The group collects many of the valued items from their rooms before heading back to Queen Celeste's village.
"I'll admit", Cyril says. "I'm a little nervous about being around other people. Everyone around me know has been my Family for a hundred years."
"Now I realize that amount of time is nothing to a dragon", Cyril bows his head toward Lady Velris, "but it is still disconcerting. You be over 120 years old and still in my physcial prime, and continue to be so until my eventual death." The wizard pauses. "I know many of you don't like when I talk of such topics, but it's all I can think of now as we rejoin society."
Once the Stavian Group returns to Queen Celest's land, you could almost feel the excited anxiety to return to civilization. Except from lady Velris, already a being experienced with long span of being away.
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"I'll admit", Cyril says. "I'm a little nervous about being around other people. Everyone around me know has been my Family for a hundred years."
"Now I realize that amount of time is nothing to a dragon", Cyril bows his head toward Lady Velris, "but it is still disconcerting. You be over 120 years old and still in my physcial prime, and continue to be so until my eventual death." The wizard pauses. "I know many of you don't like when I talk of such topics, but it's all I can think of now as we rejoin society."
"You will get used to it. Give it another few centuries and you should get a feel for it." She replies back.
Queen Celest meets the group at the entrance to her castle in her elven form. Tessara rushes up and embraces her mother. Celest just smiles. They talk a bit in hushed tones before Celest turns to greet the rest of you.
She gives each of you a hug and welcomes you back. Then she asks, "Now that you are all prepared what are your plans?"
He lightly elbows Cyril, whispering, "Please do..."
Cyril tries to stiffle a smile by the unexpected embrace of the Dragon Queen. "Well, Your Majesty, we still seek to find my Father's treasure here in The Verge. We need to reestablish contact with Captain moon's ship."
She relays a bit unsure, "You are more than welcome to contact them using my sending station but they are not due back in several months. It seems your time is a bit off from what you had planned. You will likely be better equipped to fly to the camp or travel by foot."
Cyril blinks, but laughed.. "I somehow doubt it would be a 'treasure trove', Lady Velris." The wizard looks to Arthur. "I think Captain Moon might have the map 'for safe keeping'. I'm still getting my bearing, beg pardon."
The quiet elf retrieves a scroll case from his personal inventory as he states, "She has the good copy. I made sure to hang onto the original."
Ed walks over and lightly paws Cyril looking for some pets.
He quickly offers, "If it wasn't such a haul, why would the ship and parties be assembled. Let alone the bounties to return us alive... I suppose those bounties will be going to Saronis alone now."
He then confesses, "The bounties are mine but had to put up equivalent collateral as I took them over from Sir Issac Pureblood and his group. Maya and Thorgar will get their splits later. Shall we take Tess up on her invite, I am sure we will be fine taking on that group ourselves."
The quiet elf retrieves a scroll case from his personal inventory as he states, "She has the good copy. I made sure to hang onto the original."
Cyril smiled. "Good thinking, Saronis. Um, have a good couple days off?" Where did Saronis come from? Cyril thought.
Ed walks over and lightly paws Cyril looking for some pets.
The noble wizard bends down to scratch Ed's fuzzy ears.
He quickly offers, "If it wasn't such a haul, why would the ship and parties be assembled. Let alone the bounties to return us alive... I suppose those bounties will be going to Saronis alone now."
Cyril stammered. "Well, we..we are nobility. Especially you, 'your highness'" The investigative wizard spoke with a sarcastic smile. "I mean, why would my father leave a massive fortune, as you say, for only one child to find? Sure, my brother, as oldest, will inherit the grounds, manor, and title.."
Cyril trailed off, still not convinced of any major winfall. Other than the experiences Cyril and Arthur shared on their journey to the treasure. Cyril has a 'working relationship' with a deity, and has sworn to worship The Mistress. All aspects of Cyril, along with everyone in his company, has greatly benefited, in one way or another, with the hunt for the treasure. The noble wizard doubts he'd ever achieved so much without the journey.
He then confesses, "The bounties are mine but had to put up equivalent collateral as I took them over from Sir Issac Pureblood and his group. Maya and Thorgar will get their splits later. Shall we take Tess up on her invite, I am sure we will be fine taking on that group ourselves."
"Astounding", Cyril breathed as he sat down on small stool. "A few days ago, I would have thought it possible, but will all individuals present, I think we do have a good shot at completing the hunt." Cyril looked up and smiled hopefully at the faces around him.
Saronis, Ed, Saffire, Arthur, Cyril, and Tessara were all together for the 100 years. Your group and now family.
Saronis and Ed did collect Saffire and Tessara to join you.
The group agrees with Cyril about the most likely success of the treasure hunt.
He offers knowing that sustenance can be a focus for some, "With the provisions that we used for our trip shall continue to keep us fed and healthy. Is there anything else that we need for this journey?"
Cyril looks to the others. "I do not believe so. I think we are prepared as we shall ever be."
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She takes a quick moment to herself and quickly comes back in her dragon form with her backpack on her wrist. The large dragoness states, "I am merely coming along as a wife and observer. Don't think of me as a mount but as an avenue of travel. Shall we?"
With that she flaps her wings and grabs Cyril and Saffire with her front claws letting Arthur ride on her back. Saronis gets picked up with her tail and soon enough you are all being carried by a flying huge golden dragon. Several more golden dragons join the flight and follow along.
Cyril shouts for joy, flying with his extended family.
In his sparrow form he flew around the group and eventually nestled in with Cyril, in his collar. Now with the group being dropped off he chirps and flies off transforming into his beast form. He roars and states, "Okay, we ready for a charge or what?!"
Put down on the ground he looks at Cyril and asks, "Do you want to try talking first? It might be easier to get in that way. Though with our brute force either way is viable."
He stretches a bit and then draws his black blade. He nods towards Ed offering, "I like Ed's plan!"
She does several stretches as well and shrugs her shoulders in response to the question.
They wait for the wizards analytical mind before acting.
Considering the strong wing of dragons the party now has access to, Cyril nods, holding the Mistress Blade aloft.
"For the Power of The Queen Celest! Attack!!"
He charges in first with his antlers lowered for a mighty gore. He finds a few tribal members outside of the village. He pins them to the side of the hut.
The rest of the group charges forward slowly catching up to Ed. There is 380 feet between the group and the village.
Cyril runs toward the oncoming defenders. The Mistress Blade shakes up and down on the noble's hip as he runs, both hands free. Once he is within range, Cyril will cast fireball.
Cyril can easily act even before Ed. You are within range before he charges forward.
Surprise Round
Cyril - fireball!
Round 1
Cyril runs forward with the rest of the group...
Round 1 Cyril stops, and casts fireball again.
Arthur and the other humanoids stay near Cyril with weapons drawn. It seems they aim to protect. Ed is almost to the encampment.
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
3 separate targets.
Round 1
Cyril releases a fireball. Ed runs 220 feet.
Round 2
Cyril runs forward 160 feet with the group following him.
Ed has now traveled 440 feet.
Round 3 - 5
Cyril continues to run, now 320 feet.
Round 3
Ed runs to a spot so he can charge the next round.
Round 4
Ed charges into a set of defenders that have prepared for the group. Many weapons braced. Ed gets stopped but also skewers many of them with his mighty charge.
Round 5-6
Ed swings his antlers back and forth striking the group of defenders.
Round 6
Cyril slows down and releases a scorching ray. Now within 30 feet of the outer wall,
Round 6-10
Cyril releases scorching rays and magic missiles into the barbarians.
Saffire and Tessara stand beside Cyril.
Round 7
Ed finds them retreating and runs around to another entrance.
Round 6-10
The elf quickly meets the defenders on the right keeping the melee fighters busy. He quickly cleaves through and soon finds them falling at his feet.
Round 6-10
He had kept up with Cyril, now almost into battle he casts alterself making himself look like a tiger folk. Next he follows Saronis casting Resistance on himself. Still staying out of combat he begins to inspire as he retells a story of two sword brothers. He taps his wrist and his halberd appears in his hands. He gets to work, inspiring and assisting Saronis.
Round 7
Cyril draws The Mistress Blade at lets it rip.
Round 8
Round 9
Round 10
The blades chop and the rapier pierces forwards. Many fall before you. As they are evil barbarians it may take several attacks but soon their forces are decimated.
Then you enter the inner domain of the structures. These structures are more made of bone and stone for support and leathers for walls. Not much civilization seems to seen here. Many of the structures are built on each other, with a log earthen house as the base with lean-tos and tee-pees adjoining them.
The women stand ready to defend from the doorways.
The chief, champion and shaman stand on a bone stage above the rest of the clan. About 30 more men stand ready to fight. But they wait.
The chief does a war cry and yells, "Who dares to come to our tribe, we will give you more blood if you desire. Though my shaman says that you are a... honorable people. Shall we continue to stain the ground with blood or shall my champion fight yours?"
Saronis, Cyril, and Arthur lead the others from the right flank to walk into the center of the village. Ed in his glorious Sublime Royal Thorn Dog form stands majestic from the left flank. His antlers red with the blood of barbarians.
Cyril puts his hand on his chin, looking deep in thought; all the while, the wizard casts message to Arthur.
Arthur nods and coughs taking the lead, "We accept your offer of a duel. I know our dear friend over there with the antlers would gladly accept the quest but you may think that is too much. I know my deadly elven friend with the black blade would eagerly meet your champion. I and my friend here would be up for it too!" Indicating Cyril and himself. He then offers, "So who would you like to fight your champion?"
[ooc]Secret Message: [b]"Yeah genocide is not on my to do list.
If Cyril doesn't speak up, you see the chief looking from one possible opponent to the next for his champion. He speaks in whispers with the champion and states, "I will choose the man besides you. When my champion defeats yours, you will pay in gold equal to your weight and then leave the Verge. Name your terms."
"We choose Saronis", Cyril pronounced. "When our champion wins, we will be allowed to pass through your lands. And our champion gets one night with one of your most beautiful women."
They laugh and scoff but accept your terms. A group of women emerge from one of the larger buildings being shoved by others. You notice the trappings of slavery in manacles and abuse. Those women come out and offer, "Please come with us, we will prepare you for the coming fight."
There are guards a plenty outside of the building but they are not interested in the goings on inside.
Ed turns into his dog form and quickly joins the group, he states a bit angerly, "Their blood has some taint to it. It doesn't taste good."
Cyril and the others enter the large building, concerned to see the barbarian women in such a state.
You quickly realize that most of the women are not of human race, like most of the barbarians. There are elves, halflings, gnomes, half elves, and some white scaled lizardfolk.
They whisper to you to 'please free and rescue them.'
Many of them work together to remove Saronis armor and paint a white substance on him. One of them explains, "it will keep him warm as long as he keeps moving, far better than clothing. It is a ritual the barbarians observe and expect others to abide by. You might be able to alter the terms as the elfis no longer protected by armor."
Cyril motions Arthur over, away from the others.
"Damn, Arthur!" the wizard whispered. "Many of these women wish to be rescued. Do you think we can do it? It might be possible to get them back to Queen Celest's realm for sanctuary. What do you think?"
He lets them help take off his armor and slather the white paste over his body and tattoos. He tries to enjoy the touches but they are hurriedly working and he states, "Massage it in nicely or stop." Some do stop as others do as he says. He points to the cute elf who has been speaking the most. "I like this one, she is sharp and has good ideas. We will do all we can and will change those terms to get you free and brought with us. Genocide might be on the table now."