(ooc: based on your original adventure with DM Grimclaw)

After freeing the prisoners, it seems fate has taken an unexpected turn in your venture. After detecting for evil, the group becomes aware that the mildly evil flavor is back and approaching the party.

The Zhentarim the group has freed is back, looking slightly miskempt and askew from his undignified shove to freedom. He arches an eyebrow haughtily at the group as he approaches, and says in his thickly accented voice:

"How such a group freed me and I could not free myself," he says with a sniff of disdain, clearly with a superiority complex, "I do not understand, however you did free me and I would be miserable indeed if I did not express some thanks. Perhaps you would welcome some information."

"My brethren, prevented from scrying me whilst I was in this hole of puking foulness, are now aware of my location. My fellow brethren will descend upon this organization and wipe it's unworthy face from the face of this great desert. It was your goal to eradicate these bandits who worship this so called black scorpion, yes?"

"Well I have been here some time, as I made a foolish mistake--yes one such as I learn as well--in my caravan and they captured me. I overheard them speak, the leader of them all, with the sphinx and I solved the riddle they could not. This great black scorpion that they worship is none other but a guise of Tiamat looking for something and I know what it is--Yes I do. I would not recommend you remain here.

However, I will tell you that the City of Shade, the closest civilization is no more than a week's travel to the north, if you desire to go to a city. When next we meet, my debt to you is paid. As a merchant, I thank you but please go if you do not wish to be here when my brethren arrive. They will be here in several hours and I have sent them a message explaining all, but I do not control the brethren and whether I speak for you or not, your lives will still be forfeit."

After giving his great speech, he sniffs again, dusts his person off even though he is still dirty from imprisonment and turns to walk away as if he doesn't care whether you listen to him or not.

(ooc: in the Anauroch forum, please state if your party wishes to travel to the city of Shade, and if so, would you be averse to fast forwarding the travel? I will then start a tavern thread for you to discuss and alleviate any loose ends from the adventure (to give me an idea of future plots that you wish to resolve) and so that we may start the next adventure, also to be discussed in the ooc forum).

It seems the party's direction was determined upon a chance meeting with a bard in a tavern ironically called The Dark Bard. The party has now a map in their possession which gives clues to an evil altar where the evil spirit of Tiamat is said to be.

Through divine intervention or through devotion to one's ideals, the party has decided to seek out this altar to make sure Tiamat or her avatar, whichever it really is, does not proceed to rise and create havoc.

Your party is refreshed after spending the night in the city of Shade and has accomplished provisioning and shopping errands prior to meeting Rix, the bard, in front of the Dark Bard, for he has agreed to accompany you.

At first you don't recognize the figure in front of the building for he's dressed in loose white robes with a loose white head cloth tied by a brown band around his head. Standing next to the figure is a camel like creature bearing a colorful saddle with saddlebags. The figure turns to you, his tan made darker by the contrast of white robes, and his eyes are darkly blue and narrowed against the sun. You recognize those eyes and realize it's Rix, resembling very much a desert dwelling nomad. Instead of an instrument strapped to his back, there is a scimitar.

"Ah, you made it. Good. Have you everything you need and are you ready for this adventure to start? I swear, I will write many tales and songs if this turns out to be really what the map said. Come, come, have you camels or are you taking steeds or walking? This is Selik, my camel, and we've been on many travels through the dunes, and we know where all the best water holes are, so hopefully water will not be as large a concern."

"So Rix, have you caught any rumor concerning our destination?  Is it a swamp or just another part of the sand box."  Alister spoke.

"I have found out that a swamp exists in the middle of the desert, two weeks travel north of the city of Shade," Rix admits. "It's an oddity, especially as a swamp should not exist there. Not many have attempted to explore it. Other than the journey there, not much is known about it. But then I checked the libraries and asked some of the shop keepers. I did not check with any priests and it may be more in line with religious histories rather than magic. I have heard that the area the ruins are said to be within is attractive to dragons."

Rix rubs his steeds nose and looks at Alistair expectantly. "Know you any dragons or do you have any dragon allies?"

Lysande left the inn, things packed neatly and in an orderly fashion. Her saddlebags went right over Mourn's broad back and the sun elf made sure everything was sitting correctly, minimizing whatever risk to cause chafing or any other discomfort to her mount. She checked her bow and the new quiver with the new arrows. The elf was glad for it as it was possible to carry a much higher number of missiles before it would become encumbering. Aluvendar had already settled on the saddle horn before his mistress proclaimed readiness to move out.

The party starts to gather in front of the tavern and prepares themselves for a journey through a harsh clime with an even harsher environment. Rix is busy filling up small drums of water using a well in front of the tavern and binding them to the many rings sewn onto his mount's saddles and straps. The mount itself is burying its muzzle in the trough in front of the tavern and is drinking deeply. Rix looks around expectantly for the rest of the party.

"I slew an evil blue colored dragon, together with my desert buddies.  I got this nice sword from it." Alister showed his trusty long sword to Rix.  "I just hope it doesn't have a cousin or something to where we are going."

A gleam of pleasure appears in Rix's eyes. "Ah, you must tell me the story in full sometime and I will craft a fine tale or a ballad for you. That is story worthy."

He watches Lysande finish her preparations. "If all of you have mounts, it may be a shorter journey yet. Just tell me when you are ready. I had a scribe check the map I drew from memory of your own and the way is off the beaten path. Do you have a party scout to forge ahead?"

As usual Aelynia didn't offer much to the conversation, but then came an opportunity for her to be useful and help the others.  "I could do that," she offered softly.

"Ai Aelynia, please do so. - Every once in a while I shall send out Aluvendar to be our eyes in the sky." Lysande said, accepting the elf's offer. Gently the mage patted Mourn's neck, the mare was a little restless, sensing the worry in her rider's heart. While they had been through an adventure already, this one would lead to new dangers, most of which Lysande had never heard of and that bothered her. She was an elf and she should be well informed where they were going, but to her dismay she realized her attention had been on more practical skills than learning from books. It was too late to change that now and the sun elf decided against letting the others know about her thoughts.

"How many days you estimate we must travel before reaching the swamp, Rix'nah'vee" Lysande asked.

"I can tell you about it as we travel."  Alister replies to Rix.

"I'll be hitching a ride along the way.  My horse should be awaiting by the outskirt of the city."

Rix looks at Lysande and scrunches up his face in thought before answering, "I estimate we could cut the travel time in half if we are riding, barring any unfortunate events. I am assuming we travel at least 12 hours a day. I checked with a local druidess and she advised me that in two days time, a sirocco will be coming into the area. I was also advised we may wish to look out for some northern tribes are coming this way as well and raiders are usually attracted to their caravans, so there's danger aplenty. We are also passing through a juvenile blue dragon's territory, so it is likely we may welcome Alister's talents in slewing his blue dragon."

Rix smiles at Alister in approval before placing his right foot in his mount's stirrup on the right side and stepping up to climb into his saddle. He offers Alister his right hand while gripping the reins with his left.

"Come, Sir Alister, and you may hitch a ride with me til we recover your mount."

He looks sharply around. "Were there not four of you? I see only three for the moment. Aelynia, if you will scout once we leave the city behind, I would be appreciative. I am best in the urban environment though fear not, I have courage aplenty and will not shirk my duties in grave situations."

Lysande nodded and checked her water skins again, she frowned for a moment, missing A'ran and his experience with desert travel, but the young boy had gone back to his tribe, right where he belonged and the elf wished him a good life, he sure had lots of tales to tell already.

"We should go now, the sun will not wait for us on her path across the sky." the mage said and smiled at Alister. Aluvendar cawed as if he was supporting his mistress' words.

Alister instinctively nods back at the sun elf while still lost in his thought.  He felt that his mind was a little muddled, yet he paid it no heed as he checks his equipment.

"Okay, the faster we leave this city the better."

"Have you a druid or a cleric in your party that can create water? I can carry twenty days worth of water for my beast and myself. That's 20 gallons for myself and 100 gallons for my beast. I'm afraid I'm not able to carry much more beyond my personal self because of weight, though the short distance to the city wall with an added rider will not harm my mount."

Rix pauses, then adds almost as an afterthought, "There is an oasis near the entrance to the swamp. The oasis is approximately 1 day from the swamp and about 15 days from the city depending on travel time and weather."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:32, Sat 10 May 2008.

"I do, but only a few gallons more or less four."

"You can create four gallons of water per day?" Rix asked. "That will likely be enough for yourself. And the others? We may want to stop by the corral on the way out and hire or purchase some pack animals. Or if you have the money, there are vendors in the market place that supply beads of dryness which expand when a little water is poured on it."

Joseph had taken a detour when the party left the city, to track down the camel he had used as a mount in the desert - who he had released before they reached the City of Shade.  It didn't take too long to catch her tracks, and as he had half expected, the loyal animal hadn't gone far, waiting for it's master to return.  Climbing on, he set off to catch up with the others, though when he did, Aelynia was nowhere to be seen.

"Where is Aelynia?" was, of course, the first thing he asked, looking over at Lysande.

"She mentioned scouting ahead, perhaps she already is on the way." Lysande said, while loading the last waterskin on the beasts of burden they had brought. Eventually she mounted Mourn's and said "I am ready to leave. On your word we can leave this place behind."

Aelynia was, in fact, scouting on ahead of the others already, but not too far ahead.  If she spotted any danger, her intention was to run back and alert her friends and new companion.

OOC: Aelynia: give me a two spot checks, two listen checks, a survival check, and a knowledge nature check if you have that skill.

OOC:21:46, Today: Aelynia Th'wil rolled 6 using 1d20+1. Survival.
21:45, Today: Aelynia Th'wil rolled 10 using 1d20+7. Listen.
21:45, Today: Aelynia Th'wil rolled 25 using 1d20+7. Listen.
21:45, Today: Aelynia Th'wil rolled 26 using 1d20+6. Spot.
21:45, Today: Aelynia Th'wil rolled 11 using 1d20+6. Spot.

Aelynia scouts ahead carefully and is distracted by the sounds of jingling, not unlike the traces placed on horses followed by a buzzing sound that grows in intensity. A moment later the sound dies after a quick flash of blue light.

Looking around, there seems to be nothing in the environment that matches either the sound or the sight she noticed.

Actions?

Alister summons his faithful mount and rides a little ahead of Lysande.

Aelynia didn't understand, so she went back until Alister caught up with her.  She explained what she had seen and asked him if he, Joseph, and Lysande had seen it as well.

Lysande blinked at the mention of a sudden flash of light. Worrying about her elven kin, the mage sent Aluvendar into the air to give her a better overview of what was lying ahead. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the emotional bond they both shared.

Aluvendar flies into the air for an aerial view of the surrounding area. Lysande, through their emotional bond, feels the bird's sense of initial fear and startlement give way to anticipation and hunger...and that the bird's emotion switches to a patient waiting nature. Knowing birds are scavengers as well as hunters and the fact that Aluvendar didn't take off to stoop on prey, Lysande has the impression his nature right now is to scavenge.

"If I interpret Aluvendar's reaction correctly, something died. But since he did not land, something else must be present too. Guessing from the light, perhaps a creature that hunts with something that causes a flash of light. Lightning perhaps. A behir maybe, or a blue dragon if we are unlucky." Lysande mused almost casually. "We need to approach carefully." she added, even though she was sure her friends had realized how dangerous the situation was.

Sending Aluvendar a feeling of longing, the agreed sign he was to return to his mistress, she waited patiently for her feathered friend to return.

The familiar returns to Lysande obediently and sits on her shoulder to preen her ear gently and nibble at various tendrils of hair.

(OCC: Actions? Going forward, regrouping, using skills? etc etc)

Alister returns to his usual position upon hearing the word 'blue dragon'.

"Aldreth gangragar?" Lysande asked Aluvendar and provided him a bit of dried apple that she had stored in her bag. "Sangan le careth en videlan!" The mage asked him, wondering what sight would have scared him first, then had his scavenging instincts awoken.

Despite a similiar enunciation to common, though the familiar speaks with Lysande, the words are not recognizable to others.

With a feeling of trepidation, Aelynia decided to stay with the others for now instead of scouting ahead.  Clearly the bird had seen something, and the elf hoped that it would be able to accurately communicate anything dangerous to Lysande.  Aelynia went over to Joseph and using her incredibly athletic prowess and strength and his considerable strength as well, she took his arm and jumped up and onto the back of his camel while waiting for the news from Lys.

"Le hanon!" Lysande thanked the bird and gently stroked its sweet spot behind his neck. "It seems you will get your chance at a blue dragon, Alister. It is not fully grown but currently distracted, eating a horse. The rider lies unmoving, but it is not clear if he is dead yet." She looked at her friends and the bard "Should we confront the beast or make a wide circle around it?" she asked, holding her own opinion back for the moment.

"Best be avoiding it, but still it might harass us later.  But it is not my place to risk the party.  Perhaps a show of force?"  Alister seems to ponder a little before answering.

"Aelynia, Joseph? What do you think of this matter?" Lysande said and looked at her friends.

"A dragon?  Mielikki save us..." Joseph whispered as Lysande explained what her familiar had said.  He'd heard rumors of dragons not too far from where he used to live - white ones, that was.  He had no idea what to expect from a blue dragon, other than the fight of a lifetime, if they were anything like the white ones he'd heard tales about.

"If there is a chance the rider might still be alive, we should try to save him," the ranger offered as his opinion when asked, though he couldn't quite hide the fact that he was a bit nervous about moving to attack a dragon. . .

Aelynia, no stranger to and indeed not the least bit afraid of pain, was not afraid of fighting the dragon for herself, but her loving eyes landed on each of her friends, lingering long on Joseph as she struggled to form an answer.  "I...I do not know.  Joseph is right, we should try to save the rider if he is still alive.  But Alister is also right, we should avoid the dragon if possible.  I do not know much about dragons, especially not blue ones, but somehow I doubt that we can provide a show of force strong enough to deter a dragon, even a small one.  They are extremely arrogant from what I understand," she finally whispered, not really coming to a decision.

Lysande shook her head slowly "Perhaps we should consider how much suffering the blue could bring upon the innocent if he is allowed to grow. He will become an even more dangerous beast in a short time, a beast that we might not be able to kill then." She looked over her shoulder in the direction where they expected the dragon and thought for a while.

"My suggestion is to eliminate the threat to future travellers and inhabitants of this wasteland."

Idly she cursed herself for not learning spells that allowed her to protect others from the lightning breath of the dragon. The sun elf wondered about the tactic they should use, obviously some decisive strikes from a distance seemed sensible, weakening the beast before it would close in and tried to kill them. If that happened they ought to scatter so no more than one of them could become a target of its breath. More dangerous on the young ones were probably claws and teeth, so she should do her best to stay out of their reach.

A moment of fear and shadow passes near enough by that it's noticable to the group though the shadow doesn't pause over them. A quick glance skyward shows a young dragon with scales unburnished by time and a small horn on its snout as it struggles to fly with the limp hanging corpse of a half chewed horse and a rider missing a head dangling at an odd angle to the saddle.

The dragon is not much larger than the horse it carries and it is flying off to the southwest. Judging by it's load and hard working slow beats of its wings, it's likely not going very far.

"Well?"  Alister politely spoke as he directed his sword arm to the flying blue dragon.  "Anyone suggesting that we go after it?"

"That would be me." Lysande said, her voice didn't seem to carry any mirth, indicating it was a simple statement. The sun elf turned Mourns around, looking after the dragon as it heads off for his meal and possible lair. "Will you join me?"

"No problem."  Alister said as he follows Lysande.

From her perch behind Joseph, Aelynia whispered something into his ear.  There was no need for her to tell Lysande and Alister of her intentions.  By now they knew her well enough to know that if they were heading into danger, she would be too.  Especially if it meant protecting innocents and saving lives.

Joseph whispered something in reply to Aelynia, before moving to follow Lysande.

Smiling softly, Aelynia nodded and made herself a bit more comfortable.  Since she couldn't see over the much taller human, she contented herself to resting her cheek against his back so that she could watch the scenery as it went by.

The party traverses the terrain on the ground mirroring the dragon's path in the sky. The going is slower than on the road, as the dragon's way overland passes through many bits of scrub and rocks as well as up and down dunes of soft sand. Several times, riders are forced to shift their actions to assist their mounts in passing through the uneven terrain.

The air cools uncustomarily as the party travels. After an hour, a brisk wind flirts with loose bits of clothing and light bits of gear and the heat is broken by the scent of rain on the air. Rix takes a moment to pull a scarf up over his face, obscuring all but his startling blue eyes, and he pulls a pair of wooden goggles with slits in them and dons those as well.

In a low voice, he warns the others that a sandstorm is approaching within the next candlemark or so. The terrain levels off and the party comes to high desert, the road is left well behind. Far in the distance, the dragon's form and color, a blur amidst the brown and golds of the sand, is made even more indistinct by the weather. The movements of the form suggest it is making reptitive motions from ground to air though the party can not see what it is messing with, they have a good guess, given their observation of moments before.

OOC: I need the following rolls: initiative, listen, spot, survival, knowledge: nature if anyone has it, and move silently and hide if anyone is attempting that as well. Also, post your actions as normal.

Lysande squinted her eyes, like she often did in the glaring sun, and her ears twitched "Did you hear something?" she asked her companions before she began to prepare herself like Rix, except that she didn't have any goggles.

Slipping from her mount she retrieved her beautiful new quiver and took her longbow in hand. If there had been time, she would have admired the elven craftsmanship, but there wasn't for such luxury. "We should spread out, I do not want all of us caught in his breath or a spell of his." she added as she sneaked closer to their prey.

ooc: Initiative 18
Listen 24, Spot 33, Survival 22, knowl.nature, hide 14, move silently 20.

How long is a candl emark?

"I'll charge in as soon as the fighting start."  Alister said a little unsure what to do.

----
08:28, Today: Alister Flaga rolled 3 using 1d20+2. initiative.
08:28, Today: Alister Flaga rolled 17 using 1d20+3. survival.
08:27, Today: Alister Flaga rolled 16 using 1d20+2. spot.
08:27, Today: Alister Flaga rolled 17 using 1d20+2. listen.

Slipping off the camel's back, Joseph helped Aelynia down, and then whispered for the animal to stay safe, away from the fighting.


OOC:
12:42, Today: Joseph Copeland rolled 13 using 1d20+10. Survival.
12:41, Today: Joseph Copeland rolled 12 using 1d20+7. Knowledge (Nature).
12:41, Today: Joseph Copeland rolled 8 using 1d20+7. Spot.
12:41, Today: Joseph Copeland rolled 26 using 1d20+7. Listen.
12:40, Today: Joseph Copeland rolled 8 using 1d20+2. Initiative.

Whispering her thanks to Joseph, Aelynia gave him an impulsive hug, worried for him, before moving away from him and straight towards danger.  "If we're going to attack now, we must hurry to also be able to prepare or find adequate shelter before the sandstorm gets here," she reminds everyone softly.

08:34, Today: Aelynia Th'wil rolled 20 using 1d20+1. Survival.
08:34, Today: Aelynia Th'wil rolled 18 using 1d20+6. Spot.
08:34, Today: Aelynia Th'wil rolled 10 using 1d20+7. Listen.
              No Knowledge: Nature skill.
08:34, Today: Aelynia Th'wil rolled 5 using 1d20+4. Init.

Order of Initiative:
18  Lysande
 8  Joseph
 5  Aelynia
 3  Alister

The party, intent on removing the danger of the blue dragon, creep closer and at first the dragon does not appear to notice them. Its attention appears to be on its meal, which the party notices it has not paused in its actions of eating by tearing chunks of flesh off the corpse of the horse and rearing his head back to swallow.

Those in the party with the keenest ability to overhear noise can make out the following:

The party draws nearer yet, within about 130 feet of the dragon's position when it looks up, looking around warily it doesn't spot the party, as they are obscured by the natural scenery and the rising winds carrying about skeins of sand which ripple on the wind. The dragon's ears, however, flick around and its tongue licks out to sample the air and slowly its head turns in the direction of the party--which it still cannot see.

As the dragon's position shifts, it reveals some wounds on its chest. Apparently, his prey had put up a spirited resistance and there are scales torn away by some type of weapon used on the dragon.

Those in the party who have experienced rough conditions enough to take precautions for survival are innately aware that

And of those knowledgeable of nature, the following is what they perceptions are gleaned from nature around them:

Round 1, actions?

"We need to take decisive action now. I will open the attack with an arrow, for now, you should stay covered." she whispered and produced a newly acquired wand as she shifted to a better position. Pointing at her bow she spoke the phrase that activated it and the weapon glowed a deep red. Swiftly the sun elf put the wand away and readied herself to send an arrow against the dragon.

ooc: 5ft step, draw wand as part of movement, std. activate wand "Hunter's mercy", move stow wand.

"The storm is coming, and quick - we have less than a minute," Joseph spoke quietly after a few moments, and glanced up at the sky.  "Stay close to me," he whispered to Aelynia, wanting to make sure she'd be safe.

The look that Aelynia gave Joseph said all she needed to say.  They would work together, as they had been learning to do over the time they'd spent together, but as usual she would do what was needed to protect all of her friends and all of Faerûn if necessary.  But of course there was something else in her gaze.  Worry for him above all else.

The elf needed to ready nothing for she was the weapon with which she would attack.  She had no preparations to make other than a softly whispered prayer to Ilmater that he would see them, her and her friends, through as they suffered to help save others.  But by now she had learned that Joseph would have a fit if she rushed head-long into battle without him, so she did as he asked for now, staying close to him wherever he went even though she fairly ached to get at that dragon as soon as she could.  She only wished that they could wait out the storm in safety first.

Alister nocks an arrow on his bow and moves a little away from Lysande.

---
ooc
Alister moves about 6 blocks to Lysande's right-hand side and prepares to attack

Round 1 -surprise round ended-

Order of Initiative:
18  Lysande
15  Dragon
12  Rix
 8  Joseph
 5  Aelynia
 3  Alister

Actions for round one now that your surprise round is over?

"Tymora hates me!" Lysande mutters to herself as she sees the arrow veer of from the intended course, glancing off the dragon's scales. As quickly as she can she knocks another arrow, preparing to fire...

ooc: Attack 13. Lucky me :(

ooc: Aelynia, Joseph, Alister... have you abandoned me?

OOC: I think either they are busy with RL or the game might be too slow for them or they may just be tied up with much of the running of the RoA boards.

I was considering dropping Anauroch because of how little activity goes on here compared to my other games...this comment to be deleted if game starts up again.

Alister still mounted let loose an arrow at the dragon.


ooc:
Actually no, I was waiting for others to post since I'm below the initiative order.  But oh well.
18:32, Today: Alister Flaga rolled 10 using 1d8+2. L bow dmg.
18:32, Today: Alister Flaga rolled 27 using 1d20+8. atk with long bow MW arrow.

I haven't seen hide nor hair of the other two and its been a long wait (for me). I know ROA has a policy of games advancing slowly but this is a bit long in the tooth. I've been watching about and haven't seen any other actions by the remaining two PCs. I am going to stop checking this thread unless someone alerts me otherwise.

For the characters existing, the party was not even a day's trek from the city of Shade, an easy location to restock and resupply and ready for another adventure or travel to another location.

I'm willing to continue this thread but only if there's some more interaction otherwise, it's a good breaking point to find another area or geographical region or regroup.

I'll be around. Let me know, or PM me or something.

OOC:  Well the black abyss struck RPoL again.  I had posted that Aelynia would advance forward, but I can see now that it's not here.  My apologies.  I can repost that and we can go on, or we can discuss anything necessary now.

As for Joseph, he mentioned in the DM's lounge that he's having some RL difficulties and needs his characters to be NPC'd for awhile, so if you could do that it would be greatly appreciated.  If all else fails, I suppose I could try to NPC him, but I really don't think I'd do the character justice, especially since as far as Aelynia is concerned she wants him as far from danger as possible.

I'll wait for the input of the others then at this point.

I don't usually check the DM lounge or the OOC lounge since I work graveyards and typically check and advance my RPOL games in the roughly hour shaped slot of time I have before I go to work because I work long houred shifts (between 12-16).

The best way for someone to reach me about the games I run is typicaly to PM me, use an OOC, or rMail me. (It never occurred to me to check in the DM threads for my PC player information/news.) I don't check in the boards where I don't typically have any responsibilities to the players...anyways, I'll wait for the remaining two characters input before making any decisions. Especially since the way I usually check for PC related activities is to use the Cast button at the top of the menu.

If I see log in and posting information pertaining to the game, I generally assume it only takes a couple of seconds to shoot off a message if someone is logged in. Which is what I did see. Anyways, no biggie...it's up to the players now.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:58, Tue 05 Aug 2008.