Dragons and Prophecies - 22/09/2022 - A Kavel Perspective

Message From A Staircase Traveller

Comrade Gerhard, my human plane-travelling friend, is now one of many people who has gained access to my mind. Is there a market somewhere with access to my head on sale? I was pleased to hear from Gerhard, but I do not like the direct access magic-users have straight to my mind. I always think psychic pain will follow the sound of words in my head.

Gerhard said Orianna (his partner, and my tiefling(?) druidic-scholar friend) would be making a journey to meet an ancient crystal dragon, in his lair, in the Sunset Spines. Orianna had questions for the dragon, Grougaloragran, about some prophecy that was important to her. Gerhard said Orianna fought younger dragons whilst defending the older dragon some time ago. It might not be safe where the ancient dragon’s lair is, so my magical, silver-quilled friend was asking me to join Orianna’s party - I said yes.


Portal Plaza LineUp

There were signs being nailed up about a Winter Festival. Seemed early to me.

Orianna had three other adventurers join us, bringing our party numbers up to the ever respectable; five.

There was my blue dragonborn, Watch member, and sorcerer friend; Derthaad. My friend got me a pet monkey last time we were together - this is good friend behaviour. I’ll have to get him a spell or something in return.
There was a gold dragonborn with us, new comrade Cechec who had a couple of fine looking daggers on him. And lastly, comrade Felix, my now frequent, dwarven bard companion. I’m starting to find myself in more adventures with Felix. I’ve noticed he usually looks a little ‘tired’ from the evening before, when I see him. By tired I mean ‘dehydrated’, by which I mean hungover. Still, he brings the healing and the Lightning Bolts. Between him and comrade Derthaad, I am never in short supply of lightning-based artillery support. Good stuff!

We headed out towards the Stone Gate, mountain bound (yes!)


The Sunset Spines

It was a two day trek to reach the base of the Sunset Spines. Another half day to get to the northern part of the Spines where Orianna’s map marked out Grougaloragran’s lair up top.

When we passed the Turning Fields, Orianna took some time to find a suitable tree for some druidic purpose, of which I wasn’t sure what for.

As we climbed the mountain path to Grougaloragran’s lair, I noted three things. Firstly, I loved the mountains. It was good to be back in a place that reminded me of home. Secondly, the weather had gotten a little stormy. And lastly, the various crystal structures that appeared on the path. The further up we went, the more frequent and larger these crystal structures were, signifying the lair of a crystal dragon was about. Derthaad said the stormy weather was also a sign of the ancient dragon’s presence. I asked Derthaad about blue dragon lairs, he said they lived in caves too, and you could expect lightning in the local vicinity. I asked Cecech about gold dragons, he said they resided near rivers and ruins.

We came to a point on the path blocked by an immense landslide. The magic boys’ Shatter Spell could clear it, if they were prepared to expend all their magical energy. I could swear that I could also clear it with my fists - but this was unsafe. In addition, the landslide was too loose to climb over safely.

There seemed to be no way to traverse the landslide. But, then we saw there was a cave entrance just in front of the landslide. I asked Orianna about it. She said it wasn’t there before. Me and Felix both concluded that the landslide was natural, but looking up high at the mountain, it was as if the stone had fallen, because something had forced it out from the inside.

Before entering the cave, to find if it would lead us around the landslide, Felix took the time to talk to us about how impressive we all are as experienced adventurers. I felt eight feet tall. The man has a great talent for lifting everyone’s spirit - as well as providing amazing Lightning Bolt, artillery support.

Just before we finally stepped inside the cave, Orianna noticed a green dragonborn hand under the landslide. Derthaad used some magic to extract what he could from the rubble; half a green dragonborn with its face ripped and covered in burn marks that seemed to originate from internal flames. Also, the heart had been torn out. All these signs checked with what Orianna had told us about what she had found in a temple of Bahumet - people with their hearts torn out and black scorch marks covering reanimated people. A temple of Tiamat had suffered similar attacks, too. Some god called Desathrax was using both temples’ followers (and hearts) to empower themselves. Derthaad asked Orianna if we should bury or burn the victim? Burning was advised on account of the previous experiences with reanimation.

Our Ps and Qs minded. We finally went into the cave.


Makeshift Route

With light provided by Felix’s Dancing Light spell (four tiny, salsa-dancing Felix’s that shone magical torch light) we could see claw marks all over these walls. This was an inelegant, and makeshift tunnel. The cave curved round and inclined around 300ft. Light appeared at the end of our path, and we emerged on the other side of the landslide, back out on the mountain path.

As we traversed further up the path, the crystal growths not only grew larger, but dimmer too. This worried Orianna, and we picked up our pace, and eventually reached the large plateau peak.

Before us was a massive crystal archway gating a gigantic entrance for a gargantuan creature’s lair. A thin veil of glass covered the immense entrance. But, at ground level, in the centre, the glass sheet was shattered wide enough for medium-sized creatures to pass through. In front of this blemish; two dead kobolds with similar black burns and hearts visibly removed. Orianna removed any recognisable markings to send back to the temple where the kobolds came from, before we burned the remains.

Derthaad could swear he heard the anguished roar of a massive creature. As we entered the cave, we all heard the deep, powerful, yet painful roar - Orianna ran deeper into the cave to meet the sound of the roar. We all followed quickly behind her. The painful roar became louder the closer we got.


Grougaloragran’s Ancient Crystal Dragon Lair

The roars were laboured as we turned a corner into the dragon’s lair. We saw a gargantuan imprint in the cave wall, and realised this is what caused the landslide.

On an immense crystal nest, lay an ancient, weakened, gargantuan crystal dragon. Before him stood five hostile creatures. Two kobolds and three dragonborn soldiers. Various parts of their bodies were covered in black scorch marks. Black flame poured out of their pores. Their eyes were black, and irises burning white. A sixth person stood in front of Grougaloragran with a geode that appeared to be drawing radiant energy from the ancient dragon. Grougaloragran’s crystal flesh looked dim on the exterior, whilst his core shone radiantly, but poured out towards the geode.

Orianna recognised Richard, the person holding the geode that was hurting the ancient dragon. She casted a Tidal Wave from where we were at the entrance towards Richard and assistant Clive nearby. They managed to retain their footing, and then; combat ensured.


The Crystal Lair Clash!

I was in the air, flying(/jumping) towards Richard, as Cechec run up to Clive and brutally stabbed him with a dagger. I saw Richard cast a fire spell at Orianna, but she made it vanish as if she had casted Derthaad’s often used Counterspell. I landed before Richard, grabbed hold of him, and dragged him away from Grougaloragran. I gripped the man with a left handed collar-tie, and then uppercutted Richard’s charred face with my right fist. Richard called forth some allies, Fred and Pete - they flanked me and wailed on me with their obsidian claws. A few of the piercing strikes got through my well conditioned, thick skin. It didn’t hurt me much at all, and yet I did feel a little bit weaker. This was weird.

As Clive attacked Cechec, Derthaad summoned Ulhar, the huge blue dragon, and Ulhar laid its claws into Clive and hit him with what I guessed was a psychic breath attack - it definitely wasn’t lightning - Ulhar is very versatile with his breath attacks, like he can just choose what damage type he’ll breath? I later confirmed with Derthaad that this was indeed the case. Impressive!

Richard ordered two of the others, Jeff and Terry, to claw Ulhar - they were terrible at it. While they were missing, Felix saw the floating geode that Richard was holding before I yanked him across the room, and dispelled the magic in the orb, making it drop to the floor. Orianna was grateful for Felix’s action. She seemed to prepare her staff to aid us defensively. Instead of witnessing a change in her appearance that turned her into some kind of star archer, her staff now had a magically overflowing cup where the usual crescent head was.


Magical Reactions are Beautiful - And Cechec Begins Counting

Richard, unpleased to be locked up in my collar-tie suddeling erupted into flames. But, Felix reacted with the anti magic spell; Counterspell and whatever it was Richard had planned ended, as the magical flames fizzled out.

Cechec and Ulhar’s tag team piecing attacks on Clive had taken their toll. Cechec thrust his lead hand’s dagger into the neck of Clive by the carotid artery, and Clive fell to the ground dead. Cechec wasn’t far from me. He looked over at me holding Richard and said, “that’s one.”

Richard foolishly looked over at Cechec, so I took advantage, and drove an uppercut into his jaw followed by a couple of knees as I switched my grip to a double collar-tie to better drive my knees into him. I then yanked his body across the room again, hoping the change in positions would set up a clear zone for my magical allies to rain down one of their big area-attack spells. To do this, I allowed myself to be open to Pete attempting to slash me with his claws, but Orianna stepped in with a magical intervention and blocked Pete. My magic user comrades are very fast to react with their magic. Good stuff!

Fred tried to help Richard break my grip. It wasn’t happening, and his claws barely registered on my skin. Pete followed Fred and took a claw swipe from Ulhar for his troubles and bled his way towards me - Felix, Orianna and now Ulhar have my back. Awesome!
Pete’s claw attacks were as pitiful as Fred’s. Even though they got through my skin, the pain was ignorable… however, I did feel weakened again. There was some magical bullshit laced in those claws. A lesser warrior might have been downed by the collective hits I had taken. But I stood tall. This said, I was not ungrateful for the healing magic Orianna casted on me from behind.

And then, Derthaad proved he also had my back, as twinned Psychic Lances hit both Richard and Pete. Richard managed to squirm in my collar-tie enough to not get fully hit. Pete was not so lucky, as he collapsed to the ground, dead.

Felix moved to get a clear shot at Jeff and Terry who had teamed up against Ulhar. Felix unleashed a massive Lightning Bolt at the pair of them. It was hard to tell what scorch marks were on Jeff and Terry’s flesh before Felix hit them. Jeff looked close to collapsing. Felix’s high level Lightning Bolts are always inspiring.

Richard, still stuck in my grip (unless you can teleport, you don’t leave my grip) shouted in an unknown language. We then heard something from behind Grougolaragran’s crystal nest, scraping its way towards us. “Francis!” Richard yelled out. Francis was an undead, huge white dragon with no back legs or tail. It was crawling towards us using its front. Fire sprouted from its undead body.

Jeff took a swipe at Cechec, and Cechec looked like he was feeling the same residue weakening effect I had felt a couple of times from these undead claws. Orianna supported him with her distant healing magic. Terry on the other hand decided to try and prevent future Lightning Bolts from being casted and ran towards Felix. Ulhar, sharp as ever, took a swipe at Terry’s undefended back and bled him. Undeterred though, Terry reached Felix and clawed away, but was met with Felix’s protective Shield spell.


Cechec Keeps Counting…

Failing to escape my grip, Richard tried a new approach. He placed both palms on my chest and channelled a wealth of necrotic energy into my body. He fucked up a little on the first attempt, but got a good hit in on the second. I felt my body weaken slightly, but I shook off the majority of the necrotic scorching - no one is tearing my muscled heart out of my thick, strong body!

As I was demonstrating what proper body conditioning can do for you, Cechec stabbed Jeff under his armpit, piercing the axillary artery. Jeff bled to death. “Kavel! Two on the board for me now!” Cechec shouted.

“Why don’t you try your daggers on Richard then?!” I shouted back. At the same time, I yanked Richard around in a quarter circle to better land a blistering knee into his liver, which I followed up with a left elbow strike. Then, releasing the double collar-tie for a single-tie, I pushed Richard backwards, by thrusting my palm into his face. As this disorientated him, I brought my right arm up for a powerful lariat and charged into Richard, swinging my right arm round into his chest, neck and jaw, which hurtled him head first into the ground. As the back of his head split open as it hit the ground, his legs landed over him, bending his body into a ‘c’. Richard, by all rights, was ‘undeaded’. Except fiery wings sprouted from his back and he flew straight up out of the mountain.

“... this still counts as one for me, Cechec!” I yelled over to my counting comrade. Fred took a couple claw swipes at me. Both pierced my skin, but whatever.

In the meantime, the master of the Twinned Psychic Lance killed Terry. While Ulhar, the smaller dragon, even against a half-bodied Francis, went ballistic with his claws and breath attack. If Francis, the undead white dragon had legs, he would have fallen down amidst the onslaught. Francis did look slower to move though. I looked over with interest, and despite Fred now in my range, I began to squat, as Felix backed up Ulhar with a powerful Lightning Bolt spell at Francis.


Ultimate Kavel Finishing Move is Back! - Sky High Elbow Drop!

Cechec, despite being so stab-happy, was bleeding profusely. Orianna took care of things with a healing spell. I even felt a little bolstered by her chalice/staff’s power, almost like she is twinning spells like Derthaad does.
Cechec, bleeding a lot less now, ran behind Fred and stabbed him in the neck. Cechec made blackish ketchup run out of Fred’s scorched flesh - Fred went down.

“Yes. Comrade Cechec, that is three for you. You are doing well.” I said, before he could say it.

“Cechec smiled, “I see you’re counting,” he replied.

As I reached the bottom of my squat, I remarked, “let’s see if I can reach two?” And then sprung into the air like an eagle and flew(/jumped hard) towards Francis the undead white dragon, and landed effortlessly on his back, 40ft away from where I began. I dropped to my knees and straddle myself into a good position from which to strike down hard with elbow strikes. First one marked the spot, second was brutal, and the third - I used my airbourne launching quad muscles to send me 80ft up in the air, and I crashed back down into the white dragon’s nape with a thundering, Sky High Elbow Drop! No sorcerer-assist this time, but it did the trick. Francis’s undead jaw shattered with the rippling impact of my elbow crashing into its undead nape, shattering remaining teeth out towards poor Felix who was standing in front of Francis.

“Apologies Felix!” I yelled down at my fellow mountain-born comrade. “ There! Two for me!” I yelled towards Cechec.


The Passing of an Ancient Dragon

With combat finished, Felix Derthaad and Orianna all ran towards Grougaloragran and attempted to pour whatever healing spells they could into the immense and ancient dragon. Unfortunately, even with their magical power combined; Grougaloragran was beyond help.

Orianna held the geode that had sucked out radiant energy from Grougaloragran and brought it to the dragon. But, as the dragon said under laboured breath; he’s too old to be helped now. It was his time. It was sad and unfortunate that his passing involved a hostile confrontation, but I was glad we at least managed to rescue the final moments. Especially since it enabled the dragon to speak a final few words to Orianna.

Grougaloragran left Orianna with some advice on the prophecy she was researching, whose details were all foreign to me. Grougaloragran also requested a favour from Orianna.

The dragon froze in a crystallised form, and then shattered. Amidst the centre of the rubble in the crystal nest, was a radiant, two-foot egg. When Orianna picked the egg up, she said she could feel a connection to the heartbeat inside.

As Orianna tended to the egg, the rest of us noticed four gemstones in the ground, glowing with remnant energy. The rest of us all took one of them.

There were many treasures and books in Grougaloragran’s lair. We took a small amount of the treasure for ourselves, which Grougaloragran insisted we take before he passed. I also packed up a massive collection of books for Orianna, in my loot-tarp which I carry for occasions like these. They’ll be much reading in Orianna’s future - good luck to her. Orianna also found a nice telescope for herself.

Felix, as I’ve seen him do before, casted a Teleportation Circle and got us instantly back to Portal Plaza.

I carried the books back to the Daring Academy for Orianna and into her little office. I looked at her, with her new egg. She seemed quite bonded with her dragon (egg). This reminded me of my own little friend…


CHAOS

The next day, I went to CHAOS and found Varga. She heard about me now having a pet tamarin, and said she’s really good with animals (as evidenced by all these chinchillas) and could help me bond with Timur. It was a lot harder now that Timur wasn’t a familiar, and was an actual tamarin instead of a magical fey/celestial one.

“Like this, Kavel,” Varga advised. I did what she said, and Timur was very happy. Nice one Varga! Good stuff. I wonder what Nathalie would think of my new little friend?