Lorken rushes up first, while Alaina silently climbs the rise of the wall into which the stairs are carved. With Jayson hot on his heels, the fey and the warlock turn to see some familiar faces. 

Having spent some weeks in Phandalin before setting out on this adventure as a band, the faces of the Stone-cold Raiders are well known to you. Previously they were mealy-mouthed, cold-eyed toughs who wore an air of unpleasantness and did not invite approach when seen in the Stonehill Inn. Now, they are criminals who freed Iarno from his sentence, and kidnapped and cut down villagers to escape. 

The four Raiders hold a hooded lantern which they uncover now, as Jedar sees Lorken reach the top of the stairs, revealing ...

Revealing...

Revealing...

There is something in the doorway, though your eyes cannot approach it straight. You see the passage out from this cavern to the north-west, the rough walls of the starry chamber, the matching walled-off room to that which held the wraith of the level below -- lit from within by a pale green light. With a start you notice the shadow and slow breathing of some massive creature in a passageway to the north-east, hidden by shadow beyond Jedar Pike and his blinding lantern.  

Only when you take in all those details can you see the thing which your eyes do not wish to acknowledge. There is a floating creature in the doorway to the room. It has eyes, many eyes. It has a great mouth full of sharp teeth. 

It is to this aberration, eyes fixed firmly on the floor that Lestheris, the leader of the Raiders, speaks. 

"--see. We come from your master, and he bids you defeat these intruders and allow us entry to remove the treasures within to a more secure location, deeper in the mine. We are under attack. Complete this charge, and you shall be free. See the proof of my words, in front of you!"

Eyes and eyes and eyes and eyes turn towards Lorken and Jayson, turning, turning, turning. Considering. 

Quote from Ravnodaus >>

Capone follows along behind everyone, not as keyed into the idea of sneaking around as others seem to be. (Stealth 7)

  By chance we seem to have been writing at the same time. New picture to update Capone's actions. 

"Why, Grandmother," murmurs Lorken. "What a LOT of eyes you have."

He gives a strangled chuckle as he fumbles for his greataxe. This creature is something that simply should not be. The Satyr reaches down inside himself, to the wild spark that makes him who he is, and as he unleashes his rage, the chuckle becomes manic laughter. Roaring his mad mirth, Lorken charges the foe his eyes do not wish to see, and tries to strike it from existence with his axe.

(Wild Magic: 6 = +1 AC to Lorken and all allies while within 10 feet of him)

Attack 1 (Great Weapon Master, Reckless Attack): To Hit 17, Damage 18

Attack 2 (Great Weapon Master, Reckless Attack): To Hit 19, Damage 20

Jayson says softly, "That's not good."

Jayson adds saying softly to Alaina but not looking in her direction, "You were born for greatness." 

MOVE: moves to find cover, if available 30ft or stays put: (spending 30 feet of movement; first diagonal costs 5 ft. of movement, second costs 10 ft., third costs 5 ft., etc.)
BONUS: BA give Alaina a bardic dice.
ACTION: Cast Eldritch Blast, pointing at the multi eyed thingy.

Beam #1 Attack: 16 Damage: 11 (Eldritch Force) Range 240 ft

Beam #2 Attack: 27 Damage: 15 (Eldritch Force) Range 240 ft

Reaction: Any available

Alaina does a dive and roll, regaining her footing next to Lorken. She reaches out the energy of the liminal spaces between worlds and aims true, with Jayson's words in her heart.

Longbow: AC 19, 31 force damage.
Longbow: AC 25, 24 piercing damage.

Quote from Charwoman_Gene >>

Alaina does a dive and roll, regaining her footing next to Lorken. She reaches out the energy of the liminal spaces between worlds and aims true, with Jayson's words in her heart.

Longbow: AC 19, 31 force damage.
Longbow: AC 25, 24 piercing damage.

 ((And that's the quorum. Who is Alaina aiming at? The unusual Spectator or the Stone-cold Raiders?)) 

((I actually rolled this initiative more than a week ago when putting the encounter together if you chose to fight. I'm quite impressed that it reflects the narrative so well with Lorken and Jayson at the top))

 Turn order - Round 1:

1. Jayson, Lorken

2. Halorin, Jedar, Lostheris 

3. Alaina, Broma, Capone, Gudrune

4. Mycete, The Horror

5. The Ancient Spectator of the Forge of Spells. 

(OoC: Sorry, had real shit to deal with. Back now)

Broma is the last one up, and what he sees absolutely delights him. The eyes, the teeth, the unknown. It's all so... fascinating! That said, he does suspect... [Arcana for as full a rundown of the monster as possible: 19]

Other than that, the strange armor of his begins to radiate a soft turquoise light, and Broma's Defense Field kicks on. 

Quote from Lambastard_13 >>

(OoC: Sorry, had real shit to deal with. Back now)

Broma is the last one up, and what he sees absolutely delights him. The eyes, the teeth, the unknown. It's all so... fascinating! That said, he does suspect... [Arcana for as full a rundown of the monster as possible: 19]

Other than that, the strange armor of his begins to radiate a soft turquoise light, and Broma's Defense Field kicks on. 

Broma suspects that he faces some variant of a Beholderkin, perhaps a Spectator -- an aberration commonly used by certain kinds of mage to protect treasures and lairs. Still, the creature before him is far larger than expected from what he recollects of his lessons on Spectators.

Regardless, if it is as he suspects then Spectators are not ... unreasonable, and can converse and be given charges, can be negotiated with. If this creature already has a charge, also, it will be loath to leave it. Tactically, Spectators, even the venerable and elder powers of their kind, do not venture far from treasures which they guard. To retreat from a Spectator is possible if things do not go Broma's way. 

Like all Beholderkin, the danger lies not in their bite but in their gaze. A number of effects are possible, the magic of the aberration focused through the lenses of its central eye and its eyestalks.  

This is all he has time to recall before he finds himself enjoined in combat. 

As Lorken rushes in, his axe swinging, the Spectatorinsinuates its eyestalks out of the way of the first of his mighty blows. 

Lestheris, the leader of the Raiders calls to it. "See they attack you! We will aid you, in repelling these thieves, sent by your master as we are! Jedar, protect the Spectator. Halorin advance. Mycete prepare yourself and your ... Horror." 

Lorken's second blow catches the Spectator in full, as its eyes have flicked to Lestheris as she speaks. It gives a high pitched squeal, like a stuck pig, but though Lorken's axe bites deeply it is not enough to cut through the eyestalk entirely. 

Jayson follows up quickly. As he runs for cover his first fell bolt of flashing green goes wide. From the safety of the wall he is able to aim and place his shot, catching the central eye of the Spectator with a burning green flame. 

The Raiders are not idle however. Their leader dashes backwards to create space, covering herself with two bolts that go wide of Lorken and Alaina both, as the ranger rolls into sight. 

Jedar Pike heads to the passage way to the northwest, his heavy metal-shod boots crunching the bones of long-dead defenders underfoot as he runs. Those he steps on begin to rise up, shambling skeletons pulling rotten bows and long-daggers from the ground. Their jaws leer and they can make only chitters. Jedar commands that they attack. Each skeleton fires a rotten arrow towards Lorken but their aim is beyond miserable, lacking the skill they did in life, each of them missing. However, it seems they were only a distraction...

Safe in the passageway, Jedar points at the nearest skeleton and its body explodes into bone dust that flows on an unfelt wind towards the Spectator, some strange boon of defense or healing. 

It arrives a moment after it is needed, as Alaina's arrows strike true. Each bolt lands deep within the joints where the Spectator's eyestalks connect to its body, and it reels back. One of its four eyes fixes Alaina in its gaze, however. And suddenly, where it looks is blue, for an instant. 

Alaina, make a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw against the Spectator's Sleep Ray.

Halorin the soldier reaches Lorken now. His mace blow goes wide as the Satyr slips under it, but it leave Lorken in the perfect position for his trailing shield which catches the fey right on his nose with a crack. Halorin jeers, and pushes hard with shield against the Satyr's face. 

Lorken takes 9 bludgeoning damage, and needs to make a DC 13 Strength saving throw or fall prone. 

Lorken only laughs harder, and spits blood at his assailant.

(Saved on a 22, and halved the bludgeoning damage to 5 for Lorken's rage)

Saved with a 19.

[Capone and Broma’s turn — unless defensive field is all Broma wishes to do.]

[For now, yes]

Capone casts Mind Sliver at the Spectator (DC 16 Int save or 9 psychic damage and takes -1d4 on the next save) then follows that up with a Quickened Slow targetting all 6 of the enemy combatants: Halorin, Jedar, Lostheris, Mycete, The Horror, and The Ancient Spectator of the Forge of Spells. (DC 16 wisadom save or be hella slow) Then, as his far realm shard activated, he directs the otherworldly tendril to lash out at the Spectator. (DC 16 Cha save or takes 8 psychic damage and be frightened)

He then ducks around the corner next to Jayson, hoping to get some cover with a wall to his back.

(On mobile sorry for formatting)

Capone’s spells lash out quickly, the diminutive sorcerer’s magic finding its targets. Until now his power has been uncontested and unmatched, few able to even perceive the psychic power that underlies much of his magic. 

This creature with all its many eyes is different… Its mind is alert and alien and aware. As Capone tries to place a sliver of psychic energy within the usual cognosomatic weave-form that he perceives, he finds it difficult to find the gyrae and sulcuses that he would usually use as a cranny or a nook. As he tries, the mind spins, turning to watch him, and in the Real, the creature’s eyes all turn to look at him. 

His Slow spell is no more effective. Quickly, he strikes out at all his foes, but the creature’s mind is evasive, large, and … mobile? His spell sweeps forth then turns and comes straight back, striking Capone in full. He is just barely able to concentrate and guide the spell as it latches onto two of the other humanoid combatants. 

Still, he is not defenseless. A spectral tendril lashes out at the many eyes creature and hits it full in the eye. The creature seems to recognise it, its pupils growing wide and what little flesh it has turning pale. Frightened.

Capone - can you roll a Wisdom save for your own Slow spell which the Spectator has reflected at you.

[For clarity: Capone’s mind sliver, the spectator made the save. For the Slow Spell, it made the save (however I rolled a +2 check instead of its +6 save so it is 12 on its log, but adding the missing four, it makes it). The spectator used its spell reflection save on the Slow spell. It then failed the Far Realm Tendril save.

Mycete and Halorin failed the slow spell’s save also]

Capone got a 23 wisdome save (nat 20). 

Do not cite the deep magic to me, witch. I was there when it was written. 

Quote from Ravnodaus>>

Capone got a 23 wisdome save (nat 20). 

Do not cite the deep magic to me, witch. I was there when it was written. 

Much as the aberrant creature and its unnatural senses were able to detect and evade the sorcerer’s psychic attacks, Capone is not to be caught by a spell reflection like some slack-jaw amateur, fresh off the worktop, not knowing a vial from a phial. 

He focuses on those caught by his spell and sees as the mage in the back points one finger towards Lorken and Alaina, and small fungi purple and green and bioluminescent grow from little stalks to knee high over the course of a handful of seconds. 

From beyond her comes the shambling horror. Huge, it is a perversion, an aberration. Not against the laws of the planes, but against the laws of nature and gods. Three adventurers’ corpses have been stitched into one body, into a giant who wields a hook on a chain, which he throws at Lorken now as the ground shakes and he runs towards the satyr, missing only by the tiniest of hairs on his goatee. 

Frightened as it is of the creature that seems so similar but so strange to it, the Spectator turns its main eye and an eye stalk towards Alaina, who has harmed it most. The final eye it turns to the charging horror and seizes its moment. 

Can Alaina make a DC 14 Strength Save and a DC 14 Wisdom Save.

Can Lorken make a DC 14 Constitution Save. 

Str 25, Wis 22

Saved with a 26 (rolled the second one in case this was a spell, which would give Lorken advantage).

Edit: obviously not a spell, on re-reading, but still a save.

((Top of the round. Lorken and Jayson to go.

Lorken and Alaina begin their turn in Fungal Growth

[Fungal Growth. Mycete causes fungi to proliferate from a point she can see within 60 feet of her. Solid surfaces in a 10-foot square centered on that point become difficult terrain, and a creature who enters that area for the first time on a turn or starts their turn there must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute (save ends at end of turn).]. ))