Tyranny of Dragons

The lightning bolt goes off injuring them though not killing them. 

The Merc though charmed will not just let the grains be taken. You can roll persuasion to try to convince them as even with charmed the Merc can still kill the Porters. 

Round 8

Akkron's Turn. 

Akkron pauses... the charmed merc presumably hasn't noticed the porters yet. Akkron makes a decision.

Come here, friend, he says. Your companions... I can't rouse them... they seem to be bewitched. If we rouse them, we take care of any other threats together.

He does his best to get the brute to move into the small space with the two other goons.

Deception, with advantage: 19

The Merc has a puzzled look but is willing to humor a friend and moves where Akkron tells him. 

Round 9

Akkron's Turn. 

At this point, Akkron casts Wall of Force in a dome over the three (they should be close enough, given they started 20-ft apart and were moving to converge on Akkron), releasing his concentration on Hold Person.

It is much safer for you here, friend, than anywhere else, Akkron tells them from outside the wall. Then he goes to check on the porters while leaving the three men trapped inside of the invisible bubble.

Make Haste! he tells the porters. I have bought us time, but we must move quickly. My magic will last ten minutes. Grab as much as you can, and then we must flee back into the tunnel.

The porter drenched with sweat pull their hand carts by the mill and starts loading the sacks of grains as fast as they can.

The 2 goons free of the paralysis have short but illuminating conversation with the big merc. Seeing something clearly wrong they try to break free, but their weapons just skitter off of the invisible dome of magic. 

A few porters stumble when they took 1 too many sacks at the same time. The minutes go by in flash. In the Distance the sound of clashing steel becomes less frequent until the only sound heard is the porters' grunts of effort. 

Did the militiamen perish? retreat? Akkron cannot tell. 

9 minutes have passed. 

We have as much as we can gather, Akkron says. Greed will help no one. Fall back to the tunnel!

Akkron picks up one smaller bag of grain himself and urges the porters to retreat with what they have. They have bought time for the refugees.... hopefully it will be enough.

Akkron and the porters rush back towards the secret tunnel putting the mill behind them with the 1 doing her best to hide the tracks quickly. 

Once fully inside the keep the porters breathe a sigh of relief. Standing nearby is Castellan Rorf. A heavy-set man with a shaved head and green eyes, wearing heavy armor smeared with blood. He waves Akkron over and in a hurried manner guides you to Governor Nighthill. You see him seated with the elderly cleric bandaging his wounds which includes a heavy gash over his left eye and a broken arrow shaft sticking out of his arm. 

"I hear you succeeded. Thank you for your aid. This keep may be small, but the walls are thick and with the grains we should be able to last for a while" he tries to stand when a gush of blood comes flowing out from beneath his armored grieves over his left leg. He slumps back heavily into his chair with the elderly cleric saying, "If you don't rest governor, you will not see the next dawn." He looks like he was about to say something but gives in. "I know you may be tired, but can you head up to the battlements to see what is going on. We had a bit of a skirmish up their but oddly the raiders retreated. I don't know why but I don't like it" 

Akkron nods... he's tired. Very tired. And nearly out of spells.

I will check the battlements, he says. But if there is another threat, I will need the support of the militia. I cannot keep fighting alone forever.

With that, he ascends to the battlements, doing his best to avoid being too visible.

Stealth: 13

Governor Nighthill signals to Castellan Rorf who gathers 20 militiamen and heads up the battlements with Akkron giving him a head start as to not ruin is stealth attempt. 

Enemy Perception

17

By the time Akkron reaches the battlements night had fallen. The air feels charged with some strange energy and then you see lightning so bright arc across the sky as if heralding a storm this night. 

For a moment you look around seeing no danger, but you then hear the mighty flap of leathery wings and rising into view so very close is a dragon a mountain of blue scales and eyes that that gleam with danger. Though you have lived for centuries you feel this mighty dragon before you most likely is older than you. 

In a loud hushed tone the dragon says in common "I see you lich and the mortals behind you. Now come out and we may talk for a bit" The dragon seems to hover almost with a few flaps of its wings intermittently. 

On the battlements are 2 ballista and clear signs of battle with 10 dead raiders still here with a pair of siege ladders still attached to the battlements.

I believe we can speak well enough from here, Akkron tells the dragon. I do not know whether it was your people who attacked this town, but this travesty I could not look away from. What is it that you wish to say to us? I am sure all will gladly listen to your words.

The dragon lets out a dry chuckle "You know as well as I do that you and the others cannot survive this night with me here" to add emphasis he nonchalantly hits the battlements with his tail and the quarried stone cracked with a few chunks falling away to the ground below. "I offer a challenge. You fight someone of my choosing 1 on 1 and whether you win or lose I will order the others to leave. Don't worry the person I have in mind is quite mortal" 

Akkron considers for a moment.

A duel, then? he says. Very well... let us duel in an hour's time. I think that it is fair I request that concession as you are the challenger. And swear it that neither you nor any other in your army shall interfere. When the duel is complete, whether I win or lose, leave these people in peace.

The dragon leans closer with his massive head in view "If you are not outside in front of the keep in 1 hour I will raze this pittance of a village. As to what I said yes, I swear the raiders will leave win or lose"

Very well, I shall meet your champion in an hour, Akkron says. You have my word.

With that, he goes downstairs and settles into a silent meditation for exactly an hour in front of the doorway, ready to emerge the moment that the hour is up. If anyone speaks to him, he nods politely but continues his meditation.

[[OOC: Akkron takes a Short Rest. He uses Arcane Recovery to get back a 6th-level spell slot and a 4th-level slot. He also spends 7 hit dice, regaining 58 hit points]]

As soon as the hour is up, Akkron stands and steps onto the field.

I am ready, he says. Bring out your champion.

Outside of the gate stands a tall blue dragon humanoid wearing plate armor dyed purple with etched markings near the collar. He holds a great sword pointed down and then you see he wears a ring similar to the one you wear on his right thumb. 

In a booming voice he says "I am Langdedrosa Cyanwrath and I am your challenger today" behind within near is a crowd of raiders holding some townsfolk prisoner. One of the raiders gets too rough with one of the prisoners and Landedrosa quickly intervenes "That is enough. Let go now! You there just watch them but do not harm them" he then turns back to Akkron "My apologies some of the people I have to work with lack discipline. "Now to the fight" 

Round 1

Akkron's Turn

The open area for the fight is a 60ft circle with Landedrosa in he middle. 

Akkron observes the dragon-man for a moment, then raises his staff.

A fight you want, a fight you shall have! He announces. Fear the spirit of death...

With a theatrical movement of his hands, Akkron casts Summon Undead at 6th-level, choosing the ghostly form. The spirit appears before Landedrosa... the form is a girl, a half-Drow. Ghostly fingers rake across the champion's armor. The spirit is bolstered by Akkron's necromantic mastery (Undead Thralls, +20 HP, +6 damage)

Deathly Touch vs. Landedrosa
Attack: Dice rolls not yet available for this section. Damage: Dice rolls not yet available for this section. necrotic
Attack: Dice rolls not yet available for this section. Damage: Dice rolls not yet available for this section. necrotic
Attack: Dice rolls not yet available for this section. Damage: Dice rolls not yet available for this section. necrotic

If any of the three attacks hits, Landedrosa has the Frightened condition until the end of his next turn.

Okay... let's try those dice again:

Deathly Touch
Attack: 17 Damage: 17
Attack: 35 Damage: 23
Attack: 19 Damage: 19