Even after the BIG-FORGERS seemed to end their hostility when the black mirror broke, Opalia remained on vigilant guard between them and her little friends, battered and bloody though she was.  Once they'd broken their chains she said to them in the rumbling tongue of giants, "<We are friendish now, YES?  CAPTORS watched from this BLACK-GLASS, but now can not?>"  She then stretched a shoulder that had taken a smashing blow and added, "<You did squish with very strong mightiness.  It was GOOD-fighting.>"

The creature who had attacked Cora extended a fist toward her, seeming at first as if it were going to punch her. The fist advanced slowly, however, and stopped well short of her face, lingering there, waiting to be bumped by Cora's own fist in a sign that tensions between the two were buried.



The creature answered in a few hushed words, but even without translation, no one missed the name "Kinak".

Thanks to his small stature, Fergus could only just glimpse the tops of the anvils on which the giants worked. Even so, he recognized what they were crafting, for he had made such a thing himself once. These were cruder, hastily made and not yet enchanted, but like the sword Cora now carried, they were tools for carving a rift between the Shadowrealm and the Mortal Realm.

The giant nodded toward the western wall. "Our brethren there imbue them with magic. Us, Kinak enslaved. They serve him loyally. They will not show you the mercy we have. Thank you for freeing us."

Sikuaq translated all the words between the groups as necessary and was alarmed at the revelation of what the giants were smithing.  She looked with concern toward the door on the western wall, the one that held willing accomplices of Kinak, and scowled.

"Can you dump those blades into the lava to undo your work?" she asked, seeking a way to at least delay that aspect of Kinak's plans.  She trusted the giants wouldn't be overly invested in the fruits of their forced labour, such that they would object to its destruction.

"And if that way," she indicated the door leading to their magically gifted brethren, "is not wise, do you know of other ways into the heart of the mountain?"   

Arvid had turned away from the shattered remains of the obsidian mirror and made his way to Opalia's side where he stood worriedly next to her. "Are you alright?" he asked.

He listened as Sikuaq translated the giants' speech, and frowned at the revelation that their kin in the next chamber could not similarly be dissuaded from fighting them.

"How many of them are there? Is there a way around?"

The giants looked back to the mirror again to confirm it was broken. Then looked at their broken chains. "We owe you that," one of them agreed. Muscles of their massive arms bulging, they lifted slabs of half-forged iron and tossed them into the lava, where they floated orange a moment before melting away.

"We will not risk lingering here longer. If you be so foolish, there is no other way in. Expect three of them. Magic users," the creature warned Arvid.

One of the other giants grunted and pointed to the ventilation shafts. The third made a face, prompting the party to think of the lightning bolts that had passed through those vents in the previous chamber. They had sustained no such attack in the forge, however. The only lightning had come from the copper ball, whose conduit had been severed.

Shrugging, the giants indicated their interest in passing through the party and out the way their saviors had entered.

Cora raised her own fist, the gauntlet of leather and metal bumping the giantkin's own fist as she gave a toothy smile

"Bosnauk. Fighting is stopped."

She watched as they destroyed the swords, grim that the fight ahead might be dire

It seemed the western door was their only option. Caell readied himself for another fight. They had not faced that many magic users before, so he was apprehensive about what would come their way. He could only imagine fighting someone wielding the same powers as themselves. He wouldn't like getting some of his own spells back in his face.

Standing next to it, he motioned to open the door, but held off until the others gave him the go.

"I suppose there's nothing for it but to press onward," Arvid said. "If both doors lead into the next chamber, perhaps we enter through both at once. They are expecting us. Lets not give them the benefit of bunching up where they can hit us all at once."

Sikuaq bid the giant forgers farewell and then turned her attention to the group, who still had a long way to go and were already flagging.  She joined with the others in offering Opalia what healing she could, for without the goliath in strong shape their drive to the heart of the mountain would surely come up short.  Once that was done, the problem behind the two western doors came to the forefront.

"Arvid's suggestion is wise.  Let us split into two groups and burst in on them together," she said, gripping her staff tightly.  "Unless someone has a more devious idea?"

"I like that idea, I'm happy to be of service."

Cora looked at those gathered

"My sword is likely no better use than a normal magic blade against these yetis, but if there's shadows afoot then I might be able to banish them"

Fergus winced at the sight of the half-made weapons melting into oblivion. Even though they were ultimately intended for evil, it hurt to see a smith's labors vanish in such a way. He nodded to each of the giants upon their departure. They would have made formidable allies, but this wasn't their fight. At least they wouldn't have to fight against them.


"I, too, with the help of the Great Mountain, may be able to banish one of them. I've never tried before, but I sense Kann's presence so near this giant forge. He will guide me."

OOC: Fergus has prepared Banishment. He has two 4th level slots and it's probably time to quit hoarding them.

Opalia bade the BIG-FORGERS farewell with a respectful goliath salute, bowing her head and thudding a fist against her breast.  She put on a brave face and stood strong, but was still clearly battered and bloody from the pair of giant-sized smashes she'd borne, either of which could have flattened an auroch.  She fished a vial of viscous purply-red liquid from her belt pouch, popped the cork and gulped it down.  She raised her brows appreciatively, because it made those hurts feel a bit better!  The giantess shook the empty vial toward and asked the others sheepishly, "Little friends, do we have more of this GOOD-DRINK?"

After chugging down another two potions Opalia didn't feel at her most-best, but definitely better.  Once all were ready she took position by the northern door and made ready to breach and squish!

---

Chugged down 3 Potions of Healing for total healing of 20 HP:

• 14:39, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 5 using 2d4+2.  Potion 3.
• 14:38, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 5 using 2d4+2.  Potion 2.
• 14:38, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 10 using 2d4+2.  Potion 1.

Fergus watched hopefully as Opalia guzzled their store of healing potions. When the last had been downed, she looked better, but still nowhere near her usual, formidable self. The dwarf wondered if it would be enough. Probably not.

"Opalia, I have no potion, but the Great Mountain can also be a source of healing. Allow me to bestow you with Kann's blessing."

He clasped his hands around Opalia's wrist and murmured softly. The warmth of the Great Forge radiated from his hands up the Goliath's arm, healing at least some of the damage she had suffered in the latest melee.

Will cast Cure Wounds (lvl 1, 1d8+4 hp) twice on Opalia with her permission.
01:06, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 7 using 1d8+4.  Cure wounds, lvl 1.
01:07, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 11 using 1d8+4.  Cure wounds, lvl 1.

This message was last edited by the player at 06:15, Sun 19 June 2022.

A half dozen beds sized for giants were set up in the southwest corner of this room, while a number of 9-foot-tall wooden worktables stood to the north. A statue of an obsidian dragon dominated the center of the room, sapphires sparkling a cold blue in the sockets of its eyes.

As Caell had determined, the giants were ready for the party (at the north door, anyway). Two of the burly creatures barred the way further into the room, while a cloaked, female giant standing near the statue blasted them all with a cyclone of freezing wind. Her fellow giants seemed unfazed by it, but Valaku grunted as he was thrown back against the wall of the chamber, shivering violently despite a life of exposure to harsh winter storms.

Despite the other giants' warning, this woman appeared to be the only magic user of the bunch: the others fought with great hammers, as their companions had.

Fergus, Caell, and Cora get actions now. The giants do not yet realize you are there, so you can make any attack rolls with advantage.

Arvid, Opalia, Sikuaq: You take 36 cold damage, which can be halved to 18 with a successful DC 15 Con save.
Those of you with the Arctic Affinity feature (which is Sikuaq, and maybe Arvid?) get advantage on this save.
One giant attacks Arvid, hitting AC 21 for 21 damage (I applied Opi's reaction: 21 was the roll with disadvantage).
One attacks Opalia, hitting AC 19 for 19 damage (the attacker is not within 5' of Arvid, so I think Sentinel does not apply?)



As before, the letters at the top of the map represent air vents like the ones through which lightning passed in the first chamber (but not the second). There's also a door at the north side of the room, maybe difficult to see on the map.

Arvid seemed to weather the icy gale better than Valaku but nothing could prepare him for the hammer blow of the furred giant. Staggered, and barely keeping to his feet he nonetheless pushed around his attacker to where he could stand side by side with Opalia and let lose with a flurry of claws.

Arvid saves and takes half cold damage again due to his yeti-hide cap. He's at 23 hp after that beating though.
Sentinel strike did not activate. I've rolled it for this round if it gets provoked.

Moving to H4 to support Opalia.

Spending 1 ki to flurry and 1 ki to stun.

1)Hits AC 23 for 7 force damage
2) Hits AC 27 for 11 force damage
3) Hits AC 20 for 11 force damage
4) hits AC 22 for 8 force damage
R) Sentinel strike hits AC 23 for 8 force damage if provoked

One of the giants needs to make a con save against DC 16 or be stunned until the end of Arvid's next turn.

10:18, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 7,11,11,8,8 using 1d6+5,1d6+5,1d6+5,1d6+5,1d6+5.  Damage.

10:18, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 23,27,20,22,23 using 1d20+8,1d20+8,1d20+8,1d20+8,1d20+8.  Attacks.

10:16, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 18 using 2d20+4, dropping the lowest dice only.  Con save.

Cora advanced as swung with her sword, the blasts of light lancing at the southern most giant to try and soften him for the others.

OOC: move to h11, attacks 18 and 24 on giant at i4, 8 and 2 damage respectively

Opalia raised a burly arm to shield her face from the icy cyclone, braving the chill with mountainborn tenacity.  The giant brutes closed on the northern party with their great hammers, and she placed herself defiantly in their way.  Opalia lashed out with a bracer to deflect a hammer falling toward Arvid, but the blow was too mighty to be stopped.  A second hammer blow staggered and further bloodied her, but she kept her feet thanks to Kann's prior blessing.

The little giantess bellowed ferociously, "No. Hurting. OPALIA's. Friends!"  She reached out to pull Arvid back and take a protective stance over him, then clobbered one of the giants with two mighty blows, battering it down to the flagstones.  "Little friends, HERE!" she roared across the chamber at the trio who had taken the southern door, urging them closer.

---

• Received a total of 18 healing from Fergus, TY :)
• Con save succeeds with a 25, take 18 cold damage halved to 9 by cold resistance!
• Use reaction for Protection Fighting Style for Arv rather than Stone's Endurance, therefore taking the full 19 damage hit.  Still up with 21 HP!
• Use Bait and Switch to swap places with Arvid (H4), granting him a +4 bonus to AC until start of Opi's next turn
• ATTACK twice, same target as Arv and Cora!  If I can deal bludgeoning damage instead of cold with Frostfall then do that (I believe I was able to once a while back)
  1. Hit 28 AC for 14 damage with Maneuvering Attack!
     • One ally who can see or hear Opi can use its reaction to move up to half its speed without provoking opportunity attacks from the target of your attack. (Probably best for Fergus to close distance)
     • Bonus action Shield Master shove!  31 Athletics contested by giant's Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics), or be knocked prone
  2. Hit 22 AC for 7 damage

13:31, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 31 using 1d20+11.  Shield Master shove.
13:26, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 4 using 1d8.  Bait and Switch.
13:24, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 14,7 using 2d8+6,d8+6 with rolls of 1,7,1.  Frostfall damages 1(+maneuver) & 2.
13:20, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 16,21 using d20+9,d20+9 with rolls of 7,12.  Frostfall attacks 1 & 2 (advantage maybe?).
13:19, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 28,22 using d20+9,d20+9 with rolls of 19,13.  Frostfall attacks 1 & 2.
13:05, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 25 using 1d20+6.  Con save.

Caell did not like the scene on the other side of the room. Several of his friends looked like they couldn't withstand such resistance for long. He wasn't in the best of shape himself, from the difficulties in the previous chamber. He moved diagonally across the floor, supplying one of the others with healing light as he strode.

The giants were so big. Caell wished he was big too, to fight them properly. Maybe he could use his magic to change into something? He concentrated and thought of the biggest creature he knew; something that could withstand anything - then immediately started transforming. His clothes and equipment melding into this massive body. Caell became a Mammoth!

Move: D11
Bonus: Use Healing Light on Arvid for 4 hit points (rolled two 1s).
Action: Cast Polymorph on self.
Armor Class in new form: 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 126

Fergus hurried forward while the female giant cast her worst against his friends. Clasping the iron talisman in his hand, he pleaded the Great Mountain to banish the spellcaster before him. "Bannul Vad Dharok," he cried.

With furrowed brows, he did his best to maintain his concentration. Having never cast such a powerful spell before, he was unsure exactly what to expect. That concentration was almost immediately tested when he noticed an enormous beast standing next to him.

"Kann's golden beard!" he gasped. "Caell, is that you?"

Move forward to I13 (to get into 60' range).
Action: Cast banishment on the spellcasting giant. DC15 CHA save or banished to another dimension.

Bonus action: Freak out at the realization there's a mammoth next to him!!!

Cora's attacks caught the giant by surprise, staggering her with two blasts of eldritch energy. The caster was better prepared for Fergus's banishment however. She turned toward the impudent dwarf and held up a hand. Effortlessly, her enormous palm absorbed the holy energy emanating from the forge priest, and she was unaffected by it.

She was, however, as astonished as Fergus by Caell's transformation. Meanwhile, the eyes of the dragon statue in the center of the room glowed a brighter blue as Cora and Caell grew near.

A displeased growl emanated from the room to the north, shaking the workshop.

Cora and Caell: You both have resistance to Cold and Thunder damage while you're adjacent to the statue.

Not a lot of new information here, but Arvid and Opalia are welcome to update their actions if they want. I'll post a proper update after we hear from Sikuaq (or NPC her, as she suggested, if that takes more than a day or two).

Flames flickered in Sikuaq's eye. Opalia saw what was coming and, in a remarkable display of strength, shoved back the burly giant before her. Grabbing Arvid's hand, she pulled him back against the wall just as the fireball exploded in the middle of the room. The giants roared as the flames licked their heat-sensitive bodies. The spellcaster in the center of the room dodged the brunt of the blast but felt its sting nonetheless. Valaku, Arvid, and Opalia continued attacking one of the singed creatures, leaving it standing on unsteady legs.

The injured giant got in last swing on Opalia, leaving her on even unsteadier legs, before Arvid finished it off with a fierce fist to the chest. (hits AC 21 for 20 damage)

The other nearby giant stepped around Valaku to take a swing at the vulnerable anatka. Valaku threw himself between them, taking the heavy maul to his own body so that it would not strike hers. There was the sickening crunch of bone as the elf fell to the ground, unmoving.

The caster, shaking off the shock of the fireball's explosion, pointed at Sikuaq. Glowing bolts of force flew forth, slamming into the druid. (10 force damage to Sikuaq)

Some bad luck for you all. The caster has rolled Nat 20s on *both* of her saves thus far.

Valaku is down, and I believe Opi has 1 HP?

Fergus, Caell, and Cora are up now.

"Dammit," Fergus grunted as he watched his spell resisted like nothing more than a gentle breeze. His spirits sank even further at the sound of Valaku's bones cracking in defense of his anatka.

Staggering forward, he mumbled a blessing over all of his companions, hoping to restore the noble guardian to consciousness while bolstering the rest of the party somewhat, as well. Then once at the side of the statue, he muttered a second prayer to the Great Mountain, "Let my strength become yours, Opaliaaaargh."

Fergus clenched his teeth as a stabbing pain shot through his head. Just like when he cast it before, the self-inflicted injury dropped him to a knee. He only hoped it would steady Opalia somewhat for the ongoing melee.

Move: 25' to G7.
Bonus Action: Cast mass healing word on Sikuaq, Valaku, Arvid, Cora, Opalia, and Fergus (or Caell - see note in OOC). 8hp for all of you!!!!
Action: Cast life transference on Opalia. 19 damage for Fergus. 38 healing for Opalia (totally worth it)!!!
23:12, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 8 using 1d4+4.  Mass Healing Word. That's for everyone but Mammoth/Caell... unless I can heal Caell when he is a mammoth.
23:12, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 19 using 4d8.  Life Transference. 38hp coming your way, Opalia!

Caell watched his friends get hurt again. Fortunately, it seemed Fergus had them covered. The mammoth charged the remaining spellcasting enemy, heavy legs stomping against the ground and massive tusks aimed to gore her.

Move: Up to 40 feet
Action: Trampling Charge hits AC 15, hopefully hitting for 19 damage. If it's a hit, that target must succeed on a DC 18 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. If the target is prone, the mammoth can make one stomp attack against it as a bonus action. That possible stomp hits AC 27 for 20 bludgeoning damage.

OOC: I doubled counted and with one diagonal square move it seems 5ee5 is reachable

Cora circled the statue, swinging twice with the starbound blade into the giant in front of it as Fergus' healing magic set bones and smoothed wounds, cosmic energy swirling around the blade like the northern lights as she swung

OOC: staggering smite, attack rolls 25 (7 damage) and 16 (12 damage), first attack that hits deals 16 psychic damage and requires a DC 14 Wis save or target gets disadvantage on attacks and ability checks and loses reactions for a turn

No sooner had the giant got her spell off than Cora came up behind her, starbound blade whirling as it chopped several times into her body and mind. The large woman stumbled, shrieking, only to be blindsided by a charging mastodon. The beast's heavy foot rose and fell, smashing the woman's arm.

Meanwhile, Fergus turned pale as life flowed out of him and into the wounded Opalia, along with the others to whom he restored vigor.

After two Nat 20 saves, caster rolled a Nat 1 on the Strength save. Valaku is back on his feet. Sikuaq, Opalia, and Arvid are up now. Don't have an updated map, so just be aware Cora and Caell are adjacent to the spell-casting giant.