Rutilux stands defiantly looking at the dragon as he lifts his shield in challenge. Long rivulets of blood flow down his other arm, across his gauntlets and roll across the brightly polished finish of his three headed flail as his own blood turns one of the heads bright red. In a flourish, he brings his flail up scattering droplets of his blood in a wide arc as the three heads smash against the dragon's skull and a resounding boom echoes through the area as the dragon's head is snapped backwards, the wound partially wreathed in blood red flames which can also be seen climbing Rutilux's arm from one of the flail's heads which now glows an angry blood red.
Rutilux seems unaware of what transpires with his weapon, his eyes still locked on his enemy as he prepares for another blow. Nevertheless, the red glow illuminates the cavalier's determined features. Strength from the dwarf's spell fills him.
Roaring in pain, the dragon's eyes are dilated in fury as it rushes forward to silence the spell casting dwarf, "I don't think so little dwarf." as its teeth close down on Nellens but his arcane defences blunt most of the blow .
The dragon's desperation to end the dwarf's life leaves an opening for the son of House Talonn, and he takes it.
Dagmar's scream, the others strike out, and again the cavalier strikes when he can once more.
"By Hearth and Home yet awaiting, by new liege and ancient heritage, you will DIE!" The cavalier feels sure of it, as sure as anything he's known. And that surety of the soul fills him with a strange joy of purpose.
Zethyris had anticipated a strike at himself or Rutilux, but the dragon's sudden attack on Nellens caught him off guard. With a flourish, Zethyris jabs again with his rapier.
Thorvald trying to redeem himself still to Rutilux, brings the Axe of the Werewolf Lord down in a deadly arcing wild swing!
"Ancestors guide my hands!"
bonus str and power attack
Moving to the opposite flank of the dragon from Zethyris, Isham angles for a clean bow shot. Finding nothing useful, he instead provides encouragement and direction to his comrades, "Zethyris, keep it distracted - Julian, be ready to close if we're needed - Dagmar be ready for caualties"
I doubt this will work, but I am running out of ideas.
From behind her cover, Ana attempts to demoralize the dragon.
"Young dragon! You are quite entertaining. But if this is everything you've got, I'm afraid you won't last much longer. Maybe you should have attacked a Goblin village instead of a dwarf city. But I guess it is too late for that now. A pity if you ask me - really."
We're going to have dragon steak tonight for our victory feast! Cook you up!
As Anastasiya tries to intimidate the dragon with Jediah's help Nellens looks at the two of you, "Are you crazy? What are you doing taunting a dragon?" Zethyris then adds another wound to the already scarred body. Rutilux's blow land heavily again upon the dragon, audibly shattering bones. In a final acct of rage and defiance it unleashes its breath all around it in its death throes. as its body slumps to the ground and everyone stabs, slices and bashes the monster one more time to make sure.
It's belly splits open, spilling icy water and viscera out across most of your boots and legs, spreading out in a semi steaming pool of putrefying flesh from dozens of bodies in various states of digestion and coins, many many coins.
An ancient ulfen spear, the spearhead is slightly tarnished and the hafts wooden length looks pitted from age but very strong
A length of supple silken rope
A simple brass flute when inspected thoroughly you find two rolled up sheets of thick paper
A dwarven crafted pick, serviceable and well balanced (light pick)
A long whip made of supple red leather
A thick pouch full of caltrops
A small round vial containing a dull grey oily fluid
A triangular vial half the size of a flask
A long rough prism
A variety of shiny non precious gems worth 27 gp
Three hundred and twelve platinum coins minted as squares with dwarven runes etched on the sides, three thousand gold triangles and thirty silver batons the size of a small piece of chalk
Aughh! My goodness, is this a dragon or a treasure vault? We need to change our professions if this is a common occurance.
The cold blast catches the cavalier square on, ice forms around his limbs, shield, and he is damn near snowblinded from it. Then, the thing stops. It stops its attack. It stops fighting. It stops living.
And it burst open sending entrails and prizes alike at their feet.
Only now does he look down at his flail in surprise, and then a glance to Nellens "Did you do that to my weapon, or was this flail ALWAYS more than I expected?"
"No matter how I tell this tale, my audience will always believe it an exaggeration."
After a moment of bewildered gazing at the treasure spilled forth from the dragon's gullet, "But come, there were other threats afoot today. Those who are wounded should stay for the healers, but we rest must defend the city."
reflex check.
Over committed with his heavy swing Thorvald catches the dragons death throw dousing breath weapon.
"Well struck Rutilux Dragon Slayer! Do we have that bag that holds more than it looks? We should gather some of this. These weapons my bear enchantments, Ana can you check the for s?
"More than that.. we need to cut this thing's head off, and have that head shown to the enemy army. If anything might demoralize them, it's that," Rutilux manages to spit out through frost bitten lips.
Jediah gnaws on a bit of dragon to see if it is edible. Perhaps after a nice marinade.
Ana stares back at Nelles. Will you shut up! You are not helping.
Ana kneels down next to dead dragon and says.
"Don't say I didn't warn you, dead dragon!"
Then she starts rummaging around in its treasure-filled entrails, casting detect magic on everything she finds.
She whistles an Irrisenian nursery rhyme while doing so.
Rat nimbly jumps out of the affected area.
You don't scare me, dragon! That scary white owl hasn't killed me yet, so you won't kill me either!
Zethyris nimbly avoids the dragon's frosty expulsion of breath. Well, now I can add 'fought a dragon' to the list of adventures! And to think, Savol killed one alone!
He steps over to where Anastasiya is examining the items. He grimaces as he takes in the gruesome sight, then takes a deep breath (instantly regretting it) and begins examining the treasures.
"Do we have that bag that holds more than it looks? We should gather some of this."
Zethyris reaches into his backpack and pulls out the magic sack held within. "I believe that there is enough room in here for all of this, assuming we take that much." His eyes flit to Nellens as he says this, then to the dwarven-looking coin.
"Regardless, we may have more pressing concerns at the moment. We have frozen dwarves around us..." Zethyris turns to Dagmar. "Can you tell if they are still alive? If so, can we help them?"
"There is also the small matter of the assault on the city gates. We should report there quickly to see how we may aid in the defense."
Thorvald picks up the spear and looks it over smithing
"This weapon is of an ancient Ulfen design. It seems stories of dragons consuming dwarven treasures and magics must be true, how else would these things survive being in the belly of the beasts?"
Dagmar will cast some healing hex's upon people wounded by the dragon's death throes.
Thanks to Nellens defensive magic the majority of the attack is nullified . The prism, the bottles and the two sheets of paper bear magical auras.
While you settle in to gather up the spilled coins and items Nellens heads off deeper into the city, "Well, I never thought you lot could do it. Let alone take it out so quickly." he paused and looks around, "But don't get ahead of yourselves, that dragon was still pretty young, it would've been a different story if it was full grown. I'm gonna make sure there aren't any more surprises waiting inside the city are you gonna join me or count your coins? Besides, those spells I cast will only last for a few minutes you should try and make the best out of them." he starts to walk away when he hears Rutilux's question so he turns back. "No, I didn't do that to your weapon. When this is over I can try and take a closer look." Despite his comments and ungracious remarks Nellens does appear to be less gruff than before.
Thorvald scoops handfuls of coins and items into Zethyris's sack while the dwarf speaks.
"Then . . . I wonder if that means these items may have been recently eaten? . . . I wonder who these people were."
Thorvald stands after Rutilux and the Dwarf have exchanged dialogue about the flail. Thorvald strikes the head from the dragon's body with his axe and shoulders it.
"Yes, let us crush our enemies, see them driven before us, and hear the lamentations of their fallen! Lord Protector? Thanes? My wolf, are you ready!?"
All set here.
Julian points to his wolf headdress. "Wait, which one of us is your wolf? It's loud girl, right?"
Retrieving his spear, Isham says, "Lead on master dwarf. Defense of the city is paramount," seeing some of his companions digging into the treasure, "The loot will hold - it's survived this long inside a dragon's gullet, I doubt any further harm will come to it."
And Isham follows Nellens at a trot.
"Yes, it's me, sneaky boy - and I'm ready!"
I hope those greedy dwarfs won't steal our loot while we are busy saving their city.
Dagmar will be casting her healing hexes while the group talks and walks.
Julian points to his wolf headdress. "Wait, which one of us is your wolf? It's loud girl, right?"
Thorvald watches Ana's reaction closely then speaks to Julian, "I'll take it you were making a joke and not making an insult. Its not wise to insult an Ulfen's woman to his face and infront of a group. Perhaps Isham can explain to you why sometime, after the battle of course."
"No, I didn't do that to your weapon. When this is over I can try and take a closer look." Despite his comments and ungracious remarks Nellens does appear to be less gruff than before.
"Much appreciated," Rutilux says to Nellins. "And of course we'll join you in battle once more and now. Both my honor and my obedience to my liege lead me to defend the people of this good city. I value those more than any treasure in the world."
"Yes, let us crush our enemies, see them driven before us, and hear the lamentations of their fallen! Lord Protector? Thanes? My wolf, are you ready!?
Rutilux smiles as Thorvald takes the head as he requested, "Well said. Now, if we can get before the army, one of us, Ana perhaps, for she has a way about her when it comes to making her ire known if I may say, should try to use it to demoralize some of the enemy. It may not work, but we have little to lose."
He also nods to Isham, and keeps pace as best he can.
Julian shrugs. Perhaps there is no distinction between "descriptive" and "insulting" in Ulfen culture ...or, more likely, he's insecure and wants to look good in front of his mate. Go easy on him, Julian. We've all been there.
Ana appears to be amused by Julian's joke.
While walking she whispers to Thorvald: "I really hope for you that you haven't given Julian any reason to hope you would call him your wolf. I can be dangerous when I'm jealous. ... Relax, bear. I'm just joking."
"Rutilux, I'll do my best. But if we really want to demoralize the enemy ... Nelles, can you get a couple of strong dwarfs to heave that dragon carcass up the fortifications and then throw it down in front of your main gate? Seeing their dragon slain should demoralize them. And a dead dragon is a message that can address more hobgoblins at once than my voice can - despite how loud Julian thinks I am."
Following quickly after Nellens you run across a few small groups of hobgoblins as well as obviously summoned creatures which you manage to clear out without trouble until you find yourselves staring down the street at a large stone block with a set of brass filigree doors hanging at odd angles. In from of the block lie several smashed statues and several robed bodies. Nellens pauses for a moment before running up, "No, not the Vault. This is bad."
As you start to run up the street towards the building threefigures emerge from the broken gateway. Two figures in dark blue and black robes wearing strange masks to conceal their faces and a third, a woman wearing a bright blue and silver dress cut in northern styles but obviously not designed for northern winter weather. You can barely make out, "...what we need, now we can return."
The masks on the robed figures is important, you can remember exactly where you've seen them before but they have something to do with your childhood. You can also tell, though your not exactly sure why, the woman is kin. As soon as you recognize her your body begins to feel strange, your body begins to burn as if you've been dropped in arctic waters and your mind is assaulted with images of you or someone similar to you using magic to freeze entire cities of ulfen and southern eras alike and then smashing them to pieces through sheer force of will. Furthermore you can feel the magic in your blood singing and calling out to this other woman, as well as some unknown and sinister entity somewhere.
Suddenly, Anastasiya doubles over as if in pain. Crying out she attracts the attention of the three figures, "This is unexpected, our little lost sister is here. I am returning to the palace, deal with them and return with her but be cautious, it looks like she is starting to awaken." She immediately casts a spell and vanishes while the two robed figures remain. You can see motes of raw magic forming and spiralling off of Anastasiya and can feel the temperature around her getting colder. "What's happening to me!?! Oh, it hurts! Get away, get away. Some...thing.....is....wrong." Anastasiya's eye begin to glow before she stands up straight, points a finger at Nellens and a spear of ice forms over her shoulder before flying forwards and crashing against Nellens defences. A very different voice slides out of Anastasiya, a deep, sultry voice, dripping with arrogance, "Bow your heads peasants. You stand before a god.
The two robed figures begin walking casually towards you.
[What they hell is going on here? Jediah glares at Ana. Is this the time? When we have to kill her?
Zethyris's eyes widen as the strange voice emanates from Ana. "Dagmar! Nellens! What's happening? Is something controlling her?"
He draws his rapier and steps back from Ana, eyeing both her and the approaching figures. "Thorvald, see if you can grab Ana and keep her under control until we figure out what's wrong."
Ana steps out of the group and fires a burst of ice at them.
She only smiles mildly at Zethyris' attempt to grapple her.
Rat tries to bite Anastasiya,
but misses.
Dagmar lets out a little scream of both pain and surprise as Ana's ice spell strikes her.
What is wrong with Ana? Is one of them controlling her?
Unsure what is wrong with Ana, but not wanting to get hit with that spell again, Dagmar step away from Ana and attempts to put her to sleep.
Following quickly after Nellens you run across a few small groups of hobgoblins as well as obviously summoned creatures which you manage to clear out without trouble until you find yourselves staring down the street at a large stone block with a set of brass filigree doors hanging at odd angles. In from of the block lie several smashed statues and several robed bodies. Nellens pauses for a moment before running up, "No, not the Vault. This is bad."
"Nellins, could this attack be a secondary objective... that is, chiefly a distraction just to seize something from this vault?" If anyone would have the resources, it would be the witches.
As you start to run up the street towards the building threefigures emerge from the broken gateway. Two figures in dark blue and black robes wearing strange masks to conceal their faces and a third, a woman wearing a bright blue and silver dress cut in northern styles but obviously not designed for northern winter weather. You can barely make out, "...what we need, now we can return."
Rutilux realizes his suspicions have a good chance of being right. Whether they are or not, it's clear to him they are at least using it as a distraction.
He starts to move forward at a faster pace...not fast enough as it turns out
uddenly, Anastasiya doubles over as if in pain. Crying out she attracts the attention of the three figures, (woman)"This is unexpected, our little lost sister is here. I am returning to the palace, deal with them and return with her but be cautious, it looks like she is starting to awaken." She immediately casts a spell and vanishes while the two robed figures remain. You can see motes of raw magic forming and spiralling off of Anastasiya and can feel the temperature around her getting colder. "What's happening to me!?! Oh, it hurts! Get away, get away. Some...thing.....is....wrong."
"Ana? Whatever spell they've put on you, try to undo it if you can. We'll..."
Anastasiya's eye begin to glow before she stands up straight, points a finger at Nellens and a spear of ice forms over her shoulder before flying forwards and crashing against Nellens defences. A very different voice slides out of Anastasiya, a deep, sultry voice, dripping with arrogance, "Bow your heads peasants. You stand before a god."
"I don't think that's Ana, at least, not in her right mind. Or else she'd know I'm no peasant," She is still so beautiful....
Ice pelts him, distracting his thoughts only a moment.
...and so dangerous. But she is no goddess, she's all too mortal still, and that's the real danger. We could kill her. "Regardless, don't kill her. It maybe what her foes want, to force us to be her executioners."
Seeing the other two figures, he speaks to the others, "I think those two are our true foes, and I'm going to treat them accordingly if I can."
"You don't ... *yawn*"
Ana slumps to the floor.
Jediah darts out of the way of the worst of the spell, drop his glaive, draws his bow and fires at one of the figures.
initiative
Thorvald watched Ana's transformation with horror. He vaguely hears Zethyris's battle plan, it was a good one, if he could just get himself to move. He was afraid one of he party might attack her. He heard Rutilux in the background and then Ana's hair crackinig with power and gathering a nimbus of light before it discharged in an icy blast from her fingertips into the group.
reflex save
The icy blast shocked Thorvald back into the moment. Rutilux was giving instructions he tried to focus on, the he became aware of Dagmar casting a spell in response to Ana's. No! Please don't kill her! I should have told you about the dreams and now it might be too late!
"Desna help me!"
He saw Ana bring a hand to her mouth then slumped to the ground apparently asleep.
Turning he saw Rutilux leading the charge and the two males moving towards them. Transforming into his bear like state Thorvald bounded towards them intent on venting his rage and fury upon them.
"What did you do to her!"
Seeing Ana begin to cast, Zethyris lunges at her. However, he is overly cautious in his attempt not to harm her and is easily shrugged off. Luckily, he avoids the returning icy blast.
"You don't ... *yawn*"
Ana slumps to the floor.
"Well done, Dagmar! Let us bring down these interlopers quickly, before Ana wakes up again!"
Julian looks for a strategic point to shoot.
"Rutilux is right - the spellcasters are our enemy here. Keep them from approaching Ana!"
With a cruel grin Ana backs up, leaving her former allies before her as she quickly draws her magic into the palm of her hand, unleashing it as a torrent of frigid wind and ice, the cold should cut to the bone but you witness Nellens defensive magic again take the brunt of spell and leaving everyone only mildly chilled. Zethyris reluctantly moves in in an attempt to grapple Anastasiya but with ease she sidesteps and avoids his grasping hands. "Silly boy, you'll have to try harder than that if you want to wrap your arms around me." Isham returns everyone's attention to the robed figures and begins to rally you. While trying to talk Ana down Rutilux moves up and fires upon one of the figure but his arrow flies wide. Thinking quickly Dagmar turns to Ana and while humming a childhood lullaby wraps Ana's tormented mind forcing her into the blackness of sleep. Forced to watch his lover in obvious agony change into what appears to be someone else entirely Thorvald fights his urge to run to her side, silently thanking Dagmar for subduing her without harm, and rushes to face the two who must be responsible for her plight but ends only hallway to them. Disliking the change that has befallen his/her owner Rat bites her as she sleeps. The sharp pain of the needle like teeth stirs Ana back to wakefulness. The first robed figure rushes forwards impossibly fast, closing the seventy feet between him and Rutilux far too quickly. Just before reaching Rutilux the figures body and weight shifts, slipping down to its right knee while the momentum sends his left crashing into Rutilux's knee sending jolts of pain up his side. Rutilux crashes to his back on the ground before even realizing that his feet had even left the ground forced to look up at the figure standing before him. As Thorvald turns back from the Rutilux to find the second robed figure mere inches from his face. As the realizing hits so the the pain from his abdomen. As the air is blasted from his lungs he stares down at the robed figures, tattooed fist planted deeply into his sternum, flexing his breastplate. His arms go numb as the werewolf axe slips from his fingers to clatter to the ground. "Who are these two?" as Nellens attempts to cast a spell on one of them but it fails to take hold. Seing the figures rush up s close Jediah stops reaching for his bow and instead rushes the figure attacking Rutilux but his swing fails to connect with more than the flowing robes hiding the figures identity.
Julian pops up from cover, murder in his eyes. He focuses his ki and lets out two shots blazingly fast.
Jediah grunts at the darting figure and unleashes another attack.
Earth's Vigil. +1 bonus AoO
For a x3 crit.
Thorvald, unaware of the drama unfolding behind him stares unfocusely down at his chest, Damn. . . This guy hits really really hard, this guy would be great in a bar fight. Damn, I feel like a guy with his head on the chopping block, I can't even get my arms up to block, but when I do I am going to tear this guy to pieces! . . . If this guy hits me again it is going to really really hurt. I even had reach on this guys with my axe and he still thumped me! This blows.