Rivers Run Red

Game Master fictionfan

If Riva is translating things so that Toran can understand, I can add to this conversation a little. Via high diplomacy checks, which Riva has provided, we should be able to explain that our laws aren't too onerous at all. I'm sure that the distributions of produce from farms and fisheries would be worked out between the tribe and the builders, but I would assure him that their consent is required to build anything on their land.
With regards to protection, I would tell him of things like the troll tribes, and the island of wisps, threats that they perhaps didn't even know about, and of course the dragon as well. We have actively improved the kingdom and the area around it through our actions, and if we explain how Caerulus has prospered(I'm sure there's some way to quantify our economic growth), then that presents yet another incentive to join us.

"Also if I wanted protection I could just ask Greengrass"

Even without the spells, you're still looking at a 36 and 31 on those results. Surely that's high enough to get us somewhere positive?

Adding on to Toran's comments and elaborations of the law, Riva states plainly: "As for the Green Lady, nobody asks a dragon for anything, not without a steep price. Lady Greengrass is a glutton, and once she has gorged herself on the resources of your land and it is stripped bare, your people will likely be next on the menu. Who will protect you then? We offer to negotiate. She simply takes what she wants."

"We could enter a trade agreement with you. Also safe passage though our lands."

He does not sound that enthusiastic, but he seems to realize that he owes you something for your help.

"That seems like a positive place to start."

Riva leaves the boy with one of her servants, to be taken safely back to Caerulus. In the meantime, she makes plans with her fellows for continuing their expedition, taking only enough time to finalize some preliminary trade agreements and to inquire of the lizardfolk about the troll fort rumored to be further west.

As the party rests that night there guards keep watch.

perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

They see a light rush by the camp and hear rumbling of some large creature coming from the west. They wake you up and start run trusting you to hold the monsters off.

you have 1 round to get the sleep out of you eyes and prepare for whatever is coming. We are using the forrest clearing map again, but this time you guys are in the middle of it.

Since Riva had middle watch she may have already been awake, depending on what time the attack came.

Riva wastes no time, commanding the civilians to take the horses and to stay back behind their protectors in the cover of the nearby trees (off the map and out of the fight).

She then renews mage armor upon herself.

"Ready yourselves! The wisps wish to introduce us to some new friends!"

I'm assuming I'm still drained of resources from the previous day?

(And she stands up if she wasn't already standing.)

Toran blinks the sleep from his eyes, grabbing his halberd and casting the first spell that comes to mind, to aid him in the coming fray.He'll put up divine favor on himself.

I'm assuming I'm still drained of resources from the previous day?

Yep you haven't rested 8 hours yet.

Mallichatti rises from his bed, shirtless and annoyed the BadAxe in hand as he steps out of the tent.

Keep in mind you are fatigued if you sleep in armor.

Yep, Toran would probably sleep without armor, so his AC just dropped very low very fast.

Into the clearing comes a 7 headed Hydra. Multiple angry snake-like heads rise from the sleek, serpentine body of this terrifying monster.

initiative
Elhedril: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Mallichatti: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Riva: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Toran: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 Toran: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
hydra: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Round 1
Toran
Elhedril
hydra
Mallichatti
Riva

Toran groans, swearing miserably under his breath as he backs away and blasts the hydra with holy light.
Ranged Touch Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Damage: 3d8 ⇒ (6, 1, 4) = 11
Spear of Purity allows for a DC 17 will save for half damage.

will save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 However a Hydra is N not evil. It is a magical beast of limited int.

Okay, so it would only do half damage. I completely forgot about that.

So did I. I think it might have applied other times, but I did not read.

Knowledge: Nature: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28

Riva recalls a passage from an ancient tome.

The Hydra heroes defied,
Its nine diminished heads must hide
Before the baneful modern beast
Who has a thousand heads at least.
See how in horrid tiers they rise,
With straining ears and bulging eyes,
While, blinded by fierce calcium rays,
The trembling victim tribute pays
Of song or measure, mime or jest,
To soothe the savage Hydra's breast.
If she please not the monster's whim,
Wild scribes will tear her limb from limb;
Even if charmed, he rend the air
With hideous joy, let her beware;
For she must surely, soon or late,
Fall 'neath the hissing Hydra's hate.

"It's a hydra! An incredibly fierce beast, perhaps too fierce for us, but dumb and slow too! Watch out for its heads! Every one you take, two shall replicate! Fight or flight! I doubt we'll get a chance for both!"

Elhedril moves back and cast magic missiles at the hydra.

damage: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 3, 2) + 3 = 12

The hydra pounces on Mallichatti. Each of the heads trying to bite him independently.

bite: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

bite: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

bite: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

bite: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

bite: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

bite: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

bite: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Current AC is 12

MAllichatti suddenly finds himself in a life or death struggle and grasping the BadAxe embraces the the eagerness for blood and hopes to simply power his way through.

Shift up to Toran to make it easier for him to do things to me if he must/can. Rage.

Lifting the axe and letting the power flow through him he takes Riva's advice to avoid the heads and goes straight for the heart.

"Time to show me what you've got."

So a +2 Furious Courageous Greataxe yes?

Raging makes it go up to a +4 Furious Courageous Greataxe. My Strength and Con go up by +6. Saves also go up a bit. Let's see how this goes.

Full Attack Current HP is 41/88

1d20 + 19 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 19 - 2 = 18 Attack 1
1d12 + 18 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 18 + 9 = 29 Damage

1d20 + 14 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 14 - 2 = 25 Attack 2
1d12 + 18 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 18 + 9 = 32 Damage

Turns out the axe is made of Nerf.

Seeing the beast waver, Riva blasts it with an enhanced magic missile. (Dropping a 2nd-level spell slot for two more arcane reservoir points and spending one for a little more damage.).

Magic Missile damage: 4d4 + 4 ⇒ (3, 3, 1, 1) + 4 = 12

EDIT: Deleted a previous post because I thought Mal had killed the beast, but then I saw that one of his attacks had rolled a 1.

EDIT 2: Almost forgot. We're all aiming for the body unless we say otherwise.

Round 2
Toran
Elhedril
hydra
Mallichatti
Riva

Toran, seeing how badly Mallichatti has been injured, touches his shoulder to heal him as well as he can.
CLW: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Cast defensibly? Or do you not have to do that for touch spells.

Whoops, I didn't even notice that the Hydra was right next to me. I'll 5-foot back and cast defensively.
Casting Defensively: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28

Also since he is raging he has to try and save against it.

Watch me roll a 20.

1d20 + 7 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 4 = 18 Will save

You got the BadAxe your will save is better then that!
Elhedril shots more magic missiles
damage: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 1) + 3 = 6

The Hydra heals a bit and all the 7 heads attack Mallichatti again.

bite: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

bite: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

bite: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

bite: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

bite: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

bite: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

bite: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Keep mind that once Mal goes down, the hydra might spread out the remaining attacks against other foes rather than keeping biting something that is no longer moving (especially if there are still clearly visible threats in the area.

Welp Raging vitality will keep me alive for a couple more rounds. But once the rage rounds run out I'm dead dead.

1d20 + 12 - 3 ⇒ (2) + 12 - 3 = 11 Stabilization roll.

I think you get half healing even if you make your save.

....that's true. I can't believe I forgot that. So 4 hp left.

Riva, still exhausted from the day's earlier efforts, falls back to the tree line, blasting the beast with another enhanced volley of magic missiles, the effort of which is clearly taxing.

Magic Missile damage roll: 4d4 + 4 ⇒ (2, 1, 1, 1) + 4 = 9

That's it. My power is done.

(Man! I have been getting crappy rolls on these magic missiles today! Is Mal up or down currently?)

So one last shot at glory.

1d20 + 19 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 19 - 2 = 26 Attack 1
1d12 + 18 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 18 + 9 = 33 Damage

1d20 + 14 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 14 - 2 = 31 Attack 2
1d12 + 18 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 18 + 9 = 37 Damage

(Riva blasts the beast even if Mal fells it; not taking any chances after seeing it heal itself.)

"There's plenty more where that came from Grim Light!"

Mallichatti kills it dead. You each get 600 xp. You heard a sound of frustration.

"So close!. I'll get my revenge eventually! And then I will revel and rejoice in your fear and pain!"

You hear the sound of evil laughter fading into the distance.

"Close.....doesn't...count."

And that's when Mallichatti falls over.

-12 hp. Almost dead.

1d20 + 8 - 12 ⇒ (20) + 8 - 12 = 16 Fort save.

When Mallichatti goes unconscious, but before he falls down the BadAxe comes to life. Mallichatti's Eye's blaze with fire. A bellow erupts from his mouth.

BadAxe

The sound makes the trees stir and the ground shake. I could likely be heard even back at your kingdom. It cuts of the mocking laughter.

"Im-mpossible they are all dead I made sure of it!"

It sounds shaken. And seems to be running faster.

Then when you are sure it's gone Mallichatti falls over.

In his ear
"Don't worry looking Awesome is part of the deal"

Toran would heal up Mallichatti with his wand until he's comfortably alive, but probably not to full HP since we're about to rest. I'll use my last spell slot first, then some wand charges for the rest.
CLW: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

You are not disturbed for the next 8 hours.

Riva and the rest of the expedition eat breakfast, pack up camp, and continue onwards after sufficient healing and preparation.

Did we clear the hex, GM? Come dawn, what hex are we in anyways?

Toran, if I'm not mistaken, Riva still hasn't been healed from the Chieftain's arrow; I am still missing 11 hit points (and I don't think we benefit from natural healing due to the interruption).

You are in hex J35 and it is now cleared. So take 25 xp each.

Do we want to fully heal for the new day before moving on? We can stop and rest again in the new hex if necessary before hitting whatever we meet.

The expedition continues heading Northwest, deeper into the Narlmarches. Entering J32. As it gets closer to the troll fort, the party grows increasingly cautious, hoping to avoid an ambush from a troll patrol or a wayward wisp.

During rest periods, Riva works on the creation of a few new magical items for the party; elixirs that she hopes will aid in the battle against the wisps. (She can create one such elixir for every two days of the expedition.)

As you walk though the forest of J32 you notice that they underbrush is unusually dense. You all roll perception checks.

Stealth: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

Elhedril: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
Mallichatti: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24
Riva: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26
Toran: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

A breath weapon of acid comes from the canopy down on you.
Reflex save DC 15 for half damage: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 2, 4) = 17

Scales the color of emeralds armor this ferocious dragon. A single sharp horn protrudes from the end of its toothy snout. It's a green dragon of median size.

Elhedril: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Mallichatti: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Riva: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
Toran: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19 Toran: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
dragon: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Round 1
Toran
Riva
Elhedril
Mallichatti

The map should be a forest with thick underbrush, but not a clearing if that would not be to much trouble?

Riva examines the emerald-scaled dragon for apparent strengths and weaknesses, recalling an old fable about such serpentine beauty as she does so.

Knowledge: Arcana: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31

The prince was deep in the heart of the endless forest.
He knew the dragon was near.
"She glows like a green crystal," the town's magi told him.
"Get her before she gets you."
The prince was ready with his quiver of deadly, magical arrows.
They meant instant death to a forest dragon.
He couldn't waste a single arrow -
and then he realised
that the forest had gone deadly quiet
and even the air was still with the chill of Death.
A warmth on the back of his neck
and there she was
with clear amber eyes
her whole body glowing
the spirit and lifeblood of the forest itself.
The prince could release the arrow
straight into her eye
But Why?
And she toyed with his conscience
testing simultaneously, her own patience
Til the prince relented
Threw his bow and arrows upon the ground
And side by side
They were safe and sound
The townspeople took the prince for dead
When he never returned with the dragon's head
When with her, he stayed,
She thought he'd be too afraid
But he loved her too much instead.

It is a very young green dragon

"You sseem loaded done with treasssure little snacks. Time to fill my hoard."

"By the way partner we didn't get a chance to talk to each other much before you zonked out before, but who are you?"