a23 searches the corpse, but isn't able to find anything of value. The necromancer's body is decayed and unnatural, much like Sephek Kaltro's was.
Some of the town's citizens come back out into the open, in despair and confused. "Should we leave town? Is it safe here!?" Lumen notices some start to pack their things, while others weep over the recent dead.
Roc notices from afar as a figure wrapped in cold-weather clothing approaches from behind Errona. Her face is all but hidden behind a wool muffler. "Could it be...?" she mutters to herself, leaning down to inspect the dead caster's body.
immediately after losing interest in the necromancer, a23 drops the corpse where it was slain and heads back to his table seemingly unaware of the drastic tone shift among the civilians.
he enthusiastically mashes mammoth meat against his mechanical “mouth”
"This...Roc Shallows, is a member of the Arcane Brotherhood. Was, rather."
The woman lowers her muffler, revealing that she is quite elderly. A white owl swoops down and lands on her shoulder, and two Icewind kobold zombies approach behind her.
Errona says "Was? Did you guys have a bad break up?" She then looks at the two kobolds an attempts to focus on the figures behind them, but a wind blows and obscures her vision with snow.
"At least one of you is familiar with the Brotherhood." the woman says, glancing at Lumen. "One of the members, the Red Wizard of Thay - Dzaan, was recently put to trial in Easthaven. I've heard that it was quite the spectacle."
The woman steps away from the necromancer's corpse.
"I am aware of your deeds in Bryan Shander and the Dale. I am Vellynne Harpell. Would you not be interested in putting an end to this cursed Rime?"
The party leaves the hopeless villagers to pick up after themselves, following Vellynne on a23's polar bear express sled.
Vellynne replies as the two sleds zoom through the snow. "So you've heard the rumors about the tower. Yes, pillagers have been trespassing since Dzaan's demise. ...We in the arcane brotherhood are not always on friendly terms with each other, but I cannot forgive outsiders meddling in our affairs."
Vellynne leads the adventurers south from Termalaine towards the Spine of the World.
After traveling several miles, Mr. Fluffers perks up from a nap. He looks up to the sky and whimpers.
An explosive sound erupts from the nearby town of Dougan's Hole. Startled, Vellynne looks and shouts: "Could it be...!?"
A massive armored dragon comes into sight, preparing to fire another breath at the town.
"Xardorok's dragon....but why now!? We're nearly to the tower..."
Will the adventurers suggest continuing towards Dzaan's Tower, or attempt to help the citizens of Dougan's Hole?
"Xardorok Sunblight...leader of the duergar clan. Members of the Arcane Brotherhood had investigated his plans to attack the Ten Towns. I believed we could retrieve artifacts from Dzaan's tower in order to assault the Sunblight fortress, but...for him to strike now is unprecedented...!"
The kobold-driven sled skids to a halt.
"What will you do, warriors? The dragon shows no sign of stopping, but it is doubtful that we will reach Dougan's Hole in time to prevent more damage..."
Errona slowly joins a23 and says as he pokes the necromancer "Where the hell did he come from? That gas almost got me."
a23 searches the corpse, but isn't able to find anything of value. The necromancer's body is decayed and unnatural, much like Sephek Kaltro's was.
Some of the town's citizens come back out into the open, in despair and confused.
"Should we leave town? Is it safe here!?"
Lumen notices some start to pack their things, while others weep over the recent dead.
Roc notices from afar as a figure wrapped in cold-weather clothing approaches from behind Errona. Her face is all but hidden behind a wool muffler.
"Could it be...?" she mutters to herself, leaning down to inspect the dead caster's body.
immediately after losing interest in the necromancer, a23 drops the corpse where it was slain and heads back to his table seemingly unaware of the drastic tone shift among the civilians.
he enthusiastically mashes mammoth meat against his mechanical “mouth”
”this had been quite the festival”
Roc approaches the wrapped figure.
"Do you know this person?" asks Roc.
"This...Roc Shallows, is a member of the Arcane Brotherhood. Was, rather."
The woman lowers her muffler, revealing that she is quite elderly. A white owl swoops down and lands on her shoulder, and two Icewind kobold zombies approach behind her.
(ooc: ignore characters in the background)
Errona says "Was? Did you guys have a bad break up?" She then looks at the two kobolds an attempts to focus on the figures behind them, but a wind blows and obscures her vision with snow.
Roc scratches his head.
"I"m sorry I'm not familiar with the Arcane Brotherhood."
Roc motions to the kobolds.
"These are your friends?"
"Friends? They are mere servants, my dear."
"Yipp! Pliso! Pilso!" the kobolds yak.
"At least one of you is familiar with the Brotherhood." the woman says, glancing at Lumen. "One of the members, the Red Wizard of Thay - Dzaan, was recently put to trial in Easthaven. I've heard that it was quite the spectacle."
The woman steps away from the necromancer's corpse.
"I am aware of your deeds in Bryan Shander and the Dale. I am Vellynne Harpell. Would you not be interested in putting an end to this cursed Rime?"
a23 wipes bits of stray meat from his face as he approaches the mysterious woman.
”what do you have in mind”
Roc nods.
"I am listening."
"Travel with me to Dzaan's tower, as to not let ancient wisdom go to waste."
Vellynne motions to her sled, attached to six strong dogs. The kobolds mount, prepared to drive.
Roc nods in agreement.
"We'll try to keep up."
“perhaps this is the tower poor jestin told us about.”
a23 prepares the polarbears for travel.
The party leaves the hopeless villagers to pick up after themselves, following Vellynne on a23's polar bear express sled.
Vellynne replies as the two sleds zoom through the snow. "So you've heard the rumors about the tower. Yes, pillagers have been trespassing since Dzaan's demise. ...We in the arcane brotherhood are not always on friendly terms with each other, but I cannot forgive outsiders meddling in our affairs."
Vellynne leads the adventurers south from Termalaine towards the Spine of the World.
After traveling several miles, Mr. Fluffers perks up from a nap. He looks up to the sky and whimpers.
An explosive sound erupts from the nearby town of Dougan's Hole. Startled, Vellynne looks and shouts: "Could it be...!?"
A massive armored dragon comes into sight, preparing to fire another breath at the town.
"Xardorok's dragon....but why now!? We're nearly to the tower..."
Will the adventurers suggest continuing towards Dzaan's Tower, or attempt to help the citizens of Dougan's Hole?
"An... ARMORED... Dragon! How are you not surprised?" Roc asks Vellnye.
Roc turns in a panic.
"Who is this Xardorok?! Can you contact them in anyway to call off this assault?!"
Vellynne attempts to hide a cold sweat.
"Xardorok Sunblight...leader of the duergar clan. Members of the Arcane Brotherhood had investigated his plans to attack the Ten Towns. I believed we could retrieve artifacts from Dzaan's tower in order to assault the Sunblight fortress, but...for him to strike now is unprecedented...!"
The kobold-driven sled skids to a halt.
"What will you do, warriors? The dragon shows no sign of stopping, but it is doubtful that we will reach Dougan's Hole in time to prevent more damage..."
a23 draws his weapon.
”vellynne. are you prepared to slay this beast.”
Roc places an arrow on his bow.
”Well… Not many can make they claim they have slain a dragon. Let us take the fight to it.”
*scanning*scanning*
a23 scans the nearby terrain for an advantageous location to lure the dragon.
”perhaps we could lure it into a trap”
[ooc: The heroes were able to obtain a short rest between the end of the necromancer's battle and the ride to Dougan's Hole.]
It takes a few minutes to reach the town on sled. The party is unable to stop another strike on the town's infrastructure.
Screams erupting from the dying citizens can be heard as the sleds reach Dougan Hole's borders.
Initiative:
a23: 13
Errona: 8
Lumen: 13
Roc: 7
Enemy: 15
4
Battle Order:
Roc / Errona
Xardorok's dragon / Vellynne Harpell
Lumen
a23
The dragon hovers 90 ft above the town. What will the archers do?