Yulya has reached her limit. She looks at Ashley.
Well done. I am glad you are still up. Be careful with this body now. I need to rest. Where shall we set up our camp?

Yulya casts Bless on Ashley and Alice and sits down unable to go further.

Yulya signals Ashley to come within her range, as she is already handicapped, to use her HEALING HANDS on her, but {Ashley} does not comply. Then she retreats 20ft northwest.

Yulya shakes her head and trods off. She boosts Toll The Dead to level1 and casts it on the ooze

Alice still is excited.
Even if we can't make things go kaboom, it's still toxin and acid!
We should cook that outdoors, not in there.

Yulya is not convinced.
You would need Cat for the cooking and we cannot risk having her poisoned or blown to pieces! Let us leave this for later.

A very large Ocre Jelly fills the small cave ahead (W2).
Cat is very familiar with these creatures as they're native to this area and commonly found in caves. She knows that this one is especially large and especially hard to kill. She knows not to use slashing weapons on it and to avoid physical contact as it is highly corrosive, luckily it is slow and unintelligent but still something that needs to be eliminated if resting in this area is desired.

Yulya is relieved Ashley appears to have enough common sense not to attack this hazardous creature with her fists. Learning details from Cat she tries to communicate to Ashley that the ooze is poisonous and corrosive and must not be touched as Ashley's body would not survive this. She recommends Ashley should pick up her shield gain as soon as possible.
Stay away from this monster and keep a safe distance! Only attack it from range! Can arrows even damage it Cat? Does it have a core?

Alice can barely be stopped from running up and jumping at the creature in delight like a child hopping around on a water bed

Yulya catches Alice by an ear and drags her back.



Stop that nonsense!
Even the mechatherial Goddess in Ashley's body is more reasonable than you! This is a dangerous monster that would even destroy your body! Search the boxes nearby if there is anything useful! Melee is out of question and arrows will also be destroyed even if  they hit. Are there any scrap piercing weapons we can throw at this ooze?

Yulya hopes that Cat or Alice can deal ranged damage first. If so she will cast Toll the Dead. If not, Sacred Flame.

Cat rotates an ear to Yulya and gives her a puzzled look to confirm that Ashley hasn't gone crazy.

Yulya quickly fills in Cat on the news that Ashleys body is now controlled by the mechatherial demigoddess M3gan

Cat takes her crowbar and inserts it into the links of the chain, creating a bar to hold on to. Theen she gently but steadily pulls the chain down

Yulya quickly stops the barbarian's crude attempt tp 'solve problems' by brute force
Wait a minute Cat! This is a delicate mechanism! I wonder who made this? Gnomes? If you break it we may be safe for the moment but we will never be able to get down there!



Alice!
Climb up the chain and apply lamp oil to the gears up there where the chain begins! It is probably just a bit rusted!

Yulya falls to her knees in relief as the bugbear commander goes down.

Given her illegal move, she can feel her very life-force draining and as the energy flows through her, she feels her invulnerability fade as well with Ashley's wild magic surging through her once again; it is replaced this time with searing pain in her eyes, and as that pain fades, for the next minute, she has true sight to 90ft.
Yulya's pupils unnaturally glow an infernal warm hue like Ashley's for the next minute. Additionally, Yulya has gained a psychic connection to {Ashley}.

Yulya covers her eyes but is glad the damage appears to be marginal. She looks around at Ashley and Alice to see what her newfound truesight can reveal.

With Yulya's enhanced vision she can see Ashley for what she really is, invisible to normal or darkvision, mechanical celestial wings float behind her and she's surrounded by a divine aura of lightning and metal, her expression is uncharacteristically jovial, delighted even.
Abandoning her shield near the table where she was killed, she turns and silently moves North toward the northern passage with the grace usually only reserved for the divine, presumably to find the elevator shaft.

Did you turn her into an Undead? Good job!

Uh, I think this is the mechatherial demigoddess Ashley formed a pact with not Ashley herself! Try not to provoke her!
Let us follow her and see where she is going. She is weaker than she thinks! Just like you! It is always troublesome when powerful beings materialize in a weak body...



Yulya quickly follows the mechatherial goddess in Ashley's body and drags Alice with her while looking for traps.
Cat! Come join us and protect Ashley! I will explain later!

My host laughed at Alice falling into the obvious trap but I think she meant well and tried to do something useful when she thought she had no option to attack. Though than was not exectly smart. We must coordinate better.

Yulya feels relieved her attack connects but the enemy still is strong and mobile!

Yulya feels an unnatural presence, she looks at Ashley but there's no sign it's from her.

Yulya tries to determine the nature of that presence but there is no time for a serious investigation. She casts BANE on the bugbear commander and then falls back 20 ft South.



Alice stop fooling around and get back here! We need more ranged attacks!

Ashley revives and looks up at Yulya, "Thanks..." She then looks around and reconnects with her summons and rally's growth. With her use action, she sees Yulya's gem and uses nearly the rest of her MP to charge it to full 6/6 again. "It looks like we're losing, desperate times call for desperate measures, use this! And next time I'm out, and we're all going to go down anyway, finish me off, SheShe said the mechathereal goddess will take control and with her additional powers, we have a chance, just don't use necrotic damage, for many reasons."

Yulya looks at her revived companion with confusion then outright fear
Even if that would work I... I cannot do that in Eldaths name! I am here to protect not kill my friends!

"I guess this is it then, I can't outrun him, I can't escape without him getting a pot shot on me..." Ashley stands, drops her shield, puffs out her chest and taunts, "Hey Furry butt, naya nah nah na-nah, ya big dummy." She closes her eyes in anticipation of the blow.

The bugbear sees his prey escape him North and she's too fast to catch. Frustrated he looks to his companion in the door and yells expletives at his incompetence. Seeing Ashley revive and taunt him. [Taunt DC11(INT) vs INT 1d20+1=9] He falls for the ploy and attacks Ashley in his rage at being mocked.

[HIT A vs AC11 1d20+10=(14,16)][DMG 3d12+7=26] Ashley is once again struck down 1 HP shy of death and fails her save, she needs three saves before three fails to stabilize.

The Bugbear then Attacks Yulya with multi-attack to get past her at least. [HIT A vs AC17 1d20+10=(22,26)][DMG 3d12+7=25]

Yulya is struck down again allowing the Bugbear to run north past her and revives soon after, again prone, with full health and a decision to make.

Impressed by Ashleys courage Yulya decides - to let Alice do the dirty work.
She gets up and moves 10ft S to the puny remains of her alien friend.
Oh dear you look almost as bad as when I found you!

Yulya scoops the puddles together and pours Alices healing potion on her.


As Alice revives Yulya has some bad news for the wriggling blob.
Alice are you alright? Can you hear me? Unfortunately things do not look good and we are out of time. I have a task for you only you can do.

Yulya points at Ashley
I know it is insane but Ashley asked me to kill her so she could be revived by her pact with the mechatherial Goddess and be granted her power. Power just like I have right now. I have no idea how and why but all I can do is trust Ashley. I abhor the idea but she said this is the only way. Can you do it? And be careful that monster does not hit you again! I probably cannot get you back in shape again anytime soon!

Following Alice, Yulya moves 5ft N