Tooth and Claw

"**Tooth and Claw**" (1x17) is the 17th episode of Dun-Johns and Dragons.

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

After being first framed and imprisoned for serial murder and then escaping imprisonment, the party set out under cover of night to confront and kill the real Baelor Butcher, a powerful figure by the name of Lord Stanton Owsley. Upon arrival, Owsley seemed unsurprised to see them, and as they fought, after only a few hits, he cracked and disintegrated into ice. They investigated the rest of the house and found a hidden trapdoor leading to a huge, swampy underground cavern, wherein they encountered an enormous Black Dragon.

### **Part I**

The dragon initially uses its Frightful Presence to Frighten several party members, though they all manage to shake it off within one turn. It also makes terrifying use of its acid breath, which over the course of the battle knocks every party member apart from Zander unconscious at various times. It also makes liberal use of its bite and claw attacks, and its Legendary wing and tail attacks (which it can do at the end of any player’s turn). The water in the pools also periodically wells up and washes players towards/into the pools.

In the first part of the battle, Stone casts Silence on the dragon, in case it can cast spells. They then focus mostly on health buffs for the party via Twilight Sanctuary, though they also cast Faerie Fire to make the dragon more vulnerable to attack. Dugluss makes good use of his Thunder Gauntlets and uses Folar to land a Force Strike, though Folar is quickly dispatched by the Dragon's acid breath. Later, he casts Mirror Image, leading to four Duglusses running about the place. Father Buckitt, who had been left behind to guard the top of the rope, spends a couple turns shimmying down, but when the Dragon comes close enough, he takes a flying leap onto the its back, landing a massive hit with his hammer, Thunderous Smite, and Divine Smite; he also uses Inspiring Smite to grant temporary health buffs to Magpie and Yoolna.

Magpie initially wants to befriend the Dragon and tries to use her Scroll of Enlarge/Reduce to shrink it down to pet-size, but is unsuccessful. The dragon, for its part, responds, "I require nothing but the sport of your death." She later scores some damage with Hellish Rebuke and Burning Hands. Yoolna makes a few rapier attacks but can't seem to land a hit; she does land a blow with her Soul's Well Dagger, which she leaves lodged, allowing her to deal damage to the dragon each turn and gain equivalent healing for herself. Zander casts Blink, allowing him to phase into the ethereal plane between turns to avoid attack. He lands an Eldritch Blast and lays a Hex on the Dragon, and also lands a hit with Carrot.

Early on in the combat, during one of the wellings-up of the pools, a figure emerges from the water; as they stand up, coughing and spluttering, the party recognize Shadowscale, the Dragonborn they met previously in the Netherkeep. Shadowscale comments, "You have chosen a strange place for a fight today." They join in the battle and spend the first part mostly healing, reviving Yoolna, Stone, and Dugluss all after one of the Dragon's acid attacks.

Shortly after Shadowscale appears, Phillip, the canary given to the party by the beggar outside, pops out from behind Yoolna's shield, and in a strangely deep voice, says, "Perhaps I can be of some assistance." He grows larger and larger, feathers turning to scales, and reveals himself as a Gold Dragon. He joins them in attacking the Black Dragon, using first a blast of magical energy, then bite and claw attacks.

### **Part II**

As the battle continues, the party's luck begins to fail. Stone is focused entirely on healing, continuing the Twilight Sanctuary and also casting Aura of Vitality. Dugluss makes various lightning attacks, but none of them land. Father Buckitt makes another hammer attack, enhanced with Divine Favor and Divine Smite, then also turns to healing. Magpie does land an impressive attack: using Father Buckitt and Yoolna as stepping stones, she leaps onto the Dragon's head and grabs its horns, then stabs it in one eye with her sword and shoots it in the other with her crossbow. Later, she tries to attack with the Wand of Wonder, but by this point the Dragon is out of range and the spell backfires, nearly petrifying her, though she manages to resist.

Yoolna does some more damage with the still-lodged Soul's Well Dagger, and makes more attempts with her rapier and Boomerang Dagger, but the dragon's hide is too tough, and after drawing the Dragon’s attention one time too many, it knocks her unconscious with a psychic attack that looks to her like dozens of grasping hands pulling her down into the mud. Zander, still phasing in and out of the ethereal plane, fires another Eldritch Blast, but misses, and as the Dragon moves out of range, he isn't able to get close enough for another attack. Shadowscale continues their support, casting Haste on Stone; then Longstrider on both Stone and Dugluss; but they aren't able to do much with the extra speed. Phillip continues harrying the Dragon, who at one point dives, apparently fleeing, back into the pool from which he'd emerged. Phillip, covered in scratches and missing scales from the Dragon’s attacks, says, "Death or glory — this fiend does not live!" and dives after him.

The rest of the party look around for a moment, nonplussed; Stone and Buckitt take the opportunity to dish out some healing; Magpie tries to Message Phillip, but gets no response. Then they hear an immense bubbling from a different pool. Steam rises from the surface and they see an orange glow under the water, and presently, the huge Black Dragon bursts out of the water, Phillip's limp body in its mouth. It spits Phillip on the ground and begins making its way toward the far end of the cavern.

Stone and Father Buckitt do some quick healing on Phillip, and the party makes various attacks against the Black Dragon. Phillip gets to his feet and says, "This evil scourge cannot be allowed to live. We must press on!" They all try to give chase, but as the Dragon reaches the far end of the cavern, he breathes acid onto the stone ceiling and begins trying to claw his way out, causing cracks to spread; giant chunks of rock begin falling, damaging several party members.

Shadowscale suggests they all leave the way both they and the dragon came in, through the submerged tunnels. Phillip agrees that the day may be lost, and it is better to survive to fight another; he says if they hold on tight, he can carry them through the tunnels.The rest of the party converges on Phillip, except for Yoolna; afraid at the thought of traveling through the water, she instead keeps running after the Dragon. However, at that moment, the cracked ceiling breaks fully open and the dragon disappears into the morning light.

## **Featured Characters**

### **Player Characters**

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

### **Returning**

* Phillip
* Shadowscale