Crimson Sands of Time

Tetrevess moves to where he can get the shambling mound and any will o wisps he can inside a cone of cold, and then casts it- changing the damage type to radiant (order of scribes feature, using draconic spirit spell) 

DC 22 constitution save for half of 29 radiant damage in log.  

his “manifest mind” the floating, glowing head of a wizened scholar appears next to him. 

Chadderlay will cast [spell]Absorb Elements[/spells] when hit with the 21 lightning damage so that he will only take 10 from that attack, along with the other attack for 9 lightning damage he will suffer a total of 19 lightning damage.

"Ouch! That stings! Why did it have to be undead! I hate undead!"

<note: I tend to use static damage for NPCs, but I roll the damage for crits. In theory this allows better tactical planning opportunity and makes encounters less 'swingy'>

@Hambergler is up (and if I missed anyone already in play). Then it goes back to the top, so Sam again.

Oli smashes one will wisp into oblivion and another takes damage from his attack, but remains floating above the grass.

Quote from Tesservett >>

Tetrevess moves to where he can get the shambling mound and any will o wisps he can inside a cone of cold, and then casts it- changing the damage type to radiant (order of scribes feature, using draconic spirit spell) 

DC 22 constitution save for half of 29 radiant damage in log.   

 DC 22 con live or die

W1 17

W2 13

W3 17

W4 9

W5 2

W6 6

W7 20

W8 13

Eight will o' wisps caught in the cone glow brighter to match the intensity of the light, until the while volume of air erupts into a plasma arc, leaving only residual ions arcing through the shortened blades and stalks of the seared vegetation.

Again, Samogri and Alistar are up (and if I missed anyone, also them)

Sam will attack 

27
19

stalker flurry 23
damage 

14 +10
16+ 8 

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ooc: I will not be able to post until tomorrow evening so if someone would play for me, I would appreciate it.

Bones and leaves scatter as Sam tears into the undead predator.  The writhing mass mindlessly shuffles on, seemingly unaware of its significantly reduced mass.

*just saw Tetrevess put the mound in the radiant cone, roo.

Con save 8

<sorry for the delay. With the added damage from that attack.>

Moments after Sam's attack. The mound falls to the ground, a clatter of bones scattered on the damp earth.

The will of wisps, perhaps sensing the futility of a mass assault against these battle hardened combatants, turn invisible and disperse.

X

End of combat.

Bogclaw emerges feom the battle, finding Tetrevess, who mentioned the hags, and suggested "Perhaps the hags knew something about these undead creatures.  This land has a long history ifnundead, but they have been mostly dormant until recently. Thank you for your assistance with them."  Looking at the pike of bones to which he gestured with these words, he sees something glinting in the pale light and moves closer.  Picking it up, he turns to Samogri and presents thr golden amulet. "You may have this object if you wish. It is your right." <it's not magical, worth 200gp>

At this, a spark lights across Teteevess' eye, recalling from his reading that there was once a demon worshipping cult said to inhabit an isle in this very sea, known as the Cult of the Bull.  

<despite combat ending, Alistar should still be abje to achieve his goal of capturing a will-o-wisp. Just narrate that and introduce yourself. If i didnt explain it ckearly, that device does hold a will o wisp. No jeed to go through all the back and forth rolls to see if itnescaoes. It just works.  No roll required ro tune it wither, it doesnt shock everyone with 60ft, unless, instead of collecting a reward for the creature it contains, you deliberately untune it as a bonus acruon, causing it to deal area damage.  I would also be ammenable to keeping this device around and uograding it to hild more of these creatures ir similar with more damage output or other attributes.  FYI, the party is due to pick up an artificer (artlierist) soon, so maybw some collaboration there.>

(Cool!)

Tetrevess looks curiously at the amulet.  “Nice workmanship.  I remember reading about an island like this- perhaps this very one which was long ago inhabited by a group of demon worshipers- the cult of the bull.  I wonder if these wisps are some of their restless dead?  Well, Bogclaw, you can see we are not new to this adventurous life.  Although a dragon is certainly more of a threat than these… and - oh-  who is our newcomer?  Hopefully on our side, and not just against the undead…

Wow- there- you’ve captured one!  They remind me of catching fireflies in my youth back outside Greyhawk on Oerth… ohh long ago.. of course these are much nastier than fireflies!   Oh where are my manners-  I’m Tetrevess the Traveler.  Order of scribes wizard,  hopefully still member in good standing of the Brotherhood of the Cloaks of Mulmaster, among other things..  this guy (gesturing to a cloaked and robed figure nearby) is my assistant, Fulminous- but he doesn’t talk much- errr-  at all.  Good thing too I guess. ”

Tetrevess is a tall, thin, heavily bearded young man with brown hair, a long beard, and green eyes.   He’s dressed in a green traveling cloak with a well stocked pack on his back, a staff in hand.  Nearby is also a floating, ghostly and slightly glowing head of an elderly scholar. 

"It's been my experience that all undead are restless."

Chadderlay, Red Wizard of Thay, collects his cat familiar, Mister Fancy, a back and white tuxedo pattern of fur and pets him lightly, smoothing down his fur.

“Mhh to right”

Samgori the primus tyrannous, a gloom stalker/war priest dark coloured scales, with a missing left eye and a couple of scars around his body 

“Greetings Alistair!  Well we’re on the same side then, that’s good to know.  I assume. Unless you consider black dragons natural.  I don’t.  Well I guess not.  Some scholars might say that… oh umm… ok well we are here because these lizardfolk are facing attacks from a black dragon.  We were going to see about solving that problem, if we can.  Do you know of this dragon?  You see some of the damage it left behind.  Interested in joining us, for a share of the profits, commensurate with your contributions, should there be any?   Oh and I should ask, how much, say on a scale of 1-10, do you like the undead overlord of Thay- Szass Tam?”  

he finally takes a breath and smiles.  

Alistar just stares at the individual as they talk "You've mentioned a lot of things I definitely have issues with. I do not know the dragon you speak of, but if it is polluting the nature of the world around it then I do have issue with it and could offer my help. I am also no friend of Thay-Szass Tam and the violation of life that he represents." he just looks the group over "Why do each of you care though to go after such powerful enemies?"

A small, soft looking, dark furred anthropomorphic rabbit with a black patch over his left eye wearing studded leather armor and a dark blue hilted rapier in a blue sheath steps forward and says, "I've just arrived in Thay three days ago myself and only today joined this group. I get where you're coming from questioning why we would take on a dragon, but you sure jump to conclusions when asked your opinion about someone, though it's easy to see you have strong feelings about this and would like to take him out. They are currently trying to stay unnoticed by the Thayan government, not taking it on. At least that is what they have told me so far, though I would not leave them if they were to take it on."

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ooc: what does my character know about Thay-Szass Tam and the government of Thay?

Tetrevess blinks and pauses for a moment, then he continues

“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you then, and you are welcome to join us.  Yes black dragons are horrible for the environment.  They putrefy everything around them.  And they aren’t nice neighbors either.   Like to eat people, enslave them, all sorts of not nice things.

Our thoughts regarding the government of Thay are a bit more of a long-term priority.  We’re certainly not ready for that now, are trying to stay well beneath their attention -I am pleased you share our opinion on the undead overlord.  

why? hmm…  we each have our reasons-  aside from the fact that he’s clearly not a very nice… err.. Lich, and most of his friends are also evil undead.   For me, I’m interested in learning more magic, and as one of the most powerful wizards alive, his resources would prove useful there.  And I can make myself more useful for the causes I see fit to help out with.  “

“Anyway, we’re good people, and decent adventurers.  Should be able to handle the dragon at least.  Especially with the two of you.   Right now, these kind lizardfolk are looking for help with this problem, we’re in need of friends, and sometimes dragons have… err.. things worth having.   I hope that answers it!

(Sorry about my walls of text.  He’s a talker!)

Alistar just looks at the one that speaks slightly confused as he just responds "I was asked how I felt and I'm curious what their actions where. I'm confused as to what concluisons I jumped to? Black dragons, to my understanding, are naturally evil and vile creatures that spew acid into their surrounding environments. They poison everything they are around and do not care for any creature other than themself. So I would say, that saying they pollute the very nature around them is not an opinion. As for Szass Tam, last I checked he practices the art of necromancy from what I've heard. He is the very antithesis of life since he violates the natural process of life and death. As for my feelings, yes I have strong feelings about the things which hurt the natural world." it is clear from his mannerisms that Alistar is not accustomed to being around people or interacting with them for very long.

He just looks back at the one who originally asked him "Was I wrong in assuming that you wanted to get rid of the black dragon and Szass Tam? You long winded sentence made it seem as such."