Ensu steps back a bit more.
He then casts a spell on himself.
Jessamy continues to move into position across from Pirknok, slashing and cutting at the dragon as much as she can.
With a great deal of violence, Pirknok and Jessamy hack the giant dragon wyvern to pieces ending its threat.
Siolad breathes a sigh of relief as the wyvern is slain.
"Now, perhaps we can put this behind us and get a move on."
"Ha! We take down dragons like they were giants!" Jessamy exults. "I wonder if those stupid things were working with the giants..."
She begins looking around to see if this cave leads into the fortress, or if the dragons have a treasure hoard.
I mean, there were three dragons. There should be a lot of treasure, right? That's how it works in all the stories.
A search of the area uncovers little of value save the single shining gem (nonmagical) but Jess can confirm that the tunnel at the chamber's rear does indeed continue on.
Navigating the small tunnels is a claustrophobic ordeal. The tunnels vary between 3 and 5 feet wide and wrap over and under each other in a tangled three dimensional maze riddled with dead ends. The party wanders for what feels like hours but those with a strong sense of direction can confirm that they are moving toward Jorgenfist.
Eventually the maze empties into small chamber with tunnels leading off in all different directions. A high-pitched but still sinister voice calls out.
"Intruders in our domain? What do you think boys, should we cut 'em to pieces? It's been too long since our caps have drunk deep."
Ensu pokes one of the dragons with his finger.
"Are we sure these dragons are dead?" He says almost laughing out loud.
Siolad doesn't even bother dignifying Jess' and Ensu's transparent attempts to get under his skin with a response.
At hearing the high pitched voice, Ensu matches the high pitch and says, "No, they don't look like much, just leave em alone, probably gamey."
"That was the worst impersonation I ever heard," Jess whispers, looking around for the source of the voice.
Peering off into the darkness, Jessamy spots five small hunched figures wielding what looks like large unwieldy weapons.
"A funny one! The funny ones taste the best."
Ensu nods at Jessamy. "I blame the poor dragons back there. One gem? ONE!" He gets louder and louder until the last word is almost screamed.
He realizes what he did and covers his mouth with a hand.
Jessamy shrugs.
"You might as well come out," she calls. "We know you're there. If you let us pass, we won't even bother you. We did just kill three dragons, you know. Big ones, too!"
"Well one was clearly bigger than the others, so maybe 2 medium and 1 large? That sound right Siolad?" Ensu says loudly.
Siolad rolls his eyes and sighs. "If I say yes, will you stop calling them 'dragons'?"
"Once you agree with me, why would I bring it up again. I mean we have fought a real dragon. So..yes on the sizes? I mean they all look huge to me." Ensu stands a little taller.
"Arg! They never shut up. Kill them!"
Five snarling little humanoids wearing metal boots and a blood-red pointed caps step into sight.
"Aw, look at their little red caps," Jessamy mocks as she pulls a pair of daggers and sends them flying toward the creature directly in front of her.
Ensu waves his hands over his body and his skin looks like tree bark, then fades.
One of Jess's daggers hits her target in the shoulder but it slides out a second later leaving only a minor wound.
The angry little men in red caps charge forward!
Krojun howls the Litany of the Seventeen Against the Orcs, and attacks R1! for plus electrical damage!
Jess grins as she easily dodges the creature's attacks and lashes back again with her own, frowning as she realizes the blades barely seem to be causing a mark.
"These things don't cut right!" she calls out.
Ensu grunts in pain as the red capped enemy attacks him.
He takes a 5 foot step away from the little thing and casts a spell.
Pirknok gives a roar as the silly creatures attack him. With a grim glance toward Jess, he nods once and raises his sword, bringing it down a moment later in a powerful, angry blow.
Siolad tries to determine what the creatures in red caps are.
Siolad believes these to be Redcaps, cruel unseelie fae known to soak their magical headgear in the blood of their victims. They are unnaturally strong and tough (only fully harmed by cold iron weapons) and are repelled by holy symbols.
"Ensu, you may wish to try turning them away. These Redcaps don't like cold iron weapons or holy symbols." Siolad shrugs.
Then he notices that one of them is right next to him. "Oh dear." He throws his hands up and casts a spell defensively--one of his most basic magics.
Five missiles of force strike at the Redcap next to him, leaping from his outstretched palm!
Krojun and Jess's attacks continue to be stymied by the redcap's unnaturally tough hide. Pirknok's blows are similarly lessened but the sheer force of his fury is enough to bring one down.
Siolad pelts one of the angry little men with a volley of force-missiles.
The vicious fey continue their attack but the one facing off with Ensu falters unexpectedly and lowers his weapon in confusion.
Ensu grasps his holy symbol and holds it up. "Why would they be upset with my holy symbol?"
As he has his holy symbol in his hand, he casts a spell.
"Are you even trying?" Jess taunts as she stabs again and again at the red cap in front of her.
She frowns as she realizes she barely left a scratch on the creature.
Krojun's voice changes as he stops reciting a litany of heroes and instead begins the chant of the rolling thunder! as he aims to hit as many of the little blighters as he can without hitting his allies!
The sword-wielding dwarf doesn't even have to move as the clumsy creature's strike clangs into the ground. With a glint in his eyes, he retaliates with vicious precision!
Siolad opts to keep his head down and himself out of the way--the party clearly has this in the bag.
Pirknok viciously attacks another of the redcaps while Krojun’s thunder punishes two of them, dropping one. The other (the one battling Jess) is rocked by the shoanti's power and drops his over-sized weapon.
With her opponent stunned Jessamy is able to deal a series of precise blows despite the angry little fey's unnatural flesh.
Jessamy does her best to make sure the redcap poses no further threat.
Siolad continues to try and dodge incoming attacks.
Ensu continues standing where he is wondering why no one needs healing.
Pirknok dodges Krojun's blast of thunder and ends up next to the southernmost redcap. Roaring a challenge, he hacks at it with his katana!
Krojun turns about, his song changing to one of inspiration (inspire courage +2) and attacks R3!
and hitting for damage plus electric damage!
Taking advantage of her stunned opponent Jess really goes to work with her blades and before it can recover she quickly finishes him off. Krojin and Pirknok each wound their targets but neither fall.
The surviving Red Caps look increasingly nervous but continue to attack.
Pirknok growls as the horrid little monster before him discovers heretofore unknown skill with its blade. As the redcap dances away, the dwarf raises his sword and brings it down with ferocious power!
Jessamy ducks past her colleagues -- and the Redcaps -- taking the latter from behind.
She swings wildly, her blows less and less precise with each slash.
Ensu casts a spell on himself, one of his pearls of power glows.