Jovial Jungle Jaunt (ToA)

"Should we look inside the chamber first?  How did we not fall when we walked through there, it's...."   He waves his hands about in the air in exasperation.  Turning to the entrance to the tomb, he walks down the corridor, and peers into it, without entering.  He returns to the group and at Nenne's suggestion heads off to walk another loop of the passage.

"For heaven's sake, have you not yet learned to stay with the group!" Nenne calls after him.

He's only gone a few moments before he returns  with a puzzled look on his face.  "No goat man that side," he says.  "The tomb chamber is just the same as this one and the other.  This place could be infinite.  Who knows how many versions there are."

The rest of the party hears a noise coming from the passage Nenne indicated earlier. A rhythmic, metallic thudding echoes into the small hallway.

"That is not the same sound I heard," the cleric tells the party. "It is different, and far louder. I think perhaps we should investigate the room before we trigger whatever shifting is happening again. It may be a long while yet before we return to this place - if we do so at all."

"Just before we go anywhere..."  Boosey pulls out his dagger and starts carving a number one into the flagstone in the floor of the intersection.  Once he's finished he says, "Just in case we do get lost.  I'll do that for each one we come across."

Boosey doesn't get very far before the hallway's entrance darkens with the form of one of those bolted together monstrosities. The moment it sees the party, he lurches forward at an unexpected speed given its sheer size and amount if metal parts. These creatures have to weigh many hundreds of pounds.

As soon as he sees the statue appear at the end of the passage, Boosey doesn't think twice.  "Wait for it here Allister," he shouts, then he shatters the silence with an intense ringing noise centred on the figure.  As it moves towards the party he sees it falter for a moment,  before continuing towards them.  Rust billows out behind it as it advances.

Nenne leans out over Boosey to poke her head into the hall and sees the oncoming creature. She launches an arc of holy fire at it. (Sacred Flame: 12 radiant, Dex 17)

Allister prepares for the rushing behemoth. Though he has all the time in the world his timing is off as he slashes the rapier across several metal plates across its chest. As he tries to withdraw the blade for another strike the creature catches the flaming blade in its ironclad hand and nearly rips it from Allisterˋs hand.

The creature plods forward, scorched by Nenne's holy fire. The thing makes no reaction to the obviously harmful effect, but instead engages Allister. The creature sweeps across with a spiked gauntlet, only for Allister to duck the powerful blow. The abomination spins its waist quickly, sending the second spiked fist into Allister's gut (9 bludgeoning and 8 piercing damage). The blow has both the strength of a bull and the rusty spikes only add to the fighter's agony.

Glimbul getting a good read on the creature reaches for a magic dart from his quiver but accidentally fumbles the dart and drops it several feet from himself.

Allister dodges several more punches. The creature makes him fight more defensively than he likes even though his rapier has a longer reach. After another hit on the armor he finally manages to punch the blade between two plates, leaving a smoking wound in the chest of his opponent.

As Allister fights the metal beast, Boosey shouts a few words and a golden glow shoots out, centred on the gnome. aura of vitality  The light flows over Allister and Boosey speaks again, causing some of the wounds the fighter received to heal. 

A shower of red dust falls on the fighter and the gnomes. (Bless)

"Strike true with a focus unwavering!" the cleric encourages her friends. 

Allister knew the creature was strong, but he was totally unprepared for the strike that comes next. The fighter brings his rapier up to deflect the first spiked fist, but he might as well have been inviting the creature in. The blow comes through the defense, nearly causing Allister to be disarmed, to land dead center in his chest (18 bludgeoning and 11 piercing damage). Allister is still catching his breath when the second strike comes in. He has enough sense to get out of the hit's direct path, but this creature's strength isn't anything to be played with (9 bludgeoning and 5 piercing damage).

Glimbul this time using the confusion of battle and the people in front as cover slips into the shadows before drawing another magical dart. This time he holds onto it well and fires it into the unprotected neck of the creature.

Allister vision is blurry, his chest aches with a pain all too familiar. His attacks are more less accurate with each punch he has to dodge, and he only manages to score a minor hit on the creatureˋs thigh before retreating and dodging again.

Boosey takes his sling and sends a bullet fizzing into the head of the figure attacking Allister.  It pings off its helmet and the thing barely notices.  He wastes no time waiting to see where the shot landed, instead he focuses on Allister sending some more healing his way. 

Seeing the enormous strength of the creature and fearing for Allister's endurance, Nenne makes a sign in the air and invokes her god's favor. (Beacon of Hope)