#so to then introduce his father and make him a completely unrepentent version...

[straydog733]

Call the Midwife, S12E5: Be sad this slumlord died!

Me: I Would Prefer Not To.

[milesonthenet]

Broly: Comparison between selves

Who's the big bad Legendary Super Saiyan?

Dragon Ball Z: Broly - The Legendary Super Saiyan was released on March 6, 1993. The film has created a fairly influential character who has gone on to join the canon timeline. This year marks its 20th anniversary since it's inception.

It is no secret that Broly is a prevalent Dragon Ball character. He has had two sequels and a reboot film that brought him into the canon. He almost always has a designated appearance in a video game. Broly's even gone on to gain new forms that he never displays in canon.

Today, I welcome you to join House of Milesverse as we talk about Broly. In fact, we will be studying the differences between his two most popular incarnations. By the way, you should know that Broly's power is maximum.

Broly: Z Version

To start our discussion off, we should talk about the original. As I said above, Broly first made his debut in the Dragon Ball Z era of films. He is the eighth film in the line and has two sequels behind him.

This version of Broly is introduced as a complete monster. When he's not under the control of his father, he's destroying planets. Z Broly is an embodiment of chaos that wreaks havoc against his enemies.

What I like about this version is just how evil he can be. Unlike his successor, Z Broly is unrepentant in this fact. He is willfully sadistic and cruel toward his enemies. Broly just does not care, he will attack you just for existing.

In the first film, Broly's father was Paragus, a Saiyan who used him. Paragus used Broly as a weapon to destroy numerous planets. However, even Paragus was aware that Broly was hard to control. He created a mind control inhibitor device to stop Broly from becoming berserk.

Paragus had an entire plan to trick King Vegeta's heir, all out of petty vengeance. He used a desolate planet that was in the path of a comet. His plan was to abandon Broly and let him occupy the Z-Fighters. All so that the comet would hit the planet, destroy Vegeta, and kill them all.

Unfortunately, Paragus' pod was grabbed by Broly. The legendary super saiyan crushed his father inside of the pod. Paragus' last moments were in fear.

He engages in animalistic brutality when dealing with his opponents. This is to a degree I think has never been seen in the franchise before. Despite his size, he's also surprisingly fast, and able to blitz his targets.

Both times against Broly required outside assistance. Goku and Gohan had to rely on their allies to even slow him down. Despite that, they both managed to end his rampage and destroy the monster.

What is notable about this version is that he always comes back. Goku first destroyed him by using a combined energy punch to the stomach. The resulting force of the punch ruptured his skin and detonated his body.

Even then, he would come back to hunt Gohan. Gohan, alongside his father Goku, and his younger brother Goten, defeated him. They had to use a combined Kamehameha wave to blast him into the sun.

Broly always comes back, stronger than before. More than that, his power has no limit. It continuously rises while he is fighting. This near-infinite level of power makes it hard for people to keep him down.

Overall, Z Broly really proves what a monster the Saiyans can be. His battles always showcased his animalistic brutality. I think he best embodies the ruthlessness and savagery that the Saiyans once had.

Broly: Super Version

Super Broly is similar to his predecessor but offers a few differences. He first shows in the 2018 film, Dragon Ball Super: Broly. In addition, he also has a different personality.

What truly sets him apart is his behavior. Unlike Z Broly, this version is kinder and gentler. He does not desire to fight unless it involves protecting his loved ones.

Super Broly is a prodigy when it comes to combat, however. He was able to keep up with both Goku and Vegeta. During their battle, he was able to rapidly improve to combat their forms.

I love how this version puts a distinct spin on Broly's story. In the prior films, he was portrayed as a mindless beast. Super decides to reinvent Broly as someone who is desperately trying to maintain control. He does not want to let out his inner monster because he will lose control.

In fact, this is exactly what happens over the course of the movie. The death of his father (Something Z Broly himself did in his first film) caused him to freak out. He became a berserk creature, and he destroyed everything in his way.

Speaking of Broly's relationship with Paragus is different here. Super Broly is aware his father is a terrible person. Despite how abusive he is, Broly still loves them. Losing Paragus was enough to trigger his transformation into a Super Saiyan.

Broly also has a noteworthy bond with Cheelai and Lemo. The two Frieza Force soldiers quickly took a liking to him. They helped get rid of Paragus' shock collar. By the end of the film, Cheelai and Lemo even went to live with Broly.

Broly is the title character of this film for a reason. He is portrayed as the underdog of the story. His battles against the more experienced Goku and Vegeta pushed him to new limits.

Ultimately, Super Broly shows the potential tragedy of his original self's story. This makes him easier to sympathize with viewers. It also carves out a wonderful niche for his character.

Who's the better monster?

The truth is that they are both monsters in their own right. However, the question is what kind of monsters they are. Both of the characters are two sides of the same coin.

Z Broly represents the horrifying, unbeatable nightmare. He is a monster without limits or rivals. Because of this, he is a tremendous threat to, well, everyone in his vicinity. Even in outside material, Broly still comes back to haunt the Z-Fighters.

Super Broly represents unwavering power, but he is still an unstable asset. He desperately clings to his sanity because of his world-shaking abilities. This makes him a danger, even to his own friends.

Overall? I do not think there's a right answer on which one is the best. They both have something that makes them interesting. Both come with their own advantages and disadvantages to deal with. I think it all comes down to what type of character you are looking for.

Overall, I hope you had a Legendary time reading the House of Milesverse. I enjoyed talking about one of my other favorite Dragon Ball antagonists. I will come out with another post this month.

For now? See ya!

[ocuk-dnd-5e-blog]

Session 6 - 21/09 - Tricks and Twigs

Participants

Dave – DM

Stu – Hendel – Barbarian

Dan – Darvin – Sorcerer

Andrew – Eriden – Druid

Alex D – Fyvel – Fighter

Dave R – Galath – Ranger

Missing

Alex H – Chance – Bard

John – Dwon Fai – MonkAfter another nights stay in the Winged Wyvern the group decided to set off for Thundertree as they had time to burn waiting on Father Fay. As they were walking out of town Darvin was playing with his wand (DM Note; not a euphemism) idly waving it in the air and muttering to himself.

“Do you have a command word for it yet?” Eriden asked.

“Well considering the fact he was our healer and we’ll probably never see him again… I was thinking Chance.”

The group laughed and were chatting amiably when out of a side street wandered up Galath, looking rather sheepish with Gauvain in tow a few steps behind them, they were both ignoring the curious looks of citizens at the large bear ambling in their midst but they were not able to ignore the accusing stares of his fellows.

“What are you doing here” Hendel demanded.

“Yes, how did you find us in the middle of Neverwinter?” Darvin asked suspiciously.

“I’m a ranger.” Galath replied, shrugging. “I track things.”

“I bet you followed the blood off my axe!” Hendel declared.

“I assumed it was your own blood.”

Ignoring the two glowering at each other Darvin cut in again. “Where have you been?”

“Roaming the coast… looking for dragons.”

“You were scared.” Hendel replied laughing.

“Not at all, I was just looking for dragons, I didn’t actually find any so I decided to spend a week on the beach. If I’m there I may as well do it properly.”

The group looked somewhat flummoxed by the fact he was completely unrepentant at fleeing the scene in the midst of their last fight so in the end just continued on down the road, Gauvain going to see Hendel for a pat.

As they walked they explained the situation to Galath, the focus somewhat inevitably ending up on Mordred.

“Wasn’t that the guy you tried to eat?” Asked Galath.

“No.” Eriden cut in. “This was the dwarf who was ambushed by a bugbear, who ate him, sadly we were too late to rescue him.”

“A bit strange how if you tried to rescue him why he would start attacking Phandalin.”

“Well you know how these crazy types are.” Darvin replied and there was some feet shuffling and awkward looks.

“So what happened to him.”

“He… escaped.”

“Actually he did, then you showed up…” Hendel said casting an accusing eye at Galath.

“Funnily enough we haven’t seen you both together.” Fyvel added.

“They must be in cahoots!” Eriden declared.

“I should kill you.” Hendel growled.

“You’re welcome to try.” Galath drawled with a smile.

“Probably run too fast if I did.” Hendel snorted.

With the group now reacquainted and as harmonious as ever (DM Note; yeah right) they continued on out of Neverwinter, as they were passing through the gates they were hailed and over walked the Elven mage from the Sword Guild the evening before.

“What do you want, elf?” Hendel demanded.

“I am Carleath Moonath.” The elf replied, she was a striking figure over six foot tall and very slim wearing robes of silver and white and a hood which was currently back on her shoulders revealing a fine featured face topped with blonde, almost white hair.

“Ah a girl.” Hendel replied running a hand through his shoddy mohican trying to slick it back sending who knows what debris tumbling into the road.

“I heard you would be about the city and Lovraic asked me to speak with you briefly.”

“Go ahead.” Fyvel replied, all trying to ignore the preening Hendel.

“What do you know about the Sons of Alagondar?”

“I know a little, I used to know a lot as I lived a lot of my life in Neverwinter, last I heard they are royalists who are not partial to Lord Neverember and instead want a return to the royal bloodline.”

“You are right. There was an…accord of sorts reached between Lord Neverember and the Sons for a long while but recently, for reasons unknown, they have been agitating again and whilst it seems to be minor criminality it could be portending something more serious.”

“I am Darvin Sha, the leader of this group.” Darvin introduced himself stepping forward.

“Him? The leader?” Galath asked incredulously.

“We were desperate, he seems pretty organized.” Eriden shrugged.

Darvin continued either pretending to or not actually hearing the exchange. “What can we do to help with the situation?”

“At the moment, nothing, however Lord Neverember has been in touch with Lovraic and made him aware of the situation, the likelihood of work in the near future now seems more… pressing. We appreciate you have commitments to Sildar and Phandalin but when your business there is finished if you can come back to see us at the Sword Guild we may have need of your services.”

“We will be back.” Fyvel assured her. “And on our return we will make sure to present ourselves to Lovraic and see what services can be rendered.”

“Thank you.” With that the elf walked away without a backward glance. Fyvel turned to Darvin “Apologies if I stepped on your toes there. I know this city, I know its workings, I thought it would be more helpful if I spoke with her.”

“Not a problem.” Darvin replied with an easy smile and with that the group set off from Neverwinter.

 The journey passed relatively uneventfully for the group as they followed the Neverwinter River toward distant Thundertree, a hard days travel would get them there in a day and as such they wasted little time. As they walked Fyvel filled the group in on the history with Mount Hotenow having exploded causing the devastation which even now Neverwinter was still recovering from and which has caused the problems with the Sons of Alagondar, the royal family having died in the conflagration caused from eruption, and their clashes with Lord Neverember.

As evening set the group came within sight of Thundertree and began to set their camp, as they did Hendel was looking around curiously.

“What’s wrong?” Fyvel asked.

“I’m looking for the tree.”

“What tree?”

“The tree with lightning coming off it, causing lots of noise.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Well it is called Thundertree.” Hendel replied earnestly, everyone groaned.

The night passed as uneventfully as the day had the only strangeness being the almost unnatural silence and stillness of the countryside surrounding Thundertree. As the group rose in the morning they were unnaturally subdued and headed off into Thundertree this state of affair was, inevitably, not going to last long.

As they reached the outskirts of the town there was a sign, somewhat bedraggled, nailed to a wooden post which warned of the danger of Zombies and Plant Monsters being present in the area and that people should stay away.

As Hendel was staring quizzically at the sign he asked. “Why are we here again?”

“Are you fucking kidding me!” Screamed Darvin, shocking everyone with his outburst. “I make all these notes.” He continued pulling a dog eared notebook from his pocket which he waved in the air around his head although trying to put out flames. “I share them with you…”

“I actually haven’t seen them.” Galath offered but was cut off.

“I share them with you!” Darvin almost shrieked. “And no one bothers to fucking read them, I mean why do I bother? Why!?” No one was forthcoming at the site of the notebook wielding half elf frothing at the mouth. “We are here to find Reidoth!”

“Who…” Hendel asked awkwardly.

“The druid, Reidoth the fucking druid, the one who Quelline Alderleaf sent us to find.”

“Who…” Someone began and Darvin screamed, by this point he was gnawing on the corners of the notebook.

“You know the one with the Halfling son…” Galath remarked but was quickly cut off by an indignant Hendel.

“I didn’t do anything with a Halfling!”

“So you say…”

“Listen!” Darvin shouted, wielding his notebook like a battleaxe and waving it in the groups collective faces. “Quelline Alderleaf said to come here to see Reidoth, because there’s a dragon.”

“Oh the dragon!” Hendel began the light blossoming behind his dull eyes.

“Shut up Hendel!” Darvin shouted. “She sent us to see the druid, about a dragon, and Dendrar about her dead husband.”

“Was he the dead guy…”

“SHUT UP HENDEL!” Darvin threw the notebook at him, it fluttered into a puddle and Darvin looked although he were about to explode. “I don’t know why I bother with my notebook if no one reads it. I don’t know why I bother.” Darvin now looked although he was about to sob by this stage.

“I’ve read it.” Fyvel offered as Hendel and Galath shot him a look suggesting he was the particularly unappealing class swat at this moment in time. “Well I have.”

“Come on let’s just go.” Darvin sniffed picking up his now damp notebook and giving it a shake and storming off up the road into the town. (DM Note; this is actually a characterized version of Dan’s (Darvin) out of character rant about his notes being ignored which was hilarious)

Darvin stormed off up the road with the group somewhat sheepishly following along behind, Thundertree itself was a ruin, most buildings were tumbled messes of overgrown weeds and young trees the odd structure which was whole and hale few and far between. Above it all sat a large tower which dominated the village as it watched over the collection of houses.

Eriden picked the first building on his right and wandered in for a look, as he disappeared from view there was a shouted course and a moment later Eriden came stumbling from the building swarmed by, what looked like, a few foot high small plants which were biting and clawing at him.

“Help!” He shouted, the group reacted charging forward apart from Hendel, who laughed.

The Twig Blights were dispatched with few problems, the last of them tried to flee into another ruined building close by and in a rare display of decency Hendel followed it in.

“We didn’t mean to attack you, we only wanted to talk.”

The Blight stopped and was swaying back and forth cautiously watching Hendel, after a few moments it let out an ear piercing scream and from the sides of the building came over half a dozen more of the creatures who dived atop Hendel bearing him to the floor in a bundle of dwarven curses and screeching plants.

Once again the creatures were dealt with efficiently apart from in Hendel’s case who stood up and stumbled to lean against the wall. “Little bastards.” He said. “Last time I try to help anyone.”

“Hendel.” Darvin shouted from outside. “Over the road, that looks like an inn, that should help you recover. How about you go in first?”

“No problem.” Hendel stumbled over the road, knocking open the door he was confronted by the sight of four zombies who shambled toward him making grabs for him.

Hendel sighed and threw his handaxe across the room thumping it into the zombie sending it slamming into the wall. (DM Note; this is one of only a few actual hits from Hendel throwing his axe that we have ever seen)

Fyvel went to work launching a couple of bolts into the inn which thumped into the nearest zombie sending it sprawling to the floor and Darvin muttered some magical phrases and suddenly part of the floor around one of the zombies burst into flame as a bonfire.

Eriden dived into combat, receiving a whack from a zombie for his troubles as Gavin lumbered round the outside of the inn smashing the back door down and roaring at the site of the zombies. Darvin had followed him round and was peering past the bear to see what was going on.

“What can you see?” Fyvel shouted.

“Probably just see in the bears back door by the looks of things.” Shouted Eriden in return.

Fyvel stepped into the breach and fired his crossbows flooring the last of the zombies, as he did so Darvin walked through the flaming back door and as he stepped through the flames clicked his fingers and the flames flickered out around his feet. He surveyed the scene of devastation. “Good work lads, Hendel, we’ll keep you on door opening duty.”

  The group set off through the ruined village, constantly alert for the sight of angry twigs, especially Hendel whose axe never left his hand. The rest of the village was as unappealing as the first two buildings they had seen however as they forged southward they came across a building on their right which seemed a lot sturdier than the others in the village with an iron banded door barring entry.

“Want me to cut in down?” Hendel asked readying his axe and starting forward.

“We could just knock.” Fyvel suggested.

Hendel puffed out his cheeks but waited as Darvin knocked on the door. “Hello?” He shouted.

“Hello.” A voice responded, it sounded like an older voice but was still firm.

“Is there anyone in there?”

“Of course there fucking is or we wouldn’t be speaking.” Darvin considered this.

“Can I smash the door down now?” Hendel asked again.

“Who are you?” The voice from inside demanded.

“We are a group of adventurers…”

“Which group?”

“Why does everyone want to know our name?” Eriden whispered.

“Our name is to be determined.”

“Strange name.”

“No it’s… we are a group of adventurers, we were sent here by Quelline Alderleaf who suggested you may be able to help us with some answers to rumors of a dragon in the area?”

Silence.

“Can we come in.”

The door creaked open and the group walked in, Hendel grumbling about not being able to smash the door down, and inside was an elderly human male who introduced himself as Reidoth the druid.

“So you’re looking for a dragon?” He asked.

“I’m going to kill it with my axe.” Hendel declared proudly.

“Sorry about him.” Eriden apologized, slipping into the language of druidic. “He hit his head as a child, we look after him.”

Reidoth nodded understandingly and turned to Hendel, speak very loudly and deliberately. “Yes. There. Is. A. Dragon. Here.”

Hendel glared at him and turned to Galath. “Is he taking the piss?”

Eriden and Reidoth went back to talking druidic and discussed the situation currently troubling Thundertree and Reidoth’s role in it all.

“I’m here just to keep people away. The Enclave isn’t as… pro-active as I would like.”

“I know the feeling.” Eriden agreed.

“I can’t clear away a dragon by myself, or a village full of zombies and spiders and now some stupid bloody arses dressed all in black who seem to spend every day hanging round the old tower where the dragon is holed up waving gold about. I can’t deal with it all myself so for now I will just keep others out of trouble and do what little I can.”

Eriden explained this all back to Darvin who commented. “It would be polite if he spoke common.”

“He’s a little eccentric and he doesn’t trust Hendel.”

“Fair enough.” Darvin responded shooting Hendel a look who was doing test swings with his axe through the air in the small building. “So what do we do?”

“The Dendrar building is on the other side of town.”

“These black cloaked folk sound interesting.” Added Fyvel.

“I want to kill the dragon.” Hendel added.

“We can’t take a dragon.” Fyvel cut in. “It’s a bloody big dragon.”

“We can just clear the town of trouble and sneak off.” Galath suggested.

“Ok.” Darvin cut in across everyone. “We get what we came for and we bugger off, we cannot deal with a dragon.” He continued before Hendel could cut in. “We stealth through the village, get what we came for and get out.”

“Yeah, we can ‘stealth’” Hendel agreed.

“You’re going to ‘fall over’ at the wrong time aren’t you Hendel.” Darvin asked exasperated.

“I wouldn’t do such a thing.”

“Can we not just put a leash on him?” Eriden asked.

Darvin turned back to Reidoth. “Thank you for the information, we will see what we can find in the village and deal with an threats we come across.”

Reidoth accepted this with a nod as the group set off once again.

  Outside a little up the road was another ruined building and Darvin tried to stealthily sneak inside, he went over on a tree root and tumbled to the middle of the floor with a thump (DM Note; another session, another critical stealth fail) he sat up rubbing his skull but before he could say anything another horde of the little Twig Blights came sprinting out of the darkened corners and attacked him in a swirling melee of cutting branches,

The group piled in and quickly dealt with the offending Twig Blights pulling the cut up Darvin back to his feet. “Smooth.” Hendel muttered smarmily.

As the group went back outside, Darvin’s ego bruised more than his body, further down the road was a web which stretched across the street between the tree and the buildings blocking the way.

“I’ll go around.” Galath said and disappeared around the corner of the building to sneak around.

Taking a less stealthy route Hendel picked up a stone and threw it off the web. Almost immediately on impact two huge spiders came clambering out of the ruined building and skittered toward the group, a third came out through the roof and raced toward the previously stealthy Galath.

The group responded with alacrity with Fyvel firing in bolts, Darvin sent magical missiles lancing toward the creatures as Eriden and Hendel charged into combat.

Fyvel efficiently dispatched one of the creatures on the street as Galath was webbed still and the creature dived upon him, ripping a chunk from him with its poisonous fangs. Galath reeled backward in pain. He pointed his rapier at the creature. “You’re going to die for this.” He declared and dived into combat with Gavin alongside him.

Hendel slammed his axe into the skull of the spider on the northern side of the building whilst after a flickering exchange of blows Galath cut down the spider which had bitten him. “Revenge!” He shouted and as he walked away he turned to Gauvain. “Eat him.” He commanded.

  After skirting the web the group came across the Dendrar shop and quickly found the necklace they had been offered as a reward, if they could claim it, Eriden picked it up and whistled, it looked expensive.

“We could give it Darvin.” Galath said. “With him wearing his dress he will be so pretty.”

“Fuck off!” Darvin snapped. “I’m still wearing pants as  I always have been.”

Checking inside what looked like a smithy the group came across two more zombies which were quickly dispatched but not before Darvin had set off another bonfire inside to set fire to one of the zombies. Darvin gestured to put the flames out, Eriden, feeling mischievous used druid craft to reignite it before setting off after the rest of the group.

Further beyond this was another building which was in the same state at the building that Reidoth had been hiding out in and the group eyed it curiously from a distance.

“So what are we doing?” Darvin asked.

“It could be those black cloaked figures that Reidoth mentioned.” Eriden added.

“Well let’s not send Hendel in, he stinks and will cause no end of trouble.” Fyvel put in.

As the group sniggered Hendel hefted his axe and walked up to the door, two handed he smashed it into the door sending chunks of wood and splinters spinning through the air in an explosion of noise. He stuck his head through the door to see a room full of a half dozen bemused and part scared looking cultists in black, dragon shaped masks and black robes.

“Here’s Hendel!” He boomed as his leering head poked through the axe ripped hole in the door with a crazy grin on his face.

The rest of the group grabbed Hendel by the shoulders and dragged him out of the door holding him back as he struggled.

“Who are you?!” A voice inside demanded the voice seeming unsure whether to confident or concerned.

Thinking on his feet Darvin declared. “We are friends of the dragon.”

“We’re what!?” Hendel exploded and was cut off with a gasp as Fyvel stamped on his foot.

“Are you friends of the dragon?”

“Of course we are.” Darvin assured them in honeyed tones. “Ignore the dwarf, he’s a little simple.”

“Most dwarfs are.” The figure could be heard to add and Hendel’s eyes boggled as he was dragged backward by Fyvel.

“We come to treat with the dragon, we have gifts for him.”

“We have what!” Hendel demanded but Fyvel managed to get a hand over his mouth to muffle him somewhat. “What the fuck is he talking about!?”

“We have diamonds and gold.” The voice from inside shouted. “Perhaps we could combine our gifts and lure the dragon forth to treat with him.”

“Treat with him!” Hendel shouted.

“Quiet with your noise!” Fyvel hissed.

“Treat with him!” Hendel hissed back. “I’ll treat him to my axe to his back!”

Darvin turned around and shouted. “Will you shut up Hendel!”

“What was that?” The figure inside asked.

“Nothing, just shutting up the fool dwarf.”

Hendel subsided somewhat muttering to himself at the ways in which he would kill the dragon, ticking them off on his fingers.

“A sacrifice would be good, that would be sure to attract the dragon.” The figure inside suggested.

“What were you thinking?” Darvin asked.

“Well that dwarf, he would make a fat sacrifice for the dragon.”

“What!” Hendel exploded once again and him and Galath set to arguing with one another whilst Fyvel helped hold him back. “Now I’m a fat sacrifice! Let’s just go in there, kill them all and take their diamonds then kill the dragon.”

“We are friends of all dragons!” Darvin continued raising the volume to drown out the incredulous Hendel. “That sounds like a good plan.”

“I’m not being sacrificed!” Hendel hissed.

“Hendel you idiot.” Eriden cut in. “We pretend to sacrifice you, they come outside, we trick them, kill them and take their diamonds.”

“Let’s just kill them now.” Hendel said, exasperated, and hefted his axe causing the other to panic and hold him back once again.

“Give me a moment.” Darvin said to the cultists. “I will make this happen.” Darvin made gestures and muttered some magic phrases, under his breath he hissed. “Hendel just pretend to be asleep for the Gods sake!”

“I don’t like this, I’m not being sacrificed to anyone.”

“We are not really going to sacrifice you.” Darvin hissed back sounding exasperated.

“Come on.” Fyvel pleaded.

“Fine.” Hendel acceded, glaring balefully at them all. “But bring my fucking axe.” With that Hendel took a theatrical swoon and hit the floor with a thump.

“What was that?” The voice came from inside.

“We are just binding his hands, he sleeps.” Darvin shouted.

“My hands!?” Hendel demanded. “I didn’t sign up for this, fuck off!”

He began to rise but Fyvel put a hand on his chest. “It will be a fake not, don’t worry.” Fyvel assured him.

“If anything goes wrong, it’s your fault!” Hendel hissed. “You and that stupid bloody half elf.”

Hendel let his hands be bound and Darvin shouted at the cultists to come forth. Seven of them emerged looking somewhat cautious and one, clearly the leader, came over to Hendel and looked at his ‘sleeping’ form which he gave a kick. Hendel managed to not sit up and rip his leg off.

“Come.” The figure declared. “Show me your treasures.” Darvin acquiesced and showed him some of the gem stones they had in a pouch, the cultist nodded happily. “Come along” He declared and the group set off for the tower before the trap could be sprung.

“Shit.” Darvin whispered to Fyvel. “I meant to ambush them outside, not go to the dragons tower!”

“What’s happening?” Hendel hissed.

“Nothing, nothing.”

“Why are we moving, I thought we were killing them not sacrificing me!”

Darvin turned to Eriden. “Can you sort them out?”

Eriden responded quickly and muttering some magic phrases and an ice knife shot through the air, exploding in the midst of the cultists ice sprayed everywhere but somehow the cultists all emerged unscathed from the explosion of ice.

“We are betrayed!” The cult leader yelled and his fellows drew their swords. Before they could react Darvin muttered some magical phrases and two of the group of cultists looked confused before turning on their leader and diving on him, bearing him to the floor.

“No you fools!” He shrieked. “Kill them!”

“I’ve got this.” Fyvel declared and calmly drew his crossbows and aimed at two cultists, pulling the trigger there were two hollow clicks. Fyvel looked down to see both crossbows unloaded in his hands. “Oh fuck.” He muttered (DM Note; it is not one of our sessions without a critical failure in attack)

Hendel wriggled out of his bonds and ran forward, hefting his hand axe he launched it across the clearing at one of the cultists. “Sacrifice me will you!?” He screamed but so enraged he was the axe went off course and instead clipped Eriden sending him sprawling.

Galath drew bead and slew one of the cult members as Eriden bashed in the skull of another and Darvin a third. Galath stepped up and put an arrow in the head of the pinned leader and suddenly the remaining cultists fell to their knees begging for mercy.

After their attempted swaying of the dragon was revealed to be nothing to do with the goings on at Phandalin the group, in a strange slant toward mercy, let the two remaining cultists flee the scene.

“I really thought you were going to sacrifice me there.” Hendel said mopping his brow.

“We wouldn’t do that…” Darvin replied unconvincingly.

  The group, still cautious of alerting the dragon, set off stealthily for the town square, in the middle say a wooden statue of a figure holding a spear.

“It’s Dwon!” Hendel shouted laughing and after a point from Darvin walked up to the nearest door and slammed his axe into it with a crunch sending it to the floor revealing a gang of zombies.

”I’ve found…” Hendel began but before he could finish there was a deafening crash and spinning round the group saw a shower of sparks and a billow of smoke hurtling off up into the air.

“I thought I had put that fire out.” Darvin mused.

“I may have re-lit it.” Eriden said not looking anyone in the eye.

A moment later there was a deafening roar, the group turned round and above them, rearing on the lip of the tower was a huge Green Dragon.

“The dragon!” Hendel shouted joyfully.

  (DM Note; a good session with a nice mixture of role play and combat. There were a couple of genuinely hilarious moments with Darvin having his notebook meltdown and Hendel genuinely incredulous that they were speaking to the cultists and not cutting their heads off. Half the group (myself included) were on the verge of tears of laughter with how it all played out. A great session!)