Sapphira is undaunted by the wall of ice. "Getting desperate are we?" she taunts as her blade snicks out in four more rapid slashes at the dragon above her. Her first blow takes advantage of an opening to completely slice off the dragon's previously mangled rear leg.
"Figures that a coward like her would try to delay the inevitable," murmurs Ophelia as she watches the wall of ice erect in front of her. She shrugs and says, "Well, why try to break this thing down when I can just go right through it? Lily, Archons, gather around. LC, chill here with Poppy."
The Couatl gives his partner a nod and stays put.
Ophelia flies to the center of her southern archon cluster, and each one of those five quickly makes contact with her. The three stray archons away from the shimmering elf quickly float over. Lily simply continues to play her harp while she reaches over and wraps her long, serpentine tail around Ophelia's tiny wrist.
The shimmering elf's eyes flash nova white, and a second later, the Sapphire Summoner and all of her called celestials are on the other side of the barrier. Lily's gentle but inspiring music quickly fills the air once more as the azata smiles in anticipation of what is to come.
"Sup," remarks Ophelia as she waves casually to the white dragon, who gulps nervously.
The three archons that had to move to get to Ophelia are slightly disoriented from all the movement and only manage to get a single shot in. However, each one hits their target, leaving three scorching marks on the ancient white wyrm's face and causing their foe to roar in agony. Meanwhile, rest then quickly fire all of their rounds with the last lantern archon getting an absolutely devastating shot on the white dragons' eye. Collectively, their massive barrage of celestial light manages to melt the creature's head into a distorted parody of its former self and thus kills it outright. The dragon's huge form drops onto the floor of the cavern with a loud thud.
Vega's fist was clenches and primed in front of the dragons face, crackling with energy, ready to deliver a devastating blow... when light suddenly flashes past him, searing the dragon and causing it to collapse and fall to the ground... a threat no more.
He watches it fall, then turns to the others, though he stays in near the hole Gror just made in the wall of ice for the time being.
"A pity. He begins, referring to the fallen dragon. "Is everyone alright? We should not linger here long. If someone needs healing, let us do it and then move on."
While he waits to anyone to chime in about any injuries, Vega takes a closer look around the area now that there is no longer an immediate threat of dragon claw.
(perhaps a hidden stash of treasure, or blueprints to the veil (yeah right), or anything of interest)
_________________________
Vega sees a secret door in the western ice wall. Behind it is a circular passage of smoothly gouged contours that descends in a spiral deeper into the ice. He also finds a thin part of the floor that looks like it's covering some shiny stuff.
Gror's claws tear through the floor at the spot indicated by Vega, revealing the dead dragon's glittering, frost-rimed horde. The piles of platinum, gold and silver coins are studded with the colored sparkles of many gemstones.
Reconstituting his corporeal from the whirlwind of snow and ice, Cho'ankai looks considerably smaller and more like some sort of three-headed wolf than the plant-creature he had been before his transformation. This form resembles the initial eidolon transformation that occurred in Josiah's realm. Exhaling a snort from all three heads, Cho pads across the floor towards Gror and Vega, examining the hole in the ice filled with treasures hoarded by the dragon. His brows furrow, two heads look away and one lingers before finally joining the direction of the others.
Making a noise in the back of his throat, Cho moves to distance himself some from the others. Closing his eyes, Cho begins to chant in that tripartite voice. The rhythmic incantation builds into a rumbling baritone as Cho's body starts to emit the sound of stone sliding on stone. Changing his tactics, Cho's body shifts and distorts, expanding outwards and upwards as fur turns to short blades of dark brown grass and flesh turns to little more than granite and soil. Cho's eyes become sets of multifaceted rubies with an inner light all their own.
At the end of the transformation, Cho stands enormous again and resembles a gigantic three-headed wolf made of rock and earth, the same chair-like shape once made out of roots and vines on his back is now a chiseled stone throne. The huge elemental lets out a deep, earthquake-like rumble, then bows his head in recognition to Ophelia before facing the others with a satisfied series of smiles.
______________
Precious! Dori peaks down from where she is floating overhead. Load up and lets move! If she can, she'll drop in and shovel a few handfuls of gems and platinum into her haversack, she can sort it later with the others. We can count it later.
"Sapphira, can you and the lantern archons scout slightly ahead of us, down the hidden tunnel, since you have True Seeing? I'd suggest we stay 50' behind you. Anyone else have an alternate suggestion they prefer?"
____________
Saphhira's wounds seems to be rapidly healing themselves in the aftermath of the battle. "Sure, which tunnel?"
"Sapphira, perhaps you, LC, the archons, and I should go ahead. I've only got a couple of minutes left with these guys; if we spot something up ahead, might as well have them zap it," suggests Ophelia as she points a thumb at her archon army and then to the northern staircase. "I would like to check those out first. It is more likely that the other parties went the way that was not blocked off by a slab of ice. Then again, that might be all the more reason to go the other way... What do you guys think?"
Meanwhile, Lily temporarily halts her harp play and instead continues to heal Lucero's wounds.
"I vote down. Presumably the way that was hidden is the way that was most valuable to protect. I think the Torc is more likely that direction. Furthermore I assume that the dragon was allied with either Kostchtchie or the witches, and so presumably that side also knows about this hidden route. And yes, I'm ready to come along and suspect all of us are, to maximize Lily's the lantern archons' time with us."
Dori takes a round to fly down and assess the horde. (4)
She then takes a round to quickly stuff a bunch in her haversack. (5-7)
She then goes over and follows the archons down the stairs.
Moving over to the opening in the floor where Gror had broken through, Cho'ankai waits in silence, dirt and tiny rocks falling off of his stony form. Instead of joining the others he looks to be waiting to take up the rear of the group, keeping his focus on the path they had not chosen that leads elsewheres in the veil. With how hard they had been fighting, he was worried others may have heard the battle.
_________
After discovering the (relatively) thin barriers of ice, Vega proceeds to punch holes into the dragon's conjured wall of ice while the others continue the search and to collect their thoughts. After a moment, he chimes in.
"It is also a possibility that the barrier of ice reformed to block this path. We all saw how fast the steam from the geyser cooled and hardened into ice, and with that dragon warding the inner sanctum... I would not put barring a path with ice beyond the capabilities of our enemies."
"Still, we will never know until we go in and see. If some of our new small flying friends cannot scout both directions, then let us take the less obvious path, and hope it bears fruit."
Vega then starts to carefully make his way down the stairs that were once hidden behind the ice.
____________________________
Yes, yes Vega can. ^_^
"Uh, Ophelia, I can't exactly fix up Lucero when he's on the other side of the wall..." Lily points out rather bluntly.
Ophelia abruptly pauses just as she plans to continue debating the merits of not taking the trail downstairs.
"Right!" says the Sapphire Summoner as she promptly face-palms. She turns to her archons and says, "Boys, melt that wall, will you?"
Working upon the work already done by various people in the group, the lantern archons quickly begin melting larger holes into the deceased dragon's ice wall. Once their task it complete, Lily makes her way through the gap and beckons Lucero over for healing, which the Coutal readily slithers over and accepts.
Meanwhile, Ophelia resumes what she planned to say earlier, "I doubt the other groups went downstairs. Why would they just leave several valuable gems lying around? I think that way hasn't been journeyed through for a while. That being said, perhaps that is a better reason to go that way. Even with the lantern archons, it would be less of a drain on our resources to avoid fighting. They won't be around too much longer... Very well. Let's go."
With that said, Ophelia quickly turns herself invisible.
"I will go with the scouts."
Vega looks around and finds the hidden cache of loot.
Poppy's tentacle fishes around in her magic saddlebag while Vega looks around the room. It emerges wrapped around a small wooden stick coated in a fine silver shimmer. Poppy snickers as she pokes herself in the thigh repeatedly with the stick. Her eidolon glows calmly as healing magic courses through it.
Gror's claws tear through the floor at the spot indicated by Vega, revealing the dead dragon's glittering, frost-rimed horde. The piles of platinum, gold and silver coins are studded with the colored sparkles of many gemstones.
Reconstituting his corporeal from the whirlwind of snow and ice, Cho'ankai looks considerably smaller and more like some sort of three-headed wolf than the plant-creature he had been before his transformation. This form resembles the initial eidolon transformation that occurred in Josiah's realm. Exhaling a snort from all three heads, Cho pads across the floor towards Gror and Vega, examining the hole in the ice filled with treasures hoarded by the dragon. His brows furrow, two heads look away and one lingers before finally joining the direction of the others.
Making a noise in the back of his throat, Cho moves to distance himself some from the others. Closing his eyes, Cho begins to chant in that tripartite voice. The rhythmic incantation builds into a rumbling baritone as Cho's body starts to emit the sound of stone sliding on stone. Changing his tactics, Cho's body shifts and distorts, expanding outwards and upwards as fur turns to short blades of dark brown grass and flesh turns to little more than granite and soil. Cho's eyes become sets of multifaceted rubies with an inner light all their own.
At the end of the transformation, Cho stands enormous again and resembles a gigantic three-headed wolf made of rock and earth, the same chair-like shape once made out of roots and vines on his back is now a chiseled stone throne. The huge elemental lets out a deep, earthquake-like rumble, then bows his head in recognition to Ophelia before facing the others with a satisfied series of smiles.
"Precious!" Dori peaks down from where she is floating overhead. "Load up and lets move!" She drops in and shovels a few handfuls of gems and platinum into her haversack, she can sort it later with the others.
The team of Chosen and Archons work together to blast a big passage in the wall of ice, Poppy continues to heal herself and Lily heals LC. Cho covers the stairs upward while the other Chosen work, Dori loads up the rest of the loot.
Sapphira leads the way down the icy steps, a phalanx of lantern archons floating behind her. Ophelia is right behind them, invisible, while the rest of the group follow them at thirty feet or so with Gror and Vega in the lead, Dori bringing up the rear. Poppy continues to use her wand, poking the burned portions of her eidolon and slowly healing herself.
The icy stairwell wends downward through several turns, perhaps one hundred feet in total. The passage ends in a low grotto carved through the core of this vast ice formation. The walls, floor, and fifteen foot-high ceiling are irregular and rough-hewn, but smoothed as if by melting and refreezing. A cold mist fills the air, reducing vision in this labyrinth of ice tunnels.
"Even I can't see anything down here guys. This mist is natural." Sapphira calls back up the stairs over her shoulder. The thick fog obscures vision beyond a few feet.
A few moments after she speaks, the sound of cracking ice, and the hissing of steam can be heard from deeper in the fog-filled tunnels. These sounds are followed by the clicking of many somethings chinking rapidly into the ice.
_______________________________________________________________
Initiative
Party 24
??? 16
Sapphira steps forward a short ways, disappearing into the mists, and hefts her greatsword. "Let them come to us, whatever they are," her disembodied voice says back towards the stairs.
"Everyone! Something's coming, but it's foggy, and I have no wind spells prepared," Ophelia's voice calls back to the rest of the party. Hoping that her Invisibility is enough to hide her on top of the fog, she orders to archons to trail Sapphira and zap the first thing that they see. She also takes the chance to ascend a few feet into the air and move a bit to prevent anything from pinpointing her.
Meanwhile, Lily quickly begins strumming her harp again and moves forward down the stairwell. Even if her allies can't see their hands in front of their faces, they can certainly hear her soft, inspiring melody. The Azata wishes she could do more, but alas, her current form of existence is rather... limited in its options.
______________________________________________________
Gror squats down, let's his eyes soften, focuses his attention on the sounds and smells in the cavernous air, and waits...ready to pounce on the first foe to appear.
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Vega stays relatively close to Sapphira, even going into the mist.
"Then let us hope that whatever is here is as blind as we are."
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- Protection from Evil
- Cat's Grace
- Evolution Surge (wings)
Watching Sapphira move further into the cave along with the swarm of lantern archons, Cho'ankai's rocky form rumbles across the ice, tiny fractures in the frozen surface forming beneath his clawed paws. He moves ahead of the others from the rear of the group, passing through the firefly-like swarm of archons, directing his attention beyond both they and Sapphira.
"I will find what hides in the mist," Cho intones in a low, rumbling voice, before beginning another deep and resonant throat chant with his three earthen maws. The lupine features emit that rumbling chant, and at its conclusion their eyes shift from a molten orange to a sapphire blue, and Cho'ankai can feel his mind stretching outward, his consciousness expanding in search of other minds to reach out to.
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Dori sneaks into the cavern over Cho's head, staying near the ceiling, moving at half speed while she searches the fog with all her senses.
AC 35/18/27
Saves 17/16/15
CMD 33
improved Evasion
Resist Cold 5, elec 5
Shadow Blending 50% miss chance, concealment
Spells in effect:
Haste (5 rds)
Spells remaining: 2/6/2/2
Poppy moseys on down the stairs, happily poking herself in the flank with her wand. "Hee! Woohoo! Teehee!" The sound of hissing steam interrupts her merriment. Her sparkling eyes nearly pop out of head. Not that again! She stops healing herself for the moment. Her giggles subside and she turns her attention to her distant heavenly buddies. I can't see you right now, but I know you can see me! I'm stuck in this frozen waterfall, but we keep finding all this hot stuff! Can you help me?
Hey, thanks! Who's Larry?
Poppy refocuses on the frozen stairwell, and suddenly feels a faint buzzing under her fur. The buzzing subsides, leaving a muted orange glow behind.
Sapphira steps forward a short ways, disappearing into the mists, and hefts her greatsword. "Let them come to us, whatever they are," her disembodied voice says back towards the stairs.
"Everyone! Something's coming, but it's foggy, and I have no wind spells prepared," Ophelia's voice calls back to the rest of the party. Hoping that her Invisibility is enough to hide her on top of the fog, she orders to archons to trail Sapphira and zap the first thing that they see. She also takes the chance to ascend a few feet into the air and move a bit to prevent anything from pinpointing her.
As the archons move forward to follow Sapphira, one of them calls out contact from Sapphira's western side. Before its call is finished there's a crunching noise and it's cut off. Sapphira says, "Something there, can't see it, just crunched one of the archons." There is a pew pew pew sound as three more archons fire their light beams. "We got some kind of giant worm over here," one of them calls out in common.
Meanwhile, Lily quickly begins strumming her harp again and moves forward down the stairwell. Even if her allies can't see their hands in front of their faces, they can certainly hear her soft, inspiring melody. The Azata wishes she could do more, but alas, her current form of existence is rather... limited in its options.
Gror squats down, let's his eyes soften, focuses his attention on the sounds and smells in the cavernous air, and waits...ready to pounce on the first foe to appear.
Vega stays relatively close to Sapphira, even going into the mist. "Then let us hope that whatever is here is as blind as we are."
Watching Sapphira move further into the cave along with the swarm of lantern archons, Cho'ankai's rocky form rumbles across the ice, tiny fractures in the frozen surface forming beneath his clawed paws. He moves ahead of the others from the rear of the group, passing through the firefly-like swarm of archons, directing his attention beyond both they and Sapphira.
"I will find what hides in the mist," Cho intones in a low, rumbling voice, before beginning another deep and resonant throat chant with his three earthen maws. The lupine features emit that rumbling chant, and at its conclusion their eyes shift from a molten orange to a sapphire blue, and Cho'ankai can feel his mind stretching outward, his consciousness expanding in search of other minds to reach out to.
Dori sneaks into the cavern over Cho's head, staying near the ceiling, moving at half speed while she searches the fog with all her senses. She can't see anything.
There's another crunch as the lantern archon just in front of Cho and Dori explodes. The other two archons on that side of Sapphira call out, "Contact, east side. The druid and rogue only caught a brief glimpse of some massive segmented thing, and felt it radiating heat.
Sapphira calls out, "Just lost two more archons on my west flank!" As another of the mist veiled worm things plows through two of the celestials.
_____________________________________
Hit
Hit
Hit
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Hit
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Hit
Miss
Hit
Hit
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Hit
Hearing the archons call out that there's been contact on the Eastern side, Gror starts to fly forward, following the wall to his left. When he sees the massive worm through the mist he strikes out at it, but the blow easily glances off the worm's hide.
As his claws glance off of it, he realizes the massive heat that's radiating from it's body, and is thankful that his evolution surge is still protecting him from heat. "Careful comrades! This thing's hide is tough...and radiates some ferocious heat. I might've been badly burnt were it not for my magical protection."
_____________________
AC 43 (+14 natural armor +4 armor (Mage Armor), +3 dex, +4 shield, +3 deflection +5 barkskin)
Buffs:
Barkskin: +5 Nat Armor (118 min left)
Mage Armor: +4 Armor
Magic Fang: +1 on claws
Inspire Courage: +2
Haste: +1, extra attack
Evo surge: immune (cold, heat)
Inquisitor Spells Remaining
1st (4/7)
2nd (5/7)
3rd (5/5)
4th (3/4)
Summoner Spells Remaining
1st (3/6)
2nd (4/6)
3rd (3/4)
4th (3/4)
Dori remains near the ceiling, claws ready to attack anything that comes in range. What are they? I'd rather not blow through any more spells just yet.
Size: Medium
AC 35/18/27
Saves 17/16/15
CMD 33
improved Evasion
Resist Cold 5, elec 5
Shadow Blending 50% miss chance, concealment
Spells in effect:
Haste (4 rds)
Spells remaining: 2/6/2/2
Hearing Gror's advice, Ophelia quickly begins to cook up plans. She quickly begins thinking about everything she knows about Winter Worms. Considering the nature of these beasts, she concludes that they likely have weak will power. The Sapphire Summoner quickly asks the lantern archon in front of her for a head count. After getting eight calls back, the little shimmering wizard begins throwing her scheme into action.
"Archons to my right, fall back. Those to my left, guide Lucero to the nearest worm via sound while distracting it with your lasers. LC, follow our voices and Plane Shift the worm," Ophelia quickly begins to order in the same manner as a general giving instructions to her soldiers.
"...Geez, and I just got healed up..." Lucero grumbles at the thought of getting roasted by a worm as he flaps his powerful wings and moves his way into the fray.
Hearing the Couatl flying her way, Ophelia calls out, “Over here! By Dori!”
As he flies over Cho, Lucero shifts his flexible serpentine frame toward the way of Ophelia’s disembodied voice. The feathered snake is rather happy to be a bit of the large side; his size lets him see most of the group despite the thickness of the fog. He directs himself toward Dorialis once the living shadow comes within sight.
“Good luck,” he hears Ophelia say gently as her tiny invisible hand brushes against his scales.
Meanwhile, the four archons on Ophelia’s right either unleash a barrage of lasers upon the second worm or move close to get a quick zap in. Each one of them gets at least one shot in despite their poor line of sight. The other four on Ophelia’s left quickly retreat behind the much more durable Sapphira and Vega.
The four attacking quickly hear Lucero’s rapid approach and begin pointing the Couatl in the direction of the nearest winter worm. Thanks to the effects of Poppy’s Haste spell, LC manages to cover the distance within mere seconds. The worm is caught completely off guard by the feathered serpent’s sudden arrival from the fog. It barely has time to flinch as Lucero wraps his tail around the creature’s body and then sends it shrieking to the Plane of Negative Energy, where its life force is swiftly drained to nothing.
Once the deed is done, Lucero looks at his tail and expects to see terrible burns. Instead, he finally notes the lack of pain and finds nothing sans a small sapphire shimmer radiating from his scales. Glancing back to where he suspects that Ophelia is hiding, the Couatl can’t help but give his friend a smile.
All the while, Lily continues to play her celestial harp.
______________________________________
Current Buffs: Mage Armor, Haste, Invisibility
Temp HP: /82
HP: /87
AC: 41, Touch: 17, Flat Footed: 35
Fort: +15
Ref: +19
Will: +18 (+24 against Enchantment)
Hero Points: 2/3
Defensive Abilities: Freedom of Movement (Constant), Evasion
Immune: Magical Sleep Effects, Cold, Fire
Total Concealment: 50% Miss Chance (20% in Bright Light)
--------------------
Offenses
--------------------
Speed: 30 ft., 70 ft. Fly (Perfect)
Melee: N/A
Spell-Like Abilities
At Will—Invisibility (CL 12th)
Bold Italics Means Used
Wizard Spells Prepared (CL 12th; Concentration +20)
6th (3+1)—Summon Monster VI, Undead Anatomy III, Permanent Image, Summoner Monster VI (D)
5th (4+1)—Open, Wall of Stone, Wall of Force, Summon Monster V, Summon Monster V (D)
4th (5+1)—Open, Open, Open, Open, Summon Monster IV, Summon Monster IV (D)
3rd (6+1)—Open, Fireball, Slow, Blacklight, Blacklight, Dispel Magic, Mad Monkeys (D)
2nd (6+1)—Share Language, Pyrotechnics, Mirror Image (2), Stone Call, Resist Energy, Web (D)
1st (6+1)—Blood Money, Obscuring Mists, Endure Elements, Feather Fall, Silent Image, Anticipate Peril, Mount (D)
0th (at will)—Prestidigitation, Ghost Sound, Spark, Dancing Lights
Summoner Spells Known (CL 12th; Concentration +16)
0th-6, 1st-6, 2nd-5, 3rd-4, 4th-4
4th (2/4)—Evolution Surge (Greater), Transmogrify, Purified Calling, Teleport
3rd (3/5)—Dimension Door, Restore Eidolon, Rejuvenate Eidolon, Greater Invisibility
2nd (2/6)—Haste, Evolution Surge (Lesser), Restore Eidolon (Lesser), Barkskin, Glitterdust
1st (4/6)—Mage Armor, Rejuvenate Eidolon (Lesser), Protection from Evil, Enlarge Person, Reduce Person, Grease
0th (at will)—Detect Magic, Read Magic, Guidance, Light, Mage Hand, Message
----------------------
Tracked Resources
----------------------
Arcane Bond Spell: 0/1
Marker’s Jump: 2/2
Shift: 17/17
Pearls of Power Level 1: 5/5
Dimensional Steps: 260 ft/360 ft
----------------------
Special Abilities
----------------------
Evasion (Ex): If Cross Fused Ophelia is subjected to an attack that normally allows a Reflex save for half damage, she takes no damage if she makes a successful saving throw.
Devotion (Ex): Cross Fused Ophelia gains a +4 morale bonus on Will saves against enchantment spells and effects.
Permanent Spells: Reduce Person
Contingency: When Ophelia snaps her fingers, Greater Evolution Surge activates on her Eidolon.
Current Buffs: Mage Armor, Haste, Resist Energy (Fire)
HP: /126
AC: 27, Touch: 17, Flat-Footed: 26
Fort: +9, Ref: +14, Will: +14
Resist: Fire 30
--------------------
Offenses
--------------------
Speed: 20 ft., Fly 60 ft. (good)
Melee: Bite +19 (1d8+10 plus grab and poison)
Space: 10 ft.; Reach: 5 ft.
Special Attacks: Constrict (1d8+7)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 9th)
Constant—Detect Chaos, Detect Evil, Detect Good, Detect Law
At will—Detect Thoughts (DC 15), Ethereal Jaunt (CL 16th), Invisibility, Plane Shift (DC 20)
Spells Known (CL 9th)
4th (2/4)—Enervation, Freedom of Movement
3rd (6/7)—Cure Serious Wounds, Magic Circle against Evil, Archon’s Aura
2nd (6/7)—Cure Moderate Wounds, Mirror Image, Restoration (Lesser), Endure Elements (Communal)
1st (3/7)—Divine Favor, Mage Armor, Protection from Evil, Shield of Faith, True Strike
0 (at will)—Create Water, Detect Magic, Disrupt Undead, Guidance, Light, Read Magic, Stabilize
Unable to see through the fog and only vaguely aware of the direction of the rhemoraz, Cho'ankai struggles to fight in the tight confines of the tunnel. The flickering snaps of the lantern archons being destroyed and the horrific cries of the beasts responsible for this destruction feel both immediate and distant at once. Blocking the main passage back, Cho'ankai braces his huge, earthen form and squares his footing, rocky lips pulled back revealing razor-sharp obsidian teeth. It's here he stands his ground, waiting for the wave of archons to fall and open up a passage for him to strike. In his mind, Cho has already considered the proper spell for this task, and whatever threat lurks int he fog rendering it into a helpless animal must be of some use. They just need to get in range of such a baleful curse.
_________