GMthunderspirit's Dragon's Demand (Inactive)

Game Master thunderspirit

Mordenaar, weapons out and aflame, walks cautiously to the northern edge of the room

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21
Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

Mordenaar, weapons out and aflame, walks cautiously to the northern edge of the room

Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18
Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

Mordenaar moves north (twice) and finds a filthy grioth lair. It is currently unoccupied.

Moved him on the map. I will presume the party follows at this point, unless you've all decided it's time to join forces with Lord Aeterpeax, which the dragon would likely endorse...

"I would like a potion of resistance to energy if possible" Achmed whispers.

Kinn looks at the empty vials in his hand, pauses, and hands them to Achmed.

All out, I am afraid.

"Alas, we seem to have used much of our items. Let's find the dragon quickly, so that we do not run our magic out, yes?" Endar follows along into the grioth chamber.

Mordenaar nods and advances. T10 for Stealth/Perception:

Stealth: 22
Perception: 20

Map updated.

Mordenaar no sooner takes his first stealthy step onto the stairs when a voice rumbles out from beyond:
Well thieves! I smell you, I hear your breath — surely you would not come to before the great Lord Aeteperax uninvited. You must be one of those miserable Belhaim humans. You can cease your sneaking about and come forward. If the ransom pleases me, your benevolent Lord Aeteperax might allow you to depart here with your lives.

The chamber before you is enormous, ans sails to a height of 50 feet or more. The white circles on the map are open to the sky above, while layer upon layer of earth, grass, and fungus carpet the floor fully twenty feet below the balcony overlooking the chamber. A septet of dead grioths, their blood fresh and still pooling, can be seen on the northeastern shore of the pond.

Feel free to ask about other aspects of the map if you have questions.

Mordenaar quickly retrieves some chalk, and writes on the floor Valgrim, be ready with an arrow. Shoot FIRST. Kinn, ->."

He does not answer the beast until the others nod, "We come bearing gifts oh great one!"

The slayer will continual inch forward until he sees the dragon.

Sorry...did the druid come with us?

Kinn's face takes on a look of puzzlement and he takes the chalk from Mordenaar. Next to the arrow, he writes: "CHARGE?"

The knight seizes dragon's invitation to drink his potion of fly and cast his scroll of protection from evil.

Achmed: no, druid stayed behind.

Achmed grabs the chalk and writes wait! I'll lob a fire spell first.

Moved pogs for Mordenaar and Compy back a bit, because reasons.

You lie poorly, little one. I suspect you have no qualms about that. But you will reflect on your folly, I believe, as your life leaves your puny body.

Initiative
baddie: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Achmed: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
Endar: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Kinn: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (17) + 0 = 17
Mordenaar: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Valgrim: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

"Let's do this."

Rising from a roost easily twenty feet above the ledge on which you stand is a green, scaled lizard with wings. The scales are the color of emeralds, and a single sharp horn protrudes from the end of its toothy snout. It measures fully thirty feet from horn to tail. At first glance, there appear to be three of the creatures! But then you notice them all moving in unison, and realize it's a spell of some sort!

Round 1
Endar/Compy
baddie
Achmed
Kinn
Valgrim
Mordenaar

Endar and Compy are up!

Endar feeds Compy the potion of magic fang he was holding, then the two of them move forward into the cavern.
I have no idea why Compy's pog was all the way out there, but he should have been standing next to Endar since he was ready to feed the potion. I've adjusted accordingly.

Sorry, I think that was me thinking I was moving Kinn's pog. It is hard to see so zoomed out and I was lazy.

posting ahead if I can if I'm alive lol knowledge arcana to know about this Dragon

on his turn actions below - Can I assume I drew the rod of maximize from my backpack as we entered the cave? Yes dice bot! DC 20 reflex save for half 36 points of damage

Achmed lobs a fireball at the dragon angling it so it misses any allies.

SR check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

knowledge arcana: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

I'm glad we got it straightened out.

Upon being within line of effect of the mighty and terrible dragon, everyone within 150 feet (30 squares) needs to make a Will save for its frightful presence aura.

After letting the party see the full awesomeness that is great Lord Aeteperax, the dragon takes flight from its roost, swooping down majestically and emitting a cone of caustic bile from its maw, catching Mordenaar, Endar, Compy, and Kinn in its blast!

acid: 10d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 4, 3, 3, 3, 6, 4, 1, 6) = 36
Refl for half. Those in the cone will need to roll the Will save before the Reflex save. Kinn will get a +2 bonus from cover.

Fly check: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
The dragon hovers in place, out of adjacent melee reach and about five feet above the ledge!

Achmed (who can have drawn the rod, and who knows only that this is an actual, real-live dragon, and nothing more) flings a fireball at the beast! Even if he fails the Will save vs. frightful presence, he'd overcome the SR with that roll.
DC 20 Refl: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

With a mighty roar, the dragon takes the brunt of the flames! You'll pay for your insolence and will die screaming for mercy as I tear you limb from limb!

You guys are up! Everyone needs a Will save, and those in the cone need a Reflex save (details above)!

Dang it! I'm too far from Kinn for the bonus
Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
REF: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Will Endar vs fear: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 He's shaken
Reflex Endar: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 8 - 2 = 19 Dangit, barely missed it I think. Endar's ring of Acid resistance soaks up 20 of those 36 points, so he takes 16

Will Compy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 Also shaken
Reflex Compy (improved evasion): 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 6 - 2 = 7 Compy takes 13 points of Acid damage thanks to Improved Evasion

Point of order: how high up is the dragon now, relative to us? Is he at our level, but above the deeper section of the cavern?

The dragon is hovering five feet above the ledge and five feet away from the ledge. A reach weapon will work, but not regular melee weapons.

Mordenaar panics, but then still manages to twist away from the worst of it. He takes a moment to study the monster before moving for cover. "Let fly!"

Will: 1d20 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 8 + 4 = 28

Stepping into the light (fluff) Kinn thunders a reply to the self-styled Lord. "SZANGI! I will not be bowed by your childish mewling! You have troubled this vale far too long. Your doom has come. Prepare to meet the blade of Lady Tula Belhaim herself, Wyrmsmite, burning with the Dawnflower's own vengeance!!!"

Reflex: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 2 = 10

The dragon's acidic breath is absorbed slightly by Kinn's magic preparations, and he momentarily heals himself before launching into the air.

Lay on Hands: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 6, 2) = 11 ugh

"DIE!!!" Kinn charges the dragon directly down the snout. Declare smite. Presumably draws an AoO. Current AC vs this bad boy is 30 due to the charge.

Flying Wyrmsmite Power Charge @ Szangi: 1d20 + 11 + 3 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 11 + 3 + 2 - 2 = 34 THREAT Confirm: 1d20 + 11 + 3 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 11 + 3 + 2 - 2 = 15 ugh
Slashing Bane Smite: 1d6 + 6 + 6 + 12 + 2d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 6 + 12 + (6, 4) + (4) = 41

Use your bloody reroll!!!!!

Oh, right. Totally forgot we get those for this.

Confirmation Re-roll: 1d20 + 11 + 3 + 2 - 2 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 11 + 3 + 2 - 2 + 4 = 19 HA!!! My fate is ordained.

Desna weaps.

bite AoO on Kinn: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (8) + 18 = 26 miss
The dragon takes a savage bite at Kinn, but misjudges the angle and cannot connect.

Kinn has a flying potion in effect, right? I need a DC 15 Fly check to allow Kinn to hover, otherwise you'll have to land.

Aye, I do, but I do not think I need a Hover check yet. CRB: "Without making a check, a flying creature can remain flying at the end of its turn so long as it moves a distance greater than half its speed."

Seeing Kinn successfully attack the dragon, Endar is emboldened to try to do the same. Compy follows him, growling at the dragon, but has no way to reach it at the moment.

charge power attack with boarding pike: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 2 = 24
damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Wish I could use the cloak of the bat during combat, but since it requires you to hold both edges, I can't us it and fight with my weapons at the same time. :-(

Endar's attack looks good, but at the last moment it strikes an appearing shimmering aura about the dragon!

Achmed, Valgrim!

Valgrim leveels his bow at the Dragon, and let's fly. With a word he brings about a Judgment of Justice upon the fell beast, and chooses arrows of Bane!

Arrow 1: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 7 + 2 + 2 = 28 for DMG: 1d8 + 4 + 2d6 ⇒ (1) + 4 + (1, 1) = 7
Arrow 2: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 2 + 2 = 31 THREAT
Confirm: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 7 + 2 + 4 = 31 for DMG: 3d8 + 12 + 2d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 1) + 12 + (2, 5) = 27

8 Dragon's Bane arrows remain.

Didn't we have one arrow of dragon SLAYING? What happened to that one?

Didn't we have one arrow of dragon SLAYING? What happened to that one?

It's listed in Valgrim's equipment.

Mordenaar and I have gone through the math, and Valgrim is best off shooting with bane arrows or the bane class ability.

Now if y'all want the arrow of dragon slaying to be on someone else's person, I'm okay with ret-conning that. If not, Valgrim should use it once he's activated his bane class ability.

Both Valgrim's arrows hit! The first makes one of the dragon's images vanish, but the second lodges in Aeteperax's chest! He roars in pain, fury, and hate!

EDIT: oh, forgot mirror images!
What did Kinn smite?: 1d3 ⇒ 1 Aeteperax!
What did Valgrim shoot (1)?: 1d3 ⇒ 2 image pops!
What did Valgrim shoot (2)?: 1d2 ⇒ 1 Aeteperax!
one image left

Forgot Achmed threw his maximized fireball, so it's the dragon's go.

Aeteperax sputters in fury at Kinn. Who told you that? THAT IS NO LONGER MY NAME!

In fact, he is so enraged that he is effectively staggered for this round!

vs. Kinn, who called him names: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (12) + 18 = 30 hit, due to the charge
Improved Vital Strike on bite: 6d8 + 10 ⇒ (7, 8, 4, 6, 6, 3) + 10 = 44
Kinn slumps in the air and begins to drift to the ground below (feather fall).
Insect! Aeteperax growls.

DC 15 Fly check: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24 success

You guys are up!

"Kinn! You bastard! I'll turn your hide to armor and your fangs to jewelry!"

Mordenaar slides out and levels the Flametongue at the wyrm:

Touch: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 2 = 23 for Fire: 4d6 + 2 ⇒ (1, 3, 4, 1) + 2 = 11

--------------------------------------------------
Valgrim maintains his focus, bearing down with judgment both mortal and divine: Same abilities and feats before

Arrow 1: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 11 + 1 = 28 for DMG: 1d8 + 4 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 1 + (5, 3) = 19
Arrow 2: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 11 + 1 = 28 for DMG: 1d8 + 4 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 1 + (4, 1) = 17

The blade needs an SR check (caster level 12) to see if the flames affect it first.

Spell Penetration: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23

That will (just barely) do it.
What did the scorching ray scorch?: 1d2 ⇒ 1 Aeteperax!

Mordenaar's blade sends a ray of flame, scorching Aeteperax's wing!

What did Valgrim shoot (1)?: 1d2 ⇒ 1 Aeteperax!
What did Valgrim shoot (2)?: 1d2 ⇒ 1 Aeteperax!

The inquisitor sends two more shafts into the side of the beast!

Kinn, Achmed, Endar!

Mordenaar lets out a battle cry! How does Aeteperax look?

I don't think the dragon hit Kinn. It doesn't look like Trex included the Barkskin that he called out or his CHA bonus due to Smite.

Endar's eyes go wide at the vicious bite that the dragon just laid into Kinn. Hoping to draw the dragon to a place where it can be flanked, Endar stabs at it once again, then dances backward.
boarding pike, power attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16 Do I still have my reroll? I don't think I used it recently. If so: reroll: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32 That's better.

As he jumps back, he motions for Compy to move away in the other direction, and Compy obliges.

Nah, I included all my buffs. What I did not do, though, was include my HP bump from leveling. I am alive! Barely.

Kinn's teeth involuntarily clench from the pain, but the knight's mind is far from his devastating wound. Still, the Dawnflower's whisper reminds him to live. The best battle is a battle I win. If I die, I can no longer fight. LoH: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 1, 5) = 14

"SZANGI AT BIRTH, SZANGI AT DEATH!!!" His scimitar, wreathed in holy fire, slashes the dragon artfully between brow and neck, as Kinn opts for surer strikes.

WYRMSMITE @ SZANGI: 1d20 + 11 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 11 + 3 = 32 THREAT CONFIRM: 1d20 + 11 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 11 + 3 = 26 confirmed?
Critical Damage: 2d6 + 12 + 24 + 4d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (3, 1) + 12 + 24 + (3, 6, 6, 1) + (1) = 57 1 is fire

Iterative: 1d20 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 6 + 3 = 27 THREAT Confirm: 1d20 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 3 = 11 nope
Damage: 1d6 + 6 + 12 + 2d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 12 + (2, 2) + (2) = 28 2 is fire

Hover Check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23 SUCCESS

Endar swings his pike and realizes he will need help to hit Aeteperax!

What did Kinn hit?: 1d2 ⇒ 1 Aeteperax!
Wow, you guys have been SO fortunate on those rolls!

Kinn's first swing is a hit (not a crit, though), and then...

RROOOAAARR!!!
click the link!

As Kinn's blade slices through the dragon's neck, the sound of sinew and bone cracking echoes loudly throughout the massive chamber, and the now-lifeless form of Lord Aeteperax the Great — also known as Szangi — plummets to the floor in a shattered, crumpled heap!

Out of combat!

+1 for the Moogle!!!!

Having stood ready to die, the slayer stands at the precipice and nods to everyone. "The story will be written, the drinks will flow, children will pretend, and maidens will swoon. First, though, I made that damned dragon a promise."

Mordenaar then begins a careful dissection of the Beast No More.

Mordenaar puts his Survival skills to good use on the fallen dragon.

Kinn and Endar make their way to the loft above the ledges, where the paladin tends to Rima Kell, the pregnant wife of Azmur. She has been kept imprisoned here by a combination of fear and the dragon repeatedly using charm person on her. Of late, the dragon had let the spell portion slip, and Rima had been biding her time, hoping for her chance to escape — she had managed to steal a +2 mithral dagger from the dragon’s hoard with intent to use it on Aeteperax at her first opportunity.

Rima has spent much of her time resting on a large mound of furs, one of which is a finely-preserved chimera fur worth 900 gp.

Aeteperax keeps his large collection of books (roughly two-thirds of which were recently looted from the monastery's various libraries) in six 5-foot-wide wooden lockers. The hundreds of books in these chests (all with names like Codex of the Ebon Depths, Grimoire of Impossible Secrets, Kargeth's Blackest Encyclopaedia, and so on) are worth a total of 12,000 gp. Each locker weighs 250 pounds when full of books. In addition to granting a +6 competence bonus on all Knowledge (arcana, geography, history, planes, and religion) checks attempted while using them as resources, their pages detail additional magical rituals — including the one Aeteperax performed to open the rift he uses to access to the Dark Tapestry.

Five smaller chests hold the bulk of Aeteperax's most valuable treasures, including 8,940 cp, 5,100 sp, 2,300 gp, 93 pp, a small silver cauldron with carvings of wolverines on the side worth 120 gp, a gold scarab engraved with the symbol of the Green Faith worth 75 gp, a silver hand mirror with a darkwood frame worth 120 gp, a silver bowl worth 75 gp with six tiny jade statuettes of panthers inside (each statuette is worth 20 gp), a platinum holy symbol of Sarenrae worth 500 gp, a masterwork darkwood flute worth 300 gp, a painting of Queen Abrogail II on black velvet worth 1,500 gp, a pouch of a dozen flawed garnets worth 20 gp each, a 6-pound lump of voidglass worth 600 gp, a +1 light fortification buckler, a +1 returning starknife, a +1 flaming burst hand crossbow, a wand of longstrider (44 charges), a wand of remove paralysis (38 charges), a belt of physical might +2 (Strength and Constitution), a cape of the mountebank, a pair of winged boots, and a circlet of persuasion.

Lying on the floor near the edge is what looks like a tree branch, but is actually a staff of illusion. Achmed confirms that this is likely how Aeteperax appeared to be a black dragon at the auction.

Kinn bears his half-healed wounds with pride and circles the dragon's corpse but once before attending to Rima. His words are kind a gentle, the spit and fire from his voice having slipped away with the tyrant's bygone soul. Outside, he prepares two man-sleds. One will haul the treasures to Belhaim, and on the other will ride Rima, first to rejoin her anxious husband and then for the couple to return to their distant home.

From the beast's horde he selects only the image of his Lady, which he treasures above all treasures -- a sign from his patron goddess that he has done good works. It is a sign that his time in this part of the world is done, that its people have been restored to their peaceable lives, and he may wander on to confront some other evil elsewhere and bring with him the Dawn.

Of course, he does not decline if any of his companions should choose to hand him one of the other items of power -- the belt, the cape, the boots, or even the circlet. But that is for the pecuniary to decide.

Val'haer-Kinn allows himself one night of celebration amongst the people of Belhaim, with Mordenaar, Endar, Achmed, and even Valgrim the elf. But as the dawn breaks the next morn, the road is trod by the wanderer's accustomed feet.

"So many treasures... worth the fight, I think. Kinn, my friend, you were a fiend, and I mean that in the best way possible. Well done."