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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dark Dragon" data-source="post: 3948157" data-attributes="member: 1115">The dices roll in favor of:...--------------------------The next day, a new plan has to be made since the troops in the citadel are now warned about  some high-level PCs and their allies wandering around...After some discussion during a Hero's Feast, the party decided (against Jasmina's, Estanala's and Arulantras' opinion) to switch the main target: instead of killing the shadow dragon (albeit in an open battle were the two dragons could make full use of their power) and thus avoid a possible return of the dragon to the Aspect of Tiamat, now the ruler of the citadel (the durthan Chaul) shall be battled first. Perhaps Jasmina's mother can be freed as well and gained as an ally. Also, the party thought that the Shadow Dragon is hindered in the dungeon as well. But they had to admit that the actual architecture of the dungeon is unknown...Fully prepared to meet the shadow dragon and a powerful spellcaster, the adventurers entered the fortress again. However, only a few trolls and orcs dared to fight the group. After the fight, the party moved on carefully. Arulantras showed them how a 'SWAT team' would handle the situation, and more or less, the PCs followed his example.When the group was about to enter a large room (large enough for three big dragons to fit in), Arulantras felt that the party is in danger (I rolled positive for his danger sense ability). He used his time hop ability and then reported that the shadow dragon is about to come. The party prepared immediately and spread out so that the shadow dragon could not attack the whole group with spells or his breath weapon.When Antaran Black Star arrived via his shadow walk ability in the hall, he was immediately greeted by Arulantras who declared Antaran as arrested, and the adventurers who attacked him with spells and weapons.Especially the warlock and the alienist proved to be effective because most of their abilities only require touch attacks. The ranger, the hathran's bodyguard, and the warmage were less lucky (AC 51 is not easy to overcome, even with preparation). The paladin was a third nasty foe, she fights with an intelligent +6 wounding keen acid bastard sword made of Baatorian greensteel. The sword was in possession of the cleric the group has slain the day before and will play a role later in the campaign. The paladin has cast Bless Weapon (naturally... <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" /> )...Antaran learned quickly that his breath weapon was useless (all party members were protected with Death Ward), in addition, Jasmina successfully cast a Dimensional Anchor on the dragon, so a teleport-out was impossible, too. So he had to waste time to activate his ability to control light and cast a quickened Silence to become virtually invisible. Then he cast a Heal (he was already at 90 hp from over 600 due to well placed crits (and Con damage) from the paladin, Arulantras and Estanala, and spell damage from the warlock and the alienist), afterwards he successfully dispelled the Dimensional Anchor. In the meantime, the party did its best to attack the dragon, but most attacks missed due to full concealment. Nevertheless, some strikes found their target. One of these was an attack of the hathran's bodyguard. He came up with a rolled 20. He confirmed it with a 20. And confirmed this one with a rolled 19 (hitting AC 53). He failed his first check due to concealment (50% chance), but as he has the Blind-Fight feat, he was allowed a second roll. He confirmed the crit, finally.  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" /> We have a house rule on critical hits. If one rolls a 20, he may confirm the threat (making it a crit). If he confirms again with a 20 and confirms this 20, too (again rolled against the foe's AC), the whole attack is treated as a coup-de-grace with all its consequences (i.e., a Fort save against 10 +critical damage dealt or immediate death). The bodyguard dealt 50 damage, he rolled quite low with his holy spiked chain +3. But the dragon would make his save only on a rolled 20...that didn't show up.  <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/nervous.png"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":heh:" title="Nervous Laugh    :heh:" data-shortname=":heh:" /> Antaran found his neck artery ripped open wide and quickly lost conciousness. Estanala chopped off the dragon's head with her sword. A part of her revenge was fullfilled.The party looted the equipment (all futuristic stuff), and then went on. They encountered four more wartrolls who had build a barricade. But it was only short fight..._______________________Hmm, I hoped that the fight would take longer and deplete more of the party's resources. But well, that happens.Anyway, Antaran won't be out of the game for long: He is bound to the contract he has made with Tiamat, even after death... He will return as a ghost dragon (see Monsters of Faerûn) soon. And he will be quite happy about his new power.  <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/devious.png"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":]" title="Devious    :]" data-shortname=":]" /> The only way for the party to get rid of Antaran is to find the contract and destroy it. The Aspect of Tiamat keeps it always with her...</blockquote>

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