"Simon! I'm not far yet, you don't need to yell!" she assured.  ;)

"I'm doing this in case anyone's hurt, in need of help, so I can reach them without interference!   I've zero plans of closing with the enemy --  if a surprise attack is helpful, I'll do it at range! You can have at it with the fireballs, and such. Don't worry about me!"   

She was off and running...

Nimbus flew ahead of the party on Simon’s command. The Raven flew into a raging battle, witnessing a chaotic scene as Lieutenant Stuart’s infantry engaged the Lizardfolk fighters led by nearly a dozen Yian-Ti. They appeared overwhelmed by their scaled opposition! A large iron weapon lagged sideways, Simon recognizing it through his Familiar’s eyes as a cannon. Overhead, Baleful Blackfang flew over the village, before swooping down on the human invaders!

Concealed by her spell of Invisibility, Lenelle arrived at the edge of the village and saw the fight firsthand. She saw the Lizardmen hacking at fallen soldiers. Lt. Stuart defended himself with a slashing rapier, but Lenelle knew he would soon fall if help didn’t arrive…

As Nimbus delivered what she saw to Simon, he called out to the others, "Stuart and his men are here, they're being overwhelmed by the dragon and the lizard folk and yuan-ti!"

The warlock made a point of not emphasizing the lizard folk were apparently siding with the dragon. He looked over at Seth for a moment, wondering which side he would fight for.

"The dragon and the yuan-ti are definitely the greatest threat," said Tara, advancing towards the battlefield.  "The others may flee if those leaders are gone.  They might be serving under threat, too..."

"We are here for the dragon. If we bring it down, its followers may flee." Telric pointed out.

Sskith's heart fell into the swamp when he surveyed the carnage before him.

He had hoped to prevent this, but it was all happening so fast. Had the tribe already submitted to this new Godling? He could hardly believe it, yet the evidence was here before him. He was so lost in his misery that he almost missed the words spoken by Tara and Telric. When recognition finally dawned on him, he lowered his head in gratitude.

These warriors, at least, were still looking for hope.

"Let usss bring the beassst down then."

He hissed, surprised at the vehemence of his own blasphemy as he advanced.

From her magically concealed vantage, Lenelle took in the tableau before her, mouth opening slightly in reaction to it.   Hazarding on what to do, she looked closer to ensure she wasn't missing anything...

Lenelle Toreth rolled 23 using 1d20+4.  perception.

Taking in the chaos of the ongoing battle, Simon feels a shiver run up his back, "This is suicide!" he thought to himself.

Shaking the fear away as best he could, he shouted to his companions, "Blades on the yuan-ti, arrows and magic on the dragon! And Telric, there's a cannon over there!"

The warlock sorely hoped that his shouted suggestion was the right one.

---

DM are you planning on putting markers/tokens on the map, or will be just use it for background? If the latter can you give us a rough idea of where the bad guys are?

The party arrived in the midst of a small-scale battle! Sskith’s heart sank as he saw his people fighting alongside the evil Dragon and Yuan-Ti. His keen eyes swept the battle so he could positions himself to deal the most damage against their enemies. In the center of the camp was a small building made of gray stucco. Seth recognized it as the the Matriarch’s abode. He saw through the arched entrance, guarded by the Yuan-Ti Abomination.


Lenelle maintained her invisibility, seeking an advantageous position where she could drop her spell and lob her most harmful spells. As she moved, she felt dread for Michael and his troops. However, she also saw that hope was not entirely lost. From the left perimeter of the village, she saw reinforcements arrive—Sundos, Mercion, & Skye! Did she also spy a set of footprints?
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:40, Sun 09 Oct 2022.

Tara prepared for a magical assault on the dragon...

Init?

OOC:

Yes, post Initiative.

 

20:31, Today: Tara Inkfingers rolled 12 using 1d20+2 ((10)).

Bloody hell! The dice roller is certainly returning to form this week!

Simon rolled 5 using 1d20+3 for Initiative.

17:47, Today: Seth Sskith rolled 18 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.

In reply to The Dungeonmaster (msg # 309):

ooc-15:58, Today: Telric Televentor rolled 3 using 1d20+2.  Initiative . Oy.

Lenelle Toreth rolled 3 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.

Well, I didn't want to make Telric feel bad...

OOC:


Initiative Order

Cela & Grog
Baleful Blackfang
Seth Sskith
Tara Inkfingers
Yuan-Ti (leaders & minions)
Sprinkle & Tempet
Simon
Telric Televentor
Lenelle Toreth



15:31, Today: The Dungeonmaster, on behalf of Sprinkle, rolled 10 using 1d20+2.  Init. for Sprinkle & Tempest.
15:31, Today: The Dungeonmaster, on behalf of Cela, rolled 23 using 1d20+3.  Init. for Cela & Grog.
17:38, Today: The Dungeonmaster rolled 11 using 1d20+2.  Yuan-Ti Initiative .
17:37, Today: The Dungeonmaster rolled 21 using 1d20+2.  Baleful’s Initiative.



This message was last edited by the GM at 20:33, Wed 30 Nov 2022.

Cela saw the architects of the battle near the stone structure. With a bellowing roar, she dashed toward the Yuan-Ti Abomination, gracefully dodging the combatants who filled the field between them. As she closed on her intended prey, she leaped, clipping the fiend’s face with a kick! She landed nearby, following up with a punch that missed.


OOC:

15:31, Today: The Dungeonmaster, on behalf of Sprinkle, rolled 10 using 1d20+2.  Init. for Sprinkle & Tempest.
15:31, Today: The Dungeonmaster, on behalf of Cela, rolled 23 using 1d20+3.  Init. for Cela & Grog.


 

“Now to fight the dragon!” Grog activated his Giant’s Might Rune, swelling even larger in size! The Minotaur rushed after Cela, catching up and flanking the Yuan-Ti she’d attacked.

Baleful Blackfang saw the latest arrivals, roaring with what sounded like malicious delight! The Black Dragon swooped over the tight battlefield, knocking over Stuart’s mean as he rushed Seth! Fearsome jaws snapped at the Ranger! The dragon’s teeth bit into the brave Lizardman, acid burning in the wound. Luckily l Telric’s paste worked, blunting the acid damage.

The Dragon lashed out at Telric Televentor next with his claws. Telric sidestepped the danger, though, avoiding injury. A human soldier nearby wasn’t so fortunate, and cried out as the heavy claws slashed open his neck! Baleful’s powerful wings carried him back up into the air, just overhead, where he could taunt the heroes. ”Sssso conssssiderate of you to march to your deathsss!”


OOC:

16:11, Today: The Dungeonmaster rolled 3 using 1d4.  Acid damage .
16:11, Today: The Dungeonmaster rolled 15 using 2d10+4.  Bite damage .
16:07, Today: The Dungeonmaster rolled 20 using 1d20+7.  Baleful Blackfang Claw.
16:07, Today: The Dungeonmaster rolled 13 using 1d20+7.  Baleful Blackfang Claw.
16:06, Today: The Dungeonmaster rolled 17 using 1d20.  Baleful Blackfang +7 Bite.

Baleful dashed in a flying attack, and used the rest of his movement to hover 25 feet overhead.

Sskith roared in pain as the massive jaws clamped down on him, his own voice drowned out by Baleful's earth shattering roar. He tried to do what any Dragon-fearing Lizardfolk would do in such a situation, and instinctively bit back, but couldn't get his teeth through the Black Dragon's scales. His Echo succeeded where he failed, nipping at Baleful's leg as the massive Dragon went airborn.

He was panicking, and did not reach for the white fletched arrows, instead sinking a grey fletched arrow into the beast's underbelly. His second arrow shattered against its armor, doing nothing.

Seth:
Reaction: Attack of Opportunity miss on a 13
Action: Hit on a 25, miss on an 11, 7 piercing

HP is 31/49

Drake:
Reaction: Attack of Opportunity, hit on a 22, 6 piercing

21:51, Today: Seth Sskith rolled 13 using 1d20+3.  Attack of Opportunity.
21:52, Today: Seth Sskith rolled 11 using 1d8+2+1d6.
21:52, Today: Seth Sskith rolled 10 using 1d20+7.  Attack 2.
21:52, Today: Seth Sskith rolled 25 using 1d20+7.  Attack 1.
21:52, Today: Seth Sskith rolled 11 using 1d8+2 ((7)).
21:54, Today: Seth Sskith rolled 6 using 1d6+3. –
21:54, Today: Seth Sskith rolled 22 using 1d20+6.  Drake Attack of Opportunity.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:33, Sat 03 Dec 2022.

This might well be her only chance to try this tactic-- Tara drew her Wand of Web, aimed at the flying dragon, and unleashed its power, hoping to cause the creature to fall out of the air!

A Web with no anchor points will fail at the start of Tara's next turn, but the dragon will fall before that.  So let's hope it blows that Dex save!

Simon tries to ignore the chaos all around, repeating his own words from a moment ago, "Magic on the dragon. "Maledictum! Mysticus!" Two blue beams of magical energy fly toward the dragon.

---

Bonus : Cast Hex on dragon; DISADVANTAGE on STRENGTH ability checks.
Action: Cast Eldritch Blast.
        Simon rolled 24, for 11 force and 3 thunder; and 21, for 9 force.
        Simon rolled 4 necrotic with Hex.
        Simon rolled 2 necrotic with Hex.
        Total damage: 29
Move  : Trying to keep away from the melee(s) and maintaining a 60 to 80 gap with the dragon (if possible).

Telric uses Jenkins to once again set up its healing barrier around all of his allies within 10' of the cannon.

Then he points his staff and blasts the dragon with fire, causing part of it to burst into flame in midair.

OOC-Create Bonfire on Dragon. DC 14 dex save. if not, it takes:
11:25, Today: Telric Televentor rolled 7 using 3d8.  Create bonfire.

Bonus action-Uses Jenkins for Temp hp for all allies in a 10' radius

Lenelle's very first impulse was to dash to the soldier whose neck Baleful had torn open.   To aid him, if he was still alive.  But rationality won over impulse; if the dragon wasn't taken down swiftly as possible, then it wouldn't be taken down at all.

She winked into sight, as her swiftly spoken spell negated her invisibility.    Dawn-hued darts of force sped from her fingertips, impacting on the beast's ebon hide.

And, for good measure, she shot him with a bolt of fire as well.  Lenelle was unclear whether an acid-spewer such as this would be harmed by flames...but Telric seemed to think it, and so why not...

She also wondered briefly if the small, extra footprints meant Pockets was here too.

Bonus: Magic Missiles, cast as 3rd level Quickened spell.   (2 sorcery pts)
Action: Cast fire bolt.
Move:  As Simon, I'm striving to keep away from the melee, maintain maximum distance from El Draggo... 

Lenelle Toreth rolled 17 using 5d4+5.  magic missiles.
Lenelle Toreth rolled 23 using 1d20+7.  firebolt.
Lenelle Toreth rolled 10 using 2d10.  firebolt damage.

Total damage = 27, if the fire is effective too.   
This message was last edited by the player at 23:04, Sun 04 Dec 2022.