"Looks like that Find the Path will be unnecessary."
"Maybe," Lym says, "but stay frosty. Let me check...."
The Wizard proceeds to mutter some preparatory spells.
This must have been truly something in its day...
The tattoos wrapped around Aurora's arms and neck seem to pulse to the rhythm of an unknown dance.
The wind blows cold off of the lake, swirling up to lash the Circle with stinging snow. Nothing stirs...
"Alright," Lym says. "Let's get this done and get out of here. I'm freezing my tusks off."
If the group moves forward, Lym tries to identify the auras of each stone, or maybe the faces on them, so she can figure out which rock to hit with which spell.
Tomaru pulls a warm blanket from his Haversack and wraps it around Lym's shoulders. "It's not very stylish, but it should help keep you warm."
Looming nearly 16,000 feet above Lake Stormunder at the western tip of the Kodar Mountains, the mountain called Rimeskull gains its fearsome name from a vaguely skull-shaped formation near the mountain’s peak, visible for many miles on a clear day.
The last words Brodert spoke to you before you teleported echo in your head. He was eager to share the knowledge he had gleaned - even facts Lym had missed.
"In Thassilon, the Runelords often carved depictions of their visages upon mountaintops or towering statues that watched over their cities. Rimeskull’s face, however, overlooked the site of Runeforge itself, and to symbolize that all seven Runelords shared this territory, they agreed to mark the location with a carving of the face of their empire’s first emperor, Xin. Yet rather than depict the emperor as he appeared in life, the Runelords, who overthrew Xin in a violent rebellion, immortalized him in the way they preferred to remember him—as a dead emperor."
It is obvious seeing it that this monument did not receive the protective wardings most other Thassilonian monuments received, and over the last 10,000 years, the original visage has eroded away to little more than the vague skull shape that remains today.
It is getting late. The sun has already begun to sink behind the mountains when Lym approaches the first stone. The seven stone heads have all been warded with protective magic, staving off the effects of erosion as they march through the years. using her arcane knowledge, helped in small part by the weeks spent studying under Jorgenfist, Lym makes short work of determining which stones apply to which school of magic.
"Bastards," Lym summarizes her feelings for the ancient Runelords as she gazes at Rimeskull. "Alright. Let's try this. Everyone ready?"
As soon as the others signal their readiness, Lym approaches the Stone of Greed and casts Knock on it.
"We don't know what's going to happen when she finishes so be ready."
The magic of the spell swirls about the stone face, creating a vortex of multi-hued energy. As the magic is absorbed by the stone, a sonic wave pulses from the stone, which begins a loud keening. So loud, in fact that you have to plug your ears from the volume of it. The keening lasts for several seconds, then fades. Within the open mouth of the stone face lies a golden key, materialized out of thin air.
"Right, then," Lym says. "That seems to have worked alright. Anyone bring a sack for me to drop these things into?"
The Wizard mutters a Word of Power, and levitates the first key out of the mouth of Karzoug, rather than risk her actual hand on the task.
Barring nasty surprises, Lym moves on the Stone of Sloth, where she casts Grease on the marker of Krune.
Third, she moves to the Stone of Envy, where she casts Alarm on the marker of Belimarius.
Fourth, she floats to the Stone of Lust, where she casts Charm Person on the marker of Sorshen.
Fifth, Lym moves to the Stone of Pride, where she casts Minor Image on the visage of Xanderghul.
Sixth, Lym comes to the Stone of Wrath, where she grimaces at the visage of Alaznist. "You tainted my own Art, Thassilonian," she states in a cold, even voice even while she unleashes a fiery blast on the Runelord's effigy; Burning Hands.
Seventh and last, Lym comes to the Stone of Gluttony, where she casts the final spell she prepared for the acquisition of the keys: a cold and darkling ray of necromantic energy for the likeness of Zutha; Ray of Enfeeblement.
After every stone unlocked, Lym pauses for a moment to make sure nothing untoward is happening, and every time she uses Mage Hand to liberate the Keys, handing them off to one of her companions -- anyone willing to mind the things for her while she focuses on the stones and potential magical traps....
Thordak speaks up, "I'll hold onto 'em for ya, lass."
As Lym goes from one statue to the next, Thordak leans in toward Aurora, "Aurora, how does she know which spell to cast on which one? 'Cause I'm willin' ta bet they're not lucky guesses."
If the keening becomes overbearing, Tomaru will cast Silence several steps up toward the mega face.
Aurora leans slightly in to Thordak
Well now Master Ironheart, I'm sure I don't need to tell you of the vast magical appetites of the Runelords of old. Much like a dwarven banquet table, each had their favorite repast
She points at Belimarius
Now say that fellow liked the taste of dwarven mead, why what better way to wake up his statue and get the magical juices going than to splash a bit of honey wine on it!?
She uses the slim, tapered point of her new staff to point to Lym
Our Mistress Blackhand there, she's done her reading and knows what each Runelord favored, so by choosing her magic wisely she puts a drop of roast chicken here, some grilled trout there, and we've got a recipe for happy statues that will open the way for us to enter the Forge!
The gnome's stomach rumbles and she flushes slightly
Now that was unladylike stomach mine, I'm sure you were fed a hearty breakfast!
Our Mistress Blackhand there, she's done her reading and knows what each Runelord favored, so by choosing her magic wisely she puts a drop of roast chicken here, some grilled trout there, and we've got a recipe for happy statues that will open the way for us to enter the Forge!
The dwarf nods in understanding. "Ah, well now, I guess it's a good thing she done her homework then; or we might have been standin' here most of the day and not really accomplishin' a whole lot," he says with a shrug.
The gnome's stomach rumbles and she flushes slightly
Now that was unladylike stomach mine, I'm sure you were fed a hearty breakfast!
Grinning, seeing how he's quite familiar with an empty stomach, "Well now I...," he pauses, trying to recall what he had for breakfast. Stroking his beard in thought, "Ya know, lass, I don't even recall eatin' this morn. By Torag what in the blazes was I thinkin'?!" He pops himself in the forehead at his own forgetfulness.
Praxim adopts an arrow focus, trying to keep watch over all directions...but with only a +21 Perception, he has no chance.
Not even gonna try.
Each statue absorbs Lym's magic as the first did. Each also produces a key that Lym deftly levitates out and hands to Thordak. Each stone face also emits the high-pitched keening for a few seconds...
Your attention (and ability to hear) is drawn to what is happening at the stones.
As the last key comes out, Praxim switches on his detect evil. It has a limited range, so he focuses on the area right around his friends.
The first warning you receive that anything is amiss is a vague sense of unease that begins to creep over you. Like a rolling wave, a feeling of primal fear washes over the hilltop and the circle of stones.
Aurora is the first to see it, with her permanently enhanced sight giving her fair warning. A magnificent dragon sweeps up the hill towards you on great wings. It comes in fast, below the level of the hill until just before it crests the ring of stone faces. Then it barrel rolls over you, thrusts its great maw downward. The great white dragon - for now you can clearly see it - breathes a frigid blast that engulfs your group!
Continuing it's roll, it flaps its wings in great beats, rapidly gaining altitude.
"Rexil, take cover. This foe is too dangerous for you yet. Everybody else, spread out!"
Rexil will have no problem obeying that order on his turn (assuming he survives that long).
If Tomaru can get to the others, he'll cast Communal Resist Energy (resist cold 30).
Lym hovers, shaking and partially frozen -- but still she brings up her hands and hurls magic at the dragon. A bead of fire forms between her hands....
... and hurtles towards the beast, engulfing it in roaring flame!
Having cast, Lym hurries to put one of the statues between her and the dragon.
As the fear effect moves in to take over, Thordak's willpower works to fight it off - along with a bit of help from his trusty headband - and manages to shake it off.
But not a moment later he finds himself having to dodge the freezing cold breath from the beast and manages to avoid most of it. Shivering, "Bl-l-l-ast ya, dra-dragon! Come d-down here an-an-an FIGHT!" The dwarf goes into a rage and brandishes his longaxe, ready to cut into the huge wyrm.
Aurora glares at the dragon, hatred in her eyes.
Watch out! she cries, all too late to warn the others.
Howling with pain as the frost chews at her flesh, she snarls, most unladlylike.
We can play that game too you overgrown wyrmling!
Twin balls of incandescent flame streaks skywards towards the dragon.
Arkhryst has ruled this valley for a thousand years. Once there was a time when his name was the scourge of the barbarian tribes in the Kodar Mountains. Some decades ago, the dragon disppeared from sight, and many thought he was dead...
The dragon extends his wings to their full extent, dropping his head and winging over to come back at you. Aurora's first spell fails to get through his spell resistance. He dives and weaves, mitigating some of the damage from Aurora's second spell. Arkhryst has not been Lord of Rimeskull for a millennia without learning a thing or two.
He tucks his wings in to gain speed, a white thunderbolt diving out of the grey skies over the valley. At the last second, Arkhryst extends his wings again, pulling out of the dive with a snap of wind and leathery skin. As he passes over, his long neck snakes out to bite at the annoying dwarf!
The huge jaws close on the dwarf, and suddenly Thordak is yanked into the air in the mouth of the dragon. With a rush of freezing air the dragon (with Thordak) passes overhead, the great wings beating furiously to gain altitude once again.
Lym hurriedly starts to gabble out a lengthy spell....!
His eyes going wide at the scream of pain from Aurora, Turning his attention to the dragon, he waves him on as he notices it heading straight for him. he yells, preparing his axe to chop him good.
Unable to find a weak spot, the dwarf grunts in pain and drops his axe as he finds himself being carried away in the jaws of the beast, he yells with all his might and fury, his tone one that is quite adamant of his desire.
Smite evil!!! Praxim brings his bow up in a snap and arrows begin to whoosh through the air after the dragon.
Arrows bounce harmlessly off the dragon's hide. Praxim takes a five foot step towards cover.
Rexil bolts towards the nearest pillar (transmutation) and cowers behind it, making himself as small as possible (for a stone giant).
I need more actions.
Tomaru uses then hides behind a stone face.
Is that it you overgrown lizard? We can keep this up all day!
Making a shrugging motion with her shoulder, a rod drops in to Aurora's hand as she casts another ball of raging fire towards the dragon. Impossibly the flames completely avoid Thordak.
The flames also however wink out as they touch the dragon, Aurora's eyes start to smoulder.
As Thordak attempts to break free, "You'd do well ta kill me, dragon! Otherwise, I'm gonna chop ya up and wear ya!" he vows, trying all he can to free himself from the maw of the dragon, unconcerned about the fall below.
Thordak makes a mighty effort, but falls just short of breaking free from the powerful jaws. Arkhyst's wings continue their powerful beat, bringing dragon and dwarf high above the lake. The beast circles in a long, slow arc leftwards over the Stormunder.
Lym completes her summons - and a greater air elemental swirls into being, its voice the roar of the storm! Lym shouts at it in a breathy language:
The air elemental responds by barrelling after Arkhryst at top speed!
Next, Lym flies away, up after the white dragon, chanting all the way. At the end of her passage, she hurls a bead of fire towards the beast. A bead that explodes into a firestorm!
Praxim takes a moment to forge his divine bond with his bow. He makes his bow a +5 flaming bow.
He also lays hands on himself, healing points.
The dragon rolls in midair, avoiding the worst of the fireball.