Hotcha looks sadly at the fallen. A part of her screams save them… but she instead bows respectfully to the fallen rivals. They allowed an evil man with delusions of godhood to alter their forms. They would have killed three men, a fairy, and many more innocents.
She honors them despite this. ”Worthy opponents,” she says before turning away. She can’t bear to look at the dead (or dying?).
Hotcha requests healing, and after downing fire nectar, she does a slow and solemn meditative dance to please Shelyn.
Yog'Moi does not share Hotcha's feelings nor thoughts. Unlike her, the sight of these lifeless fools does not bother him. No, let them be a reminder to the world of the living that choices matter, and a middle finger to the rotten bastard who empowered them to stand in the way of what's right. "Worthy enough to play the incessant side-villains, yes. May they marinade in their deplorable desires for decades to come."
Returning sheepishly, Xin steels himself and then steps closer, ignoring the fallen. The most he can conjure for them is contempt.
"What do we make of these?" he says, gesturing to the spheres.
I catch my breath, pulling my fire back inside me, then clean and sheathe my blade.
"What do we make of these?"
I peer at the spheres.
The spheres appear to be containment devices, keeping any creatures within in stasis. A few bits of fur, feathers, and scales remain in the broken spheres, indicating that this where Syndara likely held Tino's Toughest and the Lightkeepers while doing whatever he did to infuse them with monstrous abilities.
The door leads into a series of linked rooms. The first contains a forge, several workbenches, and other crafting accoutrements, each tool and instrument precisely labeled and in its proper place. The next is a makeshift bedchamber with just a few bedrolls.
The next room is small, featuring a luxurious sitting cushion laid out in the exact center of the room. The walls ripple with scenes from around the multiverse, each scene either slowed to a crawl or unfurling in an instant. It appears this chamber is used for meditations.
The final room features a circular opening that punctures the ceiling of the ten-foot-tall rectangular chamber. A single silver thread, as thin as a beam of light, hangs ominously and impossibly from the opening’s center directly above a silver mandala painted on the floor. Beyond, high overhead and far away, a starry sky looms. The whole room is oddly still and silent, and the air is bitingly cold.
You get a feeling of dread looking up to the top of the thread, an inkling that Syndara himself awaits at the other end. You should be sure you are absolutely ready before confronting this final foe...
Hotcha wonders if the heroes of this day will go down in history as Two Men and a Fairy, or Three Men.
Yog'Moi being Yog'Moi, the hobgoblin picks up some of the tools and lazily inspects them before dropping them on the ground. He never was interested in the crafts and most likely never will be. Unless, of course, it involves hops.
"Whatever happens next, it must be said that I greatly enjoyed my time with you all. This bastard deserves everything that's coming his way, so let's make sure he gets it and more."
When you are ready, you begin to climb the silver thread. You experience the strange sensation of standing still, the rest of the plane moving around you with every pull.
The end of the silver thread opens into a series of semitransparent platforms high above Syndara’s Island. The structure forms a jagged spiral pattern, its platforms ragged and torn, with no sign of the meticulous detail or pristine precision of the lower level. Around the floating platforms yawns an endless starry expanse, each point of light a unique color, many utterly impossible to describe.
At the far end of the platform stands a throne of sandstone, on which Syndara sits, perfectly poised, waiting to engage you. On a pedestal to his right rests an hourglass containing a fine ash—all that currently remains of Hao Jin, the Ruby Phoenix.
"So, we come to it at last," Syndara says. "You may have defeated my champions, but now you will suffer the same fate as your precious Hao Jin. I will show you no mercy." He stands up, and his image seems to flicker for a moment before splitting in two, the axiomite conjuring a reflection of himself to fight alongside him.
"Let the final battle BEGIN!"
Yog'Moi's fierce battle cry gives Syndara momentary pause, but he narrows his eyes. He affects the flow of time around his reflection, hastening it, then opens up a pair of elemental gateways and hurls acid at Yog!
Syndara's reflection dashes through the air to get to Yog'moi, bending time to make multiple attacks!
Within a matter of moments, Yog'Moi is laid out at the reflection's feet, bleeding profusely! "Hmph. Pathetic," Syndara's reflection scoffs.
One of the stars in the sky above descends, and Syndara moves the glowing miniature demiplane over your group. Time flows unusually around you!
Hotcha wastes no time! She becomes invisible and zips to her target.
He is not easy to hit!
A mouthful of blood is launched into the air as the still form of Yog'Moi starts to convulse. A shaky arm reaches for lips that taste like iron and wipes away the worst of it. "Don't you know? I'm too stupid to die," he says in what's little more than a whisper. Already Yog'Moi is calling on Hei Feng's powers to restore him, and help him withstand what's yet to come.
The world tilts and skews and moves in a deeply unsettling way. It takes me a moment to reorient myself, wrapping myself in an aura of fire.
"Whatever happens next, it must be said that I greatly enjoyed my time with you all. This bastard deserves everything that's coming his way, so let's make sure he gets it and more."
Wu Xin nods. ”Me too, my friends. It has been an honor.” He bows formally in the style of his homeland, something he has almost never done with his friends before.
”Counting you three as my friends has become the only badge of honor I now desire.”
___________________________________________________________________
Xin shakes off the grip of time and yells a loud ”Kiai!”, hopefully stirring the souls of his team. He reaches into his pack for a True Elixir of Life.
[ooc] Allies within 10 feet of Xin gain an extra stride or strike.
Hotcha tries to strike the reflection per Xin’s command, but she just misses.
Xin begins to inspire the group as he helps Yog'Moi drink a healing elixir. Hotcha lands a hit on Syndara's reflection, momentarily stunning it before slipping invisibly away. Xin tries to take advantage of the opening with a backstab, but his attack misses. Esh activates his incendiary aura before striding into melee. Yog'Moi stands up, heals himself, and moves away!
"Not so fast," Syndara declares, opening more gateway and hurling shards of ice at Yog'Moi. Two of them strike the hobgoblin, one a critical hit!
Syndara's reflection lashes out at Esh, scoring a critical hit! His hand slices like a knife at the elf's joints, trying to weaken him.
The reflection then rotates space around himself, carrying him to Yog's side in an instant. He attacks the cleric again, missing one, then hitting with an open palm strike!
With a thought, Syndara directs the worldsphere of congealed time over Esh and Xin, hoping to slow them down.
Hotcha dives in from very far above!
She waits until all her friends attack before she strikes—hoping to slow the enemy by knocking him back!
Unable to dish it out as all he can do is hide in a vortex of positive energy, licking desperately at the intoxicating strands of healing magics that Hei Feng pours down over him, Yog'Moi manages to weather the storm.
For now.
"Hotcha! Aspen Reflects in Water!" he shouts one of his poetic codes to the fairy, signalling a predicted opening he sees about to occur.
Then he stabs at his opponent and readies himself to strike again.
If critical hit: + damage and the electricity also harms up to two other targets within 10 ft.
Trigger Your Strike hits a flat-footed creature and deals damage.
The target attempts a Fortitude save at your class DC (DC 42). It then becomes temporarily immune to your Master Strike for 1 day.
.....Critical Success The target is unaffected.
.....Success The target is enfeebled 2 until the end of your next turn.
.....Failure The target is paralyzed for 4 rounds.
.....Critical Failure The target is paralyzed for 4 rounds, knocked unconscious for 2 hours, or killed (your choice).
If critical hit: + damage and the electricity also harms up to two other targets within 10 ft.
Hotcha tries to get that extra hit in…
…but even her invisible fist fails to connect!
Wrapped in my cocoon of heat and flame, I almost don't notice the attacks landing on me. I can't afford to ignore them though, so I wrest one of my strongest healing spells into being, prayers and blood spilling from my lips.
As Esh and Yog focus on healing themselves, Xin and Hotcha attack Syndara's reflection. Xin misses with his attacks, but Hotcha manages to land one telling blow. However, the reflection still seems quite hale and hearty!
Syndara continues to hang back and hurl energy at Yog, this time striking him with a sonic blast.
Syndara's reflection pummels the hobgoblin over and over again, leaving him barely standing on his feet!
The worldsphere remains in place around Esh.
Sorry it took so long Yog I think to myself with what little lucidity I have left as I sprint towards the version of Syndara punching the hobgoblin.
The otherwise steady supply of flasks, jugs, and vials hanging from Yog's body and girdle is depleting fast. He breaks open two more jugs, one looking rather dusty and forgotten, and dowses himself and the projection of their foe in their alcoholic vapors. "Now's about the time when you start kicking his ass!"
Hotcha sticks to her plan of landing blows that can’t miss, and staying out of the fray as best she can.
She makes no attempt to shove the foe, but simply flits safely ~70+ feet above the fray, and not directly above, in case either foe thinks to attack straight up.
Xin continues to harry Syndara's reflection.
If critical hit: + damage and the electricity also harms up to two other targets within 10 ft.
Trigger Your Strike hits a flat-footed creature and deals damage.
The target attempts a Fortitude save at your class DC (DC 42). It then becomes temporarily immune to your Master Strike for 1 day.
.....Critical Success The target is unaffected.
.....Success The target is enfeebled 2 until the end of your next turn.
.....Failure The target is paralyzed for 4 rounds.
.....Critical Failure The target is paralyzed for 4 rounds, knocked unconscious for 2 hours, or killed (your choice).
If critical hit: + damage and the electricity also harms up to two other targets within 10 ft.
Syndara's reflection ignores the first of Yog's harm spells, but the second one injures him somewhat. Esh, Xin, and Hotcha all converge on the reflection and land some telling blows, and with the final hit, it shatters into glass shards that then crumble to dust!
From his throne, Syndara himself growls angrily. He accelerates the flow of time around himself to hasten his movements and rushes to engage Esh, attacking the elf with a flurry of time-bending strikes!
The time-dilating worldsphere returns to sky as a new worldsphere descends over the melee. The natural elements of a thousand harsh landscapes roil continuously through this worldsphere!
Hotcha zips down from high above!
She feels confident—we got this!—but not cocky!
She lands on the throne and tries to punch Syndara toward the Three Men!
Syndara grunts with the impact of Hotcha's blow. The force sends him stumbling a few feet away from the invisible sprite, back into the position of being flanked by Esh and Xin!
Yog'Moi withstands the thunder - what would Hei Feng think if he didn't - and barks out maniacal laughter while his limbs spasm and sputter. "Unlike me, you're not too stupid to die, Syndara! And die you will!"
"All this pain, all this suffering! Monsters, cyclones, innocents killed, all because someone else might have been a bit mean to you?" roars Xin. "Did she break your heart? Boo hoo! Let me guess. You wanted to be the one everyone loved and admired. But she got the limelight. Right? Pathetic."
"As monsters go, you don't even have a real tragedy in your history - just a childish tantrum. Die now. We're all better off without you."
Jarred by the electricity, Xin continues his assault.
If critical hit: + damage and the electricity also harms up to two other targets within 10 ft.
into the position of being flanked by Esh and Xin!
In that case:
If critical hit: + damage and the electricity also harms up to two other targets within 10 ft.
Trigger Your Strike hits a flat-footed creature and deals damage.
The target attempts a Fortitude save at your class DC (DC 42). It then becomes temporarily immune to your Master Strike for 1 day.
.....Critical Success The target is unaffected.
.....Success The target is enfeebled 2 until the end of your next turn.
.....Failure The target is paralyzed for 4 rounds.
.....Critical Failure The target is paralyzed for 4 rounds, knocked unconscious for 2 hours, or killed (your choice).
Yog fails to demoralize Syndara. As the axiomite stumbles forward, Xin and Esh take advantage of their flanking position, stabbing, slashing, and scorching the grandmaster!
"Hao Jin usurped my position!" he snarls. "For years, I was the premier artist of Axis! I was the one who cultivated order from chaos! But then she showed up and cast me down. I was imprisoned here for eons, trapped in a flow of turbulent time. And now, at long last, my revenge is at hand, and I will not allow you to stop it!"
He strikes twice at Esh. The elf avoids his first blow, but the second fist scores a critical hit!
Syndara then folds the fabric of the Glass Lighthouse, teleporting back to his throne. Several gateways open up from which dangerous elements spew forth! Esh and Xin dodge the attacks, but Yog takes a hit.
The wound Xin dealt stops bleeding. The howling elements continue to batter Xin and Yog.
From where the enemy was, Hotcha’s voice booms (as much as a fairy voice can):
”Your revenge comes at the cost of innocent lives. You don’t deserve that throne!”
Hotcha zips onto the back of the throne and makes an attempt to shove him off, suspecting the throne gives him unspeakable power.
Surprising no one, the nimble Xin manages to leap out of the way of the blast of cold. He rushes Syndara, eager to be close enough to guide his team. "This way!" he yells.
If critical hit: + damage and the electricity also harms up to two other targets within 10 ft.
Hotcha, Xin, and Esh show Syndara no mercy, converging on the axiomite to pummel, stab, and slash him! Esh scores two critical hits that send sprays of glowing dust and mathematical symbols into the air, and Syndara groans and slumps over!
"N-no! Not like this! It does not end like this!" the axiomite shouts. With a shattering sound, Syndara refracts into infinite tessellations of faces and arms. The walls of the Glass Lighthouse distort as the very space of the demiplane spirals inward to a central point, folding itself protectively around the writhing mass of limbs and bodies like the shell of some ancient sea creature, borne by sinewy, crustacean legs, with tentacles and vines that twist and bite and a large version of Syndara’s torso that extends from the top of the carapace. As the demiplane collapses, all that’s left behind is the null space between planes, taking the form of an endless, starry void.
"NOW YOU FACE MY FINAL FORM!" the warped Syndara bellows!
Before you can react, the monstrous creature tears into Esh with his pincers and batters him with his tentacles! Blow after blow rains down on the elf, too much for even the mighty warrior to bear, and he falls!
Yog is starting to run dry and knowing that there's little left to give, he rushes forward so that he can share the last healing drink with Esh.
Hotcha is too invisible to show off, but she does change form!
After striking, Hotcha flits to safety, 50 feet high and 25 feet away.
For just a moment, Xin stares dumbfounded at Syndara's "final form". "What?" he says to no one in particular.
If critical hit: +3d8 damage and the electricity also harms up to two other targets within 10 ft.
Trigger Your Strike hits a flat-footed creature and deals damage.
The target attempts a Fortitude save at your class DC (DC 42). It then becomes temporarily immune to your Master Strike for 1 day.
.....Critical Success The target is unaffected.
.....Success The target is enfeebled 2 until the end of your next turn.
.....Failure The target is paralyzed for 4 rounds.
.....Critical Failure The target is paralyzed for 4 rounds, knocked unconscious for 2 hours, or killed (your choice).
If critical hit: +3d8 damage and the electricity also harms up to two other targets within 10 ft.
Fire disappears from my vision as it's all desperately sucked into the spell I cast to heal my body, guided and shaped by what I recognize as the Arms of Balance group. Huh. I groan and stagger to my feet, getting a good look at the monstrosity that Syndara has turned into. That's... gross. While Syndara is distracted with the others, I teleport behind him and attack while I wait for my flames to build back up.
Yog'Moi heals himself and Esh, getting the elf back on his feet. Xin's initial stab fails to pierce the armor of Syndara's monstrous form, but as Hotcha pummels him, the rogue finds an opportunity to backstab the transformed axiomite, leaving a bleeding wound and momentarily weakening him. Esh stands up and teleports next to Syndara, his strike enhanced by the force of the charge.
Syndara howls with fury, lashing out once with his pincers and impaling Esh.
Then, with deep regret, the axiomite calls down his masterpieces from the firmament to crash down upon you! Worldspheres rain down from the starry void, detonating in an icy burst! The cold doesn't bother Syndara in the slightest.
The sky is literally falling as we fight, icy rocks crashing down and forcing me back. I stoke my internal fire, then pull some back around my sword as I run towards Syndara.