Descending down there is a definite change in the feeling of the chamber. While the first floor was obviously carved hallways with periodic timbers and dim lighting hung at regular intervals this level seems to be more natural stone passages. The floor is very muddy often coming up to ankles (or knees in terms of Alyssa) which makes travel slower and more difficult.

There are still timbers to support the roof but they are not in neat regular intervals, instead lodged haphazardly where the walls and roof can support them. The walls are irregular and winding and clearly not carved with precision.

The stealthier members of the party are able to cautiously explore the tunnels, just poking around, confirming that there doesn't appear to be anything and mapping out natural exit points.

Tunnel D
This path leads to what appears to be an empty dirt-walled chamber but nobody from the scouting party entered to confirm that it actually is empty or if there is anything of interest or value within.

Tunnel E
Tunnel E leads to a long corridor and the scouting party goes as far as they feel comfortable before turning back as it starts getting too far away from the main party.

Tunnel F
Tunnel F leads to what looks like a large open area choked with mud.

Tunnel G
Tunnel G leads to another open area choked with mud. It is likely that Tunnel F and G lead to the same location but without entering the room and investigating further the scouting party is unable to conclude that definitively.

Tunnel H
This tunnel leads deeper into the complex and as with Tunnel E the scouting party turns back as they start getting deeper into the complex.

Arthua returned from checking the various corridors that branched out. "There so many paths. I've no idea which to take. So I'm electing to the nearest... which is right around the corner to our right. Let's head down that one."





Select H

---

Healed 7 (6 roll+1 Con) at the last short rest.
rolled 6 using 1d8 with rolls of 6.  HD Healing

"Sounds as good a place as any," Orila agreed with Arthua, shouldering her massive weapon as she prepared to follow (or lead) the others to the path indicated...

(go to H)

Walking around the bend reveals yet another fork in tunnels. To the North (H) lies a door frame with a swollen waterlogged door. To the South lies what looks to be yet another muddy slope leading to a pool of murky brown water (1).

"Let's check the door." Arthua  examined the water-logged door as he approached. Then he pulled his dagger and used it to examine the door further.


Traps?
20:06, Today: Arthua Silverten rolled 17 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 14.  Investigation.
20:06, Today: Arthua Silverten rolled 21 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 16.  Perception.

Arthua doesn't find any signs of traps but he does see the door is going to be difficult to open quietly because of the swelling.

Alyssa shook her head at yet another waterlogged door. "Any chances that these lower chambers are less occupied than the ones above?" The halfling kept her eyes behind the group as they sorted out the door.

"Hopefully. But they're also more likely to be flooded," the elf said, eyeing the swollen door warily.

Sensing that her companions wanted to try the door, Orila strode up to it and gave it a hearty push...

16:58, Today: Orila rolled 17 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 14.  Strength check (forcing door).

Talia held her halberd at the ready as Orilla tried the door.  “If you need a hand let me know”. Waiting and watching to see if the swollen door budged.

With a loud crunch the door splinters some of the rotten frame as it is forced open. Behind it is a large 50'x40' room with a large thick central pillar supporting the roof. The air is thick and putrid, smelling horribly of rot and death.

As the door opens and the group starts entering the room two large zombies appear. They appear desiccated and their skin is in an advanced stage of rot.

Locals like Talia and Alyssa recognize one of them as a townswoman who went missing about four months ago and never returned. The constable (that you found out was a cultist) had claimed they had found her body, dead by bandits in a robbery gone wrong.

Shocked to see such utter blasemphy against the preciousness of life itself, Orila momentarily recoiled from the zombies before she gathered the nerve to confront the pair and end their horrid existence. Hefting her maul, she swung at the nearest dead-thing...

OOC: move - to BK96
         action -- attack zombie
17:59, Today: Orila rolled 11 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 6.  Maul attack (AC 13).
     bonus -- second wind (HP recovery)
18:01, Today: Orila rolled 4 using 1d10+2 with rolls of 2.  Second Wind (HP roll).
    (4 HP gained, HP from 12/22 to 16/22)

... and promptly missed.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:36, Fri 10 July 2020.

These creatures may have been wholesome townsfolk once, but they clearly were no longer. And they weren't simply mind-controlled, either, like the ones the party had encountered earlier. There was something wrong with them, deeply wrong.

Glynnelis held forth his holy symbol in an effort to turn them away. When they kept coming, he called down a sacred flame to burn them.

DC 13 Dex save or nearest zombie takes 6 radiant damage.
Glynnelis Huntinghawk rolled 6 using 1d8 with rolls of 6.  Sacred flame.

Alyssa tried peering into the room through the forest of legs. Apart from spying some rotting legs, the halfling kept her eyes and her bow readied behind the group.

Arthua followed closely behind Orilla. He darted to her left and stabbed with the rapier as soon as she struck. "Hya!" He skidded back once he withdrew the blade.


Move to BK95
Action: Attack with rapier
rolled 22 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 17.  ATK w/Rapier
rolled 9 using 1d8+3 with rolls of 6.  Damage
rolled 3 using 1d6 with rolls of 3.  Sneak Attack Damage.

Bonus: Disengage, move to BK94

Talia charges forward and with her halbred cuts one of the zombies down. She strikes it across the chest and it topples backwards, lying still on the ground.

Orila moves forward as well to attack but the zombie comes forward fast and spoils her attack.

Alyssa gets an arrow ready but holds.

Glynnelis brings down holy fire from the heavens and the other zombie erupts into flame and collapses as well at Orila's feet.

Shalimar, Yry, and Arthua cautiously enter the room but no further threats present themselves.

Yry moves in with the white crystal ring in her hands, icy magic ready to bring to bear, but she is happily surprised to see the zombies have been quickly dropped. She doesn't drop her magic or vigilance, holding it in case more undead or enemies in general appear.

hold frostbite in case enemy presents itself-- 19:08, Today: Yry Sweetwater rolled 6 using 1d6 with rolls of 6.  frostbite;; cold damage con save dc 13.

Glynnelis, arrow nocked and bow held at the ready, followed the sorceress in.

"I'll check the door if someone will examine whatever that thing is in the center of this room." Arthua moved with purpose to the far door.



06:54, Today: Arthua Silverten rolled 15 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 10.  Perception.

06:54, Today: Arthua Silverten rolled 4 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 1.  Investigation.

Alyssa followed the others into the chamber. After a quick scan of the room from the doorway-- her eyes pausing momentarily on the townswoman-- the halfling silently maintained her watch on the hallway.

The party moves cautiously into the room, not spying any threats. As they turn their attention towards the far door suddenly the fallen zombies spring back to life, grabbing at those closest to them. Such is the speed of the attack that it catches everyone by surprise and threatens to make them flinch. How do you kill what is already dead? Can they even be permanently killed or is everyone trapped fighting for their lives until the zombies eventually wear them down and kill them!?

OOC: Make a DC 12 Will save or you will be frightened (i.e. have disadvantage on attack rolls) against them.


Glynnelis and Yry are attacked but both avoid the gnashing teeth but take powerful hits from the zombie's flailing arms.

OOC: Glynnelis takes 5 damage and Yry takes 6 from the slam attacks

Yry in response tries to blast a zombie with frost magic but such is the speed and her surprise that the spell misses.

OOC: Zombie makes its save

At the sound of the zombies' renewed attack, Alyssa turned her attention from the door to the reanimating undead. The sight of these fallen, rotten corpses suddenly fighting back send chills through the halfling's spine. Reflexively, Alyssa turned and quickly loosed her arrow only to have it miss the closest zombie.

---

OOC: 12:52, Today: Alyssa Tealeaf rolled 25,12,8 using 1d20+5,1d20+5,1d6+3 with rolls of 20,7,5.  shortbow, disadvantage AC 13 zombie BK97.

Figures I'd crit on a disadvantaged roll...

Yry is surprised, only managing to fall back from the bite while taking a strong hit. She refocuses her magic, sending another barrage of freezing magic at the undead creature.

_ _❆ Yry Sweetwater ❆ the sorcerer ii______ ___ _ __ _
 hp ██████████ hd ♡♡
 ac {15} [13 d. resilience + 2 dex] p.per {13} p.inv {10} p.ins {13}
 sorcery points ❆❆ spell slots ❆❆❆
 {15:14, Today: Yry Sweetwater rolled 18 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 17.  wis save.}
 {15:16, Today: Yry Sweetwater rolled 4 using 1d6 with rolls of 4.  frostbite con dc 13.}

Glynnelis grunted at the hit, as much in dismay at the sight of the creatures rising again as in pain. Lightning crackled in his golden eyes, then exploded out from him.

His eyes continued to flash, now with rage, as he thrust with his rapier. "Stay down!" he cursed the zombies.

Then he looked up to his companions, shouted, "Let's get out of here!" and ran for the door.


Reaction: Wrath of the Storm. One that attacked me takes 9 lightning damage, halved if he makes a DC 13 Dex save.

Action: Attack same one, or if it's down, the other one.

Move: To BN97. Only if at least one zombie is down. I'll eat one OA but not two.

Free Action: Open door.

Glynnelis Huntinghawk rolled 9 using 2d8 with rolls of 3,6.  Wrath of the Storm.

Glynnelis Huntinghawk rolled 22 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 17.  Attack.
Glynnelis Huntinghawk rolled 4 using 1d8+3 with rolls of 1.  Damage.

"Dear gods of the mountains!" Orila swore, seeing the zombies return to 'life'... such as it was. As frightening as the scene was though, the goliath steeled her resolve and sought to use her maul to smash the zombies' heads into mush... let's see them cause trouble without a head!

OOC: Will save successful
22:53, Today: Orila rolled 21 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 20.  Will save (DC 12).
   Action - attack zombie with maul
22:56, Today: Orila rolled 24 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 19.  Maul attack (AC 13).
22:57, Today: Orila rolled 14 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 5,6.  Maul damage.
    (Hit for 14 bludgeoning damage)

Arthua shouted, "They're alive!" He shook his head in disbelief. He drew a torch and tried to light it. "I'll get a torch. We can try to burn them."

---

rolled 21 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 20.  Wisdom SAVE

Is there something burning already in the room?
If not, then he'll use his tinderbox to get his torch lit.

Glynnelis blasts a zombie back with his storm like fury and it falls back into a pile again.

Orila smashes the other one's chest open with her maul and it too collapses.

Once again the room falls silent and still.

”Either get that other door open or let’s go back out the way we came,” the goliath said, eyeing the zombie corpses warily, her weapon ready in case they rose up again...

The door to the North is also swollen shut. It can be muscled open but will take some effort to push it open.

OOC: DC 10 strength check and will take a round to open.

The southern door is open and once closed will probably be difficult to open again.

In his haste to be gone before the zombies reanimated anew, Glynnelis did not wait for the goliath but threw his own shoulder against the swollen portal. To his surprise, it gave.

Glynnelis Huntinghawk rolled 19 using 1d20 with rolls of 19.  open door.

Still unnerved by what she saw Alyssa kept her eyes on the twice (thrice?) dead, as she moved through the room and followed Glynnelis through the far door.

Noting that Glynnelis had managed to get the far door open, Orila -- keeping her distance from the corpses and an eye out for if they started rising again -- moved to the previous door and closed it. Hoping that if the undead did rise again, they'd be contained to this room like before...

OOC: Moving around zombies to the left to shut door in BO-97 and then moving back to go through next door at BG-96 with the group.

The party shuffles out and quickly shuts the door behind them as the zombies begin to stir once again. With the door shut they don't hear any sounds of pursuit but it does mean that retreating from deeper within the complex will be that much more difficult.

Right next to the door they just exited from is another door (2). Further down the hallway leads to an open and, thankfully empty, chamber. This room is bare except for five wooden benches that stand about three feet off the floor. The air smells of death in this room and there are a number of dark stains on both the benches and the floor around them. From this room comes a general sense that something evil and vile happens in this room.

Past the chamber with the five benches the hallway continues deeper into the dungeon (H).
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:49, Fri 24 July 2020.

Arthua paused at the entrance to the next room. He looked around for anything suspicious. "Looks clear. But spread out as we enter this next room. I'll check the exit on the other side."

---

rolled 16 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 11.  Perception

As the last one moving out of the zombies' room, Orila shut the door behind her, confining the now-stirring-again undead to the same room the companions found them in. Entering the new room with all the weird, blood-stained benches, the goliath looked around warily and hefted her maul, ready to swing at anything that needed smashing...

OOC: Moving into benches room...
   20:16, Today: Orila rolled 11 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 8.  Perception check.
   (passive perception is 13, if you wanna use that, DM)

Glynnelis's teeth clenched at the blood-stained platforms. "Dark business, this," he said. He stood aside, raising his bow to cover Arthua as the rogue made his way to the far door.

OOC: Are you exploring the side room (2) behind the door or just continuing through (H) to the other hallway?

I realize it is hard to see but there is a door to an unexplored room by (2).
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:54, Tue 28 July 2020.

In the hallway and out of the room with the repeating zombies-- with the door shut between them-- Alyssa breathed a bit easier. Scanning the hallway she reluctantly paused as the group made tot the end of the hall. "Not that I'm against getting the Hells away from that room, but should we check this door first?"

---

OOC:
So new map isn't loading in Safari but is in Brave. Forget what the fix is for that at the moment.

The side door is not swollen shut, it is clear it has been opened and closed enough to not get stuck in the frame. Inside are five jail cells, all appearing to be locked. Three of the cells are empty but the other two are occupied.

One cell has the son and daughter of Morgouse, the carpenter. Alyssa recognizes them as Thenin and Lorilay. Their mother, Morgouse, is not just the town's carpenter but is also a member of the town council. According to her, they were supposed to be on a supply run to the capital to sell some work and pick up some high quality lumber which explains why they've been absent for the past couple of weeks. Judging by their appearance they haven't been very well taken care of here.

The other cell has a man in a woman in it. The woman looks to be a farmer of some sort, Alyssa doesn't recognize her but if she lived in one of the farther farms it was likely she rarely went to town. The other man looks to be a traveling merchant of some kind given his traveling clothes of finer cut than most.

While the sudden light from the hallway blinds them momentarily, when they see the adventurers they all start calling out for help!

"Keep your voices down!" Glynnelis scolded the prisoners. His tone was harsh; it had to be. "Of course we're going to rescue you. Screaming won't make it go any faster."

The voices quickly die down to soft whimpers as they start looking around in terror as if unspeakable horrors lurked right around the corner.

"I'll work on the locks to these cells." Arthua began to examine the locks before he picked them. "How did you all get caught here? Who is in charge?"

---

Lock Picking both locks.
rolled 22 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 18.  Thief Tool
rolled 22 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 18.  Thief Tool

Glynnelis armed himself with shield and rapier and moved to the far end of the room, ready for anything that might emerge to threaten to Arthua's lockpicking.

Is there a door at the north end of the room?

Orila likewise kept a wary eye for danger while her companions worked on rescuing the captives.

The room has no other exit.

The locks are easy enough for Arthua to pick and the captives are quite thankful to be rescued, although less thrilled to find out that there isn't an easy way for them to leave with the zombies still guarding the way back.

Shalimar offers to wait here with them, shadowing behind the group and keeping the captives calm and safe while the group searches for another way past the zombies.

Once the prisoners are freed, Alyssa goes to comfort the carpenter's children. "There now Thenin. Lorilay. No use grumbling. Shalimar here will wait with you." Then digging into her pack the halfling pulled some rations for the prisoners and a drink from her waterskin.

"Well I'll check on the other room." Arthua moved to the next room. He stopped at the entrance and looked around. "There's five benches. I'm going to check the nearest on the right." He also looked to see if the benches were configured one way or another.

---

rolled 22 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 19.  Investigation

They're benches. Most likely used for some gruesome operation considering the smell, the stains, and the nearby row of prison cells.

"Is there another way out of here?" Glynnelis asked the prisoners, though he didn't really expect them to know. Then he looked to his companions. "I suppose we can hack our way through those zombies one more time, if it comes to that."

The merchant and the others nod.

"Yes...they brought us through that way..."

He points a shaky finger further down the hall, past the benches.

"Then let's go," Orila rumbled, heading in the direction the merchant indicated...

OOC: moving further down the hall, past the benches... and it's fine if I'm in front

"Let me check the door first." Arthua moved up to the door quickly and inspected it. He also tried to see if there were sounds from the other side of the door.

---

rolled 22 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 17.  Perception
This message was last edited by the player at 05:53, Fri 31 July 2020.

Yry feels a bit sick imagining what the benches were used for and tries to school herself to remain attentive, taking most of her available concentration to keep it together. She follows quietly, making sure not to let her friends down.

Pushing forward the group once again doesn't hear anything of note behind the door and push it open. It proves to be unlocked and well used and opens easily. Inside the door is a long room with walls covered in wooden panels. At the far end is a raised wooden dais with an altar support a stone statue of the reptile god - a ferocious looking dragon. While the head is large and detailed the rest of the body seems unusually undersized.

Next to the alter is a man dressed in clerical robes who looks up unsurprised, it seems he was expecting the group. The shadow human form of what might be an assistant can be seen skulking behind the statue of the reptile god.

"We meet at last. You think you can stop the mighty Rivug, Destroyer of Minds?"

The cleric is wearing chainmail and holds a nasty looking morningstar that looks to be a dragon's head breathing a ball of fire.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:15, Sun 02 Aug 2020.

"To be perfectly honest, young man, this is the first I've heard of Rivug, Destroyer of Minds. And I'm still a little unclear who exactly he is. Is that you, or your friend there?" The elf indicated the dragon statue with the small body. "Or your morningstar? Sorry if that last seems foolish, but it wouldn't be stupidest name I ever saw a human give his weapon. Anyway. What I'm driving at is I had not given any thought, until this moment, to the subject of Rivug, Destroyer of Minds. Never mind the question of whether we could defeat him. How about we take some time to think on it and get back to you in a fortnight?"

The priest chuckles at Glynnelis’ bravado.

”Oh you will meet Rivug, Destroyer of Minds, soon enough.”

He looks up at the statue above him, raising his hands up in worship.

”Rivug will show you the truth of the universe and correct your course. You will join us in bringing Rivug to the world, or die in the process. And yet...even in death you will serve Rivug.”

The shadowy figure behind the priest comes out into the dim torchlight revealing it to be a wight. The priest laughs and readies his morningstar and shield. From back behind the group they start to hear banging as the zombies they shut away start pounding on the door. The cleric starts to cackle.

”You are trapped. Surrender now, embrace Rivug and you will get to end your suffering peacefully. You will find new purpose on this plane in his service. Fight or resist, and you will only find pain, death, and then eternal torment.”

With a grin the cleric dons his helmet, a black steel full helm shaped like a roaring dragon. Once it is put in place the eyes glow red. He bangs his shield with the morningstar causing sparks and embers to fly out.

"COME MEET YOUR DOOM!"

His voice, magically deepened and amplified, echoes off the walls filling the party with dread as he and the wight prepare for combat.

Round 1

Her face a mask of grim determination, Orila moved into the room. Drawing a handaxe as she moved, the goliath stopped before she reach the cleric and hurled the axe at the priest...

OOC: move to AM-98 (25 ft move... I think)
     draw handaxe as part of the move
     throw handaxe at cleric
     21:34, Today: Orila rolled 14 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 9.  Thrown handaxe attack (AC 17)... MISS!
   

Yry readies her crytal torc, the ring becoming icy and jagged as a long spike of ice forms, hovering within the hollow center. Freezing white motes of magic surround and infuse the glacial, bluish spike before it speeds across the room, smashing harmlessly against the chain, failing to pierce, but spreading magical cold all around the cleric.

_ _❆ Yry Sweetwater ❆ the sorcerer ii______ ___ _ __ _
 hp ██████████ hd ♡♡
 ac {15} [13 d. resilience + 2 dex] p.per {13} p.inv {10} p.ins {13}
 sorcery points ❆❆ spell slots ❆❆❆
 {action- ice knife at cleric attack roll 16, misses (no 1d10 piercing) but still explodes doing 7 cold damage to the target and those within 5' who fail a dc 13 dex save.}
 {bonus action to turn 2 sorcery points into a 1st level spell slot.}

 {04:34, Today: Yry Sweetwater rolled 7 using 2d6 with rolls of 5,2.  cold damage dex dc 13 for cleric and everything within 5' of him.}
 {04:33, Today: Yry Sweetwater rolled 16 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 11.  ice knife at cleric .}

"So is Your Doom the name of the morningstar, then?" Glynnelis asked as he casually sent a flash of light streaking toward the man. The snark left him feeling a bit foolish when the bolt failed to hit, and he raised his shield to hide the shame on his face.

Glynnelis Huntinghawk rolled 10 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 5.  Guiding Bolt.

I've got myself at 14 HP, but the resource tracker shows it as 8. I think it's missing my HP recovery from the recent (in game time) short rest. It's possible I never communicated this to you - apologies if that's the case - but here's the relevant roll.

15:50, Mon 22 June: Glynnelis Huntinghawk rolled 6 using 1d8+2 with rolls of 4.  HD recovery.

Orila chucks a handaxe a the cleric but he deflects it with his shield.

Yry chucks the ice knife and once again the cleric deflects it with his shield. Unlike the handaxe though it blasts apart striking him and the wight with magical ice shards.

Arthua swings out to the side wide looking to work his way around the cleric when he finally engages in melee.

The cleric sees that and turns and sends out magical bolt of energy that threaten to poison Arthua.
OOC: Ray of Sickness. Arthua takes 5 poison damage and must make a DC 14 CON test or be poisoned as per the condition.

Talia runs forward mirroring Arthua's attack moving to the other side. This time the wight moves up to stop her. The wight claws at her, draining some of her life essence away.

Alyssa fires an arrow. It looks to be good but at the last minute there is a flash of magical light and the arrow is deflected slightly to the side. The cleric cackles.

OOC: The cleric is protected by Protection from Good so if you are good-aligned you are at disadvantage when attacking him. Note this is a concentration spell.

Glynnelis fires a magical bolt but the cleric catches it on his shield.

OOC: Good point. This was the HP that came out of the zombie battle so if there was any healing that went on I might have missed it.

Orila moved forward to attack the cleric with her maul... but missed.

21:31, Today: Orila rolled 14 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 9.  Maul attack (AC 17). MISS!

Yry continues the icy magic, muttering in draconic as three large slashes of frost whiten the cleric's armor.

_ _❆ Yry Sweetwater ❆ the sorcerer ii______ ___ _ __ _
 hp ██████████ hd ♡♡
 ac {15} [13 d. resilience + 2 dex] p.per {13} p.inv {10} p.ins {13}
 sorcery points ❆❆ spell slots ❆❆❆
 {frostbite cleric, con save dc 13 or take 3 cold damage and disadvantage on next attack}
 {01:35, Today: Yry Sweetwater rolled 3 using 1d6 with rolls of 3.  frostbite con dc 13.}

Wishing to spare himself further embarrassment, Glynnelis held his tongue as he stepped forward to thrust with his rapier. So much for sparing embarrassment, he thought as the man deflected this latest attack as easily as he had the magical bolt.

Glynnelis Huntinghawk rolled 13 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 8.  Attack.

Orila goes to engage the cleric but her hammer bounces off the layers of magical protection he has.
OOC: Reminder to verify your alignment when attacking the cleric.

The icy blast of magic punches through slowing the cleric down but he seems to still be going strong.

Arthua disregards the cleric for a moment and instead swings around and flanks the wight, stabbing it in the back.
OOC: Arthua does 9 damage to the wight

The cleric summons dark necromantic into his shield hand and then punches it out towards Orila. Luckily she dodges to the side and avoids being hit with that sickly looking dark magic.

Talia goes into a berserker rage nearly cutting an arm off of the wight as she strikes it with her halbred.

The wight claws at Arthua, draining his life with its necromantic energy.

Alyssa responds by putting an arrow through the eye of the wight with an arrow. It is still standing but seems greatly impaired now.
OOC: Crit! 12 damage to the wight!

Glynnelis moves up next to the cleric but again between armor and magic his attack is deflected.




This message was lightly edited by the GM at 14:20, Sat 08 Aug 2020.

"Take that, then!" Glynnelis again thrust with the rapier and again missed.

Glynnelis Huntinghawk rolled 9 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 4.  Attack.

Believe I should be at 0 spells now, resource tracker doesn't reflect latest use of Guiding Bolt.

Drawing another arrow, Alyssa moved into the room. Stepping to the left as she entered the halfling loosed another arrow at the undead.

---

<orange>OOC: Move to AQ,95
12:01, Today: Alyssa Tealeaf rolled 13,7 using 1d20+5,1d6+3 with rolls of 8,4.  arrow, wight, AC14.<orange>

A wealth of knowledge flowed into her as she felt the powerful emotions swell up within her again. A vision danced in her eyes of how to move and a way to attack with her weapon. Trusting the knowledge instinctively, she circled the wight slowly and carefully. Trusting that the distance from her target provided by her weapon kept her safer, she attacked without fear of reprisal. Gripping the halberd at the butt end with one hand and slightly forward with the other, she lowered her stance and thrust up at the wight's head.

---

Move: Change position to AN97
Attack: Wight, using Reckless Attack
  Talia Alden rolled 14 using 2d20+5, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 9,5.  Reckless Attack Wight AC14.
   Talia Alden rolled 13 using 1d10+5 with rolls of 8.  Damage Wight.
Bonus: N/A

OOC: The tracker stated that I was raging, so I assumed I did not need to say so. IF that is not the case, I am obviously raging.

Pressing her attack on the evil cleric, Orila swings her maul again...

02:02, Today: Orila rolled 19 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 14.  Maul attack (AC 17). HIT!
02:03, Today: Orila rolled 14 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 5,6.  Maul damage.
     (14 bludgeoning damage and Orila is Lawful Neutral according to her sheet)

"Keep it going! We're doing well," Yry says between incantations of draconic speech, intensifying the cold of her magic which remains focused on the cleric.

_ _❆ Yry Sweetwater ❆ the sorcerer ii______ ___ _ __ _
 hp ██████████ hd ♡♡
 ac {15} [13 d. resilience + 2 dex] p.per {13} p.inv {10} p.ins {13}
 sorcery points ❆❆ spell slots ❆❆❆
 {move to AQ.95}
 {frostbite cleric, con save dc 13 or take 4 cold damage and disadvantage on next attack}
 {15:08, Today: Yry Sweetwater rolled 4 using 1d6 with rolls of 4.  frostbite con dc 13.}

Orila batters the cleric with her maul and he curses that his magical protection failed against her more...morally ambiguous position.

Yry's frost magic continues to ice up the cleric's armor and his breathing turns to a misty cloud.

Arthua waits for the wight to turn to focus on Talia before stabbing it in the back.

The cleric adjusts the grip on his morningstar raising it up in front of him before shouting out . The head of the mace become's alive and it lets loose a gout of fire right at Orila.

OOC: 14 fire damage (DC 16 Dex for half)

Talia spins around and cuts down the wight, burying her halbred into its chest and when she pulls it loose the wight collapses to the ground.

Alyssa shifts her aim to the cleric but his magic deflects her arrow.

Glynnellis stabs out with his rapier but the cleric deflects it with his shield.




This message was last edited by the GM at 19:01, Mon 10 Aug 2020.

Fortunately for Arthua, Talia engaged in the fight with the wight too. He waited until she attacked before he launched into an attack of his own. The rapier flashed out and stabbed at the creature.

---

Standard: Rapier attack
rolled 22 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 17.  ATK w/Rapier
rolled 4 using 1d8+3 with rolls of 1.  Damage
rolled 2 using 1d6 with rolls of 2.  Sneak Attack Damage

Bonus: Disengage
Move: 20' to AM95

"Winged Mother, guide my blade!" In his desperation, Glynnelis plead with his goddess to aid his attack and was rewarded with the satisfying puncture of the stubborn cleric's armor. Nevermind that it was only a flesh wound; he was just happy to draw blood.

Glynnelis Huntinghawk rolled 21 using 1d20+5 ((16)).
Glynnelis Huntinghawk rolled 4 using 1d8+3 with rolls of 1.  Damage.

Moving with uncharacteristic grace Orila dodged the worst of the cleric's flame blast...

20:17, Today: Orila rolled 18 using 1d20-1 with rolls of 19.  DEX save (DC 16). SUCCESS!
   (take 7 hp of fire damage)

... and reacted on instinct to call upon her race's hardiness to shrug off even what fiery damage did touch her.

   (Reaction) -- Stone's Endurance racial feature
    20:21, Today: Orila rolled 12 using 1d12+3 with rolls of 9.  Stone's Endurance .
    (completely negate all the fire damage)

Then squaring her shoulders, she swung her massive hammer at the cleric again...

20:26, Today: Orila rolled 19 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 14.  Maul attack (AC 17). HIT!
20:26, Today: Orila rolled 9 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 4,2.  Maul damage.
    (9 damage to cleric -- Orila's alignment is LN)

OOC: DM, you have Orila listed as full health, but I'm pretty sure she's only at 16/22 HP.

Even as the wight fell, Talia's focus shifted smoothly like water flowing down a hill. Still, the memory of the zombies resided within her. The action required seemed obvious. Again, her feet moved with half a mind of their own. A tiny fraction of her awareness remained upon the collapsed undead even as she moved to attack the spellcaster. Her vision was unfocused here however. Something was in the way of her attack; something made it harder to see the path to a true strike. Still, relying on her distance, she thrust without concern for counterattack. Still, the attack went wide and Talia started to draw the weapon back for a further attack.

---

Move: Walk to AL99
Action: Reckless Attack
   Talia Alden rolled 11 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 6.  Attack.
Bonus: none

Orila smashes her maul down on the cleric and the man crumples and lies still. The wight too lies dead at Arthua's feet. Well...deader at least.

From the hallway behind them comes the continued sound of the zombies smashing at the door but otherwise the room is still and empty. It appears to be a dead end.

Glynnelis knelt to search the cleric's body and inspect his morningstar. "I guess we'll never know..." he said wistfully as he pondered the weapon's name. "I guess it's up to us now."

”What’s up to us?” Orila rumbled, a bit winded from the fight and smelling of burned hair and smoke.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:04, Tue 11 Aug 2020.

In reply to Orila (msg # 78):

The elf smirked. "Naming this ridiculous weapon."

Talia grins at Glynnelis as the surging emotions slowly fades. She shakes her head as if it was filled with cobwebs and the last of the memories that were not hers faded. Now that the trance had abated, the invasive memories discomfited her. Still, though, they felt familiar. "I do think "This Ridiculous Weapon" quite suitable to it." Wincing, she rubbed her side where the wight had "damaged her" and stretched, "Either way, what do any of you know of these..." She nudged the wight with her halberd's point, "...unnatural things. It appears the wound it dealt me is... strange. I saw it strike you as well, Arthua, is your would also odd?"

"Perfect!" Glynneis laughed at Talia's suggestion, but his face fell when she mentioned her wound.

"May I see?" he asked. "The touch of the undead can have... unfortunate effects on the living."

Glynnelis will take a look if either allows, but it may not do much good: Glynnelis Huntinghawk rolled 9 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 4.  medicine.

With the undead creatures still smashing at the doors Arthua called out, "We're not out of this yet. I'm going to check if there's another way out. A hidden door or something."

---

07:22, Today: Arthua Silverten rolled 10 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 5.  Perception.
07:22, Today: Arthua Silverten rolled 22 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 19.  Investigation.

Talia eyed the priest warily but allowed him to, within modesty's allowance, inspect the wound.

Alyssa nodded at the rogue's observation. "These caverns and chambers aren't my area of expertise, but I can lend a hand looking for another way out that doesn't take use back through that chamber."

---

OOC: 12:14, Today: Alyssa Tealeaf rolled 15 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 12.  perception, hidden doors?

Shalimar rejoins the party with the collection of prisoners they freed. The sound of the zombies battering the door is punctuated by the occasional cracking of wood.

The prisoners are adamant that they came through the North after meeting Rivug. They don't know what it was, just that it had glowing yellow eyes that pierced into their minds. The merchant claims that he could partially see through the blindfold they had put on him and he had sworn there was a door to the north but Arthua doesn't seem to be able to find one there. It's possible there is a seam somewhere but the triggering mechanism doesn't stand out to him.

The cleric had some coin and divine scrolls on him but nothing immediately useful.
OOC: Hold Person, Protection from Energy

Otherwise the only thing of interest in the room was the large stone statue of a dragon sitting ontop of the wooden platform.

"I'm going to check that statue." Arthua moved to the statue. He walked around it before he examined it closer.



rolled 20 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 17.  Investigation

Poking and prodding at the statue Arthua finds that the head looks like it can be turned to the left or right.

Glynnelis stood back from the statue as the rogue fiddled with it. "Careful there, Arthua. I mislike the looks of that thing. Dragons breathe fire, best not forget."

"Well we should likely work on buying the time we need to solve this puzzle. Anyone strong enough to move some furniture and not busy with that enigma kindly help me bar the door against those things."

Shamilar rallies what prisoners he can to help him with building a barricade out of some nearby benches. Naturally the others are welcome to help.

Talia shakes her head as the others seek a way out. Then retires to the previous room to help build a barricade.

Orila likewise moves to help with the barricade.

"I'm always careful Glynnelis. But I do admit that some things are beyond my control. Left or right?" Arthua gripped the head of the statue. He hesitated for a second, considering the two options. "Left, it is then." He rotated the head to the left.

Glynnelis hastened into the next room, ostensibly to help with the barricade though his eagerness to be away from the dragon statue was palpable.

Fascinated with the possibility that there was a secret door hidden beneath the statue-- and not at all because she was uneasy about heading towards the door blocking the reanimating reanimated dead-- Alyssa positioned herself about 10 feet back from the statue to give the others space to work.

---

OOC: moving from AQ,95 to AL,94

A barricade is formed using benches. The door starts breaking and shattering but the benches appear to be doing the trick in holding the zombies off. The group has probably bought itself another minute or two.

Talia stuck her head into the room where the secret door might be, "A minute or so. Figure it out folks or we are going to have to dismemeber these zombie." She points at Arthua, "The head will be your job. Careful of the teeth."

Well that didn't seem to do anything. We'll try to rotate this to the right." Arthua rotated the head of the statue to the right. His eyes looked hopeful, but the pit in his stomach said otherwise.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:42, Sun 16 Aug 2020.

Orila hefts her maul and prepares to put down the zombies... again... if they succeeded in breaking through the barricade. "Whatever you're doin' it there, make it quick!"

Despite the size and weight of the statue the head of the dragon moves quite easily. Arthua slides it to the right.

click

The floor gives a soft vibration as mechanisms behind the wall activate. There is a rumble of stone on stone that rises above the sound of the zombies slowly but surly breaking through the barricade of benches.

A stone panel along the back wall behind the altar opens, popping back and then sliding to the right to reveal a short, dark hallway. There is no light but from the party's torchlight there is a glint as they can see a metal lever built into the far wall.

Inside an alcove within the corridor is a small shrine. The shrine, like the rest of this area, has a draconic theme to it and includes a small bowl of water as well as four stones, each one colored with paint and covered in glyphs. One stone is black with gold paint on it, one is red with yellow paint, one is blue with white paint and one is brown with green paint on it. The stones have been placed inside a gold plated bowl with what looks to be a silk cushion built in so the stones do not chip or rub against the side of the bowl.

On a shelf built into a shrine is a thick ancient tome. Leather bound parchment although it is showing signs of being damaged by the ever present moisture of the swampy dungeon. It looks like it doesn't quite fit in the shelf so water dripping from the ceiling has hit the edge of it leaving water marks on the cover and edges of the pages.

OOC: To clarify above:

1) It is a short corridor that ends in a "dead end" but there is a visible lever that a reasonable person would assume opens up the other side of the secret passage.

2) There appears to be a shrine of some sort that contains a tome, a plain ceramic bowl with water, and four painted stones in an ornate gold bowl.

3) You estimate about 1 minute before the zombies break through.

Yry's eyes widen as the secret door opens. "Amazing," she says, moving in carefully to look at the shrine. She carefully moves to pick up the tome, thinking that perhaps she will be uniquely qualified to read it. After reading the title and any introduction lines she will look for something about this bowl set up.

dragon shrine -> dragon book -> I speak/read Draconic. That's my line of reasoning.

The elf's nervous eyes flitted between the pounding at the barely-barricaded door and the shrine with its painted stones. "I suppose one of us ought to look in that book..." he said hesitantly, showing great relief when Yry stepped up to be that person.

Talia moved past with a bit of pep in her step, "Uh, the zombies breaking in the door might suggest that someone shove the loot in a bag and we beat feet? Good grief. We can examine it once the prisoners are safe and the zombies are a memory." Talia blew her hair out of her face with an annoyed grunt. A little loot always distracted some.

"Patience," Glynnelis counseled the huffing barbarian. "This is not about greed. I've a feeling that lever's capable of more than opening a door, and a suspicion the explanation is to be found in that book. Our experiences in this place thus far make me reticent to go yanking levers uninformed."

"Oh for the love of everything the mountain gods hold dear!" Orila exclaimed, shoving past those who were just standing around gawking at the things found in the shrine. When she was close enough, she grabbed the lever with one big hand and shoved it down (or up as the case may be)...
This message was last edited by the player at 13:07, Tue 18 Aug 2020.

The book was indeed written in Draconic.

---

Orila grabs the lever and the stone wall at the far side of the chamber opens up. It reveals a huge cavern lit by a ghostly green glow emanating from the eight columns supporting the vaulted ceiling. Most of the cavern is full of water but the secret passage leads directly to a natural shelf. Piled in the center is a pile of treasure: thousands of copper coins mixed with silver and gold are piled in a small mound.


Perched on top is a black dragon! Its deeply set eyes and nose have a skull-like quality to them and drips of foul acid drips from the edge of its sharp fangs, sizzling against the pitted dirt and stone floor. Small horns are starting to grow out from the side of its head, curving around towards the front although not quite there yet. Its scales are glossy and black, almost shining under the glow from the columns.

It glances back at the sound of the stone opening and then flares up, spreading its wings out wide and howling out in screeches and hisses.


With a few powerful flaps it turns around on its pile of treasure facing the opening, crouching down in preparation to charge.






This message was last edited by the GM at 19:24, Wed 19 Aug 2020.

"Oh good, a dragon!" Glynnelis deadpanned. "I've always wanted to meet one."

He threw up his hands and tried to look especially meek as he assured the creature, "Easy, there. We aren't here for your treasure. Just trying to escape some zombies is all." He looked back over his shoulder at his companions and whispered, "Do dragons speak Common?"

Glynnelis Huntinghawk rolled 13 using 1d20 with rolls of 13.  Persuasion.

Nine bloody Hells! Orila cursed inwardly, discovering that they'd just jumped from the proverbial frying pan straight into the fire. Thinking as quickly as she could -- which wasn't her strong suit -- she had a flash of inspiration when she heard Glynnelis mention the dragon's treasure. In her mountain home trolls were often thick as thieves and when they made their home under an important bridge sometimes it was just better to pay the toll in the moment and deal with the troll later.

Quickly she dumped out her coin purse, the forty-five coins inside making a small pile in her big hand, and held it up for the dragon to see. "We just wanna find a way out," she told the creature, hoping that it did speak Common. "And we're willing to pay to pass through."

"Oh!" Talia bit her lips as she rushed through the door only to skid to a stop. "Hmmm?" The others were trying to talk to it. COuldn't hurt anything. Still, just in case, she moved a bit to the left. Dragons breathed fire, right? That's what all the stories said, anyway.

"That's right, no need for violence here. We'll add some coin to your collection and we'll just pass through and leave you to it.  Lots of unsavory sorts chasing us."

Shalimar adds a few coins to the pile being offered, Persuasion 15

"They more looked like the type to steal from you. We could also help you repel them if you like." Deception to make him think the undead are against him as well 10

"Wouldn't want to drag folks with bad intentions into your lair by mistake. Or we could just shut the way on our way through. We just want a way out of this place. Your treasure is beautiful but we're not here to fight you." (This bit isn't a lie)

Yry spreads out, not wanting to make an enticing target for a breath attack. She carefully watches the dragon as the others try to reason with it. "Don't submit, you may fall under Rivug's spell."

Then in a guttural, difficult language she says, [Language unknown: "Atai k prfi ni ardthirut we n staconcom ne il, et ssularro saund sias, eveearall il p om tio ac wi inevpa."]

seems about right:
12:59, Today: Yry Sweetwater rolled 12 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 5.  persuasion.

Alyssa's mind had trouble processing the appearance of the dragon. There had been objects and alters with a dragon motif but to see one all but materialize in front of her was more than the halfling was ready for.

Alyssa stayed in the secret passage connecting the alter room and the dragon's chamber not sure how to proceed.

The party jingles a few coins as the dragon scampers down quite nimbly from its mountain of copper and silver. It stands at the front of the corridor and suddenly the world is filled with an acid spray as it exhales its breath right down the line.

OOC: Everyone (except for Alyssa) must make a DC 11 Dex save or take 27 acid damage. A successful save takes 13 damage

Hopeful that the dragon had scrambled down so quickly to take advantage of the offer of coins, Orila was caught flat-footed by its attack and took the full brunt of the creature's acid breath...

07:50, Today: Orila rolled 9 using 1d20-1 with rolls of 10.  Dex save (DC 11).  Fail!
  (27 acid damage to Orila puts her at -11 (from 16/22 NOT 22/22 as on the DM's chart), and possible outright death)

Glynnelis stood firm in the face of the advancing dragon, confident his god would protect him if the creature would not listen to reason. But his confidence was misplaced, and he collapsed amidst the acid spray, his coppery skin bubbling and sizzling.

Shalimar manages to duck into a nook, but stills feels his arm sizzle and melt a fair bit under the onslaught.

Current HP 6, succeeded at the save.

Arthua screamed as the acid burned his skin. Worse he had taken a gasp of air and the acid burned his throat down to his stomach.


rolled 8 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 3.  DEX SAVES

Yry presses herself up against the wall, the acrid chemical burn sizzling across her and leaving her clothing in shambles. She avoids the worst of it, though, and is quick to focus her cold magic on the terrible creature. She backpedals as she does so, making her way to the corner so she can hide around it and continue the assault with her cold magic. She is worried about her friends but the best way to help seems to be to try to take the dragon down.

_ _❆ Yry Sweetwater ❆ the sorcerer ii______ ___ _ __ _
 hp █░░░░░░░░░ hd ♡♡
 ac {15} [13 d. resilience + 2 dex] p.per {13} p.inv {10} p.ins {13}
 sorcery points ❆❆ spell slots ❆❆❆
 {frostbite dragon, con save dc 13 or take 6 cold and disadvantage on next attack}
 {move back to AJ.98}
 {15:29, Today: Yry Sweetwater rolled 6 using 1d6 with rolls of 6.  frostbite con dc 13.}
 {15:24, Today: Yry Sweetwater rolled 12 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 10.  dex save dc 11.}

Talia had tried to move aside before the creature could act. She tried to move away from the group but not fast enough it seemed as acidic bile raked across her form. Still, seeing the beast rear up before the torrent, she dashed further to the side avoiding all but the worst of the attack. Panics sets in at she watches bot Orila and Glynnelis fall to the attack. Gripping her halberd tightly, she glances back at where Yry stands and firms herself. If this was where her end lay, she would meet it protecting her friends. Howling with rage, she summoned up the surge of emotions so familiar now and attacked.

---

Talia Alden rolled 15 using 2d20+2, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 13,8.  dex save. Thank god for Barbarian tricks!

Save: Success leaves Talia at 1 hp
Bonus action: Rage
Move: Stay at AG97
Action: Reckless Attack and a big old whiff. TPK incoming.

Talia Alden rolled 15 using 2d20+5, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 8,10.  attack.

OOC: Pushing pause here.

Looking through the posts some of you mentioned "spreading out" or moving around but nobody actually posted Grid coordinates so we're going to go back and re-do the last turn.

This is why I ask for separate OOC sections with clearly marked actions because anything else I tend to automatically view as "fluff".

Arthua rushed past the dragon. He didn't want to be anywhere near that creature. He ducked and weaved around the dragon. The coins and gold wasn't enough to stop him from running behind the pedestal. He drew an arrow and fired!

---

Move: 10' to AD96
Bonus: Disengage
Action: Attack dragon. MISSED :(
rolled 9,6 using 1d20+5,1d6+3 with rolls of 4,3.  ATK/DAM
Move: 20' to box north of AA97.

Okay, just to make things very clear and get back to where we should be this will be all ooc:

round 1: cast Ice Knife and then move to current map's AJ.99.
Ice knife: auto-miss with a roll of 1 but the knife still explodes and the dragon has to make a dex save dc 13 to negate 7 cold damage.
 {02:13, Today: Yry Sweetwater rolled 7 using 2d6 with rolls of 2,5.  cold damage dex dc 13 to negate.}
 {02:12, Today: Yry Sweetwater rolled 6 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 1.  ice knife round 1 @ dragon.}

round 2: move to AJ.97, cast Frostbite, move back to AJ.99.
Frostbite: dragon needs to make a dc 13 con save or take 6 cold damage and have disadvantage on next attack.
 {15:29, Mon 24 Aug: Yry Sweetwater rolled 6 using 1d6 with rolls of 6.  frostbite con dc 13.}

"Bloody hell!" Glynnelis sword, staggering back at the sight of the dragon. "Close the door!" he snapped at the goliath who'd pulled the lever, though he quickly realized it was too late for that.

Cast Sacred Flame.
Move to AJ98.

DC 13 Dex save or it takes 3 radiant damage.

Glynnelis Huntinghawk rolled 3 using 1d8 with rolls of 3.  Sacred flame.

"Oh, almost didn't see you there. You're so tiny. Whos a cutie? Who's a tiny wittle dwagon? You are! Yes, you are!" Shalimar prods the dragon and then backs away.

Cast Vicious Mockery on the Dwagon. DC 13 Wisdom save of take 2 psychic damage and disadvantage on its next attack roll.
Back up to AI

(Round redo... restarting from post #105)



It took only a moment's thought before Orila was in motion -- letting out a savage war cry as she charged the dragon with her maul held high. Her only thought being to buy her companions time enough to escape...

OOC: Move to AD-97 or AC-97 depending on dragon's actual size (medium or large)
     Action - attack with maul
08:43, Today: Orila rolled 24 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 19.  Maul attack (AC 17).
08:43, Today: Orila rolled 13 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 4,6.
    (damn! missed that crit by one pip!)

Yry creates a burst of ice magic near the dragon but it shields itself with its wings, blocking and deflecting the icy shards before Yry ducks around the corner.

Arthua attempts to hit and run but the dragon lashes out with its tail spoiling his attack before he ducks around a corner.

Alyssa fires an arrow that goes high before ducking around a corner as well.

Talia rages and wades in but the dragon is agile, rolling to the side and Talia's strike only hits coins.

Orila draws first blood by smashing the dragon with her maul, cracking its scales and leaving a large bruise underneath. The dragon hisses in pain and then snaps its jaws causing Orila to have to duck back.

The dragon shrugs off Shalimar's magical attack.

The dragon rears back and breaths a gout of acid onto Orila and Talia.

OOC: Talia and Orila need to make a DC 11 Dex saving through. 11 damage on a pass, 23 damage on a fail.

The sacred flames from Glynellis seem to land as some of the scales lose their luster from the being scorched.

The dragon rears its head up and roars, bobbing its head back and forth and suddenly from behind Arthua comes a powerful blast of water that knocks him into the stone pillar and down onto the ground.

OOC: Arthua must make a STR 15 check or be knocked prone.


*Rage: Advantage on STR rolls, +2 Damage, Resistant to physical damage

Reposting my earlier post here.

Alyssa's mind had trouble processing the appearance of the dragon. There had been objects and alters with a dragon motif but to see one all but materialize in front of her was more than the halfling was ready for.

Alyssa stayed in the secret passage connecting the alter room and the dragon's chamber not sure how to proceed.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:25, Mon 31 Aug 2020.

Orila twisted away from the dragon's acid breath and only caught a part of it as it splattered along her backside. Using the momentum of the twist to give power to her next swing, the goliath brought her maul around to again smash against the dragon. "Get outta here!" She bellowed to her companions. "Run you fools!"

OOC:
20:56, Today: Orila rolled 16 using 1d20-1 with rolls of 17.  DEX save (DC 11) <fingers crossed>. Success!
11 acid damage to Orila, Orila down to 5/22
Action - attack dragon
21:01, Today: Orila rolled 18 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 13.  Maul attack (AC 17).
21:01, Today: Orila rolled 11 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 3,5.  Maul damage.
  11 bludgeoning damage to the dragon

Yry yelps in surprise as the line of acid sizzles past, through the passage. Once it clears she moves to peek down the passage, glad to see more than the skeletons of her companions. Yry sets her mouth into a line of determination and channels a blast of cold at the dragon.

On her way back to her hiding spot she sees Alyssa frozen in indecision. "Alyssa, shoot the dragon, our friends need our support! We need you, Alyssa."

_ _❆ Yry Sweetwater ❆ the sorcerer ii______ ___ _ __ _
 hp ███████░░░ hd ♡♡
 ac {15} [13 d. resilience + 2 dex] p.per {13} p.inv {10} p.ins {13}
 sorcery points ❆❆ spell slots ❆❆❆
 {move to AK.97}
 {frostbite dragon, con save dc 13 or take 6 cold and disadvantage on next attack}
 {move back to AJ.99}
 {15:29, Mon 24 Aug: Yry Sweetwater rolled 6 using 1d6 with rolls of 6.  frostbite con dc 13.}

The dragon's tail knocked Arthua prone. He found a platinum coin in his hand as he stood. "Little good this will do me right now." He peeked over his shoulder to see if there was a way out. He ducked immediately after he fired an arrow.

---

STR Save, DC 15, Failed and is Prone.
rolled 10 using 1d20 with rolls of 10.  STR Save
Move: Half movement to stand from prone.
Action: Attack dragon with shortbow, Missed!
rolled 14,9 using 1d20+5,1d6+3 with rolls of 9,6.  ATK/DAM

Bonus Action: Hide

Perception to look for an exit: rolled 10 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 5.  Perception

Run where? Glynnelis looked back to the door that was at that very moment being battered by undead assailants. Neither they nor the dragon would listen to reason, but at least the dragon could be killed. He invoked another sacred flame.

DC 13 Dex save or it takes 3 radiant damage.
Glynnelis Huntinghawk rolled 3 using 1d8 with rolls of 3.  Sacred flame.

Talia flinched as the acid flowed past her form and growled. The anger coursing through her was an undercurrent to the serene knowledge that flowed in through some other connection. AS in the previous battle, knowledge of what to do came unbidden an, in her trance, she followed it unconsciously.

---

Save: Talia Alden rolled 19 using 2d20+2, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 17,3.
   This leaves Talia on 4. Who's the party healbot!?!

Move action: AC95 if possible, AC96 if not. No more single file!
Bonus Action: none
Attack: Normal Attack = miss

Talia Alden rolled 12 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 7.  Attack.

"Blast and damnation. I can't heal you safely there, Talia! He's so ugly he'd swing at my pretty face for sure!" Shalimar steps up into the book chamber so that if need be the group can shut the door to block out the undead.

Move Action: AI-96
Bonus Action: Healing Word Talia for 6
Action: Vicious Mockery the Dragon again for 3 and disadvantage if it fails Wisdom DC 13
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 15:33, Sun 30 Aug 2020.

Reacting more by instinct that conscious thought, Alyssa drew and loosed her arrow wide and high before ducking out of sight.

---

OOC: 09:27, Today: Alyssa Tealeaf rolled 11,7 using 1d20+5,1d6+3 with rolls of 6,4.  shortbow, dragon AC: 17.

Not that was anymore effective than my inaction...

The dragon tries to shield itself again from Yry's ice magic but a well-timed attack by Orila and Talia box it in and it takes the ice blast right to the snout.

Arthua misses with his bow and scans the chamber but the only exits are either the secret corridor they were using or through the water about 100' to the west where there looks to be another tunnel. Given the open nature of the cavern and the exposed nature of crossing the water it seemed likely that trying to flee that way would leave the dragon free to fly around and spew acid down from the air throughout their entire retreat.

Alyssa musters up her courage to fire but misses her mark.

Talia swings around to avoid giving the dragon another clean shot even as she feels the acid burning her skin. The pain is almost enough to cut through her barbarian rage but she maintains her focus and continues her attack but the dragon is both strong and agile, either dodging attacks entirely or using its scales to deflect the attack.

Orila brings her maul down cracking and bruising more scales.

Shalimar's healing word taps the last of his magic but does alleviate some of the burning Talia is facing with a face full of acid. His vicious words however once again fail to land.

The dragon snaps its jaws at Orila but with a face full of frost she is able to dodge the attack.

Glynellis brings down more fire but the dragon jumps back and the holy flames just scorch copper and silver coins instead of dragon scales.

Round 2

The dragon raises its roar again and this time clouds of mosquitos and flies raise up from the murky swampy waters creating a large swarm over the water. While they are just buzzing around for now it looks like it would be quite nasty to end up in the middle of that swarm.


*Rage: Advantage on STR rolls, +2 Damage, Resistant to physical damage


This message was last edited by the GM at 20:29, Mon 31 Aug 2020.

Arthua snuck out from behind cover to fire a shot at the dragon. He smiled as the arrow struck deep. He shouted, "There's a swarm of things out over of the water." Then he tried to hide behind his cover again.

---

Action: Attack Dragon w/shortbow. HITS w/Crit 20. 11 Damage and 6 Sneak Attack Damage. 17 TOTAL.
rolled 25,9 using 1d20+5,1d6+3 with rolls of 20,6.  ATK/DAM.
rolled 2 using 1d6 with rolls of 2.  Crit damage.
rolled 6 using 2d6 with rolls of 1,5.  Crit sneak attack damage.

Bonus: Hide, Stealth
rolled 12 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 5.  Stealth</orange>
This message was last edited by the player at 03:17, Wed 02 Sept 2020.

Seeing Orila going toe-to-toe with the dragon Alyssa felt her misses were even more of a waste. With a deep breath the halfling hurried down the corridor to reach Orila and to share some of her healing spells.

---

OOC: Move to AE-96, cast Cure Wounds on Orila

16:41, Today: Alyssa Tealeaf rolled 9 using 1d8+1 with rolls of 8.  cure wounds on Orila.

While the sight of a dragon hopping away from his sacred flame was slightly amusing, it was not going to forestall his imminent death, so he switched to bow and arrow only to receive a still-poorer result.

Glynnelis Huntinghawk rolled 6 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 1.  Attack.

"More things?" Shalimar sighed at the news from the rogue, Orila, hit this Gods dang dragon into next week already. We'll deal with it then! Right now it's just in the way!"

Bonus action Bardic Inspiration (1d6 on a D20 roll) to Orila. Normal action Vicious Mockery again.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:50, Tue 01 Sept 2020.

When Yry pops back out from around the corner again, she hopes to find a dead dragon, but at least it seemed they were having an effect. She summons more frost to harry the dragon before disappearing around the corner once more.

_ _❆ Yry Sweetwater ❆ the sorcerer ii______ ___ _ __ _
 hp ███████░░░ hd ♡♡
 ac {15} [13 d. resilience + 2 dex] p.per {13} p.inv {10} p.ins {13}
 sorcery points ❆❆ spell slots ❆❆❆
 {move to AK.97}
 {frostbite dragon, con save dc 13 or take 4 cold and disadvantage on next attack}
 {move back to AJ.99}
 {20:31, Today: Yry Sweetwater rolled 4 using 1d6 with rolls of 4.  frostbite con dc 13.}

Reeling, Talia felt a surge of warmth run through her system and grinned back at her ally. Life was still likely to be rough for the moment. And the memories were still there, voices guiding her actions. Gripping her weapon firmly, Talia set her feet and swung the weapon, trusting her strange instincts. It left her wide open, but even as she felt the attack land, she knew it to be a telling blow.

---

Move Action: nada
Bonus Action: nada
Attack Action: Reckless Attack. Crit! Yay! 14, rerolled manually as I didn't see the Crit house rule at first.


12:32, Today: Talia Alden rolled 8 using 2d10+5 with rolls of 2,1.  damage.
12:40, Today: Talia Alden rolled 7 using 1d10 with rolls of 7.  reroll crit damage.
12:32, Today: Talia Alden rolled 25 using 2d20+5, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 20,13.  attack.

Encouraged by the healing magic she felt flowing through her from Alyssa’s touch, Orila attacked again, swinging her maul to smash heavily into the dragon’s flank once more...

OOC: 9 HP healing.... thanks Alyssa!    Current HP = 14/22
            Action — attack dragon
05:18, Today: Orila rolled 24 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 19.  Mail Attack (AC 17). Hit!
05:19, Today: Orila rolled 9 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 5,1.  Maul damage.
05:20, Today: Orila rolled 6 using 1d6 with rolls of 6.  Great Weapon Fighting re-roll.
            (with rollls of 5, 6) 14 bludgeoning damage to dragon

Yry fires her ice but the dragon spits out a glob of acid and catches it in the air melting it with its own magical effect.

Arthua gets an arrow in at the soft spot under a wing. The dragon snarls in anger, lashing out with its tail and wings to cause everyone else to jump back. It looks back at Arthua and glares at him with one large green eye.

Alyssa runs up and drops some much needed healing on Orila.

Talia hits her halbred blade down on a section of scale weakened by Talia and scores a savage hit finally drawing blood from the dragon.

Orila lands another hit with her maul at the same spot and this time she smashes her hammer deep into the side of the dragon crushing several important organs and sending blood and viscera squishing out around the edge.

Shalimar's words finally land on the distracted dragon and it winces in pain, slowing down a bit. It turns back and quick as lightning lets loose another gob of acid this time catching Orila and Alyssa in a line and burning them both.

OOC: 18 acid damage. 9 if you make the DC 11 dex save. I decided to use the disadvantage from Vicious Mockery on the damage dice instead...

Glynnelis drops more holy flame and once again the dragon dodges out of the way.

Round 3

The dragon gives a roar and the cloud of insects fly down where Arthua is hiding. No amount of stealth is enough to hide the cloud of stinging blood-sucking insects that swarm around him. Within seconds Arthua grows dizzy and falls unconscious from pain and poison.

OOC: Enough damage to put you to zero. Start making your death saves...


*Rage: Advantage on STR rolls, +2 Damage, Resistant to physical damage
*Inspired: +1d6 to a single d20 roll


This message was lightly edited by the GM at 03:43, Sat 05 Sept 2020.

The swarm attacked from every direction. Arthua tried to shake it off. He screamed in terror and pain before he fell.

Talia watches as Arthua falls, but there is nothing she can do for him. Her instincts are to continue; her minds screams to finish the fight if she can. Still, her eyes seek out an ally to warn. A part of her wars with the other, save Arthua now if possible or finish the fight and hope they survived a few more seconds. She thrust the haldberd this time hoping to pierce the scales and the softened inside within. She only focused harder when the halberd found purchase even as she prayed it was enough.

---

Move: none
Bonus: none
Action: Reckless Attack. Hit AC20 for 14 damage.

10:32, Today: Talia Alden rolled 14 using 1d10+5 with rolls of 9.  damage.
10:32, Today: Talia Alden rolled 20 using 2d20+5, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 1,15.  reckless attack.

Orila dodged the worst of the dragon's acid breath, but the movement cost the goliath on her return attack. Off balance, her swing missed the dragon entirely...

OOC: 23:19, Today: Orila rolled 13 using 1d20-1 with rolls of 14.  Dex save (DC 11) Success!
       (9 acid damage, current HP = 6/22)
   Action: maul attack
23:20, Today: Orila rolled 6 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 1.  Maul attack (AC 17). Miss!

Glynnelis continued firing at the dragon. It pained him to see Arthua fall, but there was nothing he could for the rogue now.


08:46, Today: Glynnelis Huntinghawk rolled 4 using 1d8+3 with rolls of 1.  damage.

08:45, Today: Glynnelis Huntinghawk rolled 15 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 10.  attack

Just a moment too late Alyssa saw the dragon draw back to spray its acid once more. Flinging herself to the side, the halfling was still able to dodge most of the acid but still felt its burn.

Alyssa drew on the forces of nature once more. This time the spell propeled her out from behind Orila at great speed. Once at the shoreline Alyssa turned and with uncanny accuracy hit the dragon with enough force that one could almost see the air move away from the impact.

---

OOC: 19:51, Today: Alyssa Tealeaf rolled 13 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 8.  acid, dex save dc11.
Bonus: Cast Zephyr Strike
Move: AE,97 to Z,101
Attack: Hit AC 24 (advantage) for 14 damage (8 piercing, 6 force)

19:58, Today: Alyssa Tealeaf rolled 14 using 1d6+3+1d8 with rolls of 5,6.  shorrtbow damage +force damage.
19:56, Today: Alyssa Tealeaf rolled 24 using 2d20+5, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 19,13.  shortbow, dragon AC 17 (advantage).

Against all expectations, it is Alyssa with her bow that deals the final blow to the dragon. With a shudder it collapses onto its pile of gold. The swarm of insects is still roiling around and it doesn't look like Arthua is going to survive much longer inside the stinging mass of insects...

OOC: Re-do your actions to take into account the dragon dying on Alyssa's turn.

The swarm was relentless. Arthua's life hung in the balance.

OOC: Okay, Alyssa went before Orila did on the Init table, so I'm assuming that means I get to re-do Orila's action...

Orila paused only a moment to see if the dragon's fall was some kind of trick before she noted that Arthua was still in dire straights with the swarm. Dropping her pack, she fetched her rope and tied one end around herself, tossing the other to Talia. "Pull us out when I grab him!" Then she raced into the midst of the deadly insects, intent on just grabbing ahold of the rogue before she too succumbed to the swarm...

OOC: I don't know what kind rolls are needed or even how many actions, etc. that is, but that's about the best I can come up with for rescue plan. Please let me know if I need to edit anything.

Glynnelis already had an arrow nocked and ready when Alyssa felled the dragon. He gaped in astonishment, having expected to be killed by a spray of acid only seconds before. He was not much less surprised to see it was young Alyssa who killed the beast. Young Alyssa, who had been so reluctant to draw a weapon back in Ashford.

But this was no time for nostalgia, for Arthua lay on the brink of death. The elf did not know what good it would do, but he already had the arrow readied, so he loosed it into the heart of the swarm.

08:46, Today: Glynnelis Huntinghawk rolled 4 using 1d8+3 with rolls of 1.  damage.

08:45, Today: Glynnelis Huntinghawk rolled 15 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 10.  attack

Shalimar eyes the door being battered on by undead and notes the situation in the battle room is far more under control, so he motions to the freed prisoners, "Be ready to run into here there's a smaller room we can secure against the undead. Don't go too far in though."

As Orila runs into the swarm he calls out, "What are you doing? Even if you pull him out they can just follow you!"

Thoughts roil around in the bard's head,Gods dang it. I'm out of healing and have no offensive magic that would work on bugs. You can't insult near mindless bugs! They're too dumb. Wait... they're dumb bugs!

He springs into action, weaving an illusory sound of the natural enemy of a swarm of bugs: a flock of birds.

Free Action: Call out to freed prisoners.
Move: From my Actual position in AI to AD-98
Action: Prestidigitation to create the sound of a flock of hungry squawking birds, positioned to theoretically scare the dumb things away from the group.

Redirecting my ACtion:

Seeing the dragon fall to the precision of the archer's arrow, Talia's first thought was to release the trance she used to summon the instincts. However, those very instincts prevents that thought fully forming and her eyes moved to the entrance to the cave. Then to the gold. Then to the swarm. Gritting her teeth, she felt the frustration of seeing a comrade dying and knowing her skills could not prevent it. Instead, she moved toward then entrance and reiterated Shalimar's instructions, "Yes, quickly, get to safety." Talia was ready to face the zombies should they break through and protect these people.

The sudden presence of birds threw the swarm into disarray and while Orila picked up a few stings in the process it wasn't a coordinated attack and she was able to scoop up Arthua from the swarm and drag him back to the hallway. The others were able to retreat and pull the lever, sealing the bugs and the dragon's chambers from the the injured and wounded.

There wasn't time for a rest, however, as the grinding of the stone secret door was interrupted by the cracking of wood as the zombies finally made their way through the barricade. It seemed the party had one last fight on their hands...



*Rage: Advantage on STR rolls, +2 Damage, Resistant to physical damage
*Inspired: +1d6 to a single d20 roll

Gritting her teeth, Talia saw taht her work was not done. Her skills were still needed. She looked sadly at Arthua and then gripped her halberd and charged forward.

---

Move + Dash: AQ96

"Ugh," Glynnelis groaned. "I'm so sick of these guys." With a sigh, he summoned a sacred flame to burn one of the persistent nuisances.

DC 13 Dex save or 3 radiant damage.
Glynnelis Huntinghawk rolled 3 using 1d8 ((3)).

Yry is glad to see everyone make it out of the swarm and back into safety just in time for the zombies to break through. "Everyone is doing great, just a little more." She moves up in the room, her crystal ring cracking with cold magic as a long blade of ice forms in the middle of it. She fires it at the zombies, it smashing against the wall and releasing a mist of freezing motes to float down among the two undead.

_ _❆ Yry Sweetwater ❆ the sorcerer ii______ ___ _ __ _
 hp ███████░░░ hd ♡♡
 ac {15} [13 d. resilience + 2 dex] p.per {13} p.inv {10} p.ins {13}
 sorcery points ❆❆ spell slots ❆❆❆
 {move to AN.96}
 {ice knife on zombie 1, miss, dex save dc 13 from both zombies to avoid 6 cold damage}
 {15:17, Today: Yry Sweetwater rolled 10,8,6 using 1d20+5,1d10,2d6 with rolls of 5,8,3,3.  ice knife on zomboy 1, atk vs ac 13, pierc damage, cold damage (dex dc 13 to avoid).}

"Well Hells' bells!" Orila swore, drawing one of her axes as she stepped over Arthua's prone form and moved toward the zombies... keeping pace with Talia. If her maul wouldn't to the trick to stop these walking corpses from rising again, then she'd just have to hack them to pieces and see if that worked.

OOC: Object Interaction - draw axe
     Move - (as needed to reach the zombies, don't see an updated map)
     Action - attack zombie with axe

20:48, Today: Orila rolled 15 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 10.  Handaxe attack (AC 13) . (Hit!)
20:49, Today: Orila rolled 7 using 1d6+3 with rolls of 4.  Handaxe damage.
     (7 pts slashing damage to zombie... and alignment is LN if you need that too. ;)  )

OOC: (revised actions)
  Object Interaction - draw handaxe
  Move + Dash: AQ97
This message was last edited by the player at 14:38, Wed 09 Sept 2020.

Shalimar spends his time trying to stabilize Arthua, but without training in medicine or magic, he doesn't really find any progress (8).

Alyssa had only just begun to catch her breath and to let the tension ease out of her body when the zombies broke through the barricaded door. With a sharp intake of breath the handling moved back into the alter room and motioned to the freed prisoners, "Quick! Get behind me!" as she positioned herself between them and the latest threat.

---

OOC:
Move from hallway to AL,95

Yry moves south and detonates another ice knife at one of the zombies. It lurches into the path of the shards completely sheltering the other one even as it is perforated and it falls to the ground.

Arthua continues to bleed out, he's not looking too good. It looks like he's right at death's door and any second he could slip away...

The rest of the party moves forward even as the remaining zombie lurches at them.

The sacred flames from Glynnelis singe the zombie but it continues to march forward even as the holy fires continue to burn it.


*Rage: Advantage on STR rolls, +2 Damage, Resistant to physical damage
*Inspired: +1d6 to a single d20 roll

Shalimar continues to try and stop the bleeding, but continues to come up short in skill. He is starting to panic but tries to stay calm and calls to the nearest ally, "Glynnelis, can you help me out here? He's going to bleed out and I can't stop it!"

Bonus Action to Grant Inspire to Glynnelis
Action to try to stabilize Arthua which fails.

The corpse of Arthua laid where it was dropped. His face frozen in terror from the insects that ravaged him before death.

Shalimar freezes, "He's dead... oh god, he's dead! I couldn't save him! I didn't have any more spells! I didn't have any more spells!"

Actions remain the same regardless of his death, going to just go with he died mid attempt to get him help and Shalimar just freaks out.
This message was undeleted by the player at 19:14, Wed 09 Sept 2020.

The idea that Arthua might have died felt like acid in her heart, but Talia knew it was her duty to prevent any more such death. Focusing, she saw the path to take that allowed it and stepped in to swing her halberd in a powerful vertical strike. The rotting thing's body was unpredictable though and her strike, mortal to any other man, sliced through just more meat.

---

Move: AR96
Bonus: none
Attack: Attack with halberd


23:15, Today: Talia Alden rolled 4 using 1d10+3 with rolls of 1.  damage.
23:15, Today: Talia Alden rolled 15 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 10.  attack.

Yry spins around upon hearing Shalimar call out for help. She hadn't realized Arthua had sustained so much damage from the insects and she rushes back, falling to a kneel and quickly looking over the body, the numerous, flesh tearing bites and the cumulative effect. She tries to hold some of the wounds closed but is quickly overwhelmed and cries out in frustration. "He- he's gone."

:<
12:40, Today: Yry Sweetwater rolled 5 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 4.  medicine check to stabilize Arthua before his turn.

Down the hallway Talia cuts down the last zombie. It collapses to the ground just like the other one had done. The other one was still on the ground, unmoving.

Back in the tunnel the rest of the group tries desperately to save their fallen comrade but nothing seems to do the trick. Between the severe wounds he had suffered and the hundreds of venomous bites and stings he had suffered it seemed that it was his fate to shed the mortal coil and enter the afterlife.

OOC: Calling it here. Arthua has died.

Shalimar attempts to revive him, and fails.

"I ran out of spells."

He tries again. Fails.

"I ran out of spells!"

This keeps repeating. Looking at his face, Shalimar isn't home right now. He's obviously in shock.

The threat ended, Orila returned to the others and noted that despite her efforts to rescue him Arthua had died... though Shalimar was still frantically trying to revive him. The goliath put a hand on the bard's shoulder. "He's gone," she said, her deep voice a gentle rumble of thunder. "He fought bravely and has surely earned a place among his honored ancestors. We'll bring his body with us to give him a proper burial." 

Yry sort of goes slack, her bloody hands between equally bloody knees. She exhales and closes her eyes, head drooped for a long moment before she shakily stands up. It was a sad loss, but the thought that comes back to her mind is that really it's a miracle that herself and any of the party survived.

She pushes the hair clinging to the cold sweat on her pale forehead away, not really noticing as she adds a red smear to it. "Okay. Let's keep it together. That was unfortunate but could have been so much worse." She seems to be saying that to herself as much as anyone else, but for her at least it does work. Her eyes snap back to the here and now and she looks around for anything that needs to be done.

"We can probably blast the swarm and have someone manning the door lever so they don't get close, right?"

"Unfortunate?!" Glynnelis snapped. "It was sloppy! I warned you not to pull the lever..." He was glowering at Orila. "...and you charged right past me and pulled it anyway. And now he's dead!"

With the last of the zombies down, again, Alyssa watched the out pouring of emotions over their fallen companion. Stepping forward the little halfling raised her voice to be heard, "Blame and fighting won't bring Arthua back! We need to keep our heads here. We need to pay our respects to the fallen and make sure these two," she gestured at the zombies, "stay down this time. I'm thinking fire."

Though she grieved for her fallen friend, and she would tip more than a few tankards in his honor the next time she sat in a tavern, now was not the time for grief and her trance-like state kept it at bay. Thus, she held on to it for a few seconds more as she set about the grisly work of dismembering the zombies and moving bodies parts away from one another to prevent them animating again. "Is it probably that the swarm will dissipate of its own accord in time? Perhaps, just checking periodically? Are we in immediate danger now?"

The pain was distant, beyond the veil, but she knew it would come crashing in soon. Her mind could not keep it at bay much longer. Eventually, when the corpses were spread out over an area, she walked to a corner, relaxed, collapsed, and cried.

Orila had remained quiet while the others vented their emotions about Arthua's death. Even when Glynnelis directed his emotional outburst at her, the goliath took it in stride... stoic as ever. "Let's focus on getting out of here first. We can lay blame later."



"Just from those things coming back," Orila replied, gesturing to the various zombie body parts strew about the other chamber from where the continually-reanimating corpses had been hacked apart and scattered. "I say we take a breather and see if the bugs are still there after an hour or so."

OOC: Short Rest?

Pounding away at the bodies, the zombies don't show any signs of reanimation. Granted they gave no warning the last couple of times they did so but before they reanimated almost immediately while this time several seconds go by without them stirring. Perhaps whatever was keeping them going has been destroyed once and for all?

OOC: Let me know what you guys are doing next.

Shalimar doesn't say anything for the duration of the short rest. He just stares off at nothing. You're not even totally he's blinked.

The prisoners looked like they could use a rest as well. They were very badly neglected and gobble down any spare food and water.

A few minutes later it feels like the party has recovered their breath and refocused after the death of their companion.

OOC: Short rest completed. Where to next?

"Right. Of course. Nothing to do for him now," Glynnelis said flatly. "Let's go back for the other prisoners and then get everyone back to Ashford."

"Alright, let's get moving then," Orila agreed, rising and moving to pick up Arthua's body to carry it back to Ashford.

OOC: carrying Arthua's body and moving with the others back up to gather the freed prisoners and then barring any further trouble, heading back to town.

Since so many of us are bringing in new characters let's leave the dragon hoard for the newbies to find again or win back from whoever moves into the dungeon after we're gone. 

"We're not even going to check to see if the swarm dispersed? Try to kill it now that we've gathered our wits? We're just going to lose an ally to those damn bugs and leave them alive and leave the gold to whatever's left in here?" Shalimar stands up, "We could literally just be ready with magic, two people on the lever, one flips open the door, blast it, the other one on the lever shuts it right after and repeat. We owe it to Arthua to throw everything we've got at that swarm and get out with that loot."

Talia hefted her halberd and swung it so the flat of it was the working side. It felt weighted wrong and awkward to do so, but it might work as a makeshift sly swatter. "Yes, we must at least try to send those bugs to hell. If that is where bugs go. Plus, the hoard would make a prize and help the village." Truth to tell, Talia didn't feel all that much better, buit she was resolute.

---

10:38, Today: Talia Alden rolled 4 using 2d12 with rolls of 1,3.  hit dice short rest. Yay!!!

No, if we can we take the hoard, we take it. The old group worked for it, they earned it. Plus, no guarantee, per GM, it will be here when we get back. Whoever finds it will spend it on traps or gear.

Alyssa looked between Orlia and Glyynnelis, and Shalimar and Talia as if trying to make her mind up between the two differing opinions about how to proceed. Pausing for just a moment the halfling inclined her head towards the door to the dragon's horde, "Lets at least have a look before heading back home!" And then moved over to the levers waiting for the signal.

Yielding to the will of her companions, her tribe now and in this place, Orila gently put down Arthua's body and waited at the ready to aid them as they checked on the swarm...

OOC: Go ahead, I bow to the will of the majority.

Yry stands up and dusts herself off, tossing her black hair behind her shoulders, the silver strands mixed into it glinting in the cool, clean magical light she carries with her. She readies the crystal ring and waits for the others to join her.

06:27, Today: Yry Sweetwater rolled 7 using 1d6+3 with rolls of 4.  short rest hit die.

ready a ray of frost if the swarm is still violent

"Alright the two of us with the least combat power should be on the lever to get it up and down. I'll be one ready to close it up again. The rest of you ready to blast it with range the second you see it. The rest be ready to hit it with anything you can if it gets in before we get the door closed. Who all is blasting it with range so I know my timing to shut it again?"

Talia strode toward Shalimar and set a hand upon his shoulder, "I am not as effective as some at range, if that is our strategy, I shall stand with you, friend." That said, Talia stood, ready, to close the door if that was the required course of action.

Glynnelis held his holy symbol aloft, ready to summon the sacred flame...

"I'll be shooting ice magic," Yry tells Shalimar.

Once everyone is ready, Shalimar casts the bird trick and readies to shut it again after the last of our agreed upon ranged attacks and gives the waiting Alyssa the signal she was waiting for.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:08, Mon 21 Sept 2020.

Seeing Sahlimar's signal, Alyssa pulled on the lever to open the door. Once it was opened the Halfling shifted her weight in anticipation of closing it immediately.

Once the door opened, Talia tenses as she expected the swarm to come billowing through. She reacted by reaching for the lever to close should the swarm be present and move toward the opening.

Readied action to close the door should the swarm come within ten feet of it.

The lever is pulled and stone grinds against stone. Everyone holds their breath as the secret panel slowly pulls to the side. In the flickering torch light it is hard to tell if those are shadows moving or a swarm of stinging insects ready to swarm the party. The stone panel opens more and more and the party can see the faint glint of reflected light in copper, silver, and gold underneath the dead dragon. The sound of buzzing fills the air and an acrid smell hits their nostrils.

The archers and casters ready themselves. Every flicker of light sends the shadows spinning but the tiny dots of a swarm never appear, the buzzing sound never gets louder.

Cautiously the party peeks the heads out ready to bolt but while there are a lot of insects around, they aren't swarming like they did when the black dragon called to them. It appears the danger has passed...

"Okay, ranged folk be ready to blast at them if they start to swarm again. Everyone else start gathering. Keep an eye out for traps. We might also want to skim this small middle room here. Might have some interesting stuff in here aside from that tome."

There is no "quick" when it comes to a mound this large. Granted most of it is copper pieces but there are thousands of them piled up. It is enough to fully fill about two backpacks, assuming they're empty to begin with. It will likely take several minutes to scoop everything into a container and that isn't addressing the baubles and gems or the circle and helm that look suspiciously magical.

In addition, clutched in the dead dragon's claw, is a long silver staff. It has an elven look to it from the slender grace of it with a silver curved haft leading to an ornate head set with a brilliant glowing blue sapphire. It has several sharp blade-like protrusions but they seem too delicate to be used as a weapon and seems more like a particularly aggressive design choice.

Talia heaved a heavy sigh when only foul stench and some wayward bugs attracted to the fresh corpse presented themselves. Once again, she gripped her halberd in the swatting grip and crept into the cavern. She beamed back at the others, ”Well, better to worry when time allows than not. Let’s loot the blighter and run?” That said, Talia’s grip on her weapon did not loosen as the others came in and began to process of finding storage for the horde of coins. She did allow her own pack to be stuffed as much as possible.

Yry is relieved and puts her crystal torc back on. "You speak my mind, Talia. Let's not tarry."

OOC: Who is grabbing what?

Glynnelis reaches out and grabs the staff. He looks it over curiously and his voice comes out in an excited rush.

"Well isn't this a pretty thing...interesting, very interesting indeed..."

He tilts it back and forth letting the light play over its silvery length. Where moments before he was in a state of shock now it seems he has snapped back to reality and his focus is fixated on the staff.

"I had been planning on continuing my travels after this and it seems a shame to let our companion die like this. I plan to go to the capital. Let me take this staff, some gold, and Arthua and I shall find a cleric who can raise him from the afterlife. Does that sound acceptable?"

Glynnelis looks over the gold and coppers and pulls out 160gp worth of coin and gems.

"Eighty for me, eighty for dear Arthua here. And the staff, of course. Here look..."

He points out there is about 80gp worth of valuables in addition to the seven magical items they had recovered.

"I think a fair split would be eighty gold, or the equivalent there of, and one item of magic for each. Whatever item is left unclaimed we can add to Arthua's share. Does that sound fair?"

OOC: GM here. Putting this up here to get things going so we can get back to town.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:44, Thu 24 Sept 2020.

Yry considers Shalimar for a long moment, not liking the sudden change in Shalimar's demeanor. She sighs, however, figuring that everyone has had a difficult time. "I think it would be better if we all just get to town and take time to cool off and think things through, but if you're set on that plan then do what you must."

20:03, Today: Yry Sweetwater rolled 10 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 7.  insight on shalimar.

"Take everything we can." Orila said with a smile when she saw all of the treasure on the ground. "I'm strong. Get as many sacks as you can. Stuff the helmet and the other things too. Then fill the bags with coin until the bags filled."

Orila looked at the dead dragon. "What about those scales? Do you think that we might be able to peel a few large scales? Maybe it can be fashioned into armor or something." The goliath smiled, "Someone give me a knife. This maul that I use isn't going to be able to cut into the dragon. I'll take what scales I can. I'm going to see about making some armor from it."


Planning on taking as much dragon scales as Orila can carry. Hopefully enough for one suit of armor :)
And she will volunteer to carry extra treasure weight as necessary.

Alyssa moved cautiously into the horde room behind her companions and was struck with awe upon seeing extent of the dragon's cache, without a dragon activity guarding it. After a moment her focus returned and the halfling set about stowing what gems and loose coin she could into her pack. "This will do wonders back home! Were there any sacks with the prisoners?"

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OOC: Not sure if any of the named treasure items would appeal to Alyssa. She will pack and carry as much as she can.

The dragon isn't large enough for a full suit of armor but it could definitely be crafted into something else. A belt, some bracers, a shield even...

Orila picked up one the scales, "Not enough for a full suit of armor. But I'm going to have someone to work these into bracers. It would be good for me to have something to remember this fight." The goliath prized treasures such as the one she described. She turned to Glynnelis, "Yes, it would be right and proper to send a Arthua's family a share. His story should be shared with his tribe."

Orila will take enough scales to make some bracers for herself.