Dark Shadow From Above

NAME: Dark Shadow From Above TYPE: Challenge PREREQUISITE: None MISSION LEVEL: 5 SLOTS: 6 DESCRIPTION: Something is living in a cave up in these mountains. It flies and casts a large shadow. Investigation of this creature might prove dangerous! Come prepared!

SETUP: The night was dark and the storm a bad sign.  The group thought about coming back another day and the storm had approached suddenly and violently.  They were half way up the mountain when it hit.  Better wait for it to pass.  They tucked themselves inside a small mountain crag and waited.  The creature they hunted was a winged beast of some notable size.  Its lair almost to the top of the mountain.  This range of mountains had been dubbed Zordlon's Spine as the mapmakers meant it as some sort of joke but the name stuck.   Another fierce bolt of lighting struck down, momentarily lighting the sky.  The group huddled together and discussed their options.

Dorryn uses his knowledge of the mountains to locate an adequate shelter from the freak storm.  He settles in and begins oiling his armor to protect it from the rain.   What manner of beast do you believe we be hunting, master gnome?  Perhaps we  can devise a plan for  knocking it from the sky.

Good job finding us some shelter.  I've brought a few strong nets, we can try to entangle it with them.  Failing that....I'm not sure.  I've never hunted anything like this before, I'm here for the experience.

The sky flashes .. for a moment it seemed as if Zordlon was standing with them .. then he was gone .. they turned looking for their friend. (Zordlon is signed up .. where is he?)

(so I just realised we still use this for threads..... I'm just an idiot don't worry. NOTHING HAS CHANGED) Zordlon quickly comes back from... uh..... checking the storm? yeah that sounds like a reasonable excuse..... "I can confirm... that is rain."  (sorry again for my absence and... erm.... do we still use this vtt for anything?)

Well, if we have nets, then we can manage this, I'm certain.  Abadar will protect us as we bring safety to this uncivilized land.   With that, Dorryn rolls up in his cloak and begins snoring, waiting for the storm to pass.

OOC - this vtt (main) is used for new players, special events and GM storage of things and the Forums are still here.   1/3 keeps characters and missions stuff but the links still take you to here from the mission journals.

After a while the storm passes .. the darkness has set in the climb must continue.  The rocks, now wet with the recent rain make climbing a little bit more of a slippery task.   The party discusses how to proceed with climbing the mountain up to the cave.  The rocks offer enough holds and in some places small leaps of faith may need to be made as there is no direct usable pathway to the top in this unexplored mountain and to reach the cave a sheer rock face will have to be navigated sucessfully. 

"So... does anyone have rope? Or extra octogrips?" Zordlon looks at the others with a questioning look.

I have some robe and Gerty and I can get pretty much anywhere you need.  We can set up guide ropes over the rough patches.

Gerty climbs the walls of the rock when the climbing gets difficult.  The team works together to fasten ropes and leave them for the climb back down.  Working together they scale the wall avoiding having to hang onto wet patches.  Making it to the top of the mountain they can finally see the lair of the creature.  The front of the lair was easier to find given the fact that a dense mist or fog rolled out from the entrance, possibly a side effect of the recent rain or something far more sinister.  (The lair area is considered to be under the effects of something similar to obscuring mist) Place your tokens on the map.  I have marked the area of the mist where you have climbed up beside the entrance on the landing. I also need stealth checks and perception checks

Dorryn begins to pray boldly to the Judge of the Gods, asking for his protection in the battle to come.  As he prays, he searches the surrounding area for signs of what this creature may be. //ooc, Stealth -2, Perception 28, casts Magic Vestment and Barkskin on himself.

Fizziwik attempts to be quiet as they near the lair, but it's hard to stifle the sound of full plate moving about.   //ooc:  Stealth 7, Perception 20

Issachar Dorryn is unable to see through the penetrating fog but he does think he hears the heavy breathing of some creature within the lair.  It may even be emitting a low, almost undetectable growl as if it has been alerted to something nearby. (probably full plate)

Hmmph!  The beastie knows we be here.  Let us beard it in it's lair, before it takes to the skies.   Dorryn looks to Fizziwik and (tries to find) Zordlon for agreement, then begins his march into the cavern, waraxe in hand.

(as usual i missed slot 3 due to sleeping and almost missed slot 3 waiting for vtt to load.) (OOC: perception 25 stealth 28 {side note: +2 to both if I count as in the cave}) Zordlon goes up to the mist and does his rogue thing by almost seeming to disappear inside of the mist. [albeit Dorryn can barely make him out]

Fizziwik nudges Gerty into the mist.

Upon entering the cave .. a growing sound followed by a blast of solid fog, thickening the mist and causing an eruption of damaging mist .. followed by a second blast of solidified fog hits the party in an explosion.  The solid fog dissipates quickly adding to the mist that already exists in the cave.  This barrage of fog is followed by the flight of two creatures out of the cave above the party's heads.  As they fly by the party feels pain as claws dig deep into their flesh as something is swiping at them mid-flight.  The party is barely able to make out any creatures as they fly by but they can briefly see two winged dragons that fly by as they appear in the fog, not long enough to attack back. Breath:  5 and 8 :  Dorryn makes both saves, zord fails one and evades the other, Gerty evades both, fizziwig fails one and saves the other for half.  Rolls were made and this damage has already been applied.  Zordlon is knocked prone.  Fizziwig falls prone in his saddle. Attacks:  27 AC on Dorryn for 10 damage, 20 AC on Zordlon for 12 damage You appear to be facing at least 4 of these creatures.   Knowledge Arcana (15) can identify them as mist drakes. The entire area you are in is under the effects of obscuring mist which these creatures seem to have little difficulty seeing through.

Dorryn, discerning the attack came from above, begins to chant a prayer to Abadar, beseeching The Master of the First Vault to grant him Flight.  A soft, golden glow infuses him, and he immediately takes to the air.   //ooc Dorryn casts Fly and then moves 20' up and into the cavern, getting out of the mist.

The passageway has 20 ft ceilings and 10 ft wide opening up to 40 ft ceilings around the perimeter and 60 ft ceiling in the center of the cavern.  The mist currently covers the passageway into the cavern only. 

Slot 2 (9am - 5pm) Fizziwik urges Gerty to move straight ahead, upon seeing a drake he tosses a net onto it, entangling the creature. //15 touch attack if it hits the drake is entangled:   An entangled creature takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls and a –4 penalty to Dexterity, can move at only half speed, and cannot charge or run. An entangled creature can escape with a successful DC 20 Escape Artist check (a full-round action). The net has 5 hit points and can be burst with a successful DC 25 Strength check (also a full-round action).

Zordlon quickly does gets up from being attacked and then does the most logical thing my running over to the paladin and hiding behind him so the drakes will try and attack him and maybe get some healing along the way. (OOC move to get up standard used as move for 25 ft to get behind Fizziwik.)

The drakes surround the party, another blast of mist filling the main chamber up to 20 feet up in the air and covering the surface of the entire chamber floor.  Drakes bite and slap their tails as another Drake returns into the cave to strike Fizz as he flies by with a devastating blow.  Attacks - Flyby 27 for 15 damage to Fizz; all other attacks miss completely Breath - Fizz takes half of 12 (6) and the rest evade

Slot 3: (5pm - 1am) Nudging Gerty a little to the side, Fizzy pulls his sword out and takes a swing while Gerty attempts a bite, the fog befuddles their attempt though so both are misses.  Fizzy also uses lay on hands to heal himself a little. //ooc: heal 5 from lay on hands.

Zordlon takes a stance next to Gerty and Fizziwick and lashes out against the drake his blade (presumably) striking true against the drake and making  a decent blow. (hit ac 16+6= 24. dealt 5+5=10 damage. had this for 30 minutes forgot to post XD 1 miss rolled 4 on d5)

CONTINGENCY Zordlon yet again tries to hit the flying beast.... and fails terribly (nat 1.... on the fog and actual. Nice job Zordlon!)

Dorryn calls upon Abadar to strike down his foes.  A blinding explosion of light appears between the two drakes closest to him, blinding one and dazzling the other.  The drakes cry out in pain as the sacred energy infuses their evil bodies. //ooc Cast Burst of Radiance, dealing 13 damage to both drakes at the back of the chamber.  Drake closest to Dorryn fails the Reflex and is blinded for 2 rounds, other passes and is dazzled for 2 rounds.

Dorryn again calls upon the power of his deity, creating a weapon of pure force that attacks the dazzled drake, but it misses it's first attack.  He follows that up with a mighty swing of his waraxe into the blinded beast, who is severly hampered by his lack of vision (Attack 16, hits Blindness adjusted AC of 15 for 18 dmg).

The drakes cry out and then attack with fury. After biting Zordlon and sending him collapsing to the floor the drake brings its massive tail down on Gerty with extreme force.  Fizz lifts his shield to block the attack but the drake brings it from the side hitting Gerty with a solid and massive blow.  Attacks:  Confirmed Crit on Gerty with a failed combat maneuver attempt for 14 damage, Hit on Zordlon for 15 damage

Dorryn swings a mighty blow, By Abadar's Scales!, dealing a near fatal blow to the drake (Attack 29, Dmg 24) and redirects the Spritual Weapon to attack the same blind beast, with poor results (move action to redirect, Attack 12, miss).

Slot 1 (1am - 9am): Fizziwik smites Drake #1 and slashes into him twice with his longsword, hurting the creature. //OOC: Smite Evil on Drake #1, Lay on Hands Fizzy for 4 hps

Slot 2 (9am - 5pm) Fizzy scores a telling blow on Drake #1 before turning and slashing into Drake #3 with a solid hit.  His wounds heal a little as he swings about. //OOC Smite on Drake #3, Lay on Hands for 3 hp----I haven't forgotten about you Zord, but if we don't get rid of a few drakes then no amount of healing is going to help

Slot 2: The Spiritual Weapon connects with Drake 3, felling it (Att 23, Dmg 8), while Dorryn casts Burst of Radiance, centered such that both living drakes are targeted.  The explosion of light causes them to reel back in pain, and leaves them blinded from it's force.  (Burst of Radiance for 9 dmg each, Reflex fails 10, 11 mean both are blinded.)

(Don't worry I have the hard to kill trait.... Means I have a halved dc on stabilize checks. or at least half the negative hit point total which I think is the some thing. is useful.) Slot 1 stabilize 17 fort 16 con (not sure which it is) Slot 2 stabilize 16 fort 15 con

Dorryn directs the glowing sword of force against the drake closest to the entrance.  It connects, leaving a long gash in the creatures hide.  He then swings his waraxe two handed, severing the spine cleanly, dropping the beast (Spiritual Weapon Attack 25, Dmg 6; Waraxe Attack 28, Dmg 23).

The remaining drake thrashes about blindly missing his target by a long shot.  He lets out a great roar and the remaining drake stares into darkness seeking his opponent. (make sure you guys are rolling your concealment rolls .. I made a token for it)

With another feeble attempt the drake strikes out against Dorryn's armor this time finding him and biting down deeply. 1 attack - AC 23 - 12 damage

Slot 3: 5pm - 1am Fizziwik calls upon his Goddess to grant a burst of healing to his companions. OOC: Spend my last 2 lay on hands to channel energy for 5 hps

(OOC after a small discussion with Fizziwik I determined I could stand whilst picking up my rapier without provoking due to a blind drake) Zordlon wakes up - barely conscious- after the healing by the Fizziwik and gets up while picking up his rapier and swings stabbing straight into mist cutting a huge chunk out of it! Don't worry Zordlon will save the day and protect from the dangerous mist! (OOC I am amazing. getting a natural 19 crit against the drake then missing concealment. 15 damage to mist)

Slot 1: Spiritual Weapon attacks the final drake, hitting and hurting him (Attack 23, Dmg 6).  Dorryn 5' steps to gain a flanking bonus, swings his waraxe and connects, taking a huge chunk out of the drake's flesh (Attack 15 after Flanking added against Blinded [-2 AC, no Dex to AC for AC 15] for 24 Dmg).

The dragon unfolds its wings and attacks fizz as he flies out of the cavern through the mist; the mist providing protection from him getting attacked by the small army surrounding it. Attacks - Flyby attack miss.

Fizzy leans over and touches Zordlon, healing some of his wounds, before guiding Gerty to the side of the cave. (ooc): 7 healed

Zordlon quickly ducks behing a wall to avoid snother flyby. though he is feeling much better now.

Dorryn directs the glowing longsword to continue the attack as he flies out right behind the drake.  The Spiritual Weapon lands another blow, gashing the serpent (Att 29, Dmg 6).  Dorryn plows out of the mist and into the waning light, crashing into the drake with his waraxe, wounding the beast mortally (Att 30, Dmg 15).  As the drake tumbles down the side of the mountain to it's doom, Dorryn lands back on the ledge and goes to chek on his companions.

(kirby. what were your concealment rolls?)

He didn't need to make them because the creature was outside the area of the mist when he got to it .. 

(oh. I thought the mist was the entire area. :P)

With great satisfaction the small group of a gnome, a dwarf and a Zordlon were successful in clearing out the cave of a family of mist drakes.  As the mist slowly lifted away the party took the opportunity to search the cave turning up a cache of treasure.  Like most dragons the mist drakes had collected some treasure over time that now belonged to our lucky and brave adventurers.   Reward:  2 mp, roll for treasure.  (Finishing the treasure tables tomorrow)  In clearing out the mist drakes you find a stash of treasure.  I will be testing out our new treasure roller so remind me in a couple days if I didn't post what to do for your rewards here.  Thanks for your patience and congratulations on surviving a difficult fight. 

Just checking, but as a Challenge mission, shouldn't this give 3 MP?