Hoard of the Dragon Queen Episode 1: Greenest in Flames

[Rilbur]

Erwin:

 

"Lets move then.  We'll cut our way through what we need to, and we'll sneak our way past what we can."

[Zergrinch]

You take off in the opposite direction the reinforcements are coming from at full speed.  Although your pursuers could see you, your warning shots strongly discouraged them from giving too spirited a chase, and by ducking into houses and side-alleys, you eventually manage to lose them.

 

It is now 8:00 PM.  By this time, the sun has fully set.  The half-moon and burning buildings throughout the town provides some measure of lighting to help you navigate, although clearly Erwin, Arjan, and the human bartender have more trouble than the rest seeing in the dark.

 

As you slowly make your way to the brightly-illuminated keep, five humans dash out from between two buildings on the left.  A limping man and three children race across the street into more shadows, and a woman carrying a round shield and a broken spear brings up their rear.  As she turns to face the alley, she sees the red dragonborn and does a double-take.  Eyes widening in shock, she raises her spear and shouts a challenge.  "Keep back!  I'm warning you!"

[Rilbur]

Erwin:

 

Erwin sheaths his sword, and holds his hands wide.  "We mean you no harm.  Stand down."

 

Perrin:

 

Perrin sighs and steps forward.  Erwin's skills were decent on the battlefield, but for something like this, he needed to gain some polish.  "Good lady, while my companion is honest enough, his social skills are meant for the battlefield," he says softly.  "We mean you and yours no harm.  Judging from your equipage you are, like us, innocents caught up in this senseless attack on a civilized trading town.  Unlike us, you are not adventurers of renown, capable of combat and skilled at the arts of defense.  If we wished you harm, you would have felt the edge of our steel already."

 

"Please, let us pass.  We seek the safety of the keep.  If you would join us, you may."

 

Arjan:

 

Arjan preens himself nonchalantly, grinning from ear to ear.  Clearly the woman had been stunned by his good looks!

[Zergrinch]

Perrin tries to defuse the situation, but she does not appear to register anything he said.  She relaxes a bit as Erwin raises his hands, but Arjan's preening and maniacal grin serves little to calm her down.

 

"Your kind is not welcome here," she points the spear at the dragonborn accusingly.  "Especially not after tod-"

 

The woman's eyes go wide as eight kobolds and what looks to be a small canine-like dragon stream out of the alley hot on the family's heels.  The kobolds fan out and surround the woman, who motions her family to hurry up and run.  She looks determined to delay the creatures for as long as possible.

 

After hissing something to Arjan, the lead kobold steps forward, ready to cut down the filthy human wench.  Everyone except Garanth recognizes the Draconic tongue being used.  "We have this, my Lord.  Leave them to us."  The kobold unleashes the chain attached to the collar of the drake, and barks a command to attack.

 

Notes: You are arranged as per marching order, with the bartender and the caravanmaster sandwiched in between.  The woman and her family in front of you, to the west; they are perpendicular to you.  The kobolds are directly in front of you, ignoring you and moving into an increasingly-tight circle around the woman.

[Jeikor]

Morganor knows he will probably regret this but . . . he pulls his shield around where the kobalds ought not miss the symbol of Bahamet hoping to draw some attention away from the woman.

 

From the back Garanth has no clue what is happening other than a human surrounded by kobalds. He unslings his bow and readies it.

[Rilbur]

Erwin:

 

"I'm going to give you exactly-"  Erwin shut his mouth with a snap and shook his head.  "To the Nine Hells with it.  Perrin, give them a nap."

 

{{ Targeting:  Engage someone not effected by sleep, priortizing placement to better protect the woman.

 

{{ Bonus Action: Shove, 14 + 5 vs 9 + ?, assumed success }}

 

{{ Action: Attack, 12 (15 w/advantage) to hit, 5 dmg on hit }}

 

Perrin:

 

{{ Action: sleep.  Targeting to catch as many Kobolds as possible without catching the woman. }}

 

Arjan:

 

{{ Action:  Crossbow attack, 12 to hit, 3 dmg }}

[Zergrinch]

Completely expecting the worst, the still-bleeding Morganor (9 HP) pulls out his shield emblazoned with Bahamut's holy symbol, and tries to catch the kobolds' eyes with it.  Some of the bipedal lizards did pause to look at it, but they eventually refocused their attention on the woman.  Apparently, to them a dragon is a dragon, and they don't appear to recognize it at all.

 

Garanth readies his bow, and nocks an arrow.  The question was, who would he shoot, and when?

 

Upon Erwin's instructions, the Half-Elf abruptly casts a veil of magical sleep over the entire kobold host.  Almost immediately, the lead kobold, as well as the two others next to him, drop to the ground.

 

Sleep affects 19 HP worth.  You got Kobolds 1, 2 and 3 (K1, K2, K3).

 

Screeching in alarm, the kobold closest to Erwin swoops up into the air, unveiling a pair of wings.  Out of nowhere, an arrow sprouted out of the creature's forehead, and it just as abruptly sinks into the ground - dead.  Garanth celebrates his success as he coolly notch another arrow.

 

The dragon-dog strains against its leash, and physically drags its sleeping handler towards the hapless woman.  Despite the encumbrance, the creature snaps viciously at the woman, almost severing one of her fingers (4 damage; bloodied).

 

Initiative: Garanth, Kobold 1 (sleeping), Kobold 2 (sleeping), Morganor, Arjan, Perrin, Kobold 6, Woman, Erwin, Kobold 7, Kobold 4, Kobold 5, Winged Kobold, Kobold 3 (sleeping), Ambush Drake

 

Notes: It is now your turn, Jeikor (and Perrin)!  I already have Erwin and Arjan's actions.  Map is available from my signature.  Perrin is so very lucky.  Garanth's attack just barely hit, and the damage was just barely enough to kill it!

[Jeikor]

Garanth fires at the winged kobold first, quickly notches another arrow and fires at (if the first arrow misses or does very little damage) the winged kobold again or (if the first arrow does significant damage) at the drake.

 

Morganor uses a healing word (bonus action) on himself then a sacred flame at the nearest kobold (the winged one if still alive or #7)

[Zergrinch]

Garanth fires off another arrow, this time aiming for the dog-like dragon harassing the poor woman.  The shot is difficult at the best of times - not only does the elf have to struggle to pin down the wriggling beast, he has to do so through a mass of kobolds and avoid all his allies and the woman at the same time.  The elf unleashes his arrow with a prayer, and the gods smiled upon his attack!  The arrow flies true, pierces the beast's soft underbelly, and spills an alarming amount of blood.  (Critical hit!  14 damage.  Damn, you're lucky; shooting through so many things would have granted a ton of cover to the drake.)

 

Morganor utters a prayer to Bahamut, knitting his wounds closed (although they still hurt; regains 5 hp) and immediately summons the radiance of his god against the nearest kobold.  To his irritation, the creature dodges the attack (16 saves), but the distraction does allow Arjan to peg it in the tail with a crossbow bolt (3 damage to kobold 7; bloodied).

 

Initiative: Perrin, Kobold 6, Woman (bloodied), Erwin, Kobold 7 (bloodied), Kobold 4, Kobold 5, Winged Kobold (dead), Kobold 3 (sleeping), Ambush Drake (bloodied), Garanth, Kobold 1 (sleeping), Kobold 2 (sleeping), Morganor, Arjan

 

Notes: It is now your turn!  Erwin may specify which kobold he chooses to shove (and kill).

[Rilbur]

Perrin:

 

Perrin raises his crossbow and coolly puts another bolt into play, killing the already injured Kobold in front of him.

 

{{ Target:  Kobold 7 }}

 

{{ Action: Attack, 21 vs AC, damage 6 }}

 

Erwin:

 

Erwin steps forward and kills the Kobold in front of him.

 

{{ Target:  Kobold 6 }}

 

Arjan:

 

Arjan also fires off another arrow.

 

{{ Attack, 10 vs AC (miss?), damage 10 }}

[Jeikor]

Garanth steps to get a clearer shot and aims for kobold 5.

 

Morganor again summons the Sacred Flame aiming for the drake if not dispatched already or kobold 4.

[Zergrinch]

Perrin dispatches the injured kobold with a crossbow bolt, while the kobold adjacent slings a stone at Erwin.  Sidestepping the clumsy projectile, the fighter charges, and with his deadly maneuver, dispatches it with a practiced ease.

 

The two remaining conscious kobolds hiss loudly at the fighter, and charge Erwin simultaneously.  The fighter parries the first attack, but could not dodge the second in time (4 damage, bloodied).

 

With an alarmingly ragged roar, the dog-like dragon glares at the party, and charges fully at Erwin.  The woman, who had been defending herself (dodge action) lashes out with an attack of opportunity, slicing off a chunk of tail in the process (2 damage).  The creature reaches Erwin, and gouges deep into his thigh (4 damage).  Once again, the Fighter is brought almost to his knees.

 

Hoping to take the pressure off Erwin, Garanth rushes to the front and fires an arrow at one of the kobolds.  It appears the luck of the gods do not last forever, as the arrow clangs harmlessly against Erwin's shield.

 

Morganor utters a prayer for Bahamut to burn his foes, but alas, his prayer goes unanswered as the dog-dragon creature comfortably dodges the flames.

 

The sorcerer sticks to mundane weaponry and fires off a snap shot.   The bolt narrowly misses the kobold, and sticks to the wall instead where Erwin's head had been just seconds earlier.

 

Initiative: Perrin, Kobold 6 (dead), Woman (bloodied), Erwin (bloodied), Kobold 7 (dead), Kobold 4, Kobold 5, Winged Kobold (dead), Kobold 3 (sleeping), Ambush Drake (bloodied), Garanth, Kobold 1 (sleeping), Kobold 2 (sleeping), Morganor, Arjan

 

Notes: It is now your turn!

[Rilbur]

Perrin:

 

Perrin snaps off another crossbow shot at a kobold.

 

{{ Action: Attack, 13 vs ac, 7 damage }}

 

Erwin:

 

Erwin lashes out with shield and sword, hoping to take down the dragon-dog thing.

 

{{ Bonus: Shove, failure, 5 + 5 vs 20 + ? }}

 

{{ Action: attack, 6 vs ac, 5 damage }}

 

Arjan:

 

Arjan fires off another crossbow bolt.  Magic is powerful, but long years on the street had taught him the importance of abilities that you can rely on.  Magic just wasn't reliable enough.

 

{{ Action: attack, 7 vs ac, 9 damage }}

[Jeikor]

Now that he is near the front Garanth puts away his bow and uses sword and shield to attack kobold 5.

 

Morganor too switches to mundane weapons and attacks kobold 5 with his war hammer from the other side.

[Zergrinch]

Perrin's crossbow bolt hits a kobold right between the eyes (7 damage, killed), blasting the dying creature away from Erwin, just as the woman takes out a dagger and embeds it on the dog-dragon's now-ruined back (2 damage).  The remaining kobold vainly tries to slash at Erwin, but misses.  The dog-dragon manages one last bite against the fighter (4 damage) before Morganor's warhammer caves in its skull and splatters its brains all over the place (9 damage, killed).  The remaining kobold is caught in a pincer as Garanth steps forward and impales it with his shortsword (5 damage, killed).

 

The sound of combat ends just as quickly as it began, and for the moment, all you hear is the soft snoring of three sleeping kobolds in the backdrop of the chaos that has currently befallen the town of Greenest.

 

Initiative: Arjan, Perrin, Woman (bloodied), Erwin (bloodied), Kobold 3 (sleeping), Garanth, Kobold 1 (sleeping), Kobold 2 (sleeping), Morganor

 

Remaining Spell Slots: Arjan 3/3, Morganor 1/3, Perrin 2/3.  Fair warning - you will NOT have the opportunity to take a long rest at any point in Episode 1.

Note: If Arjan wishes to coup de grace the remaining sleepers, please specify a target.

[Rilbur]

Erwin:

 

"Kill the sleepers," Erwin orders, suiting deed to word.

 

Arjan:

 

Arjan walked up to Kobold 3 and slit his throat.

 

Perrin:

 

Perrin walkd up to Kobol 2 and slit his throat.

 

Erwin:

 

Erwin walked up to Kobold 1 and slit his throat.

 

"Now, ma'am, I believe we were having a discussion before these gentlemen showed up.  Perhaps this," he uses his blade to indicate the bloodshed, "will serve as our credentials?"

[Zergrinch]

The woman shudders involuntarily at the merciless way her saviors killed the kobolds.  True, the creatures had no compunction about doing the same to her, but still, the sight was unsettling, especially since her young children could well see what happened.  She stares numbly at the fighter, making no attempt to fight but unable to form a response as well.

 

"Young man," the limping man steps forward, "we owe you our lives.  I am Cuth, and this is my wife, Linan.  Thank you for saving us and ours.  We were making our way towards the keep when those things jumped us.  The keep is where the Watch is located, and is the only safe place in town.  We must hurry, as it seems these raiders are starting to set up a tight cordon around the keep."

[Jeikor]

Garanth puts away his sword and shield, kneels down in front of the children and asks, "Would one of you like a ride to the Keep?"

 

Morganor shakes his head at Garanth's action at a time like this and continues to watch around them for more raiders. Then he realizes that if the children and the limping man are helped they can get to the Keep faster.

[Rilbur]

Erwin:

 

Erwin nods briskly.  "Lets get ourselves to the keep then.  I'd recommend applying stealth if possible, but if we get caught, let me and my cohorts engage the enemy.  Stay well back, out of the fight, and let us handle it."

 

{{ Bonus Action:  Second Wind, 8 points }}

[Zergrinch]

At the kind elf's invitation, the fear temporarily vanish from the eyes of the three children.

"Me!" says the eldest, a boy of about 9.

"Me!" pipes up the middle child, a 7 year old boy.

"Meeeeeee!" squeals the youngest, a girl barely 6 years old.

[Jeikor]

Garanth now had a problem. He hadn't expected such enthusiasm from all three. At best he thought he might coax one of them maybe two to ride so they might travel faster. He looked to the dad and mom, then to Erwin and Morganor with pleading in his eyes.

 

"Hmmff!!" grunted Morganor. "I guess I could carry one if Erwin okays it. We do need to travel quickly."

[Rilbur]

Erwin:

 

"Having children on our shoulders is hardly the safest place for them if we get into another fight," Erwin said, trying for a simple, gentle suggestion.  "Our armor protects us, but..."

 

Unfortunately, he already knew that he was just making himself the bad guy, and that the kids were going to wind up on shoulders.  Time to figure out how the heck to make that safe.  Ish.

 

Perrin:

 

"Perhaps Arjan and I can take them on our shoulders?" the bard attempted to help.

[Zergrinch]

Smiling besides his injury, Cuth shakes his head.  "Now kids, don't impose on the people who saved our lives!  They have enough things to worry about."

 

"Sir," Cuth tells Erwin, "You have done enough. You should just leave us.  We will only slow you down."

 

Meanwhile, the youngest girl goes to the kindly elf fighter, puts on her best puppy-dog face, and goes "Pleaaaase, Mr. elf-man?"

 

[Jeikor]

Garanth takes one look in those cute eyes and is a goner. He takes out his crossbow and loads a bolt then looks at Erwin. "Sir, I can fire the crossbow with the girl on my back and then get my sword ready as I set her down."

Garanth then tosses the girl onto his shoulders hefts the crossbow and is set to go.

 

Morganor won't be outdone by an elf. He also loads his crossbow then picks up the younger boy on his shoulder. "I have a crossbow and can also still fire a Sacred Flame cantrip. I'm ready to roll."

[Zergrinch]

"Wheeeeee!" goes the little girl, and her brother beside her, as the fighter and cleric hoist them on their shoulders for a piggy-back ride.

 

The eldest boy looks a little jealous as his younger siblings get a free ride.  He sidles up to the dragonborn.

 

"Hey mister, are you a real dragon?" he says, with body language that betrays what he really, really wanted.