Tyranny of Dragons

[Syvvaris]

"Then it's decided. When the other two come back we shall head out one of the sally ports and down through the river." Garret clasped his hands, "I suggest before we leave, prepare yourself. It might be a slugger."

Gov. Nighthill turned his attention to a woman dressed in robes and the blue dragonborn. "Yes, young lady?" He nodded his head when she told him about the camp south of here, the dragon and the dragon lady. "Oh I know about the dragon. It's still flying around here, but I really do appreciate the information on where the camp is and about a dragon lady." He patted her shoulder with his one free arm, then looked away to ponder for a moment. "A dragon lady could mean anything, but the most important thing right now is our town. It seems the rest of your group has decided to leave through one of the rear sally ports to go save whomever is in the church. Are you willing to assist them?"

"If there's a dragon lady, then this isn't a normal raid. There's more to it." Escobert whispered to himself while he stroked his beard.

"It seems the other two are back." Alexander noticed Elizabeth and Thovan. "Are we ready?"

 

[Zotar]

Xinnia straightened up, breathing a sigh of relief. It was finally time to act. She welcomed the return of Elizabeth and Thovan. "Our next move is to rescue the people trapped in the church." She explained to them shortly. "Once outside, we approach quietly by way of the river using the cover of the trees."

 

[Sherwood]

Mor'du nods. "We should go as soon as possible. The longer we delay, the more likely it will be that the people trapped within the church will run afoul of the bandits."

 

[Psychie]

Andarra looks to the large Dragonborn and says, "I am ready to leave now. Shall we go? Or is there something keeping us here a moment longer?"

 

[Zotar]

Patience gave way to urgency. Xinnia just started walking. "Details on the way then."

 

[Syvvaris]

The group decided on Alexander's idea and he nudged Nikolay in victory, then following Xinnia off of the balcony. "Escobert, can you escort us to the closet sally port?" He asked in passing.


The question from the human knight disrupted the dwarf's thoughts and nodded his head at the request. He hurried past the two interrogators and in front of Xinnia and reached the door to the stairs first. He turned around to make sure everyone was coming, then continued when it was clear. Down the steps the dwarf and the other fighters clanked until they were outside in the courtyard. The concealed moon shifted from behind the black haze of fires throughout the town and more villagers coming to the keep, worse for ware. Down the back wall till they reached one of the corners, where a heavy wooden door stood. "Listen here, lads and lasses, once through this door I cannot promise it will be readily open when you get here." Escobert instructed the group, his knuckles then rapped against the stone seven slow times. "Seven knocks just like that. Whether it's through a Sally port or the back door you came in through. Hopefully we will be able to open the door for you." The dwarf sighs heavily and unlocked the door. "Good Luck!" He says and opened the door long enough to have everyone go through before he shut and locked the door behind.

Once outside the keep the prominent lights come from the few fires in and around town than from the sparse moonlight. From the top of the hill you can see a dozen pillars of thick black smoke, a few coming from houses and others you are not sure if it's a house or something in the streets. A few fire that can be spotted from across the river also.



1. What is your marching order?
2. How are you moving towards the River?
3. Roll Perception

 

[Psychie]

Andarra nods. "Thank you. With luck, we'll be back before you know it with the rescued townsfolk." She looks to the others and says, "No offense to our more heavily armored companions, but I might be able to take point and stay hidden without too much difficulty. We elves are good at vanishing in the wilderness, and my eyes do not need a torch to be able to see. I can slip ahead, say, fifty feet or so, and sound an alarm cry of a barn owl as it hunts to warn you of trouble."

Perception total of 15
Stealth total of 14

 

[Sherwood]

Mor'du looks at the elf cleric with a new appreciation. "You are brave, being willing to risk yourself like that. It is true that I jingle a bit in this tin suit of mine. Very well, move forward and be invisible and silent as possible, and we will be on guard if we hear the sound of the owl screech you will make."

Perception total 21

 

[Zotar]

Xinnia allowed the others to catch up. "As you say, Kinswoman. I will play the part of your shadow." Once more into the open, Xinnia slipped into the dark and shrouded herself with it. Ever silent and vigilant, she crept ahead of the party, a few yards to Andarra's right and a few yards behind as they picked their way toward the church.

Stealth Total:15
Perception Total:22

 

[Syvvaris]

The golden dragonborn nodded at the two elves and their suggestions to go forward. "I'll take the rear with Thovan and Elizabeth." Garret directed.

"Me and Alexander will stay with Mor'du. We'll come running if you come into any trouble." Nikolay mentioned.

@Mor'Du and Xinnia, you see movement in the forest on the opposite end of the bank near the bend to the east from the top of the hill.


[Going to give a still watching fma a chance to post to do if Elizabeth is on board with Garret's plan. Also the picture below, is a suggested path unless whoever leads wants to go to a different place.]
So far Marching order: Andarra and Xinnia up front; Mor'do, Nikolay and Alexander in the middle; Garret, Thovan and Elizabeth in the back.

 

[Zotar]

Xinnia cooed softly, getting Andarra's attention. She quietly padded over to Andarra's side and pointed to the spot where she'd sighted movement. "Over there!" She whispered. "In the forest, near that river bend. Do you see it?"

Psychie

 

[Psychie]

Andarra pauses, and shakes her head. Murmuring back to Xinnia, she says, "No, but let me take another look." After a moment, she shakes her head again. "Nope, still nothing. What do you see?"

 

[Zotar]

Andarra pauses, and shakes her head. Murmuring back to Xinnia, she says, "No, but let me take another look." After a moment, she shakes her head again. "Nope, still nothing. What do you see?"

"There's someone there. Let's have the others hold position, while we get a closer look." Xinnia breathed. "We have the advantage of stealth. Let's use it." Xinnia pointed and helped Andarra around to get a better vantage point.

 

[Psychie]

Andarra smiles at the other woman. "Good idea. Lets go."

 

[still watching fma]

((elizabeth will follow mordu and garret I guess))

 

[Sherwood]

Mor'du raises up his hand to signal a stop. "Hold on. I saw something over there. Watch yourselves."

 

[Syvvaris]

Xinnia and Andarra travel ahead of the rest of the party, before they were able to reach the bottom of the hill they saw movement in the bushes across the river in the bend. Under the cover of darkness they get closer to the movement in side the brush near the river, however neither are able to ascertain who or what is across the brush. After they positioned themselves slightly better and wait for a minute or two, the heritage of the drow provided the glimpse of two sharp stones attached to sticks on the other side of the river. There's a good possibility that whatever is moving in the other bush could be more kobolds but without seeing the scales, tails or other draconic features you are not 100% sure.

While the rest of the party are able to slowly get to the bottom of the hill without too much clanky for those wearing heavy armor. (DM Note: (Most) Heavy Armor implies a disadvantage on Stealth. Please remember this later, even I didn't roll for it.)

"I'm not sure stopping in the open is the best." Nikolay said snidely and in a hushed whisper.

(If you go across the river, roll stealth at disadvantage.)

 

[Zotar]

"I see two crude stone spears," Xinnia whispered. "In that bush across the stream. Not much chance of taking them by surprise. And I have no eyes for whoever holds the spears. There could be more there than we bargained for. I could probably jump the stream and take them out quickly if there's only two kobolds. What do you suggest?"

 

[Psychie]

Andarra looks over towards the other side of the river, then taps her bow. "I an a decent shot with the bow; I could give that a try. The alternative is to continue to stealth along on the path we are going and leave them alone for now."

 

[Syvvaris]

DM: Nothing to add right now. Rules for Long Jump if Xinnia decides to is "If you get a 10 feet running start you'll be able to jump your strength score (11) feet. If not half (5.5)." The River at the thinnest is roughly 15 feet. At the thickest (closest to where you're at now) 25 ft. Also the river depth's is calf high and not a rushing stream.

 

[Sherwood]

"I'm not sure stopping in the open is the best." Nikolay said snidely and in a hushed whisper.

Mor'du chooses not to reply in a rude manner, instead saying, "In the night, an object in motion will draw the eyes faster than a stationary one. But you are right; let us move out and get under cover."

 

[Zotar]

After considering the situation, another plan occured to Xinnia. She whispered conspiratorially to the other elf. "Get the others over here quickly and quietly. We'll all shoot holes in those bushes. I'll light up our foes with dancing Faerie lights. That will be the signal to shoot."

 

[Psychie]

Andarra nods in agreement. "I'll be right back." She turns and runs quietly back towards the others, and goes up to the group. In a hushed voice, she says, "We've spotted some targets on the other side of the water. I've got my bow, and once everyone is ready, Xinnia will hit them with Faerie Lights to signal our attack."

 

[Sherwood]

Mor'du nods. "I saw the movement, too. I do not have a bow, but my javelins should be of sufficient use to get the job done. I stand ready."

 

[still watching fma]

Elizabeth Tsin

Elizabeth squints to try to see what the others were talking about, but she failed to find anything. However she nodded back to the cleric and readied herself for signal.