Kuruk watches his javelin graze the dragon. Yes! A little late but you're overcoming your fear...atta boy! Confidently, Kuruk stands before the dragon, dust and his blonde hair whipping in the wind, as he draws another javelin. He looks down at it, looks up at the dragon, and moves another 30' away from the party so they do not get roasted by another lightning breath as he launches his javelin at the dragon's nose. "Begone!"
Fear save
Adv vs. Fear
Kwin grits his teeth as the sound of rushing air gets closer. This time, prepared for the shock of the dragon's presence. He launches an arrow as it gets close.
Short bow to hit
Damage
Kuruk's second javelin pierces the blue dragon's tough hide and it yelps back in pain! Kwin's arrow bounces off its skin. Angered that its breath weapon has not yet recharged, the dragon snarls "Enough of this, I am no one's pet! This is beneath me." Remembering Kuruk's appearance, the dragon flaps its wings and soars into the night sky, leaving the Keep in its wake. The surviving soldiers on the battlements come out from behind cover to mob the party, especially the brave Kuruk. You have driven off the dragon!
For long moments, Kwin stares after where the dragon disappeared into the darkness. Finally accepting that it was not a ruse on the part of the dragon, he lowers his bow and looks to Kuruk. "I don't think you'll be getting that javelin back. We should see if we can find you some more."
Quarion came our of cover and slapped the big guy in the back, "Nice shot! Your people will be proud that you scared off a dragon."
He turned to Kwin, "I think you're right. We should head back and see what else needs doing."
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Kwin crouches by the fallen soldiers on the tower. He checks quickly to see if any of them might survive if given first aid immediately. Those that cannot be helped or aren't severely wounded he'll mutter a reassuring word but otherwise leave them alone.
Kuruk seems in shock when the dragon retreats. "Ya don't see that everyday." He accepts the congratulations. "You're right Kwin, need 2 new javelins. Do ya think the departure of the dragon ends the assault on the town?"
After the cheers of the soldiers dies down, the dwarf Castellan Escobert calls you all, "Great job driving off the dragon, but our work's not done. There's still a raid happening and we needs yer help! The guards have spotted a new threat. Raiders are trying to set fire to the town’s mill. If it burns, we’ll lose our stockpile of flour and we won’t be able to grind more for months. I’m trying to assemble enough defenders from here in the keep to defend it through the rest of the night, but that will take time. You’d do us a great service if you could get to the mill quickly and drive away the raiders before they can set it aflame. You’ll need to defend it until our force arrives to take over, but it shouldn’t be more than fifteen minutes behind you. What say ye?”
Quarion nodded, "Yes, I think we should be able to hold them off until you arrive."
The elf sighed knowing it would probably be the longest 15 minutes of his life but they couldn't refuse anyway, "OK, point us to the mill and make sure you rally your forces so they're right behind us. Just get whatever you can as quickly as you can. Don't hold up until everyone is ready. Know what I mean? Even if our reinforcements come in waves, it's better than them all arriving too late."
"Yes, sir." Kwin nods grimly, thinking of this as a chance for redemption.
After “scaring” off a dragon, Kuruk is on a tremendous high. ”Of course, we will do it. We can hold off the hordes of the Abyss if needed.”
The party makes its way to the Mill through the Old Tunnel. As you approach the structure, you see the following scene:
A cultist looks around into the night waving his torch back and forth, cackling evilly as 2 kobolds stack kindling up against the door. He moves towards it for a second, and then back, waving his torch around!
Quarion quickly took in the scene and tried to make some quick estimates as to how it would play out. Would killing the cultist likely cause him to drop the torch and start the fire?
He whispered to his companions, "Should we shoot from distance or get close to potentially avoid a fire starting?"
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If no one stops him, Kwin will put an arrow into the torch wielding kobold.
To hit
Damage
”Warning shot, Kwin?” The barbarian winks at the halfling.
"Ah s!@+. There goes our any surprise."
The moon elf gestured, spoke arcane words, and sent a fiery bolt to the fire wielder.
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Kuruk moves forward with his polearm and slashes at any survivor.
The wounded cultist disengages from Kuruk without provoking and backs into the 3-story mill out of line of sight of the party's ranged attacks. The kobolds follow suit and back away into the mill, cackling with laughter.
Insight
"Wait, something is not quite right here..."
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The crab skitters into the mill, drawing an odd look from the kobolds 30’ away. Through its eyes, Ziyad can see six guards with javelins poised for throwing quietly perched on the second floor walkway overlooking the entrance hall, waiting to ambush the party!
Quarion nodded, "Good little crab."
He added, "We could wait as long as they don't burn the mill down. How about I make an illusion of Kwin here who's just the right size and make it look like we're still discussing what to do and Kwin sneaks behind them? Is that an option?"
Kwin scrathes his chin. "I might be able to get up there. Maybe climb the waterwheel and get in through a window. But if there are six of them in there, I might get overwhelmed. Maybe if we make them think the kobolds are burning it down, we can attack them when they rush out."
"So first they trick us into burning the mill and now WE burn the mill? Confused how this plan works..." It's painful to see Kuruk try to figure out plan in his head.
Kuruk smiles. "I like that last part, but if they were going to trick us by burning the mill to ambush us, then they know we care about mill. So would they believe we would burn something we care about?"
With the plan in hand, Quarion started towards the mill and talking a little too loud how combustible flour was and how easy it would be to blow the place up.
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Kuruk stands at the front wondering how is he expected the bar the doors when the doors are wide open. Instead he waits a little to the side to see if the ambushers on the second floor climb or jump down to the first floor upon seeing the imaginary fire and that is when he will rage and rush in and strike.
Kwin will get out a torch and his tinder box. He'll ignite a torch. I think some real firelight flickering about will help with any illusion.