Murder Hobo Squad: A Lost Mine of Phandelver/Dragon of Icespire Peak & Beyond D&D 5E record (Beware Spoilers!)

Rain crept in as the party headed back from the woodland manse.  When Falcon’s lodge was within sight they relaxed a little, until they saw Falcon come running out of the northern treeline.  He stopped, took a look at them, and shouted, “We got incoming!  There’s a dragon behind me!”  He turned around and fired two arrows in to the darkness.  Then from out of the trees ran Cryovain, chasing him!

Thorivor took a few steps forward and fired his bow four times, but only hit once with a Grasping Arrow, causing brambles to grow around his legs.  Ramond walked forward, used his Pearl of power, cast Shield of Faith on himself and called out, “Spread out!  Don’t give him an easy target!”  Reidoth walked forward and cast haste on Ramond.  Falcon fired two more shots at the dragon, and backed up further, as Karson stepped up and fired three shots at Cryovain.  Cryovain took flight towards Falcon, taking Grapsing Arrow damage, and unleashed his Frightful Presence frightening Melandrach, Falcon, Talindra, Thorivor and Bilba.  He then slashed and bit at Falcon, hurting him badly.  Bilba steadied her nerves and her bow and put an arrow in to him, as Talindra Hexed him (Disadvantage to Strength), and Eldritch Blasted it before backing up behind the palisades.  Araloth ran forwards towards the compound and threw a Javelin, but it fell short.

Melandrach unleashed a series of Radiant Sunbolts at the dragon from his hiding position behind the tower as Thorivor fired two more shots at Cryovain.  The Hasted Ramond ran behind the dragon and Smote it with his sword.  The dragon flapped its wings, driving air downwards with force, knocking both Ramond and Falcon prone and knocking Falcon unconscious.  Cryovain then flew back towards the trees.  Reidoth moved towards Falcon and cast a Healing Word in to him.  Flacon picked himself up and shot at the dragon again, before backing up a little.  Karsons arrows went wide of Cryovain who tried to break free of the Grasping Vines which were hurting him for every move, but he failed.  He then flew back and up further away from the group.  (DM: At this point with the dragon being 70-80 foot above the ground all the ranged characters started doing trig before declaring their actions)  Bilba sunk an arrow in to him, and Talindra remained hiding behind the far walls, too scared to come out.  Araloth ran up the side of the tower and called his Javelin back to his hand.

Ramond hit the dragon with a Guiding Bolt and then ran past it.  (DM: He did maths.  Turns out that with all the effects in play Ramond can currently outrun the flying dragon every turn!)  Reidoth got his sling out and made a disappointing shot.  Falcon and Karson took more shots too.  The dragon then flew low over the forest at full speed, using the trees to break line of sight.  This didn’t stop Thorivor who fired a Seeking arrow in to him, and the vines from his Grasping Shot continued to bite in to the dragon.  Ramond gave chase through the wood keeping pace for the next seven turns.  The dragon flew north and then took a wide turn, east then south, around the Lodge.  As Ramond’s Haste wore off he pulled himself up a nearby tree with ease and watched the dragon fly South until he faded from view.  He then climbed down and returned to the party.

Reidoth healed Falcon a little more and Karson handed him 30 Goodberries.  They then all had a chat about what had happened.  Falcon said he had been out hunting and the dragon had just swooped down and attacked him.  He’d got lucky and avoided his icy breath and ran for home while taking pot shots.  He’d seen the dragon out hunting a couple of times before over recent weeks, but had always been safe.  The party thought about the last time they’d chased him off.  Then and now, he had retreated in the direction of the Sword Mountains.  Falcon agreed that their snowy peaks would make a suitable home for a White Dragon.  He would want somewhere cold, and his presence would only make conditions worse.  A white dragon would warp nature around its lair, eventually spreading extreme cold and ice for miles around it.  The party decided that wandering aimlessly through the mountains looking for a lair is an option, but a very poor one.  They should continue to see if they can find more information before heading out, and do more to prepare.  Too many of them fell afoul of Cryvain’s Frightful Presence, and his breath weapon scares them.

Falcon thanked them again for saving his life and invited them inside for dinner and lodgings.  Over dinner they discussed events at the Manse and he encouraged them to clear out any further Orcs or Talosans at the Circle of Thunder.  He said it was an ancient stone circle built by druids or something centuries ago.  It was a place of worship to nature, or a nature god or something, but had been unused for a very long time.  He didn’t really have anything further to offer them as a reward, but said they are forever welcome to stop by for room and board whenever they are nearby.  When he went to get them the reward for their time at the Manse they discussed who would get the Boots of Elvenkind and decided the Paladin had a weakness in this area so he should get them.  Falcon returned and offered them the boots, and also threw in a small pouch of coin as an extra thank you.  Around this point they noticed that Thorivor, Melandrach and Araloth were not looking good.  Reidoth and Falcon checked them out and they had swollen and itchy insect bites.  Falcon said he’s seen this before.  The bugs and vermin in the woods carry an infection called Afkitus.  Most of the time people are immune, but every now and then it gets through their defences.  They’re in for a rough night and won’t be much use for anything until they’ve had at least a good night’s rest, perhaps more. (DM: Their players were missing and they’ve said in the past that we are uncomfortable risking PC lives when their players aren’t around so it’s an IC reason not to include them in what I know is coming up next).  Everyone left the dining hall and crossed the courtyard back to the guest quarters.  The rain outside had gotten worse and thunder could be heard in the distance.  They got a good night’s sleep, although fever and illness clearly got the better of those infected.

In the early hours of the morning Reidoth and Bilba were woken up by a sound they realised wasn’t part of the storm, which was now directly overhead.  There was a bell ringing.  Someone was sounding an alarm.  They ran round and woke the others, although the sick were unresponsive.  If they did get them to wake they were clearly delusional, responding to things no one else could see.  As people pulled themselves out of bed, Reidoth went outside in to the rain.  Falcon was on top of the eastern tower and shouted down to him that he could see something big moving through the woods heading their way.  They had five, perhaps ten minutes before it arrived.  People grabbed their armour and ran up the tower to look as they got equipped.  By the movement in the trees it appeared that a large force accompanied by something large was moving with purpose towards the lodge.  They quickly formulated a plan and got in to position.  Talindra, Bilba, Falcon, and Reidoth and Talindras owl Familiars at the top of the tower, with everyone else in the courtyard, ready to deal with anyone who breeches the palisades.  As the force drew near the treeline they could make out the occasional blue-white flash, and then a blue-white glow started to emerge as the treeline itself began to tremble.

DM: It was approaching 11pm and I pointed out this was not going to be a quick fight.  Some of us were OK with going on, but people needed sleep so we called it.  We will hopefully have some of the missing people back next week in time to deal with this new threat.