Privateers of Lssthp II [IC]

[zylodrizzt]

Things didn't match up in nibums mind so he peaked around and noticed something off over the flower or as near as he could describe as one. He shouts she is over here somewhere pointing with delima.

[Dirty]

Fork looked over to where Nibum pointed and scanned the area for inconsistencies. He wasn't confident about shooting just yet so he ran down the ramp towards the middle. Meanwhile Rumble continued along the outer ring, both were closing in on their prey like a pair of wolves.

Something was tugging on the edge of Forks senses though. Then it hit him. "The star! The Core! They've got the essence of dragon in there!" He hoped the others could hear him. "Don't blow it up!"

He was surprised by himself, since he normally wasn't extremely nurturing. But in this scene, this place, it felt perverse and wrong whatever was being done up there. Fork couldn't make out where the mage was so he looked ahead of him and targeted the overseer for a kill, becoming hyper aware of the orcs moves, stance and what he had for breakfast.

Spoiler: Actions

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Action: Move¨
Move: Move
Bonus action: Hunters Mark on the visible orc
(Perception: 11 to find the mage)

[TriciaOso]

Then the battlemage drops invisibility, and it's no longer necessary to search for her. She hovers above the blue flower-like structure, and puts out a hand to deflect a jet of arcane energy being absorbed by it. She redirects it at Nibum and his entourage in a blast of scintillating energy.

She laughs nastily, then vanishes in another space-warping blip. At the same time, her illusory duplicate ducks fully behind the generator. A moment later, both of her drift out from behind it and take up station over two different blue flowers.

Spoiler: Insight 9+

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The one on the right is real.

At the same time, the overseer charges out of cover towards Cocytus and Ttharg and lays about with his starry whip. He passes the First Mate to attack Ttharg with his whip; his first strike misses, but the second cracks against him nastily, and leaves a glimmering starlight halo outlining the cleric.

Cocytus, infuriated beyond belief by being ignored, pursues the overseer; he coats his blade with a blast of acid and brings down two heavy blows against the overseer, shouting: "ORCUS! Another soul for your hoard!" It doesn't quite send the orc to the Abyss, but combined with the fireball the overseer has gone from a healthy green to a pale muddy grey.

Meanwhile, the technicians continue their gradual escape from this enormous room; it would be funny if it wasn't so grim. Nibum, you feel your Sanctuary drop, but it's difficult to say whether it was because of the damage you took or because Goronglix has gone on the offensive instead of relying on Grease traps.

Spoiler: Summary

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ACTIONS:
Mage drops invisibility. Uses Radiant Beam against Nibum, Triceratool, Fetcher and Minicliff for 17 damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Only Minicliff succeeds. Warding Bond halves Triceratool damage and does the same to Nibum. Starlight step behind the generator core; illusory double hides behind it too, then both move out. Which is which? Insight 9 to detect.

Overseer moves past Cocytus to attack Ttharg. Misses once and hits once, for 7 damage and leaves some kind of glowing trace on him.

Ttharg and Nibum both make concentration saves; however, Sanctuary drops as Goronglix starts attacking people below.

Cocytus hits the Overseer an opportunity attack and adds a smite; then moves to hit the Overseer with his action, using Channel Divinity to gain advantage and putting a Hunter's Mark on him. This hits as well, and also adds a smite. 20 and 17 damage respectively. The Overseer is bloodied.

Technicians continue their dash actions towards the door.

DAMAGE:
Nibum: 23 damage
Ttharg: 7 damage

Triceratool: 8 damage
Fetcher: destroyed
Minicliff: destroyed
Fork - 9 damage

Orc Battlemage - 21 damage
Overseer - 61 damage

INITIATIVE:
17 - Orcs
16 - Fork
15 - Plasmoids
11 - Cocytus
8 - Nibum
4 - Ttharg
2 - Servius

[Dirty]

Fork drops to one knee again in his signature run, drop to knee, fire crossbow stance everyone has come to love. He's momentarily confused by the images of the mage appearing but a hint of light hitting the 'wrong' one in a strange angle had him aim and fire two bolts at the real mage.

After seeing one bolt hit home, he grabbed his dual crossbows and jumped to his feet again.

(Edit: Rumble runs towards the middle)

Spoiler: Actions

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19 and 15 to hit -
for 13 and 9 respectively

Bonus Action none.

[zylodrizzt]

It was a longshot but nibum took up delima thrust it forward attempting to implant into the mages mind the origin in which he discovered this weapon. The realm of the slaad and a whole hoard of them but sadly the mages will was to strong to succumb to the trickery. After his familiars had fallen and after feeling the might of that spell he decided he might be at a disadvantage fighting her so he turned his attention to the overseer and taking out his frustration he charges hard and pouring what he's got into it. If one threat goes down the other might not have as much of a chance and perhaps he can get a breather. He's an old lizard he gets tired easy. He yells DIE YOU INKY MINDED EMPTY SCULLED PIG that channels in through the speaker as he activates a light focused through a lense that he'd normally use for targeting but he calibrated it for deadly force this time searing and marking the pig.

(Triceratool gets us to the overseer. Nibum casts branding smite and makes a booming blade attack)

[J-H]

Servius Calventius Pamphilius Yuan-ti Evoker AC: 13 / 16 (Mage Armor) HP: 38/38 PPer: 11 PInv: 18 PIst: 11 Conditions: -- Concentrating: Melf's (4/6)

The two images don't match. Servius is close enough to her now, and farther away from both entries, so his positioning is right. He conjures up several balls of flame that orbit around his head, sending two at the mage.

Spoiler

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You create six tiny meteors in your space. They float in the air and orbit you for the spell’s duration. When you cast the spell — and as a bonus action on each of your turns thereafter — you can expend one or two of the meteors, sending them streaking toward a point or points you choose within 120 feet of you. Once a meteor reaches its destination or impacts against a solid surface, the meteor explodes. Each creature within 5 feet of the point where the meteor explodes must make a Dexterity saving throw. A creature takes 2d6 fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Meteor 1 (2d6)[7] fire damage, Dex DC 15 half
Mage (1d20)[15]
Meteor 2 (2d6)[4] fire damage, Dex DC 15 half
Mage (1d20)[7]

[TriciaOso]

Her deception not going so well this time, the orc mage looks frustrated and furious. She's struck by a crossbow bolt and a ball of flame in close succession and howls with rage, allowing the illusory duplicate to vanish.

The overseer looks not just frustrated but badly injured, as the Dilemma goes home. The mage touches her earpiece and barks something in Quaalith; the doors of the tiny room she emerged from close, and there's a faint hum.

Spoiler: Summary

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DAMAGE:
Nibum: 23 damage
Ttharg: 7 damage

Triceratool: 8 damage
Fetcher: destroyed
Minicliff: destroyed
Fork - 9 damage

Orc Battlemage - 41 damage
Overseer - 78 damage

INITIATIVE:
17 - Orcs
16 - Fork
15 - Plasmoids
11 - Cocytus
8 - Nibum
4 - Ttharg
2 - Servius

[The Commander]

Ttharg Krixkrux

Ttharg grunted as he was hit with the whip; but it barely bothered him. What bothered him was the draconic spirit trapped inside the core. Almost everything else lost meaning. "FORK BE RIGHT! THAR BE A DRACONIC SPIRIT IN THIS HERE MACHINE!" He bellowed in agreement.

He was dimly aware of the mage, but had enough sense to try and focus her down as the biggest threat in the room.

He maintained his control over the arcane storm in the the room, but this time he reached out to explode the area the mage occupied in a thunderous boom. Once again, he focused on channelling the destructive might of Bahamut into the prayer.

He then moved aggressively up towards the Overseer, hoping to trap him between himself and the First Mate. "We'll be sending ye to Bahamut's locker, ink suckling smooth skin."

Spoiler

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Continue concentration on Call Lightning.
Main Action to Cast Shatter at 2nd Level, aiming to catch just the Mage and none of the station's equipment.
Amulet of the Devout gives +1 to save DC, normal save DC is 14, so 15.
Con Save for Mage: (1d20)[16]+mods vs 15.
Save for half. Will use my 2nd Channel Divinity to again do max damage. So 24 full damage, 12 half damage.
Mage is NOT pushed.
Move Action to flank the Overseer.

[TriciaOso]

Ttharg Krixkrux

Ttharg grunted as he was hit with the whip; but it barely bothered him. What bothered him was the draconic spirit trapped inside the core. Almost everything else lost meaning. "FORK BE RIGHT! THAR BE A DRACONIC SPIRIT IN THIS HERE MACHINE!" He bellowed in agreement.

"Oh, you noticed that?" the battlemage sneers. "Once she hatches she'll make a lovely host for a brainstealer, but for now, the extra power is just a bonus." She gathers a ball of arcane energy in her hands once more and considers her targets.

The overseer lashes at Ttharg ineffectually, and the glow around the cleric fades; the potential for additional damage lost. The battlemage looks at the wounded overseer and sighs. "Borgan, I knew giving you that thing would be a waste." She looks towards the humming elevator; and then with a complete disregard for her own ally, she swoops over to the catwalk and fires a beam of scintillating light in a straight line across everyone but Servius.

The Overseer crumples to the ground, smoking. The elevator keeps humming... and then the lights flicker, the axle slows and then picks back up speed -- and the hum stops. The battlemage puts a hand to her ear and barks, again, in Quaalith. She sounds a lot less smug this time.

Spoiler: Nibum

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A message spell delivers to you:

Thanks for the sanctuary, mate. Feeling much more like myself now. Part of me is still in the system so I locked things down... thought we could use a chance to catch our breath! Not that I breath...

The technicians who had just made the door pound fruitlessly; it's locked itself.

Cocytus shifts his hunter's mark and runs at the Battlemage, spitting a blast of acid as he runs that she dodges cleanly.

Spoiler: Summary

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ACTIONS: Overseer misses on two whip attacks.

Battlemage fires a radiant beam that hits Nibum, Triceratool, Rumble, Fork, Ttharg and the Overseer. 17 damage, DC 16 to halve. Only Nibum saves. Triceratool has resistance, and Nibum takes the same damage (Warding Bond). Cocytus and Ttharg make concentration saves.

Goronglix takes control of the station from inside and locks down the doors and elevator.

Technicians move towards the door, which is now locked. Another elite orc is trapped in the elevator.

Cocytus shifts his hunter's mark and runs the Battlemage, spitting a blast of acid as he runs that she dodges cleanly.

DAMAGE:
Nibum - 39 damage
Ttharg - 24 damage
Fork - 26 damage
Cocytus - 17 damage

Triceratool: 16 damage
Rumble - 17 damage

Orc Battlemage - 53 damage
Overseer - killed

INITIATIVE:
17 - Orcs
16 - Fork
15 - Plasmoids
11 - Cocytus
8 - Nibum
4 - Ttharg
2 - Servius

[zylodrizzt]

Nibum brunts the majority of the damage then returns the favor rushing in for a thrust BETTER THEN A SNOWBALL TUSKMOUTH WITCH! he shouts from the speaker again Try and run again i dare ya he says with delima still lodged in her

To the slides message welcome. Anything more you can do from there?

[The Commander]

Ttharg Krixkrux

Ttharg snatches up the whip from the ground where the Overseer's body now lay smoking. As he turned, he spit a gobbet of blood onto the corpse.

Ttharg is bloodied.

He moved towards the Mage, and as he did so he called out once again to the storm raging in the centre of the room. A bolt of lightning struck out at the Mage, but she once again weaved herself out of the way of the worst of it.

Finally, Ttharg muttered a prayer for the group at large; with the exception of Servius who hadn't been hurt at all. "Bahamut, keep us strong and let us hold fast against our foe!"

Spoiler

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Free Action to pick up Constellation Whip.
Move Action to move towards Mage.
Main Action to use a Bolt from Call Lightning (concentration is still maintained). Mage makes her Dex save, so she takes half of (4d10)[12].
Bonus Action to cast Mass Healing Word (3rd Level) on Ttharg, Cocytus, Rumble, Nibum, Triceratool, and Fork. I believe Triceratool is a Construct and therefore doesn't benefit, but may as well target them anyway. Everyone heals (1d4+2)[4]

[Dirty]

Fork felt the connection he had to the overseer fade before even he himself had recovered from the blast. He tucked and rolled sideways while putting his focus and attention solely on the mage. He was in close combat again, but he steeled his nerves. He wouldn't visit the eternal hunting grounds today, he thought as he gritted his teeth. He aimed quickly and smoothly, and put a bolt from each of his hand crossbows into the mage.

Spoiler: Actions

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Hunters mark on mage (BA)
Attack on mage 2x (A)
I forgot to look in dnd beyond but I think it came to a 21 and a 23 to hit or something, for 5 and 8 damage, and 1 and 3 for hunters mark for a total of: 17 damage if both bolts hit

[J-H]

Servius Calventius Pamphilius Yuan-ti Evoker AC: 13 / 16 (Mage Armor) HP: 38/38 PPer: 11 PInv: 18 PIst: 11 Conditions: -- Concentrating: Melf's (2/6 remain)

Flames lash out at the orc mage - one ray and two balls of flame, one of which bursts with a loud concussive bang.

Spoiler

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Fire Bolt (1d20+7)[18] for (2d10)[8] fire damage
Melf's
(2d6)[8] fire damage, Dex DC 15 half
Orc Dex (1d20)[8]
(2d6)[11] fire damage, Dex DC 15 half
Orc Dex (1d20)[18]
One of those does an extra (2d6)[10] force damage and knocks her prone (Fulminating Treatise reaction, 1/3 for the day)

[TriciaOso]

The battlemage screams and crumples to the ground, smoking. She's dead.

A wave of acid washes over the cluster of orc technicians; when it passes away, they are all dead and Goronglix stands there. It appears your plasmoid friend isn't interested in taking any prisoners.

Goronglix looks healthier than when you last saw them; the tall stick-figure form they've taken on still seems gaunt, but not utterly emaciated. Somewhere along the line they picked up a pair of goggles; maybe the orcs working below, in the blazing light, wear eye protection. They still wear their modular toolbelt, which has now developed a sort of bandolier as well. One arm spreads out into a shield and the other ends in a curved blade. They raise this arm in a greeting and begin to ooze towards you.

Spoiler: Fork

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Looking at the battlemage's scimitar, you realize it's made partially from the horn of a dragon... although not one that's familiar to you. It makes you wonder what kinds of dragon they have in wildspace, and about the egg incubating inside the generator.

Spoiler: Loot

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4 Orc Technicians - stun rods, All Purpose Tools +1
Orc Supervisor - mithral scale mail, +1 mace
Orc Overseer - Constellation Whip, +1 mithral half-plate
Orc Battlemage - Boots of Flying, 'Elven' chain shirt, Crystal Blade (Scimitar)

All of them have earpieces; all of them but the Battlemage have tokens of Water Walk.

Spoiler: Summary

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DAMAGE:
Nibum - 39 damage
Ttharg - 24 damage
Fork - 26 damage
Cocytus - 17 damage

Triceratool: 16 damage
Rumble - 17 damage

Goronglix - 33 damage

[Dirty]

Fork carefully picks up the scimitar and shows it to the others. "Look here, this looks like horn of dragon. I vote against destroying anything until we figure out what it is we're destroying."

[TriciaOso]

Cocytus says, "You heard the witch, talking about hatching. They've got a dragon egg somewhere they want to use as an illithid host."

[TriciaOso]

Regrouping with Goronglix, you get a fuller picture of the installation from someone who has been here for years.

• There's one elevator that goes between the nodes, the generator/docks, and the ventilation room, and another elevator between the ventilation room, the control room and the roof.
• To get up to the ventilation room without using the elevator you would have to go up the side of the building. There are intake vents sucking in cold air to cool the axle and output vents venting hot air from the room; intake vents would be the safer way.
• There is a simple data console in the generator room, and more complex one in the ventilator room, and the full control room has the full controls and communications.

Goronglix can also give you the full staffing - in addition to the 33 technicians, supervisors and overseers, there are three more orcs tasked with communications and traffic control, and four elite orcs in command of the station, plus the control brain. You've killed about half of the technicians/supervisors/overseers and one elite orc --

"--but Shirish was the most dangerous one. There's also a storage vault on the ventilation level -- that's where they've got my spelljamming helm, I'm sure of it! Along with gods know what other goodies."

[The Commander]

Ttharg Krixkrux

"If ye give me a moment, I can patch some of ye wounds up." Ttharg puts down the whip with the other loot and breaks out his healer's kit. He methodically goes around his wounded crew mates, including himself, patching up what he can.

Spoiler

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Ttharg has the Healer feat and is using one of his healing kits. Recipients gain 1D6+4 HP, plus HP equal to their HD; which is 6, so +10. Each usage is an Action. I am able to use the feat on Constructs.
Nibum heals: (1d6+10)[12]
Triceratool heals: (1d6+10)[12]
Fork heals: (1d6+10)[15]
Rumble heals: (1d6+10)[14]
Cocytus heals: (1d6+10)[13]
Ttharg heals: (1d6+10)[11]

"If we want to set an ambush for the elite Orc, we can certainly do so now. But how do we release the draconic spirit from the generator?" Ttharg asked the plasmoid.

[TriciaOso]

Goronglix looks at the scimitar. "This looks like a solar dragon horn. Poor critter, solar dragons are very nice, friendly fellas..." They look around and at the generator. "Like to lay their eggs in the corona of a sun.... if these orcs stole a solar dragon egg and wanted to hatch it, I reckon they could use the generator to do it."

"I don't know exactly where they'd put it..." They shrug apologetically. "Ain't been payin' proper attention since they cut me into eighty pieces, seems like."

[The Commander]

Ttharg Krixkrux

Despite the plasmoid not knowing where the egg was, Ttharg's attention was brought back to the core and the spirit within, and his control over the storm that still lingered around it.

Ttharg could see patterns emerging in the static and lightning that surrounded the core, as if the spirit were trying to communicate with him in the only way it could. The lightning arced over several nodes, almost forming a path for Ttharg to follow. Instinctually, he followed it to a small node just off of the main core ring.

Here, he found the egg. He called his companions over and with their help extricated the egg from it's prison. Ttharg checked the egg over carefully, reverently turning it in his claws to inspect it without damaging it. He didn't have much experience with egg health; but there were occasions in the past when crew had gotten pregnant at sea, or he had been the nearest doctor to a clutch when on shore leave. Thankfully, the egg looked healthy. He made some space in his backpack, wrapping the egg in his bedroll for safety, and put it inside.

"The egg be good, me hearties. It'll take longer to hatch now, but it be safe."

[TriciaOso]

Cocytus tears his eyes away from the backpack, with an effort. Strong, dragonbred instincts are screaming at him to get the egg away to safety.

"I don't have much in the way of ranged ability, but I'll stand between you men and the orc," he says, steering his mind back to combat. "Slime creature, what can you tell us about the orc trapped in the little room?"

"Huh? Sorry, the guys up in the control room were trying to... had to... Okay, all good now." Goronglix focuses up. "Uh, Banjirim. He got his start as a shock trooper, I hear, but unlike most he survived it to become a bigshot. Still dresses like he's gonna break a siege single-handedly. Gave one of me half a sandwich once, so. You know, not a total filament."

[J-H]

Servius
Servius picks up the lightweight chain armor. "I've read of this. It sits like clothing, but will turn a blade. This armor may be worth more than my parents' printing press."
Gently, he puts it on while the others deal with the egg - something he doesn't have strong feelings about, although rescuing a dragon is always worthwhile in terms of making the important people happy.

"I'd rather face this big, heavily armored orc from a hundred feet away, by himself, than move on and let him find a way out of the elevator. Goronglix," (the studious wizard easily pronounces the unusual name) "Can you release the elevator to open on this floor once we are ready?"

If the group agrees, he'll suggest they take up positions around the center area, far from the elevator, and prepare to blast the orc as soon as the doors open.

[The Commander]

Ttharg Krixkrux

Ttharg agrees to Servius' plan. He prepares to cast the cantrip Toll the Dead if/when the Orc gets into range (60ft).

[Dirty]

Fork looks with reverence as Ttharg takes care of the egg. "This is a good sign." He said, not knowing if what he said made any sense really. He's been hanging with Cauda too long for sure.

He donned the half-plate armor as the other discussed and only chimed in with a "Yep. Works for me." every now and then.

With the crystal blade hanging from his belt, he tied his new boots and they felt extremely comfortable. Fork felt like a warrior kobold all of a sudden, and a newfound confidence that he was missing was starting to grow within him.

Even so he positioned himself slightly within 100 feet of the elevator door, with his heavy crossbow trained at the centre.

"I'm ready." He said to the others as he took aim.

[zylodrizzt]

Nibum collected up the odd bits of things like ear pieces tools and probably a token or two (hopefully one for him and triceratool but grabbing anything nobody else put in inventory really.) Before preparing to cast frostbite at the orc. In the midst of all this nibum wonders Your not attached to this place are you goronglix?

[TriciaOso]

"Me? Not bloody likely," says the plasmoid. "Was a spelljammer before the squids caught up with me; couple stars west of Faerun, that was. Will be again once I get my bloody helm back."

"All right, lads, I'm cutting him loose..." Cocytus claps Nibum on shoulder as the elevator begins to hum.

The doors open, and the orc inside is simply enormous.

As citizens of Lssthp, you are used to sharing space with intelligent creatures many times larger than you. But it's clear Banjirim the Shock Trooper shops in the hippo section of Wildspace department stores. He roars and charges forward, straight into the teeth of your prepared actions, and yanks a grenade from his bandolier.

Spoiler

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ACTIONS: Readied action by Shock Trooper to dash out of the elevator as soon as the doors open. Moves 30 feet. This puts him within 70 feet of Servius, Ttharg and Fork, 55 feet from Nibum and Cocytus.
Readied actions from Servius, Ttharg, Fork and Nibum.

DAMAGE:
Nibum - 12 damage
Ttharg - 13 damage
Fork - 11 damage
Servius - 0 damage

Triceratool: 6 damage
Rumble - 3 damage

Cocytus - 5 damage
Goronglix - 33 damage

Shock Trooper - 0 damage

INITIATIVE:
22 - Orc Shock Trooper
16 - Fork
15 - Plasmoids
11 - Cocytus
8 - Nibum
4 - Ttharg
2 - Servius

[J-H]

Servius Calventius Pamphilius Yuan-ti Evoker AC: 17 HP: 38/38 PPer: 11 PInv: 18 PIst: 11 Conditions: -- Concentrating: Melf's (4/6 remain)

Servius fires a jet of flame as the enormous orc charges out.

Spoiler

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Attack (1d20+7)[18] for (2d10)[7] fire
If it hits, (2d6)[11] force damage and knock prone

[Dirty]

Bolts follow the flame in a race to see who hits the orc first.
Rumble infuses the bolt with icy goodness

Spoiler: Actions

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Readied action: Attack
25 to hit for 19 damage
11 to hit for i suspect 0 damage

[zylodrizzt]

Nibum had a Grenade readied as well that he launched from delima a soon as the doors slid open (readied action)

[The Commander]

Ttharg Krixkrux

As the Orc bounded it's way towards the party, Ttharg took the opportunity to let loose another bolt of lightning from the raging solar storm.

Spoiler

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DC 15 Dex save from Elite Orc: (1d20)[15]+mods for (4d10)[23] Lightning Damage, save for half. He is also pushed 10ft away from me, regardless of save.