Having prepared yourselves as best as you know how, you begin working your way deeper into the tunnels towards the lair of Horralydax. A narrow cavern to the south eventually opens into a larger cave. A gently sloping ramp descends counter clockwise to an elaborately carved column of ice. A vast pile of gold, jewels, furs, and immense bones lie piled around the column. The ceiling in this cave rises to a height of 30 feet and you can see what appears to be a large tunnel in the ceiling above the ice column, that runs upward for some distance before disappearing towards the north. A large patch of the cavern floor as you immediately enter the cave is slick with ice and a large section at the rear is obscured by swirling snow and fog. From somewhere near the back of the cavern, a voice suddenly speaks...
"Ah, I've been waiting..." it hisses, a female voice but also the voice of the north wind itself. "Come to call on my father? I'm afraid he has business elsewhere in these mountains, dealing with others of your ilk. But he does send his warmest regards and bid that I, Rysirryt, entertain you in his stead!"
The strange fog and snow at the rear of the cavern is the result of a Fog Cloud spell.
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Round 1
Rallas
Peribras + Darkpaw
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Rysirryt
?????
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Skye
Fung
Dortlin + Clyde
Vanya
Active Conditions: None
Environmental Conditions: /
Rallas and Peribras + Darkpaw are UP!
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Rallas moves forward as far as he can, skirting the icy patch on the ground and adoptive a defensive posture. Peribras and Darkpaw move forward as well, with the halfling readying to shoot the first thing that shows itself. He doesn't have to wait long as a trio of kobolds step out of the mist, raising their crossbows to fire upon the group of Pathfinders! Peribras' arrow streaks forward and buries itself into Yellow's shoulder, eliciting a series of shrill yelps and shrieks!
Yellow takes aim at Peribras while Orange and Red fire upon Dortlin and Rallas, respectively...
...and while the bolt aimed for Dortlin flies wide, Peribras and Rallas end up grazed by the projectiles!
From within the cloud, a great flapping sound is heard as a white-scaled creature with slender horns crowning its head takes to the air! Soaring up and out of the snow and fog, the dragon approaches the gathered Pathfinders and bares her teeth in a wicked smile before opening her jaws and sucking in a deep breath and delivering a ferocious blast of ice down on them!
As the ice clears, Vanya and Fung begin to move forward as well; Vanya stops near the edge of the ledge and adopts a defensive position while Fung delivers a blast of electricity that makes the dragon roar with pain and outrage!
Luckily for you, Rysirryt isn't a fully grown white dragon but instead a giant juvenile white dragon.
For every 5 that you beat the DC, you may ask for one piece of information from this list.
These three kobolds are kobold blades, like the ones you fought back at the frozen lake.
For every 5 that you beat the DC, you may ask for one piece of information from this list.
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Round 1/Round 2
Rallas
Peribras + Darkpaw
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Rysirryt (-19)
Kobold Yellow (-11)
Kobold Orange
Kobold Red
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Skye
Fung
Dortlin + Clyde
Vanya
Active Conditions: None
Environmental Conditions: /
Skye, Dortlin + Clyde, Rallas and Peribras + Darkpaw are UP!
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"Thanks be to Desna, Rysirryt isn't a fully grown white dragon but only a giant juvenile white dragon."
Skye moves up to the edge of the tunnels entrance into the large cavern, pulls a piece of flint and a pinch of silver dust from his spell component pouch, and casts burst of radiance. A brilliant flash of shimmering light fills a 10-ft radius globe around the dragon.
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11dmg
evasion 0 dmg
Dortlin shares what he has heard about dragons from other Pathfinders.
"Hey flying is cheating!"
And because there isn't enough going on Dortlin casts Stone Call filling much of the area with flying rocks hitting the kobolds and possibly the dragon if it is less then 20ft up.
After using a swift action to gain the strength of the Bull and switching to his Nodachi he will then have Clyde use Chameleon Step to take a very fast single move over to the 2 archers and attack the yellow cloaked one using Broken Wing Gambit.
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Skye casts Burst of Radiance on Ryssyrt....
...the dragon shakes off the blindness, but still shakes the damage from Skye’s spell.
Then Dortlin stone calls, sending a hail of rocks down upon dragon and kobolds alike. The koblolds shriek and his as the rocks descend upon them, and yellow goes down!
Clyde takes a big chomp out of orange, and it also goes down!
Peribras misses the dragon, twice!
Vanya and Rallas move forward!
★ ---- ★ ---- ★ ---- ★
The dragon flies forward to bite at Fung!
He gets a good chomp in! “I’ve been curious about tien cuisine. Is it tasty served cold? I shall enjoy eating your frozen heart.”
Meanwhile the last kobold shoots!
However, disheartened by the deaths of its friends, it misses!
★ ---- ★ ---- ★ ---- ★
Round 2 / Round 3
Rallas (-1, Barkskin)
Peribras (-16, Aspect of the Falcon) + Darkpaw (-21, Magic Fang)
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Rysirryt (-35)
Kobold Yellow (DEAD)
Kobold Orange (DEAD)
Kobold Red (-6)
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Skye (Barkskin, False Life, Shield of Faith)
Fung (Longstrider)
Dortlin (Barkskin, Resist Energy: Cold, -11) + Clyde (Barkskin, Longstrider, Shield Companion)
Vanya
Active Conditions: None
Environmental Conditions: Difficult Terrain - Cyan Grid & Red Grid / Completely Obscured - Purple Grid
Skye, Dortlin + Clyde, Rallas and Peribras + Darkpaw are UP!
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Skye inches forward within range, points at the white dragon and tilts his head to one side, resting it against his clasped hands, "Nap time, wyrm."
Slumber Hex
Skye inches forward within range, points at the white dragon and tilts his head to one side, resting it against his clasped hands, "Nap time, wyrm."
Slumber Hex
The whole team is up!
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Skye's eyes turn pitch black and the colors around him drain for a brief moment, as he calls upon the aid of the Tender of Dreams♫♫♮♪♬.
Stardust materializes around the white wyrm, and the dragon begins to shed light like a candle.
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Dortlin moves Clyde over to the dragon. Provoking if she has reach.
"We have questions for you. Hopefully you will be in the mood to answer after we take the fight out of you."
Dortlin attacks Rysirryt for non-lethal dmg using Broken Wing Gambit.
If the crit confirms it triggers an aoo from Clyde and then Dortlin due to Outflank and Paired Opportunists.
Another triggering event maybe.
Then Clyde bites her using Broken Wing Gambit.
It triggers an aoo from both Dortlin and Clyde (Dortlin only has 3 aoos max, Clyde has 4. Dortlin doesn't not have reach so possibly only Clyde will get the attack.)
Dortlin shares what he has heard about dragons from other Pathfinders.
Dortlin knows that the White Dragon has no DR (but does have a vulnerability to fire), and you’ve already seen its frosty breath weapon, so I’ll tell you about its special abilities. They are:
- Ice Shape (Su) A white dragon can shape ice and snow at will. This ability functions as stone shape (CL 9th), but targeting only ice and snow, not stone.
- Icewalking (Ex) This ability works like the spider climb spell, but the surfaces the dragon climbs must be icy. The dragon can move across icy surfaces without penalty and does not need to succeed at Acrobatics checks to run or charge on ice.
- Snow Vision (Ex) A white dragon learns to see perfectly well in snowy conditions. A white dragon does not take penalties on Perception checks while in snow.
Skye hits the dragon with Stardust! “My eyes! My eyes!”
Dorlin attacks the dragon with his Nodachi, confirming a crit, which triggers a pair of attacks from him and Clyde! His second set of attacks does not confirm, but it does do some damage to the dragon, who is now eyeing him and Clyde with utter loathing. “Questions, of me? The pair of apes have questions? I’m amazed that you two baboons have the brain capacity for that. I’ll eat you next, after we’ve cooled you down a bit!”
Then Rallas takes out the last kobold!
★ ---- ★ ---- ★ ---- ★
Round 2 / Round 3
Rallas (-1, Barkskin)
Peribras (-16, Aspect of the Falcon) + Darkpaw (-21, Magic Fang)
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Rysirryt (-45, 43NL, Dazzled, Stardust, Broken Wing Gambit Target)
Kobold Yellow (DEAD)
Kobold Orange (DEAD)
Kobold Red (DEAD)
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Skye (Barkskin, False Life, Shield of Faith)
Fung (Longstrider)
Dortlin (Barkskin, Resist Energy: Cold, -11) + Clyde (Barkskin, Longstrider, Shield Companion)
Vanya
Active Conditions: None
Environmental Conditions: Difficult Terrain - Cyan Grid & Red Grid / Completely Obscured - Purple Grid
BOLD is up
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"Aarrghh!" Fung screams in pain as the flying dragon takes out a large chunk of the flesh on his shoulder. Clutching the wound in agony, Fung staggers away from the reach of the dragon, he grits his teeth as he summons forth all the static electricity from the air and sends a powerful bolt at the dragon!
Despite the agony in his shoulder, Fung’s barrage of electric damage takes out the dragon, and silence reigns in the cavern!
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Skye pulls a leather pouch from one of his deep pockets. He sticks his fingers inside, withdrawing some herb and packing it into his pipe. He pours two fingers of water from his skin into the bowl and digs around in another pocket for a tindertwig. He lights it and pulls, long and slow, the water making a pleasant gurgling sound. After a moment or two the shaman exhales, blowing a lazy gray-blue smoke ring toward the cavern's ceiling.
"Find it takes the edge off, after a battle." Skye passes the pipe around the circle of his companions and leans up against the wall of the erstwhile dragon's lair. "Peace, my brothers and sisters."
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Exhaling, Rallas quickly examines the kobolds for any items of use, then scans the mound of items in the pit.
Rallas looks around, and realizes he was scratched in the fracas. He pulls a chunk of his travel cloak and blots the blood until it clots. He sits down and takes a puff from the pipe. Not bad...I am not much of a pipe user, but this is good stuff.
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Fung collapses onto the floor after the dragon goes down. Staring rather blankly into the air, he mutters, ”Woah, when it flew towards me, I thought I was a goner. I don’t work that good up close and personal.” Without realizing it, he takes over the pipe and takes a deep pull, and sure enough, that starts a bout of nonstop coughing. When it eventually subsides though, he looks more peaceful before passsing it on.
”Oh yes, Skye, I remember this.”
Dortlin casts detect magic, and discovers that both the dragon and the kobolds are amazingly free of the emcumbrance of magical loot. What kind of cheapass dragon cave is this? The dragon must have just moved in, and not even collected a proper hoard yet! No wonder you defeated her so easily.
Through the clouds of euphoric smoke, it occurs to some of you that Dortlin has asked about tying up an unconscious dragon, and if any of you have enough rope to handle it. The GM is curious... Do the stoned Pathfinders try to wake up and interrogate the now unconscious dragon, or do you lie back and contemplate the awesomeness of both brownies and the cosmos?
This GM will be equally amused by either decision, really.
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After Skye helps tie up the dragon, he pats the unconscious white wyrm on one shoulder, "We'll talk soon."
Then Skye offers to help search the unexplored areas of the great cavern. "Let's see if a little daylight might help." Skye casts the spell on the owl pellet-encased stone he used a few days ago. The shaman brings it close enough to the darkness to shed some light on things.
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With the dragons defeated and their kobolds fleeing, the Pathfinders assemble in the deep cave. With her phantom Anok in tow, Medda approaches the frozen column and brushes away the outer layer of frost. Frozen within the column is a dwarven woman in steel armor, her body torn as if by immense claws. With her hand pressed against the ice, Medda pleads. “Ivvora, I have found you. Now what? Vildeis said to find you and that you would help me, but how can we help you in this state?”
“You look to me when you should look to the evil that stalks our homeland. It is not I who needs help,” declares a voice that is both sweet as music and powerful as a thunderstorm. The frost melts away from the column, revealing dozens of clear facets that dribble melt water as if from open wounds. The image of a wounded angelic figure reflects in each facet, simultaneously warming the chamber and judging all that the angel sees. “As you can see, I serve Vildeis more directly than before.” The images look to Anok. “I see you took your oath seriously, Anok. I was wrong to have doubted your conviction. How are our people?”
The red phantom’s hue turns rosier as he looks to Medda and responds, “You would be proud.”
With a nod, the angel addresses everyone at once. “Then why do you seek me?”[b/]
[b]“Eshimka has returned,” Medda announces. “We fought off the horror once, but it shall return at the next solstice.”
The angel’s eyes flare with righteous fire. “Then you will need a weapon to defeat it, as I had. Vildeis granted me the blade that I gave your people, but only after I thought I had given everything to vanquish my greatest foe. Even now I can sense evil has returned to that land, far to the south in a forest where the Whispering Tyrant’s legions once ruled. Show our patron Vildeis the same dedication that I did, and I shall ask that she equip you in the same way.” With that, the angelic images fade from the melting column.
Medda addresses the gathered Pathfinders. “I believe I know the forests Ivvora mentioned. You have already done so much, Pathfinders, but I invite you to help more. After I give Ivvora the burial she deserves, I will set forth with all who are able and willing for the Fangwood.”
You have a tied up dragon, a dwarven funeral and a long journey ahead!
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"It was pleasant to travel with you all. I will be at those woods but first a diversion. Clyde has served me well but he has had a rough time what with the god given visions and fighting eldritch horrors and dragons. But it is time for him to retire. And I must take a few weeks out to train a new companion. I think a rhino would mesh well with my fighting style."
"I say we leave Rysirryt's fate up to the royal couple. Survival of the fittest is easy to preach when you sit on a throne. But will they willingly release this terror or execute her?"
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"Dortlin, sir, you have inspired me!" Skye exclaims. "Not with your predilections toward large animals--who am I to judge, after all, we must each compensate for our personal, em, challenges," cough, "in our own way. But, yes, we should leave the white wyrm's fate in the hands of the fey court." Skye smiles, pupils quite dilated and face flushed. "Sova and I have a new quest, to aid the fey of the Great White Northlands!"
The shaman approaches the white dragon.
"Rysirryt, O most magnificent of the dread wyrms, I am Skye, shaman of the Lyrune-Quah by adoption and by choice, and, by birth, scion of the White Witches of Irissen and the Kellid warriors of the Realm of the Mammoth Lords."
He utters an incantation and places a gentle hand on the dragon's withers.
"Know that I have placed a powerful curse upon you. You will forsake your reaving ways and be known henceforth as Guardian of the Great White North. Serve the fey king Vallahk and the fey queen Quiselle, and you will prosper."
The shaman's eyes become pitch black and the colors surrounding him drain as he calls upon the aid of the Tender of Dreams♫♫♮♪♬.
In an ominous, chanting voice Skye spells out the creature's doom. "Prey upon the good people of the Twinhorn Following or the fey folk, though, and you will find yourself no more intelligent than a common squirrel or elk."
"This is your curse, should you choose to accept it. However, this can be a second chance, redemption, should you choose to embrace it."
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Sova spreads her wings, rotates her head, and ruffles the down on her breast. Her feathers reflect the stars that would be visible in the night sky, were she not in a massive, icy cavern deep beneath a snow-covered mountain.
With wise, large eyes, she regards the stoned shaman for an eternity condensed into the span of a few heartbeats. She rolls her eyes and blinks. Once.
"Hoot."
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"Well done. Seems like the job is not finished but we fought a dragon and survived to tell the tale. Now we march south to this forest and the Whispering Tyrant minions... Somehow I don't relish tyhe prospect but whatever... In the meanwhile I'll get my kukris enchanted, just in case we face more ethereal undeads..." Vanya comments sounding pensive.
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Not long after the brave Pathfinders have finished poking around the caverns and enjoyed a celebratory toke together, the young dragon begins to stir from her shock-induced nap. As she tries to move and finds herself bound - even around her snout - the haze clears from her eyes, to be replaced by rage! Rysirryt struggles mightily against her bonds, but in her weakened state is unable to break them...and then she quickly finds herself reminded of the precarious position she's found herself in as the group closes in around her.
As Skye approaches her, she ceases her struggling but does snake her neck around to regard him with hate-filled eyes. When he places his hand upon her withers, she seems to flinch slightly as the magic he works flows into her body. When the shaman proclaims his curse, her eyes widen and those watching closely are certain they see a spark of real fear there. The mighty Rysirryt, reduced to a common animal, a dumb beast? Anything but that! She quickly nods her head up and down in agreement. It might be less out of a desire for redemption and more out of a desire to not be turned into an imbecile, but it seems that the good King and Queen of the land now have a new servant...
"This is an indignity! How dare you have me do this!!" the young white dragon fumes. Since coming to the fey court to serve the King and Queen she'd had to do a lot of terrible things. Patrol the lands for injured fey and bring them to the Queen for healing. Babysit baby rabbits. Even clean up the bird dung that she was certain King Vallahk kept leaving on the great tree on purpose. But this? This was too much!
"Oh lighten up a little Rysie," Stardust rumbles from nearby, sounding quite amused. "It is Queen Quiselle's birthday, after all. You should be happy that you even got invited, from what I've heard! And it'll be a first to have someone of your ah, nature, in attendance, too. Don't dragons enjoy attention?"
"Yes - when the ones giving it are cowering in fear of their very lives!" Rysirryt snaps in reply, draconic features furrowed in frustration as she attempts to see to her task. "You know those Pathfinders ruined everything. Not only am I cursed but now I can't even return to the mountain - I'd be the laughingstock of my entire brood!"
"Then it seems to me that you should make the most of your new circumstances," the dweomercat replies. "I mean, they could have just relieved you of your head. Do you want to be relieved of your head? If you do, I'm sure King Vallahk can arrange that..."
"No! No..." Rysirryt sighs. "It's just...ARGGH!" The young white dragon suddenly flings a pile of bent, broken twigs and flowers away from her with one mighty claw. "How do they expect me to make my own flower crown? Dragons don't wear flower crowns! I don't even have thumbs!"