Dorn's Deep
"Of course, that is the plan. Except that Malavon is a greedy git who will most assuredly not keep his end of this particular bargain. I have no love for him, and I happen to have a soft spot in my heart for your heroic company here." His eyes flick to Reòthadh and he coughs into his hand. "And so I tell you: The great and powerful Malavon awaits you in the next chamber, but do not trust him."
The grin returns to his face. "But stick with me and I'll get you through this."
The drow makes a grand gesture with one arm back toward the corridor. "At the far end of this passageway you will find a spacious room where Malavon is waiting with Zenithral and that gnome lady - but do not be fooled, for she is an illusion. At least, I'm about eighty percent sure she is...
Anyway. If you have any way of circumventing a stone bridge spanning a chasm filled with boiling lava... you should do that.
Also! Beware of giant bug men. Their eyes will drive you mad. If you have any magic capable of dispelling polymorph spells, I think one of them is an old rival of Malavon's who was punished to serve him in that form. There could be an ally there if you give him a chance.
And, of course, know that Malavon is one of the most powerful drow wizards in existence. I once saw him boil the air around some unfortunate slaves just for the fun of it. There wasn't much left afterwards."
The merchant pauses for breath. "Well, that should just about cover it! Good luck!"
He vanishes.
HP: 101/102
Rolls
hit dice - (8d10+16)
(1021016536) + 16 = 59
moar - (3d10+6)
(8103) + 6 = 27
Closest to the party are a pair of well-armed minotaur guards. They bear the scars of slaves, but their chainmail armor is top-notch, and they grip their mighty axes tightly. Beyond them is a stone walkway across the chasm, at the far end of which stand a trio of dark elf warriors, Zenithral with them. A shadow grips the half-elf archer. Not a specter such as Vincent’s, but a foul humor that darkens Zenithral’s demeanor. One of the warriors wears the face that Nym first showed when he earlier approached the party. Now he stands grim-faced with the others.
Behind Zenithral is a corridor that has lost its war with time, entirely collapsed with dirt and rubble. To either side of the half-elf, however, are short stairways that lead up to balconies that overlook the room. The right balcony holds yet another dark elf (Spellsword), this one garbed in finer armor than those about Zenithral.
On the left balcony stands an imperious drow dressed in ostentatious red robes. Malavon glowers down at the party with loathing in his eyes. He rests one hand on the shoulder of a small, elderly gnomish woman before him. Though she shows no resemblance to the mighty goliath barbarian Ug, it takes only a glance at him to recognize that this is indeed his mother.
Malavon sneers, then speaks in heavily accented Common. "Relinquish your weapons, or this woman dies." His free hand begins to glow with terrible power.
"Ah, now that I'm inside your head, I can see the truth. You are not in fact the real Nancy. This is good to know. Do me a little favor, blink at me twice to prove to my party you aren't the real Nancy, and if we win this little encounter, we won't kill you in a slow and painful way for impersonating my dear Goliath's dearest mother."
Rolls
Intimation to blink twice if not Nancy with advantage - (1d20+7, 1d20+7)
1d20+7 : (6) + 7 = 13
1d20+7 : (12) + 7 = 19
Malavon shrugs. Then he waves his hand, and the gnome turns inside out and falls to the floor with a wet *smack*.
The wizard turns to his allies and speaks a wrathful command in Elvish. "Kill them!" He throws himself into spellcasting.
Immediately the minotaurs raise their axes, the drow warriors lift crossbows, and the lone drow on the far balcony begins a spell of his own.
The drow warrior winks and tosses Kaylessa's bow to Zenithral. "Remember, this is just a loan."
The minotaurs are actually size Large, if that matters to anyone.
Zen has got baddies near him, but they aren't expecting him to be armed, so Zen is NOT considered to be engaged with them this round.
The map is accurate-ish for how this battle begins. We'll see how much trouble it is to update it each round :P It might not last.
Remember that if you're going to cast Counterspell, I think that's something you'll have to declare that you're doing THIS turn - so no seeing what spell they've cast and how it all plays out and THEN deciding to counter it. I'm making an effort to be clear in the description at the beginning of each round as to which enemies are attempting spellcasting. If you want to try some sort of a check to determine something about the spell they are casting, we'll probably use the rules in Xanathar's.
Al sets her stance and draws her sword as the minotaurs arrive. She lights it right in the face of the minotaur already charred by her lightning and takes advantage of its surprise to strike.
Malavon takes 17 slashing and 18 lightning damage, and must make a strength save or be knocked prone. Minotaur 1 is also hit by the lightning and takes 16 lightning damage (or half on a DC 13 Dex save). Minotaur 1 also takes 17 slashing and 5 fire damage and must make a wisdom save or be afraid of Al.
HP: 139/144
AC: 20
Rolls
Attack 1 v Malavon - (1d20+10)
(16) + 10 = 26
Disadvantage on above - (1d20+10)
(9) + 10 = 19
Damage (including superiority and lightning) - (2d10+5, 4d6)
2d10+5 : (66) + 5 = 17
4d6 : (5265) = 18
Lighting trail damage (DC 13 dex save for half) - (4d6)
(6145) = 16
Attack 2 v Minotaur 1 (adv) - (1d20+10, 1d20+10)
1d20+10 : (3) + 10 = 13
1d20+10 : (7) + 10 = 17
Damage - (2d10+5, 2d6)
2d10+5 : (48) + 5 = 17
2d6 : (31) = 4
Damage reroll - (1d6+3)
(2) + 3 = 5
Attack 3 v Minotaur 1 - (1d20+10, 1d20+10)
1d20+10 : (4) + 10 = 14
1d20+10 : (4) + 10 = 14
Ras casts Hold Person on Spellsword
In Malavon's head: "I really hope, for your sake, that you know what you're doing. Pretending to take a Goliath's mother and killing her in front of his eyes is a good way to end up dead. No matter who or what is between you and him. Anyway, I like to remember those that pass on. Is there anything you would like said at your ceremony? Any specific traditions? I won't promise to honor them all, but if it's easy I will try."
Malavon takes 28 damage.
HP:81/87
AC:18
Ki:6/7
SS:3/3
Rolls
Longbow - (1d20+10, 1d20+10)
1d20+10 : (6) + 10 = 16
1d20+10 : (10) + 10 = 20
Longbow damage - (2d8+10, 1d6, 2d4)
2d8+10 : (58) + 10 = 23
1d6 : (1) = 1
2d4 : (22) = 4
Specter attack - (1d20+4)
(2) + 4 = 6
AC 16
Size: Huge
The dwarf looks at the minotaurs, looking up and down to size them up.
"Ye seem like ye could use some dwerf hospitality, come here and let an old dwerf give ye a hug.
The Dwarf increases in size to match the minotaur, for a moment they lock eyes.
Grabbing Ug, he heaves him toward Mavalon with all of his might.
Reo casts Enlarge (Uses Rage of Ostoria) and quickens the spell.
As Ug flies, the dwarf continues growing, until he truly resembles a giant in stature.
Rolls
We dun need to end this in violence, friend. (Persuasion) - (1d20+9)
(1) + 9 = 10
Yer real friend is a giant dwerf, ready to smash drow scum. (inspiration advantage persuasion.) - (1d20+9)
(6) + 9 = 15
Nobody tosses an UG? - (1d20+4)
(1) + 4 = 5
Advantage - (1d20+4)
(10) + 4 = 14
Rolls
Attack 1 - (1d20+6)
(7) + 6 = 13
Attack 1 adv - (1d20+6)
(1) + 6 = 7
Attack 2 - (1d20+6)
(16) + 6 = 22
Attack 2 adv - (1d20+6)
(15) + 6 = 21
Attack 3 - (1d20+6)
(3) + 6 = 9
Attack 3 - (1d20+6)
(15) + 6 = 21
Damage 2x - (2d12+38)
(911) + 38 = 58
Cold 2x - (2d4)
(42) = 6
M1v m2 - (1d20+6)
(4) + 6 = 10
Advantage - (1d20+6)
(14) + 6 = 20
Damage - (2d12+4)
(82) + 4 = 14