Inspired to greater feats by Idril, Galinndan continues in the fight!
Eddrikk slashes hard with his reach weapon and brings down the Ettin. The caster holds Galinndan's mind but the elf manages to break out on a second attempt. Kanzen brings down a derro with flashing twin blades while Cyrus lands a shaft in the derro leader, leaving him groaning in pain.
The derro focus their attention on the brave drow as he is closest to them. Three derro fire their crossbows at him while the caster sends a blast of energy! The armored and dextrous Drow dodges two of the crossbow bolts but is still struck twice (12 damage). The derro, seeing the situation developing badly, withdraw as they fire and cackle in mad glee. They shout in Undercommon "Demogorgon!" though they are far from in unison.
This is it! Galenus exclaims! The two-headed monstrosity! The chants to Demogorgon! We've found the cause of the giant's curse! This is what Stonespeaker Hgraam needs to cure Rihuud!
Excited at the prospect of solving the riddle, Galenus advances.
Galinndan dashes after the foe...while trying not to crush his friends in the process.
Irdril heals Eddrikk again as he is the lowest in the group, she fires a blast at the caster agian as a bonus action.
Irdril brings down the high priest of the derro cult with a blast of energy!
Cyrus fires a shot at one of the remaining Derro. "Worry about stayin' alive before we celebrate eh?"
Once again, Kanzen retreats, his eyes on the crossbowmen, moving erratically in order to throw off their aim.
Eddrikk continues his advance.
Cyrus' shot greatly wounds one of the derro, who is then cut down by Eddrikk who continues the swing of his great weapon right through the midsection of the nearby derro and cutting him in half. One cultist remains who cackles and fires his crossbow at Eddrikk while moving backward.
But the moving shot goes wide!
Galinndan closes the distance to the remaining derro, blades flashing.
Galenus moves forward his full speed and launches his throwing axe across the room, aiming for the last of them.
Irdril will move up and fling some magic at the last one.
Cyrus does what he can to heal Kanzen.
Kanzen moves up, sheathing his swords and drawing his longbow in readiness to fire on the remaining opponent, should it last that long.
Galinndan slices the derro then the wizard, of course, rushes up and kills it with a hurled ax.
The chants of the dead derro still echo around the chamber. A green glow rises suddenly from a magic circle at the center of the platform, where a small humanoid statue seems to have been the focus of the chanting ritual. As you watch, a lump sprouts from the statue’s neck, enlarging and reshaping itself with each unholy verse to take the form of a second head.
Hiding behind a table, you see a derro weather a tentacled hat.
What in the blazes is that? Galenus asks no one in particular as he gazes at the glowing statue.
He moves closer to inspect it.
Galinndan, tired as he is, still has keen eyes.
"There! Behind the table! A derro!" , he yells as he charges forward and kicks at said table.
When Galenus reaches the edge of the cultist's circle inscribed on the floor, he feels a wave of madness come over his mind but he thrusts it back immediately.
The statue within the ritual circle is 2 feet tall, weighs 100 pounds, and looks vaguely like a crouching stone giant with a lump on its neck where a second head is beginning to form. The statue is engraved with profane symbols, with the name “Dorhun” scribed in Dwarvish into its back. Galenus recognizes the symbols as related to Demogorgon.
A search of the platform uncovers a similar but broken statue near a locked iron chest and a pile of books. The broken statue is similar to the statue in the circle, except it has the name “Rihuud” carved into its back and its second head is fully formed.
The cultists used this statue to curse Rihuud. Removing the second head and taking it to Stonespeaker Hgraam will enable him to lift the curse.
Galinndan kicks the table over, startling the derro who begins try to rush around the attackers and towards the southwest exit.
Idril swiftly casts a spell at the fleeing Derro..
"HALT!"
Casting Command DC 13..
Galenus inspects the growing statue and the broken statue,but is quickly distracted by the derro trying to eacape.
Being too far away, Galenus feels helpless in trying to capture the final cultist. Stop him! Galenus exclaims!
Irdril feels an odd tugging, as if the derro's mind is weak but so strange to her it is hard to control. Droki doesn't stop!
Galinndan draws his bow and fires at the running derro.
Cyrus reaches out and attempts to grab hold of the Derro.
Cyrus grabs the derro!
Kanzen rushes around the back of the line to cut off the derro's escape. Droki shrieks and cackles, attempting to free himself from the ranger's grasp.
He slips out and carefully backs away. He begins digging furiously in his pockets, trying to find something.
Galinndan rushes after the stalled derro.
Galenus will take a double le move towards Droki to help capture him.
Irdril will fire her hand crossbow with drow poison on it at the fleeing Derro.
plus the poison..
Cyrus switches strategy and aims his bow at the fleeing Derro.
Eddrikk surges forward toward the derro, his ranger's nimbleness allowing him to casually leap over the bedrolls around the fire. He attacks!
Only Cyrus manages to land a blow on the derro who finally finds what he is looking for: an odd little mushroom. He eats it and shrinks down to be even smaller and carefully backs away from Eddrikk, slipping into the crack in the wall that is the only other exit from this chamber.
Galinndan rushes forward to drive his sword into the hole!
Blast it! Galenus exclaims.
Galenus focuses his Arcane Crystal, aiming it at Cyrus and forcing the light to make him look smaller.
Cyrus! Can you get him? Galenus calls out.
Cyrus huffs and shouts. "Fine but if this spell faults while I'm in der I'll make ye pay."
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Cyrus follows the slippery derro through the crack and goes out of sight.
After a little ways, you come into a larger chamber. Four small bat-like things that look like demons are there and they look hostile to you but not the derro.
Eddrikk searches for an alternate path.
Eddrikk recalls that it's likely this passage eventually leads out at the barred door the party turned away from earlier.
"B&!%&#!s" Cyrus groans before deciding to drink his stolen potion and once again attempt to grab the Derro.
Irdril runs with the group, trying to get back around the the barred gate.
The derro struggles mightily to escape but can manage it! He tries again
But Cyrus holds on very firmly with the strength of Giants raging through him. The demon-like creatures all transform into centipedes and move close up to the goblin.