On the Cliff Edge

"**On the Cliff Edge**" (1x08) is the 8th episode of Dun-Johns and Dragons.

### **Previously on *Dun-Johns and Dragons***

After getting a tip from The Penumbra about the missing Captain Olo’s recent whereabouts and having a shopping day in Westerhaven, the party set off southward. After making camp for the night, they were attacked by two demonic creatures, which they dispatched handily. Later, Pebble the stray dog rejoined the group. In the morning, they continued on toward the Alabaster Cliffs.

### **Part I**

The party reaches the southeastern coast and find themselves on a pebbly beach along the Alabaster Cliffs. Dugluss notices that some of the rocks aren’t natural rocks, but rather pieces of a very old humanoid statue. Magpie plays with Pebble while the rest of the party makes sandcastles. They continue walking south along the beach, scrambling across a rough, rocky area, then come to a split where one path leads down toward the sea while the other leads up along the face of the cliffs. Stone guides them along the difficult climb; Zander struggles but the others manage to help him along. Yoolna has a moment of panic at the height, but manages to recover. Magpie lends her the Ring of Feather Falling, but due to not being attuned to it, Yoolna can’t use it.

They reach a wide ledge and stop to examine their map. The cliff continues upwards from that point, and there are pale figures along its edge, which appear to be statues. Upon investigation, they are unusually intricately carved; one is a human wearing the armor of the Braven Fist, standing in a defensive position, who they suspect might be Captain Olo. Among the other “statues” are a female half-elf dressed for travel, a stout human male who appears to be a stone mason; a strange non-human creature which appears to be assembled from parts of other animals, and a half-orc standing in battle position. As the others examine the statues, Father Buckitt hears some rocks falling along the cliff edge and Stone notices movement. Magpie uses the Scroll of Polymorph to change herself into a White Dragon Wyrmling as the others prepare attacks, and two basilisks emerge from the rocks.

Zander spends the battle casting Eldritch Blast from a safe distance. Yoolna, not wanting to risk eye contact, stays ducked behind her shield, making some wild swings with her rapier but also doing some damage. Magpie, as the dragon, circles above breathing icy blasts at the creatures. Stone does some healing and also attacks with Sacred Flame. Dugluss shoots blasts from his lightning launcher. Father Buckitt attacks with his hammer and Thunderous Smite. Despite some tries from the basilisks, no one fails a con save and gets petrified, and both basilisks as well as a third one that emerged mid-battle are soon dispatched.

### **Part II**

Magpie, still in dragon form, enjoys herself flying around nearby. Father Buckitt asks for a ride and she obliges. Dugluss claims the basilisk tail as a souvenir for avenging his uncle, who was killed by a basilisk. Yoolna tries speaking to a statue, but receives no response. Dugluss remembers that basilisks eat their stone victims, which turn back into their non-petrified states to be digested in the basilisks’ stomachs, and so the acid from their stomachs would be able to restore petrified people. Stone, Yoolna, and Dugluss harvest two basilisk stomachs for this use. Dugluss also takes a small sample for research. Magpie takes the Ring of Feather Falling back from Yoolna. Zander examines the statue that appears to be multiple creatures sewn together; it has six legs, two heads (one lizard and one from a wolf or dog-like creature), and a long, reptilian tail. They load the statues into the Portable Hole mostly without incident, except for the stone mason who suffers a broken leg, and head back to the city.

Pebble is still following the group, but seems nervous after seeing Magpie transform into a dragon and won’t approach. They make camp and Dugluss takes another session with the crystal, during which he meets the soul of the arcanist, who offers to help him learn more about the crystal in exchange for help freeing his trapped soul. Back on watch, Magpie notices a line of something in the distance blocking the moonlight. She tries to point it out to Stone when he comes to take over watch, but he doesn’t see anything. When Xander takes over for the third watch, he can’t see anything either. The night otherwise passes uneventfully.

## **Featured Characters**

### **Player Characters**

* Dugluss Deep-Forge
* Father Buckitt
* Magpie
* Stone
* Yoolna
* Zander Brushspark