In Search Of... Cryosanthia
Log Info
- Title: In Search Of... Cryosanthia
- Emitter: Cryosanthia
- Characters: Sabina, Aya, Braelnoir
- Place: Alexandria and the Wilds
- Time: Saturday, September 11, 2021, 3:15 PM
- Summary: An errant comment put a bug in Sabina's brain. Where is Cryosanthia? The Tarienite hasn't seen her in a few weeks, which isn't unusual for her, but when she starts looking into it she finds the whitescale hasn't been seen by anyone... not since the group came back from their adventures in the Sea of Mana. Was she left behind? She makes the rounds, seeking Seldan, Zeke, Faranmidan, Aya and other acquaintances who might know something. Nothing. Returning to the Tarrace, she encounters Aya and confirms that Cryosanthia was left behind. She was to be fetched, but it seems she wasn't. They secure a cart and head out to the last known location, the canyon in the badlands. Looking around, she isn't there, but the pair are attacked by tiny void creatures, seemingly small relatives of the chaos whirlpool that was defeated, but not completely destroyed. Sabina is overwhelmed, as they suck her spells out of her. Aya does much better, casting 'fist' over and over and taking them all out, although the experience is draining. Searching the canyon proper they find Cryosanthia. She's normal sized, but seems stuck in some sort of draconic hibernation. She's also heavily charred, parts of her seem dead, and something was trying to eat her too. They bring her back to the Tarrace, and set her up in a spare room. Braelnoir arrives with Lily, having heard Sabina was searching for Cryo and wanting to help. Finding her scale-sister in terrible disarray, the Korrite sits vigil with her as Little Fang hugs close, not wanting to lose her again.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-<* The TarRaCe *>--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
Inside, this two-story structure has been almost completely opened up. Generous windows on both stories allow daytime sunlight and cooling night breezes to flow in as needed, while the brick walls have been whitewashed - contrasting with the dark-stained beams and supports, and the rich polish on the wooden floor. A broad strip of stone runs from the entrance to a framed doorway set into the opposite wall, with a sign above the lintel declaring that the baths are to be found that way.
The ground floor is sprinkled with tables and chairs of assorted sizes, offering welcome to guests both large and small. One whole corner of the building - into which guests are not permitted entry - has been given over to the kitchen, which serves as the domain of the famed monster chef Ligum Serforus. Mundane meals are available, but the chef delights in offering up obscure dishes made from the freshest of monster ingredients.
Opposite the kitchen a small bar runs in front of an array of shelves, displaying a broad selection of beverages (most of them alcoholic). The bar-top has been fashioned from what looks to have been old pieces of armor, fused and welded together before being polished to provide a near-smooth finish. Set above it, three human-sized statues have been built into an alcove in the wall: Tarien, Rada and Ceinara jointly keep benevolent watch over the room and its occupants.
To the right of the entrance, a small stage offers a platform for a handful of performers at a time. To the left of the door, a spiral staircase of wrought iron winds its way up to a balcony dining area, that is chiefly reserved for special events and parties.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Sabina 5'4" 130 Lb Human Female Tsuran woman of dark hair and green eyes. Aya 4'7" 105 Lb Shadow Elf Female Mul'niessa. Braided hair. Simple clothing. Braelnoir 5'11" 146 Lb Human Female A tall, pale Acanian woman, branded in silver. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= NPCs of Note =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Rupi Human Female Dark hair, sultry expression, full lips, athletic. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= As the GM and Corpse =-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Cryosanthia 6'9" 291 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
It's early afternoon. The night was pleasant, soft and warm. Somehow sleeping in occurred, but the world didn't end.
A lunch has been wrangled, and Rupi has set two plates. She's an attractive human with dark hair, a seductive expression with full lips, and just the slightest grin and impish set to her eyes.
"Someone was looking for Cryosanthia after you went to bed last night, 'Bina. Her band too, I forgot, asked about her last week, if she quit them and is a ghost now."
"Orange Juice?"
Bina pauses with a fork lifted to mouth. Her face, from what can be seen, grows thoughtful and the fork is set down. She ignores Rupi's question for the moment. Her head tilting to the side and her hand raises up. Fingers working in rhythm as if counting. The hand lowers and she sighs lightly. "That's not good. And I've not seen Lily either." A shake of her head. "Rupi. Have you noted Cryosanthia's presence any time in the last few weeks?"
The woman pours herself some orange juice, made from blood oranges and so possessing a slight reddish tinge. If she was expecting actual blood and is disappointed, she hides it well. Sitting back, she sips and shakes her head. "No. She's hard to miss when she's around, and I've been here in one of the rooms, or upstairs. I'd have noticed."
"Some that she associates with have been in and out, mostly in the baths."
Bina fidgits and then takes a bite of food, starting to look around the Tarrace, as if Cryo were somehow hiding somewhere. "She often likes to try and go disguised places. Lily tends to give her away. But I've not seen her in at least a fortnight. And now... I think I'm worried." She takes another bite of food and gets up, giving Rupi a peck on the cheek before moving upstairs to her small room there.
"Last time I saw her... was... the day after the harbour froze over." Rupi strokes Sabina's arm as she leans in, then watches her head towards the stairs, "Want me to hold down the fortress or follow?"
Bina calls down. "Hold the fort. Tell folks that may know her I'm looking for her. I think that'd be the best course of action." She then steps into her room and begins putting on her traveling gear, armor and weapons. Bag on shoulders over her feather cloak she picks up her buckler last and heads out of the room and back down the steps.
Rupi is waiting at the bottom of the stairs. She embraces Sabina in a quick hug, "Will do." This is followed by a serious stare, "I'm not much use in a fight, but if you need me..."
She steps back with a grin, "I'll do the Maitre'D thing so I won't miss anyone coming in. Tar..." She coughs, a rasping noise. Without looking she makes a rough gesture over her shoulder, towards Tarien's statue. "Him give ya a smile."
It is pertinent, Aya and Aryia have been frequenting the baths rather often, and they, plus Seyardu, were present just the other evening.
Sabina nods. "I'll look for Seldan and Aya first, oh.. and Zeke."
Except where are they? Seldan and Zeke are likely to be at their relative temples, but Aya has told Bina before she tends to hide until night. It's not commonly known, but the Mul'niessa tends to stay at the Fernwood. Sadly, it's not a thing either know.
Bina head out into the sun, using her divine granted speed to travel swiftly towards the temple district, Emp having hopped aboard her shoulder after she stepped outside. There she searches for Zeke and Seldan or news of them or Aya, as well as Asking after Cryo. She's pleasant and smiling as always but she's focused too. Her normal tired shoved off to one side.
The Silverguard is easy to find but hard to see. He's at the Temple of Eluna, recuperating and unable to meet casual visitors at the time. Seldan has been recovering from his experiences in the Sea of Mana and is in a particularly debilitated state. A message can be shared, and his reply is that he hasn't seen Cryo since he came to the Temple, but that she should be taken care of, her Cihuaa or Mikilos would most likely know.
Normally, Zeke would be in the Temple of Daeus. His absence is due to the extra healing efforts required with his kin, Seldan, and the others who were on the expedition, such as Serene, Cesran, Griva and Karelin, although most of those have been seen in public.
Today is perhaps an inauspicious day.
No word regarding Cryosanthia, though a few recognize her youngling Lily was around a week ago. Anyone with some understanding of what occurred seems to believe she's recovering somewhere, with the where unknown.
The fact that Lily was here on her own sends the hairs on the back of Bina's neck up and tingling. She ask about where the young one is and who is watching her, suspecting Faran and her mother are likely the ones watching over the foundling. She also inquires of Aya, expressing her worries that Cryosanthia seems to be missing.
Heading to the Noble district and checking at the Chapter House for the Order of the Purple Rose reveals that Sir Faranmidahn isn't present, nor is Little Fang. Serendine, Faran's mother explains that the little Lucht Knight has been watching Lily and giving her to her Aunt Braelnoir when the watching is being done by her or Mikilos.
She hasn't seen Cryosanthia, and it's gotten to the point where Lily's questions about what has happened are hard to deflect. The little Lucht Knight is off trying to find someone who knows what's going on, but Serrendine can confirm the white Sith'Makar isn't at Mikilos', or they would know about it.
Perhaps there is some serendipity, or possible auspiciousness to the day after all. Aya enters the TarRace and, per the rule more than exception, makes her way towards the baths. That course is intercepted by the every-watchful Rupi, however, thus Aya is waiting at the counter when Sabina returns. That she is being sought and that the topic is Cryosanthia is enough to override whatever her original intentions may have been.
Sabina returns to the Tarrace when the evening settles in having spent hours looking for clues or signs of people. She's more tired then when she started and forcing her normal smile. When she spies Aya her energy returns briefly and she zips up to the Mul woman with questions. "Hello Aya! Have you any idea where Cryosanthia might be? No one seems to know a blesses thing."
"Found someone for you." Rupi says, happy at success without effort, hip-checking Sabina then looking at Aya. She adds, "Or a cursed thing."
Aya's brows lift. "What do you mean?" She inquires, somewhat incredulously. "Is she not recovering in one of the temples? All of us who emerged were poisoned, some worse than others." She appears healthy and hale, herself. "I have not spoken with her since then, but most are secluded and sequestered to rest."
Bina puts a distracted hand to Rupi's back and raises a brow at Aya. "No one in the temples I went to knew her whereabouts. Neither does any of the people watching over Lily Fang. And apparently Lily herself showed up in the temples looking for her foster mother...on her own. Tell me Cryosanthia wouldn't have Lily with her even if she was healing and I'd call you a liar. ...in the gentlest possible way, of course."
Rupi smiles at the touch, arching her back ever so slightly and nods, following the conversation. She has nothing to add, so she watches, waiting on Aya's answer.
Aya's surprise collapses in on itself as her eyes narrow and jaw tightens as she scowls. "No, she would not leave her with others any longer than necessary. Something is wrong." She now searches back perhaps a fortnight past to what she recalls. "We left the Sea of Mana and returned to our gathering point. From there, all went their separate ways. I don't know where else she might have ventured, though she was weak, and ... large."
Bina's turn to scowl now and the look does not suite her at all. "What do you mean by she was large? I've heard you were all sick in some way, Seldan is still recovering, and yet you all split up and went willy nilly through the land? Sick?"
The lightest of touches slides down Sabina's spine, to end in four fingers curling against the small of her back, "She's helping. Whatever happened sounds harsh." Rupi looks at Aya with wide eyes.
"The power, the mana that seared us," Aya explains, if in an abbreviated form, "made her as a true dragon. She could not move, and we could barely move ourselves. Word was sent back to the city for a cart to retrieve her." Her scowl deepens.
"I presumed she was returned and resting. I should have confirmed for myself..." Then, a blink and eyes widen. "If none know anything of her, did no others check? Did she even return to the city?!"
Bina's mouth drops open in shock. This has to be a first for her. "You WHAT?! Sent a cart for her?! For the love of laughter itself, where did she get left?! We need a cart and we need a few strong hands. And food.. and a barrel for water and.. and.. Oh Tarien I hope she's still alive!" She puts a hand over her eyes and mutters. "Leaving people in the wilds..gods.."
The rally point wasn't far, but it wasn't close. The events started in the badlands north of Alexandria, not so distant it was more than a days travel, but it took some hours getting there by magic and flight. Ley-Line intersections aren't usually conveniently placed.
This does not help Aya's temperament in the slightest. Sabina is not wrong... but now is the time to confirm and/or rectify. Blame can come after Cryosanthia is safe. Her expression returns to neutral, but is firm. "If you have food and water you can spare, pack it. If not, purchase it. I will acquire a cart and team. I can lead to the location, and possibly hasten the trip." So long as horses or oxen or whatever they have available are not so fearful of the dark...
Rupi blinks, startling, some stories one expects to go a certain way, this one came right out of the blue. "A dragon?"
She whistles, turns and marches towards the kitchen with a loud finger snap. "Food! Lots of it, what's on hand, box it. A water barrel, it's an emergency for Sabina."
She's back, "It's ok, I'll get a cart," she's out the door, teasing, "Someone's gonna owe me...."
Bina lowers her hand and takes a deep breathe. She nods to Aya. "I'm sorry, Aya. Sorry to yell but I.. I'm just so shocked.. But that's not an excuse for my actions. I apologize." She gives Rupi a smile as she heads out and nods. "I'll go with you if you'll allow. I'm not one to be running a cart or wagon but I can be of assistance with wounds and threats."
Aya nods to Sabina as Rupi already heads out to handle the cart. "She may need a healer, so you are most welcome. If naught else, we will pull the damnable wagon ourselves." Perhaps not the most likely, but the determination and concern are present.
It doesn't take long for Sabina's well trained staff to fulfill her indirect orders. A barrel of water is rolled out, another of wine, and placed beside the door. A steady stream of boxes follow, stacked on and beside them, although the servers do have to stop the chefs making extra sauces and other 'little touches' that will enhance the flavour. They're reluctant to let anything leave the kitchen that's less than perfect.
It wastes a little time, but all the time is used up when there's the sound of a heavy horses and heavy wagon rattling up in front of the TarRaCe.
"Load 'em up Boys!" Rupi can be heard calling, and then there are strong hands, attached to strong oruchs and humans who wish they were, following her orders and loading up. Rupi holds the door for them, and grins at Sabina mostly, and Aya a little, "They're on loan, fee when they're back, we have to bring them back, even the delicious ones."
Bina assists the prep as best she can, mainly in talking and helping things go smoothly now that her shock is behind her. When Rupi arrives with the wagon she gets a hug and a smile as a thank you as well as a verbal, "Thank you, Rupi. We'll pay the fee for them when we return or pay for new animals if we don't." She looks over to Aya. "Are you ready?"
"We're ready Ma'am." One of the deep-voiced Oruchs says, looking at Rupi, then Sabina, answering both. The others are climbing in the back of the cart. They're big, young men and one woman, but there's space left over.
Rupi seems quite happy with the hug, and waits for commands.
"Yes," Aya answers curtly as she steps outside, aiding in carrying what she may to help expedite. "As soon as we clear the gates, we will make haste with a ... shortcut." Aya makes a quick inventory: herself, Sabina, the wagon, beast of burden, few burly individuals... she should be able to manage. If not, they can leave a burly or two here. "Let us move." She then heads for the gates.
Once they exit the city, she calls a halt. "Stay together on the wagon," to the laborers, "control the animals," to the driver, "and do not wander," to all. She asks all to take hand of another and the drive to spare another for one of the animals. Aya also puts a hand on that one, and the other if present.
The shadow cast by the city wall across the road deepens and, as they move out, they travel into it rather than across the road. They view distorts and skews about them as they skirt the edges of the Plane of Shadow, making a few strides perhaps be a mile on the Prime Material. This greatly expedites the travel and they arrive in the northern wilds far past the city quite quickly.
Bina pauses just before they head off and turns to Rupi. "Now.. my dear, you know you're not going with me, right? A magical sickness sounds bad and I would worry about how it might affect you. Please stay here and if we're not back in a week send for help." She gives the woman a smile and a lingering peck on the cheek before hoping into the wagon.
She lets Aya lead as she wills. The Mul woman knowing where they are headed and when the magical traveling happens she gives thanks to Tarien again that Aya is there to quicken their journey. She tries to stay awake and alert during the trip but the tiredness of the day makes her take head-bobbing naps.
Journeying through the Shadowlands cuts the travel time. Everyone maintains contact and slowly ends up closer and closer to each other. Finally the shadows fade.
The land here is desolate. A rugged frontier that feels ... wrong, somehow, still.
Even without knowing what happened here, these arid badlands on Alexandria's northern reaches are nothing comfortable. The mountains loom, stealing the humidity and dropping dry, dead air down their slopes to feed this place.
It started in a particular canyon, one that naturally produced some unique magicite formations, crystals that grew out of the very stone themselves. A beautiful and odd side-effect of the intersecting ley-lines, they created an ominous sensation. Person-sized, it was as if one was surrounded by a silenced, petrified crowd, always watching.
This quiet horde was destroyed in the first battle, a magically induced earthquake and eruption shattering the formations. So completely, not even fragments remain. Only the memory, one which the participants would never forget. Aya, would never forget.
This canyon is the place.
The wagon rolls to a creaking stop. The driver looks at Sabina and Aya. "Want us to wait while you search? The boys are good but they're cityfolk, not used to... 'mana sickness' or nature."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Survial or Percption, DC31, to spot tracks and track" GAME: Aya rolls perception: (17)+27: 44 GAME: Aya rolls survival: (5)+13: 18
"They can remain here," Aya notes to and of the laborers. "I will search. This is the place." She then moves forward to do exactly that, torn between a slight hope to find nothing (and that Cryosanthia is somewhere in the city and somehow overlooked) and finding something (as that is not always a positive discovery).
It's necessary to go into the canyon.
Fortunately, the number of tracks and their size are not too difficult to notice, especially for one originally present who can narrow down the location. "Here," she gestures, noting the humanoid tracks for Sabina. "These were ours, and our ... alternate selves... this was the battleground."
She scans further, noting some far larger, and more reptilian. "These must be Cryosanthia's..." she spots others that don't appear the same "or these..." a third set "or these?" Her face contorts into a scowl. "There were no alternates after we returned. This is strange. Unless she changed further... or there were ... others?"
Perhaps some of these are from Cesran's Celestial T-Rexes? It's not clear.
Bina looks at what she's shown and shakes her head. Other then the size of them she can't make heads or tails of them. "I will take your word for it. Is there sign of which way she went? Or perhaps she was carried if the others were large as well. Not... that I like the idea of that very much." She takes a deep breath and lets it out trying to remain calm.
The canyon is a deep cleft in the RedRidge mountains, with steep walls that are shrouded in shadows. Wide enough on the floor, it's only well lit when the sun is directly overhead, which it isn't. It was formed by wind erosion, leaving smooth sides with pockets where the softer rock was blown away.
Here and there, boulders lay where they fell from heights in some time past. It has an odd tranquility and beauty, a magical place, appropriate for the intersection of ley-lines that underlie it. It's peacefulness is not pleasant, it's more like a graveyard or the site of an ancient battle. A place with horrible implications.
Its great battle wasn't that long ago.
The tracks don't give up their secrets. The canyon is bleak, but it is not empty. There's a response to the presence of the women. It's not clear at first exactly what they are seeing. Something invisible? A visual distortion that bends the image of objects behind it, twisting them into a spot. It's hard to tell exactly how far away each distortion is.
They don't form the outline of a creature, they seem to move independently, their size is hard to gauge as is their distance. Only by leaning from side to side and seeing how distant objects are affected is it possible to guess the pivot point. They hurt to look at.
There are a lot of them, and they're moving towards the two.
"I do not know," Aya admits. "Perhaps she was found by benevolent dragons who carried her to safety and healing..." Aya is not so optimistic as that, and doesn't know enough about dragons to know if any are truly benevolent, thus her tone is a combination of wry wit and wishful, wistful thought. It is possible she only seeks to reassure Sabina? Gain the favor of Sabina's patron?
Her eyes subsequently note the distortion and she peers. No, not one, but many. She promptly points. "Those look to be neither benevolent nor dragons, and they are approaching. Do you know what they could be?"
GAME: Sabina rolls knowledge/arcana: (19)+13: 32 GAME: Aya rolls knowledge/arcana: (15)+3: 18
These mini-black hole like objects resemble some sort of outsider, but inverted or wrong.
Bina pauses and makes like a statue as she looks over the creatures. "I..don't know what I'm looking at exactly. It's like summoned creatures. Summoned devine outsiders. But in reverse..backwards.. altered? I'm not sure I like it either.."
GAME: Aya rolls diplomacy+2: (16)+3+2: 21
"Divine?" Aya purses her lips, as she is uncertain whether that is boon or bane, and that is before including the part where they are somehow inverted. Whether they are indifferent, hostile, or ... other, they may have witnessed something. Not that they are able to and/or inclined to share, but Aya and Sabina do happen to have a distinct lack of information.
She looks between the nearest unidentified flying magical entities. "We seek a white dragon, nothing else. Have you seen her? Do you know where she went?" In theory, if they are intelligent, they should be able to comprehend her. In theory.
Bina looks at the numbers and, frankly is a tad frightened by all of the beings in the area. She fiddles with her ring and speaks softly to Aya. "I'm going invisible but I'm going to back you up. No running." She then promptly vanishes from sight.
The entities don't appear to respond to the words. Perhaps there is an attempt at communication beyond the audible spectrum, or one in light. Their motions are not exactly straight lines, an after image tracing might find they are forming words.
Unlikely.
Visually, they are headache inducing, observable by their affect on the light. A cloud of them seem to move from one of the canyon walls to the middle of it where they swirl around each other.
Several more zoom up to Sabina and Aya, also circling.
Firing beams of... negative light. A fold appears in the canyon wall, canyon floor, as the sight of them is distorted.
The sensation when one strikes Aya is unsettlingly familiar.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "4 HiME's shoot Aya, ray ranged touch 2 each, 4 on Sabina" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (14)+3: 17 (HiME on Aya) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (6)+3: 9 (HiME on Aya) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (12)+3: 15 (HiME on Aya) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (5)+3: 8 (HiME on Aya) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (19)+3: 22 (HiME on Aya) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (11)+3: 14 (HiME on Aya) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (7)+3: 10 (HiME on Aya) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (1)+3: 4 (EPIC FAIL) (HiME on Aya) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (20)+3: 23 (THREAT) (HiME on Sabina) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (14)+3: 17 (Confirmed) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (1)+3: 4 (EPIC FAIL) (HiME on Sabina) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (18)+3: 21 (HiME on Sabina) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (18)+3: 21 (HiME on Sabina) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (8)+3: 11 (HiME on Sabina) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (10)+3: 13 (HiME on Sabina) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (1)+3: 4 (EPIC FAIL) (HiME on Sabina) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (2)+3: 5 (HiME on Sabina) <OOC> Sabina says, "I have magical armor, magical ring. A wand. Slippers, Cloak, Spells are.. 10 first. 8 second. 4 3rd" <OOC> Aya has Ring, Gloves, Amulet, Bracers, Belt, Boots, Ring, Headband, Circlet, Cloak. SLAs in rogh order of spell level: Faerie Fire, Dancing Lights, Darkness x3,Barkskin, Abundant Step, Restoration, Shadow Walk. GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d6: (6): 6 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (3): 3 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (2): 2 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (4): 4 GAME: HiME damaged Sabina for 15 points. 26 HP remaining. GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d27: (7): 7 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d27: (23): 23 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d27: (18): 18 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d27: (6): 6 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "so Sabina, cast #1, #2 level 1 spell, #3 level 2 and #8 level 2 spells" <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "target a HiME if it's good and Aya if it's bad" <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "this seems like a very weird anti-magic effect. Well they're spell stealing and casting them and using up your spells, oh right there is a will save on each, DC17 for 1st, 18 2nd, 19, 3rd" GAME: Sabina rolls will: (20)+11: 31 (CRITICAL SUCCESS) GAME: Sabina rolls will: (11)+11: 22 GAME: Sabina rolls will: (10)+11: 21 GAME: Sabina rolls will: (2)+11: 13 GAME: Sabina casts Spiritual Weapon. Caster Level: 5 DC: 15, 4 Rounds, attacking Aya GAME: Sabina rolls 1d20+4+3: (2)+4+3: 9
Both women are bathed in the strange negative rays, which seem to have little effect on Aya. Sabina is hit several, painful times, feeling an unexpected surge of power.
Her spells, about to go off, which she resists, mostly.
A mystical, spiritual weapon in a very familiar shape lashes at Aya. This also misses.
GAME: Aya rolls will: (15)+15: 30 GAME: Aya rolls will: (13)+15: 28 GAME: Aya rolls will: (7)+15: 22 GAME: Aya rolls will: (20)+15: 35 (CRITICAL SUCCESS) <OOC> Aya says, "Move to #1 that is behind us and strike it." <OOC> Aya says, "Just once, out of an overabundance of caution, especially after the tentacle thing." GAME: Aya rolls melee: (10)+22: 32 GAME: Aya rolls damage0: aliased to 2d10+6: (5)+6: 11 <OOC> Aya's strikes are enhanced by AoMF, but are innately considered magic, cold iron, silver, adamantine, and lawful.
Aya tends to make herself as difficult to hit as possible. It is a key part of her strategy for long life. That does not mean that the strange rays do not concern her, and the eerily-familiar tentacle ...thing certainly concerns her. "Should you have any insight, feel free to share!" she calls out for Sabina as she dashes back to the one at their flank to strike at it. She is cautious, given what happened when striking the last voidly, tentacled monstrosity, and only strikes once as a test. A test that seems to affect the entity, and leaves Aya still here.
The pinholes are surrounding them, and another group are opening a rift.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Sabina, 4 will saves DC20" GAME: Sabina rolls will: (13)+11: 24 GAME: Sabina rolls will: (15)+11: 26 GAME: Sabina rolls will: (19)+11: 30 GAME: Sabina rolls will: (14)+11: 25 GAME: Sabina casts Dispel Magic. Caster Level: 8 DC: 16 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "roll a caster check against SR20" GAME: Sabina rolls 1d20+8: (2)+8: 10 GAME: Sabina rolls 1d20+7: (7)+7: 14 (Spiritual Tentacle on Aya)
Sabina looks around and gauges how wounded she is. "Not going to last this fight, Aya. I'm sorry." She raises her hands and begins to cast the weaving of hands and words casting out a repealing of magical energies... that goes no where in this strange land.
The hostile magical entities seem intelligent, to a degree. The one Aya punched pulls back, and a second distortion comes up behind it. There's a clear exchange of energy.
The group also splits, rising into the air so they're harder to hit.
The void tentacle follows after Aya, lashing ineffectively.
All the strange distortions which were gathering turn into one big visual distortion. With a hole of utter blackness at the middle. It rushes forward as the smaller ones shoot.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d8+3: (7)+3: 10 (HiME 3 Aid 4) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (14)+3: 17 (HiME on Sabina) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (11)+3: 14 (HiME on Sabina) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (7)+3: 10 (HiME on Aya) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (5)+3: 8 (HiME on Aya) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (13)+3: 16 (HiME on Aya) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (4)+3: 7 (HiME on Aya) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (11)+3: 14 (HiME on Aya) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (8)+3: 11 (HiME on Aya) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (8)+3: 11 (HiME on Aya) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (8)+3: 11 (HiME on Aya) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (3): 3 GAME: HiME damaged Sabina for 2 points. 24 HP remaining. GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d27: (16): 16 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d27: (14): 14 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "So, looks like #1 2nd level Will DC18+2, and #9 1st level WILL DC17, to not cast." GAME: Sabina rolls will: (2)+11: 13 GAME: Sabina rolls will: (18)+11: 29 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+14: (11)+14: 25 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+14: (14)+14: 28 GAME: Aya rolls reflex: (8)+20: 28 (vs DC 18) GAME: Sabina casts Invisibility. Caster Level: 5 DC: 15 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Brown one turned invis"
This time their rays seem ineffective, but the large void distortion rushes forward towards Aya. It's unsettlingly familiar.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "4 DC20 Will saves and a DC28" GAME: Aya rolls will: (12)+15: 27 GAME: Aya rolls will: (4)+15: 19 GAME: Aya rolls will: (17)+15: 32 GAME: Aya rolls will: (17)+15: 32 GAME: Aya rolls will: (8)+15: 23 <OOC> Cryosanthia nods, "Okay, -4 AC, attacks, saves for 24 hours. Feeling a little drained." GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d4: (6): 6 (Duration of Big Void Swirly) <OOC> Aya winces, nods. "I shall flurry it, and offer some options to the resident magic user." GAME: Aya spends ONE point of KI POOL. <OOC> Aya may as well toss in a Stunning Fist on the first attack, in case it may help. GAME: Aya rolls weapon0-4: (7)+25+-4: 28 GAME: Aya rolls weapon0-4: (12)+25+-4: 33 GAME: Aya rolls weapon0-4: (1)+25+-4: 22 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Aya rolls weapon0-4: (14)+25+-4: 35 GAME: Aya rolls weapon0-4-5: (20)+25+-4+-5: 36 (THREAT) GAME: Aya rolls weapon0-4-5: (2)+25+-4+-5: 18 (Not Confirmed) GAME: Aya rolls weapon0-4-10: (2)+25+-4+-10: 13 GAME: Aya rolls weapon0-4-15: (11)+25+-4+-15: 17 GAME: Aya rolls 1d100: (39): 39 (20% miss for each) GAME: Aya rolls 1d100: (59): 59 (20% miss for each) GAME: Aya rolls 1d100: (92): 92 (20% miss for each) GAME: Aya rolls 1d100: (69): 69 (20% miss for each) GAME: Aya rolls damage0: aliased to 2d10+6: (7)+6: 13 GAME: Aya rolls damage0: aliased to 2d10+6: (13)+6: 19 GAME: Aya rolls damage0: aliased to 2d10+6: (16)+6: 22 GAME: Aya rolls damage0: aliased to 2d10+6: (4)+6: 10
The back of Aya's neck is glowing.
"If we must withdraw, we shall!" Aya calls in Sabina's general direction, or so she believes. "We cannot seek her if we fall!" Unfortunately, not only do they seem somewhat surrounded, but now the mother of ... whatevever they are has joined the fray and is now in her face. She feels herself weakening even as it arrives. "Whatever you decide, decide quickly!" She promptly lashes out at the thing and its strange form. Rapidly, if not especially accurately, though quantity over quality still appears to disrupt it notably.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "roll a DC28 Will against the big one's Aura of Menace please" <OOC> Sabina will move to 6-25 and cast fireball.. at a place that wont hit aya. will take an aoo from brown but has mobility. GAME: Sabina rolls will: (13)+11: 24 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "ok, -2 to AC, Attack, Saves, it's debilitating" GAME: Sabina rolls 1d20+7: (17)+7: 24 (Spiritual Tentacle, miss) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (9)+3: 12 (AOO, miss) GAME: Sabina casts Fireball. Caster Level: 8 DC: 16 GAME: Sabina rolls 8d6: (32): 32 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "caster check against SR 20, then they'll get saves." GAME: Sabina rolls 1d20+8: (8)+8: 16 (Big one first) GAME: Sabina rolls 1d20+8: (6)+8: 14 GAME: Sabina rolls 1d20+8: (11)+8: 19 GAME: Sabina rolls 1d20+8: (19)+8: 27 GAME: Sabina rolls 1d20+8: (19)+8: 27 GAME: Sabina rolls 1d20+8: (8)+8: 16 GAME: Sabina rolls 1d20+8: (1)+8: 9 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+13: (4)+13: 17 (HiME Save - Success) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+13: (3)+13: 16 (HiME Save - Success) GAME: Aya rolls reflex: (13)+20: 33
Sabina moves back...wisely. And yet she feels the mystic affect of some .. thing. The creature that was next to her and invisible strikes at her as she moves back but she dodges out of the way nimbley. The Tarienite then gathers her thoughts and casts her most damaging spell. The area of the thing becoming a mass of fire. Yet only two of the things seem affect and disappear.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay, the little ones follow Sabina and shoot, the big one keeps on Aya" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (10)+3: 13 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (16)+3: 19 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (6)+3: 9 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (16)+3: 19 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (19)+3: 22 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (18)+3: 21 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (4)+3: 7 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (16)+3: 19 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (6)+3: 9 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (12)+3: 15 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "looks like 7 hits" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (6): 6 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (1): 1 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (6): 6 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (6): 6 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (2): 2 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (2): 2 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (6): 6 GAME: HiME damaged Sabina for 7 points. 17 HP remaining. GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d28: (9): 9 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d28: (24): 24 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d28: (17): 17 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d28: (4): 4 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d28: (2): 2 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d28: (21): 21 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d28: (3): 3 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Sabina, Ring, Wand, Slippers stop working" <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "cast Bestow Curse, Hideous Laughter x2 on Aya and Bless on the Big Swirly Void" <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Will DC 19 BC, DC19 & 20 HL, DC 23 Bless, saves to not cast) GAME: Sabina rolls will: (12)+11: 23 GAME: Sabina rolls will: (6)+11: 17 GAME: Sabina rolls will: (13)+11: 24 GAME: Sabina rolls will: (14)+11: 25 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Hideous Laughter on Aya it is!" GAME: Sabina casts Hideous Laughter. Caster Level: 8 DC: 15 GAME: Aya rolls will-4: (14)+15+-4: 25
The distortions of light follow Sabina, all the little ones, surrounding her even though she's invisible. Silent, they've made no sounds so far, they shoot her with the strange beams.
She feels an incredible upwelling of magic, and barely resists them forcing or stealing her spells. It's an ache in an unpleasant way, and one does cast at Aya.
Fortunately failing.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+14: (13)+14: 27 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+14: (16)+14: 30 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d8+4: (8)+4: 12 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d8+4: (7)+4: 11 GAME: Mothership HiME damaged Aya for 23 points. 206 HP remaining. GAME: Aya rolls reflex-4: (13)+20+-4: 29 (vs DC20) GAME: Aya rolls reflex-4: (15)+20+-4: 31 (vs DC20) GAME: Aya rolls reflex-4: (14)+20+-4: 30 (vs DC20)
The much larger emptiness curls around Aya. She is lashed, a contact that leaves a numb sensation, stiffens her muscles. It attempts to pull her in.
She does not fall into the void.
GAME: Aya spends ONE point of KI POOL. GAME: Aya rolls weapon0-4: (14)+25+-4: 35 GAME: Aya rolls weapon0-4: (10)+25+-4: 31 GAME: Aya rolls weapon0-4: (13)+25+-4: 34 GAME: Aya rolls weapon0-4: (13)+25+-4: 34 GAME: Aya rolls weapon0-4-5: (10)+25+-4+-5: 26 GAME: Aya rolls weapon0-4-10: (16)+25+-4+-10: 27 GAME: Aya rolls weapon0-4-15: (16)+25+-4+-15: 22 GAME: Aya rolls damage0: aliased to 2d10+6: (11)+6: 17 GAME: Aya rolls damage0: aliased to 2d10+6: (4)+6: 10 GAME: Aya rolls damage0: aliased to 2d10+6: (12)+6: 18 GAME: Aya rolls damage0: aliased to 2d10+6: (15)+6: 21 GAME: Aya rolls damage0: aliased to 2d10+6: (8)+6: 14 GAME: Aya rolls damage0: aliased to 2d10+6: (11)+6: 17 GAME: Aya rolls damage0: aliased to 2d10+6: (12)+6: 18
Aya did NOT JUST survive an unholy entity tied to The Void attempting to drain The Sea of Mana like a universe-ending Straw of Doom, be rendered convalescent for a week, and all of the ensuing aftermath ... just to be gnawed to nothingness by its baby brother! There are not even any complaints about the threat to her brows from the prior fireball. She lashes out at the grasping entity with fist, elbow, knees, shins, and perhaps even her skull. Even if it is not as thick as Boshter's.
The amalgamated entity, or entities lose cohesion and separate. She then follows up with strikes at those breaking free and they dissipate. One after another. All but one. "Are you still with me?" she calls, presumably for Sabina.
<OOC> Sabina will move to 3-21, then cast scorching ray. GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (16)+3: 19 (AOO on Sabina) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (2): 2 GAME: HiME damaged Sabina for 1 points. 16 HP remaining. GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d28: (14): 14 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "you cast Disguise Self too, DC18 to not" GAME: Sabina rolls will: (13)+11: 24 GAME: Sabina casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 8 DC: 15 GAME: Sabina rolls 1d20+8: (5)+8: 13 GAME: Sabina rolls 1d20+8: (6)+8: 14
Bina does not like these things...at all. She once again tries to pull away from the things but gets bit once agian. She's tired.. so tired. She raises her hands again and casts yet another spell. Two rays fire forth from her finger and strike at two of the creatures to no visible effect. "I'm here.. still here!"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay, 1 attacks sabina, the rest surround Aya" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (11)+3: 14 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (9)+3: 12 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (6): 6 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (4): 4 GAME: HiME damaged Sabina for 2 points. 14 HP remaining. GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d28: (10): 10 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d28: (25): 25 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Will DC 22 to resist casting CLW, and Will DC 23 to resist casting Protection from Energy." GAME: Sabina rolls will: (6)+11: 17 GAME: Sabina rolls will: (17)+11: 28 GAME: Sabina casts Cure Light Wounds. Caster Level: 5 DC: 14
One of the distortions follows Sabina, firing two rays. Its hit, and she feels a surge of magical energy as another spell... vanishes into the void.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "and the 5 attack Aya" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (8)+3: 11 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (6)+3: 9 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (16)+3: 19 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (7)+3: 10 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (13)+3: 16 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (2)+3: 5 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (18)+3: 21 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (7)+3: 10 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (7)+3: 10 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (16)+3: 19
The others surround the Mul'niessa, moving and swirling around her in a headache inducing pattern. It's so hard to see them, especially with the warping rays they emit.
Rays that she's easily able to dodge, despite the eye-strain.
GAME: Aya rolls weapon0-4: (11)+25+-4: 32 GAME: Aya rolls weapon0-4: (19)+25+-4: 40 (THREAT) GAME: Aya rolls weapon0-4: (20)+25+-4: 41 (THREAT) GAME: Aya rolls weapon0-4-5: (6)+25+-4+-5: 22 GAME: Aya rolls weapon0-4-10: (12)+25+-4+-10: 23 GAME: Aya rolls weapon0-4-15: (18)+25+-4+-15: 24 GAME: Aya rolls damage0: aliased to 2d10+6: (17)+6: 23 GAME: Aya rolls damage0: aliased to 2d10+6: (15)+6: 21 GAME: Aya rolls damage0: aliased to 2d10+6: (14)+6: 20 GAME: Aya rolls damage0: aliased to 2d10+6: (12)+6: 18 GAME: Aya rolls damage0: aliased to 2d10+6: (7)+6: 13 GAME: Aya rolls damage0: aliased to 2d10+6: (15)+6: 21 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "how do you get to the 5th one over by Sabina, oh and roll 20% miss" GAME: Aya rolls 1d100: (28): 28 GAME: Aya rolls 1d100: (98): 98 GAME: Aya rolls 1d100: (86): 86 GAME: Aya rolls 1d100: (23): 23 GAME: Aya rolls 1d100: (85): 85 GAME: Aya rolls 1d100: (18): 18
Aya may be surrounded, yet now her initial concerns and uncertainty have been replaced by anger. This is NOT what they came here for, and time may be of the essence. Worse, they still have no leads where Cryosanthia may be, aside from 'not here?' She no longer cares so greatly that every strike seems to sap a bit of sensation or strength. "I have had-" one is snap-kicked into dissolation "-just about-" she vanishes to appear behind it's neighbor, which is holed by a knife-hand "-enough of-" across to her prior left to elbow through another "-this ridiculous magical-" another *POOF* to the fourth formerly surronding her to remove it with an elbow "-void eating-" at least, she appears near Sabina to scissor-kick the one harassing her "-nonsense!" The lone remaining distortion chases after Aya, closing on Sabina as she casts to close her wounds, and shoots her again.
<OOC> Sabina will cast cure serious wounds on self using bestow curse GAME: Sabina casts Bestow Curse. Caster Level: 5 DC: 16 GAME: Sabina rolls 3d8+5: (11)+5: 16 GAME: Sabina damaged Sabina for -16 points. 30 HP remaining.
Bina blinks as Aya appears and quickly vanquishes so many foes. "You're handy." She says and then prays to Tarien, lifting her holy symbol. "Oh Tarien, my lord and god, please bless me with your healing touch." A silvery light appears around her and wounds close about her body.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (4)+3: 7 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (17)+3: 20 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (2): 2 GAME: HiME damaged Sabina for 1 points. 29 HP remaining. GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d28: (3): 3 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d28: (25): 25 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "DC20 Will to not cast Prot from Energy on it" GAME: Sabina rolls will: (4)+11: 15 GAME: Sabina casts Protection From Energy. Caster Level: 5 DC: 16
It seems single-minded of purpose, attempting to pull another spell out of Sabina, and succeeding. It seems to grow in size, but nothing like it's former surge.
The last one wants to follow her? Good. It wants to continue to lash out at Sabina? Not good. For it.
"You!" Aya points a stabbing, accusing finger at the ...thing. Her ire was not abated by the falling of the majority, and now she has one single target to focus it upon. "Whatever insignificant drop of sweat between Taara's Tiny Tatas you may be... you will share anything you know of the white dragon that was here, or you will serve no purpose. If you serve no purpose, I will END YOU as I did your brethren. Choose. Quickly.
It chooses, moving and shooting more ineffective rays at Aya.
Aya exhales a sigh; not because she has any concerns over the wellfare of what seems anathema to existance, but at the lack of useful information. The rays are avoided and, without pinache nor flamboyance, she darts over upon her own to feet to strike the thing from the valley.
Leaving herself and Sabina alone it would seem, with only the memories of this place. Although an uninterupted search can now be made.
GAME: Sabina rolls perception: (20)+5: 25 GAME: Aya rolls perception: (18)+27: 45
Sabina looks around and then sinks down to her knees with a sigh of relief. "Thank you Aya." She says before turning her mind to another prayer to Tarien. After this she stands and begins looking about once again as well as inspecting where the creatures seem to have disappeared once 'killed'.
There's nothing where the creatures were, no residue, no fragments. They didn't even seem substantial, contact with them wasn't so much sensing a resistance as feeling a numbness.
"You are welcome. Are you alright?" Aya asks, though takes the fact that she resumes searching as a positive assurance. She rubs at her own arms to try and help dissipate the numbness even as she turns her own focus to their surroundings. One would think that the whitescale, even if she were no longer larger, would be conspicuous... unless, perhaps, she were buried, but Aya quickly dismisses that line of thought.
Sabina continues to look for sign or even for Cryo herself as she speaks. "I am.. well enough. I find those things to be a bad parody of the good creatures they should have been. But.. you prevailed against them, thank goodness. Now.. let us find Cryosanthia and get out of this wretched place."
It's not a huge canyon, it does take a little time to search especially when there's an uncertainty regarding what is being looked for. Tracks, a nest, a note, a dragon?
White scales should stand out, easily, against the rose rocks. Perhaps that's why she was missed.
It's the second, or perhaps third time looking at a boulder which was 'checked' that Sabina has a hunch to take a closer look. Tucked in the shadow between it and the wall is a form. At first it doesn't resolve visually, there's too much shadow, too much darkness, and strange glowing lines.
Scales, but not white scales. These scales are a colour that won't be seen for ages, until a time when northern cities are full of roads and artifice vehicles and a season's worth of snow is piled in a vacant lot, which then melts. The dirt and grime that was scraped up with it remaining as the pure white becomes greyer and grittier.
These scales are in layers, some peeled back like an onion, revealing another beneath, and another. The most exposed side seems eaten. This is where many of the anomalies were clustered, perhaps like flies. As it sinks in that this might be Cryosanthia, the view of her makes more and more sense.
She is... still a dragon, a man sized one, and in proportions is almost the same. Her tail is longer, her neck, she's more muscular, otherwise she resembles herself. A grey, ruined version of herself. Her tail, one wing, seem strangely sunken, deflated, bones prominent beneath the scales. She doesn't seem to be breathing.
She's squeezed as much as physically possible behind the rock, as if she was hidden, or hiding. Whatever happened, it's clear. She didn't get far.
Bina lets out a shrill cry as the sight of her friend finally makes sense to her eyes. "Nonononono.." She falsl her her knees by Cryo and starts searching over for a pulse or other sighs of breathing. "Come on.. come on, Cryosanthia."
Aya is searching another spot for perhaps the third time when she hears the crying out. She doesn't ask what was found and simply appears at Sabina's side. Only with Sabina checking does Aya realize where Cryosanthia starts and the rock ends. Dropping to a knee, she reaches a hand towards the (quasi-)whitescale's form, only to pause. "What can I do to help?" Aya isn't a healer. She won't pretend to know how to aid, and certainly has no wish to make anything worse.
GAME: Sabina rolls knowledge/arcana: (8)+13: 21 GAME: Aya rolls knowledge/arcana: (6)+3: 9
Scales flake away under Sabina's touch like consumed paper that has turned to ash. The body is cool, except Cryosanthia is always cooler than normal. She doesn't seem to be breathing, and there's no pulse.
No, there is a pulse, one startlingly slow.
Dragons, older dragons, can hibernate and sleep for decades. Little ones... don't? Perhaps they might, if they were greviously injured. Perhaps Cryo has? Deliberate or not, it would help her survive weeks without food or healer's attention. Something she desperately would have needed, everyone who came back from the expedition did.
GAME: Sabina rolls heal: (13)+7: 20
Bina lookos over Cryo's form and lets out a sigh that is almost relieved. "She's alive. But she's in some kind of hybernation. And I'm seeing signs that something tried to eat on her as well as some signs of necrosis in her tail and wing." She looks up to Aya. "Lets get her out of here. Quickly please? She's safe to move as far as I can tell."
They get down to it. The wagon is summoned now that the canyon is clear, the boys follow Sabina's directions, carefully shifting the rock enough that Cryosanthia can be lifted and supported on all points.
She's eerily limp, and the way her scales keep flaking off is unsettling. She's also lighter than she should be. Stretched out in the cart, she looks small. The others pile in around her, careful with their feet.
With a snap, the driver turns the cart around and it trundles out of the canyon. Aya works her magic and the shadowy realm rises up, and the journey back is swift. The rescuers re-emerge just outside of the city gates. A blanket is tossed over Cryo, shielding her from prying eyes.
Sabina is exhausted, Aya is feeling the lethargy from the combat catching up with her. It was too close an experience to the prior one, her mana-related injuries still sensitive to that sort of disruption. Both women are on the verge of collapse.
Rupi, waiting at the TarRaCe, takes charge, "Sleep 'Bina, I'll get a bed for her and someone to watch her, find some healers." It helps to have a well trained staff, and just like that, it's handled.
Lies may be able to get halfway around the world before the Truth can get it's pants on, but selective messaging worse still has to chase down it's proper ears.
Once such quarry has been acquired, however, the reaction doesn't take overlong at all, considering.
The door swings open with some energy as a Korite Merc, flushed some for the sprint accross town to the TaRrAcE, arrives bearing most of her weaponry, and her AnyGarment providing a safe enough 'saddle' for her carnationscale neice to ride on her back in relative comfort.
Brae makes her way to one of the doormen with a scrap of paper in her hand and a intent glimmer in her amber eyes as she demands in hushed tones, "Where is she...!?"
"Upstairs, back office," the doorman answers, glancing at the carnation-scale, "it's not pretty. Her condition."
"Ssassa!" Lily hisses, uncaring. This is how the quest ends, she has to see her.
"Come," the doorman said, leading the way. Upstairs, a back room, a bed.
On it, Cryosanthia, looking dead and twisted. Her proportions are wrong, she has wings, full wings, although one of them looks withered. Her tail also, and her scales are grey.
And coming off. The floor is littered with thin, papery scales. She resembles a carving made out of stone, and in the dark room there is a dim glow to her. Like cracks, lines along all her scales. She's laid out on her belly, not moving, seemingly not breathing.
Lily immediately leaps off Braelnoir to dash over and climb in bed beside her.
Braelnoir lets Lily loose as she feels the energy building to it's predictable crescendo, even as she tries to process the state she's been brought to discover her sister in.
Her expression is subsumed, though ashen in the wake of Cryosanthia's condition, her scythe haft creaking slightly within her grip.
"Tell me something." Brae asides, moving to join the coagulation of family, sinking to her knees beside Cryo, scythetip sinking into the floor to some extent, "What'n fuck they do t'ya, luv...." she asks under her breath, reaching out with her bare fingers to the sullied scales.
There's no answer, not a verbal one, though her body tells a story. One that can be read with the right eyes, the right battlefield experiences, and perhaps a little knowledge of the Sith'makar.
Cryosanthia looks burned, all over in a completely unnatural way. Even fireballs aren't so consuming. She has layers of scales, layer upon layer that peel back like dried onion skins. She's absolutely naked, a detail not immediately obvious but clear when the blanket on her is shifted. None of her magic gear is present at all, there's not even a trace where she would wear them.
Finally, her tail, though withered, is longer, her neck too. Her arms, legs seem shorter, her hips different.
It's clearly her, Cryo's face is unmistakeable, but if one squints... and then if one stops squinting...
She's a dragon. A person-sized, beat up, comatose one, but Cryosanthia is a dragon.
Whatever happened must have changed a lot of things, and changed her.
Those details will come when she awakens, but she's no-where near that now. Lily presses close. She's not going anywhere either.
Braelnoir closes her eyes a moment and smooths down the scales with a gentle stroke, "Kor's grin, 't looks like ya gave'm hell, luv... " she murmurs in a proud, reverent tone before she rises, seizing up her oldest friend once more.
The silvermaned human indexes the blade down over her shoulder and turns back to the doorman, "I'ma take watch, luvvie. Gonna need us some coffee and some workin' type grub. Need ta borrow some o'them fluffy towels. Beddin' fer the young'n."
Her eyes roam the transfigured frame of her scale-sister, attaining, or forced into, greater attunement to her draconic ancestry and she woders for a oment at her own. What time, and Alexandria's made of them, both, and whether their respective states are to be counted as journey or destination.
She considers her tiny neice and reaches out to gently stroke her scales as she assures her, "Your Nest Mother is strong, Little Fang, and we will see her safe until she is well again." she hisses and growls in <Draconic>
Combatty
===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 5 =====================
---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
23 Aya 6
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17 Sabina 1
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>> 11 HiME 1 <<
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| Name | Race | Class | CHP | HP | AC/FF/T |CMD |For |Ref |Wil |
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|Aya |SHADOW_ELF|Mnk | 229 | 229 |33/28/29 | 51 | 20 | 20 | 15 |
|Sabina |HUMAN |Clr/MTh/Wiz| 41 | 41 |19/17/13 | 17 | 8 | 6 | 11 |
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| Name | Race | Class | CHP | HP | AC/FF/T |CMD |For |Ref |Wil |
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|Aya |SHADOW_ELF|Mnk | 229 | 229 |33/28/29 | 51 | 20 | 20 | 15 |
|Sabina |HUMAN |Clr/MTh/Wiz| 17 | 41 |19/17/13 | 17 | 8 | 6 | 11 |
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| Name | Race | Class | CHP | HP | AC/FF/T |CMD |For |Ref |Wil |
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|Aya |SHADOW_ELF|Mnk | 206 | 229 |33/28/29 | 51 | 20 | 20 | 15 |
|Sabina |HUMAN |Clr/MTh/Wiz| 17 | 41 |19/17/13 | 17 | 8 | 6 | 11 |
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Map
https://www.mipui.net/app/index.html?mid=mle4smixr2m
inspirational music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6gGE9kxe1M