,
but originally it was probably used in the process of
creating magical items, which seems to be the overall
purpose of the entire caern.

Talianythn remembers the forges in a previously-visited chamber,
which contained magical fire mephit creatures.

This chamber, however, was an enchanting room, or similar,
used in the final stages of the magical item creation process.

Therefore, the weapons found here are probably magical,
but the magical nature of them may be a lingering effect of the environment itself,
and may not be particularly useful or powerful.

"Matrim, are you hurt?" Bhelmyr asked his friend.

Tali looked around and gathered the blades, wrapping them in a old cloak. "When next we rest, i will check these for magic. Until then, we will not use them."

She comes up beside the others.

Matrim takes a moment to let the rage ebb from his body. Once gone, he turns to his friend and answers "Surprisingly, no. I thought for sure that thing was going to be a repeat of the owlbear in the dungeon some time ago. Especially once we were separated. But I see we have all become stronger and wiser since then."

Matrim looks to his friends gathered around him. "Thank you. From the bottom of my heart. Never before have I found closer friends."

He lowers his voice before continuing:

"While I can still fight, I will not be able to fight as ferociously as before. I think now might be time to start getting our pays worth from our companions. Im not saying chuck them into the meat grinder, but lets keep a few in front with me for the remaining chambers."

Tali smiled and nodded, noting the barbarians weariness. "We will finish looking then find a place to rest. Until then I may need help carrying these."

She held the weapons up from the room.