Day 4 - Vogler

[emotionaut]

***

Location:  Vogler

Day:  4

Round:  7

Heather and Jonas both fire upon the ogre, causing her to toss aside her pilfered keg of fish and roar a challenge in their direction. Of course, this largely serves as a distraction for what Kora, Bastion, and Jaqi conspire to do.

Jaqi directs the other two with the confidence and tactical insight of one who has faced their enemy before. Her hatred drives her, giving her the strength to turn the metal dragon almost by herself. Then she and Bastion quickly study the controls for aiming and firing. Given that those draconian brutes were able to fire it, it comes as no surprise that they are able to deduce its manner of operation in seconds.

Jaqi lines up the shot and then pulls the firing lever. The dragon inhales and then expels a great ball of flame. It sails in a perfect arc, coming down on the ogre just as she's looking up. She has no time to dodge or even shield her eyes. It explodes on her point blank and creates a storm of smoke and flames.

When the smoke clears, the ogre still stands. She is badly wounded and charred from head to toe, but she appears to take great pleasure in having survived such an attack. She roars again and begins to laugh. "Is that the best you got?" she challenges.

Only too late does she realize that both of the draconians flanking her did not fare as well. Their bodies have turned to stone, and the gas spewing from their cracked earthen hides fills the ogre's lungs before she knows what's happening. Her body seizes up, just as Jaqi's had, with only her widening eyes suggesting she has not become a statue herself...
 

OOC

So Jaqi's nat 20 on the aiming roll guaranteed a hit on the ogre and splash damage on the two draconians. The total damage was the sum of all your d10s (with Jaqi's being doubled). The draconians died instantly, and the ogre is looking VERY rough. She also failed her CON save on the gas from the draconians, so she loses her turn.

You're all up in any order.

[taurelin]

Jonas Clark

---

AC 11/14 | HP: 7/7 | PP: 17 | Spell Slots: 1st: 3/1 | Insp: X | Languages: Common, Draconic | Conditions: Limping (-5 Move)

---

Jonas is almost blown off his feet as a huge explosion erupts on top of the ogre and her minions. He blinks, his eyes watering from the smoke. Then his heart sank, for the Ogre still stood!

Swallowing, he steadied himself between his charges and the fearsome foe. I can only do what I can do, until this ends!

He again fires a fiery ball of magic at the ogre.

 

OOC

Jonas stands at M14.

He looses a Fire Bolt at 7.

 

[Spektor]

Jaqelenna Lanthaloren

Silvanesti Elf Fighter (2) | Conditions: None

---

 

AC: 16 | HP: 20/20 | PP: 13 | 2nd Wind: 1/1 |Action Surge: 0/1| Insp: ✅ | Languages: Common, Draconic, Elvish

---

A blasting wave of heat buffets Jaqi’s fire-orange hair behind her as the unfamiliar machine releases its powerful missile. The young Elf has never used such a device, yet somehow manages to land a powerful blow against the Ogre with the aid of her allies. “Yes, just like this!” She shouts out reassuringly. “Again!” 

 

Sweat drips down her brow and into the creases around her eyes, stinging them. But fortune favors the bold, and the squires had proven their audacity this day. The unfathomable, petrifying mist releases near the Ogre who, much like Jaqi, is unable to resist the paralysis that follows its inhalation. “It has become still! Now!” Her words are cut off by the sound of the ‘Dragon’s head’ inhaling for its final blow. 

 

OoC

Movement - None

Action - Fire off another blast!

 

[Lonewalker]

 Kora Shadowhawk

---

AC: 11 (14) |  HP: 14/14 |  PP: 11 | Spell Slots: 1st 1/3 | Sorcery Pts: 2/2 | Insp: ✅ | Languages: Common, Draconic, Dwarven, Sylvan

---

An involuntary whoop of surprise and excitement escaped Kora's throat as the arcane cannon erupted and blasted the ogre and its flanking allies. She grinned with grim satisfaction as Jaqi directed her and Bastion to try firing again.

Poetic, she thought to herself, to turn this weapon against these monsters.

[emotionaut]

***

Location:  On the Vingaard River

Day:  4

Time:  4:00 P.M.

Another blast from the mechanized dragon sends a fireball hurtling toward the ogre. Her eyes, so briefly full of malice, now grow wide with realization and dread. When the shot lands, she is consumed, her corpulent form collapsing into a charred lump at the north end of the wharf.

Jonas wastes no time turning his charges toward the dock. There's no telling how long this lull in the fighting will last. Likewise, Heather gathers up the civilians who had earlier followed Bastion. The two squires of Solamnia and Kora continue to man the false dragon until they are certain that the civilians are safe. Once they see them board the arriving boats, they then hurry toward the dock themselves.

Behind them, the fires grow. Through the smoke, soldiers of the dragon army can be seen going house to house, breaking down doors and putting buildings to the torch when they find no one inside.

Thankfully, the village has been evacuated. There is no one here left to save, and so no reason left to stay. Jaqi, Bastion, Kora, Heather, and Jonas race to the last boat. All others are safely away.

As they board, they hear a familiar voice call out, "Wait! Hold the boat!"

Looking back toward town, they see two figures stumble through the veil of smoke and fire. Andir and Eirik hasten across the wharf, their arms full of books and scroll cases. A hail of poorly-aimed arrows chases after them.

Reaching the edge of the dock, Eirik leaps across the gap and lands roughly amidst the occupants. Andir hesitates, but then finds his courage when he glances back to see draconian archers emerging from the smoke choking the town's streets. He throws his burden to those in the boat before then making a frantic leap across. He lands half in the water, but Jaqi hauls him the rest of the way into the vessel with one arm.

As if sensing the question on the minds of the others, Eirik says, "The mage, Nightsong, she said she needed to do one last thing to safeguard the tower's secrets. Sir Viharin said he would stay to protect her, but they wanted us to bring Greenshield's work with us to Kalaman. The kender girl, she also decided to--"

A bright flash blooms over the town, brighter than any light ever witnessed by mortal men. A half second later, a violent shockwave sweeps through the town. It bowls over the enemy archers and shatters the ears of everyone in the boat. Looking northwest, they see a massive blue-green mushroom of fire rising into the sky where Thornwall Tower once sat.

Driven by fear, the captain of the vessel finds his wits and opens the boat's meager sail. The warm wind still rolling off of the explosion fills the canvas and propels the craft quickly away. In time, they join the flotilla of evacuation boats drifting down the Vingaard River toward an uncertain sanctuary in Kalaman. The village of Vogler recedes in the distance, becoming little more than a black and red smear.

After the shock wears off, Andir seems to remember what Eirik was last saying. "Her name was Juniper. But she liked to be called June-Bug."
 

OOC

So we're leveling up! For HP, remember that you make an initial roll, and then you can opt to keep it, take the average instead, or reroll (but you have to take the result of the reroll if you do).

I'll next post your arrival in Kalaman, but feel free to post any reactions or discussion while on the river. I hope to get to the Kalaman arrival over the holiday weekend here.

[Gregorotto]

 

Bastion

My words | My thoughts | My Actions
AC 14 HP 11/22 Speed 40 ft., PP 13
Sneak Attack 2d6 Precise Strike 2/2

Attacks and Scores

 

 

Scores	Skills
Strength 8 (-1) Save -1	Athletics +1
Dexterity 16 (+3) Save +5	Acrobatics +5 Sleight of Hand +7 Stealth +7
Constitution 13 (+1) Save +1
Intelligence  15 (+2) Save +4	Arcana +2 History +2 Investigation +4 Nature +6 Religion +2
Wisdom 12 (+1) Save +1	Animal Handling +1 Insight +1 Medicine +1 Perception +3 Survival +5
Charisma 10 (+0) Save +0	Deception +0 Intimidation +0 Performance +0 Persuasion +0

---

Dagger Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 1d4+3 piercing damage, Simple, Finesse, Light, Thrown, 2 total

Shortbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, ranged 80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 1d6+3 piercing damage, Simple, Two-Handed, Ammunition

Unarmed Strike. Melee: +1 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 0 bludgeoning damage.

Class and Race Abilities

Mobile
Your speed increases by 10 feet. When you use the Dash action, difficult terrain doesn't cost you extra movement on that turn. When you make a melee attack against a creature, you don't provoke opportunity attacks from that creature for the rest of the turn, whether you hit or not.

Squire of Solamnia
Your training in the ways of the Knights of Solamnia grants you these benefits:

• Mount Up. Mounting or dismounting costs you only 5 ft. of movement.

• Precise Strike. Once per turn, when you make a weapon attack roll against a creature, you can cause the attack roll to have advantage. If the attack hits, you roll a d8 and add the number rolled as a bonus to the attack’s damage roll. You can use this benefit 2 times per long rest, but a use is expended only if the attack hits.

Expertise
Your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make for two chosen proficiencies. Choose two additional proficiencies.

• Stealth
• Sleight of Hand

Sneak Attack
1 per turn
Once per turn, you can deal an extra 2d6 damage to one creature you hit with an attack with a finesse or ranged weapon if you have advantage on the attack roll. You don’t need advantage on the attack roll if another enemy of the target is within 5 ft. of it, that enemy isn’t incapacitated, and you don’t have disadvantage on the attack roll.

Cunning Action
You can take a bonus action on each of your turns to take the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action.

Skirmisher
You can move up to half your speed as a reaction when an enemy ends its turn within 5 ft. of you without provoking opportunity attacks.

Survivalist
You gain proficiency in the Nature and Survival skills and your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make that uses either of them.

"We have to bring this thing with us, wow."

As the massive mound of flesh eats her own words and falls into a charred mess at the wharf, Bastion almost cries out in the heat of the moment, proud of their collective cannon use. He slaps Jaqi on the back and then starts to with Kora, but realizing he doesn't actually know her that well, changes it to a wave mid-thrust of arm to her shoulder, making it look quite weird.

When the civilians are on the boat, he offers the ones he helped earlier a wave, expecting nothing from them in response, and joins everyone on the boat. When Eirik and Andir show up, he helps them on board as best he can, and sad at losing the cannon, he begins to reach for his bow as the duo explains where Sir Viharin and Mage Nightsong are. Before he can get too far, light and force knocks him off his feet; he quickly rises, bow at the ready, but he cannot bring himself to draw an arrow from his quiver: the mushroom of magical fire is too much.

He hadn't known Junebug very well... just barely at all, honestly. Shock fills him, fear, and a dread against a power he scarcely understands. How can they stand against something like that? Or... or was that Junebug? Was this a contingent? And....

"W-where was Sir Viharin? Where were they fighting?"

Fear tells him one thing: but he wants to know for certain before he despairs.

Out of Character

Situational:
Move: 
Action: 
Bonus Action:
Reaction:
Ongoing Effects/Conditions:

[Lonewalker]

Kora Shadowhawk

---

AC: 11 (14) |  HP: 14/14 |  PP: 11 | Spell Slots: 1st 1/3 | Sorcery Pts: 2/2 
Inspiration: ✅ | Languages: Common, Draconic, Dwarven, Sylvan

---

An expression in delighted bloodlust appeared on Kora's face as the ogre was incinerated by the draconic army's own weapon of destruction. She shared her grin with Jaqi and Bastion, even ignoring the awkwardness of the latter's celebratory gesture in order to join in the satisfaction of victory. But the excitement receded quickly into business once more as the townsfolk in their charge needed to be loaded onto the last of the boats. None seemed to be injured in any way - and Kora found herself saying a hollow prayer of gratitude to the Black Moon for that minor miracle.

But soon came Andir and Eirik with frantic efforts and dire news. Kora turned back toward Thornwall Tower just in time to see the blast of power and columns of smoke rise from where the structure stood. She watched in shock for several long moments, reeling over her unraveled plans. What would she tell Lohezet? Where was he in this madness? Everything had fallen apart so quickly, and Kora found herself at a loss of what to do next. She had disagreed and disliked Mage Nightsong but she never wanted this. And then poor little Juniper...

Cold hardness came over her features. She pulled her hood, letting shadows cover her face, and wrapped her cloak tighter around herself. She melted away from the others, who were lost in their own surprise and sorrow, and moved to the far end of the boat alone.

Where she belonged.

Edited November 28, 2023 by Lonewalker (see edit history)

[Spektor]

Jaqelenna Lanthaloren

Silvanesti Elf Fighter (2) | Conditions: None

---

 

AC: 16 | HP: 20/20 | PP: 13 | 2nd Wind: 1/1 |Action Surge: 0/1| Insp: ✅ | Languages: Common, Draconic, Elvish

---

After the blast from the cannon, Jaqelenna raises up and watches the ogre fall while wiping away sweat and soot from her brow. She is so wrapped up in the moment, she almost forgets to celebrate. Until Bastion slaps her across the back in celebration, earning a proud grin from the usually-stoic Elf. Following Bastion's awkward praise to Kora, Jaqi places a hand on his shoulder and grips it tightly while giving him a slight shake. "Masterfully performed." She looks to Kora halfway through her statement and gives the woman a nod, though her grin fades quickly. "Let us continue."

There is always more work to be done. She darts off with the others to secure the civilians on the boat, boarding last to ensure everyone made it safely. Once aboard she moves towards her allies and gives a nod to Jonas before turning to Heather. "I hope you are well, little warrior. Tend to your wounds; my aid is yours should you need it." The high spirits of a victory won with the fewest casualties is apparent on the young Elf's face when she turns to the rest and declares, "All of you have shown great bravery in the face of the enemy. This is a victory!" She beams a bright smile again.

That smile is cut down at the call of Eirik and Andir. How could they have forgotten? There were still more left behind in the slaughter. Her eyes search the two young humans wildly as they speak their report. Just as her gaze moves to the shoreline, the explosion nearly sweeps her off of her feet. "NO!" Jaqi screams, moving to the boats edge and placing her hands against the side railings. Her harrowed stare watches the mushroom cloud reach to the sky. Her fist slams into the taffrail, cracking the wooden beam. "(Elvish) Amrûn thîl! Carathon an in daro!" She slumps to the ground and stares blankly at the deck of the ship, and there she spends the journey to Kalaman in silence.

 

OoC

Elven Translation: "Shadows take you! I will end you all for this!"