Rel's Faded Glory III: Glory Reborn (FINAL UPDATE 6/22 - SHE'S DONE, BABY!!)
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Rel
Liquid Awesome
The air seemed to pull at Marcus as his descent slowed dramatically and he began to Fall like a Feather. He spared a grateful glance at the ring on his left hand for half a moment before watching Cathal flailing helplessly toward the bottom of the hole.
Fate is a fickle thing and it seemed so unjust for Cathal to have managed to fight his way through the avalanche only to be swatted over the edge of the sinkhole by the giants moments later. But fate had one other twist up her sleeve. The avalanche probably saved the life of the Brigante indirectly. The collapse had caused the edge of the hole to be beveled back somewhat and he had hit the side of the hole and slid for a short distance, slowing his fall. And the mass of loose earth and gravel that had fallen into the bottom of the hole also served to absorb some of the impact.
Regardless, he landed with a bone-bending, muscle-jarring, impact that had him gasping for breath and struggling to remain conscious. Through this cataclysm of pain and confusion both Marcus and Cathal remained aware the Marius was all alone up above them and would last for mere moments against the combined might of their foes. Even as they lay sprawled upon the ground they saw one of the white wolves send another spray of sleety breath raking across the Imperial Explorer who clung to the wall 80 feet above their heads.
Marcus found his feet and he fixed his hands back upon the wall and began climbing again immediately. Cathal cursed in his native Fodoran and did the same, noting for future reference that his magical Shield had done nothing to save him from the impact of his fall.
Above them Marius let fly with a string of expletives unsurpassed by those he had heard spouted by the Imperial sailors on his journey across the Crescent Sea. Knowing that to climb over the edge of the hole was almost certain death, he retreated slightly and looked down to see how soon he could expect Marcus and Cathal to catch back up again. “HURRY UP!!” And where in the nine hells was that Wizard?! And where was Speaks with their backup?! More cursing followed.
The bellowing laughter of the giants echoed down into the pit below as they mocked the fallen warriors and taunted Marius in their native tongue. Their laughter ended abruptly as the ground all around them began to erupt with squat alien forms and the white-hot heads of Lava Worms.
Called forth from their home in a distant reality of soil and stone, the Xorn and Thoqqua were surprised to find a human who knew their speech. His instructions were clear: Upon his command they were to ascend to the surface of this world and lay waste to the foes who awaited there. They were only too happy to be about this business before returning home.
This enemy arriving from beneath their feet cast confusion among the giants and wolves at the surface. They struck back at these enemies as best they could but as soon as they had one of the stony creatures flanked it would duck back beneath the ground and resurface to strike from another direction. Puzzled at this foe, the Winter Wolves looked askance at their master only to find that he had taken the familiar form of a heron and perched atop the crucifix that held the wounded man. The giants too looked for guidance from their mistress but she was typically unseen.
This confusion bought enough time for the rest of the party to recover and Marius, Marcus and Cathal all sprang over the edge of the sinkhole just as an eagle shot skyward behind them. They looked around to find that the Xorn and Lava Worms were doing their jobs well. Two of the Xorn were closing on the crucifix and seemed to be about to strike at the large bird perched there. Another was harrying the pair of wolves while the Lava Worms stung the legs of the giants repeatedly with their glowing hot heads.
Marius, Marcus and Cathal immediately engaged the distracted giants and sought to keep them off balance by surrounding them and cutting at vital tendons and muscles in their legs. Speaks heeled over toward the battle and saw the Xorn closing on the crucifix. He was at first concerned that they were about to attack the captive before he noticed the heron. His eagle eyes narrowed as he dove toward the battle. That heron had spoken of his father’s death and he was going to tell Speaks what he knew one way or another.
Before Speaks could draw within range to use his magic, a pillar of Flame Struck out of the heavens and scorched the entire area surrounding the crucifix. The heron seemed un-burned as did the Xorn who retreated beneath the earth once again. But the flames washed over the man lashed to the cross. He struggled in agony against his bonds briefly. Then it was over.
Lazarius decided that it was time to act. He appeared in the sky where he had been circling invisibly and a blast of crackling lightning shot from his outstretched palm, raking across the heron. Feathers flew and it seemed likely that the heron would not survive another such blast. A smile of satisfaction began to creep across the Wizard’s face before the sky around him detonated in a burst of fire.
Below, the tall blue form of the female demon appeared from nowhere and took her turn to smile as the bead struck home and exploded in a huge Fireball directly next to the Wizard. She could see that the battle was turning against them but decided to get a few shots in before parting.
Marcus brought his mace down across the thigh of the giant with a tremendous CRACK! The huge man cried in pain and toppled to the ground where Marius’ rapier found his ear. Cathal bounded in great leaps toward the other giant, absorbed a blow from its club and responded with a thrust of his crackling bastard sword. A cry of Rage erupted from his mouth and bloodlust filled the Brigante. Cathal’s cry merged with the shriek of an eagle as a glimmer of recognition swept over Speaks. He too was filled with rage and dove at the heron with his claws outstretched.
Seeing the raptor descending upon him, the heron fluttered off the cross and alighted on a stone outcropping a few yards away, steadying himself to let loose another Flame Strike, this one striking down upon Speaks. But the druid’s eagle form burst through the attack, singed but filled with hateful purpose.
Equally filled with hateful purpose was Lazarius who wheeled in the air and launched a ball of lightning at his blue nemesis below, catching the only surviving wolf in the blast. The wolf fell to the ground, twitching as the demoness cried out in pain and resignation. She knew that she had been bested this day and vanished. Lazarius’ curses filled the air and even Marius was impressed.
The pair of Imperials closed on the last giant as Cathal dealt it another vicious pair of blows across the belly. Marcus struck it in the arm as it swung its mighty club again and Marius hamstrung it. All three warriors raised their weapons to end the brute’s existence. A hundred feet away, obscured by the smoking ruins of the cross, a heron awaited an eagle to do battle.
But the battle between birds was not to be. Before Speaks could close the distance, claws and jaws arose from the stones around the heron and shredded the life from the creature. Then, their calling ended, the Xorn vanished beneath the stone and back to their home plane. A deathly quiet crept across the carnage of the brief battle, broken only by the crackling of the burning cross.
As Speaks resumed human form and approached, the ropes burned through and snapped. The body they once held tumbled forward and spun slightly, landing face up upon the scorched earth, right at the druid’s feet. Sorrow swept over Speaks and his throat tightened allowing only one word to pass.
“Master…”
Fate is a fickle thing and it seemed so unjust for Cathal to have managed to fight his way through the avalanche only to be swatted over the edge of the sinkhole by the giants moments later. But fate had one other twist up her sleeve. The avalanche probably saved the life of the Brigante indirectly. The collapse had caused the edge of the hole to be beveled back somewhat and he had hit the side of the hole and slid for a short distance, slowing his fall. And the mass of loose earth and gravel that had fallen into the bottom of the hole also served to absorb some of the impact.
Regardless, he landed with a bone-bending, muscle-jarring, impact that had him gasping for breath and struggling to remain conscious. Through this cataclysm of pain and confusion both Marcus and Cathal remained aware the Marius was all alone up above them and would last for mere moments against the combined might of their foes. Even as they lay sprawled upon the ground they saw one of the white wolves send another spray of sleety breath raking across the Imperial Explorer who clung to the wall 80 feet above their heads.
Marcus found his feet and he fixed his hands back upon the wall and began climbing again immediately. Cathal cursed in his native Fodoran and did the same, noting for future reference that his magical Shield had done nothing to save him from the impact of his fall.
Above them Marius let fly with a string of expletives unsurpassed by those he had heard spouted by the Imperial sailors on his journey across the Crescent Sea. Knowing that to climb over the edge of the hole was almost certain death, he retreated slightly and looked down to see how soon he could expect Marcus and Cathal to catch back up again. “HURRY UP!!” And where in the nine hells was that Wizard?! And where was Speaks with their backup?! More cursing followed.
The bellowing laughter of the giants echoed down into the pit below as they mocked the fallen warriors and taunted Marius in their native tongue. Their laughter ended abruptly as the ground all around them began to erupt with squat alien forms and the white-hot heads of Lava Worms.
Called forth from their home in a distant reality of soil and stone, the Xorn and Thoqqua were surprised to find a human who knew their speech. His instructions were clear: Upon his command they were to ascend to the surface of this world and lay waste to the foes who awaited there. They were only too happy to be about this business before returning home.
This enemy arriving from beneath their feet cast confusion among the giants and wolves at the surface. They struck back at these enemies as best they could but as soon as they had one of the stony creatures flanked it would duck back beneath the ground and resurface to strike from another direction. Puzzled at this foe, the Winter Wolves looked askance at their master only to find that he had taken the familiar form of a heron and perched atop the crucifix that held the wounded man. The giants too looked for guidance from their mistress but she was typically unseen.
This confusion bought enough time for the rest of the party to recover and Marius, Marcus and Cathal all sprang over the edge of the sinkhole just as an eagle shot skyward behind them. They looked around to find that the Xorn and Lava Worms were doing their jobs well. Two of the Xorn were closing on the crucifix and seemed to be about to strike at the large bird perched there. Another was harrying the pair of wolves while the Lava Worms stung the legs of the giants repeatedly with their glowing hot heads.
Marius, Marcus and Cathal immediately engaged the distracted giants and sought to keep them off balance by surrounding them and cutting at vital tendons and muscles in their legs. Speaks heeled over toward the battle and saw the Xorn closing on the crucifix. He was at first concerned that they were about to attack the captive before he noticed the heron. His eagle eyes narrowed as he dove toward the battle. That heron had spoken of his father’s death and he was going to tell Speaks what he knew one way or another.
Before Speaks could draw within range to use his magic, a pillar of Flame Struck out of the heavens and scorched the entire area surrounding the crucifix. The heron seemed un-burned as did the Xorn who retreated beneath the earth once again. But the flames washed over the man lashed to the cross. He struggled in agony against his bonds briefly. Then it was over.
Lazarius decided that it was time to act. He appeared in the sky where he had been circling invisibly and a blast of crackling lightning shot from his outstretched palm, raking across the heron. Feathers flew and it seemed likely that the heron would not survive another such blast. A smile of satisfaction began to creep across the Wizard’s face before the sky around him detonated in a burst of fire.
Below, the tall blue form of the female demon appeared from nowhere and took her turn to smile as the bead struck home and exploded in a huge Fireball directly next to the Wizard. She could see that the battle was turning against them but decided to get a few shots in before parting.
Marcus brought his mace down across the thigh of the giant with a tremendous CRACK! The huge man cried in pain and toppled to the ground where Marius’ rapier found his ear. Cathal bounded in great leaps toward the other giant, absorbed a blow from its club and responded with a thrust of his crackling bastard sword. A cry of Rage erupted from his mouth and bloodlust filled the Brigante. Cathal’s cry merged with the shriek of an eagle as a glimmer of recognition swept over Speaks. He too was filled with rage and dove at the heron with his claws outstretched.
Seeing the raptor descending upon him, the heron fluttered off the cross and alighted on a stone outcropping a few yards away, steadying himself to let loose another Flame Strike, this one striking down upon Speaks. But the druid’s eagle form burst through the attack, singed but filled with hateful purpose.
Equally filled with hateful purpose was Lazarius who wheeled in the air and launched a ball of lightning at his blue nemesis below, catching the only surviving wolf in the blast. The wolf fell to the ground, twitching as the demoness cried out in pain and resignation. She knew that she had been bested this day and vanished. Lazarius’ curses filled the air and even Marius was impressed.
The pair of Imperials closed on the last giant as Cathal dealt it another vicious pair of blows across the belly. Marcus struck it in the arm as it swung its mighty club again and Marius hamstrung it. All three warriors raised their weapons to end the brute’s existence. A hundred feet away, obscured by the smoking ruins of the cross, a heron awaited an eagle to do battle.
But the battle between birds was not to be. Before Speaks could close the distance, claws and jaws arose from the stones around the heron and shredded the life from the creature. Then, their calling ended, the Xorn vanished beneath the stone and back to their home plane. A deathly quiet crept across the carnage of the brief battle, broken only by the crackling of the burning cross.
As Speaks resumed human form and approached, the ropes burned through and snapped. The body they once held tumbled forward and spun slightly, landing face up upon the scorched earth, right at the druid’s feet. Sorrow swept over Speaks and his throat tightened allowing only one word to pass.
“Master…”
Last edited:
Rel
Liquid Awesome
Darklone said:
Well, I'm not sure that they would characterize it as "easy". But the small horde of Xorn and Thoqqua that Speaks summoned sure gave them an edge. As I recall, it took about 3 rounds or so for Marcus and Cathal to get back up the hole and the giants and winter wolves took significant damage during that time.
Also, Cathal was tottering on the edge of oblivion the whole time thanks to the big chunk of falling damage that he took. I think he may have chugged a potion or two in there before starting his climb back up. It wasn't listed in the battle report I was working from but he moves significantly faster than Marcus (thanks to being a Barbarian as well as his Boots of Striding and Springing) so I'm sure he had time.
One other notable thing is that this was the first time in ages that I knew I had a great recurring villian on my hands in the form of "The Blue Chick". Lazarius was lurking around invisibly for most of the fight for the express purpose of waiting her out. The hatred between those two was entertaining to watch grow.
I'm going to try and post another "info dump" style update over the weekend sometime and next week I'll be able to post a "guest update" written by Cathal. He did a great battle report for me in prose that was so well done that I asked him if I could just post it in its entirety when the time came.
Speaks With Stone
First Post
It could have gone even better had our timing been a tad better. The horde of Thoqua and Xorn were supposed to attack before our fighters tried to climb out of the hole. We knew they were up there waiting to ambush us - so we were going to surprise them with an attack from the rear. Then have our guys pour out of the hole while they turned to face the earthy critters.
I know I used all of my high level spells to summon those things - I want to say I cast at least 5 spells summoning multiple critters with each casting. It was fun to have the horde of dice (we didn't have any good figures for them) march across the battlefield to attack. It was an unseen wave until it crashed.
I know I used all of my high level spells to summon those things - I want to say I cast at least 5 spells summoning multiple critters with each casting. It was fun to have the horde of dice (we didn't have any good figures for them) march across the battlefield to attack. It was an unseen wave until it crashed.
BSF
Explorer
Meganifty.
Losing the heron-druid must have been somewhat frustrating. You always wonder if you might have been able to extract a little information if you had been able to capture instead of kill. The recurring villian looks to be a promising development.
I don't think I would characterize the battle as easy. It was well-thought out by the players. That's always a good thing!
Losing the heron-druid must have been somewhat frustrating. You always wonder if you might have been able to extract a little information if you had been able to capture instead of kill. The recurring villian looks to be a promising development.
I don't think I would characterize the battle as easy. It was well-thought out by the players. That's always a good thing!
Rel
Liquid Awesome
Just wanted to pop in and give my standard apology for tardiness on the update. However, this time around, I've got a pretty good reason.
Over the course of the last week I've been in the process of starting my own business. This is something that has pretty much fallen into my lap and I'm going to run with it. Thus far, "running with it" has involved a good deal of online research and some paperwork to be filed with the state. So I've been somewhat preoccupied with that.
I'll do my best to post something before the end of the week.
Over the course of the last week I've been in the process of starting my own business. This is something that has pretty much fallen into my lap and I'm going to run with it. Thus far, "running with it" has involved a good deal of online research and some paperwork to be filed with the state. So I've been somewhat preoccupied with that.
I'll do my best to post something before the end of the week.
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