DD Chapter 12: Surprise Vengeance

Darkjaw & Nolya lead the constantly growing Jaw Company through the arctic wastes. As they traveled, both Darkjaw and Nolya are haunted by visions of their home, along with strange shadows spotted from the corners of their eyes. Unbeknownst to them, the shadows continually project these visions of how Gothicca was infected, the subsequent plague of their village, and the death of Gothicca. The shadows then coalesce in front to form the image of Dr. Plaezus, painting him as the culprit. The shadow then runs off into the distance, forcing chase from Darkjaw before it leaves eyeline. However, it left a magical trail that Darkjaw & Nolya picked up together. With their tracking skills, they arrive at a small mountain range 20+ miles Southeast of Fraeszokovia. Within, the grooves of two mountains, they see a small, dark temple, patrolled by undead. After trekking up the mountain, Darkjaw orders Captain Deadnok to lead Jaw Company on a frontal assault, having flank squads to scout and create pathways to any rear entrances. Meanwhile, Darkjaw & Nolya sneak up the back and infiltrate the temple, eventually finding the real Plaezus communing through his alter, seemingly to Neris. Dr. Plaezus notices them right as they execute their attack, foiling their surprise.

Combat: Darkjaw & Nolya vs. Dr. Plaezus

Initiative

• Darkjaw: 8 (85/92)
• Nolya: 19 (16/71)
• Dr. Plaezus: 16 (2/184)

Round 1

• Nolya: Casts Insect Plague (5th level) on Plaezus, dealing 22 piercing damage.
• Dr. Plaezus: Casts Enervation (5th level) on Nolya after running out of the Insect Plague. She succeeds on her saving throw, only taking 15 necrotic damage.
• Darkjaw: Furious at Plaezus's attemps to grab Nolya with those shadow fingers, Darkjaw looses two Poison Arrows and two Frost Shard arrows. Plaezus nimbly twirls and weaves around all four arrows, laughing sinisterly. Enraged, Darkjaw feels the moon's light fill him, transforming from his drakeman form to Polar Werebear form. He charges the rogue doctor.

Round 2

• Nolya: Casts Erupting Earth (3rd level) at Plaezus' feet. He gracefully jumps from the earth as it erupts, only getting clipped with 9 damage.
• Dr. Plaezus: Seeing the approaching werebear, Plaezus casts Shadow of Moil (4th level), becoming wreathed in flame-like shadows and heavily obscured. He then moves away from the bear.
• Darkjaw: Runs up into eyeline with the doctor, casts Ensaring Strike (1st level) and fires two more shots, one Toxic Fume & one Frostshard, both with disadvantage due to the shadows. Both hit for 17 piercing/7 fire/14 poison/9 cold (47 total). However, he fights off the poison's effects, breaks out of the vines, and nimbly dodges the frostshard explosion. Shadow of Moil ends.

Round 3

• Nolya: Casts Polymorph (4th level) and turns into a T-Rex, charging after Plaezus.
• Dr. Plaezus: Casts Blight on the sudden T-Rex for 37 necrotic, then runs.
• Darkjaw: Closes more distance and looses a Frostshard and a Frostbite arrow, using Ensaring Strike (1st level). Takes 12 damage and is poisoned with frost bite.

Round 4

• Nolya: Runs up closer
• Dr. Plaezus: Takes 4 cold damage from the frost bite, then casts Cloudkill (5th level) on the couple. They do not pass their saving throws, each taking 7 poison damage.
• Darkjaw puts away the bow and bumrushes Plaezus, unleashing a claw and bite attack. He misses all, then hops back, ready to mount T-Rex Nolya

Round 5

• Nolya: Allows Darkjaw to mount her back, then attacks Plaezus with a bite & tail. Both hit, dealing 26 bludgeoning/33 piercing (59 total) and grappling the death doctor.
• Dr. Plaezus: Casts Regenerate (7th level) on himself for 26 HP, then tries to wiggle free. He can't.
• Darkjaw: Climbs up to Plaezus and begins a vicious mauling, sinking in with the claws but somehow missing the bite. 15 damage

Round 6

• Nolya: Drops her prize to the ground, dealing 10 bludgeoning damage. Drops her T-Rex form and pulls out the Spear of Vengeance, casting Shillelagh (cantrip)
• Dr. Plaezus: Channels Divinity and swipes at Nolya with his scythe, hitting her for 7 slashing/33 necrotic damage (40 total). Nolya is wounded, taken aback by the sudden strike.
• Darkjaw: Mauls Plaezus, missing the claw but sinking the bite into the doctor. 23 piercing/1 fire, and he fails his Constitution saving throw, forcibly transforming into a Werebat (the mask fits perfectly over his eyes and snout).

Round 7

• Nolya: Shouts "For Gothicca!!", spreads her own zombie blood on the blade of the Spear of Vengeance, then tosses it while channeling Create Unwilling Undead (level 7). The spear deals 6 piercing and Dr. Plaezus fails his saving throw to resist zombification. As such, before their very eyes, the life leaves Bat Plaezus' body and is replaced with undead fortitude.

Aftermath

Darkjaw & Nolya claim Plaezus' temple as their own, as well as the remaining undead he commanded. He ushers Bat Plaezus over to Captain Deadnok, as having a death cleric to manage the undead ranks will be suitable. While not the vengeance they expected, Darkjaw and Nolya avenged Gothicca and their people in the best way possible. Now, Dr. Plaezus serves as their undead slave for the wars to come. Perhaps they will come across the true ire of their vengeance, who also happen to be Gothicca's executioners. Shortly into their journey, the shadows return; this time in the form of an old, cloaked elven man. "Now that you have savored my gift of vengeance, I believe we can do business together."

Plot type

Chapter

Parent Plot

Darkjaw

Related Locations

• Cyregnor