Sikuaq stared at the impressive gate with its carved guardians and looked for some way to announce their presence - a pull cord, a door knocker, a bell, anything.  But as she scanned the stonework masterpiece in vain Opalia approached close enough to trigger some defensive response from the statues!  The anatka was stunned by the sudden animation of the sculptures and gaped with wide eyes as the scene unfolded.

When she finally gathered her wits, she tried to pull forth some historical knowledge of the figures depicted in an attempt to emulate Cora.  Alas, she could recall nothing in particular that would help in their defense.


OOC:

20:34, Today: Secret Roll: Sikuaq rolled 4 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.

20:27, Today: Secret Roll: Sikuaq rolled 11 using 1d20.  History Check (TN15)

Caell responded first to the threat, and though his instinct was right that the statues could be flattered, his attempts at doing so fell flat.

Opalia stood valiantly between the statues and her companions, though this proved unnecessary, as the stone legends seemed to have theirs sights set on her anyway as the first person who dared touch the door they guarded. The goliath successfully resisted the ancient king's curse and hacked at Ommerlun with a dwarf-forged hammer that rivaled his own.

Fergus's entreaty seemed to weaken the cleric further. It did not stop him attacking, but it did make some headway against his aggression.

Arvid came up beside Opalia and pummeled Ommerlun with his astral fists.

Cora, meanwhile, turned her attention to King Fozmir, mocking him for his inadvertent contribution to the orcish invasion. A single tear rolled down his stone face.

Sikuaq's attempts to do the same fell flat, for her own people could not point to similar historical triumphs over the dwarves.

Valaku fired two arrows, one of which managed to chip Ommerlun's stone skin.

The statues retaliated with crushing blows of their own against Opalia, but the goliath was nearly as much a creature of stone as they, and harder to hit.

Y'all are up. Both statues have AC 17. Ommerlun (cleric) is at 98/178, Fozmir (king) is at 159/178. Please let me know which you are targeting, and if you choose to make a skill check, please include a 2d8+6 damage roll.

Caell willed a blade of starlight to his hand. It seemed they might have to destroy these statues to continue. Maybe they were just objects magically created to attack anyone that weren't dwarves? He just hoped they weren't really living creatures.

Missed with an AC 7. If this area is is in dim light or darkness, I get advantage with Shadow Blade and hit AC 23 for 11 psychic damage.

Bolstered by Ildiko's might, Arvid continued his assault upon the statue of Ommerlun in a frenzy of claws.

Spending 1 ki for flurry of blows
1) hits AC 22 for 7 force damage
2) miss (15)
3) miss (10)
4) hits AC 17 for 7 force damage
R) sentinel strike hits AC 20 for 10 force damage if triggered (by Opalia being targeted)

10:22, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 7,7,10 using 1d6+4,1d6+4,1d6+4.  Damage.
10:21, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 22,15,10,17,20 using 1d20+7,1d20+7,1d20+7,1d20+7,1d20+7.  Attack.

Moving forward, Cora slashed the Starbound blade across King's chest, the rasping sparking of her blade turning then changing to the harsh ringing of the blade coming back down on the backhand swing, as a red eye formed on the statue

OOC: hexblade's curse, attack rolls 14 and 24, damage 9 and 12 respectively.

Opalia had been struck by rocks at various points in her youthful life for various reasons, but she had never been struck by stone weapons wielded by giant stone dwarves!  She decided she would keep that particular streak going for as long as possible.

Having successfully avoided being squished by the battle-statuary, the giantess struck back and left two frosty chips in their stone armor!

---

• ATTACK twice on Ommerlun Kegspine (the cleric)
  1. Hit 18 AC for 12 cold damage
  2. Hit 16 AC for 13 cold damage
• Protection fighting style:  If any ranged/melee attack targets an ally within 5 feet, use reaction to give disadvantage on the attack.

21:53, Today: Opalia rolled 12,13 using d8+6,d8+6.  Frostfall damage 1 & 2.
21:52, Today: Opalia rolled 18,16 using d20+9,d20+9 with rolls of 9,7.  Frostfall attacks 1 & 2.

Having failed to dredge up any useful knowledge to help the battle, Sikuaq fell back upon her bow to try and contribute to the defeat of the stone guardians.  Her arrow flew true, only to shatter harmlessly off Ommerlun's granite breastplate.  A muttered curse sounded from the anatka, whose delicate features were cross with frustration.


OOC:

19:30, Today: Sikuaq rolled 9 using 1d20+5 ((4)).  Miss.

While his plea seemed to give the stone cleric a start, Fergus recognized that the statue of Ommerlun was beyond convincing with mere words. "Well if logic isn't enough to convince you, maybe the light of Kann's forge will."

The dwarf extended his palm toward the statue, unleashing a wave of radiance upon it. Then he clenched and reopened his hand, conjuring a spectral hammer that skipped past the statue's head.

Action: Cast Sacred Flame. Ommerlun must make a DC14 DEX save or take 9 radiant damage (the target gains no benefit from cover for this saving throw).
Bonus Action: Cast Spiritual Weapon against Ommerlun.

21:10, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 14 using 1d20+6.  Spiritual weapon vs. Ommerlun.
21:11, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 9 using 2d8.  Sacred flame damage.

Caell's blade of pure light pierced the darkness of the dwarven tunnels, but could not easily pierce the stone skin of Ommerlun's statue (<Orange>immune to psychic damage).

Opalia hacked away at the cleric as well.

Fergus, however, found that his spirituality was no match for that of the legendary cleric. (Bummer, his Dex save is bad, too! Dungeon Master, for the NPC statue, rolled 17 using 1d20-1.  dex save.)

Cora, ever the impetuous soldier, charged the king instead. She went toe-to-toe with a warrior of legend and scored a blow with her blade.

Arvid found similar success in pummeling Ommerlun.

Sikuaq's arrow did not, but one of Valaku's did.

Then Ommerlun lifted his heavy hammer, and his entire torso began to spin like a top upon the fulcrum of his waist. He gained speed as he whirled, and his weapon became a dangerous menace to all in his vicinity.

King Fozmir could attack only a single foe with his scepter, and he found that in so doing he provoked a devastating counter-attack from Arvid.

Two attacks from Fozmir on Opalia. Hits AC 27 for 21 damage and AC 22 for 25 damage.

Cora, Arvid, and Opalia need to make a DC 13 Dex save, taking 20 damage on a failure or 10 damage on a success.

Both statues are AC 17. Ommerlun has 54 HP, Fozmir has 137.</Orange>

As Ommerlun spun with his mighty hammer, Cora ducked and wove, managing to deflect the worst parts of it with her shield, as her red eye burned brightly for a moment, a sickly red light bathing Ommerlun before flames erupted over his body, Cora focusing her wroth on Fozmir again

OOC: hellish rebuke because why not, 12 fire damage (;-;) DC 14 Dexterity save for half, attack rolls of 23 and 22 for 14 and 16 damage respectively

The dwarven titans were indeed very good at fighting, Opalia reckoned!  She raised a bracer to block the stone king's scepter, but he hammered through her defenses with ease.  That left Opalia open to a followup blow that struck her in the chest and knocked the wind right out of her.  The giantess never saw the priest's whirling hammer as it clobbered her in the side of the head and sent her sprawling!

Opalia staggered back and collapsed heavily against the grand entryway, unconscious and bleeding.

---

• Dex save fails with a 9
  • Use Olva's Talon Necklace to reroll and fail again with a 6! x_X  Take 20 damage
• 20 + 21 + 25 = 66 damage, which was my exact HP value.  KO!
• Death save succeeds with a 19

10:32, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 21 19 using 1d20+2.  Death save.
10:31, Today: Opalia rolled 6 using 1d20+2.  Dex save reroll.
10:30, Today: Opalia rolled 9 using 1d20+2.  Dex save.

Arvid had the wherewithal about him to duck beneath the whirling hammer, and while he felt it painfully buffet his shoulders he was spared the worst of its impact. Coming out of his spin as the hammer slowed he watched helplessly as Opalia was thrown back and fell at an unnatural angle upon the ground. "Fergus!" he called out in alarm. Arvid knew he could do nothing to help her in the moment but keep the giants at bay while those more skilled aided Opalia and so he threw himself upon the stone priest once more with reckless abandon.

"Me!" he shouted. "Keep your wretched eyes on me!"

Dex save succeeds. Arvid takes 10 damage.
Spending 1 ki to flurry again
1) Hits AC 11 (miss)
2) Hits AC 18 for 10 force damage
3) Hits AC 15 (miss)
4) Hits AC 25 for 9 force damage
R) Sentinel strike hits AC 18 for 9 force damage if triggered

13:57, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 10,9,9 using 1d6+4,1d6+4,1d6+4.  Damage.
13:56, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 11,18,15,25,18 using 1d20+7,1d20+7,1d20+7,1d20+7,1d20+7.  Attack.
13:55, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 17 using 1d20+6.  Dex save.

Caell shook his head when his sword was entirely ineffective against the statue. His attention was soon taken by Opalia falling, and Caell immediately held up one hand to send healing light in her direction. He struggled to keep from spending all his healing energy in one go, knowing that he might need to conserve some light should others go down.

Having done that, he tried hitting the statue with a simple cantrip, but missed.

Bonus: Healing Light on Opalia for 10 hp.
Action: Miss with attack at AC 10.

The battle seemed to turn against them, with Opalia falling and the attacks from herself, Caell and Valaku having little effect.  The anatka stepped back from the fray even further, giving herself room to work, and planted her staff firmly in front of her with both hands wrapped tightly about the dark wood.  As she began chanting her hair stirred and a red gleam appeared in her pale eyes.  Her voice deepened and echoed about the chamber as a swirling mass of cloud formed overhead, drawn from nowhere.  Within its dark roiling mass flared bright bursts of light, electric white tinged with the orange-red of molten lava.

Suddenly her gaze snapped to Ommerlun and she threw out one to point just beyond the stone construct.  When she did a bolt of red-tinged lighning zapped down from the cloud overhead and pounded into the floor beside the gate's defender.


OOC:

Cast Call Lightning.  Strike point within 5 feet of Ommerlun but beyond friendly combatants.

DEX save (TN15) or take 13 damage (6 if save successful).

20:31, Today: Sikuaq rolled 13 using 3d10 ((3,7,3)).  Ugh!

Fergus grunted at the ineffectiveness of his attacks, but Arvid's call quickly refocused his attention. He rushed to Opalia's side even as Caell's healing light began to swirl around her. He grasped her shoulder and muttered a quick prayer to the Great Mountian. "Kann, help our mighty giantess here. We need her!"

With his primary task completed, he directed the spectral hammer still floating in the air near Ommerlun back toward the stone adversary. This time it struck with a more satisfying result.

22:10, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 5 using 1d8+3.  Cure wounds.
22:10, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 21 using 1d20+6.  Spiritual weapon vs. Ommerlun.
22:11, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 7 using 1d8+3.  Damage.

Opalia wakened feeling groggy, with muffled sounds of fighting going on all around her.  She blinked and spotted her little friends fighting some very large rock-dwarfs.  Why had they not invited her for fighting, and why did her head hurt?  ...Wait!  OPALIA had been fighting too, until the big dwarf statues squished her!  Now the big dwarf statues were threatening her friends!!  She was not having this, not even one little bit.

There was a loud clang as giantess struck the flagstones with Frostfall and used it to help regain her feet.  As soon as she was up she broke into a run back into the fray, and her voice thundered, "Get broken, BAD-STATUES!"  Opalia unleashed a furious assault upon the stony dwarf-king, smashing Frostfall against rocky armor again and again!  She didn't plan to let up until both statues were reduced to rubble.

---

• Revived by Caell, then further healed by Fergus for a total of 15 HP! <3
• Stand up with 5 feet of movement
• Second Wind as a bonus action to heal 9 HP
• ATTACK twice on Ommerlun
  1. Miss 16 AC
  2. Hit 17 AC for 16 cold damage, including Trip Attack maneuver!
     • Ommerlun must make a DC 16 Strength save or be knocked prone!
• Action surge to ATTACK Ommurlun twice more if he's still up, or Fozmir otherwise (rolled twice in case of advantage from prone, but results are the same)
  1. Miss 11/14 AC
  2. Hit 21/28 AC for 20 cold damage, including Trip Attack maneuver!
     • Ommerlun must make another 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.

13:01, Today: Opalia rolled 20 using 2d8+6.  Action Surge damage (+maneuver).
13:00, Today: Opalia rolled 14,28 using d20+9,d20+9 with rolls of 5,19.  Action Surge attacks 1 & 2 (advantage maybe?).
12:59, Today: Opalia rolled 11,21 using d20+9,d20+9 with rolls of 2,12.  Action Surge attacks 1 & 2.
12:56, Today: Opalia rolled 16 using 2d8+6.  Frostfall damage (+maneuver).
12:55, Today: Opalia rolled 16,17 using d20+9,d20+9 with rolls of 7,8.  Frostfall attacks 1 & 2.
12:52, Today: Opalia rolled 9 using 1d10+7.  Second Wind.

Cora rebuked the cleric with a gout of flame.

Opalia fell under the stony assault, but Caell's magic had her quickly back on her enormous feet. She pummeled the statue of Ommerlun with dwarf-forged maul and hacked several great chunks of stone off it. Strong as she was, however, she found toppling a statue to be no mean feat, and the much-wounded cleric kept his feet.

Fergus's spirit hammer dealt the finishing blow to his fellow cleric. Ommerlun cracked into several large pieces which fell to the ground, his head rolling to a stop at Fergus's feet.

Two obsidian arrows from Valaku bounced harmlessly off of King Fozmir.

Arvid's fists dished out punishment more effectively, as did Cora's sword, which had once belonged to a different king.

At Sikuaq's prompting, an incongruous thundercloud appeared in the chamber, and a bolt of lightning exploded behind Fozmir.

Fozmir retaliated, bashing the half-orc with his sceptre (hits AC 28 for 19 bludgeoning damage). In so doing, he earned himself another punch from the ever-vigilant Arvid.

Only Fozmir remains, with AC 17 and 66 HP.

This message was last edited by the GM at 20:07, Tue 17 Aug 2021.

Cora caught the blow across her shield, crumbling to her knee before rising again, the red light growing across Fozmir as Cora's pain bubbled out in a voice much rougher and angrier.

"And now, for a second time, the Orc-Father judges you wanting."

The sword was moving before Cora could swing her arm, cutting at the stone king once, pushing through him shield first and dissolving, coming through to his flank to stab the sword back into him.

OOC: DC 14 Dex save against 17 fire damage, then attacks 15 and 19 with 11 and 14 damage respectively, Relentless Hex for fun flavour

Caell moved to the remaining statue and briefly touched it to deliver a magic attack of ancient winter and deep frost, cold enough to crack and splinter rock and stone!

Action: Cast Freezing Grasp (Shocking Grasp), hit AC 27 (crit) for 23 cold damage.

Fergus's ghostly hammer finally put down the rocky dwarf-king, which was right and good to Opalia's mind.  Maybe this was a good king once, but trying to keep an upstanding dwarf like FIREBEARD out of dwarfy under-town was just not-good thinking.

The giantess bore down upon the second misguided dwarf-king and ensured she made herself the biggest target for the rock-wand.  Fozmir's stony armor deflected her first attack, but the second blow chipped off a kingly ear!  Opalia had never heard of anybody getting killed by losing an ear, much less a fighting statue, but it would have to do.

---

• Move adjacent to Fozmir and as many little friends as possible
• ATTACK twice on Fozmir
  1. Miss with a nat 1
  2. Hit 24 AC for 10 cold damage!
• Protection fighting style:  If any ranged/melee attack targets an ally within 5 feet, use reaction to give disadvantage on the attack.

11:46, Today: Opalia rolled 10 using 1d8+6.  Frostfall damage.
11:45, Today: Opalia rolled 10,24 using d20+9,d20+9 with rolls of 1,15.  Frostfall attax 1 & 2.

That appendage proved to be the ear that broke the king's back! As Opalia struck it, the statue of King Fozmir, already brittle from Caell's freezing grasp, crumbled into royal rubble. The great stone doors now stood unguarded.

Fergus took a long look at Ommerlun's head, which rested at his feet. "Not exactly the welcome to Gruundelheim that I was expecting," he complained, rolling its stone stare away from him with a push of his foot.

He thought back to the stories he was told as a child. All the entrances to the kingdom were watched over by gallant sentries, equipped with gem laden axes and the finest armor in the land. Miles of tunnels carved and polished until they gleamed like gold. And deep beneath the frozen wastes, the King sat upon an obsidian throne in a royal hall so bright that it rivaled the daylight miles above them.

What he saw now was a far cry from any of that. Grand entryways were now hidden by rubble and the live guards had been replaced by tricks, traps, and enchantments. Perhaps this would be enough to keep Garduk's minions away, but he doubted it.

"No, not at all," Arvid concurred. "I expected to be challenged by guards, but guards of flesh and blood who could be reasoned with. Not mindless stone effigies."

Stepping over the rubble, Arvid placed his hands upon the stone doors and pushed. "We should keep going. Whether or not our presence has been noticed, we are committed."

"Traps and enchantments," Fergus grumbled, eyes fixed on the rubble that was moments ago a tribute to a former king. "They've gone from using noble watchmen to tricks, traps and enchantments. The real Fozmir Tallback would've never allowed such a thing. It's a shame."

He gave the door a closer look, looking for signs of further traps. "Arvid's correct, we should keep moving. By my best guess, we're still a couple days journey from the heart of Gruundelheim."

21:27, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 22 using 1d20+6.  Check for traps at the door.

"Hope they not angry at us, for destroying guardians." Caell looked at the remains of the stone statues as they continued. He turned to Opalia. "You need rest?"