Varmilo Used Rollout

**Varmilo Used Rollout** is the sixty fifth episode of *Another Bad Side Quest*. The party fight their way through the underground tunnels of the *City of Brass* to rescue their friend Bolton.

## Varmilo Used Rollout

### **Pre Show Shenanigans**

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### **Summary**

As those who could see in the dark informed the others of Kaz's fall, Sterling cast *Moment to Think* and quickly saw the salamanders and magma armadillos (*Varmilo(s)*) took notice. Sterling warned Kaz and the others of what was approaching and Kaz quickly told the others to hide and get the drop on them before activating *Sandslide* to turn to sand on the floor. One of the varmilos approached, managing to pick the party's scent, and started to climb the nearby hill to get them. Sterling waited for the varmilo to get closer before casting *Grease* near to it, causing it to slide backwards and fall onto it's back. As two of the salamanders started to take notice and come closer Alaerith cast *Invisibility* on himself, snuck in the room, and noticed a stone metal material surrounding the place.

Yashani entered before she pulled out *Umbra,* activated *Umbral Bite* surrounding the varmilo and approaching salamanders with her darkness field. Quincy entered the room, pulled out *Panache* and *Puncture* and readied to fire on anything leaving the darkness, followed by RX who readied to dodge whatever focused on him. The salamanders left the darkness, with Quincy firing with *Panache* on one with their readied action and the one targeted struck back twice in reprisal, leaving them *Grappled* and *Restrained* in its burning tail. Sterling activated *Ob's Charm* to tell the group that he would focus on the salamanders before dropping *Arcane Eye*, activating *Manifest Mind* to summon Tollanessa and cast *Mind Whip* on the salamanders. Kaz quickly reformed near the salamanders, pulled out her *Glaive of the War Priest* and had Boris bite the fallen varmillo before it vanished within *Umbral Bite's* darkness.

The varmillo rolled onto it's feet, moved away from the darkness then activated *Rollout* and barrelled through Kaz leaving them *Prone*, with Sterling additionally knocked away. Alaerith dropped *Invisibility* and cast *Polymorph* on the Varmilo and turned it into a turtle. Yashani activated *World's Lifeforce* to impart cold energy on *Umbra* and struck the salamander holding Quincy repeatedly, causing it to drop them, but was burned by its natural heat in return. Quincy pistol whipped the salamander who dropped them and was burned back by its body, while RX moved to the turtle and activated the *Bubble Staff* to cast *Resilient Sphere* around the two of them. The salamander Yashani had hit failed to strike her back, while the other attempted to attack Sterling, which was stopped by Quincy using their reaction to activate *Gambler's Taunt* to bring its attention to her instead, and used its reaction to back up.

As the group heard two more salamanders coming, Sterling cast *Fireball* on the advancing salamanders while activating *Awakened Spellbook* to convert the flames to burning psychic energy, then used RX's *Resilient Sphere* for cover. Kaz slashed the retreating salamander with *Glaive of the War Priest*, but failed to get Boris to attack it. Alaerith cast *Lightning Bolt* on the first two salamanders, killing one and using his reaction to activate *Soul Drain* to heal Sterling*,* but found the conductive metal floor hurt everyone standing on it in return. Yashani activated *Hands of Healing* to heal Quincy, then ran to the retreating salamander and struck it twice. Quincy, seeing that the cold energy was very effective on the salamanders, loaded a *Cone of Cold* in *Panache,* fired it at the two advancing ones, with only one resisting the cold magic. As RX continued to try and tame the turtle, the retreating salamander attacked Yashani, as Quincy used their reaction to activate *Gambler's Taunt* to stop one attack and bring its attention to her, while the other two salamanders attacked Yashani and Quincy, leaving Yashani *Grappled* and *Restrained* in it's burning tail.

Sterling cast *Hypnotic Pattern* on the retreating salamander leaving it *Charmed* and *Incapacitated*. Kaz activated *Hexes : Shriek* causing a screech that forcefully pushed the *Incapacitated* salamander closer to the advancing two before casting *Cone of Cold* to freeze as they were brought to an end. Alaerith quickly activated *Soul Drain* to heal Yashani before activating *Life Drain* with his Ruined Moon mark to heal Quincy. As *Resilient Sphere* dropped from RX the group discussed what to do with the transformed turtle, who RX decided to name Achilles, proposing everything from leaving it to sending it away to casting *Banishment* on it, but eventually settled on keeping it with them and take care of it later on. After Sterling cast *Enhance Ability : Cat's Grace* on Kaz to help keep quiet while moving, they continued on in the hope to find a place to rest, but unfortunately as they passed another group of salamanders and varmilos RX tripped on the floor and the sound got their attention.

Quincy told everyone to not die before casting *Misty Step* to get some distance, then laid prone on the ground, pulled out *Reputation* and fired on one of the salamanders. Alaerith activated the *Staff of the Courts* to cast *Spike Growth* causing a field of obsidian stone to appear in front of them. The varmilos passed through the damaging spikes before both activating *Rollout* to level through all but Quincy and Yashani who evaded the damage, resulting in the turtle reverting it to its original form and Alaerith's *Spike Growth* being dropped. Kaz stood to her feet and cast *Ice Storm* on the two varmilos now behind them, while Yashani activated *Rage,* activated *World's Lifeforce* to impart cold energy on *Umbra* again and struck the untransformed turtle/varmilo. Sterling cast *Fireball* on the varmilos, while activating *Awakened Spellbook* to convert the flames to force energy. RX stood to his feet and asked any of the varmilos who wished to be friends while readying to dodge their blows and activating *Second Wind* to heal himself.

The two salamanders advanced, with one attacking the still *Prone* Alaerith and who was quickly left *Unconscious* and *Grappled* in it's tail, while the other targeted Kaz, only barely standing because Quincy used their reaction to activate *Gambler's Taunt* to stop the attack and bring its attention to her. Quincy loaded a *Negative Image* bullet in *Reputation* and fired it at the salamander near Kaz, causing the two to swap places, then stood up, put *Reputation* away and pulled out *Panache*. As Alaerith rolled his death saving throw, two varmilo unsuccessfully targeted RX while the third headed to the other members. Kaz used *Ob's Charm* to cast *Spare the Dying* on Alaerith. Yashani bludgeoned the salamander holding Alaerith with *Umbra* and her fists, causing it to drop him to the ground. Sterling cast *Animated Objects* to send 10 of his books to attack the advancing varmilo.

As RX continued to keep the remaining varmilos attention, the swapped salamander attacked him, but was stopped as Quincy used their reaction to activate *Gambler's Taunt* to stop the attack. The other salamander focused on Kaz leaving her *Unconscious* and Kaz quickly actived *Dying Curse* to impeded it before going *Unconscious.* Quincy put *Panache* away before activating *Life Drain* with her Ruined Moon mark to help heal Alaerith and Kaz, which forcefully ended the *Dying Curse* on the salamander*.* Alaerith stood to his feet, activated *Metamagic : Quickened Spell* to cast *Polymorph*, ended the nearby salamander with a fist, then moved to advancing varmilo and ended it likewise. As the two varmilos continued to miss RX, Kaz suggested they leave and headed to the exit. Yashani activated *Hands of Healing* to heal herself and likewise followed the direction Kaz went.

Sterling cast *Fireball* on those surrounding RX, while activating *Awakened Spellbook* to convert the flames to cold energy and *Metamagic : Careful Spell* to protect RX*,* then ordered the animated books to attack the remaining varmilos. As RX continued to get the remaining creatures to target him, the last salamander proceeded to miss striking him. Quincy cast *Misty Step* and moved to the salamander to pistol whip it and was burned in reprisal by its heated body. Alaerith slammed his fist into the salamander, but when it's heated body forced him to drop *Polymorph* activated *Metamagic : Quickened Spell* to cast *Shocking Grasp* on it and its heated body left him *Unconscious* again. As Kaz cast *Misty Step* and ran to the exit, Yashani activated *Hands of Healing* from long range on Alaerith reviving him, then drank a healing potion to heal herself. Sterling had his animated books attack one of the varmilo before casting *Magic Missile* on the other, bringing an end to both of them.

As those within sight wondered if they really saw the books finishing off the varmilo, RX told Sterling he was his favorite and Sterling reciprocated the same. RX picked up one of the salamander spears on the way, while Quincy harvested part of the varmilo's metal carapace thinking it may make for an interesting gun metal. After reuniting with Yashani and Kaz, the party eventually found a place to rest and recuperate briefly.