Crimson Sands of Time

The ruins of the complex are all in horrible shape--many having Long ago collapsed in on themselves. Sometimes, only a short, moss-covered wall is the only sign of the ruins.

While there may have once been a wall surrounding the complex, only a few sections peek out of the murky waters.

Nature has reclaimed many of the buildings within the ruins; reeds, lily pads, and pondweeds sprout everywhere. Gaunt willow and sycamore trees rise like moldering skeletons from the muck-covered ground.

If Nostilax is still around Oli asks, "Do you know which well is closest to the book and which is closest to the prisoners? Can you tell us about the layout of the inside of the lair and where the book is kept? Is there light down there, or is it dark because all the creatures can see in darkness?"

To the rest of the group he says, "I can make it so me and 5 others can communicate telepathically up to a mile away for between an hour and up to 10 hours. Because there are 6 of you, I'll need Randy and Ethan to decide which of them to exclude; as I assume you both will stick together the whole time. I need light to see, so it may complicate things if it is pitch dark, but I can probably sneak in and grab the book while the others free the prisoners and then meet up with the group. I imagine the book is protected by magic so I might not be able to destroy it myself so I will not waste time trying to destroy it until I meet up with the group."

Oli is looking exited with a devious smile and rubs his hands together. He still looks quite skinny from being so wet, but it is quite a different expression from the grumpy face and drooping shoulders he had been showing before.

"I dont really go around those ruins." Nostilax explains, "but the wells In order to enter the complex via a well, you must hold your breath and swim down the well and through the pipes into the cisterns. The distance you will need to swim isn't short."

<It'll also take a perception check to find one.>

"There are five old wells throughout the temple complex that are covered by deeper water. These wells are not obvious and likely are only found by those who know they're there"

Quote from badfishingdad75 >>

To the rest of the group he says, "I can make it so me and 5 others can communicate telepathically up to a mile away for between an hour and up to 10 hours. Because there are 6 of you, I'll need Randy and Ethan to decide which of them to exclude; as I assume you both will stick together the whole time. I need light to see, so it may complicate things if it is pitch dark, but I can probably sneak in and grab the book while the others free the prisoners and then meet up with the group. I imagine the book is protected by magic so I might not be able to destroy it myself so I will not waste time trying to destroy it until I meet up with the group."

Oli is looking exited with a devious smile and rubs his hands together. He still looks quite skinny from being so wet, but it is quite a different expression from the grumpy face and drooping shoulders he had been showing before.

 "Honestly, I'd rather you establish that link with Randy because one: I'd probably go insane with two different voices in my head and two: I'm sure Randy would be excited to know that someone can finally communicate with him in his thoughts." Ethan decides as he turns to Randy with a smirk. "If you decide to do though, be prepared for a massive internal rant. I know my brother will let it loose inside of him whenever he gets really moody or suffers from an internal crisis. Oh, and if he mentally says something that's completely out of your taste, let me know and I'll give him the boot."

Quote from PyromaniIsDeadThankGod >>

Quote from badfishingdad75 >>

To the rest of the group he says, "I can make it so me and 5 others can communicate telepathically up to a mile away for between an hour and up to 10 hours. Because there are 6 of you, I'll need Randy and Ethan to decide which of them to exclude; as I assume you both will stick together the whole time. I need light to see, so it may complicate things if it is pitch dark, but I can probably sneak in and grab the book while the others free the prisoners and then meet up with the group. I imagine the book is protected by magic so I might not be able to destroy it myself so I will not waste time trying to destroy it until I meet up with the group."

Oli is looking exited with a devious smile and rubs his hands together. He still looks quite skinny from being so wet, but it is quite a different expression from the grumpy face and drooping shoulders he had been showing before.

 "Honestly, I'd rather you establish that link with Randy because one: I'd probably go insane with two different voices in my head and two: I'm sure Randy would be excited to know that someone can finally communicate with him in his thoughts." Ethan decides as he turns to Randy with a smirk. "If you decide to do though, be prepared for a massive internal rant. I know my brother will let it loose inside of him whenever he gets really moody or suffers from an internal crisis. Oh, and if he mentally says something that's completely out of your taste, let me know and I'll give him the boot."

"Lucky for you bunny boy, my trusty orange armour can glow in the dark just fine, though I have a gut feeling that will give our positions away as a drawback." Randy replies. "And if anyone says the word and links with my hands, I can make all of us Walk on Water should the boat be too small to accommodate all of us whilst we traverse deep in there." He then turns to Ethan with a disgusted grimace. "What on earth do you mean by me going into an internal crisis?! Of course I'd be fine right now but do you think I'm that crazy to you?!"

Quote from Brian_Avery >>

"Having a map of the place with traps and things marked can help us try to sneak in, but if the dragon currently isn't home then maybe a quick and direct assault could work."

Chadderlay smooths out his long red robes and brushes his hands over them in an effort to clean them somewhat.

"Which way do you guys want to do this?"

 "I mean I can't stealth, at least not in this armour, if we're all going for an up close ambush, but I can try to hide from a far away distance and play sniper mode whilst you all close in together. If you're planning to attack beforehand though, just give me the signal so I can pick off weaker targets without being seen. Don't worry I won't rain fire on all of you seeing that were all in this together."

"Thing is if you play long range then we'd lose our only light source. Unless if Tetra can also conjure one, we'd be going in blind which is honestly the last thing we'd all want to do since most of us don't have darkvision. Also, if the passages require someone to swim, then we're really in a pickle since none of us can." Ethan reasons as he adjusts his coat to make sure no one can see his appendages yet. "Is there anything you can use to make a light source just in case we go with either options?" He asks Tetrevess. 

Tetrevess points the way, referring to the map often, as the group hesds towards rhe dragons lair.

Sam hearing the news of the underwater lair of the dragon smiles with some glee 

“right then let’s go swimming then” Sam moves with the group 

Alistar smiles as well with the idea of ridding the world of one more unnatural thing. He looks to his companions "Yes, let's go hunting. If we do wish to do some recon before hand I could easily turn into an animal and get a view of the surroundings."

Seeing how eager the others are Chadderlay follows along with the group.

"So no plan, we just go... got it."

Tetrevess has ritual cast water breathing on everyone who needs it.   He casts false life on himself (4th level slot) and hes already cast mage armor).  He also ritual casts telepathic bond amongst the group.  

“ready?”.  his familiar owl disapears back into the pocket dimension.   the glowing, disembodied elderly scholar’s face appears and leads the group’s way towards the lair. 

at the appropriate time, he will remember to say the passphrase as they enter.  (getting on a plane and dont havr time to look it up above)

Sam looks at the two brothers “do me a favour when we start to fight this thing keep it occupy with yourselfs” he gives a wink and starts to stretch 

perception check 4 

Also if we are in Forrest grassland or swamps their my favour terrain for ranger :)

(Ohh brother 2 Nat 1s back to back that missing eye has done something to Sam lmao) 

"I'm not swimming down some well into some pipes! So we either split into two groups and gain separate entry points, we all stick together and avoid the wells just like the traps and find another way in, or lastly I'll remain up here to guard the escape and you all can go down the well?"

Chadderlay sits patiently in the poleboat waiting to what's decided.

Quote from Legion4 >>

Sam looks at the two brothers “do me a favour when we start to fight this thing keep it occupy with yourselfs” he gives a wink and starts to stretch 

perception check 4 

Also if we are in Forrest grassland or swamps their my favour terrain for ranger :)

 It's a swamp.

The wind picks up and the sun is blotted from the sky as an immense black form circles above you.

"You are bold to be intruding upon my domain!" the dragon bellows, "Bold indeed!"

Roll initiative. (Target 16)

<I'll try to put this map in owlbear. They switched over to 2.0 now, so there may be a learning curve.  Hopefully not a large delay.>

<I think everyone is covered by the water walk spell, so mobility shouldn't be an issue for anyone. Please, let me know if I missed something, though>

https://www.owlbear.rodeo/room/Fa8sUZELaA8D/TheSelfWound

<free room names are generated automaticallt, icyww.  Test to see if you can join.  Not sure what the 2.0 experience is like yet. Maybe as a player you can add your own token?  Let me know how it's going>

<FYI: in 1.0 I woukd usually just move peo0les tokens myself abd share screenshots here, but I did always prefer the idea of players moving their own tokens.  Local asset management and asynchronous play were a bad combo for that, but now assets are server hosted, so it could work in 2.0>

"You won't be cackling for long when we kick your butt and free this place of your impeding misery! Everyone spread out clearly... in case we accidentally intercept each other's attacks! Tetra especially since you're focusing on a spell! Stay in the backlines if you can!" Ethan yells to the group as he repeats his best friend's words when he himself was being led and readies himself. 

Initiative: 7

(I tested and it says asking to join)

"You... you nearly rid me and my brother of our lives in Thay... and I still hear the cries of anguish those people I lived with when you rampaged the city for whatever reason you have! What have we done to you that made you upset huh?! Why the hell should we back down now you jerk?! I WON'T FORGIVE YOU!" Randy yells back as he too gets into position away from the others.

Inside his head: Hey bunny boy! I don't know if you can hear me but this bastard will need more than a few melee weapons to dent him! Trust me: Ethan couldn't even crush his bones with that stupid bat of his, let alone whatever baseballs he summoned out of the blue! Be prepared for that!

Initiative: 16

tetrevess 5 initiative.  so focused is he on the entry to the lair, tetrevess is slow to notice the dragon above. 

Initiative in log: 17 

Quote from Wildland_Shifters >>

Inside his head: Hey bunny boy! I don't know if you can hear me but this bastard will need more than a few melee weapons to dent him! Trust me: Ethan couldn't even crush his bones with that stupid bat of his, let alone whatever baseballs he summoned out of the blue! Be prepared for that!

 
Oli replies in his head, I never said I thought I could take him out with only my crossbow. I thought we would be grabbing his book today, not fighting him. Out loud to the group he asks, "Are we attacking him or running?" while running to the nearest tree to hide behind (Cunning Action) Stealth roll in log: 31