More long work days so far this week, so I haven't had a chance to update with my heart in it just yet. It'll come soon enough.
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Arianna slips out and finds Greenest's local apothecary, a family-owned business like most other shops in town run by perhaps Greenest's only two gnomes, an eccentric duo named Isli and Pip Dazzlehouse. The jittery Dazzlehouses were known for finishing others' thoughts, often assuming what their customers wanted before they could ask for it. Regardless, their products were known for their potency - "the heartiest poultices in all of Faerûn!" they'd insist.
Hmm, anyone seen Atlas/James?
Yeah, that's great news. Glad to hear it. I'm not going to interrupt the character development going on in Gameplay yet since you guys are doing such a bang up job of it, and I'd hate to be the GM to move us ahead too early. Plus, I wanted to give James and Met a chance to catch up.
The Governor leans over to pick up the head of Langdedrosa Cyanwrath, holding it up. This was a victory not only for the party, but for Greenest, and the surrounding region as a whole. "The proper trophy for taking down a cult leader. Outstanding work!" He smiles, plunking the head down on his desk. "I'll see to it that we put this in a more public place. Thank you again. You will have to tell me all about your victory over this cocky wannabe dragon." "Before Leosin left for Elturel, he bought horses and riding gear for you all to help speed your journey there. They're at the dealer's stables until you're ready to leave, and all of your costs have been paid for. He mentioned he would be contacting a paladin by the name of Ontharr Frume there, so you may want to seek them out together. Of course, I imagine you'd want a bit of rest first."
The party gathers their things and exits the cave system, all traces of the cult now removed. They pass back through the abandoned camp and join the trail leading back through the outcrops and eventually beyond the tall grass of the Greenfields before the walls of Greenest come back into view. It's a familiar sight that evokes a sense of comfort, further boosted by the guards as they wave the heroes back beyond the gates. It had only been a few days, but the locals have made pretty big gains in restoring the humble village back to what it was before that night. ... You find Governor Nighthill in his office, adjusting the sling on his broken arm. He jumps in his seat as you enter, startled, his eyes widening. "By the hairy pair of Moradin... you're back!" He gets up and walks over to the party eagerly. "What of the Cult? Do you know their plans? Are they coming back? No way in the Nine Hells of Baator we'll not be prepared this time! My men will fill the streets with crushed kobold heads, they'll see!"
Eska cracks open the first of the eggs, each a three-foot tall oblong mass flecked with deep black markings. A half-developed dragon squirms out, and her second ray catches it by surprise, causing it to writhe horribly in place and cry out as it struggles for breath. The second and third eggs meet a similar fate, but that doesn't stop Brax from rushing in to tear apart what's left of the undeveloped dragons within. The cave columns now thoroughly spattered with black shell and thin blue blood, Eska steps out of the room to avoid the worst of the putrid air. James takes more time to look around the room... but it doesn't appear the cultists had much interest in storing treasure in the hatchery.
At least the last vestiges of the cult had been removed, and now the party was to decide on where to go next...
Oh wow.... That's really awful and I'm sorry to hear it.
Arianna plunges her blade into the drake's neck, and hangs on as it bucks in a desperate attempt to throw her off. James & Eska slam the beast with magic, and though Brax misses, Met-Anoi'a rushes in to deliver a fatal cleave up through its maw and skull, ending it.
Eska's bolt flies wide, and Met nearly falls over from a clumsy attack. Arianna just manages to leap over Brax, her arm twisting as she lands atop the drake and causing it to crackle with numbness, throwing off her aim. Writhing madly to try to attempt to throw the elf off, the drake doesn't see James' eldritch blast coming. Recovering, it flips its tail back and throws it across Arianna.
Eska tosses another bolt of fire at the already-injured drake, and then Brax bellows an intense battlecry as he charges at the almost-dragon, his strike tearing through its neck and instantly killing it. The remaining drake lunges forth, grabbing Brax's wrist in its teeth and sinking them in for a painful wound.
James and Brax take out both hiding kobolds with magic and arrow, leaving the two drakes. Eska lines up a fire bolt and lobs it down at one of the two drakes. Met-Anoi'a steps past Brax and walks down to the landing, holding his greatsword out as if he to provoke the drakes to come at him. They oblige him, prowling up to the paladin with their fangs bared. Met strikes first...
It's all good, take your time.
GM Screen:
Initiative:
Brax quietly steps into the room, the nasty air already beginning to painfully bite at the tissue in his lungs. Met-Anoi'a creeps not far behind him, and the duo get close to the stairs. Just as Brax nears the top step, two bottles fly from the east towards him. .. But they sail too high, and end up shattering against the far cavern wall. Their contents, a thick, black ooze drips down the wall. Looking to the east, you now see the two kobolds who had thrown them tucked behind a ledge. The noise causes both drakes to jump and turn on Brax and Met-Anoi'a with a startled, angry stare.
The party discusses what to do about the dragon eggs, the idea of keeping them to raise them even being considered. Perhaps using the cult's resources against them could prove advantageous, but raising a dragon, as James suggests, is no small feat. For this reason and more, you all agree to go egg smashing, and travel back inside the cave system, now mostly abandoned and almost too quiet. Back through the tunnel and into the room where the mighty Langdedrosa Cyanwrath had fallen, you again get a whiff of that same thick, acrid air emanating from the adjacent hatchery room.
Good stuff guys, I think we've got a plan coming together here. Before I update and move us along: what are we doing about the eggs? It looks like Eska and James may want to leave them as-is? Re: the map, you're very familiar with the route between the camp and Greenest. You're less familiar with the route between Greenest and Elturel (where Leosin is), but he provided very clear directions. From Mondath's crude map, it seems like Beregost is much further out. If you go back to Greenest, it isn't unreasonable you'd be able to buy a more detailed map of all of these locations or have someone draw one at the very least.
Either way is fine with me, not forcing you to go to Elturel. You know how to get there thanks to Leosin, but you don't really know how to get to Beregost (nor how long it would take) save for the crude map you found in Mondath's room. If that's the way the party wants to go though, that's what we'll do.
Regarding your next destination, Leosin had said to meet him and the paladin, Ontharr Frume (with whom Brax has a close connection), in the town of Elturel once you complete the cult recon. Your reward will be waiting there as well. You're aware as adventurers that the route to Elturel takes you back through Greenest should there be anything you need to do/resupply there.
The team decides they're unlikely to be able to take down two more tougher-looking drakes and whatever other stragglers may still be within the enemy's lair, and so they depart back the way they came. Soon you're back outside and into the camp where Mayna and the thieves had carted you in. They're long gone, of course, and the remnants of the cultists' camp looks as though it's being used by hunters as a place to temporarily store their kill as well. None of them seem you really pay you much mind. GM Rolls:
Without the presence of evil, the camp makes for a perfect spot to, well, camp, and to digest both rations and the day of success and glory that preceded.
Yep, she's dead. Sounds like we're gonna pack up and get out of here for now, take a long rest at the camp just outside and hope the Random Encounter Angel doesn't feel lucky today. :-)
Rolls:
The foul smell intensifies as the party makes their way east, and it quickly becomes difficult to breathe. A set of steps leads to a wide area containing dragon eggs. Three of them, from what you can see, the third tucked behind a pile of similar-covered stones behind one of the columns. They're about three feet tall and look pretty heavy. James and Eska notice two more guard drakes hidden behind the stalactites, though unlike those you had fought earlier, these ones have black scales.
Eska doesn't bother checking for traps. Perhaps the successful takedown of Cyanwrath had her filled with confidence. Luckily for her, as she turns the key and the chest opens up, nothing bad seems to happen. Inside are very valuable looking goods: a string of pearls, a gold-and-sapphire ring, and a red pouch containing a half-dozen masterfully cut and polished precious stones. Arianna finds that Mondath is long gone, and the cave system has been generally explored save for one dark room to the east, from which a humid, acrid smell comes.
Turns out there's a key in one of Frulam Mondath's pockets, which Eska grabs. She carried a chainmail and halbred. The now headless Langdedrosa Cyanwrath wore a splint mail and carried a greatsword and spear.
While the party works to get both Brax and Met'Anoi'a back to their feet, James takes a better look around the room. The chamber has been enlarged and reshaped from its original form. The floor and three of the walls are smooth, and stalactites and stalagmites have been polished into gleaming columns. Every surface glistens with moisture, and the air is warm and humid. The flat walls of the chamber are decorated with shallow abstract carvings of dragons. Dragons’ tails coil into intricate patterns and knots that flow across the walls. The creature portrayed in the northwest corner stands out: a five-headed dragon, rising from an erupting volcano. Other dragons, which seem dwarfed by the five-headed monstrosity, flock to its side. It looks like black dragons are overrepresented. Almost half the dragons shown appear to be black dragons, and James finds that many of the black dragon carvings have holes in their mouths. A small, wooden chest with silver and mother-of-pearl inlays sits on the floor in the corner, in front of the monstrous dragon carving. Alas, it is locked!
Eska rallies up any last bit of strength she has, coming up behind Cyanwrath and plunging her dagger deep into his back. The man-dragon keels over, still chuckling with insanity. Trying to absently swat Haliel away only distracts him, and the smirk on James' face is the last thing he sees as the bright flash of an eldritch blast tears through his skull, forever ending the reign of one Langdedrosa Cyanwrath.
There's going to be a slight delay on updates, but probably only a day or so, if that. For some reason, they have not yet turned on the air conditioning in my apartment building, and the temp. is going to be close to 100 with humidity for the rest of the week up here. I'm heading to stay with my parents in their air conditioned home before I melt.
GM Screen:
Cyanwrath laughs in between choking up thick blood, both James and Brax's attacks further injuring the brute. He points down at his belt yet again, and there you see it - the rotting head of Raakuzedu’lon’ros. Turning back to Arianna, the half-dragon takes another two strikes, the second tearing through the elf's armor and deep into her flesh.
Yep, drinking a potion is an action.
That's right, you all bought a healing potion from E. Falconmoon for 50 gold before leaving town. Looks like Brax used his after the last battle, and Eska used hers and
GM Rolls:
Blue blood pours from the two deep wounds Arianna and James inflict on the man-dragon. He holds his greatsword at his side and bursts into a roaring, deafening laugh. Throwing his head back, Langdedrosa's maw flashes and buzzes as it builds up a current. He leans forward and breathes pure lightning in a line, hitting both Eska and James.
Well, I did let James have some fun with his familiar (which should have been an imp, but let's face it, his angel is way more fitting) and even choose a UA class originally, but nerfed his Lucky trait in return. Those books should be okay for spells, I just don't want any third-party stuff. If something looks clearly OP, however, the nerf hammer may come out ;)
Yeah, of course. No problem.
GM Rolls:
The man-dragon boasts as he glances down at his waist, which indeed hangs with the skulls in various states of decay.
Arianna's strike draws Cyanwrath's first blood, and shuts him up. He stumbles back as James' eldritch blast mars his chest with ashen cuts. The man-dragon lifts his greatsword over head and swings at Arianna. She hops over the first attack and ducks under the next, Cyanwrath's blade carving a dusty gash in the cavern ground.
GM Rolls:
Arianna and Brax slash open the berserker several more times, blood spilling from his dozens of wounds. Seems it's only his anger that keeps him just barely clinging to life. Langdedrosa showers Haliel in a spray of bad breath. From opposite sides, the berserker and the brawny man-dragon cut open Met-Anoi'a's body, bringing the tiefling to his knees. Cyanwrath's horrible laugh fills the cave as he pulls his bloodied greatsword out of Met-Anoi'a's unconscious form.
GM Rolls:
The berserker reels back as an eldritch blast slams into him, and Arianna tears open another barbarian just opposite Met-Ano'ia. Met spins back, swinging his big blade at the crazed man to score another critical wound. Growling in rage, the yellow-eyed berserker turns to Brax just in time for the dwarf to cut cleanly through his calves, ending him. Cyanwrath spits at Eska, raising his greatsword over his head and bringing it down, the blade carving open Eska's shoulder. The berseker shouts a war cry, all the veins in his body bulging as he flies into a blind rage, wounding Arianna.
GM Rolls:
James throws another blast of eldritch magic at Frulam Mondath, hitting her square in the chest. She falls to her knees, blood trickling down her face as she looks up at Arianna. "My death will be meaningless, and I do not care. There are many more like me. I'm but a peon in my service to the Cult, just as you were," she starts to laugh, looking up at Arianna. "The difference is I chose to stay committed to the Tiamat's calling... while you... puppet... you were part of something great, and gave it all up!" Coughing a spray of blood at Arianna's boots, she watches as the elf holds her sword over her head. "To have another chance, and refuse it... That... that will be your greatest regret." Mondath whispers a draconic prayer as the blade begins to fall. Meanwhile, on the other end of the same cavern... Cyanwrath sneers. The man-dragon swings his greatsword diagonally across Eska. She shifts to dodge it. He hurls the blade back up with a clumsy pivot, again missing the evasive sorceress. Met-Ano'a digs his feet in and lays his full strength into his blade while Brax hones his dwarven might, both heroes tearing into the berserker. The berserkers turn and swing their greataxes again, one managing to wound Brax a little more.
DM Rolls:
It's easy to see that many of the wounds Frulam Mondath had endured in the earlier fight remain, and hamper her movements. She only barely avoids Arianna's arrow, but doesn't see James' blast coming, shrieking in agony as her insides burn. She wavers, using her halbred for balance as the pain subsides. "Bastards. Perhaps I may die here, but not before I take one of you first. For the Dragon Queen!" Eska focuses on Cyanwrath, calling out a threat at the scaled hulk. He snaps his fingers at his minions as if to signal them, then glowers down at Eska. He throws his head back, gasping for air before jutting forward and exhaling a blast of lightning at Eska.
Meanwhile, the two berserk guards charge at Met-Anoi'a and Brax, the paladin cutting open one of them. The swing their greataxes back, both heroes wounded by the attacks.
Here we go, folks. Good luck!
Once Brax is back in a more reasonable condition, Eska and Arianna start to make their way down the stairs... but Eska fumbles as the tunnel opens to another room, grabbing the wall to break her fall. She looks up just as Arianna and the rest of the party join her, and there he is: The maniacal musclebound half-man, half-dragon: Langdedrosa Cyanwrath. He stands with his arms folded, flanked by two humans armed with greataxes. Even still, further into the shrine waits Frulam Mondath, who wraps a bandage around a wound in her arm.
"I told you they were here, you numbskull," Frulam retorts. "Though I had a feeling they'd leave before I got another chance to kill them. Especially the girl," she laughs at Arianna. "Or perhaps she had a change of heart, and wants to reunite, after all. The offer still stands, by the way. Go easy on her, Langdedrosa." Langdedrosa smacks his fist into his palm. He leans forward, his greatsword trained on Eska. Initiative, Boss Battle GO!:
Brax and James fire at the remaining drakes, who really can't avoid the eldritch magic and bolts for long. They're quickly pelted down by repeated fire. Afterwards, Arianna starts for the stairs from where the kobolds had ascended, but before she reaches the first step, she notices that it's rigged to drop a portion of the ceiling above the ledge next to the drake pit. At least she can warn the others, now, before they make their way down. Down the stairs, thin mattresses of straw covered with badly cured furs form small beds that are haphazardly positioned around the chamber. Rats and small lizards scurry through the food scraps and moldy wine skins littering the floor. Searching through the room, the party collects a total of 38 gp, 152 sp, and 704 cp all sorted into... eighty-eight sacks of exactly 8 copper coins each. Other loot? Dozens of dragon-themed talismans and amulets are carved from bone, soapstone, wood, and ivory. The workmanship on most is terrible, but four have a unique, if savage, artistic flair, and must be of some value. A set of stairs leads to a tunnel to the southeast.
The last kobold is flung against the wall from a combination of the party's attacks. The drakes growl and snap their jaws through the gate, angry that their meal is out of reach, and lacking the intelligence to figure out how they might get through.
Rolls:
Brax finishes off another kobold with a well-aimed bolt, while James uses Haliel's distraction to toss a blast so accurate and so deadly that the kobold is turned into a brownish cloud of dust. Eska's acid drips from the wings of the final flying foe, who dives for the lock just as its companions did, using a stone to smash at it. A chunk of metal flies as a portion of the lock is destroyed, but the gate remains shut for now...
Did I say tomorrow morning? Bleh... sorry, folks. Isolation is taking its toll on my inspiration to post/mental health/wanting to write. Give me a bit more time please.
Work's been exhausting lately, will update us tomorrow morning.
Arianna adds one more kobold to the pile of corpses. Eska turns and gives chase, her daggers tearing through the wings of a kobold. Blood pours from its body, yet it stubbornly remains in flight. Brax wounds a drake, while Met-Anoi'a fumbles horribly with his whip as attempts to slap the creature out of the air. The winged kobold sputters down at the gate's lock and starts smashing at it, while the two others fly away from Arianna, and towards the gate.
GM Rolls:
Arianna takes down another kobold, and James fries whatever remains of the green-eyed drake with another blast of eldritch magic. A winged kobold ascends above Arianna's head, and dives across the room, hovering just above the pit the drakes are in. Another floats up above her head, a jagged rock in its claw, and drops it from above. It falls short of the elf, bouncing down the stairs. The kobold behind catches it, loads it into its sling and flings it back at Arianna, bruising her.
Eska rips a large enough hole in the kobold's wings that it loses its ability to fly, and sputters to the ground. She stomps on its head to finish it off. Seeing he's outnumbered and likely to be ripped apart by the army of drakes, Brax shuts the gate, watching as it the latch clicks shut from the same side he had entered in from. He quickly rushes back up the steps.
GM Rolls:
Brax's battleaxe is awfully uncooperative today, and he whiffs once more. The winged kobold swoops low with its dagger aimed for Eska, but she turns, dodging the attack. Not so with Brax, who takes another pair of bites from the drakes, reopening the wounds Met-Anoi'a had just healed.
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