Top of the Round
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Early Bird is the twenty-sixth episode of Book 1 of Top of the Round.

What's a trial without a boss fight? Chaz, Se'ku, and Talice give it their all against a foe the likes of which they've never faced before.

The Brad Report[]

Mizula
Why are you here, Brad?
Brad
Who is that? I don’t let strangers into my mind. Answer yourself now! Who is this?
Mizula
You’re not allowed in here. If you continue, you will die.
Brad
I go where the story takes me. I don’t let silly things like mortality stand in the way of the truth.
Mizula
And what story are you following?
Brad
The story of the three adventurers: Se’ku, Talice, and Chaz.
Mizula
If I tell you, will you leave?
Brad
If what you say is accurate and true, then yes.
Mizula
I have no reason to lie to you, Brad. I don’t want you to die.
Brad
Flattery will get you nowhere.
Mizula
The group you speak of were here.
Brad
What were they doing?
Mizula
Chaz’s family celebrated his return. And then I offered him a trial.
Brad
A trial?
Mizula
To become a champion.
Brad
Of the Evergrove?
Mizula
Of me.
Brad
And who are you exactly?
Mizula
My name is Mizula.
Brad
You’re one of the Old Gods, aren’t you?
Mizula
That is correct. Goddess is fine.
Brad
What sort of trial?
Mizula
I sent them beneath the maelstrom to fight the trial guardian.
Brad
I can only assume it was a perilous journey.
Mizula
It wouldn’t be much of a trial if it wasn’t.
Brad
Did they survive the trials?
Mizula
Now what fun would that be, telling you everything upfront?
Brad
I’m gonna try to get more information out of her, but for now, back to you Kenon!

Detailed Synopsis[]

The battle is on between the three adventurers and the trial boss: a 20-foot giant rock worm.

They are in a 50’ diameter cavern. The worm has emerged from the back of the cavern close to Chaz.  

The worm quickly begins producing a thick icy fog, obscuring it and making it difficult to target. The fog also condenses and begins freezing the party if they don’t move on their turns.

The worm tends to focus on attacking Chaz, since it is his trial after all.  Ironically, Chaz has the hardest time of the three doing any damage. This is in part because he used most of his spell slots on the journey to the worm, and he has little left by the time the boss fight begins. Eventually he wildshapes into a cassowary, but even then, he has a difficult time landing any of his blows.

Se’ku turns invisible and gets up close and does a lot of damage in melee with the worm.  His displacer cloak makes it very difficult for the worm to land any blows on him. Despite the fog obscuring the worm and causing all her crossbow shots to be at disadvantage, Talice also gets a number of solid hits in.  Talice is the one who deals the killing blow, causing the worm to crumple and shatter into ice chunks.

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