GM Dennis - Heroes for Highdelve - Special [Closed] (Inactive)

Game Master Dennis Muldoon

Sereia's eyes widen as her magical protections cause the ettin's attack to miss by a hair. As it crushes the rock beside her she stabs at the ettin's stomach! (Arcane stake and attacking!)

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Piercing Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 1 = 6

Lomo continues his vicious assault on the beast!

Attack 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 3

Attack 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 3

Croak connects with another feathered dart while viciously mocking the ettin! As Pinesong's bolt whistles between the beast's heads, the creature roars in defiance and shakes its massive flail at the grippli, leaving himself wide open! Lomo slashes at the creature's hamstrings, causing it to fall to one knee which brings it's chest level with Sheiara's thrust. The ettin's two heads glance down at weapon embedded in its chest, then falls backwards, unmoving!

Out of combat!

Sereia staggers around for a moment, shocked that they've all survived.

"The surface... sucks."

She approaches the ettin and looks it over.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

"Whoo!" Pinesong exclaims.

Cutie Pie squeals and hurries over to Pinesong.

Pinesong pigs up Cutie Pie and gives him a big hug. "Auww, come here." After cuddling his pig he looks around the cave. "I wonder what else is around here."

Croak laughs at the ettin. "He's a big, dead, chicken!" She laughs some more.

Lomo looks down at the ettin. "So... Do you think there's more of these guys in here?"

Lomo inspects the corpse.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Wrapped around one of the creature's fingers is a fine gold chain. Attached, smooshed between two of the beast's large fingers, is a beautiful amulet of a golden dragon's head.

As the sounds of battle end, the cave returns to silence, save for the occasional drip of water or echo of your own movements. Searching the creature's living space, you find a pile of greasy rags and little else, aside from the snapped chain that once confined it.

-----

Emerging from the cavern, you find yourself face-to-face with an immense golden dragon (picture in the slide deck)! Greetings, travelers! Her voice echoes across the valley, her presence magnificent and imposing, though her demeanor is friendly. I am very glad to see you all unhurt. Tell me, have you completed your quest?

Pinesong looks a little scared!

"Who are you?" he asks.

Cutie Pie lets out a terrified squeal, jumps out of Pinesong's arms and runs behind a rock. Then he cowers and tries to hide.

Stealth: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

Croak smiles. "Hi! I'm Croak! Who are you? And how do you know about our quest?"

She licks her eyeball.

"Yeah, we completed out quest! We did great!"

She holds up the broken necklace she was supposed to fetch.

Seeing the dragon... Lomo freezes!

...

...

...he stays perfectly still and silent.

Sereia strides forward. "Greetings Aurelliax, Protector of Highdelve. We completed our mission, as promised." She bows to the dragon.

Ah, I am sorry, friends. I forgot that you have not met me in my true form yet (though it seems one of your number has figured it out). Indeed, I am Aurelliax, who spoke to you in the town square. Thank you for retrieving my amulet, and even more so for doing it without doing any permanent harm to those misguided children. I think there may be hope for them yet. Are you ready to return to town? I would be happy to give you a ride, if you would like.

Sereia breaks out into a grin. "Yes, thank you."

I wonder, is it anything like swimming?

Sereia climbs up onto the dragon, not willing to let the opportunity pass her by!

Pinesong smiles and nods. He hops up on top of the dragon!

I AM SO EXCITED! You gave us a movie before, and I am giving you one now. It's my favourite episode of Teen Titans Go! and you have to watch it! I tried to find you the whole episode, which is... like 11 minutes long, but I couldn't find it. Instead you have to watch this one, then this one, and then I couldn't find the last minute of the episode. They ride the dragon. Then it eats them! I never thought I'd get to do this! But, I'm gonna ride that dragon! THAT DRAGON!

Cutie Pie snorts and squeals, but eventually she climbs up onto the dragon and hops in Pinesong's lap.

Croak smiles widely and claps her hands. "Oh, boy! THANKS!" She hops on!

WE'RE gonna ride that dragon!

....it takes a long time for Lomo to react....

Lomo cautiously follows his friends and climbs up onto the dragon.

"...yeah..."

He seems unsure.

Ha, that's great. I hadn't seen any of that show yet. Very appropriate!

-----

Aurellix stoops low to easy your ascent onto her back. Once you are safely aboard, she launches into the air with easy grace, flapping her enormous wings once as she crosses the meadow to pick up the broken wagon. She wheels in a large circle as she gains altitude, offering you a breathtaking view of the small vale and the mountains beyond!

As she carries you toward Highdelve she looks back and speaks. Despite the onrushing wind, you have little trouble understanding her powerful voice. The people of Highdelve were quite taken with your bravery and generosity, especially after you returned with their apprentices unharmed. While you were off retrieving my amulet, they decided that the least they could do was to help you accomplish your goals in town. She quickly plunges upward through a low cloud, the sunlight reflecting magnificently off her golden scales as she emerges into the brilliant blue sky above. Carth Garenth is, as we speak, reconstructing your necklace, Lomo. Pinesong, Toshi closed up the food stall to go find his neighbor; she indeed had your pig friends, and they are currently working on finding them a safe home. Sereia, Yarla Bowhammer has been digging through her files, and just before I left she came running into the square saying she had found the address of Jacobi's customer. She immediately set to arranging transportation for the four of you. Finally, young Croak, Aurelliax says with a chuckle. Mathilde was so taken by your quest for your stuffed friends that she arranged a search party to find them. They scoured the town, searching every carriage and wagon they could find top to bottom until they located the bag. Would you believe, they were under a seat in a wagon parked at the very inn you stayed at last night?

The dragon swoops into Protectress Square, gracefully alighting on the statue in her likeness before lowering a wing to allow you to climb down. Once you are safe on the ground, she begins to shine with an inner light, the shine growing in intensity until you have to look away. When it fades, the same golden-eyed woman you saw before stands before you, a kind smile on her face. "I have a gift for you as well, in thanks for your selfless bravery." She reaches into a bag at her hip and withdraws four glittering, golden statuettes of a dragon, each in a different pose. "These are for you, as a token of my thanks. May they bring you good luck and protection in your travels."

----

That night, you are the guests of honor at the feast that traditionally ends the first day of the festival, including all types of food, drink, and dancing as the whole town turns out to celebrate. Thanks to you, this is the best Brightbloom Jubilee anyone in Highdelve can remember!

That's the end! I hope you had fun; I know I did! I'll get your chronicle sheets put together tomorrow. Feel free to add any more roleplaying scenes at the end, I'm happy to play along. I'm also happy to answer any lingering questions you might have about the story.

Sereia's shocked at the sensation of flight! What was that strange feeling in her stomach? But, after a few moments she adjusts and relaxes. It felt... similar to swimming. Not the same -- nowhere close, but... better than walking. She felt... free. For the first time in a long time.

When Sereia lands back on her own feet she smiles back up at the dragon and bows. "Thank you for your aid, Aurelliax. It was our honour to help Highdelve, and meet you." She accepts the dragon token with great pride.

When she returns to the festivities Sereia enjoys the sights and sounds of the city. She sits down for the feast and... curls up her nose. Everything was so.... cooked! And hot! Yuck! Luckily she finds some fresh vegetables, fruit, and a fish that hadn't yet been tossed on a grill, which she eats raw (and with great enthusiasm)!

She looks at her companions -- the twitchy ratfolk who nibbled on all of her things, the hyperactive grippli who never gave her a moment's peace, and the laid-back vanara with his overly pampered pig... They made one strange team. She knew that. And yet... It worked. It was right.

She smiles.

"You were right Croak. This was the perfect, grand adventure."

Croak has a ton of fun on the flight. "COOOOOL!"

When she lands she bounces around in joy. She hugs the statue. "Oh, boy! That was great! THANKS! No one will believe I RODE A DRAGON!?!"

What does my dragon statue's pose look like?

She puts the statue in her bag. Then she waves goodbye and hops off to find her rabbits! She gives the stuffs HUGE hugs! Then she gives the people who helped find them HUGE hugs!

"Thanks for helping! People aren't usually nice to me, but YOU'RE THE BEST!"

She has lots of fun at the feast eating TONS of food! Then she spends the night dancing and playing with her stuffed rabbits, and the people of town.

She smiles at Sereia. "Of course it was! I told you it would be!"

Cutie Pie clings on with all his might, nearly falling right off the dragon!

"OOOIIIIIIIINK!!!"

Pinesong holds tightly to Cutie Pie. "Now's not the time for you to fly."

When they land, Pinesong thanks the dragon and places the statue in his bag. Then he and Cutie Pie help find the piggies safe homes!

At the feast Cutie Pie gorges himself! Pinesong also eats a lot of food. He is very happy to have so many friends in this town!

"I agree! This was a wonderful adventure. I wonder what tomorrow brings..."

What does my dragon statue's pose look like?

AWESOME!