The companions spring into action as the monsters close in, but dizzying kaleidoscope of glowing lights has them struggling to see their foes clearly. What's more, the fire of Alalla's sword does not inflict the pain she might have hoped for in attacking a fungus monster (
Al takes 18 bludgeoning damage, and after resistance Ug takes 8).
Meanwhile, the two fomorians leer down with grotesque faces, and Alalla and Vincent each feel disturbing magic at work on them. Alalla manages to shake it off the worst of it, but Vincent trembles as his own body twists and cracks in response to the magic's demands (
Alalla takes only 16 psychic damage. After resistance Vincent takes 11 psychic damage, but is also subject to the Curse of the Evil Eye).
[ +- ] Curse of the Evil Eye
With a stare, the fomorian uses Evil Eye, but on a failed save, the creature is also cursed with magical deformities. While deformed, the creature has its speed halved and has disadvantage on ability checks, saving throws, and attacks based on Strength or Dexterity.
The transformed creature can repeat the saving throw whenever it finishes a long rest, ending the effect on a success.
The mounds smash away at the heroes with painted, fleshy limbs, and then suddenly Reòthadh is swept from his feet and engulfed by a thick carpet of bright violet fungus (
Reo takes 34 bludgeoning damage). Before the companions can wonder if they did wrong in bringing an aged dwarf down into this dangerous place, the mound shudders and swells, then rips as Reòthadh doubles in size, rising free of the bloated thing.
Brought into existence by the dwarf sorcerer's magic, the sleet storm hides the fomorians from the heroes' view, but two rattling thumps shake the cavern as the giants slip and fall within the storm.
With a rumble Ras' spell churns the stone beneath the mounds. The fungus monsters do not relent, however, and even the one that tried to consume Reòthadh pulls itself back together to continue its attack.
The misshapen face of one of the fomorians appears as it crawls out of the sleet storm.