Sand irritated eyes, blurring in the miasma of bright sun and a possible concussion from impacting the ground so hard, tried to focus at her surroundings, tried to focus on the battle before her… her mind screamed at her to get moving, but the energy, the body would no longer respond. The druidess moved one arm numbly, unfeeling as she pushed at the sand below her hands to try and raise her upper body to a position where she could at least see something- she spat out of reflex, still tasting the grainy, rough texture in her mouth as she blinked in a daze, hoping for her body, mind, and will to sync up again sooner rather than later.
A shout in a hated tone got her attention, even if she still couldn't place the name or the face behind the yell. A dark-skinned elf was fighting for her life against two drakes that were making half-swoops at her, belching elemental bursts of ice and acid at her feet, turning the sand into an amorphous blob of sizzling mud and rocky crystals.
Viconia, that was her name. It was, wasn't it? The thought flickered in Jaheira's dumbfounded mind for a moment before vanishing like a candle flame in a windstorm. She ran her forearm across her face, ignoring the harsh feel of sand on sand, the burning of her eyes as she forced them to focus. The pain, the numbness was all pushed away with only one thought remaining. Protect. Protect them.
First things first- she needed a weapon. The spear she'd carried for so long, it had been strapped to her back when she fell, was it still there? The throbbing pain across her spine told her that if it was, it most certainly had been landed on- and there it was, sharp wooden splintering, a broken shaft that spoke to a ruined weapon upon impact. Working on auto-pilot, she yanked the weapon from its holster sling, gazing numbly at the half-sized weapon now, at least one-third of the wooden handle gone now. The tip was still there though, and the weapon could be used in a pinch- no time to second guess or think it over. Only time for action- Jaheira attempted to run towards Viconia, stumbling every few steps along the way but the movement had done its intended job, if nothing else.
The green chromatic drake broke off its dive against Viconia, swerving toward what looked to be easier prey, the staggering druid, dazed and weakened from her exertions. By rights, it should have been an easy kill- one of Jaheira's arms was sitting at an odd angle, the shoulder still dislocated from catching Viconia's initial descent down the cliff. It was mostly useless at this point, but somewhere in Jaheira's unconscious mind, the pain had been blocked out. Adrenaline? The concussion deadening her nerves and senses? Maybe. Either way, Jaheira watched the drake swerve her way, wing beats carrying it in a smooth arc upwards, preparing to dive straight down upon her as acid began foaming at its jaws.
A charging opponent, normally something to analyze and develop a tactic to counter, something Jaheira was quite good at. She had a head for tactics, treated it like chess. Counter, counter, strike. And yet… nothing in her brain was capable of anything more than survival instinct at this point. Jaheira tossed the broken spear she was carrying up with one hand, catching it in a throwing grip mid-air. A splash of acid was suddenly hurtling toward her ahead of the beast itself- no momentum to dodge forward, she was caught completely flat-footed. The only thing she could do was let her legs buckle completely, dropping to the ground and watching as the ball of corrosive liquid landed behind her, only just hearing the sound of acid fusing with sand behind her. Even as she fell, her right arm hurled the spear with a sidearm toss, the broken weapon hurtling through the air like a poorly tossed stone, wavering and wobbling with the effort. It missed the drake handily, but the drake took a moment of hesitation with the attack, giving itself a bit of a wider berth as it continued to dive. A moment- just a moment, but enough.
Jaheira's hand had drifted down, taking hold of a single, unbroken vial that had been strapped to her waist. The other three slots on her belt loops were filled with shards of glass, stains of a blue and green hue all across the front of her pants and tunic where her potions had shattered. This last one was all she needed- the fluid cooled, soothed, energized- Jaheira's half-lidded eyes flashed open as the healing potion began to do its work in her body- she immediately flung the empty vial at the beast as it descended upon her completely, the vial shattering in the drake's face, making it howl with the impact. She rolled to one side, biting back a scream as she felt the pressure on her bad shoulder- she tried to stagger to her feet, but the sand tripped up her footing, sending her back down in a seated fall again, the drake snapping and hissing as it shook off the glass in its face, turning to skitter across the sands at her with jaws wide open in anticipation of the meal awaiting it.
Weapon check- Jaheira's mind was clear enough to take stock. Her large elven dagger, still at her side. Jaheira unsheathed it in a sweeping motion, the glint of the blade reflecting in the drake's eyes as she brandished it, trying to show no fear. If it were enough to make the green drake pause, the beast did not show it. It snapped, hissed, preparing to charge… right before Minsc drove the purple drake he'd been riding straight down atop the green drake, rolling off in a tumble of blood and metal. Minsc slowly climbed to his feet with more effort than the big man usually needed, long cuts and scrapes from his impacts with the rock walls and the jaws of his mount lining his arms and face.
"Minsc…" Jaheira gasped, resting one hand on the ranger's shoulder. "The others...?"
The ranger slid Frostreaver back into the sheath it rested in, then yanked the Vorpal Sword from its home, gripping it tightly as he pointed upwards. "There." He said in a voice far too tight for his usually jovial nature. Even as Jaheira looked up, she knew what threatened her friend's temperament, what scared him more than a thousand drakes descending upon them at once.
Aerie, Minsc's witch... she swept through the air, narrowly avoiding the jaws of Fll'Yissetat as the green dragon corkscrewed, half trying to destroy its flying elven opponent and half trying to shake off the death grip that Cernd had on its back whilst in wolfwere form. Aerie was still being carried by the two air elementals she'd summoned, and every now and then she'd get enough breathing room to throw a spell into the dragon's face, but it was slow going, especially with a few of the remaining drakes moving to help their larger commander.
Speaking of the drakes- Aerie's stomach fell as she spotted two of them coming at her from below, spitting fire and ice in equal measures, the elemental bursts catching the tail of one of her flying servants, sending it tumbling with the impact-she felt half her body descend into free-fall for a moment before a mental command had her servant grab her waist and hold her aloft, the second air elemental already being swooped on completely by the two drakes that had caught it in the first place. It was gone within moments, banished back to its home plane, but leaving Aerie significantly slowed- she commanded her servant to fly her lower, closer to the ground and the drakes below- there. The one Viconia was facing- it had just knocked the drow off her feet with a swipe of the tail, leaving her sputtering sand from her mouth, cursing the death that awaited- Aerie descended like a goddess of the wind, blonde hair blowing all around as she let lightning dance from her fingertips, arcing over the drake once, twice, then a third bolt that left a smoking crater in the white drake's chest and glass instead of sand where the lightning bolt had struck through the now slain beast.
A mighty roar from above grabbed everyone's attention- Cernd had managed to crawl all the way from the lower back of Fll'Yissetat's body to the upper neck, and was tearing into the softer flesh around the dragon's face with claws and teeth, sending Fll'Yissetat into a sweeping rush toward the cliffside, trying desperately to dislocate this beast that had suddenly become much more than a simple annoyance. Cernd's mind was still there, if muted behind the haze of rage and ferocity that overtook him whenever he allowed his blood curse to take hold- he could only let instinct react at this point in the battle. There was simply no way his consciousness could move quickly enough to fight the beast he'd latched himself upon- twice now the dragon had driven straight up, stretching even the mighty muscles of the wolfwere to exhaustion in an attempt to hold on, only for Fll'Yissetatto then dive bomb straight down. Still, he'd hurt the creature and that was something. Blood in the eyes would partially blind the monster if he could keep up the offense, but that was looking less and less likely. Another opening- there. He dragged his claws across the side of Fll'Yissetat's neck, but by letting go with one claw, a sharp bank to the left shook his other grip loose, letting him tumble past the neck in a spiral to the ground. No… not yet.
The claw that was digging into Fll'Yissetat's neck caught for a moment, swinging him around to latch onto the dragon's neck with all four limbs as he bit and tore with his teeth, keeping up the attack for as long as he dared- the dragon would throw him off in a moment- there. Massive claws were moving to tear him into pieces so he jumped, launching off the beast toward two waiting drakes. He fell through a hail of fire and ice, feeling his fur scorch and his body freeze- the wolfwere's inherent resistance to magic would help, as would his regenerative capabilities, but there was still only so much his body could take- the impact of his body hitting the sand was like a small meteor, sending blood stained fur and sand flying all around the crater he'd formed upon landing. The wolfwere inside gurgled, shuddering a bit as it lay still, chest still rising and falling with breath, but little else.
Aerie watched Cernd land with rage- the others were moving to flank the crater, to protect him from harm- she was the only one left that could give them time to recover. Fll'Yissetat was still sweeping across the sky in a rage, and there were four drakes left- two that were trailing in Fll'Yissetat's wake, and the two that had killed her air elemental and quite possibly Cernd. They'd been around for far too long… Aerie called upon the destructive magics she usually spurned, feeling her own life essence ebb with the summoning of such a deadly spell. As the Horrid Wilting skull began to materialize in her hand, numbing all feeling in her palm, she hurled it without thought, magically guiding it to the point right between the two drakes she'd aimed for- it detonated in a cloud of magical vapor and dust, leaving nothing but two husks to fall to the ground, bones and skin that flaked away in the wind.
Two down… three to go. Aerie gazed up at the trio of draconic beasts that were finishing up an arc through the sky, preparing to sweep back down towards her as she floated in mid-air, the vanguard of her company. Time seemed to slow as her blue eyes traced the path the dragons would take, the descent they would make upon her and all her possible escape routes. This was never a battle she had practiced fighting alone, back in Faenya-Dail… but that was just it. She wasn't alone. Never had been.
Aerie let her aerial servant descend, bringing her back to the ground as she pointed to the sky, glancing back at the other members of the party with fire in her eyes and a commanding presence she'd never felt before. "Here they come! Minsc, protect me! Viconia, the drakes! I will bring the creature down- Jaheira, you keep it that way!"
She'd barely yelled her commands before the dragons were upon them- Aerie began casting, keeping her eyes shut as she did, knowing that the her concentration was all that mattered- anything else would break her, if not everyone. The magics she looked to summon were great and terrible… and all she could ask was a few more seconds. Just a few more. Minsc stepped before his charge, facing down the approaching maw of Fll'Yissetat- his eyes widened as he saw the noxious gas beginning to build in the creature's throat. Nothing he could do to protect Aerie from that… at least, not as he was. Not like this. He steeled himself, then charged forward, rushing to meet the dragon halfway across the sand dunes- the dragon's breath ignited early, consuming him in the gas that burned his eyes, his nostrils as he tried desperately to hold his breath. He shut his eyes tightly rather than risk blindness, remembering where the dragon was, praying his timing would be correct- he halted his advance, lowered his body weight and swung the Vorpal sword in an arc across his body. The sound of magic silver digging through scale and flesh rewarded him as he felt the mass of the dragon pass over the top of him, still hurtling towards Aerie but no longer as quickly. He had bought her all the time he could muster… would it be enough?
Beside Aerie, Viconia was making her own incantations. Ignored was the fact that the mewling cripple had basically barked an order at her, like she was a dog to follow blindly. And yet… she hadn't expected the elf to have it in her. Perhaps Jaheira wasn't the only one worthy of respect in this misbegotten crew. She allowed herself to smile as her magics finished- a Bolt of Glory flew through the air, impaling one of the drakes on it with an explosion of unholy power, detonating and tearing the creature into bloody chunks as the second drake howled in fury, swooping past Fll'Yissetat on their charge to strike the group down in a rage. No time for magic on this last drake- it would have to be the old fashioned way. Viconia hefted her mace and reared back, waiting for the drake to arrive in position- she swung with all her might, the force of the drake against the force of her blow sending both of them flying away, but as sore as Viconia might have been from the impact, at least her skull wasn't fragmented into dozens of bits and pieces.
Fll'Yissetat barely registered the death of her final consorts- all that mattered was the little elf-witch standing before her, chanting furiously, drawing upon power to strike her down. Her! Fll'Yissetat, one of the ancient ones, one of the most proud of races! Her divine magic would fail, just as so many others had, it was… no. Not divine magic she was summoning, it was arcane. Which spell was she trying to ignite? No matter… no matter at all. She was nearly upon Aerie- the jaws of the beast opened wide and prepared to close upon the elf-witch…
Magic thundered through the desert as two massive portals of magic appeared from the ether- large magical fists reached out, as Bigby's Crushing Fist spells took hold and two large hands grasped the wings of Fll'Yissetat, pounding the dragon into the ground mere feet away from where Aerie stood, her whole body trembling with the effort. As soon as the fists relented, Fll'Yissetat tried to stand again- only to be slammed down a second time. Aerie's hands were swirling in a large magic mist, obscuring everything from her elbows down, but one could hardly mistake her slender fists for the massive magical ones that were pounding Fll'Yissetat into the bloodied sand.
Beside Aerie, Jaheira was chanting as fast as her lips would allow, sending vines shooting from the sand and beginning to wrap them around Fll'Yissetat's wings, limbs, and every other extremity that could conceivably keep the beast grounded. The roars of the dragon shook her teeth as she continued reinforcing the vines even as some of them snapped under the intense pressure- had to keep it down. Had to- the concussion she'd sustained, while minimized by the healing potion she'd taken, was still there, and she suddenly found the world spinning as she tried to maintain focus. The sound of vines beginning to snap filtered into her ears as she gazed numbly at the dragon beginning to rise from the ground…
Lightning began pouring from the sky, striking at the grounded dragon, sending it flat to its belly again and again, leaving nasty scorched scales across Fll'Yissetat's back. Rising from the crater where he'd landed, Cernd stood in human form, bloody and covered in sand clinging to the sweat and blood running over his body, but his druidic magics remained strong, calling down the thunder with every word he spoke. It was enough to keep Fll'Yissetat down… but to finish the creature off, they'd need a bit more, just a little bit-
Minsc sprinted towards Fll'Yissetat from its left rear haunch, using his massive leg strength to propel him atop the back leg, then upward to grab hold of one of the spines lining the dragon's spine. He swung for a moment, ignoring the panicked writhing of the beast, finally getting his body up to where he could take a stand, perched at the base of the dragon's spinal cord. Raising the Vorpal Sword high, Minsc thrust it straight down, splitting hard scale and puncturing the dragon's back. Changing his grip, Minsc flexed his muscles and drug the sword blade up the dragon's back, cutting it all the way as Fll'Yissetat screamed, until finally he reached the head of the beast- he wrenched the blade into the air in a gush of blood before leaping high, coming down in a spin while thrusting the blade straight into Fll'Yissetat's forehead.
Fll'Yissetat's jaws opened one final time, chlorine gas building within… a final gurgle of blood leaked from its nostrils and eyes, leaving nothing but a scaled husk, no traces of life remaining. Minsc exhaled heavily, yanking the sword from the dragon's skull, his entire body trembling with the rush, the adrenaline of the fight- he turned to look at his companions… all of them were alive. Everyone had survived the fight, once again… and his witch. His witch was safe, his witch who had led them to victory… he grinned, laughing aloud, pumping his fist in triumph. He strode to Aerie, lifting her off the ground in triumph, spinning with delight and celebration before bringing her back down for an embrace.
Aerie smiled, feeling her eyes well up… they'd done it again. Just one more impossible task they'd handled here, together. She released Minsc, turning back to the others as she tried to control herself- there'd be time for further celebration later. Amkethran was still under siege, and there was a lot of healing that needed to be done- Cernd and Jaheira were badly wounded, and Minsc hadn't come out unscathed either. She opened her mouth to speak, then apparently thought better of it, glancing at Jaheira as if to cede authority or the lead of the group.
Jaheira saw Aerie's glance, then smiled, shaking her head. "Lead on, Aerie. We will follow."
Aerie smiled, mouthing a thank-you as the group moved to begin their healing before pushing forward to Amkethran proper- for all their victory here had meant, their battle with dragons was far from over.
X
"Form up! Form up, men! Battle lines, on me!" Tombelthen screamed, even as arrows whizzed all around him and the sound of battle was joined. Not the battle he'd prepared for, not the battle he'd planned to fight- this was an ambush that threatened to bring down everything he'd been trained and sent to do.
Before he could say any more, a dark shape came hurtling out of the forest, cloaked and armored, bringing a jagged blade down towards his head. His instincts were all that saved him- he flung his own sword upwards to deflect the overhead strike, sending it glancing to the left as he swept downward, cutting off a pair of wrists with the sound of meat separating in a slick flush of blood.
The body of a handless drow tumbled to his feet and he only hesitated a moment before ending the soldier's pain, impaling him and looking up again, only seeing just now their true enemy. Drow soldiers were scattered through the forest, his own men fighting for their lives as the dark elves pushed the advantage that their ambush had afforded them- his men were dying, dying in droves. Sun-treated adamantine plate gleamed like obsidian in the dark, and black-fletched arrows pierced the necks of many who fell further and further back, looking for direction, survival, anything.
Tombelthen tried to call again, but there was no time- a duergar dwarf, ugly and clad in iron armor swept a war hammer behind his knees, sending him tumbling to the ground. The hammer came by to crush his skull, but he managed to roll away in the nick of time, allowing himself to kick out, sending the dwarf stumbling a few feet away. It was enough time for him to get to his feet, nearly tangled in his own cloak- a hasty leap backwards allowed him to avoid another swipe from the dwarven weapon, then a downswing with his own blade hewed the dwarf's head in two.
A scream pierced his ears as he looked up to see one of his archers frozen in stone- he couldn't be certain with the shadows and trees acting as camouflage for everything within, but there was some kind of monstrosity floating in the distance, stalks and wrinkled brown flesh clumped together in an orb- there was no more time for him to try and figure out just what had ended the life of one of his men- he was in very real danger of losing his own. Through the echoes of battle, he had heard the telltale sound of a fireball erupting into existence- he'd heard it often enough in battle, from both his own mages and those he'd fought. It was like the sound of a large stone being dropped from a distance into a well, combined with the sound of meat being seared on a grill. Perhaps not the most verbose of descriptions, but it was all he could come up with. As it happened, the fireball he'd heard igniting into existence had been aimed squarely at his feet- the world spun as heat washed over him and fire numbed his senses. All sound was gone, replaced by a high-pitched whine as dirt clods and tufts of flame spattered the battlefield around him.
A hand blurred into vision- his own? A sign of the helplessness he felt, the sheer weight of the battle turning so quickly, so abruptly- this was not how it was meant to be. The Bhaalspawn would not crush the last hope of Faerun so easily… they would not…
Another hand clasped his own, yanking him to his feet as Tombelthen coughed, staggering a moment before looking at the face of Haer'Dalis, a grim smile across the tiefling's scarred features. "You…"
"Yeah. Sorry about this whole mess, but we did try to warn you." Imoen chuckled, pausing a moment to stamp out a flame that was slowly crawling towards their feet. "One of the members of the Five has an enclave around here- we were headed that way when your boys caught up to us- though we'd be lying if we said this isn't kind of what we were hoping for."
"You…*cough*…you used us." Jamis finally spat out, pushing Haer'Dalis away from him with a burning anger in his eyes. "My men are dying here!"
"Your men? You think that makes a bit of difference to me?" Imoen's laugh turned into a growl as her voice dropped, the young woman grabbing Tombelthen by the thoat, her grip as hard as iron. "I would sacrifice a thousand of your men if it meant surviving this war! I… I-"
Imoen shook her head, letting go of Jamis as she shook her head twice, trying to get rid of the invisible whispers that were fluttering through her ears. Sarevok watched the exchange with a knowing smirk, then took up what Imoen had left. "My sister speaks the truth. You want this bloodshed to end? Then do your part and give us a path to Sendai's enclave. Her armies would protect her from our wrath- you can prevent that. See to it that our path is clear and we shall rid this land of one more of our kind. Get in our way and your blood shall stain this ground. The choice is fairly simple, even for a fool such as yourself."
The general looked as though he would take a swing at the Deathbringer, but another sudden explosion rocked them, nearly knocking the entire group back to the ground, reminding them that despite their mutual enmity, they were still in a war zone. Jamis swore, then steadied his feet, pointing at them with a growl. "By the gods, I shall have all of your heads before this is over. Do what you came to do, kill the leader of these drow. My men and I shall keep them occupied upon the surface. But this is *not* over. I will see you pay for your crimes in the future."
"A noble leader, forced to side with those he hates for the greater good? Poetry in life, life in poetry." Haer'Dalis sighed, gesturing towards the western side of the forest. "My flock, if I may interrupt, it would seem that the forces of our quarry seem to be driving east. It would be wise for us to move past them unnoticed, methinks."
"Agreed." Imoen said, clearing her throat as she tried to regain her own senses and clarity. "An invisibility spell should do the trick…"
Jamis watched in impotent rage as the group vanished from sight, presumably to hunt down their sibling… not that it mattered now. So many were dead… even if they succeeded, his forces were so weakened, it might be impossible to fulfill his original orders now. The best he could hope for at this time was simple survival… he turned, grabbing a fleeing swordsman and shaking him back to reality. "With me, son! We turn the tide of this battle now!"
Even as the General of Tethyr rallied his troops into a force capable of standing against the drow invaders, the invisible party of four moved as swiftly and silently as they dared, passing by hordes of archers, mages and the occasional battlemaster, Solaufein found himself rather thankful that the magic spells used to cloak them covered the entire spectrum of light, preventing even the elves' enhanced vision from spotting them as they passed through.
It wasn't truly the drow he was worried about, in the end. They weren't what was on his mind- it was a threat much closer to home that drew his attention. Imoen… the woman he'd grown rather fond of. Her behavior was far too irrational, far too violent and aggressive. Truth be told, it was like watching Phaere's descent into oblivion all over again. The vision of Imoen throttling the general flashed alongside the memory of watching Phaere be tortured by the driders in the Demonweb Pits… no. He would not lose her as he had lost his first love. History would not repeat itself, not this day.
"There… they're pushing down from the northern borders of the forest. If we get lucky, we'll see the actual entrance to the enclave." Sarevok spoke in soft tones, a sharp contrast compared to his usual manner.
"Hope we do then- if we were going to root around in the forest and the mud to find a giant hole in the ground, we should have brought Minsc or Jaheira. Maybe Cernd, though too many nature analogies make me ill." Imoen's voice again… again, sounding far too harsh. Something was very wrong… Solaufein swallowed, tightening his grip on the two-handed sword he carried. No, things were not yet right with Imoen. Sarevok's influence was of no help either, of that he was certain. Could he protect her from him? Physically, perhaps. But she'd given herself to the darkness, if only for a moment… and it was gradually becoming clearer that she might not have come back fully, if at all.
Alien words and syllables erupted through the air, a mindless sound of incantations in a tongue foreign to most of them- Solaufein alone recognized the tone, even if he did not speak it. It was the language of the eye tyrants, a tongue that was hated through and through by his people. That the words were of a spellcrafting nature, summoning magic to form and shape was even more disconcerting. By their very existence, the beholders of the Underdark were unable to cast spells- the very resistance to magic that their main eyes granted them also prevented them from using magic themselves. The powers they wielded were a biological sort of energy, manifested from the eye-stalks surrounding their orb like bodies. Magic of a sort, but not the kind that wizards or sorcerers used. For a beholder to have access to their own innate abilities and magic as well… they were rare, but they existed. The Unseeing Eye that the Bhaalspawn had fought below the sewers of Athkatla was one such creature. Even as a spell that purged their invisibility brought them back into view, the source made itself known. Floating beside a drow warrior clad in massive darksteel armor, a beholder licked it's lips and hissed at them, even as white light began to glow at each of its eyestalks.
"Damn-" was about all Sarevok got out of his mouth before the Deathbringer was flung backwards by a ray of intense power- Solaufein tensed and raised his sword, pushing away any worries or concerns for Imoen's wellbeing. Survival would need to come first. After that… another strobe of light from the beholder and Solaufein slammed into a tree, his chest aching like he'd been hit by a war hammer. Yes… survival would be a good first step.
X
"Well… this kind of blows, you know that?" Greywulf remarked as he stood alongside Anomen, the pair staring into a large laboratory… one that was filled with noxious gas and undoubtedly lethal to anybody foolish enough to enter.
Anomen glanced back at Greywulf with a look of incredulity, before shaking his head and staring back into the room. On an impulse, he knelt down and picked up a small piece of stone lying at his feet- he tossed it into the room, watching intently as it came to a rest in the middle of the chamber… before beginning to bubble and corrode to a shriveled, sizzling husk. "I have made a decision… we shall not be entering the room as it is."
Greywulf chuckled, nodding in acquiescence. "As you say, then. I suppose any quest is never as simple as it sounds… especially if it's coming from a demon who has been trapped here for millennia. You ever wonder what he did this whole time to keep from going mad? Oh wait…"
Anomen snorted, shaking his head as he peered as close to the entry to the room as he dared, trying to get a glimpse at the magical machinery inside, any possible clue on how to dispel the noxious protections of the laboratory. "Should we fail, or lose that seal the Knights of the Vigil gave us, we might get the opportunity to find out. Hnh… the wizards who ruled this level of the Keep were certainly paranoid about security, weren't they…"
"Apparently, though I'd be curious to meet the mage who felt comfortable working in this kind of environment. Just because you can have immunity to a type of element doesn't mean it's comfortable to wallow in it." Greywulf poked one finger towards the apparently invisible barrier that separated the wizard's lab from the outer hall, somehow keeping the gases in. As his finger broke the plane, it began sizzling and he immediately pulled it back, shaking it and cursing violently.
Anomen noted the consequence of breaking the plane and leaned back, clearing his throat. "Well then. Unless you can think of a way to dispel the gases within, I suggest we try one of the other laboratories on this level. The demon said there were four, did he not?"
"True… though I don't think we'll be taking anything that creature said at face value." Greywulf grunted, resisting the urge to suck on his wounded finger- he'd rather not set his tongue aflame with acidic poison too. "Speaking of which, since we're all equally aware that the moment the demon out there gets free it's going to try and kill us, it wouldn't hurt to make a few… preparations, y'know?"
"Not very sporting of you." Anomen noted, but a smile crossed his bearded features, nonetheless. "But a good plan. The key will be releasing the creature first. Hopefully Nalia and Reynald are having better luck than we-"
The sound of an explosion echoing through the chambers was followed swiftly by the sound of something massive hitting the ground, shaking their footing if only just slightly. The pair did not bother speaking- they both immediately went into a full sprint, cutting straight through the main chamber that the demon leered at them from, sliding into the eastern hall- "There!"
Greywulf turned to where Anomen had pointed, seeing another laboratory, this one filled with icicles and covered in frost. Inside were two figures, backing away from a fire giant that was tottering towards them, the massive humanoid slowing, flecks of ice growing on its skin as it raised a hammer, attempting to crush the two little creatures before it- it froze solid moments before it struck, eventually falling to the ground in another thunderous crash, splintering into frozen meat and bone. The sight was disgusting enough- Greywulf resisted a gag reflex and paused a moment, waiting to enter the laboratory. He noted the reddish glow surrounding Nalia and Reynald- "Protection from Cold?"
Nalia nodded with a smile, waiting for Greywulf to cast the same spell upon himself and Anomen before joining them inside. Nalia gestured around the room, pointing out the massive vents on the icy floor and the domed roof, subzero air being filtered through each one. "This place was the domain of an ice mage, no doubt- we had tried to check the other laboratory down the hall, but the heat was far too intense for us to enter. Even so, several fire elementals and the fire giants you saw chased us down- we took refuge here, and our foes froze as soon as they entered- at least the giants did. The fire elementals took flight, back toward the fire laboratory."
"Nice work." Greywulf nodded to Nalia, watching his breath condense into tiny ice particles as soon as it left his mouth. "Maybe splitting up wasn't the best plan- shall we search the laboratories together? We're looking for something to dispel the bonds on the demon- a staff, or a wand perhaps…"
Nalia barely heard the words Greywulf was speaking- in truth, she was far more interested in searching the room, but more for the magical items that the former master of this realm had stashed than for the key to releasing the demon. The others were more than capable of finding that particular relic. The items of power that lurked here… those were what she was hunting for- a hunt that would go much better without having to explain her efforts to the others. She glanced at Reynald, the former knight still keeping her close. It… would not hurt to have him stay close though. For protection, if nothing else. "My lady… what is that?"
His words directed her gaze past the tables and rows of magical implements and experiments, looking instead to a massive machine that was erected in the corner, spanning from floor to ceiling and humming with magical energy. It looked like a furnace heater, but instead of belching fire from its innards, frost and wind swept from the vents on its sides. Nalia approached the machinery with caution, looking it over from top to bottom. Two massive globes were supported on either side of the top of the machine, each one electric with magics. It was completely alien, a mystery to her despite all the knowledge she'd accumulated these past few years.
"I have… never seen anything quite like this." Reynald breathed, raising one gauntleted hand to stroke the outer metal surface, leaving frost trails where he touched it. "I did not know such combinations of technology and magic existed…
She glanced to him, smiling despite herself. He was quite the simple man, wasn't he? His experiences with the Fallen Paladins, his banishment from the Order… all of it had made him into what he was now, a simple warrior who wore his heart and his loyalties on his sleeve. It was… refreshing. No guile, no political games like the majority of the people she dealt with every day. Her eyes drifted past him, to one of the wooden tables that had undoubtedly been the locale of several experiments in the past- for now, there were at least a half dozen wands of ice magic lying on there, unused and possibly still powered- either way, something to scavenge. Nalia circled behind Reynald, picking them up one at a time, before sliding them into her pack.
"My lady?" Reynald caught her attention once more as she glanced up, the guardsman kneeling down to peer inside the vent shafts surrounding the magical apparatus. "There is… I think, something inside. Perhaps you or Greywulf might be better suited to tell just what…"
Greywulf had taken notice of the man's inquiries, and wandered over to look inside a different vent- he squinted, trying not blink at the rush of air coming out that would have frozen his face if not for the protective spells around him- he smiled, looking at Nalia to see if she had come to the same conclusion as he. "I think we may have found what powers this whole lab… and quite possibly the first 'key' we're supposed to find. That right there, is the soul of a frost elemental… or several dozen souls. It's hard to tell from here…"
"Truly?" Anomen said, trying to get his own look at the shining object held within the frost engine. "It looks like… a diamond, perhaps. You believe it to be a soul gem?"
"It has to be. To generate this kind of infinite cold field, the power has to come from somewhere. Souls are always the first thing mad wizards go for. Trust me." Greywulf added dryly before taking a step backward, sizing up the frost engine. "The trick will be getting it out…"
Anomen hefted his mace and took a mighty swing, the mace head rebounding off the metal of the engine as a yellow haze rippled on the spot where his mace had impacted. The warrior priest sighed, shrugging with acceptance. "I had hoped for an easy solution, but it seems that nothing is simple. Anyone else care to hazard an attempt? It would appear that magic must conquer magic in this case…"
Greywulf and Nalia exchanged glances, then simultaneously began Agannazzar's Scorcher spells, the jets of fire that jumped from their palms much less fierce in the chilled temperatures, licking at the metal surfaces as the entire engine glowed yellow, the magical barrier responding ever so slightly to the elemental stimulus. As they ceased their spellcasting, the engine continued to glow, the barrier shimmering for several seconds before finally fading again. "Hmm. Trying to bring down enough heat with magic could take days… you said there was a fire laboratory down the hall?" Greywulf glanced back towards the exit. "When that fire elemental chased you down this way, you said it ran off?"
"I… ah, I suppose. To be honest, I was more focused upon the fire giant that had come upon us..." Reynald coughed. "I am somewhat unused to this sort of thing. Souls, frost engines, ancient magics… I fear I am out of my depth here."
Greywulf smiled, shaking his head with a raised hand. "Don't worry about it. Improvisation is the key… or at least, that's how I've been handling this kind of thing for the past few years. "If you don't mind, go take a peek down the hall and see if you can get a few more of those fire creatures to follow you this way. I've got a theory I'd like to test…"
"Indeed? I shall oblige- Lady Nalia? Shall you accompany me?" Reynald asked, the noblewoman nodding and escorting him out of the room as Anomen and Greywulf watched, taking a few looks about the room as they waited.
Anomen picked up a small crystal that vibrated with each sound, emitting a burst of frozen air each time. He dropped it, rubbing his fingers together to rid himself of the frost that was covering his hand. "How long does this protection that you've summoned for us last, if you do not mind me asking?"
Before the sorcerer could answer, a belch of flame shot down the corridor, dying out as soon as it entered the frost laboratory, but the forms of Reynald and Nalia slid into the room, nearly slipping on the icy floor as they glanced back at their suddenly alert companions. "I think we may have got their attention…"
Peering down the hall, Greywulf watched twelve separate fire elementals crawling over each other, the air a haze of heat and steam all around the creatures as they sped toward the prey that was trying to escape them. He backed away, hoping his theory would hold true- just as Reynald had said, the moment the fire elementals hit the room's sub-zero temperatures, the flames surrounding their humanoid bodies began dimming, slowing to little more than an orange crawl over their blackened flesh. The one at lead howled with the magical annulment, turning to attempt to flee. Greywulf pointed at it and shouted a word of power, summoning a burst of Magic Missiles- without the fires surrounding its body, the bullets of magic tore through it and blasted it into small chunks. An orange glow swept out from its body, sucked into the frost engine as the barrier surrounding it glowed bright again, dimming with the spirit of the fire elemental clashing against it. Greywulf smirked, nodding in satisfaction. "Take them down!"
Between blade, mace and magic, it took mere moments to slay the nearly debilitated fire elementals, freeing their spirits one at a time. With each death, the fire soul clashed against the frost engine, driving the barrier around it to a breaking point, until with the final death, it shattered completely, the metal surrounding the soul gem freezing over and becoming nothing more than brittle shards of ice that fell apart at the slightest touch.
Anomen walked to the machine, glancing at Nalia and Greywulf for approval. The two mages nodded and Anomen took a second swing- this one proved far more effective than the last. He broke through with a single swipe, revealing the floating soul gem within. He reached out to take hold of the gem, marveling as the gem swept over his hand like water at the slightest touch, finally returning to his hand but reformed into a jagged mace, the flanges composed of ice crystals and glinting like daggers in the suddenly warming air.
Nalia watched with appreciation and a small bit of envy- that was the kind of power she knew this place had to offer. She nudged Reynald, then called out to the others. "The heat barrier of the opposite room seemed to lessen as the fire elementals chased us out- perhaps they were part of the protective nature of the other laboratory? We shall investigate if you two wish to seek the other two keys."
Greywulf shrugged with acceptance and walked with Anomen back out from the eastern halls, admiring the cleric's new weapon. "Nice… I'm guessing it should come in handy for more than freeing our snarly friend over there…"
"Mayhap it will, at that. Though I cannot help but feel some sense of confusion… what was the point of this place? These mirrored laboratories, the wizards that bound the demon here?" Anomen shook his head. "We still know so very little about Watcher's Keep itself and the creature imprisoned below… I do not wish for us to encounter something we are ill prepared for."
Greywulf arched an eyebrow as they entered the western halls, turning to the opposite lab that they had not investigated as of yet. "Whatever this 'Imprisoned One' is, it shouldn't matter. If this scroll that the Knights of the Vigil gave us works like its advertised to do, then we won't even need to face it. We can trust them… right?"
"Of course… their order is a long and storied one, at least from what I have heard." Anomen coughed. "To be fair, they keep several secrets from the annals of the Order, but their orders were given by Helm himself. It is impossible to think they would lead us astray."
"If you say so." Greywulf murmured, looking into the last of the four laboratories- the entire room was taken up by lightning bolts that crackled back and forth through the air, leaving the stench of ozone weighing heavily through the area. Greywulf raised an arm to guard his eyes from the intense flashing, watching as bolt after bolt jumped from coils of metal and towers of iron that were positioned all around the massive room.
"A Protection from Electricity spell, perhaps?" Anomen shouted, struggling to be heard over the crackling echoes of power coming from within.
Greywulf nodded, summoning magic to give them both resistance to the energies within, then stepped through the portal- several bolts of power struck his flesh as soon as he moved within, but the magics did the job, leaving him unscathed. Anomen followed soon after, glancing around the room before laughing and nudging Greywulf.
The sorcerer turned to look at what the squire was looking at- a massive fan took up one wall of the room- and it just happened to be pointing down the hall that led to the poison laboratory, overcome with noxious fumes that would not only prevent their entry, but undoubtedly prevent their retrieval of the key to freeing the demon. "So… are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
Greywulf chuckled, nodding with folded arms. "I'm guessing the answer is yes. Let's figure out how to turn this thing on."
X
Egeissag had to suppress a laugh as he watched his servant work- such a glorious sight, the powers of magic and the skills of an Elder Orb combined in a maelstrom of destructive energy. Not that he was planning on letting his pet beholder have all the fun. Egeissag brandished the long sword he wielded with his right hand, then adjusted the shield hanging from his left arm. Once he was certain that his weapons were secure, he waded into the fray, eyes glinting with bloodlust and the rewards that awaited him, should he succeed.
There… one of the Bhaalspawn he sought. His beholder had already knocked two of the man's companions out of the fight, but he had given the beast express orders to leave the killing of Gorion's wards to him- he was simply thankful that he had found them before Diaytha. The glory of these kills would be his alone- and it started here.
The sorcerer staggered back from a strike by one of the duergar that had accompanied him- a swipe of the quarterstaff he carried sent the dwarf stumbling backward, tripping over itself before an arrow launched from Imoen's bow struck the dwarf in one of the eyes of the helm he was wearing. He tottered for a brief moment before thudding to the ground- Greywulf was only given a moment of respite before he found himself under siege by another two drow- two more of his soldiers that would undoubtedly die in battle. Not that he doubted his men's skill- it was simply that he knew how potent his enemies were. How feared the Bhaalspawn should and could be- anyone who took the time to study their feats had no right going in expecting anything other than the toughest battle of their lives. Only a fool approached either Greywulf or Imoen with anything less than the utmost caution… and despite what Sendai may have thought of him, Egeissag was no fool.
A tethyrian soldier stumbled into his way, immediately lunging at Egeissag at the sight of another drow warrior, but he was nothing more than an annoyance to be swept aside- a simple parry then a shield bash to knock the man to his back. He walked past, pausing only a moment to plunge his sword downward before continuing his advance, never letting Greywulf leave his sights for a moment. The sorcerer was only a few dozen paces away now… so close to the glory he'd desired since pledging allegiance to Sendai.
Sarevok grit his teeth, trying to shake off the ringing sensation in his ears from slamming into a tree at such high speed- that beholder packed one hell of a punch. Not something he'd been entirely prepared for, and that was his own mistake. Not one he'd be making a second time. The Deathbringer growled murderous threats as he slowly climbed to his feet, looking for the beast that had sent him flying the first time- there. It was currently dueling with Imoen, from the looks of it. The two were trading magical blows, spells ricocheting off their respective shields, splintering trees and setting the ground ablaze around them.
It would be crazy to get involved in a battle where such destructive energies were being tossed around so easily… but then again, Sarevok was never one for taking the safest path. He gripped the Blade of Chaos tightly and began a war charge- a massive blow slammed into his back, sending him tumbling again, his face staining with dirt and blood. Behind him materialized a drow cleric, the priestess Diaytha, hefting a mace with a wicked smile. Sarevok knew that only the protective qualities of the Red Dragon Scale had kept him from a shattered spine- as it was, his back would be sore for days to come. He slowly crawled to his feet, Diaytha watching with a mixture of intrigue and predatory excitement. "So you yet live… good. I would be disappointed if the great Sarevok fell so easily."
"I would be careful what you wish for." Sarevok rumbled, straightening up with great pain- as his body straightened, he looked at the drow priestess, his yellow eyes flaring, glowing brightly as he called upon the Deathbringer training he'd undergone so long ago. "Giving me time to stand… the last thought that passes through your crushed skull will be regret."
To his credit, Diaytha looked unnerved- but then again, few could truly stand against the Butcher of the Gate and not feel some kind of fear coursing through them. Sarevok smiled thinly, raising his sword and moving to engage the priestess. Imoen would have to take care of herself for the moment- a feat he was more and more willing to believe she was capable of doing.
Solaufein was a flurry of motion, darting through the darkness as he engaged in combat with his former kin. Clerics, warriors, duergar… all of them were among the forces invading the surface world, and as much as he hated the reminders of his former life, this wasn't exactly how he'd pictured reuniting with the denizens of the Underdark. Driders, assassins of Lolth was one thing, something he'd envisioned having to defend himself against. But an entire army of his own kin… no time for regrets, wonderings about what could have been. He shoved his blade into the stomach of a drow mage, yanking it out in time to see a sword spider bearing down on him with only a few paces between them. He let his reflexes do the work, throwing the blade to the left, then the right, listening to the metallic sound of spider legs ricocheting off his sword until it leapt at him in an attempt to knock him off his feet. Falling with the beast left him straight beneath the slobbering jaws of the beast, the hair from its massive features brushing over him as it skittered back and forth atop him, looking for an avenue to impale him with one of its legs- Solaufein let go of his sword, instead grabbing hold of the two legs nearest to him- he grappled back and forth with them, pushing them back with all his might- another one came down and pierced his side, the drow wheezing with the sudden injury. His grip weakened, and the spider took the opportunity, raising the leg to strike his head- a blast of fire ignited atop the beast and it screeched, staggering off as Haer'Dalis lowered a hand, nodding to Solaufein with a grim smile. The drow elf staggered to his feet, immediately going for a blue vial on his belt and downing it with a single gulp- as the hole in his side began closing with the effects of the potion, he took up his sword again and leveled it, charging at another pair of invading soldiers.
As Haer'Dalis lowered his hand, he saw an approaching drow out of the corner of his eyes- a long sword came down toward his head, only just missing as he ducked in a spin, coming up away from the attacker as he flipped his quarterstaff to rest behind his body, gazing at his attacker. The drow elf spoke, his tones thick with arrogance and hatred. "So… you are the one Sendai has sought for so long. The sorcerer Greywulf… I will enjoy gutting you on this field of battle!"
Haer'Dalis let himself smirk- apparently his disguise was still doing the job, even if it was against the folks who really ought to know better. Still, he was a bard- playing a part came so naturally, it would be a shame to give up the act now. "Many have made similar threats- step aside and let us face Sendai, or you'll find out just how those people ended up."
Egeissag barked a laugh, approaching slowly with his shield at guard, his sword raised to strike behind his body. "I think not, surfacer. You'll find I am a student of war… and this is a war I've prepared to fight for quite some time."
Egeissag thrust his sword once, twice, then pushed ahead with his shield, forcing Haer'Dalis to retreat for a moment. Haer'Dalis abandoned martial combat for a moment, letting a Chromatic Orb impact against the drow general's shield, but the effects were neglible- he pushed in with the act of casting, closing the gap and forcing Haer'Dalis to take up his staff a second time, but this time he was too late. Egeissag's blade notched the middle of the staff, and a quick spin to the side brought his shield into Haer'Dalis' side with a crunch, pushing the tiefling against a tree, pinning him for a moment as he struggled to free himself.
"Hnh… far, far too easy." Egeissag said with a grimace, leaning into the impact to keep the struggling man from escaping. "I'm rather disappointed, actually. To think I spent so long preparing for the sorcery you were purported to wield- still, a victory is a victory, and I shan't waste it."
His words made Haer'Dalis smile- he twisted his body as best he could manage, just enough to free an arm to draw the short sword Chaos from his side. His hand had just enough reach to flick it across Egeissag's thigh, the drow howling with alarm at the sudden sound- he looked at Haer'Dalis in surprise as the tiefling drew Entropy from its sheath with his other hand, settling into a much more fluid combat stance as he stared the drow down. As much fun as performing could be… sometimes it was just better to be yourself. Haer'Dalis shook his head with disdain, "Tsk tsk… improvisation, my ebony warrior. I sense your mastery of that particular skill may be somewhat limited."
Egeissag's eyes widened as he raised his shield- Chaos bounced off it as the bard came at him in a flying leap, landing in a crouch that raised Entropy to deflect a desperate counterattack from Egeissag's sword. The bard went low and kicked out, tucking his foot behind the general's knee, knocking him flat on his back with an inglorious thud. Egeissag blinked once with the impact, immediately moving to regain his footing- too late. Haer'Dalis had one knee on his chest and one sword at his throat. Egeissag opened his mouth to protest, in shock at the unfairness of it all- who was this man, this imposter? All he could muster was a strangled cry. "This isn't what I was promised! The glory should have been mine!"
Haer'Dalis shrugged in response, sliding Chaos easily into Egeissag's neck with a squelching noise. "Ah… well, t'was not to be, I'm afraid. Some in life play the lead role, some play the understudy. You my friend, were simply not ready for opening night."
An unholy shriek echoed all around them as the beholder that had been fighting Imoen suddenly collapsed to the ground for a brief moment before immediately regaining its power of flight- it blinked once, twice… then launched itself away from the battle, coming to a halt above Haer'Dalis and Egeissag's body. Imoen cursed, moving to intercept the creature before it attacked the bard, but the creature seemed less interested in fighting- more in taking in the death of its former master. As Diaytha dodged an attack from Sarevok, she shouted at the beholder, "What are you waiting for, creature? Avenge your master! Slay them all!"
The Elder Orb turned to glare at Diaytha, its eye glowing brightly- a beam shot from it that struck the drow, eliciting a scream from her before it was silenced abruptly, leaving nothing behind but a stone statue, forever frozen in petrified horror at being betrayed so quickly. Sarevok gazed at the beholder's handiwork for a moment, then grunted with effort as he shattered what had once been Diaytha, the Sword of Chaos cutting through the rock easily.
"Finally… so many years under the thrall of that accursed little mortal- my only regret is that I was unable to slay him myself and had to settle for the female." The Elder Orb seethed, speaking common in a throaty, nearly unintelligible tone. "As much fun as it was to watch you fools slaughter one another, I will be taking my leave. Still, I suppose I owe you a small debt for freeing me from their service. You seek to kill the rest of the darklings?"
"That's right…" Imoen said between breaths, still regarding the creature she'd been dueling seconds ago with suspicion and unease.
"Then I know where you can go to continue the slaughter." The Elder Orb cackled, its laugh like a hacking cough in the middle of winter. "I will show you the way… my fondest wish would be that you all kill each other off for the indignities I have suffered."
The four exchanged glances before nodding to the Elder Orb, moving to follow the monstrous creature, Solaufein shaking his head with disbelief. "We'll be happy to oblige, I suppose. Lead on."