Krogar grunts in pain as he is stabbed. "I think we need to do something about the mages."
He moves towards one of the mages as he heals himself.
Abu attacks twice again with his twin blades. "I'll head over there right after this guy is gone.
the party's attacks fall on hard armor and the prowess of their opponents defenses. THe battle comes to a momentary pause as the sound of stone cracking, calls everyone's attentions. Th mighty stone wall being built by the earth mages begins to teeter over and it threatens everyone with its fall.Both air mages begin blasting concentrated bursts of air as their leader tries to duck ou to the way.
As the rocks fall on him, Krogar yelps in pain and loses concentration of his bless spell.
Abu doesn't have much luck it looks like as the rocks tumble down upon his head.
Jamenas struggles to get out of the way of the falling rocks as well.
Krogar calls upon Moradin to heal himself, Jamenas and Abu.
Then he heals himself with a word.
Abu dusts off some of the rocks that fell on him. "Thanks, Krogar, That sucked."
Before the dust even settles, the last remaining air knight surges forth as if riding the wind itself and impales one of the earth mages.
The other earth mage, summons stone and dirt to surround him.
The air leader scowls, her forces dwindling to one, and summons a wind wall to surround herself.
The earth leader, smiling with the destruction he's wrought, waves his hand and sends two large spikes of earth hurtling at Darwin.
"That one is mine!" shouts Darwin as he points at the earth leader. Darwin then moves into melee with him and swings his blade twice.
Abu moves closer to the combat, but can't reach the foes in time to attack.
Krogar moves towards the earth cultists and tosses a healing word at Darwin.
Though Krogar's healing magic mended some of his wounds, as fate would have other, it was too little to compensate for the falling rocks. Jamenas remains, unconscious.
Darwin's deft blade strikes rarely fail to leave their mark, but even their honed edges blunt against the magically imbued stone covering the earth leader's body.
Abu rushes to get into position, not that the battlefield is littered with bodies rather than combatants.
Krogar instills life into his comrade Jamenas, who's eyes snap open to gaze at the sky above.
The air leader smiles, maintaining her wind wall and walks forward. She reaches her full movement as the wall encompasses Jamenas.
The Earth leader summons what seems to be an obsidian blade, and makes a mighty swing toward Darwin.
The air knight and earth mage are locked in combat as their masters sweep over the field.
"Tsk tsk tsk, using magic to fight makes your bladework sloppy. You need to spend some time with steel in your hand..."
"...and not in your gut." finishes Darwin as he parries an attack into a reposte.
As the windwall approaches Jamenas, he speaks a word of power, holding a holy symbol. An effect of fear begins to grips the mages mind.
Abu moves to the blue knight (On the map... if he's a foe) and attacks.
Krogar assists Abu in clobbering the blue knight. His first blow hits only mail but the backswing catches his opponent on his jaw.
Darwin's blow strikes firm, and the normally calm and methodical earth leader gains an annoyed look on his face, his earthen armor chipped and cracked and the pain reverberating through his body.
Between Abu and Krogar, the last minion falls, leaving only the two leaders to face.
The air leader grasps her head, but she shakes off the effects of Jamenas's divine magic.
"The vermin should remain out of the way!"
She focuses her power and begins to focus her magic on Jamenas who, as he tries to draw breathe, feels his lungs struggle to pull air in.
The earth leader nods at Darwin's words. "Perhaps, but flesh is often much easier to piece than the earth."
Krogar quickly chants the counterspell.
"I think our current situation would disprove your theory." said Darwin as he parried the sloppy bladework from the wizard.
Jamenas moves near the air leader, and casts a spell. A roaring wave of force travels out from him, impacting the leader of the air cult.
= 4 total
The air cult leader grimaces slightly, the thunderwave striking her. It seems her body is mostly frail while her strengths in spellcasting have brought her to the pinnacle of power.
She dismisses her protective wind barrier, and instead unfurls behind her whaat appear to be wings of some sort, giving her an almost fey like appearence.
"You dare strike me, mortal!?" she screams in fury, her voice warping as the gusts around her pick up speed. She holds aloft her spear and from its tip a powerful blast of air strikes Jamenas.
The earth leader stops his attacks for a moment, and glares at Darwin instead.
Abu moves up to flank her with Jamena before striking her with one of his short swords.
Abu swings at her, but a spec of dirt is blown up into his eye, causing him to miss... somewhat badly.
"Say what you will, but..." Darwin pauses as he slips his blade past the Earth leader's guard
"...it's hard to argue with two feet of steel in your gut."
Krogar marches up to the Earth leader and starts whacking him with his big stick.
Darwin's blade finds purchase, drawing blood. The earth leader is aghast. He starts to speak before getting smacked heard by Krogar. He looks unsteady, having to use his magical talents to maintain this armor.
The earth leader grunts, his hand reaching to his side and viewing that he has indeed taken a heavily bleeding wound.
"Another day then..." he stammers, as he summons a stone dome around himself.
"Coward!" the air leader screams and continues to lash out attacks at you all, this time primarily aiming for Krogar.
Krogar blocks his attempt, then retaliates in kind.
Now that he's up on her, Abu swings twice with his swords.
With the Earth leader out of the way, Darwin turns to the air leader and says "Are you really stupid enough to keep fighting us? You should just flee with your tail tucked between your legs, and thank whatever you worship that we didn't bring steel against you, especially since you're more or less alone here."
Jamenas laughs at the Air leaders missed attack. Was that supposed to scare me? He runs up to them, and attacks with his sword.
the air leader, hesitates, then with a gust of wind her body lifts into the air and she takes flight.
"I'll remember this..." she screams at you all before flying away at full speed.
The dust settles, the dead lay everywhere.
And our heroes, stand victorious.
"Buh-bye." says Darwin with a sarcastic wave as she flies off. Turning to the others, Darwin says "What say we chip out that Earth fellow and gut him like a trout?"
Abu sheathes his swords, "Be my guest." he says.
"He's already dead. He wouldn't feel it. I'd settle for burning his body so he doesn't rise as undead."Krogar answers.
"It'll make me feel better, if nothing else. Well, that, and a castle full of loot" says Darwin with a wolfish grin on his face.
I say we dig him out. Then get the loot. All of it. Jamenas grins. Then we do it again, but with those fire bastards.
"Jamenas" says Darwin as he claps him on the shoulder with a grin on his face "I like the cut of your jib."
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And so our heroes, through the valiant heart and the work of some unlikely hands, manage to fend off the evils of the elemental princes. Through their quick work and quick wit, through common thugs and regal knights, through random monsters and strange suits of armor, only for now is their journey at an end.
Krogar enjoys the bitter brew of the tavern, as he waits for his companions to return with the ninth cart of loot. A waft of smoke catches his attention, and his slow amble to the back of the tavern allows him to catch the feared arsonist Basion Thermander unawares, preparing the oil to light the tavern ablaze. His heart is filled with honor and pride as he personally leads the man to the shackles, never to burn another victim as long as his short life may live.
With the loot totaled, Darwin finds he can retire with ease. But hat's life without adventure? After a few heartfelt goodbyes, Darwin boards a ship for charter, set for land of mystery where it is said large reptilian beasts stalk the land. He catches himself gripping the side of the wooden banister unconsciously, almost tingling in excitement. With one final look back, he watches as the land he's known all his life disappears behind the horizon.
Jamenas was the member of the group that chose to stay in Dessarin Valley, dedicating the next few years to hunting down cultists that the routed cults had let scatter. He made contacts with the various settlements, organized spies, and supply routes. He still isn't done, as there may be something about this land that breeds evil. Wherever you are, you hear tales from the bards, of a man of nature and divine might, sundering sect after sect of evil. Non one knows the name of the man who leads this band of cult destroyers, but his enemies do, and they can only bear whisper it.
Abu moves back to the city. With his funds from the raided fort. He establishes small business, a pitance next to the large stalls in the market that held the lion share of the customers. Well...at first. No one knew why, but the slave population of the town began to decrease, especially the children. Soon, anti-slavery laws were being passed, whispers of a large benefactor pushing the policies through the local government. Finally, a well-respected merchant in the market went bankrupt. His goods could not outpace Abu's, and every day he would grow redder, more embarrassed, and storm around in a fit of rage. The final straw was when Abut paid a visit to the merchant's stall, and the man jumped the small gnome. Abu, never seriously in danger, had him arrested and thrown to the wilderness to survive. The merchant's son now runs a small group of Abu's network, helping to train the unskilled workforce Abu had acquired.
And thus our story ends. Our heroes, though having gone their separate paths, will time to time look up at the same night sky, and remember the battles they shared, the drinks they shared. And they'll fall to slumber remembering that familiar warmth of the campfire, Darwin excitedly recounting the day's battles, Abu laughing as he counts the day's 'catch', Jamenas smiling as he settled in against the mossy log he rested on, and Krogar reciting his nightly prayers but stopping on occasion as he smiles at Darwin's tales.
Good times all. May you hold them forever.