"Was any effort made to replace the dam and try to recover the city?"
"Sir Longbrow, I do not claim to be an expert by any means, but from what I understand, no. I think after nearly three hundred years of Rhestilar's glory, a combination of corruption, treachery and civil strife weakened the kingdom to such an extent that it was unable to withstand the horde and ever recover from that tragic day. The goblins were just too strong and the people of Rhestilar were just too scattered. Even now, years later, the lizardfolk and the goblinoids still have a strong presence over this entire region. We elves only manage to survive because of our great hunters and good defenses."
Trellara pauses for a moment in thought. Then she continues, "Thinking about goblinoids does make me wonder if Brindol will fare any better than Rhest when it comes to fighting off a horde!"
"So where do you come from, Sir Longbrow? Are you from Brindol yourself?"
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OK, folks. I'm clearly the best equipped to skulk around and get a good lay of the land--er, marsh--see what's what, maybe find out a few secrets. And, with any luck, I'll find that bell and disable it too. If no one objects, I'll head out right now for some recon while you all sit tight and stay hidden. Sound good?
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I think I'll try a simple perimeter to get an overview of the concentration of forces, then chekc back in here. Then I'll go for that bell. Objections?
1) I know from gaming experiece that a black dragon can turn any potions brackish and useless with a thought. Does Tirion know this??
2) I'd be OK with doing my recon NOT under spoilers, simply to avoid completely excluding folks--unless something important (like capture--YEAH RIGHT!!!) happens. I'll follow your lead on that one; if you'd prefer to keep spoilers, that's fine with me, but equally fine if you don't.
2) I am happy to do either spoilers or not, but my biggest concern is how do you get anywhere. Are you in a boat? Are you swimming in this lake? Do you have any backup nearby? Bofus is a remarkable character, but I know that if he gets into water that's over his head, he is going to need support! I need not tell you that this is an extremely dangerous place!
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I guess I underestimated the amount of water that's in this place. Thought it would be mucky, but navigable. Meh.
Hmmm . . . I need to be able to get from place to place through, or over, this water. I'm not a strong swimmer--and that dragon would pluck me out of the muck like a tasty little tadpole before I could say "hey, don't eat me!" I could use a boat, but that's bulky and not portable. Anyone have any ideas how I might get around? Are there any pieces of floatsom we can see that I could use as a makeshift raft . . . um . . .
I can make you invisible. But remember, it only lasts for a few minutes, about six is all that I can make you invisible for. So, if it is going to take longer than that amount of time to disable the bell, get your tail back here. Also, I can only communicate via these whispers for a little more than 100 feet, so we likely will not be able to communicate.
I cast Invisibility - 6 minutes - on Bofus and use my Rod of Reach Spell and cast Message (if allowed)
Can you give me information on your Rod of Reach? Does it have unlimited charges? Does it affect any spell? Do you have a three limit of three spells per day? I have been reading a number of sites, but I guess I am still not clear about this item.
Metamagic, Reach
Aura strong (no school); CL 17th
Slot none; Price 3,000 gp (lesser), 11,000 gp (normal), 24,500 gp (greater); Weight 5 lbs.
Description
The wielder can cast up to three spells per day with a one-step increase in their range category (such as from close to medium, or medium to long) as though using the Reach Spell feat.
Construction Requirements
Craft Rod, Reach Spell; Cost 1,500 gp (lesser), 5,500 gp (normal), 12,250 gp (greater)
A spell's range indicates how far from you it can reach, as defined in the range entry of the spell description. a spell's range is the maximum distance from you that the spell's effect can occur, as well as the maximum distance at which you can designate the spell's point of origin. If any portion of the spell's area would extend beyond this range, that area is wasted. Standard ranges include the following.
Personal
The spell affects only you.
Touch
You must touch a creature or object to affect it. A touch spell that deals damage can score a critical hit just as a weapon can. A touch spell threatens a critical hit on a natural roll of 20 and deals double damage on a successful critical hit. Some touch spells allow you to touch multiple targets. You can touch up to 6 willing targets as part of the casting, but all targets of the spell must be touched in the same round that you finish casting the spell. If the spell allows you to touch targets over multiple rounds, touching 6 creatures is a full-round action.
Close
The spell reaches as far as 25 feet away from you. The maximum range increases by 5 feet for every two full caster levels.
Medium
The spell reaches as far as 100 feet + 10 feet per caster level.
Long
The spell reaches as far as 400 feet + 40 feet per caster level.
Unlimited
The spell reaches anywhere on the same plane of existence.
Range Expressed in Feet
Some spells have no standard range category, just a range expressed in feet.
I will let it affect message. Certainly if it can affect a 1st level spell then certainly a cantrip will be fine.
@Bofus
Quickly, you fly over the surface of the water toward the center of the lake. The stone building, obviously an old bell tower, protrudes from the lake at a slant, reaching a height of thirty feet above the surface of the water. Eroded images of dozens of lions- stalking, sleeping, and pouncing - adorn its sides. A ricketty-looking wooden platform has been build around the tower's circumference at water level, with three small skiffs docked alongside. It appears that the tower is three stories tall, but only its upper two floors remain above the water.
@ DMHW - Can we figure out how deep the water is around the buildings? Is it 10 feet or 30 feet?
As Bofus flies off: Trellara, do you know how deep the water is here?
If she does not know, I will find something solid - a rock or brick or piece of masonry - and tie it to a rope and then carefully lower it into the water near the boats to see if we can figure out the depth of the water.
I am interested as black dragons are very good swimmers and I would like to make sure we stay in places where it will be difficult for it to sneak up on us from underwater.
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First thing is I'll find that bell. See whether it's guarded, that sort of thing. Then, determine how it makes its sound--clapper, or hammer. This way I'm hoping to determine how tough it's going to be to disable it--whether the clapper can be removed, or if I hvae to muffle it from teh inside or something.
@Bofus
You fly towards the Bell Tower and you clearly see, a few Hobgoblins on the makeshift boardwalk around the outside of the tower. There are windows in the side of the tower on each side that you could access the inside of the tower through. You also see four hobgoblins at the top of the slanted tower where the bell is suspended from a great chain.
"Trellara, do you know how deep the water is here?"
"I have no idea, Master Tirion. It looks rather deep. From looking at those building I would say the water level appears up to the second floor. Perhaps it is about fifteen feet deep. Maybe more in parts. I hope you are not planning to swim in the water with a Black Dragon lurking in it?"
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oooohhhh . . . the bell is suspended by a great chain?!?! Hmmm, definite possibilities there.
OK, I want to simply go straight to the bell. I infer that flying through one of the windows? I want to examine the bell and see how it's struck/sounded. I think my chioces are going to be
1) silnce it
2) destroy it
I think option 2 is better, but riskier for me now. I'll take a close look, with the EoD.
Stealth:
Perception:
Stealth:
Good grief, you could sneak directly in front of the dragon and steal his loot with that roll.
"So where do you come from, Sir Longbrow? Are you from Brindol yourself?"
"If Iomedae is with us, the Brindol will not see the same fate that Rhest did. I was knighted under Lord Jarmaath in Brindol, but I actually hail from the small town southeast of Brindol called Prosser. I think it is relatively safe for the time being, but I know that should Brindol fall there will be no reason for the horde not to burn it down."
@Bofus
You reach the top level of the tower where four hobgoblin guards stand watching out over the entire region. The great bell is in the middle of the tower suspended from a chain wrapped around a beam near the roof. The clapper is missing as it is, but you are certain that it would still make a noise if anything else was hit against it.
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Stealth: 20+23+20
Good grief, you could sneak directly in front of the dragon and steal his loot with that roll.
I think my only choice is going to be to get the bell to fall. I'll go for a Disable Device check. My target will be either the bell where it's attached to the chain, the chain holding the bell, or the beam holding the chain. I want to weaken one aspect--there *ought* to be *something* rusty enough to wreck, I'd think!
I've got rags, so I can muffle sounds that way. And the Haversack will make whatever I want, appear on top, so I don't have to waste time rifling through invisible items to find them.
Disable Device: <--I forgot this was supposed to be in secret. My intention is "sabotage" so the bell simply falls into the muck!
Stealth:
If I think there's any time on my invisibili-fly, I'll then scope out the place a bit, looking specifically for dragon sighn--since this beastie can swim and breathe underwater, I doubt I'll find anything useful, but maybe there's a larger trail somewhere . . .
@Bofus
You fly up to the beam near the roof where you begin disabling a mechanism to allow the chain supporting the near five hundred pound bell to fall. The hobgoblins do not give any indication that they notice you. As you are up on the beam, you can clearly see about a 100 feet down to the bottom of the tower. Although stairs spiral around throughout the inside of this tower, the bottom is actually a small makeshift barrack with five bunk beds pushed up against the side of the walls. A rickety wooden table and four chairs round out the room's cramped furnishings. A long dagger has been thrust up through the table from below, its thin blade protruding from the table's center. No less than three dead frogs are impaled on the blade. Two hobgoblins appear to be sitting at the table playing a barbaric game with some frogs and the dagger blade in the table. When this great bell falls, you realize that it will not be into muck, or water, but straight onto this exciting frog game on the table in the middle of the barracks!
Do you wish to proceed?
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Oh, hells yeah!! The more collateral damage, the better!! If it's not too late, I'd like to try to minimize the trace of sabotage I leave behind.
but definitely proceed.
Once the deed is done, I'll try to estimate how much time I've got left on the spells, and use what I've got--either head straigth back, or scope out a bit if I think I've got a few moments.
@Bofus
With your tools, you manage to disable one of the links supporting the chain and the bell. Three minutes later, the great bell falls from the tower and crashes to the floor of the bell tower with a great ring! The two hobgoblin are crushed under its enormous weight! A few on the boardwalk fall into the dark water. With just a few minutes remaining of the invisibility spell, you fly off of the tower, leaving it in mayhem, and return to the others in the attic of the old inn.
Regiarix Perception
Saarvith Perception
Regiarix Stealth
@Everyone else
You can all hear a loud ring across the lake as the sound of a bell crashes down to the ground. Then as it is muffled, all is quiet again.
"If Iomedae is with us, the Brindol will not see the same fate that Rhest did. I was knighted under Lord Jarmaath in Brindol, but I actually hail from the small town southeast of Brindol called Prosser. I think it is relatively safe for the time being, but I know that should Brindol fall there will be no reason for the horde not to burn it down."
"You were knighted by Lord Jarmaath? Isn't he the high lord of all of the Elsir Vale? Well, I know that elves would not pay him allegiance, but he must be a very important man for your people."
You can all hear a loud ring across the lake as the sound of a bell crashes down to the ground. Then as it is muffled, all is quiet again.
"By Desna's own Starknife, what was that?! Do you think Bofus is alright? I hope that has not given us away!"
Thordak peers out over the lake, his crossbow at the ready.
Perception:
Sounded to me like the warning bell has been disabled. The question is whether our little friend got himself caught. Not much time left on those spells.
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I head back to the hiding place, keeping an eye out for pursuit . . .
Perception:
Once I park . .
Yeah, sorry about the noise. The only way I could prevent the bell from ringing was to drop the sucker. I accidentally dropped it on a couple of hobgoblins, though, I hope I can sleep through the night, what with the guilt!! They had a ringing headache--but only for a hsort time. I know the last thing that went through their minds, though--A QUARTER TON BELL!!
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OK, so the bell is dsiabled. With any luck, they won't discern sabotage, but I can't guarantee that. I didn't have time to do any more proper recon. How do you guys wnat ot handle the next steps??
Perception
A large black dragon is seen flying around the bell tower. Suddenly it lands on the roof of the tower and scouts the surrounding area for threats.
The large black dragon appears to have come from the central building (#3 on the map of Rhest). Upon the dragon's back is a small wretched goblin wielding a composite bow with an evil looking arrow notched upon its string.
You are about 500 feet away from both the clock tower (#2) and the town hall (#3).
Whisper: We wait for the dragon to go back in its hole. Depends on how good a job Bofus did, but they might just think that it was an accident.
You are currently in an attic space of an old Inn in Rhest. Please let me know your plans. Do any of you keep watch? If so, I will need a Stealth Check.
Perception
"Oh Great Dreamer, protect us! Did you see that black dragon and that hideous little beast riding upon it?! I want it killed, but I'm not sure how to even start! I know you folks are brave and all, but I am starting to see why Sellyria does not send our hunters in. It would simply be a suicide run! What hope do we have against such wretched evil? What are we suppose to do now?!"
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Calm yourself, Trellara!! We have gained much here today. We've discovered the most likely place for the dragon's lair, and we've disabled their main signalling capability. We have a better idea of what kind of creature we're dealing with--yes, it's big and very frightening, but it's no Great Wyrm. We are going to use our brains to augment our strength, and figure out how to deal with this scourge!
I pause and think for a few moments, watching the action of the wrecked bell unfold. What do you all think? Maybe we should strike at the hobgoblins tomorrow, take out as many as we can, before the dragon shows up? Since their signal is gone, it will be harder to get the lizard's attention, no? We could do some real damage before having to deal with the main threat.
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Or, we could try to get to the lair, dealing with the dragon directly, before the rest of this force--but I think that will be a fool's errand. I mean, I seriously doubt that even I could sneak up on that thing on its home turf, and as soon as we set foot in its waters, all it will have to do is grab us and hold us under.
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Now, when it comes to the actual fight, I'm going to be *much* better at taking on the smaller guys, sneaking around--maybe even using our healing items to keep you all as patched up as I can. But I'm not sure I'm going to be able to have much of an effect on that dragon directly!
DMHW--what kind of activity is going on now? I imagine the bell falling created *quite* a brouhaha, so pretty much anyone in this area would have heard it, no? How many lizardmen and hobgoblins are sticking their heads out, rubbernecking to see what the kerfuffle is about?
There is no evidence of lizardfolk, but there are some hobgoblins running about back and forth in boats between the town hall and the bell tower. You also notice a two headed giant standing guard outside of the town hall now.
I imagine that the dragon will figure we are attacking at dawn and will be prepared. Perhaps we should do it earlier. The problem is that Mantooth cannot see in the dark like the rest of us. And he needs to be at his best as it is his sword that brought down the green at the bridge.
What magic and abilities do you posses Trellara? Are you good with the bow, or your rapier? Can you make us stronger or harder to find?
"What magic and abilities do you posses Trellara? Are you good with the bow, or your rapier? Can you make us stronger or harder to find?"
"Well, I'm not really very good at much, but I have a strong desire to do something great. I've shot a bow before, but I'm not very good at it. I may be able to inspire you with a song. Sometimes my music gets a lot of attention and is appreciated by others. I think Desna has always wanted me to sing. However, please don't ask me to try and hide you. I wouldn't trust my powers to do that."
Well if yer gonna be singin' Oi may as well just call ye Tralala! Har! Oi'll tell ye wot: if we get outta here alive, Oi'll make ye a nice axe an' teach ye to swing it!
Aye, Ed's right. We should let 'em cool down an' make 'em think it was an accident. Let's jes lay low fer a bit...
"Oi'll tell ye wot: if we get outta here alive, Oi'll make ye a nice axe an' teach ye to swing it!"
"You can't possibly think that I will be able to lug a big axe like that around do you? No, I have a rapier that will serve me much better. It may not be as big as your axe, but it much more elegant and it still has a sharp little bite of its own. I just need to practice using it a bit more!"