Ye Olde Adventure Worlde session 66
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Summary
Korivan tells Laris of his vision of the River spirit, and they lay plans. Rufus suggests summoning ancestors into some undead to attack the wall from below, and preparations are made to enact this plan with additional support. Induriel meets with renforcements form Aethrennar in the form of Eren and Laito. Meanwhile, an unnatural storm wracks the city as May and Eyllia return with the rest of the surviving naval expedition. May rallies her mages to close the portal. They succeed, but not before an avatar of Orcus escapes to wreak havoc. Gladius leaps to the city's defense but is struct down, and May calls for the crown given to her by Lady Morelos...
Session
- Session date: 2020-08-02
Korivan summons an early morning war council
* Korivan will has ordered soeone to go find Kraaz as well
* Korivan will barge into Laris's tent in the early morning then
<Korivan> (If anyone tries to stop me I'll just tel them to go find Rufus or Severina or Montano or someone else important ;)
<Korivan> Lugal Laris!
* Kraaz (webchat@199.38.187.252) has joined #gnomeland
* Laris is just getting up, but looks over at Korivan in some surprise.
<Laris> Yes? What is it?
* Laris assumes there's an attack or something happening
<Korivan> I had a dream.... a visit from the River @_@
<Laris> Ah... I trust it contained some noteworthy information?
<Korivan> She has shown me.... Imperial schemes @_@
* Laris says with an undertone of "otherwise you would not be standing here in my tent at ass o'clock in the morning"
<Laris> Tell me what you've learned.
<Korivan> They have frozen over her course, to damn her, and bridge her to bring across their troops to the city
<Laris> do you know where?
<YOAW_Narrator> (He could point out on a map, probably.)
<Korivan> Yes.
<YOAW_Narrator> (A little distance from the city. Not so close that a sortie would be easy.)
* Korivan can do so
* Korivan is pretty used to maps by now, at least
<Laris> Was this vision something that was happening right now, or had it already occurred?
<Korivan> It happens now.
* Laris is just trying to guess where they might be by now
<Laris> (how far away are we from that point?)
<Laris> (I mean roughly. like could we intercept them before they reach the city, or we're still too far?)
<Korivan> their troops march, but the bridge stands.... it will keep water.. fromthe city @_@
<YOAW_Narrator> (If it's ongoing, then you know where they are for the moment, but it's at least a day's march away.)
<YOAW_Narrator> (It's a dangerous tactic. It essentially means they're all in on the assault on the city, because they might not be able to retreat back across the river.)
<YOAW_Narrator> (So you would assume they have some sort of further plan or something.)
<Laris> It will take us a day to reach there. We need to send word to the city sooner than that, so they can prepare. And ... if there is any way to have the river spirit aid us, or that you can think of, to undermine their 'bridge', we can attempt that.
<Laris> (do we still have our message set up with NA? where we can write on a board and they scry it, that whole plan? or I can try to send a single messenger who might be able to get there faster....)
<Eyllia> (I thought you were using the dragonmarked documents that May summons back)
<Korivan> (No, its that may has marked a scroll case and she can recall messages daily in that manner)
<Laris> (oh yeah, that was it :)
<Korivan> (Yeah that)
<Laris> (anyway, if we still have that set up, would that be the fastest way to get a message back?)
<Korivan> She will aid us.
<Korivan> these actions harm her. She came to me... for aide @_@
<YOAW_Narrator> (A rider would be fastest at this point. May isn't even in the city right now.)
<Laris> (ok, that will be better then. once Kraaz shows up I'll get him on the case)
<YOAW_Narrator> (Though I'm not sure whether Laris knows that or not.)
<YOAW_Narrator> (About May, I mean.)
* Laris nods
* Korivan considers
* Kraaz enters the tent.
<Kraaz> What's going on?
<Korivan> It could be done... Perhaps, by your troops @_@
<Korivan> The Turathi have damned the river....with ice, to bridge her @_@
<Korivan> Ice demons.
<Laris> We need to send a rider to the city to let them know. Your fastest rider will reach them sooner than any other means.
* Kraaz frowns, but nods.
<Kraaz> I'll send them immediately. Any other word to send?
* Laris conveys briefly the details of where the attackers are and when we can expect to get there to try and aid in the defense.
<Kraaz> Should we begin crossing our troops
<Kraaz> ?
<Laris> Yes. But what did you mean, Korivan, that it could be done by my troops?
<Korivan> to undermine their wall... The river could carry the undead, to carry out that work
<Laris> Hm. All right. I'll need to confer with Magus Auspex, but I think it would be possible.
* Korivan nods
<Kraaz> Our allies have boats ready, but it will take some time.
<Kraaz> I'll go send the rider and tell Severina to check in.
<Laris> Very well. I'll work with Magus Auspex on dispatching a squad to try and undermine the bridge.
<Korivan> the river may.... be able to aid our own crossing as well @_@
<Korivan> But we much help her
<Korivan> (must)
* Laris nods
* Rufus_Metilius (webchat@199.38.187.252) has joined #gnomeland
<Laris> Thank you for this information, Gaath Korivan.
<YOAW_Narrator> (Okay, so, strategically speaking, what's the plan?)
<Korivan> (I do like the idea of having the river carry some undead down there to do the undermining, if there are troops available that are intelligent enough to carry it off)
<Laris> (well, I will consult with Rufus about sending a team of undead that can go to the bridge location via the river and work to undermine it. If he has advice on how to better do that I'm happy to listen to him.)
* Rufus_Metilius will show up shortly and can be informed quickly. (Y'all don't have to keep repeating the situation. ;) )
<Laris> (then work with Kraaz and Korivan to coordinate the troops getting across the river, by whatever means - if the river can help us, great. Then head to try and position ourselves between NA and where I think their troops are going to be, based on my best estimate.)
<Korivan> (There might be rituals we can do to beef them up somehow, I'm not sure? I would like to have Korivan participate in this more actively but I am not comig uo with any specific ideas on that :
<)
<Korivan> (I could let her possess me again I suppose and use her power more... actively, to attack them I guess?)
<Korivan> (surge against the wall, make sure if it is broken through that there is a cost to the turathi :p)
<Rufus_Metilius> (That's possibly, but potentially dangerous, as she said what they're doing is changing her.)
<Rufus_Metilius> (Possible*)
<Laris> (I'm not overjoyed at the idea of facing them in the field but on the other hand, Kraaz's cavalry will be best placed there to actually do some damage, and maybe we can retreat back to the city gradually)
<Rufus_Metilius> (As to Laris, it's unlikely you can get your troops between NA and the Turathi at this point, but you can trap them between your forces.)
<Rufus_Metilius> (And make it so that engaging you or engaging the city leaves them vulnerable to the other.)
<Rufus_Metilius> (But, yes, you'll be the more vulnerable of your two forces.)
<Laris> (okay, that works)
<Rufus_Metilius> Korivan...I have an idea, but I'm not entirely sure how feasible it is.
<Korivan> hmmm.
<Korivan> tell me.
<Rufus_Metilius> You've summoned your ancestors into bodies before. How long can that be maintained?
<Rufus_Metilius> Already animated bodies, I mean.
<Korivan> (good question?)
<Kraaz> (Usually it's relatively short. An hour at most. There might be ways to extend that, but it'd take sacrifice.)
<Korivan> how long?
* Korivan asks, frowning in consideration
<Rufus_Metilius> How long would it take to get downriver?
<Rufus_Metilius> One of my people will have to accompany my troops spectrally for them to be effective, which is dangerous on a couple levels. They'll do it, but if we could channel your ancestors, the troops would be that much more effective.
<Rufus_Metilius> And wouldn't require a handler.
<Korivan> It would take.... sacrifice
* Korivan does an inventory of who might be willing to do that
* Korivan looks to Kraaz
<Rufus_Metilius> I leave it to you to decide whether that's worth pursuing.
* Kraaz frowns in thought.
<Kraaz> It will be costlier to the Hrieffen to not do this. If you can find someone willing, I think it's worthwhile.
* Korivan nods
<Korivan> I will see.
* Kraaz nods.
<Rufus_Metilius> I'll prepare on our end.
<YOAW_Narrator> (Okay. Was Korivan also wanting to try to let the river possess him? Or not so much?)
<YOAW_Narrator> (Just checking what all the plans are.)
<Korivan> (Defintely yes if we're bringing ancestors into this)
<YOAW_Narrator> (All right. How much of your troops are you crossing with, Laris?)
<YOAW_Narrator> (How much of allied troops, I mean, in general.)
<YOAW_Narrator> (Your estimates would put both sides at about 7,500 total right now, with roughly 3,500 of yours here with you, and 3,000 more in Nesu Abamatu.)
<Laris> (I guess it depends a bit on how we're getting across. Do we have to do it with boats, or do we have another means? taking 3500 by boat is going to take a while and I don't know if we have that much time.)
<YOAW_Narrator> (You'll have to do it by boat, but with aid from the river, so you can probably move your whole current force that's with you in about 8 hours.)
<YOAW_Narrator> (Give or take.)
<Laris> (ok. I'm trying to decide if I should be concerned about leaving some troops behind to defend the fort or anything, but maybe that's not a big worry at this point. They seem to be directing all their resources at Nesu Abamatu?)
<YOAW_Narrator> (That's fair. You could leave a skeleton crew (pun intended, I guess) to hold it if necessary, but it's unlikely it will be hit by enemy forces without your troops being able to help.)
<Laris> (heh)
<Laris> (I'll bring everyone and trust in the Kai do Arat to defend the fort if it comes to that...)
<YOAW_Narrator> (Sounds good.)
<YOAW_Narrator> Korivan, you find a volunteer in one Hrieffen Myreth Lugrek, an older cavalrywoman who was badly injured in the previous fighting.
<Korivan> (sec dog)
<Korivan> (nm someone else got him)
* Korivan will tell her that she will be welcomed into Avelad with great honour and join the fight there renewed @_@
<YOAW_Narrator> (Roll me a rituals test)
<YOAW_Narrator> (kk)
<Korivan> !roll 8d6
* Lan-werk rolls for Korivan: [ 8d6 ] getting [ 4 3 1 3 4 2 2 4 ] for a total of [ 23 ].
<Korivan> (20)
* Korivan gets out that bone handled knife ;)
<YOAW_Narrator> Korivan sends her to the ancestors as gently as the ritual allows, her spirit rising to guide them in their task.
<YOAW_Narrator> Korivan has his own additional task to achieve, of course.
<YOAW_Narrator> (Roll me a second rituals test)
* Korivan will tell the river that we have called the ancesors to aid her, given firm for this by our allies from Thantopolis, and that he would accompany them, and her in this.
* Korivan rolls [ 8d6 ] getting [ 5 6 2 3 5 1 2 2 ] for a total of [ 26 ]
<Korivan> (23)
<YOAW_Narrator> Korivan becomes one with the river (in several senses), his consciousness fading into the spiritual plane as his body is tended by his apprentices.
<YOAW_Narrator> (Roll me a Will test, please)
<Korivan> (does dedication help?)
<YOAW_Narrator> (It *does*, actually. ;) )
* Korivan rolls [ 7d6 ] getting [ 3 1 4 1 6 1 1 ] for a total of [ 17 ]
<Korivan> (18)
<YOAW_Narrator> Korivan struggles mightily with the river. The Turathi working preys upon her changing elemental nature, seeking to corrupt her with the touch of the Abyss, but buoyed by her connection to Korivan, she manages to resist...for now.
<YOAW_Narrator> Korivan will be out of commission for a while, but he can be moved for when his consciousness returns to his body.
<YOAW_Narrator> Laris, your troops make the crossing in good time, and you begin the march towards Nesu Abamatu. It's not quite the rainy season just yet, and you're certain the storm clouds gathering over Nesu Abamatu have nothing to do with the seasonal changes.
<Korivan> (Korivan will trust in his connection to Bane to help her fight, taxing though it my be)
May, Eyllia, and co return to the city
<YOAW_Narrator> The weather is turning bad as Eyllia and May make their way back towards Nesu Abamatu from the battle with the leviathan.
* May looks up at the gathering clouds from the forecastle with some concern.
<YOAW_Narrator> Sickly red lightning crawls over the storm front, and the wind and waves are treacherous.
<May> (I assume I can tell this isn't natural?)
<YOAW_Narrator> (Yes, clearly)
<Eyllia> Retribution for our success? Oh Vana, if only you were with us.
<May> Out of the frying pan...
<May> How soon will we be back at port?
<YOAW_Narrator> (At this point, a few hours, let's say.)
<Eyllia> (before the storm... I'm guessing no?)
<YOAW_Narrator> (You don't think so. It's clearly centered over Nesu Abamatu, but it doesn't seem to have produced rain just yet.)
<YOAW_Narrator> (That you can tell.)
<Eyllia> Not soon enough. A few hours.
* Kraaz is now known as Faire
<May> There's powerful forces at work here. The Turathi to have made deals with every power they could find, no matter the cost.
* Rufus_Metilius is now known as Temu
<May> (seem to)
* Faire nods.
<Faire> And I would imagine they've found quite a few.
* Faire shakes his head.
<Faire> To think they're that desperate...
<May> It's the desperate ones that are always the most dangerous.
<Eyllia> If Nesu Abamatu falls, who would stand against them.
<Temu> The Hrieffen joined with us? We with them. And we were enemies before. If we hadn't been able to find temporal allies, who knows where we would have turned.
<Faire> Mamitu is right. Turath is dead.
* Faire turns to Temu with an apologetic look.
<Faire> I'm sorry.
<Temu> No, you're correct. I don't know what this is, but it is not the empire I served.
<May> But the death throws of it can still doom us all.
* Temu nods.
<Temu> Not if we can finish it here.
* Temu sighs.
* May nods.
<Temu> Maybe it's best, what Lord Asmodeus did.
<Temu> If this is what just a remnant of us became without Ratha...
<May> There were good people in Turath as well. I have to believe there were.
<Temu> There were.
<Temu> But...we are a people made to rule.
<Temu> Born to it.
<Temu> We seek power.
<Temu> When we had Ratha, it was harnessed. Channeled.
<Temu> This...is like a ritual gone awry.
* May sighs.
<May> It can be harnessed again. We just have to do it ourselves now.
* Temu nods, gazing again into the gathering storm.
<May> We can worship the gods and spirits and give them thanks. We can even deal with them. But in the end we stand on our own. We live or die by our own choices. And by our friends.
<YOAW_Narrator> As Eyllia estimated, you reach Nesu Abamatu's harbor a few hours later. It's still a bit before sunset, but it might as well be midnight under the smothering clouds.
<YOAW_Narrator> (Oh, whoops. Didn't mean to cut you off. :) )
<May> (No, sorry!)
<May> Get word to have all ships in the area make for harbor. Anyone caught out in that storm is going to be smashed to pieces.
<Eyllia> The good news is that we wont have to worry about them rafting around to the port.
<YOAW_Narrator> As best you can see, the ile Nyara Oorun seem to have cleared the harbor, the local water traffic seemingly docked and battened.
<May> Yeah, at least we're secure on our northern side.
<YOAW_Narrator> In the darkness, the first fiery streak from the sky stands out in stark relief as it crashes down into the city.
<May> Fuck.
<May> Assemble all the ritualists. Everyone we can spare... We have to keep this at bay.
* Temu nods and goes to do so.
<Faire> What's the plan?
* Temu is now known as Lysa
<Faire> I'm not even sure what this is.
<May> We need a shield. Over the city.
<May> This is... this is going to take some work.
<Faire> I don't how we'd manage that in any sort of time frame to help.
<Eyllia> May, if you try to save everything, you may be doing exactly what they're hoping for, expending all your resources and leaving nothing for when they really attack
<Lysa> She's right.
<May> What else would you have me do? What for them to blow us all to pieces?
<May> (wait)
<Faire> There's no way they can keep this up for long.
* Faire looks up.
<Faire> I think.
<Eyllia> Protect the keep and the key places where people can shelter.
<Faire> We can anchor on the temples.
* May looks up at the sky and nods.
<Faire> Sahhiru probably has people in the keep already doing their part.
<May> The keep. The harbor. The temples. The barracks. We can protect those. We need riders. Get word to everyone in the city to make for shelter.
<Lysa> Do we have riders at the docks?
* lan_phone (uid135102@id-135102.charlton.irccloud.com) Quit (Quit: Connection closed for inactivity)
<Eyllia> (do we? or are we stuck with runners?)
<YOAW_Narrator> (There might be some horses near the docks, but you don't have riders stationed. You might be able to commandeer some horses.)
<Eyllia> (dont look at me, im not touching those beasts)
<YOAW_Narrator> (heh)
<May> Marcus, how good a rider are you?
* Lysa is now known as Marcus
<Marcus> I'm no Hrieffen, but I'm close.
<Marcus> We'll need more than me, though.
<Marcus> Get us to the docks, and I'll see who else I can get.
<May> Right. Then head to the stables. Tell everyone you can on the way and when you get there find anyone who can ride and send them out to the city. Then meet us at the keep.
<YOAW_Narrator> (He can probably find some among the Corvis sailors, but I don't the the Houses of Elemental Order have a lot of horses or riders.)
* Marcus nods.
<Marcus> My lady.
<May> And be careful.
<YOAW_Narrator> The pilot of the ship you're on can get you to the docks none the worse for wear.
<YOAW_Narrator> (Y'all are headed for the keep?)
* Eyllia will stick with May
<May> (yes, and telling everyone along the way to head for one of the shelters.)
<YOAW_Narrator> You make your way through the city, the fiery projectiles raining down. One hits perhaps 100 yards or so from you, and you feel the hot wind blow you back a pace. Screams come from that direction, and, if anything, they seem to be getting closer...
<May> By the nine hells...
<YOAW_Narrator> Panicked civilians rush past you. You hear shouts of "Monsters!" and "Demons!"
<Eyllia> Keep moving... if monsters cross our path, Lysa and I will deal with them
<May> (Can we see anything?)
<YOAW_Narrator> (Test Awareness?)
<Eyllia> (ill test too)
<Eyllia> !roll 4d6+6
* Korivan rolls for Eyllia: [ 4d6+6 ] getting [ 2 5 3 2 ] for a total of [ 12 ] which, after the modifier [ 6 ] totals [ 18 ].
* Lan-werk rolls for Eyllia: [ 4d6+6 ] getting [ 6 6 1 3 ] for a total of [ 16 ] which, after the modifier [ 6 ] totals [ 22 ].
* Remote is on (Ctcps,Events,Raw)
* Remote is off
<May> !roll 3d6
* Lan-werk rolls for May: [ 3d6 ] getting [ 1 5 3 ] for a total of [ 9 ].
<Eyllia> (I like the first one better)
<May> (Can I take the second one, then? :V)
<YOAW_Narrator> Eyllia, you can make out shapes in the darkness, some of them headed your way. They're of varying size and shape, from child-sized to eight or ten feet tall.
* Eyllia points them out
* May will call her bow and quiver to her, though she's about as useful in combat as a cantaloupe.
* Eyllia draws her blades
<YOAW_Narrator> (Are y'all trying to avoid them?)
<May> (Yes)
<May> (If possible)
<YOAW_Narrator> (Roll Stealth)
<Eyllia> (yeah keep moving unless we can't escape them, and then Lysa and I will fight them off to let May get to safety)
<Eyllia> !roll 3d6
* Lan-werk rolls for Eyllia: [ 3d6 ] getting [ 4 4 2 ] for a total of [ 10 ].
<May> !roll 3d6
* Lan-werk rolls for May: [ 3d6 ] getting [ 6 3 5 ] for a total of [ 14 ].
<YOAW_Narrator> (Roll me Fighting or Marksmanship)
<Eyllia> !roll 10d6
* Lan-werk rolls for Eyllia: [ 10d6 ] getting [ 1 6 5 2 1 3 4 3 3 3 ] for a total of [ 31 ].
<May> !roll 4d6
* Lan-werk rolls for May: [ 4d6 ] getting [ 3 6 6 4 ] for a total of [ 19 ].
<Eyllia> (25)
<May> (16)
<YOAW_Narrator> You manage to avoid most of them. Eyllia and Lysa put down the ones that get closest, though May manages to save a fleeing civilian with a well-placed arrow.
Lady Morelos sends Induriel on another mission.... to meet some allies
<YOAW_Narrator> (This picks up essentially right where Induriel's previous scene ended.)
<Morelos> Before you return to the waking realm, I have another task for you, Lord Induriel.
<Induriel> I am yours to command, my Lady. What would you have me do?
<Morelos> I need you to act as a guide. escorting a party through my lands.
* Induriel smiles
<Induriel> The opposite of what I just attempted, then?
* Morelos smiles.
<Induriel> Well, at least I'm well apprised of the dangers...
<Morelos> Something like that.
<Induriel> I shall do my best, of course. May I ask who these latest travelers are?
<YOAW_Narrator> Induriel experiences a strange sensation, and he is suddenly aware of a spot, perhaps a day's travel, where he must go.
<Morelos> You're familiar with them. That is all you need to know for now.
<Morelos> All things in time.
* Induriel nods in acceptance
<Induriel> As you will, my Lady.
* Induriel takes a moment to collect himself, then sets out to carry out her directive (accompanied by the remaining Tulgar if appropriate, or not...)
<YOAW_Narrator> They'll accompany you. They are not the most gregarious of companions, but, while you know you have nothing to fear from Morelos's lands, it is nice not to be wandering them alone.
<YOAW_Narrator> You make good time, finding the clearing that's been fixed in your mind. There appears to be a small campsite there.
* Induriel approaches cautiously, keeping an eye out for whoever it is he's supposed to meet...
* Marcus is now known as Eren
<Eren> I don't know who I expected to meet, but I don't think it was you, Lord Antalanon.
* Eren steps out from behind the tent.
* Induriel raises an eyebrow, then bows
<Induriel> My Lord. I hope I find you in good health.
* Induriel is also expecting to see somebody else here. :/
<Eren> Reasonably so. The company has been passable.
* Morelos is now known as Laito
<Laito> Lord Ambassador.
* Laito bows.
<Induriel> Captain! A pleasure to see you again as well.
<Laito> Indeed, though we've little time for pleasantries.
<Laito> Lady Morelos has given us right of passage through her lands.
<Laito> She said you would be able to show us the path.
<Induriel> Yes. If you are ready to proceed, I will guide you to the extent that I can.
* Induriel draws upon the knowledge and power Morelos has granted him, hoping it includes both their destination and the best way to get there...
<Eren> We have a few more companions. We were awaiting the arrival of Morelos's representative.
* Laito begins singing in an older dialect of Elvish, and there is a haze in the air that coalesces into a shimmering portal. Through it, you see a column of elduar knights, Ola Sorne.
<Laito> I could get them here, but you're the one who can get them to Nesu Abamatu.
* Induriel nods
<Eren> I...called in a lot of favors.
* Eren says almost sheepishly.
<Induriel> It is for a worthy cause, my Lord. I hope and trust your endeavours will result in success.
<YOAW_Narrator> Induriel does indeed see their destination, not too far.
<YOAW_Narrator> A pleasant and still pool, lit by moonlight.
* Induriel also tries to sense any dangers that may lie along the way, whether topographical or animal - or worse!
<YOAW_Narrator> You easily avoid the pitfalls that await the unwary in the lands of a lady of the Gloaming Court: grasping thorns and sucking mud to drown the foolish.
* Induriel then guides them as quickly as possible to their destination.
<YOAW_Narrator> You make the trip quickly, bringing the Ola Sorne to the pool's edge. Your intuition tells you the pool will be a portal to the waking world.
<Induriel> (Where is this going to emerge into the non-dreaming world?)
<YOAW_Narrator> (Of that, you're not quite sure.)
<Laito> This is the spot?
<Induriel> This portal should return you to the waking world. I'm afraid I don't know exactly where you will emerge, however.
<Laito> Best be on our guard then.
* Laito bows at the waist from their saddle.
<Induriel> (Can I scry through it?)
<Laito> A pleasure as always, Lord Antalanon.
<YOAW_Narrator> (Hmm. Roll a Will test)
<Induriel> It has been an honour to be of service to you, Captain, my Lord... let me see whether I can do you one last service..
<Induriel> !roll 6d6
* Lan-werk rolls for Induriel: [ 6d6 ] getting [ 3 6 2 6 1 2 ] for a total of [ 20 ].
<YOAW_Narrator> (You can make out the courtyard of the keep at Nesu Abamatu.)
<Induriel> (Can I make out the flaming rocks that are now falling down into it? Or the demons flooding it? )
<YOAW_Narrator> (You don't see anything like that, but you do sense some disturbing magic on the other end.)
* Induriel frowns
<Induriel> This will take you into the very courtyard of the keep at Nesu Abamatu - but I can sense that there is malign magic at work there now.
<Induriel> Do indeed be on your guard!
<Induriel> (Can I ward them against it somehow before they go through?)
<YOAW_Narrator> (Not quickly, and they are already going to head into the portal.)
<Induriel> (Okay then!)
* Induriel watches as they pass through, doing what he can to make the passage swift and smooth...
<YOAW_Narrator> As Eren accompanies the last of the Ola Sorne through the portal, Morelos is once again at Induriel's side.
* Laito is now known as Morelos
* Induriel bows
* Morelos nods graciously.
<Morelos> Well done, Lord Induriel. I believe your work here in Faerie is done for the moment.
<Morelos> I think you may have mortal matters to attend to.
<Induriel> Indeed, my Lady. Thank you.
* Induriel bows again, and wills himself to wake!
* Morelos smiles.
Induriel and May return....to chaos!
<YOAW_Narrator> Induriel awakes to the sound of thunder and cacophony, somehow also in the courtyard of the keep at Nesu Abamatu. Strong arms support him.
* Morelos is now known as Sahhiru
<Sahhiru> Welcome back.
<Sahhiru> Your timing is remarkable.
* Induriel sits up with a start
<Induriel> What's going on?
<Sahhiru> Turathi perfidy. Perhaps you'd care to help me shore up our defenses?
<Induriel> Of course.
<Induriel> Damasuhu has been stopped, and Lord Eren and Captain Laito have brought reinforcements.
<Induriel> What do we need to do next?
* Sahhiru looks around at the horsemen around him.
<Sahhiru> I'd gathered the later part.
<Sahhiru> Our ritualists are working to keep the castle safe. Come with me.
* Induriel nods, and follows
<YOAW_Narrator> Marcus will arrive at the castle, meeting up with Eren and Laito. Laito sets the Ola Sorne to work spreading out through the city, the most mobile force for dealing with the demons where they land. They also spread the word to the citizenry where to seek shelter.
<YOAW_Narrator> Marcus will ride out again to meet May, Eyllia, and the rest, with Eren and the Vanilorran contingent in tow.
* Sahhiru is now known as Marcus
<Marcus> Siru.
* Marcus will have brought extra horses for people.
<May> Thank the gods...
<Marcus> The keep is secured. We should get you there now.
* May nods and gets on a horse.
<Eyllia> Lysa and I will hunt down the roaming demon spawn.
<Eyllia> Is the best we can do to help right now
* May will open her mouth to object but stop herself and nod.
<May> Please... be careful.
* Eyllia nods and smiles
* Marcus frowns concernedly at Eyllia and Lysa.
<Marcus> Siru...we should go.
<Marcus> Good luck, captain.
<May> Yes...
<Eyllia> Good luck to you, and keep May safe
* Marcus is now known as Lysa
<Lysa> We're keeping score, right?
* May will head for the keep as fast as possible.
<Eyllia> Highest gets to be captain next time?
* Lysa grins and darts off towards the nearest sounds of combat.
<Eyllia> No fair, your legs are longer
* Eyllia chides chasing after her
<YOAW_Narrator> Marcus will get May back to the keep, where Sahhiru is coordinating the defense.
* Eren is now known as Sahhiru
<May> Uncle!
* Sahhiru looks up, smiling wearily when he sees May. He walks over to hug her.
<Sahhiru> Thank the gods you're safe.
* May hugs him back but quickly pulls away.
<May> Are the ritualists on the tower?
* Sahhiru nods.
<Sahhiru> They've been countercasting since this morning, but we're outnumbered and, well, out-sacrificed.
<May> I need to be up there. I banished a leviathon. Great story. I'll tell you later!
* Sahhiru nods.
<May> out-sacrificed?
<Sahhiru> Nine go with you, Mamitu.
<Sahhiru> The Turathi brought their captives.
<Sahhiru> What did you think was fueling this?
* May grimaces.
<May> Have Abratu brought to the tower circle. It's time he made himself useful.
* Sahhiru nods.
<YOAW_Narrator> May can head to the tower, bringing Faire, Temu, and the other ritualists she had with her.
<YOAW_Narrator> (What's your plan?)
<May> (That is a very good question.)
<YOAW_Narrator> (Roll me Awareness)
<May> !roll 3d6
* Lan-werk rolls for May: [ 3d6 ] getting [ 1 1 2 ] for a total of [ 4 ].
<May> (Haaaaaaa... can I destiny that?)
<YOAW_Narrator> Sure
<May> !roll 3d6
* Lan-werk rolls for May: [ 3d6 ] getting [ 1 2 2 ] for a total of [ 5 ].
<May> ...
<May> ...
<YOAW_Narrator> (Just burn one instead)
<May> (What does that do again?)
<YOAW_Narrator> (Auto succeed)
<May> (Oh, then yes.)
<YOAW_Narrator> (But it permanently spends the point)
<YOAW_Narrator> (Not that that matters, really, now)
<May> (Yeah, I'll burn it)
<YOAW_Narrator> Reaching out with your arcane senses, you believe you understand the Turathi working. The storm is more like a byproduct; they've opened a portal above Nesu Abamatu. Somewhere in the Abyss, you'd say, though the specific layer is merely academic at this point.
<May> There's a portal up there somewhere. We need to close it.
* Lysa is now known as Temu
<May> (Is there a demon of like... portals? Doorways? Something like that?)
<YOAW_Narrator> (Oh, yes, I would imagine there is. Just a moment.)
<May> (Devil, sorry!)
<YOAW_Narrator> (Abultannu, Despot of Gateways)
* May will get people organized to begin a ritual to Abultannu, using Abratu as a sacrifice to close the portal.
<YOAW_Narrator> (Test Rituals. Induriel, too, I'm assuming.)
<May> !roll 9d6
* Lan-werk rolls for May: [ 9d6 ] getting [ 5 3 4 3 1 4 5 2 2 ] for a total of [ 29 ].
<Induriel> !roll 11d6
* Lan-werk rolls for Induriel: [ 11d6 ] getting [ 6 2 1 1 5 4 2 4 6 4 5 ] for a total of [ 40 ].
<May> (21)
<Induriel> (30)
<May> Abultannu! Despot of Gateways! Lord of doors! Be beseech you to hear us and slam shut the gate our enemies seek to use to destroy us!
<YOAW_Narrator> The two of you work together seamlessly, like old times, though with significantly higher stakes.
<YOAW_Narrator> May traces sigils over Abratu's skin with a razor-sharp ritual dagger. Induriel, Temu, and the others anchor the points of the ritual diagram. When it reaches its crescendo, a bolt of lightning, pure white against the unnatural red, streaks upwards to the center of the storm.
<YOAW_Narrator> There is a howling chorus of screams and roars, louder than the thunder, and you see the storm begin to dissipate.
<YOAW_Narrator> A last meteor, larger than any of the other, falls almost gently towards the city.
<YOAW_Narrator> It shatters in midair, and there is another roar, deafening even at this distances.
<May> Gods... were we too late?
<YOAW_Narrator> In the scattered moonlight of the weakening storm, you can see an enormous figure spread gargantuan wings and take flight.
<YOAW_Narrator> It wings it's way towards the keep, but it's flight is interrupted by a streak of silver intercepting it.
* May stares wide-eyed as all this happens.
<YOAW_Narrator> Gladius and the being tumble through the air for a moment, before the dragon adjusts and glides away, turning for another strike.
<YOAW_Narrator> The air shakes with the force of Galdius's breath as he dives. The horned creature, matching the dragon is size, lifts an arm to shield its face.
<YOAW_Narrator> It grabs Gladius's tail as he finishes his strafe, arresting his flight.
<YOAW_Narrator> A strike from its scepter sends Gladius to the earth with a shattering impact.
<May> By the gods...
<YOAW_Narrator> It lands next to the faltering dragon, grasping him by the neck.
<YOAW_Narrator> Another blast of pure force peels skin off the cadaverous face, but the Lord of the Undead merely roars his defiance.
<YOAW_Narrator> Those watching from the keep, you feel as though you can hear the sickening snap as he twists, and Gladius goes limp.
* May gasps and shudders.
<May> Gladius...
<May> Faire... Induriel... it's time.
