"Brigha said something similar, that the orc and the goliath were fashioned in the past ages as weapons against the shadows. I can't speak to its truth, I only know what Gruumsh Orc-Father shows me in my dreams. I see a people at war, with the quinichiat, with the dwarves, snatching scraps of land back and forth with humans of various kingdoms. They'd raid the halflings, be beguiled by the gnomes, and everywhere they are the defeated party in the end. The goblins were once stronger than they are now, and hunted the orcs almost to extinction in campaigns of extermination under stone and frost. And often, the orcs fought themselves too."

Cora's eye burned, flickering brighter

"I'm not entirely sure that the Orc-Father is what he claims to be. His pantheon, his power . . . it cannot be true alongside this story of the orc being created. But he is real, I feel him every day like some great leviathan coiled under the surface. Perhaps he is a demon. Perhaps I am some fool who will find I've awoken to trap ensnaring all I care about. But this power is real, he is real, and his part and mine in the war to come will likely play into what comes after the war is over . . . I wish I could say it will not be a new war, but conquest is all the orcs know, by whip or by sword."

As he and his friends journeyed deeper and deeper underground, even Fergus began to feel the oppressive weight of earth above him. He worried for the others, especially Cora, knowing such tunnels would bring back haunting memories. After she spoke, he squeezed her hand and looked her in the eye. "You're no fool, Cora. And whatever gods or ancient ancestors may have planned for us, the choice of what we do in the end is still ours. Remember that."

Then he turned to Sikuaq, still considering the message on the scroll and the potential consequences of their actions. "I'm no philosopher, but I know what Darna would've said - 'No good person would condone the destruction of an entire race, be it dwarfs, orcs, or anything else.' And I believe she's right. With that said, I'm not convinced this war will ever truly be over. Even if by some miracle we succeed in closing the gate and defeating Garduk, there will always be other evils building elsewhere."

"Whatever fate was ordained when that scroll was written, I think the Orcs and the Skykeepers have escaped it," Arvid offered. "They author their own fate now - for better or for worse."

Opalia listened attentively to Sikuaq's tale from the scroll, appreciating the anatka's storytelling.  The subject matter of the tale was less welcome to her ears, however.  When the Quinichiat had finished, the giantess rumbled, "This can not be a true tale.  SKYKEEPERS were not made by ELFS and MANS, but were struck from the stone of the highest peaks in a great storm!  The gales became our breath while the thunder became the beating of our hearts.  So say the SKYWATCHERS, who know the oldest of songs."  It was true that the Skykeepers were responsible for guarding the Cliffgate into that dark realm that served as the battleground for this ancient conflict, and Opalia had admittedly never understood exactly how her people had come by that responsibility.  She had always assumed it was a duty the goliaths took on willingly because it was important and because they were the best defenders, being the strongest of all peoples.  Surely they did not do it simply because ELFS and MANS told them to in a long-ago time!

On the subject of some possible grand plan to undo this supposed creation of Skykeepers in the case they were no longer needed, Opalia rumbled dangerously, "Any who think to rid the north of we who guard the highest places and look after our own selfs?  OPALIA speaks for all SKYKEEPERS when she invites them to TRY IT.  The meltwater would run red into the lowlands with the blood of fools."  She glanced to Cora and added, "None will destroy ORCS either, because ORCS are good.  GARDUK and his bad ways do not speak for all of ORCS-peoples."

Considering the matter settled to her own satisfaction, Opalia announced gruffly, "We have work to be doing in DEEP CAVE.  Let us see it done, YES?  Yes."  With torch held aloft and flickering in the chill subterranean wind, the giantess trudged off in the direction she thought might lead toward the ancient battlefield.  She would defer to any corrections from Cora, who knew the actual way, just so long as they got moving.

The strange breeze grew colder and stronger as Cora and Opalia led the group further along the tunnel, and the whispers grew ever-louder for the half-orc. Suddenly a white mist, surreal to encounter in a cavern where there ought not be the temperature changes that naturally give rise to such phenomena, rounded a bend in the tunnel ahead and gusted toward the party with ferocious speed.

In your next post, please include:

-an initiative roll
-an indication of where in the column you would have been walking
-your action, if you beat a 13 for imitative

The cavern is wide enough for two to walk abreast, so I'd like to have everyone start in either the front, middle, or back row. Opalia is committed to the front, everyone else can choose where to start in their next post (first come, first served - there's one slot left in the front row and two in each of the other rows).

The fog is currently 35' from the front line, and each row back is another 5'.

Caell walked fairly close to the front of the group. With his arcane armor he could take a hit. His eyesight, adjusted both to the whiteout of terrible blizzards and the endless darkness of even magical light, allowed him to see deeper and further than almost anyone.

He was lost in his own thoughts, however. When the mist came towards them, his only immediate reaction was to open his eyes wide in surprise.

Caell will walk in the middle row, not behind Opalia.
Initiative 12.

Cora peered ahead as they walked, shoulder to elbow with Opalia, shield out and blade twinkling as they went. As the mist rounded the corner though, she spared a glance back at Caell, only to see a flash of red, an eye in the dark staring back at her, angry and aflame.

When she turned back, the mist was barreling towards them

OOC: walk up front with our starbound blade, in front of Caell. Initiative 5

Arvid, who had been keeping abreast of Caell just behind Opalia, surged forward at the first sign of trouble and splayed out his fingers like a fan. Immediately the billowing mists were thrust backward by a howling wind.

Arvid was paying attention in class today.

14:37, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 22 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.

Action: Gust of Wind

Sikuaq found herself in the rear of the group, trailing behind Opalia and Arvid.  The cold didn't seem to bother her other than its unknown source, her Quinichiat heritage and fiery aspect providing more than enough heat to keep her comfortable.  But the phenomenon was disquieting and, she assumed, tied to the ancient battlefield and its restless spirits.  They must be close.

The advancing white mist surprised her, Arvid's movement actually alerting her before she caught sight of the strange cloud beyond he and the towering goliath.  Belatedly she realized they may be in danger...

OOC:
16:05, Today: Secret Roll: Sikuaq rolled 5 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.

Walking behind Opalia and Arvid in 3rd row

The fellowship's conversation died off into an uneasy silence as they advanced deeper into the foreboding caverns.  Opalia led the way with torch in hand alongside Cora, who guided their path.  The giantess stopped in her tracks when a strange white mist seeped around a bend up ahead and began to drift steadily toward them.  Opalia called out an astute observation, "Um, this fog does look NOT-NORMAL.  Behind OPALIA, little friends!"

A moment later a blast of howling wind rushed up from behind, putting out Opalia's torch and propelling her forward, which was convenient since she was going that way anyhow.  She threw down the torch and hefted the mighty Frostfall from the baldric upon her back, and made ready to defend her little friends!

---

• 18 Initiative
• Strength save of 10 vs. Arv's Gust of Wind, so probably get pushed 15 feet forward
  • Gust of Wind also extinguishes the torch Opi was carrying, which she'll drop
• Equip Frostfall
• Advance to halfway between spooky cloud and allies
• Ready an ATTACK in case an identifiable enemy comes within reach
• Protection fighting style:  If any ranged/melee attack targets an ally within 5 feet, use reaction to give disadvantage on the attack.

15:02, Today: Opalia rolled 18 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.
15:06, Today: Opalia rolled 10 using 1d20+8.  Strength save?

Arvid raced to the front, a gust of wind powerful enough to rebuff the strange fog bursting from his outstretched hand as he did so. The magic pushed the mist back, but not as easily as if it had been a natural phenomenon. Rather, the mist seemed to coalesce, gathering its strength to push back back against the wind before finally getting pushed back itself.

Even so, it surged forward again, seemingly determined to reach the party no matter the barriers in its path. Though it seemed unlikely to succeed as long as Arvid kept blowing it back, it managed to strike from a distance, blasting the monk and his allies with a burst of frigidly cold air that numbed exposed skin and left icicles dangling from Fergus's beard.

Crude little map below. All squares shown here, plus more behind you, are in the blast radius of this spell. So, everyone needs to make a DC 16 Con save. You take 30 cold damage on a failure or 15 on a success. Anyone with Arctic Affinity can roll the save with advantage.

I rolled initiative for Fergus and he got a 3. So, he, Caell, Cora, and Sikuaq have actions now, then Arvid and Opalia are up again, then the fog.

[ Fog]
[ ][ ]
[ ][ ]
[ ][ ]
[ ][ ]
[O][ ]
[ ][ ]
[ ][ ]
[ ][ ]
[A][Co]
[ ][Ca]
[S][F]

Caell had stood in the harshest of snow storms, but nothing compared with this cold! A layer of frost formed over the quinichiat's clothes and exposed skin. This thing would freeze them to death, if they didn't destroy it fast. While it reached them at distance, the core of the mist was still some fifty feet ahead. He was going to have to strike from a distance.

Caell cast a spell behind the mist, or close to it if that area was entirely obscured. Dim, greenish light spread over that section of the tunnel, bathing it in divine radiation. He moved up to Opalia, standing behind her now. "Don't step into green light!" He warned his friends. "Arvid, push mist into light again, if you can."

Con Save: Success. Took 15 cold damage.
Action: Cast Sickening Radiance behind mist (20 feet behind it, if possible). Con save DC 16 or 23 radiant damage + additional effects on its turn.
Move: Behind Opalia

Opalia stood fast at the centerpoint of two magical gales blasting from opposite directions, sending her kilt and hair billowing wildly.  The cold wind gusting from the front felt rather refreshing to the mountainborn giantess.  This BAD-FOG would need more than a bracing breeze to defeat her!

---

Off-turn: Con save succeeds with a 17, take 15 cold damage reduced to 8 by cold resistance!

09:39, Today: Opalia rolled 17 using 1d20+6.  Con save.

Cora stood fast, not able to close the distance easily and wanting to remain together with the group she fired two eldritch blasts at the mist. Her furs and time in the war out on the land left her somewhat shielded from the cold, though she was still freezing

OOC: attack roll 15 and 14, damage 10 and 1 respectively. Taking 15 cold damge

"Slag and rust. What is that?" Fergus shook off the cold and fired a radiant bolt back at the mysterious misty form.

CON save a success (finally used inspiration). Cast Guiding Bolt (level 2) at whatever that is.
23:59, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 20 using 2d20+3, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 17,4.  CON save vs. cold (adv due to inspiration).
23:56, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 14 using 1d20+7.  Guiding bolt (level 2).
23:56, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 18 using 5d6.  Damage?

Arvid nodded at Caell's directive and grit his teeth in effort. "I ... can do that," he said, holding the mist at bay with the force of the supernatural gale.

Pushing forward alongside Opalia he evoked the arms of Ildiko and lashed out at the fog without a clear notion of where his foe lay within.

Arvid succeeds on his con save, and takes half damage again from his yeti-hide cap (7 total). He also succeeds on his concentration check.

Moving up to stand side by side with Opalia.
Bonus: Arms of the Astral Self (3 force damage, save to negate).
Action: Attack x2
1) Hits AC 13 for 6 force damage
2) Hits AC 15 for 8 force damage
Reaction: Sentinel Strike hits AC 22 for 7 damage if triggered

01:15, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 19 using 1d20+4.  Concentration.
01:14, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 18 using 2d20+4, dropping the lowest dice only.  Con save.

Arms of the Astral Self: Summon
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:16) or take 3 force damage.

14:48, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 6,8 using 1d6+5,1d6+5.  Damage.
14:47, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 13,15 using 1d20+8,1d20+8.  Attack.
14:47, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 3 using 2d6.  Arms of the Astral Self.


14:52, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 7 using 1d6+5.  Damage.
14:52, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 22 using 1d20+9.  Sentinel strike.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:53, Fri 25 Feb 2022.

Caell created a mysterious green glow and warned against entering it, to which Opalia replied, "OKAY, little CAELL with a good plan!"  She had no idea what the glow might do, but if it was bad for the BAD-FOG then she was resolved to keep it in there.  The giantess stomped forward to take position just outside the radiant glow, where she waited with Frostfall held ready to strike!

---

• Move up to the edge of the Sickening Radiance zone to hopefully block the fog from escaping it!
• If there's an attackable enemy in reach then attack it, otherwise ready an action to do so:
  1. Hit 19 AC for 9 cold damage (probably resisted!)
  2. Likely miss 14 AC
• Protection fighting style:  If any ranged/melee attack targets an ally within 5 feet, use reaction to give disadvantage on the attack.

16:37, Today: Opalia rolled 9 using 1d8+6.  Attack 1 damage.
16:36, Today: Opalia rolled 19,14 using d20+9,d20+9 with rolls of 10,5.  Frostfall attacks 1 & 2.

When the wave of intense cold washed over them it was Sikuaq who fared the worst.  From behind the rest an earsplitting shriek erupted from the anatka and the flames that had burned low in her hair and eyes, nearly winking out now and again, suddenly flared angrily red-orange.  With a snarl Sikuaq held forth her staff and spoke strange words that sounded like dripping magma hitting water, and then a small fiery bird launched through the air within the tunnel straight for the fog-like entity.  When the bird reached its destination there was a tremendous explosion of flames as the spell detonated.


OOC:
16:48, Today: Secret Roll: Sikuaq rolled 11 using 1d20+2.  Con Save (DC 16).
16:49, Today: Secret Roll: Sikuaq rolled 6 using 1d20+2.  Con Save (DC 16; advantage roll).
Failed Con save.  30 damage, leaving one very injured and angry anatka.

16:59, Today: Secret Roll: Sikuaq rolled 28 using 8d6.  Fireball Damage. Meh.
Cast Fireball, located so as to avoid Opalia and Arvid but catch the fog creature.  Dex save DC 16.  Damage is 28 on failed save, 14 on successful save.

The sickly green light Caell summoned seemed to make the white mist weaker in its attempts to push back against the gust of wind emanating from Arvid.

The first of Cora's eldritch blasts seemed to damage it as well, though the second did not, nor did Fergus's magic.

The fireball exploding in its midst was not easily avoided. The air hissed and sizzled as the freezing mist was flash fried by the druid's fire.

Opalia's maul thunked into this strange enemy as if it were more substantial than a simple mist, but still proved less effective than her companion's magical attacks.

Arvid likewise managed to pummel it for minimal effect with his astral fists.

Even in its weakened state, the mist managed to overcome Arvid's airy barrier and roll over him and Opalia, threatening to engulf them in its frigidly cold "body".

Mist rolled badly on its earlier saves but succeeded on the one that really counted (and again to avoid taking more damage from Sickening Radiance).

Arvid and Opalia, please make a DC 17 Dex save. On a success, you get pushed back but take no damage and are not engulfed. On a failure, you take 25 cold damage and are grappled. This does not count as an attack for purposes of your prepared reactions, it's just a thing that happens when the mist rolls over you.

Map shows how fog has advanced, and where Opi and Arvid will be if they fail their saves. They are *not* in Sickening Radiance AoE.

[ Fog]
[O][A]
[ Fog]
[ Fog]
[ ][ ]
[ ][ ]
[ ][ ]
[ ][ ]
[ ][ ]
[ ][Co]
[ ][Ca]
[S][F]

Arvid held on as long as he could but the mists rebuffed his advance and sent him hurtling back. As quickly as he could regain his feet he turned the howling winds back upon it.

"Get back, Opalia!"

Burning inspiration. This seems like a save I want to make.
10:52, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 24 using 2d20+6, dropping the lowest dice only.  Dex save (inspiration).

Arvid is late in initiative so I'll hold my action while others post.

Caell's mind was on the radiance he had cast, keeping the spell up, so it could possibly destroy more of the fog, or what it was. Opalia and Arvid were close to it now, however, and should they be pushed into its zone, he would make it drop in a heartbeat.

Nevertheless, he could still cast another minor spell, and possibly diminish the fog from this angle too. So he moved some twenty feet forward before spreading a sacred flame against this side of the fog.

Move: 20 feet.
Action: Sacred Flame. Dex save DC 16 or 11 radiant damage.
Maintaining concentration on Sickening Radiance.

Angry that the fog persisted, Sikuaq despite her size literally barged forward to get within range and imperiously called forth a sheet of flames that sprang from her fingertips, reaching into the fog but not quite as far as Opalia and Arvid.  "Burn!" she yelled vehemently at the vaporous thing as the flames danced within its midst.

OOC:
Cast Burning Hands, with Sikuaq positioned 10 feet from the fog.  With 15 ft range, should hurt fog but not Opi or Arvid.  DC 16 save for half damage.

20:15, Today: Secret Roll: Sikuaq rolled 14 using 3d6.  Burning Hands damage.

Cora moved boldly then, approaching the mist and bringing the sword down on it, slashing across after as the stars within it seemed to pulse in time with a growing series of bands of light across the mist

OOC: hexblade's curse, move up to the mist, attack rolls 25 and 23, damage 12 both times

Fergus stepped forward, summoning another bolt of radiant energy. As he extended his arm to release it, however, his trick knee locked, sending a spasm of pain up his leg and through his casting arm. Instead of striking their misty adversary, the bolt flew straight up in the air, fanning out across the ceiling in an eerie web of wasted energy.

"Dammit," the dwarf huffed.

20:09, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 8 using 1d20+7.  Guiding bolt (level 2).
"Dammit," I also huffed!

Opalia stood strong against the rolling wall of frigid mist and was pushed before it, rather than swallowed up by it.  The talon necklace given by her mother flared up with a warm light as its magic protected her from harm.  The giantess answered Arvid's plea with a comradely nod before turning back upon this strange enemy.

Opalia snarled loudly as she smashed the gleaming blue mace into the chill mist, "BACK WITH YOU, BAD-FOG!"  Her blows were delivered with such force as to threaten to blow the cold front back and discourage its return.

---

• Dex save fails with a 9, but use Olva's Talon Necklace as a reaction to reroll and succeed with a 19!  Thanks, mom :D
• ATTACK:
  1. Hit 22 AC for 18 cold damage, including Menacing Strike maneuver!
     • Fog must make a DC 16 Wisdom save or be frightened of Opi until end of my next turn
  2. Hit 21 AC for 10 cold damage, including Pushing Attack maneuver!
     • Fog must make a DC 16 Strength save or be pushed 15 feet north!
• Protection fighting style:  If any ranged/melee attack targets an ally within 5 feet, use reaction to give disadvantage on the attack.

18:32, Today: Opalia rolled 18,10 using 2d8+6,2d8+6.  Frostfall damages (+maneuvers).
18:31, Today: Opalia rolled 22,21 using d20+9,d20+9 with rolls of 13,12.  Frostfall attacks 1 & 2.
18:29, Today: Opalia rolled 19 using 1d20+2.  Dex save reroll.
18:27, Today: Opalia rolled 9 using 1d20+2.  Dex save.

Frightened:

• A frightened creature has disadvantage on ability checks and attack rolls while the source of its fear is within line of sight.
• The creature can't willingly move closer to the source of its fear.