The Harbinger of Ferocity

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

With a firm tug, the great blade unsheathed itself from the draconic beast's hide, running crimson with thick and vibrant lifeblood. The silence of the storm after battle rushed in, broken only by the sounds of the town's guardsmen advancing and coming to witness that their allies had indeed been successful. Brannor, hefting the freed weapon, nodded in reply as one of the armed men placed a hand briefly upon the smaller woman, looking back upon their band and seeing that only Orchid had suffered much of any injury; as much as he in mind was urged to restore the other warrior to greatest ability, his body was tapped of its supernatural well.

No healing touch remained, but the huntsman did not stop there.

They had a trophy and a worthy prize in one of these dragon sworn men that had been rendered unconscious by their newest addition. In fact, it was only the inspiration he received from the halfling mage earlier during the surge of battle that reminded him of her words hours ago. Sheathing his weapon across his back, he looked at first to the approach of a lantern which turned out to be the dwarf; for the time being he placing his knee upon the collapsed man's spine and took up both limp hands, paying no further heed to the guardsmen or the added company. Even yet as he worked, he looked about, keeping watchful eyes in the shadowy light that danced with lantern and magic's fire, golden stare almost glinted back to the woman. Producing some rope from his backpack, where it was secured and strapped to its side, he began binding the man as he would a slain quarry.

"You had wanted one alive earlier in the night, Parum? It seems our new company has read your mind." Brannor remarked, not having forgotten how she had first wanted one of the kobolds. But this? This was much better. Some sort of priest if he had to guess what the soon to be captive was.

But when the dwarf's voice again came as he entered fully to inspect the stone halls, the aspirant of the wild supernatural did not answer, only quietly shaking his head and keeping to the business of his capture. The adrenaline and thrill in him started to fade, but he doubted this was to be the last of their enemy's tests tonight.

Effects

Brannor rolled a 5, expending his Inspiration Die from Parum this increased to a 7. However, because he is not hurrying, Brannor instead takes his passive Dexterity check to secure the rope's bonds around the unconscious man's limbs and bind them all together for an 11.

@Hekazu@Ryonara@Phoenix@Lucius Cypher

𝕋ℍ𝔼 𝕊𝔸𝔾𝔸 𝕆𝔽 𝕍𝕀ℕ𝔻𝔼ℝ𝕍𝔸𝕃𝕃

I do not believe he would up and leave, @pugbutter. Just that there was a tremendous gap from a number of parties on this topic.

𝕋ℍ𝔼 𝕊𝔸𝔾𝔸 𝕆𝔽 𝕍𝕀ℕ𝔻𝔼ℝ𝕍𝔸𝕃𝕃

As we can all certainly agree, but so far I see a few pledges even yet. Do keep us informed of your intentions as much as your time and availability permit, @Mag Lev. I would rather keep this story alive than just allow it to get away.

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

It feels more fun to be honest, a bit more luck of the draw and much less brutal. Perhaps even survivable if it is not coming from an attacker with added dice.

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

I had thought the same of doubling the static modifiers initially, @Lucius Cypher, seems it isn't so though. I admit I am not too surprised that Fifth Edition went with much more tame critical hits.

Critical Hits
When you score a critical hit, you get to roll extra dice for the attack’s damage against the target. Roll all of the attack’s damage dice twice and add them together. Then add any relevant modifiers as normal. To speed up play, you can roll all the damage dice at once. For example, if you score a critical hit with a dagger, roll 2d4 for the damage, rather than 1d4, and then add your relevant ability modifier. If the attack involves other damage dice, such as from the rogue’s Sneak Attack feature, you roll those dice twice as well.

5e SRD

Dice only, but it does now affect Sneak Attack, Smite, Flaming and other variable sources of damage.

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

The scent of Orchid's blood putting fire into the outlander's veins, Brannor did not give pause.

Unbeknownst to him, in his surging thrill at what appeared to be the moments of hunt's end, the halfling woman's magic lashed out with an authority far beyond her slender stature. She wisely kept behind the men, working the minds of her enemies, but it was more divine favor that happened next than anything else; a moment none could wholly predict, not even Brannor himself who carried it out. It came in first as the draconic fiend wheeled about to answer the threat that had already passed, the treacherous healer now unconscious upon the floor from the crack of a quarterstaff, but bloomed as the solidness of a near lightning strike met with its scaled muzzle. It recoiled, withdrawing its vulnerability and wisely so... or how it regularly would have gone. There was no doubt it would either fight to the death in a snarling, rampant frenzy or run as fast as it could manage to escape.

But the redeemers of Greenest did not relent, not for a moment, and moreover they did not present the opportunity of evasion as Brannor's greatsword crashed down in fearsome blow. Everything in the golden eyed woodsman honed in upon the weakest of the creature's points and the time his companions had bought him allowed the mighty overhead swing, the same carry through and stroke of an executioner's blade. A blow wherein one's hand rested upon the sword's bindings and the other further back; it was regularly a risky tact, leaving the bearer of the weapon so exposed, but seldom was it that the enemy could be so confined by a wave of attackers.

Rolls

Rolled a 26, or a natural 20, for a greatsword attack against the drake affected by Faerie Fire.
Rolled an 18 for slashing damage.
Brannor still has his Inspiration Die from Parum.

@Hekazu@Ryonara@Phoenix@Lucius Cypher

𝕋ℍ𝔼 𝕊𝔸𝔾𝔸 𝕆𝔽 𝕍𝕀ℕ𝔻𝔼ℝ𝕍𝔸𝕃𝕃

@Mag Lev, given we are at such a long period without posting, the question becomes, do you intend to keep this topic going or are we adrift?

The Manacles of Destruction - Loosely Based Dungeons and Dragons 3.5

The outpouring of light was what gave away something was far off now, the man previously leaned against the wall was not just out of breath from the conflict, but that his silence was not willful. All other distractions paled, truly faded away, with the surge of light in the dusty, dark, blood spattered stone hall and the attention of the onlookers was certainly in Price's way when they at last could see clearly once more. Jaegar's approach to the now obviously arrowless cleric was a distinct mixture caution dashed with distrust, while the woman at the door had turned about only to seek the keys then find herself temporarily disoriented.

She in turn blinked, eyes narrowed a bit in frustration, but crouched down to the pile of assorted findings to take up the key. One palm to the floor, she looked back to the two men, the sitting of which remained where he was to catch his breath and the other, both swords in hand, nearing the secured door beyond. Watching as she was, still preoccupied with her business, she noted the robed man approach and offer his aid.

"The door's locked... for the moment at least." Kerris remarked, placing down her spear and setting the key in her pocket with a practiced sleight of her hand; her returning fingers parted through the coins with a clink, thinking but to herself how best to divvy out their findings.

"Now you are well?"

The druid meanwhile inquired, outstretched palm offered in turn to stand the injured man back to his feet. Sincere enough his expression, more lost than anything and quite woefully out of element, but it at least carried that genuineness to it; it was not concealed under any thin guise of superiority or feigned knowing. At most it was that Geraint now knew beyond a doubt the other man possessed magical powers, likely as the woman did if she called herself a "spell thief". Regardless, it changed nothing in his naïve approach short of making him continually remind himself that this was not the world outside; that the dangers were quite different. He would need be more careful...

At last satisfied with her decision, pretending to be ignoring the people about her as she had worked to gather the metal reward, she began heaping the coins into her pouch. She paid no mind where they went in there, at least for the moment, being more pressed to continue their delving.

"Before anyone says anything, we'll split these later. Now isn't the time." She said, looking to Jaegar first then continuing on with her attention on the loot as they clattered to a stop in the sack, "When I open the door with the key, be ready. I'd rather avoid our last attempt."

Scornful, she shifted her attention to the other two and the shadowy silhouette of the great cat not far into the past room. Quietly, almost content with itself, it laid there - moving no more than giving the subtle curl of its tail. The manner in which its cupped ears turned and listened suggested it had no real desire to be surprised in of itself given all the company behind it. Geraint, whose eyes shifted from Price to Kerris, noted her upset.

"Yes... that would be wise. I will see to it that our friend is more set to lead than us." The hooded man answered despite not having been called upon, seeing now how the woman relieved the slain elves of one of their bows, slinging it across her person and adjusting the manner its string sat over her chest.

Effects

Kerris takes the key under the impression it will open the door. She also takes the sixty gold pieces and one of the elven bows, as well as any salvageable arrows.

Wiping the dust from her hands and some of the red tinged coins, she approached the door. Producing the found key, she sighed quietly and shook her head; the woman was not of any fondness for whatever was likely to be on the other side of this door. At least this time the deadly beast would be leading rather than one of them...

@ELGainsborough

The Manacles of Destruction - Loosely Based Dungeons and Dragons 3.5

@ELGainsborough, based upon your status message, you do intend to continue this, yes?

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

Much to my surprise as well, @Hekazu, my login now works again though I suppose that's fair enough given the updates the site has since seen. Accordingly, I have updated Brannor to better reflect these changes. No more worries there at least for the time being.