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After only a little bit of work, the elf is on the wolf's back.
The wolf watches Senna with uncomprehending eyes. He doesn't keep the sorceress from approaching, though.
As the final killer is destroyed, Dwin hustles back over to his fallen master. A surprisingly gentle whimper emanates from the massive wolf’s chest as he nuzzles Authion’s lifeless, rag doll corpse a few times across the snow. In the end, he looks hopelessly at his master’s hunting pack and sits protectively over the body.
Yep. Just saying I support your desire to stick with Tathlan. :)
The back-to-back encounters without time to pause is what did in Authion. He was at 50% health in the caves, and I was left with the distinct impression we were looking at imminent combat if we weren't immediately out of the caves. Tathlan was likely still a goner. :/ Tathlan, I was planning to bring in a character to compliment the group with you in it. I was thinking a reach melee oracle. He'd bring some stationary melee oomph, some healing when we need it (including Breath of Life), and the usual divine buffing/support.
Still howling in fury, Dwin rushes to the defense of the other two-legs-long-ears, biting at whatever unseen hunters savage him.
I'd believe him, but I saw him scratch Authion's name off a list after he slipped the linnorm a fifty.
Lol. I knew that. I was giving you a hard time.
"Praise be to Ioemdae." Totes harsh, man. You could have just mentioned if you didn't want Authion along. ;P
Dwin howls at his master’s destruction, then rushes around the slaying creature’s flank, trying to kill it while maintaining his master’s final command.
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The flame blasts over Authion—who’d spent every last bit of his energy trying to kill the hated foe—and the elf crumples, a charred, ashen corpse completely devoid of life.
”Dwin!” Authion yells through the fiery pain, ”Flank!” His bow hits the ground as he draws out his blade and utters a quick word of power. The linnorm becomes as familiar to him as the hated giants, and after delaying the few heartbeats necessary for Dwin to get into position and attack, the hunter retaliates. The elf fights through the pain, knowing the next attack from the linnorm will likely kill him.
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Dwin continues to follow its ward as Authion rushes to the cave mouth. He nocks a tangeshot arrow, pulling it taut and waiting for the dragon to come into view.
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Authion hustles back towards the entrance to the cave, ”Once outside, split up. Make it work for its kills on us.” Dwin continues to mirror Senna’s movements, growling menacingly as it protects her.
Authion similarly draws a bead on the most available target , "Agreed. Let's go take a crack at the linnorm." [ooc]If the team agrees, and the cave-dwelling child book characters don't keep us from doing so, Authion will back out of the cave, scanning the skies for the linnorm.
Authion watches the gray creature. ”I’ll admit I’m tempted to test ourselves against the dragon-kin.”
He shrugs, "But I'm fine either way, and dragon-kin are rarely to be taken lightly." Without a better idea Authion follows his fellow elf towards the cave, quickly surpassing him to try to scout ahead.
Authion weathers the assault with elven reserve as he gives a modified whistle-command to Dwin. His longbow hits the ground—discarded—as his blade whispers from its sheath, slashing graceful arcs through the mass of giant bodies. Dwin completes his charge up the hill, trying to take down one of the giants threatening his Alpha.
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Authion unleashes his arrows, which flash up-hill seeking giant blood. Dwin, hearing his master's cry, charges up the hill.
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<— CRIT?
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Authion watches the hunting party with disdain. He’d leave well enough alone, but these brutes were leaving a swath of destruction across these lands … like a rabid animal. You don’t ignore rabid animals, and you don’t reason with them. You put them down. He gives the group’s signal to engage; a long, wailing hunting wolf howl, then he opens fire on the nearest giant, trusting to his teammate’s quickness and the intervening distance to keep him safe.
Authion looks in the direction of the giant/bear confrontation in curiosity. "I wonder what they want with the bear?" He shrugs and looks to Haldern. "I could sneak in for a closer look if you could low-fly us around to the other side. if the rest of you guys stay out of sight, I could at least see what's up with the bear before we attack the giants. You never know what could end up being useful."
"Not exactly what I was hoping," Authion mutters the next morning as he finishes up a quick breakfast, "but better than being smashed flat by a hill giant's club." He looks at the team, "Everyone sleep well? It's likely the last bed we'll see for a while." The elf, as always, seems ready to set out at a moment's notice.
Authion nods along to Tathlan’s idea, raising his eyebrows in pleasant surprise when Zoarth has some available. He nods again at Zoarth’s generosity, both for gear and a bed. ”Sounds good, master wizard,” Authion says brightly, ”Sleeping in a giant-sized bed in a floating castle.” He gives his teammates a grin, ”This is a first for me.” As the wizard leaves, Authion gives a sharp whistle. Dwin stops eating to pad over to the elf, who runs his hand roughly through the creature’s thick, gray-and-white fur. ”You think Zoarth has a cook in this castle? I wouldn’t turn down a warm meal before what looks to be a week of rations and fresh kills for meals.”
Authion leans back once again on his still-eating wolf, "Senna's magics gave us a serious edge so far. I'm happy to wait for her to recover a bit before heading out," he looks up at Zoarth, "Unless you think there's more urgency than that."
"What do you know of this force? What is it made up of? How many? Who leads it? And, maybe most importantly, why are they attacking you?"
Authion cuts his eyes over to Senna and Haldern. The elf was smooth with his blade and bow. His tongue ... not so much.
Authion finishes separating the lootable items from the giantess's body, and he looks up at Zoarth again, dusting off his hands. "I'm Authion. That's Dwin." He grins, "And like any adventurer worth his salt, I follow where the road leads. Desna smiles on our timing, it seems." He looks back down at the collected gear. "A pile of gold, a healing draught, a big magical sword good for killing giants," he points at the armor on the dead giantess, "... and some overly large magical full plate. Really only so much we can actually use, though there's likely someone will buy it down the road a ways."
When his third giant victim falls, Authion gives the room a scan as he wipes the blood from his blade, then sheathes it. Not having much to add to Senna's concise report and question, he gives Zoarth a quick, casual salute as he reclaims his bow from the ground. Then he strides over to Dwin, leaning on the big wolf as it sniffs and begins working at the dinosaur's thick hide with his teeth ... clearly intent on making a partial meal of the slain creature. Authion doesn't seem to be interested in stopping his companion from doing just that, focusing instead on Zoarth's answers as he stoops to search the slain giantess's body and gear.
”Don’t let the dinosaur cha—“ Authion aborts his warning as it gets out too late to be of any help. Instead he gives a quick command to Dwin to help Tathlan, then Authion continues his blade-dance against another attacker.
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<— Crit?
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In a blink, Authion's bow is on the ground, and the elf is flowing from one elvish blade form to the next, carving the much bigger attacker into so much meat.
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<-- CRIT?
"Zoarth!" Authion says as he takes a step forward, drawing an arrow to his cheek. "Good to see you alive!" Four arrows streak across the hall, seeking giant blood. "Falling back to us might be prudent!" As he fires, he gives a low elvish command to Dwin, who moves to stand between Senna and the giants.
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<-- CRIT?
<-- CRIT?
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Authion shakes his head once more at the strange cat-messenger. But with nothing else to do, he climbs into Dwin's saddle to await an answer.
"So," the hunter says as he stands from fruitlessly searching the giant's body, "we're off to see the wizard?"
No ta problem. When you get around to putting up a post, go ahead and use what charges you need form Authion's wand. I bought it for the group to use, and I'd prefer we all be able to hit fights as close to full potential as possible.
Seeing that Haldern is available to heal Senna, Authion walks over to the dead giant, patting Dwin when the big ice wolf pads up. The elf gives the giant a cursory look before drawing out his blade and beheading it with a cold practicality.
Then he cleans his blade and gives the massive body a thorough search.
"Live to die another day, eh, bug?" the spire elf mutters with grudging respect, as his eyes scan the surrounding area with caution. "I can appreciate that."
He gives the group a half-grin. "That's one smart ice cockroach." He pulls a wand from his double bandolier, using it on the spear wound. "Everyone alright?"
As he works at the wound, he lets out a shrill whistle, calling Dwin.
Authion staggers from the thing's attack, feeling the icy touch of its spear warring with Senna's magic. Luckily, Heldern's charge buys him a half-second, and Authion dives backwards, looking to create some space. As he rolls to his feet, he grabs a unique arrow from his quiver, nocks it, and draws it to his cheek, sighting down its shaft at the ice-bug's center-mass. "So it's a slowing game, huh?" he mutters as he releases.
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Okay, gotcha. Thanks for the clarification.
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