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Dotting.
"It's a good day to slay some demons!"
"I love the smell of burnt chaos in the morning..."
Dotting and bookmarking :)
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Fireday, 9th of Arodus, 4713, aprox. 12:00 p.m.
While Armasse officially began in a weeks’ time, the pre-festival joust and archery competitions drew large crowds. Lord Huirun himself, ruler of Kenabres, as well as many other notable figures were in attendance. The crowd gathered in Clydwell Plaza quieted as the aged inquisitor took the stage, clad in shining, resplendent armor. He cleared his throat, but just as he was about to speak and call up the winners of the competitions to claim their prize, a bright light shone from the west, as if the sun were rising from the wrong direction. Hulrun’s shadow fell huge and distorted across the cathedral’s facade. A moment later, the sound of a thunderous explosion ripped through the air and earth, along with a violent tremor.
To the west, the fortress known as the Kite-the location of Kenabres's wardstone- had vanished. In its place, a brilliant plume of red fi re, lightning, and smoke erupted into the heavens. A moment later, a powerful roar accompanied a welcome sight rising from the crowd-Kenabres's greatest guardian, the ancient silver dragon Terendelev, who had until that moment been attending the opening ceremony disguised as a human woman.
Above, another form appeared, as nightmarish as the dragon was breathtaking. A humanoid shape three times the size of any man, with skin coated in fire and lightning, gripped a flaming sword and whip. The creature's identity w s immediately obvious: Khorramzadeh, the Storm King of the Worldwound, had come to Kenabres! As the ground continued to shake and disgorge demons into the streets, the dragon and the balor lord clashed above. The fight was over in a few harrowing moments, as the balor cut deep into Terendelev's body, swooping down to strike the dragon and arresting her charge. A few more blows, and the titanic duo spiraled downward toward the crowd.
The sight of the dragon smashing into the facade of the Cathedra l of St. Clydwell is one no witness would ever forget. At that moment, a titanic demon erupted at the far end of the plaza, reducing several buildings and what remained of the archery field to ruins as it smashed into this world.
The rift it created shot across the plaza, and this meant there was no escape-it opened below you r feet, angling away into darkness. Even as you fell, the dragon noticed your plight. Though she saw death standing over her, she seized this final chance to save a few more souls. After she uttered a few arcane words and stretched out a bleed ng talon, you felt her magic take hold of you, slowing your plummet into the darkness as if you were feathers falling into a pit. Yet the fall remained as inexorable, and as you drifted downward into the depths, the last thing you saw was the Storm King standing before the ancient silver dragon, his sword lashing out and cleaving full through her neck. As her severed head fell, the rift above you slammed shut, and the light of the world above was gone. The screams however, remained. Cut off far too soon as the poor souls who fell with you met their fate on the ground below.
You land hard upon broken stone in a dark cavern. Your body aches and you’re badly bruised but there are no lasting injuries. No light reaches you and the air you breathe is thick with dust and the iron tang of blood. Far above you the muted sounds of rock grinding against itself still echoes. All around you though are the moans of the dying and wounded.
He had been gathered with many of the others to watch the ceremonies when everything seemed to happen at once. It all happened so fast he didn't even remember anything other than the horror at seeing the dragon fall. In the complete darkness his hands slid down his side a light prayer on his lips as he searched frantically for the hilt of his scimitar, breathing a sigh of relief as he found it. He prayer switched lowly, "Sarenrae provide me with the light of your wisdom." he finished casting the simple orison Light onto his scimitar making it gleam like a torch. He glanced about and rose slowly further patting himself down and checking to make sure nothing was lost about his possessions.
Kyra was with her new friends watching the ceremonies when she heard and felt the tremendous explosion. She turned and stared in shock at the void where the Kite had once stood. She heard herself let our a cheer when the dragon suddenly took to wing; however, when Kyra's eyes turned upward at the balor lord's arrival she felt a pit open in her stomach and her elation turned to sheer terror. She could do nothing but stand and stare as the duo clashed... And suddenly they were plummeting to the ground just as Kyra found herself falling through a massive pit in the ground!
She let out a scream of panic at the feeling of weightlessness just before she began to fall. Her eyes met Terendelev's and she felt her fall slowing just before witnessing the death of the noble dragon. She continued to hear the death screams of those not so fortunate to have been saved by the dragon until they all ended suddenly. She cried as she drifted down, down into the pitch darkness wishing she would wake up at the bottom...
Kyra was brought to her senses as she hit the ground hard. She let out a grunt with the impact and could feel all the soreness of her body, as well as the wetness upon her cheeks. It took her a moment to recall where she was in the empty dark, but the sounds of the injured and dying and the sharp smell of blood brought her back....
"Kelden!" she suddenly screamed into the darkness. "Where are you?!" From nearby she heard his voice and winced as a bright light shone suddenly. 'Light! Of course!'
Kyra's voice sang out. "Dance away the darkness my little ones..." Suddenly four small orbs appear around Kyra and begin to illuminate the area around her. She uses the light to check herself for injuries and ensure she has all her gear still before taking a look around at the carnage...
Farak had just taken a deep swig from him hip flask when the demon appeared, and the dwarven stout hadn't finished its journey down his throat when the rift opened up and he began to fall.
As his body made contact with the earth below him, he scrambled to his feet and immediately began to look for his flask, the one that had been his fathers.
Finding it and taking another swig, he scanned his new surroundings.
Cayden Cailean protect me, where am I? And these others—I think I recognize them.
Light began to pop up around Farak, which calmed his nerves. Though he did not need the light, it was a sign that at least the others that fell weren't dead. Perhaps together they could survive this...whatever this place was.
Her throat felt raw from screaming and shouting, trying to provide what little aid she could in the face of the mind-shattering chaos. Her head was pounding inside the helm - thank the Inheritor she heard her father's words and wore the metal protection.
By the Light, where am I?
Trying to steady herself on the ground, she looks around, finding the darkness unsettling. What's even more unsettling is when her eyes suddenly make sense of the darkness, devising shapes and outlines in a drab palette of blacks and greys.
What...?
She has little time to make sense of it, since at the next moment her sight is flooded by the light of many different spells. She decides to add onto it, praying for the pure, clean Light of the Sword. Suddenly, her blade explodes in a golden steady light that reveals all.
The world seems to explode around Alesie as she mills about with her fellow contestants at the archery range. Her mind scarcely able to determine what was going on around her, the appearance of a dragon and demon almost too much to comprehend. Hide. Is the only thought running through her mind as the sounds of battle engulf the plaza. Dashing towards a nearby building Alesie feels the ground give out under her, the dark swallowing her as she falls. Oh Dear Desna, protect me.
Cave
*Coughing* I survived?
Alesie groans as she tries to sit up, pain emanating from her hip as she moves. "I wouldn't expect a cave to be this bright." Alesie mutters aloud as she tries to make sense of her surroundings, dust and pain clouding her vision. Finally able to focus after a couple of moments Alesie makes out light coming from various individuals around her.
Thank Desna I'm not alone! "Is everyone okay?" Alesie asks, fighting through her own pain and disorientation.
As the dust begins to settle and light fills the chamber you notice that the wall of rubble behind you contains numerous examples of how close you came to death. Here and there, bodies are mixed with the rubble-citizens of Kenabres whom the dragon could not save. A chill runs down your spine as you see the remains of friends you met only the day before. Nearby though you can see someone moving be the edge of the debris. Seems a few other's may have survived the decent into the darkness.
He froze at the sight of so many familiar faces amongst the rubble and purposely stopped looking. He didn't want to see her in the rubble. The motion at the edge of the darkness did catch the corner of his eye and her turned. "Who goes there, if you are a friend of Kenebras step forward." Kelden began stepping forward a bit. "If you are hurt by the blessings of The Dawnflower I can heal your hurts." He added hoping to not scare them away if they were indeed hurt.
"Aye, show yerselves! I am Farak Ironsides, and I am a friend of our fine city."
Struggling to stand, Alesie hobbles towards Kelden and his shining sword, her eyes slowly adjusting to the light in the cave.
"Alesie Nori here. Save your healing, I think I can walk this off, and... it looks like there will be others that will need it." Alesie responds, her words fading to a whisper as she comes to terms with the wall behind them.
Transfixed by the macabre image Alesie slows to a stop, staring at the wall. Realizing the scope of the lose, she falls back to one knee, a light cry escaping her lips and tears beginning to cascade down her face. I know these people!
"Help, someone please, my leg. I-I think it's broken!" Near the rubble a woman lies on her back, a large stone trapping her left leg beneath it.
[b] "Hold still, Kyra, keep an eye out for others, Farak would you help me remove the stone? Hold Still, My name is Kelden and we will see about getting you free."
Looking around on a gruesome tableau of death, Aurora freezes for a few seconds, the enormity of what happened weighing on her mind. A call for help summons her instincts to the surface.
Here, hold the rock up from her leg while I force it to the side.
Aurora drops her sword near the injured woman so the light will shine upon the effort. She touches the rock with her fingers spread, plants her feet and applies her entire body's strength to the act.
Quickly, move her away while I hold the stone!
Carilain was caught in the moment between running for his life and giving flight to an arrow when the section of plaza he is standing on tips away, plummeting him into the void.
The fall seems like it goes on forever, then suddenly the spell ends and the real fall begins. And ends just as abruptly. Carilain crashes into the hard stone floor, as rubble rains down around him.
Carilain lies in the absolute darkness, stunned for a moment, then he hears stress filled voices and the cavern is flooded with light. There are more voices, more lights. Carilain recognizes many of the people who had been in the Defender's Heart, the night before. Rising unsteadily to his feet, Carilain makes his way toward them. As he moves his strength returns, by a miracle and the will of Terendelev, it seems he is unharmed.
It also seems the lady trapped under the boulder is not so lucky. The elf hurries over to help draw her carefully out from under the chunk of stone when Aurora and Keldin lift it.
"Easy there, we've got you." Says Carilain as he tries to forget the sight of the great demon.
Just to confirm, Aurora mutters "You got her?" before releasing the stone to the ground and picking up her sword. At this point it becomes pretty clear there is more to this woman than meets the eye. Scanning the ragtag group of survivors and witnessing the healer trying to help the injured woman, Aurora rips a piece of her cotton shirt sleeve and offers:
How may I help?
"Of course, Kelden." While the others assist Kelden in rescuing the trapped woman, Kyra sends her Dancing lights out to illuminate a larger area and begins the grim task of searching the fallen for survivors. "Dawnflower save us..." she whispered as she saw the wall of rubble and bodies.
"Ohhh..." A man's moans can be heard not too far off. The elf's features a ruined mess. His face torn and bloody and where his eyes should have been are bloody holes.
A large man lies to the west his elaborate clothes mark him a member of nobility. His head has a large gash, his face plastered with blood and dirt. While breathing, he is unconscious.
The grunting of other people breaks Alesie out of her trance. She sees the movement as a group of people try and free a woman from under a large boulder, taking hope that perhaps more then she thought survived. "We need to search quickly, confirm that there aren't any other survivors!" Alesie shouts scanning the walls and ground, hopeful to find additional signs of life.
Carilain knows little about healing, in fact, the sight of the eyeless elf is making him a bit queasy.
"I think I'll look for a way out. When I find it I'll come back to help move the injured." Almost without thinking, Carilain casts detect magic and begins to search the area.
The sight of so many hurt and wounded made the cleric of Sarenrae pale for just a moment. No higher more experienced cleric was on hand. "Gather..."he swallowed a moment. "Gather the wounded over here." He said still trying to help the woman whom they had freed from the rubble. He pulled out his water skin offering her a drink while he cut off a swath of cloth from his robes and doused it in water to attept to clean some of the wounded elfs face.
"I think I'll look for a way out. When I find it I'll come back to help move the injured."
He heard one of the other survivors of the fall say suddenly and he frowned even as he worked. "Travel with someone, who knows how steady the walls are with all this chaos!" he called out without bothering to look. Debating whether or not to channel some of the Dawnflower's holy light into the nearby wounded...
Farak rushes over to the other wounded, helping as he can.
Wiping his brow, he looks around at the carnage, trying to figure out a plan of action.
"We need to search quickly, confirm that there aren't any other survivors!"
Touching the slender elf woman on the shoulder, Aurora responds:
We will find other survivors, goodwoman. Have faith for their sake.
Then, turning to the elf scout, she pleads:
Even mighty Iomedae didn't travel alone, for she knew enemies may lurk anywhere. Please wait, master elf. There's no telling if the demons from the Kite made to this place and even the construction itself presents a menace. I'd not want to come upon you wounded by some debris. We need to stay together and pool our resources in the name of the wounded ones.
Recognizing that people with skill well above her own in the healing arts survived the fall, Alesie tuns to the other elf. "My skills will be of far more use with you and finding a way out of this place. Let me accompany you."
He mind made, Alesie Turns to Aurora, grabbing the hand on her shoulder. "Thank you, and we will be careful, be sure I have no intents of starting unnecessary fights, especially with so many wounded near."
Aurora nods to the elf, recognizing her determination.
Then may the light of the Inheritor guide you in your path.
She mutters a few arcane phrases interspersed with simple prayers, and touches the elf and the pommel of her blade. A feeling of protection is felt as a light surges from the weapon. Then, a bolt of practicality takes the devout woman:
You need only to cover the tip so the light won't be seen by our enemies.
While the others check the area for more survivors, Kelden moved between the three people they had found making sure they were okay.
When Kyra came upon the seriously wounded elf she inadvertently gasped and her fingers came up to her own eyes. She knelt next to him and whispers softly. "Lie still. You're safe now." She gently places her hands on either side of his wounded face and whispers as a soft blue glow begins around her hands. After a few seconds the blue glow transfers over towards the wounded elf, closing some of his wounds and easing some of his pain, even if only a little.
At Kelden's urging she assists the elf to his feet and walks him over towards Kelden. "Worry not, dear one. We have a cleric of the Dawnflower with us. Kelden..." she gives him a worried look as she brings over the elf and helps him to the ground once more.
As the cleric takes over the care of the wounded Kyra takes the opportunity to search the area once more for any other survivors, though her heart tells her she would probably not find any others alive. She begins sending her magical lights out to probe the corners of the cavern...
Pleased to see the two followers of Sarenrae and the work they're doing, Farak approaches.
"You're Kelden, eh? And you, m'lady? It seems that the gods have placed us here together for a reason, though I can't imagine what that reason might be," Farak says in his gruff dwarven voice.
Farak extends his hand toward the to of them in greeting, taking a quick swig from his flask as he does so.
The woman's leg is held in place by a makeshift splint, and while painful she can hobble around. The elf is stable and while no longer bleeding his eyes are a terrible sight to behold, As his face is wrapped the lights dancing about the cavern revel a glinting of silver among the rubble as well as a dark shape of something off to the west.
The lady speaks true, these tunnels may lead us tot he surface but they also connect to the depth of the Darklands, it's suicide to try and walk them alone. And there are the stories about the beasts that like below Kenebras...
"Anevia, don't get everyone worked up over nothing but old wive's tales." The elf seems to have regained most of his composure after being healed. "No one's seen nor heard of any mongrels down here for years."
Seeing the large spider in the back of the room Alesie slows your search, returning silently to the triage area and her fellow survivors.
"I don't mean to raise the alarm but there appears to be a rather large spider down here with us." Alesie whispers pointing off to the west.
"I promised not put myself in a perilous situation, but if we are able we should investigate this before it determines that our fallen friends are a suitable snack."
'Thank you."Carilain replies to Alesie. "I would not have seen it." Following Alesie back to where the others are, Carilain points out the locations of the magic auras. Or at least the general direction, if they are too far away.
"There is some sort a magic at work here. Six items..."
As he looks in the direction of the spider, Farak reaches for the large hammer on his back. He takes a drink from his flask before stowing it away in his pack.
"Let's not let this creature threaten us anymore. I will lead--let us dispose of it quickly."
Carilain draws his shortbow. "Let my arrows lead. You can follow up close behind, bold dwarf."
Farak looks at the elf with a straight face.
"I am either bold or crazy—none have yet discovered which. But aye, I will let your arrows lead."
"Anevia, don't get everyone worked up over nothing but old wive's tales." The elf seems to have regained most of his composure after being healed. "No one's seen nor heard of any mongrels down here for years."
"At the moment good Aravashnial no one thought the demons could just pop in an sack a city with those wardstones up either but somehow here we are, wait here though, there could be trouble." Kelden said turning to nod to his companions his sword in hand, He wasn't exactly eager to battle anything at the moment, yet at the same time he was eager to strike back at the demons too. If some giant spider was the start of that then so be it.
"I am prepared when you all are." He said readying his shield to follow in as well.
Might I suggest we take a moment to assess our resources before going forward? Strategy may very well be the better part of valor considering our situation.
Trying to recall her many hours poured over military accounts, Aurora looks around, making an assessment of the survivors and their weapons and armor.
Let's open with a volley of ranged attack as far as we can. Perhaps we might down the beast before it reaches us. If the melee range is reached, me and the dwarf can form a front line, providing an anchor point for the others to flank. I'd only ask you lightly armored folk to wait until the spider attacks one of us, since we're somewhat more protected. Would you good folk accept that suggestion?
"Aye, m'lday, but don't make me wait too long," the dwarf growls. "This whole situation has my blood boiling."
"Don't forget, spiders have web. We might want to fan out a bit, just in case."
Carilain's shadowy face shows a wild mix of emotions. Terror, sorrow, worry, and riding over it all, is eagerness for the thrill of combat and the hunt.
"Everyone sound off when you are set. I'm ready now." The elf has an arrow nocked to string, ready to pull and loose in one motion.
Kyra spots the glinting silver in the glow of her spell and proceeds to investigate the items; however, when she hears talk of the spider she stops and turns to look in the direction of the large creature. She quickly removes her shortbow and puts an arrow to the string.
One of the elves then speaks up about six magical items in the area... six silvery gleams. Could it be the silver? "I believe I know where those magical items are. I will gather them before we attack, perhaps they might be useful in our survival?" Kyra will quickly gather up the six silver items she saw gleaming...
As Kyra begins to unearth the gliting items she discovers a number of silver scales lie scattered amid the stones, each about the size of
a human man's palm. These are Terendelev's scales, shed as she died.
Terendelev's scale
Aura Strong (varries); CL 19th
Slot none; MinorArtifact Weight --
Description
Each of Terendelev's scales grants a different power to the person who carries them. The powers granted do not function at all if more than one scale is carried. The powers of the six scales are listed below-any nonevil creature that handles a scale immediately understands its use.
Cloudwalking: Three times per day as a standard action, a scale can be used to cast levita te. A pillar of roiling clouds rises below the levitating object or creature, growing and shrinking with the target's altitude. This pillar is 5 feet in diameter (regardless of the target's size) and provides concealment (20% miss chance) to any creature or object wholly contained within.
Disguise: Three times per day as a standard action, a scale can be used to cast alter self. While disguised, the target gains a +4 bonus on all Bluff checks made against evil creatures.
Resistance: Three times per day as a standard action, a scale can be used to cast resist elements-but only against electricity or cold.
Sacred Weaponry: Three times per day as a standard action, a scale can be used to cast align weapon, but only to make a weapon lawful or good. Unlike a normal align weapon spell, this effect can be cast on an unarmed strike or natural weapon.
Glittering: Three times per day as a standard action, a scale can be used to cast Glitterdust, however creatures that fail their save are not blinded, but suffer a 20% miss chance on all attacks for 19 rounds.
Sparking: Three times per day as a standard action, a scale can be used to cast Deadeye's Arrow, the arrow may be used as an attack dealing 1d6+5 electricity damage or as a beacon (see spell text)
Destruction
The Storm King Khorramzadeh can destroy each of Terendelev's scales merely by eating it.