Where Dragon's Dare!

[Asarasa]

When the rain of axes against steel faded away, Kathra lowered her shield and swung a mighty overhead blow. Her hammer struck the skeletal abomination directly on the breastbone and continued through nearly unimpeded, shattering ribs to powder and snapping vertebrae. So dedicated in her attack on the battered and detested undead, the thickly built dwarf woman was already striking again as the skeleton fell to pieces and dust about her, her hammer missing its skull.

She batted it aside with her shield, jade eyes glittering with triumph. "By the Stone Father and Forge Mother, I hate the restless dead."

This sort must be some kind of guardian. Kathra guessed the ones tending to the dragon eggs would be different. No matter, her hammer and her allies would do for them as well. Kathra swung about and hard eyes fixing on the skeletal asailing Brarga, she gestured at it with her shield, assigning it her Hunter's mercilessness, and started stomping towards it...

... With some caution. She couldn't see, but could definitely hear the oversized Grugach.

 

Spoiler

Action: Attack Skeleton.
Asarasa Request: [1d20+8] Roll: [16] Result: 24 - Hit
Asarasa Request: [1d20+8] Roll: [3] Result: 11 - Miss

Damage: Asarasa Request: [1d8+1d6+5] Roll: [7][6] Result: 18, doubled to 36 = Superkill after the damage it already took.

Bonus Action: Shift Hunter's Mark

Movement: Move towards Skeleton fighting Brarga.

 

[SalmonMax]

"Come my friend!" Seelia bugled, brandishing her sword, "WE STRIKE AS ONE!"

 

She dove towards Brarga's opponent, her blade exploding into verdant flames as she impacted directly into its sternum! Meanwhile, Mr Pants had whirled around and run towards the same target, his upper half dangling precariously from being slashed through! As Seelia struck high, he struck low...the pair of attacks doing surprisingly serious damage to the undead monstrosity!

 

"Don't worry, Brarga! We'll save you!"

 

 

Spoiler

Seelia does 15 damage total (11 piercing, 4 fire) from greenflame blade. Pants does 7 bludgeoning, doubled to 14.

 

[Nina]

The last skeleton crashed to the ground amid a shower of bone and dust and the clatter of dropped weapons and armor. A chill wind seemed to rush from the place of fighting, a barely heard wail carried down the tunnel from which Kathra’s opponent had come.

 

<That way!> came the dragon’s thought, <you must hurry, the alarm has been sounded, if you are quick, you may catch the remainder of the guardians before they animate fully. Hurry!>

 

Spurred by the Dragons thoughts the party quickly gather themselves and rush after the wind.

 

Caution thrown to the wind they speed through the remaining tunnels until the come to an open archway leading into a vast chamber, bigger that that which holds the captive dragon.

 

The chamber is flat floored with a stone dome making its ceiling. It is a good hundred yards across most of the center space of the chamber is taken up a huge statue of a dragon made of glowing yellow crystal which lights the chamber almost as if it were open to the sun. At the foot of the dragon statue writhe two young dragons, bathing ecstatically. Unaware, in the glow of the crystal’s magical emanations. Wringing the chamber at a height of fifty feet is a ledge and, on this ledge, stand guard mutely, dozens of skeleton warriors each six feet tall and encased in bronze armor holding before their bodies large two-handed swords.

 

The party takes all this in in the second they reach the arch. Seelia cries out and points. “The wind! It rouses the enemy!”

 

Indeed, in the glow of the dragon light the wind conjured by the death of the first guardians is visible a wraith like thing which sweeps up and around the ledge and through the Dead warriors standing there guarding, and where it passes that warrior shakes and comes to life!

 

Spoiler

the scene is set.  

 

[SalmonMax]

"Stay back, Mister Pants, and watch the passage behind us," Seelia says to her stalwart companion. "Let none ambush us from behind! This foe is beyond you, my squire."

 

She zoomed into the chamber and her wings flared with coruscating patterns of color and light. A shifting sea of particles exploded out of her and whooshed across the cavernous space to where the ghostlike being was awakening skeletons. There they gathered into a seething, churning sphere and burst outward, encompassing the strange spectre and the nearby bony guardians.

 

In those luminous sands, strange visions could be seen, hinting at secrets, at glories, and perhaps for these undead creatures even tantalizing morsels of their former lives. Just pause, just stop and look, and perhaps the dust would clear. Perhaps you'd be able to see what you most desired...

 

Meanwhile Seelia drew her sword and grinned eagerly.

 

"To battle!"

 

 

Spoiler

Seelia casts Hypnotic Pattern on the creature awakening skeletons, and as many skeletons as she can fit into the 30' square area. All affected creatures not immune to charm, and able to see, make a Will save at DC 16 or be incapacitated. They can take no actions, but are at no other penalty or condition. Taking any damage will clear the incapacitated condition, or an ally can spend an action to clear it from one. Oh, and also, activating Bladesong as a bonus action.

 

Edited December 20, 2022 by SalmonMax

[Asarasa]

The chamber was huge, obvious worked by competent hands. Kathra didn't see a way to reach the ledge with all the guardians and the wraith waking them, but she couldn't see beyond the glowing statue of the dragon. She gave the sunning dragonlings a suspicious look.

Kathra sprinted into the chamber following Seelia's prismatic display, moving the circle around the statue.

"I'm going to look for a way to reach the ledge before more of the dead wake," she called out.

 

Spoiler

Action and Move: Sprinting around the statue to see if they is a way up behind it.

 

[Shameless]

brarga took note of Seelia's spell, and hoped that it would constrain the animating force long enough for them to deal with this.  An army of armored skeletons wasn't his idea of fun, not to mention having to climb up there to deal with them.  With CKathra charging forward, he decided it was worth a gamble.
 

Still the task ahead was daunting, running the gauntlet of two dragons sunning themselves, to smash the crystal that they were using to do so.  It certainly wasn't what he'd expected when they signed on for this.   He steeled himself, and Followed after Kathra, though his intention wasn't so much to get up behind the statue, but to inspect it and see if there was a weakpoint that would allow him and Marida to destroy it.   "Marida, I will likely need your help to shatter the statue when the time comes."

 

Spoiler

Brarga's sprinting in as well.

 

[Exile_Jeane]

Spoiler

sprint action as well. Recloaking.

 

"Aye," exhaled the Grugach Warrior with a grim nod before pulling the hood of her cloak back up and over her head. She vanished from sight and broke into a sprint. No one liked being fooled, so the two enthralled dragons ought to be on their side once they broke the statue. Hopefully? Eh, that was future Marida's problem. At least it was a rare problem that a pair of hardy warriors couldn't solve using the tools of their craft.  

[Veral]

Yimtac sighed, "If you want something shattered, maybe ask the one with the shattering spell?" He quickly stepped forward, his focus on the crystal. 'I wish I had time to study that statue... but it is probably a potent magical focus. It has to go. ' His eyes sought out the heart of the crystal dragon and his voice rose to a thunderous crescendo. "By the power of the dragon's blood in my veins, and the mystical energies at my beck and call, I command you to break." He cast out the gathering energies and pointed his hand at the head of the statue. "SHATTER!"

 

Spoiler

 Thunder damage for 10 points, con dc 16 save with disad for half damage on the statue.  

 

Dice MaidenBOT — Today at 10:04 PM

Dozer Request: [3d8] Roll: [5, 3, 2] Result: 10

 

Sorry for the bad roll.

 

[Nina]

Magic flew and the heroes charged! The wraith-thing and the Skeletons it had awakened were caught in Seelia's dazzling trap, what minds they had ensnared, at least for the moment.

 

But it was Yimtacs spell that had the most impact, literally and figuratively.

 

The necromancer who had devised the magic statue had never considered that anyone would attack his ingenious  lair much less actually attack his magical artifact directly and so he had made no defense against magic.

 

Yimtac's spell hit the statue but it was not strong enough to shatter it physically, however it did crack. as a web of hairline fractures spread through the great crystal dragon, the magic of Yimtac's spell and the magic of the statue met and the statues spell was broken as if it were a china cup hit by a hammer! The two young dragons, caught in the necromancers web, were free!

 

Shock and fear, the dragons didn't know where they were or how they had gotten there, and while they could not work magic themselves they could sense it and sense it they did as well as the heroes bearing down on them!

 

Spoiler

combat setting has changed let re-roll initiatives please. post them in the combat arena. thank you.

 

[Exile_Jeane]

The rapid patter of running feet past the two dragons announced the arrival of the Grugach warrior, Marida sliding to a halt between the confused super predators and the cliffs packed with skeletal warriors. She pulled down the hood of her magic cloak and faded into view, facing the slumbering undead hoard. "Go down the tunnel we came out of. We're here to help," she commented over one shoulder in sibilant Draconic, hoping that the two beasties were smart enough to have speech.

 

At least with Grugach children, they weren't able to run away from a village before you could teach them basic concepts like 'fire hot' or 'don't eat the purple mushrooms'.

 

Still, she refocused her attention on the wraith and the potential hoard, hammer in both hands, determined to keep the two innocent creatures from further harm. If they weren't about to blast her into next Moon. Such was the life of a warrior.

[SalmonMax]

"Kathra! I choose you!"

 

Seelia swooped in towards the (comparatively) huge warrior and slashed her silvery blade! At Kathra's feet! The tip caught in midair, then sliced sideways and ripped a shimmering rip in the air. Directly underneath Kathra. With a startled 'WAUGH' the dwarf falls through!

 

The pixie then whirls and slashes her sword again, and directly over the ledge with the skeletons, another rift opens with the same shimmering starfield within. Kathra's startled shout continues as she whooshes back out and lands heavily on both feet...directly in front of the undead foes.

 

"Yeah!" shouts Seelia, and she whirrs up to assist her. "Lets get 'em!"

 

(Vortex Warp on Kathra to get her onto the ledge, then moving up to help; that's my turn!)

[Asarasa]

Kathra glanced around in bewilderment at being displaced by the feyknight, then grinned in fierce delight at finding herself facing the packed rank of skeletal warriors, only a few beginning to stir. She set her feetand brought of her heavy shield, bracing it against her broad shoulder.

 

Then the huge dwarf woman charged with booming laughter, angling her shield to knock the skeletons off the ledge to shatter on the stone below as she plowed through through them with her brawny mass and brute strength.

 

Spoiler

Action: Shove - Strength (Athletics) Check opposed by Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics)

Asarasa Request: [1d20+8] Roll: [10] Result: 18

 

[Veral]

Yimtac considered the unfolding scene in front of him. He sent a telepathic message to the dragons first, "Run. We are here to free you." He then focused his mind and magic on the node on the front of his Arcane Infiltrator Armor. The node lit up, and crackled with energy. Yimtac opened his eyes and looked at one of the skeletons on the ledge. The lightning blast struck true. The skeleton was singed and the armor on it's body was blackened by the lightning strike. 

 

Spoiler

Dice MaidenBOT — Today at 8:52 PM

Dozer Request: [1d20+8] Roll: [14] Result: 22

to hit. 

Dice MaidenBOT — Today at 8:53 PM

Dozer Request: [2d6+5] Roll: [6, 6] Result: 17

Damage. Yay MAX!

 

[Nina]

The dragons suddenly free of the spell which held them in thrall look around in confusion. To them all they see are threats coming atthem from evey side, but the clear thought of Yimtac bears fruit... the words of his message mean naught but the emotion and symbolism of pure thought reverberates... FLEE! 

 

The dragons squirm and snap at each other before dashing away in opposite directions and through openings on either end of the chamber.

[Shameless]

Brarga chuckled as the dragons left, which removed two large obstacles to their survival from the battlefield equation, and looked around quickly, spotting a ramp leading upward.  "Up the ramps, let's not let Kathra have all the fun."   He said, even as he began running towards then up the nearest ramp.

[Nina]

The skeletons Kathra hit a crash to the floor in pieces while the wraith floats twisting and turning still under the effects of Seelia's spell. the remaining skeletons lining the ledge stand dormant.

[Exile_Jeane]

"Hopefully one a' ye can take down tha' ghast before et throws off tha' charm of Seelia's," Marida drawled after sighing in relief when the young dragons fled the cavern, "This scooner's got a fair bit a' justice coming 'is way based on how many poor basards he's got stuffed in 'Ere."

 

It was one thing to kill to protect your kith and kin or to eat, but the sheet number of dead in this chamber alone? That was another thing entirely. She'd hunt down the two dragons later if they didn't learn their lesson about staying away from people. Pity she didn't have enough magic on her weapons to feel confident taking a swing at the ghost would be any wiser than yelling at the clouds to stop raining.

 

Oh, well. She shrugged and followed in Barga's wake, nodding at him, "I take left, you take right 'et tha' top?"

[Asarasa]

Kathra's laughter mingled with the clatter of animated bones raining on stone, as she continued her charge around the circular chamber, the big dwarf woman's heavy shield shoving the skeletons off the ledge. She hated the undead and destroying so many was immensely satisfying, even if it would never be enough to make up for the fall of Land's End.

[SalmonMax]

Seelia dove towards one of the skeletons, her blade held high! With a cackle of delight, she flew past the undead beast... Her sword struck sparks off of bone!

 

But too late she realized that her angle, combined with the durability of that bone, meant that she hadn't actually caused damage.

 

"WALNUTS!" she shouted. "I get a do-over on that!"

 

(Swing and miss on skeleton for Seelia, lol)

[Veral]

Yimtac laughed at the shout from Seelia, and let go with another Firebolt. This one was aimed at the ghostly figure distracted by the hypnotic pattern in the air. The bolt hit the creature, but seemed to do very little damage if any. He winced, realizing he just woke up the spirit/ghost thing with an attack that was wasted. 

 

"Cashews!" he muttered as he prepared for his next attack. 

 

Spoiler

1. 

   Dice MaidenBOT — Today at 10:21 PM

   Dozer Request: [1d20+8] Roll: [13] Result: 21

    

    

    

    
2. 

   Dozer — Today at 10:21 PM

   21 to hit the ghostly figure.

    

    

    

    
3. Dozer used

   /roll

   

   Dice MaidenBOT — Today at 10:23 PM

   Dozer Request: [2d10] Roll: [1, 1] Result: 2

    

    

    

    
4. 

   Dozer — Today at 10:24 PM

   damage from firebolt. 2.

 

[Shameless]

"Godsdammit." Brarga said even as he moved to hurl skeletons over the side in a similar manner to Kathra, though he was using his twin axes to do so.

The spirit or whatever it was being free meant soon the other skeletons would be entering the fight, and they'd be swarmed.  "We need to regroup.   Focus down any of them with bows."  He called out to the others,  sparing only a moment's thought for Tandal, though he was confident that Wrenn would keep him safe.

 

Spoiler

rolling 2 strength checks to knock skeletons down to the ground

 

Shameless Request: [1d20+5] Roll: [20] Result: 25

Shameless Request: [1d20+5] Roll: [12] Result: 17

 

[Nina]

Bones cracked and shattered as Brarga, Marida and Kathra smashed through the dozens of skeletons sending them flying to the floor below where the broke and scattered across the chamber.

 

Yimtac's fiery bolt struck  the wraith like thing and fizzled. The specter shrieked and folded in on itself with a pop, the shriek echoing around the chamber!

 

The remaining skeletons fell in upon themselves their bones joining the scattered remains below. At the far ends of the chamber, portcullis' fell across the openings the two dragons had passed through and the smaller arched openings, like the one the party had passed through,  were suddenly blocked by cascading sheets of blue flame which emanated not heat but frigid cold!

 

The party stopped their attacks as this happened and their attentions was drawn to the center of the chamber where a column of black basalt some ten feet in diameter was rising from the remains of the statue, its top a crown of cold fire blazing some ten feet high!

 

Spoiler

anyone who can sense magic does. it is in your ball court once again.

 

[Exile_Jeane]

Well, Marida couldn't detect magic. But 'rising pillar of stone topped by unnatural fire' screamed ' intended caster safe zone' to her. It was always funny when her warband had turned such set ups into fatal missteps by dropping from above as their own shamans washed the best wards from the fight just in time for a gravity-assisted greatsword to the face. Maybe a little less funny now with her wider perspective on things. Maybe. But still a little funny. 

 

"Cover mae," she called over her shoulder as she sprinted for the base of the basalt column, "Gonna toss thes scooner down tae ye w'an he shows up."

 

The Grugach warrior pulled the hood of her cloak over her head and vanished from sight, digging her fingers into small handholds on the rising pillar, muscles tensing against the weight of herself and her wargear as she rose up with the pillar, clawing upwards towards a precarious perch just below the eldritch flames she had no doubt were fueled by the dreams of tortured orphans.

 

Spoiler

Athletics for climbing.

Exile_Jeane Request: [1d20+7] Roll: [19] Result: 26

That'll have to do.

 

[Shameless]

Brarga looked to the pillar, even as Marida vanished, and let out an annoyed grunt.   "Be ready, comrades!" he shouted out, alerting everyone just in case, as he took up a more defensive stance, still ready to jump if need be or strike out at any foe that came forth.

"I really don't like Evil Wizards."

It was half muttered under his breath, which admittedly was still loud enough for Kathra to hear.  Give him a physical battle, and Brarga was fine, even against bad odds.    He could understand those sorts of battles, but when it became a contest of magic, he found himself lacking.   

[Nina]

Marida clung to the top of the pillar by her fingers when it came to a jarring stop, almost shaking her loose. The stone had risen some thirty feet from the floor the flames shimmering from the surface top licking the roof of the chamber anther twelve feet above. 

 

Then with a whoosh the flames fell inward from the edge of the pillar to a single beam of fire which further collapse back into the pillar and from the center of the pillar a form rose slowly. Cloaked and Cowled, wreathed in heavy dark robes underneath, a bone staff clutched in its hands, the master of this place stood before and above them.

 

 Eyes the color of the blue flames peered from within the cowl and locked onto the Barbarian who was readying her spring. There would be no surprise there!

 

Spoiler

Marida since you had readied your action you may pounce, you will need to make a climbing check to get over the edge to make your attack.   Necromancer has an AC: 17