Plantmonth 5th, 289, 29th age, 10:20 PM. After fleeing from the lizardman camp/keep, we set up Leomund’s Hut in the wild and went inside. We discussed an option to do tomorrow, referring to the map we had. The thought was either head northeast to Borut, north to the river, or northwest to Bork Lake. For now, we thought due north was the best bet. We slept well, woke up on the 6th and after studying and prayers, were ready to leave by 8ish.
It was sunny and blue sky, over 3 miles visibility now on ground, and would be more from the air. This meant though that the lizardmen would see us as well, so we had to leave and with haste. Wilhelm (as raven) and Thalin would fly north and scout the area out to the Enderlyn River. Not confident for now, the two of them were turned invisible and then flew off while the rest of the group walked north.
Rising to a quarter mile, it took some time but about 7,8 miles or so north (estimated), they could see the Enderlyn River. There was a haze or a distortion over the mile plus wide river. About a mile of the land before the Enderlyn was swampy…soft ground and Cyprus/cedar trees. They had survived whatever the firestorm was that consumed most of the countryside, although all their leaves and upper branches had been blown away.
While they were looking around they did spy rising out of the swampy area, a dragon take flight. 80, 100 foot wingspan, 200 plus feet from snout to tail. Big. Like very big. It casually took flight and headed east along the edge of the River, casually taking flight and moving out. The two friends did NOT move, staying still a quarter mile up and waiting. The dragon did look up at some point but did not spot them (invisible or not, dragons can see invisible creatures at some indeterminate distance).
Once safe enough, the two of them flew back to the party and rejoined them. Both let the group know what was ahead – but more importantly, they were not out of possible visible range by the lizardmen. We’d have to travel on and be careful. The group sped up their pace and we hoped to make enough time to be out of accidental visibility.
Nate had been keeping a weather eye out though and let us know about 10:30 that the dest cloud behind us and closing indicated the lizardmen had indeed spotted us. We had 15 minutes tops time. And there was nowhere to hide.
Thalin gave Darius the Leomund’s hut, had invisibility cast on himself, mounted his broom, and everyone hid inside. He told them that in 1 hour he’d be here and to open the door then. They all went inside, wished Thalin well and closed the door.
Not realizing that this would be the last time any of them saw their friend again.
He floated upward to about 80 feet and waited quietly as the lizardmen patrol closed. 10 of them, fast moving, 3 long spears each. They were tracking obviously because they slowed and stopped right where the hut had been laid down and opened. Able to understand them, they were fanning out and marking the area, trying to get an idea what happened. Two of them had frills, making them a higher caste. They set up stakes with green fabric on the ends, pretty much where the door to the hut is…as well as about 30’ out all around it.
One of them took out a quartz disk and after a bit, broke it. Sparks came out and formed into the face of the fat lizardman we had seen earlier on the palanquin. Wanted to know what they had learned. Magic had been used during the escape last night – 3 spells, and some sort of artifact. The mage-priest wanted it.
Eventually a Blight was cast in the area, poisoning the ground and making noxious vapors rise from it. The lizardmen had moved out about 200’ from this area, set up a small camp. 6 of them were camped there and 4 were at perimeter, 60’ out and waited. Shit. As soon as the door opens, they’ll see the party as well as the poison problem.
So after a while, Thalin floated over the camp down to 25’ and while invisible, told them “They are not your enemy” – and then had the broom float wildly to the side. This had the lizardmen get up and weapons hot. They scanned (saw nothing), and engaged Thalin. “Whoa are you? You are not a stalitzian, you’re voice is all wrong. Working for the dwarves.” “No, I hate the dwarves.” “Right”
Each time he floated a different direction but still over the camp so they could not get a bead on him. But at some point the decision was made to hurl spears. And enough of them had a lucky shot, pegging the wizard hard. A few times.
Fuck.
He put on a burst of speed and floated out over 450’ from the camp until he could remove the spears and take stock of his diminishing hit points. Meanwhile, another 9 or so of the lizardmen arrived in a flash of rainbow tube light. Not quite on camp but close enough. They ran back to the others, one had a disk out and was scanning the area. Fucking hell.
Eventually the group did not find Thalin and the new group portalled using a Half League Bracer (like we had), 2 sets back – leaving 5 of the lizardmen left – assumption seems to be they had chased you off for now but were waiting to see if the artifact showed up again.
Damn it, no real time left. Thalin floated back to the camp and dropped a web right in the middle of them. He turned visible in doing so but managed to fully encase 2 of them, 1 was partially covered. But the two at the perimeter hurled spears, and the one that was partially webbed bib as well. And Thalin was hit 3 times, two of the spears went in deep.
He was down to a single hit point. Turning up he fired straight up into the sky, a quarter mile up. And looked. No healing potions. Bleeding bad. He pulled out both spears and drifted eastward – the lizardmen following him – leaving just 2 at the camp. Best he could do for the party. He drifted east at a good clip, the lizardmen running below to keep pace.
At 1 hour, Darius had Shim cast invisibility on him and the fighter opened the door and stuck his head out.
And got 10 points of caustic vaporous poison damage from his chest up to his face. “Ah. Fuck Fuck!” He shut the door, holding his invisible chest tight. “Damn, from my nipples up,” he muttered. Explained what happened. Didn’t see Thalin but there was some poisonous shit out there.
We had a few ideas, flaming sphere the ground to make a path, zone of sweet air, just running for it. Darius was going to have to risk another look though. He did so and took another 10 damage. Yep. 2 lizardmen. Camp. Nothing else. 30’ long area. So Captain Asher asked Maglubiyet to give him a delay of poison…and then he stepped out and cast zone of sweet air.
And then the rest of the party ran out to attack the 2 lizardmen.
Meanwhile Thalin was looking things over when the lizardmen got excited – the damned green dragon was flying towards them. He cast invisibility on himself from a scroll and waited. The dragon was talking to the lizardmen, 1 started jogging back to the camp, and the other 2 got on the dragon’s back. One had a quartz disk out and the dragon was flying up, looking around.
Fucking shit damn it.
If he flew faster than a slow jog, the broom will give off lights and a trilling noise. He tried to keep away from the ever rising dragon as it spiraled up, maintaining a quarter mile distance. But damn it, he was spotted and the dragon winged over and was heading right for him.
Fuck this. Thalin poured power into the broom and flew north east – towards the mouth of the Enderlyn River and hopefully Borut on the other side. And the dragon with the 2 lizardmen riders were giving chase.
The rest of the party assaulted the 2 lizardmen that were here, spears flying. Arrows were shot and magic missile filled the air. The lizardmen were tough and took punishing amounts of damage. They did not break morale and poured the fight to the group. 1 went down and the other was beginning to retreat.
Thalin was flying faster now. 25 mph. Then 30. The dragon was keeping pace and slowly gaining, increasing its speed as well. The distancewas shrinking. 900 feet, 800 feet. He turned the broom to its maximum speed (35 mph) and could see the river getting closer. 1,200 feet up he could see the 2 mile wide expanse and some city on the far side. The dragon hit the same speed and even faster now, distance was closing. 600 feet. 500 feet.
The river was under a mile away then half, then a quarter. The dragon was shouting something at Thalin but the wind tore its words away. It was trying hard to brake its speed as Thalin shot over the water, a quarter mile up and 35 miles per hour.
And the broom just fucking died.
The magic ended abruptly and Thalin was hanging on, trying to pull the front of it up and the water below grew closer and closer. The elven fighter mage poured every bit of his will into arresting his fall and getting the broom to rise once again.
All the way until he smashed into the roiling mouth of the Enderlyn River where he and his broom hit like splintering reeds before being washed under the water’s surface.
Back at the camp, the group was beating the fuck out of the other lizardman while we made sure the kids and everyone were out of the hut. And we could see a 3rd lizardsman running towards the group from the east, seeing us kicking us, and then turning south.
“Fuck that.” Connal growled and gave chase, at one point dropping Shim off so he could Jackie Chan punch and kick slam the fleeing lizardman. Combat was quick and ended swiftly. We all regathered and cleaned up as best we could the residue of the poison. Shim used a prestidigitation and blew the rest off. No one knew where Thalin was but we knew he would find us. We went north.
By 4:30, we were getting a bit wiped. Eoghan let us know that the land was swampy ahead and we had a better chance to navigate it in the morning. Still no Thalin. If we set up the hut and went inside there was little chance of him finding us again. We had no choice.
Once inside we ate the last of the food, some of us going on half rations so the kids had enough to eat for breakfast tomorrow. And by 6 PM, we fell asleep.
Awoke the next day, Plantmonth the 7th early. Shim had a vision from Seer Desmond again. Letting him know that one of the threads that had come back with us was no more. Lost to the flow of entropy. Thalin…was dead.
“Fuck.” Connal cursed. There were now only 2 members of the Vanguards of Ragnarok left from the original set up so long ago from the heroes who set off to Fingelt’s Mine for House Darbeard. Connal and Darius.
We emerged at 4:30 in the morning and then set off north. Eighan guided us over the softening earth until we came to places that could not be easily navigated. He lead us from dry patch to dry patch. The cedars and Cyprus trees gave some firm places for us to start and stop on.
And at 8:30 – we were at the River. It was a good mile wide, flowing at ¾ a mile per hour. Across the shimmering surface we could see more land…and a road. Hot damn.
But a spell cast had no effect. In fact all our magic was inert, although if we moved away from the river, it seemed to return. With too much a current and no easy way across, we opted to head west closer to Bork Lake and see if there was a boat there.
Two hours of hard walk and we could see the river slowing down and widening. And across the way. Bork Keep. It looked like we remembered from our time, only somehow cleaner and more stately.
Nate once again through was watching and let us know, lizardmen were approaching us again. This time from the east. At least 10. Damn. Nope, make that 16. Shit.
We dropped the Hut again and Wilhelm went inside with his animals and the 11 kids. The rest of us drew up battle lines and spears ready to receive charge. TO the west – we could see a speck in the sky. Coming closer. Dragon? No.
Airship.
It would arrive soon, but not until after the lizardmen did.
Closer and closer they came and then Godrick fired off his lone 3rd level spell.
Fireball.
Cooked half of the lizardmen, didn’t kill them, but hurt the hell out of a number. Arrows and missile fired, We poured on the attacks doing all we can to keep them focused on the front line (Rhygar, Darius, Nate, Captain Asher, Connal). They were fighting with spears which meant back ranks could hit as well. We tried to focus on the most wounded first, taking them out by ones and twos.
A few looped around and came to Eogahn, Shim, and Godrik. The dogs attacked and held the scaly beast off while we shot and fired and hit. A few shields splintered and we were holding on pretty well when the skyship finally hove close enough. 10 ton battlewagon with copper clad siding. They did not want to fire into the party and hurt them but we told them to angle the most north and 20 flatbow bolts went out, scything half the lizardmen down immediately.
And another 10 were running up.
They hurled climbing nets over the side and the party started to climb. Darius ordered Rhygar to get the kids up and to safety and then get the Leomund’s Hut. The last few lizardmen did their best but they were overwhelmed as our tired fighters took them down at long last. Before the lizardmen 2nd group could arrive they were hit with a barrage of fire again and we all climbed up.
Where gnomes were running about. A group of huddled people badly burned and dirty were here – 8 of them, obviously also saved. The man who was rescuing us? A dwarf, gorokian. Wide eyed and friendly. And a well groomed noble looking orc with blackish cast to his skin.
“Welcome about the Haverton Tenton! We’ve been looking for you for almost 4 days!” The dwarf thumped himself in the chest and shook Eoghan’s hand warmly. “So glad we finally found you. That is the Kaiser Steelheart Randari,” he indicated the towering orc.
“And I am the Nornian Priest Fenix Donnegarten. Thank the fates I was finally able to track you! So glad we could save you.”
Donnegarten. What the fuck now?
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