The trip back from the ruins of Thundertree were slow going at first. With the storms dispersed, the sunlight had raised temperatures, everywhere around you was mud and standing pools of water, humidity was high, and quite frankly the water stank. Three days of traveling to get there, and another three to make it back, and hard to say whether the trip itself was more unpleasant coming or going.

On the final morning of the return trip, things were finally clearing up fairly well. Still, it was mid afternoon by the time the party reached the comfort of Phandalin's inn once more. Gundren was there to welcome the party back, and food and drinks were ordered the second he saw you walk through the door, as was hot water for bathing.

Gundren was focusing on seeing the group looked after, but it was clear that he was eager to hear about what you'd experienced.

Despite being at home in the wilderness, Ariadne was actually looking forward to the climate controlled inn and tavern.  She enjoyed fresh water and wholesome berries and gathered wilderness food, and certainly that helped her stay in touch with The Natural Order, but she had to admit that she had a weakness for dwarven ale and a greasy mutton stew.
She waved to her old friend Gundren, but was hoping one of the more verbose and chatty of her Traveling Companions would tell the dwarf all the magical shenanigans that transpired

Though healed from her ordeal, Akyra still held some weariness when she arrived in town, and thoufh she had garnered some stares when she first arrived (as dragonborn were rare in this part of the world), they had diminished.

But today the stares renewed as word had came of the group who had stopped the freak storm, and those who knew the once black dragonborn, instantly noticed the difference in her. She entered the inn and went to a seat, sitting down next to Gundren as he ordered the ale and stew, she sat her pack on the floor and her shield and staff beside it.

She looked at Gundren and his confused look and chuckled. "As you can see, some things have changed - and it's quite a tale." As she had changed, her mindset had also - she found herself thinking less of a warrior and protector, and more a healer and guide....and though her warrior instincts were still there, she looked at Brillik and Khorth and knew they had enough strength and experience to take that side of the party.

...she had a new role to fill.

She clutched her hands in front of herself and sighed. "The storm was a lot more than we thought, my friend....and a lot more dangerous. Cultist of Talos were attempting to bring an avatar - a small piece of the god of destruction to this world." She looked at the group. "Believe me when i say, had he came, it would have meant destruction of the land as we know it, possibly even the realms themselves."

She shifted in her seat. "Bahamut had guided me in this with some foreknowledge, though only as a guide. The decision of what to do was mine" She looked back to the dwarf. "When the cultists were performing their ritual, they were summoning living lightning to an altar. I had to act, and stepped into the lightning"

She fell silent for a moment, looking at her hands, still unaccustomed to the color. "While in there, i was given a choice by bahamut....he told me that my work was done if i wished it - he said i could join him, one of the greatest honors. But i knew my path was not done, that my friends still needed me. So i chose to stay, and with that choice was a gift - something no priest of bahamut has been given."

She looked up to them all. "My new path is linked to the elemental nature of dragons, in particular, the weather. My path as a warrior is now not mine, and though i still retain the training and instincts of who i once was, what i will be will now will change my role" She opened her hand and sparks of electricity jumped from her fingers for a moment as she closed them again. "Now, i am part of bahamut's storm"

The dragonborn chuckled. "Gundren knows my history better than most, and knows my history. By scales, that of my clan, was always a burden for me - my family was dark and cruel and i escaped them because i was not so. Despite my training and fighting, i still held anger - at them and myself every time i saw my scales. I strived to prove to Bahamut i was not like them."

She looked up and had a tear in her eye. "Changing my scales was not only a link to my new path, but a gift from bahamut - to show that not only did he know what i felt, but that i needed to trust it. Gone is that anger."

She sighed as she took a sip of ale. "Plus....i like the blue." she muttered

Brillik was happy, but fairly quiet during the trip back to Phandalin's Inn.  He contemplated just how close they got to dealing with something that could have been way out of his league, out of their league.  It kept him pretty quiet until they actually saw the outline of the place he knew so well.  As soon as they got to the inn Brillik orders an ale and drowns it quickly.  Afterwards he seeks out Gundren's company and does his best to talk about all the murderous Orcs, and massive castle sized boar, making sure not to leave out the best part, where he grew to a great size as well and wrestled it to the ground.  As he spoke Brillik continued to drink well into the night, almost starting a fight.... or two.

As the group sat down to the telling of their tale, and the consumption of their ale, Akyra took up the mantle of narrator. Shortly into her narration, mugs of ale or other appropriate containers of other favored drinks were sat in front of each member, by the tavern keeper and/or his wife. The whole place grew quiet and still as the story unfolded, and as new patrons from around the town began to trickle in searching for news, they picked up on the captivated atmosphere and did their best to remain reverent as they tip-toed their way to a perch.

Gundren's brows raised at the mention of cultists and avatars; clearly news that he had not anticipated hearing, on either account. As the rest of the story unfolded, the dwarf's bushy brows more or less stayed raised for the entirety of the tale involving the cultists, the fighting, and the events at the alter concluding in Akyra's shift in color as she was born again through electricity and pain. He was brought back down as the tone turned more somber and Akyra spoke of her past.

"The worshipers of Talos generally gather in coastal regions, to be nearer to his storms, and experience his violence first hand, upon the waves. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that some have gathered here, but I've never seen or even heard of his followers in this area."

posting this from work as I have a bit of free time, I'll add more to it later

Will bathe and luxuriate in the simple pleasures of civilization. Even as hungry as she is finally she will join the others after her clothes are cleaned and ready to be presentable again. She will gather with her sister for a meal finally asking for a hearty one.

"Yes, it was certainly something. That boar." She shakes her head a bit. Trust Gundren these followers had his blessings they could all hurl lightning."
This message was last edited by the player at 11:50, Thu 22 Sept 2022.

Khorth was not interested in talking more than he needed to, so he let Darkscales do the tongue wagging. He ordered a hunk of raw meat and gorged himself, as the meals had been unsatisfactory during the walk back. Remembering from the last time that he could not curl up in front of the massive fire in the main room to sleep, he got to his room to sleep off his meat. If there was anything important to be learned, he trusted the cleric would tell it to him.

Details of the story were shared, food and drink were consumed and replenished, and various forms of celebration began to start up as gossip spread. Brillik let slip his wishes for wrestling, and not long after a space was being cleared out in the square for exactly that. Miners from all over had gathered in this town in preparation of Gundren's excursion into the lost mines, and many of those hard workers were also growing restless of the waiting, and happy to burn off some of that energy in the form of competition. Drinking and gambling naturally followed, and soon there was a feeling of celebration throughout much of the town.

With no time to prepare, the options for food were mostly restricted to smoked meats, cheese, breads, and vegetables, but food was food and the people weren't picky for such an impromptu celebration. As others joined in, you could hear different version of the tale being told as each time bits and pieces of the story were forgotten, but not to let a story flop, new details were improvised in their place and some of you even heard the story told to you with no realization that you were the heroes in the tale. With so many of the town's current inhabitants being travelers like yourselves, recently arrived and here to work for Gundren, it was no surprise that most of the people here were strangers even to one another. Only Akyra and Khorth remained consistent in description, and recognized from the tales.

Throughout the celebration, not one red cloak was seen.

With stories told, celebrations made, people returned to their homes, tents, or rented beds, and the night grew quiet once more. With food and baths as you desired, clothing laundered for those who accepted the offer of such, a night of comfortable rest waited for each of you.

---

In the morning, Gundren gathered the group for breakfast to discuss reclaiming the mine. Don-Jon had returned to join the group as well, having just stepped through the door carrying the hind legs of a deer, recently skinned, "Khorth, I though you might enjoy these. With all the miners in town, the normal food supply's a bit stretched, so I took a group out hunting to help with the load." He nodded to Gundren as he sat down to join everyone for breakfast.

Akyra sat in the inn, close to Gundren. Despite the few days travel, she was still weary from the ordeal, and needed time to think on what happened. The incident upon the tower had changed her in many ways, and she was yet to sort her mind out towards it.

Over the span of the night, people came, wishing to speak to 'the dragonborn who survived', and though weary, she obliged all with words. Some came for her opinion of what happened. Some came wanting to know about Bahamut.  Some just came for a drink.

Many of those, Gundren shoed off like a adult sending off a child. Gundren never asked more of the tale, the two talking about the mine, of their joint past, and even Bahamut and her new path.

The hour grew late, and Akyra was the first to stand, excusing herself to her room. In the privacy, she heard the din of the celebration's downstairs. She removed her armor and weapons, and a stark realization hit her in true symbolic fashion. The magical axe, Windvane sat on the bed, beside it leaned the staff of healing she most recently got.  The axe was a true symbol of her past - the war and military side she still had. The staff symbolized the healing and divine connection she now felt.

...the old and the new.

She picked up the axe and swung it, with a smile.  It was still part of her, and she would keep that. The weapon would still prove useful, but the staff was also now her main focus.

She took off her armor and layed on the bed, removing the new medallion from the pouch, the silver/grey amulet of bahamut. "So it begins." She muttered and she closed her eyes, letting exhaustion take her.

---

Morning dawned, and the long rest done Akyra well. She roze and got into a clean robe, something she don when in town. This robe, a gift from Gundren was a grey/blue material, with embroidery of yellow, white and blue and over the heart, a silver embroidery of the symbol of the platinum dragon.

She came downstairs and sat, ordering warm bread with cheese, fruit preserve and tea. As the others arrived, she greeted each, and when Don-jon came, he smiled as he offered the meat. The cleric looked at Gundren. "So....where does our path lead to next?"

Gundren then went into his plans with reclaiming the mine, "For my part, the next step in finding Wave Echo Cave is retaking the ruined dwarven fortress of Axeholm, facing Vyldara the banshee, and the undead dwarves that still roam its halls. If you can help me get through her and the dwarves, then its only a matter of searching the place until we find the entrance to the Cave. As I mentioned before, no one has any knowledge of what we'll find once we reach the cave, other than the magical forge that we're going for. There could be any manner of beasts living down there. Undead are likely, I would say." Gundren paused as he thought of any other details he may have forgotten, or any other creatures he expected to be there, "I can't imagine that a normal race of the living is there, or we likely would have already been fighting bands of orcs with magical spears and the like."

"It's just speculation, of course. We'll know more once we get inside. My brothers are already working with a team of miners to clear the path into Axeholm. They should be finished by the time we arrive. It's a bit of a hike, and the temperature will drop as we climb up into the mountains, but at least we won't be going into the snowcaps, so it should be bearable even without cold weather gear."

Gundren glanced over at Don-Jon, who shared a nod with the dwarf before joining in, "I don't know how well versed you are on your undead lore, but I know a few things about banshees that might help to keep you alive. First, there's no sneaking up on a banshee. She can feel your life force coming from miles away, whether she can see you or not. The second you get within range of her, she'll know that you're there. Some banshee's only get that much, that you're somewhere nearby. From the accounts we've read or heard about Vyldara herself, she's stronger than that. She'll know where you are; precisely. She's not solid, she can move through walls like they're nothing. She can even move through you."

"No matter how highly you think of yourself, or what you've faced before, odds are your blood's going to run cold just at the sight of her. Some of you might run away, some of you might find that your feet don't work when you try telling them to run toward her. Neither of these is cowardice or anything like it, the fear that you'll face in her comes from a dark magic."

"And if that's not enough, then there's the banshee's wail. They say the scream of a banshee is so powerful, so sad and full of loss, that simply hearing it may be enough to kill you."

Gundren gave that a moment to sank in before he added in a more reserved tone, "The dwarves are your more typical kinds of undead; zombies, ghouls, that kind of thing. If there's worse than that, no record of it exists. Vyldara is the main threat, and a threat she is."

In reply to Psynister (msg # 10):

Ariadne raised an eyebrow, and smiled wryly.
"You sure know now to show a lady a good time, Gundren""

"I think we should visit the shrine here before heading off then. Having foreknowledge of the undead is certainly a benefit."

Raising a green hued eyebrow at Ariadne, "You enjoy some unusual things."

In reply to Lady Chlora (msg # 12):

Ariadne grinned at Lady Chlora.
"What's the point of life, if you can't enjoy yourself, right?"

"Well said !" Chlora found herself almost smiling and perhaps she even did as she lifted her mug to Ariadne in a toast.

In reply to Lady Chlora (msg # 14):

Smiling, the druid joined the toast

Akyra, fiddled with the amulet at her neck as she thought of what the human and dwarf told her. With her new found power, she felt she had more strength over the undead, something that may make all the difference in this. She looked at them. "I will be able to help with the undead - to some degree. My powers are limited in this, but before my change they were weaker still. Now, i feel i can excerpt some influence over them....even the banshee."

She was sure she could fight off the undead influence for one person, as well as blunt her scream with a spell of silence, and the staff could heal some of the effects.

She looked at the dwarf. "When do we leave?"

Khorth as his usual, had raw meat for breakfast, that he was tearing into with his sharp teeth. He listened to the dwarf banter and caught only what interested him.

"The Mother doooes nooot like dead that walk, it is my duty toooo destroooy them where they stand. The Mother will bless this hunt, it will be a gooooood oooone."

He grinned then returned to his meal, half listening.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:14, Tue 04 Oct 2022.

Brillik listens to Don Jon as he tells his tale, and warns the group of the encroaching undead menace.  A shiver runs the length of his spine and he can be seen visibly shaking the effect off.

"[Language unknown: Motica Ivponc paurac], I hate undead.  The dead belong in the ground after they've lived their cycle."  He takes a long draught of his ale, and continues listening.

"If I had doubted for a moment whether or not you would know the steps to the dance, I would not have invited you onto the floor." Some of you knew the business side of Gundren's personality, some the friendly and personable side, others the warrior, but regardless of which form of Gundren you were most familiar with, you all recognized that bit of sparkle you now saw in his eyes. He was excited.


"Aye. It certainly wouldn't hurt to ask the question, whether she has an answer or naught."


Gundren replied simply to Akyra's question, "We'll be ready to leave within the hour."

"Don-Jon and a small company of miners will accompany us until midday tomorrow, then his group will split off to pick up a shipment from Leilan. We'll push onward to the dwarven fortress to face the banshee's forces and find the entrance to the mine."

Toward Khorth and Brillik, Gundren nodded his head, "We're all agreed on that."

We'll take care of the visit to the Temple of Luck. Anything else you want to do before you set off toward a rather large dungeon?

Akyra sighed and looked at The dwarf and her reptilian friend. "Trust me....this time, i have the dead under control. The two of you do the hard hitting, and my magic will keep the dead at bay." She again looked at her hand and the new color scales.

She snapped out of it and looked at Gundren. "A quick visit to the lady of luck, then we go to the mine and retake what was taken from your people."

Khorth finished the last of his breakfast and licked the blood from his hands to clean them up, before raising his head. "If this lady oooof luck has the healing herbs, I think we shooould stoooock up oooon them. Dead that walk can injure us and we can't depend always oooon Darkscales and Firehairs tooo heal."

Ariadne nodded, eager to get going on the next stage of their Hunt.
"I might want to check out the local Mercantile to pick up any other mundane materials we might need, like tools and herbs"

Zhalis had been quiet most of the walk back and with the influx of people spent most of her time at the inn with her sister or hidden away up in their room. However with talks of departing, she chose to chime in, “Do we have rations prepared for the trip? It sounds like we could be gone for a decent amount of time. I would prefer not to starve to death if this banshee doesn’t have her way with us.”

Ariadne chuckled wryly and nodded
"I can hunt and gather for us, but stocking up on the basics wouldn't be a bad idea, just in case.  There's no telling where we'll end up"

"Options run thin with so many coming and going right now, but some provisions are still available. If you're not picky, the innkeeper here can take care of you. If you like the usual menu, there might be a few left at the Lionshield Coster. If you can forage along the way, that might be your best option."

Those who wished to buy gear found the Lionshield Coster was indeed low on supplies compared to when they had first arrived in town, but there were still goods to be found.
Adventuring gear is in somewhat short supply because of the higher than normal amounts of traffic, thanks to Gundren bringing in so many miners. If you want to try to buy something, roll a d20 per item, 8+ means it's available while 1-7 means they're out of stock. If it is in stock, you can find the quantity you're looking for. Items that cost more than 200gp are not available at all from this small village.

It might get a bit confusing with people going to different places, but since my posting schedule is kind of all over the place right now, we can handle all the shopping at different places in this thread, and you can be at whatever location you need to be for said shopping.

Those who made their way to the Shrine of Luck found both the priestess and her acolyte were present today. When the question of healing potions was raised, Nyevnen smiled, "As a matter of fact, we received a new shipment just this morning."

In total, there are 5 Healing Potions and 3 Greater Healing Potions for sale, at a 30% discount to the group.

Akyra managed to scavange a few meagre items for the road - a day old half loaf of bread, some cheese and cured meat - enough for one day for the group. She had need of a new shield, the old one melted away so she went to the lionshield.

The people there (Like most) were curious about her, and when she enquired about a shield, they had one, a oval shield of burnished design and no image. it was plain, but strong, so she paid for it and met the others at the shrine.

She smiled at Nyevnen as she arrived, placing a hand over her heart. "Bahamut's blessings to you sister. We would like to buy some healing if you'd allow. how much will they set us back?"

"If you are in need of healing spells, we can perform some limited amount of those today. Prices vary depending on what you need, how powerful the magic is. You don't...seem to be particularly injured, though. If you mean that which you can carry around with you on your next adventure, we do have some available to you," Nyevnen pointed out the eight vials, "These, together, are a small fortune to most of our locals, seven hundred gold coins worth of magical imbibement. These three of the higher concentration were made because there are dangers here that we now know about thanks to your work. We can offer them to you at a discount, for all that you have done. Thirty-five for these, instead of their normal fifty. And these, for one hundred each. Four hundred seventy-five in total."

The next 3 people who reply, please include a straight d20 roll in your post.

Akyra looked at Nyevnen with a smile, and nodded. "Bahamut has gifted me a more solid connection with him since i saw you last - i feel his magic flowing through me. I am capable of healing, but i think one or two of your potions may benifit us on our next leg of our journey."

---

<OOC: Akyra Clethtinthiallor rolled 9 using 1d20.  straight roll>

"Agreed,  it's hard to have too much healing"

OOC:  19:05, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 3 using 1d20.  D20 roll

"The Mother will proooovide foooor the fooooood, I am a hunter. But healing herbs are always practical in an emergency."

Today: Khorth rolled 13 using 1d20

With their goods secured, the party was ready to set out on their way to the Axeholm.

As they left the town behind and found themselves in open fields, it was Akyra who first noticed and drew the group's attention to a large creature flying far to the east. It took a moment for some to spot it, or to work out what it was, but the priestess had no delay in recognizing the flying shape to be a dragon. It soared around the tallest snow-capped peak in the mountains for nearly half an hour before disappearing behind the peak for the rest of the day's journey.

Gundren spoke up, "Aye, we've seen that White flying around the area for several days. Icespire Peak seems to be where it's taken up residence. So far, it hasn't bothered the settlements, so we've done nothing about it, but I fear that will change before too long. Whites are aggressive and territorial." He seemed concerned, but Gundren was a dwarf with many things on his mind and many projects in the works. "It's not a threat just yet, so it's a problem for another day."

Travel was easy as you crossed the open and grassy lowlands that skirt the rocky foothills of the Sword Mountains. No clouds blocked the sun's light, which gave some amount of balance to the cool winds that blew in from the Sword Coast. Khorth surprised some in the group when he pulled out his rapier and struck at something low to the ground, not once, but twice. Some drew weapons or readied magical energy, while others simply looked on with confusion or concern, until he bent over to lift the bodies of two medium sized lizards. One went directly into his mouth while the other he tied off by its tail for snacking later.

By mid afternoon you left the grasslands behind for rocky foothills instead. It was a tiring hike, even for those accustomed to travel, as Gundren set a strong pace. Three hours into that, Gundren called a halt as you reached a relatively flat area that had obviously been using for camping, as three fire rings still stood, a small pile of wood was stacked near a large rock, and most of the vegetation had been flattened by traffic.

Don-Jon and the others began to set their packs down near one of the pits. "This is where we camp tonight."

Gundren got the group's attention and pointed up to the dark gray mountains. "You can't see it from here, but if you look up into the mountains, do you see the different layers of rock, where the colors go lighter and darker? If you follow that darkest layer to the south, you'll see the rock split, about where that tree line ends, and then the dark layer kind of-"

"Where the rock looks like it folds over?" Ariadne interjected.

"Aye, that's it. That's where Axeholme is. From the south, that fold is actually a gap in the rock, and that's where the entrance is located. I've had a team of miners working to break through the fallen stones and make way to the gates. The gap is about fifteen feet wide, or so, and all the stone around the gate is perfectly smooth. There's an iron portcullis there, rusted over like you wouldn't believe, but that's the entrance."

Ariadne carefully studied their surroundings,  acquainting herself with this part of the mountains, and helped set up the camp.
She was eager to explore new areas of the mountains, and to see what wonders and treasures would be revealed
And she tried to prepare herself for whatever danger the mountains threw their way

Akyra walked beside Gundren most of the way, her silence one seeming of grim focus was actually contemplation. Her new task was about to be tested and she kept thinking of her place within the group and within bahamut's graces.

When he spoke of the entrance, she looked at the rock, but saw no change in rock color - all she saw was stone on stone, but she trusted the dwarf....after all, she knew him most of her life. "How far is it to the entrance from here Gundren?" She asked

"I wouldn't have noticed those features had you not mentioned them."
Chlora kept her gaze on the different strata of rock that had been pointed out learning perhaps a little bit about the Dwarven people or mining.

Brillik Followed the group, and gnawed on some dried meat as they walked keeping fairly quiet.  He watched the large flying lizard, and finally smiled, wondering if and when they'd meet the foul beast.

Though his comrades seemed to be weary from the day's march Brillik had plenty in reserve, so he looked at the other dwarves as they called for a break in their march to setup camp, but didn't voice his concern.  He was familiar with the area, and heard stories of the location that Gundren spoke of though he never visited it before.  As the dwarf talked of the mountains he immediately recognized the physical signposts that Gundren described, but let him talk and show his own expertise in the landscape.

"A Rusted gate you say?  I've never met a passage barred that I couldn't open... yet, " he said as he stared grimly at Gundren.  A stressful moment passed between the two, until Brillik's face widened into a grin that stretched from ear to ear and he guffawed, nearly falling over.

The reptilian hunter hissed when he saw the dragon in the sky, fingering his sword-tooth, itself possibly coming from a dragon. He often took point during the walk and when Gundren gave his explanation of where the entrance to the complex was, he looked confused. As he was confused by his lack of success bringing meat back to the group when they stopped. The poor lizard folk shook his head at Brilik's near challenge to Gundren, not understanding the hilarity of the situation.

---

Today: Khorth rolled 9 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 5.  survival

Gundren answered, "We'll reach the gates mid-morning, the day after tomorrow. Pushing on in the dark isn't safe with all the rocks we're going to be hiking through to get there. Torches and spells actually make it worse, with all the shadows they cast."

Don-Jon pulled up his shirt and showed a series of jagged and roughly-healed scars that ran up his ribs on his right side. "I've been through here a dozen times, know where I'm going and what to watch out for, and I still took a fall."


"Every change in the stone is like an entire book all on its own. Modern history is written on parchment, but the history of the world itself is written in stone." It seemed far too simple an answer, but it seemed like he felt he'd explained it perfectly.


Gundren shared the grim look, and the laughter that followed. "Well, if they haven't managed to break through it themselves, we may just have to put that to the test."

Don-Jon took an interest in the sisters, "Most people don't know one rock from another, most of 'em don't particularly care. If you're ever having trouble sleeping, just ask him some questions and he'll bore you right to sleep." He said it with a smile, giving Chlora a quick wink as he said it.

"What kind of environment are you used to, back home? Mountains? Trees? Plains as far as the eye can see?"

For the first time since they arrived at the campsite, Zhalis spoke up, "We are from an island named Tikal. We have some beaches, but it's mostly tropical plants. Very hot, very humid, good for communing with Leviathan."

"Island life? That's something I could get used to. Sunshine. Calming waves. The smell of that ocean breeze..." Don-Jon seemed rather caught up in his imagination, leaning back as if to bask in the scene he was describing.

Gundren cut in, adding another perspective, "Wind that never stops blowing, raining more days that not, sahuagin and their pet sharks, and sand in your boots, you mean? That's the reality of it in my experience."

Don-Jon seemed almost insulted, "Nooo, it can't be as bad as all that. I've been looking forward to settling down on a beach after my adventuring days are done. Some days, sure. It can't all be good, but it can't all be bad either." He looked toward the clutch sisters for confirmation.

"It definitely isn't all sunshine and roses if that's what you're alluding to, Don-Jon. Sadly, Gundren has the right idea of things."

"Sometimes the Sahugain drag off sacrifices, sometimes we do. Though most of the time it is as lovely as you imagined. I love sunning myself on nice rocks by the sea." Lady Chlora smiles.

Ariadne chuckled and shrugged
"Still, I'm always up for exploring new environments.  Sounds like fun"

Raised in marshes and wetland, the lizard-folk tried to imagine a beach like that described and shook his head to refocus, his imagination unable to make that leap. "Maybe we shooould fooocus oooon the task at hand, there are dead that walk toooo destrooooy in the rooock diggers tunnel."

Akyra listened to the talk, a draconic smile on her face. "It seems there are dangers everywhere these days - all we can do is prepare for what we can."

She looked up. "I grew up in a monestary after i escaped my family - an evil clan wasn't a nice enviroment to live in. The monks were quiet, but taught me well, and as gundren knows, i was a fighter of a hatchling - how i came to be a war cleric."

She sighed as she looked down. "...but like time, things change, and this place we go to was once a place of harmony for gundren and his people. Who knows what we will find. If there are dead, you leave them to me." The last sentence, she said with a certainty of the warrior she once was

Don-Jon nodded in reply to Zhalis and Chlora's comments, though he cast a questioning look in Gundren's direction when she mentioned dragging off sacrifices.

Gundren found Khorth's change in subject to be rather well-timed, "Aye. I have no doubt that Akyra can handle some of the smaller ones you'll run into. The banshee is the one to fear, I am sure. Khorth, you too harness the powers of a god; what tactics would you suggest for the coming battle?"

The warrior pondered Gundren's question before shrugging. "The Mother dooooes noooot care hoooow the deed is doooone, She ooonly wants the dead that walk back in the natural cycle oooof life and death. I am a foooorest and marshes hunter, I dooo nooot knooow about rooock diggers tunnels. Without a map, I can noooot fooorm a strategy. But I'm sure that with Raging Charger at my side, I can stooop the dead that walk looong enough for Darkscale, Firehairs and the Scaly brooood tooo destroooy the dead that walk frooom afar."

Ariadne nodded with a wry smile
"My specialty is dealing with the living, but in my Order the undead are vehemently hated.  They're not part of the Natural Order,  after all.  So you'll definitely have all the help i can give destroying them"

Akyra looked at her hands and had a serious look on her face. "Any undead, i will deal with - just keep any of the other things off me and i will deal with the rest." She had a hint of the warrior still in her

With a bit of food, the warmth of a fire, and friendly chatter about origins and plans, the night passed by mostly without event.

During Chlora's watch, she felt a chill run through her and a sense of fear that went along with it. She didn't know the source, and neither saw nor heard a reason for it, lingering for just shy of one minute before it faded. Zhalis was awoken, adding another pair of eyes and ears to the mix, but still... nothing. The two finished Chlora's watch together, and Zhalis's afterward, but the feeling never returned, and the source was never identified. Chlora wondered if perhaps it was her mind playing tricks on her, but it had an almost physical presence of realism about it that made her quite certain that the source was real. Whatever it had been.

When morning came, Don-Jon prepared a meal and then he and the miners who came with him split off from the group as they'd planned, and the party joined Gundren in their continued journey toward the ruins of the dwarven fortress of Axeholm to face the fallen banshee and whatever undead or other tricks awaited them there.

The broken, gravely paths slowly solidified as you entered the mountains proper and dirt mostly gave way to solid stone. The vegetation changed, becoming more sparse and much smaller in general. The wind picked up a chill, hinting at the cold weather that Gundren had told you to expect. Brillik and Gundren took to the changes in both weather and environment like they had been born to it. About what you would expect from dwarves, really.

Some of the trail was nearly as good today as it had been before the dwarven fortress had fallen, while other parts had been completely erased or even destroyed by time and weather. The mountain air was fresh and clean, but carried an occasional hint of metal to it, and what dirt could be see was a reddish-orange in color; a result of high iron content, Gundren explained. Where the path was good, travel was easy, and where it was not, the hike was increasingly rough and having to actually climb was not uncommon.

The first 3 who reply, include a d20 roll for me, please. This part is more of the journey, getting us to Axeholm itself.

Akyra was one of the first to arise, most seeing her sitting crossed-legged and looking to the sky almost blanky. The cool weather, though an annoyance to most of the dragonborn kind, was a welcoming feel to her. Since her transition into her new role within bahamut's embrace, she found her childhood fascination of weather was again peaked.

As she rode by Gudren, she looked at the dwarf with a smile. "Al the years i spent focusing on the battle tactics and fighting, i forgot the freedom of nature and life." She looked in the air as they made their way. ":I questioned my choice at first if it was the right one - not stepping into the lightning as i would have done that to save my friends. No, my choice of remaining as a warrior priest or this new incarnation i am becoming."

She looked at the dwarf. "Yes, i still retain my warrior training and instincts, but i also have a new path, and feeling the wind's embrace somehow has freed my spirit."

---

<OOC: Akyra Clethtinthiallor rolled 16 using 1d20.  roll as asked by gm.>

Ariadne smiled to herself at the cleric's words.  She didn't respond,  as they weren't directed at her, but she was a bit amused by them.  As a druid, she appreciated growth and personal evolution, but didn't share the same feeling of drama about it
 She was more stoic about her changes, and just accepted them as her path in the Natural Order.

Ariadne enjoyed the walk, even when they needed to climb the rocky terrain.  The natural world was much preferred to her, especially now, when they approached a confrontation with the unnatural dead.


OOC:  06:53, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 19 using 1d20.  Requested roll

"That was most unpleasant. I think the banshee may have been watching us last night. I felt it in my scales, as did my sister." She informs the others.

"Or perhaps the mines stretch all the way out here and under us." She shrugs slightly and prepares for their trek.


09:03, Today: Lady Chlora rolled <orange>15 using 1d20 ((15)).
</orange>

Used to the warmth and humidity of the marshes of his native land, the crisp cool dry air of mountains was not to the paladin's liking. Bundled up in as many layers as he could, feet wrapped in furs, he trugged along, silently praying to get out of the cold sapping his strength.

Today: Khorth rolled 9 using 1d20 with rolls of 9.  gm request.

In reply to Lady Chlora (msg # 53):

Ariadne nodded solemnly to the sorceress
"A disturbing thought.   We'll have to be extra vigilant from here on out, just in case."

"I agree completely. Yet we were not attacked that says a few things. We were viewed as not a threat, or perhaps all of us together as too much of one. I think I like the later if it were my choice."

Ari laughed
 "Yes, that's nearly always the better choice, but sadly we rarely get to make that choice ourselves "

Akyra, walking in front of the others nodded at their concerns. "If the Banshee was around, it is unusual it did not attack - they often have a hatred of life so blinding they would attack...not to mention their wail could have crippled most of us. No - maybe it was somethiing else."

Even with the insight, she did not feel better that it was some other threat or a banshee looking at them

"I don't know what it might have been then. It was something more oppressive in feeling then an animal or even simple humanoid predators. Perhaps you are right though, I don't know Banshees or undead that well."

There was some debate as to the source of dreadful cold. Perhaps the banshee? Or was it something else? Speculation was all the answer they would receive, it seemed.

The journey continued, the discussion a bit as well, and the party pushed on further up the mountain. It was not long before the altitude brought the temperatures down to where Gundren had warned you to expect them. The warm weather clothing did you well, but you could feel the cold radiating from the stones around you.

Following a trail through winding rocks, you found yourselves stepping into an unexpected gap. Thrust out from the base of that dark gray mountain is the entrance to the dwarven fortress — a dark, fifteen-foot-wide passageway flanked by forty-foot-high bulwarks of smooth, seamless stone. An iron portcullis covered with rust blocks the entrance. Arrow slits carved into the bulwarks are dark, revealing no hint of occupation.

A group of dwarves and other miners sat just off of the entrance. Stains of dirt and sweat on their clothes showed the effort that they had put into trying to get through the gates. There were clear paths that they had begun to chip away at, trying to get into the fortress through the mountain's stone walls, but metallic shine in each of those indentations revealed deposits or massive veins of metals throughout the walls, hampering their efforts. Two large iron doors lay on the stone ground, their hinges clearly battered until they had been broken and pulled down.

Gundren exclaimed, "Gods above!" The miners looked over at your group, standing as they recognized Gundren among your group.

One stepped forward, a look of sad agreement and acknowledgement on his face, "Aye, Master Gundren. We pulled down the gates, only to find an an impenetrable portcullis behind. Our tools can't cut through that thick iron, and all our strength combined hasn't caused even a vibration, much less movement."

Akyra, though warned about the cold, had a cold weather cloak and her thicker robe on over her armor as they made their way towards the door.  When she saw the dwarves stuck, and gundren's frustrated cry, she placed a hand on his shoulder.

She looked at the dwarves. "Did you find any inscriptions or clues in your dig?"

Ari went to the cavern entrance and looked around, hoping perhaps to find something that the industrious dwarves might have somehow missed

OOC:  14:27, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 21 using 1d20+5.  Perception

The dwarf checked with the other miners, but shaking heads were his only answer, "No, nothing like that, I'm afraid."

Ariadne looked around for something that may have been missed. She sees a number of stone chimneys sticking up out of the rocks above. One of the miners saw her take interest and chimed in, <brown>"We checked all the chimneys, they've all been damaged and caved in for some time.

Ariadne nodded to the dwarves, as she concetrated, as if listening to someone else as well.
"My old mentor taught me some tricks to check for things like that as well.  Do you mind if I take a look?  Just in case?"
Then, as if assuming the answer is yes, the half elven ranger climed up the hill and looked around at the different dubious chimneys.  She went to each of them and paused. At each one, she sniffed, waving her hands towards her like a chef smelling soup.
At the third one, she paused after sniffing, and then sniffed again.  Then she looked at the dwarves with a thoughtful look
"I think there's some air flow in this one.  I can feel something here"

As Ariadne checked the chute, Akyra dismounted and looked at the door with a frown. She cracked her knuckles and sighed. "Stand back - i want to try something to see hw effective it is." She handed her staff to Khorth. "...hold this for me please"

She waited for them to clear the area near the door and closed her eyes. her mind focused and called to her god. Bahamut, hear me. This is my first test of my new powers - watch over me and my friends..

She opened her eyes and began a chant, low and in the draconic language, her hand coming wide as if for a welcoming hug. Her eyes narrowed, and on the last word, she swung her hands in for a clapping motion.

But when her hands hit, the sound was more like a ear splitting clap of thunder.

---

<OOC: Casts shatter aimed at the portcullis and wall.

Akyra Clethtinthiallor rolled 14 using 3d8.
CON save 14  or takes 14 thunder damage

Items made of inorganic material (including stone, crystal or metal) save with disadvantage>

Ariadne had no trouble reaching the chimneys with how rough the stone walls were, making hand and foot holds readily available.

As the druid climbed, Akyra leaned on the powers of magic, hoping it would succeed where the miners had failed. She opened her eyes and began a chant, low and in the draconic language, her hand coming wide as if for a welcoming hug. Her eyes narrowed, and on the last word, she swung her hands in for a clapping motion. When her hands hit, the sound was more like a ear splitting clap of thunder and a loud ringing noise, painfully intense, reverberated from the iron portcullis. Dust and small bits of debris fell, from the sound or impact or both. In less than a handful of seconds, the sound died down as the vibrations dispersed and then settled to nothing.

When it all had settled, the iron portcullis stood just as firm as it had for the last five centuries. The spell had worked, but dwarves were not known for weak fortifications. It would take far more than one casting of such a spell to breach this fortress.

Brillik waved a dismissive hand. "Well, if you're done with your fancy tricks, I think I'll give it a go." He walked up to the portcullis, squatted down and took a solid grip, then went taught. A subtle vibration began in his arms and legs, but not in the iron itself. Brillik's skin began to turn red as blood rushed toward the surface of his skin to cool itself, and veins stood out in his arms and neck as he strained. He let out a roar, spittle flying from his mouth to splatter the hardened metal as he became enraged. Still, the iron stood firm.

Brillik pushed himself away from the gates, then took a charging shoulder rush to the thing just as he'd done with the tower in Thundertree. Despite his efforts, the portcullis did not budge.

Ariadne, however, discovered a chimney that was indeed open and accessible, and wide enough for the whole party to enter. Where magic and strength had failed, a simpler solution prevailed.

Ari grinned at her enthusiastic friends
"As much as i approve of the direct approach, let's sneak inside and see what we can find "

Akyra suspected that her spell would have little effect, but felt she had to try. When the Druid told them of an alternative, she nodded. “Good going Ariadne….maybe when we get in we will find the way to open it.”

She looked at the others, then Gundren. “We need rope to lower us down.”

Ariadne gets out some rope and starts tying it off

Khorth felt a jolt of power when Akyra gave him her staff to hold and was still recovering from the unusual sensation when she reclaimed it. After the display of magical and physical power, Firehairs found a chimney that they could go through, and Korth volunteered to go first, as he was unrolling his coil of rope.

”I do hope there’s a water source wherever it is that this takes us. Any idea what part of the mine we’ll end up in from here?”

Zhalis prepared to descend into the darkness below.

"Slithering down into darkness. Somehow, I approve though I do hope they have some way of opening that portcullis from the inside of this place."

Follows down after her sister.

Ariadne chuckled at Lady Chlora's words, and nodded in agreement, keeping a watch out with her bow drawn

Akyra watched as the sisters descended and couldn’t help but smile. “Dwarves are all about defence - they would have a way to open it inside. They wouldn’t trap themselves inside.”

She then descended down into the darkness

Echoing up from below, "Good to hear."

The group followed Ariadne's path up to the chimney, and then down into the dwarven fortress of Axeholm. The path up to the chimney provided many places to brace your hands and feet, making the climb quite easy. Going down the chimney was more difficult, but where handholds and footholds were lacking, you were instead able to brace yourself against the walls of the chimney. Other than a surprising slip here and there, the entire group was able to make their way inside with relative ease.

You enter the fortress through a fireplace built into the western wall of a room. Hanging from a hook above its mantlepiece is an steel shield bearing the symbol of Axeholm: a dwarven gauntlet clutching a handaxe. The room’s other furnishings are rotting cots, tables, chairs, and empty footlockers. Everything seems to be undamaged, but covered in a very thick layer of dust. All signs point toward you being the first creatures to step foot in this abandoned barracks in many years.

Gundren looked around the room, then toward you all, "Well done, we're in." He could not hide the smile of excitement on his face, knowing that he was closer now than he had ever been before. "I'll keep an eye out for signs of where the mine's entrance is located. I'll leave you all in charge of the clearing and exploration of the fortress itself. I imagine I'm going to be quite distracted as we go."

I'm going to keep Gundren mostly as a background NPC through the dungeon. He's there for questions you may need to ask, and he'll certainly show up at the key points where he's needed, but we'll mostly treat this like any other dungeon.

In the absence of Tiny Dancer, Khorth took a torch and the lead, scouting ahead, as silent as he could.

---

Today: Khorth rolled 10 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 5.  stealth

Today: Khorth rolled 10 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 8.  perception.

looks like Khorth feels like taking a take 10, without adding his bonuses...

Bringing up the rear, the druid quickly moved to the perimeter of the group, looking for anything untoward.  It seemed unlikely that anyone had been here in a long time, but presuming things could get someone killed, so she tried to take nothing for granted.
She also tried to recall anything from the stories she'd heard about dwarven mines

OOC:
17:56, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 16 using 1d20+4.  Perception .
17:56, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 15 using 1d20+2.  History .
17:56, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 17 using 1d20+5.  Survival

This message was last edited by the player at 00:01, Tue 17 Jan 2023.

Akyra, dirty from the decent brushed away the dirt as she came down. She held her staff as she looked around and nodded at Gundren’s words. “Shouldn’t your brother’s be here?” she looked around with a frown, but nodded at Khorth. “Keep an eye out Khorth - their may be allies here but we have to be on our toes none the less”

She walked in the middle of the group her eyes peeled

Gundren nodded, "Yes. It seems they left to meet Don-Jon and his crew part way. The supply order was increased when they found the portcullis."

A quick search of the room revealed...nothing. A whole lot of nothing. Listening ears reveal no sign of danger, so the group pushed out of the room and into the fortress. Through the door, a large chamber extends over the outer gauntlet of the main entrance and contains many former defensive measures. Arrow slits to the north allow outside light to enter, filling the northern half of the room with sunlight.

Thick webs are strung between the walls and pillars, and two fireplaces, which were likely used to heat cauldrons full of oil that the dwarves poured through narrow slits in the floor. Three empty cauldrons are lined up along one of these slits, covered in dust and webs. Arrow slits along the south wall open up onto another area.

Ariadne looked around the room, trying to investigate thoroughly,  but was too distracted to do it right

OOC: 18:30, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 18 using 1d20+5.  Perception .
18:30, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 1 using 1d20.  Investigation .

Akyra walked in, silently holding her shield and staff, looking around for any dangers. She made her way over to the unopened door and listened carefully.

---

<OOC: Akyra Clethtinthiallor rolled 14 using 1d20+2.  investigation check.>

Checks the third pot to see if it still has oil in it.

Ariadne saw nothing that caught her eye beyond the normal furnishings of the room. She thought, for a moment, that she heard...something, but it was too faint to tell what it was or to pinpoint its location. Whatever it had been, it did not repeat.

Akyra went to listen at the far door, finding only silence.

Lady Chlora went to check the third of the pots, where she found that there was still some oil in it, coated with a layer of dust that had congealed the top layer of it, and more webs.

A lot of webs, actually.

A thought came to Chlora just as Ariadne called out. There was movement in the upper recess of the room, and suddenly the southern half was full of movement as large spiders the size of horses began to descend.

Poor stealth rolls from the giant spiders (AC 14) mean there's no surprise round. There are four spiders already down on the ground, and more following after them.

Roll initiative and you can post your actions as well. The spiders you can see all look like they're in the southern half of the room.

Ariadne yelled a warning, but seemed conflicted about whether to use a powerful nature miracle so soon after entering the mines, or just rely on her new bow for now.  She decided that venomous spiders were enough of a threat to warrant it.
She aimed her spell for the lead spider.

OOC:
15:21, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 1 using 1d20.  Initiative .
15:20, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 3 using 2d6.  Flaming sphere
Sleex save for half damage

"I could do with a bit of help here." She says as she swipes at light blue spider near her invoking primal savagery.

If possible as her move she would love to crawl in an empty oil pot and close the lid.




15:24, Today: Lady Chlora rolled 10 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.

16:10, Today: Lady Chlora rolled 15 using 1d20+5.  Primal Savagery attack.


16:11, Today: Lady Chlora rolled 1 using 1d10.  Primal Savagery damage Acid.

Akyra grimaced as the spiders dropped, the shield in one hand, staff in the other she was not ready for that kind of enemy. She muttered in draconic, calling for bahamut to help smite these spiders so as to protect her friends.

For the first time since her change, the obvious change in her magic came through....crackling energy manifested in the room as sparks of electricity lanced in her eyes as she held her hand out. A beam of crackling energy aiming at the other spider by Chlora. Te beam hit the spider's leg, arcs of electricity lancing on the leg

---

<OOC:Akyra Clethtinthiallor rolled 3 using 1d20+1.  iniative.

Action - Attack using Lightning Blast

Akyra Clethtinthiallor rolled 22 using 1d20+6.  attack - Lightning Blast.
Akyra Clethtinthiallor rolled 1 using 1d10.  Damage - Lightning Blast.

SIGH

Bonus Action - None>

The hunter snarled and dropped his torch on the ground, replacing it in his hand by his trusty sword-tooth and pointing to the red spider. "Raging Charger, yoooou take that eight-leg, I'll help the scaled oooone. Dooon't let them bite yoooou!". Jumping forward, the lizard folk moved to the right of Chlora and stabbed the aqua spider.

Today: Khorth rolled 22 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 19.  initiative .

06:15, Today: Khorth rolled 19,14 using 1d20+6,1d8+6 with rolls of 13,8.  rapier attack + damage.

Khorth dropped a torch in the middle of the room as he raced over toward Lady Cholora to assist with the pair of spiders that were already poised to strike her. Green-gray liquid oozed from the spider's body as the rapier pierced its exoskeleton with a sharp *thunk*. The spider's legs scurried against the stone floor in a series of heavy clicking sounds as it tried to pull itself free from the blade. (Spider 4 takes 14 piercing damage)

Giant Spider 1 raced toward the cluster of targets nearest to it. Khorth had managed to move himself before it closed in, leaving elf and dwarf on its menu. As the giant spider closes in on Ariadne, its many legs scrabble across the ground, making a loud skittering noise. Its massive jaws snap hungrily, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth. Its eyes are black and gleam hungrily in the dim light of the dungeon. The spider's body is covered in mottled brown hair, and its legs are long and spindly. As it approaches, it raises its forelegs, ready to strike, and its venomous fangs glisten with toxic saliva. (miss, by 1)
08:16, Today: Psynister rolled 15,7,9 using d20+5,1d8+3,2d8.  Bite, Con DC 11 vs Poison. – 15,7,9

Giant Spider 4 stops its reflexive flailing, and retaliates against Khorth. Jaws close in and sharp pain follows as Khorth feels the giant spider's venom trying to take root as well. (Khorth takes 8 piercing damage, and must roll Con DC 11 vs 7 Poison damage [halved on success]) The preservation of life was a natural instinct for beasts of all sizes, and it sought to remove itself via the same strand of webbing it had used to attack. But Khorth was a hunter, not keen on letting his pray slip through his fingers. Dragon-fang sword pierced carapace once more, and with a warbling thump, the spider fell dead to the floor, legs curled up against its abdoman. (Khorth's opportunity attack hits for 8, and Spider 4 is dead)
Today: Khorth rolled 20,8 using 1d20+6,1d8+6 with rolls of 14,2.  opportunity attack.
08:21, Today: Psynister rolled 24,8,7 using d20+5,1d8+3,2d8.  Bite, Con DC 11 vs Poison. – 24,8,7

Zhalis lined up a shot and sent a blast of eldritch energy toward nearest spider, who was blocking her view on the ones attacking her clutch sister. The blast slammed into the giant spider's body, cracking the carapace on impact and eliciting a hiss of anger from the big, fury beast, but no fluid flowed out from that wound. (Spider 1 takes 8 damage)
08:27, Today: Psynister, on behalf of Zhalis, rolled 19,8,7,6 using d20+5,d10+3,d20+5,d10+3.  Eldritch Blast – 19,8,7,6

Lady Chlora called for help, "I could do with a bit of help here," even as Khorth arrived to provide it. The fingers her her hand extended into sharp, acid-laced claws and slashed at the large beast. The carapace of these spiders was hard like stone, and the surprisingly slick. The claws barely found purchase at all, though the acid still did some work. (Spider 3 takes 1 Acid damage, since 4 is now dead) One of the nearby oil pots was empty, and there Chlora sought to escape the giant arachnids. In her flight, she felt a spider's mandibles pierce the back of her arm and teeth along her elbow after after. (Chlora takes 11 Piercing damage, Con DC 11 vs 5 Poison damage [halved on success] from an opportunity attack)
08:50, Today: Psynister rolled 21,11,5 using d20+5,1d8+3,2d8.  Bite, Con DC 11 vs Poison. – 21,11,5

Giant Spider 5 ran for Khorth as well, taking no notice of its now-dead associate. Teeth flashed behind giant mandibles, but the agile paladin was no simple snack. (miss)
08:46, Today: Psynister rolled 15,11,12 using d20+5,1d8+3,2d8.  Bite, Con DC 11 vs Poison. – 15,11,12

Giant Spider 2 moved quickly. Chlora felt something slam into the lid of her pot, but it held firm. Brillik found himself as the spider's target. The size of these spiders was a testament to their hunting skills, and it showed in their performance here as well. (Brillik takes 8 piercing damage, and 3 Poison damage)
09:30, Today: Psynister rolled 20,8,12 using d20+5,1d8+3,2d8.  Bite, Con DC 11 vs Poison. – 20,8,12

Brillik took his pain and turned it into fury, chopping into the spider with a cry. (Spider 2 takes 5 slashing damage)
09:52, Today: Psynister, on behalf of Brillik, rolled 15,5 using d20+5,d12+3.  Greataxe. – 15,5

Giant Spider 3 closed on Khorth in a pincer attack, but fangs met only the bones of Khorth's shield, this time. (miss)
09:56, Today: Psynister rolled 8,11,8 using d20+5,1d8+3,2d8.  Bite, Con DC 11 vs Poison. – 8,11,8

Akyra grimaced as the spiders dropped, the shield in one hand, staff in the other. She muttered in draconic, and for the first time since her change, crackling energy manifested in the room as sparks of electricity lanced in her eyes as she held her hand out. A beam of crackling energy aiming at the other spider by Chlora. The beam hit the spider's leg, arcs of electricity lancing on the leg. (Spider 5 takes 1 damage)

Ariadne had lost sight of half the battlefield as two giant spiders nearby had split the group in half. She summoned sphere of flames between those two nearest to her, and heat radiated out from it. The flames hadn't come into their full effect yet, and the spiders seemed to flinch away more from the light than the heat. (Spiders 1 & 2 both save, taking 2 fire damage)
10:01, Today: Psynister rolled 16,22 using d20+3,d20+3. – 16,22

Gundren took out a battleaxe and swung for the nearest spider. (Spider 1 takes 6 damage)
10:05, Today: Psynister, on behalf of Gundren Rockseeker, rolled 15,6 using d20+5,d8+3.  Attack. – 15,6


01:28, Today: Psynister, on behalf of Brillik, rolled 8 using 1d20+1.  Initiative. – 8
01:28, Today: Psynister, on behalf of Zhalis, rolled 13 using 1d20.  Initiative. – 13
01:25, Today: Psynister rolled 17,8,5,13,9 using d20+3,d20+3,d20+3,d20+3,d20+3.  Initiative. – 17,8,5,13,9
01:20, Today: Psynister rolled 27 using 4d10+4. – 27
01:19, Today: Psynister rolled 31,29,31,20 using 4d10+4,4d10+4,4d10+4,4d10+4.  Spider HP. – 31,29,31,20



This message was last edited by the GM at 15:04, Sun 12 Feb 2023.

Khorth hissed as the venom took hold, burning his inside, but he used that pain to strike true on the spider in his back.

Today: Khorth rolled 9,25,8 using 1d20+4,1d20+6,1d8+6 with rolls of 5,19,2.  con save, rapier attack. Attack on the white spider.

Her bow already out, Ariadne fired at the spider, while directing the flaming sphere to toast the back of the two spiders cloes to her and the dwarves



OOC: 17:10, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 6 using 2d6.  Flaming sphere.
Reflex save for half
17:10, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 11 using 1d6+6.  Damage .
17:10, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 19 using 1d20+6.  Bow

This message was last edited by the player at 23:13, Sat 04 Feb 2023.

"OWww" Lady Chlora turned and lashed out with Primal savagery at the green spider again. This time forgoing trying to get in a vat.


She is immune to poison so she took the rather impressive bite but should be fine against the poison.


17:18, Today: Lady Chlora rolled 22 using 1d20+5.  Primal Savagery attack.

17:18, Today: Lady Chlora rolled 3 using 1d10.  Primal Savagery damage.

Akyra took note of the tides of battle in an instant, her natural battle instincts of years taking over. She knew the dwarf and druid were good, But Chora, hiding in the pot and Khorth needed help. Her eyes glowed with crackling white energy as it flowed down her arm as she held it out, dropping her shield. The holy bolt of white crackling energy flew for a spider and narrowly missed, the Dragonborn grimacing.

…she was still new to this style of fighting.

---

<OOC: Action - casts guiding bolt

Akyra Clethtinthiallor rolled 10 using 1d20+6.  Attack - guiding bolt .

DAMN!>

Khorth hissed as the venom took hold, burning his inside, but he used that pain to strike true on the spider in his back. (Spider 3 takes 8 damage)

Giant Spider 1 scurried away from the flaming sphere, and shot a thick strand of wet, sticky webbing at Brillik, but thankfully the aim was off just enough for the dwarf to avoid it. (miss) Brillik took a swing at the creature as it moved away from him, but for such a large creature, its legs were quite agile. (miss)

Zhalis sent a blast toward the nearby spider, but her timing was off due to the spider's twisting its body in order to shoot Brillik with its webbing. (miss)
17:19, Today: Psynister, on behalf of Zhalis, rolled 8,6,2 using d20+5,d10+3,d6.  Eldritch Blast  Hex. – 8,6,2

Lady Chlora swiped at the spider with her magically-elongated claws, scraping against the hairy carapace. (Spider 3 takes 3 damage)

Giant Spider 5 tried to take advantage of its pincer attack on Khorth, but this holy lizard was no easy mark. (miss)
17:25, Today: Psynister rolled 15,8,2 using d20+5,1d8+3,2d8.  Bite, Con DC 11 vs Poison. – 15,8,2

Giant Spider 2 shrieked as the fire licked up along its legs and stomped nearer to the wall and away from the sphere as it bit toward Brillik. The dwarf simply headbutted the spider's face as it went in for the bit, stopping the attack cold. (miss)

Brillik swung his greataxe at the spider again, finding it was still a difficult target to connect with. Frustrated, he leaped up and rammed a spiked shoulder pad into the creature's body, finally landing a blow. (Spider 2 takes 8 damage)
17:35, Today: Psynister, on behalf of Brillik, rolled 25,8 using d20+6,d4+4.  Armor Spike. – 25,8
17:35, Today: Psynister, on behalf of Brillik, rolled 8,5 using d20+5,d12+3.  Greataxe. – 8,5

Giant Spider 3 tried to bite Lady Chlora, but being in the oil vat actually paid off as the mandibles could not maneuver around it well enough to pierce her. (miss)
17:37, Today: Psynister rolled 11,9,7 using d20+5,1d8+3,2d8.  Bite, Con DC 11 vs Poison. – 11,9,7

Akyra spoke, and her eyes glowed with crackling white energy as it flowed down her arm as she held it out, dropping her shield. The holy bolt of white crackling energy flew for a spider and narrowly missed, the Dragonborn grimacing. (miss)

Ariadne rammed the sphere into the rear of a spider as the two split. The spider shrieked in pain as the flames ate away her legs, but the squeal was short lived as one of Ariadne's arrows sank into one of its many eyes. (Spider 1 is dead)

Gundren fell back, making room for the adventurers to move themselves, and their spell effects, without him being in their way. (Dodge action)



This message was last edited by the GM at 15:04, Sun 12 Feb 2023.

Not wanting to interfere with the dwarfs battle, Ariadne sent her flaming sphere down to the other two spiders, to strike the southern most one (#3)

And she shot at that spider as well.

OOC:
20:26, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 5 using 2d6.  Flaming sphere.
20:25, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 12 using 1d6+6.  Damage .
20:25, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 14 using 1d20+6.  Bow

Akyra watched as the group tried in vain to defeat the spiders, her own shot flying wide, she felt the frustration welling.  That frustration, that anger, she allowed as a conduit for her power, her eyes crackling with electrical energy.

She held her hand out, and a blast of electrical bolt flew towards the spider, again skimming its leg with a minor hit.

---

<OOC: Action - Casts Lightning Blast

Movement - Towards Khorth

Akyra Clethtinthiallor rolled 17 using 1d20+6.  attack - lightning lure
Akyra Clethtinthiallor rolled 2 using 1d10.  Damage - Lightning Blast.

Bonus Action - None>

Once again to rid herself of the horror before her and knowing to cast a more lengthy spell was dangerous so close she called upon primal savagery and struck out at the spider.


08:17, Today: Lady Chlora rolled 8 using 1d20+5.  Primal Savagery attack.
but misses

Concentrated on the battle, the paladin saw an opportunity when the spider flinched from Chlora's attack and plunged his tooth-sword deep in the arachnid inwards.

attack green spider with 26 (crit) for 15 damage

Today: Khorth rolled 3 using 1d8 with rolls of 3.  extra crit dice. –

23:11, Today: Khorth rolled 26,12 using 1d20+6,1d8+6 with rolls of 20,6.  rapier attack damage.

Khorth aw an opportunity when the spider flinched from Chlora's attack and plunged his tooth-sword deep in the arachnid inwards. (Spider 3 takes 15 damage)

Zhalis moved into the open room, eyeing the flaming sphere wearily as she danced around it. She watched as her clutch sister struck at the spider and timed a strike of her eldritch bolt as the same time -

Lady Chlora slashed with a magically-clawed hand once more, causing to the spider to pull its leg out of the way to avoid the burn. Moving out of Chlora's path however, put it directly into Zhalis's, who it hadn't noticed. (Chlora misses, Zhalis hits for 9 damage, killing Spider 3)
22:56, Today: Psynister, on behalf of Zhalis, rolled 19,8,1 using d20+5,d10+3,d6.  Eldritch Blast  Hex. – 19,8,1

Giant Spider 5 seemed to have taken the measure of the group well enough to know that this ambush would end in the spiders' own deaths. The spider moved to leap, shooting its webbing up toward the ceiling in hope of making an escape. As it did, Khorth's blade shot out, cutting through the webbing and then stabbing into its abdomen. (movement triggers Khorth's Sentinel feat, which hits for 14 damage and reduces the spider's speed to 0)
23:04, Today: Psynister, on behalf of Khorth, rolled 17,14 using 1d20+6,1d8+6.  Sentinel Attack. – 17,14

Giant Spider 2 seemed more determined to get its meal today, and struck violently at Brillik. (Brillik is hit for 7 piercing, reduced to 3, and 13 poison which he saves against, halving it to 6 then halving again to 3 for resistance)
23:06, Today: Psynister rolled 19,7,13 using d20+5,1d8+3,2d8.  Bite, Con DC 11 vs Poison. – 19,7,13

Brillik yelled at the spider, veins popping out on his neck and forehead, as he pushed the spider off of him. As the creature prepared to go back in for another bite, its face met the blade of Brillik's greataxe, which sliced through like it was nothing. (Spider 2 is crit for 17 damage and is dead)
23:10, Today: Psynister, on behalf of Brillik, rolled 7,7 using d20+6,d4+4.  Armor Spike. – 7,7
23:10, Today: Psynister, on behalf of Brillik, rolled 3 using 1d12.  Crit Damage. – 3
23:10, Today: Psynister, on behalf of Brillik, rolled 25,14 using d20+5,d12+3.  Greataxe. – 25,14

Giant Spider 3 was killed by Khorth & Zhalis.

Akyra reached out a hand and a blast of electrical bolt flew towards the spider, again skimming its leg with a minor hit. (Spider 5 takes 2 Lightning damage)

Ariadne sent her flaming sphere toward the remaining spider, lining up another shot with her bow as the flames rolled forward. The flames hissed, the spider screeched, and an arrow was loosed. As the arrow pierced its exoskeleton, the giant spider thrashed wildly, legs flailing. It tried to pull the arrow out, but its movements only drove the projectile deeper. Poisonous ichor seeped from the wound, sizzling where it hit the ground. The spider's movements became more and more sluggish, until it finally collapsed in a heap, its legs twitching in its death throes.

Gundren cheered for the victorious group, as the battle was brought to a close.

Combat is over. Well done.


This message was last edited by the GM at 15:04, Sun 12 Feb 2023.

In reply to Psynister (msg # 99):

Ariadne kept her fiery sphere around, for a bit longer, helping with light and burning webbing.
She exhaled in relief.
"I know we're taught to love and respect all living creatures, but I have to admit that I've never like spiders."
She looked around.
"Anyone hurt?"

Akyra, the smell of burning ozone around her from her electrical spells still in the air, came to the others, her staff in hand. "I have to admit, i've never liked them either - though i have reason. As a child i had a nest drop on me and burst open....hundreds of baby spiders crawled over me until i jumped into the abbey pond."

The dragonborn shivered. "Lets check the area before we move on - and all other areas, lets watch for spider webs."

"I got, I guess you call it bit." She inched away from the flame.

"Thank you Khorth, everyone." She relaxed finally.
"Anyone have a cleansing magic ?"

The paladin curtly nodded to Chlora before carefully wiping his tooth-sword and sheating it. "Eight-legs are as pooooisoooonous inside than in their fangs, care foooor yoooour weapoooons ooor it will cooorooode them. There is noooothing to eat in them. The eight-leg did hurt me, Firehair." He gingerly moved his arm, testing it, before getting a stone dagger and started to carefully extract the poison glands.

using his lizard folk ability to create items after a fight, if its stretching too much, let me know
This message was last edited by the player at 15:21, Sun 12 Feb 2023.

In reply to Khorth (msg # 103):

Ariadne let her fiery sphere lapse, then looked at her Traveling Companions.
"Everyone who was wounded, gather around. I can summon a healing spirit of nature, which should help everyone. "

If the three wounded people are willing, Ariadne has them stand around her in a tight circle, no more than a foot or so away, and begins concentrating.  She soon begins glowing with a green aura that smelled of new blossoms and fresh grass, and a magic emanated that started healing everyone.

OOC: Healing Spirit cast, healing 1d6 a round for three rounds, for a total of 17 points.

12:23, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 17 using 3d6 with rolls of 5,6,6.  healing spirit.

Lady Chlora will move over to be healed feeling much better when the flame is away from her since she had oil on her.

"My thanks Ariadne." She bows slightly to the nature based healer.

Khorth accepted the healing, squatting in the circle of the spirit, his powerful tail swaying. "My thanks Firehair, it feels gooood tooo be cloooose tooo the Mother. Shamans in my tribe call oooon thooose spirits after the hunts."

Ariadne saw to handing out the Mother's blessings, where needed.

Khorth set to extracting venom sacs. The thick carapaces proved difficult to break through without damaging the sacs themselves. Though most spiders had sacs in the soft bits of their necks, these giant spiders had no necks to speak of, and what was there was still covered in a tough, cut-resistant layer. Some burst before he got there, others had so little remaining that they were hardly worth harvesting. Combining all of his harvesting efforts together, he got enough for about two applications. (Khorth gains 1 vial of Giant Spider Poison, 2 total uses, lasting for 1 minute each time)
20:06, Today: Psynister, on behalf of Khorth, rolled 8,6 using d20+4,d20+4.  Survival. – 8,6

A search of the room revealed nothing of value or importance. Looking through the arrow slits in the southern wall showed a great hall with 40-foot-high ceilings supported by four thick stone pillars. You can see double doors, more arrow slits on the southern side of that great room, and what looks like a balcony along the eastern wall.

There are two sets of stairs going down in this room, one on the east and one on the west. There is also a door in the northeast corner, symmetrically placed with the one you had entered here through.

Where to?

Though the battle might have muddled it, Ariadne checked out both exits, looking for where the spiders came from (or where they more recently came from) and other clues.


OOC:
20:31, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 11 using 1d20+4.  perception.

20:31, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 17 using 1d20+5.  survival.

From Ariadne's searching, as far as she can tell, the spiders dwell within the large amount of webbing that exists near the top of the high ceilings. Through paying attention to air flow, it looks like the spiders had discovered another chimney, not unlike the one you used to arrive here, that allowed them to come in and out.

Khorth tried to wash as much spider ichor from his body as he could, using whatever he could find, catching himself a few times as he was about to lick the acidic blood from his body. Finally satisfied that he would not get burned by what was left, he looked in his bag and extracted the googles Sakamoto had found on their first adventure together. Propping them comically over his snout, he got his sword and bone shield ready as he moved towards the stairs on the right.

Chlora looked up in the webbing the spiders had come from trying to see if there were any human or dwarven sized bundles up in the webbing.

Bow out, Ariadne covered her friends while they looked

Akyra looked on as most were still healed, with only a few minor wounds, and decided to save the healing for when it was needed.  With Staff and shield in hand, she made her way behind Khorth silently as she could.

The only bundled bodies the group spies in the next are more sized for birds and small game animals than anything else. None of the bundles were sized for humanoids.

There's nothing else to be found in this room.

Khorth adjusted the googles and started to go down the stairs, as silently as he could and trying to spot any dangers in the way.

Today: Khorth rolled 18,10 using 1d20+2,1d20+5 with rolls of 16,5.  perception, stealth.

Ariadne moved to follow the Paladin, while looking up at the webbing in the ceiling.  This proved to be a mistake,as she accidentally bumped the wall while she was looking up, which knocked her bow out her hands which clattered to the floor

OOC:  18:37, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 4 using 1d20+3.  Stealth

Followed along with her sister.

Akyra made no attempt to move quietly - her skills and armor were ill suited for such.  She waited after Khorth, Ariande and the sisters, then followed

Coming down the stairs, you find yourselves in a room containing seven ballista, pointed at arrow slits. Each of the ballista is loaded, but has not be used in quite some time. There are signs of very old blood here and there throughout the room, and the dust was disturbed at some point in the distant past, but more dust has since come to lay over the top of it. One slit in the north section of the room points outside, where down below you can see the other miners who had come to get through the heavy gate and portcullis. Gundren saw that his brothers had now arrived at the gates as well.

The other arrow slits point to different parts of the fortress. Three on the western wall point to the entry way behind the portcullis. Looking up, you can see the slits in the floor of the room up above you, where the burning oil pots could be tipped over to pour down onto intruders, and across the way you can see similar arrow slits in the wall of another room further west, which you can guess is similar to the one you're in right now if you were to follow the other staircase.

The southeastern arrow slit shows the large open room you had seen from above, with its pillars. The view of that room is not great from this angle, but you can see well enough to recognize it. One other arrow slit on the eastern wall reveals a small, winding tunnel strewn with rubble. The tunnel is only two feet wide, maybe five feet tall, and looks like it was dug with...large sticks? Crude spears, maybe? Some kind of tool that was clearly not designed for for actual digging.

There is a door in the northeast corner of the room. Brillik also points out a wench on the western wall.

Akyra comes down and nods at the efficiency of the dwarves' defenses. even now, she could see this place would have killed many just to breach. She looked at Brillik. "Use the winch - if i'm right it will open the portcullis."

She looked at Khorth. "Let us check the door, cousin."

Chlora will try the winch then to lift the portcullis.

Ariadne kept watch

Korth nodded to Akyra and moved to the door, trying to open it.

The winch did feel like it was most likely tied to the portcullis, and a straining sound could be heard that supported the theory as well, but the gate did not actually raise. Perhaps there was a similar winch in the other room, down the other set of stairs, that had to be turned at the same time?

Akyra and Khorth pulled open the door, revealing a long hallway that stretched some ninety feet to the south where it opened into a room. It looked like there was a hallway to the west, a door to the south, and whatever lay in the room itself. The small tunnel, as they drew near to it, took on a bit of a different look now that they were up close. This small, winding tunnel was not dug by tools at all, but by fingers. Some bits of skin and flesh lay among the other debris around the tunnel opening and on the floor inside of it, devoid of color, and smelling of decay.

No map, as I'm posting from work. I'll try to remember to update when I get home.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:50, Tue 28 Feb 2023.

Tells the others her thoughts about the winch since she felt it when she tried turning it.

Ariadne nodded
"Perhaps I can backtrack, and try that one:

Akyra looked at Ariadne and nodded. "We will count to 50, and when down we both turn the wheel. If that doesn't work then return."

She then looks at Khorth. "Lets search the room, then wait for the others."

Ari headed out

Khorth looked in the room but didn't see anything to interest him "There is nooothing here, Darkscale"

I'm sure there is something, but with that roll... nothing for him lol

Today: Khorth rolled 7 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 5.  perception.

The group split up to manage both winches in hope of raising the gates while Khorth investigated the new rooms.


The others worked in concert to time the turning of their winches. They had their timing down, and Gundren was able to help call it out through the murder slits, to help everyone stay on the same count. The winches went from incredibly taught to suddenly almost loose as you heard a griding followed by a crash.

Gundren spoke, "It looks like the portcullis was knocked off its center, wedging itself at an angle. That explains why our efforts to lift it yielded nothing. Try it again. It might actually be easier now."

Matching their timing once more, the two groups put the winches to use once again. It did take some effort when the mechanisms engaged the weight, but they actually had been designed to help counter-balance one another, and soon the use of the winches became almost easy, and the large iron portcullis lifted. The crowd gathered at the gate clapped and cheered as the gate was raised, and Gundren's brothers helped to organize and gather the crew, and lead them inside.

Your blood flowed with a chill, your bones lightly vibrating, as a shrill scream echoed throughout the keep.

"Well....someone isn't happy we're making ourselves at home..."
Ariadne quickly made her way back to the others, looking around for trouble

"Was that a banshee ?" She looked all around for the source of that cold scream.

Akyra smiled at the effort of the portcullis, but once the scream happened, she lost her smile. She looked at Gundren. "Tell the group to meet in the room Leading out - i will get Khorth."

She moved Through the door to Khorth. "Come...we have disturbed who is home."

She leads him west into the large room with the double doors, waiting for everyone. She looks at Gundren. "I want you to wait here and keep everyone out until we clear this place - i don't want anyone stumbling upon undead in here."

She looked at the group she trusted so well. "We search - room by room and make sure there is no danger....and there is. We see the Banshee, let me deal with her. Only attack when i signal."

She looked at her hands, then the group again. "I can silence her screams, but it will silence all within 20 feet of her so be warned - you want to use magic against her, you have to be out of that area. I can also protect a person against undead, but only one."

The party regrouped and gathered together in the large room, as Akyra sent Gundren off to stay with the miners. Brillik spoke up, "I'll stay with them. Just in case."

Akyra proposed a plan for searching the ruined fortress, clearing it of undead, and and a proposal for how to deal with the Banshee as well.

Ariadne nodded to Akyra and readied her bow.
"Lead on, my friend.  We'll follow your lead."

"I am glad you have a method for the Banshee, that I admit had my concern."

Lady Chlora nodded to the level headed Dragonborn.

The druid looked around, with a shrug
"Shall we start with the eastern door, or does anyone have other ideas?"

"Fine by me." opens that door.

Khorth was deep in thought looking at the dirt tunnels, putting his clawed fingers on the grooves found on the walls and ceilings of the low tunnels, when Akyra came to fetch him. "Noooo beasts oooof the Mother made thoooose tunnels, Darkscales. I think we wooould be leaving predatoooors in ooour back if we doooon't exterminate them first."

He nonetheless followed the cleric and drew his sword as the banshee wailed.

Akyra listened to the girls, but when Khorth spoke, she nodded, trusting his judgement. "We start in the east room we came through and Khorth has explored. Once clear we will come back here and fan out from this room, spreading out - our priority is keeping this point clear and safe."

She looked at Brillik. "You are to guard those outside with Gundren. You hold that door. If the weather gets bad, bring them in here and hold this roo, and entrance. until we clear the rooms surounding it."

With that she made her way east to where Khorth had seen the markings.

Having agreed to start in the east, the group pushed onward through the eastern door. Khorth pointed out a small tunnel that had been carved into the hallway just to your north. Here in the eastern area you see the after-effects of one of the events that helped to seal Axeholm off from the rest of the world. Some years ago an earthquake had struck, triggering a portion of ceiling to collapse. A natural pathway remains for you to move further south if you wish, though it curves back around to the west not too far in. The eastern portion of this room, and the paths within it are strewn with debris from the earthquake, making it difficult to pass through (difficult terrain, moved costs double).

The path also branched to the north, but it took only a moment to find that whatever else may have been there before, if anything, had been entirely filled in and/or destroyed by the effects of the earthquake.

Khorth found that the further he pushed down the southern hallway, the more potent the stench of death became.

Zhalis peeked through an already opened door to the south, and found it to be completely empty. The walls were slightly damaged by the earthquake, but not by much. Whatever may have been in here before, it seems the dwarves who fled Axeholm took all of its contents with them when they left, and even the dust on the floor shows no indication that it has been disturbed by so much as a rodent or insect, in years.

Khorth has investigated the small tunnel in the northern hallway (north of Zhalis), but not fully explored it. The area that Ariadne is in is the one that is totally collapsed. The room near Zhalis is empty. The tunnel Khorth is currently in is the only new path you've not yet taken on the eastern side.

Ariadne left the tunnel she'd been examining, shaking her head and relaying the information about the collapse.

Akyra, with rte others searching the areas they found, backtracked to the small passage, Khorth said he briefly looked at. It was a squeeze, but the dragonborn made her way in enough to determine there was nothing there.

"Nothing....it leads to the floor we were on before." She said, dusting off her armor.

Khorth moved forward in the southern passage, still getting used to the strange vision the googles gave him, shield in front of him.

With other options found to lead to nothing, the group followed Khorth down the path to the south. Debris crunched under foot with every step, and the group was careful not to disturb any of the more solid debris that makes up your "ceiling" and walls. The stench of death grew with every step, but there weren't all that many steps required before you found a larger opening and then a room.

Khorth barely had time to take note of the moving shadows before a rotting dwarven corpse was there and trying to claw his face off, with more of the dwarven ghouls piling in behind the first. Luckily, the ghoul's claws raked across Khorth's shield and nothing more, but they clearly weren't going to settle for that...

20:54, Today: Psynister rolled 7,7 using d20+4,2d4+2.  Claw, Con DC 10 vs Paralyze. – 7,7

Khorth and Akyra can see three ghouls from their position. Chlora and Ariadne can see two from their position, and Zhalis sees only one.

Picture this, but with beards:



Ghouls act on Initiative 12.

There is room for 4 of you to move through Khorth's square to one of the spaces adjacent to him. Ranged attacks will be difficult to land with small spaces and lots of allies standing in your way.


This message was last edited by the GM at 02:17, Mon 03 Apr 2023.

Ariadne's eyes went wide with alarm and disgust, and she acted quickly.  She was hesitant to use her bow in such tight quarters, but she did what she could to help her friends, and cast a druidic incantation to illuminate their enemies

OOC: 21:21, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 18 using 1d20+3.  initiative.

Cast Faerie Fire on the ghouls

Khorth every instincts born of his association with a nature deity reacted to the sight of undead dwarves and he roared as he struck true, the tooth blade shining white as he channeled some of his energy in the blade.


Initiative 12

Rapier strike on the first ghoul,24 to hit for 14 magical damage + 17 radiant from a smite, total of 31. Apparently that was his last spell slot according to my sheet!


Today: Khorth rolled 17 using 3d8 with rolls of 3,7,7.  smite. – 17

17:32, Today: Khorth rolled 12 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 9.  initiative. – 12

17:31, Today: Khorth rolled 24,14 using 1d20+6,1d8+6 with rolls of 18,8.  rapier attack+damage.

She could see two and it was enough from her position. She hissed and fired a blob of acid.




16:14, Today: Lady Chlora rolled 5 using 1d20+2.  Initiative .


Acid Splash Cantrip
The two need to make a Dex saving throw or take

16:17, Today: Lady Chlora rolled 6 using 1d6.  Acid Damage.

Akyra felt the stench of undeath even as they came up to Khorth. With her staff in hand, her eyes started with crackling energy as she held her hand out. A bolt of electrical energy cascaded down her arm and shot out at he closest zombie.

---

<OOC: Action - casts lightning blast

Akyra Clethtinthiallor rolled 15 using 1d20+6.  Attack - lightning blast.
Akyra Clethtinthiallor rolled 8 using 1d10.  Damage - lightning blast.

Bonus Action - None>

Ariadne reached into the fey realm and lit up the room where the ghouls had come from, with the glowing fires of the faerie realms. It made seeing them, and fighting them, easier and more effective. As the flames danced around, producing no heat, those near the front of the line who could see into the room were able to tell that there were more sources of light than only these three... (4 failed saves, 2 successes)
12:59, Today: Psynister rolled 4,18,10,7,9,18 using d20+2,d20+2,d20+2,d20+2,d20+2,d20+2.  Dex Saves .

Khorth roared as he struck true, the tooth blade shining white as he channeled some of his energy in the blade. The ghoul hissed as the blade pierced its chest, then what was left of its face took on an expression of pained shock as a green-white energy flowed into the blade and then ripped through the creature's body, consuming all of its flesh in a flash. (Ghoul 1 is destroyed)

Ghoul 1 was nothing more than a pile of ash and bits of bone.

Ghoul 2 slid into the room to replace its fallen companion and raked at Khorth with its claws. Khorth's shield and scales kept him safe, but as he got a look at the claws, he could see all the flesh had been ripped from its fingertips. (miss)
13:08, Today: Psynister rolled 10,9 using d20+4,2d4+2.  Claw, Con DC 10 vs Paralyze.

Ghoul 3 followed the lead of its predecessor, sliding into the narrow space and raking at Khorth with its claws. This one caught the paladin solidly across his chest, raking into the scales. Khorth felt a cold and deadly pulse enter the wound, and fought to resist whatever the effect was. (Khorth takes 8 damage, and must make a Con DC 10 or become paralyzed for 10 rounds)
13:08, Today: Psynister rolled 19,8 using d20+4,2d4+2.  Claw, Con DC 10 vs Paralyze. 

Ghoul 4 rushed in as well, taking advantage of the opening cause by the previous ghoul's attack to try to bite at Khorth's shield-arm. (attack will miss if Khorth passes his above save, otherwise he'll take 8 points of damage)
13:09, Today: Psynister rolled 7,8,19 using d20+2,2d6+2,d20+2.  Bite.

Ghoul 5 and Ghoul 6 rushed into the room as best they could, trying to fill all of the empty spaces to reach out and touch flesh. For the moment, there was not enough room to further surround Khorth, or reach the others.

Akyra fired a blast of lightning energy at the nearest ghoul, burning a spidering pattern into the grey creature's putrid flesh. (Ghoul 2 takes 8 damage)

Zhalis cursed the situation, as well as one of the ghouls, before sending a blast of her own. It flew just behind Khorth's head, and slammed into the face of the ghoul who now occupied the doorway. (Ghoul 3 takes 16 damage)
13:20, Today: Psynister, on behalf of Zhalis, rolled 21,11,5 using d20+5,d10+3,d6.  Eldritch Blast  Hex.

Lady Chlora threw a blob of acid into the mix. The ghoul's erratic movements saved it from taking the acid damage directly, but as its claws pierced the blob, the acid spilled out onto the ghoul standing next to it. (Ghoul 2 resists the spell, Ghoul 3 takes 6 damage)
13:23, Today: Psynister, on behalf of Zhalis, rolled 15,12 using d20+2,d20+2.  Dex Saves

Round 2!

Ariadne has her bow out, but the paralyzing touch of the foul undead was something she didn't want to take any chances with.  She cast another druidic enchantment, causing fiery moonlight to come from the ceiling, filling a five foot cylinder amidst the group of ghouls before Khorth.

OOC:
17:53, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 15 using 2d10.  Moon beam damage.
Con save for half damage
Centered on Ghouls 2,3, and 4

 

The paladin watched with satisfaction the ghoul disintegrate, unable to resist the power of the Mother, as he blocked an attack. But another undead went through his guard and slashed him badly, and he started to feel the insidious poison making him sluggish. Roaring again, even louder, he dipped in his innermost strength and shrugged off the poison... his huntsmates depended on him and he would not let them down.

Con Save, 9, using my inspiration to raise it to a minimum of 10

Rapier attack on ghoul 3, 23 to hit for 14 magical damage.

Today: Khorth rolled 9,23,14 using 1d20+4,1d20+6,1d8+6 with rolls of 5,17,8.  con save, rapier attack. –

Akyra see's the wounds inflicted on her teammates, and with the staff in one hand, touches Khorth's shoulder with the other.

---

<OOC: Action - Cast cure wounds (2nd level) on Khorth using 2 charges from the staff of healing

Akyra Clethtinthiallor rolled 12 using 2d8+3.  cure wounds - 2nd level (Staff).

Khorth heals 12hp

Bonus Action - None>

Summoning up more acid she hurls it at another two ghouls that are close together.


Save DC 13


08:18, Today: Lady Chlora rolled 6 using 1d6.  Acid Damage.

Ariadne called down a radiant beam of the Mother's purest moonlight, and nothing happened...for about two seconds. Dirt and stone began to glow with a bright, white light, and then a forceful beam shot out to the floor, burning its way through the undead with an audible sizzling and olfactory repulsion. All three of the ghouls recoiled, but one barely clung to the last shred of unlife. (Ghouls 2 & 4 take 15 damage, Ghoul 3 succeeds and takes 8)

Khorth roared again, and sank the dragon's tooth rapier through the ghoul's chest. As he severed the creature's anchor to life, the dwarven ghoul fell face-first into the still-burning beam of radiant energy and the process of disintegration began in earnest. (Ghoul 3 is dead)

Ghoul 2 screamed out at Khorth, twin tones of resonant bass and squealing pig. Claws flashed out toward him once again, but not to scratch. Instead, they reached for straps and objects, looking for leverage to pull Khorth off balance. (Grapple fails)
19:37, Today: Psynister, for the NPC Ghouls, rolled 6 using 1d20+1.  Grapple
22:23, Yesterday: Secret Roll: Khorth rolled 18 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 15.  acrobatic.

Ghoul 3 is dead.

Ghoul 4 fought the other for a hold on Khorth, both fighting to pull him away from the group and into the room where they could surround him. Had Khorth been a man wearing heavy metallic armor he might have gone down, but this lizardfolk's tail and natural sense of balance was more than their equal. (Grapple fails)
19:07, Today: Psynister, for the NPC Ghouls, rolled 12 using 1d20+1.  Grapple

Ghoul 5 let its hunger for flesh overwhelm its desire for tactics, and its broken teeth sought purchase on Khorth's flesh. It went for his arm, but caught a mouth full of flailing shield instead, knocking its head away. (miss)
19:12, Today: Psynister rolled 3,12 using d20+2,2d6+2.  Bite

Akyra reached out to place a hand on Khorth and prayed a draconic prayer, "Bahamut - hear my will. Heal this champion so he can smite the evil within this place.". A silver-white light flowed from the staff, through the priestess, and into the Mother's champion, refreshing him in the process. (Khorth regains 12 hp)

Zhalis lined up a shot that flew behind Akyra's head and slammed into that of the ghoul behind her. The top half of the dwarven ghoul's head flew clear off, splattering against the far wall as the ghoul dropped to the floor. (Ghoul 4 is dead)
19:16, Today: Psynister, on behalf of Zhalis, rolled 6,2 using d10,d6.  Crit Damage.
19:16, Today: Psynister, on behalf of Zhalis, rolled 25,9,3 using d20+5,d10+3,d6.  Eldritch Blast  Hex.

Lady Chlora sent her signature blob of acid flying toward the ghouls. One managed to dodge, but the other caught it square in the chest, burning through flesh and bone alike, and the dwarf found rest at last. (Ghoul 2 fails and dies, the other succeeds)

Round 3!

Not wanting to exhaust all her magic, despite a fairly good reason, Ariadne took aim at the closest ghoul and fired her bow

OOC:19:55, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 22 using 1d20+6.  Bow shot.
19:55, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 12 using 1d6+6.  Damage .

This message was last edited by the player at 00:58, Wed 26 Apr 2023.

Seeing them try to drag Khorth off she drops down and holds onto Khorth's tail holding tight to aid him in any attempts to avoid getting pulled away by the ghouls.

"It's me Khorth, I have your back, err tail."


Aid action to keep Khorth from being dragged off.

With three of the undead monsters dead, the paladin had more breathing room, and was glad for his low center of gravity when they had failed to bring him down. Bloodlust raging in his body, he slashed at the closest ghoul, the awkward angle because the the grapple attempt resulting in only a glancing blow, but the serrated edge of the tooth still ripping quite a bit of rotting flesh.

Today: Khorth rolled 22,7 using 1d20+6,1d8+6 with rolls of 16,1.  rapier attack+damage.

Akyra was satisfied that the fight was going their way, despite them teaming up on Khorth. The priestess had white, crackling eyes as she looked at the undead. she held her hand up, and a bolt of crackling energy flew from her hand, missing the undead beast.

---

<OOC: Action - cast guiding bolt (1st level)

Akyra Clethtinthiallor rolled 9 using 1d20+6.  attack - guiding bolt.

DAMN!

Bonus action - none>

Ariadne loosed an arrow that would have dropped fighting man, but the ghoul fought on still. (Ghoul 6 takes 12 damage) The druid's moonbeam spell continued to burn with radiant fire, searing away ghoul flesh. (Ghoul 6 takes 5 radiant)

Khorth caught the same ghoul with only a glancing blow, but it was a blow that still caused damage to the creature's failing body, and one that sent it more fully into Ariadne's moonfire. With their combined efforts, another of the ghouls was vanquished. (Ghoul 6 is dead)

Ghoul 5 clawed at Khorth, landing a glancing blow of its own, but one that living targets had to fend off. (Khorth takes 5 damage, and must make a Con DC 10 save or become paralyzed).
03:46, Today: Psynister rolled 19,5 using d20+4,2d4+2.  Claw, Con DC 10 vs Paralyze.

Ghoul 6 is dead.

Akyra raised her hand up, and a bolt of crackling energy flew from her hand, missing the undead creature and bursting on impact with stone debris instead. (miss)

Zhalis raised a fist and shot a blast of eldritch energy that clearly rocked the foul creature, but not enough to dissuade it. (Ghoul 5 takes 19 damage)

Lady Chlora helped to steady Khorth, against the ghoul's attempts to grapple him away from the others. (Khorth, you can use this as Advantage on your attack next round if you like, or on an opposed check if the ghoul should attempt another grapple)

Round 4!


You can refer to the previous map. The only change is that the lower of the two ghouls is now dead.

This time, the paladin felt the full force of the paralyzing venom and stopped moving mid swing, his body refusing to obey the orders of his raging mind.

The dice roller does it again...

 Today: Khorth rolled 7,15,9 using 1d20+4,1d20+6,1d8+6 with rolls of 3,9,3.  con save, rapier attack.

Seeing the powerful Paladin taken by the undead venom, Ariadne gasped angrily and shot at the last ghoul as quickly as possible.
Too quickly, as it turned out

OOC:

14:09, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 8 using 1d20+6.  Bow shot


It seems like the dice role is sharing the love
 

13:20, Today: Lady Chlora rolled 7 using 1d20+5.  Firebolt.

all I can do is agree with Ariadne and Khorth

Akyra saw the drop of the ghoul, seeing one left, she again pulled into her new connection of magic, and held a hand out. A blast of electrical energy, mirrored in her eyes, travelled down her arm and fired at the beast, the chaotic energy missing the undead and striking the wall

---

<OOC: Action - Cast Lightning blast

Akyra Clethtinthiallor rolled 11 using 1d20+6.  Attack - Lightning blast.

....it seems this whole round is cursed.>

Despite their best efforts at an offense, the ghoul was no easy mark for any of them.

The ghoul tried to take advantage of Khorth's paralyzed form as best it could, ignoring the rest of the party as it tried to bite and claw through the paladin's scaled hide. Ghouls had bad teeth that were often in enough disrepair to pose a serious threat to fleshy races, but dwarven teeth had not evolved to pierce lizard scales. Even unable to defend himself as he was, the dwarven ghoul could not penetrate Nature's warrior. (miss)
09:30, Today: Psynister rolled 13,8,8 using d20+2,2d6+2,d20+2.  Bite.

The curse lives on! Round 5

Gritting her teeth, Ariadne lined up a shot, trying to ignore all the outside distractions.   She learned to do so from her mentor, to shut out bad weather, glaring sunshine, or even the rapid approach of an angry animal or person.

Focusing, she took her shot

OOC:

16:02, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 10 using 1d6+6.  Damage .

16:02, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 16 using 1d20+6.  Bow shot

With a final shot for Ariadne, the last of the dwarven ghouls fell to the ground, returned to the rest it has been denied for so long.

Combat is over!

"Khorth are you alright? Does this wear off ?" She asks the others seeing that their scaled companion has become statuelike.

Akyra came upto the still form of Khorth, and with staff in hand, placed her hand on his shoulder.

Warmth flowed through the woman to Khorth, and he felt the venom's effects wane.

---

<OOC: Uses staff of healing to cast Lesser restoration (Remove paralysis)>

With a whistled sigh, Khorth started breathing again, the paralysis removed by the magic of the staff. Nodding his thanks to the dragonborn, he kicked the ghoul that had affected him before venturing further, making sure there was no more threats.

Having a look around the room that the ghouls had inhabited, you find that this chamber was once a shrine, as evidenced by wall carvings that depict dwarves carrying censers and observing religious rites. However, the eastern section of the room has collapsed, filling the area with rubble. Gnawed bones scattered among the debris are the remains of a number of dwarves. The stench of death and decay is strongest here, clearly the source of the smell you had detected while coming through the collapse-tunnel.

Within the rubble, Khorth finds a platinum amulet on a thin but sturdy golden chain, depicting the symbol of Moradin, the dwarven god of creation. There is also an overturned anvil and a hammer, common in shrines of Moradin. Beneath the anvil, Akyra spotted a steel coffer weighing some five pounds. The inside was mostly full of silt, but a potion vial of red liquid also rested inside.

A stairwell in the southwestern corner lead to an upper level.

While the others searched the area, Ariadne moved to the stairway to scout

Ariadne made her way up the stairs, scouting head for the group.

Ari returned to report
"There's a hallway up there, with a couple of doors and more stairs.  No sign of opposition, at least yet"

Follows Ariadne and looks around.

Akyra looked around the shrine, now desecrated by the undead and closed her eyes in a silent prayer.

"We will restore this place to it's former glory, for gundren, the dwarves and their gods." She began looking around then looked at the others. "We look upstairs, then backtrack back and try another door."

She started making her way upstairs

Ariadne followed Akyra up the stairs

As everyone moves up the stairway, they see exactly what Ariadne had described - two doors, another stairwell, and a continuation of the hallway to the west.

Akyra looks at the area, and nods, moving right towards the door and corner, she looks at the others. "Someone watch the door." she whispered

Nods and watches the door for her.

Khorth moved up and hissed as he looked left and right, before pointing with his sword tooth to the right, going there shield first.

Bow in hand, Ariadne moved to about halfway between Akyra and Lady Chlora, working to cover them both

With the clutch sisters holding back slightly, to watch the nearby doors and southern stairwell, the other three made their way north toward the western hallway.

In the middle of that dusty hallway floated the luminous, wispy form of a female elf, its face wreathed in a tangle of gossamer hair, its body clad in spectral rags that flutter around it. The apparition’s face becomes a mask of rage as it screams, “Get out of my house!”

Akyra turned the corner and paused, the wraith in the hallway screaming she slammed her staff on the ground.

She held her hand out the sound of the woman's cries were cut short as silence echoed throughout the room. "We don't have long - prepare!"

---

<OOC: Casts silence on the enemy>

The last powerful attack spell Ariadne had left was Thunderwave, and she suspected that one wouldn't pair well with silence, so she fired her magical bow at the creature


OOC:


11:11, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 9 using 1d6+6.  Damage .

11:11, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 17 using 1d20+6.  Bow shot
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:39, Tue 20 June 2023.

The hunter of undead snarled of hatred as he saw the creature and he charged... and wiffed on his attack.

the dice roller strikes again...

Today: Khorth rolled 9 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 5.  init.

Today: Khorth rolled 11,12 using 1d20+6,1d8+6 with rolls of 5,6.  attack damage. –

Calls up a chromatic orb of lightning hurling it but misses.

Suddenly, a fight was underway, and the hallway erupted in chaos as both parties took action.

Ariadne chose to keep hold of her magical reserves and settled for using the dryad bow instead. She knocked and arrow and let loose. The arrow passed through the banshee's body as easily as it did the air between them, but still the Banshee jerked as though she had felt it. (Banshee takes 9 damage)

Khorth would not stand the presence of undead, as the Mother demanded. The spectral woman was incredibly agile, however, and the swiftness of her dodge was impressive to say the least. (miss)

Lady Chlora called lighting from the prismatic gem in her hands, but the bolt was drawn to a metal sconce in the wall that ground the current harmlessly. (miss)

Akyra called on Bahamut to help in the most vital way she could think to do so; asking that He command all sound to cease around the elven spirit.

The Banshee turned to her right to call out...only no sound could pierce the Dragonlord's spell. What was certainly intended to a be a scream of rage appeared to come from the specter's undying mouth before she turned to swipe at Khorth. Every the agile lizardfellow, the paladin managed to avoid the corrupted touch. (miss) Her face twisted in anger once more, and she flew through the nearby door.
22:19, Today: Psynister rolled 8,12 using d20+4,3d6+2.  Corrupting Touch, Necrotic.

Zhalis rushed forward to assist, but the distance was great, and by the time she was near enough to do something, the Banshee could no longer be seen.

Round 2 - Fight!

I can't upload the map from work, but Khorth is north of that middle door, which is where the Banshee fled, Zhalis is 15 feet east of him. Chlora/Akyra/Ariadne are all in the northeast corner of the hallway where Akyra/Ariadne were before.

Ariadne ran to the doorway, bow out
OOC:  if i can fire, let me know,  please

Akyra watched as the banshee went through the door and disappeared, and grimaced. She dismissed the silence as she did. "We need to be careful - my silence spell is limited and i can only hold her off so long. If we want to attack her, we must as one, else we should be very careful.'

She followed towards the door and waited for everyone's opinion

Khorth hissed its disappointment at seeing it's prey flee without even touching it. "The screaming death is dangeroooous, we need toooo put it doooown tooooo rejooooin the Mother. We shoooould ambush it, Darkscales, can yooooou doooo that magic again?
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:03, Fri 28 July 2023.

Moves closer to the door.

Akyra looked at her lizardfolk friend and nodded. "We need to keep it in one spot. I can silence it, even hurt it with bahamut's magic, but we need to be quick and surround it - it can move through walls and escape."

She made for the door, and with Khorth at her side, nodded and was ready to attack once again.

---

<OOC: Holding action - cast silence again on the banshee>

Ariadne rushed forward to the door that the banshee had fled through, an arrow knocked and ready to fire as soon as she could see it. (Attack action readied. Door is currently closed, so no target yet.)

Khorth tried to let out a disappointed hiss and speaak, but Akyra's spell consumed all manner of sound.

Lady Chlora moved closer, following Ariadne's lead in preparing an attack.

Akyra let the silencing spell drop, and prepared to cast it again. As the silence was lifted though, the banshee's voice could be heard from inside the room, "-em, now!"

Khorth opened the door and Akyra summoned the consuming silence once more just as the others all unleashed attacks of their own at the waiting banshee - Ariadne, Chlora, Khorth - you can all make your attack actions for Round 2. Akyra, hold off until round 3, unless you don't want to cast Silence again in Round 2.

The Banshee... (action TBD)

Zhalis... (action TBD)

I took some liberties with movement, and intended actions based on things that you all wrote. We need to finish the readied actions for round 2, then I'll ask for actions for Round 3.

Round 2 - PAUSED

Ariadne lined up a shot and fired her bow



22:08, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 11 using 1d6+6.  Damage .

22:08, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 23 using 1d20+6.  Bow shot

The palladin's bloodlust simply made him forget basic combat principles

Today: Khorth rolled 9,7 using 1d20+6,1d8+6 with rolls of 3,1.  attack damage .
Here we go again.... I need two levels in barb for reckless attack with this guy!

<OOC: Sorry i took so long - i thought i posted!>

The blue skinned dragonborn concentrated on the spell, determine that the banshee's greatest weapon - her voice was the one thing she could fight against right now. Staff in hand she looked at the others and nodded, pointing at the wraith.

They needed to destroy her quickly.

---

<OOC Concentrating on Silence spell

Action and bonus actions will be posted after Banshee's turn>

Ariadne let loose an arrow that flew dangerously close to perfection. The arrow pierced the spectral body of the banshee, and though it caused no visible would to the transparent body, the woman certainly reacted as though it had. (11 damage to the banshee)

Khorth fought with a beastial bloodlust, but he would see no blood fall from this foe. (miss)

Lady Chlora moved in for better line of sight.

Akyra maintained her silencing spell, hoping to protect the group from a deathly scream.

The Banshee reached out to run a hand along Khorth's neck. The paladin could feel a crackling sensation of death playing out along the scales of his neck, but none pierced through to make contact with the life force with. (miss)
19:57, Today: Psynister rolled 10,12 using d20+4,3d6+2.  Corrupting Touch, Necrotic

Though the banshee had managed only the briefest of moments to shout in between Akyra's castings of the spell, it seemed that brief moment was enough for others to hear her. Nearby doors flew open and the stench of death filled the hallway as more dwarven ghouls spilled out. Four pushed out into the hallway to the west, and more than half a dozen spilled out of the door to the east, as a wave of undead crashed into the group.

Alone on the west side, Zhalis met multiple ghouls by herself. Both of the ghouls on Zhalis landed blows against the armored warrior, and claws dug into flesh with a burning pain. (Zhalis is hit twice, for 16 damage. Saved against both paralysis effects.)
20:13, Today: Psynister, on behalf of Zhalis, rolled 19 using 1d20+5.
20:12, Today: Psynister, on behalf of Zhalis, rolled 24 using 1d20+5.  Con 10 vs Paralyze
20:11, Today: Psynister rolled 19,8 using d20+4,2d4+2.
20:11, Today: Psynister rolled 22,8 using d20+4,2d4+2.  Claw, Con DC 10 vs Paralyze.

Meanwhile Akyra, Ariadne, and Lady Chlora faced a much larger group coming for them. One clawed at Akyra, unable to penetrate the cleric's armor (miss). Another clawed at Ariadne, it too unable to land a damaging blow as the elven druid-archer dodged away (miss). The third ghoul that could reach the group did not bother with claws, however. Instead it lunged at Lady Chlora with rotted, jagged teeth, sinking into the flesh of her forearm. (Chlora is bit for 8 piercing damage)
20:14, Today: Psynister rolled 22,8 using d20+2,2d6+2.  Bite.
20:14, Today: Psynister rolled 8,6 using d20+4,2d4+2.  Claw, Con DC 10 vs Paralyze.
20:14, Today: Psynister rolled 10,10 using d20+4,2d4+2.  Claw, Con DC 10 vs Paralyze.

Zhalis called upon Leviathan to summon a tentacle to swipe at the banshee; no luck. She drew her sword and swung at one of the ghouls who sought to end her life; no luck. The warlock was fighting as only Khorth had done before. (miss, miss)
20:22, Today: Psynister, on behalf of Zhalis, rolled 11,8 using d20+5,d8+3.  Sword.
20:21, Today: Psynister, on behalf of Zhalis, rolled 6,11,1 using d20+5,d8+3,d6.  Tentacle  Hex.

Round 3 - just in case I didn't say it before, or it wasn't already apparent - welcome to the boss fight! Do not hold back.





This message was last edited by the GM at 01:25, Thu 21 Sept 2023.

Ariadne desperately cast a spell to push the creatures back.

OOC:  20:44, Today: Ariadne Greenthorn rolled 4 using 2d8.  Thunderwave
Con save or pushed back 10 feet (also half damage)

Hearing the sounds of the ghouls assailing his huntsmates, the lizard folk hunter snarled at the banshee and struck true, the green glow of the power strike illuminating the room.

Strike hits 24, for 13 magical damage, lets add a smite to the mix... 9 radiant extra for 22 total damage.

Today: Khorth rolled 9 using 2d8 with rolls of 2,7.  smite. – 9

22:37, Today: Khorth rolled 24,13 using 1d20+6,1d8+6 with rolls of 18,7.  rapier attack damage

Akyra had her focus on the silencing spell, she barely realized they were surrounded by the dead until the smell almost overwhelmed her. She looked around and centered herself to the group, and held her medallion up.

The air crackled with power as her eyes went white, then a bright light exploded out from her with the sound of a thunderclap.

---

---

Initiative	Akyra rolled 11 using 1d20+1.  iniative
Movement	Center herself within the undead/group
Action	Turn Undead.
	Wisdom save dc 14 or be turned
Bonus Action	None
Reaction	None

Tries to cast a spell failing hard.

Ariadne reflexively responded to the ghouls by sending a clap of thunderous energy at the ghouls. The blast was powerful, and the rotting dwarves were not prepared for it. (four ghouls fail, one succeeds.) - (Akyra takes 4 Thunder damage and is also pushed 10 feet) (Akyra fails her Concentration on Silence)
23:14, Today: Psynister, for the NPC Ghouls, rolled 6,6,11,5,20 using d20,d20,d20,d20,d20.  Con Saves.
23:15, Today: Psynister, on behalf of Akyra Clethtinthiallor, rolled 4 using 1d20+2.  Con Save.

Khorth heard the sounds of the ghouls assailing his huntsmates, the lizard folk hunter snarled at the banshee and struck true, the green glow of the power strike illuminating the room. (22 damage to the Banshee) That's when the realization hit him - he could hear ghouls behind him... The protective silence spell had been broken.

Lady Chlora fought off the ghouls with magic of her own, but it failed her in her time of need. Was it concern for her clutch-sister, who was quickly being surrounded by the ghoulish dwarves? There was no way to tell, but something had certainly thrown her off that time. (miss)

Akyra was already summoning the rage of a storm herself, and a burst range out from her as well. Only this time, it wasn't damaging, but the fear of the effect of dragon-fear that washed over the ghouls. (3 ghouls save, all others fail) All around them, ghouls fled from the display of Bahamut's power. Akyra you can all include an Opportunity Attack in your next post.
23:20, Today: Psynister, for the NPC Ghouls, rolled 15,12,17,17,13,1 using d20,d20,d20,d20,d20,d20.  Wis Saves.
23:39, Today: Psynister, for the NPC Ghouls, rolled 13,7,5,5,12 using d20,d20,d20,d20,d20.  Wis Saves.

The Banshee reeled from Khorth's strike, letting out a scream as the holy magic of the Mother lit into her. Her own scream, and the noise of the ghouls, revealed that changed situation to her as well. The scream amplified at her realization, and a piercing wail filled with such a profound sense of sadness, pain, loss, and desperation sank into those that heard it, leaving them to feel those same emotions that kept this woman's spirit bound to this place so many years after her own passing.

Khorth dropped his dragontooth blade, then slumped to the ground. One from a race of beings who viewed death as little more than a new source of meat, or bones for tools, knew heartache and sorrow, and died of a broken heart.

Ariadne felt the realities of nature's full cycle of life. The pain of loss was not often discussed in the teachings, but rather methods of how to avoid it, or how to gain an alternative perspective so that you looked at positives more than negatives. None of that helped in the face of such raw and powerful emotion, felt as though it had come for ones own heart.

Zhalis felt the cold, crushing darkness of the Leviathan's depths embrace her. Her senses spared no attention for the real world, and she never felt a thing as she too fell dead to the dusty floor.

Lady Chlora clung to life longer than the others, only by a moment, but when those moments were your last, every one was infinitely valuable. She saw weapons falling from her companions' hands, and watched as they slowly went to the ground as though being lowered by the softest and gentlest of hands. Emotions were foreign to the yuan-ti, and what she felt she could not name. It felt as though she had been turned to stone and bits and pieces of her where being crushed by a powerful hand she could not see. Her imaginings of becoming like a medusa herself gave her what she imagined it felt like when a mirror were to be turned on her, causing herself to petrify and her statue then destroyed. As the world began to shift in her perspective, walls going up and floor coming up to join her, perhaps she did feel an emo--

The banshee's wail brought death to Khorth, Zhalis, Chlora, and Ariadne. Akyra was the only one outside of the deadly effect of the banshee's wail, yet even she had heard it, and the sounds of her companions falling to the ground in a clatter of weapons and armor, and dull thuds.

The ghouls rushed to flee from Akyra's presence, in all directions - save for three of them. Three who happened to be standing right next to her. Those who fled to from Zhalis's position had gone through the southern doorway that they had came through previously. Those near Akyra and the others fled either east or south. But those three who stayed, they became even more intently focused on Akyra. Claws swiped, found purchase on scales and flesh, and a paralyzing necrosis settled into her muscles.  (Akyra takes 10 damage and is Paralyzed)
https://www.dndbeyond.com/sour...conditions#Paralyzed

Round 5

Akyra railed in her mind, calling out in her to the Dragonfather for aid, as no sound could escape her paralyzed lips. Ghouls still continued to flee from her holy presence, save for those three. The angle she'd fallen gave her no sight of the banshee or her companions, to know for certain what had happened to each of them. The only view she had was the pale and rotten flesh of dwarven ghoul feet and ankles as their mouths began to taste of her then-living flesh. It was a cold, hopeless end that none had foreseen. (Akyra is critically hit twice due to paralysis, for 39 damage)
10:27, Today: Psynister, for the NPC Ghouls, rolled 4,19,17,11,10,25,11,16,22 using d20+2,d20+2,4d6+2,d20+2,d20+2,4d6+2,d20+2,d20+2,4d6+2.  Bite.

All characters have died.