The Whispering Cairn (Inactive)

Game Master Death-Lok

Sorry, Valgrim - we have a key?

Yes, it is the key you recovered from the stomach of The Mother Worm. Charlgar disposed of it in the pit.

Let's keep that key a secret of our own for the moment. Maybe Charlgar stole it from one of these others - or they were in cahoots with him against the king.

Any further questions for the king or is it time to move on?

Bubba, just ask King to allow Tor to continue with us. After that, we ask him to point out on map of city where Kagro and Verci are. Then ready to proceed, at least for Valgrim.

"Two questions and a favor, your highness, if I might be so presumptuous. Tor has proven himself a stalwart companion in our time in the Rift Canyon. We would like him to continue to accompany us, if that meets with your blessing. The questions are two sides of the same coin, as it were - can you have someone describe or show us on a map where Kagro and Verci are located in the city? Our knowledge of the city is limited, of course, and this will help us understand our surroundings."

I have no questions, myself.

The king is quick to agree to your suggestion, "Yes, Tor shall continue in your company. Hurgwrath knows the way to the Citadel of Weeping Dragons where they reside and will point the way." The king leans back in his chair and closes his eyes to rest. At this point your fire giant escort breaks off from guard duty to surround you again. The audience is over and they herd you out of the chamber. Tor seems happy to have been given a "mission" and considered an equal to Hurgwrath, at least in his mind, by the king.

Hurgwrath indicates that the citadel is back outside and across that bridge.

Outside through the rockfall where the dragons await?

Yes, that would be the direction the citadel lies in.

One last thing for the King. Valgrim whispers in Bubba's ear, "Ask the King that if we cannot diplomatically convince Kagro and Verci, are we allowed to use force and even lethal force in self-defense without fear of reprisal from the King?"

Blue dragon going to be pissed when he sees us walk out with giants! :)

Turning away, Bubba pauses, then turns around, "Your Highness, what are our options if Kagro or Verci choose not to treat with us diplomatically? We do not wish to undertake anything without your blessing, of course."

Turning away, Bubba pauses, then turns around, "Your Highness, what are our options if Kagro or Verci choose not to treat with us diplomatically? We do not wish to undertake anything without your blessing, of course."

As they leave the giant king's chambers, Bublaka takes a moment to visit with their guide. "Master (or whatever would be an appropriate generic title) Fangbearer, so you are not too surprised, we negotiated our safe passage into these chambers with the massive blue dragon outside. He believes we entered the chambers to do what he cannot in his current form. As such, I need you to play a role when we exit here. Can you do that for me?"

Friar touches Bubba's shoulder infusing him with his Goddess' glory once more and uses a charge from the Wand to give the Fire Giant resistance to electricity.

Let me know if any of our buffs are going to run out soon.

The king frowns, "You are under my protection. If you are attacked then you most certainly should defend yourselves. I do not think that either of those you seek would be so brash as to attack you while Hurgwrath is with you. If such a thing should come to pass then there are more traitors than I thought amongst us and I would thank you for ridding us of them, as you did Charlgar and his kin."

The fire giant gives Bublaka a glower as his deep baritone voice rolls over you, "I do not fear any dragon, nor care what it thinks. Your agreement is with King Achaime now."

Bublaka: The dragons are these giants bitter enemies. You get the impression that Hurgwrath is far too proud to show any weakness in front of them.

Ferez: Your 30 minute or less buffs need to be renewed at this point due to your wait for audience with the king but anything longer than that should still be in effect.

"Thank you, your Highness."

"Well, I'm thinking we are going to have to fight them eventually, but in the interest of conserving resources, I would prefer to do so later. We might be able to sell him a bill of goods about your king having escaped via magic and that we seek to follow him with your aid."

Gesturing to Valgrim, he adds, "But all this talk wearies my friend here. If we must fight six dragons to proceed because you are not afraid, so be it. Unless you have a different idea."

The fire giant pauses to consider and then kneels down to speak to Bublaka face-to-face, although he still looms over you, "I will protect and defend you as I would my king. If we kill the dragons now or later it matters not, as long as they end up dead and gone from our city. I will not, however, kowtow to any dragon." You can feel the heat radiating from the giant because he is so close, "If you seek my council...than I say we strike the dragons now, by surprise, as they are a treacherous lot and will seek to betray you as soon as it suits them. The ones we should truly seek to kill are their leaders, especially that red."

"Very well. When we entered, there was no red in the vicinity, but there was an ancient blue and several of his younger brethren." Looking at the others, "My friends, the time for diplomacy with the dragons has likely passed. How do you want to proceed once we exit?"

With a shrug and a grin at the fire giant, "Ugly as I am, I'm the 'face' in the group. When it comes to scattering bits of enemies around the battlefield, however, you'd be hard-pressed to find better than these folks."

Fearing combat is imminent, Friar gathers extended party and spends 3 charges from wand (down to 23) to cast Communal Resist: Fire, Electricity, and Acid, skipping those immune obviously.

Buffs in effect:
Status on all
Magic Vestment on himself and Valgrim
Greater Magic Weapon on Valgrim
Freedom of Movement on himself

Valgrim Buffs:
Barkskin
See Invisibility
Freedom of Movement

Friar then casts Shield of Faith and Bull's Strength on Valgrim right before exiting.

Updated Spell List:
Friar's Spells:
9th level: Mass Heal, Miracle, Prismatic Sphere
8th level: Fire Storm (x2), Stormbolts, Sunburst
7th level: Destruction, Waves of Ecstasy, Quickened Prayer, Sunbeam
6th level: Heal (x2), Cold Ice Strike, Greater Dispel Magic, Heroes' Feast, Fire Seeds
5th level: Communal Air Walk, Boneshatter, Breath of Life, Cleanse, Quickened Shield of Faith, Flame Strike
4th level: Blessing of Fervor (x2), Death Ward, Freedom of Movement, Greater Magic Weapon, Holy Smite
3rd level: Invisibility Purge, Magic Vestment (x2), Searing Light (x2), Searing Light
2nd level: Bull's Strength, Bull's Strength, Grace (x2), Spear of Purity, Status, Blessed Weapon
1st level: Shield of Faith (x3x2), Murderous Command (x2), Protection from Evil, Shield of Faith

Access to Vug's potions:
Enlarge Person (Valgrim)
True Strike (Bub)
Shield (Valgrim)
Barkskin: (Valgrim) (used)
See Invisibility (Valgrim)(used)
Twisted Innards (Valgrim)
Heroism (Valgrim)
Displacement (Valgrim)
Communal Air Walk
Stoneskin (Valgrim)
Delayed Consumption

"Only one way to proceed when we exit, we slay some dragons! Try not to group up, giants, dragons love chomping multiple times as they fly by. We learned that the hard way! Friar, we're going to need a group Airwalk so the giants can get in melee, since the dragons will stick to the air. Also, use your wand to bolster the fire giant's courage so he does not flee in battle." Valgrim looks at the fire giant in disgust when he says this last part. "The rest of us have the protection of the feast. We lost Vug, our most powerful member, so we're going to have to hit them quick and hard and blue dragons are immune to electricity, Vulcan, so that limits you a bit."

Buffs before exiting:
Heroism
Delayed consumption with Displacement
Stoneskin from Banner
Shield of Faith from Friar
Bull's Strength from Friar

Ok, I'll setup a local tactical map for you. I take it your using the same method to exit as you used to enter. Where are you reforming from gaseous? Bublaka and Vulcan, you doing anything additional in preperation?

Is there any other exit? How were the giants planning on leaving after the siege? Dig themselves out? :)

Once hostilities were settled with the Giants Vulcan casts Control Weather. 10 min casting time and 10 mins to manifest. Just before heading into danger, Shield ad Ice Body

Is there any other exit? How were the giants planning on leaving after the siege? Dig themselves out? :)

Possibly. You know of no other way out and the king wasn't asked. Hurgwrath has nothing to add in this area.

We have no way of getting the fire giant out, since he was not included in casting of wind walk. Bubba, you need to step in.

I believe I have only one solution personally - can I dimension door through the rockfall? I can take six medium with me. If Hurgwrath is Huge, he counts for four of them. Tor or Exousia would be two more. We are going to have to split up - how do we communicate with each other to coordinate our arrival?

Alternatively, I can reach 1120' away with the spell. With three castings, I could get everyone from the rockfall to somewhere else quite a ways away - can we bypass the dragons entirely?

Thoughtfully, "Hurgwrath, we entered using magic that we do not have available to use for you. Is there someone that knows of another way out? I am loathe to weaken your defenses by removing the rubble for the dragons to exploit. I may be able to use other magic to move you and I through, but I think we need to let my allies go through the rockfall first or you and I will not be there when they arrive."

Hurgwrath asks how you entered the palace and after you explain he strides off. Upon his return he tells you that the king has given him the same ability as you.

Hurgwrath now has Wind Walk. So what's the plan?

"Wonderful! Never occurred to me - if we exit the rockfall, we fight. They may attack before we have the chance to become solid once again. If we teleport some distance from the rockfall first, we might leave them waiting for us or, at least have time to prepare for combat. Hurgwrath, you are obviously most familiar with what lies outside, where is a good point for us to reappear outside?"

The bard describes where the dragons were lingering when last we saw them to the giant.

The fire giant is thoughtful for a moment before answering, "You know better than I what is safe and what isn't out there. Much of the city is in ruins. I have not been out since the initial attack. Fighting in the city cavern makes it hard for dragons to fly well. If we can appear right on top of one of the blues then I suggest we do that. Can you scout out where they are with farseeing, like the King of the Rift? They are cunning, hard to pin down, and may have setup an ambush for you, deal or no."

Don't forget that the "current map" is a full city map so you can plan what you want to do. The green triangle marks your current location at the palace.

I had forgotten. The scale on the map is so crazy, I can't measure or even really count, but I think the citadel is within Bublaka's range for dimension door. If the spell will allow him to jump through the rockfall like I believe, we can appear in non-mist form ready to fight and almost to our destination. The problem is, someone is going to be on their own for two rounds while the bard returns to pick up the rest of the group. Probably not a useful plan...

I think we will have to just wind walk back through the rocks like we did the first time unless someone has a different suggestion.

I just put a 1120' aura on your group token and it pretty much looks like you can make it as far as the ladder to the undercity with dimension door if you wanted. Hope that helps.

I can take the equivalent of six Medium creatures with me. So I could get everyone but Hurgwrath (Tor counts as two, Hurgwrath counts as four - he's Huge, right?) in a single casting, then come back and get him. Or I could break up the group some other way - the problem is, the spell will be very visible to the dragons and by the time I can hop back and forth, someone will probably be fighting for their lives.

Wait, I didn't count the angel. I could take everyone in the party with one casting, including her, and return for the giants.

Bublaka explains his limitations with the spell to the others in the party, knowing that spells are running down, and asks for their thoughts. If they want to fight, he can possibly put them in a better position than at the base of the rockfall surrounded by blues...

I think that is best plan, Bubba. Cast Haste, and dimension door the party plus angel outside, hopefully on top or near dragons. Next round, inspire and ddoor back out and get giants. Valgrim is ready to go, with his buffs, once you give the go.

Sounds like a plan.

Bublaka nods after conferring with the ranger. Looking at the two giants, he says, "I'm sure you are already prepared, but give me a moment and I will return for you."

Round 1: Cast haste
Round 2: Cast dimension door and place party near two dragons' positions, if possible.
Round 3: Inspire courage, cast dimension door to return to where giants are waiting within
Round 4: Lingering inspiration continues to inspire my friends while I dimension door back out with the giants to where the party is.

Adjustments from the rest of the party? Speak now...

Maybe, we get surprise round, appearing out of nowhere? :)

Ok, go ahead and roll initiatives. Current positions of dragons are on the map. You absolutely do get a surprise round. Go ahead and take both surprise action and, if you beat their initiative, your regular 1st round action.

Blue dragons initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Green dragons initiative: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (11) + 0 = 11

As you step out of the dimension door the gargantuan form of a old blue dragon lies curled up just where you expected it to be. Exousia immediately yells, "It's an illusion! The real one is up there!" She points up further, where the cavern wall meets the top of the palace. The same is true of the second blue dragon, an illusion sits where it originally was resting. However, the second one along with two green dragons has moved down to a vantage where it is closely watching the rubble that you seeped through to get into the palace.

I didn't bother putting the illusory dragons on the map since you know they are fake.

Let's get this party rockin', folks.

Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Haste active, Bublaka can take no further actions this round.

Thoughtfully, "Nice trick, those illusions. When I return, there might be a better place to appear, but I'm loathe to separate into two groups."

Initiative: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

To hit:
+18 base
+6 Strength with BS
+4 weapon
+2 favored enemy
+1 haste
+2 heroism
+2 charge
Damage:
+9 strength
+15 power attack
+4 weapon
+2 favored enemy

Surprise round:
Valgrim partial charges the closest green dragon with Power attack!

Attack: 1d20 + 18 + 6 + 4 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 18 + 6 + 4 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 41
Damage: 2d4 + 9 + 15 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (1, 4) + 9 + 15 + 4 + 2 = 35

Friar Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Exousia Initiative: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Friar Surprise Round:
5' step away from Bubba and calling upon his goddess' power, casts Firestorm in the area, striking all 8 dragons with fire from the heavens!
108 fire damage
DC 24 Reflex save for 1/2
Creatures that fail their Reflex save catch on fire, taking 4d6 points of fire damage each round until the flames are extinguished.

Exousia Surprise Round:
She moves 5' away from Bubba so as not be adjacent to anyone and she follows Friar's plan and casts Firestorm as well, striking all the same dragons.

Damage: 16d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 4, 6, 2, 3, 2, 6, 4, 5, 3, 1, 6, 3, 1, 3) = 52
DC 25 Reflex save for 1/2
Creatures that fail their Reflex save catch on fire, taking 4d6 points of fire damage each round until the flames are extinguished.

Ferez: The way I interpret shapeable spells to be (i.e. Firestorm) is that they need to have a contiguous area (as in singular). That would mean that the spells wouldn't be able to reach the far dragons way out on the ledge. Let me know if that interpretation is in error.

Spell Penetration Ferez Firestorm vs Blue #1: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (18) + 20 = 38 Success!
Spell Penetration Ferez Firestorm vs Blue #2: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (5) + 20 = 25 Fail.
Spell Penetration Ferez Firestorm vs Green #1: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (5) + 20 = 25 Success!
Spell Penetration Ferez Firestorm vs Green #2: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (20) + 20 = 40 Success!
Spell Penetration Ferez Firestorm vs Green #3: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (13) + 20 = 33 Success!
Spell Penetration Exousia Firestorm vs Blue #1: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (5) + 16 = 21 Fail.
Spell Penetration Exousia Firestorm vs Blue #2: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (18) + 16 = 34 Success!
Spell Penetration Exousia Firestorm vs Green #1: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 17 Fail.
Spell Penetration Exousia Firestorm vs Green #2: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (4) + 16 = 20 Fail.
Spell Penetration Exousia Firestorm vs Green #3: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (17) + 16 = 33 Success!

Blue #1 Reflex save vs. Ferez Firestorm: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18 Fail.
Green #1 Reflex save vs. Ferez Firestorm: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21 Fail.
Green #2 Reflex save vs. Ferez Firestorm: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20 Fail.
Green #3 Reflex save vs. Ferez Firestorm: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23 Fail.
Blue #2 Reflex save vs. Exousia Firestorm: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12 Fail.
Green #3 Reflex save vs. Exousia Firestorm: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14 Fail.

Description will be posted in a little bit. Gotta run!

Sorry, I forgot completely about SR. Add +4 for Friar's SR checks vs. dragons due to his scepter. Your interpretation is fine with me.
So the 2nd SR check is 29 and not 25. Don't forget 4d6 damage on dragons' turn since they are on fire.

Dragonbane scepter to the rescue! Yep, that's good enough to effect the 2nd Blue Dragon also.

Blue #2 Reflex save vs. Ferez Firestorm: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22 Fail.

Ferez and Exousia unleash a torrent of roaring flames that swirl around the dragons, causing them to hiss and writhe in pain at the unexpected assault. Valgrim vaults over the ledge and lands, axe first, on the back of the unfortunate green dragon guarding the collapsed entryway to the palace.

All dragons are still up but boy are they unhappy. Waiting on Vulcan and Exousia (to take her normal first round action).

Bublaka: The Fire Giant is actually only large. How a 16' foot tall 7000' pound giant is only large is anyones guess but that's what it says...

Waiting to see what Vulcan does to post Exousia's action. Considering Blade Barrier. Are the 3 green and the blue dragon to the north of the party on the same level? I can't tell elevation on the map. If not, how high are each?

Bublaka: The Fire Giant is actually only large. How a 16' foot tall 7000' pound giant is only large is anyones guess but that's what it says...

Doesn't actually change the situation much, but it would have given me some other options. *shrug* It's all good.

Vulcan focuses on the cluster of dragons before him, his power reaching deep withing the elemental nature of the dragons, drawing the moisture from thie bodies.

Horrid Wilting: 18d6 ⇒ (4, 3, 3, 1, 2, 6, 1, 4, 1, 6, 2, 6, 6, 1, 6, 6, 5, 2) = 65 DC 29 for Half
CL check Blue: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (15) + 20 = 35
CL check Green 1: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (4) + 20 = 24
CL check Green 2: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (1) + 20 = 21
CL check Green 3: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (18) + 20 = 38

Fortitude save Blue Dragon #1: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (6) + 18 = 24 Fail.
Fortitude save Green Dragon #1: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15 Fail.
Fortitude save Green Dragon #3: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33 Success!

Damage totals:
Blue Dragon #1: 108+65=173
Blue Dragon #2: 108+52=160
Green Dragon#1: 108+65=173
Green Dragon#2: 108+35=143
Green Dragon#3: 108+52+32=192

The combined magical assault of fire and bodily fluids being drained from them proves too much for the green dragon on the tower next to you and the one across the way. Their corpses collapse to the ground still being devoured by divine flames.

Ok, just Exousia now.

I am assuming dragons have different elevations. Is Exousia within 10' of blue dragon? I don't think so. If she was, she would full-attack. If not, proceed with this:

Exousia charges the closest blue dragon, taking flight!
Hopefully, flat-footed so no AoO, though she is large.
Attack: 1d20 + 27 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 27 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 36
Damage: 3d6 + 21 + 2d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 1) + 21 + (1, 2) = 31
AC: 35

Yes, she needed to fly up to it.

Burn Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 6, 6) = 21 Ouch!

The celestial charges up to the dragon and cuts into it's flank before it even has time to react. Cornered, on fire, and grievously wounded the creature lashes out in desperation.

Bite: 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (9) + 27 = 36 Hit!
Damage: 4d6 + 15 ⇒ (1, 1, 2, 3) + 15 = 22
Claw: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (7) + 26 = 33 Miss.
Claw: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (14) + 26 = 40 Hit!
Damage: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (5, 2) + 10 = 17
Wing: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (13) + 24 = 37 Hit!
Damage: 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (3, 2) + 5 = 10
Wing: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (2) + 24 = 26 Miss.
Tail: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (20) + 24 = 44 Hit!
Damage: 2d8 + 15 ⇒ (8, 5) + 15 = 28

Crit confirm Tail: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (7) + 24 = 31 Fail.

77 damage to the angel.

The second Blue dragon causes a large amount of water to appear in the air above it and wash over it dousing the flames. It then crawls away over the building and disappears behind the structure.

You hear distant draconic spell casting coming from the far ledge.

Those that beat the green dragons initiative are up!

Don't know if you factored it in, but the angel has DR 10/evil, so unless dragon is fiendish, it gets -10 off each attack.

Round 1:
Valgrim smiles and yells at the burning flatfooted green dragon. "You picked the wrong side!" He goes to town on him!
Hasted attack: 1d20 + 33 ⇒ (20) + 33 = 53...threat
Damage: 2d4 + 30 + 2d6 ⇒ (4, 2) + 30 + (5, 5) = 46
Normal attack: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (14) + 28 = 42
Damage: 2d4 + 30 + 2d6 ⇒ (1, 3) + 30 + (4, 4) = 42
Secondary: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (16) + 23 = 39...threat
Damage: 2d4 + 30 + 2d6 ⇒ (2, 1) + 30 + (5, 3) = 41
Tertiary: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (18) + 18 = 36...threat
Damage: 2d4 + 30 + 2d6 ⇒ (3, 2) + 30 + (1, 6) = 42
Fourth attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31...threat
Damage: 2d4 + 30 + 2d6 ⇒ (2, 4) + 30 + (4, 2) = 42
I think he is dead already...but I have 4 threats!
Hasted attack: 1d20 + 33 ⇒ (10) + 33 = 43...confirmation
Damage: 2d4 + 30 + 2d6 ⇒ (4, 3) + 30 + (1, 4) = 42
Secondary: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (1) + 23 = 24...confirmation
Damage: 2d4 + 30 + 2d6 ⇒ (3, 3) + 30 + (4, 5) = 45
Tertiary: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (6) + 18 = 24...confirmation
Damage: 2d4 + 30 + 2d6 ⇒ (4, 1) + 30 + (1, 4) = 40
Fourth attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25...confirmation
Damage: 2d4 + 30 + 2d6 ⇒ (4, 1) + 30 + (3, 1) = 39
If all confirmed, that poor green dragon just took over 300 damage!

Yeesh, yep that is one VERY dead green dragon.

Hadn't quite gotten around to looking up the angels stats again to see what damage she actually took. It is not fiendish, so in the end she takes 37 damage. Thanks for doing the legwork for me :)

Seeing as there are no more green dragons, everyone(except Valgrim) is up again.

Bublaka casts his spell, salutes his comrades, and steps through the azure portal.