The Undying Dragons - Campaign Thread

     “Hey! What’s the hold up?” Vonth calls out to the two forging the path.  His voice is much louder than needed be.  

Still in Hammerdasher's voice, with some annoyance, 

"Seriously, don't look over here."

And then,

"Yes, it's me. How many drakes? Do you think they'll follow their master?"

TWO HAMMERDASHERS IN THE WOODS:

The real Hammerdasher looks as annoyed as Marrin sounds.

"Listen lass," the dwarf says. "Do you think just because you sound like me that these wee drakes will think I can throw my voice like some court jester. They tell us apart by the sound of our voices?"

Geffroi looks into the woods.

"There were six of them but how should we know what they'll do? They listen to his orders but he didn't give any before he left. And now that he's gone, they may decide they're out on a real hunt."

As if on cue, Marrin hears the movement in the woods stop. All is quiet, even birdsong has paused. 

Hammerdasher says "Easy there you little bastards."

((Initiative from Marrin just in case))

THE MAIN SEARCH PARTY:

Malegot, one of the men in the front doesn't look back at Vonth but just says "Ambush".

Movement in the woods - from both sides of the path the group has been taken.

Shuffling forms crash through the woods. On first glance the group is sure they're soldiers, but as they step through the brush, the party can see open sores, diseased - dead looking eyes, gaping wounds. Avaria recognizes them for what they are - zombies.

At the same moment the group hears a voice from in the woods "Take the one with the staff, kill the rest."

((Initiative rolls from everyone))

IN THE SKY:

As Jan looks for somewhere better to hide than in the open sky, she sees the two flying perytons wheel back and head in the direction they just came from.

Quote from Thoradin_Orcbender>>

((Initiative rolls from everyone))

Vonth initiative:  7

     "Are we ambushers or ambushees?" Vonth replies, voice loud enough to ruin any chance of surprise by his group.  It could be their... allies... on the other side.

     Or...  disease laden zombies.  Tomato potato... 

Solomona Initiative: 9

Solomona glances around, trying to get an idea of how many assailants there are... and also whether Avaria is planning on battling the ambushers, or helping them. Sol is of a mind to take the opportunity to escape from Talis and her henchmen, but he says nothing to that effect.

Initiative: 15

"So, does he just tell them to do things? Because I can that..."

She says as her voice changes.

She then says in her most commanding Trespin voice, 

"Follow."

Performance: 21

Jan and K keep moving away from the lodge and the trouble there. She feels bad about leaving her friends behind, but keeping the chest out of the wrong hands must be the priority.

TWO HAMMERDASHERS:

Hammerdasher and Ula both look to the rustling in the woods to see if the command "Follow" works.

Geffroi on the other hand looks at the pair and then in the general direction of Marrin, raising one eyebrow.

"None of you have ever had a dog?" Geffroi asks. "Come, stay, attack. Things like that. But they're going to go towards the voice if they can't see their master."

On cue, the heads of four ambush drakes poke through the brush and look at Hammerdasher, Ula, and Geffroi. They don't attack, but they do come into the clearing, their heads scanning from side to side.

Movement to the west and east of the clearing can be seen - are the two remaining drakes looking to circle around to where the voice just called out "Follow"?

Marrin is up.

IN THE SKY - HIDING:

Jan has the sky to herself for the moment. There appear to be a few birds circling a little off to the west but at best they're the size of eagles.

((Is she looking to get up high in the mountains? Look for somewhere to hide? Investigate the puffs of smoke down the valley that indicate a village?))

AMBUSHED SEARCH PARTY:

Avaria's initiative: 21

Will give Avaria a chance to go first, then the zombie ambush hoard, then Talis and her retainers, followed finally by Solomona and Vonth.

Solomona can see 10 zombies - 5 to the east and 5 to the west, both sets just off to the side of the path the group has been on, about 10' away.

Avaria, Solomona and Vonth all heard the voice that ordered "Take the one with the staff, kill the rest." but they can't see who said it nor did anyone catch which direction it came from. That puts whoever it is further into the woods

Marrin, remembering with a tear how she was never allowed to have a dog, puts on a brave face and then puts on Geffroi's face. She walks out to join the trio saying, with Geffroi's voice,

"Since they aren't just attacking you three I guess you aren't prey? Start walking, slowly, after the troll and maybe they will run after it. Geffroi, get over here and cover my scent."

She gauges the drakes and bets they can't count.

Avaria rushes to be next to Sol and Vonth, changing as she does into her Wildshape.  Under her breath, "I would be happy if it was just us standing at the end." she says to her friends as the others ready themselves for the ambush.  

And very unlike her, she decides to dodge, letting the enemies come to them, hoping the zombies will attack the others first - holding her rage just at bay.  She does try to listen hard if that voice comes again

Perception w/adv due to wildhunt: 14 (understood if this isn't allowed while she's dodging)

Avaria starts to run towards her friends as she starts to shift into her wild shape, but then changes her mind and runs right at Talis.  She draws her greatsword and swings at the woman, sick of everything that has happened since they teleported here.  Help, no help, chest, no chest, her mind couldn't handle it anymore and she broke.

Attack 1: 17, Damage: 13
Her second swing misses.

((Priority is getting away from the lodge, but she's more at home in civilization than the wild. Will head down to check out the village, going to land at a bit of a distance and use K to scout invisible rather than landing in the town square.))

ONCE THERE WERE TWO HAMMERDASHERS NOW THERE ARE TWO GEFFROIS:

Geffroi catches on quickly and moves over next to Marrin, throwing his arm around her.

“I think they’ve a good sense of smell, lass,” Hammerdasher says, before chuckling and adding “ladd.”

Hammerdasher, Ula, and Geffroi, pulling Marrin with him, start off in the direction that Trepsin the four-armed troll went.

The ambush drakes sniff the air a couple of times and then disappear back into the brush, but their movement can be heard all around the group.

“How far until we know it works?” Geffroi asks.

((Animal Handling w/advantage since the entire group is trying to help))

ON THE WAY TO THE VILLAGE:

Jan and K swoop and soar, catching updrafts one second, then plummeting in downdrafts the next - intense freedom mingled with abject terror.

If Jan occasionally looks back towards the direction she thinks the lodge is in, she sees what she’s sure are the shapes of the perytons circling above the treetops in one area, dropping down a bit but finding the trees prevent deep, fast descents.

The smoke plumes of the village become more distinct as she heads down the valley. Along the way Jan notices a roaring river, running through a series of rapids and waterfalls before it flattens out somewhat and appears to calm before reaching the village.

The forest likely thins before the village so Jan looks for a spot to land and sees the woods are still thick about a mile from where the smoke plumes can be seen.

((How is Jan arranging herself while sending K off? Will she wait for K or go mentally along for the ride - likely right at the edge of the max distance — and as an FYI, we’re compressing time so that we don’t go through all the travel at the same speed as the other parts of the party)).

AMBUSH BATTLE ROYALE:

Avaria definitely catches everyone by surprise by lunging at Talis rather than the zombies.

The woman only sees Avaria coming at her at the last second. And her three bodyguards miss it completely, the zombies catching their attention first.

“What in the hells are you thinking?” Talis shouts as she brings her staff up in defense. “Those are zombies.”

Talis is much quicker, and her armor and weapons of much better quality than Avaria might have initially guessed.

The shifter’s blade comes down hard but Talis is able to deflect it to the side without any apparent damage (attack missed).

Talis slashes out with her staff, which Avaria now sees is topped with a spear blade. But Talis is still recovering from the surprise attack and misses Avaria completely. A moment after that, a floating, spectral looking spear appears next to Talis and thrusts at Avaria on its own. Avaria is able to catch the blow on her shoulder armor and brush it to the side.

(Both attacks miss Avaria).

The three henchmen now see what’s going on and suddenly see that they’re getting surrounded by zombies from the outside and the party from the inside.

Deciding the party is more dangerous than the zombies for the moment, each of the retainers in the rear attack. One going for Vonth and one for Solomona.

Maelgot spins his longsword into action, slashing at Vonth twice. Despite attack from the rear, the first blow deflects harmlessly off of the goliath’s armor. The second finds a gap in the armor, causing a sharp stab of pain (6 slashing to Vonth).

Sorvic takes the same tact with Solomona and slashes out twice with his long sword. Solomona’s naturally rolling gait causes the first blow to go wide, but Sorvic checks his swing and second blow lands squarely across the torso of the big monk (11 slashing to Solomona).

The man in the front, Kusphia, sees Avaria attack on Talis and he rushes in to join the fight, swinging his light scimitar at the shifter. Avaria leans to the side, avoiding the first blow, but she can’t react in time to miss the second (12 slashing to Avaria.)

“We need her alive,” the same voice calls into the group. “Protect her and kill the others.”

The ten zombies swarm out of the trees, five on each side of the group. One attacking everyone in the group except Talis, The remaining four, heeding the order to protect Talis divide with two more attacking Avaria and two attacking Kusphia as zombies are not great about discerning targets (total of 3 zombies attacking Avaria, 3 attacking Kusphia, and then 1 each against Vonth, Solomona, Maelgot, and Sorvic).

For a moment the trees witness nothing but a whirlwind of lumbering arms striking out at targets.

Most of the zombies end up getting their arms tangled with other zombie arms, some club bushes, and others bounce harmlessly from their targets but in the end, one does manage to connect with Avaria (7 bludgeoning to Avaria), to Kusphia, and to Maelgot.

As the wave of zombie arms subsides, Avaria, Vonth and Solomona see a spot just behind the group start to ripple, as if the air has suddenly been superheated, but instead of warmth radiating from that spot, deathly cold, negative energy ripples out, enveloping everyone except Talis and Kusphia.

(CON SAVES - DC 15 - from everyone - 36 necrotic damage on failure, 18 on success).

Whoever cast whatever magic that was may have jumped the gun or forgot that their zombies would also be caught in the large sphere of negative energy, as eight of the zombies collapse and fall flat on the ground. The remaining two don’t look great - they’re two that are attacking Avaria.

In fact, the party can hear that very same voice shouting an expletive "F&$k".

((Party is up - CON Saves first - Avaria can go again as she would be first up after the party anyway))

"Well, I have been cleaning myself with magic and adding forest smells to...well me and my clothes. We know it works when they leave us to catch up with the troll.

Maffroi takes a sniff of Geffroi and wrinkles his nose. While prestidigating that smell onto himself, Maffroi says,

"Geff, remind me to teach you prestidigation. You play anything? Magic loves a good tune."

Animal handling w/ad: 13

Vonth...

     “We have the Osiris Cask!” Vonth bellows into the woods. “Kill us and neither you or the one with the staff will ever claim it!”

     He has no idea where the cask is. Or what it is. Or if it has anything to do with Osiris. But that is what makes it a bluff.

     Vonth does not wait to see if it lands. Vonth moves even as he yells out. Maelgot is ignored. The zombies - both dead and undead - are disregarded entirely for the moment. His focus narrows to a single target.

     Talis.

     Cut off the head of the dragon, as they say, and the body dies.

     He closes the distance, mutters a little prayer to Morc, draws his weapon and strikes.

     Talis isn’t the head of the dragon but she seems to be the head of this little faction of its cult.  If they can strike her down surely Maelgot, Kusphia and Sorvic will be that much easier to defeat…

     Big if, perhaps…

_____

Reaction: Stone's Endurance to reduce damage done by the spell by 1d12+5 = 10
Movement: Whatever it takes to get to Talis.  I believe he should be close since he was questioning her?
Bonus Action: Shield of Faith to boost his AC from 20 to 22.
Action: Attack! Culver's Longsword vs Talis - 22 to hit for 6 slashing damage
     (I forget, do we use Flanking in this campaign?  If so Vonth would definitely pivot around Talis to get into flanking with Avaria... But assuming/rolling as if not used.)
Other: Action Surge to Attack Again!  Culver's Longsword vs Talis - 18 to hit for 8 slashing damage...

(Shield of Faith lasts up to 10 minutes so I'll just assume it lasts this entire combat...  It is concentration though so that is assuming, if I get hit, I make the con saves.)

((No real opportunity for Vonth to get behind/flank Talis as Kusphia is supporting her and there are still two zombies there as well - did Vonth roll a CON save?))

((Jan will find a tree that she can nestle into the crook of and disguise self her clothes to blend in before sending K in. How far might she estimate she is from the lodge? I'm getting the sense that K got a bit twisted around and went nowhere near a straight line for the full 6 hours she was in the ring, or she'd be ~30+ miles from the lodge?))

CON save: 15 (didn't appear in the Game Log as my digital dice were disabled)

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Solomona has a pretty loose loyalty ethic. And he's no leader. But he has a good sense of right and wrong, and the goals and ideals of Avaria and her crew seem much better than those of Talis and her gang. So when the fighting kicks off, and Avaria barrels straight in, throwing herself at Talis, Sol's instinct is to help. With a resigned shrug, he springs into action.

Bulky as he is, and partially weakened by the wave of sickening energy, Sol still manages to move through the crowd with deftness, his inner well of perpetual happiness lending him power. Deflecting attacks where he can, he slips a kick or two through the throng surrounding Talis, and then ducks and weaves back out again, his black frizzy hair flying all the while.

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Bonus Action: Step of the Wind to Disengage and double jump distance (1 uho point)

Move within 5' of Talis to attack, then move away and (if possible) jump 6' upwards, into a tree. Use any remaining movement to climb to 10' above ground.

Action: Attack (x2)
Unarmed Strike: 11 to hit
Unarmed Strike: 10 to hit (not even gonna bother rolling damage)

The wave hits hard.  Avaria staggers as the necrotic damage engulfs her (CON save 13).  Shaking her head, the rage takes hold.  There is a tiny voice in her head trying to tell her that the one in front of her didn't just almost kill her, it was the other one, but she has no ear for this tiny voice.

Raising her greatsword again, she attacks recklessly

Wow

Even with advantage on her two attacks, every single one misses.  

UP A TREE:

The village is probably a day’s hike from the lodge. There looks to be a trail that leads in that direction so there may be some traffic between the two, though it’s not as easy going as a road would be. 10-15 miles is not an unreasonable estimate of the distance.

The trees are remarkably comfortable, and it’s not too hard to blend into the foliage and branches (Stealth roll to see just how well Jan does blend in - which will affect how high someone’s perception will need to be to spot her). She may have something to talk to Marrin about once they meet again.

Keeping an eye on what K experiences on his recon mission, Jan notes the village isn’t very large - it has a few dozen houses and a small square, with buildings that look to include a tavern, a stable, and a shrine. A dozen, maybe twenty, people or so, mostly human with a few elves and dwarves mixed in go about their day.

In the middle of the village square K circles around a well. As he does, Jan is able to count what appear to be 5 armed guards, but she can’t see any insignia on them.

ON THE TRAIL OF A TROLL:

Marrin doesn’t have much luck in getting the ambush drakes to go off on their own. They’re not showing any aggression towards the group but they’re not leaving them either.

The group continues along the trail that Trepsin seems to be following and soon they are traveling along next to the river that Marrin had seen, and crossed before.

The trail seems to be moving generally down stream and in the direction of where Marrin suspected the village was - and that Trepsin confirmed existed as he headed there to find a bath.

“What about the others?” Hammerdasher asks Marrin. “Are we just leaving them to deal with this bloody dragon cult hive on their own? And where’s Jan?”

DRAGON CULT / UNDEAD RUMBLE:

Avaria’s rage clouds her skills and while she delivers blow after blow with reckless abandon, Talis nimbly avoids all of them.

Vonth on the other hand, perhaps taking advantage of the fact Talis has to focus on Avaria’s heavy blows, manages to get passed his target’s defenses twice, causing Talis to wince in pain.

Solomona swoops gracefully in then pogos his way back out of melee but perhaps the clutter of truly dead zombies and swinging swords impede his accuracy as he’s not able to connect with any of his blows.

Talis, after seeing Avaria’s blizzard of missed blows, views Vonth as the more immediate target. She jabs her spear at him but fails to pierce his armor and defenses. However, the magical spiritual floating spear next to her has more success and despite Vonth’s Shield of Faith, he feels the sting of the magical spear (22 to hit for 17 force damage on Vonth).

“You fools,” Talis says. “The one in the woods is the true danger.”

Kusphia, fanatically continues to fight to protect Talis. He slashes out at Avaria with his scimitar again and again. (23 to hit for 9 slashing 16 to hit for 5 slashing on Avaria).

As the zombies crumple around them, the two remaining loyalists to Talis press on against Vonth.

Vonth’s armor and magic keep him safe from blow after blow, until the last one proves just too much to deal with at once (24 to hit for 11 slashing on Vonth).

The two remaining zombies trudge over the bodies of their fallen compatriots and swing their club-like arms at Avaria again. But one manages to stumble on the entrails of one of the dead and its swing goes wildly off the mark. The final zombie does connect and slams into Avaria’s shoulder (22 to hit for 4 bludgeoning on Avaria).

A beam of sickly looking green light zips out of the woods and strikes Kusphia in the chest. He gags and wretches but remains standing and ready to fight.

Solomona can see where the beam came from, on the other side of the path and melee from where he sits in his tree so he has a better idea where the other combatant is, but he still can’t see anyone.

(The party is up - Vonth needs a concentration CON save to keep his shield up)

Vonth...

Reaction to Talis missing him with her spear:  Vonth spends a Superiority Die to Riposte and make a melee weapon attack:  Culver's Longsword vs Talis - 9 to hit for 7 slashing damage. I will use my Channel Divinity as a War Priest for Guided Strike and add +10 to that attack making it instead a 19 to hit for the same 7 slashing damage...

“You fools,” Talis says. “The one in the woods is the true danger.”

Con Save: 12 which makes it with little room to spare...

     “Yet you’re the one striking me!” Vonth spits, steel answering as much as words.

     He swings back at her, driving the attack with force and intent.

     Whether his words draw the focus of others or fate simply turns, the answer comes hard. Blows rain down in quick succession. He turns some aside, catches others on shield and steel—but one slips through.

     Vonth grunts as it bites deep, the impact breaking through his guard and reminding him, sharply, that this fight is far from won.

Con Save 2: Rolled a Dex Save by mistake. 19 on die and Con Save Modified is +8... so yeah, 27 saves too.

___

Back to his turn now...

     Vonth continues to focus his attack on Talis.

Action: Attack with Culver's Longsword vs Talis - 21 to hit for 12 slashing damage

     Vonth hesitates, half a heartbeat at most.

     He feels the pull to mend, to call on what strength remains and close his wounds. He rejects it. Better to end the threat.

     If she falls, the rest may break. If she runs, like Soren did, the chance is lost.

     Vonth steps in and presses the attack, driving his blade forward with renewed force, intent on putting Talis down before she can slip away like the traitor Soren did..

Bonus Action - War Priest:  When take attack action can make one weapon attack as a BA (1st of 2 times).  Culver's Longsword vs Talis again - 9 to hit for 9 slashing damage... (grrr, should have healed.)