Dragon's know when they are dying, and this one is no exception. Even were she to Shadow Walk right now, the effort would leave her unconscious and the bleeding wounds she suffered would finish her. So she has to make her death worthwhile, even if it requires playing a risk. Her vision goes blurry as the multiple images of Ushari tumble into range. Even striking at one of them would be too much effort. She has to hope the acrobat misses... and then she will bathe half her assailants in a black cloud pulled directly from the heart of the negative material plane.
It will scour the flesh from their bones! It will reduce them to piles of...
Ushari's rapier concludes the Dragon's thought - with a single perfect strike, up through the jaw, skewering the creature's brain, and bursting from the top of the skull like a needle-thin unicorn horn. The beast twitches once and the 300 lb head collapses. Ushari steps clear of the crashing skull, pulling her red-soaked rapier free.
The Dragon's eyes rove among its possible foes. Shaken from the monk's blow, it's fanged skull snaps at the Ranger - and misses. Whirling and slashing, the Dragon aims a foreclaw and a set of powerful wing blows at the Monk. The claw and wing belt him sideways but most of the damage is absorbed by Jayse's hardened skin and the rest is shared with Orin. The Dragon, still irritated with the tar wounds, rakes a rear claw and a tail swipe at the invisible gnome. Strae dodges the tail but his belly is opened by the claws. He collapses in an invisible heap, his blood appearing in a slowly spreading pool of crimson.
Good Guys
All - Haste - 3 of 7 rnds - +1 Attack on FULL ATTACK ACTION; +1 ATT Rolls; +1 Reflex Saves; +1 Dodge AC; +30' Move
Jayse - Heroism - +2 morale ATT, Saves, Skills - 70 mins
Jayse - Shield Other - +1 deflection AC, +1 resistance saves - Orin takes 1/2 DAM - 3 hr
Jayse - Mage Armor
Jayse - Fly - 7 mins
Jayse - Stoneskin - 18 min - PTS 70
Jayse - Rage
Jofram - Shield Other - +1 deflection AC, +1 resistance saves - Ushari takes 1/2 DAM - 3 hr
Jofram - Resistance - +1 on saves - 9 of 10 rnds
Jofram - Stoneskin - 18 min - PTS 80
Orin - See Invisible
Orin - Mage Armor
Orin - Levitate - 7 min
Orin - Stoneskin - 18 min - PTS 90
Ushari - Archon's Aura - 7 min link Will DC:18 - when w/i 20'.
Ushari - Magic Circle v Evil - 70 min link - +2 Deflection AC, +2 Saves to anyone within 10' of her.
Ushari - Mirror Images (3) - 3 min
Ushari - Divine Favor
Ushari - Stoneskin - 18 min - PTS 90
Strae - See Invisible
Strae - Mage Armor
Strae - Stoneskin - 18 min - PTS 80
Strae - Vanish - 2 of 5
Bad Guys
Dragon - Bleed 1
Dragon - Shaken 2 of 5 - -2 ATT, Saves, Skills, Abilities
The Dragon bares her fangs, "I can change that." With a snarl she turns, leaps, and snaps out her leathery wings. The shadowy Dragon soars over the tar pool and slams down nearly on top of the gnome. She utters a few curt phrases and her tail begins to glow a nacreous green. With a deft whip, the dragon's tail bypasses the gnome's guard and taps him lightly. Instantly, the green glow flashes - transferring the life energy from Strae to the Dragon, heaing some of her wounds.
Jayse scruffs the gnome and drops him unceremoniously with the quickly sketched plan. The Monk continues to sprint, covering half the length of the temple. Ushari cuts the corner around the bubbling tar pool, staying just a step ahead of the Monk. The Ranger holds position and readies more arrows.
The Dragon listens to the conversation and warily watches the movements of the team. She blows a puff of dark mist from her nostrils. Having not suffered from the Monk's previous attack, she doesn't look beyond his words - which cater to her arrogance. "Best leave my treasures alone. You won't live to escape with them."
The Dragon shakes the temple with her deafening bellows of victory at forcing her enemies to retreat. Deciding between pursuit of her quarry and ending the incessant burning of the tar, she opts to stop the damned bubbling admixture from blistering more of her hide.
The Dragon's head slithers past the witch to snap at her would-be assassin. Her fangs crush the monk's wrist... a searing pain almost immediately transferred to Orin. Her head whips back and the sizeable claws dig into the floor tiles, bracing herself. With a leathery flap, the Dragon unfurls her wings and pistons them up, clapping all 30' of them together. For Jayse and Orin, it is like being crushed between malevolent sails with multiple masts. The large witch is buffeted but the monk is battered heavily. Only the instantaneous sharing of the damage leaves Jayse conscious, though it is nearly Orin's undoing.
As the wings separate, both men's heads ring and blood trickles from their ears. Being slammed between the wings was almost like having your ears boxed by a Titan.
In a final bit of malevolence, the Dragon lashes her tail at the monk, trying to launch him across the room. Fortunately, Jayse dodges below the armored limb, the size of a grown tree.
Ushari calls down the divine fire. Whether the strange Fortress warps the very essence of magic or the Dragon is so inveterately evil that its horrific nature blunts the cleric's holy purpose... the column of flame washes over the creature and leaves it unharmed.
The dragon casts a baleful eye on the cleric, "And to think... I was going to kill you last."
The Dragon leaps free of the burning tar, its wingbeats blowing the wretched smoke into the faces of the blind party. With a few flaps, it escapes the bubbling ooze and slams down onto the tile floor. It's long neck stretches around the pillar and its implacable eyes survey the dark corners, looking for its prey. She whispers, "Come out, come out, little dragon! Time see how much of your father's line is in your veins... THERE you are!"
Faster than lightning, the sinuous neck whips the fanged skull forward at the sorcerer pressed against the far wall. With a deft snap, the jaws crush the mystic shield, puncture the eldritch armor, and crunch Straehan's bones.
Ja's HPs: 70|70 - STR: 16/22 | CON: 14/14
Jo's HPs: 51|79 - STR: 10/16 | CON: 7/14 - New Max HP: 51
Ov's HPs: 70|72 - STR: 10/16 | CON: 14/14
Uv's HPs: 38|52 - STR: 7/13 | CON: 9/13 - New Max HP: 38
St's HPs: 18|60 - STR: 6/10 | CON: 11/14 - New Max HP: 46
On-Going Effects:
Good Guys
Jayse - Heroism - +2 morale ATT, Saves, Skills - 70 mins
Jayse - Shield Other - +1 deflection AC, +1 resistence saves - Orin takes 1/2 DAM - 3 hr
Jayse - Mage Armor
Jayse - Fly - 7 mins
Jayse - Vanish
Jofram - Shield Other - +1 deflection AC, +1 resistence saves - Ushari takes 1/2 DAM - 3 hr
Jofram - Resistance - +1 on saves - 5 of 10 rnds
Jofram - Vanish
Orin - See Invisible
Orin - Mage Armor
Orin - Levitate - 7 min
Ushari - Archon's Aura - 7 min link Will DC:18 - when w/i 20'.
Ushari - Magic Circle v Evil - 70 min link - +2 Deflection AC, +2 Saves to anyone within 10' of her.
Ushari - Mirror Images (3) - 3 min
Ushari - Divine Favor
Strae - See Invisible
Strae - Mage Armor
Bad Guys
Dragon - ???
Dragon - Breath rnd 1
Tar Pool 2 of 11 rnds - 2d6
logic:
The dragon doesn't know how long the blindness will last but will assume the average amount (2 to 3 rounds) so it has (by its accounting) at least another round or two to polish off the blind guys. In the meantime, the only obvious threat is the gnome who has also pissed it off by casting a damaging and entangling spell. The tar-pit, which she wants to get free off, also restricts her choices of landing spots. If she leaps forward, she has no choice but to get close enough that the monk could close with her in a 5' move. Also he's invisible... and while she knows where he is through blindsense, she really doesn't know what he is doing... can't detect him pulling a bottle by scent. So that begs caution. The same is true for the vanished ranger and the now large witch... all unknowns in terms of actions and possible threats, particularly the large witch who now has a ranged reach. Moreover, she needs a full round undisturbed to get that tar off which is cooking her body. So distance from the main party is a good thing and the tar pit can provide a barrier of some sort for some of the attackers. Therefore...
BOOM:
What to DO? 1d100 ⇒ 54
1-84 - go cautious and finish the gnome <-- winner
85-89 - go more bold and finish the gnome
90-95 - go more bold and attack the monk
96-100 - go after the ranger/witch
Tar DAM: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 6) = 9
Tar Reflex Save v DC20: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
The dark blast of the dragon's breath cuts to the bone. Even those who manage to avoid the worst of the effects, don't walk away unscathed. Jayse, Jofram, Orin, and Ushari find their muscles weakened -6 STR DRAIN. Nearly as disturbing, the dark mist fills their eyes and can't be wiped away - they are blind. Blind for 1 rnd.
Somewhat shielded from the deadly blast - Straehan by the shadow of Jayse, Vaelos by Jofram's shoulder, and Filch tucked safely in Orin's pocket - they are nevertheless weakened by the blast. -4 STR DRAIN Unlike their friends, they can at least see. Although the strength draining breath is lessened, it proves too much for Filch who squeaks once and collapses quiescent in Orin's pocket. Filch's STR is down to 0. He is unconscious.
Rough round, guys, sorry about that. Be sure to factor in your reduced STR on all Attacks, Damages, Power Attacks, etc. from here on out. Now, to try pulling a rabbit out of Straehan's hat...
Spell Stacking Question:
Magic Circle - +2 Deflection AC, +2 Resistance on Saves
Resistance - +1 Resistance on Saves
Shield Other - +1 Deflection AC, +1 Resistance on Saves
You take the highest of the Deflection and Resistance bonuses that apply but they don't stack with themselves. So with those three spells in effect, you have +2 Deflection AC and +2 Resistance on Saves.
Ja's HPs: 70|70 - STR: 16/22 | CON: 14/14
Jo's HPs: 51|79 - STR: 10/16 | CON: 7/14 - New Max HP: 51
Ov's HPs: 70|72 - STR: 10/16 | CON: 14/14
Uv's HPs: 38|52 - STR: 7/13 | CON: 9/13 - New Max HP: 38
St's HPs: 46|60 - STR: 6/10 | CON: 11/14 - New Max HP: 46
On-Going Effects:
Good Guys
Jayse - Heroism - +2 morale ATT, Saves, Skills - 70 mins
Jayse - Shield Other - +1 deflection AC, +1 resistence saves - Orin takes 1/2 DAM - 3 hr
Jayse - Mage Armor
Jayse - Fly - 7 mins
Jofram - Shield Other - +1 deflection AC, +1 resistence saves - Ushari takes 1/2 DAM - 3 hr
Jofram - Resistance - +1 on saves - 4 of 10 rnds
Orin - See Invisible
Orin - Mage Armor
Orin - Levitate - 7 min
Ushari - Archon's Aura - 7 min link Will DC:18 - when w/i 20'.
Ushari - Magic Circle v Evil - 70 min link - +2 Deflection AC, +2 Saves to anyone within 10' of her.
Ushari - Mirror Images (3) - 3 min
Head cocked in curiosity, the dragon watches the heroes - the spells cast, the discussion, and the preparation. It had known they were coming from the first howl of the Shadow Mastiffs, of course. No sense having a backdoor without a guard. Knew they were a threat when the Shadow Demon failed to report in. And having carefully and cautiously Shadow Walked to spy on the interlopers from time to time, it knew their numbers weren't reduced any despite the inherent dangers of the Cube. And now, they must have defeated the Wraiths... no mean feat that.
The dragon's natural arrogance is tempered with caution and respect. It smells danger in these newcomers and doesn't take its instincts lightly. Decision made - it doesn't even attempt to play with these creatures. That's how dragons die on heroic swords.
The dragon releases its iron hard claws and tail from their holds and drops... turning over deftly in the air. It plummets for a moment before snapping its massive bat-like wings open, cupping the air and controlling its descent. Its sinuous body practically slithers through the air. The downbeat from the 30' of wings sends coins and stone-dust blasting across the massive temple. The beast lands 'lightly' - cracking dozens of mosaic tiles beneath its four powerful limbs. It settles in the wide wedge of shadow just beyond the limits of the pillars' glow. The long neck raises up and rears back, like a cobra ready to strike. The red eyes regard the monk hovering 20' away and the assembled others behind him. The dragon briefly reflects on the conversation.
Strae wrote:
"...Dragon. He's black and very, very large."
Jayse wrote:
"Straehan, any information other than 'it's a dragon'?"
The creature's loud voice carries in the empty temple. It is surprisingly feminine, "I'm a she, actually." Then she breathes...
From her fanged mouth a blackness spreads. Roiling, pitch-black shadows made physical expand outward, engulf the entire party and kiss the back wall of the corridor behind them. It is like being trapped in a black shroud of such lethal cold that it numbs you instantly.
Fort Saves from everyone, including familiars - but not constructs. Be SURE to include all your various bonuses/minuses for Heroism, CON DAM, etc., and +2 vs evil for Jofram, Vaelos, Ushari, and Strae for their proximity to Ushari.
Ja's HPs: 70|70 - CON: 14/14
Jo's HPs: 51|79 - CON: 7/14 - New Max HP: 51
Ov's HPs: 70|72 - CON: 14/14
Uv's HPs: 38|52 - CON: 9/13 - New Max HP: 38
St's HPs: 46|60 - CON: 11/14 - New Max HP: 46
On-Going Effects:
Good Guys
Jayse - Heroism - +2 morale ATT, Saves, Skills - 70 mins
Jayse - Shield Other - +1 deflection AC, +1 resistance saves - Orin takes 1/2 DAM - 3 hr
Jayse - Mage Armor
Jayse - Fly - 7 mins
Jofram - Shield Other - +1 deflection AC, +1 resistance saves - Ushari takes 1/2 DAM - 3 hr
Jofram - Resistance - +1 on saves - 4 of 10 rnds
Orin - See Invisible
Orin - Mage Armor
Orin - Levitate - 7 min
Ushari - Archon's Aura - 7 min link Will DC:18 - when w/i 20'.
Ushari - Magic Circle v Evil - 70 min link - +2 Deflection AC, +2 Saves to anyone within 10' of her.
Ushari - Mirror Images (3) - 3 min
Strae - See Invisible
Strae - Mage Armor
Bad Guys
Dragon - ???
Dragon - Breath rnd 1
BOOM:
If failed - duration 1d4 ⇒ 1
If saved - effect 1d4 ⇒ 4
The ranger slinks forward and sets an arrow into the very heart of the vault. It sticks in the ceiling tiles and begins to glow, slowly growing in intensity. At its brightest, it casts enough illumination to reveal a beautifully frescoed ceiling falling into disrepair. But that doesn't draw Jofram's, Jayse's, or Straehan's attention. Outside the glow of the sunrod arrow, in the half-light surrounding it, clinging between the furthest pillar and the wall, is a very large and sinuous dark shape. It is quite possibly the largest creature any of you has ever seen. (size: Huge). It's obsidian-colored, snake-like tail wraps around the top of the pillar, securing it fast... as if the four massive claws that have etched grooves in the ceiling, wall, and pillar weren't enough. It's supple and sleek black back is turned towards you revealing a set of long ribbed, bat-like, nearly onyx wings. Between the wings, which shift disturbingly, and rising from the back is a long, graceful, twisting neck that arches backwards in your direction. It terminates in a long, powerful, almost crocodilian head, surmounted by a set of eyes - palely glowing red. The head, upside-down, watches your group with clear, predatory, interest and blinks once at the light of the sunrod. It's a dragon.
Ushari/Orin from your current squares you cannot see the Dragon. You would need to advance to the P row to do so.
Rough Distance from P row folks to dragon-central on the diagonal is 210'.
