Whoever is keeping watch at the stables hear the sound of many footsteps. Soon you see many bullywugs some bigger than the others and accompanying them are giant frogs. Then many lizardfolks come into view as well walking alongside the bullywugs.
They are looking to the stables and will be there shortly.
(OOC: @Weathervision - If Zeds has finished searching the 2nd floor of G, where we found Pharblex, by the time Ixsas and Serge join the others, could I just use Ixsas's roll for searching the 1st floor of G while someone keeps watch on the Outer Ward?)
Perception / Investigation: 24 - searching the bullywug headquarters while he heals the party
(OOC: Ixsas is less interested in valuables than he is in potions or scrolls. He's hoping that the bullywug shaman kept a stash of healing potions for his guards. With only one 3rd-level slot left, Ixsas won't be able to use Aura of Vitality again if he needs to thwart a spellcaster. Thankfully, Krackle still has plenty of slots left for blasting their opponents.)
Ixsas casts Aura of Vitality and spends the next 1 minute helping with the search of Pharblex's headquarters (location G) while using his bonus action to provide healing to everyone everyone, assuming that the party is not interrupted or attacked before then.
Once Krackle is at max HP, Ixsas suggests that the kobold keeps watch on the Outer Ward, either through a window or by going down to the ground floor and peeking out the door.
(OOC: I think that we all went from the stables back over to G to heal and search for anything that could help us, so we're presumably in G when we see bullywugs and lizardfolk heading toward the stables (F). Ixsas had suggested that Krackle keep watch since the kobold is the least skillful at searching a room using Investigation.)
When Ixsas peeks out the door and see that both bullywugs and lizardfolk are together and not currently fighting, he says, "Hm. That bodes not well. If we don't want the bullywugs and the lizardfolk to ally against us, we need to get out there and change the story." He asks Zeds, "Do you think that you can get them fighting again? Maybe convince the lizardfolk that Pharblex sought to betray them and expel them from the castle, starting with killing their giant lizards? Or maybe that Dralmorrer sent us to clear out the bullywugs after he discovered some treachery of Pharblex? Since the lizardfolk don't like the bullywugs, they might believe that Pharblex and his guards refused to leave and fought back against us. And now we need the lizardfolk's help to clear the remaining bullywugs from the castle."
((OOC: I'm changing Ixsas's text color to plain green. The yellow-green was hard on the eyes, and no one else is currently using green.))
(Yes, Ixsas can do that. unfortunately, there are no potions, and he does not find anything else of note)
At least Zeds got a cool hat!
(Zeds is now Zindiana Jones, yo?)
"Can I?" Zeds says, kind of asking the fates even as he makes an exaggerated grimace / eek expression. "I guess we're going to find out...?"
Adjusting his fashionably questionable new hat, Zeds leads the way back down to the stables. He's not exactly thrilled by the prospect now that they've released several giant lizards to roam about there but he really thinks they need the body...
{The plan is this, if nobody objects. One or two of the others get ready to throw open the stable doors dramatically when we hear the mob approaching (depending on how many are needed to throw open the doors?) and Zeds readies the throwing of the Pharblex body out through the doors towards the mob. Hopefully this will get the mob to stop so Zeds can step up dramatically and speechify at them for a turn or two without getting immediately killed... Serge should be at the doors ready to be a front line fighter if/when needed. Ixsas maybe the other one? Krackle can be further back a bit... But Krackle and Ixsas should both be ready to use their light spells behind Zeds once the doors open to cause a dramatic and possible too bright effect, giving the mob pause? But also prestidigitation or thaumaturgy as the case may be to add some pizzaz and flair to Zeds' speechifying... It is all about presentation and HELP!}
"Here is the body of Pharblex, the betrayer!" Zeds will call out once the body hits the floor. "See it and know that all who betray Dralmorrer and the Dragon Queen shall pay the final price for their blasphemy!!" (Hopefully some echoing sounds, dramatic lighting and other pizzaz here...)
"Know you all that Pharblex has been brought low and cast out of the sight of the Dragon Queen for he challenged and brought low the Suncaller! How dare he? How dare a Bullywug challenge a Lizardkind without the permission of Dralmorrer? Without the blessing of the Dragon Queen? Such blasphemy, such betrayal of the rightful order cannot be allowed to stand!!" (Again, hoping others can add some applause and random murmurs of agreement and such as needed to try to hype up the crowd...)
"Lizardfolk! Are you willing to let this stand? Are you willing to be subservient to the Bullywug scum??" (help here too?)
"Or have you had enough? Are you ready to fight for your rightful place?!?" (again??)
"Rise up! Assert your dominance!!!"
(Persuasion: 24... or if I get help from others and thus advantage Nat 1 for 9. Thankfully that was the second roll...)
((OOC: I don't know whether the hat has an enchantment that ensures that you don't lose it through crazy adventures across multiple continents or whether it's just such a valuable hat that you just make sure that you never leave it behind!))
Does Zeds wear his new hat with the dragon cult mask when he addresses the crowd? Or just the hat?
also prestidigitation or thaumaturgy as the case may be to add some pizzaz and flair to Zeds' speechifying... It is all about presentation and HELP!}
No objections from Ixsas, and he does what he can to help Zeds' speech land. Some details below, assuming that we're able to do everything proposed here without an immediate attack from the bullywugs or lizardfolk.
Ixsas prefers to cast Light on the front of the hat before they open the stable doors. That way, as soon as the doors opens, there will be bright light shining forth from Zeds and illuminating the area just in front Zeds and the open stable doors, but it won't really illuminate the scene inside the stables. The brim of the hat keeps should also keep the light off of Zeds's features, which maybe helps the audience imagine him as more than a mere human.
Ixsas tries to find a stool or bench that Zeds could stand on for a light bit of height. It'll make him a good target for archers, but Ixsas thinks that a "preacher" should loom above his audience. It will give his words more authority.
Ixsas suggests to Krackle that once the doors are open, perhaps create a fire a little bit in front of Zeds, especially if we're able to get him up on a stool. That way, he'll have some bright, flickering light on his face, but it'll also be a nice obstacle in case the throng of bullywugs try to rush forward and attack.
Ixsas shoves the door open and uses Thaumaturgy to accompany the act with a sort of thunderclap. He hopes that the sound blends in with the doors banging open so that it doesn't sound too unnatural, but perhaps it'll get the crowd's attention and feel portentous to the superstitious creatures with their shamanistic religions.
"Here is the body of Pharblex, the betrayer!" Zeds will call out once the body hits the floor. "See it and know that all who betray Dralmorrer and the Dragon Queen shall pay the final price for their blasphemy!!" (Hopefully some echoing sounds, dramatic lighting and other pizzaz here...)
Once Zeds throws down Pharblex's body, Ixsas watches to see where the lizardfolk head that Pharblex was wearing as a crown lands. Since their leverage is with the lizardfolk, Ixsas thinks that they should emphasize this gruesome ornament that Pharblex chose to wear: the sight should blunt any concern that the lizardfolk would have over the death of the bullywugs' leader. As Zeds speaks, Ixsas quietly casts Thaumaturgy to cause a shaft of light to seem to fall from above and illuminate the lizardfolk (Shaman Suncaller's) face. Ixsas hopes that it makes it look like the sun came out once more to grace the Suncaller and inspire his lizardfolk people.
((OOC: I think that that's generally within the range of the spell's power, and what could be more on theme for a Light Domain cleric than the sight of a shaft of light falling from above?! The spell could make a slightly brighter and more visible (as though shining through dust or mist) "shaft of light" fall on the lizardfolk face or, if the area in front of the stables is very bright, just make the rest of the area seem dim so that the "shaft of light" that falls on the lizardfolk face stands out.))
"Know you all that Pharblex has been brought low and cast out of the sight of the Dragon Queen for he challenged and brought low the Suncaller! How dare he? How dare a Bullywug challenge a Lizardkind without the permission of Dralmorrer? Without the blessing of the Dragon Queen? Such blasphemy, such betrayal of the rightful order cannot be allowed to stand!!" (Again, hoping others can add some applause and random murmurs of agreement and such as needed to try to hype up the crowd...)
Here Ixsas can cast Thaumaturgy again to cause an instantaneous sound, like someone (or multiple someones) shouting, "No!", from somewhere non-specific in the middle of the crowd. Since the party doesn't have a "plant" among the crowd, this effect is the best that Ixsas can do to "get the ball rolling." No one wants to be the first one to agree to a revolt, but if they're thinking of supporting what Zeds is saying and they hear someone else agree, perhaps it'll help the others to get off the fence and speak up too. And once a few of them are on board, the whole crowd of lizardfolk could quickly swing our way.
"Lizardfolk! Are you willing to let this stand? Are you willing to be subservient to the Bullywug scum??" (help here too?)
Finally, here, Ixsas uses Thaumaturgy to create a sound like many frogs (bullywug-sized frogs) croaking quietly over each other in a brief cacophony that Ixsas hopes sounds "oppositional" or "threatening" to the long-suffering lizardfolk.
"Or have you had enough? Are you ready to fight for your rightful place?!?" (again??)
"Rise up! Assert your dominance!!!"
(Persuasion: 24... or if I get help from others and thus advantage Nat 1 for 9. Thankfully that was the second roll...)
(OOC: Note that the last thing before we opened the doors and Zeds stepped out to speak, Ixsas would certainly give him Guidance, making that...)
The party can head to the Inner Ward with the guard drakes if they wish as even in a fighting frenzy the combatants know better than to get close to the Inner Ward
A fight breaks out Lizardfolk vs Bullywugs causing pure chaos in the Outer Ward.
Ixsas is again impressed by Zeds's way with words. What a following he could build for Kossuth with such a voice!
Ixsas is glad that their plan worked. He doesn't really like the Lizardfolk, but he likes them more than he likes the Bullywugs! Without Pharblex to help them, he expects that the Bullywugs will soon be defeated and either killed or driven away from the castle. And that's assuming that other (non-Bullywug, non-Lizardfolk) followers of the Dragon Queen do not show up and put an end to this riot. If they're going to take advantage of the chaos, the party needs to act now! Everyone is fully-healed, and neither the Bullywugs nor the Lizardfolk are paying attention to them at the moment.
Ixsas dismisses the Light on Zeds's hat and moves closer to the others to say, "Where next? Dralmorrer's tower?"
Ixsas will let Zeds and Serge lead the way. He'll follow wherever they go, trailing at the back of the group behind Krackle.
"Yoikes!" Zeds exclaims as he's almost attacked and was never so happy to see a lizardfolk as when Snapjaw interceded...
He's momentarily lost in the immediate chaos that breaks out. It worked? he thinks to himself. It really worked?? But he doesn't have long to wonder at the marvel of it before Ixsas is shouting in his ear, asking what is next.
"Ummm," he answers helpfully and looks around to make sure Serge and Krackle are near enough that they won't get separated from the party. Once he is sure of that he nods to Ixsas. "Sure. Sounds good... Where is it? Whatever, just point the way, eh?"
With those reassuring words, Zeds will start heading in whatever direction Ixsas indicates, doing his best to avoid combatants as he does, mostly ducking and dodging and shuffling his way away from trouble whenever possible...
Ixsas points to the right (west or "up" on this map) as we leave the stables (F). The opening to the Inner Ward (D), where we saw the guard drakes earlier, is just 30-ft away.
((OOC: The other option is to go straight south, across the Outer Ward (C), to explore L/M/N/O or to check the P/W/R/S/T first. But as much as I'm a completionist who wants to check out every room in the map, Ixsas would view that as a distraction from the main mission at this point. Since we know that Dralmorrer resides in U/V/W (the astronomy tower) in the Inner Ward, he thinks that we should take this opportunity to go directly there before Dralmorrer or the other dragon cultists figure out that we've breached the castle.))
Zeds pulls up and slows way the flock down upon seeing the guard drakes, having forgotten about them entirely...
"Uhh.... I don't think I can talk us past them?" he offers to the others and puts his hands on his weapons while he waits to see if anyone has a better idea.
Zeds pulls up and slows way the flock down upon seeing the guard drakes, having forgotten about them entirely...
"Uhh.... I don't think I can talk us past them?" he offers to the others and puts his hands on his weapons while he waits to see if anyone has a better idea.
Ixsas had not. Ixsas had suggested exploring the "kitchens" somewhere over in area P/Q/R partly because he hoped that they may find some alternate way into the Astronomy Tower in the Inner Ward without having to fight their way past the guard drakes. The guard drakes are also one of the reasons that Ixsas was trying to conserve his spell slots in the fight with the bullywugs: he anticipated a harder fight later.
As for "better ideas," Ixsas isn't sure, but he's happy to make suggestions.
Ixsas prays for Guidance, touching Serge's arm, and then asks, "Serge 'Mashblade,' you come from a family of dragon slayers, do you not? Do you know anything about this type of creature?"
Ixsas says, "They look like little dragons, don't they? Perhaps Krackle can talk to them (in draconic)? Maybe they will be more friendly toward a dragon-kin like him?"
Ixsas wonders whether Pharblex had permission to come and go through the inner ward. It might be difficult to train the guard drakes to permit specific individuals to pass through the Inner Ward unharmed: Ixsas isn't sure how smart the creatures are. And if the guards and commanders change over time, the guard drake handlers might not want to keep retraining the guard drakes repeatedly. Ixsas suggests that maybe Kossuth has provided a solution before they even knew they needed it: Zeds's new hat.
Perhaps the drakes were simply trained not to harm the wearer of Zeds's new hat. Of course, the only way to test that theory could be deadly!
Or maybe the hat has some magical power to charm the guard drakes or to do as the wearer commands? Unfortunately, Ixsas didn't prepare Detect Magic today because he expected a day of fighting, and even if he could confirm that the hat is magical, he doesn't know how to quickly identify magic items. He doesn't think that they have time to take a long enough rest to study the item and attune to its power, if needed.
Serge looks at Ixsas. "They're drakes... dragonkin, but in the 'distant cousin, none of the fire breathing fun' variety. Other than that, I've got nothing. But our answers lie with the master of this place and that is up that tower. We have our distraction... we won't have a better chance."
While the bullywugs and lizardfolk battle behind them, Serge draws his sword and leads the way into the inner ward, drakes be-damned.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
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Yes, everyone is back to max health
Whoever is keeping watch at the stables hear the sound of many footsteps. Soon you see many bullywugs some bigger than the others and accompanying them are giant frogs. Then many lizardfolks come into view as well walking alongside the bullywugs.
They are looking to the stables and will be there shortly.
(OOC: @Weathervision - If Zeds has finished searching the 2nd floor of G, where we found Pharblex, by the time Ixsas and Serge join the others, could I just use Ixsas's roll for searching the 1st floor of G while someone keeps watch on the Outer Ward?)
(OOC: Ixsas is less interested in valuables than he is in potions or scrolls. He's hoping that the bullywug shaman kept a stash of healing potions for his guards. With only one 3rd-level slot left, Ixsas won't be able to use Aura of Vitality again if he needs to thwart a spellcaster. Thankfully, Krackle still has plenty of slots left for blasting their opponents.)
(Yes, Ixsas can do that. unfortunately, there are no potions, and he does not find anything else of note)
What do you do?
(OOC: I think that we all went from the stables back over to G to heal and search for anything that could help us, so we're presumably in G when we see bullywugs and lizardfolk heading toward the stables (F). Ixsas had suggested that Krackle keep watch since the kobold is the least skillful at searching a room using Investigation.)
That is fine then those in G hear them coming and Krackle sees them coming.
At least Zeds got a cool hat!
When Ixsas peeks out the door and see that both bullywugs and lizardfolk are together and not currently fighting, he says, "Hm. That bodes not well. If we don't want the bullywugs and the lizardfolk to ally against us, we need to get out there and change the story." He asks Zeds, "Do you think that you can get them fighting again? Maybe convince the lizardfolk that Pharblex sought to betray them and expel them from the castle, starting with killing their giant lizards? Or maybe that Dralmorrer sent us to clear out the bullywugs after he discovered some treachery of Pharblex? Since the lizardfolk don't like the bullywugs, they might believe that Pharblex and his guards refused to leave and fought back against us. And now we need the lizardfolk's help to clear the remaining bullywugs from the castle."
((OOC: I'm changing Ixsas's text color to plain green. The yellow-green was hard on the eyes, and no one else is currently using green.))
(Zeds is now Zindiana Jones, yo?)
"Can I?" Zeds says, kind of asking the fates even as he makes an exaggerated grimace / eek expression. "I guess we're going to find out...?"
Adjusting his fashionably questionable new hat, Zeds leads the way back down to the stables. He's not exactly thrilled by the prospect now that they've released several giant lizards to roam about there but he really thinks they need the body...
{The plan is this, if nobody objects. One or two of the others get ready to throw open the stable doors dramatically when we hear the mob approaching (depending on how many are needed to throw open the doors?) and Zeds readies the throwing of the Pharblex body out through the doors towards the mob. Hopefully this will get the mob to stop so Zeds can step up dramatically and speechify at them for a turn or two without getting immediately killed... Serge should be at the doors ready to be a front line fighter if/when needed. Ixsas maybe the other one? Krackle can be further back a bit... But Krackle and Ixsas should both be ready to use their light spells behind Zeds once the doors open to cause a dramatic and possible too bright effect, giving the mob pause? But also prestidigitation or thaumaturgy as the case may be to add some pizzaz and flair to Zeds' speechifying... It is all about presentation and HELP!}
"Here is the body of Pharblex, the betrayer!" Zeds will call out once the body hits the floor. "See it and know that all who betray Dralmorrer and the Dragon Queen shall pay the final price for their blasphemy!!" (Hopefully some echoing sounds, dramatic lighting and other pizzaz here...)
"Know you all that Pharblex has been brought low and cast out of the sight of the Dragon Queen for he challenged and brought low the Suncaller! How dare he? How dare a Bullywug challenge a Lizardkind without the permission of Dralmorrer? Without the blessing of the Dragon Queen? Such blasphemy, such betrayal of the rightful order cannot be allowed to stand!!" (Again, hoping others can add some applause and random murmurs of agreement and such as needed to try to hype up the crowd...)
"Lizardfolk! Are you willing to let this stand? Are you willing to be subservient to the Bullywug scum??" (help here too?)
"Or have you had enough? Are you ready to fight for your rightful place?!?" (again??)
"Rise up! Assert your dominance!!!"
(Persuasion: 24... or if I get help from others and thus advantage Nat 1 for 9. Thankfully that was the second roll...)
((OOC: I don't know whether the hat has an enchantment that ensures that you don't lose it through crazy adventures across multiple continents or whether it's just such a valuable hat that you just make sure that you never leave it behind!))
Does Zeds wear his new hat with the dragon cult mask when he addresses the crowd? Or just the hat?
No objections from Ixsas, and he does what he can to help Zeds' speech land. Some details below, assuming that we're able to do everything proposed here without an immediate attack from the bullywugs or lizardfolk.
Ixsas prefers to cast Light on the front of the hat before they open the stable doors. That way, as soon as the doors opens, there will be bright light shining forth from Zeds and illuminating the area just in front Zeds and the open stable doors, but it won't really illuminate the scene inside the stables. The brim of the hat keeps should also keep the light off of Zeds's features, which maybe helps the audience imagine him as more than a mere human.
Ixsas tries to find a stool or bench that Zeds could stand on for a light bit of height. It'll make him a good target for archers, but Ixsas thinks that a "preacher" should loom above his audience. It will give his words more authority.
Ixsas suggests to Krackle that once the doors are open, perhaps create a fire a little bit in front of Zeds, especially if we're able to get him up on a stool. That way, he'll have some bright, flickering light on his face, but it'll also be a nice obstacle in case the throng of bullywugs try to rush forward and attack.
Ixsas shoves the door open and uses Thaumaturgy to accompany the act with a sort of thunderclap. He hopes that the sound blends in with the doors banging open so that it doesn't sound too unnatural, but perhaps it'll get the crowd's attention and feel portentous to the superstitious creatures with their shamanistic religions.
Once Zeds throws down Pharblex's body, Ixsas watches to see where the lizardfolk head that Pharblex was wearing as a crown lands. Since their leverage is with the lizardfolk, Ixsas thinks that they should emphasize this gruesome ornament that Pharblex chose to wear: the sight should blunt any concern that the lizardfolk would have over the death of the bullywugs' leader. As Zeds speaks, Ixsas quietly casts Thaumaturgy to cause a shaft of light to seem to fall from above and illuminate the lizardfolk (Shaman Suncaller's) face. Ixsas hopes that it makes it look like the sun came out once more to grace the Suncaller and inspire his lizardfolk people.
((OOC: I think that that's generally within the range of the spell's power, and what could be more on theme for a Light Domain cleric than the sight of a shaft of light falling from above?! The spell could make a slightly brighter and more visible (as though shining through dust or mist) "shaft of light" fall on the lizardfolk face or, if the area in front of the stables is very bright, just make the rest of the area seem dim so that the "shaft of light" that falls on the lizardfolk face stands out.))
Here Ixsas can cast Thaumaturgy again to cause an instantaneous sound, like someone (or multiple someones) shouting, "No!", from somewhere non-specific in the middle of the crowd. Since the party doesn't have a "plant" among the crowd, this effect is the best that Ixsas can do to "get the ball rolling." No one wants to be the first one to agree to a revolt, but if they're thinking of supporting what Zeds is saying and they hear someone else agree, perhaps it'll help the others to get off the fence and speak up too. And once a few of them are on board, the whole crowd of lizardfolk could quickly swing our way.
Finally, here, Ixsas uses Thaumaturgy to create a sound like many frogs (bullywug-sized frogs) croaking quietly over each other in a brief cacophony that Ixsas hopes sounds "oppositional" or "threatening" to the long-suffering lizardfolk.
(OOC: Note that the last thing before we opened the doors and Zeds stepped out to speak, Ixsas would certainly give him Guidance, making that...)
Persuasion: 25
(Amazing speech and magical display. Inspiration for both Zeds and Ixsas if you don't have one already)
One of the beefier bullywug steps ready to impale Zeds on his blade. In a thick accent "For Pharblex you will ..."
Before he can finish Snapjaw slugs him right in the face to shut him up.
A fight breaks out Lizardfolk vs Bullywugs causing pure chaos in the Outer Ward.
The party can head to the Inner Ward with the guard drakes if they wish as even in a fighting frenzy the combatants know better than to get close to the Inner Ward
What do you do?
Ixsas is again impressed by Zeds's way with words. What a following he could build for Kossuth with such a voice!
Ixsas is glad that their plan worked. He doesn't really like the Lizardfolk, but he likes them more than he likes the Bullywugs! Without Pharblex to help them, he expects that the Bullywugs will soon be defeated and either killed or driven away from the castle. And that's assuming that other (non-Bullywug, non-Lizardfolk) followers of the Dragon Queen do not show up and put an end to this riot. If they're going to take advantage of the chaos, the party needs to act now! Everyone is fully-healed, and neither the Bullywugs nor the Lizardfolk are paying attention to them at the moment.
Ixsas dismisses the Light on Zeds's hat and moves closer to the others to say, "Where next? Dralmorrer's tower?"
Ixsas will let Zeds and Serge lead the way. He'll follow wherever they go, trailing at the back of the group behind Krackle.
"Yoikes!" Zeds exclaims as he's almost attacked and was never so happy to see a lizardfolk as when Snapjaw interceded...
He's momentarily lost in the immediate chaos that breaks out. It worked? he thinks to himself. It really worked?? But he doesn't have long to wonder at the marvel of it before Ixsas is shouting in his ear, asking what is next.
"Ummm," he answers helpfully and looks around to make sure Serge and Krackle are near enough that they won't get separated from the party. Once he is sure of that he nods to Ixsas. "Sure. Sounds good... Where is it? Whatever, just point the way, eh?"
With those reassuring words, Zeds will start heading in whatever direction Ixsas indicates, doing his best to avoid combatants as he does, mostly ducking and dodging and shuffling his way away from trouble whenever possible...
Ixsas points to the right (west or "up" on this map) as we leave the stables (F). The opening to the Inner Ward (D), where we saw the guard drakes earlier, is just 30-ft away.
((OOC: The other option is to go straight south, across the Outer Ward (C), to explore L/M/N/O or to check the P/W/R/S/T first. But as much as I'm a completionist who wants to check out every room in the map, Ixsas would view that as a distraction from the main mission at this point. Since we know that Dralmorrer resides in U/V/W (the astronomy tower) in the Inner Ward, he thinks that we should take this opportunity to go directly there before Dralmorrer or the other dragon cultists figure out that we've breached the castle.))
The party heads north to the Inner Ward where the guard drakes patrol.
From the entrance you see 3 scattered in the Inner Ward.
Is the party just walking in if so that will start combat?
Zeds pulls up and slows way the flock down upon seeing the guard drakes, having forgotten about them entirely...
"Uhh.... I don't think I can talk us past them?" he offers to the others and puts his hands on his weapons while he waits to see if anyone has a better idea.
Ixsas had not. Ixsas had suggested exploring the "kitchens" somewhere over in area P/Q/R partly because he hoped that they may find some alternate way into the Astronomy Tower in the Inner Ward without having to fight their way past the guard drakes. The guard drakes are also one of the reasons that Ixsas was trying to conserve his spell slots in the fight with the bullywugs: he anticipated a harder fight later.
As for "better ideas," Ixsas isn't sure, but he's happy to make suggestions.
Serge looks at Ixsas. "They're drakes... dragonkin, but in the 'distant cousin, none of the fire breathing fun' variety. Other than that, I've got nothing. But our answers lie with the master of this place and that is up that tower. We have our distraction... we won't have a better chance."
While the bullywugs and lizardfolk battle behind them, Serge draws his sword and leads the way into the inner ward, drakes be-damned.
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War