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Kukla soon caught up with the magus, but Angus had no desire to part with a potion, "They're dead, if not dragon food already. We're on our own." But Kukla was determined, hoping the magic user wrong. And the more he thought of it, he remembered the cleric had a healing potion in his belt pouch. So hours later he slowly crept back to the lair, his own heartbeat pounding loudly in his head. And lo the dragon was sleeping. Veocyn and Garith all but bones, yet Geno and Oleg's bodies undisturbed. Carefully, slowly the gnome crept forward to the cleric, watching the dragon eyelids for any movement. Too focused on the eyes to notice the dragon tail moving toward him.
Kukla lifted the potion from the belt about the same time he was lifted, as the eyes greeted him, "It was so nice of you to bring back my staff and jewelry you stole. And I can't remember when I last feasted on gnome."
If anyone should enter these caverns, beware the mad magus. The feral man fighting for his life and scrap of food within these damn passages owned by kobolds spawning like rabbits. Rich with treasure he'll never be able to spend!
Kukla...Why the interest with these "dog-men" as Angus points out, "They've got trash for treasure." Yet Geno is on the prowl hunting kobold, encountering a patrol. I use my pistol, firing my last bullet at the escaping leader only to clip the wall. Garith takes him down with one well-thrown hammer. We kill off the leader and a few before the majority flee. Humm, run away when outmatched. Why can't we see that logic? At least the break in battle gives Oleg time to heal the group, yet not up to full strength.
ReplyDeleteAnd on we push...coming to the backside of the kobolds at the lava-gorge. Arrows, blades, and Garith's hammer take down a few before the others run across the narrow bridges to take up position on the other side. Harrowing moments with Garith apparently knocked off balance and hanging from a bridge end, dangling over the lava flow below. Spears just missing his handhold as he grunts to pull himself up. Geno and Oleg already walking away... boredom?! Me unable to convince the elf to barter with the kobolds. Let them have their plot of land for information...how do we get out of here? But the elf doesn't want to waste time. Then why are we fighting these pitiful creatures?!
More wandering, no rest, passages and more passages till we come to a crude stone door. The skeletal remains of one lone warrior. But Geno finds a secret door which has us on the move again; no rest and healing. Single file down a very narrow passage, till...
Finger to his lips, Geno leans back to report "a large lizard-looking creature with folded wings." The rest of us on edge as the rogue slips into the room. Maybe his scent betrayed him as the beast awoke. And the rest of us became introduced to the red dragon stirring atop his treasure horde! Now I don't know about you, but I'd never seen a dragon before...heard tales...but this was my first. And the reason for my dabbling with the pistol...that hung useless as I had no bullets!
Everyone maneuvering around the beast as Geno kept it busy firing arrows that clinked off its armor. Dragon fire scorching most of us gathered too close together. Me saved by this fire-resistant ring. Garith not so lucky thus me using my only healing potion on him. Angus slipping further around the beast. Then Veocyn, of all people, finally scoring a hit! Angus front-and-center to watch the dragon snatch the human-rogue, toss him in the air to then chomp off his head! Meanwhile, undeterred, the dwarf charged the beast, surprised when his hammer deflected off its tough scale. Now I thought Angus was maneuvering to spell the beast. But his bouncing torchlight faded down a narrow passage to the right as HE was running for safety. If we ever had a chance to take down this beast, it quickly faded with the loss of Veocyn, Angus, and now Garith down bleeding clawed by the dragon.
Me closing on the dragon trying to give support to the rogue and cleric, hoping they'd turn to run. A lucky hit with my magical blade! And then the dragon grasping me, lifting me toward his teeth and foul breath. Relieved he only spoke instead of chomped, "Why have you come into my lair and attacked me?" Lucky he tossed me aside as he turned his attention to the others. Which gave me the opportunity to try to distract the dragon. Casting "Unseen Servant", I grabbed a large staff from the dragon horde to move it toward me. I then cast "Mage Hand" to lift a nice piece of jewelry moving it toward my waiting hand. Yet despite my verbal taunts of treasure in hand, the dragon stayed focused on Geno and Oleg, dropping them both.
I now try to find Angus and the potions he carries. My plan- ASSUMING the dragon is slow to feast on the corpses in his chamber, sneak a healing potion into Geno's throat. Hope the elf can carry the cleric to safety. Hey, I didn't say it was a good plan! But it's the only thing I've got because alone with the magus means certain death. If not sacrifice at his own hands!