"כן, זה יהיה זה. אני מעולם לא שמעתי עליהם, אבל זה תאר את הארגון כמשפיע. הם, לעומת זאת, רחוקים, ותאר לעצמי שאהיה מסוגל לקחת את שליטה על הדברים כאן בטיאן שיה, בזמן נתון. הם יצטרכו לעשות ללא הסיוע שלי עכשיו."
With that, the great beast leaps into the air and dives into the ocean, leaving you alone on the wave-swept rocky shoreline.
Draconic:
"Yes, that would be it. I have never heard of them, but it described the organization as influential. They are, however, distant, and I imagined I would be able to take control of things here in Tian Xia, given time. They will have to do without my assistance now."
"האם אתה עושה את זה להרגל ללמוד את השמות של כל נמלה שאתה פוגש? אני זוכר את השמות של אלו שעוקצים בלבד." The great dragon levels a yellow eye to Asha, its slitted pupil dilating as it focuses upon her.
Huyanwo continues. "אני לא בטוח איך לתאר את הנמלה שדיבר אליי. זו הייתה אישה, שאין כל ספק, ולא של מניית טיין. זה לא השם שלו אלוף, ואת שמו של אביו בורח לי. ארגון כלשהו נחש, אני מאמין. משהו לעשות עם אפעה."
Mechanics:
"Do you make a habit of learning the names of every ant you meet? I only remember the names of those that sting."
"I am not certain how to describe the ant that spoke to me. It was a woman, that much is certain, and not of Tien stock. It did not name its champion, and the name of its master escapes me. Some snake organization, I believe. Something to do with asps."
The dragon tenses as his serpentine neck snaps around to search for the source of the speech. "אני מניח שזה עושה לי שום דבר רע לומר . אחד מהנמלים בא אליי לפני כמה ימים . חשב שזה היה אחד מרביםשביקשה להרוג אותי ולקחת את העדר שלי, אבל הוא אמר שזה היה במהירות לכאן לקדם את מטרותיו של אביהכאן בטיאן שיה . הוא אמר שזה לא היה כאן כדי לגנוב את העדר שלי, אבל כדי להעשיר אותו . זה זיכה אותו כמה רגעים , ואני ברכתי אותו לדבר לפני נמאס לי המילים החלקלקות שלה . זה אמר לי שזה היה עובד עם כמה מהמקומיים , כדי להבטיח הצלחהבטורניר , ואם האלוף שלהם ניצח, העדר שלי יהיה הרבה יותר גדול. הוא רוצה את העזרה שלי בהבטחתשהם עשו שם עם הפרס שלהם הערב הזה, נמלה אחרת , אם כיחשוב, ממה שאמר. אם אני סייע להם , ולאחר מכן מחווה רגילה תהיה נתון. זו הייתה הצעה מעניינת , ואחד שהסכמתי . התוכניות של נמלים הן תמיד קצר רואי . עם זמן, אני בטוח שהייתי יכול התהפך התפקידים שלנו - ולא באים אליי בתחינה , הייתי להכתיב את התנאים של ההסדרים שלנו. אבל זה לא יהיה עכשיו."
Draconic:
"I suppose it does me no harm to speak. One of the ants came to me a few days ago. I had thought it was one of many that sought to slay me and take my horde, but it quickly said that it was here further its master's goals here in Tian Xia. It said it was not here to steal my horde, but to enrich it. This earned it a few moments, and I bade it speak before I grew tired of its honeyed words. It told me that it was working with some of the locals to ensure success in the Tournament, and if their champion won, my horde would be far larger. It wanted my help in ensuring that they made away with their prize this evening, another ant, though an important one, from what it said. If I aided them, then regular tribute would be given. It was an intriguing offer, and one I agreed to. The plans of ants are always short-sighted. In time, I am certain that I could have reversed our roles - rather than coming to me in supplication, I would dictate the terms of our arrangements. But that is not to be now."
The great beast stirs after a time, and momentarily snaps its head around, its slitted eyes flashing with anger. Its lips curl into a snarl as it notices the four of you, all bearing your weapons and holding them, preparing to strike if necessary. "You have strength, ants.", he says, his voice low and rumbling, but still powerful over the crashing surf. "If you wished me dead, then I would already be dead. I presume you wish to parley?"
He listens as Asha gives her ultimatum, and he thinks for a time. "As loathe as I am to leave such a place as Xielan Island, it is clear that I will no longer find a home here, so long as it has protectors such as you. Very well, Asha Ghadvhi. I agree to your terms. I will depart this island, never to return. This dream of conquest went wrong the moment I landed upon this island, and it is time I move on. I had hoped that this year might be different, though. That other group of ants seemed to have promise." He shakes his great head and stretches his wings. "They will have to succeed or fail without my aid." He begins to slink away to the surf.
"Spread the word, ants. You have vanquished the great and terrible Huyanwo, Scourge of the Unspeakable Depths. I am just suprised that we both get to tell our tales." He tenses, and prepares to leap back into the sea.
The dragon's bravado soon fades as Asha spins through the air with her glaive as her partner. The first blow she lands is glancing, but the second is a solid strike to the dragon's chest. Huyanwo rears back from the strike, and a look of concern creeps across his brow. These ants have hurt him.
The third strike banishes concern from the dragon's mind, and is replaced by a new emotion, one utterly foreign to the ancient beast - desperation. His wings flap wide as he makes the decision to cut and run.
He doesn't get that far. Asha's glaive connects solidly to the dragon's thickly-scaled skull, and his great eyes roll back into his head. He pitches towards the ground and soon crashes into the Ridge of Graves.
Current Damage: 83 (148 nonlethal), Status: Unconscious, Combat: Over!
Huyanwo snaps his great frilled head around as he senses a new addition to the fight, but almost as swiftly discounts the lightning elementals as their electric fists strike his body and sparks fly harmlessly off of him. "Weak creatures of Air. I'll deal with them in time." He turns just in time to see Zarina charging towards him, snapping at her as she approaches with his fearsome jaws.
Another quartet of arrows fly towards Huyanwo, and all but one bounce harmlessly off his thick scales. He roars in pain, and casts a hateful glance to the roiling cloud of smoke. "I'll deal with you in a moment, archer! But first, you!" He returns his fearsome gaze to Asha. "Face the wrath of Huyanwo, Scourge of Xielan Island!"
And with that, Huyanwo tears into the brave paladin.
And the paladin is savaged by his onslaught. Grievous bloody wounds are torn into her body as his vicious teeth and claws assault her. He licks his chops as his sea-green scales are splattered with her hot blood. "Still some fight in you still, ant? And you thought to make me submit?" A deep rasping sound comes from the dragon's throat. Asha cannot mistake it - a contemptuous laugh.
The dragon chortles as Asha's glaive skitters off his thick scales. "So, one of the ants wishes to taste my claws. I'll make an example of you for the others, then." The dragon's mouth curls into a cruel sneer as he readies his razor sharp talons.
Huyanwo roars in pain as the fires engulf him. He's able to shield himself from the worst of the blast, but the flames have melted away the frost that had rimed his scales. His eyes burn with inhuman fury at the five of you. "You think to defeat me? You are ants to me! I will kill you all, but you, mixed-breed...you I will kill slowly. Painfully."
The cliff top is about 100' away from pagoda, and Huyanwo is about 20' off the ground at the moment. My calculator says about 130'. Oh, and Zarina? Make me a spell resistance check. >:-)
Nice unintentional interplay between Simon and Zak there. It doesn't say so explicitly in the text, but I'm pretty certain the goz mask should let you see through the sleet.
A brisk wind suddenly whips through the air, and Huyanwo is suddenly engulfed by Simon's conjured storm. Moments later, a quartet of arrows fly out from the smoke towards the heart of the storm, and a defiant roar indicates that Zak's aim was true.
"[bigger]Banish me? That was a lucky strike, mortals! I will dine upon your flesh this day, and your bones will decorate my lair for years to come! Tremble before me!" Huyanwo dives out of the cloud, the water now frozen to his blue-green scales. A single arrow has pierced his belly, and a thin ribbon of blood dribbles from the wound. He rears back and breathes a line of acid towards Asha!
Breath weapon! Asha takes 14d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 2, 5, 6, 6, 3, 3, 4, 2, 2, 1, 1, 5) = 46 acid damage, Reflex DC 22 for none (stupid evasion ruining my fun). Also, everyone will need to make a DC 21 Will save against Huyanwo's frightful presence - failure means you are shaken for 5d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 5, 5, 3) = 19 rounds.
"What is this I see? More foolish competitors here to challenge the great and powerful Huyanwo? HA! Flee in terror before me, and tell those you meet that only your cowardice saved you from my claws!"
Asha, Simon and Zak go before the dragon. Good luck!
