The Harbinger of Ferocity

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

I suppose I will abstain for now then given that it may or not matter at all, @Hekazu.

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

Fair to assume then we should just roll for Stealth as it is, @Hekazu? Just in that off event we gain advantage or disadvantage, or are outright spotted?

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

I did find myself slightly confused by it, but we did move quite quickly which was more what threw me off. Either way, no significant issue. That said, I understood it all the same, @Hekazu. Speaking of, are there any checks we need make or are those all up to @Gordian Nought and @Norschtalen? Is it assumed we can move quietly and covertly using their knowledge?

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

Descending into the bowels of the keep as a collective horde, the group maneuvered as best they could in following of the dwarf while he and the man they had seen before, the one at the port who helped in repair of the door, discussed plainly a number of topics. The minds of many were scattered, far and wide, but the hunter was not about to turn down another's aid, not at an hour like this. He was not fond of the dwarf, or this mage sort, but just as they viewed another able body the means to an end, so did he with them in turn. In fact, there was no reason not to do so as he followed along as the rear guard, shifting his shoulders to the side now and then to slip past in following. There was reason he always concerned himself with the company of common folk, a number actually, but perhaps all they had done this night would help ease those tensions... but Brannor was not about to humor himself with that notion.

The mustiness of the air and its underlying damp tones drew his attention some, as it became evident they were coming closer to water. Old, stagnant water at that, something it would regularly be wise to avoid, but the dwarf elaborated on this further, seeming to confirm what it was he believed by observation; the tunnel was some sort of draw into the fortress. Lit now only by smoldering torches and echoing with the faint trickle and drop of water, it did make a subtle approach. Subtle enough to hide swordsmen in its shadows, of whom spoke a language the outlander hadn't heard before.

Whatever it was, it was unpleasant to listen to and only raised his hackles more, other than their approach from hiding. From far back as he was, this was not so much an issue, especially not in these close quarters, but it was not a welcome surprise all the same.

"The lad's tellin' ya how ta get back in. The door at the end of the tunnel 'ad it's lock busted so all it does is deter assault. We 'ave a few men set up there as well, but ye should hurry."

Escobert motioned toward the door from which an underlying foul scent crept through into the tunnel. In tale the journey had a swathe of rats and a broken gate, but apparently those had been remedied, perhaps by Mr. Lake and the company they had at the moment, of who seemed to be sizing up the entourage. Brannor returned the gesture some, but only enough to not elicit any further suspicion on both their halves, drawing his hood more over his face to conceal the dim glow of his amber eyes.

"We will be as swift as we can whilst being subtle." The man responded, looking over his company from the furthest point back in the precession.

This was to be no easy task, not for any of them, but the elder with his silent winged fowl was their best chance. That and the priestess, who knew the grounds they were to approach intimately. Orchid, Parum, and himself? That was more difficult to contend with in concept, outsiders as they were even on this long night. The mage would need hold his own, at least best he could, but the man seemed reasonable enough that he was not about to charge blindly into battle and begin casting spells with wild abandon; he called himself an enchanter, so some level of guile and subtlety was involved, much more than that of an evoker's.

Magic was a complicated thing, to which the huntsman was pleased to know his was internalized... second nature.

@Hekazu@Ryonara@Lucius Cypher@Gordian Nought@Norschtalen

DnD 5e - Beginner's Game

While I cannot award added honors for the pun @JBRam2002, I am still pleased that we all seem to have reached a general consensus that the group somewhat knows one another and has an enemy they dislike enough to work against.

DnD 5e - Beginner's Game

I have to admit, this turned more in my favor than I imagined with motivations, which I will explain here in a moment with added detail. The gist of what it is I have seen however, would be more than enough incentive and I think I have a few creative suggestions to build off what we already know so that we can bind them together a bit and make the entire process a bit streamlined.

Content

1) You defeated a dangerous enemy, though they are still out there somewhere, gathering strength or forces. They hate or fear you now, at least to some degree, or at least you've got their attention. Who or what was it?
The House of the Fiend is the easiest adversary for all of us to face in plot alone. Every member has some reason to dislike them in concept from what I understand. I suppose the best way to add incentive to this without spoiling what I am suggesting is that fiends, actual ones, are immortal by themselves. Can you imagine what prices and lengths a warlock would go to ensure immortality... but only at the cost of their soul? There's ample room for not only misunderstanding, but legitimate evil to fight in the long run beyond a starting "contest of houses".

2) During this event, you destroyed something important, or valuable to us. What was it?
A portal to the Feywild, while it works in part, works better as a Gate between planes in general. Given we are imaging fighting those of the fiendish house, this makes more sense. The implications also are higher stakes. The portal was destroyed, but it also severed and damaged others such as that of the Feywild and its general location - somewhere that was previously well hidden in the wilderness. Lorenthar would have dual motives just to be present, in to defeat a common enemy, and to prevent a repeat of such an instance that caused harm to his faction's ideals.

3) You paid a high cost for this victory. What was it?
See part 2). Everyone lost something.

4) You found signs that this incident was just the start of something bigger. What were the signs?
Not only would these warlocks be reasonably quite upset we severed their connection, they are now desperate. When you make an agreement with an unfathomably evil entity of tremendous power and you failed to carry out your end of the bargain - perhaps summoning them to the Material Plane or starting down that path - you tend to become a bit more... concerned. After all, death not only means you failed, but now you end up in one of the Hells for eternity, rather than living forever.

5) All things considered, you impressed a powerful entity or organization, and they now fund your endeavors. Who was it?
There is a certain deity with an grim affinity who is not, to put it kindly, fond of anyone attempting to cheat death. Oh, she's also not particularly pleased with the fact that these individuals would also raise the dead into the unliving to enslave them or use them as potential other vessels for the unholy aspects. I think it was something along the lines of... the "Raven Queen", was it now?

6) Why do you all trust each other? Was there ever any mistrust between members? Why do you remain together?
The sort of trust where you can remain assured everyone involved has an interest. The stakes are too high - people binding evil spirits to themselves from the various levels of the evil planes to live forever and dominate the others with this power - not to. One of those scenarios wherein the group can expect every other member to act a certain way. You have nobility who are in this not only for the power to be gained, but the prestige of "fighting the good fight" and making an opposing house into a common enemy, to a woman who has devoted her life to a deity that hates cheats, and then of course an Ally of Nature who has no option but to destroy an enemy that wants to corrupt and pervert all life.

15) Why do you care about the team? Do you even know all of their names?
"We coexist at an unusual point in this time, wherein none of our associations alone can defeat this new enemy; to care nothing about a means to cripple and tear apart their hopes with assurance is to accept death, or worse. Failure means something to all of us. As strange as they might be individually, collectively the purpose is defined, just as the world intended. As for their names... a number of them use terms I find myself unfamiliar with or the meaning of. I have to wonder if they have multiple names."

DnD 5e - Beginner's Game

There is no such thing as a infant dragon, just a smaller dragon with the usual power to summon larger ones. On another note, I can only hope our first adventure is not a plunge into the deep.end for once.

Cara's Originally Titled OoC Hangout Thread ♥ (Still)

This is to be expected @Carantathraiel, yet at least you are in it at last. In time for spring no less that has begun officially today here in the desert with the first flowers I have seen blooming.

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

“I must fetch my staff. Won’t be long. Take the bird with you, lad.”

In stride as he was, the large man did not pause as he heard from behind him the flutter of ebon wings and soon the gentle resting of clawed feet perched upon his shoulder. Quietly, guided by its master, did the raven position itself as they together went up the steps, accompanied by the woman.

Repeating her name to him did the man nod visibly in reply, saying nothing more. It was not that he paid her little mind, but that his thoughts were elsewhere. Governor Nighthill's presence was always an omen that worse was to come still, but by divine favor, through no apparent fault of his own. It was bad enough the town had no defense to speak of, but what could a man of the wilderness expect? These were civil, tamed people. They needed to be taught resolve and ferocity again, to rediscover it.

Coming to idle atop the overlook, avian watcher accompanying him, Brannor listened intently as the official spoke, tracing his movements with a careful, watchful stare. Not that he distrusted the governor, at this point it was without doubt his motives were to protect his people and his town, but he trusted nothing of this battle for Greenest. Approaching the edge of the tower confirmed this more as the huntsman noted the quarry that was spoken of; some man of purple.

At this stage of the conflict and its escalation from but kobolds and their cohorts to an actual dragon, it was almost assured they had no credible means to kill the invaders' apparent leader. As despicable a fact that was, the man accepted this within his heart... but all the same did his great arms fold across the breast of his armor and his face scowl, mind attempting to forever etch the enemy into memory.

But above all else what changed their situation the most was that the temple, one the young woman Kyra belonged to, was lost. Brannor, as the cool, static charged air ran against the whiskers of his face, did turn to listen to the man more carefully now.

They might not have been able to stage an assault on the enemy, but a potential rescue from them would make for a reasonable substitute. If the "heroes" of Greenest could not strike back against the darkness, the very least they could do would be to deny it. Again and again, wherever it drew up its twisted visage. It was a task that had some promise.

Perhaps, just perhaps, the enemy would not have beaten them to the temple and its people. And if they did? The sole answer was obvious - to cut down any of the dragon's servants in fierce retribution. Getting there would prove difficult however, crossing a town filled with marauders...

For now though, he bide his tongue and only paid mind to the rest of his company at hand, offering Torus' familiar the slight stroke of a finger to the avian's dark, sleek, feathered head.

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

I will give an actual post in following this evening then. For now, just something for myself to bridge Brannor's gaps in scene.