IC: Dragon Campaign - Wyrmlinghood

[Esprit15]

Now equipped with a light, you make your way through the cave. While it was hard to see before, you now can tell that the entry leads into what appears to be a foyer, with two large holes that lead to rooms, and the path toward the back that you took the first time.

In the left room are several large, dust covered cushions, covered in heavily scuffed leather, and a large, circular board, twenty feet in diameter. Inside the board is a square section that looks like some sort of abstract world map. Outside of it are four semicircles, which appear based on the four elements, and then an outer circle that seems designed to rotate. This outer ring is decorated with a myriad of terrains and locales that feel familiar from the story told by Mother and Father, though their significance escapes you. You look around for anything of apparent value in the room, but aside from the strange... map(?) you find nothing.

The room to the right appears entirely void of anything that it once held, save for scraps of paper, cloth, and wood. You do find a few (22 in fact) copper pieces as you rummage through the wreckage.

Going deeper, you again run into the fire elemental, and the now well charred corpse from last time you explored here. The cave corkscrews and twists far more down here, though the large amount of space means that it is still not a problem for you personally. Many small corridors that seem more your size lead off to frustrating dead ends, and you soon learn to just ignore them (though one did contain, strangely, a humanoid sized writing desk, and nothing else). Finally, you reach a stone wall at the end, which you estimate is after around half a mile of path in the mountain.

[Eonn]

Khrakoa gathers up the coins. While they're not that valuable, perhaps they might be useful for paying off one of the various humanoid races around, leaving the gold safe with him. The coins are neatly stacked and stowed in the far side of the ritual room.

He then turns his attention to the only other thing of real interest, the map. He shoulders it into the ritual room as well, over to where he had placed the coins. With the elemental providing light for the room, he snuffs out his torch. Having noticed that pieces of the board are meant to move, the young dragon plays with it for a time, trying to see if the map may reveal more secrets to him.

If not, he begins thinking of other caves in the area that may either hold treasure or signs of the other dragon. He should still have plenty of time left to explore one, after all.

[Esprit15]

Rotating the map, you notice that there are sections marked out, and that many of them are linked by lines to nearby locations. As you rotate the outer ring, its own lines link and disconnect from the inner circle. Playing around some more with the table, you also notice drawers on opposing sides of it. Pulling one open, you find twenty ivory figurines, and five rods with beads built into the bottom of the drawer (think like an abacus). The beads on each rod are all the same color, and have a label next to them written in Draconic - black beads (Beings of Positive/Negative Energy), green beads (Beings of Nature), white beads (Beings of the Material Plane), red beads (Beings of Magic), and blue (Beings of the Planes). In the opposite drawer you find the same, except that the exact figures are slightly different, and made of obsidian instead.

It takes you a few seconds, and then you realize... this is a board game. But what kind of board games would dragons play?

[Eonn]

'Strange,' Khrakoa thinks. 'Though interesting non the less.

He takes some time to look over the board and figures, but seeing as he doesn't quite know the rules the game is quick to pack it back up after he gets a good idea of what something like this might be worth.

Then, with his torch, he sets out to do a bit more cave exploring. Leaving his temporary den, he tries to recall a nearby cave that seemed promising. One that was carved similarly to the one he now perched in would be ideal, as such a cave might have more clues to the whereabouts of this other dragon, but any cave that might be hiding treasure is fair game as well.

Spoiler: OOC

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Appraise on the game table: (1d20+12)[21]

[Eonn]

With his lair fully explored and no signs of similar caverns elsewhere in the mountains, Khrakoa decides it is time to grow his hoard. But, where would a dragon find valuables in this region? The Tabaxi village seemed like the the best place, but he judged that any significant amount of wealth would be well defended. He wasn't ready for a war just now. In fact, he preferred the Tabaxi not know about as presence at all, at least for now.

The Yuan-Ti were similar, though with the reptilian humanoids dwelling in a cave even reaching them without alerting their guards would be more difficult.

Then again, who said the civilized races were the only ones with treasure? Lesser races (even lesser than the Tabaxi and Yuan-Ti, that is) like goblins could have already done the hard work of extracting the wealth from the various towns, he would just need to collect from them. Finding them, it seemed, would be the only issue.

With a grin, he took wing from his mountain lair. If there were such tribes in the region, he would find them. Even if he had to chart the whole island first.

[Esprit15]

With his lair fully explored and no signs of similar caverns elsewhere in the mountains, Khrakoa decides it is time to grow his hoard. But, where would a dragon find valuables in this region? The Tabaxi village seemed like the the best place, but he judged that any significant amount of wealth would be well defended. He wasn't ready for a war just now. In fact, he preferred the Tabaxi not know about as presence at all, at least for now.

The Yuan-Ti were similar, though with the reptilian humanoids dwelling in a cave even reaching them without alerting their guards would be more difficult.

Then again, who said the civilized races were the only ones with treasure? Lesser races (even lesser than the Tabaxi and Yuan-Ti, that is) like goblins could have already done the hard work of extracting the wealth from the various towns, he would just need to collect from them. Finding them, it seemed, would be the only issue.

With a grin, he took wing from his mountain lair. If there were such tribes in the region, he would find them. Even if he had to chart the whole island first.

You spend around a week surveying the island. While you get a good idea of the layout of the island, discovering several other Tabaxi cities, you do not locate any other civilizations on the island. Even the scattering of ruins you find overgrown by jungle appear to be built by Tabaxi.

The one thing you do notice though is the other inhabitants of the forests. While the usual assortment of animals both mundane and fantastical is present, more surprising is the amount of undead that seem to wander the forests, especially the eastern edge of the island, where you do not observe any cities. While some are mere zombies and skeletons, others appear far more deadly. You take some level of comfort in your ability to fly, not having to traverse the forests on foot.

[Eonn]

The undead peak Khrakoa's curiosity. While they were disgusting beings, they had to be coming from somewhere. Whether that place was a necromantic ritual site, blighted town, defiled graveyard, or cursed battleground, there was sure to be treasure left around. All Khrakoa has to do is figure out where the originating from. While keeping well out of reach, the little red dragon tries to find where the population is the most dense.

[Esprit15]

There are two locations that seemed particularly dense: A section of jungle to the south west of the central mountain range, where numerous skeletons, zombies, and similar undead wandered; and the largely uninhabited eastern end of the island, where more of the powerful undead seemed to make their homes.

[Eonn]

Deciding not to risk biting off more than he can chew, Khrakoa decides to investigate the section south west of the mountains.

[Esprit15]

Looking around and following some of the undead as they wander, you find a clearing in the jungle (though the trees seemed to be in the process of reclaiming the area). The ground is slightly elevated into a hill, the top of which appears to have some sort of building, low and box-like. Around the hill are numerous thin, grey stones stood upright - gravesites, your teaching tells you. Amidst these stones, zombies and skeletons wander. Some occasionally look up at you and reach outward, but you're far to high for them to ever hope to reach, even if they could climb the trees (which you had seen some do, so best be cautious).

[Eonn]

Khrakoa circles around the clearing, careful not to loose too much altitude. His focus is on the central building. If the roof is both clear of the undead and inaccessible to them, he will perch there to rest his wings. This might be exactly what he was looking for, but he wants to get a better idea of this building holds in store for him first. Peaking over the sides (when none of the undead are nearby, of course) he looks over what entrances lead into the structure. He also would like to take a peak inside, but would not give up his advantageous position to do so. Not yet, anyhow.

If one of the zombies is ably to threaten him, Khrakoa is quick to take off back into the air.

[Esprit15]

You are able to easily land on the flat top of the building. Some of the undead look in your direction and slowly begin to wander over, but you have a little bit of time to peer over the sides. There appears to be only one entrance, a hole in the stone. Inside you can spot a tall, stone door. Flanking the door on each side are life size statues of what are either angry Tabaxi or jaguars that sit atop sliver colored pedestals. In print that you can barely see, and are rather surprised is a form of Draconic, are runes that from here you can make out 'conjuration' and 'protection.' A better reading would require getting close, and would risk you being trapped by the undead.

[Eonn]

Khrakoa lets the roaming zeds congregate around the stone building. The tighter they are clustered, after all, the more he can light ablaze in a single breath. With uncharacteristic patience, the red dragon burns away all the undead who dare stray too close, hoping to at the very lest clear out enough that he will not have to worry about being cornered inside the structure.

[Esprit15]

It takes several minutes, and as they get closer, you notice that the zombies seem... tougher, than you would expect. Most go down in two breaths, but some hold strong and take a third. Still, your capacity to clear an area from a distance keeps you safe. As the zombies thin out and stop approaching, you hear a raspy voice from inside - it appears to speak the same language as the tabaxi. You then hear (and feel) a heavy door slam shut.

[Eonn]

With the majority of the zombies now charred husks, Khrakoa cautiously hops down from his perch. It seems that someone else is within the structure. The necromancer, maybe? A dangerous prospect for a small dragon. Before he goes into the stone building, however, he pokes around the desecrated burial ground for any thing that might hold value.

[Esprit15]

One of the graves immediately catches your eye - a distinctive twinkle of reflected light to suggest something precious shines from within the dirt plot. You quickly take wing to investigate. A mostly rotted limb sits in the grave, and on the second finger is a silver band with a blue gemstone in it.

As you look up from your find back toward the crypt, you see two humanoid figures approaching you, trying their best to keep behind some of the larger headstones. Unlike the zombies, their movements appear controlled and intentional. Though they still appeared to be some form of undead, they were no zombies.

Spoiler

Show

Map of the current situation. Combat hasn't started, but nobody is getting a surprise round if things do spark off.

[Eonn]

Khrakoa claims the ring for himself, keeping am eye on the lurking figures. He instinctively raises his wings, ready to take to the air if he's attacked.

[Esprit15]

The creatures run from cover toward you, but you take to the air.

[Eonn]

The red dragon turns about mid air, strafing the undead with his fiery breath as he passes overhead.

"Begone from my domain, disgusting creature!" He screeches from on high, circling as he ready himself for another run.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

(2d10)[8] Fire Damage, DC 13 Reflex for half. (1d4-1)[0] rounds until recharged.

(1d20+1)[18] Initiative, in case need it. I'm not sure if this is a going to be a real fight or not yet.

[Esprit15]

The undead pair dive from the flames, running back into the structure. You can see them peering out from the sides occasionally, but they seem unwilling to come out at this point.

[Eonn]

Khrakoa hisses. How dare they not simply stand still and die by his fire! Still, he cannot let them stop him from advancing. He stretches his wings as far as they go, going into a slow glide, then points his nose towards the entrance of the structure. If his plan works, he should be able to glide close to the door, unleash his fire, then make a sharp turn away before they knew what hit them. Unless the undead were already standing at the ready, it was unlikely they'd get more than a swat in at him.

[Esprit15]

One of the undead falls to the burst of flame, but the other stands strong, if only just. It looks at the situation, and flees further into the building.