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<blockquote data-quote="the Jester" data-source="post: 4405851" data-attributes="member: 1210"><p>The holocaust disciple is a blazing whirlwind of evil fire and air. Burning-hot winds whip around it as the blazing explosions of the <em>meteor swarm</em> wash all over our heroes. Their cries of pain echo through the small vale that the shrine is in. </p><p></p><p>Already, our heroes are pressed.</p><p></p><p>The worst-wounded scatter. Naomi <em>dimension doors</em> away, while Ari <em>wild shapes</em> into an eagle and scrams, but- as it will turn out- not far enough. Meanwhile, Erasmuz casts a quick <em>resist fire</em> on himself. </p><p></p><p>“Watch out!” Nara cries, casting a <em>mass cure light wounds</em> on the party. “That thing is dangerous!”</p><p></p><p>“No keeding,” Naomi agrees, channeling elemental power and shrouding herself in <em>protection from fire.</em> </p><p></p><p>But Nara’s warning comes too late. The holocaust disciple explodes in a blast of fire, raining blazing air all around the eagle-shaped Ari- and, for the second time, the druid dies!</p><p></p><p>“Ari! Nooooo!” screams Queffe.</p><p></p><p>The flaming whirlwind of death swings back towards the others, heading towards Nara, but the prophet of Coila <em>time slips</em> away, vanishing into the future. Then Naomi hits it with a <em>cold bolt</em>. </p><p></p><p>Queffe gives a mournful howl, then downs a <em>resist fire</em> potion. Then she charges in, striking at it! Flames burst everywhere as it blasts back, and a terrific struggle ensues. The others jump in- with Nara reappearing in the middle of the fight and Queffe getting full use of her dervish dance ability.`Erasmuz grimly summons a <em>spiritual meat cleaver</em> and begins chopping at the deadly elemental; then he adds a huge earth elemental to the mix. Gouts of fire keep shooting off of the monster, and it is all the party can do to hold their own!</p><p></p><p>But it is only a single monster, and against all of them- plus Erasmuz’ summoned elemental- it cannot overwhelm them. It inflicts terrible wounds on them, but one at a time they can fall back to heal a little while their companions keep the holocaust disciple busy.</p><p></p><p>Nara casts a <em>prayer</em> and glances at Naomi. “We need to get in to that shrine!” she cries.</p><p></p><p>Naomi nods. “You’re right. And those doors are locked.” She glances at the elemental. “Hey Erasmuz,” she calls, “maybe your elemental can be of more use elsewhere!”</p><p></p><p>The ur-priest glances at the door. His eyes widen. “You’re right, buddy!” he exclaims. </p><p></p><p>By now the holocaust disciple has been damaged badly enough that it draws away from the party for a moment and erects a <em>wall of fire.</em> Waves of cooking heat emanate from it. </p><p></p><p>“Either way, he has to go through that wall,” Erasmuz declares. “Go on, get him!” he tells the elemental- and it plunges through and continues its attack on the disciple. The doors will have to wait a moment.</p><p></p><p>The rest of the group hurries away from the roasting heat of the <em>wall of fire.</em> Erasmuz starts creeping towards the doors, around the far side, and Queffe flits up in the air with her <em>broom of flying.</em></p><p></p><p>Nara lumbers to the side, clearing the edge of the burning wall and bringing the holocaust disciple back into view. Immediately, she casts <em>searing light-</em> and her spell is just what it takes to finish the burning elemental wind off! It implodes with a rushing hiss, and then suddenly there is silence. </p><p></p><p>”Victory!” cries Naomi.</p><p></p><p>“But at what cost?” asks Nara somberly, looking at Ari’s corpse sadly. “I can bring him back again, but we don’t have the diamonds- or, probably, the money to <em>get</em> the diamonds.”</p><p></p><p>“We haven’t achieved victory yet,” Queffe reminds the others. “We still need to get in the shrine.”</p><p></p><p>“Leave that to me,” says Erasmuz. He whistles to his elemental. </p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>Ain’t no door that’s going to hold out against a few blows from a huge earth elemental. The party soon has access to the shrine. </p><p></p><p>The layout is very simple, with no roof; grapes grow along the perimeter. The large altar is lush with carvings of foodstuffs, and is obviously set up to be used as a feast table. </p><p></p><p>They make a great sacrifice of food and similar goods, using the halfling food spells that they have learned or have scrolls of. Erasmuz deems the time right, and <em>summons beer elementals.</em> Nara then casts <em>blessed beer</em> upon the elemental. As the group lays out food upon the altar, Naomi garnishes it with <em>create gravy.</em></p><p></p><p>Cod, salmon, seven pounds of bacon, some rations, eggs and more eggs, half a pound of butter, ten pounds of sausage, a gallon of honey, five pounds of beef jerky, two pounds of salted pork, salted fish galore, salt and spices (including cinnamon!), an entire wild tureky, 5 onions, a cooked osquip, one of Cornbread’s muffins (the last of them!), and some ham soon cover the table. Another <em>create gravy</em> tops it all off. </p><p></p><p>“I can’t believe we’re leaving this behind,” says Naomi wistfully.</p><p></p><p>“Hopefully something better is just up ahead,” Nara replies. </p><p></p><p>“You know,” says Erasmuz from the corner (where he has been poking around), “I think we can fix Ari.”</p><p></p><p>“What?” exclaims Queffe.</p><p></p><p>“This shrine has all kinds of religious implements and materials all over in it. Just in case, I started poking around.” Erasmuz holds up a glittering gemstone. “Sure enough, they have diamonds here.”</p><p></p><p>“But ‘they’ who?” wonders Nara.</p><p></p><p>“<em>Us,</em>” declares Naomi. “The halflings.”</p><p></p><p>“I can <em>true resurrect</em> him, with this,” says Erasmuz.</p><p></p><p>“<em>What?</em>” exclaims Nara in amazement.</p><p></p><p>The ur-priest smiles. “My path is... nontraditional. It takes a while to pay off, but when it does, it pays off.”</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>Ari’s eyes open slowly. He stares at Erasmuz in confusion. “What...?”</p><p></p><p>“Hey, buddy,” Erasmuz says. “Welcome back.”</p><p></p><p>“Thanks,” Ari says. He still sounds vaguely puzzled. “But...” He shakes his head. “Have we made it?”</p><p></p><p>“We don’t know yet. We need to go back outside.”</p><p></p><p>“All right.” </p><p></p><p>The druid stands back up. He is regaining his orientation quickly. After only a few seconds, he nods to indicate that he is ready, and the party moves back out the doorway of the shrine, striding across the broken remains of the doors, which now lie upon the ground. </p><p></p><p>Outside, the day remains bright. The party takes the path that their guide escorted them in on, and starts moving south. </p><p></p><p>“Hey, look, over there,” Nara says abruptly, pointing. “Did anyone else see that? It looked like a group of figures moving into the woods. I think one of them was on a bird or something?”</p><p></p><p>Nobody else, it turns out, saw the party.</p><p></p><p>Uneasily, the party continues. They come into a clearing, and stumble upon thier guide. </p><p></p><p>Dying.</p><p></p><p>They rush forward. “What happened?” cries Erasmuz. </p><p></p><p>Blood is pooling beneath the guide. He smiles. His breathing is labored. “Githyanki,” he wheezes. “They have slain me.”</p><p></p><p>“I might be able to-” Nara starts, but the guide interrupts her, albeit somewhat feebly.</p><p></p><p>“My part in this is done. You must stop them. The githyanki seek to enslave those of us that have achieved the Promised Land, and to take us to a terrible realm called the Astral Plane- a realm where you never need eat, and there is no food!” The guide pauses to cough up some blood. With difficulty, he continues, “You must stop them, no matter the cost. Fight to defend your people. Fight to defend the Promised Land. What is it worth to you? Find your answer, for you must now show it.”</p><p></p><p>As the guide slowly expires in the party’s arms, Erasmuz slips to the back and casts <em>true sight.</em> All is as it appears (though Erasmuz is intrigued to note the golden Lawful Good aura around the guide).</p><p></p><p>“We can’t just let you die,” Queffe protests.</p><p></p><p>“Too late,” the guide sighs.</p><p></p><p><em><strong>Next Time:</strong></em> The Hidden Test!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="the Jester, post: 4405851, member: 1210"] The holocaust disciple is a blazing whirlwind of evil fire and air. Burning-hot winds whip around it as the blazing explosions of the [i]meteor swarm[/i] wash all over our heroes. Their cries of pain echo through the small vale that the shrine is in. Already, our heroes are pressed. The worst-wounded scatter. Naomi [i]dimension doors[/i] away, while Ari [i]wild shapes[/i] into an eagle and scrams, but- as it will turn out- not far enough. Meanwhile, Erasmuz casts a quick [i]resist fire[/i] on himself. “Watch out!” Nara cries, casting a [i]mass cure light wounds[/i] on the party. “That thing is dangerous!” “No keeding,” Naomi agrees, channeling elemental power and shrouding herself in [i]protection from fire.[/i] But Nara’s warning comes too late. The holocaust disciple explodes in a blast of fire, raining blazing air all around the eagle-shaped Ari- and, for the second time, the druid dies! “Ari! Nooooo!” screams Queffe. The flaming whirlwind of death swings back towards the others, heading towards Nara, but the prophet of Coila [i]time slips[/i] away, vanishing into the future. Then Naomi hits it with a [i]cold bolt[/i]. Queffe gives a mournful howl, then downs a [i]resist fire[/i] potion. Then she charges in, striking at it! Flames burst everywhere as it blasts back, and a terrific struggle ensues. The others jump in- with Nara reappearing in the middle of the fight and Queffe getting full use of her dervish dance ability.`Erasmuz grimly summons a [i]spiritual meat cleaver[/i] and begins chopping at the deadly elemental; then he adds a huge earth elemental to the mix. Gouts of fire keep shooting off of the monster, and it is all the party can do to hold their own! But it is only a single monster, and against all of them- plus Erasmuz’ summoned elemental- it cannot overwhelm them. It inflicts terrible wounds on them, but one at a time they can fall back to heal a little while their companions keep the holocaust disciple busy. Nara casts a [i]prayer[/i] and glances at Naomi. “We need to get in to that shrine!” she cries. Naomi nods. “You’re right. And those doors are locked.” She glances at the elemental. “Hey Erasmuz,” she calls, “maybe your elemental can be of more use elsewhere!” The ur-priest glances at the door. His eyes widen. “You’re right, buddy!” he exclaims. By now the holocaust disciple has been damaged badly enough that it draws away from the party for a moment and erects a [i]wall of fire.[/i] Waves of cooking heat emanate from it. “Either way, he has to go through that wall,” Erasmuz declares. “Go on, get him!” he tells the elemental- and it plunges through and continues its attack on the disciple. The doors will have to wait a moment. The rest of the group hurries away from the roasting heat of the [i]wall of fire.[/i] Erasmuz starts creeping towards the doors, around the far side, and Queffe flits up in the air with her [i]broom of flying.[/i] Nara lumbers to the side, clearing the edge of the burning wall and bringing the holocaust disciple back into view. Immediately, she casts [i]searing light-[/i] and her spell is just what it takes to finish the burning elemental wind off! It implodes with a rushing hiss, and then suddenly there is silence. ”Victory!” cries Naomi. “But at what cost?” asks Nara somberly, looking at Ari’s corpse sadly. “I can bring him back again, but we don’t have the diamonds- or, probably, the money to [i]get[/i] the diamonds.” “We haven’t achieved victory yet,” Queffe reminds the others. “We still need to get in the shrine.” “Leave that to me,” says Erasmuz. He whistles to his elemental. *** Ain’t no door that’s going to hold out against a few blows from a huge earth elemental. The party soon has access to the shrine. The layout is very simple, with no roof; grapes grow along the perimeter. The large altar is lush with carvings of foodstuffs, and is obviously set up to be used as a feast table. They make a great sacrifice of food and similar goods, using the halfling food spells that they have learned or have scrolls of. Erasmuz deems the time right, and [i]summons beer elementals.[/i] Nara then casts [i]blessed beer[/i] upon the elemental. As the group lays out food upon the altar, Naomi garnishes it with [i]create gravy.[/i] Cod, salmon, seven pounds of bacon, some rations, eggs and more eggs, half a pound of butter, ten pounds of sausage, a gallon of honey, five pounds of beef jerky, two pounds of salted pork, salted fish galore, salt and spices (including cinnamon!), an entire wild tureky, 5 onions, a cooked osquip, one of Cornbread’s muffins (the last of them!), and some ham soon cover the table. Another [i]create gravy[/i] tops it all off. “I can’t believe we’re leaving this behind,” says Naomi wistfully. “Hopefully something better is just up ahead,” Nara replies. “You know,” says Erasmuz from the corner (where he has been poking around), “I think we can fix Ari.” “What?” exclaims Queffe. “This shrine has all kinds of religious implements and materials all over in it. Just in case, I started poking around.” Erasmuz holds up a glittering gemstone. “Sure enough, they have diamonds here.” “But ‘they’ who?” wonders Nara. “[i]Us,[/i]” declares Naomi. “The halflings.” “I can [i]true resurrect[/i] him, with this,” says Erasmuz. “[i]What?[/i]” exclaims Nara in amazement. The ur-priest smiles. “My path is... nontraditional. It takes a while to pay off, but when it does, it pays off.” *** Ari’s eyes open slowly. He stares at Erasmuz in confusion. “What...?” “Hey, buddy,” Erasmuz says. “Welcome back.” “Thanks,” Ari says. He still sounds vaguely puzzled. “But...” He shakes his head. “Have we made it?” “We don’t know yet. We need to go back outside.” “All right.” The druid stands back up. He is regaining his orientation quickly. After only a few seconds, he nods to indicate that he is ready, and the party moves back out the doorway of the shrine, striding across the broken remains of the doors, which now lie upon the ground. Outside, the day remains bright. The party takes the path that their guide escorted them in on, and starts moving south. “Hey, look, over there,” Nara says abruptly, pointing. “Did anyone else see that? It looked like a group of figures moving into the woods. I think one of them was on a bird or something?” Nobody else, it turns out, saw the party. Uneasily, the party continues. They come into a clearing, and stumble upon thier guide. Dying. They rush forward. “What happened?” cries Erasmuz. Blood is pooling beneath the guide. He smiles. His breathing is labored. “Githyanki,” he wheezes. “They have slain me.” “I might be able to-” Nara starts, but the guide interrupts her, albeit somewhat feebly. “My part in this is done. You must stop them. The githyanki seek to enslave those of us that have achieved the Promised Land, and to take us to a terrible realm called the Astral Plane- a realm where you never need eat, and there is no food!” The guide pauses to cough up some blood. With difficulty, he continues, “You must stop them, no matter the cost. Fight to defend your people. Fight to defend the Promised Land. What is it worth to you? Find your answer, for you must now show it.” As the guide slowly expires in the party’s arms, Erasmuz slips to the back and casts [i]true sight.[/i] All is as it appears (though Erasmuz is intrigued to note the golden Lawful Good aura around the guide). “We can’t just let you die,” Queffe protests. “Too late,” the guide sighs. [i][b]Next Time:[/b][/i][b][/b] The Hidden Test! [/QUOTE]
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