Pleased that everyone is so close, but wary of the fire in the dragon's belly, the invisible Varisian weaves a protection spell on the party.
That done, she fetches a small flask from her haversack.
Raen protects the party as they press against the dragon. The dragon in turn shrieks in rage as it focuses on bringing down those closest.
Round 3:
Raen: She protecc
Vael: Go Team!
Ushyle: Go
Three-headed Dragon: TBD
Doxon: TBD
Whistle Pig: TBD
Hamilton: TBD
Gorynych: 200 (Regen Active)
Left: Round 5
Center: Round 4
Right: 1d4 ⇒ 3 on Round 5
Breathing heavily, with burn scars crisscrossing his exposed skin and blood streaming down the side of his face, Ushyle grits his teeth and calls on the grace of Milani to bane Milani's Thorn against dragonkind.
Ushyle bears down on the dragon. After his first swing the dragon falls. IT's spell wears off and you can see its green form.
You also see its wounds healing as it regenerates. Ushyle swings twice more, and it will take a LONG time for the dragon to heal enough to regain consciousness, but it will happen....
Raen hucks the flask of acid she is holding.
Raen's small flask is enough to stop the regeneration, which quickly brings death to the gorynych!
Ushyle collapses to one knee on the floor of the chamber, breathing heavily but giving silent thanks to Milani for being alive. As he catches his breath, he stands again and casually lops off each of the dragon's heads, nudging each toward Whistle Pig with his boot. Some presents, he says with a smirk.
"I am glad you bear such a cheerful mien, burdened as you are with wounds," Raen says to Ushyle, alighting on the table. She glances back at Vael, breathing heavily under his own injuries. "And you are not alone in that respect."
While wounds are tended, Raen busies herself with searching for magical auras, items of value, or other points of interest in the room. She takes the uninjured Whistle Pig along with her.
The party spends some time tending to wounds while searching the room. Unfortunately there's nothing there. The giantess herself vanished as the magic faded.
Vael severs his life link so that he doesn't bleed out, then gathers the group together and calls forth a burst of healing.
And a second time.
He then renews his life link with the group.
"I am glad you bear such a cheerful mien, burdened as you are with wounds," Raen says to Ushyle, alighting on the table. She glances back at Vael, breathing heavily under his own injuries. "And you are not alone in that respect."
Being dead lends perspective, I can assure you, Ushyle say, grateful for the succor Vael's magic offers. But, I got better.
With the party healed up, and nothing left on this floor but a courtyard, they...
Ushyle takes a moment to address his wounds, not willing to rely on Vael to take care of only him.
That will do for now, he says.
Vael looks at Ushyle, shaking his head as he retrieves a wand. "No, friend. It will not. Hold please."
"To the courtyard then," Raen says solemnly. Outside the courtyard doors, she weaves several illusions and transmutations.
1. Cat's Grace (Raen, 14 minutes)
2. Great Invisibility (Ushyle, 14 - 2 rounds)
3. Haste (all, 14 - 1 rounds)
4. Project Image (Raen, 14 rounds)
High walls surround this courtyard, decorated with bas-reliefs of creeping, crystalline plants on the stonework. A monumental stairway in the southeast corner leads to the battlements that run along the top of the walls.
Just as the party is about to cross Ushyle catches the sound of giant guards directly overhead. Whistle Pig scouts ahead to determine that there are a pair of giants watching the courtyard from guard positions two stories above.
Perception
(See Invisibility)
(Darkvision 60')
---> (Darkvision)
(Darkvision 60')
(Extra +2 if Mountains/Hills)
"Let us be prompt," Raen remarks. Her illusory projection strides boldly into the center of the courtyard, as she steps lightly through the doorway herself. The illusory Raen then rockets directly upward, offering a casual greeting to the giants in their own tongue.
"Good afternoon."
Two heavily armed and armored Cloud giants react with veteran training. Both unload massive bolts directly at Raen
When neither seems to harm the illusionist they immediately.... Run from their post, shouting "INTRUDORS!"
"Ow," Raen's figment says in a wooden and unconvincing tone. "Are you coming or not?" she calls down to the others.
A wave of her hand and a wall of stone springs out of the flagstone floor to block the giants' access to the stairs.
"Split up!" One giant heads to the east doors, the other the south...
"You do not understand. You simply cannot run." Raen waves her hand again, and two new walls of stone spring into existence, summarily blocking both of the doorways. The stonework looks identical to the sudden wall to the north, but much thicker.
Meanwhile, the Varisian taunts the giants. "Come now. Surely big strong men such as yourselves believe that you can defeat one small, frail, human woman? Why the rush to show your cowardice?"
"AAAAARRRRGHHH!"
One giant returns to the crossbow, and the other looks ready to smash down the true wall of stone!
Round 1:
Raen: Go
Doxon: Go
Giants: TBD
Vael: TBD
Hamilton: TBD
Whistle Pig: TBD
(Extra +4 Mountains/Hills, +2 Subterranean )
"One of you has found your honor, at least," Raen chides, floating closer, to almost within the closer giant's grasp. "May it serve you well." A ray of shimmering light lances from her hand, bathing the balcony in multi-colored hues.
GREEN: POISON!
BLUE: INSANITY!
A blast of color magnificently pours out of Raen's fingers. The closer giant immediately dies. It simply drops dead, frothing at the mouth. The other giant is in a near panic!
Round 1:
Raen: Most Excellent
Doxon: Go
Giant: TBD
Vael: TBD
Hamilton: TBD
Whistle Pig: TBD
BOT
The giant slumps over the crossbow and slips through crenellation to crash on the flagstones below. Doxon gives a shout and spurs his spectral steed forward, riding over the giants body, then ascending quickly in steep, sloping circles towards Raen's double. On the way, the dwarf's skin turns to iron. Rising to the level of the battlements, he charges straight for the giant besieging the wall.
Doxon brings his phantom steed to the air. He rushes right in the arrow "slit" and closes distance with the massive cloud giant.
The giant doesn't take the intrusion lightly, swinging at Doxon on the way in and repeatedly thereafter. Thankfully the Ironskin spell protects him from what might have been fatal blows.
MISS
for
MISS
MISS
Round 1:
Raen: Most Excellent
Doxon: Close
Giant: ATK
Vael: Go
Hamilton: Go
Whistle Pig: Go
Whistle Pig takes to the sky. The winds whip about him, but this close to the castle, and it's not so bad. His aim is true as the stone strikes the giant in the face as it focuses on Doxon, missing the halfling's arrival entirely...
Round 1:
Raen: Most Excellent
Doxon: Close
Giant: ATK
Vael: Go
Hamilton: Go
Whistle Pig: Hit
Giant: 27
Ham and Sammi push off straight up and fly with all speed towards the battle.
Double move.
Vael makes the most of the magical speed Raen has bestowed to fly up to catch up to the group.
"I'll be with Hamilton. Got to keep him safe," Tulia says, flying up and after the roughrider. She stops a few paces behind him and Sammi, her crossbow ready.
Lykophos, not benefitting from the magical hastening, flies in an effort to keep up with Vael.
Hamilton, Vael, and his entourage move in....
Round 1:
Raen: Most Excellent
Doxon: Close
Giant: ATK
Vael: Move
Hamilton: Move
Ushyle: Go
Whistle Pig: Hit
Giant: 27
Ushyle spurs Rosewind forward to engage Rick Wakeman the giant, studying the foe as he approaches.
Enduring the cacophony his approach provokes , the Melanite brings his trusty blade to bear!
The giant makes a quick swing for and smashing Ushyle with a morningstar! Ushyle gets in and scores a solid cut in return!
Round 2:
Raen: Go
Doxon: Go
Giant: TBD
Vael: TBD
Hamilton: TBD
Ushyle: TBD
Whistle Pig: TBD
Giant: 61
A lancing green ray springs from an accusing digit of Raen's projection, zapping towards the giant.
While it takes legendary effort to pierce a giant's skin, it's easy for Raen to strike it with a ray! the giant roars in pain as some flesh is destroyed by the spell!
Round 2:
Raen: Disintegrate
Doxon: Go
Giant: TBD
Vael: TBD
Hamilton: TBD
Ushyle: TBD
Whistle Pig: TBD
Giant: 77
Doxon goes Ham on the giant.
Doxon manages to score a pair of hits the the Hammer, but that's all he can manage. the giant's defense is to much for the moment. the giant immediately responds, trying to work its way around, swinging its morningstar hard at the dwarf.
for
THREAT
for When Doxon drops the giant gives a roar of triumph and turns his attention on Ushyle:
THREAT
for
Round 2:
Raen: Disintegrate
Doxon: Hits
Giant: ATK
Vael: Go
Hamilton: Go
Ushyle: Go
Whistle Pig: Go
Giant: 116
Doxon raises both Agrimmosh and Thunderer against the first swing from the giant, unable to avoid the massive morningstar. His arms nearly go numb from the impact.
As the giant swings again, Doxon can see it aimed straight for his head. He is able to shift in his saddle enough to take the hit on the shoulder, the magic in his armor deflecting the brunt of the tremendous blow.
Ham and Sammi dive and charge through the giant's defenses.
Power Attack, Charge, Two-Handed:, Damage on Hit:
The giant, unprepared for Doxon to survive the hit, isn't paying attention as Hamilton thunders in from on high. The giant's heart bursts on impact. The carnage is extreme, but the room is quiet.
Raen follows her own double to the balcony, and lands wearily on the crenellation. She scans the giants for items value, as well as the crossbows , then advises: "I am nearly spent. We have struck many blows this day; I venture that a few hours, to gather the wind back into our sails, will not stymie or undo our advance."
In addition to the crossbows wielded by the giants, the weapon rack holds two more Gargantuan masterwork light crossbows and four cases of 10 Gargantuan crossbow bolts each. The cupboard contains several high-quality giant cloaks in fur, silk, and wool, one of which Raen recognizes as a wyvern cloak.
Do you really believe so, Raen? Like you say, we have struck many blows this day. We have done much to destroy the forces of our enemy. They know we are here. Would not delaying invite attack from them? Shouldn't we expect their remaining forces to be on alert and actively hunting us? While we have some resources left to us, does it make more sense to proceed with all due haste to the King's throne room and confront him to end this journey of destruction once and for all?
Raen takes a moment to consider Doxon's inquiry. "We do not as yet even know where the throne room is situated, let alone whether Volstus there sits at present. In any case, should we breach his sanctum, I have little power left to lend to the engagement." She pauses for a moment. "I have pondered, since we arrived, why the denizens of this fortress do not muster a spirited attempt to eject us. I can only surmise this: they fear us. They levied a great part of their strength to deny us entry, and yet we prevailed. So each servant of the tyrant, I expect, now awaits either the toppling of his crown, or their own doom at our hand. Volstus has gathered allies, yes. But is he a leader? I think not. Our foes have not learned to join their might, to stand beside one another under the heaviest of blows, as we have done in our time together."
"I therefore conclude that a brief respite to recover our strength and bind up our wounds will not much alter the state of the forces arrayed against us. Indeed, they did not attack us yester-eve as we slumbered, nor to my knowledge did they countenance any attempt to discern our hiding place. I believe that we have much to gain, and little to lose, by carrying on this campaign refreshed instead of weary."
Ushyle waits for Raen and Doxon to fall silent before he speaks his mind. I cannot say for certain if it be fear of our assault or arrogance at how insignificant they think it, he says, retrieving the cloak and handing it to the Varisian. But if it be the former, they are right to envision their own demise. And if it be the latter, such conceit will be their undoing.
”I too wish to press on, but if others need rest then so be it. I have bound my life to you all, and mean to keep each of you safe. Choose a safe place, and let’s get the rest needed for what I hope is a final push.”
Vael ponders what has been said, adding, ”I will try to divine more about our foe.”
"I fear there are more foes before us than that," Raen replies simply. "I recommend we site ourselves beneath the disarmed detonation device. That passage is already warded by my spells."