Author's Notes: Life happens and things go awry. Improvements are being made, normal routines are being put back together, and, I pray, things will be back to normal for myself and others sooner rather than later.
For this chapter, I was having trouble with this one because of my experiences as a DM for Dungeons and Dragons 3.5e. Black dragons there are very different from those in WoW, and I had to remind myself of that several times as I typed. It did make me realize that the fight between Deathwing and Huln, and others, was not well depicted. So, I had fun setting it up as I would one of my D&D encounters.
As for dialog, again, I was left to wonder and rewrite my thoughts until I finally decided to not include it at all. In this chapter, I decided to focus on Avatar's relationship with the elementals and how her connection to them is not a natural one, but her feelings toward them are different compared to the Titans' constructs and keepers.
As for fanfiction... I am going to see how it is to center the characters' speaking, since skipping lines does not seem to work.
I do apologize for any inconveniences or confusions, but I felt this was the best. I hope those that read this enjoy, and encourage you to use your own theater of the mind.
They waited in ambush for the master of the lair to return, some to free themselves from their slavery, and others to free the land from the Earth Warden's wrath. This time, they would not fail. This time, they were of one mind with the tools to succeed.
Their numbers were more manageable, smaller than before, one of their leaders was armed with a titan artifact, and they had a powerful, if unknown, ally waiting in the background.
Avatar knew knowledge of her presence would likely frighten Neltharion away. Even if the tauren and drogbar did not know what and who she was, the elementals certainly did, as did the dragon aspects when their eyes fell on her.
For now, she would wait until the battle was already underway. Better to join in the heat of the moment and strike before he could react than to attempt to engage and have to give chase. Flight was not something she could do.
As she waited, she had drawn the attention of an earth elemental… or at least she would have liked to have done so peacefully.
No. Unfortunately, she had to compel it to her, command it to approach under forced control and threat of violence.
The elemental was larger than her, but shrank back from her at first. When she made contact with it, she forced her will into it, sensing its emotional state, and soothing it.
It relaxed under her touch, letting its large arms go to the ground like a gorilla or similar animal would, and she brought her other hand to the side of its head, drawing it closer and placed its chin on her shoulder.
Avatar: Will you tell me your name?
Elemental: Gorthan.
Avatar: Are you in the good graces of the Stonemother?
Gorthan: I am not sure. Deepholm has been in a state of confusion for some time.
Avatar: Did this start recently?
Gorthan: Yes. When the demons invaded. The other planes are also in confusion. The lesser elementals struggle to find a place in the world, or in vain to return home.
Avatar moved her hand over the top of its head, smoothing out the jagged spines that normally served to intimidate. To her, they seemed more like clumps of old fur that had become caught in an animal's fur, and her assumption was not far off based on the color difference along its surface.
Avatar: Do you think me at fault for my involvement here? Please, be honest.
Gorthan: You are the will of the titan, are you not?
Avatar: I wonder about that myself. All I was told to do was 'protect Azeroth,' but never which one.
Gorthan: Is there something you wished to do with me? I do not think it was just to hug me and smooth out my body.
Avatar: Yes. I am going to send you back to Deepholm with a message to the Stonemother. Will you deliver it for me?
The elemental was silent for a moment.
Gorthan: I am one of her children, but I do not know if she will grant me an audience.
Avatar: I know, I only ask that you try. Will you?
Gorthan: Can you give me anything to show that I have spoken with you? Proof of some sort.
Avatar considered this, and then the elemental felt something upon its body. When she pulled away, her body had lost its shape, returning to her quicksilver color and semi-elven form, as well as part of her left arm missing.
Avatar: A part of me resides on you, a mark of our meeting. I will take it back when we next meet, but I do not want to arrive unannounced, and so I wish to send you as a messenger.
Gorthan: Are you sure? You are in the lair of the Aspect of Death and leaving yourself reduced.
Avatar: I know. It is my hope he will not flee from my weakened state once we arrive to Deepholm.
Gorthan: WHAT!? You intend to travel with the fallen aspect!?
Avatar: I do. Azeroth needs her Earth-Warden, I need to speak with the Stonemother, and I need to see how deep the Old Gods have driven themselves into the world of Azeroth.
Gorthan: You would engage the enemies of the titans within their prisoners?
Avatar: I am not sure as of yet. The pantheon, the keepers, the Old Gods, the elementals… so many factions are against one another, and I have only engaged so few of them for better or for worse. I have made a promise to the Stonemother, and I cannot have the dragons against one another. At the very least, I can speak with Therazane, request permission to contain Neltharion within Deepholm, and examine the tendrils of Void that have taken root along the way.
Gorthan: I… I will try to speak with the Stonemother and warn her. How will you send me home?
Avatar smiled at the elemental, her features shifting and color returning to her body, but her arm remained incomplete.
Avatar: By banishment, of course. Your body will crumble and reform in Deepholm, and that part of me will follow. You will feel no pain, but your senses will cease for a time. Relax, and it will be over soon.
Gorthan seemed to tense, backing away from her, but then relaxed, shifting into a sitting position.
Seconds passed, and one arm fell off. Then the other. Then part of its chest fell and knocked off part of its knee. After that, the rest of its form fell, crumbling, just as she said, into a pile of rock, stone, and minerals.
The elemental spirit was no longer in the material body, so the rock and stone that kept it together could no longer support its weight.
Avatar turned her attention to the waygate, sensing the battle had already begun. It was time for her to start making her way there. She only hoped she would be able to hold the dragon in place with half an arm missing.
NOTE: I am not confident enough in myself to write out a battle, so I will write this as an encounter based on my own thoughts and experiences with raids of the past. As much as I hate to do the 'tell, don't show' thing, I feel I must.
Phase One: Rally the Inhabitants
The tauren warbraves, led by Huln Highmountain, and the drogbar, led by Igrul, must rally the captives and slaves of Deathwing, as well as arm them and prepare for Deathwing's return to his lair.
Free the captive tauren, inspire the enslaved drogbar, gather materials for offense and defense. Not all are willing to assist, some will flee, and the items will be under guard by elementals and sentinels. There will be a 5 minute period for this phase, or it can be lessened by speaking with Huln.
Free the captives- these are warbraves that will make up the tanking element of the fight. Bolstering strong defenses, but low offenses, standing near them reduces damage taken during combat by a percent equal to those freed. Against Deathwing, they will form a shield wall to further reduce the damage of area of effect attacks, but lose percent based health until the attack is stopped.
Inspire the drogbar- these are the original inhabitants of the mountain lair. Bolstering strong offenses, but low defenses, standing near them increases damage dealt during combat by a percent equal to those inspired. Against Deathwing, they will rally and attempt to stop his area of effect attacks, reducing the channel time and further increasing damage dealt to the dragon.
Gather materials, offense- chains of steel and adamantium can be found and repaired to use against the dragon. Other items, such as spears and magic relics, can be acquired to boost theirs and others strength. Spears can be used to reduce Deathwing's channel attacks by 1 second, and magic relics can be used to increase the holder's damage dealt by 10 percent for 10 seconds; stacks by adding to the percent of damage dealt and duration time. These are guarded by sentinels, magic constructs in the shape of dragons (fire breaths, cleaving front, knockback and cleaving tail back).
Gather materials, defense- unused plates and fallen scales can be found around the lair and used against the dragon. Plates can be fitted with straps to further reduce the damage done by Deathwing's area of effects attack, and scales can be used to absorb 100 percent of 1 of Deathwing's attacks, or 1 tick of damage, when used by the holder. These are guarded by earth elementals, enraged by the imbalance caused by Deathwing and Uul'gyneth.
/
Phase Two, A: Rage of the Aspect of Death
The battle begins and the forces of tauren and drogbar begin their battle. All attacks will come with a "Buff" token, amassed throughout the fight and used by Deathwing. This phase ends when Deathwing reaches 75 percent health.
Deathwing's attacks:
Cleaving Claws- frontal cleaving attacks, two to three times. Damage split amongst the number of foes hit. Attack token gained every 15 to 20 seconds.
Fire Breath- conal magic attack, extends out to 150 yards. Damage is fire based, reduced by resistance, and leaves a damage over time on those struck that ticks for 50 percent over 20 seconds. Attack token gained every 30 to 60 seconds.
Tail Swipe- backwards attack, striking twice; first as a cone and then a line. Damage is physical. Cone version applies a slow, line version applies a stun. Attack token gained every 20 to 25 seconds.
Wing Beat- channel attack, deal damage 5 times, does not interrupt spell casting, pushes targets with 100 yards away. Damage is physical. Spears may be used to reduce the time channeled. Attack token gained every 10 to 20 seconds; AI will attempt to combo this with Fire Breath if attack tokens align within 10 seconds of each other.
Phase Two, B: Rage of the Aspect of Death, continued
Deathwing will take to the air and begin to incinerate his enemies. This phase ends when he is finished channeling and the encounter goes into Phase Three.
Inhale (transition phase)- Deathwing begins inhaling to unleash Rage Fire Breath. During this time, tauren warbraves will form their shieldwall to protect Huln as he attunes to the powers of the Hammer of Khaz'Goroth. The drogbar will move into position, climbing the walls and getting out of the line of fire, to bring Deathwing to the ground and chain him down.
Rage Fire Breath- this attack is deadly and will kill Huln and the other warbraves in 20 to 120 seconds. Dealing percent health damage, it can be reduced by the number of warbraves saved and Dragon Scales used on them (counted as 3 units), but the best way to survive it is to deal damage to Deathwing or use spears to reduce the 40 second channel time.
Every percent of health damage Deathwing takes will reduce the channel time by 1 second.
/
Phase Three: By The Power of the Titans…
Deathwing is wounded and bound to the ground, but victory is not certain. As the warbraves are weakened and the drogbar are exerting themselves, Avatar finally emerges to assist. Deathwing's Second Wind must be reduced to 0 for this battle to end. During this phase, the warbraves will take twice as much damage and the drogbar will deal half as much damage.
Avatar can provide either offense or defense upon request.
Second Wind- Deathwing's last resort, and this is treated like a shield and must be reduced to 0. During this time, he is still able to attack and deal damage, but his movement and attack range is reduced.
Fire Sprouts- Deathwing's body begins to erupt in places, sending out pieces of molten metal plates and burning blood. These spots are dangerous to stand in and will further agitate the land, causing elementals to spring forth. Attack token gained every 10 seconds and used immediately.
-Elementals- these will attack with short-range area of effect bursts, dealing damage to those around them.
Bite- Deathwing will snap his jaws at those near him, or lunge forward briefly before being pulled back by the drogbar. Unless taunted, he will attack Huln with this attack, or if Avatar is near Huln. Otherwise, he will attack the nearest targets, up to 5. Attack token gained every 20 seconds, plus a debuff mark on the primary target.
Avatar- the avatar of Azeroth can provide various benefits to this encounter, but which one can change.
Where to Dwell- Avatar can be led to a place by interaction with another (player). She will provide a recovery aura (restores health and resource bars). This works on both players and NPCs.
Cool the Earth- removes pieces of molten metal plates and burning blood within 15 yards. 3 second cast time.
Banish the Elementals- banishes elementals back to their home plane. 5 second cast time, 30 yard range.
Deter the Threat- prevents Deathwing from targeting those within 30 yards and reduces the damage dealt by elementals within 30 yards by 75 percent. If Deathwing is in the middle of an attack, or would strike a marked target, Avatar will instead become immobile and stun Deathwing for 10 seconds, disabling his abilities until the stun wears off and triggering the cooldowns on his attack tokens without activating them.
Battle ends when Deathwing's Second Wind is fully depleted. Huln Highmountain banishes both the dragon and the avatar to Deepholm.