Session 26

The group emerges into what was once an acid lake and is now an empty crater in the ground. After talking for a moment, they notice Hoar up on a ledge looking down on them. He sits, legs dangling into the now empty crater, offering to take a watch because we look like we’ve had a long day. After a bit of back and forth, we settle down for a watch at the bottom of the crater, with Ejholan scrambling up the side to sit with Hoar. Ejholan, not fully understanding the Jared's situation, tells Hoar about him, saying that he must be dead because of the acid. According to Hoar, we shouldn’t trust Jared one bit. He tells us that Jared is royalty, the Prince of Lies. Ejholan sits with him for a while, telling him everything about our group. When I say everything, I mean everything, from the moment of conception to Telmund bathroom schedule. As he finishes up, yawning, Ejholan treks down and wakes Telmund, who doesn’t go anywhere near Hoar for the entirety of his watch. Telmund watch ends, and he wakes up a slightly disgruntled Melchior, who stands, walks in a circle, and screams before laying back down, effectively waking everyone up. Everyone is a bit rattled, but Xia convinces them to go back to sleep and discuss it in the morning. As she’s already had her full rest, she takes the last two watches. She makes her way up to Hoar, and sits beside him, quietly at first, but she does have some questions for him.

Xia discloses to Hoar that she’s struggling because there are only 10 people who can go back home, and whilst she wants to help him, she tries to make it clear that Telmund’s family must come first. Hoar asks her if she can keep something a secret, as it would hinder their group, and she tells him that she can. He discloses that Telmund’s wife is more than likely already dead, telling Xia that she will have been fed to something. He won’t say the name of the thing. They discuss Hoar wanting to get out, and Kastighur’s jail, as Xia promises that she’ll do everything within her power to get Hoar out with them. The two head down to wake the group, and Xia makes an offhand comment about Maggie probably being a God. Hoar quips back that Telmund is the closest to being a God out of the group.

We head out, walking alongside Hoar, heading towards Kastighur’s Jail. After a while, Hoar stops, seemingly listening to something. The rest of us can’t hear it, but he tells us to get around him. We stand ready, and small boulders seemingly burst from the ground. They unfurl into large creatures and a battle begins.

Start of Initiative:

* Hoar charges at the fiery guy, raising his greatsword, and whispers something under his breath. Lightning springs around his sword, spiraling around the blade, imbuing it with crackling power. He strikes, bursting crackling lines through the chest of the fiery creature, dealing 67 points of damage in one strike! He shouts to us telling us not to use fire damage, as it wouldn’t work.
* Trip runs at Melchior, jumping onto his back. She uses Grovel, Cower and Beg.
* One of the fire creatures attacks Hoar, and misses him with a 23! Another lunges at Xia and hits her for 43 points of damage. She’s already looking bad after one hit point. Eva is also hit, with a Nat 20, and goes down immediately with 92 points of damage. Melchior shields against the attack.
* Maggie casts Hail of Thorns, firing against one of the creatures for 20 points of damage. She fires again and misses.
* Eva rolls a death save.
* Xia casts Mirror Image on herself, and three illusory doubles of Xia appear, cycling through her season forms in a colourful rainbow. She Fey Steps next to Eva, standing between her and the creature looming above. (This is not a smart move, Xia is on 2 hit points)
* Melchior hits a creature for 8 damage, and once again for 9. He uses Action Surge and strikes again for 11 damage. He then casts Hunter's Mark on a creature.
* Ejholan casts Shield of Faith on Xia and swings at the giant for 28 points of damage. He strikes again with a Smite for 26 points of damage. (Lottie has written ‘genuinely sick’ next to this turn)
* Telmund casts Chaos Bolt, twinned spell. One hits the monster next to Melchior, dealing 18 cold damage. The one next to Ejholan takes 18 force damage. As he rolls the same number twice, the bolt splits and jumps to another creature, attacking the one next to Malchior once more for 24 points of damage.
* Coda heals Eva for 25 hit points.
* Hoar kills the creature in front of him.
* Trip heals Xia for 11 hit points.
* The two remaining creatures form together, amalgamating into one larger, scarier creature. Eva, Ejholan, Xia, and Coda need to make Dexterity saves to avoid getting hit in a blast from the merge. Everyone saves except for Xia, who takes 34 points of damage. Everyone else takes half and Xia is down.
* Maggie licks an arrow and casts Ray of Sickness, firing to cause 14 points of damage. She downs a potion from Trip that gives her an extra d4 on saves.
* Eva casts Cure Wounds on Xia, healing her for 16 hit points.
* Xia casts Witch Bolt and hides behind Melchior.
* Melchior casts Chromatic Orb, choosing Ice damage. He hits with a Nat 20, dealing 68 cold damage. He moves up to it, leaving Xia out in the open.
* The creature summons rocks to pelt against Melchior’s head for 45 points of damage.
* Ejholan tries to hit the creature, rolls a 20, and misses. He tries again and hits for 25 points of damage.
* The creature casts Locate Object and zeroes in on Xia, who currently has the Cubic Plate in a book holster under her arm. It begins to growl and move towards her.
* Telmund casts Chaos Bolt for 14 points of cold damage.
* Coda heals Xia for 14 hit points.
* Hoar moves up to the large creature, casting Hold Monster as he goes. Xia moves her will against it, forcing it to fail its save, but it uses its legendary resistance.
* Trip casts Aid on herself, Melchior, and Xia, giving each of the 5 hit points.
* The creature lunges towards Xia, leaving Melchior, Hoar, and Ejholan’s ranges. They all strike against it. Melchior’s sentinel ability creates ice around the creature's feet, keeping it in place and stopping it from reaching Xia.
* Eva casts Shatter on the creature, dealing the final blow.

The group stops for a second, healing up a little as Eva, Xia, and Melchior look to be in a bad way. Hoar tells us that he’s going to go ahead to scout out the journey. Melchior casts Hunter's Mark on him and follows his journey for an hour before it drops. Xia hasn’t looked at Telmund for at least 24 hours, so he ambles over to talk to her, and she admits that she feels so guilty, and comes clean to him about the Cubic Plate’s person limit, and the information Hoar divulged to her. We finish resting, and the group has a short conversation about Hoar and his intentions, before heading down the corridor, finding a bear encased in ice. He introduces himself as Friedel and tells us he’s been there for 4 years. Xia uses Vortex Warp to get him out and warms him up a little. He comes along with us, and the group realizes that whilst Friedel thinks he has been in Banehold for 4 years, it has actually been closer to 30. Friedel is upset by this, telling us his father was very sick. He also divulges that he used to work with a group called the Dota Men. He’s also seen Telmund’s brother Arne, being carried through by the bald mages. We bring Friedel along with us, and meet back up with Hoar, at a 30 foot wide ravine with a snapped-off bridge. Hoar shows us just how dangerous it would be for us to cross over, as lava and magma spurt up at him, not bothering him one bit. The group takes his guidance, and travels back beneath the surface, intending to take a safer route to the other side.

### Quotes:

‘Wakey wakey, eggs and Melky’ - Telmund

‘Why have you chosen me?!’ - Melchior

‘I’m sorry, did someone just shush me?!’ - Melchior

‘I’m just like you Melchior’ - Maggie

‘I’m so glad my eye fell out!’ - Maggie

### Point of Inspiration:

Point of Inspiration for the week goes to Ejholan.