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Kalchine finishes his work in the house of horrors just in time to see Alexei become a whole different horror.
He mutters something under his breath that only someone who speaks Triaxian would understand but anyone who hears will know is swearing.
But he moves quickly, calling up some of nature's fury and implanting it into the group's weapons.
Bulvi takes a step towards Alexei as he shifts growing larger and larger, somewhat taken a back by how large he has grown.
Seeing the scales he reaches for his blade and started striking at the monstrously large figure.
Arcane energy flowed from Selena's hands as the witch summoned a sphere of ice to encase the three headed monstrosity before the halfling moved to cover.
Bulvi's first two attacks penetrate the three-headed dragon's scales, but his other two simply deflect off. Maka's flames seem completely ineffectual, not even singing its scales . All but one of Fin's arrows find their mark, too. Both he and Bulvi find that even their strikes that penetrate don't sink as deep as they should (it has an unusual DR).
Quick as lightning 'Alexei' swings his heads through the icy mist forming from Selena's spell, disrupting it before it can form into a wall. All three of his heads rear up and belch forth flames over the group, Anastasia just barely stumbling away before she's included in it, too.
Blue flame blast isn't the one that does half damage through fire immunity, right?.
Maka roared with fury as her flames did nothing against the three headed dragon. She unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks against the monster.
Unlike Quasit and Fin, Kalchine has no chance of dodging even part of the flames, let alone all of them.
Operating under the concept that he can't do anyone else any good if he's out of the fight, the physician first heals himself.
He then starts moving toward Maka. After all, if a 10 foot tall Frost Ape isn't available, a 6 foot tall fire monk could probably benefit from some boosts to her unarmed attacks.
Bulvi howled in pain as the flames swept over him... but continued hacking at the draconic beast.
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The stream of flame washes over Sakitu severely burning her. She won't be able to survive another blast like that but she can't focus on herself right now. The others, her friends, they are the ones who will win this battle.
She spots Bulvi nearby. His normal bulky figure looks tiny next to the three headed dragon beast. "Bulvi, let me enlarge you. It will make you closer to that thing's size." She focuses on him and casts a spell.
As soon as the spell is cast she circles around to Kalchine. He can see blackend blistering skin covering much of her exposed body. "Can you help me here?"
Selena summoned a ball of snow between her hands before launching it at the dragon creature.
Even a three-headed dragon can't withstand the flurry of attacks you focus on it, and 'Alexei' collapses to the ground, his hot blood steaming as it pours from many wounds.
Anastasia collapses to the ground where she fled to, staring in horrified incomprehension at the thing that had been pretending to be her brother.
"Sure-" Bulvi began to respond to Saki when the creature fell to the ground. Still smoking Bulvi moved in interpose himself between Anastasia, and the messy remains of the draconic beast. She'd likely have many nightmare haunted nights to come after this moment. He wasn't sure what to say, his words failed him. What would he say, oh don't worry that wasn't your brother he was already dead?
Maka reared back and roared in victory, a triumphant gout of fire bursting from her throat. But as her fury ebbed, so too did the flames, fading into deep, steady breaths.
Maka took a step towards Anastasia, instinctively wanting to wrap the poor girl in a hug. But Maka hesitated, showing rare consideration that not everyone might want a hug from her.
"I think we should maybe take her back to Cluckers and make her some pancakes," Maka said to the others.
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"I think we should maybe take her back to Cluckers and make her some pancakes," Maka said to the others.
As soon as she was sure the dragon was dead, Quasit looks back at Anastasia with only pity in her heart.
”We still need to at least try and find the tombstone fairy to revive Viktor.” she says, half to herself. She looks around at the others, putting her hands on her hips (after sheathing her blades), in an attitude of mournful consternation at this steaming pile of horror and complication.
”Let me talk to her for a bit.”
She scoops up the discarded blanket and makes her way over to the girl, sits beside her and wraps the blanket around them both.
”So, again…not Alexei.” she says in Russian after a moment to break the ice. ”Look, I know this is all really confusing and frightening and nothing in your life prepared you for this. Believe me, I know how THAT feels at least. There’s no shame in being freaked out right now.”
”If you want to ask me any questions about my friends and I, I’ll do my best to answer. And I’ll try and answer any other questions you may have, though I can’t promise I’ll know everything. We had heard you might be around here, but to be honest we weren’t looking for you. But there are a couple things I want you to understand right up front.”
”First off, Rasputin is not a good person. He wants to use you. To gain power. He’s the one who left that…creature to guard you and trick you.”
”Second, my friends and I are going to do everything we can to help you and keep you safe. It’s probably hard to know who to trust right now, and of course it’s your choice. But believe me when I say you are in danger still. And I think we are your best option.”
She takes the girl’s hand and bends around a little to look her in the eye. ”You are the grand duchess Anastasia. You have the blood of the Romanovs in you. You have the strength to face this. Ok?”
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The three-headed dragon collapses but Sakitu stares at it for a few more seconds. She wants to make sure that it's really dead. Once she's convinced, she stuffs her healing wand back into her bag.
She notices Quasit go over to talk with the girl. That's probably a good idea. Her gaze turns to Fin who approaches the dragon's body. A small surge of anxiety washes through her then she sees that he's just collecting arrows. She goes go join him.
"That fight didn't take too long. I'm glad. I got burned a bit though." She shows Fin the blackened blisters on her arms and her left shoulder. "I tried to dodge out of the way but I'm not fast like you."
"Once Kalchine is ready I'll see if he can heal me up."
Fin spots an amulet around one of the dragon's necks.
Anastasia is hugging her knees, shaking slightly. She nods jerkily at Quasit's words.
"I think... I remember Alexei getting shot," she whispers.
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Fin removes the amulet from around the dragon head wearing it…looks it over before turning to Selena. ”Hey Selena, can you tell what this might be?”
Selena shrugs as she takes the amulet and casts detect magic; if it’s magical, she’ll try to identify it…
Her gaze turns to Fin who approaches the dragon's body. A small surge of anxiety washes through her then she sees that he's just collecting arrows. She goes go join him.
"That fight didn't take too long. I'm glad. I got burned a bit though." She shows Fin the blackened blisters on her arms and her left shoulder. "I tried to dodge out of the way but I'm not fast like you."
"Once Kalchine is ready I'll see if he can heal me up."
Fin’s eyes go wide as he sees Sakitu’s burns, saying softly, ”Hlao-roo…I’m sorry…didn’t realize you’d been hurt so badly…Kal,” he said loudly while turning towards him. ”Saki’s burned…can you do your healing thing?”
Kalchine watches Quasit with Anastasia. There were many, many children like her back home. A generations long war bred more orphans than not. He wondered what would become of her. Perhaps she would become queen of somewhere, a fate almost out of a fairy story. Perhaps, like most of those in her position back home, she would simply join the ranks of those fighting, her battle companions becoming the closest thing to a family that she would have. Not that that was a bad thing. Looking around this group, he knew that they cared about and for each other better than most of the "normal" families he'd seen.
Fin's insistent but not demanding words snap him out of his reverie and remind him of his own wounds.
"Some of us need to learn to get out of the way better, don't we?" he says to Sakitu.
He begins by pulsing out some general healing for everyone who needs it.
He then lays a hand on Sakitu's much healed shoulder to finish off the healing.
Kalchine watches Quasit with Anastasia. There were many, many children like her back home. A generations long war bred more orphans than not. He wondered what would become of her. Perhaps she would become queen of somewhere, a fate almost out of a fairy story. Perhaps, like most of those in her position back home, she would simply join the ranks of those fighting, her battle companions becoming the closest thing to a family that she would have. Not that that was a bad thing. Looking around this group, he knew that they cared about and for each other better than most of the "normal" families he'd seen.
Fin's insistent but not demanding words snap him out of his reverie and remind him of his own wounds.
"Some of us need to learn to get out of the way better, don't we?" he says to Sakitu.
He begins by pulsing out some general healing for everyone who needs it.
He then lays a hand on Sakitu's much healed shoulder to finish off the healing.
Then, he summons up some planar energy into his hands to lay them on Bulvi.
And does quite well.
"Huh...I wonder if I can do it again," he says, approaching Quasit and giving Anastasia a simple nod of sympathy.
Not quite as good this time.
He finishes with trying on himself.
And has almost as good a result as he did with Bulvi.
Then, he summons up some planar energy into his hands to lay them on Bulvi.
And does quite well.
"Huh...I wonder if I can do it again," he says, approaching Quasit and giving Anastasia a simple nod of sympathy.
Not quite as good this time.
He finishes with trying on himself.
And has almost as good a result as he did with Bulvi.
He pulls out one of his wands to finish the job.
Kalchine watches Quasit with Anastasia. There were many, many children like her back home. A generations long war bred more orphans than not. He wondered what would become of her. Perhaps she would become queen of somewhere, a fate almost out of a fairy story. Perhaps, like most of those in her position back home, she would simply join the ranks of those fighting, her battle companions becoming the closest thing to a family that she would have. Not that that was a bad thing. Looking around this group, he knew that they cared about and for each other better than most of the "normal" families he'd seen.
Fin's insistent but not demanding words snap him out of his reverie and remind him of his own wounds.
"Some of us need to learn to get out of the way better, don't we?" he says to Sakitu.
He begins by pulsing out some general healing for everyone who needs it.
He then lays a hand on Sakitu's much healed shoulder to finish off the healing.
Kalchine watches Quasit with Anastasia. There were many, many children like her back home. A generations long war bred more orphans than not. He wondered what would become of her. Perhaps she would become queen of somewhere, a fate almost out of a fairy story. Perhaps, like most of those in her position back home, she would simply join the ranks of those fighting, her battle companions becoming the closest thing to a family that she would have. Not that that was a bad thing. Looking around this group, he knew that they cared about and for each other better than most of the "normal" families he'd seen.
Fin's insistent but not demanding words snap him out of his reverie and remind him of his own wounds.
"Some of us need to learn to get out of the way better, don't we?" he says to Sakitu.
He begins by pulsing out some general healing for everyone who needs it.
He then lays a hand on Sakitu's much healed shoulder to finish off the healing.
Then, he summons up some planar energy into his hands to lay them on Bulvi.
And does quite well.
"Huh...I wonder if I can do it again," he says, approaching Quasit and giving Anastasia a simple nod of sympathy.
Not quite as good this time.
He finishes with trying on himself.
And has almost as good a result as he did with Bulvi.
Then, he summons up some planar energy into his hands to lay them on Bulvi.
And does quite well.
"Huh...I wonder if I can do it again," he says, approaching Quasit and giving Anastasia a simple nod of sympathy.
Not quite as good this time.
He finishes with trying on himself.
And has almost as good a result as he did with Bulvi.
He pulls out one of his wands to finish the job.
[ooc]Well, that came out a mess, but I am late for a Doctor's appointment. I'll clean it up when I get back.[ooc]
Kalchine watches Quasit with Anastasia. There were many, many children like her back home. A generations long war bred more orphans than not. He wondered what would become of her. Perhaps she would become queen of somewhere, a fate almost out of a fairy story. Perhaps, like most of those in her position back home, she would simply join the ranks of those fighting, her battle companions becoming the closest thing to a family that she would have. Not that that was a bad thing. Looking around this group, he knew that they cared about and for each other better than most of the "normal" families he'd seen.
Fin's insistent but not demanding words snap him out of his reverie and remind him of his own wounds.
"Some of us need to learn to get out of the way better, don't we?" he says to Sakitu.
He begins by pulsing out some general healing for everyone who needs it.
Mass Cure Moderate Wounds: 2d8 + 13 ⇒ (2, 1) + 13 = 16
He then lays a hand on Sakitu's much healed shoulder to finish off the healing.
Cure Light Wounds : 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Then, he summons up some planar energy into his hands to lay them on Bulvi.
Healer's Hands (Treat Deadly Wounds): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31
And does quite well.
"Huh...I wonder if I can do it again," he says, approaching Quasit and giving Anastasia a simple nod of sympathy.
Healer's Hands (Treat Deadly Wounds): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26
Not quite as good this time.
He finishes with trying on himself.
Healer's Hands (Treat Deadly Wounds): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30
And has almost as good a result as he did with Bulvi.
He pulls out one of his wands to finish the job.
Cure Light Wounds(Bulvi): 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Cure Light Wounds(Quasit): 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Cure Light Wounds(Kalchine): 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
After the first healing spell Bulvi would wave Kalchine off. "That's fine the ring will take care off the rest, honestly if I hadn't been scorched so badly I would have stopped you before that one... but if we get assaulted soon that would be better to be in a good state."
Quasit nods gravely and gently pets the girl’s hair. ”I think that may be true.” she says quietly in return.
Anastasia shudders with the effort of trying not to weep. "I think... I was shot, too."
Kalchine nods to Bulvi to accept his preferences and saves some resources.
He then turns to Anastasia.
"I can't imagine what that was like. Not the being shot part. We've all been shot by this point," he says. "But the dying and coming back. I can tell you that, from every measure we have, you haven't been changed if that is what happened. You're no secret dragon. You're a girl who is being used as a pawn by some people with more desire for power than morals. But we're going to do everything we can to stop them and protect you."
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When Kalchine comes over to provide magical healing, Quasit exposes the wound more than she normally would, so that the girl would be able to see the damaged flesh being magically healed. In a world without magic, such things would probably seem miraculous — it was hard to imagine her life without such magical sustenance, especially since embarking on this mad quest.
What sorts of gods did they have in this world that didn’t provide their clerics with healing magic? Why would people even worship them if they provided no spells to the faithful?
Had Anastasia witnessed all the undead horrors roaming this camp? Quasit doubted it. She didn’t look forward to bringing the girl back to “Cluckers” and then having to introduce her to the Coffin Man, even if there were pancakes involved.
She hugs the girl. ”It’s good that you’re remembering, but try not to think too much about the shooting. Nothing can change that now.”
She didn’t share the thought that she wasn’t 100% sure the girl wasn’t a secret dragon too.
”Kal, maybe you and the others can stay here and watch over Anastasia while Fin and I go see if we can… help Viktor?”
"I don't think that will be necessary. I don't think there are any other threats in the camp so no need for stealth," he says, looking around at the desolate place, including barracks that were still burning. How many times had they come here and been repulsed by the sheer number of men fighting them? It seemed almost sad and lonely now that it was empty.
He looks back at Quasit and frowns in thought, then his bushy brows raise in understanding.
"Oh yes. You're right. We'll stay here while you guys go. Better that some things not be seen. And by that I mean us. Better that we're not seen by other people," he hurries to say.
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Quasit can only raise her eyebrows patiently as Kalchine gropes toward understanding.
”Smooth.” she says to him, smirking slightly, then stands up and re-drapes the blanket around the erstwhile Grand Duchess of all the Russias.
She catches Findurel’s eye and gestures for him to come with her, and to bring the bag of holding containing Miroslav.
***
Once they’re on their way, she speaks privately to the ranger. ”I think we’ve probably used up Kal’s healing for today, so I guess after we pay our visit to the fairy, we should plan to head back to the Murder Hut with the girl. I don’t know what we’re going to do with her, but I know we need to keep her away from both Rasputin and Elvanna. And probably Baba Yaga too, if we ever manage to free her.”
”I’m hoping that if it’s just you and me in that graveyard, the fairy might not be too shy to let us find her again. Hopefully our wholesale slaughter earlier will make her willing to do us another favor.”
She rubs her head. ”Man, what a day.”
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Fin nods, saying, ”Sure Q, no worries,” as he grabs the bag of holding…
He listens intently to Q, as they move to the hole in the NW fence corner, keeping his eyes alert for any signs of danger…
”Makes sense, Q; the fairy was comfortable with us before, no reason she wouldn’t be now. Just hope her resurrection ability can be used more than once on him…as for the girl, I agree, taking her to the Hut is sensible. Methinks Rasputin needs her alive for some nefarious reason…perhaps as a successor to Baba Yaga that he can control. Looks like he might not trust Elvanna…”
She rubs her head. ”Man, what a day.”
”Aye, agreed…but at least we finally cleared this damn compound…hopefully we can come back after a short test in the Hut, and you and Victor can disable that infernal bloody machine…
“Headache, Q? I’ve got some Elven tea leaves that might help that when we get back to Cluckers…”
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”No, I’m fine. Though some hot tea does sound pretty good right now. Which is weird, ‘cause I’m not usually a fan of tea. Anything warm would go down well, honestly.”
”No, yeah, mostly I just mean finally clearing this place out, even if Headless is still running around out there. I still can’t quite believe they all ran off like that. Part of me is afraid they’re all gonna come back in the morning. Man, we should cram as many of these stupid Russian guns in our bag of holding as possible, the Space Merchant sure seemed pleased with buying them off us. I could forget about my import/export business and go straight to the lay around on the beach phase of my life.”
Quasit is doing her rambling jabber thing again, hardly aware she’s talking, and seems to trail off thinking about life being filthy rich from interplanar gun running, when she looks back over at her friend.
”So. You gonna marry her?” she asks, a little teasingly.
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Sakitu thanks Kalchine for the healing.
"Yeah, I know I need to get better at jumping out of the way. I don't know how some of you can do that so fast."
After things have calmed down quite a bit she goes over to sit next to Anastasia while Quasit is talking with her. She can't understand the language but she can tell by Quasit's tone that the young girl is still in need of comfort. That's no surprise.
Soon Quasit steps away and announces her plan to take Fin and scout. Sakuti smiles and nods at Fin. She mouths to him "Stay safe." and then turns to the girl. She slowly reaches out to hug her, that's a universal sign.
When she feels the girl relaxing a little bit, she pulls back so she can make eye contact.
"I know you can't understand me," she says in a soft voice, "but I want to show you something. I can do a trick." Then, she transforms herself into her vulpine form. She makes the transformation go as slowly as she can, keeping a close watch on Anastasia.
The girl starts to pull back and her eyes grow wide but then Sakitu smiles and speaks to her again. "It's alright. It's still me. See?" She reaches with her fur covered hands to gently hold the girls hand then she guides Anastasia's fingers to rub the soft fur on her arm.
"Isn't that fun?" she asks.
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”No, I’m fine. Though some hot tea does sound pretty good right now. Which is weird, ‘cause I’m not usually a fan of tea. Anything warm would go down well, honestly.”
”I’ll make you some back at the Hut…most find it quite soothing and it keeps you warm on cold nights…”
”I still can’t quite believe they all ran off like that. Part of me is afraid they’re all gonna come back in the morning. Man, we should cram as many of these stupid Russian guns in our bag of holding as possible, the Space Merchant sure seemed pleased with buying them off us. I could forget about my import/export business and go straight to the lay around on the beach phase of my life.”
”Aye, the thought had occurred to me as well…but I doubt they’d come back quickly…at the very least, I think it’d take Rasputin weeks, if not months, to recruit a new army such as he had…
“…and yes, we should load it to the brim…I still have a few items on my wishlist…and I could buy a fancy new raft, or perhaps barge, and re-start my old trading route in the River Kingdoms…if I survive all this…”
”So. You gonna marry her?” she asks, a little teasingly.
Fin arches an eyebrow before speaking in a somber tone. ”Sakitu?” he says before releasing a heavy sigh. ”Have to see how things will play out…but I don’t think it’ll ever happen, Q. Things are great between us now but…she comes from a rich, high society family from what I can make out. Her father would never allow a drifter with no family, an exiled Elf to boot, not to mention an outlaw with a bounty on his head in Razmiran, to marry his beloved daughter. He’d think her to be way out of my league…and he’d be right. Family is too important…I know because I lost mine…and I would never make her choose between me and her family…”
He looks up to the sky for a moment, lets out a deep breath, then turns back to his friend. ”I know you two are close; Saki thinks you hang the moon, Q. You won’t tell her any of this, will you?”
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Fin arches an eyebrow before speaking in a somber tone. ”Sakitu?” he says before releasing a heavy sigh. ”Have to see how things will play out…but I don’t think it’ll ever happen, Q. Things are great between us now but…she comes from a rich, high society family from what I can make out. Her father would never allow a drifter with no family, an exiled Elf to boot, not to mention an outlaw with a bounty on his head in Razmiran, to marry his beloved daughter. He’d think her to be way out of my league…and he’d be right. Family is too important…I know because I lost mine…and I would never make her choose between me and her family…”
"Oh, someone who saves the world from eternal winter wouldn't be good enough for their little girl? Someone who by the way is going to be rich as a Thuvian pasha? And who obviously loves and cares for their daughter deeply? Yeah, they'd never want that." chuckles Quasit as she theatrically rolls her eyes. She reins herself in and gets more serious.
"Look, I get it. I was definitely born on the wrong side of the tracks, and my dowry is my plucky attitude and smashing good looks, and that's it. I've lived under the boots of the snobs my whole life. And I'll never measure up to their idea of a decent person. You remember Ibona? How she called me a thief after she'd only known me a couple days? That was right about the time she thought me and Saki were sleeping together like a couple of immoral slatterns. Ooh, that's about as mad as I've ever gotten. I wanted to punch her smug little nose."
"But you know what? Those are their rules, not mine. And not yours. If you two make each other happy, don't sabotage it by worrying about what other people will think. If you can save the world, you can stand up to a little prejudice."
"Which doesn't mean I'm telling you what to do, of course. I'm only curious. I can't help it, I'm a girl."
”I know you two are close; Saki thinks you hang the moon, Q. You won’t tell her any of this, will you?”
"No, of course not, my word to Desna." she says, holding a hand up and laying the other over her heart. "But you know you're her first real love, right? A person never really gets over their first. As you well know. And I know you're an honorable and kind person, and would never do anything cruel and ugly toward her. But I could see you one night leaving her a note and sneaking off, because you wanted to make things easier for her or spare her some pain or a hard decision. And if that moment ever comes -- just don't, ok? If the end ever comes, do it face to face, like adults."
"As someone who ends all her relationships badly, I know what I'm talking about. I have an advanced degree in sabotaging my love life."
Maka had been lingering nearby, keeping watch as Sakitu sat with Anastasia. She wasn’t exactly sure how to help. The girl had just gone through something horrible, and Maka wasn’t the best with… words. She crouched down beside them, watching as Anastasia hesitantly brushed her fingers against Sakitu’s arm. That was good. That was something.
“Saki’s got soft fur, huh? I bet she’s the best pillow out of all of us,” Maka said with a toothy grin. Then, with a playful spark in her eyes, she added, “I'm the warmest though!”
Golden embers flickered to life at her fingertips, swirling and gathering into a small ball of fire in her palm. The gentle warmth pushed back against the bitter cold around them, a comforting glow in the dark.