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Message: <blockquote data-quote="AnotherGuy" data-source="post: 9092785" data-attributes="member: 7029930">SPOILERS: STORM KING'S THUNDERHaving killed several fire giants and ogres already, the negotiations with a furious Duke Zalto for his Conch of Teleportation failed. He departed the balcony, but not before loudly proclaiming You will not leave this place alive.He then turned to one of his kin and ordered him to let loose their slave-orcs to deal with the intruders.The party, already spent somewhat, having dismissed their gnome guide early and in the midst of a forced march, decided to retreat into the safety of the mines - trying to put at least an hour or so distance from the entrance of the forge. They managed a travel rest (1/2 HD recovery) and set off for the yakfolk settlement only to discover the giants had caved in the exit. They returned to the bottom to discover a similar situation leading to the entrance of the forge.So they sat, discussed and plotted for an hour (real time and game time). They used Etherealness (level 8) so two of them could discover a safe location some 400-500 or so feet from the exit of the mines to forge and then use Dimension Door for the remaining two individuals to teleport there. It is a good thing they did some scouting in their ethereal form for the forge's orc and hobgoblin residents were camped just beyond the cave-in as a welcome party for anyone that dug out. A group of fire giants was also camped outside at the top for a similar welcome. So that is what the Duke meant...The ethereal party found that their allies could teleport to the room with the colossus (the fire giant's WMD) wherein Duke Zalto, his most elite fire giant (barbarian) and the two drow were discussing their agreement. The party had been late to the fortress and the drow had returned with Maegra (the ancient element of Gauntlgrym) now trapped in the Iron Flask. The dukes personal hellhounds were lying down, despondent bored with the conversation and awaiting the Duke to finish so they could go back to playing with the large black-burnt and many-holed iron-ball.It was during this negotiation that the rest of the party decided to Dimension Doored behind a pillar, however the movement of the paladin in his heavy armour was enough to catch the attention of the hellhounds which ruined the party's ambush. Combat ensued and Duke Zalto was caught unaware with two Hold Monster spells during the fight. The Eldritch Knight-Diviner's portents and the Sorcerer's metamagic feat ensured the Hold Monster spells took. The drow immediately went invisible and unleashed a barrage of lightning bolts and Counterspelled the Sorcerer's Haste, while the bodyguard fire giant grabbed and dragged the large eldritch knight (Enlarge spell) a fair distance from his paralysed duke so the hero couldn't let loose a pair of critical hits [all hits are considered critical on paralysed foes].The hellhounds breathed fire repeatedly on a water elemental summoned by a once-off magic item utilised by the Artificer.In a critical moment of the fight, the large Paladin (Potion of Growth) closed the distance to the paralysed Duke and using 3 Smites yielded a record breaking 170 points of damage on the unsuspecting giant, which was enough, at that point, to kill him [party doesn't know as the giant is caught in a Hold Monster spell].All light and ambient light within Ironslag was suddenly snuffed out and a cold chilling breeze washed over the enormous chamber mitigating the usual uncomfortable warmth throughout the giants' forge. The only light now emanating within the chamber was from the Paladin's blade and the burning red eyes from the duke's personal hellhounds as small flames twitched and danced from within their terrifying maws.A pair of giant footsteps running down a corridor ended on the gantry which holds the colossus weapon above them as the still alive bodyguard fire giant gave out an earth-shattering cry of rage.Are the Duke's words You will not leave this place alive about to come true? Are the effects of the darkness and chilling cold a Legendary, Lair or Mythical action? Is it colour or something else? [Combat continues next session with round 4]</blockquote>

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