We continued to debate on whether we could defeat this dragon. Whether we were supposed to be able to defeat it. Whether we could afford to not defeat it. Brian gave SerTegan a Legend Lore roll and said that it was only a baby dragon, just hatched. So, it should be possible. However, once again, the monster initiative was huge and it went first. It moved up to the optimal position and let loose a poison cloud breath weapon that got all of us. SerTegan critically saved for none, Oakwood saved for half, and Clarissa, Brisco, and Saps critically missed for double damage. Double on a breath weapon?!? That was 5D6 which was rolled separately for all. Our casters dropped before we could even go. However, Paul reminded us that we all had hero points. They rerolled and Brisco saved for half instead. Clarissa merely missed but she took the low damage on a roll of 13. (The DC was a big 24.) So, we were all still up. The “good news” was that breath weapons had to recharge before it could be used again.
Ironically, Brisco went next. He was eager to flee but TerStegan begged him to stay. Instead, he stayed against the wall and cast his 3-action AOE Heal. That got everyone including the dragon but it hadn’t taken any damage yet. Oakwood moved into the room (and away from the exit) and took a couple of swings with the Smoking Longspear, figuring a magic weapon might be needed. I think he hit once all fight. TerStegan moved in and took advantage of the Flanking and swung twice. (It had an AC up in the 23 range.) Clarissa did some ranged damage. Then it went. It did a bite on TerStegan for 2d6+1d4+5 sort of damage. And then gored Oakwood for less and then a reach tail for less again. It also had a tail reaction that stopped movement but did no damage. Brisco then cast his last spell, Runic Weapon on TerStegan’s great axe. +1 to hit but one extra damage die which was a big d12. We fought on, doing damage and staying up. By round 4 we could “tell” his breath weapon was about to be recharged. We took our hacks and then moved away to spread out. Brisco actually fell off a cliff to get away. Last to go was Clarissa who finished it off with a 2-hit point Magic Missile. Clarissa the Dragon Slayer. (Dan: I think I did 5 points on a 2 missile magic missile. My last action was going to be to find cover. Killed it by 1 hit point.)
We searched the chamber and found a pile of coins. We retrieved the empty chest from the last room and scooped them all up. Like 4-5 gp per player, mostly copper. We took the body with dreams of dragon leather armor. (A possibility not addressed in the module or the system but more on that later.) There was an exit. We healed up although Oakwood missed his two rolls. We wandered the natural cave. Brian insisted we “play” the distance so it took a bunch of pointless time. We did heal up once more. Oakwood made a Survival roll to encourage us that we were nearing fresher air. After all that, we came out on the cliff between the Fishery and the Memedes Estate pretty much in the middle of town. Again, Brian insisted we make 4 Climb rolls to get down. TerStegan had no trouble. Brisco failed the last roll, despite the rope being held by Oakwood and took some damage. Clarissa failed the first roll and didn’t even try. But Oakwood was allowed to lower her with some Strength rolls. And then he came down.
The town was eerily quiet. Evidently, the sounds of a dragon’s roar had sent everyone indoors. We headed to the Garrison but were intercepted by a patrol. They were impressed. By the time we made it to the Garrison, the whole town knew. We were congratulated. TerStegan was eager to convert the dragon body into armor or cash so we launched right into downtime activities. Brian researched and declared that armor could not be made or at least not armor of any remarkable quality. We thought, based on the book, it might be worth 300+ gps but Brian offered like 70. For the whole thing. Unfortunately, none present had a Society skill to haggle. TerStegan wanted the head and some claws as trophies and that drove the price down to like 40. Ouch. But it was take it or leave it. He was also eager to transfer the magic of the hand axe to his great axe but he reluctantly waited until Xeeli was back to save 10%. There was some debate on whether to transfer the Smoking Longspear since that would lose the +1 fire damage. That was also deferred. Brisco took it for now since it was a simple weapon and no one could find rules that limited weapon use based on character size.
Clarissa was again grounded by her mother. We went to talk to the town Cleric about the evil in the crypt. Oakwood talked her into talking to Clarissa’s mother about letting Clarissa come too, thus forcing Brian to argue with himself. However, once down there, the Cleric rolled a 4 Religion and we got nothing new. It was still, use the Memedes amulet to open the crypt and see what happens. Again, we deferred that until we were higher level, especially since it was still the same day and no one had gotten new spells or healed up. We then reported to Tammany at the Fishery. (After giving the dragon meat to Xug.) She was so impressed and thankful; she gave us her old hunting lodge just out of town. It was likely run down and infested with spiders and Wade RatsTM but it would serve as a base and get us out from under the thumb of our parents. We healed up and then headed out for it. It was only 15-20 minutes away. What could happen?
So halfway there, grids appeared and two Wild Boars attacked. Once again they had initiatives over 20 and went first. The large one charged TerStegan and hit. And then with its 3rd action, rolled a nat 20 for a crit and knocked him out. The smaller one plowed into Clarissa. Luckily Brian ruled that Xeeli had managed to repair that Heal Wand and Brisco had it. He did a 1d8+8 heal on TerStegan. Although he was still prone, he gave flanking to Oakwood who hit for a nice change of pace. TerStegan stood up and took some swings. And then was crit again and dropped again. We just fought a dragon and some boars are going to kill us? This system is brutal. But we got the upper hand soon enough. Their last gasp was a reaction when they went out to not go out but we still beat them. We hung around for a while so that Brisco could heal everyone. That reset TerStegan’s Wound status as well so we intend to press on to the hunting lodge. It’s still like 5 days to the Founder’s Day feast. Experience will be awarded but we’re still 2nd. The next game intersects with JoeConTM so it’s likely we won’t have critical mass.
GM Summary:
Current Date:The date is Oathday, 26th Gozran, 4719 AR Somal's phase is Morning Crescent
Last Session...
TerSteghen's blood was boiling with excitement. He was going to start his adventuring career fighting a dragon. An actual living, breathing dragon!
The dragon breathed. A noxious green cloud spilled forth. It was at this point one of Tammily's many gems of wisdom echoed through the group's conscious mind:
"Green cloud in the morning, Sailors hold your breath!"
Oakwood and TerSteghen, having assisted Xug while he pursued the perfect bean, recognized the billowing cloud of death for what it was. Briscoe and Clarisa, neither very bean savvy, recalled the mnemonic when they saw green. Despite their lack of sailorly skills, they held their breath. Sapps, while also not a sailor, is color blind. He (She?) collapsed in a pile of vines and lawn clippings. (How convenient!)
After such a violent attack, Briscoe decided this was the perfect time to spread his "healing aura". Sapps "drank" it all in and was instantly erect and on his feet. The rest of the group also felt refreshed and glowing, but this wasn't the time for a quick smoke break. Briscoe continued to lend support during the combat. Oakwood and TerSteghen pummeled, stabbed and smashed the dragon from all possible angles. This kept the baby confused and on the defensive. The poor little one lashed out wildly at anybody within range. Briscoe was halted in his tracks several times from a tail lash, in a daze Briscoe staggered into the previous now dark room and over a cliff. Oakwood and TerSteghen were each dealt multiple blows, but they took it standing up.
Sensing incoming death, the group scattered as the dragon began to inhale. Knowing the lives of everyone in town was at stake, Clarisa held nothing back. She hit the Green Dragon Wyrmling with all her remaining magical might. Magic Missile, Force Barrage, you name it, she threw it. The dragon fell under this relentless hail of magical death. It was dead. Clarisa earned the title Dragon Slayer.
Clarisa Dragon Slayer
That has a certain ring to it.
Much worse for wear, the group searched the cave for the fabled Dragon Hoard. Sure, it was a baby, but it was a baby Dragon. Surely it would have a hoard. A quick tour of the cave located both the tinniest of hoards and an exit from the mushroom grotto. The group rested briefly. All wounds were tended. However, TerSteghen couldn't stop his wandering thumbs from finding the holes in his skin and inserting digits that re-opened his wounds.
The group stomped out of the previously discovered grotto egress. Eventually emerging from a cliff overlooking Otari, the heroes scrambled back into town with a wounded TerSteghen bringing up the rear carrying their prize, a Green Dragon Wyrmling corpse.
The town was grateful for the work done by the town's second-ranked teen group. They had outdone themselves. The mayor relayed to his "son" there would be mention of his groups bravery in the upcoming Founders Day Celebration. Perhaps Oakwood could finally be a positive selling point by Mayor Menhemes in his yearly re-election campaign. Regardless, the teams actions was enough to earn a coveted Founders Day Celebration Cooking Contest Judge position. One can never have enough pumpkin nor rhubarb.
Tammily Tanderveil gave the group one final reward. A house in the middle of the nearby swap. She hadn't visited it in quite some time, but a few mouse traps and a cleaning cloth should fix any issues. Maybe Clarisa Fib Master and Clarisa Dragon Slayer could make way for Clarissa I Have A Broom And Some Bleach. This reward would give the group the independence that every teen desires, thus they leapt at the chance. This startled Xug. The group apologized and promised not to be so jumpy.
Walking along the path to their cabin, a giant wild hog and its offspring fell out of nowhere. Ter Steghen couldn't stop salivating with the thoughts of cooked pork products. The pair of porcine interlopers recognized the rudeness and nearly gutted TerSteghen in a surprise attack. Quickly the pair was sent by our heroes to hog heaven. The boar remains were then shrink-wrapped for individual sale (or something similar).
Eventually, the group arrived at the Cabin in the Woods with Tammily's parting words fresh in their minds:
The combat trainer
His deepest thoughts now in hand
Your key to enter
Why a haiku? Why always with the haiku?!?!?!?
NOTE: To be less obtuse, I was just going to give you 1 set of keys to the house, but what fun is that? It is now a riddle. I think it's easy, but that's a standard GM response. Maybe start by looking around, asking questions, paying attention to descriptions, doing stuff, etc. Alternatively, who needs a key, just look at the Breaking and Entering section below.
