The dragon hears Kallik's warning, and attempts to stomp on the puddle with a red horned claw. It lets out a roar of surprise and pain as the goo sticks to it, holding it fast to the ground. It creeps slowly up its foreleg.
Declare actions!
Map!
Yelling, "Ibinu help the dragon!" as three identical Kallik's appear around her.
Ibinu dashes past the pack of combat with concern for the dragon on his mind, crap! It won't have our immunity to the spawn! This could go really bad really fast!
He lobs a bomb at the creature, hoping to do enough damage to kill or distract it from it's target. He yells to the dragon, "get away from it, it has a terrible disease!"
for and rounds.
Watching in horror as the darkspawn begins to engulf the baby dragon, Inam shrieks "Etrah! Help Ibinu. Save the cuty baby!" before turning back to the foes at hand.
Raising her blade high over her head, she tries to burry it in the closest opponent.
With little more than a nod, the phoenix turns in air and zooms after the male sylph.
Reaching his side, it rears back and cries out "In Volcano's name, you shall succeed!"
+1 Morale bonus on Attack and Saves against fear.
Round 4 Results!
Ibinu connects with the blob. It convulses as the celerity arcs through it. Though much of its bulk boils away, a small amount of it clings tenaciously to the dragon's claw.
Inam slays the northern darkspawn, her sword whistling through the hot, smoky air.
Kallik's spell causes three duplicates of herself to grow like branches from a tree trunk, eventually splitting off. The result is a confusing mass of Kalliks, none of which is obviously the true one.
The spawn, still attracted or enraged by Inam's display of light earlier, work themselves into a frenzy, visibly widening the existing cracks in their armor as they hammer away at the paladin.
Round 5 Begins!
The dragon breathes flame upon the spawn attached to it, inadvertently washing over Ibinu as the fire arcs around madly.
Though the spawn is now completely gone, there are several pulsating black sores on the dragon's claw and foreleg. Judging from the bulges underneath its scales, there are several more you cannot see. The dragon roars again, smashing its claw against the ground in agony and confusion.
Declare actions!
Map!
The remaining darkspawn, weakened by their frenzy, fall to pieces under Inam and Kallik's weapons. The battle is over.
Ibinu rushes over to the dragon, heedless of darkspawn and dragonfire. By instinct and intellect, his fingers fly through pouches, grabbing reagents, crumbling powders and herbs into fizzing red vials and pungent blue bottles. In a matter of only a few seconds, a burning white light flares from the final phial. Even through his protection, Ibinu's hands feel the intense heat emanating from the alchemical reactions he has set into motion. There is no time to think, only to act-
The sylph, small next to the high-necked height of the dragon, pours the bubbling, boiling white light upon the pustules and scales.
Ssarkofaugos let out a roar of such magnitude, that Ibinu knows only ringing silence and an awful thunder in his chest, threatening to shake his very core apart. Before he can recover, three bright lines of pain excoriate his face, from the cheekbones down to the jawline.
From a distance, Kallik and Inam fear that both Ibinu and the dragon are dead. After the dragon lashes out at Ibinu, they are both still. Then, the dragon stirs. The infection is gone, but half of the right claw and foreleg are gone, consumed by the harsh cure of Ibinu's alchemy.
Ibinu, as you regain consciousness, you feel a gentle--yet excruciating--touch upon your wounds. With a finger-sized flame, the dragon has cauterized the scratches to stop the bleeding. Saying nothing, the dragon bows to you, neck fully extended, face toward the ground.
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Blinking himself awake to pain... so much pain... Ibinu looks up at the dragon cauterizing his wounds. He holds very very still, knowing that this kind of battlefield healing can be effective and well... don't look a gift dragon in the mouth? I never really understood that comment and I have no clue if it applies to dragons, but hey I'm probably going into shock so whatever!
When the pain fades more and he doesn't pass out, he cranes his neck to see what is happening. As he watches the dragon backing up to bow down he gingerly gets to his feet and looks quizzically at him, "oh pish posh! Stand up good sir! I'm no one to bow to, not at all. I just did what needed done at the moment. And... well I'm sorry about your limb. Does it hurt?" Concerns overwhelmed by fascination of the beast and the injury, he moves up quickly to inspect the missing part of the dragon's leg. "Fascinating! You are incredibly strong to even bear that kind of pain. Can you still use it?"
Carefully, he tests his weight upon the limb. Though he growls with pain, he manages to stay upright for several seconds before it fails. "Rrrrr. For now, I am content to be alive. The rest will come later." A rumble, not from his throat but from his stomach, rolls across the cracked plains. "Where is my-"
So Khong crests a hill, carrying a pogona-sized lizard across his shoulders. He manages an awkward jog down the hill, and presents it to Ssarkofaugos. "Great one, here is..." Before he can finish, the dragon opens his maw and devours the smaller lizard.
"Adequate." He turns away from the inquisitor.
Assessing the area, So Khong shouts in alarm, "What transpired here? Why is he injured? Are Ssarkofaugos and Etrah in danger?"
Staring at the drama unfolding before glancing at Inam, "I'm sorry."
Turning to glare at So Khong, "As always the trouble showed up when you left. Those dark spawn arrived moments after you went hunting."
The familiar gaze of contempt. "Perhaps they knew to wait until the true channeler of Volcano's energies was no longer present. Judging from your wounds, you still have much to learn regarding strength."
Sideways, Inam remarks "I do seem to recall a time the trouble started because he was there..."
Shaking her head, she adds "Think what you will boy. I believe by Volcano's grace we saved this young one from an early grave. Good thinking there Ibinu!"
Glancing towards the charring, she frowns. "Would it be useful for us to commission a salve? Or just give you time to adjust to the new condition?"
"Yes my little scientist. Well done indeed." announces Etrah, ignoring So Khong entirely.
"I am sorry for the troubling entrance into the realm, my friend. Anything we can do to help, just let us know. We will do our best....within reason."
Ssarkofaugos tense body language relaxes, just an inch. "I have eaten. I am wounded. Now, I must rest." He nods to each of you, starting with Etrah. "Brother. Inam. Ibinu. Kallik. I owe you my life. May your hunts be bloody."
He rears up, bunching his leg muscles, then shoots into the air. From above, he blows what is almost a mist of flame upon each of you. It feels like you are showered with the sparks from a thousand forges - a fizzing, burning sensation that is just shy of painful.
So Khong watches the event with his customary neutral mask. Without preamble, he says, "If your account of the battle is accurate, the spawn were directed to infect the dragon - they acted with intelligence, which implies a worshiper of the Dark is nearby. Before I provide you with a way home, we must find this corruption."
Ibinu's eyes open wide as the dragon takes flight, someday... someday I will find a way to take to the sky as well.
"See you around Ssarkofaugos"
As the flame comes down he flinches a bit and then sees that it doesn't burn. As the knowledge imprints itself into his brain as to how to repeat the dragon's battlefield cauterization he smiles. "Oooh, that's awesome!"
He turns to So Khong, "sure we will take a shot. It'd be nice to get another chance at one of the leaders. But we need to heal up just a bit."
So Khong, seeing your injuries for the first time, walks over to each of you. Assuming you accept his touch,
Ibinu
Kallik
Inam
Ibinu thanks So Khong for the aid and then looks to backtrack the Darkspawn's path. As Kallik moves over to help he hands the rocky lady a small vial with a small smile. "Drink this if you take a few hits and we can't get to you... or just don't get hit, which I'd prefer."
"Hold for a moment." After healing the three of you, So Khong has retreated, a tacit acknowledgement of the distaste you all feel for one another. From a sheath of his belt, he pulls out a small, very sharp-looking knife. Without a word, he puts his left hand on the ground, and swiftly cuts off his pinky finger. He staunches the flow of bright red blood, which the dry ground eagerly drinks.
Bowing to Inam, he presents the gruesome trophy. "I am an eleni of my word. If I do not survive the confrontation with the cultist, you will still have your way home. You and Etrah will know how to use this when the time is right."
Ibinu finds a trail - a black splatter here, a chipped claw there. Later on, the dry ground shows obvious signs of the spawn's passage; it looks like a parade of marching knives.
In the distance, roiling red clouds give birth to crashes of lightning. The violent impacts cause plumes of ashes to leap high into the air. These storm-shadows drift in the gusty winds, dark towers toppling in slow motion.
As you travel west, the field of rocks--embers, eggs, whatever they truly are--dwindle, and eventually disappear entirely. The trail points toward a cavernous opening in a low hill. Stalactite fangs grin at you from the entrance.
"Ewww" gasps Inam, clamping her hand over her mouth. "Err...I mean thanks."
Quickly passing the digit to Etrah, she sets to follow Ibinu and Kalliks lead. "I do appreciate your efforts to make things right So Khong...as I suspect you can understand my hesitation."
So Khong nods. "It is both understandable and wise, and yet I can do nothing to assuage your fears other than try. If you do not wish me to accompany you, simply say so, but I do have some healing energies left for the day that could be of use."
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As the finger is removed and the reason made clear, Ibinu randomly questions, "but what if the reason you die is due to missing a finger? That's an interesting conundrum."
He flips through his book and mutters, "so a finger is an ingredient and something from Etrah and/or Inam. I guess I can cross the recipe of Archangel Grace, A Fruit from the Tree of Life, The Seal of Solomon and The Blood of a Most Holy Man off my list."
__________________________________________________________________
He follows the trail and points to the craggy cave, "oh yeah, that's it for sure. Evil people seem to love caves for some reason. Probably to stay out of the light of volcano in this case so I guess it even makes logical sense."
Seeing the questioning of So Khong continueing he steps up next to the Ifrit slapping him on the back, "oh no, we all are happy for your help. And while I know I was likely the least trusting of you in your past life, I'm very aware of the need for second chances at doing the right thing." He looks at Kallik when 'second chances' is said and then continues, "I mean, isn't that really our thing? Who haven't we allowed the opportunity for redemption?"
Looking at the cave again, "and I'd be surprised if we didn't at least try with the cultist as well. I mean, it would give us at minimum some incredible information if we were able to redeem such a being."
He follows the group into the cavernous opening.
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"I heard that doesn't always work Ibinu. Something about older Archangel's needing a blue pill...or something..." replies Inam, turning to So Khong at the mention of a 'blue pill'. "As for you tagging along, by all means. What better way to show your reformation?"
===============================================================
"I believe that's racist or something Ibinu...we found that undead dog in a cave and he was quite nice! Well, once we got him to stop biting us...."
As you enter the cave, an eerily familiar sensation overtakes you - one of complete blindness. The same aura of close, unyielding darkness that met you in the basements of the Temple greets you now, rendering your vision useless.
Stopping immediately, Ibinu whispers to his allies, "so yeah, I don't have anything yet that can cut through this murk. Maybe your weapons' glow can overpower it? Etrah can you 'Flame On' or something?"
A fluttering of feathers can be heard through the dark, though the specific symbol displayed seems to lose it's meaning without sight...
"I do not believe I can do much here. At best I could offer a momentary glimpse in the form of a flash of fire...if that even works."
"Ibinu, that might work...but sadly I'm not sure how to evoke the will of Volcano in my sword without being in battle."
Ibinu waves his hand in front of his face, brow furrowing, "whelp let's go stumble into something to battle then."
Turning around but everything is dark. That familiar fury starting to build. Closing her eyes against the darkness and breathing slowly. Grinning in the dark at her companions words. Then palm of her hand not gripping the axe starts to glow. Opening her eyes and staring down at her glowing hand, "Lets get out of here."
[ooc]As the light spell. [/spoiler]
[spoiler=High Servant] feel free to get weird with the symbol as it come from a trait. We spoke of it before but that was apparently two years ago :)[/spoiler
So Khong tries his hand at cutting through the gloom. He holds his simple red metal triangle aloft and murmurs, "Vulcunus trattiene Il Buio!" A crimson glow, weak and timid, sputters for a brief second, then dies.
From Kallik's rough palm, a complex sigil slowly emerges. Coruscating with all manner of living colors--green leaves of spring; amber sap of fall; the perfect brown of an ancient oak--the symbol does not float, but grows from her hand. Unfurling shoots and branches whorl around and about themselves, gradually reaching higher until the vibrant, two-dimensional plant is over five feet tall.
The light does little, but it shows that you are all still present. The strange colors alter each of your complexions - Ibinu shows up a florid yellow; Inam a sickly green; Etrah displays in grayscale, his fiery feathers reduced to ashes; Kallik, absorbing all light, becomes a pair of brownish eyes peeking from a mask of shadow; So Khong, disturbingly, looks like his old self, a deep blue, though perhaps a few shades lighter.
Ibinu's eyes grow very wide, looking at the show of magic from Kallik. He stammers a surprisingly short, "wow!"
So Khong wordlessly takes point, still clutching his holy symbol by the frayed rope that binds it.
The inquisitor simply says, "Sixty feet ahead, forty-five degrees sinstral. Elenoid, possibly sylph." At first glance, all you see is more formless shadows...
Glancing down at her hand and the around the room, Is this your doing?
"Well that helps some, though it's a bit eerie..." replies Inam, looking at each of them in turn.
Turning as indicated by So Khong, Etrah peers into the darkness ahead. "Hmmm....interesting. Does it live?" he whispers.
The sylph is nearly genderless in her gaunt, wasted state. She is a study in shades: pale flesh, drawn tight over bones; deep hollows in her cheeks; daisy-petal white eyes with no pupils; and dark veins consuming almost every inch of her legs and arms.
Only the voice is familiar. It is whispering, arrogant. "Same light-blessed as before? Is this a mockery, or jest, is my final minutes?"
Ibinu takes the sight in, not sure what he expected but relieved they have a chance. ”I recognize your voice... from the temple, right? Did you end up here after that? You know it’s never to late, even in death we have seen redemption.”
"We have...? Oh, right!" glancing towards So Khong, she smiles. "Yeah, it's never to late to repent for your mistakes. No elen is perfect."
"Might we be able to help you in some way? Assist you in getting right with the One on High?"
She seems to be fading. Her words are whispers, and her movements are shadows. "Whatever judgement is coming shall stem from what I have done; no syrupy speeches will unspill the blood or mend my choices. If you would set me to peace before I die, agree to this - ask the oracles for the truth of the Dark." She feebly holds up her skinny, vein-choked arms, as if some answer may hide there. You can see a tarry pool of ichor next to her - the half-finished spawn jerks a malformed leg once, then is still.
Her head lolls forward, like she is starting to fall asleep.
Ibinu considers the words a moment, "well that is true. We aren't free of our past regardless of what we do now. I guess what I mean to say is that it doesn't have to end terribly just because it's always been terrible."
What the heck are we doing! Debating morality and whatnot with a shade possessed cultist? A year ago I would have probably just wandered away or hacked something to bits by now. Truth of the Dark though... that is interesting. There is definitely something more going on with... oh wait no. Oh no it can't be... I need to research and talk to these Oracles immediately.
He adds, "we shall definitely do so regarding the oracles. How can we contact them?"
Wet coughing racks her body. There is a hint of laughter in it. "Do you ponder what I was doing when you came down those obsidian steps and walked into my shadows? That last door thwarted me. The oracles are down there, with their secrets locked and guarded by the priesthood."
She tumbles from her awkward half-sitting position, hitting the dusty ground with hardly a sound. Her shadows fade, and your vision slowly returns. Kallik's mark is fading. "Thank you for your promise, I-binu. My name was Consolata. I shall reward you with a gift in kind. Remove the thorn if you wish for the inquisitor to continue living." She gives a small wink to Ibinu, then blows a kiss toward So Khong.
Seemingly from nowhere, a large black thorn embeds itself into the inquisitor's neck. With a strangled cry, he falls down, obviously paralyzed from poison.
The shade-witch, in turn, lets out a gurgling death rattle, the last of her will and spirit spent. Some dark, oily substance puddles around her mouth, then stops.
Watching the events unfold with profound confusion, Inam tries to interject a few times...but finds her voice failing.
"What ar...but...never too...ACK!"
Shrieking as the thorn impales the inquisitor, she rushes to his side. "Why would she...?! This isn't right!"
At a loss for what to do, she doesn't touch the thorn for fear of making it worse. "Ibinu? Do you trust her? She offered you a gift for saving him...but...what kind of gift?"
Ibinu rushes to So Khong's side, "probably a gift for promising to investigate the dark. Obviously she thinks we'll find something shocking..." and we probably will "... now step to the side please, I see no reason for him to die."
Pulling out his healer's kit, he applies a quick salve that should numb around the wound and with a small grasping tool, carefully removes the barb .
Then he starts treating the poison, hoping to counter it effectively enough to allow So Khong to survive it.
Ibinu does not rush, yet his hands move with a strange, almost automatic quickness as he retrieves his tools and sets to work. The thorn is out in under ten seconds, and the syrupy, sticky poison is treated in under a minute.
So Khong's breath returns in a series of heaving gasps, then eventually it stabilizes. His eyes open soon after. "That was...piously done, Kemish." His monotone is rough with exertion.
Groaning, he sits up. He takes off his red holy symbol, and holds it out to Inam. "This symbol of healing and power is yours. I am truly sorry for who I was in my previous life." He also bows to Etrah.
Turning to the rest of you, he says, "You should go now. The lords of Incus are interested in you, and it does not bode well to be under their gaze. Leave me here, and they will believe you attacked me and fled."
"GO!"