Fighting to catch her breath, Faerin has her horse saunter over to the Inquisitor to be restored.
Katrine pulls up alongside Ahto on her horse. While she looks relatively fresh and ready to fight, Storm is lagging behind and panting heavily. "Would you mind casting your spell on Storm? This kind of speed is hard on him."
Stayven gives a grateful nod to Ahto, "Many thanks, milord."
He produces a dizzying array of vials from his alchemy pouch, each of them changing his physiology just a bit more.
Knowing what they were up against, she could prepare a bit easier. She would focus her mind on recalling past spells that would be more viable against the massive beast.
Even from a distance, Pelipe can see the massive beast. "It's enormous!" She exclaims just loud enough to hear over the galloping hooves. As they approach, she veers off to the side. "Come to me to stage up. I'll cast some spells to make you better at fighting."
As they approach, Pelipe tries to identify any known resistances or weaknesses such a large beast will embody.
With a nod, Faerin moves closer, her eyes never leaving the absolute juggernaut of a beast as she quickly drinks a potion and casts a few spells in preparation, her skin shifting to a dull metallic grey-black as her muscles seem to thicken, her frame becoming more substantial.
Pelipe readily recognizes that typical owlbears don't possess any particular weaknesses, being as susceptible to harm as an ordinary bear. These creatures possess darkvision and keen scenting abilities, but these talents will be of little use during open battle in the daylight. Their sharp claws and beak can easily tear apart a man in a single motion, and that's just when they're of ordinary size.
However, while owlbears tend to be especially aggressive to the point that the entire species seems afflicted by madness, this specimen is bizarre beyond even its massive size. It seems possessed by an unnatural rage that borders on enchantment.
As the party closes within range of the beast, it lumbers through the river but wades slowly enough to idly smash apart river rocks and drifting logs as though venting its fury was as critical to its existence as breathing.
It eventually catches your scent and turns about in the midst of the river. The beast looks in your direction and shrieks in rage, suddenly fixated on your bloody doom.
Pelipe swirls her fingers and plants a spot for her fireworks to go. It may not be the most damaging spell but for the rage that is within the Owlbear, it seems that it is the best at keeping its attention from terrorizing the city.
As she casts, Pelipe points at the owlbear and a stream of fire ignites a flare toward the beast. When it gets close, it explodes in a dazzling color. This might be exciting were it not combat. The end result is some singed hair on the beast.
She will then pull out her wand of grease and will prepare to use it on the ground when the beast is finally stationary.
Setting her sights on the massive raging beast preparing to charge them, Faeirng begins to cast a spell, chanting in the ancient druidic tongue as calls out to the area's surrounding plant life, calling for all the tall grass, weeds, and other plants in the area to reach up and wrap around raging owlbear, impeding it's progress.
Katrine runs toward the owlbear, bow in hand and Storm at her heels, only to stop short as Faerin's spell takes effect. She motions for her companion to heel as she nocks an arrow and takes aim.
Faerin's magic causes reeds and other river plants to come alive and grasp at the massive owlbear's stout, sodden legs.
This holds it in place for first Pelipe's fiery magic to strike it and then for Katrine's two arrows to sink up to the fletching into the beast's feathered flanks.
The owlbear's rage flares higher, and it uses its tremendous strength to break free from the entangling plants. It forces its way forward, coming closer to exact mad revenge upon the small creatures causing it pain. Fortunately for you, the entangling reeds slow its ponderous advance.
Keeping her focus on the approaching monstrosity, Faerin begins another druidic chant, calling upon pure elemental fire to form a roiling ball that she sends rolling forward to slam into the owlbear head-on, greeting it on the riverbank.
Oddly enough, the ball of pure flame seems to have no effect on the grasping plants restraining the creature.
Ahto calls upon Abadar to protect him as one of the largest foes he's ever faced approaches, crashing through the water, river rocks, and grasping reeds.
Fueled by primal rage, the massive owlbear manages to resist the grasp of the entangling reeds and evade the sphere of flames that comes rolling towards it.
Pelipe enables the group to boost their speed. She casts the haste spell, which hits even their mounts and pets.
She then directs another firework to jet off toward the massive beast.
The owlbear bobs and weaves, perhaps unintentionally, as it crashes forward. The fireworks singe its fur but miss its eyes.
Stayven produces a vial from his pack, quaffing it rapidly. As he does so, his outline grows indistict begins to shift around, obfuscating his true position.
Katrine sinks another arrow deeply in the owlbear's neck.
The beast crashes fully onto shore and presses to the very edge of the entangling plants' grasp. Soon it will be upon you.
Pelipe is mindful of incoming arrows from the other side of the river. She will make sure they do not hit the party, but if some stray nearby, she will call it out to ensure no one is unaware.
As for the beast, she begins to craft a small bit of magically conjured clay in the shape of the target in her hand. It is a crude form, but a second later, after applying some material components to the figurine, a connection is made between the two, shooting out toward the real beast from the figurine.
(No Save, No SR, Damage will persist 1 more round.)
A moment later, she will direct the fire to hit the Owlbear with another firework! It may seem minor and weak, but it has done significant burn damage already to the beast; to which it will just add on more and more.
(REF DC15 for half and no dazzle)
The massive owlbear continues to lurch around and avoid the worst of Pelipe's fireworks, but it cannot best her magical aim. The caustic arrow strikes the beast squarely, burning away fur, feathers, and flesh.
Faerin begins another chant, calling forth a burst of barbed, acid-filled nettles that pepper the massive owlbear's face, simultaneously directing the ball of flamer to roll after the creature, slamming into its back.
Acid
Fire
Storm growls at the owlbear, hackles raised, but Katrine motions for him to stay put. She doesn't want him getting trapped by Faerin's plants. She nocks another arrow to her bow and lets fly, then another.
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Acid and fire from Faerin burns away at feathers and fur. Katrine and Stayven each bury arrows into the massive beast.
Nevertheless, the maddened creature barrels forward, its rage far surpassing the pain thus inflicted upon it.
It is finally upon you.
With its mighty reach, it swings a tree-trunk-sized limb at Katrine. Its long talons bite into her as it grabs her with its uncanny strength.
As the terrifying beast grabs hold of Katrine, Faerin focuses intensely as she stares at the owlbear, rippling waves of heat shimmering in the air around her as she calls forth the draining heat of the most oppressively sweltering summer days, a wavering red ray projecting from her extended finger to target the monstrosity.
Even as she does, she directs the ball of flame to follow it's target to strike again, as the caustic acid continues to burn.
Ahto finds he must abruptly divert his first swing of Burden to avoid accidentally hitting Katrine, but his second swing lands true. With that slash, the lord of Tamlyn delivers a very potent wound upon the creature.
Faerin's magic continues to whittle away at the massive owlbear.
The creature moves more sluggishly due to both magical effects and the sum of pain heaped upon it.
"No! Bad owlbear. Drop her this instant!" It may sound like a silly thing to do, to discipline a massive, building-sized owlbear, but then suddenly it would be forced to let go as her words carried with them some magical weight.
Pelipe flicks her wrist and another firework is sent outward. It spirals its flame toward the massive beast and then explodes near its face.
Pelipe will wave the wand in her hand, making the clothing/armor of Katrine extra slippery. A coating of grease seems to manifest on it magically and will protect her from further grapple attempts.
Rather than rushing into attack, Stayven moves around to the other side of the owlbear, hoping to get into a strategically sound flanking position with Ahto.
The fire and acid from Pelipe's magic finally overwhelms the monstrous owlbear. The ground reverberates with its finally howling death hoot.
Aided by Pelipe's magic, Katrine slips free from the dying creature's grasp and rolls clear before the immense body can collapse upon her.
Still riding the adrenaline high, you are almost startled when a new raucous sound rises from the far side of the river. It comes as quite the relief when you realize it is only the advance party of the Horace militia. They arrived at the riverbank just in time to witness your triumph, and they loudly cheer for their leaders' victory.
"I take it the soldiers cheering across the river are part of your army?" Faerin asks with a grin as she walks over to Katrine as she rises from the ground, drawing out a slender willow wand that she uses to heal the valiant ranger.
With her spell not finished, and the beast defeated, she will send the remainder of the fireworks up into the air as intended as the crowd cheers for them. They don't understand the terror facing down something like that fortunately, and thankfully it died before ripping them apart.
"Yes, they are our friends. Thank goodness the river and your magic slowed it down. It kept Katrine from knowing what the insides of an owlbear look like."
She could only chuckle a little and would let the spell of grease subside from her friend.
Faerin and others will notice that, due to Pelipe's injury, she does seem taxed by the exchange, but not as badly as when they had first met. This was, fortunately, a brief encounter.
She will wait for Ahto to finish killing the owlbear for good before asking him, "This is an impressive specimen. We should keep the beak for a trophy? And...with any luck, hopefully, she doesn't send other massive beasts at your lands."
Faerin makes a sweeping gesture with one hand, uttering a word of thanks in druidic to the plant life in the area as she releases them from her service, while closing her fist with her other hand, snuffing out the roiling fireball. "There is some natural magic that can restore such damage, but for something this size, I am unsure."
"I have the knowledge of some spells that could work but none are within my reach right now, or anytime soon. They would take extensive study. And I am not so skilled in alchemy as some magisters may be that I may preserve its corpse." She looks over the beast's body with a crafter's eye. "My hobbies have included masonry though. I could always take its measurements and immortalize it in statue form. Then we could let the people and beasts of your nation take part in a great owlbear feast. Some say owlbear has a uniquely good flavor, though I have never had it."
Storm snarls and lunges forward, training forgotten in the face of clear and present danger to his mistress... just in time for the owlbear to succumb to Pelipe's magic and drop the wounded ranger.
"Well, that was embarrassing. Oww, down!" Katrine winces as her worried wolfdog jumps on her broken ribs to frantically lick her face. "I love you too, honey, but that hurts." She takes a careful breath. Painful, but she can in fact breathe unobstructed, which is a good sign. "Ahto, Faerin, I don't suppose either of you has a healing spell handy?"
Hmm. Would an owlbear of this size be edible? If so, would it taste good if properly prepared? Katrine has butchered, cooked, dried and smoked bear and moose before, but not a moose-sized owlbear.
"Ahto, Faerin, I don't suppose either of you has a healing spell handy?"
"I take it the soldiers cheering across the river are part of your army?" Faerin asks with a grin as she walks over to Katrine as she rises from the ground, drawing out a slender willow wand that she uses to heal the valiant ranger.
Healed you of 14pts of damage