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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Marquis de Sade" data-source="post: 3245333" data-attributes="member: 25787">Skull Gorge BridgeThe heroes are doing recon over the bridge. They all agree that an all out attack is useless against the heavy guard duty. They see the Dragon, the Hellhounds, the encampment, and they notice movement and reflections from the towers. Snipers!The PCs pull back to ride to the Forest Giant effigy. Milton Gerosh decided to return to Drellins Ferry and aid the evacuation rather than taking part in trying to take out the bridge. Being only 1st level this was probably a smart move. However, instead the Drow Rogue Vrinn joins the group.So now we have:Geth Helder, Human Swashbuckler/Fighter/Dervish, 3/2/1Anor, Elven Ranger, 6thEluard, Aasimar Cleric/Church Inquisitor, 5th/1stArranos, Air Genasi Ranger, 5thVrinn, Drow Rogue, 1stSession playing time: 6 hours, 17:00-23:00Players: 4Player Characters: 5As they rode into the ruined steading of Warklegnaw, Anor held out the giant's belongings that they recovered from Vraath keep. "We are here as friends to see to it that you recover this item to you and your kin." said Anor in common. This turned old Warklegnaw immediately into "friendly". With Aid Another the others supported Eluard as he tried to win the giant to join their cause. A DC 25 Diplomacy turned Warklegnaw into Helpful. After having dinner together the giant walked north to persuade his kin to join against the goblinoids. Important allies indeed.The friends now returned back to Skull Gorge Bridge to try and destroy it. My players studied the map intensily and discussed a long time before they set their plan to work. Geth Helder receiveed Major Resistance to boost his saves +4. Also he receiveed Resist Energy Acid which gave him Damage Reduction 10 against acid damage. They knew beforehand that Green Dragons have acid as breath weapon as they have fought one in "The Vault of Larin Karr". Eluard activated his Griffon Ring giving him Fly for 90 rounds, and also swallowed a potion of Invisibility. The plan was that Geth would distract the Dragon and lure him towards the forest line while Eluard flies in under the bridge to try and use 2 x Stoneshape to take it out.Geth Helder, Anor, Vrinn, and Arranos were positioned along the tree-line, firing arrows towards the first Hellhound. They took it out already in the surprise round. Vrinn stepped out of cover momentarily shouting profanities towards the dragon "I hear your mother wasnt more than a dirty Wyvern!" he shouted in common. Furious, Ozyrrandion took off immediately wanting to burn Drow flesh. The other Hellhound now ran full speed to join the cause. As did the Goblinoids in the encampment after having readied their gear.The Dragon moved much faster than the heroes thought he could. As he approached they could only manage a few hits with low damage. Enraged the Dragon engulfed Anor with acid. The slender Elf took full damage. The friends kept firing with ranged weapons but nothing seemed to stop the Dragon as he charged down on Anor and hit him with full force in melee. Anor went down to 9 hitpoints only. The other friends kept firing at the Dragon with ranged weapons, but they knew that Anor's fate was probably sealed by now. Unfortunatly they were correct in their assessment. The Dragon hit Anor again, leaving him at -4 hps. At the same time the other Hellhound came running closer and closer at full speed....The heroes were now shooting and retreating, leaving Anor to his hopeless situation. They still hoped for Eluard to take out the bridge with his 2 x Stoneshape spells. Perhaps then would Anor's sacrifice be worth it all. The Dragon now turned to attack Geth Helder with it's breath-weapon. Geth's high saves and his Resistance to acid gave him only 7 damage, but he also knew that the Dragon would crash onto him as with Anor just before. He tried to retreat further but the Dragon charged him from the air and landed next to him. At the same time the other Hellhound attacked him. He started his Dervish Dance which gives him the possibility to move and attack, using tumble to avoid AoO. But the Dragon hit him again putting him in low hps. Vrinn and Arranos moved back and diagonally towards the deep forest and closer to Geth Helder to try and help him out. All the time firing covering fire with their bows. But too late. The Dragon used his full attack killling Geth Helder outright with -13 hps. Anor and Geth Helder were now both down. The situation was out of control and the party faced a TPK.   <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/devious.png"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":]" title="Devious    :]" data-shortname=":]" /> Back at the bridge Eluard used Stoneshape to try and take out the bridge. He attacked it at the middle from inunder. He damaged it, but it still held. The players were totally depressed. This was their last chance to take it out.   <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f641.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":(" title="Frown    :("  data-smilie="3"data-shortname=":(" /> Vrinn now tried to run to the horses to flee the battlefield altogether. The Dragon followed him as he saw fast movement in the woods. After killing one horse it went after Vrinn. Vrinn managed to jump up on a horse but was sprayed with acid and died immediately at -18 hps.  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f641.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":(" title="Frown    :("  data-smilie="3"data-shortname=":(" /> In the meantime, Arranos had ran all the way to Anor and poured a potion of Cure Moderate Wounds into him. Anor returned back at 3 hps! He immediately started firing 3 arrows per round to try and wear down Ozyrrandion. But the other Hellhound arrived and attacked him and Arranos . The friends took it out immediately however. The Hobgoblins refrained from entering this combat, knowing they cant leave the bridge unguarded. They trusted Ozyrrandion to kill these infidels.   <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/devious.png"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":]" title="Devious    :]" data-shortname=":]" /> Ozyrrandion now attacked the remaining 2 heroes. But Eluard had flown back in from behind invisible, and used his power to heal Anor almost 100%. Anor and Arranos were now pounding the Dragon with arrows. Anor with 3 arrows per round, Arranos with 2. And now they were starting to roll better dice and to hit him good! Eluard activated his powerful Smite Evil spell which makes 5d8 damage! The Dragon failed its save and was now starting to feel hurt. However, he attacked Arranos with his breath weapon and then landed for melee combat. He killed Arranos who went to -13 hps, but Eluard immediately activated his Close Wounds spell, which revived Arranos instantaneously. Arranos then took a Total Defense action to try and survive. But he didnt. Next round the Dragon finally killed him outright at -18 hps.  Eluard activated Blessed Aim, giving Anor +2 on all ranged attacks. Anor now succeeded with an extraordinary feat! He hits all 3 attacks, 1 being a critical!   <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f60e.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":cool:" title="Cool    :cool:"  data-smilie="6"data-shortname=":cool:" />  The Dragon bled from all-over and took off badly hurt. The players were screaming and crying of joy. As the Dragon flew away in the distance, Anor activated his spell Guided Shot. This cancels all negative attack effects such as range. From 600 ft Anor again hit the Dragon 3 times. The last shot hit the Dragon straight in the back of his head. He fell down dead.   <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=":)" /> Ozyrrandion had been defeated by the mighty Elven Ranger Anor.  6 shots in a row hit, one being critical.But the bridge was still standing, however badly damaged. Geth Helder, Arranos, and Vrinn were dead. But Anor and Eluard were still alive and they had shown the Red Hand of Doom that even their most strategic points are vulnerable. Having killed Ozyrrandion and the 2 Hellhounds it was a major blow to the guards at the bridge. Perhaps this weakness would prove fatal?The heroes have the Staff of Life to bring back one of their friends from the dead. Who it will be from the 3 fallen comrades is yet to be learned. A difficult matter to resolve fairly.This session was the closest a TPK this far. But they hold their ground and killed a powerful enemy. Will they now be able to also destroy the bridge?We will know come next Tuesday.  <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=":)" /> To be continued....</blockquote>

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