Apologies to all for the lag time. I will endeavor to be more regular in my postings from here on out. For those unfamiliar, a brief synopsis:
The Party:
Alaria Staver is a wizardess from “the Mage Lands” of R’Hath. She has just recently come to the Orea mainland on a final errand for her mentor before being freed from her apprenticeship to him. Alaria is the de facto leader of the party as the rest of the group is employed as her escort to aid in completing her quest. She is intelligent and exacting if sometimes impatient and might appear at times a bit shallow. As most R’Hathi, Alaria views the use of magic (and those who use it) to be highly superior to those who do/can not. Alaria is also a woman of obvious beauty.
Braddok Eth Barforth is a swordsman from the far western realm of Denil. He sees himself as the party leader, considering most of the group to be “his band” who has been hired by Alara. A capable warrior with formal training and experience, Braddok still likes to use his head before his sword. He also has something of crush on Alaria.
Haelan Spurthistle is a “Hilltender” (cleric) of the halfling primary goddess, Faerantha. He is kind, courteous, a bit too innocent and almost always in a chipper good mood. Despite the danger, he is thoroughly enjoying his first venture into the wilds beyond his homeland and views the other party members as true friends (despite the fact they’ve known each other for little more than a week).
Erevanis an elf of the Miralosta nation who came to the primarily human Freelands seeking adventure. He has his people’s uncanny skill with sword and bow as well as schooled in the practice of magic. He’s been putting his elvin stealth and woodcraft talents to use as the party scout during their travels. Erevan met Braddok and Haelan shortly after his arrival in the city of Hawkview, where the group met and was hired by Alaria.
Duor Darkesmythe is a dwarf and thief whose place in the party came as something of a accident. A failed attempt to enter Hawkview’s thieves’ guild, the Dusk, led to a confrontation wherein the party came to Duor’s rescue (Duor also saved Alaria’s life during that same combat). An offer from Alaria to accompany them out of the city (not to mention promise of payment) was eagerly accepted.
“Goldshield” Coerraine is a paladin belonging to the order of the Redstar Knights, a branch of the temple of Celradorn god of battle and guardianship. The handsome young blond hails from the southern kingdom of Mostrial but was stationed by his order to Celradorn’s temple in Hawkview. Coerraine was then assigned by the high priest (as a favor to the mage guild’s magister) to accompany and, as his rank of “Goldshield” demands, guard and protect Alaria on her mission. He is every bit the honorable and dutiful paladin and devout to the tenets of courage and justice of his order.
Also with the party is Waverider Trihna (NPC). She is a priestess of the sea goddess, Tyris, from the temple in the seaside village of Shoal. Tirhna was sent with the party by her superior, Tidemaster Kama, to guide and aid them in the retrieval of a sacred Tyrisian artifact from Dragonbone Isle.
The Story thus far: Alaria traveled to the mainland port city of Hawkview upon her “release” from her tutelage/apprenticeship in the arts of magic. Delivering her message to the guild magister, Kurklani, she then found out that her package was to be delivered to an associate in the hamlet of Welford, a solid two weeks north of the city. Crestfallen that her life of freedom was further away than she’d thought, Alaria hired Braddok, Haelan and Erevan to accompany her on her mission. The four encountered (and rescued) the dwarf Duor. With the addition of the Redstar Knight, Coerraine, the band of six began their journey.
After a week of travel in the wild (including avoiding a rather large warband of goblins) they came to the seaside village of Shoal to rest and resupply. There they met Tidemaster Kama, who oddly enough was expecting them and beseeched the party to aid the temple in the retrieve of a lost artifact and investigate/defend the village from alleged evil forces “returning” to the surrounding seas.
Sailing with the Waverider, Trihna, to Dragonbone Isle, the party battled with giant crabs before camping down in the midst of a late summer storm. The following day, beginning their exploration of the island in earnest, the party was ambushed by a powerful harpy who abducted the halfling priest, Haelan. They gave chase and tracked the foul fowl foe to a large broad cliff-sided promontory where the harpy (and unbeknownst to the party, her two sisters) laired.
Now, they must rescue their stalwart hair-footed companion.
Let’s see how this goes...
--Steel Dragons
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The party watched as the great condor let out a piercing cry as it circled back over the promontory.
“We need a distraction.”, said Braddok. “We can’t take those giant birds and the harpy and there’s no way we’re getting down the side of that cliff with them circling overhead.”
Alaria furrowed her delicate brow at the obvious statement and found herself moreso annoyed at her inability to come up with one.
Duor, to everyone’s surprise, suggested he climb out across the side of the cliff face from their current position. All bravery and appreciation aside, Alaria thought the idea much too risky.
As they debated their options more, shrieking cackles filled the air as not just the large harpy with black-tipped pinions they had followed flew up over the edge of the cliff, but a second harpy, this one with rusty reddish plumage and hair, appeared as well.
They flapped vigorously holding position in midair as the larger of the two pointed to their position. The red-head smiled broadly and clapped her talonned hands as she alit on the broad rocky expanse before them.
“That’s that then.”, said Braddok and charged out of the woods edge with a throaty battlecry. He heard Coerraine’s clanking charge close behind him.
An arrow, then two whizzed past him as Braddok ran. The harpy shrieked in surprise as one grazed her milky smooth arm to leave a bright crimson streak.
“That wasn’t nice!” cooed the harpy Shireen. Her lovely face seemed to twist into a visage of ugly anger. She drew in a deep breadth.
Alaria and Duor braced for one of the creature’s sonic screeches they had encountered not long before.
What came out of the harpy’s mouth, however, was no screech at all but a voice of pure gold. Lilting notes rose and fell and soared in a melodic beauty.
Braddok and Coerraine both slowed their charge and eventually came to a halt just before the creature.
The larger harpy, still in flight cackled in a gleeful victory.
It was then Alaria recalled from her studies that harpy’s had a unique ability to charm men and delighted in doing so…invariably to the men’s doom. “Duor, quickly, you must stop her singing!” the magess ordered to the dwarf beside her.
Duor made no move nor under-his-breath remark. He just stood there, statuesque, staring at the singing harpy. “Orcass.” muttered Alaria. “Erevan?” she turned to the elf who was in the process of firing off another round of his well-placed bolts at the other harpy. “At least I have one protector left,” she thought.
“Ooooo! Grizelda, you didn’t say they were so hannndsome. I can’t even choose which one is more delicious.” The red-headed harpy chirped.
“Later for that, you featherbrain! The others! Send them to destroy the others!” Grizelda commanded. “AAHHK!” Another of Erevan’s arrows caught Grizelda in her shoulder and the large harpy was forced to land. “Flay the elf!” she shouted to her sister.
“Oh! Right. Sorry Grizelda.” Shireen apologized. “Boys. Those nasty people in the trees are going to hurt me. You don’t want them to hurt me do you?” She brushed up against Braddok and gently rubbed a taloned hand over Corraine’s broad chest. “Would you be a couple of dears and go slay them for me?”
Braddok and Coerraine, without a word, turned and began to march back toward their companions in the treeline. Determination showed clearly on their faces.
“Oh and bring me the elf’s ears for a nibble, would you darlings?” called Shireen as an afterthought and then burst in a cackling chirping laugh.
Grizelda turned her head to the sky and let out another shriek. It was obvious the giant condor was under the harpy’s control and turned immediately at her call to dive towards the treeline.
“Trihna, take cover! We must save the men!” shouted Alaria and grabbed Duor by the hood of his cloak and pulled him back with her behind one of the trees. She glanced over to where the sea priestess stood. Trihna’s eyes stared at the approaching warriors, her lips repeated a chant that Alaria could not quite hear.
Suddenly, a hot pain tore through Alaria’s right arm. Duor had drawn his dagger and slashed her. The magess cried out and backed away from the ensorcelled rogue. She turned to see she was being herded out of the treeline and closer to the warriors. Before her, Duor pressed forward, dagger in hand dripping with the fresh blood of the R’Hathi wizardess. In the back of her mind, she imaged any second she would feel talons fall on her from above. “Forgive me, Duor, but you are not yourself…YEX!”
The magic flowed freely from Alaria’s outstretched arm and a momentary flash of light dazzled the dwarf. Alaria took the moment to hurry over to Trihna’s side and caught the end of whatever the priestess had been chanting. It was definitely something in the Selurian tongue of priestly magics and with the final syllable, Trihna brought her fist down into her other open palm in a forceful motion.
With that Coerraine stopped in his tracks, and blinked a few times. Braddok continued towards the women, raising his sword. Still confused, but going on instinct, the Goldshield quickly positioned himself between Braddok and the women in time to catch Braddok’s sword on his shield.
A scream from above drew Alaria’s attention where she was shocked to see the condor’s dive disrupted by another of its kind. With the arrival of the harpies, Alaria had forgotten there were originally two of the giant birds of prey.
The new arrival let out its own shrieks and buffeted the other bird with is massive wings. Alaria could hardly believe her eyes when she noticed the second bird had…a rider? A figure in a green colored cloak clung to the birds back. He or she stood out against the great bird’s dark feathers.
The harpy, Grizelda, let out more of the screeching commands to the condor she had been controlling. Shireen, no longer laughing since her hold over the paladin had been broken, was shouting commands to Braddok.
Erevan saw his moment and let another barrage of arrows fly at the larger of the bird-women. Both bolts struck, with one piercing the creature’s throat.
Grizelda looked to the elf with utter shock and utter hate. She opened her sharp-toothed mouth what looked impossibly wide. No sound came forth but a whistling wheeze. So, with a wheeze and a thud on the rocky promontory, the eldest harpy sister met her end.
Seeing Grizelda fall, Shireen let out a scream of absolute grief. The piercing tone filled the air and again everyone in the group, included the enchanted Braddok, was forced to cover their ears.
“You killed my sister!” the red-headed harpy screeched at Erevan and made a lunge in the elf’s direction.
In a blur, Duor stood before Erevan, his hand crossbow trained on the attacking creature. “Ah ah ah there, red.”, the dwarf said. “You’ve seen what these arrows can do. Wouldn’t want to end up like your friend, there.”
Shireen halted her attack. Her lips curled into a sneer at the dwarf’s threat. Her tear filled eyes darted to where the rest of the group stood watching her. In the sky, the battling condors had fled when she had keened. Her wail had broken her control over Braddok and the whole party, unscathed, faced her.
“I’d listen to him.”, came a voice from behind the harpy.
Shireen whirled around (as did the party) to see a red-haired youth in brown leathers and a greenish cloak leveling a spear at the creature.