Quote from Bushawk >>

(Sorry your upset I guess i should have explaned what happened, No hand waving, I had to burn all of his legionary bonuses, his first action to make a move out of turn and a resistanceto pass a check he failed, thus he reentered the fight at the start of his turn.)

Re roll 29 to hit. 13 damage

@Bushawk, first thanks for DM'ing and good luck with your newborn!

In my next post, I'll post Aino's turn and drop this.  But you are absolutely hand-waving some well-established norms in D&D.  I guess that is your privilege as a DM.  But please be aware that it is hand-waving and nerfing the Maze spell.  I will explain why.

Legendary Resistance:  this does NOT let a creature escape a Maze.  Legendary Resistance only lets a creature succeed on a Saving Throw.  Maze takes an INT Check.  (Like Investigation or Arcana but without proficiency).  NOT a Save.  That is a huge part of the power of Maze!  It defeats Legendary Resistance.  So even a Tarrasque or Ancient Red Dragon does not get to use their legendary resistance to escape a Maze.  The Tarrasque stays stuck for the full ten minutes (or until concentration drops), because with a 3 INT, it cannot succeed the DC 20 INT Check.  Again, it does not get to use its legendary resistance because that is for SAVES not CHECKS.

Legendary Actions:  Legendary Actions do not just say "take a full action doing whatever the creature wants like escaping a Maze".  They are very specific Actions that a creature can take.  Again, look at a Tarrasque or an Ancient Red Dragon or any other creature with legendary actions.  So no, unless you had already written it into the stat block that Garmuk can use a legendary action to escape a Maze or make an INT check, then he cannot use a legendary action to escape a Maze.  A legendary action is not just a "free turn" - it is restricted to specific actions.

So Garmuk should NOT have been able to succeed the INT check using legendary resistance and he should NOT have been able to use a legendary action to make the INT check in the first place - he should have had to use his regular Action.

There are plenty of ways in D&D to create epic, challenging battles without hand-waving the rules.  I just mentioned one in private chat with the other players that would have been devastating for us.  I'll tell you after the battle for fear Garmuk will suddenly do that as a legendary action!

Anyway, whatever.  I'm moving on.  Next post will be Aino's Action.  Garmuk's re-roll misses (34 AC) so 1 out 6 attacks hit Aino for 18 damage.

That was a miss understanding on my part but I understand your frustration. I don't know rhe rules as well as I thought I did. I'm sorry I failed yall as a DM.

In light of being down to two. I'm giving up as a DM. It's not for me.

Thank you for playing sorry I ****ed it up in the end.

You didn't fail us as a DM.  All I was looking for was an admission that you are hand-waving the rules and nerfing the Maze spell.

Whatever.  The Elder Gods intervene and warp reality and now Garmuk can do these things.  Ultimately the DM can make whatever he/she wants happen - but should be open about when they are circumventing the normal rules (even with legendary actions/resistances).  And learn from mistakes.

To be clear "moving on" doesn't mean quitting the campaign.  It means me getting over it and continuing the fight.

I said in my above post that I was going to move on and post Aino's turn in my next post (ok, now it will be in my next post after this).  I'm pretty sure I didn't say I was quitting the campaign, so I am not sure what you mean by down to two.  I hope you don't give up on DM'ing.  I certainly didn't give up when I've screwed up in campaigns I've DM'd.  The key is to admit mistakes and learn from them and continually improve.

So again, my next post will contain, Aino's turn.

I did think you where leaving us. I honestly thought that the difference between the check and a save was the use of proficiency bonus in this I was wrong. I still think I failed but failure promotes growth. 

I rolled to see howling it would take Garmuk to get out if the maze. It was 37 turns so. Here is what we are going to do.

Garmuk is in the maze. Sorath and Dan are gone. You three are alone in the arena with a confused but excited crowd.

You get to do 4 minutes with of actions before Garmuk reappears. You know he is coming back eventually.

Garmuk's legionary actions and his resistance resets.

Last time I bring this up Sorry if yall are willing let's reset as above.

Aino is stunned that Garmuk is able to not only exit the Maze but attack six times before she and her allies are able to do anything.  She begins to question her own understanding of the rules governing magic in general and the Maze in particular.

Desperately, she raises her arcane Shield to deflect four of the six attacks as she dodges for all she is worth with her bladesong.  Thumbtack uses her Ring of Spell Storing to cast Silvery Barbs as a reaction and distract another one of Garmuk's attacks so that only one of them hits for 18 damage.  Aino absorbs it without losing concentration on Maze but drops the now useless spell in any case.

Seeing what happens to the audience members under the effect of Casey's Mass Suggestion when they are near Garmuk, Thumbtack wants no part of taking her usual help action and get so near to Garmuk.  She flies 60' up and takes the dodge action.

Aino attacks Garmuk with advantage (and with best of 3d20s due to Elven Accuracy) since Garmuk had attacked recklessly.  Three attacks total with her Rapier, +3, the first one with Booming Blade.  She has three attacks due to [Tooltip Not Found].

Attack 1:  (with Booming Blade and Rapier, +3, best of 3d20s since Garmuk attacked recklessly and Elven Accuracy)
To Hit:  30 + 1 from Potion of Heroism = 31
Rapier, +3 damage:  18 magical piercing
Booming Blade direct damage:  14 thunder
Booming Blade extra damage if Garmuk moves:  13 thunder

Attack 2:  (with Rapier, +3 only, best of 3d20s since Garmuk attacked recklessly and Elven Accuracy)
To Hit:  24 + 3 from Potion of Heroism = 27
Rapier, +3 damage:  24 magical piercing

Attack 3:  (with Rapier, +3 only, best of 3d20s since Garmuk attacked recklessly and Elven Accuracy)
To Hit:  28 + 3 from Potion of Heroism = 31
Rapier, +3 damage:  20 magical piercing

Total Damage if all 3 attacks hit:  76 (62 magical piercing and 14 thunder)
Garmuk's Rage might cut the magical piercing damage in half so it would then be 31 + 14 = 45 total damage
Plus 13 more thunder damage if Garmuk moves.

As a bonus action, Aino casts Misty Step, teleporting straight up 30', then moves with her Broom of Flying up another 20' so she is 50' up, not wanting to be anywhere near Garmuk at the end of her turn.

I already posted my turn as if Garmuk is out of the Maze and was able to make 6 attacks thanks to Elder God interference.  I'm fine to move forward like that.  Like I said, all I wanted was acknowledgement of what was happening.

But if Garmuk truly tried to escape the Maze, after the first round, he would be rolling the INT check at disadvantage due to 1 level of Exhaustion from his Frenzy/Rage ending.  Forget 37 rounds, he might never get out at that rate!  (Well no, it would take the full 10 minute duration = 100 rounds).

So if Garmuk were stuck in the Maze, Aino would NOT keep it up for 37 or 100 rounds.  As soon as Sorath and Dan are defeated, which they already are, she would wait until right after Garmuk's turn, then drop concentration on the Maze.

So in that case, there is no waiting.  Garmuk just wastes his turn and his Rage drops since he took no damage and made no attacks on hostile creatures.  After that, Aino drops the Maze and is able to make her attacks WITH NO RAGE FOR GARMUK so no damage resistance.

Under no circumstances are we waiting 37 or 100 rounds.  The battle continues immediately.  The only question is whether Garmuk gets his turn or not.  By my understanding of the rules, he loses his turn as he fails to escape the Maze and loses rage.  Then Aino drops the Maze and attacks.

Garmuk reappears (not in a rage) gets wamped by Aino. 

Casey then storm is up.

Thanks @Bushawk.

I'll add the 18 Temp HP back for Aino and give her spell slot back for Shield as well as Thumbtack's Silvery Barbs.

Sorry for the distraction, everyone.

(No worries!  It’s interesting learning how all this works at high levels) 

Seeing Garmuk reappear, Casey swoops by on her griffon and yells out “Back Garmuk?  Yer gonna yield or die.  Not sure what demon’s possessing you.   But we hope ye gets better!   We will try to beat it out of you!”  she  casts BA  spiritual weapon  and her trademark flying, glowing rapier attacks him:  33 to hit, 17 points of damage (force), and then shoots three eldritch blasts, knocking him back 10’ for each hit: 

24,  29, 31 to hit, for 14, 10, 16 damage  (with bless) 

if all those hit, a  total of 57 damage.    

she then swoops in on the griffon for her haste attack,   The griffon uses its action to Help her as she swings with her staff of the magi, further enhanced by shillelegh   (Previously cast)    Natural 20 to hit (total of 42 to hit with bless and the magic bonus from staff)  and 19 points of bludgeoning damage.   

The griffon uses its haste extra action to disengage, flying far out of range of Garmuk.  (Has 180’ fly speed right now)  

So total of 76 damage (57 force, 19 magical bludgeoning as a natural 20) 

Storm urges the griffon forward "I speak to the evil inside! Leave him before we burn you out of him!"

Griffon Move: Moves into melee with Garmuk

Bonus Action: Chooses Garmuk as new Hunters Mark mark

Attack 1: 25 Damage: 16 slashing + 14 radiant

Attack 2: 26 Damage: 23 slashing + 16 radiant

Haste Attack: 22 Damage: 17 slashing + 13 radiant

Total Damage: 56 slashing + 43 radiant = 99 overall damage

Griffon Action: Dodge

You 3 hit Garmuk not raging takes full damage and goes down. Somehow through sheer force if will he manages to stand back up. (Relentless Endurance)

Top of the order.

Garmuk goes into a rage.

If Garmuk Die Garmuk Die fighting.

Garmuk will attack recklessly for his first 3 attacks then use the Legendary action to do it again, to attack Storm who is closest.

Attack 1: Nat 20 38 damage (not max) but it's with his Vorpal Greatsword so it does and additional 29 damage.

Attack 2: 27 to hit 22 damage

Attack 3: 34 to hit 15 damage

Attack 4: 23 to hit miss

Attack 5: 31 to hit 17 damage

Attack 6: 21 to hit miss

Aino is up

Before Aino's turn, on Garmuk's turn, as a reaction, Thumbtack casts Silvery Barbs from the Ring of Spell Storing.

The 67 total damage on the crit is wiped out and Garmuk must re-roll the attack.  Thumbtack also grants Storm advantage on his next d20.

Attack 37 to hit. 20 damage

(Ok so the Silvery Barbs "heals" Storm 47hp since the combination vorpal effect did 67 total earlier).

Aino flies down 50' on her Broom of Flying, but Thumbtack remains safely 50' up, taking the dodge action.

To her companions via Rary's Telepathic Bond:  Every hit we get on Garmuk makes it harder for him to stay up.  He is very low so we don't have to hit him hard, but he can't die as long as he's raging.  Just keep hitting him and it gets harder for him to stay raging each time.

Aino makes three attacks due to her Potion of Speed.  This time, her first one is from range, using her Staff of Power, using it to cast Ray of Enfeeblement on Garmuk from 50' up.

Attack 1:  At advantage due to Garmuk's Reckless Attacks, best of 3d20s due to Elven Accuracy.
Ray of Enfeeblement from Staff of Power, To Hit:  33
On a hit, the damage from each of Garmuk's attacks is cut in half until the end of his next turn, when he can make a DC20 CON Save to remove the effect.
Via Rary's Telepathic Bond she telepathically admits ruefully: Sorry, sorry, should have done that last time!

Aino then flies down 50' to melee.  Next two attacks with Rapier, +3, first one using Booming Blade.  At advantage, best of 3d20s due to Elven Accuracy:

Attack 2:  At advantage due to Garmuk's Reckless Attacks, best of 3d20s due to Elven Accuracy.
To Hit:  34 + 3 from Bless = 37
Rapier, +3:  24 magical piercing damage
Booming Blade immediate:  15 thunder
Booming Blade additional if Garmuk moves:  10 thunder

Attack 3:  At advantage due to Garmuk's Reckless Attacks, best of 3d20s due to Elven Accuracy.
To hit:  36 (Natural 20) + 4 = 40
Rapier, +3 CRIT damage:  32

Total Damage from 2 hits:  71 (56 magical piercing and 15 thunder).  If magical piercing is cut in half due to Rage, it's 28 + 15 = 43.
Plus 10 more thunder damage later if Garmuk moves.

Though I know actual damage amount probably doesn't matter now, just number of hits, which was 2.  So Garmuk now makes a DC15 and then a DC20 CON Save to stay alive.  Every successive hit raises the DC by 5 and soon he'll start having to burn legendary resistances.

This time, Aino stays in melee with Garmuk as an additional tank since Storm has taken a bunch of damage.

He is down and out but we are still in combat. I'll post when I can

(Garmuk failed his first roll burning the resistance and failed his second roll as well, a 2 and a 3. Too tired to look up if that's how it should work we are going to just press on with the fight)

Aino first attack hits home. Garmuk is once again cut down. His muscles once again start to grow as his skin is stretched to the limit. Looking more grotesque and his body now a very dark almost red color he struggles to his feet.

Aino haveing little Sympathy. Cuts home down again with little ceremony.

There is a moments pause at the members of the last copper look at each other wondering if it was too easy.

You hear a voice from no where as if it was from someone whispering in your ear from behind.

"I grow tired of this weak form. My claim to this realm is not complete but its enough to kill you"

Garmuk body once again starts to stand. Aino shaking her head goes to cut him down again but a unseen force turns her attack.

(Picture the bug removing his Egar suit in MEN in Black)

Garmuk's hands reach behind his head as he rips apart his body. Out of the shell steps a dark demon 15 feet tall that seems to suck light into its body leaving only a dark form with glowing purple eyes.

"Ah it has been an age soon VOID will rise again snd I'll pave his way" the whisper claims.

The Voidling will replace Garmuk in the Initiative order. Casey is up.

(Ooc- epic!   IN character: Oh *%}]++€>~*!?!!)

Casey looks with horror at the beast emerging from the shell of Garmuk.  “ahh- at last it makes sense!  Yer gonna pay for what you did to Garmuk.  This ends here!”   

she uses BA to have the spiritual weapon attack the voidling, her regular action to blast three times with eldritch blast, and then swoops past on her griffon mount to hit it with her shillelegh staff,  with the griffon helping on this attack.    The griffon then uses its haste action to disengage, flying away from the voidling. 

All rolls in log:

spiritual weapon: 28 to hit, 17 force damage

EB:  27 for 12, 23 for 10, and 36 for 16 damage:

(38 total EB, plus he’s knocked back) 

staff 31 to hit for 12 damage (reroll cause forgot advantage) 

total 55 force damage plus 12 magical bludgeoning.

she swoops on her griffon high around the ring.