Ehren looks to Myrna, considering for a moment the dark presence he felt when he touched the menhir. Reluctant as he is to touch the stone again, they faced a dead end otherwise.
"This place has been fouled, but the stone is connected to the ley nonetheless," he explains, placing a hand over one of Hinagiku's own. "That being the case, we should be able to walk the lines to Drezen from here. If you are all ready, then I will make the attempt."
As Ehren musters the courage to confront the corrupted menhir once more, the unsettling quiet of the Stonewilds is shattered by the arrival of a group of give hulking creatures, shrouded in darkness and moving with a predatory grace through the petrified forest. Their leader, a daunting figure covered in white fur wielding an immense scythe, steps forward with an ominous presence that commands attention. The other creatures behind her, each bearing deep scars and with glowing red eyes, fan out.
The leader utters a chilling proclamation, her voice a guttural echo, "Strannajha... Selos wandaar... feydaar..."
"Strangers invade... Souls wander aimlessly... Flesh becomes feast..."
Amidst the looming threat, Hinagiku senses an unnatural bond between these fearsome beings and the menhir. The stone, bubbling with a vile power, appears to channel its malevolent energy directly into the creatures, enhancing their formidable abilities with the land's corrupted essence.
Among the group, a creature stands apart, its presence chilling to the bone. This specter, wreathed in a frost that seems to suck the warmth from the air, floats just behind the creature with the scythe. Its eyes glow with a baleful green light, casting long shadows that dance macabrely among the petrified trees.
Round 1!
Hinagiku and Unafe are up!
These towering creatures, reminiscent of the tales of abominable snowmen from the northern reaches, are yeti of ancient Sarkorian lore. Known to inhabit the coldest, most secluded mountain peaks like those of the Rimethirst mountains, yetis are depicted as monstrous humanoids standing significantly taller than most humans and covered in a thick coat of white fur. Their existence is mostly wrapped in mystery, primarily observed through the aftermath of their rare descents from the mountains, where they are said to raid livestock and occasionally, unwary travelers. The evidence of their presence is often nothing more than monstrous tracks left in the snow, leading back to the unreachable heights from which they came.
Yetis, while fearsome and possessing a visage that could freeze the blood of the most hardened warriors, are not inherently malevolent creatures. They live in small, tight-knit tribes high in the mountains, far removed from most civilization. It's in these isolated communities that they thrive, away from the prying eyes and fears of the lowland dwellers. The yetis' raids on human settlements are not a matter of habit but survival, often the act of exiled individuals who, devoid of their tribe's support, succumb to desperation. Their immense strength, stealth in snowy environments, and the chilling aura that accompanies their very presence make them formidable beings. Yet, there's an implication that their fearsome reputation might be a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of their true nature.
Their fearsome nature and abilities, such as their chilling touch that can freeze flesh and their paralyzing gaze, are as much a curse as they are a defense mechanism. The source of the yetis' suffering and their occasional madness is their close proximity to the thin veils between the Material Plane and other, more eldritch dimensions. It's speculated that the yetis, whether native to the Material Plane or not, serve as unwilling guardians against the intrusions of these otherworldly realms. Their presence in such mystically unstable areas has imbued them with supernatural powers but at a cost to their sanity and peace.
Through hushed childhood tales and the memories acquired from the numerous menhir he has communed with, Ehren was quite familiar with the legends of the yeti. Yet, to see them here in the flesh, in so miserable a fashion, is another thing entirely. The archdruid meets their frightful red gaze, brushing off the forceful presence it exudes. Although he cannot understand the apparent leader's words, their intent is all too obvious.
"These creatures are yetis," Ehren announces to the others calmly, distilling the legends into pragmatic combat advice. "Their bodies harbor an intense cold. It makes them dangerous to touch but leaves them vulnerable to flame. Take care to avoid their gaze if you can."
Header
Percept +23 low-light vision, blindsight 50', detect evil creatures within 200' emanation | Init +9 | AC 34, Touch 31, FF 26 +4 dodge when moving | DR1/- | CMD 35 | Fort + 16 Ref +18 Will +20, +2 vs death effects, +4 insight vs starv., thirst, some diseases and some poisons | Evasion (for all saves)
AC breakdown: 4 dex, 6 wis, 2 sage, 2 enhanc, 2 deflection, 4 dodge, 3 insight, 1 nat ac enhanc
Others: not FF in surprise round | Treat exposure to hot and cold as 2 steps milder (or 1 when sleeping or unconscious),
____.|.AoO__DgPool_LoH_Medit__Ki__MP
Left..|..07........33........7........3........16....00
Max.|..07........33........7........4........19....11
152/154 hp
Martial focus: 0/1
Resources spent
Rolls
Contingency:
Readying action to attack anything that will strike at Hinagiku
Hinagiku gets 7 AoO to attack anything that attacks her allies or, after the first attack, to attack anything that provokes within her reach.
Actions
Swift:
Move: expend martial focus to start combat patrol (punishing rebuke).
Move (e. pat.):
Free:
Standard: Ready action to strike anyone who will attack Hinagiku.
Full round action:
Surprise round action: Enhancer, move 10’
_______________________________
”And they ley around them is wrong, corrupted, close that of people who commit murders and such.” Hinagiku adds to Ehren’s advice.
Heeding the druid’s advice, Hinagiku closes her eyes before protectively stepping forward to face the leader and interpose herself between the yetis and her companions. Despite being much smaller than the newcomers, Hinagiku’s presence and calm make her no less imposing than the snowfolks and an apparent bulwark against them.
”Ydych chi'n siarad ein hiaith?”
Unafe wastes no time, bounding over to the scythe-carrying leader, shouldering her roughly, and then attempts to grapple her.
Move: Shove (staying out of reach to the place shown on R20)
If that shove hit her touch AC, Unafe will and move her to the olive square //and the yeti's CMD is -2 while she's battered
If NO, I'll use that role for a
...and if the (grapple/brutal strike) hit, Unafe gives a War Honk.
Despite the chieftain's size and strength, Unafe manages to grapple her effectively, the yeti unable to escape her ironclad grip.
From the shadows, the spectral figure emerges, its presence as cold and malevolent as the deepest winter night. Its form is that of a gaunt, towering yeti, its armor bristling with icy spikes. "Klaatu naru'phlei, g'yeth'na, g'yeth'kora!" it hisses in a voice that chills the soul. It focuses its baleful glare on Unafe, and strikes with ferocity, each blow chilling her to the bone.
"Summon curses, warm-lives, life, your attempts futile!"
Meanwhile, another yeti, her frozen fur streaked with the blue of twilight ice, raises her arms in a sinister incantation. She chants, "Rh'luhh n'ghft, tharanak n'gha qliphoth!" she calls out, summoning a storm of magical hailstones that pelt the heroes, causing bruises and the cold biting into their flesh. Following the initial barrage, heavy snow and sleet turn the ground into a treacherous landscape.
"Ice locks their path, stones of ice break their will!"
Li'an, Hinagiku, and Ehren are up!
Ehren grits his teeth, stricken by a biting cold that penetrates his natural tolerance and bombarded by hailstones even larger than the ones from before. But by the time the unnatural ice storm subsides, he has already prepared his counterattack.
So close to a place where the ley is at its strongest, the archdruid is able to tap into the vast wellspring of power effortlessly. His gemstone eyes are alight with an intense white glow as he absorbs that power, and as he utters an incantation his body suddenly grows, transitioning to a monolithic shape that towers even over the fearsome yetis. Despite his impressive size, however, he is not as quick to march into the fray.
Instead, stone grinds upon stone as Ehren opens his mouth, not to speak, but to unleash a tremendous serpent of flame upon the yetis. Still infused with the power of the ley, the fire snake emerges white-hot, its very presence causing wisps of steam to rise from the surrounding snow. Guided by the archdruid’s will, the serpent twists and turns as it blazes a fiery trail right through the abominable snowmen.
Ehren's revelations regarding the Menhirs are enough to pique Li'an's curiosity, but before she is able to do any investigations of her own into the nature of the pieced together druidic monuments they're interrupted by the arrival of their abominable foes. Their use of cold being the greatest threat to her, she begins by taking off and immediately summoning a miniature wall of fire to shield herself, an idea she'd had in the aftermath of the fight against the blue oni on the comet and their incessant use of ice magic.
Header
Percept +23 low-light vision, blindsight 50', detect evil creatures within 200' emanation | Init +9 | AC 34, Touch 31, FF 26 +4 dodge when moving | DR1/- | CMD 35 | Fort + 16 Ref +18 Will +20, +2 vs death effects, +4 insight vs starv., thirst, some diseases and some poisons | Evasion (for all saves)
AC breakdown: 4 dex, 6 wis, 2 sage, 2 enhanc, 2 deflection, 4 dodge, 3 insight, 1 nat ac enhanc
Others: not FF in surprise round | Treat exposure to hot and cold as 2 steps milder (or 1 when sleeping or unconscious),
____.|.AoO__DgPool_LoH_Medit__Ki__MP
Left..|..07........33........7........3........16....00
Max.|..07........33........7........4........19....11
141/154 hp
Martial focus: 1/1
Resources spent
Rolls
Contingency:
Actions
Swift: renew enhancer
Move: get martial focus back
Move (e. pat.):
Free: 5’ step
Standard: attack ghostly yeti
Full round action:
Surprise round action:
_______________________________
Against Hiangiku’s expectations, the yetis had remained at a distance, rendering her defensive stance useless. And so, after taking a breath to ready herself for battle, the monk steps towards the ghostly yeti. As she does, her arms describe a circular motion, gathering and entering in harmony with the ley, becoming one with the insubstantial matter of the world, and allowing her to grasp beyond the usual reach of her physical body. And, with these ethereal threads, she strikes palm open at the chest of her foe.
The yeti leader, the spectral phantom, and the furthest yeti in the back - a small creature with blood red fur - sensing the imminent inferno, attempt evasive maneuvers. The phantom, enshrouded in a malevolent darkness, seems to blur slightly at the edges, its form partially resisting the magical flames. The darkness around the yetis is imbued with a sinister force that challenges the purity of Ehren's druidic magic.
The fire serpent darts and twists through the air. As the flame licks at their fur and the heat intensifies, it becomes a test of Ehren's connection to the ley—the purity of his power against the corrupted resistance offered by the creatures. Is the archdruid's magic, fueled by the ley and his own formidable will, powerful enough to overcome the dark enchantments protecting these twisted denizens of the Stonewilds?
Meanwhile, as Hinagiku's ethereal hand makes contact, she encounters a barrier of oppressive, dark energy. The malevolent darkness that enshrouds the phantom yeti acts as a formidable shield, resisting her spiritual assault. The darkness seems to pulse with a life of its own, almost taunting in its refusal to allow any righteous magic to penetrate it.
One of the yetis, her fur a striking icy blue that stands out starkly against the grey backdrop of the Stonewilds, breaks from the calculated restraint of her companions and charges with reckless abandon toward Hinagiku. This yeti moves with a ferocious speed, her eyes blazing with a feral and desperate intensity.
Hinagiku, centered and still resonating with the ley line's energy, reacts instinctively. As the yeti lunges, a shimmering shield composed of ley energy materializes instinctively around Hinagiku. The shield flickers with an ethereal light, absorbing the impact of the yeti's charge and halting her advance with an abruptness that sends a shockwave of kinetic energy rippling through the air.
The yeti finds herself suddenly barred by this unexpected barrier. Her momentum thwarted, she stumbles, thrown off balance and momentarily disoriented. This leaves her exposed and vulnerable, an opening Hinagiku could capitalize on...
Beatrix is up!
Header
Percept +23 low-light vision, blindsight 50', detect evil creatures within 200' emanation | Init +12 | AC 37, Touch 34, FF 26 +4 dodge when moving | DR5/- | CMD 38 | Fort + 16 Ref +21 Will +20, +2 vs death effects, +4 insight vs starv., thirst, some diseases and some poisons | Evasion (for all saves)
AC breakdown: 7 dex, 6 wis, 2 sage, 2 enhanc, 2 deflection, 4 dodge, 3 insight, 1 nat ac enhanc
Others: not FF in surprise round | Treat exposure to hot and cold as 2 steps milder (or 1 when sleeping or unconscious),
____.|.AoO__DgPool_LoH_Medit__Ki__MP
Left..|..04........33........7........3........16....00
Max.|..07........33........7........4........19....11
141/154 hp
Martial focus: 1/1
Resources spent
Rolls
Contingency:
Actions
Swift:
Move:
Move (e. pat.):
Free: 5’ step
Standard:
Full round action:
Surprise round action:
_______________________________
Hinagiku’s uncanny awareness allows her to easily sidestep the blundering yeti while still reeling from the ghost’s unholy defenses; a shaking open palm becomes a blur of which the trailing ley threads form an invisible shield. Then, with a graceful sidestep the monk positions herself right under the furry foe’s chest. Two open palms meet its rib cage left and right and a knee its thigh.
Battered by rain and snow and glass, exhausted beyond measure, Beatrix has one trick remaining. She weaves behind Myrna, gesturing for a spell that affects the yeti leader. His weapon is threatened by searing heat, growing momentarily red-hot -- would he burn, or would he drop it?
The force of Hinagiku's blows, amplified by her connection to the ley, sends shockwaves through the yeti's body, aimed at disrupting her physical functions without causing permanent harm. The yeti grunts in pain and surprise, her body buckling under the unexpected and precisely targeted assault. The air around them crackles slightly as the ley energy reacts to Hinagiku's intent.
Then, Beatrix completes her spell, and the air around the yeti leader's scythe begins to shimmer with a rising heat haze. Within moments, the metal of the scythe glows a dangerous red, emanating waves of intense heat. The yeti leader, caught off-guard by this sudden change, growls in confusion and pain. Faced with the searing heat that threatens to char her flesh, she has only a split second to make a decision. With a howl of frustration mixed with the instinctual need to avoid injury, she releases the weapon, letting it clatter to the forest floor, now useless as it cools slowly, steaming in the cold air.
From the periphery of the fray, another yeti makes her move—a formidable figure whose fur is as white as bone, marred with the scars of countless battles. Her visage is one of the most fearsome among the yetis. This yeti enforcer flanks the group. She circles to the back, positioning herself strategically before launching a sudden charge at Unafe.
As she reaches Unafe, her claws lash out in a ferocious swipe. The sound of claws scraping against metal fills the air, a high-pitched screech. However, the mythril breastplate that Unafe wears—a fine piece of Demetae craftsmanship—proves its worth. The claws fail to mar the surface, leaving the metal pristine and shining even under the assault.
Myrna is up!
Myrna rushes into battle with a powerful "Yaaaah!" and a resonant, under-tone hum. Bringing her shield and hammer to bear, she moves around Unafe and up to the right flank, using her reach to strike against the nearest yeti with her hammer. Her Silver Crane techniques would be no use against these creatures, so she hopes to end the fight quickly and allow the Archdruid to transport them back to Drezen safely.
The toll of the previous encounter with the nabasu weighs heavily on Myrna. Fatigue clouds her judgment and slows her reflexes. As she swings her hammer with all the might she can muster, aiming to connect with the yeti in front of her, the creature's swift, unpredictable movements confound her attempt. The hammer arcs through the air.
The smallest of the yetis, marked by his striking crimson fur, takes advantage of the chaos swirling on the battlefield. He maneuvers with an agility unexpected of its formidable size, circling around to target Myrna, who is momentarily off-balance from her previous miss. The red-furred yeti, perhaps underestimating the resolve of its opponent, lunges towards her with claws bared, aiming a swipe that could rend armor and flesh alike.
Myrna, however, is no stranger to the ebbs and flows of combat. Her senses sharpened by the near-miss, she reacts out of instinct. Just as the yeti’s claws descend in a vicious arc, she executes a swift sidestep, her movements fluid despite her fatigue. The claws meet only air, slicing through the space where Myrna stood moments before.
As the battle rages on, the spectral yeti, consumed by its malevolent purpose, relentlessly pursues Unafe with its chilling attacks. Each strike, fueled by a deep-seated hatred, seems to draw energy from the very air, turning it into biting frost. Unafe, caught between defending herself against these spectral assaults and maintaining her grip on the yeti leader, finds herself increasingly pressed.
Likewise, the yeti leader, though unarmed, is no less dangerous. Taking advantage of the distraction provided by the phantom, she writhes and twists in Unafe’s grasp, her movements desperate and fueled by primal survival instincts. With a forceful shove, she breaks free from Unafe's hold. Immediately, she lunges forward, claws bared and aiming for any vulnerability she can find in Unafe's defense. The yeti leader's claws are as much weapons as any forged blade, able to tear and rend flesh with brutal efficiency.
Meanwhile, behind the front lines of the skirmish, the yeti with icy blue fur continues her ominous chant. Her incantations grow in intensity, the words twisting in the air, resonating with the power of the storm she commands. As she weaves her spell, the sky above darkens further, clouds roiling with a new surge of energy. Then, with a thunderous roar, a fresh barrage of hail descends upon the heroes. The heroes find themselves pelted from above by this dual assault of glass shards and magical hailstones. The icy bombardment covers the ground in a layer of frost and sharp debris, making footing treacherous and movement perilous.
As the heroes battle the yetis and the icy elements conjured by their magic, the atmosphere around the circle of stones takes on an ominous shift. From the periphery, where shadows merge seamlessly with the petrified forest beyond, two figures emerge. Clad in the decaying remnants of what once were rich furs now fused into their petrified forms, jagged, stone antlers rise majestically from their skulls, crowning their daunting presence, while their eyes, polished white orbs, emit an unsettling glow.
One of these two, recognizing in Ehren, addresses him directly in the sacred Druidic tongue. The air around them becomes palpably colder as it speaks, its voice a deep rumble:
"Féach, Archdruid, na caomhnóirí a cruthaíodh as gá, ní as eagla. Níor éiligh an Glas sinn amháin—tá sé múnlaithe inár mbunús féin, ag líonadh sinn leis an díothacht a theastaíonn chun é a chosaint. Is muidne daingean seasmhach in aghaidh leathadh an truaillithe. An bhfuil tú tagtha chun dúshlán a thabhairt dár faire, nó an bhfuil tú ag iarraidh páirt a ghlacadh linn?"
"Behold, Archdruid, the guardians wrought from necessity, not fear. The Green has not just claimed us—it has been forged into our very essence, imbuing us with the desolation needed to protect it. We are the steadfast bulwark against corruption's spread. Have you come to challenge our vigil, or do you seek to join us?"
Behind this undead druid, additional horrors stir within the shadows of the trees—zombies, clad in tattered hoods and furs. They advance with a lumbering gait, their forms bearing brutal scars, driven by an intent as dark as the corrupted land that spawned them.
Ehren strains his mind to comb through the fractured memories he had just absorbed from the corrupted menhir. The air is thick with the scent of pine and the undercurrent of impending doom. Ehren finds himself amidst a circle of druids, their faces etched with lines of sorrow and grim determination. As they chant in a language that vibrates with the earth's sorrow, the ground beneath them pulses with a dark, corrupting force. These druids, steadfast in their duty despite the demonic forces encroaching on their lands, are preparing for a profound sacrifice. They do not flee their sacred grounds; instead, they choose to absorb the land's burgeoning corruption, transforming themselves into siabrae—guardians eternally bound to the very blight they fight against. This transformation grants them not just a semblance of life but binds their essence to the corrupted earth, imbuing them with formidable powers and a relentless duty to protect.
Through the swirling mists of the vision, Ehren perceives the siabrae in their new, ghastly forms. Their bodies are fortified by an unnatural resilience, their skin like bark, hard and impenetrable, reflecting their adaptation to a blighted environment. They stand immune to the flames that once might have harmed them, their eyes glowing with darkvision that pierces through the shadows, and their senses so keen that they can feel the slightest tremor of an enemy's footfall on the earth.
Among the most haunting abilities revealed to Ehren is the siabrae's Blighted Rebirth. He watches as a fallen siabrae, its body near destruction, begins to pull the corruption of the land into itself, reforming slowly, agonizingly, into a new form. This cycle of death and rebirth occurs within the tainted soil, a grim echo of the natural cycles they once revered, now twisted into a perpetual guard against desecration.
The vision deepens, showing Ehren the full extent of the siabrae's dreadful powers. Their connection to the earth is profound, allowing them to meld into the ground and travel with the swiftness of burrowing creatures, their passage marked by the whisper of displaced soil. Above ground, their stony antlers serve as lethal weapons, capable of petrifying those unlucky enough to face them in battle, turning flesh and bone to stone with a mere touch.
Furthermore, Ehren sees the siabrae wielding dark, decayed versions of their once-sacred druidic magic. They shape-shift into forms that mirror the desolation around them—each shape a testament to decay and ruin. Their new spells are cast not to nurture but to dominate and destroy, reflecting their domains over Death and Destruction, a horrifying perversion of their original nature.
Unafe, Li'an, Ehren, and Hinagiku are up!
Header
Percept +23 low-light vision, blindsight 50', detect evil creatures within 200' emanation | Init +12 | AC 37, Touch 34, FF 26 +4 dodge when moving | DR5/- | CMD 38 | Fort + 16 Ref +21 Will +20, +2 vs death effects, +4 insight vs starv., thirst, some diseases and some poisons | Evasion (for all saves)
AC breakdown: 7 dex, 6 wis, 2 sage, 2 enhanc, 2 deflection, 4 dodge, 3 insight, 1 nat ac enhanc
Others: not FF in surprise round | Treat exposure to hot and cold as 2 steps milder (or 1 when sleeping or unconscious),
____.|.AoO__DgPool_LoH_Medit__Ki__MP
Left..|..07........33........7........3........16....00
Max.|..07........33........7........4........19....11
132/154 hp
Martial focus: 1/1
Resources spent
Rolls
Contingency:
Actions
Swift:
Move: move
Move (e. pat.):
Free:
Standard: set up punishing rebuke zone, allows HInagiku to AoO in her big blue circle to to AoO enemies who attack her allies.
Full round action:
Surprise round action:
_______________________________
Since the battle had started, Hinagiku had failed to position herself well enough to defend her allies. But now, seeing an opening, she slips behind the nearest menhir, between Unafe’s legs and directly to the frontline. Defiant, she stands between her allies and foes: she would not allow her companions to be targeted with impunity.
Yet, just as she readies herself, she hears the ominous voice coming from the south. Oddly, the words make sense to her; years of attuning herself to the world, perhaps her connection to its very essence, allow her to finally make sense of the secret language of the druids.
”A allwn ni ddal y ddwy linell mewn gwirionedd? Ehren-kun, unrhyw ffordd y gallwn adael nawr a dod yn ôl yn nes ymlaen?” Hinagiku asks calmly.
Ehren feels his heart sink when he sees the two undead druids, proof that Auzmezar's blasphemous ideology took root among his followers. The elemental sets his jaw, his stony features far too inflexible to reflect his inner turmoil accurately. Anger and sorrow swell within, emotions that the archdruid struggles to push back beneath his sea of calm.
Hinagiku's words reach Ehren, eliciting a stiff nod. A part of him wanted to contend with these abominations, to punish them for turning to such dark, corrupt powers. Under the circumstances, however, he is not entirely confident they can emerge victorious - especially if the knowledge he gleaned from the shattered menhir was any indication.
"Ná, siabrae. Ach cé go bhfuil cosáin éagsúla roghnaithe againn, níl fonn ar bith orm dul i ngleic le cosantóirí an Chreidimh Ghlais. Níl le déanamh agam ach na clocha seo a úsáid chun na línte a shiúl ón áit seo," the archdruid says in a level tone, his earthen form towering over the undead creatures. With heavy footfalls, he slowly approaches the closer of the two siabrae. "Guím ort do chaomhnóirí a ghlaoch amach agus ligean dúinn imeacht faoi shíocháin. Ní féidir linn níos mó dochar a dhéanamh don fhoraois seo ná mar a d’fhulaing sí cheana féin."
"I beseech you to call off your guardians and let us leave in peace. We can do no more harm to this forest than it has already endured."
Unafe is about to launch another attack on the yetis when she hears Ehren speak. While she doesn't understand the words, his tone is clear, a quick nod communicates that he is trying to make peace with their attackers.
She hesitates--Does he really think that's possible? With undead??--but then decides that this is the Archdruid and she'll give him the chance.
When the second wave of hail hits, Li'an finds herself glad she'd shielded herself from the cold. Nevertheless, she moves further up, attempting to get out of the effect of the hailstorm in case the Yeti intended to cast again.
Li'an is preparing to deal with the yetis when she hears someone address them from behind. Turning to face them, she looks at the undead, realizing these might be the druids Ehren had mentioned before the battle started. With the leader clearly focused on Ehren, Li'an decides it best to wait until it is clear whether they intend to aid the party or attack it.
The air around them seemed to thicken with tension as Ehren's words hung in the air, awaiting a response from the siabraes. The undead druids regarded him with an unsettling stillness, their white eyes gleaming with an otherworldly light.
The larger of the two siabraes, its voice echoing with the weight of ages, broke the silence. "Labhraíonn tú faoi shíocháin, a Airdrí, ach is tuairim an ábhair tú anseo atá dínit do thaiscéal an áit seo. Le deis, athbheoimis Coill na gCloch go leagan íseal dá féin. Ní féidir linn ligean duit dul trí mhealltach."
"You speak of peace, Archdruid, but your presence here is an affront to the sanctity of this place. Given the chance, you would restore the Forest of Stones to an inferior version of itself. We cannot allow you to pass unchallenged."
The smaller siabrae, its voice a haunting whisper, added, "Ní féidir an corrachán atá ag fás laistigh den choill seo a sheasamh. Is sinn a bhfuil mar chosaintí, mar chosaintí. Ní ceadmhach linn tú a dhéanamh níos mó damáiste le do bheith i láthair."
"The corruption that festers within this forest cannot be tolerated. We are its guardians, its protectors. We will not permit you to desecrate it further with your presence."
Before Ehren could respond, the smaller siabrae raised a hand, and the ground beneath them trembled as the zombies lurking in the shadows lurched forward, drawn by the dark energy pulsating from the siabraes.
Li'an prepares herself, focusing her energy, and with a swift incantation, she conjures a barrier of roaring flames. A Wall of Fire erupts into existence, blazing with intense heat and casting flickering shadows across the menhir circle.
Across the circle from the undead, the snow-white yeti lunges towards her with claws bared, intent on striking Hinagiku down. However, her reflexes are quick, and she manages to evade the attacks gracefully. As the yeti's onslaught proves futile, Hinagiku stands firm. In her blind determination to strike her down, the yeti overextends herself, her claws slashing wildly through the air. With each failed attempt, the strain on her muscles becomes evident.
Beatrix is up!
When mysterious undead druids appear to attack them, summoning undead servants to menace them, Beatrix feels afraid despite the protection offered by Li'an fire magic spell.
"Archdruid!" calls the Lieutenant over the chaos, "Perhaps we can show these guardians that we mean our words and leave these sacred grounds?"
With very little magic left, Beatrix can do little more than to step closer to her Captain and cast her final protective spell. Perhaps it would serve to protect against these creatures' paralytic gaze.
Meanwhile, the battle with the yetis remains a frenzy of motion. The enormous, scarred yeti—her fur as white as bone and marked by the stories of past battles—renews her assault on Unafe. As she strikes, her claws screech against the mythril breastplate protecting Unafe, turning aside the yeti's brutal attack. The metal holds, untarnished, reflecting the yeti's frustrated snarl as she fails to breach Unafe's armor.
Myrna is up!
Beatrix freezes in place, paralyzed by the terrifying gaze of the yetis.
While she fruitlessly battles against the yeti attackers, Myrna inspires her allies to action with her voice. She swings her hammer to and fro against their deadly assailants, stepping in close against two of them. She hopes not to destroy the yetis, but to occupy them until her other allies are able to bring their might to bear or otherwise evacuate the group from this haunted, doomed forest.
Myrna's first swing goes wide. However, she quickly recalibrates and with a powerful heave of her arms, her hammer arcs through the air and connects solidly with her second swing. The impact reverberates through the petrified woods.
The battle within the haunted forest grows increasingly frenetic as both the heroes and their supernatural foes exchange blows under the looming menhirs. The spectral yeti, a malevolent apparition emanating a chill that seems to seep into the very bones of the living, lashes out at Unafe with its ghostly claws. The yeti's attacks, while fearsome, provide Unafe with the opening she needs.
Simultaneously, the yeti leader again targets Unafe with her razor-sharp claws. The first claw comes swiftly but Unafe, anticipating the strike, sidesteps, evading the swipe. The second attack follows in quick succession, her claws raking across her armor with a high-pitched screech. Sparks fly as metal resists the force, the fine mithral breastplate holding strong against the assault.
In the background, the ice blue-furred yeti continues her incantations, her arms raised towards the darkened sky as she calls forth more hail. The air grows colder, the atmosphere thick with the power of her magic, as hailstones begin to pelt down anew. The ice strikes the heroes relentlessly, adding another layer of hazard to the already perilous fight.
Li'an flies above the chaotic combat. Her gaze can see over the dense, violet flames that flicker ominously across the battlefield—a barrier of arcane fire that obscures the view from the ground but not from her elevated position.
As she watches, a notable shift occurs among the undead. The zombies, initially aggressive and mingling in the fray, suddenly begin to pull back. They reposition to flank the siabrae, the undead druids commanding the battlefield with a presence as chilling as the grave itself. This coordinated maneuver suggests a level of tactical planning that belies their shambling forms.
Meanwhile, the two siabrae, standing firm amidst the turmoil, raise their arms aloft, each holding a sprig of petrified holly—a symbol potent with druidic significance. Their jaws move in unison, chanting incantations that resonate with the old magic of the forest. As they chant, an energy begins to coalesce around them, visible to Li'an as shimmering, hemispherical fields that encapsulate each siabrae.
Round 3!
Unafe, Ehren, Hinagiku, and Li'an are up!
A hot flash of anger burns within Ehren, provoked not by the siabrae's refusal to negotiate but by the utter madness that froths from their mouths. With Myrna's song beating in the distance, that spark is all it takes to ignite his rage. The archdruid would not dignify their blasphemies with a response - not a verbal one, anyway. It is perhaps fortunate that Li'an casts her wall of fire, barring him from an ill-advised charge. With a huff, he instead answers Myrna's call, crunching rimed earth beneath his feet as he stomps back into battle.
Realizing that Beatrix has succumbed to one of the yetis' fearful gazes, Ehren steps alongside her, towering over the tiefling cleric. With a mighty roar, he throws his fists at the nearest yeti one after the other, catapulting boulder-sized fists in its direction.
"This circle has surrendered to madness!" he bellows between blows, finally venting his sorrowful anger. "They leave us no choice but to uproot their corruption!"
Header
Percept +23 low-light vision, blindsight 50', detect evil creatures within 200' emanation | Init +12 | AC 37, Touch 34, FF 26 +4 dodge when moving | DR5/- | CMD 38 | Fort + 16 Ref +21 Will +20, +2 vs death effects, +4 insight vs starv., thirst, some diseases and some poisons | Evasion (for all saves)
AC breakdown: 7 dex, 6 wis, 2 sage, 2 enhanc, 2 deflection, 4 dodge, 3 insight, 1 nat ac enhanc
Others: not FF in surprise round | Treat exposure to hot and cold as 2 steps milder (or 1 when sleeping or unconscious),
____.|.AoO__DgPool_LoH_Medit__Ki__MP
Left..|..07........33........7........3........16....00
Max.|..07........33........7........4........19....11
117/154 hp
Martial focus: 1/1
Resources spent
Rolls
Contingency:
Actions
Swift: renew enhancer
Move: set up punishing rebuke zone, allows HInagiku to AoO in her big blue circle to to AoO enemies who attack her allies.
Move (e. pat.): Regain martial focus
Free:
Standard: attack spectral yeti
Full round action:
Surprise round action:
_______________________________
Hinagiku had finally chosen the right spot and position: each of the strikes that target Unafe becomes an opening for the monk. Like the ebb and flow of water, she gracefully slips in and out of her foes’ defenses, her open hands the flowing crests of the waves described by her body.
And, when Myrna presses on with her assault, so does Hinagiku, for the commander’s presence gives the monk yet one more opening. And so, ever advancing like the tide, she steps forward and pushes one more blow into the spectral yeti’s core.
Having moved up sufficiently due to Myrna's call to action, Li'an manages to avoid the next wave of conjured hail.
With the Siebrae's response and Ehren's clear anger signaling the end of the brief attempt at negotiations, Li'an knew it was only a matter of time before the zombies attempted to rush forward. While the wall would likely damage them, it was very unlikely to kill any of them.
Her first priority, then, was to make sure they couldn't join the battle even if they were willing to charge through the fire. Though the last time she'd put wall of force to use, it hadn't exactly been a resounding success, this time she expected it would serve its purpose rather effectively. Digging out the scroll she'd prepared after their return from the comet, she conjures up an invisible wall immediately behind the wall of fire, ensuring that any that tried to rush through would instead find themselves trapped within the wall of fire.
Once the wall is in place, she attempts to determine exactly what the druids had warded themselves with.
Unafe grunts when the spectral yeti slashes her shoulder, but takes the opportunity to grab and punch them in return.
Then, without wasting a moment, she pins them into a living club--suddenly glowing with holy light, thanks to Myrna's song--and swings them atthe leader.
// Triggered in Round 2
// AoO
// Readied
// +Battered (-2 CMD), Leg-Smasher (-3 to AC/CMD/Reflex)
Swft: Holy stance
Move: maintain grapple (pin, living weapon)
Free: grandstanding slam (demoralize all except grappled yeti)
Stnd: swing grappled yeti at leader
// if that wouldn't hit, spend 2 AP to make it
// 1/2 that applied to the spectral yeti, all to the leader. Leader is also Battered (-2 CMD), Leg-Smasher (-3 to AC/CMD/Reflex)
Unafe's hand shoots out, fingers clenched into a firm fist, and plunges straight into the yeti's chest. To her surprise and relief, her hand does not pass through a mere ghostly apparition but meets resistance. The creature's body, though spectral in appearance, possesses a tangible, ectoplasmic form—gelatinous and quivering under her forceful grip.
The impact of her fist causes the ectoplasm to ripple and distort, and she feels the creature's movements stammer under her control. The yeti's form begins to convulse irregularly, its attempts to free itself growing feeble as Unafe's grip tightens, rendering it mostly immobile. The yeti's eerie, otherworldly howls fill the air.
As Unafe secures her grip on the spectral yeti, the chill of its ectoplasmic form seeps into her, the cold biting into her flesh and drawing a sharp response from her body. Meanwhile, a malevolent aura emanates from the creature, a dark energy that threatens to sap her strength.
As Unafe struggles with the spectral yeti, another threat emerges from her flank. The young yeti with striking crimson fur, evidently a fierce warrior, takes advantage of her distraction. His approach is silent, deadly, his claws readied for a brutal assault.
With a swift and vicious motion, the crimson-furred yeti slashes at Unafe. His claws tear through her skin. The sharp, icy pain of the cold lingers in the wounds, even as blood begins to seep from the cuts, staining her leathers.
Hinagiku steps forward, her entire body coiling and then extending as she delivers a powerful palm strike directly into the core of the spectral yeti. The impact is profound. The force of Hinagiku's blow, combined with the destabilizing grip of Unafe, causes the spectral yeti's ectoplasmic form to shudder violently. The energy binding the creature's form unravels, and with a final push from Hinagiku's palm, it disintegrates completely. The remnants of its being dissipate into the air, falling like mist onto the stony ground below.
However, the victory is not without cost. The spectral yeti's chilling aura seeps into her flesh and saps her warmth. As she recoils from her successful attack, she feels the sting of the cold gnawing at her skin. Hinagiku braces herself against the weakening effects of the unholy aura around it, gathering her internal energy to resist the strength-sapping cold.
With a roar that seems to shake the air around him, Ehren lashes out at the nearest yeti. His fists, as large and unyielding as boulders, fly towards the creature. At the same time, Ehren braces himself against the chilling effects that seem to emanate from the yetis, gathering his inner strength to resist the paralysis that has claimed Beatrix.
Then, the icy-blue yeti lunges, her claws extended in a deadly arc. Hinagiku reacts with the fluid grace that has saved her more than once this day. She anticipates the strike, her body moving in harmony with the ley around them, stepping aside just as the yeti's claws swipe through the air where she stood moments before.
Myrna is up!
Cold dam zeroed by resistance
Slashing dam 18-4 DR = 14 (absorbed by THP)
Kiora, it sounds like a lot may be different between my post and when it actually resolves. Here are a few notes to help resolve. Pls reach out if you have Qs, or if this doesn't work logically. Thanks!
* It sounds like the Spectral Yeti dies before I get to maintain / pin / swing, so
- - IF attacked by the Leader (only) I'll let her auto-hit, and use my AoO to grapple her (as I did with the spirit)
- - - IF I start my round with her grappled, I'll maintain (as specified in my post)
- - - ELSE, I'll start with a shove (of the leader, if I can reach her, or else of another nearby Yeti, preferably one that's wounded
- - I'll still use my Brutal Attack, but if I don't start my turn with the leader grappled, I'll just punch her.
Header
Percept +23 low-light vision, blindsight 50', detect evil creatures within 200' emanation | Init +12 | AC 37, Touch 34, FF 26 +4 dodge when moving | DR5/- | CMD 38 | Fort + 16 Ref +21 Will +20, +2 vs death effects, +4 insight vs starv., thirst, some diseases and some poisons | Evasion (for all saves)
AC breakdown: 7 dex, 6 wis, 2 sage, 2 enhanc, 2 deflection, 4 dodge, 3 insight, 1 nat ac enhanc
Others: not FF in surprise round | Treat exposure to hot and cold as 2 steps milder (or 1 when sleeping or unconscious),
____.|.AoO__DgPool_LoH_Medit__Ki__MP
Left..|..07........33........7........3........16....00
Max.|..07........33........7........4........19....11
106/154 hp
Martial focus: 1/1
Sensing the dark and cold energy creeping up her hands and arms, Hinagiku focuses her mind on the evil's insubstantial ley signature, adapting her own essence to it and ignoring the worse of it.
Ehren pulls his arm back, ready to deliver another fearsome blow, only to suddenly go deathly still. The archdruid grits his stone teeth, his jaw locked; he immediately realizes that he has succumbed to the yeti's gaze.
Myrna steps in close to the yeti leader and, while she continues her performance, unleashes a powerful hammer blow against him. Her blow opens up the yeti fighter to follow-up strike by Unafe and Hinagiku.
"Kill the leader, the others may scatter!"
The air whistles as Myrna's hammer arcs towards its target, aimed at delivering a crushing blow that might turn the tide of this confrontation. However, as the hammer nears its mark, it meets an unexpected resistance—a swirling shroud of malevolent darkness that envelopes the yeti leader. This dark aura, pulsing with unholy energy, blunts the impact of Myrna's attack, absorbing the force of the blow and leaving the yeti leader unscathed.
Myrna barely has time to react to her foiled attack as one of the yeti leader's minions seizes the opportunity created by her focus on the leader. With a guttural roar, the large yeti lunges at her from the side. His claws, honed to deadly sharpness, slash towards Myrna before she can raise her shield to intercept the attack.
Round 4!
Unafe is up!
Unafe nods to Myrna's reasoning, and throws everything she can into a series of quick punches
Move: shove
Stnd brutal strike
Swft: rapid strike
NOTE: If attacked in melee, she'll let the first strike hit, and use an AoO to grapple
Unafe channels her frustration and focus into a rapid flurry of attacks against the yeti leader, who is shrouded in a swirling black miasma that serves dual purposes as a shield and weapon. Although the yeti leader absorbs the blows, each strike visibly impacts her, leaving her demoralized and teetering on the edge of defeat. However, the dark aura enveloping the yeti leader drains Unafe's strength with each hit, chilling and weakening her progressively.
In a desperate effort to shift the battle's momentum, the yeti leader launches a ferocious counterattack. Unafe, ready for the move, strategically positions herself to not only absorb the impact but also to exploit it. The yeti leader’s claws tear through Unafe’s armor and flesh, but this aggressive move leaves her vulnerable.
At the same time, on the opposite side of the stone circle, a siabrae—skeletal and cloaked in the remnants of a druid's ceremonial attire—lifts a gnarled hand. With a gesture that seems to suck in the surrounding light, the siabrae effortlessly extinguishes the violet flames conjured by Li'an, clearing the battlefield.
Seizing this opportunity, a zombie minion lunges forward. But its charge is abruptly stopped by an invisible wall of force set up by Li'an. The zombie recoils, dazed and confused, pawing at the air where the unseen barrier persists.
Elsewhere, another siabrae employs a more cryptic and disturbing approach. It merges seamlessly with the earth, disappearing from sight without a trace. Concurrently, another zombie minion begins a deep, guttural chant. The air around it vibrates as it completes its spell and begins to levitate, defying gravity. Methodically, it rises and starts to maneuver over the wall of force, bypassing the obstacle that had hindered its ally.
Finally, The icy blue yeti at the rear of the skirmish initiates new mystical maneuvers to disrupt the heroes' tactics further. Her fur, tinged with hues that betray Abyssal influence, stands on end as she alters the rhythm of her spell. In a flash, she duplicates herself, generating seven identical copies. These illusions, perfect in every detail, ripple and shimmer around her, moving in unison.
Those are not regular zombies, but zombie lords. Within the pantheon of the undead, the tomes of necromantic lore speak of a rare abomination: the Zombie Lord. Unlike mindless zombies, these lords retain a semblance of cunning and awareness, making them the stuff of nightmares even for the bravest paladins.
Discussed quietly among dark art scholars and dreaded by those who've encountered them, zombie lords are resurrected corpses infused with remnants of their previous identity. This perverse form of resurrection leaves them not only conscious but also malicious. Unlike their staggering counterparts, zombie lords move with a deliberate, menacing intent, their intelligence making them fearsome predators.
Their creation is usually no accident. Necromancers and other dark figures often orchestrate such transformations to maintain power after death. Zombie lords remember their former lives, which allows them to use weapons or cast spells with lethal skill. They are shrouded in an aura of dark power, making them especially resistant to the sacred powers wielded by clerics and paladins intent on defeating them.
Hinagiku and Li'an are up!
Unafe laughs, spittle flying, as Myrna's song leads her into a glorious rage. Between the protections of her ancestors and her righteous rage, she barely feels the cold and the yeti's claws.
When the leader tries to claw her, Unafe doesn't even resist. Instead she leans in grabbing the injured leader and squeezing her.
Header
Percept +23 low-light vision, blindsight 50', detect evil creatures within 200' emanation | Init +12 | AC 37, Touch 34, FF 26 +4 dodge when moving | DR5/- | CMD 38 | Fort + 16 Ref +21 Will +20, +2 vs death effects, +4 insight vs starv., thirst, some diseases and some poisons | Evasion (for all saves)
AC breakdown: 7 dex, 6 wis, 2 sage, 2 enhanc, 2 deflection, 4 dodge, 3 insight, 1 nat ac enhanc
Others: not FF in surprise round | Treat exposure to hot and cold as 2 steps milder (or 1 when sleeping or unconscious),
____.|.AoO__DgPool_LoH_Medit__Ki__MP
Left..|..07........33........7........3........16....00
Max.|..07........33........7........4........19....11
106/154 hp
Martial focus: 1/1
Resources spent
Rolls
Contingency:
Actions
Swift: renew enhancer
Move: move using acrobatics to avoid AoO
Move (e. pat.):
Free:
Standard: set up punishing rebuke zone, allows HInagiku to AoO in her big blue circle to to AoO enemies who attack her allies.
Full round action:
Surprise round action:
_______________________________
The miasmic shield around the leader does not deter Hinagiku, and when the yeti attacks her companion, she quickly strikes them. Then, thinking it best to finish taking care of the yetis, Hinagiku deftly weaves her way to the back of their ranks. And there, poised to strike, waits for them to make the first move.
With her firewall gone, and the fight against the yeti going slower than expected, Li'an decides to change her tack. Turning around, she quickly unleashes a fireball into the midst of the yetis, hoping to deal some serious damage and turn the tide of the battle there before the Siabrae figure out a solution to getting the zombie horde across.
"These are zombie lords with the Siabrae," she calls out when one of them begins to levitate over the wall. "Also one of the Siabrae is earthgliding, so watch out."
With the situation growing tenuous, Li'an also takes a moment to dig out her scroll of shadow walk. Unlike teleport, she would be able to draw everyone into the shadow realm at once, allowing them to escape.
As the yeti leader targets Unafe, Hinagiku seizes her chance. She moves with the fluid grace of a seasoned martial artist, stepping forward decisively. Hinagiku expertly targets known pressure points, her strikes designed to circumvent the dense, miasmic shield by emphasizing speed and precision rather than sheer force. Despite the dark aura's attempts to sap her vitality, her extensive training fortifies her, enabling her to withstand the corruptive influence.
Caught by surprise due to their focus on speed, the yetis are unprepared for the sudden onslaught. The area bursts into flames from an explosive fireball, centering on the yetis' position. The yeti leader, already reeling from Unafe's and Hinagiku's attacks, receives the full impact of the fireball. Engulfed in searing flames, she emits a pained howl that reverberates mournfully through the woods before succumbing to the inferno, her body charred. The remaining yetis, though quicker to react, still endure burns and injuries as they jump away, barely escaping the fireball's core.
Meanwhile, several zombies chant, casting spells. They begin to levitate, eerily ascending as if climbing invisible stairs, effectively overcoming the wall of force that Li'an had erected to stall them.
In the chaos, one yeti, recognizing the bleak prospects without their leader, dashes toward the forest. The surrounding area, however, offers little immediate cover, presenting a wide, exposed clearing that the yeti must traverse to reach any semblance of safety or concealment. It is at this moment Beatrix comes to, the paralysis having finally worn off.
Beatrix is up!
Beatrix, sensing the emergent nature of the situation, dashes closer to her captain while unleashing a burst of abjuration magic against one of the zombie lords climbing over the force wall. With enough power, she could overwhelm their spell and send them crashing to the ground, unable to join the battle.
Her spell completed, she appraises her compatriots. "Hello? Do we still need to be here?" she calls out, "Can't we use the menhir to return to Drezen immediately?"
Header
Percept +23 low-light vision, blindsight 50', detect evil creatures within 200' emanation | Init +12 | AC 37, Touch 34, FF 26 +4 dodge when moving | DR5/- | CMD 38 | Fort + 16 Ref +21 Will +20, +2 vs death effects, +4 insight vs starv., thirst, some diseases and some poisons | Evasion (for all saves)
AC breakdown: 7 dex, 6 wis, 2 sage, 2 enhanc, 2 deflection, 4 dodge, 3 insight, 1 nat ac enhanc
Others: not FF in surprise round | Treat exposure to hot and cold as 2 steps milder (or 1 when sleeping or unconscious),
____.|.AoO__DgPool_LoH_Medit__Ki__MP
Left..|..04........33........7........3........16....00
Max.|..07........33........7........4........19....11
106/154 hp
Martial focus: 1/1
Resources spent
Rolls
Contingency:
Actions
Swift:
Move:
Move (e. pat.):
Free:
Standard: set up punishing rebuke zone, allows HInagiku to AoO in her big blue circle to to AoO enemies who attack her allies.
Full round action:
Surprise round action:
_______________________________
”I don’t think so.” Hinagiku responds to Beatrix while moving to intercept the fleeing yeti. ”But, doing it quickly requires good coordination.” she continues in the midst of a flurry of strikes against her foe. ”Ehren-kun, what do you think?” she concludes falling back into her readied stance.
Hinagiku reaches the yeti with astonishing speed, her movements a coordinated blur of precision and control. She executes a sequence of non-lethal strikes, using her martial prowess to disable, not kill. Her final blow is decisive, knocking the yeti unconscious; her large body falling with a heavy thud onto the forest floor.
Hinagiku pivots to consult with her allies, adopting her defensive posture as she calls out to Ehren for guidance. But Ehren cannot respond; he is frozen in place, his body stiff and eyes wide with shock. The paralyzing gaze of a yeti has caught him, immobilizing him at this pivotal juncture.
Meanwhile, as the yetis falter under the heroes' sustained offensive, one panics and scrambles towards the tree line. His hasty retreat through the open clearing makes him an easy target for the alert heroes.
Concurrently, a different kind of danger is neutralized by Beatrix. As she observes a zombie lord floating eerily above the wall of force, she quickly recites a dispel magic incantation. With a forceful gesture, she shatters the spell enabling the zombie's levitation. The threads of druidic magic unravel instantly, and without support, the zombie lord plummets to the earth. It hits the ground hard, becoming prone and disoriented, its body harshly colliding against the rough terrain.
Myrna is up!