Crownsguard, being the tallest among you, is able to easily clamber up the stone slab.

Flint is quite heavy, but with help from the others, he is able to make the climb, albeit slowly. “There, you did it!” Harshnag says in an encouraging tone.

Crownsguard, Marav, and Flint now stand atop the tall slab, which is obviously used as a station for food preparation. Whoever used this last (it was quite a while ago) did not clean up after themselves. Dried blood and grease stain the top of the slab, and it is littered with giant-sized dishware. The dishes and cup are made from beaten copper, which has gone green and black with age. 

RIp, investigating the roaring flame in the middle of the floor, notes that there is nothing but ash streaks at the bottom of the basin. No fuel—yet the fire doesn’t appear magical like the lit sconces that line the walls of this and other rooms in the temple. The lip of this basin is short enough that Rip is able to see into it. With a keen eye, he notices that there are multiple holes all around the basin.

As Quill scouts from the west side and Ink travels south, they both spy the axe. As Quill gives a screech, the pile of metal and bone refuse in the alcove, to your east, moves and topples. An inexplicable creature bursts out of the heap, easily as large as Harshnag, but much longer and with many feet. Winglike fins flare from the back of the creature’s head, and its wide mouth brims with jagged teeth.  Spikes jut out from its armored back. 

The huge monstrosity rushes towards you hungrily on dozens of feet, its bulbous ruby eyes reflecting the dancing flame in the center of the room. 

What do you do?

Marav casts Hunters Mark on it and then shoots at it with his Long Bow.

Attack: 19 Damage: 7
HM Dmg: 1

Quill dashes north-northeast 120' to get closer to the group. 

Ink calls out to Rip, "Does that Volo book describe that horror?"

Not waiting for a response, Ink, using his component bag, casts fire bolt at the bestial aberration!

He stows his sword and calls out, "Marav has the right idea - I'm not getting near that vile thing!" 

Fire Bolt Attack: 16 Damage: 9

// Ink will pull his bow and arrow out next turn. //

"But I will!" Crownsguard shouts as he leaps off the pedestal. Cat flies off into the rafters. Dog will dart off toward Ink.

Crownsguard will use his full movement to place himself between the... apparently deep sea fish with legs?

Ready action to smack it hard!

Rip waits, watching his friends struggle to climb. as soon as they all reach the top he chuckles and shouts up "Good work guys, but did you forget I can make you fly?"

'hmm odd, maybe some from of gas being pumped up through those holes?' Rip ponders to himself as he examines the basin.

in reply to Inks question Rip yells "Not that I recall, only Multi-legged monster i'm aware of is a Behir! they shoot lightning out of their mouths! actually it's rather fascinating. Not that i'm saying it's a Behir mind you!" Rip quickly casts fly on himself, using my bonus action to leap 10 feet up and back then flying up near Harshnag if I can.

Flint moves to the edge of the table and cats guiding bolt at the beast.

Attack: 19 for 9 radiant + advantage for next attack if it hits.

Harshnag laughs and pulls his axe from its place on his belt. You notice that it is no longer shedding any light of its own, as it has been continuously for the last day or more. “Ha ha ha!! Finally, a challenge!” He leaps upon the table next to Ink. “Let’s take this one together, shall we?” 

The monster is hit by Marav’s arrow and by Flint’s spell, but Ink’s firebolt narrowly misses as it glances off the creature’s carapace. Regardless, the attacks seem to not deter it in the least. It climbs easily up the table on which Ink and Harshnag stand, and its spines begin to glow brightly. It feels as if it is exuding considerable warmth, even from several feet away. It is shimmering faintly from Flint’s magic. It bears down on Ink, the first target it identified, and rears up on its back legs, its dark blue fins spread out like wings. The multitude of front legs flail about, and its gaping mouth opens hungrily. 

// Players up! //

Crownsguard, having dashed with his held action last turn, completes his sprint up to the beast, “Please refrain from consuming Ink, he is a friend.” With that, Crownsguard uppercuts the creature’s jaw with his armblade! Attack: 26 Damage: 10 slashing damage 

He then brings the blade down on its armored back, 

Attack: 26 Damage: 9 slashing damage 

Dog will help the next attack made against it! 

Athletics: 17 and 12

Quill does a flyby of the aberration, drawing its attention briefly away, as she climbs back up out of harms way... 

Ink, looking at the monstrosity emanating such heat, and says, "Time for something new... "

Ink casts witch bolt (at THIRD Level)!

Witch bolt Attack: 23 Damage: 26

Ink quickly enacts his Bladesong and sprints in front of the creature, finishing fifteen feet to its south, giving Harshnag a clear path to the monster!

// If Ink attracts an AOO he'll cast shield if the beast hits between AC 20-24. //

As Quill and Crownsguard make contact with the monstrosity’s carapace, they experience a painful burning sensation, like fire!

Crownsguard takes 12 plus 13 fire damage

Quill takes 11 fire damage

The creature lashes at Ink with its great reach, snapping at him as he tries to escape...

Opportunity Attack: 22 Damage: 41 piercing plus  11 fire damage

Ink is grappled and restrained in the creature’s toothy maw!

// Still waiting on Flint, Rip, and Marav this round.//

History 16

Ink gets caught and let's out a blood curdling scream in pain! The ise rune shard flares pushing back some of the fire which seems to be the only reason Ink's alive! 

// down to TWO hit point //

// Concentration Check vs DC 19.... 19 +3 for Crownsguard's aura.

Quote from Gimpster >>

History 16

 Rip has heard of creatures that match this description before, in ancient history—worms that hide in ice caves and snowdrifts only to ambush unlucky travelers who trek across frozen wastes. When they became active, they could burrow through even frozen terrain by generating enough body heat to instantly melt the ice around them. But everything he remembered reading about these things was that they detested warmth, and this room is very warm. 

You can all see that Ink is perilously close to death, trapped as he is within the jaws of this great blue worm. 

"Wait no, its a.. umm something R related... that's odd though i remember reading they dislike warmth so i have no idea why it's here as this room is delightfully warm! try not to get too close it's hot and might eat....... oh" Rip pauses when he notices Ink in it's jaws "bad spot to be Ink" he flies within 30 feet and casts bane CHA 14 save or -1d4 to attacks and saves

Marav nods toward Ink concentrates and a healing spirit in the shape of an Elk appears healing him. 7

He then aims carefully again.

Steele dive bombs the creature trying to get it to let Ink go.

Attack: 38 Damage: 7
Steele Attack:  12 Damage: 5

From the table, flint casts healing word at L3  on ink for 11 healing and sacred flame on the critter for 7 radiant, dex dc14  to avoid. Flint then drops from the table and moves towards the melee.

Flint’s sacred flame is successful thanks to Rip’s magic, weaving radiant damage against the monster.

Marav’s second arrow strikes the monster, chipping its carapace.

Steele, meanwhile, receives a hefty amount of fire damage for attacking the great blue worm: 9

Harshnag rushes to Ink’s aid, attempting to force the monster’s jaws open with his bare hands, but the heat coming from the monster proved too much to overcome. Harshnag cries in pain at his burned hands before powering through it and hefting his greataxe. He swings his weapon into the creature’s flank, going for damage in lieu of not being able to overpower the thing. The blow is on target and powerful, but even Harshnag’s magic axe seems to not deter this armored creature from its mission of devouring, hardly putting a dent in its exoskeleton.

The monster then closes its jaws around Ink, attempting to swallow him whole...

Bite Attack: 30 Damage: 40 piercing plus 15 fire damage (-2 applies to attack roll from the Bane spell)

The monster skitters down from the table with his prize, perhaps trying to find someplace he can more properly bite into his food.

// And with that, players are up! //

 Ink struggles in its grasp and feels the heat of it burn his exposed skin... // 6 fire damage, halved for ise rune shard //

// Concentration Check vs DC 10 14 //

He says a few words and mists envelope him, he appears twenty five feet to the south of the beast. 

He looks up battered, bleeding and burnt. He smiles. There's still a string of blank electric energy binding the beast to him. He acts upon it.

18 lightning damage

"You may best me yet, but I'm taking my pound of flesh with me!" Ink yells