Revival of the Runelords (Inactive)

Game Master Cellion

”We need to get to the south-east where the prisoners are likely to be—as well as Mokmurian—and perhaps avoid too many more fights. Should we continue counterclockwise?” responds Guiness to Colvyn, ready to move on now that the freed prisoners are afar for the moment.

"I can't speak for Kellek," Astrid says quietly, "but I'm starting to feel the weight of today's adventures. Let's not push our luck further than we have to."

"Just as well, I don't feel comfortable leaving the captives we freed here inside these halls. We should lead them through the caves where the giants can't follow--and kill that damned kobold if she shows her face again."

Looks like some varied options so far. With a 2-vote for a particular course of action I'll update in that direction.

Kellek coud continue on a while longer. He kinda thinks that the kobold has informed on them to the master of this place and is waiting there to confront them, though she might be scouting for the party as well (probably with hunters).
How many prisoners are there? (I'm counting seven.) Kellek could possibly just make them a secure shelter to hide out in.

Eight total prisoners.

Still enough room! ;)

"They'll be a lot safer with Conna than in the spider/wyvern caverns, i think."

"I agree with Astrid on that. Now, shall we look for more prisonners?"

"Why not?" say a half-dozen Kelleks. They shrug. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ "We've already wasted enough time on some of my best spells. Shall I lead the way?" It's hard to tell which wizard was speaking. As one they make to leave.

You've got your choice of unexplored locations. Where to first?

Kellek votes to move northeastward. "Are any of you coming?"

Managing not to roll her eyes, Astrid hefts her spear and moves to follow the wizard(s).

Shrugging as Kellek leads off instead of Colvyn, Guiness says, ”I suppose he makes a majority by himself, does he not?”

Alright NE it is! Feel free to position yourselves. I'm currently traveling for work and it will be a few days before I'm back to get the next post up.

Won't be able to move until after work but the Kellek clique stays near the center of the party about 10' off the ground.

Colvyn takes the lead and goes exploring toward the split in the tunnel.

Stealth: 1d20 + 20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 20 + 2 = 23

Ziva falls in a few steps behind the ratfolk archer, willing her sword's glow to fade so as not to give them away.

Stealth: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21

Don't forget your +2 from hunter's blessing!

Well behind those two, Astrid and Muninn watch and listen for anyone trying to sneak up on them.

Astrid Perception: 1d20 + 23 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 23 + 2 = 37
Muninn Perception: 1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 18 + 2 = 29

Sorry for the delay! Work gobbled up my evenings like they were good Halloween candy.

To the northeast of Conna's abode, Colvyn sneaks slowly forward to the branch in the tunnel and peers down both halves. The northern-side branch continues at the same width and almost entirely straight. In the dark 120 feet away stand two immense stone doors, each one carved with a large seven-pointed star. The doors don't appear to have locks, but they're currently snugly closed and would require some significant strength to open.

The southern-side branch from the tunnel meanders a little more naturally before opening up to a larger cavern. From what little you can see from this angle, the walls are covered in ash and soot. Astrid and Muninn (as well as Colvyn) hear the sound of some large beast breathing from that direction. In Astrid's case, she can pick out that it sounds like two large beasts rather than one.

Can I tell anything about the nature of its breathing? Sleeping, exerting, trying to be quiet, etc.

To Astrid's ears, it sounds like the breathing is steady, but not so slow as to suggest the source is sleeping, nor so fast to suggest exertion. If the sources are trying to be stealthy, they're not very good at it.

Anyone got some silence to keep it asleep for a minute or so?

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17
Stealth: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25

Oblivious to the breathing sounds, Ziva continues to press ahead into the next chamber.

I do not have that one prepared today, unfortunately. I think we just have to press on.

Guiness continues to follow, a bit behind. He quenches his hammer's flame as well as they attempt to move quietly and not be seen.

Stealth: 1d20 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (4) - 2 + 2 = 4

You've got a branching tunnel. Which way are you going?

The rightward/southward passage, please!

Kellek doesn't hear the breathing so until someone let's him know, it's due north for him.

…Clomp, Clomp, CLOMP!

…Breathing? What Breathing? Guiness is busy listening to himself be quiet!

Astrid, as quietly as she can, tries to catch the attention of her comrades and warn them of the presence waiting for them down the southern tunnel. In lieu of whispers, she gestures expressively.

Southeast it is.

As Ziva advances, the breathing to the southeast changes pitch, becoming more excited. When she turns the corner, she immediately sees the source. To the south of the soot-streaked chamber stand two young red dragons, both looking rather the worse for wear. Their scales are dirty, their exposed hide a patchwork of cruel scars, their yellow eyes in sunken sockets. A seven pointed star has been etched deep into their foreheads - a wound that still hasn't fully healed.

The dragons notice Ziva immediately despite her attempt at stealth. Between heavy pants, they speak almost in unison, growling in draconic "Finally... intruders... finally." as they rear up. Fire begins to flicker in their open maws.

|||| INIT ||||
Astrid
Red Dragon Red
Red Dragon Blue
Guiness
Colvyn
Ziva (17 dmg)
Kellek

"Muninn, go!"

Tipped off by the sudden appearance of Ziva's shadow and the equally sudden, unexplained light source, Astrid immediately casts a protective spell, using her familiar as a conduit. The bird launches from her shoulder and out to Ziva before returning to her. Along the way, he brushes his wings against the other members of the party, abjuring them as well.

Casting communal resist energy against fire, then having Muninn deliver the spell to everyone. Counts for 20 resistance at this level.

Ziva Reflex: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14 6 fire damage after resist

|||| INIT ||||
Guiness
Colvyn
Ziva (23 dmg)
Kellek
Astrid
Red Dragon Red
Red Dragon Blue (shield)

Buffs: Resist Fire 20

"Guiness, you take the front, I'll try to get around behind!" Ziva calls to the dwarf.

Guiness moves towards the dragon straight ahead as quickly as he can, but between Colvyn starting just in front of him and his short Dwarven legs, he ends up just out of striking range (double move for 40 feet).

”Very dangerous…short distances…Natural sprinters…” mumbling can be heard in between Guiness’ piston-like strides.

Astrid steps up behind Colvyn, giving him a reassuring touch on the shoulder.

Casting guidance. Don't have too many applicable spells left, unfortunately.

Red Dragon Blue!? Kellek gets around to officially ID-ing the beasts at the beginning of his turn. If he can arrange his cone spell to NOT hit Ziva, but still effect both dragons he will. Otherwise he highly encourages his allies to remove themselves from the line of fire and waits until they do so to cast his spell.

Ziva will wait for her move behind the dragon until after they've been blasted by Kellek

As Kellek steps forward, hands working through the passes of a spell, Ziva takes the opportunity to study the dragon who had singed her, eyes narrowing as she assesses its size, reach, and weight. When Guiness comes huffing past her she breaks into a forward rush, darting boldly between the two young dragons to get around behind the one studied. With a wordless battle cry the knight brings her blade whipping around towards where her foe's wing meets its shoulder.

Move to get behind Blue (probably provoking twice), then using Vital Strike though unfortunately I don't think I have a flank.
Attack: 1d20 + 18 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 18 - 2 = 32 Damage: 2d10 + 7 + 2d6 ⇒ (10, 5) + 7 + (4, 1) = 27

While Ziva repositions, Kellek casts out a powerful wave of frost that stops the dragons in their tracks. They fail to shield themselves from the blast and are very badly injured. Astrid's magic bolsters Colvyn (who should take 2 turns next round) as Guiness hustles past as fast as his dwarven legs can take him. Ziva ducks past the red dragon, just barely dodging a snap from the blue dragon that tears at her leg and a claw slash from the red one. (I'm assuming your AC is 27 since I'm guessing that -2 is from fighting defensively, if not, some more damage is coming your way) Her blade cleaves into the base of the red dragon's wing, prompting a mad scream from the creature before it manages to wrench itself free.

The red dragon thrashes wildly, its wounds leaving it precariously close to unconsciousness. Ziva is the focus of its frenzied assault, and while she manages to dodge the creature's jaws and one of its claws, a second claw, wing and tail slice into at her and pummel her against the soot-stained wall. (Dealing a total of 39 damage) The blue dragon on the other hand blasts Guiness and Kellek with a wave of smoky flame.

Guiness Ref: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
Kellek Ref: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
You both take 21 fire dmg after resist.

To the south somewhere you hear the spellcasting you heard earlier continue.

|||| INIT ||||
Guiness (21 dmg)
Colvyn x2 (guidance for 1st round)
Ziva (62 dmg)
Kellek (21 dmg)
Astrid
Red Dragon Red (93 dmg)
Red Dragon Blue (66 dmg, shield)

Buffs: Resist Fire 20

Guiness moves into flanking position on Red and attacks!

Primary Dragonfist Attack, Flanking: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 14 + 2 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18

Secondary Dragonfist Attack, Flanking: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 9 + 2 = 27
Damage: 1d8 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19

Steel Headbutt Attack, Flanking: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 7 + 2 = 21
Damage: 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Guiness' first two blows land soundly on the red dragon's head, bringing it crashing to the ground.

|||| INIT ||||
Guiness (21 dmg)
Colvyn x2 (guidance for 1st round)
Ziva (62 dmg)
Kellek (21 dmg)
Astrid
Red Dragon Blue (66 dmg, shield)

Buffs: Resist Fire 20

Battered against the wall, Ziva hears the heavy thud of Guiness' hammer crashing home, and the crack of bone as the dragon falls. Giving the dwarf a loose salute with her gleaming sword, she closes with the remaining dragon--but this time delays her strike,

AC27 at the time was correct, should be up to AC31 now though with Crane Wing added in.
Readied Flank Attack: 1d20 + 18 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 18 + 2 - 2 = 31 Damage: 2d10 + 7 + 2d6 + 3d6 ⇒ (3, 5) + 7 + (1, 1) + (3, 1, 3) = 24

*koff* Kellek coughs up a smoke ring.

He floats further up (up to 30' or the ceiling whichever comes first) while his backpack hands him his wand made of bone. Kellek points it at the dragon and says the command word. Black light erupts from the wand's tip

wand of enervation v blue (ranged touch, into melee): 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 7 - 4 = 20 temporary negative energy levels: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Note: Kellek was still carrying 2 points of damage from before.

Colvyn moves slowly foward as he fires arrows at the dragon.

Longbow: 1d20 + 15 + 3 + 1 - 2 - 3 ⇒ (2) + 15 + 3 + 1 - 2 - 3 = 16
Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 3 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 3 + 6 = 16
Longbow: 1d20 + 15 + 3 + 1 - 2 - 3 ⇒ (12) + 15 + 3 + 1 - 2 - 3 = 26
Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 3 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 3 + 6 = 16
Longbow: 1d20 + 10 + 3 + 1 - 2 - 3 ⇒ (8) + 10 + 3 + 1 - 2 - 3 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 3 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 3 + 6 = 19

Longbow: 1d20 + 15 + 3 - 2 - 3 ⇒ (1) + 15 + 3 - 2 - 3 = 14
Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 3 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 3 + 6 = 16
Longbow: 1d20 + 15 + 3 - 2 - 3 ⇒ (4) + 15 + 3 - 2 - 3 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 3 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 3 + 6 = 14
Longbow: 1d20 + 10 + 3 - 2 - 3 ⇒ (14) + 10 + 3 - 2 - 3 = 22
Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 3 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 3 + 6 = 16

Ziva rushes up, delaying her strike for a few seconds before she realizes it'll be a bit before Guiness can get in position to distract the remaining dragon. Her blade falls solidly upon the sickly dragon, cutting a deep gash. While the dragon thrashes, Kellek sends an energy draining beam into the creature's open maw. It convulses as the magic runs through its body and leaves it feeble. Colvyn follows with a tremendous hail of arrows. While most glance off the dragon's scales, two meet their mark.

With a final tormented cry, the dragon collapses to the ground.

To the south, you hear another round of spellcasting, but nothing yet ventures into your line of sight.

|||| INIT ||||
Guiness (21 dmg)
Colvyn
Ziva (62 dmg)
Kellek (23 dmg)
Astrid
???

Buffs: Resist Fire 20

"Well someone in there is casting something. Perhaps we should retire from the field for an hour and wait for it to pass." suggest the flame-broiled wizard while handing his wand back to whatever it is that lives in his peddler's pack.

Astrid concentrates, drawing on her wellspring of healing energy, but loses her grip on it as it sputters out.

Channel: 5d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 2, 1, 1) = 9

"Hell," she mutters, embarrassed.

"Typical."

"Sounds reasonable to me, Kellek, if your spell duration is not a problem," responds Guiness, ready to back off and hopefully frustrate the enemy spellcasters.