Session 18: Together
General Summary
12th Myrkule 234 4E
The party had planned and prepared for this over the days waiting at the tunnel's mouth. Their foe had triggered something - the monolith was now aflame in writhing lines of light, tracing and chasing the strange script that ran across its surface, and a pulsing beam linked the stone structure to a dark iron amulet that lay around one of the prisoners necks. Whatever was happening couldn't be good and innocent lives were in the balance, and so the party flew into action. In a moment Meridas unleashed their magic and their form started to shift into that of a great owl, the fabric and feathers of their cloak morphing into a pair of powerful wings that Meridas used to surge over the rock's edge and soar into the cavern. The sparking and crackling of rifts echoed through the cavern, marking the party's presence. A dark, low voice growled from the other side of the monolith and the attention of all those on the island was pointed in the party's direction. Odhran took a knee and sent bolts hurtling through the darkness at the nearest foes and Avina shot two orbs of acid in quick succession into the fray while the others lept forwards, springing onto a nearby floating slab. Willum went first, leaping the gap in one stride of his long legs and then flinging a javelin at one of the larger figures. It hit hard, piercing straight through their chest and knocking them back a pace. As Avina went to follow over the gap the rock under her foot gave way, the cliff's lip crumbling, and she found herself falling. She hit the cliff face and started to slide. Fast. The coarse rock cut her hands and legs and snagged at her clothes. Meridas immediately dropped through the air in pursuit. Their owl form span and danced through the air, at the last moment reaching out with long talons to clasp onto Avina's legs. Meridas spread her wings and caught their fall, taking a moment before pushing back up towards the island. Odhran continued sending bolts into the figures on the island while Tawny and Willum both jumped onto one of the large moving stones, commandeering it from one of their foes who they sent falling into the darkness below. More foes lept to face them and they battled, shoved, grappled, and stabbed while their ride continued to orbit around the island. A figure prowled out from behind the monolith. When they opened their mouth, the same growling voice as before poured into the air. Whoever this was, they lead the others. The figure slowly stretched their arms out wide, their fingers pulling smoke out from the air. No, not the air. The smoke was pouring out from their eyes. The smoke flowed and swam around the figure, building in force around them. Then the figure dropped their arms. The smoke billowed outwards, chasing after all those around the figure and encircling them, scorching and biting at any flesh it could find. The figure flung his arms out towards the party members, each time a tendril of smoke lunging towards the target. The smoke engulfed them, forcing its way into their mouths and lungs, wrenching the very air from them until they could force it out. Meridas soared upwards towards the island, forced to twist and swerve their path through the swirling rings of stone and rocks that filled the cavern. As they reached its elevation, one of the hooded figures spotted them and threw themselves at them over the void, landing heavily on the great-owl's back and raking at their neck with talon-like fingers. Knowing that their strained concentration could be broken at any time, dropping their spell and sending them all plummeting into the darkness, Meridas arced towards the island and landed on the stone floor, shifting their form back to normal. They and Avina came up fighting, flinging spells and magic at all those around them. They dropped many but even more surged towards them, quickly surrounding the pair. The others saw this and desperately made to move towards them and aid them. Willum and Tawny flung the last of their foes into the void and made a path towards the pair. Odhran sprang across from his overwatch position, quickly leaping from one rock to another in frantic bid to get there in time. As he made the last leap towards the island, Meridas and Avina watched as his grasp gave way and he fell. The numbers and strength of the foe around them were just too much to stand against forever. Avina's guard broke for a moment and she was dropped by the hooded figure, their longsword cutting deep through her collarbone and chest. In the same movement, the figure twisted the blade and plunged its tip into Meridas' gut. Meridas dropped to their knees, their hands pressed against their stomach trying to hold the flow of blood that was now soaking into their doublet. Seeing his companions fall, Willum surged forwards, using his rage to hack and push through those in his way. Out the corner of his eye he saw a thick, dwarven hand grasp onto the rock lip, followed shortly by the bruised and bloody body of Odhran as he dragged himself up onto the island. Tawny bolted forwards, his dagger flashing between strokes. He saw the blade cut into the flesh of his friends and their bodies dropping to the ground, hidden behind the crowd of enemies that surrounded them. He reached deep into his magic, feeling for his connection with Selune. As he prayed in hope, he felt a heat surge from inside. Instinctively he channeled through him and into his dagger, holding the blade high above him. A blinding light roared out from the metal, filling the entire cavern, and threw itself at the broken and dark foes around him. In an instant they turned, fleeing away from the light and its source and moving as far away and as fast as their legs could move. And as quickly as it had arrived the light faded, the darkness returning to fill its space. The one of smoke still stood there. The light hadn't touched him.Session Log - Meridas
"Are you sure about this?" The two were under the eave of a building in Petvia. Above them, rains swept in from the coast and pitter-pattered on clay tiles. The air in the street was thick, the way air becomes full-bodied before lightning is about to strike. Oberon frowned in a way that frustrated and fascinated Meridas in equal measure. His brow had this little wrinkle to it, just between the eyebrows, that looked like the folded pages of a book. He was the smartest man Meridas had ever met, but his thoughts turned slowly, ripening behind his eyes like a fine vintage. Today, Oberon's wrinkle came with a flavour of pensiveness to it. "No. I'm not sure, but we're simply going to have to trust that his obsession has not overcome his judgement." "I don't trust strangers," Meridas folded their arms and looked away, huffing. "If we're wrong, and he's as far-gone as the rest of them, you'll be in danger." "It's the path of least resistance," the half-orc smiled, gently, and squeezed Meridas on their shoulder. "We minimize harm. He turns a blind eye to the rest of our work here, and we don't have to hurt anyone who doesn't deserve it." Meridas leant up and pecked Oberon on the cheek, stopping to fidget with the ring they'd placed on his finger scarcely more than a month ago. Soon. One last mission, and they'd be back home. "I'd rather hurt a stranger than let you get hurt, you oaf." "I know you don't mean that," Oberon grinned. "Mostly because of the rolling pin incident." "You were being churlish," Meridas tutted and brushed past him. They leant down into their satchel, making sure all the components were there, in case something did go wrong. "I'd best get ready, then." "We'll free this town," Oberon said. "I promise you. It's our duty. Together." *** Together. An older, quieter Meridas watched like a hawk as the rest of their party prepared for the battle ahead, at the ledge to a dark, yawning cavern filled with whimpers and whispers. They turned over a dried cocoon in their hand: a simple component for a dramatic spell. Meridas was used to making the bigger plays, certainly. Oberon was the strategist, but they executed. But they would not fill that role in this fight. They were to catch their friends if they fell. Ferry them to safety. The shoes of that role were ill-fitting, pinching at the toes. They would simply have to trust them. Words carry power with them - not just for the purposes of replicating the somatic and material components of a spell. It was a technique Meridas had perfected over many years, first on the streets, appeasing others. Now with his allies, preparing them for battle. The magic of reassurance, accompanied by a focus of the arcane motes of celestial possibility that swirled in their arms, behind their eyes, across their face. Inspiration and intention, followed by words with history. "We're going to do our duty," Meridas nodded, strong as steel. "Together." They crushed the cocoon in their hand and jumped, and rose on wings of white.
