"Er... just one thing, Sir. How about a protection from fire potion, as tough as you can make it. I have plenty of gold for you to convert into components.|
Certainly, Monsieur Johann. That will be no problem. As you might know, I am an alchemist, and my experiments often put me in danger of being burnt by fire. Therefore, I have several of the most potent kind of fire protection potions for sale...
Flamel reaches into his handy haversack and procures a small vial of ruby liquid.
I would join you in battle against Wormwood, if only to have the chance to be joined once more with my dear Perenelle... But I know that if she were still alive, she would kill me for throwing away my life so readily... Ah, dear Perenelle... There will never be another woman like her... Are you married, Monsieur Johann?
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"I am, and I fear for her when I leave, and she fears for me. Friends all, I have done some deep thinking about this. I am committed to seeing Wormwood and Nero dead and ending what we started. They shall both rot in Hell! But after our work there is done, it is time for me to return to the Black Forest and see to it's reforestation. There is much a woodsman like me can do here. And Rapunzel waits for me."
A window opens from the fey lands and Lord P flies throw it and lands face down on the ground. As if someone has thrown him there.
he lands with a tiny HUFFOOO!
Laying there, face down, his butt in the air, his wings twitch a few times but he still and does not move.
He looks Johann in the eye. You can see he looks a little disheveled.
From a somewhat bruised face, he says.
"well you see showing up with a dead dragon and not, you know, like a living and breathing one was not received well at court. Most of all because of that green worms blood turns our to is highly acidic. While I was explaining things it burned its way to through the new ballroom floor to the kitchens below, a then down to the Dungeons were some very bad things got out, what followed well. Tis a bit of a mess to be honest."
He tries to brush off some of the dirt but gives up.
"For is wee little mistake, I'm Banished by the King."
He says with a weak smile.
"I think he was most upset that of all the things that escaped, His sister got out"
He just hangs there in a funk.
"Her true name is lost for She made magic to strip herself of it. My King knows her true name still but it us he calls her Archfey the tempter, so we all do. Sly, crafty, and most cunning. She makes tikes that sink empires."
He says unhapply
These most potent of protection from fire potions are worth 1,500 gold pieces each. I have seven of them on me at the moment, but if you think you'll need more than that, we can certainly stop by my home in Paris, where I have more in stock...
One can see how Nicolas Flamel has become one of the wealthiest men in Paris. It is believed that only the Dauphin Charles VII possesses as much wealth as this legendary alchemist.
Johann looks around at the others, and if they don't respond, he chimes in... "I think one for each of us will do. We will get blasted at least once; if the battle lasts long enough to take a second, I think we have problems beyond the fire."
Thinks for a moment.
"Yes I can, I'm not bound by the rules now, I'm banished."
He seems happy about this idea.
"Tikes that sink Empires?" She says looking at the fey and raises a brow.
"How so?"
He thinks a moment.
"Welll... the punishment for breaking the rules was banishment and I am already banished. So I can help. It means I can help you, yes help"
"I know banishment, Its' more the sister part I'm curious about?" She says confused.
"O! yes well she is the arch fey or darkness, and had her own court. In Babylonian times she was the winged spirit who preyed on pregnant women and infants. Taking the children and replacing them changelings. And when your serpent tempted Eve, She whispered in his 1st wife's ear, Lilith. She is nightmare and trickery many a mortal fool has fallen for one of her 'tikes' fey shadow creations crafted to look like attractive flesh. They beguile with glamour Loring mortals to their dooms. Her gift is to find the right thing or person to push so that empires fall. All for her great game. I call her The lady of shadows."
A chill wind howls in the gaping skull-shaped cave entrance as the Mighty Ones stand outside on the mountain path, speaking with Nicolas Flamel, and listening to Lord Perpireen speak of his banishment for accidentally freeing the wicked Lady of Shadows from her prison. The wind seems to grow especially cold and shrill as Lord Perpireen describes this ancient fey demigoddess...
Flamel strokes his white beard as he listens to Lord Perpireen's tale of misfortune. Ah, I am sorry to hear this, Lord of Sprites... That is... troubling news, indeed... Flamel frowns at the rocky path under his feet. This Archfey, Lady of Shadows, you speak of... She was once the Fey Queen of Connacht. She is a powerful warrior-queen, wily, treacherous, and promiscuous. She was the implacable foe of the warriors of Ulster... Anyway, let us attend to the rather pressing matter already at hand, shall we?
"So the mother of hags?"Mwikali says as she blinks and looks at her hand and her claws pop free."Changeling, Like me"
Lord P nods
"That is right Master of Alchemy, she was and is"
Then to Mwikali
"Yes they say she is the oldest and the mother of hags. Tho I know that Baba Yaga says otherwise."
Alphonse' brow furrows.
"Troubling news. Mayhap a good first mission for a budding knight order, to keep contained her mischief."
"Dragons now, Shadows later!" Irhin says as she has pulled a dagger and began working on her fingernails.
"The curse of the hag runs in my veins, Perpireen. I was promised to my mother but choose a different path. That darkness is their, I hear it call." She turns and looks at the shadow almost as if seeing an evil reflection of herself reflecting back. She lingers on it before pulling away.
"I will however work to restore your link. Mother Africa works in mysterious ways"
"The curse of the hag runs in my veins, Perpireen. I was promised to my mother but choose a different path. That darkness is their, I hear it call." She turns and looks at the shadow almost as if seeing an evil reflection of herself reflecting back. She lingers on it before pulling away.
"I will however work to restore your link. Mother Africa works in mysterious ways"
He flies over to Mwikali, and lands on her shoulder.
"I understand Mwikali, we fey have both light and dark within us. It is hard for users to understand others. But I think I understand you and you me, thank you. So I think this best be used as you offered"
He pulls from his magic pouch a great egg.
"Seeing how Dragons can turn to the dark shadows. I give this back to you. May this being protect your lands of Africa."
He offers her the Dragons Egg.
630 platinum pieces (kronars, kaisers, double eagles, etc.)
1,200 gold pieces (gilders, ducats, etc.)
12,060 silver pieces (florins, shillings, livres, etc.)
24,180 copper pieces (pfennigs, bits, rupees, etc.)
Oriental emerald worth 5,000 gp
Star sapphire worth 5,000 gp
Star ruby worth 5,000 gp
Diamond of purest water worth 5,000 gp
Oriental topaz worth 1,000 gp
Fire opal worth 1,000 gp
Walnut-sized aquamarine worth 1,000 gp
Walnut-sized jade worth 1,000 gp
Emerald worth 1,000 gp
Topaz worth 500 gp
Onyx worth 500 gp
Jacinth worth 500 gp
Walnut-sized tourmaline worth 500 gp
Garnet worth 100 gp
Carnelian worth 100 gp
Alexandrite worth 100 gp
Coral worth 50 gp
Jet worth 50 gp
Amethyst worth 50 gp
Amber worth 10 gp
Agate worth 10 gp
Zircon worth 10 gp
Hematite worth 10 gp
Gold dragon-head shaped horn with ruby eyes worth 12,000 gp
Platinum crown of laurels with acorn-sized emeralds inset worth 10,000 gp
Electrum idol of the Green Man with emerald inlays worth 9,000 gp (50 lb.)
Mithral and adamantine clockwork nightingale worth 7,000 gp
Carved ebony and ivory prototype clavier with copper wire and cat gut strings worth 6,000 gp (200 lb)
Marble bust of Julius Caesar worth 6,000 gp (50 lb.)
Rose quartz bust of Alexander the Great worth 5,000 gp (40 lb.)
If those fire protection potions are all that you needed before facing Wormwood, then I will be happy to teleport you all to the ruins of Pompeii, in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius... That location will provide better cover from which to ascend to the caldera, in which the Great Dragon of the Apocalypse lairs...
Thoughtfully rubbing his white-bearded chin again, Flamel adds, On the other hand, I dare to venture that Grünerraver had a rich hoard to plunder, indeed... If you should wish to unload some of the treasure in exchange for more potent arms, armor, or other equipment you may find useful in the coming battle... Well, the people of Paris suffered greatly during Grünerraver's attack on the Feast of Saint Valentine... It seems meet that you should enrich the markets of Paris... It would be truly helpful to a city struggling to repair the destruction wrought by the Tyrant of the Black Forest... Of course, you might rather spend the treasure in more familiar markets, perhaps in Rome. After all, you are the same Mighty Ones that defended the Eternal City from Wormwood on that terrible Saint Valentine's Day, oui?
Flamel sighs, grinning and shaking his head. Ah, now the old man is rambling! Haha! Wherever you wish to go next, Mighty Ones, I, Nicolas Flamel, am at your service!
"We go to slay Wormwood. I would have a few things prepared." Alphonse says, looking upon Foereaper.
"I had once though to restore Foereaper to its former glory, as a weapon against evil. But I see now that is not my purpose. The slaying of Wormwood, that is what this scythe is meant for now. I would have it be a bane to dragons, that they may fear its sting."
Flamel replies to Sir Alphonse: Oui, Monsieur. It would seem that you and your companions are preordained to crush this Great Fire Serpent under your heels, in accordance with God's will. Lucifer, that Old Devil, Satan, seeks to force the very hand of God, to usher in the War of Armageddon prematurely. The Devil thinks he can twist God's divine plan and escape His predestined judgement as foretold by the prophet John in the book of Revelation. It is clear to me now, as I look upon the Mighty Ones, the Crusaders of the Catacombs, the Desert Jackals, the Lusty Fool... Flamel winks at Sir Alphonse with a grin, ... Oui, it is obvious... God has chosen you ladies and gentlemen to be His instrument of divine wrath! Now, let us join our hands in a ring... oui, like so...
The Mighty Ones link hands in a ring with Nicolas Flamel, and the Jewish alchemist-archmage chants words of conjuration magic, instantly whisking the party from the slope of the Black Forest mountain where the skull-shaped cave mouth that was the entrance to Grünerraver's cavernous lair now yawns empty and silent, off to the market square on Rue Pernell (named for his philanthropic late wife, Perenelle), in Paris...
The market on Rue Pernell in Paris is truly a feast for the senses. The colorful sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and sensations are almost overwhelming to the keen eyes, ears, nose, and tongues of the adventurers...
Flamel has brought you to the marketplace at around dusk on the 6th of September. Nero will reincarnate in five days. Before then, the Mighty Ones have time to explore the stalls, vendors and shops on Rue Pernell.
Flamel assists each member of the party in finding buyers and sellers for exchange and upgrading of equipment, and dutifully facilitates the enchanting of weapons, armor, and other gear for the fair market price. By the time the party is finished selling, shopping and upgrading to confront Wormwood, it is 8 o'clock at night on September 6th.
I LOVE IT, thats my new wall paper
As word of Grünerraver's demise spreads among the inhabitants of the Black Forest, there is much celebrating. Rapunzel beams with pride as her neighbors come around to her tower looking for her husband Johann to thank him and his companions for slaying the tyrannical green dragon. There is much talk among the Black Forest inhabitants of naming Johann "Lord Protector of the Black Forest."
Having spent some of the dragon's hoard to empower themselves to face Wormwood, the Mighty Ones are now ready to confront the terrible fire wyrm.
Nicolas Flamel casts teleport to transport the party from Paris to the ruins of ancient Pompeii, in the foothills of Mount Vesuvius. The party arrives in an open-air courtyard of a villa half buried under black volcanic basalt and obsidian, with the towering volcano peak to the west. It is about 8:15 PM, and a quarter moon is shining just above the Italian hills north of Mount Vesuvius. The sun has sunken into the Mediterranean to the west, leaving behind only a faint reddish glow on the western horizon.
Having fully recovered from his skirmish against Grünerraver over the Black Forest (by drinking potions of cure serious wounds and resting for a couple days), Wormwood is in the mood for mayhem and destruction. He has left his lair in the caldera of Mount Vesuvius to fly over Tuscany and burn some Tuscan villages to the ground and feast on roasted Tuscans and their flocks.
Belly filled with charred meat, the Dragon of the Apocalypse soars among the peaks of the Italian Alps, over the passes where Hannibal once led an army that included elephants, stretching and exercising his massive scarlet wings. He roars to clear his throat, a sound like prolonged thunder that echoes in the alpine valleys below, spreading fear wherever the great dragon's shadow passes.
GGGRRROOOAAAAAAARRRRR!!! BEHOLD THE MIGHTY WORMWOOD CONFLAGRATIUS OF MERCURY, DESTROYER OF WORLDS!!! FEAR ME, MORTAL SCUM!!! HAHAHAHAHAAA!!! YOU HAVE DARED TO DEFY ME!! I HAVE TASTED OF DEATH, BUT MY HOST HAS RESURRECTED ME!! NOW, ALL THE WORLD SHALL COWER AND TREMBLE!! ALL THE WORLD SHALL BURN!!!
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Johann elects to go in the snake shape this battle. Snake vs snake for the ultimate smackdown.
But the dragon isn't home. "It isss in our bessst interessst to get the beassst in a confined area. If we engage him outssside he will fly and dart and be outssside the reach of many of usss. Shall we engage as he reentersss his cavernssss?"
Lord P stocks up on healing for the Mighty ones
Mount Vesuvius towers over the Italian countryside, rising some four thousand feet above sea level. The caldera opens like a yawning maw to the starry sky overhead, an hellish red glow emanating from the inner depths of the volcano. A broad, natural ledge of basalt corkscrews down the inner walls of the shaft, into the infernal lair of the fire wyrm, Wormwood...
Johann turns into a bat so he can fly rather than attempt to walk the narrow ledge.
The lair is in a volcanic cavern, about a hundred feet in diameter and about 60 feet high, with a moat of glowing red lava roughly 20 feet wide forming a ring around a central island some 60 feet in diameter, on which is heaped the largest hoard of treasure the Mighty Ones have ever seen! The moat of lava is fed by some seven blazing cascades of lava that run down the cave walls into the ring-shaped moat around the central isle.
The lair cave is accessed through an opening roughly 30 feet in diameter at the apex of the ceiling, which Dire Bat Johann discovers at the bottom of the 1,000-foot-deep volcano shaft. (The top of the caldera is about 2,000 feet in diameter, gradually tapering toward the bottom to the mere 30-foot-diameter hole that opens into the lair cave.)
"We should ambush him use the freezing globes and then concentrate on a variety of attacks. Any protection magics you can muster or buff magic you can muster now is the time."Ihrin says as she flys alongside Johann.
"We should ambush him use the freezing globes and then concentrate on a variety of attacks. Any protection magics you can muster or buff magic you can muster now is the time."Ihrin says as she flys alongside Johann.
"The beast is immense; we should have ample time to hear it coming and prepare ourselves accordingly before it enters the lair."
"The beast is immense; we should have ample time to hear it coming and prepare ourselves accordingly before it enters the lair."