Tyranny of Dragons

She shrugs. "Hard to say. Come with me, then." And continues searching for Eadyen.

You find Eadyan Falconmoon tending to the frightened people inside the keep, offering a listening ear and comfort wherever he can. When he sees you approaching, he moves to greet you.

"Thank you all for helping get these people to safety. Please let me know if there is any way I can reward you for your services. The temple's treasury is very nearly bare, but anything else within my power is yours." As he's speaking, you hear a great commotion from outside, and everyone who is able to makes their way to a place where they can see what's going on.

When you get to the wall and look out toward the gate area, a creature strides from the darkness into the dim light of the dying fires around the keep. Although it is shaped roughly like a human, it is at least seven feet tall, its skin is covered in blue scales, its fingers bear wicked claws, and its face has the muzzle and reptilian eyes of a dragon. The creature stops about eighty yards from the main gate of the keep and scans the walls. A line of kobolds fans out behind it. With their spears, they prod four human prisoners into the dim light. You can make out a woman, a teenage boy in a blood-soaked tunic, and two children. Then the half-dragon creature hails the keep.

“Defenders of Greenest! This has been a successful night, and I am feeling generous. Do you see these four pitiful, useless prisoners? We have no need for them, so I will trade them back to you. Send out your best warrior to fight me, and you can have these four in exchange.”

As the impact of the challenge hits you, Governor Nighthill approaches you. Behind him, you see a very agitated man being restrained by Escobert and a few other defenders you don't recognize. He is screaming, "Let me go! That's my sister! Let me go!"

When Nighthill reaches you, he says, “My friends, you’ve demonstrated your prowess all through this frightful night. I realize this is an awful burden to ask you to bear, but any of you has a better chance to defeat that horror than my militia have. Will you help us again?”

"The gall of that creature!" Fjordix says after the Dragonesque creature gives his speech. "I would gladly cut him down!" he says to the Governor, never taking his eye off the creature.

“Oh... lovely.” Rex looks over to the rest of them, “Ok, that fine gentleman would be Langdedrosa Cyanwrath. If you couldn’t tell, he’s a half-dragon. Nobody beats him in a fight. But I think I can out talk him. I can try to convince him to give us the prisoners as we send out our fighter. Fjordix, would you be up for that?”

[Twenty Gold on Fjordix! I believe in ya buddy!]

Landrosa huh? You know, we should really have a talk about exactly how much you know about these people that are so desperate to kill us Rex." Regardless, we have to save those prisoners and seeing how Fjordix had been itching to kill the shit out of some dragons I say we let him have at the brute."

And turning to Fjordix, "So, would you say you fight better when you're angry?"

Rex scratches the back of his neck, “It’s... complicated.”

"Well if we make it through this, I can do complicated. What I'd prefer not to do is find out stuff as we go. But, if it's something you would rather not talk about I get that too."

Quote from JcAndD >>

“Oh... lovely.” Rex looks over to the rest of them, “Ok, that fine gentleman would be Landrosa Cyanwrath. If you couldn’t tell, he’s a half-dragon. Nobody beats him in a fight. But I think I can out talk him. I can try to convince him to give us the prisoners as we send out our fighter. Fjordix, would you be up for that?”

[Twenty Gold on Fjordix! I believe in ya buddy!]

Quote from Mpruett >>

"Landrosa huh? You know, we should really have a talk about exactly how much you know about these people that are so desperate to kill us Rex."

"The only way I ever fight is Angry, if it doesn't make you angry, then you shouldn't fight for it." Fjordix makes his way down to the gate where he can be let out to meet the Half Dragon Landrosa. 

Arliden follow Fjordix down to the gate and as Fjordix prepares himself for battle Arliden start talking to him in a low voice. "You see that half-dragon thing over there? You probably thinks you're trash, probably doesn't even consider you worth his time. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he starts laughing at you when he sees you come to face him," and Arliden creates a throaty dragon chuckle, "Prove him wrong Fjordix, bring your glaive to bear upon his neck, spill his blood, and crush his body underfoot. Show him that noone mocks Fjordix and lives."

Arliden will inspire Fjordix with Bardic Inspiration (last for 10 minutes, add a d6 to one of your d20 rolls)

“So are we just sending him down without trying to secure the prisoners first? If he negotiates by shouting, I can do that too!” Rex says with a crack of the old knuckles.

[You're free to shout back to Langdedrosa if you would like.] 

[Alright then, I shall do so!]

Rex impulsively decides that he’s going with his plan as well, “Langdedrosa Cyanwrath, the Crackling Wind. Your reputation proceeds you. A man with the heart of a dragon who prides honor above all else. We shall agree to your terms, on one condition. Deliver the hostages to us as we deliver our champion to you. For we too are bound by honor. There is none nobler than our champion. Let it be so, and let blades match this day.” [Persuasion: 5]

[oh no...]

[Wait! DM Inspiration! Using that now! Persuasion: 9]

I sense another [oh no] coming. "Nice try though Rex. It was worth the attempt."

Hearing Rex's rousing speech, Novot temporarily abandons her search for her chaperone. This I've got to see. She goes to the parapet [and grabs her popcorn] to watch.

[Go Fjordix! Also, how many kobolds are there?]

Rex returns a shout, “We accept, Langdedrosa!” Then turns and mutters to himself, “Dragons like you are why I’m going to stop this.” Rex looks to Fjordix, “Gonna need you to win. Can’t stand that guy. Cocky blue salamander...”

"I won't let a Dragon win...not again" Fjordix marched out to meet the Half Dragon Langdedrosa, his Glaive at the ready. "Are you ready to fall in combat Dragon?" he said through clenched teeth.

Initiative: 10

[There are 16 kobolds with him.]