Sounds of scuttling feet are heard from the northern and eastern, as a pair of vampiric skulks join the battle. Their camouflaged skin makes them difficult to discern in the low-light of the cavern. Longtooth roars, and savagely knocks Fobias unconscious. He is ripe for the picking by the advancing skulks.
Richard bounds forward, protecting Morgiv from the assault. Meanwhile, the rest of the party focuses their efforts on Longtooth. Krask, still invisible, fires a deadly barrage of arrows at the dragon, finally breaking through the tough scales, and getting through the displacement effects.
With Fobias bleeding out on the floor, however, there isn’t much time to waste. Trace channels, healing his companion who is still in the enormous, hulking shadow of this fearsome beast. The advancing skulk can’t find purchase against Fobias’ prone body with their bow, and they drop it in favor of the knife.
Meanwhile, Fyn finally casts a useful spell. Still in his dragon-form, Fyn casts a Greater Dispel. The shimmering shroud of energy protecting Longtooth from cold damage, and his displacement, fade from view. Now is the time to strike.
As the party circles the dragon, Longtooth rears back and lets out a terrifying blast of paralyzing breath. Barnaby’s body freezes up, and flashbacks to the Wendigo fight come to the forefront of everyone’s’ minds. What’s worse is that he lands next to the incredibly hot body of Longtooth, searing the elf’s flesh.
Using his final dragon-slaying arrow, Krask yells out and delivers the truest of arrows that he has ever fired. Longtooth roars, but the damage is done. His body tumbles forward in his death throes, and his protruding tooth cracks in half against the stone floor. Loose bones from the chimes clatter to the ground, a grisly reminder of Longtooth’s horrific reign.
The other skulks fight for a brief moment in the wake of their master’s defeat, before turning into mist and disappearing from view.
Krask feels an enormous weight lift from his shoulders as his pursuer is finally vanquished. But we can’t help but feel sorry for Longtooth; dude just wanted his cup back.
You ever have a special cup that makes any beverage better? Let’s cut the guy some slack.
Searching for the Hoard
Every dragon has a hoard, and the party wastes no time in searching for it. They even let a paralyzed Barnaby lay there on the floor and let him naturally come out of his condition while they lust for gold. When in Xin-Shalast, right?
Before investigating, Krask stares down the dead body of his pursuer. Although the party typically collects their trophies in the form of heads, Krask picks up the split tooth to take with him. Additionally, he realizes that the ring around the tooth is actually akin to a crown for your average-sized humanoid.
Fyn discerns that this is a Crown of Conquests, a powerful item that boasts several leadership qualities. And now, it is befitting that Krask adorn his lovely little head with such an item.
In searching for the hoard, Krask is particularly interested in the stone throne that dominates the center of the room. He locates a hidden latch that causes the entire platform to slide off to the side. Underneath is a mostly-empty hole with a smattering of coins, an oaken box, and a single golden ring.
The box is filled with carefully-cut gems, but the ring catches the party’s eye. It is a quaint piece of jewelry, with its only distinctive mark being a Sihedron rune on the outer surface. Again, the party consults Fyn for his expertise, and the wizard can sense the intense magic coming from this ring. In Thassilonian times, the ring was a symbol of appreciation to allies and agents of the Empire. Only the closest and most loyal subjects received such a gift.
With their end of the bargain fulfilled, they await Morgiv’s direction to navigate them out of these tunnels.
Did Longtooth have more to his hoard? What will become of the vampiric skulks previously enthralled by him? What awesome new title will Krask bestow on himself?