KKD: Happy Thanksgiving weekend to my friends in America, we have a lot to be thankful for here. I'm thankful to have a loving family willing to let me do the things I do, I'm grateful to have a job to get paid so I can deal with any expenses, and I'm thankful for the few friends and fans I have online who follow my silly escapades with reviews, stories, and D&D. So today, in celebrating the first 20th Brew milestone of my side-series D&D Brews, I'm showing you my thanks by bringing our first level versions of my first 5 brews to you guys into a modified version of D&D's Faerun, the Forgotten Realms, and the Sword Coast that brings together a few different franchises together. For those unaware, I rolled for the stats of my characters in this campaign, so they are stronger than the Brew variants, with stat numbers starting with these rolls of 17, 16, 15, 14, 14, and 13, so they're above average at the start. If you don't mind, I'll also highlight rolls the characters make, and highlight important characters during this run in certain ways, some intel being revealed later down the road. If you have any questions, or just want to suggest other characters to appear here or in the Brews series proper, just let me know in the comments, review, or wherever you put your responses where this is posted. But anyway, let's kick this campaign off, shall we?
DISCLAIMERS: KKD doesn't own the rights to anything used in this except for its original content. Everything else belongs to their respective owners including Wizards of the Coast, Rooster Teeth, Nintendo, Studio Trigger, etc.
The realm of Fragment is home to many names and faces as well as its own lore. When the many races of their world were created, they struggled against the monsters known as Grimm. These creatures took on appearances familiar to these races, and even their own kinds at point, even influencing creatures of powerful might like Giants and the mighty dragons of old, who split between two factions. Those whose hides dulled into more darkened colors joined and aided the Grimm in their destruction, including a copy of a five headed being thought to aid all dragons, but was lost to time. But the tides turned when humanoid races discovered magic for the first time with aid of dragons who retained a shiny, metallic coating. These races used their magic to help drive back the Grimm and later sealed away the evil dragons once and for all. Many of the races fought to protect their fellow humanoids from the Grimm, taking on the titles of Huntsmen and Huntresses, and when Hope seemed lost, they looked to colors as a sign of hope. This is why most people and places in Fragment have names that are colors, sound like colors, have a color as a meaning, or in some way remind someone of a color over many generations. Though many names continue through the ages like this, this tradition seems to have faded from most nations and cultures over the years.
As the years went on, dragons began to get more and more scarce, and more and more people began to seek out their power, either for beneficial means such as those who were gifted by the might of Bahamut and the metallic dragons, or for evil through means of resurrecting dragons and using the might of the negatively dubbed chromatic dragons. With the might of the Grimm at their side, one group has attempted to bring back these dragons through rituals and attempts to fulfill a seemingly dark prophecy. This process has gone under the radar for centuries and millennia, all without anyone in Fragment from knowing the full meaning behind their goals apart from power. In recent months, however, that has started to change. This group, known as the Cult of the Dragon, has started to move and draw more attention to themselves with more blatant attacks than in the past. Something big is happening. So to stop them, one group of adventurers will have to unite with some unexpected allies and prevent the rise of a darker being from entering their world.
"Tell me again, Blanca. Why are we going this far out into the vast grassland again?" a fair-skinned, black haired girl in her late teens wearing a heavy set of red and black chain mail armor, and carrying a shield with a glaive on her back, asked the white-haired young woman one year her elder next to her.
Scarlet "Ruby" Rose
Race: ?
Level 1 Paladin
"Because, Scarlet, I've been requested to go to Greenest to meet back up with my old mentor, Ontharr Frume. Something has seemed to have disturbed him over the recent months," the white-haired and blue eyed woman, Blanca, pointed out as the two walked along a dirt path and she gripped the pommel of her oddly icy looking rapier, which she held tightly near her leather armored dress that was somehow bleached as white as her hair despite the dirt around her, the only noticeable coloring in it being a red interior, and in the light is shimmered a soft blue color.
Blanca "Weiss" Schnee
Race: Human
Level 1 Warlock
"And neither Melantha nor my sister could join us because…?"
"You are aware Melantha's history with the ninja clans across Fragment, and your sister's tendency to… go a little chaotic when uncalled for."
"I guess you're right. I just hope things go smoothly on this mission to this town. It's so far out there… but we know very little about it."
As they walked towards the supposed town, the two women bypassed a small batch of trees, witnessing all kinds of creatures in their vicinity. Most of them were of the peaceful variety. Down this path, they did go by some bystanders, but then the silver-eyed girl's ears picked up something on the winds with the conversation, her ear twitching as she turned to see an elf talking with a dwarf, the two speaking in the common tongue to allow her to understand.
"So what's this about that Talis character? Heard he was training to be one of them Huntsmen," the dwarf noted.
"I don't mean to bother with half-elves… however, I have heard he had a strange encounter back over in the city of Willowwood," the tall elf noted, not exactly keen on talking of the character in question, but Scarlet, hearing this, rushed over to the elf.
"Excuse me. What's this about Talis? I couldn't help but overhear," she replied.
"You knew of the half-elf? I'm sorry. I don't know much about this man as much. Just rumors."
Scarlet Intimidation Check: 18 + 3 (Cha) = 21
"Listen buddy, Talis happens to be a friend of mine, and we've been looking for him for weeks now. So if you won't tell me where he is…" the silver-eyed maiden started to reply, gripping her glaive as if ready to pull it out, "There's going to be some consequences."
"ACK! Please! Please, no! Don't hurt me!" the elf panicked, "I don't know much. All I heard is that he was taken away by a group of crazed figures led by a man in purple robes. I have a feeling they were dragon cultists based on how they were talking. That's all I know. I swear!"
"Kidnapped? Dragon cultists?!"
"That sounds like the Cult of the Dragon we've been hearing about recently," Blanca figured, Ontharr warned me about them before I left Tome."
"Tell us. Where did these cultists take Talis," Scarlet demanded again.
"I-I think they mentioned something about a plan being spread down in a town called Greenest. I only heard that much else. I mean it this time when I say I know nothing else," the elf panicked as Scarlet pondered about the purple robed men.
"We must hurry to Greenest as soon as we are able to, Ruby," Blanca informed her friend, the paladin in red nodding as the two rushed down the path once more.
At the same time, a blonde man in red and black perused a library for anything he can find, seemingly combing through every book on the shelves. He sighed a bit, scratching his head over some info he found, currently looking up intel on dragons.
Shulk
Race: Human
Level 1 Fighter
"Let's see… there has to be something in here. I need to find out if the cause of those marks is what I think it is," he muttered.
Shulk Investigation Check: 14 + 4 (Int) = 18
After some searching, he managed to find a picture of some marks that were left behind by a blue dragon's lightning breath.
"This is it. It matches the marks of the beast that attacked my home," he realized, "...May not know much, but this is my best lead."
After this searching, the blonde picked up a red longsword and left the library to see the small village he was in. It was a quiet town in the middle of a vast grassland, but he was able to find what he needed. Pulling out a map, he decided to trek southward to the edge of the village, in hopes of meeting someone who could help him.
Shulk Perception Check: 9 + 2 (Wis) = 11
Though he ends up bumping into one of two wandering ladies due to his nose being deep into his map.
"HEY! Watch where you're going you dolt!" the white haired woman snapped, Shulk, who had been bumped to the ground, struggles up.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I was looking for any information on something that happened," he apologized.
"Hmph! You'd better not get in our way again," the white-haired woman scoffed before her paladin friend stepped in.
"Weiss. Please. Calm down. Maybe he can help us," the dark-haired girl replied before turning to the young man, "I'm sorry about that. My name is Scarlet Rose, and this is my friend Blanca, though you can call us Ruby and Weiss if you wish. What's your name?"
"Uh… I'm Shulk… I was just a humble researcher before… something happened to my homes and dragons. I don't remember what, but I think I can get some help outside of town," Shulk answered.
"Hey, why so shy? We can get more help nearby at the inn. C'mon. We can find someone who can help you there. It's at the edge of town anyway."
Much to Shulk's surprise, Ruby pulled him along with amazing strength, much to Weiss' chagrin. The trio found their way over to a small inn at the edge of town, which was a small two-story building with mostly locals surrounding it. Though it was clear some of the figures in the area were dressed in seemingly tattered robes, or outfits that indicated some relatively shady activity.
? Stealth Check: 14 + 8 (Dex & Expertise) = 22
VS
Ruby Perception Check: 15 + 4 (Wis) = 19
Weiss Perception Check: 17 + 4 (Wis) = 21
Shulk Perception Check: 2 + 2 (Wis) = 4
The girls felt on edge with some of the figures in the inn, but Shulk was completely oblivious to this as someone seemed to walk very close behind him.
? Sleight of Hand Check: 20 + 4 (Dex) = 24
DISADVANTAGE
? Sleight of Hand Check: ? + 4 (Dex) = 16
Just as a dark blue feathered hand was about to reach over and grab something of Shulk's, Weiss pulled out her rapier and aimed it at the figure. Said figure reeled back as Ruby and Shulk looked in surprise.
"You have ten seconds to step back and tell us why you're here," the white haired warlock threatened.
Weiss Intimidation Check: 8 + 2 (Cha) = 10
"Heard you were looking for intel. I may have what you need," the avian being informed, not exactly phased while stepping back to reveal he was a birdman being with black "skin" and blue feathers, "Hattori Ichiro. I'm a regular informant of the Hattori Ninja Clan."
Ichiro Hattori
Race: Kenku
Level 1 Rogue
"Come, sit. Let me buy you all a drink," he insisted, the ladies just letting him lead them to a seat, Weiss sheathing her blade, "You ladies were looking for some people, the man seeking knowledge on a dragon… all of you likely connected… and you may need me."
"I highly doubt that," Weiss scoffed.
"Weiss, please. As far as we know, he's our only way to get to Greenest," Ruby pointed out.
"Greenest?" the males reacted, Ichiro out of interest while Shulk was just stunned.
"I recently heard of an attack near that city," Shulk recalled, "I have to go there to find the cause of it."
"You all need the help, it seems. I know the safest way to Greenest, and you could use my help," Ichiro deduced.
"We likely do. IF your routes are the safest and fastest. We need to get there as fast as possible," Ruby pointed out.
"Safe? Have you not heard of Clan Hattori?"
Ruby was almost taken aback by this as Shulk was confused and Weiss rolled her eyes.
"N-No, should I have?" the silver-eyed paladin checked.
"Master Hattori himself protected an entire village on his own from a lich army using on a number of darts and his wit. Everyone under Clan Hattori's eyes since he formed that clan is safer than an infant in its mother's arms. But for this path we're going on, it is going to cost you. ...100 gold pieces, to be precise," the kenku pointed out stating it like it was nothing while Shulk was stunned.
"One HUNDRED? We could buy a couple draft horses with that kind of money," the blonde male scoffed.
"But who's going to control them, boy? You?" Ichiro questioned.
"You bet your tail feathers. I've driven vehicles faster than your route and I doubt I'll need you!"
Shulk Intimidation Check: 10 + 1 (Cha) = 11
VS
Ichiro Passive Insight: 12
Despite the bluff attempt to intimidate Ichiro, the kenku was unfazed, clearly seeing past Shulk's facade.
"You need to practice your bluffs better, kid," Ichiro noted.
"Great, this isn't helping. If you're dragging me along, can we just get out of here and find our own guide?" Shulk groaned to the girls, only for Weiss to motion Shulk to sit, her body language conveying to Ruby all she needed to know.
Having worked with Weiss for several months, Ruby knew the Schnee well enough to see what she had planned as Weiss reached into her pack for her coin pouch.
"Now look here, Ichiro. We're all busy and I can tell even you have business in Greenest. I know of Clan Ichiro from my days in Tome, and you likely heard of my house from your clan. So, this is my proposition to you, my good Keku," she informed, laying out a good amount of gold pieces onto the table before Ichiro, drawing his eyes to them, "I will personally give you 30 gold for now as a down payment, plus 130 once we reach Greenest, and I'll personally pay you 170 more for your services if we finish our business there, and we're all alive. Is that reasonable compensation?"
Weiss Persuasion Check: 18 + 6 (Cha) = 24
VS
Ichiro Insight Check (w/disadvantage): 13 + 2 (Wis) = 15
This piqued the Kenku's interest as his eyes looked up from the gold to the trio before him.
"...300? Is that what you're offering in total?" The rogue inquired, Weiss nodding as the bird got no ill intent from her, Ruby sitting nervously while Shulk looked confused… but that was all Ichiro needed, "Alright. ...You drive a hard bargain, Ms Schnee. You and your friends meet me down the path outside town, and I'll guide you to Greenest as soon as I can."
"Thank you very much. We will see you soon," Weiss bowed as she and Ruby led Shulk out.
The kenku just grinned as the group left, thinking to himself before pulling out a note, labeled from one Leosin Erlanthar. A look at it made him smile and nod, taking the gold and leaving to gather supplies. While he knew a faster and safer route, Ichiro knew very well that the path ahead was still treacherous.
"Let's hope my contact can make do on her promise. I have a debt to repay," he thought to himself.
For the next couple of days, faster than the usual routes, Ichiro had been leading the traveling trio down a road that winds lazily through patches of forest and across the rolling grasslands of the Greenfields. Sundown was approaching when the quartet reached the top of a rise and saw the town of Greenest just a few short miles away. But instead of the pleasant, welcoming town they expected, you saw columns of black smoke rising from burning buildings, running figures that are little more than dots at that distance, and a dark, winged shape wheeling low over the keep that rises above the center of the town. Greenest is being attacked by a dragon!
"They're in trouble! We have to help!" Scarlet gasped, pulling out her glaive, "Let's hurry, Weiss!"
"Right behind you, Ruby," Blanca nodded, pulling out her rapier as the ladies led the charge down the path, Shulk looking hesitant, but ultimately followed after seeing Ichiro had already darted down.
"What have I gotten myself into?" Shulk sighed as he followed the adventurers.
Unbeknownst to them, a figure in a dark robe stood and watched the group before following them down the slope.
By the time Ruby, Weiss, Ichiro and Shulk reached Greenest from the East, the sun had just set, though the town had been lit by both a dim half moon above, but moving past the shallow stream that flowed and parted the southern part of the town from the other nations down south, most of the town was lit by flames on the different haystacks and barns around the rural town, even if some spotted scorch marks on the different houses and shops in the area.
"Oh my Bahamut… what happened here?" Ruby gawked.
"Clearly some kind of an attack on this place," Weiss figured, however, before she could deduce anything further, the group heard a loud scream.
Without warning, five humans dashed out from between two buildings on the group's left. A limping man and three young children race across the street into more shadows, and a woman carrying a round shield and a broken spear turned and faces back in the direction from which they came. Eight kobolds streamed out of the alley on the family's heels and fan out around the woman, who looked determined to delay the creatures for as long as possible.
ROLL FOR INITIATIVE (18, 17 (x4), 16, 15, 13 (x2), 11 (x2), 10 (x2), 3)
Despite the effort with the team managing to get their weapons out on time, many of the weapons looking strange to the lone human woman, one of the Kobolds managed to make the first move, rushing towards the woman and attempts to use its sling to launch a rock at her. However, the kobold seemed to almost trip as the rock was thrown off-course, allowing the woman to deflect the projectile with her shield, the creature smirking.
"You bastards. Leave this village alone," a gruff female voice growled when suddenly, the figure from the hill rushed in, throwing off their cloak to reveal a black and red-clad barbarian similar in appearance to Ruby, but with blue eyes and one single streak of red in her hair, carrying a single longsword that resembled half a pair of scissors, "It's one thing if you dig up dragon graves or whatever crap you have planned, but to attack the village that took me in UNACCEPTABLE! Now FACE THE AASIMAR FURY OF RIOMNI~!"
Ryuko "Riomni" Schroeder
Race: Scourge Aasimar
Level 1 Barbarian
With a mighty roar, Riomni gripped her sword in two hands and rushed in to attack the Kobold who first tried to attack the woman.
Riomni Longsword Attack: 10 + 5 = 15
Slashing Damage (1d10): 5 + 3 + 2 = 10
The aasimar raised her blade into the air before bringing it straight down onto the kobold, who tried to defend, but the blade sliced through its target, killing it in one shot.
"WHO ELSE WANTS SOME?!" Riomni shouted in her rage as her muscles pulsed with this violent energy.
Three of the kobolds were shocked by this as they aimed their slings and all attempted to launch the rocks in them, but each attack was either deflected by Riomni's sword, or they just bounced off her skin like it was nothing. The fury of the aasimar burned brightly in her eyes, and the might of a warrior like her seemed to encourage the others to start helping with Ruby rushing over to the injured man.
"Hold on," she replied, placing a hand on the man as her eyes glowed and an energy filled him, like he was revitalized all of a sudden.
Ruby Lay on Hands; 4 HP Healed
Stunned by this, the man looked stunned, the woman with the broken spear equally amazed.
"I didn't think anyone else like Riomni would come to our aide… thank the gods," she panted, "I am Linan. I promise to explain things soon."
The woman then managed to lunge forward, plunging her spearhead into the should of the second kobold, managing to injure it enough to back down, clearly not ready to take on the human now that she seemed more motivated.
Ichiro Shortsword Attack: 11 + 6 = 17
Piercing Damage (1d6): 3 + 4 = 7
Ichiro was quick to draw his sword, slashing it through the third kobold that tried to attack Linan, managing to decapitate it swiftly and painlessly, much to Shulk's surprise. But another kobold attempted to strike at the kenku out of frustration, swinging its dagger at the birdman. Luckily, the bird was nimble enough to backflip over the assault before it could land, allowing the kenky to stay safe.
Shulk Light Crossbow Attack: 7 + 5 = 12
Piercing Damage (1d8): 3 + 3 = 6
Seeing another kobold in the distance, Shulk aimed his already loaded crossbow and fired it at the creature from a short distance. The weapon reached the creature within the 30 ft range, the bolt piercing the creature through the head and sending it to the ground, dead.
Weiss Spell Cast: Frostbite Cantrip
Kobold Con Save: 14 - 1 = 13
Cold Damage (1d6): 1
Her rapier aglow, Weiss quickly launched an icy glow at the Kobold next to the one Shulk had fired at before launching a burst of ice magic. The kobold tried to block the attack with its arm, but it winced as the ice damage managed to break through a bit and make a significant blow to its hide.
The two kobolds that were alive, including the one who suffered a bit of frostbite, rushed towards Linan and attempted to strike with her daggers. The first wasn't close enough to get in range of his attack, but the frostbitten one clearly had trouble reaching due to his partially frozen limb, letting the woman block the attack with ease. Though it also made them susceptible to Riomni's attack, the aasimar rushing to the one who missed in her rage.
Riomni Longsword Attack: 14 + 5 = 19
Slashing Damage (1d8): 4 + 3 = 7
The barbarian managed to cleave through the uninjured kobold with ease, forcing it to fall to the ground, clearly dead. Nearby, the second Kobold who got injured by Linan tried to make a second strike at the woman, and just barely made it past her shield with his dagger, stabbing her in the arm, making her lower her shield. This gave time for the next kobold to strike at Riomni, only piercing a bit into her leg,
Riomni Damage: 15 Max HP - 3 (5 damage, halved for rage resistance) = 12 HP
Despite this, Riomni looked like she was barely injured, still in a rage as she roared.
Ruby Glaive Attack: 4 + 5 = 9
In her haste to try and help after healing the man who was likely Linan's husband, Ruby swung her glaive at the kobold who struck the human woman, only to miss wildly. Due to her injury, Linan also had some issue attacking the frostbitten kobold that tried to strike her down.
Ichiro Dagger Attack: 16 + 6 = 22
Piercing Damage (1d4): 1 + 4 = 5
Before the frostbit kobold could make another strike, a dagger pierced it through the back and right out its chest, revealing Ichiro had struck the reptile down, making it drop dead before Linan.
"Thank you," the woman panted.
"You can thank us once these pests are dealt with," Ichiro pointed out.
Shulk Longsword Attack: 15 + 5 = 20
Slashing Damage (1d8): 8 + 3 = 11
Not wanting to take another chance with the crossbow, Shulk set the thing aside and pulled out his red longsword and dashed in towards the uninjured Kobold, swinging the weapon with shocking grace that nailed the reptile through a building wall and killed it in one blow.
Weiss Rapier Attack: 20 + 5 = 25 CRIT ACTIVATED!
Piercing Damage (2d8 for Crit): 2 + 8 + 3 = 13
After seeing her ice deal damage to one kobold, Weiss felt a voice tell her to end one of the reptiles. So she rushed at the remaining kobold, and stabbed her rapier through its skull and ended up smashing it against a tree before pulling her weapon out, critically and fatally giving the creature brain damage, killing it with one blow.
=COMBAT END!=
With this battle having ended, the group approached Linan and her family, the woman nodding in gratitude to Riomni, who nodded back.
"We don't have much time to chat. We need to get to the keep in the center of town," Linan informed, "After the raid on the town, it's the only safe place from them."
"And how do we get there with the attackers still running rampant?" Shulk asked.
"They're clearly not taking any prisoners," Weiss noted, turning to Linan, "Do you think you and your family can make it?"
"My husband, Cuth, would've been killed if not for your Aasimar friend. Thank you," Linan replied.
"Just doing what we can. That's what heroes do, right?" Ruby shrugged as Riomni slipped her cloak back over as she approached.
"Don't worry, Linan. I promise we'll get you and your family to the keep safely. It's the least I can do for you and the town," Riomni replied, Linan nodding.
"You seem to know a lot about this town, Miss. Care to tell us who's in charge here?" Ichiro inquired of the barbarian.
"That would be Governor Nighthill. I'll see if I can put in a good word for him after we get this family to the keep," Riomni assured.
"Who are you, anyway?" Shulk inquired.
"You already heard me declare myself as Riomni, but I'm just a lone aasimar trying to protect this town after they saved me… no one worth remembering beyond…" she started before a bit of silence occurred apart from the few flames in the area as Linan took her family a bit away from the conversing adventurers, "...Ryuko."
"Huh?"
"I don't trust you fully, but after helping me save that family, I could at least tell you my name. It's Ryuko."
"I'm Scarlet Rose, and this is my friend Blanca Schnee, but you can call us Ruby and Weiss," Ruby smiled, "And these two are some new friends of ours, Shulk and our guide Ichiro."
"You… you're an aasimar as well?" Riomni, now known to the group as Ryuko noted, "You got silver-eyes. Maybe we can work together for the time being. Hell, seeing you hardly could hit a kobold, you could use a bodyguard, healer."
"Wh-Bodyguard? Thanks, but no thanks. I can handle myself."
"Suit yourself. But you at least need someone who knows the town. At least help me get the Swifts to the Keep. Then we'll talk."
Ruby sighed, only to get a comforting pat from Weiss on her shoulder, Shulk still uneasy about this, and Ichiro sighed while pinching the bridge of his beak for a moment. After everyone recovered, they agreed to follow Linan. As they walked, they noticed several townsfolk hiding, waiting for an opportunity to escape to the keep, or just stay hidden from different raiding groups. Ruby did prove her worth by taking out one group of kobolds with Weiss' aid, Ichiro and Shulk also stopping some men who were shouting things about the Cult of the Dragon, which got the latter confused yet curious. Amazed, Ryuko smiled at the devotion of the newcomers to Greenest, seeing that despite not being from the town, they were still willing to help.
The travelers helped finished two groups of the raiders that were pretty small, mostly of kobolds and a couple human guards, but at the entrance of the keep, there were five kobolds, four men who were clearly cultists, and one winged kobold who tried to get a view into the keep, but was pelted by more shots.
"We need to stop them quick," Ruby shouted as the group all pulled their weapons out.
ROLL FOR INITIATIVE (23 (x2), 22, 19, 14, 13, 11 (x2), 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 2)
"Quickly! Take them down before they have a chance to-" Ryuko started, scissor sword at the ready, but then Ruby darted past her, much to her surprise, "Whoa, she's fast considering that armor."
Ruby Glaive Attack: 7 + 5 = 12
Slashing Damage (1d10): 10 + 3 = 13
She darted in so fast, the silver-eyed aasimar managed to slash through the closest kobold with such ease, that she just stood still for a moment as the other raiders looked to her in shock, but the kobold she slashed at soon fell to the ground, dead from a lethal strike.
Shulk Light Crossbow Attack: 5 + 5 = 10
Properly assessing the distance, Shulk knew he had to take out the winged kobold so the others wouldn't have to deal with an aerial unit constantly hounding them. However, despite his efforts, after firing the crossbow, the kobold heard it whistle in the wind and dodged out of the way of the bolt coming at it.
Ryuko Rage Activate
Ryuko Longsword Attack: 18 + 7 = 25
Slashing Damage (1d10): 5 + 3 = 8
Wanting to avoid wasting excess time, Ryuko activated her rage and rushed in, slashing through another kobold close by with both of her hands on her longsword, cleaving through it effortlessly, one hit killing the thing. The cultist right next to the dead kobold used this as a chance to strike at Ryuko, rushing in to try and strike her in the arm, but the barbarian swiftly blocked the attack, keeping the man from striking her down, no one noticing Linan's family starting to make their way towards the Keep.
Ichiro Shortsword Attack: 9 + 6 = 15
Slashing Damage: 3 + 4 = 7
Sneak Attack Damage: 3 + 4 = 7
Total Damage: 14
Seeing this opportunity, Ichiro decided to slip around in the shadows, avoiding being seen before swiftly decapitating the cultist that tried to attack Ryuko, managing to force the corpse to drop to the ground.
Weiss Spell Cast: Frostbite Cantrip
Kobold Con Save: 4 - 1 = 3
Cold Damage (1d6): 5
With more confidence, Weiss focused her power into a sigil in front of herself channeled by her rapier before aiming it at another Kobold in the area. This time, when her blast hit the kobold, the reptile froze over completely, making it end up stuck in place. But upon seeing this, the winged kobold flew over Weiss and attempted to drop a rock on her head. It managed to do so.
Weiss Damage: 14 Max HP - 6 = 8 HP
"OW! HEY!" Weiss snapped in response, not seeing two of the cultists rush over towards the nearest traveler, being Shulk as they swung their scimitars at him. Thankfully, his shield managed to block both blades before he could get hit.
Seeing this happen, Linan took a stand and thrusted her lance into the side of one cultist, making him scream in pain.
Cultist Damage: 9 - 1 - 8
Two kobolds then took position, one trying to attack Shulk again, but the attack bounced off the blonde's shield as he dropped his crossbow. The second kobold launched his sling attack at Shulk, managing to hit him in the ankle.
Shulk Damage: 14 Max HP - 6 = 8 HP
The surprise hit actually knocked Shulk off his balance, making him stumble to the ground, but still stood on one knee for future attacks.
The last cultist, however, tried to rush in and attack Ryuko, but in her rage, the attack didn't even faze her. But she gave a signal to Ruby that allowed her fellow aasimar to rush in.
Ruby Glaive Attack: 4 + 5 = 9
Though now that the cultist was more alert, he turned and blocked the incoming strike.
"HEY! Hold still and quit blocking my strikes!" Ruby snapped.
Shulk Longsword Attack: 5 + 5 = 10
Shulk swung his longsword in a panic to try and take down the kobold, but he still missed the little creature, his attention now fully drawn away from the winged reptile in the air.
Ryuko Longsword Attack: 13 + 7 = 20
Slashing Damage (1d10): 8 + 3 = 11
This time, with the cultist distracted by Ruby, Ryuko was able to slash him in the side, dealing enough of a blow in her rage to cleave the man's armor off and deal a fatal blow to the crazed cultist.
Ichiro Shortsword Attack: 12 + 6 = 18
Piercing Damage (1d6): 2 + 4 = 6
With the kobolds attacking Shulk, no one saw Ichiro sneak up and cleave one of them down with a stab to the heart with his shortsword before tossing the reptile aside, turning his attention to the other kobold.
Weiss Spell Cast: Frostbite Cantrip
Winged Kobold Con Save: 10 - 1 = 9
Cold Damage (1d6): 6
Now pretty peeved by the flying freak above her, Weiss raised her rapier and launched another burst of cold damage at the creature, managing to freeze it from the neck down, but not get its wings, though she could tell she made a serious blow. Still, the creature tried to swoop down and attack Weiss.
Weiss Spell Cast: Shield
Current AC: 19
This time, the dagger of the attacker made contact with a sigil in the air that Weiss summoned via her rapier to block the attack.
Linan was forced to block an incoming attack from another cultist, and not only did so, but also caused the fool to trip over himself, giving her a chance to stab him in the back, dealing some good damage.
Another kobold tried to use its sling, and it hit Linan in the arm, making her drop her spear while the remaining cultist turned to Ryuko and tried to slash at her, hitting her across the back.
Ryuko Damage: 12 - 3 (5 damage, halved for rage resistance) = 9
In response, Ruby tried to turn around and slash the cultist down, zipping over as quickly as she could.
Ruby Glaive Attack: 18 + 5 = 23
Damage (1d10): 1 + 3 = 4
While the blow she dealt ended up pretty weak in terms of actual damage, the force of the blow was enough to knock the cultist down dead.
Shulk Light Crossbow Attack: 19 + 5 = 24
Damage (1d8): 6 + 3 = 9
Now that he had the foes off him, Shulk took his crossbow back in hand and aimed it in the air, firing another bolt at the winged kobold, this time hitting it in the chest, sending it down to the ground dead.
Ryuko Longsword Attack: 8 + 5 = 13
Damage (1d10): 10 + 3 = 13
Now, frustrated with the freaks attacking her, swung her longsword into the last of the cultists, knocking him down, dead.
Ichiro Shortbow Attack: 16 + 6 = 22
Damage (1d6)= 3 + 4 = 7
At the same time, Ichiro stored his melee weapons and pulled out his shortbow, pulling back the drawstring and firing an arrow with such grace that before the last kobold could react, it was pierced through the chest, making it fall dead on the ground.
=COMBAT END!=
Once the group finished their battle, the five adventurers helped bring Linan and her family along with more wandering townsfolk they helped into the keep as a dwarf helped to lock the door behind them.
"MEDIC!" Ryuko called as a doctor came over as quickly as he could, "Sorry to impose this on you, but please do what you can."
"I'll try, Riomni," he replied, escorting the family of five to a medical tent set up for the injured.
"Hey. Thanks for the help back there," Ryuko smiled to Ruby's group, "I wasn't sure if I could trust you, but… this town is like my second home at this point. I owe them my life… now, I guess I owe your party, too, Ruby."
"Hey, we're just trying to help while looking for our own answers, too. We all have a reason to be in Greenest," Ruby informed.
"Maybe you or someone here could give us the answers we seek?" Weiss checked.
"I can let you speak with Governor Nighthill, but seeing what happened here, things might get a little too hectic before you can get any answers. Let me go check with him," Ryuko replied.
"That won't be necessary, Riomni," a male voice spoke up to the group, the five turning to see an older man with long brown hair, a neatly trimmed beard and mustache, wearing dark gray armor underneath a light blue tunic and gold trimming, although the group noticed that the right side of his face and head were bandaged, and his aforementioned tunic was stained with blood, "I must thank you travelers for aiding our resident hero bring our people to the safety of the keep. I am Tarbaw Nighthill. Come. We must talk."
Ruby and Weiss, nodded as they and Ryuko followed the man, Ichiro and Shulk looking confused before agreeing to follow. All the five could tell as the governor led them up to the top of the parapet was that things were about to get more hectic than they anticipated.
KKD: I'll admit, this is kind of a cliffhanger-styled ending, but I wanted to get this out while it was still Thanksgiving weekend, so it's a little rushed. The next installment of this won't be for a while so I can think of how to handle this campaign with these characters. But again, let me know what you think of this, how to improve this, and who to add in the comments below. If you want to know more or have other questions, same places. But until the next time, ore wa KKD Silver saying Keep it Cool, Crossover Kingdom. *salutes* Jaa ne.