Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Emperor Valerian" data-source="post: 1439493" data-attributes="member: 15043">The following rapidly became one of the most intense gaming sessions I’ve been in, and likely the most intense I’ve DMed.  I know some of the players were clearly affected by it (this is the session drag n fly lost sleep over), which I think shows the depth to which they have developed their characters.    Of course, considering what they just got done facing, the party had some down time to start off with (and if you haven't figured it out yet, when Siabrey, Tess, and Shaun aren't busy busting demon butt, they tend to goof off... ALOT <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> )  Without further ado, the session from March 5th.Dragons Abound, and the Party Takes a Short, Much Needed RestThe party spent most of that morning recounting their tales since they last saw their dragon friend;  Of how Siabrey found her father, of Elenya’s capture, of the raid into the Temple of Hextor and the happy outcome.  They also told him what they encountered posing as the wizard Alustair.  After some thought, Xanadu says he can only conclusively say that hte little girl was a spirit in the service of Graz’zt.Tess slipped away from the party, and began once again sorting through the items they had found in their travails.  Most she found her mundane or had easily recognizable traits;  one ring stood out to her, however.  She carefully placed it on her own finger and found it came off easily.  Interested, she spent the next few minutes recalling the ring’s tale, and discovered nothing less than it was a ring that protected one quite well against the elements (ring of elemental protection, major).As the day drug into midday, Siabrey, Tess, Shaun, and the others noticed a few things... the first of which was Xanadu spent much of his time close to a particular brassy eyed dwarf, smiling over her, helping her short stocking frame.  The second Siabrey noticed more than anyone else; About a half hour after she was healed, Lucius stole off after Xanadu and had been pestering him ever since.  Siabrey, the bluntest of the three, finally wandered up, her curiosity getting the best of her.“Xanny taught you any new spells?” Siabrey asked Luke, her face betraying a mischievious grin.  Lucius blushed, while Xanadu turned to her in a patrician manner.”Yes, I did, but these spells are meant for serious magical matters, not superfluous use,” he waved his hands about to emphasize the long word Siabrey didn’t understand.“Super...” her face betrayed confusion.“Wasteful,” Lucius said, reaching out with an arm and gently guiding her away as Xanadu began to lift a wooden beam with the dwarf he seemed in pursuit of.  “Here,” Lucius said quietly, “let me show you some of what I learned.”  He motioned for her to sit on a small rock nearby, while he dug around in a materials pouch by his waist.He’s so excited when he learns something new in his power, Siabrey mused as Lucius grunted in disgust before turning to another pouch, He’s like a little kid being taken into a bakery full of cakes and cookies...  “Hon, do you need any help?” she asked jokingly, seconds before he gave a tiny whoop of happiness.“No no no... I found it!” he grinned, holding up what looked to be the wing claw of a dragon.  “Several of the dragons shed their ‘baby claws’ while in captivity... Xanny collected their wing claws, as they are spell components,” he explained, holding up the deep black claw that was nearly eight inches long.“Hmmm?” Siabrey looked up at him and smirked, “So, mighty sorcerer, when are you going to show me this spell?”  Lucius took out his dagger and with some effort managed to shave off a thin part of the claw.    He placed the rest back in his pouch,  and then spat into the hand where the shaving rested.  As he said several incantations, a glow seemed to form over his back as the shaving burned.  A few seconds later, a set of dragon wings sprouted from his back, and he hovered in the air for perhaps ten seconds before falling the three feet or so to the ground, laughing.  Siabrey stared back at him, slightly in shock, before her eyes narrowed with a smile.“That was great, wasn’t it!  Hey,” he jabbed her shoulder playfully, “I can fly before you can!”“Hmmm,” she got up, and looked him in the eye.  I have an idea...  “How long does that spell normally last?  Long enough?” she crooned, running a finger down the side of his cheek.  That could be... fun... yeah...VERY fun...”I...I...” Lucius stammered, his face pleasantly going red again, “I.. c...can’t use if for that.  Sorry hon..  I only have five dragon claws, and to get new ones would require killing a dragon...” he sighed in disappointment.  She could tell he would have liked to try out her idea as well.“Oh well,” she sighed, pulling him close, “It just means you’ll owe me,” he gave him a brushing kiss on the lips and pulled him in for a hug.  I know what you were trying to do yesterday... I’m really lucky... even if you are a reckless boy.  Nonetheless... I do intend to collect on your debt... though I doubt you’ll have many qualms about paying it up... Tess noticed Lucius pulling Siabrey aside, and watched as the dragon wings came out and he floated in the air.  Having a good laugh at her reaction, she trampsed over to Xanadu, who by this point was helping the same dwarf do some shavings to smooth the lower parts of a large harness.“Hey Xanny,” she said with a smile, “who’s your friend?”  Probably his mate... a good person to know.  Xanadu looked up at her, gave a brief grin, before returning to his focus.“That is my mate,” he said briefly.  “Wait dear, let me get that secti...”“So I don’t have a name?” the dwarf stopped sanding and put her stubby hands on her squat hips.  “Or are your too focused to be properly courteous, Xan?”  The dwarf stared him down for a second before turning to Tess with a radiant smile.  “I am Alisandra, his mate before he found his unfortunate end as a cat.”“Tessoren Keldare, known as Tess,” the harpist bowed politely.  Alisandra laughed.  “See, not all your companions are cretins!  This one seems very nice!”  Alisandra had by this point set down her filing and sanding tools, and walked over and grabbed Tess.  “I apologize.  He’s in a grumpy mood... still upset over how he got caught...”“How long have you two been mates?” Tess asked.  It may be a silly question, but I’m very curious.  How long do dragon’s mate?“I’ve been his mate for the better part of 350 years... though for a couple hundred of those I hadn’t heard from him because he was stuck as a wee tiny kittycat,” she smiled.  “I would’ve given anything to see his proud form in that cute little package, and tease him just a little.”“Thats... quite a long time to be with a single person,” Tess said quietly in wonder as they approached where Shaun and Elenya were creating space for a campfire between the tower and the town..  Seems strange, considering I can’t find a tolerable male for one night...“Yes... quite.  We’ve had only two clutches of eggs... the results are all the adult silvers you saw last night... ten of them.  I raised some of them myself after he disappeared...” she sighed.  “I waited so long for him to come back... I knew he would,” her head lowered.  “I’m 470... to think I waited over half of my life for one person,” she said thoughtfully.“You Xanadu’s mate?  He must’ve been a helluva lay for you to wait that long,” Shaun quiped before Elenya slugged him playfully in the stomach.  “Ugh!  Hon... watch it... you might break your fiance doing that...”Tess looked on in horror, fully expecting the dragon to be offended.  Instead, her dwarven frame shook with laughter.“Well, I suppose he’s ‘adequate,’” she winked.  A distant growl came from where Xanadu was still sanding the harness bottom.”I heard that,” his gravelly voice rumbled.“So, Xanny, you need the Sune book?  I bet your out of practice!” Shaun snickered, ribbing the joke a little further.  Elenya fell over laughing, and Alisandra broke out into genuine laughter as well.  Tess started to join in until she saw Xanadu come stomping towards them.”Don’t push it, dirty one,” Xanadu growled again.“Dirty one?  Why do you call me that?  I bet after she gives you your ‘welcome dinner’ you’ll be the one needing to be called ‘dirty one!” Shaun guffawed.  Tess rolled her eyes at this quip, even as Alisandra and Elenya kept laughing.  Don’t push him too far, Shaun...With a growl, Xanadu snapped his fingers, and in a blink, Shaun’s clothes collapsed empty to the ground.  Hovering about four feet off the ground was a tiny figure... an alligator perhaps eight inches long.  Coming from its back were two sets of dragonfly wings, buzzing insistently.  Now it was Xanadu’s turn to chuckle.“Seems befitting,” he smiled, as the small creature flew straight towards him, tiny yips coming from its mouth.“Its so cuuuttteee,” Tess cooed, “I want one now!”  The creature continued to yip at Xanadu for a few more minutes before suddenly stopping, and changing direction.  It zipped down the hill towards a tussling Lucius and Siabrey, stopping just outside Siabrey’s ear.“Wha... get... get away!” she swatted, turning her attention from Luke for a second too long before he pinned her down.  The small creature yipped in laughter, as Alisandra pulled Xanadu close.“Xan... thats enough now.  Play nice,” she intoned quietly.  With a sigh at seeing his playtime end, the wizard moved his hands, and Shaun fell three feet to the ground, quite nude.  Elenya broke out laughing as she handed him his clothes... though she was the only one that laughed when he threatened to not put them back on.“Hmmm... perhaps Tess would prefer nude paladin?” Siabrey, coming up the hill shouted.  Its been a couple days... time to rib that joke again!  It always gets a response... three... two... one...”No!” Tess shouted, immediately annoyed.  Why can’t she just drop that!?  Me and Pellaron both have!  “Siabrey, is that your new focus?  Trying to play matchmaker?”“Aww,” Siabrey let go of Lucius’ arm and drew up close to her quarry, “Tess is upset!  She needs to relax!” she gently took Tess’ shoulder in her hand.  “I am so getting you a brothel boy in Irulas!”“Siabrey!” Tess jerked her shoulder away, “Please!  I don’t want to talk about it!  And no brothel men, or women for me!  I’m fine!” she crossed her arms in a huff.“Really, red eyes, you should be more focused at hand,” Xanadu added his own chiding, even as snickers went around among the others.“Oh Xanadu,” Siabrey turned to another quarry.  Shaun gets away with it... so should I.  “You should be lucky Alisandra stayed with you so long.  After all,” he cocked her head sideways, taking a look at his legs, “your thighs need work!”Shaun and Elenya fell over laughing, while it was clearly present that the dwarf called Alisandra was only barely holding in ribalding laughter. Tess’ eyes went wide, as Xanadu snapped his fingers again in a fury, and two cat ears rose above Siabrey’s head.Siabrey felt something growing up above, and reached up, feeling the tufts on her head, before laughing.  “Wow, thanks Xanadu!” she giggled, and the wizard’s annoyance grew now that his punishment was being regarded as a boon.  Laughter pealed from the ground, loud enough that even distant Pellaron and Aris were turning to look.“Fine!” Xanadu snarled, and another snap of his fingers revealed Siabrey to have two large rabbit ears on her head, as well as a single large demon’s horn.  “You think about mating so much, I gave you parts of two creatures you resemble in that aspect!”  He then crossed his arms, and gave a huff.  The party, especially Lucius, fell out from laughter.  Siabrey, however, did not find it a laughing matter.A demon’s horn?  What is Xanadu thinking?  Especially after we told him how demon’s affect Lucius!  Please... he’s got to get rid of it!”Xanny, I’m sorry!  I’m sorry!  Please... please get rid of hte demon horn!  I don’t know how Lucius will respond to it!  Please get rid of it!  I’ll apologize, I’ll fix you dinner!  Whatever!  Please?” she begged.“I see how Lucius is reacting now,” Xanadu nods towards the ground, where Luke is still laughing loudly.  Siabrey’s eyes start to tear up, and a swift elbow from a by-now-not-laughing Alisandra made Xanadu grunt.  “Fine.  I’ll shrink the horn down.  But you’ll wear the two for the next twenty minutes.  What?” he looked as Alisandra growled at him.  “I have to keep them in line some way!”Furious, Siabrey stomped off, even with her smaller horn.  Lucius looked back at hte rest of the party and apologized, before dashing off after her.“Hon!” she heard him call, though she didn’t turn around.  “Hon!  Slow down!”  I can’t believe Xanadu!  Knowing that Lucius reacts badly when he’s exposed to demons, and he gives me a DEMON HORN! her fury continued to burn bright as she finally stopped, far from the party and out of their view.  Panting, Lucius finally caught up to her.“Hon, Xan...”“I can’t believe he did that!  Especially knowing you and how your react around demons!” she spat, turning and checking his eyes automatically.  They were normal, saved filled with concern.“It didn’t bother me... I have the sword you all fought for,” Lucius said, putting an arm on her shoulder.  Siabrey relaxed, her twisted up worry for the last few weeks unravelling itself yet again.  Lucius saw the tiredness in her eyes, and he smiled, hoping to cheer her up.  “Now,” he whispered quietly,” with those ears,” he motioned to he already shrinking rabbit ears, “can you hear me whisper sweet nothings to you better?””Hmmm... no actually,” she smiled slightly.  “Though can yours hear me ask for a sparring match?”  Xanadu made me angry, and got my blood going... I need to release some of that energy.  I wonder how good Lucius has gotten?”Are you sure about that?” Luke asked, raising an eyebrow.  “After all, as you said, I’m a fast learner.”  He gave her a wink, and now her blood went even faster... a challenge had been presented, and she licked her lips.“Very sure... you may learn fast, but you’re still no more than a student in this area,” she grinned at him, drawing her own blade.  She knew the physics of the match, she also knew he was faster with his sword that would seem.  I have to be even quicker then... faster, strike with more strength.  He has adapted, so must I... she concentrated, as the two warily circled each other, her entirely focused, him with a half smirk on his face.He’s holding his blade where he can’t slash down and left... he can’t block there... she thought an instant before she struck towards exactly that place, only to be surprised to hear a clang as he spung his blade in his hands so it caught her sword and pulled it upwards.  It sailed through the air, landing in the sand nearby as Lucius let out a laugh.HE’S SPINNING HIS SWORD NOW?! The next two matches all went the same, as Lucius displayed how much he had indeed learned.  It was apparent he had copied some of Pellaron’s moves with his githanil blade, adding spinning moves to Siabrey’s rapid cuts and slashes.  His blade, despite being larger and heavier, danced too fast for her.  By the third time her sword flew, she realized she had been easily bested.  The toll from the exercise was apparent on him, as he clutched his knees and panted.  She still bested him in endurance, at least.“I win,” he rasped, smiling as he stood up finally.   “Fair and square, no distractions.  Impressive, huh?”The excitement had only made Siabrey’s energy levels rise even more, and she looked him over... sweaty, worn out, with a lopsided grin on his face.  He looks so... dashing?  Handsome?  lovely?  Yes... my own devoted defender...  so... wow...  She turned her head to the side, looking at him, as an idea slowly grew in her mind.  Yes... that would be very fun... very fun indeed....  She picked up her sword, sheathed it, and sashayed to where he stood.”Hon... there’s one thing you’ll never best me at,” she whispered seductively in his ear, before letting out a giggle and grabbing his hand.  With a lurch, she pulled him towards a secluded rock, hidden from the party’s view yet within earshot.  This’ll only take an hour or two... an hour or two I’m SURE you would love to devote...“Hey!” Luke laughed as she pulled him over and pushed his back to the ground, “No fair!  You already wore me out!  That’s cheat...”Her lips silenced his complaints.</blockquote>

Verification