Ch 3: Part 7: In Armageddon's Shadow: Session 53

[15:41] <@Kilarra> *****Second Darkness*****
[15:41] <@Kilarra> ~~~Chapter 3: The Armageddon Echo~~~
[15:41] <@Kilarra> -Session 53-
[15:46] <@Kilarra> The party is making their way through the observatory within the Armageddon Echo that is the last stronghold of the Celwynvian Drow Occupiers. They have fought swiftly and bravely in spite of their lost companion, but not without some difficulties. Aluthyra is critically short on arrows, and Kjell's cold Iron Sword was badly damaged.
[15:46] <@Kilarra> After a taking a moment to bolster themselves, the party opens the door on the far side of the large study room...
[15:50] <@Kilarra> This vast chamber has forty-foot-high ceilings. The far side of the room contains a ten-foot-high balcony before a set of immense glass windows that look out upon a gloomy dark forest. Opposite this, three one-foot-tall risers ascend to a pair of dull silvery doors on which images of planets and stars are carved.
[15:51] <@Kilarra> Roosting up on top of the balcony is a terrible beast. Green scales cover its powerful limbs and wings, and an oversized horn sits at the end of its snout. The dragon looks down at you, a vapor of sickly green wafting from its flaring nostrils.
[15:52] <@Kilarra> No sooner has the party opened the door than the great green beast roars, spraying that entire side of the chamber with acid.
[15:57] <@Kilarra> The party is caught completely off guard by the dragon's sudden attack. Kilarra is mercifully protected entirely from harm by her protection spell, and ALuthyra is offered some resistance by her heritage. Only Kjell takes the full force of the spray
[15:58] <@Kilarra> And even then, it's slightly mitigated by the last of the divine fortitude granted to him by Kilarra
[16:01] * Aluthyra is quick to react, ignoring the burning pain of the acid for the moment. She aims towards the beast, firing a barrage of five arrows.
[16:03] <@Kilarra> Aluthyra's barrage is deflected between the Dragon's tough hide and a shimmering shield of force akin to the one used by Kjell. Only one shot manages to strike him clean on the snout
[16:04] * Kilarra sees the severe wounds ALuthyra has suffered exascerbated by the spray of acid and quickly lays her hands on the Aasimar from behind.
[16:06] <@Kilarra> Kjell raises his spell arm, seeing the ineffectiveness of regular attacks, and unleashes a pair of flaming rays at the dragon.
[16:09] <@Kilarra> The Dragon roars furiously as he is seared by the flames, snarling as acidic mist flars from his nostrals.
[16:15] <@Kilarra> The Dragon rises up from its perch and swoops down towards the party. It hovers just out of arms reach as it attempts to gore Kjell with its horn.
[16:18] <@Kilarra> Kjell grunts painfully as the large dragon rends a nasty gash clean through his armour, almost as though it hadn't been there. He is quite certain the dragon hit something important as he coughs up some bloody spittle.
[16:19] * Aluthyra frowns, firing another barrage, aiming with extra precision.
[16:22] <@Kilarra> The Dragon takes a couple of arrows to the chest, leaving nasty bruises even through his scales, but the rest are simply deflected
[16:27] * Kilarra takes a moment to debate her options. Kjell had almost certainly lost one of his kidneys to that attack, and was in rough shape. Aluthyra was having a lot of trouble hitting the dragon with her arrows, so removing the shield would allow her a better chance. However, if they lost Kjell to the dragon's full brute attack, they wouldn't be able to finish their mission
[16:28] * Kilarra decides to put her hopes on the Magus' magic, and channels the strongest healing into him she can.
[16:29] <@Kilarra> Kjell breathes a little easier as Kilarra mends a lot of the damage done to him by the dragon, then raises his spell arm and unleashes a lightning bolt, the strongest spell he had that wouldn't catch his allies in the blast at this range.
[16:32] <@Kilarra> The dragon is unable to avoid the lightning ripping into him at this range in the tight quarters, now severely wounded, the searing mark of the lightning scorching his scales.
[16:33] <@Kilarra> The dragon roars furiously and goes to savagely maul Kjell, wanting to take out what was now obviously the biggest threat to his reign here.
[16:40] <@Kilarra> Kjell manages to roll with the Dragon's horn and tail slap attacks, with one of its claws missing. However, between the other claw and both of the dragon's wings striking him, Kjell still takes a beating
[16:43] * Aluthyra scowls, hoping the next barrage will strike true. She aims once again, firing five arrows.
[16:45] <@Kilarra> Only one punches through, exascerbating the lightning wound, but still not felling the beast
[16:50] * Kilarra knows that Kjell can't take another beating like that, but knows there are still other floors of this building to take, and decides to try finishing off the dragon herself, rather than healing Kjell. Even if she could scratch the thing up some more, she figured it would allow Kjell to make the killing blow before it could hit him again
[16:50] * Kilarra raises her hand and calls out; "Calistria! Burn this foul beast!" A blast of searing light erupts form her holy symbol
[16:53] <@Kilarra> The searing light scorches the dragon's face. Coupled with the fire, lightning, and bludgeonings thus far, the dragon has exhausted its considerable stamina, and falls atop the party
[16:59] <@Kilarra> Kjell gets smacked by the Dragon's head as it falls. The dragon itself is on the brink of death, but the powerful magical beast did manage to survive the fall. Barely.
[16:59] * Kilarra pants, looking a little shocked, "Wow... I didn't think that would actually work."
[17:02] * Aluthyra nods. "We did well, but..." She looks to Kjell with concern. "How are your wounds?"
[17:02] <@Kilarra> Kjell grunts and raises Tyrant's bane, stepping close to where the dragon's neck meets its shoulders. "I hope none of you object to me making soundly sure this beast will not be getting up again." He glances back at Aluthyra, "Severe, but I trust Kilarra will be able to mend them. I merely wish to make sure we have the freedom to fully mend without further threat from Razorhorn."
[17:03] * Kilarra nods and pulls out her wand, deciding now was as good a time as any to burn off the rest of it.
[17:04] * Aluthyra nods. "I have no objection to ending the beast." Seeing as Kilarra had the healing covered, she looks around for usable arrows from what she fired.
[17:04] <@Kilarra> Kjell feels most of his wounds close and his insides right themselves, but decides to drink a potion once he took the dragon's head off. He raises his sword and brings it down, attempting to properly decapitate the creature.
[17:06] <@Kilarra> One clean cleaving motion parts Razorhorn's head from his shoulders.
[17:07] * Aluthyra searches the cave and dragon's roost as well, after recovering nine arrows.
[17:08] <@Kilarra> Atop the dias where the dragon first attacked them from, ALuthyra finds, interestingly, gear that she would recognize as belonging to Shalelu and Kaerishiel. In addition, there is a mithral shirt, a pair of gloves, and an exquisite looking composite longbow
[17:10] * Aluthyra examines the longbow as she calls out to her companions, "Items here, most likely magical, if one of you could inspect them!"
[17:10] <@Kilarra> Kjell drinks his potion
[17:10] * Aluthyra blinks. Bow. Arrows maybe? She looks about the roost for arrows.
[17:13] * Kilarra nods and heads up, using detect magic. Even if she couldn't identify them, they could bring down the magic ones for Kjell
[17:13] * Kilarra notes, "The bow, shirt, and gloves are all enchanted."
[17:13] <@Kilarra> Shalelu and Kaerishiel's gear each includes a quiver with 14 and 12 arrows in them respectively
[17:15] * Kilarra smiles, "You're gonna love this. The bow is enchanted to make hitting vital areas easier (Keen). The shirt is just a rudimentary protective enchantment, but the gloves will make the wearer more nimble." She winks at Aluthyra, "Great for archery."
[17:17] * Aluthyra smiles. "Very nice. She puts her own bow inside of her magical quiver, slinging the new one over her shoulder. After examining the gloves, she puts those on, smiling. "Wonderful."
[17:17] <@Kilarra> Kjell looks up to the pair of them, "Are there no coins or jewels? I would think a Dragon's hoard more bountiful than a few trinkets it can't even use."
[17:18] <@Kilarra> Kjell looks to either side of the room, "If you need further supplies, there are two more domed towers on this end of the observatory we can check. I would wager in favour of them showing the fall and summer skies."
[17:22] * Aluthyra looks about for any sign of jewels or gold.
[17:22] * Aluthyra also takes the 26 arrows.
[17:23] <@Kilarra> There is no sign of anything else on the dragon's perch. If this was its entire hoard, then it was an underwhelming one.
[17:24] * Aluthyra shrugs at Kjell. "It appears not." She nods. "And I believe checking the other towers would be prudent."
[17:24] <@Kilarra> Kjell ponders that a moment. "I think perhaps this is not his entire hoard, merely a stipend that he brought into this place. If he has a nest outside somewhere, it now sits unguarded."
[17:29] * Aluthyra nods. "If we have time, perhaps we can search for it. For now, let us continue."
[17:31] <@Kilarra> Kjell nods, keeping his sword ready. "I would think perhaps the dragon's hide a worthwhile prize as well, but we have neither time nor means to flay it." He chuckles, "As a lad, I ad once pictured myself a great warrior, slaying a dragon and making armour from its hide." He chuckles, "Another time, perhaps."
[17:33] * Kilarra rolls her eyes. "Well, you were pretty impressive there, but if Aluthyra and I hadn't helped, he'd be picking you out of his teeth by now."
[17:33] * Aluthyra starts to walk in the direction of the east. "I myself had as well." She smiles. "I had always wanted to slay one of evil, in reverence to Apsu."
[17:36] * Kilarra smirks at Aluthyra, wrapping her tail around her, "Pity Tognik didn't get to see it. He had wanted to. Perhaps, if you really want, you can nab its head and present it to him once he's been raised."
[17:36] * Kilarra does a quick check on Aluthyra for further injuries
[17:36] * Aluthyra chuckles. "Hopefully we may bring him some joy out of that..."
[17:38] <@Kilarra> The eastern domed tower is much the same in design as the others, this one depicting a snow covered forest and the starry winter sky. However, this looks less like a barracks and more like a prison. Shackles, presently unoccupied, and crude straw matting laying on the floor.
[17:39] * Aluthyra frowns. "This may be where the elves were held..." She looks around, searching the room.
[17:40] * Kilarra frowns at that. "No one here now." She glances over her shoulder at the opposite corner, that door still closed.
[17:40] <@Kilarra> Kjell gets Kilarra's hint and heads over to check that door, pulling it open with his right hand while brandishing his sword in his left.
[17:41] <@Kilarra> Standing in the doorway between Kjell and the room's inhabitants is a burly looking troglodyte. As soon as it sees the door open, it rushes at Kjell with a heavy mace.
[17:47] <@Kilarra> Kjell gags on the stench of the Troglodyte as he's pummelled twice with the mace.
[17:50] * Aluthyra turns on her heels, hearing the commotion, and fires fire arrows into the trog.
[18:04] * Kilarra turns around as well. She knows she can't really do anything at this range, but figures Kjell can handle one little Troglodyte without her help. She simply waits.
[18:04] <@Kilarra> Kjell grunts at the abnormally tough and agile Troglodyte, then returns the favour with a couple two-handed swings of Tyrant's Bane
[18:07] <@Kilarra> The Troglodyte is badly wounded between the arrows and the heavy-handed sword blows, but is remarkably hearty for one of his kind. He goes after Kjell again with a series of heavy mace blows.
[18:10] * Aluthyra frowns. Annoying trog. She fires another volley.
[18:13] <@Kilarra> The Troglodye is pincushioned, and slumps to the floor, a look of surprise on his face.
[18:14] <@Kilarra> Kjell gags a bit and steps away from the Troglodye to sit a minute and let the queasiness pass over.
[18:15] * Aluthyra waits until Kjell is feeling better, passing time by looking to where the trog was hiding, checking for valuables.
[18:16] <@Kilarra> Kjell takes that minute to drink some potions. That annoying little Trog had nearly bloodied him all over again. At least it wasn't a dragon.
[18:17] <@Kilarra> Inside the final vestibule, Aluthyra finally finds their long-lost companions. The two elves look at her, shying a way a bit towards the back wall. They seem unable to stand.
[18:18] * Aluthyra approaches them quickly. She calls to Kilarra, "The elves, Kilarra! Quickly, they will need healing!" She frowns, checking over their wounds.
[18:19] * Kilarra follows Althyra, looking surprised to see the elves alive. "Wow. I thought when we found their stuff on the dias that they'd been fed to Razorhorn."
[18:20] <@Kilarra> Kaerishiel glares at Aluthyra, still attempting to move away from her, "No more of your deceptions Novelniss."
[18:22] * Kilarra rolls her eyes and steps forward, then kicks Kaerishiel in the face with a hoof. "That real enough for you? We thought you two were dead or worse!"
[18:22] * Aluthyra blinks. "No, we're not... we're your allies."
[18:23] * Aluthyra shakes her head. "Kilarra, do not kick him. Just heal. Antagonizing them is not a good way of convincing."
[18:23] <@Kilarra> Kaerishiel blinks in surprise and rubs his jaw, "Huh..." Shalelu looks past the two women and blinks in surprise at the headless bulk of Razorhorn.
[18:23] * Aluthyra stoops low to the elves, putting on a faint smile. "We mean you no harm. Believe us, please. We are your allies."
[18:24] * Kilarra kneels down, "Now keep still and lemme see if I can fix you up." She puts her knowledge of physiology to work. It was a useful for healing people as it was for harming them.
[18:27] <@Kilarra> Shalelu speaks up as Kilarra looks them both over, "The name Kaerishiel mentioned was the leader of the drow here. He is a cunning illusionist, and is fond of tormenting us mentally as well as with poison and force."
[18:28] * Aluthyra frowns. "I assume he would then be in the observatory?"
[18:29] * Kilarra frowns, "You aren't kidding. Unfortunately, I don't..." she shifts through her pack. "Ah, you're in luck." She plucks out two potions of lesser restoration. "One for each of you. Not enough to get you in fighting shape I'm afraid, but it should be enough to get you back on your feet."
[18:30] <@Kilarra> -End Session-
[18:31] <@Kilarra> Rewards: 3 EL 8, 1 EL 6
[18:32] <@Kilarra> 4200 Experience Each