”Some small prints—perhaps that chipmunk from earlier,” says Gunnar, ”But see, here are the larger prints. We can only hope they lead us to our foe!”
Flying off following the (larger) prints, Gunnar can only hope his friends are following…
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Gunnar continues flying along at top speed with Ingryd, following the tracks and watching/listening for the hag as they go!
Grabbing the dolls and stashing them for now, Gunnar moves into the large stairwell (as he won't fit in the small one, of course). As the thunder fades, he listens up and down the stairs to possibly hear the hag's retreat. If he hears something promising, he follows quickly--otherwise he follows Ingryd's lead if she seems to perceive a good path...
[ooc](If it makes a difference, Gunnar's spell to teleport himself and Ingryd into the room did some damage to the alcove ( ).
”Let’s go!” says Gunnar at Ingryd’s determined proclamation. Casting Thunder Step, Gunnar shakes the alcove and teleports himself and Ingryd into the room. ”I’ll check out the mirrors, Ingryd, if you can check the stairs and see if the hag went that way…”
”If we can see what is on the other side of that door, I can teleport us there,” offers Gunnar quickly.
With Scramsax teleporting away and taking all the freed prisoners with her, Gunnar instead focuses on the escaping hag. Having already cast Knock on the door, he flies towards the alcove and looks for a way through.
Feel free to teleport out with the rescued prisoners. That is a surer way to get them to safety. With the door tiny, instead of casting knock, if someone can get it open, Gunnar can teleport himself and Ingryd through it if there is enough room on the other side of the door for them both to fit.
Sorry, I thought maybe we would have too many people to be able to teleport out. If you can get everyone, we can just crowd together for the teleport…
Oh wow—I didn’t realize that…When I think door I think normal size.
That’s why Gunnar still has Fly on you and cast Knock on the door…But going by yourself might not be wise.
Casting Knock on the door in the alcove, Gunnar bellows, ”The way to the hag is clear!” as a thunderous boom pings from the door. He looks back and forth from the escape for the prisoners to the pursuit of the hag, then resigns himself to his role as protector. ”Follow me to escape!” he says to the rescued prisoners and Scramsax as she (hopefully) frees the last of the captives. Gunnar leads the way to freedom, gliding above the escaping allies, ready to extend his Arcane Ward to protect them as needed during their retreat.
Resisting the incoming damage with clenched teeth and wielding Sylvia, Gunnar barely feels the lightning damage flowing around his magical shield. Seeing the effect of shattering the stone on freeing their allies, he calls out in a clear voice, ”Friends awakening from the hag’s control—help us rescue the prisoners and flee!” Touching Ingryd, Gunnar intones a spell of flight and says to her, ”Let us fly to destroy the remaining minions!” as he wings his way over to the vulnerable Vee and Katrina. ”I am with you,” he intones, ”Stay close and thrash the hag’s minions!”
It seems to be the smaller jet crystal is controlling the people who are (or look like) their previous allies.
Katrina is out of the manacles and was just asked to help save the prisoners. Gunnar is hopeful with the destruction of the jet stone and possibly the magic eye (Scrying? Clairvoyance?), the hag’s control will be broken and we can get out everyone except the hag’s true allies. After that the dragon can come in and destroy the main crystal in the ley line power and maybe we can rebound and try to find the actual hag if she doesn’t show up in the meantime.
If Luthael and/or Ingryd manage to shatter the crystal, Gunnar will try and dispel the eye. If they don’t succeed, Gunnar will try and dispel the magic on the small jet crystal, reasoning that if Ingryd can’t shatter it with her maul, he has no chance with his hammer. (Dispel Magic at level 4 on Jet crystal or floating eye detector)
”We need to destroy that piece of carved jet!” says Gunnar, pointing to the one in the alcove. ”Strike it Ingryd!”
”Prophet—protect yourself and help those we are rescuing to safety!” requests Gunnar. Moving towards Ingryd and getting some distance from the prophet, Gunnar makes eye contact with Luthael, calling, ”On me, priest! Our foe is near!” Putting a hand on Ingryd’s shoulder, he says, ”Come with me—the hag controls our old friends from this alcove,” as he casts a spell and teleports them both directly into the alcove! Thunder damage, DC 17 Constitution Save for half for those Gunnar and Ingryd leave behind.
Studying the gem for arcane threads just as it bursts with fiery energy, Gunnar reacts to the incoming flame!
Some of the flame flickering on his arcane ward seems to add to its power as Gunnar quickly reacts with an Absorb Elements spell.
The sparkles from Faerie Fire find purchase on Gunnar’s body! Gunnar’s Arcane Ward absorbs the arrow’s impact, then Gunnar tries again to free the prophet!
Hopefully freeing her, he says, ”Please help us! We need to save our imprisoned friends and if possible refrain from having to kill our previous allies!” He then tries to read the arcane energy coming from the great gem and the ley lines, hoping to figure out if some thread of magic from the shadow realm was forcing his previous allies to fight against him!
I’m good with it.
”Let’s focus on getting our people out and hope the dragon can destroy the crystal!” responds Gunnar, not sure exactly what to do but hoping for the best.
”Prophet—we need your aid in saving the others!” says Gunnar as he tries to stand firm against the erupting earth below. ”Hold still a moment while I free you from these restraints.” Focusing his mystic sight into her restraints, Gunnar attempts to unravel the restrictive magic, eventually following the threads to the great crystal!
Gunnar rushes over to the cage holding the saintly girl, thinking he recognizes her as the true prophet. Trusting in his fire shield (and perhaps a Shield spell cast as a reaction) to safeguard him there, he reaches out to touch her through the bars of the cage. As the foes crowd around, he calls upon the power of Thor to teleport them both away and over behind the imposing Ingryd, leaving a sonic boom of collapsing air behind them to rock the crowding foes!
If allowed to take his action from the last round:
As he floats down still out of range of the foes and not seeing the hag, Gunnar wreaths himself in flames, warming himself against any frigid attacks from the hag (Fire Shield warm). Landing, he angles in behind Ingryd, trying to electrocute multiple sets of foes without hurting the captives suspended in cages above. Raising his hammer and shield, Gunnar says a short prayer to Thor as he unleashes the long, low lightning bolt.
With his enhanced vision, Gunnar scans the room for the hag as he floats down, thinking she might be invisible. What he sees will influence his actions…
(Gunnar doesn't have Feather Fall prepared--that was someone else who cast it...)
Thudding heavily on the dome, Gunnar keeps his balance long enough to stomp his foot against the dome with a reverberating roll of thunder.
…but he slips a bit before finishing the incantation, and his foot just clangs uselessly against the dome.
Gunnar prepares himself for the teleport, casting See Invisibility just before leaving. He thinks to Sylvia, ”Let us end this deadly threat to our loved ones and the region as a whole. Are you ready for our greatest challenge yet?”
”I am afraid the dire predicament of our loved ones is no illusory ruse,” says Gunnar sadly. ”I would also counsel not teleporting in too near that crystal—it appears to absorb magic, and the effects of spellcasting in the vicinity may be…unpredictable.”
Yes, I am keen to know if Gunnar’s investigation turned up anything!
Gunnar is fine with that. I recall Luthael planning to prepare sending in the morning after the egg recovery—at that point, we thought we were going to have to use it to inform the dragon we had saved her eggs. Gunnar just wants our hard-won ally to be kept in the loop so the hag can’t twist the situation into using our new dragon ally against us.
Didn’t someone prepare Sending? We could let the dragon know what is going on—hostages on the top level, foes starting to flee the mountain, etc. She is an upset and vengeful mother, but she is also cunning, and should be more inclined to kill the hag than just bust up her lair.
Gunnar focuses intently on the scene in the scrying pool. He doesn’t react to the hag’s taunts, but instead tries to take in every detail of those trapped in the golden cages. Once the scrying fades, he asks, ”Did anyone see an image or hear a sound that might indicate the scene before us was manufactured instead of real? I wouldn’t put it past the crone to try and read our minds to lay a clever illusory trap for us.”
No worries—your posts are worth waiting for. (Behind the screen—Gunnar is not being completely altruistic. He is hoping his generosity and attempted promulgation of Thor’s worship makes it more likely for a blessing to be granted him regarding Sylvia, the Valkyrie spirit during his time of meditation and solitude).
DM, any reaction from Darrell on getting the silver horn of Valhalla?
Gunnar just nods and confirms the time that he should be prepared to depart for the climactic battle. Retreating to a sacred and secluded spot, he begins his magical work and is soon surrounded by an impenetrable magic shell.
Gunnar spends a few active hours trying to find an auspicious place to begin his scribal work. A local ley line, perhaps a high place sacred to Thor, or maybe a forgotten temple struck by lightning.
Settling himself down, he begins a ritual to isolate himself from the rest of the world and anchor into the ancient magics (Freyja's Respite--Tiny Hut). Setting his Lammanian Oak Hammer with its embedded Arcane Crystal to prop up his magic shield housing Sylvia, Gunnar begins a quiet conversation with her, entreating her to take a more active role in their struggle against increasingly powerful foes by integrating herself with his Arcane Focus. That conversation started, Gunnar spends the rest of his 8 hours scribing the spell "Fireball" into his spellbook (6 hours, 300 gp). For his second set of 8 hours, he scribes "Phantasmal Killer" into his spellbook (8 hours, 400 gp). For his last 8 hours prior to departing to face the hag, Gunnar meditates quietly in seclusion with Sylvia and his arcane focus, only occasionally pausing to feed Mamluk. Channeling arcane power into his valkyrie ally and praying to Thor for strength, the dwarven wizard doesn't know what to expect other than a fearsome challenge ahead.
Need to do some math for Gunnar. How much scribing time will he have available before the battle?
”Can’t say as we kept you too safe along the journey, but you did right by us, Darrell. If you’ve a mind to defend your town, I might be able to help,” says Gunnar. ”We can’t always be around—and you are right, trouble seems to follow us—so this is your best bet,” he adds. Gunnar pulls a fancy-looking horn out of his pack and hands it to Darrell, saying, “Once a week this will bring doughty warriors from Valhalla to your call…And perhaps Thor will smile upon your small community as well as Khors.”
Right. Get the civilians to safety first. Having the extra time means Gunnar will be able to scribe some spells into his spellbook, maybe make some scrolls and come in loaded for…well, Hag, I suppose.
"Your anger burns hot, and so it should, mighty dragon," starts Gunnar, trying to sound more brave than he feels. "But do not vent it on us, we who have risked much and sacrificed to save your children. Spend it on the hag who stole them away in the first place, who perverted the mighty ley line with necrotic energy and sought to corrupt your precious offspring," he continues. "Make your children safe and purge them of the hag's influence if any yet remains after our attempts at restoration. Then honor your agreement to aid us in the utter destruction of the hag and all her minions," he implores.
Reinforcing Raseri’s work, Gunnar follows up with Dispel Magic as needed. Cradling the eggs and floating like a delicate Dwarven feather through the night sky, Gunnar replies, ”We have done what we can. Let us take care to protect the eggs on the way down.”
While he was in the dome Gunnar tried to lash all the eggs together and protect them with blankets and such, but it makes sense that carrying them separately may have been necessary to protect them. Having found out how to fix the eggs, Gunnar is happy to do them individually as he can get close enough (Dispel Magic has a range of 120 feet and he will cast once per round).
Do we need to fix the eggs individually, or has the dispelling already done apply to them all? Gunnar is happy to keep casting dispel magics until all the eggs are fixed if needed.
“Let me cast a Dispel Magic while you simultaneously use Greater Restoration. Hopefully that will purge any remaining malevolent influence and heal any stunting of the growth that occurred during their imprisonment,” suggests Gunnar. Coordinating with Luthael, he begins a second casting of the magic unraveling spell, in case there were any hidden eddies of corruption remaining.
”I think I have unraveled most of the hag’s magical influence on the eggs, but a Remove Curse or other powerful divine magical blessing would certainly be helpful,” remarks Gunnar to Luthael as they float towards the ground. Gunnar senses his spell of flight continuing to be used, so he continues to concentrate and simultaneously keep vigil for any fresh threats, poised to extend his Arcane Shield should his friends or the eggs be threatened.
His Arcane Ward springing into being as the residual power from the unravelling spell powers it, Gunnar keeps a sharp eye out for any threats to his feather-falling allies or the eggs. If he sees such a threat—maybe that lurking small wyvern—he will cast lightning on it. If not, he merely prepares to extend his shield around them all at need (projected ward).
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