The Undying Dragons - Campaign Thread

Avaria sighs and sits down by Marrin, helping herself to some of the food.  She felt so confused, was Sol right?  Was the chest not worth fighting for?  They really didn't know what it was anyways.

"What assistance are you talking about to find our friend?" she side-eyes Vonth when she says friend.  Before he tried to storm off, she would have considered him one as well, but she seems to find herself wrong a lot lately.

"But yes, Marrin is right, we have no way to contact her and we have no idea where she might have run off to."  She thinks back to how secretive Jan could be, and wondered if any of that mattered now.  She looks down at the food she has been eating, realizing it is quite good and helps herself to some more.

AT THE PICNIC

"Yes, what did happen to Trepsin?" Talis asks as she pops a few grapes into her mouth. She nods at Marrin "He was supposed to retrieve you. He is a foul creature but has his uses. I hope you didn't do anything permanent to him."

She looks up at the taciturn Goliath and smiles.

"You're this Vonth Woundwatcher?" Talis enquires of Vonth. "Well that may depend on whether Severin the Red still holds his title as the Red Wyrmspeaker when this is all done. The Reds prefer the mountains. Perhaps if I became Talis the Red you could have all of the Sunrise Mountains to do what you wish with."

At that, MDK leans in, turning his back to Talis but facing Marrin, and whispers in draconic so quietly that only Marrin can make out what he says clearly "Severin Sirajin is the leader, the wearer of purple. She wants to use you to get rid of him."

There's quiet for a moment before Avaria speaks, and then there is quiet after as Talis finishes chewing.

"Well, if the one with the chest, Jan, can't be reasoned with or called back, then we will have to bring in riders to track and retrieve her. I had hoped to contain this to our small little group here. It would make things easier," Talis says. "But that doesn't seem to be happening now, does it."

She finishes her goblet of wine and sighs.

"You are certain you have no idea where she is headed or how to convince her to return?" Talis asks the group.

     "The Ogelellum already do as we wish across the Sunrise," Vonth informs Talis.  "No one from outside the tribe shall ever change that."

     As MDK leans in and gains Talis' ear, Vonth looks away.  He has no desire to try to listen in and has grown bored of this whole... picnic? Charade?  He tries to wait patiently but as the chatter goes on he becomes more and more convinced that this will inevitably end in bloodshed, as he expected from the get go.  Nobody seems to be able, or perhaps willing, to give up Jan and if that continues to be the case he expects Talis will have no real use for a group of people who obviously detest her.  He does not envision her just letting them leave...

     And so, believing a battle will break out, Vonth tries to relax and get as much rest in as he can before it does...  

(If this picnic powwow is long enough, Vonth would indeed like to short rest and use some hit dice to get some hp back...  But I'm also doubting it'll take an hour for this meeting to resolve itself so not really expecting to be able to.)

Marrin asks,

"The troll was Trespin? Unfortunately nothing permanent, just gave him a bath. He'll probably be along before dark, smelling marginally better."

Her eyes flick to MDK, but otherwise Marrin doesn't respond to the kobold.

"I don't think we have a way of contacting her."

She doesn't bother looking around at her group before asking

"Do you? If you do, we could certainly try to explain the situation and... potential benefits of helping out. No promises, obviously."

((Unless the party has other questions, comments, everyone can get a short rest in, as it takes a little time for Talis to get the next steps ready)).

Disappointed that the party has no means of communicating with their wayward companion, Talis becomes more business-like and gives MDK orders. At no point is the party left without someone watching over them - usually a dozen kobolds and the two perytons, with others meandering in and out of the clearing.

It's not long before the group hears loud thwump-thwump sounds from the air above. Looking to the perytons, everyone can see that they're not the source of the sound. In fact, the pair are looking to the sky and backing away from the edge of the roof.

Four large creatures, with scaly legs, leathery wings, and a sinewy tail topped with a barbed tip circle the clearing a couple of times before all coming down to land, sending the kobolds scattering to the edges of the woods.

It's not until the four creatures land that everyone notices that they carry riders. Four armored and armed humanoids wearing white sit on specially designed and fitted saddles on the backs of the creatures.

Low rumbles, almost growls, emerge from the throats of the winged beasts; sounds that can be felt as much as heard.

Talis returns and claps her hands together.

"Excellent," she says, as she approaches the riders. 

One of the riders slides down from their saddle, keeping a handle on the reins as they do. Talis takes the reins from the rider.

"What news?" Talis asks.

"Calum and Rhianna have been scouring the skies but have not made contact yet." The now grounded rider says.

Talis looks over to the group and says "Well, you should all mount up. We'll need you to talk sense into your friend once we find her."

She looks over at Hammerdasher, Geffroi and Ula and smiles. "You three will stay here as our guests."

((Talis is indicating that the party will need to climb on to the creatures, behind their riders, one joining Talis on her mount, while Hammerdasher, Geffroi, and Ula are kept as 'guests').

Solomona raises his hand instantly... in fact he pumps his arm in the air excitedly, keen for a dragon ride, as he calls it, and asks if he can go with Talis.

He has so many things he wants to talk to her about, and hopes it will be a long trip. 

Avaria's mouth drops open as the creatures appear and start to descend.  Well... maybe they should have tried a little harder to be rid of Talis as they were stuck now.  She stares at Sol as he seems actually jubilant about the whole situation.  And with their friends as basically prisoners?  Argh.

Feeling trapped in the situation, she turns to Marrin to see what she has to say about this.  But doesn't move towards a beast yet.

     Vonth's hand moves to his sword when the dragonlings (?) appear in the air but he refrains from drawing.  He notes the kobold's apparent fear of the creatures and wonders what that is all about but shoves it aside, it surely won't help in the moment.  He's less than thrilled with the idea of going to a second location with their kidnappers but he's seeing little choice in the matter.  So Vonth certainly doesn't show the eagerness Solomona does about taking such a ride but he also doesn't ague the point.  Instead he just walks over to whichever has the smallest looking rider and prepares to mount.  If nothing else, probably best to try to even the load...

If she can she'd like to make a casual loop near MDK, before tying her shoe and saying quietly, 

"I'll see what I can do to ruin her day. Any help from your end would be appreciated. "

Marrin looks at the dragon things and asks Talis, the world at large,

"Your dragons are missing some legs and they seem...dumb?"

She looks over at Ava,

"You know, compared to the ones on the boat?"

She gives Ava her most reassuring smile, tinged with something definitely not reassuring before looking back,

"I'm going to float you some advice, holding people hostage is probably going to make Jan less willing to help out in whatever you've got going."

Ava attempts to mirror the smile back to her friend.  "Yeah, those are some strange looking dragons.  Are they... safe?"

MDK only says 'Don't fall off" when Marrin asks for any help he can provide. But then he adds "Finding your friend would be your best bet. I can prepare a welcome party for everyone on your return."

Talis looks at Marrin and Avaria and frowns, then smiles.

"Of course, how were you to know any different," Talis says. She steps back and waves a hand at the creatures. "These are wyverns, cousins of dragons. They are amenable to training and working with us non-dragon folk. You would never dream of trying to train a dragon to allow a rider. That is always up to them. But wyverns are different. They are agile and powerful hunters but they aren't exactly intelligent and self-aware. Perhaps more like how monkey's seem a little similar to humanoids."

Then she laughs and looks just at Marrin.

"So these wyvern have all the legs they will ever have."

Assuming no objections or more questions, Solomona settles on to the back of Talis's wyvern. The saddle only fits the rider, but attached to each saddle is a secondary, leather mat and padding with secure hand and foot holds to allow for passengers.

The leather has some give and straps are quickly readjusted as a petite human woman makes adjustments to allow for Vonth to ride with her.

Marrin and Avaria find themselves seated behind red-headed tiefling twins.

Before anyone can say goodbye to Hammerdasher, Ula and Geffroi, the wyverns leap into the air, their powerful wings thwump-thwumping a few times to clear the trees, and then the group is soaring through the air.

Avaria, despite herself finds the wind in her fur, and diving, swooping flight exhilarating. Solomona finds it a challenge to eat and hold on; not impossible, just a challenge. Vonth is uncomfortable the entire journey as no matter the accomodations, the gear just doesn't fit his frame. Marrin's hair may never be the same after this adventure.

(Perception checks, and Dex saves for everyone)

IN THE RING:

DEX save 23
Perception 10

Ava can't help herself, she starts grinning at the exhilaration and finds herself barely holding onto the tiefling in front of her, letting her legs do all the work as she moves easily with the beast underneath her.  It sure would be easier if they knew what was inside of that chest and knew what they were probably going to hand over.  It's not like they have been sent to get it or protect it, maybe Sol was right.  

Either way, she tries to push her worries away and enjoy the ride.

Marrin raises her eyebrows,

"Monkeys and humanoids?"

She gives a quick, skeptical glance at a kobold. 

"Right..."

Marrin just tries to hold on, hair be damned. 

Dex save 10

Perception 8

((Rolling garbage. ))