Killian's eyes gleamed with excitement as he gazed upon the treasures. "Friends, truly this is a horde worthy of nearly blowing ourselves to the Abyss. All except the gems are glowing with arcane energies."

Without filling out the requisite paperwork, let alone obtaining their tri-part stamps of approval, Jarder retires his current swamp-soaked boots and tries the new ones on for size. Secretly, he wishes for protection from bloodsuckers. Pity, no such enchantment exists.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:11, Wed 12 Aug 2020.

Greyband simply retires for the first sleep night after pointing out his interest in the shield. He wakes for the middle watch.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:09, Wed 12 Aug 2020.

Patch approached the treasures carefully and began to inspect them more closely. He was drawn to the wand, the crystal, the horn, and oddly the mace, though his curiosity toward all of the items was piqued.

"These are indeed very curious items..." he said to no one in particular. "There are mysteries about them to be discovered!"

Sitting cross-legged, he held the items one by one and began a prayerful contemplation of their purposes and usefulness, looking for clues hidden in their craftsmanship.

Neuken visually examines the wand and the staff, being careful not to touch them yet.  Is there any writing on either of them?

Jarder puts on the boots, noting as he does so that carved in the right boot’s inner sole is the word ”Dryrax”.

Neuken notes that the wand bears no writing upon it, but when the sorcerer moves his hands close to the object, he observes that the air surrounding it feels noticeably cool. The staff, however, does bear writing, skillfully carved just a finger’s width from the ornately crafted snake’s head. It is a single word, ”Iehiezid”.

Patch notes that as he contemplates the crystal sphere, he has the momentary sense of images of clouds filling it. The priest is convinced that the mace has seen many battles, though the iron it is cast from is completely unscarred. The horn carries a strange feeling of strength with it, a spirit that makes Patch feel that it has been carried in war, and even played a role in turning the tide of the conflict.

---

As dawn draws near, Neuken Orulto has finished committing to memory the spells he feels will prove most useful for the journey ahead. His mind is sharp and clear. Overhead, the horizon shows only the merest hint of softening the deep curtain of night, evidence that dawn remains almost an hour away. Elsewhere in the clearing, Renia carefully sharpens her blade with a whetstone, checking the edge occasionally to ensure it is reaching the sharpness the scout requires.

At once, there is a great gust of wind, a violent movement of air that disturbs everything on the small island’s surface, including the sleeping adventurers’ bedrolls. An instant later there is a crash, the noise of something large dropping to the earth, shattering the trees around it as it descends. The brief cacophony is sufficient to pull even the deepest sleepers from their slumber.

Then, a deep, commanding voice sounds from the forest to the east, its volume suggesting that its source is only a short distance away.

”BROTHER! ARE YOU WELL? THE NECROMANCER HAS SOUGHT TO COMMUNE WITH YOU, BUT YOU HAVE GIVEN NO ANSWER! I HAVE COME TO SEE TO YOUR WELFARE!”

Greyband's eyes jerk open as he rolls out of his bed. He grabs his sword and growls to himself, "This could go badly."

He surveys the surrounding area for somewhere to hide. He stands in front of his trophy--the black dragon's head--to block it from easy view for now.

Jarder pokes Neuken or one of the other mages.

"You prepared ventriloquism, didn't you?"

OOC How much was the CLW from last night? Does Jarder recognize the word inscribed on the right boot?

Jayanti closes their spellbook quickly and stashes it in their backpack. They cast invisibility and vanish from view.

Patch rolled 2,2 using d6+1,d6+1 with rolls of 1,1.  Cure Light Wounds (Jarder, Grayband). So it looks like 2 each. Pretty pathetic to roll double 1's...

The tremendous gust of wind startled Orin awake, and he clutched futilely after bits and piece of his camp gear as it rolled away on the strong wind.  Fortunately the dragonspear lay undisturbed beside him, and he scooped it up just as the booming voice called out.  Staying low, he sought anything that might qualify as cover between himself and the voice.

Looking about, the company members can see that the explosion has left little in terms spots to seek shelter.

On the western edge of the island sit a few scattered boulders, enough for three adventurers to take shelter behind. Nearby, the splintered stump from an ancient oak could provide cover for three more. The only other hiding spot is a trench near the island’s center, deep enough to conceal a dwarf or halfling; anyone taller would need to kneel.

To the east, trees begin to bend to the left and right, shunted aside as a large creature presses though them as it approaches the island. BROTHER!” it calls, ”ANSWER ME!”

OOC: At its current pace, the creature will reach the island within a minute or two.

Jarder, you can puzzle out how to say the word carved into the boot, but you have no inkling of what its meaning is.

Neuken grabs the wand and stuffs it in his backpack, then casts Invisibility and runs away as far as he can get from the dead dragon’s corpse.  He searches for shelter.

Greyband grabs his armor, the dragon's head and moves for the cover of the boulder.

Orin pointed to the far northern end of the trench, which was deep enough to hide his smaller stature.  "You spellcasters let go much as we'd planned for the first one.  I'll hide over there and rush in from the flank once the fireworks are over."

Gathering his shield up, Orin slunk off and dropped quickly into the trench, making his way northward in the practiced hunchback stance all underground dwellers learn as children.  His lower back was aching by the time he reached his hiding place though.  Been above ground for too long, he reasoned, leaving age out of the equation altogether.  Hunkered down there, he gripped the spear in one hand and his shield in the other, waiting anxiously for the dragon to approach.

 "I suggest we only fight if discovered, but either way I am prepared as well as anyone else." Killian states as he grabs his belongings. The elf then dashes to the boulder for cover.

As the party began to scatter, Patch dropped the crystal into a pouch, slung the horn over his shoulder, and dropped the mace into an empty loop at his belt. They could sort the treasures out later.

Standing tall, long multi-colored cloak of patches flowing behind him, the cleric doffed his tall hat and offered an invocation, calling upon the God of Riddles and Mysteries, "Amun Tor, You've protected this group in a way unthinkable to us from the danger of a great black dragon... Now we ask Your blessing once more!"

Patch then slapped the rump of his trusty mount, a huge, tusked boar, sending him toward the opposite treeline and then moved to hide behind the stump for cover!


OOC: Casting Bless on the party members, which improves the morale of friendly creatures by +1 and gives the recipients a +1 bonus on all Hit and Damage rolls.

Taking Killian's cue, Jarder disappears into a dark and hopefully not too swampy of a place. He repeats the name "Dryrax" to himself as he does so. It goes against his training, to be sure, to do so.

Already invisible, footprints appear in direction towards the remains of the great oak.

A group of trees at the edge of the island are shunted to the left and right. Emerging from the foliage is the form of a large dragon, its wings outspread, its scales midnight blue, the same hue as the pre-dawn sky. ”BROTHER...” it calls, then halts, allowing the shout to die as it takes in the scene of the devastated island.

The dragon takes in a slow breath, its nostrils flaring as it scents the air. Then, its amber eyes narrow as it bares its teeth, a low snarl rolling from its throat.

This brotherly bond they did not plan for.

When the cerulean dragon calls out to his lost brother, a mortal terror seizes the thief. He draws on one of the most secret arts of his trade: cessation of perspiration. With sweat comes scent. He must be neither sighted nor scented.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:15, Sat 22 Aug 2020.

It is only a matter of time before the beast catches our scent, the elf thought. Best to strike now before it picks us off one by one...and hope the swamp hasn't replenished its methane...

The elf fades from view as they gesture and cast another Lighting Bolt!

09:25, Today: Jayanti rolled 13 using 5d6 ((4,4,1,2,2)).
This message was last edited by the player at 13:29, Tue 25 Aug 2020.

Lightning streaks out from behind the ancient stump, the bolt striking the enormous reptile directly in the chest.

OOC: As the blue dragon’s breath weapon is lightning, it only takes half damage from lightning bolt spells, which will reduce the 13 points of damage to 7.

09:50, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 16 using 1d20.  Dragon - Saving Throw vs. Spells.

The successful save halves the reduced damage again, taking it from 7 to 4.

The dragon receives 4 points of damage.

The tendrils of lightning dissipate rapidly on the dragon’s blue scales. If the beast is harmed, it is only barely so.

Its suspicions confirmed, the monster gives out an enraged roar.

09:43, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 3 using 1d6.  Initiative - Party.

09:43, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 2 using 1d6.  Initiative - Dragon.

The party wins intiative and may act.

[Mood Music]
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:16, Tue 25 Aug 2020.

"How can they be brothers if they're not even the same species?"

The elf casts another spell, which is even less effective.

12:58, Today: Jayanti rolled 3 using 1d6+1 ((2)).

Killian heard the lightning streak through the air, but couldn't tell whether it came from the dragon or was aimed at the dragon. Either way it meant the party was discovered. He popped up from behind the rock and saw Jayanti sling a Magic Missile toward the blue-scaled dragon. Killian raised his hand and released a fireball toward the beast, then quickly ducked behind the rock again.


14:27, Today: Killian Hawkfire rolled 14 using 5d6.  Fireball.