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"Namaskar, Se-NEN-le-LEL. I am Lazarus Logos, wizard-priest of Desna"
He places his hands together in front of the third eye, bowing his head, and then brings his hands down to his heart, an especially deep form of respect.
"Lagán was most anxious about you, and with his help, we arrived just in time to save you from the flames. Please, allow us to examine your injuries and provide what healing we can."
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"Cenenviel," the elven man responds, finally cracking a small smile after listening to you all butcher his name. "That's a fairly good goblin accent all of you have going; seems like you've already spent a fair bit of time with Dragbog haven't you?"
At this, Dragbog scowls slightly and kicks a nearby rock. "Liked my way of saying it better," he mutters to no one in particular.
The druid sits still as he speaks, so as to allow Lazarus to examine him. Besides the smoke inhalation and some minor burns and bruises Cenenviel seems to have come through his ordeal otherwise unharmed - largely thanks to all of you.
"But anyway, you’re heading to the goblin village?" Cenenviel asks, his expression darkening with worry. "In that case, please be extremely careful. When the fires first began, I reasoned that they must have been caused by one of Dragbog’s people-"
"Hey! Dragonskulls treat fire careful, more careful than jar of pickles!" Dragbog interrupts indignantly.
"Er...well, I reasoned that the source must have been from somewhere in the general vicinity of the goblin village and so I traveled there to see for myself," Cenenviel continues, gingerly. "But when I arrived the goblins had fled and the village was overrun with dragon skeletons - but despite their appearance they are not undead monsters. No, they are fire elementals that have ‘bonded’ with the dragon bones that litter the area, I’m certain of it!"
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Jan chuckles..."Is that all? Flaming Dragon Skeletons... sounds like a walk in the park!"
Jan attempts to recall any information on similar bondings of elementals and bones and/or other objects.
Responding to Braydon's suggestion of using cold weapons, Jan smiles and says emphatically, "Gozreh has blessed me with the storms of Northmen...freezing all those who would challenge his divine WILL. See, the Fates have brought us here... to this very time and place to do the WILL of Gozreh and the Spirits that protect this forest."
"Maybe old stone voodoo or something?" Dragbog suggests. "Houses didn't get up and start moving until old stone catch fire, remember?"
Jan tries to recall if he's heard of any lore concerning creatures, spirits, or elementals bonding to inanimate objects but quickly realizes that this particular case, if true, falls outside his wheelhouse.
"Well, no matter the reason I'd be very careful once you reach the village," Cenenviel reiterates as he shakily climbs to his feet. "It's not much but I can use some of my remaining magics to help protect some of you from the heat...and to give all of you a little refreshment before you get started again."
The druid reaches into a pouch and pulls out a small handful of berries, offering one each to everyone - including Denair and Dragbog. "I know they don't look like much but trust me, they're quite nourishing and delicious."
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"Flaming dragon skeletons and old stone voodoo... "
Lazarus closes his eyes, takes three calming breaths, and lowers his heart rate, invoking a meditative trance. He enters his memory palace, wandering its vast library, and settles into his worn leather chair near the crackling fireplace, thumbing through the pages of a tome that seems most likely to contain the information he's searching for.
Emerging from his trance, he shares anything he learned with his companions.
Accepting the goodberry, he bows toward the elf druid. "Thank you, Cenenviel, for the gift of your magic."
He declines the offer of the druid's protective spell and draws a wand from his handy haversack. He activates it on himself. "I'll use my wand to cast endure elements on anyone Cenenviel can't help."
Lazarus recalls that he has heard many a tale of wizards conjuring servants from across the planes and binding them to specific locations or objects. In fact, it's quite a common practice. Some go further, binding these servants within objects for a specific purposes, such as the wizards of old Imperial Lung Wa who bound fire elementals into fireworks for the purposes of communication across large distances. It's possible that these elementals (as Cenenviel attests them to be) were similarly bound to the stone that lies within Dragonskull village, for purposes long-since forgotten.
"Oh, I see some of you travel prepared," Cenenviel remarks with approval as both Lazarus and Meredith produce wands. "Excellent; I was worried about only being able to protect a small number of you but knowing you have to means to cover the rest of yourselves sets my mind at ease."
After counting the volunteers Cenenviel proceeds to cast his magic upon Jan, Frankie, Yorad, and Brayden while Meredith and Lazarus use their own wands to cover themselves (and Denair). Dragbog waves off any offer made to cover him, however. "Aw thanks, but Dragbog be okay - more used to this sort of thing than you longshanks."
With his magics now cast, Cenenviel prepares to depart with his wolverine companion. "You said that you came from Mishkar? Then we'll make our way there; the people are good enough sorts and I'd rather take my chances with the centaurs than deal with more fire and smoke!"
"Here, two other things that might help you," he adds as he produces a small ring and what appears to be a carving of a small leaf, done in crystal. "Thank you again; Lagán and I will be expecting you back in Mishkar so try to stay alive until we meet again!"
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Once you've seen Cenenviel and Lagán on their way you return to the task at hand and resume your journey out to Dragonskull village. The rest of the day passes without further incident until, roughly around late afternoon, the journey comes to an end. You finally come to the top of a small rise, whereupon Dragbog quickly gestures for everyone to duck down. "We here," he whispers. "Don’t let the skellies see you!" As you peer over the rise, you finally catch your first glimpse of Dragonskull village...or what’s left of it. The rocks and scorched ruins of the Dragonskull village spill down a stony valley studded with the scorched stumps of small trees. In some places the skeletons of dragons are arranged to serve as crude huts, with smoldering rags hanging across ribs and spinal cords strung with rope holding up the charred remains of hammocks.
You can also see that in the center of a small dell at the southern end of the valley juts a granite monolith, graven with fiery runes and crackling with arcing flames. While observing the monolith you notice that the fires surrounding the monolith occasionally arc out and 'crawl' away, slowly simmering until they come into contact with a draconic skull which begins shuddering and snapping to strange, fiery life.
Two of these beings patrol the area near the monolith; they each appear to be the spine, shoulders, forearms, and skull of a deceased dragon, wreathed in ropes of living flame. Thanks to Cenenviel's magics - and your own - practically all of you have been able to ignore the effects that the smoke would otherwise have had, affording you all the time to study these things in greater detail as well as to approach from a more beneficial vantage point.
Wait...Cenenviel was right. These aren’t undead creatures...but if not undead, what?
Definitely not undead! These are dragon bones that have been possessed by fire elementals!
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Jan watches intently, pondering on what will the best course of action.
"I have never seen creatures like this before... I have no idea what they are."
"If they are elementals as Cenenviel said, then maybe we should engage from a distance, drawing them to us... rather than rushing in... not knowing what kind of defenses or magics they might possess this seems the more prudent option."
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"Thank you for the Snapleaf, Cenenviel. This should help us get down there, unseen."
Meredith isn't sure what the ring is for.
She lets the other party members analyze the creatures. "Looks like the monolith is our target." She looks to Denair. "I think I can protect you against the extreme fires. Some of us should wait in ambush while the others use magic and arrows to bait them close."
When they decide to go, Meredith casts Lesser Evolution Surge on Denair to grant her Fire Resistance 10. She also casts Mage Armor, using the wand.
Meredith casts Shield on herself and readies her crossbow.
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"Cenenviel was right. Those aren’t undead creatures. They're dragon bones that have been possessed by fire elementals. As far as their fortitude, reflexes and willpower, you should know that... "
The wizard-priest activates his wands, bless upon his companions and mage armor on himself.
He stows those tools of the trade, and draws his wand of magic missile. "Ready when you are, friends."
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Frankie's luck holds and his short stature protects him from the lingering haze of smoke.
Looking up at Jan and his plan Frankie slowly nods his head in understanding, then faster as he draws out his trusty slingshot and bag of marbles. "Oooo you guys get to see how great a shot I am! Best in the whole forest I bet!" He yanks back on the bands a few times to make sure they aren't rotted out.
Unseen by the creatures patrolling below, you all hunker down and hammer out a plan to try and draw the two elementals towards the group using magic and other ranged attacks. Lazarus recalls that these creatures, these burning dragonspines, are quite hardy and have quick reflexes but are somewhat weak-willed; information that will surely come in handy.
With a plan in mind, you all prepare yourselves and get ready. Frankie, ever eager to help, pops a marble into his slingshot and pulls back...and then lets fly with it when the signal is given! The marble zips through the air and pings against the stone monolith with a loud *CRACK!*
Below, the two dragonspines move as one as they swing around towards the source of the noise...
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Round 1
Jan
Meredith
Lazarus
Brayden
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Blue
Red
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Frankie
Denair
Yorad
Active Conditions: Bless
Jan, Meredith, Lazarus and Brayden are UP!
Meredith takes advantage of the 'relative' element of surprise the group has and fires a shot at Blue, but even that isn't quite enough to land the shot and the bolt sails harmlessly past. She then moves up, calling back to Denair to hurry up and get her rear in gear.
Deciding to be different, Lazarus conjures not elementals or burning sands but a burst of light between the two skeletons!
While Blue is able to shut its...eyes, or whatever it's seeing through, in time, Red isn't so fortunate and finds itself temporarily blinded!
"እሰይ ምን አለ!?" Blue rumbles indignantly, trying and failing to shake the bright floaters from its vision.
"እዙህ ማየት አልችልም! ሰው ሆይ: ተዉኝ: ተቀደሱኝ," Red roars with distress.
"Ow ow ow, what the heck!?"
"Augh, I can't see! Avenge me man, avenge me!"
Hoping to take advantage of the elementals' confusion, Brayden casts a protective spell on himself and then advances.
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Round 1
Jan
Meredith
Lazarus
Brayden
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Blue
Red
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Frankie
Denair
Yorad
Active Conditions: Bless
Jan is UP!
Jan nocks an arrow into his bow, enchanted with Gozreh's blessing. A wisp of cold mist drifts from the tip as he takes aim and fires at Blue...
*PTWANG!* *THOCK!*
...and sinks into one of the creature's rib bones! Blue howls with pain as some of the fire dancing along the surface of his bony form winks out, smothered by a thin rime of frost.
"እሱ ለስፒች ቀስቶች የበረዶ ክዋክብት አግኝቷል! ያዙት!"
Angered by Jan and his ice-cube arrows Blue rattles and clatters after him, circling around another pile of bones to snap at the Ulfen man with sharp teeth...
Red groans, continuing to shake his head as he stumbles forward towards the general sounds of combat. "የትኛው !? እኔ ማየት አልችልም!"
"That one's got ice cubes for arrowheads! Get him!"
"What one where!? I can't see, man!"
As luck would have it Red ends up advancing on Brayden's general position instead of Lazarus, managing to move with surprising speed in spite of its lack of vision. It closes in and tries to snap in the blue man's general direction...
...and gets a mouthful of dirt and ash instead!
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Round 1/Round 2
Jan
Meredith
Lazarus
Brayden
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Blue
Red
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Frankie
Denair
Yorad
Active Conditions: Bless
Everyone is UP!
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Observing the not-so-stealthy rogue trying to sneak up on the fiery red dragon skeleton, Lazarus rolls his all-white eyes to the heavens, and the ecclesitheurge bestows Desna's blessing of the faithful upon Yorad. "Good luck, friend, you'll need it."
"Oh! Right! Sorry!" Denair becomes active and begins flying around the blue tinged creature.
Her leafy wings sprout as she flies overhead, landing behind the creature.
With the two elementals lured in close the second part of the plan goes into action as Yorad and Denair advance forward, aiming to circle around and flank. Blue sees Denair descending from the skies and attempts to take a swipe at her...
...but only manages to fan the eidolon as she makes a smooth landing. Brayden calls upon his divine connection to Shizuru and the katana in his hands grows weightier as the blade is suffused with goodness and light. Smiling he brings the chosen blade down upon Red with a mighty crunching of bones and embers, splintering some ribs!
Noting that Yorad isn't especially well-hidden by the scraggly brush and bits of rock and rubble that cover the ground Lazarus decides to take pity on him, granting him Desna's blessing. Surely this will come in handy when one the elementals inevitably decides to come at him.
With her trusty flanking buddy now in position Meredith bravely tries to boop Blue's snoot with her mace but Blue has little trouble in seeing the attack coming and avoiding it, even with the floaters still plaguing his vision. Frankie, having fun with his slingshot, decides to stick with Brayden and provide covering fire. Turns out that creatures made of bone aren't the easier to hit though and the marble zips past Red's skull.
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Round 2
Jan
Meredith
Lazarus
Brayden
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Blue
Red
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Frankie
Denair
Yorad
Active Conditions: Bless
Jan is UP!
Unable to completely avoid the flames Jan's cloak catches fire and begins to burn but the flames aren't enough to slow the big man down. He swiftly drops his bow and brings out the axe and shield, bashing Blue hard across the snout with the latter! Dragbog, peeking out from behind a nearby rock, looks on in awe; Jan cuts quite an impressive figure as it is and the flaming cloak only serves to make him look that much more of a badass.
"አርጉ! እኔ ወደ አንድ ጥቁር እቃ አቀርብሀለሁ እንዲሁም እራት እኖራለሁ - እና እንደ የሰውን ዓይኔ እንኳን አልወደድኩም!" Blue roars angrily as he snaps and rakes at the Ulfen with vicious teeth and claws...
...and manages to catch a weak point in Jan's armor, leaving a deep scratch up one arm!
"ማየት እችላለሁ, ተአምር ነው," Red crows, now free of the blindness that had gripped him earlier. He merrily attempts to tear into Brayden again...
...and still can't put his money where his mouth is, even with his vision restored.
The battle rages on and Jan's cloak continues to burn merrily...
"Argh! I'll burn you to a crisp and have you for dinner - and I don't even like the taste of human!"
"I can SEE, it's a miracle!"
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Round 2/Round 3
Jan
Meredith
Lazarus
Brayden
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Blue
Red
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Frankie
Denair
Yorad
Active Conditions: Bless
Everyone is UP!
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Frankie looks around, wide eyed and nervous for his friends. These things were giant, and he was so small! "I'm coming Brayden! I'm gonna help, don't be afraid!" The little guy dives into action (literally!)
Frankie catches his foot in a root and stumbles as he moves in close, his little silver dagger popping into his hand to defend himself. "Whoops, careful of that root!"
He takes his little silver spike and stabs it at the thing's ankle bone, hoping maybe to destroy it! "HAVE AT YOU FIREY DRAGON BEAST! I am Frankie the Flash and I'm here to snuff out your wicked flames!"
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Intoning an incantation, Lazarus pulls a slab of butter from his spell component pouch and tosses it at the fiery red dragon skeleton. Over the creature's head, the butter detonates in a shower of grease raining down in a 10ft square.
"Right!" Denair's arms wrap together into one massive branch as she slams into the Blue entity.
That's a lot of fire. Denair holds back to avoid getting burnt too badly.
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Having waited for just the perfect time to strike Yorad now does so and breaks into a run, executing a tumbling roll that carries him under and past the dragonspine's bony claw and kicks up a cloud of dust and ash. He pops to his feet behind Red and jams his dagger into the creature's backbone; the dragonspine utters a rather unflattering yelp of pain but it doesn't seem like the attack was as effective as the rogue might've liked. Almost as though the more stealthy element of it didn't really make much of a difference.
Not one to be outdone, Frankie attempts the same maneuver but with much less grace as he trips over an old tree root poking up out of the ash. Red sees him coming and tries to take a swipe...
...but just can't catch a break as Frankie dodges out of the way! Frankie skids to a halt next to Brayden and attempts to stick his own dagger into one of Red's rib bones. Unfortunately it seems as though Yorad's presence behind Red isn't proving as distracting as Frankie might've hoped and the dagger strike whooshes through the empty space between Red's ribs.
While his friends keep Red and Blue busy and distracted Lazarus continues offering spell support from a safe distance back, this time delivering a shower of greasy butter down onto Red...
...who slips and slides before collapsing to the ground in a heap! Brayden is quick to take advantage of this and delivers another katana strike to Red's skull with a loud *CRONCH!* Bits of bone fly in all directions but the elemental is still alive and kicking - quite literally, as it struggles to regain its footing!
As the others tangle with Red Meredith and Denair proceed to gang up on Blue. Meredith cracks Blue across the jaw with her mace but notices that it doesn't seem to pack as much of a punch as usual for some reason. Coming up from behind Denair attempts to slam into Blue's backside but is forced to pull her strike at the last moment in order to avoid catching on fire like Jan.
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Round 3
Jan
Meredith
Lazarus
Brayden
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Blue
Red
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Frankie
Denair
Yorad
Active Conditions: Bless
Jan is UP!
Jan continues to ignore the burning pain of the flames as much as he can, swiftly channeling Gozreh's favor to heal some of the damage as he sets upon Blue with both axe and shield. He slices, he crunches, he'd probably make good julienne fries if he were a chef! More bits of bone go flying and Blue now looks like he's only being held together with spit and duct tape....whatever that is.
Red flails about and gets to its' feet, drawing attacks from everyone standing close by.
Both elementals now have plenty of targets to choose from as they continue their assault on the group! Blue still focuses most of his ire on Jan while Red just snaps angrily at Frankie...
...and while no one suffers another vicious bite, Jan and Denair do each take a claw swipe!
And though Jan suffers more burns from his flaming cloak the fires finally sputter and die out.
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Round 3/Round 4
Jan
Meredith
Lazarus
Brayden
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Blue
Red
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Frankie
Denair
Yorad
Active Conditions: Bless
Everyone is UP!