Session 28 "Sparks Fly" Report

General Summary

....as the Raven's Alliance moves to investigate the sound of movement they discover several figures moving through the melted snow and grass appearing to be hunting for something. The figures speak a language unfamiliar to most of the party but sounds vaguely familiar to their resident warlock Isaac. Isaac strikes first drawing the attention of the figures who move into to intercept the newcomers. Ethinclaw fires off a fireball quickly discovering that the figures brandishing flaming weapons wade through the fire unscathed. Quickly dispatching the figures they capture one of them and Gunthar prompted by voices proceeds to brutally interrogate the figure. With Isaac using his ability to comprehend languages they soon learn very little other then the obvious....that Variskali has been attacked and they were hunting a child. Sordrin investigates the area while Lillyanna sends Abel off into the air to scout out the surrounding sites. Sordrin finds a child hidden among some boulders near a pond and convinces the child to come out with the help of Isaac. They both see the child is nearly as tall as Sordrin and neither recognize the child's language or what manner of creature she is. The child alerts them about the same time that Lillyanna sees the fires and smoke emanating from Variskali. Calling alert to the rest of the party they set off to help while the child resumes her hiding spot hoping to see her rescuers again. Quickly mounting and charging towards the inferno the Raven's Alliance soon spots more of the glaive wielding figures among the fallen bodies of large figures that resemble the same race as the child they had found. The party gallops into the fray quickly discovering the source of the fires....an enormous fire elemental is setting homes and buildings ablaze. The party moves into action pressing forward and soon find that the elemental is being controlled by a mage dressed in red and gold. Summoning their arcane abilities to fight off this fire wielding maniac Isaac and Ethinclaw are dismayed to find that he is able to counter their attempts. Gunthar is hard pressed by the glaive wielders as the elemental approaches and surrounds the beleaguered dragonborn setting him on fire. Sordrin tangles with a pair of the glaive wielders as Slinger assists her with his trusted bow from hiding. Growing tired of the meddling of the rescue party the mage summons a second elemental and surrounds himself with whirling flames. Lillyanna rushes to Gunthar's aide only to have the second elemental move her direction after drawing it's attention with a tidal wave. The mother of the group is soon struck down seeming to be more susceptible to the flames then her friends. The mage moves in closer to the group seemingly unafraid and brandishes a dagger. He quickly disappears and strikes hard at Slinger, Sordrin, Ethinclaw, and Isaac dealing grievous wounds to many of them. Isaac seeing the fallen Lillyanna quickly remounts and rushes to the druids aide summoning every ounce of strength he possesses and hoists her up onto the horse with him. The others wounded continue to fight on while Isaac and Lillyanna try to escape as Gunthar calls retreat in the face of the overwhelming force. The mage seeing his quarry escape turns the elementals to pursuit as he deals with the remainder of the Raven's Alliance. Isaac realizing Lillyanna is still on fire quickly puts her out and charges off with the towers of inferno pressing in. The remainder of the Raven's Alliance trying to buy their friends time press their attack against the mage striking but finding every hit they receive a gout of fire in return. Fighting the pain and fear they hold strong striking again and again. As Isaac tries to evade the pursuit he feels the last breath leave Lillyanna's lungs as she falls still across the back of the horse. With a fire and anger of his own he wheels the mount around in the face of his pursuers and pulls his dagger. Whispering the words of an incantation the weapon leaves his hands and rockets across the field striking the mage solidly in the chest. As the dagger strikes, Gunthar fighting for everything in his world unleashes titanic fury into the mage burying his sword through him. With a free hand he wraps it around the man's head and snaps his neck. Isaac further up the field watches as the elementals disappear as the last light leaves the mage's eyes. With one final spell he pulls a small diamond shattering it and laying his hands on the fallen druid bringing the life back into her broken and burnt body. As the Raven's Alliance collapse into the mud and snow, Variskali burns ahead of them but they catch a group of large figures pursuing three familiar looking individuals who are carrying a slumped figure dressed in red and gold robes to the northwest away from the village.