The Undying Dragons - Campaign Thread

((Wasn't sure if Jan was with or not, but she would have gladly had her along. Ethel would have been welcome too, albeit at the back!))

The ghostly dwarf looks at Avaria and shakes his head.

"I know you're tricks. The lot of you are the same. Lazy. We'll never get out of here unless we finish the escape tunnel," the ghost booms, but still without echo. "You know damn well the tunnel is off of our campsite. Now get back to work."
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Hammerdasher and Ula both leap into action when they see the ambush unfold, almost as if they could sense what was going to happen before it did.

While Hammerdasher has a big heart, he’s not a great combatant. He swings a big fist at the first hobgoblin but misses. Ula on the other hand steps forward, plants her shoulders and lets a solid right go, connecting solidly.

Haguur and the two orcs follow quickly after. Haguur connecting with the same one Ula hit, cutting a deep wound with his knife.

The first of the orcs stumbles into Hammerdasher and growls, unable to get a hit off. The second orc neatly sidesteps Hammerdasher and the other orc, and finishes off the first hobgoblin.

Jan and Ethel hear fighting from inside the cave.

Marrin’s up and Jan and Ethel can join worm their way in too.

"I know.  I won't be lazy.  But can you tell me, what happened to your friends here?" and Avaria waves her arms over the deceased that surround her.

The dwarf ghost's eyes narrow as he stares at Avaria.

"Are you disobeying me?" the dwarf shouts and then waves at the covered bodies on the ground. "This lot's shift is over. They're sleeping."

The ghost takes a couple of 'steps' towards Avaria.

"Do I need to make you get back in the tunnel?"

Jan rolls her eyes and sighs.

Initiative: 24

She ducks into the cavern ahead of Ethel and levels a blast at the first hobgoblin she has a reasonably clear shot at.

EB: Attack: 24 Damage: 9

"Well, you've properly squandered that chance."

Marrin says to the hobs, a bit disappointed.

"Idiots."

She targets whoever is still alive with a vicious mockery.

Damage: 1 (wisdom save 14), fail disadvantage on next attack.

As Jan races into the tunnel, Ethel takes a half-step to follow her, then turns to look at the last two Orcs outside.  She gives them her best 'Really?  You plan to just sit there while we rush to aid your leader?' look... then she moves into the tunnel behind Jan.

Initiative:  18

The second hobgoblin stumbles backwards, recoiling from a Jan's well placed blast of mystical energy. She just about gets her footing back when Marrin's barbed, dismissive words cuts through her psyche. The second hobgoblin falls backwards, slamming hard into the ground; no more movement.

The two orcs next to Ethel shake their heads. "If Haguur needs help, Hagurr will call for help."

In the cavern, the bugbear's eyes go wide but before he can act, Ethel races in.

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Ethel can use an action before the bugbear goes. The bugbear is the only one of the three still standing.

"No, no, I'm moving.  But tell me, how long have you been on this island?  Were you also enslaved by the Hargroves?  And what's the plan once the tunnel is dug?  Do you have a way off the island?"  Avaria asks while slowly moving backwards so the dwarf can see she's moving.

Ethel walks into the cave, pushing aside disgusting cobwebs.  She is a little surprised to see the two hobgoblins dead, but quickly surmises what occurred.  

She lets out a long, irritated sigh.  "We need manpower, not more dead fools." 

She points at the bugbear, making a finger motion that looks like it could be a spell, but is just nonsense.  "You.  Perhaps the hobgoblins put bad thoughts in your head.  You're in real trouble, now.  If I were you, I'd fall on those knees and beg gentle Haguur for one last chance."

Intimidation: 22

In case the overwhelming odds against him and his current location in a spider cave add up to 'Help':  13

BB 10  

The bugbear looks from Ethel to Haguur and then to the two dead hobgoblins. He lowers his big, hairy fists and sighs. But before he can open his mouth to say anything, Haguur steps forward and lays a heavy foot to the bugbear's waist. He stumbles back, trips and goes flying into a cobwebbed nook. The web ripples and tears and you can all hear loud chittering echoing in the chamber. It comes from above.

High above you can make out the three large shapes making their way down through the webbing; spiders, very, very large spiders.

At the same time the bugbear screams, bursting back out of the nook, covered head to toe in small spiders.

The small spiders are occupied biting the bugbear and the giant spiders above still have about 35' to climb down.

Party's up.

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The ghostly dwarf frowns deeply at Avaria when she mentions the Hargroves. 

"We built many of the tunnels, but we didn't know what was coming. The pay was good but when we thought we were done they led us to the natural caverns. At first I thought we were to finish them out and turn them into warehousing but we found ourselves imprisoned." He pauses then continues. "This must have been a couple of weeks ago."

"Once the tunnel is done we escape," the dwarf says plainly but mention of what next leaves the frown in place, his eyes go wide.

The dwarf suddenly darts close to Avaria and shrieks, this time the sound echoing around the chamber.

"Back to work," he shouts.

Avaria can feel primal fear running along her spine.

DC13 WIS Save of be frightened

Jan crooks a hand toward one of the on-rushing big spiders, unleashing a crackling blast of energy.

Attack: 24 Damage: 10

(Ha!  I wonder if anyone thinks that Avaria has drowned...)

WIS save 20

She turns around to see what the dwarf shrieked at....

((Nah, she took forever to come back last time too.))

((Good point.  I'm just glad she made the save!  But what is it... not the orcs? I wouldn't think?))