Adventures #7 & #8 - Jotun Valley and the Dragon Orbs -&- Bleak be the Future

Jeremiah will point out a few of the giant caves and says...


"Maybe we should start here, if one of these caves is abandoned we could set an ambush and try to lure a dragon into it. What do you guys think?"

Jeremiah wrote:Jeremiah will point out a few of the giant caves and says... "Maybe we should start here, if one of these caves is abandoned we could set an ambush and try to lure a dragon into it. What do you guys think?"

Talmut tugs at his chin hairs and said, "Hmm. That might work."

"What would lure it with," Gumphrey asks, "like a goat or something?"

Elodie wrote:"Hmm, a goat. But how would the goat know to go to the right place? Maybe I should turn into an animal and be the bait. Then, when the dragon comes into the cave...wham!"

Talmut and Gumphrey both nod. Miphelgara notes, "that could be dangerous, Elodie, but if anybody can handle it, I believe you can. Jeremiah, what do you think?"

Using his magicks, Talmut teleports the Band of Four to the cave in question, where Gumphrey immediately finds a place to hide. The cave itself is certainly large enough, with stalactites and stalagmites just hanging around. Jeremiah finds an abandoned fire-pit in the center of the cave, evidence that it was once the home of giants. Miphelgara transforms himself into a tiny bird and make a perch atop one of the stalagmites.

Elodie transforms into an Elephant and marches right out into the valley. Running along an essentially random path, she runs for a long while before seeing anything (about an hour). Then, she notices a dragon high in the sky that seems to be circling her. Feigning an elephant's panic, she trumpets her trunk and races back toward the cave. The dragon veers toward and begins his descent.

As she approaches the cave, Gumphrey calls out. "Incoming."

Talmut casts several spells in preparation for the upcoming battle.

Elodie will stomp into the cave, shrieking an elephant's shriek of terror. She will duck behind a boulder or column large enough to hide as much as the elephant's girth as possible, and transform. Once she has transformed, she will prepare to blast the dragon with flame.

Ready an action: once the dragon enters the cave and approaches the group, she will cast Fire Storm.

A moment after Elodie crashes into the cave and transforms, the hungry dragon flies into the cave ready to devour the elephant. Ready for the terrible wyrm, the Band of Four springs into action. A wave of fear washes over you, just as the fiery heat of the dragon fills the cave.

Surprise Round

Gumphrey rushes out from behind a stalagmite and sinks his vicious dagger between the dragon's scales and right into it's massive abdomen. Shrugging off the debilitating effects of the dagger, he pulls the blade free and sinks it in again.
- Gumphrey's Will Save = 21 (Success)
- Gumphrey takes 1 Point of Fire Damage from the heat.
- Attack roll = 31 (Hit). 36 Damage. Gumphrey also suffers 4 Damage.

Talmut steps out of the shadows, as well, speaking a single Word of Power: "Blind!" Immediately, the dragon's eyes cloud over and become milky white.
- Talmut's Will Save = 27 (Success)
- Talmut's Caster Level Check = 30 (Success). Cast Power Word: Blind
- The Dragon is Blind (See Page 565)

Face-to face-with a full-grown red dragon, Miphelgara is visibly shaken. Nonetheless, he pulls himself together and transforms into a young bronze dragon while snapping at the larger dragon with his powerful jaws ... but in his frightened state, he seems unable to bit through the red's toughened scales.
- Miphelgara's Will Save = 13 (Fail). He becomes shaken (-2 penalty on most rolls)
- Miphelgara takes 1 Point of Fire Damage from the heat.
- Miphelgara's Attack Roll = 23 (Miss).

OOC: Go ahead and roll your attack (remember, it's a surprise round, so no full-round actions). Include a Will save to resist the fright of seeing a dragon up close.
OOC: If casting a spell, a Caster Level Check is required (the Dragon has Spell Resistance).
OOC: Jeremiah had plenty of time to cast all of his spells.
OOC: This is still the surprise round. So, Initiatives in Round 1 will be as follows.

- Jeremiah 19
- Talmut 18
- Gumphrey 16
- Miphelgara 14
- Dragon 12
- Elodie 7

Elodie attempts to blast the dragon with fire.

Cast Fire Storm (DC 26 Save)

Caster Level Check: 31 (16 + 15)

Damage: 55 (15d6)

GM Edit: Will Save = 31

Surprise Round (Continued) ...

Unphased by the terrible presence of the dread wyrm, Jeremiah and Elodie unleash their usual brands of destruction. The fire spirits erupt into an storm of, engulfing the dragon in an inferno. The fire-breathing dragon, however, seems oddly resistant to it. Jeremiah rushes in and hacks away at the dragon's scales, breaking through into the dragon's chest.
- Jeremiah suffers 3 points of Fire damage.

Round 1 ...

OOC: Jeremiah is up first an Init 19, followed by Talmut, Gumphrey, and Miphelgara at 18, 16, 14. Then, the dragon, with Elodie going last. 

Round 1 (Continued) ...

Init 19
Jeremiah tries to share his expertise over the clamor of dagger, while furiously striking the dragon with with hand-axes. Chop, chop, chop, chop, chop! Although he manages to bleed the mighty dragon, the brunt of his effort is absorbed by the dragon's mighty scales.
- Three attacks hit; two miss.
- Jeremiah suffers 6 points of fire damage.

Init 18
Talmut utters a conjuration in the ancient tongue of his people, summoning forth an invisible creature from the plane of air to do his bidding.

The invisible stalker strikes at the dragon from above, but even its mighty blows cannot penetrate the hide of this wyrm!
- The Invisible Stalker misses twice.
- The Invisible Stalker suffers 6 points of fire damage.

Init 16
Gumphrey plunges his mythic dagger into the dragon's hide and gives it a twist. Yanking the dagger free, he stabs forth again only to meet the dragon's steely scale.
- Attacks = 32 & 24 (one hit, on miss), 40 damage.
- Gumphrey suffers 5 points of fire damage.
- Gumphrey suffers 5 points damage from his own dagger.

Init 14
Miphelgara carefully crawls to a better angle and unleashes a terrifying stream of lightning from his mouth. The electricity engulfs the red dragon, who ducks and twists to avoid most of the blast. Nonetheless, the bolts take their roll, causing spasms and agony.
- Red's Reflex Save = 28. Half Damage = 12

Init 12
The blind dragon panics and unleashes its fiery breath toward the adversaries it can hear! Miphelgara and Talmut are caught in the blast and horribly burned. Talmut collapses into a smoking heap upon the cave floor. Miphelgara doesn't look much better off. The dragon calls out "YOU CANNOT HOPE TO DEFEAT ME! SURRENDER AND I SHALL ONLY EAT MOST OF YOU! ONE SHALL LIVE! CONTINUE TO INCUR MY WRATH AND YOU ALL SHALL DIE!"
- Miphelgara's Reflex Save = 22 (Fail) Miphelgara suffers 92 fire damage
- Talmut's Reflex Save = 16 (Fail) Talmut suffers 92 fire damage

Init 7
- Elodie?

Elodie grimaces at Jeremiah's suggestion. "That fiery ship has sailed, my friend," she calls out before focusing her energy on healing her companions.

Cast Cure Serious Wounds, Mass - creatures within a range of 60 feet (and not more than 30 feet apart) regain 34 HP

End of Round 1 ...

Init 7
Elodie calls upon the spirits of nature to grant life to her wounded (and dying) companions.
- Jeremiah, Talmut, Gumphrey, Miphelgara, and Elodie all regain 34 HP.

Start of Round 2 ...

Init 19
In a whirlwind of axes, Jeremiah continues to hack at the great wyrm. Although the the dragon's scales absorb some of the assault, Jeremiah again draws blood ... and lots of it.
- Three hits, two misses.
- Jeremiah suffers 3 Fire Damage.

Init 18, 16, 14
Talmut climbs to his feet and steps through dimensions, appearing suddenly behind the dragon.
- Use Dimensional Steps as a Standard Action (trying to avoid the breath weapon)

The invisible creature that Talmut summoned continued to create a ruckus above the dragon, but its effort has no apparent effect.
- Attack rolls = 26 and 25 (Both miss)

Gumphrey continues to thrust his magical dagger at the dragon, but the dragon is now moving with such feorcity, that Gumphrey is unable to strike a weak spot.
- Attack rolls = Natural 1 and 23 (Both Miss)
- Gumphrey suffers 2 Fire Damage.

Miphelgara lunges at the elder dragon with everything he's got
- Bite, Claw, Claw, Wing, Wing Attacks = 19, Natural 1, 23, 20 and 21 (all miss)
- Miphelgara suffers 4 Fire Damage.

Init 12
The blind and wounded dragon desperately lashes out with everything in its arsenal. Its teeth and claws ruthlessly tear open Miphelgara, he drops to the ground bleeding profusely. Its heavy tail comes down on Talmut with a sickening thud, ending the wizard's life.
- Tail Attack against Talmut = Natural 20 (34 to verify). 50% Miss Chance = 81 (hit). Talmut suffers 49 damage. Talmut dies.
- Bite Against Miphelgara = 35 (Hit) 50% Miss Chance = 81 (hit). Miphelgara suffers 26 piercing damage.
- Claw Against Miphelgara = Natural 20 (33 to Verify). 50% Miss Chance = 45 (Miss)
- Claw Against Miphelgara = 33(Hit) 50% Miss Chance = 54 (hit). Miphelgara suffers 18 piercing damage. Miphelgara drops unconscious.
- Wing Attack Against Jeremiah = 36 (Hit). 50% Miss Chance = 07 (Miss).
- Wing Attack Against Jeremiah = 34 (Hit). 50% Miss Chance = 20 (Miss).

Init 7
Elodie ...

Elodie reaches for her magical spear and attempts to find a weak spot on the dragon's scaly body.

Attack: 27 (13 + 14)

Damage: 8 (7 + 1)

Will +16
Reflex + 20
Fort + 17
CMD: 36
HP: 141/144
Quarry: This Red Dragon

Favored Terrain (Mountain/Hills) - +4 bonus on initiative checks and Knowledge(geography), Perception, Stealth, and Survival skill checks when he is in this terrain. A ranger traveling through his favored terrain normally leaves no trail and cannot be tracked.

Favored Enemy: Dragon (+4 Attk / +4 Dmg) +4 bonus on Bluff, Knowledge, Perception, Sense Motive, and Survival checks.

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AotGS: 15 + 21 + 4 = 40 | DMG: 9 + 4 = 13
AotGS: 20 + 16 + 4 = 40   | DMG: 9 + 4 = 13 x 3 = 39
AotGS: 4 + 11 + 4 = 19 | DMG: 11 + 4 = 15
MwHA: 14 + 20 + 4 = 38 | DMG: 11 + 4 = 15
MwHA: 20 + 15 + 4 = 39   | DMG: 12 + 4 = 16 x 3 = 48

OOC: Shauna, did you add the bonuses I gave you to your attack and damage, +2/+2?

End of Round 2, Start of Round 3 ...

Elodie steps forward and thrusts her magical spear through the dragon's mouth and out through the eye on the opposite side of its head. Meanwhile, Jeremiah furiously hacks away at the dragon, sending blood and scales soaring across the cave. The dragon collapses to the cave floor with a thud, while Jeremiah stands over it covered in blood.

Gumphrey rushes to check on his fallen comrades. "Elodie?"

"No worries, Gumphrey." She pulls out her wand and spins it around her finger once before directing it at Miphelgara. She taps him as many times as necessary to restore his health.

Cures 16 HP.
Cures 15 HP.
Cures 17 HP.
Cures 16 HP.
Cures 21 HP.
Cures 21 HP.

TOTAL = 106 HP

Once she has seen to Miphelgara's injuries, she rummages through her bag and pulls out a tiny vial of perfumed oils. She anoints Talmut's lifeless body, and calls upon the spirits to allow him to return.

Percentage roll to see what kind of creature Talmut is reincarnated as: 72 - Human

Once her party is healthy, Elodie will say, "Who wants to turn into a bird and fly over to this dead beast's lair? Since we can't teleport at this very moment...we could at least travel quickly."