Tamora's new wave of badgers jumps on the drake. Claws and teeth tear through the tough hide, inflicting multiple wounds to the large creature. The drake roars in frustration and pain, as it is unable to protect itself from so many attacks. Kyras follows in close and swing his long blade at Asar. The wounded fighter collapse under the attack. Seconds after the bones fall to the ground, they disintegrate into a fine dust that gets blown away by the wind.
The last drake tries to rid itself of some of the badgers, attacking with everything it has. But the speed and number of foes keep it off balance and it is unable to connect any attacks.
The drakes assault ended one which vanishes to its plane of existence and heavily wounded the other to the brink of death (badger has -2 to ac due to bloodrage so what might have missed hit unless nat 1). Nevertheless, the badgers continues to flurries of claws and bites without stopping.
Now flanking with a badger Kyras studies and attacks the drake.
Kyzen gives another potion to Kakrish...
´´Lets go Kakrish, wake up... But it doesn’t seems to be enough’´
Very nice roll...
Hoga steps up and attacks, too.
Tamora will move a distance away and not drop her invisibility, detecting any more incoming enemy.
The badgers assault finishes off the last just as Hoga move in to sever it head off. You have just a few moments of rest before you notice two groups of people converging on your position. The first one is the Baroness with some guards coming from her estate. The second is Maffei with some of the villagers armed with some basic weapons. Most give the dead drake a wide berth and join you. The Baroness is the first to speak. "Glad to see you were able to kill those things." She points at the drakes. "I shudder at the idea of them rampaging freely in the town. Do you have any idea what those are?" She points at the grioths. "We were attacked by some of them, but managed to push them back."
Tamora directs the badger to fetch her spear.
"They are agents of evil lead by the same one responsible for the problem of our and this town. He goes by the name Asar. We combated him several times, most recent here. Although we ended him, he is a persistent evil that will return indefinitely, stronger and more prepared. As it seems, we cannot end his undead existence unless we meet certain conditions which we will take care in due time. Do not worry about it. My advice to you is to fortify the town in the event of further attacks to sought out the object of the attention that one of his acquaintance are not able to get just now. And he is just a henchmen of an sect that involved themselves in something bigger. They plan to resurrect their master in order to bring an ancient evil into the material plane with the object they sought. Have you heard of the dragon Aethepax?"
Kakrish still lays unconscious.
In his mind he sees himself battling Asar and the drakes while the rest of the group huddles behind him and his protection. One of the drakes sweeps a razor edged claw towards him and Kakrish somersaults through the air, over the danger, landing on his feet just inches from the drake's mouth. He slams the pommel of his sword down on the drake's head, killing it with a single blow. He flashes a smile back at Hoga, Tamora, Kyras, and Kyzen. "Don't be scared, I've got this." He leaps twenty feet across the field to land in front of Asar and holds his sword up at guard.
Kyzen thought that Tamora was going to take care of Kakrish, but sees her talking to the Baroness...
He takes another potion and pours it into Kakrish's mouth, oping to wake him up...
So the 3 potions gives a total of 14 HP, is Kakrish waking up?
Wounded and breathing hard Kyras drinks an elixir and then goes over to examine Asar's dropped weapon.
While Tamora is correct, I think the more direct reason for this attack is that "merchant" who wanted to buy a book that was not offered in the auction. He seemed quite insistent and upset he was denied. I'd put him behind it.
Kyzen thought that Tamora was going to take care of Kakrish, but sees her talking to the Baroness...
He takes another potion and pours it into Kakrish's mouth, oping to wake him up...
[dice=CLW]1d8+1
So the 3 potions gives a total of 14 HP, is Kakrish waking up?
Tamora takes out her healer's kit and touches Kakrish with her hands and wand.
"Aethepax? No, not that I can think of. Do you mean Aeteperax? That name is in the legend of this town. Our founder was known to be the leader of a group of dragon slayers. Aeteperax was the last one she had killed before founding this town. That was ages ago. No one can be powerful enough to bring back a dragon that was killed so long ago? Could they?" The Baroness seems very worried at the moment.
Doesn't seem possible, but who knows?
As one trained in the arts arcane I can say it certainly possible and will note that how likely is totally dependent on the desires and determination of this foe. It occurs to me that this book they seek might be required for such a ritual and therefor we must do what we can to deny it to them.
Tamora, might you look at these wounds as well?
They at least believe that the book is the key. Do we destroy it, so they can't use it, or do we use the book to figure out the larger plan? Can we even do that?
"We can use it to lure them, but there is always a risk that we fail to secure the book and they grab it. Can we make a fake copy and destroy the original?"
If we can figure out what's in it, we'll know what they want to do. Bringing back dead dragons doesn't sound very smart to me.
Kakrish notices Hoga and Kyzen discussing things and guesses that it would be good to distract the baroness. He reaches for her hand as if to kiss it. "Pshaw!" Kakrish exclaims. "Of course no one could bring back a dragon." He chuckles at the thought. "Not even your immense beauty, my lady. You know, ever since I set my eyes on you, you've been in my dreams. I mean, in a good way. Not like nightmares or anything. In fact, I believe you have inspired me to a song."
Kakrish steps back and puffs his chest out to perform. After clearing his throat a couple times he breaks into a loud, and not very melodic tune.
"Oh, the Baroness, is the faironest of the land."
"She is more beautiful than anyone can stand."
"Or sit"
"A little bit"
"By her side"
"For a little ride"
"On a horse"
"Of course"
The song starts to peter out as Kakrish searches for words then he seems to restart with gusto.
"Oh yes when she's in town"
"There's not a single frown"
"On anyone's face"
"All over the place."
He picks up the last two lines as a chorus and begins dancing in a circle while he sings.
"On anyone's face"
"All over the place."
"On anyone's face"
"All over the place."
"On anyone's face"
"All over the place."
Finally, the song ends and someone it turned out better than anyone could have imagined.
As Kakrish finishes the last verse of his song a thunderous roar shatters the night. Turning toward the source, you see a vast shape crawls up onto the roof of Hunclay's manor. This is an enormous black dragon, but its scales are ragged and graying, its eyes are sightless, its muscles are exposed beneath torn flesh, and the smell of rot is nearly overpowering.
“I am Aeteperax, Lord of Dragonfen, and you have exhausted my patience. The wizard Hunclay promised me many things before his death, including a rare and ancient tome. I made efforts to obtain these lawfully, but my representative, Clausyre, failed me. My forbearance is at an end.
Now I require not only the book entitled Secrets of the Dreaming Dark, but also an indemnity of seven hundred and fifty gold pieces and the heads of those who prevented me from getting my due.
I give you two weeks to deliver these to the place you know as the Monastery of Saint Kyerixus across the Dragonfen. None are permitted to leave Belhaim! My minions blanket the countryside, and all who dare leave this town shall suffer for it. Only those chosen to deliver my ransom may travel, and then only into Dragonfen.
Should you defy me or fail to satisfy my demands, I shall lay waste to little Belhaim and kill every living inhabitant, down to the last mewling infant.”
With that, the dragon rises up, casts a spell, and vanishes, apparently teleporting away. Silence reigns for a moment, then panic strikes and the town folks flee back to their homes, leaving you alone with the baroness and her guards. Turning toward her, you notice the colours have completely drained from her face.
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Not able to resist, Kyras adds You see, quite possible.
That's something you don't see every day...
The baroness isn't the only one who's worried. Hoga's a little shaken, too.
Does anyone know anything about the monastery?
"Bah! What's the big deal, it's only a dead black dragon..."
Kyzen tries to hide the fact that he's a bit terrified about Aeteperax...
He tries to recall any knowledge about Dragonfen's history, land and creatures
The Baroness turns toward the group, somewhat reassured by the lack of visible panic from the group. "Yes... yes... Hum... Shall we reconvene tomorrow to discuss our next step? Obliviously, the town doesn't have the fund to pay the dragon and well, we don't have the book. We have two weeks to plan and prepare, a good night's sleep would be better than doing anything to rash."
Kyzen agrees "Yes very good idea, lets rest for the night"
After the Baroness leaves "My memory is failing me, but I do recall bits of informations about Dragonfen. It's a wetland in central Taldor. Centuries ago it was the domain of the great wyrm black dragon Aeteperax, until the creature was killed by Lady Tula Belhaim. Does anyone knows anything about this Lady Tula Belhaim, sounds important!"
Kyzen invites all to there usual place "I'm buying tonight, let us all go eat, drink and discuss our next moves, shall we!"
"Did you say her name was Belhaim? Isn't that the name of this town? That can't be a coincidence."
Kakrish slaps Kyzen on the back and says "You're buying? Sounds great! Let's go eat!"
Does the baroness know anything about her?
Hearing Kyzen's offer, Hoga heads with them to the inn.
We can talk later, if you prefer.
The next morning you all walks down to the main room and find Tamora already there. You notice that she has all her traveling gear with her and she's packing some rations in her backpack. "Morning everyone. There is something that was bugging me about last night. When we spoke to the spirit of Kassen, he told us that it would take them weeks to be able to get Aeteperax back to this world. Yet, there he was last night. I feel that one of us should head back down the river to our town. Maybe there is something we missed. And if not, maybe we could get some reinforcement." She finishes packing the ration and secure her backpack. "I know the dragon said that we could leave, but I'm pretty sure that I can get to the river unnoticed. From there, I will use my summons to rapidly swim down river." She turns to Hoga and Kakrish. "Stay safe my friends, and maybe I'll be able to convict our old companions to come back with me and we shall be able to finish what we started all together." She then turns to Kyzen and Kyras. "Keep an eye out for those two, they have a tendency to take on more that than can chew. Also, take care of yourself. I enjoyed traveling with you two, and who knows, our path may cross once again." After hugging and whishing each other good luck, she step outside and start her journey back to Kassen.
Moments later you make your way to the baroness manor to the meeting. Once there you are surprised to see more people than you expected. Sitting at the table is also the old female gnome from the auction, the Sheriff, an Abadaran priest, and also an Desnan priest. As you take seats, the Baroness starts making the introductions. "Good morning everyone. After last night's attack, I thought it would be wise to have this little meeting before we decide how to proceed from here. First, I'd like to introduce everyone." She points at the gnome first and move in the order that you noticed the people. "First this is Bassy, our town unofficial historian, followed by the Sheriff Benhovy, our high priest in the village, Eupaphenia Targas and finally a young Desnan priest that helped last night, Hernvet Bargill." She pauses for a second, then introduces you to the others. "Now that we got this out of the way, would anyone like to start on how we can deal with a undead dragon?"
Kakrish stands and raises a hand. "Yes, I volunteer. Now is the time when you need a hero. And I am he, the he-ro." He bows to everyone in the room. "My plan is very simple. We need to kill the undead dragon to make it re-dead."
This fox like humanoid is dressed colorfully and has a relaxed posture. He stands up and says. "Hello, I saw y'all fellows last night doing pretty good kill'en them things" he then looks at the dwarf and asks "Might I have your name little hero. Also I guess the rest of all y'all names"
WEll, that was abrupt. I am gonna miss her but we must carry on. What can we get done today?
Kakrish looks confused at the cleric. "My name? Surely you've heard of me. I'm Kakrish Stonetoe, of course."
He nods wisely at Kyras' comment. "Yes. Abrupt. That's right. I always thought T-woman was a bit abrupt. But, as you know, that's in the past. So now, I stand to face the dragon!" He raises a stubby arm in victory.
So, what is this dragon? A lich, something like that? We need to know how to take it out permanently.