XXVIII. The Heat of Battle
General Summary
The party members were gathered outside the door to the Red Dragons’ lair. Before they entered, they healed up with potions and Lay on Hands, and Lady Kohinoor reactivated the Emboldening Bond among her friends. Dev, Valoryn, and Mathazar’s bat familiar Drenger scouted the caverns ahead of the rest of the party. Creeping down one stone hallway towards a source of light, the three came upon a large clearing, in the center of which lied a mountain of gold along with the body of King Snurre, which was laid out respectfully on a stone slab. The three decided to check out the other tunnels in the cavern before entering the main chamber, so they went down another way and found a clear pool, into which water dripping from a stalactite above was making sonorous noises. Dev was very interested in the pool, so when they reported back to the party, they decided to investigate it. Alizeh cast Pass without a Trace, her little birds delivering the spell by giving everyone kissies. The party then went to the pool, where Dev tried to play notes and sing a little tune to match the tone of the pool. He pulled out a vial to try and dip the water in with Mage Hand. When he did, he noticed his boots began melting and the party was attacked by a group of four Gray Oozes. They managed to dispatch the oozes rather quickly, however, the noises of the fight attracted the attention of one of the Dragons. The party bolted down the hallway and tried to hide as the Dragon peered around the corner.
“I knew you killers would come here. I could hear you. I could smell you.”Mathazar signaled for the party to continue down the hallway as he stepped into the Dragon’s view.
“What do you mean killers?”-Mathazar the Conjurer
“Kingslayers. Ones the giants spoke of. You killed Snurre.”Kohinoor decided to stay near Mathazar so that she would be able to cover him if anything went wrong. She didn't like the idea of him facing it alone. Mathazar stepped out of the hall.-Bauzamel
“I didn’t kill anyone, look at me!”-Mathazar the Conjurer
“I know you don’t travel alone. There are others I smelled the stench of. Others hiding.”-Bauzamel
“Why did you love him so?”-Mathazar the Conjurer
“We were allies. Snurre was the first Giant in ten thousand years to aid a Dragon. Our species have a long and bloody history, and it was Snurre who had started to make amends. Now he’s dead, and with him, our peace has died as well.”Mathazar tried to imply that Snurre was not as noble as the dragon thought.-Bauzamel
“You know nothing of Snurre! Who are you? One of the bloodthirsty Imperials! I see it on you--where do you hail?!”-Bauzamel
“Ivargrad. But I hold no loyalty to them and I know what it means to lose a friend.”The dragon considered him for a moment.-Mathazar the Conjurer
“Come talk to me, young wizard.”Mathazar followed the dragon to the treasure pile in the middle.-Bauzamel
“Alright, the rest of you. I have him now. Surrender and lay down your arms.”As the party cursed themselves for allowing their friend to be taken hostage, Valoryn emerged from hiding.-Bauzamel
“You have the wrong one. I am the one who killed King Snurre.”The negotiation did not last past that point. Achilla charged into battle first, jumping over the pile of gold to land next to Mathazar and attack the dragon. The dragon tried to attack its hostage, who cast Lightning Bolt at it and used a lightning shield to deflect the dragon’s attack as he ran past. The ground began to shake and a magma geyser erupted under Achilla. Valoryn approached the dragon with a crazed look in his eyes.-Valoryn Nightshade
“I’m not sure if you heard me: I am the one who killed King Snurre!”-Valoryn Nightshade
“Then you’ll join him soon!”-Bauzamel
“Now, wouldn’t it be more fitting for you to join your friend than me?”Akwele ran up, his hands shedding ice as he called upon the power of his ancestors. Kohi struck Waythe into the ground and cast Spirit Shroud. Dev came up, speaking to the dragon, somewhat hopeful that maybe they could work something out.-Valoryn Nightshade
“You say that we are killers, but Snurre would have destroyed an entire empire! That bomb would have laid waste to Ivargrad!”His words unsettled the dragon, and Dev played a note that assaulted its mind with synaptic static.-Devaughn Lightpaw
“I care not for Ivergrad.”The dragon blasted everyone with fire breath, which dissipated the spirits Kohi had summoned, then flew into the air out of reach. Volcanic gasses started flooding the room from the crack where the magma was coming up. The gas made people start coughing, poisoning and incapacitating them. Akwele grew large, and then huge, reaching his massive hand into the air and yanking the dragon back down to the ground by its tail. The tattoo of Ekweme Who Wrestled Polar Bears appeared on his body.-Bauzamel
“My ancestors did not bring me back from the fire and frost of death to let my friends be killed by the likes of you!"With his trident, Akwele stabbed the dragon through the head. With the heat of battle passed, Akwele asked Dev to name the trident and then scooped everyone up into a hug. The party healed up a little bit and searched through the pile of treasure in the center of the chamber. Sensing a shift in the wind, the party got nervous that they had spent too long in one place and decided to flee to the northwest. Turning the corner. they ran into a group of nine Drow.-Akwele Who Passed through Fire and Frost
“It’s been long enough. You boys cannot win today. Let’s make sure they remember us.”From behind them, the party heard the sound of the other dragon approaching and roaring.-Drow
“Bauzamel!"The party prepared themselves for another fight…
