"Magus Tresahd, I presume?" Alaria replied, careful to include the polite official title to the dark wizard in unrealistic hopes that perhaps recognizing the presumed pleasantries of those initiated in the Mysteries might spare her and her companions an unpleasant encounter.
"I trust you know why I'm here. I will admit, it has been most entertaining to observe the adventures of your intrepid little harem. I've been impressed with your successes despite your....limited resources. Shame about your Grinlian boy. But as you know, the world can be a dangerous place." the dark mage bantered.
"I warn you, Magus. Stand aside and let us pass. We have no wish to tarry with you." Alaria said with all the confidence and bluster she could gather.
The air was filled with the breathy chuckles from the dark-robed wizard. "No, I trust you do not wish tarry with me. hehheheheh. However, you have something that belongs to me." Tresahd said.
When no reply appeared forthcoming, the wizard continued with his same "casual parlor conversation" tone.
"I have spent much time and energy on your little band, here. And have enjoyed the show, immensely." again it was if they could "hear" the mage's mocking smile.
"FRAGGIM!" shouted Duor.
A bolt from his hand crossbow, Festus' shortbow and two arrows from Erevan shot forward with remarkable speed.
The four bolts flew true only to halt before the wizard, momentarily suspended in the air. Visible ripples spread out from the tips, as if the archers had dipped their bolts into a still pool of water. Then all of the arrows fell to the ground a few feet in front of the wizard, without actually touching him.
"oh boy." Haelan said in a meek whisper.
"I am afraid, my dear, that amateur hour is at an end. You cannot hope to best me in a test of the Art.
"And I have some...pressing issues I must be getting back to.
"Return the Ihs Repahl to me and I will let you be on your way. I will even let you keep the ethereal dagger and that silly flying shield....which originally both belonged to me as well, I'll have you know. But the orb is all I require."
Again, Tresahd paused.
Alaria was shaken to her bones. What should they do? What could they do? Giving the wizard the orb was out of the question. That much was evident. Her hand slipped beneath the sleeve to the wrist on which she wore the new bracelet with enchanted beads she had claimed from the kobold's treasure.
"That would be...unwise, child." the dark wizard hissed. The wizard's tone took on a more menacing tone. "Deny my...request...at your peril."
Erevan turned his head to look sidelong at Alaria. The magess slipped her hand into the pouch with the crystal orb.
"I wouldn't..." Tresahd began.
"GO!" Alaria shouted. "Repleesh!" she said and the magess, Erevan and his horse disappeared from normal sight.
Erevan starting his mount into a full on gallop, trusting his senses and training to keep him upon the now invisible steed beneath him.
Coerraine took a moment to concentrate on his protective field, it was still in place, as he snapped the reigns and the horses took off straight for the wizard.
Festus, in an attempt at distraction, let loose another arrow from his bow. It sped past where Erevan's horse had been only to again ripple in the air before the wizard and fall to the ground.
The dark wizard began speaking the bizarre language of magic.
Haelan and Fen also began chanting.
"Everx zaar!" Tresahd completed. Shimmering shards of white energy sped forth from the wizard. Two struck into the invisible horse, sending it reeling to the ground. One into Erevan. Shot up and curved around to strike firmly onto the paladin's shoulder.
Alaria and Erevan toppled off and over the crashing horse as all of them again became visible. Alaria righted herself and covered her nose and mouth at the awful smell of scorched horse flesh.
"Let's have it then!" said Erevan. The elf was already back on his feet, having gracefully leaped and rolled unharmed from his falling mount.
"Everx zaar!" cried the elf tracker. His own blue-green energy shard streaked forth in the direction of the dark mage.
With a casual wave of his arm and a shouted spell, a shield of solid black shadow formed around treshad's hand and trailed before him, blocking Erevan's spell.
Immediately, the evil wizard again began to mutter arcane syllables.
There was a momentary flash of bright green light that faded into the ground surrounding Tresahd. Vines and roots tore up from the ground surrounding the mage and began entangling the wizard's legs and swirled up the gnarled staff. The mage's incantation was disrupted as the vines whipped up to hold his arms.
"Ah, the half-blooded druid. Defending your precious Balance." disdain dripped from Tresahd's words. "What might your companions think if they knew your real purpose?"
Before anyone could react or question this statement, the wizard's voice rose in arcane anger.
"Beriz arkaniz es theran!" <mage spell: Dispel Magic> completed the black-robed wizard even as Haelan's golden cudgel of light sped toward him.
Both the enchanted vegetation and Haelan's Spiritual Weapon seemed to burst into nothingness around Tresahd before it struck him.
"And the little Hilltender. How quaint. Your pathetic spirit of clover and cowpies is going to save you, I suppose?"
"Hey! You take that back! I don't make fun of your god!...Of course, evil people like you probably don't have a god, I suppose. But still, not nice!" Haelan said, obviously hurt by the statement.
"Just pray fer somethin', yeh bleeding idiot!" called Duor. The dwarf only shifted closer to the paladin, knowing his bolts would do nothing to harm the wizard and not about to dare getting close enough to use his ethereal dagger.
The cart was almost upon the wizard. Festus let another arrow fly. His effort was thanked with the same ineffectual result.
"Alaria, we cannot touch him." Erevan said quietly to the magess. "The cart cannot hope to outrun his magic with all of us upon it. You must get out of here with the orb. Quickly now!"
Alaria did not like what was being said, but knew the elf was probably correct.
She cast the web spell as quickly as she could and was surprised and elated to see the wizard all but cocooned in the milky white strands.
But only a moment. The wizard seemed to make no motion nor say any magic words and the strands of webbing began to fade from view.
"Take this." Alaria said, handing the elf one of the amber beads from her bracelet. "As the cart passes, throw it at him and get on...unless you think you can outrun the cart."
"Now," said the wizard with obviously anger in his voice, "you all die."
"Xerex rex nossos!" incanted Tresahd and a ball of fire began forming before his outstretched hand.
Alaria again gripped the Ihs Repahl, and immediately air swirled around her. She began floating up into the air, five feet, ten feet.
The cart was passing her location and nearing the dark wizard, who was still, more or less, in the middle of the road.
Alaria concentrated and felt the air gathering around her, she needed this timed properly.
The cart was passing Erevan and herself, the elf threw the amber bead with elvin trademark accuracy.
The bead of force burst at the wizard's feet even as he released the flaming sphere which bounded from his hand to burst upon the ground and begin speeding toward the cart. The wizard was blown to the side of the road and Alaria released the winds she'd been summoning.
A small whirlwind momentarily formed beneath and around the flung dark mage and half-carried half-threw him much further into the field beside the road than the initial blast.
"Repleesh!" Alaria said again and winked out of view. She then, mentally began directing herself toward the 'town' of Farthing Cross.
Dirt and grass scorched as the two-foot diameter ball of fire rolled quickly toward the approaching heroes and their cart. The horses were entirely spooked by the flames and veered off the road, sending all of the cart's riders bouncing and grabbing onto anything to keep them from falling off the precariously tipping vehicle.
Without Tresahd's conentration, the rolling ball of flame continued straight down the road and quickly dispersed into nothingness.
Coerraine heaved upon the reigns to right the cart and get the horses back on the worn track of road. They sped toward Farthing Cross and through the town, attracting more than one shocked look at the heavily laden cart that did not slow at all.
Haelan took a moment and was heard by the companions (in the cart) to invoke.
"Dicteus beneficia spiritos, beatius Faerantha, con u guda sevem fehs!" <cleric spell: Resist Fire, "Bless your loyal followers, Holy Faerantha, with your power over fire!"> the daelvar priest intoned in a melodic chant. The halfling sincerely hoped it would be a wasted prayer, but just in case another incendiary attack were to head their way.
Nothing more was seen or heard from the wizard, Tresahd, as the party sped through the crossroads and continued on into the darkness of night further into the hoped for security of Daenfrii and the Dragonmage.
"I trust you know why I'm here. I will admit, it has been most entertaining to observe the adventures of your intrepid little harem. I've been impressed with your successes despite your....limited resources. Shame about your Grinlian boy. But as you know, the world can be a dangerous place." the dark mage bantered.
"I warn you, Magus. Stand aside and let us pass. We have no wish to tarry with you." Alaria said with all the confidence and bluster she could gather.
The air was filled with the breathy chuckles from the dark-robed wizard. "No, I trust you do not wish tarry with me. hehheheheh. However, you have something that belongs to me." Tresahd said.
When no reply appeared forthcoming, the wizard continued with his same "casual parlor conversation" tone.
"I have spent much time and energy on your little band, here. And have enjoyed the show, immensely." again it was if they could "hear" the mage's mocking smile.
"FRAGGIM!" shouted Duor.
A bolt from his hand crossbow, Festus' shortbow and two arrows from Erevan shot forward with remarkable speed.
The four bolts flew true only to halt before the wizard, momentarily suspended in the air. Visible ripples spread out from the tips, as if the archers had dipped their bolts into a still pool of water. Then all of the arrows fell to the ground a few feet in front of the wizard, without actually touching him.
"oh boy." Haelan said in a meek whisper.
"I am afraid, my dear, that amateur hour is at an end. You cannot hope to best me in a test of the Art.
"And I have some...pressing issues I must be getting back to.
"Return the Ihs Repahl to me and I will let you be on your way. I will even let you keep the ethereal dagger and that silly flying shield....which originally both belonged to me as well, I'll have you know. But the orb is all I require."
Again, Tresahd paused.
Alaria was shaken to her bones. What should they do? What could they do? Giving the wizard the orb was out of the question. That much was evident. Her hand slipped beneath the sleeve to the wrist on which she wore the new bracelet with enchanted beads she had claimed from the kobold's treasure.
"That would be...unwise, child." the dark wizard hissed. The wizard's tone took on a more menacing tone. "Deny my...request...at your peril."
Erevan turned his head to look sidelong at Alaria. The magess slipped her hand into the pouch with the crystal orb.
"I wouldn't..." Tresahd began.
"GO!" Alaria shouted. "Repleesh!" she said and the magess, Erevan and his horse disappeared from normal sight.
Erevan starting his mount into a full on gallop, trusting his senses and training to keep him upon the now invisible steed beneath him.
Coerraine took a moment to concentrate on his protective field, it was still in place, as he snapped the reigns and the horses took off straight for the wizard.
Festus, in an attempt at distraction, let loose another arrow from his bow. It sped past where Erevan's horse had been only to again ripple in the air before the wizard and fall to the ground.
The dark wizard began speaking the bizarre language of magic.
Haelan and Fen also began chanting.
"Everx zaar!" Tresahd completed. Shimmering shards of white energy sped forth from the wizard. Two struck into the invisible horse, sending it reeling to the ground. One into Erevan. Shot up and curved around to strike firmly onto the paladin's shoulder.
Alaria and Erevan toppled off and over the crashing horse as all of them again became visible. Alaria righted herself and covered her nose and mouth at the awful smell of scorched horse flesh.
"Let's have it then!" said Erevan. The elf was already back on his feet, having gracefully leaped and rolled unharmed from his falling mount.
"Everx zaar!" cried the elf tracker. His own blue-green energy shard streaked forth in the direction of the dark mage.
With a casual wave of his arm and a shouted spell, a shield of solid black shadow formed around treshad's hand and trailed before him, blocking Erevan's spell.
Immediately, the evil wizard again began to mutter arcane syllables.
There was a momentary flash of bright green light that faded into the ground surrounding Tresahd. Vines and roots tore up from the ground surrounding the mage and began entangling the wizard's legs and swirled up the gnarled staff. The mage's incantation was disrupted as the vines whipped up to hold his arms.
"Ah, the half-blooded druid. Defending your precious Balance." disdain dripped from Tresahd's words. "What might your companions think if they knew your real purpose?"
Before anyone could react or question this statement, the wizard's voice rose in arcane anger.
"Beriz arkaniz es theran!" <mage spell: Dispel Magic> completed the black-robed wizard even as Haelan's golden cudgel of light sped toward him.
Both the enchanted vegetation and Haelan's Spiritual Weapon seemed to burst into nothingness around Tresahd before it struck him.
"And the little Hilltender. How quaint. Your pathetic spirit of clover and cowpies is going to save you, I suppose?"
"Hey! You take that back! I don't make fun of your god!...Of course, evil people like you probably don't have a god, I suppose. But still, not nice!" Haelan said, obviously hurt by the statement.
"Just pray fer somethin', yeh bleeding idiot!" called Duor. The dwarf only shifted closer to the paladin, knowing his bolts would do nothing to harm the wizard and not about to dare getting close enough to use his ethereal dagger.
The cart was almost upon the wizard. Festus let another arrow fly. His effort was thanked with the same ineffectual result.
"Alaria, we cannot touch him." Erevan said quietly to the magess. "The cart cannot hope to outrun his magic with all of us upon it. You must get out of here with the orb. Quickly now!"
Alaria did not like what was being said, but knew the elf was probably correct.
She cast the web spell as quickly as she could and was surprised and elated to see the wizard all but cocooned in the milky white strands.
But only a moment. The wizard seemed to make no motion nor say any magic words and the strands of webbing began to fade from view.
"Take this." Alaria said, handing the elf one of the amber beads from her bracelet. "As the cart passes, throw it at him and get on...unless you think you can outrun the cart."
"Now," said the wizard with obviously anger in his voice, "you all die."
"Xerex rex nossos!" incanted Tresahd and a ball of fire began forming before his outstretched hand.
Alaria again gripped the Ihs Repahl, and immediately air swirled around her. She began floating up into the air, five feet, ten feet.
The cart was passing her location and nearing the dark wizard, who was still, more or less, in the middle of the road.
Alaria concentrated and felt the air gathering around her, she needed this timed properly.
The cart was passing Erevan and herself, the elf threw the amber bead with elvin trademark accuracy.
The bead of force burst at the wizard's feet even as he released the flaming sphere which bounded from his hand to burst upon the ground and begin speeding toward the cart. The wizard was blown to the side of the road and Alaria released the winds she'd been summoning.
A small whirlwind momentarily formed beneath and around the flung dark mage and half-carried half-threw him much further into the field beside the road than the initial blast.
"Repleesh!" Alaria said again and winked out of view. She then, mentally began directing herself toward the 'town' of Farthing Cross.
Dirt and grass scorched as the two-foot diameter ball of fire rolled quickly toward the approaching heroes and their cart. The horses were entirely spooked by the flames and veered off the road, sending all of the cart's riders bouncing and grabbing onto anything to keep them from falling off the precariously tipping vehicle.
Without Tresahd's conentration, the rolling ball of flame continued straight down the road and quickly dispersed into nothingness.
Coerraine heaved upon the reigns to right the cart and get the horses back on the worn track of road. They sped toward Farthing Cross and through the town, attracting more than one shocked look at the heavily laden cart that did not slow at all.
Haelan took a moment and was heard by the companions (in the cart) to invoke.
"Dicteus beneficia spiritos, beatius Faerantha, con u guda sevem fehs!" <cleric spell: Resist Fire, "Bless your loyal followers, Holy Faerantha, with your power over fire!"> the daelvar priest intoned in a melodic chant. The halfling sincerely hoped it would be a wasted prayer, but just in case another incendiary attack were to head their way.
Nothing more was seen or heard from the wizard, Tresahd, as the party sped through the crossroads and continued on into the darkness of night further into the hoped for security of Daenfrii and the Dragonmage.