Oh yeah, while I was gone, I was in some other plane with Nezzner. Beautiful garden, warm and green. There was an elf, maybe one of your gods and 2 catgirls having a tea party. The elf god just cut Nezzner's head off and the catgirls gave it to me. I tried to explain about my ship to him but I don't think he listened. Then he sent me back saying it was not my time or something. Weird. No idea what that amulet Nezzner grabbed was supposed to do. Ohh and his body was sucked into the Negative Plane by a dark vortex. Somehow like Ashley's cats despawning but much stronger. Maybe he was cursed or sold his soul to a demon. No idea.

Yulyas eyes widen upon hearing Alices casual story of traveling to the divine realms
You experienced WHAT? Was that Lord Corellon you met? How and why did Nezzner teleport there - just to be killed?
Yulya remembers seeing a similar scene with Ashley having a tea party with her goddesses when she first died. With a shiver she imagines what could have happened if Alice had tried to cut off Corellons or the mysterious divine catgirls ears or molested them otherwise on a whim.



A-anyways good work! The Gods are with us! You will need to give a detailed report later - also to Ashley when... if she returns.
Yulya glances over to the sleepy Panther with unease.

For now let us continue exploring South. Should the skulls reappear - someone...
Yulya looks at Alice
...will have to lure them into the cave-in trap and trigger it. It is our only realistic chance of taking them down. We should have a little time until they stop fleeing and then they will have to come back. I doubt we will find them by chance but let us try.

Yulya leads the party clockwise east and then south around the sparks of the Forge in a safe distance and to the unexplored  bulette tunnel there.

Yulya is relieved something finally worked and the undead beast was finally defeated. But the relief doesn't last long as she remembers there are still 2 flaming skulls out there.
Let us find the skulls - maybe we can still deal some damage while my spells are in effect! Stay together and do not split up! We have no chance against even one skull unless we combine all our powers!

Yulya dashes east but stays behind the others

The violently thrashing bulette zombie refuses to be caught in the light.
Yulya's woefully slow to catch the dashing skulls as they split up, one going north while the other goes south. She's lost track of them.
Alice suddenly appears right where she was standing, at her feet three fingers and two rings still lay. She is holding the severed head of Nezzner and has a dream-like story to tell.
Yulya nearly walks right into her, surprised by her sudden reappearance.

Yulya is startled - even more so that Alice managed to kill Nezzner behead him and return within seconds - happily sticking a severed head in her face. Her intuition tells her some higher power must have intervened but Alice has no time for explanations. Yulya quickly grabs Nezzners rings but also has no time to investigate them right now.
T-thank you and good work - I am glad you returned safely! But keep that head away from me! I hope Sir Mormesk picks it up soon so this charade is over!



Yulya finds herself running back and forth between the skulls and the bulette neither damaging either of them. But with the skulls gone Yulya focuses on the bulette again. She moves 30 ft west with Alice and once more casts Sacred Flame amplified with the goblin staff on the zombie bulette. With her entire party now attacking the undead monster, it should be re-deaded soon.

In a brilliant flash of light both Nezzner and Alice disappear.
Yulya doesn't know what he did other than use his amulet but she can't sense his magic any longer, just like the Spectator, he's just gone and Alice with him.

Yulya looks around in confusion then glances over to M3gan
Nonono thats not good - not good at all! Where did they go?

Yulya is shocked, apparently, to find out that these abominations are actually undead, unlike the ghouls, and Inflict Wounds uses necrotic damage which actually heals undead due to it's negative energy. Though Bane does work, she wastes 1MP and 1SP in the process, leaving the two in otherwise pristine condition.

I should have used Create Water amplified by the Focus instead!

At the very least, they are affected by Bane. And Cat is miraculously spared by the fireballs

Yulya realizes Cat wont make it a second time. In order to separate the skulls  she hesitantly approaches 30ft and casts Turn Undead on the 2 skulls. They should be within 30ft. If one skull is not turned, Yulya combines Create Water boosted on a LV2 spellslot with Sacred Flame and casts Holy Water on the non-turned skull.

Yulya facepalms, overwhelmed by this new situation and the conflict between Mormesk and the Spectator. She moves in and raises her hands in a desperate plea.



Gentlemen, Gentlemen PLEASE!
May I remind you that you Sir Mormesk tasked us with bringing you Nezzners head? We had apprehended him and were on the verge of completing this task when you demanded his release. By this I consider our promise fulfilled!

Great Spectator!
Your desire to meet Sir Mormesk was also satisfied! Did we not complete the missions you bestowed upon us? Have we not done anything you demanded by clearing this mine?

The cause of all the troubles is still here before you - the criminal Nezzner who invaded this mountain with his horde of bandits and monsters and caused great destruction! The criminal Nezzner who collaborates with bandits, monsters and goblins! The criminal Nzzner who abducts maidens of Phandalin for his dark plans! The criminal Nezzner whose pawns are nothing but lowly criminals who rob carriages and abduct orphaned girls.

Yuyla stares at Nezzner.
And you dare to speak to others of shame?

She returns to addressing Mormesk and the Spectator
This man is our common enemy - an enemy of law and the civilized world! You both were tasked with upholding order and justice, were you not? There is no need to fight each other! Both of you hold powers beyond imagination! The world out there is in great peril and needs those powers. Only combined we can fight evil. Evil like this man whonow calls himself the Black Spider!!

Yulya points as Nezzner.
Don't you see how he tries to sweet-talk both of you, plotting you against each other? Do not fall for his lowly tricks!

Yulya glances over to M3gan and whispers.
Show them your power and the crystal! Maybe they recognize your authority! But in any case let us focus on Nezzner first!

Yulya gives Cat the signal to attack.
She forms an Emboldening Bond between Alice and Cat and with one use of the Ring of Quick Casting casts Bless on her 3 teammates. When Nezzner is grappled and hopefully relieved of at least some of his magical items, with a second use of the ring she boosts Sacred Flame to the max with the focus and the goblin staff and casts it on Nezzner.

Yulya's residual sense from her detect magic spikes off the scales and she turns to see a familiar... face.[/i
The jaw of this frightening skeletal being opens as it did before and your minds are filled with knowledge. He addresses you as Mormesk once again but this time with recognition, barely.
"I'm afraid I may be early, or late as I have no way of determining when the full moon will be, the mountain has been sealed..." He contemplates the situation, "So it is true, the Forge of Spells has been taken and now I understand why I was never retrieved."

Yulya would never have imagined being glad to see an undead but in this case she is. Hoping that Mormesk will handle all the unpleasant things regarding Nezzner She steps away from him to address Mormesk and bows.
Sir Mormesk!
You have just arrived in time. As you see we have apprehended the man you asked for!

Yulya is a bit wary of having Nezzner speak to Mormesk fearing he may charm the undead and make him go against them - or even eliminate him. But there is little choice. She quickly gesticulates to Cat to let Nezzner go but also to remain alert.
Sir Mormesk! This man is extremely dangerous even in this weakened state - and even for someone of your excellence! Please be careful! I recommend stripping him of his magical items!

Yulya presents Nezzners staff to Mormesk
This is his staff - it appears depleted though I cannot be sure.

Additionally he lays his sights on M3gan Panther and aims his scepter.

Yulya panics and gesticulates to Mormesk
Nonono, Sir Mormesk please! I am grateful you eliminated our enemies but this is the Mechatherial Demigoddess M3gan possessing the body of our teammate Ashley! She is our ally and friend and without her we could never have captured Nezzner! Please refrain from attacking her! I am certain you can determine her status if you give her a closer look - even if she is now in this Panther form!

Yulya tries to divert Mormesks attention.
By the way - the being called the Spectator - has sealed the mountain to prevent Nezzners escape. He has expressed the desire to meet you. May I suggest we all gather when we are done here? I am sure you both could exchange a lot of knowledge and answer each others questions - including the whereabouts of the Forge of Spells. I am certain it all can be resolved.

Additionally...
Yulya nestles with her fingers
...we cannot leave this mountain and return to Phandalin unless the Spectator lifts this barrier! And we want to bring our wizard friend Summer here to meet you, do you remember? She could probably inform you about the state of affairs in Neverwinter and the Greycloaks. But for now please deal with this man as you see fit!
Yulya nervously glances at Nezzner
Do not even think about pulling off any underhanded tricks here! No spells, no somatic gestures!

Yulya whispers to Cat
I cast Heroism on you so stop being afraid! I do not like saying it but if Nezzner starts casting any spells cut off his arms! Do not hold back!

Yulya will alert Cat should Nezzner make somatic gestures
She readies her focus to cast Sacred Flame amplified with everything she got on Nezzner should he attack her party or Mormesk.
We cannot take any risks here after coming so far and apprehending this man!

Yulya feels the real battle has not even begun yet...

Flanking with Cat, Yulya casts Sacred Flame amplified by goblin staff and celestial revelation on Nezzner. On the way and outside his opportunity attack range Yulya picks up his staff, all while averting her eyes from his gaze.
The staff feels remarkably light, but she can tell it would take some attunement to use it. She can't tell what it does but it looks depleted for today anyway as all the seven gems on it are dull and dark.

Still avering her eyes from Nezzer Yulya briefly looks at the staff not sure if it poses any danger. In a prayer she asks Eldath and SheShe if she should keep it or get rid of it. Even with its energy expended it radiates enough magical energy so Yulya was able to detect it.

Nezzner's muffled scream of pain indicates it hurt him significantly.

Yulya catches herself feeling conflicted bout this. On one hand she is glad her attack is connecting but she is attacking an unarmed and restrained humanoid that has shown no open hostility...
Yulya hopes to offload killing Nezzner to someone else and moves up to Cat bestowing Domain Spell Heroism on her for 0MP. Then she moves back to her previous position. She sees Alice being chased by a bugbear and glances over to the ghoul. There are still far too many enemies around - not to speak of zombie material. Yulya nervously looks at M3gan panther hoping she will be done soon so she can deal with the bugbear.

Yulya uses 1MP from the focus and casts Detect Magic to reveal Nezzner's location. If possible she attempts to flank him with Cat if he's revealed but keeps as much distance as possible.
For a brief moment Yulya can see the faint outline of the staff Nezzner is carrying, so she alerts Cat; however, she can feel Ashley's wild magic [1d100=67] and she's struck with intense fear and unable to move this turn. While fearfully fuddling with Ashley's Focus, she realizes that Ashley filled the large focus just before she left and she hasn't used it yet, though with Ashley's wild magic, this is more of a gamble than ever.
Yulya can detect Nezzner, so though Cat is alerted and with her enahnced smell, she has pinpointed him and attempts to grapple him without Yulya's flank.
Attempting to sneak past, he's startled by the use of detect magic against him, he throws his staff but it's too late, Cat manages to grab him and in this way he's unable to use magic or move, he struggles against her as his invisibility fades.

Haha I got him Yulya Nya!
Cat shouts triumphantly. Finally something works after the shooting disasters.
Now what Yulya Nya? Yulya Nya?
Cat is puzzeled by Yulya's lack of action.

Yulya is too busy being afraid to be relieved or to respond.