Encouraged by the effectiveness of his last eldritch blast, Tao continues his assault upon the beast.

---

OOC:  Hits AC 20 (rolled 15 + 5 from Inspiration die) for 6 damage.

14:01, Today: Tao rolled 15 using 1d20+3.  Eldritch Blast (with advantage) roll 1. – 15
14:01, Today: Tao rolled 8 using 1d20+3.  Eldritch Blast (with advantage) roll 2. – 8
14:02, Today: Tao rolled 6 using 1d10.  Eldritch Blast Damage. – 6
14:07, Today: Tao rolled 5 using 1d6.  Inspiration die. – 5

Vaelon roared forcing the pain of the injury from his body. Perhaps it was the shock of the poison to his system but somewhere within the tempest of blinding pain, Vaelon thought he heard the voices of his ancestors beckoning to him. The Barbaran steadied himself on wobbly legs and struck out again against the beast.

Bonus Action: Second Wind Vaelon rolled 3 using 1d10+1 ((2)).
Action(Attack)13:43, Today: Vaelon rolled 20 using 1d20+3 ((17)).
Attack(Damage)13:44, Today: Vaelon rolled 10 using 1d12+2 ((8)).

This message was last edited by the player at 18:46, Thu 15 Feb.

Mudahn unleashes another bolt of fire at the monster, burning its' hide (7 Points of Fire Damage). He then readies to cause the creature to have disadvantage and transfer that to Tao once more.

The creature snarls as the firebolt hits their hide, and despite the silvery barbs, clamps their jaw onto Vaelon and shaking violently (9 Points of Piercing Damage, halved to 4). The snakes emerging from its shoulders lash out at Warl, missing widely their mark.

Myranti holds their action, looking for an opportunity to act.

Tao uses the gift from Mudahn, channeling his magic once more to strike at the monster (6 Points of Force Damage).

Vaelon shudders with the impact of the bite from the creature, gathering his energy to recover his vitality. With a mighty strike, his great axe digs deep into the beast, causing a yowl of pain (10 Points of Slashing Damage).

Fae focuses once more and tries to connect with her witch bolt, but once more the lightning goes wide off its mark.

Sunwalker Ordel reaches out and touches Vaelon again, focusing on healing the warrior as he chanted words of healing into the warrior (17 Points of Healing to Vaelon).

Warl, nearly tapped out of their inner reserves, moves to flank with Vaelon against the monster. Warl snaps out viciously, followed by a swipe, but misses both time against the creature.

Initiative: Mudahn and Myranti, and then the creature, then the rest of the group's actions.
Mudahn - 22
Creature - 21
Myranti - 17
Tao - 10
Vaelon - 9
Fae - 6
Sunwalker Ordel - 5
Warl - 2

Myranti knowing full well that his skill in combat does not translate well, moved toward the beast, defensively.  His purpose was to distract the beast long enough so that the others can take it down.

Move action: close with the beast.
Standard Action: Dodge.

Mudahn continues firing shots at the creature while keeping his distance, doing little to no damage. Once more, he prepares try to distract the beast and create an opening for the tail-less dragonborn fighting alongside him.


Action: Firebolt at the beast
 -To hit AC 18 for 1 fire damage
Reaction:
    Trigger: The beast succeeds on an attack roll on someone.
    Reaction: Cast Silvery Barbs. Beast rerolls the attack, Tao gets advantage on his next attack, ability check or saving throw.

11:10, Today: Mudahn Ra'Hokr rolled 18 using 1d20+4.  Firebolt. – 18
11:10, Today: Mudahn Ra'Hokr rolled 1 using 1d10 with rolls of 1.  Fire Damage. – 1

Myranti moves quickly to distract the creature from attack his allies, entering a state to try and dodge or deflect any attacks from the creature.

Mudahn unleashes another firebolt, just barely burning the creature's tail (1 Point of Fire Damage).

The creature, hissing and being surrounded, disengages from the combat, fleeing from the swarm of enemies around it.

Initiative: Myranti and everyone elses actions..
Mudahn - 22
Creature - 21 - Disengaged and moved a total of 60ft from the main part of the group.
Myranti - 17
Tao - 10
Vaelon - 9
Fae - 6
Sunwalker Ordel - 5
Warl - 2

Valeon offered a nod in appreciation of the healing magics of Sunwalker, then something caught his eye. The barbarian snapped his head back in the direction of the beast, as its movements triggered his Sentinel ability. Stabbing forward the barbarian brings up his axe along the creature's fleshy chest and barred its ability to disengage from combat.


Attack: Vaelon rolled 18 using 1d20+3 ((15)).
Damage: Vaelon rolled 8 using 1d12+2 ((6)).

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)

Feats: Sentinel
You have mastered techniques to take advantage of every drop in any enemy's
guard, gaining the following benefits.
When you hit a creature with an opportunity attack, the creature's speed
becomes 0 for the rest of the turn.
Creatures provoke opportunity attacks from you even if they take the
Disengage action before leaving your reach.
When a creature within 5 feet of you makes an attack against a target
other than you (and that target doesn't have this feat), you can use your
reaction to make a melee weapon attack against the attacking creature.

---

As the creature attempts to flee, Tao tries to capitalize on its being distracted in that effort.  It seems that the tortle was also distracted, as the eldritch blast he just launched at it would have missed the broad side of a barn if he'd been trying to hit one.

OOC: 12:45, Today: Tao rolled 10 using 1d20+3.  Eldritch Blast Attack roll. – 10

I'm quite confident that a 10 misses.

Vaelon's sentinel attack stops the creature in its tracks, snarling, the beast attempts to look bigger than before, to frighten away the group surrounding it.

Initiative: Myranti and everyone elses actions..
Mudahn - 22
Creature - 21 - Stopped by Vaelon.
Myranti - 17
Tao - 10
Vaelon - 9
Fae - 6
Sunwalker Ordel - 5
Warl - 2
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:37, Wed 28 Feb.

After his upward strike stopped the beast in its tracks the Wild-Barbarian came down with his axe hard into the meaty portion of the beast's chest.


OOC: Vaelon rolled 12 using 1d20+3.  Attack roll. – 12
OOC: Vaelon rolled 9 using 1d12+2.  Axe Damage. – 9

(First action of next round, as requested in ooc)

Mudahn decides to change tactics and repositions himself as to avoid hitting any allies with his next spell. Pushing both hands forward, the mage sends a stream of acid towards the beast, much like he did qhen fighting the goblins before.

Movement: Reposition to not hit allies if needed
Action: Tasha's Caustic Brew, dex save or be covered in acid. If affected, 2d4 acid damage at the start of each of his turns until he takes an action to clean himself

Myranti holds their attack, looking for the opportune point to attack. Thinking he spotted an opening, he swings his rapier, only to drop it as the beasts' snake head rip it from his grasp.

Tao continues to try and unleash his eldritch energy, but his attack goes off mark, blasting a tree behind him.

Vaelon swings mightly, but the creature dodges the attack with ease.

Fae, sensing the danger of a cornered beast, attempts to mock it to death, but it resists her pathetic attempt of mind magic.

Sunwalker Ordel, not wishing to pour more energy into his allies before when he may be able to finish the fight, unleashes a lightning strike against the beast, electrifying it (2 Points of Electricity Damage).

As the spell fades, the beast shudders, collapsing upon the ground, and dispersing into purple-blue smoke, leaving behind seven largeer crystals upon the ground. The quiet of the forest returns after the intense combat, leaving your group panting and sweating from the exertion of battle.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:09, Sat 09 Mar.

"Whoooooo!  I knew we could do it! Go team!"  Myranti sat back on a fallen log, and surveyed the carnage.

Mudahn seems surprised as the beast dies.

"No key? I would have thought this would be the most dangerous creature in here. Perhaps we need to take out the orks after all if we want to go deeper. But I'm running low on spells, so it might be wiser to retire for now. How are you all holding up?"

Mudahn collects the crystals, with the unspoken agreement to share them equally with everyone once they leave the dungeon.

Myranti watches Mudahn as he gathers the crystals not taking an eye off him for an instant.

"Agreed, I'm exhausted.  So we go back now?"

Vaelon slumped as his rage subsided.

"Agreed, we rest." he said spitting where the beast once was.

Sunwalker Ordel took a moment to rest, before tending to the wounds of others. For the most part, it seems that Myranti, Warl, and Vaelon took the brunt of the attacks. "The question is, do we rest here, or attempt to return to Haven and risk the dungeon changing while we are gone?" He spoke, calmly and wisely, his tauren nature appreciative of the natural world around them.

Warl lays down next to Sunwalker Ordel, panting slightly from the exertion of the battle. 'I am open to either option, but I would suggest a long rest if we remain, particularly if we are seeking out the strongest creature of this dungeon level.' They spoke to the minds of the group around them, laying their head on their claws to rest.

Mudahn thinks about it for a moment, and then speaks up.

"I don't necesarily opose resting here, but we were ambushed once already, and I'm not ready for a second round. If we decide to stay as a group, I'll warn you now: if some beast decides we look like a meal, I'm hightailing it out of here. So my vote would be to leave, figure out how much the crystals we got are really worth, possibly buy some resources, and then come back. As a group if you would like, you were all fine companions in my opinion"
This message was last edited by the player at 11:41, Thu 07 Mar.

"We are more than a match for this dungeon, change though it may, those changes will not avail it against our might. We return and fully replenish our vitality." Vaelon said someone confidently.

The general consensus seems to agree that a return to town is in order. Given a short rest, your group stands up and begins to journey back to the entrance of the dungeon. Warl takes the lead, using his senses and tracking skill to guide you through the dungeon. The light within the twilight forest does not change, an otherworldly feature of this environment to be sure. As you approach the portalway, the rune in Mudahn's hand glows a bright blue for a moment, before the portal opens, but does not consume the rune.

Once you are through, you return to the square where the crowds are calmer than earlier. The red dragonborn looks your group over, snorting, before walking away. An official looking Imortali in dark purple robes accompanied by two guards walks up to you, bowing slightly. "Greetings and congratulations of your first Dungeon exploration. I am Kytil, an emissary of the Experion Coalition. While you were in the Dungeon, you may have found and hopefully collected experion crystals from defeated foes. We of the Coalition convert your crystals into the coin of our realm, Gil. We also offer to keep your Gil should you like to deposit it with our banks, and recover it upon your return. Would you care to convert and deposit any Gil today?" It asks, calm as marble.

Myranti speaks up before anyone has a chance to speak.  "Can you tell us what the current conversion rate is for Experion to Gil, who sets those prices? What kind of interest can we expect while you are holding our Gil?" He would continue to prattle on bombarding the man with questions until he caught everyone else's gaze and took the hint to shut his mouth to let the man speak.

Kytil shakes their head in the negative. "We do not offer interest for Gil stored by the Coalition. We keep your deposits safe until you have need of it. Some find this useful so that they do not lose any Gil while within the Dungeon or from...unscrupulous types in Haven. The prices are set by the Coalition, as we mint Gil and collect the experion for it. A small crystal is worth ten Gil, medium crystals are worth one hundred Gil, and the rare large crystals worth to be about one thousand Gil. Most services within Haven prefer Gil over the coin of other realms. We also convert other realms coins to Gil should you need to do so still." Kytil spoke, not perturbed in the least by Myranti's questions. There did not seem to be a profit motive for the Coalition, unless there is some hidden truth to this realm that is not readily apparent.

Mudahn recounts all the crystals recovered, including the ones Myranti had taken, and makes sure everyone gets 2 of each before converting the rest to distribute equally.

Of his share of the loot, he keeps 1 medium crystal to research further, taking 157 gil of the trade.

"May I ask what is the use of the crystals? Why do you collect them?"

Kytil keeps their attention on Mudahn, just a fraction of their eyes narrowing. "The crystals are sacred to my people. We are forbidden to enter the dungeon, but mortals are not. We collect them to honor the Creator and offer compensation in return for the work of mortals within the Dungeon. There is a reason why we offer our hospitality and ask for little in return. We are immortal, but we are so because our Creator made us so. The creatures within the Dungeon...we suspect, are figments of Their imagination, so are sacred to my people, but of little use to most other beings." Kytil explained, before exchanging the experion crystals for Gil to all who do so.