Wren fills Jorgan's arms with scrolls and the dwarf tries to juggle them, wondering what to do with all this paper. "Where'm I sposed to put all these, eh? Blimey, elf, you've given me a library...."
Jorgan sets the scrolls down to sort through later and sniffs the air. "She smells alive to me." Jorgan shrugs. "Well, m'lady, my name's Jorgan of the Steelkeg clan. Maybe you've seen our brand on a barrel or two? If you're from around here, that is. What do you be doin' captured by the giants and all?"
The woman stares up at the strangers who slew her captors moments ago. She rises unsteadily to her feet before answering.
"My name is Alysendra... lately of Trunau. Pleased to meet you, Farin Hogan III, and Jorgan of the Steelkeg clan. And to you as well," she nods towards the other dwarf and the elf.
"I've been fighting these giants for weeks, taking out small parties and helping to heal the damage they've done. I guess I finally bit off more than I could chew, and the Lady's luck finally ran out. I believe you may have prevented a bad end for me." She looks pointedly at her bonds. "Any chance you could give me a hand with these?"
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Wren snorts at the unlikely story.
Sense Motive
"You? You've been fighting giants? You don't look like much," Wren pushes back. "How have you been fighting giants?" Wren threatens to take out his thieves tools, but waits to confirm the woman's story.
Wren considers.
"I come from Trunau. I don't recognize you."
Kraygan watches the door as the others see to the captive. Her story raises his eyebrow, and Wren’s assessment blows out his red-blonde beard in a barking laugh.
”Har! She looks t’ have twice th’ muscle ye got elf, and judgin by height would be foolish too after seein what Farin kin do.”
With a nod to Alysendra he introduces himself. ”Name’s Kraygan Steelkeg. The yak here is Haggis. Donnae worry ‘bout his mean look. He gives that t’ everyone.” Haggis turns a baleful eye over his shoulder and snorts at the dwarf as if to say how about I ride you for a while and pass farts on your head.
Kraygan thumbs Jorgan. ”Jorgan’s me cousin. We’re both from Trunau as well. Have ye heard o’ the Steelkeg Brewery? That’s us.” He pats a keg strapped among Haggis’ saddlebags.
Alysendra's eyes flash at the elf's response. "I fight giants with everything I have... with blade, with the divine grace of the Lady of Luck, with my bare hands if I must!" She holds her hands forward, revealing bruised and bloodied knuckles.
"I came to Trunau just after the orc raid," she continues, her expression softening. "My father... he was ill. I brought him there to take care of him, in... in his final days." The memory causes her anger to subside quickly.
Turning to Kraygan, she almost smiles. "Greetings, Kraygan. And Haggis. I do recall your brewery... my father preferred your lighter ales, but I'm more of a dark person myself."
"Now, I'm hoping that these bastards haven't had time to divide up my gear... I'm going to need more than rags to get back into battle." She looks around at the group.
"And what are you all doing here, in the belly of the beast?" she asks.
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Wren nods as if he believes the woman.
"So...you took your ill father to see Sara Morningwagon at the Hopespring for healing, huh?" Wren asks for confirmation*.
Bluff
"And when you saw Sara, did she mention how her husband was? We haven't seen him* in a while."
"Wait, are these yours?" Jorgan asks, picking up the pile of scrolls and dumping them at Alysendra's feet. "Phew! I didn't know what do with so much paper anyways."
"Well I say an enemy of the giants is a friend of ours. And she's much friendlier than that dragon we helped out..." Jorgan takes out his dagger and cuts her bonds.
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”Sara Morningwagon? Har!” Because he’s blissfully ignorant of Wren’s clever bluff, Kraygan proceeds to blow it. ”Never met anyone as terrible with names as ye are elf!”
To Alysendra, ”Sara Morninghawk is the town smith, who’s married to a fine dwarven lass named Agrit. I think he meant...” Kraygan scratches his beard, and proves he’s not much better with names. ”Ye know, I don’t know who he meant.”
Alysendra smiles at Wren's attempt at interrogation. She is about to answer politely, before the dwarves interrupt her.
"All I can say is, I'm grateful for being rescued, and I hope I can return the favor one day if needed. Until then, well, I owe you one. And I always repay my debts." She rubs her wounded hands absent-mindedly. "As the giants have learned."
To Jorgan: "No, those are the foul prayers of the giant gods... the priestesses had quite a stock to bolster their abilities," she replies. "I could use them, at greatest need, assuming I can bear to speak words written so poorly."
She lloks around, hoping to find her gear in a pile nearby. "You'll recognize my equipment by the butterfly motif on everything. The armor, a small shield, and a starknife - a circular handle with four blades, pointing out, like this,"[ she explains, demonstrating with her hands.
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Wren glares at Kraygan as he ruins his interrogation of the prisoner.
He finally relents to release her of her bonds, using his tools.
"Alendora? If that is your real name, I can't guarantee your safety if you remain with us. I can teleport you far away now, if you'd like. You see, these dwarves may be drunks, but they're also crazy drunks. And the Yaktender is solid, but you're not safe to stay here with us," Wren frees the woman. "We're here to kill the giants or die trying. You don't want to get tied up with us. We have no strategy, no plan...it's been fun. But you should take yourself and warn the others of what you have seen here."
"Now, where can I send you?" Wren asks, preparing the teleportation (or greater, as needed).
”Not so fast.” Kraygan chuckles and pats (thumps) Wren on the back. ”If’n she’s a giant fighter, an’ made it this far, an’ wants ta keep fightin, why not give her some weapons an’ let her at it?”
Kraygan begins looking through his giant bag of holding for suitable gear. ”What’s yer poison, miss?”
Kraygan rummages around for a while before blowing out his beard in frustration. ”Well, unless yer a giant I think I may have spoken too soon.”
"It's Alysendra, if you please," Alysendra replies to the elf. "And safe or no, I'll not be leaving without my gear." She looks at the group before her, considering.
"As for killing giants, that's why I'm here, as well. Unlike you, though," she says with a slight smile, "I did have a plan... although clearly it didn't take into account every contingency. But, Lady Luck always provides what is needed, rather than what is wanted. I'm not sure if she provided you to me, or me to you, but either way, I think we're all safest together for the moment."
As if considering that settled, she does a mental inventory.
"Are any of you wounded, in body, or " - she glances sidelong at the elf - "in mind? I may be able to help."
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"Are any of you wounded, in body, or " - she glances sidelong at the elf - "in mind? I may be able to help."
Like you helped your father? Wren seems unimpressed by the woman's healing abilities...especially if she was going to Trunau for any other reason than to immediately leave Trunau.
After all, Wren lived in Trunau because it offered the most reasonable chance for him to die in battle or in an orc raid. Sadly, that has yet to come to pass and he yet lives.
Wren snorts and goes to see if the woman's possessions are nearby.
"I'm afraid that if you want to find your possessions, Avendesora, you'll have to find them yourself. These dwarves can barely find their yaks while sitting on them. Heck, they've already lost two dwarfkin on the way here. Can't find them at all."
Wren turns to Kraygan and Jorgan.
"You guys still can't find Vanderkeg or that crazy one...whathisbeard? Jorgan, maybe? Whatever happened to him? He might have that magical hammer?"
"So...Alleycatbra, do you know anything about this place? Have you seen a Princess? A Fire Giant King? What do you know?"
"I did have a plan... although clearly it didn't take into account every contingency."
"Har har!" Jorgan bellows out. "See, elf! That's why sometimes no plan is the best plan. Can't take into 'count all the contingethings."
"You guys still can't find Vanderkeg or that crazy one...whathisbeard? Jorgan, maybe? Whatever happened to him? He might have that magical hammer?"
Jorgan shakes his head and sighs, "TOR-gan, ya idgit. Torgan with a 'T' was the one with the hammer... my brother. I'm Jorgan with a 'J'. This is why I just call you elf, you know."
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Helping Alysendra to her feet the group does a very thorough search of the remaining side rooms and come up short handed on any equipment for the woman.
In tow they head south. A voice is heard from the next room. A commanding and well spoken voice of a female giant.
"We need to finish planning the upcoming sacrifice of the human woman to Zursvaater." A deep sigh is heard followed by the creaking of an old wooden chair. "Sometimes I wonder whether my husbands allegiance to the Storm King was a good idea. I worry that Tytarian's pledge might not bring the wealth and power that Zursvaater had promised. I worry that Zursvaater has frowned upon me for making this decision Aekkos. Let me tell you a story Aekkos."
"On the evening after the death of my third betrothed, I painted my face with the ashes of mourning and prayed long into the night. After many months of prayer and ritual, I was granted a vision by Zursvaater: I would marry a king and have four strong children, one of whom would be blessed by the god’s power."
A couple of chairs leans in at her story. "Secure in this knowledge, I waited. That is when King Tytarian of Clan Brandrik sought my hand. I knew from there that Zursvaater's prophecy was to be fulfilled. I washed my face clean, donned my wedding armor, and became his queen. Although ours is a marriage of state, not affection, I bore four children—and just as my vision predicted, one was a monstrous creature of fang and fire." Another gruffer voice like the sound of crackling flames sounds. "M'Lady, You are the perfect bond. You guide our interests in the spiritual world, and the king unifies our interests in the material world. Together you are forging an army much like a metallurgist mixes fire and carbon to create steel...." The voices move a little further away for Farin to hear from the cracked door.
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After failing to find her stuff, Wren begins to dig through his handiest of all haversacks, trying to find weapons appropriate to the woman.
He pulls off his bow, Firestorm (desc at bottom), and offers it to Alysendra, figuring it will keep her out of combat.
Should that not be helpful, he will offer his spell component pouch, and/or Staff of Frost.
"Maybe one of these will keep you out of the way of combat," Wren suggests, then iterates, "Just a reminder, I can't guarantee your safety if you stay with us. I can barely keep this lot alive, let alone another. If you want out, just say so and I'll try to get you out of here. Far away. But otherwise, try not to get kilt."
If Alysendra refuses pouch, staff, and bow, he'll offer his hopeknife...hoping she will use it as intended*.
Alysendra shakes her head and looks skyward. Desna smile upon us...
At her lack of gear, she graciously accepts the staff, figuring it will be better than nothing. She shakes her head at the spell pouch, though. "No, thank you. Desna provides me with all I need."
Before the group sets out, she casts shield of faith on herself. "I can offer you some small protection from the giants, if you will," she says. She will cast communal protection from evil and communal resist energy (fire), splitting it between everyone who accepts it.
As the group stats off, she remains as quiet as possible, following the group and being prepared to cast blessing of fervor as soon as any giants are heard.
Kraygan ponders the words of the giants.
”Seems they hold a lot o’ faith in ther religion and th’ spirit’ul world. We should go tell ‘em we sent all ther priests thar on perm’nent vacation. Then send em ta ta join ‘em.” Kraygan rummages through his bag and takes out one of holy texts of Zursvaater.
”Hold this Haggis.” He feeds it to the yak, who takes it in his teeth and begins gnawing. ”Don’t eat it all, ye furry beast. Save some fer the giants.”
Frowning, Alysendra casts detect magic on the staff.
When she sees its evocation aura, she understands Wren's reaction. "Perhaps this is better off in your hands than mine," she admits. "I don't mind a good staff to defend myself against giants who get too close, but you seem unhappy to part with it."
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With no further ideas Kraygan goes with the dwarven route atop Haggis. He rears the yak up and kicks the door open wide.
This room is covered in religious iconography of the fire giant god—decorations more expected in a church than a bedchamber. The most prominent feature is a large, sturdy bed piled high with furs. Nearby sit a wardrobe, a polished steel mirror, a dressing table, and a chair. A heavy curtain on one wall partially obscures a broad alcove.
This is the private chamber of the fire giant queen and high priestess of Ashpeak, Queen Quivixia III. As is customary for many fire giant queens, hers is a political marriage—her true love is her god, Zursvaater. She decorates her room with religious iconography and a few luxuries she brought along to Ashpeak.
+4 if have pair of swords out
Queen Quivixia stands as her pair of priests form a protective ring about her as blades are drawn.
Communal Protection from Evil
Communal Protection from Fire
Farin
Wren
Kraygan
Jorgan
Alysendra
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Queen Quivixia
Priests
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Jorgan offers his thanks to Alysendra for the protection and nods in agreement with Kraygan's unplan to rush in and kill the giants.
Jorgan and Spirit waste no time rushing into the room. "For Gozreh, ya dirty bastards!" he shouts as battle cry as he jabs his oversized spear at the giant.
Increase its speed by 30 feet.
Stand up as a swift action without provoking an attack of opportunity.
Make one extra attack as part of a full attack action, using its highest base attack bonus.
Gain a +2 bonus on attack rolls and a +2 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves.
Cast a single spell of 2nd level or lower as if it were an enlarged, extended, silent, or still spell.
These effects are not cumulative with similar effects, such as those provided by haste or a speed weapon, nor do they actually grant an extra action, so you can’t use it to cast a second spell or otherwise take an extra action in the round. Blessing of fervor does not stack with haste.
”Hallo, ye flaming dirt bags!!” Kraygan charges right in lancing one of the guards as he rides by. Haggis stops at the giant bed, goring it accidentally tearing a pillow and sending feathers everywhere.
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Wren begins one of his longer summons as Kraygan lumbers into the room. Haggis munches on the tablet as Kraygan lances one of the priests protecting Queen Quivixia.
Jorgan follows his cousin and jams Heartspit right into the second priests stomach. He lurches over in pain.
Alysendra draws upon her spells and quickly summons aid of her own, not impressing Wren in the slightest as an Azata tears forth from the fabric of reality and begins a beautiful Elvish song.
Communal Protection from Evil
Communal Protection from Fire
Inspire Courage +2
Blessing of Fervor
Farin
Wren
Kraygan
Jorgan
Alysendra
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Queen Quivixia
Priests (Purple -85)(Green -33)
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Alysendra glances over at Wren as he takes the long route towards summoning some kind of aid. She notices his disdain, and smiles to herself.
"Don't worry, Wren, sometimes summoned creatures just take a little practice. Once you get to know them, they tend to come faster," she reassures him. "It helps a bit if they like you."
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Wren continues to chant on his spell.
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Farin drains a bit from his jacket as he turns invisible. The pair of fire giant priests close in on Kraygan and Jorgan. The priest in the purple cloak mends her wounds with the powers of Zursvaater.
The Queen seems pleased. "The world belongs to the Prince of Steel Aekkos."
The greatsword slams into Jorgan's mithral breastplate, creating a new dent.
Seeing more intruders roll into her room the Queen flies into a rage. She slams past her small alcove, drawing her own greatsword and swings it down at Kraygan and cleaving through to Haggis' neck.
The blade releases a devastating spell on Kraygan as it drags into his flesh.
Communal Protection from Evil
Communal Protection from Fire
Inspire Courage +2
Blessing of Fervor
Farin
Wren
Kraygan (DR/3- 110/162)(Haggis 78/107)
Jorgan
Alysendra
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Queen Quivixia
Priests (Purple -68)(Green -33)
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"The Prince of Whoseewhatsit?" Jorgan asks as he attacks the priest again, this time Spirit joining in on the fight.
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Round 2, Init 22
Wren finishes his spell, pleased for the wonder he has called from the aether.
"There is a queen of giants in that room. Bring me her head."
The elemental, buoyed by elf bard azata, goes to do the bidding. It flies in to fight.
to hit;
slam damage
Wren holds his turn.
N Huge outsider (air, elemental, extraplanar)
Init +14; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +16
DEFENSE
AC 25, touch 19, flat-footed 14 (+10 Dex, +1 dodge, +6 natural, –2 size)
hp 123 (13d10+52)
Fort +12, Ref +18, Will +6
Defensive Abilities air mastery; DR 10/—; Immune elemental traits
OFFENSE
Speed fly 100 ft. (perfect)
Melee 2 slams +21 (2d8+7)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.
Special Attacks whirlwind (DC 23, 10-60 ft.)
STATISTICS
Str 24, Dex 31, Con 18, Int 8, Wis 11, Cha 11
Base Atk+13; CMB +22; CMD 43
Feats Blind-Fight, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Flyby Attack, Improved InitiativeB, Iron Will, Mobility, Power Attack, Weapon FinesseB
Skills Acrobatics +25, Escape Artist +23, Fly +27, Knowledge (planes) +12, Perception +16, Stealth +15
Languages Auran
[ dice]1d20+13+2+1[/dice] to hit; (Haste, Heroism)
[ dice]1d8+3[/dice] magic damage.
[ ooc]Haste (round 3/13): +1 to hit, AC, reflex, attx, yadayadayada. [/ooc]
HP: 85/85
AC: 19 (+4 w/mage armor, if haste then AC 20)
Readied action acid:
[ dice]1d20+12+1[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice]1d6+7[/dice] acid damage.
Effects: mage armor, overland flight, heroism
Right: bow
Left:
Glove: Staff of Frost
Iron Ring: 0/1 used
Rod Lsr Extend: 0/3 used
Rod Lsr Quicken: 2/3 used
Firestorm: 0/3 used
Staff of Frost: 5/10 used
Acid 0/10 used: Acid Dart (1d6+6 acid, 10/day) (Sp) As a standard action, ranged touch deals acid dam vs. foe in 30 ft.
Blip: 0 of 84 5' steps used
12th Level: The bow counts as a +2 Adaptive Flaming Composite Longbow. Scorching Ray now only costs 1 charge and replaces the arcane bolt. The fireball spell is now under the effects of the quickened metamagic feat though only for the use of a full attack with the bow itself with the fireball itself counting as one of the attacks.
14th Level: The bow allows the use of summon monster VI for 3 charges to summon fire elementals only. The Fireball spell now only costs 2 charges and is under the effects of the empower metamagic feat. The bows power increases the charges to 5 each day as the rubies themselves begin to grow.
[ dice]1d20+13[/dice] to hit;[/dice]
[ dice]1d8+3[/dice] magic damage.[/dice]
Kraygan raises his lance and stops the Queen’s greatsword cold. His beard bristles with a toothy smile.
”Gorum says Aekkos is an idjit.”
Turning Haggis, they work together to tear into the giant royal pain the arse.
Alysendra gives a low whistle as the huge tornado appears to do Wren's bidding. "Wow, you don't mess around, do you?" she mutters, almost to herself.
Round 2
Alysendra moves to get a better view of the dwarves as they hack their way through the giants. She sees Kraygan's wound and frowns. "We'd better back them up. Penthae, submerge and get close to Kraygan."
She moves to where she can see the green giant, and invokes her least-favorite spell. The brand on her throat burns with the divine power of Desna as she clenches her fist.
+ exhausted (Fort DC 20 for half damage and fatigued instead)
"On the way, Alys. Be careful,"
Penthae concentrates and becomes invisible, and then flies through the doorway, still singing.
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Farin leaps down from Haggis, staying invisible as he gets into position.
Wren calls an air elemental, called from the aether. It flies into the room, blowing the curtain and sheets of parchment in all directions.
The greatsword cleaves through the biting winds as the air elemental attacks the Queen directly. Kraygan joins in but only manages to land a single blow against the Queens magical defenses.
Jorgan rips Heartspit into the priest three times as Spirit rakes his thorn horns across the fire giant's belly, creating jagged open wounds that continue to bleed.
Alysendra clenches her fist into a small ball and the green cloaked priest's body convulses. Her eyes go wide in fear as her body splits backwards. Her head jerks awkwardly to the right as every bone in the priests body breaks, shatters and moves in a different direction, leaving a broken shell of a body slumped on the floor.
The invisible elven songstress continues to inspire even the hardiest warrior in the room.
Stepping back out of reach Queen Quivixia calls out. "Prince of Steel, give us some fire from your forges."
A sheet of flames springs up right underneath the priest in front of Kraygan. The flames heat blow right into the dwarf's beard.
The air elemental seems to be the only one slightly burned as the flames swirl around the elemental.
The priest continues to fight with everything he has, raising his holy symbol into the air a wave of negative energy washes over most in the immediate vicinity in the room, though the Queen seems unaffected. "The world shall be his."
Communal Protection from Evil
Communal Protection from Fire (Kraygan, Haggis, Spirit, Jorgan -5)
Inspire Courage +2
Blessing of Fervor
Farin
Wren (Air elemental -29)
Kraygan (DR/3- 162/162)(Haggis 107/107)
Jorgan
Alysendra
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Queen Quivixia (-54)
Priests (Purple -68)
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Round 3, Init 22
Wren waits outside, his arms folded and watching the carnage within and trying to decide if any more of his magics are needed.
In the meanwhile, the elemental takes some sword, fire, and negative pain and fights on.
Will vs. Negative
to hit;
slam damage
to hit;
slam damage
"Kraygan, quit showing off and kill something!" Wren urges while watching.
Wren holds his turn.
N Huge outsider (air, elemental, extraplanar)
Init +14; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +16
DEFENSE
AC 25, touch 19, flat-footed 14 (+10 Dex, +1 dodge, +6 natural, –2 size)
hp 85/123
Fort +12, Ref +18, Will +6
Defensive Abilities air mastery; DR 10/—; Immune elemental traits
OFFENSE
Speed fly 100 ft. (perfect)
Melee 2 slams +21 (2d8+7)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.
Special Attacks whirlwind (DC 23, 10-60 ft.)
STATISTICS
Str 24, Dex 31, Con 18, Int 8, Wis 11, Cha 11
Base Atk+13; CMB +22; CMD 43
Feats Blind-Fight, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Flyby Attack, Improved InitiativeB, Iron Will, Mobility, Power Attack, Weapon FinesseB
Skills Acrobatics +25, Escape Artist +23, Fly +27, Knowledge (planes) +12, Perception +16, Stealth +15
Languages Auran
[ dice]1d20+13+2+1[/dice] to hit; (Haste, Heroism)
[ dice]1d8+3[/dice] magic damage.
[ ooc]Haste (round 3/13): +1 to hit, AC, reflex, attx, yadayadayada. [/ooc]
HP: 85/85
AC: 19 (+4 w/mage armor, if haste then AC 20)
Readied action acid:
[ dice]1d20+12+1[/dice] touch to hit;
[ dice]1d6+7[/dice] acid damage.
Effects: mage armor, overland flight, heroism
Right: bow
Left:
Glove: Staff of Frost
Iron Ring: 0/1 used
Rod Lsr Extend: 0/3 used
Rod Lsr Quicken: 2/3 used
Firestorm: 0/3 used
Staff of Frost: 5/10 used
Acid 0/10 used: Acid Dart (1d6+6 acid, 10/day) (Sp) As a standard action, ranged touch deals acid dam vs. foe in 30 ft.
Blip: 0 of 84 5' steps used
12th Level: The bow counts as a +2 Adaptive Flaming Composite Longbow. Scorching Ray now only costs 1 charge and replaces the arcane bolt. The fireball spell is now under the effects of the quickened metamagic feat though only for the use of a full attack with the bow itself with the fireball itself counting as one of the attacks.
14th Level: The bow allows the use of summon monster VI for 3 charges to summon fire elementals only. The Fireball spell now only costs 2 charges and is under the effects of the empower metamagic feat. The bows power increases the charges to 5 each day as the rubies themselves begin to grow.
[ dice]1d20+13[/dice] to hit;[/dice]
[ dice]1d8+3[/dice] magic damage.[/dice]
”Showin off? I’ll show ye showin off, elf!!”
Throwing down his lance, Kraygan whips out his waraxe, taps his baldric and urges Haggis to gore the giant in the way.