The Romance of the River Kingdoms

[Shayuri]

Annika nearly collapsed to a knee as the new creature attacked. Damn the luck! Would there be no end to the monsters here? Why would they have been sent to such a desolate, horrible place?!

Somehow though, she finds more power within herself. It would have been impossible not long ago...but now the spirit fire, the legacy of the Golden Crow...now there was some left where there should have been none.

Her voice is soft as she chants the invocation this time...weak. A final stab against this foe...but as she sends the flame forth, there's some pride in knowing that she's exceeded her limit, even if only by a single spell.

(One...last...magic missile...gasp)

 

[Walking Dad]

AC 15 (T15, FF13), HP 19/31, F +5,R+2,W+6 (Spells: 0:5/5, 1:4/4)

Ape swings at the yeti. Even with the summoner down, he is still a thread...

[sblock=ooc]
attack with shilleagh: at +3 , dam 2d6+1[/sblock]

 

[Dr Simon]

OOC: The 'ice demon' is down and bleeding slush. I'm going to assume that Ape goes for the yeti, as it is still very much alive and kicking (throwing).

Annika's fiery feather slams into the yeti's shoulder, causing it to roar in pain, tinged with fear (it seems to dislike the fiery effect).

As Three Flowers blocks its raking attacks with its claws, Growling Ape darts inside its reach. Its claws rake down his back as he does so, drawing three lines of blood but luckily for Ape it doesn't manage to grab hold of him. He swings his enchanted staff, the power of nature flows through it as it connects solidly with the yeti's ribs. The creature literally explodes into a burst of snowflakes as Ape's staff passes right through it.

The snowfall stops, and the scudding grey clouds seem to vanish away to give a clear blue sky.

The snow and ice begin to melt, supernaturally quickly. Green grass sprouts from underfoot and the withered winter trees burst into spring buds.

Out on the ice, Xielt spits a few curses in the tlaxu language as his claws frantically scrabble on the rapidly melting surface. The ice gives way beneath him but, hissing and spluttering, he swims back to shore, struggling up onto land and rescuing his clawsticks on the way. The Lion Guard soldier, already back on shore, leans hurt and weary upon his spear.

Everyone is beaten, bloodied or half-frozen, but alive. The demon's body melts away, leaving only its scale armour, fur cloak, twin moon-blade (all Large size) and the pile of bones that it had been sat on.

[sblock=ooc]
Annika magic missile on yeti, 5 damage
Yeti AoO on Ape, hits (an unconfirmed threat), 9 damage
Growling Ape attack on yeti 20+3=23, hit. Crit confirmation 15+3=18, critical.
Damage 4d6+4 = 15, enough to destroy yeti.
(Swim check for Xielt 16+2=18).

Well done all, that was probably about an EL6! I wanted to really put those extra hit points through their paces

In case you were wondering, I took the base stats for a Wang Liang from Oriental Adventures, and swapped out invisibility for a breath weapon and cold traits. I swapped the yeti's cold aura for the funky throw ability which was fun to visualize but, oh, so many grapple checks. Shame it only got the NPCs really. Growling Ape was *very* lucky.
[/sblock]

 

[The Rolling Man]

Jar'Thol, Salsham'ai shaman

Jar'Thol lays motionless and stunned for a while after both the ice demon and his ape ally are vanquished. He considers himself to be lucky in surviving a fight against such terrible foes. Recovering from his initial shock, he finally speaks. "Well fought friends, I can't believe we survived this. The old Vashi was wise to group us together. The spirits aiding, we'll succeed in completing her quest. Now, there must be something here that the Vashi wanted us to find." Jar'Thol first tends to the wounded, invoking the spirits when necessary (OOC: casting clw on anyone that has 'health' damage. Jar'Thol has 3 1st lvl spell slots left so he'll start with 3f, then Annika, Xielt and finally the lion guard if he has any spell slots left).

With this done, he turns his attention to the pile of bones the demon was sitting on. With a bit of distaste, he moves a few aside, to see if anything is hidden underneath it.

 

[Blackrat]

As the Yeti disperses in the air Three Flowers drops to one knee and breaths heavily. Somehow though he manages to do even that with dramatic style. When the shaman offers healing he waves his hand towards Xielt. No need for that anymore, help Tlaxu and the guard. After a moment of catching his breath he pulls himself back up. Amazingly his clothes are not even crunched a bit. The only indications of him having been in a fight moment earlier is the line of blood decorating his cheek and the few cuts in his shirt...

 

[Shayuri]

The spirit fire around Annika fades as she casts the last spell, and without its bolstering she falls to her knees and hugs herself against the numbing cold. Dimly she's aware of the monsters roaring, of the sounds of battle...but it seems far away to her now. She doesn't feel the snow on the roof anymore, doesn't even feel cold anymore. Just tired.

It takes her a moment to realize the sun is shining on her again. The snow is evaporating around her. Her breath no longer comes with long plumes of mist.

A wave of exaltation passes through her, and she bursts up onto her feet, spreading her arms wide. As she does, feathers bloom from her body in eerie imitation of grass and flowers from the earth below. Her cry of triumph is a raptor's scream.

Minutes later, after having flown her modest clothing behind the shrine to dress again, Annika rejoins the others in her human guise, beaming as warmly as the sun itself.

"You're all right," she says with relief. "I am sorry I couldn't help more. My powers...I have never faced things like that before."

 

[Walking Dad]

AC 15 (T15, FF13), HP 10/31, F +5,R+2,W+6 (Spells: 0:5/5, 1:3/4)

"I got some hurting rakes. I bought a healing charm, but it is only one way and I would like to save it." Ape says to the small shaman.

[sblock=ooc]
Lost 9 Health and all Grace.

Cool crit. The 2nd one, that ended a battle! [/sblock]

 

[The Rolling Man]

Jar'Thol

[SBLOCK=OOC]I didn't realize Ape was that badly wounded. Well, if 3F waves away the healing, Jar'Thol will heal Ape, then Annika, then Xielt. He'll bind the soldier's wounds as best he can (untrained Heal ?).[/SBLOCK]As Jar'Thol helps the wounded, he takes a good look at their surrounding. "You did good Annika, I don't think any of us had ever face such a monster. I wonder what is this place that held him ? I've seen a lot of lands in my time but none of them had such quick seasons." The little shaman lets out a nervous chuckle. "Was that demon powerful enough to change his environment or is this place special in some way ?" Jar'Thol leaves the question unanswered.

 

[Dr Simon]

Jar'Thol applies the healing magic of the Wise Crone to his friends, and binds the wounds of the Lion Guard soldier as best he can. With this done, he gives the pile of bones a quick search.

As the temperature returns to a temperate spring day, the melting ice quickly becomes a thick mist surrounding the island.

"You fight well," says the soldier, bowing slightly. "My name's Bringer of Luck, but you can call me Lucky. Everyone else does." He gives a wry grimace. "Usually because I'm not. Any idea what this place is?"

The bones seem to be mainly those of humanoids, mostly human but with a few tlaxu mixed in. They are old and dry. Mixed in amongst them, Jar'Thol finds a bracelet made of black jade, a silver signet ring bearing a tortoise logo and a pouch of yen coins, mostly mid-low denomination.

He also notices, mainly because it is decorated with faded colourful ribbons, a small reed flute hanging from one of the small trees near to the "harbour" of the island.

[SBLOCK=OOC]
Cure light wounds 1d8+2
On Ape: 9 points (13/25 hit points)
On Annika: 8 points (23/26 hit points)
On Xielt: 8 points (11/25 hit points)
[/SBLOCK]

 

[Blackrat]

"And were it not for you, I might not stand anymore." Three Flowers says as he finally gathers himself up and leans to the makeshift club. "Thank you for your assistance. As for your question, I do not know. I suspect this might be some spirit realm that is in harmony with ours. What do you think Jar'Thol?"