Dorn's sudden bravado is shaken when he sees the dragon rear up towards them again.
"Look out!"
He ducks behind a parapet, but kept on his toes in case he needed to run.
When you take the Dodge action, you focus entirely on avoiding attacks. Until the start of your next turn, any attack roll made against you has disadvantage if you can see the attacker, and you make Dexterity saving throws with advantage. You lose this benefit if you are incapacitated (as explained in appendix A) or if your speed drops to 0.
Round 1
The group on top of the keep fire in unison at the command of Escobert, but it's obvious, that except for the two longbowmen, these aren't really trained warriors, as most of the shots miss, and those that hit don't seem to affect the creature.
The huge beast draws to within about 25' of the side of the keep, and hovers in place facing the defenders.
"Puny humans" "You think you can harm the mighty Lennithon". "Quake when you hear my name, and soil yourselves at the thought of my presence".
The beast then opens his giant, fang filled maw, and belches forth a long forking line of electricity. The powerful bolt sends seven of the fort's defenders to the ground, killing three outright. He then beats his wings, and begins to rise for another round.
DM Roll
Vano closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. It's a dragon, he tells himself. I won't kill it, but if it's going to kill me, I'm at least going to put up a fight. He stands and draws his bow, loosing another shaft.
Round 1 summary
Bor>:
Bor's saddness and anger are replaced by feelings of fear. I knew it would be big, and violent, but nothing could prepare one for this. Still he will not let his friends down, and bravely draws his bow to shoot at the beast. Obviously his hands were shaking a bit, and he loosed a bit too fast, as the arrow sailed harmlessly over the dragons right wing.
Eiryn>
Eiryn almost smiles at the warmth of her deities blessing, and is confident that Tycandus, and Vano will be blessed as well. She ducks behind part of the wall after casting the spell, to make preparations for her next action.
Guards>
The guards either throw darts, or shoot crossbows to little effect, as they are not trained warriors, and their foe is great.
Tycandus>
Tycandus quails, and looks around for a ranged weapon to defend himself. Though his fear is great, he sees that one of the recently downed guards had a light crossbow, and there are several jars of bolts about. There is probably time to gather up the weapon and fire next round... But it is so big...
Treggor>
For once the legends did not lie. The pirate steps forth, shouting obscenities at the Dragon, even as he levels the unfamiliar crossbow to his shoulder, and fires off a shot. Though his shot flew wide, he still had time to show the dragon the appropriate finger of his left hand.
Vano
Tycandus steps into cover behind the keep wall, and peeking over a bit shoots an arrow at the Dragon, but he needed to take more time to aim, and the arrow flew wide.
Dorn>
Dorn's eyes widen at the reality of the dragon, and he does his best to make himself as small and un-noticed as possible... which is the opposite of his usual approach, so you know he's frightened.
Dragon
The dragon predicts your doom, and lights up a few guards.
The door to the keep opens, and a few reinforcements arrive, only to be directed to their posts by Escobert, who seems to be to pre-occupied to deal with your group at the moment. When the attack began, the Governor headed towards the door downstairs. He is no warrior, and the town will need him to rebuild.
Treggor scoffs at the dragon's speech and works the action on his crossbow. He draws one of the few bolts left to him and takes aim at the dragon. "I'll be takin' yer teeth as a trophy." he grumbles to himself as he pulls the release.
,
He swears under his breath at the poor shot, then restates his demands. "Knives! One of you scurvy cowards bring me daggers!"
He then notes the fallen soldiers and makes his way towards them, giving them a quick glance for more beneficial weaponry.
Round 2
Bors (f)
Eiryn Blessed
Castle Guards
Tycandus (f) Blessed
Treggor
Vano (?) Blessed
Dorn (f)
Dragon
NOTES for Round 2
- Don't forget to save vs. Dragon fear again if you need to.
- Those of you blessed don't forget your additional 1d4
- Don't forget you each have inspiration at this time. You can't bank it, so use it.
Treggor scoffs at the dragon's speech and works the action on his crossbow. He goes for a bolt, then remembers all of his equipment is still downstairs somewhere. Instead he moves in towards the fallen soldiers, scouring their bodies for weapons. "I don't think ye'll be needin' these..."
wis (properly, this time): 1d20 + 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (18) + (3) + 1 = 22
attack: 1d20 + 1d4 + 6 ⇒ (10) + (4) + 6 = 20
damage?: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Vano closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. It's a dragon, he tells himself. I won't kill it, but if it's going to kill me, I'm at least going to put up a fight. He stands and draws his bow, loosing another shaft.
A bit of lightning breath, fly away... volley, retreat. What tactics were these? Why toy with them so?
Bor stood as the dragon turned to fly away. He looked about as men wailed in pain, crippled and burnt by lightning. He watched others rush to their sides and others retreat to safer areas. He was no longer scared. He was blind with rage.
Zennor's face flashed before his eyes. Who would remember her?
Zennor and Bor cheers tankards for nothing in particular. Had his friend died for nothing?
[larger]"LENNNNITHOOOOOOOOON,"[/larger]he roars after the dragon.
As the dragon flies overhead, Eiryn can't help thinking how marvellous that creature is. Every move of the beast is graceful, precise, more so than anything Eiryn has ever witnessed. This brief moment of wonder is cut short as the beast lays waste to the castle defenders. Their screams and the stench of burned hair and flesh drive away all thought of dragon grandeur. Feelings replaced by pure hatred for the merciless two-winged monstrosity.
Eiryn steadies her aim and fires off one bolt from her crossbow. Unknowingly she whispers a few hate-filled words in a strange tongue while reloading her crossbow and watching the bolt fly.
Dorn heard the screams of the dying and was filled with rage once more. He dove off to the side of a dead guard and took his crossbow.
"Sorry, chap."
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Tycandus shakes off the fear, and watches as the dragon wheels in the air, and stays behind the crenelations since there's little he can do. He keeps his eyes open for a bow of some sort.
In all the chaos and with her anger, Eiryn can't finish a clear thought. She doesn't even give a damn about what she knows about this creature, she can only think of killing it.
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Dragon
Round 2 Wrap-up
Bor>: Bor snaps out of his fear, and his face turns red with rage. He takes careful aim with the bow, and looses an arrow, however he didn't compensate for the updraft off the side of the keep, and his arrow narrowly misses the beast, just a few inches too high.
Eiryn>: Eiryn's sense of wonder at the grace and magnificence ot the creature, is replaced by one of hate, as the beast so casually tosses away the lives of the innocents on the keep roof. She fires with her crossbow, but finds that she only scored a glancing blow, with the beasts scales deflecting her bolt.
Castle Guards>:The castle guards continue to fire ineffectively at the creature, with new arrivals replacing those killed, on the previous task. Some elderly, and young haul away the injured for healing, but not before removing their weapons and ammo, and leaving for those still up and defending.
Tycandus>: Tycandus conquers his fear, and once again casts his gaze about for some type of missile weapon, there on the body of a guard next to him, he spots a loaded light crossbow, and sees a pouch of bolts nearby. How did I miss that the first go around?
Treggor>: Treggor tosses aside the obviously poorly made crossbow, and begins to look for more suitable weaponry. He finds that each guard has a utility knife (Unbalanced so disadvantage for throwing), as well as their crossbows or darts, and a spear. One of them has a rusty saber.
Vano>: Vano finds a calm deep within himself that he sometimes was able to conjure forth in times of turmoil. He imagined the flame of the candle, and focusing himself within, found the chaos around him slowed, and he was able to take aim, and score a hit on the vicious beast. He is perhaps as shocked as the dragon, as his arrow files true, and scores a vicious hit on the jowl of the beast. The arrow sinks to near the fletching, and black blood pours from the wound. The dragon shrieks in pain and anger, looking for whoever dared to wound it.
"Who did that"? "Who dares to mar the perfect skin of Lennithon". "Perhaps I shall kill you all afterall".
Dorn>: Dorn remains frozen for a split second, then seeing his companions rally to combat, is able to draw from his stores of resolve, and join the fray. He quickly retrieves the crossbow of a fallen militia, and fires off a snap shot at the beast, missing by a few feet.
I must remain calm, and make these shots count he mutters to himself, as he loads prepares another bolt to load.
So on to Round 3
Eiryn calls out to her god, words in a foreign language pouring out of her, roaring over the battlefield like storm clouds. She is engulfed in a shining holy light, as is the dragon coming in for another sweep.
Bor remains in the center of the tower and looses another arrow as the dragon returns.
But is ineffective once again...
Treggor frowns at the poor armaments on the guards. "It's no wonder yer losin' yer town ta these dragons and their filthy priests." He scoops up a couple of knives and hurls them into the air, then goes back to collecting weapons.
,
,
As he reaches down to grab the spear, his mind flashes back to the dead sailors on his shattered vessel, one hand clutching a spear not his own, the other holding in blood that very much was. He narrowed his gaze, gnashing his teeth at the memory. "Ye'll pay fer what ye've cost me, worm." he says to himself with a stern determination.
Dorn takes careful aim and fires his shot. It lands beautifully.
"That one's for Zennor, you flying worm!" Dorn deliberately pronounced "worm" rather than "wyrm" since he knew it angered them.
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"I'll make sure your skin is perfect when I hang it on my wall!" Vano shouts as he draws his bow and lets another arrow fly. Then he ducks behind the battlements. "Please don't let him hear me."
DM Roll
Round 3 Summary
Bor>: Bor once again proves he is better at hand to hand combat than this silly shooting stuff.
Eiryn>: Eiryn calls upon her got to give her sacred fire to scour the beast, but the Dragon merely looks at her, and if it had lips smiles.
DM Roll
DEX Save
Castle Guards: Begin to run for cover. "He's swelling up again"! "He's getting ready to breathe again".
Tycandus?
Treggor>: Treggor in desperation throw a couple of the unwieldy knives at the dragon, as he reaches for a spear, and somehow... Fortune favors the bold? , one of them stuck drawing blood in the joint of his left wing.
Vano>: Vano his calm still surprising even himself, draws back and puts another arrow almost exactly beside the first one. The blood flow increases, and the dragon wheels biting at the arrows.
Dorn>: Dorn back to his usual scalding humor, somehow puts a crossbow bolt into the dragon's left eye, just as he turns to make another run on the top of the keep.
Dragon>: Now bleeding from several wounds, and no longer sure of himself, the dragon bellows in rage, and releases his pent up breath in a beautiful Ariel display. He turns to the party, rage in his voice, but surprised pain beneath it. "This is not over". "When she returns, I will beg her that I be allowed to destroy you myself". , and with a final cry of rage, he flutters off into the night.
Treggor growls a wordless threat and throws the spear off into the air, a futile gesture of anger more than an attack. He casts his gaze on the guards at his feet, lifeless and scorched, expressions of panic frozen on their faces. He takes the saber , feeling the weight in his hand. "Reminds me of me first proper blade." he decides to keep it and have it restored later.
He turns and surveys the roof, guards bustling around, some wounded, some tending to wounds. He spots a few strangers, wanderers, foreigners, adventurers perhaps, but not the governor's men it would seem. At any rate, they probably wouldn't try to stop him. He moved towards the door into the keep. "They'd better not have disturbed me treasures." he says to himself as he sets off to find his possessions.
Bor shakes his fist at the dragon and realizes he was using his bow one handed the entire time...
Dorn laughs hysterically in relief for a moment. But he sobers up as he takes in all the devastation.
"Gods. How many did we lose?
Vano hangs his head over the side of the parapet, sick and shaking with fear. After a short time, he straightens up and looks around.
"That...." He looks in the direction where the dragon went. "That happened." He nods to himself, as if he was still trying to believe that it happened. "You hit his eye" he says to Dorn.
He looks at Eiryn then.
"I am Vanoe'adae," he says. "Most call me Vano. You fought... bravely." He gives a weak smile, thinking bravery is probably not a subject he should be raising.
"And so did you Vanoe'adae," she answers, a reassuring smile on her face. She is already patching up one of the wounded soldiers as they speak. "Fear is what keeps us away from dangers far to great. It is what keeps us alive. It is a blessing to feel it and it takes bravery to still take a stand and fight. Sorry, that was preachy. I am Eiryn Dirandul."
Her friendly smile is back on her face, even as the soldier beneath her groans as she presses a bandage with a healing balm, against his burned skin. She says a quick prayer and concentrates again on the task at hand and gives an apologetic smile to Vano.
"Bloody useless in that fight. Weapons were right there, and I couldn't get over my fear to even pick them up. All those soldiers...I should have helped more. Never again....
"Thank you Eiryn. It's good to remember that. I'm Tycandus."
Vano nods, not terribly convinced that he was brave. At least he faked it well enough to get a couple of arrows into the thing.
"No harm in a little preaching now and then, as long as it doesn't get out of control," he says with a wink, wondering what god she followed. Most of the "holy" men and women he knew growing up in Mistshore were smarter-than-average con-artists or bent on terrifying the people out of their lives of crime. The dwarf had been different. So was this one. "Good meeting you."
Maybe the whole world isn't as wretched as Waterdeep's slums, he thinks, and goes in search of the dwarf who seemed to be in command.
Dorn was twitchy and his mind was all a jumble. He sometimes got that way after incredible danger. His mind ran a mile a minute, and his mouth did its ample best to keep up.
"Yes, preaching's a fine hobby. Like whittling or button collecting. Do you think they'll let me keep this crossbow?" Dorn asked no one in particular.
Dorn looked thoughtful for a moment.
"I'm keeping this crossbow," he said resolutely. "It's not like the bloke I took it off of is going to need it. Just need to find some bolts."
He started to look around for some loose ones he could take, when he finally noticed Treggor rooting around for his own possessions. "I hadn't noticed before, but is that man a pirate?"
"Indeed he is, quite famous actually,"Eiryn answers Dorn while getting to work on the next patient, the other one being carried away after she is done with him. "I guess the correct term is notorious... And that is where I should bite my tongue. If he wants you to know, he can tell his story himself."
"Damn, you can put this one to the other dead, nothing I can do anymore to help him," the young half-elf tells one of the soldiers standing next to her. She keeps a friendly face, though it might just be a facade. Maybe, she is just going through the motions, doing what needs to be done, locking her true feelings inside.
An eerie silence descends on the rooftop, though the wounded still groan in pain, and the sounds of distant raiding and battle echo from outside. Still compared to the sound of the mighty dragon, and the flush of deadly combat things seem quiet. Then the senses begin to return to normal... The bright red flash of freshly spent blood, the anguished cries of the wounded, the flapping of the Keep's banners in the night air. The metallic scent of blood, and burnt flesh... The battle is still not finished.
Suddenly the door down to the keep opens, and the Governor steps out, escorted by about 10 replacement soldiers, and some healers. Escobert joins him, as the group disperses to their various duties. They approach the group in order, nodding for them to gather.
Treggor>: As you swing the saber about, testing it for balance, Escobert and the Governor approach you.
"So". "Escobert tells me that you are a man wanted for piracy". "For what you have done here today, standing with us against a common foe, my heart tells me that you are not a man beyond redemption". "You shall spend no more time beneath the Keep for the crimes you might or might not have committed". "But the night is not over". "I need an officer of the invading force to be questioned". "If you would be part of the team to accomplish that, I might be persuaded to spread the word that you were killed in the battle helping save the town". "Should at least give you a head start". "What say ye"? "We'll return your possessions, and make you part of a raiding squad".
After talking to the pirate for a bit, he draws the adventuring group together. "While I am thankful for your assistance, my feeling is that this is not over yet". "I think that we need to know why this force is attacking the town, and I believe we need to capture an officer to try and coheres that information out of them". "We have no people to spare, so I must pray upon your good will to help us out once again". "I can't promise you a great reward, as I don't know what will be left after the raid, but I can provide you with some helpful healing, and weaponry before you leave, and perhaps some reward when peace returns". "I pray upon your good hearts to help us in this time of need".
He then turns to the pirate. "This man is brave, and strong, and if he's willing he could perhaps help you on this quest". "If you'll have him that is"?
Eiryn>
So to recap the situation, at the moment there is peace on top of the keep, but the sounds indicate that the raiding is not over. The keep is surrounded by groups of mercenaries, but once or twice you've seen a commander dressed in purple. It seems as though the governor would like you to attempt to somehow capture one of these leaders and bring him back for questioning. He has offered Treggor the opportunity to earn his freedom, and you another sword arm. I'll give you an opportunity to play this out, then we'll move on.
"If he's willing, then sure. But has anyone interrogated that Kobold we brought in? I doubt he would know anything too detailed but perhaps he could tell us where to find someone who does."
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Tycandus arches a brow at Escobert, "What crimes did he commit? Or rather what crimes was he being investigated for? Tycandus smiles a sardonic sort of smile, "I understand that we'd be a convenient way to get him out of your hands, and I'm not opposed to it, but I'd like to have an idea of what he might have done."
At the mention of purple robes, Bor begins to look between the parapets to the town below in hopes of finding a commander to kidnap.
Vano looks at the pirate and smiles. As long as nobody asks me to turn my back on him.
"If we're going after one of their leaders, I'll take anyone foolhardy enough to come along," he says, and then hold up his half-empty quiver. "I could use more arrows, if there are any to spare."
Treggor briefly scoffs at the idea of him having been killed, but his quick wit swiftly begins to recognize the advantage. At the mention of the raiding squad, his stern gaze breaks into a genuine (yet still unsettling) smile. "If it's a raid ye be needin', ye couldn't a picked a better man. Ye bring me me treasures and I'll deliver one of these dry-booted princes right to yer door before bein' on me way." Treggor eyes the blade against the sun, then turns to a soldier who he thinks looks important. "Have ye the skill er magic to be fixin' this blade fer me?" he asks, offering the saber expectantly to the man.
"I will try to help you to the best of my abilities and I expect nothing less from Treggor if he wants to earn his freedom this way," Eiryn says to the group while facing Treggor. She cleans her hands with a few drops of water and a piece of cloth. "There is not much of my god's power left at my command for today, but I will support you from the back with my crossbow and learned healing skills as best I can. But before we head out, I'd prefer to have a plan."
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Dorn>>
"Aye" "We questioned the little lizard, but all he could talk about was the joy of serving the dragon, and how he wanted to steal everything. "I'm afraid that we need a leader to question".
Dorn Only>
One of the soldiers takes you aside and hands you a small case. He tells you that his brother was killed in this battle, and he would like for you to take these, and avenge his death. It is a small case containing 10-Masterwork Crossbow bolts.
Tycandus>:
"He's got a list of alleged violations as long as my arm". "You'll have to ask him which ones he actually committed, and which are just attributed to him by proximity, and reputation". Answers the Governor to your question.
Tycandus Only:
You are handed by one of the healers a small box. He states that he hopes it will be of some use to you. It contains 3-small bottles, with a forth slot now empty. Acid, Alchemist Fire, and Anti-toxin. The empty slot reads Holy water.
Bor>:
You step to the edge of the parapet, and peer out seeing mostly smoke and fog through the darkness. As you look down you see one of the bodies of the soldiers, has ah spyglass hanging from a leather cord around his neck. As he obviously has no use for it at the moment, you take it from his neck and use it to get a closer look. You do indeed see a small group of mercenaries led by a figure in purple robes. They seem to be approaching the town mill, and many of them carry flaming brands and small kegs of something.
Bor Only:
You may keep the spyglass if you wish, though you might want to keep it hidden while in town, as it obviously would be an item of value that would be recognized. Still with all the looting and such, it could have easily disappeared. You can also return it to the Governor... Your choice.
Vano>:
Most of the defenders of the keep are not experienced soldier, therefore most used crossbows. Still they are able to scrounge together about a dozen of differing lengths, and colors for your use. They do produce a finely made bowstring, in a velvet pouch however.
Vano only:
This is a MW Elven Bowstring. It makes you bow Masterwork, until you roll a 1 on an attack roll. It then breaks and must be replaced.
Treggor>
Most of those around you look at you in confusion. Surely you are kidding that one of their most effective weapons is not good enough for you. They look at their poorly made spears, then at the Saber you have acquired, and the puzzlement increases.
Escobert sensing what you seek, hands you a pouch with steel wool, oil, and a honing stone however. "Here". "I've got a spare or two in my room". "Kind of a nervous habit of mine is sharpening and cleaning my axe when I'm bored, so I always carry one".
"I'd take that scabbard though If I was you". "It's a lot nicer than the blade it holds". "I'd like to hold the blade that was made for".
Treggor Only:
The scabbard is indeed fine, with the makers mark stamped into the blade guide. The scabbard is made so that you have advantage on initiative rolls as long as you're using whatever is sheathed in the scabbard, as the weapon you will be attacking with that round.
Eiryn>:
You are thanked profusely for your assistance, and most smile at your approach. "It would hardly be fair to use all your healing powers, then send you forth on a mission for the city now would it". Here take these".
Eiryn Only>
He hands you 4 healing potions in a leather sack, with loops to hold them.
As the party finally gathers to discuss strategy, Escobert begins to confirm the situation.
"Well the front way out's blocked as is the Sally port. Seems that we're surrounded". He then rubs his beard, and closes his eyes in thought. Suddenly his eyes spring open, and he jumps a little bit, snapping his fingers. "Wait". "I know". "Just maybe". He then begins to fumble with his giant key ring, and produces a rusty, old, skeleton key.
"One of the rulers a long time liked to escape from here for some clandestine meetings". "He built a tunnel that went from the keep to come out down by the creek". "Nobody's been down there in years, and it might be collapsed, but it's worth a shot".
Gather your stuff, and follow me".
Treggor frowns at the refusal to improve the weapon, but smiles again when he sees the scabbard. "Aye, this'll do me just fine fer now." he says, replacing the blade and taking the honing stone. "Ye have me thanks, sir. And thanks from Treggor Mynth be no small token."
"Ah-har! To yonder tunnel of wench-having." Treggor declares excitedly at the report of the secret tunnel. As he follows Escobert, he eyes the others, curiosity masked by strong pride evident in his eyes. He looks for who is the most afraid of him, and who has yet to be enlightened.
Eiryn bows her head slightly in a gesture of gratitude. When she follows Excobert, she lets Treggor step past her. She feels more secure with him in front of her. She has heard stories...
Bor gathers his things along with the spyglass and hurries to catch up with the group. Escobert in the lead, Bor steps up to follow him and asks, "Will this exit put us near the mill?"
Eiryn walks at the rear of the group. She wants to get a look at everyone and she wants to make sure to stay away from the pirate.
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Vano places the arrows into his quiver and then takes the velvet pouch with a look of surprise on his face. He's never had anyone give him anything like this before, and he opens it as though expecting a trap. When he sees what it contains, he lets out a long, low whistle.
"How did this come to be here?" he murmurs, not expecting an answer. He restrings his bow on the spot, using the string inside the pouch, and rolling the old one up and keeping it in the pouch.
"There are spiderwebs woven into the string," he explains. "It is said to be stronger than steel, and makes the bow quicker to draw and fire." He plucks the string, listening to it hum, and smiles. He's still grinning as he drifts off after Escobert.
When the soldier handed him the case of bolts and asked him to avenge his brother's death, Dorn looked lost.
"Uh, thank you. I'll - I'll do my best," Dorn said awkwardly as his greatest weapon, his words, failed him. He thought of his sister and got a grim look on his face.
"His death won't be in vain. I promise."
***
"A hidden tunnel meant for scandalous, clandestine affairs? Sounds like my kind of place. Lead on."
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