Sarkast springs up the wall with the ease of taking a simple step, repeatedly plunging his daggers into the summoner. She shrieks as blood pools on the ground, staggering back from the incredible onslaught of the rogue.
On the ground, the huge, reptilian eidolon leaps at Dejik, striking her repeatedly!
Dejik (36 dmg)
Ayesha
----
Zanedra (78 dmg) (hasted)
Babau (hasted)
Babau (hasted)
Bauau (hasted)
----
Sarkast
----
Svennaboreth (17 dmg) (hasted)
---
Nilus
Nilus backs up into the tunnel and attacks the evil demon looking thing
Attack 1 to hit 40, crit threat 32. Damage on hit 34, damage on crit 77
Attack 2 to hit 21
Attack 3 to hit 32 damage 35
Ignoring the onslaught of the strange outsider and trusting in the skill and dedication of Shelyn's right hand, Dejik concentrates on her holy symbol. Another wave of holy energy blasts the demons, then pulses again to empower her friends.
Dejik 24 dmg (21+36-39)
Ayesha 0 dmg
Sarkast 0 dmg
Nilus 0 dmg
Ayesha focused on her blade, honing its edge with her mind, moving into comabt and slashing out at the reptiloid, even as her friends took on its master.
HP 82/82. Current AC: 23/15/19 (+1 for haste)
Active conditions:
Active spell effects: haste,
Arcane pool: 9/10 left today
Spells remaining: 1st 7/7, 2nd 4/5, 3rd 3/4, 4th 2/2
Black Blade arcane pool 3/3
Mythic power: 5/9
pearl of power lvl 1 2/3
pearl of power lvl 2 0/1
Ayesha looks over the creature and decides it is an eidolon, the summoned pet of the caster who stands above you. This one looks it can fly, but the abilities of eidolons vary so wildly it can be hard to tell entirely.
Attacking from behind Ayesha and Dejik, Nilus begins slashing viciously at the creature. It is quick with an unbelievably tough hide, and Nilus finds it hard going to make a dent in it, but mangaes to slash it brutally nonetheless.
Ayesha spins around beautifully, and cuts a brutal slash across its face.
The caster in front of Sarkast looks at him in shock at the damage he's inflicted before barking an order at the babau behind her in abyssal. It leaps throuhg the air, trying to land behind Sarkast. Despite the rogue's incredible reflexes, it manages to land.
This frees up space for her to step back, cast a spell, and take off into the air! She hangs 20' up at the ceiling, and quickly flies across the room away from Sarkast.
The babau at the edge of the pit begins stabbing down at Ayesha with its long spear.
The babau in the pit also attacks, tossing aside its spear to try and rip Dejik's face off the old-fashioned way.
Dejik (57 dmg)
Ayesha (26 dmg)
----
Zanedra (46 dmg) (hasted)
Babau (hasted)
Babau (hasted)
Bauau (hasted)
----
Sarkast
----
Svennaboreth (76 dmg) (hasted)
---
Nilus
Ayesha, rattled from the spear wounds, spun into her dance, blade lashing about the summoned eidolon in a fury.
HP 56/82. Current AC: 23/15/19 (+1 for haste)
Active conditions:
Active spell effects: haste,
Arcane pool: 9/10 left today
Spells remaining: 1st 7/7, 2nd 4/5, 3rd 3/4, 4th 2/2
Black Blade arcane pool 3/3
Mythic power: 5/9
pearl of power lvl 1 2/3
pearl of power lvl 2 0/1
As the woman casts her spell and flies away, Sarkast dodges the demon flying past him and takes off after her. Running up the wall, he circles the room, stabbing at her before gravity reasserts itself.
Snarling as his knife misses her, he looks up. This time he leaps straight up into the air, slashing at her again.
Sarkast scampers up the side of the wall and springs straight at the woman. Unfortunately he's a good two feet too short and collapses to the ground. Not to be denied, Sarkast springs straight up into the air, spinning gracefully and stabbing the caster badly in her abdomen.
The eidolon lunges at Dejik once more, dedicated to trying to rip apart the good-aligned caster. But first, her explosion of energy goes off, damaging the eidolon and the babau. The incredible burst of her channel energy almost melts the outsiders around her. Almost. They keep on fighting.
Dejik (24 dmg)
Ayesha
----
Zanedra (56 dmg) (hasted)
Babau (hasted) (31 dmg)
Babau (hasted) (31 dmg)
Bauau (hasted) (31 dmg)
----
Sarkast
----
Svennaboreth (107 dmg) (hasted)
---
Nilus
Frustrated and angry, Ayesha continued her whirling dance, the edge of Darb N'ssiar slashing through the air and outsider alike.
HP 82/82. Current AC: 23/15/19 (+1 for haste)
Active conditions:
Active spell effects: haste,
Arcane pool: 9/10 left today
Spells remaining: 1st 7/7, 2nd 4/5, 3rd 3/4, 4th 2/2
Black Blade arcane pool 3/3
Mythic power: 5/9
pearl of power lvl 1 2/3
pearl of power lvl 2 0/1
Reeling under the eidolon's onslaught, Dejik channels Iomedae's power against the demons once again, then tries to heal herself.
Dejik 30 dmg (21+58-41)
Ayesha 0 dmg
Sarkast 0 dmg
Nilus 0 dmg
Nilus continues attacking the Eidolon, moving to the Babau if it dies
Darb N'ssiar cuts true, and Ayesha feels the familiar song of trimph as the eidolon falls beneath her blade. Nilus quickly turns on a babau, striking home repeatedly with his glaive and killing it where it stands.
The summoner shrieks as her eidolon is returned from where it was summoned. Spotting Sarkast and his amazing acrobatics as her greatest threat, she quickly chants a spell from the air.
Still completely focusd on Dejik, the two babau above the pit start stabbing down at her with one springing over top.
Dejik (86 dmg)
Ayesha
----
Zanedra (56 dmg) (hasted) (flying 20' in the air)
Babau (hasted) (31 dmg)
Bauau (hasted) (31 dmg)
----
Sarkast
Nilus
As Sarkast feels dark power wash over him, he links his thumbs in the sign of Desna's wings and calls out, "Desna, holde meg trygg fra det onde!"
The feeling passes, and he calls to the woman above him, "Your evil magic is no match for the power of the gods we serve!"
With that, he once again runs up the wall, but at the last minute, rather than stabbing at her, he wraps his arms around her legs and tries to pull her down.
The babus are blasted by Dejik's energy. Sarkast then once more leaps up into the air, and flings himself at the summoner. She tries to point her crossbow at him, but to no avail. She shrieks as he grabs onto her, wrapping his arms and legs around her as he tries to hold her still in the air.
Dejik (86 dmg)
Ayesha
----
Zanedra (56 dmg) (hasted) (flying 20' in the air) (grappled)
Babau (hasted) (58 dmg)
Bauau (hasted) (41 dmg)
----
Sarkast (grappling Zandera)
Nilus
Nilus moves into the pit and attacks the babau
Whipping her blade through the air, Ayesha stepped forward and lunged at the babau, launching herself upward and lengthening her strikes to gain the extra distance for a clean strike.
Ayesha cast a flying spell on herself and rose out of the pit, arrowing towards Sarkast's foe.
Nilus angles Radiance just so and sweeps the feet out from the babau at the top of the pit, stabbing it against the wall as it falls. Ayesha then quickly casts a spell, rising from the ground.
Dejik (86 dmg)
Ayesha (flying)
----
Zanedra (56 dmg) (hasted) (flying 20' in the air) (grappled)
Bauau (hasted) (41 dmg)
----
Sarkast (grappling Zandera)
Nilus
Grateful for Nilus's and Ayesha's aid, Dejik moves away from the baubau and heals herself.
Dejik 16 dmg (30+56-70)
Ayesha 0 dmg
Sarkast 0 dmg
Nilus 0 dmg
Dejik finally takes the space to pray to her goddess and heal herself. The babau at the top of the pit steps over, stabbing out at Dejik with its long spear. She takes a brutal shot in her side.
Struggling in the air with Sarkast attached to her, the summoner mutters something into Sarkast's ear.
"This. Is. Not. Over."
Sarkast suddenly finds himself hugging himself in mid-air before he plummets to the ground as the summoner vanishes after speaking a single arcane word.
As the mage teleports away, Sarkast shouts in rage. Hitting the ground, he feels a deep fatigue settle in, but nonetheless runs back up the wall and around to strike at the last demon.
Unable to escape the attack of the demon, Dejik casts another healing spell.
Dejik 10 dmg (16+26-36)
Ayesha 0 dmg
Sarkast 0 dmg
Nilus 0 dmg
Sarkast pounces on the last demon, sinking his dagger in. Acid splashes over his hand, but he resists from Dejik's spell. He jerks it out, and then stabs once more. The babau shrieks, and dies.
End of Combat
As the last babau falls and Zanedra teleports away, a staggering thing occurs. The entire temple begins to shake violently. As the four of you rush out of the enclosed room to the larger main area, the defiled structure begins to revert. A bluish-white energy bursts around the statue, and Dejik as well. As Dejik is infused with power, winged beings appear around the statue.
The angels fly, bearing tools and working swiftly, almost faster than the eye can follow. The hideous form of Baphomet changes and melts under the ministrations of the angels, and what is left is the Light of the Sword, Iomedae, standing proudly.
One of the angels leaves the group, its golden skin flashing in the radiant light. Dejik's shattered sight knows this angel immeditaely; the Hand of the Inheritor. Iomedae's herald.
"Bit by bit, you retake this land that was cruelly seized from the light. The retaking of this shrine most holy to the Inheritor was like beam of brilliant light, shining through this dark land. Thank you."
The Hand turns to face Dejik.
"You have been set apart from other mortals, and this was a cruel thing to do. But it was necessary. You bore the mark of your mother from birth and it has been both your blessing and your curse. Although you may never know a life of comfort and ease, know that you have family.
Dejik, your mother is Iomedae. She cannot come here directly, the consequences are too great. Even here, I put the crusade at risk. But know that your mother will always be with you, and that she loves you with all of her heart. Be well. Be well all of you. We are watching."
The herald turns to show the brilliantly shining statue of Iomedae in the shrine. Rather than with a sword held aloft, facing down her enemies, Iomedae is in a different pose. She is crouching, her sword sheathed at her hip, and in her arms is a child.
The angels vanish from view, leaving you in the shrine, now re-consecrated and safe.
Ayesha grimaced as the woman disappeared. Odds were good they'd see that one again, and probably at the worst time ever. There was still a demon to deal with in the meantime. She launched herself upwards, blade dancing through the air in a swirl of purple-laced black.
Despite his fatigue, Sarkast races out of the small room with the others. As the scene unfolds, he listens to the angel speak to Dejik and once again touches the charm bracelet he wears in honor of his own goddess.
Once it leaves, he approaches his cousin and says quietly, "Hvis du hadde noen tvil om at denne gudinnen elsker deg, bør de bli fordrevet. Du er ganske heldig , fetter."
Nilus stares at Dejik, a bit awestruck.
We could all do with a bit of that parentage eh? he says with a smile.
Ayesha stood in awe as Dejik's parentage was revealed. How she yearned to have such knowledge. How she desired to be part of a family. But, then, she was, in a way. The others with her were like her siblings. Nilus, strong and brave. Sarkast, nimble and decisive. Even Dejik, with her caring, clouded eyes and goodness of spirit. Yes, these people, whom she had met only a few weeks ago, were now her family.
Ayesha moved to hug Dejik, wrapping the woman in her shawled arms. She didn't say a word. Her sister didn't need words.
Dejik stands with her mouth agape as she listens to the Hand of the Inheritor...of her...mother? She recovers her wits just enough to stammer out a word of thanks before the angels leave, then falls back into dumbfounded silence.
I'm somewhat ashamed to have felt so betrayed by Iomedae. Now I see that it was her deep connection to me that made her "abandon" me...to leave me and force me to find my own way...
She gratefully accepts Ayesha's embrace, hiding some of the overwhelming feelings in the dancer's shawls.
It's been a hard day, and with the shrine now cleared and consecrated, you can now get a sense of the place in earnest. Sarkast finds a secret passage, which leads to an escape tunnel that exits 40' off the ground on the nearby gorge.
The writings on the table in the inner sanctum show that Zaendra, the summoner you just fought is a devout worshipper of Baphomet and considers herself a god caller. This is part of an old Sarkorian religious belief that many clans followed. They believed that certain people could call 'small gods' to their aid. Her eidolon, who she called Svennarobeth was one such creature. Ayesha's knowledge of the arcane indicates this is a complete misunderstanding of how eidolons work, but it clear Zanedra believes this with her very soul.
No further valuables are found in the shrine. You bed down comfortably, protected as if by a mother's arms, and awaken the next day for further travels.
This shrine can function as an excellent base for you, if you wish to return here.
You have the following options before you:
- The huge dragon which has slaughtered supply caravans was spotted flying somewhere to the south of here. Its lair is likely within a day's march.
- A massive island rises from the molten cascade to the east of here. It would afford an excellent view of the Worldwound, and appears to just be a point of interest.
- You can return to Drezen for further missions and some rest.
- Exploration of the Worldwound in general.
"There are those among my people who claim to be god-callers. I wondered if she might be one, based on the strange arcane symbols they both bore. Once she has recovered her strength, she will be able to call this Svennarobeth back. We should be diligent about watching for her to return."
While the group considers their next plans, Sarkast says, "As long as our food holds out, I think searching for that dragon should be a priority. Our fledgling settlement needs its supplies to arrive safely, especially as we rescue more people from the demons' clutches."
He sits down wearily and adds, "However, before we go anywhere, a short rest is in order. I fear I have called upon more power today in a short time than is good for me."
Dragon hunting then. Any dragon that could survive in this... Nilus indicates the Worldwound around them Will be a mighty and dangerous foe
You strike out into the Worldwound once more, following the trail of the Gray Road, the dry riverbed that now functions as a small gorge to your west. As you head towards where you last saw the dragon circling, the devastation reaches new heights. The land here is horribly scarred like it was blasted with acid. Nothing grows here and the air stings your lungs.
With nothing living in the area, it becomes some of the easier travel you've been through as you go down the natural road left by the riverbed. It isn't difficult to spot the wyrm's lair. An enormous cave opens up in the side of the gorge, 35' high.
The rest did Ayesha a world of good, and she awoke the next morning refreshed and with renewed purpose. Sarkast's idea of tracking down the dragon's lair seemed to be a good one, though one thing bothered her.
"Just how big was this dragon, anyway? Can you imagine doing battle with one the size of the great silver in Kenebres?"
Despite not knowing the answer, she went along, as anxious to protect the supply lines as the rest, and perhaps more so given that she knew the dire needs of such a large force as they had stationed there.
At the cave, there was some confusion as to what was going to happen. Sarkast would scout first, of course, but how far back would the others be? What should they prepare for?
Finally, she just decided to cast an invisibility spell on Sarkast and let him scout the initial path alone, and completely invisible.
Knowing little of dragons, Sarkast decides to take no chances. In addition to Ayesha's spell, he drinks two of his potions to enhance his silent movement and his eyesight.
The scout takes daggers in hand and moves up to learn what he can about the lair and its occupant.
Sarkast, before you go-- Dejik draws the magic rod and concentrates for a moment. Voi äiti pitää sinut turvassa , serkku .
May my mother keep you safe, cousin.
Nilus also prays to his Goddess upon spotting the lair.
Wow. is all Nilus can muster while watching Sarkast blur off into the cave.
Like a breath of wind, Sarkast rushes into the cave. Unfortunately as he rushes in, he quickly realizes that he can't see. It is pitch black in this cave. However, due to his incredibly heightened senses, it's easy enough to follow the tunnel until it opens up into a large cave. Although he cannot see what is where exactly, he hears deep, rumbling breaths, and smell an awful, acrid stench. Something large, and dangerous is here.
As quietly and quickly as he entered, Sarkast leaves and returns to the group. Still invisible, he quietly says, "I have returned. It is completely dark in there, but I followed the tunnel to a cave entrance. I could hear something very large breathing within. If we can keep it bottled within the cave, we will likely be able to reduce its advantage for being able to fly."
While Sarkast is scouting, Dejik lays her hand on Ayesha's shoulder. I fear I will not be much help against a dragon, but I will protect you as best I can. She gives her friend a platinum ring and place a matching one on her middle finger.
After Sarkast returns, Dejik frowns as she listens to his report. It would have been nice to know what type of dragon we were dealing with. We have some protection against fire and cold, but based on your description of the smell...
"While I have the benefit of the invisibility, I will sneak back in and find a spot to wait. The rest of you will have to use Dejik's spell to create daylight inside the tunnel. Once there is light to see by, we can determine how to proceed. I suspect that the creature will attack on sight, but if not, perhaps Nilus and Dejik may be able to reason with it. I will stay out of sight until needed."
Sarkast again enters the cave undetected. The acrid fumes in the area are far stronger here, and it is difficult to not cough - thankfully helped by Dejik's spells. Able to evade the dragon's senses, he spends a little while listening carefully to the drip of water and breath of the dragon and after a bit can get a general idea of the sense of the room.
Woundwyrms are ferocious predators native to corrupted landscapes, equally at home in any terrain. Oozing acid seeps from their cracked, rocky scales and a constant fume of rainbow hues drift from their mouths. They breathe acid, both as a jet and as a cloud, are resistant to spells, and are best damaged by weapons which are aligned to good or law. Most notably, they are blind and rely on other senses.