Session 45: Mysteries in the Woods Report
General Summary
Setting out on a chilly autumn morning, their borrowed Drake riders ferrying them to a forward base of the Aureate army, attempting to find Lord Aelindons force in the great wilderness of their territory. Setting out from this forward post Ayrien lead the scales into the Wilds, finding in a few hours the signs of an enemy encampment. The trail leaving the area however would soon go cold, clearly covered by some magical means. Ayrien however would not be deterred and pressed on, finding the tracks when the magic ended, only to have them vanish again, clearly using this method to try and hide their movement. Longwei would study the tracks when they could find them, listening quietly to what Ayrien and the others would discuss on the matter, before speaking up. "There is something wrong...there are not enough boots and soldiers for the size of the camp that is supposedly moving." The others would look to the quiet monk curiously. Indalell would speak up, "Then these camps are a diversion and a distraction." Adalon would tap his chin, "The three raiding groups had a gap in their timelines, perhaps they are moving all these camps to make the army look bigger." A'lar would spin about, "Then where is Lord Aelindon? Marching on the Ary?" Adalon would shake his head, "Likely not, his force is not large enough." Indalell would again offer, "The new port city...remote, water access, fortified, lightly defended." With a frown the Scales made their way back to the Drakes and the Riders which had been transporting them. The new city under construction was 4 days flight from their current location. On the third day A'lar received a message in his mind from the Queen of Aureate, her port city was under attack.
As the scales on the next day made their approach to the new settlement A'lar used his illusion magic to project a great Dracolich over the skies to distract their arrival. A severe hailstorm made their flight in cold and uncomfortable but they were able to land safely within the inner walls of the new city, defending the main city and the harbor. The outer walls already held banners of house Aelindon and catapults were pelting the walls. Discussing the situation with the garrison general, Lady Essiyea. The elven woman would inform that almost half her force was killed, wounded, or capture in the initial assault, caught off guard she has about 700 soldiers left to man the inner walls, but they are completed walls and her men can hold them with good supplies if the enemy Drake Riders do not overwhelm them. The Scales decided they could aid by taking the drake riders that had ferried them in, along with their own magics and destroy some of the siege equipment. In the late afternoon still under heavy hail their drakes took the skies and strafed the enemy siege lines destroying one catapult and damaging a second of the 4 assailing the city walls. In response the Aelindon forces pushed the walls in force and took to the skies with their drake riders. The Scales landed and moved to help in the defnse of the walls.
Enemy magic exploded around the ramparts as fireballs and crackling lightning bolts burst around the scales, singing A'lars fine clothing. Ismaril and Indalell defended the left where Aelindon soldiers emerged up their laders while Adalon and Longwei defended the right. Ayrien stood in the guard house between them her bow singing as she provided support to either side. Aelindon warpriests following in their soldiers chanted their healing prayers mending the wounds inflicted by the Scales. Longwei and Adalon would shift their focus dispatching the cleric, as Ismaril had to give ground an elven blade cutting deep into her shoulder. Ayrien from her tower leveled her Ring of the Ram on the enemy mage smashing him into the earth with a blast of force. The other defenders seemed to be holding and containing the Aelindon press....for now.