Dirge appears via dimension door at the post where Derrik, Radsworth, Jewels, et al are, and speaks quietly to Derrik....
Derrik, I performed another divination this morning to try to glean a more accurate idea of where the attack will come.... Based on the result, which was by no means definitive, I'd like to repost you at another sight, if you don't mind.... I feel your prowess with Excalibur and your leadership will be needed more there....
Dirge extends a hand to Derrik.
If you are agreeable, take my hand and I will transport us there with a dimension door....
As the gigantic albino elephant flew towards to the others, Levinson spend the time muttering a familiar incantation in Hebrew. The elephant landed with a gentle thud as she finished, and a portal to the outer planes rippled open followed by her favourite sound in the world:
"CAWROAR!" with a booming vocalization the large, six-limbed winged owlbear-like outsider flew into the mortal plane. Kepler then immediately charged Levinson nuzzling against the summoner.
After getting getting past the furry-feathery mass, Levinson ran over to see Yingzen, Daisy, and Mikey for the first time in years (from her point of view) as her newly acquired "cat" circled the group summing up their abilities.
Levinson?! Oh my God! You're alive! But what happened to your hair?
Daisy gets up and runs over to embrace Levinson.
Levinson! Welcome back to the world of the barely living, babe! I'm diggin' your new look....
Levinson embraced Daisy back beaming, "Good to see you guys. Yeah... the hair is a bit of a long story. Apparently it is a common side effect of... well, my new abilities."
Naomi reached into her haversack and pulled out her holstered revolver strapping the gunbelt around her waist. Then she reached in again and pulled out a six foot bronzewood staff from the small bag.
But hey, I'm back and I got my elephant, my bear-bird, and um... my cat. Solomon helped bring me up to speed, but who are the new guys?"
"How rude, comparing me to that overgrown pachyderm and some kingdomless outsider."
The cat-imp floated gracefully through the air over to Daisy and Mikey offering a bizarre approximation of a bow. He then introduced himself in his British baritone, "Fairest greetings, Mademoiselle and Sir Knight. I am Wormwood, Tempter third-class of Cania, loyal servant to Archduke Mephistopheles, and humble familiar to the Lady Arcanist. Pleased to meet your acquaintances."
Ooh! I'd like to get my trunk around that flea-ridden imp's scrawny little neck! Overgrown pachyderm, indeed! Harrumph!
Mahatma shrinks down to figurine size mid-leap and lands in Levinson's backpack.
To Levinson: So, I assume Professor Dirge caught you up on what's coming our way tomorrow? We aren't exactly sure what, but we know it's Cthulhu's minions.... Could be coming on the wing, according to the rather vague results of the most recent divinations.... I hope it's not dragons or balors....
As Levinson is getting reacquainted with her adventuring ka-tet, Professor Dirge dimension doors in with Derrik in tow....
Ah, good, you found it, Levinson. I'm posting Derrik here with you as well, as my most recent divinations suggest that this spot will see heavy action from the enemy.... May your gods protect you....
To Levinson: Ah, yes, the new guys.... They were 'ported in by Merlin to replace you, Kailin, and Koran when you all vanished in a bolt of lightning.... Allow me to introduce Darius Blake, a-k-a Mr Clean, and Professor Marcus Greer.... Oh, and Professor Greer's lovely-but-invisible-'cause-she's-a-ghost wife, Marie Greer.... Guys, this is Professor Naomi Levinson, arcane conjurer supreme, and her merry menagerie--Kepler the six-armed engine of destruction, Mahatma the talking elephant figurine, and this charming new familiar has already introduced himself as Wormwood.... By the way, Levinson, any sign of Koran or Kailin? Did they survive the lightning bolts?
"Pleased to meet you Professor Levinson!" he says, perhaps slightly more loudly than necessary.
He moves in to kiss her hand before stopping abruptly and glancing out the corner of his eye.
He "smoothly" turns that action into a handshake and then smiles over at Marie.
So now, the shelf of rock overlooking the broad canyon, with crude battlements formed by a semicircle of boulders is defended by:
Derrik/Arthur
Yingzen
Daisy
Mikey Jay
Levinson and Kepler
Marcus
Mr Clean
"Ha! Balors? Those uncivilized bullies. Don't make me laugh." Wormwood replied to MJ, "They are nothing against the mighty, well-trained armies of the Hells. Discipline and Tactics, my good man. Discipline and Tactics."
The feline-imp kept on rambling for a while in his stuffy manner as he floated along until he caught sight of Marcus and Marie. With an arched "eyebrow" the cat inspected the ghostly woman for quite some time apparently able to see her and her magic aura with ease. "Well, that is quite the sight... A Channeler and his Apparition."
With a heavy sigh of embarrassment regarding the Imp, Levinson turned to MJ, "Well, as long as they are with the Fierce Ones and not against us, no worries." She said with forced smirk before her expression turned grim again, "I had no idea Koran or Kailin were taken too... As soon as I landed in R'lyeh I was completely alone. Well... until I had a hand getting out..."
Naomi blushed wide-eyed as Marcus "subtly" altered tactics for trying to kiss her, "Hi, um... nice to meet you too." Still a little confused and unable to see Marie, she shot Wormwood a look and elbowed the flying feline. "Wormy, don't be rude."
April 27th, 2013....
The day of the expected attack dawns with utter trepidation, and drags on an agonizingly long time....
Morning wanes into evening, and all of Pandora's Box in the Canyons is on high alert....
Now will my true nature at last be revealed to my erstwhile companions of Pandora's Box! Now they shall see the true glory, and unrelenting power of Mephos!
Mephos brandishes the Rod of Faust as he soars toward the Grand Canyon on shantaks' wings, at the head of a loose formation of several shantaks bearing sinister riders, each a formidable servant of Cthulhu, be it oracle, sorcerer, wizard, or cleric.....
Derrik planned and prepared for the coming assault, he was ready, he was willing. With little words and only actions Derrik took in the information given to them, the return of other "allies", his own persona failure of retreating from the Tower once again. He was sure that this time was the last.. but maybe he was not worthy to hold Excalibur as he thought? Surely those creatures could have been defeated by him.. but they were Devils.. why would devils help Cthulhu? And more Importantly the creature, cat, along with Levinson radiated with great evil. " I will have to have a talk with her.. about that"
As the dawn arrived Derrik was fully armored and Carrying one of the many rifles they confiscated from the enemy perched ready to rain down holy might upon the enemy.. alone.. for now in his own little world.
Levinson doled out two doses of Mage Armor to protect herself and Kepler for the next nine hours. But the waiting around was starting to get to her. The summoner sat at the edge of the cliff cross-legged and hunched over with her arms wrapped around the staff leaning against her shoulder and her long white hair blowing in the light breeze.
She had been avoiding Derrik since he showed up. How should she even begin to explain the last few weeks/four years to someone who sees things in such cut and dry terms of good and evil? Well, if they managed to all survive this, she could figure it out then. For now, she would just have to hope he still trusted her.
After what felt like an hour, she called over Wormwood who was sleeping curled up in a ball. "Care to scout out for us? This waiting is driving my mad. Go all Romulan for us and report what you find?"
Wormwood's head tilted in confusion at the allusion, but more or less got the idea of what his charge meant.
With a surprising amount of speed, the feline-imp flew off in the direction Solomon figured the enemy would come. He quickly turned invisible and began reaching out with his diabolic senses to detect magic, good, evil, and law.
When the feline creature deemed itself to scout at the behest of Levinson , Derrik turned his head towards her the teeth that made up the visor of his helmet and imposing stare from the darkness. He speaks in his normal, deep tone.. commanding even when he does not will it,
"Professor Levinson.. It was good to see that you have returned... yet we both know you have been avoiding me. I have deemed it rude to push it, but even moreso .. not when that.. creature was present. You are aware that it is of great evil and of the Hells. Did you know that we were assailed by beasts from Hell themselves.. Barbed Devils..? Did you know that Mephos, the Enemy that is assaulting our encampment at this moment USED to be part of the Fierce Ones? That I KNEW he was evil as well?.. I thought that he would still somewhat disapprove of the Great Old One's reign.. instead he flocked to the beasts side. Now tell me..why should I trust your pet.. Or the 'you' that has returned now? "
He gave a pause standing somewhat in an intimidating pose the rifle in his hands aimed at the ground. "I give evil a chance.. and every time it has ended in sorrow and rage..."
Naomi smirked a bit to herself, So much for dodging this bullet. And she laid back on the hard ground, hands behind her head and weary eyes staring off into the cloudless Arizona sky.
"Yes, Derrik. I'm aware of all of this. Just as I'm aware of your 'gift' for seeing into people's hearts. But I'm afraid I don't have much of an answer as to if you should trust me. So tell me Derrik. Am I evil? I wouldn't question you if you said yes, as I'm not so sure myself these days.
"What I can tell you is that I survived the sentence of having my soul and sanity flayed for eternity by the Old Ones because a devil took pity on me. That 'pet' is, as I am sure you know, a denizen of the Nine Hells who has been tasked to my protection. In so far as his nature allows, he is bound to my will and will not stray from the path I lead. So if you deem me not to be evil, know he is a creature law-bound to obey me and will not be a threat for law is his nature just as much 'evil' is."
She took a moment before getting up to her feet and finally turning to face Derrik, "While you were in the Silver Tower and returning home, I spent four years in Cania, the Eighth Level of Hell. What I know is that I have given up everything to return and fight for this world. I also know that I have damned myself in the process. But I no longer know how much of me is still me. Am I 'Naomi Levinson, Professor of Genetics,' or 'Circe, Demigoddess of Witchcraft,' or someone else completely? Can you tell me, Derrik, King Arthur of Briton, who are we anymore?" Her expression was one of exhaustion and her eyes a mix of cold and pleading. "I will not betray you, Derrik Stonesmith. That much I can believe of myself. But I will not plead for your trust as I do not know anymore if I warrant it."
Yingzen paces his around his post. His hand resting on the hilt of his sword. He gazes out looking for his prey his eye a glow with a light of excitement. the dance takes to long to start.
Marcus stretches, wondering when the enemy forces are going to arrive.
Time to strike a blow against the forces of Chaos and the bastards don't even have the common courtesy to show up on time. he thinks to himself, annoyed.
I dunno, some sort of summoning storm. whatever Kailin was about to say next was cut short by the sound of a hundred feet pounding down the hall way. Dark cloaked figures streamed out of the hidden doors in the walls and surrounded the pair of Fierce ones. Kailin weakly patted his leg. Go get em’ big guy. and then the familiar sound of Kailin’s battle chant filled the air. Koran’s eyes grew red with rage and he flew at the enemy Mjolnir swung left and right taking down huge swathes of the creatures but more came. Kailin’s chant was cut short as one of the creatures tour through his neck and then he was gone beneath a pile of screaming biting shadows. Koran’s strength was draining fast and he knew he couldn’t last much longer.
Finally the mighty giant fell to his knees. He looked at the beautifully carved head of Mjolnir. I’m sorry Thor, I wasn’t strong enough. and then the room exploded in a wave of thunder knocking the creatures away and dashing them against the walls. STAND KORAN, WIELDER OF MJOLNIR! RISE AND STAND AGAINST THE FORCES OF CTHULU AS MY AVATAR, AS MY MORTAL INSTRUMENT UPON THE EARTH! Koran opened his eyes to find himself no longer in the dark room with the shadows but kneeling in a great hall in front of none other than Thor himself. Thor! Koran rose to his feet. You honor me with your presence but I must return to the Fierce ones.
INDEED YOU MUST. A GREAT FORCE APPROACHES PANDORAS BOX IN THE CANYON. THEY WILL NEED YOUR STRENGTH. BUT BEFORE YOU LEAVE A GIVE YOU THis MARK SO THAT ALL WILL RECOGNIZE YOU AS MY INSTRUMENT. AS MUCH AS MJOLNIR
** spoiler omitted **...
Sweet return! :)
There is little time to celebrate or explain Koran's sudden return, arriving much as he last left--in a bolt of lightning, but this one accompanied by a near-deafening thunderclap that seems to ring with divine harmonics rather than demonic or diabolical....
The stars of the Arizona night sky are suddenly noticeably blotted out as if by great flying beasts passing by overhead! At long last....the foe has arrived!
Initiatives, please!
About time these guys showed up, I was getting bored.
Koran swings Mjolnir up into a ready position. I've been waiting for this.
He grins from ear to ear and lets out a deafening roar.
Initiative
Initiative
Initiative
Initiative
Initiative
The scene:
The FOs stand on a relatively flat slab of reddish rock approximately 30-ft-by-40-ft (narrow N-S, wide E-W), it's west end overlooking a 150-ft drop into a vast, dark canyon, it's east end overloomed by a towering canyon wall that rises another 75 feet or so, with a single 10-ft-wide-and-high cave mouth leading east into a 20-ft-by-40-ft cavern with a low (10-ft) ceiling, to which the heroes can retreat from overwhelming aerial attacks if necessary.... A set of six boulders, each about the size of a fat otyugh, ring the west end like natural battlements (provide normal cover).
The minions of Cthulhu have appeared in the night sky over the canyon.... There are four dark riders mounted on massive, winged, dragon like beasts with vaguely horse-shaped heads. The nearest seems all too familiar to most of the FOs: Mephos, Whisperer of Secrets, is about 200 ft west. The next closest is 240 ft west, and the furthest two are each about 280 ft west.
Initiative result 21
Initiative
Yingzen!
Sacred sorcs!
Daisy!
Shantaks!
Mephos!
Marcus!
Koran!
Derrik!
Mikey Jay!
Death priest!
Radsworth!
Necromancer!
TBD: Levinson!
Eeeeeeekity-eeeeeeek!!!
After Yingzen:
Casts wall of fire running N-S on a line 10 feet from the east end of FOs' battle station, hot side facing west, catching Daisy and Marcus directly on-line....
Daisy and Marcus each take fire damage....
Radsworth, Levinson and Kepler, caught within 10 ft of the broiling curtain of flame, take fire damage each (check for necklaces of fireballs!)....
Derrik, Yingzen, Koran, and Mikey Jay, each near the west end, take fire damage each....
Daisy shrieks and beats at the flames singeing her glossy black hair, and back pedals into the 10-ft-wide safe zone behind the wall of flame, then casts fly on herself....
The great shantaks utter a ghastly, unearthly chorus of howls as they beat their mighty wings and bear their riders 160 ft closer to the FOs' position....
This brings Mephos to a point 40 ft west of the west end of the ledge and about 20 ft higher than; the sacred sorc to about 80 ft away and also 20 ft higher; and the necro and death priest to about 120 ft away, and 30 ft higher....
DAMMIT! Mephos you coward, come face us instead of sitting there smiling. YOU TRAITOR!
Koran lets out a roar of frustration.
Can someone get me up there, with that sniveling whelp?
Yingzen holds his sword waiting for the right time to strike, he is aware stealth will not be possible this battle.
The Whisperer of Secrets throws back his darkly handsome face to the stars and laughs.
I prefer to keep a healthy distance from your brutish thews, Koran.... But I'll give you a new playmate....
Raising the sinister-looking black rod in his hand, Mephos traces an elaborate pattern in the air and utters a dark incantation of summoning....
A black vortex of smoke appears in the center of the FOs' battle station, towering to a height of some 15 ft, and foul with a sulphur stench....