Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Lazybones's Keep on the Shadowfell/Thunderspire Labyrinth
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 4458891" data-attributes="member: 143"><p>Thanks, jonny! I have had almost no time to write lately, and I'm running out of banked posts. Hopefully I will get a chance to get back to the story before too long. </p><p></p><p>* * * * * </p><p></p><p>Chapter 28</p><p></p><p></p><p>The kobolds rushed to the attack, but the adventurers were ready, and even as Irontooth issued his command, they unleashed their own assault. </p><p></p><p>Jaron’s first shot took one of the kobold minions in the chest, knocking it over onto its back. His second shot followed just a few heartbeats later, but its companion ducked, and the shot went wide. </p><p></p><p>Even as the first combatant died, the kobold priest lifted its bony hands and invoked a dread power. The magic it summoned was not an attack, but rather was directed at its allies, <em>inciting faith</em> that they would gain victory in the battle. But the benefit it had gained was all but lost a moment later as Mara’s javelin caught it in the shoulder, jabbing painfully through the layered hides it wore. </p><p></p><p>The dragonshields converged on the group from two sides, one coming straight across the stream while the other made its way forward through the trees to the left. Elevaren attempted to hit the one coming across the stream with an <em>eldritch blast</em>, but missed. After a quick, meaningful shared glance with Devrem, Mara shifted to confront the one coming through the trees, while the cleric stood ready to face the one coming across the stream. The priest invoked the power of his patron, striking the charging kobold with the silvered flare of the Raven’ Queen’s <em>sacred flame</em>. The kobold, however, its faith bolstered by the magic of its own priest, shrugged off the attack and surged forward out of the water, diving forward to stab at the cleric. The kobold warrior’s thrust was accurate, but the cleric wore chain armor under his dark robes, and the stroke was turned by that protection. </p><p></p><p>Thus far, Irontooth had seemed content to let his allies engage first, but now the goblin came forward, lifting his huge axe in both hands. He grinned as his gaze drifted over each of the defenders, before settling on Devrem. “You shall be the first, cleric,” he growled.</p><p></p><p>The battle devolved into a confused and violent fray. A javelin narrowly missed Jaron, who had good cover from the surrounding tree trunks. His return shot did not miss, and the kobold minion fell, blood welling from around the arrow jutting from its lung. The halfling ranger shifted position, looking for a decent shot at the kobold priest. The creature hurled an orb of acid at Elevaren, but the warlock was also standing behind a tree, and the deadly missile exploded against the rough bark. </p><p></p><p>Mara met the dragonshield coming from the left, taking a glancing hit that drew a fresh gash across her right forearm. But in turn her blades danced a storm around it, her smaller sword drawing down its shield enough for her long blade to come in and clang hard across its armored brow. The kobold staggered back, but only for a moment, and when it came forward its fury seemed greater than before. It never even saw Beetle come up behind it, and bury his dagger into the small of its back. The kobold screamed, then, and spun on the rogue, slashing him across his bicep. It didn’t get a chance to do more, as Mara drove both of her blades into its back, and it crumpled.</p><p></p><p>Devrem found himself hard pressed, facing both a dragonshield and Irontooth. The kobold cut him in the leg, but it was the goblin’s axe that was the true threat, knocking him back with a blow that would have opened his guts had he not been armored. The cleric fell back against the trunk of a nearby tree, summoning from the reserves of his strength, focusing on defending himself. </p><p></p><p>Elevaren blasted the dragonshield with an <em>eldritch blast</em>, drawing its attention. “Go ahead,” Irontooth said. “I will deal with this ‘holy man’.”</p><p></p><p>Jaron shifted his fire to the dragonshield, but his arrow bounced off its shield and flew harmlessly aside. It came forward toward Elevaren, who had nowhere left to hide. Against the heavily armored kobold warrior, the eladrin seemed utterly outmatched. But as the dragonshield lunged forward, Elevaren’s body dissolved into a swirling storm of flickering fey-lights. As the kobold watched in amazement, that glowing display shot straight upward, materializing again into the warlock, now astride a thick branch of the tree, twenty feet off the ground. </p><p></p><p>The kobold couldn’t reach him, but the reverse was not true, as Elevaren hit the kobold in the face with another <em>eldritch blast</em>. </p><p></p><p>Devrem ducked just barely in time. The goblin’s axe bit deeply into the old bark of the tree, tearing a deep gouge in the wood. A less powerful adversary might have had to struggle to pull his weapon free, but Irontooth merely yanked hard, and drew back the axe for another strike. </p><p></p><p>“You only delay the inevitable, cowardly human,” the goblin growled. Thus far, Devrem’s focus on defense had paid off, and he’d avoided two attacks that would have been devastating, had they connected. But while protecting himself, he hadn’t done anything to hurt the goblin, either, who was getting more infuriated with every passing moment. </p><p></p><p>But then Mara and Beetle rushed to his aid. They moved to flank the big goblin, while Devrem shifted back to the attack, hitting Irontooth with a <em>lance of faith</em>. But the stream of radiant energy seemed pathetic indeed as it flashed silver around the goblin’s face, having no apparent effect upon him. He sidestepped Mara’s initial lunge with surprising agility, and then met Beetle’s sneak attack with a kick that sent the halfling rolling back, blood spurting from his mouth. Pivoting easily, he spun into Mara’s follow up, catching her solidly across the body with his axe. The fighter’s momentum was instantly reversed, and she staggered back, stunned by the intensity of the blow. </p><p></p><p>“Bring on your best, it won’t be good enough!” Irontooth laughed, and as his foes drew back from the fury of his attacks, it looked as though he might be right.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lazybones, post: 4458891, member: 143"] Thanks, jonny! I have had almost no time to write lately, and I'm running out of banked posts. Hopefully I will get a chance to get back to the story before too long. * * * * * Chapter 28 The kobolds rushed to the attack, but the adventurers were ready, and even as Irontooth issued his command, they unleashed their own assault. Jaron’s first shot took one of the kobold minions in the chest, knocking it over onto its back. His second shot followed just a few heartbeats later, but its companion ducked, and the shot went wide. Even as the first combatant died, the kobold priest lifted its bony hands and invoked a dread power. The magic it summoned was not an attack, but rather was directed at its allies, [i]inciting faith[/i] that they would gain victory in the battle. But the benefit it had gained was all but lost a moment later as Mara’s javelin caught it in the shoulder, jabbing painfully through the layered hides it wore. The dragonshields converged on the group from two sides, one coming straight across the stream while the other made its way forward through the trees to the left. Elevaren attempted to hit the one coming across the stream with an [i]eldritch blast[/i], but missed. After a quick, meaningful shared glance with Devrem, Mara shifted to confront the one coming through the trees, while the cleric stood ready to face the one coming across the stream. The priest invoked the power of his patron, striking the charging kobold with the silvered flare of the Raven’ Queen’s [i]sacred flame[/i]. The kobold, however, its faith bolstered by the magic of its own priest, shrugged off the attack and surged forward out of the water, diving forward to stab at the cleric. The kobold warrior’s thrust was accurate, but the cleric wore chain armor under his dark robes, and the stroke was turned by that protection. Thus far, Irontooth had seemed content to let his allies engage first, but now the goblin came forward, lifting his huge axe in both hands. He grinned as his gaze drifted over each of the defenders, before settling on Devrem. “You shall be the first, cleric,” he growled. The battle devolved into a confused and violent fray. A javelin narrowly missed Jaron, who had good cover from the surrounding tree trunks. His return shot did not miss, and the kobold minion fell, blood welling from around the arrow jutting from its lung. The halfling ranger shifted position, looking for a decent shot at the kobold priest. The creature hurled an orb of acid at Elevaren, but the warlock was also standing behind a tree, and the deadly missile exploded against the rough bark. Mara met the dragonshield coming from the left, taking a glancing hit that drew a fresh gash across her right forearm. But in turn her blades danced a storm around it, her smaller sword drawing down its shield enough for her long blade to come in and clang hard across its armored brow. The kobold staggered back, but only for a moment, and when it came forward its fury seemed greater than before. It never even saw Beetle come up behind it, and bury his dagger into the small of its back. The kobold screamed, then, and spun on the rogue, slashing him across his bicep. It didn’t get a chance to do more, as Mara drove both of her blades into its back, and it crumpled. Devrem found himself hard pressed, facing both a dragonshield and Irontooth. The kobold cut him in the leg, but it was the goblin’s axe that was the true threat, knocking him back with a blow that would have opened his guts had he not been armored. The cleric fell back against the trunk of a nearby tree, summoning from the reserves of his strength, focusing on defending himself. Elevaren blasted the dragonshield with an [i]eldritch blast[/i], drawing its attention. “Go ahead,” Irontooth said. “I will deal with this ‘holy man’.” Jaron shifted his fire to the dragonshield, but his arrow bounced off its shield and flew harmlessly aside. It came forward toward Elevaren, who had nowhere left to hide. Against the heavily armored kobold warrior, the eladrin seemed utterly outmatched. But as the dragonshield lunged forward, Elevaren’s body dissolved into a swirling storm of flickering fey-lights. As the kobold watched in amazement, that glowing display shot straight upward, materializing again into the warlock, now astride a thick branch of the tree, twenty feet off the ground. The kobold couldn’t reach him, but the reverse was not true, as Elevaren hit the kobold in the face with another [i]eldritch blast[/i]. Devrem ducked just barely in time. The goblin’s axe bit deeply into the old bark of the tree, tearing a deep gouge in the wood. A less powerful adversary might have had to struggle to pull his weapon free, but Irontooth merely yanked hard, and drew back the axe for another strike. “You only delay the inevitable, cowardly human,” the goblin growled. Thus far, Devrem’s focus on defense had paid off, and he’d avoided two attacks that would have been devastating, had they connected. But while protecting himself, he hadn’t done anything to hurt the goblin, either, who was getting more infuriated with every passing moment. But then Mara and Beetle rushed to his aid. They moved to flank the big goblin, while Devrem shifted back to the attack, hitting Irontooth with a [i]lance of faith[/i]. But the stream of radiant energy seemed pathetic indeed as it flashed silver around the goblin’s face, having no apparent effect upon him. He sidestepped Mara’s initial lunge with surprising agility, and then met Beetle’s sneak attack with a kick that sent the halfling rolling back, blood spurting from his mouth. Pivoting easily, he spun into Mara’s follow up, catching her solidly across the body with his axe. The fighter’s momentum was instantly reversed, and she staggered back, stunned by the intensity of the blow. “Bring on your best, it won’t be good enough!” Irontooth laughed, and as his foes drew back from the fury of his attacks, it looked as though he might be right. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Lazybones's Keep on the Shadowfell/Thunderspire Labyrinth
Top