"Who still needs healing?"
Either a CLW or CMW?
Cure light or moderate
Dantoor is guffawing at Azu's fierce discomfort. "Hah! Hah! Hahhh! Aw, bird, you're hilarious."
Lin shakes her great head and sighs, Min remained silent as his thoughts were very distant and it was hard for her to delve into what he was thinking about without a great amount of effort. "What has happened to the both of you is deplorable beyond measure, but if we are ever to defeat the dragonflight we must rise above them and not use their tactics. Sadly Azu here is much like you were now, except that he cannot escape them if that ring does in fact act as a beacon somehow."
She flexes her wings some more, as she keeps herself loose for the coming flight. She looks surprised though when Min suddenly begins unstrapping himself, sliding out of his riding harness and dismounts.
Wordlessly he brushes by his companions and begins to search the downed dragonflight foot soldiers to see what is in their possession. Lin follows behind him looking at him with a mixture of confusion and concern as for some reason he was still able to keep her from hearing what he was thinking. Min works unceasingly moving quickly from body to body during the lull in their journey, he doesn't lay a hand on fallen resistance members though as he passes them by entirely.
Min salvages a couple quivers of intact arrows, a pair of daggers, a shortsword and puts the coinage and gems he found in his pouch. He made a mental note to split what he found among the party once they had more time...
He quickly makes his way back across the bloodied snow and returns to his party, he speaks quietly as he approaches. "I had hoped these soldiers were compelled perhaps in some way, maybe mere pawns in this war but it seems I was wrong. We will need to find another of the the soldiers you brought down Professor except... this time we need to take them alive and find out what more about these foul devices. I would hazard to put one on my own finger but not so long as Lin and I are bonded. I couldn't imagine what would happen if they took control of either Syl or I..." He shudders for a moment before repacking his saddle bags and making sure everything is tightened down for the coming journey.
Lin though continues to watch her companion inquisitively, Min was acting very strange and was being too secretive in what was on his mind.
"Mayhap only some maybe controlled through this means, takin charge of fodder when one could find good dragons an such an make them work with tha evil dragons, I believe this is a limitation o this magic otherwise we would be with them not against them..."
"When do we go after them?"
Min packs away the extra weapons and straps the quivers securely to his saddlebags, after he makes sure he won't lose any of the arrows upon take off he turns to Belsarious. "We plan on at least tailing them so we don't lose sight of them before dark. You may come if you wish Belsarious, but we need to hurry before they get much farther away. The foot soldiers are the least of my concerns... I want to find those who wielded those strange blades as they probably have what we seek."
Min gets back in the saddle, strapping himself back in and lowering his goggles. Lin raises one massive eyebrow at him before looking straight ahead and plotting her running take off.
Damian tightly smiles as Min takes off. 'Finally, someone with some sense.' On Keythan, he pulls Brook up onto the back. "We need to get going. Dantoor, remember what I said. It will need to be done. We will bring the snowglobe to Izmir. Dolo, Sylsalitae, Belsarious, we need to move as a group, and we need to move now."
Syl is rejoiced at the healing she receives from the kind gentleman, and bows slightly after standing - her wounds are deeper, but she seems to be able to manage for now. Ansrithar nods approvingly of the other in turn, and moves to allow Syl to rejoin her place atop of him.
She clears her throat, and is moved over to the others, hearing all that had been said of these blades of darkness. She smiles faintly.
"I will take them for the time being. In time, I may come to redeem them for what they are, or destroy them so none may ever use them for evil again. Is that satisfactory with you all?
At Damian, she nods. She realizes most of this is her fault to begin with, but is eager to agree - they need to move quickly. The thought of losing what they came for bothers her visibly, but she dismounts and moves to gather the black blades, putting them and their holsters either on her, in a bag, or on Ansrithar, however many there are. It seems almost proper to her to be the caretaker of dark artifacts, in her mind.
Dolo looks to Damian and bites his tongue. He promised to be civil and not be devisive in front of the group. He was very unused to running around without exhausting every clue. That's what made him a good researcher.
They were leaving clues in abundance - Dantoor's stories, the ringed Azu, Pike and his access to the library at Stormfare, and more.
Dolo climbed aboard Glor and prepared to follow Sir Damian.
While aboard, Dolo seeks to heal his companion.
The map has stars marked on it just north of the city of Mamban, in an anonymous area deep in the Great Trackless Woods, on a tiny island in the bay about six days' travel south of Katapesh, and over the city of Choban-La, in the desert of Rass-La. The city of Lanzhu is circled. (Any one who has knowledge geography)
These are the arrows we had previously
Special arrows (total)
(20) Puncturing arrows/woodpecker fletching: do regular plus 1 point Con and 1d4 bleed damage per round (roll 1d4 per round)
(20) Razortusk Arrows/redwing blackbird fletching: normal damage, but ignore armor bonuses to AC
(50) Masterwork Arrows/sparrow fletching: usual mwk bonuses apply
(10) Backbarb Arrows/cedar waxwing fletching: normal damage plus 1 point Str damage and 1d4 tearing damage per round (roll per round), plus attempted removal of the arrow does 2d6 damage
(10-1 = 9) Flamestrike Arrows/cardinal fletching: do normal damage plus 3d6 fire damage to a 20ft. radius.
I would like some of the smoke arrows, but I only get a single arrow attack a round....but I have deadly aim and elven accuracy
I would like enough to keep Min and I in arrows of all sorts and keep my efficient quiver full as well.......
It looks like everything is fairly even maybe just split the smoke arrows.....
"If you don't mind we will be staying with you. If you are trying to keep these artifacts away from the different dragon flights we'd like to offer our services. As you saw I am a spellblade so my sword and spells are at your disposal if you'd accept it.
Oh sure don't even give me an option just offer to use me to help, what if I don't want to?
"If you don't want to help then I will just use a new blade and won't infuse it so you can't move over to it."
You wouldn't....would you?
Damian looks at Luckbender. Quietly, he asks, "Do you trust them to come with us? We don't really know them, but they did seem to be on our side during the last fight. They might be spies, though. Their appearance was rather convenient."
With a nod to Belsarious Min leans forward in the riding saddle as Lin begins to slowly walk forward. After a few moments though she is at a full out run and spreading her powerful wings as she she starts pumping her wings to take off. Each stroke blasts snow off to either side causing the air to swirl just before she soars into the air tucking her legs underneath her as she tries to be more aerodynamic.
Once they start gaining altitude and steady out some, Min draws out his bow and grimaces as his chest muscles scream in protest to the sudden movement and the weight of his armor. Looting all the dead soldiers hadn't helped none either, as he rubs his chest to ease the pain some Lin rumbles loudly back to him.
"Why do you block the bond so... Is it because of what you were thinking about earlier? you don't believe that do you? I could not imagine such..."
Min listens to her concerns quietly as he looks at the odd quiver sitting by his right side, its design was ingenious but would take some getting used to. He looked for the two types of arrows he was seeking and finding where they were he made a mental not as he ready a cedar waxwing and a woodpecker fletched arrow for easy draw.
"Right now the only thing I care about is smashing those soldiers beneath our claw and boot, so we can retrieve the item we seek. If it comes then it will come... Until then we have some soldiers to hunt..."
Lin chanced a look back at Min, trying to read his face as the block he had placed on their bond muffled his thoughts. Unable to see his face she focused back on flying and moving forward toward where they had last seen their foe. After a few moments she sighed and brought her full will against his block, smashing right through, in his moment of distraction.
Min barely had time to recover from the shock before Lin presence entered his mind, it was gentle and calm as always. As his troubles melted away he could here her words like waves washing over him. {We swore to keep no secrets from each other, no matter how foul or upsetting. No matter what troubles you, I am there for you always.}
Damian looks at Luckbender. Quietly, he asks, "Do you trust them to come with us? We don't really know them, but they did seem to be on our side during the last fight. They might be spies, though. Their appearance was rather convenient."
Dolo answers quietly, "I don't trust them fully but they have proven themselves so far. Lets keep an eye on them but I welcome their help."
Dantoor nods at Sir Damian's last statement. "We'll get Pike here to Izmir after we're done with Manaus. Good luck, and may Our Lord In Iron guide your every strike."
The party lifts off, now with two new members accompanying them, their scales shining in the sun just like Lin's and Ansrithar's. Catching up with the Red Dragonflight soldiers is easy; they are slogging through the sparse woods and heading down the valley towards an area of less snow. The other three spec ops soldiers are nowhere to be seen at the moment.
Damian eyes their new additions with some wariness. He's a good judge of character, but the appearance of the two is simply too convenient for him to simply dismiss. This is doubly true after the discussion of the Red Dragonflight's mind control rings. Suspicion, though, is secondary to the upcoming battle.
As the enemy comes into view, Damian yells out to the others, "Be prepared for their arrows, and "
So boss do you think they trust us?
"Unlikely, but they need all the help they can get. Even if it is from people they don't know." Maiathreen replies back to Stryke as he notices small glances their new "team mates" keep giving Livain and himself.i
Dolo takes the opportunity to cast Haste on the party as they overtake the Red Dragonflight enemies.
Dolo directs Glor to seek out the three remaining special forces members.
Perception
Initiative
Deadly Aim with Longbow
+Masterwork arrow
Attack
Damage
"Let them now learn why they flee!"
@DRA: The arrows I took off the spec ops were those in separate quivers or in a quiver like Min's? [/ooc]
Everybody:
Mai:
Syl:
Min:
The sun is blazing in the fall sky, causing tremendous glare to reflect off the hardened snow which in turn makes it very difficult to spot things in the trees and shadows. Despite their best efforts neither Belsarious nor Glor are able to spot the three Special Ops soldiers. Bel wastes no time in drawing his bow and sending a shot streaking out of the sky. He strikes one of the foot soldiers square in the shoulder, causing the man to shout in surprise and pain and his compatriots to look frantically about for where the shot came from.
"Yes let's show them the meaning of fear." Maiathreen says as he raises his left hand and begins an incantation. "Brand branna deras kott fran ben. Elden Strejk!" Blinding flashes of light streak out from the gate flying towards the front row of soldiers. As soon as the bolts hit he began another.
"Kung av lågor, bära ner på fienden! Blixt Brinna!" Sending another volley of fire hitting in the back rows.
Maiathreen sends burning death down from the skies, hitting a group of the soldiers and superheating their armor, killing them almost instantly. Some of the foot soldiers are wising up and have begun looking up into the sky, but the afternoon sun forces them to shade their eyes and they still have not drawn a bead on the party.
Saving his arrows Min takes the time to cast shield upon Lin to make it harder for the enemy soldiers below to strike her.
Lin takes the time to start making a swift descent towards the enemy soldiers as Dolo's magic gives her wings additional speed , Min leans forward staying close to Lin's back so that the wind doesn't tear him off her back as she makes her quick descent. Sadly for the enemy, by the time her shimmering scales are in view, its too late for a couple of the soldiers to react before she reaches them. She passes over their heads with a loud boom as she snaps out her wings at the last moment, halting her descent and allowing her to pass by them, and unleashes her powerful breath in her wake.
As the sudden cries of the enemy reaches his ears Min sits back up and yells to Belsarious over the howl of the whipping wind. "Forget this damn fodder, Which way do we need to go Belsarious?" He keeps a good hold of his bow as the turbulence from being so close tot he ground causes him to keep a strong hold onto Lin's sides with his knees.
However.
To the south is a much larger tugging. The other group that Captain Merit spoke of must be close, as you can see a great towering cloud of shadow stretch up above the horizon a few days' travel away. It is just there for a second before it disappears, but still you feel the horrendous malignant pull of multiple Abominations in one place, at least three of them, maybe more.
She reaches up to Maiathreen and gently plants her palm onto his shoulder while shaking her head.
"That was amazing!" she whispered as he blasted away at the soldiers. She felt pride in her husband, especially when he showed his raw power.
Livain's hands are a blur as she pulls arrows from quiver to bow and release faster than most can even see. As impossible as it would seem her first shot held two arrows one directly above the other before being released.
"Tha fodder do not have tha abomination, it is east and moving quickly away, I fear now three abominations converge, I feel them. I say we hit these hard but slow not tah engage them fully."
Livain's arrows rain down on the foot soldiers, wounding one and killing four more. Blood stains the snow as Red Dragonflight troops fall left and right. By now they have their bearings, but are not able to get moving before Sylsalvitae and Ansrithar make their move.
Min had to repeat what Belsarious said a few times to himself before believing what he had said. As the enemies enraged shout's brought him out of his distracted state he shook his head and laughed at this sudden turn of events. "Three! By the gods lets hope that they are not all so equally guarded as the Snow Globe or it will be a bloody day!"
With her mind fresh on the battles before this, Syl does nothing. it is here she remains on top of Ansrithar, and catches herself, keeping her body in mind after such a horrific encounter that almost cost her her life. It seems she is content to do so - though, she seeks out the leaders of this small gathering of men, Ansrithar eagerly circling.
The white dragon keeps up this pattern for quite some time, as he agrees what he sees is not all that is waiting for them. He seems more than ready as he eyes them, thinking of a feast to await them at their next rest stop, for he grew hungry, and thought of them as fish in a barrel - at least, right now.
Lindórievórea blasts down out of the sky and unleashes her freezing breath on the front group of soldiers. Even knowing the silver dragon was coming, the snow is too deep for them to get out of the way and they take the full brunt of the blast; a couple of the wounded perish instantly, the rest are reeling from the blow.
Maiathreen follows this up with another volley of firebolts that finish off the ones Lin wounded and hurt a couple more, their flesh searing and their armor superheating and baking them alive.
"I shall fire upon these while I can yet the abominations move away."
Deadly Aim with Longbow
+Masterwork arrow
Attack
Damage
As Livain's massive wings pump, keeping her aloft and stationary, her powerful arms work her compound bow with unerring and brutal accuracy. Belsarious' keen elven eyes have also ranged in on the frantically fleeing soldiers and he contributes his own missile to the deadly rain of arrows that is falling from the clear sunny sky. Three more of the foot soldiers fall dead, and the rest are doing nothing but looking for cover; they have no archers left and they have no magic, so the airborne assault is too much for them to withstand and they have no means of retaliation.
Damian knows the folly of getting bogged down with chasing down stragglers when a larger force awaits. "Fire and move! We need to intercept the Abominations!" He spurs Keythan to his maximum speed, streaking across the sky in pursuit of the artifacts.
The enemy, if they knew anything about tactics, would bring the items to a defensible location prior to any attempt to closely examine them. He scans the area, looking for signs of where he would head.
This is all directly to the east.