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The Dam in West Rustoch – Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition

Hello today I present you a Dungeons and Dragons story.  This is written by Micheal Rovinski.

Ephram is an Aarakocra, commonly referred to as Bird-Folk, Bird People, or Avian Humanoids. At a young age, he joined a monastery to learn the way of martial arts, and once he learned enough he was sent on a pilgrimage. During his pilgrimage, Ephram seeks out those in need of help. It is a part of his martial philosophy, the Way of the Open Palm; a martial philosophy considered the key to maintaining harmony with nature, one’s surroundings, and the place that one has with the Celestial Bureaucracy.

Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition

Ephram. In order to stay in symbiosis with nature and one’s surroundings, a follower of this philosophy is expected to actively assist in lessening chaos, resisting and removing tyranny (both from without and within), and providing assistance in lessening the burdens of others. Ephram travels took him through a town called One Stone. It gained this name, as one might expect, from a natural obelisk found in the center of the town. While there, Ephram heard tales of how in the past month, the waters had receded drastically.

This caused fishing, the town’s primary source of trade, to take an equivalent hit. There have been a handful of villagers who have gone to try and solve this dire quandary, but none have returned. On top of that, marauders have taken to harassing the area, requiring any able people to stay close to the town.

“Well, as the old proverb goes ‘Examine your world from all angles, and you will see the interconnectedness of all things. Even that which is humble can be the key to greater things’”. And as quickly as he finished, he took to the sky and soared high until the thermal columns would grant him no more altitude. With a magnificent view, he took in the entirety of the land that made up West Rustoch.

From his vantage point, he could see that the river that used to run alongside the town, had shrunken and followed it to a point where he could see a dam had been constructed, as well as the new river created. Ephram could not fathom what mind would have crafted such a structure.

Sure dams have been used in the past to help people live with nature, but this did not divert a river to improve quality of life. From what he could see, it served only to divert the river to a more developed settlement. This was an indefensible altering of nature solely for personal (and more likely financial) gain.

Ephram landed far enough away from the dam that no one there would witness him and send scouts or worse. Ephram next began his way to the dam, thinking of ways that he might demolish the dam. It didn’t take him long to realize that he alone might not possess enough martial might.

Still, it would be beneficial to get a look at the place, learn its occupier’s identity, and identify any structural weak points. So enmeshed was he in his thoughts, he almost walked into a small campfire. Seconds before the flames could burn his precious feathers, he pivoted and flapped his wings to evade that fate.

Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition

While he succeeded in avoiding the flames, he was met by another possible threat: a wood elf with a long bow pointed at him no more than 30 ft from him. She had an odd smile on her face that might have made her fair, were it not for the promising threat of an imminent demise.

The fact that she did not loose the arrow when he was vulnerable spoke to her not being immediately hostile Ephram thought he’d try diffusing the situation. “Do you know where the first copper wire came from?”
“Not something that keeps me up at night.”

“Two dwarves picked up a copper piece at the same time.”
“I don’t get it.”
“Two gnomes walk into a bar…”
“… And then?”
“The human steps over it.”

At that point, a small chuckle developed in her and enhanced her aloof smile. “Tell me, do you fight better than you joke?”
“No, my wit has always been my strongest suit” Ephram lied.
“Good,” she said lowering her bow, “then I have no need to worry about a fight I cannot win.”

“Oh you wound me with your cruel words. I’ll have you know plenty of people find me hilarious.”
“I do not.”
“Give me some time and I’m sure you’ll see.”
“Perhaps, but in that time, you can start by restoring my fire.”

Ephram did so using his flint and tinder; while he follows the way of the elements discipline, he was taught never to rely on his command of the elements. To avoid the temptation to bend the elements to his whims. Soon after, they began conversing and eventually got to a mutual topic; the dam.

The elf was the first to speak, “I heard word almost a year ago that this project was in the works. I did not expect them to have made so much progress; they must have some serious tools and manpower at work.”

“Indeed, I only stumbled upon this much in the same manner I did your fire.”
“Is that how you always go about?”
“Yes.”
“Sounds hazardous.”
“To some, it would be.”

“Do you always wonder aimlessly?”
“I may not always have a destination in mind, but I always have a goal; balance and harmony.”
“Well, you may be dim, but at least you’re a decent person.”

“See? I told you I grow on people.”
“But now the dam is the pressing issue; the Glass Hounds control it. They have rings that make glass simulacrums of their wearer which explode after their wearer is transported elsewhere. This makes them very difficult to deal with. I’ve been given enough demolition equipment to demolish several bank vaults, but even with my … talents, I could not place all the charges in time before I can escape unnoticed.”

“Let’s go see this dam, and make a plan from there.”
“That may be the smartest thing you’ve said all day.”
“Perhaps, but I only met you this afternoon. I had plenty of time between sunrise and then to be wise.”
“I can only imagine.”
“Don’t hurt yourself trying.”
“Enough, let’s be off.”

After scouting the surrounding area, Ephram pulled out his calligraphy tools and began sketching a diagram of the dam. Soon he was done and the two of them began pointing out areas where the dam would be weakest and explosives be best placed. Initially, they discussed tactics that involved simply attacking from the shadows and causing dissention in the ranks, but Ephram thought that too easy. “The obvious path is humble, safe, but pays the wage of a cook, not a champion. That plan of attack will wound but not stop these men.”

“I think I see where your talents truly lie.”
“I told you my wit was my strongest asset; a wise man plays the fool.”
“I see, but now we need to talk about how we’re going to get all these into position.”

“Agreed, but I believe we should introduce each other properly; it’s bad luck to have nameless partners in a noble effort, and even you seem to tire of referring to me as ‘fool’.”
“My name is Ardwen.”
“I’m Ephram.”

Soon they started plotting. They would act at night, Ephram having committed the layout to memory, and Ardwen referring to Ephram’s diagram. Ephram would first act setting fires in areas far away from where Ardwen needed to place charges, and would fly away before he would be spotted. While Ardwen finished, Ephram would place charges in key locations on the face of the dam.

Soon after, the charges went off within 2 minutes of each other. While they were successful in demolishing the dam, they were not able to avoid a fight with the glass hounds. Thankfully, Ephram was able to keep the hounds from getting to Ardwen, and Ardwen kept Ephram from being overwhelmed.

With no survivors after the skirmish, they took off and Ardwen guided him to the Emerald Enclave, where he could be recognized for his deeds and join a greater effort. From then on, he found the Enclave to be an organization he could join, and not constantly feel their goals conflicted. And also, Ardwen and Ephram knew they could rely on each other for any mission they collaborated together.

So there you have it, Until Next Time, Stay Nerdy!