Game Session Recaps

[frenzied67]

Highlights of Episode One Hundred
Quenid10th - 11th CE 1032

Nonchalantly eating his apple the man looked the party's way, greeting them and asking who they were.  After confirming that he was "Colm of the West Field", Blaylocke began to sing of their request, as he had with the dragon.  Intrigued by their  quest, this revenant of earlier days said that in order for the party to gain his help, one of them would have swim the mighty river that was nearby.  As if they were in a dream, a distant river seemed to slide from miles away til it was mere yards distant.  If the chosen hero crossed the river, they would have to draw Colm's sword from a stone and return it to him.

All eyes turned to Enkili, who raised his hand to accept the revenant's challenge.  After doffing his armor, the fighter waded into the swift flow then began to swim.  Though difficult in at least three parts of the swim, the fighter did make the far shore.  A broadsword glowing red with the heat of a furnace slanted out of a boulder.  Giving that his choice was to have a champions aid or face Naahsheera with nothing, Enkili grimaced and grabbed the hilt.  Though he moved the blade out a little, it did not come out of the stone easily.

Skin blistered and darkened, and the fighter called out to his deity, but he did not release that hilt.  Instead he wiggled the blade and extracted it a bit more, but it did not clear the stone.  Now crying from the pain, Enkili refused to relinquish the hilt; he kept on pushing and prying until the hot steel at last broke free.  Pinging noises came from the broadsword's blade as the metal began to cool.  As fast as the temperature of the steel regulated itself, so to did the burn scarring on Enkili's palm heal; until he was as hale as he had arrived.

Presenting the sword to Colm, the champion declared that they would "have his sword" at the fight.  As if extracting the promise was a trigger, the heroes found themselves back in the land of the living with Naugaurn (Now-Garn).  The ancient dragon congratulated them, but informed them that Colm was just the first of four champions of an elder age they would have to persuade.  After debating whether they should have a proper rest before setting out, the impatience of their draconic host informed them that they should steam on.
Again they transitioned from the dragon's den by 'falling' into another champion's afterlife.  They found themselves in a forest at an elevation where coniferous and deciduous trees commingled one with another.  Lounging at the confluence of branches to a trunk in a nearby tree, an elven man with silver hair, violet eyes, and pale skin turned his head the party's way.  They were with Ilbrata of the Silver Eye, another hero from a vanished time.

After introductions were exchanged, the bard again wove his song of request, singing of the villagers plight and their quest to do what was right.  The divine concordance and the rules that covered dealing with the dead, Ilbrata held up his bow and spoke of the challnenges they had to face.  The malleable aspects of the afterlife made it so the weapon's shape shifted until it was a puzzle-box cube, which he called a 'locking cube'.  One among them, and only one, was to solve the puzzle, use the bow as a balance bar to cross a tight rope over a windy chasm, where they were to retrieve a silver arrow from a stump and fire it into a target.

Sighing heavily from the weight of all the eyes that fell his way, Riardon unslung his own equipment and took the 'locking cube' in hand.  After turning the puzzle around and around for a few moments, Riardon produced his tools and picks and began to work on the object.  Soon the cube began to reassemble itself into a bow with odd popping metallic sounds.  As in the other afterlife they had visited, the chasm slid from far to near, showing a windy gap with a narrow strand of rope connecting sides.

Without the theatrics of carnival tight rope walkers, but with all the grace they showed, Riardon began to cross.  There were several moments when cross currents in the blowing winds made the rogue falter and teeter, but he managed to remain on the rope.  Suffering the occasional palpitation, his friends mostly watched in silence; all except for Enkili who chose the most inappropriate time to jest with his friend.  When Riardon plucked the silver arrow out of the stump the chasm returned to whence it had came, in the manner of the dream like afterlife Ilbrata lived.

What was new was the target that everyone could now see.  Showing his skill, the rogue hit the bullseye with the puzzle-box bow.  lbrata assured the party that his influence would be felt in their battle against Naahsheera.  As soon as the assistance was procured, the party appeared before Naugaurn the dragon.

"Prepare yourselves, Dulcee (Delcey?) Daughter of Heaven's Host awaits you," the titanic beast intoned.  For a third time the party 'fell' into an afterlife.

This time the terrain was mountainous.  Trying her hand at selling the parties request, Leiya explained their purpose to the woman they found.  Unlike before, Dulcee did not warm to the party, yet she offered them the challenges they needed to surpass in order to garner her support.  Testing Leiya's knowledge, she was asked about the origin of the gods and goddesses.  When Leiya revealed the deities had all ascended from mortal stock she passed that test.  Leiya had to face a challenge of spiritual fortitude next.  Everyone was surprised when the priestess was assailed by scores of swift spectral figures darting about her like agitated bats.

Almost as fast as the see-through spirits, Leiya embraced her ability to generate an aura of living energy.  By turning undead she was able to shed the flighty souls.  Then Dulcee exposed the third test; the test of sacrifice.  She said that the party would have her countenance in their fight against Naahsheera, but the party would face a loss.  Leiya called out that she would pay whatever price there was to pay, which did not sit well with her colleagues.

Before anyone could gainsay the cleric, they were back before mighty Naugaurn.  After congratulating the group for their success thus far, the ancient earth dragon then asked if they were ready to meet Azarius of Lone Peak.  After falling through reality one more time, the heroes found themselves in a chamber lit with candles and lanterns.  At a spacious table an old man flipped the page of the book he was reading.  With stern features he faced the party.  Blaylocke resumed taking the lead in introductions as he was the best at reading people.

After hearing the bards musical recitation of their plight, Azarius told them they had to pass tests of their arcane knowledge.  Jolrael had been preparing himself for this test, but he knew, as a sorcerer, he did not have the knowledge base a wizard would.  That left Blaylocke, a bard, to face the challenge.

"How does arcane magic function?" was the first question.  The answer revolved around knowing the spell, then generating the energy to fuel the magic through study and meditations on the process.

Azarius next challenged Blaylocke to answer three riddles.  "Bury deep, pile on stones, yet I will dig up the bones?"  The answer was memory.  " A cloth poorly dyed and an early morning sky, how are they the same?"  After some struggles Blaylocke brightened and answered that their color changes easily.  The third riddle was this:" It occurs once every minute, twice in every moment, but never in one hundred thousand years?"  The answer of course was the letter 'M'.

Smiling, the champion Azarius posed his last challenge.  He demanded that Blaylocke list five historical events in order of occurrence.  At first the bard tried to overthink the challenge, and then he realized that the task did not call for specific events.  So Blaylocke recounted five historical events of his Dwarven people that had taken place over several centuries, which fulfilled the criteria of the challenge.  Azarius assured the party that his effects in the up coming battle would grant them advantages during the fight.

Once returned to the prime material plane, Naugaurn was ready to teleport the heroes directly into Naahsheera's lair.  Yet he noticed how battered some of the group was after skirmishing with his guardian golem.  With put upon graciousness, the dragon forsook its love of solitude in order to allow the party to rest and recover, and prepare for their fight with the green dragon.  While questioning their saurian host they discover that the champions they had met would grant them boons such as advantage in melee, advantage with ranged attacks, advantage against Naahsheera's poison, and resistance to elemental damage.

Naugaurn offered to answer three questions about their foe.  They asked after her weaknesses first.  In her lair Naahsheera would not be able to fly, immunity to poison, blindsight, darkvision, and she is highly perceptive.  While these were not a list of weaknesses, it was information the party could use in the fray.  They asked after the female dragon's strengths.  They discovered Naahsheera has innate spell like abilities, legendary resistances, was capable of unbelievable stealth in forest lands, voice projection, toxic blood, and was able to spit poison as far as a javelin could be thrown.  She is notoriously swift with her tail strikes....

*The third question is pending, and a lot of the questions of resources remain up in the air pending on Ghosttusk's input.  Just as the party's preparations against the golem required strategizing, we need to know what Grynn has in his arsenal, and hope he prepares spells that help counter what Naahsheera can bring against us.  (If you can, Ghosttusk, drop a response here in the forum.)

[The Everfull Purse has granted everyone 41ep, 41sp, and 41gp to this point, party funds gained 11ep, 11sp, and 11gp; 11 days of coins.]

Highlights of Episode One Hundred One
Quenid 11th CE 1032

*We had a slow start strategizing our entrance into the dragon's lair.  This episode only seems spare.

After some consideration and preparatory work, Jolrael petitioned to ask the final question.  When no one demurred, he faced Naugaurn and asked the Earth Dragon if there was anything in Naahsheera's lair that could aid or benefit their party in the fight.  Though Dragon expressions are hard to read, this ancient being clearly displayed exasperation and disappointment in that question; as if the group had failed some sort of examination.  Naugaurn had no idea what was in the green dragon's lair.

Blaylocke had given Enkili a Bardic Inspiration, while Enkili had given Grynn his potion of Hill Giant Strength.  Casting Farstep on himself, Jolrael put himself through mental exercises that allowed him to regenerate the energy of that spell (he spent spell points to regain the spell slot).  Leiya was busier still, summoning a defensive Celestial Spirit, casting Light on it's mace, then she used a Deathward scroll on herself.  Just before Jolly's question, she also hit Enkili, Jolrael, and herself with Aid. 

They appeared in a knot inside a dark wet cavern ankle deep in brackish water, occasional drips plinking into the algae infected pool from above.  Fondling a flask of Alchemist's Fire, Enkili broke away from the bunched up formation they had come as; even then there was no sign of Naahsheera.  Having the choice to run north to where a stalactite provided cover, Riardon's only other cover was farther south of his position where a stalactite and stalagmite had fused.  His tuned senses indicated distant movement to the east.

As the party began to spread out, Naahsheera heard them, and in her amazement, confirmed her location east of them when she asked how they had gotten inside her lair.  As Blaylocke prepared to launch and arrow if the dragon showed, Enkili tried taunting the malicious saurian.  Riardon prepared a Firebolt cantrip just in case.  Leiya brought forth her Spiritual Weapon and placed it near her angel, she then placed Radiant Defense upon the reckless fighter.  After moving east a bit the Celestial Spirit readied to strike just in case it was jumped in the dim light.

Grynn found a central position that allowed him to get everyone inside his Beacon of Hope spell (granting everyone advantage on Wisdom saves, death saves, and they would receive maximum hit points with healing spells.)  Jolrael hastened to the south east, but did not locate their prey.  Claiming that her last egg had made a great omelet, Enkili continued trying to taunt the Green Dragon out of hiding while continuing to the east.
Catching up with the hovering Celestial Spirit, Grynn summoned forth his Spiritual Weapon and waited for their enemy to appear.  Mending her position in the line of advance, Leiya moved to where she could continue to support the melee fighters; she kept a Sacred Flame ready just in case.  Trailing everyone except the rogue, Blaylocke kept an arrow on his string not knowing if he wanted to see Naahsheera again.  As they continued to head her way, the Dragon once again gave herself away with splashing noises not that distant from them.  Falling back so he was no longer leading the pack, Jolrael was ready with a cantrip....

*Note for all players, we are officially launching game at noon now instead of 1pm.  Next game will be April 13th. 

[The Everfull Purse has granted everyone 41ep, 41sp, and 41gp to this point, party funds gained 11ep, 11sp, and 11gp; 11 days of coins.]

Highlights of Episode One Hundred Two
Quenid 11th CE 1032

*Correction.  Evidently the name Dulcie was incorrect.  The Champions name is actually Delci.

Sensing that the fight was eminent, Jolrael used his Shape Water spell to erect a 5x5x5 block of ice to crouch behind.  (Lair Action) Using a variation of her breath weapon, Naahsheera bounced her vaporous exhalations off the ceiling creating a vast cloud of thick green smoke that engulfed everyone but Riardon.  Those inside this infernal billow were effectively blind, unable to see anything beyond a few inches of themselves.  This triggered Riardon to hurl a Firebolt blindly in the direction he thought the dragon was.  His efforts drew no reaction whatsoever.

Groping blindly, Enkili tried to move due north to exit the blinding cloud; the fighter came out a little bit east of where he hoped to exit.  Evidently able to see through the obscurement she had crafted, Naahsheera glided to a point south of her cloud and unleashed her poisonous breath weapon over everyone but Enkili and Riardon.  Despite the boons bolstering the party, Leiya gasped in the poison and was ravaged by the toxin, everyone else in the venomous air fared much better only taking a little damage.

Stumbling and coughing, the priestess tried to move east.  Though she exited the green field of roiling smoke, she came out farther south than she had aimed for.  Her first act was to cast Cure Light Wounds on herself, undoing some of the blistering in her lungs.  Meanwhile Jolrael heard a voice whispering right next to him, Naahsheera weaved a convincing tale assuring the sorcerer that the rest of the party did not have his best interest in mind.  Only she was benevolent enough to tell him the truth of everyone's treachery....  Shaking his head, Jolrael was able to shed the weave of magic the dragon had woven to capture his senses.

Leiya's Celestial Spirit made a double move south to get out of the sight stealing miasma of Naahsheera's blinding breath.  It was the first to actually lay eyes on the crafty dragon.  Unleashing an intimidating roar, the dragon attempted to induce panic in everyone.  Again Riadon was outside the radius of her ability.  Those boons laid on by those Heroes of Nore aided everyone in weathering the terrible sound.  Unfortunately Leiya had to expend the magic of her Coin of Eras in order to keep from fleeing.  Blaylocke also moved out of the cloud, coming out a little south of his eastward journey.  His first act was to hit the Celestial Spirit with a Healing Word, then prepared his bow to shoot; he could not see the dragon who was just out of his sight by a few yards.

Moving east through the cloud, Grynn was able to upcast a Cure Light Wounds spell on himself.  Coming out of the blinding smoke he was able to act again, this time upcasting the same spell on Leiya.  Seeing the Half Orc cleric's efforts, Naahsheera manifested some sort of smokey spell around him.  The spell grappled and scrambled trying to crawl into Grynn, but he gritted his teeth and denied the spell any purchase on his spirit and person.  Vexed now, the dragon leaped up and glided to the Celestial Spirit; shredding the magic born angel with tooth and claw destroying it on the material plane.

Hearing the dying angel crying out, and all the other commotion going on beyond the blinding cloud, Enkili grimaced then charged back into the obscurement.  Though he aimed south as he dashed, he drifted a bit eastward while blind.  (Without knowing it, he finished his move next to Jolrael's block of ice.)  The fighter is the next to hear Naahsheera's whispering voice, trying to convince him that his friends were actually out to do him in.  With a shake of his helmeted head, Enkili shook off the mind binding magic.  Leaving his cover, Riardon used his innate speed to get Naahsheera in his sights.  His Firebolt hit the dragon in vital areas (critical hit) causing her to cry out and lock eyes on him.

Before Naahsheera was able to direct her malice the rogue's way, Jolrael cast the spell Gust of Wind.  In moments the blinding cloud was dispersed.  Hoping to turn this magic wind to her use, Naahsheera tried to ensorcell Jolly.  The sorcerer was only able to shake the insidious whisper by using up his own Coin of Eras.  Moving east to get Enkili in range, Blaylocke hit the Fighter with a Haste spell.  He then granted Jolrael one of his precious Bardic Inspirations with a clever bit of music.  A Guiding Bolt from Leiya made a large patch of scales discolor then flutter away like fallen leaves from a tree, though no scales were missing from the beast; some sort of mystical protective effect seemed to be at play as every attack created a similar effect on Naahsheera from then on.

Moving around his block of ice to make his attack, Jolrael smote the dragon with Rhymes Binding Ice.  Scales fell away from Naahsheera, but she was not bound in the cold spell.  Skipping her breath off the roof created another pillar of blinding smoke that caught Riardon, Blaylocke, Grynn, and Leiya.  The dragon then pounced on Jolrael with tooth and claw, knocking the sorcerer on his keister.  Poor Jolly was severely hurt and lost control of his Gust of Wind.  Now close to the dragon, Enkili finally launched the Alchemist's Fire at Naahsheera.

Even as the flask shattered on her scales, the fighter was on her with his spell enhanced speed.  In a frenzied flurry of enchanted steel the fighter struck five times (action surge), only missing once.  Trotting blindly at first, Riardon made his way out of the blinding cloud and when he could see again, he hurled another Firebolt (another crit with sneak attack damage added).

Beating her wings and lifting off, the dragon used the membrane driven winds to hit Jolrael and Enkili.  While the fighter leaned into the gale force gusts, Jolly skidded and rolled until he was several body lengths away.  The dragon glided to the east and north.  Blaylocke had to move out of the new cloud, but when he could see he tried to curse the dragon with an Immolation spell.  Though taking damage and seeming to shed discolored scales, the dragon escaped the lasting effects of the magic again.  Enkili ducked under a tail swipe.

Groping her way out of the cloud, Leiya saw the condition Jolrael was in, so she upcast a Healing Word on him.  One more time the dragon cast her voice to whisper in Enkili's ear.  She tried to convince him to set himself apart from the combat, just sit back and watch the fun for awhile.  Clapping a hand against his khula khud (helmet), the fighter cast the mind affecting magic off, then dodged another swipe of the massive dragon tail.  Grynn had to run west to exit the cloud, but when clear he doubled back skirting the sight baffling cloud.

Trying Immolation again, Blaylocke snarled when the spell failed to adhere to her draconic form, only doing some of the damage that could have been had.  closing faster than Naahsheera thought possible, Enkili was on the dragon again, this time hitting all three times.  The dragon dropped another blinding cloud catching Enkili, Blaylocke, Riardon, and Jolrael.  In the southern lea of both clouds, Grynn began to call out to help people navigate in their blind state; he also prepared a Sacred Flame cantrip in case the dragon showed herself.  Following her fellow cleric's example Leiya skirted the new blinding cloud crying out for her friends.  She too had a Sacred Flame ready to launch (those Sacred Flame cantrips were never launched due to range).

In the dark Enkili was not prepared for another gale crafted from dragon wings.  As Naahsheera moved elsewhere the fighter clattered and rolled through the rancid water covering the lair's floor, completely blown off his feet.  From the dragon's new position she breathed another cone of poison gas that caught Enkili, Jolrael, Leiya, and Blaylocke; again poor Leiya was the only one who failed her saving throw taking more damage than anyone else.  Riardon missed with his next Firebolt attack.  Enkili had to dig deep in order to shake the next insinuating whisper Naahsheera tried (an Indomitable reroll had to be used).

Gust of Wind was cast again, Jolrael aiming it vaguely in the dragon's direction, the new cloud was blown away leaving the blinding cloud to the west untouched.  The green smoke cleared just in time for Enkili to see the massive green tail launch him like a ball hit by a club like device.  He landed over a body length from where he had been.  At this point everyone was marked from damage from the dragon, half of them severely, but the dragon was only slightly worse off than before combat....

*Initiative was rolled, but the game had to be called.
*Next game will be April 27th.

*Folks, make notes on what spells and effects you have on your characters and on the dragon.  I am unable to keep track of that stuff for you.  I can barely keep up with my notes.  Enkili has Alchemist's Fire on the dragon, Haste on himself, as well as the boons and potions taken before this fight.

[The Everfull Purse has granted everyone 41ep, 41sp, and 41gp to this point, party funds gained 11ep, 11sp, and 11gp; 11 days of coins.]

Highlights of Episode One Hundred Three
Quenid 11th CE 1032

Erupting from the mud and ankle deep water of the floor, a large patch of roots and unidentifiable plant matter formed a twenty foot radius around Leiya, Jolrael, and Blaylocke.  The priestess was able to dance and step so that she was not grappled by the animated growth; Blaylocke and Jolrael were not so adroit on their feet and were gripped and held.  Running up to the south western edge of this foul writhing patch, Grynn spread his arms wide and called the healing light of a Mass Cure Wounds spell down on those trapped within; grim looking wounds knitted together restoring a lot of health to the would be dragon slayers.

A Firebolt from Riardon left a large patch of Naahsheera's scales blistered and scored black.  The dragon, herself, came at Enkili with claws, teeth, and lashing tail; the powerful tail knocked the fighter back almost two body lengths.  Grinning, Blaylocke cast Freedom of Movement on himself before he scampered out of the circle of grappling roots, the song he sang buoyed Enkili's spirits.  Boring into Enkili's mind with insinuations meant to turn him from the fight, the fighter relied on the potent words of inspiration the Bard had just sang to him to keep from being persuaded away from the assault.  Unable to understand how her potent abilities had not found purchase on the fighter, she smacked him with her massive tail; again the fighter flew two body lengths away.

In a conversational tone, which had presaged every one of his groups of attacks, Enkili informed Naahsheera "this just isn't your day".  A bit of psychological warfare from the desert dweller.  All three of his swings connected, but Enkili drew upon the magic of his Coin of Fate in order to make his second attack hit a vital area on the killing beast (a hit turned to a critical).  Slogging south out of the avaricious root's grip, Leiya strove to run around the animated patch.  The Guiding Bolt she hurled would have hit if the dragon had not been so sinuous.  Leaping up with beating wings, the dragon's winds bowled Enkili over sending him another ten feet away.

The slight sorcerer knew innately that striving to break free of the roots would be as good as futile, Jolrael threw a Tidal Wave on Naahsheera.  Though she was not swept off of her feet, the dragon was not looking as unscathed as earlier.  As a reward for his good deed, the dragon caused the growth of a ten foot tall hedge of thorny brambles.  Jolly sang of growing up in the 'briar patch' even as thorns wreaked havoc with his clothing and flesh.  Judging the dimensions of the spell he had in mind, Blaylocke moved away to create room for his Volley of Arrows spell.  Scores of arrows that had burst from the one shaft the bard had sped rained down on the dragon; a few shafts fell dangerously close to the supine fighter.

Grinning at her own cunning, Naahsheera had green ichor suddenly burst out from her numerous wounds; an activity that did not seem to serve any purpose that the party could see.  Enkili was the one who discovered the ichor's purpose.  The fighter came in blade first with his continuing taunt, attempting to stir panic in the massive monster in how he employed his blade.  The first stroke that cleaved draconic flesh also inspired a fountain of poisonous spray to blow back in Enkili's face.  Made of stern stuff, the fighter absorbed the damage without taking a sickness from the bodily ooze.  Riardon's Firebolt sailed into the vast darkness of the dragon's lair, unable to sear flesh.

With the hedge of thorns dividing the battle field, Grynn was forced to try running around the southern margins of both the grappling roots and the spiked hedge; he had a lot of territory to cover.  Pouncing on Enkili, who was the most obnoxious being the dragon had ever met, Naahsheera savaged the fighter with teeth and claw before she batted him away with her tail again.  The unconscious fighter landed in the soup like mire of the floor, his eyes rolled up in his concussed head.

Seeing the fighting mans blood coloring the swamp like muck of Naahsheera's rancid lair, Leiya charged around the dragon grown growths so she could cast both Healing Word and Radiant Defense on Enkili.  Though revived by the priestess' healing magic, the fighter was again subject to the beating wings of the dragon as the green menace glided into the dark, the winds slid him through the mud for a few body lengths.  Grasping his Ring of Spell Storing caused the sorcerer to become intimate with the hedge's barbs, Jolrael cast the stored spell Thunderstep.  Roots and a portion of the spiked hedge detonated and showered the area with shattered plant bits.

Jolrael did not have a chance to feel his cleverness in appearing outside the trap, Naahsheera banished the first incarnations of roots and briers, and created another patch of grappling plant tendrils on Leiya and the hapless sorcerer.  Having no target for his cantrip, Rairdon pattered through the muck so he would be able to help Jolly from his predicament.  Naahsheera was forced to use one of her legendary actions to wing herself back into combat range, as she had no attack that could bridge the spaces between her targets and her temporary refuge.  Blaylocke used this opportunity to attack the dragon mind to mind, his upcast Dissonant Whispers spell scrambled draconic thoughts.

The bard then advanced a short ways on their frayed but still very dangerous foe.  Finding sadistic amusement in batting Enkili with her tail, the dragon discovered the hard way what Leiya had cast on the fighter.  The Radiant Defense spell detonated with a bright flash of holy light.  This gave Leiya an opening to send an upcast Healing Word on the warrior, even as she extricated herself from the blindly grasping animated roots.  Grumbling her disquiet, Naahsheera manifested a huge root which she used to slam the incredibly damaged fighter further.

Having to dash again, Grynn finally rounded all the malignant dragon growths; the idea of not contributing to the fight for so long left a foul taste in the cleric's mouth, his Spiritual Weapon scooted with him like a promise of mayhem to come.  Bouncing in to finish off the fighter, Naahsheera tried to bite Enkili.  From his back Enkili kicked her lower jaw shut with a foot, then he rolled with the power of his riposte.  "This just isn't your day, lizard," he said, after leaving a gash perilously near her jugler.  Pouncing on the fighter with all four feet, she savaged Enkili just before batting his unconscious body away; he lay in the lapping waters staining the muck with blood from too many lacerations and hemorrhaging organs.

Then Naahsheera glided into the security of darkness to set up her next malignant assault; 'who to destroy next' was the thought on her mind.  To ensure that the dying fighter remain out of the fight, and keep that annoying sorcerer from tormenting her with those pesky spells, Naahsheera manifested another wall of spiked brambles over the two.  Since the bard was closer, and had manifested that huge sheet of piercing arrows, the green dragon pounced on Blaylocke next.  After biting and clawing the stout Dwarf, a globule of poison was spat at Leiya who was poisoned from the spittle.

Inhaling deeply as he fished a healing potion from his purse, Jolrael cast Farstep on himself.  He blinked out of the roots and thorns to appear next to Enkili.  Though severely wounded himself, the sorcerer took more stab wounds pouring the potion in the nigh dead fighter; reviving him from death's brink.  Roaring her disapproval of having that obnoxious fighter rescued, Naahsheera used her Beating Wings to batter Blaylocke off his feet while she darted closer to her bramble wall.  One way or another that fighter had to die.

Grynn sprinted to Blaylocke's side and bolstered his health with an upcast Cure Wounds spell.  Not realizing how much reach Naahsheera had, Leiya tried to move up and cast Spiritual Guardians.  Before she could cast she was batted away by that huge tail, so her spell did not overlap the dragon when it was manifested.  The Spiritual Guardians did make the dragon rethink her tactics, using her Beating Wings feature, the dragon glided to safety in the dark.  Unable to see over the thorny hedge, Riardon ran up to Enkili and took wounds binding the fighter while using his Healer's Kit.

Seeing that annoying sword swinging maniac receiving so much aid was too much for Naahsheera, banishing both the roots and the tangle of thorns, she sailed over and hammered the fighting man with her tail.  The potency of the magical and mundane healing kept Enkili from slipping back into the dark.  Before the dragon could manifest further malice into the world, Blaylocke slammed her brain with another Dissonant Whispers.  Still leaking vitality, Enkili staggered to his feet and doggedly advanced on Naahsheera.  "Today isn't your day, is it?" he said before making her scream from The Sainted Sword's searing edge with three more deep cuts.

** With the dragon staggering and realizing her moment may be upon her, the party rolled for the next round of initiative.  Blaylocke's natural twenty caused much pleading and cajoling from the players to their DM.  Blaylocke will be allowed to keep the bonus Inspiration in our next game session.  That will fall on May 11th at 11 AM, our new start time.  We missed Ghosttusk today who was helping a friend with their sick feline.  Our prayers for our friend and for the cat.

[The Everfull Purse has granted everyone 41ep, 41sp, and 41gp to this point, party funds gained 11ep, 11sp, and 11gp; 11 days of coins.]

Highlights of Episode One Hundred Four
Quenid 11th - ? CE 1032

*There are many things up in the air after this game session.  The chief uncertainty here is the ending date.  Our surviving characters must take time to train, and that span has not been determined yet; thus the question mark.

Torn by what he should do, Blaylocke's brain raced; heal his friends or hit the dragon while she was staggered?  He chose to use Raulothim's Psychic Lance, praying that it would make a difference.  Too many of his friends were in very poor shape.  Naahsheera screamed at the pain in her head, legs splayed out to keep herself upright; her unnatural resistances finally eroded by the number of assaults directed at her.  By the dragon's attitude and posture, Jolrael realized that his desperate idea might be pulled off.

Racing up to the titan sized beast, the sorcerer cast Thunderstep, teleporting himself next to Blaylocke and Grynn.  While beseeching those two for healing, any form of healing, Jolrael did not see that the acoustic boom of his spell had dropped the dragon.  Her legs buckled as she dropped in place, her neck and head falling like a snapped suspension cable, hitting with an impact that made the cavern jump; water and muck spattering the party almost to neck height.

Enkili was a creature of pure desperation, almost blind with pain.  All he knew was that he had to swing the Sainted Sword with all his might and as fast as he could hew.  The lack of reprisal is what clued the fighter into Naahsheera's demise, his actions ensuring that the dragon would bleed out rather than recover.  He sobbed into his khula khud overcome by how close this fight had come.  Realizing that this was not his last day, as he had come to believe, was a shock.  Witnessing how badly damaged Jolrael was up close, and knowing Leiya and Enkili were just as mauled, Grynn called for everyone to gather around him.

As his friends jogged or stumbled to cluster around him, Grynn created another iteration of his Beacon of Hope spell.  Riardon sprinted to Jolrael's side and began to administer poultices and bandages from his Healer's Kit.  Paired with Grynns Mass Cure Wounds, the sorcerer was almost fully revitalized.  Leiya had benefited a lot from that spell, but used her ability to siphon healing from her own cure spells to nearly top herself off.  She upcast Cure Wounds (3rd level) on Enkili. 

However the fighter had been mauled so much more than many living beings could handle; neither healing spell touched his wounds to appreciable effect.  Leiya had to upcast another Cure Wounds (2nd level) before her friend's worst wounds knit  enough for his condition to not worsen from blood loss.  With near unanimous consent, the party decided to take an hour long breather under the musical influence of Blaylocke's Song of Rest.  Leiya, Enkili, and Jolrael fully recovered in that time.  The next hour was spent exploring Naahsheera's demesne.  They found two routes of egress through flooded tunnels, a niche too small for the dragon to have used in the south west, and her bed chamber in the north east corner.

A mound of coins smattered with gems, jewels, weapons, pieces of art, and broken furnishings met their eyes.  Even Enkili had never seen so many assorted coins in one place before.  The group knew that removing all this treasure would have to be done in stages, so they began to brainstorm the logistics that would be required.  Riardon thought it would be intelligent to see how easy it would be to exit through the drowned tunnels, so he swam through.  While the swim was easy, he emerged and found himself facing three humans.

Leodrec and his two unnamed associates took one look at Riardon and immediately retreated.  The dragon's henchmen realized their draconic patron would not be happy to see them at this moment.  Riardon noticed the village of Whold off in the distance.  The plan the group settled on was to haul away the gems, jewels, art pieces, interesting objects, and magic items using Riardon's Heward's Handy Haversack, plus the new Haversack they had found in the hoard.  In Whold they would purchase a heavy duty wagon and horses to help them cart larger chunks of the hoard away.  Grynn confessed to having a Stoneshape spell to seal the hoard away between trips.

Since all the spell casters wanted a full rest before leaving, they grabbed their initial load and dragon trophies and made their way out of the foul smelling wet cavern to make camp "above".  As they were setting up their tents for the evening, the more observant party members noticed four silvery orbs moving through the forest from the depths of the wilderness.  As the orbs neared, the silvery globes elongated and shimmered like heat mirages, until they formed into the Heroes of Nore; the historical figures who had awarded the heroes the boons that had seen them through their long bout against Naahsheera.

They had said before that one of the party would be a sacrifice for this encounter, and it was Delce who pointed at Riardon and said his name.  Enkili and Leiya interposed themselves between the long dead heroes and their friend, ready to fight for him despite their exhaustion and stiffness.  Their fears were baseless however, as they addressed Riardon in his language.  "Are you ready to return to your homeland and heed your call to destiny?" Enkili, who understood Elvish, parted to see how Riardon would respond; Leiya read Riardon's body language and they realized all would be well with the rogue.  They would not have to fight after all.

Agreeing to go with the heavenly revenants, Riardon quickly separated his belongings from those that he carried for the group.  Taking his Handy Haversack, the rogue left his weeping companions with one of his defensive dismissive comments; hiding that he too felt like he was separating from family.  Not even Blaylocke felt like tapping out any of his music on his tomtoms that night.  This was the first restless night for Enkili who found his dreams haunted by the skull of Al'marihm.  The spirit had waited for Enkili to fulfill his promise long enough!

Marching to Whold in the morning, the party met the interim mayor Tamain.  Assuring the villagers that the threat they had been living under from Naahsheera was over, this was done by displaying the teeth, horns, and claws they had harvested from the beast. Our heroes asked for a conclave with the mayor and the ranger brothers who had helped them slay the dragon's young mate; Batha and Wrathbald.  When offered recompense for anything the dragon might have stolen or destroyed, Mayor Tamlain thought about gouging the party.  Then he admitted that the former mayor, Horton, had been extorting and stealing from the dragon for a long while.

As a courteous gesture, Tamain recommended that they hire a big city barrister to represent them before the tax collectors descended on them.  He suggested that they find someone who would know how to weed through the grifting charlatans pretending to be tax collectors, and could deal with actual tax agents of the country.  In Anstarre they found just the man, a mature halfelf named Anar Anjalin, who had quite the reputation for great legal representation.  His first act was to recommend the party seek citizenship, as that would lessen the burden of taxes owed. With all the "noble" deeds this band has done for Sedarria, such a bid stood a good chance of being granted.

*Here is a list of the treasures brought forth from Naahsheera, a dragon who was actually older than earlier reported.

77,354pp, 258,187gp, 12,034sp, 3,779cp, (7,014 pounds of coins).

Magic items: Horseshoes of Zephyr (full set of 4), Answer- the legendary longsword of answering, a legendary Rapier of Defending, Hammer of Thunderbolts, Ring of Djinni Summoning (Riah, the Djin capable of breaking the curse on Enkili (See Below)), a ring of Air Elemental Control, Manual of Iron Golems, Instrument of the Bards (Cli Lyre), a pearly white spinel Ioun Stone of regeneration (shaped as a dodecahedron), Potion of speed, Potion of Supreme Healing, Oil of Sharpness, a shortsword Luckblade (with 0 wishes), and the aforementioned Hewards Handy Haversack.

Mundane items include: A holy symbol of Einre, a fine hourglass filled with gemstone dust, 2 funerary urns (with ashen remains), a scroll case with an old map of the southern Sedarran territory with several areas marked but not explained (except for Naahsheera's lair), painting of a nobleman in ancient clothing, a tarnished brazier and matching candlesticks along with a kneeling bench that fits the scheme, a jar of preservative holding a grotesque looking tadpole creature.

Art pieces recovered: Tapestry, gold ring with bloodstones, 2 gold circlets inset with aquamarine stones, eye patch with mock eyes inset with sapphires and moonstones, a masterpiece painting, and embroidered gloves with jewel chip rhinestones.

Gemstones in ascending value: Obsidian, rhodochrosite x2, turquoise, moss agate, blue quartz.
Zircon, garnet, spinel.
Peridot x2, aquamarine.
Fire opal x2, emerald, black opal, yellow sapphire x2, opal.
Ruby x2.

*New exposition about The Sainted Sword and paradoxical convergences.  The skull of Al'marihm of the Sacred Oasis happens to actually be the cranial vault of the Jentarian warlord Sayfir; making him Sayfir Al'marihm.  Sayfir, who had borne the Djinni Riah's ring, had quested to free the Sainted Sword of the Efreet's ill effects built into the blade.

In a quest to effect the removal of those Efreet curses heaped upon the boons in the legacy blade, Sayfir was slain before he accomplished his mission.  Only by happenstance has both the sword and Riah's ring fallen into Enkili's hands.  Now the vile Efreet, Pasha Mureib, will have his curse broken and Enkili can start to dream of his return home.  There are several inconsistencies hovering over the Sainted Sword.  The rumor that Jentaria, a land across the mountains, was the birth place of the Mandagan people has been confirmed.

However, the trip from Jentaria the Mandagan's took was long before a Harbhamit clan was formed.  How did this Jentarian have the Sainted Sword before its creation?  Have the Jentarians, or some Jentarian's, found the lost passage from the cradle of Mandagan creation more recently?  Is there time travel involved?  What is the truth behind the Sainted Sword's real origins?  What new powers will manifest or increase in potency within the Sainted Sword?

*We will not have our regularly scheduled game on May 25th, Memorial Day  weekend.  June 8th will see our timeline questions answered.  All players, we have plenty of time to post our level changes in the forum.  The necessary section should be self evident. 

[The Everfull Purse has granted everyone 41ep, 41sp, and 41gp to this point, party funds gained 11ep, 11sp, and 11gp; 11 days of coins.]  *This tally is bound to be changed.