Alyra's page

Ahhh! Beast, though you may slay me, you have brought on my final purpose!

Alyra is suddenly gone, her jewelry dropping to the ground where she once was - only a mist remains, otherwise.

Tendrils of the mist move decisively toward each of you, and you find yourselves breathing in the moist air that was, a moment ago, your ally.

I give to you all, all that I was, so that you might realize all that you might become! You must seek out the Stream of Heroes, on the Isle of Life, and drink from the source!

Everybody heals completely, spells are refreshed as if you've just prepared them, and you are all now Mythic Rank 1!

Stand firm! It can be beaten - it MUST be stopped or it will destroy not only all of us, but every innocent in the village, and it won't stop there!

Alyra looks concerned, but resolute.

Fort: 1d20 + 11 + 1d6 ⇒ (9) + 11 + (6) = 26

...and manages to avoid being ill.

As soon as she gets close enough, she pulses with positive energy, healing everyone but it:

Healing: 6d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 6, 5, 1, 4) = 21

Father, I beseech thee! Allow the healing waters to flow through me!

On the Lakeroot map, everyone was heading toward the bridge going north. Right now, everyone is maybe 150 feet away.

Not easily seen, and utterly inexplicable, is a mass in the foilage. It has no shape that anyone can make out, being totally invisible, but you can see that it's quite large - certainly bigger than any of the ogres.

Child of darkness, threaten these innocents no more! There are heroes here to end your misery!

Alyra quickly links any she can, reaching for each of you in turn.

Let's do initiative.

It: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

This is it. This is what I've been hearing - what I was awakened for! I can sense the evil, drawing closer!

Alyra stumbles a bit, but immediately heads in the direction of the screaming farmers.

Please, quickly! Many lives are at stake! Be prepared!

No, I don't think the monastery, but it's hard to tell. It's all around. It might be coming from anywhere.

Alyra looks around, then generally toward Nia.

Can't you hear it? It's a low...thrumming sound. Distant.

Hearing Reiko's words, she turns.

You were...creating new life? Some titans learned horrible rituals when so much of their power was removed, but I don't know much more. Was it...virgin blood?

I'm sorry, Nia, I've been so...distracted. I am a titan's child, as are many others. The gods have created lifeforms throughout history, and for quite some time, the titans did, too, and almost as easily. Since the end of the Titanswar, though, things have been different. The titans can't create life so easily, anymore, and things are usually more...monstrous... Alyra trails off, her mind elsewhere.

More and more she seems less and less focussed.

I didn't know him long before the blindness struck and I got the powers, but I can still remember. He was very pale, almost white, and tinged with aqua. His hair was greenish, and reminded me of seaweed. He was slender, for a titan, and more of a scholar than most - but that is second-hand knowledge more than anything. The elder titans were all gone, after the war, and I was created at the end of it.

Alyra is talking ancient history, literally . First-hand.

My father - the father of the Sisters - was Ulorimas, the sea titan of old. He was neutral in the war, but sided with the gods, in his heart. He did do some small acts in their favor. Do you know of him?

Sensing your excitement, Alyra cocks her head in thought.

An appropriate Knowledge roll could give you more information.

Alyra does answer your question, too.

I am one of the Sisters of the Sea, indeed. Father knew he could no longer continue as he had, so he created us.

Alyra never quite looks directly at you, but you sense that she's looking in her own way.

Hearing the kind words, Alyra responds.

Thank you. I must concentrate any time I move - it would be nice to simply enjoy the journey.

Alyra steps forward.

I've been waiting for the right time for this. I need it, and there may be others. Gather 'round. She waits until the villagers have come close, then stretches out her arms.

Heal them, father. Send the power through me.

Twice she pulses with pure positive energy, healing all within 30'.

Healing: 6d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 3, 5, 6, 3) = 23

Everyone should be at full HP.

Yes - I think - maybe - the day will come when I pass on my responsibilities on to you. I can never be sure about details, but I get very strong feelings.

Jun, you do get a sense of it, after all - Alyra was still injured from carrying others' injuries , but she breaks the link once you've had a taste of it.

I barely have the strength to make a difference against a beast like him - unlike you - or Auric here.

Alyra watches the big sword sink deep into the warrior - it's not enough to simply kill, but he won't make the save. Seconds later - about the time Drokar finishes (it's rather like watching a mouse toying with a cat!) the warrior goes limp and collapses.

One ogre definitely remains near the group, though - gigantic axe in a death grip, still not moving.

He needs to be taken care of. Quickly. He'll be moving again, very soon!

Alyra quickly loads her sling, looks at the ground, then whips the stone intake the air.

Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

The stone strikes true, but isn't enough.

I do. It's hard to hear, up here, but I think he's giving up. I wouldn't trust him.

The speaker is Tania, naturally.

I do, as well - he tells the others to flee. He is evil. He will prove to be a thorn in the future.

Alyra speaks from experience, if half of what you've heard is true.

Alyra moves 30' with Auric, and then casts on the warrior.

Save: 1d20 ⇒ 19

Out of the blue, the warrior stops moving. He grunts, but stays locked in place. The patriarch does. not look happy at this turn of events!

We may have to go to the patriarch.

Alyra sounds determined, but waits for responses.

Under a hundred feet from the barricades and closing - but the leader's hanging back!

Alyra supplies the requested information as she works her way out of the entangle.

Aya, if you're back in the trees, that's 60' behind the barricades, and the ogres have 80' to get to the barricades. That's 140' feet. They'll close to 80' to you (and 20' to the barricades) very soon. I'm assuming your casting goes off as they hit that 100' mark (40' to the barricades).

Ok, let's get into what amounts to the third round - Alyra will follow Auric - quickly, if she makes the roll, slowly if not.

Ref: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

We may have to abandon the barricades! This isn't good.

There are half a dozen ogres headed for the eastern edge of the barricades - and it looks like the leader and his escort are going to be following them. There are three other groups of three or four, the group headed for the road, and the two heading farther west. The younger ones are scattered through those groups.

It's rare that one linked moves out of range before a battle is over - but just in.case, my range is about half again a hundred feet.

Alyra starts linking people - Auric and Baldek first - who else?

She'll include Manton and the sheriff if she runs out of party members likely to be hit.

Of course. I can maintain that link with as many as five at a time. That would be my preference.

Alyra first speaks to Auric, but includes all the group.

Jun, it's a trick I believe I could teach you.

I am a healer. I cannot stop the blows, but I can assure that they don't kill you - as long as they don't come in too fast.

Alyra looks toward, if not at Baldek.

Oops, that should have been a Fort save - not that it truly matters. :(

No residual magic.

No, not here in the village. I have been gone for too long. I don't know of any place that would be safe for something like this. All I can hope - it has only ever cast while ope. Perhaps if it stays closed then all it can do is spy.

Alyra sighs and collapses into a seat, looking defeated.

For now, we have a difficult fight ahead. For most of us, rest is the most important thing.

I'm sorry, no - I know little about arcane protections. My magics come from the sea, through my father. I still think it would be best if it was on none of us - and definitely in the satchel. Sealed.

Alyra lets Auric take it, somewhat reluctantly.

I wish I knew a way to bring sight back, Reiko, but I don't know that magic. I fear that it's unlikely that anyone here does. I really don't think that now is a good time to deal with this book. Perhaps the proprietor could lock it away for now?

Alyra looks somewhat distraught as things seem to be on the precipice of spiraling out of control.

Nia - for the moment, Alyra has it, in the satchel - and that's her answer to you. She doesn't physically resist if you take it from her, but she in no way offers it.

Watching in horror, Alyra grabs the book and slams it closed, stuffing it into the satchel as quickly as she can.

Reiko! Anger it no more! We will have to learn more before we can deal with this. For now, we have the ogres.

Ok, watching might not be the right word, technically. ;)

Alyra Save: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

Alyra gasps, but holds her ground.

Alyra concentrates for a few seconds, then -

Something there - like a - ghost? AAAH! BLINDING! What IS it?

Alyra looks suddenly horrified.

Then let me start. I am Alyra, of the sisters of the sea, healer of heroes. Before the battle, allow my touch so that I may link with you. I would prefer to link with those going directly into battle first, so that I might heal you easier.

After speaking, Alyra settles back silently.

Alyra has been following the discussion.

He could well be one of the heroes as well. I can never know who will step up, even though I sense the potential. There were several brothers of the Silver Shield that did their duties, but never became true heroes. Still, they produced more than any others. They usually were already on their path.

Alyra looks around at the gathered group.

I sense the potential in all of you - but in truth, you will determine your own fate.

She pauses again.

No matter how much you're needed.

Yes, I can, though it's an imperfect spell. He stands a chance of breaking out of it. A much better chance than his followers, I'd assume.

Alyra is playing with the pearl she wears as she speaks.

Alyra whips a slingstone at it...

Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

...and another.
Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Alyra takes the round to touch as many people as she can. (I think she can manage to get everyone in the link, at this point.)

As soon as she arrives, Alyra speaks words of power and touches Antonio's side, and the healing power visibly flows into him.

Healing: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (5, 7) + 10 = 22

With Varuk's bolt, and Reiko's arrow, the ogre collapses. Alyra has had to slow her approach, but is awkwardly still moving forward.

Can someone help guide me?

Sir Dailand of the Silver Shield was famed for fighting giants - true giants - in a time when many of the ancient giants still walked - the jotun. They were greater giants, and I healed him during his fight with Grothshank, the great giant chieftan who towered above his warriors by double. Most of those once called 'hill giants' are weak and degenerate versions of what once was.

Alyra's words are soft and soothing, even though they carry gravity that hangs heavy in the room.

Alyra comes with the group.

Father breathed life into me at the end of the Titanswar...but I don't age like that, and I sleep - not like you think of it, but more like a dragon does - much more than I am awake. Father - he was Ulorimas - the titan. You know - or maybe you don't - at one time, the powers of the titans all but matched the gods, but at the end of the war, the gods stripped them of so much.

Alyra stops for a moment before continuing her flood of history very few humans had ever heard...

One of Father's gifts is that he could forsee the future. Other titans had created races - the giant races, for example - and so father created us, the Sisters. There are others like us, but each of us was created with a purpose. We do minor duties father would have done. His domain was water, so that's what we are.

Again she falls silent, as Manton brings food and drink. When he steps back out, she has a little more to say.

I am a little different from my sisters. I am the healer, while they serve...other purposes.

After another moment, she offers a question.

Ogres are degenerate giants, you know. Did you have plans on dealing with some?

I don't know, but if you feel secure, I'll answer any questions I can.

Yes, Teor was a truly great warrior. He seemed utterly fearless, not even backing away from Kathrask, the demon orc chieftan of the Jagged Tusk clan and his demonic underlings.

As I said, there are many unquiet spirits there. It seems as though they came from within the lake somewhere, and it seems the logical conclusion. I know most of the lake well, though it has been centuries. Should we be somewhere more private?

I know only what I've heard just now about these ogres, but they surely are connected, somehow. I have never been called upon when ancient horrors were not active in the land...and they affect...everything.

Alyra stops for a moment and concentrates.

We must be cautious in the future...the powers have ways of seeing and hearing...they watch.

Fain's fall happened over a time - perhaps years, but possibly just months. He was in contact with...something...from elsewhere. He slew the High Abbot, and called upon others who had fallen, and supernatural help as well - before long, all those still loyal were dead, or in chains. I barely escaped into the lake - the monastery was not sank, yet...but father laid his curse upon it, in hopes that the waters of the lake might purify it.

The evil has proved to be quite persistent.

Most of my memories of the monastery were of when it was a place of brightness and glory, but I did see its downfall...and, when awakened to heal Teor, in his time of glory, I did sense something of the cancer the monastery had become. There are many unquiet spirits there, but the ones that made it so were long gone.

Several times when the monastery was active, I was awakened for duty. I served the monastery's first heroes...and its last. I healed Fain Hulstead until we saw that he had fallen. After his time, I was not called upon for a very long time, then to stand behind Teor Umatha, when he drove the orc tribes from the valley.

Alyra waits patiently until everyone gathers...meditating.

When father breathed life into me, he gave me the lake to watch over. For a time, I was jealous, for my other sisters were in the bay, or even the ocean, but father was wise. I have been called on several times now.

Alyra sits back, and loses herself in memory for a while...

Even though she clings to Antonio, Alyra almost trips on the step onto the 'Mug's front porch...when she gets inside, and settles in, she finally speaks again:

I...am blind...when I concentrate, I can...feel my surroundings. Please bear with me. I will speak more when all have gathered here.

Alyra reaches for Antonio's arm, and follows along.