Shackled City (Pathfinder) - GM_Chris

Game Master Chris Shannon 719

Round 2

Finneas sighs as the creature attempts to kill Glimmil and not him.

He quickly casts resistance to fire then flies after the dragon.

Cast Resist Energy Fire. As a Chevalier I'm immune to Fear and anybody within 10' of me gets a +4, same as Glimmil.

Round 2, Init 21

1d20 + 16 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 16 + 4 = 24 Will vs. Fear

Dyrant finishes his spell, bringing forth 1d3 ⇒ 1 Lillend Azata(s). Into HI:16/17.

"Sing! Fight! Dance! Help us here! We have dragon to kill and people to save," Dyrant orders the silly chaotic azata why bemoaning that so few from the not-goofy spectrum are available to summon.

1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29 Will vs. Fear

Lillend will begin to sing.

Inspire Courage: +2 to hit/+2 damage. Should affect Glim's attacks as well.

Dyrant will fly to H19 at just below building height and give the dragon a mean stare.

Evil Eye DC 25 Will vs. -4 to AC for 11 rounds or just 1.

Round 1, Initiative 12, Location M11->N17

Will Save: 1d20 + 21 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 21 + 4 = 38 (Hero’s Feast or Finneas’ bonus - if they stack it's a +8)

Atol casts Prayer (covers everyone excepting Glimmil and the Dragon) on the party and moves closer to the dragon so as to save Glimmil if he should fall.

Remember, anyone who had breakfast with Atol has 8 temporary hit points, +1 (morale) attack rolls/Will saves, and +4 (morale) on poison/fear saves from the heroes' feast for 12 hours.

The dragon causes no fear in Toffitt, but he's still only able to land a single shot.

Finneas casts a spell and attempts to catch up with the dragon. (40' speed with the armor. I moved him diagonally up 30' and then 10' horizontally.)

Dyrant summons in some assistance and stares at the dragon, but it only has eyes for Glimmil at this time.
will save: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (12) + 22 = 34

Atol casts a prayer for the party and tries to follow the dragon.

Glimmil drops his lance, pops out claw-whomper, and begins to pound at the dragon's claws. He manages a single hit but at least it's a critical. He is burned for 1d6 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18 points of damage as he finds the dragon is wreathed in fire.
I see damage as: never mind
I forgot Dyrant's stupid no save -4. All right, -266.

The dragon squeezes his claws into Glimmil until he can't move. The dragon continues to fly away (150') with his future meal while banking around a building and out of sight of the party.

grapple for pinned condition: 1d20 + 43 ⇒ (20) + 43 = 63
damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (3, 5) + 6 = 14 (feat gives it automatic damage)

Round 3
Toffitt: 28 (barkskin)
Finneas: 24 (englarged, resistance to fire )
Dyrant: 21 (shaken, or maybe not if Finn's bonus wasn't added)
Atol: 12+
Glimmil: 12 (sky steed, smite evil, pinned)
Cog (shaken)
Dragon: 12- (-4 AC until Dyrant's turn)(9, 266= -275)

Party buffs
Round 1 - Blessings of Fervor
Round 2 - Inspire Courage: +2 to hit/+2 damage.
Round 2 - Prayer

Round 3 Map

Round 3, Initiative 12, Location N17->N41

No, no, no, stay here! I can’t heal you if you fly away with the dragon!

Atol hikes up the skirts of his robe and runs as fast as he can down the street toward the dragon.

Not sure how Blessings of Fervor stack with the run action. I presume it does not, but if it does, he moves another 30’ toward the dragon to N47.

Atol uses Blessings of Fervor for +2attacks/AC/reflex saves this round or for speed as above.

Remember, anyone who had breakfast with Atol has 8 temporary hit points, +1 (morale) attack rolls/Will saves, and +4 (morale) on poison/fear saves from the heroes' feast for 12 hours.

@Chris: Did you mean Glimmil hit twice? I shudder to think his first swing missed (which would've hit AC45 .. 37+6 from Dyrant's effects).

Round 2

Glimmil struggles against the dragon's grip but finds himself able to do little else besides attempt once against to strike up conversation.

"So, Dragon. Where are we going?"

Yes. Glimmil hit twice with Dyrant's effects. The 37 would have missed though.

Round 3, Init 21

Dyrant, using BoF for speed, double flies to T 40 at 20' up.

The lillend, already a speedy flyer, moves to KL 41/42 at 5' up.

Round 2/14 of Bardsong: +2 to hit/damage.

Round 3, Init 28

Toffitt flies after the departing dragon, using fervor to gain altitude quickly.

Move to N39 +35'

Round 3

Seeing the fight leave him behind and Glimmil in danger, Finneas attempts to distract the dragon by pointing at his armor.

"Hey, was this a friend of yours?"

Toffitt flies quickly after the dragon. Finneas hurries after (I'm assuming) while trying to get the dragon's attention, but without luck. Dyrant zips between buildings, trying to follow, but not attract attention. Atol also rushes after with Cog at his heels (since Glimmil hasn't given new directions for him).

The dragon quickly (runs) flies 600' away from the party to the outer city wall while talking with Glimmil.

"When I have left your friends behind, I will continue squeezing you until your guts pop out of your armor. Then I will strip you of your armor and other fine magic items before I flash roast you--I like the crunch of bones, but your treasure is too fine too eat."

Round 4
Toffitt: 28 (barkskin)
Finneas: 24 (englarged, resistance to fire )
Dyrant: 21 (shaken, or maybe not if Finn's bonus wasn't added)
Atol: 12+
Glimmil: 12 (sky steed, smite evil, pinned)
Cog (shaken)
Dragon: 12- (9, 266= -275)

Party buffs
Round 1 - Blessings of Fervor
Round 2 - Inspire Courage: +2 to hit/+2 damage.
Round 2 - Prayer

No more map for now. Just going to go by distances from the dragon. I'll bring back a map if people magic themselves closer. For simplicity I'm starting everyone out at 630' away.

Round 4, Init 28

Toffitt flies after the dragon (570' away) a volley of arrows after the retreating dragon...

Holy Longbow: 1d20 + 19 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 5 ⇒ (12) + 19 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 5 = 33
1d8 + 3 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 + (3, 4) = 14

... and likely fails his fast departing friend...

Round 3

Glimmil nods from the dragon's hot, sweaty grip.

"Wow! You sure can fly fast! Look at Cauldron from up here! Do you have a lot of treasure back where you lair?"

Am I correct that the dragon took a full round action to "Run" vs a standard to maintain the grapple and pinned condition?

Hey. Trying to get posts in each day and now you want them to be accurate? Hmm. I'll have to correct that in the morning. I think it will likely end in Glimmil's death. I'm thinking full attack, but I'll sleep on it. He needs to distance himself from the party, but can't let Glimmil have another chance at 266 WTF points.

Sorry, should've specified, yes I'll be flying after the dragon as fast as possible while shouting at it about my armor.

The dragon will fly only another 150' (making it 180' from the party) and continue to crush Glimmil. Anyone above the roofs (30') will have a clear line of sight to the dragon.

grapple check: 1d20 + 43 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 43 + 5 = 60
crushing damage: 2d8 + 18 ⇒ (6, 4) + 18 = 28
(Yes. Damage is more. I misread stat block, but won't retro.)

To be fair, the dragon started it! Glimmil was just planning to take a single attack per round with Cog when the nasty dragon decided to pick him up for a chat.

EDIT: Latest damage takes Glimmil down to 62HP.

Is Glimmil being grapple/pinned by the bite or a claw?

"Ooof. All this squeezing is starting to hurt. You do see there's a pack of heroes chasing you, right dragon? Finn there's a dragon-slayer, even!"

Visually, I see Glimmil in a claw. The stat block has a separate stat just for crushing damage with the feat.

Ah, and I totally overlooked that Cog was only shaken and not panicked. With Blessing of Fervor, Cog's fly speed is 80ft, so he can charge 160ft. His last standing command is usually to "Guard" Glimmil, but with a 6 Int, he can make "smart" choices vs a regular 2 Int dog.

Chris, let me know if this is OK.

Round 3, Cog takes a run action to move 240ft and line up a charge vs the dragon?

Round 4...

Cog, bristling with anger that the dragon would fly away with his master, continues to growl at the dragon as it zooms after it, teeth bared and hair bristling on his back.

Looking like he's running on nothing, Glimmil's faithful companion zooms in to bite the nasty dragon (provoking an AoO)

Cog Bite: 1d20 + 16 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 3 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 16 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 3 + 2 - 2 = 21 for 1d6 + 7 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 6 + 2 = 16

Cog is AC31 with BoF, down to AC29 due to charging.

Dragon crushing damage (for small creatures) is typically when a dragon lands on the small creature. Not sure if that's what you mean, or it has something special to crush Glimmil. I was just curious what AoO Cog would provoke...

Cog charges in and the dragon takes a bite.

"Mmm. Appetizer."

bite: 1d20 + 35 - 10 ⇒ (14) + 35 - 10 = 39
damage: 2d8 + 12 ⇒ (3, 3) + 12 = 18

Round 4, Init 21

Dyrant, seeing the dragon flee, grumps at having to chase it. Instead he flies backwards to Finn.

"Come along Finn! We have to get ahead of this thing or it won't go well."

Dyrant casts Dimension Door, taking the Lillend and Finneas to within 10' of the dragon. Dyrant will be placed on the other side of Finn from the dragon.

The lillend, already a speedy flyer, will tail slap with the intent to aid Finn's first attack.

1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 6 + 2 = 24 vs. DC 10 to aid

Round 3/14 of Bardsong: +2 to hit/damage.

Glimmil smiles weakly from the dragon's clutching claws, still struggling to free Claw-Whomper from the claw where his weapon is pinned to his body.

"See, my friends are here now..."

Glimmil accomplishes something of a head nod to acknowledge Finn and Dyrant's arrival next to the dragon.

Round 4, Initiative 12, Location 180’ away -> 120’ away

Atol moves closer to the dragon (60’ - a move plus blessing of fervor) and takes out his rod of reach. He tries to move in such a way as to get any sort of line of sight on the dragon, between houses, etc. He rushes as fast as he can, frustrated that he cannot do more.

Atol uses Blessings of Fervor for extra movement.

Remember, anyone who had breakfast with Atol has 8 temporary hit points, +1 (morale) attack rolls/Will saves, and +4 (morale) on poison/fear saves from the heroes' feast for 12 hours.

Finneas still to go. I'm assuming a delay to after Dyrant transports him via dimension door.

Since the dragon did not fly that far after all, Toffitt would have taken a full round of attacks. Without Fervor and with a smaller range penalty, the last attack would have been 35 total. Here are the other attacks:

Iterative: 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 14 + 2 + 1 - 1 = 26
1d8 + 3 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 1 + (5, 4) = 18

Iterative: 1d20 + 19 + 2 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 19 + 2 + 1 - 1 = 31
1d8 + 3 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 1 + (4, 3) = 12

Total crud.

Round 4

Sorry for the delay, it's been a busy two days and I finally got some free time.

Waiting until Dyrant gets him next to the dragon, Finneas attempts to unleash the fury of Kord on the beast.

Rage, using BoF for extra attack.

Greatsword #1: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (3) + 20 = 23
Damage: 3d6 + 22 ⇒ (5, 3, 2) + 22 = 32
Evil: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5

Greatsword BoF: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (11) + 20 = 31
Damage: 3d6 + 22 ⇒ (1, 2, 4) + 22 = 29
Evil: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 3) = 9

Greatsword #2: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 27
Damage: 3d6 + 22 ⇒ (4, 1, 5) + 22 = 32
Evil: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 2) = 7

Greatsword #3: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29
Damage: 3d6 + 22 ⇒ (5, 6, 2) + 22 = 35
Evil: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 6) = 12

Greatsword #3 Confirm: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
Damage: 3d6 + 22 ⇒ (4, 5, 2) + 22 = 33

Getting old. 25 hours of overtime on a weekend used to be nothing. I'll post in the morning.

Toffitt fails to hit. Dyrant brings Finneas up to the dragon, but he also fails to connect.

Atol moves until he can catch a glimpse of the dragon.

Glimmil remains pinned in the dragon's claw while Cog gets bitten trying to bite the dragon.

Wow. That was a sad round for the party.

The dragon crushes Glimmil some more.
grapple check: 1d20 + 43 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 43 + 5 = 65
crushing damage: 2d8 + 18 ⇒ (8, 5) + 18 = 31

The dragon flies only another 50' away (provoking), still just in sight of Atol for this round. It then holds up Glimmil like a giant candle and breathes fire on him, Finneas, Dyrant, and the lillend.
Quickened fire breath: 14d10 ⇒ (6, 10, 10, 6, 1, 7, 6, 7, 9, 10, 5, 3, 10, 5) = 95 DC 28 for half

Round 5
Toffitt: 28 (barkskin)
Dyrant: 21 (shaken, or maybe not if Finn's bonus wasn't added)
Finneas: 20 (englarged, resistance to fire )
Atol: 12+
Glimmil: 12 (sky steed, smite evil, pinned)
Cog (shaken)
Dragon: 12- (9, 266= -275)

Party buffs
Round 1 - Blessings of Fervor
Round 2 - Inspire Courage: +2 to hit/+2 damage.
Round 2 - Prayer

Round 5, Init 28

Toffitt winces at the thought of charred gnome and feels like a futile idiot as he continues to fire arrows at the problem.

Longbow: 1d20 + 19 + 2 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 19 + 2 + 1 - 1 = 33 +2 more if lillend yet lives.
1d8 + 3 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 3 + (1, 3) = 10 +2 if lillend lives.

Iterative: 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (7) + 14 + 2 + 1 - 1 = 23 +2 more if lillend yet lives.
1d8 + 3 + 2d6 ⇒ (8) + 3 + (2, 1) = 14 +2 if lillend lives.

Fervor: 1d20 + 19 + 2 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (20) + 19 + 2 + 1 - 1 = 41 +2 more if lillend yet lives.
1d8 + 3 + 2d6 ⇒ (7) + 3 + (2, 6) = 18 +2 if lillend lives.

Confirm: 1d20 + 19 + 2 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 19 + 2 + 1 - 1 = 39 +2 more if lillend yet lives.
2d8 + 6 ⇒ (7, 3) + 6 = 16 +4 if lillend lives.

He smiles, feeling sure that he's finally hit the shaky scale.

BTW, GM_Chris, have you been calculating grapple penalties to AC for the big drake?

He's not considered to be grappling with his feat. They actually built him to be able to fulfill the stated tactics.

Round 5, Init 21

1d20 + 15 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 15 + 2 + 2 = 28 Reflex (heroism, BoF)
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13 Reflex Lillend

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 Lillend AoO, trolling for crit

The lillend falls out of the sky, smoking and dead and disappearing. The bard song lives only in our hearts now. :(

Dyrant shrugs as if telling himself to give up all hope and just *DESTROY*.

He draws some Dweomer's Essence and casts Freezing Sphere above the creature as to not hit Glim.

14d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 5, 1, 5, 1, 5, 2, 6, 1, 6, 1, 1, 4) = 45 cold damage vs. DC 26 Reflex for half
1d20 + 14 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 14 + 5 = 20 SR Check

Dyrant will fly back 60' and under cover.

I'm recognizing some Draconomicon feats, which is awesome!

Cog snaps at the dragon again, hoping to save his master, but once again proving he's too shook up at the imminent danger to be an effective lifesaver.

Cog Bite AoO: 1d20 + 16 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 3 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 16 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 3 + 2 - 2 = 21 for 1d6 + 7 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 6 + 2 = 20

As the dragon flaps away, Glimmil continues his line of conversation.

"Oh, you really lucked out there Dragon, Finneas doesn't usually miss that of--"

As the dragon's mouth opens while the dragon's grip continues to hold Glimmil in place, the gnome begins to protest.

"Hey, you can't hold me and brea---"

Glimmil Reflex DC28: 1d20 + 16 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 16 - 2 = 33

The charred husk remnants of the gnome don't get to complete his thought.

Glimmil at -16.

EDIT, almost forgot that Hero's Defiance kicks in.

Hero's Defiance: 8d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 6, 6, 5, 6, 5, 4) = 38

No longer recognizable as more than a charred brick, the whites of Glimmil's eyes spark back to life and the whites of his teeth can be seen as he smiles.

"Wait, where was I? Oh yeah, the Cauldron Five's about to do something really awesome here, you just wait and see, Dragon. Should I keep calling you Dragon, or do you have a better name than that?"

Cog zips after his master, flying lower under the dragon and out of its reach, hoping to catch his master and best friend once the dragon decides the gnome is no longer useful in topping a birthday cake.

Round 5

Greatsword AoO: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (11) + 20 = 31
Damage: 3d6 + 22 ⇒ (5, 5, 5) + 22 = 37
Evil: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 2) = 3

Ref DC 28: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Weathering the fire, Finneas charges the dragon.

Greatsword Charge: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (17) + 20 = 37
Damage: 3d6 + 20 ⇒ (1, 6, 5) + 20 = 32
Evil: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7

Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (5) + 20 = 25
Damage: 3d6 + 20 ⇒ (2, 3, 6) + 20 = 31

"Wait, where was I? Oh yeah, the Cauldron Five's about to do something really awesome here, you just wait and see, Dragon. Should I keep calling you Dragon, or do you have a better name than that?"

As Finneas misses his opportunity attack, the dragon smirks.

"You can call me Hookface and I will call you breakfast. You have the honor of being my first meal after many decades of sleep."

Unfortunately for the dragon, it is a meal he will never get to enjoy. Dyrant's spell fizzles against the dragon's resistance, but one of Toffitt's arrow's finds a tender spot on the dragon. Then Finneas charges in and the dragon takes the opportunity to snap at him. It's a good bite, but Finneas's swing is harder and manages to finish off the dragon suffering from Glimmil's previous round of beating.

The dragon begins to fall to the ground with Glimmil in its claw. He's technically not pinned anymore, but he's not exactly free either. Just presenting a problem for people to have fun solving.

Help me remember that protection from good no longer works against Finneas. One feature of the smoking eye template is that "evil" spells treat Finneas as evil even though he's good with just a taint of evil. In this case, it was the difference between a hit and miss.

AoO bite 15' reach: 1d20 + 35 - 10 ⇒ (16) + 35 - 10 = 41
damage: 2d8 + 12 ⇒ (7, 6) + 12 = 25
Dragon: 12- (9, 266, 34, 39= -348)

Round 5, Initiative 12, Location 170’ away -> 80’ away

Atol continues to strive for line of sight, but being so far away, must simply double move (90’ move with BoF) this round.

”huffa huffa huffa huffa”

Atol uses Blessings of Fervor for extra movement.

Remember, anyone who had breakfast with Atol has 8 temporary hit points, +1 (morale) attack rolls/Will saves, and +4 (morale) on poison/fear saves from the heroes' feast for 12 hours.

HP 2 while raging, drops to -24 once I stop. Will remind you of my taint in the future.

Finneas watches the dragon fall, Glimmil in his claws. His rage continues while he takes the opportunity to heal himself.

Using Clarity of Mind to cast CSW: 3d8 + 8 ⇒ (8, 4, 4) + 8 = 24.

He then slumps as the anger fades.

And now at 0 HP.

I'm not sure how high up we are now and how many rounds we may be falling (if even more than one?)

Glimmil looks a bit sad that his conversation with Hookface is ending already, but nonetheless begins to try to peel himself from the giant claw still holding him.

"Cog! Boy, are you still around??"

Looking about, he seems his companion gliding about two dozen feet away as he attempts to puzzle his way out of falling to his death.

I'd say sever the claw, which probably needs a slashing weapon. Or I don't know if the combined carry capacity of Cog + Finneas can simply grab the dragon and glide us all down...? If Glimmil can get a standard action off, he can also activate his winged boots and attempt to assist in that effort... also not sure what kind of CMB check may be needed to peel from the clutches and for Glimmil to simply just glide to Cog...

If a standard action is possible to pull himself from the claw and then he could glide to Cog, he'd attempt that.

CMB (Glimmil freeing from claw): 1d20 + 17 + 1 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 17 + 1 + 5 = 33

CMB (Cog grabbing Glimmil?): 1d20 + 14 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 14 + 1 = 25

Dyrant flies over the regroup with the party after that last beating and burning. He is scorched and angry, still fuming from inside and out.

He will however, provide an immediate touch to those who need it.

2d8 + 10 ⇒ (4, 6) + 10 = 20 Dyrant
2d8 + 10 ⇒ (2, 3) + 10 = 15 Finn
2d8 + 10 ⇒ (4, 5) + 10 = 19 Glim
2d8 + 10 ⇒ (5, 1) + 10 = 16 Cog?

"That was decidedly unpleasant...but we should ensure the dragon is dead beyond all doubt. Finn would you mind?" Dyrant makes the head-choppy-choppy sign.

Dyrant, still wounded, looks around wondering what else is going to eat them today.

"It might be that this City is lost. We cannot save it after all our efforts...all our travails, we have failed."

Glimmil claws his way out of the claw and is snatched up by Cog. The dragon lands on the hillside with a satisfying thud. Atol is left in the city, but appears to be about the only human left alive and free. Thousands of citizens can be seen streaming down the four trails up to Cauldron. The city itself is now clearly overrun with demons as more and more literally rain down from the rift in reality above.

Toffitt makes haste to join the party. "The city is only lost if we forget our true target. We must find the Cagewrights and find a way to seal this rift. The hunt for errant demons shall need to wait until we've finished that task."

"The hunt for errant demons shall need to wait until we've finished that task."

"And the hunt for the Cagewrights will wait until we've rested. The City is lost, there is little we can do about that now. We will only fail moreso if we attack the Cagewrights as weak as we are."

Dyrant signals to Aralynn to join them.

"It might be we retreat to Redgorge, or further away, and use that as a new base."

Full disclosure: I'll need some time to review some of the old threads (or a GM Gristle recap) to remember all our leads or where we should be going. Now that we have raining/reigning demons, not even sure if old leads still apply. Just saying, I'm confuzzled and will take time/help to de-confuzzle.

Toffitt sighs. "You're right, of course. We must rest, and perhaps ask your Saint for what guidance he can offer. We can hope that the perpetrators of this rift may also hold clues for sealing it."

What? You said it's time to level?!

Finneas' shoulders slump as the city burns.

"Nothing? There must be something we can do. We can't just let it go."

Toffitt puts his cool, sallow hand on FInneas shoulder. "We can find a means to close the rift, and we can bring its creators to justice. Kord would have it so, do you not think?"

When the party is together (presuming all the fliers come down to Atol’s level, he’ll channel energy.
Channel Energy healing: 9d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 6, 3, 6, 1, 3, 5, 5) = 33

If we're still very low (and we might be) he'll do it again. After that, please use the CLW wand.
Channel Energy healing: 9d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 4, 2, 6, 1, 3, 3, 2) = 29

”I want to have a clue as to where they are. I still have my Find the Path spell for today, and I’d like to use it on the Cagewright lair. It would be unwise to rely on this spell and not know if it will even work. We don’t have to follow it far, but we should see where it leads.”

If the party agrees, Atol will cast the spell hoping to find a trail to their lair.

Once Glimmil is safely on the ground, he rushes up to Dyrant and tugs on the Cuthbertite's robes.

"Dyrant! Did you see that? A proper dragon! We chatted for a bit - he told his name was Hookface and he was going to take me back to his lair where he has a lot of treasure. He kept squeezing me real hard though, so he was clearly a do-badder of a sort, I think he meant to add me to his treasure pile."

Taking a breath after his monologue, Glimmil tugs the robe again.

"We should try to find his lair. If Hookface joined the attack, maybe there's something there that will help connect the dots?"

We have 24 hours to... Create Treasure Map?

Toffitt nods at Atol's suggestion. "Yes, a notion of our route would be helpful before we retreat. I agree, we just find rest and prepare ourselves. I... There are things I would do to prepare for what comes next." He takes from his haversack a long glass tube with a dazzling feather preserved inside. It is a feather from the coatl in Occipitus. "I need a lab this night."

The party gathers on the edge Cauldron and sees the last of the citizens "safely" down the trail, or at least as safely as can be.

The volcano continues to rumble, but not completely erupt. Toffitt is sure the volcano should have completely erupted by now. It's like a boiling kettle with the steam escaping, but it's not clear where all that energy is going.

Dyrant agrees with Toffitt and--with his expansive arcane and planar knowledge--deduces that something is draining the energy from the eruption. What exactly that is being used for is unclear though. It might be what is causing the planar rift or that might even be a side effect. The party has uncovered several bits of information that would lead them to the conclusion that it was the goal though.

However, it is clear that the event is still in progress and has not been completed yet. The fate of Cauldron and whether or not the volcano will continue erupting or be used up is not obvious at this time. It does seem obvious that the next 24 hours will decide Cauldron's fate.

The party can also easily deduce that the Cagewrights are behind whatever is going on with the volcano. Atol can successfully cast find the path and get the party started off in the right direction. Actually, the book says this is the best solution.

Actually, the book says this is the best solution.

Strangely recharged and refreshed (he assumes it is St. Cuthbert's influence upon him), Dyrant narrows his eyes, focusing them on Atol.

Again, the entire fate of Cauldron is upon his shoulders. What would we have done without him?

Dyrant shudders at the thought, trying to push it from his mind and lend attention and support to Atol.

"Let the Holy Cudgel guide you, Atol. I am ready to serve and protect. St. Cuthbert's divine retribution must be served."

Toffitt nods at Dyrant's words. It seems the student has become the master, eh? Smiling thinly, he says, "Truly rest will be important as we prepare to hunt down the Cagewrights. That, and some final tests..."