The Harbinger of Ferocity

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

The sound of the beast's throaty, rolling breath filled the startling calm as surely did other labored pants. All of them in some fashion or another had been in dire circumstance, their lives on the blade's edge, and for a moment the stillness of life - perhaps the realization of it and that victory had somehow been attained, snatched thrice over from the jaws of defeat - settled in. However, such a pause was not long lived as the tremendous, broad, furred digits that were barely restrained against the armor of the hand tightened harder still along the handle of the sword they were already draped around. The soft crack of each knuckle preceded the the shift of armor as both powerful limbs, both arms truly, lifted the sword up and with a wrathful, vengeful snarl, the blade struck at the fallen blue dragon's neck. It mattered not if the blow was enough to decapitate the other monster's tremendous head but the blow was one of surety.

Something still burned in the heart, some ethereal flame that kept this other aspect him of alive and well so that it did not again shirk away to lick its wounds. If anything the golden, killing eyes were still alight with intensity, and the wounds sustained even if largely healed still funneled the supernatural furor into them. It was not enough to kill Cyanwrath or even his lackies, let alone his lesser underlings, the champion of the ferine wanted to fell them all; a frenzy of urges that made the pale, blood-stained pelt twitch even yet. There was no hope of kindling the light of the soul if there were still adversaries ever eager to plunge life into darkness, those same who would leave the land and its people barren of what belonged to them. Growling louder still, lips quivering, the hunter snorted loudly and looked up to the rest of its company.

If it could speak, it certainly did not; how much of the man remained was unclear through this channeling but some amount of the harsh expression softened as did the heaving exhalations once mutual glances were exchanged. None of these things lasted long as the looming body turned away, withdrawing the sword from its sickening place of rest despite not once having left either palm. Brannor, rather the version all too similar to Torus in the moment, went quite outside the hungering, animal breaths that passed over and between the rows of pearled fangs...

@Hekazu@Ryonara@Zverda@Lucius Cypher@Norschtalen

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

It appears all of the characters have survived, battered and broken surely, buy alive. This in mind, I will see about drafting something this evening to come or at least by tomorrow in response. I am pleasantly surprised we did not actually lose anyone, hanging on a thread as a number of our characters were and are.

Post a random fact about yourself.

I have been told I should not only write a reflection of my life but to so too tell the story and narrate it. It is strange to me to think that others find the tale captivating and strange yet do so with a sincere and honest curiosity about it. As it goes, it is not that I disagree with them rather it is strange to retell and recount it all; I find it difficult to overcome the humbleness in it with, one sense of pride conflicting with another. So that is seemingly something I must do in time to come, many times over when I have shared portions of it the same sentiment is expressed. Perhaps I am worthy of such a narrative.

Post a random fact about yourself.

I learned a long, long time ago that it was not possessions in this world that mattered.

Post a random fact about yourself.

The ticking of clocks, rhythmic as it may be, often does bother me and I tend to attune to patterns of sound or ambiance in short order, making it worse.

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

Brannor has one healing potion that they had given him at the end of the first contest with Cyanwrath. Given he was here in this cave too, I agree there are probably more things, if at the very least kobolds and likely some mercenaries. Hopefully we can steady short a rest after this but I suspect a long rest will be impossible and reasonably so, @Lucius Cypher.

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

Exactly so, @Lucius Cypher, that was incredibly close for a number of us but it is not over yet. Let us finish this last enemy off before he gets the better of us before the momentary high wears off. Although I will admit actually downing Cyanwrath was unexpected, that monstrosity hurt like few other creatures I have encountered in a tabletop game.

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

The beast within now without was the sole reason the man turned monster had survived the tide of iron the draconic foe leveled blow after blow. It wounded the beast deeply, now stanched again only by the enchanted word of the halfling woman perhaps in the fight of her life. Fighting through to the desperate end, pawed hand taking up the sword again that had been near thrown away by the blow Cyanwrath dealt, the blade cascaded up from the cavern floor and narrowly caught the blue scales rather than the armor itself. Yet what trailed with the wake of the strike was the same ethereal glow that shed from the arms of the pale tiger down across the leading edge itself; each attack was the all that could be mustered, even the very soul of the self.

Not relenting, answering the order of the enemy as best that there could be - knowingly or not - the savage palms changed grip and crashed the hungering blade back down. Again, snarling with a rough exhale, maw stained with its own blood did the once-man pour all that was within out into the attack. Not an ounce more of supernature could be felt, not a drop more could be given from its cup. All that the Pale Lady had provided in this moment was here. Perhaps the dragon servant would feel it, perhaps for once he too would recoil, but there was no time for Brannor to even exalt in lucidity. Everything was flashes of animal anger, raging fires stoke by injury and the need to fight or die trying, interrupted by moments of the silver moon's cool calm. A roiling storm of experiences, the mauled gauntlets held up the blade again, hoping it struck as true as it could and the green knight shook off the haze again.

Eyes of gold burning, the wash of intangible green-white smoke fading from the sword, the jowls quivered with anticipation. This needed to end soon, the moon's graces were not just limited to it; the half-blooded man had fallen, there was an imperative need, an urge, to preserve him, and the only way to do so was through the enemy of Greenest.

Effects

Brannor makes his first attack against Cyanwrath with his greatsword, striking on a 17 and dealing 10 slashing damage due to the original 7 being re-rolled by Great Weapon Fighting due a die roll being 2 or less. Brannor then expends a 1st level spell slot and uses Divine Smite to add 7 Radiant damage to the hit.

The second attack made by Multiattack also lands on a 17 to hit, for 13 slashing damage; rerolled by Great Weapon Fighting from a 7 due to both dice being a 1 and a 2. Brannor uses his last 1st level spell slot to deal 9 radiant damage with Divine Smite. Great Weapon Fighting rerolls the 2 from the original 6 damage into a 5.

In total, he deals 23 slashing damage and 16 radiant damage to Cyanwrath. He will still use his attack of opportunity for the first enemy that provokes from him this turn.

@Hekazu@Ryonara@Zverda@Lucius Cypher@Norschtalen

Post a random fact about yourself.

I find a certain melancholy sobering to realizing how much time has passed in some things. It seems like some days would never end and that some times were forever but now they too are all gone. I take heart in it all, recognizing this is life.

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

So an all important question for this turn, as it is absolutely an "all or nothing" event, will a 17 hit Cyanwrath's Armor Class, @Hekazu? Fortunately Divine Smite will not be expended if not, but I have rolled a 17 twice over and am desperately hoping that his Armor Class is not 18. We need get Orchid back up as it is and Brannor has a healing potion for such an emergency, although we do need down our not so friendly dragon-man first.