Hammerfall #9

[GM Mad]

Hammerfall #9


The dwarves with their unlike allies, the drow, are descending the stairs that lead deeper beneath the duergar fortress. A trap on the stairs was just activated and it threw poor Salem into the pit. Given how long he fell, it’s most likely that Salem perished when he hit bottom.

Daraden and Grondar keep their eyes back up the stairs just incase any passing duergar heard the commotion.


Down below, Farian examines the area where the trap was sprung. He can now easily see that portion of that fatal step had pressure triggers in them. They are obvious to one going up the stairs, but very hard to spot to those coming down. Farian just stepped in the right spot to prevent the trap from springing earlier. Salem wasn’t as lucky.

The pistons remains sticking out from the wall, so this particular trap is now neutralized. There is enough room between the pistons for the dwarves to pass over. It’s not much worse than going over a railing and stepping down. Armed with this new information, Farian begins to descend once more, mindful of the type of trap used on these stairs.


Near the middle of the pack, Aria confronts the dark elf maiden.

“It’s time for you dark elves to back up your words. If’n you’re such great scouts, then you’ll be needed to help sweep these stairs for traps. Farian’s good, but it’ll take too long for one man to do it alone, so you had best pitch in!”

“I will assist your man,” she answers. Stepping forward, the drow priestess moves to the front of the procession. She slides through the pistons and then stops to cast a spell. A momentary glow comes over her eyes and then it fades. The drow begins down the stairs at a steady pace and quickly catches up with Farian.

“Those who follow me should stay close to the wall,” the drow calls out. “My spell only covers half the stairs.” The priestess herself walks about five feet away from the wall. She moves in near complete silence.

By now, Farian has located a second piston trap on the next flight of stairs. He marks the safe places to step with an X in chalk. The drow priestess nods in agreement on the trap and continues onward.

[GM Mad]

At the rear of the group, Darkfang begins to snarl lowly. At the top of the stairs a curious duergar comes into view and looks down. As he does that, Oran flings his hammer, smashing the Underdark dwarf right in the face! The curious dwarf disappears from sight and the flaming warhammer flies back to Oran’s hand. More noise is heard at the top of the stairs, but no one is brave enough to take a look!

The procession begins to make good speed with the drow’s help. Two more piston traps, four in all, are located and bypassed without activation. By now the rear of the group has moved around the stairs in a complete circle. The hallway up above can no longer be seen, but there have been no signs of pursuit as of yet.

The stairs complete six circuits around the pit before you reach the bottom. As you near the bottom of stairs you can see what awaits you. Large fifty-foot high doors lead deeper into the fortress. Standing guard in front of these doors is a twelve-foot tall iron statue. Most of you can estimate that you’ve descended nearly 500’ down the stairs.

“An iron golem”, the drow priestess remarks. “Highly magical weapons will be needed to defeat it.”

“I can take it down from the stairs with me hammer,” Oran calls out. “Four or five hits should smash it into pieces. No need for any of us to get close enough to be hit by that thing!”

The bottom of the pit empty carts, crates, and barrels. Salem’s body cannot help but be noticed. Blood pools underneath his remains.

[GM Mad]

GM Notes:

Current Hit Points:

Aria: 93 of 99
Arlos: 63 of 71
Daraden: 51 of 59
Dougan: 44 of 62
Farian: 64 of 75
Grondar: 58 of 70
Lotha: 33 of 37
Opal: 29 of 32
Oran: 98 of 102
Senoia: 55 of 61

Now what?

[Grondar]

Grondar:

After some moments, they get going again. Grondar keeps most of his attention to the rear, so as to not get surprised from that quarter. One duergar pokes his head out... and loses it to Oran's axe.

Several more traps are found and bypassed with care, allowing them to pick up a little speed in their descent. It's a long trip down, but eventually they approach the bottom, where an iron golem is seen guarding a huge set of doors. Sadly, Salem's battered body can be seen as well.

“An iron golem”, the drow priestess remarks. “Highly magical weapons will be needed to defeat it.”

“I can take it down from the stairs with me hammer,” Oran calls out. “Four or five hits should smash it into pieces. No need for any of us to get close enough to be hit by that thing!”

"TruthGiver is quite potent as well. I can stand guard at the front in case it reaches us before Oran's hammer finishes it."

[farian]

Farian

“I will assist your man,” she answers. Stepping forward, the drow priestess moves to the front of the procession. She slides through the pistons and then stops to cast a spell. A momentary glow comes over her eyes and then it fades. The drow begins down the stairs at a steady pace and quickly catches up with Farian.

“Those who follow me should stay close to the wall,” the drow calls out. “My spell only covers half the stairs.” The priestess herself walks about five feet away from the wall. She moves in near complete silence.

“Magic, Bah!” after a moments thought, “You could be doing that this whole time? And stood by so us dwarves could be your fodder?” his eyes cutting daggers into the Drow. After, shaking images from his head of his war hammer splitting the Drow’s ugly head, Farian mumbles, “Sleeping with snakes and spiders.”

Chalking the traps so the others can find them Farian, moves a slower pace the that of the magic wielding hussy.

Sadly, Salem's battered body can be seen as well.

“I’ll raise a glass of Ale to your memory.” As he sees the body then the golem. “We don’t have time to be debating this. So whatever your gonna do, do it.” Says in mild frustration considering Duegar will probably be on them like flies to troll dung at any moment.

[Aria Stonehand]

Aria:

“I will assist your man,” she answers. Stepping forward, the drow priestess moves to the front of the procession. She slides through the pistons and then stops to cast a spell. A momentary glow comes over her eyes and then it fades. The drow begins down the stairs at a steady pace and quickly catches up with Farian.

Much to Aria’s surprise, the drow actually agrees to help! She smugly steps forward, uses some sort of evil enchantment that allows her to locate traps! Aria doesn’t say a word, but will follow behind the drow.

“Those who follow me should stay close to the wall,” the drow calls out. “My spell only covers half the stairs.” The priestess herself walks about five feet away from the wall. She moves in near complete silence.

Aria will keep what the drow says in mind as she goes down the stairs. But she’ll also make sure that Farian is in agreement with the wench before descending any further herself!

“I can take it down from the stairs with me hammer,” Oran calls out. “Four or five hits should smash it into pieces. No need for any of us to get close enough to be hit by that thing!”

“Do it,” Aria says tersely. “The sooner we take it down, the sooner this will all be over with.”

While Oran does his thing, Aria will move to the front of the precession. Her axe is enchanted, but she cannot be sure if it’s strong enough to hurt the iron warrior. Only one way to find out.

"TruthGiver is quite potent as well. I can stand guard at the front in case it reaches us before Oran's hammer finishes it."

“Join me, Lord Grondar,” Aria calls out. “And anyone else who thinks their weapon is potent enough. We might have to do this the old fashioned way.”

Aria will be ready to strike at the golem if need be.

[Daraden Stormbeard]

Daraden Stormbeard:

At the rear of the group, Darkfang begins to snarl lowly. At the top of the stairs a curious duergar comes into view and looks down. As he does that, Oran flings his hammer, smashing the Underdark dwarf right in the face! The curious dwarf disappears from sight and the flaming warhammer flies back to Oran’s hand. More noise is heard at the top of the stairs, but no one is brave enough to take a look!

"Ho ho! That'll teach 'em if anything will!" Daraden says as he sees how deadly accurate Oran is with his hammer. They continue down the stairs warily as several more traps are found, but they are able to bypass all of them. Something is below though that won't be so easily avoided.

“An iron golem”, the drow priestess remarks. “Highly magical weapons will be needed to defeat it.”

“I can take it down from the stairs with me hammer,” Oran calls out. “Four or five hits should smash it into pieces. No need for any of us to get close enough to be hit by that thing!”

"Right then, I'll be waitin' here since I doubt any o' my weapons be strong enough to best that construct," Daraden says and will keep his eye back up the stairs in case any duergar try to sneak up on them. He can't help but notice one other thing below however.

The bottom of the pit empty carts, crates, and barrels. Salem’s body cannot help but be noticed. Blood pools underneath his remains.

"Aye that be a grim sight indeed," Daraden mutters quietly and then turns his eyes back to watching behind them.

[GM Mad]

Post Continued:


The dwarves are moving down the stairs and deeper into the duergar fortress. Fatal traps have been encountered along the way.

"Magic, Bah!" after a moments thought, "You could be doing that this whole time? And stood by so us dwarves could be your fodder?" his eyes cutting daggers into the Drow. After, shaking images from his head of his war hammer splitting the Drow's ugly head, Farian mumbles, "Sleeping with snakes and spiders."

"The spell has a short duration, so its use is limited" the priestess answers matter of factually. "Perhaps I over estimated your skill in weeding out any potential trouble along the way? A mistake I shall not repeat."


More trouble waits at the bottom of the stairs. Standing in front of a pair of massive fifty-foot doors is an iron golem! The construct is twelve feet tall and is forged into the shape of a large suit of armor.

Oran suggests using his Firehammer to destroy the golem from a safe distance. Aria agrees, but both she and Grondar move closer just in case hand-to-hand combat is needed. The construct ignores most normal weapons and can only be hurt by highly enchanted ones.

While Grondar and Aria move closer, Oran throws his Firehammer. The flaming warhammer strikes with a terrific clang that's nearly deafening! Small fractures appear around the point of impact.

In response to the assault, a cloud of yellowish noxious gas issues from the iron golem's mouth. The gas fills up the area immediately in front of the construct and is far away from any of the dwarves or drow to do them any harm. The gas quickly breaks up and is not a threat.

Oran fires his hammer once more and scores another hit! This time the golem begins to move! The stones shake underneath the massive golem's footsteps. It moves slowly and lumbers towards the stairs.

The Firehammer is thrown a third time and another hit is scored. The fractures in the golem are growing larger and small pieces are beginning to fall away from it.

It's close enough now that Aria and Grondar rush to the attack. Aria leads the way and runs smack into a backhanded slap from the golem! The blow sends Aria flying off the stairs and down into the pit below! She lands twenty feet below on an empty crate, smashing it in the process. Aria is still moving after the attack, but is understandably woozy.

Grondar rushes up and slams TruthGiver into the golem twice! Each hit generates larger and larger fractures and it's clear that the golem is starting to fall a part. Oran finishes the job with another strike of his Firehammer. The blow shatters the golem and hunks of iron rain down around Grondar. The way is now clear to the massive doors.

[GM Mad]

The dwarves reach the bottom of the stairs and Aria joins them. The hit she took was powerful, but not more than she could shrug off.

Surprisingly, there haven't been signs of duergar coming down the stairs after you. Perhaps the Firehammer scared them off or they figured the traps would take care of you.

The large double doors are hot to the touch. No traps are noted, so the doors are pulled open. Immense heat if felt when the doors are opened, as if you walked into a furnace. The wide hallway leads off behind the doors and further into the fortress.

Cart tracks are noted here. They start at the bottom of the pit and go into the hallway and deeper into the fortress.

A hellish red glow fills the hallway. About forty feet in, the hallway has a bridge that spans a small chasm. Some thirty feet below is the source of the heat and light. A pocket of lava churns down there, filling the air with gas and fumes. The vapors are strong, but not overpowering.

On the other side of the bridge, hallway continues on for another forty feet before reaching another set of fifty-foot high doors.


GM Notes:

How are you going to proceed from here?

Current Hit Points:

Aria: 61 of 99
Arlos: 63 of 71
Daraden: 51 of 59
Dougan: 44 of 62
Farian: 64 of 75
Grondar: 58 of 70
Lotha: 33 of 37
Opal: 29 of 32
Oran: 98 of 102
Senoia: 55 of 61

Now what?

[farian]

Farian

"The spell has a short duration, so its use is limited" the priestess answers matter of factually. "Perhaps I over estimated your skill in weeding out any potential trouble along the way? A mistake I shall not repeat."

“You be the one’s who were scouting, Perhaps you got to scared when you saw a rat and turned with your tail between your legs. Don’t be thinking you could find yourself out of a pig trough let alone find a trap.” Looking at Aria soon after with a ‘do I have to take this abuse from an elf!’ look.

As the debate continues of what to do about the statue, Farian approaches Aria with his head close to her ear just over a whisper. “Maybe me hearing be going but didn’t they be saying the duegar were as thick as molted iron? What have we seen one Duegar and an Iron golem, Don’t be thinking they be truthful in there intent….”

Farian watches at the Iron golem is quickly dealt with, and the doors are soon opened. Stepping through the heat pours in causing sweat to appear on the dwarf’s face.

When the chasm and bridge come into view farina warily approaches looking for traps along the way. As he reaches the edge of the hallway he will look up to see if anything is above them, that might be dropped about there heads.

[Aria Stonehand]

Aria:

Aria warily follows the drow down the steps and can’t help but overhear Farian’s discussion with the priestess.

“You be the one’s who were scouting, Perhaps you got to scared when you saw a rat and turned with your tail between your legs. Don’t be thinking you could find yourself out of a pig trough let alone find a trap.” Looking at Aria soon after with a ‘do I have to take this abuse from an elf!’ look.

Aria will silently mouth back, “for now” to Farian.

As the debate continues of what to do about the statue, Farian approaches Aria with his head close to her ear just over a whisper. “Maybe me hearing be going but didn’t they be saying the duergar were as thick as molted iron? What have we seen one Duergar and an Iron golem, don’t be thinking they be truthful in there intent….”

“I doubt that truth has crossed her lips very often. We tolerate them, for now.”

It's close enough now that Aria and Grondar rush to the attack. Aria leads the way and runs smack into a backhanded slap from the golem! The blow sends Aria flying off the stairs and down into the pit below! She lands twenty feet below on an empty crate, smashing it in the process. Aria is still moving after the attack, but is understandably woozy.

Seeing the golem get closer, Aria rushes to engage it before it can reach the rest of the group. The thing strikes faster than Aria ever expected. When she’s regained with wits, she’s laying on top of a smashed crate in the pit.

By the time she picks herself up, the battle is over and the group is moving closer to the doors. Farian is already moving forward to check for traps, so Aria says nothing. She’ll let the scouts clear the way first moving deeper into the hallway.

[Grondar]

Grondar:

“Join me, Lord Grondar,” Aria calls out. “And anyone else who thinks their weapon is potent enough. We might have to do this the old fashioned way.”

"Gladly," Grondar replies, and slips up to the front of the group, where he stands beside Aria. Moments later, Oran's hammer goes hurtling by and slams into the golem. Cracks can be seen starting to form. The mindless golem responds by releasing a yellow gas, but none of the dwarves are anywhere near close enough to be affected.

Again, the firey hammer crashes into the golem with an earsplitting peal. More cracks form. This time the golem appears to have some idea where the attacks are coming from, and starts to move slowly toward the stair. A third hit from Oran's hammer causes chips and flakes to fly from the lumbering creature.

With the golem getting close, Grondar joins Aria in moving to the attack. It backhands Aria and sends her flying into the pit. Fortunately, they are no longer very far above the floor. TruthGiver flashes as Grondar lashes out twice, doint yet more damage. A final strike from Oran's hammer shatters the construct. Grondar is thankful for his helmet as hunks of iron rain down around him.

The golem destroyed, Grondar moves to check on Aria. "Do you need Healing or bandaging for your wounds, my lady?"

[Aria Stonehand]

Aria:

"Do you need Healing or bandaging for your wounds, my lady?"

“I’ll be all right,” Aria answers. “Hold on to your spells for now. We might need them later on.”

[GM Mad]

Post Continued:

The iron golem has been dispatched and the explorers are ready to move on. The great doors are opened and it’s like walking into a blast furnace. After a short distance the passageway opens up and a chasm of lava is revealed. It’s the source of the light, heat, and fumes that fill the area. A twenty-foot wide bridge spans the chasm. The chasm itself goes off at least a hundred feet in each direction before closing up once more. No overhead threats are noted.

As you near the bridge, Farian puts his hand up and directs everyone to stop! A cunning pit trap has been placed on the bridge. If anyone steps on it, the pit opens up and the unfortunate soul falls into the lava! To be safe you must hug the rails of the bridge.

Once past the bridge, the twenty-foot wide hallway ends at another set of fifty-foot high doors. A lever is noted near the doors. This lever arms and disarms the pit trap back on the bridge. In one position it is activated, in the other setting the bridge is safe to cross. The lever was in the activated position.

The doors are checked for traps and found to be clean. Behind the doors is a vast room cluttered with machinery and other equipment. The air is extremely hot and dry. The left hand side of the room opens into a large cavern filled with bubbling lava. By the edge of the pool sits an enormous caldron of stone or clay, glowing with red heat. The floor near the cauldron is indented with what appears to be a giant-shaped casting mold. No one seems to be around.

Another set of huge doors exits the chamber. These lead to yet another hallway that goes deeper into the complex. The passage goes straight and then turns to your right before ending at another set of huge doors. No traps are spotted and the group advances to the next set of doors.

The doors are opened to reveal a vast chamber. (Some 110’ across and over 150’ wide.) The immense room is aglow with fiery red light coming from the far right hand side of the room where another pool of lava bubbles.

Facing you straight ahead are the soles of two feet, nearly 10’ high, belonging to a gigantic golem of polished iron laying on the floor. A frame of metal and wood scaffolding surrounds the golem. Several duergar scurry about the scaffolding, obviously in a hurry to escape your presence.

“The Iron Warrior!” the drow priestess remarks rhetorically.

Two large stone cauldrons, similar to the one in the previous room, sit by the edge of the lava pool. Several duergar warriors are there. They draw weapons and begin to move closer.

“You said that they wouldn’t get this far!” A strained voice calls out. Looking for the source, you see a dwarf standing on the scaffolding. A large 1’ sphere of iron hovers over his head! This can only be the Priest of Dumathoin who fell victim to the Iron Orb. It appears that he’s conversing with the orb itself!

“Why are they here then?” Brother Clavis responds to the orb. “I don’t know. Hurry up, you lazy scum! When do we kill them? Why are they trying to stop me?”

Standing close the dwarf possessed by the Iron Orb is a duergar priest of Deep Duerra, the goddess of the duergar.

“Stop them, you fools!” He calls out. More duergar rush in from behind the scaffolding of the Iron Warrior.

[GM Mad]

GM Notes:

There are about a dozen duergar warriors present, the priest of Deep Duerra, and Brother Clavis who is possessed by the orb. There are also those working on the Iron Warrior. Speaking of the Iron Warrior, you’d estimate it to be about fifty feet tall! That’s why the doors are so high here!

Current Hit Points:

Aria: 61 of 99
Arlos: 63 of 71
Daraden: 51 of 59
Dougan: 44 of 62
Farian: 64 of 75
Grondar: 58 of 70
Lotha: 33 of 37
Opal: 29 of 32
Oran: 98 of 102
Senoia: 55 of 61

Now what?

[Grondar]

Grondar:

“I’ll be all right,” Aria answers. “Hold on to your spells for now. We might need them later on.”

"I figured as much, my lady," Grondar says with a nod. "Let's get this done with."

Looking over, Grondar sees that the giant doors are already open, and they are soon off on the next leg of this trek into the heart of the earth. The heat in the next cavern is intense like nothing Grondar has experienced previously. Nevertheless, he perseveres, crossing the bridge spanning the lava-filled chasm with the others. They encounter a trap midway across the bridge, but Farian detects it and ensures their safety in passing it.

"Good job, Farian," Grondar says, clapping his friend on the shoulder. "Could have been a nasty spill for one of us if you hadn't spotted that."

Beyond the bridge lies another pair of huge doors, which are soon opened after being inspected for subtle dangers. They lead into another lava-heated cavern and another pair of giant doors. From the cauldrons and parts laying about, it appears this cavern may have been used in working on the Iron Warrior that they were warned of. Hopefully, they are not too late to prevent it being finished.

The next cavern is huge and lit by the glow of lava. Immediately apparent is the giant iron golem lying on the floor before them. From the scaffolding around it, it would appear to have not been finished. Grondar whispers a quick prayer of thanks to the Revered Mother for this good fortune.

Also nearby on the scaffolding is a dwarf talking to a floating orb of iron. From his vestments, Grondar is certain that this must be the priest of Dumathoin, held in thrall to the orb. Nearby is a duergar priest.

At their bidding, duergar rush toward the group brandishing weapons. Wanting to end this as quickly as possible, Grondar beseeches Berronar for a Flame Strike, hoping to catch both of the priests on the scaffolding in it's radius.
_________________________________________________________
If it is clear that the two priests are too far apart to be captured by the Flame Strike's puny radius, Grondar will switch to Silence, 15' Radius, centering it between the two priests.

[Daraden Stormbeard]

Daraden Stormbeard:

Facing you straight ahead are the soles of two feet, nearly 10’ high, belonging to a gigantic golem of polished iron laying on the floor. A frame of metal and wood scaffolding surrounds the golem. Several duergar scurry about the scaffolding, obviously in a hurry to escape your presence.

"Hmmphh, he'd be an easy one ta' track," Daraden states as he looks at just how big the thing is. The drow wench states the obvious and it appears there are duergar a'plenty here as well. No surprise. What is surprising is that a dwarf over there seems to be conversing with a floating orb.

“You said that they wouldn’t get this far!” A strained voice calls out. Looking for the source, you see a dwarf standing on the scaffolding. A large 1’ sphere of iron hovers over his head! This can only be the Priest of Dumathoin who fell victim to the Iron Orb. It appears that he’s conversing with the orb itself!

“Why are they here then?” Brother Clavis responds to the orb. “I don’t know. Hurry up, you lazy scum! When do we kill them? Why are they trying to stop me?”

"Okay, well he clearly ain't pulling a full ore cart," Daraden comments as he readies for battle. He calls for Darkfang to hold until the battle plan is told. If there isn't time for one, he will keep his wolf companion near so they don't get outflanked.

[Aria Stonehand]

Aria:

“By Clageddin’s Twin Axes!” Aria utters upon seeing that gigantic golem lying on it’s back! Something of this size would be a considerable threat!

“All right, lads! Let’s make sure that this Iron Warrior of theirs is never completed!”

Aria will fling her throwing axe at the duergar priest, and then wade into the enemy with her regular battle-axe. She’ll try to work her way towards the enemy priests first, as they are probably the most dangerous here.

[farian]

Farian

As you near the bridge, Farian puts his hand up and directs everyone to stop! A cunning pit trap has been placed on the bridge. If anyone steps on it, the pit opens up and the unfortunate soul falls into the lava! To be safe you must hug the rails of the bridge.

“Well bugger me.” Farian says as he squats down near the trap, “pressure released, looks like it opens the pit beneath your feet. Clever these duegar are. “ he says as he directs the others to stay toward the rails.

“The Iron Warrior!” the drow priestess remarks rhetorically.

‘Really now, you be figuring that out all by yourself or someone be writing it in chalk for you?” he says back as he stares ahead.

Farian will run forward with Aria War Hammer in hand and smack anything that gets in his way

[GM Mad]

Post Continued:


The dwarves and their drow allies have reached a vast chamber deep beneath the duergar fortress where the Iron Warrior is being constructed! It is a huge, fifty-foot tall iron golem! Duergar technicians rush away from the new arrivals, while duergar warriors approach.

Up on the scaffolding, Brother Clavis is spotted. The artifact known as the Iron Orb hovers over his head and the priest seems to be speaking to it. The Iron Orb is a huge 1-foot wide sphere of iron. It is clear that the orb is controlling Clavis. Standing beside Clavis, is a duergar priest of Deep Duerra, the foul goddess of the duergar.

Without any real plan of attack, the dwarves surge forward!

“If that overgrown marble is the cause of all this, then let’s get rid of it!” Oran Firehammer cries out as he flings his namesake weapon at Brother Clavis. But instead of striking the dwarven priest, the Firehammer impacts on the Iron Orb itself with a terrific clang! The Iron Orb is thrown backwards across the chamber. It bounces off the far wall and continues to roll about the vast chamber.

“Put orb into Iron Warrior?” Brother Clavis was muttering right when the Firehammer struck. Clavis is dumbfounded for a moment and then dashes after the Iron Orb. “Put orb into Iron Warrior!”

The duergar priest turns to see where the orb when, putting his back to the new arrivals. This is a fatal mistake as Aria throws her axe and buries it deep in the priests back. Daraden flings his own throwing axes. One of them is embedded in the priests shoulder; the second strikes him in the back of the head splitting his skull. The Priest of Deep Duerra falls over in death while Brother Clavis scampers off after the Iron Orb.

Seeing this, Grondar holds off on casting a spell at this moment.

The male drow warriors fire their hand crossbows as a dozen duergar warriors advance. Four of the duergar fall over, having being put to sleep by the poison on the drow bolts.

The drow priestess casts a spell that seems to target Brother Clavis, but he is unaffected by the magic.

The duergar warriors reach the dwarves and fierce combat follows. Dougan drives his warhammer into an approaching enemy. Farian lands two powerful strikes with his own warhammer, but takes minor damage back in return. In both cases, the duergar warriors remain standing. Clearly these ones are more skilled then those you battled before!

Arlos surges forward and slashes a warrior with his short swords. The duergar goes down, proving that they can be beat.

Lotha and Opal team up to take a duergar down with their battleaxes. Senoia pounds yet another duergar into submission with her warhammers, dropping their numbers even further.

[GM Mad]

GM Notes:

That covers the first round, but Grondar can still act. Given how things played out it didn’t seem practical to cast either Flamestrike or Silence 15’ Radius.

The duergar priest is dead. Six duergar warriors remain on their feet and they are between you and Brother Clavis who is rushing to retrieve the Iron Orb. There are numerous duergar workers present, but they are all trying to get away and do not seem interested in battle.

Current Hit Points:

Aria: 61 of 99
Arlos: 63 of 71
Daraden: 51 of 59
Dougan: 44 of 62
Farian: 59 of 75
Grondar: 58 of 70
Lotha: 31 of 37
Opal: 26 of 32
Oran: 98 of 102
Senoia: 51 of 61

Now what?

[fanchergw]

Is there any path around the duergar warriors that Grondar could use with his speed to get to Brother Clavis? Is Clavis within range or either the Flame Strike or a Hold Person spell? Are any of the warriors close enough together for 2 or more to be caught in a Flame Strike without affecting any of the dwarves? Any chance of a battlemap? Am I starting to sound repetitively redundant?

Gordon

[GM Mad]

Here's an quick battlemap:

duergar.jpg (96.85 KiB) Viewed 21949 times

the 'DU's are the locations of the duergar warriors. You guys are where it says Dwarves.

With his speed, Grondar should be able to get past the duergar warriors as they are all engaged in combat. Clavis is in range for either a Flamestirke or a Hold Person. (In fact it was a Hold Person that the drow priestess tried to cast, but the save was made.)

Using a Flamestrike on the duergar's engaged in HTH combat is dicey.

Sorry for the delays. Took much longer than expected to write the latest NF post and had forum issues to deal with.

Thanks!

[Grondar]

Grondar:

Oran's hammer knocks the iron orb across the room and Brother Clavis runs off it. Almost immediately thereafter, Aria and Daraden slay the duergar priest with thrown axes. Suddenly, neither of the spells he had been contemplating seems appropriate. The duergar warriors are soon enmeshed in battle with the dwarves, but from his position behind the front line, Grondar thinks he sees a route past them.

Putting his enchanted boots to good use, Grondar races off after Clavis, TruthGiver and shield in hand. He's not certain of exactly what all is going on here, but Grondar is determined to keep the priest from reaching the orb.

[Daraden Stormbeard]

Daraden:

The duergar priest turns to see where the orb when, putting his back to the new arrivals. This is a fatal mistake as Aria throws her axe and buries it deep in the priests back. Daraden flings his own throwing axes. One of them is embedded in the priests shoulder; the second strikes him in the back of the head splitting his skull. The Priest of Deep Duerra falls over in death while Brother Clavis scampers off after the Iron Orb.

Daraden smiles as his axes finish off the filthy duergar priest. Others of the enemy fall and soon only a handful of duergar warriors remains facing them. As he prepares for melee combat, he instructs Darkfang to attack whichever flank is closest to him. He will rush up and assist his wolf, working his way towards the center of their line.

[farian]

Farian

The duergar warriors reach the dwarves and fierce combat follows. Dougan drives his warhammer into an approaching enemy. Farian lands two powerful strikes with his own warhammer, but takes minor damage back in return. In both cases, the duergar warriors remain standing. Clearly these ones are more skilled then those you battled before!

Raising his shield p before him so his narrow eyes bore into his foe, Farian yells a battle cry and swings his warhammer at his foe.

[Aria Stonehand]

Aria:

Aria’s pleased that the enemy priest was taken out so efficiently. Oran sends the Iron Orb careening with his Firehammer and that ensures that Brother Clavis will be busy for a while. Grabbing her battleaxe, Aria will engage the Duergar warriors taking them down so that we can advance further and retrieve this Iron Orb.

[GM Mad]

Post Continued:

Seeing a break in the battle line, Grondar rushes forward propelled by his Boots of Speed. He easily clears the battle zone and dashes around Brother Clavis, cutting him off from reaching the Iron Orb.

“Must put orb into Iron Warrior!” Brother Clavis shouts upon being blocked. It’s clear that Brother Clavis is not right in the head and that he’d attack Grondar to get past him.

Grondar’s current position puts him just on the other side of the huge golem and between Clavis and the rolling Iron Orb. Glancing to his left, Grondar gets an idea what Clavis is going on about. There is a hole in the top of the golem’s head just large enough for something the size of the orb to be placed into!


The dwarves surge forward against the duergar warriors, their ranks bolstered by Aria, Daraden, and Oran. Aria’s battleaxe rips into the duergar closest to her, slaying him. Farian lands another hit with his warhammer and this time his foe goes down.

Daraden grabs his remaining axe and embeds it one of the other duergar while Oran mercilessly pummels another with his warhammer. Mayor Arlos downs another duergar and Senoia takes care of the last one.

While the dwarves battle the duergar, the drow sweep around to the right, rushing to secure the Iron Orb, although none of them seem to be trying to pick it up.

[GM Mad]

GM Notes:

Current Hit Points:

Aria: 61 of 99
Arlos: 63 of 71
Daraden: 51 of 59
Dougan: 44 of 62
Farian: 59 of 75
Grondar: 58 of 70
Lotha: 31 of 37
Opal: 26 of 32
Oran: 98 of 102
Senoia: 51 of 61

Now what?

[Grondar]

Grondar:

Racing across the strange cavern, Grondar quickly interposes himself between Clavis and the Iron Orb.

“Must put orb into Iron Warrior!” Brother Clavis shouts upon being blocked. It’s clear that Brother Clavis is not right in the head and that he’d attack Grondar to get past him.

It takes little more than a glance to see what the magically-enthralled priest is talking about. Grondar can see a hole in the head of the iron giant that the Orb would just fit into. This cannot be allowed to happen.

Despite the danger, Grondar doesn't want to have to kill the dwarf, as it is obvious that he is being influenced by the Orb. Grondar casts Hold Person on the priest, praying that it will work. If not, he attempts to subdue the dwarf without killing him.

[Aria Stonehand]

Aria:

The enemy forces go down quickly thanks to the superior dwarven warriors. Grondar has rushed off to take care of the priest controlled by the Iron Orb. With great concern, Aria notes that the drow are moving towards the artifact!

“I knew they couldn’t be trusted!”

Aria will rush to retrieve the Iron Orb before the drow can take it.

[Daraden Stormbeard]

Daraden:

Daraden grabs his remaining axe and embeds it one of the other duergar while Oran mercilessly pummels another with his warhammer. Mayor Arlos downs another duergar and Senoia takes care of the last one.

"Hmmpphh, easy enough," Daraden comments, pulling his axe from the body of the duergar. Then he spots Aria rushing off after the orb.

“I knew they couldn’t be trusted!”

Aria will rush to retrieve the Iron Orb before the drow can take it.

"Be careful 'round that thing!" Daraden warns. "We already have one dwarf talking to it like it be an oracle or somethin'." Daraden will make sure none of the duergar scampering away have a sudden surge of courage before moving towards Aria and the drow.

[farian]

Farian

Farian will move forward towards Aria and the drow, If the by some chance the orb comes his way he will take his war hammer and hit as hard as he can toward the Lava flow(right side) hoping it will fall into it.

[GM Mad]

Post Closed