Excited to be freed, Amnayel swoops around in loops through the air as she dodges the dragon's numerous attacks and comes away uninjured. She in turn tries to unleash three strikes of her own, but she's too distracted watching Allie fall in the background and doesn't focus on her strikes as much as she should.
Gabbi's heart stops when Allie is dumped off into empty air. Her hands fumble at her weapon for just a moment, until she sees movement in the water below. She then resumes her missile volley.
Another good sized rock plummets from the cliff face.
Allie dodges the rock that falls from above and mutters something about 'the worst day ever'.
Gabby scores one hit, but everybody else misses the dragon. It continues to assault Amnayel, biting her and striking her with its tail!
Gabbi growls to herself as she continually tries to adjust her aim to avoid a certain winged paladin.
From a long way below Allie glares up at the dragon and then calls on the sun to strike it down!
Ulrich sighs in frustration as yet another rock fails to connect. It's more likely that he'll end up hitting Alessandra than the dragon at this rate. Looking over his shoulder, Ulrich spots a big boulder waiting there, seemingly in anticipation. With a grunt, Ulrich decides to give it a shot. With his hand, he reaches for the boulder and forces it to levitate. Then he brings it over to the cliffside, and launches it straight down at the dragon, like he were throwing a ball the size of an ogre.
Rocks going soaring past her from above, and Amnayel has half a mind to wonder if the necromancer is actually aiming for her.
Surely not.
The dragon rips her nearly in two and she knows another strike like that would end he. She drags her hand along her body and heals herself once more.
She stops fussing about with her longsword and drops it, hoping Allie was clear. She draws her falchion and holds it aloft, proclaiming boldly "LEAVE US NOW!
She swings her blade with everything she has, hoping to take down the winged creature once and for all.
Allie scorches the dragon, and Gabbi scores one more hit. But it is Amnayel who strikes the fatal blow, her holy blade ripping open the dragon’s throat! Icy blood sprays the aasimar as the wyrm thrashes in the air, then it plummets into the freezing fog and vanishes from sight. There is a huge splash as it hits the water, and Allie watches as its corpse sinks below the surface!
When you have time to search around, you find the dragon’s lair in a well-hidden cave behind the waterfall. Thw cave extends back 100 feet before dropping suddenly into a 50-foot-deep pit. At the bottom of the pit lie several humanoid bones and the dragon’s hoard of 826 pp, 13,503 gp, 26,781 sp, two large rubies worth 2,100 gp each, 94 bloodstones worth 25 gp each, a greater caster’s shield,, and a +2 called cold iron spear.
When the beast falls, Amnayel swoops into a dive towards Allie and as she approaches the ground she calls out "Alessandra! Are you alright? Are you injured?"
Later when they search the dragon's lair and find its hoard, she looks over the massive collection of wealth and sighs. "Many lives were lost over these valuables." before turning to her companions and saying "Thank you for coming to my aid. Surely I would have fallen had it not been for your heroics. I will pray to each one of you this night. You are welcome to attend if you wish."
She looks to Gabriella and Alessandra only, since Ulrich is not there.
Pass
Arcane
3rd level, CL5
Iron Stake
Iron Stake
Source Ultimate Wilderness pg. 231, The First World, Realm of the Fey pg. 12
School conjuration (creation); Level arcanist 3, cleric 3, druid 3, hunter 2, inquisitor 2, oracle 3, ranger 2, sorcerer 3, warpriest 3, witch 3, wizard 3
Casting
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M (a pinch of iron filings)
Effect
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Duration instantaneous or 1 round/level; see texxt
Saving Throw Fortitude partial; Spell Resistance no
Description
This spell creates a 1-foot-long spike of cold iron that you fling at your target as a ranged touch attack. The stake is treated as a magic and cold iron weapon for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction, and deals 1d6 points of piercing damage for every 2 caster levels you have (maximum 10d6 at 20th level).
Additionally, if a creature with DR/cold iron takes damage from this spell, it is sickened for 1 round and must attempt a Fortitude save. If it fails, for a number of rounds equal to your caster level, it must succeed at a concentration check (in addition to any normally required concentration checks) to use any spells or spell-like abilities it has—the DC of this check is equal to 15 + twice the spell’s level. If the creature fails this concentration check, its spell is wasted.
Deciding the necromancer should see the hoard she says "I'm going to get Ulrich, I'll be right back."
She turns and flies off, rising to the top and lands in front of him. "Ulrich. We have slayed the dragon and now are looking over its hoard. There is much to see there and you should join us. Come, I will carry you down."
Ulrich's brow furrows as the gears in his head grind. He takes a step backwards and says
"Thank you for the offer, but perhaps you could take Elka instead. It would be unwise for me to go down there, only to rely on you to bring me back up later."
Amnayel does not see the difficulty in bringing Ulrich back so she stands firm and shakes her head no "I can also take Elka, but since there are magical items likely in the hoard I think it makes the most sense for you to investigate them. It is not great effort for me to fly you back, it will only take a few minutes of travel."
"Kamosh is knowledgeable of magic items. I am sure he could assist you." Ulrich says with another step back. "I suspect your intentions to not be in my best interest. Perhaps it would be convenient to grapple me several hundred feet above ground, or to leave me stranded below as I have run out of my teleportation spells for the day."
Amnayel is surprised by Ulrich's response and tilts her head and says "I see." as she studies him.
"I could see why you think I would do that. Would I accidentally lose my grip on you while we were to descend, you would fall several hundred feet as your body exploded on the ground below. It sounds incredibly painful. And quite easy for me to execute. You are essentially helpless then, no?"
"Indeed. Completely helpless."
Amnayel nods "So now that this is established, I will give you my word that I will grant you safe passage to and from the hoard. Both Alessandra and Gabriella are awaiting, come, take my hand and I give you my word that I shall transport you safely."
She extends her her out to him.
Ulrich still looks unsure, but he takes a step forward.
"I understand that you take your word very seriously. An oathbreaker is a terrible existence for a paladin. I understand oaths."
Amnayel nods, holding her hand steady. "Then understand that I will do as I say in this matter and you have nothing to fear now. I shall protect you with my everything to and from the hoard. Come now, let us go."
Ulrich slowly steps forward, and takes Amnayel's hand.
Amnayel takes Ulrich's hand and then brings him closer to her body, wrapping her strong arm around his waist tightly. She says "Hold on to me if you wish, but fear not, I have you." She spreads her wings wide and bends her knees slightly just before leaping up into the air. She adds "I'm still learning how to do this, I apologize if it feels awkward."
About halfway to the hoard she turns to him and asks "When you were dropping rocks, you were not aiming for me, were you?"
Ulrich doesn't hold onto Amnayel. He actually has his free hand conveniently stroking his beard, just in case he has to react quickly to stop Amnayel from strangling him.
"Perhaps you could ask Kamosh for aid? I do not know if the advice would translate, since the physiology is different, but it is a recommendation."
"Not at all. It would be very foolish for me to attack you. Gabriella and Alessandra would turn on me immediately, likely Kamosh as well. At best I would be driven off to fend for myself in the wilds. Then my options grow even thinner. No. That course of action leads me nowhere beneficial. I would much prefer peaceful, if tenuous, coexistence."
"Niiice!" Allie says when she notices the spear. She picks it up and begins whirling it around, clearly delighted by how it doesn't splinter in her grip. "What do you think Gabbi? What would Weapons Master Hetamon say if he saw me now?"
Amnayel responds "I reached a similar conclusion myself. Very good then. The thought on asking asking Shemyaza, this had not previously occurred to me. I will do so."
She turns to him and offers sincerely "Thank you. "
She flies the rest of the way in silence, depositing Ulrich safely to the hoard to allow him to inspect their newfound wealth.
"Niiice!" Allie says when she notices the spear. She picks it up and begins whirling it around, clearly delighted by how it doesn't splinter in her grip. "What do you think Gabbi? What would Weapons Master Hetamon say if he saw me now?"
Gabriella takes on a dismissive expression and fingers at her upper lip as if stroking a mustache. "You stance isn't solid enough," she says in a bored voice, repeating the phrase that they had both come to expect.
Her expression turns to a smile and she leans in to give her sister a quick peck on the cheek. "If it means anything, I think you could clean his clock now."
Ulrich nods and remains quiet. He thanks Amnayel for the lift, then approaches the hoard.
"He would likely say that you should not throw yourself off an eight-hundred foot cliff." Ulrich says.
He examines the magical items, which are of middling interest. The shield is a little different though. Ulrich explains that it has a spell written on the back of it, much like a scroll. He explains the conjuration spell as launching a cold iron spike at the enemy. Cold iron is most effective against fey, but there are some demons that possess a weakness for it.
"Niiice!" Allie says when she notices the spear. She picks it up and begins whirling it around, clearly delighted by how it doesn't splinter in her grip. "What do you think Gabbi? What would Weapons Master Hetamon say if he saw me now?"Gabriella takes on a dismissive expression and fingers at her upper lip as if stroking a mustache. "You stance isn't solid enough," she says in a bored voice, repeating the phrase that they had both come to expect.
Her expression turns to a smile and she leans in to give her sister a quick peck on the cheek. "If it means anything, I think you could clean his clock now."
"Now that would be satisfying!" Allie says, beaming, although whether its the treasure or the kiss is debatable.
You press on from the Wailing Cascade, heading north. The upper reaches of the Vaishau Pass offer a commanding view of the Hungry Mountains as well as a good look at the storm clouds that perpetually roil overhead. Though the upper plateaus are sparsely populated, you still have to fight your way past a handful of roving ghouls and vampire warriors who try to make a meal out of you. Fortunately, they are no match for your might.
After three days of travel through the mountains, the rocky trail drops away ahead, descending several miles down a steep slope that overlooks an alien sight. To the north and east, Virlych continues on—a treacherous landscape choked with miasma and dotted with rotting scraps of greenery. To the west, however, a garden of vibrant greens and reds snakes through the terrain. The winds from this verdant stretch— perhaps twenty miles across—reek of sickly-sweet fruits, acrid rot, and blood. This is where Gallowspire once stood. Now, the imposing spire is nowhere to be sen, replaced by the verdant overgrowth.
Gabbi doesn't take Amneyal up on her offer. Although, she recommends that her sister do so.
~~~
"None of you probably need me to tell you this, but none of ... that," she gestures towards the riot of growth, "Is native. Consequently, it's probably hostile. But that's where we need to get to. It looks like it's too wide for us to fly over." She nods at Amnayel. "With one exception. So we'll have to push on through."
"Yay, we can get eaten by giant mutant plants..." Allie adds, clutching her new spear repeatedly.
You make your way down to the overgrown region and start to hack a trail through the strange brush and vines, weaving around trees so massive they blot out what little sun Virlych receives. While lush and idyllic at first glance, the bloom overflows with unique plants featuring red-spattered patterns, skull-shaped leaves and blossoms, jagged thorns, dripping maws, branches that reflexively cling and crush, and openings that exist solely to emit mournful wails or tortured shrieks.
The outer perimeter of the region, where life meets death, is a swampy ring half a mile thick. The growth here favors fungi and enormous molds, but stands of greenery dot the gray-blue landscape and stand out from the low fog clinging to the ground.
Once you get through that ring, the dense undergrowth opens up into several orderly rows of pear trees. Patterns of red spatters grow on the leaves, while the overlarge fruits bear dark blue veins and occasionally pulse on the branch like beating human hearts. Mounds of moldering vegetation on the ground pulse in response to the beating. A platinum amulet dangles on one tree branch--a holy symbol of Iomedae.
A sickly female elf stands here, staring forlornly at the amulet. She turns when she hears you approaching. "Well met. It is good to see friendly faces in this blighted place. My name is Adenos, and I could use your help."
"And what would someone like you be doing here?" Gabbi asks, immediately suspicious.
"I was part of a legion sent to stop Tar-Baphon's escape from Gallowspire," Adenos says. "There was a massive explosion, and I found myself the lone survivor. I am unsure how I managed to survive, though I was not unscathed, as you can see. I am trying to return to Lastwall, but I must bring my beloved husband's holy symbol back with me to give to his family. It is stuck in that tree."
Gabby gets the sense that Adenos is not being truthful.
Gabbi glances at her sister.
Her bow slips easily into her hands and she takes a step to the left while Allie steps to the right.
"I don't think you're telling us everything. Let's start with the real reason that you're here." she says.
Gabbi senses a strong aura of evil emanating from the elf.
Her ruse foiled, the elf smirks cruelly. "Very well. There was a scouting expedition that died here when the Radiant Fire detonated. What survived of the scouts’ bodies grew into this grove of trees." Adenos pierces the bark of one with an arrow, and thick, red sap begins to leak out of the vein. The mounds of vegetation begin to shudder. "The misery and pain here is exquisite. Perhaps I'll add yours to it!"
The mounds rise up into a pair of monstrous plants, masses of tangled vines dripping noxious slime. Adenos's form twists and grows as well as she changes into a human-shaped beast with a horse’s skull for a head. It walks on cracked hooves and bears the rotting wings of a carrion bird.
"Leukodaemon! Holy weapons or silver! Shambling mounds! Don't use electricity!" Gabbi shouts as she casts a spell upon herself.
As Gabbi buffs, Elka rushes forward to claw the daemon, tearing a rent in its side.
The deamon opens its jaws wide and breathes forth a cloud of corpse-bloated, biting black flies! It flaps its black-feathered wings and takes to the air.
The shambling mounds slough forward and lash out at Elka with their vines. One scores a hit, though it fails to grab a hold of the changeling.
"Of course we will help you retrieve the holy symbol, we just-" the aasimar starts, intending to help but quickly shut down when Gabbi sees through the ruse.
Amnayel seems unnerved that she was about to be duped into this obviosuly treacherous act, as she was all set to fly up to the tree. Drawing her sword, she raises it high into the air and says "Maharhiel, I call upon your aid!"
The blade infuses with a violet hue as she lowers it and says "Thank you, friend." before turning to the creature and declaring "Your unspeakable crimes will now come to end!", moving to engage the Leukodaemon.
Allie ducks away from the worst of the flies and backs rapidly out of the cloud before eyeing up the situation for a brief moment. Without holy weapons or silver she resorts to magic, speeding her companions one and all.
Rascal also avoids the flies and rushes forwards to tackle the mound alongside Elka.
Gabbi takes a step back and begins firing arrows at the demon.
Ulrich gets out of the cloud of flies and crushes a knucklebone in front of the daemon.
Unfortunately, Ulrich's spell falters against the daemon's spell resistance. Allie grants everybody a blessing of fervor as Rascal bites a shambling mound but fails to trip it.
Amnayel calls a celestial spirit to her blade as she rises up in the air to confront the daemon. But it seems she needn't have bothered, as Gabby fires arrow after arrow into the vile creature. Each arrow is infused with divine justice, and as the final one hits, the daemon plummets to the ground, its horse skull rolling off of its head as the creature dies.
Elka lashes out with her claws, scoring one hit on the wounded shambler. Both plant creatures focus their attacks on her. One misses, but the other pummels her and wraps its vines around her, squeezing her tightly!
Amnayel flies back down to the opposite side of Elka and attacks the plant.
Gabbi switches targets to the wounded shambler and continues firing arrows.
Rascal and Allie close in with the paladin, whaling on the shambling mound.
Ulrich holds his spell in check as Allie, Amnayel, and Gabbi unleash their fury on the shambling mounds. In a matter of a few seconds, both foes lie in pieces on the ground.