Iron Crisis (IC)

[Amnestic]

Sam's beam barely scrapes by the gnoll's head, who laughs in response, mocking the half-dragon for missing. The laugh is short and swiftly cut off when Senna's magic missiles strike it hard in the side. It howls in irritation and drops its bow, hurling itself at Senna with spear in hand - retaliation for the magical pain it now feels. The speartip slices against the cleric's armour, not causing a deep cut but the pain is unmistakeable. Not deep enough to cause her any poison problems though, and Senna shrugs off any of the liquid that does make it into her bloodstream.

Minsc, still on his reckless rampage, delivers a two-stroke slice to the gnoll in front of him and moves to the remaining archer in sight, though clambering across the body slows him somewhat and he's not able to reach his target.

Perhaps still distracted from the effort of freeing itself, Vyvian's target takes a blade directly into the eye ending the threat definitively. The one behind it tries to lash out with its blades in vengeance but Vyvian parries and slips her own weapon between his guard, striking true and felling the beastman. The archer behind him strides forward but can't get close between Caelyn's entangling vines and the bodies of his comrades. He drops his bow and instead dons shield and spear.

Caelyn's back is up against the wall of the taller building. It got her space to breathe, but not much. It's sufficient that only one of her beams streaks wide, while the other two strike the clambering gnoll heard in the chest, eliciting a strangled yelp of pain along with the distinct unpleasant scent of burned fur. Undeterred and perhaps enraged, the gnoll - without weapon in hand - bullrushes the young elf. She tries to hold her ground but the lumbering soldier has momentum, weight and fury on his side and pushes her - right off the edge of the building to the melee with Vyvian and Melian below. She slams into the crates at the base of the structure, bouncing down between them. Though no longer in line of sight you can hear the cackle of smug satisfaction from the gnoll.

Melian's fury can't be denied as she brings her booming blade to bear striking hard and fast. The gnoll tries to push their spear haft up to block, but the blade passes straight through the wood and buries itself in the gnolls head, ending his connection to this realm. The woman at the bottom of the bloody pit barely seems to notice Fëanáro. She seems almost delirious as the pseudodragon tries to force out the pin holding her legs shackled. Unfortunately the small dragon's strength falls short on this attempt. She heard Minsc, it's clear, but her eyes look past the familiar's escape attempt, and she makes no effort to help or hinder.

Though none of you can see it, the sound of metal armour clanking is unmistakeable as a door slams open. Another gnoll voice is added to the cacophany - louder, more imperious, commanding. It yells what sounds to be a command, and immediately all the remaining gnolls reply back with chants - "Yeenoghu! Yeenoghu! Yeenoghu!" Their voices yell as the gnolls stood over their pits - two now, for Melian has dispatched the third - aim their bows into the bloody depths and loose singing arrows. The chant continues, all around you. Echoing. Reverberating. The madness of the true believers. "Yeenoghu! Yeenoghu! Yeenoghu!"

It's immediately clear from the screams and chokes of pain that the other pits hold prisoners too. The shouts, groans and screams of pain and death from the arrows fired into them are of mixed genders - male in the one closest to Minsc, female in the southwest pit. "They are sacrificing the people!" Minsc yells in a panic. He may speak a touch of gnoll himself, or it may just be intuition. The pained female scream from the far pit seems to have set his heart on edge, but he's already committed to his current target. "Please, help them quickly!" Still the gnolls call out, drowning out Minsc's pleas. "Yeenoghu! Yeenoghu! Yeenoghu!"

The sky begins to tinge red.

Spoiler: Map

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Seven out of thirteen gnolls are dead! We're past the halfway point. Maybe.

Caelyn takes 6 fall damage. Senna takes 4 piercing damage.

[purepolarpanzer]

Caelyn Syol'arael Wood Elf Druid AC: 15 HP: 26/32 PP: 16 PIv: 10 PIs: 16 Conditions: -- Concentrating on: Caelee lands hard, bouncing off a crate painfully. She cries out and drops her spell, getting back on her feet as quickly as she can. She clenches her fists and gives a shriek, moving to the north west past Vyvian and drawing her scimitar as she goes. Once her back is flat to the western wall, she lifts her hand and growls. Don't make me repeat myself again, you filthy, mangy, mongrel! She shouts out loud in Druidic, stretching out her wand in one hand, and liquid fire begins to roll out of her mouth, nose, and ears like lava, dissipating before it hits the ground. Three beams of angry red light shoot from the wand tip, two of them shooting south at the gnoll who is still standing and one racing upwards towards the gnoll who pushed her.

Spoiler: OOC

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Casting scorching ray again. One beam at the gnoll who pushed Caelee- (1d20+6)[9] to hit and (2d6)[4] fire damage. Two beams at the gnoll in the choke point- (1d20+6)[15] and (1d20+6)[20] to hit, (2d6)[7] and (2d6)[5] fire damage.

[Spore]

Senna Human Arcana Cleric AC: 18 HP: 21/27 PP: 16 PIv: 12 PIs: 16 Conditions: Protection from Poison (Minsc, half an hour-ish), Warding Bond (Minsc, half an hour-ish), Spirital Weapon (10 turns) Concentration: - Feeling the flame and blade of Oghma's Scribe! Senna says before drawing her dagger and stabbing at her enemy. Behind the creature a glowing glyph appears, lashing its divine essence at the gnoll. She keeps on the defensive, just like Jondalar taught her, still she struggles with the desire to charge alongside Minsc deeper into the fray. Spoiler Show Spiritual Weapon(1d20+6)[25] Damage (2d8)[7][1](8)+4 (second roll if crit) Dagger Strike (1d20+4)[10] Damage (2d4)[4][1](5)+2

[Ramsus]

Vyvian Just Half-Elf Rogue AC: 16 HP: 24/32 PP: 13 PIv: 9 PIs: 13 Conditions: Cold Weapon (off-hand) (3/10) As the vines Caelyn conjured wither upon the stone, Vyvian leap out from around the corner and thrusts her blades at the gnoll. Spoiler Show Move one space to attack gnoll in the corridor. Attack: (1d20+6)[14] damage: (1d6+4)[10] if crit: (1d6)[6] Off-Hand: (1d20+6)[7] damage: (2d6)[1][4](5) if crit: (2d6)[1][5](6) Sneak Attack: (2d6)[2] if crit: (2d6)[9]

[RandomWombat]

Cheerful Sam Half-Dragon Warlock | Imp Familiar AC: 12 HP: 32/32 | AC: 13 HP: 0/10 PP: 9|14 PIv: 14|10 PIs: 10|13 Conditions: Bless | -- "I'll get this one Minsc, you get that one!" Sam shouts, the same outrage and fear that is hitting the ranger settling into the pit of his stomach as well. Running over to the railing over the lower section of the tower, Sam releases a deafening shout down at the gnoll archery. Spoiler: Actions Show Move 1W, 2 NW, 2W. Bonus: Bardic Inspiration on Minsc. Action: Thunderwave on the very dunkable gnoll below. Hopefully knocking him onto the dead body from this angle, instead of the poor lady. Gnoll Save: (1d20)[4] Con vs DC 13 (2d8)[5] thunder damage, and shove 10 feet. Save halves damage and no dunk.

[cigaw]

Melian Galanodel Eladrin Bladesinger AC: 13 (20) HP: 24/28 PP: 13 PIv: 16 PIs: 11 Conditions: Mage Armor (8h), Mirror Image (x2), Bladesong Concentrating: Shadowblade The wizard's satisfaction at cutting down her opponent is short-lived at the sky turns a shade of crimson. She wracks her brain but can't quite figure out the ritual, possibly lacking the language or divine understanding to puzzle it out quickly. Seems like a blood sacrifice - a notion reinforced by Minsc's words cutting through the air. Melian then pictures the south-most pit in her mind - the one farthest from their two-pronged attack, and decides to rush there to stop the killing if possible. She begins an outright - albeit graceful - sprint directly towards the fallen gnolls and Caelyn's summoned vines and, upon barely reaching the entangling roots, she vanishes and reappears south of the spell. Without breaking her stride, she continues her run to face the lone gnoll guarding the pit and thrusts her shadowed blade forward in a hurried stab as she yells a warning to her siblings. "The ritual is a blood sacrifice! Try to only knock out the gnolls until we have dealt with them all!" Spoiler: Round 4 Show - This depends a bit on shuffling concurrent actions around, primarily so that this happens at the same time or right before Sam's. • Familiar tries to remove manacle pin: (1d20-2)[14] • Reaction: -- • Bonus: -- • Move: 40' move speed plus 30' Misty Step to put Melian 1NW of the gnoll by the south-most pit and if I picture it correctly, out of the way of Sam's thunderwave. • Action: Booming Blade attack vs pre-dunk gnoll - Attack: (1d20+5)[10] - Damage: (2d8+3)[12] - Crit: (2d8)[8] - Booming Blade: (1d8)[8] - which I assume triggers due to the forced movement by Sam? • Booming Blade: gnoll takes 1d8 Thunder if it moves before my next turn. • Bladesong: +INT AC, +10' move, ADV DEX (Acro), +INT CON Saves and Concentration. • Shadowblade: 2d8 psychic damage. Light, Finesse, Thrown (20/60). Grants Advantage if target is in darkness or dim light.

[Amnestic]

"Yeenoghu! Yeenoghu! Yeenoghu!" The chanting continues unabated, even as the fight continues to rage. Fëanáro manages to finally force the pin from one of the leg shackles. The woman's slender leg slips from the iron, though it's unclear if she understands how or why it happened. While the other leg still has the shackle attached, the legs are no longer bound together and she can walk normally and the remaining weight is more irritation than actual detriment to movement. She's not fast, but she does start climbing up the rickety staircase - not standing, but rather on hands and knees.

The armoured gnoll finally looms into vision - a hulking beast decked in halfplate with an enormous glaive clutched in a muscled paw. His chant booms and madness flecks his eyes as he surveys the dead and the still living. He hops over the wall and slides down to pit-level with Caelyn and Vyvian, taking a prepared stance against attacks.

Vyvian and her target both exchange blows, though neither is able to land a decisive strike with Vyvian's blades skittering against the gnoll's shield while his spear and maw are evaded as the rogue weaves to and fro. One of Caelyn's scorching beams strikes him though, the other skimming wide, along with the third beam aimed at the King-of-the-Castle. With his vantage point, the gnoll would have ample space to aim at Caelyn to exact revenge for the previous hurt. Alas, he abandoned his weapons in the climb and subsequent charging shove and is left atop the building with naught but his gleeful, smug chants of "Yeenoghu! Yeenoghu! Yeenoghu!"

Melian's swift swoop around the edge of the castle brings her south with almost impossible speed however the gnoll, still fresh to the fight, is prepared and slides out of the way of her blade. No amount of dodging is sufficient to evade the thunderous clap of Sam's spell which launches her into the air over the open hole, into which she disappears, eliciting what sounds like another cry of horror from its inhabitant along with the yelping whoops of the enemy. With snapping bites of irritation, the gnoll clambers out of the pit at top speed (now with a fresh coat of blood on his pelt), though he's unable to bring his spear or teeth to bear against the bladesinger, still puffing from the exertion of clambering out.

Senna can't make contact with her dagger, but the gleaming spell-weapon she summons behind the gnolls back rakes it cleanly, felling the beast in a wide stroke that leaves it dropped dead at the cleric's feet.

Minsc, perhaps in a panic, perhaps in a rage, perhaps just in his natural element, unleashes two enormous cleaves across the archer gnoll's chest, scoring an enormous bloody 'X' gash into leather, fur and flesh. It calls out something in its tongue before dropping dead, though what it said is unknown. Foe dispatched, the ranger immediately dives down the spiral staircase into the bloody pit. There he finds a number of bodies - one living, the rest dead, though only one of the bodies is fresh, with the rest being reduced to little more than skeletons. Perhaps blessedly, there's no stench of rot even though the bodies are decaying. Instead it's an overpowering copper smell of blood. The one living person looks to be a pudgy faced man with torn cleric's clothing. He's wearing a tabard emblazoned with the symbol of a single, lit candle - Deneir's symbol. With wrists and ankles both shackled any movement on his part looks to be impossible. "Do not worry! We are here to save you!" Minsc tries to reassure him, reaching out to the man who looks half-dazed and barely conscious.

Though the chanting "Yeenoghu! Yeenoghu! Yeenoghu!" is diminished somewhat, now coming from only three voices, all to the north end of the keep, the sky continues to tinge darker and darker red. Clouds begin to scatter and you think, just for a moment, you can see a crack in the heavens, like the sky turned to glass and someone pressed it just a little too hard. While before it was slight tinge, barely noticeable, the lighting around you is fast darkening and everything is cast in a pale red.

Spoiler: Map

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No damage taken and Minsc is the first party member (sorry Fëanáro, you're not a full PC just yet!) to pitdive. To give an idea of his next turn he'll be hauling the man out of the pit, but there aren't exactly a wealth of targets for him at this point anyway.

Health update: King-of-the-Castle and Vyvian's spear+shield gnoll are on their last legs. Armoured is uninjured, having just joined the 'fight', and Sam/Melian's target is relatively hearty but definitely took some hurt from the thunderwave and pitfall.

Armoured Gnoll takes the Dodge action, so factor in disadvantage accordingly.

At her current pace, No-Longer-Shackled will escape the pit by the start of the next NPC turn assuming no further help.

[cigaw]

Melian Galanodel Eladrin Bladesinger AC: 13 (20) HP: 24/28 PP: 13 PIv: 16 PIs: 11 Conditions: Mage Armor (8h), Mirror Image (x2), Bladesong Concentrating: Shadowblade As the skies darken, Melian's blade becomes less distinct, truly a thing of shadows. The wizard feints quickly while striking at the gnoll. Spoiler: Round 5 Show • Reaction: -- • Bonus: -- • Move: If gnoll dies, move up to flank Vyvian's gnoll. Otherwise stay put. • Action: Booming Blade attack vs post-dunk gnoll - Attack: (1d20+5)[22] | (1d20+5)[15] (ADV dim light) - Damage: (2d8+3)[8] - Crit: (2d8)[12] - Booming Blade: (1d8)[6] • Booming Blade: gnoll takes 1d8 Thunder if it moves before my next turn. • Bladesong: +INT AC, +10' move, ADV DEX (Acro), +INT CON Saves and Concentration. • Shadowblade: 2d8 psychic damage. Light, Finesse, Thrown (20/60). Grants Advantage if target is in darkness or dim light.

[RandomWombat]

Cheerful Sam Half-Dragon Warlock | Imp Familiar AC: 12 HP: 32/32 | AC: 13 HP: 0/10 PP: 9|14 PIv: 14|10 PIs: 10|13 Conditions: Bless | -- The gnoll seems to have survived his shout into the pit, but Sam sees that Melian has it in hand. Turning towards the continued chants of Yeenoghu, Sam turns the corner to find Vyvian facing off with another gnoll. Moving closer, he performs a walking blast at the monster with one hand, pulling out a small woodcutting axe with the other. "Get out of the way!" His steps seem to carry him further than they should, closing distance with the gnoll swiftly. Spoiler: Actions Show Sam was at 1 space West of where he is on the map. Move 1NW, 1W, 4N. Action: Eldritch Blast (1d20+5)[8] to hit (1d10)[5] force damage if it, no shove Bonus: Expeditious Retreat, if the gnoll is still alive, moving 1N to flank it with Vyvian. As part of the movement, Sam will draw one of his handaxes to provide threat if it tries to move away.

[Ramsus]

Vyvian Just Half-Elf Rogue AC: 16 HP: 24/32 PP: 13 PIv: 9 PIs: 13 Conditions: Cold Weapon (off-hand) (4/10), Ravager (main hand) (0/10/first hit) Noticing the threat coming up behind them and seeing Sam come up to grab the attention of the gnoll she was facing, Vyvian makes a low wide arcing slash with her frosted weapon as part of spinning entirely around and immediately darts over to the armored gnoll. On her way there she briefly re-sheathes her other blade and makes a drawing slash at her new target, her blade faintly glimmering with poisonous oil. Spoiler Show Off-hand attack at archer. Off-hand: (1d20+6)[8] damage: (2d6)[6][2](8) if crit: (2d6)[5][3](8) Fancy Footwork, so it can't opportunity attack me as I move away. Moving north to get adjacent to armored gnoll (in square on the left of it). Attack: (1d20+6)[8] damage: (1d6+4)[7] if crit: (1d6)[3] On hit: Target must succeed on a DC13 CON save or take (2d6)[10] Poison damage and be Poisoned for 24 hours. On a successful save, the damage is halved. Sneak Attack: (2d6)[7] if crit: (2d6)[7]

[Spore]

Senna Human Arcana Cleric AC: 18 HP: 21/27 PP: 16 PIv: 12 PIs: 16 Conditions: Protection from Poison (Minsc, half an hour-ish), Warding Bond (Minsc, half an hour-ish), Spirital Weapon (10 turns) Concentration: - The young cleric advances westward, commanding the violent candle she just summoned to approach Melian's enemy. Mel, we can deal with the straggler, go help the others. The ritual must be broken! Spoiler Show bonus: move Spiritual Weapon over the barrels closer to Melian's enemy move: 30 ft. towards west and then north, towards the narrow path. standard: Toll the Dead Wis save (1d20)[19] or take (1d12)[10] damage vs Melian's enemy

[purepolarpanzer]

Caelyn Syol'arael Wood Elf Druid AC: 15 HP: 32/32 PP: 16 PIv: 10 PIs: 16 Conditions: -- Concentrating on: Moonbeam Frustration boiled over in Caelyn's mind, and fire roared several inches from her mouth as she opened it to scream. Flames began to drip from her nose, eyes, and ears, pouring out of her like lava, but dissipating before it fell more than a few inches. She felt anger, at these gnolls, their horrible treatment of their prisoners, and their foul ritual. She opened her mouth to scream again, and this time Druidic came out, seemingly spontaneous in her mind. Spoiler: Druidic Show Light of the sun, reflected by the moon, pierce the heavens and set this monster aflame! Each word was accompanied by a breath of fire. Caelyn looked like some sort of primitive fire totem herself now, more like Bokono than the wood elf her family knew and loved. A pillar of radiant yellow light flared into existence above the gnoll Vyvian had left behind her, and as it covers the creature it wreathes it in ghostly, flickering flames, nearly identical to the ones that are pouring out of her. Then Caelyn stomped her way south, seeking cover. But she would be back, with more death for these horrid, violent persecutors. Spoiler: OOC Show Casting Moonbeam on the gnoll in the chokepoint. Constitution save DC 14- (1d20)[9]. Save halves this damage (2d10)[10]. If the spell kills the gnoll, Caelyn will move south over his body and take cover out of sight one square south of him. If he doesn't die, I'll take Vyv's position and block him in.

[Amnestic]

Minsc grabs the apparent Deneirite and easily hauls the delirious man over his shoulders, huffing him out of the pit with as much haste as he can muster before dropping him to the ground, with as much grace as he can muster. He takes a moment to look around, and then looks up - perhaps for the first time noticing the skies change. Quietly, he mutters something in rashemi under his breath - a prayer perhaps, or a curse.

Despite being flanked on both sides, the shielded gnoll - still endlessly chanting - deflects or avoids both beam and blade that come his way. His shield can't protect him from the light of the searing moon though, and with a final strangled yell of "Yeeno-" the gnoll is incinerated.

Melian's gloomblade finds its mark on the enemy, but he's barely still standing after the attack. When it looks like, for a moment, he might retaliate he's interrupted by the armoured gnoll who just finished deflecting Vyvian's sword. The leader stops chanting, and instead barks out a command or phrase followed by a single long howl of "Yeenoghu!" It's no longer a chant - and from the cracking sky the ritual is coming to a close.

Grinning at the bladesinger the gnoll steps back to fall into the pit but as his feet lose purchase on the floor the second half of Melian's attack detonates, killing the gnoll before it can complete its sacrifice.

The leader, meanwhile, has retrieved a knife from his belt. His howl complete, he rams it into the side of his own neck, drawing it all the way across in an unsteady, but determined cut, and silencing him for good. Blood sprays everywhere, including across Vyvian, only increasing the coppery stench. Just as the woman prisoner exits the pit near Caelyn and Vyvian, the gnoll falls in, the fall finishing the job. The cracks in the sky have begun to take form - no longer a single line or point they have formed around the shape of the three-headed flail in a clear pure white that all the gnolls wore on their outfits. The symbol holds directly above the keep, and those with a keen eye for directions realise that the three flail heads line up perfectly with the three pits.

That realisation can't stop what comes next though, as blood - gallons upon gallons of the stuff shoots up out of each pit in enormous cylinders streaming towards the sky. All the gnolls still on the ground level - alive or dead - dissolve into pools of blood that likewise rise up to join with the cylinders. The King-of-the-Castle is still cheering as his life vanishes. The sound of the churning, roiling life-essence is overwhelming, far louder than the nearby river ever was and the force of it launches the prisoners - alive and dead - from their pits to collapse nearby. The sole remaining living prisoner near Melian and Senna seems particularly injured and near death. As the cylinders collide with the heads of the flail the blood seems to seep into the white, slowly filling up the weapon in the sky. The moment it fills and the cylinders vanish, the flail drops from the sky, a fully formed physical object that crashes into the keep's buildings, sending rocks hurtling in all directions as it tears down one of the walls through sheer weight and force. It comes to rest barely feet ahead of the prisoner Fëanáro freed, who looks at it with barely comprehending eyes. Each flail head is in the shape of a spiked jawless humanoid skull, with the eyeless sockets glowing with slightly different coloured light.

Then the form of its wielder takes shape, starting with the hand that clutches the weapon and slowly forming with bone and blood and muscle and fur, spreading up the arm until the fully formed demonoid gnoll appears. It's enormous, its weapon alone many times your size. Perhaps 30 feet tall, even when crouched low over the building on all fours, it might stretch to over 50 feet on its hind legs. Its howling roar shakes the dust from the earth and sends birds and animals miles away scattering in fear. You all stand fast against it though, resolute in the face of the abyssal monster that has been summoned.

Spoiler: Map

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Welcome to Phase 2 of the Gnoll Stronghold - an Avatar of Yeenoghu, Demon Lord of the Abyss and God of Gnolls. I no longer need to play coy about what's in the pits or the rooms, so fully revealed.

EVERYONE passed their wisdom saving throw (well done, well done), so none of you are Frightened of AoY. Even with making the save though, you all have disadvantage on any attacks until the end of your next turn. If you want a condition name for it I'm gonna go with Shaken.

The NPC near Melian is at 0 hit points and is dying - she'll start rolling death saves next turn unless helped. Dynaheir and the Deneirite would have been doing the same had Fëanáro and Minsc been a turn slower! I couldn't find a way to slip this into the post where it 'fit' but Dynaheir has no hands - just poorly bandaged stumps where they once were, so don't expect a great deal of magical contribution from our favourite Witch. Not in this fight anyway.

While the AoY is primarily stood on top of the building (King of the Castle 2.0 - now bigger and better than before!) he is stretched forward with a limb on the 'ground' so those on the west side can melee him.

[Spore]

Senna Human Arcana Cleric AC: 18 HP: 21/27 PP: 16 PIv: 12 PIs: 16 Conditions: Protection from Poison (Minsc, half an hour-ish), Warding Bond (Minsc, half an hour-ish), Spiritual Weapon (8 turns) Concentration: - By the holy scripts of Deneir, a demon lord? Senna is visibly shaken but sees the need to act to maybe save the woman next to Melian. What they do not need is more life force ebbing away and towards Yeenoghu. The cleric leans the woman against the wall, making her drink and applying smelling salts. Press that on your wound. she says. Spoiler Show Healing Kit: (1d6+8)[9] Her divine weapon slowly hovers towards the demonlord.

[RandomWombat]

Cheerful Sam Half-Dragon Warlock | Imp Familiar AC: 12 HP: 32/32 | AC: 13 HP: 0/10 PP: 9|14 PIv: 14|10 PIs: 10|13 Conditions: Concentrating (Hex) | -- "Well that's not good," a voice echoes in Sam's head. The evil energy resonating in the area seems to have revitalized Grepha's spirit form, invisibly perched on his shoulder. In spite of her snide remark, the imp is as shaken as Sam. A hand shooting to Bahamut's symbol around his neck, Sam mutters to himself, "Bahamut protect us." The sheer size and weight of the monster leaves him feeling helpless, and he looks to Melian for direction, trusting in her ever cool and calm demeanor - only to see the woman lying next to her, dying as Senna tries in vain to rouse her. Taking a few steps towards them, Sam calls out, "Everyone, we need to pull together. Get up and grab one of their dropped bows!" His words resound with arcane emphasis, almost like a suggestion or a command spell. Not sure how well his little blasts can do against the demon gnoll, Sam grasps at straws - and then grasps at one of the cookies in his magic bag. Splitting it open, he finds the joke inside... "Come on, guys. We've got to Gnollify this threat!" A laugh track plays out loud. Spoiler: Actions Show Move 2S. Bonus: Cast Healing Word on the fallen woman. Healing her for (1d4+3)[5] healing. Action: Use a Magic Joke Cookie, casting Hex (rolled in Discord) on the Avatar. Choosing to give it Wisdom check disadvantage as part of the hex, to help with any badly wounded hiding from its Perception.

[purepolarpanzer]

Caelyn Syol'arael Wood Elf Druid AC: 15 HP: 32/32 PP: 16 PIv: 10 PIs: 16 Conditions: -- Concentrating on:Moonbeam (9 rounds remaining) Caelyn watched the ritual come to fruition. The boiling torrents of blood. The great falling flail. And finally the rise of the massive avatar. On another day she would feel fear. She would shake. She would flee. But today she was caught up in a flaming rapture. She was fury. She was vengeance. She WAS fire itself. And she was hungry. She wished to burn. If that power you promised is available, now would be a good time. She set her jaw and pointed her wand at the massive demon, shouting out words that burned the very air as she directed the flaming pillar of light to hover over the gigantic monster. Take it down!. Then she began to sprint south, past Sam and heading out of this thin alley of stone in an attempt to stay out of that flail's massive reach.

Spoiler: OOC

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Directing the moonbeam to the dead center of the uber gnoll, then moving 35 feet south. Constitution save vs. DC 14- (1d20)[18]. If it saves, half this damage (2d10)[12]. Radiant damage if that matters.

[cigaw]

Melian Galanodel Eladrin Bladesinger AC: 13 (20) HP: 31/28 PP: 13 PIv: 16 PIs: 11 Conditions: Mage Armor (8h), Mirror Image (x2), Bladesong Concentrating: Shadowblade Melian grins as her spell triggers as the gnoll falls, but her mirth is short-lived as the ritual is complete and the colossal figure rises from the torrents of blood. Her jaw drops open and she hesitates for a moment. "Labellas preserve us," she mutters, wide-eyed. Unconsciously, she draws upon her new-found powers and a surge from within fills her with not only life and energy but murderous intent. Brows furrowed and intent on her new prey, the bladesinger advances once again, drawing her shortsword in a reverse grip with her left hand. Spoiler: Round 6 Show • Reaction: -- • Bonus: -- • Move: 40' up back through the little corridor on the left. Draw shortsword. • Action: False Life (1d4+4)[7] temp HP - Attack: -- - Damage: -- - Crit: -- • Bladesong: +INT AC, +10' move, ADV DEX (Acro), +INT CON Saves and Concentration. • Shadowblade: 2d8 psychic damage. Light, Finesse, Thrown (20/60). Grants Advantage if target is in darkness or dim light.

[Ramsus]

Vyvian Just Half-Elf Rogue AC: 16 HP: 24/32 PP: 13 PIv: 9 PIs: 13 Conditions: Cold Weapon (off-hand) (5/10), Ravager (main hand) (1/10/first hit) "What is that!?" Vyvian shouts, really freaked out and only not adding multiple swears in the question by happenstance and a desire to get her words out as quickly as possible. Her first thought is to run, but then she notices the wounded hostage who is clearly in no condition to get up and run at the moment. So she just winds up darting around and weaving about in a hope to not get crushed by the largest creature she's ever seen in her entire life. Spoiler Show Dodge action.

[Amnestic]

Whether it's the weaving motions or the yell of surprise, the enormous demon seems more interested in smashing Vyvian than the easily smashed hostage that crawled out of the pit. Perhaps it blames her for the scorching beam of radiance that scorches its fur and flesh or the swirling pall of Sam's curse. Regardless of reason, it stomps past Dynaheir, over the body of the dead sacrifice to swing its enormous flail heads at the dodging rogue. She ducks under one, but the other - its spiked skull gleaming with eerie purple light - catches her off balance and knocks her aside. Intense pain racks both body and mind.

Minsc, having dropped the Deneirite and judged him to be not in immediate trouble, breaks into a sprint towards the party, hoping to dash around to join the battle. Even his powerful legs can only carry him so far, as he trails behind the speedy Melian. "Evil cannot win!" He yells, adding his voice to Sam's. It's a statement of fact, a sincerely held belief. He's not hoping, he's assured that you will prevail.

Thanks to Sam's spell and Senna's kit, the woman is saved from death, though what she wakes up to might be just as bad as she turns her eyes skyward, body and clothes still slick with blood. She seems moved, perhaps out of pure instinct or panic, by Sam's pseudo-command and Minsc's encouraging shout, but with her arms and legs shackled there's not much she can do.

Spoiler: Map

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Vyvian takes 21(!) damage, 11 bludgeoning and 10 psychic. Good job she dodged because otherwise she'd be down for the count. He did roll very high on the damage though (8 and 10 on 2d10).

[Spore]

Senna Human Arcana Cleric AC: 18 HP: 21/27 PP: 16 PIv: 12 PIs: 16 Conditions: Protection from Poison (Minsc, half an hour-ish), Warding Bond (Minsc, half an hour-ish), Spiritual Weapon (8 turns) Concentration: - Standing up from the shackled woman, Senna pushes past the others, clearly hearing Vyvian's cries for help. She nudges her magical summon over the tops of the fortress closer. As she enters the arena, she is greeted with a gruesome vision. Retreat, Vyv. NOW. Let Deneir's power banish this creature. she says, but is clearly too troubled to focus on her holy symbol. She fumbles it out of her armor, as it begins to glow in a cold blue hue, different than before. Spoiler Show double move to there: bonus to move spiritual weapon The other stuff is fluff preparing to channel divinity: arcane abjuration. Her divine weapon slowly hovers towards the demonlord.

[Ramsus]

Vyvian Just Half-Elf Rogue AC: 16 HP: 3/32 PP: 13 PIv: 9 PIs: 13 Conditions: Cold Weapon (off-hand) (6/10), Ravager (main hand) (2/10/first hit) Vyvian gets battered with one flail head, then another, despite her best efforts due in large part to their rather chaotic movements as they swing down. But as the third approaches she manages to move to the side.... right in the way of the chain.... which pulls her up into the air. Reacting quickly as she begins to spin over as gravity overtakes the force of the momentum, she hooks her feet into the chain. As the flail's motion brings her across the other side of the giant gnoll demon whatever in the hells this is, she unhooks her feet from the chain allowing herself a controlled fall through the air as she digs her blades into the excessive hair and hopefully flesh off the massive monster to slow her descent. Upon hitting the ground, extremely bruised and battered and sore as all heck, she practically rolls the entire way past Senna, only stopping where she does do to the wall. As she gets up she blinks blood out of her eyes, making sure she still has her swords in hand. Yes, it seems like her grip on them is like the grip of a corpse right now. That's better than shaky and loose at least. She looks up, at nothing in particular, and takes several deep though rather ragged breaths. She thinks about saying something to her siblings, but the need to catch her breath and the general addling of her mind from the pain and the chaotic and fast motion push most thoughts out of her mind for the moment. Spoiler Show Attack: (1d20+6)[16] damage: (1d6+4)[6] if crit: (1d6)[5] Ravager: Target must succeed on a DC13 CON save or take (2d6)[7] Poison damage and be Poisoned for 24 hours. On a successful save, the damage is halved. Off-Hand: (1d20+6)[16] damage: (2d6)[1][5](6) if crit: (2d6)[4][1](5) Sneak Attack: (2d6)[6] if crit: (2d6)[10] Then moving south to the space 1 to the left of where Senna moved to this turn. (Right in front of the corridor.)

[RandomWombat]

Cheerful Sam Half-Dragon Warlock | Imp Familiar AC: 12 HP: 32/32 | AC: 13 HP: 0/10 PP: 9|14 PIv: 14|10 PIs: 10|13 Conditions: Concentrating (Hex) | -- "Mel, get Fen' to unshackle the other prisoners," Sam tells her as she rushes past. He would have Grepha do it, but she is presently unable. Coming up to the corner as Vyvian is backing off, Sam hastily gathers an energy pulse in his hand and looses it at the massive monster. "We've got this," he tells Vyvian, doing his best to look unshaken by the dire situation. Spoiler: Actions Show Move 5N. Bonus Action: Last Bardic Inspiration on Vyvian. Action: Eldritch Blast the Giga Bowser gnoll. (1d20+5)[11] to hit (1d10)[8] force and (1d6)[6] necrotic damage on hit, and knock it 10 feet back so Dyna can crawl away safely

[purepolarpanzer]

Caelyn Syol'arael Wood Elf Druid AC: 15 HP: 32/32 PP: 16 PIv: 10 PIs: 16 Conditions: -- Concentrating on: Moonbeam (8 rounds remaining) If there was one advantage to fighting something so monstrously large, it was that Caelyn could see it from anywhere in the keep. And if she could see it, she could burn it. She was about to head further into the fortress when she saw Vyvian run to the end of the stone alley, blood flowing and looking like hell. That was when she remembered that in addition to being one of her family's combat casters, she was also one of their dedicated healers. If she played this evasively, as she normally preferred to fight, they may not make it out alive. Instead, she ran right back through the alley of stone back to the front, stopping right next to Vyvian. Wait a moment! I'll heal you soon! She pointed her arrow at the monster again, and her beam of ghost fire adjusted slightly to fall on it again, sending up those same ethereal flames, burning hair and hide in equal measure.

Spoiler: OOC

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Moving to be adjacent with Vyvian near the end of the choke point. Using my action to move the moonbeam one square north and two west, back into contact with the Ubergnoll. DC 14 save (1d20)[5]. If it saves, halve this radiant damage (2d10)[7].

[cigaw]

Melian Galanodel Eladrin Bladesinger AC: 13 (20) HP: 31/28 PP: 13 PIv: 16 PIs: 11 Conditions: Mage Armor (8h), Mirror Image (x2), Bladesong Concentrating: Shadowblade Seeing her sister pummeled and flung through the air, the bladesinger presses on, hoping the healers would work their magic and keep Vyvian on her feet. They were committed now. As she advances, Sam's voice cuts through the chaos and she nods silently; Fëanáro takes wing wordlessly as she commands him through their telepathic link. Melian interposes herself between the monstrous gnoll and the forlorn prisoner and brings her blades to bear, slashing wildly while forcefully saying "Move back! You must get away!". Spoiler: Round 7 Show Fëanáro moves south to help unshackle the prisoners. - Hulk-out 1: (1d20-2)[9] • Reaction: -- • Move: Try to get between Beeg Yeeg and Dynaheir. • Action: Booming Blade vs Beeg Yeeg - Attack: (1d20+5)[21] | (1d20+5)[15] (ADV, dim light) - Damage: (2d8+3)[15] - Crit: (2d8)[7] • Bonus: sadly ponder that Booming Blade isn't an Attack action and I can't attack with an offhand weapon. - Attack: -- - Damage: -- - Crit: -- • Booming Blade: (1d8)[3] if move before my turn. • Bladesong: +INT AC, +10' move, ADV DEX (Acro), +INT CON Saves and Concentration. • Shadowblade: 2d8 psychic damage. Light, Finesse, Thrown (20/60). Grants Advantage if target is in darkness or dim light.

[Amnestic]

Perhaps it's not being at the bottom of a pit or the more-aware hostage, but Fëanáro has little trouble breaking the pin on one of the woman's shackles. With her freed hand she reaches down and wrenches the pin from one of her ankle bindings, allowing her to stand and walk, albeit with slightly inhibited gait. "Grab...grab the arrows!" She stumbles over her words a bit as she takes hold of the gnoll's fallen bow, and runs after the party, her attached shackles on leg and wrist jangling in her wake.

Vyvian's feat of acrobatics leaves two long bloody gashes in the monster's side, though considering the world painted red right now, everything looks a bit bloody. It doesn't look like the poison has any noticeable effect on the beast, but steel and spell still does. Spells like Caelyn's blazing moonlight that continues to beat down on the beast's back, only accentuating the stench of burned fur. Minsc and Melian reach the monster but Minsc seems, earnestly, more distracted by his witch than the monster bearing down on them. "Dynaheir...you..." He looks like he might break down for a moment seeing her hands. While it's going on, Melian lashes out with her shadowblade, adding yet another slice into the monster's flesh to accompany Vyvian's. It roars in response and swings the flail wide, dipping under Sam's beam perhaps almost by accident as it does so. The ever-nimble wizard slides between the chains even as the flail heads scrape through the rock and tear at the building's foundations, but Minsc isn't so lucky. Distracted by his injured ward, he doesn't notice the remaining flail head coming straight at him and smashing direct into his chest. The flail head's eyes glow stronger as they strike him, discharging some abyssal magic into the warrior who suddenly goes rigid. He can't even speak or shout out at the pain.

With its spare hand, the monster reaches out and picks up the body that was blasted free of the sacrifice pit on his summoning - and slams it into its mouth, past the rows and rows of sharp teeth, consuming it in a single bite. Though it's clearly not a full regeneration, the Avatar's wounds do show signs of healing after the body is swallowed. It screams again, louder than before. Its lust for pain, for torture, for butchery can't be slaked so easily, and it wants more.

Spoiler: Map

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Narrowing down the focus a bit, though the deneirite hasn't vanished.

Fëanáro broke one shackle and it was enough to have the NPC break the other so she's on her feet and moving. How useful she's gonna be is a whole other matter but she's tryin', oh lawd she's tryin'. She didn't pick up any arrows (one item interaction per turn!), just the bow, so she will be dependent on the party to provide them, either via familiar or allowing her to nick some out of someone else's quiver.

Minsc got hit for 12, so that's split 6/6 for him+Senna, his temp HP absorbed 2 so net loss is -4 for him, -6 Senna. He's also Paralyzed until the end of Minsc's next turn, so no help from our ranger friend in the next round. There was some hefty damage dished out by the party that turn though!

Melian's luck holds on dodging attacks, which is good because she rolled a *0* on the charisma save, which might have been really bad for Dynaheir.

[Spore]

Senna Human Arcana Cleric AC: 18 HP: 21/27 PP: 16 PIv: 12 PIs: 16 Conditions: Protection from Poison (Minsc, half an hour-ish), Warding Bond (Minsc, half an hour-ish), Spiritual Weapon (78 turns) Concentration: - As the wild combat rages on, Senna sees her ward not only injured but not moving altogether. Snap out of it, Minsc! She ducks as Vyvian flies to her place, nodding at the rogue, but ignoring her for now. She holds her holy symbol aloft, her voice magically enhanced. Do not fight the avatar, for Deneir is about to turn its vile face away! The symbol glows a bright azure hue, her hands shaking at the divine power channeled through her body. Spoiler Show I'd normally heal Vyv, but seeing as a crit on Minsc would knock me out completely, I try to turn the monster. If it works, we should try and not attack it for a single turn to get our formation together, the injured patched up and Dynaheir away from the trouble. Yeenoghu will save (1d20)[13]

[RandomWombat]

Cheerful Sam Half-Dragon Warlock | Imp Familiar AC: 12 HP: 32/32 | AC: 13 HP: 0/10 PP: 9|14 PIv: 14|10 PIs: 10|13 Conditions: Concentrating (Hex) | -- Spent and unable to do much else, Sam gathers another blast in both hands and desperately tries to knock the massive monster away. Spoiler: Actions Show Action: Eldritch Blast the Giga Bowser gnoll. (1d20+5)[17] to hit (1d10)[3] force and (1d6)[6] necrotic damage on hit, and knock it 10 feet back

[purepolarpanzer]

Caelyn Syol'arael Wood Elf Druid AC: 15 HP: 32/32 PP: 16 PIv: 10 PIs: 16 Conditions: -- Concentrating on: Moonbeam (7 rounds remaining) Caelee ignores the moonbeam for a handful of seconds as she squeezes forward to get close to Vyvian. The fire spouting and leaking from her body abates somewhat as she places a hand on her sister and utters a single word in Druidic. Under her palm a yellow glow emanates, and though it is hot and painful, it does begin to close some of Vyv's wounds.

Spoiler: OOC

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Casting Cure Wounds on Vyvian. Healing for (1d8+4)[8]. Here's hoping it's a high roll. If somehow the monster isn't pushed by Sam's spell and remains in the moonbeam I'll roll damage in discord, but I think this round it will be safe from the spell.

[Ramsus]

Vyvian Just Half-Elf Rogue AC: 16 HP: 11/32 PP: 13 PIv: 9 PIs: 13 Conditions: Cold Weapon (off-hand) (7/10) Vyvian doesn't even really register the burning healing pain since it essentially just replaces the "oh my everything hurts" pain. Basically completely out of it with pain and adrenaline at this point Vyvian charges straight towards the giant monster, letting her blades drag against the ground which throws up sparks. She leaps clear over the pit, touches down and then leaps back up into the air to stab into where her training has indicated her to. Wherever there might be a major arterie. As much as her body protests all this movement, she just pushes past it since she's going to be sore and in pain no matter what at this point. Spoiler Show Charge diagonally straight at foe, leap over pit, stabby stabby. Attack: (1d20+6)[8] damage: (1d6+4)[6] if crit: (1d6)[4] Off-Hand: (1d20+6)[14] + 5 from Bardic Inspiration= 19 damage: (2d6)[6][5](11) if crit: (d6)[5](5) Sneak Attack: (2d6)[6] if crit: (2d6)[11]

[cigaw]

Melian Galanodel Eladrin Bladesinger AC: 13 (20) HP: 31/28 PP: 13 PIv: 16 PIs: 11 Conditions: Mage Armor (8h), Mirror Image (x2), Bladesong Concentrating: Shadowblade The bladesinger's rhythm starts to synchronize with the battle raging around her; she instinctively ducks under the monstrous flail and weaves to the side as Sam's eldritch energy connects with the giant gnoll. As the monster staggers backward, Melian presses her advantage eager to create some distance between it and the injured witch. She nimbly steps over the crumbling battlements, pivots on her leading foot to avoid Caelyn's magic and slashes with her blade, the shadowblade almost a counterpoint to Vyvian's shortswords. Spoiler: Round 8 Show Fëanáro moves to grab the nearest available gnoll quiver and takes it back to the would-be archer. If any move speed remains (Fly 60ft), it moves toward the last remaining prisoner to help unshackle him. - Hulk-out 2 (if/when needed): (1d20-2)[14] • Reaction: -- • Move: I guess 10' NE-ish to avoid moonbeam and keep up the pressure on Beeg Yeeg. • Action: Booming Blade vs Beeg Yeeg - Attack: (1d20+5)[18] | (1d20+5)[17] (ADV, dim light) - Damage: (2d8+3)[14] - Crit: (2d8)[13] • Bonus: -- - Attack: -- - Damage: -- - Crit: -- • Booming Blade: (1d8)[4] if move before my turn. • Bladesong: +INT AC, +10' move, ADV DEX (Acro), +INT CON Saves and Concentration. • Shadowblade: 2d8 psychic damage. Light, Finesse, Thrown (20/60). Grants Advantage if target is in darkness or dim light.