Seeing everyone seemed in agreement and ready to check it out, he gave a shrug and started walking towards the building he'd seen. It was the logical choice, after all. He kept his eyes sweeping around and his ears open.

Bran slowed after a moment, turning his head as he spied something. Quietly, to those near him, he spoke. "I see some movement, something moving under the sand, heading towards us."

He moved but then readied his weapon.

Kel'li tried to make out what Bran was seeing from above.

“How far away is it, Bran?” All Basilisa saw seemed like an end,Ed’s expanse of sand. She drew her shortbow, hoping it would be far enough for a ranged attack.

As if in answer to Basilisa's question the is a sudden rippling movement of the sand as something moved closer to the group. Rising from the sand a few feet to Bran's right is a sizeable worm like creature covered in a rock like jagged carapace.



OOC: Thankfully with Bran's warning no one is surprised. Everyone roll initiative. Those that beat an 11 go ahead and post your actions.

Basilisa reacted quickly, but the surprise threw off her aim…


OOC:

12:16, Today: Basilisa The Bold rolled 8 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 2.  Shortbow.
12:14, Today: Basilisa The Bold rolled 19 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 17.  Initiative .

Bran may not have surprised that something was coming towards them, but that didn't prepare him for the actual sight of what was coming towards them. He took an involuntary step back from the creature as it burst forth from the sand close to him. He gripped the warhammer and shield tighter in his hands as he stood his ground, hoping to keep its attention on him rather than some of his companions.

"Are you sentient?"

11:05, Today: Bran Siverlight rolled 5 using 2d20, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 3,5.  Initiative.

Although reacting in time to point the crossbow in the general direction of the worm, even get a bolt going at it, the shot isn't very impressive and more likely to hit the thing in its armored flank than the face or softer mouth.

Without much in the way of hesitation Cinnabar charges forward and hits the thing with one forward paw even as she puts the crossbow away to pull out her shield and lance for closer combat work.

Kel'li was slow to react to the creature coming from the ground.

Kel'li rolled 4 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 1.  Initiative.

Gripping his spear and shield tightly, Joser moves forward to engage the creature.  Twice he attempts to skewer the damnable thing.

22:21, Today: Joser the Demolisher rolled 4,6 using 1d6+2,1d6+2 with rolls of 2,4.  Damages.

22:20, Today: Joser the Demolisher rolled 9,11 using 1d20+5,1d20+5 with rolls of 4,6.  Full Attack Action with Whirlwind Spear.

17:45, Today: Joser the Demolisher rolled 20 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 18.  Initiative. 

The attacks either miss or fail to connect sufficiently to do any damage to the worm. Swinging towards Bran it strikes out, but fortunately Cinnabar' steel defender is close enough to provide a assistance and the worm toothy maws fails to connect.



OOC: Okay Bran and Kel'li your actions?

Kel'li holds her position above and motioning with her hands and saying an arcane word, causes a bolt of fire to shoot towards the creature, causing a small amount of damage.  Feeling this not as effective as it could be, she also does a quick motion and word to call into place a force of energy to strike at the worm.

Action: Cast: Fire Bolt - Cantrip
Kel'li rolled 23 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 16.  Firebolt.
Kel'li rolled 8 using 2d10 with rolls of 5,3.  Damage.

Bonus Action: Cast: Spiritual Weapon 2nd level placed between her and the target
Kel'li rolled 20 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 13.  Spiritual Weapon to hit.
Kel'li rolled 12 using 1d8+4 with rolls of 8.  Damage.

Receiving no verbal response, just aggressive action, in response to his question, Bran shook his head. "Fine. Have it your way."

However, with the feeling of the lessened connection to his deity, he was hesitant to squander his magic potential if he didn't have to. But he wanted to test things a bit so he touched his holy symbol and focused on the creature.

OOC: Sacred Flame on the creature. Reflex Save DC 15 or take 5 radiant damage. Should have just hit with the hammer.

18:10, Today: Bran Siverlight rolled 5 using 2d8 with rolls of 2,3.  Sacred Flame.

Still more distracting than helpful Cinnabar keeps attacking with her lance and front cat paws with no significant effect, but she does stay close to anyone else in melee with the thing to continue to assist them.

Basilisa’s second arrow missed, too. If her ranged attacks failed, she would fight with another weapon at her disposal. She projected her voice loud and true for Bran.

“Sweet Bran, call upon your Goddesss,
 True & Just,
 And lay that wretched worm beneath the dust!”


OOC:

02:01, Today: Basilisa The Bold rolled 8 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 2.  Shortbow .

Well, fuck the Dice Roller anyway.

Bonus Action:
I’ll use Bardic Inspiration for Bran. He gets an extra d8 for 1 Ability check, Attack roll, or Saving Throw.


 

Joser begins growling at the giant worm, his anger building to furious rage as he steps in, brandishing shield and spear.  He lances out with the spear, the shield held ready to bash at any part of the worm that comes closer.

Bonus Action:  RAGE!
19:23, Today: Joser the Demolisher rolled 5,8 using 1d6+4,2d4+4 with rolls of 1,3,1.  Spear damage, Critical Shield damage.

19:23, Today: Joser the Demolisher rolled 26 using 2d20+6, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 5,20.  Improvised shield attack, advantage.

19:22, Today: Joser the Demolisher rolled 23 using 2d20+6, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 14,17.  Spear attack, advantage.

Though all of your attacks do not strike home several do. Joser's in particular seems to do significant damage, actually leaving an oozing wound in the creatures side. Those who cast spells notice that the spells are somewhat less in effect than they are normally use to.

The worm, not liking its prey to be so aggressive, rises a little more from the sand. Those on the ground notice a sudden bulge just below its mouth seconds before it exhales a burst of sand on the party.

OOC: Everyone on the ground please make a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw.

Those who succeed take 16 points of damage and avoid being blinded.
Those who fail take 32 points of damage and are blinded for 1 round.

08:57, Today: Nameless rolled 32 using 8d6 ((5,5,6,1,3,4,3,5)).

Making one more desperate attempt to take out the worm before it can do whatever it has in mind to do Cinnabar fails to do much more than paw at its side a few times before the blast comes, which she almost evades, but just can't quite make it, although she does keep running away from the epicenter after the blast.

Bran didn't like this, not one bit. Feeling that his magic was weakened made him wary of using it. Or the other abilities granted to him by Selune. But then thoughts were washed away from his mind as the sand washed over him - and he couldn't SEE! He cried out in pain and surprise as he was blinded and hurt by the attack.

He stood his ground for the moment and swung out blindly - literally - at the creature even as he tried desperately to get the sand out of his eyes.

OOC: Failed save. Hit AC 20 for 4 dmg.

13:46, Today: Bran Siverlight rolled 2 using 1d20 with rolls of 2.  Dexterity saving throw.
14:27, Today: Bran Siverlight rolled 15 using 2d20+5, dropping the highest dice only with rolls of 10,17.  Warhammer attack with disadvantage.
14:28, Today: Bran Siverlight rolled 5 using 1d8 with rolls of 5.  Bardic Inspiration to attack roll.
14:28, Today: Bran Siverlight rolled 4 using 1d8+2 with rolls of 2.  Damage if that hits.

Suddenly, the worm battered them with a localized sandstorm! Basilisa screamed as the sands flayed and blinded her. She stepped back a pace toward where she thought the building stood. Basilisa cried out, “Anyone who can see help anyone blinded form on me!”
This message was last edited by the player at 22:04, Mon 19 Sept 2022.

Kel'li uses her Faerie Fire on the worm and directs the spiritual weapon to hit it again.

Action: Use Faerie Fire (Dex save: DC 15)
Bonus Action: Control Spiritual Weapon
Kel'li rolled 15 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 8.  Spiritual Weapon to hit.
Kel'li rolled 8 using 1d8+4 with rolls of 4.  Damage.
(Can reroll to hit based upon effectiveness of Faerie Fire)

Eyes squinted closed, he tries to block the sand from stinging his eyes.  Unsuccessfully.  But, he has a trick up his sleeve.  Joser drops the spear and grabs a strange javelin shaped like a stylized lightning bolt.  And that is exactly what lances out at the worm, with a sound of thunder.  Then Joser throws the javelin itself at the worm.

Use Javelin of Lightning to fire Lightning Bolt, then throw Javelin of Lightning, both at the worm.
20:08, Today: Joser the Demolisher rolled 5 using 1d6+2 with rolls of 3.  Javelin damage.

20:08, Today: Joser the Demolisher rolled 20 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 15.  Javelin throw.

20:07, Today: Joser the Demolisher rolled 11 using 4d6 with rolls of 6,1,3,1.  Lightning DC 13 Dex save for half.

This message was last edited by the player at 23:02, Mon 26 Sept 2022.

The groups attacks finally pay off as the worm collapses on the sand. The area grows quite except for the sound of the groups breathing. Most of those on the ground spend a couple seconds more wiping the last of the sand from their eyes as everyone takes stock of their current condition.

OOC: I think I have this all correct, please let me know if anything is wrong.

Current HP remaining.
  Cinnabar - 10 (Saving throw failed)
    Steel Defender - 4 (Saving throw failed) [Private to Cinnabar: Looks like the defenders HP is short by 5 on the character sheet. Probably from the last level.
  Bran - 24 (Saving throw failed)
  Basilisa - 13 (Saving throw failed)
  Joser - 43 (Made the saving throw. Rolled for him since I didn't see it in the roller.
              08:30, Today: Nameless, on behalf of Joser the Demolisher, rolled 20 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 18.  Dexterity save.)
  Kel'li - 38 (Luckily outside of the area of the worms breath weapon.)

You all do notice a significant decrease in the effectiveness of your spells. Most spells at best are at 50%.

Kel'li will quickly take a look around to ensure there is nothing else coming, then drop to the ground.

"Does anyone need healing?"

Clearly worn, and more than a little cooked, even steaming slightly from the rear end of her feline bottom half Cinnabar might be putting on a brave face with her confidence.  ”Well that was quite the introduction to wherever this is.  I don't know that we need healing exactly, so much as we need to rest and recuperate while we try and figure out what to do next.”
This message was last edited by the player at 19:29, Wed 28 Sept 2022.