Ilya, I don't understand how you can think that this "negotiation" went well? We fought a giant turtle for this cave only to give it up for evil creatures to use it for their lair? That is what the pack leader wants. Imagine what damage they can do to farms and our people so close to our realm, they probably eat hundreds of pounds of food each day!
Malthir draws out his blade, We don't negotiate with evil, unless there is a greater good to be had, if you can tell me what that is I will listen, if not we go out to destroy these beasts once and for all and end the danger they would pose to our people in the future.
Hearing Ilya's whispers, she interjects in a hushed tone of her own, "If we agree to leave them in peace, coming back a few hours later to take advantage of their trust does not sit well with me, who would be prepared to deal with us fairly in the future if we are willing to break our agreements so readily?"
"I say we either we fight them now, or we make our peace with them, but whatever we decide should be the end of it unless they take action against us our our people."
Malthir spends a moment considering Ilya's words, not the type for deception before saying, Well what do the rest of you think? Fight the evil or talk to it?
Fenna speaks up and Malthir nods...
I'm up for a bit of excitement. Especially now that we have a few moments to prepare.
I'm also up for a fight, Kalev whispers as he unstops a potion of Enlarge and gets ready to drink it. Just say the word...
Ilya, excellent thought to buy us time to prepare. We go out to kill these beasts and end their scourge from this world. Fenna, perhaps 3 shields of faith to bolster our protections on the front line?Then we go unless anyone else wants to set up a protection of their own?
Casimir pulls out a potion of protection from evil, also prepared to gulp it down.
Sounds about right. Don't forget Ilya's spells of invisibility.
Ilya turns to the gnomish oracle, "I am one for keeping my word and my word alone, Fenna. We agreed with the worgs to leave in peace. I said nothing about not coming back." He gives her a wink. "Besides, how many potential future lives will we save through our actions here today? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
"I suggest that Fenna and myself enter the cave first. I will cast invisibility on both of us and mage armor on myself. At our signal, which will likely be the sound of us casting spells, everyone else can rush into the cave and begin the dirty work. Fenna, I was thinking that we could both cast color spray as we did with Old Crackjaw. Between the two of us we should incapacitate nearly all of them and leave them open to mercy killings from the warriors. Any thoughts?"
Ily, I believe the vote was for attacking them now. I don't like the idea if leaving and coming back in case they get wind of what we might be planning and move on. We were just waiting for Fenna and you to get up yor defensive spells before heading up and out to face them.
The gnome gives Ilya a smile, "I don't recall seeing you wear any pentacles, my friend," she comments, a hint of mischief appearing briefly in her eyes, before they resume their usual passiveness.
"Might the soldier lend his steadfast shield to our cause," She prays, laying her hands on Kalev, Casimir and Malthir.
Also, if these Worgs are as good hunters as their wolf cousins, they'd sniff you out in a second, so fear that invisibility would do little to protect you.
The group emerge from the caves, spoiling for a fight. Casimr's invisibility has almost worn off by the time the group have ascended the narrow trail... But you find no Worg's waiting for you. Your vision is limited by your magical light sources and Kalev's darkvision, but they don't seem to be in sight...
Gods...I guess we do this the hard way, Kalev, can you track them?
Doubting that the worgs have given up so easily, Casimir spies the surrounding area and looks for signs of an ambush. Knowing that his invisibility is almost gone, he also looks for a good position to be in when he appears again. He grips the hilt of his Aldori Blade firmly, his muscles tense and ready.
Casimir looks about warily, and crouches down behind a small rock to attempt to gain some cover. A few moments pass, and nothing happens...
Either they are on to us and are waiting in ambush, or they have left and are running through the dark. Either way, the night and the open play to their strengths. I say we retreat to the cave, where the narrow entrance can be used to prevent them from surrounding us. If they don't come in the night, we will track them by dawn.
Either they are on to us and are waiting in ambush, or they have left and are running through the dark. Either way, the night and the open play to their strengths. I say we retreat to the cave, where the narrow entrance can be used to prevent them from surrounding us. If they don't come in the night, we will track them by dawn.
Agreed, but if we are going to wait in the entrance then we'd better gather our horses from the hiding place in case the Worgs get wind of them. :)
The horses are gathered to the cave, having thankfully not been found and eaten by the Worgs. Kalev looks for tracks and notes that they fled the area in a great hurry for some reason...
Casimir, Fenna and Kalev all hear a whisper of movement several dozen feet above the group. Glancing up, the trio can make out a rapidly descending, large flying creature heading straight for them...
Surprise Round Initiative
Kalev
Fenna
Casimir
???
Ordered Initiative-
Flying Creature- 12
Casimir- 12
Kalev- 7
Fenna- 2
A dark blue dragon descends from the night sky, as big as an Ogre. Roaring its challenge it speeds towards Malthir, jaws open wide to reveal massive, deadly looking teeth, that plunge through Malthir's fine armour and leave deep gouges on the flesh of the man beneath. Malthir is lifted bodily into the air in the jaws of the dragon...
Hit
Damage
CMD Success
Seeing the dragon about to fly off with Malthir, Casimir does the only thing he can think of to help the paladin.
Slippery Steps, he calls out and immediately, Malthir's armor is covered in a thick layer of slick grease.
A dragon? Here? I had heard the rumors, but I never suspected to see one so close to Swordhaven.
This creature is not a true dragon, but it is deadly nonetheless- it is a Wyvern. They tend to prefer to fight first and parley later, and are not particularily bright.
Their tail has a vicious poison that can often prove lethal, and is incredibly tenacious. Cure= Two consecutive saves...
After the first few seconds of frantic struggle in the dark, realization stirs in the back of Casimir's combat-charged mind.
That's no dragon - it's a Wyvern! Careful though - it is almost as deadly! Diplomacy won't help us here.
Kalev, seeing Malthir in danger, springs forward, muscles in his legs propelling him towards the dragonic creature and swings his axe in a powerful arch.
The axe cuts into the beast's flank, spraying blood to all sides.
As Kalev rushes in the dragon lashes out with its tail, the stinger on the end of it piercing Kalev in the neck as the tail batters him. The blow does not stop Kalev's charge however, and the dragon lets out a muffled roar of pain, Malthir's bulk in its mouth preventing the sound from being as loud and awe inspiring as it usually is...
As Kalev rushes in the dragon lashes out with its tail, the stinger on the end of it piercing Kalev in the neck as the tail batters him. The blow does not stop Kalev's charge however, and the dragon lets out a muffled roar of pain, Malthir's bulk in its mouth preventing the sound from being as loud and awe inspiring as it usually is...
1d20+8
1d6+4
You feel your veins turn to ice as your body immediately feels the effects of the powerful poison flowing through your body. As you strike the blow with your axe, you stagger backwards a little afterwards, just barely fighting off the poison flowing through you.
You JUST met the DC :)
"Hold!" Fenna calls, "do not threaten the thing further until it has chance to drop Malthir."
"Let this beast open its mind to the truth of the Scholar's insights." she prays in Azlanti, bringing up a complex pattern of heavenly light around the Wyvern's head.
Pass...
Fail...
A pattern of bright lights emanate from in the air by the Wyvern's head. The wyvern begins to watch the patterns, utterly enraptured by the lights and colours. Malthir is just barely able to turn his gaze away as he is released as the wyvern's jaw slacks open...
What now Fenna, try to use your color spray on it? A large predator such as this should not be allowed to roam our kingdom freely. What else can you tell us about it Cas? Does it breath fire or cast spells?
Great work, Fenna. You have bought us valuable moments to prepare. Kalev, Malthir, let us circle the beast and come at it from all sides at once. Ilya, can you cast web to hold it in place? Everyone wait until we are in position before attacking and drink your antitoxins if you have them, that stinger looks deadly.
Casimir pulls out his own vial of antitoxin and quickly gulps it down, then carefully moves to the side of Kalev and produces the wand of healing. A quick word and gesture sends healing energy into the half-orc ranger.
He then steps back around the hypnotized wyvern, getting ready to charge at it.
Fenna continues to stare up towards the patter she brought into being, and her voice is tinged with the effort of the focus, "we will have little time once I release this spell, so relying on a colour spray may prove too risky, I suggest following Casimir's advice and I shall call upon Aroden's aid to keep you all in the fight."