Ch 3: Part 7: In Armageddon's Shadow: Session 54

[15:39] <@Kilarra> *****Second Darkness*****
[15:39] <@Kilarra> ~~~Chapter 3: The Armageddon Echo~~~
[15:39] <@Kilarra> -Session 54-
[15:41] <@Kilarra> The party managed, after a rather brutal fight, to bring down Razorhorn the dragon. At the same time, they managed to defeat an annoyingly tenacious Troglodye warrior that had been guarding the drow's prisoners. In so doing, the party discovered that their elven allies yet lived, although they were in terrible shape.
[15:45] * Kilarra hands Shalelu each one of the potions of Lesser Restoration. "Drink that, and then see if you can stand."
[15:45] <@Kilarra> *Shalelu and Kaerishiel
[15:48] <@Kilarra> Kjell stands up once he's gotten over the nauseating feeling from the Troglodyte's stench, joining the rest of his companions. He smiles warmly at the elves, "Good to see you alive, if not well."
[15:52] * Aluthyra nods. "It is indeed." She sighs. "Though unfortunate that the other elves are not here. Tell me, have you learned anything to help us against the drow?"
[15:55] <@Kilarra> Kaerishiel shakes his head, "Any time we were conscious, we were being raked over the coals for information. I believe that Novelniss, the leader of the drow here, was trying to find a way out. He knows he can't hold the city anymore with what he has left, and was trying to find a way to get what he has left back to where they came from."
[15:55] <@Kilarra> Shalelu drinks the potion, breathing a little easier, "If all else failed, he had a couple of high ranking hostages to barter with. Namely, us."
[15:59] * Aluthyra nods. "Assuming you would like to help us in the upcoming battle, we do have your equipment. I did take some of your arrows, however." She points to her quiver. "I was very low."
[15:59] * Aluthyra corrects herself, "Am very low."
[16:01] * Aluthyra shakes her head. "Though only if you feel so inclined. It does not look like either of you are in any condition to fight."
[16:02] <@Kilarra> Shalelu attempts to stand after drinking the potion, but wobbles a bit. "Sorry, but I don't think we're in any fit shape to unless you have any more to offer." Kaerishiel is slightly sturdier, but still worse for wear, "I would like our equipment back, yes. You may keep half of what arrows we have left if you need them, but we would be unwise to not at least have something to defend outselves with."
[16:03] * Kilarra shakes her head, "Sorry, didn't come prepared for this kind of hurt today. We can't retreat either, not when we've come this far. If we leave now, they'll just have a chance to regroup with more demons and drow wandering about, even if they can't replace the dragon."
[16:04] * Aluthyra nods, giving eight arrows to each of the elves, along with pointing them to where their equipment is.
[16:06] <@Kilarra> Kaerishiel helps Shalelu over to their gear, and they begin redressing themselves. He looks down at Razorhorn's corpse, almost looking impressed. He looks relieved to take up his bow again, slinging it over his shoulder.
[16:07] <@Kilarra> Kjell looks back to the two of them, "Not too far from here is the Fluted Goblet. We stayed there a night to recover, and now it should be a relatively safe place for you to lay low. Just do not disturb the third room on the left."
[16:07] <@Kilarra> Kaerishiel raises an eyebrow, "Why?" Shalelu looks back at the group, "Wasn't there a gnome with you?"
[16:08] * Aluthyra frowns. "Was, yes." She adds, "If you move the corpse in the hall, please leave the equipment."
[16:09] <@Kilarra> Shalelu raises an eyebrow, "What happened?"
[16:11] * Aluthyra sighs. "There was a drow assassin. Tognik, for once in his life-- at least, the time we've been with him-- woke early. It cost him his life. The drow came in invisible, and armed."
[16:12] <@Kilarra> Shalelu nods her head, "I see. I am sorry for your loss."
[16:13] <@Kilarra> Kjell smiles a bit, "Don't be. We plan to make that assassin pay for his life quite literally; we will pawn off his gear and hopefully garner enough for him to be raised." He chuckles, "At the very least, he needs to see the dragon like he wanted to, dead or not."
[16:14] <@Kilarra> Kaerishiel grips his bow, "We should all be so fortunate." He turns and beckons to SHalelu, "Come, we should make haste to this inn while the way is still clear." He then glances back at the party. "Thank you." He then help Shalelu through the observatory and on their way.
[16:16] * Kilarra plucks the mace from the Troglodyte, and smirks as she checks for magic. "Looks like I got a new toy," she notes, seeing as this one was indeed enchanted. She discards the one she took from the drider earlier inthe conflict and replaces it with this one.
[16:17] * Kilarra looks around the group, checking for any remaining injuries. "We're probably on the home stretch here, so let's make sure we don't blow it by going in wounded."
[16:18] * Kilarra plucks out a scroll of Cure Moderate Wounds and expends it on Kjell to finish patching him up
[16:19] * Aluthyra waves off to the elves, then nods to Kilarra. "Agreed. And... If you could." She glances at a fairly burnt patch of skin, caused by the dragon.
[16:20] * Kilarra nods and grabs one of ALuthyra's breasts with a playful smirk, giving her a light curing spell through the touch.
[16:21] * Aluthyra blushes, pushing Kilarra's hand away and drawing her bow. "Shall we?"
[16:22] <@Kilarra> Kjell pulls out another potion of Bull's Strength and drinks it. "Should have prepared another of my own, but oh well. We'll probably be more than capable of restocking such things once this is over."
[16:25] <@Kilarra> Kjell also pulls out a wand of false life, touching each of them with it once. "A little extra fortitude for each of us." The wand however, has other ideas, and simply sputters. "Or not."
[16:25] <@Kilarra> Kjell tosses the wand, then pulls out a scroll. "Failing that, this one I know I can use." He unleashes the magic of the scroll, hastening the party.
[16:26] <@Kilarra> Kjell then turns and hurries up the stairs, wanting to make use of the spell while it lasted
[16:26] * Aluthyra follows quickly.
[16:27] <@Kilarra> Two staircases wind up the interior walls of this tower. Between them is an immense black field, suspended in the air, containing hundreds of glowing stars. The stairs are steep, making traversing them a bit more difficult than might have been desired.
[16:27] * Kilarra keeps up, having always been a good sprinter.
[16:28] <@Kilarra> In the center of this mass of stars is a brightly glowing rock, slowly moving toward a blue sphere down at the map’s base.
[16:29] * Aluthyra raises an eyebrow at the rock. She glances at Kjell. "Should that be of any concern?"
[16:30] <@Kilarra> Kjell continues onwards and upwards, "Do not forget that this is a depiction of millenia ago, and whatever it is or was is not a present concern."
[16:30] <@Kilarra> The stairs from the first floor wind up to a balcony that crosses through the center of the tower to another set of stairs continuing up to the third floor. They are just as steep as those below.
[16:31] <@Kilarra> However, as the party ascends, a final pair of drow can be seen, both dressed in arcanist robes and pointing their fingers down at the party. The stairwell erupts in flame
[16:36] * Kilarra screams, cursing the lack of room to move in the tight stairwell. Her heritage grants her some protection, but she's still hurt worse than her two more nimble companions
[16:37] * Aluthyra grimaces as the flames wash over her. Nonetheless, she stands her ground, ready to reply with a set of arrows.
[16:40] * Aluthyra fires three arrows into each mage, hoping to end this quickly.
[16:46] <@Kilarra> Aluthyra makes short work of the rather squishy drow sorcerors.
[16:46] <@Kilarra> Kjell was about to return fire with a fireball of his own, but blinks as they're dead before he can raise his spell arm. He looks back at ALuthyra, "Damn."
[16:47] * Aluthyra smiles, then looks to Kilarra. "Perhaps it would be best to heal us again, then we should continue."
[16:47] * Kilarra takes the opportunity to drink two potions, then tosses a scroll each at her fellows, nodding to Aluthyra, "Yeah, figured as much. That was sexy by the way, most impressive."
[16:48] <@Kilarra> Kjell appreciates the healing, but in the interest of preserving Kilarra's magic, he takes another couple light potions to patch himself up.
[16:49] * Aluthyra checks the bodies for usable arrows, and loot.
[16:50] * Aluthyra drinks a potion of curing before searching.
[16:50] <@Kilarra> Each Arcanist has a wand, a potion, a scroll, a cloak, and a ring.
[16:50] * Aluthyra looks to Kjell. "Items on each of them, if you would like to have a look."
[16:53] <@Kilarra> Kjell nods and detects magic on the items. "The rings," he notes, taking one and slipping it on, "offer a protective enchantment. The cloaks make one more resilient, although I think we each have one already, the wands are of a False Life spell, such that I was unable to use them earlier, and," he smiles, "both scrolls contain a haste spell."
[16:55] <@Kilarra> Kjell folds up the cloaks and stashes them, tossing the other ring to Kilarra in case she had need of it. He pockets the wands, figuring they could go towards Tognik's raising if he couldn't use them.
[16:59] * Aluthyra waits for Kjell to continue, then follows behind.
[16:59] <@Kilarra> Kilarra slips the ring on. It may not be as powerful as her own spell, but it did have the benefit of not wearing off.
[16:59] * Kilarra does that
[17:00] <@Kilarra> The stairs pause for a short run at a small balcony overlooking the haunted city of Celwynvian and the vaguely shadowy expanse of the eerily colorless Mierani Forest beyond.
[17:02] * Aluthyra glances at the odd sight, but continues, eager to rid the world of the drow leader.
[17:14] <@Kilarra> Kjell turns away form the balcony and up the final flight of stairs.
[17:14] * Kilarra follows
[17:16] * Aluthyra keeps her bow ready...
[17:16] <@Kilarra> Looming at the center of this large, open-air rooftop is a gigantic golden orrery, with each planet rotating on delicate golden arms around a bright, polished sun. Three balconies overlook the edge of the tower, each one outfitted with a massive telescope. Above, almost as if the tower were aimed at its churning core, the spiraling vortex of the sky looms.
[17:21] <@Kilarra> Floating amongst the planets of the orrery, the party can see a single drow. However, this dark elf wizard is a sight more impressive than anything they've yet seen. His robes are a dark, almost venemous blue, and he wields a staff topped with a flaming skull.
[17:22] <@Kilarra> His voice booms out in a 'greeting' to the party:
[17:22] <@Kilarra> “So, you are the ones who led those fragile, delicate elves to my city, who forced me to hide in my own creation. You think that by this you have won? How foolish the sun has made you! My mistress already has all that she needs. You will die here, by my hand, and all you hold dear shall follow soon enough!"
[17:23] <@Kilarra> The moment he concludes his boastful threat against the party, he vanishes from sight.
[17:24] * Kilarra calls out, "SHit! He's invisible. Spread out!"
[17:28] <@Kilarra> Before the party has a chance to do so however, another massive blast of flame erupts amongst them
[17:32] <@Kilarra> Kilarra's warning does however seem to grant them a bit quicker reaction to the blast, preventing them from suffering the worst of it. Kilarra's fiendish heritage further spares her, although it still hurts. A lot.
[17:32] * Kilarra looks up, "Sh'kath! He's still invisible. Damn it!"
[17:33] * Kilarra looks to ALuthyra, "Try to aim for where that came from."
[17:33] * Aluthyra grimaces, once again covered in painful burns from the flames.
[17:34] <@Kilarra> Kjell looks to return the favour, tossing his own fireball up into the air, hoping the blast was wide enough to catch the Invisible drow.
[17:36] <@Kilarra> Kjell can see the shillouette of the drow wizard caught in the burst of flames. It's difficult to tell how harmed or not he was.
[17:38] * Aluthyra fires her arrows into the flames, hoping to catch the silhouette.
[17:40] <@Kilarra> One arrow manages to land, but it doesn't seem to put in a lot of hurt. That's difficult to tell anyways, given that the target is still invisible.
[17:42] * Kilarra raises her holy symbol, "I am so glad I saved this." She raises her hand, "Calistria, let that which is unseen be seen!" The air around her hand shimmers and extends outwards in a globe, and Nolveniss reappears. As well, a small demon appears, hovering next to Aluthyra.
[17:44] <@Kilarra> The drow wizard sneers. "Impudent child." He simply takes advantage of his flight spell and moves upwards, disappearing from sight once again.
[17:46] <@Kilarra> As a parting gift, a trio of monstrous spiders appear amidst the party, summoned by the wizard
[17:49] <@Kilarra> Kjell frowns, but rounds on the demon first, raising Tyrant's bane.
[17:51] <@Kilarra> Kjell takes a pair of swings at the Quasit, while sending a quartet of magic missiles after Nolveniss, hoping they could stay on target.
[17:53] <@Kilarra> The Quasit yelps as Kjell's enchanted sword deals some nasty blows, its innate magical protection barely keeping it alive.
[17:56] <@Kilarra> The Magic Missiles however, wink out as they cannot find their target
[17:59] * Aluthyra turns, firing an arrow into the besky quasit. Switching targets, she fires four arrows into the spiders, two targeted on two.
[17:59] <Aluthyra> pesky*
[18:02] <@Kilarra> Aluthyra finishes off the Quasit before it has time to retreat and heal itself. Two of the spiders are dropped before they have a chance to engage the party
[18:05] * Kilarra pulls out her mace and attempts to deal with the other spider before it can become a problem, sadly lacking anything else to deal with Nolveniss' invisibility.
[18:06] <@Kilarra> Kilarra squashes that fiendish shadow spider good. The trio of spider corpses fade away after being slain.
[18:07] <@Kilarra> Kjell witnesses athis and informs the party, "He's using shadow spells. Keep your wits peeled and know the difference between what is real and what is not."
[18:10] <@Kilarra> Kjell feels a rush of powerful negative energy just barely miss him.
[18:12] <@Kilarra> Kjell doesn't have the reach to strike the flying wizard, but he can make himself a more difficult target. He raises his spell arm, and suddenly there are six other Kjell's around.
[18:14] * Aluthyra tries to spot the wizard, or hear him.
[18:14] <@Kilarra> Aluthyra thinks she can hear the fluttering of his cape and the crackling of his flaming staff
[18:15] * Aluthyra perks up, looking for the source. Still not seeing him, she decides to fire in the area of the sound; five arrows in his direction.
[18:17] <@Kilarra> Aluthyra can hear the drow cry out angrily as he is struck repeatedly. Yet he stubbornly refuses to fall.
[18:17] * Kilarra casts an entropic shield upon herself to allow for better protection against magical rays
[18:19] <@Kilarra> Aluthyra is suddenly assaulted by a vision of the most fearsome creature she can imagine, reaching out to touch her. HOwever, like Kjell said, she is able to tell the difference between what is real and what isn't. The vision fades as she disbelieves it
[18:22] * Aluthyra blinks, her breathing going ragged before she realizes the illusion for what it truly is. She takes a steadying breath, looking up to the wizard with irritation.
[18:22] <@Kilarra> If she could see his face, Aluthyra would notice that Nolveniss is quite irritated to have not dealt with the most pressing threat
[18:23] <@Kilarra> Kjell holds his ground, but has nothing more to contibute against a flying enemy, having used most of his powerful spells against the dragon
[18:25] <@Kilarra> Aluthyra is unable to repinpoint the drow after he moves
[18:27] * Aluthyra frowns, shooting where she believes him to be.
[18:30] <@Kilarra> Aluthyra strikes true, sort of, one final time. The drow fades back into sight and plummets, his body breaking as it collides with the roof. His staff remains clutched in his hand.
[18:31] <@Kilarra> -End Session-
[18:31] <@Kilarra> Rewards: 1 EL 9, 1 EL 10; 4000 Experience Points.