The Undying Dragons - Campaign Thread

"I'll take at least one dagger, but it may be time to use a bit of magic if it comes to it.", Jan remarks.

Avaria follows the rest to the now familiar room.  She looks to any of the guards to see if anything has changed in their demeanor or anything else with them.  She figures they are a dead end, but checks them out anyways.

Insight  15

As Hammerdasher picks up the mace and mentions the first time in the arena, she shifter winces as she remembers what happened to the poor gnome.  Kind of takes the wind out of her as she just grabs one of the longer weapons on the table.. (even spear, odd trident) 1

She takes a hold of her weapon and checks it for any weakness as she waits for what is coming.  She's glad the others are discussing strategy, she then leans over and whispers to Ula, "Let's do this, we have each others back.  I still have his gift if you need it."

As the equipment is divided up, Ula picks up the second mace and straps a shield to her arm. She looks at Adelysia and while she feels a bit of anger start to surface because of how this merchant has shown such disdain for Ula and her family, she still feels some sympathy for the fear clearly apparent. Ula picks up a spear and places it in Adelysia's hands.

"Just hold it in front of you and don't stick it in the back of anyone here and you'll be fine," Ula says.

Hammerdasher smacks the shield on his arm with his mace a few times, nodding his head as he tries to get himself ready. 

The noise of the crowd continues to grow. And the roar of the large cat seems to echo more than the crowd. It is echoing or is there more than one.

A creaking noise vibrates through the walls. The sound of chains moving comes from down the tunnel to the arena. When you look that way you can see the portcullis to the arena sands rise up.

Through the grate to the door behind you, a hobgoblin guard grunts.

"Go now."

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Equipment:

Ethel - just her walking stick; Marrin - shortsword and lute; Jan - ring and two daggers; Avaria - trident; Ula - mace and shield; Hammerdasher - mace and shield; Adelysia - spear

If correct and no one wants the other shield, sword, or net, or last dagger, head on out to the arena or have any last conversation 

The roaring of the large cat makes Ava think twice and she picks up the other shield.  Then starts leading the pack out into the arena.

Jan will snag all the daggers.

As you step out of the tunnel and into the sunlight of late afternoon, a roar erupts from the crowd. Looking around you easily notice the largest crowd you’ve seen so far. Drunks loll with legs over the railing above, others start betting as they see you enter.

Harry Dodds can be seen among those placing and taking bets. When he catches you looking at him he raises an eyebrow but provides no other sign of acknowledgement.

Above, on the Editor’s platform, standing quietly in his black robe is Godrick Hargrove, his bald head glistening in the light.

You can see the hobgoblins on the other side of the arena, but just barely; not because they are far away but because of the obstacle that sits between you and them.
In the middle of the arena, a wooden structure has been installed. It’s part climbing gym, part series of platforms, connected by ladders.

There are three separate platforms.

From the ground to the first platform is about 12 feet. A twisting rope ladder extends between the ground and a circular hole in the platform.

Chained to a massive stake next to the ladder are what look like two black panthers, except they’re the size of lions.

Between the first platform and second platform is another 12 feet. There you can make out what look like bundles of rope on the platform. Maybe a coiled up rope? Coiled up ladder? Hopefully as the only thing connecting the first and second platform is a greasy looking pole.

The third platform is another 12 feet above the second. You can’t see the surface of that platform, but there appears to be just another greasy pole between the second and third.

On top of the third platform you can make out a large, bright red flag.

Godrick holds up his hand to get the crowd to quiet down enough so that he can be heard.

“This is simple. Get the flag from there,” he says, pointing at the flag on the third platform “to there first.”

He points to the first platform where the pile of rope sits.

“The winning team gets extra rations and no labour or combat tomorrow,” Godrick says. “The losing team gets to hard labour all day tomorrow.”
He looks around at the crowd.

“Ready?” he asks. The crowd cheers. “Go.”

Roll for initiative.

Jan: 9

Ethel: 2

Bollocks.  I'm not built for a bloody obstacle course, thinks Ethel.

Avaria :  16

Marrin: 8

Avaria dashes towards the hobs, going around the cats to avoid getting clawed at.  So her 60' takes her to 15' away from them.  Facing off with the boss, she points her trident towards him and uses her bonus action to shift... smiling menacingly at him.

The large black panther-like lions roar at Avaria as she darts past them. One steps towards her but reaches the end of the slack in the chain and swats outwards in frustration but gets only air.

Festan cocks his head at the smiling Avaria as she shifts and menaces him with the trident. He just grunts.

Perhaps the grunt was a cue, as Hob-Gobs 4, 5 and 6, move forward in front of Festan, and advance in unison towards Avaria. The tap their shortswords against their shields as the move in step.

Once within range, they each smack out at Avaria with the flats of their swords.

Avaria neatly sidesteps two of the hobgoblins but their military tactics and the way they move together makes it impossible to avoid the third. Avaria catches the full force of the shortsword across her head as she turns from one of her attackers (20 damage).

Ula races forward as soon as she sees Avaria take off but she's too slow to keep up. Instead she plants herself just out of the chain range of the lions. She shouts at Avaria to stand strong, casting Healing Word and curing 9  of Avaria's damage.

Ula then turns with her back to the platform and lions and cups her hands down low, readying her self to provide help and lift upwards for Jan or Marrin if they want to try taking a running leap up to the first platform .

The two cats pull towards Ula but find they can't quite get to her.

Jan and Marrin are up

Initiative Order:

As the third hobgoblin smacks Avaria, her eyes go wide in surprise and pain, showing it up a bit and falling as a reaction from the hit.

(Due to her wildhunt shift, no creature within 30 feet of you can make an attack roll with advantage against you unless you’re incapacitated.)

"میرے لیے مرو", Jan mutters, crooking her ringed hand towards the leader. (Hex, disadvantage on STR checks)

She unleashes a crackling ochre bolt at Festan. "مٹی پر واپس"

Attack: 9 Damage: 7 + 6 necrotic + 2 bludgeoning

Marrin heads over to Ula and takes advantage of that running leap to the platform, trying to make a bit of a show of it by turning it into a flip onto the platform.

Jump: 17 + 0 if athletics + 5 if acrobatics

The crowd cheers when Avaria is seemingly knocked down by the hobgoblins.

The cheers get even louder when Festan grunts at the slash of energy that rips into his shoulder, causing him to stumble back half a step.

But they jump to their feet, cheering and whistling as Marrin races forward, deftly leaping into Ula hands before the dwarf muscles the bard up into the air where she sails over the angry open maws of the lions to skid to a halt on the first platform.

In the stands, Harry Dodds had been quickly trying to place extra bets after Avaria collapsed but a visible frown can be seen on his face when Marrin flies to the platform.

On the platform, Marrin can see that the pole leading up to the next platform appears to be covered in a thick, gloopy, viscous oil-like substance. On the ground of the platform, a rope and pulley for hoisting a flag lies coiled up. This must be the final step to winning. Below, one of the black lions roars upwards. Marrin can smell the creatures breath through the opening that the rope ladder to the ground comes through.

Festan waves at the other three hobgoblins to run out in front of him, around Hobs 4-6, who loom over the prone Avaria. They race towards the platform but stop outside of the reach of the dark cats.

Taking a page from Ula and Marrin, Festan races after them, using them as a spring to leap for the platform.

Adelysia whispers "by the gods," and almost drops her spear at the sight of the lions and the sound of the crowd.

Hammerdasher, hesitates for a moment, but then starts running a wide arc to get to Avaria who he assumes is in rough shape. He makes it about three quarters of the way there.

Festan manages to connect with the hands of one hobgoblin while the other two help propel him up and forward. He's not as graceful as Marrin, and for a moment it looks like he's not going to make it. He catches the edge of the platform, almost slipping down. His dangling foot actually makes contact with the head of one of the panther-like lions and he's able to use that resistance to push himself up and over the lip of the platform.

Breathing hard, lying on the platform, he looks across at Marrin, his eyes showing no emotion.

Ethel's up.