DM Caleth's Bronze Age: An Inheritance of Dragons (Inactive)

Game Master Saint Caleth

FYI: Next week I have my comprehensive final for my masters program. Essentially it's a huge paper that I should be spending every waking moment on. Assuming I do what I should, I won't be on the boards very much. I'll probably still check in during work, but not much else. Just know I've not disappeared, but am just really busy.

Edit: Spoiler was edited.

Aha, out of spoiler land at last!

Kjolmar and Quodak burst through the remains of the smoke cloud to see small pockets of resistance crumbling around the courtyard. The most hard fought surrounds Orion, Krathok and Moredrel about 150' away. Krathok is being carried off in your direction by two soldiers while Orion engages two others covering the extraction of the prisoner.

Hooray! No Spoilers!

Quodak moves forward to get a better shot at one of the guards taking Krathok.
Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24 I didn't add in any range increments, as I'm not entirely sure how far away Krathok and the guards are.
Damage: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Kjolmar moves closer, still carrying the unconscious man, but ready to join the fight when he gets closer.

Finding somewhere relatively save between where I'm at and where the fighting is to put the man down, then moving to help the fighters. I'll still be a while off with a 20' move speed, though.

Krathok twists in the grapple and attempts to stagger the other guard...
Melee touch: 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 - 2 = 2 for Disruptive Touch: melee touch to stagger target for 3 rounds (Fort save DC 14 negates)

Moredrel stays out of easy reach of the guards fighting Orion and uses the Evil Eye to lower the other ones AC, then Cackles to keep it up.

The courtyard is being slowly overrun by soldiers, so you might not want to put Urrax down too far away. The action is about 150' away but they have had more combat rounds than you, so you can get there in like a round or two.

Krathok tries to disable the other soldier holding him, but cannot reach down to grab the man.

If we've got some time, then I would've gotten within 30 feet. I dunno if you want me to reroll, or just take what I posted last time, so I'll post, and if you decide to take the other one as my initial attack, this can be my next round's attack.

1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21
1d10 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Kjolmar places Urrex down near Quodak, trusting him to protect the downed dragon. He then moves into the fight, coming up behind the guards on Krathok and getting ready to stab at their exposed backs.

Looking to flank with Krathok against one. Probably a double move for the first turn.

Edit: Derp. Misunderstood.

Well, I dunno how many rounds of movement I have. Assuming I have at least 2 rounds, I can run 100' the first, then gently drop Urrex as a move and take another 20' in the second. The third round I should be in position, depending on where the guard is relative to Krathok and me.

Quodak, what form is your soulbolt in now, since I am assuming that you are going to fire while running across the courtyard as soon as you get into range, so unless you are in short-range form you could basically fire all the way from the gate to this fight. This is important because your first attack would kill one of the soldiers holding Krathok, and I need to know what round he dies on. The guards carrying Krathok are actually moving towards you at this point, so you get within 30' of them in 2 rounds.

Also Kjolmar, this is likely the only time that I am ever going to mention encumbrance, but Urrax weighs about 120lbs in human form, likely limiting how fast you can run while carrying him.

Short range is what form it's in. I contemplated putting it in medium range earlier, but decided against it. I'll start firing the second round, I suppose, then move and fire in the third round, getting to within 30 feet (I hope).

Sorry, this combat is getting confusing since it is still slightly too large to map. Quodak if you run on the first round moving 120ft, you can fire on the second turn from your third range increment and then fire and move in the third round to get about 35' away.

That works. I'm going to assume your second post is the correct information. Are you going to just take my prior rolls in some fashion then, with the modifiers for range taken into account?

As a dwarf, I'm not slowed by encumbrance, though now that you say it, my run will only be at x3 instead of x4, since I'm at a heavy load with Urrex. So, I can only move 60' with a run. Might take me a while longer than I thought.

As Kjolmar jogs across the courtyard as fast as he can carrying Urrax's unconscious form, Quodak sprints past him, tossing out a shot ahead of him that zips inches above Krathok's nose to kill the one guard left holding him. The Half-orc falls to the ground as the two remaining guards turn to face the new threat bearing down on them and decide that these particular inhabitants of the compound are best left alone.

You are now among the last of the dragonborn left in the compound, and enemy reinforcements are beginning to pour over the walls, drawn by reports of the fierce resistance.

That whole encounter took quite a bit longer than I expected, but you basically ended it as favorably as possible with no one captured and even rescuing Urrax, which I did not expect you to accomplish.

Moredrel turns and runs, leading the way to the sewer entrance.

"Quickly! I think we can still get through the fire!"

Krathok closes his eyes a moment to re-establish the original collective, then starts to hustle after Moredrel. He glances at Urrax trying to discern if anything could be done for him...

Heal: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27 Any chance I could get Urrax back on his feet with potentially 7d6 + 4d12 of healing over 11 rounds?

Collective now: Krathok, Quodak, Orion, Kjolmar

I could also pump in another 3d12 by burning my ability points with Body Fuel; but I just need to know if it's possible to return him to service, or if he's dead weight till we're outta here.

As you run towards the burning escape route, the roof begins to crack as the fire fatally weakens the structure.

As the party is moving, Krathok focuses on easing the polymorphed dragon's pain.

Extend collective to him (shut-out Orion for now) and use Body Adjustment for healing x 4 - 4d12 ⇒ (8, 12, 7, 3) = 30, putting my PP at 0/17
Is that enough for him to move under his own power?

Orion goes with the group toward the structure. He's obviously exhausted.

Quodak will, until Krathok's healing is finalized, help support Urrax as they move.

I didn't really have to drop Urrex, as the combat was over by the time I ran there.

Kjolmar will proceed into the building if it seems he can get through it safely. If he can't, he'll stop in front of the door and quickly discuss with the others what to do.

If Urrex is conscious, instead Kjolmar asks him what we should do.

I didn't really have to drop Urrex, as the combat was over by the time I ran there.

Fair enough. Quodak will take some time to ready psychic strike on the way over, and if needed, switch his mind bolt to medium range to help support Urrax.

From Krathok's touch, Urrax stirs and is able to stand under his own power, although he is still extremely pale and unsteady on his feet. He walks resolutely, but unsteadily into the burning building to escape.

The building still stands, although the stairs into the basement have collapsed, leaving a 10' drop between you and the sewer.

Following Urrax's lead, Krathok dives into the building and into the sewers.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

Elegantly traversing the drop and brushing embers from his clothing continues to follow the rejuvenated gold dragon.

Moredrel reaches the drop and hesitates, but with embers falling around him he scrambles over the edge, tries to hang and drop.
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
But slips and lands in heap on the fallen stairs.

His familiar threads his way through the burning building and leaps lightly down beside him. Nudging with his nose to get Moredrel back up and moving.
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Post got eaten. Acrobatics to jump down:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

When Quodak lands, he turns around to catch Urrax, if necessary.

Kjolmar jumps down before Urrex:

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

Then stays at the bottom to catch the dragon when he falls.

Orion easily makes the jump down using his wings to steady himself mid fall

Acrobatics 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (6) + 20 = 26

Urrax needs only the smallest amount of support as he jumps down into the basement. Assuming that you immediately proceed into the sewer, you emerge in the passage, where dozens of people are milling aimlessly. As you enter with Urrax, you are bombarded with questions. What happened? Who attacked us? And from the more perceptive inhabitants who have a better handle on what just happened How did our cover drop? Where are we going to go now?

Belisarius and Erie are nowhere to be found. Above you, you can hear the burning remains of the burning building begin to collapse.
At this point it is approximately 5am and that whole running battle and evacuation took about two hours.

Breathing heavily, Krathok looks to Kjolmar and Quodak to see if they are injured. Unable to understand the mutterings of the refugees, he remains quiet.

Between deep labored breaths Orion manages to say to the group "We need to find safety. Any ideas where we can hide for awhile?"

At Orion's question, the people surrounding you begin throwing out suggestions for places to travel. Morhen Pell shouts one man. A red haired woman rolls her eyes at his suggestion. Vitriax's Oasis someone else suggests. Into the desert? comes the incredulous reply. The Dwarves at Ezruk. Split up and lie low in nearby vilages. The suggestions are shouted louder and louder. Urrax's voice, although weak, cuts through the argument. We need to get word to my son at Anaph Pell about what has happened here.

I am going to be kind, since I don't think that anyone here has Knowledge(Geography), so here are some hints based on where you are from.

At Orion's question, the people surrounding you begin throwing out suggestions for places to travel. Morhen Pell shouts one man. A red haired woman rolls her eyes at his suggestion. Vitriax's Oasis someone else suggests. Into the desert? comes the incredulous reply. The Dwarves at Ezruk. Split up and lie low in nearby vilages. The suggestions are shouted louder and louder. Urrax's voice, although weak, cuts through the argument. We need to get word to my son at Anaph Pell about what has happened here.

** spoiler omitted **

I am going to be kind, since I don't think that anyone here has Knowledge(Geography), so here are some hints based on where you are from.

** spoiler omitted **

** spoiler omitted **

** spoiler omitted **

"Where is your son?" Orion asks in labored breath

Kjolmar mentally tells Krathok that he needs no healing.

To Urrex, he says, "You mean the sacred mountain to the south? I know those lands; I could deliver your message for ye." Kjolmar has decided he is going to fully dedicate himself to this resistance; whereas up until now, he has considered himself an outsider who owed them a debt for his rescue, now he considers himself one of them.

Of course, no one else knows any of that.

Quodak, too, denies healing.

"I know of a fortress, on an island to the north. We may be able to reach ร็อคของมังกร, and if so, it will be fairly defensible. I'm not familiar with any of the places that have already been named, so this is my only input. Urrax, I believe you said something about Anaph and Morhen Pell?"

Since I won't be having to carry anyone, at least for now, I'll keep my mind bolt out in short-range form.

Anaph Pell and Morhen Pell are our fortresses, one to the north, and one to the south. It is only a matter of time until the Dragon God moves to crush us once and for all. We need to warn our brothers both to the north and to the south, and there is only so much I can do to give us a head start. He turns to Kjolmar. Anaph Pell was indeed built by your people, and it is a harder road there than to Morhen Pell. I can send some on ahead, but everyone must reach our fortresses safely. At this point, he is addressing you, as well as some of the other fighters who have gathered around.

I vote we send the Dwarf and the Half-orc to the South along with the barbarian. They can take the climate better. One of the men helpfully offers. You get the feeling that the only reason he is not gesturing at Orion in disdain is because of the man's obvious draconic features. It will still take weeks, even with only a handful of men a pessimist in the crowd adds, And even longer for the rest of us to get there.

"I know Anaph Pell and those mountains. It's where my tribe was. Some may still survive their, but many were slaughtered. Though I wouldn't plan on them helping me if we did find any. Once my nature became apparent I was exiled."

Kjolmar offers in, "Well, I can't say anything about this "Morhen Pell", as it ain't a place I've ever been to. If it's closer, an' its friendly, than I don' see why we shouldn't go tha' way." You can tell the dwarf isn't much in the way of logistics or careful planning.

Krathok does not speak, merely eavesdropping on the conversation through translation in the collective.

At the mention of going South, those linked get a feeling that Krathok is not averse to it. The human and orcish tribes of the South could be rallied as a force against the dragons. It is a brutal cold landscape, but that breeds proud and hardy tribes. They are constantly infighting, though if given a banner to rally behind....