# Episode 6: Cult Attack ___ The following is the final encounter from episode 5, “The Cult Strikes Back”, which takes place while the party are on-board a skyship during episode 6, “Metallic Dragons, Arise”. ## Background There is no way that Otaaryliakkarnos could fly the 600 miles to the Nether Mountains from Waterdeep in two days,¹ and so she has arranged for the party to travel in style: on board an airship to Everlund. The *Thunderbolt* is the fastest airship in the North, able to sustain 12 miles per hour (faster with favourable winds). The journey is expected to take a little over two days, giving the party some downtime. A day into the journey, the Cult of the Dragon will mount its most ambitious assault yet. A flight of young red dragons led by their father, Cinderwing, and escorted by a force of veteran cultists will intercept the *Thunderbolt* somewhere above the Sumber Hills near Red Larch. ## Skyship Battle The attack comes under the cover of a storm that rapidly approaches, seemingly from nowhere. The speed of the approaching front prompts the captain to decide to go through it, knowing that trying to land while under the storm would expose the *Thunderbolt* to potential downdrafts that could smash the vessel into the ground. ### General Features The following are the general features of the area. ***Vision.*** Sheets of rain and thick patches of cloud hamper vision. Everything above deck is lightly obscured (*PHB* 183). ***Wind.*** Gusts of wind blast at random within the storm front. Above deck, Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing have disadvantage. ***Sounds.*** Rushing wind, the hammering of rain against the ship, and roaring thunder limits Wisdom (Perception) checks based on hearing to a maximum of 60 feet while above deck. ### Allies The following allies can assist the characters during the fight. #### Airship Crew The following are the crew of the *Thunderbolt*. ***Captain Gwendolyn.*** The hardened master of the ship is a female human **veteran**. ***Oakley.*** The first mate of the *Thunderbolt* is an owlish male human **mage**. ***Crew.*** Eight individuals of varying races and genders make up the remainder of the *Thunderbolt’s* crew. They use the **guard** stat block. #### Otaaryliakkarnos Elia is an **ancient silver dragon** with the following additional features that increase her challenge rating to 24 (62,000 XP): ***Special Equipment.*** Otaaryliakkarnos carries a *wand of lightning bolts* and she wears a *ring of evasion*. ***Innate Spellcasting.*** Otaaryliakkarnos’ spellcasting ability is Charisma (save DC 21). She can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components: 1/day each: *banishment*, *greater restoration*, *heal*, *locate object*, *plane shift*, *suggestion* ***Spellcasting.*** Otaaryliakkarnos is an 11th-level spellcaster. Her spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 19, +11 to hit with spell attacks). She has the following wizard spells prepared:

Cantrips (at will): *mending*, *message*, *minor arcana*,* *minor illusion*, *ray of frost*

1st level (4 slots): *absorb elements*, *comprehend languages*, *detect magic*, *identify*, *shield*

2nd level (3 slots): *blur*, *detect thoughts*

3rd level (3 slots): *counterspell*, *major image*, *nondetection*

4th level (3 slots): *greater invisibility*, *ice storm*

5th level (2 slots): *scrying*

6th level (1 slots): *chain lightning*, *wall of ice*

___ * This spell is *light*, *mage hand*, and *prestidigitation* rolled into a single cantrip. ### Enemies The following enemies are intent on destroying the party. #### Cultists The following are the forces of the Cult of the Dragon. ***Wyvern riders.*** Four **dragonwings** and one **dragonsoul**, all armed with crossbows (+5 to hit) and each riding a **wyvern** harass the flanks of the ship. #### Dragons The following are the allies of the cult. ***Cinderwing.*** This **adult red dragon** leads the assault from the front, eager to claim the glory of destroying the heroes. ***Red dragons.*** Three **young red dragons**, all children of Cinderwing, support their father in the attack. ### The *Thunderbolt* The *Thunderbolt* is an airship with the following features. #### Armaments The *Thunderbolt* is equipped with three ballistae (*DMG* 255), with the first mounted on the bow of the main deck and the others on the port and starboard sides of the balloon on special platforms. Additionally, an eldritch cannon has been mounted on deck. The cannon uses the statistics of a **cannon** (*DMG* 255) except that it deals force damage, has 10 charges (regaining 1d6 + 4 daily at dawn), requires that you must expend one charge to fire it, and you can expend 2 charges to fire an overcharged shot with the following profile: ***Overcharged Shot.*** *Ranged Weapon Attack:* +6 to hit, range 600/2,400 ft., one target. *Hit:* 50 (8d10) force damage. When you roll a 1 or a 2 on a damage die for this shot, you can re-roll it. You must take the new roll. \page #### Propulsion The ship uses a special orb similar to a Navigation Orb (*SKT* 235) as well as the heat generated by magical flame in order to fly. These systems are redundant and function independ-ently in order to ensure the safe flight of the ship in the event that one method fails. To fly horizontally, the *Thunderbolt* finds an air layer where the winds suit the intended direction of travel. It has a safe altitude of up to 1,300 fathoms (7,800 feet). The ship can ascend or descend at a rate of 3 miles per hour. #### Structure The airship has an AC of 13, 300 hit points, and a damage threshold of 20. The balloon has an AC of 11 and 50 hit points. The balloon is immune to bludgeoning damage and has resistance to nonmagical slashing, piercing, and fire damage. ### Regional Effects On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), roll a d20. On a roll of 15 or higher, roll a d10 and consult the Regional Effects table to determine what event occurs. ##### Regional Effects | d10
    result     | Effect | |:----:|:-------------| | 1-5 | ***Evasive Manoeuvres.*** The *Thunderbolt* makes a jarring motion to throw off attackers. Creatures on board that are concentrating on a spell must succeed a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or lose concentration. However, creatures on board the *Thunderbolt* have advantage on their saving throw against a dragon’s breath weapon attacks until initiative count 20 of the next round. | | 6-7 | ***Heavy Precipitation.*** A major torrent of rain buffets the area. Wisdom (Perception) checks based on sight are limited to a maximum of 30 feet while above deck. | | 8-9 | ***Strong Wind.*** The *Thunderbolt* lurches against a strong wind. Creatures on board that are concentrating on a spell must succeed a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or lose concentra-tion.
   Additionally, ranged weapon attacks have disadvantage until initiative count 20 on the next round. Additionally, creatures on board that are concentrating on a spell must succeed a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or lose concentration.
   As well, flying creatures must succeed a DC 15 Strength saving throw or have their flying speed reduced by half. If they fail this save by more than 10, their speed is instead reduced to 0.² If a creature is riding a flying mount (whether a living creature or an item such as a *broom of flying*), they must succeed a DC 10 Strength (Athletics) check or fall off the object unless they are somehow secured to it. | | 10 | ***Lightning.*** A stroke of lightning arcs through the area. Roll a d20 for every creature on the field. On a result of 15 or higher, that creature must make a DC 20 Dexterity saving throw. They take 35 (10d6) lightning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. | ## Notes ¹ A dragon flies at 80 ft. per round. This gives a per-hour speed of 9.1 miles. Flying is hard work, and if the dragon is carrying a bunch of adventurers she must spend 1 hour resting for every 3 hours of flight (*DMG* 119). The dragon must also sleep, so some hours must be reserved for rest. If we assume that the party travels for 9 hours a day with two 1-hour-long rests over this time, then we can determine that the party can travel 63.6 miles per day. At this rate, it will take just over 9 days to travel from Waterdeep to the Nether Mountains, not two days. Now, this already would require that Otaaryliakkarnos make Constitution saving throws for forced marching (the travel day exceeds 8 hours). If we really push her by having her move at a fast pace (add ¹/₃ to the total speed, *PHB* 182) and having her fly for 12 hours straight with no breaks, she still only makes 145.45 miles a day, making it a 4-and-a-bit-day journey. Yes, we considered the Coriolis effect for flying against the orbital rotation of the planet. No, it does not have any significant impact on the journey. The atmosphere moves with the planet. One flaw in this calculation is that it does not take into account the added drag from the extra passengers riding the dragon. Those wearing relatively aerodynamic armour and who hold themselves close to the dragon’s body may not add much drag, but if the party has spellcasters wearing loose clothing, this can impact the ability of the dragon to make good speed. Of course, the argument could also be made that the dragon is able to build up more speed as she flies, going beyond her tactical speed, as would a hawk to reach a typical flying speed of 100 miles per hour (as opposed to 7 miles per hour). Supposing that Otaaryliakkarnos’ maximum speed is 80 miles per hour (based on estimates for the largest known flying creature in history, the Quetzalcoatlus), then a two-day journey is entirely possible, although likely to be extremely tiring for the dragon and quite uncomfortable for the passengers. Either way, it is more comfortable for everyone to go by air ship. ___ ² Remember that a flying creature that has its speed reduced to 0 falls unless it has the ability to hover, as indicated in the Speed section in its stat block, or is being held aloft by magic such as the *fly* spell.

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