You all take time to recover, eat, nap, and dry your clothes after the harrowing arrival in this icy wasteland. Feeling much better for it, you gather what supplies you have, heavily discussing what battle plans might actually work against a white dragon leading a colony of killer kobolds.
Tak stretches, finally warmed enough by the fire that he's back to his old self. "Tak have pee..." He sleepily grumbles to Alrik as he leaves the company to walk through the illusionary rocks.
Stepping outside he's practically blinded by the bright, piercing light reflecting off of the snow. "Ughhh Tak hate this... how do fetching blues stand this..." He wanders to a nearby pile of rocks, hopping up out of the snow so his feet don't freeze.
Etny... you've been traveling up this pass, tracking rumors of beasts and monsters this way. The people in the fishing villages down below have many rumors, but you had to see for yourself. Cresting a small ledge, you peer down below at the great lake and mountains beyond. Catching your eye is a small kobold. His dull green scales marred by scars, you see him hopping among the rocks, distracted, blinded. He's about 200 feet away.
(14 Stealth
Tak does not hear or notice any movement on the mountain, due to the blinding sunlight and the sleepiness in his head.
Slowly, carefully, inevitably, Etny draws out her shortbow, notching a feathered arrow to the bowstring. Quietly, stalking her prey, she climbs the ridge hanging over where the hapless kobold is...emptying his bladder...and she steps out onto the edge of the ridge, drawing her bowstring back. Her violet eyes flash with intensity as she aims the arrow at the kobold, ready to release. (Casting Hunter's Mark.)
(Don't worry guyssssss! I love TaaaaaK!
(Bwahahahaha..... Uhh.. let me see... 16 perception WITH disadvantage, which is shocking for Tak's dice.. rofl.)
He glances around, blinking in the light, but something feels... off. He sees the gleam of something colorful off on the mountain. A glint of metal. Eyes wide, he yelps and scrambles down the snowy rocks, slipping in the ice. He's rushing to get back to the cave entrance.
(17 atk roll
(Roll damage... XD
Etny releases the arrow, and it flies, hitting its mark clean. (5 dmg.) Etny quickly notches a second arrow to send to the hapless beast. The arrow strikes him in the left shoulder, embedding its broadheaded blade into the muscle.
Tak squawks loudly as the arrow slams into his shoulder, knocking him off balance. He stumbles blindly and in pain toward the rocks, diving into the cave.
The rest of you see him barrel in, blood trailing behind him. "C-company! We have company!" He grits his teeth and rips the arrow out, holding pressure to the wound as he makes his way to his sword.
(Hunter's Mark dmg does an additional 2 to Tak
(Sweet 👍
Etny... you notice your prey has just disappeared into a solid mass of rocks and debris. It seems strange, as there is no opening in them for a kobold to slip into.
(Perception 13 to see where the kobold dove to)
Etny races forward, her soft boots making barely a sound as she advances. Still having one more arrow notched onto the bowstring, she continues the Hunt for her hated query. She quietly approaches (11 stealth).
(I'm legit intimidated
Atriox roars a little bit. "What in the seven hells now ! Pyrlanth preserve us I'm about to bring this whole mountain down on all of us."
Atriox grabs his glaive and moves to the mouth of the cave
Oredion startled seeing Tak run in hurt and hefts his axe in his hands and charges out being closet to the entrance yelling "There will be blood for hurting my comrade" (Intimidation 18)
(NICE XD
(Deysa wantsta playsa a little gamey-game...*sad laugh* I'm dead...
Etny, not expecting anything to leave the cave (let alone something OTHER than a kobold) the emergence of a very enraged dwarf takes you by surprise.
(You get disadvantage on your next attack for trying to impersonate jar jar binks)
(I'm teasing 🤣🤣
Atriox goes right after the dwarf to support him and protect Tak
You now see a large dragonborn with a glaive exit the cave....
"Oleah! Antrahtu artag mahgretu," Etny shouts in her native Sossahlian tongue. (13 charisma check.) Having seen another emerge from the rocks, she wasn't at all prepared for this.
She plays her hand on the ground, and, uttering a word of Arcane, she sends a billowing cloud of fog right in their vicinity.
(I cast fog cloud!)
Why does that little beast possess others not of his kind as allies? she thinks to herself.
"Oleah! Angakresh iren farlangn!" She shouts as the dragonborn emerges.
The fog cloud engulfs them all.
Dahlia struggles to get Tak to stand still so she can help stop his bleeding. She packs his wound with medicine and applies some spider silk bandages she got from Magnolia's supplies before they left. The little kobold's eyes are like fire, and he gnashes his teeth. "Tak stupid, led them right to entrance. Put in danger... Gah!" His tail whips furiously as he is eager to help protect their little family.
Oredion seeing the cloud of fog calms down and slowly walks forwards with his axe drawn listening to his surroundings for any sound.
(Investigation 20 yeeeeet)
(Literally his first roll he's really happy
(LOL I love it. Andrew make a stealth check again.)
(Is that a natural 20? Like you rolled a 20?)
(21 stealth
(19 +1)
(Oh geez you guys were so close to each other xD Lolol. I double-checked Andrew's dice to make sure it was real (I know you won't lie sweetie LOL ilu) )
(lel
(Hey now no spousal favors
(no, she's extra harsh on me!
Oredion, you can hear the shifting of snow off to your right, but no sounds of footsteps or breathing through the dense fog. Etny, you slip under the cover of the rocky outcrop, as quiet as a mouse. The air is thick with tension... Until...
....
BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWRRRRRRRRR.....
A deafening bellow shakes the very mountain. Wet snow slips from the peaks, tumbling down in small avalanches. The roar echoes in your ears, rattling your bones. It's very aggressive, but hollow... almost like a tempest funneled through a metal pipe. Up above you a shadow blocks out the sun for a brief moment.
An adult white dragon descends to the lake, scooping up a large mouthful of water. Flapping its wings, it soars up higher into the sky, circling overhead.
(Everyone make a Wisdom saving throw)
(...6
(I'm really tempted to rage out and spray fire breath everywhere
(I recommend to keep your cool.. for a moment.. rofl XDD
It spirals up into the clouds before heading back to the northern peaks from whence it came, the beating of its wings sending gusts of wind toward the ground.
(Still need saving throws.. Tak got 3, Dahlia got 7)
"Anga..." A Drake! Whence did that massive beast come from? Does it have anything to do with these newcomers and their beastly little kobold friend? she thinks again to herself, shivering violently at more than just the cold.
Dahlia literally cries out in terror, grabbing Tak and burrowing her face against him. The little kobold almost collapses from terror, but stands upright only from her hold on him. His claws shake as they grip his sword.
(Wisdom 9/
(21)
Oredion, the noise you hear shakes you to your very core. A pair of eyes flash in your mind. A memory. Specters from your past haunting you. Filling you with dread. Filling you with rage.
Atriox, you recognize the voice of a dragon. A call. A challenge. You heard many a sound akin to it growing up in Skyhold. This shares none of the same warmth that you felt then... but it fills you with a resolve that you've never before experienced.
(Wisdom save of 17)
(Nice, that beats it)
Alrik, you feel a chill run up your spine and your scales tingle with electricity. A stronger magic stirs within you.
(Am I too late to rush outside to try and fend off Tak's attacker?
(Oh no! Not at all, go for it xD actually
The fog outside begins to wisp away... Carried by the beating of the dragon's wings.
Oredion overwhelmed with rage grips his axe tightly his chest thumping faster and faster and faster... Then nothing... His scared eye burns intensely. He puts his hand over his scared eye in pain. He turns towards Atriox taking his hand slowly off his eye. His scared eye now open burning a dark green. Oredion enraged now sets his sights upon Tak's attacker.
Alrik rushes out of the cave, magic pouring down his arms as his eyes burst with energy. The scar on his face flickers as the dragon roars above. (12 perception... I don't see much. Lol)
You do catch the fleeting wings and tail of the dragon as it disappears around the back side of the mountain, the clouds swirling out of the way.
"Shiza...," Etny mutters a curse under her breath, seeing the dwarf now on the chase for her. She wasn't all too keen on getting in a tussle with a dwarven warrior who looked so heavily armed. Then there's the Angakresh...he looks wrathful. She goes to make her way out of her hiding place, but some of the furs on her armor get caught between two rocks and a hard place. She struggles to free herself, but when she does so, a couple small pebbles fly out and hit the ground, making a rattling ruckus not far from her position. "Shiza!" She hisses between her teeth.
Alrik turns and rushes to follow Atriox and Oredion, seeing the fur covered figure holding the bow. "COWARD!" He yells out as loud as he can in her direction as he wraps his right hand around his left, pulling all the flowing energy off it before hurling it in the direction of the fleeing person. (16 to hit and 7 damage if it does.)
As the energy passes over his left hand, he ignites it with a small spark as the ball of lightning is wreathed in flame, screaming through the air.
(It smells heavily of fresh rainfall and exotic fruits.)
"Oleah! Oman sangtrahtu eris," she bellows in response, trying her damnedest to outrun the lightning scourge headed straight for her, but in vain. The blast hits her with the force of a storm and a tsunami, and sends her flying forward, her bow and notched arrow lost somewhere in the snows ahead of her. (4 Acrobatics....ouch.) She tumbles roughly through the snows, hitting all sorts of little rocks and dead plants. Finally, she comes to a stop near an outcropping, laying still, trying to right herself.
(Since he is also from this region, does Alrik recognize the language she's speaking?)
The language sounds utterly foreign to you, nothing like the dialects spoken here in your once northern home.
Atriox circles with his glaive looking as fearsome as he can barring his dragon fangs and flickering his tongue while blowing steam out his nostrils here and there
He yells in Draconic "Sia tundar thurirl ui gethrisjir ekess kraskdao wux!" (My dwarven freind is going to murder you !)
(Intimidation 17)
Oredion still filled with rage hurls his mighty axe covered in green electricity as hard as he can at the fallen attacker (Strength 21)
"O-OLEAH!!" is the last thing she can utter before the axe plunges into her right shoulder. She falls back flat to the earth on her stomach, and pinpricks of black specks begin to form in her peripheral vision. She hears the tongue of the Drakes being uttered by the Angakresh, and now she resigns herself to her fate--a fate she would have never thought would happen here, of all places.
Etny would die here, alone, and unaided, and be left to the wolves. She utters a silent final prayer to the All-Mother, and tries once more to rise and face her death.
Suddenly...
Etny rises to her feet, gripping her right shoulder, which has a large gash in it. It is bleeding profusely. The snow is blood-soaked and turning to slush. Her right arm hangs limp at her side, and she looks up with her violet eyes at the onslaught of Antrahtu wrath.
"Why," she says with a heavy accent to her common, her voice rising as the Antrahtu draws nearer, "do you protect the honor of an Einhycacht? Why," her breaths come in rattles, "do you defend a throat-cutter?"
(16 Persuasion
Tak finally makes his way out of the cave, dragging his sword behind him. When he sees that the huntress is injured in her shoulder worse than he is, he sneers evilly, his smile tugging at his scar.
Atriox growls loudly
Barely in common due to his rage. "How dare you assume his personality and character due to his race. How like a human to just assume that someone is evil because of they're scales and skin!"
Atriox growls again thrashing his tail around angrily.
"That throat cutter as you put it! Is from a peaceful tribe that got destroyed due to the ignorance of your kind !"
Tak, still with a gleam in his eyes, is a little taken aback by the ferocity of his friends. He puffs up his chest a little more, eyeing this stranger.
"Where I am from Angakresh, there are no 'peaceful tribes' of Einhycacht! None! They slit throats, and steal children--and even parents--from their homes without mercy! You do not know who I am, Angakresh, or what leagues I have traveled to get this far!"
Oredion calls his axe back to his hand. Green electricity forms between the weapon and his hand zipping it back like a magnetic pull. Oredion turns to see Tak standing tall. Upon this site of his friend looking tall and more energetic Oredion's powers almost instantly go away his scared eye closing at the green hue fades out of his eyes.
Atriox roars and uses his glaive to hit the womans legs into a kneeling position
"I don't care where your from human but when speaking to a royal Prince you kneel. Considering especially that you just shot his adopted brother and fellow Prince Tak!"
Atriox points at the kobold.
Having been brought to her knees by the Angakresh, and very badly wounded in the shoulder, Etny curls herself up in the fetal position before the wrathful prince, and begins offering a prayer to the All-Mother in her native tongue. Her voice is soft and wavering from the pain of her injury, and she begins to accept her death with as much dignity as she can.
She waits now for the blow that will take her life, and she will become one with the All-Mother...
Flashing before Oredion's eyes he sees his sister about to be killed by a crowd of goblins. Curled up on the ground in a similar fashion to the attacker as she screams for her brother one last time.
"Stop Atriox we may... We may have made a mistake. Yes she attacked our companion Tak, but does she not look off worse then him? I think... I think we need to hear her out" Oredion shuddering with every word spoken.
Alrik walks up, aiding Dahlia. He still has a storm raging in his eyes, but hearing the dwarf's words, he realizes he too, was probably a bit quick on jumping to conclusions. Walking over and kneeling down next to her, he puts a hand on her shoulder and helps the woman to sit up. "I am Alrik. I apologize for my rash actions... we've had a stressful couple of days lately."
He looks to Dahlia. "Could you... help her?" He winces as he sees the burn mark on her back.
Dahlia hesitates, looking around at everyone... then at the sky. She nods, gesturing. "Let's... not stay out in the open. Can someone bring her back to the cave? Let me have a minute with her. Perhaps you can look for some food while I work on her and Tak."
Etny trembles, both from the cold, and from the nearness of death--an involuntary chill--that quakes her whole frame. Was...was she alive? Was she already dead? Nothing seemed to have changed, so they were delaying her demise. But why?
Tak looks aghast at Dahlia and Alrik, but grumbling, stomps up to the strange human. Handing his sword to Alrik, he takes her by the hand and yanks her up out of the bloody snow, dragging her back to the cave.
Alrik takes the sword and looks around sheepishly for something they can eat. (16 investigation)
Atriox looks at the rest confused and a little angry. He stomps after.
You hear him just barely mumbling "......traitors.....Tak wait up"
Alrik bites his tongue at Atriox's comment, but refrains from starting an argument. He grits his teeth and heads out in search for food... and a place to calm his mind and emotions
Etny is pulled to her feet...sort of by the Einhycacht, and half-dragged, half-deliriously walking to the cave, with the kobold in front of her, she finds that there is a fire, and warmth, something she did not expect to see happen today.
Tak stops short, glancing back over his shoulder at Atriox. He looks a bit funny... like he's a churning well of confusion right now. His eyes rather plead for guidance.
Alrik, you glance around at the surrounding landscape as you walk. The cold is relieving for the hot emotions. It's relatively barren, but you think you spot some broken ice nearby at the lake. A memory of your childhood comes to you... catching fish in the river.
Alrik walks down to the broken ice, carefully placing his feet as he makes his way over. (Nature check to catch the fish? Or arcana, since I'm gonna use magic? Lol)
(15 arcana to catch fish)
You spot half a dozen fish lurking below the surface, enjoying the warmth of the morning sun. You're sure a well placed strike will bring them all to you easily. (I'll let you narrate how you do it... I like hearing the creativity XD)
Alrik grits his teeth against the cold as he slowly lowers his hands into the water, the energy flowing down his arms and falling in droplets through the water. Once he is happy with the amount of energy now in the area of water, he pulls his hands out and drips one final handful into the water, hitting it with a spark as it drops just below the surface.
As the energy floods through the water, the fish are all immediately affected. Stunned, they float to the surface, unable to swim and easy to pick out of the lake. You gather them carefully and quickly, and are able to head back to the others with all 6 fish in tow.
"Its alright Tak. I'm here to help. Let's get this.......human...Inside by the fire and make sure she doesn't tragically bleed out before we get answers." The last bit said sarcastically
The kobold can't help but smirk at that. "Alright." He relinquishes her to Atriox who can lead her/support her far better, walking beside them. Dahlia walks along with them until they reach the warmth of the cave, the spell for the rockslide now gone.
Etny faintly recalls being handed off to the Angakresh, the princely arrogant one with the glaive, and stumbles the rest of the way into the cave, her blood washing the ground behind her from her open gash.
Oredion filled with sorrow whispers almost to himself "I'll... I'll catch up with you guys in a bit" as he slowly walks almost tumbling to the woods where he picked up firewood. He sees the trees standing tall but thin and frail decides to try and release his anger while doing something useful and collecting firewood. Oredion swings his axe back and aims for the trees base. (Strength 7) His axe bounces off the trunk of the tree and falls to the ground out of Oredion's hands. He slumps down placing his head against the tree as tears begin to roll down his face from his one working eye.
(Oof I made myself sad wtf 😂😭😭)
(Man that was powerful
(Rofl... I kinda figured you'd either come fishing with Alrik or do something like what you did
(Yea Oredion is either the super funny raging guy or a depressed dwarf)
(Alrik is the quick to anger, old man-esque military guy who is too hard on himself)
Dahlia leads this newcomer the rest of the way in, giving Atriox a look. "I'll be okay with her. Check on the others, will you?" She glances at Tak. "It looks like your wound is holding up, no more blood is spilling... why not go with Atriox, sweetheart."
The kobold gets a funny look on his face and grumbles shyly, "Yeah, sure... whatever." He turns and kicks at the snow.
Alrik walks back in the direction of the cave, fish in tow. As he approaches, he sees Tak and Atriox standing outside. "Caught dinner... I'll go find the dwarf." He calls out as he draws near. He drops the fish in the snow and heads off following the footprints of Oredion.
(Figured I could see them, rolled a raw 13 for perception)
Atriox stomps out after Tak. Not sure what to do he just sits at the mouth of the cave with his glaive in his lap
After about an hour of work, Dahlia comes back outside, wiping her hands on a spare shirt she had with her. Etny walks behind her, arm in a makeshift sling with thick bandages and salve packed in her axe wound.
Following the footprints, Alrik comes upon the trees. Calling out when he sees the dwarf, he makes his presence known. "You made a good call back there..."
Oredion turns to see Alrik approaching he quickly wipes the tears away trying to hide his face from Alriks sight.
Dahlia pats Atriox on the shoulder. "Hey handsome. I think everyone's had time to relax and cool off by now... shall we all gather by the fire? I'll set the fish on." She scoops them up and heads back inside, giving him a wink.
Alrik walks over and slumps down the tree next to him. "No need to hide your tears, soldier. I won't judge... hell, I've shed my fair share and then some..."
Atriox looks at Tak. "Woman......always know how to simmer you down even when you don't want to." He playfully rolls his eyes and stands
Etny's eyes open, and she looks this way and that, noting her surroundings. The fire is warm and bright, and she utters a silent prayer to the All-Mother for her time on this world being extended...for how long she knew not, but she was alive, and that was relieving.
Oredion still embarrassed but encouraged by Alrik's words decides to share his thoughts "I.. I can't get over this feeling of dread. The dragon... Did something to me. I barely saw its eyes and now... Now I can't stop seeing my family. I just keep seeing them die over and over and over again in my mind. Idk why it won't stop. Tell me storm mage why must I relive these horrible things. Why..." Oredion looks away tears streaming down his eye once again no longer caring to wipe them away he just sits staring at the ground stricken in grief.
She follows the female Angakresh outside, and holds her panging shoulder. Won't be using that for a while...
Alrik claps the dwarf on the shoulder. "Our worst memories come back to haunt us when we're scared. Our mind plays tricks on us, forcing us to relive our past... I can't tell you how many times I've awoke in a cold sweat after a nightmare made me relive the night I became an orphan..."
Oredion looks up into Alrik's eyes and emotionally speaks "I know I will always remember the pain and I know it will not get any easier, but that dragon... That dragon knows something about that night. I am not sure if he caused it but I know those eyes." Oredion trembling stands not quite sure what to do next and says "Alrik we must hunt this dragon be it hell or high water!" Oredion's scared eye starts to glow and his eye fills with rage, but as soon as it begins it subsides to calm. Oredion somewhat stable gives Alrik a shaky smile "Let's go join the others thank you for your council friend if you don't mind keeping this little episode between us that be greatly kind of ya"
Alrik nods. "It will be our secret, Oredion... now let's go eat. I caught a few fish for us."
Oredion's stomach growls as if on cue and he lets out a hearty laugh that shakes the very woods. A look of sadness passes the dwarfs face knowing all to well that the nightmare is not at all over.
Gripping her shoulder still, she slowly approaches Atriox, like prey invading the space of its pursuing predator. She knows he is dangerous and arrogant, and wants to tread carefully in what she says.
"Angakresh-Dugairon," she bows slightly, "I hope you did not wholly take my..." she chooses her words carefully, "...affront upon your fellow...prince," the word is said with careful emphasis, "as a personal affront upon you and your dignity. While it does not seem to concern you, where I am from, we have great and high regard for Angakresh like yourself."
"But carousing with an Einhycacht? I do not understand this...."
Atriox is slow to respond...Finally hes speaks back to the human.
"I should apologize as well I suppose.......... my anger was altered by the fact that we were tricked into coming to this frozen wasteland and that we've had nothing but a hard time since we arrived. Though I dont condone you shooting Tak still I may have gone a tad to far. At least our prey showed itself.........."
(That last bit he more said to himself)
"So human. Where are you from ? Where is it that kobolds are all evil and yet my kind aren't?"
"All is forgiven, Angakresh. I will admit that facing death head-on was frightening. I am from the southernmost isle of Sossahl. It rests at the far south of this world. It is bitter cold, not unlike here."
She looks away, her violet eyes distant. "I have never known a 'good Einhycacht,' before, and likely never will. They hunt us with their numerous hosts, and take away our kin as slaves or sacrifices to the horrid Angakel."
Atriox snorts. "If you'd just get past the notion that they are all evil and go apologize to him you might find out Tak Flame-Scar is a being capable of great kindness and despite his problems and struggles he still has outstanding morals. He has been through a lot.........rather like you. Humans destroyed everything he ever loved or in some way caused. Yet here is. Trying to save a whole city of humans from a dragon and others of his own kind."
"It is...difficult for me to simply apologize to an Einhycacht, when they have taken so much from us...from...me...."
She swipes at her face, and shakes her head a bit. Clearing her throat, she continues. "For your sake, at least, Angakresh, I shall make amends with the Einhycacht. You are very fond of this creature, it seems, and I've done my fair part in driving your wrath against me on his behalf. For that reason, alone, I shall apologize."
Atriox nods his head. "And then you will help us slay the white dragon known as Tyranus. Once that is done all offense will be forgiven completely. You may even find something valuable as a reward."
"Wait....You wish...to slay...Anga? To strive against the Anga is to invite death, Angakresh. You do not know this?"
Atriox looks at her. "Of course. I've known more than one dragon in my brief time. Though I dont wish to kill him he hast left very little choice. The only way now for him to live would to be to submit. And I doubt he will."
Dahlia brings out fish, freshly roasted and each on a stick. She hands one to Atriox and Etny, and walks over to give one to Alrik and Oredion. They fill you with comfort, warmth and energy.
She shakes her head. "You do not slay or 'submit' Anga without bringing death. Do you suffer from the Daar, Angakresh?"
Etny bows lightly to Atriox, and bows lightly to Dahlia, taking the roasted fish gratefully. "If you desire help in destroying this Anga, I will...do what I can, Angakresh."
atriox gives her a nod as he eats his fish.
Oredion walks over and sits beside Atriox eyeing Etny. "So how are we going to find this dragon and when we do what is the strategy to slay it."
"Both have the Daar," Etny mumbles between bites of roasted fish.
Atriox ignores the human.
"We know what general direction it went. That'll help us track it. Are either of you good with traps ?" He asks the human and Ore
"I can dig a hole pretty well" Oredion chuckling at his own sarcasm.
Etny sets her fish bones down, and turns to Atriox. "I am a hunter. Traps are a bit of my specialty, and I will do what I can with this Anga. What do you need?"
Etny stands up--a little too quickly--and a pang shoots down her bandaged shoulder. "Shiza! Borentre afra in Antrahtu!" She curses through gritted teeth at the pain. that's what I get for taking on an angry Antrahtu, she thinks bitterly to herself.
Shaking her head against the pain, she bows lightly to Atriox and to Oredion. "I have many materials and traps for flying creatures, if that helps"
Atriox nods. "I was about to say something that will keep it in the ground."
"A dragons biggest advantage is its wings and sheer strength.......plus this Tyranus seems uncommonly witty using kobolds. Somewhat out if the ordinary for a white dragon."
"We need to take its wings out from underneath it. We must have strong rope...nets possibly...big enough to engulf such a creature. Anga, as you say, are very strong. It would be a distracted Anga who let's himself be trapped in ropes and nets."
"A wise plan, but how do we distract such a beast?"
Etny smiles for the first time since her near-death experience. "We challenge the Anga, Antrahtu, with our princely Angakresh here!" She gestures toward Atriox.
Oredion remembering being strapped to a smelly Tank grins and nods "Aye a great idea indeed"
Tak comes over, wrapped in a cloak and gnawing on a fish head. Having heard the last part of the conversation, he tilts his head. "Atriox want be bait?"
He sucks out one of the fish eyes and crunches it loudly. "Tak is good bait. Maybe.... Look blue. Tell Tyranus of Dragonshore. Report things."
(Tak also has a....cower ability.... Lolol... If he's pathetically cowering it gives allies advantage on attacks against that enemy.)
Oredion eye wide startled by Tak's ability to bounce back so quickly.
"Are you sure Tak. You've only just barely recovered." Oredion shoots Etny a glare.
He grins evilly. "Makes Tak look more pathetic."
Etny glares back, eyeing the kobold as well. "I do not think the Einhycacht would make as good bait as the mighty Angakresh prince, challenging the Anga to mortal combat for possession of lands and treasure."
Atriox chuckles and pats Tak on the shoulder
"As much as I appreciate it Tak I'll do this. If someone is to get hurt or killed I'd rather it not be you my brother. See?"
Tak shrugs nonchalantly. He crunches down on the skull of the fish. "Ok."
Atriox stands resigned to what hes about to say
"Fine we will do it all your way. But no traps no ambushes. If I'm to challenge him. Formally challeng him then I will do it fairly. My honor and the respect of my family name deserves that much. Even if it means I die. Maybe if i do enough damage you can do things your way after it kills me."
He walks off back into the cave
Tak blinks, slow to comprehend what just happened. He lowers his stick, staring in fear and reverence at Atriox walking away.
He throws his stick aside, jogging after Atriox as quickly as his legs can carry him in the foot of snow. He tries to follow the track made by the large dragonborn.
"A-Atriox!" He calls after you, grabbing the bottom of your glaive. "Please, this... This not good. You die!"
Oredion stands up flexing his mighty shoulders following Tak to the cave.
"I think it's about time I repaid my debt no matter how dangerous this is I will follow any plan he comes up with threw to the end.
Oredion motions for Etny to follow him.
Atriox grunts at Tak. "Its my duty Tak. If this is how it has to be so be it. Should I die you know what that means? You will be the last member of our house. It will fall to you to restore what is now our home and our family. By any means necessary. I believe I can trust you with that?"
Tak lets go, backing up a little. He looks horrified. "Any... means necessary?" He wrings his hands, his mind churning. Slowly, he gets a look of acceptance. "Y...yes. Tak... Can be trusted. I will make sure your house survives."
"...Our house." He looks at the snow, not sure if he's blinded more by the light or his emotions.
Atriox bends down and picks the kobold up putting him and waits for the others
"It will be ok Tak. Either way. I know I did the right thing making you a member of my house. Your family through and through. Now let's go on one more hunt shall we ?" Atriox smiles up at Tak.
He holds on to one of your horns, a look of resolve on his face. "Sure... Brother."
Etny rushes to catch up to Oredion, and begins to formulate her own plan of action in her mind. Unbeknownst to the others, she is plotting her own scheme to hatch later. She smiles again, the exhilaration of the hunt taking over. (19 survival to track the dragon). She takes point before Atriox and Tak, her instincts taking control.
"Antrahtu," she addresses Oredion, "have you ever hunted Anga before?"
Etny leads the group through the slush and snow, north to the largest mountain. Atriox walks behind with Tak atop his shoulder, along with Oredion and Alrik, and Dahlia coming up behind. Etny's axebeak pops in over the rocks after some time, a large pack upon its back, carrying a rabbit in its beak.
It drops it for her, leaping up and down. It looks like it already ate the head, but wanted her to have the rest. The flightless beast is rather intimidating, about the size of an ostrich but with the build of a raptor mixed with a vulture.
Following a trail that leads you stealthily up the mountain, the going is slow but safe. After some time you come to a ridge and are able to overlook the other side.
Down along the side of the mountain are caverns and tunnels carved intricately out of the cyan ice. You see hundreds of blue-scaled kobolds flitting about, a living, breathing colony. They lack the white war paint of the ones from the temple back home, but sport strange clothes made of hide and fur, mostly white with accents of silver gems or coins.
Up above, you can see a narrow path leading to a higher plateau. Some springy new pine trees dot the landscape, with rocks and boulders peaking through the thawing ice. A large entrance to a cave sits further back, the ice around it melted and re-frozen to form a dazzling sheen like diamonds.
Tak peers down at the kobolds below and pales. He mumbles in draconic, "That's... a whole city. I've never seen so many in one place before." He both sounds in awe and like his heart is aching. He rubs his scar and turns away.
Dahlia glances down below, then up at the cliffs above. "Are we really ready to do this? Atriox..? If.. you go in alone, I can't heal you." She looks terrified. "I can't perform resurrection magic. What if..." She can't seem to bring herself to say it.
Tak softly hums a tune as he rides on Atriox's shoulders. It sounds of old magic, a hum like the glowing embers of Tanglewood. He seems shy, perhaps only wanting Atriox to hear him, as he leans his head on the dragonborns.
It has a familiar tonality, Atriox--a finality, a sacredness, like a warrior's song sung before battle back in Skyhold. You can feel his sorrow, but also his faith in you. It's the greatest boon he can give. A piece of his old life.
Atriox looks at Tak with a smile. "If we survive this and manage to rebuild what will become our home someday you will lead much more than this Tak. This is nothing."
He pats Tak affectionately on the leg and then looks to Dahlia
"I'm nervous to trust me but I feel I must do this my dear. But i wont do it completely alone I have all of you. This is the plan. I will challenge this Tyranus and no doubt he will accept. He thinks itll be easy. What he doesn't know is that Alrik and our new......freind here will be waiting outside with Traps for his wings and legs ready. While I'm in there I'm going to do as much as I possibly can to him including shooting a skull bomb down his throat. The challenge I issue will be carefully worded. If he breaks the challenge I will be free to involve all of you. Remember think smart use whatever you can. Stalactites hanging from the ceiling etc. Ore and Tak your both experienced with digging? Burrow your way in to the cave and come out behind him. Do not engage till after he has broken his word........or I'm dead. We can do this team. There is no one in the world I'd rather have here by my side to do this. Dahlia my dear try and not get eaten wont you ?" He winks at her.
Dahlia laughs despite the nervousness. "Alright. I'll do my best. I'll be as close as I can be to help... We all will." She comes over to Atriox, giving him a gentle kiss. Giving him a piercing look with her golden eyes, she says--more like, commands-- "You owe me another when you survive this."
Pulling a jar from her bag, she traces a pattern of blue paint on your scales, just under your eye. "May His Balance keep you strong. May His light guide your way. May your spirit be like the bear, stout of body and mind."
(You gain advantage on Con saves and 12 temp hp)
Oredion with eyes starting to turn green looks at Atriox with pride.
"You can count me in. I will not run. I will not fall. I will stand strong for my dwarven people. I will make them proud. To this I swear."
Oredion drops to one knee and bows as he speaks his pledge. His soul becoming more determined by the minute.
Atriox chuckles. " your courage was never in question my dwarven freind just simply if you have to much at times"
Atriox chuckles more. "I'm sure you family and people would be proud."
Tak nods, climbing down from your horns. He shivers hitting the snow, but a look of resolve is evident on his face.
"Tak dig fast... One of fastest." He grins.
Atriox looks down into the kobolds encampment. "Think theres anything useful down there ?" He says to no one in particular.
Tak looks down into the camp below, getting a mischievous gleam in his eyes. "Tak want use their own stuff against Tyranus..." He grins cruelly. He tosses his sword down in the snow and slips off his armor.
With only an empty sack and his cloak, he walks over to Alrik.
"Storm face... make Tak blue. Make cloak white." He licks his lips. "Tell Tak where go. I hunt."
He glances at Atriox and Oredion. "You smart. Both." He points to the camp. "What Tak look for?"
Oredion smiling says, "Tools Tak anything that can help us dig. You have claws but I am not at that advantage.
Atriox thinks about it. "Explosives on my part anything I can throw at Tyranus or shoot in my sling at the beast."
Alrik cracks his knuckles and rolls his shoulders before putting his hands on the little Kobold, magic pouring down his arms as Tak's color begins to fade from green into a blue.
Oredion looks around carefully looking at everyone's faces.
"If you see any healing supplies grab those to. We don't want anyone dying today."
He nods at Atriox on the last bit.
Atriox chuckles. "Once your done meet us at the dragons lair entrance we will be waiting."
Oredion looks up towards the cave and battle that lies ahead.
"I'm going to go on ahead and scout for the best place to dig in at. Hopefully there are layers that aren't as thick."
Tak watches his scales change and the intensity of his scars fading. He looks rather mesmerized. "Ok. Tak look for... Digging. Exploding. Healing. Be back soon." He stretches, mumbling something to himself as he does so. You then see him leap down, scampering through the snow as quickly as lightning.
The rest of you make your hike up to the entrance of the dragon's cave, doing your best to be quiet about it. It looms overhead, the sour, metallic smell of the dragon leaving a tang in the air.
Oredion, you come up around the side of the cave first. You know your mountains, and this one is no different. You can tell there is a thick layer of ice atop it, but beneath that is traditional rock and soil. You spot a melt water tunnel coming off from the right and, making toward it... see that it's large enough for Tak to fit through. With a bit of digging, you and Tak could both easily make your way inside.
Tak eventually returns, perhaps a half hour later. He looks exhausted and cold.... but happy. He has a big toothy grin on his face. Patches of his scales are starting to turn back to their green color again as he dumps out the sack in front of you all.
"Tak blend right in..." he cackles. "They too busy preparing. Suppose another group going temple soon. Tak pretend help."
He hands out little vials of white liquid. "Healing, stop bleeding. Good stuff." Each person ends up with two. "Also have these..." He rolls over packed balls of black powder and... something else. "You don't want know how kobold makes these... but they explode." He shakes his head. "Could only find five... sounds like they taking more... not sure what need at temple for."
Lastly, he pulls out a few pairs of digging cloves and a small pickaxe. "These help keep claws clean when dig. Strong from metal and cloth." He slips some on. "Not sure if they fit Ore, but this might?" He holds up the tool.
Oredion eyes the pickaxe with a wide grin.
'Ah time to get back to my roots. These will do nicely Tak thank you. I found a nice spot aound the base of the cave where we can start digging."
Oredion stays still waiting on everyone's words before him and Tak depart and start on there part of the plan.
Tak nods, strapping on his armor and gear again. He reloads his bag with his old things, some of the healing vials, and one of the explosives. "Tak think we can do this."
Atriox nods. "We all know what we have to do. Do the best that you can and we will get through this. Tonight we will reap the rewards of our victory."
Alrik, who's been relatively quiet throughout this whole time, walks up and claps Atriox on the shoulder. "Let's get this over with..."
Etny has been listening carefully and quietly to everything everyone has been doing. She sees the wisdom in letting the Einhycacht camouflage himself, and understands, but she is still wary. "Angakresh..." she says quietly, addressing Atriox.
Atriox looks at Etny "yes ?"
"When you have made your challenge...can you draw the Anga out of its lair?"
Atriox looks at the woman. "I have a few moves in mind first but yes once the challenge rules have been broken and all hell breaks loose I'll take off torwards the front of the cave drawing it out in the open."
"I thank you, Angakresh-Dugairon...blessings of the All-Mother be upon you." She bows deeply to Atriox.
Atriox nods respectfully at the odd woman even though he doesn't trust her one bit really.
He heads off into the cave with Alrik.
No comments:
Post a Comment