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"He is a dragonkin, like the many you have seen, but even amongst the dragonkin he stands out as one bred for war. His scales are tough, his stature powerful and his breath chills like the deepest winter. His skills in military tactics are but average, yet he won his position in Warlord Yrax's army through physical might alone. He will not be an easy opponent."
You present Exiel's foolhardy plan to Commander Pharamol, who looks alarmed by the idea. However, he after giving it some thought, he nods.
"You have all performed admirably in the field today, and if you are this confident, then it might be worth the risk. At the worst, you will undo some of the good that you managed to achieve today. But if this works, not only will I avoid risking more of my men in combat, but word will get around that one of Yrax's top generals was defeated in single combat by a formerly unknown Skyfire soldier, and the damage to the morale of the Drakelands' troops will have far-reaching benefits for our cause."
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The plan remains largely the same. Commander Pharamol sends several scouting patrols to skirmish with the scattered Drakelands troops to keep them from rallying at Malesinder's camp. However, instead of leading a sortie into Malesinder's camp, Pharamol turns the tables on Malesinder and has his troops surround Malesinder's camp whilst Exiel's challenge is delivered via missive into the camp.
About half an hour later, a contingent of Drakelands troops emerge from their camp. At their head is silver-scaled Dragonkin who stands a head and a half taller than any other dragonkin you have seen thus far. He is adorned in gold jewelry and wears a large curved scimitar at his right hip, and stalks at the head of his army with predatory grace and ease.
The two armies form parallel lines across the snow-covered landscape, and Malesinder steps up from the ranks of his troops to address the soldiers of Spurhorn.
"So, has it come to this? The coward Pharamol is too afraid to face me himself, and sends a lackey to be his champion? So be it! What have I to fear from you weaklings? Send your best, and I shall cut him down with but a flick of my wrist and a snap of my jaws! Send another, and I shall do the same! But make no mistake, Pharamol! Once I am done with your champion, I am coming for you!"
Despite his threats, it is apparent that Malesinder's position is alot more precarious than he appears willing to acknowledge. The gathered forces are roughly equal in number on either side, but the Drakelands troops have been shaken by their defeat at Spurhorn, and following Exiel's brazen challenge, all of them are now looking to their general to establish and affirm the superiority of the Drakelands army. A victory by Malesinder would refresh their morale and inspire them anew to fight Pharamol's troops; a defeat would shatter their morale and send them into a panicked retreat.
Pharamol looks to Exiel, then nods, trusting that the paladin understood the situation. "You're up, Exiel."
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"I have what I need Alden, but thank you for the offer."
Exiel walks casually onto the duelling grounds and laughs mockingly.
"You don't get it, do you, Malesinder? You don't use a greatsword to cut steak, or an earthbreaker to drive a nail. Against the likes of you, I alone am sufficient."
"Come at me then, you filth. I'm going to shatter your bones!"
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Exiel springs into action, invoking his deity's power and his own necromancy against against Malesinder.
But this is no normal dragonkin that Exiel is facing. This is Malesinder, General of Warlord Yrax's armies, terror of the Drakelands! He steels himself against the crushing force and shrugs off some of the necromancy.
"Insect! will show you what it means to be crushed!"
He takes to the air as he draws his scimitar, hovers 5ft above Exiel (just out of the reach of his sword) and expels a blast of freezing air that engulfs the puny paladin.
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Exiel swipes at the blast of cold air, creating a narrow pocket that he twists his body to hide within. With his resistance spells still in place, he barely feels the cold.
Seeing that Malesinder might prove to be a little more tenacious than the average foe, Exiel activates his Mantle of the Black Rider to boost his magical prowess. Then channeling his boosted powers he opens a channel between Malesinder and himself, siphoning Malesinder's strength to himself.
"Crush me?" Exiel laughs. "Way I see it, you're too feeble to pose much of a threat at all!"
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Malesinder takes his attack of opp.
He misses, and roars furiously as Exiel works dark necromancy upon him!
Dark tendrils of energy swirl around Exiel as he calls upon Baba Yaga's power to boost his dark spell. The tendrils reach out and latch on to Malesinder, grasping and pulling at him relentlessly, and with each pull, Malesinder feels his strength slipping from himself. A look of worry passes across his face...
But then he remembers that all his lackeys are looking at him, and pride alone forces him to press the assault. While Exiel could siphon his strength, he still had his skill, and he slashes furiously at the necromancer before rising another 5ft into the air.
One of Malesinder's furious swings manages to catch Exiel in the shoulder, drawing blood. The Drakelands forces cheer at the confirmation that the necromancer is NOT untouchable after all...
But Malesinder looks a little more worried about what else the nefarious necromancer might have up his sleeve.
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Unfortunately for Malesinder, he has no knowledge of spellcraft, and so is unable to tell what the vile sorcerer before him is planning. But having failed to affect Exiel with his breath before, he decides to go with that had previously succeeded by hovering close to Exiel again and slashing and biting and clawing.
Alas, the vile necromancer's foul magics had left him severely weakened, and for all the valiant dragonkin's skill, he is unable to pierce the necromancer's many defences.
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Malesinder roars in frustration as his wings are held fast by the sticky fluids and he falls to the ground (not prone, he was not high enough to take falling damage). He begins slashing furiously at the glue in an attempt to free himself.
With some effort, Malesinder manages to cut through enough of the glue to be able to fly. He takes a token bite at Exiel, but is unsurprisingly unable to hit.
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Suddenly, Exiel stops playing around with spells and unleashes a barrage of vicious attacks on Malesinder! His lance rips into the silver-scaled flesh and his teeth and horn are bloodied from savaging the poor dragonkin. The "paladin" leers at Malesinder, his entire monstrous head head soaked in the blood of his hapless victim.
At this sudden display of aggression and power, Malesinder's moral breaks. Without giving further thought to the morale of his troops, he turns and withdraws (as in takes a withdraw action) and attempts to flee from the monstrous gargoyle of necromantic terror! Unfortunately, the viscous spit that Exiel coated him in prevents him from flying as quickly as he normally would.
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The monstrous necromancer gargoyle chases down the poor terrified dragonkin and mercilessly impales the noble beast on his bloodstained weapon. The dragonkin spends a tragic moment remembering his loved ones and lamenting those he disappointed before falling lifeless to the cold hard ground.
Malesinder's troops were already disheartened by thier general's attempted retreat, and with his demise they fall into complete panic and disarray. A cheer resounds throughout Pharamol's troops as they surge forward to seek vengeance for the months of siege they had suffered. Within the hour, any semblance of a Drakelands military presence within 500 miles of Spurhorn is completely destroyed, and words spreads throughout the Drakelands that demonic shape-shifting necromancers have come to aid the Skyfire Mandate's forces.
Back at Spurhorn later that day, Commander Pharamol assembles his troops before a small makeshift stage and addresses you before the survivors of the siege.
"You have done more than we could have hoped for. Even yesterday, it seemed impossible that the siege would broken, but today, we stand victorious, and it should be some time before Yrax dares to try any further incursions into our lands. Meanwhile, we will have time to build up our troops and defences. The war is far from over, but you have helped shift the tide in our favour, and for that we are grateful."
"Of course, I have not forgotten the reward we promised. The bird you seek is your's, and so are the choicest items from Malesinder's personal armory."
A chest is brought before you filled with various items of treasure and equipment.
"Take this with our thanks."
"And now, we celebrate! Break out the beer, the wine and vodka rations! Set up the spits, bring out the meats! Open the stores! Tomorrow we will resupply, but tonight, we feast!"
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In the chest, you find:
rimeblade (+1 frost scimitar that Malesinder was using, resizes to user, see description)
bracers of armor +3
gold necklace (worth 500 gp, non-magical)
silver-chased scabbard (worth 250 gp, non-magical. Fits the scimitar)
+2 copper dragonhide banded mail,
javelin of lightning
page of spell knowledge (draconic reservoir)
restless lockpicks
lesser strand of prayer beads
four truefrost elixirs
46,000 gp
An extremely detailed and finely-woven tapestry of a majestic white dragon bedecked with gold ornaments and a large brown pelt draped across his back.
"Well, there aren't! Not that I know of, and I consider myself to have a decent knowledge of the local fauna. But what you say actually makes me rather relieved, because as a ranger by training, I was finding it rather perplexing that I could not identify what pelt that was in the tapestry!"
Pharamol considers the situation for a moment, then his eyes brighten considerably.
"But if that pelt is the other item you were looking for, then it appears that our interests coincide yet once more. That tapestry was retrieved from Malesinder's camp. It is well-made and valuable, but none of our own would have it because it depicts none other than Yrax, Lord of the Howling Storm, one of the Warlords of the Drakelands. He is the accursed creature that Malesinder served, and the true power behind the siege of Spurhorn."
"Challenging Yrax would be no mean feat, but if it is your plan to go against him and seize the pelt from him, now would be the perfect time! He had diverted considerable manpower and resources to the siege of Spurhorn amidst other campaigns and thus kept us from being able to mount any offensive against him. Consequently, his stronghold's defences have been relatively light, since he had little to fear by way of an attack. News of Malesinder's defeat will probably reach him shortly, but it will take time for him to rally his forces or recall his troops from his other campaigns. If you move quickly against him before he can recall his troops and shore up his defences, with your prowess, you may be able to raid his stronghold and perhaps even slay the beast! After all you've done for us, I highly doubt he will give you that pelt willingly, so there's a good chance you will need to kill him to get the pelt, and if you are willing to commit to slaying Yrax, I will be more than pleased to send some of our finest warriors to accompany and aid you. You have after all made quite an impression on the troops this day."
Pharamol looks perplexed by the suggestion that he is asking you to do something dishonourable.
"Yrax is a war-mongering tyrant who has sought several times to invade our lands and enslave us! If you would stand on the side of righteousness, you would have plenty of reason to aid us and help restore a semblance of peace to this war-ravaged land. Eventually another of the Drakelands warlords will probably claim his lands and then set his sights on us, but slaying Yrax will cause a lapse in the war and spare many lives in the process!"
"Excellent! We cannot thank you enough! Yrax's base of operations is a fortress of ice known as Ivoryglass. As I said, a few of our most decorated warriors have been very impressed by your efforts and are eager to accompany you on this mission. They know the way to Ivoryglass and can lead you there as well as fight by your side."
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42 looks at the dragonkin, "Talsune, will you fight along side me?" he asks the dragon kin.
Talsune looks at 42 without comprehension until Lauriel gives a translation. His booming reply is also translated by Lauriel, though it sounds a little stranger coming from her more child-like voice.
"A chance to fight alongside one of Spurhorn's heroes? It would be an honour! Though I will insist on getting the chance to spit Yrax in the face when I see him!"
Talsune, Nevra, Efrixes and Bescaylie also voice their desires to join your crew, with Nevra indicating that she would be glad to fight beside the Malesinder's slayer.
The rest of the day is spent in celebration, and many of Spurhorn's soldiers come up to you to thank you for your many achievements. More than a few thank you for stopping the infiltration crew from breaking down the door to the lower residential halls where their non-combatant families were hiding, and several of Thronull's crossbowmen are grateful to you for saving them from the dracolisks. Shatha thanks you in person for saving his life, but while he would love to be able to join you, he is too wounded to make the trip now, and you have been advised by Pharamol that you should begin heading to Yrax's stronghold, Ivoryglass, the next morning.
You rest well that night, and when the morning comes, your new allies are ready to go.
There is the question of how you will travel. The dragonkin are swift in flight, but Alden and Naala will not be able to keep up with them, especially not on land. Neither will the Dancing Hut, if you choose to bring it along. Nevra points out that if she carries Naala and Talsune carries Alden, you could still make the trip by air and leave the Hut at Spurhorn. Talsune, who outranks Bescaylie and Efrixes, promptly declares that Efrixes could carry Alden instead. Efrixes grumbles under his breath before saying that Alden should be small enough to ride behind Bescaylie on his back. Nevra and Bescaylie give exasperated sighs at the exchange.
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The ice citadel of Ivoryglass is located in the heart of the Vahara Glacier, a place your dragonkin allies know well but have feared to venture too close to...until now. The dragonkin bear you dutifully and swiftly across the snow-covered expanse, keeping relatively close to the ground as they navigate using mountains, hills and the occasional forest as landmarks. The first day passes uneventfully, but on the second day, about half an hour after you break camp, Nevra calls a halt and points out a commotion below. A wolf-like humanoid is being attacked by a pair of giant furred insect-like creatures. Bescaylie and Nevra exchange words and nod in agreement. Lauriel quickly translates.
"That's a Adlet, one of the less-common native races of Triaxia. She's under attack by some giant ice-insects called ursikkas. Bescaylie and Nevra want to help her, and I think we should too!"
The Adlet continues to run through the snow, apparently trying her best to escape. Exiel and 42 see a chance to act, if they choose...