Dragon's Demand (Inactive)

Game Master Baerlie

"Do your magic, Ting!"

Actually it's not a stone wall, but a 12-foot-high fence of black iron.

Eight weather worn statues in various martial poses flank a tiled patio leading up to the monestery's gate. The weathered, iron gate is ajar. A guardhouse lies to the north, and three narrow arrow slits face ominously wouthward from its facade.

The door to this guardhouse is barricaded from within.

on the map, are we at the iron gate or the guardhouse?

You are at the iron gat, the guardhouse is the building north of the iron gate. Your token is exactly in front of the gate, between the statues so to say ;) I think I was too fast and posted information about the guardhouse you are not able to see at the moment, sorry!

Actually it's not a stone wall, but a 12-foot-high fence of black iron.

Eight weather worn statues in various martial poses flank a tiled patio leading up to the monestery's gate. The weathered, iron gate is ajar. A guardhouse lies to the north, and three narrow arrow slits face ominously wouthward from its facade.

'well at least they left the gate open for us' Ting nods toward the gate, "We's'l head in wroight, looks loike 'air be a couple o' bloody doors we's can eyeball, wroight."

Ting squeezes through the gate, carefully and quietly looking around, he proceeds to the door on the eastern side of the northern building and carefully investigates it. I assume this is the gate house

stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

correct, that's the guardhouse

Ting walks through the gate and advances toward the gate house. Suddenly he hears a voice. "You there! You here with the money? Where is it? Show us! Lord Aeteperax is impatient!"

That's bloody well right, I totally forgot. Their expecting payment. How do I pretend that we have that much money?' Ting looks from the gatehouse door, back to Hans and Felicitas and then back to the gate house. Shaking his tell feathers, lifting up one finger, he turns and begins to take off his pack. 'somebody needs to bloody well say something believable' Ting looks back toward Felicitas, his eye's as wide as saucers, as he slightly shrugs his shoulders.

I think the proper phrase here is "Help"! Yes, that would be it, I'm sure of it. ;)

Moving slowly forward Felicitas shouts back. "And you are here to inspect it. Well come out and have a look for yourself!"

You hear three voices whispering inside and after a short discussion and shifting things around the door opens. A kobold steps out and the door is closed again. "Show me." the kobold asks.

hearing the three voices and then seeing the kobold come out, ting tries to devices a plan 'we need a plan, what to do, what to do, Ting looks at the Kobold again, lifting the pack off of the ground, he asks "Is you's tha bossy boss, I ain't a gonna show 'is bag ta nobodies but tha bloody bossy boss."

"No, I'm not the boss. Lord Aeteperaxis the boss. Just show me the money!" the kobold demands. "You will not get past this guardhouse if you don't show me what's inside this bag."

You see two arrow tips pointing at you through the arrow slits.

ting tang smiles as he sets the pack down and opens it up showing the kobold his rations for the next week, he smiles his tengu smile at the reptile and says softly "tell 'em blokes ta open tha door's so's we's can bring 'is here treasure in, or you's dies foist, wroight."

intimidate: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (7) - 2 = 5 well that's just awful, looks like it's time to roll init, ;)

As Elektra has not bought much her bag is pretty full with coins and jewels. She opens the bag to present it to the kobolds

The kobold looks into Ting's bag. "Stop kidding me, bird!" the kobold answers but after looking into Felicitas' bag the creature says "You may pass. Go and talk to Aeteperax's pet human in the courtyard. Just follow the tiled path east past the fountain and you'll see him, but no funny business or we'll come and shoot you all!"

oops, ting was thinking we would have to kill the kobold and break down the door, this works too, I guess ;)

GM Baerlie where are we going on the map and Felicitas would you like to speak to the "Human Pet"?

I put his face on the map, you follow the path to the east, past the grounds with the pool, inside the outer walls of the monastery. Yes, real walls this time ;)

Ting watches the kobold go back into the guard house, 'I thought I was going to have to kill that reptile, oh well, maybe later.'

Accompanying Hans and Felicitas, Ting follows the tilled path east beyond the fountain into the courtyard, looking around carefully, 'plenty of buildings, I wonder if there really is a dragon in one of them, hope there is a secret entry that we can use to bush whack him, like in the stories.'

Approaching the human with the team, Ting smiles his tengu smile and asks "Is you's tha bloke tha kobold was yappin' 'bout? What was 'at he called ya?" ting looks up in the air, placing one claw beside his beak, imitating humans when they think, dropping his talon, casually near the handle of the sword, as he speaks "Oh Yeah's" making his screechy voice sound as much like the kobold as he could, "Aeteperax's pet human in tha courtyard" switching back to his regular voice, "Well's 'is 'ear is tha courtyard, an you's is a bloody human, so's you must be tha fella, Wroight?"

perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16

I took the liberty of assuming that the entire team was approaching the human, if that is not correct I apologize ;)

You follow the kobold's directions. The monastery grounds are exquisitely sculpted. Manicured lawns, well-trimmed trees, and a serene reflecting pool all give the place a peaceful air. You hear a bell ringing.

You follow the path into the monastery's inner area. A single sycamore tree grows in this idyllic courtyard, and a wooden veranda along the courtyard’s edges provides shade and shelter from the elements. Sitting on a large rock in the northwest corner of this courtyard, waiting for your arrival, is a tired-looking man wearing a red hat with a blue feather.

anybody feel free to jump in here and talk to this guy anytime!

Ting continues looking at the human recognizing the red hat, "Say's weren't you 'at fella 'at were at tha auction? Wroight>"

Feli's our Diplomat, so I think that we are waiting on her ;-)

"Why, I do believe you are right, Ting Tang! I wonder what he is doing here..."

Perc: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
"Well this hat was worn by someone else. Or someone changed his appearance but not his clothes."

When the man spots you he calls out "I had a feeling you’d be the ones coming here. Did the baroness manage it? Have you brought the ransom? Gozreh’s bones, where is it? I pray the beast will be satisfied — my wife’s life depends on it!

ting smiles his tengu smile at the man, looking from the man to Felicitas and then to Hans, asking questioningly "Yer wife?"

"Yes, the dragon has taken my pregnant wife Rima hostage and to get her back I have to aid him. Now show me the ransom! Please!" the man answers.

You remember that the hat was worn by a brown-haired man called Clausyre representing an unnamed interest from the north at the auction. He bid on several items, but did not win any. This guy was the one wo made a scene before the grioths attacked.

'What do we do now? I was ready to kill the kobold, but this poor bloke is just trying to get his wife back.' Ting, not sure what to say or do, looks to Felicitas for help. He then tries to seem busy looking around at the courtyard to make sure it's safe.

perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16 well, that's what I get for not taking 20 ;)

Ting moves closer to the man, looking around and whispers "We's didn't come ta pay tha lizard, we's come ta bloody well kills it, Tha best chance yer missis has is fer ya ta tells us anyting you's can ta helps us, includin' where she is so's we's can rescues hers foist. wrioght."

Ting does not see any threats around.

Ting reveals your plan to the man who looks a bit surprised and answers. "Are you mad? The beast is enormous! You have neither the skill nor the numbers to face a dragon of his size — all you’ll accomplish is an agonizing death, and then Aeteperax will raze Belhaim to the ground!" he whispers back to Ting.

Hans shrugs.

"Well, the village does not have anywhere near enough money to pay his ransom, even if they wanted to. Instead, they sent us into Tula's Crypt, where we acquired some rather nifty dragon-slaying equipment. Honestly, I wouldn't say it is a foregone conclusion, but we are the best shot that the town has at surviving."

ting nods his head, lulling his tongue in his Tengu smile, "It's loike tha man say's! So's what can you's tells us 'at'l 'elp, wroight?"

"Fine, fine! I’ll help you, but if it costs my wife and unborn child their lives, a dragon’s wrath will be nothing compared to mine!" the man answers.

"Please follow me, there are too many eyes and ears." he says and leads you into a shrine. Narrow pillars painted blue and gold support the ceiling in this shrine. At its west end is a large statue in a mother-of-pearl-lined niche. The figure sits in the lotus position, hands clasped and eyes closed in prayer.

"Let me tell you what happened. The dragon is a young green one and goes by the name Aeteperax. I studied the journals and tomes I discovered in rooms throughout the moastery for many weeks now and I learned that the monks were tinkering with knowledge about the Dark Tapestry, a subject the green dragon Aeteperax is obsessed with. I think that’s the reason Aeteperax came to this region — to learn what dark secrets the monks discovered."

"Yet the first time they used the Window, the malevolent alien they contacted teleported into the monastery and attacked the priests. Abbot Kanjougas banished the alien back to the Dark Tapestry, but not before it slaughtered the monastery’s other inhabitants. I haven't been able to determine what became of the abbot afterward, but I know the event took place over 200 years ago. I haven't seen the Dark Window, but Aeteperax has spent some time in its hidden room communicating with creatures from the far side of the universe. The room is locked — the dragon comes and goes via potions of gaseous form brewed for him by his pet alchemist Pentosh. I have learned that the abbot carried the key to the room, and if his body still lies hidden somewhere in this monastery, the key should be nearby."

He takes a short pause and breathes.

"Aeteperax used secrets gleaned from the monastery’s texts and the Dark Window to develop a method of conjuring monsters from the Dark Tapestry to serve him. These are the grioths, batlike monsters from an alien world. I know the dragon can conjure grioths only because the Dark Window maintains the connection between this part of Dragonfen and the Dark Tapestry. Finding a way to close the Dark Window should not only remove the dragon’s ability to conjure aid in a battle, but also end his control over the grioths already conjured. Those in his lair will likely attack the dragon, weakening him before you face him."

"Once you close the Dark Window, Aeteperax will know you’re coming for him, and will likely vent his anger by attacking Belhaim soon thereafter. Wait until you’re absolutely ready to invade the dragon’s lair before closing the Dark Window. I believe that even a brief disruption from a successful dispel magic spell should be enough to undo the dragon’s work, at least for a time. Beyond this, my research has shown that force effects should be able to disrupt the window — but only if they could somehow be enhanced before being unleashed upon the Dark Window. Hopefully, studying the window will provide some clues — when the time comes, I can aid you in that matter if you need help."

He takes another break before he continues.

"Aeteperax’s lair is in a large cavern north of the monastery. Reaching it from above ground is difficult for creatures that can’t fly, but Aeteperax had his kobolds dig a tunnel between the cave and the monastery’s dungeons so the dragon’s minions could report to him secretly."

"Maybe you also want to seek the dragon’s original name. I know that at least one other lieutenant — a half-orc named Hapscot — knew it, because Aeteperax had Hapscot killed for saying it. The dragon’s violent reaction tells me that you could use the name to distract the dragon and trick him into using hasty and foolish tactics. Perhaps, one of the other lieutenants knows his true name as well."

With that sentence he finishes his story.

ting nods his head fervently as the human divulges all of the dragons secrets, "True name, wroight, and kill the three bloody lieutenants, wroight, explore tha ruin, wroight." scratching his head for a minute ting finally asks, "So where's yer wife in all 'is bloody mess?"

Then turning to Hans and Felicitas, "Where's do you's want ta start? with tha explorin' or tha killin'?"

Holy info-dump, Batman!

"Right. So, destroy the Window last. Clear-out the rest of the Monastery first. Got it."

He then turns to Ting and shrugs.

"I say we start on the ground floor, and work our way up."

Probably entering via the closest door to where we now are ;-)

Ting nods his head to the human, and turning to the door that Hans indicated, "Well, here we goes, wroight."he listens carefully, while he looks for locks and traps. If clear he then opens the door and looks inside.

Ting will take 20 (31)on perception for the door and the room, STP...

Sounds good!"
KRel: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

The door is not trapped and Ting opens it. Behind the door is a hallway leading to the east and south.

Hans nods down the southern arm of the corridor.

"Let's try to check out the piece of the building directly south of this room, first."

Quietly closing the door behind them, he nods his head in agreement with his barbarian friend "When you's Is wroight you's is wroight." turning south Ting begins to toddle down he south corridor, longsword in hand keeping a keen eye out, stopping at the door on the right west wall. he inspects the door for locks and traps, and if clear, he opens it up.

perception 20 (31) for the hall and door: SOP. I think I used the wrong anachronism the last time ;)

Ting finds no traps at the door and opens it. Behind it is a garden. The vegetation in this quiet, open-air courtyard has been lovingly tended. Small purple berries grow on the nine plants in the middle of the area. A small brass bowl sits near one of the bushes, a few bright berries within it.

Assuming a search of the room turns up nothing...

Hans nods down the corridor which continues south, before bending east.

"Let's keep moving... the monster's won't die by themselves!"

Ting nods his head in agreement, stepping back inside from the garden, "ON we go's wroight" he continues south down the hallway, turning the corner and looking around.

ting will take 20 (31) on perception for the hallway after it turns

nothing apart from the berries

Ting looks around the corner and sees a big hall. Eight pillars painted with faded quotations and prayers from Irori’s teachings support the ceiling of this large chamber. A statue of a man with a long braid stands to the south. A spiral staircase leads up.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21.

Keen-eyed, Hans spots an odd-looking bone tube behind the statue.

"I think that this might be a scroll; Feli? Do you know what it is?"

He then turns to Ting Tang.

"We should finish clearing this level before we head upstairs. Let's see where the other arm of the corridor went."

So I guess it is back out into the corridor, and keep following it around until we find a door / it opens out into another room.

EDIT: Looking at the map, I will arbitrarily say we go East at the three-way junction.

'Well he's learning" ting smiles his tengu smile at Hans roots around finding the scroll. "Good job, gov'n'r, we's'll make's an honest thief outa you's yet, Wroight" nodding his head in agreement about finishing the first level, "Don't want no ones sneakin' up on us!" he heads back out of the room through the northern door, recognizing the hallway where they came in ting turns east keeping a keen eye out.

sop :)

Read magic
Following Tings lead Feli follows the men.

Felicitas identifies the scroll as a scroll of marionette possession.

The door to the east is not trapped and Ting opens it. Behind it the hallway continues.

on we go then,' "OY looks loike winders ta tha wroight here, wroight' As ting carefully goes up the hall he peaks in the windows to the right, then turning the corner he sees a door going into the area they just past, and inspects that door, and then opens it up.

SOP

When passing the windows to the right Ting peaks into the room. Through the colored glass he can see another courtyard. The door to the courtyard is unlocked and so Ting opens it.

This courtyard surrounds a dry fountain. A statue of a woman wrapped in a flowing robe stands in the center of the fountain, her arms extended as though reaching up to touch the sky.

After carefully opening the door ting admires the fountain and the statue of the robed woman, nodding his head, looking like a sage admirer he finally turns to Hans and Felicitas and declares, "She's a looker, but I's has no bloody idea's who she be, wroight."

Hans shrugs.

"Don't look at me! I have no idea, either. Come on - let's keep moving."

He then conducts a quick search of the courtyard, before following Ting down the next corridor.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23.

"You's is tha gov'n'r" ting dangles his tongue out of his mouth in a tengu smile, shrugging his shoulders and toddling out of the Courtyard he crosses the hallway going to the door on the eastern side of the hall and inspects it for locks and traps, if it is clear he will open it and look inside.

SOP, take to (33) on the door and the room beyond.

You find nothing more in the courtyard and move on to the next door. Ting and Iso search it carefully, but do not find any traps. Ting opens the door and the room behind it is unlit. You can guess stairs leading down.