Lyra headed out that knight, not being part of the dream time she had time to spot herself a sniper's vantage point of the hollow, keeping witch for the others. She using the ring to let them know where she is once they come.
She had her grenade launcher out and god slayer. She is taking no chances, not after the fight with the construct.
Terex keeps anxious watch as Rollo works, worried that an enemy agent might stumble upon them.
The next day, the little dragon hides himself very close to where the other spy-creature had appeared, ready to spring an ambush on it.
Rollo gets out his protractor, compass, and Earl Gray tea. The dhampir does his calculations, before activating the Dig Tool for the Escape Tunnel.
Once they are preparing for the ambush, the Sage cast his normal buffs. He does stay 100' away or more....
So, just as before, the figure appears to hand the bird the message. I assume you wait until the bird is passed ('cause otherwise you'd give everything away) and the process only takes a moment anyway. Seen up close, the figure is just as strange - blurred and changing. Humanoid sometimes, ape like, gnoll like. Disturbing but you've many thing ... and now the figure is moving - the party knows they have to engage them quickly, otherwise they be able dimension door. Paritosh has deadly lance ready (charge readied action), waiting for the attack. Terex and Marella are ideally positioned.
Terex springs out and strikes with his stinger!
"Wait a moment before attacking or you will get hurt"
Then as the thing sends the message off she lets fire with all she had.
Her pistols firing in a blur.
Confarm Crit
LH RTA
Pos 81 DMG
Arlo runs to meet the monster.
Rollo decides to make it a bit easier to see.
Heightened to 5th Glitterdust Will DC 22
Marella, all her spells cast to increase her personal attack fury, swings out with Silkshadow.
So the ambush successfully tears to shreds whatever the spy creature was. The body suggests some sort of shapeshifting aberration, akin to improved Doppelganger - it just looks like a brown sack of organs vaguely in the shape of a person but now slashed into multiple pieces. And other than a pouch with pen, ink and paper among it's supplies, there's little clue what it was about.
Paritosh again volunteers to continue the search here for more creatures or a lair while the group heads to the dragon summit, to held at the border of Oomsatta land to the North of Merva.
So, arriving at the summit location, a huge, flat boulder with a slight natural raised area around it, you greet Math and see maybe 40-60 figures circling and looping in at a distance of 3-5 miles.
The dragon Math greets you. He is now a healthy silver and significantly heavier looking but still sleek. He moves to join in a dignified fashion and the begins discussion. "My friends, we have had sporadic contact by radio with you, including hearing the important news that I managed to take carry you to finally find the legendary Forge Of The Earth. Now comes the day when you can offer the dragons of the mountains a chance for a new home. The prospect is exciting and delicate. See how the group flies carefully - like birds of prey, none want to go below the other or they may be at a disadvantage. Even now, some will turn back. It is inevitable but they will still hear the word." The only other dragon you see landed is a large, muscular dragon with scales of shinny rust orange - you can guess this Armaund finally showing his form in the open. In a short while, the Hetman, The Earth Speaker and Beast Speaker, with ten senior Oomsatta hunters appear.
And eventually, the dragon group lands, over a period of an hour, thirty five dragon assemble, carefully, each warry of all the others but each having obvious allies and enemies. The last fifteen minutes of iron wing flapping and landing is loud as a hundred garbage trucks. The younger dragon is in back, looking small only in relation to the others.
Finally, a nearly black dragon, long and thin, snakes forward to say, "I am Goolan Gam Goth, I have been nominated to speak for the skeptics. For we skeptical but hopeful. Tell us your story of finding the Forge of the earth. Then answer for us several questions. Where is this forge of the earth. What proof do you have of it? How may the dragons enter the Forge and so go to new land, is the door wide enough for us? (Some of us can assume the forms of humans but some cannot and flying to forge would be the most agreeable thing). Must we be accompanied by an Oomsatta and if so, who? Is this truly a new world, empty of humans and rich in fire.
Lady Lyra walks up and addresses the black dragon and the others as well.
She bows to them and then says.
"I am Lady Lyra Anna Fitzroy, and I am the leader of the agents of life you see before you. In a moment others within our group will address you with information and answers to your questions. I wished only to introduce myself and state our objectives. Which are to help the Oomsatta in relocating to a safer homeland. Away from the pending mechanized mass wars. And to offer you, most regal and majestic dragons the opportunity of accompanying them to new territories. We undertake this not for profit or favor but because we believe it is our duty and the right thing to do. I thank you for hearing me out."
She bows once more then steps back so the others can address the Dragons.
Arlo's dwarven blood prickles being in the presence of so many dragons. The dwarf paladin declines any opportunities to talk to the dragon multitude. The warrior stays within sight of the dragons, the party and the Oomsatta, hopping he won't need to bring the holy longsword to bear just yet.
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Rollo watches the arrival of all theses majestic Dragons! The dhampir's blue eyes widen in wondrous awe at their greatness!
Once black dragon, long and thin snake-like spokesdragon appears to the group, Rollo approaches him.
The Sorcerer makes a gesture to the Group.
Rollo then bows deeply to the Black. The Sage then looks skyward at the circling dragons. He then bows to them as well.
The Sage then cast Mirage Arcane; showing his glimpse of the New World for ALL to see!
Marella declines the opportunity to speak to the dragons. Pleasant speech is not her forte. She spends a great deal of her time among the dragons watching them wheel in the sky.
Other than that, Marella seems trapped in her own head.
Terexaltherin lets Rollo have his theatricality, refraining from 'speaking' himself (especially since most of the dragons aren't in his telepathy range). The rest of the party is in telepathy range, however, so he silently speaks to them.
The problem will be getting them there. Those who can't assume a smaller form will have issues with the tunnel, maybe even the door to the Forge itself. And of course, if some can't come, they'll be jealous of the ones who can, which might start some fights...
If we had more time we could probably teach them to shapeshift, but unless we want to fight a war we don't have that kind of time.
He pauses, then adds, That said, if we were to get in a fight, I'd rather be on the side with a few dozen dragons. If we could get them all pointed in the same direction and not killing each other long enough.
Speaking in images and not merely words, Rollo has the entire crowd of dragon subdued and interested - quiet excitement pervades the crowd.
Once Rollo finishes, the Dragon Math describes finding the party and transporting them to mount Thern and praises you as friends of dragons. Next, the Beast Speaker and other Oomsatta speak and then Goolan requests a few moments to digest the discussion and group sits for bit, tongues of fire occasionally exiting iron-steel jaws, with the entire granite plateau is now palpably hotter than when discussion began.
Terex is able to sense that several of the dragons in fact have a telepathic communication abilities themselves and below the surface, furious discussions are occurring, with psychic comments occasionally spilling over to anyone in the area.
After twenty minutes, Goolan and Math, approach the center. Goolan speaks, "We have decided. We shall guard the Oomsatta in their path to the forge and then go through the main of the forge. We shall take the Oomsatta Beast Speaker, these warriors and we invite Lady Lyra Anna Fitzroy, Rollo and their party also to accompany us. We shall rest on this spot until we are ready. "
At that, about 2:30 pm, the Earth Speaker creates several gushers of flame around the plateau and the drink of these in celebration. Then the long and difficult discussion of the integrating the dragons into the Oomsatta plans occurs.
And at about 3:00 pm, a runner comes to the group - Paritosh and Minna have discovered a cave they suspect house some more of the creatures you enountered previous (between two and four, he's not sure). With the creatures able to dimension door, he think he'll need the party's aid to root them out. And he believes removing them now is crucial because their aim seems to be using the shape-shifting ability to get with the Oomsatta into the Forge of The Earth and bringing whatever evil is assaulting the Oomsatta there.
The Earth Speaker volunteers to go the cave with the party. So the group arrives at approximately 3:45 pm, at a well-concealed hole high up in the Western peak and Earth Speaker reveals that Forbidance is one of her domain spells, cast the spell to seal the general area against teleportation.
Lady Lyra looks at the cave.
"Those who can scout and sneak get in there, Arlo with me"
She hands him her grenade launcher.
"There are six high explosive rounds in it. My last. Once the scouts have them spotted, We will engage, but I want you to drop the cave on them. You know rocks, give us the word beforehand and we will clear out. Right we do this now while the Oomsatta are on the move. Lets go people!"
Arlo takes the grenade launcher and nods resolutely at Lady Lyra. The dwarf turns to face the cave entrance. "Alright, you sons of b|+ches! Bring it!!"
Rollo bows greatfully to the Dragon Host. The dhampir then accompanies his Team with the final countdown!
So, Arlo approaches the cave and evaluates it - it's hard to know how deep it is for certain, but as the result of an ancient river, his guess is about 80 feet max. The passage curves to the right one enters and he guess it then curves to the left.
The thing you fought you remarkably tough for a human sized creature. Odds are if you bring the cave on similar things, they're survive and you'll have kill them as they dig themselves out. But that could be a lot easier than fight them at once, especially if there are several. To bring down the cave, you'll have to go in about 25 feet, shoot and run out quickly. Still could be simplest approach. The rest of the party observes - reflex buffing spells could be useful.
Marella follows instructions and scouts ahead, after casting a couple of spells.
Lyra waited outside some way off, pulled her guns, and powered up.
Terex cautiously scouts ahead a bit, using his small size to try to avoid attracting attention. He makes sure to be well clear when Arlo comes charging in with the grenade launcher.
...except that he looks back at the wrong moment and plows straight into a stalactite.
Marella tries to dodge out of the way.
She manages to find a small alcove in the wall and escape the worst of the blast.
Rollo mouths the words wait...but is easily drowned out by well lots of rocks falling.
So, Arlo fires the grenade launcher but manages to hit one of the several stalactites in the way of his target. The resulting explosion causes about two feet of ceiling where the forward part of the party is, to collapse - Arlo and Terex are covered by about a foot of dust/dirt while Marella escape the dirt by hiding in alcove (It will take a round of effort to free yourselves and a DC 10 strength check or escape artist check).
After a moment, the figure of a large female oomsatta farmer comes running around the bend, looking terrified, she stops at the cave in, not seeing Marella and says "What happened, anybody in there? Can I help you out? We were just gathering mushrooms, my husbands and son are behind me..."
Those with extraordinarily good discernment can determine this is a clever mimic.
Note, Lady Lyra and Rollo are entirely concealed behind the cloud of dust that was kicked-up by the explosion and also can't see through it (though they can hear the peasant woman's voice).
As quietly as possible, Terex tries to extricate himself from the rubble without drawing attention.
Arlo let out a stream of obscenities as he worked his way out of the failed cave-in.
"No. No. I'm fine." The dwarf grumbles as he gathers himself.
She cave falls and dust comes she moves fast out the cave.
"Everyone out but arlo, Arlo try again"
As she hears a female voice she looks up to see who it is.
"O carp! they are out here too"
Arlo follows Lyra lead and tries to bring the cave down again.
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Lady wait! This will bypass the cloud a bit.
He casts Gust of Wind at the cloud toward the Farmer....
Now, go ahead!
"My mistake I thought they were behind us, they are coming out the cave"
Firing blandly at where the voice had come come.
Marella takes a step and strikes, invisible, from the shadows. Her unseen blade flickers at the midsection of the disguised abomination.
In the confusion of the explosion Lyra fires wildly into the cloud of dust and dirt as Rollo starts a gust of wind to dissipate it - blowing it forward down the cave (and over Marella and the creature in the form of a woman).
Lyra somehow manages to connect with two shots on the "woman" who bleeds in a strange enough way that her inhuman nature is now obvious - at which point Marella steps forward, invisibly and wielding powerful divine forces, chops the thing to pieces, with the creature reduced something like a burlap sack filled with offal as the other thing appeared (solid, it like oak chopped into).
And as this point, two more figures come down the passage from deep in the cave up to Marella and Arlo, appearing as strapping young Oomsatta lads and shouting "Mother!", at which point, they attempt to grapple both Marella and Arlo The one lad lands on Arlo, grappling him with flesh that feels like wood solid while other lad runs past Marella. They ignore Terex in the chaos.
Arlo tries to break his grapple.
There was little Lyra could do about the one on Arlo, but the boy running at her.
Terex realizes he doesn't really know much about mimics, but he nonetheless sneaks up on the one grappling Arlo and stings it in what he thinks is a vital location...
...but turns out to not even be part of the mimic.
Rollo begins casting Toppling Magic Missile at them both!
He targets the one hugging Arlo with 3 Missiles and the other with 2 Missiles.
Marella flies up to the mimic creature grappling Arlo and flicks out with her scimitar.
Arlo struggles to free himself but to no avail. The creatures resemblance to humanity is growing less as they froth with rage, still shouting "Mother"
The creature holding him crushes down on the dwarf with limbs like oak (14 points of damage) and bites him for 12 points of damage. The other creature lets loose with it's fists, slamming Arlo for another 14 points of damage but missing with the other attack ,
Both creatures look seriously damaged.
PS: the dust has settled but area between Lyra and Rollo on one side and Arlo, the creatures and Marella on the other, is still difficult terrain.
Lyra just keeps shooting.
Terex briefly debates using one of his wands... but given the rate the others are tearing these mimics to pieces, it would just be a waste of magic. So he shifts his position slightly to be opposite Marella and stings again.
The creature not grappling Arlo drops.
Arlo gains his footing and stands in the remnants of n intelligent mimic. "Nice work, everyone." The dwarf said, giving the android a meaningful glance.
Rollo begins casting Toppling Magic Missile at them both!
He targets the one hugging Arlo with 3 Missiles and the other with 2 Missiles.
[dice=Trip attempt]1d20+17 ; 3d4+3
[dice=Trip attempt]1d20+17 ; 2d4+2