14. The Fall of Torgen

Torgen attacks the Earth Giant, is no longer dazed. Earth Titan takes lightning damage, takes unyielding avalanche damage from Magnus, and hits Magnus. Earth Giant Stalkers take unyielding avalanche damage, killing one of them, the other one misses Magnus. Earth Giant soldier takes unyielding avalanche damage, deals thunder damage to Magnus and bloodies him, takes lightning damage from motes and remains slowed. Other Earth Giant soldier draws attack from Torgen, who misses, and then uses thunder strike on Alain and Torgen. Xiu gives Zargosz a potion of vitality, spends an action point to grab Zargosz, jumps down the hole, and they all land on top of Alain. Hill Giant shaman fires a lava blast and misses Xiu. Battle chief leaps over the pit to watch what's going on below. Alain uses resistive formula on Torgen and Zargosz, spends action point to use curative admixture on himself, saves against daze. Firestorm launches fire at Magnus. Hill Giant minion throws a rock down at Magnus, and misses. Zargosz moves the wind and lightning storm to kill the minion, then takes his second wind. Orcs yell in orcish and attack the crocodile. Magnus uses his second wind, hits the Earth Giant Stalker and kills it, then swings and hits the other Earth Giant.

Torgen hits the Earth Giant soldier and heals Xiu from bloodied and is no longer dazed. Earth Titan takes lightning damage and unyielding avalanche damage, and misses hitting Magnus with two fists. Earth Giant soldier takes unyielding avalanche damage, swings his thunder maul and misses Magnus. Other soldier uses thunder strike on Zargosz, Alain and Arbalester, dazing them. Xiu uses changeling trick and bloodbath on Hill Giant soldier, then activates her sidestep stance. Hill Giant Shaman fires a lava blast and misses Xiu. Battle chief uses magic to cancel firestorm in front of orcs, heals the orcs and then whispers in common, Xiu notices that the elemental mage is standing next to the battle chief. The elemental mage mocks us and tells "Grennit" to enjoy us, and that he'll give his regards to the Frost Giant Jarl. Alain casts frost dweomer on Torgen's weapon, uses his circlet of second chances to become undazed. Firestorm throws fire at Xiu, Zargosz, Arbalester, then moves in next to us. Zargosz summons serpentine vines on Firestorm and Hill Giant Soldier, is still dazed and immobilized. Orcs move down the stairs, one attacks the crocodile. Magnus regenerates, uses crushing surge on the Earth Giant soldier and misses.

Torgen uses lay on hands to heal Zargosz, moves in on Earth Giant soldier and hits him with holy strike, bloodying him. Earth Titan takes lightning damage and unyielding avalanche damage, smashes Magnus good. Earth Giant Soldier takes unyielding avalanche and lightning damage, hits Magnus. Other Earth Giant soldier takes ongoing damage, is still restrained but is no longer bleeding. Xiu throws a shuriken for arterial slice against Firestorm, is still immobilized. Hill Giant Shaman falls into the fire, uses earth storm on Xiu, Arbalester, Torgen and Alain. Alain uses clearsense powder to unblind himself, stands up and fires predatory shards into the vines. Firestorm attacks Xiu and misses. Zargosz takes fire damage, calls lightning on the Hill Giant Soldier and Firestorm, is still immobilized but not dazed. The orcs come into the room and throw hand axes, one of which crits Zargosz. Magnus regenerates, uses defensive resurgence and then crushing surge on the Earth Giant soldier, killing it.

Torgen uses tremorsense, heals Xiu and lets her move out of the vines, lays hands on himself, is still blinded. Earth Titan takes lightning and unyielding avalanche damage, smashes Magnus again. Earth Giant soldier dies from force damage. Xiu takes her second wind, saves against blindness but is still immobilized. Shaman swings at Alain, who prevents the attack with his shockweave armor. Battle chief charges down the stairs and attacks Magnus, which heals all of his allies, then yells out a command to re-position his allies. Alain steps out of the fire, uses regeneration infusion on himself, takes second wind. Firestorm takes arterial slice and predatory shards damage, swings and misses at Xiu. Zargosz fires tremor at Shaman, saves against immobilized. Orcs move in next to Xiu, other one charges Alain and bloodies him, and another one hits Zargosz. Magnus gets hit by Earth Titan, is bloodied, and attacks with crushing surge.

Torgen moves up to attack orc and hits him. Earth Titan takes lightning and unyielding avalanche damage, smashes Magnus again. Xiu uses clever strike on the orc, bloodying him, and saves against immobilized. Shaman creates an earth storm against Zargosz, Xiu, Torgen and Alain. Battle chief calls out commands to allow his allies to move, and then hits Alain and knocks him out. Firestorm punches Xiu. Zargosz is blinded, casts black harbinger and turns into a tiny raven and flees upwards into the throne room, is no longer blinded. Orcs attack and miss Xiu and Torgen, one of them hits Torgen. Magnus regenerates, shifts and attacks with lasting threat against the Earth Titan.

Torgen takes his second wind, uses strength from valor on three orcs surrounding him, hits two of them. Earth Titan takes unyielding avalanche damage, strikes at Magnus and hits. Xiu tumbles over to the firestorm blindly, stabs it with rogue's luck, kills it and is un-blinded, and Zargosz turns off the vines around her. Battle chief calls out commands to let the orcs move around Torgen, then moves up and crits Xiu. Zargosz transforms back into half-orc form and launches storm spike at bloodied orc. Orcs attack Torgen. Magnus uses bull charge on the Earth Titan.

Torgen provokes attacks from the orcs by moving, bloodying him, then attacks the battle chief and two of the orcs with radiant damage. Earth Titan takes unyielding damage and smashes Magnus. Xiu uses bait and switch to hit the battle chief, then drinks a potion of healing and runs for it. Hill Giant chases after Xiu, spends an action point to hit her and blinds her. Battle chief takes fire damage, hits Torgen. Zargosz crits the bloodied orc, killing it. Orcs attack, one hits Torgen. Magnus misses the Earth Titan.

Torgen uses spirit reliquary, gains temporary hit points and attacks the battle chief, bloodying him, lays hands on himself. Earth Titan takes unyielding avalanche damage, misses Magnus twice and spends his action point to hit him once. Xiu uses handspring assault on shaman, runs away. Xiu is blind, tries to bluff the shaman and fails. Shaman misses Xiu. Battle chief orders shaman to move nearer Xiu, hits Torgen. Zargosz uses storm spike on battle chief and then uses action point to blast him again. Orcs attack Torgen, one hits. Magnus uses crushing surge and misses.

Torgen misses the battle chief. Earth Titan takes unyielding avalanche damage, crits Magnus. Xiu tries to assault the giant, misses him (because he's not there), tries to move past him and bounces into him, and is now un-blinded. Shaman hits her and knocks her out. Battle chief knocks Torgen down. Zargosz transforms back into half-orc, blasts battle chief with storm spike, who is wobbling but still up. Orcs kill Torgen. Magnus pulls out his spare waraxe and throws it at the battle chief and kills him. The orcs, with no money at stake, decide to stop fighting Magnus.

Earth Titan takes unyielding avalanche damage, hits Magnus twice and drops him. Zargosz, in raven form, flies down and administers potion of vitality to Magnus. Orc mercenaries leave. Magnus stands back up and uses crushing surge on the Titan with a crit.

Earth Titan uses earth shock and misses both Zargosz and Magnus, doing only half damage. Hill Giant Shaman moves over to attack Magnus. Zargosz turns into a swarm of baby snakes and attacks the shaman with floating death and moves around the Titan, hitting him. Magnus hits with crushing surge, killing the Titan. The Shaman tries to call the mercenaries back, they want nothing to do with it, and he surrenders.

Zargosz examines the battle chief for Xoriat influence, and sees something that troubles him. This giant has spent significant amount of time in the realm of madness, long enough to have affected his physical form, and it was not involuntary. He determines that there's some sort of alliance between Dal Quor, Xoriat, dragons and the giants. We raid the place for treasure. Magnus, in accordance with what he guesses might be Torgen's wishes, takes a potion of vitality and throws him the lava with all of his gear.

Game Schedule November - January

November 5th - Tomb of Horrors (Randy, Chris, Jason, Ben, Dan, James?)
November 12th - Against the Giants (Dan, Ben, Joe & Jamie, Chris, Randy)
November 19th - Against the Giants (Dan, Ben, Joe & Jamie, Chris, Randy)
November 26th - No Gaming (Thanksgiving)

December 3rd - Tomb of Horrors (Randy, Chris, Jason, Ben, Dan, James)
December 10th - Tomb of Horrors (Randy, Chris, Jason, Ben, Dan, James)
December 17th - Tomb of Horrors (Randy, Chris, Jason, Ben, Dan, James)
December 24th - No Gaming (Christmas)
December 31st - No Gaming (New Year's)

January 7th - Against the Giants (Dan, Ben, Joe & Jamie, Chris, Randy)
January 14th - Against the Giants (Dan, Ben, Joe & Jamie, Chris, Randy)
January 21st - Against the Giants (Dan, Ben, Joe & Jamie, Chris, Randy)
January 28th - Tomb of Horrors (Randy, Chris, Jason, Ben, Dan, James)

This look OK to everyone?

13. Belly of the Beast

Torgen shifts out of the fire, and crits the Earth Giant with his jagged axe, saves against slowed. Shaman re-enters the room and sends stones to pummel us, hitting Xiu and critically hitting Magnus. The bleeding kills the Earth Giant, one of the Hill Giants misses Magnus and the other hits Zargosz. Firestorm blasts Alain and Magnus, filling their area with fire. Slingers throw at Torgen, but are deflected by the dancing shield. Zargosz pulls out his club and swings at the Hill Giant with aggressive fury, and his crocodile bites from the other side. Xiu charges that Hill Giant. Magnus stands and uses lasting threat on the Hill Giant in front of him, bloodying him. Alain fires greater magic weapon and crits that Hill Giant, granting greater magic weapon to Magnus.

Torgen shifts into the vines and hits the shaman and Hill Giant, then spends an action point to attack, then swings his arc of vengeance on them, hitting the Hill Giant. Shaman steps back, casts a spell and encourages the others to attack Torgen. Bloodied Hill Giant swings at Magnus and misses, taking damage and killing him. Hill Giant swings his club and hits Xiu and Zargosz. Firestorm launches a firestorm at Torgen, immobilizing him, then withdraws into the other hallway. Slingers throw at Torgen and one of them hits. Zargosz stands and fires Nature's Balance for poison damage on the Hill Giant, then the crocodile chews on the Giant. Xiu stands up, uses her changeling's trick to gain combat advantage and charges the Hill Giant. Magnus charges the shaman and misses. Alain uses restorative infusion on Zargosz, puts away his crossbow, draws his staff, fires life-tapping darts at shaman and uses action point to static shock the Hill Giant.

Torgen heals Xiu, draws his throwing axe and throws it at the shaman. Shaman uses earth storm on Magnus and Torgen, hitting Magnus and blinding him. Hill Giant swings and misses Xiu. Firestorm moves out of sight. Slingers throw at Torgen and miss, thanks to the shield. Zargosz summons a boar, which charges the bloodied Hill Giant, but misses, and the crocodile chews again ineffectively. Xiu attacks Hill Giant with bloodbath. Magnus suffers damage, bloodying himself and removing the blindness, and uses tide of iron on the shaman, slamming him up against the wall. Alain moves in on the Hill Giant, hits him with aggravating force, then uses regeneration infusion on Zargosz.

Torgen moves in on the shaman and crits him with resurgent strike and kills him, allowing Magnus to heal up from being bloodied, and smashing the shaman through a door, subjecting his body to a guillotine trap. Hill Giant takes ongoing bloody damage, swings and misses Alain. Slinger throws at the crocodile and bloodies him. Crocodile finally chews through and kills the Hill Giant, then converts the regeneration into healing and is no longer bloodied. Xiu stows her katar, and throws her shuriken and misses. Magnus drops his defensive stance, then charges through the fire at one of the slingers, criting him. Alain reloads his crossbow, moves in to sight the slingers.

Torgen attacks the slingers with his bardic taunt. Firestorm throws another burst of fire. Slinger flees from Magnus, throws a rock back at him. The other slinger takes fire damage, attacks Torgen with a rock. Zargosz commands his boar to attack the wall. Xiu runs through the fire and spends her action point to leap at the bloodied slinger with aerial assault, killing him. Magnus moves over to the dead slinger to drag him onto the lava. Alain takes his second wind, then runs through the fire into the room.

Torgen moves out of the fire to attack the other slinger with holy strike and misses, then lays hands on himself to un-bloody. Firestorm launches a fiery burst at Xiu and Magnus, missing them but engulfing them in flame, and he disappears into the lava. Slinger punches Torgen. Zargosz's boar hits the wall again, then he blasts it with a stormspike. Xiu takes fire damage, realizes that the lava is being fed by an underground source, then moves and throws a shuriken at the remaining slinger. Magnus pushes the corpse further into the lava, then climbs on top of it. Alain fires predatory shards at the cornered slinger.

Torgen hits the slinger. Slinger takes force damage, then punches at Torgen and misses. Zargosz and his menagerie attack the wall while the rest of us are on the other side doing real work, smashing a hole in the wall. Xiu throws shuriken at slinger. Magnus rides the giant corpse. Alain uses fleeting dweomer on Torgen's axe, fires aggravating force at the slinger.

Torgen hits the slinger and kills him. We search the place for treasure, then divide up the platinum.

We find a magic box on the giant that is a communication device with someone who recognizes us and promises to make us scream and die.

Xiu picks the lock on the small doors and we begin walking down a dimly-lit corridor. Xiu unlocks another door at the end of the hall, hears sleeping creatures inside. Magnus finds a secret door. At Alain's suggestion, Xiu checks the door for traps, but doesn't find any. Magnus opens it and we discover the hall of the battle chief.

Torgen casts Wrath of God, then moves in and finds a pit trap dropping him into a cavern with an Earth Titan and Earth Giants. The Earth Titan exclaims "At long last, the giants shall have their revenge!" Xiu throws a rope down to Torgen and hooks it to the secret door. Hill Giant Shaman fires blast of fire at Xiu and misses. Alain turns his crossbow into an animated arbalester and misses the shaman, then draws his staff. Firestorm launches fire into the corridor. Zargosz unleashes storm on the firestorm. Orc mercenaries emerge from behind us to attack Zargosz, who is bloodied. Magnus moves into the room and falls through the floor at a different point.

Torgen attacks one of the Hill Giants. Earth Titan swings at Magnus and hits with one fist. More hill giants move in to hit Magnus, but he shrugs off the damage. Xiu throws tornado strike with shuriken, kills two hill giants, and saves against immobilized. Shaman misses Xiu again. Alain slides down to the ground, hits hard, falls prone, fires lightning motes at earth giants and titan, gives dancing shield to Torgen. Firestorm begins making his way down the magma. Zargosz moves the storm and kills two hill giants, summons a crocodile to attack orcs. One of the orcs, grabbed by the crocodile, blocks the others from getting out, but three of them are still able to attack Zargosz, and one hits and one crits. Magnus activates unyielding avalanche and uses come and get it, then spends his action point to use thicket of blades to hit all of them, critting one of them.

3. Tomb of Horrors Chapter Three

After a near fall off the bridge by Erich, the entire group nearly falls off grabbing him.

We enter a room and see runes. Erich notes that the rune-shaped patterns look like the buildings are part of the same runic family. We hear whimpering, and Erich & Pock see a beetle scurry in the darkness. Baltazar calls out in common, and we hear a female common voice tinged with an elven accent. Pock believes she's a Lamia, warns the others, Eldaen picks up on her deception and we talk to her briefly before she attacks us.

Lamia uses pacifying burst, stunning Eldaen and Erich. Beetles swarm out of the wall and bite Erich and Eldaen. Pock moves up with shadow step and fires forceful assault at the swarm near Erich, dazing it. Erich wakes up from stun. Eldaen takes an assload of poison damage and is still stunned. Baltazar shifts and uses warlord strike on the swarm and misses, uses inspiring word on Eldaen, and Erich slides Eldaen away from immediate danger.

Swarms move in to encircle Erich and Baltazar, and Erich triggers his infernal wrath. Lamia sends forth a stream of scarabs and misses Erich, Baltazar and Eldaen. Pock uses witchfire on the beetle swarm. Erich uses mind blast on two swarms, stunning them and dazing the Lamia, then uses his action point to dishearten the swarms. Eldaen takes aura damage, saves against stun and poison. Baltazar takes poison and aura damage, attacks the weakest swarm, bloodying it, and shifts out of the auras.

Swarms move to attack Baltazar, one draws an attack of opportunity from Eldaen. Lamia fires streams of bugs at Eldaen, Baltazar and Erich. Pock blasts the bloodied swarm with psychic energy. Erich uses dishearten on the swarms, bloodying the other two. Eldaen uses divine strength and resurgent smite on swarm, healing Baltazar, then uses lay on hands on himself and spends action point to miss with heedless fury. Baltazar uses stand the fallen on the swarm, moves and uses action point to get Eldaen to attack another bloodied swarm.

Swarms attack Baltazar, Lamia fires stream of bugs and hits Eldaen. Pock uses mire the mind on swarm. Erich uses hypnotic pulse on swarms and Lamia, then moves back to join Pock. Eldaen moves in between all the enemies, lays hands on Baltazar and strikes the most wounded swarm with valiant strike. Baltazar attacks swarm with guarding attack, killing it.

Swarms attack Eldaen, Lamia fires stream of bugs at Baltazar. Pock uses shared agony on swarm, killing it and teleporting to just outside. Erich uses dishearten on Lamia and remaining swarm. Eldaen lays hands on Baltazar, shifts back and takes his second wind, saves against poison. Baltazar attacks swarm and is still poisoned.

Swarm attacks Baltazar, bloodying him again. Lamia fires tendrils at Baltazar and misses Eldaen. Pock uses curse of hadrai on swarm, nearly killing it. Erich uses dishearten on Lamia and swarm, destroying the swarm. Eldaen moves in, uses blood of the mighty on the Lamia and dazes her with his righteous blade. Baltazar drinks a potion of vigor, moves to flank her and hits her with bastion of defense, missing her but healing others.

Lamia uses accursed flurry on Baltazar and Eldaen, but misses them both. Pock uses eldritch blast on Lamia. Erich misses her with mind break. Eldaen swings a holy strike at the Lamia and misses, then withdraws, leaving Baltazar to fall unconscious when the aura hits him.

Lamia attacks downed Baltazar, but misses, although she saves against her daze. Pock blasts Lamia again. Erich gives Eldaen a healing potion with telekinesis, then grabs Lamia with telekinetic powers and immobilizes her and flings her into the next room. Eldaen runs up, uses heal to wake up Baltazar. Baltazar takes poison damage, runs away and saves against poison.

Lamia is still immobilized. Pock moves in and becomes hidden. Erich runs up and smashes her against the wall telekinetically, then uses dishearten on her with a crit. Eldaen runs back, uses last lay on hands on Baltazar, throws trident at Lamia. Baltazar orders him to do it again, and he misses.

Lamia is still immobilized. Pock moves up and blasts the Lamia. Erich steps forward, uses dishearten on Lamia and misses, then smashes her into the wall. Eldaen moves up and throws his trident, but misses. Baltazar orders Erich to use mind break on her.

Lamia saves against immobilize. Pock blasts the Lamia. Erich moves into the next room and sees a bronze brazier floating around a large sundial casting a shadow and uses dishearten on Lamia. Eldaen throws trident, then moves back to the rear of the room. Baltazar orders Erich to use mind break on her.

Lamia moves up and uses accursed fury on Erich. Pock uses eyebite on Lamia with a crit. Erich blasts Lamia. Eldaen misses with trident. Baltazar moves up and uses stand tough, healing the party, and then orders Erich to mind break her.

Lamia moves to the center of the room, drawing an attack of opportunity from Baltazar, bloodying her, and she uses pacifying burst, hitting Pock, who uses his steadfast amulet to interrupt the effect. Pock misses the Lamia. Erich uses dishearten on Lamia. Eldaen marks her, throws his trident and flees outside. Baltazar runs back, orders Erich to use mind break on her.

Lamia moves up and uses devouring swarm on Erich, Baltazar and Pock, hitting only Erich. Pock moves to the back of the room, fires eldritch blast at Lamia. Erich uses dishearten on Lamia. Eldaen throws trident and misses. Baltazar uses blood designation on Lamia.

Lamia uses accursed flurry on Baltazar and misses. Pock fires eldritch blast at Lamia. Erich blasts Lamia with dishearten again, finally saves against daze and is no longer poisoned. Eldaen moves up and misses with radiant smite. Baltazar orders him to attack and he hits her.

Lamia uses pacifying burst, stunning Baltazar and Eldaen, then moves toward Pock. Pock runs past her, drawing an attack of opportunity, which misses, letting him teleport next to Erich, then fires eldritch blast at her. Erich uses dishearten on Lamia. Eldaen saves against stun. Baltazar is no longer stunned.

Lamia moves next to Baltazar and Eldaen and uses accursed fury, bloodying Eldaen and dazing him and missing Baltazar. Pock fires eldritch blast at Lamia, then moves deeper into the other room. Erich uses dishearten on Lamia. Eldaen hits with critical on martyr's retribution, and still she lives. Baltazar orders Eldaen to swing, and he misses.

Lamia uses accursed fury on Eldaen. Pock blasts her with eldritch blast. Erich uses dishearten on Lamia and misses. Eldaen falls due to the aura. Baltazar orders Erich to blast her with dishearten and he kills her. Pock moves order and stailibizes Eldaen.

We go in to check out the brazier and figure out the time pattern of the sundial. While Baltazar and Eldaen take a brief rest, Erich studies the sundial and Pock goes to see the room with the mystic water. Pock and Erich determine that the water is drawing power from the Feywild, and notice a key beneath the water. Erich uses his telekinesis to draw the key out, and a big watery snake emerges from the water, snapping at Erich. Then it bites Pock and he vanishes, re-emerging in the river below.