Yulya teleports past the orb without taking damage and sees the Skull, just as she peeks around the door. Having only 1MP left, Yulya uses her focus to cast Sacred flame boosted as high as she can. It boosts to 3&1/2 tier, a blinding light surrounds her.

[LUCK 1d20=13 POTENCY 1d20=19]

It works as expected and she can feel the power as she unleashes the spell, acting like a fireball response to the Skull's fireball earlier. The light is blinding and she shields her eyes. In the aftermath she looks to see the condition of the skull.

Meanwhile, Cat and Alice see Yulya disappear and feel her embolding bond upon them.  Finding her up and further than 10ft away, Cat instead gives Alice [2d6=2 THP] and after the bright flash she notes the flame sphere fade and dissipate. She rushes to Yulya to see the result.

Alice quickly follows.

[Because of the area of effect that occurs with this spell when boosted, it's unavoidable, however a succeeded save will still reduce the damage by half.][DEX(A) 1d20+3=(CM,22)][DMG (3d8+1d8/2)/2+3=13 Radiant Damage]

Everyone's eyes adjust to scene, a charred and ember filled mess, and the skull persists.

Cat charges with her sword.
[HIT 1d20+5+2+1+1d4-5=21][DMG 2d6+5+1+2RAGE+10HEAVY=25 Magic Slashing]

Chipping a significant portion of the skull away still doesn't stop it.

Alice is next, doing what she can to reach and hit it with her spear.
[HIT 1d20+2+3+1d4=14][DMG 1d8+3=11]

Alice's spear pierces the flaming bone, utterly skewering the skull.

The flame extinguishes and the skull is rendered lifeless and in a crumbling mess on the ground. However, before anyone can rest, a light is seen from the shaft leading down, and something comes up, it's another flameskull. It laughs maniacally at you with a sinister tone. Then while you're still reeling from that, another hideous creature floats up.



Offering a big yawn showing its large spiked teeth, it scratches its head with a free eyestalk and WATCHES you carefully. The spherical creature measures roughly four feet in diameter. Four eyestalks protrude from its central mass, two on each side. In the center of the body is a large eye that stares at you. It greets you in a raspy voice you hear only in your head.

The spherical monster that guards this room introduces himself as 'the spectator', he speaks Common directly in your mind. He explains one of the human wizards who worked in the Forge of Spells summoned him to guard the magic items created and stored there. The spectator was slated to serve for 101 years but was never released after the forge of spells was removed just a few years into his watch, he understands that it's been more than 101 years but doesn't quite know how long.

You get a sense that he's unable to admit he failed and has stayed here ever since watching for the forge of spells to be returned so he can continue his duty. He says something about a 'wizard below', likely meaning Nezzer, has disturbed the delicate magic in the area, eroding the spectator's grip on reality. He believes the mine will be assailed again and in a sense he's right. He merely stares at the party menacingly for an awkward length of time then notices the dead flameskull and begins to eye the party suspiciously.

Just as Alice recovers her spear, the skull you just defeated bursts into flame and rises again, the bone healing magically. It positions itself back against the wall opposite its twin.

[Consider your moves carefully.]

Just as Alice recovers her spear, the skull you just defeated bursts into flame and rises again, the bone healing magically. It positions itself back against the wall opposite its twin.[/i]

Alice watches this with a mixture of dismay and pride
That's my future familiar for you! Sure can take a beating!

The spherical monster that guards this room introduces himself as 'the spectator', he speaks Common directly in your mind. He explains one of the human wizards who worked in the Forge of Spells summoned him to guard the magic items created and stored there. The spectator was slated to serve for 101 years but was never released after the forge of spells was removed just a few years into his watch, he understands that it's been more than 101 years but doesn't quite know how long.

You get a sense that he's unable to admit he failed and has stayed here ever since watching for the forge of spells to be returned so he can continue his duty. He says something about a 'wizard below', likely meaning Nezzer, has disturbed the delicate magic in the area, eroding the spectator's grip on reality. He believes the mine will be assailed again and in a sense he's right. He merely stares at the party menacingly for an awkward length of time then notices the dead flameskull and begins to eye the party suspiciously.

Alice nods to Yulya but can't stop herself from making a comment to the odd creature, noticing its absence of external ears.
So YOU are the real Watcher or Spectator! Did you make those skulls? They're awesome! I want one too!

Alice gesticulates enthusiastically



Look, look!
I already told that skull we have no idea where that Forge of Spells went or what it even was. We're fighting against the guys invading this mine! We're here to get that wizard who disturbed everything. So let's team up! I already tried talking sense into that skull I just took down but it would not listen! We don't want to fight! It just attacked us! So let's get rid of that wizard and look for the Forge of Spells together hm?

Alice is already lost in her imagination of keeping the skulls and eyeball creature as pets and chuckles to herself
Oh yes, that would be sooo much fun!

Alice does her best to attempt the negotiations.

[DIPLOMACY(D) 1d20-1=(9,CM)]

It goes about as well as can be expected.





Alice is momentarily distracted by a chromatic change in one of his eyes then a burst of violet light engulfs her. Alice is now paralyzed and cannot move, talk, or even blink.

Cat pushes Yulya forward.

Yulya starts: "I apologize for disturbing you Great Spectator and defeating your - familiar? But we are not your enemy!"

[DIPLOMACY 1d20+2=13]



"I am Yulya a Peace Cleric of Eldath and leader of this party. These are my comrades Alice and Cat. We are adventurers of Neverwinter and here on a quest to rid this mine of orcs and bandits. I humbly ask you to listen to our story as I believe we share the same goal. We will lend our aid to you to the best of our limited abilities and answer your questions as far as we can but I am afraid we lack crucial information about what is going on here. Especially about the sorcerer called Nezzer but also the Forge of Spells! We were not even aware such a thing even exists until recently. And we still do not understand what it is - other than that it is gone for a long time!"

[DIPLOMACY 1d20+2=12]



"We currently have the year 1296. According to inscriptions we found, I believe the Forge of Spells was lost around the year 951 - for reasons we do not know. But I believe that knowledge of its very existence has vanished from this world - as for Phandalin this place is merely known as an ore mine now."



"By the way, we met an undead mage called Sir Mormesk of the Greycloaks of Neverwinter who also appeared to be guarding the Forge. Would you know him? He has tasked us with taking Nezzers head and so we will. So I believe we have a common enemy. Might you be able to provide us with information about this Nezzer? And if you may - about the Forge of Spells? What was it and who made it? We have a royal mage friend in Phandalin - Summer of Leilon - and also the approval of Sir Daran Edermath if you happen to know him. It would have been really helpful for them to come along to vouch for our righteous task but alas we are here alone."

The spectator responds, "Mormesk, Edermath, these names are familiar, so you spoke to them and they let you live... the Greycloaks of Neverwinter, yes, I'm remembering now, my master was a Greycloak of the Covenant, Gr... Grim... Grimwald the Renown can you bring him to me? I'd like to speak with him. I do not know of Summer of Leilon, is she a Greycloak?"

[Yulya Interaction Required]

"Never would I have imagined to meet such powerful beings and arcane treasures in here. To us this mountain was simply described as a mine..."

Yulya once again speaks a silent prayer to Eldath and SheShe in hope of some divine aid to overcome such insanely powerful opponents.



"You're not human, you're not elf or dwarf or gnome or halfling, yet you've taken from the mine. I understand Mormesk the Piercing has tasked you to rid us of this interloper Nezzer, and you've been tasked to rid the mine of bandits and orcs, but under who's authority have you come and what is their original purpose? In what world is the Forge of Spells now? How has Mormesk become undead? What information are you lacking about Nezzer that you feel I should know? Answer quickly before I lose patience."

[Interactions Required]

The spectator responds, "Mormesk, Edermath, these names are familiar, so you spoke to them and they let you live... the Greycloaks of Neverwinter, yes, I'm remembering now, my master was a Greycloak of the Covenant, Gr... Grim... Grimwald the Renown can you bring him to me? I'd like to speak with him. I do not know of Summer of Leilon, is she a Greycloak?"

Yulya sighs and closes her eyes as she sees the situation with Mormesk repeat and just wishes Ashley were here to deal with annoying negotiations...
Great Spectator!
At least 350 years have passed since you were assigned with your task maybe even 400! I am not acquainted with your master but if he was human - I am afraid he must have passed away centuries ago! Even Master Edermath is an old man now! I am a cleric not a wizard so I am unfamiliar with the Greycloaks. But our friend Summer of Leilon will be - certainly you do not know her as she is very young. But a highly capable mage and attendant in the Leilon high tower of Thalivar. I believe she is at least acquainted with the Many-Starred Cloak in the Cloaktower of Neverwinter. But honestly I have no idea about the affairs of wizards. She will accompany us here after our return to Phandalin as Sir Mormesk wants to meet her as well! This is all I can offer! We also have a further human party member but she is currently on her way to get the elevator. You will meet her soon.

"You're not human, you're not elf or dwarf or gnome or halfling, yet you've taken from the mine.

These are words that do not sit well with Yulya. She uses Celestial Revelation - Inner Radiance. Searing light bursts from her eyes and mouth as she stays 15ft from the spectator and his skulls so they do not take damage.
Indeed I am not human! I am an Aasimar - a celestial messenger of the Gods! This alone means my mission is righteous and true! Are you an agent of Lawful Good, Great Spectator? Do you act in the name of justice? If so do not obstruct or threaten those who do! Neither me nor my precious friends!



Yulya regains her composure and cancels the celestial revelation.
First Mormesk and now you! What a day...
I shall answer all your questions to the best of my abilities but can we please discuss this normally? We are neither bandits nor criminals but here on an official mission. Fighting insanely powerful monsters and bandits is bad enough!

"I understand Mormesk the Piercing has tasked you to rid us of this interloper Nezzer, and you've been tasked to rid the mine of bandits and orcs, but under who's authority have you come and what is their original purpose?"

We are here under the authority of the current and rightful owners of the mines, the dwarven brothers Gundren Tharden and Nundro Rockseeker of Phandalin! Their names are engraved on the plate near the elevator at the entrance. Furthermore we have approval of Master Daran Edermath and Sir Harbin Wester - the noble currently in charge of Phandalin. However none of those ever mentioned anything about a Forge of Spells, Nezzer, Sir Mormesk or you. Master Edermath suggested there probably were only a few orcs in the mine. Or bandit squatters. We were sent here on a routine exploration mission. As of why we were not told about what was going on here - this I would love to know myself. At least Master Edermath must have known about the Forge of spells I presume? But he is an old man making apple cider now. I am absolutely at loss about what is going on here to be honest. Nothing makes any sense...

"In what world is the Forge of Spells now?"

Yulya desperately shakes her head
In Eldaths name - I do not even know what the Forge of Spells is supposed to be - let alone what happened to it or where it is now! But I believe the knowledge about its very existence has vanished over the centuries. For Phandalin this place is just an ore mine. Unless they have all deceived us...

"How has Mormesk become undead?"

He would not say. My impression was that he is not even aware of it. He believes he is still alive and - like you I must say - has no concept of the amount of time that has passed. But he currently looks just like...
Yulya gestures at the flaming skulls
...them. He is on the level above. It looks like a lot of wizards died there fighting orcs. Maybe Sir Mormesk was among them. But I am afraid the centuries have taken a toll on his memories. I strongly suggest to meet up with him and clarify a few things. Maybe this would help both of you.

"What information are you lacking about Nezzer that you feel I should know?."

Ah where to start? We only learned about his existence from a bandit we interrogated. And Sir Mormesk confirmed his presence. Any information would help no matter how small. What could he be doing here? What are his powers strengths and weaknesses? Sir Mormesk said Nezzer had opened rifts in the material plane to the underdark but he managed to close them. We fought fume drakes! Why would Nezzer do that? I also do not understand how he managed to get past Sir Mormesk - and you. Did you encounter him? Did you meet any bandits? It appears they were in this room but fled.

So please no more unnecessary fighting! Our mission is hard enough and our enemies are numerous and strong. We who share a common goal cannot afford to fight among each other in these dire times!