DD Chapter 1: The Birth of Darkjaw

General Summary

The following timeline starts right after the Brick & Torty party splits from Sharpjaw, Nolya & the drakes. It will be considered canon until/unless Sharpjaw & Nolya choose to pick up their story where things left off. If they do, whatever they do will become canon. If they rejoin the main campaign as new characters and only play Sharpjaw and Nolya from different points in time (ex. If they only play these characters during prequels), then Darkjaw will remain canon.

Opening

As the Bonemobile rushes away from the scene, Nolya and a badly wounded Sharpjaw fiind themselves surrounded by 9 thugs from the Triple Flips. With her quick thinking, Nolya takes the piece of Fool's Gold from Sharpjaw's pocket and tosses it in the air, illusioning that it is 1,000 gp. The thugs immediately pounce on it, 7 out of 9 failing their Wisdom/Intelligence saving throw. While the two who passed make their way up and Lamarva distracts the rest, Nolya uses both her Greater Healing Herbs on Sharpjaw for 27 HP, bringing him up to 30. She then uses her two health potions for 13 HP, bringing him up to 43 (during this and his previous fight, Sharpjaw somehow forgot about his Master Healing Herb). However, she finds herself quite drained of her magic, unable to cast Cure Wounds or Healing Spirit on her lover.
While the two smartest thugs discover the ruse of Fool's Gold, Nolya whispers Draconic incantations into her lover's ear, casting Reptilian Regeneration (3rd level spell) and granting Sharpjaw 19 HP, fully restored. At this moment, the two smart guards slash their weapons at Nolya's back, while a third stabs his spear into her, dealing 19 slashing & piercing damage total, then slashed with their second attacks for 20. Nolya is downed. Meanwhile, the drakes have killed and eaten the initial thug that Lamarva attacked. Sharpjaw enters a blood frenzy and attacks, giving him & Lamarva Surprise (both are using fire as their draconic essence). Unknown to any parties present, a malevolent force appears to be influencing the darker emotions in them.

Combat: The Dragon Family vs. 8 Thugs

Initiative

• Nolya: 14 (dead, 0/42 HP, one Death Success & three Death Fails)
• Sharpjaw & Lamarva: 8 (19/54 HP & 12/45 HP. 1/4 first level spell slots, 3/3 second level spell slots)
• Flurry: 18 (37/86 HP)
• Thugs: 16 (0/8, 10/256 HP)

Surprise Round

• Sharpjaw: swings twice, once at each thug who slashed Nolya. Deals 19 slashing damage plus 8 fire damage (27 total to Thugs)
• Lamarva: Bites the third stabby Thug for 9 piercing & 5 fire damage (14 total to Thugs), killing him via throat rip

Round 1

• Flurry: Brutally attacks/flanks the first guy Sharpjaw attacked, dealing 5 piercing and 16 poison since he failed the Constitution saving throw. Whacks the second thug with her tail for 6 bludgeoning & 5 fire damage (32 total to Thugs), killing the first one with her destructive bite
• Thugs (6/8): 4 of their 6 initial strikes hit; one of em crits. Crit guy hits Flurry for 12 slashing, second guy hits Lamarva for 5 slashing, third guy hits Sharpjaw for 4 slashing, and fourth slashes Nolya for good measure, dealing one Death Fail to her count. They all swing again, 5 of the 6 hit; one got 3 slashing on Flurry, 7 to Sharpjaw, 7 to Lamarva, 4 to Flurry, 4 to Lamarva
• Nolya: Rolls a Death Success
• Sharpjaw & Lamarva: Casts Subjugate Lesser Beings on the thugs, 5/6 pass while Nolya's attacker is subjugated. He is ordered to stand still as Lamarva charges him for a Bite, dealing 4 piercing & 5 fire (9 total to Thugs)

Round 2

• Flurry: Brutally attacks again with her Bite & Tail, dealing 11 piercing with her Bite & 4 bludgeoning/6 fire with her tail (21 total to Thugs)
• Thugs (6/8): The Noyla striker is immediately ordered to kill himself, failing his Wisdom save and falling on his spear for 8 piercing damage (kills him). The other five attack, One crit fails and provokes a vicious opportunity attack from Flurry, taking 7 piercing/9 poison from her Bite (16 total). The next hits Flurry for 5 slashing, two others miss their attacks, one hits Lamarva for 7 slashing, and one crits Sharpjaw for 10 slashing. On their next volley of attacks 4/5 hit. Two crit each drake, dealing 12 & 10 slashing to Flurry & Lamarva respectively. One slashes at Sharpjaw for 4 damage, while the other smashes his mace down on Nolya for a second Death Fail.
• Nolya: Gets another Death Fail, and to Sharpjaw's horror and guilt, she coughs out blood and dies
• Sharpjaw: Breaks mentally and enters a Barbarian-style rage. Both he and Lamarva attack with advantage; Sharpjaw lands both, Vine Whipping the Thug who killed Nolya for 3 slashing, then beheads him with 10 slashing & 10 fire from his Greatsword swing (23 total to Thugs). The power dynamics of this fight have changed. The thugs don't truly understand the gravity of what they have done, but Sharpjaw will soon teach them. Lamarva does 7 piercing & 2 fire to his prey (9 total to Thugs)

Round 3

• Flurry: Bites one thug for 4 piercing & 10 poison damage. Smacks another with her tail for 4 bludgeoning & 7 fire damage (25 total to Thugs). She kills the first one with her toxic bite
• Thugs (3/8): 2/3 hit their first attacks, dealing 5 to Sharpjaw & 5 to Flurry. 2/3 hit their second attacks and one crit fails in front of Lamarva, provoking a vicious opportunity attack for 9 piercing & 4 fire damage (13 total to Thugs). The other two hit Sharpjaw & Flurry for 5 & 8 slashing damage, respectively.
• Sharpjaw: With his primal & painful rage, he gets advantage on his attacks. He hits his attacker for 12 slashing & 5 fire damage, killing him where he stood. He then swaps his Greatsword for his Longbow and snipes Flurry's attacker with a poison arrow, dealing 8 piercing, 1 fire, & 6 poison damage (32 total to Thugs). This thug is poisoned and has disadvantage on Attack & Ability rolls. Lamarva goes in for the kill, but manages to just barely miss her terrified target.

Round 4

• Flurry: Misses her opponent with the bite, but destroys him with her tail, dealing 8 bludgeoning & 8 fire (16 total to Thugs). Kills him instantly
• Thugs (1/8): Seeing what will happen otherwise, the last thug tries to run. Lamarva gets an opportunity attack, but instead looks to her enraged master, who nods as he docks a Vine Arrow and fires it at his lower back, dealing 4 piercing & 6 fire while grappling the thug (10 total to Thugs)
• Sharpjaw: pulls the thug closer to his hounds, then angrily commands both of them to feed. The scene gets grisly as the drakes go in, the thug screaming helplessly as he is devoured (Lamarva deals 5 piercing/6 fire damage, Flurry deals 7 piercing/13 poison, 31 total to Thugs). Meanwhile, Sharpjaw goes over to his fallen lover, his rage turning into tears and howls of anguish.

The Offer

After the drakes complete their kill and eat what they wish, they grieve with their master. They spend at least an hour there, with no passerbys daring to disturb the scene. That is, until one makes his way towards them. The drakes immediately get up and snarl at the intruder, but he successfully calms them both, to the surprise and offense of Sharpjaw. The mourning ranger immediately fires an arrow at the figure, but he simply moves his head out of the way from the would-be headshot. The figure expresses brief condolences at Sharpjaw's loss, but puts more praise and emphasis on what he did because of it. Looking at the bloodied streets around him, Sharpjaw brushes it off and states its what he always does, but the figure notes that he hadn't been doing so as much as he used to. Sharpjaw tenses up and asks who he thinks he is and how he dares to pretend to know him, to which the figure replies "I am Lord Goruk, I know everyone". Sharpjaw pulls his greatsword out and prepares to attack Goruk, but commands his hounds to stay back, wanting to deal with this personal offense himself. The drakes oblige and lie down over Nolya's corpse, saddened but keeping an eye on their master.

Initiative

• Sharpjaw: 7
• Lord Goruk: 23

Round 1

• Lord Goruk: Does not draw a weapon, tells Sharpjaw that he can see the power and potential within him, offering something that will help Sharpjaw unlock it and be reborn from this pain
• Sharpjaw: Swings madly with his greatsword, but misses both strikes (Goruk effortlessly dodges with his hands behind his back)

Round 2

• Lord Goruk: "Oh come now, you'll have to do better than that if you wish to unleash your demons. What would the Sun Elves think?"
• Sharpjaw: Enragedly strikes twice with advantage, but still misses his attacks. He gets even more upset and angry

Round 3

• Lord Goruk: "What I offer will allow you to unleash those demons on your sworn enemies. If the world hadn't turned against your genocidal actions, you could still be on Dalterra, slaughtering them. It's their fault that you and Nolya came here, they were your original purpose and the world helped them abandon you."
• Sharpjaw: Strikes again with Triple Advantage, but STILL misses this guy. Who IS he?

Round 4

• Lord Goruk: "Accept my help, and I will help you avenge your lover, complete your genocidal mission, and achieve all the power you ever wanted". Rolls Persuasion with 5 (crit fail) or 20
• Sharpjaw: Rolls Insight for 19 or 16. Doesn't fully believe Goruk, but knows enough to temporarily lower his sword and consider his offer. Goruk smiles and takes Sharpjaw underr his wing. However, he tells him that first, they require the blood from each of these slain enemies. With a successful Medicine check, Sharpjaw gathers enough of the blood splatter in Flurry's travel jars, then carries Nolya's body himself as Goruk leads him to his workshop.

The Ritual

The gang arrives at a shady looking building at the edge of Vas Dregas, sealed by a stone door. With a simple flick of his hand, Goruk telekinetically lowers the door, leading the group in. Inside, they find a circular chamber with an open roof in the center, just big enough to allow the light of the full moon to enter. Goruk tells Sharpjaw that a ritual must be prepared, and instructs him to draw a circle with several symbols on the ground. This takes 10 minutes for Sharpjaw, who does this easily with a nat20 Wisdom check. Goruk takes the remaining blood, a sample of Nolya's blood, & Sharpjaw's Penis Potion (noting its corrosive qualities), using an alchemist bowl in the corner to create a special potion, which he gives to Sharpjaw.
"Now," Goruk states, "you and your drakes must sit in this cirlce, and place Nolya's corpse in the center. Sharpjaw, prepare to drink your potion on my command." They oblige. Goruk's next instructions are chilling, immediately stoking offense from Sharpjaw.
"This ritual will grant you power you've always dreamed of. Under the light of the full moon, in a circle of blood from your enemies, and the flesh of your true love, you will transend your path as a Drakewarden Ranger and join the path of the WereRanger. Your beastial power will be unmatched and chaotic, while your drakes will absorb the power of your old path and become pernamently bonded to you & your quest. However, to complete this ritual and begin your life anew, you must consume the flesh of your fallen lover together."
Sharpjaw leaps up and fires an explosive arrow at Goruk due to the suggestion, finally hitting the orc for 8 piercing, 2 fire, & 12 thunder damage. This knocks back Goruk, who takes the 25 damage and angrily charges the ranger, determined to "Show him the truth"

Initiative

• Sharpjaw & Lamarva: 11 (19/54 HP, 12/45 HP)
• Lord Goruk: 11 (195/240 HP, AC 24)
• Flurry: 11 (37/86 HP)

Round 1

• Sharpjaw & Lamarva: launches two poison arrows at a time, hitting both for 7 piercing, 3 fire, & 6 poison (16 total to Goruk). Goruk's Con save of 33 fights off any lasting poison effects. Sharpjaw launches another explosive arrow, but this time Goruk swats it away, blowing a chunk out of the stone wall it collides with. Lamarva attacks with his bite, dealing 5 piercing & 2 fire (7 total to Goruk)
• Lord Goruk: Pounds his fists and charges all three with blinding speed (tried to use Intimidating Presence on Lamarva, but he toughed through it crits Sharpjaw in the face for 27 damage (downs him immediately), then punches Lamarva for 12 damage (downs him also, which dematerializes the drake). Looks at Flurry with Intimidating Presence, who fails the save and submits to his power.

After this brief interruption, Goruk commands Flurry to enter the circle in front of Nolya's corpse, while he pulls Sharpjaw up by the neck and searches him, finding the Master Healing Herb. Sinisterly, he stabilizes Sharpjaw and holds it in front of him, goading,
"You see? You had everything you needed to take care of your traitorous friends, but instead you were weak and demanded their help. Now you know that you can never rely on others to make you strong, hence why you must let your past die and consume your lover's corpse. Complete the ritual, and channel the spirit of your drake companion into Flurry while you share in the meal" Sharpjaw weakly reaches for the herb, but Goruk sets it aflame in his own hands, incinerating it into ash that he telekinetically blows away.
"You only have one thing to consume here, and it will heal you more than you ever thought possible. By eating Nolya, she will always be within you and never in danger. You will never have to protect her again or abide by her morals, instead you will become your best self." Rolls Persuasion of 11, and with Sharpjaw's nat20 Insight check, he sees through Goruk's words and understands that he does speak the truth, in a messed up way. Reluctantly and sadly, Sharpjaw makes his way towards the circle, sitting directly across Flurry and over Noyla's corpse. He drinks the potion that Goruk offered and together, he and his hound eat Noyla's body in the full moonlight.

The Transformation

Sharpjaw comes to in the stone hut the next morning, disoriented. He looks across his surrounding, seeing that the blood circle has magically dried up/burned, leaving imprints of its path in the floor. He looks across and sees a Wood Elf-Dragonborn skeleton, instantly remembering what he has done. He then notices the drake across from him; it has Flurry's stature but Lamarva's color & features. He looks around and notices the stone door open, with Goruk nowhere to be found. Wondering if this ritual truly worked, he gathers Nolya's bones into his bag and and takes to the skies with new Lamarva, soaring for most of the day. He successfully tracks down the Triple Flips base by nightfall, at which point he begins to feel something come over him. He fails the Wisdom saving throw and forcibly transforms into a werebear, notably with his antlers intact. Looking to Lamarva while in his new form he nods, for he is no longer Fredlin Sharpjaw, he has evolved. As he and Lamarva soar into the unsuspecting base, the new wereranger leaps from his back with claws drawn, roaring into the night and mentally declaring his new name: Deadlin Darkjaw. Darkjaw & Lamarva slaughter the entire base, and after the battle, Deadlin leaves his spear & old longbow behind (those were Sharpjaw's weapons), signifying the next phase of his life.

Rewards Granted

Inventory/Personnel Changes

• Death of Nolya & merging of Lamarva & Flurry (Lamarva lives, Flurry dies)
• + Dragonspit Longbow (from Nolya)
• + 2 Greater Poison Herbs (from Nolya): 4 leaves, can be eaten raw, brewed into a potion (takes 2 minutes using 8 fl oz of water & your herbalism kit, can be ingested or applied to a weapon), or applied in a gaseous/powdery form as a thrown weapon (range 20/60 ft). Either way, opponent must make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or take 2d8 poison damage and be poisoned for a day. If they succeed on the saving throw, they take half damage and aren't poisoned, and they are immune to the poisoned condition for the next 24 hours. A poisoned creature has disadvantage on Attack rolls and Ability Checks.
• + 10 arrows (from Nolya)
• + 10 poison arrows (from Nolya)
• + 5 vine arrows (from Nolya)
• + 5 explosive arrows (from Nolya)
• + 2,110 gp (from Nolya)
• + a poisoner's kit & an herbalism kit (from Nolya)
• + Energy Dress: allows for redirection of energy attacks based on a saving throw against the attack roll or spellcaster's saving throw DC (from Nolya, Darkjaw will craft it into his armor)
• + Proficiency in herbalism & poisoner's kits (learned from Nolya after eating her during the blood ritual)
• + Reptilian Reanimation & Share Draconic Essence (3rd & 1st level spells, learned from Nolya after eating her during the blood ritual)
• - 1 vine arrow (fired in combat)
• - 3 poison arrows (fired in combat)
• - 1 regular arrow (fired in combat)
• + 1 regular arrow (salvaged from combat)
• - 2 explosive arrows (fired in combat)
• - 1 Penis Potion (used by Goruk to create special Lycnathropy potion)
• - 1 Master Healing Herb (destroyed by Lord Goruk as punishment to Sharpjaw)
• - 1 Longbow (leaves it behind ater shedding the identity of Sharpjaw and becoming Darkjaw)

XP Earned (10,200 XP)

• 900 XP for killing the Triple Flip thugs
• 300 XP for both valiant attempts to fight Lord Goruk
• 9,000 XP for completing the Lycanthropy Blood Ritual, permanently overtaking Flurry's body with Lamarva's soul & his former Drakewarden magic, becoming a WereRanger, and slaughtering the HQ of Triple Flips

Character(s) interacted with

Lord Goruk

Report Date

25 Jan 2022

Primary Location

Vas Dregas

Secondary Location

Vulsemar