Elleross curses loudly as the spell caster unleashes a bolt of lightning.
Preparing to cast his own spell he waits until the dragon rider next tries to bring his magic to bear before he will unleash it[dice=magic missile]5d4+5
Corrleon takes a steadying breath and keeps his eye and his next arrow trained on the enemy combatants. The noble triaxian mutters a soft prayer as he draws his bow, "Apsu, guide my aim."
HP: 78/84
Cold Resist: 10
AC: 20 (18 T / 13 FF) (includes +1 from PoF)
CMD: 21
F/R/W: +14/+11/+14
Lay on Hands remaining: 8/11
Smite Evil remaining: 2/3
Divine Bond remaining: 1/1
Stormlure remaining: 1/1
Hunter's Cloak minutes remaining: 10/10
Ongoing Effects
Favored Terrain (cold): +4 bonus on initiative, Knowledge (geo), Perception, Stealth, & Survival
Favored Terrain (urban): +2 bonus on initiative, Knowledge (geo), Perception, Stealth, & Survival
Aspect of the Falcon: +3 perception, +1 to hit, crits = 19-20/x3
PoF (4/10): +1 AC, +1 to hit, +1 damage, +1 vs fear
Deadly Aim: -3 to hit, +6 damage
Next Levitate Penalty to hit: -3
Corum once again hurtles forward toward battle. Though Elleros clings tightly to him, he cannot deny his war-like nature.
The spellcaster once again begins tracing intricate lines in the air before him. Corrleon looses an arrow in an attempt to disrupt the spell but his shot flies wide. Elleros' magic missiles cannot fail to hit however and the spellcaster cries out in pain and frustration as his spell goes awry.
Cursing, he wheels his mount and the dragonkin unleashes a blast of fiery air from it's growling throat.
Success
Fail
Corum ignores the fire that smothers him and hacks at his foe again
Pa rage
Dam
Attack 2
Dam
Finally able to get within reach, Corum hacks at the sorceror atop his mount. As he does so though the dragonkin slashes out with it's wicked looking glaive.
Hit
Lucrezzia channels energy again and then moves out of Sapphire's way.
Continuing to move sluggishly, Sapphire finally manages to get next to the attacking dragon.
Twisting violently away from the fiery breath weapon, Elleross shields himself as much as he can but it is not enough to prevent the searing heat from burning him badly and he cries out in agony.
The wave of healing energy that washes over him moments later is indescribable, Lucrezzias power healing the worst of his burns but he is still in bad shape, and once more Corum hurls them into the Frey.
Clearing his mind as best he can he attempts to protect himself
Imago , speculo, reflexionum! completing the spell he is suddenly surrounded by images of himself, the multiple images hopefully protecting him against attacks
Grayston steadies himself as he hovers in the air, reaching for his bombs he is quick to shakes them up and lobs them at the dragon rider.
The first of Greyston's bombs drops short of it's target and tumbles harmlessly end over end down to the ground below.
The second one detonates on the chest of the sorcerer however and splashes him with burning, sticky liquid
As Corum, Bescaylie, Efrixes and Sapphire close in, the Dragonkin wheels away with a flap of it's wings, tucking up to protect it's rider from any attacks as they begin to flee.
The sorceror, bloodied and burnt, turns in his saddle and unleashes a blast of frigid air at the gathered heroes.
Fail
Success
Success
Corum twists his body to shelter the old man from the worst of it but Elleros is looking terribly stricken by this point.
Success
Frustrated that the dragon rider has caused so much trouble, and sensing that he now knows in detail what the party looks like Lucrezzia sends him a message. A flaming divine missive from the stars. She then swoops up to get clear of the cluster of friends.
The column of fire seems to barely injure the dragonkin at all, the flames licking off it's red scales and only slightly tarnishing them where the holy energy takes effect. The sorcerer however, goes up like a candle, his pale fur erupting and since he is glued to his saddle by Greyston's bomb he cannot dislodge himself sufficiently to pat himself out.
You watch as he flails frantically and then mericifully goes still, although still burning atop his mount.
Aoo
Dam
Sapphire holds her action.
Now that the spell-throwing triaxian has been dealt with, Corrleon turns his attention to the enemy dragonkin. With a grim nod, he sends a pair of arrows whistling through the air.
HP: 78/84
Cold Resist: 10
AC: 20 (18 T / 13 FF) (includes +1 from PoF)
CMD: 21
F/R/W: +14/+11/+14
Lay on Hands remaining: 8/11
Smite Evil remaining: 2/3
Divine Bond remaining: 1/1
Stormlure remaining: 1/1
Hunter's Cloak minutes remaining: 10/10
Ongoing Effects
Favored Terrain (cold): +4 bonus on initiative, Knowledge (geo), Perception, Stealth, & Survival
Favored Terrain (urban): +2 bonus on initiative, Knowledge (geo), Perception, Stealth, & Survival
Aspect of the Falcon: +3 perception, +1 to hit, crits = 19-20/x3
PoF (5/10): +1 AC, +1 to hit, +1 damage, +1 vs fear
Deadly Aim: -3 to hit, +6 damage
Next Levitate Penalty to hit: -5
The dragonkin grunts in pain as first Corum slashes it across the belly and then Corrleon sends an arrow smashing deep into it's shoulder.
Despite Corum shielding him from the blast the intense cone of freezing cold air tears into him, his flesh blackening and cracking open.
The pain is intense and he hisses in agony as he grinds his teeth together, his body is ravaged with wounds and he feels sick from the pain.
Faced with few options he holds his nerve as long as he can, watching the dragon warily.
"Now's our chance to finish this mad dash!" As soon as everyone is collected, Lucrezzia sends another wave of healing over the party.
"Now's our chance to finish this mad dash!" As soon as everyone is collected, Lucrezzia sends another wave of healing over the party.
[dice=ChanPos]5d6
Sagging against Corum, Elleross breathes a sigh of relief as the dragon turns and withdraws, his body is wracked with pain and he knew he could not have withstood much more.
Lucrezzias once more draws upon her powers and the wave of healing washes over him and he groans as the worst of his wounds heal up in an instant.
thank you Lucrezzia, I could not have taken much more. he says wearily
we need to go, Lucrezzia is correct. Our cover is blown and we are exposed. That dragon will surely send more troops our way.
Greyston nods finally the group is moving in the right direction. "Let's go!" He says holding back flying next to Sapphire. "Are you ok now? Can you move along with us?"
Turning to face Greyston, Sapphire's whole body, even her streaming hair moves as if through treacle, then as she opens her mouth to respond everything snaps back to normal speed.
She shudders
That was not an experience I care to ever repeat... yes Grey, let us move quickly before reinforcements arrive...
Corrleon watches the dragonkin wing its way to relative safety, and after a moment's consideration he lowers his bow, allowing their foe to retreat. He hangs in the air, and turns toward Bescaylie, waving her over to recover him.
He slips into position behind her and pats her affectionately on the shoulder. "Well, it seems our travelers are none too welcome by Yrax's ilk. Though the way they fly about like mothers carrying their young bears some improvement." He chuckles softly as he secures his bow over his shoulder.
With the battle won but already many more dragonkin taking to the sky in pursuit, the group streaks through the air toward the looming tooth of Spurhorn's walls.
As you get closer you see that there is a formidable looking fortress positioned atop the spire of ice and rock and it looks as testing as any castle you have seen on Golarion although with weird looped towers and crenalations of a design you have not encountered before.
Spurhorn's defenders line the walls of the fortress, ready to attack any approaching creatures they don’t recognize. You see several pockets of defenders with bows trained on your and others in ceremonial armour brandishing lanterns that even in the daylight produce an incredible arc of light that they sweep out into the open air, looking for invisible or hidden attackers.
As you near Efrixes unleashes a mighty roar and Bescaylie joins in, bellowing in Triaxian and you see the bows lower immediately upon her call.
Sweeping in you land atop the castle walls, surrounded by Triaxian defenders who stare open-mouthed at your weird countenance.
Their fascination is broken only temporarily as they readjust their sights onto the pursuing group of dragonkin, loosing and felling one in a storm of barbed arrows while the others wheel quickly away.
From here and looking out into the valley you can see the besieging army numbers in the thousands, rank upon rank of soldiers forming a ring around the entire spire while hundreds of camps sit just behind where many more work on a variety of siege equipment of tend to the masses of flying mounts.
With the immediate insurgence dealt with, the soldiers once again turn to you and stare or chatter among themselves in their alien language, clearly in equal parts fascinated and disturbed by your appearance.
Extremely grateful to be back on solid ground Elleross untied himself from Corum and Vows to never put himself in such a situation again.
Scorched and frozen in equal measure he staggers as his legs struggle to take his weight and he leans heavily upon the ramparts to stop himself from falling.
thank the gods for small mercies! We are lucky to have made it here in one piece.
Next time I will come up with something a little safer than invisibility!
He says as he gazes out at the massed armies below.
corrleon, I am hurting all over, is there somewhere we can clean up and rest for a while.
he asks the strange warrior
Corrleon offers the aged wizard a supportive arm, and smiles warmly. "Indeed." A warm light passes from his palm then and into Elleross' shoulder, rippling down through his body in a soothing wave. As it passes, flesh knits, frostbite fades, and bruises lighten. "The rest may need to wait for a time, however. Tis' been some time since last I spoke with the commander here, but I suspect he will wish to speak with thee forthwith once news of thine arrival reaches his ears. Steel thyself for a time, my friend, and lean upon me as oft as thee need."
HP: 78/84
Cold Resist: 10
AC: 20 (18 T / 13 FF) (includes +1 from PoF)
CMD: 21
F/R/W: +14/+11/+14
Lay on Hands remaining: 7/11
Smite Evil remaining: 2/3
Divine Bond remaining: 1/1
Stormlure remaining: 1/1
Hunter's Cloak minutes remaining: 10/10
Ongoing Effects
Favored Terrain (cold): +4 bonus on initiative, Knowledge (geo), Perception, Stealth, & Survival
Favored Terrain (urban): +2 bonus on initiative, Knowledge (geo), Perception, Stealth, & Survival
Aspect of the Falcon: +3 perception, +1 to hit, crits = 19-20/x3
The sudden warm healing is as pleasant as it was unexpected and Elleross stands much easier.
Patting corrleons hand he smiles with thanks. I hope all your folk are as gracious as you corrleon, I thank you. It seems you have a touch of the divine about you, are you a religious man I wonder he asks as he stands a little straighter I hope we will get the chance to talk, I would like to hear your tale. But for now you are right, we must pay our respects to the lord commander and hope he is as welcoming
As the dragon kin flees Corum hurls a foul mouthed tirade after it, then his rage dissipates and he looks down at Elleross. The Mage is hurt and Corum speaks in a concerned tone. "Come on Ellri, let's get you to safety."
He wheels in the air and heads toward the fortress.
Groups of soldiers further away from the landing site raise a cheer as Bescaylie and Efrxies sweep in, but mirror their kindred's curiosity and confusion as they set eyes upon the aliens.
Bescaylie dismounts and performs a strange gesture on Efrixes' chest, like she is knocking on a door, before turning and addressing the gathered soldiers.
Don't be alarmed! These are strangers to our lands, but they are no allies of our enemies.
Groups of soldiers turn to look from thei posts along the walls but make no attempt to approach, regardless of how strange the situation might be, they are disciplined enough to not leave their posts for even a moment.
But a female Triaxian, dressed in grey and white ceremonial armour and carrying one of the lanterns strides closer, the golden light of the lantern playing over her white and yellow facial fur.
It is good to see you back Bescaylie, you too Efrixes. It's been a long time and I see you brought more than just strangers.... Corrleon. It has been a long time.
Corrleon bows respectfully.
"Indeed it has, Lieutenant. I am pleased to see you well."
He then turns to the newcomers, and introduces each in turn, offering a brief explanation of their arrival.
"They seek an audience with the Commander."
Throughout the exchange, Corrleon's tone remains respectful to the utmost, but the twitching and fidgeting in his ear-ridges betrays his discomfort.
As they land Grayston lets out a sigh of relief his stomach slowly settling down. Noticing just how bad Elleross was hurt he steps over to the old man just as Corrleon finishes healing him. "Thank for that Corrleon." He takes out a potion and hands it to Elleross. "Here take this if you still need it."
Smiling gratefully as Greyston offers his potion Elleross shakes his head
corrleon Has healed me enough Greyston, thank you.
He is a skilled healer as well as a warrior it would seem. he says as he watches the exchange between corrleon and the female.
Though he cannot understand their spoken language their body language is unmistakeable. There is tension between these two that seems unresolved
From the top of the curtain wall you can see down into the fortress itself. A ring of 8 towers encircles the central keep, all joined by the thick curtain wall.
There are also five squat, block buildings and then a thirty foot tall pentagonal keep sits directly in the centre.
It is surprising how bare the inside of the fortress is. Aside from a few stocks of arrows and weapons there are no weapons, no stabling for mounts, no stores and no living quarters for soldiers or civilians.
Cemfe looks at Corrleon with barely disguised distaste.
Commander Pharamol will want to see them. I take Bescaylie's word that they aren't spies of the enemy but nonetheless they are curious.
After this, Bescaylie begins translating into Draconic:
Cemfe continues:
Get back to the wall! she shouts to the soldiers. Whatever the strangers are, the enemy could look to take advantage while your attention is turned toward them. Stay vigilant!
Turning back to you, she introduces herself as Lieutenant Cemfe, one of the Snow Seers.
I can see that you are injured. Commander Pharamol is engaged at the moment. I will see you to guest quarters and will inform him of your presence. Some of my men will collect you when you he is ready to see you.