Solo HotDQ - Part 2, Chapter 1: Greenest in Flames

Seek the keep

The party is arriving at Greenest. They have met each other on the road and came to appreciate each other enough that they decided to travel on together. As they arrive they see that a blue dragon and a mob of kobolds and humans are attacking the town. They rush towards the keep, when a terrified human family dash across their path, hounded by seven kobolds🎵💡

Battle Report I: Seek the Keep I | 35 XP per character

The battle is won, but the wounded commoner dies in the assault. To get to the keep the party needs to pass by 3 groups of raiders. They try to sneak by them but fight if they must. 

Group 1
🎲Sneak checks: Dren (19), Zephyros (22), Rai (15), Kulga (14), Linan (1) => Group Total: 14
🎲Perception Check Raiders, at disadvantage: 5 

🎲1d6 Townsfolk join the group: 3 (Total 6)

Group 2
🎲Sneak checks: Dren (24), Zephyros (13), Rai (23), Kulga (17), Linan (3) => Group Total: 16
🎲Perception Check Raiders, at disadvantage: 10
🎲1d6 Townsfolk join the group: 2 (Total 8)

Group 3
🎲Sneak checks: Dren (9), Zephyros (7), Rai (8), Kulga (13), Linan (13) => Group Total: 10
🎲Perception Check Raiders, at disadvantage: 1
🎲1d6 Townsfolk join the group: 4 (Total 12)

12 Townsfolk in tow: 3 more raider groups to pass by

Group 4:
🎲Sneak checks: Dren (6), Zephyros (17), Rai (6), Kulga (22), Linan (2) => Group Total: 10
🎲Perception Check Raiders, at disadvantage: 2
🎲1d6 Townsfolk join the group: 6 (Total 14)

Group 5: 
🎲Sneak checks: Dren (12), Zephyros (18), Rai (16), Kulga (13), Linan (4) => Group Total: 12
🎲Perception Check Raiders, at disadvantage: 11
🎲1d6 Townsfolk join the group: 2 (Total 16) 

Group 6: 
🎲Sneak checks: Dren (18), Zephyros (19), Rai (15), Kulga (12), Linan (15) => Group Total: 15
🎲Perception Check Raiders, at disadvantage: 14
🎲1d6 Townsfolk join the group: 4 (Total 20)

8 more Townsfolk in tow: 2 more raider groups to pass by

Group 7: 
🎲Sneak checks: Dren (7), Zephyros (7), Rai (4), Kulga (19), Linan (17) => Group Total: 10
🎲Perception Check Raiders, at disadvantage: 10 

🎲1d6 kobolds (1) and 1d4 cultists (3) attack
Battle Report II: Seek the Keep II | 25 XP per character

🎲1d6 Townsfolk join the group: 4 (Total 24)

Group 8: 
🎲Sneak checks: Dren (14), Zephyros (7), Rai (4), Kulga (7), Linan (1) => Group Total: 6
🎲Perception Check Raiders, at disadvantage: 9

🎲1d6 kobolds (2) and 1d4 cultists (1) attack
Battle Report III: Seek the Keep III | 18 XP per character
🎲1d6 Townsfolk join the group: 6 (Total 30)

Group 9: 
🎲Sneak checks: Dren (24), Zephyros (6), Rai (17), Kulga (8), Linan (5) => Group Total: 12
🎲Perception Check Raiders, at disadvantage: 17
🎲1d6 kobolds (5) and 1d4 cultists (1) attack

Battle Report IV: Seek the Keep IV | 37 XP per character
🎲1d6 Townsfolk join the group: 4 (Total 34)

The group arrives at the keep and are the last group through the gate before it's closed and barred.

Extra Experience for rescued commoners: 425 XP per character
All characters reach level 2.

Rai
🎲HP gain, 1d8+2: 9
New Features: Jack of many trades, Song of rest
New Spell: Thunderwave

Dren
🎲HP gain, 1d8+4: 7
New Features: Channel Divinity, Turn Undead and Radiance of the Dawn

Kulga
🎲HP gain, 1d10+1: 11
New Feature: Action Surge

Zephyros
HP gain, 1d8: 6
New Features: Ki and Unarmored Movement

The Old Tunnel

After delivering the group of villagers safely to the keep the party meets Governor Nighthill who thanks them and asks their help to clear an old tunnel that might offer an escape route in case the castle got stormed. The castellan gives them keys and they clear the tunnel until they are attacked by rats. 

Battle Report V: The Old Tunnel | 25 XP per character
To open the gate at the end of the tunnel: 🎲Dexterity Check Dren +3 (DC 10): 16 (success)
A group of cultists passes the tunnel, but do not notice the group. 
Time now: 10 p.m.

The Sally Port

As the group returns to the keep, Escobert the castellan calls them over to the Sally Port to fight a group of raiders that have penetrated the castle. 
Battle Report VI: The Sally Port I | 81 XP per character
Before they can repair the door, a second group of raiders attacks. Dren feeds the unconscious Kulga a healing potion before the attack is met. 🎲2d4+2: 9 HP healed

Battle Report VII: The Sally Port II | 50 XP per character

During the battle Zephyros is overwhelmed but does live through the attack. He will be unconscious for at least 🎲1d4: 3 hours
Time now: 11 p.m.

Dragon Attack / Prisoners

A blue dragon attacks the keep, breathing lightning from above, killing guards while Kulga, Dren and Rai fire weapons and cantrips at him. 
Battle Report VIII: Dragon Attack | 50 XP per character
After a few hits taken and 9 defenders burnt to a crisp by its breath, the dragon seems to loose interest and leaves. The governor rewards the party 4 potions of healing, one of which is fed to the unconscious Zephyros: 🎲2d4+2: 6 HP healed 
The other 3 potions go to Rai, Kulga and Zephyros, because Dren can stabilize unconscious party members.

A short rest is had and hitdice spent to regain some health

Rai, 🎲1d8+2: 6, back to full HP
Dren, 🎲1d8+4: 11, 12/19 HP
Kulga, 🎲1d10+1: 6, 15/22 HP
Zephyros, 🎲1d8: 6, 12/14 HP

Time now: 1 A.M. 

In the meantime the governor has found out from the cultist that was knocked out during the assault on the sally port that the attacking force is the Cult of the Dragon that is collecting loot for their queen. There are also dragon eggs at their camp. 
25 XP per character

Sanctuary

A group of villagers who have managed to flee into the keep through the hidden entrance tell about the local temple where another group of villagers have barricaded themselves. The temple is surrounded and the governor asks the party to undertake a rescue mission. The party uses the hidden tunnel to exit the keep and head to the temple: 🎲1d6: 4 (no raiders at the tunnel exit)

`

On the way the characters try to keep quiet as much as they can
🎲Stealth Checks (DC 10): Rai +4 (7), Dren +4 (18), Kulga +3 (6), Zephyros +2 (20) => 2 failed checks => 1 encounter,🎲1d8: 4 => 4 cultists and 1 guard

Battle Report IX: Greenest Wandering Encounters I |  25 XP per character
The fight is quickly over and Zephyros drinks a healing potion to get his health back up: 🎲2d4+2: 8 HP healed. Kulga does the same: 🎲2d4+2: 8 HP healed

The party avoids a screeching mob of raiders that circle the temple and attack the group of cultists and kobolds that are busy tending to a badly built, smoking fire.
🎲Stealth Checks (DC 10): Rai +4 (16), Dren +4 (8), Kulga +3 (11), Zephyros +2 (12) => success, the party gains a surprise round as they rush into the thick fog. 
Battle Report X: Sanctuary | 50XP per character

The party quickly locates the priest and together they convince the villagers that it is of utmost importance that they move quickly. They usher them through the village, trying to stay close to the river and as quiet as possible. 
🎲Stealth Checks (DC 10): Rai +4 (24), Dren +4 (12), Kulga +3 (15), Zephyros +2 (17) =>no encounters on the way back
🎲Tunnel Exit roll, 1d6: 2 (no raiders near the tunnel exit)

The party manages to bring all the villagers to savety
100XP per character extra
Time now: 2 A.M.

Half-Dragon Champion 

The party takes a short rest to recover a bit of their strength
Hit dice: Dren, 1d8+4 (11 => full HP), Kulga, 1d10+1 (6 =>8/22 HP) and Zephyros, 1d8 (5 => 13/14 HP)

The raiders gather in front of the keep and offer the lives of four villagers if a champion is willing to fight the blue half-dragon Langdedrosa Cyanwrath. Dren, being fully healed offers himself to partake in the duel.
Battle Report XI - Half-Dragon Champion | 50XP per character
=> Dren, Rai and Kulga reach Level 3

Dren
🎲HP gain, 1d8+4: 8 
Access to 2nd level spells
1 1st and 2 2nd level spell slots

Rai
🎲HP gain, 1d8+2: 9
College: College of Valor
Bonus proficiencies: Medium Armor, Shields and Martial Weapons
Expertise: Athletics and Intimidation
1 1st and 2 2nd level spell slots
New Spell: Shatter

Kulga

🎲HP gain, 1d10+1: 5
Archetype: Champion
Improved Critical: 19 or 20

The party receives 2 Healing Potions from Governer Nighthill, that go to Kulga and Zephyros.

The hostages are let go and the raiders leave Greenest.