It is a day’s journey before the the tall, densely packed trees of the Lothenar Forest begin to thin, giving ground to the unforgiving terrain to the north. At the woodland’s edge, the group of adventurers can see that what lies beyond is a desolate, broken country, almost entirely absent of any vegetation, the arid soil marked by deep fissures and spotted with collections of jagged rocks and boulders.

Little stirs within the lonely landscape. The company members perceive a few lizards scuttling to the protective shadows cast by the taller boulders or patches of thin brush. From one crack, a snake emerges, winding amongst a grouping of dark stones in search of prey. Above, a single hawk screeches as it make a slow circle overhead. A cool wind crosses the emptiness from the west, strong enough to loosen some dust from the hard ground as it passes.

To the north, the adventurers can make out the tall silhouette of a mountain, its peak jutting up into the gray sky. But most of its stony expanse is hidden behind a dense veil of yellow fog. The curtain of mist appears fixed in place, somehow undisturbed by the passing wind. Those that gaze steadily at the cloud can see hints of a dark structure within it, a lone, ancient tower.

As the company regards the scene before them, they catch sight of a trio of riders, keeping to the concealment of the forest’s edge. At first, the party is uncertain of the approaching riders’ intentions until Renia speaks, stating that she recognizes the lead horseman, a fellow scout named Zinnelis, who she assures the adventurers is deeply loyal to King Gylharen.

Zinnelis and his fellow riders reach the group shortly, and the elf greets Renia warmly. He explains that Gylharen has been watching the gathering of Denagothian soldiers at the border with growing anxiety. The King, while still holding out hope that the adventurers would be able to retrieve Elvenstar, feared that Denagoth might seek to invade within weeks, and so had tasked some of his scouts and a handful of volunteers to seek out possible inroads into Denagoth, the means for small forces to infiltrate the country and possibly damage valuable targets within. Zinnelis and his companions had been seeking a way to reach the northernmost region of Denagoth, while circumventing the Lothenar Forest, a task that proved largely impossible.

Zinnelis confirms that they had heard the recent, terrible battle and thought that someone had fallen victim to the black dragon. He is is glad to learn of Vitriol’s demise, but sobered by the news of the loss of Jayanti and Patch.

”My companions, they are both adventurers of some accomplishment,” he explains, introducing his friends as the warrior Dimitri Reznov and the priest Windsor Moonwrought. ”It is surely by the blessing of Ildavir that we have come upon one another in such a dangerous land. Perhaps we could join you? Aid you in entering Gereth Minar and in winning back the Elvenstar?”
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:04, Sat 19 Sept 2020.

Jarder takes an immediate liking to the deadlands beyond the thickness of Lothenar Forest. Its predators have the good sense to stay on the ground or way above in the sky. Even better, he's had the time to dry out--not as dry as that lizard he just spotted but getting there.

Jarder smiles from ear to ear at the approach of the three riders and, impossibly, smiles even more when they offer their aid.

"It's not like we have any choice," Jarder japes. "If we said 'no,' you'd probably just stalk us until you could join the fun. So, yeah, you can join our gang but watch out for vengeful dragons."

The reptile exhibit has Neuken in a good mood as well.  “How soon can you start?”

The tall man rides with Zinnelis. His chain is of the highest quality. His shield is of a teardrop shape, and his helmet curves to a point with a red feather on top. His armor, along with his fur cape, the curve of his sword, and the composite of horn and wood in his bow, mark him as a warrior of one of the cultures of the frozen north. He raises a gloved hand in welcome.

"A friend of the elf is a friend of mine. My name Dimitri Reznov. Well met, my friends!"

Greyband stops, regarding this group stolidly, but salutes at this wise greeting. "Well met, fellow travelers. I am Greyband the Swashbuckler."

Orin was cautious at first, but upon hearing the explanation of how they came to be here quickly turned friendly to the newcomers.  He hoped they could fill the gap in their little band the untimely deaths of Jayanti and Patch had created, if not the hole in his heart.

"Hail, Zinnelis, Dmitri and Windor.  I am Orin Starshine, and I'm glad to have you along!  It's afoul business to be sure, and more stout bodies can only help the cause."

Killian was relieved to see the approaching riders were allies. The elf introduced himself as well. "Well met. I am Killian of House Hawkfire. Finding aid in such a desolate place is a blessing and most welcome. The dangers are significant, as the story of our friends reveals."

Neuken keeps that friendly smile on his winsome face, but keeps his eyes peeled and skinned for any sign of treachery.

Though not quite as physically imposing as his travel companion, the other man was clad in armor which had seen quite a bit of use. It was plate of ancient design, bearing engravings of archaic rites and symbology, prayers they were to those who knew them. A holy tome was chained to him and resided over his heart. Across his saddle was a massive stone maul. The man's beard was frosty, the corners of his eyes lined and evident of a deep wisdom. This holy warrior had seen things in his time, things that haunted him still...

"Well met to those who oppose the threat of the Shadow Lord." he said in a deep voice which could easily carry a sermon over the din of battle. His piercing eyes met the gaze of everyone, lingering a bit on the wizard. His mouth formed a minor scowl.

"I am Windor, wrought of Night's Own Beacon. I serve the Moon God, Shul, and it is in His Name that I shall smite our common foes!"

"Those who have fallen will be avenged. Those who may soon fall shall be honored. I pray the Moon God will grant me the privilege of scribing the names of more unholy foes upon the pages of my chronicle." He patted the tome upon his chest.

"Let Moonlight guide our way..."

Dimitri held his reins tight and bit his tongue. He cast a side glance at Windor. Six whole weeks of this cleric boasting and pontificating! In the old country the village priest said his piece at weddings and funerals then got the hell back in his chapel!

”Since yesterday afternoon, we have had sight of the mountain, and the cloud which surrounds the tower,” Zinnelis says, pointing to the expanse of yellow fog, ”The rumor is that the mist is poison. Were we to try to reach Gereth Minar, I do not know how we would safely travel through it.”

“Do any of you know magic that gives mastery of the weather? Perhaps a wind that could scatter the cloud?”

Greyband looks over at Neuken. "Wizard, you have anything useful that way?"

“Sorry, no.”

"Remember the priest's map," Orin said to jog their memories of the night they kidnapped the jaded cleric at the temple.  "There's another way into the tower, without going through the cloud.  We find that entrance and we'll have the advantage of surprise as well."


OOC:

Just dragging the DM's reminder into our IC conversation.  As  player I'd forgotten about that too!

Greyband snaps his fingers. "That's right, the wyvern on the rock! Zinnelis, Dimitri, we think we have a way in. Let's pull out our map and look for that hidden entrance."

The surviving party members pull out the map and study it, looking for the location of this rock with a wyvern picture on it.

Momentarily stunned by the reverend's oration, Jarder staggers over to the others to peer at the map he had cut out of that other's priest's sandals.

Neuken also examines the map, wondering if there is some trick involved in figuring this out.  He assumes the map will try to mislead them.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:52, Sun 27 Sept 2020.

Killian studies the map. "Looks like the secret tunnel is on the south side from the tower, near a tree stump. We should head there." The elf points to the drawing of the wyvern. "But, chances are it is guarded by a wyvern of some sort. Perhaps even the blue brother of Vitriol."

Greyband's eyes grow steely. "I hope he is there. I have unfinished business with that worm, now that I'm properly armored." He turns to the newcomers. "Zinnelis, Dimitri, are you with us?"

In reply to Greyband (msg # 19):

"Yes, my friends! My sword and shield are with you!"

”Indeed,” the elven scout says with a grim nod, ”Let us see this threat put to an end.”

The adventurers move cautiously across the barren plain, weapons and spells readied, watchful for any threat. Ahead, only the faint outline of the ancient tower can be seen through the screen of unnatural fog, but as the party presses forward, it becomes plain that those that occupy Gereth Minar have placed great faith in the protection of the venomous mist. No Denagothian soldiers emerge to patrol the land surrounding the tower, nor do any fell creatures haunt the broken landscape. Even the sky remains free of dangers.

It is Jarder Mehro who spies the tell tale stump, the remnants of a tree that was undoubtedly of enormous size, its wood darkened by time and the brutal elements. The thief is quick to locate the stone, the black figure of a wyvern painted on its smooth gray surface. The painting is old, parts of it having flaked away with the passage of decades, but its subject is plain enough to discern easily. The adventurers cautiously move the large rock from its place to find the entrance to the promised tunnel beneath it, cobwebs clinging to its edges. The passageway into the earth is entirely dark, a heavy, musty scent emerging from the opening. The party members here no sounds from within the thick shadows.

OOC: The initial part of the tunnel is roughly ten feet wide, which will require the party to proceed, initially, in single file.

A revised marching order, which accounts for the new additions to the company, will need to be decided on before entering the underground.

Neuken lurks near the rear of the party, but tries to arrange for some stout warrior to travel behind him.  A wizard requires safety, after all.

Killian moves toward the mage. "I can bring up the rear and make sure nothing comes for us from behind."

"That works."  He thinks hard for a moment, then adds, "Thank you."

Orin was used to standing at the front with Greyband.  He expected no less this time either.

Greyband offers to head in first. However, he turns to Windor. "Good cleric, I have some remaining injury from an incident with a blue dragon yesterday. May I ask you to invoke the healing of your god upon me before I lead us in?"

The old veteran had been lost in his own thoughts, his stare a thousand leagues away and perhaps a decade or so into the past. When the party began forming up near the stump, he seemed to snap back to the here and now.

"The God of Moonlight Battles smiles upon those who face their foes fearlessly and ferociously! Point your sword skyward warrior and receive the touch of Moonlight upon your face!"

Windor reached out his own gauntleted hand and placed it over the warrior's hand, invoking a minor prayer. It might have been just a trick of the light, but it certainly appeared as if a brief shaft of light descended with the quickness of thought, sliding down Greyband's blade and absorbing into his arms and chest.

"Honor the Moon, friend, and He will guide your hand!" Windor spoke with a fervor that was, perhaps, just a little bit frightening...


Cure Light Wounds: Windor Moonwrought rolled 6

Greyband stretches his arm where it was once wounded, pointing his blade toward the sky, and smiles as the pain leaves the arm. "Blessed be the moon," he says. "And thank you. Now, for business.'

He lowers his visor and moves down, leading the party in. Once he has no need to climb, he straps on his shield as well and walks.

Initially, some of the company members have to stoop down to enter the tunnel. After a short distance, the earthen passage reaches a crude set of stone steps which descend into an eastward leading corridor. Here, the ceiling is higher, though the tunnel remains narrow, providing only enough room for the adventurers to progress in single file.

At the rear of the line, Renia lights a torch with flint and steel and holds it aloft.

The tunnel continues eastward for a considerable distance. At regular intervals, the company encounters additional sets of stone stairs that bring them deeper into the earth. After descending the third such set of steps, the gloomy passage turns to the north, pressing forward into the deep shadows for almost sixty feet before halting at a tall door fashioned from stone. Cobwebs cover its dirt encrusted surface and on its right side, a large iron handle, speckled with rust, provides the means to pull it open.

Assuming that most doors don't have traps is the kind of thinking that can get a guild thief injured, maimed, or even killed. So Jarder goes about his business.

Jarder checks the door for traps
This message was last edited by the player at 21:05, Tue 06 Oct 2020.

"Watch for spiders," Neuken whispers forcefully.

Greyband happily steps back and lets Jarder do his work.

Orin was happy to help Jarder as needed.  After all, stonework and dungeon traps were in a dwarf's blood.


OOC:

20:25, Today: Orin Starshine rolled 4 using 1d6.  Find Traps (2 in 6).  Clean as a whistle!  ;)

The veteran servant of the Moon God scratched at his beard and then withdrew a torch from his own gear, lighting it off the one held by Renia. Then he touched it to the cobwebs near the door.

"I don't like spiders." he said simply but with a scowl.

Jarder and Orin both inspect the door thoroughly, but neither finds any evidence of traps. It occurs to both adventurers that the door itself, with its unusual stone construction, is likely a secret door of some kind, its appearance concealed from easy detection within the room that it leads to.

Windsor burns the cobwebs from the portal, sending a trio of small spiders skittering across the tunnel’s walls, in search of new shelter.

Relieved, and with all of his digits intact, Jarder pulls, not pushes, the large iron handle to open the door.

Greyband prepares to walk through the door once Jarder opens it!

Neuken stays well back, and glances over his shoulder to make sure nothing is sneaking up on the party.

Orin likewise tightened the grip on his war hammer and got ready to back up their towering leader.

Jarder pulls on the handle and the portal opens with a groan and the noise of stone scraping stone. Dust cascades from the door’s seams.

”...the body hauled out before sunset,” the adventurers hear a gravelly voice say in the Common tongue, ”Place stinks bad enough as it is.” Beyond the portal, the company members find a square chamber, the gray walls marked by innumerable cracks, the air within even colder than that within the hidden tunnel. In one corner of the room sits an iron stove, topped by a short stack of greasy tin dishes. A few feet away, there is a single wooden bed, piled with filthy woolen blankets.

The wall opposite the bed is occupied by a worn writing desk and a short bookcase, packed with loose parchments and scarred leather bound books. Above the desk, a pair of battle axes hang on the wall, crossed behind a battered shield that bears the symbol of a wyvern.

”And whoever’s been taking pity on Felinda, you need to...” The speech is cut off as the opening door topples over the weapon rack that had been placed against it, iron maces and spears spilling onto the floor with a thunderous clatter. In the room’s center, six men are gathered around a table. Five are dressed like soldiers, clad in dark colored chain mail, swords hanging from their belts. They are being addressed by a tall man wearing a leather apron, armed with a warhammer and bullwhip.

The gathering is momentarily shocked by the sudden appearance of the adventurers, but an instant later, each of them is reaching for his weapon.

13:32, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 5 using 1d6.  Surprise - Jailer/Guards.

13:33, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 4 using 1d6.  Surprise - Party.

Neither side is surprised.

13:34, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 1 using 1d6.  Initiative - Jailer/Guards.

13:42, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 5 using 1d6.  Initiative - Party.

The party wins initative and may act first. The jailer (with the whip) is AC 7. The guards are AC 4.

Wordlessly, Jarder throws his dagger at the flogger before slipping back into the tunnel from which he had appeared.

16:01, Today: Jarder Mehro rolled 17,6 using d20+4,d4+2.  dagger throw v torturer.
13:32, Today: Jarder Mehro rolled 11,3 using d20+3,d4+1.  2nd toss.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:33, Thu 15 Oct 2020.

Suspecting this will be an important fight, Neuken casts Haste on the party.

Reznov hurls his spear, but the quarters are too cramped to get an effective shot. It would have gotten in his way anyway, he thinks as he reaches for the hilt of his sword immediately after.

10:39, Today: Dimitri Reznov rolled 5,1 using d20,d6 ((5,1)).

Greyband feels Neuken's magic wash through him and grins. "For Patch, Jayanti and Killian!" He steps in, engaging several of the armored men, and begins an assault on the soldiers...

Flaming sword on for effect; hit AC 7 for 6 hp and AC 3 for 10 hp fire damage.

14:09, Today: Greyband rolled 10 using 1d10+4 with rolls of 6.  Damage #2.
14:09, Today: Greyband rolled 6 using 1d10+4 with rolls of 2.  Damage #1.
14:08, Today: Greyband rolled 14 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 10.  Attack #2 w/flaming sword.
14:08, Today: Greyband rolled 10 using 1d20+4.  Attack #1 w/flaming sword.

Orin's bushy eyebrows shot up as they found themselves in the middle of an occupied guardroom. Then he grinned, hunkered behind his shield and rushed forward into the fray!  Choosing the first unoccupied guard, he whirled his hammer with a speed he barely knew he possessed and then leveled blows at the hapless miscreant.


OOC:

18:50, Today: Orin Starshine rolled 20 using 1d20+2.  Attack 1.
18:50, Today: Orin Starshine rolled 6 using 1d6+2.  Damage - Attack 1.

18:50, Today: Orin Starshine rolled 7 using 1d20+2.  Attack 2 (assuming Haste grants a second).  Gotta think miss here...

Brining up the rear of their single file line, Killian kept his sword sheathed and opted to carry the spear from the elven ghosts. When the party started rushing in to the room, he felt the wave of Neuken's magic wash over him. He charged in behind Greyband. "I'm not dead yet, friend." he jested as he thrusted his spear in to one of the guards.


Melee spear attack hits AC4 for 10 HP damage.

22:28, Today: Killian Hawkfire rolled 13,5 using 1d20+4,1d20+4.  Attack 1, Attack 2.
22:30, Today: Killian Hawkfire rolled 10 using 1d6+4.  Damage 1.

Windor chuckled and strode into the fray with his massive maul in one hand and a torch in the other! He swung at a guard, the odd chuckle and zealous grin on his face juxtaposed the grim attack. His second swing was not nearly so graceful.

"Ha-ha! Sleep long and be judged by Moonlight!"


Attack 1: Windor Moonwrought rolled 18 to hit AC-1 for 5 damage.
Attack 2: Windor Moonwrought rolled 9 to likely miss AC8 ??? for 6 damage

Renia rushes the closest of the soldiers, landing a pair of well timed strikes on his shoulder and rib cage.

09:22, Today: Renia rolled 13 using 1d20+3.  Attack - Sword.

09:34, Today: Renia rolled 7 using 1d8+1.  Damage.

10:01, Today: Renia rolled 18 using 1d20+3.  Attack - Sword.

10:01, Today: Renia rolled 3 using 1d8+1.  Damage.

The Denagothian, wounded mere moments ago by Orin, struggles to keep his footing.

Zinnelis charges into the chamber with the rest of the party, attacking the same foe that Windor Moonwrought engaged. His blows are swift, but inaccurate, the soldier able to avoid both with a quick back step.

09:35, Today: Zinnelis rolled 6 using 1d20.  Attack - Sword.

10:09, Today: Zinnelis rolled 2 using 1d20.  Attack - Sword.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:22, Wed 21 Oct 2020.

The guard that was seared by the flame from Greyband’s blade stabs at the warrior. His attack manages to pierce Greyband’s guard, but he only inflicts a mere scratch on his formidable opponent.

10:20, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 16 using 1d20.  Attack - Guard.

10:22, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 1 using 1d8.  Damage.

The guard contending with Orin and Renia counters the human scout’s second strike, landing a heavy blow on her right flank.

10:23, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 15 using 1d20.  Attack - Guard.

10:25, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 7 using 1d8.  Damage.

The guard that Killian wounded tries to retaliate against the elf, but Killian easily knocks the soldier’s swing aside with his spear.

10:26, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 10 using 1d20.  Attack - Guard.

Another of the Denagothians attempts to ward off Windor with a swift, downward swing of his blade. The priest is able to anticipate the clumsy blow and sidestep it.

10:47, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 6 using 1d20.  Attack - Guard.

The last of the guards, locked in combat with Dmitri, manages to inflict a shallow cut on the warrior’s left arm.

10:49, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 19 using 1d20.  Attack - Guard.

10:50, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 3 using 1d8.  Damage.

The burly jailer reacts instinctively when Jarder’s blade bites into his shoulder. With a quick motion of his forearm, he sends his whip snaking out in the thief’s direction. It finds only air, Jarder having already retreated into the shadows.

10:59, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 5 using 1d20.  Attack - Jailer.

None of the guards have been felled as yet. As well, the jailer still able to fight. All of the enemies are now carrying wounds.

11:02, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 5 using 1d6.  Initiative - Party.

11:04, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 3 using 1d6.  Initiative - Jailer/Soldiers.

The party retains the initiative and can act next. The guards are AC 4 and the jailer is AC 7.

Dimitri draws his sword with a smirk as the guard pinked him, and delivers a solid and telling blow with a spray of crimson as a riposte.


16:07, Today: Dimitri Reznov rolled 16,8 using d20+2,d8+2 ((14,6)).

Orin was grateful for the assistance but cringed when Renia took a deep slash to her side.  Seeking to defend the flame-haired lass, he whirled his hammer again and again, still marveling at how agile he felt.

What he didn't marvel at was the glancing blow he struck, barely catching the guard at all...


OOC:

19:24, Today: Orin Starshine rolled 16,8 using 1d20+2,1d20+2.  Attacks on guard.

19:24, Today: Orin Starshine rolled 8,19 using 1d20+2,1d20+2.  Damage.  I wish!

19:24, Today: Orin Starshine rolled 3 using 1d6+2.  Damage (for real this time).  Boo!

If Neuken is confident he can hit the guards without effecting the party, he'll cast the Sleep spell he has stored on his ring.  Otherwise, he'll hold fire for now.

It's good to be in the shadows again, thinks Jarder. And to have an abundant supply of daggers. He draws another one, emerges from the shadows, and stabs one guard and then maybe another, both too busy fighting to notice his reemergence.

Attack 20 Dmg 15
Attack 25 Dmg 12
17:19, Today: Jarder Mehro rolled 20,5,25,4 using d20+7,d4+1,d20+7,d4+1.  backstab 1 and 2.

Greyband looks almost surprised at the scratch. "That almost hurt," he growled as he redoubled his attack...

Attack again; hit AC-2 for 5 hp and AC 7 for 14 hp. All damage is fire. :-)

20:06, Today: Greyband rolled 5,14 using 1d10+4,1d10+4 with rolls of 1,10.  Damages: AC -2, AC 7.
20:05, Today: Greyband rolled 10 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 6.  Attack #2 w/flaming sword.
20:05, Today: Greyband rolled 19 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 15.  Attack #1 w/flaming sword.

Killian continues to assault the guard. He thrust his spear at the man twice, but only the first pierced his armor.

Melee spear attack his AC -1 for 5 damage.

13:18, Today: Killian Hawkfire rolled 18,5 using 1d20+4,1d20+4.  Attack 1, Attack 2.
13:20, Today: Killian Hawkfire rolled 5 using 1d6+4.  Damage 1.

The grizzled cleric swung his heavy maul this way and that, quickened as he was by the magical enhancement of his new companion. The swings were wild and harrying, but largely ineffective.

"Hold still knaves and take your beating!" Windor blustered.


Attack 1: Windor Moonwrought rolled 8 to likely miss AC9
Attack 2: Windor Moonwrought rolled 8 to likely miss AC9
Crazy Eights!

Renia grits her teeth, refusing to cry out at the sudden injury. Redoubling her efforts, she replies to the guard’s assault with a pair of quick swings of her own, the second slicing a clean cut in the Denagothian’s shoulder.

10:09, Today: Renia rolled 8 using 1d20+3.  Attack.

10:10, Today: Renia rolled 20 using 1d20+3.  Attack.

10:11, Today: Renia rolled 3 using 1d8+1.  Damage - Sword.

Zinnelis tries to press the attack against the guard that he and Windor are facing, but proves unable to pierce the Denagothian’s defenses, the soldier deftly parrying each of his blows.

10:13, Today: Zinnelis rolled 5 using 1d20.  Attack.

10:13, Today: Zinnelis rolled 11 using 1d20.  Attack.

Although Neuken looks for a place to unleash his spell of unnatural slumber, the sorcerer is unable to find a safe spot within the melee to do so, an area where only the party’s enemies would fall prey to the magic.

With a pair of heavy strikes from his flame sheathed sword, Greyband cuts down one the guards, the man crumpling to the floor without a sound, blackened scars visible on his armor.

Killian inflicts another grievous wound on his foe, while nearby, Dimitri lands a solid blow on the flank of the guard he is engaged with. Before Dimitri’s opponent can respond, Jarder is upon him, driving his blade between the Denagothian’s shoulders. Both guards appear to falter, mindful of how terribly injured they are, and just how dangerous the enemies they are fighting are.

12:40, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 7 using 2d6.  Morale - Guard.

12:41, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 9 using 2d6.  Morale - Guard.

The guard facing Killian steels himself, gathering all the bravery he can muster. The soldier fighting Dimitri lets out a howl as Jarder attacks him, then makes a dash for the door, trying his best to weave through the melee and escape.

Jarder moves to a second target, the Denagothian brawling with Windor and Zinnelis, inflicting a deep wound on the guard’s lower back. The hurt soldier spits out a curse, swinging his sword wildly at Zinnelis. The elf manages to narrowly duck the blade as it cuts through the air.

13:31, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 10 using 1d20.  Attack - Guard.

Killian’s opponent thrusts his blade at the elven warrior, but the attack is a desperate one, easily read and avoided by the veteran adventurer.

13:42, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 12 using 1d20.  Attack - Guard.

The besieged guard that is opposing Orin and Renia takes a quick, chopping swing at the dwarven warrior, but misses him entirely, the tip of the sword clanking harmlessly on the stone floor.

15:47, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 4 using 1d20.  Attack - Guard.

Cursing in rage at the sudden attack on his men, the jailer swings his hammer at Greyband. The blow skids off of the imposing warrior’s armor, causing him no harm.

15:58, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 10 using 1d20.  Attack - Jailer.

16:40, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 2 using 1d6.  Initiative - Party

16:40, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 4 using 1d6.  Initiative - Jailer/Guards.

The jailer and surviving guards win initiative.

The guard clashing with Windor and Zinnelis takes another swing at the elf. This time, the Denagothian’s sword strikes true, opening a deep gash in Zinnelis’ shoulder.

16:47, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 13 using 1d20.  Attack - Guard.

17:01, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 6 using 1d8.  Guard - Damage.

Killian’s foe, badly wounded, clumsily tries to press his attack against the elf, but Killian skillfully parries the next incoming swing.

17:05, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 6 using 1d20.  Attack - Guard.

The guard that is caught between Orin and Renia bellows a string of curses. Swinging again at the dwarven warrior, his sword finds Orin’s right leg, tearing open a wound in his thigh.

17:09, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 20 using 1d20.  Attack - Guard.

17:09, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 6 using 1d8.  Damage - Guard.

The last of the guards continues his retreat. Moving as fast as his legs can carry him, he reaches the closed door at the northern end of the room, hurriedly pulling it open.

”You lot will find nothing here but your doom!” the jailer splutters as he takes another swing at Greyband, a slow attack that the warrior is easily able to dodge.

17:17, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 4 using 1d20.  Attack - Jailer.

OOC: It is the party’s turn to act.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:16, Thu 29 Oct 2020.

Hastened, Jarder tears after the fleeing guards. If they had time to taunt them, they had time to die.

Attack #1: Misses
Attack #2: Hits AC 5 for 5 dmg
09:24, Today: Jarder Mehro rolled 6,2,12,5 using d20+2,d4+1,d20+2,d4+1.  attack guards at the door.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:24, Thu 29 Oct 2020.

Greyband's only answer to the jailor is fire: his flaming blade flies like a comet and slashes the fellow and any other nearby enemies...

Attack Jailer back, hit AC 3 for 13 hp fire. Haste attack--on Jailer if he's still up, or another foe if the jailer falls--hitting AC-3 for 11 hp.

15:18, Today: Greyband rolled 13,11 using 1d10+4,1d10+4 with rolls of 9,7.  Damage: AC 3, AC -3.
15:17, Today: Greyband rolled 20 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 16.  Haste attack.
15:16, Today: Greyband rolled 14 using 1d20+4.  Attack the Jailor.

Orin retreated behind his shield after suffering the nasty cut on his leg, approaching the guard with more caution for his next foray.  The guard remained elusive, making the dwarf's job particularly difficult.


OOC:

20:17, Today: Orin Starshine rolled 13,9 using 1d20+2,1d20+2.  Attack. Maybe one hit?
20:18, Today: Orin Starshine rolled 7 using 1d6+2.  Damage (if hit).

His companions around him seem to be moving with unnatural speed, but Dimitri relies on his own ferocity. He draws the blade from the now lifeless foe and continues forward. He wisely steers clear of the burning jailer in an attempt to stab one of the retreating guards.

15:22, Today: Dimitri Reznov rolled 9, 5 using d20+2,d8+2 ((7,3)).

Neuken casts Magic Missile at the nearest foe.  Then awaits the inevitable applause.

19:20, Today: Neuken Orulto rolled 11 using 3d6+3.  Magic missile.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:24, Fri 30 Oct 2020.

Killian presses his attack against the guard. "Should have run with your friends."

Attack 1: Hits AC -2 for 7 damage
Attack 2: Misses

00:02, Today: Killian Hawkfire rolled 19,9 using 1d20+4,1d20+4.  Attack1, Attack 2.
00:03, Today: Killian Hawkfire rolled 7 using 1d6+4.  Damage 1.

Windor seemed to be a little caught up in his zealous frenzy, swinging wildly with his maul and connecting with little in the way of enemy flesh.

"Spread out a little! You're all crowding me!" He barked in frustration.


Whole lotta missin' goin' on!
Windor Moonwrought rolled 7 using 1d20+1.  Maul Attack.
Windor Moonwrought rolled 4 using 1d20+1.  Maul Attack.

Jarder catches up with the retreating guard, sinking his blade deep between the soldier’s shoulder blades. The Denagothian lets out a shocked gasp before collapsing to the floor.

Orin’s hammer slams into the rib cage of the guard he is fighting. The man drops his guard, clutching his wounded side, providing Renia an opening. The red haired warrior’s first swing is ill timed, but her second strikes true, cleaving the Denagothian’s head from his shoulders.

10:33, Today: Renia rolled 8 using 1d20+3.  Attack - Sword.

10:34, Today: Renia rolled 16 using 1d20+3.  Attack - Sword.

10:34, Today: Renia rolled 4 using 1d8+1.  Damage.

A moment after Killian grimly provides his opponent some sage advice, his spear point finds the center of the guard’s chest, punching through his armor. The soldier blinks in surprise before sinking lifelessly to the floor.

The guard contending with Windor yelps in fear as the grim priest yells. Backing away from the cleric’s assault, the Denagothian leaves himself open to Zinnelis, who runs the hapless soldier through with his second attack.

10:35, Today: Zinnelis rolled 5 using 1d20.  Attack - Sword.

10:35, Today: Zinnelis rolled 18 using 1d20.  Attack - Sword.

10:35, Today: Zinnelis rolled 7 using 1d8.  Damage.

The jailer is still standing after Greyband’s ferocious attack, but just barley, burnt wounds visible on his shoulder and chest. Swaying drunkenly, he grips his hammer in both hands. ”You’ll not see me killed that easily, intruder!” he snarls, ”I’ll put you in the ground if it is...”

Neuken’s bolts find him before he can finish speaking, the arcane energy blasting the life out of him before sending him smashing into the wall just right of the northern door, where he lands in a broken heap.

OOC: Combat over.

The jailer’s room remains intact in the wake of the melee, save for the center table, which was smashed into pieces during the battle. Silence overtakes the chamber. The only visible exit, save for the secret entrance that the company utilized, is the northern doorway, which one of the guards attempted to flee through.

“After we search, I fervently request that we rest for a time.  Too much magic gives me a tummy ache.”

Greyband grunts at Neuken's request and begins searching the room after deactivating his fiery blade with a command word and sheathing it.

In a measured and workmanlike manner, Jarder recovers and then cleans his weaponry. Then, he assists Greyband in his search.

"Why," he wonders, "do my boots not respond to their name, Dryax, in the same way that Greyband's blade does to its name?"

Killian moves to the body of the guard that attempted to flee and looks down the hallways to see if the sounds of fighting have drawn any attention. He then drags the body back inside the room and closes the door.

Orin glanced over to Neuken.  "How long were you thinking to rest?  Can't stay here too long, I don't think.  Others will come along, or realize that these," he waved at the floor, "haven't showed up somewhere else."

Jarder searches the body of the fallen jailer, finding a wide leather pouch on the dead man's belt. It contains 15 gold pieces, a ring of keys, and a note which reads, "Add Venla, the thief, and Nethelar, the priest, to roster of prisoners."

When the thief mentions the name of his boots, he finds himself beginning to slowly float, levitating upwards off of the ground. Within moments, his head has gently bumped the ceiling.

Greyband looks over the pile of maces and spears. All the weapons are of good workmanship, but none are exceptional in any way, merely serviceable.

Greyband's attention shifts to the writing desk. The warrior does not find anything of interest on its surface, but notices that its single drawer is locked. As Greyband looks over the desk, he finds his gaze drawn to the empty section of wall directly beside it, noting that the surface seems oddly uneven.

21:06, Today: Secret Roll: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Greyband, rolled 1 using 1d6.  Secret Door.

Running his hand over the stone, Greyband finds a distinct vertical seam. Tugging on it twice, the warrior pulls open a hidden door, which creaks slightly as it reveals a small dark chamber beyond it.

Killian retrieves the fallen guard's body, noting that the adjoining room to the north appears to be a torture chamber. Manacles hang from the ceiling and in the southwest corner of the room, near the door the elf entered through, is a rack and wheel. In the northeast corner, a large iron box sits atop a table, and in the northwest corner, there is the statue of a black dragon.

On the eastern wall of the torture chamber are two iron banded doors. Both are closed. Another similarly banded door occupies the center of the western wall. It too is closed.

Killian observes that the chamber is unoccupied and he hears no sounds of approach from any direction.

“If we can’t rest here, I heartily suggest we do it somewhere else.  Otherwise, we head into danger a few spells short of a full deck.”

With the revelation of the torture chamber, a wave of dread passes over the thief. If he has not yet been convinced of the implacable evil of the Denagothians, he is now. It's just that that high priest had seemed so pragmatic. Pragmatism, Jarder has long thought, pointed to a better, not a worse, way. His thoughts go no further.

Then, as if he has been in the habit of doing so since year one, he utters the command word for his boots until he has obtained a steady altitude of one foot. Who could hear him approach now?

Keyring in hand, he busies himself with the locked desk drawer.

OOC the small dark chamber isn't the torture chamber, right?
This message was last edited by the player at 02:27, Mon 09 Nov 2020.

"Someone check it out, perhaps we can hide the bodies in there!" Windor said, pointing toward the secret door and grunting from the effort of helping to move the dead guards.

"Quite likely there'll be a shift change at some point, new guards will show up and make some unfortunate assumptions. We've a window of time in which to work, best we keep moving until exhaustion becomes our lot..."

Greyband nods. He sheathes his sword, grabs a torch and heads into the small chamber, looking around.

Orin nodded at Windor's wisdom, his own thoughts running in the same direction.  They had to keep moving and quickly, or they would be discovered and trapped in a fortress of enemies.  Time was of the essence.

"Quickly, lad," the dwarf said to Greyband as the warrior explored the dark room beyond the secret door.  "We need to reach our goal before anyone knows we're here."

A musty smell overtakes those who step inside the small, hidden chamber adjacent to the jailer’s office. Glancing at the southern wall, the adventurers see a pair of skeletons, ragged remnants of clothing still clinging to them, suspended by iron cuffs bolted to the stone, roughly three feet below the ceiling.

On the western wall, directly across from the room’s entrance, are a set of three shelves. The lower two appear to hold a variety of different tools; hammers, tongs, chisels, and others. Several of the implements are spotted with rust. On the top shelf is a jar of dark colored liquid, along with four vials; one containing a cloudy brew that is dark green, the other three filled with a translucent fluid which is pale blue in hue.

Against the eastern wall is a chest with brass fittings, which is closed. Above the chest, hanging from hooks on the wall, are a heavy crossbow, a polished steel mace, and an axe of dwarven design.

The second key that Jarder tries opens the locked desk drawer. Within, he finds a pouch holding twenty gold pieces, a flask full of mead, and a  leather bound ledger which appears to record the name of every prisoner held at Gereth Minar for the past two years.

Greyband emerges from the secret room. "Treasure in there--and an apparently secure room. I propose we camp in there."

After adding the gold coins to the others in his pack, Jarder grabs the flask and ledger for entertainment when they clock out.

Jarder then joins Greyband in the musty room and wonders if the guards themselves had forgotten about this chamber. He confronts the chest and can't conceive of a reason why it would be trapped.

He checks it anyway.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:55, Fri 13 Nov 2020.

On the opposite side of the room, well away from the chest, Neuken settles down for some shut-eye and spell memorization.  But he does take the time to watch Jarder do his thing, from a safe distance.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:07, Fri 13 Nov 2020.

11:25, Today: Secret Roll: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Jarder Mehro, rolled 11 using 1d100.  Find/Remove Traps.

Upon close examination, Jarder discovers that the chest’s brass fittings conceal a grouping of cleverly hidden tubes. Further investigation leads the thief to understand that unless a hidden switch is moved prior to opening the chest, the trap emits a fine spray of oil, sufficient to fill most of the room. A sparking mechanism ignites the oil a moment later, purging the entire chamber with a furious blast of flame.

With a few moments of careful work, Jarder disarms the trap.

Gingerly lifting the chest’s lid, Jarder discovers three bags within. Although the thief does not have time to count each sack’s contents, he estimates that the first sack contains over three hundred gold pieces, the second, approximately five hundred fifty silver pieces, and the third, an assortment of cut gems worth around three hundred gold pieces.

Job complete, Jarder deposits the three bags next to Grayband as if to say, "You there. You carry these."

With no other pressing assignments, he settles into a corner of the room and treats himself to the first draw from the flask before offering its contents to the others. Then he starts to peruse the ledger, surely a soporific endeavor.

Orin looked uncomfortable but reiterated his previous caution.  "I don't think resting here for several hours is a smart thing to do.  The guards will be missed, and even if they don't find us in this room the fortress will be on alert.  It will make everything we do from then on ten times harder."

"We must press on now, while we have surprise on our side," he urged the group.

Greyband shrugs and picks up the treasure. He turns to Neuken. "How much trouble would you have it as pressed on?"

“Some of my most powerful spells are already exhausted.  But I’ll try to make do without them, if a consensus is reached that we must press on.”

Windor nodded wisely. He understood a bit about exhaustion and the depletion of one's powers, but in his opinion it came from a lack of faith when being unable to concentrate and focus one's will. Magery was a strange business, but the veteran had seen enough to know that wizards certainly had their place in a party such as this... even though there was something off about Neuken. The cleric certainly didn't trust him.

"Let's try to at least find a place that is perhaps not going to be checked immediately as a result of our little skirmish here."

"I agree, is best to move. Is better to ambush when wounded...and not be ambushed when wounded."

OOC: Something ‘off’ about him?  My guy is chaotic f’n evil! I think you’re understating the case just a little.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:39, Mon 16 Nov 2020.

The adventurers exit the jailer’s office, stepping into the large, adjacent room that serves as the dungeon’s torture chamber.

Manacles hang from the chamber’s ceiling. In the southwest corner of the room, only a few paces from the door the company entered through, is a rack and wheel, its mechanisms recently oiled. In the northeast corner, a large box fashioned from hammered iron sits atop a dark colored table. A short distance from the table, in the room’s northwest corner, a statue of a black dragon glowers at the adventurers.

On the eastern wall of the torture chamber are two iron banded doors. Both are closed. Another similarly banded door occupies the center of the western wall. It too is closed.

From behind one of the eastern doors can be heard the muffled sound of a female voice singing a mournful ballad.

Neuken gazes admiringly at the rack like a love-struck schoolboy.  “Once our quest is completed, I may have to re-open this place.  It would thrive under new management.”

"As a prospective management type," Jarder sasses, "I would think you would have had the five potions in the other room identified and catalogued."

Drawn to the sound of the melancholic ballad, Jarder moves to the eastern cell from which it is sung and asks, "You wouldn't be Venla, the thief, or Nethelar, the priest, by any chance?" He then starts testing the keys to see which one will open the cell door.

OOC Jarder grabs the five potions from the secret room.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:26, Thu 19 Nov 2020.

“There’ll be time enough for potions when the torturin’s done,” Neuken says with a quaint rural drawl.

Despite his urgings for haste Orin couldn't ignore the axe of dwarven manufacture hanging on the wall.  He approached and inspected it with great respect, before reaching out and running a finger along the haft and tracing some of the etchings on the blade.  Eventually he hoisted the weapon up from his brackets to better appreciate the craftsmanship.

Greyband rolls his eyes at Neuken's antics and goes to listen at the western door.

“I do hope that axe isn’t cursed.”

Taking measure of the axe’s weight, Orin finds the weapon to be perfectly balanced. Giving it a swing, the warrior notes that the axe moves somewhat easier through the air than its apparent weight would suggest, making it exceptionally easy to wield. The runes that mark the axe’s handle and blade indicate to Orin that the weapon is the work of elder smiths from the Thunder Mountains.

OOC: The axe is a +2 weapon.

Jarder places the five containers of colored liquid in his pack before proceeding into the torture chamber. Listening carefully, the thief is able to determine that the sound of singing is coming from the southernmost of the two doors on the room’s eastern wall. Trying the door, Jarder finds it unlocked. Behind it is a corridor which travels eastward for roughly forty feet before reaching a set of stairs, carved from the dark stone, which lead upward. Halfway down the length of the passageway, on the southern wall, is the iron barred door to a cell. Jarder can discern that the song he hears originates from within that cell.

Greyband presses his ear to the lone door on the western wall of the torture chamber, but hears only silence. Gently trying the latch, the warrior finds the door locked.

Neuken regularly looks over his shoulder to make sure nothing is creeping up on them.  He is especially paranoid about this, since he’s fond of sneaking up on things himself.

While the others carefully searched, Windor attempted to turn the statue of the black dragon toward the wall. It gave him an eerie feeling. He then took account of the iron box. He had the idea that though these implements of torture were indeed anathema to the dictates of his faith, a set or two of manacles might be handy should they need to restrain someone in the future. He steeled his will and attempted to steel his shaking hand as he opened the box to look inside.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:42, Mon 23 Nov 2020.

A foot above the floor, Jarder drifts down the corridor to the cell and makes himself known to the lady of song within while picking out the right key for the lock.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:59, Mon 23 Nov 2020.

In spite of his best efforts, Windor is unable to budge the dragon statue. Its position seems rooted to the chamber’s floor, the sculpture’s glowering gaze fixed on the center of the unsettling room.

The contents of the iron box are just as terrible as the priest feared. It is filled with all manner of grisly tools, fashioned for the sole purpose of doing harm to the captives who are brought here. Some of the instruments bear rust colored stains, a silent testament to the terrible fate of previous victims. Remaining focused, Windor is able to locate a set of iron manacles, the key still within the lock of the restraints.

Floating down the hallway, Jarder reaches the cell door, the haunting tones of the woman’s song filling the quiet. The singing halts as soon as the thief reaches the iron barred portal.

Jarder immediately notices that the cell is quite large, easily more spacious than the jailer’s quarters. Lined along the circumference of the chamber are statues, life sized stone likenesses of a wide variety of persons; primarily humans, elves, and dwarves. The thief notes that several of the statues are depicted as bearing clothing that would indicate that they are soldiers. All of the sculptures are remarkably lifelike; possessed of exceptional detail.

The woman is standing in roughly the center of the room. She is clad in a dark gray cloak that covers her completely, the hood hiding her face behind a curtain of shadow. Upon noticing Jarder, her head tilts to the left, a gesture of curiosity. ”Who are you?” she asks, ”You don’t look like any of the guards.”

Neuken glances with annoyance in the direction of the voice.  He’d been hoping to get some quality time in with the iron box full of toys, but so much for that.  As usual, the demands of his career were preventing him from reenacting the joys of his childhood.

Greyband moves to look for Jarder and finds that he's discovered someone. He stands back and lets Jarder answer the lady before pursuing his errand.

Pleased with the axe, Orin kept that with him.  And since none took the crossbow, he grabbed that too.  And to Windor he called out, "Priest, do you use a mace?  This one looks of good craftsmanship and no one else is claiming it."

Once that was settled he tromped after the rest, through the torture chamber (quickly to avoid the unpleasantness) and then down the hall toward a cell where Jarder stood apparently conversing with someone, Greyband standing watch.

Windor stuffed the manacles into his pack with a grimace and an oath, "Moonlight will shine one day, even in this darkness, soon I pray..."

Looking up at the stout warrior, the grizzled veteran nodded. "The days of my youth were spent smashing things with heavily weighted things... yes, a mace is heavy thing, of such I am adept. Thank you." Windor took the mace and looked it over, considering it perhaps as a backup weapon to his mighty maul.

Neuken also approaches Jarder, not wanting to be too far from the action (for multiple reasons).

Upon surveying the indoor sculpture garden and its ... caretaker, Jarder gulps. This is way, way above his pay grade.

On the off chance, she does not want to add yet another run-of-the-mill footpad to her collection, he chooses to remain rooted -- so to speak -- to his spot one foot above the floor.

"I am Jarder, one of a party of adventurers, infiltrating the Tower of Gereth Minar to depose its current master, retrieve a precious jewel, and free all who would be freed from its less than salubrious confines."

That would have to do now for a reply. Would it further pique her curiosity?
This message was last edited by the player at 21:44, Tue 01 Dec 2020.

Dimitri spots the realistic statues, and hears the lone female prisoner's voice. He backs away another room or two.

"Oh Hells No! I've heard this tale before!"

“Those statues do look incredibly lifelike, don’t they?  No idea how such artistic masterworks ended up down here.  For those of you who don’t speak fluent sarcasm, be aware that I’ve just given you an example of it.”

Although he remains uncertain about exchanging another weapon for his favored maul, Windor can see that the mace is an exceptionally fine piece of workmanship, the dark iron unmarked, despite the weapon’s handle showing signs of frequent use. Shifting it in his grip, Windor has the odd sense that the mace was forged with a purpose, its maker having been filled with a righteous fury.

OOC: The mace is a +1 weapon. Its bonus increases to +2 when wielded against undead.

”Truly?” the cloaked figure replies to Jarder. ”You seek to overthrow the Shadow Lord? To steal the stone that he is so deeply obsessed with? I hope you are speaking the truth. I am weary of serving as his executioner. I would rejoice to see him defeated.”

“But how is it that you are here? The poison mist that circles this place ensures the death of every intruder...or fugitive.”

Windor glanced over at Dimitri, the wizened lines upon his face creased with unease and worry...

"Would that mean the mist keeps you from resignation of your... position in the Shadow Lord's employ? A prisoner yourself in this dungeon perhaps, though one of a different sort?" the old war-cleric ventured.

Although he has not been trained in the college of diplomacy, Jarder has the wherewithal to not offer "Is that to say, there was a time when serving as executioner filled your days with purpose and wonder?" as a rejoinder.

Instead he sticks to the script and contributes the following after Windor has finished speaking: "Indeed. How did we penetrate the mist? One might even ask how we defeated not one, but two dragons? I can't explain such heroism myself. Suffice to say there is a pathway through the mist and even dragons can meet their match. Yes, we would dethrone this dark lord and deprive him of both jewel and chanteuse."

“Now I know she’s baiting us.  Who would ever weary of serving as a Dark Lord’s executioner?  It’s everyone’s dream job.  Don’t trust this one; she lies.  Probably rubbing a crystal ball as she speaks, thus notifying her employer about every careless word passing our lips.”

Greyband hangs back and lets the chatterboxes around him do the talking. He was curious to see what the woman's response would be to all this.

“A prisoner that the Shadow Lord finds useful,” she replies to Windor, ”which is why I still live. Were I no longer a helpful convenience I am certain that would quickly change.”

She cocks her head to one side as Jarder gives his explanation. ”I do not suppose you would consider granting me...”

Her voice trails off as Neuken speaks up. ”Now I see. You lot are simply more of the necromancer’s trickery. Seeking to learn if I am now willing to be his servant, rather than his captive. My answer remains the same: No.”

She turns away, moving to the far end of her cell, which is steeped in shadow.

Greyband glares at Neuken and then steps forward.

"This man," he says, pointing to Neuken, "is an idiot.

"I am Greyband, son of Greythorn. I am a servant of Law and of Good. If you seek to ally against the forces of darkness, then we are your allies. You would have to prove your trustworthiness to us to accompany us anywhere while armed, but if you wish to leave this place, I am open to what you have in mind."

Neuken laughs at the delicious irony of a self-proclaimed ‘servant of law and good’ calling him an idiot.  But he folds his arms affably and allows Greyband to take the lead.  Even true darknesses had to cooperate now and then.

The iron-gauntleted hand of the veteran warrior balled into a fist and would have been used to backhand the wizard across the room had Windor Moonwrought any less decorum. His suspicions of this strange man were increasingly confirmed. He did not understand the reasons behind the wizard being a part of the team, but it certainly must have been a mistake. The younger warrior, Greyband, likely saved the magic-user's face from serious maiming with his righteous and bold announcement to the prisoner.

"Rest assured, we're not in the service of the Shadow Lord. I serve only the God of the Moon, Shul, in utter devotion!" Windor displayed the symbol chiseled into the face of his huge maul.

"Accepting our help is, of course, your decision to make. But make not the mistake of choosing to stand in the way of our objective!"

The cloaked woman halts her retreat, turning back to regard Greyband. ”I wish to escape this dungeon. I have been locked away in this place for more than a decade, forced to do the necromancers’ bidding. I want my freedom.”

“As to gaining your trust, Greyband, I fear that may prove challenging. Perhaps impossible. For I am never truly unarmed.”

Her attention moves to Windor. ” I assure you, priest, the last thing I wish to do is to prevent you from bringing about the Shadow Lord’s demise. Even if you and your companions are unwilling to release me, I will still pray for your success to whatever gods might hear me.”

Orin listened closely to the prisoner's exchanges with Greyband, Neuken, Jarder and Windor.  The nature of the collection within the cell unnerved the dwarf, and found himself nervous about releasing the person (thing?) trapped within.

For the time being he held his tongue, trusting the others to carry on in the same vein as they had been.  He trusted them to do the right thing, other than Neuken of course...

Again, that strange feeling tingled at the back of the old cleric's neck and in the pit of his stomach. He nodded solemnly at the woman. "Shul will hear your prayers..." he intoned quietly.

"We could use some help, and truthfulness would go a long way toward building trust..."

He pointed his maul in the direction of the torture chamber and the guardroom beyond. "How soon will someone come to check on things down here? Is there any sort of schedule? We'd prefer not to get surprised..."

"You see, we sort of liquidated the evening shift and its supervisor," confesses Jarder. He doesn't seem the least bit contrite about it either.

"We anticipate their staffing difficulties will worsen, not improve, the longer we conduct our inspection."

Greyband laughs and then turns back to the cloaked woman. "What was your name? And are you willing to come with us or no?"

”On most days, the guards walk the halls with the cells and the torture chamber every hour, though their discipline is wanting,” the woman replies to Windor, ”Sometimes, the gaps in time are much longer. Their last patrol was only a short time ago.”

“Ah, I see,” she says, in response to Jarder’s explanation. Within the shadows of her hood, the thief has the distinct impression that the woman is smiling. ”Good riddance. You have done a great service for all who have been confined here.”

”I will gladly join you, Greyband, if you and your companions will have me. I am called Felinda.”

Greyband nods. "Very good. Anyone have a dagger to give Felinda? We can start you with one of those, lady."

Obligingly, Jarder drifts over to Felinda and proffers her his silver dagger. When he does so, he doesn't avert his gaze -- even reflexively. After she accepts, he doesn't necessarily even look away. He tries to recalls the lines of the song she had been singing just minutes ago.

OOC I don't remember where we've been/haven't been. Do we try one of the western/eastern doors in the torture chamber now?

Neuken casts Invisibility on himself, moves away from where he had been standing and awaits further developments.  Also, he makes a point of not looking at the newcomer’s face.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:26, Sun 13 Dec 2020.

"I hope you are right about this," the elf mumbled under his breath as he passed Greyband. Killian offered a dagger and a warhammer to their new ally. "I know not what skills you might have, but you are welcome to use either or both." He hesitated as the woman made her choice.

Windor grunted and spoke some archaic words that could have been anything from a brief prayer to utter profanity.

"Thank you for that information. We'd best hurry on our way then!"

He pointed toward the door through which they'd come to find Felinda.

"I believe we were searching the dungeon. We've just come from the big chamber there," he pointed his maul westward.

---

OOC: We're just through the southeast door. We could go back and scout the northeast door or the westward door, or ... does the chamber we're in have any other exits? I kinda got the feeling we entered a hall...

Found it...

msg #100:

... the sound of singing is coming from the southernmost of the two doors on the room’s eastern wall. ... Behind it is a corridor which travels eastward for roughly forty feet before reaching a set of stairs, carved from the dark stone, which lead upward. Halfway down the length of the passageway, on the southern wall, is the iron barred door to a cell. ...  Greyband presses his ear to the lone door on the western wall of the torture chamber, but hears only silence. Gently trying the latch, the warrior finds the door locked.

Felinda takes the silver dagger offered by Jarder. ”My thanks.”

Renia, who has been standing watch in the adjacent torture chamber, steps into the hallway, blinking in surprise as Neuken vanishes from sight. The scout looks at the other adventurers gathered there searchingly, an unspoken question in her concerned expression.

Felinda politely declines Killian’s offer of additional weapons. ”Should we encounter greater danger than what this can handle,” she tells him, holding up Jarder’s dagger, ”I have adequate means to protect myself.”

She points to the stone steps at the end of the corridor. ”Those lead upward to the tower. All of the guards come down here by way of those stairs.”

“The door in the torture chamber that is situated to the north leads to another group of cells. I was briefly held in one of them. I haven’t heard any noise through the walls recently, so if anyone is in one of them, they have remained quiet.”

“I do not know anything of what lies beyond the door on the western wall of the torture room.”

Greyband wastes no time. "Felinda, come with me. Let's check out these cells."

He opens the door in question to peek in there. Opening door 6.

Dimitri grumbles, standing by the others who make it a point not to look at Felinda's face.

"Meaning no disrespect, Madam, but now as you are accepted into party, please to be telling us if you are one responsible for these...detailed statues."

Overhearing Dimitri, Jarder frowns and offers a rhetorical reply in return for the rhetorical question: "Have we not all left a trail of bodies in our wake? Is it some great crime that hers don't decompose? Were we not all doing the job set before us or the one we set there?"

Without waiting for a reply, he floats after Greyband and Felinda to the other cellblock. It's where he had wanted to go anyway.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:57, Sun 27 Dec 2020.

In reply to Jarder Mehro (msg # 136):

He looks to Jarder grimly.

"Killing with blade and club and hocus pocus is one thing. Dying because you accidentally meet a lady's glance is another entirely. I will give her benefit of doubt as long as I know where her powers lie."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:21, Tue 29 Dec 2020.

"Spoken as one for whom a woman's glance was once the source of a wounded heart..." the old cleric rumbled. "You're not the only one lad..."

He nodded at Jarder. "She's no reason to fear from us. We've brought Shul's Silvery Moonlight to this place of darkness. Her freedom from this place relies on us... Come, let us continue our explorations."

Felinda falls in behind Greyband as the warrior proceeds to the door in the northeastern corner of the torture chamber. She replies to Dimitri’s question without hesitation.

”Yes. I am the one responsible, for each and every statue. As the Shadow Lord’s prisoner, I was compelled to serve as his executioner. I have languished in his captivity for many years.”

Greyband pulls open the door, revealing a short stone corridor which travels roughly forty feet eastward before meeting a dead end. Two iron barred doors are spaced evenly apart on the right hand side of the corridor, and two more are likewise situated on the left wall. Each door encloses a small cell, the floors of which are covered in filthy straw. Each cell has a single stone shelf that serves as a bed. Rats can be heard scurrying about the tiny rooms.

All of the cells are empty, save for the last one on the right. On the stone bed lies the corpse of an older human male, clad in robes of blue and gray. It appears that he has been dead for some time and the injuries that he bears suggest that he underwent torture at the hands of his captors.

Orin was in a darkening mood.  He did not like this course of action, meticulously scouring the dungeon when they were supposed to be securing the Elvenstar.  They were in the heart of their enemy's stronghold.  How long would they remain unnoted?  And once the full force of the tower was turned upon them...

But he couldn't abandon his friends and companions.  Not only would that be dishonourable, it would leave them and he in worse straits if discovered.  So he tagged along, grumbling beneath his breath to the Crown on the Mountain to forgive their foolishness.  As he trudged along he asked Felinda one question.  "How controllable is your power?  Does it strike like an arrow, or like a ball of wizard's fire?"

When they reached the end of the hall of cells and found nothing but rats and a desiccated corpse released from his torture, Orin glanced around and realized he'd heard naught from Neuken since the mage had faded from view under the power of his magic.  Concerned, he called out not too loudly, but enough so that anyone in the hall could hear.  "Neuken, are you with us?  Say something so we know where you are, man."

Greyband ensures that the cell door is blocked open, using some kind of debris or heavy weight to prop it open, then inspects the dead body.

Windor glanced around and noticed that the arrogant wizard was nowhere to be seen. He moved back to stand in the doorway leading to the cell block in order to make sure the dark-hearted one didn't seize upon this opportunity to betray them...

"Make your search quick Greyband..."

If needed, Jarder will unlock the iron door with a key from the jailer's ring.

”It is reasonably precise,” Felinda tells Orin, shaking her head as she sees the condition of the dead prisoner, ”I must direct it, fixing my concentration, and my gaze, on a single person.”

Jarder unlocks the cell door.

Examining the body, Greyband can see that what was initially observed was true. The man was tortured repeatedly, and the resulting injuries ultimately brought about his death.

The only possession the dead man has is his robe. The distinctive blue and gray garment is similar that favored by the sages of Kevar, historians dedicated to gathering and preserving the ancient knowledge of the continent. Greyband estimates the man’s age as having been around sixty years.

Killian resumed his post at the rear of the group. While the others questioned their new addition and explored the cells, the elf made sure to stay alert for any signs of incoming guards or other threats.

It wasn't until Orin called out to the wizard that Kilian realized he hadn't heard any of his usual diatribe. Using Invisibility wasn't unusual for Neuken, but the lack of commentary was unsettling. When no immediate reply came to the dwarf's call, Killian called out as well. "Come on, Neuken. This is not the time nor place to play games with us."

"It could be the man has nothing to say," Jarder offered. The moment he said it he doubted it.

He then returns to the torture chamber (Did the sage die in there of his injuries or succumb to them in his cell?) and opens the door on the western wall.

Greyband removes the cloak, rolls it up and puts it in his backpack. Mayhaps some good might be kept in passing it along later. He then stands up and follows Jarder.

Windor joined Jarder, offering some protection as he fiddled with the new door.

He continued to wonder if they'd been betrayed by the darkling wizard, or if he was simply acting security, mistrustful of the new addition to the party...

Jarder locates the key to the western door, but finds that he has to use a bit of extra strength to turn the key in the lock, which unlocks with a metallic clunk. The door itself is thick, heavily reinforced with bands of iron. It opens with a creak to reveal a barren stone room, absent of any furnishings. Although the adventurers quickly discern that the chamber is a cell, it lacks a stone shelf for a bed and there is no trace of straw on the floor. The company members also note that there are no dishes for food or water, and no crumbs present to indicate the past presence of provisions, however meager they might have been.

Lying in the southwestern corner of the room is the emaciated corpse of a human male, clad in leather armor. The chamber is otherwise unoccupied.

Orin followed along with the rest, his bushy eyebrows lowered in consternation at the wizard's disappearance.  Much as he would like to think otherwise, the dwarf was suspicious Neuken was either off fulfilling a personal (and nefarious) goal or was selling them out.  Maybe both, once he reflected on it!

He remained tense and alert while Jarder and Greyband continued their methodical search of the tower's dungeon complex.

Forlornly, Jarder enters the cell reserved for special or forgotten prisoners and walks over to the desiccated cadaver in the corner. He turns a critical eye to the man's leather armor.

"It seems to have outgrown you, my man, or have you undergrown it?" he comments.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:54, Sat 09 Jan 2021.

Greyband moves up behind him. "The armor's all yours, if the body doesn't attack you. Why don't you search him first? If he gets frisky, I'll cut him down." He draws his blade and lowers his visor.

"You would strip the leather off a corpse and throw it on yourself?"

He gave a mild look of disgust.

"At least dip it boiling water first. Even if it's not cursed, who knows what foul humours linger inside it!"

Without rancor, Jarder replies to Dmitri's approbation.

"I'm a working man; there is no telling what I will or won't do as I prosecute my labors."

He gives his response a second thought.

"I would never torture--steal, yes, desecrate, yes, murder, most assuredly."

His mood lightens.

"And, as you've noticed, I can leave no stone unturned. Blame Amun Tor."

The corpse remains still, all traces of life having abandoned it.

Examining the dead man more closely, Jarder notices that, although the rest of his clothing is somewhat threadbare, the armor he is clad in appears almost new, with little evidence of damage.

Jarder further sees that the dead man bears no scars which would indicate that he had been tortured. His near skeletal appearance, along with the emptiness of the cell, lead the thief to believe that the prisoner was starved to death.

Lastly, Jarder’s eyes are drawn to the right side of the corpse’s chest, just beneath the underarm. There Jarder observes a slight, but noticeable, bulge.

Outside of the cell, the adjoining torture chamber remains quiet. None of those keeping watch hear any noises that would indicate the approach of others from elsewhere in the tower.

Guided by Amun Tor, Jarder delicate removes as many layers as needed to expose the mystery ensconced within the corpse's underarm.

OOC Dehydration before starvation.

Greyband continues to stand watch, just in case Jarder needs anything sliced in half.

Windor uttered a prayer over the deceased and moved out of the room. He vowed silently to himself to one day return and completely cleanse this place... if they survived the suicidal mission they were currently embarked upon.

He motioned for Jarder to make haste. Though they needed to rest and recover a bit, the veteran suspected they only had a certain amount of time before their entry was discovered.

OOC: Okay, point taken.

Jarder is quickly able to tell that objects have been sown into the dead man’s tunic. Before he became so emaciated, the concealment likely worked very well. Clearly, none of the tower’s guards had noticed the items.

Jarder opens the seam with his dagger, a trio of cut rubies falling out into his palm.

OOC: The gems have been carefully cut by a skilled jeweler and have no readily visible flaws. Jarder estimates their worth at 30 gold pieces each.

The dungeon remains quiet, though Felinda begins to pace restlessly as Jarder finishes his examination of the corpse. There are no sounds of approach from the direction of the stairwell. Of Neuken Orulto, there is no sign.

Noting the attitude of their newest party member, Windor encouraged the others in his gruff, military fashion. "Alright, let's move to the stairs. I'm concerned we'll soon have company. If so, it must be clean and quick lest they raise an alarm!"

Gripping the newly acquired mace and his shield, he began herding the crew toward the stairs.

"Just give me three minutes; that's all it will take," protests Jarder. And according to his guild training, that's as long as it should take to slip out of one set of leathers and into another. Innumerable times, he and the other apprentices had practiced under the watchful, probing eyes of the master whose tongue had lashed them more than once.

"Buckles before zippers," he had belted out. "Buckles before zippers!" There might have been a whip involved. Jarder has done his best to forget some aspects of his training.

OOC That gem valuation certainly doesn't come from pg. 26 of the DMG which has rubies at 5k each. I've noticed the disparity before with other gems; I guess gem values got nerfed at some point.

Orin was more than happy to comply with Windor's suggestion.  It's what he had wanted to do ever since they defeated the dungeon guards.  He lined up near the foot of the stairs, ready to join Greyband at the front as they ascended.

With practiced efficiency, Jarder puts on the leather armor, finding it to be exceedingly light, almost like wearing a garment made from linen.

OOC: It is +2 leather armor.

The company passes back through the silent torture chamber, making their way to the corridor that contains Felinda’s cell, and the stairwell. As they approach the stone steps, the adventurers are suddenly aware of a heavy tread from above, several sets of footfalls that are so strong that they send a slight, but perceptible, tremor through the walls of the dungeon.

The elf brings up the rear as the party approaches the stairs. Killian gives another looked around behind them. "Neuken Orulto, we are about to enter the fortress of a powerful enemy. If you are with us, please give me a sign. Else you risk being lost, captured, or worse..." He waited for a response before following the group.

Greyband stops and listens to the footfalls and turns to Felinda. "Any idea what that is?" he asks quietly but pointedly.

"He's betrayed us at this point or he hasn't. If he has, we'll find out soon enough. If not... well he's playing a dangerous game. We've before us a greater wizard to slay..."

Windor's grip tightened on his weapon as he waited for the footfalls above to pass and for the more careful members of the party to reconnoiter and lead them upwards to glory!

The hooded woman shakes her head in response to Greyband’s question. ”I have heard a heavy tread overhead before, when I was a captive. But I do not...”

Felinda’s words are cut off by the noise of feet scrambling down the stairwell. These are not the heavy footfalls that have been heard above, but a much lighter tread. The sound of the steps grows louder, until they are almost within the party’s midst, but none of the members of the company can see anyone approaching.

Then, Neuken Orulto’s voice sounds from the bottom of the stairs, crying out a somewhat incomprehensible warning about walking statues.

From above, the rumbling footsteps begin to move in the direction of the staircase.

Jarder calls out to Felinda, "This is no fight for you; take refuge in your cell," and then slips into it himself and assumes a rigid pose.

"A blessing before they are upon us," he encourages Windsor.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:22, Fri 22 Jan 2021.

Neuken appears before you, pulling back the hood of his cloak as he looks back up the stairs with great concern.  “It looks as though they won’t follow.  Fortunately.”

Greyband steps back, frowning. "Ah, care to explain a bit more?"

Killian stares at the now visible mage. "What did you find? Hopefully your little game proved to be fruitful?"

“I found four enormous animated statues.  Or rather, they found me.  I barely escaped.  But I suppose that’s what I get for scouting ahead on my own.  What about you?  What has transpired since we parted ways temporarily?”

Killian rattled off questions as quickly as they came to mind. "What were these statues doing? Were they guarding something? How many rooms did you explore? What's the lay of..." The elf cut off his flow of questions.

Killian glared at the mage."It doesn't  matter much. Either way, our task has become much more difficult now that they will be on alert looking for an intruder. We've lost our advantage thanks to your impulsive behavior."

Above, the heavy footfalls draw close to the stairwell, suggesting that Neuken’s confidence about not being pursued might be in error.

Dimitri readies his spear, preparing his missile towards whoever comes down the stairway.

Orin's face made the normal grumpy dwarf's face look positively jovial.  He would have spit hot coals if he gave himself half a chance.  As it was, danger was pounding toward them step by heavy step.

"Back to the torture room," he directed the whole lot in his gravelly voice.  "We'll hold 'em better if we force 'em to come through the doorway at us."

He didn't lead the way, but rather gestured with hammer and shield to get the flock moving ahead of him.  If they resisted he wasn't going to be at the back of the bunch when the statues arrived.  He needed to be their defense and he shooed them from the foot of the stairs, hoping they would take his advice.  He glanced up at Greyband, hoping the big warrior would agree and add his own urgings.

Killian heard the dwarf's orders and promptly lead the way back to where they had just come from. "This way. Hurry."

Greyband nods to Orin and turns to Felinda. "Like the dwarf said. This way," he says quietly. He follows her back as they head to the torture room. Once there, he sets himself up in the doorway to watch & see what is coming down the stairs, his visor down and his mighty blade in hand. He is a wall of steel...

Dmitri nods grimly and falls back with the rest, eyes still towards the staircase (and nowhere near the medusa).

Once back in the room, Killian took second rank behind Greyband and set his spear just above the warrior's shoulder. "Let them come," he said with a devilish grin.

"Does anyone have healing magic? I can spill more blood if I reclaim the blood I've lost..."

Greyband looks ar Windor. "Moon cleric, do you have healing prayers that you can offer him?"

Neuken obediently follows the dwarf’s instructions.  However, he speaks up when they reach the torture chamber.

“If they are close enough together and I could get a clear shot, I could fireball them all.  Twice, if need be.”

"Shul! I invoke Thy healing light upon this needful companion!" Windor intoned, placing a gnarled hand upon the chest of Dimitri. Silver light burst from beneath his palm as the Moon God made well on the priest's prayer.

Windor's shoulders drooped momentarily from the exertion. "That is it my friends, I must devote myself further if I'm to call upon such a miracle again. Try to keep your blood within your veins henceforth!"

Then the old veteran stepped between Grayband and Killian. He raised his shield and mace. Silvery moonlight seemed to flare briefly from beneath his gauntlet. "He who stands with this cleric of Shul shall be blessed with protection!"

Cure Light Wounds: Windor Moonwrought rolled 2
(Sorry Dimitri, the dice hate you...)
Spells remaining 0/2, 2/2
Invoking Ring of Protection, those within 5' of Windor will enjoy a +1 improvement to AC and Saving Throws.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:23, Thu 04 Feb 2021.

He shivers as the wounds seal only slightly. He nods in thanks and prepares his spear.

Jarder gives Neuken a curious look but lets his turn as scout pass without verbal comment.

"If they rumble into the hallway, blast'em, I say," he concurs. "Just squeeze on up there, Neuken."

It usually came down to this, anyway: killing everyone and everything--except that it hadn't back at that border village.

As the company takes position, footfalls land heavily on the landing at the end of the corridor. The gathered adventurers can see that there are four animated iron statues descending the steps, but only two have reached the landing. The statues are forged from iron, the detailing giving them the rough appearance of Denagothian soldiers. They move forward without expression, an iron sword extending from each construct’s closed right hand.

OOC: Given the company’s preparations, the adventurers are entitled to initiative this round.

As I understand it, the party members have moved back into the torture chamber. The statues can be targeted with ranged attacks from that distance. Those wishing to engage in melee can charge the statues, but would probably not be able to close with them until the following round.

Jarder, just for clarification: It appears to me that you’ve joined the rest of the party in the torture chamber. Or, have you kept the original position you took in Felinda’s cell?

The statues have an armor class of 2.

Correct

If possible, Neuken squeezes to the front and casts a Fireball in the middle of the four statues, hoping to catch all of them in the explosion.  Then he quickly retreats.

00:29, Today: Neuken Orulto rolled 15 using 6d6.  Fireball.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:30, Tue 02 Feb 2021.

Oh no. He'd heard about situations like this, where an overindulgent wizard casts a fireball inside a structure, where the structure is not large enough for the blast, and the flames roar back to destroy the party.

"FIRE IN THE HOLE!"

He drops his spear and dives for anything that can count as cover.

Windor placed himself in the center of his companions as he waited for their foes to draw closer. He fetched a flask of oil and then gave it a good lob in the direction of the approaching menace. He then raised his shield and waited for the fireworks to start in earnest!

"I like this armor wizard! I hope ye know what yer doin!"


Thrown Oil Attack: Windor Moonwrought rolled 20 using 1d20 ((Natural 20)) to hit AC-3 for 4 damage (once ignited).

Jarder ducks into the jailer's chambers, closing the door behind him and not returning until he has heard the tell-tale "Boom."

A flaming sphere issues from Neuken’s outstretched hand, streaking down the corridor toward the advancing statues. Reacting quickly. Windor hurls a flask of oil in the fireball’s wake, the container aimed with deadly accuracy.

The ball of flame stickers the step upon which the first pair of statues is standing and detonates, the explosion sending a violent tremor through the stone hallway. For a moment, the statues disappear from view, engulfed in the conflagration, the surge of heat prompting several of the adventurers near the doorway to step back.

The blast clears and the adventurers can see that the statues remain upright, continuing to press forward, their metal forms warped by the sudden fiery burst. The pair of frontmost statues remain engulfed in flame, having been well coated in Windor’s oil. As they walk, droplets of burning oil fall from their rigid forms, leaving tiny smoldering pools in their wake.

From somewhere overhead, the adventurers hear the muffled noise of a chime, sounding repeatedly.

09:26, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 4 using 1d6.  Initiative - Party.

09:26, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 3 using 1d6.  Initiative - Statues.

The party wins initiative. The corridor is now clear of flame. Those wishing to engage the statues in melee may close with them and attack in the same round. Note that of the four statues, anyone struck by one of the statues that is still burning (the two in the lead) will face the risk of receiving additional damage due to the flames.

In case I was unclear, while only the two stairs in the front rank were hit by Windor’s oil, all four were damaged by the blast from the fireball.

The statues are armor class 2. At their current pace, the statues will reach the doorway that leads to the torture chamber at the end of this round.

Dimitri stands, and see the statues advancing despite the flames. He hurls his spear at one, though it most likely bounces off its burning metal frame.

He spits as he draws his sword and prepares for melee. "What sorcery is this?"

10:45, Today: Dimitri Reznov rolled 8,2 using d20,d6 ((8,2)).

"Steady lads," Orin cautioned on the heels of Dimitri's concern, lest one of them rush out the door to attack the animated statues and end up surrounded.  His deep-set eyes peered over the edge of his shield, his sturdy war hammer gripped tightly on a clenched fist.  "Let them come to us."

Windor nodded at Orin's admonishment and opted to sling a stone at one of the approaching foes...

Sling Attack: Windor Moonwrought rolled 14 to hit AC3 (Soooo close!)

Jarder lashes out with his enchanted dagger and catches the side of one of the statue's arms, sending out a spray of dust but nothing else.

13:59, Today: Jarder Mehro rolled 8,5 using d20+2,d4+2.  +1 dagger.

Killian holds his place in the second rank. Once the statues were in range, he thrust his over  Greybands shoulder.

Spear +1 his AC1 for 7 piercing damage.

18:46, Today: Killian Hawkfire rolled 16,7 using 1d20+4,1d6+4.  Attack, Damage.

Greyband stands in place, waiting for them to approach. Should one get close enough, he strikes!

Only an AC 5, so a miss.
21:19, Today: Greyband rolled 12 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 8.  Attack!

Neuken looks behind them, making sure nothing is sneaking up on the party.

Dimitri raises his sword to strike, but his blow fails to damage the statue.

15:28, Today: Dimitri Reznov rolled 5,9 using d20+2,d8+2 ((3,7)).

He takes a moment to regain his grip as the blade vibrates from the impact.

"I hope I don't break my sword on these abominations!"

[Assuming there's enough room...]

When the leading statues come with in reach Orin did not delay.  He whirled his hammed and leveled a blow at the knees of one of the magical constructs.  His aim was true and the hammer rebounded off the metal with a resounding clang.  The dwarven warrior hoped he'd done something more than just make ill-tuned music...


OOC:

19:55, Today: Orin Starshine rolled 14 using 1d20+2.  Attack iron statue.  Upon further review, hits AC3.  Arrggh!
19:56, Today: Orin Starshine rolled 7 using 1d6+2.  Damage (if hit).  AC2 is target I think, so no damage.

Renia moves forward with several of the other adventurers, thrusting her sword at the same smoldering statue that Killian struck with his spear.

17:47, Today: Renia rolled 18 using 1d20+1.  Attack - Sword.

17:47, Today: Renia rolled 7 using 1d8+1.  Damage.

The statue, already warped from heat, and bearing a deep wound from Killian’s attack, collapses under the guide’s blow, suddenly transmuting into powder, which scatters across the stone floor.

Zinnelis also joins the fray, managing to land a blow on the shoulder of the second leading statue. To his dismay, the blade sinks into the statue’s iron body and becomes stuck. The elf’s eyes widen as he tries to pull the sword free without success. Dropping back, he draws the dagger at his belt.

17:51, Today: Zinnelis rolled 20 using 1d20.  Attack - Sword.

17:51, Today: Zinnelis rolled 3 using 1d8.  Damage - Sword.

17:56, Today: Zinnelis rolled 4 using 1d20.  Save vs. Spells.

Anyone landing a hit on one of the iron statues will need to make a Saving Throw vs. Spells. Failure indicates that the weapon used has become stuck in the statue’s form, where it will remain until the statue is killed.

Note that magical weapons are immune to this effect.

The blazing statue that remains animate swings its blade at Killian, but elf is easily able to evade it, the sword finding nothing but air.

19:00, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 1 using 1d20.  Attack - Statue.

As the other leading statue perishes, one of the iron constructs from the rear moves to take its place, stabbing at Renia as it does so. The point of its blade bites deep into the guide’s shoulder.

19:01, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 14 using 1d20.  Attack - Statue.

19:02, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 7 using 1d8.  Damage.

Although brandishing the dagger given to her by Jarder, Felinda hangs back at the rear of the company, seemingly stymied by the group’s metal opponents.

19:12, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 4 using 1d6.  Initiative - Party.

19:12, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 2 using 1d6.  Initiative - Statues.

The party wins initiative again.

Three statues remain, though only two are able to engage the party members in melee at present. Each of the statues has an armor class of 2.

As the odd statues closed the distance to the party, Windor swapped his sling for his magical mace. He squared his stance and prepared to strike. "Steady my friends, the Light of Shul will guide us against these foes!" The silvery light of his ring shone between the joints of his right gauntlet.

"Fortitudo Luna!" was his battle-cry!


Magical Mace Attack: Windor Moonwrought rolled 18 to hit AC-1 for 4 damage.

(Windor AC-1 with shield)

"Damned if we hit and damned if we miss!"

13:16, Today: Dimitri Reznov rolled 6,9 using d20+2,d8+2 ((4,7)).

His swing goes wide.

"I at least prefer to hit!"

Jarder fails to find an opening as other, more able, warriors crowd the the remaining two sentinels.

19:34, Today: Jarder Mehro rolled 10,4 using d20+2,d4+2.  +1 dagger.

Neuken casts Magic Missile at the nearest (still standing) statue.

19:19, Today: Neuken Orulto rolled 19 using 3d6+3.  Magic missile.

Having pushed his way to the front line, Greyband hacks away further at the statues, landing only a glancing blow.

Hits AC -1 for 5 damage.

19:36, Today: Greyband rolled 5 using 1d10+4 with rolls of 1.  Damage!
19:36, Today: Greyband rolled 18 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 14.  Attack statue!

Orin shook off the reverberations in his hammer arm and recovered to strike again.  This time he felt the power of his blow transmit to the statue rather than simply bounce off.  "Haha!" he cried with a small amount of triumph.  "Now I've got your measure!"


OOC:

20:05, Today: Orin Starshine rolled 15 using 1d20+2.  Attack iron statue. Hit!
20:05, Today: Orin Starshine rolled 8 using 1d6+2.  Damage to Statue.

Having avoided the statues blow, Killian thrust his sword back toward his opponent. The elf grinned with satisfaction as the spearhead found it's target.

Spear +1 his AC -1 for 5 piercing damage.

01:00, Today: Killian Hawkfire rolled 18,5 using 1d20+4,1d6+4.  Attack, Damage.

The wound in her shoulder bleeding freely, Renia grits her teeth and takes another swing at one of the advancing statues, landing a heavy blow.

12:04, Today: Renia rolled 19 using 1d20+3.  Attack - Sword.

12:04, Today: Renia rolled 7 using 1d8+1.  Damage.

Clearly wary of losing another weapon, Zinnelis keeps hold of his dagger, stepping back to guard Felinda, should one of the statues move to attack the cloaked woman.

Neuken’s eldritch bolts and the disciplined weapon strikes landed by the rest of the company succeed in felling two more of the guardian statues. As each of the constructs falls heavily to the floor, their forms transmute into powdered iron, which scatters in a wide circle. Zinnelis’ sword, which had been embedded in one of iron figures, is freed as the statue collapses, hitting the stone of the corridor with a clatter.

The lone surviving iron guardian is apparently undeterred by the destruction of its fellows. It advances implacably, swinging its blade at Greyband, landing a blow on the imposing warrior’s rib cage.

12:29, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 16 using 1d20.  Attack - Statue.

12:32, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 6 using 1d8.  Damage - Statue.

---

12:34, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 2 using 1d6.  Initiative - Party.

12:34, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 6 using 1d6.  Initiative - Statue.

The statue wins initiative.

Pressing its attack with surprising speed, the iron figure shifts its attention to Orin, swinging at the dwarf with a chopping strike which the warrior is able to safely sidestep.

12:39, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 3 using 1d20.  Attack - Statue.

It is the party’s turn to act.

The statue has an armor class of 2.

As he swings, Dimitri wonders if the statue is using magnetism to push the sword away from it instead of letting it stick?

12:01, Today: Dimitri Reznov rolled 4,6 using d20+2,d8+2 ((2,4)).

Greyband, meanwhile, swings his magic sword again, and it rings against the frame of the statue as he cracks it....

Hit AC -2 for 8 hp!

15:30, Today: Greyband rolled 8 using 1d10+4 with rolls of 4.  Damage.
15:30, Today: Greyband rolled 19 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 15.  Press attack on statue!
This message was lightly edited by the player at 16:49, Sat 27 Feb 2021.

Relaxed, Jarder slips between two of the warriors and slams his dagger at the last statue, spraying all around with statue bits.

17:00, Today: Jarder Mehro rolled 21,5 using d20+2,d4+2.  +1 dagger.

Humming the chorus to a favorite hymn of battle, Windor waded into the fray with his magical mace, attempting to smash whatever functional bits of the statue remained...


Attackity Smashy: Windor Moonwrought rolled 18 to hit AC-1 for 6 metal crunching damage!

Orin's confidence rose considerably as the iron statues fell to dust around their feet.  He advanced behind his shield with the others, closing on the last remaining opponent.  Having the measure of these magical constructs now, he landed a solid blow to the statue's left hip with his hammer, again feeling the metal of the status give slightly under his attack.


OOC:

13:16, Today: Orin Starshine rolled 21 using 1d20+2.  Attack iron statue.  Hits AC -4.
13:17, Today: Orin Starshine rolled 4 using 1d6+2.  Damage to Statue.

Seeing his comrades have matters well in hand, Neuken takes another look around to make sure nothing is sneaking up on them.

Looking back, Neuken spies no movement within the adjacent torture chamber.

Moving quickly to encircle the last of the animate statues, the adventurers unleash a series of swift, brutal attacks that beat the remaining construct into misshapen pillar of dented metal moments before it collapses into a dark pile of powdered iron.

From somewhere above, there is another sounding of a chime. Then all falls silent.

OOC: Combat over.

"It's tea time and we're invited," opines Jarder. He leads the way upstairs, floating along.

Windor made an attempt to snag Jarder's sleeve before the scoundrel scampered off.

"Take care lad, we're tapped. We need to rest up. Charging up those stairs now, with the compound alerted to our presence, might be our only choice, but let's not make it hastily..."

There was a look in the old cleric's eye that told everyone he wanted nothing more than to follow Jarder up the stairs and have this out, but the tempering of wisdom and experience was giving him pause. Without some time to recuperate and offer his daily devotions, he feared his ability to call upon divine assistance might be completely expended...

Greyband nods. "Agreed." He turns to Felinda. "Which of these rooms would be least inspected if we wanted to rest here for a time? Or are we better off heading back out of the complex?"

”I would return to my cell, of course, to avoid arousing any suspicion when a new patrol returned,” Felinda tells Greyband, ”The guards will normally check my cell along with those next door, then report to the jailer’s quarters.”

“The cell where the thief was left to die...it appeared to me that he had been abandoned to his fate. It might be that those here do not even know, nor care, that he is dead. His cell might offer a safe shelter.”

Jarder turns to face the others, mildly arrested in his progress towards the stairs as he was.

"I'm no master of logic. It's not my trade. But this doesn't add up. Even if we escape attention in the forgotten cell, the next shift will see evidence of our work. Reinforcements will be called. Our way to the tower will have more complications, not fewer."

"The lad has the right of it, to my way of thinking.  It's a shame we've taken so much time to explore every nook and cranny," Orin couldn't resist saying he told them so, "but if we hide or flee now there will be no such easy entrance next time.  The dead guards will be found, these missing statues too," he gestured at the piles of filings heaped at their feet.  "They'll figure out how we got in, and we won't be able to use it next time."

"We have to go onward, and straight for our objective.  No more side trips for fun.  Get the jewel, get out, hopefully with all our lives."

“I’m for resting, preferably outside.  Although our handiwork will no doubt be discovered, we have inflicted losses on our foe which will be difficult to compensate for on short notice.  And rest will allow me to recover my most dangerous spells.  But I defer to the wisdom of the group,” he finishes with a polite grin.

"We have a mission, it is best we complete it as soon as possible. With Fellinda here not in her quarters, it will send them panicking and scrambling for mirrors and walking backwards...which will slow them down!"

Greyband sighs. "The lads are right, Neuken. If you're out of tricks, stay behind us, but we have to press on, or this place'll be overrun."

He turns to Jarder. "Can you sneak up the stairs that the statue-things came from to see if anyone's coming?"

Windor shook his head, but grinned in spite of his disagreement. "By the Glowing Halo of Shul, this lot has mettle! Our mission is paramount, as you say, we'll need to be smart about it now... Lead on!"

As advised, Neuken remains in the back of the party, where he keeps a paranoid lookout for anything that might be sneaking up on them.

Silent as ever, Jarder drifts down the hallway and up the stairs to see if the way is clear. His footfalls make no noise as they don't fall on stone but air.

Felinda chuckles softly at Dmitri’s comment. ”They will assuredly not be pleased to find me missing. That some would be afraid...I cannot deny that the fact gives me joy. They are right to be frightened.”

Jarder silently ascends the stairs.

The stairs reach a landing, which joins a second set of steps. Continuing the climb, Jarder emerges into a hallway with a polished stone floor. Tall doors, ornamented with brass fittings, stand to his immediate left and right. Both are closed.

Directly ahead, at the corridor’s western end, stands another ornate door, which is open. Beyond the doorway, the thief can see a circular, vaulted chamber, with a wide staircase that follows the rounded walls as it leads upward into darkness. The floor is fashioned from red marble and bears a mosaic of a black dragon. Three other brass fitted doors lead out of the impressive room, on the western, southern, and northern walls. The southern door is ajar. The other two are closed. Situated between the doors are tall alcoves, four in all, each occupied by a single, short pedestal, which is empty. Jarder surmises that the alcoves were once occupied by the guardian iron statues.

From where he stands, Jarder does not observe anyone in the circular room, or on the spiral staircase.

Greyband waits at the base of the stairs, sword out and ready to rush up if Jarder calls.

Assured, Jarder descends the staircase and leads the others to the grand room, the other rooms not as tempting as they might have been earlier. Before he does this, he suggests Felinda warn them before she is about to bestow her gift upon the living should she need to.

"Perhaps, there is a safe word you'd like to use?" he prompts.

Neuken’s right eyebrow shoots up.  Safe word?  What in hell is that?

Windor followed the others and pointed upwards with his mace, whispering, "If we didn't find what we were after in the belly of this beast, then we'll find it at the head. Upwards I say!"

In reply to Neuken Orulto (msg # 241):

The musclebound warrior chuckles and pats Neuken on his shoulder.

"When you are old enough, you will learn..."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 16:45, Wed 10 Mar 2021.

”Perhaps the word mirror would suffice,” Felinda responds.

Returning to the hallway that leads to the circular chamber with the rest of the adventuring company, Jarder notes that the area is the same as when he first observed it moments ago. None of the adventurers notice any movement within the large room or on the portion of the spiral staircase that they can see.

Neuken doesn’t ask.

Greyband stares at this chamber and looks at the others. "Investigate this level or keep going? I say keep going--I don't think this looks at all like what we're looking for," he asks quietly.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:36, Thu 11 Mar 2021.

Jarder nods his silent assent.

Orin glanced around and nodded along with Jarder, agreeing with Greyband.  Nobody left the key to conquering their neighbours in the entrance hall of the keep.

The company cautiously crosses the artfully tiled floor to the staircase.

As they pass, the adventurers are able to see another ornate corridor beyond the open southern door in the circular chamber. The passageway extends only a short distance before reaching a junction that leads east and west. On the southern wall of the junction is another tall door, marked with a round brass seal which bears the symbol of a black dragon.

Reaching the stairs, the party realizes that they are only able to see for a few feet upward before the stairwell is enveloped in impenetrable darkness, a dense collection of shadow that conceals everything within it from sight. Several of the adventurers immediately understand that the gloom is the result of a spell, or some other magical effect. Looking upward, the group can perceive a point above, some distance higher, where the darkness ceases, and the glow of torchlight is visible.

From somewhere within the dark, there emerges a brief, soft giggling.

Greyband turns back to the others. "Ah, yeah. We stay on this floor. Let's go to that corridor," he says, pointing to the south, then jerks his thumb right, indicating a desire to take the western branch.

“I wonder what’s so funny.  Not us, I hope.”

Dispelling a preternatural gloom such as this was not part of Jarder's training. And he doesn't need any training to know that the giggling has just given them ample reason to explore this floor further.

He follows Greyband down the corridor.

Orin looked a little spooked by the giggling, but as they abandoned the stairs and headed down the alternate corridor he spoke softly with Windor.  "Have you aught that can deal with a darkness like that?  A blessing or prayer for moonlight to part the night?"

The adventurers proceed through the open southern door, following the hallway for a short distance before it reaches the junction.

Directly in front of the company stands a tall door which bears a round brass inset, the image of a black dragon in flight etched carefully on the metal.

The western branch of the hallway extends for almost sixty feet before reaching a dead end; a narrow window, secured with iron bars, filling much of the wall at the corridor’s terminus. Only two doors can be seen in this direction, both only ten feet away, one on the southern wall, the other on the northern. Each one is closed and plain in comparison to the ornate portals in the circular chamber. The door on the southern wall is marked with the dark carving of a halberd.

The eastern bench of the passage also travels for sixty feet before ending at another barred window. Two doors can be seen on the southern wall of the corridor, spaced roughly twenty feet apart. A polished Denagothian shield hangs from the door farthest to the east. The nearer door bears a carving of a pair of crossed lances.

The long hallway is unoccupied.

Jarder tries the door directly in front of him.

Greyband stands watch by the prior door, looking for trouble, particular sign of the giggling mystery figure.

In reply to Orin Starshine (msg # 254):

Windor shook his head. "I feel as if I'm far past whatever divine attention my devotions might have procured for me this day. I feel my connection to the Moon God is weakened, and I must pray and study in order to invoke such miracles again..."

Glancing up at the strange darkness, the old cleric wished for nothing more than to be able to banish it, here in the fortress of their common enemy.

He kept his weapon and shield at the ready, and tried to position himself such that he'd be of assistance if they were discovered.

Orin stood near Jarder, ready to support the rogue once the door was opened.  Who knew what might lie beyond?  He hoped something that could help them with the shadows on the stairs.

Neuken remains in the rear with the gear, where he belongs.

The door with the brass plate is not locked, but its height and sturdy construction require some effort from Jarder to pull open, the thick wood softly scraping the stone floor as it moves.

Beyond the door is a long chamber. The stone walls on the east and west are each emblazoned with an artfully chiseled depiction of a black dragon in flight. Beneath each carving are arranged a series of different banners. Some are tattered, having apparently been carried in battle. The adventurers quickly discern that these flags represent different enemies of Denagoth which the mountain nation has conquered.

At the southern end of the chamber, directly across from the door stands a gate, its iron portcullis lowered. Beyond it, the adventurers can see a little used path leading up to this entrance to the tower, winding around several gray boulders. Yellow fumes fill the air outside the tower like fog, the thick mist swirling constantly.

Two guards, one male and one female, clad in dark Denagothian armor, stand on either side of the gate. Both appear agitated, their swords drawn. Each turns toward the door as it is opened, their faces registering alarm.

09:50, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 4 using 1d6.  Initiative - Party.

09:53, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 1 using 1d6.  Initiative - Guards.

The party has the opportunity to act first.

Dimitri raises his spear and hurls it at the male guard, but more than likely bounces off his shield. No matter, the battle is joined and he begins to reach for his scabbard.

11:39, Today: Dimitri Reznov rolled 10,4 using d20,d6 ((10,4)).

Covering his eyes, Jarder calls out, "Mirror," so that all can hear his cry.

Neuken covers his eyes.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:50, Tue 23 Mar 2021.

The male guard yells in pain as Dmitri’s spear sinks into his shoulder.

Before either of the sentries can react further, Felinda chuckles fiendishly and throws back her hood.

At Jarder’s call, the party members immediately move to cover their eyes or avert their gaze, save for the elven scout Zinnelis, who asks in confusion, ”Mirror? What mirror?”

09:28, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 10 using 1d20.  Saving Throw - Turn to Stone - Guard.

09:29, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 1 using 1d20.  Saving Throw - Turn to Stone - Guard.

09:33, Today: Zinnelis rolled 8 using 1d20.  Saving Throw - Turn to Stone.

A moment passes. Then another. The company hears the rustle of cloth, followed by the distinctive sound of Felinda’s voice. ”It is safe,” she says quietly.

The adventurers open their eyes to see that both of the Denagothians are now gray statues, expressions of horror frozen on their petrified features. Dmitri’s hurled spear rests at the feet of the male guard.

A few steps away, Zinnelis has also been transformed into an unmoving stone statue, his mouth agape, his face permanently fixed with a wide eyed look of surprise.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:08, Wed 24 Mar 2021.

When Zinnelis cries out in confusion, Jarder's blood runs cold. A fatal mistake had been made. He does not know by whom. He feels the prick of guilt.

"The safe word is "Mirror", he repeats, his tone identical to the first time he uttered it.

Wordlessly, he leads the remaining members of the party away from the three statues and down the southern branch of the junction until he stands before the door with the crossed halberds. Then he opens it.

Greyband instinctively closes his eyes and then gapes when he opens them again. He has about as many words as the others for the matter as he follows Jarder, preparing to enter the door once Jarder opens it.

Dimitri recovers his spear, and shakes his head sadly at the petrified elf.

"There is...a kind of magic to fix this, yes?"

”There must be some manner of magical remedy,” Renia says, looking at the stone statue that is Zinnelis regretfully, ”I will seek it out and return for him. We cannot simply abandon him to this fate.”

Jarder opens the door.

The room beyond it is impeccably neat. The eastern wall is taken up with bookshelves that reach the low ceiling which are laden with scrolls and leather bound volumes. A set of well drawn maps of Denagoth and the nations adjacent to it are posted on the western wall.

In front of the southern wall is a broad desk, built from polished ebony. Two men stand before it. One wears black plate mail and holds a shield on his left arm. The shield is decorated with the symbol of the black dragon, the heraldic device of Denagoth. The other man is clad in red robes, the hood of which conceals some of his features. Both immediately look to the door as it is opened.

09:28, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 4 using 1d6.  Initiative - Party.

09:29, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 5 using 1d6.  Initiative - Denagothians.

The Denagothians win initiative.

The Denagothian officer draws his sword, charging the door. As he does, he calls out in a booming voice, ”LANCERS! INTRUDERS IN THE TOWER!”

He swings his blade at Jarder in a wide, diagonal arc. The thief is quick enough to read the attack and sidestep it.

10:30, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 2 using 1d20.  Attack - Guard Captain - Sword.

Sighting the hooded female figure in the adventurers’ midst, the man in the red robe reaches up, grasping a silver amulet that hangs from his neck. ”Felinda,” he hisses, ”don’t you remember whose orders you’re bound to obey? These people you’re cavorting with are your enemies.”

Those near to the hooded gorgon notice that as the man speaks, she becomes immediately still and rigid.

OOC: It is the party’s turn to act.

The officer has an armor class of 2.

The robed man has an armor class of 4.

Jarder roars, "Your lies have no purchase here, fiend!"

He launches his enchanted dagger at the robed man -- seeking to find his own type of purchase.

14:46, Today: Jarder Mehro rolled 13,5 using d20+4,d4+2. HITS AC 4 for 5 dmg
This message was last edited by the player at 19:00, Thu 25 Mar 2021.

Greyband steps up and engages the man in armor. "You're mine," he says without embellishment. He utters a word of power and his sword bursts into flame; he then begins a savage attack on the evil warrior! He does everything in his power to avoid looking at Felinda.

Hit AC -3 for 10 fire damage. Actively avoid looking at Felinda, especially if she looks at me or removes her hood.

12:23, Today: Greyband rolled 10 using 1d10+4 with rolls of 6.  Damage.
12:23, Today: Greyband rolled 20 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 16.  Attack w/flaming sword.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:07, Sat 27 Mar 2021.

The old cleric attempted to utter a battle-cry, thought better of it, and subsequently whiffed his swing with the magical mace. He said something that sounded less like a cleric and much more like a seasoned mercenary, but the din of battle drowned it out.


Attack: Windor Moonwrought rolled 3 to m-i-s-s!!!

Neuken decides this would be a good time to tap his Ring of Spell Storing.  He uses it to cast Continual Light at the eyes of the armored Denagothian.

Orin took up Jarder's meaning quickly and launched into a bull rush toward the robed man.  He barreled into him with his shield and took a mighty swing with his war hammer, hoping if nothing else to break the man's apparent connection with Felinda.  Righteous anger drove him, but so did the fear he imagined in Zinnelis' petrified eyes.


OOC:

20:02, Today: Orin Starshine rolled 22 using 1d20+2.  Attack priest
20:02, Today: Orin Starshine rolled 3 using 1d6+2.  Damage to priest.

Dimitri hurls his spear at the robed man, but there's too much commotion to get a clear shot.

14:19, Today: Dimitri Reznov rolled 3,3 using d20,d6 ((3,3)).

Joining the rest of the party as they rush the man clad in crimson robes, Killian stabs at the hooded figure with his spear, but the point of the weapon is halted by the Denagothian’s armor.

13:40, Today: Killian Hawkfire rolled 10 using 1d20+4.  Attack - Spear.

Renia likewise moves to attack the red robed Denagothian, landing a strike on the man’s left arm.

13:41, Today: Renia rolled 15 using 1d20+1.  Attack - Sword.

13:43, Today: Renia rolled 4 using 1d8+1.  Damage - Sword.

The Denagothian officer clenches his jaw as Greyband’s fiery blade strikes him. “Have at you then!” he snarls. Before he can act further, he cries out in agony as a bright glow overtakes most of his scarred face. He staggers backward, stumbling into the northern wall.

19:17, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 5 using 1d20.  Save vs. Spells - Denagothian Officer.

The officer fails his save against Neuken’s continual light spell and is blinded. Until the effect is dispelled, he will be unable to attack.

Although the red robed man is able to keep his feet in the face of the company’s determined assault, it is clear that he is badly injured, losing his grip on the amulet about his neck. Drawing the mace from his belt, he swings the weapon wildly, managing to graze Jarder’s shoulder as he tries to ward his attackers off.

14:06, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 14 using 1d20.  Attack - Levy.

Today: Dungeon Master rolled 2 using 1d6.  Damage - Levy.

---

14:42, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 5 using 1d6.  Initiative - Party.

14:43, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 6 using 1d6.  Initiative - Denagothians.

The Denagothians win initiative.

Recognizing his helpless state, the Denagothian soldier swings his shield with all of his might, smashing it repeatedly against the wall behind him, the noise filling the corridor. ”SOLDIERS! YOUR LORDSHIP!” he calls, ”THE INTRUDERS ARE IN THE ENTRANCE HALL!”

OOC: Greyband, I’ll have to rule that the Denagothian officer’s backpedaling amounts to a retreat, which would entitle you to a +2 bonus on your next attack roll against him.

”Unhand me, you...rabble!” the hooded man barks as he cracks Orin’s flank with another swipe of his mace.

14:51, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 18 using 1d20.  Attack - Levy.

14:51, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 4 using 1d6.  Damage - Levy.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:37, Wed 31 Mar 2021.

Suddenly free of whatever influence the robed man’s amulet had on her, Felinda lets out an angry shriek. Without a moment of hesitation, she flees down the corridor, moving as fast as her feet can carry her. She turns north at the nearby junction, disappearing from sight as she runs for the circular room with the spiral staircase.

OOC: It is the party’s turn to act.

Orin refused to offer the robed man any relief, even though it cost him a solid smack in the side from the man's mace.  Grimacing in pain at the strike, he swung wildly back at the man in the hopes of retaliating but merely forced him to dodge the clumsy swing.


OOC:

20:11, Today: Orin Starshine rolled 6 using 1d20+2.  Attack robed priest.  Miss!

Though smarting from the dark priest's blow, Jarder opportunistically throws a dagger at the blindly retreating captain. He even has time to smile, thinking of guards running headlong into a fully exposed Felinda.

21:02, Today: Jarder Mehro rolled 17,3 using d20+7,d4+1.  backstab captain.
Hits AC 0 for 9 dmg

Seeing the robed fiend already having a bad day, Neuken decides to make it worse by casting Magic Missile on him.

03:00, Today: Neuken Orulto rolled 17 using 3d6+3.  Magic missiles.

Windor was surprised that Felinda would flee. "Didn't like the taste of her own medicine did she?" he observed to his companions before launching another attack at the armored Captain whose shouts of alarm were rather unfortunate for their mission.


Attack with Mace: Windor Moonwrought rolled 11 to hit AC6 for 6 damage
This message was last edited by the player at 16:16, Wed 31 Mar 2021.

Dimitri rushes forward, determined to make up for his missed spear with a sword stab at the robed man.

11:31, Today: Dimitri Reznov rolled 12,7 using d20+2,d8+2 ((10,5)).

Greyband steps away from the blinded foe and charges at the spellcaster, bringing his flaming sword across the man's face...

Move to robed guy, hit AC 1 for 13 fire damage.

20:57, Today: Greyband rolled 13 using 1d10+4 with rolls of 9.  Damage.
20:56, Today: Greyband rolled 16 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 12.  Attack on robed man.

As Greyband lands a ferocious blow with the flame sheathed blade, Killian rushes forward, stabbing his spear deep into the robed man’s ribcage.

21:08, Today: Killian Hawkfire rolled 24 using 1d20+4.  Attack - Spear.

21:09, Today: Killian Hawkfire rolled 7 using 1d6+1.  Damage - Spear.

The man in the crimson robes vainly attempts to speak, but only a gurgle emerges from his lips. His mace drops to the floor with a clank as he sinks to his knees, then falls on his side, a last, wheezing breath escaping him.

The Denagothian officer grunts in pain as Jarder’s knife finds its mark. He tries to push away from the wall, but is slammed back against it by the the scissoring bolts of magical force that Neuken unleashes. He keeps to his feet, however, maintaining a tight grip on his sword and shield.

”Denagothian dog!” Renia growls through clenched teeth. She rushes the officer, swinging her blade at him, but the strike isn’t forceful enough to penetrate his armor.

21:30, Today: Renia rolled 5 using 1d20+1.  Attack - Sword.

21:39, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 1 using 1d6.  Initiative - Party.

21:40, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 3 using 1d6.  Initiative - Denagothians.

21:56, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 3 using 1d4+1.

At the eastern end of the corridor, the door bearing the symbol of the crossed lances bursts open and a trio of Denagothian soldiers rush out, swords at the ready. Sighting the adventurers, they strike their blades against their upraised shields twice, then charge.

Overhead, a huge pair of yellow eyes materializes in the air, their fierce gaze burning with fury.

The Shadow Lord casts dispel magic.

The blazing light fades from the Denagothian officers face. He sights Renia in front of him, scowling at the scout in unrestrained rage.

”KILL THEM!” an echoing, disembodied voice commands, ”KILL THEM ALL!”

Without an instant of hesitation, the officer swings his blade in a vicious arc at Renia, the blow landing solidly on her left arm.

22:15, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 16 using 1d20.  Attack - Denagothian Officer.

22:16, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 5 using 1d8+1.  Damage - Denagothian Officer.

Rushing the group of adventurers, the first of the soldiers closes with Dimitri, slashing the warrior’s shoulder with the point of his blade.

22:21, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 17 using 1d20.  Attack - Denagothian Soldier.

22:22, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 3 using 1d8.  Damage - Denagothian Soldier.

The second soldier charges Neuken, landing a swift, strong blow on the sorcerer’s ribcage.

22:24, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 15 using 1d20.  Attack - Denagothian Soldier.

22:25, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 8 using 1d8.  Damage - Denagothian Soldier.

The last of the Denagothians attacks Jarder, slashing the thief’s abdomen with a quick vertical swing.

22:25, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 19 using 1d20.  Attack - Denagothian Soldier.

22:25, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 5 using 1d8.  Damage - Denagothian Soldier.

---

OOC: It is the party’s turn to act.

The Denagothian officer has an armor class of 2.

The three Denagothian soldiers each have an armor class of 4.

Greyband strides up to the Denogothan officer. "Cowards! Face me!" He growls to the officer, "I prefer that you die seeing me anyway," before beginning a flurry of blows that only really gets the officer's attention.

Move to Denogothan officer, attack, miss.

15:34, Today: Greyband rolled 8 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 4.  on Denogothan Officer.

"Yes! That's it! Fight with me! Let us see who dies like a true warrior!"

His blade crashes against that of the soldier while he searches for a chink in his armor.

17:34, Today: Dimitri Reznov rolled 6,6 using d20+2,d8+2 ((4,4)).

Jarder starts to sweat with the clamorous arrival of the three Dengothian shields. After a second wound, deeper than the first, he starts to bleed in earnest.

"Felinda," he cries out. "The fiend is dead. We need you!"

With a word of command, Hornet dislodges itself from the high priest's corpse and flies to his hand. With a flick, he throws it at the captain.

19:27, Today: Jarder Mehro rolled 15,6 using d20+4,d4+2.  Hornet v Captain.
Hits AC 2 for 6 dmg -- unless he's surprised by Jarder's daring do?

The old cleric had a trick or two up his sleeve. Windor pretended to lose his grip on his mace, shifting his stance as if to recover, he swung it upward beneath the officer's guard. There was a resounding ring of metal and armor, but the officer gasped and Windor grinned, the wide smile splitting his white whiskers.


Mace Attack: Windor Moonwrought rolled 18 to hit AC-1 for 5 damage
This message was last edited by the player at 19:03, Fri 02 Apr 2021.

With the cluster around the Denagothian captain already, Orin decided to help out their beleaguered rogue, especially when he attacked the captain instead of the soldier right before him.

"You're mamma never taught you to pick on someone your own size?" Orin taunted the taller Denagothian, and he lay beetled beneath his shield.  He lashed out with his war hammer and felt the satisfying crunch as it slammed into the soldier's side.


OOC:

14:25, Today: Orin Starshine rolled 22 using 1d20+2.  Attack
14:25, Today: Orin Starshine rolled 4 using 1d6+2.  Damage.

Running low on options, Neuken casts Sleep on their foes.  The effort causes veins to bulge in his temples, even though the spell is usually an easy one for him.

Renia swings her blade at the Denagothian Officer again, but finds her blow skillfully blocked by the warrior’s shield.

16:44, Today: Renia rolled 6 using 1d20+1.  Attack - Sword.

Jarder’s blade opens a gash on the hulking officer’s arm and he is staggered by Windor’s precisely timed blow. Injured, but clearly still strong and capable, the captain glares hatefully at those pressing him.

16:07, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 12 using 2d8.  Sleep Spell - Hit Dice.

The Denagothian soldier who had attacked Jarder winces in pain as Orin’s hammer cracks against his ribs. Opening his mouth to curse the dwarven warrior, the soldier freezes, blinking in shock as his two compatriots abruptly drop to the floor, dead asleep, one of them snoring loudly.

17:53, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 6 using 1d6.  Initiative - Party.

17:54, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 1 using 1d6.  Initiative - Denagothians.

The party wins initiative.

Two of the Denagothian soldiers have been overcome by Neuken’s sleep spell (the two that had attacked Neuken and Dmitri, respectively). One soldier remains. The soldier has an armor class of 4.

The Denagothian officer has an armor class of 2.

Windor tried to find an opening, but the commotion of the battle did not provide him one. The Denegothan officer, though wounded and pressed, seemed to hold his own, parrying many of their attacks or wisely contorting his body enough to allow his armor to do its job!


Mace Attack: Windor Moonwrought rolled 12 to miss!

Remember that those fighting at Windor's side gain a +1 to AC and Saves!

Disappointed to see his foe collapse into a peaceful sleep, he steps over him to charge the last foe left standing.

08:59, Today: Dimitri Reznov rolled 16,6 using d20+2,d8+2 ((14,4)).

Greyband presses his attack, but is mostly a distraction this round.

Miss again (AC4) on officer.

20:56, Today: Greyband rolled 13 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 9.  Attack the officer.

Neuken smiles, draws a dagger and slays one of the sleeping soldiers.

With a word, Hornet zips back to Jarder's open hand where it settles without a sound. He throws it at the last standing guard of the three. Like his captain, he, too, has enough armor to deflect a thrown dagger even one with a minor enchantment.

14:36, Today: Jarder Mehro rolled 11,8 using d20+4,d4+4.  Hornet v. Red Shirt. Misses.

Orin's tried to finish off Jarder's opponent with the help of Dimitri, hoping the man's surprise at Neuken's magic would leave him unprepared for another hammer blow.  It seemed the Mountain Lord was smiling on one of his children, for Orin's swing struck true.


OOC:

16:53, Today: Orin Starshine rolled 19 using 1d20+2.  Attack
16:54, Today: Orin Starshine rolled 4 using 1d6+2.  Damage.

Renia continues to attack the Denagothian officer, but his guard remains strong, even in the face of multiple enemies, and he deflects her downward strike with his shield.

15:48, Thu 08 Apr: Renia rolled 10 using 1d20+1.  Attack - Sword.

Killian moves in to join Dmitri, Orin and Jarder’s efforts to bring down the remaining guard. As the black armored soldier is reeling from the strong strikes from Dmitri and Orin, the elf stabs the man’s flank with his spear, inflicting a deep wound that causes the Denagothian to stagger. It is clear that the guard is grievously wounded.

15:48, Thu 08 Apr: Killian Hawkfire rolled 23 using 1d20+4.  Attack - Spear.

15:49, Thu 08 Apr: Killian Hawkfire rolled 10 using 1d6+4.  Damage - Spear.

A cry is raised from one of the adjacent halls. ”I HAVE FOUND THE ESCAPED GORGON! SHE IS...” The voice abruptly falls silent.

The yellow eyes that burn in the air above the battle narrow. “THEY ARE IN THE ENTRANCE HALL!” the harsh voice calls, the words seeming to echo throughout the tower, ”SLAY THEM, SOLDIERS AND BRING THEIR CORPSES TO ME!” With that, the terrible gaze vanishes from view.

Still possessing fight in his wounded body, the Denagothian officer slashes at Windor with his blade. The sword catches the the priest’s arm, but Windor is able to draw back, avoiding the worst of the blow.

12:28, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 15 using 1d20.  Attack - Denagothian Officer.

12:31, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 2 using 1d8+1.  Damage - Denagothian Officer.

The remaining Denagothian soldier turns his attention to Dmitri, taking a wild swing at the warrior, an attack that Dmitri is easily able to turn aside with his own blade.

12:41, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 7 using 1d20.  Attack -Denagothian Soldier.

Neuken leans down and opens the throat of one of the slumbering Denagothian guards. The man only wakes when the blade slices into his neck, but can do nothing but choke helplessly as his lifeblood leaves him.

From the north, the company members hear the tramping of heavy boots, steadily drawing nearer.

---

12:52, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 2 using 1d6.  Initiative - Party.

12:52, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 4 using 1d6.  Initiative - Denagothians.

The Denagothians win initiative.

The Denagothian officer follows up his attack on Windor with a broad slash which is aimed at Greyband, the point of his blade catching the warrior’s chest.

12:58, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 18 using 1d20.  Attack - Denagothian Officer.

12:59, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 4 using 1d8+1.  Damage - Denagothian Officer.

Cursing, the Denagothian soldier swings about, aiming a swing at Killian. He succeeds in piercing the elf’s guard, landing a heavy blow on his shoulder.

13:00, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 18 using 1d20.  Attack - Denagothian Soldier.

13:00, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 8 using 1d8.  Damage - Denagothian Soldier.

Dmitri, Neuken, Jarder, Orin, and Killian are all close enough to the northern hallway to see a pair of Denagothian guards arrive in the circular chamber where the corridor terminates. Moving at a fast pace, they head down the passageway, running to join the melee, swords in hand.

The newly arrived Denagothian soldiers will reach the entrance hall on the next round.

The Denagothian officer has an armor class of 2.

The Denagothian soldier has an armor class of 4, as do the newly arrived guards to the north.

It is the party’s turn to act.