Opalia gazed down the rocky slopes to the river valley crowded with a herd of aurochs, and grinned.  “To not make the AUROCHS mad we must be nice, I do think!  Move careful and not in a dangerous way, and maybe even be sneaky.”  Opalia shook her head in shock at Fergus’s suggestion and said, “FIREBEARD is wise usually, but scaring away many AUROCHS is a not-good idea!  They are many and big and if they all run the ground will thunder, and we get squished if they thunder over us!”

Opalia began to descend the slope with caution to step quietly and avoid sudden movements.  As she began she called to Fergus, “The DWARFEN STRONG-HOLD is here, FIREBEARD?  This looks like regular cliffs and hills not of dwarf-making.  How does the STRONG-HOLD look?”

---

Animal handling for brilliant auroch advice:

• 23:00, Today: Opalia rolled 3 using 1d20+1.  Animal Handling.

Then Stealth to move in the direction we need to look without causing a fuss:

• 23:01, Today: Opalia rolled 14 using 2d20+2, dropping the highest dice only with rolls of 13,12.  Stealth (disadvantage armor).

Also during this scene Opi will look for the biggest, strongest auroch and size it up with Know Your Enemy to determine if it is my inferior, equal, or superior in Strength score and Fighter class levels ;P

Sikuaq surveyed the river valley, the rugged slopes, and the enormous herd of aurochs that ranged over all of it.  The anatka had always thought of them as gentle creatures, but she knew Opalia was right.  If their ire was raised and they moved together there was very little that could stand in their way and survive.

"If you would like," she said to the group, "I can cast a spell that will help shroud us from the aurochs and make our searching a safer activity.  We would have to remain grouped so that no one is more than ten paces from me.  The magic will last for an hour, I would say."

If none objected, Sikuaq called upon the Western Twilight to help hide their presence.  When she was done, she motioned the group forward.


OOC:

Assuming no one objects, will cast Pass Without Trace.  +10 to Stealth checks for anyone within 30 feet of me.  Duration 1 hr.

Caell had been extra quiet for a while. Not only for the group to keep from disturbing the beasts. He just hadn't been very talkative. He thought they were on the right path, but he feared that it was still a long long way to go. Certainly, once they found the dwarves it would provide its own set of new challenges. When they started walking closer and in between the aurochs, Caell felt his heart picking up pace. These creatures were big and dangerous, but they were not malicious. While the others possibly kept their eyes on finding the entrance, Caell looked further. His Quinichiat eyes were on the furthest reaches of what they could see, keeping an open for things that could scare the aurochs. A stampede could be terrifying.

"It was just a suggestion," Fergus muttered under his breath.


Looking down on the vast expanse of possibilities from their position, Fergus's hopes sank. There were countless shadows and crevices that may have been the entrance to Gruundelheim, but were more likely nothing at all. "The entrance is in these bluffs somewhere, although it may no longer be marked."

He surveyed the valley for several minutes. Even though the entrance was probably no longer marked, he imagined in its time, its architects would've picked an intimidating face. That eliminated several locations and narrowed his focus. "We should start there," he finally concluded, pointing westward, hoping his confident gesture would disguise his own doubt.



23:43, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 17 using 2d20+6, keeping the highest dice only with rolls of 11,3.  Survival.
23:43, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 23 using 2d20+6, keeping the highest dice only with rolls of 6,17.  Perception.

This message was last edited by the player at 05:27, Thu 22 July 2021.

Fergus surveyed the landscape, closely studying the steeply sloping river banks and as he tried to imagine what would have appealed to his ancestors when they first built this tunnel centuries ago. He made his best guess, and with the help of Sikuaq's magic, the party picked its way down the bluff without disturbing the creatures grazing below.

The aurochs appeared even more massive up close. They were taller than most of the party members and could have stepped clear over Fergus... or trampled him beneath their sharp hooves. Thankfully they were happy to graze and keeping mostly to the center of the valleys where the water flowed, and so the party could search the walls of the bluffs without disturbing them.

Fergus's dwarven eyes spotted amongst the debris lining the bottom of bluff the subtle scars of worked stone. He and Opalia dug through the debris, finding more of what had once been a magnificent facade welcoming visitors to Gruundelheim, back in the days when visitors were welcome.

The modern day denizens had collapsed the tunnel, but the clay that clogged it was wet from proximity to the river and easily dug out to clear the way.

Inside the tunnel was dark and dank, stinking of mildew. Water dripped down the walls and formed puddles flanking the main path; evidently the ancient dwarves had planned for drainage.

Reliefs of dwarven kings and other fabled heroes lined the walls, though they were hard to identify and the nameplates beneath them were nearly illegible owing to erosion and the green mold growing up over them. The tunnel ran straight for just a few dozen feet before branching into two passages; odd, as Thori's directions had mentioned taking the middle passage.

The Anatka's sneaking magic was very good for sneaking, Opalia reckoned, and so the fellowship managed to pass the grazing aurochs unnoticed.  On the way down the slopes the giantess paused to size up a particularly brawny auroch bull that was nearly of a height with her.  She flexed and looked between her own impressive bicep to the beast's great slabs of muscle, comparing their relative strength.  Opalia gave the bull a smile and a nod of respect before leaving the indifferent beast to its grazing.

At last Fergus's keen eye for stonework led them to trail of debris which in turn led to a collapsed dwarven edifice hidden in the bluffs.  Crouching to peer into the rubble-choked entranceway, Opalia declared happily, "This way is buried, but OPALIA will dig it open!"  The giantess happily dove into the laborious work of digging out heaping double handfuls of river clay and dislodging great stones.  Soon enough she was covered head to toe in mud, though her big grin shone from underneath it.  As she worked she remarked, "FIREBEARD, do dwarfs still live in this STRONG-HOLD?  If yes, I do think they could clean outside the door more."

Eventually the fellowship managed to clear the way into the carved stone entryway dripping with water and green with growth.  After rinsing the mud off in the river Opalia stated the obvious, "Perhaps DWARFS do not use this door anymore.  It is too bad, because the river is nice!"  She lit a torch with flint and steel and held it aloft to get a better look at the nice carved art, as well as the forking passage ahead.  Opalia paused at the fork to listen for any sounds from either direction.

---

Perception to listen for interesting sounds down the passages, but looks like Opi got some mud in the ears :)

• 17:10, Today: Opalia rolled 8 using 1d20+4.  Perception.

Cora stopped Opalia and any others who helped with the digging before they went to the river, weaving an intricate web of magical energy that caused the clay and dirt to blacked and blow away like ash

"Normally I like the old-fashioned way, but the less we need to linger the better, and we don't know when we'll get dry again."

OOC: prestidigitation, notably doesn't affect living matter so it wouldn't necessarily dry the body so much as the clothes for instance

Any that DID get wet, she waved a hand and the water fled them like ice before the heat of the sun.

"Alright, that I can do too. But still"

On the subject of the fork, Cora remained silent, looking to Fergus for guidance

Once inside the chamber, Fergus was torn between pride in what was once a grand chamber honoring his ancestors and shame at the neglect it now suffered. "It's a pity they've let it fall so far," he finally concluded. "It must've been a proud entryway in its time. But that time has long past. Well before Blackhammer's arrival, by the looks of it."

He examined the once noble walls, but also kept up his guard for anything lurking in the shadows, the memory of Tuber's horrific bearipede still lodged in the forefront of his memory. "Be on your toes. Anything could be skulking in these long abandoned halls."

He eventually approached the branching passages and cursed under his breath. "Thori said to take the middle passage, but only two are revealed. But maybe..." He asked for Opalia's torch. "The smoke may reveal one that's been concealed... or it's also completely possible that Thori's memory was as scrambled as the rest of his appearance."

OOC: If Opalia is willing to give up her torch, Fergus will walk it along the walls, looking for any signs of "suspicious drafts".

"I suspect his memory is sound," Arvid said, similarly turning his attention to the walls of the once grand route. "Time or intent has likely obscured the remaining passage, and in doing so confused our instructions."

"Can I help in any way?"

Opalia looked down in wonderment as Cora magicked away all the mud and riverwater from the messy excavation.  "It is a neat magic-bath trick, little friend CORA!"  She wanted to play with making more mud fly away, but reckoned that she had better maintain focus in case dangers might happen.


Opalia readily offered the crackling torch to Fergus when requested, and scratched her chin in contemplation of the supposition of a 'middle' passage.  The giantess approached the centerpoint between the branching passages, then looked back out the way they'd come.  As Fergus searched by torchlight, Opalia rapped upon the stone in the center to listen for any hollow sounds.

---

Goliath-Investigation to clonk on walls to listen for any hollow spaces, or moving stones:

• 12:01, Today: Opalia rolled 13 using 1d20-1.  Goliath-Investigation.

Sikuaq studied the walls once most of the muck and dross had been cleared away by the energetic Opalia.  Though heading underground yet again was not high on her list of favourite things, she recognized the necessity.  And she could still appreciate the workmanship that had gone in to the carvings that lined each side of the passage.

When they reached only a branching with no straight path, the anatka's thoughts went immediately in the same direction as Fergus'.  She looked on expectantly, hoping to see a small lever pulled or widget depressed that would suddenly open a doorway before them.

Opalia's investigation turned up a barely-concealed door just where Thori's directions suggested it would be, between the two visible tunnels. Opening it as another matter, however, for it was a heavy stone slab that seemed designed to roll aside into the wall, though convincing it to do so apparently required more than brute force.

Fergus's investigation did not discover any drafts, but he did note something strange about the reliefs of the various dwarven kings and heroes lining the walls. A few things, in fact:

1. Each relief was on an individual plaque that could be removed from its setting in the wall. They were of uniform size, such that any relief could fit any slot on the wall.

2. There was a specific order in which these figures were to be displayed, with the bravest heroes nearest the entryway and the greatest kings further inside, advancing in order of greatness as one progressed towards the living area. These notions of bravery and greatness were not a matter of opinion: every dwarf learned of these legendary ancestors and the proper order in which they were to be displayed. And this was not it. The heads of these esteemed dwarves were in a seemingly arbitrary configuration, which was simply unheard of.

3. Two figures not traditionally included in this canon had reliefs in this hall: Adir Blackhammer and a younger-looking dwarf named Godi Blackhammer. In fact, Adir Blackhammer, the current ruler of Gruundelheim if Thori was to be believed, had not one but two reliefs among his more notable ancestors.

4. Notably absent from the canon was Bradrin Ironhammer, the ruler overthrown by Blackhammer.

To open the door, you'll need to arrange the reliefs in the proper order, with the greatest heroes ranked on one side and the greatest rulers in rank order on the other. Fergus, please make a History check with advantage to determine how well you remember these rankings.

You'll also have to figure out where to put the two reliefs of Adir Blackhammer and the one of the younger Godi Blackhammer.

Should that go badly, you can attempt to brute force the door as well, though it will be a DC 20 Athletics check, and a failure risks disabling it entirely.

Fergus expelled a sigh of relief when the middle passage was discovered. After examining the various heroes and rulers he reached a fairly obvious conclusion. These aren't in the right order. Let's see if this old dwarfs memory can recall what that order should be.

He muttered various names, titles, and occasional curses under his breath as he thought back to the legends he had been taught as a youngster. That was a long time ago.

16:55, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 23 using 2d20+4, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 19,17.  History with advantage.

Not knowing much at all about dwarven history or customs, Sikuaq looked on hopefully as Fergus puzzled his way through the images deftly carved in the stone.  She was willing to help if she could, but honestly she was really sure what to do aside from quietly root for her companion.

"I don't know much about dwarven history," Arvid confessed to no one's surprise. "But I have met 'Adir Blackhammers' before. Several of them, by different races and names. To efface his predecessor and place himself in the order of heroes and kings not once but twice, I expect he esteems himself the paragon of both. Godi must be a sibling or child, and as they've never assumed the throne one must surmise that they are a hero second only to Adir himself."

"This is how I would arrange the tablets," he volunteered.

Between the two of them, Arvid and Fergus arranged the portraits with all the other figures in their traditional order and Adir Blackhammer at the extremes of both greatest hero and greatest king. Godi Blackhammer followed him as the second greatest hero, and with that there came a great grinding of gear and stones as the hidden door slid open. Even for the dwarves this was sophisticated technology rivaling the lift that connected Knutsdir to Lawton's Glen.

This tunnel delved deep into the ground, but unlike those of Ruldheim it was wide and tall and not especially threatening even to those uncomfortable in enclosed spaces. It led to a grand entryway, a gate whose heavy stone doors were carved with ornate scrollwork and flanked by a pair of larger-than-life statues of dwarven heroes, one holding a hammer and one a royal scepter. These Fergus recognized immediately as Ommerlun Kegspine, the cleric whose magic revived an entire battalion and saved the kingdom from an incursion from the Shadowlands, and Fozmir Tallback, the king who suppressed a rebellion by the eastern cities and built the great Lateral Tunnelworks so that royal troops could more easily access and bring to heel those cities. Sadly, it was those same tunnels that the orcs used, centuries later, to overrun the eastern cities.

Cora was confused for a moment but soon caught on to what Arvid was saying

"Yeah, that makes sense."

She knew it wasn't much, but agreeing seemed best right now. If they failed, it should be together.

Luckily, the great mechanism seemed to work, and Cora stood in wonder as the entrance opened, following the rest of the party with more than a little reverence at the place she was traveling through.

Though she was relatively fine with close spaces, there was always the specter of the her capture in the Orc Wars at the back of Cora's mind, but these halls were some of the first places she didn't feel that.

Gazing up at the statue of Fozmir Tallback, Cora finally recognized something here. This king had been in one of the many disjointed dreams, the visions her patron had sent her.

"I've seen this king before. I don't know who he was . . . but his war within the kingdom is known as 'the time of plunder', I think. To the orcs. My ancestors used his tunnels to travel the old caves and mines, and move deep within the kingdom before being discovered."

Arvid gazed up at the stony sentries but they meant nothing to him despite their obvious grandeur. "This passage seems disused but we should expect a poor reception as we draw nearer. I expect the living sentries will be less inclined to let us pass than their marble counterparts."

"Do you suppose there is a trick to the door?"

Opalia watched with curiosity as Arvid and Fergus arranged the tablets of kings and heroes in the proper order, and of course made herself available for any heavy lifting.  She looked on in astonishment as the massive stone door slid open upon some hidden mechanism, and exclaimed, "What a TERRIFIC door!  BLACKHAMMER must be the best and most hero-ish dwarf-king, or else it would not have opened."

The giantess reclaimed the torch from Fergus and led the way down the spacious corridor, for if there was danger then it must go through her to get to any little friends!  The way delved deeper and deeper until finally arriving at a stone gate of monolithic proportions.  Opalia approached and held the torch high to appreciate the big statues by its flickering light.  "Dwarfs do make very nice stone arts, FIREBEARD!  These good stone makings remind me of my people's fortress called SKYREACH, except that is on TOP of a mountain and not UNDER."

Arvid's question about whether there was a trick to opening this door led Opalia to decide to try it.  She approached and searched for anything resembling a switch, handle, lever, or at least a knocker.  Failing any of that, she would search for holds and brace-points usable to pry open the great doors with sheer mightiness!

---

Walking up to the big doors to perform a Goliath-investigation:

• 13:03, Today: Opalia rolled 9 using 1d20-1.  Goliath-Investigation.

When Opalia approached the doors, which were tall enough to accommodate even her massive frame, the two statues shuddered to life and moved to defend the door. Ommerlun swung his great stone hammer, while Fozmir lowered his scepter and pointed it at the goliath. Pulses of yellow light emanated from it and washed over Opalia's body.

Attack hits AC 20 for 19 bludgeoning damage.

Also will need a DC 17 Wisdom save from Opalia. On a failed save, a target can't use reactions, its speed is halved, and it can't make more than one attack on its turn. In addition, the target can take either an action or a bonus action on its turn, not both. These effects last for 1 minute. A target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Dungeon Master, for the NPC statue, rolled 19 using 3d8+6.  damage.
Dungeon Master, for the NPC statue, rolled 20 using 1d20+10.  attack.

Everyone gets an action now. Please include an initiative roll, though, as that will determine the order in which I resolve your actions. One extra twist:

Anyone who wishes may make a DC 15 Religion or History check to offer veneration to one of these statues. If you succeed, the statue you target takes 2d8+6 damage and cannot use its special ability next round. (Both have recharge-based abilities. You've seen the cleric cast Slow already. You have not yet seen Fozmir's ability.)

I'm also open to other creative uses of skills here in similar fashion. For example, if Cora wanted to mock Fozmir by talking about how the orcs used his tunnels against the dwarves, she could make an Intimidation check to have the same effect.

Opalia was very surprised by the sudden assault from statues, but nonetheless managed to avoid the body-seizing magic!  The giantess quickly had Frostfall in hand and declared with a perhaps inappropriate degree of excitement, "These statues are even more better than OPALIA did think, because they can do FIGHTING!"

Opalia struck twice at the statue that had attempted to do magic on her, causing Frostfall to clang loudly against stony armor.

---

Yay for Goliath-trapfinding :)

Pre-turn
Stone's Endurance as a reaction reduces 19 bludgeoning down to 11:

• 14:16, Today: Opalia rolled 8 using 1d12+3.  Stone's Endurance(?).

Aced the Wisdom save, WHEW:

• 14:17, Today: Opalia rolled 21 using 1d20+1.  Wisdom save.

Turn

• Initiative 17
• Move to position self between statues and little friends
• ATTACK twice on Ommerlun Kegspine (the cleric)
  1. Probably miss 14 AC, but if it hits deal 7 cold damage
  2. Probably miss again with 17 vs. AC, but if it hits deal 19 cold damage including Trip Attack!
     • Ommerlun must make a DC 16 Strength save or be knocked prone
• Protection fighting style:  If any ranged/melee attack targets an ally within 5 feet, use reaction to give disadvantage on the attack.

14:37, Today: Opalia rolled 7,19 using d8+6,2d8+6.  Frostfall damage 1 & 2 (+maneuver).
14:35, Today: Opalia rolled 14,17 using d20+9,d20+9 with rolls of 5,8.  Frostfall attacks 1 & 2.
14:35, Today: Opalia rolled 17 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.

Cora was startled by the statues coming to life and attacking Opalia, drawing her blade from the scabbard she wore it on (as she'd still been unable to dismiss it) and pointing it at
'Fozmir'

"Hey! King! I might not know much, but I know you're the one of your line who let my people in! How's the afterlife treating you, knowing how much ruin and dishonour you brought on your people, how the orcs made off with your gold and gems?"

OOC: well, you gave me a better idea than I had originally! Initiative 7, Intimidate 16

Fergus stepped back when the monuments came to life. "Slag and rust," he cursed, ashamed that he was too wrapped up in the craftsmanship of the statues to recognize their potential danger.

In spite of the aggressive response of the two guardians, Fergus hoped he could reason with them. "Hold your attack, stone Ommerlun, we come in peace. We bring news vital to the defense of Gruundelheim."


23:18, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 13 using 1d20-1.  Initiative
23:18, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 18 using 1d20.  Persuasion.

Caell tried to offer veneration to one of the statues; the one with the stone hammer. He was not knowledgeable enough about dwarven icons, however, and did not manage to appease it.

Initiative 23
Religion 13 (fail)

Arvid was slow to perceive the danger they suddenly found themselves in but when at last the seriousness of their situation dawned upon him the Northman rushed to Opalia's defense. Drawing up alongside the stone sentries he sought Ildiko's strength to overcome their aggressors. A burst of radiance cascaded across the battlefield as he fell upon the golems with ghostly claw.

Initiative 7
Bonus: Summon Arms of the Astral Self, 7 force damage to guardians

quote:

Arms of the Astral Self
As a bonus action, you can spend 1 ki point to summon the arms of your astral self. When you do so, each creature of your choice that you can see within 10 ft. of you must succeed on a DEX saving throw (DC:15) or take 7 force damage.

Action: Attack
1) Hits AC 26 for 10 force damage
2) Hits AC 21 for 5 force damage
R) Sentinel strike hits AC 10 for 10 force damage


10:11, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 10,5,10 using 1d6+4,1d6+4,1d6+4.  Damage.

10:11, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 10 using 1d20+7.  Sentinel Strike.

10:11, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 21 using 1d20+7.  Attack.

10:11, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 26 using 1d20+7.  Attack.

10:10, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 7 using 2d6.  Arms of the Astral Self.

10:09, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 7 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:19, Thu 05 Aug 2021.