The Troupe make it to Nashkel only to find there is no dragon attacl. Knowing the town is safe for the time being, Aegon and the Troupe launch an expedition to hunt the dragon terrorising the area. They are joined by Conchobhair, an experienced dragon slayer.
16 Eleint 1368
We can already hear fighting in the distance as we approach the lair of the beast. We are not the first attempt to raid the dragon’s den.
We follow the sound of swords clashing and meet a group of halflings fleeing away from the canyon.
Gandolar Luckyfoot: Your aren’t going in there are ye? We are going back to Gullykin for more help! That beast is far more a terror than we can handle alone.
Aegon: Actually, yes we are. We are going to put an end to this creatures rampage.
Gandolar Luckyfoot: Then the best of luck to ye. You’re going to need it!
They flee back to their home as we continue past rocks caked in blood and viscera. They make me uneasy, but I am not having any visions of my death just yet. Perhaps we will prevail against this beast.
One of the halflings remains here, left behind by the rest of his band. On seeing us he makes his approach.
Bardo Furfoot: Would ye be needin’ the services of a good bow in your ranks? My name is Bardo Furfoot and I am more than willing to get at that dragon. Only, not alone…and since my friends have run off I have no one to help me.
Aegon: We can always use a good archer…well met friend and welcome.
Bardo Furfoot: That’s great…I can’t wait to get at that dragon’s treasure…er..I mean that dragon.
Bardo is ready and willing to face the dragon with us.
He tells us that he is a sharpshooter, good with small bows that halflings are wont to use.
He wears some leather armour, has a short bow and short sword, and carries a Potion of Master Thievery. He shows us some arrows that have been specially enchanted to slay a dragon.
Since we have better equipment in our Bag of Holding, we give Bardo an enchanted short sword and short bow. We also upgrade his protection to the Woodland Armour once worn by Malenious Strider.
At this point Aura decides she is getting cold feet and says she will return to the Friendly Arm Inn. She bids us farewell, but tells us to come find her if we survive our fight with the dragon.
We continue without her and are met by one of the dragon’s minions. The doglike gnoll snarls and drools as it spits words at us.
Gnoll Chieftan: Grrrrrr… you make a better meal for fire-belcher than puny halflings!
Conchobhair charges the gnoll and, though impaled by its halberd, rips the creature in half with his Dragonslayer. He now finds himself surrounded by gibberlings, more of the dragon’s minions.
We carefully cut down the gibberlings with arrow and blade. Conchobhair proves himself to be dangerous with his blade, but I notice he focuses very little on his defense. We win the battle, but at the cost of several cuts and bruises to our cavalier.
I step up to heal Conchobhair before we continue in to the dragon’s lair.
As I do this I see out the corner of my eye that someone is taking notice of me.
Shar-Teel looks at me, and her hand comes to rest on her sword hilt involuntarily. I’m not sure if it means anything. Maybe I’m reading too much into her gestures.
Further up the valley we find a cave, the grass outside soaked with the blood of the halflings that didn’t survive. More of the dragons minions wait for us here, and we ready ourselves for the fight.
Knowing that Conchobhair is unlikely to defend himself, I ask the Weave to put the gibberlings to Sleep. Every single one of them falls into their final slumber and we slaughter them like the animals they are.
Among the halfings possessions we find Potions of Regeneration and Speed. They also have a Scroll of Protection From Acid, something which could help us in the fight against the dragon.
We turn to face the cave. The entrance is large enough for a small dragon. I take one step toward it, and I start having visions again…
Inside the cave is a forest dragon, a creature I never thought I would see, let alone fight. Its green scales glisten like metal, and they look just as tough to pierce through. Black talons extend from its legs and the edges of its huge wings. We’ve slain wyverns in the past, but this creature is larger and more menacing than anything I have ever seen.
Its head turns to us and it stares us down with its blood-red eyes. We hesitate, and it flaps its wings creating a gust of air that sends us flying toward the cave walls. Jet’Laya is killed on impact. I stumble to my feet as I watch Conchobhair charge with his Dragonslayer ready. The dragon opens its jaw and a stream of acid covers the cave. Conchobhair is unaffected thanks to his divine protections, but the rest of us aren’t so lucky. I watch the others die as flesh melts from our bones. I begin to suffocate and the cave fades away as I breathe my last.
As the vision fades I realise we need to be more prepared. We take potions and scrolls from our pack to see what we can make use of. We ask our gods and the Weave to protect us as much as they can. But it always ends the same. Conchobhair may be immune to the dragon’s breath, but its claws are fast and deadly. We use him as a distraction, but I still watch him die in multiple visions. When the dragon turns on us we have no defense against the poisonous gases that fill the cave.
It is one vision too many. I have felt my death countless times, and seen the others lose their lives in a vain fight against the beast. No matter our preparations, we cannot win. The halflings were right to flee back to their home.
I am standing outside the cave once more. I touch my face to make sure the flesh remains intact. I tell the others we need to return to Nashkel to prepare properly for this fight. Conchobhair and Bardo protest, but the others are aware of my visions. They know I am right. I promise Conchobhair and Bardo that we will not leave Nashkel until we have tried to slay the dragon again, and they agree to follow me back to Nashkel.
17 Eleint 1368
We arrive at the Nashkel Carnival in the dead of night.
Thankfully, most of the merchants are up late selling their wares. We visit Aerie’s tent first to see if she has anything that could help us fight the dragon.
Aerie: Oh, Aegon! It… i-it does my heart good to see you and your friends well. You need something?
Aegon: Show us what you have.
Aerie: Of course!
Searching through her wares, we find an interesting magical item that could help. It is an Ioun Stone. These stones float above the bearer’s head, so long as they don’t wear any hats or helmets, and grant abilities to those who possess them. This one is Pearly White, and gives someone the strengths and weaknesses of a troll. Its regenerative abilities could prove useful in any fight, not just against a dragon. We trade some gems in exchange for the stone.
We shop around at the fair looking for anything else we might need. We find a potion merchant that allows us to stock up on Potions of Extra Healing. Even with regeneration, potions will still heal us at a faster rate.
We also buy a potion that can deflect some of the dragon’s attacks. It’s not much, but it may shift the advantage in our favour during the fight.
And to help against the dragon’s magic we purchase a Potion of Magic Shielding.
We have found all we can at this market and we are tired, so we retreat to Nashkel to rest. We take a look in the shop before we retire, but find nothing of use there. As we settle down for the night, I suggest that I could do with a massage. Shar-Teel approaches me.
She grips my shoulders and twists them, till my muscles are strained near to breaking.
Shar- Teel: What? It was you who were asking for a back massage, you, lout.
I think she was trying to be nice, she’s just bad at it. Either that or she’s purposefully trying to punish me for something.
Before I rest I pull out my spellbook and study it carefully. I offer prayers to the Protector that he bless the challenge to come. I need to be sure I am prepared for tomorrow. For tomorrow we don’t just fight a dragon. We slay one.
