The dragon chuckles deep in its throat as another snow storm appears around the mouth of the cave. Iskar, Victoria, and Old Man Henderson are trapped inside where their warding protects them from the cold, but the air around them becomes thick and quickly coats every exposed surface.
The dragon takes wing, leaving the storm being torn apart by the elemental and gliding over the treasure laden floor. Fandral takes a shot as it passes, striking the beast. He is rewarded with an irritated grunt from the dragon. The while dragon then disappears into the second snowstorm.
Mostly blinded by the snow storm, Victoria and Iskar may be horrified as they make out the shadow of the dragon overhead.
Combat! Round 4
Bold may post
Brutus (reflex vs. DC 24, 9 vs. 4 damage) (Cold Resist 20, Good Hope, Enlarge Person, Haste)
Fandral (-28 hp, Cold Resist 20, Good Hope, Haste)
Henderson (shaken) (Cold 20, Good Hope, Gravity Bow)
Holly (-24 hp, shaken) (Cold 20, Good Hope)
Iskar (shaken) (Cold 20, Good Hope)
Victoria (-9 hp) (Cold 20, Good Hope)
Zaas (shaken) (Cold 20, Good Hope, Haste, Barkskin)
Dragon (-13)
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as she tries to stay standing
She looks up at the looming shadow above her and concentrates on her spell to create images of herself utilizing her spellguard bracers.
But fails to get the spell off. She waits to see if the dragon is blinded but will likely try to move to the hall even if provoking
"First lesson I learned in my sorcery lessons...never stand next to an angry dragon if you can stay at range ."
Deep within the snow storm, the dragon's left side is covered in glittering motes. However, it does not seem to bother the old wyrm's vision as it snaps down as Victoria struggles to move through the frozen fog and snow. The icy fangs tear long gashes across her arm as she pulls herself free.
The whirling air elemental moves across the cave. Holly and Zaas just barely begin to make out the location of the dragon.
Combat! Round 4
Bold may post
Brutus (readied) (-4 hp) (Cold Resist 20, Good Hope, Enlarge Person, Haste)
Fandral (readied) (-28 hp, Cold Resist 20, Good Hope, Haste)
Henderson (shaken) (Cold 20, Good Hope, Gravity Bow)
Holly (-24 hp, shaken) (Cold 20, Good Hope)
Iskar (shaken) (Cold 20, Good Hope)
Victoria (-34 hp) (Cold 20, Good Hope)
Zaas (shaken) (Cold 20, Good Hope, Haste, Barkskin)
Dragon (-13)
Annoyed, Zaas turns around, watching the beast fly across the gap. "Come back you cowarad."
Moving closer to the edge, the beast prepares to taste the foe if it flies within reach.
Iskar gains the dragon's attention. There is a crash that shakes the cavern as the dragon drops beside the half-orc. Its fog and sleet obscured form turns toward him. The last thing that Iskar sees is a great maw full of teeth bursting out of the fog toward him.
Henderson hears the sickening crunches in the fog just before a large, scaled tail slams down toward him from above. Fortunately, the occultist's numerous wards deflect the blow.
Holly makes a tactical error as she teleports herself and Brutus into a whirlwind and snow storm. She slips off of the dragon's icy back and careens toward the ground. She manages to slow her fall some as she tumbles twenty feet to the ground below, landing prone. She lashes out with her blade despite her uncomfortable position, but her blade seems to catch on an invisible shield.
Brutus finds himself unexpectedly falling toward the dragon's back. Lacking the dimensional agility of the dervish, he simply bounces off of the dragon's hard, cold back and then crashes onto the ground below.
The falling, enlarged half-orc does manage to bruise the dragon in return.
Combat! Round 5
Bold may post
Brutus (prone, action consumed by dimension door) (-16 hp) (Cold Resist 20, Good Hope, Enlarge Person, Haste)
Fandral (readied) (-28 hp, Cold Resist 20, Good Hope, Haste)
Henderson (shaken) (Cold 20, Good Hope, Gravity Bow)
Holly (prone) (-24 hp, 1 nl, shaken) (Cold 20, Good Hope)
Iskar (-85 hp, shaken) (Cold 20, Good Hope) (prone, unconscious, and bleeding I believe)
Victoria (-34 hp) (Cold 20, Good Hope)
Zaas (shaken) (Cold 20, Good Hope, Haste, Barkskin)
Dragon (-17)
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With the dragons defeated and their kobolds fleeing, the Pathfinders assemble in the deep cave. With her phantom Anok in tow, Medda approaches the frozen column and brushes away the outer layer of frost. Frozen within the column is a dwarven woman in steel armor, her body torn as if by immense claws. With her hand pressed against the ice, Medda pleads. “Ivvora, I have found you. Now what? Vildeis said to find you and that you would help me, but how can we help you in this state?”
“You look to me when you should look to the evil that stalks our homeland. It is not I who needs help,” declares a voice that is both sweet as music and powerful as a thunderstorm. The frost melts away from the column, revealing dozens of clear facets that dribble melt water as if from open wounds. The image of a wounded angelic figure reflects in each facet, simultaneously warming the chamber and judging all that the angel sees. “As you can see, I serve Vildeis more directly than before.” The images look to Anok. “I see you took your oath seriously, Anok. I was wrong to have doubted your conviction. How are our people?”
The red phantom’s hue turns rosier as he looks to Medda and responds, “You would be proud.”
With a nod, the angel addresses everyone at once. “Then why do you seek me?”[b/]
[b]“Eshimka has returned,” Medda announces. “We fought off the horror once, but it shall return at the next solstice.”
The angel’s eyes flare with righteous fire. “Then you will need a weapon to defeat it, as I had. Vildeis granted me the blade that I gave your people, but only after I thought I had given everything to vanquish my greatest foe. Even now I can sense evil has returned to that land, far to the south in a forest where the Whispering Tyrant’s legions once ruled. Show our patron Vildeis the same dedication that I did, and I shall ask that she equip you in the same way.” With that, the angelic images fade from the melting column.
Medda addresses the gathered Pathfinders. “I believe I know the forests Ivvora mentioned. You have already done so much, Pathfinders, but I invite you to help more. After I give Ivvora the burial she deserves, I will set forth with all who are able and willing for the Fangwood.”