For the past several days, you have been traveling a road that winds lazily across the rolling grasslands of the Greenfields. Sundown is approaching when you top a rise and see the town of Greenest just a few short miles away. But instead of the pleasant, welcoming town you expected, you see columns of black smoke rising from burning buildings, running figures that are little more than dots at this distance, and a dark, winged shape wheeling low over the keep that rises above the center of the town. Greenest is being attacked by a dragon!
The smell of ozone is in the air as a large blue dragon causes massive panic and destruction from it's presence and lightning breath weapon. Large arcs of electricity spew from it's huge maw laying waste - it's enormous wingspan flapping sounding like a thunderous heartbeat as it circles the town.
Peering out the window, Li'riya freezes. "No," she whispers. "No, not here. I can't-not dragons. Anything but dragons." Shaking, she closes her eyes and desperately takes shuddering breaths, clearly on the verge of panic, her hands going to her double scimitar and grasping it tightly.
"Great Inferno,"Camilla's attention was suddenly focused on Li'riya. "You're working up quite a sweat. Is something the matter? Are you having heart palpitations? Trouble breathing?"She reached around to her backpack, and pushing her glasses up to her nose again, was about to take out some medical-
Then she caught the smoke from the window out of the corner of her eye. She turned her head to look out. The town they were heading to was under attack, by a blue dragon.
"A dragon!"she breathed. "Such a magnificent creature. But..why..?"
Looks like this trip wasen't as going to be as uneventful as she wanted.
Dragons. Edwards thinks as soon as he sees the great beast. Maybe they’re here. Maybe she’s here. Let’s hope.
With that in mind Edward moves out of the cart before looking at the others. “Those people need help. I don’t know about the rest of you but I have some combat experience which will hopefully help them. If you’re going to do the same. Join me. Otherwise stay here where it’s safe.”
Li'riya manages to get a hold of her breathing at Edward's words. "I-yes. They need help." Her grip on her scimitar tightens as she focuses on what she can do for the situation, rather than how she knows it. "The dragon will have a blind spot below its wings and underbelly. In addition, it will likely be focused on whatever it's destroying, so if we start in the parts of town it has already destroyed, we'll be able to help more people more effectively. If you all insist on going to where the dragon is actively destroying things, there will be a brief grace period in between lightning breath uses where we can get in and out while just having to deal with teeth. And claws. And tail. And wings." She frowns, her fingers fluttering between her bow and scimitar as if she can't decide which weapon to use.
Still staring out the window, Camilla says carefully, "People might be hurt. I might be able to help them. Besides, if that dragon out in the open, and attacking, there's a good reason."Camilla didn't hate dragons, so her comments were more curiosity than fear. Compared to what i've seen on Avernus, i'm sure this is nothing.
Bell felt her heart stop beating once her eyes laid upon the flames that quickly consumed the town of Greenest, her bandaged hand squeezing tightly at her holy amulet. "Just like before..." She mutters quietly. She turns her head to look at the others, seeing what their plan of action was, but it seemed as if the elf were in some sort of crisis. The kenku frowned a bit, her eyes darting to the minotaur who was ready to go into action. Thankfully it seemed that the feeling of panic washed over the woman and she focused on saving the people. "I do not like fighting, but I will if I must," She says in the voice of an older woman. "Let's save these people." I will not run away this time. Not again.
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Aeydof the Dragons || Wood Elf / Way of the Ascendant Dragon Monk Demetrios Zalaoras || Protector Aasimar / Paladin of Torm Hawke || Kalashtar / Circle of the Moon Druid Morticia || Half-Aasimar Rogue Yvan || Goliath / Path of the Wild Soul Barbarian | Paladin of Helm /ᐠ。ꞈ。ᐟ\
Yep, they're definitely here. "You have a lot to learn about dragons, Camilla. If it's attacking, it's because it wants something or because it's bored and wants to assert its' dominance over a helpless populace. I agree that we must help these people, but I regret to inform you that fighting dragons is not in my repertoire. I can go with Li'riya's suggestion of focusing on the areas that the dragon isn't attacking. However, if one of you proves able to slay the beast, I'll make sure to write a stirring ballad in your honor. And maybe I'll give you something that appeals to the other senses as well."
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Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
Messalina's curiosity was stirred by Camilla's comment, but she didn't pry, because Camilla seemed shy enough as it was and she didn't want to make her go on the defensive with an interrogation. And this was a really bad time to do so. "Neither am I, but in my amateur opinion, we should focus on helping the people and not fighting the creature that can easily kill all of us."
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Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
"Agreed"she said. "I wasn't suggesting otherwise, i'm not suicidal - just admiring a powerful creature."She gathered her things and made sure she had everything. "The carriage is slowing. I'm getting off here and walking."
As Camilla exited that carriage, the sun was setting fast. Soon they would be under the cover of darkness and starlight.
She might have been shy and quiet on the ride here, but when it's time to act, she gets going. Her clarity of purpose is admirable. As is the view of her from the rear. Messalina smirks as she follow Camilla out of the carriage and into the twilight.
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Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
Li'riya hops out after Camilla and Messalina, letting the confident, knowledgeable version of herself take over, doing her best to ignore who created it. "If it wants something, it likely will destroy the village anyway after getting it," she says calmly, fingers no longer hesitating as she unslings her already strung bow. "If we find anyone important still alive, we can try and find out what it is, otherwise we should focus on damage control. This dragon is too powerful for us to take on our own. If you're really interested in finding out more about why it's here, I can track it once it's finished here and relaxed, off its guard." Her voice falters ever so slightly for the barest moment, then steadies again. "But under no condition should we attack it now, while it's got its fighting blood up and ready to fight."
“Let’s go then.” Edward says as he gets moving, “Follow into the center of town and help those we find. I’m sure the majority of the town is holding up somewhere right now.”
Camilla opened her hand, and a set of arcane medical tools winked into existence - fanned apart, ready to be chosen, like a selection - labelled and everything in a language you can't read (unless someone here can read Infernal, which I don't think any of you can). Where she came from, not all healing and prevention involved divine magic, sometimes clothing had to be removed, organs adjusted or removed, wounds sutured, and your hands had to get dirty. Whatever laid ahead, she would be ready. You didn't see something like this everyday, and her new life would have to wait.
"Asmodeus."she whispered, "Are you testing me? This isn't funny."
THE SITUATION:The sun has set by the time all of you reach the edge of town from the west. Burning buildings and a half moon provide dim light throughout the town. Haystacks and barns are on fire. The stream that flows past Greenest is shallow (seldom more than 3 feet deep) with a gravel bottom, so you can move along it without difficulty. Where the banks are clear, the stream is easy to get into or out of. Brush by the stream is dense, and the banks are steep where brush grows. You can move only 5 feet per turn through the brush. From where you are at the moment, you cannot be spotted.
THE KEEP: From pretty much any vantage point around the town, you can see a big keep in the center. Two important people are on top of the keep, on the parapet, waving towns folk to the keep, and looking out at the battle.
THE FORCES:A large blue dragon is in the air lightning bolting anything it can in long streams of electric death with each pass it makes. The town is in complete pandemonium. Everyone seems to be running to the keep, or trying to. The attacking forces include the blue dragon, cultists, kobolds, and other various lizard creatures. They appear to be killing towns folk, and..looting!
TO THE KEEP - ENCOUNTER 1
As you slowly make your way around the perimeter and enter the town proper from the south - without warning, five humans dash out from between two buildings on your left. A limping man and three young children race across the street into more shadows, and a woman carrying a round shield and a broken spear turns and faces back in the direction from which they came. Eight kobolds stream out of the alley on the family’s heels and fan out around the woman, who looks determined to delay the creatures for as long as possible. The children hide in the shadows, but the woman and man are in danger. While focused on the woman, and not seeing you all yet - you have mere moments to act before the kobolds kill the wounded husband (he's down to 2hp). You have surprise.
"I know your weapon is called Wyrmwatcher, but I think that it should work against their lesser cousins." Messalina quips in Elvish, inspiring Li'Riya.
Action:
Messalina points to Kobold1 and casts Vicious Mockery at it. "You'll never be a dragon!" DC13 Wisdom Save or take 4 psychic damage and have disadvantage on it's next attack.
Initiative: 13
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Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Edward, seeing the family in trouble, automatically reacts rushing to put himself between the kobolds and the family. Taking out his sword in one elegant slash he cuts through the closest kobold (kobold 1?).
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Camilla debated rushing in and attacking, but scoffed at the idea, pushing her glasses back up to the top of her nose. A silly notion, what was she - some sort of Acheronian warrior? One of those ridiculous Prime Paladins that were slaughtering her people?
Instead, she made waving gestures with her hands, and eyed one of the kobolds, launching a hellish firebolt, hoping her aim was true.
Firebolt Attack: 18 Damage: 10
It struck a kobold, and in a horrible scream it was terribly burnt and died. Camilla smiled, thankful not to hit one of the family members.
HOARD OF THE DRAGON QUEEN
EPISODE ONE - GREENEST IN FLAMES
For the past several days, you have been traveling a road that winds lazily across the rolling grasslands of the Greenfields. Sundown is approaching when you top a rise and see the town of Greenest just a few short miles away. But instead of the pleasant, welcoming town you expected, you see columns of black smoke rising from burning buildings, running figures that are little more than dots at this distance, and a dark, winged shape wheeling low over the keep that rises above the center of the town. Greenest is being attacked by a dragon!
The smell of ozone is in the air as a large blue dragon causes massive panic and destruction from it's presence and lightning breath weapon. Large arcs of electricity spew from it's huge maw laying waste - it's enormous wingspan flapping sounding like a thunderous heartbeat as it circles the town.
Peering out the window, Li'riya freezes. "No," she whispers. "No, not here. I can't-not dragons. Anything but dragons." Shaking, she closes her eyes and desperately takes shuddering breaths, clearly on the verge of panic, her hands going to her double scimitar and grasping it tightly.
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
"Great Inferno," Camilla's attention was suddenly focused on Li'riya. "You're working up quite a sweat. Is something the matter? Are you having heart palpitations? Trouble breathing?" She reached around to her backpack, and pushing her glasses up to her nose again, was about to take out some medical-
Then she caught the smoke from the window out of the corner of her eye. She turned her head to look out. The town they were heading to was under attack, by a blue dragon.
"A dragon!" she breathed. "Such a magnificent creature. But..why..?"
Looks like this trip wasen't as going to be as uneventful as she wanted.
Dragons. Edwards thinks as soon as he sees the great beast. Maybe they’re here. Maybe she’s here. Let’s hope.
With that in mind Edward moves out of the cart before looking at the others. “Those people need help. I don’t know about the rest of you but I have some combat experience which will hopefully help them. If you’re going to do the same. Join me. Otherwise stay here where it’s safe.”
Li'riya manages to get a hold of her breathing at Edward's words. "I-yes. They need help." Her grip on her scimitar tightens as she focuses on what she can do for the situation, rather than how she knows it. "The dragon will have a blind spot below its wings and underbelly. In addition, it will likely be focused on whatever it's destroying, so if we start in the parts of town it has already destroyed, we'll be able to help more people more effectively. If you all insist on going to where the dragon is actively destroying things, there will be a brief grace period in between lightning breath uses where we can get in and out while just having to deal with teeth. And claws. And tail. And wings." She frowns, her fingers fluttering between her bow and scimitar as if she can't decide which weapon to use.
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
Still staring out the window, Camilla says carefully, "People might be hurt. I might be able to help them. Besides, if that dragon out in the open, and attacking, there's a good reason." Camilla didn't hate dragons, so her comments were more curiosity than fear. Compared to what i've seen on Avernus, i'm sure this is nothing.
Bell felt her heart stop beating once her eyes laid upon the flames that quickly consumed the town of Greenest, her bandaged hand squeezing tightly at her holy amulet. "Just like before..." She mutters quietly. She turns her head to look at the others, seeing what their plan of action was, but it seemed as if the elf were in some sort of crisis. The kenku frowned a bit, her eyes darting to the minotaur who was ready to go into action. Thankfully it seemed that the feeling of panic washed over the woman and she focused on saving the people. "I do not like fighting, but I will if I must," She says in the voice of an older woman. "Let's save these people." I will not run away this time. Not again.
Aeyd of the Dragons || Wood Elf / Way of the Ascendant Dragon Monk
Demetrios Zalaoras || Protector Aasimar / Paladin of Torm
Hawke || Kalashtar / Circle of the Moon Druid
Morticia || Half-Aasimar Rogue
Yvan || Goliath / Path of the Wild Soul Barbarian | Paladin of Helm
/ᐠ。ꞈ。ᐟ\
Yep, they're definitely here. "You have a lot to learn about dragons, Camilla. If it's attacking, it's because it wants something or because it's bored and wants to assert its' dominance over a helpless populace. I agree that we must help these people, but I regret to inform you that fighting dragons is not in my repertoire. I can go with Li'riya's suggestion of focusing on the areas that the dragon isn't attacking. However, if one of you proves able to slay the beast, I'll make sure to write a stirring ballad in your honor. And maybe I'll give you something that appeals to the other senses as well."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
"I know enough." Camilla admitted. "Back home we.." she began, but didn't finish saying "use the reds as mounts."
She cleared her throat.
"I don't suggest we attack it. I'm sure it DOES want something." she said. "But, i'm a doctor, not a tactician. What's the plan?"
Messalina's curiosity was stirred by Camilla's comment, but she didn't pry, because Camilla seemed shy enough as it was and she didn't want to make her go on the defensive with an interrogation. And this was a really bad time to do so. "Neither am I, but in my amateur opinion, we should focus on helping the people and not fighting the creature that can easily kill all of us."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
"Agreed" she said. "I wasn't suggesting otherwise, i'm not suicidal - just admiring a powerful creature." She gathered her things and made sure she had everything. "The carriage is slowing. I'm getting off here and walking."
As Camilla exited that carriage, the sun was setting fast. Soon they would be under the cover of darkness and starlight.
She might have been shy and quiet on the ride here, but when it's time to act, she gets going. Her clarity of purpose is admirable. As is the view of her from the rear. Messalina smirks as she follow Camilla out of the carriage and into the twilight.
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
Li'riya hops out after Camilla and Messalina, letting the confident, knowledgeable version of herself take over, doing her best to ignore who created it. "If it wants something, it likely will destroy the village anyway after getting it," she says calmly, fingers no longer hesitating as she unslings her already strung bow. "If we find anyone important still alive, we can try and find out what it is, otherwise we should focus on damage control. This dragon is too powerful for us to take on our own. If you're really interested in finding out more about why it's here, I can track it once it's finished here and relaxed, off its guard." Her voice falters ever so slightly for the barest moment, then steadies again. "But under no condition should we attack it now, while it's got its fighting blood up and ready to fight."
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
“Let’s go then.” Edward says as he gets moving, “Follow into the center of town and help those we find. I’m sure the majority of the town is holding up somewhere right now.”
Camilla opened her hand, and a set of arcane medical tools winked into existence - fanned apart, ready to be chosen, like a selection - labelled and everything in a language you can't read (unless someone here can read Infernal, which I don't think any of you can). Where she came from, not all healing and prevention involved divine magic, sometimes clothing had to be removed, organs adjusted or removed, wounds sutured, and your hands had to get dirty. Whatever laid ahead, she would be ready. You didn't see something like this everyday, and her new life would have to wait.
"Asmodeus." she whispered, "Are you testing me? This isn't funny."
Her tailed twitched.
THE SITUATION: The sun has set by the time all of you reach the edge of town from the west. Burning buildings and a half moon provide dim light throughout the town. Haystacks and barns are on fire. The stream that flows past Greenest is shallow (seldom more than 3 feet deep) with a gravel bottom, so you can move along it without difficulty. Where the banks are clear, the stream is easy to get into or out of. Brush by the stream is dense, and the banks are steep where brush grows. You can move only 5 feet per turn through the brush. From where you are at the moment, you cannot be spotted.
THE KEEP: From pretty much any vantage point around the town, you can see a big keep in the center. Two important people are on top of the keep, on the parapet, waving towns folk to the keep, and looking out at the battle.
THE FORCES: A large blue dragon is in the air lightning bolting anything it can in long streams of electric death with each pass it makes. The town is in complete pandemonium. Everyone seems to be running to the keep, or trying to. The attacking forces include the blue dragon, cultists, kobolds, and other various lizard creatures. They appear to be killing towns folk, and..looting!
TO THE KEEP - ENCOUNTER 1
As you slowly make your way around the perimeter and enter the town proper from the south - without warning, five humans dash out from between two buildings on your left. A limping man and three young children race across the street into more shadows, and a woman carrying a round shield and a broken spear turns and faces back in the direction from which they came. Eight kobolds stream out of the alley on the family’s heels and fan out around the woman, who looks determined to delay the creatures for as long as possible. The children hide in the shadows, but the woman and man are in danger. While focused on the woman, and not seeing you all yet - you have mere moments to act before the kobolds kill the wounded husband (he's down to 2hp). You have surprise.
Bonus Action:
"I know your weapon is called Wyrmwatcher, but I think that it should work against their lesser cousins." Messalina quips in Elvish, inspiring Li'Riya.
Action:
Messalina points to Kobold1 and casts Vicious Mockery at it. "You'll never be a dragon!" DC13 Wisdom Save or take 4 psychic damage and have disadvantage on it's next attack.
Initiative: 13
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
Edward, seeing the family in trouble, automatically reacts rushing to put himself between the kobolds and the family. Taking out his sword in one elegant slash he cuts through the closest kobold (kobold 1?).
Samurai Slash: Attack: 12 Damage: 6
Initiative: 6
Initiative: 22
Li'riya grips her bow stubbornly, despite Messalina's words, and fires an arrow at the next kobold, staying back.
Kobolds Are Humanoids Which is Stupid: Attack: 23 Damage: 6
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
Camilla debated rushing in and attacking, but scoffed at the idea, pushing her glasses back up to the top of her nose. A silly notion, what was she - some sort of Acheronian warrior? One of those ridiculous Prime Paladins that were slaughtering her people?
Instead, she made waving gestures with her hands, and eyed one of the kobolds, launching a hellish firebolt, hoping her aim was true.
Firebolt Attack: 18 Damage: 10
It struck a kobold, and in a horrible scream it was terribly burnt and died. Camilla smiled, thankful not to hit one of the family members.
4
Camilla: 11