Cora's portal transported the party to the top of Windermere Peak, the lone mountain that had long stood as a symbol of awe and mystery to those who had seen it. None had ever scaled it and lived to tell the tale (not credibly, anyway), and from the top, it was plain to see why. The peak was as barren, in its own way, as the Shadowrealm had been. The snow lay thick enough that even Opalia was up to her wide hips, and a bitter wind scoured unprotected skin. There was not even a majestic view to compensate for the unpleasantness, as a carpet of grey cloud obscured the land below.

Quenya's companions wasted no time taking the form of giant eagles, capable of carrying two people each astride their backs. Quenya herself turned into a living cloud, looking not unlike the avatar of Kinak the party had fought. It was a bit unsettling to trust one's weight to what appeared no more solid than water vapor, but her back was wide and flat enough to carry the rest of the party.

"We will to Lawton's Glen, by way of Gruundelheim," she declared. "One way or the other, we will spot Garduk and his forces, no arcane bauble required."

Opalia gathered with the fellowship of little friends and stood guard as Cora used the grandest sword to carve open the gate that would be their escape from this dead land.  Before entering she proclaimed with her characteristic casual confidence, "Does not matter how far KINAK and GARDUK flee, for STORMBREAKERS do follow."

Then the portal opened, and Opalia strode through alongside her friends, emerging on the very pinnacle of Windermere Peak.  The giantess stood tall in the hip-deep snow as the wintry gales whipped at her hair, and grinned.  She said, "This is a VERY GOOD place, mighty in spirit of stone and of air!  OPALIA did hope to climb to here myself.  One day, I will."  It was only after this pontification that Opalia noticed that some of the fellowship were entirely buried in snow, and so she got to digging them out from the white drifts.

The ride offered by the great druids seemed almost like cheating, but it was true that they had far to go to catch KINAK and GARDUK.  The giantess looked to her wise little friends for their reaction to this offer, and would follow their lead.  Opalia wished to accompany the most of her little friends as she could, and so would elect to be borne across the North upon the fluffy ANATKLOUD.

---

Since we've now spent some time with the druidic council, Opi has to Know Your Enemy on all three of them!  Are they her equal, superior, or inferior in:

• Strength score?
• Constitution score?

Caell was glad to draw the cold air of the north into his lungs again. He was not afraid of the heights, as the last day had given him some arcane insight into matters of ascending from the ground. He wondered if they would have to go all the way back to Lawton's Glen before finding what they were seeking. It would be strange seeing that place again.

He looked at Opalia as she spoke. He enjoyed her loud optimism. Caell was confident too, even if he didn't voice it. Whatever happened, they had done their best. They had been brave and strong. They had been true to their calling. They had come so far. How could all this turn to failure? With that said, survival was not a requisite of success? As long as they succeeded, their own survival was secondary.

The tribe mattered more than the individual. In this case, the tribe was big; counting all free people of the north.

Caell kept his eyes open, looking down for signs of anything.

Cora stood in the cold wind of the peaks a very different woman than the one who had opened the gate the first time. Far different from the girl who cleared tables and tossed drunks in Lawton's Glan.

She shivered at the prospect of returning, of coming all this way for the fight to be right on her doorstep.

"I'm ready for what comes next. Hopefully Fergus' message was heard, hopefully Grina can warn Heimer III, if only to get people into the tunnels and away from the fighting?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:33, Wed 27 July 2022.

Although Fergus arrived back on the mortal plane in a snow drift up to his eyes, he couldn't deny the relief he felt in his heart. Even the biting wind was a welcome change from the oppressive darkness that defined the spiritrealm.

With Opalia's help, he dug himself free at least somewhat, revealing his companions before a the gray sky. "How much they have grown, Darna. And even old Fergus, I suppose. Can you see Cora? Our Little Mossflower wields the Starbound Blade? And you know what, I don't think there is a better soul to do so anywhere in the Northland."

He dared to hope things might still turn out for all of their alliance, but acknowledged the truth that many of them might also fall in the upcoming days (hours?). Such was the gravity of situation before them.

Whether it be some innate trait of the Quinichiat or her rapport with Nature as anatka, Sikuaq seemed unperturbed by either the wind or the snow atop Windermere's peak.  She was perched lightly in the drifts as she surveyed the magnificent view, the snow barely reaching the ankles of her hide boots.  If only the clouds would part, she pined, thinking of how magnificent a view they would have if they could see all the way to the ground.

When the elder druids began shifting into eagles and Quenya into a cloud, Sikuaq made her choice quickly.  It had all the feelings of a test and she refused to back down, regardless of what she had become in the pursuit of Kinak.  Let the Mother of the Council understand the consequences of her choices; Sikuaq felt sharing that pain was more than justified.  She stepped without hesitation onto the seemingly insubstantial cloud and readied herself for the trip to Lawton's Glen.

The place Valaku and I were headed originally, all those weeks ago, she thought somewhat wistfully.  She'd never been to the South and had leapt at the chance to serve the Council in such a far away place.  But then events had overtaken them and their path had turned away from the border, instead taking them all across the North.  She doubted any on the Council would have foreseen all they had been through.  Sikuaq hoped her companions would survive to tell the tales, that a greater North might arise from the upcoming conflict.  The heat twisting in her belly reminded her that she would not be among them.

On the back of Quenya Sikuaq stood, dwarfed by Opalia but straight and proud nonetheless.  "Let's be about it then," she said impatiently, to no one in particular.

The air was cold enough to burn his throat but after the lifeless winds of the shadowrealm, Arvid drank it back like a parched man in the desert. The sun's face was distant but at least it was light outside. Arvid's first inclination was to join Opalia and Sikuaq aboard the cloud but he waited to ensure there was adequate room before stepping off the mountain face and casting his gaze down to the barren tundra sweeping away from the mountain foot.

One way or another, they would find Garduk.

One did not require a druid's attunement to the natural world to know something was amiss. The world felt wrong. The herds were in places they should not have been at this time of year, making sounds and behaving in ways they should not have.

The Northman and the Quinichiat were familiar with such disruptions. They had experienced them before, when King Gralen's army had marched north on the orcish hordes. Now, united under Garduk and with an evil god at their back, those hordes marched south to exact their revenge. And as before, tribes and clans that played no part in the conflict would pay the price.

The Great Plains - the Frozen Wastes, to the Francos - did not appear so great from on high. When the soaring druids dipped below the cloud cover, those they bore upon their backs could see nearly the whole of it: Lake Ildiko beneath them, the taiga stretching north to the uncrossable Savage Sea, and the Sawtooth Mountains to the south, beyond which lay Franconia... for now. The difficulty of traversing the plains on foot was what made them seem great. Birds - to say nothing of a cloud elemental! - could fly unhindered above the many hazards and so cross in the space of a day the distance traveled by a Northman clan in an entire season.

Garduk's army, thankfully, was encumbered by the stream crossings, the lack of food, and the thorny brush. With Kinak on their side, however, they were not hindered by storms. The party could see them plainly to the west of Lake Ildiko, circling around the forest there. It was a course that would have taken them dangerously near Guthluthic, except that Brigha had committed the bulk of her strength to the defense of a dwarven fortress that, it was now plain to see, had never been the warlord's target.

From a great distance, and with a forest between them, the party could not make out the full size and composition of the army. There were many orcs, of course, alongside qiqion and other terrors from the Shadowrealm. Yeti-esque creatures towered head and shoulders over their humanoid companions, and some Northmen marched with them as well. Whether they were allies or thralls could not be determined.

Conservatively, the army was two days from the Obsidian Pass, and it would take them at least another day to traverse the pass and fall upon Lawton's Glen. Fergus's Sending having failed, there was no reason to think Franconia or Knutsdir yet suspected the danger they were in.

You could try to fly closer to the army to gather more information, but that would risk being spotted (which might not be the end of the world). Or you could fly south to Lawton's Glen to warn them and prepare a defense, possibly even cutting the army off at the pass. Or anything else your little hearts desire :-)

Fergus gripped the feathers of his winged steed with alk his might, petrified by the prospect of failing to his death. In time, he relaxed somewhat, but never fully. When Garduk's army finally came into view, he rejoiced at their considerable distance from Lawton's Glen... as well as from Farra, Keth, and the orcphans in Ruuldheim.

"There they are," he proclaimed. "They still have a long way to go. Maybe we can head them off at the pass."

"If we attack from above and the sides, perhaps we can cut them off here? Defending in Lawton's Glen is better, but is there a chance we could harry them and pull back?"

Cora paled at the sight of so many enemies arrayed against them, but was torn on if innocent people would need to die for what was the Alliance's fight

Opalia had seen the great plains from the heights of Cragspur peaks on clear days, but never from above in the way that birds do!  It
would be a very terrific flying view, were it not for BAD-GARDUK's hordes marching and despoiling their way across the north.  The giantess roared to be heard over the whipping winds, "NOT GOOD!  Little friends and ANATKAS, we should harry BAD-ARMY war-supplies!  Fly in, make BIG PROBLEMS, then fly away!  A best plan."

If Arvid shared the Anatkloud with her Opalia went to him during the flight and said, "Can you see where KERIT camp is, ARV?  I do worry for great MOTHER SIGNE and rest of KERIT friends."  The giantess peered closely at the lands they flew over, following natural landmarks she knew from the ground in search of the Kerit camp.  She was not worried for her own people in the highest lands, for GARDUK and KINAK would be fools to make the attempt.

---

Survival and Perception to try to locate the Kerit camp from the Anatkloud and see if they're in direct danger of the approaching army.  Using inspiration for advantage on Perception, because Opi really wants to find them :P

• 15:02, Today: Opalia rolled 17 using 2d20+5, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 12,7.  Perception (inspiration).
• 15:01, Today: Opalia rolled 15 using 1d20+5.  Survival.

With an unobstructed view across the whole of the tundra, Arvid cast his gaze towards the last location the Kerit had built their camp and tried to surmise where they might have gone had they pulled up stakes to follow the restless herds. Like Opalia, he also fretted for the safety of his people.

"We cannot manage an attack of any consequence on our own," he replied. "Certainly not against the main column and the orcs do not rely on wagon trains to the extent the Francos do."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:02, Mon 01 Aug 2022.

Opi, you can save your Inspiration. I think it makes most sense for Arvid to be the one looking for them, with Opi giving him advantage. His Perception is also +5, so we can keep the rolls.

You can't make out the Kerit from here. They're a much smaller group than this army and maybe are even making some attempt to conceal themselves from Garduk's army. It's also possible they're at Gruundelheim - remember they are vassals of Guthluthic.

If you would like to take some time to fly toward where you last saw them and try to find them, Arvid can make a Survival check, for that, again with advantage. You'd have to convince the druids that's worth doing, as well, since they're your ride, so I suppose a Persuasion check would also be in order (again, with advantage).

Sikuaq agreed with Arvid.  The army was far too large for their little group to do a significant amount of damage on high-level fly-bys.  But at the speed they were travelling they could certainly afford a closer look, to better understand the forces arrayed against them.

"The Obsidian Pass is where we should meet the army, at least to start," she advised the rest.  The relatively narrow confines of the pass should allow them to blunt the advantage of Garduk's numbers.  "It will be easier to hold there and use Laton's Glen as the fall back position."

"But we should first have a better look at the enemy's forces.  As long as we stay high and move quickly the danger should be modest, and we could learn much to help with arranging our defenses."

"Agreed," Fergus replied from atop his eagle, still gripping its feathers tighter than necessary. "Let's get a closer look, see what they've got, then get out of here and convene with the druids once they can talk again."

OOC: I'm going to assume that communication between Fergus on an eagle and Sikuaq (and the others) on the cloud is possible. If not, he'll point and nod to convey the message with body language.

"Be cautious," Arvid counseled. "The stormclouds are Kinak's to command. High and fast keeps us away from the enemy forces, but close to the elements."

Seeing no sign of the Kerit encampment, Arvid chose to interpret this as reassuring. Hopefully the hunters had noticed the column's approach and uprooted the village well before Garduk's forces approached.

Caell voiced his opinion, but it was not a strong one. "We have spells to block pass. Kill evil creatures trying to cross. Not all. But some, before they reach town."

He had been across it several times before. It was not an easy Journey, practically impossible some parts of  the year.

Opalia scowled at Arvid and said, "Many things STORMBREAKERS have done already, are things less mighty folk would say can not be done.  We are STRONG and have BIG MAGICS!  We can do very much, OPALIA does think."  She very much liked little anatka and little Caell's ideas to hold off the enemy forces at the pass, for that would be a place where even a small force could cause biggest problems for a bad army.

It did seem they were agreed to swoop down to more closely assess the forces arrayed against them, and when they did that Opalia focused on finding opportunities to create disadvantages for the enemy.  It was known wisdom to Skykeeper warriors that it is not purely skillful fighting that wins battles, but also having the strength and readiness to fight!  Even the very best of fighters will lose if they arrive to battle hungry, tired, disheartened, lacking supplies, or too late.  Therefore, when they surveilled the enemy she looked for ways for a small force to inflict such bad conditions upon the bad armies:  Crucial bridge crossings that might be destroyed, mountain roads that might be buried by avalanche, supply caches to be burnt, foraging parties that might go missing, water sources that might be denied.

Any difficulty that may be added to the enemy's journey would weaken and delay their assault.

---

Using inspiration again on a Survival check to look for opportunities like those listed above for a small force to create big problems for an invading army and then escape again:

• 00:32, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 15 using 2d20+5, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 10,5.  Survival (advantage inspiration).

A closer look at Garduk's forces only made the situation appear more hopeless. A large part of it was comprised of shadowy monsters, such that the need for sustenance, while not trivial, was much less than that of a similarly sized mortal enemy.

There were relatively few of the giant yetis, and they appeared to play an outsized role in the army, carrying supplies and clearing the way of rocks and debris when needed. Were the party to orchestrate an avalanche or some other bottleneck in the Obsidian Pass, these creatures would presumably be instrumental in clearing it.

There was also the matter of Garduk himself, a powerful shaman in the company of magically talented lieutenants. While the party's druids had many ways to manipulate terrain in their favor, they would presumably be contested by similarly skilled casters in the opposing army.

The sky grew darker, obscuring their vision, as stormclouds gathered above and behind them. They had been spotted - it was not easy to hide in the sky from the North Wind. It had seemed Garduk's army lacked air support, but what had appeared to be cloaks on the backs of the warlord and his retinue revealed themselves to be horrible winged shadows which detached themselves and took to the sky, wings beating silently but intently as they bore down on the party.

There are roughly two dozen of these flying shadows converging on the party, but they are still hundreds of feet off, so retreating seems a perfectly viable course of action. Then again, if you were to stay and fight them, Garduk and his other casters would presumably be too far away to intervene.

Opi, you can again save your inspiration. Presumably everyone would be looking for these vulnerabilities, so I used your roll with advantage and applied the party's highest Survival modifier to it to account for that.

"BAD-GIANTS do very much work for BAD-ARMY.  Stop the biggest ones would be good!"  Opalia suggested above the howling winds.  She wasn't sure what to do about so very many shadows, which did seem a problem.  She did wonder if shadows could move in sunlight, however.  Perhaps making much-brightness would keep them away?

At some point it seemed that their observations were noticed, and the storm darkened around their flight as dark cloaks came after them.  The giantess pointed at shadowy pursuers flitting along some distance behind and stated the obvious, "DARK-FLYERS!  We do fight them, little friends?"

"It would be good," Arvid agreed in principle with Opalia. But practicalities would appear to dictate otherwise. "But they are interspersed through the main host. I cannot see how we might engage the giants without also suffering orcish arrows and Kinak's thunder."

"We carry a message of urgency. If we fail to rouse Lawton's Glen to war footing, our sacrifices will be of no meaning. And now they bring the fight to us," Arvid said, pointing at the approaching shadows.

"I'm sorry, Opalia. You are braver and stronger than anyone I know. I have seen how it pains you to turn away from a fight. But I cannot in good conscience counsel this. We should fly South, and return with an army to meet them at the pass where Kann's might is as great as Hrom's."

"That is how we will win."

At the sign of being spotted, Fergus gripped his avian carrier even more tightly, still petrified of plummeting to his death. "They've seen us. We need to fall back and make a plan."

He had never considered whether a giant eagle was faster than a shadow. Until this moment, it had never seemed important at all.

"I want so badly to do what I can to turn the tide. But throwing myself pointlessly into the horde . . . there'll be a time for that later. For now, I think Arvid has the right of it."

Cora looked back at the approaching shadows, eldritch aurora dancing across her hands

OOC: if the shadows look to be gaining, will start preparing actions to fire, but only once it's "need to fight, can't run" situation

Fergus saw the makings of a spell flicker on his niece's hands and chose to do the same. "All right Kann," he mumbled, still gripping too tightly on the feathers of his ride. "What have we for flying shadows?"

OOC: Fergus will prepare to cast Guiding Bolt, but only if it looks like their pursuers are getting too close.

The anatka watched the pursuing shadows closely as well, one hand clutched tightly about her staff as the dark shapes detached from the army and soared toward them.  She also agreed that fleeing was the best choice, especially given they'd seen what they needed to see.  The damage they could inflict on the host would only be minor, and should one of them actually fall?  Sikuaq did not want to even consider it.

"Time to make for Lawton's Glen and begin readying our defenses."

As Arvid spoke Opalia stared down from the sky at the armies of very many orcs and shadows and bad-giants, and brooded.  Opalia had almost never seriously questioned Arv's wisdom in their long years of friendship, but she did now.  He was wiser than her in most everything, but her every instinct as a warrior was against this.  This was a crucial time to act to harm the enemy long before they reach the battlefield.  This is was the time to ACT, not to FLEE!  But yet, she may be wrong as well.  Perhaps to reach the Glen of Lawton sooner would be the best way to harm their enemy.  Sometimes dire circumstances demand hard choices.

Opalia looked back to Arvid with a grim smile and said, "You are wise, ARV, and I do trust you.  I do hope that you are right."  The giantess then turned to ready for the pursuing shadows.

The party fell back, drawing the flying shadows after them until they were far enough from the main army and its spellcasters that the heroes could be certain their attackers could receive no support. Valaku studied them as they came and reported to his allies: "I have heard of such creatures. They are ferocious, but not so many as they seem. Many of them are illusory, though I am hard-pressed to say which. Best not to let them touch you," he concluded, adding, "Perhaps that is obvious."

Everyone please roll initiative, but we won't need it immediately. The nearest shadows are currently 160' feet from you and closing by 80' per round. For the purposes of AoE spells, they are spread out in a V formation, like geese, that is roughly 60' wide and 30' deep. For now, you can act with regard to initiative and have the following options:

1. If there's anything you'd like to cast before they draw so near to you, either buffs or spells with range >160', you can do that in addition to your action for this round.

2. Use any spells or abilities with range of at least 160'.

3. Prepare an action for when a target gets to 80' from you (if your action requires a shorter range than that, it will have to wait until next round).

OOC:  Waiting for shadow-cloaks to get in SQUISHING distance, but here's my initiative roll in the meantime :)

20:57, Today: Opalia rolled 12 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.

Cora waited until the shadows closed distance and unleashed her blasts, the twin energies of the blade and Gruumsh entwining as she blasted at the shadows.

OOC: attack rolls 16 and 28, 6 and 10 (crit) respectively

Caell started tracing a spell. His fingers drew characters in the air and his lips muttered an incantation. It was not the first time he had cast this particular magic.

Once the evil creatures were in range, Caell finalized the spell and a sphere of radiant light engulfed all the attackers. He was fairly sure, most of them would make it out again, but many would surely be affected.

Casting Sickening Radiance once they are close enough (range 120 feet). At a 30 feet radius sphere, it should affect all. Con save DC 17 or 26 radiant damage and suffer one level of exhaustion, and emit a dim, greenish light in a 5-foot radius. This light makes it impossible for the creature to benefit from being invisible.

Atop the cloud-form of Quenya, Sikuaq stood facing backwards toward their pursuers.  The wind whipped her short hair around her face, but her gaze was uninterrupted as she continued to gauge the shrinking distance between the two groups.  When the shadows drew closer she raised her staff and allowed the flames to dance in her eyes and hair, sparks trailing off behind them like a miniature comet's tail.  And with a word Sikuaq released the power, a bird of flame screeching toward the shadows before pulling up and flaring into a giant ball of flame just as the formation reached that point.

OOC:
Cast Fireball from the staff, 3 charges.  Aim to explode just behind the lead shadow (in the vee) and catch as many others as possible (20 ft radius).
13:51, Today: Secret Roll: Sikuaq rolled 30 using 8d6.  Fireball Damage.  Half dmage on successful DEX save (DC 17).

13:54, Today: Secret Roll: Sikuaq rolled 19 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.  For when it's needed.

Fergus struggled to maintain his grip the eagle that carried him while preparing for the onrushing shadows. First he guided a ray of forgelight from his fingertip toward the frontmost shadow. Then, as they closed in further, he lashed out with his free arm raising a sheet of flame through the shadows on one side of its formation. As quickly as the airborne flames were started, however, they vanished.

Action: While at distance >160 feet, cast Guiding Bolt at lead shadow. Hit AC 17 for 19 radiant damage.
When shadows are within 120 feet, cast Wall of Fire in a line starting with the head of the v and through all shadows on its left side (60 feet in length).
23:03, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 15 using 1d20-1. Initiative.

23:21, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 17 using 1d20+8.  Guiding bolt at lead shadow (lvl 3, 240 foot range).
23:22, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 19 using 6d6.  Radiant dmg.

23:02, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 17 using 5d8.  Wall of fire. Fire damage. Half dmg on a DC 16 Dex save.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:28, Mon 15 Aug 2022.

Ildiko help us, I pray that I am right as well.

Arvid watched the shadows rapid approach with a furrowed brow. He could do little more than stand fast alongside his companions and wait but he squeezed Opalia's hand in his own. Whatever might come, they would face it together.

Initiative 13.
Arvid has no actions he can take at the specified ranges.
13:59, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 13 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.

Fergus's Guiding Bolt struck the lead shadow, which screached in outrage, but, foolishly, the swarm kept coming. The next volley of spells was not so forgiving. Caell's sickening radiance vanquished their illusory doubles, leaving them exposed, and the fire and light that ensued ripped through them. Two were incinerated entirely, and the rest, grievously injured, wheeled and retreated, flying back toward the main force.

Fergus should be able to get in a parting shot thanks to his Spell Sniper feat, but I think with their 40' of movement the shadows will be able to outpace you unless you have some tricks up your sleeve...

Fergus expelled a sigh of relief as the shadows turned to flee. Unsure of whether something as non-corporal as a shadow could heal, he looked for one that had been wounded with the hope of eliminating it outright. "Here's hoping one more defeated today means one less to fight tomorrow." Reciting another prayer to The Great Mountain, he unleashed a radiant beam from his outstretched hand.

With the distance between friend and foe growing by the second, Fergus's attention returned to the fact that he was one thoughtless move away from plummeting hundreds of feet to his death. He stretched out his arms and leaned forward, hugging his avian transport around the neck. "Breathe," he reminded himself. "And don't let go."


Cast Guiding Bolt (lvl 3) at retreating shadow.
21:45, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 23 using 1d20+8.  Guiding bolt - parting shot at wounded shadow.
21:45, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 20 using 6d6.  Radiant damage.

Sikuaq smiled fiercely as the wrath of she and her companions forced what was left the flying shadows to flee back to their master.  One short peal of laughter fell from her mouth before she clamped it shut and suddenly looked over her shoulder toward what she presumed was Quenya's cloudy head. The edges of fire dampened in her hair and eyes, and the anatka looked almost bashful, as though she had indulged in something she should not have, and done so right in front of her elders.

Sikuaq shrunk in on herself slightly, and rode in silence as the airborne group sped off toward the pass that led to the South.

Stormclouds gathered as the shadows retreated. Fergus's parting bolt blasted another from the sky - one fewer for the party to contend with later. The surviving shadows, having learned their lesson, disappeared quickly into the darkness cast by the fast-moving clouds, which, heavy with rain, hung black and low in the sky. They were, if anything, more foreboding than the clouds that had pummeled the Kerit camp with gales of blinding snow just days prior. They had not yet burst, Kinak presumably not wanting to slow the advance of his army, but they seemed aimed at the party and/or the Obsidian pass.

Racing ahead of them, the wildshaped druids bore their passengers up into the mountains of black glass, the eternally burning flame beneath Roda's shrine guiding them like a beacon to a ship upon storm-wracked seas. They arrived to find the shrine shut down: doors barred, windows battened down against the gathering storm. As the party approached, however, wind whipping at their backs, a door was thrown open, and a familiar face appeared.

"Hullo!" Alan called to them. "Hurry now. Got to get this door shut again." He slammed it just as the last of them was through. "Good to see you all again. Wish it were under better circumstances. Positively wicked out there. And the storm is looking pretty nasty, too." He winked.

The hall, always so warm and welcoming to travelers with its long communal tables and meals served at any hour, was empty now. Anything that could be strapped down or put away had been, so that only the empty tables remained, with no chairs to serve them. "Everyone's in the basement," Alan said. "We should be too."

Outside, the wind howled and battered against the barred door like the invading army whose coming it portended.

There was little Opalia could offer to an airborne battle against shadows flitting at the edges of seeing distance, so she squeezed Arvid's hand and waited for any shadow to make a BIG MISTAKE of coming close.  Thankfully, mighty little friends had very good fighting-magics the zapped and blasted the shadows away in spectacular fashion, and when they fled the giantess offered boisterous congratulation, "Good fighting with good magics, little friends!"

Zooming on ahead of the seemingly endless BAD armies at the speed of a gale, the Stormbreakers were delivered to the top of the Obsidian Pass just before the breaking of Kinak's storm.  Opalia hopped off the Anatkloud early to land with a thump of travel-worn boots and bellowed louder than the storm, "BRIGHT SKIES TO LITTLE FRIEND ALAN!  Even when storm and dark gathers, skies are still bright where friends do meet."  The giantess pushed through the lashing rains to grab Alan up into a crushing hug, then set him down to usher all the little friends into the shrine's shelter.

When all were gathered Opalia asked Alan, "Where are FIGHTERS to hold the pass against RED FIST army?  Is Glen of Lawton ready for DARK-SHADOWS and manyest of BAD-ORCS?"  The giantess's concern grew at the growing worry about proper preparations for what is to come.  She asked, "Glen of Lawton does ready for war, YES?  Two days or maybe less than this, before BAD ARMY is here!"

Alan took a few steps back from the enthusiastic goliath, but, seeing that resistance was futile, ultimately went limp and allowed himself to be gathered up into her crushing hug. "It is good to see you again," he wheezed. "We have not yet had a chance to go climbing. Though I doubt I will be able to keep up with you. Unfortunately, now is not the time.

Lawton's Glen is aware of the danger, thanks to you." The acolyte smiled at Fergus. "And the King has been made aware as well, though he will need time to gather his army. What were forces were marshaled in town are already ascending the pass. I ran ahead to warn everyone here and help them prepare."

He lowered his voice. "Truth be told, I do not think this place will hold. It is a shrine, not a fortress. It was meant to be open to all, not locked down and defended. Our hope is only to buy time for the main army to gather."

Then he lowered his voice further yet. "That is no mere army of orcs, is it? That storm... it is not of this world." The young man's brown eyes were wide and fearful. "What are we up against?"

Caell had changed somewhat since they last had met. He gave Alan a nod. "Shadow and death, and living servants bent to death's will. Many servants."

He looked back in the direction they had come. "Some are flying. We should keep watch in case they come through air. And when army comes, maybe we can hold them back long enough for good army to come help. We have mighty weapons."

"We do not need to hold it for long. This will not be a siege, a siege we will lose against an enemy who controls the weather and whose forces are tireless. When you say people are below, are there people who can't fight? The storm is already fierce . . . "

Cora looked around, even her orcish skin growing cold in this bitter weather

"I don't know if those here can flee south. I don't know if the King's forces won't simply find a dead pass when they reach Lawton's Glen. But those who are here, are the kitchens and stores well stocked? Might be we'd all do well to get something warm in us, before we lie cold on the mountainside."

She could feel Gruumsh's voice, his eye. Like a horrid father, waiting to see which of his children will emerge victorious from a fight.

"If you're listening One-Eye, a victory for Garduk is a victory for Hrom, and that means your wife and sons lose all. Witness what comes next, perhaps a new footstep of your blood will be made here."

Alan's eyes widened in his round face. "I would not say we can not fight, but... we are humble priests, not warriors. And our current guests, they are... accustomed to comfort. They carry weapons, but only for the hunting of docile creatures. I do not think they would be much use in a battle, if they could even be convinced to take up arms."



This question lifted the young man's spirits, for he was happy to have some means of being helpful. "Aye, food we have. That is the function of these shrines, to ensure there is always food and shelter for those in need, should they be taken unawares by a storm. As, I suppose, we all have been!" He attempted a weak laugh, but it was clear his heart was not in it.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:20, Sat 20 Aug 2022.

The giantess boomed, "HA!  You are a funny ALAN.  ANY mountain is a fortress while a SKYKEEPER stands upon it.  OPALIA is here, and so this pass will hold."  Her declaration was delivered with unassailable confidence in hopes to give heart to the god-mans, although Opalia had her own doubts.

She then announced, "We must bring folk of strength and craft from here and from lands around.  We have not much time, but with WORK and DOING we will make GARDUK pay in blood for each step across OBSIDIAN PASS."  Opalia peered out at the shrine doors and windows battened down against the fierce weather, which would present difficulty for this work.  There were many whose lives would depend upon the defense of this pass, and Opalia would not let them perish because the weather was not comfortable.  The pass must hold as long as possible, and it was the duty of its defenders to expend every effort to do so.

---

OOC:  Did we catch sight on the way in of how far the foremost elements of the invading army are from here?  Ballpark guess how long we have before they start arriving?

Also, a Survival check to gauge the severity of this storm.  Is it really dangerous enough to have to hide in cellars or are these Francos overreacting, from a Goliath's perspective? ;P

• 08:42, Today: Opalia rolled 20 using 1d20+5.  Survival.

Opalia would like to spend whatever time we have between now and the enemy's arrival on a project to fortify the Obsidian Pass: dig trenches and make chokepoints, set wooden spikes, build palisades, reinforce natural defensive positions, etc.  As much of that as possible with the time, materials and workforce that can be recruited to the effort!

"I will come back soon. If any of them kill me down there . . . give that person my sword. We might have an unforeseen hero."

Cora took her leave of the group then after Alan's clarification, dropping her pack in the kitchens and descending to the cellars, elven chain glinting faintly as she arrived at the door. Closed or open, she did not enter the cellars yet, not seeing fit to terrify people who'd been told orcs were coming down on winter winds.

"I am Coragahk, of Lawton's Glen. I have been North, and I have seen what is coming. Are there any among you who can fight? Any who can help us prepare if you cannot fight? There are fires to stoke, traps to lay and reinforcements to make."

OOC: used inspiration and everything. 12 on Persuasion . . .

"Alan, you have been tasked with maintaining the trails along the mountain pass in the name of Roda, is that not so?" Arvid asked speculatively. "Do you think you could instead help us to sabotage those upon the North face in order to buy time while our defenders assemble?"

When they alit upon solid ground once more, Sikuaq let those who were familiar and comfortable with the priest lead that conversation.  This was the extent of her travels south with Valaku, and they had spent one night only at the shrine.  Then the path had led back into the North, leaving her with scant knowledge or influence here.

Instead she turned to the druids who had borne them here.  Addressing Quenya as the undisputed leader of the bunch, she ducked her head and asked, "What will you three do now?  Will you stay here with us, to help bottle up the pass, or do you have other plans?"

Fergus looked to Alan hopefully. "If there is a narrow passageway, I could erect a wall of Kann's forge-fire and run it through the line of them."

The young priest blanched at the suggestion. He surely had the necessary knowledge, but for the faithful of Roda, the trails were sacrosanct. You might as well ask a Kerit shaman to yank the stars from the sky. It might be necessary, but it would be a hard sell.

Let's do a Persuasion check for this. It would be at disadvantage, considering how strongly he feels about trade routes, but then again the stakes are high enough for all options to be on the table. So we'll call it a flat roll.



"There are many! The road is narrow and steep." Mass killing, it seemed, was more palatable to Alan than desecration of the road.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 19:23, Tue 23 Aug 2022.

Two more priests of Roda, clearly more senior than Alan, greeted Cora with wary nods when the half-orc descended into the basement, which was warmed by the Eternal Flame which burned just beyond and could be seen through a sort of window in the rock wall. More worried yet was the half-elf Cora recognized as Qastàru Canton, a high-end wilderness guide and outfitter who operated out of Lawton's Glen. He had made a fortune wooing wealthy Franconians with promises of daring and adventure in the Frozen Wastes, but clearly they had bitten off more than they could chew this time. The group with him, six men and two women, looked positively terrified, though several of them did volunteer themselves as potential fighters, shaming Qastàru into raising his own hand.

"I can fight," volunteered a Northman who had been singing a song of bravery to the frightened group when Cora arrived. He looked, for lack of a better word, "fancy", by Northman standards anyway: his hair was pulled back into a ponytail that shone with oil, and his beard was gathered into three tight braids. He was not handsome, but he made up for it with a charming smile.

Cora, this is optional, but if you'd like, you can make up and describe up to three other actually useful people who could be on site as well.

"We will stay and fight." The Elder Druid's answer was clipped, hostile even. "I have a deal to enforce, after all. What of you, anatka? Do you have other plans?"

You get the impression her hostility stems from Sikuaq's use of the Fireball spell. Presumably, Quenya recognized the source of that power as something other than the natural world from which the Quinichiat typically draw their magic. Exactly how much she knows or suspects remains a mystery.

Sensing his host’s reluctance, Arvid was quick to offer reassurance. ”I swear to you I will help to make right again, whatever we despoil. After the danger is passed.”

20:41, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 17 using 1d20+5.  Persuasion .

Opalia clapped a big hand on Alan's shoulder and said gravely, "Little ALAN has not yet seen what many enemies march to us.  If we fail to defend OBSIDIAN PASS then BAD-ARMIES use nice roads to smash RODA shrine, raze and burn Glen of LAWTON and kill ALL.  No good souther-folks will be safe, anyplace.  All dead, ALL ruined."  The giantess gestured to the door and the steep, narrow mountain pass beyond it and declared, "We must stop BAD-ARMIES here.  HERE is STRONG.  We break good-roads and build walls NOW, so that GOOD-FOLK can be alive to rebuild later, YES?"

After that grim pep-talk, Opalia said, "We gather to build defenses, but FIRST... HOT-TOADIES.  Come, ARV and friends!"  The giantess grabbed Arvid in a companionable hug about the shoulders and bade the Stormbreakers down to the cellar where everyone was taking shelter, where they might have a drink as they coordinated planning to defend the Obsidian Pass.

Cora nodded her thanks and helped the volunteers to their feet, clapping Qastàru Canton on the shoulder.

"It is good we have your mind and knowledge, brave Canton. You know these hills and mountainside, you know what needs to be done."

Cora walked among those who'd volunteered, seeing some were eager to help, some more eager to die on their feet than sit in the cellar.

"Twice-bit Emil!"

She embraced the young man who'd volunteered, a monk of Roda who'd once been a fixture of Lawton's Glen's lower quarters. He and Cora had been friends once, or acquaintances, as urchins and orphans and low people often were. Emil had been small, quick, a terror to the watch and the lord's larders. The man he was now, young looking by human standards, was significantly thicker, broader, hard ascetic labour having long since done away with an urchin's wisp. He sported a beard and hard eyes which softened even though his mouth stayed dour. His right hand didn't flex at two of the fingers in his glove, and he walked with a pronounced limp, the first a mark of Lord Heimer's punishment for poaching, the latter toes lost from a frigid winter when the orcs had laid siege to the area around Lawton's Glen, robbing an autumn's harvest and starving the town. The urchin turned poacher proved beyond gold then.

A Franconian lady, iron backed and stern, stood out among the monks and guides and rougher sorts. Her winter clothes were impeccable, ermine and fox, one glove passing almost up to the elbow, thick and quilted along the surface. Her hair was bundled up under a fur lined hat affixed with a brooch in shape of a fox. Her look at Cora made the half-orc feel she should be asking forgiveness for something, but she made no sound or motion save to stand in line and clearly indicate she intended to help, shooting a withering glare at a mustachioed Franco man in furs and three liveried servants who seemed to keep starting in on telling her to sit.

A pile of furs in the corner stirs as people stand forth to be put to work, and a badger pelt produces legs and arms, the weathered hands holding sharp edged axe heads. Identifying only as "Badger of the House Badger", the sniffling dwarf had apparently been sleeping off a berserk rage out in the mountains, clearly a little worse for wear from the cold.

Not much, but the important thing was these people could help.

As the fancy northman stepped forward, Cora smiled and thanked him as well, just as Opalia came in demanding hot toadies.

"Everyone, this is the Starbound Aliiance, and the mighty Opalia of the Skykeepers. Also currently the wise beyond his years Arvid appears to be with her."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:18, Thu 25 Aug 2022.

Arvid found himself swept up in Opalia’s embrace before Alan could render a proper answer. He did not object however as he was ushered down into the shrine where they had first met Sikuaq and Valaku some few short weeks ago. A warm drink before they set to on the trails seemed like a fine idea, and a comfort he would not soon refuse.

”Hello,” he replied, taking in the room upon Cora’s introduction. His gaze paused upon the curious Northman, the only other of his kind in attendance. He bore all the markings of a traveling skald.

"If it's an emergency, then..." Alan relented, still looking uncertain. He accompanied the party into the basement, where Cora made her introductions.



"Twice bitten, never shy," the man answered with a wink that suggested he thought himself the most capable of the bunch.

"This is hardly the time for drinking," Alan began to chide Opalia, but the imperious half-elf interrupted him.

"Why, it's the perfect time!" he insisted, draping an arm around the goliath as if he'd known her all his life. "You're in luck today, folks. This here is a rare specimen upon which few of my guests ever lay eyes. A genuine daughter of the stone, fresh from peaks so high they'd make your head spin. And strong!" He reached for one of Opalia's bulging biceps. "Why, I reckon she could lift a keg of ale in each arm." He nodded and flashed his eyes rather insistently at the goliath, clearly expecting her to play along.

The Northman nodded to Arvid, doffing his fine fox fur cap. "Greetings, child of Ildiko. Child of the Heavens, I should say, as are we all!" His smiled broadened to encompass the entire party. Arvid's estimation that the man was a skald was no doubt correct, but he was not old enough to be the monk's father, nor was there any more family resemblance than between any two Northmen.

For Arvid. Anyone else who would have some familiarity with Northman culture can make a DC 10 History check to know the following:

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
"Child of the Heavens" is a weird greeting. "Child of Ildiko" is a traditional term by which Northmen of different clans greet each other. It's odd that he would correct that to "Child of the Heavens", and that he did not name his own clan, nor ask Arvid's.

---

This message was last edited by the GM at 17:28, Thu 25 Aug 2022.

Sikuaq knew she should remain humble in the face of the Mistress of the Council but a fire churned in her belly, yearning to be set free.  With the stress of knowing what was marching down on them and how little time they had left, she could only contain so much of it.

"I will stay here and fight with my companions.  With my friends," Sikuaq declared, her voice fiercer than she'd intended.  Though she could not tell, her eyes flickered with dancing flames and tiny cinders drifted away from her hair on the wind.  "Kinak must be stopped, for the good of the North.  The land desperately needs to heal, even if that means one last mighty shedding of blood."  She stood strong in the face of Quenya's displeasure for another moment, before the fires doused and she mouthed the heart of the matter.  The end would justify the means.  Her decisions were always for the good of the People.

"Even if it means sacrificing oneself for the greater good of the Quinichiat."

"Drink QUICK-ISH, then WORK!" Opalia boomed to Alan as she and Arvid arrived in the cellar and took in those gathered there.  The giantess performed a proud Skykeeper salute at Cora's very good introduction, thumping a fist to her breast with gusto.

Not a moment later she was regaled by a fancy fellow she and Arvid had met in Lawton's Glen seemingly a lifetime ago.  The showman's introduction took the giantess aback, and she looked blankly to the faux-explorer, and then to the room.  "HULLO to you, little Council friend KWASTAROO!  You remember OPALIA and ARV, and I do remember you."  She of course flexed her impressive musculature when he reached for a bicep, always pleased to have her great strength appreciated.  "Kegs are little for lifting!  OPALIA will lift much heavier for defense of OBSIDIAN PASS."

Turning to those gathered, the giantess boomed, "The storm is DANGERSOME, but we must be quick here, then get to work!"


Opalia looked to the charming Northman and said, "Bright skies to you, little friend.  ARVID SIGNESON is favorite boy of ILDIKO, blessed to fight with her own paws!  He is much-good at fighting, and wise as well."

Arvid seemed mildly surprised by the Northman's salutation.

"Greetings to you as well, Child ... of the Heavens." The greeting seemed unfamiliar coming from Arvid's lips. "I am indeed Arvid, son of Signe of clan Kerit."

"What clan do you hail from?"

"Hrmph," Quenya said in response to Sikuaq's justifications, a sort of verbal shrug of her thin shoulders, but did not press the issue further.

The Northman in the basement answered Arvid with a playful smile. "I am of no clan. I am of all clans. I am brother to all people, to the dwarf and the goliath no less than to you."

Sikuaq stood there a moment longer, staring back at Quenya with her jaw set firmly, and then without another word spun on her heel and went off to find the others in the bowels of the shrine.

"That is an admirable contention," Arvid replied, though he quietly questioned if those marching towards the shrine were similarly filled with filial devotion. "I spent many years alone upon the taiga. But even at my loneliest, I knew in my bones that I was Kerit. Some things stay with us forever."

Fergus quietly watched the introductions in the cellar, evaluating the motley assortment of volunteers. "It certainly isn't the army Ommerlun Kegspine rallied a millennia ago to defend Gruundelheim," he concluded to himself, trying his best to disguise his disappointment. Even Opalia's giant-sized doses of optimism weren't enough to convince him they stood a chance against the approaching shadow army.

Still, if they could delay the advance long enough, and weaken Garduk's forces in the process... Maybe that would be enough for Lawton's Glen and Knutsdir to survive.

When they reached the time for planning, he shared his thoughts. "I say we build a wall, clog them up in the narrowest part of the pass, then rain down on them with everything we have, be it Amala or Hrom or anything in between."

He knew the shadows could fly, but they had some success dispatching them earlier. If they flew over the wall, at least they'd be isolated from the rest of the army.

Opalia liked this little Northman already, "Friend to ALL peoples, YES!  This is a much-good idea.  Things are nicer when folk can be just nice to each other.  That is what STARBOUND FRIENDS do, and together we win against those that are NOT nice."


The giantess chugged down a half flagon of hot toadie in one pull and then nodded big to Fergus.  "YES.  A wisest plan from the FIREBEARD!  Make bad-ORCS have a very hard climb WHILE fighting to small pass, where FEW may stand against MANY.  This is how to hold the pass.  Make GARDUK pay in blood for each step."  Opalia finished off the hot toadie with a satisfied exhalation and slammed the flagon down.

Cora watched the little war between Alan and Opalia with some amusement, distracted by Arvid's conversation with the Northman as she thought of her own father's words, relayed by her mother before she passed. She silently gave a prayer, remembering her parent's dream and silently nodding along with Arvid and the skald's conversation



"Think you could lend a hand in getting some food ready for once people come back from whatever preparations these all are planning?"

Cora jabbed a thumb towards the group debating about preparing

Emil's mouth opened and shut a few times without saying anything. At last, he suggested, "I expect my skills can be better utilized elsewhere."

The skald, sensing the discord, began to sing as Alan begrudgingly served hot toddies:

Imagine a man without a race
Imagine a people without a place
Imagine an elf without a face

Everyone benefits from Bardic Inspiration and can add a d6 to a single, future die roll.

Fergus, there is a roaring, miraculous flame down here if you'd like to purify that hammer you got from the yetis.

Caell remembered when he first heard that song. They had been visiting Arvids' clan and family. For some reason he had felt a connection with that line, as the elf without a face could be interpreted as an elf without facial tattoos. Caell had the patterns now, however, and in that sense had gotten a face. He still liked the song.

With the time they had, Caell helped where he could; be it aiding Cora or just hanging out with her, or performing simple temple duties, which was something he had done before. When there was nothing else he just watched and listened to the conversations of his friends. He admired them all very much.

I have no preparations for whatever is next.

Opalia listened to the skald's song with a smile, appreciating this moment of fellowship and cheer before the climactic battle looming over them all.  When he had finished Opalia approached with Arvid at her side and said to the skald, "It is a much-good song, and one that we have heard in past.  Little friend, do you know any northerman named BJORN?"

Fergus basked in the light of Roda's flame, considering what could well be his final time working the hammer and anvil. "Well, if this really is the last time I stand before a forge, at least it's not that rusty old campfire back in Guthluthic."

He unpacked his tools and first created a set of iron bracelets. Ten bands, each inscribed with a name from his family: Darna, Hamil, Farra, and Cora. Then after an instant, he proceeded with Sikuaq, Opalia, Arvid, Caell, Valaku, and finally (with a sigh of resignation) Keth.

As the bracelets cooled, he changed his attention to the hammer acquired in the spirit realm. While it already held the shape of a fine weapon, Fergus sensed it could be transformed further, empowered by the spirit of the Great Mountain Himself.

As he worked the maul, Fergus sensed the modest talisman he himself had crafted back in Knutsdir was glowing at his side. It twitched at the end of its leather strap, nearly breaking the band to join with the enchanted maul. With a determined nod, Fergus untied the amulet. It leapt toward the head of the weapon, melting away into its side, leaving a glowing rune in its place.

In time, Fergus completed his assignment. Stepping away from the forge, he quenched the maul and then held it up for inspection. He expelled a satisfied breath, examining the result of his labor. Like its sister Frostfall before it, Dawnstrike had been born of Fergus's hand and Kann's flame.



OOC: Creating bracelets in case Animate Objects is needed in the final conflict.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:07, Mon 05 Dec 2022.

Arvid listened in rapt attention to the melody his mother had only half remembered, and no one else in his clan had ever sung. It struck him as significant that this strange skald and his own father had both known the lyrics, but perhaps it was part of many of the wandering bards' repertoires. All the same, he shared Opalia's curiosity and could not help but wonder if the two men had ever crossed paths upon the open tundra.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:58, Wed 07 Sept 2022.

Though their course was set by the fall of Fergus's hammer, the bracelets ultimately took on shapes of their own as they cooled upon a shelf. The hammer itself began to act of its accord as well, or rather with that of the Forge god, whose blessing the dwarf could feel traveling through the flame and into the heavy iron head.



"Every Northman knows a Northman named Bjorn." The skald laughed. "But yes, I believe I know the one you are thinking of. Many a Northman has known him as well." He winked at the goliath. "'twas like a mentor to me. A father, almost. Taught me... well, not everything, I know quite a lot, but he got me off on the right foot. Indeed, many a Northman was gotten off by-"

The storm outside, which had grown increasingly ferocious, came to a head with a crack of thunder that shook the shrine's very foundations. It was followed by the sound of showering rock and debris, and only then did it become apparent the sound was not only or thunder but of a bolt of lightning striking the stone edifice.

At the same moment, the great flame by which Fergus stood, a flame which had burned for longer than recorded history, went dark. A supernatural chill filled the basement. Shadowy orcs began to pour from the brazier where the fire had burned. Screams from the citizens sheltering in the basement warned of more shadows entering from both doors, which, though barricaded against the storm, did nothing to keep out incorporeal threats.

"Hold them off!" Qastàru Canton ordered no one in particular. "I shall courageously shepherd these nobles back to the safety of the Glen." He began to lead his frightened customers to the south door but stopped when he saw shadows gathering there as well. His shaking hand drew a sword.

Everyone had the opportunity for a short rest after arriving at the shrine.

Everyone is currently in the basement. The stairs leading up have collapsed, but there are doors exiting to the north (the direction from which Kinak/the storm were approaching) and the south (the direction of Lawton's Glen). Something (Kinak?) is attacking the tower from outside. A few more such attacks will bring it down on top of you. Right now no one can see outside, but I'll expand the map as needed if anyone goes out there.

As discussed, there are a bunch of civilians in the basement with you. A few of them may be useful in battle - most will be liabilities. To give you an idea of who's who on the map:

Sikuaq and Valaku are with the other druids.
Arvid and Opalia are speaking with Alan and the skald.
Cora and Caell are with Emil.
The noble Franco lady is with Qastaru and his guests.
Fergus is off by himself, confronted by shadows spilling forth from the Miracle Flame which has suddenly gone dark.
Badger is towards the south door with some of the other guests were at the shrine.

Please roll initiative. Everyone gets an action now, but in future rounds, Kinak will act at the top of the order (Nat 20 for initiative), then anyone over 14 will act, then we'll have the shows and the NPCs, then anyone who rolled under 14.

Opalia shared a look with Arvid at this fellow's familiar description of Bjorn.  She smiled and asked, "Almost a father, YES.  That sounds like BJORN known to us.  Did your BJORN ever sing of the most-best of all northerwomens, SIGNE?"  There was a hint of an edge to this line of questioning, for Opalia didn't think she appreciated Bjorn having abandoned Signe and Arvid but yet finding the time to mentor this fellow, whoever he was.

Any further discussion was interrupted by a tremendous peal of thunder that threatened to shake the shrine apart.  The giantess jumped to action immediately, turning toward the sound in time to see shadowy orcs slipping in like smoke through cracks in the northern door.  To the civilians she boomed, "You all, GET BEHIND ME!"  The giantess charged at the shadows brandishing Frostfall, which she used to thoroughly destroy one enemy in a scattering of frost.  She followed this up by kicking another shade down onto the stones, then stood like a wall between the civilians and danger.

---

• Initiative 18
• Move to P5
• ATTACK twice against Shadow in Q4
  1. Hit 20 AC for 13 cold damage
  2. Hit 18 AC for 10 cold damage
• Bonus action Shield Master shove knocks Shadow in O4 prone, unless it can beat a 28 in Athletics or Acrobatics (good luck, buddy)
• Protection fighting style at the ready if an ally next to Opi is attacked

01:09, Today: Opalia rolled 28 using 1d20+13.  Shield master shove.
01:05, Today: Opalia rolled 10 using 1d8+6.  Damage 2.
01:05, Today: Opalia rolled 13 using 1d8+6.  Damage 1.
01:04, Today: Opalia rolled 20,18 using d20+10,d20+10 with rolls of 10,8.  Attacks 1 & 2.
01:03, Today: Opalia rolled 18 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.

Caell sprang to his feet! He had not expected the enemy to come through fire and air, or however they had gotten here. It was stupid of him. How had they known where they were? Evil magic, for sure.

The nearest group of shadowy orcs came through the northern door and the elf moved to stop them. Celestial light spread from his hand and shifted across the six creatures in front of him, searing them!

Initiative 19
Move: L6
Action: Radiance of the Dawn: All enemies within 30 feet takes 22 radiant damage. Con save DC 17 for half.

The light from Caell's helm single-handedly shredded the shadows who had entered through the northern door, sending them shrieking back to the Realm from which they'd been summoned.

Just resolving this now as Caell has a high initiative and the result may influence others' actions. To that point, Opalia, you can change your action if you wish, since you are after him in initiative and there are no shadows left at the northern door.

If you wish, you can attempt to open the door, which is both barricaded by the priests from inside and held shut by heavy winds from outside. It's a DC 10 Athletics to throw it open as an action, but if you beat it by 5 it only consumes your bonus action, and if you beat it by 10 it's an object interaction (you are so strong you can open the door as easily as it were not nailed shut at all!).

Caell had already magicked the shadows away by the time Opalia reached them, but she doubted that would be the last of the danger.  Despite the barricade and the gale-force winds battering from the other side, the giantess threw the door open with ease and faced down whatever came from the other side.

---

08:22, Today: Opalia rolled 32 using 1d20+13.  Athletics.

Intending to guard the doorway for now, applying those attacks I already rolled to any enemy in reach or readying an action to hit the next baddie that gets close enough!

Cora shouted to Caell as his radiance engulfed the north side of the room

"I need to help Fergus! Keep up the pressure!"

She spared one last look to Caell before rushing towards the flame, swinging her sword in the air to loose two blasts of eldritch starry energy

OOC: initiative 18, attacks 18 (8 damage) and 15 (5 damage), move to n13 (four diagonal down right squares if my math is right)
This message was last edited by the player at 16:37, Sat 10 Sept 2022.

"Slag and rust!" Fergus gasped as the eternal flame before him darkened. He backpedaled a few steps as the eerie shadows formed, raising his talisman in an attempt to dispel them. But before he summoned Kann's assistance, screams from the common room behind him warned of a greater threat. With an uncharacteristic haste, the dwarf turned from the shadows and rushed toward the tower's center. Seeing his friends protecting the north entrance and Cora flashing eldritch energy toward the shadows behind him, he turned southward.

"Get back," he advised the innocents. "And may The Great Mountain protect us all." With wave of his hand, he conjured his spectral hammer and delivered it into the closest of the southern shadows.


22:23, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 17 using 1d20-1.  Initiative.

Action: Dash 50' to P19.
Bonus Action: Cast Spiritual Weapon at southern shadow.

23:44, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 27 using 1d20+8.  Spiritual Hammer at southern shadow.
23:44, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 8 using 1d8+4.  Force damage.

As the light from Caell's crown vanquished the shadows all around her, Opalia threw open the door as effortlessly as if there were not sturdy boards nailed across it and the gales of a storm god pushing against it from the other side. Outside, she witnessed the wrath of that storm god first hand. An enormous, winged serpent hovered some sixty feet in the sky above her, its body seeming to consist of dark cumulonimbus. Blue lightning crackled and sparked in its belly, and chunks of stone the size of the goliath's head littering the ground around her testified to the damage that lightning had done to the shrine already.

The sky was nearly as dark as the dragon's body. Heavy winds bent the mighty backs of ancient trees, and hail fell hard enough to leave craters in the frozen ground of the Obsidian Pass.

Not a full round update, just providing some new information that may be relevant to others. This is all on the northern side of the shrine. The dragon is about 50' horizontally from the door where Opalia stands and hovering 60' in the sky. Opalia, you're welcome to attempt a javelin or any other ranged attack you have available, but it will be at a disadvantage due to the heavy winds.

Like Opalia, Arvid too had further questions - like was Bjorn still alive? How had he come to lose his voice before encountering Minister Vashun in Lawton's Glen? Where was he now? But all of those questions died upon his tongue as the first crack of thunder broke above them.

Arvid stepped in close beside Opalia, bracing for the onslaught to come but Caell was faster still and the shadows melted away into nothingness - at least to the North. Behind them though he could hear the panicked screams of the glenfolk and while Opalia burst through the Northern door to confront Kinak directly, Arvid raced towards the south to place himself between the city folk and the swarming shadows.

A burst of brilliant light washed over him as he wreathed his arms and shoulders in Ildiko's avatar, buffeting against the vaetiir.

Move 50'/Dash 50' to arrive at O26.
Bonus: Summon the Arms and Visage of the Astral Self. All foes within 10' (all shadows except R27) must make a Dex saving throw DC 17 or take 6 force damage

12:03, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 6 using 2d6.  Summoning Arms.
11:03, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 9 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.

Sikuaq had been observing an uncomfortable, defensive rest huddled with the elder druids of the Quinichiat, while casting an ear now and again to conversations in other areas of the temple basement. Outside the storm howled, and she wondered if they would have enough time to put their plan in place to stall the enemy forces in the pass.

The incredible booming crash from above provided the harsh answer, immediately punctuated by the screams of the stranded travellers when squads of threatening shadow orcs seemingly appeared from nothingness.  Caell's brilliant starlight cleared the northern breach, and Arvid and Fergus bolstered the south.  Sikuaq considered the east for a moment, but was suddenly drawn northward when Opalia slammed open the door and allowed the aura of Kinak to flood the space.  Her belly lurched in response to the malice in the stormy air, chaotic anger uncoiling from her core to flow into her limbs, her heart, her mind.  The true enemy lay beyond the door - that was where she must go.

Sikuaq raced through the temple to the north door, pulling up when the fullness of Kinak's form was clear.  She raised her staff and with a fierce smile prepared to confront the enemy.

OOC:
Move plus dash to get to north door.  Not sure exactly what square that leaves me in, what with Opalia there already.  Will engage Kinak with spells next round, if I'm still alive.
21:27, Today: Secret Roll: Sikuaq rolled 11 using 1d20+2.  Initiative. Going last - boo!

Cora and Fergus managed to pick off one of the shadows, between them, but three more still surrounded the dwarf.

Sikuaq joined Opalia at the northern door, Valaku once again scrambling after her and urging caution.

Arvid sprinted to the southern door, where he stood as a lone sentry between a swarm of shadows and the humble travelers who had gathered there by the fire. The travelers, looking warily between the crumbling ceiling and the shadows at the door, chose to take their chances with the former and retreated toward the center of the shrine. Badger alone stayed to fight. Taking cover behind the hearth, she fired a crossbow bolt at one of the shadows Arvid's astral arms had wounded, but the simple weapon proved only minimally effective against the incorporeal foe.

Qastaru began to lead his guests through the now-open northern door but froze at the sight of the god-dragon outside. "Stand aside, cowards!" bellowed the skald, elbowing his way to front of the pack. He barely flinched, even at the sight of the dragon and the whipping of cold wind against his weathered face. "Onwards!"

Opalia, Caell, and Sikuaq: For this round, you all can move through difficult terrain without penalty. You also have Bless from Alan: Whenever a target makes an attack roll or a saving throw before the spell ends, the target can roll a d4 and add the number rolled to the attack roll or saving throw.

Several more shadows materialized from the storm, filling in and bolstering the ranks of those who had come before. (Two new shadows emerge in the North, one in the East, and three in the South)

"Oh, for Light's sake, finish them already!" the imperious Franco woman ordered Opalia.

Opalia, your held action was enough to destroy one of these new shadows (who are immune to Prone). As a result of this woman's command, you can take one additional attack this round.

Enooya Deepsnow ran to the center of the room, laid her hands upon the crumbling staircase, and cast Stone Shape, buttressing the shrine against Kinak's attack.

"You're wasting time!" Quenya snapped at her. "Our foe is outside." The Elder Druid joined the others at the crowded Northern door, her protector in tow.

Twice-bit Emil stood by Cora. "I am with you," he assured her.

Cora, you have advantage on your next attack or saving throw.

Outside, the thunderous dragon beat its wings and opened its mouth. The lightning crackling in its stomach leapt up its throat and out through its jaws, shaking the tower again. The shrine's guests lost their footing, and their heroes were in danger of doing the same...

Everyone please make a DC 13 Dex save or fall prone.

Caell, Opalia, Cora, and Fergus have actions now, then the shadows will attack, then Sikuaq and Arvid will be up.

Please correct and forgive my inevitable errors here, I've once again bitten off more than I should be trying to chew. :-)

With a smile back at Emil, a great eye, wreathed in flame, surrounded Cora, and she winked out of existence only to wink into existence before the shadows menacing Fergus, slashing twice with the Starbound Blade



"Easy for her to say! I can't be everywhere at once!"

As the ground shook she braced herself and continued to press into the shadows

OOC: bonus action far step, attacks 19 (16 dmg) and 18 (17 dmg), 15 on the dex save

Caell fell down when the tower shook, but quickly climbed back to his feet. He only had a hint of what was outside the northern door, but realized it was something big. There were many people before the exit, however, and it was blocked by more shadows, so Caell wasn't sure where he would be the most effective. He glanced around the room and spotted Arvid alone. That was where he would help.

He took a few steps south, then summoned a great wall of light that covered the southern end of the shrine, enveloping the entire first row of shadows.

Move: Stand, then go to L28
Action: Cast Wall of Light covering all of row 46 inside the building. The 5 shadows within the wall suffer 23 radiant damage and are blinded for 1 minute. Con save DC 17 for half and not blinded. The wall remains for 10 min. It blocks visibility, but creatures can pass through it.

Fergus stumbled amid the falling debris, but struggled again to his feet. Holding his steel talisman aloft, he marched toward the shadows in the southern doorway with grim determination in his voice.

"Mimm afjollor farurm!" he scowled, steel glowing in his palm. "Dark spirits begone!"

Then with a wave of his hand, his lingering spectral hammer darted into one of the remaining shadows.


23:26, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 8 using 1d20-1.  Dex save.
Move: Stand, then forward 25' to P42.
Action: Turn undead on all shadows within 30'. DC16 WIS save or be turned (or destroyed if CR1 or lower).
Bonus Action: Spiritual hammer on an unturned shadow.

23:39, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 25 using 1d20+8.  Spiritual Hammer at southern shadow.
23:39, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 7 using 1d8+4.  Force damage.

Opalia held the threshold against shadow and storm alike, smashing the invading shades with frozen fury.  After scattering the first shadow she battered the other far out into the raging storm, then stalked after it and destroyed it as well.  With that done, the giantess hefted a throwing spear off her back and hurled it at the storm dragon with enough force to skewer an auroch.

Standing alone with hair and hides whipping in the gale, Opalia roared a challenge louder than the storm, "FIGHT ME, CRAVEN STORM-WORM!"

---

• Dex save 13 succeeds, don't fall prone
• ATTACK against Shadows, focusing on one until it dies then moving to next
  1. Hit 20 AC for 13 cold damage
  2. Hit 30(!) AC for 10 cold damage
  3. Bonus attack hits 31(!!!) AC for 12 cold damage with Pushing Attack
     • Shadow must make DC 17 Str save or be pushed 15 feet north
• Move 15 feet north to follow the shadow, if it survived and failed the save
• ACTION SURGE to attack more!  Hit shadow if it still lives, then throw javelin at storm dragon
  1. Hit shadow 21 AC for 7 cold damage
  2. Probably miss dragon 14 AC (disadvantage range), but if it hits deal 9 non-magical piercing including Goading Attack maneuver
     • Storm dragon must make a DC 17 Wis save or take disadvantage on all attacks not targeting Opi, until end of my next turn
• Protection fighting style at the ready if an ally next to Opi is attacked

00:51, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 7,9 using d8+6,d6+5+d10 with rolls of 1,3,1.  Melee damage + javelin damage + maneuver.
00:49, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 21,28 using d20+10+d4,d20+10+d4 with rolls of 7,4;16,2.  Action surge attacks 1 & 2 +bless.
00:34, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 12 using d8+6+d10 with rolls of 1,5.  Bonus attack damage + maneuver.
00:32, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 31 using d20+10+d4 with rolls of 19,2.  Bonus attack +bless.
00:29, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 10,8 using d8+6,d8+6.  Attacks 1 & 2 damages.
00:28, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 16,30 using d20+10+d4,d20+10+d4.  Attacks 1 & 2 + bless.
00:24, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 13 using 1d20+2.  Dex save.

A wall of blazing light appeared at Caell's, barring the southern door and incinerating those shadows caught inside. Those not so incinerated held back, fearful of meeting the same fate.

Opalia battered her way through the last of the shadows blocking the northern door and out into the wailing storm, where she stood alone in the face of the god Kinak's wrath. "FIGHT ME, CRAVEN STORM-WORM!" she shouted, hurling a javelin. The missile was lost to the winds, but the dragon's neck of black clouds bent so that its eye could stare at her, just as it had when she'd peered through the air vent in its Shadowrealm lair.

Cora, meanwhile, sliced through the very fabric of time and space to appear by the black fire where Fergus had been a moment before. Her golden blade sang as it cut down the creatures it was forged to destroy.

The remaining shadows retaliated, swarming and slashing at the half-orc. "Look out!" Emil shouted, hurrying to join her.

One miss, one hit for 18 damage and 2 strength drain. I don't recall the wording on the Starbound Blade but you can use the reaction to negate the strength drain against yourself if you like.

You have advantage on your next attack.

Fergus, reeling from the shadows' claws, staggered south, where the blessing of his god banished what shadows lingered there.

The travelers who had sought refuge there still looked reluctant to pass through the wall of shimmering light. "Hurry! While the way is clear," Badger shouted, leading the way herself. Three of them followed her through, but one old man, limping, fell behind. Winded, he seized upon Arvid's shoulder to keep from collapsing.

Qastaru Canton and his crew continued to mill about by the northern door, some shoving toward the entrance, others holding back in terror of the dragon outside. "Idiots!" the noblewoman scolded them. "Do you plan to flee into an orcish army? Lawton's Glen is this way." She stomped south through the center of the tower, heedless of the risk of collapse. The tourists looked to Qastaru, who, frozen as a startled deer, nodded weakly and followed.

Enooya, who had already reinforced the walls once with powerful magic, cursed them. Lacking the strength to cast the spell again, she obeyed her elder and moved toward the dragon-god at the northern door.

Quenya and her ranger companion were already outside. The elder druid raised her hands, beckoning toward an unseen sun. To Kinak's outrage, she carved a hole in the god's storm through which blinding light seared the storm god.

Quenya cast Sunburst. Kinak used a legendary resistance to reduce the damage and avoid being blinded.

"We must fight with them," Valaku told Sikuaq. Before joining the front line, he lay his hands firmly on her shoulders and infused her with the most powerful magic he possessed.

Sikuaq, you have Resistance to Lightning damage.

Alan looked reluctant to venture outside, but the skald slapped on the back with a hand heavy enough to nearly knock him over. "Can't linger here, lad," he advised with a smile. "Glory awaits!" He led the lad outside, singing a valiant song.

Everyone in the Northern group can move unhindered through difficult terrain. Ranged attacks are still at disadvantage due to the high winds, though.

Arvid and Sikuaq have actions now, then Kinak is up.

Sikuaq agreed with Valaku's tactical assessment and added a short sentiment of gratitude.  "Thank you, for everything," she said, holding his hand for a brief moment before letting him run off after Quenya.  The tremendous shaking of the temple temporarily upended her but she followed as quickly as she was able, finally skidding to a halt slightly to the right of the group.  Spreading out some should make them a more difficult target for Kinak.

Finally confronted with the full vision of His current draconic avatar, Sikuaq felt the full force of his presence as it beat down upon her.  The fiery chaos within her raged back with equal ferocity, demanding release so that it might take revenge upon the North Wind.  I will suffocate Him in flames.  I will burn him to ash and cinders!. She cried out in anguish from the struggle to maintain control but the clash of the two powers was too great to fully resist.  Her hair suddenly burst into flames, and her eyes danced with flickering firelight.  Two golden orange tentacles of flaming lava erupted from her midsection, and a deep laughter dripped from her open mouth.  But traces still remained: the set of her chin, the way her arms moved.  Sikuaq was still there, in part.

Together then.

With staff held out in one hand, Sikuaq called forth the power of flame.  The now-familiar phoenix screeched through the howling winds and exploded into a billowing globe of flames as it reached Kinak.

OOC:

09:54, Today: Secret Roll: Sikuaq rolled 10 using 1d20+2.  DEX Save.  Fail.  Half movement after standing? (don't have rules handy)

Move toward R19, as far as remaining movement will allow.  Intend to spread out slightly so Kinak can't catch us all in one blast of lightning.

Cast Fireball at Kinak.  DC17 DEX save for half damage.
09:59, Today: Secret Roll: Sikuaq rolled 30 using 8d6.  Fireball.

"Steady, grandfather," Arvid said with a kindly smile as he helped the old man to his feet. "You are safe here in the light, so long as we stand. But I must go and help."

Turning back towards the sounds of battle, Arvid cut across the center of the shrine bounding over stools and racing past Fergus to arrive at the doors the forge where Cora was locked in battle with the remaining shadows.

"Go!" he urged. "Your help is needed outside. I will keep these ones off your back."

Move 50'-> U34.
Action: Attack. Reach 10'.
1) Hits AC 13 for 7 force damage
2) Hits AC 22 for 9 force damage
3) Hits AC 21 for 8 force damage
4) Hits AC 15 for 11 force damage

11:41, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 7,9,8,11 using 1d6+5,1d6+5,1d6+5,1d6+5.  Damage.
11:41, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 13,22,21,15 using 1d20+9,1d20+9,1d20+9,1d20+9.  Attack.

With the aid of her staff, Sikuaq rose to her feet and emerged from the crumbling shrine with the words of a spell on her lips. Kinak was slow to react, and the fireball caught him full force in the chest, eliciting a thunderous howl that shook the sky. Arvid sprinted through the emptying hall to dispatch the last of the shadows by Cora, the half-orc having already exploded one who'd tried to strike her with a burst of radiant energy from the Starbound Blade.

New shadows continued to emerge, however: two from the dark flame in the ancient brazier, one in the faces of those challenging Kinak, and four behind those fleeing the shrine.

The clouds forming the dragons body grew darker, so that they were illuminated even more spectacularly by the lightning coursing blue and orange in its belly. Kinak swooped in closer. Tornadic wings flew from it, followed by a bolt of lightning that arced across the front line.

Opalia: You take 39 lightning damage, halved to 19 on a DC 18 Dex save. Then, make a DC 20 Dex save or take 12 bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone.

Kinak is now hovering only 10' above the ground. There was no attack against the shrine this round, but it does seem likely to start collapsing if hit with another breath attack.

Caell, Opalia, Cora, and Fergus are up.

Cora was winked out of existence again, and appeared near the door, running into the fray to blast at the dragon and take up her sword to fight

OOC: far step to O25 and then move up to O20, two blasts 20 and 10 damage 11 and 9 respectively. Sadly 10ft in the air is too high to try the sword yet . . .

The storm dragon's body darkened into an ominous thunderhead that built up to a bright bolt of blue-orange lightning focused directly on the front line!  With a roar Opalia crossed Frostfall and a hardened bracer in front of her and braced herself.  The bolt struck her guard, but rather than incinerating the giantess the bolt split in twain against her guard, spreading into many smaller arcs that burnt craters in the ground to either side of her.  A maelstrom of winds roared all around, but when the dust and debris settled Opalia stood fast with bracer and weapon both smoking, but entirely unharmed.

The giantess snarled against the storm, "Is that your BEST, STORM-WORM?!  OPALIA did expect BETTER."

With that, Opalia charged forward and kicked the nearest shadow out of her way as she leaped straight into the storm dragon!  As the giantess soared at the enemy Frostfall swept a freezing arc through its thunderhead body to strike fear into the heart of a god.

---

Off-turn

• Dex save against lightning succeeds with a 21
  • As a reaction, use Shield Master ability to take zero damage instead of half damage!
• Dex save against knockdown succeeds with a 20

Turn

• Move 5 feet to O18
• ATTACK!
  • Before attacking, use a bonus action to shove the Shadow 5 feet, unless it can beat a 25 with its Athletics or Acrobatics
  • Use prior 5-foot running start (Athlete feat) for an 8-foot vertical leap
  1. CRIT the dragon for 29 cold damage, including Menacing Attack maneuver!  It must make a DC 17 Wisdom save or be frightened of Opi until end of my next turn
  2. Miss the dragon with 17 vs. AC
• Drop back to ground in O18
• Protection fighting style at the ready if an ally next to Opi is attacked

12:55, Today: Opalia rolled 29 using 2d8+2d10+6.  Attack 1 crit damage +maneuver.
12:53, Today: Opalia rolled 30,17 using d20+10,d20+10 with rolls of 20,7.  Frostfall attacks 1 & 2.
12:50, Today: Opalia rolled 25 using 1d20+13.  Shield Master shove.
12:35, Today: Opalia rolled 20 using 1d20+2.  Dex save 2.
12:33, Today: Opalia rolled 21 using 1d20+2.  Dex save.

Frightened condition (for reference in case Menacing Attack lands):

• 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.

Caell had to make his way out. For one thing, the shrine looked like it might collapse, but most of all he needed to face their main enemy. He sprinted northeast to the door, next to Sikuaq and finally got a good look at the monstrous form of Kinak. He shuddered.

Move to O22 (just outside the door)

Glad to see Cora using her magic to get out as well, Caell called out to the others. "Fergus! Arvid! This way!" Then he focused on the monstrous dragon. He drew sacred light between his hands and flung it at Kinak!

Action: Sacred Flame against Kinak for 18 radiant damage. Dex save DC 17 for no damage.

Fergus turned toward Caell's call, following the ever more confident elf toward the northern door. His trick knee howled in protest and his depleted strength staggered beneath his chainmail. Still, he pressed on, drawing Dawnstrike from his side as he ran. The energy bound within the maul was evident now and the dwarf could feel an even stronger bond to Kann.

Although his back was turned from the southern shadows he felt even more control over the spectral hammer that still hovered among them. He struck with it again, the handle on his maul crackling as he did.

Fergus is only now realizing the added benefit of using his reforged maul (i.e. I just reread the OOC post about it).
Action: Dash 50' due north to P32.
Bonus action: spiritual hammer (still present from a few rounds ago) at southern shadow. Hits ac14 for 11 damage.

00:30, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 14 using 1d20+9.  Spiritual hammer shadow.
00:32, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 11 using 1d8+5.  force damage.

Light streamed from Caell's glowing hands as he exited the tower, but the dragon twisted in the sky above, evading the bolt. As it did so, however, it exposed its vulnerable underbelly.

Opalia shoved the shadow aside and, with a mighty leap, soared through the air to smash her maul into Kinak's body, which, though it appeared to be composed of lightning and cloud, resonated with a satisfying thump upon being struck.

"Hah!" the god laughed as Opalia landed with a heavy thud. "Is that your best? I expected no better." Kinak did not seem intimidated by the goliath, but there was perhaps some small satisfaction in goading him into petty insults.

Cora vanished before the newly appeared shadows could strike her, reappearing outside between Caell and Opalia. Her blast of eldritch energy struck the startled god squarely between his electric eyes.

Fergus sprinted north, bludgeoning a shadow with his spiritual hammer as he ran.

Enooya, now outside, summoned a vine to erupt up out of the snow and seize at the storm dragon, which burst free of the grasping plant with sky-shaking roar. The Elder Druid, noting the potential effectiveness of the spell, summoned a vine of her own, which Kinak evaded. (He burned another legendary resistance here)

Valaku and his fellow ranger loosed four arrows between them, all of which were lost to the whipping winds.

The skald changed up his tune and began singing his praise for Opalia's athleticism. (For this round, Opalia, Sikuaq, Valaku, and Caell gain a +2 to Strength saving throws and Athletics checks.)

Alan picked himself up off the ground and shook his head to clear it. He'd evidently been quite jarred by the wind from Kinak's wings throwing him against the temple wall. "I'd better go help the guests," he said, running off to the south.

Emil, seeing Cora suddenly vanish, looked to Arvid. "Guess it's just you and me," he said. (Arvid, you have advantage on your next attack or ability check.)

Qastaru and his guests got as far as the wall of light at the south door, then stopped, sensing the shadows who lay just beyond.

"Go!" Badger shouted to those already outside. "I'll hold them off." The threw her small body in front of the shadows and prepared to die.

Two of the guests fled south, but the third was torn to pieces by the shadows' claws as he attempted to follow. Three of the creatures then fell upon badger, leaving the fourth to chase after those who had fled.

One of the guests has been killed and will, after a few hours, come back as a shadow. The other two are fleeing. One shadow has caught up to them but has not yet attacked. Badger dodged all three attacks against her (she took the Dodge action).

Sikuaq and Arvid are up.

"Pull back," Arvid said, turning to face Emil. "I have to help them to the North. It's going to be alright." The Northman offered what he hoped to be a reassuring smile before taking off towards the open door at a dead sprint. Passing Fergus and rapidly gaining on Cael and Sikuaq, Arvid leapt through the threshold and soared over the heads of his companions to crash into the avatar of Kinak. Scrambling for purchase he took tenuous hold of the beast with one claw before swinging up to rake at its eyes with the other.

Spending 1 ki for Step of the Wind.
Move/(Bonus)Dash up to 100', jump height 16', long jump distance 40'
Action: Attack
1) Grapple, Atheltics 14 to hold on. This could have gone better ;)
2) Claw, critical hit, maximum damage, for 17 force. Spending 1 ki for stunning strike (see below).

11:27, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 17 using 2d6+5.  Damage.
11:26, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 29 using 1d20+9.  Attack.
11:26, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 14 using 2d20+9, dropping the lowest dice only.  Athletics, Grapple. Advantage from Emil.

Stunning Strike (Special)
When you hit with a melee weapon attack, you can spend 1 ki point to make the target stunned until the end of your next turn if it fails a CON saving throw (DC 17).

With her staff curled in the grip of a lave tentacle, Sikuaq stepped to her right to open some space up between potential targets and then refocused her burning gaze on the storm dragon.  Fire had worked the first time so why not again?.  Sparks tumbled from her mouth as she laughed at the thought, and then with a thrust of her hands sent another streaking phoenix at Kinak's avatar.  It soared high at the dragon's neck and head to avoid those on the ground, before exploding in a golden-red ball of flames.

OOC:
Move 10 feet right, to R22.

Cast Fireball at Kinak, aimed high to spare those on the ground from the blast.  DEX Save DC17 for half damage.
16:07, Today: Secret Roll: Sikuaq rolled 25 using 8d6.  Fireball.  Ugh, phooey!

Fire burned in Sikuaq's eyes, and her skin darkened as if charred by some unseen flame. "Anatka!" Valaku cried, but if the druid heard him, she did not react. Another fireball flew from her staff. This time Kinak twisted his great body so that the fire only grazed him.

Arvid, legs churning at supernatural speed, sprinted out of the tower and past his companions to soar through the air, seize the dragon by its wing, and scramble onto its back.

Kinak, already distracted by avoiding the fireball, did not realize the danger until it was too late. Lightning surged up from the god's stomach, and this time he directed it not at the tower but at those attacking him. A sizzling blue bold ripped its way through Opalia, Cora, and Caell. Then, beating his wings, he rose into the air, thrashing with his tail and somersaulting in an attempt to throw the stubborn Northman from his back.

Shadows continued to swarm, manifesting as if from thin air to threaten the heroes and those attempting to flee the tower alike. Badger, who a moment ago had appeared to have her situation under control thanks to some artful dodging, suddenly found herself surrounded.

Cora, Opalia, Caell: DC 16 Dex save for 26 lightning damage, 13 with save.
Arvid: DC 6 Athletics or Acrobatics check to maintain your grip. I'd like to treat a Nat 1 as a failure, so please roll even if your modifier would otherwise make this a trivial success.

Rough rolls for Kinak: Rolled a Nat 1 on his tail attack, and a 6 and a 2 for his Acrobatics checks.

Kinak is now 50' above the ground. If Cora or anyone else joins Arvid on Kinak's back, you can (without using any kind of action) give each other advantage on your checks to remain on his back. He is getting a free attempt to throw you from his back each round.

Opalia, Cora, Caell, and Fergus are up now.

As the lightning hit her, Cora disappeared and appeared above Kinak, swinging down with her sword and around, planting her feet on the dragon's back even as the blade failed to strike true

OOC: Athletics 24, failed the dex save and attacks were 13 and 11

Caell felt the pain of the lightning surge through his body. It left him dazed, and he was unable to maintain focus on the spell he had conjured at the south side of the shrine.

Failed dex save with a 10 and took 26 lightning damage.
Lost concentration on the Wall of Light.

That didn't matter right now. He watched the dragon rise in the air, and then spotted Cora materializing on his back! Arvid already had a hold on the monster. He couldn't let them do this alone!

Stepping forward, Caell reached Opalia. "You come too?" He motioned for the back of the dragon and reached out to touch her arm. Then he cast a spell that could bring both him and one of his companion atop Kinak too!

Casting Dimension Door. Will bring Opalia if she agrees. Target destination is Kinak's back, where Caell will do his best to keep everyone from falling down.

Opalia cleaved the lightning breath in twain with her stout bracer, driving the excess energy away from herself and into the dirt.  She glowered up at the fleeing tempest dragon and considering climbing the broken tower to give chase.  That was when Caell approached and tapped her arm to ask if she would come along and gestured toward the dragon high above.  Not at all knowing what he meant, she said, "Um, YES!  We go?"

No sooner had the words left her lips than the giantess and the Quinichiat were whisked away together to ride the storm!  Opalia planted boots and grabbed a firm one-handed hold on whatever material part of Kinak was in reach, then proceeded to smash Frostfall into the mighty foe again and again.  She meant to ensure the bad-dragon knew well that this would be its end, even if she had to be dragged up into the skies to see it done.

---

Off-turn

• Dex save against lightning succeeds with a 16
• As a reaction, use Shield Master ability to take zero damage instead of half damage!
• Teleport to dragonback with Caell!

Turn

• ATTACK the dragon![list]
  1. Hit 18 AC for 17 cold damage including Goading Attack maneuver!  DC 17 Wis save or dragon has disadvantage on attacks targeting anyone but Opi
  2. Hit 27 AC for 12 cold damage and do a Grappling Strike!  34 Athletics to grapple the dragon, just to hang on
• Protection fighting style at the ready if an ally next to Opi is attacked

12:59, Today: Opalia rolled 32 using 1d20+13.  Grappling Strike Athletics.
12:40, Today: Opalia rolled 9,2 using d10,d10.  Maneuvers.
12:34, Today: Opalia rolled 8,12 using d8+6,d8+6.  Frostfall damages.
12:33, Today: Opalia rolled 18,27 using d20+10+d4,d20+10+d4 with rolls of 4,4;15,2.  Frostfall attacks 1 and 2 +bless.
12:31, Today: Opalia rolled 16 using 1d20+2.  Dex save.

The battle raged on in the north, but Fergus could ignore neither the huddling masses near the southern doorway nor the brave (foolish?) dwarf who fought bravely outside it. With a wave of his arms, he conjured a roaring circle of flames around Badger, hoping to incinerate the shadows that antagonized her.

"Move it," he shouted to the others at the southern end of the tower. "There is no safe passage that way."

He doubted there was safe passage in any direction, but held out hope that this new Starbound Alliance, his friends, were their best option for survival. With a determined gaze, he hobbled toward the chaos beyond the northern doorway, fishing in his pocket for the wooden bear figurine, Little Ildiko, in case it would be needed.

Action: Cast Wall of Flame around Badger (5' radius) if possible. Otherwise will ignite a straight line wall through row 48. DC16 Dex save or 27 fire damage (1/2 that on a save).
Bonus Action: Spiritual Weapon vs. remaining southern shadow (if one can be seen around wall of fire. Hits AC21 for 11 force damage.
Move: Hobble forward 25' to P27 (will finally hit the doorway next round).

23:23, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 27 using 5d8.  Wall of Fire damage.
23:25, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 21 using 1d20+9. Spiritual Hammer vs. any remaining southern shadow.
23:25, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 11 using 1d8+5.  Spiritual Hammer damage (southern shadow).


This is my 1000th post!

Caell ran to Opalia, laid a hand on her arm, and vanished along with the goliath, only to appear a moment later on the storm dragon's back. One of the shadows raked him with its claws as the Quinichiat ran headlong past. Moments later, Cora appeared beside them.

Caell had to take an opportunity attack to reach Opalia. Shadow hits AC 15 for 10 necrotic damage and a Strength drain of 1, though Cora may wish to use her reaction to negate the Strength drain.

Opalia, Kinak is too large to grapple. Your first attack missed, so I applied Goading Attack to the second as well, but Kinak passed the save (on a Nat 20!)

At Fergus's command, a Wall of Fire sprung up around the embattled Badger. Only one of the shadows caught within survived the initial burst, and that one was quickly dispatched by the dwarf's spiritual hammer. The remaining shadows fled the flames in pursuit of the escaping temple guests. Badger fired an arrow through the flames but, blinded by smoke, failed to strike her target.

Further south, another of the guests fell to a shadow's claws as he attempted to flee.

Emil followed Fergus to the northern exit of the shrine, while the shadows inside closed on Qastaru Canton and his tourists, who now found themselves trapped between the shadows at the fire at the door.

Outside, the shadows that had appeared nearest to Kinak landed a few weak hits on Quenya and her cohort before Valaku and other ranger handily dispatched them.

The elder druid, for her part, seemed now more concerned by Sikuaq's staff than by the attacking dragon. She pointed a finger, and vines grew from the ground, attempting to bind the younger druid's arms and legs.

"Stop it!" Valaku demanded. "What are you doing?!"

"What are you doing?" Quenya retorted, her voice cold and hard but not raised. "What have you been doing? Your first duty is to protect your anatka. You allowed her to become this.

She's casting Hold Person on Sikuaq. DC 18 Wisdom save or be paralyzed. You can repeat the save on your turn. Two other options:

1. Give in completely to the staff's corruption and roll the save with advantage.
2. Submit voluntarily to Quenya and do not attempt to save.

Sikuaq and Arvid are up now.

From atop Kinak's back, the spirit of Ildiko roared with a fervor to shake the stones of Rhoda's shrine. Claw after claw rained down like hammer blows, ripping and tearing at the god of storms and threatening to send him plummeting from the sky.

Status: Arms and Visage of the Astral Self
Action: Attack
Bonus: Flurry (1 Ki)
1) Hits AC 20 for 10 force damage -> Spend 1 Ki for stunning strike
2) Critical hit for 17 force damge -> If above fails, spending 1 Ki for stunning strike
3) Hits AC 15 (miss)
4) Hits AC 16 (miss)
R) Sentinel strike hits AC 25 for 6 for damage and halts movement if applicable

10:27, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 10,17 using 1d6+5,2d6+5.  Damage.
10:23, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 20,29,15,16 using 1d20+9,1d20+9,1d20+9,1d20+9.  Attack.

10:37, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 6 using 1d6+5.  Damage.
10:36, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 25 using 1d20+9.  Sentinel strike.

Stunning Strike (Special)
When you hit with a melee weapon attack, you can spend 1 ki point to make the target stunned until the end of your next turn if it fails a CON saving throw (DC 17).

Sikuaq noted the appearance of her companions atop Kinak's back with some surprise, before barking out a pleased laugh that dribbled glowing cinders from her lips.  It was an unexpected, bold move.  Kinak surely had not expected that!

The flaming explosions that she had levelled at the towering dragon had emboldened her and Sikuaq felt the fiery power within her growing more and more insistent.  Her head was wreathed in a corona of burning tresses, her eyes were pools of molten lava and sparks hissed and popped as they dancing in the air about her.  Narrowing her gaze at the dragon's regal head, she raised the staff again and made ready to rain more fire upon Kinak when suddenly her arm jerked backwards.  Startled, Sikuaq glanced at the vines tightly gripping her arm and now snaking about her legs to bind them together.  Flashing eyes turned to Quenya, settling with incendiary anger upon the source of her suddenly immobility.

What was she playing at?  They were in the midst of fighting the North Wind Himself, and Quenya would tie one hand behind her back?  It was ludicrous!  Did she want them to fail?

She wants you to fail, the answered sounded inside her, eager, venomous, hungry.

Never!  I will not pay this cost for nothing!

A snarl coursed across the anatka's blackened features and with a scream of fury and spray of flames, she burst the bonds that sought to hold her.  Crisped leaves and smoking woody tendrils fell to the wayside as Sikuaq flexed her power.  She spat in disdain at Quenya, a gob of lava that sizzled when it hit the ground between them.  "Fight the Enemy or get out of my way!" she shouted fiercely.

Returning her attention to Kinak, Sikuaq struggled a moment to control her emotions.  Her intent required careful aim and giving in to her anger could quite likely do more harm than good.  Do not think, act! came the call, but she fought it off.  Another screeching phoenix shot from her fingers to a point just above the dragon, where it exploded in another burst of flames that threatened to engulf His head.

OOC:
21:44, Yesterday: Secret Roll: Sikuaq rolled 18 using 1d20+9.  Saving Throw.  Pass on the number!

Cast Fireball at Kinak, positioning to avoid friendly dragon riders.  DEX save vs DC17 to take half damage.
13:31, Today: Secret Roll: Sikuaq rolled 28 using 8d6.  Fireball.
19:45, Today: Secret Roll: Sikuaq rolled 25 using 1d20+9.  Wisdom Save (DC15) to control Fireball aim.

The dragon's great body shook as Arvid's bear-fists slammed into it from above. It twisted to evade the brunt of Sikuaq's carefully aimed fireball but was nevertheless sent reeling by the force of the impact. Instead of resisting, Kinak let his body be borne backwards by the brunt of the burst. He rolled as he went, endeavoring to shake the hangers-on from his back.

He came to a halt facing the Miracle Shrine and released one last bolt of lightning at the stone edifice. The walls collapsed in a cacophony worthy of an avalanche, kicking up a cloud of dust and snow that blinded and gagged those nearby and spewing debris at them. Kinak wheeled again, beat his heavy wings, and began flying back down the mountain toward the orcish arm, with Arvid, Opalia, Caell, and Cora still on his back.

The one spot of good news was that, with Kinak's retreat, his shadowy serpents stopped spilling forth into the Mortal Realm.

Fergus: you take 32 bludgeoning damage from the collapsing ceiling, halved to 16 with a DC 18 Dex save. On a fail, you are also knocked prone.
Sikuaq: you take 16 halved to 8 with a DC 15 Dex save. On a fail, you are also knocked prone.
Caell, Cora, Arvid, Opalia: DC 14 Acrobatics or Athletics to avoid falling from Kinak's back. All four of you may roll with advantage. Falling will result in 8d6 bludgeoning damage.

Kinak is now 80' off the ground.

Caell, Cora, Opalia, and Fergus are up now.

There is currently debris blocking both entrances to the tower and many tiles within. You cannot pass through or over it, but anyone can spend 5' of movement to remove debris from any tile, after which it will be passable for everyone. This will also be necessary to rescue anyone trapped beneath.


This message was last edited by the GM at 15:09, Thu 06 Oct 2022.

Caell was so close to being thrown off. The terrible creature bucked, and for several long seconds Caell was flying! He did manage to hang on, however. This made him realize that one way or another, they were coming down. Either they'd kill Kinak and he'd crash, or Kinak would throw them off. To prepare for any of those eventualities, Caell cast a spell.

Used that Bardic Inspiration from before to secure a 17 on the Athletics check.
Casting Levitate using the Ascendant Step invocation.

Cora raised the Starbound Blade, tendrils of aurora forming across Kinak's body as she drove it down and brought it up and down again!

OOC: hexblade's curse, make the Athletics check, attack 28 (19 damage), and 18 (25 damage)

She tried not to think about the people dying. She tried to push through. Kinak would kill them all, and only strength and fury could buy their lives back from the beyond.

Riding a storm dragon across the skies with little friends was a thrilling adventure for Opalia, although the fact Kinak was doing his best to destroy them and all of civilization put a damper on the experience.  Even so, the giantess couldn't help but let out a whoop of excitement as Kinak dove, rolled and reeled amidst explosive magic!

Opalia's bellow of anger was lost in the thunderous roar as the storm dragon breathed a bolt of lightning that blasted through the Shrine of Roda and triggered a catastrophic collapse.  Securing her iron grip on the dragon's back, the giantess clouted its stormy head with her weapon in a desperate effort to knock the dread beast out of the sky.

---

Off-turn

• Athletics check to keep mounted succeeds with a 32 (gosh!)

Turn

• ATTACK the dragon!
  1. Hit 26 AC for 13 cold damage
  2. Hit 20 AC for 12 cold damage
• This probably won't work, but use Shield Master feat to Shove Kinak as a bonus action!  30 Athletics contested by Kinak's choice of Athletics or Acrobatics, or be knocked prone
• Protection fighting style at the ready if an ally next to Opi is attacked

17:28, Today: Opalia rolled 30 using d20+13+d4.  Shield Master shove +bless.
17:26, Today: Opalia rolled 13,12 using d8+6,d8+6.  Frostfall damages 1 & 2.
17:26, Today: Opalia rolled 1 using 1d4.  Bless.
17:25, Today: Opalia rolled 26,19 using d20+10,d20+10 with rolls of 16,9.  Frostfall attacks 1 & 2.
17:23, Today: Opalia rolled 32 using 2d20+13, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 19,6.  Athletics (advantage).

Flying Movement (Basic Rules):

Flying creatures enjoy many benefits of mobility, but they must also deal with the danger of falling. If a flying creature is knocked prone, has its speed reduced to 0, or is otherwise deprived of the ability to move, the creature falls, unless it has the ability to hover or it is being held aloft by magic, such as by the fly spell.

As Fergus loped toward the northern doorway, he stopped, realizing the commoners behind him were defenseless against the advancing shadows. Torn between helping his friends and helping strangers in dire need, he finally turned. "By Kann's might hammer, I need to be in two places at once. Let's hope this is the right decision."

He took a single stride back toward the south when the tower collapsed around him. "Slag and rust!" he cried as he was pummeled mercilessly by a shower of stone from above, falling to he knees. "I've got to get to those poor people." The dwarf pushed the debris around him to the side, rushing ahead in spite of a howling protest from his trick knee.

"Maybe I can't get there fast enough," he thought. "But I know someone who can."

He had already been digging in his pocket for the wooden trinket he had carved. He rubbed his thumb over its head, then flung it as far as he could. When it landed, he summoned the divine help of the Great Mountain. With a single word, he transformed the trinket into a full sized bear. "Save the commoners, Lilly. They're buried under the debris. And don't let the shadows near them."


23:33, Yesterday: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 15 using 1d20-1.  DC 18 Dex save.
23:42, Yesterday: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 2 using 1d6.  Bardic inspiration (can I call it after my d20 roll or is that cheating?).

Move: 5' of movement to clear debris in P28, then advance to Q31.
Action: Activate Wooden Defender (after throwing it as far as possible).
Bonus Action: Command Little Ildiko to help trapped people.

Remember: Everyone benefits from Bardic Inspiration and can add a d6 to a single, future die roll. Got me to within 1 point of passing my dex save!

Fergus will also stop concentrating on the wall of fire around Badger.

The last of the guests to flee the tower continued his mad rush down the path toward Lawton's Glen, vanishing from sight. Three shadows pursued him, however, and it was hard to imagine he would continue to evade their evil claws.

Badger, no longer imprisoned by flames, immediately returned to the collapsed shrine and began digging like the beast whose name she bore. The old man with the limp was already dead, but there seemed to be hope for the others buried in the rubble, if they could be reached quickly enough.

Fergus was already on his way, fighting his way south through the basement's collapsed ceiling. He threw his wooden carving as far as he could manage, and by the time it struck the grown it had grown into a full-sized bear which joined Badger in digging from the other side.

"You will submit at once!" Quenya commanded Sikuaq, attempting again to restrain her with magic.

"Enough!" Valaku shouted. He stepped toward the elder druid, obsidian blades whirring in an attack designed to disrupt her concentration rather than kill her. Nonetheless, Quenya's own ranger protector responded with ferocious slashes of his own. One grazed Valaku's armor while the other drew blood.

Enooya, ignoring their drama, knelt by the skald who'd been struck by an especially large chunk of stone and cured the worst of his wounds.

Meanwhile, the heroes on Kinak's back continued to stab into the body of the angry god as he retreated. Though injured, he kept flying until Opalia leveraged her shield against one of his great, beating wings. With strength that even a goliath would regard as supernatural, she bore the wing down, forcing the storm dragon to spiral into the ground, where it skidded to a stop in the cold snow, still thrashing.

Kinak is still alive but has been knocked prone. He and everyone on his back takes 29 falling damage, halved to 15 with a DC 21 Athletics or Acrobatics check. Those who fail the check will be thrown from his back. Caell and anyone else (Arvid?) who is able to avoid the falling damage must still make the check if you wish to remain on his back.

Sikuaq, same deal as before. DC 18 Wisdom save or be paralyzed. You can repeat the save on your turn. Two other options:

1. Give in completely to the staff's corruption and roll the save with advantage.
2. Submit voluntarily to Quenya and do not attempt to save.

There are still survivors trapped in the rubble inside the shrine, making death saves. Everyone outside the shrine is on their feet except Alan, who ran off around the west side of the tower - you don't know his status.

Sikuaq and Arvid are up now.

Arvid had not been expecting Kinak to plummet when it did, and when the storm spirit started its downward descent Arvid was pitched forward and landed effortlessly like a lynx upon the snow. "Hang on!" he shouted, sprinting after the falling God. "I'm coming!"

Reaching the impact crater the Northman leapt upon his crumpled foe before it could soundly get its bearings and resumed his hammer blows with fist and claw.

Athletics check fails, however Arvid takes no damage from falling and has 50' of movement to catch up to Kinak so I presume he can still reach his target.

Spending 1 ki to flurry and up to 3ki for stunning strikes (stopping once Kinak fails 1).

1) Hits AC 19 for 11 damage
2) Hits AC 24 for 10 damage
3) Hits AC 22 for 8 damage
4) Hits AC 21 for 7 damage

Stunning Strike (Special)
When you hit with a melee weapon attack, you can spend 1 ki point to make the target stunned until the end of your next turn if it fails a CON saving throw (DC 17).

R) Sentinel strike misses (if triggered)

10:45, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 11,10,8,7 using 1d6+5,1d6+5,1d6+5,1d6+5.  Damage.

10:44, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 21 using 2d20+9, dropping the lowest dice only.  Attack.

10:44, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 22 using 2d20+9, dropping the lowest dice only.  Attack.

10:44, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 24 using 2d20+9, dropping the lowest dice only.  Attack.

10:44, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 19 using 2d20+9, dropping the lowest dice only.  Attack.

The blast of lightning into the temple tower caught Sikuaq off guard and, despite raising her arms to shield herself, the debris raining down knocked her to the ground and left her bruised and bloodied.  But she was unbowed and leapt back to her feet, intent on chasing down the fleeing storm dragon.  It was only after her first step that she felt the grasping vines of Quenya's magic again.



Sikuaq snarled at head of the Council in response to the demand, and felt a surge of pride in Valaku as he sought to disrupt Quenya's concentration.  The exchange of blades was quick but vicious, and she hoped he could withstand the fury of Quenya's protector.  Furious Quenya would place Valaku in such a position and undermine the entire effort to defeat Kinak, Sikuaq brushed aside the feeble attempt to ensnare her with a disdainful burst of flames that charred the grasping vines in an instant, and then warned Quenya off of further attempt.

"I will do no such thing," she said in a flat, deadly tone with all the controlled heat of a massive, banked furnace.  "Kinak must be defeated, and that takes all of us.  I will suffer no more interference while He moves," she warned, eyes sparking and her darkened face wreathed in an aurora of flame.

She moved a short distance and then launched a new spell.  Staring into the storm clouds above with arms and lava-like tentacles spread wide, she called out with the voice of the Four Winds and took control of the swirling clouds.  Lowering her gaze to the downed storm dragon, she pointed with her right hand and a blazing bolt of lightning flashed down from the sky with a thunderous crack, striking at Kinak's prone form.

OOC:
11:09, Today: Secret Roll: Sikuaq rolled 5 using 1d20+2.  DEX Save (DC15).  Fail, take 16 damage and knocked prone.
Stand up and move 15 feet toward Kinak (Q19)

11:10, Today: Secret Roll: Sikuaq rolled 21 using 1d20+9.  Saving throw (WIS).  Save against Quenya's spell.

11:33, Today: Secret Roll: Sikuaq rolled 14 using 1d20+9.  Wisdom Save (DC15).  Add bardic inspiration to succeed in careful targeting of spell, to avoid companions.
Cast Call Lightning.  DEX Save DC 17 for half damage.  4d10 damage due to existing storm conditions.
11:36, Today: Secret Roll: Sikuaq rolled 16 using 4d10.  Call Lightning.

My damage rolls have been abysmal.  I think it may be the penalty for the corruption. :(

Lightning wracked Kinak's prone body as Sikuaq once again shrugged off the Elder Druid's attempts to restrain her. The god's body convulsed again as Arvid, clinging tight to its back through the snow crash, pummeled it with astral fists. After one final jerk, Kinak ceased moving altogether, and the storm dragon's body began fading away beneath those who still rode it.

The god was defeated, banished back to wherever it was gods went after temporarily learning a lesson about meddling in mortal affairs, but the destruction he had wrought remained. The Miracle Shrine was collapsed, the flame that had burned uninterrupted for untold centuries gone dark. There were still - hopefully - some survivors trapped insider. There was a very angry, very powerful druid to be reckoned with, and an army of orcs a half-day's march from the Obsidian Pass.

Congratulations, you defeated a god! We're going to remain in initiative order for now because Quenya and her protector are currently hostile toward Sikuaq and Valaku at least, and there are still survivors inside making death saves. That means Cora, Caell, Opalia, and Fergus are up now (and don't forget your Acrobatics/Athetics saves if you were on Kinak's back for the crash).
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:45, Sat 08 Oct 2022.

Cora plummeted with Kinak, rolling at the last moment to less the blow, a surge of eldritch energy setting her bones and salving her wounds as she came up to standing again

OOC: made the save and hexblade's curse cures 14 of that 15 damage.

Almost immediately she was off again, winking out of existence and coming back into it sixty feet away, moving to help people get free of the rubble.

Caell found it fairly easy to hang on now that he was levitating. He was preparing another radiant spell when Arvid and Sikuaq delivered the killing blows. Caell stepped away from Kinak's convulsing body and watched it die.

He felt a great sense of relief, but found it difficult to be happy. He had noticed the hostilities between the anatkas, but didn't feel like it was his place to intervene. Nevertheless, he'd side with Sikuaq should there be need.

Meanwhile, Caell sprinted after Cora, helping to free anyone buried under the rubble.

Athletics success.
Dash action towards the shrine.

At last the bad storm dragon KINAK plummeted from the skies to smash into the Obsidian Pass, with Opalia and friends along for the drop!  The fall was exhilarating and the impact was brutal, but in the end the giantess rose from the crater and ran back toward the collapsed shrine to find how her little friends fared.

Opalia arrived at a conflict between mighty Anatkas, with Sikuaq looking frightening and powerful in spirit of fire.  She bellowed, "STOP, little friends!  The fighting is not with each others!"

---

• Athletics succeeds with a 22, take 15 bludgeoning damage
• If the fall knocks prone then spend 5 ft of movement to stand
• Move + Dash with all remaining movement, which doesn't quite reach Valaku and the angry anatka

08:54, Today: Opalia rolled 22 using 1d20+13.  Athletics plummet.

Fergus raced through the debris as fast as his howling knee allowed, relieved to see the shadows had dissipated, but gravely concerned by the sight of the injured commoners as Lilly and Badger's digging revealed them. "Kann, help these poor souls," he pleaded, raising his newly reforged maul as a conduit between the Great Mountain and the unfortunate people buried before him.

Action: Dash forward 50' to P41.
Bonus Action: Cast Mass Healing Word on six of the most gravely injured people (I believe there are seven total - can he see them all? Maybe some are still not visible to Fergus. Anyway, he'll apply it to whomever he can see up to six.

22:57, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 5 using 1d4+4.  Mass healing word on whomever he can see under the debris pile. Ain't much, but it should at least turn off a few death saving throws.

The heroes raced south toward the collapsed shrine, but only Fergus, already inside, was near enough to aid those trapped beneath the debris. Kann's magic revived the five he could see, but two remained buried. Badger, digging furiously, freed one of them and immediately began binding his wounds. "He's not waking up!" she cried. "He's still breathing, but he's not waking up!"

The imperious noblewoman soon made clear she was awake, though still trapped. "I can't move my leg! This is unacceptable. I will never visit this establishment again."

Meanwhile, Quenya fixed Sikuaq with a gaze nearly as fiery as the corrupted druid's own. "There. One god lies defeated. Now you will surrender. Both of you." Her gaze expanded to encompass Valaku as well, who neither swung again lowered his weapons, waiting to see how his anatka would respond.

Arvid and Sikuaq are up.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:37, Sun 09 Oct 2022.

"That's a girl, Badger," Fergus encouraged the rough and tumble dwarf. "See that he stays breathing while I tend to the others."

 OOC: No official actions here.  Just writing some stuff.

Sikuaq hooted in victory as the storm dragon lay still and then began dissolving before their very eyes.  Glorious heat billowed off her slight form in waves, leaving snowmelt in her wake as she spun in a lazy circle of elation.  They had done it!

She finished her pirouette facing Quenya's rage, but rather than cowering she simply doused her celebration and walked slowly back towards the Head of the Council.  As she came toward her superior the chaos within her subsided somewhat, lava tentacles returning the staff to her hand as they disappeared within her torso and the flames surrounding her dimming to a cooler blue-yellow as they danced through her hair and flickered in her eyes.  Her face remained a sooty colour and the onyx constellation embedded in her brow glowed a dull orange.  Steam curled slowly from the ground about her booted feet.  She was calm but not disguised as she confronted Quenya's glare.  After a moment she gestured to Valaku, putting him at ease for the time being.

"I will speak with you, now that the North Wind has been silenced.  Even as there are more to save," she glanced meaningfully at the ruined tower, "and an army still marching to our doorstep.  But with all due respect, I will not surrender, not with such threats still to resolve."

Arvid stood beside the crater and watched as Kinak's form dissipated upon the chill, wet wind. Where the others turned to hasten back towards the tower he did not move from his vigil until the storm spirit's body had vanished in its entirety and even then he studied the snows where they had landed for signs of treachery. Only when he was convinced that Kinak was well and truly gone - at least for the present - did Arvid wheel back around, and when he did the Northman's usual restrained demeanor was replaced by barely concealed fury.

Still wreathed in Ildiko's light he loped back up the pass to stand beside Sikuaq and fixed his stony gaze upon Quenya.

"You are so vested in your own importance that you never question for a moment whether it is not you who has lost the way. She is what you made her become - this is the path you set for her. She has walked it with strength and grace and wrestled with truths that have crippled the best among you. Ask Qatariel! He will tell you," Arvid said, gesturing towards Valaku.

"Valaku has not failed. Sikuaq has not failed. Baldagh failed and he was the best of you. You have forgotten who you are."

"Help us. Don't help us. It is none of my affair. But we will be ready when Garduk reaches the Obsidian Pass and you will not stop us."

"There is nothing to say. You have accepted a hostile power into your body and mind. You have refused the authority of the Druidic Council. Your companion has assaulted the Council. You must now be brought to justice. If your corruption cannot be expunged, then you will be."

The Elder Druid spared barely a glance for Arvid, though her protector stepped between them. "This is indeed none of your affair," she told him.

A muffled cough came from beneath the rocks obstructing the shrine's northern entrance. The skald, in a panic, began digging frantically at them and unearthed a battered but breathing Twice-Bitten Emil.

Enooya Deepsnow paid the men no mind, remaining focus on the confrontation between Quenya and Sikuaq.

Cora, Caell, Opalia, and Fergus are up now.

There are still two people in the rubble by the south door making death saves. You still don't know what has become of Alan.

Cora continued running as fast as she could, the far step spell carrying her as well

OOC: with last turn that should be a combination of 105ft last turn and up to 120ft this turn, or 90ft if I retain my action. As that's a combined 39 squares on the lesser I'm assuming I can get over to the rubble

Kneeling to try and help, she tried to dig debris off the survivors

OOC: Athletics 12 to dig them out

Opalia stalked across the remaining distance to the brewing altercation at the foot of the collapsed shrine and arrived near the end of Arvid's well-spoken plea to the obstinate grand anatka.  The giantess loomed over the face-off as the elder druidess snapped back with condemnation and threats toward her wise little friend Sikuaq.

Opalia did not care for it.  Not at all.  Sikuaq and Arvid had tried reason, but now Opalia would clarify matters in her own way.

Without warning the giantess extended both muscled arms and casually shoved both Quenya and her protector back and away from Sikuaq with the strength of a battering ram.  Towering menacingly over the pair of Quinichiat elders, Opalia leaned down to face them, then rumbled in a measured tone, "OPALIA does respect OLD-ANATKA, but nobody is allowed to give threat to MY friends.  People are in-dangered and a BAD-ARMY marches to here.  HELP us now, or GET OUT OF OUR WAY."

---

• Move 30 feet to get next to both Quenya and her protector
• ATTACK action, but replacing attacks with a Shove for each of them :P  These Athletics rolls are contested by the target's choice of Athletics or Acrobatics, or be pushed 5 feet from Arv and Sik
  1. 17 Athletics against Quenya
  2. 25 Athletics against Quenya's protector
• If either resists then use a bonus action Shield Master shove to try again!  14 Athletics

13:14, Today: Opalia rolled 14 using 1d20+13.  Shield Master shove.
13:13, Today: Opalia rolled 25 using 1d20+13.  Athletics 2.
13:13, Today: Opalia rolled 17 using 1d20+13.  Athletics 1.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:45, Wed 12 Oct 2022.

"Here Lilly," Fergus called to his faithful ursine companion. "Help me unbury this one." Little Ildiko dug frantically at the last of the buried citizens, finally revealing a hand. When he spotted it, Fergus held it in his own hand, muttering another appeal to Kann for his divine assistance.

Move: 25 feet to buried commoner.
Bonus action: Tell Lilly to unhurt commoner.
Action: Cast Spare the Dying on commoner.

Lilly move to buried commoner.
Lilly action: Unbury commoner.

Caell decided to circle the shrine, to see if there were anyone in trouble here or more enemies. Besides, he might make it quicker to the south side if he didn't have to navigate through the rubble.

Dash action again.

Cora blinked into view, gesturing madly, just as Fergus was about to cast his spell. He understood from his pantomime that she could tend to the near one, and his efforts would be better spent on the one Badger had failed to revive. The half-orc fumbled at the patient, her chef's hands less accustomed to holding meat together than to slicing it apart. But at last she felt the injured man's breath ease and the flow of blood slow, and she sensed he would live. Looking up, she caught the eye of Fergus, who had also saved a life.

Caell rounded the tower and caught sight of Alan lying unmoving in the snow, surrounded by the debris of a collapsed wall. The elf could not say, from that distance, whether the young cleric was still breathing.

Quenya's ranger raised his blades to strike at Opalia, but a subtle shake of the Elder Druid's head deterred him. Powerful as she was, she saw that subduing Sikuaq would be impossible when the junior druid's friends so badly outnumbered her.

"You are both expelled from the Circle," she informed Sikuaq and Valaku. With a wave of her hand, the tattoos that had come to seem merely a part of their faces faded, leaving only a faint shadow of the patterns that had defined them for decades. "I will send someone to collect the sword when the battle is won. Come, Enoya."

Without awaiting a response, she transformed again into the great cloud which had previously borne the party. Her ranger companion climbed onto her back immediately. The younger druid cast an apologetic glance at the heroes who had saved her from the qiqion, then obeyed the command.

Valaku looked at Sikuaq, his expression as blank as his face.

The skald began to hum "The Elf With No Face", but a sharp glance from Emil shut him up.

Arvid and Sikuaq are up now. The Druidic Council folks have not actually departed yet, in case there's anything more you want to say or do to them, but they are clearly about to go.

Arvid had no further retort on his tongue as the Druid elders made to depart. Instead he turned and placed a comforting hand on Sikuaq's shoulder. No words could take away the sting of Quenya's rebuke, but Arvid hoped that Sikuaq and Valaku knew they were not alone.

"Come, Opalia," he said at last. "We should see to the survivors and to the fallen."

Sikuaq was touched by the support of her companions although even she gasped when Opalia stepped up directly to Quenya and threated her physically.  Such audacity was impossible to even consider, and yet she had just seen it happen!

She tensed, thinking there would certainly be a new battle erupting in response to such provocation, but Quenya's restraint surprised her.  She felt the attention of the Head of the Council fall back upon her and squared her shoulders to resume their arguments.  Why Quenya couldn't see the bigger picture and accept the sacrifice she was making was beyond Sikuaq.  Of all people, with the longest view and the least investment in individuals, surely she could understand the advantageous tool Sikuaq represented in this state.  There would be plenty of time to deal with the abomination she'd become when the army was defeated and balance returned to the Qopol Qalak.  Why was she being so prideful?

And then the unthinkable happened.  Sikuaq couldn't see her face, but she knew with certainty what had happened. She felt it physically, almost as if the tattoos had been scraped from her skin, leaving her raw and scarred.  The words sank in with the finality of an obsidian blade, wounding just as sharply.  It was all she'd ever wanted to be.  To join the Circle, to help her people, to lead the Quinichiat to better days.  It was who she was, all she was.

After Arvid's brief touch of encouragement she sank to her knees, dumbfounded.  She caught Valaku's blank stare and tears began to sizzle down her cheeks, tracks of flickering liquid flame.  Valaku, no! None of this was his fault.  He deserved so much better - better treatment from Quenya, a better companion anatka.  This was so unfair!  Sikuaq couldn't wrap her mind around it, the callous pain so easily inflicted.  She pounded her fists into the ground in frustration, then again in anger.  And again, and again.  Flames began to spurt between her fingers and burst out in small circles where she slammed them into the rough ground.  A growl of rage grew within her slim form, wordless and animalistic.  The ground around her began to glow with ruddy orange light until one of her fists plunged into the ground and pulled out, dripping with molten rock.  More oozed from the hole, pooling around her fiery silhouette.

Finally she whipped her head up, arched her back and let out a primal scream of fury, glaring at Quenya and her entourage as they floated away into the sky.  Her voice carried loud and strong, and longer than was natural.  And just as it must end, a giant burst of flame erupted from Sikuaq, wreathing her in fire and smoke like some pyromancer's backing display.  The flames and smoke arched out behind her, billowing into a menacing, reptilian shape with glowing eyes and lava dripping from cruel claws.  The hulking beast hovered possessively over Sikauq's shoulder until the former anatka's anguished scream finally died away, after which it collapsed back into the puddle of cooling lava at her feet.

Sikauq was left bent over on the steaming ground, sobbing hoarsely with her face in her hands.  Compared to the punishment meted out to she and Valaku, everything else seemed unimportant in that moment.

Fergus surveyed the wounded, satisfied that those still breathing would continue to do so. He bowed his head over the old man whose life was beyond his own capabilities, even with the aid of the Great Mountain. "Gods bless this old soul," he murmured. "And guide it to wherever it's intended without diversion into Garduk's army."

The thought of Garduk's army led Fergus to consider those that retreated from the tower to the south. Suspecting their lives had already been lost, he still feared they would be recruited into Garduk's ranks unless he acted quickly. "Go to the south, Lilly," he instructed his ursine companion. "Bring back whatever bodies you find. Let's see that they are laid to rest properly."

Then he looked across the rubble to Cora, who still tended another bruised victim. "Good girl, Cora. Looks like you've become a bit of a healer yourself." He smiled at her, unable to disguise the pride he felt seeing her helping others. "Darna would be proud," he told himself.

As all this occurred, he also tried to piece together what had happened outside the tower. He sensed that the spontaneous disappearance of the shadows marked a victory, if only a temporary one. Cora, tending to her patient without distraction, suggested to Fergus that none of their closest companions had fallen. Still, he wondered where the others were. The answer came in the form of a flame-filled roar from outside. "Slag and rust," he cried to Cora. "What was that?" He struggled to his feet and ran for the northern doorway.

Caell rushed over to the lifeless figure. He didn't know much about natural healing, but there were still divine powers which he could channel. Breathing or not, Caell bathed Alan's body in healing light. He could hear some more commotion back from the direction he had come, but that would have to wait.

Using Healing Light to cure 5 hp.
If there is no result, Caell carries the body to the north side of the shrine.

Caell could tell it was bad even before he cast his spell. Sure enough, the healing starlight that flowed so naturally through his blessed crown had no effect on the fallen man. A sizable chunk of masonry had struck his head, and blood from the wound stained his white robes and the surrounding snow.

The young elf felt no life in the body as he lifted it. Alan's breath had stopped, and his skin was already turning cold and clammy from lying against the wet ground. Caell carried him nonetheless, half-dragging the larger man back to the front of the ruined shrine.

Valaku stared silently for what would have seemed a long while to those not blessed with the Quinichiats' longevity, his flickering and the expression on his face alternately hateful and sad. At last, he sheathed one of his sword and laid his free hand, now, like his face, bereft of tattoos, on the grieving druid's shoulder.

"Anatka, I swore to you that when the North Wind was silenced, I would do..." The ranger chocked back tears. "...what was necessary. For the good of the People. You told me you trusted my judgment."

His left hand tightened around the sword he still carried. "Again I have failed you. For my judgment has failed me. I have always trusted in the Council, and in you. Now I cannot trust in both.

You are not yourself. Not fully. The woman I have always trusted and served is still in there, though. And I remain loyal to her. I cannot say whether you are a danger to our People." He scoffed, laughing without mirth. "I suppose we do not have a People any longer.

I do not think you are a danger to me. More to the point, I do not care if you are. I remain your servant. Your friend. I have always fought by your side, and I will not stop doing so now. I will be with you to aid you in your battle against the corruption that has hold of you, and I will be there to ensure no harm comes to others as a result of that battle.

No matter how that... thing tugs at your spirit, you are still capable of doing much good for this world. It remains my duty and my honor to help you do it.

Garduk has lost the backing of his god, and, if we are lucky, the army of shadows that backing provided. But an army of orcs is no thing to be trifled with. In this, my judgment accords with you own: we need all the power you can muster. Once Garduk is defeated, we will decide which path to walk next. We will decide together."

Valaku's hand squeezed her shoulder, and then tears began to pour down his face as well.

Opalia regarded the Quinichiat ranger protector who raised arms against her, then gave a nod of respect to a fellow protector.  It was admirable of him to protect his mistress even when she was wrong, and even when he would lose the fight.  The giantess was saddened to see the OLD-ANATKA expel Sikuaq and Valaku from their positions of honor, and erase the tattoos that were a mark of great pride.  It was a petty and unjust decree, but the stricken faces of her newly-exiled friends showed that it was hurtful nonetheless.  As the elder druids fled into the skies, the giantess looked to the flame-mighty anatka and her protector to offer her own support, "I am sad it came to this, but never be shamed to stand for what is RIGHT, little ANATKA.  The shame belongs to OLD-ANATKA, who should be BETTER."

It was hard to look away from the cataclysmic display of grief that followed, but Arvid was right.  The Quinichiat needed their own time to deal with their loss, and there were others who needed their help more.  She clambered over the ruins of the collapsed shrine, calling out for survivors and helping where she could with excavation.  It wasn't long before Opalia spotted Caell struggling to carry a white-robed body, and so she bounded across the debris to assist.  As she drew closer she recognized who it was, and the certainty that he was dead.  The giantess cried out, "ALAN?  Little Alan..."  Opalia helped to bring the fallen cleric to the front of the shrine and then collapsed to her knees.  Kneeling next to the body with head bowed, she wept.  "We never got to climb..."

Cora was off again as her charge drew breath, following and overtaking Fergus by virtue of Far Step, appearing before Sikuaq, Arvid and Valaku with a ring of ash and smoke as she looked for the others still

The departing cloud and ranger, the mood . . . it all hit Cora at once, and she was off again looking for Opalia and Caell, stopping short when she spied Alan's corpse.

The last strains of Elf without a Face wafted on the wind as something dark came over Cora, a voice telling her victory was near, gloating and excited, as she saw only pain, division and sacrifice while the same old powers warred.

"I could not help Alan." Caell put the body down as gently as he could. The grief on Opalia's face was painful to see. He turned and noticed Sikuaq and Valaku, and their changes. Whatever had happened here was serious. He could only guess.

He didn't know if his words could bring any comfort, but he could state what was in his heart nonetheless. "What happened to Caell...was different. But I learn something these months. I was happy to get this face, but was not so important as before."

He shrugged, finding it difficult to put what he felt into words. "I think for some time now we have not really been Quinichiat. We belong to different clan. Sikuaq. Valaku. Caell. Cora. Fergus. Arvid. Opalia. We are family now."

Sikuaq rose and hugged Valaku fiercely, immeasurably grateful for his words.  There was no trace of the flame about her in that moment, just a small Quinichiat girl thankful for her protector.

Eventually she released her grip and leaned back slightly.  "We will have you restored, if it's the last thing I do.  I swear it."

But they were not the only ones devasted by the 'victory' just won and the rest of the world couldn't help but intrude.  Sikuaq stepped away from Valaku and turned her attention to the scene of destruction about them.  The temple in rubble, bodies groaning and bloodied or worse, not groaning at all.  She spied Alan, the keeper of the temple and distributor of hot toadies, lying ashen and still.  Sorrow warred with anger within her, and she fought the latter down.  This was not about her; others were grieving too.

Caell's words were heartfelt she knew, and helped lessen the sting a little.  He was right that their little group was a family as much as anything, and Sikuaq would do anything to protect them.  But at the same time, it wasn't the same.

She moved toward those who were ailing.  "Is there help I can provide?" she asked Cora, Caell and Fergus. "I have healing available to me still."

OOC:
I can cast some Cure Wounds as needed.  Just let me know!

Fergus was the last to arrive at the gathering of his companions. He was relieved to see them all standing, but then his heart sank at the sight of Alan's lifeless body. "Poor kid," he mumbled to no one in particular. "I guess we should be happy that we don't have to worry about Kinak recruiting him for Garduk." He paused for a second. "Speaking of Kinak, where'd he go?"

Cora looked down at herself, bloody and injured, with some surprise.

"Oh."

She nodded to Sikuaq

"Yes, some healing would be helpful, if we can't recover here waiting for another wave of Garduk's forces."

Arvid came to a halt beside Opalia and reached for her arm. "I'm sorry, Opalia."

Alan was far from the only causality that lay amidst the wreckage of the once inviting shrine. The old man lay atop the rubble and Arvid couldn't help but harken back to his own well intentioned assurances. They rang hollow now in the chill winds atop the unprotected mountain pass. More pitiable still were those who had fallen to the predations of the vaettir - their's being a fate worse than death itself.

"I'm so sorry."

There was little time to mourn he knew. Garduk's army was still on the march.

Fergus stood silently, still looking at Alan. He searched for justification for why such a good-hearted boy should meet such a fate, but found nothing. It was only after a lengthy contemplation that he realized there was even more weighing down the collective spirit of their New Alliance. And while he thought it unusual to see Caell speaking words of comfort to Sikuaq (the lad was always full of surprises), it wasn't until the anatka turned toward him that he saw her fair, unblemished face. The Quinichiat markings were gone, and now that he looked, so were Quenya and the other druids.

He opened his mouth to ask what had happened while he was still in the tower, but ultimately said nothing. Those answers would come later, after emotions had subsided. Instead, he patted Little Ildiko on the head and gave her a whispered thank you for her recent assistance. The bear snorted an approval and leaned slightly against the blacksmith while both surveyed the scene.

OOC: Fergus also has healing to offer. Either say the word or look injured and he will help.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:56, Sun 23 Oct 2022.

Alas, Alan was beyond the help of magic. But there were plenty inside the collapsed temple with injuries of various kinds.

It was too late to climb with Alan, but there was still climbing to be done. Opalia, from atop the ruins, could see down into the great bowl of the Frozen Wastes. The orcish army, no longer supported by shadows, continued its advance. Indeed, it had little choice, for in the distance, the goliath spotted another army behind them. This one consisted not only of orcs but of dwarves and Northmen as well, and a giant spider marched at its fore, a dwarf and a half-orc upon its back. Garduk's forces was now fleeing that force as much as it was marching on Franconia.

He was nearly to the base of the great peak upon which the Miracle Shrine had once stood. It would take the better part of a day to summit it, but they might not need to summit it. Should his army entrench themselves on the higher ground, they would be well-positioned to defend against their pursuers.

You don't need to expend actual spell slots on the survivors, just some general non-magical healing will do them good.

It would take Garduk eight hours to reach you, but it would take you only half that to reach him on foot, since you'd be moving down the mountain. Even so, two hours would give him enough time to establish a defensible position in the mountains. If you want to reach him before that to cast any of the spells, etc. that were discussed earlier, you'd need to fly and/or magically increase your speed.

"Caell can heal injuries still, but most powerful magic spent. I am tired. Need rest, but if we want to hurry, I manage." Caell stated as they learned what was happening afar from Opalia. To be honest with himself, his motivation to fight orcs was not as high as destroying the shadow creatures.

"We should do what we can to make their climb painful. What can we do still?"

Their initial plan might be shot by the injuries, but Cora looked for Emil and Badger to begin

"Sorry I ran off there Emil, needed to keep the fight to Kinak." 

Cora looked sheepish about leaving the civilians to fight for themselves

"I'm not sure that we could reach them in time to significantly impede their ascent," Arvid remarked. "At least, not all of us. But if they dig in on the slope as they seem likely to do, we can try to turn the mountain against them. Let the stones do the work of an army."

Sikuaq knew they'd talked about putting up magical walls to try and make the pass harder to traverse, but it sounded like Arvid was thinking of something else.

"What do you have in mind, Arvid?  When you say 'turn the mountain against them'?"

"They're on the downward slope," Arvid replied. "A rockslide large enough would sweep through their encampment. Presuming the terrain above them is accommodating."

Fergus weighed the odds. Racing down toward an army was not the least bit cautious. Allowing them to dig in, however, could prove more dangerous in the long run. "We need to get down there," he concluded aloud. "Keep them from digging in in the first place. But how?"

While he tried to stay focused on the question at hand, he couldn't help but wonder who (specifically what dwarf) led the pursuing army. "A riding-spider sounds like the work of Midwife Brigha, which would make the dwarf almost certainly Blackhammer... or is the spider the work of Tuber? In which case the dwarf would be..." At last, he couldn't stand it any more. He had to see for himself. "Opalia, I may soon regret this, but I need a look at the dwarf riding that spider. Can you give me a lift so I can have a look for myself?"

OOC: Fergus wants to make sure it's Blackhammer (not Farra), so he's asking Opalia to carry him up the tower ruins for a better look (gulp).

Opalia wept quietly over Alan for a time, and when Arvid placed a hand upon her arm she placed one of hers over it and gave a thankful squeeze.  Eventually she placed a small stone from the ground over each of Alan's eyes, then rose to her full towering height.  The giantess said, "KINAK did this, not you, little friend CAELL.  Together we did fell the storm and SQUISH it on the mountain.  We could not save little ALAN, but many others."

The giantess joined the others in looking down over the northward view, where Garduk's army marched toward the foot of the mountain, like a creeping rot.  Yet, from further north came a different army of orcs and dwarves and men!  She pointed and declared, "Look!  STARBOUND friends do march against our foe!"  The giantess was not good with sums, but warfare was in her blood.  The situation was dire, but the course was clear.  To her friends she said, "We CAN reach them, little friends.  We MUST.  GARDUK wants stronghold below, for much-STRENGTH to fight over mountain.  We will not let him, nor let STARBOUND friends fight alone."

Fergus then asked Opalia to climb him up high for a better view, and this request had an immediate cheering effect.  "YES!  This is a best idea, FIREBEARD, but we must go FASTLY.  On my back, YES?"  The giantess helped the stiff old dwarf onto her back as they had done a number of times prior, and ensured he was secured well enough by the straps of her baldric and armor.  Once he was ready she broke into a run... away from the ruined tower!  "TOWER has bad view.  THIS will be the best-seeing!"  The giantess ran toward a rugged but near-vertical cliff facing north and leaped onto it!  Her strong hands and sure feet found snow-dusted holds in the sheer stone that would seem insufficient for gripping, but yet she bounded higher and higher as easily as walking.  The drop beneath them quickly grew dizzying, but at last Opalia paused upon a small ledge and removed one hand from its hold to gesture out to an excellent view of the approaching army.  "See best from here, FIREBEARD!"

---

I don't think I'll ever get tired of giving Fergus piggy-back climbing heart attacks :D

• 23:05, Today: Opalia rolled 30 using 1d20+13.  Athletics.

Even with Opalia's help, no one else would have been able to identify the dwarf on the back of the giant spider from such a distance. But Fergus knew his daughter when he saw her. And he knew that was Keth Bentbone riding beside her.

"Slag and rust!" Fergus cursed when he saw his daughter riding up behind Garduk's advancing force. "It's Farra and Keth! By my beard, that girl never listens! And Bentbone?" He expelled a heavy sigh. A combination of frustration and worry... and just a dollop of pride. "He's just encouraging her!"

When Fergus returned to the ground, Cora gathered close to him and Caell, getting ready for their flight down the mountainside

"I've gathered what I can to make some food once we're down there, a chance to die with something warm in our bellies."

At the realization Keth and Farra were leading reinforcements she couldn't help but laugh

"We should have known Keth would develop a heroic spirit spending time with Mother Farra. It must be catching."

"The only question is which is the bigger fool!" Fergus grumbled, doing his best to disguise both the pride he had for his daughter and a bit of admiration for Keth. "Hard to tell. I guess you could say it's a toss up."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:38, Tue 01 Nov 2022.

"That would be satisfying," Sikuaq nodded, a retributive smile creeping across her face.  "Let's see what we might be able to arrange!"

When the group had assembled, the former anatka moved aside to give room for her transformation.  With arms thrown wide and head tilted to the sky she marshalled the energies of Nature and underwent the transformation.  Feathers dripped down from her arms, her feet turned to talons and a sharp beak emerged from her face.  Soon a giant eagle stood in Sikuaq's place, its feathers more red than brown and a light flickering in its great eyes.

Once Valaku was aboard her back she leapt toward the sky, raising them up with powerful beats of her wings.  And then she sent them streaking down the mountainside toward the army.

Upon hearing the news of what Fergus had sighted in the distance Opalia boomed, "Cave Mother FARRA and KETH!  Ha ha, YES.  It is good, FIREBEARD!  A father should be proud of this MIGHTY daughter."  The giantess clambered down the sheer and blustery cliff at a pace that hardly seemed safe, but soon enough had delivered herself and Fergus safely to the others.

As the others gathered and conferred about their methods of descent, Opalia approached Arvid and clapped a big hand upon his shoulder.  "Do you remember, ARV, when we once raced down from high ridge to KERITs camp?  It was much-far, but MOTHER SIGNE would be NOT-HAPPY if you did not return before nightfall!  We tumbled down through snow and trees fast as wind, and you did beat the darkness!"  She smiled with fond reminiscence of that foolish adventure from their youth.  At the end of that race he had returned to the warmth of his mother's tent while she had to turn away, for his people would not accept her.  Neither did they accept him at that time, but much had changed in the years since.  Now instead of racing for home and a parting, they raced to war, together.

Opalia looked up from the long and snowy slope back to Arvid and grinned, "You were faster then, but not TODAY!  Today, I do not turn back."  With that, the giantess leaped onto the slope, bounding and sliding and racing downhill at reckless speed!

---

Athletics with advantage to descend the slope, rolled previously in OOC:

• 07:50, Today: Opalia rolled 33 using 2d20+13, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 20,7.  Athletics advantage.

Second Wind to heal 12 HP, then get the ability back the next short rest:

• 08:00, Today: Opalia rolled 12 using 1d10+10.  Second Wind.

Fergus was not nearly as enthusiastic as Opalia about Farra leading the pursuit of Garduk's army. Bad enough she was out there at all, to say nothing of the fact she was riding alongside Keth atop a giant spider! But there was little he could do about any of that now. Best to get down the mountain!

He watched  Opalia bound downward and out of sight with the grace of an ivory fox. He grimaced as he ran a hand through his thick silver hair. "I don't know about any of the rest of you, but there's no way I'm going down the mountain like that!"


OOC: Holy crap, Opalia! You nailed that athletics check!!!

"I do," Arvid said, smiling in fond memory of simpler (or perhaps differently complicated) times. "Although truth be told I less remember the race home than the day spent on the ridge. It was a good day."

When Opalia took to the slope he laughed and unhesitatingly leapt after her. Arvid was as sure footed as a mountain goat as he tore down the incline but it was an effort to keep up.

"That's where I come in Uncle."

Cora had done a brief check on her pack, slinging it over her shoulder before drawing Caell and Fergus close and speaking the words in Orcish that would bear them forth. A red eye opened on each of their hands, and a whirl of dark mists circled them as the three rose.

"Well my fellow 'Jawbreakers', lets go get some food started. With luck, we'll beat Opalia and Arvid there!"

OOC: Fly speed 60ft on Fergus and Caell and myself to fly down

Fergus gave Little Ildiko a pat on the head before whispering a word to her. In a flash of light, the animal disappeared, replaced by the curious wooden figurine the dwarf had carved, which he picked from the ground and pocketed.

Fergus winced. "I was afraid you were going to say that." The dwarf did his best to stand confidently as Cora recited her spell. He did well until he noticed the red eye on his own palm, at which point the blood ran quickly from his head and a pain shot through his trick knee. He started to fall over, but the spell had taken hold, saving him from an embarrassing fall to the ground.

Once aloft, he conceded that he preferred Cora's flight over hanging onto the feathers of a giant eagle, but only slightly.

Cora and her fliers did indeed make it to a secluded spot toward the base of the mountain faster than the nimble-footed goliath and her death-defying companion. By the time the latter arrived, the half-orc already had lunch well underway.

As she cooked, however, the whispers that Cora heard so often began to grow louder. Judging by the faces of her companions, something seemed strange to them as well. Caell's crown glowed faintly. Fergus felt there was something off beneath the ground - far beneath, perhaps.

In the moments during which they were all coming to these realizations and exchanging quizzical glances, another strange thing demanded their attention. Something small and brown was bobbing through the air toward the party, taking a roundabout route to avoid detection by the advancing orcish army. As it drew nearer, all recognized it as the floating stone head employed by Midwife Brigha for spying and who knew what other arcane purposes.

Excellent work routing Kinak. Though the head's mouth open and closed as if speaking, the words everyone heard seemed to emanate from within their own heads. The battle is nearly won. Garduk flees before my armies. You need only delay him until we arrive to finish the job.

Arvid exchanged a glance with those nearest him. He'd barely had a chance to catch his breath and he knew from experience the Brigha preferred he not waste it. "We will make them work for every foot of the mountain," he said at last.

Bounding and skiing down a vast mountain slope at reckless speeds was a rare treat for Opalia, although it would have been nicer if they weren't racing toward war against a BAD-ORC army.  Nonetheless, she and Arvid arrived on a ridge near the foot of the mountain to find Cora cooking vittles over a campfire surrounded by the rest of their flying companions.  The giantess greeted them, "HULLO again, little friends!  We do not fight yet?"  She noticed several of them looked troubled, but most noticeable was the fact that Caell's crown was glowing!  Opalia pointed it out, "Little CAELL, look!  Your nice hat does glow!"

While the others prepared, Opalia approached the ridgeline and peered down into the foothills below to get the lay of the land and judge the disposition of Garduk's forces.  Unfortunately, visibility was poor down here in the valley shrouded in low-lying mists.  The giantess abandoned this scouting effort at about the time a familiar stone head bobbled through the air to greet them.  She agreed heartily with Arvid's statement and added one of her own, "It is very good to see army STARBOUND FRIENDS come to fight for goodness!  GARDUK'S bad-plans end HERE, at the mountain's roots."

---

Perception to try to get a lay of the land FAILS!

• 14:38, Today: Opalia rolled 8 using 1d20+5.  Perception.

While it gave Fergus hope that Brigha was supplying reinforcements, he couldn't help but be suspicious of the midwife. After all, this was Brigha. There was always another maneuver within her maneuvers.  "To what other purpose does she play? And what does she intend to do after Garduk is defeated?" He also considered the uneasy feeling coming from below the mountain. Something wasn't right, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

He furrowed his brow and cast a glance out the corner of his eye to Cora. He said nothing, concerned that the midwife's floating spy would overhear his suspicions if expressed aloud.

Sikuaq shook herself, a ripple that cascaded down the length of her reminiscent of a bird shaking off the rain, when the strange feeling overtook them all.  She was about to remark on it when they spied the strange object flying toward them in a haphazard manner.  Sikuaq at first thought it was one of the rock swallows chasing elusive insects but then it resolved into a rock, a particular rock they had seen before.  She awaited its arrival with a touch of skepticism, wondering what the Midwife expected of them this time.

Arvid's answer to Brigha's missive was more than adequate, so Sikuaq merely nodded in agreement and waited for the scrying stone to be on its way.  Once they were alone again, she broached the matter of their uneasiness.

"You feel it too, do you not?" she asked the group as a whole.  "I see it in your faces, and in Caell's crown.  I do not know what it is though.  Could Kinak be manifesting in a new form so soon?  Could He have opened another gate without our knowledge?"

Caell looked up when Opalia mentioned his crown was glowing, as if he could see it himself. He didn't know why it did that, as he hadn't activated any of its magical properties that he knew of. He tried to feel if it was trying to warn him of something, or what it was.

He listened when Sikuaq spoke. The change in her status had not diminished his respect for her. Unfortunately, he didn't really have an answer to her question. He stood while they rested, watching their surroundings, and thinking.

Cora drew the Starbound Blade, resting her palm against it. Each time they closed a portal, another part of her was lost.

"If Kinak has opened the portals anew. We close them. Brigha might be manipulating us, but she fights on the side that fights for life, for the North. We can deal with her, and the elves, later."

Brigha's floating head was always unnerving, but it was good to know she had the same idea as the heroes. Message delivered, it floated off to do its mistress's bidding elsewhere. Soon after, the orcish army approached, with Garduk and his lieutenants at its helm. Though several of the orcs with skeletal masks, from the way they deferred to the central figure, there was no mistaking which was Garduk. As predicted, his army began positioning themselves to meet Brigha's advancing forces with the advantages of entrenchment and higher ground.

When Cora drew the Starbound Blade, it thrummed with energy, and Caell's crown grew brighter as well. The source of this energy seemed to be directly below them, and Cora realized with a start that they must be standing above the ancient dwarven temple where the original Starbound Alliance was forged. Those who had fled Lawton's Glen via the underground tunnels had found it overrun with troglodytes, and now, by a series of events too strange to be coincidence, they found themselves in the mountains above it, united against a new threat.

The NPCs shown here are just Garduk's entourage - you can assume there's an entire army moving up behind them from the south, and Brigha behind them. To defeat Garduk's army, Brigha will make a contested check each round and will have to succeed at five checks before she loses five. By default, Garduk will have advantage on these rolls, and Brigha disadvantage. Actions you take to affect the battlefield may negate G's advantage or B's disadvantage, and additional actions may even grant B advantage and G disadvantage. This would be stuff like you brainstormed earlier, like using Wall of Fire to disrupt the troops or triggering a rockslide or something.

The grey sections on the right and left of the map are higher ground (about 20' elevation) surrounding the trail up which the army is marching. You can begin anywhere on the right side - please let me know in your first post which square you want to start on. If you start within 30' of any NPC, you'll need to make a Stealth check to remain unseen. Assuming you are not seen, you can take an action before the NPCs do anything and before the first contested check between Brigha and Garduk.

The guy with the green background at M19 is Garduk. He's got two skull-masked lieutenants with him, plus a bevvy of orcs and even a few yetis.

The ultimate goal here is to help Brigha succeed on her checks, but once they realize you're there, Garduk and friends will be trying to kill you, so attacking or impairing them directly will also be valuable. Should you kill Garduk, his army will permanently lose its advantage in the checks against Brigha's.

Crouching low amidst the bramble and scree that littered the stony ascent, Arvid watched with bated breath as the head of the column passed his position on its way up the furrowed path. Though he could not see all of his companions from where he sat in wait, he knew they were similarly watchful and intent upon their foe. His hands clenched tightly about the haft of his spear, not as a weapon but as a lever embedded beneath a particularly choice boulder. The land here was unsettled, and he knew from experience it could give way with even the least disturbance. In other circumstances this would be a nuisance, or outright treacherous. Today he was counting upon it.

When he judged that the forward troop had proceeded far enough, he heaved upon his spear and put his boot against the boulder. Those immediately in the path of the rockslide were obviously his intended targets, but with any luck it would also seal the pass shut behind Garduk - barring his retreat or any further reinforcement.

Starting W28, or further up the slope if it would result in a larger landslide.
Arvid Signeson rolled 28 using 1d20+9+1d4.  Survival (guidance).

Caell didn't want to risk revealing their position before everyone were in place. As soon as Arvid had initiated the rock slide, Caell sent off his first spell. He was going to save his most powerful ones for now, and sent off his trusted radiant fire.

Caell will position himself 50 feet northeast from easternmost enemy.
Cast Sacred Flame for 11 radiant damage at nearest enemy. Dex save DC 17 negates the hit.

Opalia kept low in she and Arvid's position hidden on the slope above the mountain pass, watching as giants and orcs alike marched below.  Peeking over the the rocky ledge she whispered, "GARDUK is him, in the middle!  OPALIA could not forget his BAD bearing.  It is time for ROCKSLIDE!"  They had laid in wait in this spot to send tons of loose snow and scree thundering downslope to bury their enemy and slow the army, and it seemed the time was upon them!  Arvid was positioned behind the boulder he reckoned the best to start the avalanche, while Opalia took another one nearby.

The signal was given and Arvid levered out his boulder easily enough, but Opalia made an excess amount of noise lifting hers.  Noise that drew orcish eyes upslope to spy the Skykeeper rolling a boulder down toward them!

---

• Start in W27, by Arvid
• Assuming Stealth of 10 doesn't cut it to remain undetected and act before the orcish horde :P
• Initiative 15
• Protection fighting style at the ready if an ally next to Opi is attacked

14:55, Today: Opalia rolled 15 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.
14:51, Today: Opalia rolled 10 using 2d20+2, dropping the highest dice only.  Stealth (disadvantage).

Fergus kept his distance as the army approached. When he finally caught sight of Garduk, he raised a wall of flame through directly behind him and across the valley.

Start at R5 to hold off on being seen.
Cast Wall of Fire from J31 to U31 J20 to U20. Uuuh, editor's note: I intended to run the wall across row 19, not row 31. I guess that's what I get for posting at 1:30 am!!!
00:20, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 18 using 5d8.  Wall of fire. Half damage on a dc1617 Dex save (it's DC17 thanks to Fergus's lucky maul).
Any creature entering the wall or ending its turn within 10 ft of the north-facing side of the wall takes 5d8 dmg.
00:19, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 18 using 1d20-1.  initiative
This message was last edited by the player at 05:23, Tue 06 Dec 2022.

While the others prepared their trap, Cora focused the energies of the Starbound Blade, unleashing two bolts of energy at Garduk himself to start weakening the orc warlord.

OOC: attack rolls 23 and 18, damage 5 and 8 unless we're within 30ft in which case Hexblade's Curse beforehand to push the damage by 4

Just as Fergus had caused a magical barrier of fire to erupt from the floor of the pass, so too did Sikuaq.  Her barrier sprung to life just north of Garduk, as a fiery bird swooped across the little gully with a trail of sparks that immediately transformed into a flaming wall.  The flames cut the leader off from his advance guard and hopefully provided them a small contingent to deal with as they sought to end Garduk once and for all.

OOC:
21:57, Today: Sikuaq rolled 17 using 1d20+2 ((15)). Initiative.
Begin at location B16 to avoid Stealth roll.
Cast Wall of Fire running on a line from H18 to T16 (or thereabouts) to block passage to the north.
Any creature "in" the wall when cast takes 26 dmg, or half that on a DC17 DEX save.
Any creature entering the wall or ending its turn within 10 ft of the south-facing side of the wall takes 5d8 dmg.
21:51, Today: Secret Roll: Sikuaq rolled 26 using 5d8.  Wall of Fire damage.

Arvid kicked things off literally, with a dramatic cascade of stone that flattened several orcs and even one of the yetis, all but cutting Garduk's little contingent off from the rest of his army.

With the rocks still rolling, Caell called down sacred flame on the orc nearest him. The creature never saw it coming and screamed as it burned him.

Cora launched two eldritch blasts at the warchief himself, striking him on the back of his unsuspecting head.

As he turned to roar in outrage, Sikuaq and Fergus called up dual walls of fire, further trapping and dividing the orcish force.

Everyone please roll initiative. If you beat a 20, you can post your next action now.

Movement on the slope (the darker gray parts of the map where you all started) is rough terrain.

Sikuaq and Cora, I chose starting locations for you (S, yours was on the wrong side of the map), so hopefully they are ok.

I'm just realizing now there's an orc under the wall of flame, he'll have to move, I'll correct that in my next post.

Caell reacted quickly once they had initiated their attack. Nevertheless, he moved carefully down the slope to keep from falling. Glancing up to look at the orcs, Caell engulfed the nearest in sacred fire before continuing. He shifted his position both closer to their enemies and to Cora.

Initiative 23
Move: W12
Action: Casting Sacred Flame on orc at S16 for 12 radiant damage. Dex save DC 17 to negate.

The orcish warriors flew into a frenzy as spells and stones rained down upon them, burying many of their number. Garduk, however, absorbed the ambush with unnerving calm. Turning his masked head toward the cliff on which the party stood, he gave his command: "Kill them." Though he did not raise his voice, the warchief's words boomed up and down the trail, drowning out even the sound of the avalanche.

His warriors responded, those with bows drawing them to fire upon their attackers, and those without charging up the slope, showing no concern for their own lives in their eagerness for retribution. Caell burned down the nearest one as it scrambled toward him, but they kept coming, a hail of arrows covering their approach.

The yetis proved particularly formidable foes, striding up the cliff as if it were level ground and unleashing blizzard winds with their animal howls.

Valaku, after confirming Sikuaq was in no immediate danger, ran to Caell's side, carving three parallel slashes in the yeti's side and gritting his teeth against the jarring cold emanating from the beast's body.

Garduk's lieutenants raised their staves, causing spheres of pestilence and death to spread out across the mountainside, engulfing the party.

The warchief himself locked onto Cora, his gaze so intense that she could feel it focusing on her even through the skull mask he wore.

With the orcish army distracted by the landslide and ambush, Brigha's forces were able to push up the mountain. Keth whooped from atop the giant spider's back as the creature fired a sticky web that engulfed several archers.

One arrow hits Caell (22) for 8 damage, the other misses (13).
One misses (13) Opalia, one hits (22) for 12 damage.
Two hit Arvid (26, 21) for 11 and 10 damage, two miss (17, 16).
One fired at Cora would hit AC 19 for 6 damage.

Caell, Arvid, Opalia: You take 23 cold damage from the yetis' breath. A DC 15 Con save will halve to 11. (Both lieutenants cast Circle of Death).

Everyone: DC 17 Con save. 24 Necrotic damage, halved to 12 on a success.

Cora, Garduk is casting Mental Prison on you for 21 damage:

You attempt to bind a creature within an illusory cell that only it perceives. One creature you can see within range must make an Intelligence saving throw. The target succeeds automatically if it is immune to being charmed. On a successful save, the target takes 5d10 psychic damage, and the spell ends. On a failed save, the target takes 5d10 psychic damage, and you make the area immediately around the target’s space appear dangerous to it in some way. You might cause the target to perceive itself as being surrounded by fire, floating razors, or hideous maws filled with dripping teeth. Whatever form the illusion takes, the target can’t see or hear anything beyond it and is restrained for the spell’s duration. If the target is moved out of the illusion, makes a melee attack through it, or reaches any part of its body through it, the target takes 10d10 psychic damage, and the spell ends.

Brigha currently has 1 success and no failures. She needs five successes to win the battle.

Everyone can post an action now, including Caell. If you have reactions, you can include those in your post as well.

Cora's mind was embattled as the arrow hit her, and she seemed to plunge through the ground beneath her feet, into the tunnels of the Amez Heza, tighter and tighter, snarling worgs at every turn, her mind starting to fracture.

OOC: for the pestilence, the sword gives resistance to necrotic, so yay! Rolled a 17 and that's a total of 6 necro. Rolled a 16 on the Int save which I figure doesn't cut it

The sword pulsed in her hand, and as she ran a hand along it, the voice was no longer Gruumsh's in her mind but her own, and a frosty rime formed across her body as she stood ready for what came next

OOC: restrained so no movement, but I checked and nothing against spellcasting. Cast Armour of Agathys for the 25 temp hp and 25 cold damage to whomever attacks me in melee. After the temp hp I had at start of round and all the damage, down 1 hp in total from max.

Opalia loomed atop the ridge overlooking the road that Garduk and his bad-friends hiked up the mountain, and she found him smaller than she remembered.  He seemed very big and frightening when she spotted him draining souls from slain village-orcs back before she'd crossed the Obsidian Pass with Arvid.  Now she saw he was just a little orc with BAD plans, who could be very SQUISHABLE.  A hail of arrows fell upon herself and Arvid, of which she deflected most, and then came the frigid breath of the yetis.  Pin-pricks and a chilly breeze to the Skykeeper!  The rotting miasma was least pleasant of these, but it was far from enough.  Walls of flame cut across the road and Arvid's stone-slide cut off Garduk's retreat.

"GARDUK!" Opalia roared down the mountain.  "You have come far out of northerlands, killing and despoiling for BAD purpose.  You go NO FURTHER."

The giantess proceeded to charge down the cliff, smashing Frostfall into the nearest orc with enough force to fling it bodily into the wall of fire.  The charred corpse tumbled onto the trail near Garduk and his lieutenant, and Opalia hoped the message was received.  She then turned to charge at the nearest yeti to crack it across the jaw with a fearsome roar that might strike fear even into the bestial giant!

---

Before turn

• Reaction: Protection Fighting Style to impose disadvantage on an arrow attack on Arvid
• Take 12 damage from an arrow, removing 10 Temp HP
• Con save vs. yeti cold succeeds with a 23.  Half damage of 11 cold is halved again by resistance to 5
• Con save vs. necrotic succeeds with a 21, take 12 necrotic

Turn

• Move 20 feet to U23
• ATTACK orc in T22 and hit 16 AC for 12 cold damage with Pushing Attack maneuver:
  • Orc must make a DC 17 Str save or be pushed 15 feet northwest through the wall of fire to land by the lieutenant (it's about sending a message ;P )
• Move remaining 10 feet to S25
• Second ATTACK vs. yeti hits 19 AC for 15 bludgeoning damage, including Menacing Strike maneuver:
  • Yeti must make a DC 17 Wis save or be frightened of Opi until end of my next turn

00:14, Today: Opalia rolled 15 using d8+6+d10.  Attack 2 + maneuver.
00:13, Today: Opalia rolled 19 using 1d20+10 with rolls of 9.  Frostfall attack 2.
00:06, Today: Opalia rolled 12 using d8+6+d10.  Attack 1 + maneuver.
00:05, Today: Opalia rolled 16 using 1d20+10 with rolls of 6.  Frostfall attack 1.
23:54, Yesterday: Opalia rolled 21 using 1d20+7.  Con save necrotic.
23:54, Yesterday: Opalia rolled 23 using 1d20+7.  Con save cold.

Fergus almost choked as a swarm of pestilence surrounded him. He waved his free hand in front of his face, trying to regain his composure as his stomach retched in protest of the cloud around him. "Focus," he told himself. "Don't let this scum beat you now. Focus on the Mountain!" For a moment, his connection to the flames he had brought forth to contain Garduk faltered, but then he closed his eyes and regained his composure.

With newfound determination, he staggered forward, hampered noticeably in the rough terrain. "So your little sidekicks have a few bugs at their disposal." His brow furrowed as he dug into the pouch on his hip and brought out the mysterious figurine inside. "Well I've got something a little bigger than that."

With a grunt, he launched the carving into the valley below, watching it settle on the ground next to the trees. "Kadrel hefjor," he bellowed, grasping his newly reforged maul in one hand and pointing to the figurine with the other. The simple wooden token erupted in a swirl of forge flame and light, transforming it into the full sized bear he named Little Ildiko. It roared in acknowledgement of life, and stood poised for instruction.

"To the lieutenant," Fergus commanded his ursine partner. "Keep him occupied!" With a snarl, the bear closed on the orc spellcaster before the firey wall and slashed at him.


Fergus fails CON save, so takes 24 points necrotic damage (thank you for the 10 temp HP Caell!).
Fergus passes DC12 CON save to maintain concentration on Wall of Fire.

Fergus Move: 15' to T7.
Fergus Action: Throw figurine into the valley (~N13) and activate Wooden Defender (Little Ildiko).
Fergus Bonus Action: Command Little Ildiko to attack lieutenant.

Little Ildiko Move: 20' to L16.
Little Ildiko Action: Rend orc lieutenant (hit AC22 for 6 force damage).

21:48, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 5 using 1d20+3.  CON save vs. Circle of Death.
21:49, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 13 using 2d20+3, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 10,2.  DC12 concentration (using inspiration).

22:07, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 22 using 1d20+6.  Little Ildiko rend attack vs. Lieutenant #2.
22:08, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 6 using 1d8+4.  Little Ildiko force damage.

This message was last edited by the player at 04:04, Mon 12 Dec 2022.

Caell was unable to withstand the effects that he found himself within. Mere seconds into the fight he was already weak, cold and shivering. Fear, however, was something he had left behind. If he died, he died.

The question was how he could be of best use before that happened. The answer was obvious. He was going to cast his most powerful spells while he could. And they were not the only ones who could spread sickness.

He raised his hand and brought down a greenish cloud of radiant energy over Garduk and his followers.

Action: Casting Sickening Radiance to cover as many enemies as possible without affecting the allies who have already moved. 20 damage. Con save DC 17 for additional effects.

Bonus: Using Healing Light on self.

It never ceased to amaze Arvid how willing Opalia was to place herself in harms way to prevent any injury from befalling him, but the arrows were coming in too fast and too plentiful for her buckler to deflect them all. The archers were skilled - he had to credit them. Even firing uphill upon uncertain footing they managed to find their marks as often as not. Two black fletched arrows splintered upon the rocks beside him close enough for Arvid to feel the impact while a third arrow nearly took him dead center - indeed, would have done so had he not snatched it out of the air and snapped it between his fingers. This small victory was short lived however as a fourth and final barb took him in the shoulder before the winds of the tundra and a plague of roiling darkness fell upon them. But for Caell's bolstering light, and his thick yeti hide cap it could have been far worse...

Reaction: Deflect Missiles, 21. Arvid snags the first arrow out of the air, negating 11 damage. Second arrow hits for 10 damage (unless the interaction of Opalia's reaction and Arvid's reaction lets him snag both?)
Saves: 17 and 22. Arvid takes 5 cold damage (cold resistance) and 12 necrotic damage.

14:09, Sat 10 Dec: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 22 using 1d20+4.  Con save.
14:09, Sat 10 Dec: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 17 using 1d20+4.  Con save.
14:08, Sat 10 Dec: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 21 using 1d10+12.  Deflect Missiles.

As soon as the chill receded and Arvid could do more than cast his arms up protectively before his face the Northman started down the remaining slope at a dead run, skirting around the ponderous arms of the threatening yeti to crash into the ranks of archers at the rear. A wave of light rippled away from him as he reached across the divide and summoned Ildikos' arms. With tooth and claw he set upon the hapless orc trying to buy his companions desperate seconds.

Move: 50'
Bonus: Summon the Arms of the Astral Self at position N24. All enemies within 10' (all archers to the south) must succeed against Dex save DC 17 or take 6 force damage.
Attack (M24; if M24 dies after the first hit, remaining attack to L25):
1) Hits AC 15 for 10 force damage
2) Hits AC 18 for 11 force damage

13:29, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 10,11 using 1d6+5,1d6+5.  Damage.
13:29, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 15,18 using 1d20+9,1d20+9.  Attack.
13:28, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 6 using 2d6.  Summoning Arms.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:43, Mon 12 Dec 2022.

Sikuaq fought gamely against the wave of negative energy that emanated from Garduk's minions, but in the end she was overwhelmed and felt her spirit draining away.  Weakening her only made her angrier though, and that fiery determination was just enough to maintain the burning wall that penned in Garduk.

Sikuaq wasted no time in responding, as another flaming phoenix streaked from her hand toward the wedge-shaped area that confined the army's leader and exploded in the midst of those trapped there!


OOC:
Fail saving throw against Circle of Death.  Take 24 necrotic damage.  I second Fergus' thoughts - thanks for the extra padding Caell!
11:46, Today: Secret Roll: Sikuaq rolled 16 using 1d20+2.  CON Save (DC17).

Use inspiration for concentration check on Wall of Fire and just make it.  Phew!
11:48, Today: Secret Roll: Sikuaq rolled 13,9 using 1d20+2,1d20+2.  Concentration Check (DC12; inspiration).

Cast Fireball and centre on location O19.  20ft radius, 25 dmg, DC17 Dex check to save for half (12 dmg).
22:17, Today: Secret Roll: Sikuaq rolled 25 using 8d6.  Damage.

Cora, though frozen in place by horrors conjured within her mind's eye, nevertheless managed to sheath herself in hoarfrost.

Opalia charged down the mountainside, kicking an orc through the wall of flame where it landed burning at its lieutenant's feet. The commanding orc spared barely a downward glance. "Get up," he ordered. The yeti she attacked was no more intimidated, though it was injured.

Arvid followed her down, leaping clear over the head of one orc to land in the midst of several others and deploy his astral arms. The orcs were mostly successful at evading the initial blast of energy from the arms, but less so when it came to the attacks that followed.

Fergus summoned little Ildiko to harry one of the lieutenants, which it did, biting and clawing with its arms of wood turned to flesh.

Caell's sickening radiance, followed by Sikuaq's fireball and the extant walls of fire, turned the center of the battlefield into a hellish conflagration which consumed several orcs. Garduk was not among them, though he was sufficiently rattled by the fireball to lose his concentration on the spell that held Cora captive.

Valaku slashed again at the yeti, leaving it on the brink of death. Though he did not succeed in killing it, he did turn its attention from Caell. He dodge one swing but took a heavy blow to the chest from the creature's fist. An arrow from the trail below struck the valiant ranger in the shoulder, but he shrugged it off and kept fighting.

The second yeti finished charging up the mountainside and attacked Caell to more devastating effect (18 to hit for 5 slashing + 1 cold, 20 to crit 11 slashing + 5 cold).

Cora snapped out of her hallucination to find herself surrounded by orcs. Her soldier's instincts spared her the worst of their blows, so that only two axe swings nicked her (19 to hit for 7 slashing damage, 23 to hit for 9 slashing). The orcs who dared strike her was immediately punished by a shock of cold from her magical armor.

The yeti fighting Opalia hit her with another blast of its icy breath. 23 cold damage. A DC 15 Con save will halve to 11.

Garduk's last standing lieutenant lashed out in fury at the bear who had attacked her, causing dark boils to appear on its skin.

Little Ildiko must make a DC 16 Constitution saving throw. The target takes 9d8 necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

An orcish warrior charged through the flames to land a vicious swing on Arvid (21 to hit for 16 slashing), while several archers took pot shots at the Northman who'd leapt into their ranks (two hits on AC 23 for 11 and 12 piercing).

Arvid may take an opportunity attack against the one who moved out of range.

Finally, Garduk himself emerged, disappearing into the shadows and reappearing on the face of the far cliff. He cast a spell at the Northman as well, though no one else could see its effects.

Arvid must make a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the target becomes frightened for the duration. At the end of each of the target’s turns before the spell ends, the target must succeed on a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw or take 5d10 psychic damage. On a successful save, the spell ends.

Whew! Lots of moving parts here, thanks for your patience. Just to clarify some of the shenanigans here, Garduk has Misty Step as a legendary action, and the melee orcs have aggress (I forgot to use it last round) which gives them extra movement.

Everyone can act now, and Cora is no longer affected by the spell from last round.

Brigha has 2 successes and no failures, despite rolling at disadvantage this round while Garduk rolled flat.

Arvid found himself suddenly beset from all sides and fell back upon a more patient, defensive stance to weather the sudden onslaught. Plucking another arrow neatly from the air, he stared down Garduk and cast off the shaman's spell without noticeable effect.

Saving throw fails, however Arvid negates frightened condition prior to taking damage.
Reaction: Deflect Missiles. Arvid negates 11 damage.
Action: Stillness of Mind. Arvid ends frightened condition.
Bonus: Patient Defense (bonus action Dodge), attacks against Arvid have disadvantage this round

Cora brought the blade up, her shield catching a few attacks before she felt the sting of some getting through. She wove the blade through the air and sliced and stabbed, trying to cut her way through and carve a bloody path to Garduk

OOC: attack rolls 17 (12 damage, 16 if shadow-orc) and 26 (16 damage, 24 if shadow-orc)

Sensing her moment Cora pushed through, trying to close the gap and push towards Garduk

OOC: move to y19 (assuming difficult terrain), yeah I know lots of opportunity attacks, hopefully my luck holds, Garduk is 95ft away by my count so too far for Relentless Hex, moving to y19 puts him instead at roughly 85ft away, progress!

Fergus continued to trudge ahead across the rough terrain toward the conflict as fast as his legs would take him. He watched in dismay as Garduk's lieutenant dissolved Little Ildiko nearly as fast as she appeared before her. "Slag and rust! That's no mere sidekick! Little Ildiko, I won't let the distraction you provided go to waste!" Recognizing the lieutenant as a formidable foe in her own right, Fergus called upon the Great Mountain again. He raised Dawnstrike to the heavens, this time raining down a beam of forge light across the valley, catching Garduk, his lieutenant, and a couple of the warriors before Arvid within it.


OOC: Little Ildiko only had 54 hp, so my own damage roll did her in :(
On the plus side, that clears the table for Fergus to cast a level 5 spell, so maybe it's for the best.

Move: 15' forward to S10.
Action: Cast Dawn, 30' radius centered on L18. That should catch Garduk, the @#% lieutenant that melted Little Ildiko, and the orcs at O22 and O23 while still narrowly missing Arvid. 24 radiant damage. Half that with a successful DC17 CON save.

01:51, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 12 using 1d20+6.  Little Ildiko DC16 CON save.
01:52, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 56 using 9d8 with rolls of 7,7,5,5,7,4,6,8,7.  Necrotic damage. Ouch! Shouldn't've rolled my own 9d8 there!
02:38, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 24 using 4d10 with rolls of 2,9,5,8.  Radiant damage (DC 17 CON save for half damage).

The yeti facing down Opalia roared another gale of ice that blasted her full-force, though she made no move except for the billowing of her hair.  Covered in icy hoarfrost that could have frozen a lesser warrior solid, the half-giantess glowered at the yeti and snarled, "Your breath does smell BAD!"  When she raised Frostfall the hoarfrost broke away from Opalia's entirely unharmed body, and she proceeded to batter the yeti with two swinging strikes.

Opalia followed up with a tremendous kick to the snow-beast's midsection that sent it reeling backward in a scattering of avalanche debris, and she proceeded to stalk down the slope to stand beside Arvid in the light of flaming walls and a sickly green arcane glow, surrounded by Garduk's ravening marauders.  Opalia smiled at Arvid, then beat her breast and roared, "STORMBREAKERS stand TOGETHER!  NONE who faced us still live, and YOU SLAKTERE are NEXT."  The first declaration was a rallying cry for friends, but the latter was a less a threat than a statement of fact for Garduk's doomed warriors to consider.

---

Before turn

• Con save vs. cold fails with a 10.  Take 23 cold, halved by resistance to 11
• Reaction: Stone's Endurance to reduce that cold damage to ZERO!

Turn

• Move 5 feet to S26
• ATTACK giant in R26, two attacks:
  1. Miss with a natural 1
  2. Probably miss with 13 vs. AC, but if it hits deal 9 bludgeoning
• Bonus action Shield Master shove!  The giant must beat 29 Athletics or Acrobatics (its choice) or be pushed 5 feet NW, to Q25
• Use remaining movement to get next to Arvid while avoiding opportunity attacks, to N24 with current map positioning
• Protection fighting style at the ready to impose disadvantage on the first attack targeting Arv

16:48, Today: Opalia rolled 9 using 1d8+6.  Attack 2 damage?
16:48, Today: Opalia rolled 10,13 using d20+9,d20+9 with rolls of 1,4.  Frostfall attacks 1 & 2.
16:45, Today: Opalia rolled 29 using 1d20+13.  Shield Master shove.
16:40, Today: Opalia rolled 12 using 1d12+3.  Stone's Endurance.
16:37, Today: Opalia rolled 10 using 1d20+7.  Con save.

With eyes aflame Sikuaq continued her assault on Garduk, almost oblivious to the skirmishes taking place much closer to her.  She was focused on the leader - manage to finish him and the rest should sort itself out.

Despite the heat banked within her belly and the flames dancing in her eyes, Sikuaq called upon the fury of the North this time 'round and rained a pummeling cascade of hail and icy cold down upon the battlefield, encompassing Garduk and his nearest allies.

OOC:
Cast Ice Storm. 20ft radius cylinder centred at J20 (or thereabouts - get Garduk, lieutenant and one other orc; ensure Arvid and Opalia are missed).  22 combined damage, DC17 DEX save for half.

22:04, Today: Secret Roll: Sikuaq rolled 13 using 4d6.  Ice Storm - Cold.
22:03, Today: Secret Roll: Sikuaq rolled 9 using 2d8.  Ice Storm - Bludgeoning.

Caell was hit again. These yeti were dangerous! The quinichiat fought to keep his spell active, although most of their enemies had already moved out of the zone.

Concentration checks successful. Sickening Radiance still active.

Hurt and in pain, Caell wouldn't be able to stay on his feet for long. He was going to change into something more robust again; the mammoth form.

Action: Polymorph

Arvid stood his ground, hardening his body and mind against the onslaught of the orcs.

Cora took an opposite strategy, hacking a hole in the wall before her and darting through to put Garduk back in her sights - and herself in his. (One OA hits AC 19 for 9 damage - is Agathys still up?)

The light of dawn erupted onto the battlefield, scouring from it several of those who had survived the sickening radiance and injuring both Garduk and his lieutenant.

Opalia's first two swings missed the yeti, but just when it thought it was safe, she shoved it backward crashing into the rockfall below. Then she bound past it to take up position by Arvid's side.

Sikuaq raised her arms to cast her own spell, but as she attempted to call on the power of the arctic plains, she felt a strange emptiness inside of her, where something had been hollowed out and filled with flame. Gasping, she fell to her knees.

"Anatka!" Casually dodging the yeti's claws, Valaku rushed to the druid's side.

At his touch, Sikuaq felt power flow through her again, and the storm clouds she had summoned emerged at last, blasting Garduk and his last standing lieutenant with sleet and hail. The lieutenant was killed, but the warchief remained standing opposite her on the far cliff, his skeletal mask now rimed with ice.

It was good Valaku moved when he did, for a moment later Caell's body ballooned out into that of a mammoth, astonishing the yetis who surrounded him. Caell was perhaps a bit astonished himself when the confused creatures did not attack him.

The orcs, shouting, charged after Cora to intercept her. Two of them swung axes while one attempted to restrain her. (Hits AC 22, 23, and 19 for 7,7,16 damage respectively. Nat 20 on the grapple so DC 25 Athletics or Acrobatics to escape)

Archers took shots at Fergus and Arvid but all four arrows flew wide.

The beast Opalia had shoved clambered to its feet and blasted her and Arvid both with its freezing breath. (23 cold damage. A DC 15 Con save will halve to 11.)

Then Garduk himself rose into the air, hovering as if lifted by some unseen force. The lips of his mask parted, the eyes opened, and a dark wind - tangibly dark, as if made of shadow itsef - emerged. The wind rushed across and through the narrow trail, seeking out the warchief's enemies and wending its way into their heads through their own ears, eyes, and mouths.

Sikuaq: As a result of your corruption, you've lost the ability to cast spells unassisted. You can either use the spells provided by the staff, or you can channel your magic through Valaku if you are in physical contact with him. The latter enables you to cast spells as normal.

Everyone except Caell: Please make a DC 18 Intelligence save. On a success, you take 30 psychic damage. On a fail, you take 61 psychic damage and are frightened until the end of your next turn (no save necessary at that point, the condition will drop off automatically). Caell, the mammoth's low intelligence is actually protecting you from this. Fergus and Cora may roll the save with advantage - Fergus for being aligned with a good god, and Cora because of the sword.

Arvid, Garduk's other spell is still active, so please also make a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw and take 27 psychic damage. On a successful save, the spell ends, but you take the damage during your turn regardless.

Brigha succeeds a third time! Now 3-0.

For now, everyone please just post the results of your save(s), whether you're still on your feet, and any reactions you may have. I'm aware this is a somewhat wildly unreasonable spell to throw out you. I've bent the rules a little in your favor already, and there's more still to happen before your next round.

Wisdom save, Natural 20.
Con save, success. Arvid takes half damage again due to cold resistance.
Int save, failure. Arvid takes 61 psychic damage and falls unconscious.

11:52, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 10 using 1d20+1.  Int save, DC 18.

11:51, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 19 using 1d20+4.  Con save, DC15.

11:50, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 26 using 1d20+6.  Wisdom save, DC 18.

Opalia shrugged off the yeti's ice-breath as if it were a nippy breeze.  She looked up at Garduk rising up into the air and spitting a torrent of malevolent shadow that stood in sharp contrast to the pillar of sunny radiance at his back.  The dark wind spread quickly through the mountain trail, seeking them out and seeping past all defenses!  Opalia saw and felt the terrible blackness rushing into her from all directions, crawling into her mind and threatening to break her mind.  The giantess gritted her teeth and snarled, "NO."  The darkness blew away from the sheer force of her will, as if it knew that it could find no purchase in her.

Opalia turned to see Arvid collapse to the stone with black vapor pouring out of his head, and she cried in alarm, "ARV!"

---

• Con save vs. Yeti cold succeeds with a 21.  Take 11 cold, halved again by resistance to 5
• Int save against psychic destruction fails with a 13, but use Indomitable (no action) to reroll and succeed with an 18!
  • Stone's Endurance as a reaction reduces 30 psychic damage to 25

12:25, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 5 using 1d12+3.  Stone's Endurance.
12:22, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 18 using 1d20-1.  Int save (Indomitable reroll).
12:21, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 13 using 1d20-1.  Int save.
12:20, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 21 using 1d20+7.  Con save.

20:39, Today: Secret Roll: Sikuaq rolled 21 using 1d20+4.  Intelligence Saving Throw (DC18).  Save - take 30 dmg.  Still standing for now, at 22/66 hp.

Caell was unaffected by the last spell and had not suffered any injuries in his current form. Concern for his friends was still something that that fit in his mammoth brain, so he was more than ready to trample their enemies to save them!

He let out a deep trumpeting sound.

Cora from across the battlefield locked eyes for a moment with Garduk as his orcs attacked her. She was still on her feet, still fighting. Bringing her blade up she moved to strike, and a spell shattered her mind . . .

OOC: failed that save, 0 hp unconscious

Fergus opened his mouth to scream as Garduk's evil magic washed over him, but only a silent, frozen breath emerged from the cleric.

22:42, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 11 using 1d20+1.  Int save (gulp).

As Garduk rose above the battlefield, black clouds gathering around him and assaulting the heroes, his troops surged forward. They broke through a line of Brigha's Luthic orcs and seemed ready to crash over the rockslide which had so far held them off when suddenly a sticky web fell over them, bogging down those in the front and bottlenecking their brethren behind them.

"Looks like you've got yourselves in a sticky situation," Keth Bentbone quipped from the back of the giant spider he arrived on. Then he vaulted from its back and ran to Cora's side. "Get up, kid. Today may be a good day to die, but at least let it come at the hands of a more worthy foe."

"Vati!" Farra shouted as she landed alongside him and sprinted toward her father.

Cora, you're back on your feet with 1 HP. Keth is trying to bait the nearby orcs into attacking him this round, and we know how annoying he is. If he succeeds, only one of them will attack you. If you move away, you'll need to disengage or take OA as usual.

Fergus, Farra is trying to get to you but will need another round to do it, so you'll need to roll a death save this round unless someone else gets you back on your feet.

Caell, please hold your action until everyone else has posted. You're technically acting at the start of next round, which means heals from you wouldn't take effect in time for KO'ed characters to get an action in this round. If anyone else revives a fallen ally, that ally can act as usual on their turn.

Darkness. Black. Howling winds and a coldness that bit to the marrow. Arvid breathed, barely.

21:38, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 2 using 1d20.  Death save.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:54, Mon 26 Dec 2022.

Cora stood fast alongside Keth, the Starbound Blade in hand cutting at the orcs before them, sparing a moment to look to her comrade as she leaned into her shield to fight on

"For Lawton's Glen and for Lockjaw's?"

OOC: stand up, attack rolls 14 (15 damage) and 21 (14 damage)

Sikuaq was terrified of the emptiness within her, the gaping hole that appeared when she called upon Nature to assail her enemies.  Only flame burned there now, empty and hungry to scour away more and more.  She was losing the battle within, to the peril of all without.

But then Valaku's touch connected her to the world once again, and the familiar power surged through her.  Ice assailed Garduk and his lieutenants as it should, and for a moment the gurgling lava within her belly subsided.  But only for a moment.  As soon as she briefly separated from Valaku the schism reappeared, even stronger.  She bit her lip to stop herself from crying out, and molten tears squeezed from her eyes.

And then Garduk's spell slammed into her mind with its full force...

Flailing in the darkness, only the sense of raging heat within her, Sikuaq's grasping hand suddenly landed on Valaku's arm again.  She gasped at the beauty of the sensation, the life of the Qopol Qalak surging back through her.  Dragging herself back upright, she pleaded with her companion.  "Do not leave me.  I cannot feel the Land but through you.  I am fading, Valaku - it is winning.  But you can hold it at bay, long enough I hope.  Keep hold of me, no matter what.  I beg of you."

With his unshakeable strength, Sikuaq beat back the dark winds that swirled around her and though they took their toll, the wall of fire blocking the pass below remained tall and burning brightly.  Through her protector she could sense the damage Garduk had wreaked though, and her thoughts immediately turned to succor.  With the fingers of one hand clenched like talons into Valaku's arm, she summoned the warmth of Spring's eternal radiance and blessed the closest of her companions with its boon.

OOC:
09:36, Today: Secret Roll: Sikuaq rolled 19 using 1d20+2.  Concentration check (DC15).  Wall of Fire continues to stand!
Cast Mass Cure Wounds, centred on Farra.  30ft radius sphere affecting 6 allies - Fergus, Valaku, Sikuaq, Caell, Cora, Keth.  Heals 3d8+5 dmg (19).
09:50, Today: Secret Roll: Sikuaq rolled 19 using 3d8+5.  Mass Cure Wounds.

Sorry Arvid and Opalia, couldn't reach you.  And I don't know if Caell, Farra or Keth will get any benefit, but Cora will have a little more oomph and Fergus can back me up in the healing department.

With her head still aching from the dreadful psychic assault, Opalia stared down stricken at Arvid, who lay collapsed upon the icy scree.  She knelt next to him and pleaded, "Stand, ARV!  We are not..."  He was not dead, but neither did she know how to help him.

Except, that wasn't entirely true.  She did know a way to help him, as well as Lawton's Glen and all of the North.  The giantess turned a teary-eyed glare toward Garduk, now hovering above the battlefield sure in his victory.  The giantess rose to her feet and called to the others, "Help him, little friends!"  Quieter, she said only for Arvid, "Sorry I must leave, buddy.  OPALIA will help by ENDING THIS.  Please do live!"

Opalia then charged across the mountain trail toward Garduk hovering triumphantly in the air, but not high enough.  The giantess flung herself upward into a tremendous running leap, reaching up to seize the warlord's ankle in her mighty grasp!  She dragged him down with her and slammed him into the cold earth, pinning him down.  Opalia glared down at the foe they'd pursued so far and snarled at his ugly skull mask, "Not so nice when YOU are conquered, YES?"  As she pinned him down she raised Frostfall high and smashed Garduk in the chest with a rib-splintering blow.  "That was for GLEN of LAWTON!"  Opalia grabbed him roughly and dragged him behind her toward the towering wall of magical flame that still roared across the breadth of the pass.

Opalia hauled Garduk up to face the searing furnace fire and growled, "THIS is for all good northerfolks you did BURN."  The giantess dragged Garduk the last few feet and shoved him forcibly into the inferno and held him there with a steely grip.  Firelight gleamed off of Opalia's shining glare as she held Garduk in the fire, hopefully until no more than a blackened skeleton remained.

---

• 30 feet of movement to move to I21 and high jump 8 feet
• ATTACK Garduk, replacing first attack with a grapple!  He must beat a 23 with his choice of Athletics or Acrobatics.  If grapple succeeds, drag him to the ground
• Contingent bonus action:
  • If being grounded leaves Garduk prone, use Second Wind to heal 14 HP
  • If being grounded doesn't leave Garduk prone, instead do a Shield Master shove:  He must beat a 15 with his choice of Athletics or Acrobatics or be knocked prone
• Second attack from prior Attack action!  If I have no advantage miss with a nat 1, but if I do have advantage crit for 23 cold damage, including Disarming Attack maneuver:
  • Garduk must make a DC 17 Strength save or drop an object he's holding, preferably his spell focus if he has one
• Action Surge to Dash and gain 30 more feet of movement
• Drag grappled Garduk at half speed, bringing Opalia to J18 and Garduk to J19, inside Sik's Wall of Fire!

15:27, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 23 using 2d8+6+2d10.  Disarming Attack (maybe crit?).
15:25, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 29 using 2d20+9, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 1,20.  Frostfall second attack (maybe advantage?).
15:23, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 15 using 1d20+13.  Contingent Shield Master shove.
15:22, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 14 using 1d10+10.  Contingent Second Wind.
14:15, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 23 using 1d20+13.  Athletics grapple.
12:25, Wed 21 Dec: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 5 using 1d12+3.  Stone's Endurance.
12:22, Wed 21 Dec: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 18 using 1d20-1.  Int save (Indomitable reroll).
12:21, Wed 21 Dec: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 13 using 1d20-1.  Int save.
12:20, Wed 21 Dec: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 21 using 1d20+7.  Con save.

Shaken but still standing, Fergus observed the battlefield. When Opalia leapt into sight from behind the wall, Fergus could account for all hs allies but one. Arvid must have fallen in the wake of the same attack that darkened his hopes in a shadow. Still gripped by fear from that assault, he could not move, but the healing surge through his body from the anatka and a single word from the voice of his daughter awakened him. Holding Dawnstrike aloft, he called for the assistance of the Great Mountain again.

"Unrol karrim," he called, motioning to the mountainside beneath Garduk. The earth rumbled and a humanoid form arose. Its body was stone, but the joints were a molten liquid, like magma heated from the Forge of Kann itself. The being glowed slightly  radiating a subtle reassurance from his body.

Fergus called to his new ally. "Find Arvid. Find the brother of Ildiko behind that wall and help him!" And with those words, the stone spirit flew to the fallen Northman and warmed his soul with the healing powers of the forge.


Fergus Action: Cast Summon Celestial (Defender: AC18, HP50) at H19 (just west of Sikuaq's wall of fire).
Celestial Move: Fly 40' to L24.
Celestial Action: Use Healing Touch to cure Arvid for 15HP.

23:21, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 15 using 2d8+5.  Celestial defender healing touch on Arvid.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:20, Tue 27 Dec 2022.

Caell raised both his front legs and stomped down on one of the two nearby yetis. He wanted to finish them quickly, so he could run over and help Cora. Another deep trumpet escaped his long trunk.

Action: Stomp attack on yeti at AC 19 for 36 bludgeoning damage.

"Please do live!"

                                "Find Arvid.... find Arvid.... help him...."

A most curious sight was waiting for Arvid when his eyelids fluttered open. Standing tall above him, its ponderous limb extended towards his chest, was a stone man veined in molten steel. The creature was utterly alien. Imposing. And yet, somehow strangely not terrifying. A benevolent spirit burned behind that faceless mask, Arvid was sure of it. There was no cause for fear.

"Am I dead?" he asked the stone angel. He certainly hoped he wasn't. His body ached too much. And his head... Gods, his head....

"THIS is for all good northerfolks you did BURN."

No. Not dead. Opalia was here with him. Somewhere close.

Arvid sat up with a wince, the world around him sluggishly coming into focus. A battle still raged around him. He must have fallen when the dark mist..... No. He shivered. Best not to think upon it.

"I'm coming," he said, his voice sounding hoarse to his own ears. "Just... hang on..."

He found Opalia first, Garduk clenched in her iron grip, twisting in Forza's flames. 'Mother Ildiko, watch over her, I beg you... Ulf, if you're up there listening...' But pleading with spirits could only take them so far, he knew. And there wasn't much he could do to help her directly, entangled as they were.

Cora and - was that Keth? Arvid shook his head. Perhaps he'd fallen harder than he'd thought. Whatever the case may be, they were a ways up the slope and out of his immediate reach. The others must have still stood upon the far side of the conflagration for Arvid could see no sign of them.

Of the foes that remained close at hand, the yeti was clearly the greater threat but having fought one before Arvid knew in his current state he would only be rushing headlong towards his death. Best to leave the creature kicking rocks he decided. It was far enough away that he hoped it couldn't immediately trouble anyone. And perhaps the benevolent stone man would contend with it?

And that just left the orc. Well, perhaps he could still be of some use...

Drawing a deep breath that pulled at his ribs he broke into a lumbering sprint. "I'm coming." And come he did, a flurry of ethereal claws to shield Opalia's flank...

1) Hits AC 18 for 6 force damage
2) Hits AC 24 for 6 force damage
3) Hits AC 26 for 7 force damage
4) Hits AC 22 for 10 force damage

21:07, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 6,6,7,10 using 1d6+5,1d6+5,1d6+5,1d6+5.  Damage.
21:06, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 18,24,26,22 using 1d20+9,1d20+9,1d20+9,1d20+9.  Flurry.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:12, Wed 28 Dec 2022.

This message was deleted by the player at 02:58, Wed 28 Dec 2022.

Fergus watched the action unfurl all around him. Cora was holding off a squadron of orcs with the Starbound Blade. Sikuaq, now wholly reliant on Valaku for assistance, still summoned healing for her companions while holding the mysterious fire demon within her at bay. Somewhere behind a wall of fire, the Northman Arvid was now healed and dispatching Garduk's allies while Opalia, the giantess, lifted Frostfall against Garduk himself.

Somehow Farra and Keth had also joined the battle... from atop a giant spider. And Caell? Yes, he's a mammoth now!

It was only a moment, but Fergus's heart swelled with pride. "Are you seeing this, Darna? Your daughter? Your niece? All of these brave companions! I don't know if I'll live to see the end of the day, but even if I don't, I'll still have an amazing tale to tell you about my friends - about this new Starbound Alliance, when we meet again"

"I will never leave you," Valaku assured the flagging druid, squeezing her hand to share his strength. The latent power of the land flowed through him into her and then out into their allies. "I will follow you into the Spiritrealm or whatever dark place that thing tries to drag you, and I will drag you back."

Meanwhile, Fergus worked miracles of his own, summoning a mole-like creature with golden wings to fly to Arvid's side and resurrect the fallen Northman.

Caell flattened a yeti with a single stomp of his thick leg. The other one roared in outrage and swung at the beast's thick hide (25 and 24 to hit for total of 15 slashing and 6 cold damage).

The nearest orc flinched as Cora's sword bit into his flesh but was not deterred. Keth's taunts were only moderately successful, distracting one of the warriors from her. (Hits AC 23 for 15 damage and AC 19 for 5 damage.)

Arvid, newly roused, charged across the battlefield to take the astonished archer by surprise and pummel him near to death. "Yield," the pathetic creature choked through cracked teeth. "I yield." It dropped its bow and slumped back against mountain's face as if dead. The ruse, Arvid realized, was not for his sake but for that of the other orcs, who would no doubt tear the fellow to pieces themselves if they caught him surrendering.

The yeti ran up behind him and took two swings, both of which Arvid evaded.

For a perilous moment, the skies were black with the dark energy of the Spiritrealm. Garduk hovered over the battlefield, his enemies falling before his awesome power, his troops rallying and screaming for blood. But those screams of triumph turned to shock and disappointment as new heroes joined the battle, healing energy pushed back against the vapors of death, and the warchief was dragged from the sky by a vengeful goliath, disarmed, and unceremoniously dragged into a wall of magical fire.

But this, too, did not last. Garduk's skeletal mask began to melt from the heat, revealing an orcish face twisted by fury and pain. But then the face vanished, and Opalia's arms were empty.

Garduk reappeared where the goliath had first grabbed him. He retrieved his skull-headed staff and pointed it at Opalia. A dark tendril of forsaken spirits flew forth from it, wrapping around the warrior and feasting on her own. As the goliath weakened, Garduk seemed to grow stronger, her life energy draining from her into him by means of the tendril that connected them. (17 necrotic damage, halved to 9 with DC 18 Dex save)

The nearby lieutenant focused on Opalia as well, sending similar dark tentacles pouring forth from his own hand.(30 necrotic damage, halved to 15 with DC 16 Con save)

Finally, two arrows flew toward her, but in a small blessing amidst the devastation, both missed.

Garduk's army, heartened by the reappearance of their leader, surged forward one more, rolling over a line of Kerit warriors who had held them back.

Garduk failed his concentration check so cannot currently levitate.

Garduk finally wins a check vs Brigha! 3-1 now, in B's favor.

Everyone can act now, in any order.

Opalia was not best-pleased when Garduk vanished from her grasp and a fiery death.  The orcish warlord reclaimed his cursed staff and lashed out with a dark tendril of magic, but she raised a bracer in time to deflect the worst of it.  Arvid then arrived to fight at her side with Ildiko's radiant arms striking with full fury!  The giantess grinned, "OPALIA did know you would return, buddy!"

The battle raged on, and Opalia stalked up the slope toward Garduk, her sworn enemy.  An orcish lieutenant flung his own dark magic as a pair of arrows embedded in the dirt nearby, but still the giantess pressed inexorably onward.  To Garduk she bellowed, "You flee before your own army, CRAVEN!  Should have fled FARTHER."  She charged and struck her icy mace against the warlord's forearm, threatening to make him drop his staff.  If Garduk should drop the accursed skull staff, Opalia would return Frostfall to the baldric across her back and then snatch the staff up off the frozen ground.  "Let your BAD-ARMY see THIS."

Opalia then proceeded to smash Garduk roughly upside the head with his own staff, in full view of the approaching armies under his command.

---

Off-turn

• Dex save succeeds with a 20 (making rare use of a small bonus from Shield Master), take half damage
  • Stone's Endurance as a reaction reduces 9 necrotic damage down to 5
• Con save succeeds with a 21, take half damage of 15 necrotic

Left with 46 HP!

Turn

• Move to E18, ignoring any snowy difficult terrain
• ATTACK Garduk twice!
  1. Hit 24 AC for 20 cold damage including Disarming Attack maneuver
     • Garduk must make a DC 17 Strength save or drop his staff
     • If that save fails, stow Frostfall with a bonus action, then object interaction to pick up the staff and hit Garduk with it for the following attack ;P
  2. Second attack hits 20 AC for 14 damage (those rolls are for a d8+1 weapon, but if Opi has the staff then pls adjust accordingly!

17:06, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 14 using 1d8+6.  Attack 2 damage.
17:05, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 20 using 1d20+9 with rolls of 11.  Attack 2.
17:00, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 20 using d8+6+d10.  Attack 1 damage + maneuver.
16:58, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 24 using 1d20+9 with rolls of 15.  Attack 1.
16:50, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 4 using 1d12+3.  Stone's Endurance.
16:47, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 21 using 1d20+7.  Con save.
16:45, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 20 using 1d20+4.  Dex save (+2 Shield Master bonus).

"Thank you, Valaku," Sikuaq breathed with a wan smile, deeply grateful for his acceptance.  With a quick scan of the battlefield she saw to her dismay that Cora was down again, and that Opalia was under a foully unnatural attack by Garduk and one of his minions.  Cora, she thought.  We need her strength.

But a surge of fiery nausea suddenly caused her to cry out and clutch at her belly.  Stumbling, the Quinichiat doubled over in pain before two molten tentacles erupted from her midsection, brushing aside a concerned Valaku.  Sikuaq straightened, one of the tentacles bracing her against the slope, and quickly was wreathed in a nimbus of red-gold flames.  She managed one last glance in Cora's direction before a short fit of retching overtook her, wracking her slight frame as she tried to clear something from her throat.  An orange-gold glowing spot grew visible in her upper chest, and with each hack it distended her throat and crept closer to her mouth.  It ended with one final barking cough, which spewed a fist-sized flaming cinder that flew as though shot from a bow toward Garduk's lieutenant in the valley, only to explode in a ball of flames upon impact.

Gravelly laughter dripped from Sikuaq's mouth as she watched the explosion, and one of the tentacles raised her staff in triumph.

OOC:
Cast Fireball, positioned to catch lieutenant at G8 and orc at M11 but no allies.
14:58, Today: Secret Roll: Sikuaq rolled 24 using 8d6.  Damage.  Take half damage with DEC save (DC17).

"Dammit!" Fergus huffed when he saw Sikuaq choose a spiteful attack instead of the healing he hoped she would offer Cora. "I knew that staff was trouble. Curse the day she picked it up!"

The old dwarf knew now that his niece's life was his to save and he cursed his own overuse of Kann's divine powers earlier. Unable to offer the assistance she needed from afar, he had no choice but to reach her as quickly as his tired legs would allow.

"Farra," he bellowed over the roar of the battle while stumbling down the rough terrain into the valley. "Get your sister out of there!!!" Sister. The word flashed over the battlefield for only a fraction of a second, but for Fergus, its gravitas was without measure. Cora was Farra's sibling no less than Hamil when he lived. And Cora was his child no less than Farra or Hamil. He had always called her his niece, never wanting to imply to her that he was a replacement for her father. But in this moment, with Cora prone on the battlefield, with the fate of the Northland teetering upon a razor's edge, he spoke aloud what he had felt since that little mossflower appeared on their doorstep so many years ago.

But the battle paused not for such revelations, regardless of their significance to certain combatants. The dwarf returned to the present and surveyed the valley. He took comfort seeing that his angelic ally from the mountain had aided the Northman, but the yeti before them was formidable. "Keep that thing's attention away from Arvid," he directed. "And be ready to assist the giantess."

The stone angel, in turn, rotated around the yeti, then struck with a glowing stone mace. There was a flash, and a subtle wave of warmth from the Forge washed over Arvid. The celestial swung again, hopefully enough to keep the yeti's savage attention away from the Kerit monk.

Fergus knew his powers were dissipating about as quickly as his legs were, but he pressed on, scrambling into the valley, then running along its edge as quickly as possible before climbing back up to reach his daughters.

Fergus Move/Action: Dash (50' total) 25 feet (including the penalty for rough terrain) to S14, then in valley 15 feet to U16, then 10 more feet (5 actually, but rough terrain) up hillside to V16!

Celestial Move: 20 feet to I22 (getting him to within 40' of Garduk for next turn).
Celestial Action: Two attacks on yeti with Radiant Mace (one miss (AC9) and one hit AC20 12 radiant damage and +2 temp hp to Arvid).

14:52, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 20 using 1d20+7.  Radiant Mace attack vs. yeti.
14:53, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 12 using 1d10+8.  Radiant damage.
14:54, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 2 using 1d10.  Temp hit points to Arvid.

14:55, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 9 using 1d20+7.  Radiant Mace attack #2 vs. yeti.

This message was last edited by the player at 03:29, Mon 02 Jan 2023.

A look of understanding passed between Arvid and the orc, as the archer discarded his bow and 'collapsed' to the ground. "Ildiko watch over you," Arvid said quietly. Mother Bear had her hands full looking after her errant cubs however, for as Arvid turned away from his conquest he came face to spittle-filled-maw with the howling yeti.

Miraculously the creature's fearsome claws failed to seize him and Arvid backed away, still reluctant to engage the thing in battle alone. Luckily Fergus's timely intervention prevented him from having to. Just as the yeti seemed poised to strike again the faceless stone spirit rose up behind it and crashed into its thickly furred hide eliciting a roar of pain.

Never one to pass up an opportunity, Arvid turned and raced down the slope before the yeti could give chase. Within a few long strides he was back beside Opalia where he joined her in pinning Garduk against the mountainside.

"I told you I was coming..." he said breathlessly.

Bonus: Step of the Wind (disengage)
Move to D19
Action: Attack
1) Hits AC 26 for 7 force damage
2) Hits AC 22 for 8 force damage

Spending 1 Ki for Stunning Strike (Special)

quote:

When you hit with a melee weapon attack, you can spend 1 ki point to make the target stunned until the end of your next turn if it fails a CON saving throw (DC 17).

Reaction: Sentinel Strike hits AC 19 for 9 force damage if triggered

20:38, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 9 using 1d6+5.  Damage.
20:38, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 19 using 1d20+9.  Sentinel strike.

20:35, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 7,8 using 1d6+5,1d6+5.  Damage.
20:35, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 26,22 using 1d20+9,1d20+9.  Attack.

Having trampled one of the two nearby yetis, Caell suffered a wound from the hands of the other. Still, his massive mammoth body could withstand a lot of injury. He watched Cora drop again, desperate to stomp the nearest enemy, so he could come to her aid. He noticed Fergus moving that way; knowing he cared for her as much as he did, and surely with more healing powers. That eased his mind a little.

Hits Yeti at AC 14 for 27 bludgeoning damage.
Mammoth HP: 105/126

Cora had been on the edge of death before. In the war, at the hands of the first Midwife. On her adventures with her friends. She'd been ready for this sort of moment, she'd told herself. But it had never really been like this.

There was nothing between her and the eye but bare rock. All about her footprints lay in the dirt, burned a quarter inch into the rock like seared brands, their depressions filled with blood, some like wine, some black like stout. Thirteen steps, twenty six feet, fifty two prints. Or looking again, eight. Hundreds and hundreds. As many as there were in the sky. And then a mire, replacing the rock, two fonts of blood flowing like rivers into a valley of stone, wine and stout mixing and burning and rock erupting to cover the fire around her.

The North wasn't forged in a battle of kings, Cora realized. The tundra and woods and mountains were fed by blood. Earth's blood, men's blood, orc and Quinichiat and Skykeepr and dwarf. Elk and muskox and spotted whale and seal and white bear and fox. But the god-kings' blood . . .

Behind her was the rising sun, brilliant and alone and tragic, the first dawn after the longest night of winter. And Cora looked up at the eye, as the fires moved around her. She met Gruumsh Orc-Father's gaze, realizing her was not looking to the dawn, but at her. Terrible, lidless, unblinking. And he looked upwards still, guiding her to follow.

Thirteen steps the elf-king and orc-father walked, thirteen wounds they dealt, and most grievous was the last. Their blood carved valleys, boiled seas, cracked the very sky.

Cora looked up, and saw the lights.

OOC: death save roll 4

Valaku had winced and grown pale when Sikuaq channeled her magic through him, yet the sight of her casting the fireball with the air of her staff appeared to pain him even more. He spoke only words of support, however. "Caell has the yeti well under control. Are you all right here? Do you need to get closer?" His arm tightened under hers, conveying readiness to support or even carry her as needed.

Caell did indeed have the yeti well under control, smashing it with a heavy mammoth foot that set the beast reeling. It struck back with trembling claws and drew blood. (Two hits on AC 15 for 14 slashing damage, 5 cold damage)

Garduk's dark magic had restored his own vitality even as it drained Opalia's, to the point where it seemed that would be the difference between her killing him with his own staff. The warchief laughed at the poetry of this but was silenced by Arvid's fists, and life left him for good. The body of the terror of the North, architect of the slaughter at Red Hills, lay limp in Opalia's arms.

The remaining orc on the battlefield looked confused for a moment, ready to give up the fight, but the lieutenant rebuked. "Nothing is over, you coward! That giantess slew your warchief. What are you going to do about it?" (One hit on AC 24 for 10 damage)

As for what he himself was going to do about it, the lieutenant send more tendrils of wispy black spirit-energy to seek out the goliath. (30 necrotic damage, halved to 15 with DC 16 Con save)

The celestial flew to the other yeti, striking it with its blazing brand. Confused, the beast ignored it to charge after Arvid, clawing the Northman's back despite Opalia's attempt to defend him (used Opalia's reaction to impose disadvantage, he still hit AC 25 for 6 slashing and 3 cold).

"You were supposed to get her up!" Farra snapped at Keth as she ran back to aid Cora.

"Babe, I did."

"You let them cut her down again?"

Keth threw up his arms. "Hey, I tried."

The dwarf shook her head. "I find it hard to believe you could not sufficiently annoy the orcs. You're fraying my last nerve, that's for sure."

Cora woke choking, with the taste of bitter herbs in her mouth and Farra grinning down at her. "Hey, gorgeous. Vati said to get you of there, so I did. But if you want to get back in the mix, I've got your back. With them, and with him."

With Garduk down, however, his army had suffered a great loss, and Brigha's took full advantage.

Garduk is down, BTW. I just forgot to delete his corpse off the map.

Brigha is now 4-1. Just needs one more win to secure victory. With fewer enemies on the battlefield, now is a good time to remind you can also aid her troops by, e.g., casting a helpful spell like Bless on them.

Cora stood up, taking Farra in her arms for a moment before firing an eldritch blast over her shoulder, using the dwarf as a steadying rest as her legs were betraying her.

OOC: attack roll 18 and 21, 7 and 12 damage respectively against Keth's orc friends

"Hey yourself, Cave-mother. I need to help where I can, but Uncle is right. We need to take back ground, and then I need to sit down for I think the rest of winter. Still haven't got to Lawton's Glen to get your story put into song."

Arvid whirled about in a frenzy of claws, turning his ire upon the pugnacious yeti. "You just don't know when to quit!" he declared, each word punctuated by another telling blow of his astral arms.

Spending 1 Ki to flurry.
1) Hits AC 26 for 7 force
2) Hits AC 26 for 7 force
3) Hits AC 24 for 6 force
4) Hits AC 24 for 10 force
R) Sentinel Strike hits AC 11 for 8 force damage if triggered

09:30, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 7,7,6,10 using 1d6+5,1d6+5,1d6+5,1d6+5.  Damage.
09:30, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 26,26,24,24 using 1d20+9,1d20+9,1d20+9,1d20+9.  Attack.

10:26, Today: Secret Roll: Arvid Signeson rolled 11,8 using 1d20+9,1d6+5.  Sentinel strike.

Caell made a loud trumpet of joy this time, when both Garduk went down and Cora stood up. He took in the more distant battlefield too and thought maybe they were winning. He wasn't sure. Things didn't entirely make sense to his mammoth brain (they hardly did inisde his normal Cell head).

Feeling the cold sting against his own body and then a splash of his own warm blood seeping through a gash, he remembered he was still fighting a monstrous yeti. Caell reared and stomped down again with his tons of heavy bone, flesh and thick hide.

Hits Yeti at AC 18 for 35 bludgeoning damage.
Mammoth HP: 86/126
Move: If the yeti goes down, Caell moves 20 feet south.

Valaku's touch lent a feeling of cool green to Sikuaq, a calming influence that briefly seeped up her arm toward her core.  But only briefly, before the fire in her belly pushed back and drove the coolness away.

"No," she said to her companion, though who looked out from behind the flaming eyes was hard to tell.  The inside of her mouth looked like a banked hearth and sparks blossomed out from between her lips as she spoke.  "We are close enough here."

The lava tentacles oozed as they wove about, one clutching the staff possessively, and the excess dross began to coat Sikuaq's legs in a quickly forming column of lava, black and crusty on the surface but cracked and gleaming red-gold beneath.  They were in danger of turning to a column of lava that would obscure both her legs, though she seemed not to notice or care.

She turned her attention back to the valley and saw the lieutenant foolishly continuing his attacks again Opalia.  With a gravelly laugh, Sikuaq's tentacles intertwined and swirled at their ends, where a glowing ball of lava formed between them.  When it reached the size of two fists the tentacles gave a coordinated flick and sent the sphere arcing down toward the enemy.  Again, the mass exploded in fire and lava when it reached the valley floor.

OOC:
Last Fireball, again aimed at lieutenant and orc, centred about G8 or so (avoid any allies).
16:30, Today: Secret Roll: Sikuaq rolled 28 using 8d6.  Damage.  DEX save DC17 for half damage.

Fergus's heart leapt when he saw Garduk fall at the hands of Opalia and Arvid. The tables were turning, but the battle was far from won. The majority of Garduk's army didn't know he had fallen, so they still pressed on. The Kerit needed aid and Fergus commanded his celestial southward to provide it. The stone ally streaked through the air toward the confrontation between Kerit and orc, mace raised and readied. In addition, Fergus looked for an opponent who appeared to have an advantage over a Kerit adversary and called upon his spectral hammer to even the odds. The glowing weapon appeared, then fell immediately to the ground with a dull thud.

With help dispatched to the south, Fergus stumbled up the mountain as best he could, trying to reach his daughters. "Bentbone," he called as he climbed. "You better keep those orcs away from my girls!" Finally, with one last push, he made it. Standing next to Farra and Cora, his heart swelled. "Garduk has fallen. We just need to hold on a little longer."

Action/Move: Dash 20' over rough terrain to z17.
Bonus Action: Cast Spiritual Weapon (miss) against tallest visible orc in battle with the Kerit (range 120').
23:54, Today: Secret Roll: Fergus Glowforge rolled 10 using 1d20+9.  Spiritual hammer vs. southern orc. Well that wasn't the intimidating surprise I was hoping for!

Celestial Action: Fly 80'. Hover menacingly over orcs while waving mace.

Opalia towered in triumph over Garduk's corpse, raised the war chief's evil staff high and roared down the foothills in the Orcish tongue, "<GARDUK IS DEAD!  FLEE HOME, RED FIST, OR DIE WITH HIM.>"  The giantess cracked the skull-tipped staff twice against the Yeti's skull to emphasize the point.

---

Off-turn

• Reaction used for Protection Fighting Style to not quite protect Arv
• Take 10 damage from an orc
• Con save of 20 succeeds, take 15 necrotic

Turn

• ATTACK Yeti twice with Garduk's staff, cuz it's mine now!
  1. Hit 22 AC for 8 damage
  2. Hit 24 AC for 12 damage
• if Yeti dies, move 30 feet toward lieutenant

01:45, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 8,12 using d8+6,d8+6.  Staff damage.
01:42, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 22,24 using d20+9,d20+9 with rolls of 13,15.  Staff attacks 1 & 2.
01:28, Today: Secret Roll: Opalia rolled 20 using 1d20+7.  Con save.

Arvid and Opalia finished off one of the yetis as Caell flattened another.

The lieutenant, perhaps fancying himself the new chieftain, urged the troops to keep fighting right up until a fireball exploded in his face.

Keth and Cora dealt punishing blows to the last few still fighting, and then the sight of a celestial swooping overhead and a goliath standing atop the cliff, waving the warchief's staff and declaring victory, set what had once been Garduk's army into a full rout.

Orcs were famously fearless and stubborn warriors, prone to fight past the point of certain defeat, but even they had their limits. Moments of tense anticipation exploded all across the battlefied as individual warriors dropped their weapons and surrendered and ran. Others looked on, waiting to see whether their comrades would cut down these cowards as tradition required, and when no harm came to them, others joined, accumulating into an avalanche of discarded axes and fleeing fighters.

Brigha accepted surrender but not retreat. At her order, her troops, dwarf and orc and Northman alike, began encircling the battlefield, penning in those who sought to flee as one would caribous on a hunt. They were not slaughtered unless they took up arms again but disarmed and rounded up for the Midwife's appraisal.

Keth looked with grim satisfaction across the mountain path, now strewn with boulders and blood. "Good of you to take care of the god before we got here," he thanked Cora with a wink.

Fergus watched as Opalia announced the end of the battle. The goliath looked larger than life, her voice thundering down upon the battlefield. Fergus smiled to his friends. "Too bad they don't realize how friendly Opalia actually is. If they knew, they might not be scared to death like they are now."  He continued to watch the fairly peaceful surrender as it happened. "Just as well they don't know. It's for the better."

It was difficult for Fergus to accept that the battle had been won, but eventually the scene unfolding in the valley was clear and he allowed himself to let his guard down. Heaving a satisfied sigh, he turned to Farra. "Of all the foolhardy things to do. What in the name of Kann's golden hammer were you thinking when you decided to ride against Garduk? On a spider, no less?!?!?" A tear was already welling in his eye, so he just wrapped his arms around her. "Thank Kann you made it. We wouldn't have lasted another five minutes without you." He held on until his daughter protested, then finally released her.

Sniffling, he looked for Cora. She was next for a token scolding followed by way too long of an embrace!

Caell ended his spell, shifting back to humanoid form, momentarily dazed and confused from the dramtic change in biology and perspective. He half-stumbled over to the others, thankful that everyone were alive. Still, the victory had apparently come at a cost to some of them.

While having limited magical reserves, he did what he could to help injured people, both in his own group of friends, as well as the others. In some cases, it might be enough to help them back on their feet. In others, someone might want to hold a hand until their inevitable passing.

Cora grabbed Fergus in her own hug, just melting onto the dwarf like all the years were stripped away.

"We did it."

She smiled at Keth's congratulations, weary and heavy

She spotted Caell, tending to the wounded, and thought to go to him, but couldn't find the words after such an experience.

"If we've won . . . I suppose the next thing to do is surrender the Starbound Blade, right?"

Arvid stood side by side with Opalia looking down upon the crumpled form of the previously fearsome yeti, and further down the slope towards Brigha's ascending army as orc after orc laid down their weapons. He smiled in relief, though his eyes were touched with sadness. So many had had to die for this moment to be reached. But such was life in the hard North.

"So..." he said quietly, turning to gaze up at Opalia. "What do you suppose happens now?"

As the tide fully turned in the battle and Garduk's forces were defeated Sikuaq found some inner strength to push back in kind against her own internal enemy, and regaining a small measure of control.  The lava tentacles subsided and the slight Quinichiat leaned forward heavily on her staff and sighed hoarsely, a plume of gently cascading sparks fluttering outward into the chill mountain air.  Heat still emanated from her in waves and the flames still danced in her eyes and guttered bluish highlights through her hair, but the caked lava had sloughed from her legs for the moment.

She stayed where she was, gazing upon the tiny celebrations her companions undertook.  Fergus greeting Farra and Cora with hugs, Caell ready to help whoever he could while he waited his turn, Arvid and Opalia standing side by side on the far slope of the pass.  A grateful smile rested on Sikuaq's face, thankful for the opportunity of travelling with them all and watching them accomplish all they had.  It would be quite a tale in the years to come, one to beg for around the council fires and festival celebrations.  Clamping her lips shut against a sudden swell of emotion, she reached up and brushed a molten tear away from her eye.

Emotion meant a loss of control though, and fire surged through her innards when the crack showed.  She gasped and the sudden pain, closed her eyes and then scowled as she fought back, at least for the moment.  She knew she had to leave, and soon.  Before anything worse happened to those around her.  Face still scrunched up with effort, she called out in a raspy voice.

"Valaku?  Are you still near?"

The yeti fell beneath Opalia and Arvid's blows as the last remaining loyal lieutenant was consumed by a billowing burst of fire.  The giantess checked their surroundings and saw little friends dispatching the last few surviving orcs, then peered down the slope.  Blood leaked from Opalia's wounds and her body bore black patches of corrosion from life-stealing necromancy, but yet Opalia stood ready to meet the advancing Red Fist horde.

Yet, that horde did not come.  The fighters that had been manipulated, conscripted, radicalized into Garduk's campaign of death threw down their weapons and broke, a few at first but soon in droves.  Opalia looked on awestruck as Arvid joined her at her side, and wondered aloud what would happen now.  She was quiet for several long moments, but then began to speak only loud enough for him to hear, "I did know we would defeat GARDUK, but I feared we could not survive the battle.  His warriors were too many, and ours too few.  We would strike down our greatest foe, then meet a death worthy of remembrance..."  She had always expressed unwavering confidence in the Stormbreakers and the allies they had made along the way, but it seemed that in her heart she had feared they may not live to see the fruits of the victory they'd battled so hard to achieve.  Opalia put a thick arm around Arvid's shoulder to pull him close, then grinned, "What happens now...?  NOW, we will LIVE!"  The giantess leaned down to pull Arvid into a fierce kiss, but broke away just a few moments later and clapped him on the shoulder.  "Come, let us see our FRIENDS!"

She charged up the craggy mountain slope toward the others, and was glad to see them all alive, not only the Stormbreakers but Farra and Keth as well.  Even so, the battle had taken its toll, upon some more than others.  The giantess's triumph turned to concern at the sight of Sikuaq, now seeming more of fire than of elf.  She approached and looked to Valaku, then back to the molten druidess to ask, "ANATKA?  Can OPALIA bring snow to here, for coldness...?"

"Always," the ranger replied, squeezing her hand in case she could not see his smile.

"I took an oath to protect this world and all that lives within it, believing the Druidic Council the best vehicle for doing so. But you - all of you," he added, widening his gaze to encompass all those who stood upon the cliff overlooking the battlefield, "have been the ones working to achieve this, as the Council, in its myopic parochialism, undermined you. I am eternally sorry to have doubted you, and I swear myself your ally against any who would oppose you."



Valaku met her eye with creases at the corners of his mouth. "Of course," the elf said, choosing his words with great deliberation. "You have been given no choice in the matter. As long as Anatka Oori lives, you are bound to deliver the sword to her, no matter how unfit a custodian you may deem her." He said this last with an eye on Sikuaq, his cocked eyebrow asking the question his voice dared not for fear of triggering psychic agony for Cora.

Arvid was left with only the taste of Opalia upon his lips as she broke off the embrace all too soon and charged up the slope leaving him grinning in her wake.

"Come, let us see our FRIENDS!"

"Yes," he agreed, a few moments more finding his feet. "Lets."

Picking his way along the stones, he paused beside the orc he had disarmed and offered his arm to help him up. "Ildiko kept us both. Take this life you have been given and do something good with it. Should we find each other upon the tundra, you are welcome at my fire."

With that he turned and hastened after Opalia.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:26, Wed 18 Jan 2023.

"I have to admit, giving the blade to Oori after all we've been through to get it and then to keep it really rusts my anvil," Fergus paused to look out over the staggering remnants of the battle laid out across the valley. Fallen bodies of friend and foe, man, dwarf, and even orc. But even more so, he looked to Sikuaq, still unsure of the depth of her own sacrifice. "But holding onto it exacts a frightening cost. We've done more than our part. It's time for them do theirs, may The Great Mountain guide them to do so wisely."

"Good," she answered Valaku, reaching out with a hand somewhat blindly.  "Thank you.  I need your touch."

And when it came the cool of Valaku's untainted purity rushed through her, strengthening her control for the time being.  A sigh of relief eased from her mouth and she was able to open her eyes and stand straighter, though she still held fire in her eyes and hair.  But the mannerisms were all Sikuaq, including her meagre smile for Opalia.

"I don't think snow will help, Opalia.  But thank you."

Her mien turned serious when talk turned to the Starbound Blade and its delivery to the Council.  Her eyebrows raised at Valaku's implied option.  She saw he had completely lost faith in the Council, and a strange sadness came over her upon that realization.  Another wound she was responsible for, another future altered at her whim.  She understood why he would feel that way - she did too, at least in part.  Perhaps some of that was the beast within talking, but she knew she'd been abandoned as well.  But what Valaku hinted at was too far.

"I will not countenance action against the Council or its members," she said firmly, sparks flickering from her hair as she shook her head.  "Nor do I wish anyone here to face added risk in pursuing such an agenda."  She looked to Cora, though she spoke to all.  "Fergus is right.  You have all done much more than your part.  A god is banished, a warlord slain, his armies scattered.  It is more than anyone could have hoped."

"Give the sword to the Council, lay down your arms, and rest.  Live."

Fergus could no longer tell who or what exactly Sikuaq was, but he sensed the wisdom of her words. At least for now, she was the anatka he had first met, who blessed the Stormbreakers with wise council. He nodded in silent approval, allowing his gaze to fall to his boots.

Convinced that the other Sikauq, the one possessed by some chaotic flame, was not presently an issue, he excused himself from his friends to lend what aid he could to those fallen on the field.

"Of course." Valaku, chastened, seemed to retreat inside himself. "I did not mean to suggest... I mean... I hope I did not... I overstepped my bounds, anatka. Please forgive me."

The ranger lowered his head and so was not prepared for the half-orc who approached from behind him to deliver three meaty slaps to the top of his back. "Cheer up, champ. We won!"

Keth Bentbone was all smiles despite multiple bleeding wounds, no doubt owing to the young dwarven woman following close behind him.

"I can't believe you would do something so reckless!" Farra scolded her father in imitation of the lectures he had often delivered to her. "What were you thinking? What would have happened to you if we hadn't arrived when we did?"

Meanwhile, in the valley below, Cavemother Raheera was delivering a lecture of a different sort to the defeated orcs as Midwife Brigha's floating stone head looked on.

"You have followed a false prophet. The one you called warchief mistook brutality for strength. This mistake has long been the weakness of our people. I offer those of you who survived this error the opportunity to learn from it. Swear me your fealty. Join my family. Show me the loyalty of a son, and you shall know the love of a mother. Betray me, and you shall know the wrath of a mother."

The face of Leif, the Kerit husband standing beside her, darkened as she said this. Apparently, he had known both. He hefted an axe already black with orcish blood and strode the ranks of surrendered warriors. They were reluctant to kneel at first, but the Northman struck the first standing one he passed in the gut with the hilt of the weapon. The orc grunted, briefly doubling over but then answering with a swing of its bare fist. Leif took it on the chin without flinching, then knocked the warrior out with a single punch of his own.

"Those who are loyal to me will know strength beyond imagining," Raheera continued, as more of her prisoners saw the wisdom in kneeling. "Only Luthic can nurture the blood of the ancient warriors which flows through your veins."

She looked away from the warriors as she said this, turning her head to look at Cora though she had not previously indicated any awareness of or concern for those who had actually faced Garduk himself, and the dark god before him.

"It isn't up to me, not entirely. But I hear your wisdom, and I will live if I can. But know that by the end of today, if I cannot give up the sword, I may . . . "

Cora swallowed hard

"I may be in need of friends. You might not countenance action against the council, but our list of options would be a dagger's edge. I tried to banish the sword once before and it didn't listen simply to move into the ether, I wonder if that means it is easier or harder to relinquish entirely? I delivered the Starbound Blade into Gruumsh Orc-King's hand by binding, I need to now see what the Orc-King wants in return for handing it into his mortal enemies' hands. I will need an hour, either here or when we are before the Council."

Keth, Brigha, Farra. The people who'd pushed each step forward to claiming the blade. She would need to remember these lives in the minutes and hours to come.

"If Oori wants to kill me in the meantime for the blade, she can try. I'll try to get results as soon as I'm able."