Round 4, Init 16
AC = 25
HP = 141/141
Weapon Equipped = Black Tooth
Condition(s) = Overland Flight, Ext. Heroism, Ext. Life Bubble, 3 hours, Veil, 11 hours, Ext. Communal Darkvision, Inspiration, Greater Invisibility 4/10, Blessing of Fervor, Hasted
Barael lashes out without success from the ground, taking his Blessing in the form of an accelerated spring from his back.
There's no way I can move in a way that it can't strike me down again. This is a beast if there ever was one.
He braces for the inevitable tailswipe, but flies up to join the others nonetheless. Keep it busy...Find the Ache...Stay alive...
Barael moves up and stabs the beast deeply in the chest, but not before getting an AoO of his own as he closes.
Nikolay flies up and strikes, but misses his target. Fondo stands and inspires the party to greater glory. Charlie manages three hits for 42 hp damage, nonlethal. Well done. Briar taunts the dragon trying to get him to follow down among the heavy damage dealers. He also shoots, but misses and he’s not sure what Sabina is thinking, but she does seem to be fighting the dragon at least. Barael finally gets up off the mat and flies up to challenge the beast - and hits! Dandilion gives the dragon the evil eye and it becomes unsettled and easier to hit. Majenko continues his bardic performance but is unsure what else to do. He reflexively attacks the dragon as he 5’ steps further away… and connects!
Sabina presses her attack on the dragon the only way she knows how - by pulling out her bow and dropping her Falchion (it dangles loosely from her weapon cord likely hampering her shot a little).
(weapon cord)
(weapon cord)
The dragon looks around at his foes, and tries to defensively cast a quick spell. Majenko sees his attempt and flutters around in his face a little as he does so increasing the difficulty (Disruptive, +4 DC).
vs DC 23+4
Not only does the spell fail thanks to his meddling, but Majenko gets a free swing on his failure (Spellbreaker)
(inspire) (inspire)
The monstrously large dragon looks at the tiny foe with a new appreciation. He looks at the array of foes against him and decides to flee the room squirming through small hallways slowing his departure (huge movement though). AoOs from Nikolay and Barael might finish him off before he gets away with a little luck...
Round 4, Init 9
AC=30 with shield, fervor, lunge
Stoneskin 0/140 used
Flying via overland flight
Nikolay tries to finish off the dragon before it gets away. He'll pursue if he doesn't drop it on the AoO. He'll fly up right next to it (provoking) so he can hope for an AoO next round.
(BAB +10, STR +4, Black blade +4, Weapon Focus +1, -3 Power Attack)
(+6 STR, +4 Black blade, +9 Power Attack, +2 Weapon specialization)
Barael has flank. Is that included in your attack? If so you missed and he flees, if not you hit and drop the dragon!
Sorry. Nikolay hit but did not drop the dragon. If Barael hits it will fall.
Fondo calls out, "Can someone 'port me to the beast? Nik?"
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Yeah, that can go either way. I'm going to lean your way this time to save a complex chase through the castle over ~10hp, but I reserve the right to lean the other way in future rulings. :)
The dragon falls to the ground (), nearly on top of Sabina who wheels on the party, but does not strike. She in fact backs to the hallway the dragon was making for, though she does not immediately flee down it.
Holding her sword between the party and herself she asks, "Who are you and what the hell is going on?" (image)
Oh, Majenko ends his inspiration with a flourish, healing everyone (except the Dragon and Sabina who is uninjured)
"We met once, months ago. We are the ones who found the cure. I'm Fondo. We wish to rid Ileosa of that evil which does occupy her soul. We know that she has used enchantment to keep you in check, just as the demon Kazavon does lead her to great wickedness." He makes Serithtiel disappear into his hand. "Please, come with us to meet the friends we share. Vencarlo Orisini sends his love."
Fondo speaks calmly, pouring on the charm as best he can.
"Oh, OH! You're Fondo!" she instinctively lunges in his direction with her sword, but she stops herself before the swing falls. Clearly conflicted, she backs back to the hallway, breathing heavily. She shakes her head a couple times to try and clear it and looks out at the party.
Briar airelfwalks over and put two, no three, arrows in the skull of the dragon.
"We should take this with us," Briar says, indicating the dragon, preparing to handle the load himself. "They might be able to give him a rebirth."
While waiting for Fondo to calm Sabina, Briar casts Detect Magic and looks around.
Perception - magic and loots
"Come with us, Sabina. Come talk to Vencarlo. You have my word we'll let you go after we talk more privately. None of us are safe here."
She swings her sword point from Fondo to Briar and back, "No, nobody comes down here, it's not permitted. We'll talk here, no one will bother us. What do you want? What's going on?"
The dragon dies in a puddle of bile and acid.
"They had bewitched you, Sabina, so that you would not stop their iniquities. They are killing Korvosa, and have used foul magics to make you complicit in their sin. Vencarlo has spoken so well of you and hoped we might free you. Have we?"
Ooohhh. She's still mixed in the head. This won't be as easy as we'd like it to be. The dragon may have proved simpler.
Barael sheathes his blade, and briefly puts his palms forward in a sign of good faith towards the recently deluded woman.
"Sabina, you were submerged under an enchantment, one that took quite a bit to bring you to the surface again. Please don't allow yourself to slip below the waves again. From the first time we met, me and my friends have come to understand a great many things. The greatest of them all is the evil that has come to possess or conspire with the queen, in the form of a relic called the Fangs of Kazavon. She's been corrupted, and through her, the whole of Korvosa has fallen quite low. We were told by Vencarlo that you could be brought back from this corruption, and join in overcoming the ancient evil. We're here, because we believe Vencarlo, and because he believes in you. We need your help."
Fondo smiles. "You see, milady Merrin? No thought have we to bring you harm. But rather, we would bring you unto friends. Vencarlo and Korvosa's other patriots would have you by their side, and treat the queen with fairness once the Fangs have found their grave."
He pauses, looking intently at her. "Or have you found her deeds of late to be what drew your loyalty? I reckon you have seen far worse than we can guess." He speaks with a kind tone.
"Sabina, I'm not sure you are completely free of this yet. I think need to get you out of here. Can one of you guys examine the magics in here or on our friend here. Barael, do you remember the pull that room had on you back in the desert?"
Sabina lowers her sword a bit as she thinks, she says softly, "What.. what has she done?" She seems to be asking herself as much as she's asking the party - or maybe she's just afraid of the answer. Sabina looks... unwell and conflicted and very very tired.
The high sense motives in the party seem to indicate she is free of enchantments - though that's never for certain with such non-magical methods.
"Ok Sabina, I know this is hard, but I have a spell that might clear the cobwebs, but you'll need to trust me. We've never had a drink together, but maybe we can change that at least."
Charlie takes out a fresh bottle of the good stuff and pours two glasses quickly drinking and refilling his own.
"What do you say? Will you let me clean out the last remnants?"
Fondo thinks to anyone who can hear his thoughts, Spells cannot her grief repair. But drink may stave it off for now.
Sabina lowers her sword even further. It now hangs, limply, at her side. "She has done things... horrible things." She looks to the ground for answers to a question she already knows, "Why didn't I do anything?"
She numbly takes the drink from Charlie and downs it like a soldier.
She looks to the party, "Why didn't anyone do anything?"
- - -
The only twinge you're getting is from what the party has, and some fading residuals on Sabina. There are no current magics working on her, or the party (excepting what they usually have).
Oh, Sabina has magic: Armor, Shield, Falchion, two Rings, her Belt and her Cloak.
"We are doing something, and hope you will join us in the doing. You were ensorcelled, and cannot be held accountable for that time, but now you are free. There are others too, that have fought for the city in the meanwhile. They would welcome another on the side of good. And your mentor, Vencarlo would talk with you, if you will but come with us."
Briar looks at Sabina and nods.
She's going to have some sleepless nights. Poor varisian.
Realizing that their initial work is done here, Briar focuses again on the dragon.
"I will be taking this elsewhere...you will be seeing Sabina to Vencarlo, then?" Briar asks Fondo as he readies to make leave. "Anyone else want a lift back? I can take two in addition to this body."
When the party is ready to go, Briar will cast Word of Recall and return to the Craftorium, taking along with him the body of the dragon.
She holds out her glass to Charlie for a refill, and agrees to join the party. She drifts along as the party makes their preparations. She continues to live in her own world, struggling with what she hasn't done... and what she has.
Charlie refills her glass and his. He keeps up with her glass and her steps wherever they may lead.
Fondo thinks to Majenko, Would you scan the room for magicks that Ileosa''s dragon might have taken as its own? Our movement needs what arms and magics it can muster...
Aloud, he says to Sabina, "There's much that you can do once we've left this place. The Maidens keep the poor of Old Korvosa from the cure they need to stop the plague. Mayhap your word could change their course, as well. But first let's see Vencarlo and set arms aside anon." He holds out his hand to her, a slight flourish of a bow telegraphing peacefulness.
Barael watches Sabina with a mixture of pity and mistrust. Not necessarily that she would injure any of his companions, but that she might grieve too deeply, and seek to injure herself in whatever atonement she may be envisioning from this moment forward.
Barael looks around the room, trying to set it to memory for all of Neolandus's maps. "Sabina, we understand Togomor is quite strong in his arts. Does he turn his gaze to the castle interiors as much as he must look outwards? He's already tried to scry us before, so the longer we delay here, the greater the danger of our discovery." He turns to Briar.
"I'll join you, at least. I'm interested to know what you intend to do with the dragon's body."
Nikolay thinks about pulling out a cup to join Charlie and Sabina, but decides to keep his distance. He scans the room for magic, but then turns to the dragon when he finds none. He pokes and prods at the beast and wonders what it would be like to ride upon one.
When people are ready, he will teleport whoever is left back home.
Briar, seeing that Nikolay and Barael are ready to go, casts Word of Recall and takes the dragon body and Barael back to the Craftorium.
"That was interesting, was it not, Barael. All that remains now is to get Nikolay or Dandi to help me deliver this body to the Groupe en Masse, the Resistance. Perhaps they have some butchers and craftsmen who wish to work on this dragon and let us do the fighting."
Briar restocks his arrows and awaits Dandi.
"Waif, would you do me the favor of moving this body over near Cressida and Vencarlo? Would it be that one of their recruits might make use of the dragon and we might use other parts."
Briar, Barael and the bulky dragon appear in the craftorium scaring the living daylights out of poor Deyanira who very nearly teleports back to Kaer Maga before Barael can convince her it's really OK.
Nikolay and the others casts teleport (?) and also appears back in the craftorium where Sabina looks around idly before being led (I presume) across the graveyard to the church of Pharasma and into the belly of the resistance. Vencarlo is not there, but Cressida sends for him directly and he is found and returns by the end of the hour.
He immediately takes Sabina into an inner chamber and begins, gently, telling her what has been going on the past weeks... months?... since magics clouded her eyes and her will.
Barael looks over the dragon's corpse, and looks up to Briar. "'Interesting' is certainly a word, Long-Lived. 'Terrifying', another. There was no real way to shoulder cross around this beast. It could detect me plain as day, and my left ear is still ringing from the tail slap." Barael works his way around the giant lizard.
"You know, when you decide to move the body over, you should have Charlie riding it. The mood is quite dire, as of late, and Charlie's the one to lift spirits." Barael smiles as he pictures the old man as dragon rider.
"With Sabina acting all confused, do you think we'll gain any actionable intelligence on the queen's activities? How much do you think she really remembers? Or wants to remember?" Barael frowns with the consideration.
His frown doesn't last long. "I've never eaten dragon before. I'm thinking it tastes a bit like alligator." Barael turns to Dandi, steps up quickly, and embraces her.
"You managed much better than I in the face of the dragon. I should have remembered your lesson. My Vanish was nothing to it, although it did help avoid hurting Sabina." Barael lets go, but not without looking her over, searching for signs of injury. Yes, injury, that's it.
"Roast dragon?"
Nikolay ponders the thought.
"Barbecue sauce? A good spice rub? And then, what wine to serve with it? Something with some kick."
Nikolay begins to rummage through his haversack.
"Roast dragon?"
Briar seems pleased, if not surprised, that Nikolay is seemingly enthused with the idea of a DragonFeast.
"Indeed, Sward. A DragonFeast. I cannot think of a better way to enjoy our victory while simultaneously permanently ridding ourself of this foe. I have yet other plans for the head, hide, claws, and wings, but the meat? The meat should be used for celebration."
Briar looks to Dandi and Nikolay.
"Would one of you help get the carcass to Cressida? It's not too far away and your magics are more precise than mine. "
Fondo nods respectfully at Vencarlo as Sabina is delivered into the older man's care, and then goes looking for Nikolay and Deyanira. "I see that Serithtiel's bright light does beckon foes to me. I would some magics find—a wand, mayhap, or scrolls—to aid my defense. Blur the eyes of foes, or mayhap replicate my image as unto a mirror. Have you knowledge of such wards?"
He wrinkles his nose at the dragon. "This drake would be most burdensome inside my tum. What spices might its acids abnegate?"
"You managed much better than I in the face of the dragon. "
"I... couldn't see you, though I am sure you were very brave. I meant to be able to see you this time." He could have been killed and I would never have known! She shakes a little in his arms, the realization of how close he had been to the beastly dragon sinking in.
Her hair coils and curls, soothing over his ear and healing what damage she finds. "Better?"
"Would one of you help get the carcass to Cressida? "
"Hmmmm, Briar? Oh yes, I will take you. We'll be quick, won't we?" She only takes her eyes from Barael at the last, once she is assured that he is whole and safe.
"Better?"
Barael closes his eyes, concentrating on curl's touch. He nods, as the healing warms and fades. "Yes, much better. And getting better all the time." Barael looks back and forth between Dandi and Briar, as they plan to convey the dragon carcass from the Warrens.
"Is there room for one more? I can't miss the looks on their faces." Barael looks apologetically at Deyanira. "Sorry, miss Deya, it's just that..." Barael giggles quietly. "...I can't fault you for your reaction, not at all, and I feel just a little guilty for taking such amusement away from it. Forgive me, and don't judge me that I want to see it again with Vencarlo and Cressida." Barael turns to Briar and Dandi.
"Do I need to run ahead, or can we mount Charlie and go?"
Before Charlie leaves Sabina in Vencarlo's capable hands, he'll try to cast Heal on her with her consent.
Briar looks to Dandi and Nikolay.
"Would one of you help get the carcass to Cressida? It's not too far away and your magics are more precise than mine. "
Briar waits, wondering who allowed Deya into the Craftorium.
Dandi steps back, putting on her "business" face, though the occasional wayward wisp of a curl continues to fall over Barael's shoulder.
"I think I can manage Briar and the dragon, with Charlie atop it, and Barrie with me. Can someone else gather the rest that would like to go?"
Briar gives thanks for Dandi for the aid in getting the body over to Cressida and her people.
When they arrive, Briar will seek out (or, better yet, have Cressida summoned) so that he might speak with her.
Briar hops off the dragon, still admiring his arrows still firmly implanted in the dragon's skull and body.
"Cressida, you asked for a slain dragon. We bring you a slain dragon," Briar proudly exclaims. "However, now that we have done a good deed for you, I have a boon to ask of you. I need butchers and taxidermists, bakers and crafters. Do you have any amongst your men? We need the meat of this dragon prepared for a feast...the hide, claws, head, fangs, wings and tail saved and separated for another task. Do you have men who can help with this?"
"If your men wish to eat of the dragon to gain its strength, they are welcome to have it. But we do this not only to celebrate our victory, but to also prevent this evil from being reborn again by the Queen's hand."
The only room the party has seen that is large enough for the dragon, and a few party members, is the main church. Are you sure you dump the dragon there in the open? There's likely a storage room or two that'll work as well under the church somewhere, but you're not familiar with the holy church of Pharasma. Or the choir loft at least (the floor should be strong enough to hold it...).
I'm also not sure how you're moving the creature. It's dead now, so it's not a 'creature' to be transported but rather dead weight. I don't think word of recall would have worked either - especially as the dragon would not have been 'willing' - alive or dead. We're past that now and I'm not going back, but I've got my eye on you people (tries to muster an evil eye without coffee and fails).
Briar returns with the dragon head, placing it in his craftorium for later research, target practice, and grumpily wonders why Deyanira is there.
Briar replenishes his arrows while deciding what to do next.
It is mid-morning Toilday Rova 18, 4707. Sabina and Vencarlo are likely to talk until lunchtime, though you could interrupt sooner if you like. Do you take the head to Cressida, or stop there at all now?
For reference, here's the short list that Cressida asked for help with (link). Of course you are free to do whatever you please, but I thought I'd post that again to save hunting for it. 'course in a half a day (not even) you've done half the list!
Fondo waits with in the temple while Vencarlo and Sabina chat. He asks Cressida, "Could she turn the maidens 'gainst their queen? Has she the influence to make it so?"
Barael lets himself drift upwards, his newfound ability to fly not yet honed. He moves front and back, testing Dandi's hair to manuever with him while still resting on his shoulder. He never strays far enough to avoid its touch.
As various parties keep to strategic conversations and dragon parts preparations, Barael pulls out the maps, and studies the floor plans, hoping to understand the ease of entering again through the dragon's chambers, and up and into the castle itself. He enjoys the buoyancy of his flight, so he begins to float in prostation as he moves from corner to corner of the maps.
"Well, Sabina might be a great asset to understanding Togomor's comings and goings, if they crossed paths frequently. From the maps, I can only think they'd give him an upper floor room, with plenty of space to work and keep his privacy." Barael drifts lazily through the as he moves one map for another.
"And the Mantis! Oooooh, the Mantis. She's gotta know about them, and how they're infesting the Castle. We really need to hear what she has to say, eh?" Barael drops to grounded feet, and readies to head out to talk with their new old recruit to the cause.