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Shilsen's Eberron SH (Finished - The Last Word : 9/20/15)
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<blockquote data-quote="shilsen" data-source="post: 2822208" data-attributes="member: 198"><p><strong>Session 27 - A Walk in the Park (or "How Big a Wolf?")</strong></p><p></p><p>Korm, who has been holding onto the bag, places it on the table between Nameless and Hasal and (with Nameless' agreement) removes the items from it. Among them is the Key, which is wrapped in a cloth, and which Balan asks him to unwrap. </p><p></p><p>Once all the items are on the table, Balan asks Hasal to check them for magic, which he does. The gnome studies the items carefully and begins to say, "Well, none of them are magica...", when he stops and furrows his brow. Some of the adventurers exchange glances, realizing what he has probably discovered.</p><p></p><p>Sure enough, Hasal looks carefully at those of them near the table and then around at the others in the room. Then he tells Balan, sounding a little puzzled, "Try a detect magic yourself." </p><p></p><p>"Something wrong?" asks Balan, even as he casts the spell. </p><p></p><p>"Just check the items and tell me what you see."</p><p></p><p>"Hmm - none of them appear magical, just as you were saying." And then Balan too realizes what Hasal has discovered. Not only do none of the items appear magical but none of the people around the table detect as magical either, despite the equipment they carry. And as they look around the room, they realize that the spells are working, since others in the room do detect appropriately.</p><p></p><p>"So," says Balan, looking at Nameless, "What's going on here?"</p><p></p><p>Nameless provides a quick explanation of the Key blocking some divinations, without going into any further details. Balan asks about its origin and is told that they found it on the island. Korm replaces it in the bag to prove what Nameless just said and Hasal and Balan check over the remaining items. </p><p></p><p>Naturally, they have a few more questions, but Nameless emphasizes that it would be better to discuss these privately. Despite Kestran's evident and loudly expressed displeasure, Balan - who is clearly very curious about this news - agrees. He asks Nameless to hand over his spell component pouch and all magical items to Hasal, which the alienist does. </p><p></p><p>Once he has, Balan comments that something else on him detects as magical, indicating the center of his chest. Nameless reveals the tattoo, and the others comment that they have them too, when Hasal points out that the others have similar auras. Balan, who comments on the fact that the tattoo has the same symbol as on the dragonshard, asks about the tattoo and Nameless emphasizes that this too should be discussed in private. </p><p></p><p>After considering it for a few seconds, Balan decides that they should return to the Watch House. He says that now that they know exactly what is in the bag, they will know if anything is missing when they get there, and there is nothing there that they currently believe would be germane to the investigation. </p><p></p><p>With that, the now quite large group exits from the room. And are promptly accosted around the first turn by Flim Turen, with a barrage of questions about whether they're all being arrested, why they are, what the Blackened Book wants with them, why the Guardians of the Gate are involved, and so on. </p><p></p><p>Balan, who evidently knows him, fobs him off politely but firmly with the promise that he'll be told if there is any important news. All he says is that the Angels are required for an investigation and that's all. Flim tries directly questioning the adventurers or Kestran (who looks like he might brain the gnome), to no avail. He settles for promising to talk to the Angels later, especially their spokesperson Luna. Which leads to Gareth threatening (jokingly - probably) to gag her if she talks to Flim without the others and Luna to respond with a threat to sit on him as a bear. </p><p></p><p>After leaving Flim behind, the group emerges from the building. Naturally, they draw a fair amount of attention from the students, professors and other people moving around the campus. Once they are outside the grounds of Morgrave University, Balan leads them to the nearest tower stairs leading down. </p><p></p><p>The group descends to Middle Menthis and the Warden Towers district, which is clearly dedicated to the city Watch. Men in uniform move around the area, several of them greeting Balan and Hasal as they pass by. A large group of Watch members are practicing combat drills nearby on a field consisting of a huge platform linked to four towers. As Balan leads the Angels towards the central garrison building, he tells them that the Blackened Book has its headquarters here, which is why he arrived at the University so soon after Hasal sent the guard to fetch him. </p><p></p><p>Once they reach the garrison building, Balan leads the group through the halls and corridors within to a large door that bears the sigil of the Blackened Book. The guards there salute and quickly let the group through into a large central chamber. Balan gives a couple of orders and dismisses most of the guards. Hasal too leaves.</p><p></p><p>Balan leads them into a large office, occupied by a couple of clerks and more guards. Here, Nameless is asked for his statement about his activities at the time of the murder, while two of his companions (Luna and Six) are simultaneously taken into separate rooms and have their statements recorded too. </p><p></p><p>After that, Balan asks about the Key and the tattoo. Nameless reiterates that he would like to discuss these in front of as few people as possible, causing Kestran (who has been grumbling and complaining throughout the procedures) to snap and grab him by his shirt, hauling his face down and yelling, "That's not your bloody choice! Just answer the damn questions, you murdering bastard!" Nameless restrains himself and settles for fixing the dwarf with an unnerving stare, which he seems a little too irate to notice.</p><p></p><p>At which point Balan pointedly asks Kestran to let Nameless go and then asks the two guards present to escort him out, telling him that the Guardians of the Gate will be informed if their services are relevant here. A now even more incensed and protesting Kestran departs, swearing that this isn't over. Balan sends the remaining guards with him and dismisses the clerk as well.</p><p></p><p>Once he is alone with the group, Balan becomes much less formal than before and (after commenting on the joys of working with Kestran, whom he describes as "actually mental enough to think he's doing the right thing") begins to ask a number of questions. The Angels answer a lot of them telling him a little about the dragonshard, which they basically claim to have discovered on the island and know little about, and the tattoos, which they claim appeared on them after the battle with the daelkyr (which Balan apparently knows a little about).</p><p></p><p>An unknown reason for Balan's interest in the tattoo is revealed when Hasal returns to confirm what Balan sent him to find out. Arrok had a patch of skin removed from his chest, exactly where the tattoo would have been on him. Along with that information, Balan gives the group more details of the murder. It occurred at an inn (The Gray Goose) in Overlook, where Arrok was staying. He had just come down to the common room when the person impersonating Nameless entered. They greeted each other and took a side table, where they spoke for a couple of minutes before Nameless cast a ray of enfeeblement, which weakened Arrok too much for him to move. The mage then fired a lightning bolt at point blank range, almost killing Arrok and damaging tables and furniture, though none of the patrons (who were fleeing as soon as the spellcasting began) were hurt. He finished Arrok off with a volley of magic missiles, before picking his corpse up and leaving. As he left, he turned invisible. Arrok's body was found later, stripped naked and dumped, three towers away. Besides the missing skin, the only other noticeable thing about the body was the marks of what seemed to be a set of large claws on the shoulder.</p><p></p><p>Nameless comments that illusion spells like invisibility are also among those he cannot cast and then asks if they have any information what the two spoke of. Balan says that a serving girl had served them. Though she couldn't recall much, she said Arrok was asking the other if his research had found anything. </p><p></p><p>Balan checks about the people who knew about the dragonshard and the tattoos, and the Angels confirm that it's effectively those of them in the room with him. Though a couple of others (namely Trillia, Surr'kal and Teln) know about the dragonshard, none of them knew Arrok. </p><p></p><p>Balan also asks about the individual that some of them had mentioned as possibly involved with the murder or knowing about it. The Angels tell him what they can about Killian, whom he doesn't recognize by name or description. They confirm that they had been in the Lucky Nines casino to meet him. Nameless opines that he doesn't think the murder was his doing, since it seems much too overt, and says that they have some evidence that powerful people are aware of their activities.</p><p></p><p>After covering every helpful topic that they could think of, Balan tells the group that while he believes Nameless is innocent, they will have to continue the investigation and check with people at the casino and elsewhere who can corroborate Nameless' whereabouts. And, whatever information they gather, the case will have to go to trial, in anywhere from 2-6 days. During that period, Nameless will have to remain in custody, since the Blackened Book cannot afford to let a powerful mage who is a murder suspect wander the city, especially in view of his position as a foreigner. Balan adds that the Guardians of the Gate will probably try to have more of an involvement in the case, but he doubts they will succeed.</p><p></p><p>Nameless has no objections to the incarceration, but asks if at least his companions can take the bag of holding. Balan agrees, saying that he has no indication that anything contained within, including the dragonshard, is relevant to the case. </p><p></p><p>Before the Angels take their leave, Balan asks them to stop by the next morning, since he may be able to come up with something to expedite Nameless' release. They agree to do so and leave. Six suggests that they return to Morgrave University and speak to Flamewind, as he has been wanting to do. The others agree and head up there with him. </p><p></p><p>Once they reach Upper Menthis, Dala takes her leave, saying that she needs to meet Kidro and tell him a little about what has happened, though she promises to not reveal any of the information she has been keeping secret. Gareth asks if it's safe for her to be off alone, but she says that she has far too many things to do to be able to spend all her time under their protection. She promises to be careful and leaves. Corven says that he needs to leave too, since he has to meet Tyrala at the Cyran embassy. The others head towards Morgrave.</p><p></p><p>Nameless, meanwhile, is escorted to a small prison area. The route is along a couple of corridors covered in wardings and glyphs, which Balan has to allow Nameless and his guards to pass through. The cellblock consists of only three cells, all of them more comfortable than in a standard city jail. Balan explains that - while he is sure Nameless will do nothing silly in view of his accommodating behavior thus far - the cellblock is warded against teleportation magic and if someone tries to use it to enter or exit, he will be shunted through a number of the protective spells in the corridor outside. He also apologizes for the inconvenience of the stay here but Nameless assures him that he has known worse and understands that Balan has no other choice. Before leaving, Balan says that he will be back in the evening to speak to Nameless, both about whatever he discovers and about some options he has in mind. </p><p></p><p>Once he is gone, Nameless settles down to an engrossing, if slightly one-sided, conversation with his pet rock, Edgar.</p><p></p><p>The others make a quick stop at the Commons, a large open-air plaza where dozens of vendors in food carts offer cuisine from around Khorvaire. Since most of the customers are students, the adventurers attract some attention, with a few people claiming that they had seen them on previous visits or during the talk that morning. The Angels chat about their past and make sure to provide noncommital answers to most of the questions about their current and future plans.</p><p></p><p>Afterwards, they travel to Lareth Hall and ascend to the top of the dome, where Flamewind has her chambers. The gynosphinx is home and invites them in. The adventurers settle down, availing of the fact that her chambers are both luxurious and seem primarily designed for a human occupant (other than for things like the giant scratching post). </p><p></p><p>After being introduced to Korm'akhan, Flamewind asks where Nameless and Corven are. Six explains what happened with Nameless but says it's not a problem. Then they begin discussing the adventurers' experiences on the island and Flamewind's prophecy. She says that, from their description, obviously they have experienced certain aspects of it, but she is not sure when the other aspects will come into play. Though she has no control over her visions and only limited understanding of what they show, her experience shows that they generally take a long time to be completed. </p><p></p><p>Six also shows her his tattoo and says that they all developed these after the battle with the daelkyr. He asks if she recognizes the symbol. Flamewind says that the serpent portion is one she knows as connected to the dragons of Argonessen and the other part is either a gem or a dragonshard. She also says that she hasn't seen the pair in combination before. </p><p></p><p>Six then asks if Flamewind knows about any way to contact the dragons or anyone who can do so, which sends Flamewind into a laughing fit. She says that she's never been asked that question before, though she did have a prophecy that involved a certain group of people traveling to Argonessen. And they didn't return. </p><p></p><p>Six explains that he believes the dragons have some connection with what has happened to them, and he has read in the library at Morgrave University that certain scholars believe some dragons involve themselves with the affairs of Khorvaire in disguise. Considering that their experiences will be all over the Korranberg Chronicle soon, it's possible that they will draw the attention of such creatures, and he asks Flamewind to let him know if she learns anything about it. She says she'll do so, though she warns that it's quite possible a lot of other people, not all of them friendly, will also become very interested in the Angels once the news is out.</p><p></p><p>Flamewind also asks if the group minds her studying the tattoos magically. The adventurers agree and she concentrates for a few seconds, before staring fixedly at Six's tattoo. Then she says, "Interesting. I just used the equivalent of the spell your people call analyze dweomer, which is one of the more powerful divinations, and I can detect absolutely no function to the tattoo." She looks at a couple of others and has the same response.</p><p></p><p>Korm then thinks of something. He turns his back, produces the Key from the bag, and says, "Try it again." A clearly puzzled Flamewind complies and says she has the same result. "What was that about?" she asks. Korm replaces the Key and turns around, saying, "I just thought of something that might produce a result. Apparently not."</p><p></p><p>After a little more discussion, the group takes their leave of Flamewind, with a promise from both sides to contact the other if they learn something that might be of use or interest.</p><p></p><p>They then head to Carosten Park, where they find Teln sitting outside the locked door of the Gatehouse. He says that Surr'kal is away arranging for a message to be sent to someone who can help with their questions. The Angels let him know what has happened, which worries Teln a lot. He is heading back to lower Northedge, where he normally lives, but suggests that they all stay in Carosten Park. </p><p></p><p>Luna, Korm and Six decide to do so, but Gareth says he will stay at Coldflame Keep with Cedric and Mazin Tana. He travels to Northedge with Teln, who leaves Gareth eventually to head down to the Stoneyard district, where the shifter tends the parks and orchards. Gareth heads to the Keep, where he finds both Cedric and Mazin. When he tells them what has happened to Nameless, they both offer to help in any way they can, but there is little they can do.</p><p></p><p>The other three visit Deathsgate to let Trillia know what has happened to Nameless. She seems more amused than worried about him, and says that though she doesn't know Balan Cord personally, she has heard that he is a reliable and conscientious officer. Trillia tells the three that they are welcome to stay the night if they want, but they say their accommodations are taken care of and leave. By the time they are back at Carosten Park, night is falling.</p><p></p><p>Nameless, at approximately the same time, is visited by Balan again. He says that their investigations are proceeding and he has a fair amount of information corroborating Nameless' presence elsewhere at the time of the murder. Of course, as he has said before, this doesn't change the fact that the case needs to go to trial or that Nameless needs to stay in custody, but it makes him even more willing than before to trust Nameless and the Angels.</p><p></p><p>Balan then asks Nameless, "By the way, are you and your companions currently involved in any work for anybody, or expecting to be?"</p><p></p><p>"Not right now. Why?"</p><p></p><p>"I may have a proposition for you. If you are interested in helping us - and I mean not just the Blackened Book but the Watch in general - with some investigation or other way, that would allow me to let you free. And depending on your degree of success, it might make the authorities in Sharn look with some favor on your group, which is always helpful."</p><p></p><p>"Sure. What did you have in mind?"</p><p></p><p>"Let me think about it and let you know tomorrow, once all your companions are back."</p><p></p><p>With that, Balan departs, leaving Nameless to his thoughts. </p><p></p><p>***</p><p>Next morning, the rest of the adventurers arrive at the garrison building. They are clearly expected and are soon sitting in a comfortable meeting room, where they are joined by Balan and Nameless. The Warden sends the guards outside and shuts the door behind them.</p><p></p><p>Resuming his seat, he tells the group that Trillia has corroborated that they departed from her house at the time they'd mentioned. A few people at the Lucky Nines casino have also confirmed that they were there and speaking to Killian. The gnome was not there at the time.</p><p></p><p>"In that case," says Six, "We know one thing. His ass isn't actually attached to that seat."</p><p></p><p>Balan looks a little confused and Six explains that they've never seen Killian anywhere other than at the same table. Gareth also mentions that as far as they know his name isn't Killian, but all they know is that the first syllable is "Thur".</p><p></p><p> Balan asks how they know and Six relates a little about Killian mimicking the appearance of Kylyman d'Sivis. He also mentions that Killian wasn't actually pretending to be Kylyman and that Kylyman both knew him and didn't seem to actually be upset about it. </p><p></p><p>Balan says, "Yes - the Sivis gnomes have a strange idea of games and competition. Anyway, if I do find anything important about this Killian or 'Thur ... whatever', especially if he's involved with the case in any way, I'll let you know."</p><p></p><p>Balan then goes on to tell the others about the offer he made to Nameless and that he has a couple of options in mind. One involves gladiatorial combat in Sharn, which is illegal but has a strong underground presence. There is one called the Burning Ring in Lower Menthis that the Watch is especially interested in shutting down. It is difficult to pin down since it appears at various locations and, or so Balan believes, the owners have links with the Menthis branch of the Watch. The Blackened Book has recently got involved since they believe that magical combats have been added to the list. There has also supposedly been a rise in fatalities.</p><p></p><p>The job is for the Angels to find out about the Burning Ring and preferably have at least one of them actually scheduled to fight in it, since they could inform Balan magically about the location as the fights were actually taking place. </p><p></p><p>Another job has to do with the Sharn drug trade. The costliest and most dangerous drug on the street (or below it, since it's usually available in the shadow markets of the Cogs) is called dragon's blood, and is solely sold by the Daask gang, who seem to have the secrets of its manufacture. Balan says he has information that it is transported into Sharn in some other form and then converted to the actual drug. He needs a significant amount of the drug, both to test this theory and to try to create an antidote.</p><p></p><p>This particular job, therefore, will involve the adventurers traveling into the Cogs, attacking a location where Balan believes they can find quantities of dragon's blood (both in its final form and in the original version), and returning to him with it.</p><p></p><p>The last job is also the most nebulous of all. Balan says that the King's Citadel, the organization that functions as the eyes, ears and oftentimes sword of King Boranel, might be interested in their services. Considering the secretive nature of the organization, Balan cannot say anything about the job, since he frankly doesn't know what it is. </p><p></p><p>What he does know is that if the Angels make the Citadel happy with their work, they will have made their future activities and life in Breland much easier. He warns them, however, that if the group does choose to accept the Citadel assignment, there will be no backing out after they have received the details of the job. So they should be very certain before they accept it.</p><p></p><p>The Angels then proceed to discuss the choices. Corven tells the others that he is going to be leaving them and heading to New Cyre later that day, so he doesn't take part in the discussion. Despite the lack of detailed information, most of the Angels prefer the Citadel job. Ironically Luna, the only Brelish citizen in the group, is the most skeptical about it, saying that getting involved with "the bloody Secret Service" is all she needs now! However, she agrees to go along with what the others decide. Korm, who knows little about the Citadel, is slightly skeptical too but says that Surr'kal asked him to keep an eye on and protect the others, and if that means working for the Citadel, then so be it.</p><p></p><p>Six asks Gareth whether his personal code will cause any problems for them, if it conflicts with what they are asked to do. Gareth tells Balan that Six has a point and says that he'd like Balan to inform the Citadel that he won't do anything that offends his personal code. Balan says that he doesn't think it'll be a problem, but they can bring that up themselves before getting any details of the job.</p><p></p><p>He produces an envelope that is addressed to Captain Talleon Haliar Tonan and sealed with the mark of the Blackened Book. Balan hands it over to Nameless and tells him that he should present it at the Citadel in Ambassador Towers, the building housing the main city jail as well as the headquarters of the King's Citadel in Sharn. The group should be there at 10 am the next day.</p><p></p><p>With that, Balan tells Nameless that he is free to go. As long as the case remains under investigation, none of the group should leave Sharn. It's quite likely, in fact, that the Guardians of the Gate have their names and descriptions out to all areas of egress from the city. Corven is a little concerned at the news and asks if he might have trouble, and Balan suggests that he get extra documentation from the Cyran embassy.</p><p></p><p>The Angels then depart and head back to Central Plateau. There, Corven leaves the others to make preparations for his journey. He says that he's planning to arrange an expedition to the island (or its remnants) as soon as possible, but it's likely to take months. He also says that he will most likely be in New Cyre throughout the time that he isn't in Sharn and asks them to contact him via the Sivis station there if they learn anything that might help him in his quest to learn more about the creation of the Mournland or if they need his help in any way. </p><p></p><p>After he leaves, the others ascend to Carosten Park. There, they walk to the Gatehouse, where they find the door open and Surr'kal and Teln inside. Surr'kal welcomes them in, saying that Teln had told him what happened and that he's relieved to see Nameless free. </p><p></p><p>He also says that he contacted a trusted traveler heading west from near the city, who will contact Gurr'khan and ask him to visit. Gurr'khan prefers not to visit the city, but with his ability to travel huge distances via plants, he will be able to do so as soon as he gets the news. And he is probably the best option in Breland for both finding and bringing one of the greater loremasters from the Shadow Marches or the Eldeen Reaches. It will, however, take well over a week for the message to reach him.</p><p></p><p>The Angels then begin to tell him a little about their experiences since they last met him, when they are interrupted by the sound of multiple screams from some distance outside the cottage, quickly followed by growling. Loud growling.</p><p></p><p>The adventurers, as well as Teln and Surr'kal, rush out. The source of the sounds is obvious. About a hundred or so feet from the cottage are four animals of immense size. Two are badgers, but each of them is fully ten feet long. And they are dwarfed by the other animals, two wolves which stand ten feet tall at the shoulder and stretch nearly twenty feet in length. The large dire bat flying above them is similarly dwarfed, while the burly shifter standing behind them is almost invisible in comparison. The animals are mauling an unfortunate family, who had presumably been enjoying the sights of the park only moments ago. </p><p></p><p>As soon the Angels emerge, the dire bat flies towards them, screeching something as it goes. As if in response, one wolf and badger charge at them, though the other two continue to chew on the now dead family. The shifter too races forward at preternatural speed, his already feral expression turning more bestial. As he comes he roars aloud and large claws emerge from his fingers. Leaping through the air, he buries them deep in the pelt of Luna, who is the closest to him and already in bear form. She roars in anger and pain and claws back.</p><p></p><p>One of the last to emerge from the Gatehouse, Korm draws his unusual sword and then swears in orc as he recognizes the assailant. "It's the Children of Winter I fought!" Throwing a quick look at the dire bat, he yells, "That must be the other one. Spread out!" </p><p></p><p>Before the others can comply, the bat screeches again and a thicket of thorny branches erupts from the ground around Korm and the others, holding most of them securely in place. The druids Surr'kal and Teln are able to pass smoothly through the branches as if they didn't exist, as is Luna, who ignores the fact that the her hindquarters are within the thicket. Korm, though he lacks their ability, simply shoves his way through the branches, ignoring the scratches they leave. Gareth is unable to do the same, but his heavy armor protects him from the thorns. Having emerged, Korm speaks an arcane word and hurls his sword at the dire bat. The sword zooms like an arrow at the creature, but at the last moment the bat swerves away and the sword flies back to Korm's hand.</p><p></p><p>Six, who is outside the area of the wall of thorns when it appears, has problems of his own. The huge wolf looms over him and bites down into his shoulder, pulling him off his feet. Surr'kal, having emerged from the far side of the wall, is attacked by the badger, which forces him to retreat back into the thorns and use them as a shield. Luna is already badly wounded by the immensely powerful shifter, and even though she manages to inflict deep wounds of her own, they seem to have less effect on her clearly berserk opponent. Teln heals her somewhat, but blood still streams down her fur.</p><p></p><p>The other two animals, having disposed of their victims, also head towards the fight, while the druid in bat form above brings down bolts of lightning. Just as things are looking very dire*, Nameless takes a hand. Ignoring the scratches from the thorns, he drops a dispel magic on the area outside, catching two of the animals and Luna's opponent. Though no change is apparent to two of them, the wolf that tripped Six promptly shrinks to a smaller size (albeit one nearly ten feet in length), with a comical look of lupine surprise. Nameless follows up by conjuring up a bank of solid fog centred on the bat, causing it to disappear from view with an angry squawk. He then follows up by dimension dooring out of the wall, with a relieved Gareth in tow.</p><p></p><p>With the bat no longer bringing spells down on them, the adventurers begin to inflict substantial damage to their enemies. Six badly wounds the dire wolf and cuts it down with Gareth's aid. The creature is clearly summoned, since it disappears as soon as it drops. As does the dire badger that is quickly brought down by Six and Gareth, along with the three pseudonatural bison Nameless summons. </p><p></p><p>Korm, on the other side of the fight, has badly wounded the dire badger that attacked Surr'kal, when he is bowled off his feet by the charge of the remaining huge wolf. Lying on the ground, with the two animals looming over him, Korm taps into the roots of his orcish heritage and his unusual training. His movements blur, as he speaks the words of a spell to cure some of his wounds and then rolls over, lashing out with desperate speed as his muscles swell with berserker strength. A mighty blow lays the badger's throat open and it disappears as it falls. Even as the wolf lays his side open, Korm strikes back from the ground and brings it down by neatly removing one of its legs. </p><p></p><p>By the time the dire bat manages to emerge from the solid fog (barely avoiding two more bats that Surr'kal has summoned) and reaches a position from which it can bring down another lightning bolt, Nameless has summoned a pair of pseudonatural hippogriffs and commanded them to grapple it. The dire bat manages to bring down a flame strike on Nameless, which the alienist dodges the brunt of, before being grabbed by a hippogriff. Which, at Nameless command, drops from the air nearly sixty feet up, bringing the bat down with it. Two of the bison promptly rush over and attempt to stamp on it.</p><p></p><p>Luna, meanwhile, has somehow managed to stay on her feet despite the wounds inflicted on her. Seeing her tottering, Gareth rushes up and touches her with Kizmet, causing the sword to bestow its healing on her and closing the majority of her wounds. Seeing his enemy being healed, the shifter screams in fury. He swings with all his strength, jamming both handfuls of claws into Luna's neck, ripping her throat open and dropping her in a pool of blood.** The shifter howls in triumph as she drops.</p><p></p><p>But even as Luna falls, a bloody Korm rises on the other side of her enemy with sword swinging. It bites deep, severing the spine and almost cutting the shifter in half.***</p><p></p><p>Even as he falls, the dire bat (some of whose wounds close even though he appears to have cast no spell) somehow manages to drag itself out of the hippogriff's grasp, its magical protections protecting it from the efforts of the attacking bison. It flaps into the air as fast as it can and heads away. Nameless promptly summons a griffon, which tries vainly to grab it, as do Surr'kal's bats. </p><p></p><p>Korm, turning from the body of the shifter, concentrates for a moment and large wings sprout from his shoulder blades****. He leaps into the air, racing after the fleeing druid. The hippogriffs, slower and more awkward than the bats, also rise clumsily from the ground and wing after it. Unfortunately, the fleeing druid still has a couple of tricks left. A sleet storm appears right behind it, blinding and slowing down its enemies, allowing it to build up enough speed to escape.</p><p></p><p>Realizing that chasing is futile, Korm flaps his way back to rejoin the others. Gareth, having just revived Luna before she could bleed to death, looks up at an exclamation from Six, who has been examining the dead shifter.</p><p></p><p>"Hey - it's not a guy. She's a woman!"</p><p></p><p>Nameless looks down at the figure and says, "How can you tell? Look at those muscles. And the sideburns!"</p><p></p><p>Gareth takes a look at the expression on the face of Luna, who has just turned back into a shaky-looking - and now irritated-looking - shifter and quickly adds, "We should check on the other people they attacked. Right now."</p><p></p><p>* Animal growthed and dire, to be precise</p><p>** Gareth got her to 40 hp and I rolled a crit, that unfortunately took her to 2 hp. Since she was still on her feet the shifter took the follow-up attack, taking Luna straight to -17.</p><p>*** Korm got three confirmed crits in the space of three rounds. Made a big difference to the fight.</p><p>**** We're using the UA variant of Aspects of Nature (modified) for Korm'akhan, to set him apart from Luna.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="shilsen, post: 2822208, member: 198"] [B]Session 27 - A Walk in the Park (or "How Big a Wolf?")[/B] Korm, who has been holding onto the bag, places it on the table between Nameless and Hasal and (with Nameless' agreement) removes the items from it. Among them is the Key, which is wrapped in a cloth, and which Balan asks him to unwrap. Once all the items are on the table, Balan asks Hasal to check them for magic, which he does. The gnome studies the items carefully and begins to say, "Well, none of them are magica...", when he stops and furrows his brow. Some of the adventurers exchange glances, realizing what he has probably discovered. Sure enough, Hasal looks carefully at those of them near the table and then around at the others in the room. Then he tells Balan, sounding a little puzzled, "Try a detect magic yourself." "Something wrong?" asks Balan, even as he casts the spell. "Just check the items and tell me what you see." "Hmm - none of them appear magical, just as you were saying." And then Balan too realizes what Hasal has discovered. Not only do none of the items appear magical but none of the people around the table detect as magical either, despite the equipment they carry. And as they look around the room, they realize that the spells are working, since others in the room do detect appropriately. "So," says Balan, looking at Nameless, "What's going on here?" Nameless provides a quick explanation of the Key blocking some divinations, without going into any further details. Balan asks about its origin and is told that they found it on the island. Korm replaces it in the bag to prove what Nameless just said and Hasal and Balan check over the remaining items. Naturally, they have a few more questions, but Nameless emphasizes that it would be better to discuss these privately. Despite Kestran's evident and loudly expressed displeasure, Balan - who is clearly very curious about this news - agrees. He asks Nameless to hand over his spell component pouch and all magical items to Hasal, which the alienist does. Once he has, Balan comments that something else on him detects as magical, indicating the center of his chest. Nameless reveals the tattoo, and the others comment that they have them too, when Hasal points out that the others have similar auras. Balan, who comments on the fact that the tattoo has the same symbol as on the dragonshard, asks about the tattoo and Nameless emphasizes that this too should be discussed in private. After considering it for a few seconds, Balan decides that they should return to the Watch House. He says that now that they know exactly what is in the bag, they will know if anything is missing when they get there, and there is nothing there that they currently believe would be germane to the investigation. With that, the now quite large group exits from the room. And are promptly accosted around the first turn by Flim Turen, with a barrage of questions about whether they're all being arrested, why they are, what the Blackened Book wants with them, why the Guardians of the Gate are involved, and so on. Balan, who evidently knows him, fobs him off politely but firmly with the promise that he'll be told if there is any important news. All he says is that the Angels are required for an investigation and that's all. Flim tries directly questioning the adventurers or Kestran (who looks like he might brain the gnome), to no avail. He settles for promising to talk to the Angels later, especially their spokesperson Luna. Which leads to Gareth threatening (jokingly - probably) to gag her if she talks to Flim without the others and Luna to respond with a threat to sit on him as a bear. After leaving Flim behind, the group emerges from the building. Naturally, they draw a fair amount of attention from the students, professors and other people moving around the campus. Once they are outside the grounds of Morgrave University, Balan leads them to the nearest tower stairs leading down. The group descends to Middle Menthis and the Warden Towers district, which is clearly dedicated to the city Watch. Men in uniform move around the area, several of them greeting Balan and Hasal as they pass by. A large group of Watch members are practicing combat drills nearby on a field consisting of a huge platform linked to four towers. As Balan leads the Angels towards the central garrison building, he tells them that the Blackened Book has its headquarters here, which is why he arrived at the University so soon after Hasal sent the guard to fetch him. Once they reach the garrison building, Balan leads the group through the halls and corridors within to a large door that bears the sigil of the Blackened Book. The guards there salute and quickly let the group through into a large central chamber. Balan gives a couple of orders and dismisses most of the guards. Hasal too leaves. Balan leads them into a large office, occupied by a couple of clerks and more guards. Here, Nameless is asked for his statement about his activities at the time of the murder, while two of his companions (Luna and Six) are simultaneously taken into separate rooms and have their statements recorded too. After that, Balan asks about the Key and the tattoo. Nameless reiterates that he would like to discuss these in front of as few people as possible, causing Kestran (who has been grumbling and complaining throughout the procedures) to snap and grab him by his shirt, hauling his face down and yelling, "That's not your bloody choice! Just answer the damn questions, you murdering bastard!" Nameless restrains himself and settles for fixing the dwarf with an unnerving stare, which he seems a little too irate to notice. At which point Balan pointedly asks Kestran to let Nameless go and then asks the two guards present to escort him out, telling him that the Guardians of the Gate will be informed if their services are relevant here. A now even more incensed and protesting Kestran departs, swearing that this isn't over. Balan sends the remaining guards with him and dismisses the clerk as well. Once he is alone with the group, Balan becomes much less formal than before and (after commenting on the joys of working with Kestran, whom he describes as "actually mental enough to think he's doing the right thing") begins to ask a number of questions. The Angels answer a lot of them telling him a little about the dragonshard, which they basically claim to have discovered on the island and know little about, and the tattoos, which they claim appeared on them after the battle with the daelkyr (which Balan apparently knows a little about). An unknown reason for Balan's interest in the tattoo is revealed when Hasal returns to confirm what Balan sent him to find out. Arrok had a patch of skin removed from his chest, exactly where the tattoo would have been on him. Along with that information, Balan gives the group more details of the murder. It occurred at an inn (The Gray Goose) in Overlook, where Arrok was staying. He had just come down to the common room when the person impersonating Nameless entered. They greeted each other and took a side table, where they spoke for a couple of minutes before Nameless cast a ray of enfeeblement, which weakened Arrok too much for him to move. The mage then fired a lightning bolt at point blank range, almost killing Arrok and damaging tables and furniture, though none of the patrons (who were fleeing as soon as the spellcasting began) were hurt. He finished Arrok off with a volley of magic missiles, before picking his corpse up and leaving. As he left, he turned invisible. Arrok's body was found later, stripped naked and dumped, three towers away. Besides the missing skin, the only other noticeable thing about the body was the marks of what seemed to be a set of large claws on the shoulder. Nameless comments that illusion spells like invisibility are also among those he cannot cast and then asks if they have any information what the two spoke of. Balan says that a serving girl had served them. Though she couldn't recall much, she said Arrok was asking the other if his research had found anything. Balan checks about the people who knew about the dragonshard and the tattoos, and the Angels confirm that it's effectively those of them in the room with him. Though a couple of others (namely Trillia, Surr'kal and Teln) know about the dragonshard, none of them knew Arrok. Balan also asks about the individual that some of them had mentioned as possibly involved with the murder or knowing about it. The Angels tell him what they can about Killian, whom he doesn't recognize by name or description. They confirm that they had been in the Lucky Nines casino to meet him. Nameless opines that he doesn't think the murder was his doing, since it seems much too overt, and says that they have some evidence that powerful people are aware of their activities. After covering every helpful topic that they could think of, Balan tells the group that while he believes Nameless is innocent, they will have to continue the investigation and check with people at the casino and elsewhere who can corroborate Nameless' whereabouts. And, whatever information they gather, the case will have to go to trial, in anywhere from 2-6 days. During that period, Nameless will have to remain in custody, since the Blackened Book cannot afford to let a powerful mage who is a murder suspect wander the city, especially in view of his position as a foreigner. Balan adds that the Guardians of the Gate will probably try to have more of an involvement in the case, but he doubts they will succeed. Nameless has no objections to the incarceration, but asks if at least his companions can take the bag of holding. Balan agrees, saying that he has no indication that anything contained within, including the dragonshard, is relevant to the case. Before the Angels take their leave, Balan asks them to stop by the next morning, since he may be able to come up with something to expedite Nameless' release. They agree to do so and leave. Six suggests that they return to Morgrave University and speak to Flamewind, as he has been wanting to do. The others agree and head up there with him. Once they reach Upper Menthis, Dala takes her leave, saying that she needs to meet Kidro and tell him a little about what has happened, though she promises to not reveal any of the information she has been keeping secret. Gareth asks if it's safe for her to be off alone, but she says that she has far too many things to do to be able to spend all her time under their protection. She promises to be careful and leaves. Corven says that he needs to leave too, since he has to meet Tyrala at the Cyran embassy. The others head towards Morgrave. Nameless, meanwhile, is escorted to a small prison area. The route is along a couple of corridors covered in wardings and glyphs, which Balan has to allow Nameless and his guards to pass through. The cellblock consists of only three cells, all of them more comfortable than in a standard city jail. Balan explains that - while he is sure Nameless will do nothing silly in view of his accommodating behavior thus far - the cellblock is warded against teleportation magic and if someone tries to use it to enter or exit, he will be shunted through a number of the protective spells in the corridor outside. He also apologizes for the inconvenience of the stay here but Nameless assures him that he has known worse and understands that Balan has no other choice. Before leaving, Balan says that he will be back in the evening to speak to Nameless, both about whatever he discovers and about some options he has in mind. Once he is gone, Nameless settles down to an engrossing, if slightly one-sided, conversation with his pet rock, Edgar. The others make a quick stop at the Commons, a large open-air plaza where dozens of vendors in food carts offer cuisine from around Khorvaire. Since most of the customers are students, the adventurers attract some attention, with a few people claiming that they had seen them on previous visits or during the talk that morning. The Angels chat about their past and make sure to provide noncommital answers to most of the questions about their current and future plans. Afterwards, they travel to Lareth Hall and ascend to the top of the dome, where Flamewind has her chambers. The gynosphinx is home and invites them in. The adventurers settle down, availing of the fact that her chambers are both luxurious and seem primarily designed for a human occupant (other than for things like the giant scratching post). After being introduced to Korm'akhan, Flamewind asks where Nameless and Corven are. Six explains what happened with Nameless but says it's not a problem. Then they begin discussing the adventurers' experiences on the island and Flamewind's prophecy. She says that, from their description, obviously they have experienced certain aspects of it, but she is not sure when the other aspects will come into play. Though she has no control over her visions and only limited understanding of what they show, her experience shows that they generally take a long time to be completed. Six also shows her his tattoo and says that they all developed these after the battle with the daelkyr. He asks if she recognizes the symbol. Flamewind says that the serpent portion is one she knows as connected to the dragons of Argonessen and the other part is either a gem or a dragonshard. She also says that she hasn't seen the pair in combination before. Six then asks if Flamewind knows about any way to contact the dragons or anyone who can do so, which sends Flamewind into a laughing fit. She says that she's never been asked that question before, though she did have a prophecy that involved a certain group of people traveling to Argonessen. And they didn't return. Six explains that he believes the dragons have some connection with what has happened to them, and he has read in the library at Morgrave University that certain scholars believe some dragons involve themselves with the affairs of Khorvaire in disguise. Considering that their experiences will be all over the Korranberg Chronicle soon, it's possible that they will draw the attention of such creatures, and he asks Flamewind to let him know if she learns anything about it. She says she'll do so, though she warns that it's quite possible a lot of other people, not all of them friendly, will also become very interested in the Angels once the news is out. Flamewind also asks if the group minds her studying the tattoos magically. The adventurers agree and she concentrates for a few seconds, before staring fixedly at Six's tattoo. Then she says, "Interesting. I just used the equivalent of the spell your people call analyze dweomer, which is one of the more powerful divinations, and I can detect absolutely no function to the tattoo." She looks at a couple of others and has the same response. Korm then thinks of something. He turns his back, produces the Key from the bag, and says, "Try it again." A clearly puzzled Flamewind complies and says she has the same result. "What was that about?" she asks. Korm replaces the Key and turns around, saying, "I just thought of something that might produce a result. Apparently not." After a little more discussion, the group takes their leave of Flamewind, with a promise from both sides to contact the other if they learn something that might be of use or interest. They then head to Carosten Park, where they find Teln sitting outside the locked door of the Gatehouse. He says that Surr'kal is away arranging for a message to be sent to someone who can help with their questions. The Angels let him know what has happened, which worries Teln a lot. He is heading back to lower Northedge, where he normally lives, but suggests that they all stay in Carosten Park. Luna, Korm and Six decide to do so, but Gareth says he will stay at Coldflame Keep with Cedric and Mazin Tana. He travels to Northedge with Teln, who leaves Gareth eventually to head down to the Stoneyard district, where the shifter tends the parks and orchards. Gareth heads to the Keep, where he finds both Cedric and Mazin. When he tells them what has happened to Nameless, they both offer to help in any way they can, but there is little they can do. The other three visit Deathsgate to let Trillia know what has happened to Nameless. She seems more amused than worried about him, and says that though she doesn't know Balan Cord personally, she has heard that he is a reliable and conscientious officer. Trillia tells the three that they are welcome to stay the night if they want, but they say their accommodations are taken care of and leave. By the time they are back at Carosten Park, night is falling. Nameless, at approximately the same time, is visited by Balan again. He says that their investigations are proceeding and he has a fair amount of information corroborating Nameless' presence elsewhere at the time of the murder. Of course, as he has said before, this doesn't change the fact that the case needs to go to trial or that Nameless needs to stay in custody, but it makes him even more willing than before to trust Nameless and the Angels. Balan then asks Nameless, "By the way, are you and your companions currently involved in any work for anybody, or expecting to be?" "Not right now. Why?" "I may have a proposition for you. If you are interested in helping us - and I mean not just the Blackened Book but the Watch in general - with some investigation or other way, that would allow me to let you free. And depending on your degree of success, it might make the authorities in Sharn look with some favor on your group, which is always helpful." "Sure. What did you have in mind?" "Let me think about it and let you know tomorrow, once all your companions are back." With that, Balan departs, leaving Nameless to his thoughts. *** Next morning, the rest of the adventurers arrive at the garrison building. They are clearly expected and are soon sitting in a comfortable meeting room, where they are joined by Balan and Nameless. The Warden sends the guards outside and shuts the door behind them. Resuming his seat, he tells the group that Trillia has corroborated that they departed from her house at the time they'd mentioned. A few people at the Lucky Nines casino have also confirmed that they were there and speaking to Killian. The gnome was not there at the time. "In that case," says Six, "We know one thing. His ass isn't actually attached to that seat." Balan looks a little confused and Six explains that they've never seen Killian anywhere other than at the same table. Gareth also mentions that as far as they know his name isn't Killian, but all they know is that the first syllable is "Thur". Balan asks how they know and Six relates a little about Killian mimicking the appearance of Kylyman d'Sivis. He also mentions that Killian wasn't actually pretending to be Kylyman and that Kylyman both knew him and didn't seem to actually be upset about it. Balan says, "Yes - the Sivis gnomes have a strange idea of games and competition. Anyway, if I do find anything important about this Killian or 'Thur ... whatever', especially if he's involved with the case in any way, I'll let you know." Balan then goes on to tell the others about the offer he made to Nameless and that he has a couple of options in mind. One involves gladiatorial combat in Sharn, which is illegal but has a strong underground presence. There is one called the Burning Ring in Lower Menthis that the Watch is especially interested in shutting down. It is difficult to pin down since it appears at various locations and, or so Balan believes, the owners have links with the Menthis branch of the Watch. The Blackened Book has recently got involved since they believe that magical combats have been added to the list. There has also supposedly been a rise in fatalities. The job is for the Angels to find out about the Burning Ring and preferably have at least one of them actually scheduled to fight in it, since they could inform Balan magically about the location as the fights were actually taking place. Another job has to do with the Sharn drug trade. The costliest and most dangerous drug on the street (or below it, since it's usually available in the shadow markets of the Cogs) is called dragon's blood, and is solely sold by the Daask gang, who seem to have the secrets of its manufacture. Balan says he has information that it is transported into Sharn in some other form and then converted to the actual drug. He needs a significant amount of the drug, both to test this theory and to try to create an antidote. This particular job, therefore, will involve the adventurers traveling into the Cogs, attacking a location where Balan believes they can find quantities of dragon's blood (both in its final form and in the original version), and returning to him with it. The last job is also the most nebulous of all. Balan says that the King's Citadel, the organization that functions as the eyes, ears and oftentimes sword of King Boranel, might be interested in their services. Considering the secretive nature of the organization, Balan cannot say anything about the job, since he frankly doesn't know what it is. What he does know is that if the Angels make the Citadel happy with their work, they will have made their future activities and life in Breland much easier. He warns them, however, that if the group does choose to accept the Citadel assignment, there will be no backing out after they have received the details of the job. So they should be very certain before they accept it. The Angels then proceed to discuss the choices. Corven tells the others that he is going to be leaving them and heading to New Cyre later that day, so he doesn't take part in the discussion. Despite the lack of detailed information, most of the Angels prefer the Citadel job. Ironically Luna, the only Brelish citizen in the group, is the most skeptical about it, saying that getting involved with "the bloody Secret Service" is all she needs now! However, she agrees to go along with what the others decide. Korm, who knows little about the Citadel, is slightly skeptical too but says that Surr'kal asked him to keep an eye on and protect the others, and if that means working for the Citadel, then so be it. Six asks Gareth whether his personal code will cause any problems for them, if it conflicts with what they are asked to do. Gareth tells Balan that Six has a point and says that he'd like Balan to inform the Citadel that he won't do anything that offends his personal code. Balan says that he doesn't think it'll be a problem, but they can bring that up themselves before getting any details of the job. He produces an envelope that is addressed to Captain Talleon Haliar Tonan and sealed with the mark of the Blackened Book. Balan hands it over to Nameless and tells him that he should present it at the Citadel in Ambassador Towers, the building housing the main city jail as well as the headquarters of the King's Citadel in Sharn. The group should be there at 10 am the next day. With that, Balan tells Nameless that he is free to go. As long as the case remains under investigation, none of the group should leave Sharn. It's quite likely, in fact, that the Guardians of the Gate have their names and descriptions out to all areas of egress from the city. Corven is a little concerned at the news and asks if he might have trouble, and Balan suggests that he get extra documentation from the Cyran embassy. The Angels then depart and head back to Central Plateau. There, Corven leaves the others to make preparations for his journey. He says that he's planning to arrange an expedition to the island (or its remnants) as soon as possible, but it's likely to take months. He also says that he will most likely be in New Cyre throughout the time that he isn't in Sharn and asks them to contact him via the Sivis station there if they learn anything that might help him in his quest to learn more about the creation of the Mournland or if they need his help in any way. After he leaves, the others ascend to Carosten Park. There, they walk to the Gatehouse, where they find the door open and Surr'kal and Teln inside. Surr'kal welcomes them in, saying that Teln had told him what happened and that he's relieved to see Nameless free. He also says that he contacted a trusted traveler heading west from near the city, who will contact Gurr'khan and ask him to visit. Gurr'khan prefers not to visit the city, but with his ability to travel huge distances via plants, he will be able to do so as soon as he gets the news. And he is probably the best option in Breland for both finding and bringing one of the greater loremasters from the Shadow Marches or the Eldeen Reaches. It will, however, take well over a week for the message to reach him. The Angels then begin to tell him a little about their experiences since they last met him, when they are interrupted by the sound of multiple screams from some distance outside the cottage, quickly followed by growling. Loud growling. The adventurers, as well as Teln and Surr'kal, rush out. The source of the sounds is obvious. About a hundred or so feet from the cottage are four animals of immense size. Two are badgers, but each of them is fully ten feet long. And they are dwarfed by the other animals, two wolves which stand ten feet tall at the shoulder and stretch nearly twenty feet in length. The large dire bat flying above them is similarly dwarfed, while the burly shifter standing behind them is almost invisible in comparison. The animals are mauling an unfortunate family, who had presumably been enjoying the sights of the park only moments ago. As soon the Angels emerge, the dire bat flies towards them, screeching something as it goes. As if in response, one wolf and badger charge at them, though the other two continue to chew on the now dead family. The shifter too races forward at preternatural speed, his already feral expression turning more bestial. As he comes he roars aloud and large claws emerge from his fingers. Leaping through the air, he buries them deep in the pelt of Luna, who is the closest to him and already in bear form. She roars in anger and pain and claws back. One of the last to emerge from the Gatehouse, Korm draws his unusual sword and then swears in orc as he recognizes the assailant. "It's the Children of Winter I fought!" Throwing a quick look at the dire bat, he yells, "That must be the other one. Spread out!" Before the others can comply, the bat screeches again and a thicket of thorny branches erupts from the ground around Korm and the others, holding most of them securely in place. The druids Surr'kal and Teln are able to pass smoothly through the branches as if they didn't exist, as is Luna, who ignores the fact that the her hindquarters are within the thicket. Korm, though he lacks their ability, simply shoves his way through the branches, ignoring the scratches they leave. Gareth is unable to do the same, but his heavy armor protects him from the thorns. Having emerged, Korm speaks an arcane word and hurls his sword at the dire bat. The sword zooms like an arrow at the creature, but at the last moment the bat swerves away and the sword flies back to Korm's hand. Six, who is outside the area of the wall of thorns when it appears, has problems of his own. The huge wolf looms over him and bites down into his shoulder, pulling him off his feet. Surr'kal, having emerged from the far side of the wall, is attacked by the badger, which forces him to retreat back into the thorns and use them as a shield. Luna is already badly wounded by the immensely powerful shifter, and even though she manages to inflict deep wounds of her own, they seem to have less effect on her clearly berserk opponent. Teln heals her somewhat, but blood still streams down her fur. The other two animals, having disposed of their victims, also head towards the fight, while the druid in bat form above brings down bolts of lightning. Just as things are looking very dire*, Nameless takes a hand. Ignoring the scratches from the thorns, he drops a dispel magic on the area outside, catching two of the animals and Luna's opponent. Though no change is apparent to two of them, the wolf that tripped Six promptly shrinks to a smaller size (albeit one nearly ten feet in length), with a comical look of lupine surprise. Nameless follows up by conjuring up a bank of solid fog centred on the bat, causing it to disappear from view with an angry squawk. He then follows up by dimension dooring out of the wall, with a relieved Gareth in tow. With the bat no longer bringing spells down on them, the adventurers begin to inflict substantial damage to their enemies. Six badly wounds the dire wolf and cuts it down with Gareth's aid. The creature is clearly summoned, since it disappears as soon as it drops. As does the dire badger that is quickly brought down by Six and Gareth, along with the three pseudonatural bison Nameless summons. Korm, on the other side of the fight, has badly wounded the dire badger that attacked Surr'kal, when he is bowled off his feet by the charge of the remaining huge wolf. Lying on the ground, with the two animals looming over him, Korm taps into the roots of his orcish heritage and his unusual training. His movements blur, as he speaks the words of a spell to cure some of his wounds and then rolls over, lashing out with desperate speed as his muscles swell with berserker strength. A mighty blow lays the badger's throat open and it disappears as it falls. Even as the wolf lays his side open, Korm strikes back from the ground and brings it down by neatly removing one of its legs. By the time the dire bat manages to emerge from the solid fog (barely avoiding two more bats that Surr'kal has summoned) and reaches a position from which it can bring down another lightning bolt, Nameless has summoned a pair of pseudonatural hippogriffs and commanded them to grapple it. The dire bat manages to bring down a flame strike on Nameless, which the alienist dodges the brunt of, before being grabbed by a hippogriff. Which, at Nameless command, drops from the air nearly sixty feet up, bringing the bat down with it. Two of the bison promptly rush over and attempt to stamp on it. Luna, meanwhile, has somehow managed to stay on her feet despite the wounds inflicted on her. Seeing her tottering, Gareth rushes up and touches her with Kizmet, causing the sword to bestow its healing on her and closing the majority of her wounds. Seeing his enemy being healed, the shifter screams in fury. He swings with all his strength, jamming both handfuls of claws into Luna's neck, ripping her throat open and dropping her in a pool of blood.** The shifter howls in triumph as she drops. But even as Luna falls, a bloody Korm rises on the other side of her enemy with sword swinging. It bites deep, severing the spine and almost cutting the shifter in half.*** Even as he falls, the dire bat (some of whose wounds close even though he appears to have cast no spell) somehow manages to drag itself out of the hippogriff's grasp, its magical protections protecting it from the efforts of the attacking bison. It flaps into the air as fast as it can and heads away. Nameless promptly summons a griffon, which tries vainly to grab it, as do Surr'kal's bats. Korm, turning from the body of the shifter, concentrates for a moment and large wings sprout from his shoulder blades****. He leaps into the air, racing after the fleeing druid. The hippogriffs, slower and more awkward than the bats, also rise clumsily from the ground and wing after it. Unfortunately, the fleeing druid still has a couple of tricks left. A sleet storm appears right behind it, blinding and slowing down its enemies, allowing it to build up enough speed to escape. Realizing that chasing is futile, Korm flaps his way back to rejoin the others. Gareth, having just revived Luna before she could bleed to death, looks up at an exclamation from Six, who has been examining the dead shifter. "Hey - it's not a guy. She's a woman!" Nameless looks down at the figure and says, "How can you tell? Look at those muscles. And the sideburns!" Gareth takes a look at the expression on the face of Luna, who has just turned back into a shaky-looking - and now irritated-looking - shifter and quickly adds, "We should check on the other people they attacked. Right now." * Animal growthed and dire, to be precise ** Gareth got her to 40 hp and I rolled a crit, that unfortunately took her to 2 hp. Since she was still on her feet the shifter took the follow-up attack, taking Luna straight to -17. *** Korm got three confirmed crits in the space of three rounds. Made a big difference to the fight. **** We're using the UA variant of Aspects of Nature (modified) for Korm'akhan, to set him apart from Luna. [/QUOTE]
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