Laszlo stops humming along with Dragbog and jumps slightly at Rising Dawn's words. "Hmm? What? Oh yes, well according to the goblins, the fire didn't actually start in their village but nearby, so this makes as much sense as anything... from the Ashes grow green shoots"
__________
Laszlo pulls out one of his iridescent Versatile Vials and shifts it into a Fire Energy Mutagen. Looking to the group, he says "I'm not well suited to going in there, but whoever does may want to take this for some protection"
Kalla was opening her mouth on instinct when she snaps it shut. Asking how pickles and goblins formed a Circle was very compelling, but someone was dying.
Quickly she darts through the flames, hoping she can get to the druid and do... something? "oh hells, I'm starting to act like Dragbog, running into this horror." she Really didn't want to burn to death.
"T- trapped," he coughs, at the end of his strength. Brute strength might be enough to yank him free, but someone who can manage the tensions and tangles without causing a collapse of all the burning scrub might be even better.
Seelah rushes in after Kalla, while running she attempts to use her steel shield to keep any darting flames away from her person and to bat away any branches or brush in her path.
"Hold on! Kalla yells over the crackling blaze. She tears off her glasses to try and figure out how to free the elf from the tangle, but it is too confusion, so she grabs and pulls.
Seelah bulls her way into the bower, clearing a space for those behind!
Smoke fills your lungs and stings at your eyes, even through the endurance granted by the Redpine's banner. You can see Kalla trying in vain to get a grip that holds long enough for her to pull the trapped man free - a badly burned elf who seems to be at the very last of his efforts.
Dawn calls on her water spirit, which solidifies into roaring water and spraying mist. She moves into the bower, swift as a coursing river. With all the force of a great typhoon, she tries to assist in freeing the druid.
Eyeing the hole Seelah has left in the fiery barrier, Laszlo shrugs and darts in behind her. Assessing the situation close up, he mutters to himself "First remove the threat, then treat the injury... but how? Hmmmm, if I lift there then that should, and it will put pressure on that to... yes." Despite his relatively meagre strength, he begins moving debris to help free the injured elf.
Laszlo's keen eye is able to guide you all through extracting the druid from the burning bower, and though he needs to lean heavily on a friendly shoulder, the elf is able to walk out of the bower to relative safety where he collapses with a wracking cough.
"The Green provides. Thank you all, I am Cenenviel, and- Ah, grettings, Dragbog. Did you bring them to stop the monolith?"
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Laszlo looks at his sickly skin tone for a brief moment "I guess I do provide... Apologies for our companion's abruptness. She's had a hard... while. We are not familiar with a monolith, is it responsible for the fire? The centaurs blamed the goblins, and the goblins mentioned some undead, but no one really seemed to know what's going on." Without waiting for a response, he turns to start digging through his bag. "But first, smoke inhalation is terrible for you without the appropriate biological filters. Let me see if I have something to help with that."
Sajan turns toward Dragbog with a raised eyebrow, "Monolith? You spoke of no such thing, Dragbog. Why hide the truth?"
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Dragbog's jaw drops open in shocked offense, "yes me Did tell you about monolith! which is a..."
Cenenviel closes his eyes in what looks like an old familiar headache rather than anything new to his condition. "A single large stone."
Dragbog nods along, recognition lighting up his face. "right! mono mean one, lith mean stone. this monostone is old and... Hey! me did tell you about Old stone! it catch Fire! then the Home-bones catch Fire and start running around!" He turns to stare up at Sajan with his hands on his hips, "you should put that in song so you remember better!"
"In any case, I can show you the way to the monolith if you wish. I know a trail that should avoid the flames and ash. It will bring you close, past most of the elementals running amok in their village."
Too much had happened for Kalla's mind to be able to create a song around 'monolith', so simply ignores that even though she feels the nudge to do so. "So this stone is the source of the bad? Like mold that just grew to take over all the crust? Just on fire. So destroy the rock, stop the fires."
"Ahh, so you did. My apologies, I'm sure I'll remember this time." Nodding in agreement with Kalla, Sajan chimes in, "We won't know until we inspect it, but a burning rock does seem a likely culprit."
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"that is terrible song, no Rhythm..." Dragbog mutters.
***
The Dragonskull tribe’s village is a sprawling wasteland of scorched earth, crackling stumps, and bones seething with strange fire. In some places the skeletons of dragons are arranged to serve as crude huts, with smoldering rags hanging across ribs and spinal cords strung with rope holding up the charred remains of hammocks.
On a small rise in the southern edge of the village, a stone monolith standing roughly three feet tall and covered in cyclopean runes crackles with arcing flames. Anyone who observes the monolith from a distance soon notices that the fires surrounding the monolith occasionally arc out and
crawl away, slowly simmering until they come into contact with a draconic skull which begins shuddering and snapping to strange, fiery life, molten bone weeping down its length.
Cenenviel takes in the sight, then concentrates, vines twining into a wicker horn in his hands. Out spill two dark red pine nuts. "These won't last long, but I can only help you so much, for now." He reaches into his robes and plucks out a small crystalline oak leaf. "So you'll be guarded against some surprises at least."
Kalla is watching the baby dragon fire horror with the dread of someone who knows Hurting it about to come. "What are those?" she asks at the nuts the druid created. Worrisomely created. Out of his hand, and all dark red.
"They look like Flaming Skulls... but with a little more body to them." Laszlo doesn't take his eyes off the threats in the distance and misinterprets Kalla's question. He then takes the time to explain to the party all of the ways you can't hurt them. "But I think the more important thing is that monolith that is making them. It is hard to make out from here, but I think I might be able to do something about those runes if I can get close." Finally, pulling his eyes away from the fiery enemies in the distance, he turns to the rest of the group, particularly Seelah and Sajan who have been consistently on the vanguard. "I hate to ask this but could you distract them so I can get close to the monolith? Or maybe someone else can sneak up closer first?"
With a warm smile Sajan responds, "I'm afraid my knowledge of the occult isn't of much help. I'll gladly use my skills in combat to aid you."
Sajan simply nods at Seelah--the only coordination needed--before starting his approach.
Seelah locks eyes with Laszlo. Don't worry, I won't let harm come to you, these creatures will not make it past my blade or Sajan's strikes With that said, Seelah falls in beside Sajan and readies herself to engage the burning horrors
As you draw closer the dragonskulls instinctively attack, lunging forward with all the ferocity of their flames!
The quickest one to react races forward to clamp down on Seelah with its jaws, but in its haste she can easily fend it off!
Dragonskull (Orange)
Kalla
Sajan
Dragonskull (Blue)
Dragonskull (Red)
Dragbog
Seelah - Raised Shield
Dawn
Laszlo
Amelia
"Hells, Bells, and F*$! you!" there is a surprised timber of fearanxietyexcitement as the flaming beast is suddenly in Kalla's face. Thankfully trying to take a bite out of Seelah instead of herself. Not that biting Seelah was good, well it could be, depending, NOT THE TIME, just not being bitten was the good thing, at least... nevermind.
Once again her words are not very inspiring, but they are spoken with magical emotion and followed by "Hey, fire dung head, eat this!" 'This' turns out to be her heavy blade coming down in a two handed smash on the cinderton, showering all around in sparks and some bone chips ()
With a few quick strides, Sajan moves into a flanking position with his arms raised before striking at the creature.
Sajan and Kalla slice away at the molten bone of the skeletons, but while it just causes the edge of Kalla's sword to steam, Sajan's hands are starting to blister...
Slithering forward the other two Molten Dragonskulls attack! One seizes on Sajan's bold positioning to chomp away while he's surrounded, while the other, apparently heedless of danger, makes sure to get surrounded itself while trying in vain to bite through Seelah's greaves!
The flanking undead grabs hold of Sajan with its jaws, but rather than holding the monk immobilized it uses its bite as leverage to shake itself so violently that molten bone spray all over him!
Dragbog greets the charge of the undead with a dignified "AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" and jabs away at the closest one with his horsechopper.
"they no fall down without real legs..."
Dragonskull (Orange) -16
Kalla
Sajan -17
Dragonskull (Blue)
Dragonskull (Red) -12
Dragbog
Seelah -Inspired
Dawn -Inspired
Laszlo- Inspired
Amelia- Inspired
Trusting in his teammates, Laszlo darts around his party and the skeletons running for the monolith as quickly as possible.
Dawn sighs as she calls on the spirits to heal Sajan before the undead slaughter him.
She then maneuvers around the melee.
Rising Dawn performs her already familiar miracles, calling back her companion from the brink of death. As Laszlo rushes forward past the Molten Dragonskulls, his headlong rush leads him straight into a pit of still burning embers! As his foot breaks through the very thin crust, oxygen rushes in, reigniting the still smoldering fires beneath the earth as he scrambles out of the hungry flames!
Dragonskull (Orange) -16
Kalla
Sajan -3
Dragonskull (Blue)
Dragonskull (Red) -12
Dragbog
Seelah -Inspired
Dawn
Laszlo
Amelia- Inspired
Seelah swings her longsword in a wide arc up into the chin of the dragonskull flanking her companion
She stumbles while transferring her weight forwards but wheels the sword down to attack at the skull again
As the Dragonskull dodges out of her way, she dances to the side in order to attempt to pressure it's partner with her own flank
Amelia flings hexes and lightning from the backline while the Dragonskulls ready themselves to strike! One wriggles free from the scrum and seizes Rising Dawn by the calf, shaking and twisting so violently that molten bone spatters all over her, Sajan, and Kalla!
Dragonskull (Orange) -20
Kalla -4
Sajan -7
Dragonskull (Blue)
Dragonskull (Red) -21, Sickened 1
Dragbog
Seelah
Dawn -20
Laszlo
Amelia
Invigorated by Dawn's magic, Sajan takes advantage of Seelah's distracting presence and strikes out with his claws before retreating from the frontline. I'm no use to anyone if I can't fight.
Seeing her blade steaming, Kalla looks in concern to Sajan. "Maybe Kick it?" she offers. This time her words holds the same hum without any effort. The exhilaration of combat (and not missing) is thrumming through her, energizing her magic.
Unfortunately, lady luck is against the bard from doing much of anything but make that one suggestion to Sajan.
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Sajan at least manages to send a spray of melted bone across the ash, even if it does leave his hands blistering, but Kalla finds herself quite foiled by the writhing dragonskulls.
The flaming skeletons worm their way through the adventurer's lines, seizing onto Amelia and Seelah and spattering the whole area with molten bone - nearly finishing Dawn off again!
But before all is truly lost though, Dragbog the mighty screams a mighty yawp and chops right through one of the dragonskulls! that for running off with my Breakfast Nook!"
Dragonskull (Orange) -20
Kalla -8
Sajan -11
Dragonskull (Blue)
Dragonskull (Red)
Dragbog
Seelah -11 (Which reaction did you use?)
Dawn -20 (saved twice by Fire Resist 1!)
Laszlo
Amelia -8
Laszlo prepares to go over the skull in front of him but takes a brief look back at the trials of his companions. No, it will take too long. If they can handle that, I can deal with a little heat. Darting back through the ember field, Laszlo runs for the monolith to begin deciphering the runes and hopefully disabling it.
Seelah stares in horror as she thinks she watches Dawn's last moments. Her lapse of concentration is broken by the searing pain of a Dragonskull tearing at her legs. Snapping out of her momentary haze, she raises her steel shield over top of the spray of marrow coming from the skull and is able to divert some away from Kalla
Seelah looks back at Dawn assuming she will see a lifeless body, but is filled with resolve seeing Dawn refuse to succumb to her wounds. Renewed, she rushes to Dawn's defense I'm here now, I won't let you fall she says as she flushes Dawn with Iomadae's holy light.
After seeing Dawn's condition noticeably improve, Seelah Strikes out at the Dragonskull pinned between her and Kalla.
Dawn groans in agony as the undead puncture her. Fortunately, her innate resistance to fire keeps her from passing out from the pain. She gives Seelah a grateful nod as the paladin lays hands on her. Dawn dances, and spirits of comfort and respite swirl around her, trailing visions of growing grass and blooming blossom that heal her and her allies. She then gestures again, firing a beam of divine power at the skull in front of her.
Amelia hustles away from the fray, blasting lightning from one eye as she withdraws, but though Dawn and Seelah carve into the wounded Dragonskull, they aren't quite able to finish it off as Dawn's healing garden helps restore it to health too!
However, rather than pursuing Amelia or continuing to burn its surrounding foes, the Molten Dragonskull dives into the ground, popping up out of a quickly melted hole to chase after Laszlo, driven to fury by his interference with the ancient stone!
Dragonskull (Orange) -28, Not Undead??
Kalla -1
Sajan -11
Dragonskull (Blue) Not Undead??
Dragbog
Seelah -7
Dawn -10, +2 St. to AC
Laszlo -2
Amelia -4
"It... healed?" Kalla surprise radiated from her voice, watching bones repair under Dawn's magic. "That's impossible, ain't it?" her sword hacks down finally finding connection as she shifts to flank the beast with the dwarf. (maybe be distracted is what Kalla needs to actually hit something).
"We must defend Laszlo!" Confident in the team's ability to handle the nearby creature, Sajan turns into a blur as he sprints to intercept the one chasing Lazslo.
Kalla takes a huge chop out of the Molten Dragonbone, leaving it seeping liquid bone and fire onto the earth as it wriggles in surprised pain. Ignoring Kalla for retribution though, it joins its companion in streaking off after Laszlo! "we got 'em on a run!" Dragbog cries, waving his polearm wildly as he charges off in pursuit!
Laszlo continues to tinker with the ancient stone, recognizing certain resonances of occult magic that its creator must have used to bind elemental energies here, and ultimately dispensing with that binding! The runes fall dim and the dragonskulls begin to keen in distress!
Dragonskull (Orange) -28
Kalla -1
Sajan -11, Concealed
Dragonskull (Blue) -20
Dragbog
Seelah -7, Inspired
Dawn -10, Inspired
Laszlo -2, one action spent.
Amelia -4, Inspired
As the magic ebbs from the monolith, Laszlo looks about victoriously "I've done it! I've stopped the monolith! I've- OH MY!" and catches sight of the dragonskulls racing toward him. In a bit of a panic, he quickly tosses two vials at the faster of the two, hoping to slow them down at all.
Dawn sustains her healing spell before firing another divine lance at the more damaged dragonskull.
Exasperated that her harrowing attacks are not enough to keep the attention of the Dragonbones, Seelah doggedly pursues them to the monolith
Dawn's shining light punctures the dragonskull's molten form, and its quintessence doesn't even stop to pool, streaming away to the ancient stone and leaving the bones to clatter to the ground!
Dragonskull (Orange)
Kalla -1
Sajan -11, Concealed
Dragonskull (Blue) -22
Dragbog
Seelah -7
Dawn -10
Laszlo -2
Amelia -4, Inspired
Kalla pauses to catch her breath after swinging her large sword around like a mad woman. "No one ever sings about how tiring melee combat, the terror, the jarring of steel hitting bone, all of it..." she pants, before realizing everyone had left her behind and there was still combat going on.
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In response to Kalla's beleaguered comments, Sajan does his best to sing out, "Here I am about to succumb, to exhaustion and terror, and a burnt broken thumb!"
To protect his thumbs, Sajan's next strikes are with his feet, attempting to kick off the creature's skeletal head.
Sajan's attempts to shield his thumbs end up damning his sole to the flames! However, despite nearly suffering the agony of defeat, with his swift kicks the monk banishes the remaining elemental!
Dragbog whoops in triumph and dives into a nearby pile of ash, rooting around with occasionally emerging feet before he hoists a gaudily bejeweled shortsword out of the heap. "it still here! greatest Treasure of the Dragonskulls! is Voidflame, sword of Carol the Conqueror!"
Laszlo puffs out a breath in relief seeing the dragonskulls collapse. Stepping forward, he offers support to the clearly cut and burnt Sajan. "We should make our way back to where we left Cenenviel so we can regroup and recover where it is relatively safe." Looking askance at the blade Dragbog is waving about in a very goblin-y manner, he calls out "That is very impressive Dragbog. Perhaps you could tell us about Carol the Conquerer on the way back to Cenenviel. Did she have something to do with the monolith?"
Seelah whispers a quiet prayer of thanks to Iomedae that she and her party were able to survive the encounter. After finishing her benediction, she turns her attention back to the party. "A prudent plan Laszlo, let us march". Following Laszlo's eyeline she also sees Dragbog's display. Worried at the goblin's ... enthusiasm, Seelah turns his direction and beseeches him "Dragbog, that blade appears unequaled, may I have the honor of holding it
"It is a beautiful sword, Dragbog. Almost as keen as how you cracked open that fire skull." the bard mimics a swoosh along with a solid sound effect. "Anything else you want to grab before we get out of here?"
Dawn sighs with relief when the last enemy falls. She calls to the spirits again to heal the party before settling down to meditate and regain her focus.