A dragon. An undead one, at that.

This was truly a sight to see. In many ways, it was probably a terrible sight to sight, but his years of research and service to a wizard also had him incredibly excited.

Still, it was a threat, and one that most definitely should be taken seriously. He started by alerting Althaea, whose turn it would be next on the watch anyway, then Sand. His fellow forged would already know and likely already be aware that something was going on, but he would get Sand's attention and give him the details. Next was Gar, then each of the others in turn. Each got a simple explanation when he woke them, "There is a dragon. Undead, I think."

Many questions raced through his mind, as well as scenarios and strategies that might prove useful against such a creature. A creature who could fly was a creature Infused himself stood nearly no chance of defeating, and not just in terms of one-on-one, he would be nearly useless. The others would be better equipped to deal with such a threat, and their planning would be more beneficial and informed because of it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:31, Mon 28 Feb 2022.

Gar lay against a rock sleeping, mumbling in his sleep, clutching a book in his hand like a teddy bear. Lyn, a creature of the night, stood perched at his shell as he slept.

Lyn heard the flapping and shrunk into the shell, the sign a predator was around. So much so, when Infused woke Gar, she was trembling.

Gar snorted awake and listened to his friend, his head tilted, catching the sound of flapping. He reached out his mind to his familiar, but felt only fear. The tortle made no move to stand.

"Infused....describe it to me, in detail please down to its scale color, how much of it is damaged and its size." He tapped his book, clearly nervous by the beast, but his mind went into its place to gain logical information. The size can tell how old it was when it died, the scales the type of dragon - even the damage, how long it had been dead and how long since it was raised.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:33, Mon 28 Feb 2022.

As she was preparing to trance Thorn felt it against her skin: a profound wrongness and deep sense of menace. She did not freeze - sudden stillness as much as flight attracted the attention of predators - but kept her body relaxed, equally prepared to move quickly or endure pain. Her posture altered slightly, causing her to appear smaller. Insignificant.

But she didn't actually spot the danger until Aisling perched on her pauldron, making a quiet click and somewhat strangled call in her ear: "Undead. Dragon." Looking up, she saw it silhouetted against the moon. A majestic creature transformed into an unnatural monstrosity.

Other than perhaps the glint, the stimfay had spied no indication that it laired in the keep. And if it did, she must hope her companions would have the good sense to abandon the cache. Thorn certainly had no intention of fighting a dragon. Much less for Vertigo.

But the presence of yet another undead, especially such a powerful one, raised troubling questions. Thorn had personally encountered one necromancer. Admittedly, the female's pets had proven very useful, but the cold energy surrounding her - not merely the opposite of Nature, but a bottomless, hungry maw that sought to devour life and pervert it - had deeply repulsed her. That necromancer had radiated potent dark energy, and yet Thorn had never heard rumors that she'd reanimated anything nearly so lethal.

Was there an archmage or some necromantic cabal in the region raising undead or was this some result of the Upheaval itself? Thorn would have to choose her words carefully, lest she reveal more than intended: "Is necromancy so common here?" she murmured, hoping the question was vague enough to mask the extent of her ignorance.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:50, Sun 27 Feb 2022.

Without the night vision goggles, Sand did not see the undead dragon, but the description was terrifying enough. Hoping not to have to face that beast, he still wanted to prepare for it, as he started building contraptions that he thought might help.

OOC : changing his spell list in case of an encounter lol

Gar heard thorn's question and still looking up, spoke. "Necromancy is like any other magic...none are common or rare. What it's linked to is more the point. Necromantic magic, linked to death and undead is often frowned upon by most civilized cultures, though there are exceptions."

He shifts slightly. "In saying that, to make a dragon undead would require some great power. Given the voice that came to us and attacked us earlier, i would say that they may be one in the same - which scares me a little."

Infused returned the goggles to Sand. "You will need these now more than I. If he's not close enough for me to see without them, there is nothing I can do about him anyway."

"I wish that I could free the creature but I doubt I could, even with your assistance. I suggest we keep careful watch for its return before morning and take another close look at the keep before we decide whether or not to continue." Settling back into my place along the mountain wall I pause a moment having forgotten something important. "That was excellent spotting. I feel much safer knowing you are on watch."

Gar's reply more or less aligned with her own speculations: the necromancy resulted from one or more powerful practitioners in the region (perhaps including the voice in the forest) rather than being a widespread, spontaneous occurrence arising from the Upheaval. She had hoped for more, but would certainly settle for mere confirmation so long as it allowed her to avoid personal questions.

There seemed nothing more to do at present, so Thorn settled herself to trance. Trained by decades of grueling labor on too little rest, she immediately descended into the dark, silent void. Against her will, she relaxed slightly; only a fool would trust the safety of this place, but she lacked the will to entirely resist its lull, particularly after a day in the sun’s oppressive heat and brightness.

Still, she could not rest for long. The fact that she had not – and almost certainly never would – experience a vision or discover a portent did not absolve her of the responsibility of seeking. Even if any real hope that she could prove worthy of such an experience had long since been replaced by fear of offending the Goddess. Who may be dead, a heretical thought whispered before she could squelch it. As though to disavow the very notion, she threw herself into the search with nearly manic vigor.

Unending.

Eternal.

Empty.

Blackness.

And then . . . something? So very faint that it might not exist at all.

Thorn wasn’t certain. She could not determine whether she had perceived anything, much less how: intuition, magic, any of her five mundane senses. Or something else entirely.

Or nothing. Because that’s all her trance held.

But painful experience had made her sensitive to the slightest alteration in a familiar environment and she thought . . .

It was maddening. She prided herself on her tracking skills, but how was she supposed to trail something that left no trace. And was possibly a hallucination.

Yet she had to try. Perhaps a systematic method –

Thorn’s eyes snapped open as Althaea approached. She flowed to her feet, half expecting an attack before she registered that the alarm remained silent. And the harsh light of day. The whole night had passed in what felt like mere moments?

Thorn's blood ran cold. If her own perceptions proved suspect, could she trust anything at all? And just how long would she have wandered the void without someone to awaken her?

But worst of all was the absolute certainty that - despite the risks, despite her fears - she would try again.

As the combination of Infused and Thorn shook her awake, Althaea knew something was amiss. Infused pointed into the murky blackness of the sky, the shadowy silhouette of an immense creature finally filled her vision. Just as the thought entered her mind, she heard the whispers of the two beside her echo these same thoughts. Dragon. Undead. Althaea knew her capabilities and had seen firsthand the capabilities of the group she had surrounded herself with, Gar and Infused to a lesser extent. In their current state, it seemed folly to try and battle the creature. She hoped the creature would stay unaware of their presence and fly through the area to somewhere much farther away, preferably in the opposite direction of Vertigo.

About an hour or so before dawn, Alaric woke from his slumber and chatted with her for the remainder of her watch. Nothing else significant seemed to happen and she shook everyone awake just as the sun peeked over the mountains, signaling the new day.

---

08:46, Today: Althaea Sylvaranth rolled 8 using 1d20+2.  Arcana.

The heroes, after witnessing the sight of what they believed to be an undead dragon, finally settled back down into their respective slumbers; those on watch now brimming with renewed vigor as they look to the skies.

As the morning creeps into view, the sun does its best to peek through the ever present gloom of this post Upheaval world.  The heroes gather their things in preparation for their journey to the keep.  Circling around the mountain from the direction they came just the day before, took a turn and headed northwest, where Aisling had spotted a path that looked to be more suitable than the 800 foot climb straight up the cliff.

Once they closed in on it, Aisling let Thorn know this was the spot with some metallic chittering, and the party took her lead.  The path itself was still not easy, with having to constantly step up onto large rocks or around them, and an excess amount of scree littered with each step.  The party took turns helping Gar, who even with the help of his familiar, couldn't possibly avoid all the hazards laid before him.

The climb took much longer than the heroes had hoped, with them only making it about halfway to the keep when the sun was at its crest.  The heroes briefly stopped, as the constant hiking up the craggy mountain left them all sheen with sweat even in the cool air.  The keep loomed up in the distance with the sun right behind it, leaving the keep shrouded and more like a black silhouette than anything else.

About three o'clock in the afternoon, the PCs finally made the final turn up to the keep and were grateful that the path, coinciding with what used to be part of the road leading to the keep, made the second leg of the hike more bearable and in better time.  The keep was large, sporting two tall towers, one on each side of a multi-level keep.  The walls themselves were mostly intact, though numerous cracks and shifted stones could be seen throughout.  The road led right up to the front gates, one of which was held all the way open by a large wooden stake wedged at an angle in the ground, right underneath it.  The doors themselves were made of thick, sturdy wood, about 1 foot thick, with fanciful designs in the woodwork that gave it an air of elegance.  Looking inside the doors about 80 to 100 feet within, is what looks to be, (though hard to verify at this far of a distance), the body of a human soldier sitting with his back against the wall, head drooped down, and unmoving.  He looks to be wearing a simple metal helmet that comes down and over where his eyes should be.  His arms are tucked behind his back, almost as if he was being restrained, and one of his legs looks to be bent at a strange angle.

As the party approaches the keep the tension inside begins to rise, I take a few moments to focus on my breathing and find my centre. The simple exercise works and my anxiety and fears recede, taking the tightness between my shoulder blades with them. As the calm once more settles into my soul, I hold my recite a short prayer, thanking Rao for his assistance as I strive to live up to his example. That complete, I ready my shield an ride forward on Harmony to within 50 ft of the door and look carefully at the ground surrounding the open gate.

"I suppose they may have left the gate propped open when they abandoned the keep but I doubt a wooden stake would have survived the weather this long. Sand, Thorn can either of you see anything suspicious from here?"

Gar walked in silence the last part of the treck. The trip had taken its toll on him more mentally than physically - he knew thaht his lack of sight not only slowed them all, but his reliance on others burdened them all. He didn't like the feeling.

As they looked upon the gate, he brought his vision through Lyn, perched on his shell above his head. Even though his head faced to the right, he saw what everyone else saw. "I could send Lyn for a closer look..." The owl shifted on his shell, nervously. "....but if I lose her now, I cannot get her back and what little sight I can gain will be gone."

As the group stopped near the gates, the artificer approached Althaea, Thorn and Gar, giving them a small broach looking like a miniature Clacker.

This will help protect friends.

Sand took his long range goggles out and looked at the body visible from the entrance, trying to determine if he was living or not. He slowly expended the search to all that he could see in the courtyard and looked higher, to try to find the nests he had seen the day before.

Dice roll on the discord, perception 20, with the eyes of the eagle goggles

Aid level 2 casted on Katie, Andy and Emily, 5 extra HP

Sand approached Althaea and handed her a small brooch, <Orange<"My thanks, Sand."</Orange>

As the group approached the gate, the figure of a human could be seen against the wall. She focused her gaze on the human's chest, trying to see the tell-tale sign of life, the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed.

---

OOC: 06:33, Today: Althaea Sylvaranth rolled 22 using 1d20+7.  Perception.

Sand put on his long range goggles and carefully examined the body lying there at the entrance of the keep. Slowly, his head started to shake in negation then he looked wider, examining the walls and as far as he could. When he removed his goggles, his purple crystals that served him as eyes seemed to have an extra glint he didn't have before, amusement maybe? It was hard to be certain with his fixed face plate.

Sand sees straw coming out of body. This body has never been living, it it a...

He stopped and searched for his word before nodding.

A simulacrum. Sand suspects a trap of some kind if friends rushes to help. Sand did not see anything else.

OOC : I rolled my perception on DNDBeyond and share the single roll on Discord, perception 20

Gar feels sands hand and the brooch, and smiles. "My thanks sand." he clips the brooch on his sachel cord so it sits just above his hip.

When Sand tells what he sees, the tortle (facing to the left of the keep) chews his lip. "We'll, whoever done this was smart enough to set a trap, talented enough to build it. Assume that it's either a standard precaution, or they expect us."

Infused decided it would be smart to share his ignorance, "I have not encountered traps such as this. Should we destroy it, ignore it, or avoid as best we can?"

Althaea nodded in Sand's direction, "In that case, I agree with avoiding the dummy, but move ahead carefully. We do not know the location or details of the trap that may have been set." Althaea began to move forward into the keep, keeping her eyes peeled for any signs of the trap or other creatures. Alaric kept pace with her, his eyes scanned the room for anything that seemed out of place, but since he was unfamiliar with the keep, didn't notice anything in particular. Althaea squeezed his hand reassuringly, unsure of what lay ahead.

---

14:15, Today: Althaea Sylvaranth rolled 25 using 1d20+7.  Perception.
14:16, Today: Althaea Sylvaranth rolled 8 using 1d20+2.  Alaric-perception.

Sand nodded at Althaea's assessment and sent Scamp to scout ahead, to determine if the mass of humanoids they had seen the day before was hidden, and where.

The answer was not long to come, has the mechanical owl did see a mass of humanoid, just out of the vision of the group. Putting a hand on Clacker for support, Sand stopped moving as he projected his consciousness to the familiar. For about 30 seconds the warforged was still, then...

SCAMP!

His senses violently thrown back in his body, he looked toward his familiar then shook his head.

This is bad. Sand... Sand felt Scamp being dispelled, eaten by a big maw.

Putting a hand to his head, like he had a headache, he continued.

Sand counted at least thirteen humanoids, but there are more. Some lost all their flesh, while other still have some. Walking deads. Sand does not like walking dead.

Still reeling from the lost of his companion, he started to look at the entrance of the keep, like expecting the horde to come out.



Today: Sand rolled 11 using 2d20+3, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 4,8.  scamp perception.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:03, Thu 17 Mar 2022.

"I am sorry my friend. Scamp was a rascal but a true and free soul. If we retrieve his body can you repair him? Before he was lost were you able to tell if the large creature that ate him was also undead?"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:36, Thu 17 Mar 2022.

Gar frowned as he absently had his gaze (if he had eyes) to the left of the keep, relying on his ears. When Sand called out, he was happy he didn't send Lyn in - he felt for scamp, but Sand had the capability to bring him back, Gar didn't at the moment.

The Tortle sighed. "Given an undead army, as well as the dragon we've seen, whatever leads up there is necromantic in nature. We must be prepared if we go there. Luckily, most undead are driven by instinct to feed or destroy life - luckily it gives them a simple and predictive mindset."

He tapped his shell. "If we can lead the majority of the undead into a trap of our own we can thin the herd, so to speak."

The Tortle shifted nervously....he had an idea of how to cast some spells (As difficult as it will be) - this may be the test that will do something unheard of.


....a blind wizard attacking
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:07, Thu 17 Mar 2022.

Signalling Aisling down onto her pauldron, Thorn drew her chakrams and eased her way toward the back of the group.

"The maw concerns me more. If the dragon lairs here, the cache cannot be worth the risk."
This message was last updated by the player at 16:57, Thu 17 Mar 2022.

The lost was keenly felt by the artificer and he had to resettle himself before he could answer the questions. If he was breathing, one could have believed that he was taking deep breaths.

Sand appreciates Giltris' concern. Sand can get Scamp back with some time.

He looked at the entrance.

Time friends don't have. Sand only could see big teeth before Sand's mind was sent back to this body, friend Thorn. Sand can not say if it was the dragon or not.

Not wanting to leave Althaea alone out there, he shook his head and lifted his shield, following the Eladrin, his mind already calculating angles and distances to build a trap.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:32, Thu 17 Mar 2022.

"More undead. I grow weary of fighting these mindless automatons," Infused pulled his large sword down to a ready position in case the attack were to come unexpectedly, but he left the triggering word, which would ignite it with flames, unspoken.

I pull myself up into Harmony's saddle, ready my shield and splash myself with Holy Water before drawing a stylized heart on my breast plate with the moisture. Come on dear one, we have work to do. Humming an upbeat hymn we start towards the inside of the keep.

Summary
Giltris equips her shield and casts Protection from Good and Evil, targeting Giltris and Harmony (applies to Harmony due to the effects of Find Steed - see below).
Both Giltris and Harmony take the Dodge action.
Advance through the gate into the courtyard (?) while keeping an eye open for traps, especially any hidden pits, until I can see what is inside.

Perception: 16 with disadvantage due to dim light otherwise 16.

Dodge
When you take the Dodge action, you focus entirely on avoiding attacks. Until the start of your next turn, any attack roll made against you has disadvantage if you can see the attacker, and you make Dexterity saving throws with advantage. You lose this benefit if you are incapacitated or if your speed drops to 0.

Protection from Evil and Good
1st Level Abjuration
Casting Time: 1 action
Range/Area: Touch
Components: V, S, M (holy water or powdered silver and iron, which the spell consumes)
Duration: Concentration, up to 10 minutes

Until the spell ends, one willing creature you touch is protected against certain types of creatures: aberrations, celestials, elementals, fey, fiends, and undead.

The protection grants several benefits. Creatures of those types have disadvantage on attack rolls against the target. The target also can't be charmed, frightened, or possessed by them. If the target is already charmed, frightened, or possessed by such a creature, the target has advantage on any new saving throw against the relevant effect.

Find Steed
2nd Level Conjuration
Casting Time: 10 minutes
Range/Area: 30 ft
Components: V, S
Duration: Instantaneous

You summon a spirit that assumes the form of an unusually intelligent, strong, and loyal steed, creating a long-lasting bond with it. Appearing in an unoccupied space within range, the steed takes on a form that you choose: a warhorse, a pony, a camel, an elk, or a mastiff. (Your GM might allow other animals to be summoned as steeds.) The steed has the statistics of the chosen form, though it is a celestial, fey, or fiend (your choice) instead of its normal type. Additionally, if your steed has an Intelligence of 5 or less, its Intelligence becomes 6, and it gains the ability to understand one language of your choice that you speak.

Your steed serves you as a mount, both in combat and out, and you have an instinctive bond with it that allows you to fight as a seamless unit. While mounted on your steed, you can make any spell you cast that targets only you also target your steed.

When the steed drops to 0 hit points, it disappears, leaving behind no physical form. You can also dismiss your steed at any time as an action, causing it to disappear. In either case, casting this spell again summons the same steed, restored to its hit point maximum.

While your steed is within 1 mile of you, you can communicate with each other telepathically.

You can't have more than one steed bonded by this spell at a time. As an action, you can release the steed from its bond at any time, causing it to disappear.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:58, Fri 18 Mar 2022.