Chapter 1: Journey through the Jotens

[gurusql]

In the Jotens - Second Watch - Getting the band back together
Second Watch Starday, 8th day of Planting, 597
3rd day since leaving Loftwick

Qleceec (AC 1, HP 48/63)
Androgost (AC -6, HP 55/65, Armor 21/26)
Nah Olos (AC 4, HP 46/53)
Siouxsie (AC 2, HP 33/48)
Garrant (AC 8, HP 24/50)
Hex (AC 5, HP 19/27)
Raffi (AC 6, HP 16/21)
Boff (AC 5, HP 49/61)
Franny (AC 4, HP 26/26)

Hex's rock to the south continues to yell, INTRUDER ALERT!

Franny finishes getting her armor on and Boff is hiding by the rocks. Garrant sees at the edge of his Infravision flying south of the group from west to east the form of a large dragon

Hex starts his search pattern again, and gets a better view of the Dragon than Garrant and estimates its size to be 35-40 feet, and also notices that it has a smaller companion with it (one of the hybrids).

Qleceec, Androgost and Siouxsie return to the camp (from the north) about the same time that Nah Olos returns (from the west) and Nah Olos gives the information. "We have trouble. I was just paid a visit - they want 1500gp per person, tonight, or they start killing us. Everyone ready for another fight?"

Hex also sees a something beyond his yelling rock there is perhaps a chest? He can see it because it is warmer than the surroundings.

Actions?

[Rex]

Qleceec

"Not a fan of leaving tribute and do we even have 1500gp each?"

[Spearmint]

Siouxsie

"So they want to play games do they?"

She uses her Control Winds spell to augment and amplify the current breezy conditions. She does this, increasing round upon round until stormy conditions prevail, whereupon she can cast her preferred attack upon the dragon.

Siouxsie casts: Call Lightning. [11d8]=60

Beaufort number Description Speed Visual Clues and Damage Effects
0
Calm Calm Calm wind. Smoke rises vertically with little if any drift.
1
Light Air 1 to 3 mph Direction of wind shown by smoke drift, not by wind vanes. Little if any movement with flags. Wind barely moves tree leaves.
2
Light Breeze 4 to 7 mph Wind felt on face. Leaves rustle and small twigs move. Ordinary wind vanes move.
3
Gentle Breeze 8 to 12 mph Leaves and small twigs in constant motion. Wind blows up dry leaves from the ground. Flags are extended out.
4
Moderate Breeze 13 to 18 mph Wind moves small branches. Wind raises dust and loose paper from the ground and drives them along.
5
Fresh Breeze 19 to 24 mph Large branches and small trees in leaf begin to sway. Crested wavelets form on inland lakes and large rivers.
6
Strong Breeze 25 to 31 mph Large branches in continuous motion. Whistling sounds heard in overhead or nearby power and telephone lines. Umbrellas used with difficulty.
7
Near Gale 32 to 38 mph Whole trees in motion. Inconvenience felt when walking against the wind.
8
Gale 39 to 46 mph Wind breaks twigs and small branches. Wind generally impedes walking.
9
Strong Gale 47 to 54 mph Structural damage occurs, such as chimney covers, roofing tiles blown off, and television antennas damaged. Ground is littered with many small twigs and broken branches.
10
Whole Gale 55 to 63 mph Considerable structural damage occurs, especially on roofs. Small trees may be blown over and uprooted.
11
Storm Force 64 to 75 mph Widespread damage occurs. Larger trees blown over and uprooted.
12
Hurricane Force over 75 mph Severe and extensive damage. Roofs can be peeled off. Windows broken. Trees uprooted. RVs and small mobile homes overturned. Moving automobiles can be pushed off the roadways.

Using the above as an example, I should be able to manifest within a turn, the conditions to create lightening which I can summon once per turn for the next hour and a half.

Hopefully once will do the trick.

[gurusql]

Small technical problem, you already cast your Control Winds today and that ended multiple hours ago.

[Spearmint]

Ok.

What are prevailing condition weather wise? If I cannot cast my lightening spell I am pretty much nerfed as far as offensive spells are concerned.

[gurusql]

There is a light breeze, but nothing like the requirements of the spell there must be a storm of some sort in the area - a rain shower, clouds and wind, hot and cloudy conditions, or even a tornado.

[gurusql]

Androgost

"1500 gp each, I know I don't have that kind of coin on me and doubt the rest of do. Garrant can you make up something that will trick the dragon long enough for us to past? If not we have four options:

1. Just move forward on the trail hoping for the best
2. Attack the Dragon at a time of our choosing
3. Wait for the Dragon to attack us at a time of its choosing
4. Retreat - And that is not an option for me!

What a minute, something the dragon said to me this afternoon. How did he know we were representatives of The Yeomanry League, I think this dragon knows a lot more than I previously thought."

[cybersavant]

What a minute, something the dragon said to me this afternoon. How did he know we were representatives of The Yeomanry League, I think this dragon knows a lot more than I previously thought."[/dialog]

Nah Olos "Maybe we're not the first to venture forth on this mission. Probably they captured others."

[shaidar]

Garrant

"I Have no spells to produce fake wealth, I'm afraid. I also doubt they will allow us to rest and recover without paying them first. It maybe they have a spy in the The Yeomanry League. Some dragons can use spells, or they could just be paying them off. I do not have 1500gp, although they might take it's worth in enchanted items."

[Storm11]

Raffi prods the others. Master Hex has a wand that can create balls of fire. He could likely attack the flying pair now from above. Or we could retreat further.

Hex will try and find a place to perch, possibly a tall tree or rocky outcropping. Somewhere he can still watch the dragon and its hybrid approach clearly. He tries to guesstimate how far they are currently from his position.

[Spearmint]

Siouxsie

"Ain't paying no winged-lizard jacks@#t. He can kiss my a$$." she says, swigging from her wineskin.

"Right dire straits call for drastic actions.

So here is a plan. We face them full on. Well when I say we ... I mean Androgast.

Dragons (and Cavaliers) are notoriously vain creatures. Challenge it to a joust, winner takes all.

Only we use a bit of guile."

Can we soup up the cavalier, augment his protection, armour, weapons? I was thinking as a druid I could assume animal form, becoming a warhorse and lead the charge, morphing into a rhino as we gallop along. But I can only take mammal form once per day.

I could use 'Barkskin' for example, improving AC and saves by a point.

[gurusql]

Androgost

"Facing the dragon head on, this is a plan I like. Wait, you think I am vain?"

[Spearmint]

Siouxsie

"Well at night you often sleepwalk away from camping whispering that, 'you are going to polish your helmet'." she says innocently.

If we can arrange some kind of duelling challenge, that might be the best way. And we need to strategize or coordinate our attacks. I can use Entangle, perhaps cast a Faerie Fire to gain some bonus. I do like the idea of assuming animal form but I need to consider what might be most useful. Lion, bear, rhino, python?

Target their spellcasters first. The hybrid, do we know what sort of creature? Manticore, sphinx?

It used a noise weapon (roar), so prepare so ear mufflers. Candle wax? Even cast Silence upon it?

[Rex]

Qleceec

"I don't doubt Androgost is the best warrior among us, but taking on a dragon by himself seems crazy to me. I would rather just attack the thing with all of us. Either way casting Silence on the dragon seems a great idea."

[cybersavant]

Nah Olos "If it lands i can try to flank it. Though it did spot me away from camp as i watched."

[redwarrior]

Boff's voice comes from the rocks I'll try to get behind it in all the excitement once we start!

Frannie grasps her holy symbol tightly as she steels herself to help face down a gulp.... dragon.

[gurusql]

In the Jotens - Second Watch - Planning Session
Second Watch Starday, 8th day of Planting, 597
3rd day since leaving Loftwick

Qleceec (AC 1, HP 48/63)
Androgost (AC -6, HP 55/65, Armor 21/26)
Nah Olos (AC 4, HP 46/53)
Siouxsie (AC 2, HP 33/48)
Garrant (AC 8, HP 24/50)
Hex (AC 5, HP 19/27)
Raffi (AC 6, HP 16/21)
Boff (AC 5, HP 49/61)
Franny (AC 4, HP 26/26)

The group of 9 adventurers stand around the fire late into the night spit balling various ideas on dealing with Preblshienchiashav. The sounds of the crickets returns. But the "chest" is ignored.

The suggested plans include using guile and beefing up Androgost and having him joust with the dragon with Siouxsie with some magical help required being the horse. The GM wonders whom is supposed to be riding the dragon for it to be a joust and not a gutting. Hex, Nah Olos and Boff talk about flanking the dragon - but Nah Olos points out it found him hiding in the forest. Qleceec thinks that it is crazy to suggest anyone of the group can take on the dragon alone. There is some conversation about the hybrids and the roar they produced and the chance that a Silence spell could help on this.

This takes us to the end of the second watch. The factual situation is that with all the running around this evening, no one has gotten a particularly good nights sleep, but there is still the third watch to go. This is covered by Siouxsie, Franny and Androgost. Franny is already armored and Androgost begins doing the same.

The immediate question is will the group continue camping here or move? If they are moving which direction? (At this point the trail is roughly east is continuing on and west is heading back.) If you are staying do you have a plan for the third watch and for morning?

[Rex]

Qleceec

Qleceec will examine the chest carefully in case it is a trap. "Anyone notice anything about the chest I should know?"

[Spearmint]

Siouxsie

Who was it who tried extortion on Nah Olas? The dragon itself or some underling?

She isn't moving on until morning. Trekking to the settlement is a long way by foot since some horses got eaten. "Hope they give you the sh!t$", she exclaims, waving a fist in the general direction of the creatures.

The chest. Is that a gift box? Probably not going to have 1500gp each in it. If left by the dragon then it obviously contains something, someone? that the dragon wants delivering or taking somewhere.

She will assist Qleceec, mostly by knocking on the chest and asking "Is anyone in there?"

[redwarrior]

Boff offers his services in opening and examining the chest. It's kinda my speciality and all.

I don't recall if the preference is for me to roll the find & remove traps & Open Locks, or if the DM prefers to do that behind the screen.