We shall certainly try, m'lady. Reynaldo says, rising and offering a sweeping bow. We have not failed to assist Belhaim yet, and in fact have grown rather, er, fond of your little hamlet in our time here.
At the same time, the swordsman continues, quickly realizing his words may not have been as velvety as he would have liked, while moving about the room to each named person, one must consider the escalation of the beast's retribution should we fall short. After all, what is worse than destruction? Thus, we must not fall short. And with the aid of every person in this town, we shall not.
To succeed, we shall need weapons. We shall need magics. We shall need whatever a citizen of Belhaim has to offer. Accordingly, any assistance a citizen of Belhaim might have that may be at our disposal, no matter how seemingly small, must be considered. Sheriff Benhovy, deputizing us perhaps. Lezara Dodgion, maybe something from your former life. Eupaphenia Targas, surely consider the role of Abadar in maintaining this community and the enterprise contained herein. And the knowledge held within your head, Bassy, could prove to be most useful of all.
What say you? Are you willing to sacrifice what you can to aid us?
Ares, having almost returned to the outer planes, is less confident in their abilities to defeat the dragon, but would never consider abandoning his friends on such a mission.
"We will do our best as my friend Reynaldo says. We cannot let the village fall to such a beast.."
assist
"Aye kneit. 'Ancy 'inner. 'eople only 'ant ole 'Ammer'ist ta help. N'b'dy'ust ikes 'im. Ya, we'll 'elp ya'lay the 'ragon."
Devy nods. "But of course, we will do everything we can to aid you on this quest!' Pooling resources, the town is able to offer a few things.
The baroness allows the party to use any of the magic items that were sold as part of the auction for the duration of your quest.
With only the tiniest bit of grudging complaint, the Sheriff offers his ring of protection +2 to the party to use for the remainder of the adventure.
Aged Lezara Dodgion’s days of crusading are far behind her, and she can think of no better home for her flame tongue gladius, than the hands of the party.
Eupaphenia Targas tells the party that any spellcasting services they might require from the House of Abadar will be provided gratis. (Which eventually allows you to get the shae's negative levels restored.)
Bassy’s, the town historian, gift is an ancient brass key—something Lady Tula herself gave Bassy’s grandmother over a thousand years ago. Lady Tula also made a strange request: “Keep this key safe until the need for dragonslayers rises again.” Bassy informs the party that this key will open the crypt of Tula Belhaim, but warns you that it’s been centuries since anyone has entered the tomb, and there are doubtless guardians and traps within to keep all but righteous and true dragonslayers away. However, securing the magical treasures within would certainly aid you in the coming fight. "I suggest you go there first. It's on the way to the monastery."
Ares will avail himself of healing services to get back to full health.
"Well, I suspect Hammer and Reynaldo could make use of these two items on the front line." he turns and winks at Lia.
Lia will also get healed up before heading out, insisting on service for Lao as well.
She will also refill her quiver and get another just to be on the safe side.
Ares will also pick up a score of normal and cold-iron arrows.
After provisioning, you head out to slay a dragon with your shae companion in tow. Heading out into the hinterlands, the party travels for a day along the Old Quarry road, arriving at the Eskander Creek ford. Instead of heading east toward the monastery, the party turns north, following the creek. After a half day's travel through the Dragonfens, the site of the tomb is in view.
Even hundreds of years after the dragon’s fall, its bones, under which Tula's Tomb is located, are an awe-inspiring sight. The skeleton has partially sunk into the bog, but enough remains that it still appears to be draped over a low, earthen mound. On the side of the mound is a stone door with a single, rough keyhole.
Lia keeps a lookout as another opens the door. There's no way of knowing when the challenges will start or where they'll come from.
Ares walk with bow in hand and arrow at the ready. Watching for any sign of the huge dragon they saw earlier.
Right, we can't stand around out here forever, can we? Reynaldo says, grabbing the key and moving to the stone door. Let's go in and have a look.
"Right behind you."
Lia keeps Lao close.
As Rey appraoches the door, a horrid mass of eyes, mouths, and formless flesh slithers out of the dragon's skull, its countless maws yammering ceaselessly!
Seeing the creature, Maffei, your shae companion, darts forward and stabs at the creature.
The shae's blade sinks deep into the horrid flesh!
The creature continues to gibber incessantly. It then attacks Maffei, biting her and grabbing her!
The creature shoots a stream of spittle, hitting Reynaldo in the eyes!
Lia moves to get a clear shot at the thing before shooting an arrow at it.
After missing, she points to the creature and tells Lao to attack it good!
vs confuse
Hammerfirst starts the slow process of circling around while drawing his hammer and trying to crush the critter.
Ares will just shoot from his spot (thru cover, already applied)
"Hey Maffei, DUCK!"
Ares for
Ares for
Rey stares at the horrid mass of eyes, mouths, and formless flesh, its cacophony of sound putting his mind in a whirlwind of muddled thoughts. Under the influence of the foul abberation, Rey doesn't even notice as the beast's attack blinds him and makes to attack , his eyes glazed by the noisy haze.
Lia shies away from Reynaldo. "Hey! Wrong target! Snap out of it, Rey!"
While Reynaldo becomes confused and attacks the tiger, the rest of the party takes the creature in flurry of arrows, and strikes!
Seconds later, Reynaldo comes to his senses and Maffei picks herself up off the ground, disentangling herself from the creatue.
Reynaldo is aghast at what he has done while confused. I'm so sorry, Lia...I...I don't know what came over me. Last thing I remember, I was running for the door...then I began to hear sounds all around me, each sounded like a color. I could hear purple and orange and green...
He takes out his waterskin and empties it onto the ground. No more of this stuff for me. From now on it's strictly ale and wine!
"Right... because that will REALLY help you not hear colours..."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Ares will tap any injured with the party wand
On Lia
On Lia
On Hammer or Meffei
"Thank you, Ares. Feeling much better now. That was mostly easy. Shall we press on?"
Hammerfist grumbles "Aye, 'imesawastin. Erb'dy 'ealed up?"
Opening the door, the party enters. Inside is a 5-foot-deep alcove in which a 5-foot-wide shaft drops down into the ground, descending 30 feet to darkness, though Hammerfist can see the floor of a chamber below.
Hammerfirst grumbles "'ors on'y'own tirdy foots."
Ares remarks as he climbs down with the others.
"Climbing into a dark underground hole? This should make Hammer feel right at home."
Lia looks down the hole. "Hrm, how to get Lao down there. Perhaps we could lower him down before we head down?"
Ares will look at Lia
"Lia, I have an extra rope, and we can lower Lao down if that works for both of you. We can recover the rope on the way back."
He will tap her once more with the wand.
Hammerfirst grumbles.
Lia nods. "Yes, lower him down and we can climb down the same rope. He can also be an advance party in this instance."
With the ropes from Reynaldo and Ares, the party easily gets down the shaft landing in an oval chamber.
This oval chamber has two large alcoves, each containing two child-sized stone sarcophagi. In the east end of the room, the shaft opens above a marble statue of a rearing warhorse.
Curious, Reynaldo reflects, eying the child-sized tombs. Were the monastery inhabitants especially short?
Detect Magic.
Hammer detects no magic.
"N'agic buh gimme da mins. I's 'spicious."
Hammerfist will approach carefully and search for traps in the alcoves.
Lia will wait patiently as Hammerfist inspects the area, bow at the ready.
Hammerfist's throoughness pays off when he finds a secret door in the western wall. Finding no traps, he opens the door, revealing a large chamber.
A huge mosaic of a red dragon decorates the floor of this large chamber. To the north lie three circular alcoves, each with a single pillar of black marble in its center. To the south, in a single large alcove, a spiral staircase descends to a deeper level of the crypt. Four stone sarcophagi sit on the floor on the south side of the main room, two on each side of the alcove entrance.