Mr. Barlau and the Heroes of NIMH

Game Master chavamana

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Farmer is watching Willem's tail as it lashes back and forth.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

"ఒప్పందం కొట్టబడిన," Willem says, spitting into his palm and offering the hand.

The creature falls off of the pillar, using its wings at the last moment to slow the fall into a heavy and ungraceful landing. It looks at the rat for a long moment, then hacks a congealed wad of off-white into its hand and takes the offered hand.

Looking down at the small ratkin, "డ్రాగన్ మేము తన ఆదేశాన్ని ఇక తెలుసు ముందు ఎంత మీరు అనుకుంటున్నారు ? అతని గుహ ఉత్తర సొరంగం ద్వారా మైలు పదవ కొద్దిగా ఉంది ."

The other remains on top the pillar, keeping the high ground in case things go pear-shaped.

Willem shrugs. "బ్లా బ్లా బ్లా."

K.Religion dc20: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Sense Motive dc20: 1d20 + 8 - 3 ⇒ (7) + 8 - 3 = 12
Aka looks on distrusting the foul creatures of a dark god, slightly bemused by the ratkin's interaction with them, though as the shaking of hands approaches she does get a look on her face that mirrors her thought. "Ewww."

"These gentlebeings have agreed to assist us against the wyrm. All that remains is the culmination of our quest. According to them, a mere tenth of a mile away."

The non-speaking bat-creature closes its eyes, concentrating. Then he, just before he wings his way off her perch and over the heads of the group, he nods to his speaking companion - who quickly follows in the leaving.

On the guidance of the the (possibly temporary) allies, the group avoids the side passages which would only cost them time with no gain.

Main Cavern

The passageway opens into a massive cavern. The ceiling 50-feet above is pierced at many points allowing access to the world above. Layers of
earth cover the ground here, and grass, moss, and fungus grow on the floor in a thick, verdant layer.

A large pond sits to the eastern side of the cavern, and you can see a number of 'beaches' along the far side, suggesting more caverns.

To the north of the main cavern there is a roost 40-feet above the floor of the main cavern. From the glimpse you can get as the large green dragon finishes off the grioth. A few long rends in the green scales drip blood.

As the last body of the bat-creature falls to the verdant floor of the main cavern, the dragon notices the group near the southern entrance.

"What is this? You dare to come here uninvited and soil my lair with your abject disrespect."

"NAME YOURSELVES!"

Willem strides forward, pushing the brim of his cap up with the barrel of his pistol. "Name's Black Willem. As for disrespect, well... I intend to do a bit more than that." He spits on the floor and gets ready for a fight.

"Akatsuki no Yume, Hunter of dragons and other foul, slithering creatures" she puts her left foot a half-step forward and performs a short bow while never taking her eyes off of her opponent she continues "both below and above the earths crust, here to show you the error of looking too much into the darkness and to untether your bindings to this land so you may at last be free to travel the stars you once looked on with favor or perhaps this time to greet the Sunlight at Dawn." She fingers Wyrmsmite's hilt, activating the Dragonbane ability to all alies within 30' (+2 to hit, +2d6 damage). Meanwhile the weapon in her left hand bursts into flame. She continues to watch the massive green beast with curiosity to see what if any reaction he might have to her words.

"Farmer," says Farmer.

"No one of significance. I seem to be lost and this isn't the exit"
Fenyx says as he backs out of view of the dragon.
Once out of view Fenyx will cast Mage Armor(from new spell slot or bow pending GM decision).

"I'm Pasara," says Pasara. She gives a small wave. "Hi."

Pasara will be looking for a discreet moment to cast Resist Energy (of the Acid persuasion) upon herself before battle, if she can.

The dragon's eyes, intelligent if not wise, move over the group, noting the few that pull back to safety and those that stay in the open of the cave. "Belhaim will melt to the ground less than an hour after you do." The threat in the draconic voice clear.

"Just after the druid sees his wife plummet and pop like an overripe melon on the ground."

The muscles of the dragons legs bunch, indication that the dragon high on its roost intends to take to the air. With a cruel smile, Aeteperax comments, "If there is anything that you feel the world needs to know, you'd best speak it now."

Fenyx has Mage Armor up and Pasara has Resist Energy (Acid) up by this point.

Please roll initiative and give your round one actions.

Sense Motive dc20: 1d20 + 8 - 3 ⇒ (12) + 8 - 3 = 17
"You are not a very nice winged slug." Akatsuki responds taking a defiant step forward, Sarenrae's emblem hanging from her neck and displayed prominently high on her chest. "Anything the world needs to know? How about what you'd like carved on your tombstone?"

"Farmer," says Farmer.

"You are not a very nice winged slug." Akatsuki responds taking a defiant step forward, Sarenrae's emblem hanging from her neck and displayed prominently high on her chest. "Anything the world needs to know? How about what you'd like carved on your tombstone?"

The dragon's eyes glow noticeably as they narrow in on the petite archer. "No, I'm not very nice but I'm definitely not a slug." The green dragons wings flex once, twice, but before he can leap into the air...

In the Mossy Glow of the Dragon's Lair - Round 1

Willem drops his pack and runs up into the air, laying in wait for the beast to blast him.

"Ew," mutters Pasara. "What is it with villains and their purple prose and horrible imagery?"

Pasara decides to try a new trick on the dragon. She gestures at it, and with a new mystic phrase a glowing bead streaks towards the dragon, exploding in a burst of searing flame when it hits. (SR: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15; RefDC18: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27) But the natural draconic resistance to magic causes the fire spell to fizzle.

Fenyx shouts from what he hopes is out of sight of the dragon, "The world should know how to get out of this cave. Cause that is what I would like to know." (Fenyx casts Gravity Bow.)

Although Fenyx, secure in his hidden spot can not see it, a cruel smile shows the dragon's teeth. "I'm sure that your death would be a fine exit, elf."

Aka lets loose a barrage of arrows, but they are deflected by either the dragon's thick hide or the magical armor that appears as the missiles get close.

Farmer wanders toward where Fenyx is hiding, turns his back on the Dragon, and starts casting.

Finally, Aeterperax takes to the air, roughly maneuvering in the tight quarters of his lair to gain the right angle on the largest grouping of the party. To do so, the dragon flies right by Willem, whose lead bullets penetrate both natural and mage's armor, but do not light the scaled monster.

Above the group, the green dragon breathes a huge mass of acid and gas which encompasses both the ratkin in the air and the two blonde humans on the ground.

Reflex save DC 20 vs acid
Aka: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 2610d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 3, 3, 1, 6, 1, 3, 3, 3) = 27 Halved to 13 - Aka takes 3 points of acid damage.
Willem: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 2510d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 2, 4, 2, 1, 1, 1, 3, 6) = 30 Halved to 15 - Willem takes 5 points of acid damage.
Pasara: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 1210d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 2, 2, 5, 4, 6, 4, 2, 3) = 34 Pasara takes 14 points of acid damage

Aeterperax continues his flight to land heavily near the pillar where Farmer and Fenyx have taken shelter.

"When they aren't going to be useful, it is better to kill wizards before they get... uppity." The dragon comments as he starts to move around the rock.

The dragon glances over his form towards the ranged fighters, "Not that I don't admire your ploy. Attempting to get me to go for weapon-users rather than the far tastier magic-users."

A pause, "Don't you know muscle makes the meat tough?"

From her own rocky spot, a dark ball of flame forms between Maffei's hands, but her magic - still weak from the light wall at Hunclay's manor - doesn't manage to overcome the dragon's natural resistance.

The dragon glances over his form towards the ranged fighters, "Not that I don't admire your ploy. Attempting to get me to go for weapon-users rather than the far tastier magic-users."

A pause, "Don't you know muscle makes the meat tough?"

"Well," Aka huffs, muttering under her breath, "you obviously don't know me very well." She seems to have taken afront at being called tough rather than tender as the Aeteperax pretender snubs her as a first choice for his dining pleasure. Then louder, "Haven't you heard good things come to those who wait? Maybe we just set you up to hit you broadside."

"Bölvaðir ónæmi galdur," grumbles Pasara.

"The name is still Farmer," Farmer says.

"The name is still Farmer," Farmer says.

"See," the dragon says, acid already dripping from his maw, "You say Farmer but all I hear is food."

"See," the dragon says, acid already dripping from his maw, "You say Farmer but all I hear is food."

Akatsuki's eyes narrow slightly. She begins musing to herself, "Food. Yes. Dragon steaks, dragon chops, dragon tongue, crispy fried dragonskin from just beneath the underbelly scales or the thin part of the wings, dragon heart, dragon stones...some people say the eyes are best. That's something I have yet to try." Not that she's ever actually eaten anything she's mentioning, but heck, he may not know that.

Sense Motive dc20: 1d20 + 8 - 3 ⇒ (8) + 8 - 3 = 13

Then, instead of following up the devastating attack with more, the dragon takes to the air (although with tears in his wing from Aka's one arrow), winging just out of reach of the party toward the cave that drew his attention.

"Unborn baby is sweeter than elf, anyway." The dragon snaps.

"Oh, Hells no." She says, taking aim at the retreating beasts wounded wing.

In the Mossy Glow Dripping Acid of the Dragon's Lair - Round 2

Willem drops a paper cartridge down the barrel of his weapon and closes with the creature, or at least he gets back down to ground level and close enough to shoot - although not close enough to catch the dragon on fire. His bullet does an admirable job of punching through both dragon scale and mage armor.

Pasara moves to try and keep from clumping up with her friends, hoping to make it harder for Aeterperax to get multiple targets in one breath.

Annoyed that she couldn't pierce the wyrm's resistance to spells with her shiny new magic, Pasara drops down to a familiar spell and tries to will the spell to affect the dragon. Three bolts of force fly from her hand, only to impact harmlessly on the dragon.

Fenyx double moves past or at least up to Aka. "No meat here."

Flaming arrows continue to fly from her bow as Akatsuki slides closer to Fenyx and Farmer. Most ricochet harmlessly off the dragons thick armored scales, but one sinks home, where joint of wing meets body to devastating effect.

She takes a moment, pressing the side of one hand against the symbol to Sarenrae just below her throat. She whispers to herself, "Lady Dawnflower, I sure do wish I could draw upon your energy now. I think I might have just made him angry." but this time the iridescent spiritual energy does not find it's way to her weapons, nor does it surround her with it's light.

Farmer continues to sidle around the rock and away from Fenyx. The tempo of his casting changes to something more pulsating. Not identical, but similar.

He casts this one with his fingers crossed.

The dragon roars with pain with the one-two punch of Willem's and Aka's artillery. There is just the briefest glance up - to the sky above and what would be a clean break from the pesky group of adventurers. But not even a breath later, his mighty green head flashes to the largest of the caves across the murky water.

The mighty creature's maw, dripping acid, darts forward slamming Fenyx against the wall even as he takes a mighty bite from the elven wizard's flesh. Fenyx takes 41 hit points.

With the last target that was in melee range fleeing, the dragon casts a spell, a black ray reaching out to engulf Aka. (Aka takes 1d4 ⇒ 1 negative levels.)

Then, the dragon takes to the air (although with tears in his wing from Aka's one arrow), winging just out of reach of the party toward the cave that drew his attention.

"Unborn baby is sweeter than elf, anyway." The dragon snaps.

It's always interesting to see how one action can change things :)

"My future boots appear to be getting away," Willem observes.

"Andskotans helvítis fjandans djöfull! Hvað tekur það að setja þetta dreka á eldinn?" curses Pasara.

"Baby, elf, it's all better than broccoli," Farmer mutters.

In the Sundabbled Lair of the Dragon's Lair - Round 2

Willem reloads with a paper cartridge while pursuing the dragon down its hole.

Before Aeterperax can get out of her range, Pasara tries once again to get a spell through its resistance. She extends her hand and a beam of scorching fire races towards the dragon. Alas, although her scorching ray solidly hits the dragon, the spell fizzles.

Fenyx moves to line up a shot on the dragon, "Hey you didn't tell us how to get out yet."

An annoyed comment from the faraway cave, "If you can't figure out how to go up you aren't a very good wizard." A pause, "Of course the bow may also be an indication of that."

Sadly, with the cover from the walls, Fenyx just barely misses.

"Get back here flying spicy steaks." Aka runs after the dragon and fires, trying to cause enough damage to it's wing to bring it to ground. Unfortunately, although she does some damage, she is not quite as successful as her previous shot. "Do you really think we're going to let you go?"

"Գնալ այդ ճանապարհով, ինչպես արագ, ինչպես դուք կարող եք. Ստացեք միջեւ վիշապին եւ ոչինչ, որ փորձում է հարձակվել. Հարձակումը, որ երբ դու միջեւ եւ դրա թիրախ." Farmer says, pointing in the direction the dragon went.

The elemental charges off into the air towards the dragon. Farmer repeats his prior casting.

The dragon shoves some of his things into a magical bag, picking up a potion which he downs - the tear in his wing fully healing.

1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25

"Just once I'd like to fight something that moves more slowly than I do," Farmer says.

Perception dc27: 1d20 + 6 - 3 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 6 - 3 - 1 = 10

"Just once I'd like to fight something that moves more slowly than I do," Farmer says.

Aka decides it would probably be best not to respond, much as she would want to. Wasn't there a big bad dragon, a damsel in distress and an innocent life or life to be somewhere around here somewhere? Focus Aka. Focus.

"Just once I'd like to fight something that moves more slowly than I do," Farmer says.

"Our statuary allies are moving pretty slowly. Perhaps when we're finished here, you can fight them," Willem grumps.

Farmer snorts.

Quiet Screams from the Dark - Round 4

Willem advances and puts another bullet into the dragon. The ratkin's bullet punches through the dragon scales.

Pasara runs to where Aka is standing, hoping to get a clear line-of-sight so she can cast another spell that will bounce harmlessly off its hide.

Aka mutters to herself, possibly swearing under her breath and moves to and up the wall so she can see what's going on in the dragon's lair and to see if it has another escape route.

Another air elemental pops into existence 40' away from Farmer and towards the dragon.

"Գնալ այդ ճանապարհով, եւ հարձակվել վիշապին." Farmer says.

The elemental flies off.

Farmer walks toward the Dragon, and casts another spell.

Meanwhile, the first elemental attacks the Dragon. However, the air creature just seems to flail uselessly at the dragon.

Aeteperax moves towards a pile of boxes filled with book, just barely able to move a clawed hand through the gap to grab and pull out a dark-haired woman. She is dragged, despite effort on her part not to, between the dragon and the wee ratkin. Her dirty, once fine dress stretches across a very full belly. [b]

The dragon smirks at the rat.