They choose to go northwest. After about 45fr it opens into a cavern that has a lush green undergrowth. There are carrots, potatoes, turnips and a small fountain where whiskey bubbles up and falls into a pool here. Khzuro observes, "Might be more of his larder… lets head back and try the other path." He turns back and goes to the southwest bend. The others follow. They head back to the Y branch and take the southwest leg. They come to a four-way cavern and start to hear the thunder of water somewhere near them. Khzuro leads them due west. They go 50 yards and find the small tunnel that leads to the waterfall. Khzuro backtracks then heads southeast.
They go about 30 yards and find an oval shaped cavern to the southeast. Here they find a huge pile of gold and gems surrounding an eternal flame that is slowly melting the ice. There are symbols everywhere. Iwao looks around and says, “This seems to be a temple of Fire Baby.” He heads for the eternal flame.
"Is it normal for the fallen dragons to have shrines like this?" Khzuro says incredulously. He sighs, “If only he didn't grab Drasta." He tries to disbelieve the scene, and it works. Khzuro sees a cunning trap laid out. There is no gold or eternal flame. Instead, there is a hole in the center of a wide sloping ditch going out at a 12-yard radius. The ditch to the hole is all slick, slippery ice and Iwao is walking right into it.
Khzuro screams out, “"Iwao Stop! It's an illusion trap! Get back here!" Iwao turns around as he steps on the slick ice of the sloping ditch and falls. He starts to slide toward the hole. Khzuro jumps trying to grab him back. Ogano and Samo are still staring at the scene, but Katsu wakes up and goes into action to help you. He dives for the edge of the slope holding out his staff.
Katsu doesn’t get there in time, but Khzuro does and clasps Iwao’s wrist. Khzuro tries to pull him back, though he's not very strong, hopefully the jolt is enough to get him to his senses. Iwao comes to his senses now that Khzuro has warned him. Katsu next grabs Khzuro’s legs and finally Ogano and Samo start to go into action as the illusion dissipates. Iwao is able to climb up on to Khzuro. Samo grabs him, picks him up and throws him away from the pit. Everyone now backs away.
Khzuro pants, huffs and grumbles, “That was… too close…”
Iwao breaths a heavy sigh of relief, "that was close."
The kobold nods and yips, “"Right, you okay to keep going, Iwao?"
He nods, “A bit shaken. I should have known. It would be rather unbelievable that a temple of Fire Baby was here in this frozen hell."
Khzuro gives a nod... "We'll all need to keep alert, it seems. Does show that this dragon clearly did their research on us. Setting up traps meant for each of us. How long have they been spying on us...?" A huff "Right, let’s keep moving..."
They back out of the room and go west this time. They hear the crashing sounds of water due north. This tunnel gets narrower and narrower until it reaches a dead end at some 120 yards. They backtrack and go north coming to a split going west and north. Khzuro leads them west. They come to a sharp Y going northwest and southwest. Khzuro recognizes the tunnel going north is a garden. In fact, he concludes that they have probably been everywhere now except across the river.
Khzuro leads them to the only tunnel to the river on the east side. Khzuro studies the river. He knows there are several exits on the west side but only one on the east bank. He also knows the water will freeze anyone going in it within minutes and the closest exit on the other side is south about 30 yards, but he cannot see it from here. He looks to the others. "I can fly over... any ideas?"
Ogano thinks, “Spider climb? Other traveling spells?”
“Or I’ll just have to dimension door it.” Khzuro mentions. He thinks out loud. “Don't have time to rest, can cast it again, but am starting to tap out... I guess I could scout alone, if needed. But I get the impression the Dragon might ambush me if I did that." He does a bit of scouting with his overland flight and finds the ledge. There he carefully sets what it looks like to memory. Going back, he dimension doors them to the west side.
The Kozakura Campaign
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Winterhawk99
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Winterhawk99
- Posts: 2273
- Joined: Thu Oct 08, 2009 12:00 am
- ctp: Yes
- nwnihof: Yes
- Location: Pa.
- Contact:
Re: The Kozakura Campaign
Our five brave companions find themselves in a tunnel and there are green arrows marking the floor. Khzuro looks down at them suspiciously. They point down the tunnel. “Was this trap meant for Drasta?" Khzuro asks.
He scratches his head. He still has true seeing cast on himself, so he knows they are not illusions. “They're not illusions, let’s move, but be cautious for traps... I don't like this..." He leads the group following them but stays cautious searching for traps.
They follow the arrows around many curving exits and entrances and come to a giant room that looks like a cathedral made of ice. Though no pews just random chairs, desks trophies on the walls and lots of bookshelves and other things there is a human looking man sitting at a big table full of food. He has red hair, and his eyes shine an aquamarine color.
Khzuro stays of the room, checking for ambush spots, but then looks back to his team "Probably the dragon right there."
Samo says, "He looks a little small for a giant dragon?"
"Illusion, I think. Can't tell yet. I don't know if this will turn into a fight, but we'd better be ready in case." The kobold cautions.
Ogano says, "Well if it is the dragon I don’t think he'll take kindly to us using magic in his home."
"After he's steadily ambushed us and marked our team for being devoured? Diplomacy was the first thing I had in mind but after all this I'm not sure it'll be particularly effective. Right... guess we'll go with what we have now then. Just be ready." Khzuro swallows hard. Katsu nods. Khzuro continues, “"I'll go in first, if things go bad, come in after me."
Ogano counts reagents. Samo loosens his swords. Khzuro looks to what they are doing. "Weapons holstered for now. We'll try things diplomatically first." Iwao gets ready to burn everything around him. Samo nods but keeps his hand on his katana.
Khzuro decides to head into the chamber solo. Only just stepping into the room, before his eyes sets on the man at the big table. "Clyde."
He stands, "Well you know my common name. And you are Khzuro the kobold greetings don’t be shy. The others can come too. You're probably hungry. I made a small feast for you…… My I have not had this much fun for centuries."
"Is the rest of my team invited too?"
"Oh, them the losers of my games. Not yet. Perhaps later."
"Perhaps later? Sounds like you have something very specific in mind you want in exchange for them."
"In fact, I do. But enjoy your win over my crafty mind first. You got through everything.
"Am inclined to think that this might be a trap as well after everything."
"I almost missed catching Haru. I am glad that I was able to eat her before she fell to the bottom. No traps. You are in my home. It would be distasteful."
"You've clearly had your eye on us for some time, given the traps. Sithmore didn't recognize us or our habits, but you did." He waves the others in.
"Ah Lauriella was expelled from the gates of the moon to protect her treasure. Probably some Mulhorandi thing. Is she still here?"
"She was possessing a ranger for some time, but she's gone now." A sigh, "Really was hoping to get her help with this whole mess."
The strange man nods. "A sad death. I wept for her." Khzuro allows himself to give a sympathetic frown. The man continues. “Possession slowly damages the host. She knew that. Still, there must have been a reason for her leaving her host. She did something. She gave someone an answer. It’s the only way she would leave." The others start to approach the table.
Khzuro asks, “You're familiar with the situation of the demon having her artifacts, then?"
"Of course, I am, and they are not her artifacts. They are our artifacts. The demon occupies her ship; however, he must find the magic keys to the holds and unlock them before he can do anything. Hold 1 and 8 are blown open. It was to sink her. That leaves the other holds with all her toys inside. Chrome is a demon prince and even with all my age and power I am no match for the he and his minions alone. If he does, he does find all the keys. his power will be limitless. I doubt that he will some of them are quite ingenious in design. There are also traps. Not traps that you would recognize as such either very much like my own traps."
"She said 'I'll be having to show you the way', and 'I showed you your star', before she let go of the possession, would that count as an answer from her?"
"What did she do?"
"She casted a powerful pulse of negative energy, which disintegrated her white crystals and blew up the black ones. If I had to guess she destroyed the power source of those artifacts the demon is using... but that's admittedly only conjecture, we don't know how large of a stockpile the demon has." Though looks to see if Samo takes up the dragon's offer on the feast. He sees Samo sitting down feasting on a Bone in ham.
"Ah yes. Lauriella figured out if you spin the crystals around a mythallar you can have unending energy for magic. She created a perpetual engine, and all of her temporal magic is linked to those three types of crystals. Temporal magic takes a lot of magical energy. much more than your standard day to day magic. "You destroy the stallix and imodium crystals. Her chronomantic magic will no longer work except for a certain few spells she created for her own defense."
Khzuro gives a nod at that. “Would that spell have destroyed the demon's supply too? Even though we weren't nearby?"
"Most likely not. she had hundreds of crystals stored in one of her holds. and unfortunately, several mythallar in another."
Khzuro raises and eye ridge as Samo enjoys the ham bone in his mouth then turns back to the man/dragon. “Pity. Guess that means we're back on that clock then." Samo isn’t paying any attention. He’s eating his ham while eyeing the pastries to his left.
"Yes, it seems you are. I ask you then. You lost most of your party in my games. How do you think you will fare against a demon prince?"
Raises an eye ridge "So that was the whole purpose of this? Testing to see if we could handle the demon prince?"
Clyde smiles, “That and the sheer fun of doing it. I have had quite a bit of joy playing my jokes on you."
"Well, I do have to admit the catnip was clever."
He laughs, “Ah, that was wonderful to see her jump after the giant fake rabbit into a pit of blackness. She was an easy catch.”
"You had a trap prepared specifically for each of us, then?" Looks to the 'winners'.
He nods. "It’s easy to get into someone’s dreams with enough practice, and after all I am very, very old.”
"Ah, so /that/'s what it was..." Pauses, considering "Though this one didn't get one from you."
".........oh, just because I do not present myself does not mean I am not there."
"Ah, then you know about who contacted me in my dream, then."
"I did have to counter Chrome and show myself once." Khzuro cranes his head, listening. Clyde continues. “I knew he was trying the same thing. I had to act. spur you on.”
"Ah, so that wasn't the demon contacting this one, that was you that time?"
“It was the demon. Two cannot invade dreams of one at the same time. So, I invaded other’s dreams.
Thats when I showed myself to those the demon was not trying to read.”
Khzuro gives him a nod, “Ah… I see. Did you have a trap set up specifically for me then?" Looks over at the other 'winners', wondering what their traps were too.”
“I did. You bypassed it.”
“It didn’t involve head pats so that explains how it was bypassed. Ah, which one was that?"
He smiles. “It’s best not to know all my tricks.”
"Szeh-heh, fair fair."
Then a breath out "Guess what that leaves, is what is to be done now. Admittedly we've lost some time doing this and am not sure how long we have before Chrome unlocks the rest of the vaults."
"It would take some very, very specific lore around Lauriella herself.”
"Guessing the demons haven't gotten past your defenses yet, even though those Mariliths were trying to brute force it. And.... ah? Meant more... what can we do to stop the demons. Cracking the vaults only helps him at the moment."
"They try. I've killed many already. Chrome just brings more.”
"Think we've seen Chrome once before, fighting Sithmore. But he teleported out before the fighting stopped."
“It’s the way of demons. If they know the fight lost, they flee and Lauriella in possession of a body is a powerful archmage and makes no bones about calling undead if needed. powerful undead. it comes from her Mulhorandi training. They do not consider calling forth such as evil as long as its temporary.
"If the Demon Lord can gate in more minions whenever he loses them, it sounds like the only way to stop him is to take him out. Which... certainly won't be an easy prospect."
“Lauriella made many cursed items to protect her treasures. Get him to use one of them. He might be taken out forever.”
Khzuro nods, considering. “That's... definitely a good idea. Bait him into using one. Course, he hasn't fallen into that pitfall on his own, has he?"
“Not that I know of.”
“Pity, would have made things much simpler.”
Clyde hesitates, “It has been almost 2 years since he found the ship. another 6 months since he discovered its potential and almost a year to build his gate. But then again.........time doesn’t always work here correctly. So, who knows.”
"Has anyone else tried to come help fix this in two years...? Has it really just been you and Sithmore fighting them all this time?"
"Who would know about an ancient ship buried in the ice that was once the norther coast of the Netheril sea."
"Besides us... a good point. Still, if it was just, you two against a Demon Lord, why did you not try seeking help? Seems like it should have been clear sometime along then that this wasn't something you two could handle alone." Khzuro asks.
“I have relied on her genius to protect the important things, and my spell powers are far removed from hers even being a great wyrm now. I am at my end. My hope was that he would stumble upon one of her cursed items and that would be the end.”
"Unless he masters them fully and then terrible consequences happen from that."
“Yes, but I could not take him on myself. it would be a wasted death. I had to wait and who would I call. I have lived here thousands of years now. everyone I could call upon is long dead. and as far as I know the crew will not be here for another 100 years or so. that is when they were due to return to the present.”
"Ah... so that's the plan." A nod, considering "The demon had been contacting me for a while now. Taunting me. That's how this one first came to be aware of this situation."
“I take out some of his minions occasionally however he just replaces them now that he has achieved his gate……. Now that little Kobold is interesting. Tell me, how does he do it?”
"It's not a Sending Spell, but it's like he appeared as an apparition to this one at various times. Of note he seemed to be speaking in a backwards order."
“Even more interesting. So, it seems he somehow is moving backward in time. I suspect he is not in fact this very same demon or at least from this timeline but how?”
"I had thought that he somehow gained control over some of Sithmore's artifacts, and that while he hadn't fully mastered them, he was doing so."
“You saw this artifact? You know what it looks like?”
Khzuro nods, then casts a silent image of the 'image' the Demon had sent him, with the hourglass he was showing "This one."
The man chuckles, "Oh well done. I had forgotten about that little trinket. It is one of her traps. The hourglass is very powerful. It is harmless until you figure it out then it becomes deadly. Once you learn and use the device it locks you continually going in the past. Once every few days you can flip it and stop time to speak to someone.... However, once you use it you create a parallel universe slightly out of phase with ours. You can no longer hurt anyone or anything here. You can see to ours and even communicate. You will eventually die continually going backward in time even a demon or celestial. I’m sure a deity would have no problem getting out of the situation.........." chuckles "But any lesser being there is no chance. Such a simple trick. I do admire the trap."
"I see." It takes Khzuro some time to process that. "Does that mean then that we don't need to go fight him? That he'll be trapped going backwards in time forever and that we don't need to stop him? Or is it possible he has found out some way to get around it?"
“You said he sought you out did you not long ago? If this is true, then You, Khzuro or shall I say another Khzuro forced him to use it at some point. Time it is so hard to comprehend.... Even for me who knew her but not the very depths of her mind.”
"So... what would happen if this one just... turned back and didn't confront them in this timeline?"
“He could destroy himself.........or he could gain her powers and recreate the world in his own image. How many times have you fought him before Khzuro? How many times will you fight him again? I can tell you both is most likely infinite. That much I do know and the very thought that you have turned away after this very conversation means that you have called it off before and will again. Just remember this. This now and when is your timeline and will affect this Khzuro and all his companions, friends and associates. What will you do now?
"Wait, are you saying that this one /has/ turned back before? How is that possible? Was asking /how/ any of this works." Pauses, considers "My line of thought is that it's most likely the demon will gain some measure of her powers if we just let the demon to it. They have to be stopped. Somehow."
“Good. When thinking of time little one. One must think of all possibilities as not only likely but have happened and will happen at one time or another. The fact that you wish to confront him means that you will most likely save this timeline or die trying.”
"What matters most is that he is stopped from abusing time." A pause, considering "From what you have said, direct confrontation may not be the best angle. Means using something against him."
“You are facing a Demon Prince. Not the most powerful I believe but still a Demon prince. How you face him matters. Look around you. What percentage of your friends are you willing to lose in this battle whether your confrontation is direct or not?”
Sam stands up, "I am samurai and willing to die for my emperor."
Clyde smirks, "Kozakura and Wa. what dreadful places to live. Yes, yes, we all know what Samurai are all about. You can sit down now knight. Anything else before the business at hand?
"Think that's everything, unless you had some questions for this one."
“I believe we are done with questions. Normally I would eat intruders into my lair, however I do have need of you for two reasons. One of course is to fight the demon. The other you will not like.”
"Let’s hear it, then."
“Dragons being the perfect beings age much more slowly than others of course. However, all have their time. I have extended my life as far as I possibly can. Which means I am dying. I am soon to face Null the judge of our dead. That means to continue my guardianship of the great mysteries here I must teach another. You must choose one from your group to stay here. I will teach them to become the next guardian during my last days. That is the price for those crunchy morsels I have.”
Khzuro furrows his brow. The dragon was right. He didn’t like that. He does look to his companions, then back to Clyde. “Then the same thing will happen to them, won't it? And they'd have a human's lifespan, not a dragon's."
He smiles. “Many of your companions are not human at all. Are they Iwao. Oh, you are part human but how long will you live or Aiami, Drasta, or Ayako? Besides that, I will give them the gift of the small amount of chronomancy I know myself while teaching them."
"Still hardly seems like a lasting solution."
"And how do you propose to destroy a dozen or so artifacts? even without an energy source?"
"Besides, this one wouldn't offer them up for /that/ without asking them first." Khzuro pauses, considering "Deal with the demon first. Get them out of the picture. Once that is done..." A pause, considering
“I will release them on the promise that one will stay. Your word Khzuro, Samo's, or Haru's. Neither of these three can break word once given. I do not trust the others.”
Furrows his brow, looking to the others, then a look to Clyde "Forcing someone to stay here wasn't part of the mission we had sworn to. Our objective is to stop the demon. I hope at least we are in agreement on this."
Katsu nods "It seems we must make our own deal Khzuro separate from our oaths."
Khzuro gets an idea. “Oh, hold on…. Hold that thought, actually..." Pulls out the old elf's timepiece, then shows it to Clyde "Do you recognize this?"
“Its… They are already back, and her calculations were wrong. but how long. I do not know. I missed them it seems. That does not resolve my problem though Khzuro.”
"An old elf gave this timepiece to this one, would they be suitable? And they knew Sithmore."
“It must be Cyr her lieutenant. And how old is Cyr now?”
"Quite old. Was definitely showing his age. Said he still had some time, though..."
“He has already imbibed a potion of youth. This I know thus the chronomancy he may have to use would backfire on him.”
“Oh…” Pauses, thinking, he looks around at his remaining companions to see what they think about this, though Khzuro himself doesn't look inclined to take him up on this.
Everyone hears a muffled dragon roar coming from the south. Clyde smiles "It looks like one of your companions is trying to call you."
Samo says, "We could draw straws?"
Raises an eye ridge, then looks over, then to Samo, shaking his head no "No." Then a look back to Clyde
"Let me lay this out then. From my perspective, at this point, you need someone to stop the demon. That takes first priority. In order to do that, this one is going to need their full team. That also means not leaving anyone behind."
Iwao stands. "I will live considerably longer than a human. I will do it. besides I like a shrine to Fire Baby in the heart of the enemy."
"And you have said yourself that I'm fighting a Demon Lord. This is a suicide mission, for all of us. And I cannot commit to such knowing that any of us could not return from this mission and break an oath by doing so." Khzuro continues his thoughts with the dragon.
Clyde smiles, "Oh you can go off to fight the demon together. but one must return to me."
Samo says, "I'll make sure to send you a few wives to bide the time Iwao."
Looks up to Iwao "I can't force you to make this oath. It's not part of what you signed up for."
"Besides, we all know the risks of this upcoming fight. I'll do my best to ensure everyone makes it out alive and that we defeat the demon and complete our mission, but..."
Iwao says, "Perhaps a sacred duty of the church. How better to serve." He turns to the dragon. "You are a powerful denizen of this glacier but what about a whole sect of Fire Bright continually guarding against anyone getting to the ship and artifact. We can live deep where we can find earth plant and farm under the glacier. even breed livestock all in dedication to keeping her works secret." Ogano looks to Khzuro then the dragon.
Khzuro doesn't say anything but looks to see how the dragon regards this. The dragon thinks a long while. "If it can be arranged then yes. I will still need Khzuro, and Samo vow that this will get completed.”
"If Iwao falls in battle again the demon that would make us Oath breakers if we cannot get Ayako to revive him."
The dragon smiles, "Not necessarily if you go back and get others of his church to come. A failsafe. I like that. Or you choose another upon his death to come back. So, what will it be Leader. What is your choice will you make the vow one way or another?”
Furrows his brow, considering, maybe Clyde is used to kobolds being deferential to dragons, but somehow Khzuro doesn't seem to be towards him. After a time, he speaks. "I cannot make that vow. But in the interest of mutual cooperation, we don't have to be enemies. It would be better if we had our full team to fight the demons, and given you've had us under observation, you know we will do that. If Iwao wants to do that on his own choice, then that's his choice and vow to make. I cannot make one for him."
"Umm the East! I have always hated it so." He stares at priest. "You and I will make a pact that you and your fellows will do what you say. I have but 25 to 50 years left in me. You or if you die another will come to learn the ways of guarding this treasure it does not matter how many of your people come but it must be only the truest priests and priestess of your sect. Do you understand?"
Iwao takes a long time thinking about it, "I do and will in the name of the church."
The dragon says, "Write your letters of explanation I will make the pact." Iwao gets to writing and so does the dragon. after an hour all is done and blood is spilled to seal all correspondence and pact. The dragon releases everyone.
Khzuro furrows his brow, apparently, he seems quite wary of blood packs. The dragon casts a spell and everyone missing falls out of the bottom of a giant organ in the cathedral. The kobold looks over to the others. Everyone but Drasta whose been replaced by an adult crystal dragon. Khzuro blinks
Drasta places each hand on each side of the room staring directly across the room with a bit of anger. Her crystal scales reflecting all the light scooping her friends behind her. "That's..." Khzuro looks them over, counting, seeming to take note of their names to himself quietly as he does so one by one, then speaks up "Where's Drasta? And, who’s that other dragon…?”
Clyde rolls his eyes looking at both the crystal dragon and Ayako and transforms himself into an old wyrm copper dragon. he looks down upon Drasta and snorts, "Do you really want trouble little one?"
Haru says, “That is Drasta.”
The crystal dragon speaks draconic. “I will protect my friends as I was entrusted to.” She stares up at him.
"Didn't know you could shapechange..." Then a hems "Calm down, we've negotiated an extent of cooperation." Khzuro quickly intervenes.
"It seems they have saved you now be a good little girl and transform back." Clyde snorts. A whiff of acid clouds up around his great snout.
Drasta uses her tail to place Khzuro from there watching the copper carefully. “You could see how one would be angry.
"Oh definitely, I get it. All the same, lets save our aggression for the demons. We're going to need all of us to deal with them." Khzuro pleads looking at the two dragons and knowing who would win in a fight.
Drasta lets others out from behind her sitting calmly and more of a professional way hands tuck in front tail wrapped around herself
The dragon turns his aquamarine orbs to Khzuro, "Yes go now I have things to do too." With that he murmurs a spell and spider climbs to the ceiling and out of the cathedral to parts unknown.
"Before you go, can we.... oh..." A sigh. Khzuro rubs his muzzle and looks to the others "Are you all ready to move out, then?" To Ayako, Aiami, and the others
Haru says, “I still can’t hear well.” Shin just shrugs and nods. Ayako roars weakly then transforms. She goes to the table and immediately gorges herself with food.
"Right, I... guess our audience is done then. I'm pretty tapped for magic now. Let’s go back to the entrance. We'll rest up a.... " A pause, looking over "Okay I guess we'll eat first then we'll go to the entrance, get some rest, and then move out after the demons." Khzuro starts to feast.
Ayako exclaims, “I can’t believe he used catnip against me.............does he have anymore? That rabbit looked real to me!" Ogano can’t keep it in anymore and just starts to laugh. Khzuro raises and eye ridge then looks to see how Aiami is holding up.
She seems to be ok and comments, “Well, she didn’t eat me. Is there any vegetables?”
Drasta watches carefully and states, “I am only able to keep this for another 20 hours or so.”
"We didn't see any more 'nice' Carrots at least..." Khzuro looks to the table
Ayako looks at Aiami. “Of course, I’m not going to eat you. At least until the demon is slain. Then well all bets are off. There are lots of vegetables there.” She points. “Now fatten yourself up for me.”
Khzuro glares at Ayako at that. "Mission isn't done until we get the debrief from the emperor." As ironic as that is for a kobold to say that. Drasta gives Khzuro a grand loud chuckle.
Masako says, “For the love of the 8 million let’s just eat and go. We have a job to do.”
Khzuro nods to her. “Indeed that.”
Drasta nods her head and eats from the table only taking snakish meals for her size. About a ¼ of the feast in her current state. As she does, she finds a scroll haphazardly left on the chair Clyde was sitting on. She carefully places her claw picking it up then placing it in K’s hand.
He looks at the scroll first checking to see if its magic. Drasta uses a persistent image spell and looks down to him. “What is it?” Placing a hand on his head.
It’s not magic. Khzuro opens it up and looks it over. “Ah, seems he’s left a gift. It’s a map.
“Curious.” Drasta exclaims.
Khzuro can tell it seems to be incomplete in regard to enemy positions. He says, “Clyde wants the demons gone too. So, him helping us do this makes sense.” Drasta nods her head breaking an ice stalactite. Khzuro continues. "Right, we'll rest up. I'll try to plan a strategy in the meantime..." Tries to see if any of this is familiar, or where the party is currently, though takes a note at where it says portal. It looks like a completely new area to him.
Drasta lays down watching everyone at the entrance of the room trying to block it, however she is much too small being its big enough for a great wyrm to pass in and out.
The group returns to the giant iron door at the dragon lair entrance and take a long rest. Afterward they plan their attack on the Gate, Ship, and most of all the demon prince Chrome.
He scratches his head. He still has true seeing cast on himself, so he knows they are not illusions. “They're not illusions, let’s move, but be cautious for traps... I don't like this..." He leads the group following them but stays cautious searching for traps.
They follow the arrows around many curving exits and entrances and come to a giant room that looks like a cathedral made of ice. Though no pews just random chairs, desks trophies on the walls and lots of bookshelves and other things there is a human looking man sitting at a big table full of food. He has red hair, and his eyes shine an aquamarine color.
Khzuro stays of the room, checking for ambush spots, but then looks back to his team "Probably the dragon right there."
Samo says, "He looks a little small for a giant dragon?"
"Illusion, I think. Can't tell yet. I don't know if this will turn into a fight, but we'd better be ready in case." The kobold cautions.
Ogano says, "Well if it is the dragon I don’t think he'll take kindly to us using magic in his home."
"After he's steadily ambushed us and marked our team for being devoured? Diplomacy was the first thing I had in mind but after all this I'm not sure it'll be particularly effective. Right... guess we'll go with what we have now then. Just be ready." Khzuro swallows hard. Katsu nods. Khzuro continues, “"I'll go in first, if things go bad, come in after me."
Ogano counts reagents. Samo loosens his swords. Khzuro looks to what they are doing. "Weapons holstered for now. We'll try things diplomatically first." Iwao gets ready to burn everything around him. Samo nods but keeps his hand on his katana.
Khzuro decides to head into the chamber solo. Only just stepping into the room, before his eyes sets on the man at the big table. "Clyde."
He stands, "Well you know my common name. And you are Khzuro the kobold greetings don’t be shy. The others can come too. You're probably hungry. I made a small feast for you…… My I have not had this much fun for centuries."
"Is the rest of my team invited too?"
"Oh, them the losers of my games. Not yet. Perhaps later."
"Perhaps later? Sounds like you have something very specific in mind you want in exchange for them."
"In fact, I do. But enjoy your win over my crafty mind first. You got through everything.
"Am inclined to think that this might be a trap as well after everything."
"I almost missed catching Haru. I am glad that I was able to eat her before she fell to the bottom. No traps. You are in my home. It would be distasteful."
"You've clearly had your eye on us for some time, given the traps. Sithmore didn't recognize us or our habits, but you did." He waves the others in.
"Ah Lauriella was expelled from the gates of the moon to protect her treasure. Probably some Mulhorandi thing. Is she still here?"
"She was possessing a ranger for some time, but she's gone now." A sigh, "Really was hoping to get her help with this whole mess."
The strange man nods. "A sad death. I wept for her." Khzuro allows himself to give a sympathetic frown. The man continues. “Possession slowly damages the host. She knew that. Still, there must have been a reason for her leaving her host. She did something. She gave someone an answer. It’s the only way she would leave." The others start to approach the table.
Khzuro asks, “You're familiar with the situation of the demon having her artifacts, then?"
"Of course, I am, and they are not her artifacts. They are our artifacts. The demon occupies her ship; however, he must find the magic keys to the holds and unlock them before he can do anything. Hold 1 and 8 are blown open. It was to sink her. That leaves the other holds with all her toys inside. Chrome is a demon prince and even with all my age and power I am no match for the he and his minions alone. If he does, he does find all the keys. his power will be limitless. I doubt that he will some of them are quite ingenious in design. There are also traps. Not traps that you would recognize as such either very much like my own traps."
"She said 'I'll be having to show you the way', and 'I showed you your star', before she let go of the possession, would that count as an answer from her?"
"What did she do?"
"She casted a powerful pulse of negative energy, which disintegrated her white crystals and blew up the black ones. If I had to guess she destroyed the power source of those artifacts the demon is using... but that's admittedly only conjecture, we don't know how large of a stockpile the demon has." Though looks to see if Samo takes up the dragon's offer on the feast. He sees Samo sitting down feasting on a Bone in ham.
"Ah yes. Lauriella figured out if you spin the crystals around a mythallar you can have unending energy for magic. She created a perpetual engine, and all of her temporal magic is linked to those three types of crystals. Temporal magic takes a lot of magical energy. much more than your standard day to day magic. "You destroy the stallix and imodium crystals. Her chronomantic magic will no longer work except for a certain few spells she created for her own defense."
Khzuro gives a nod at that. “Would that spell have destroyed the demon's supply too? Even though we weren't nearby?"
"Most likely not. she had hundreds of crystals stored in one of her holds. and unfortunately, several mythallar in another."
Khzuro raises and eye ridge as Samo enjoys the ham bone in his mouth then turns back to the man/dragon. “Pity. Guess that means we're back on that clock then." Samo isn’t paying any attention. He’s eating his ham while eyeing the pastries to his left.
"Yes, it seems you are. I ask you then. You lost most of your party in my games. How do you think you will fare against a demon prince?"
Raises an eye ridge "So that was the whole purpose of this? Testing to see if we could handle the demon prince?"
Clyde smiles, “That and the sheer fun of doing it. I have had quite a bit of joy playing my jokes on you."
"Well, I do have to admit the catnip was clever."
He laughs, “Ah, that was wonderful to see her jump after the giant fake rabbit into a pit of blackness. She was an easy catch.”
"You had a trap prepared specifically for each of us, then?" Looks to the 'winners'.
He nods. "It’s easy to get into someone’s dreams with enough practice, and after all I am very, very old.”
"Ah, so /that/'s what it was..." Pauses, considering "Though this one didn't get one from you."
".........oh, just because I do not present myself does not mean I am not there."
"Ah, then you know about who contacted me in my dream, then."
"I did have to counter Chrome and show myself once." Khzuro cranes his head, listening. Clyde continues. “I knew he was trying the same thing. I had to act. spur you on.”
"Ah, so that wasn't the demon contacting this one, that was you that time?"
“It was the demon. Two cannot invade dreams of one at the same time. So, I invaded other’s dreams.
Thats when I showed myself to those the demon was not trying to read.”
Khzuro gives him a nod, “Ah… I see. Did you have a trap set up specifically for me then?" Looks over at the other 'winners', wondering what their traps were too.”
“I did. You bypassed it.”
“It didn’t involve head pats so that explains how it was bypassed. Ah, which one was that?"
He smiles. “It’s best not to know all my tricks.”
"Szeh-heh, fair fair."
Then a breath out "Guess what that leaves, is what is to be done now. Admittedly we've lost some time doing this and am not sure how long we have before Chrome unlocks the rest of the vaults."
"It would take some very, very specific lore around Lauriella herself.”
"Guessing the demons haven't gotten past your defenses yet, even though those Mariliths were trying to brute force it. And.... ah? Meant more... what can we do to stop the demons. Cracking the vaults only helps him at the moment."
"They try. I've killed many already. Chrome just brings more.”
"Think we've seen Chrome once before, fighting Sithmore. But he teleported out before the fighting stopped."
“It’s the way of demons. If they know the fight lost, they flee and Lauriella in possession of a body is a powerful archmage and makes no bones about calling undead if needed. powerful undead. it comes from her Mulhorandi training. They do not consider calling forth such as evil as long as its temporary.
"If the Demon Lord can gate in more minions whenever he loses them, it sounds like the only way to stop him is to take him out. Which... certainly won't be an easy prospect."
“Lauriella made many cursed items to protect her treasures. Get him to use one of them. He might be taken out forever.”
Khzuro nods, considering. “That's... definitely a good idea. Bait him into using one. Course, he hasn't fallen into that pitfall on his own, has he?"
“Not that I know of.”
“Pity, would have made things much simpler.”
Clyde hesitates, “It has been almost 2 years since he found the ship. another 6 months since he discovered its potential and almost a year to build his gate. But then again.........time doesn’t always work here correctly. So, who knows.”
"Has anyone else tried to come help fix this in two years...? Has it really just been you and Sithmore fighting them all this time?"
"Who would know about an ancient ship buried in the ice that was once the norther coast of the Netheril sea."
"Besides us... a good point. Still, if it was just, you two against a Demon Lord, why did you not try seeking help? Seems like it should have been clear sometime along then that this wasn't something you two could handle alone." Khzuro asks.
“I have relied on her genius to protect the important things, and my spell powers are far removed from hers even being a great wyrm now. I am at my end. My hope was that he would stumble upon one of her cursed items and that would be the end.”
"Unless he masters them fully and then terrible consequences happen from that."
“Yes, but I could not take him on myself. it would be a wasted death. I had to wait and who would I call. I have lived here thousands of years now. everyone I could call upon is long dead. and as far as I know the crew will not be here for another 100 years or so. that is when they were due to return to the present.”
"Ah... so that's the plan." A nod, considering "The demon had been contacting me for a while now. Taunting me. That's how this one first came to be aware of this situation."
“I take out some of his minions occasionally however he just replaces them now that he has achieved his gate……. Now that little Kobold is interesting. Tell me, how does he do it?”
"It's not a Sending Spell, but it's like he appeared as an apparition to this one at various times. Of note he seemed to be speaking in a backwards order."
“Even more interesting. So, it seems he somehow is moving backward in time. I suspect he is not in fact this very same demon or at least from this timeline but how?”
"I had thought that he somehow gained control over some of Sithmore's artifacts, and that while he hadn't fully mastered them, he was doing so."
“You saw this artifact? You know what it looks like?”
Khzuro nods, then casts a silent image of the 'image' the Demon had sent him, with the hourglass he was showing "This one."
The man chuckles, "Oh well done. I had forgotten about that little trinket. It is one of her traps. The hourglass is very powerful. It is harmless until you figure it out then it becomes deadly. Once you learn and use the device it locks you continually going in the past. Once every few days you can flip it and stop time to speak to someone.... However, once you use it you create a parallel universe slightly out of phase with ours. You can no longer hurt anyone or anything here. You can see to ours and even communicate. You will eventually die continually going backward in time even a demon or celestial. I’m sure a deity would have no problem getting out of the situation.........." chuckles "But any lesser being there is no chance. Such a simple trick. I do admire the trap."
"I see." It takes Khzuro some time to process that. "Does that mean then that we don't need to go fight him? That he'll be trapped going backwards in time forever and that we don't need to stop him? Or is it possible he has found out some way to get around it?"
“You said he sought you out did you not long ago? If this is true, then You, Khzuro or shall I say another Khzuro forced him to use it at some point. Time it is so hard to comprehend.... Even for me who knew her but not the very depths of her mind.”
"So... what would happen if this one just... turned back and didn't confront them in this timeline?"
“He could destroy himself.........or he could gain her powers and recreate the world in his own image. How many times have you fought him before Khzuro? How many times will you fight him again? I can tell you both is most likely infinite. That much I do know and the very thought that you have turned away after this very conversation means that you have called it off before and will again. Just remember this. This now and when is your timeline and will affect this Khzuro and all his companions, friends and associates. What will you do now?
"Wait, are you saying that this one /has/ turned back before? How is that possible? Was asking /how/ any of this works." Pauses, considers "My line of thought is that it's most likely the demon will gain some measure of her powers if we just let the demon to it. They have to be stopped. Somehow."
“Good. When thinking of time little one. One must think of all possibilities as not only likely but have happened and will happen at one time or another. The fact that you wish to confront him means that you will most likely save this timeline or die trying.”
"What matters most is that he is stopped from abusing time." A pause, considering "From what you have said, direct confrontation may not be the best angle. Means using something against him."
“You are facing a Demon Prince. Not the most powerful I believe but still a Demon prince. How you face him matters. Look around you. What percentage of your friends are you willing to lose in this battle whether your confrontation is direct or not?”
Sam stands up, "I am samurai and willing to die for my emperor."
Clyde smirks, "Kozakura and Wa. what dreadful places to live. Yes, yes, we all know what Samurai are all about. You can sit down now knight. Anything else before the business at hand?
"Think that's everything, unless you had some questions for this one."
“I believe we are done with questions. Normally I would eat intruders into my lair, however I do have need of you for two reasons. One of course is to fight the demon. The other you will not like.”
"Let’s hear it, then."
“Dragons being the perfect beings age much more slowly than others of course. However, all have their time. I have extended my life as far as I possibly can. Which means I am dying. I am soon to face Null the judge of our dead. That means to continue my guardianship of the great mysteries here I must teach another. You must choose one from your group to stay here. I will teach them to become the next guardian during my last days. That is the price for those crunchy morsels I have.”
Khzuro furrows his brow. The dragon was right. He didn’t like that. He does look to his companions, then back to Clyde. “Then the same thing will happen to them, won't it? And they'd have a human's lifespan, not a dragon's."
He smiles. “Many of your companions are not human at all. Are they Iwao. Oh, you are part human but how long will you live or Aiami, Drasta, or Ayako? Besides that, I will give them the gift of the small amount of chronomancy I know myself while teaching them."
"Still hardly seems like a lasting solution."
"And how do you propose to destroy a dozen or so artifacts? even without an energy source?"
"Besides, this one wouldn't offer them up for /that/ without asking them first." Khzuro pauses, considering "Deal with the demon first. Get them out of the picture. Once that is done..." A pause, considering
“I will release them on the promise that one will stay. Your word Khzuro, Samo's, or Haru's. Neither of these three can break word once given. I do not trust the others.”
Furrows his brow, looking to the others, then a look to Clyde "Forcing someone to stay here wasn't part of the mission we had sworn to. Our objective is to stop the demon. I hope at least we are in agreement on this."
Katsu nods "It seems we must make our own deal Khzuro separate from our oaths."
Khzuro gets an idea. “Oh, hold on…. Hold that thought, actually..." Pulls out the old elf's timepiece, then shows it to Clyde "Do you recognize this?"
“Its… They are already back, and her calculations were wrong. but how long. I do not know. I missed them it seems. That does not resolve my problem though Khzuro.”
"An old elf gave this timepiece to this one, would they be suitable? And they knew Sithmore."
“It must be Cyr her lieutenant. And how old is Cyr now?”
"Quite old. Was definitely showing his age. Said he still had some time, though..."
“He has already imbibed a potion of youth. This I know thus the chronomancy he may have to use would backfire on him.”
“Oh…” Pauses, thinking, he looks around at his remaining companions to see what they think about this, though Khzuro himself doesn't look inclined to take him up on this.
Everyone hears a muffled dragon roar coming from the south. Clyde smiles "It looks like one of your companions is trying to call you."
Samo says, "We could draw straws?"
Raises an eye ridge, then looks over, then to Samo, shaking his head no "No." Then a look back to Clyde
"Let me lay this out then. From my perspective, at this point, you need someone to stop the demon. That takes first priority. In order to do that, this one is going to need their full team. That also means not leaving anyone behind."
Iwao stands. "I will live considerably longer than a human. I will do it. besides I like a shrine to Fire Baby in the heart of the enemy."
"And you have said yourself that I'm fighting a Demon Lord. This is a suicide mission, for all of us. And I cannot commit to such knowing that any of us could not return from this mission and break an oath by doing so." Khzuro continues his thoughts with the dragon.
Clyde smiles, "Oh you can go off to fight the demon together. but one must return to me."
Samo says, "I'll make sure to send you a few wives to bide the time Iwao."
Looks up to Iwao "I can't force you to make this oath. It's not part of what you signed up for."
"Besides, we all know the risks of this upcoming fight. I'll do my best to ensure everyone makes it out alive and that we defeat the demon and complete our mission, but..."
Iwao says, "Perhaps a sacred duty of the church. How better to serve." He turns to the dragon. "You are a powerful denizen of this glacier but what about a whole sect of Fire Bright continually guarding against anyone getting to the ship and artifact. We can live deep where we can find earth plant and farm under the glacier. even breed livestock all in dedication to keeping her works secret." Ogano looks to Khzuro then the dragon.
Khzuro doesn't say anything but looks to see how the dragon regards this. The dragon thinks a long while. "If it can be arranged then yes. I will still need Khzuro, and Samo vow that this will get completed.”
"If Iwao falls in battle again the demon that would make us Oath breakers if we cannot get Ayako to revive him."
The dragon smiles, "Not necessarily if you go back and get others of his church to come. A failsafe. I like that. Or you choose another upon his death to come back. So, what will it be Leader. What is your choice will you make the vow one way or another?”
Furrows his brow, considering, maybe Clyde is used to kobolds being deferential to dragons, but somehow Khzuro doesn't seem to be towards him. After a time, he speaks. "I cannot make that vow. But in the interest of mutual cooperation, we don't have to be enemies. It would be better if we had our full team to fight the demons, and given you've had us under observation, you know we will do that. If Iwao wants to do that on his own choice, then that's his choice and vow to make. I cannot make one for him."
"Umm the East! I have always hated it so." He stares at priest. "You and I will make a pact that you and your fellows will do what you say. I have but 25 to 50 years left in me. You or if you die another will come to learn the ways of guarding this treasure it does not matter how many of your people come but it must be only the truest priests and priestess of your sect. Do you understand?"
Iwao takes a long time thinking about it, "I do and will in the name of the church."
The dragon says, "Write your letters of explanation I will make the pact." Iwao gets to writing and so does the dragon. after an hour all is done and blood is spilled to seal all correspondence and pact. The dragon releases everyone.
Khzuro furrows his brow, apparently, he seems quite wary of blood packs. The dragon casts a spell and everyone missing falls out of the bottom of a giant organ in the cathedral. The kobold looks over to the others. Everyone but Drasta whose been replaced by an adult crystal dragon. Khzuro blinks
Drasta places each hand on each side of the room staring directly across the room with a bit of anger. Her crystal scales reflecting all the light scooping her friends behind her. "That's..." Khzuro looks them over, counting, seeming to take note of their names to himself quietly as he does so one by one, then speaks up "Where's Drasta? And, who’s that other dragon…?”
Clyde rolls his eyes looking at both the crystal dragon and Ayako and transforms himself into an old wyrm copper dragon. he looks down upon Drasta and snorts, "Do you really want trouble little one?"
Haru says, “That is Drasta.”
The crystal dragon speaks draconic. “I will protect my friends as I was entrusted to.” She stares up at him.
"Didn't know you could shapechange..." Then a hems "Calm down, we've negotiated an extent of cooperation." Khzuro quickly intervenes.
"It seems they have saved you now be a good little girl and transform back." Clyde snorts. A whiff of acid clouds up around his great snout.
Drasta uses her tail to place Khzuro from there watching the copper carefully. “You could see how one would be angry.
"Oh definitely, I get it. All the same, lets save our aggression for the demons. We're going to need all of us to deal with them." Khzuro pleads looking at the two dragons and knowing who would win in a fight.
Drasta lets others out from behind her sitting calmly and more of a professional way hands tuck in front tail wrapped around herself
The dragon turns his aquamarine orbs to Khzuro, "Yes go now I have things to do too." With that he murmurs a spell and spider climbs to the ceiling and out of the cathedral to parts unknown.
"Before you go, can we.... oh..." A sigh. Khzuro rubs his muzzle and looks to the others "Are you all ready to move out, then?" To Ayako, Aiami, and the others
Haru says, “I still can’t hear well.” Shin just shrugs and nods. Ayako roars weakly then transforms. She goes to the table and immediately gorges herself with food.
"Right, I... guess our audience is done then. I'm pretty tapped for magic now. Let’s go back to the entrance. We'll rest up a.... " A pause, looking over "Okay I guess we'll eat first then we'll go to the entrance, get some rest, and then move out after the demons." Khzuro starts to feast.
Ayako exclaims, “I can’t believe he used catnip against me.............does he have anymore? That rabbit looked real to me!" Ogano can’t keep it in anymore and just starts to laugh. Khzuro raises and eye ridge then looks to see how Aiami is holding up.
She seems to be ok and comments, “Well, she didn’t eat me. Is there any vegetables?”
Drasta watches carefully and states, “I am only able to keep this for another 20 hours or so.”
"We didn't see any more 'nice' Carrots at least..." Khzuro looks to the table
Ayako looks at Aiami. “Of course, I’m not going to eat you. At least until the demon is slain. Then well all bets are off. There are lots of vegetables there.” She points. “Now fatten yourself up for me.”
Khzuro glares at Ayako at that. "Mission isn't done until we get the debrief from the emperor." As ironic as that is for a kobold to say that. Drasta gives Khzuro a grand loud chuckle.
Masako says, “For the love of the 8 million let’s just eat and go. We have a job to do.”
Khzuro nods to her. “Indeed that.”
Drasta nods her head and eats from the table only taking snakish meals for her size. About a ¼ of the feast in her current state. As she does, she finds a scroll haphazardly left on the chair Clyde was sitting on. She carefully places her claw picking it up then placing it in K’s hand.
He looks at the scroll first checking to see if its magic. Drasta uses a persistent image spell and looks down to him. “What is it?” Placing a hand on his head.
It’s not magic. Khzuro opens it up and looks it over. “Ah, seems he’s left a gift. It’s a map.
“Curious.” Drasta exclaims.
Khzuro can tell it seems to be incomplete in regard to enemy positions. He says, “Clyde wants the demons gone too. So, him helping us do this makes sense.” Drasta nods her head breaking an ice stalactite. Khzuro continues. "Right, we'll rest up. I'll try to plan a strategy in the meantime..." Tries to see if any of this is familiar, or where the party is currently, though takes a note at where it says portal. It looks like a completely new area to him.
Drasta lays down watching everyone at the entrance of the room trying to block it, however she is much too small being its big enough for a great wyrm to pass in and out.
The group returns to the giant iron door at the dragon lair entrance and take a long rest. Afterward they plan their attack on the Gate, Ship, and most of all the demon prince Chrome.
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Re: The Kozakura Campaign
With all the companions now together and well fed. They journey back to the great iron door that seals off the Dragon’s abode from the rest of the Ice caverns. Before they rest Khzuro unrolls the map on the ground, and everyone huddles around it.
Khzuro keeps reviewing the map, trying to determine where the 'entry' begins, if they've been there. He sees the entrance in the far west looks to be the only one unless they try to bore through the ice and rock. That may take a while and is of course… very loud. Khzuro knows Passwall now; however, the cavern system being ice which is a hard crystal he doubts if that will work. He still considers it then sighs, “Not sure if the ambient magic in the area might interfere with a Passwall spell. We might need to get through Normally."
Katus comments. “It’s a good idea Khzuro but I think too risky.”
"The map mentions a portal. Something to investigate, or something to avoid...?" Khzuro asks.
Ogano says, "I think if there is a permanent portal here that it is to replace troops and go back and forth to the Chromes home plane."
Katsu agrees, "Something we should find a way to take out to cut the demon lord from his powerbase."
Khzuro agrees, "Right, a dimensional anchor might lock the portal, at least temporarily. If we have no other options, it will do while we deal with the demon lord."
Aiami nods. "That should do it, but he is a demon prince. it will not take him long to break it once he finds out. that puts us on the clock."
Khzuro asks, "Does anyone have any ideas for shutting it down more permanently, then?"
Ayako says, "Tora is a warrior god. We the priesthood do not deal with this kind of thing, Iwao?"
Iwao rubs his chin, "Enough of Fire Bright’s brilliance may destroy the portal...............but it’s risky. If I were to try the flames could consume me as well, being I am not a high priest as of yet, and only one priest at that.”
Aiami says, "make an opposing gate at the same spot?"
Katsu looks over, "And destroy half this tunnel system in the process?"
"Ritual closing spell?" Masako asks.
Ogano nods, "That may do it but will cost much of our magic for the battle and we would have to create a spell after examining the portal."
"Take it that a dispel wouldn't do it?" Khzuro asks.
Drasta shakes her head. “I do not think it would, but you could try.”
Katsu chuckles, "Not a built permanent gate like this."
Masako asks, "Can we sever the gate from the weave itself? Create a spell?"
Shin says, I could make a 100 walking dolls that say I love you and put them through the gate. Sew confusion in the ranks." Ogano slaps his forehead.
Khzuro surmises, "Probably simplest to simply dimensionally lock the gate then... unless..." Looks to Ogano
Ogano studies Khzuro, "Unless?"
"Well unless there's a better option. Dimensional anchor would only last a few minutes."
"That will give us time to do something else but we will need to seal it somehow so no more demons can enter the cavern system."
Katsu asks, "What if we teleport it?"
Ayako laughs, "That's a good idea. Let the Koryoans deal with the gate. Put it in their capital city."
"Don't think that'll work. And would rather not unleash demons on others." Khzuro looks at Ayako and shakes his head. She sighs. Ogano chuckles.
Masako asks, "Can anyone even read abysmal so that we can translate and make a counterspell?"
Everyone looks at Ayako and Drasta, but its Shin that raises his hand. "I can."
Drasta looks to Shin. “Seems as I wouldn’t be able to anyway.”
"Doubt we'll have a lot of time to make it on the field. Will be demons coming on us constantly." Khzuro observes.
Ogano asks, "How do we not get flanked? Once the fighting starts it will bring more of them.”
“I feel as though it may be difficult in any way approached.” Drasta observes.
"Shin, do you have an idea in regard to how to close the portal?" Khzuro asks.
"Let me study that map of yours. Using the dimensions of the system so far, I think I might be able to. That is if it’s within the scope of the rest of the ice tunnel system."
Khzuro nods, “Go ahead.” Everyone lets Shin in closer. Khzuro adds, “"Pity Passwall likely won't work, we could hit the Portal room first if we could do that..."
Shin concentrates. “"Most direct path to the portal looks about 2 to 2.5 hundred yards. The most direct path to the ship looks 3.1 to 3.7 hundred yards. and its set up so that troops can surround us easily whichever path we take. Three ways to the ship and many ways to catch our backs.” He looks up at Khzuro.
Khzuro gives him a nod. "Figures. And if we have to pause and figure out how to shut down the portal, we could be ambushed. If we go right for the ship, we could be hit by waves of reinforcements."
Shin shakes his head. “This is not advantageous at all. I see no way through.........however the dragon marked some troops spots down. the portal and ship are well guarded but there are areas there are not troops. Is it because he didn’t go there? or is it something else?" He adds, “The north trek looks completely clear. That scares me more than the demons."
“Perhaps he had kept that path clear for a reason though it seems he would be very thorough about keeping track of these demons.” Drasta says after thinking about it.
Iwao suggests. "I don't think Chrome would leave an opening if he could being the importance of this discovery."
“That may depend on how arrogant he has become.” Drasta addresses.
"Doesn't mean they can't move troops around. They likely patrol around." Khzuro observes.
Ogano nods. "I would set up guard stations on each pathway with barriers and have roaming squads through the tunnels every hour."
Katsu says, "Don’t forget about potential alarms. "
Masako looks at the map questioningly, "Would it be possible to throw silence spells at the tunnel exits once we are in a section so no sonic alarms or shouts at least can get through to others?"
Aiami says, "Send a scout to see where any squad is. trap them in one of these large sections and through silence at the exits so they can’t call on others...........Thats brilliant."
Khzuro scratches his muzzle. "That's an idea... We'll still need to come up with something to do about the portal. I expect even with the silence we'll only have so long before we realize we're on them."
Ogano asks, "Any ideas Khzuro?"
"Do you know of any spells that are a... dispel but more powerful? Or something stronger than my dimensional anchor? Even if we shut it down temporarily, if it gives us enough time to deal with the demon lord, it' should be enough. I expect our adversary is likely on the ship. That's where the artifacts would be."
Katsu raises his hand, "I have one spell that would work but there tends to be a backlash every time you chose to use that particular spell."
"Which is?" Khzuro asks.
“I believe that would be most likely.” Drasta answers Khzuro.
Katsu clears his throat, "Wish, I have a scroll I found a long time ago. I've always been too afraid to cast it."
"Save that for a very last resort, then. Can anyone here besides me cast dimensional anchor or a similar spell? My own casting would only last about thirteen minutes." Khzuro looks around.
“I am not able.” Drasta says. Everyone else shakes their heads.
Masako says, "Wait what about a delaying spell. wrap it in a wall of ice or stone? or even iron?"
Khzuro brightens, "Okay, that may be our best plan then. We hit the portal, I cast dimensional anchor, it'll last for thirteen minutes but won't take us long. We have that much time to then hit the ship and deal with the demon lord. Assuming we're able to defeat them. We double back and try to seal the portal. I expect that would only be a temporary delay, but it might buy us more time, in addition to the anchor."
Shin asks, "A wall of iron with a magnetism spells. All his creatures are part machine, right?"
Aiami says. "We could make a box surrounding the portal with enough spells?"
Drasta smiles, “Both seem like they could work.”
"The Anchor would give you the time to set that up. How long would it take?" Khzuro observes.
Ogano says, "it doesn’t take long but we will have to prepare the spells and the magnetism spells. if I and Katsu cast 5 walls to make a box each side will be 200 square feet and 5 inches thick."
Katsu says, "I'll have to copy and learn the spell."
"We do have time to prepare. I'm expecting that once we go in there, it's victory or bust." Khzuro nods, "So, let’s make sure we get this right." A pause "Okay, once we deal with the portal, we do have a pretty straight run to the ship. I expect we're going to end up facing Chrome himself there. We've seen his capabilities once, so..." Pauses, thinking.
"So, we need a lot of silencing spells, magnetism and wall of iron?" Masako asks
"We're still going to need enough firepower to deal with his demon army, but, yes, that's about the size of it. Most of our attacks last time didn't do much to hurt him before."
Shin says we have 20 sonic fireball globes and Drasta has 20 arrows that do the same.”
"Hoping that'll be enough... Not to mention all his minions..." A breath out, considering "But guess we have what we need... Right, guess we prepare, and then we head out." Though the kobold doesn't say it, their expression does betray quite a lot of worry. The mages and clerics prepare and they all rest by the iron door.
Khzuro keeps reviewing the map, trying to determine where the 'entry' begins, if they've been there. He sees the entrance in the far west looks to be the only one unless they try to bore through the ice and rock. That may take a while and is of course… very loud. Khzuro knows Passwall now; however, the cavern system being ice which is a hard crystal he doubts if that will work. He still considers it then sighs, “Not sure if the ambient magic in the area might interfere with a Passwall spell. We might need to get through Normally."
Katus comments. “It’s a good idea Khzuro but I think too risky.”
"The map mentions a portal. Something to investigate, or something to avoid...?" Khzuro asks.
Ogano says, "I think if there is a permanent portal here that it is to replace troops and go back and forth to the Chromes home plane."
Katsu agrees, "Something we should find a way to take out to cut the demon lord from his powerbase."
Khzuro agrees, "Right, a dimensional anchor might lock the portal, at least temporarily. If we have no other options, it will do while we deal with the demon lord."
Aiami nods. "That should do it, but he is a demon prince. it will not take him long to break it once he finds out. that puts us on the clock."
Khzuro asks, "Does anyone have any ideas for shutting it down more permanently, then?"
Ayako says, "Tora is a warrior god. We the priesthood do not deal with this kind of thing, Iwao?"
Iwao rubs his chin, "Enough of Fire Bright’s brilliance may destroy the portal...............but it’s risky. If I were to try the flames could consume me as well, being I am not a high priest as of yet, and only one priest at that.”
Aiami says, "make an opposing gate at the same spot?"
Katsu looks over, "And destroy half this tunnel system in the process?"
"Ritual closing spell?" Masako asks.
Ogano nods, "That may do it but will cost much of our magic for the battle and we would have to create a spell after examining the portal."
"Take it that a dispel wouldn't do it?" Khzuro asks.
Drasta shakes her head. “I do not think it would, but you could try.”
Katsu chuckles, "Not a built permanent gate like this."
Masako asks, "Can we sever the gate from the weave itself? Create a spell?"
Shin says, I could make a 100 walking dolls that say I love you and put them through the gate. Sew confusion in the ranks." Ogano slaps his forehead.
Khzuro surmises, "Probably simplest to simply dimensionally lock the gate then... unless..." Looks to Ogano
Ogano studies Khzuro, "Unless?"
"Well unless there's a better option. Dimensional anchor would only last a few minutes."
"That will give us time to do something else but we will need to seal it somehow so no more demons can enter the cavern system."
Katsu asks, "What if we teleport it?"
Ayako laughs, "That's a good idea. Let the Koryoans deal with the gate. Put it in their capital city."
"Don't think that'll work. And would rather not unleash demons on others." Khzuro looks at Ayako and shakes his head. She sighs. Ogano chuckles.
Masako asks, "Can anyone even read abysmal so that we can translate and make a counterspell?"
Everyone looks at Ayako and Drasta, but its Shin that raises his hand. "I can."
Drasta looks to Shin. “Seems as I wouldn’t be able to anyway.”
"Doubt we'll have a lot of time to make it on the field. Will be demons coming on us constantly." Khzuro observes.
Ogano asks, "How do we not get flanked? Once the fighting starts it will bring more of them.”
“I feel as though it may be difficult in any way approached.” Drasta observes.
"Shin, do you have an idea in regard to how to close the portal?" Khzuro asks.
"Let me study that map of yours. Using the dimensions of the system so far, I think I might be able to. That is if it’s within the scope of the rest of the ice tunnel system."
Khzuro nods, “Go ahead.” Everyone lets Shin in closer. Khzuro adds, “"Pity Passwall likely won't work, we could hit the Portal room first if we could do that..."
Shin concentrates. “"Most direct path to the portal looks about 2 to 2.5 hundred yards. The most direct path to the ship looks 3.1 to 3.7 hundred yards. and its set up so that troops can surround us easily whichever path we take. Three ways to the ship and many ways to catch our backs.” He looks up at Khzuro.
Khzuro gives him a nod. "Figures. And if we have to pause and figure out how to shut down the portal, we could be ambushed. If we go right for the ship, we could be hit by waves of reinforcements."
Shin shakes his head. “This is not advantageous at all. I see no way through.........however the dragon marked some troops spots down. the portal and ship are well guarded but there are areas there are not troops. Is it because he didn’t go there? or is it something else?" He adds, “The north trek looks completely clear. That scares me more than the demons."
“Perhaps he had kept that path clear for a reason though it seems he would be very thorough about keeping track of these demons.” Drasta says after thinking about it.
Iwao suggests. "I don't think Chrome would leave an opening if he could being the importance of this discovery."
“That may depend on how arrogant he has become.” Drasta addresses.
"Doesn't mean they can't move troops around. They likely patrol around." Khzuro observes.
Ogano nods. "I would set up guard stations on each pathway with barriers and have roaming squads through the tunnels every hour."
Katsu says, "Don’t forget about potential alarms. "
Masako looks at the map questioningly, "Would it be possible to throw silence spells at the tunnel exits once we are in a section so no sonic alarms or shouts at least can get through to others?"
Aiami says, "Send a scout to see where any squad is. trap them in one of these large sections and through silence at the exits so they can’t call on others...........Thats brilliant."
Khzuro scratches his muzzle. "That's an idea... We'll still need to come up with something to do about the portal. I expect even with the silence we'll only have so long before we realize we're on them."
Ogano asks, "Any ideas Khzuro?"
"Do you know of any spells that are a... dispel but more powerful? Or something stronger than my dimensional anchor? Even if we shut it down temporarily, if it gives us enough time to deal with the demon lord, it' should be enough. I expect our adversary is likely on the ship. That's where the artifacts would be."
Katsu raises his hand, "I have one spell that would work but there tends to be a backlash every time you chose to use that particular spell."
"Which is?" Khzuro asks.
“I believe that would be most likely.” Drasta answers Khzuro.
Katsu clears his throat, "Wish, I have a scroll I found a long time ago. I've always been too afraid to cast it."
"Save that for a very last resort, then. Can anyone here besides me cast dimensional anchor or a similar spell? My own casting would only last about thirteen minutes." Khzuro looks around.
“I am not able.” Drasta says. Everyone else shakes their heads.
Masako says, "Wait what about a delaying spell. wrap it in a wall of ice or stone? or even iron?"
Khzuro brightens, "Okay, that may be our best plan then. We hit the portal, I cast dimensional anchor, it'll last for thirteen minutes but won't take us long. We have that much time to then hit the ship and deal with the demon lord. Assuming we're able to defeat them. We double back and try to seal the portal. I expect that would only be a temporary delay, but it might buy us more time, in addition to the anchor."
Shin asks, "A wall of iron with a magnetism spells. All his creatures are part machine, right?"
Aiami says. "We could make a box surrounding the portal with enough spells?"
Drasta smiles, “Both seem like they could work.”
"The Anchor would give you the time to set that up. How long would it take?" Khzuro observes.
Ogano says, "it doesn’t take long but we will have to prepare the spells and the magnetism spells. if I and Katsu cast 5 walls to make a box each side will be 200 square feet and 5 inches thick."
Katsu says, "I'll have to copy and learn the spell."
"We do have time to prepare. I'm expecting that once we go in there, it's victory or bust." Khzuro nods, "So, let’s make sure we get this right." A pause "Okay, once we deal with the portal, we do have a pretty straight run to the ship. I expect we're going to end up facing Chrome himself there. We've seen his capabilities once, so..." Pauses, thinking.
"So, we need a lot of silencing spells, magnetism and wall of iron?" Masako asks
"We're still going to need enough firepower to deal with his demon army, but, yes, that's about the size of it. Most of our attacks last time didn't do much to hurt him before."
Shin says we have 20 sonic fireball globes and Drasta has 20 arrows that do the same.”
"Hoping that'll be enough... Not to mention all his minions..." A breath out, considering "But guess we have what we need... Right, guess we prepare, and then we head out." Though the kobold doesn't say it, their expression does betray quite a lot of worry. The mages and clerics prepare and they all rest by the iron door.
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Winterhawk99
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Re: The Kozakura Campaign
The companions go through the door that begins the dragon’s lair and head west to the only other area they have not been too. It’s very quiet and they find the tunnel going to the western section. Khzuro is in the lead using his overland flight. Samo and Ayako are behind him. A Iwao and Drasta are the next two with the mages behind them. Haru takes up the rear in defense being that she is used to guarding a charge and is wary of anything coming up behind them.
They start down the entrance to the western section. They go 30 yards and the tunnel splits to the northwest and southeast. Khzuro stops at the corner and listens. Drasta makes her way up beside him to assist. They both hear something stirring down the southeastern path. They head that way and come to a small chamber with another split. One goes northeast again and another southeast there is a third going due east.
They slowly move again southeast. As Khzuro rounds the corner he sees that the enemy has seen him first. There are 6 Vrock who are calling out a warning to creatures behind them. These creatures look like undead centaurs with bull faces and horns on the heads. They are wielding bows.
As the demons make ready. Our heroes and heroines beat them to the punch. Haru starts to move up in front of the mages at the first sound of alarm. Khzuro casts greater invisibility and gets altitude. Drasta draws back and unleashes a hail of arrows at one of the armanites. She hits one of them four times. It collapses onto the ice floor. Samo rushes forward to take on a Vrock. He severs one of its arms immediately and strikes again in its belly. Ayako, not to be outdone is right there with Samo springing onto another Vrock. Her teeth and claws slash out wounding it, but she cannot knock it fully down yet. She keeps pressing down on it chewing with her maw and racking with her front paw as it holds her in defiance.
Both armanites attack Drasta with their bows. One hits her in the thigh as it does, she feels the electric shock of the arrows bite. Three of the Vrocks surround Samo but his armor is yet too tough for their great claws. The other two Vrocks come to their comrade’s aid who is trying to fend off Ayako. Their claws digging deep into her pelt. She keeps her concentration on the one she has though and refuses to go down. They have her too surrounded as a Balor lumbers up from the back to engage our companions.
Khzuro takes aim at one of the Vrocks on Ayako. He shoots his full load of bolts into it. It drops to the ground but isn’t dead. It tries to crawl off to the side. Drasta changes her aim to the immediate threats to the group the Vrocks and loosens more arrows. She hits two each twice one which is on Samo and one on Ayako. Both go down but are not dead. They try to continue the battle. Samo hits another Vrock three times as it starts to fall on his last strike, his hand slips from all the blood on the hilt and he loses it in the flesh of the demon.
Ayako keeps chewing on the head of her opponent. Haru attacks one of the ones that Drasta hit with her naginata destroying it forever. Iwao levelheaded as always casts spell resistance on seeing the balor. Everyone around him feels the effects. Shin casts snake darts hitting one of the uninjured Vrocks. Ogano and Aiami go into defensive casting mod waiting for any of the enemy to try throwing magic. Katsu casts hold monster on the balor. The huge demon stops for a moment trying to resist the spell. He struggles then breaks the enchantment. It roars in anger. Masako summons a greater earth elemental that appears suddenly next to her.
While Ayako struggles for balance while trying to tear the head of the Vrock she has in her grasp two attack her but her movements on her back legs struggling have them missing or giving her light wounds. Drasta; however, gets hit with three more arrows from the armanites, wounding her.
Suddenly the tide of battle turns as Haru suddenly implodes, her body disintegrating in a pile of blood and guts. Khzuro gasps, “NO!” He reloads quickly and picks out one of the Vrocks trying to get back into battle. It ceases to exist as bolts tear through its head. Drasta, maddened by her mentor going down draws out 4 of the sonic arrows Shin gave to her and fires at the balor.
She hits Samo with her first shot. She says, “OH HELL!” as he pulls it out of his shoulder. The others hit the balor. Its flesh being torn off by the explosions revealing the metal beneath. Yet it is still on its feet and ready to fight. Samo destroys another Vrock in his rage completely severing both of its legs.
The earth elemental attacks the Balor. Masako whispering to herself giving it instructions. They are telepathic but she hasn’t learned not to move her mouth yet when doing so. Iwao tries to cast banishment on the balor, but the spell fails. Shin fed up uses his blunderbuss. He gets through the creature’s resistance and does some more damage to it; more metal starts to show. Katsu throws horrid wilting at the giant. Again, he gets through its spell resistance. This time the balor stops a moment sorely hurt by the spell.
Arrows fly all around Drasta but this time they all miss as Drasta is watchful for the attack. One of the last Vrocks that can fight attacks Ayako but slips and falls on the blood all around. The Balor starts uttering words as his spell starts to form Aiami and Ogano go into action counter spelling. The balor’s speech falters and the magical energy forming around him fizzles as it is negated.
Khzuro kills one of the last Vrocks on the ground trying to leave the area. Again, Drasta aims for the Balor. She hits it 4 times finally downing it forever. She mutters to herself, “Fucking demons!” The earth elemental turns its attention to the armanites but misses both times. Iwao casts wind wall in front of the mages to protect them. Katsu and Ogano cast magic missile at one of the last Vrocks. They kill it as Ayako rips the head off the last one. Aiami casts Isaacs greater missile storm at one of the Armanites. Knocking it back several steps.
With the Balor and Vrocks gone now Drasta returns fire at the armanites. She knocks one down with two shots. Khzuro also turns his attention to the demons. He kills one of them. The last starts to retreat but Samo is there now sword back in hand. He cuts the demon’s head off. As he walks back to the group he pulls an arrow out of an enemy. Drasta looks to him, “Sorry.”
He looks at her. “One more chance. You get one more. I just lost my friend, so you’re forgiven this time.”
Drasta looks down, “We both lost a friend.”
Khzuro looks at Iwao and Ayako, “Can you do anything for her?” He then looks to where Haru fell.
Ayako changes form and she and Iwao start healing everyone. Ayako says to Khzuro. “There is nothing we can do. That wasn’t a spell you can come back from.”
Khzuro looks down and growls, then shakes his head. “Damit… damn it… ssskh….” He takes a few deep breaths. “We need to keep moving. But we need to make sure we lose no one else. We patch up and keep moving. I’ll….” He snaps himself out of it and gives a heroism casting to Ayako, Samo, and Drasta.
Ogano says, “It’s also not a spell you can counter Khzuro. It’s all chance whether you can weather the effect of not.”
Drasta says, “I know of only one spell, and it is too dangerous.”
Khzuro counters, “Can at least prepare for it… but we need to keep moving. Will mourn Haru later.”
Iwao says, “I can try a death ward spell but am not sure it will work.”
Khzuro shakes his head. “Need to keep moving.”
The companions take what potions they can. Iwao and Ayako do what they can. The group moves on.
They start down the entrance to the western section. They go 30 yards and the tunnel splits to the northwest and southeast. Khzuro stops at the corner and listens. Drasta makes her way up beside him to assist. They both hear something stirring down the southeastern path. They head that way and come to a small chamber with another split. One goes northeast again and another southeast there is a third going due east.
They slowly move again southeast. As Khzuro rounds the corner he sees that the enemy has seen him first. There are 6 Vrock who are calling out a warning to creatures behind them. These creatures look like undead centaurs with bull faces and horns on the heads. They are wielding bows.
As the demons make ready. Our heroes and heroines beat them to the punch. Haru starts to move up in front of the mages at the first sound of alarm. Khzuro casts greater invisibility and gets altitude. Drasta draws back and unleashes a hail of arrows at one of the armanites. She hits one of them four times. It collapses onto the ice floor. Samo rushes forward to take on a Vrock. He severs one of its arms immediately and strikes again in its belly. Ayako, not to be outdone is right there with Samo springing onto another Vrock. Her teeth and claws slash out wounding it, but she cannot knock it fully down yet. She keeps pressing down on it chewing with her maw and racking with her front paw as it holds her in defiance.
Both armanites attack Drasta with their bows. One hits her in the thigh as it does, she feels the electric shock of the arrows bite. Three of the Vrocks surround Samo but his armor is yet too tough for their great claws. The other two Vrocks come to their comrade’s aid who is trying to fend off Ayako. Their claws digging deep into her pelt. She keeps her concentration on the one she has though and refuses to go down. They have her too surrounded as a Balor lumbers up from the back to engage our companions.
Khzuro takes aim at one of the Vrocks on Ayako. He shoots his full load of bolts into it. It drops to the ground but isn’t dead. It tries to crawl off to the side. Drasta changes her aim to the immediate threats to the group the Vrocks and loosens more arrows. She hits two each twice one which is on Samo and one on Ayako. Both go down but are not dead. They try to continue the battle. Samo hits another Vrock three times as it starts to fall on his last strike, his hand slips from all the blood on the hilt and he loses it in the flesh of the demon.
Ayako keeps chewing on the head of her opponent. Haru attacks one of the ones that Drasta hit with her naginata destroying it forever. Iwao levelheaded as always casts spell resistance on seeing the balor. Everyone around him feels the effects. Shin casts snake darts hitting one of the uninjured Vrocks. Ogano and Aiami go into defensive casting mod waiting for any of the enemy to try throwing magic. Katsu casts hold monster on the balor. The huge demon stops for a moment trying to resist the spell. He struggles then breaks the enchantment. It roars in anger. Masako summons a greater earth elemental that appears suddenly next to her.
While Ayako struggles for balance while trying to tear the head of the Vrock she has in her grasp two attack her but her movements on her back legs struggling have them missing or giving her light wounds. Drasta; however, gets hit with three more arrows from the armanites, wounding her.
Suddenly the tide of battle turns as Haru suddenly implodes, her body disintegrating in a pile of blood and guts. Khzuro gasps, “NO!” He reloads quickly and picks out one of the Vrocks trying to get back into battle. It ceases to exist as bolts tear through its head. Drasta, maddened by her mentor going down draws out 4 of the sonic arrows Shin gave to her and fires at the balor.
She hits Samo with her first shot. She says, “OH HELL!” as he pulls it out of his shoulder. The others hit the balor. Its flesh being torn off by the explosions revealing the metal beneath. Yet it is still on its feet and ready to fight. Samo destroys another Vrock in his rage completely severing both of its legs.
The earth elemental attacks the Balor. Masako whispering to herself giving it instructions. They are telepathic but she hasn’t learned not to move her mouth yet when doing so. Iwao tries to cast banishment on the balor, but the spell fails. Shin fed up uses his blunderbuss. He gets through the creature’s resistance and does some more damage to it; more metal starts to show. Katsu throws horrid wilting at the giant. Again, he gets through its spell resistance. This time the balor stops a moment sorely hurt by the spell.
Arrows fly all around Drasta but this time they all miss as Drasta is watchful for the attack. One of the last Vrocks that can fight attacks Ayako but slips and falls on the blood all around. The Balor starts uttering words as his spell starts to form Aiami and Ogano go into action counter spelling. The balor’s speech falters and the magical energy forming around him fizzles as it is negated.
Khzuro kills one of the last Vrocks on the ground trying to leave the area. Again, Drasta aims for the Balor. She hits it 4 times finally downing it forever. She mutters to herself, “Fucking demons!” The earth elemental turns its attention to the armanites but misses both times. Iwao casts wind wall in front of the mages to protect them. Katsu and Ogano cast magic missile at one of the last Vrocks. They kill it as Ayako rips the head off the last one. Aiami casts Isaacs greater missile storm at one of the Armanites. Knocking it back several steps.
With the Balor and Vrocks gone now Drasta returns fire at the armanites. She knocks one down with two shots. Khzuro also turns his attention to the demons. He kills one of them. The last starts to retreat but Samo is there now sword back in hand. He cuts the demon’s head off. As he walks back to the group he pulls an arrow out of an enemy. Drasta looks to him, “Sorry.”
He looks at her. “One more chance. You get one more. I just lost my friend, so you’re forgiven this time.”
Drasta looks down, “We both lost a friend.”
Khzuro looks at Iwao and Ayako, “Can you do anything for her?” He then looks to where Haru fell.
Ayako changes form and she and Iwao start healing everyone. Ayako says to Khzuro. “There is nothing we can do. That wasn’t a spell you can come back from.”
Khzuro looks down and growls, then shakes his head. “Damit… damn it… ssskh….” He takes a few deep breaths. “We need to keep moving. But we need to make sure we lose no one else. We patch up and keep moving. I’ll….” He snaps himself out of it and gives a heroism casting to Ayako, Samo, and Drasta.
Ogano says, “It’s also not a spell you can counter Khzuro. It’s all chance whether you can weather the effect of not.”
Drasta says, “I know of only one spell, and it is too dangerous.”
Khzuro counters, “Can at least prepare for it… but we need to keep moving. Will mourn Haru later.”
Iwao says, “I can try a death ward spell but am not sure it will work.”
Khzuro shakes his head. “Need to keep moving.”
The companions take what potions they can. Iwao and Ayako do what they can. The group moves on.
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Winterhawk99
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Re: The Kozakura Campaign
Our brave band of adventurers go south into a roughly 60 yard long and 20-yard-long tunnel. To the north there is an exit tunnel that is filled with webbing all through it. To the south is a long wide tunnel that seems clear. Katsu, Aiami and Ogano cast spells in tandem. Three astral Devas appear beside them. Drasta drinks a potion of heal to bring her back to full health. They also notice a tunnel to the east after they move into the area.
Khzuro leads them south again reading the map that Clyde gave them. They don’t see any more demons yet. Khzuro leaves out a huff, Haru’s death still hanging heavily over him. He shakes his head. “Too many Balors in this direction. Can’t afford to waste resources. Change of plan. “He goes to direct the party north. To that ‘allegedly’ unguarded cavern on the top shelf. He does however cast a true seeing on himself.
The group backtracks to the northernmost leg of the caverns. At first it goes northeast for about 20 yards then bends true north. Following the map guide, Khzuro goes to take the upper bend directly to the ship, at least, assuming it’s accurate. They come to an area where along the walls floor and ceiling chronomantic writings start to appear in front of them. They show magic. Someone long after Lauriella died must have put them there.
Khzuro stops to considers. He looks forward and says. “If the demons come at us from behind, put a wall of metal behind us…” Then looks over. “Of course… Something there, chronomancy traps no doubt.” He tries to read the writings and numbers of the spells scrolled on the walls and ceiling. He can’t tell what they mean. He asks, “Any of you know what these do? Ogano?”
Ogano carefully studies the writings. He then shakes his head. Drasta watches them carefully. She also studies the writings looking through her book to see if she has any referance at all of something similar. Khzuro looks over. “Katsu? What about you?”
Katsu gives it a shot. He considers. “It seems some form of magical trap. How it is done and what exactly it does I am not sure. The mathematics imbedded into the formulas all around are too complex.”
Masako shakes her head. “If they can’t do it. I have no chance.”
Aiami steps up. Khzuro gives her and Drasta a nod. He asks, “We have any chance of disarming it?”
Aiami shakes her head in awe but speaks. “Oh. It’s a plethora of traps but will not age you or anyone going through. It displaces them in time. As you walk you randomly go backward or forward in time with the stops being when the writing was written and the other in the future when the writing is finally destroyed. You will walk through time itself here.”
Ogano studies them again with the new information. “It seems the writings themselves were written shortly after whatever lake or sea froze over here and became a glacier. Perhaps……. 1500 years ago. We have a start time of +/- about 500 years.
Katsu says, “And we have no idea how far in time the writings will be destroyed.”
Khzuro sighs, “Then, entry down this passage isn’t feasible. Guess we have to stick to the original plan. Let’s go.” Shin steps up. Khzuro says, “Unless you have an idea.”
He carefully studies the writings. "I imagine there is a way to get through it. No mage or sorcerer would leave no way for themselves to negotiate such................So there is a way. The problem of course is the complexity of the work. It seems this wizardess took on an apprentice because this is not her writing. we have seen enough of hers to know.”
Khzuro nods, “Could have also been our adversary who has been stealing her works…”
Ogano agrees. “That’s a good possibility. Leave an opening for your deadliest work to take effect.”
The kobold responds. “Too risky for us to traverse then, we'll have to take the route through those enemies. Straight ahead for the portal." The companions backtrack to the place they were.
Khzuro leads them south again reading the map that Clyde gave them. They don’t see any more demons yet. Khzuro leaves out a huff, Haru’s death still hanging heavily over him. He shakes his head. “Too many Balors in this direction. Can’t afford to waste resources. Change of plan. “He goes to direct the party north. To that ‘allegedly’ unguarded cavern on the top shelf. He does however cast a true seeing on himself.
The group backtracks to the northernmost leg of the caverns. At first it goes northeast for about 20 yards then bends true north. Following the map guide, Khzuro goes to take the upper bend directly to the ship, at least, assuming it’s accurate. They come to an area where along the walls floor and ceiling chronomantic writings start to appear in front of them. They show magic. Someone long after Lauriella died must have put them there.
Khzuro stops to considers. He looks forward and says. “If the demons come at us from behind, put a wall of metal behind us…” Then looks over. “Of course… Something there, chronomancy traps no doubt.” He tries to read the writings and numbers of the spells scrolled on the walls and ceiling. He can’t tell what they mean. He asks, “Any of you know what these do? Ogano?”
Ogano carefully studies the writings. He then shakes his head. Drasta watches them carefully. She also studies the writings looking through her book to see if she has any referance at all of something similar. Khzuro looks over. “Katsu? What about you?”
Katsu gives it a shot. He considers. “It seems some form of magical trap. How it is done and what exactly it does I am not sure. The mathematics imbedded into the formulas all around are too complex.”
Masako shakes her head. “If they can’t do it. I have no chance.”
Aiami steps up. Khzuro gives her and Drasta a nod. He asks, “We have any chance of disarming it?”
Aiami shakes her head in awe but speaks. “Oh. It’s a plethora of traps but will not age you or anyone going through. It displaces them in time. As you walk you randomly go backward or forward in time with the stops being when the writing was written and the other in the future when the writing is finally destroyed. You will walk through time itself here.”
Ogano studies them again with the new information. “It seems the writings themselves were written shortly after whatever lake or sea froze over here and became a glacier. Perhaps……. 1500 years ago. We have a start time of +/- about 500 years.
Katsu says, “And we have no idea how far in time the writings will be destroyed.”
Khzuro sighs, “Then, entry down this passage isn’t feasible. Guess we have to stick to the original plan. Let’s go.” Shin steps up. Khzuro says, “Unless you have an idea.”
He carefully studies the writings. "I imagine there is a way to get through it. No mage or sorcerer would leave no way for themselves to negotiate such................So there is a way. The problem of course is the complexity of the work. It seems this wizardess took on an apprentice because this is not her writing. we have seen enough of hers to know.”
Khzuro nods, “Could have also been our adversary who has been stealing her works…”
Ogano agrees. “That’s a good possibility. Leave an opening for your deadliest work to take effect.”
The kobold responds. “Too risky for us to traverse then, we'll have to take the route through those enemies. Straight ahead for the portal." The companions backtrack to the place they were.
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Winterhawk99
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Re: The Kozakura Campaign
They return to their last position south on the tunnel branch leading to the portal on the map. Khzuro leads them directly there casting protection from evil on himself and Samo. They come to a wider tunnel that is 20yards wide and 50 ft long. Khzuro spots traps going down this long stretch. There also look to be holes drilled into the ice on the side walls. There are trip wires and other mechanical devices seen poking through the ice floor. The tunnel seems like a dead end as is slightly curves but they all feel air and the ceiling seems to disappear in the distant background. Khzuro comments, “Illusion in the ceiling there. Secret passage. Lots of traps here. Guess I’d better handle them…”
He approaches the start of the wires. He sees at least 23 mechanical traps. Many of thew trip wires are anchored in the ground but some stretch across both walls. Again, Khzuro comments, “Lots of traps here… Guess I’m the only one that can try to handle these, though…”
Masako askes, “Can you do it Khzuro?”
“Don’t think I have the option.” Ayako slinks up just behind Khzuro as he readies his tools.
“Best to be you. I am not fond of traps nor proficient in them enough.” Drasta comments.
Khzuro disarms the first 4 traps. All the while Ayako in tiger form is right behind him breathing down his neck. As he works on the 5th, he sets it off. Ayako manages to swat the small kobold under her belly, and she lays on him as if he were a cub. Acid splashes from both sides of the walls onto her coat. Everyone smells the acrid scent of burning fur and flesh. The scent prevails. Her wounds slowly mend. When Khzuro finally crawls out from under her he takes a breath out, “Thanks, Ayako… are…. Right, I better keep disarming them. Though if these are acid traps…” He casts protection from acid on Ayako.
He goes to trap number 6. Again, he trips it while trying to disarm it. He jumps back by reflex into Ayako who is able to sweep him up with her paw and duck out of the way as she was able to calculate trajectories if he failed. Both Kobold and Tiger are saved from getting burned. After Khzuro shakes himself steady again, Ayako stays a tongue lick behind him.
He disarms two more traps before hitting a snack and tripping the next. Knowing the traps are getting harder. Khzuro rolls and avoids the acid. Ayako this time is only able to partially jump out of the way. The magic shield that he put on her protects her though. She shakes the acid off her fur and gets back into position to protect him while he works.
He also sets off the next trap. This time Ayako misses him while trying to roll away herself. Khzuro is unable to get fully out of the way. Acid stings him in the back of his head and streams down along his back. He hisses and casts protection from acid on himself. Ayako growls again. Khzuro feels a healing warmth all throughout his body. He looks up to the sabertoothed, “Thanks.” With a sigh he goes back to disarming.
He is able to disarm the next trap. But on the 11th, he trips it. He is able to move out of the way, but Ayako cannot. Her shield still protects her: at least for the moment. She shakes the acid off her fur. Khzuro thinks to himself, “I’m glad the ward lasts for 130 minutes or so.” He manages to disarm the next two but keeps finding it more and more difficult to remove them as each is slightly different. The next he sets off. This one is bad, and he manages to dodge out of the way. Again, Ayako cannot. This time a small amount of acid gets through her shield, and she does get slightly burned.
Both Khzuro and Ayako are becoming strained from both concentration and edginess. They are on their 15th trap. They move forward to it. Again, Khzuro is unable to disarm it and instead trips it. He is able to dodge but Ayako flat pawed and tired takes the trap full force. Khzuro’s shield again protects her. She curls her lips back making a deep throated growl at him.
Khzuro shutters and goes to the next trap seeing it much more complex. He looks at her, “This trap is different… you… might want to stand back for this one, likely something different.” She refuses to step back. He goes back to disarming. He trips it and immediately smells ozone. It’s an electrical trap. He slides under Ayako as she goes down on him. She takes the blast of the discharge full force. She loses all her fur up to her front flanks and her head is smoking. She tries to get up but falls back down and rolls over panting like an overheated dog. Khzuro shouts out, “Iwao!”
He hears from the back, “On my way!” Iwao carefully walks up to Ayako. He casts a spell on her. She heals a bit, but her fur is still gone. She looks like one of those furless cats from her face to her shoulders.
Iwao looks at Ayako. “I’ll take over.” She stays on her side and pants, unable to handle the shock.
Khzuro is on trap 17. He says to the priest, “Might be best if both of you stay back. My ward against acid is only active on myself and her. If both of you keep a distance; well, just need to rush me if I end up being blasted.”
Iwao looks between the two. “These are some heavy traps. You understand that Khzuro? One could kill you.”
“I’m aware.”
He sets the next trap off trying to disarm it but is able to jump out of the way as a ring of fire erupts around it. He shouts out, “I’m fine, just make sure Ayako is in good health.”
While he’s disarming the next, Iwao states, “She’s regenerating but slowly.” He goes to the 18th trap and is able to disarm it. The one after that is an electrical trap. He sets it off and feels it’s force. He screams out, “Hssskh! He then casts protection from electricity on himself after, then flies over to Iwao. The electricity singes the kobold, and he is pretty clear in what he’s expecting, blaming himself for not stocking up on a ton of healing potions beforehand. Iwao heals him all the way. He says “Thanks.” Iwao nods to him.
He is on the last 4 traps. He has a very hard time disarming the next but manages to do it. As he looks at the last 3, he notices that they are all interconnected with wiring. He looks them over studying them carefully. He knows that if he sets one off, he sets them all off. He tries to see if there’s a way to set all of them off from a distance safely.
He thinks that perhaps something sonic might work such as a sonic fireball set off on top of the cluster. He also knows he just happens to have a few sonic fireball globes courtesy of Shin. He then looks at all the ice surrounding them and decides on a different path. He ushers everyone back. Returning he sets himself 30ft from the cluster. He tries to disarm it with his Arcane Trickster ranged legerdemain ability. If it does detonate the traps, he is at a distance to stave off the full force of the explosions.
He manages to disarm the first part of the trap at a distance using a wire that he wound around the first part of the cluster. He picks up his next wire and works with the second stage and ends up setting them all off. The traps do no harm except for the large hole in the floor. The tremendous explosion though echoes through the tunnels. The party sees many demons shouting and moving in their direction. They are at the end of the tunnel and see that the ceiling opens up to the east into a huge canyon system with shelves.
Where the ceiling stops, they get a glimpse of a huge, frilled head slithers up from the side of the shelf they are on. Clyde is now with them. He sprays a line of acid all over the vanguard demons rushing up to meet the group.
He approaches the start of the wires. He sees at least 23 mechanical traps. Many of thew trip wires are anchored in the ground but some stretch across both walls. Again, Khzuro comments, “Lots of traps here… Guess I’m the only one that can try to handle these, though…”
Masako askes, “Can you do it Khzuro?”
“Don’t think I have the option.” Ayako slinks up just behind Khzuro as he readies his tools.
“Best to be you. I am not fond of traps nor proficient in them enough.” Drasta comments.
Khzuro disarms the first 4 traps. All the while Ayako in tiger form is right behind him breathing down his neck. As he works on the 5th, he sets it off. Ayako manages to swat the small kobold under her belly, and she lays on him as if he were a cub. Acid splashes from both sides of the walls onto her coat. Everyone smells the acrid scent of burning fur and flesh. The scent prevails. Her wounds slowly mend. When Khzuro finally crawls out from under her he takes a breath out, “Thanks, Ayako… are…. Right, I better keep disarming them. Though if these are acid traps…” He casts protection from acid on Ayako.
He goes to trap number 6. Again, he trips it while trying to disarm it. He jumps back by reflex into Ayako who is able to sweep him up with her paw and duck out of the way as she was able to calculate trajectories if he failed. Both Kobold and Tiger are saved from getting burned. After Khzuro shakes himself steady again, Ayako stays a tongue lick behind him.
He disarms two more traps before hitting a snack and tripping the next. Knowing the traps are getting harder. Khzuro rolls and avoids the acid. Ayako this time is only able to partially jump out of the way. The magic shield that he put on her protects her though. She shakes the acid off her fur and gets back into position to protect him while he works.
He also sets off the next trap. This time Ayako misses him while trying to roll away herself. Khzuro is unable to get fully out of the way. Acid stings him in the back of his head and streams down along his back. He hisses and casts protection from acid on himself. Ayako growls again. Khzuro feels a healing warmth all throughout his body. He looks up to the sabertoothed, “Thanks.” With a sigh he goes back to disarming.
He is able to disarm the next trap. But on the 11th, he trips it. He is able to move out of the way, but Ayako cannot. Her shield still protects her: at least for the moment. She shakes the acid off her fur. Khzuro thinks to himself, “I’m glad the ward lasts for 130 minutes or so.” He manages to disarm the next two but keeps finding it more and more difficult to remove them as each is slightly different. The next he sets off. This one is bad, and he manages to dodge out of the way. Again, Ayako cannot. This time a small amount of acid gets through her shield, and she does get slightly burned.
Both Khzuro and Ayako are becoming strained from both concentration and edginess. They are on their 15th trap. They move forward to it. Again, Khzuro is unable to disarm it and instead trips it. He is able to dodge but Ayako flat pawed and tired takes the trap full force. Khzuro’s shield again protects her. She curls her lips back making a deep throated growl at him.
Khzuro shutters and goes to the next trap seeing it much more complex. He looks at her, “This trap is different… you… might want to stand back for this one, likely something different.” She refuses to step back. He goes back to disarming. He trips it and immediately smells ozone. It’s an electrical trap. He slides under Ayako as she goes down on him. She takes the blast of the discharge full force. She loses all her fur up to her front flanks and her head is smoking. She tries to get up but falls back down and rolls over panting like an overheated dog. Khzuro shouts out, “Iwao!”
He hears from the back, “On my way!” Iwao carefully walks up to Ayako. He casts a spell on her. She heals a bit, but her fur is still gone. She looks like one of those furless cats from her face to her shoulders.
Iwao looks at Ayako. “I’ll take over.” She stays on her side and pants, unable to handle the shock.
Khzuro is on trap 17. He says to the priest, “Might be best if both of you stay back. My ward against acid is only active on myself and her. If both of you keep a distance; well, just need to rush me if I end up being blasted.”
Iwao looks between the two. “These are some heavy traps. You understand that Khzuro? One could kill you.”
“I’m aware.”
He sets the next trap off trying to disarm it but is able to jump out of the way as a ring of fire erupts around it. He shouts out, “I’m fine, just make sure Ayako is in good health.”
While he’s disarming the next, Iwao states, “She’s regenerating but slowly.” He goes to the 18th trap and is able to disarm it. The one after that is an electrical trap. He sets it off and feels it’s force. He screams out, “Hssskh! He then casts protection from electricity on himself after, then flies over to Iwao. The electricity singes the kobold, and he is pretty clear in what he’s expecting, blaming himself for not stocking up on a ton of healing potions beforehand. Iwao heals him all the way. He says “Thanks.” Iwao nods to him.
He is on the last 4 traps. He has a very hard time disarming the next but manages to do it. As he looks at the last 3, he notices that they are all interconnected with wiring. He looks them over studying them carefully. He knows that if he sets one off, he sets them all off. He tries to see if there’s a way to set all of them off from a distance safely.
He thinks that perhaps something sonic might work such as a sonic fireball set off on top of the cluster. He also knows he just happens to have a few sonic fireball globes courtesy of Shin. He then looks at all the ice surrounding them and decides on a different path. He ushers everyone back. Returning he sets himself 30ft from the cluster. He tries to disarm it with his Arcane Trickster ranged legerdemain ability. If it does detonate the traps, he is at a distance to stave off the full force of the explosions.
He manages to disarm the first part of the trap at a distance using a wire that he wound around the first part of the cluster. He picks up his next wire and works with the second stage and ends up setting them all off. The traps do no harm except for the large hole in the floor. The tremendous explosion though echoes through the tunnels. The party sees many demons shouting and moving in their direction. They are at the end of the tunnel and see that the ceiling opens up to the east into a huge canyon system with shelves.
Where the ceiling stops, they get a glimpse of a huge, frilled head slithers up from the side of the shelf they are on. Clyde is now with them. He sprays a line of acid all over the vanguard demons rushing up to meet the group.
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Winterhawk99
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Re: The Kozakura Campaign
The smell of boiling and burnt metal and flesh assaults their noses as many demons outright dissolve from the acid of the dragon’s breath. Others fall to the ground badly burned and damaged. The dragon head retreats back under the cliff ledge. There were many Hezrou and Glabrezu along with one marilith. The only one left standing is the marilith and it looks pissed. It teleports into the middle of everyone.
Drasta aims her bow and first at it. She gets one shot off and her bowstring snaps. Samo goes into action and hits it twice. He gives it some flesh wounds. Shin surprised uses his blunderbuss, but the missile storm hits the creature for no effect. The three astral devas go into action. They hurt it badly, it goes down but is still alive. Several of its limbs have been broken beyond repair by the onslaught of holy maces. It can hardly move. Khzuro starts to finish off demons that are still alive but are so burnt and melted by acid they cannot put up a fight.
Katsu turns around and says, “Guys!” He points behind them. As they look there is a thick wall of stone blocking the entrance to the caves behind them. Khzuro looks to see if there are any party members who are cut off and counts heads. Everyone is here. He breaths a slight sigh of relief, but he sees the entranceway is not completely blocked behind them.
Drasta comments, “Perhaps part of one of the traps that was set off?”
Khzuro looks over, as sigh, “Possibly. We knew this was likely a one-way trip… but we still have a mission to complete. So further in we go.”
Ogano shakes his head. “That was definitely a spell.”
“Which means a caster is nearby…” Khzuro looks around with true seeing. As Khzuro looks around he notices they are at a T on the southwestern side of the map. As he peers over the north side, he sees familiar great claw marks going up the side of the cliff then back down into the abyss. He comments, “Can get past the wall once we’ve done our mission here…” He keeps heading the direction of the portal.
Drasta nods, “Indeed.”
They start following the narrow shelf east down the ledge. When they get about 50 yards, they hear a thunderous crash as the acid has dissolved the ice to a point where the cliff collapsed behind them. There is a 30-yard gap now and then the stone wall covering the entrance to the great cathedral like cave system. The ledge goes west for about 20 yards then tracks north. They see eerie red lights up ahead. Khzuro says, “We're approaching the portal site. Two Balors ahead plus other demons most likely. Let’s get ready."
Shin says, “Stop a moment.”
Their kobold leader asks, “What is it?”
The dwarf pulls out a large glass and looks through it. Khzuro lets him do his thing. Drasta looks at Shin curious about what he is doing but takes the time to string her bow back. “I see 5 of those horse demons, 5 of those overgrown mosquito-like demons. 2 of the big fat ones. And two really big ones with horns. Theres some form of giant blowing red door there too and a giant summoning circle around it. Oh……. And a giant tip of a snout behind all of them sticking out of the side of the cliff.”
Khzuro places his left fist into his right palm. “That’s the portal room then. This is going to be a rough one. We’d better make all the preparations we can before we engage. I’ll dimensional anchor the portal first, that’ll keep them from gating in reinforcements.
Ogano says, “Aiami, Katsu, Shin… have your spell components ready.”
Khzuro comments, “Finish up the demons before trying to seal the portal. The anchor will last for enough time for us to finish up the fight then keep it sealed longer.”
The three astral devas jump off the cliff. Their wings spread and they start to fly silently down into the canyon. Drasta taps her necklace casting energy from it into an empty space close by without a containment circle. She casts greater planar binding not realizing she is in close proximity to no less than 8 fully charged mythallar crystals, where powerful creatures congregate to get their chance to come into the plane. Khzuro casts shield, mirror image, haste and greater invisibility. Then takes a brief look to ensure everyone’s ready. His jaw drops in awe and fear.
An Elf-like creature suddenly appears. He has pale white skin a long trussell of white hair and dead black eyes. "Who dares call a LeShay!"
Drasta nods to him, “I need your assistance.” Khzuro looks over to the elf-looking planar creature, but leaves it to Drasta to deal with him? Her? it? them.
He looks at her like she is a speck of trash, “So you are the one. Simpleton, you don’t even have a circle of confinement. Not that you would have the knowledge to contain me. The mages slink back at the obvious power of the creature.
Drasta mutters to herself, “Damn it words come on words.” Then speaks up. She uses a bit of her natural fey energy to bring some light to her eyes. “It does seem I did not use a circle, yes… Though perhaps a proposition for you to stay and help?”
His dead black eyes stare at Drasta Waiting.
Drasta continues. “There are demons here, most specific one that controls time who should not perhaps. You could see the issue with this. If that one was to live with his stolen artifact, this one thinks he would stop at nothing to control this land and eventually spread to the world as we know. Perhaps he even masters this, he would attempt to venture out to the other planes that exist. I feel perhaps with your assistance we may be able to remove that from the equation and bring some balance back to time”. She gives him an elven deep bow with respect. Then she thinks for a moment. “Perhaps if a better explanation is needed there is that one who could hold better words.” She points to Khzuro.
Khzuro looks over to the LeShay, clearly having no idea what this thing is or how to interact with it. “Well, this was… unexpected, but… greetings.” Then a look over to the nearby room with all the demons in it.
The creature remains silent for some time. After surveying the situation, he speaks. “You are an insolent being. The price you will pay is your lust of the fairer among your kind. Then I will deal with this situation in front of you. Afterward, I will take my price and thus deal your punishment.”
The kobold takes a look back up at the LeShay. He blinks confusedly, “Well, we appreciate your assistance, Sir? Ma’am? Not sure really… But there’s a lot of demons over there, and a portal that can brin more in. It’s going to be dangerous.” The LeShay waits for Drasta to answer him.
Drasta answers him. “Most have no interest to me so I do not worry on that part though I am curious on your punishment and if I would enjoy it as a whole.” She smiles a big grin.
Khzuro looks over to Drasta, “Think it’s best we remain polite with him? Her? it? whatever. Them.”
“Indeed, I did mean nothing other than respect… If all are killed and made so they never return even the one that is called Chrome and the device taken care of then we will see our deal fulfilled. Though if it is not then… we will see.”
“Only those in front of us.” He responds. He walks up to Drasta and traces a small eldritch run on her forehead with his index finger. It looks like a rose thorn. He says, “Twenty minutes and it is done. The deal is sealed.”
Drasta thinks to herself, ‘Ok guys so let him do all the work. We go sip some booze and hope he dies.’
Drasta aims her bow and first at it. She gets one shot off and her bowstring snaps. Samo goes into action and hits it twice. He gives it some flesh wounds. Shin surprised uses his blunderbuss, but the missile storm hits the creature for no effect. The three astral devas go into action. They hurt it badly, it goes down but is still alive. Several of its limbs have been broken beyond repair by the onslaught of holy maces. It can hardly move. Khzuro starts to finish off demons that are still alive but are so burnt and melted by acid they cannot put up a fight.
Katsu turns around and says, “Guys!” He points behind them. As they look there is a thick wall of stone blocking the entrance to the caves behind them. Khzuro looks to see if there are any party members who are cut off and counts heads. Everyone is here. He breaths a slight sigh of relief, but he sees the entranceway is not completely blocked behind them.
Drasta comments, “Perhaps part of one of the traps that was set off?”
Khzuro looks over, as sigh, “Possibly. We knew this was likely a one-way trip… but we still have a mission to complete. So further in we go.”
Ogano shakes his head. “That was definitely a spell.”
“Which means a caster is nearby…” Khzuro looks around with true seeing. As Khzuro looks around he notices they are at a T on the southwestern side of the map. As he peers over the north side, he sees familiar great claw marks going up the side of the cliff then back down into the abyss. He comments, “Can get past the wall once we’ve done our mission here…” He keeps heading the direction of the portal.
Drasta nods, “Indeed.”
They start following the narrow shelf east down the ledge. When they get about 50 yards, they hear a thunderous crash as the acid has dissolved the ice to a point where the cliff collapsed behind them. There is a 30-yard gap now and then the stone wall covering the entrance to the great cathedral like cave system. The ledge goes west for about 20 yards then tracks north. They see eerie red lights up ahead. Khzuro says, “We're approaching the portal site. Two Balors ahead plus other demons most likely. Let’s get ready."
Shin says, “Stop a moment.”
Their kobold leader asks, “What is it?”
The dwarf pulls out a large glass and looks through it. Khzuro lets him do his thing. Drasta looks at Shin curious about what he is doing but takes the time to string her bow back. “I see 5 of those horse demons, 5 of those overgrown mosquito-like demons. 2 of the big fat ones. And two really big ones with horns. Theres some form of giant blowing red door there too and a giant summoning circle around it. Oh……. And a giant tip of a snout behind all of them sticking out of the side of the cliff.”
Khzuro places his left fist into his right palm. “That’s the portal room then. This is going to be a rough one. We’d better make all the preparations we can before we engage. I’ll dimensional anchor the portal first, that’ll keep them from gating in reinforcements.
Ogano says, “Aiami, Katsu, Shin… have your spell components ready.”
Khzuro comments, “Finish up the demons before trying to seal the portal. The anchor will last for enough time for us to finish up the fight then keep it sealed longer.”
The three astral devas jump off the cliff. Their wings spread and they start to fly silently down into the canyon. Drasta taps her necklace casting energy from it into an empty space close by without a containment circle. She casts greater planar binding not realizing she is in close proximity to no less than 8 fully charged mythallar crystals, where powerful creatures congregate to get their chance to come into the plane. Khzuro casts shield, mirror image, haste and greater invisibility. Then takes a brief look to ensure everyone’s ready. His jaw drops in awe and fear.
An Elf-like creature suddenly appears. He has pale white skin a long trussell of white hair and dead black eyes. "Who dares call a LeShay!"
Drasta nods to him, “I need your assistance.” Khzuro looks over to the elf-looking planar creature, but leaves it to Drasta to deal with him? Her? it? them.
He looks at her like she is a speck of trash, “So you are the one. Simpleton, you don’t even have a circle of confinement. Not that you would have the knowledge to contain me. The mages slink back at the obvious power of the creature.
Drasta mutters to herself, “Damn it words come on words.” Then speaks up. She uses a bit of her natural fey energy to bring some light to her eyes. “It does seem I did not use a circle, yes… Though perhaps a proposition for you to stay and help?”
His dead black eyes stare at Drasta Waiting.
Drasta continues. “There are demons here, most specific one that controls time who should not perhaps. You could see the issue with this. If that one was to live with his stolen artifact, this one thinks he would stop at nothing to control this land and eventually spread to the world as we know. Perhaps he even masters this, he would attempt to venture out to the other planes that exist. I feel perhaps with your assistance we may be able to remove that from the equation and bring some balance back to time”. She gives him an elven deep bow with respect. Then she thinks for a moment. “Perhaps if a better explanation is needed there is that one who could hold better words.” She points to Khzuro.
Khzuro looks over to the LeShay, clearly having no idea what this thing is or how to interact with it. “Well, this was… unexpected, but… greetings.” Then a look over to the nearby room with all the demons in it.
The creature remains silent for some time. After surveying the situation, he speaks. “You are an insolent being. The price you will pay is your lust of the fairer among your kind. Then I will deal with this situation in front of you. Afterward, I will take my price and thus deal your punishment.”
The kobold takes a look back up at the LeShay. He blinks confusedly, “Well, we appreciate your assistance, Sir? Ma’am? Not sure really… But there’s a lot of demons over there, and a portal that can brin more in. It’s going to be dangerous.” The LeShay waits for Drasta to answer him.
Drasta answers him. “Most have no interest to me so I do not worry on that part though I am curious on your punishment and if I would enjoy it as a whole.” She smiles a big grin.
Khzuro looks over to Drasta, “Think it’s best we remain polite with him? Her? it? whatever. Them.”
“Indeed, I did mean nothing other than respect… If all are killed and made so they never return even the one that is called Chrome and the device taken care of then we will see our deal fulfilled. Though if it is not then… we will see.”
“Only those in front of us.” He responds. He walks up to Drasta and traces a small eldritch run on her forehead with his index finger. It looks like a rose thorn. He says, “Twenty minutes and it is done. The deal is sealed.”
Drasta thinks to herself, ‘Ok guys so let him do all the work. We go sip some booze and hope he dies.’
-
Winterhawk99
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Re: The Kozakura Campaign
The LeShay, three astral devas and the elemental wipe out the demons but during the fighting the elemental and Aiami's astral deva are lost and dispelled. The way is clear to the portal. The Leshay finished with his task disappears. The portal is still active, but nothing is coming out at this time. Khzuro immediately casts a dimensional anchor on it. “Anchored! We have a bit of time before the portal is usable again.”
Shin brings out 4 iron rods and gives them to Samo who pounds them into the ground around the portal. Katsu, Ogano each casts a pair of walls of Iron where the rods anchor the ends making a box like structure. Masako then casts a wall of iron to make a roof. The portal is now completely surrounded by a box of iron 5 inches thick except for its icy bottom. Khzuro nods to them. “That would hopefully keep reinforcements out. It won’t last forever though, so we’d better keep moving.”
Everyone nods. Samo says, “Let’s go.”
Masako casts a spell, and another greater earth elemental appears. She says, “This is my last casting of this spell until I can rest and review.”
Khzuro looks to her, “We’ll make it count, then. Let’s hope our info is accurate…” He goes to lead the group out of the portal area to the southeast then up the northeast bend, then north. As they get within sight of the bottleneck up ahead, they see there is wreckage stacked up along it. There are three Hezrou and 4 armanites there watching the area. It’s a barricade.
Khzuro comes back to the group. “Looks like there's a barricaded position ahead of us. See seven of them. Ready team?" Everyone nods and gets ready. Khzuro gives the signal for the team to engage, then casts greater invisibility on himself and goes to engage.
Masako is the first into action this time. She keeps the elemental back in reserve and casts acid fog on the barrier. When she does and the cloud appears one of the Armanites breaks off and gallops back away from it. Aiami throws silence on the rest. The astral devas take flight to get behind the barrier. Both Samo and Ayako charge it. Khzuro closes into short range and gets off two shots. Both hit an Armanite doing some damage. Shin hits a Hezrou with his blunderbuss doing some damage. Drasta shoots a slew of arrows into an Armanite bringing it down before it even gets a chance to shoot.
The Armanites shoot at the incoming devas but miss them.
The demons, when they set up the barrier, did not think of a one-ton tiger crashing into it. Ayako slams into it. Debris flies everywhere and Samo is right behind her. They do not get a chance to attack with all the chaos they just cause for the moment, but the devas do, and they take on one of the Hezrou. The first hits it twice causing nasty wounds. The second slams into another. The demon loses its traction on the ice and falls over the cliff. Khzuro is ready and can shoot a full volley. He takes down his Armanite and then another.
Not to be outdone by the kobold Drasta aims and shoots at the one remaining horse demon. Her first arrow veers off and hits Ayako. She hits the remaining Armanite 3 times and wounds it. The astral deva again hits its Hezrou twice giving it more nasty wounds. Samo and Ayako double team the other that hasn’t been engaged as of yet. Samo nearly devastates it. Ayako rips its head off and spits it out. Then she puts her paws on Samo’s shoulders and drags her tongue across Samo’s face several times to get rid of the ick.
Katsu and Ogano throw magic missile at the last Armanite, and they almost kill it. It tries to run but dies just as it breaks the acid fog. The last Hezrou though has something different in mind. It teleports to the middle of the mages. Khzuro makes haste to get into range for a sneak attack. He is able to shoot 3 of his bolts. He hits it all three times, destroying it.
Ayako, seeing everything is dead, walks back to Drasta. She clips the elf on the shoulder with her paw and sends Drasta sailing 5 feet across the ice. She had her claws retracted. Drasta takes no damage other than her pride. The elf gets back up and huffs, “Deserved, I suppose.” The giant cat lies down on its belly and huffs.
Khzuro looks over to Drasta and with a sigh says, “Try to make sure those arrows go in the demons, please.” He then looks ahead. “Either way, we need to keep moving. Going to be more trouble ahead.”
The elf nods, “Do you think I am not trying to.” She chuckles nervously. Ayako growls and makes noises. Her fur takes on a golden glow. The arrow falls out of her wound and her flesh sews itself back up.
Khzuro waits for Ayako to heal herself then says, “We need to keep moving, come on.”
Shin brings out 4 iron rods and gives them to Samo who pounds them into the ground around the portal. Katsu, Ogano each casts a pair of walls of Iron where the rods anchor the ends making a box like structure. Masako then casts a wall of iron to make a roof. The portal is now completely surrounded by a box of iron 5 inches thick except for its icy bottom. Khzuro nods to them. “That would hopefully keep reinforcements out. It won’t last forever though, so we’d better keep moving.”
Everyone nods. Samo says, “Let’s go.”
Masako casts a spell, and another greater earth elemental appears. She says, “This is my last casting of this spell until I can rest and review.”
Khzuro looks to her, “We’ll make it count, then. Let’s hope our info is accurate…” He goes to lead the group out of the portal area to the southeast then up the northeast bend, then north. As they get within sight of the bottleneck up ahead, they see there is wreckage stacked up along it. There are three Hezrou and 4 armanites there watching the area. It’s a barricade.
Khzuro comes back to the group. “Looks like there's a barricaded position ahead of us. See seven of them. Ready team?" Everyone nods and gets ready. Khzuro gives the signal for the team to engage, then casts greater invisibility on himself and goes to engage.
Masako is the first into action this time. She keeps the elemental back in reserve and casts acid fog on the barrier. When she does and the cloud appears one of the Armanites breaks off and gallops back away from it. Aiami throws silence on the rest. The astral devas take flight to get behind the barrier. Both Samo and Ayako charge it. Khzuro closes into short range and gets off two shots. Both hit an Armanite doing some damage. Shin hits a Hezrou with his blunderbuss doing some damage. Drasta shoots a slew of arrows into an Armanite bringing it down before it even gets a chance to shoot.
The Armanites shoot at the incoming devas but miss them.
The demons, when they set up the barrier, did not think of a one-ton tiger crashing into it. Ayako slams into it. Debris flies everywhere and Samo is right behind her. They do not get a chance to attack with all the chaos they just cause for the moment, but the devas do, and they take on one of the Hezrou. The first hits it twice causing nasty wounds. The second slams into another. The demon loses its traction on the ice and falls over the cliff. Khzuro is ready and can shoot a full volley. He takes down his Armanite and then another.
Not to be outdone by the kobold Drasta aims and shoots at the one remaining horse demon. Her first arrow veers off and hits Ayako. She hits the remaining Armanite 3 times and wounds it. The astral deva again hits its Hezrou twice giving it more nasty wounds. Samo and Ayako double team the other that hasn’t been engaged as of yet. Samo nearly devastates it. Ayako rips its head off and spits it out. Then she puts her paws on Samo’s shoulders and drags her tongue across Samo’s face several times to get rid of the ick.
Katsu and Ogano throw magic missile at the last Armanite, and they almost kill it. It tries to run but dies just as it breaks the acid fog. The last Hezrou though has something different in mind. It teleports to the middle of the mages. Khzuro makes haste to get into range for a sneak attack. He is able to shoot 3 of his bolts. He hits it all three times, destroying it.
Ayako, seeing everything is dead, walks back to Drasta. She clips the elf on the shoulder with her paw and sends Drasta sailing 5 feet across the ice. She had her claws retracted. Drasta takes no damage other than her pride. The elf gets back up and huffs, “Deserved, I suppose.” The giant cat lies down on its belly and huffs.
Khzuro looks over to Drasta and with a sigh says, “Try to make sure those arrows go in the demons, please.” He then looks ahead. “Either way, we need to keep moving. Going to be more trouble ahead.”
The elf nods, “Do you think I am not trying to.” She chuckles nervously. Ayako growls and makes noises. Her fur takes on a golden glow. The arrow falls out of her wound and her flesh sews itself back up.
Khzuro waits for Ayako to heal herself then says, “We need to keep moving, come on.”
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Winterhawk99
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Re: The Kozakura Campaign
They move forward and come to a large area. Up ahead they see figures gathering. Khzuro gets ready to engage. As he peers ahead, he sees a small army of creatures gathering for a fight far up ahead. This time Ogano, Aiami, and Katsu stand in front and tell everyone to get back. Khzuro listens to them, holding back. “Right! At your go.”
Katsu is the first to cast a spell. He casts. His form changes to a bluish-grey dragon form with silver patches. A great mist envelops him and obscures everything around him. Clyde sticks his nose up from the side of a cliff for a second. The two dragons and mages now wait as the army approaches. Ogano states after a few minutes, “Everyone get ready.” As Aiami raises up her arms. Drasta hides behind Samo in fear of the demons casting implosion.
Aiami casts a spell on the front lines of the enemy. It is horrid wilting. She destroys most of the Vrocks in the front lines along with severely damaging any Hezrou or Armanites. The ice bridge completely collapses under them. 3 dozen wounded fall to their deaths.
For several minutes Ogano holds everyone back as he lifts his arms and casts whirlwind past the opening in the ice at the army. He wipes out most of the army with that spell killing and maiming just about all the demons in the army. As the dust and ice crystals clear there is now a chasm between the companions and army. The army has been reduced to 3 mariliths and 2 Balors. They teleport across it. Just at that moment a giant head comes into view and a sea of gas comes out of its nostrils. Kastu turns to protect everyone from the gas with his dragon body. The 5 demons are now moving in slow motion. The giant dragon head retreats into the chasm.
Even though the demons are slowed they get the first blow as Ogano suddenly crumbles into himself until he is just a pool of guts and brains. One of the demons used an implosion spell. Then suddenly a deva disappears as it is dismissed by another demon.
Khzuro gasps, “NO… " He then Growls madly.
A third demon throws firestorm at the group. Aiami is able to counterspell it but the mariliths cast unholy aura and one casts a blade barrier at the group. Katsu takes the blade barrier full force and cannot concentrate anymore. He shapeshifts back to his normal self. He is still standing but his robes are cut to shreds and he’s bleeding in several areas on his body. The last Marilith summons a Nalfeshnee to her side.
Khzuro casts Transformation. Drasta comes out behind Samo……. (out of stealth) and aims at the Balor that cast implosion on Ogano. She hits him with several arrows, wounding him badly but he is still standing. He laughs mocking her still. Samo and Ayako wade into them each taking on a separate Marilith. Samo cuts off three of his Marilith’s arms and cuts a deep wound into its side. It falls unconscious on the ice. Ayako misses most of her attacks except her bit. One of her great saber teeth buries itself into the demon’s shoulder. Iwao casts heal ok Katsu.
Aiami is standing back counterspell at the ready. Shin throws a sonic fireball globe into the middle of everything. The globe explodes into a sonic burst. All the demons take a bit of damage and since Shin was intelligent enough to tune the pitch the companions do not hear it but do feel the concussion blast. Samo stay steady but Ayako and the marilith are thrown forward Ayako’s fang is dislodged from the demon. Masako casts magnetism on one of the mariliths. It becomes magnetized and draws off the other two to it. Katsu now pissed off as hell throws a vitriolic spear into the crowd of stuck together demons. It doesn’t do much damage to them but helps. The last astral deva attacks the balor that is hurt the least. It hurts the Balor badly with its holy weapon.
Ayako starts to crumble into herself as another implosion is cast but somehow, she weathers the storm of spell magic and survives resisting the spell just barely. Not only that the marilith with Ayako is pounding her with its swords doing the great cat extensive damage but somehow maybe through will alone Ayako takes it and is still standing.
The third Marilith attacks Khzuro. She slaps him out of the air with her tail. Khzuro falls to the ground and her tail curls around him. He begins to feel its constricting coils crushing his body. The Nalfeshnee speaks some words, and a rainbow-like nimbus of light surrounds it.
Drasta decides to split her attack between the Balor and the Marilith that has Khzuro. She puts two arrows into the Balor, but his natural armor deflects most of the damage. She also puts two in the marilith. The marilith goes down its crushing hold on Khzuro ceases. It starts to crawl away from battle.
Samo leaves his unconscious marilith and takes on the one that Ayako is fighting. He cuts that one up so badly it is also left unconscious on the ground. Shin uses his blunderbuss on the strongest Balor. He hurts it a little, but its magic resistance deflects most of the damage.
Ayako leaps onto a Balor now that her marilith is down and starts to tear it to shreds. It succumbs to the furious cat’s claws and disappears into a cloud of ash. Iwao runs over to Khzuro, and casts cure serious wounds. Masako has one more vitriolic sphere. She hurts it a little but again its magic resistance absorbs most of the spell. Khzuro, with his breath back gets a couple of scores on it. The bolts sink in just a bit into the demon’s thick hide for minimal damage.
The astral deva attacks the nalfeeshnee. The deva smacks the demon twice with its holy weapon. The nimbus around the Nalfeshnee explodes into a cascade of light and an explosion. The astral deva, however, recognized the spell the demon put on itself and it shields the companions with its body taking all the damage from the smite effect.
The Balor desperately tries to hit the deva and slashes it twice, but the devas armor deflects most of the damage from the demon’s sword.
Khzuro loads and aims his crossbow splitting his bolts. One hits the balor and one the Nalfeshnee but again the bolts do not sink in against the tough hides of the demons. Drasta puts three arrows into the Balor. It disintegrates into ash. Samo comes up from behind and destroys the Nalfeshnee. It also turns into ash. Ayako, Iwao, Katus, and Shin take care of the Mariliths. The battle is over.
Khzuro looks over to what’s left of Ogano. There is very little left of him. “Eight million... he... he didn't deserve this..." He closes his eyes, tries to find some container to take what is left of him in. “I know we don't have time to try to bring him back now. But... we owe him to try when we get out of here."
"Or at least make sure this isn't his grave..."
Shin pats him on the shoulder, “Perhaps the imperial priests and priestesses.”
Drasta hands him an empty bottle. “Would agree this is no place for his resting”
Khzuro makes sure Ogano’s remains are stored away. “We’ve got a demon lord to fight. Come on.” The group comes up to the crevasse that was created by their mages.
Katsu is the first to cast a spell. He casts. His form changes to a bluish-grey dragon form with silver patches. A great mist envelops him and obscures everything around him. Clyde sticks his nose up from the side of a cliff for a second. The two dragons and mages now wait as the army approaches. Ogano states after a few minutes, “Everyone get ready.” As Aiami raises up her arms. Drasta hides behind Samo in fear of the demons casting implosion.
Aiami casts a spell on the front lines of the enemy. It is horrid wilting. She destroys most of the Vrocks in the front lines along with severely damaging any Hezrou or Armanites. The ice bridge completely collapses under them. 3 dozen wounded fall to their deaths.
For several minutes Ogano holds everyone back as he lifts his arms and casts whirlwind past the opening in the ice at the army. He wipes out most of the army with that spell killing and maiming just about all the demons in the army. As the dust and ice crystals clear there is now a chasm between the companions and army. The army has been reduced to 3 mariliths and 2 Balors. They teleport across it. Just at that moment a giant head comes into view and a sea of gas comes out of its nostrils. Kastu turns to protect everyone from the gas with his dragon body. The 5 demons are now moving in slow motion. The giant dragon head retreats into the chasm.
Even though the demons are slowed they get the first blow as Ogano suddenly crumbles into himself until he is just a pool of guts and brains. One of the demons used an implosion spell. Then suddenly a deva disappears as it is dismissed by another demon.
Khzuro gasps, “NO… " He then Growls madly.
A third demon throws firestorm at the group. Aiami is able to counterspell it but the mariliths cast unholy aura and one casts a blade barrier at the group. Katsu takes the blade barrier full force and cannot concentrate anymore. He shapeshifts back to his normal self. He is still standing but his robes are cut to shreds and he’s bleeding in several areas on his body. The last Marilith summons a Nalfeshnee to her side.
Khzuro casts Transformation. Drasta comes out behind Samo……. (out of stealth) and aims at the Balor that cast implosion on Ogano. She hits him with several arrows, wounding him badly but he is still standing. He laughs mocking her still. Samo and Ayako wade into them each taking on a separate Marilith. Samo cuts off three of his Marilith’s arms and cuts a deep wound into its side. It falls unconscious on the ice. Ayako misses most of her attacks except her bit. One of her great saber teeth buries itself into the demon’s shoulder. Iwao casts heal ok Katsu.
Aiami is standing back counterspell at the ready. Shin throws a sonic fireball globe into the middle of everything. The globe explodes into a sonic burst. All the demons take a bit of damage and since Shin was intelligent enough to tune the pitch the companions do not hear it but do feel the concussion blast. Samo stay steady but Ayako and the marilith are thrown forward Ayako’s fang is dislodged from the demon. Masako casts magnetism on one of the mariliths. It becomes magnetized and draws off the other two to it. Katsu now pissed off as hell throws a vitriolic spear into the crowd of stuck together demons. It doesn’t do much damage to them but helps. The last astral deva attacks the balor that is hurt the least. It hurts the Balor badly with its holy weapon.
Ayako starts to crumble into herself as another implosion is cast but somehow, she weathers the storm of spell magic and survives resisting the spell just barely. Not only that the marilith with Ayako is pounding her with its swords doing the great cat extensive damage but somehow maybe through will alone Ayako takes it and is still standing.
The third Marilith attacks Khzuro. She slaps him out of the air with her tail. Khzuro falls to the ground and her tail curls around him. He begins to feel its constricting coils crushing his body. The Nalfeshnee speaks some words, and a rainbow-like nimbus of light surrounds it.
Drasta decides to split her attack between the Balor and the Marilith that has Khzuro. She puts two arrows into the Balor, but his natural armor deflects most of the damage. She also puts two in the marilith. The marilith goes down its crushing hold on Khzuro ceases. It starts to crawl away from battle.
Samo leaves his unconscious marilith and takes on the one that Ayako is fighting. He cuts that one up so badly it is also left unconscious on the ground. Shin uses his blunderbuss on the strongest Balor. He hurts it a little, but its magic resistance deflects most of the damage.
Ayako leaps onto a Balor now that her marilith is down and starts to tear it to shreds. It succumbs to the furious cat’s claws and disappears into a cloud of ash. Iwao runs over to Khzuro, and casts cure serious wounds. Masako has one more vitriolic sphere. She hurts it a little but again its magic resistance absorbs most of the spell. Khzuro, with his breath back gets a couple of scores on it. The bolts sink in just a bit into the demon’s thick hide for minimal damage.
The astral deva attacks the nalfeeshnee. The deva smacks the demon twice with its holy weapon. The nimbus around the Nalfeshnee explodes into a cascade of light and an explosion. The astral deva, however, recognized the spell the demon put on itself and it shields the companions with its body taking all the damage from the smite effect.
The Balor desperately tries to hit the deva and slashes it twice, but the devas armor deflects most of the damage from the demon’s sword.
Khzuro loads and aims his crossbow splitting his bolts. One hits the balor and one the Nalfeshnee but again the bolts do not sink in against the tough hides of the demons. Drasta puts three arrows into the Balor. It disintegrates into ash. Samo comes up from behind and destroys the Nalfeshnee. It also turns into ash. Ayako, Iwao, Katus, and Shin take care of the Mariliths. The battle is over.
Khzuro looks over to what’s left of Ogano. There is very little left of him. “Eight million... he... he didn't deserve this..." He closes his eyes, tries to find some container to take what is left of him in. “I know we don't have time to try to bring him back now. But... we owe him to try when we get out of here."
"Or at least make sure this isn't his grave..."
Shin pats him on the shoulder, “Perhaps the imperial priests and priestesses.”
Drasta hands him an empty bottle. “Would agree this is no place for his resting”
Khzuro makes sure Ogano’s remains are stored away. “We’ve got a demon lord to fight. Come on.” The group comes up to the crevasse that was created by their mages.
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Winterhawk99
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Re: The Kozakura Campaign
They see that the chasm is about 20 yards long. Khzuro asks to himself out loud, “Guessing the non-fliers can’t walk across?” He looks to see how many there are.
Katsu comments, “I have fly.” As he is saying it, Ayako goes into action and tries to leap over it. Only her front half clears. She starts to slide off the other ledge. She digs her front claws into the ice while her ass is hanging over the cliff and she starts trying to find purchase with her back legs. Khzuro flies over and tries to help her up. She manages to dig in, lifting herself up on to the other side.
The kobold looks over on the other side to Drasta, Samo, and Iwao. He thinks to himself, ‘I could dimension door them over.” Shin belts a small contraption to him like a belt. A folding umbrella comes out of it and locks. It starts to spin, and he flies over.
Khzuro crosses the chasm again, “Anyone who needs a jump across join hands with me.” Samo looks at Khzuro and shakes his head. He looks back up at Samo.
“I’m about 300 pounds with armor on.”
“Shouldn’t matter.” Meanwhile Aiami turns into her hybrid form and jumps across making it quite easy then sticks her tongue out at Ayako. Khzuro turns and glares at her. He is clearly not in the mood now. He then focuses on Samo again. Khzuro reaches up and taps Samo, “Anyone else need a lift.”
“Ummm, you are awful small, Khzuro.”
“Won’t matter for a dimension door casting.”
“Ummm, are you sure?” He points down. “It’s an awful long way.”
“You’ve seen me do this before.” Drasta chuckles at them and vanishes in a shadow appearing on the other side. Before she does, she says, “Enjoy your flying.”
Samo nods tentatively, “Ok.” While Masako grows fire wings and flies over.
Khzuro doesn’t waist anymore time. He grabs Samo’s hand and dimension doors across with him. Now that the group is on the other side they see no demons. Khzuro moves forward with grim determination.
They go about 50 yards, and they come to a large shelf to the north. The companions are greeted by a very large, strange ship that is almost perfectly preserved. There’s a hole blown out of the back starboard side and scaffolding surrounding the hole. There are also large wood chunks in the front of the ship. It seems the front port hold may have been blown out too. The ship is huge, 150ft long. The three masts are all broken.
Khzuro sucks in his breath, “This must be the Moonflower.”
Shin takes his glass out and observes the ship. “That’s a beauty. I would say it could hold about 75-100 tons of cargo, maybe 120. She’s probably 400-500 tons empty. Depending on how it’s made. Yea, that’s a beauty of a long hauler.”
Drasta stands staring at the ship studying it carefully with some impression. “Indeed, it is.”
Khzuro nods, “It is... also probably has demons and a lot of traps. So, we'd better be on guard..."
Drasta keeps looking at it, “I would agree, any step inside could be dangerous from the look of the exterior.”
Khzuro comments, “Our foe is probably somewhere there... we'd best be cautious and make what preparations we need." He refreshes his true seeing and protection from evil. He keeps alert, taking a closer look, true seeing up in case of illusions or ambushes. Drasta approaches the ship keeping her eyes and ears peeled for any danger.
There seems to be nothing suspicious except for the haul looks brand new. All except for the hole area where the new scaffolding is. As they move toward the ship, they notice there are metal plates being riveted to the large hole where the scaffolding is. The work is about ½ complete. The edges of the wood are blackened. The only entrance appears to be the hole.
The group mounts the works and goes to the open part of the hole. Khzuro listens for any movement inside. They start to smell a faint sulfur smell and an acrid chemical smell. Shin says, “Black powder made this hole a very long time ago. The smell is faint but still here.
The kobold flies up to the deck finding no one. He comes back down and looks to see if he can squeeze in. The hole is about 4 1/2 feet wide. He comments, “Doesn’t seem to be anyone on top.”
Drasta gets close and listens carefully to the hole. She doesn’t hear anything nor does Khzuro. He decides to lead the group through the hole. Samo gets slightly stuck but works his way out to the other side. There are lanterns in this hold. It is empty except for tools and stools. The outside wall is completely blackened and burnt. The room is about 20 feet long, 15 ft wide and 10ft tall. Khzuro looks at the open door. “Just be careful about touching anything, we know how many traps Sithmore put in this place for intruders..."
He checks the door but finds nothing at it or the doorway except for wiring that’s been cut around it. He deduces that whatever traps were on the door the demons seem to have disabled them. He decides to take it cautiously. Shin? Can you take a look at this? Looks like the demons tripped or disabled what traps were on this door, but I'd rather double-check"
Shin approaches the door and gets some probing tools out. He probes the area. “It looks like they are all disabled all 10 of them but these are very complex. I would not touch anything going through the doorway especially the door.”
Drasta watching Shin work comments, “Indeed, who knows what else they have not found.”
"Can we get through safely?" Khzuro asks as he listens for any demons that may be beyond the door.
Shin nods. “Yes, we can step into the hall the door on the other side is open too.” He has not crossed the threshold yet himself. Due to the tights spaces Ayako transforms into her human appearance. She draws out her iron pipe. Then shrugs, fills the bowl and lights it.
Khzuro looks to see if there is any other way to move around the ship then checks himself. He realizes he is in a hold and the only real way out is the door. The latch above looks sealed and is most likely trapped if the demons haven’t gotten to it yet. He then looks at Ayako trying to figure out what she’s trying to do with the pipe. She seems to be just smoking it.
Samo asks, “So there are no traps? What are we waiting for?” Khzuro gives him a nod and goes through the door. As he does, he steps into a 3ft wide hallway. He sees to his right movement, as three quasits launch themselves down the hall away from him and up a very narrow set of steps. In front of him is an open door to most likely another hold. There are sounds coming from that hold, but they sound mechanical. There are lanterns lit going down it and several doors to the side every 20 to 25 feet. He sees two narrow stairs halfway down the hall both going up.
Samo steps into the hallway behind him. “Thats pretty narrow. but I can squeeze down the hall.........I think. Why do they make these walkways so damn small!"
“They are meant for elves.” Drasta chuckles. Samo huffs. Khzuro listens again for any movement of any hostiles but hears nothing except mechanical sounds coming from the back-port hold. As they look down the hallway Drasta points to the floor. There they all see that ash covers it all the way down the walkway. There are two rather large piles down the way where there may be more doors to holds.
Drasta says, “Curious.”
Khzuro not paying attention asks, “What is?”
“There is ash covering the floor.”
Iwao bends down and inspects it. “Looks like the ash of dead demons.”
Khzuro inspects it too. “Must have been traps or possibly still active ones. Let’s avoid those spots where there are piles.”
Ayako asks, “So what now our glorious leader?”
Khzuro sighs and moves in the direction to the other open hold, watching for traps, demons, and illusions. “We keep moving. Odds are our foe is in one of the ship’s holds.”
Drasta looks at him. “That is possible.
They look in the other open hold. There are almost 2 dozen machines a few have been turned on.
all seem to have crystals somewhere in or around them. One is a small rudimentary external combustion engine but instead of pistons it has black and white crystals spinning around the crankshaft. Another looks like a simple small perpetual motion machine that is running. Others are large and very complex. Shin looks around, "Did I die and go to heaven. Some of these will take decades of research to figure out."
Khzuro gives him a side eye. “No, you're still alive..." A sigh, the joke not seeming to connect, Ogano's and Haru's deaths weighing heavily on him. "Still demons here."
Shin looks around making fists with his hands obviously wanting to experiment with what all these machines do. Drasta as she looks at all the machines notices a small table. There are loose parchment notes on it. She steps over to take a look without touching anything and finds she cannot read the language the notes are written in. “Seems to be something of interest here though not a language I speak.”
Shin comes over and looks. He then gets a scroll tube out and casts a spell. The mages know it is comprehend language. He reads the last note out loud.
I've managed to open holds 1, 7,8. 1 and 8 had standard but intricate traps on them. It only took me a dozen and 1/2 minions to bypass them. hold 7 was specific and killed anyone trying to figure it out. I got lucky. The key was a mathematical formula which I happened to know.
The rest of the holds have defeated me thus far. I know the answers must be at the back of midships in the captain’s quarters, but that door eludes me too. The magic mouth asks, "What is my name, my love." Nothing in the ship eludes anything but ‘Lauriella Sithmore’. Thats not the answer. I must find it. somehow.
You can mar the ship, and its wood, break it down or build it up in holds 1 and 8 but anywhere else on it as soon as you try to break through the wood it regenerates, and offensive magic seems to be absorbed by the ship’s haul in some way, so magic won’t work either.
Shin looks up. “The rest seems to be puzzles and looking for ways to bypass doors.”
Khzuro nods to him, considering "We don't necessarily need to breach the holds though, we need to find the demon and send them back to the abyss... I'd assumed they'd be on the ship, but... starting to think they're not..."
Katsu comments, “I have fly.” As he is saying it, Ayako goes into action and tries to leap over it. Only her front half clears. She starts to slide off the other ledge. She digs her front claws into the ice while her ass is hanging over the cliff and she starts trying to find purchase with her back legs. Khzuro flies over and tries to help her up. She manages to dig in, lifting herself up on to the other side.
The kobold looks over on the other side to Drasta, Samo, and Iwao. He thinks to himself, ‘I could dimension door them over.” Shin belts a small contraption to him like a belt. A folding umbrella comes out of it and locks. It starts to spin, and he flies over.
Khzuro crosses the chasm again, “Anyone who needs a jump across join hands with me.” Samo looks at Khzuro and shakes his head. He looks back up at Samo.
“I’m about 300 pounds with armor on.”
“Shouldn’t matter.” Meanwhile Aiami turns into her hybrid form and jumps across making it quite easy then sticks her tongue out at Ayako. Khzuro turns and glares at her. He is clearly not in the mood now. He then focuses on Samo again. Khzuro reaches up and taps Samo, “Anyone else need a lift.”
“Ummm, you are awful small, Khzuro.”
“Won’t matter for a dimension door casting.”
“Ummm, are you sure?” He points down. “It’s an awful long way.”
“You’ve seen me do this before.” Drasta chuckles at them and vanishes in a shadow appearing on the other side. Before she does, she says, “Enjoy your flying.”
Samo nods tentatively, “Ok.” While Masako grows fire wings and flies over.
Khzuro doesn’t waist anymore time. He grabs Samo’s hand and dimension doors across with him. Now that the group is on the other side they see no demons. Khzuro moves forward with grim determination.
They go about 50 yards, and they come to a large shelf to the north. The companions are greeted by a very large, strange ship that is almost perfectly preserved. There’s a hole blown out of the back starboard side and scaffolding surrounding the hole. There are also large wood chunks in the front of the ship. It seems the front port hold may have been blown out too. The ship is huge, 150ft long. The three masts are all broken.
Khzuro sucks in his breath, “This must be the Moonflower.”
Shin takes his glass out and observes the ship. “That’s a beauty. I would say it could hold about 75-100 tons of cargo, maybe 120. She’s probably 400-500 tons empty. Depending on how it’s made. Yea, that’s a beauty of a long hauler.”
Drasta stands staring at the ship studying it carefully with some impression. “Indeed, it is.”
Khzuro nods, “It is... also probably has demons and a lot of traps. So, we'd better be on guard..."
Drasta keeps looking at it, “I would agree, any step inside could be dangerous from the look of the exterior.”
Khzuro comments, “Our foe is probably somewhere there... we'd best be cautious and make what preparations we need." He refreshes his true seeing and protection from evil. He keeps alert, taking a closer look, true seeing up in case of illusions or ambushes. Drasta approaches the ship keeping her eyes and ears peeled for any danger.
There seems to be nothing suspicious except for the haul looks brand new. All except for the hole area where the new scaffolding is. As they move toward the ship, they notice there are metal plates being riveted to the large hole where the scaffolding is. The work is about ½ complete. The edges of the wood are blackened. The only entrance appears to be the hole.
The group mounts the works and goes to the open part of the hole. Khzuro listens for any movement inside. They start to smell a faint sulfur smell and an acrid chemical smell. Shin says, “Black powder made this hole a very long time ago. The smell is faint but still here.
The kobold flies up to the deck finding no one. He comes back down and looks to see if he can squeeze in. The hole is about 4 1/2 feet wide. He comments, “Doesn’t seem to be anyone on top.”
Drasta gets close and listens carefully to the hole. She doesn’t hear anything nor does Khzuro. He decides to lead the group through the hole. Samo gets slightly stuck but works his way out to the other side. There are lanterns in this hold. It is empty except for tools and stools. The outside wall is completely blackened and burnt. The room is about 20 feet long, 15 ft wide and 10ft tall. Khzuro looks at the open door. “Just be careful about touching anything, we know how many traps Sithmore put in this place for intruders..."
He checks the door but finds nothing at it or the doorway except for wiring that’s been cut around it. He deduces that whatever traps were on the door the demons seem to have disabled them. He decides to take it cautiously. Shin? Can you take a look at this? Looks like the demons tripped or disabled what traps were on this door, but I'd rather double-check"
Shin approaches the door and gets some probing tools out. He probes the area. “It looks like they are all disabled all 10 of them but these are very complex. I would not touch anything going through the doorway especially the door.”
Drasta watching Shin work comments, “Indeed, who knows what else they have not found.”
"Can we get through safely?" Khzuro asks as he listens for any demons that may be beyond the door.
Shin nods. “Yes, we can step into the hall the door on the other side is open too.” He has not crossed the threshold yet himself. Due to the tights spaces Ayako transforms into her human appearance. She draws out her iron pipe. Then shrugs, fills the bowl and lights it.
Khzuro looks to see if there is any other way to move around the ship then checks himself. He realizes he is in a hold and the only real way out is the door. The latch above looks sealed and is most likely trapped if the demons haven’t gotten to it yet. He then looks at Ayako trying to figure out what she’s trying to do with the pipe. She seems to be just smoking it.
Samo asks, “So there are no traps? What are we waiting for?” Khzuro gives him a nod and goes through the door. As he does, he steps into a 3ft wide hallway. He sees to his right movement, as three quasits launch themselves down the hall away from him and up a very narrow set of steps. In front of him is an open door to most likely another hold. There are sounds coming from that hold, but they sound mechanical. There are lanterns lit going down it and several doors to the side every 20 to 25 feet. He sees two narrow stairs halfway down the hall both going up.
Samo steps into the hallway behind him. “Thats pretty narrow. but I can squeeze down the hall.........I think. Why do they make these walkways so damn small!"
“They are meant for elves.” Drasta chuckles. Samo huffs. Khzuro listens again for any movement of any hostiles but hears nothing except mechanical sounds coming from the back-port hold. As they look down the hallway Drasta points to the floor. There they all see that ash covers it all the way down the walkway. There are two rather large piles down the way where there may be more doors to holds.
Drasta says, “Curious.”
Khzuro not paying attention asks, “What is?”
“There is ash covering the floor.”
Iwao bends down and inspects it. “Looks like the ash of dead demons.”
Khzuro inspects it too. “Must have been traps or possibly still active ones. Let’s avoid those spots where there are piles.”
Ayako asks, “So what now our glorious leader?”
Khzuro sighs and moves in the direction to the other open hold, watching for traps, demons, and illusions. “We keep moving. Odds are our foe is in one of the ship’s holds.”
Drasta looks at him. “That is possible.
They look in the other open hold. There are almost 2 dozen machines a few have been turned on.
all seem to have crystals somewhere in or around them. One is a small rudimentary external combustion engine but instead of pistons it has black and white crystals spinning around the crankshaft. Another looks like a simple small perpetual motion machine that is running. Others are large and very complex. Shin looks around, "Did I die and go to heaven. Some of these will take decades of research to figure out."
Khzuro gives him a side eye. “No, you're still alive..." A sigh, the joke not seeming to connect, Ogano's and Haru's deaths weighing heavily on him. "Still demons here."
Shin looks around making fists with his hands obviously wanting to experiment with what all these machines do. Drasta as she looks at all the machines notices a small table. There are loose parchment notes on it. She steps over to take a look without touching anything and finds she cannot read the language the notes are written in. “Seems to be something of interest here though not a language I speak.”
Shin comes over and looks. He then gets a scroll tube out and casts a spell. The mages know it is comprehend language. He reads the last note out loud.
I've managed to open holds 1, 7,8. 1 and 8 had standard but intricate traps on them. It only took me a dozen and 1/2 minions to bypass them. hold 7 was specific and killed anyone trying to figure it out. I got lucky. The key was a mathematical formula which I happened to know.
The rest of the holds have defeated me thus far. I know the answers must be at the back of midships in the captain’s quarters, but that door eludes me too. The magic mouth asks, "What is my name, my love." Nothing in the ship eludes anything but ‘Lauriella Sithmore’. Thats not the answer. I must find it. somehow.
You can mar the ship, and its wood, break it down or build it up in holds 1 and 8 but anywhere else on it as soon as you try to break through the wood it regenerates, and offensive magic seems to be absorbed by the ship’s haul in some way, so magic won’t work either.
Shin looks up. “The rest seems to be puzzles and looking for ways to bypass doors.”
Khzuro nods to him, considering "We don't necessarily need to breach the holds though, we need to find the demon and send them back to the abyss... I'd assumed they'd be on the ship, but... starting to think they're not..."