DD Chapter 6: The Expedition - Cold Ambitions

Opening

Darkjaw & Jaw Company wake up in the forge chamber and make their way out into existence for the day. Before travel, Darkjaw meditates and switches his prepared spells, swapping Speak with Animals with Ensnaring Strike & adding Searing Smite. Beginning week 3 of their expedition, Jaw Company treks through the mountains, noticeably colder than before, and have the following experiences through the days and nights:

• Week 3, Day 1: Darkjaw crit fails his Survival check, so while its still an 11, he doesn’t navigate the group well and it costs them 1/2 a day of travel. During the trek, Darkjaw forages for arrow ingredients and finds 5 samples of a mysterious, light blue flower that is cold to the touch. Stashes them away for later. At night, Darkjaw analyzes his arrow project and notes he has plenty of raw materials (dragon teeth for the heads, dragon bones for the shaft, and dry plant twine to connect them), and learns that due to the magic required, he will need to spend 4 days on each batch of arrows he wishes to make (5 w/ Lightning Arrow enchantment, 5 w/ Petrified Wood enchantment). Commits his next four nights to the Lightning Arrow batch
• Week 3, Day 5: Darkjaw completes his batch of Lightning Arrows, making 6 arrows costing 3 bones (2 shafts per bone), 6 teeth, a 3rd-level spell slot and the ability to cast Lightning Arrow (until a Long Rest). Pledges to commit next four days to Petrified Wood arrows
• Week 4, Day 2: Darkjaw completes his batch of Petrified Wood Arrows, making 8 arrows costing 4 bones, 8 teeth, a 3rd-level spell slot and the ability to cast Petrified Wood (until a Long Rest). Rearranges his quiver and goes to sleep.
• Week 4, Day 3: The mountains are cold; while not in the arctic, it does fall outside of Darkjaw’s navigational expertise, leaving him to work a little harder to get through. Loses another day of travel and doesn’t forage anything useful. At night, Darkjaw tries to identify the flowers, getting a better sense and recognizing them as a northern plant with mystical cold properties
• Week 4, Day 4: Find a campsite after a 2/3 day of travel, then Darkjaw & Lamarva head out to hunt in the late afternoon. Darkjaw uses Primeval Awareness to sense any dragons within the next two miles, sensing a dragon almost 2 miles north. The duo starts tracking their prey, expertly closing the distance after an hour. They hide to avoid detection, but the dragon notices them while they get into position. Immediately, it roars a primal roar and states “the food seems to come right to me these days” in Draconic, attacking both with Cold Breath to start off the fight.

Combat: Darkjaw & Lamarva vs. Young Frost Dragon (2,300 XP)

Initiative

• Darkjaw: 6 (37/75, AC 18), used 1 Greater Poison, 1 Lightning, 1 Acidic Injection
• Lamarva: 17 (77/110, AC 17)
• Frost Dragon: 5 (0/133, AC 17)

Round 1

• Lamarva: Flies in and fires Toxifire Breath at the dragon, dealing 15 damage
• Darkjaw: Looses a Lightning Arrow, dealing 8 piercing/6 fire/4 favored enemy/23 lightning damage (41 total to dragon). Fires a Greater Poison Arrow at the dragon, but it misses
• Frost Dragon: Fires Cold Breath at Darkjaw, who fails his Con save and takes 53 cold damage

Round 2

• Lamarva: swoops in for a bite & tail attack, dealing 21 & 14 respectively (35 total to dragon), recharges breath at end of turn.
• Darkjaw: feels the moonlight’s touch and willingly transforms into a werebat, firing an Acidic Injection Arrow at the dragon. He deals 7 piercing/1 fire/4 acid/4 favored enemy (16 total), flies over to his missed Greater Poison Arrow and finds it intact, then fires it at the dragon for 7 piercing/4 fire/9 poison/4 favored enemy (24 total). The dragon has two Constitution saves to make; he resists the acidic infection, but is poisoned by the other arrow. Darkjaw finishes his turn in flight, as with Lamarva
• Dragon: takes flight and attacks Lamarva, dealing 19 damage with its bite and 14 with one claw, but misses the other. Fails its breath recharge (33 total to Lamarva)

Round 3

• Lamarva: Is about to retaliate, but sees his master soaring up to the dragon with enlightened vigor. The loyal drake holds off on attacking, instead hovering with the dragon in anger
• Darkjaw: swoops in for a claw attack, but MISSES. Makes a hard turn and uses his Dash for a Hail Mary bite, landing a crit for 17 piercing/8 fire/4 favored enemy (29 total to dragon, +15 HP to Darkjaw) across the dragon’s throat, killing it. Darkjaw hovers and watches his prey fall lifeless into the snow, then swoops down with Lamarva to claim their prize.

After the Hunt

Darkjaw opens the throat where he made his daring bite, climbing inside and searching for glands that may secrete magical cold fluids. Not finding any he nat20s the Wisdom check and uses his own Draconic magic to meditate, literally connecting with his prey while within his prey. He feels and understands the Draconic magic that produces cold with dark energy, and can now forge this raw Draconic power into his weapons, armor & arrows (with practice, he might be able to apply it to his bite/claw attacks). On his way out, Darkjaw takes 20 Frost Dragon teeth & harvests enough dragon meat to last himself and Lamarva for a week. They return to camp in the night, tossing Warvillus a small share of meat and going to bed.
The next days go as follows:

• Week 4, Day 5: Darkjaw navigates the group well and forages for more cold plants, but finds none. At night, Darkjaw begins work on his arrows; 18 Sleight of Hand to carve bones, 11 Arcana to imbue his cold magic, & 14 to create the arrows with the frost dragon teeth , magic and bone. Crafts 8 Frost Arrows, expending 8 frost Dragon teeth & 4 Frost dragon bones. 
• Week 4, Day 6: Great navigating and nat20 foraging for Darkjaw. He finds 7 more mysterious plants and finally identifies them as Frostbite Flowers, a common plant in the northern mountains. They are known for their deadly toxin, which spreads through the body as frostbite until it kills them. Darkjaw’s eyes light up and he takes all the flowers, intending to make more arrows. At night, he does just that, grinding the flower with dank herbalism capabilities and applying it to 12 Forest Dragon teeth with a nat20 poisoner’s kit check. He removes the shafts of 12 regular arrows and attaches the new arrowheads to them with 19 Fletching. Darkjaw now has 12 Frostbite Arrows, whilst using 12 reg arrows, 12 Frost dragon teeth, & 12 Frostbite flowers. 

The Sea Awaits?

As Jaw Company gets closer to the coastline, Warvillus suggests that they stop and plan their next move. He points out that, if Cyregnor is as barren as they say, a nearby village may be the best option to recruit new troops for Jaw Company. Darkjaw agrees, admitting that while Lamarva can do anything, flying over the ocean continuously for a week would be tough. Therefore, a vessel would be good as well. Darkjaw & Warvillus suddenly look at each other, with sinister grins crossing both their faces as they share thoughts; lets rob and kill some pirates. 
Jaw Company flies down on Lamarva (Darkjaw & Captain Deadnok on his back, Warvillus flying beside him) into a Frost Dragonborn village, earning some stares as this menacing war figure walks off the drake and into the nearest bar. He walks straight up to the bartender with stares from almost everyone, then surprises them even more when he orders “the ale with the bloodiest story” in fluent Draconic. Perplexed, the bartender obliges and serves his drink, saying “we don’t get many outsiders here, particularly elves. Where did you learn to speak Draconic like that?”. To which he Darkjaw responds, “My drake taught me.” Without skipping a beat, he then asks, “Where can I find a ship with a strong crew around here?” The bartender, insightful as they come, asks “What is your business with such a crowd?” At this point, several patrons are listening in, all looking tough. Darkjaw eyes his surroundings, with no fear of death or consequence, and begins his speech.
“I require a sea vessel so that I might sail north to the arctic lands of barren death, for I will stop at nothing to recover the one I love, the one I lost. I will travel to the ends of the world if i must, slaughter whoever dares stand in my way, and achieve greatness beyond any mortal man dreams of being. I may die at any point and my purpose will still be achieved, and I expect nothing less of this conviction from the men who serve under me. My business with these strong sailors is this; are you willing to sail towards the end of oblivion for a purpose beyond yourself? Do you have the conviction to stare down the maw of death with glee, to commit the most horrid acts of violence that your inner psyche has always dreamed of? If so, I ask you to venture with me towards enlightenment.”
Many of the patrons took notice to this speech; some found it impressive yet did nothing, while some others showed judgement and disgust. However, one table of large dragonborn men stands up, their leader walking the group of 5 over to Darkjaw. “Pretty inspiring speech there, bub” he says as he takes the seat next to Darkjaw. The other four stand behind, awaiting any orders or funny business. “My name is Captain Tholk of the Blue Narwal. Based on what I’ve heard, I think you and i can do a lot of good work together.” Darkjaw looks to this Frost Dragonborn man and sees a weathered toughness in his physique, an experienced soul driven by indomitable ambition. In other words, this man has seen some shit. “What are your thoughts on slaughtering innocents for the greater good of my purpose?” Darkjaw immediately asks. “Hehehe, let’s just say your with the right crowd” Tholk says as his men chuckle. The bartender is uncomfortable and leaves after serving their current round. “Then you’ll do just fine. Meet me in the forest just outside of town when the sun begins to fall, and we will begin our glorious work together. Is your ship handy?” Darkjaw asks? “Oh it’ll always be handy at my beck and call, you have no need to worry.” Tholk snaps back, wise enough not to reveal its location. Darkjaw nods in approval, states “Then we will meet again soon.”, downs his drink, gags on the last gulp and spills the remains on the counter. Without skipping a beat, Darkjaw stands up, drops 5 gp on the counter, says “My drink may be on your counter, but their drinks are on me.”, and walks out of the tavern to cheers and hoots from the fellas.
Darkjaw arrives outside and informs Warvillus of the plan, then mounts Lamarva. Jaw Company takes off and waits in the forest as promised, discussing their options in greater detail; they will use the men as long as they can, reanimating them if they die. Their first task will be to slaughter the entire village, reanimate all the dead, the load up the Blue Narwal to sail north. They agree on the plan, then Darkjaw adds “Make sure the Soul Beacon is safe, we don’t want these pirates catching wind of its value. Do you have it?” Warvillus fails on Insight and doesn’t read into the question, “Why yes, I’ve kept it very safe “ Warvillus says as he pulls the Soul Beacon out of a deep part of his scholar’s pack. Darkjaw, satisfied and now knowledgeable of where it is, decides to push his luck. “Given my unparalleled might in battle, would you agree that the beacon would be safest with me?” Warvillus fails again, “You are a sight to behold on the battlefield Lord Darkjaw, it would be my honor to leave this beacon in your care.” Warvillus hands it over, pleasing Darkjaw. 
As the sun begins to set, Darkjaw stands perched in a tree, watching the horde of pirates march towards their location with glee. The pieces are finally coming together; Darkjaw has the Soul Beacon, he has the necromantic magic necessary to maintain his undead army, he has much of his arsenal prepared, and by the end of tonight, he’ll have a ship and the largest troop replenishment Jaw Company has seen yet.