In reply to Keef (msg # 365):
Keef wriggles past the cannon and leaps from the ship, transforming into a dragonturtle when he hits the water.
The larger P.A.R.T.Y. members (that would be all of you) cannot fit past the cannon until someone uses a standard action to move it, not that it much matters now.
The pulsing glow of energy surrounding Saul reaches its crescendo, ripping forth from the confines of his body to fill the entire area with an intense glare that assaults yours senses -- accompanied by a roar that drowns out all sense of sound.
A dark, glowing mass can be seen silhouetted against the blistering, sickly light, like the moon during an eclipse, which burns and boils before the High Priest until the massive minotaur resembles nothing so much as a charred onyx statue carved in the likeness of his former self. Tendrils of darkness that look like a pair of draconic wings reach out from the mass and curl around the minotaur like a cocoon, and when they withdraw, there is no sign of the mighty cleric.
In his place, a shadowy being shifts and shimmers in the darkness. Still silhouetted by an impossibly bright light, the black figure lingers for a moment, smiles, and pops out of existence like a candle being blown out by a sharp burst of breath.
The maelstrom of violent energy that expands to fill the void left behind creates an explosion that defies description.
Those closest to the blast -- Zuriel, Finwë, Elite 3, and Baldwin -- find themselves bodily hurled against (and, ultimately, through)
Awe's steel-and-timber dome, which is rapidly becoming nothing more than molten slag in response to the acidic, fiery, negative-energy-laced storm that's been unleashed within the confines of the deck.
These four fall into the churning water below, sinking like leaden weights into the frigid river -- which has been swollen by the tidal forces of their Imperial allies outside -- and are lost to sight.
Maeve, Boreas, and Lyriel, who were huddled near the cannon, are likewise affected by the blast, but physics blesses them by smashing them through the cannon's opening and onto the relative safety of an unscathed Keefdragonturtle, which is forced to flee the vicinity of the doomed ship for safety purposes.
~~ End Battle ~~
The aftermath of the battle is a tale quickly told: the Imperial forces sustained terrible losses in and around
Awe when then ship exploded liked a meteorite, but the survivors quickly rallied to secure the beachhead and the shipyard. By the end of the day, all known Drynnian forces in Aestrenia were either dead, captured, or limping home on the battered remnants of their naval forces.
A great feast is held in the capital afterward, with medals of honor being awarded to Zuriel, Finwë, Maeve, Keef, and Boreas -- the former two had been found washed up on the riverbank not long after the explosion next to the only surviving member of Saul's elite serpentmen, who is now safely confined to an Imperial prison cell.
The Grand Marshall and the Protector General stood at the forefront of the award ceremony, talking heartily to one another about the prowess each had exhibited on the battlefield. The High Chief of the Order of Hort was also present, participating fully in the glow of victory. Seeing the heads of all three orders of paladins being amicable -- even friendly! -- to each other was enough to give anyone hope for the future.
The tone turned more sombre and respectful shortly thereafter, when medals of honor were also distributed to those who could only receive them posthumously -- hundreds of soldiers, some officers and minor nobles, and one name that everyone knew: Baldwin of Blakehaven. The bard had been found in the shallows near the shipyard, where the river's current had carried him, and the cause of death was widely circulated as being the result of cleric-induced blunt-trauma drowning.
Rachel, Oliver, and Karl were among the survivors, but they sat sullenly at the P.A.R.T.Y.'s table, saying little and eating less. Cassie and Fluffums were on hand as well, though the druid's view on the circle of life made her comments regarding the death of a friend less soothing than she probably intended.
Eventually, the ceremonies came to an end and the populace began to begin the task of cleaning up and moving on with their lives.
In light of the power vacuum facing Drynn, Morachiga Chosen asked for and received leave to begin the work of stabilizing the Dominion under his banner of reformation. By mutual agreement (and by order of the Empress), Lo'driel was formally ceded to the Empire, where it would function under the jurisdiction of the Heartseekers similar to the way Hae'driel functioned under the jurisdiction of the Flamebringers.
Thus it came to pass that the P.A.R.T.Y. (plus Cassie, Rachel, Oliver, Karl, the Marquise, Choso, and Sir Culley) finds itself seated in Tyrant Morachiga Choso's chambers, with emotions running high and many questions left to be answered.
Ding! Boreas, Lyriel, Maeve, Keef, and Zuriel have reached Level 13! Please update your sheets accordingly.
~~ End Chapter 12~~
quote:
You managed to recover the following items from the captured Serpentsworn Elite:
- Serpentsworn Ranseur (+3 Ranseur. Deals +2d6 to non-evil targets and +2d6 to non-chaotic targets.)
- Belt of Giant Strength (+4 Str)
- Bracers of Draconic Constitution (+4 Con)
- Onyx Key (nonmagical)
In addition, the P.A.R.T.Y. splits $30,000 from Baldwin's estate. Most of the bard's specific items are marked for inclusion in the Trove Museum, except of course for his journals, notes, collection of empowered holy symbols, and the three aural analyzers, which the P.A.R.T.Y. keeps.