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”Like a mine tunnel.” says Quasit after hearing Selena’s proposal. ”It’s an interesting thought. I think we should get a closer look at the fortress and the glacier before we make any choices about how to get inside.”
”My concern is that if the tunnel is too long, we might start running into problems — having enough air, the possibility of the tunnel collapsing as we weaken the ice with jets of fire, not too mention the strain we’d be putting on Maka’s abilities. And tunneling up might be tricky while we’re all standing on ice — flying spells could help us for several minutes, but tunneling through a few hundred feet of ice might take hours.”
”But again, it’s another option to keep in mind. We’ll see what we’re dealing with when we get up there. But one problem at a time — let’s focus on what we’re going to do with this patrol.”
"If we have some of the less stealthy elements move as one group trying to sneak in they might swoop down to attack them or apprehend them. If they see the entire group they might be less confident and report it in. Luring them in with a smaller group or some other oddity might be something to consider." Bulvi added before continuing.
"Some like myself and Quasit can contribute more up close, especially once Saki's rainbow spell has them confused. It would be overly optimistic to expect us to overwhelm them quickly at range. And on melting a tunnel we'd have to consider what happens to the water, standing ankle deep in water for an extended period here would bring it's own problems... the tunnel would be a boon but we'd need to consider it carefully."
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"If we have some of the less stealthy elements move as one group trying to sneak in they might swoop down to attack them or apprehend them. If they see the entire group they might be less confident and report it in. Luring them in with a smaller group or some other oddity might be something to consider." Bulvi added before continuing."[/b]
"No, I think we should all try and hide. But I agree that luring them in is a good idea. I was thinking of putting some interesting and out of place object in their path, just to make them curious. Like something from Golarian that they haven't seen before. Bull, I know you worry about clanking when you move, but if we get you decent cover you should be able to hide well enough until the distraction spell goes off, then after that your clanking won't matter."
"Fin, you said it's a ryphorian and 3 hydras coming? The Ryphorian is surely the leader -- hydras are essentially animals. He's the only one likely to try to escape or communicate with the fort. When we hit them, he needs to go down quickly. Fin and Maka, I want you to target him especially. I'll attack him too, hopefully while invisible with Saki's lovely spell. Bull and Chest Thumper can keep the hydras busy for the time we'll need. Selena and Kal and Saki can do spells however they like to control the battle. The main thing is they mustn't get away from us."
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Sakitu squints off into the distance. Her visual acuity is no where near Fin's so she is only able to detect several dark shapes moving against the snow.
"Yes, I can still do that rainbow thing. They will have to be a lot closer though. If we find a good spot to hide then that won't be a problem. And then I can make you invisible Quasit."
She looks around the vicinity. "Now, where is a good place to hide?"
"I'm not claiming to be as quiet as yourself or Fin but I'm a lot quieter in this get up than you'd expect. Still wherever I can assist best as part of the plan that's where I'll be." Bulvi digs through his supplies to haul out the old and battered shield he had been using before acquiring the dark wood one.
"Not the most exotic but it's big enough to be noticed and it's from back home so the shape and design is distinct. At a distance they might not recognise it as a shield but even when they do get that close it's formed from exotic materials like cow leather... there's probably better items we can use as a lure but it's an idea."
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[Bulvi digs through his supplies to haul out the old and battered shield he had been using before acquiring the dark wood one.
"Not the most exotic but it's big enough to be noticed and it's from back home so the shape and design is distinct. At a distance they might not recognise it as a shield but even when they do get that close it's formed from exotic materials like cow leather... there's probably better items we can use as a lure but it's an idea."
"It's not bad, but I think if we could find something that wasn't armor or a weapon, it would be less likely to put them on their guard and just make them curious about what they'd found."
"Why are we fighting? If we can't avoid it, sure fighting on our terms is better, but if we can avoid them entirely, why not? Also, my magic with ice can be of great use. I can literally jut pop open a small room im this glacier and seal it behind us, perhaps a small crack for ventilation in the bigger natural cracks where it won't be seen. Even if they were already suspicious, they'd have no idea where we are. We could even just use it to wait till the patrol passes if you don't want to dig upwards to the fort, or at least the glacier top. I'm personally of the opinion that the longer before hostilities start the better. Unless you want a long term war of attrition and terror."
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Listening to Selena, Fin frowns. ”And if these hydra, or their dragonkin leader, can smell the scent of our tracks, not to mention smell us through the ventilation you spoke of, and it leads them to where we’re sealed within the ice, what do we do then? We’d be hemmed in, in close quarters, Maka with no room to fly or shoot fire, me with scant room to fire my bow, we’d be fish in a barrel…
“It’s a good thought Selena and, if you could guarantee me we could avoid detection, I’d agree with your plan…but you can’t…
“Q, it’s your call…but I strongly suggest we proceed with the ambush, on ground of our own choosing…hopefully, we’ll be in and out of Ivorytower before they’re missed…and we’ll likely have to kill this Yrax fellow before we can get the keys any way…”
"Actually Fin, if we're far enough in that crack amd they try to hem us in, they'll be crushed. Ice shape the ice above them and cause a cave in to crush them." Selena says quickly with an excited yet evil smile.
"Actually Fin, if we're far enough in that crack amd they try to hem us in, they'll be crushed. Ice shape the ice above them and cause a cave in to crush them." Selena says quickly with an excited yet evil smile.
Maka went wide eyed in fear at the thought of being trapped in an ice cave with Selena while she used her magic to crush things. "Yeaaahhh the ambush sounds good to me too. But I'll do whatever you say Quasit."
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Fin shakes his head. ”And won’t the cave-in crush as well since they’ll be nearby? Or perhaps the dragonkin smells us out and, instead of trying to get in to attack us, orders the hydra to ram into the ice and collapse our sanctuary on top of us? As I said, I salute your innovative thinking and know you’re disinclined to fight, but I don’t think we have another viable option here. I also don’t think we’ll persuade one another here so further argument is pointless…”
He looks to Quasit and shrugs…
"The idea has merit to me but there are risks and most of the group seem keener on the ambush even if using the ice magic to help us sneak makes sense to me." Bulvi spoke up half to let Selena know that everyone wasn't disagreeing with her... her mood could turn foul at such times so a little nod of respect to her cunning might keep her more even tempered.
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"Selena, I think I'd agree with you except that it's entirely possible that the patrol has already picked up our trail or scent. If the trail immediately vanishes here, it would look very suspicious. Plus, the glacier is a still a long way off, and we don't know what magical wards it might have."
"I think the safer play is to deal with this patrol here and now. We can easily handle them. We just need to do it quickly and efficiently."
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Fin looks to Sakitu. ”Hlao-roo, when they get in range, cast your spell…I’ll keep an eye on you and, when you start to cast, I’ll let an arrow fly at the dragonkin…be careful…”
He gives her a wink and moves off to conceal himself and await their approach…
…and then just as Sakitu casts her spell on them, he’ll fire at the dragonkin…
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Fin looks to Sakitu. ”Hlao-roo, when they get in range, cast your spell…I’ll keep an eye on you and, when you start to cast, I’ll let an arrow fly at the dragonkin…be careful…”
"Let them get fairly close so we can all jump them at once as the spell goes off. I'd say within 50 to 75 feet."
Quasit will also hide near Sakitu. "Saki, can you cast your invisibility spell while the rainbow thing is going? If not, you may want to hit me first."
Maka covered herself in snow before laying in wait for the advancing foes. Once Fin loosed his arrow, Maka followed up with a blast of fire.
Selena will toss her own spell in the mix, causing a bunch of dark shadowy ice tentacles rise up and attack the beasts.
The party hurries to find a hiding place at the base of the glacier. Three hydras and a green-scaled dragonkin come into view a few minutes later. One of the hydras seems to be sniffing at the ground with several of its heads, while the other two are snapping at each other while the dragonkin angrily separates them.
This so distracts them that they are caught completely unprepeared for the party's ambush.
Two of the hydras are fascinated by the colorful patterns. Maka and Fin both hit the one not so fascinated. They are then all grabbed by the tentacles.
The hydras react with swift anger, trying to rip themselves free of the tentacles' grasp.
Only one manages to break free.
The snow around Maka melted as she unleashed her surprise blast of fire. A small cloud of steam momentarily obscuring the fire monk. It hung in the air a few moments before being parted by a swift kick that send a wave of fire hurtling towards the dragonkin.
Bulvi repositioned off to the side to get a clear shot and avoid being two clustered up for area attacks... and to be the closest target for the free hydra.
When you have an opponent down, that's not the time to ease off, it's the time to press your foot harder on their throat.
Kalchine calls upon the dormant heat of his world and summons it in a circle surrounding the two trapped hydras.
The most injured of the hydras collapses even before Kalchine summons his wall of flames. The dragonkin snarls as Maka fire blasts it, and it takes off and flies towards the group. It climbs to about 30' into the air and strafes Chest Thumper with its acid breath as it passes over him.
Selena's hands fill with shadowy smoke, deep blue like the darkest of ice, and she shoots them at the flying beast.
The first of Selena's two bolts strikes the dragonkin, as do Sakitu's magic missiles. It doesn't seem like the dragonkin is blinded.
The surviving hydra in the tentacles tries to break free. It fails to even budge one tentacle. The other one charges towards Chest Thumper.
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Quasit watches in silent irritation as the dragon kin flies overhead well beyond the reach of her blade. She briefly considers throwing her dagger at it, but in the end she returns her gaze to ground level and the hydra attacking Chest Thumper.
She charges the beast, attempting to drive her blade into its heart.
Bulvi fires an arrow at... it was actually a little difficult to tell whether his target was the dragonkin or the hydra but either way he missed his mark. Grumbling to himself he started moving towards the hydra stowing his bow as he advanced.
Kalchine keeps his concentration on the circle of fire he's created to continue roasting the trapped hydra.
He also lumbers closer to the fight, his armor weighing him down much more than Chest Thumper's does him.
In a flurry of attacks the group kills both remaining hydras and the dragonkin.
Maka takes out a bag and begins scooping up snow to pour over the bodies of their fallen foes.