The bitterness didn't fade from Grayston over the 4 days, he mainly stuck to himself helping out where he could with his alchemical skills and crafting potions where he could. But he spent most of his time in his books, attempting to replicate spells he has been and read about in the library. Reading anything he can about curses and spells that can cure death.
His outburst to Sapphire and Lucrezzia hangs over him a deep shame, but his pride or something resembling it wouldn't let him go up and make amends.
---
He is quick to feet, although he regrets it instantly as his head spins and stomach churns. "Maybe this is what we need to end this siege once and for all. Their impatience will be their down fall." He says longingly as the nagging itch joins his nauseous feeling.
At the sound of the alarm Corum rises quickly from his seat and drains his tankard. "About bloody time!"
He follows the others out of the room loosening his sword in it's scabbard as he walks.
Arcane mark
Detect magic
Disrupt undead
Light
Feather fall
Grease
Mage armour
Magic missile x 2
Scorching ray x 3
Create pit x 1
Dispel magic X1
Haste x2
Spikedpit x1
Black tentacles x2
Emergency force sphere x1
Invisibility greater
Lightning arc x2
Wall of force
|
The group rushes to the Council Room where they see several of the officers they met days ago already there, fully armed and armoured.
Pharamol is dressed in chain and leather, a longsword hanging at his belt and a skull-cap helmet on his head. With a steely look of determination he pours over the unfurled map of Spurhorn on his desk.
When you enter he looks up and says;
Looks like the time has come to put your skills to real use.
Returning to the map he points out several locations on the map;
General Malesinder’s has launched a strike on Spurhorn’s western parapets with a large force of frost drakes and Drakelands barbarians from the northern and southwestern encampments. Here and here.
Our forces are rallying to the position while our crossbowmen maintain a watch on the skies for further aerial bombardment.
I think Malesinder’s objective is to quickly land as many troops on Spurhorn’s western walls as possible to gain a foothold for the remainder of her forces to exploit. I want you on the western bastion. The bastion holds a battery of siege engines vital to our defense, there are a crew of ten soliders manning the ballistae and firedrakes and that battery needs to be protected.
Sumira will cast Message on you all so that I can still relay orders.
Is that all clear?
Corrleon nods gravely, "Indeed, Commander."
Greyston nods the adrenalin flowing through him making it hate to just stand in one place it had been too long all the waiting. Just the thought of doing something to push on their goal was all he needed, thoughts of drink pushed aside as he starts to arrange his bandolier and prepares his bombs.
He looks around the room and nods along with Corrleon as their orders are given. "Let's move." He hands out his potions to the others, pushing the biggest of the portions into the large mitts of Corrum not wanting to look him in the face but knowing the large man will need it.
Then stepping over to Sapphire her face so series and ready for what is head he hands her the potion lingering for a moment and then turning away.
Nodding to the commander Elleross rises stiffly with the others and limping slightly he follows them out of the room
we will protect the bastion, we will not let it get overrrun he says as he moves past the grim warriors.
Hustling to catch up with the others as they move briskly through the fortress he says
once we get up there and the enemy is within range I will haste us all he says slightly out of breath.
As the group comes within view of the siege engines, Corrleon unshoulders his bow as he makes ready for the violence to come.
"Fethris Shivarra!" A white bolt of lightning lances down suddenly, shrouding him in light and causing his cloak to thrash for a moment before the energy swirls and settles into his bow.
HP: 84/84
Cold Resist: 10
AC: 19 (17 T / 12 FF)
CMD: 21
F/R/W: +14/+11/+14
Lay on Hands remaining: 11/11
Smite Evil remaining: 3/3
Divine Bond remaining: 0/1
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
Divine Bond (8 minutes): +2/+2
Deadly Aim: -3/+6
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|
The group rushes up the stairs but are almost barrelled out of the way by a squad headed up past them toward the wall.
Chaos reigns with hundreds of soldiers running this way and that, the sounds of screaming and battle gradually getting louder the higher in the fortress you get.
You burst out of the blockhouse doors and into the thin, watery light of dawn. Snow is falling and the distant sun is little more than a pin-prick. Even from the courtyard you can see crossbowmen firing bolt after bolt down from the walls, their battle-cries as loud as the chanting spells of the Snow Seers and the screech of Dragonkin overhead who smash into the circling drakes, their riders lancing or firing bows from their backs.
Headed upward toward the bastion, you see a large white drake land just as you reach the top of the steps. It unleashes a massive blast of frigid air from it's throat that washes over the siege equipment and the soldiers. They cry out in pain and then to a man fall among the rime.
Two muscular Triaxian warriors, faces painted in garish smears of blur ink, leap from the back of the Drake and begin hacking at the siege equipment.
Clear, protect the Western parapets and the siege engines and crew.
She meets Greyston's eyes as he hands her the potion.
Take care Grey, see you on the other side...
She stows the potion in her belt pouch and joins the others running towards their objective, drawing Snowfall and preparing her long-term magical protections.
Grayston runs along with the others drinking down his potions while they move readying himself for whats ahead.
Corum draws his sword and says to the commander "Let's get on with it then...thanks Grey" He says to the alchemist when he hands him the potion. "Stay alive. I'll have no one to argue with if you're not around." he laughs and claps him on the shoulder with a meaty hand.
They charge through the chaos to their station and adrenaline surges as the sound of battle rings in his ears. Corum watches the drake decimate the defenders there. "Down to us then. COME ON!" he roars and sprints up the stair to confront the attackers.
Before the dolt can bolt off, Lucrezzia touches Corum's shoulder and says, "This will get you there faster. Don't be flying off being a hero, no you don't" With that she utters the phrase that releases her Fly spell. Arriving on the parapet behind everyone else she surveys the scene. She cringes as the soldiers defending the artillery are killed in a wave of frost. At least it was fast for them...
13
17
Reaching the top of the tower, the group sees the scattered and moaning bodies of the blasted siege gunners. They are strewn here and there among their equipment, lying on a rime of ice that now covers the top of the tower following the drake's breath weapon attack.
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hit
The two warriors roar as they fly into a rage, their eyes glazed with battle-lust and they raise their bastard swords high above their heads and begin hacking mightily into the wooden ballista, one of them taking a particularly huge chunk out and causing it to rock crazily it it's housing.
Sapphire
Miss
The drake screeches and erupts from it's perch, swooping across the tower and snapping at Sapphire as it passes but she ducks at the last moment as it passes over head.
Lucrezzia ducks away from the drake and then moves towards the wounded men. "We need to show the Triaxian's that we are here to help!"
Once close to the wounded men, Lucrezzia pushes a wave of healing energy through herself into the world, life manifest.
Elleross rushes out with the others and seeing the plight of the defenders he swiftly casts light on a coin and tosses it into the area so his aging eyes can see what is going on.
that's better, now We can see what They are up to
Rushing up onto the parapet Elleross barks out the words of power and unleashes a wave of energy that hastes the party.
augendae, celeritate ,tempora!
Corum roars a challenge and flies into the air. He hurtles upward to smash into the passing drake, hacking at it with his longsword.
Pa rage
Dam
Haste
Dam
Crit confirm
Dam
As the drake sails overhead and slashes at Sapphire, Corrleon drops to one knee and spins as he draws a pair of arrows from his quiver. The slashing wind and riot of movement proves to be too much though, and his arrows clatter harmlessly off the drake's hardened scales.
HP: 84/84
Cold Resist: 10
AC: 19 (17 T / 12 FF)
CMD: 21
F/R/W: +14/+11/+14
Lay on Hands remaining: 11/11
Smite Evil remaining: 3/3
Divine Bond remaining: 0/1
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
Divine Bond (8 minutes): +2/+2
Deadly Aim: -3/+6
Wintry conditions: -4 to hit
Greyston flinches as the large drake strafes but is determined to end it fast he ignores how close it is and reaches for a few bombs shaking them up he smiles for a second as he unleashes three large vials at the beast.
Large explosion rock over its body and a sticky substance coats its body and wings.
AC = 23
|
|
Hit
and
Hit
Hit
Hit
Hit
Miss
Croum hurls himself upward toward the Drake, taking a savage bite in response even as he plunges his blade into it's chest.
Greyston hurls a series of bombs that explode on and around the Drake, covering it in a sticky substance that makes it difficult to flap it's wings effectively.
Her blade wreathed itself in flames, Sapphire stabs it towards one of the distant warriors attacking the siege engines and a dart of force leaps outwards, pulling her to him.
She wastes no time and sets to with her blade.
|
|
Sapphire unleashes a chained hook of pure magical force. It digs into the shoulder of one of the barbarians hacking at the siege equipment and she uses it to hurl herself forward with her black blade slashing.
The barbarian deflects one of the attacks with her own blade and another with the broad side of her shield, the third though breaking her guard and slicing across her belly.
|
|
Ignoring the recovered siege gunners for now, who haul themselves to their feet and grab a variety of swords and axes in order to drive off the attackers, the barbarian continues hacking away at the ballista.
Miss
Miss
Retaliating with brutal overhead strikes, the barbarian slams down her sword but Sapphire's black blade fairly dances on the air and turns them easily aside.
Success
Success
The frost drake drifts backward from Corum's devastating assault and hawks up a ball of frosty sputum that explodes in a shower of ice as it hits the ground, instantly covering the top of the tower in more frost and splashing the group with burning cold.
Corum Follows the drake, his intent deadly, his pursuit relentless. He aims a savage two handed cut at it's neck as follows up by driving his blade at it's chest.
Pa rage
Dam
Pa rage
Dam
Greyston feels the chill of the drakes breath but his protection blocks any damage to him. Nodding as it finally falls to Corum's sword he moves up to protect the ballista, taking aim at one of the mad barbarians chopping away.
Sapphire grins as she lets the flow of battle fill her, her blade singing a song of war and triumph.
Force hook charge
Inured to the cold like most of his kind, Corrleon shakes off the full brunt of the drake's breath and nods in satisfaction as Corum brings the creature down.
Spinning toward the remaining invaders hacking at the ballista, he snaps off another pair of arrows.
HP: 71/84
Cold Resist: 10
AC: 19 (17 T / 12 FF)
CMD: 21
F/R/W: +14/+11/+14
Lay on Hands remaining: 11/11
Smite Evil remaining: 3/3
Divine Bond remaining: 0/1
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
Divine Bond (8 minutes): +2/+2
Deadly Aim: -3/+6
Wintry conditions: -4 to hit
The intense blast of cold slams into Elleross like a hammer and he staggers backwards in pain.
Fighting to clear his mind he draws on his powers and suddenly his image wavers and he vanishes and moves away from Corrleon and the others.
invisibilia,dissipati peribunt
Hp 29/52
"You may have made a cad choice. Now, we'll never know." Lucrezzia points to the white furred ballista breaker and snaps her fingers.