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Shining Force Central Forums > RPG Gallery > Shining Force: The Chaos War IV

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Tue Jan 27, 2009 10:38 am
When Alex stands down, a quiet settles over the funeral for a short while. Jim sighs heavily, standing up when it becomes clear Alex is finished. "I can't say much about Cedric since I never got to know him as everyone else here did. But I feel it would be remiss if I didn't say what was obvious about him from the viewpoint of someone who only just met him," Jim says, looking over those assembled. For this solemn occasion gone was the blast armor and fatigues, replaced by a simple dress uniform. "Courage. Drive. Valor. These are what I think Cedric best exemplified. It shined in his eyes, was the force behind his hammer blows. It was obvious even to those of us who didn't know him well, that this was a man who would fight to the bitter end..." Jim sighs, looking down. "And in the end, that's exactly what happened. But for what its' worth, he died how I think he would've wanted to die. Standing between a predator and its prey, and striking down a foe that has been the bane of everyone here for longer than any of us care to remember. And like Alex, I wish I would've gotten to know him better, if for no other reason than to better understand the man who gave his life to stop the scourge of ours."
Jim pauses for a moment, looking as if he was about to sit down, then changing his mind and speaking again.
"I've been through... a lot of wars. I've seen far too much of this in my time," Jim says, quietly. "It's sad to see a good soldier die, and it's a dagger in the soul to see a battle comrade perish. It's only through remembering the losses my own unit has endured in the past that I can begin to know what you must be feeling..." Jim's face tightens for a moment. "I feel I should say more... but... what is left to be said isn't mine to say."
Jim takes his seat once more, a brooding look falling over his face.
Simone rises next, the elven girl looking around those assembled with uncertain, sorrowful eyes. Several times she opens her mouth to speak and no sound issues forth. Finally she closes her eyes and begins.
I Miss You: http://www.voxpvoxd.com/rustysfc/IMissYou.mp3
"I met Cedric when mercenaries tried to kidnap me in Uranbatol..." Simone begins, weakly. "I... It was because of a prophecy, I later learned. A prophecy that's dogged me for years now, and cost me nearly everything I loved or cared for... I... I believe with all my being that even if that cursed prophecy wasn't written, or that Cedric hadn't known it, that he still would've come to my aid. That he still would've stepped between my fate and myself..." Simone is quiet for a while. "That's... the kind of person Cedric was. Everyone knows what a warrior he was, how he charged into battle and smote the wicked, and all that stereotypical paladin stuff. But what they might not remember was that he was a shield as well as a hammer. When everyone took me in, he was the one that told Ashathel and Kyoji to..." Simone pauses for a moment, taking a deep breath. "To train me to defend myself. So that I wouldn't be afraid anymore. I thought maybe that too might have been because of the prophecy... But..." Simone shakes her head. "As time passed and I learned more about all of you... I found out that that's just the sort of thing he did. He smote not because fury ruled him, though it tried, oh gods how it must've tried..." Simone shakes her head even more vigorously. "No... He did what he had to do because he was called to protect. Because he loved this world that Mitula healed and nurtured, because he believed no one should have to suffer or live in fear..."
Simone pauses, blinking back tears. "It's not fair... After all that fighting... All that pain, all that grief..." Simone breaks, tears finally running down her face as she covers her eyes with one hand. "I've spent most of my life reading stories... If ever there was a man who deserved a happy ending, it was Cedric... and... he didn't get it."
Simone collapses back in her chair, crying openly now as Yeesha stands, solemnly.
"What can be said about Cedric that has not been said already?" Yeesha begins, quietly. "He saved kings, heroes, heroines, he showed mercy when there was none deserved, he sought to master his anger even as fiends fanned the flames of hatred within him with the most abominable acts..." Yeesha sighs. "Simone is right on one thing. It is sad... It is a tragedy that Cedric will not see the peace he helped create. When we win this war, it will be because of him and men like him, and not all of them will be around at the end. Cedric, Kyoji, Ryhir, Kanmeshi, Farain, Gilliam, even Nail... all gave everything they could, and they won't be here to enjoy the peace they bought so dearly. That is war. That is the tragedy of it."
Yeesha shakes her head. "But... At the same time, I have to think that maybe they will see it. Looking down from heaven, maybe they will see what their deeds helped create. And when they do, I hope they like what they see. I hope they think their sacrifice was worth it. And I hope we can live up to that sort of expectation..." Yeesha looks over to the coffin. "I was there when his journey began. I'm here now, when it ends. Everything everyone has said or can say can be summed up very easily. Cedric was one of the finest human beings to trod this war weary world. After all he suffered and fought through... In the end... In the end, I think, he got what he wanted."
Yeesha looks down. "In his last moments, I saw an expression on his face I had feared I would never see again, an emotion I think we all thought might be dead in him..."
Yeesha looks over the crowd, tears in her eyes.
"I saw peace."
-------------------------
A few days after the funeral, the war effort marched relentlessly on, the soldiers of Rune all the more determined to push the forces of evil off their world. The death of yet another Lord of Strife threw the plans of the Cult into disarray, buying the allied armies of Light precious time to rally and prepare. As cultists dedicated to Shailtor struggled to comprehend the death of their god and those dedicated to Erebeus tried desperately to hold the followers of the other two in check, the Black Citadel in Guardiana remained ominously silent.

Posted by: Aldur Tue Jan 27, 2009 10:18 pm
The figure from the funeral is often seen simply walking around the nearby mountains, and also sitting in a tree as well as around the camp. It is rather obvious to the concerned parties who the figure is, but she seems to waiting for something.

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Sun Feb 01, 2009 11:37 pm
The workers of the fortress continue to diligently rebuild even as one of its lords is mourned. The first floor of the Shining Force HQ's dorms are completed, a welcome thing, as the winter cold reaches its height. Fort update: Week 4 building complete. First floor of the Force Dorms complete. 20 fancy bedroom suites up for grabs.
Week 5 Building Priorities: Second floor, Force Dorms, begin work.

Posted by: Dark Maiden Mon Feb 02, 2009 8:49 am

QUOTE (TheUnknownMarine @ Sun Feb 01, 2009 5:37 pm)
Week 4 building complete. First floor of the Force Dorms complete. 20 fancy bedroom suites up for grabs.

Since they're suites, will people be sharing these rooms? Or will everyone get their own room eventually?

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Mon Feb 02, 2009 9:05 am

QUOTE (Dark Maiden @ Mon Feb 02, 2009 8:49 am)
Since they're suites, will people be sharing these rooms? Or will everyone get their own room eventually?

((Everyone can get their own room, and normally it's going to be one to a room. Anything not "normally" is the decision of the player. Also at some point, please get on AIM and IM me, there's a few things to discuss.))

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Thu Feb 12, 2009 7:01 am
((Unless something comes up, Ashathel grabs a room on the first floor.))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Thu Feb 12, 2009 7:07 am
The room is more spartan than one would expect from the outgoing bladesinger, with just a single chest large enough to hold his clothes, a rack for his weapons and armor, and a simple desk with two chairs, lightly covered in books. "Well, I was going to inform you that the first floor is ready for occupancy, but it looks like you found that out pretty fast," Yeesha says, standing in the doorway.
"Well, I do appreciate the thought, in any case," Ashathel said, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Yeesha shakes her head. "How did you manage to get your room set up so fast? Everyone else is either still jockeying for a room claim or struggling to arrange furniture."
"I'm a traveler; I stick to the basics, really," the bladesinger said. "Not much packed, so not much to move around."
"Makes sense, I suppose," Yeesha says. "Still, most travellers I know like to fill their homes with mementos of their travels... It's the place they come back to after all that traveling, after all. Unless you travel in the nomadic sense, like Ryhir did..." Yeesha says, smile dropping for a moment.
"I was never one for homesickness," he said, quickly changing the subject.
"Homesickness doesn't have that much to do with keeping a home," Yeesha says, entering the room. "Unless you don't plan to make much use of this place."
"It's good that it's done," he said, rising to close the door behind her. "But if things go well, we shouldn't be here too much longer. And I don't see myself staying here after we're done."
"Oh? Why not? Cypress not to your liking?" Yeesha asks, walking over to the table and glancing at the books there.
"Cypress is fine, but I've got some other things to take care of before I can consider settling down," Ashathel said.
"I don't suppose you'd care to share what grand plans you have beyond the defeat of Strife?" Yeesha asks, looking up.
"It's kind of personal; let's just say I have to track down a few people for a friend," he said, fingering a ring.
"All right," Yeesha says with a sigh. "I'd still say you should make more of an effort to make this room yours. It looks more like the room of a well off inn than the room of a knight of Cypress."
"Magical research?" Yeesha asks, nodding to the table.
"A little bit," the elf said, nodding. "Divination isn't my forte at all, but I figured it was worth a shot."
"I'd heard that that girl Sophie was much better at it, but..."
"But she and her brother left, along with Gail," Yeesha finishes for him. "I... I hope they find what they're looking for, but I wish they wouldn't have been so reckless."
"What divination were you trying to work on? Maybe I could help with the magical labs up and all."
"I'm trying to track down these people," he said, showing her the note.
"This doesn't seem hard, a few locate person spells should work," Yeesha says, lowering the paper. "Unless they were carted off to another plane or warded fortress or the like?"
"Well, I'm pretty sure Ella got help from the diviners in Brodaleaf; they're good, but if they're being kept in a cult stronghold, I don't expect they'd be able to pierce through the barrier," Ashathel said. "I'm probably as good as most of them are, besides maybe my father, so I don't know if I'd be able to get through either."
"Wait, wait, wait," Yeesha, says, waving a hand. "I was half kidding. They really ARE in a stronghold that's warded? What happened?"
"She's... she's a refugee from one of the elven towns that were unlucky enough to be close to the cult," he said."They were defending themselves, and got captured; Ella's father was pretty badly hurt, although he's getting better. I can't say whether they're alive or dead, but if her siblings can't be found, then they're either on a different plane or in a stronghold."
"Well there's not much we can do if it's a plane, so we'll assume stronghold. Where were they captured?" Yeesha asks. "Really, why didn't you come to me with this sooner? You KNOW I can cast magics of this sort..."
"Yeah, we were only worrying about fighting a war," the bladesinger said, rolling his eyes. "It's probably been three to five months; any longer, and word would have spread about Nick and the cult fast enough that our mission wouldn't have been so secret.."
"Oh..." Yeesha says, frowning. "So this was going on for all that time? If they've been captive that long..."
"I know," Ashathel said, his tone heavy. "But even so, some answer is better than none."
Yeesha nods. "Do you want my help?"
"Yes," he said, without hesitation. "It's not much... but we have a chance to do something besides fight, something that might have just as much meaning as stopping Shailtor's plans did."
Yeesha nods. "Agreed."
Yeesha pauses for a moment. "I wanted to see how you were doing after the funeral, by the way."
"I'm trying not to think about it," the bladesinger said, quietly.
Yeesha smiles sadly. "You'll have to at some point."
"Yeah, well... with any luck, it'll be after all of this is done," Ashathel said.
"I see," Yeesha says, looking down. "I suppose there will be time enough after all this is done."
Yeesha sighs again. "At the same time... I don't know. I'm just not sure bottling it up is wise. At least, not completely."
"I never said I'd bottle it up, just that I wouldn't think about it," he said, standing. "I don't have to think too much about running the last Strife Lord through, and I happen to think it's a pretty good way of uncorking the bottle."
Yeesha frowns a little. "Perhaps."
"And you? How are you taking all this?" the swashbuckler asked.
Yeesha closes her eyes. "I've shed my tears, and said my final goodbyes at the funeral. It doesn't get easier, but..." Yeesha opens her eyes. "I'm managing."
Ashathel sat back down quietly, glancing at her for a moment, quietly.
"What?"
"What are you going to do, when all of this is done?" he asked.
"I'm going to resume my duties as court archwizard," Yeesha says, looking over to the books. "Hopefully without needing to act as a warwizard again."
"What will you do assuming we find your friends sooner than later?"
"Make sure they get back to Brodaleaf safely, to be reunited with their family and friends," Ashathel said. "Past that... I can't say."
"Well, you're one of the lords of the keep, so you've always got a place to stay here," Yeesha says, looking around the bare room. "If nothing else, you could take a vacation before resuming your travels."
"Me, lord of a keep?" the elf said, laughing. "No... I may swing by to say hello to whoever's keeping an eye on things every year or so, but a keep is not my thing."
"I thought as much," Yeesha says with a slight smile. "That's why I said vacation and not, 'take your place as one of Cypress' nobility and boss serfs around all day."
"Well, if you're bossing around serfs, you've obviously got too much time on your hands," he smirked.
"That adequately describes most nobles I've met."
Yeesha shakes her head. "Well, if you've got something for me to scry with, I can get to work on finding your friends."
"Just the names," he said, "although I could ask Ella if she has anything of theirs."
"If she did it would help a lot," Yeesha nods.
"Then I guess I'm making a trip back home," Ashathel said, nodding.

Posted by: Dark Maiden Thu Feb 12, 2009 9:20 pm
Merla will take a room on the first floor, if any of them are made to accommodate someone of her size.

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Sun Feb 15, 2009 6:09 am
As the newest Shining Force rallies and reorganizes itself, the rest of the world marches on. Two weeks pass in which a number of notable events happen, a good deal of which directly involve the heroes residing at Fort Ordalia. The forces of Pacalon, in conjunction with the crusader arms of the churches of Mitula and Volcanon sweep over Parmecia, ensuring their own lands are free of Cultist taint before organizing aid to their overseas allies. This job is made far easier due to the previous actions of the new Shining Force, which had destroyed most of the Cult strongholds and forces in the area.
Led by their great General Synbios, the Aspinan Republic sweeps over the Imperial forces lingering in their territory. Disorganized and demoralized by the elimination of one of their best generals as well as the defeat of their forces at Storich, Stamp, and Aspia, the forces of the Empire are overrun in a strange reversal of roles by the Republicans and their allies. The Empire pulls its forces back to a set of border fortifications it had prepared and begins to reorganize its bewildered forces as the Republicans re-solidify their hold on their homeland.
On Rune, the Cypress Army finally arrives in the port of Rindo as the Resistance forces storm the Cult-held town. Though well dug in and forewarned, the Cultists stationed there had no chance against the full might of both the old Shining Force, the new Shining Force, and the Cypress Expeditionary Force. With the loss of two of the three Lords of Strife, the Cultist force is disorganized and inefficient. Many of the forces meeting the heroes and their allies are former servants of Shailtor or Xadoss, who simply wish to follow their masters into oblivion by meeting their end on a battlefield. The heroes search and destroy the Cult's leaders and elite forces while the other soldiers combat the main army. For two weeks the heroes are occupied with scouring the area for remnants of enemy resistance as the Cypress forces set up in Rindo, using it as their base of operations. Across the sea, the demons occupying Protectoria withdraw through the gates to Guardiana. Once this is confirmed, Jim swiftly orders the use of Viletta's transmitter, sinking the Castle to the depths once more and cutting off that half of Rune from further incursion. The forces of Prompt swiftly sweep over the land, ensuring that no further Cult forces are to be found before allowing themselves time to rebuild and resupply. Unfortunately for the heroes, the forces of Prompt cannot send much in the way of aid, exhausted as they were with the battle. However, a few very welcome additions to Max's old Shining Force arrive: Alef, Torasu, and Bleu, the dragon.
As for Rindo, when the allied forces enter the town, things are grim, but not as bad as some feared. The resistance of General Mae's constant raids kept the Cult from solidifying their hold on Rindo too much. While homes and shops have been plundered, while civilians were press ganged into service, graveyards robbed, and mass executions held, the extent to which this happened was mercifully small. By keeping the Cult's hands full, General Mae ensured they didn't have too much time to devote to transforming the town into the abomination the Cultists dreamed of. But still, the town will be recovering for quite some time.
When the lands surrounding Rindo are finally purged of Cultists, and the inevitable counterattack of their fails, the time comes for the next move to be planned. Two routes of advance are discussed by General Mae, Max, and King Nick. Either press on to Guardiana, the belly of the beast, or move to Manarina and help it lift the siege. While the leaders of legend debate the merits and flaws of either plan, the heroes may choose to support either... or to present their own idea on what just to do next.
Finally, in this time the Force's dormitories are finished, each hero now having a comfortable room to his or herself to wait out the cold. Work begins on the magical labs and libraries.
Worldmap update: http://209.85.122.83/2500/22/0/f5004615/cwiv_worldmap_m2w3.jpg

Posted by: Knight_019 Tue Feb 17, 2009 1:33 am
*All of Knight's characters ignore shadowy, mysterious, or otherwise mystery figures because they can't be bothered to care.* *Having been without a home for the majority of the last many months, Ivellas had waited to lay claim to a room. The ever present passerby would have seen the centaur knight sparring all day long, and even sometimes into the night, fighting with practice dummies and jabbing away with his Lance by torch or lantern light.
However, the time had come for him to settle in. That hadn't meant he was finished. On the way to his quarters, the Guardiana knight stops by the fort's underdeveloped storehouse of a library for a number of maps. Carrying them under arm, Ivellas rushes toward his new room to settle in. He opens the door, then peers in. Mostly barren, though a few trappings mostly related to the fort are around. Pleased, he steps in, smiling.
As he lays the maps down on a small table, working to keep them from rolling onto the floor, Ivellas hears a knocking on the door within minutes of entering. Impressed that someone had already found him, Ivellas turns to find a courier bearing news. Ivellas invites the man in, but he declines, indicating that he was busy informing everyone of the latest developments. The news sounded mostly pleasing, with the Cult being further pushed back and crushed, its presence weakened with every passing day. Ivellas nods, smiling, and thanks the messenger before dismissing him and setting to work.
Ivellas unfurls a world map, then partially overlays it with a map of Rune. So far, few places remained that the Cult could call home. Most of them were around his home, which left a bitter taste in his mouth. The other trouble spot lay far to the East, in a land he was unfamiliar with, yet troubled many of the rest of his new found friends as much as the rest of this war. With both hands, Ivellas traces out the areas on Rune and the Aspinian/Destonian continent where they would need to focus his efforts. Finished marking the areas in his mind, Ivellas rubs his chin, then reaches for a pair of glasses he used to magnify small areas, text, and landmarks when inspecting these documents. The smallest land attribute could make all the difference, he had learned.
Try as he might, Ivellas found difficulty in becoming excited over the problems of Aspia. Selfish or otherwise, the greater good lay at his home, and he had all the more reason for his heart to lay in Rune, with the final Strife Lord at home there --- if he was really anywhere. Further, Ivellas truly believed that the political machinations of this dictator of Destonia would fall flat without the support of the remaining Cult forces and a powerful, near-deific being such as Erebeus to fall back on, even if he had no idea the true nature of the deals he had made. With that in mind, Ivellas pulls over the map of room into the center of the table, and inspects it more carefully.
Determined to crush the Cult presence in Rune, Ivellas begins by inspecting where they had come from. Guardiana he knew, but he looked not there, but instead the missing region of Mechanis. He traces the path over Waral and Pao to Bustoke, where they had teleported in and led a night raid, thereby freeing the people who remained from the threat of Strife. Then to Shade Abbey, where the second of the three had been felled. Opening his hand and pressing his fingers into the surrounding areas, Ivellas saw that for the work they had done, much still remained.
But where to continue?
The surrounding regions encompassed Pao, Manarina, Rindo, and Alterone. Excluding Rindo, that left a number of targets still. The status of the Pao Prairie was unknown, but was most likely safe, or otherwise unusable to the Cult. Few resources lay out there, and the city was mobile with little to gain. Most likely if Pao had been attacked, it was destroyed, and if not, there was little else to go on. The region to the immediate West held little. Perhaps a Cult base had been formed there, which was worth looking into. However, better options probably existed.
Moving into Alterone to bolster the area seemed a palatable idea. However, making a move in that region could bring them too close to the Strife Lord Stronghold all too fast. They couldn't make that move yet. Rocking his hand back and forth over the East and West of Rune, Ivellas then notices something interesting that causes his eyes to widen. Something that could solve a few problems at once, while bypassing others entirely.
Ivellas couldn't be certain just yet that a stronghold lay in the forest West of Bustoke. However, he could be certain that Manarina offered much to be gained by bringing the region back from under Cult control. The city of mages had vast resources and talent, and perhaps even some item - a book, scroll, gem, or otherwise - that would aid them in their final fight to come. Furthermore, assuming that Pao lay otherwise untouched by the Cult, and that a Cult stronghold existed in the forests, thus far undetected, not long after it would be starved without a clear route from the other bases to it. Even with the Pao region, both would be crippled as the Shining Forces streched to bring more regions under allied command. The few surrounding regions could then follow.
Believing he had a target, Ivellas slams his fist down on the table and into the map, grinning like a madman. Looking up to the wall, Ivellas removes his reading glasses, placing them off to the side, then leaves his room in a hurry, looking to find who now led the Cypress forces in the absence of their leader.*

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Thu Feb 19, 2009 6:29 am
*Faralon had been meaning to speak with Isyndel for some time. A matter of great importance weighed on his mind, and he felt it should be addressed, but he had delayed speaking to her sooner for the death of Cedric put the group in great distress, and it was directly related to that. Finally, he approaches her door, knocking on it.*
: "Isyndel? It is Faralon. I'm sorry if now is a bad time, but there is something that I need to talk to you about."
The knock left her disoriented for a moment; her new room was all but foreign to her still, and the sound had drawn her out of a relatively lengthy passage of text regarding the nature of magical sealing. She tugged her glasses from her face and whirled her neck once before rising and moving to open the door.
"Faralon," she spoke softly, letting a small smile play her lips as she nodded to him. "Certainly, come right in." She stepped aside to let him through, motioning toward an empty chair across from her text.
*Faralon moves to the chair and nods to Isyndel as he takes a seat.*
: "Thank you. Have you been well? I mean, well enough, anyway..."
"As well as I can be," she replied sullenly, smoothing her skirt as she took the very seat she had just risen from. "As well as any of us can be, I suppose. There is enough work left to do, thankfully, that I have not felt overwhelmed since the day everything happened." Isyndel trailed off, glancing downward at her book for a moment, feeling a bit awkward. Things had certainly changed, she reminded herself, remembering how low her opinion of the elven brothers had been at the onset of their journey.
"And you? Without a doubt, you are not as jovial as usual -- I guess that should be of no surprise to me or anyone else though. Who would have thought we would be here, after all."
: "I would lie if I said I was well. Still, my passion for seeing this war through to the end, to finish what we started, burns stronger than my sadness. I think that is how Cedric would want me to feel, so I take some solace in that. But I have been thinking about a lot lately. And I've come to a conclusion, one I'm sure some of the others share, and one I'm sure all would support."
*Faralon leans forward, resting his fingertips against each other as he looks to the ground momentarily.*
: "Cedric had appointed me in second place, and he said that should he ever die, I take his place."
*He pauses for a moment before lifting his head, turning his gaze to Isyndel.*
: "However, I disagree. I may be able to inspire others to great feats, but I am no leader. I have wronged one of the force and brought shame to my brother. I desired such a position before so that I could do what I wanted, but as time passed, I realized that I work better when I do not lead. I should continue to inspire my allies, but I should not do so with the title of leader. I want you to lead. This is not my choice alone, of course, but I feel it is the best choice."
Isyndel made no effort to hide the fact that the statement had been a complete surprise to her. For a moment her mouth draped and hung open, her only other movement being the flickering of her eyelids as she sat almost stunned. She took a deep breath and folded her hands, only to unfold them further as she leaned backward in her chair to process the thought.
She prepared to dismiss the thought, to suggest other alternatives. She was a poor choice, the aloof stranger who had tenous relationships with her comrades for so long. She had only recent battle experience to stand upon, not nearly as much as the other fighters on the force. There would have to be someone more qualified, more able, and more accessible than she. Still, if only...
"Anyway, I'm not wasting my time," Eve continued. "I'm doing something. I have to do something, I don't have the strength of heart to stand still and absorb it. If you ask me, you're the one wasting time, but I guess thats in the eye of the beholder, huh?"
The sound of the voice had been clear, and had been enough to shake her from her revelry. I'm the one wasting time, she thought to herself. Cedric. Kyoji. Would you have agreed to this?
But she didn't need their answer, she realized. Which was good, because as she realized but a moment later, she would not get it anyway. Isyndel fought to control the grin that creeped upon her for a second; wouldn't Eve have been thrilled to know how often she had thought about her? How the words had affected her so?
She leaned forward to the table just then. "I cannot imagine this was an easy decision for you to make," Isyndel spoke firmly. "Months ago, I would not have even considered such a thing, but perhaps now..."
*Faralon chuckles a bit.*
: "Yeah. Yeah, things have changed a lot. Some of us have changed a great deal. But I think it's for the best. So, do you think you would be up to the task? You would have my full support, if it means anything. I know we have had our differences in the past, but we work well enough in battle together, and I know you're plenty capable of leading the force."
She nodded, resolutely, allowing her expression to show her happiness at the compliment.
"Though Cedric's intent was ironclad and you are effectively making a command decision, I will leave it up to the others. It's my hope that they will all be forgiving as you are being toward me, but I'll stand aside should they wish someone else to step toward the task. Deal?" She held her hand before her in expectation.
*Faralon smiles softly and shakes her hand.*
: "Deal."
"Then I suppose it is best I get this over with as quickly as possible, is it not?" She rose from her chair purposefully, turning to gather her things from her bed before pausing once more. "Faralon, I...will do my best to not let you all down if everyone else agrees. I won't let them down either," she trailed off, fullyexpecting the bard knew which two of their companions she was referring to.
She smoothed her skirts before she turned to face him once more. "We will see this to the end."
=================================================
((Assume for the sake of time that Isyndel and Faralon have held a meeting to announce this. Should anyone wish to discuss it, TUM says post it up in the CW HQ thread and we can run it as a separate deal. kewl?))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Fri Feb 20, 2009 11:52 pm
All across the world, a great cracking sound is heard, and a surge of hope inexplicably surges through all who live for a brief moment, as if something momentous had just occurred outside of their mundane sight. ((Mitula and Volcanon have finally broken through the seal on the afterlife. Resurrection magic works as normal now, for the most part.))

Posted by: Alpha Sat Feb 21, 2009 2:36 am
Nightmares, not dreams: Part 4; Finale Laeralas sits at the side of Talacre’s bed, two full days after Shailtor had sent the younger elf to his torturous coma. Having barely moved since moving his brother to this new room, the daggerspell master is stiff and aching. But he won’t leave his dear brother’s side, not until his pain ends.
It is several days since Laeralas revealed to Talacre the truth of their mother’s death. He has avoided everyone in the village the whole time, spent it in a small hole hidden in the roots of an outlying tree. The pain has been wracking him constantly; the guilt, the rejection. He’s barely been able to sleep and when exhaustion overtakes him he is haunted by hellish nightmares.
The young elf sits huddled up in the cubby, shaking and crying again. He’s been at an utter loss of what to do, feeling completely helpless with nobody to turn to and nowhere to go. And although the thoughts of what he’s been considering doing scare him, he can’t live with himself and the knowledge of what he brought the world anymore.
Tears streaming down his cheeks, Talacre climbs out of the root-cave and begins to ascend the huge tree, one of the largest in the forest. He climbs it quickly, his agility and practise aiding him as he soon reaches a sturdy branch roughly sixty metres above the forest floor. He then stares out from his perch.
The sky is beautifully clear and the view spans for miles. Still teary, the Talacre drops his gaze and slowly closes his eyes. He then leans forward and lets his body drop…
Laeral almost jumps in shock as Talacre comatose body twitches suddenly, the first movement since Shailtor cast his insidious curse. He reaches out to grasp his brother’s hand, holding it comfortingly and hoping to help the younger elf in his plight.
The air steams past Talacre’s ears, not whistling as you might expect, but roaring with his plummeting speed. The elf shudders as he falls faster and faster to the ground, waiting for the final moment to come…
* “Ha! This should be good!” *
Even as he comes to being less than twenty feet from the ground, something hard knocks into Talacre side, grasping him and pulling him out of his descent.
* “Wait, what?” *
Talacre’s eyes snap open to see his brother, empowered by magical flight, holding him and stopping his descent. Laeralas carries him safely to the ground and sets him down.
* “You’re going to get it now, right? Ha!” *cackles*
“You…you idiot!” the older elf says quietly, tears streaming down his eyes too. “Why, why would you…please don’t again. I’m sorry, Tal.”
* “This isn’t right! You’re supposed to be in pain! You’re supposed to – …” *poof!*
“I’m so sorry for what I said. You didn’t deserve it. I do love you. Just…please, don’t ever do that again!”
The flabbergasted and shocked Talacre is completely lost for words. He simply leans forward into his brother’s embrace, peace finally coming to him. Brothers…united at last…
~ ~ ~
With a start, Talacre jerks upright. Drenched in sweat and not looking too healthy from two days of nightmares, he looks around the dim and unfamiliar room with bleary eyes. After barely a moment though, he makes out the form of his brother. “Laer!” he says quietly, but full of emotion.
The younger brother doesn’t have time for words before Laeralas engulfs him in a hug. “It’s about time you woke up!” he says, tears freely flowing. “You’ve overslept you know!”
Talacre chuckles quietly as he gets crushes by his brother, joining him in his tears. He had overcome his demons, and it was his brother that had helped him do so.

Posted by: Knight_019 Mon Feb 23, 2009 12:10 am
Isyndel Rhoe'wyn strode purposefully down the hallway alongside Aurik, her expression showing only that she was in deep thought about something. It had only been minutes after tying one loose end in the meeting that another one had appeared, and the Wizardess began to think that this sort of thing could easily become routine for her now. Just the same, the news that perhaps Aurik had found a solution to this dilemma had left her with some amount of joy, though now that joy was tempered with concern on how to go about it. So with Aurik at her side, she approached a door she was fairly confident the subject matter was behind, and wrapped upon it lightly. She risked a look to her side at the servant of Volcanon, attempting to casually dismiss her concern.
Sulia looks up from her writing and over to the door. She puts down her quill and calls out softly towards those outside. "Enter." She quickly smoothes her rather plain dress and awaits her company
With one more glance at Aurik, she took a deep breath and pulled the door open, bowing her head once as she did so, offering a small smile. "Sulia," the wizardess spoke.
"I apologize for disturbing you, but there is something I feel the need to tell you."
"Please, do come in then. Take a seat." She gestures around at the other free chair and her plain bed. "What would you like to talk about?" The woman looks from one to the other curiously.
She nodded pensively, raising her hand and bowing her head once to Aurik, silently pleading for him to give her a moment. Isyndel took a seat upon the bed, smoothing her dress under her legs as she did so.
"You came to us earlier out of trust, and despite my reasoning for doing so, I lied to you about Cedric's passing," she began. "I expect neither forgiveness nor understanding, only that you allow me to apologize for doing so. There was no intent on disrespect from my part."
Sulia smiled, a little wistfully and slowly shook her head. "You don't need to worry about it. You all were only following precautions. After what you've all been through, basic trust has to be earned. So don't worry too much about that." She looked down at her workings on the desk and then back at them. "Tho if you do feel you need to make it up to me you could try to speed up construction on the labs. I really want to get to work on that cure I found...if people let me perhaps."
: Isyndel exhaled, shaking her head slowly from side to side once. "Times have been...testing, at best, but I think business should be "as usual" from here on out. I've been waiting on the labs myself though," Isyndel said. "But perhaps I can influence that somewhat for you now, if you'd like." She paused, pursing her lips in thought for a moment. "A matter for later, if you would, there is something with which Aurik would like to discuss with you as well."
"That would indee dbe appreciated Isyndel. My thanks to you." She looks over at the the silent cleric and smiles somewhat gingerly at him. "How may I assist you Aurik?"
*Having stood against the wall with his arms crossed for while waiting for the two ladies to have their time, Aurik steps forward, fully into the room.*
: "We've found a way to cure your demonic affliction, if you consent and so desire."
"Still on that are we?" Sulia sighed. "What does it involve?"
*Aurik tightens his lips into a sort of half-frown, not entirely pleased with her reaction. At least she was more open for a change.*
: "You'll have to excuse me, since we began this before your return, and it became a bit of a pet project that we've now completed. If this is something that you truly want, we need an hour of your time and a small ritual. I can go into more detail if you wish."
Sulia frowned in return, chuckling a little to herself. "I'd like to hear more, but Aurik? Can I ask you something? What does Serving Volcanon feel like to you?" She stared at the cleric, peering intently as him.
: "Serving Volcanon is one of the greatest joys I have. It brought me from a broken family life into a new family full of warmth, comraderie, and helping, all for the purpose of a higher power," *the cleric says, his eyes widening ever slightly as he begins talking about his faith. A smile creeps across his face, showing he truly enjoyed his work.* "Though we are beholden to a higher authority, it is something I do gladly, and it brings me joy."
Sulia nods. "I am jealous. Never once have I felt like that, with either master I had. I served the Light because my mother said so and I served Erebeus because of trickery and Amelios said so. A little funny isn't it?" She shook her head. "Do you still want to 'help' me knowing that I may not decide to act as I did previous?"
: *Aurik shakes his head.* "The beauty is that I am not offering a return. I am offering you the chance to become who you wish to become. Just as your mother 'forced' serving the Light upon you, as you say, your demonic looks were forced upon you by Shailtor," *the cleric notes.* "This ritual will take what you are now and give you what you want to be. Whether you serve the Light, Volcanon, Mitula, some other god or goddess, or a higher power of your own choosing is your choice. If you wish to remain as you are, so be it, but from what I understand this can not only remove the effects placed upon you, but transform it into the recipient's own choosing."
*Clearing his throat after becoming long-winded, Aurik finishes.*
: "It has never been my intention to take choices from you. Instead, Isyndel and I are here to give you more choices. I seem to recall you saying you wish to be who you are, and not what others say you should be. This is an opportunity to be exactly who, and what, you wish."
"That's a lovely answer. But yes, for the sake of Yeesha I'd prefer being closer to power that is more rooted in healing than innate harming." She frowned looking down at her work as her voice trailed off. "Is it right though I wonder? That I sit here offered a solution while he remains trapped in a magical crystal essentially?" She sighed again. "Amelios wasn't cut out for adventuring. If he had his way I'm sure he'd have chosen to remain in Cypress with his lover. Fate can be cruel." She looked at them both. "But alright." She smiles. "I tire of the colour purple."
: "Is there truly nothing we can do for him?" Isyndel asked blankly, her knowledge of the process surprisingly foreign to her. "Perhaps...," she trailed off in thought. "But in any case, it has not been forgotten."
"He's lose all humanity at this point. Which is why I'll bring him peace eventually." Sulia replied.
: "If you don't mind, before he died, Cedric had proposed a plan for Amelios, but as Amelios is your husband, the choice is ultimately yours," *Aurik inquires of Sulia.*
"Wasn't it till death do us part?" She shook her head. "King Nick has his Phylactery. If you wish to play with it, go right ahead. I simply would prefer nothing to do with it."
: *Aurik looks absolutely stunned by her response, but then tries to regain his composure as quickly as he can.* "As you wish."
Noting his reaction Sulia raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry you take issue with me preferring to not associate myself as married to an undead mass murderer. But for his sake if you think you can do something about it, please try." She nodded seriously.
: "We're digressing," Isyndel interjected, standing and waving her arms peaceably before things went further. "Perhaps it would be best to divulge the details of what we require of Sulia, no?"
: *Aurik clears his throat, that going over less well than he had planned, and having things taken out of context. But it was done, and the answer was given.* "Yes, I agree."
Sulia nodded agreeably to Isyndel. "I'm all ears to this."
: "Aside from the usual ceremonial trappings, with which you are familiar, I'm sure, I will bring you into into a state of trance. There, you will commune with your spiritual authority, and you will be confronted with the transgressions that it sees in you, and with which you have come to terms. I will make no claim that it will not be a possibly arduous ordeal, and that it could be the longest hour of your life. However, at the end, it will bring you back awake just after asking you to concentrate on your utmost spiritual goals and desires, at which point you will be transformed."
"I see." Sulia shuts her eyes for a moment, clasping her hands together. "I shall consent to this trial."
: *Aurik nods, glad that Sulia was opening up to them once more. In time, the wounds between all of them may heal.* "Excellent. Then we will begin once you have had time to prepare. Isyndel," *Aurik says, turning his attention to the wizardess.* "Do you have anything more to add?"
She shook her head, simply glad things had gone almost smoothly.
~~~
*The next day, Aurik comes to Sulia's room once again, Isyndel in tow. The latter, though not one for religious ceremonies of any kind, was more intrigued to see the transformation take place and see her friend through this change. Aurik knocks on the door, calling into her chamber.*
: "Sulia. It's time."
Sulia opens the door and nods at the pair, stepping back into her room. "Very well." She sat down, looking at the pair once more, like she had done the previous day
: "Then follow me. I've made preparations in the chapel. I have some authority there, so the room is secured for our private use for the time we will need."
((http://knight.alphaalec.com/SFCW/SFCW4/Requiem.mp3))
*Aurik leads Sulia and Isyndel to the Fort's chapel. Due to some prodding, the workers had completed the place of prayer before some of the other, arguably more essential parts of the Fort. Aurik checked around with a few quick looks to make sure no one had entered into their ceremony room. Satisfied, he ushers everyone in, then closes the door.
Inside, the three not a cushion in the center of the recess for the pulpit. Some candles are lit around the cushion, providing dim lighting for the ritual. Normally, Aurik would have provided a holy symbol or some other reliquary to hold and aid communication, but instead he had left that to Sulia to choose her own cherished item if she so desired. A font of holy water stands off to the side, ready for use in the ritual.*
: "Sulia, if you are ready, please proceed to the center of the room," *Aurik intones, gently gesturing down to the prepared area.*
She nodded, moving into the area prepared for her, settling herself as comfortably as she was able. I can handle this...I think.
*Aurik and Isyndel follow after Sulia, the latter cautiously approaching. Neither rushes her, letting her ease into her decision. If she hadn't thought on what she was about to do before, she most certainly was now. For the atonement to work, Sulia had to be fully conscious of her decision, and fully prepared to undertake this ordeal. Once all three make it to the chapel's central area, Aurik gestures that Sulia kneel down upon the cushion placed for her.*
: "Relax," *he says, trying to comfort her.*
Isyndel clasped her hands together before her uneasily, but tilted her head to the side and offered a tiny smile of encouragement before finding a place to stand off to the side.
Sulia looked over at Isyndel, nodding at her before closing her eyes and shutting out all the outside influences, simply trying to be at peace with herself. "Whenever you're ready Aurik. I am prepared."
: *Aurik nods.* "If you've brought an item of spiritual importance to focus on and aid you through this, take it into your hands." *As he says this, Aurik brings out his holy symbol in one hand and prayer beads in the other. Holding them over the fallen servant's head, he prepares to start the ritual.*
Sulia chuckles a little at this, removing a locket from her neck, simple and golden. Unknown to the other two it held a single lock of long silver hair, hers from before all the pain and the suffering and the wars. "Very well."
*Aurik closes his eyes and lowers his head, concentrating on Sulia in his mind. The cleric's holy symbol begins to glow, and his prayer beads shake as though in a strong gale. Silence fills the room, and Aurik begins to speak, though his voice booms, transformed into a deep basso.*
"Lord Volcanon, grant your servant the power to see this soul through the trials to follow. Make me your vessel to guide her to her spiritual center, and bring her into contact with the beings governing her moral disposition. Lend me the strength to know her pain and to find the path to redemption. With her convictions, let her rediscover the person she knows herself to be, and not the subject of the whims of others or the pressures of temptation and transgression!"
((Sulia: OOOMMMMMMMMMM))
*The room deadens, and Aurik removes his hand from Sulia's head. Aurik begins to walk around Sulia, though his footfalls are heavy, the sounds do not pass to her ears. Aurik makes his way to the font, dipping his prayer beads into the blessed waters. Traversing the circle composing the pulpit's recession, Aurik sprinkles a trail around, blocking out other influences, and sealing them in. As he does so, Sulia's eyes feel heavier, though she does not feel tired. Her thoughts become clearer, memories beginning to surface. Once finished with the beginnings of the ritual, Aurik takes his place back in front of her, channeling whatever being or beings she would call to herself, and acting as a source of strength for the coming onslaught of sins and repentance.*

Posted by: Aldur Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:56 am
Sulia sinks into a quagmire of her own thoughts and memories, the sinister influence of the Strife Lords whirling around her. Like shards of broken glass, scenes from her recent past fly around her. Combat against the forces of good, obscene rituals with demons and devils, blasphemy after blasphemy, and the blind devotion to her lord Erebeus.
Scene after scene, memory after memory confronts her with her own failing. Finally, the memory stops on a moment frozen in time, the confrontation with her mother. The scene just hangs there in front of Sulia.
Sulia nods to herself, clenching her fists tight, then shaking her head as she is bombared with images. And then she sighs when she looks at the image pressed in front of her. "Mother. The reason I followed the Light..." She looked around confused. "What? Why this one?"
The scene just hangs thereSulia's own words echo around her, repeating themselves in the silence.
Sulia smiles sadly. "I wonder why. Why everything always had to be...just so. I never asked either." Sulia stepped forwards, as if to touch the image and thought better of it. "And the Geas...will it help her? I hope so..."
Sulia's final words echo around her, "The Geas... help her?" There is an almost accusatory tone to it. Sulia shut her eyes. "It should...It will! That way she can't ruin my brother's life like she did mine!" Her words echo around the nothingness before her and then she snarls. "Am I not to help my brother!?"
She paused a moment after her question and then smirked. "I see...I did to her what was done to me. Though in a lesser way. It's not fair to do...no matter how much I think they deserve it." A tear formed and she wiped it away, saying nothing, merely lost in thought
A sense of warmth touches Sulia's soul as she comes to that realization
"How bizarre...to experience that situation from both sides. I wonder how HE felt..." She stepped forward, appearing to walk through her own mind.
The memories whirl around Sulia once more until another scene hangs in front of Sulia, one all too familiar. She sits, writing a note to her friend, her captain, Cedric, explaining why she must leave.
"The beginning of the end..." She laughed. "I wonder. I wonder if it was fate that brought me to them? But then I also left them...but I hadn't really meshed that well. I mean, I seemed apart. I had not experienced what they had..." Sulia grinned. "I left the Holy Staff behind. I wonder who has it now?" The smile left her face as she considered it. "That was impulsive. And then I fell into...darkness? No, not darkness...perhaps thralldom."
Again Sulia's own words confront her. "I left them... I seemed apart."
"And so they went on and endured pain...so much pain. While I dealt it out mindlessly after Shailtor got to my mind..." Her demonic face took on a mournful expression. "I want to help them. I want to...ease their pain. Cedric is gone now too. I can't fill that void...but maybe I can help."
The same feeling of warmth touches Sulia's soul as the scene fades, returning to the glass whirlwind around her.
The whirlwind of memories swirls around her, confronting her with her deeds under the Strife Lord's banner, but no particular scene stands out now. It's all mishmashed into one long train of evil.
Sulia's eyes can't keep up with the various acts of slaughter and silent killing. Yet that was all that was in front of her, death wail after death wail, her blade slicing through so many. She shook her head, falling to her knees, crying out softly. "Please, stop it! Just for a moment! Oh Gods...the pain. That was me...all me?" She slams her fist down. "No! No more. I can't possibly fix it all, but I must try! Try to heal the hurt I caused. But I need help...won't someone help me?"
Her words return. "I seemed apart." "Seemed." Her thoughts flew instantly to Isyndel waiting patiently, and Aurik who had prepared all this despite her half hearted interest. And then it just seemed to click. "Yes, with the help of my dear, dear friends. I can do something about what I have done. I shall make amends for the horrors wrought by both Amelios and I...with their aid."
Another feeling of warmth touches her and the memories fade away, leaving Sulia alone in the dark. But the dark is no longer frightening or oppresive. It is the warm comfort of sleep, of rest instead.
Sulia extended her hand, now feeling somewhat alone. "Hello?" I'm not sure what to do now...but...but. Yes. I have decided. "I am sorry for straying in my devotion to the almighty Light. But I cannot...If I had freely made the choice...I would have become a Cleric of Mitula. I need to nuture and heal now. I must make up for the pain...Goddess of nature...if you can hear me, may I join you?"
The feeling of warmth begins to fade from Sulia, the touch on her soul feeling tinged with sorrow as it fades away. When the warmth is finally gone, the dark fades to reveal the surroundings of the Temple of Mitula. Then they too fade and Sulia begins to wake.
As soon as she is awake, a feeling of cold, of absence, spreads through her body. Even though the weight of her sins is lifted from her mind and soul, it feels as if another, more gentle touch has also departed.
Goodbye...I'm sorry. I'm so very sorry. But I must pick my own way...but I thank you for watching over me. Sulia shivers, looking around the empty darkness before opening her eyes, the cold feeling still surrounding her still demonic body.
((Sulia retains her HP, BAB, and saves, but has lost all her Su and Sp abilities. This includes her spellcasting. She is no longer a Favored Soul.))

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Wed Feb 25, 2009 4:38 pm
Sulia shudders a little as she awakes, and smiles at Aurik kneeling in front of her, then looking over at Isyndel, tears forming in her eyes. "Thank you both." She looked down at herself. "But it seems there is more I must do." The Wizardess closed her eyes a moment, probing the magic around her. Comforted by the presence of her energy shield, she straightened from her position against the wall skeptically.
((Spellcraft))
She nodded curtly to herself once, satisfied by her initial examination before turning her gaze to watch any signs in Aurik's reaction. There was no panic in his expression, though perhaps some confusion.
"Sulia," she mouthed. "This seems to be proceeding smoothly so far."
*Aurik also brings himself from his concentration on the ritual at Sulia's awakening. The cleric furrows his brow at the lack of any change, supposing she must have made some choice delaying its effects.*
"So you have made your decision, then?"
"Indeed. It's time for me to enter the fold. The Light seemed sad to leave me...but this is my choice." Sulia nodded. "I will enter into the service of his old deity and do my best to atone for both of us. It is only just...though I know not what to do now. My last image was one of the temple of Mitula...Aurik? Do you know?"
*Aurik nods in understanding.* "Yes, and you've given the gods what they need to know. If this is truly what you desire, then I will complete the ceremony."
Sulia simply nodded. She assumed he understand. This would be the final break. "Continue Aurik."
*Aurik's eyelids half-close, and the cleric sharply inhales. His holy symbol, still in hand, begins to glow, levitating his arm upward toward the ceiling. Aurik begins chanting, at first unintelligibly, yet in the same booming voice from earlier. The tongues-like phrases meld into a single, uniform, reverberating speech: an invocation to the firebird.*
"Lord of Fire and Purifying Light, grant your servant the power to restore a faith once shattered, now renewed. In this favor, help to bring into the fold of Your goddess compatriot, the Earthmaiden Mitula, Daughter of Cleansing Waters, Sulia Adelhyde. Remove the markings from her slate so that she may begin anew the path she has chosen, free from the misdeeds of her past, mindful of the good in it, and ever-vigilant that her mistakes are not made once more. By Your power, all things are possible. Please grant Your servant this miracle, in Your name, by Your hand!"
*Aurik grows unnaturally still, unnaturally silent, his deity's hand working through his form now.*
Blinding light bursts forth from Aurik, washing over Sulia's form and filling the entire chamber with fire that does not burn. When the fire and light recede, Sulia lays in the center of the room, an ordinary human once more. ((Sulia loses her template and is a human.))
(10:33:24 PM) DragonmasterDon1: Bitch just got Mathemanced
Sulia gasps, falling over in the sudden light show, and then gets up slowly, looking down at her form with a quiet smile. "It appears that...I am me once more. I thank you all."
Uncharacteristically, Isyndel pushes off the wall and into the inner room to lend an arm for support.
Sulia takes Isyndel's arm and nods her thanks at the Wizardress for all of this. "Thank you Isy..." She whispers, still looking down at her form.
"Are you certain you still wish to proceed directly to the temple?" Isyndel asked, concern mirrored on her face. "Surely you could use a little rest."
Sulia smiles wryly at this, looking slyly at Isyndel. "No rest for the wicked." She chuckled a little. "I have endured worse. I must go."
"Then you'll not go alone," Isyndel replied, her tone brookering no dissent in the matter as she glanced at Aurik once more, certain his sentiments mirrored his. "And I suspect one more will need to come along as well."
*Aurik comes slowly out of the trancelike state, feeling exhausted from the sheer power having flown through him. The cleric shakes his head, then runs his hand through his shock-white hair, partly tousling it to restore his composure and regain feeling.*
"If you're certain you're well, then so be it, but do be careful of rushing through these events."
"Time is not a luxury I wish to have at the moment. The sooner I can do all this, the sooner I can make amends for both of us." Her hand tightened into a fist. "I shall go now...But if you need the rest Aurik please do." She nodded in concern. "You look like you need it."
*Aurik shakes his head.* "I am fine. We're concerned about you is all. The magnitude of what has happened may not sink in now, or even tomorrow. However, it is still your call, and we will support you. Isyndel," *he says, turning toward the wizardess.* "you said you require someone else?"
She nodded. "I did not anticipate leaving today, I'm afraid," Isyndel replied softly, releasing Sulia. "I think some assistance might be in order, and it gives you a few minutes to rest anyway. If you will excuse me." And with that, Isyndel made her way to the door, not looking forward to the conversation she was about to have.
"I do not mean to cause trouble for you all. And Aurik? Part of me has always wanted this. Even back when I served the Light...It may sound hard to believe to someone as devoted to his deity as you but it's the truth." She sighed. "I just never thought it would happen..."
Several minutes later, the door creeped open once
again. Isyndel strode in, her pace hurried, her fingertips massaging her temples in irritation.
A voice followed as Viki came in several paces behind, both hands tightly wound about her Wand as she tried to catch up, chattering incessantly. She paused at the doorway for a moment, suddenly silent, her eyes looking around curiously before she nodded and walked directly to the center of the room.
"She said you guys need to go somewhere?" Viki asked, bowing politely.
"Oh...it's you." Sulia commented, recognising the Teleport Queen from an earlier battle. Sulia smiled at Viki, and mouthed Sorry to Isyndel. "Yes. We need to go to the temple of Mitula."
"Oh, the temple. Okay," Viki replied, before placing her finger on her lip absentmindedly. "Ummm..." she leaned inward toward Sulia. "I hope Mitula isn't as mean as she is," she whispered, motioning her head toward Isyndel.
Isyndel exhaled deliberately, crossing her arms before her.
"Eheheheh...um. Just imagine where you're trying to go, because I don't know what it is, ok?" Viki raised her wand to the sky. "Destination...anywhere!"
~-The Shrine of Mitula-~
The four are enveloped in shimmering light, and when it fades they stand before the great Shrine to Mitula in Tristan.
"Uh...is this right, then???" Viki asked blankly. "Kinda looks like a temple."
*Aurik nods.* "This is it. Excellent work, Viki."
Sulia nods at the teleport girl. "Indeed it is. Thank you." She looked around at the home of Mitula, having never been here before, having heard only stories. She takes a deep breath, inhaling the sweet garden air. "Breath taking." She strides forwards, towards the shrine.
"Ah," she replied, grinning, before her expression changed to worry as Sulia stepped forward. She raised a hand in protest hurriedly. "Um, what if its h-h-h-aunted..."
"Don't be foolish," came Isyndel's reprimand. "Are you coming or not?"
*Acting as honor guard, Aurik follows behind and to the left of Sulia as she walks toward the temple, hoping to see the temple's newest servant in the wake of the circumstances.*
As Isyndel moved into step, Viki pursed her lips and followed suit, albeit begrudgingly.
Two paladins of Mitula move to stop the quartet, but they seem to recognize some of the group and relent at the last moment, allowing them access into the Shrine.
Within the Shrine, a scattering of monks and priests pray within the main hall, the sound of flowing water echoring throughout the vast chamber.
Sulia smiles guardedly at the paladins. "You know, I'd hate to think how that would have went if I looked like I used to."
"Oh? Were you some sort of monster or something...?" Viki asked absently, totally clueless.
Sulia sniggered a little at that, shaking her head. "Guess you could say that." She continues on her way in the shrine, noting the other people praying with a quiet smile.
Viki turned to Aurik as she walked. "Why are all the girls scary...?"
*Aurik takes in the sights of the now-familiar temple once more, keeping a silent reverence as they walk. The silence is broken, however, by Viki's constant inquiries. Smiling, the Aurik looks warmly to the confused teleportation specialist before answering.*
"It's the men you should worry about."
She nodded, satisfied with the response for about three
seconds, before her eyes widened. "Huh????"
Sulia continues her walk, moving along one of the two walkways, arriving at the main altar of the temple, the statue of Mitula holding the ground orb looming in front of her. She bows her head reverently for a few moments, merely thinking and taking her surroundings in.
Sulia suddenly kneels before the statue, extending her hands to pray to the goddess. If you would have me great earth mother...I Humbly ask to be taken into your arms...
Isyndel clasped her fingers together and lowered her head out of respect, but nothing more, clearly looking as if she felt out of place.
"Oh, er, excuse me?" an elderly man garbed in priestly robes asks, coming up towards the group. "Are you the new initiates for the temple? I've been waiting all day for them to arrive..."
The man frowns. "Oh... you wear Volcanon's crest... Nevermind, I guess it's not your group then..."
Sulia got to her feet and smiled at the priest. "Were they expected earlier?"
"I don't wear any crests," Viki spoke to herself. "If I did, I don't think it'd be one with a volcano on it."
"I was just told to expect new initiates today, I thought they meant in the morning, but no one's shown up all day..."
"Well, There is me." Sulia smiled at him. "I don't know if I'm who you were expecting though..."
The man blinks. "Wait... So you are the initiates?"
"No, I'm Viki," she said with a wide grin, bowing her head.
Sulia sighed, in a rather relaxed way. "Not them. They're...my friends. I'm the one you want."
"Aurik Desmond, Priest of Volcanon, accompanying the lady here."
Isyndel turned her head the other way silently, content to remain anonymous until she noted that the man had turned his gaze to her in expectation. She pursed her lips.
"Isyndel Rhoe'wyn," she said, as politely as she could muster.
"Oh... So this young lady is the only one?" the priest asks, turning. "Miss...."
"Sulia. Sulia...Adelhyde." She smiled. "It's good to be here."
"Ah," the priest brightens. "Well, if you'll follow me we can get you set up. I'll give you a moment to say goodbye."
"Sure." Sulia turns to her companions and nods at them. "I'm not quite sure how many times I need to say this, but thank you all." She grinned. "It's been an interesting day."
"Before you go, shall we see about the phylactery before we part ways?" Isyndel queried.
Sulia frowned a little. "See about it...?"
"Perhaps see if we can gain audience with Mitula in regards to it. Although I suppose you would learn of any result here in either case, but I had assumed you would wish to be there," Isyndel replied.
Sulia nodded. "Ah. Yes. Sorry, I'm a little dazed. That does seem like a good idea."
*Aurik's eyes widen, remembering he had Amelios' phylactery on his person after retrieving it from King Nick. Aurik reaches into his satchel, removing the [black dildo of power] of Amelios, holding it tightly in his hands.*
"Yes, we should hand this over to the goddess, though it may require an audience."
The phylactery begins to shine, slowly rising out of Aurik's hands.
Sulia gasps at this, watching the phylactery floating in the air, her hands clasping together.
The phylactery slowly floats over to in front of the statue of Mitula, all the assembled monks and priests taking note at the touch of the goddess, a few even gasp.
Then the necklace which Sulia had worn on her neck for so long, the necklace that contained her husband's soul, shatters to pieces and disintegrates in mid air.
I hope you can do something for him. She cried out a little as the Phylactery was shattered and then nodded, shutting her eyes. May he find peace.
"And so it is finished," Isyndel whispered.
Sulia sighs as yet another loose end is tied up and looks to the priest, stepping forward. "Shall we?"
"Yes, please follow me," the priest says as he leads Sulia into the temple chambers.
Sulia nods to her friends and then follows the elderly priest, a serene smile on her face.
"Take care of yourself, Sulia," Isyndel spoke quietly, traces of a smile rising on her lips.
"Farewell," *Aurik says, wishing Sulia good fortune in her endeavors.*
"I'll see you soon." She called back over her shoulder.
(12:12:05 AM) TheUnknownMarine: Sulia was never seen again. DUN DUN DUN

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Wed Mar 04, 2009 1:14 am
Later, in the cluttered assembly of tables passing for a war room until the real thing gets built... Jim drops a huge pile of papers onto the table, spreading them out with a hand into some semblance of order until it becomes clear that they together form a very detailed map of the area around Manarina, complete with troop locations.
"All right, I managed to have this put together while everyone was deciding what to do. Since it looks like everyone wants to assault Manarina en masse, you might find this useful," Jim says, pointing to a multicolored sphere on the map. "That's Manarina, protected by some sort of super barrier. Looks like a gigantic prismatic sphere, but I have no idea what it really is. Whatever it is, it's keeping the Cult out of the city, for which we can all be thankful."
Jim points to a circle of small dots broken occasionally by a large monster or demon. "These are the troops around the city. They've encircled it and have been trying to break through for the better part of a year now as best we can tell. They've had no luck, but we fear it's only a matter of time before the barrier gives or they find a way past it. These..."
Jim taps a finger on four large concentrations of troops, each at a compass point of the map. "Seem to be where their leaders and elites are clustered. Not sure why they're scattered about."
Isyndel is able to recognize that the general deployment of powerful demons to those points, as well as where some of the other demons are in the map seem to indicate a gigantic ritual circle being prepared.
"We've managed to find out that a large part of the demons are the force that fled from Prompt. It's a good bet that we'll find their high command mixed in with whoever was leading the siege force to begin with," Jim says. "Other than that, we've got basic information on their forces and not much else. Anyone have a plan?"

Posted by: Rusty Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:21 am
: "What I have in mind isn't so much a plan as it is an idea. I think I and a number of others that have faced them before should go. It might be enough to intimidate them or shake their morale a bit. That, and I want to be there for other reasons. It looks like it's quite an army, but we shouldn't need our whole force to deal with them. Perhaps we should concentrate on one cluster at a time, though?"

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Wed Mar 04, 2009 9:59 pm
Isyndel narrowed her eyes as she examined the map, her arms tightly folded beneath her breasts as she scanned it from place to place before she spoke up. "They are preparing something," she spoke flatly. "What it is exactly I can only speculate, but their positioning is no coincidence. A ritual, likely something to destroy the barrier but possibly something far worse." She passed her finger to each point, noting its importance in forming a shape around the city.
"Whatever forces we use to attack, they must break one of these points before whatever they do is complete, or all may be lost. Disrupting one of the cardinal points should limit the effectiveness of those remaining; in fact, in many rituals the elimination of one point would destroy any chance of activation to begin with."
The Wizardess paused and took a deep breath. "I digress. The point am I leading to is that a quick, surprise strike on the most exposed point is the key to our success. One, two forces at most, and at night, when the desert is coolest. The remaining forces cut hope of reinforcement or retreat here...and here," she said, gesturing toward both Alterone and Bustoke.
Sternly, she added "My team will be present at Manarina unless given strong reason to do otherwise. I make no claims that this is not a selfish demand in my regard, but if you need such a thing, consider that of us five I am the only one well versed in arcane studies. I should hope that you are intelligent enough to make further connection without me providing it for you, no?" she smiled almost haughtily in spite of herself.

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Wed Mar 04, 2009 10:16 pm
Jim nods to Isyndel. : "A sound plan... My group is well versed in combat teleportation, so I volunteer my forces to constitute one half of the Bustoke forces," Jim says, unfurling a different map and tapping on an area of rocks and cliffs. "The Cult seems to have fortified and dug in at the old quarry. If one force attacks from the front, my team can deploy in the caves and flush out those taking shelter. We press them forward and flank them. Sound good?"
Jim turns to Alexander.
: "Face them before? I thought you were based in the Parmecia region before this. Also, I have to ask what these other reasons are. Did you think of something we missed?"

Posted by: Knight_019 Wed Mar 04, 2009 10:40 pm
*Ivellas shuffles around a bit, the clacking of his hooves on the floor audible as he prepares a few pages.* : "I must concur that I do not believe a massive assault to be a feasible plan. Each continent has its own array of broken cultists on the run. The conflict between Aspia and Destonia rages on, and Emperor Domaric's forces are currently on the defensive. The last bastions of the cult on Rune remain holed up in the area surrounding Shade Abbey, and its headquarters in Guardiana," *Ivellas says, clenching his fists tightly at the admission that his home still acts as a nexus of evil.*
: "If we take the time to launch coordinated assaults, certainly we may break each location we attack. However, it may be overkill. Instead, we should not give our enemies the time to regroup. Consider this map," *Ivellas continues, showing the assembled the same drawing he had concocted of allied/enemy strongholds.* "Our enemies are currently weak and scattered. Manarina is currently under siege, and we cannot give the Cult the time to break the city and strengthen its hold once more. Meanwhile, the Aspinian continent is split, and the remnants of the Runic continent can easily be cut in half if we are able to break through the siege."
*Ivellas circles the Bustoke area and surrounding forest with his finger.*
: "Commander Radford is already onto a key point. There may be a Cult stronghold hidden in the forests near Bustoke. If we break the siege at Manarina and deny them that supply line as well as cut off the surrounding Bustoke region, any base will be deprived of resources and fall far more easily than a frontal assault. In doing so, we also force the enemy into retreat. I would like to lead my forces into battle at Manarina, then following success, secure the area and prepare to take Alterone in its wake. From there we can begin the final plunge into the heart of the enemy, here" *Ivellas says sternly, pressing his finger firmly into Guardiana.*
: "This is my home, and too long have the people here suffered in our absence. We make our stand now. However, someone must keep the other enemy forces busy, and I am certain that each group is capable of handling its affairs with the aid of at most one other group. Each of our forces has exquisite combat capabilities, and we need to consider the most effective resource management we can muster. Any mistake, overreach, or wasted time will only be to the benefit of those that fight against us."
*Ivellas pauses a moment, seeming to be finished, but then clears his throat, his eyes widening in realization.*
: "There is also another point I should mention, that makes this of the utmost importance. While stationed in Mechanis, we were able to contact a station of 'Tech Knights' located nearby. They are more than interested in dealing a death blow to the Strife Lords once and for all, but they are currently not ready to pledge to fight yet, claiming they will watch our actions instead. The more that we can accomplish in a short period of time the more we may be able to persuade them to join our cause and make the coming battles easier. What say you?"

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Wed Mar 04, 2009 10:55 pm
: "I'd say that being able to wipe out the cultists on Rune as soon as possible would be worth it just for the decrease in civilian casualties and allied troop deaths... but another ally? That's some very nice icing on the cake," Jim nods. "I still need someone to help me with Bustoke, though."

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Thu Mar 05, 2009 8:04 am
"Now if only you had a group who was used to traipsing through forests and taking on odds obscenely beyond what they were capable of handling, and still coming out alright," Dam said, leaning back in his chair. Snapping forward with a smile, he continued exuberantly, "Oh! Wait! That's me!"
"In all seriousness, though," he said, fingering one of the curved blades as he spoke, "my people are more than capable. Not only that, but Jim's people are pretty handy, and we're short one Coventry-shaped healer."
"I'd also really like to know whether or not we should expect any help from the defenders inside Manarina," the rogue continued. "Disrupting them might be the goal, but with an attack like this we're only postponing the inevitable unless we crush them all. Just a thought, y'know."

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Thu Mar 05, 2009 5:39 pm
: "No one knows, but perhaps if we manage to inflict enough damage on the enemy, the mages will drop the barrier and press the attack to drive them off? It's a possibility, albeit unlikely given the effort put into maintaining that barrier..." Jim muses, tapping his chin.

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Fri Mar 06, 2009 12:27 am
"Shame," Dam said, shaking his head a bit. "I'd personally take it upon myself to wash out anyone who got too comfortable in my home, but I guess that's just me." "Anyway," he said, leaning back as far as he could without falling out of the chair, "Aside from that, I think it'd be possible to launch a secondary attack against a second smaller Anyone have anything else to add?"

Posted by: Rusty Fri Mar 06, 2009 1:19 am
: "I just want to quickly clarify something with Jim, if that is all right. My troop and some allies faced off against the demons in Prompt. It's true that for the most part we spent our time in Parmecia, but the battles around Prompt were after I met up with you. As for my reasons for wanting to be in the battle in Manarina...For one, I promised General Mae that I would do my best to purge Rune of the devils. I gave her my word. Secondly, Rune has the highest concentration of the remaining fiends, as I understand it. And of course, it is logically the best place to strike next."
*Alex pauses for a moment.*
: "It doesn't have to be a massive assault, no. Still, we should weigh the importance of this battle and the importance of the other conflicts. I insist on joining you in Manarina, though I will only bring one or two people from my force. That will leave the rest of my force to help with other matters."
*He then pauses again, waiting for someone else to chime in.*

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Fri Mar 06, 2009 1:31 am
: "Ah, you mean the forces in Prompt. I understand now," Jim nods. "I don't entirely agree with your decision, but it's exactly that. Your decision. If you wish to join Ivellas and Isyndel, then I'll ask that Eve and whoever else is left accompany myself and Dam to clear the Bustoke region."

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Fri Mar 06, 2009 4:33 am
"While it'd be easy enough to work with you again Jim, I think the rest of our group would agree with the other centaur. We should finish what we started in Destonia," Eve interjected, the Pegasus Knight clearly taken aback by Alex's words. "Not just because they'd want to go there, but because ... well, I guess just because we can. We have the momentum on our side, and enough manpower here to do it, if...well, if maybe the Shining Force comes along for the ride."
"It's aggressive, it's risky, and if you ask me its exactly what they're not expecting us to do -- we should be reeling from our losses, licking our wounds, and then tentatively sticking our necks out again."
She pressed her hands flat against the table.
"But none of us wanna do that, do we?"

Posted by: Knight_019 Fri Mar 06, 2009 4:58 am
*Dagron perks his head up, snorting some smoke as he pays more attention to the discussion again. The young dragon had little patience for any of the discussion at hand and was instead more interested in how soon he could get out and fight the Strife Lords again. There was work to be done, yet here they were, talking away time when they could be doing something. It made him so frustrated sometimes.
However, instead of nodding off himself, Dagron takes note of Eve's interjection. Considering her his de facto leader, especially after she had truly earned his respect on the battlefield, she gave him the inspiration to speak up himself.*
: "Eve is right. We need to attack before they get away again! Domaric already killed Tristus, Margaret, and Algernon. They can't do that again to anyone else!" *Dagron pauses a moment, recalling something else.* "Which reminds me, that there's a certain general who needs reminded we beat him. But that's a different story."
*The golden wyrm stands up straight walking around slightly in thought, continuing his drawn out demand for action.*
: "I want to go to finish the job, and there are other dragons that I need to see and meet, too." *Dagron's eyes brighten at yet another realization. He begins to hop up and down in small bounds, small tremors felt through the floor by those nearby.* "Hey! Maybe the original heroes can come and help us, and we can fight by the Shining Force! Or maybe since it's nearby, they can help with the Bustoke region and we can take Jim's group, if they'd prefer that. What do you say!?" *He finishes, excitedly.*
((DAGRON diplomacy, mainly for SF1 group: 1d20 + 24 = 16 + 24 = 40.))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Fri Mar 06, 2009 6:20 am
Jim rubs his chin. : "The Shining Force has extensive knowledge of the Bustoke region thanks to Zylo... Perhaps it would be best if they struck there. We'll accompany the Destonian team then, I suppose, but where should we strike?" Jim asks. "And if the Shining Force is taking Bustoke, then Dam's team can probably stand to be somewhere else. If not with us in Destonia, then maybe another place in need of his particular attention."
Max nods. "You make good points. The Cypressian Army will march towards Manarina to deal with the bulk of their troops and secure the city after you break the siege, but we'll take Mae's resistance forces and press on Bustoke."
((Hey, while the III and IV teams figure out what's what, I'd like it if the I and II leaders decided how exactly to proceed with the attack on Manarina. IE, what exactly you want to do, and any preparations to be made.))

Posted by: Knight_019 Fri Mar 06, 2009 6:42 am
((You. Give siege map. We've got plenty of people to drop divinations on the area of it's really necessary))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Fri Mar 06, 2009 7:07 am

QUOTE (Knight_019 @ Fri Mar 06, 2009 6:42 am)
((You. Give siege map. We've got plenty of people to drop divinations on the area of it's really necessary))

((No map, but as I said, the clusters are at each compass point in a circle around the city. The largest cluster seems to include a giant demon on four stubby legs which appears to be the leader. However, another cluster to the south appears to have another leader, an undead archer in ragged and torn gear that still seems to command some amount of arcane power. He leads the circle of mages around him in their ritual. The forces around them consist of fire dragons, chaos dragons, all sorts of demons, and the usual array of cultists. No devils are present, and there seems to be few undead. There seems to be a disproportionate amount of spellcasters among the cultists, though. Furthermore, a small crystal spire looks to be slowly taking shape under the guidance of the undead and demon. The troops outside of the clusters appear to be rank and file cultists backed up by lesser demons.))

Posted by: Alpha Fri Mar 06, 2009 4:45 pm
Laeralas then moves to join the group and takes a place next to Eve, the smaller elf seemingly dwarfed by the tall and powerful centaur. : “I’m sorry Alex,” the wizard-rogue says. “But I have to agree with Eve and Dagron. Eastern Parmecia is our home, collectively as such,” he says with a smirk, before his expression hardens. “But my home has already been attacked, and Stamp isn’t even part of Aspinia or Destonia!” he pauses a moment, gazing purposefully at his leader. “Yes, there is threat everywhere right now, something that is all too apparent, but I wish to see our homes safe, just as Sir Ivellas wishes to purge the evil from Guardiana.”
The elf pauses again, this time resting his chin in his hand and dropping his gaze to the ground, thinking over the past few months.
“Also, Ashathel and I opened up communications with King Benetram himself. We haven’t heard anything from him, but if we plan to take the offensive again Destonia, maybe we can enlist the aid of Lord Synbios’ Force too.” His bit said, the green haired elf takes a half step backwards, but remains at Eve’s side. “And yes, my friend,” he then says to Dagron. “Perhaps we should pay a certain Lord Commander visit.”

Posted by: Knight_019 Mon Mar 09, 2009 1:08 am
*Ivellas waits patiently as the room erupts into uproar. Impassioned speeches from all sides of the table and each group. Talks of defense of homeland remind Ivellas of his own drives. This war would end, and he would see to it. Ivellas' eyes gaze over to the scrying pool, looking onto the battle, when sudden realization sets in. Or at least, suspicion. Though leader of a squadron, he had to admit certain deficiencies in understanding of magic.*
: "Hold! Can they see us back through that divination?"
*Kyuu's ears perk up. The fiery mage had begun nodding off at the talk of all the tactical discussion. He just wanted to fry demons! Was that too much to ask? However, when Ivellas had a question, Kyuu always wanted to try to help his friend and leader. The foxling rubs his head vigorously, tossling his fur all about as he thinks hard on the issue.*
: "Uh... it's possible, I think. I mean, if you can look at them, they can look at you, but they have to be aware. I mean, they're kind of busy and all with trying to break into the city," *he says, getting up and walking over to take a look."
"They shouldn't be able to," Septimus replies, intently focusing at the pool.
: "Check anyway, if you can."
*Three of the mages at the viewing area, including the cleric Aurik, concentrate hard on the image. It distorts a moment as concentration passes through the window and onto the thoughts of those that might be looking back. Aurik snaps his attention out first, shaking his head, followed nearly simultaneously by Septimus, also feeling certain he hadn't detected anyone looking back. However, Alex's defensive specialist, Merla, shows a pained look on her face, straining, then snapping back to attention. The halfling wizardess looks back at the five leaders assembled in the room, eyes wide, unsure what to say."
"I think they were able to detect us, sir," *she says sheepishly, but continues.* "I don't believe they were able to determine much about us, however. It was too short."
: "Kill it!" *Ivellas shouts.* "We're risking too much, and we've seen all we need."
*The word given, the scryed battlefield dissipates.*
*However, before it disappears, Kyuu becomes visibly agitated by something he saw. Bouncing up and down, the foxmage starts shouting.*
: "Ivellas! Ivellas! Ivellas! Ivellas! Ivellas! Ivellas! Ivellas!"
: "Yes, Kyuu. What is it?" *Ivellas knew that something was up if Kyuu was going on in this manner, though he also had to wonder how relevant or proper his revelation would be.*
: "Did you see that big guy with the even bigger sword!? That guy is some kind of greater demon thing. Even worse, I read about him one time... you remember when I was stuck in Manarina? Because... uh... um... well he's an actual guy! With a name! He's Worex the Devourer! He's big, he's ugly, he eats, things, and he's ruthless and strong as any demon EVER!" *Kyuu huffs, breathing again after his long diatribe.* "Worse yet, it's been said he doesn't stay dead, either! You've got to beat him really fast a second time. If you don't, he'll just come back again!"
: "I was certainly expecting a fight," *Ivellas says, musing vapidly. Something else he had seen was weighing on his mind.* "Those towers. Are they..."
: *Kyuu frowns.* "They're the same thing we saw in Guardiana. The ones that summon demons and things! What do you think, Sep? You're smarter than me."
: *Ivellas shakes his head at Kyuu's antics. However, this was not good news.* "As I had feared. They seem to be bring in two, however. The process is slow-going, which works in our favor. Our best bet may be to attack is 'Worex,' since his tower is nearing completion, while the second is just starting. We maybe able to disrupt them, in any event. Septimus, do you have other information, as Kyuu suggests?"

Posted by: Alpha Mon Mar 09, 2009 1:38 am
Septimus continues to stare at where the scrying images were, keeping the scene locked in his mind. He thinks for a moment or two to try and answer Ivellas and Kyuu, but for some reason, his mind feels oddly blank. Nothing's coming to him...
...then suddenly, he realises exactly what the enemy forces are up to. Eyes wide, he turns to his leader and explains what's happening.
"Ivellas, they're conducting some kind of ritual. It's unique and so obscure I've only read about it happening a handful of times. But if they're successful, they'll be able to manipulate the fabric of the planes!" He pauses, catching his breath. "They're using this ritual's power, along with the towers so they tear the barrier around Mararina to shreds!"
((OOC info:
Septimus rolls a knowledge [arcana] check. Natural 1. *cursing & profanities* Tanis forces a reroll. Septimus gets a check of 50. Awesome.))

Posted by: Knight_019 Mon Mar 09, 2009 1:43 am
(( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w5oaOPKUo4 ))

Posted by: Rusty Mon Mar 09, 2009 2:00 am
: "The situation is even more serious than I thought! Laeral, I know the importance of protecting our homes, but if the situation in Manarina gets out of hand we won't even have homes to protect. I am sorry that I am to do this a second time, but I feel this is the graver battle now that we have witnessed this. I will not order or even ask any of you to come with me, but you are welcome to if you choose to. Regardless, Eve will assume command in my absence, and I will aid Isyndel and Ivellas to the best of my abilities."
: "Enough of that! When we do leave?"

Posted by: Alpha Mon Mar 09, 2009 2:04 am
: "I'll respect your decision, Alex," Laeral replies with a nod. "But I think I shall go with Eve and the others to Eastern Parmecia, if that is her intention."

Posted by: Aldur Mon Mar 09, 2009 2:07 am
Kria shrugged, speaking up suddenly. "Like don't panic. More people take longer to get ready. So like, why don't who all is going to Manarina go. And like, the Aspia people go there and um, everyone else go where everyone else is going. Hey Dam? Why don't we stay in reserve here and keep an eye on the battle? That way we can like, be ready to re-inforce."
Kria looked around. "So um, Leave already?"

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Mon Mar 09, 2009 2:23 am
"Cat's got a point," the rogue said, shrugging. "For the most part, out neck of the woods is all clear; so long as we're knocking heads, it doesn't matter too much which heads get knocked in. I do agree with Laeral, though; if some of you already offered help to the Aspinians, the least you could do is shoot a message their way and ask if they need the help. Smashing up the fleshy sacks of evil around Manarina is going to happen regardless, and if we're already planning for some of us to be elsewhere, it shouldn't throw much off."

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Mon Mar 09, 2009 2:35 am
"All right, it looks like Manarina is set. What target should we attack on the Imperial side of things?" Jim asks, pointing to a different map. "Any ideas?"

Posted by: Aldur Mon Mar 09, 2009 2:37 am
Michael spoke up, grinning unnaturally. "Can't we just teleport into the heart of the empire and remove the problem at the roots?" He shrugged. "Can't we scry the Republic and see what the situation is?"

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Mon Mar 09, 2009 2:57 am
"It's not that simple," Ashathel said. "The people of the Republic have been dealing with the Empire for years now; it isn't like most of the rest of the world, where things were alright before the Cult showed up. They've been trampled by the same people for too long, and what would do the most good for them is to fight and win the battle themselves."
"Think about it like this... what will happen if we do that? Sure, the Empire will have been brought down a peg again, but they'll believe it was because of us, not because the people of the Republic wanted them gone, and had the power to make it so. More importantly, the people of the Republic will feel like that two, and if the pair butt heads again, that's the idea that's going to be in their heads."

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Mon Mar 09, 2009 3:42 am
"If only it were that simple, huh?" she echoed Ashathel. "But yeah, I agree -- I think we need to continue doing what we've been doing, and work with the people along the way. They need to know they're a part of it, and we need to work with them in anything we do there."
"With that in mind," Eve continued. "What about Railhead? That's gotta be fortified enough that we would be of some use there. And to go along with the elf's train of thought, we travel to Saraband first, just as we consulted Stamp, and hope we can convince them to join the battle, or at the very least give them the opportunity to get out of harm's way."
She looked up in wonder.

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:55 am
Shortly after all plans are finalized, the Rangers and the majority of Bernhart's Crusaders arrive near the floating city of Saraband, thanks to a teleportation spell cast by Viki. Armed guards wearing the crest of Saraband patrol the streets and a nervous watch is kept. An atmosphere of tension seems to permeate the city, and the appearance of armed soldiers doesn't seem to help much. Surprisingly, though they are kept a close eye on by the city watch, no one makes a move towards the heroes as they wander through town.

Posted by: Dark Maiden Sun Mar 15, 2009 9:55 pm
"So this is Saraband," Merla says softly in her native tongue. She spends most of her time looking around as the group is walking through the city, but she is also careful not to run into anyone. Stranger still, the wizardess seems perfectly calm, in spite of the fact that she is often being watched by the city's soldiers. After looking around for some time, Merla speaks again, in the common tongue this time, "I'm impressed."
"I agree. This city is quite impressive," Jessica adds with a smile.
Merla glances back at the psychic medic, but says nothing and keeps walking, her familiar in tow.
((Sorry about the half-assed post, but I'm just starting to get over a really bad flu bug of some kind. Still, I thought I should try to post something. ))

Posted by: Alpha Sun Mar 15, 2009 10:05 pm
: "It certainly is," Laeral agrees readily. "It's been quite some time since I've visited the floating city," he continues. "Though it was in a different location before." He then glances over to his brother, whose eyes were wandering, and whacks his arm. "Hey Tal, pay attention."
: "Why bother," Tal replies jovially. "You'll catch anything I miss, and will see anything I see." His reply makes his brother laugh as they easily make their way around.
[Laeral: Listen 38, Spot 26
Talacre: Listen 25, Spot 12]

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Mon Mar 16, 2009 12:05 am
The brothers find nothing out of place as they tour the city. The natives seem a bit apprehensive, but that's to be expected when a war rages right outside one's hometown.

Posted by: Knight_019 Mon Mar 16, 2009 12:51 am
((Glad to see you posting again, Jess. Get well soon!)) *Dagron shakes out his head to clear the teleportation disorientation, then looks around. How long had it been since he had last seen Saraband? The dragon looks around for anything of interest, then realizes that they are also on somewhat of a diplomatic mission. The kind of diplomatic he liked, where it ended in them defeating some bad people and putting them where they belong, but they had to go this route to get there. In a flash, Dagron changes to the human form as comfortable to him as his natural body.*
: "We should just get this over and done with so we can get to the real work. You know, beating back the empire so they quit killing people." *Just then, Dagron looks around again to see the Elven brothers already heading off. Dagron quickly takes after them, trying to follow behind, and already becoming annoyed at how slowly humans were able to move.* "Hey! Wait up!"
((Spot: 1d20 + 17 = 12 + 17 = 29.
Listen: 1d20 + 17 = 13 + 17 = 30.
GI will probably come later once we settle on something))

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Mon Mar 16, 2009 1:07 am
((If allowed, Ashathel will also accompany Laeral.))

Posted by: Alpha Mon Mar 16, 2009 1:15 am
((I ALLOW IT! It makes sense - they've been on diplomatic missions together before))

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:07 am
((Eve says the more the merrier 'cause she's like that))

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Mon Mar 16, 2009 4:07 am
((I was thinking more about Isyndel, but that works too.))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Mon Mar 16, 2009 4:15 am

QUOTE (Arcdragnbreth @ Mon Mar 16, 2009 4:07 am)
((I was thinking more about Isyndel, but that works too.))

((Ash has been thinking about Isyndel? How sweet. Uh oh, Damas has another rival!))

Posted by: Dark Maiden Mon Mar 16, 2009 4:40 am
((Oh noes! ))

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Mon Mar 16, 2009 4:48 am
((You wanna have him ask Isyndel about it, go right ahead. That should be amusing. ::flexes fingers:: Consider it a trade for Alex, though I think she'd rather have Ash.))

Posted by: Rusty Mon Mar 16, 2009 6:56 am
(())

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Mon Mar 16, 2009 7:11 am
((Motion passes, Ash is in Saraband.)) Dagron doesn't see or hear anything out of the ordinary and concludes that there is no hidden menace lurking in the shadows to slay them all in horrible ways... THIS time.

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:26 am
"I don't think we're just going to walk in to talk to the people we need to," said Eve. "If you want, why don't we split up for a bit? I'll go see what I can do as far as getting our feet in the door, and you guys can go enjoy yourselves. Maybe stumble onto something useful. Meet back here in a little while?"

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:21 am
: "Makes sense to me," Jim says with a nod to Eve. "Let's get going then."

Posted by: Alpha Fri Mar 20, 2009 11:59 pm
: "Are we looking to gain attention or not?" Talacre asks, his gaze looking to Laeral for permission, but also directing the question to Eve and Jolly Jim. : "What are you thinking?" Laeral says. : "An aerobics combined with dance performance, maybe?" the younger elf suggests.

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Sat Mar 21, 2009 2:02 am
"I can provide the background music," Ashathel offered, waving the flute lightly.

Posted by: Alpha Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:24 am
: "Excellent," Talacre says with a smile. "Though it does hinge on our leader's decision."

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:06 am
"Yeah, sure, whatever you want," Eve replied with a smile and a casual shrug. "When I said go enjoy yourselves, that's pretty much what I meant."

Posted by: Alpha Mon Mar 23, 2009 1:41 am
: "My thanks," he says to Eve, a grateful smile on his face. "Well, let's go find a suitable place then," he remarks to his brother and Ashathel. Laeral nods, a smile also on his face. : "A little bit of magic should aid us too," he says. [When they get to the site of performance, Laeral casts Jump on Talacre and himself, giving a +30 enhancement bonus to jump checks. He can also brighten up the performance by causing brief flashes of magical light to appear every now and again.
For the performance itself, Talacre does a mixture or dance, jumps and tumbles. Laeral will tumble and jump about, the brothers weaving in and out of each other.
Laeralas' checks: Jump(54), Tumble(45)
Talacre's checks: Jump(120), Perform [Dance](38), Tumble(42)]

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Mon Mar 23, 2009 2:06 am
The elven trio puts on an astonishing performance of acrobatics and magic tricks, drawing quite a large crowd as people stop to gawk and admire their skills monetary donations are rather slim though, likely due to the wartime strain. Still, if gold is lacking, applause is not, as the crowd grows and grows, begging for more.
((30 gp gained!))

Posted by: Aldur Wed Apr 01, 2009 4:19 am
Jim exits the Saraband government hall, looking around the steam-run city with a sigh as he crosses his arms and leans against one of the outer walls. "Why so serious?" Asks Michael from above, sitting on the wall above Jim, a rather amused grin on his face.
TheUnknownMarine (02:49:57): "See I took your plaaaaan, and I tuuuuuuuurned it around," Michael continues.
TheUnknownMarine (02:50:02): Only not.
geddis the hero (02:50:04): >_>
TheUnknownMarine (02:50:15): That was your favorite part, wasn't it?
TheUnknownMarine (02:50:21): Heath Ledger in a nurse's uniform.
geddis the hero (02:50:33): it was awesome
Jim chuckles. "Diplomacy is serious business."
Michael shrugs. "Killing grubs sounds like it's more fun than that stuff. So how'd it go?"
"It went all right. Saraband's quite determined to stay neutral, which works out well for us," Jim says with a nod. "Killing grubs? Seems like an odd hobby."
Michael flies as he descends to Jim's level. "Just an example. So now what? We all...go storm the capital?"
"Railhead, I think. Take Railhead, then that lets the Republicans ship a strike force to the capital. Then while the Destonians are distracted, we rain down on them like the wrath of God."
"So Railhead first, then the capital," Jim says with a nod. "Half right."
"I think we should have the republican army strike head on while Viki takes us inside to remove the head of the snake." Replied Michael coldly.
"That's the general idea," Jim says with a nod. "Simple. Elegant. The only problem is that the castle is warded to hell and back, so we'll need to fight our way in. But we can deploy within the city at least."
Jim smiles. "Getting past the castle walls won't be a problem... I have a surprise for our good Imperial friends."
Michael nodded. "Have the citizens help out. And more exploding things? Well that's always fun." He clenched his fist. "Soon this'll all be fixed..."
"Hopefully," Jim says with a nod. He turns to Michael. "Which reminds me, I meant to check up on you after the fight with Shailtor. Some of us didn't recover easily from that battle. How are you holding up?"
"Sheila. Part 2 eh?" MIchael shrugged, smiling. "All he did was show me as a Prince of Destonia. I think the others had it worse."
"Well if you got off easy, you're lucky," Jim says with a frown. "He hit some of us with everything he had."
Michael sniggered. "I guess I wasn't his favourite out of so many. Still, two down and one to go right?"
"Right," Jim says with a nod. "The list of our enemies gets shorter and shorter. A fact I'm rather satisfied with."
"After all this comes all the fun rebuilding and stuff then." Michael frowned." Chances are out this way it'll all get a bit worse before it gets better."
"That's the way it usually works, but nothing to be done but slug through it," Jim says, he suddenly grimaces.
"Something wrong? You don't look so good." Asked Mike with a hint of concern in his voice.
"It just occured to me. While most of the rebuilding should be accomplishable... Erebeus did sheath this world in its own demiplane. Hopefully it will return to normal when he dies, or at least allow the gods here to do so, but..." Jim frowns. "One can never tell with magic like that."
"Well I can't do anything about that, so no real point in worrying about it. It's why we have gods and things after all." Michael pointed out
Jim nods. "A good policy to have..."
geddis the hero (03:18:48): "Well it makes life simpler anyway. What's your policy?"
Jim shrugs. "Generally, I constantly analyze things for solutions or ways to find a solution."
"Ah ok. Well that's boring. Don't you people have machines to do it for you?"
"I don't like relying on machines too much," Jim says, simply.
Michael nodded. "Yeah I've seen them fall apart. It's kinda funny."
"Oh?" Jim asks, turning.
"Yeah, they don't tend to last overly long after the tinkers and all get their hands on them."
"Well that's to be expected. Machines are a tinker's specialty," Jim says with a small smile.
"Eh, if it's not broken..." Michael shrugs
"Then it's only a matter of time," Jim finishes with a grin.
"How depressing." Remarked Michael in response. "So. Are we going to go rally the troops and go see Synbi and the crew? I wonder if that guy'll be there too..."
"You mean Medion?" Jim asks.
"Yes."
"Probably. After we hit Railhead, I imagine the Republic would be sending along Synbios to attack the enemy's heart. If the war is that close to ending, Medion would probably cease his indirect support and simply go for the throat."
"I knew he'd have a little bit of Daddy in him." Michael smirked at the thought.
"Perhaps. I'd appreciate it if you didn't see fit to verbally abuse him the next time he crosses paths with us. Your spite can wait until after the war is over, can't it?" Jim asks.
"Nonsense. He's the Dragon soaring across the battlefield. If he can't take a little verbal abuse, what is he?" Michael raised his eyebrows in question
"I have no doubt he can take it, I only worry for how you make the rest of us look. Public support issues will complicate the rebuilding, you know," Jim says with a shrug. "Well I suppose it shouldn't be that big a deal considering you're affiliated with us and not one of the other, national Shining Forces."
"I'm a destonian street rat. We're mouthy and we run fast." Michael shrugged. "It's how it is."
"How things are are almost never how they should be," Jim says, shaking his head. "You of all people should know that."
"I'm still going to be me no matter what you say, ya know." Michael pointed out again
"Well that's a given," Jim says with a grin. "But you decide who you are, in the end. And many things influence that decision."
Michael only shrugged in response to this. "I see nothing wrong at present."
"Not a whole lot is, you're a good kid. Just rein in that temper a bit," Jim says with a smile.
"Like I need your approval Michael responded playfully as he took to the sky again

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Wed Apr 01, 2009 11:15 pm
"Shall we give them what they want, gentlemen?" Ashathel asked, continuing to play even as he awaited the decision of the elven brothers. ((Perform [wind instrument]: 33, plus whatever other mods I might get from wherever else.))

Posted by: Alpha Sat Apr 04, 2009 10:17 pm
The elves comply with their kinman, and continue the display. ((No access for real flavour, so: Talacre's perform [dance]: 36 Laeral's tumble: 29 Laeral will also throw some illusions (non threatening ones) and dancing lights about to complement the performance))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Sat Apr 04, 2009 10:54 pm
The crowds continue to gather, in awe of the elves' skill with music and dance. For the brothers and Ashathel, it is a rare moment to enjoy being appreciated without being in the middle of a major battle. Time passes all too swiftly, and soon the heroes leave the floating city, having secured what they came for: information.
Jim smiles as the group leaves the town, turning to Eve.
“Eve... how do you feel about aerial assaults?” Jim asks. “I've got an idea...”
-----------
The city of Railhead considered it quite well fortified against any possible attack. Encircled by sturdy walls manned with soldiers garbed in imperial-manufactured plate mail, the inhabitants were quite certain that any attack by the war-weary Republicans would falter easily. The city had just installed a new solid iron gate to prevent unauthorized entrance into the imperial town. Brass Loaders stood entrenched in firing positions, ready to bombard troop formations from afar, while the empire's war-wizards stood ready for the same. Outpost after outpost circled the city, Slightly over four thousand troops, General Valborne's reserve forces and those stragglers from other, destroyed armies, camped here. The soldiers were grim, fearful. Two of their three new rising star generals had been slain in combat, their forces scattered to the winds, and a good deal of the soldiers there had been forced from their original postings by the Republic counterattack. Here, though, there would be no retreat. Railhead was the gateway to the Empire, and it must remain in Imperial hands at all costs. Those loyal to Domaric staked their lives on that matter, and there were quite a few of them here.
Though a few inns and warehouses had been commandeered for troop housing, it still was not enough, and a small tent city arose in the open spaces of the city. Smoke from cooking fires rose lazily into the sky. Those troops not manning the walls or on patrol massed in ranks for practice, the general intent on keeping her soldiers well prepared for any possible attack. There are some things though, that the imperial troops simply had no defense for.
It was early morning, the sun just beginning its ascent into the sky when the first strains of the music could be heard. Audible over the wind, a faint opera being sung by a woman, accompanied by instruments as a group of six specks became visible on the horizon. The music gets louder and louder, the specks getting bigger and bigger, accompanied by a roaring sound that a few of the Imperial tinkers quickly recognize as the sound of high powered engines. Eyes widen as those tinkers begin to realize what's happening.
The Basilisk-class assault dropship was the standard transport of the G.D.O for a reason. Combining high speed and carrying capacity with heavy armor and an array of weapon hardpoints made the craft versatile, safe, and effective. Against foes unprepared for an aerial assault it was deadly. Against those who'd never even seen an aircraft before, it was murder. The music becomes clearly audible as the tinkers recognize the specks as incoming craft, vessels of the Ancients they thought they would never see with their own eyes. The make of the aircraft is foreign was to them, though, and the song is one that has never been heard by anyone living in Imperial territory...
Air Raid!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FLK7lC6wkQ&feature=related
The tinkers begin to shout and prepare for battle as one sounds the general alarm, but it's too late. Hatches and panels slide open on the streamlined Basilisk assault dropships, exposing missile and rocket pods that soon disgorge volley after volley of high powered explosive into the enemy ranks. Sections of Railhead's wall are blasted apart as those unlucky troops massed in rank and file for inspection are thrown into the air by explosion after explosion. Chaos overtakes the town as the music blares, fires flare, and rockets glare. Troops scattered and move for cover as Brass Loaders attempt to fire a retaliatory barrage at the dropships. The slow-moving artillery pieces find themselves unable to target them, the vessels simply moving too fast. The archers, well equipped and trained to bring down even entire troops of birdwarriors and pegasus knights, finds their arrows and shells bouncingly uselessly off the reinforced hulls of the vehicles.
Magical lightning and fire blasts against the ships as they buzz over the town's skies, the Imperial mages finally entering the fray. Smoke rises from a single dropship as concentrated spellwork manages to damage it, but the aircraft does not fall from the sky as the wizards had hoped. Instead, the twin energy guns on the nose swerve around and cut apart the circle of mages with burning white streaks of light. The Imperial Army's tent city burns as missile after missile reduces it to nothing. The enemy scattering and confused, the ships drop down to the streets, hitting the ground with a thunderous slam. Mounted guns on the hull keep the enemy pinned down while doors open and disgorge wave after wave of Rangers and Black Ops drafted for this mission. The retort of gauss gunfire soon joins the roaring of engines, blasting of music, and crackling of fire as the soldiers spread out and engage the enemy on the ground. Their cargo unloaded, the dropships roar back into the air, continuing to circle the town and hit the enemy with salvo after salvo of rockets and gunfire. The merciless attacks of the Drowned Eye against the armies of Rune had proven how technological superiority could make up for a vast difference in numbers, but here the tables were turned in favor of the forces of Light. Precision strikes took out cluster after cluster of Imperial troops while leaving the surrounding civilian structures intact. The Imperial's implementation of martial law worked against them. With most of the townspeople locked in their homes until curfew ended, there were few civilians to worry about as collateral. However despite the mass confusion and casualties, some Imperial officers managed to rally their troops. Slowly but surely, knots of organized resistance began to slam into the invaders, the real battle only beginning.
And the midst of all this chaos, a shining sphere of light appears in the town center, disappearing to leave a large chunk of the newest Shining Force, Jim and Eve at its head.
“Move out!” Jim shouts, his words punctuated by the main Railhead barracks going up in a firestorm as a quartet of missiles slam into it. “Find the general and take her into custody! Her headquarters are in this area, so she should be here somewhere! Try to take her alive, but not at the cost of your lives! The Black Ops, Sgt. Hale, and Sgt. Forde will keep the bulk of the forces off balance along with the ships! The Republic troops will be teleported in once we've made a big enough dent for them! And for Light's sake, don't shoot any civilians! We've only got one shot at this!”
The clatter of plated boots on stone signals the approach of Imperial troops as the city's defenders stream in to intercept this newest threat.
Freeform mode: Autokilling allowed.
Defend yourselves while searching for General Valris Valborne!
Enemies:
100 Imperial Archers
200 Destonian Soldiers
20 Brass Loaders
50 Empire Knights
30 Bow Knights
10 Imperial Mages
10 Imperial Priests.
((If you have a SFCWIII character, they can be in this battle too if you wish.))

Posted by: Alpha Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:34 pm
: "...what?"

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Tue Apr 07, 2009 10:58 pm

QUOTE (Alpha @ Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:34 pm)
: "...what?"

Shouldn't you be promoting players in another thread?

Posted by: Alpha Thu Apr 09, 2009 10:54 pm
With protective spells woven around him, Laeral stands relatively close (but not too close) to the combat zone. He then begins to cast another spell, this one of an offensive nature. Sharp stakes of ice erupt all over the battlefield, impaling many and hindering the movement of more.
[Cast Field of Icy Razors, aimed primarily at enemy ranged units. 15d6 damage.]
Talacre races through enemy troops, his speed and precision causing much more chaos and panic than true damage or casualties.
[4 kills and 23 on an Intimidate check]
((Tanis will be present to act as Force artillery))
Taking on the role like that of an arbalest or howitzer, Tanis takes up a position near the rear of the Force. Casting his spell, he raises his arms to the sky and calls down balls of flame. An inferno storm begins to rage, pounding into the enemy troops with an untold ferocity.
[Cast Empowered Fire Storm, aimed primarily at enemy spellcasters. 36 10’ cubes – I guess it’s up to TUM how many that hits exactly. In any case, it deals (18d6 x 1.5) + 13 damage]
[Results:
Laeralas: manages to take out a unit of 30 infantry led by 10 knights
Tanis: manages to wipe out all the mages and priests, as well as all the BowKnights.
Talacre: causes a unit of 6 to scatter and flee in addition to his 4 dead.]

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Fri Apr 10, 2009 9:36 pm
Somewhere a bit away from the chaos of the battle was a lone man...perhaps more than a man, in fact. Quite possibly, it was a ratman taking advantage of the raging battle by creeping slowly between buildings. The nimble creature darted from place to place, rarely staying out in the open more than a second at best, relying on any shadows he could find.
Find th'general, like that's gonna be easy or somethin.' Guess better here than out in that mess, huh? Kinda not my gig, though I know some guys who'd be inta it.
Hunched over, the ratman scratched at the black mask he wore over his face, not entirely sure why he had chosen to wear it to begin with. Stalking about was nerve wracking enough without it making the fur around his neck itch, but there was little help in it. He tiptoed from alley to alley before reach the end, flattening his back to the wall to peer around corners before moving across streets, sniffing madly at the air about him all the while.
Sure, the area was filled with chaos and bloodshed and enough metal and powder to disrupt sensitive nasal passages, but you just never knew.
After about ten minutes, the dark clothed rat bounded around another building into an alleyway, and noticed only a few buildings away that a bit of a force had amassed around a building.
Seems suspicious enough ta me, he thought to himself, ducking back into the corner. Too open ta just waltz over in the open, gotta find some other way.
As if there was any doubt, he looked upward at the rise of buildings he was between, and shrugged his shoulders. It was pretty much the only way left to go, even if it meant being out of the shadows. He hurled a bag onto the roof.
With a flourish, the ratman moved to the end of the alleyway and began to run. He turned sharply to his right and simply...ran up the wall as if it were part of the ground before him before grabbing the tip of the roof, pulling himself upon it in a tuck to roll onto it quickly.
Heh, no problem, the ratman snickered under his breath, finally pulling the mask free to look around as he opened the bag now at his feet while in a crouch. Taking hold of its contents (his trusty rope), he stood slowly, analyzing how many rooftops he would need to cross.
It'd only get more interesting from here.

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Fri Apr 17, 2009 2:13 pm
((I remember that Dagron was air searching and Arc's characters were killing with a Fire Storm and another AoE I can't remember. Casualties from those noted, mainly Pantherath blowing up all the Brass Loaders.)) Despite the heavy losses inflicted on them already, the enemy presses on, charging towards the heroes.
As a column of infantry rushes Jim, he nonchalantly pulls a grenade from his belt and hurls it at the platoon of soldiers. The explosive detonates in a fiery ball of plasma, superheated fire washing over the screaming enemy and burning them to death in mere moments.
Sheila hoots and hollers as she vaults to and fro, veritably dancing around her enemies as a nonstop stream of lead pours from her guns. Soldiers surround her and stab with their halberds, but the agile agent merely laughs and dodges aside, pausing only to reload.
The thundering pounding of hooves on the ground announce the joining of calvary into the fray as a unit of centaurs slams into the group's flank. Lances drive deep into Melissa, Merla, and Michael as they fail to act in time, but the others manage to step aside from the charge.
((Those character who were hit take 20 damage.))
Dagron doesn't immediately see anything of note through the chaos, though he's only begun looking. However, even this fact is useful, and he is able to deduce that the general is probably not in the immediate area. Looking a bit further, he is able to rule out a quarter of the city due to lack of strong military presence in those areas. Perhaps with more time, more will become apparent.
"It's the dragon guardian of Stamp!" a panicked voice shouts from among Imperial ranks. "He killed my whole unit!"
Voices begin to murmur among the soldiers.
"I heard he burnt half the plains just to trap the troops trying to flee from him!"
"A hundred archers couldn't take it down!"
"We've got to try! Drive it away before it burns us all alive!"
A shower of arrows, some two hundred all told streak towards Dagron. A good amount simply miss, and most that hit simply bounce off his scaly hide. But there is something to be said for sheer numbers, and a handful of arrows manage to strike true, finding chinks in the dragon's defenses.
((Dagron only takes 15 damage from 100 archers shooting at him.))
Enemies:
100 Imperial Archers
120 Destonian Soldiers
40 Empire Knights
Langston sees the rooftop of the building he saw holds four elves armed with bows, garbed in mithril chain, and looking extremely alert. It's about 3 rooftops away. The elves seem to be looking towards the battle though, ready to open fire the minute it strays too close.

Posted by: Alpha Sat Apr 18, 2009 9:22 pm
Laeral gazes up into the sky, his sensitive ears easily picking out the panic his draconic friend was causing and his keen eyes locating him. With a grin, he begins his chant, eyes following Dagron so as not to miss his mark. The elf abruptly disappears from sight, reappearing barely two feet above Dagron’s back. He free falls that distance and lands nimbly, easily keeping his balance.
: “Apologies for the sudden arrival, my friend,” he calls out above the sound of the rushing wind with a laugh. “But we’ve employed this tactic before to great effect. I hope you don’t mind!” With that, he prods the dragon, casting a protective spell over him. Now, no more missiles would even get near him.
[Teleport to Dagron’s back, Quicken cast Protection from Arrows on Dagron
21 on a balance check, which should easily be enough, as Dagron is large.]
Talacre continues his blurred rampage amidst the enemy troops. He employs his magical bracers to allow him an extra attack, and so an extra kill. The blurred and speeding figure continues to sow the seeds of panic and chaos as he moves about.
[5 kills on Destonian soldiers, 22 on Intimidate.]
Now that the opposing sides had clashed, Tanis did not want to call down another firestorm and risk injuring his allies. The warmage therefore scurries forward as quickly as he is able, and casts a spell. Not far from his targets anymore, he screams out, the raw power emitting itself amidst a group of enemy knights. At the sound of the voice, many, if not all simply drop dead. As one might expect, this causes even more fear within the enemy ranks.
[Move 40’ forward, cast a sudden enlarged Wail of the Banshee. 18 Empire Knights bite the dust. 30 on an Intimidate check]

Posted by: Knight_019 Thu Apr 23, 2009 2:40 pm
*Whatever focus Dagron had on finding General Valborne ended the second he was struck by the hail of arrows. Filled with rage, Dagron breaks off of his pursuit and begins barreling toward the nearest group of the infernal archers. A sudden weight upon his back gives him momentary pause, but before he can lurch or corkscrew to remove it, a familiar, comforting voice makes stops him.*
: "Why hello there!" *he greets his friend.* "Fine by me, but you had better hang on. This is going to be different since I don't want to set the city on fire........ more on fire."
*The golden wyrm continues his reckless air charge once he feels Laeralas tighten his grip on his back. Before long, the Elven daggermage is grasping the fabric of his magic vestments for dear life once Dagron takes off at full speed. Nearing one of the archer outposts, Dagron bellows a deafening roar now feared throughout the ranks of the Destonian army. The color leaves their faces, and yelling to flee for cover, far muted from the volume of the dragon's voice, can be heard. Dagron proves far too fast for them, and entering into a spiral, he extends his wings to their full extent, crashing into the standing of archers and sweeping them from their platform as he passes by. Righting himself, he pulls up and loops back onto their previous location to perch. Letting out another draconic scream, he launches into the air once more.*
((DAGRON wing sweeps an entire group of archers with a corkscrew attack, making them piss themselves beforehand with an intimidate of 1d20+25+4(L vs M) = 5 + 29 = 34.))

Posted by: Alpha Thu Apr 23, 2009 8:18 pm
As Laeral keeps hold on a ride far more intense than any rollercoaster, he yells out the only thing appropriate in such a situation. : "Weeeeeeee!"

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Sun Apr 26, 2009 9:41 pm
"I can't take you guys anywhere, can I?" Eve called, joining the battle seemingly out of nowhere. "Don't think you're going to take advantage of my womanly kindness; if Alex were here fun would be strictly disallowed!" she joked. Her casual demeanor masked her concern just the same though; the young Pegasus Knight bearing the weight of the destruction around her on her shoulders perhaps more personally than she should have or needed to, but there was no help for it.
As Dagron and Laeral zipped by, the Pegasus Knight banked sharply away from them as the dragon ripped loose its breath. She let herself fall almost casually out of sight before turning the momentum as she carried behind the bank of troops and then, in a surge of crimson, merely barrelled straight through them with her shield extended.

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Thu Apr 30, 2009 2:26 am
"One barbecue coming up!" Ashathel said, unleashing fiery power on the troops amassed before him. ((Cast Blaze 2; 41 dmg to up to 25 or so targets.)) <}--<{^}>--{> (O) Health: 181/181 HP (O) AC:
-----> 38 base
-----> 25 touch
-----> 23 flat
(O) Spells:
-----> Lv. 0: Detect Magic, Detect Magic
-----> Lv. 1: Benign Transposition [x2], Magic Missile [x4], Enlarge Person, Lesser Orb of Electricity [x4], Shield
-----> Lv. 2: Cat's Grace, Fox's Cunning, Freeze 1, Scorching Ray, Mirror Image
-----> Lv. 3: Bolt 1, Bolt 1, Sound Lance, Sound Lance
-----> Lv. 4: Assay Spell Resistance, Blaze 3, Freeze 3
-----> Lv. 5: Blaze 4, Night's Caress, Night's Caress
-----> Lv. 6: Freeze 4, Ray of Entropy
(O) Buffs:
----->

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Sat May 02, 2009 6:47 am
The battle increasingly becomes a rout for the Imperial forces, but with their general still absent from the field and no place obvious to fall back to, many soldiers are slain in the streets. Those soldiers retaining the presence of mind to surrender are swiftly knocked unconscious and dragged back to the landing zone, swiftly being transformed into a holding area for the prisoners.
Fire engulfs the stone roof of what was once a mercantile center as Merla and Ashathel cast the Blaze spell in unison, incinerating two groups of 20 archers.
Dagron knocks a group of six archers from their perch, though they survive the fall, such a close call is enough for them to throw down their weapons and run. The remaining archers remain stoically at their posts, firing again as Dagron drops down closer... and lose it when they see their arrows simply bounce off the beast. The archers run, many of them screaming about the "Fiery Wyrm of Stamp."
Tanis causes the rest of the knights to scatter with his spell, the potent enchantment's horrible shriek still echoing in the minds of the enemy troops as the sight of their comrades dropping dead imprinted itself on their eyes. Their charge falters and they flee.
Talacre causes another 5 troops to scatter as he continues to cut down Imperials like wheat. Although a few foolhardy or brave souls stand against him still, most simply decide that enough is enough and flee, the awe-inspiring speed and skill of the elf too much combined with the terror all around them.
Eve breaks apart a formation of troops trying to regroup, and the soldiers scatter, the close call too much for them.
Jim throws an acid grenade into an advanced column of halberdiers. The metal sphere explodes in a shower of compressed liquid, raining droplets of acid down on the soldiers unlucky to be caught in it's radius. The infantry scream terribly as the stuff eats through their armor, then their flesh.
Sheila laughs maniacally as she runs to and fro, firing round after round with her handguns while dodging any arrows or weapon jabs in an almost supernatural display of agility.
One of the Basilisks drops down low and zooms overhead, its strobing guns leaving a trail of death in its wake. With traditional stoicism, Melissa chucks a grenade at one of the few groups of infantry still holding their ground.
Beset by foes that don't seem to take the slightest injury from their best attacks, and who massacre their forces by the hundreds in return, the order of the Imperials crumbles like a sand castle against a typhoon. Chaos reigns as the soldiers lose their cohesion. On the outskirts of the city, the Army of the Republic slowly begins to advance, the signal given that victory was all but assured for them.
Then Langston sees a dark-haired elf accompanied by a large retinue exit the building he was watching. Clad in leather armor adorned with potent runes as well as the emblem of Destonia, she lifts a silver horn to her lips and blows. A clarion call echoes over the noise of battle all throughout the city. Almost as one, the beleaguered Imperials fall back from their positions and towards the source of the sound, as the elf blows one last time before putting the item away and drawing a longbow. This, without a doubt, was General Valborne.

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Sat May 02, 2009 10:39 pm
Langston's whiskers twitched as he narrowed his eyes, the newcomer clearly out of place compared to his company. Yeah, alright, so I was wrong...easy enough ta find the guy then. Obscuring himself from view, the ratman knelt down to fiddle with the comm system a few times, pulling it from his ear and turning it side to side. Then with a shrug, he placed it back on his face and repeated the motion he was taught.
"Uh, hey chief," he said quietly. "Pretty sure the guy yer lookin' for just came outta building over here. Er...the lady...whatever. She's got a bow out and a lotta fellas lookin' ta take her to the ball, if ya catch my drift."

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Sun May 03, 2009 2:43 am
Across the battlefield, Jim reaches up a hand to his ear as Langston tells him exactly what he wants to hear. : "Understood, we're on our way. Good work," Jim says, turning off the channel before turning to the others. "Langston's found the general, she's just entered the battle from a building not too far away! We take her down and this is all over! Follow me!"
The word is spread quickly as the Force forms up to accomplish what it came here to do. Capture or kill General Valis Valborne. The Destonian troops continue to withdraw, some regrouping near the general, some fleeing the city altogether. Destonian officers attempt to forcibly restore order in places by holding field executions of deserters, but this is not enough to overcome the fear the soldiers feel at the seemingly invulnerable warriors of the Force, and the sky-machines allied with them. The battle almost over, Maria teleports to and fro under Jim's orders, putting out fires with psionic cold before the town can suffer more damage.
It is a strange sight when you make your way towards the general. Though streams of troops run towards your goal, none stop to engage you, many parting for your passing like water for a boat's prow. No more soldiers seem willing to throw away their lives in what seems a futile gesture. Finally you reach a small courtyard. Opposite you is General Valis Valborne, an elf in full ranger battlegear marked with the Destonian symbol. She stares at you coldly, bow at the ready as around her, armored giants and mages prepare for combat. Jim looks at Eve, nods, and steps forward.
: "General Valborne, your troops are in disarray, your fortifications are crumbling and your..." Jim begins to say. A whistling sound interrupts him as six black arrows suddenly appear in his chest, all masterfully placed where the blast armor was not present. Jim looks down and opens his mouth, blood pouring out of before slumping down.
"There will be no negotiations with Republican scum or their despicable allies. There will be no peace with those who dare to defy Destonia! There will be no end to this war until a Destonian flag flies from every Aspian capital!" Valborne roars, already drawing more arrows. "And you who dared set foot on sacred Imperial soil will pay the price for desecrating our fatherland!"
The Imperial troops around her cheer and charge forward for battle.
: "Carry on... Take down the general... End the... fight..." Jim mumbles as he collapses, blood soaking his uniform.
((5 hits, 1 crit. Jim takes 197 damage after DR. Jim drops to -30 HP and dies.))
Battle!
((Combat rules back in effect. No map for this battle.))
Imperial Troops:
4 Kaiser Knights ((Armored Macemen. Surrounding the General.))
4 Pegasus Knights ((80' up.))
2 GigaBreakers ((Armored Giants. In melee.))
6 Imperial Rangers ((120' away.))
3 Sorcerers. ((120' away.))
4 Silver Knights. ((In melee.))
4 Wing Knights. ((Imperial Bird Battlers. 60' up.))
General Valborne. ((120' away.))
The Silver Knights charge forward, Sheila and Talacre barely dodging aside the lances of two thundering horsemen. Ashathel and Melissa aren't so lucky, lances slamming into them with all the power a centaur can muster behind it. The two giants are right behind them, but lagging significantly, unable to close the distance fast enough to make an attack. Above the heroes, the birdmen and pegasus knights spread out and fly into position. The rest of the soldiers seem to wait for something.
((Miss, miss, hit, hit. Ashathel takes 60 damage. Melissa takes 40 damage before DR.))
Player's turn!

Posted by: Alpha Sun May 03, 2009 2:52 pm
: "Dagron my friend," Laeral calls above the wind, still on the dragon's back. "Think we can pick up my brother and take him closer to the General?" he asks. Meanwhile, still a good distance away, Tanis begins casting a spell. Four small spheres begin circling around him like giant electrons, growing quickly and becoming sheathed in flame. He raises his arms above his head and throws them forward, the meteors following the action and shooting towards the leader of the opposition. They slam into the general, before exploding outwards with an impressive explosion.
[Cast a Sudden Maximised Meteor Swarm, directing each meteor at Valbourne.
4 touch attacks: 30, 24, 29, 30
If all hit, Valbourne takes 57 bludgeoning damage and 144 fire damage, no save.
Everything within 40’ takes four lots of 36 fire damage (144 total), with a reflex save DC30 for half damage]
[All 3 Sorcerers bite the dust. Kaiser Knights fail their save and are severely wounded]

Posted by: Rusty Mon May 04, 2009 9:02 am
((Hal will save Jim. I'll fill in the details later. But can he do it? Yes he can. Provided I don't actually need to keep track of a whole lot this battle since it looks mostly freeform, I'll probably be able to participate here despite my wonky computer, since I can then use my bro's.))

Posted by: Knight_019 Mon May 04, 2009 8:22 pm
*Even distracted, Dagron easily makes out the direction of the war horn.* : "Hang on, pal. We've got a General who needs a beating!" *The golden wyrm flies full speed through the air, easily clearing the distance with time to spare before everyone gathers. However, the wait is not long, and the fighting begins almost immediately.*
: "Let's destroy some Destonians!", *the dragon roars, launching into the air. A shimmering barrier appears in front of him, and Dagron is ready for the fight.
Flying over the battlefield, Dagron quickly sights in on Laeralas' brother once the Elf points him out.*
: "Sure, I can snatch victory from the jaws of their defeat. One Arishel airborne assault coming up!"
*Dagron swoops down over Talacre, the speedy Elf almost able to keep up with the dragon's cruising speed. Talacre barely gives a moment's glance to the dragon flying in, used to the sight by now. However, Dagron is able to get his rider's counterpart's attention.*
: "Now I know you won't believe this, but I can get you faster. Jump on, and I'll help you get the 'drop' on them, if you catch my drift."
*Talacre's speed training shows itself in his reactions, and the Elf easily jumps into the air the moment Dagron finishes his proposition. Dagron easily snatches the Elf in his claws, and Talacre holds on for the ride.*
: "Hold on tight, because things are about to get hot in a hurry!"
*Talacre safely in tow, Dagron unleashes a hellacious blast of flames over the battlefield, laying down an enormous line of fire all the way to General Valborne. The flames dance with globules of light that explode in a dazzling display that leave the unprepared's eyes overstimulated and their balance off. Laughing, Dagron lets his dangling passenger off over top of the General.*
: "Thank you for riding Dagron air. Have a nice slay," *He says, dropping his passenger off to do what he does best.*
((Once they decide it's attack time, Dagron uses the pre-battle round to cast shield on himself, giving him +4 shield bonus to AC for 1 minute.
Dagron then flies with Laeralas on his back, swooping over to flyby Talacre midjump and carry him.
Dagron lays down a cone of fire using strafing breath once he has Talacre, which works out to a 50' diameter circle on the ground all the way from there to Valborne. Empowered and Breath Flared.
Damage: (5d10)*1.5 = (1 5 10 8 4)*1.5 = 42 fire damage. Reflex DC 25 for half. Those that fail are also dazzled (-1 penalty on attack rolls, Search checks, and Spot checks).
DAGRON's speed is 230' flying, so he can do this movement easily.
DAGRON is 35' up, and can use his breath weapon again in 1d4+1 = 2 + 1 = 3 rounds
HP: 235/250
AC: 35
F/R/W: 20/15/16
Buffs: Shield, Protection from Arrows, Haste))

Posted by: Alpha Mon May 04, 2009 8:59 pm
From his vantage point, Laeral can clearly see that General Valbourne was unaffected by Tanis’ mighty spell. He curses under his breath, aborting his plan to assault the enemy with a myriad of bright and dazzling lights, instead choosing a spell to strip down the enemy leader’s protective enchantments.
: “Good luck, Tal!” he calls out.
[Cast Greater Dispel: Targeted Dispel on General Valbourne
Rolled a 2, forced a reroll from Tanis.
1d20(11) + 19(caster level) = 30
The spells giving her damage reduction and a fear effect are both gone now.
Quicken cast Haste, affecting: Talacre, Laeralas, Dagron]
Talacre looks to the skies, and notices the speeding form of Dagron. He springs lightly into the air, allowed the wyrm to catch hold of him.
: “Of course you can go faster!” he yells back. “There’s more resistance on the ground!” and the young elf laughs, though it gets drowned out by the wind.
Reach his destination, roughly twenty feet or so above the general and her private retinue, Talacre lets go of Dagron. He drops down head first, spinning as he does so. Pirouetting amazingly in mid air, he slashes at the first Kaiser Guard, planning to take out the leader’s guard before targeting her. With his usual speed and grace, the dervish becomes a blur that rips through his targets.
He is less effective than he would have hoped, however. Despite this, two of the guards are brought to the ground and the elf has his sword in front of him, his defences excellent.
[Full attack, dervish dance, fighting defensively.
45, 31, nat 1, 28, 46: Hit, hit, miss, miss, hit.
Damage 1: 39. Kill’s a bitch.
Cleave attack: 1d20 + 33 = 43
Cleave damage: 31
Damage 2: 47. Kill’s a bitch.
Damage 3: 32]
Laeralas
HP: 153/153
AC: 30
F/R/W: 15/24/22
Buffs: Haste
Talacre
HP: 237/237
AC: 44
F/R/W: 17/22/14
Buffs: Haste, Dervish Dance
Tanis
HP: 121/121
AC: 22
F/R/W: 8/8/18

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Tue May 05, 2009 1:11 am
Partial update Fiery spheres slam into the courtyard, pulled from the sky by the mystical might of Tanis. The explosion of these flaming missiles tears apart the nearby sorcerers and horribly burns the Kaiser Knights. Talacre leaps down from Dagron to finish the job on two of them, slicing open throats and chests with graceful bladework. Laeralas manages to weaken the general's defenses as Dagron burns the Gigabreakers and two Silver Knights as he soars past them. The Knights raise their shields and block most of the dazzling fire, but the two Gigabreakers are too slow, their eyes suddenly stinging from the strain of looking at the brilliant breath. The stream of fire reaches Valborne and she nimbly jumps out of the way, her two bodyguards raising their oversized shields to protect themselves against the attack. Though they both manage to block most of the flames, even that is enough to kill the Knight already wounded by Talacre.
As soon as he gets closer to the general, the archers open up on Dagron, apparently this being what they were waiting for. A shower of arrows launches at the flying wyrm, a fair amount piercing both scale and barrier, the arrows magical in nature.
((7 hits. 17 misses. 73 damage before DR. Arrows are magical.))
Sheila watches Jim fall with a look of shock and horror on her face. The final arrow that felled him rips through his body and slams into her shoulder, and that is when horror gives way to rage. Sheila opens her mouth and screams as she blurs into action. She charges towards Valborne, howling an incoherent series of threats and curses as he guns fire again and again and again at the elf. The first round explodes against an invisible barrier around the ranger, but the others penetrate it and slam through the Destonian general. Valborne utters a scream of rage and pain to match Sheila's own as she is badly wounded.
((Forgot to Arrow Cleave. Hit! Sheila takes 13 damage after DR. Heroic Surge: Move 40' up. Full attack Valborne. A 20 followed by many 17s and an 18. 4 hits and a threat. Spend action point to automatically crit. 152 damage total.))
Imperial Troops:
1 Kaiser Knight ((Armored Macemen. Surrounding the General.))
4 Pegasus Knights ((80' up.))
2 GigaBreakers ((Armored Giants. In melee.))
6 Imperial Rangers ((120' away.))
4 Silver Knights. ((In melee.))
4 Wing Knights. ((Imperial Bird Battlers. 60' up.))
General Valborne. ((120' away.))

Posted by: Aldur Tue May 05, 2009 2:47 am
Michael grits his teeth as he sees Jim fall, the leader of the strange squad that had taken him in, and taken care of him. With a loud shriek Michael charges down from the sky, beside the fallen warrior's body and then his wings glow a brilliant red as he points at the General, while touching Jim's body with other hand.
((Better late than never, this happens as soon as Jim falls, Michael activates his special as a swift action.
Michael's special:
From Darkness to Light.
Michael drains enchantments on a target and turns them into life energy, healing/reviving the target of his choice. Counts as Greater Dispel Magic, target regains 5hp per spell level of every enchantment drained.
Still need to check something with Marine on this though, because Valbourne has a special aura or something.))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Wed May 06, 2009 8:15 pm
Michael lays a hand on Jim, the other outstretched towards Valborne. "What? What are you doing, you..." the elven archer manages to say before a sparking arc of purplish energy bursts from her towards Michael's hand, channeling through the warlock to pour into Jim in the form of a soft, soothing white glow. After a few seconds, Valborne staggers back, obviously weakened, and Jim's eyes snap open, a gasping breath drawn into his lungs.
"You... You..." Valborne sputters. Jim looks over to Michael and nods.
"Thanks... That's... That's one I definitely owe you..." Jim says as he scrambles to his feet.
((Michael dispels the Dark Blessings on Valborne. She loses her +9 deflection to AC, as well as her charm, regeneration, and antimagic abilities. Jim regains 90 HP.))
"More scum from Stamp. Let me show you the strength of Destonia!" the armored man roars. The last remaining Kaiser Knight brings his mace up at Talacre and screams a war cry. Though his first blow bruises the elf's shoulder, the swordsmen is easily able to parry the rest of his blows.
((Hit, miss, miss, miss,. 13 damage to Talacre.))
The two Gigabreakers close in on Melissa, their gigantic warmaces bludgeoning the futuristic warrior with incredible force. Though her armor protects her from some of it, the sheer power behind the blows bruises her and breaks a rib or two as she is tossed around like a rag doll in a storm. What would've killed many lesser humans ten times over however, leaves the SPARTAN only seriously wounded.
((6 hits on Melissa. 100 damage to her, after DR.))
Merla drinks a potion, the wounds she suffered earlier fading away. Once again, Talacre and Sheila dodge aside two centaur charges. Tanis and Merla are not so lucky, lances driving into their sides with crushing force. Dire wounds open on the pair of mages.
((Miss, miss, hit, hit! 51 and 60 damage to Tanis and Merla, respectively. Merla uses a potion of Cure Serious Wounds for 21 damage healed.))
One of the Rangers makes a motion with his hand and the Imperial Rangers look upward, switching their aim from the fierce dragon to the possibly more vulnerable elf riding on him. The hail of arrows that follows gravely wounds Laeralas, though he is not out of this fight by a longshot. Though he begins to resemble a porcupine, the concern for his brother and immense willpower in the young elf allows him to continue fighting.
((12 hits, 12 misses. 114 damage to Laeralas.))
Pegasus Knights diving charge at Michael, Merla, and Pantherath, turning up to go a little back up in the air.
((Critical Hit! Hit, hit, hit. 166 damage to Pantherath. 60 damage to Michael. 54 damage to Merla. Merla is KO'd, but stable.))
The birdmen of the empire wheel around in the air like humanoid vultures before finally choosing their targets. The Wing Knights dive down at the healers, Hal and Jessica, before gracefully returning to the sky in a 'U' motion. However, their strikes don't deal much damage, a fluke of luck causing the diving longsword blows to only scratch the pair.
((Critical Hit! 15 damage to Hal! Hit! 10 damage on Hal! Hit, Hit! 20 damage total to Jessica.))
Valborne gives Talacre a cold glare, taking one large step back from the swordsmen before unleash a hail of arrows at him. Hand moving faster than the naked eye can track, six arrows soar towards Talacre. Two of the arrows lodge in the surprisingly study mithril chain protecting him, but three more find weak points and pierce into his body. The last arrow lodges directly in the center of his chest, nicking his vitals in what feels like a firestorm of pain.
"Republican scum..." Valborne hisses. "No trick of yours will save you from the holy might of the Empire!"
((3 hits, 1 critical, 2 misses. 145 damage to Talacre total.))
Next turn!
Imperial Troops:
1 Kaiser Knight ((Armored Macemen. Surrounding the General.))
4 Pegasus Knights ((20' up.))
2 GigaBreakers ((Armored Giants. In melee.))
6 Imperial Rangers ((120' away.))
4 Silver Knights. ((In melee.))
4 Wing Knights. ((Imperial Bird Battlers. 30' up.))
General Valborne. ((120' away.))

Posted by: Alpha Thu May 07, 2009 11:34 pm
Talacre winces as the arrows pierce his excellent defences. Adopting a different tactic, he charges towards Valbourne, ignoring the last Kaiser Guard. : “Perhaps,” the elf replies, as his sword bursts into flames. “But that doesn’t mean you can be saved either.” The elf races about his enemy kinsman, slashing with precision. Instead of working defensively this time, he throws all the power he can into his attacks, and sure enough, after the second hit the general goes down.
Not stopping his momentum, Talacre swings his sword about and cuts down the last Kaiser Guard with the same attack. He then jumps to the closest silver knight and executes his final attack on the centaur, before somersaulting over to Sheila, standing back to back with her.
: “Glad you could make it,” he says.
[Full attack on Valbourne, power attack 4. Activate Enchant Blade class ability: Weapon becomes Flaming for 4 minutes.
To hit: 37/33/38/natural 1/44: Hit, miss, hit, miss, hit.
Damage: 86 + 6 fire. Valbourne is down!
Cleave attack on Kaiser Guard. 50. Hit, 42 damage + 2 fire. Last Guard is down.
Attack on Silver Knight: 44, hit. 39 damage + 6 fire.]
Tanis cries out in pain as the Silver Knight wounds him. Searching for a spell to aid him and those around him, he frantically begins casting. The four close by enemies are suddenly assaulted by images of their worst fears, threatening to rip the soul from their body. He holds his metamagic staff prepared too, ready to send a power sound lance to any who might survive.
[Cast Weird. Two Silver Knights and the two GigaBreakers must make a Will save DC30 to recognise the image as unreal. If that fails, they must make a Fortitude save DC30 or die. If they pass the Fortitude save, they take 23 damage and are stunned for 1 round
Use Metamagic Rod: cast a quickened, maximised, empowered Sound Lance at a Wing Knight. 120 damage, Fort save DC22 for half]
Despite his willpower, Laeral can’t help but cry out in agony. It had been a long time since he’d sustained wounds of this severity. Almost as a reflex he begins casting a spell to protect him. Some of his wounds seem to heal, but more of interest is when his skin takes on a hue of stone, protecting him from the onslaught below.
[Cast Heart of Stone, which gives +8 to resist the follow: Bull Rush, Overrun and Trip. Also, +30 temporary hp and Stoneskin, as the spell]
Laeralas
HP: 69/183
AC: 30
F/R/W: 15/23/22
Buffs: Haste, Heart of Earth, Stoneskin
DR10/Adamantine
Talacre
HP: 79/237
AC: 39
F/R/W: 17/21/14
Buffs: Haste, Dervish Dance
Tanis
HP: 70/121
AC: 22
F/R/W: 8/8/18

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Fri May 08, 2009 3:39 pm
1st Turn: As the party surges forward to assault Valbourne, Eve looks to the sky to find her foes. "Hope none of you trained under my mother," she spat. "Nothing personal, but your boss hasn't left me in one of my better moods. Sorry." (( Midair Charge on a Pegasus Knight, PA 5, Ride-By Attack to move past it.
Attack: 12 + 16(BAB) +8(Str) +1(Wpn Focus) +4(HvyLance) +4(Wpn) +2(Charge) - 1(Size) -5(PA) = 41
Damage: 2 + 8(Str) +2(Wpn Specialization) + 4(Weapon Enchantment) +9(G.P.Ch.) + 5(PA) = 30x3 = 90
C.Lance= +13
Total: 103))
Current Turn:
"Hey, we're not done here yet! I'm taking all of you on!" Eve screamed, her equine form surging after the very same knight as it attacked her comrades on the ground.
((Charge Same Pegasus Knight
Attack: 17 + 16(BAB) +8(Str) +1(Wpn Focus) +4(HvyLance) +4(Wpn) +2(Charge) - 1(Size) -5(PA) = 46
Damage: 2 + 8(Str) +2(Wpn Specialization) + 4(Weapon Enchantment) +16(G.P.Ch.) + 5(PA) = 37x3 = 111
C.Lance +19
Total: 130
))
((Langston's distances to the General and Archers are considerably closer, correct?))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Fri May 08, 2009 11:45 pm
((That is correct. Also Eve kills her target on the second pass.))

Posted by: Knight_019 Mon May 11, 2009 10:36 pm
: "LAERALAS!", *the young dragon cries out, unable to believe so many arrows had impacted his friend and rider. Infuriated, Dagron roars out in anger with all the strength he can muster, and immediately dives after a group of the infernal rangers.
A gale whips up around the dragon, moving from him toward the rangers, the scent of blood carried along with it. Whipping himself into a frenzy, Dagron attacks seemingly nothing, his attacks finding only the air, but the wounds appearing on the rangers are all too real. With the final slam of his tail, Dagron spread his wings wide, holding himself aloft, and providing protection to the daggermage on his back.*
((DAGRON casts Blood Wind as a swift action on himself to full attack with 20' range. Attacking a group of rangers.
Bite: 1d20 + 29 = 12 + 29 = 41
Bite: 1d20 + 29 = 18 + 29 = 47
Claw: 1d20 + 27 = 7 + 27 = 34
Claw: 1d20 + 27 = 19 + 27 = 46
Wing: 1d20 + 25 = 19 + 25 = 44
Wing: 1d20 + 25 = 4 + 25 = 29
Tail: 1d20 + 25 = 12 + 25 = 37
Bite: 2d6 + 2d6 + 29 = (1 3) + (2 4) + 16 = 20 + 6 (holy if evil)
Bite: 2d6 + 2d6 + 29 = (1 6) + (2 1) + 16 = 23 + 3 (holy)
Claw: 1d8 + 2d6 + 27 = (2) + (5 3) + 9 = 11 + 8 (holy)
Claw: 1d8 + 2d6 + 27 = (5) + (2 1) + 9 = 14 + 3 (holy)
Wing: 1d6 + 25 = (1) + 7 = 8
Wing: 1d6 + 25 = (1)+ 7 = 8
Tail: 1d8 + 25 = (2) + 21 = 23.
HP: 235/250
AC: 35
F/R/W: 20/15/16
DAGRON will provide cover to Laeralas))

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Tue May 12, 2009 3:00 am
The elf is a flurry of arcane power, throwing magic around with far more speed than one would expect, and more power than the aerial enemies would like. ((Retro action: Ash casts a Quickened Shield and Fox's Cunning on himself. Current action: Ash casts a Quickened Blaze 3 and Freeze 3 on the flying enemies; 54 fire and 56 cold damage, each one Ref DC 21 for half.))
<}--<{^}>--{>
(O) Health: 121/181 HP
(O) AC:
-----> 47 (38 +9) base
-----> 34 (25 +9) touch
-----> 32 (23 +9) flat
(O) Spells:
-----> Lv. 0: Detect Magic, Detect Magic
-----> Lv. 1: Benign Transposition [x2], Magic Missile [x4], Enlarge Person, Lesser Orb of Electricity [x4]
-----> Lv. 2: Cat's Grace, Freeze 1, Scorching Ray, Mirror Image
-----> Lv. 3: Bolt 1, Bolt 1, Sound Lance, Sound Lance
-----> Lv. 4: Assay Spell Resistance
-----> Lv. 5: Blaze 4, Night's Caress, Night's Caress
-----> Lv. 6: Freeze 4, Ray of Entropy
(O) Buffs:
-----> Shield [+9 AC, 119 rounds]
-----> Fox's cunning [+4 Int, 120 rounds]
<}===<}=={^}=={>==={>
Pantherath growled, raining both death and life in magical form.
((Retro Action: Pantherath casts a Maximized Fire Storm, aimed to hit as many people as possible with 36 10' cubes that deal 18d6 damage each. He can also drop a Close Wounds, if someone else would fall under.
Current Action: Pantherath casts Close Wounds on Merla, to keep her on her feet, then casts Mass Heal to tag as many heavily injured people as possible.))
<}--<{^}>--{>
(O) Health: 169/169 HP
(O) AC:
-----> 24 base
-----> 13 touch
-----> 21 flat
(O) Spells:
-----> Lv. 0: 6/6
-----> Lv. 1: 8/8
-----> Lv. 2: 6/7
-----> Lv. 3: 7/7
-----> Lv. 4: 7/7
-----> Lv. 5: 7/7
-----> Lv. 6: 6/6
-----> Lv. 7: 4/6
-----> Lv. 8: 5/5
-----> Lv. 9: 2/3
(O) Buffs:
----->
<}===<}=={^}=={>==={>
((To make life easier, I'm not going to have Dam Dicem along for this one after all. He'll be with one of the other groups, probably the cw1 group.))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Tue May 12, 2009 6:37 am
The Silver Knights grit their teeth as Tanis' illusion appears before them, but show no further effect from it. The Gigabreakers on the other hand, scream in terror, clutch their chests and fall to the ground twitching before finally falling still. Tanis manages to bring new meaning to the phrase "scared to death" with his magic.
((Knights pass saves, Gigabreakers fail.))
Meanwhile in the skies above, Eve crash again and again into a Pegasus Knight, causing it to drop from the skies like a meteor, striking the ground with a bloody splat. This infuriates the other Pegasus Knights, who turn as one and charge towards her, engaging the flying centaur in a three-front aerial duel. Knight after knight slams into Eve, driving lances deep into the beset sky-warrior. One of the Knights manages to land a blow directly over her heart, but her armor protects her well. When the enemies' furious assault is finished, Eve still flies... albeit badly hurt.
"THAT is for Kaith!" one spits as he flies past.
((Hit! Hit! Critical Hit! Fortification: Success! Critical negated. 123 damage total to Eve.)
Dagron severely wounds an Imperial Ranger with his frenzied assault. The archer staggers back, bloodied and bruised, claw, fang, and tail marks all over him. He spits out a few teeth and raises his bow only to scream in pain as fire consumes him. Flames race across the battlefield, covering the enemy entirely with fire as Pantherath calls down holy wrath on the foe. The Templar then summons a different side of holy power to restore the allies around him.
((Dagron hits with all his strikes. Everyone but the Rangers failed, taking 66 fire damage. Rangers evaded the Firestorm except for Dagron's one, who failed and died. Pantherath is able to heal everyone but Dagron, Talacre, Sheila, Eve, and Langston with his spell.))
Ashathel's spell explode in the air, coating the airborne foes with fire and frost alike. Though many take grueling injuries thanks to the elf, not a one falls from the sky to Ashathel's arcane might.
((Generally everyone passes one save and failed one for 82 damage total to all.))
Jim calls out tactical formations and warnings to everyone, increasing their defensive capability even as he plucks a grenade from his belt and throws it at some of the Imperial Rangers. The metal sphere seems to collapse in on itself when it reaches the enemy. The very fabric of space seems to distort around the grenade as the Rangers scream, several of their bones breaking from the sudden strain before things go back to normal.
((Jim: Tactical Aid: +4 AC to everyone. Heroic Surge: Chuck a Mass Grenade at the Imperial Rangers. Hits 3 for 55 damage.))
Talacre's swordwork slices into the general and she falls to a knee, glaring at the elf hatefully even as he dealt a deathblow to the last Kaiser Knight and dances over to strike at the Silver Knight.
"Long... Live... Emperor... Domaric!" she shouts out defiantly before collapsing and lying dead.
Talacre manages to land a heavy blow on the already wounded Silver Knight. Sheila grins as Talacre arrives.
"Are you kidding? Wouldn't miss this for the world," Sheila laughs as she opens fire, the twin retorts of her guns almost deafening. The two Knights that attacked her and Talacre are torn apart by the explosive bullets, little more than piles of meat encased in armor. Almost immediately afterward, the last two Knights charge the pair, roaring incoherently.
"Geez! They line themselves up for us to knock down!" Sheila comments to Talacre as she backflips out of the way of the first charging centaur. Talacre evades the second with just as much ease.
((Sheila attacks. 6 hits, 1 critical. 120, and 81 to the one Talacre hit. Knights die. The remaining 2 Silver Knights charge at Talacre and Sheila, missing horribly.))
The Imperial Rangers try to get a shot at Laeralas, but Dagron succeeds in blocking their sight. The lead ranger narrows his eyes and makes a gesture. The remaining archers begin unleashing arrow after arrow at the dragon, focusing all their attacks on the creature. The leader himself draws an arrow and fires it with deadly precision. The missile strikes directly at an exposed patch of flesh, sinking up to the feathers and wracking the dragon with pain.
((5 hits. 14 misses. 1 critical. 51 damage from the critical hit, 72 damage from the normal hits.))
The Wing Knights dive down again and again at Merla, trying to take the wizard out and failing. Merla curses as the continued attacks cause her to lose the spell she was casting.
((Critical Hit! Hit, Hit, Hit! Merla is down to 14 HP. Merla's spell fizzles.))
Imperial Troops:
3 Pegasus Knights ((20' up.))
5 Imperial Rangers ((120' away.))
2 Silver Knights. ((In melee.))
4 Wing Knights. ((Imperial Bird Battlers. 30' up.))
Next turn!

Posted by: Alpha Tue May 12, 2009 4:46 pm
From behind the cover Dagron was providing him, Laeral begins casting a spell to aim at one of the small ranger groups. Picking his spell careful, he selects one that assaults the mind rather than the reflexes, and as a result his hands begin to sparkle with dancing lights. Leaning up and over the young dragon’s shoulder, he gestures towards the group of three rangers not so far away. The area explodes into a myriad of colours, assaulting the senses of those caught in its effects. That done he then draws upon some more magical training, furthering his protective enchantments.
[Cast Radiant Assault on the group of 3 rangers. 58 damage and dazed for two rounds. A Will save DC26 results in 29 damage and dazzled for 6 rounds instead.
Use the class ability, Swift Abjuration. Can cast 1st level abjuration spells as if they were quickened. So quicken cast Shield.]
: “And if they do not line themselves up, somebody intervenes to make it so,” Talacre replies, clearly seeing the bright burst of light inflicted by his brother. “I’ll be back in a moment or two,” he says, before disappearing with in a literal blur, reappearing right next to the rangers Laeralas had just assaulted.
: “I am afraid this is where it all ends for you,” he says, deathly calm and quiet. “Your General fell to my blade and now it is your turn.” The elf flourishes his burning blade and begins his dervish trained dance of death, cutting and slicing into the enemy troops.
[Move over to the rangers, full attack (Defensive Fighting)
To hit: Natural 20 (36 on confirm)/ 32 / 42 (critical threat, 27 on confirm) / 24 / 46
Damage
Hit 1: 37 + 5 fire (69 + 5 fire if critical)
Hit 2: 33 + 2 fire (+ additional 5 if against same foe as first hit)
Hit 3: 35 + 5 fire (75 + 5 fire if critical) (+ additional 1 if against same foe as second hit)
Hit 4: 30 + 2 fire (+ additional 6 if against same foe as third hit)
Hit 5: 28 + 5 fire (+ additional 3 if against same foe as fourth hit)
Cleave attack (if appropriate): 16(threat) + (34 / 28 / 23 / 28 / 34 depending on hit)
Confirm (if appropriate): 18(upgraded threat) + (depends)
Confirm (if appropriate): Natural 20 (double upgraded threat)
Confirm (if appropriate): 17 (triple upgraded threat) + (depends)
Confirm (if appropriate): 14 + (depends)
Damage: Can greatly vary]
Intent on greatly injuring the remaining enemies on the battlefield, Tanis brings about another firestorm. As he casts the spell, he makes many complex directions, presumably indicating where the explosions of fire should appear. It appears to be worth it as many portions of the field, including some in midair, simply burst into an inferno.
[Cast an Empowered Fire Storm. With thirty-six 10’ cubes, he can get every enemy remaining in battle.
Damage: (18d6 x 1.5) + 13(edge) = 113 fire damage, Reflex save DC26 for half damage]
((Laeralas
HP: 69/183
AC: 38
F/R/W: 15/23/22
Buffs: Haste, Heart of Earth, Shield, Stoneskin, Tactical Aid
DR10/Adamantine
Talacre
HP: 79/237
AC: 50
F/R/W: 17/21/14
Buffs: Defensive Fighting, Dervish Dance, Haste, Tactical Aid
Tanis
HP: 70/121
AC: 26
F/R/W: 8/8/18
Buffs: Tactical Aid))
((IM me, TUM, to sort out Talacre's attacks))
Tanis' powerful inferno completely wipes out all the pegasus knights and wing knights, as well as dropping one of the last silver knights. They also further injure the pincushion making rangers. As a result, they are weak enough so that as Talacre speeds to one group, they fall so quickly to his blade that he is able to activate his boots to take his to the other group in an instant.

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Wed May 13, 2009 7:33 am
When all is said and done, the only foe left is the Silver Knight in front of Sheila. The gunslinging girl grins greatly and takes aim as the knight's eyes widen, realizing what situation he's in. A single shot blows away his head as Sheila spins her gun around and blows the smoke off from the barrel before holstering it with a flourish.
((Critical Hit! 45 damage! Last Silver Knight bites it on the first shot.))
With their leader and her elite guards slain, the remaining Destonian troops either scatter or surrender. Railhead has been taken with an extraordinarily small loss of life for the Republic and her allies. Aspian soldiers swiftly arrive and pacify the town, others working to secure the rail station. However, it is not enough, and several of Alex's team is drafted to help oversee town management, while some of the Rangers are left behind to oversee the Black Op and Hypertrooper forces.
Victory!
((Anyone in either team that was "AFK" is now out of the game for a while, guarding Railhead. This way there's an explanation for why people did nothing for so long. Contact me when you're ready to get back into things if you're on the list.))
Some potent magical items are recovered off the soldiers and the general. These are...
200 arrows +3.
+5 studded leather
Girdle of Giant Strength+6
Bottomless Quiver (Near infinite storage space for arrows.)
Apollo's Bow: (+5 Flaming Outsider Bane Ghost Touch Composite longbow (+8 Str limit) of Speed. Once per day can fire an arrow of slaying, DC 23. Doubles all base damage dealt, IE, the arrows deal 2d8 instead of 1d8.)
Shocking Quarterstaff of Flaming Burst +3
Staff of Size Alteration
Portable Hole
Winged Shield
+3 Composite Longbow
Father Winter: Icy Burst Holy Shock Mace of Smiting
Ring of Spell Storing
Tome of Understanding+3

Posted by: Dark Maiden Wed May 13, 2009 3:45 pm
((EDIT: This is not the post you're looking for.))

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Wed May 13, 2009 4:37 pm
((What is that list anyway? I'm assuming just Merla and Melissa, maybe Hal if we're not counting him healing Jim while Rusty was working on his comp issues.))

Posted by: Alpha Wed May 13, 2009 4:57 pm
((Not much my guys can do with that stuff, so they'll pass. However, Laeral and Tal could really do with some cash to upgrade their weapons. Only things good for Tanis these days are anything that can provide a non-enhancement bonus to CHA and INT))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Wed May 13, 2009 7:17 pm

QUOTE (DragonmasterDon1 @ Wed May 13, 2009 4:37 pm)
((What is that list anyway? I'm assuming just Merla and Melissa, maybe Hal if we're not counting him healing Jim while Rusty was working on his comp issues.))

((It's pretty much Melissa, Merla, Jessica, Kayla, and Hal until their players are ready to start playing again. I think Lance unofficially dropped though.))

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Wed May 13, 2009 8:02 pm
((Shocker))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Mon May 18, 2009 3:24 am
((You might wanna use OOC to settle who gets what.)) Meanwhile... The only sound around the group was that of the wind. It was roaring around the cliffside like a dragon clutch wanting desperately to be fed. Below the team outstretched the vast Manarinan desert, the winds buffeting the sands even more cruelly than the cliffs. Vast sandstorms had begun to slowly take shape, the telltale formation of funnel clouds beginning to menace the air. Amidst all this, the arcane capital Manarina rose up from the sands like a gem jutting out from a beach thanks the glittering prismatic barrier encasing it.
You feel the wind too, it whips around you forcefully though you know what you are going through cannot be compared to the fury about to be unleashed on the ground blow. You are clustered together, the foxling mage clutching a stone enchanted with a Silence spell to enable a more stealthy approach. You drop silently down the mountainside, flying without sound, the entire ordeal seemingly a dream... Until you near your destination and the dream turns into a nightmare.
Jutting out from the sheer mountainside is a small series of cliffs that could easily have been mistaken for platforms. An arcane circle with a squarish crystalline formation dominates the largest of the cliffs, tall demons in arcane accouterments chanting ominously as more martial demons patrol with flaming sword and bare fang. Dragons of pure fire fly around the cliff, lazily circling like great, fiendish, scaly vultures. Mariliths read scroll after scroll, writing orders with their six hands swiftly and efficiently. And in the center of it all is a great, bloated figure. A monster with four legs, a great maw in his chest, and muscled arms bearing a wicked looking sword. Kyuu immediately recognizes the leader of the demonic remnant on Rune, Worex.
You continue to float gently down, the demons and their allies growing larger and larger. You see a spot where you might land and glide towards it. You get close and closer still without being detected, the wind growing fiercer and fiercer. Then a demon flies nearby, his bestial face twisting in eager surprise as he sights you and your companions. He swiftly flies out and roars an alarm, its fellow demons immediately turning and locking eyes with you. Eager smiles dot nearly all their faces. Kyuu immediately casts the stone enchanted with silence away, sound returning to all of you, along with the ability to cast spells.
"ABOUT TIME!!!" Worex bellows as the wind roars behind him. He chuckles evilly even as the team touches down. "Those blasted mages haven't even stuck a head out from their barrier since we got here. I was getting bored... and hungry."
A chorus of screams, roars, and howls manage to overcome even the volume of the wind as the demons charge into battle, bloodlust already woken in them.
Battle!
((All players begin with a Fly spell on them. Control Weather nearing critical point.))

Posted by: Knight_019 Mon May 18, 2009 4:33 am
((OOC for now, will edit durations/effects later, and rp stuff some time after that: Kyuu cast

- Haste (everyone) (CL 17)
  - +1 dodge to AC and Reflex, +1 untyped to hit. (17 rounds)
- Mass Fly (everyone, 17 rounds) (CL 17)
- Spell Turning (self) (CL 17)
  - 1d4+6 levels of spells (rolled by DM) targeted onto Kyuu are reflected back upon the caster. (170 minutes, cast prior to leaving)
- Energy Immunity (cold) (self) (24 hours, cast in the morning) (CL 17)

Septimus cast

- Mass Bull's Strength (everyone) (CL 20)
  - +4 enhancement to strength. (20 minutes)
- Mass Mage Armor (everyone) (CL 20)
  - +4 armor bonus to AC that applies against incorp touch. (20 hours, cast prior to leaving)
- Stoneskin (tbd)

Aurik cast

- Holy Aura (everyone) (CL 27)
  - +4 Deflection to AC and +4 Resistance to Saves
  - SR 25 against evil spells
  - Block's mental influence (27 rounds)
- Mass Death Ward (everyone) (CL 26)
  - Immunity to all death spells, magical death effects, energy drain, and negative energy effects. (26 minutes)
- Recitation (everyone) (CL 26)
  - +2 luck to AC, attack, and saves
  - +3 if you worship volcanon (26 rounds)
- Extended Divine Power (self) (CL 26)
  - BAB equals character level (19)
  - +6 enhancement to STR
  - 1 temporary hp per CL (26) (52 rounds)
- Greater Visage of the Deity (self) (CL 26)
  - Feathered Wings granting fly speed at twice base
  - +1 nat armor
  - Low-light Vision
  - Resistance 10 to acid, cold, and electricity
  - Immunity to Disease
  - +4 racial saving throw against poison
  - DR 10/magic
  - SR 25
  - +4 STR, +2 DEX, +4 CON, +2 INT, +4 WIS, +4 CHA (26 rounds)
- Visions of the Future (self) (CL 26)
  - +2 sacred to saves
  - +2 Dodge to AC
  - Can be discharged at any time during the duration to gain Sacred to saves and dodge to AC equal to half CL (13). (26 hours)

Rhizor cast

- Aura of Vitality (everyone) (CL 19)
  - +4 Morale to STR, DEX, and CON. (19 rounds)
- Wildshape: Dire Polar Bear (huge)
- Bite of the Werebear (self) (CL 19)
  - +16 STR, +2 DEX, +8 CON enhancement
  - +7 Enhancement Nat Armor
  - Bite and Claw attacks according to size (2d6/1d8 medium) with multiattack
  - Can use Power Attack and Blind-Fight (19 rounds)
- Superior Magic Fang (self, Gabriel) (CL 19)
  - All nat weapons treated as if +4. (19 rounds)
- Nature's Avatar (self) (CL 19)
  - +10 morale to attack, damage
  - 1d8 temp hp per CL (19d8 = 91)
  - Act as though hasted (19 minutes)
- Owl's Insight (self, Aurik) (CL 19)
  - Insight bonus to Wisdom equal to 1/2 CL (9). (1 hour)

Rhizor and Septimus act together with cooperative metamagic. Rhizor casts TSUNAMI with Purify Spell and Empower Spell (modified level 11) added thanks to Septimus, spanning the entire map (and then some) between rows H and I.
Spellcraft check (DC 18+11*3 = 51): 1d20+37: (14)+ 37 = 51, pass
The Tsunami is 40' high. It proceeds down the map at a speed of 60' (not sure if it gets to double move or not). Everything hit takes
19d8*1.5 = (2 2 1 6 4 4 1 1 6 7 4 4 8 5 4 7 1 8 7)*1.5 = 82*1.5 = 123 damage if an evil outsider
or
19d6*1.5 = (1 1 4 6 2 1 4 5 2 6 6 3 3 2 4 6 5 4 6)*1.5 = 71*1.5 = 101 if evil
or
101*.5 = 50 if neutral.
All damage is bludgeoning
Fort save DC 35 half. Anything Huge or smaller is carried with the wave. Anything of Gargantuan size is knocked prone. Once picked up, a creature may only escape with a DC 20 swim check to move and must finish outside of the tsunami's area to escape. A creature may also be pulled out with a DC 20 strength check but the extracting creature is subject to the effects of the tsunami first and may not extract if it fails its save.
HP: 429/338
AC: 50
F/R/W: 29/16/35
other actions dependent upon resolution of above.))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Mon May 18, 2009 5:04 am
((One True Demon Master, one Marilith, and one Demonic Warlord fail their saves. One Warlord fails to escape the wave and is carried screaming off the side of the cliff. One True Demon Master is also carried off the cliff, but instead of screaming, he calmly levitates out of the raging water, though he is pushed off the cliff and into the air. Another Marilith is propelled screaming off the edge. 20d6x2 (critical) for 108 total falling damage, taking those two out of the fight. The crystal formation is damaged, but not doesn't crumble or crack.))

Posted by: Dark Maiden Wed May 20, 2009 8:51 pm
((I will try to make a proper post later, but for now, here is the list of spells that my mage and priest cast prior to the battle.))

- Damas
  - Mass Fire Shield {Chill Shield}
  - Mirror Image
- Myala
  - Mass Align Weapon {Good}
  - Mass Spell Resistance
  - Prayer

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Thu May 21, 2009 12:15 am
((Deadline is Thursday.))

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Thu May 21, 2009 8:01 am
((Garudaos begins 30' in the air.)) "For Guardiana!" the dragonman roared, raising his blade high as he dove. He slammed into the True Demon Master closest to the group, descending from above with fiery might. ((Garudaos activates Strength of Honor and dive-bombs the True Demon Master with PA 5, ending 5' above the ground at D4.
Attack Bonus: +42
Damage Total: (1d10+58 +2d6 powerful charge) x2 (dive)
Attack: to-hit 59, dmg 142
+1 dodge to the True Demon Master.))
<}--<{^}>--{>
(O) Health: 218/218 HP
(O) AC:
-----> 33 (26 +7) base
-----> 22 (15 +7) touch
-----> 29 (23 +6) flat
(O) Special:
-----> Strength of Honor 0/1
-----> Breath weapon 3/3
(O) Buffs:
-----> [5 rnds] Strength of Honor: +4 Str (morale)
-----> [??? rnds] Minor Aura: +8 damage bonus when charging
-----> [??? rnds] Major Aura: +2 damage bonus
-----> [??? rnds] Bardic Music: +12 to attack, damage, and saves vs. charm & fear (morale)
-----> [??? rnds] Haste: +1 atk, +1 AC (dodge), on a full attack, gain an extra attack at full BAB
-----> [??? rnds] Fly: gain 60' fly speed (Good maneuverability)
-----> [??? rnds] Bull's Strength: +4 Strength (enhancement)
-----> [??? rnds] Mage Armor: +4 AC (armor)
-----> [??? rnds] Holy Aura: +4 AC (defl.), +4 Fort/Ref/Will (Res.), SR 25/evil, block mind control, blind evil attackers if they hit (Fort negates)
-----> [??? rnds] Death Ward: immunity to death spells & effects, negative levels, negative energy damage, and ability loss
-----> [??? rnds] Recitation: +2 Luck bonus to AC and attack (+3 if follower of Volcanon)
-----> [??? rnds] Aura of Vitality: +4 Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution (enhancement)
-----> [??? rnds] Fire Shield (Chill): 10' of light produced, 1/2 damage from fire attacks (no damged on successful save), foes take 1d6 +15 cold damage on a hit (SR applies)
-----> [??? rnds] Align Weapon (Good): Weapon is Good-aligned
~~~~~
((The round before battle, Gabriel goes into his Primeval form.))
The lion of Volcanon roared in defiance, his eyes only on the creatures around him. He leaped across the air, half-jumping and half-flying to land on one of the fat blue demons. He bit and clawed, tearing into it's hide with reckless abandon.
((Gabe combines a charge with raging and PA 10 to land at A19. Leap Attack auto-passes.
Attack Bonus: +58/+58/+58 claws, +48 bite, +48/+48 rake
Damage Total: 2d6+64 (+3d6 on first attack) (claws), 2d6+53 (bite), 2d6+53 (rake),
Claw1: to-hit 67, dmg 81
Claw1: to-hit 62, dmg 68
Claw1: to-hit 53, dmg 68
Bite: to-hit 56, dmg 57; grapple check 72
Rake1: to-hit 49 (natural 1)
Rake2: to-hit 49 (natural 1) ))
<}--<{^}>--{>
(O) Health: 396/396 HP
(O) AC:
-----> 44 (14 +30 buffs) base
-----> 40 (14 +26 buffs) touch
-----> 29 (10 +19 buffs) flat
(O) Special:
-----> DR 10/magic
-----> Rage 1/2
-----> Primeval Form 3/4
(O) Buffs:
-----> [13 rnds] Rage: +4 Str, +4 Con, +2 Will (morale), -2 AC
-----> [99 rnds] Primeval Form: +20 Str, +6 Dex, +10 Con, +12 NA
-----> [??? rnds] Minor Aura: +8 damage bonus when charging
-----> [??? rnds] Major Aura: +2 damage bonus
-----> [??? rnds] Bardic Music: +12 to attack, damage, and saves vs. charm & fear (morale)
-----> [??? rnds] Haste: +1 atk, +1 AC (dodge), on a full attack, gain an extra attack at full BAB
-----> [??? rnds] Fly: gain 60' fly speed (Good maneuverability)
-----> [??? rnds] Bull's Strength: +4 Strength (enhancement)
-----> [??? rnds] Mage Armor: +4 AC (armor)
-----> [??? rnds] Holy Aura: +4 AC (defl.), +4 Fort/Ref/Will (Res.), SR 25/evil, block mind control, blind evil attackers if they hit (Fort negates)
-----> [??? rnds] Death Ward: immunity to death spells & effects, negative levels, negative energy damage, and ability loss
-----> [??? rnds] Recitation: +2 Luck bonus to AC and attack (+3 if follower of Volcanon)
-----> [??? rnds] Aura of Vitality: +4 Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution (enhancement)
-----> [??? rnds] Fire Shield (Chill): 10' of light produced, 1/2 damage from fire attacks (no damged on successful save), foes take 1d6 +15 cold damage on a hit (SR applies)
-----> [??? rnds] Align Weapon (Good): Weapon is Good-aligned
~~~~~
"Time for the opening act," the transformed rogue said, stepping into thin air, only to appear next to the True Demon Master. Striking rapidly with his blades, he continued, "Well... you'll be open, from one kidney to another; I'll remain in one rather attractive piece, you see."
((Dam uses Sideslip to move to B5, then unleashes a full attack on the True Demon Master.))
Attack Bonus: +38/+38/+33/+28 (main), +38 (off-hand)
Damage total: 1d6+17 +2d6 holy +7d8 sneak (main), 1d6+17 +7d8 sneak, good-aligned (off-hand)
Atk1: to-hit 51, dmg 58
Atk2: to-hit 49, dmg 58
Atk3: to-hit 38, dmg 53
Atk4: to-hit 32, dmg 51
Atk5: to-hit 48, dmg 43
+1 dodge to the True Demon Master.))
<}--<{ Dam Dicem }>--{>
(O) Health: 180/180 HP
(O) AC:
-----> 41 (32 +9 buffs) base
-----> 35 (26 +9 buffs) touch
-----> 30 (22 +8 buffs) flat
(O) Special:
-----> Silver-tongued Devil 2/2
-----> Sideslip 2/3
(O) Buffs:
-----> [??? rnds] Minor Aura: +8 damage bonus when charging
-----> [??? rnds] Major Aura: +2 damage bonus
-----> [??? rnds] Bardic Music: +12 to attack, damage, and saves vs. charm & fear (morale)
-----> [??? rnds] Haste: +1 atk, +1 AC (dodge), on a full attack, gain an extra attack at full BAB
-----> [??? rnds] Fly: gain 60' fly speed (Good maneuverability)
-----> [??? rnds] Bull's Strength: +4 Strength (enhancement)
-----> [??? rnds] Mage Armor: +4 AC (armor)
-----> [??? rnds] Holy Aura: +4 AC (defl.), +4 Fort/Ref/Will (Res.), SR 25/evil, block mind control, blind evil attackers if they hit (Fort negates)
-----> [??? rnds] Death Ward: immunity to death spells & effects, negative levels, negative energy damage, and ability loss
-----> [??? rnds] Recitation: +2 Luck bonus to AC and attack (+3 if follower of Volcanon)
-----> [??? rnds] Aura of Vitality: +4 Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution (enhancement)
-----> [??? rnds] Fire Shield (Chill): 10' of light produced, 1/2 damage from fire attacks (no damged on successful save), foes take 1d6 +15 cold damage on a hit (SR applies)
-----> [??? rnds] Align Weapon (Good): Weapon is Good-aligned
~~~~~
((The round before battle, Graigus initiates his Hybrid Form. It is also assumed that Ombligo cast Greater Mighty Wallop on him earlier on in the day, since it lasts for 1 hour/level.))
Graigus takes off across the air, not stopping until he reached the massive demons near the crystal. He unleashed attack after attack on them, aiming to bring the big creatures down fast.
((The monkey master takes off with a charge and stops at H5, attacking first the Demonic Warlord, then the Marilith if the Warlord goes down. Stagger auto-pass to avoid any AoO's.
Attack Bonus: +36/+36/+36/+31/+26 (main), +36/+31 (off-hand)
Damage Total: 12d8+30 +2d6 holy (main), 12d8+30, good-aligned (off-hand)
Atk1: to-hit 56 (crit, confirm 49), dmg 97 (crit 196)
Atk2: to-hit 53, dmg 96
Atk3: to-hit 51, dmg 90
Atk4: to-hit 47, dmg 83
Atk5: to-hit 30, dmg 83
Atk6: to-hit 48, dmg 86
Atk7: to-hit 32 (natural 1)
+3 dodge to the Demonic Warlord, or the Marilith if the Warlord dies))
<}--<{^}>--{>
(O) Health: 212/212 HP
(O) AC:
-----> 41 (34 +7 buffs) base
-----> 31 (24 +7 buffs) touch
-----> 37 (31 +6 buffs) flat
(O) Special:
-----> Stunning Fist 15/15
-----> Hybrid Form 2/3
(O) Buffs:
-----> [29 rnds] Hybrid Form: +4 dex, +5 bonus to Spot, Listen, and Survival checks, low-light Vision, unarmed attacks count as ghost touch weapons, climb 50'
-----> [??? rnds] Greater Mighty Wallop: +4 size categories to weapon damage (unarmed attacks deal 12d8)
-----> [??? rnds] Minor Aura: +8 damage bonus when charging
-----> [??? rnds] Major Aura: +2 damage bonus
-----> [??? rnds] Bardic Music: +12 to attack, damage, and saves vs. charm & fear (morale)
-----> [??? rnds] Haste: +1 atk, +1 AC (dodge), on a full attack, gain an extra attack at full BAB
-----> [??? rnds] Fly: gain 60' fly speed (Good maneuverability)
-----> [??? rnds] Bull's Strength: +4 Strength (enhancement)
-----> [??? rnds] Mage Armor: +4 AC (armor)
-----> [??? rnds] Holy Aura: +4 AC (defl.), +4 Fort/Ref/Will (Res.), SR 25/evil, block mind control, blind evil attackers if they hit (Fort negates)
-----> [??? rnds] Death Ward: immunity to death spells & effects, negative levels, negative energy damage, and ability loss
-----> [??? rnds] Recitation: +2 Luck bonus to AC and attack (+3 if follower of Volcanon)
-----> [??? rnds] Aura of Vitality: +4 Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution (enhancement)
-----> [??? rnds] Fire Shield (Chill): 10' of light produced, 1/2 damage from fire attacks (no damged on successful save), foes take 1d6 +15 cold damage on a hit (SR applies)
-----> [??? rnds] Align Weapon (Good): Weapon is Good-aligned

Posted by: Knight_019 Thu May 21, 2009 9:15 pm
((Fagalon uses Bardic Music to give everyone +12 morale to attack, damage, and saves versus fear effects. other things of note: Mahler has a continuous circle of protection against evil in effect around him. Aurik gives +2 to will saves to anyone within 10' of him.))
Rusty says Over the Top (+8 on charges) and whatever the +2 to damage aura Alex has is up.
He also said we have snowsong (+4 morale to cha)
---
Ivellas
((Ivellas charges the true demon master below him. PA 10.
1d20 + 53 - 10 + 2 = 20 + 45...
CONFIRM: 1d20+41: (7)+ 45 = 52
Damage
(1d8 + 29+10+8+2)*6 + 2d6 = 6d8+2d6+294: (3 1 7 4 4 3) (2 6)+ 294 = 324
HP: 310/310
AC: 48
F/R/W: 27/21/19))
Septimus
((Septimus casts a Quickened, Empowered, Purified Orb of Cold thanks to a bunch of Easy Metamagic feats.
Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 25 = 18 + 25 = 43.
Damage: 15d8*1.5 = (1 2 6 2 2 7 4 7 7 4 7 7 8 5 3)*1.5 = 72*1.5 = 108 cold damage.
FORT DC 25 or blinded for 1 round
HP: 128/128
AC: 34
F/R/W: 17/16/24))
Kyuu
((Kyuu casts an Energy Subbed (Fire), Searing Freezing Fog (don't ask). Centered at G15 filling a 20' radius, 20' high cylinder. This will completely encompass the true demon master to the northeast and all but Worex's SEmost square.
Those within take 1 fire damage this round. Fire resistance does not apply, and fire immunity only grants half damage.
Those inside must make a DC 29 reflex save or fall prone. This reflex save must be made every round on Kyuu's turn. Those that pass must make a DC 10 balance check to move a maximum of 5 feet. Failure by 5 or more causes the creature to fall prone.
Sight is not possible beyond 5 feet, ranged attack rolls (that are not spells) take -6 to hit, and melee attacks suffer -2 to hit.
No SR applies.
HP: 142/142
F/R/W: 16/18/21))
Aurik
((Free Action: Activate Prayer Beads for +4 to CL (26)
Aurik drops a radiant assault to the right that nails both doomguards, the true demon master, and worex.
Use Divine Spell Power. Turn Check: 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 3 = 2 + 15 = 17. CL increased by 2 (28)
SR Checks:
Left Doomguard: 1d20 + 28 = 16 + 28 = 44.
Right Doomguard: 1d20 + 28 = 10 + 28 = 38.
Demonmaster: 1d20 + 28 = 8 + 28 = 36.
Worex: 1d20 + 28 = 12 + 28 = 40.
15d6 = (2 1 3 1 2 4 3 5 1 4 2 3 3 5 4) = 43 radiant damage and dazed for 1d6=2 rounds.
WILL DC 32 for half and dazzled 2 rounds instead.
HP: 243/217
AC: 50
F/R/W: 26/23/36))
Merkass
((Merkass rapid shots the bottom right demon master
1d20 + 51 - 2 = 8 + 49 = 57.
1d20 + 49 = 4
1d20 + 49 = 13
1d20 + 44 = 20 + ...
THREAT: 1d20 + 44 = 19 + 44 = 63. UPGRADE THREAT
UPGRADE: 1d20 + 44 = 6 + 44 = 50.
1d20 + 39 = 14 + 39 = 53.
Damage
1d8 + 3d6 + 5d6 + 33 + 1 + 2 = (2) (6 5 4 2 6 1 5 4)+ 34 = 69
1d8+3d6+34: (7) (3 5 6)+ 34 = 55
1d8+3d6+34: (4) (1 2 6)+ 34 = 47
(1d8+36)*4 + 3d6 + 2d10: (7 5 4 8) (3 2 1) (3 3 2)+ 144 = 182
1d8+3d6+36: (2) (5 6 3)+ 36 = 52
Each arrow deals 1 CON damage.
Any attack that kills the Demon Master will redirect the following attacks to the marilith below Merkass. If the Marilith dies, redirect any remaining to the demonic warlord.
HP: 207/207
AC: 40
F/R/W: 22/39/13))
Mahler
((Swift Action: Mahler uses Divine Vigor. Mahler gains +10' to his speed and 36 temporary hp for 3 minutes.
Mahler charges the demonic warlord below him. PA 13 and smite
Attack: 1d20 + 43 + 4 + 3 - 13 = 15 + 37 = 52.
Damage: 8d8+2d8+2d6+47: (2 2 6 7 7 3 6 1) (1 5) (6 5)+ 47 = 98
Activate Awesome Smite, using the benefits in this order, moving to the next if it does not apply

- Ignore miss chance
- Ignore 6 points of DR if holy won't overcome it
- Try to knock it prone with a granted trip: opposed str: 1d20 + 11 = 8 + 11 = 19.

HP: 376/340
AC: 38
F/R/W: 35/17/14))
((Directing Damas to Empowered, Piercing Cold Freeze 4 (level 9) the Magma Dragon directly South of us.
SR: 1d20 + 19 = 15 + 19 = 34.
(8d12+24)*1.5 = : ((4 2 8 3 8 7 12 8)+ 24)*1.5 = 76*1.5 = 114 cold damage, no save.
This cold damage is not subject to cold resistance, and enemies who are cold immune still take damage at 50%.
Enemies of the fire subtype take double damage instead of the usual +50%.))

Posted by: Rusty Fri May 22, 2009 2:24 am
*As the silence fades, Faralon begins a moving song that inspires courage within his allies.* ((Faralon will use the following buffs before the battle: Snowsong [30 ft radius centered on Faralon, gives +4 morale bonus to CHA and attack rolls, +4 insight bonus to AC, fast healing 1 and resistance to cold 15, and additional 1d6 points of cold damage for our melee attacks. Enemies in the area casting spells suffer a 20% chance of spell failure for casting any spells with a verbal component. For enemies, Will saving throw negates the effects of Snowsong (25).]
Harmony [Boosts morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects by 2 and morale bonus on attack rolls and damage rolls by 1 for Bardic Music]
And he'll use Bardic Music during the battle, using the Badge of Valor with it (which increases the effects of Bardic Music by 1), and double its effects with his special. This totals to +12 morale to attack and damage rolls, and +14 morale to saves against charm and fear effects.
Faralon will use Bardic Music with the bonuses I listed this round.))
===
: "Vile fiends! You have met your end!"
*Alex swings several times at the closest fiend, a Doomguard, his strikes a bit wild but powerful.*
((Alex will give everyone a +6 sacred bonus to AC via Protection Devotion, which lasts one minute. His auras are:
Minor Aura: Over the Top [+8 damage on charge attacks]
Major Aura: Motivate Ardor [+2 damage]
Alex will use a free action enter Holy Fury. He'll also use a free action to use Divine Might and full attack the Doomguard to his right. If it survives the first three hits, he'll use Heroic Surge to probably finish it off.
To hit: BAB - PA12 + 7 [STR] + 12 [Bardic music] + 10 [Force sword] + 3 [Magic] + 1 [Focus] + 1 [Haste] + 2 [Recitation]
Damage: sword + bane + 7 [STR] + 12 [music] + 3 [magic] + 1 [prayer] + 2 [aura] + 12 [PA] + 8 [Divine Might]
PA12
Attack #1: 50.
Damage: 25 [sword] + 3 [bane] + 7 [STR] + 12 [music] + 3 [magic] + 1 [prayer] + 2 [aura] + 12 [PA] + 8 [Divine Might] = 73.
Attack #1. Natural 1.
Attack #3: 36.
Damage: 29 [sword] + 7 [bane] + 7 [STR] + 12 [music] + 3 [magic] + 1 [prayer] + 2 [aura] + 12 [PA] + 8 [Divine Might] = 81.
Attack #4: 27. Probably a miss.
(Haste) Attack #5: 45.
Damage: 26 [sword] + 7 [bane] + 7 [STR] + 12 [music] + 3 [magic] + 1 [prayer] + 2 [aura] + 12 [PA] + 8 [Divine Might] = 78.
If it's still alive, Heroic Surge for one final attack. If not, no Heroic Surge. Let me know which.
Heroic Surge Attack (Maybe): 44.
Damage: 22 [sword] + 7 [bane] + 7 [STR] + 12 [music] + 3 [magic] + 1 [prayer] + 2 [aura] + 12 [PA] + 8 [Divine Might] = 74.))
===
*Prestle joins in Garudaos's battle cry as he charges the enemy.*
: "For Guardiana!"
((Prestle casts the following on himself prior to battle:
Divine Power - 13 rounds (+6 enhancement to STR, +13 HP, BAB becomes character level [17])
Holy Sword - 10 rounds (Lance becomes a +5 holy weapon)
Find the Gap (Prestle's first melee or ranged attack each round is resolved as a touch attack, disregarding the subject's armor, shield, and natural armor bonuses (including enhancement bonuses) to AC) - 10 rounds
Surge of Fortune - 13 rounds or until discharged
First round of combat:
Rhino's Rush, discharging Surge of Fortune for a natural 20 on his attack roll.
PA8
Target: If either of the Doomguards to the right are alive, hit one of them. If not, I guess hit the closest foe.
Confirming critical...8 + 9 [BAB -PA8] + 10 [STR] + 12 [music] + 5 [magic] + 2 [recitation] - 1 [size] + 2 [charge] = 47.
Damage: (4 [lance] + 8 [PA] + 10 [STR] + 12 [music] + 5 [magic] + 7 [holy warrior] + 8 [minor aura] + 2 [major aura] + 1 [prayer])x4 + 5 [holy] = 233.))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Fri May 22, 2009 6:19 am
The holy tsunami washes over the enemy in a most literal way, carrying off a pair of demons to their early graves and disrupting one's concentration even as the holy water burned all evil in its path. Garudaos slams into the True Demon Master like a draconic meteor, slicing off the demon's left arm at the shoulder. The fiendish mage howls in agony as black blood pools beneath it, flowing freely from the stump. Meanwhile, Gabriel tears apart the Doomguard he attacks in midair, the demon not even having a chance to raise its weapon to defend itself so fierce is the onslaught.
Dam appears before the True Demon Master. Already weakened and distracted by Garudaos' attack, the mighty mage has no defense ready when the rogue slips his blades here, there, and everywhere on the enemy's body. The foe falls to the ground with a sick gurgle.
Graigus leaps into the fight, his heavily enchanted staff tearing apart the demons in front of him by sheer kinetic force. The monkey monk appears as a humanoid blender, a whirlwind of destruction as the Demonic Warlord and Marilith both fall to him in seconds.
Ivellas impales the head of the True Demon Master to the right on his lance with an extremely accurate and forceful blow. Not even a word is spoken as the monster dies.
Kyuu summons a blazing cloud around Worex, but the demon takes little notice of it. He does take notice when Aurik calls down a pillar of divine light on him however.
Blasted godslave! I'll pop your skull between my teeth for that!" he booms.
Septimus' orb slams into one of the remaining Demonic Warlords, causing it to roar in pain as part of its body freezes off. It's finished off by one of Merkass's arrows as the catman bows down both this foe and the final True Demon Master.
Prestle charges forward, his lance ripping cleanly through a Doomguard who howls in pain before disintegrating to ash and sulfur.
A hail of cold and sleet wraps around one of the Dragons to the south, intense cold sucking away its strength. Then Mahler slams into it, cracking bone audibly to the rest of his comrades many feet away.
Lacking any other target, Alex rams into Worex with all the fury and righteous anger of a celestial avenger. The mighty demon is only able to parry two of the four strikes and deep wounds are opened on the demonic general.
"Graagh! You.... You will pay for that with your blood... and your bones, and your body, and your SOUL!" Worex roars, raising his sword and letting loose a guttural howl. The two Magma Dragons join him in a chorus of the damned.
((Everyone must make a DC28, and two DC 38 Will saves or flee. This is a fear effect.))
The Demonic General then raises his huge sword, unholy fire igniting around it. The monster grins evilly as he swings and brings it crashing down on Alex again and again, though twice he is able to catch the weapon on his shield. Blood flows from the seasoned warrior, though his life is not in danger just yet.
(( 3 hits, 2 misses. 108 damage total, ignoring DR. Critical negated due to Fortification.))
The Magma Dragon in front of Mahler roars and crashes into the golem with claw, fang, tail, and wings. Minute cracks begin to appear in Mahler's stone skin from the force of the blows, though they are far from enough to fell him.
((84 damage to Mahler over 4 hits.))
The other Magma Dragon soars over until it is flying in front of the main group. With a seemingly feral grin, it opens its maw and discharges a high pressure stream of liquid magma at the heroes.
((Merkass, Isyndel, Aurik, Septimus, Rhizor, and Kethra all take 153 fire damage, must pass a DC 42 Reflex save for half.))
The last Doomguard soars down at Graigus, grabbing his arm and uttering foul blasphemies. Nothing happens much to the demon's bafflement.
((Touch attack success. Save passed.))
"I hope you don't mind, I've invited some others to take part as well..." Worex says with a fanged grin as he passes a hand over the crystal formation near him. "Ah... Here they come now."
Flashes of light burst around the cliffs as Balors teleport in, circling high above.
((Balors are 100' up. A successful Spellcraft check reveals they have Unholy Aura cast on them.))
New turn!

Posted by: Dark Maiden Sat May 23, 2009 2:55 am

- Damas
  - First Will Save: 4 + 37 = 41. Pass.
  - Second Will Save: 8 + 37 = 45. Pass.
  - Third Will Save: 2 + 37 = 39. Pass.
- Kethra
  - Reflex Save: 20 + 26 = 46. Pass.
  - First Will Save: 10 + 36 = 46. Pass.
  - Second Will Save: 12 + 36 = 48. Pass.
  - Third Will Save: 2 + 36 = 38. Pass.
- Myala
  - First Will Save: 2 + 42 = 44. Pass.
  - Second Will Save: 8 + 42 = 50. Pass.
  - Third Will Save: 6 + 42 = 48. Pass.

((I'm tired and in pain, so my actions will have to wait until tomorrow.))

Posted by: Alpha Sat May 23, 2009 3:52 pm
[Will saves: 42, 39, 46. Pass all. Reflex save: Fail. 76 damage thanks to the fire shield 42 on a spellcraft check. We know about the Unholy Aura Actions to come]

Posted by: Dark Maiden Sun May 24, 2009 12:00 am
Damas conjures his most powerful ice spell and brings it to bear upon the Magma Dragon. ((Damas casts an Empowered, Piercing Cold, Freeze 4 spell on the same Magma Dragon that Knight had him attack last round. Spell Resistance: 1d20+19 = {16} + 19 = 35
Spell Damage: 8d12+24 * 1.5 = {12 9 9 5 8 6 9 6} + 24 * 1.5 = 132))
Kethra nimbly leaps out of the path of the Magma Dragon's breath weapon, avoiding the worst of it, while the rest is absorbed by the magical shield Damas had conjured earlier. Wasting no more time, the half-elven monk runs to aid Alexander against his foe.
((Kethra moves to I-10 and attacks the enemy there.
Attack Roll: 1d20+46 = {12} + 46 = 58
Attack Damage: 2d10+36 {10 8} + 36 = 54
I will hold Myala's action for now until I see what some of the other people are doing.))

- Damas
  - Hit Points: 136/136
  - Armor Class: 42
  - Spell Resistance: 31
  - Spell Slots: Cantrips {6/6}, Level 1 {9/9}, Level 2 {8/9}, Level 3 {8/8}, Level 4 {8/8}, Level 5 {7/8}, Level 6 {8/8}, Level 7 {7/7}, Level 8 {7/7}, Level 9 {2/4}
- Kethra
  - Hit Points: 180/180
  - Armor Class: 52
  - Spell Resistance: 31
- Myala
  - Hit Points: 174/174
  - Armor Class: 47
  - Spell Resistance: 31

Posted by: Knight_019 Mon May 25, 2009 7:56 pm
((Saves

- Ivellas
  - Worex: 1d20 + 19 + 14 = 6 + 33 = 39. Pass.
  - Dragon 1: 1d20 + 33 = 8 + 33 = 41. Pass.
  - Dragon 2: 1d20 + 33 = 15 + 33 = 48. Pass
- Kyuu
  - Worex: 1d20 + 19 + 2 + 14 = 15 + 35 = 50. Pass
  - Dragon 1: 1d20 + 35 = 20 + ... Pass.
  - Dragon 2: 1d20 + 35 = 5 + 35 = 40. Pass.
- Aurik
  - Breath: 1d20 + 23 = 20 + ... Pass. Evaded.
  - Worex: 1d20 + 34 + 2 + 14 = 16 + 50 = 66. Pass.
  - Dragon 1: 1d20 + 50 = 16 + 50 = 66. Pass.
  - Dragon 2: 1d20 + 50 = 6 + 50 = 56. Pass.
- Merkass
  - Breath: 1d20 + 39 = 10 + 39 = 49. Pass.
  - Worex: 1d20 + 13 + 2 + 14 = 6 + 29 = 35. Pass.
  - Dragon 1: 1d20 + 13 + 2 + 14 = 10 + 29 = 39. Pass.
  - Dragon 2: 1d20 + 13 + 2 + 14 = 10 + 29 = 39. Pass.
- Rhizor
  - Breath: 1d20 + 16 = 17 + 16 = 33. Fail. 76 fire damage after fire shield.
  - Worex: 1d20 + 33 + 2 + 14 = 9 + 49 = 58. Pass.
  - Dragon 1: 1d20 + 49 = 9 + 49 = 58. Pass.
  - Dragon 2: 1d20 + 49 = 15 + 49 = 64. Pass.
- Mahler
  - Immune))

Posted by: Alpha Mon May 25, 2009 8:07 pm
Septimus reels in pain as the fire washes over him. He claps his hands wish arcane force, and a storm of ice descends on the wounded dragon. He then turns to Kyuu and sends magical energies into the foxling, empowering the sorcerer's magic. [Cast Freeze 4 on the most wounded Magma Dragon. SR check: 35. Damage: 86 cold, no save.
5' shift right
Cooperative metamagic check: 1d20(17) + 38 = 55
51/128
AC: 38]

Posted by: Knight_019 Mon May 25, 2009 9:02 pm
((Ivellas charges the Magma Dragon ending at K6, and going way over Worex's head so no AoO. PA 17, Combat Brute's "Momentum Swing" comes into effect for +15 damage. 1d20 + 53 + 2 - 17 = 19 + 38 = 57. THREAT. CONFIRM: 1d20 + 38 = 10 + 38 = 48. CRIT.
(1d8+29+8+2+17+15)*6+2d6 = 1d8x6+2d6+426: (4)x(6) (2 4)+ 426 = 456.
HP: 310/310
AC: 48
F/R/W: 27/21/19))
((Kyuu moves 5' to C10 and casts an Energy Subbed, Fiery, Searing, Empowered, Purified Bolt 4 at the balor in F21.
SR: 1d20 + 19 + 3 = 16 + 22 = 38.
Damage: (40d6 + 40)*1.5 = ((3 2 6 5 1 5 3 4 6 6 4 4 3 4 1 4 3 5 2 3 6 3 3 4 4 5 5 4 3 1 1 4 6 6 6 6 2 3 2 5) + 40)*1.5 = 193*1.5 = 289 fire damage. Fire resistance does not apply. Fire immunity takes half damage.
No save.
Fog also deals 1d6 = 6 fire damage this round. No fire resistance applies, immunity takes damage at half.
Also, those inside (ie: worex) must make a DC 29 reflex save or fall prone.
Prepared Action: Greater Celerity + Wall of Force in the event the balors go boom and their unholy fire threatens to consume us.
HP: 142/142
AC: 33
F/R/W: 16/18/21))
((Aurik preps a domain mass cure critical because this is about to get ugly and I know it.
HP: 243/217
AC: 50
F/R/W: 26/23/36))
((Merkass unloads on the balor Kyuu hammered on. Rapid Shot.
1d20 + 51 - 2 = 10 + 49 = 59.
1d20 + 49 = 7 + 49 = 56.
1d20 + 49 = 20 + 49 = ... THREAT
CONFIRM: 1d20 + 49 = 8 = 49 = 57. CRIT.
1d20 + 44 = 10 + 44 = 54.
1d20 + 39 = 12 + 39 = 51.
Damage
1d8 + 8d6 + 36 = (5) (3 3 6 5 3 4 6 2)+ 36 = 73
1d8 + 3d6 + 36 = (3) (4 4 2)+ 36 = 49
(1d8 + 36)*3 + 3d6 = (1)x(3) (6 2 5) (5 3)+ 108 = 132
1d8 + 3d6 + 36 = (5) (5 6 2)+ 36 = 54
1d8 + 3d6 + 36 = (7) (5 5 6)+ 36 = 57.
Damage is holy and each hit drains 1 CON. If a balor dies, move to the next one.
Bow ignores concealment.
Everybody get ready for some fireworks))
((Rhizor casts Kelpstrand at Worex. 6 ranged touch attacks. Aiming at the square he has that's outside the fog.
1d20 + 30 = 3 + 30 = 33.
1d20 + 30 = 16 + 30 = 46.
1d20 + 30 = 5 + 30 = 35.
1d20 + 30 = 17 + 30 = 47.
1d20 + 30 = 3 + 30 = 33.
1d20 + 30 = 5 + 30 = 35.
Grapple checks
1d20 + 14 + 16 + 19 = 15 + 49 = 64.
1d20 + 49 = 3 + 49 = 52.
1d20 + 49 = 1 + 49 = 50.
1d20 + 49 = 18 + 49 = 67.
1d20 + 49 = 11 + 49 = 60.
1d20 + 49 = 15 + 49 = 64.
Each grapple check must be beaten individually to not become grappled.
If Worex is grappled, Rhizor shimmies his way down to G7. Otherwise he 5' steps to D7.
NOTE TO TUM: Rhizor should be able to be huge on the next map now.
HP: 351/338
AC: 50
F/R/W: 29/16/33))
((Mahler full attacks with extra slam. PA5.
+2 if Mahler ends up attacking the one above him.
1d20 + 43 - 5 = 17 + 38 = 55.
1d20 + 38 = 7 + 38 = 45.
1d20 + 38 = 7 + 38 = 45.
1d20 + 33 = 7 + 33 = 40.
Damage
8d8 + 25 + 5 = (5 2 1 8 5 7 3 5)+ 30 = 66
8d8+30: (7 1 8 2 7 2 4 7)+ 30 = 68
8d8+30: (3 8 3 7 4 8 6 4)+ 30 = 73
8d8+30: (6 3 6 4 8 4 1 8)+ 30 = 70
Swift Action: Divine Vigor for 36 temp hp
Should the two dragons somehow magically be dead, charge worex instead. PA 10, smite.
1d20 + 43 + 4 + 3 - 10 = 4 + 37 = 41.
Damage: 8d8+2d8+2d6+37: (8 7 8 5 3 7 8 6) (8 6) (2 1)+ 37 = 106.
All damage is good aligned, holy.
HP: 336/340
AC: 38
F/R/W: 35/17/14))

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Mon May 25, 2009 11:15 pm
Summary: Saves passed thanks to buffs. Buffs can be good. Have a few more: Prebattle Buff List: Mass Cat's Grace (Everyone) Displacement (Up for Grabs)
Mirror Image (Up for Grabs)
First Round:
Effulgent Epuration (Self, Duration: 19 rounds)
Current Round:
Reaving Dispel on Worex's effects.
Spellcraft to Identify Effects: 12 + 32 = 44
I'll leave it to you to roll however many dispel checks necessary, +19 and +4 if Spell Penetration applies.

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Tue May 26, 2009 2:55 am
Kethra somersaults over to deliver a scissor kick to Worex that has him spitting out a tooth. Damas' spell causing the Magma Dragon to roar in pain, its scales beginning to lose their fiery glow and become dull and black. The dragon roars even louder as Septimus adds his own magic to the mix.
((SUPER EFFECTIVE! Double damage, but still not enough.))
Ivellas charges in, striking the frontmost dragon like a blue comet, his lance striking directly at the heart of the beast. The volcanic wyrm bellows in pain as the centaur withdraws his lance and stumbles back.
Merkass's arrows combine with Kyuu's magic to rip apart one of the Balors, who explodes in a grand display of sulfur and unholy magic. The archer manages to wound the Balor next to him badly, but fails to make him share the same fate. Kyuu's readied spell goes off and the explosion is contained.
Worex roars as strands of kelp wrap around him. His great strength enables him to snap some of them off, but others still cling to him, binding him fast.
((3 checks made, 3 failed.))
Mahler manages to PUNCH OFF a wing that had mainly cooled to stone due to the freeze magic. The dragon's roars of pain intensify, but still the massive creature does not yield.
Isyndel's dispel gets rid of a contingency spell and a telepathy spell, but little else.
Worex roars loudly, his rage increasing along with his strength. Two more of the strands snap off, but the last one manages to hold firm.
((Grapples: Pass, Pass, fail.))
The dragon that expended its breath weapon dives down on Mahler and begins crashing its gargantuan claws and fangs against the construct's stony skin. The punishment would've destroyed most other being twenty times over, but at the end of it, Mahler still stands.
((All hit. 201 damage to Mahler over 7 attacks before DR.))
The other Magma Dragon inhales deeply and breathes forth a crashing wave of molten rock once more. This time though, Mahler, Ivellas, Graigus, Damas, Dam, and Faralon are subjected to the inferno.
((137 fire damage. DC 42 Reflex save for half.))
The Doomguard stumbles back, uttering unholy words as the Balors remaining join him in a chorus of blasphemies that strike down a significant portion of the protective magics surrounding the heroes. One by one they tumble from the sky.
((A round of Greater Dispel Magics from the demons. Haste, Aura of Vitality, Mass Fly, Snowsong, and Mass Fire Shield are dispelled. Take appropriate fall damage.))
Next turn!

Posted by: Rusty Tue May 26, 2009 3:27 am
: "If I do, you will not be the fiend responsible! Perish!" *Alex's sword glows before he swings it into the Worex, slicing deeply four times into the fiend.* He staggers back with a pained groan, then roars. Immediately all his wounds vanish and he chuckles darkly.
"Nice try, boy, but you'll have to do better than that!"
((Alex's action:
Change Minor Aura to Watchful Eye: +8 bonus to REF saves. Free action.
Divine Might. Free action.
PA12. Smite on first attack. Full-attack.
To hit: 64. Hit!
Damage: 25 [sword] + 9 [bane] + 7 [STR] + 12 [music] + 3 [magic] + 1 [prayer] + 2 [aura] + 12 [PA] + 8 [Divine Might] + 13 [smite] = 92.
To hit: 52. Hit!
Damage: 28 [sword] + 3 [bane] + 7 [STR] + 12 [music] + 3 [magic] + 1 [prayer] + 2 [aura] + 12 [PA] + 8 [Divine Might] = 76.
To hit: 35. Hit, thanks to Worex losing AC bonus.
Damage: 24 [sword] + 4 [bane] + 7 [STR] + 12 [music] + 3 [magic] + 1 [prayer] + 2 [aura] + 12 [PA] + 8 [Divine Might] = 73.
To hit: 33. Miss.
To hit: 62. Hit!
Damage: 26 [sword] + 7 [bane] + 7 [STR] + 12 [music] + 3 [magic] + 1 [prayer] + 2 [aura] + 12 [PA] + 8 [Divine Might] = 78.
He kills it and it comes back to life.))
===
((Prestle will cast Surge of Fortune, unless someone is in serious need of healing.))
===
((Faralon will extend his bonus for 3 more rounds. He'll also cast Snowsong again while performing music since he can do that now. ))

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Tue May 26, 2009 3:49 am
((Garudaos begins 5' in the air.)) The dragonman's blade glowed with tremendous fire, his body and bastard sword straightening as he dove through the air. With a resounding crash, he plowed weapon-first into the crystalline structure. ((Garudaos divebombs the crystal, stopping 10' above the ground at K11.
Attack Bonus: +28 (47 -19 PA)
Damage Total: (1d10+80+2d6 powerful charge) x2 (dive)
No attack roll, since it's an object; 182 damage.
+1 Dodge to Worex.))
<}--<{^}>--{>
(O) Health: 180/180 HP
(O) AC:
-----> 39 (26 +13 buffs) base
-----> 28 (15 +13 buffs) touch
-----> 35 (23 +12 buffs) flat
(O) Special:
-----> Strength of Honor 0/1
-----> Breath weapon 3/3
(O) Buffs:
-----> [3 rnds] Strength of Honor: +4 Str (morale)
-----> [??? rnds] Minor Aura: +8 damage bonus when charging
-----> [??? rnds] Major Aura: +2 damage bonus
-----> [8 rnds] Protection Devotion: +6 AC (sacred)
-----> [??? rnds] Bardic Music: +12 to attack, damage, and +14 to saves vs. charm & fear (morale)
-----> [198 rnds] Bull's Strength: +4 Strength (enhancement)
-----> [11,998 rnds] Mage Armor: +4 AC (armor)
-----> [25 rnds] Holy Aura: +4 AC (defl.), +4 Fort/Ref/Will (Res.), SR 25/evil, block mind control, blind evil attackers if they hit (Fort negates)
-----> [258 rnds] Death Ward: immunity to death spells & effects, negative levels, negative energy damage, and ability loss
-----> [24 rnds] Recitation: +2 Luck bonus to AC and attack (+3 if follower of Volcanon)
-----> [??? rnds] Align Weapon (Good): Weapon is Good-aligned
-----> [??? rnds] Cat's Grace: +4 Dexterity (enhancement)
((Saves from the past two rounds. No other actions to take until there are enemies that can be attacked.
<{Will Saves}>
(O) Garudaos:
--> Worex: 35 (nat. 1), 39
--> Dragon 1: 41
--> Dragon 2: 50
(O) Gabriel:
--> Worex: 34
--> Dragon 1: 43
--> Dragon 2: 47
(O) Dam Dicem:
--> Worex: 32
--> Dragon 1: 43
--> Dragon 2: 41
(O) Graigus:
--> Worex: 38
--> Dragon 1: 52
--> Dragon 2: 50
<{ Dragonbreath }>
--> Dam: 42, no damage due to evasion.
--> Graigus: 42, no damage due to evasion.))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Tue May 26, 2009 7:06 am
Garudaos alters his fall with his wings, streaking towards the crystal formation at the center of the magic circle. Worex's eyes widen as he realizes what the dragonman intends. "NO! YOU FOOL! YOU'LL..." Worex gets out, but it's too late. The dragon knight of Guardiana drives his sword deep into the crystal, blinding light pouring from the crack formed. For a moment, nothing happens, then the massive arcane energy contained within the glittering crystal erupts outward, no longer secured by the geological prison. The crystal is torn apart by the blast and Worex howls in rage as a blinding white wave washes over the battlefield. The entirety of the enemy suffers terrible wounds and the nearest Magma Dragon simply cannot take it, its body disintegrating into nothing under the strain. When the light fades, a smoking crater is all that is left of the magic circle and crystal... A crater still holding a very, very, very irate Demon Lord.
((Everyone take 100 energy damage, Ref save DC 34 for half. Evasion does not work against this, the blast is simply too large to escape fully. The bottommost Magma Dragon is slain by this. Also, the explosives in SFCW1 didn't explode the tower... It damaged it so that when the energy within was released it was not contained. Same as here.))

Posted by: Alpha Tue May 26, 2009 10:40 am
The waves of pure energy roll of the wizard, and even with the defences set in place, it's too much for him. As Septimus drops to the ground, he both knows that his friends will save him and that he had made a difference. [Loss of Aura of Vitality drops Septimus to 13/90. Natural 1 on the reflex save.
Current hp: -87/90]

Posted by: Dark Maiden Tue May 26, 2009 5:56 pm
Damas is badly burned by the Magma Dragon's breath weapon, but it is the explosion of arcane energy that ends up being his undoing. The sorcerer is bombarded and knocked off his feet by the blast. When the light fades, Damas is lying on the ground motionless.
((Damas fails both of his reflex saves and dies.))
Kethra shrieks as she in bombared by the blast of arcane energy. When the light fades, however, she is still standing, but very badly wounded. The monk closes her eyes and focuses her inner energy to heal her own wounds.
((Kethra passes her reflex save, barely, and uses her Wholeness of Body ability to heal herself.))
Myala cries out in pain as the wave of arcane energy washes over her and her allies. She is left standing, but is clearly on the verge of death. The priestess staggers forward and calls upon the power her God has bestowed upon her to heal their wounds.
((Myala fails her reflex save with a natural 1. She then moves to C-6 and pops a Mass Heal.))

- Kethra
  - HP: 130/142
  - AC: 45
  - SR: 31
- Myala
  - HP: 136/136
  - AC: 42
  - SR: 31

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Wed May 27, 2009 10:55 pm
((Deadline is Thursday, BTW.))

Posted by: Dark Maiden Thu May 28, 2009 8:19 pm
((Since both Knight and Marine brought this to my attention, Myala casts Delay Death to keep Damas from dying. She then moves to C-6 and casts Mass Heal. ))

Posted by: Knight_019 Thu May 28, 2009 9:36 pm
((Ivellas Dragon: 1d20 + 30 = 14 + 30 = 44. Pass. Ivellas Energy: 1d20 + 29 = 14 + 29 = 43. Pass. Kyuu Energy: 1d20 + 26 = 8 + 26 = 34. Pass. Aurik Energy: 1d20 + 30 = 5 + 30 = 35. Pass. Merkass Energy: 1d20 + 46 = 14 + 46 = 60. Pass. A lot.
Rhizor Energy: 1d2 0+ 23 = 11 + 23 = 44. Pass.
Mahler Dragon: 1d20 + 25 = 18 + 25 = 43. Pass.
Mahler shouldn't have to make the energy save because the thing A) Blew up above him, B) The cliff wall is right behind him, so the explosion would wash over but miss him.
Aurik Delay Deaths Septimus. Mass heal puts him back into action.
Ivellas, charge Worex, PA 17.
1d20 + 50 + 2 - 17 = 9 + 35 = 44.
Damage: (1d8 + 27 + 2 + 12 + 17 + 17*1.5)*4 + 2d6 = (8 5 5 1) (6 3)+ 332 = 360.
Good-aligned.
Aurik
Immediate: Delay Death Septimus
Prepared Action: Mass Heal if we eat a shitton of damage again.
Merkass
Snipe remaining magma dragon, rapid shot
1d20 + 48 - 2 = 20 +... THREAT
CONFIRM: 1d20 + 46 = 15 + 46 = 61. CRIT.
1d20 + 46 = 4 + 46 = 50.
1d20 + 41 = 5 + 41 = 46.
1d20 + 36 = 11 + 36 = 47.
Damage
3d8+8d6+2d10+144: (5 1 5) (6 5 4 2 4 4 5 2) (3 6)+ 144 = 196
3d8+3d6+48: (6) (2 4 5)+ 48 = 65
3d8+3d6+48: (8) (5 1 4)+ 48 = 66
3d8+3d6+48: (8) (5 2 5)+ 48 = 68
All damage is holy. Any hit deals 1 CON damage in addition.
Redirect remaining to Worex.
Redirect any remaining after that to the bottom-left balor.
Rhizor
Cast Greater Whirlwind centered on U12.
This will get Worex, the 3 bottom-most balors, and the magma dragon if it's still alive.
Unfortunately, it also gets Mahler, Garudaos, and Van, but only them.
Huge or Smaller Flying creatures must succeed on a DC 35 FORT save or be sucked into the center of the tornado. They take 2d6 = 1+3 = 4 nonlethal on the way. They must then succeed on a DC 35 reflex or take 3d6 = 4+1+4 = 9 points of damage. Failing these saves means the creature is trapped in the winds. A creature so caught is ejected 3 rounds later. Once their turn begins, they take 6d6 = (4 2 1 4 4 3) = 18 damage. Attacks, movement, and spellcasting are impossible while inside.
Gargantuan flying creatures must succeed on a DC 35 fort save or be pulled 1d6x10 = 50 feet toward the tornado. (This will put them inside)
Huge, non-flying creatures in the area must succeed on a DC 35 fort save or be knocked prone.
Large or smaller creatures starting their turn within 60 feet of the center must succeed on a DC 35 fort save or be dragged 1d4x10=10 feet, taking 1d4 = 4 nonlethal damage along the way.
Mahler Fort: 1d20 + 33 = 8 + 33 = 41.
Garudaos Fort: 1d20 + 27 = 17 + 27 = 44.
Both pass
Mahler
... twiddles his thumbs while there's nothing around him and the tornado's brewing.
Consider it a readied action to just unload a full attack on anything that gets near enough to attack him.))

Posted by: Alpha Thu May 28, 2009 11:42 pm
Prone on the groud, Septimus does not even take the time to stand back up. As soon as his consciousness is restore, he is casting more spells, and two beams of pure light explode out, one rocketing into a balor, the other into Worex. Zip meanwhile flies all around his master, the tiny dragon concerned for the wizard's health.
[Cast a Purified, Maximised Lucent Lance at Worex. Ranged touch: natural 20. Confirm: 33. Spell Resistance check: 35
Damage: (15 x 8)*2 = 240, no save. Worex is blinded for one round and dazzled for 20 rounds.
Cast a Quickened, Purified Lucent Lance at the Balor further from any of the Force. Ranged touch: 45. Spell resistance: 36.
Damage: 15d8: 72. Blinded for one round and dazzled for 20]
[HP: 90/90
AC: 37
F/R/W: 13/15/23]

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Sat May 30, 2009 9:16 pm
Ivellas slams into Worex with a mighty crash, the howl of the demon echoing around the cliff even above the howling windstorms. The grand demon raises its mighty sword with a growl, then gasps and falls to ash as Septimus' lance of light burns through him. Almost immediately afterward a powerful wave of dark energy explodes forth from where he had been standing, followed by another wave as one of the Balors falls victim to another of Septimus' spells.
Meanwhile, the final Magma Dragon gives one last pained roar before tumbling down the cliff to the ground far below, the dazzling lines of light fired by Merkass' bow finally slaying the beast.
The remaining Balors drop low and roar magical words, yet more of the Force's magical protections vanishing.
((Ivellas's charge weakens Worex, then Septimus' spell finishes him off. Death throes for 70 damage to all, untyped energy. Ref save DC 28 for half. Septimus' spell then finishes off the northmost Balor. (100 damage, 30 Ref save.)
It takes all of his shots, but Merkass manages to kill the dragon.
All Balors drop down 90', going under the protective force wall's “umbrella”.
Greater Dispel Magic x3: Pass, pass, pass. Snowsong down again, Mass Spell Resistance and Prayer down.))
Next turn!
((Map not really needed anymore, if Kev disagrees, it's just a matter of him subtracting what died and what allies moved))

Posted by: Alpha Sat May 30, 2009 9:24 pm
[Septimus fails both saves, at -80 hp]

Posted by: Knight_019 Sun May 31, 2009 12:58 am
((Delay Death is rounds/level, just fyi, so Damas and Septimus really can't die. Balors get sucked into the whirlwind because the LUCK ANOMALY worked in our favor. Dispels never happened)) *Merkass grins wickedly, the prospect of devil blood crisping to ash blown in the wind in sight. The catfolk ranger easily dodges the oafish demonlord's ashen fanfare, taking a moment to watch his passing with satisfaction. However, there was another matter.*
: "Rhizor! End your tempest, and I will end them!"
*The massive arctic bear, out of place in the desert, catches Worex's fire head on, but lets out a roar at Merkass' call. Sometimes, he liked how the others thought, and the feline's driven rampage of this demon blight on his land spoke to him. Nature had shown its face to their adversaries, and they had lost to its awesome might. A loud, bellowing roar from Rhizor causes the winds to die down, the balors grouped tightly together in the wake of its center.*
*Merkass begins to draw his bow, eyeing up the balors, but a voice cries out, holding him a moment longer.*
: "WAIT! If you do that, they'll all blow up and then we'll blow up! Give me a heads up and I'll stop it again!"
*Merkass nods, then pulls back on his string. With a jerk of his head, Merkass signals to the Foxling that he was about to begin. Before he can let the first arrow fly, time begins to slow down greatly for him, allowing him to pinpoint his shots better. The firemage had hasted them again, it seemed. Firing with deadly precision, Merkass lets loose five arrows, one after another, into each balor and concentrating his remaining on one until it explodes in a fiery inferno, causing a cascading reaction.*
*In all the speed he can muster, and already enhanced as he was, Kyuu slows it even more for himself, to the others, the mage flurries about incredibly fast. A hand motion in the shape of a cylinder, and another wall of force, though invisible, appears around the balors, trapping the explosion as the blinding light crashes into the invisible walls, containing it.*
((Everyone but Rhizor passed the reflex saves.
Kyuu recasts Haste.
Greater Celerity: Prepared action to cast Wall of Force to contain the balors' death throes.
Rhizor dismisses Greater Whirlwind.
Merkass Rapid Shots 5 into the balors. One's a crit .They all die and go boom.
Kyuu's wall goes off. No one eats 300 damage.
The End.))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Sun May 31, 2009 1:07 am
The sounds of battle die down at the same time the winds buffeting the cliffs begin to slowly lose steam, the tornadoes ravaging the battlefield slowly vanishing one by one.

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Sun May 31, 2009 10:43 pm
"Start tending to wounds immediately if you have the skill," the Wizardess spoke up, turning to those around her. "Better to assume our time short than be caught unaware before we move again." She scanned over the field before her carefully for any traces of evil magic still at work in the area.
((Spellcraft +32, Kno(Arc)+30 if you need to make rollz))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:02 am
There seems to be no lingering magic in the air... for now. ((Please state how long you're staying in the area and what you're doing in that time.))

Posted by: Dark Maiden Mon Jun 01, 2009 8:46 pm
Anyone who is wounded, please tell us ((current hit points compared to maximum hit points please!)) so Aurik and Myala can heal you. Myala casts Cure Light Wounds to bring Kethra back up to full hit points.

Posted by: Alpha Tue Jun 02, 2009 12:01 am

QUOTE (Alpha @ Sat May 30, 2009 9:24 pm)
[Septimus fails both saves, at -80 hp]

[-80/90]

Posted by: Knight_019 Tue Jun 02, 2009 1:03 am
((Jess: Don't waste your healing. I'm planning on having Aurik either Mass CCW or Mass Heal everyone (noting his CL on that would be something like 28-30), but I'm waiting for hp totals as well as I just don't want to move ahead right away. In game we're going to storm ahead, though, so it shouldn't be more than a couple rounds.))

Posted by: Dark Maiden Tue Jun 02, 2009 2:03 am
Noted. By the way, Alpha, the Mass Heal would have been more than enough to bring both Septimus and Damas back up to full hit points.

Posted by: Alpha Tue Jun 02, 2009 10:27 am

QUOTE (Dark Maiden @ Tue Jun 02, 2009 2:03 am)
Noted. By the way, Alpha, the Mass Heal would have been more than enough to bring both Septimus and Damas back up to full hit points.

((He got taken down again from the last round of death throes))

Posted by: Dark Maiden Tue Jun 02, 2009 5:48 pm
Oh, you mean the second to last round. Ok. I never rolled saves for my characters. Damas fails both of his saves. Kethra passes both of her saves. Myala fails her first save and passes her second save. Damas: -72/98 Kethra: 45/142 Myala: 16/136

Posted by: Alpha Sat Jun 13, 2009 6:24 pm

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Mon Jun 15, 2009 11:59 pm
As the heroes move quickly to heal themselves and check the area for anything of use, the winds slowly die down to a mere dust storm, the grand tornadoes long having since vanished. A series of audible pops is heard over the howling winds. Before anyone can think too long about that, a chorus of voices chant, and a storm of magic envelops the heroes, stripping them of most of their protective spells!
((All spells dispelled except for one per person. You may choose which one spell is still active on you. Wall of Force dispelled.))
Map:
Deadline: Wed

Posted by: Rusty Tue Jun 16, 2009 12:54 am
((In regards to the items we found considerably earlier: Faralon will take the following since no one else has claimed them/nor will anyone else likely claim them: Bottomless Quiver (Near infinite storage space for arrows.) Apollo's Bow: (+5 Flaming Outsider Bane Ghost Touch Composite longbow (+8 Str limit) of Speed. Once per day can fire an arrow of slaying, DC 23. Doubles all base damage dealt, IE, the arrows deal 2d8 instead of 1d8.)
Prestle would like to have either the Ring of Spell Storing or potentially that Mace (I am aware he's more of a charger, but he can make some serious nasty use of its crit abilities thanks to a spell of his, though if you guys think it's better to be sold for the 125,000 whatever it's worth, go for it.). If he gets neither, no big deal.
Since Laeralas will probably be taking the Girdle of Strength +6, Alex will take the Ring of Spell Storing only if Prestle doesn't get it and no one else wants it.
Ombligo will just take gold.
If no one wants the Tome of Understanding +3 (WIS) for whatever reason, Hal will happily take that. But we need to claim this stuff soon!))

Posted by: Dark Maiden Tue Jun 16, 2009 2:41 am
((I would like the Ring of Spell Storing for Merla if that's ok with you guys. The rest of my characters will just take money.))

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Wed Jun 17, 2009 6:42 pm
((For purposes of Rage and such things, does this count as another encounter or an extension of the previous one?))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Wed Jun 17, 2009 8:18 pm

QUOTE (Arcdragnbreth @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 6:42 pm)
((For purposes of Rage and such things, does this count as another encounter or an extension of the previous one?))

((I'm tempted to say another encounter, but it happens so fast after the last one I'll count it as the same.))

Posted by: Rusty Mon Jun 22, 2009 8:57 am
((Spacer))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Mon Jun 22, 2009 9:02 am
Right then. Once again I am forced to take stock of just who is playing still. Some of you that said you were have quietly quit. Others have gone inactive with no explanation. What's the hold up? I know Kev is busy with his work, but he's not the only player in SFCW. I know Arc is having net trouble, but I see him on often enough.
I would like to know where the game stands.

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Mon Jun 22, 2009 9:21 am
((Honestly, it's kinda disorienting and considerably frustrating to go from "overwhelming victory" to "hey, where are the buffs I was planning a strategy around" in the space of two or three rounds, and not really know why. I really don't know what to do at this point, and in additionn, neither of my characters are calling the shots here; I'd kinda like to know if Kev and/or Don have some other plan before I do anything.))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Mon Jun 22, 2009 9:45 am
((Well see that's the thing though, in the middle of a battle your characters won't have time to sit down and plan out another strategy, you should just be reacting to what's happening. If you don't know why something is happening, shouldn't your characters be trying to find out? They're not robots unable to move unless someone gives an order.
As for frustrating, they're only buffs, and you even managed to keep one. They hardly decide a victory or a loss.
Edit: Something to keep in mind is that "No plan survives first contact with the enemy". Having to be flexible shouldn't be that big of an expectation, especially when we've done it before numerous times. (Most of SFCWII)))

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Mon Jun 22, 2009 10:23 am
((For the first part... - where were the spot/listen checks to determine that someone was nearby? - we each have SR 31; where were the spell resistance checks? - we're all spread out; how were we all affected by the same effect? - does this extend to class-based abilities as well, or only to spells cast? If the former, does it have an effect on all features (Ex, Su, and Sp) or just to one or two of them?
- if the buff in question is the result of a magic item (like Dam's Ring of Blink) is the buff also lost?
These are just a sampling of questions; I'm sure others have more.
As for the second part, you can't ignore the fact that numerous spell slots have been spent on the buffs - which gave us spell resistance, health, resistance or immunity to most effects, and skyrocketed the party's to-hit and damage - and most of the party has made use of class features with a limited use per day. This doesn't take into account the spell slots and class features used in the actual battle that just past, or the fact that most of the ones used are the higher-level slots (5+) - the ones needed to bring down our enemies and re-cast the buffs we lost, if that's even possible. Saying that we're going to have to think on our feet is one thing, but saying that losing the buffs we had in place will hardly decide a victory or a loss is kinda cold, and almost makes it feel like you don't actually care what happens to the characters.
That said... Spot, Listen, and Arcana checks to determine what just happened; anyone who gets a higher result than one of my characters can assume that I'm using Aid Another on the check for them (if the check is above 10, of course). If there are other checks that might be useful, I'd like to know as well, and if you aren't going to tell us, then let me know so I can roll each knowledge check separately.
Garudaos: Spot 22 (natural 20), Listen 18, Knowledge (arcana) 18.
Gabriel: Spot 20, Listen 28, Knowledge (arcana) 11.
Dam Dicem: Spot 31, Listen 28, Knowledge (arcana) 27; Dam is using the Clarity of Vision skill trick, so any invisible creature is visible to him for one round.
Graigus: Spot 14, Listen 22, Knowledge (arcana) 5.))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Mon Jun 22, 2009 8:08 pm
(("Buffs" are a term used for stat boosting spells cast (or at least I thought it was), items are unaffected. Abilities are unaffected. ONLY SPELLS ARE DISPELLED Apologies, I thought that was clear. The effect in question affects the whole map and is not subject to SR. Dam got a high enough Kno Arcana to figure out that it was an epic spell cast by pretty much every single enemy mage cooperating in the casting of it. Similar to that trick you guys did with the wave earlier on a larger scale.
Oh, by the way, Dam, with his invisibility defeating skills, sees what's happening quite clearly. Flying in the sky are twelve figures in robes led by a skeleton surrounded by powerful magical auras. He's killed enough of them to know mages and a lich when he sees them.
See this is kinda what I meant. This is what I was looking for. Skill checks and clever use of abilities to quickly find out what's going on. I hardly thought it necessary to point out the situation called for Spot checks, at this point I thought it would've been reflexive. Listen checks are kinda hard due to the howling winds, though I made enough passive ones to write out the pops and the chanting.

QUOTE
Saying that we're going to have to think on our feet is one thing, but saying that losing the buffs we had in place will hardly decide a victory or a loss is kinda cold, and almost makes it feel like you don't actually care what happens to the characters.

I kinda see your point, but I think it's a stretch. The enemy's not stupid (not all the time, anyway). If they see more magic in your pinkie than in a Tracy Hickman book, they should be coming up with counters. It's the same deal with you all. When you fight an enemy protected by a load of buffs, generally people break out the dispels. And choosing when to expend what resources you have for what is a choice that all of you make.
As a side note, to those of you who think I pulled the epic dispelling thing out from my behind, I'm going to point out that this is an army of MAGES preparing to fight a city of MAGES.
Finally, I shouldn't have to stop and defend/explain everything anytime doesn't go the way of the heroes. You're fighting an epic war against evil, some setbacks should be expected, but haven't you always triumphed in the end? If you don't trust me as DM to the point where you think I'm cheating/purposefully trying to kill you, then something is dead wrong.
And I only noticed this is the IC thread now... This was all supposed to go in the OOC thread. Well, I suck lol.))
[[ Anyway, the lich is at R-8. The twelve mages are at T-15, T-20, O-4, H-4, V-13, B-21, H-10, B-2, J-17, I-13, S-22, and A-18. All are 60' up.]]

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Tue Jun 30, 2009 4:45 am
"Usually I worry when I'm the only one who can see something, but... well, this is pretty much the same, actually," Dam said, pointing out the locations of the enemy spellcasters in the air. "Sixty feet up and invisible; someone want to do something about that?"
((Dam points out the locations of the enemy mages. If we could get some Dispel Magic, True Seeing, and/or See Invisibility here, it would be much appreciated.))

Posted by: Dark Maiden Tue Jun 30, 2009 10:42 pm
Damas looks up where Dam had pointed. "I'm on it Dam," the sorcerer says. He points up towards the air above them, speaks a few words that only a fellow mage would know, and waves his hand. ((Damas casts Greater Dispel Magic, Area Dispel. Every creature within the area of effect, a twenty foot radius is subject to this spell's effects. He will attempt to dispel their most powerful spell first, down to their weakest until he dispels one or until he fails all of his checks. I am unsure of how close the mages are to each other, but I will target as many of them as I can. Marine? How many can I get at once?))

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Wed Jul 01, 2009 2:57 am
((For your viewing assistance: http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2547878350058751159qogbGR The [M] stands for mage, [L] stands for Lich. Good spots to hit are I13 and U17; you could tag three mages at each spot. However, given the way they're spread out, it would probably be better to get a True Seeing or See Invisibility spell going, if you can.))

Posted by: Dark Maiden Thu Jul 02, 2009 3:21 am
It would be a better bet to look to a Cleric or a Wizard for True Seeing. Unfortunetly, Myala does not have it prepared, and Merla was left behind. Damas has See Invisibility, but I'm not sure how much good it would do.

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Sun Jul 05, 2009 10:23 pm
((See Invisibility on yourself is fine, if you can't do anything else next round, because until the rest of the group can see the mages, they really can't do anything about them. As it is, they're 60' up in the air and our group can't hit them. At least one of us ought to be able to see them.
As a note, it is possible that they didn't cast Greater Invisibility, which would mean that they'd be visible as soon as they attacked. I'd just prefer not waiting until after they dropped beastly spells on us to be able to mount a defense.
Another note: If possible, it might be wise to drop another Wall of Force or two around the group; it ought to slow down the mages for a bit, at least until we can see them to deal with them properly.
List of buffs retained forthcoming, when I have more time to figure out what I want.))

Posted by: Dark Maiden Mon Jul 06, 2009 6:09 pm
Noted. Damas casts See Invisibility. I'll work on my buffs when I can... I'm not feeling so hot right now. -_-

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Mon Jul 13, 2009 12:28 am

QUOTE (TheUnknownMarine @ Mon Jun 22, 2009 2:08 pm)
If you don't trust me as DM to the point where you think I'm cheating/purposefully trying to kill you, then something is dead wrong.

lol

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Tue Jul 14, 2009 1:41 am
Emergency protocol enabled: Paradigm switch #23. Rocks fall, everyone dies. Taken by surprise the heroes scramble to cast spells to locate their foe and defend against them. But they are too slow. A hail of magical energy rains down upon them, fireballs, lightning bolts, ice storms, and waves of utter darkness. The healers frantically cast spell after spell to stem the tide of destructive force, and every time a wound is opened on the heroes, it soon closes.
The cliff however, is a different story. The titanic battle being waged on it shakes the rock foundation of the terrain, causing massive splits, cracks, and chasms to open in the mountain-side.
Then the unexpected happens. The prismatic barrier around Manarina suddenly shines brilliantly, its luminescence blazing like an earthbound star. The barrier coalesces into a single point above the highest tower of the magic city, then with a clap of thunder the light explodes into a devastating line of energy that lances into the army surrounding it.
The pure white ray of energy burns through the legions like a burning blade through butter, leaving nothing but ashes and pools of melted metal behind wherever it touches. As it sweeps across the desert plains, it briefly touches the cliffs... and that proves to be too much.
The mountainside collapses in a hail of rock as a massive avalanche cascades over Shining Warrior and Cult Mage alike. Even the flying, invisible mages of Strife are not spared, being unable to gain enough altitude to evade the rockfall in time. Hero and villain alike are sent screaming down the mountainside...
But Fate was not done with the last Shining Force quite yet.
((From this point forward, all nonboss battles will be individualized freeform to streamline things and make things go quicker. This will also help to point out which encounters need planning and which should not, which should get rid of the weeklong planning session to take out a squishable enemy as well as the just running into a formidable boss. It's my hope that the individualization will also get people more involved in the game.
And if it doesn't work, we can always switch it back.
I'm going to be PM/IMing each of you for this next part.))

Posted by: Dark Maiden Tue Jul 14, 2009 1:47 pm
Things are still black when Kethra regains consciousness. It doesn't take long for the half-elf to understand why. Badly bruised, but with miraculously no serious injuries, the monk is buried under a pile of rocks, thin streams of light poking through cracks above. "Everything...hurts," Kethra moans. The first thing the monk does is attempt to move her arms. It takes effort, but Kethra is able to move them. The rocks shift as she does so.
"I have to find the others," Kethra says to herself. "I-I have to get out of here." The half-elf attempts to move the rocks and free herself. It takes considerable effort, but Kethra is able to concentrate and pool her strength to move the rocks about her. With a ragged gasp, she breaks through the pile and emerges into the daylight. Kethra takes a few minutes to catch her breath before she tries to figure out where she is. Kethra immediately sees that the cliffs they had been fighting on simply do not exist anymore. In their place is a huge field of rubble and stones.
"We fell from that height? How is that we still..." Kethra cuts herself off, figuring it is simply best to count her blessings and not complain. "The city is under attack... Something must be done...but I have to find the others first... They have to be around here somewhere." Kethra paces around the area, calling out at the top of her lungs, and praying she would get an answer. While doing so, Kethra spots a broken leg poking out from some rubble, and an arm beyond that. The half-elf blinks her eyes and makes her way over to investigate.
"Whoever is beneath this rubble is obviously in bad shape," Kethra says to herself. "I wonder who it is... There is one sure fire way to find out." Kethra attempts to move the rubble. She strains her muscles, but is unable to move the rocks on her first try. The second time, she summons her inner reserves, and manages to heave off the rocks with a strained gasp. Below them is the battered form of Damas, bloodied and bruised. "Damas! You're alive! Thank the gods!" Kethra cries.
"That had to be the worst wake up call ever," Damas grumbles, glaring at Kethra who had inadvertently injured the sorcerer further when she attempted to move the rocks the first time. "Sorry," Kethra says sheepishly. Damas waves his hand and sits up. "Don't worry about it. I should be thanking you for finding me before I suffocated." Kethra smiles and helps Damas to his feet. "We should try to free whoever I was buried next to," the sorcerer says.
Kethra kneels down and tries to move the rocks to free whoever is pinned beneath the rubble. Damas kneels down next to the monk to lend his aid. Though his arm is not broken, it is badly bruised, which makes this task very uncomfortable, but he manages to ignore the pain. Swiftly and efficiently, Damas and Kethra remove stone after stone, uncovering the unconscious elven priestess Myala. "Myala seems to be alive." Damas reaches down and shakes Myala gently, attempting to rouse her.
After a few minutes, Myala starts to come around. Her bright amber eyes focus on Damas at first, and then they shift towards Kethra. "Damas...Kethra...you're alive. Volcanon be praised." The priestess attempts to stand up, and lets out a horrible shriek when she realizes the hard way that her leg is broken. "Easy," Damas says. "Your leg is broken. Try to relax." Myala shakes her head. "I am a priestess. The others will need me..."
Damas and Kethra help Myala sit up, of course being careful not to hurt her. Myala rests her hands upon her broken leg and closes her eyes. Though she begins to speak in a language neither of them understands, what she is saying sounds more like a prayer than a spell incantation. Her hands begin to glow with a soft blue light. When she finishes her prayer, the light seeps into her body and mends her broken bones. Myala clasps her hands together, murmuring something in that strange language again before she stands up.
"My leg is still a little sore, but I will be able to walk." Myala offers a smile to Damas and Kethra. Her gaze then shifts upward and her eyes widen slightly. "We survived a fall from that height?" she murmurs to herself. "The Gods have truly favored us this day. Come my friends, it is time for us to find the others." During their search, the trio comes across the bodies of three cult mages. All of them are dead.
"It seems that our foes were not as lucky as we were," Damas says wryly. "Luck had nothing to do with this my friend. By all rights we should be dead too," Myala says, glancing at the bodies. "Come, we should not tarry here. Our friends have need of us." And with that the trio resumes their search. While they are walking, Kethra stops suddenly when she hears something moving beneath a pile of rubble nearby. "Umm...guys?" Kethra stops and points. "Something is moving under there...and it's big."
A giant arm of pure iron breaks through the rubble, hauling behind it the battered form of an iron golem. The damaged construct pulls its upper body free of the rocks. The iron golem pulls its legs out after, then bellows a defiant roar. "Damas, stay back. Myala, keep me healed. I'll try to draw it's attention away from the two of you." Kethra shouts a challenge at the golem in elvish and charges at the massive creature. She slams into the golem with surprising force, putting a clear dent in the creature.
Myala moves up behind Kethra to support the monk. She stands at the ready, prepared to heal Kethra should she need it. Damas stays where he is, behind his friends and as far away from the golem as possible. The sorcerer dips into his mana reserves and unleashes the magical power in the form of a Freeze spell. To the sorcerer's dismay, however, his spell has no effect. The creature growls at Kethra and opens a wound in the half-elf's side with a swipe of it's sword.
"This is nothing," Kethra murmurs, narrowing her eyes at the golem before her. "I don't need healing yet." The monk swings at the golem, her fist slamming into the creature with great force and putting another dent in it. Myala raises her hands and shouts in celestial. A pillar of holy fire rains down from the sky to strike the golem, but it does far less damage than she would have hoped. Damas begins to chant, and the clouds in the sky above him darken. When he finishes his incantation, a bolt of lightning rains down onto the golem, but the spell fizzles. The golem retaliates by opening another wound in Kethra's side and expelling a small cloud of poison gas.
Kethra and Myala quickly cover their mouths, and the two are more than resilient enough to resist the effects of the poison...for now at least. After two of his spells in a row had failed, Damas begins to recall some information he had picked up from reading books about golems. The sorcerer chides himself. "Damas you frickin' idiot! Golems are immune to most magic!" Kethra shouts back, "Oh now you tell us!" Damas wracks his brain, attempting to recall a spell that might bypass the golem's uncanny resistance to magic. He does manage to recall a spell he thinks might work. "It's worth a try."
Damas recites the appropriate incantation and an orb of pure energy about three inches in diameter appears in his hand. The sorcerer lobs it at the golem. The orb of force slams into the golem, blowing off a chunk of the construct. Kethra takes advantage of this opening and puts her fist through a part of the creature. Myala rests a hand on Kethra's side and begins to murmur a prayer in celestial. Her hand glows with a soft white light, and as she finishes her prayer, the light seems in Kethra's body and heals her wounds.
"For the love of- Die already, will you?!" Kethra shouts, bringing up her leg to kick the golem. Damas, having found a spell that works against the golem summons another orb of force. Damas' magic and Kethra's attack break more metal off of the golem. It retaliates with a devastating sword slash that causes Kethra over double of briefly and cry out in pain. The monk glares up at the golem defiantly and balls her hand up into a fist, punching through another section of weakened metal. Myala calls upon the power of her God to heal the half-elf's wounds.
Damas lobs another orb of force at the golem, blowing off the creature's left arm. 'We may be in trouble if this fight continues for much longer...', the sorcerer thinks to himself. With it's remaining arm, the golem swings at Kethra, but the half-elf easily dodges. Shortly after, a burst of five shadowy bolts strike at Myala from behind a large, shattered boulder. The priestess cries out and doubles over in pain.
"Myala, what happened?! Are you alright?!" "I've...had worse..." Myala stands up straight and looks around. "Damas, did you see where that attack came from?" "From behind that boulder I think," Damas replies, pointing to the boulder in question. Myala uses the power granted to her by Volcanon to heal her wounds. Damas spots a cult mage taking cover behind the boulder. The sorcerer quickly finds a rock to take cover behind. "I see you," he says to himself. A burst of five energy bolts fly out from behind the boulder and streak off towards the enemy mage.
The mage screams in pain as the bolts strike him, and he retaliates swiftly with a Greater Blaze spell that catches all of the heroes in it's fiery rain. Kethra's final strike crumbles the golem's other arm and the iron construct distorts and morphs into another cult mage, who stares in shock at his injuries before dying. "It seems some of our cultists friends survived after all," Myala mutters to herself. The priestess calls upon what power she has left to heal their wounds as best she can.
Damas glares at the remaining enemy mage, his body ravaged with terrible burns. "So that's how it's going to be, is it?" the sorcerer asks venomously. "Fine with me." He raises his hands towards the sky, and the clouds in the sky above them begin to darken once more. Damas recites the spell's incantation in a loud, commanding voice, and once he finishes, bolts of lightning rain down from the sky and strike around the cult mage. The mage drops to a knee from the lightning, growling as he sees Myala undoing all his work. Soon after, the mage notices Kethra charging towards him, and he throws up his arms and sends a wave of fire towards her.
The wave of fire stops Kethra dead in her tracks. Though very much alive, she is in quite a lot of pain. 'I'm running out of spells,' Myala thinks to herself. 'We have to finish this quickly...' The priestess runs after Kethra, but finds that she cannot quite catch up to the monk just yet. "You're beginning to get on my nerves," Damas says wearily. Quickly running mana, and not to mention energy, the sorcerer summons the power of his magic missile spell.
The magic missiles bore into the mage, throwing him off balance as Kethra lands an uppercut that snaps his neck back with a sickening crunch. The mage lands on his back, dead. Kethra stands above the mage's body, her chest heaving from exhaustion with every breath. Myala makes her way over to Kethra and rests her hands upon the half-elf, healing her wounds. "Thank goodness that's over," Kethra says. "Damas, are you alright over there?" Damas leans against the boulder he had been taking cover behind. "Fine," the sorcerer says wearily. "Casting spells requires a lot of energy, and I am merely tired. Just give me a few minutes to rest..."
[And that concludes my part in this, for now. ]

Posted by: Rusty Fri Jul 17, 2009 9:30 am
*Alexander wakes with a splitting headache, a host of aches afflicting his weary form. Looking around he sees he lies on a pile of rocks, his lower body covers with stones. Sitting up, Alex looks around him, squinting his eyes momentarily as he pushes apart the rocks. Alexander plucks away the rocks pinning him with ease, the strong swordsman able to avoid further injury by virtue of sheer might. Standing up carefully, Alex turns slowly, his eyes scanning his surroundings, looking for anyone or anything familiar. Alexander easily makes out a lance poking through a large pile of stones, and the beaten and bloody form of Faralon nearby. From this distance he can even tell that despite the many cuts and bruises on the elf's body, nothing is seriously injured or broken. Alex promptly moves to heal Faralon with his paladin abilities.*
*The elf stirs for a moment before groaning. As he awakens, he feels the pain of his still scarred body. Opening his eyes finally, Faralon sees what was left of the cliff, or at least his portion of it.*
: "My thanks...Have you seen the others?"
*Alex responds as he helps Faralon to his feet.*
: "Not yet. I just woke up, myself."
*Faralon listens carefully. In the far distance, near the city, there are sounds of a battle. Other than that, only the wind is heard. Faralon abruptly turns in one direction.*
: "Wait...Do you hear that? The battle still rages!"
*After a moment, Alex nods.*
: "You're right. Let's go meet up with whoever's there."
*The two proceed towards the sound, their eyes continuing the scan the area in the process. After a good fifteen minutes of walking, the sounds grow louder and louder. Finally the pair step over a sand dune to see a grand battle erupting all along the borders of Manarina. In clusters scattered along the edge of the desert Cult remnants battle Manarinan mages and soldiers. Immediately, Alex starts to run towards the battle. After a moment, Faralon fires an arrow away from the battle, but in the area, to test if there is an invisible barrier up. The arrow sails into the area with ease. There is no barrier. Faralon immediately follows Alex towards the battle, hoping to see more of his allies there.*
After a long run, the two arrive at one of the battles to see a group of Cult soldiers attacking a small squad of Manarinan guards led by a single mage. "Drive them back, men! For Manarina!" the mage shouts, letting loose a fireball that explodes in the midst of the enemy soldiers.
The cultists raise jagged edged weapons and howl. "Death or life, we serve the Lords! Forward!!!"
The dark warriors fall upon the guards with savagery and blind zeal, the fighting pitched and fierce.
*Alex charges into the enemy from the rear, catching them off guard.*
*Faralon begins a song as he too closes the gap, though he avoids getting too close to the foe.*
Alexander dives into the enemy force's back like a dagger, immediately slaying his first foe with a vicious downward slash before reversing the swing and coming around to decapitate another nearby soldier. The enemy turns, confused at the sudden apperance of another foe behind them.
Then Faralon's song takes effect, bolstering the will of the allied forces. The friendly soldiers cheer and utter battlecries as they lay into the Cult with renewed vigor. "See? Heroes of the Light arrive to aid us, we cannot fail!" the mage exclaims as a cultist turns to take a swing at Alexander that is easily parried.
: "Your faith is being rewarded. The Cult will fall to our might, warriors of Manarina! Strike with me, and we shall defeat them once and for all!"
*Alex continues to slice through the enemies with great speed.*
*Faralon, whilst continuing his song, sends a Bolt spell into the enemies, hitting solely the enemies.*
"They cannot withstand us!" the mage shouts, adding his own Bolt to Faralon's, cutting down a score of the enemy warriors as yet more fall to Alexander's blade.
As the Cultists begin to lose more and more of their numbers their savagery fades and their zeal lessens. Attack after attack lands on Alexander only to be blocked by shield or parried by sword. None of the cultists can pierce his defense. "What manner of man are you?!" one of the cultists finally bursts out as the morale of the enemy wavers.
: "I am a man carved by your Lords' schemes. I live to end your Cult and avenge my family and all those hurt by the Strife Lords. If you value your lives, leave the Cult now. If not, you will share the fate of the Lords of Darkness and Chaos. I am Alexander, one of MANY members of the new Shining Force!"
"Sh... Shining Force!" one of the cultists murmurs in terror.
: "Did you not think that a force would resist you? Shining Forces have appeared in the past to oppose powers that threaten the world and the gods! Why would this be any different? Did the Strife Lords really fool you into believing that somehow this would be different?"
Some of the cultists immediately flee while the others are thrown into chaos.
"Take them now!" the mage yells, casting another Bolt into their ranks.
*Faralon casts a sonic spell on the fleeing cultists as Alex continues to speak.*
: "I may not be the one to judge you for your actions...I'll let the gods decide your punishment in the afterlife!"
*With that, Alex begins to slice into any Cultists nearby that aren't showing clear signs of surrender. As the last of the Cultists leave the field, either by fleeing or by falling in battle, Alex approaches Manarina's remaining forces.*
: "I'm sorry that I could not arrive sooner. I am Alexander Bernhart of the Shining Force."
*Faralon moves to join Alex in speaking with Manarina's forces.*
: "I hate to break up the introduction, but those weren't the last of the forces, correct? There are still other units in other areas, aren't there?"
"Yes, we're beset on quite a few fronts," the mage nods. "After your assault, our spell managed to take out quite a few, but the remnants aren't letting themselves be mopped up quietly."
: "Okay. We'll continue to help with the rest of them. Hopefully, we'll find more of our allies, as well."
The mage nods. "It would be appreciated... Come, we're going to help our comrades to the north. I'd be honored if you took the lead."
*With a nod, Alex and the others move to reinforce another area.*
((+1 loot roll from the Cultist War Party.))

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Mon Jul 20, 2009 7:10 pm
Dam wakes up fit as a fiddle on top of a pile of rocks. He immediately sees that the cliffs they had been fighting on simply do not exist anymore; in their place is a huge field of rubble and stones. The sounds of battle and smoke rise from closer to the city.
"I preferred my first death," the rogue muttered, before noticing that the pile of rocks he is on has a steady rise and fall.
"Ahh... to be a dwarf again," Dicem said, jovially going about the process of liberating the person under him.
Dam liberates a huge leonine forepaw and arm from the large pile of rocks, which gives him a pretty good idea of who he was sitting on. Perhaps weak from his ordeal and injuries, Dam is unable to summon his full strength. It takes him a long time to fully uncover the huge lion beneath him, a full twenty minutes. Gabe remains unconscious for a long time, though his injuries aren't that bad. However, in the meantime, the rogue sees a quarterstaff sticking out of one pile of rocks like a flag pole.
"I suppose this is my penance for being so good looking," the rogue sighed, picking at the rocks holding the weapon in place. It takes Dam a good five minutes to uncover the battered body of Graigus.
"The irony does not escape me," Dam muttered, finally pulling the body free of the rubble. Graigus is relatively healthy considering what he just survived (130/174 HP), but the next two bodies he manages to uncover prove to be those of the enemy. He is not at all sad to discover that they've already been crushed. (+2 loot rolls)
Engrossed as he is by his task, Dam almost doesn't hear the footsteps approaching him, or the shadow cast across the stones. "Can I help you?" the red-haired man asked without turning around, silently cursing at how nearly he came to missing the person't approach.
And then...
"No, I don't think so..." Cynthia says with a frown.
"Oh dear, sweet Mitula... really?" the rogue asked, looking up to the sky with disdain before he turned around. "Cynthia? How are you?"
But, really...
"Well, well..." a man swathed in tan clothes says, approaching with curved daggers in hand. "I've gotta admit, when I came out this far to see what had happened, I'd never thought I would've found you."
"I can be someone else, if it helps," Dam said, shrugging, turning to face the target with both hands on his sheathed daggers.
"Oh no, I think you're exactly who I'm looking for... Dam Dicem," the man says with a smile, letting one of his daggers hang at his belt to point at the rogue. "Do you know... just how much even one of you is worth?"
"Dunno about the rest, but I'd better be worth a lot," Dam said. "After all, I'm a rare commodity - not everyone returns from the dead so attractive. Really, you should see some of the guys I've come across..."
The man grins and shakes his head. "Not really into looking at guys, sorry to disappoint. What's that behind you?"
"Don't know, but you might want to worry about what's behind you," Dam said, pointing with one of his now-drawn blades. The man raises an eyebrow and turns around.
"Wait!" Dam cried out. "Damn! That's a fast bugger. Anyway... what were we talking about?"
The man whirls around again, eyes narrowed, then seems to relax. "I was asking you about that thing behind you. Looks like a dwarf."
"I find that dwarves tend to look like dwarves, myself," Dicem pondered aloud. "I'm sorry, I didn't get your name. Who are you?"
"Just call me Whisper," the man says with a mock bow
"Not bad," Dam said, nodding. "Can I call you Dooble, though? I don't know any Doobles, and I always wanted to be able to say, 'Well, me and Dooble got into some trouble way back when' and not be lying."
The man frowns, tilting his head an inch. "Your friend doesn't seem to be doing all that well."
"I never said he was a good dwarf," the rogue said, shrugging again. "Great, downright amazing monk, but a little lacking on the beard and hammer smashing side of things."
"I meant the fact that he seems to be dying right now, with that thing on his neck."
Dam turns back to Graigus, inspecting his injuries and finding him fine.
"And you can call me whatever you want, because I'm calling you dead," the man whispers as Dam's sixth sense kicks in and he barely dodges a dagger to the back.
"What?! How did..." the man sputters as his attack misses.
"Wow... we're really going to do this, aren't we?" Dam said, hands filled with his daggers as he struck.
"Gah!" the attacker cried out as Dam struck true. "Good reflexes, but an attack that doesn't kill is useless!" Whisper's knives slash into Dam, opening several shallow cuts near his vitals, but not AT them.
"Ooh, you're no good at this assassin thing, are you?" Dam said, shaking his head as he struck. The other rogue's eyes widen as suddenly his body is split open with a multitude of searing knife wounds. As blood spills from the open cuts, he collapses to a knee, in shock.
"You have to understand that some attacks are just the set-up," the rogue said, sighing, his blades dipping into and out of his opponent's flesh.
"...what?"
"Common, you failure... do you speak it?" Dam asked, almost bored. "I said, some attacks are just the set-up for other attacks."
'Whisper' doesn't respond, staring at the ground greedily soaking up his own blood.
"That's pretty rude, you know," Dam muttered. "I ought to stab you. Again."
The failed assassin merely coughs up a stream of blood onto the ground.
Dam's foot shot out, connecting with the other rogue's face. "Just pass out already; I don't have time to watch you die."
The fist hits home and the rogue collapses into the dirt. Dam bent down to check the body, hoping that he still had time to squeeze information out of his fallen opponent. Thankfully for both, Whisper remained breathing. (+1 loot roll)
"Alrighty, then... let's have some fun," Dam said, rummaging through his pack. After a few moments, however, he groaned, looking around with a pained expression. "Langston's going to kill me," he muttered. "How do I not have rope?"
"You better have rope," Dam said accusingly, searching the fallen man's body and finding none.
"No rope, no skills... why am I even keeping you alive?" Dam muttered, resisting the temptation to kick the assassin at his feet.
Meanwhile...
Garoudaos regains consciousness about 200' away shortly after this. He's buried up to his neck in various sized stones. Feeling a highly unfamiliar weight, the dragoman tried to lift his arms and wings free of the rubble around him; however, the pinned dragonmen is helpless in the jaws of destiny.
The dragonman is blinded by the sun, unable to spot anyone nearby. Thinking quickly, Garudaos tilted his head back as far as possible and aimed his mouth upwards, shooting a cone of fire 30 feet into the air.
"Well, that can't be good," the rogue said, moving closer to inspect the cause. It isn't long before he can see the cause of the fiery blast, and within a few minutes the two working together manage to liberate the dragonman.
"Many thanks," Garudaos breathed, glad to be free once more. Giving his wings a cursory flap, he jumped upwards and took to the sky for a few seconds, before touching down in front of the rogue. "I do not seem to be badly injured. Have you found others?"
"Found, dug out, killed... I've been a busy bee lately," Dicem said. "Hey... you wouldn't happen to have rope, would you?"
"No... I do not carry rope with me," Garudaos said. "What is the problem."
"A circus rat's going to chew me out, that's what," Dam mumbled. "Come on... we should keep an eye on everyone else - well, you should, I need to get going. Keep an eye out for the rogue; he's the worst fighter ever, but I want him alive for questioning and I'd hate for you to kill him with a flick to the forehead or something."
"Where are you going?" Garudaos asked, confused.
"To scout," the rogue replied, taking off towards the sun. A glint off the rogue's blades blinded the dragonman temporarily, just before a winged figure glided off. Shaking his head, Garudaos sat guard with the assorted bodies.
(+3 loot rolls from fallen enemies.)

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Thu Jul 23, 2009 5:08 am
Her eyes opened slowly to nothing but bluriness. The wizardess blinked slowly a few times, catching her breath while she tested out her extremities as memory and reality added up in her head -- she was lying down on rock and completely spent, and the area around her was far quieter than it should be, and the magic city had lashed out with some sort of energy before she awoke. There was only one plausible explanation, or perhaps two, but one was more likely than the other. Even the fact that she had awoken pain free made sense under these conditions, but it didn't hurt to test the muscles out just the same, and after a few moments she found herself satisfied enough to attempt to stand, a slow process which felt far more laborious than it should have.
She reached out to the energy around her first, noting her energy barrier had all but dissipated, which was to be expected given what had transpired. The next step was to take stock of her comrades, and fear and nausea immediately spread through her upon the realization that none of them had the protection she did. Her eyes and head canted immediately from side to side as she took labored breaths to steel herself at what she fully expected to see.
(( You find the battered and broken body of a Cult Mage nearby, buried in the rubble.
+1 loot roll.))
She kneeled down beside the Cult Mage warily, checking for a pulse. Finding none left her both relieved and worried for the rest of her company, and she stood once again, resolute.
Suddenly some of the rocks burst out in a spray as a dark-robed man stumbles out from some of the rubble, gasping for breath. "I never though my life would depend so much on modified Force magic!"
The sigil of the Cult is emblazoned on his robes.
Isyndel tightened her grip on the Psychowand out of pure reflex and paused momentarily, the handicap of her waning magical energy suddenly becoming infinitely more frightening to her. She stared at the man warily before doing the only logical thing she could think of. She levelled the staff toward him and spoke flatly. "Don't move. Luck was with us both to have survived that and I am in no mood to test it further."
The mage winces, freezing in place as Isyndel speaks. "You... You're one of those new Shining Warriors, aren't you?"
"Yes," she replied simply, as she narrowed her eyes in examination for a moment. "One weary enough of the sight of blood already, I might add."
"Right..." the man says, eyeing Isyndel for a moment. "Well... I suppose I'll just go this way and you go that way?"
She lowered her wand from before her and relaxed her stance, nodding her head once in respect. "Fair enough, my thanks. Enough has happened as is. Good day to you." She turned, still wary, and resumed her course.
The mage nods cautiously and walks away slowly until he is out of sight.
Isyndel turned her head as she moved further away, and when she turned back again she bit her lip for a moment, second guessing herself only briefly. There were more important matters at hand, she decided, and continued -- no time to backtrack over decisions already made.
It takes a good while to circumvent the rubble and come around to the otherside. Once there, Isyndel can see battles erupting closer to Manarina.
What if I'm the only one left? she thought to herself. She had covered a lot of ground and had only discovered a Cultist and one of their corpses -- no. It would do no good to follow that line of thought; if anything, the fact that she had found no one could just as easily been good news. "It changes nothing, regardless," she told herself emptily, turning to look over the rubble once more. I either flee with my tail tucked between my legs, wait here for those who may never come and risk finding more Cultists, walk to my death in battle, or risk teleporting into Manarina and hoping they do not attempt to set me ablaze out of pure reaction to my appearance."
((To be continued))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Tue Jul 28, 2009 3:55 am
Septimus wakes up on top of a pile of rocks, his robes torn and his body bruised. All around him is the crumbling remnants of the cliff. The wizard sighs, but focuses himself to keep his calm. First things first, he thinks. “Zip!” he calls with both his voice and mind. “Where are you?” Moments later, his tiny familiar comes shooting towards him, apparently safe and unharmed. “Thank the Light,” he mumbles at the return of his closest companion. Right, second things second. Uttering a few words of arcane power, and his torn robes mend. He then uncorks a potion bottle and downs the contents, easing the pain of his bruises. That done he assesses the situation. “Right, now what to do...” he says quietly, as much to himself as to his familiar.
Septimus seems to be in a sort of crater. He is surrounded by sloping walls of various sized rocks.
The pair both gaze upwards simultaneously, likely an amusing thing to see should anybody be watching. With no choice of direction, but with choice of how to get there, the spellguard contemplates the right move. With a nod, he chants a quick spell and claps his hands. With it, he and the pseudo-dragon fade from sight. A soft curse then ensues, at the lack of knowing a flight spell. With a sigh, followed by another incantation, Septimus simply teleports out of the crater. [Cast Greater Invisibility. Cast Teleport]
Septimus appears at the lip of the crater, immediately able to see much of his surroundings. The cliff is now gone, destroyed by the immense battle and the magics unleashed upon it. In the distance near Manarina, battles are being fought, and his companions are nowhere to be seen.
From the new vantage point, the wizard takes note of the battles being fought in the distance. Deciding to check the immediate area before teleporting off again, he sends Zip to do a quick sweep. The pair both look and listen for anything nearby. [Septimus: Listen: 8, Search: 30, Spot: 9. Zip: Listen: 25, Search: 9, Spot: 13]
Septimus uncovers the dead body of one of the Cult archmages, but little else in his search of the area.((+1 loot roll.))
With a sigh, the wizard can do little but hope that his allies have escaped alive. There was little he could do to search and find them now – his prepared spells this day were combat oriented. That he might have to search for every one of them was not an eventuality he had considered. He could not even scry them without the appropriate focus. Calling Zip back to his side (the familiar lands on his shoulder), the spellguard begins to cast another spell of teleportation. This one to take him closer to Manarina, the city he had not been to in a very long time.
The mage vanishes from sight only to reappear near the edge of the fighting. The remnants of the Cult army do battle with the Manarinan City Guard.
Deciding quickly on what to do, Septimus begins to cast a very special fireball. He modifies it so that should he accidentally catch an ally in the blast, they would come through unharmed. Casting the spell, a small orb of fire appears in front of his invisible hand, and shoots towards the combat zone. He aims into the enemy ranks close to where the melee clash is, so that should a Manarinan guard fell an opponent, they might not have another one immediately taking its place. [Cast an Empowered, Purified Blaze 2. Good characters take no damage, neutral ones take half, evil outsiders take increased damage dice. 46 damage]
The fireball detonates with a roar, purified flames washing over the enemy as the Manarinans look on in bafflement as they are unharmed. When it is clear they are uninjured, they cheer and press the attack, taking advantage of the sudden damage to the enemy's lines. In the chaos of battle, the mage who cast the spell remains unnoticed for now. Concealed by his invisibility, the spellguard is able to secretly aid his Manarinan allies for some time, assuring their victory as wave after wave of fire, ice, and lightning assails the Cultists until they can take no more and break.
Across the battlefield, a similar scene unfolds with Alex and Faralon, the hero and bard leading their band to victory after victory, the unit's numbers swelling with each City Guard unit it rescues and crushing the Cultists before them with more and more ease.
Without their leaders and elite guard, and already devastated by the desert storms summoned on them earlier, the Cult siege force breaks and commits an act even the foolish would consider suicidal: they attempt to flee into the deep desert, bereft of their supplies or spells. The City Guard is all too glad to let them kill themselves, stopping soon enough.
Kethra and Dam's group manage to find each other just as the wave of fleeing Cultist troops hits their position. Not in any mood to fight, the majority of them simply try to flee past the heroes, leaving many to be cut down as the Shining Warriors catch them in a pincer.
With the siege broken, the fabled City of Mages's gates open at last, the way clear for the beleaguered, battered, and brave heroes.
((Week passed.
Bonus section over.
Loot tally: Kethra and Co: 1 loot roll, Isyndel: 1 loot roll, Dam and Co: 3 loot rolls, Alex and Co: 1 loot roll. Septmius: 1 loot roll.
Loot Rolled:
Kethra and Co: 1 Armored Robe +3, Wand of Bear's Endurance(30 charges), Helm of Brilliance, Staff of Swarming Insects (40 charges)
Isyndel: 2,300 platinum pieces in a small enchanted sack, Ring of X-Ray Vision.
Dam and Co: 3,000 platinum and 19,000 gold in the assassin's purse and pack. A bag of various oddly cut gemstones worth 21,000 gold. 2 Rings of Invisibility. Wand of Wall of Ice (45 charges). Staff of Fire (50 charges), Heavy Fortified Mithral Chain Shirt of Improved Acid Resistance and Silent Moves, Spell Storing Short Sword+4. Rod of Lesser Metamagic: Silent.
Septimus: Staff of Frost (35 charges), Staff of Illumination (42 charges), Improved Ring of Jumping.
Alex and Co: Cult warchest containing 24,000 gold coins and a bag of small rubies worth 10,000 gold coins))

Posted by: Dark Maiden Sat Aug 01, 2009 4:51 pm

- Armored Robe +3
- Bag of small jeweled idols of various deities, worth a total of 37,000 gold
- Helm of Brilliance
- Staff of Swarming Insects ((40 charges))
- Wand of Bear's Endurance ((30 charges))
- Wand of Magic Missile [9th level] ((50 charges))

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Sun Aug 02, 2009 5:43 am
"Say what you will, sand is fantastic for scrubbing away those hard-to-remove stains," Dam said, in his SIlver-Tongued Devil form as he entered the city. Grabbing a handful of the sand, he rubbed it on his arm as he reverted to normal, adding, "Mmm... all clean!"
((Stealing Jess' idea and doing a full compilation for the entirety of the items. The letter in front of the item indicates which group the item came from - [K]ethra, [I]syndel, [D]am Dicem, [S]eptimus, or [A]lex.))
-= Money and Valuables =-
[-] 127,000 gp value
---> [I] 2,300 platinum (23,000 gp)
---> [D] 3,000 platinum (30,000 gp)
---> [D] 19,000 gold
---> [D] Bag of oddly cut gemstones (21,000 gp value)
---> [A] 24,000 gold
---> [A] Bag of small rubies (10,000 gp value)
-= Equipment =-
[K] Armored Robe +3
[K] Helm of Brilliance
[D] Heavy Fortified Mithral Chain Shirt of Improved Acid Resistance and Silent Moves
[D] +4 Spell Storing Short Sword
-= Rings =-
[I] Ring of X-Ray Vision
[D] Ring of Invisibility
[D] Ring of Invisibility
[S] Ring of Jumping, Improved
-= Rods, Staves and Wands =-
[K] Wand of Bear's Endurance (30 charges)
[K] Wand of Swarming Insects (40 charges)
[D] Wand of Wall of Ice (45 charges)
[D] Staff of Fire (50 charges)
[D] Rod of Lesser Metamagic: Silent
[S] Staff of Frost (35 charges)
[S] Staff of Illumination (42 charges)

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Sun Aug 02, 2009 8:11 am
Crossing the war-torn desert, one by one the heroes make it to the fabled City of Mages. The city is actually a single incredibly massive building with many smaller attendant ones. Tall towers soar into the sky and machines of the Ancients jut from certain areas of the building, giving it a uniquely utilitarian look. Manarina the city exists only as an afterthought to Manarina the Magic College. Indeed, the bulk of the city-building is taken up by the massive laboratories, libraries, dormatories, and classrooms that make up the College. Other more commercial properties like stores and inns gradually popped up as additions to the College, or within the city walls to service the school population. As the school's renown grew, more people came, and more additions were made to the single College building, sometimes absorbing existing buildings into it as it grew in size.
And thus a single school became a metropolis.
Oddly untouched by the tides of war thanks to the barrier that had been erected around it, the proud white walls and spires of Manarina stand tall, its citizens confident in their leaders and their army. As each hero makes it to the city, they are greeted joyously by throngs of guards, citizens, students and mages. The streets are crowded as it seems the whole city has turned out to welcome the vanquishers of the Cult. People cheer at the soldiers of the Manarina Guard and the heroes both as they begin to return from the battle. The feeling in the air is one of victorious jubilation. Soldiers and mages clap each other on the back and shout, happy to be alive after the risky breakout attack. Drinks are offered to be bought, oaths of friendship sworn, and families reunited.
The heroes of the latest Shining Force are included in the celebration, indeed, they soon seem to be the focal point of it! No sooner than each of the heroes enter the city than do they attract a flock of celebrants, clustering around them and offering them congratulations, blessings, free drinks, and various other things. From comments made, it's made blatantly clear they know who you are, and know quite a lot... which is odd considering they were in a bubble. Men and woman, young and old, all cheer your passing.
"It's the Shining Force! They made it!"
"That's Garudaos! They say he killed a hundred death knights at the battle of Guardiana!"
"Sir Faralon! Sir Faralon! Marry me! Sir Faralon!"
"Sing for us, Sir Faralon!"
"Dam Dicem! The legendary rogue... Oh I never thought I'd see him in person!"
"Archmage Isyndel... Wow... I wonder if she needs an apprentice... Hey! Lady Isyndel! Do you need an appentice?!"
"Congratulations, victorious warriors! Hey, come by my inn, the Dippy Phoenix for free drinks! You've earned it! Try my Abjured Ale!"
"That's... that's Kethra... Oh my... She's as beautiful as she is graceful... Lady Kethra! Can you dance for us please?"
"Aurik! Sir Aurik! Please, put a blessing on my house! Sir Aurik?"
"You guys are unstoppable!"
"That's Gabriel? I thought he was supposed to be as tall as a house..."
"No, no, that's only when he turns into a lion, you dolt!"
"That's the leader of the Royal Guard remnant! Sir Ivellas! Just you watch, he'll trample Erebeus like... uh... dust! Yeah, dust under his hooves!"
"Fight on, Shining Force! We believe in you!"
"Septimus, a paragon of wizardry! Need any spells, lad? Scrolls? Wands fully charged? Nothing I can do?"
"Alex! Aaaaaleeeex! Take me as your squire! Alex? Come on, every hero needs a squire! I'll stomp those Culties flat!"
"Where are the others? Oh, they must be on their way..."
"Graigus! The student of Chu Rao... he almost defeated Master Parmecia! What an honor!"
"How many cultists did you kill today Merkass? A thousand?"
"Damas... What a brave man to be able to face such a dark past! Possessions, ghosts, and demons... it makes me shiver!"
"Aha! There's Rhizor! A no-nonsense druid! Just my sort!"
"Lady Myala, our son is wounded, can you say a prayer for him?"
"I saw them fight! I never thought anyone could be that strong!"
The crowd goes on and on, and while no doubt flattering, it does make it somewhat difficult to get around. After some time, a stern and magically amplified cough manages to calm the crowd long enough for a man in rune-inscribed full-plate to step forward.
"Commander Tyrl Elian, Manarinan City Guard. It's a pleasure to finally have you in our city, Shining Force," the man nods. "I've been instructed to request your presence at a meeting in the Headmaster's Chambers at sundown. Until then you have the run of the city to rest and relax. The mages of Manarina greatly appreciate your assistance in breaking the siege... if you couldn't already tell by the cheering crowds." Commander Elian smiles. "I hope you find our hospitality to your liking, it's not often we entertain such guests in a state of war. I'm sure you can find the usual amenities easily enough, but if you need to re-arm or resupply, well... We've been rationing what magical equipment we have and can make for the war effort, but we know all too well what you've been tasked with, so we've set aside some for you. The merchants have been instructed to open their rare stocks to you with a discount."
((Magic shops here are fully stocked with 1 of each item in the SRD barring artifacts. You have a 20% discount for purchases made here until the force moves on.))

Posted by: Alpha Sun Aug 02, 2009 1:36 pm
Septimus shifts uncofortably at all the attention, as he's surely unused to it all. Despite this, he tries to smile (it's a nervous one though) and nod at the comments that come his way. He strides close to Ivellas, his hood thrown back and his robes swirling about him. Zip is on his usual perch, on the wizard's shoulder. The occasional chirp issues forth as they make their way through.
Striding closer to his centaur leader, he mutters something to him. "It seems I'm more used to demon hoardes and cult armies than admiring crowds now. Odd, no?" he comments.

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Sun Aug 02, 2009 5:19 pm
"Then you are not the only odd one," Garudaos said, his wings spread around his arms like a protective cloak. "I am unused to such attentions."

Posted by: Knight_019 Mon Aug 03, 2009 3:36 am
*Merkass sniffs the air at the sound of the Manarina townsfolk's question. Shifting the holy bow at his back, he looks toward his petitioner, speaking matter-of-factly.* : "I believe it's over nine thousand."

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Mon Aug 03, 2009 3:49 am
The Wizardess gave only a short, courteous smile in response to the request for an apprentice, but it was shortlived. Too much had occurred over the span of the past few hours to really find any joy in the occasion. At the appearance of Commander Elian she stepped forward, lowering herself into a respectful curtsy.
"Commander Elian, my regards on your defense of the city," she stated simply. "I am certain there is considerable amount of work to do restoring the city's defenses -- I offer what little service I can be until the time of the meeting should you feel my abilities to be of any use."
She turned to address the assembled Shining Force. "I encourage the rest of you to take the city's offer. Avail yourself of their hospitality, but not too much so."

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Mon Aug 03, 2009 4:20 am
Elian shakes his head. "The offer is appreciated, but our defenses are mostly intact thanks to the barrier. There's wounded to tend to and prisoners to interrogate, but I think we can handle all that. Your role is vital, so as you implored the others, so shall I implore you to take this opportunity to rest," Elian say to Isyndel. He tilts his head. "Actually, there is one thing you could do. If you could have information on our allies ready for the meeting, it would be most helpful. We've concentrated most of our scrying on the Cult, after all."

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Wed Aug 05, 2009 9:31 pm
Isyndel nodded. "Consider it done. Until then." She lowered her head slowly, dismissing herself.

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Wed Aug 05, 2009 10:05 pm
"If you can, I have one person I need scrying for," Dam said, keeping his voice low enough that only Elian could hear. "It would be good if that could be figure out sooner, rather than later."

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Wed Aug 05, 2009 11:37 pm
"Certainly... We can fetch one of the city's scryers or you might chance asking the Headmistress once you meet with her. When do you want to perform the ritual?" Elian asks. "The sooner the better," Dam said. "But I want the best person you can spare... this person is notorious for slipping past these things."
"You might want to wait and ask the Headmistress then. If she declines, you can find me at the city Guard Headquarters. I'll find someone," Elian says with a nod.
"Much appreciated," the rogue said, nodding.

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Thu Aug 06, 2009 1:41 am

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Thu Aug 06, 2009 1:47 am
Time passes, as it is wont to, and soon the hour for your meeting comes. The very moment the time comes, a strange twisting sensation is felt in your gut and you simply appear without fanfare in a large, white stone room. Tall, narrow windows in the back overlook the city of Manarina, and marble pillars hold up the vaulted ceiling. Polished stone bookshelves and carved stone statues of various famous figures line the walls, along with a few green plants and the occasional cultivated crawling ivy. Between two of the windows at the far end of the room is a comfortable looking chair in which rests an attractive elven woman with light bluish-purple hair, clad in a modest dress. She sits with one leg on top of the other, and is reading a very large book which she has propped against her top leg. For a moment, she doesn't look up.
: “Hang on, finishing this one page... done. All right then,” she says, looking up with a smile at the assembled heroes. “Nice to meet you face to face, Shining Force. I'm the Headmistress of Manarina, what with Otrant's unfortunate demise.” Her smile widens. “I trust you've availed yourself of this fine city's armaments, accouterments, and amusements?” The elf shakes her head and chuckles. “If you haven't, I'd do it soon... and that includes your friends half a world away. There's not many places that can boast the stock of magic Manarina has...” the elf-woman frowns at this, stroking her chin before speaking again. “Well there's that one place, but you haven't thought to go there yet. Well they take forever to make their wares anyway, maybe it's for the best. Then again, time doesn't seem to be much a concern with you people...” The elf woman closes the book she was reading and throws it into the air, where it disappears with a slight “pop” sound.
: “So! Down to business!” she says cheerfully, leaning forward in her chair. “We've been scrying constantly on the enemy since the barrier went up. We've got some good news for you. Erebeus has pulled all his main forces back to Guardiana and the Gate of the Anc-sorry, Fort Tacitus. Main forces in this cases means elite forces, the nasty stuff that requires heroes and not common soldiers to deal with, I mean. There's plenty of the fodder variety manning Alterone and the land in between, don't get me wrong, but there's nothing there that's really a serious threat. Well, comparatively, I mean.” The elf sighs and rests her forehead on her hand. “Ah, if you were intelligent you'd no doubt notice that it's almost like he's trying to lure you to his Citadel, but such is life!” The elf lets out a yawn and stretches out in the chair. “Well, let me think here... You were going to do that attack on the Empire first, right? Take care of the snake at your back before the lion at your front? That should work out well, the Cypressians, Resistance, and first Shining Force can go about clearing the road to Guardiana while you take care of loose ends.” The elf closes her eyes and shakes her head. “Don't even think about teleporting into there. The last guy who tried it didn't leave behind enough remains to make half a zombie with. Anyway...” The elf snaps her fingers and a large hourglass appears beside her. “Don't get the idea that you've got all the time in the world, either. You've got a lot of time, sure, but it's going to run out really fast if you drag your feet hither and thither. Don't forget that there are other powers out there besides the ones in front of you, and I assure you, none of them are idle. If you give them the chance, they WILL pounce on you like a hungry tiger.”
Almost sleepily, the elf sits up again from her reclining pose.
: “So get a move on. Get your friends ready, get them here for gear if they need it, then go take care of that nincompoop Domaric. We'll talk after he's dead. Well, again, at any rate. Probably a day or two after the deed, when you'll be resting at that lovely fort of yours. Before I go on, anything you want to ask me? Any questions or requests or the like?”

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Thu Aug 06, 2009 2:48 am
"Your name works pretty well," Dam said, crossing his arms. "I still have no idea who you are.

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Thu Aug 06, 2009 3:16 am
The elf heaves a sigh and rolls her eyes. : "Blast. I guess I do need a name now. Bothersome things, I managed to get by just fine with titles up to now. Hmmm... I don't know, what's a good name?" The elf taps her chin, thoughtfully. "Any thoughts?"

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Thu Aug 06, 2009 3:18 am
"You're asking the wrong guy, believe me," Dam said.

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Thu Aug 06, 2009 3:41 am
: "Good point... You can't even settle on a name for yourself..." the elf thinks for a moment before replying. "...Isis. It's not completely accurate, but I always liked the sound of the name. You can call me Isis."

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Thu Aug 06, 2009 5:12 am
"I've got some personal matters to discuss later," the rogue said, "but for now, I think a better question would be whether or not you can fill us in on some other things. We got a tip that there might be some weapons to get a hold of before we take a deep breath and blow Erebus down, and it'd be nice to know we weren't going to get ourselves killed in the process."

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Thu Aug 06, 2009 5:33 am
: “Well of course,” the elfwoman says, tilting her head. “This world is rife with artifacts of power. You might consider finding a few to help you along your way. You've got a nice collection already, true... but well, it never hurts to have the best.”

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Thu Aug 06, 2009 11:19 pm
"You are certainly a charming little enigma, no?" Isyndel chirped, a bemused expression on her face. "Typically, I would enjoy participating in such circuitous discourse, but..." She paused pointedly for but a moment. ((Spellcraft 46)) "...you do seem to have us at quite the distinct advantage, so I admit it seems a tad pointless. I request permission to access the archives to research such artifacts myself before we set out, should it not provide much of an inconvenience to you."

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Thu Aug 06, 2009 11:37 pm
Isis pouts for a moment before grinning. :" Awwww, no circuitous discourse? Well, perhaps another time. Certainly, Manarina's libraries are at your disposal. I'll help you out a bit though and give you two locations where you can find some. I'm surprised you didn't think of them already, they're both places you've been to, just not long enough to find the goods, so to speak," Isis smiles wider. "Let's say that Enrich can certainly live up to its name, and there was far more in the Labyrinth than a dragon's hoard... How does the poem go?"
Isis thinks for a moment before speaking again.
: "Blessed by Water Spirit, armed in Light, darkness fears a Shining Knight!" Isis sings. When she's done she smiles. "I believe the intrepid treasure hunters found a few leads as well. You should few a few pretty things in the hoards of your defeated enemies too. I'll leave the rest for you to figure out, I can't be doing everything for you, after all! So!"
Isis folds her hands over a knee.
: "Anything else?"

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Thu Aug 06, 2009 11:52 pm
"To be fair, there has hardly been time to do much in the way of thinking," the woman replied evenly. "The suggestions, however, are appreciated. Humor me for but one more -- the city's shield was harnessed to but a single point and projected as a weapon. Would I be fortunate enough to find research materials on the theories behind that in the library as well? I would be most interested to learn even the basic applied arts behind it, as..."
She caught herself then, and offered Isis a grin, fully expecting the woman to understand both her interest and the lack thereof that most of the others present would have.

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Fri Aug 07, 2009 12:01 am
Isis laughs. :"As I said, Manarina's libraries are open to you. Talk to ArchMagus Balyn if you want to know more about the barrier spell and weaponization of it. He was the lead in that effort," Isis grins. "Why? Thinking of finding a second use for that energy shield spell of yours?"

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Fri Aug 07, 2009 12:04 am
"Why stop at two?" she replied, with a guilty chuckle.

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Fri Aug 07, 2009 12:20 am
: "That's the spirit!" Isis says with an enthusiastic nod. "Ah, it's a pity Manarina can't claim you as one of its contributions to the war. Of course, after things go back to normal, maybe you'll consider a teaching position here. I can guarantee your classes will be packed, if for no other reason than the hordes of young mages looking to be your apprentice. You're one of the more popular ones here."

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Fri Aug 07, 2009 12:26 am
"Obviously the schools students have never met the Zooklings before," she quipped, before her features softened into a smile. "I shall keep your offer in mind should we all survive; certainly, the offer is both generous and an honor. My thanks."

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Fri Aug 07, 2009 12:28 am
Isis nods. : "Quite welcome. But the students- and everyone here for that matter- have met the Zooklings before, after a fashion," Isis says, shifting in her chair. "Oh, if you do take an apprentice here, please don't turn him into anything. At least not for longer than an hour or two. We get enough of that with Gerta and her thrice blasted hens."

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Sun Aug 16, 2009 5:36 am
"Hens?" Garudaos asked, just ahead of the red-haired rogue hustling him and everyone else out for a private conversation with Isis.

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Sun Aug 16, 2009 5:53 am
: "Yes, hens. If you see a large machine with a cackling old hag next to it, please have the good sense to stay outside of it. You'd be surprised how many heroes of destiny found themselves suddenly with feathers when their curiosity overtook their common sense," Isis says, drily. "Anyway, this will only be a moment."
A few minutes later, the doors open and Isis cheerfully bids everyone to re-enter. Dam is nowhere in sight.
: "Your friend had some business to take care of, I think," Isis says, cheerfully. "So you got the plan? We're done?"
Stone silence greets Isis as she waits for several minutes for a response and receives nothing. She huffs angrily and sits back in her chair.
: "Really? Nothing? Not a word? Such an uninquisitive bunch... Speaking as someone who's been scrying on you pretty much 24/7 since this whole debacle began, I really wish you'd get your ship in order so to speak. I was really looking forward to meeting all of you in person, and for the most part? I'm disappointed. You just sit there like logs. Logs with spells of silence, invisibility, and nondetection on them. Ugh! So frustrating!"
Isis heaves a deep sigh.
: "So I suppose we're done then. Go and kill Emperor Domaric already, would you? King Benetram should have the plan finalized by now. And for the love of Light, don't listen to him when he begs for mercy! Just hang his head on a pole and put an end to the whole nasty business!" Isis waves a hand and all the sets of doors behind the characters open, a clear path to the outside opened. "I'll speak with you all again at a later date, PLEASE try to be a little more interesting when I do. Now I've got to track down Elian and give him his new marching orders... what a bother."
Then Isis vanishes with one last tired, exasperated sigh.

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Mon Aug 17, 2009 4:09 am
"I suppose we should conduct our business and rest, then" Garudaos said, wings raising with his shrugging shoulders as he headed out to the town proper once more.

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Mon Aug 17, 2009 6:42 pm
With far too much speed, the day ends and soon the heroes return to their base of operations in Cypress. The Cypressian forces halt in their march to Manarina once they hear of the Force's victory, sending a small force ahead to reinforce the mage-city while the rest turn and head to aid the first Shining Force in completing the liberation of the Bustoke region. The winter climate makes the desert journey far more bearable than it would have been. Visited by the mysterious Isis, the leaders of the Expeditionary Force and the Resistance are brought up to speed and reinforced by divisions of combat mages teleported in from Manarina. So strengthened, the combined forces lay into the Cult forces defending the Bustoke area with a vengeance, overrunning the troops already harried by Ivellas' team and raids from the Tech Knights. However, it takes time to secure the region properly, and while they are so occupied, other forces begin to stir in the dark.
((Everyone has some time to do whatever they want.))

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Fri Aug 21, 2009 8:35 pm
They day after his strange behavior, Dam Dicem returns to round up both Kayla and Langston. Grabbing each by the hand when he had them together, he teleported the trio back to the fort, taking them into the war room. "Alright... I have a favor," the rogue said, not mincing words. "I need some people dead, and it's personal. 69 of them, ironically enough, but I want them all dead nonetheless. And I want you to help me do the job."

Posted by: Dark Maiden Sat Aug 22, 2009 5:10 pm
"I've never been one for suicide missions, or doing favors for people when I don't owe them any." Kayla runs her hand through her dark, flame red hair, like she usually does when she's thinking about something. "Still...I consider you something of a friend, and it wouldn't be right of me to let you go in alone and get yourself killed." The female assassin lowers her hand back down to her side and smiles. "Count me in."

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Sun Aug 23, 2009 9:54 pm
Langston folded his arms after rolling up his sleeves and listened quietly at the exchange. He sniffed before he spoke; the usual casual demeanor he displayed no longer evident on his face. "Ya know I wanna follow ya 'round boss, 'n I respect ya an' all," he started, flashing his front teeth. "But ya know I'm not a guy who's inta killin' all that much; not 'less its gotta be done. I'm assumin' ya wouldn't ask if ya didn't think it was the right ta do, but I kinda feel like I gotta know a bit more than that 'fore I just pop in an' start sendin' guys to her Ladyship."
His tail twitched and he lowered his head, obviously a bit disheartened at not being able to readily offer his help to the boss.

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Sun Aug 23, 2009 11:52 pm
Dam thought for a moment, silent as he pondered his next words carefully. Then, sighing, he said, "I'll be back." He disappeared with a click of his heels and, within moments, returned with a cloaked woman. Both can tell that she's human, and both are very much sure that she's a trained killer.
"This is Kysha - Killer Kysha, to most. She was supposed to be dead, and, well... she's not. She faked her death years ago, just before I stopped running with Ruburan's gang."
The woman glanced at the fiery-haired man sharply, clearly not pleased with his previous words, but said nothing. Whether or not Dam noticed, he payed the look no mind, still pondering whether to say his next words. Finally, he took a deep breath, sighing it out, and continued.
"She was - technically still is - a member of the Black Owls, an assassin's guild local to Grans. They don't do as much as some other guilds, but the moves they make are always major, and someone always disappears," Dam said, his voice more unsteady than either the ratfolk or the tiefling had ever heard it. "Kysha once tried to leave, was going to run with Ruburan, but they instead decided that they weren't happy with that change of events. So Kysha and I were supposed to fight to the death, and I honestly thought I killed her."
"Clearly, I didn't," he added, bitterly.
Kysha's discomfort clearly increased, and she turned away slightly, just enough to hide her face in shadows. Dicem looked at her for a long moment, then began to speak once more.
"Since that time, they've become more secretive; I couldn't find any more information on them than what Kysha told me. But they didn't have the same trouble figuring out things that even I didn't know," the rogue said, shaking slightly. "When I was younger, I ran away from home and did some not so great things to keep my parents from being made an example of. I didn't go with them when they were leaving town, didn't know where they were headed, and didn't want them to find me. But the Owls figured out where they are, and they're planning to blackmail me - or were, anyway, until they heard I died. The fact that I don't wear the same face in battle anymore helps, but once they put two and two together, they'll be back at it. And once they're done with me, and all of this business with the Strife Lords is over, they're going to go back to doing what they always do - steal, murder, and manipulate."
The tension seemed to melt from Kysha's frame as the human male spoke, the look of mild irritation on her face replaced by a mixture of resolve and compassion. Dam's own face, however, was not nearly as nice, and the rogue's angry eyes flashed with inner fire.
"I don't ask you this lightly, because this isn't the usual thing we do. This is personal," the rogue growled. "If it doesn't sit well with either of you, I understand. But I'm going-"
"We're going," Kysha interjected.
"We're going in there to put an end to this, and I would appreciate the help. And if you go in, know that we're going in for one thing. These aren't misled youths, or soldiers torn between morals and duty; these are men and women who have knowingly, willingly, and eagerly put their hands to the plow to sow the seeds of the worst in us. This isn't a conversion mission, or a simple stopping mission. We go in there, and we are gutting every one of these bastards. No mercy, no hesitation, no stopping as long as we four aren't the only ones still moving."
Dam Dicem looked back at Langston, and asked, "Are you in?"

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Mon Aug 24, 2009 2:40 am
The ratman's ears twitched intently as his yellowed eyes looked between Dam and Kysha during Dam's story. When it concluded, he tightened his arms around him and dragged his lower lip slowly under his two large front teeth several times as he paced for a few seconds.
"Since ya put it that way," Langston then stated abruptly. "It sounds like somethin' needin' ta be done. Ya've always been truthful when the business goes south, and I'd be nothin' but a sewer rat not ta listen ta mah instincts with ya again. Guess its alright ta get my hands dirty if its gonna stop dirty hands from doin' dirty stuff."
He paused, steepling his furry fingers together briefly, the look on his face revealing a clear debate for whether he should ask his next question before doing so anyway. The rat sniffed the air before him as he turned to Kysha.
"Yer sure about all this? The boss said you wanted ta leave before, but yer not gonna change yer mind once we get in, if ya catch my drift? I don't mean ta be disrespectful but I don't think anyone in the room doesn't have a closet full o' bones, yanno? Don't particularly wanna end up in yours."

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Mon Aug 24, 2009 5:35 am
"I'm not going anywhere," she said, coldly. "I wanted out a long time ago, but I let myself get intimidated into staying." She looked to Dam and her already stony look of determination hardened to steel. "This time, everyone goes - no exceptions."

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Mon Aug 24, 2009 9:21 pm
"Can't argue with that; good enough for me," the circus rat finishes as he offers a sweeping bow. "On ta the rehearsal, what's the plan?"

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Tue Aug 25, 2009 9:18 pm
"It's not going to be easy," Kysha said. "I've only been to the new base once. But in every base they use, the lower-ranking soldiers are in the front, and the leaders are in the back. They don't say it, but the Eight Talons and the Beak - that's what the leaders are called - aren't going to help in any fights. They'd rather wait for the cannon fodder to weaken the intruders, then clean up the mess, so we can at least mostly count of them to keep out of the way; at most, there will be two guards keeping everyone else out of their area."
"The barracks are for the Black Pellets, the lowest-level initiates - they all sleep in one big room" she continued. "The Black Feathers are the intermediate level Black Owls, and they get their own individual rooms; besides that, you have the Talons and the Beak in the back, with the treasures past the very last of their rooms. The Talons and the Beak are on a completely different level; to be honest, we don't even see much of them, if at all, but we have seen their work and know enough to avoid them like the plague. The Beak alone might be a match for us, and while it would be nice to have a whole army, anyone who can't move like Dam and I is going to set off something or get us caught, and then we're in trouble."
"If we can get deep enough in, however, they're going to just try to kill us. That would normally be fine, but if we do it like that, then we can't get them all. Questions?"

Posted by: Dark Maiden Wed Aug 26, 2009 6:14 pm
"When do we leave?" Kayla asks bluntly.

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Wed Aug 26, 2009 6:25 pm
"Tomorrow," Dam said. "We lucked out; their holy man - believe me, the irony isn't lost on me - is supposed to be doing the monthly prayer session to 'bless their humble work' or some nonsense like that. It's the least guarded then, but if we can slip in at the right time, we can have free run of the place for an hour or so before they get back to the usual routine."

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