Circle of Life's Red Hand of Doom IC Thread

[PairO'Dice Lost]

Faien's acid crackles as it slowly dissolves the support he targeted; the bridge is sturdy and well-built, but acid is patient and sneaky, and it's only a matter of time before it eats through the stone. Warklegnaw doesn't do patient and sneaky, though: he laughs loudly at the puny little hobgoblins running away, then lifts another one of his tree trunks in both hands and brings it slamming down on the area of the bridge that the roots of Faien's oak tree had weakened. His blow makes a satisfying CRUNCH sound, and the giant laughs again; it sounds like this is the most fun he's had in years.

The dragon, meanwhile, isn't having nearly as much fun. It flaps its wings slowly and hovers for a bit, its gaze twitching back and forth between the situation on the ground and the situation in the air. You can almost see its thought process: On the one claw, the puny two-legs and their slightly-less-puny giant are attacking the bridge it's here to defend...on the other claw, the upstart two-legs-that-thinks-it's-a-dragon had the audacity to attack him...on the other other claw, the bridge has taken quite a bit of damage...on the other other other claw, who in Khyber does that pretend dragonling think it is, insulting him!? Decision made, the dragon roars, tilts its head back, and unleashes a thick cloud of dark green vapor at Auran. The vapor swirls into a circling cloud as it rises and, like Faien's acid did to the stone of the bridge, seems to seep into every gap between his scales and burn painfully.

The dragon snarls and keeps its eyes fixed on Auran even as Vaeri's arcane assault dissipates harmlessly on its tough scales. Seeing that the dragon is ignoring their plight, the hobgoblins on the bridge manage to pull themselves together, draw on some reservoir of courage, and turn to once again face Faien and Warklegnaw. The first one shouts "Dhuur kaal mac! Dhuur Drar Karthec Tiamat!" and begins to charge; the others take up the shout as well, and begin marching at a quick pace behind him. The hobgoblin interrupts his battle cry to bring up his shield to deflect Roni's arrow before it would have struck him in the face, but he doesn't stop his charge. He reaches the other end of the bridge and brings his blade sweeping around from the right, but his blade rebounds from Faien's shield ineffectually.

Spoiler

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Warklegnaw five-foot-steps up and to the right, squeezing to fit between Faien's horse and the bridge wall, then takes a full-round action to attack the spot on the bridge, letting him automatically hit as per the smashing an object rules...and letting him Power Attack for everything he's got.
Damage: (10d6+48)[87], which ignores hardness

Auran's Ref save vs. dragon's breath: (1d20+9)[13] vs. DC 19
If he fails, he takes (8d6)[42] damage, half that on a success. If he takes damage, he takes half that much next round and a quarter that much the round after unless he takes a full-round action to remove the vapor from his person (requires another Ref save).
EDIT: Auran takes 32 damage this round after his resist energy, and will take 11 damage next round and 1 the round after.

Hobgoblin's attack vs. Faien: (1d20+9)[24] vs. AC 30; Damage: (1d8+3)[11]; Crit Confirm: (1d20+9)[19]

Anyone who speaks Goblin understands the hobgoblin's warcry: "For the Red Hand! For our Dark Lady Tiamat!"

Map--Round 5

[Sallera]

Faien had expected Warklegnaw's grudges to focus themselves on the hobgoblins when they approached, but that he had apparently satisfied himself enough to concentrate on the more important obstacle of the bridge is welcome news. The giant was certainly much more effective than Faien at causing damage, evident from the chunks of stone clattering harmlessly off his armour, and the magistrate decides it would be best to remove the remaining Red Hand soldiers before they come up with something more suited to harming him than simple steel. Summoning his blade to hand again, he leans heavily forward onto his good leg to deliver a punishing chop above the rim of the hobgoblin's shield, hoping the blade's ephemeral existence would give him the advantage of surprise.

Spoiler

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Swift to reassign essentia from spittle to sword.
Attack nearest hob: (1d20+9)[13]
Damage: (1d8+6)[7] + (4d6)[13]

[Fireheart]

"Flameforsaken!" Vaeri curses as her spell fails to harm the dragon and his response is to engulf Auran in that sickly green vapor. "What I wouldn't give if the Dragon was just a little closer."

Looking from the Dragon to the Hobgoblins, she sighs and tries again to send the magic missiles toward the dragon, trusting that the Giant and Faein could hold off the Hobgoblins.

Spoiler: Actions

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SR (1d20+5)[7]

Edit: Really?? I rolled worse. :(

If hits: (3d4+3)[8]

[TekHed]

The paladin powered through, trusting in his god's grace to heal the seeping caustic cloud, even as he dropped his spear into the beast once more...

Spoiler: Action!

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Swift cast another Rhino's Rush. At the end of last round I was 20' above the dragon, so will drop that distance to trigger diving charge again, basically attempting to land on the dragon's back/spear it down into the ground...

Attack: (1d20+20)[25]
Piercing Damage: (1d8+13)[18] x3 = 54
Fire Damage: (4d6)[12]

[OMG PONIES]

Roni moves closer to Faien and the hobgoblins on the bridge. He thinks about whether a silent image could distract the dragon, but rationalizes that greens with all their games would see right through the charade. He could try to change his own shape again to take the skies with Auran, but once he was aloft he couldn't do much to help. Instead, Roni tries to feel the flow of the battle--the rhythm of the melee--and his place in the groove. The clamor around him dulls to a hum, and he feels a low, rolling bass. With a bob of his head, Roni falls into the pocket. He steps closer to the bridge as if in time and sheathes his bow.

Move action: move 30 ft closer to bridge on path, stowing away bow.
Standard action: cast Improvisation

Effects: Mirror Image 45 rounds, Improvisation 5 rounds, Glitterdust 2 rounds, Dragonfire Inspiration 1 round left.

[PairO'Dice Lost]

The dragon roars as Auran's spear punches through its scales, and it drops several feet in the air from the sheer force of his blow. It twists its neck around to glare at Auran and growls in Draconic, [This isn't over, mammal.] With that, it suddenly pulls its wings close to its body and drops a good fifteen feet or so into the gorge before Auran can react, then pulls out of the dive and swoops under the bridge, arcs up and out of the gorge, and begins flying off to the north without sparing a glance for the hobgoblins left behind, no matter how loudly and desperately they call out for it to return. Vaeri's bolts of magic make contact as it leaves the gorge, but if it noticed them, it gives no indication.

On the bridge, Faien isn't having much luck exchanging blows with the hobgoblins; he is too well-armored, and the hob before him too well-shielded, for either one to really harm the other. Warklegnaw isn't having the same trouble with the bridge, though: he raises his tree trunk once again and brings it slamming down, and with an even louder CRUNCH than last time, the part of the bridge beneath the roots of Faien's oak tree crumbles into rubble and falls to the river below. Faien and the hobgoblins feel the bridge lurch dangerously beneath their feet but are able to keep their footing, and it doesn't look like the bridge is going to fall out from underneath them just yet.

The hobgoblins, faced with a bridge-destroying giant and an invulnerable human and bereft of their chlorine-breathing muscle, take only a moment to silently confer among themselves before taking a few steps back and lowering their swords. "You us let surrender?" the closest hob asks Faien in heavily-accented Common. "We through tree off bridge go back, you not us follow or attack, not you and not us hurt, yes?"

Spoiler

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The dragon withdraws, so no AoOs from Auran, and Warklegnaw's minimum damage takes out that bridge section so no need to roll for it.

[Sallera]

Faien considers the offer briefly. The dragon had already fled, much as he had feared, so their presence and actions would be reported regardless. In that light, he had no particular desire to risk one of the hobgoblins coming up with something clever or the bridge collapsing under all of them while they fought. And if they were to be returning anyway...

Lightly placing the tip of his manifested blade on the stone of the bridge, he looks the lead hobgoblin in the eye. "You. Tell this to the High Wyrmlord. 'Koth is dead. You have not gone unnoticed.'" He nods once, sharply, then waves a hand to indicate they should depart.

[Fireheart]

Vaeri watches as the dragon flies off to the north. Seeing the hobgoblins stop attacking Sallera, she keeps a wary eye on them, ready to send a spell if something changes. Flameforsaken, she repeats and then sits down in the middle of the road. My lungs hurt.

[OMG PONIES]

"Watch the language, sis," Roni chides--always the big brother--as he knocks an arrow and tries to take aim at the retreating dragon. "Just because you're stressed doesn't mean you're not a lady," he quips. With one eye closed, he squints the other, aims, and pulls back on his bowstring with all his might. Pouring every last bit of effort into the strike, Roni looses the arrow in a high arc and stays motionless as he watches it sail off into the blue.

"...oh, shatterscales," he curses under his breath.

Move action: move forward 30 ft while drawing bow.
No action: activate Knowledge Devotion against dragons
Standard action: fire arrow at the dragon

Knowledge Arcana - (1d20+17)[27] boosted with 2 Improvisation points and Collector of Stories
Attack - (1d20-14)[0] boosted with 2 Improvisation points. +3 to roll insight bonus from knowledge devotion.
Damage - (1d8+3)[10] boosted with Cunning Knowledge. +3 to roll insight bonus from knowledge devotion.

[Fireheart]

Vaeri looks over at her brother and starts to stick her tongue out at him in the universal language of siblings, but then doubles over helplessly in a coughing/laughing fit as his own words seem to fail him.

[TekHed]

Auran landed on the far tower, raising a spear triumphantly to the scaly back of his fleeing foe. When next they met, he would gain good mileage in reminding the green one of his yellow cowardice.

"Disarm them; make them leave their armor and any non-food supplies as well." the dragonborn instructed, supervising their retreat. The dragon escaping had already blown their element of surprise and the paladin could not deny them an honorable surrender.

Once they had gone, Auran returned to where Faien and Warklegnaw were sapping the bridge.

"Was anyone injured?"

Those who were found their wounds healing with supernatural alacrity in the warm soul-glow of Auran's aura.

[Fireheart]

Once Auran joined the Giant and Faien on the bridge, Vaeri heaved herself up and walked toward them. Once she got closer, she felt the warmth of Auran's power, healing her slightly.

"So now what?" she asked upon reaching them.

[Sallera]

"Don't bother," Faien replies to Auran's suggestion of taking the remaining hobgoblins' equipment. "They are no threat to anyone stuck on the wrong side of the gorge, we have no use for their weapons, and their numbers are hardly so great the horde's quartermasters would notice the loss."

"Now," he says wearily as Vaeri approaches, letting his sword fade once more, "we finish demolishing the bridge, then let Warklegnaw attend to his own business and make for Sterngate with Koth in tow. We can only hope our actions here have gained us enough time to make a difference."

[PairO'Dice Lost]

The lead hobgoblin's eyes widen at Faien's order. "We him will tell this," he says, and once the matter of surrendering their gear is decided, they retreat warily through the tree canopy. Warklegnaw visibly restrains himself from attacking them as they go, with fists clenched and mouth pressed into a thin line; attacking the bridge instead of his hated foes was one thing, since bringing down the bridge would achieve the same thing as pelting them with boulders, but to just let them walk away...! His sense of honor wins out, though, and he turns away until they are through the tree so he doesn't have to watch them slip from his grasp.

"Old Warklegnaw will take this bridge down, yes, break it down to pebbles," he says in a subdued tone once they're gone, and he spends just under a minute hammering on the weakened bridge until the two sides no longer connect to each other. The ground rumbles dangerously as the towers anchoring the bridge begin to tip, and then with a sound like an avalanche the whole assembly tumbles down to the river below, the bridge itself and the tree atop it shattering into small pieces as everything bounces off the sides of the gorge and impacts the river bottom. Once the canopy is out of the way, you can all see that the hobgoblins kept walking after passing it, not stopping to take anything from their camp (and not even putting out their campfires), and the dragon, much farther away now, does not seem inconvenienced by Roni's last arrow.

"Old Warklegnaw will go now, if the little ones do not need anything else of him," the giant says once the bridge is gone. "He really is not of a mind to go back and see Koth the Child-Murderer now."

[Sallera]

"Yes, I quite understand. Thank you very much for your assistance, Warklegnaw, it has truly been invaluable. We will do our best to ensure that the entire horde faces justice for their actions, but that necessitates haste over direct engagement for now." Faien gives a small bow to the giant, before mounting his horse and indicating the way they came.

"If the rest of you are recovered enough for travel, let us be off. Even an hour could make a difference."

[TekHed]

Auran nodded at Faien, before turning to Warklegnaw, placing a scaled hand upon the giant's leg.

"Be well Warjlegnaw. I know that vengeance is a poor bandage upon grief, but thank you for aiding us this day. We will continue to avenge your fallen family, and I hope that you may find some modicum of peace before all is said and done."

Their goodbyes expressed, he mounted up with the others to go collect Koth.

[PairO'Dice Lost]

Warklegnaw nods graciously at your thanks, then dumps his tree trunks and boulders off to the side of the road, steps up onto the ridge, and begins walking west through the forest.

When you make it back to where you left Koth, you see no signs that he made any escape attempts, just a bit of shifting around to find a more comfortable position. "I must admit, I'm impressed," he said, not a trace of snark or sarcasm in his tone. "I thought I'd see you come limping back with the dragon in pursuit, but I heard the bridge go down from here, so you obviously exceeded my expectations. I'd like to think that the hobs stationed there put up some resistance, but somehow I doubt it, given their apparent lack of any competent leadership whatsoever. Did you sacrifice the giant to take down the dragon?" he asks, sounding like he very much hopes the answer is "yes."

[TekHed]

"The dragon fled in fear for its life," Auran answered.

[Sallera]

"The soldiers were competent enough, but with half of them crushed under a tree, the rest decided not to make an issue out of it," Faien states dryly. "I informed them of your death before they fled and ensured they would pass on word; cooperate for the rest of the journey to Sterngate and I foresee no problem in arranging your ransom. Warklegnaw has his own business to take care of, but ours takes us onward."

[PairO'Dice Lost]

Koth seems impressed that you could scare off a dragon, but also very put out that both the giant and the dragon survived to make trouble later, and he mutters something under his breath about reconsidering whether you qualify as worthy enemies after all that. "I suppose," he says with some distaste, "that the endeavor was worth if it sells your deception to the other Wyrmlords. Let us just hope that the dragon doesn't return for vengeance and discover that I still live. Now, I've given you my word already that I wouldn't attempt to escape, so please untie me and let's get on with it."

Once you've done that and put Koth back on a horse, you set off for Sterngate. As on the ride to the gorge, Koth acts standoffish for the duration of the ride, but he does help you set up camp when you stop for the evening. The next morning you continue your ride, the Wyrmlord not having attempted escape during the night as he promised, and a few hours after dawn you reach your destination.

Large Brelish banners flutter in the breeze atop Sterngate's walls while soldiers patrol below them, and many soldiers stand watch over the gates while others inspect the persons and wagons of those who wish to enter the fortress or pass it along the road. The line to be inspected is fairly short, only four merchant wagons and one small party of adventurers ahead of you, and you need only wait twenty minutes or so before you reach the gate itself. The soldiers on inspection duty do their best to not stare at the motley band before them, but their best isn't really good enough, and there is an awkward pause before one of them apparently decides Faien--as the least unusual-looking person there--is in charge, steps up to him, and says, "Uhh...please state your names and declare any mundane or magical weapons, sir, and, uh, what is your business at Sterngate?"

[Sallera]

Faien nods politely to the guards, handing them his papers. "Faien Illimis, Magistrate of Karrnath. I carry my blade of office and a hunting sling. This is Auran Sol and Koth; I will vouch for them while we are in the city," he says, remembering the former's lack of papers from their previous encounter with a checkpoint. As for the latter, he had proven himself a man of his word thus far, and extending him the same courtesy would hopefully ensure that continued. "The Quickwing siblings have their own papers, but they are also part of my party. We require an audience with whomever is responsible for the city's safety; might you be able to point us in the right direction?"

[PairO'Dice Lost]

The soldiers relax a bit at Faien's explanation, as a party of "magistrate and retinue" sounds much less likely to cause trouble than "five random adventurers," and more trouble is the last thing the fort can afford. "Certainly, sir. Captain Davoh is very busy in the mornings, but he'll probably be able to make some time for you this afternoon. If you turn right once you pass the gate, follow that hallway, and take the fifth door on your left, that's the administrator's office, he'd be the one to set up an appointment for you."

Following the guard's instructions, you pass through the gates and head down to the administrator's office, guided by guards stationed at each intersection you pass who politely ask after your business there and direct you appropriately. While the fort's overall state of readiness isn't all that visible from the Brelish side, as the dizzying array of moats, traps, and other defenses are all situated on the Darguun side to the east, as soon as you enter you get the immediate impression that they're ready for another war to break out at any minute: every soldier is in full combat gear, there are weapon racks under guard at every intersection, and even the internal doors are made of heavy oak and reinforced with iron bars.

Eventually you make it to the administrator's office, where a door guard announces you and lets you in. The office is sparsely appointed, basically just a desk on one side covered in paperwork and a few tables and chairs on the other side for people waiting there to see someone. The administrator behind the desk, a half-elf in dress uniform instead of combat gear, asks yet again about your business there and checks a schedule sitting to his right among the rest of the paperwork. "Hmm. It looks like the captain has half an hour free today between a lunch meeting and inspecting the troops, so I'll let him know you're here and if you'll take a seat over there he'll see you when he's ready."

You take a seat in the indicated area and wait while the administrator drafts a note and fetches a soldier to go deliver it to the captain.

And continue to wait.

And wait some more.

And eat some sandwiches they bring you around noon as a courtesy. They're not bad, some sort of sausage and cheese concoction with spicy mustard, but not much better than trail rations.

And keep waiting.

And wait again.

Finally, about three hours after you arrive, the door bursts open to admit a tall human wearing a Brelish captain's uniform. "Afternoon, Ramis. Where's my three o'clock?" he demands briskly. "Right over there, sir," the administrator replies, pointing you out. The captain turns, looks you all over, looks Koth over once more for good measure, then jerks a thumb over his shoulder and turns on his heel. "My office, double time."

You're led down the hall to another office, this one larger and slightly more comfortable but still basically devoid of any personal touches aside from a small bookshelf holding reference books and tactical manuals. The captain sits behind the large desk in the center of the room and gestures for you all to take a seat. "Ramis said you needed to talk to me about the security of this fortress," he begins without preamble. "What do you have to say that's so important, and what in Dol Dorn's name is that hobgoblin doing here with you?"

[Sallera]

Faien regards Davoh gravely, but wastes no time in replying. "Sterngate's current state of readiness suggests to me that you already have at least some knowledge of the matter we wish to speak on. So that we do not waste our time with redundant information, how much do you currently know of the state and plans of the goblinoid splinter group known as the Red Hand, currently targeting this fortress?"

[PairO'Dice Lost]

The captain stares at Faien for a few heartbeats, assessing his sincerity and trustworthiness. "Not that I don't trust the word of a non-Brelish magistrate, but for something this big I'm going to cast a truth-seeing spell anyway," he says as he reaches into a pocket and pulls out a small octagram of the Sovereign Host. He intones "Dol Arrah, grant me the insight to discern falsehood," then says, "Please confirm that, to the best of your knowledge and on your honor as an officer of the law, there is currently a Darguul splinter group called the Red Hand active in this region that poses a clear and present danger to Sterngate."

When Faien confirms this, the captain returns his holy symbol to his pocket and frowns. "Magistrate, Sterngate is currently at a heightened state of readiness because Sterngate is always at a heightened state of readiness. Has been since before the ink on the Treaty of Thronehold even had time to dry, given that we're all that stands between Breland and Darguun preventing those ugly bastards from trying anything funny and kicking off another War," he says, pointedly not looking at Koth as he insults the latter's entire race; Koth curls his lip but, wisely, does not react further. The captain continues, his voice growing dangerously quiet, "I haven't heard anything about this Red Hand or any other splinter groups, I haven't heard anything about any specific plans to attack Sterngate, and as Dol Arrah is my witness, heads are going to roll when I find out just how every brick-headed son-of-a-mongrelfolk in this place managed to miss something massive like that."

He stands and walks over to the door, yanks it open, and yells "Warrant Officer Ramis! Front and center, now!" The sound of boots slapping on stone echoes through the hallway a few moments later as the administrator hustles up and halts outside with a sketched salute. "Sir!" "Ramis, clear my calendar for the rest of the day and tell every single officer in Intel, Recon, and Ops that there's a mandatory meeting in the main hall from four o'clock until whenever I say we're done, and if any of them are on leave now, I'd better see them there anyway or I drag their ass in personally. Clear?" The administrator glances over at you as if wondering what you could possibly have said to set the captain off, then with a salute and a "Sir! Yes sir!" he dashes back to his office to carry out his orders

The captain returns to his seat, pulls out a pen and several sheets of paper, and writes down what little you've told him already plus a few notes of his own. That done, he looks back up at you and says "Tell me everything you know about this and how you discovered it. Broad strokes; save the details for the briefing."

[Sallera]

"As you wish, Captain," Faien replies, thus far quite satisfied with the Captain's approach.

"I had been in Sharn dealing with an escaped criminal; I was approached by Sol and the Quickwings requesting assistance in tracking down a stolen draconic artifact. As it was roughly on my way back, I agreed, and we followed it to the Elsir Vale. We were ambushed there by what appeared to be hobgoblin bandits; some inquiries at Drellin's Ferry revealed that they had been isolating the settlement, and we tracked them down to Vraath Keep, which we captured. Chasing and eventually capturing their leader for interrogation revealed that he was not originally part of their scheme, and had been assigned to them by Darguun; he agreed to provide all the information he had in exchange for being quietly ransomed back to his original superiors, with the Red Hand allowed to believe he had perished." Faien nods in Koth's direction to make it clear whom he was referring to.

"The artifact we were chasing is supposedly one of the keys to Tiamat's prison; the Red Hand's goal appears to be distracting the Nations by encouraging hostilities to allow them to perform a large-scale ritual involving these keys. There are roughly ten thousand troops in play, a couple thousand behind Skull Gorge and the rest intending to flank Sterngate from the other direction. We faced a young dragon at Skull Gorge, which has been rendered impassible to give Drellin's Ferry time to evacuate, and they have the support of at least two others. We know they intended to raze the Ferry and sabotage the Lightning Rail to Stariluskar in addition to taking Sterngate, but beyond that their known plans are vague."

[Fireheart]

Somewhat stunned by the efficiency of the Fort, Vaeri sits quietly and eats her sandwich. She nods at the appropriate times and tries to stay as unobtrusive as possible.

[TekHed]

Upon arrival, Auran introduced himself as a Paladin Errant, and elaborated on any questions asked of him, regarding the keys in question, Koth, or their assault on the bridge.

[PairO'Dice Lost]

The captain writes while Faien talks, nodding in places to encourage him to continue. He looks momentarily shaken at the mention of multiple thousands of troops practically at his doorstep, but he doesn't interrupt. When the summary is concluded, the captain writes a few more notes and looks up. "Thank you, Magistrate. I think I've got the gist of this, but a few questions: First, where is this 'Vraath Keep'? I don't recognize the name, and I'm familiar with every last thorp and hamlet within three days' ride of here. Second, what do you mean that this...man...was 'assigned' to the Red Hand by Darguun? Are you sure you can trust him?" Koth looks over at you all discreetly, waiting to hear your answer. "And third, who is 'Tiamat' and what makes him so dangerous? Doesn't sound like a modern Darguul name to me; are we talking some kind of legendary Dhakaani warlord locked in magical stasis or something?"

[Fireheart]

Vaeri nearly chokes and covers it with a quick cough as she hears the Mistress of Dragons described as both a he and a Dhakaani Warlord.

A glance at her brother and Auran, "One of you need to take that one." she says softly.

[Sallera]

"Ah, my apologies, Captain Soranna did mention that was a new fortification. Vraath Keep was constructed atop the Dragon's Crown, if I recall the local name correctly. As for Koth's information, I have been given no reason to think he is lying. All of his information has so far matched up with what I have witnessed and independently verified. I do not possess the capacity for effective long-range scouting, so I have not directly verified the exact size of the force behind Skull Gorge, and on the existence of the second force I have only his word, but I presume you have the capacity here to verify its presence more swiftly than I. On the subject of Tiamat I shall defer to those more learned in the matter."

Faien gives Vaeri an encouraging nod, despite her own assertion. "On the contrary, Vaeri, given your performance at the keep, I would think you are quite qualified to comment on the matter, although Auran's beliefs are also relevant."