|
Klank tries to take some cover from the splinters behind his shield and heavy armor.
He's then summarily swept under by the scythe and boot stomped. "I've got plenty of fight left in me fey, plenty!" Klank raises his shield in defense before getting up, half waiting for the triggered strike as he does. Whether it comes or not he swings his own warhammer in greeting on the flanked redcap.
Crushing: Item 3+: Uncommon/Magical/Necromancy: Source Grand Bazaar pg. 42. Usage etched onto a bludgeoning weapon. Weapons with this rune empower your strength, and attacks with these weapons leave your foe staggered. When you critically hit a target with this weapon, your target becomes clumsy 1 and enfeebled 1 until the end of your next turn.
|
Kernal Klank's warhammer crushes the redcap's skull in as it topples over, a malicious grin pasted across its face.
Jinlong screams near the monument, sending shivers through the pair of fey.
Bastian's flail shatters through the pair of twigjacks leaving little more than kindling on the forest floor.
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
➤ Dab
Jinlong
Bastion
Twigjack (Orange)
Rhaegal
Miladistra
⠀⠀Deroff
Redcap (Green)
Kernal Klank
|
|
Dab kills the wounded redcap as the chakram rips it open and the light hammer smashes into its face. The remaining fey claws its way into Bastian's armor.
The small twigjack gets lucky and manages to scrap Bastians arm before clawing at the open air.
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
➤ Dab
➤ Jinlong
➤ Bastion
Twigjack (Orange)
➤ Rhaegal
➤ Miladistra
⠀⠀➤ Deroff
➤ Kernal Klank
|
Jinlong heads over to Kernal Klank.
"This might hurt, smooth scale. But it will be better. With a throwing knife sterilized with some dragon fire, he cauterizes the wound before rubbing some salve in it to relieve the pain."
Unsatisfied by his skill, he simply pulls out one of his school consumable Minor Healing Potions and tips it down Kernal Klank's throat.
|
"Ah, thank ya." Miladistra hugs Rhaegal while Deroff licks Dab's face.
"The fey here... it's wild, violent. But also beautiful." She sits down and takes a deep breath, smelling the flowers and staring at the strange sun. "It's so calmin' out here."
"I think we're all healed?" She takes some time to refocus. "If we're not, I can help ya a bit."
|
|
Kernal happily accepts any and all healing, be it bandages, potions, spells and even a healing touch from Bastion's deity "I feel refreshed, ready for another battle. Thank you friends, I've got much to learn to get on your level of skills, but I feel I'm close to unlocking it. So close."
While the others work on his flesh, Klank works on knocking the dings out of his sturdy shield.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
There is a strange sensation throughout the demiplane of tension being released. It’s as though the plane itself had been holding its breath for a long time and finally exhaled. The Thorned Monarch has fallen. Gregaro Voth, now freed from his planar prison, stands before the assembled group.
“Pathfinders, there are no words to thank you for coming to my rescue. I have talked with Venture-Captain Tolal, and I understand I’ve been trapped here for a great many years. Unfortunately, I cannot return with you to Absalom. If I leave this place, the weight of time would suddenly bear down upon me, and I would immediately die. So, I shall remain here, though I imagine I can make this a more palatable prison.”
Voth, still wearing the crown, looks around him, and the landscape suddenly changes. In an instant, where before there was a copse of trees, there now stands a brand-new Pathfinder lodge with sprawling grounds. The scene is beautiful, with dozens of small buildings dotted across a verdant landscape complete with tall trees, colorful flowers, and chirping birds. “I suppose the adventure can come to me! Please, Pathfinders, stay and enjoy a well-deserved rest. Tell me of all the journeys you’ve taken and the discoveries that you’ve made!”
---
After a full night’s rest, though perhaps with a few odd dreams, Oraiah Tolal and Gregaro Voth ask everyone to meet the next morning. Agents assemble in a garden on the new lodge’s grounds.
Gregaro Voth begins, “Pathfinders, you have done amazing work, defeating the Thorned Monarch and his forces after making the arduous journey out here.” Oraiah Tolal continues, “But if Alseta smiles upon our work, you will have a much easier journey home.” Together, they cast a spell, and a shimmering archway appears. After a few moments, Master of Spells Sorrina Westyr and Decemvirate member Eliza Petulengro walk through. Westyr exclaims happily, “Well done, Pathfinders, all of you!” Petulengro explains more. “We’ve established a link between this new lodge and the Maze of the Open Road, a hedge maze and portal network that used to be carefully restricted by the Decemvirate. The Decemvirate is planning to add new nodes to the maze, allowing Pathfinders to swiftly travel to places far from the Society’s current reach. And so, if you are ready to go home, please follow me. You have more than earned a swift trip home!” Petulengro and Westyr lead the way through the portal, into the maze, and through another archway that leads straight back to the Grand Lodge.
______________
|
|
Miladistra feels the air lighten up, the sun radiate just a bit stronger, and a strong rosemary scent wafts across her nose. She stands up, ruffles Deroff and looks to the horizon. "We won. Let's head back to Voth."
She isn't surprised by the Monarch's defeat or by Voth's freedom. Freedom as a relative term. Time is a patient stalker and will wait for as long as it takes. As soon as Voth leaves this demiplane, time will take its toll. Miladistra wonders if that's a blessing or a curse, taking her own life into account.
"Good to see ya up and moving, Gregaro Voth." She goes to shake his hand. "I'll probably visit here more often, tell you about the outside world some more. Contact yer next of kin. Family is... important." Deroff barks and wags his tail.
Miladistra rests easily, sprawled across a bushel of hay while snoring loudly. It was so easy to forget details while in here. So easy to focus on the moment. So hard to maintain a grip on reality. Who cares about war, joy, famine, family when you can live here forever? Fey consider death to be an elaborate prank... No wonder Mother is so lost. No wonder Father is worse. She thanks Ma and Pa again for keeping her humble and keeping her humane, or she could have been an idiot like the Thorned Monarch.
In the morning, Miladistra wakes up, nuzzles Deroff, makes some salad (with extra rutabaga,) and offers food to all of her teammates. "Thanks for helping out, ya'll. I like this place, but... it's too easy to forget the outside world. I'm going to help Voth keep anchored. My Mother is a nymph, and it's hard enough to remind her of anything outside her grove." She feeds Deroff a mushroom, which he reluctantly accepts. "Anyway, thank ya. Thank all of ya."
As the portal opens, she turns to Dab, Jinlong and Rhaegal. "Thanks for the protection, little dragons." She winks and plays her piccolo as she returns to the Grand Lodge.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
At the destruction of the Thorned Monarch, Rhaegal roars in triumph. The Dragon stretches his wings out and suddenly his form begins to shift and grow! He drops to all fours and his snout extends. Unfortunately, the growing seems to stop prematurely and the wings didn't quite grow in proportion. At best this seems like a dragon-dog. Then the creature makes it more odd by giving a frustrated, but still triumphant howl instead of a roar.
A minute later, Rhaegal in back into his normal form. "I almost had it!" He stomps the ground frustrated. "I thought disrupting the link to the fey realm might have worked!"
"Still, our victory was mighty! Jadirahx will be proud, and our names will stand in Draconic lore!" He congratulates Jinlong and Dab.
He waves goodbye to the others as they depart. "Remember the day you fought aside three mighty dragons!"
|
|
Kernal just nods as the news breaks, they've won "Good work everyone. If you need any metal smithing done just let me know. Speaking of which, I'll be heading out in the morning, I've got some orders for axe heads and hammers, a few hinges piling up. No time for dilly dally." He gives everyone a firm handshake and thanks all around.
|
|
"I'm sad for you that you cannot leave, Gregor, but at least you can live a good life here. It will not be like my millennia trapped in Xin-Edasseril. Milani will be pleased that a tyrant's grip has been broken here. It is time for us to feast and make merry!"
Bastian will encourage all the Pathfinders present to have a riotous party to celebrate!
"You have been excellent companions and I look forward to working with any or all of you again."