[Horde] Chapter Five: Session Ninety-Eight
Characters
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January 1st
As the group surveyed the open field of hidden runes, Zar’Kaa was the first to take a step forward. Glowing wings emerged from his back, allowing him to take to the sky over the field so that he could indicate where he believed the runes were.
As he attempted to divine the location of the runes, he triggered one of them, and an explosion of fire erupted upward. He was able to avoid the brunt of the damage, but he was launched back from the field.
Symma stepped forward next, and as she took to the air she also was hit by an explosion of fire and ejected from the field.
Arthak stepped forward next, and as he soared above, he was able to correctly identify 28 runes. The rune then exploded and Arthak was ejected.
Symma stepped forward again, and she was able to successfully identify the remainder of the runes.
Eyir congratulated them on their progress, and guided them to the next trial, which was a maze. Nyxxa rushed forward first, and she disappeared into the maze. She worked her way around, and then she found a key and was able to hastily return to the group.
Sol went next, and he similarly dove into the maze and returned with a key. Meanwhile, the rest of the party was trying to solve a visual riddle on the door in order to pass through.
As they put the runes together, they realized the pass phrase was “Threshold” and they were able to put the keys in place and pass through.
Eyir was waiting for them, but unfortunately, so was the other team. Iskar smiled at them.
Skovald scoffed.
She showed a measure of how much time they took, and it was evident that the other team had won, though both teams had used all their favors.
She turned, and a wide gateway opened up, but there was no pathway.
As they stepped forward, it felt as if the palace that was revealed was miles away, but when they started to walk, they were pulled forth and it seemed their speed was magnified 100 fold.
They saw a long hall with massive tables filled with valarjar. They were all great champions, and the murals on the walls depicted a pantheon of massive deities.
Odyn sat at the head, a smile beneath his flaming beard.
He held out his hand, and the Aegis appeared before him in his outstretched palm.
It was evident to Nyxxa that Odyn wanted the warband to win, but he was setting the stage to ensure he could prevent Skovald’s band from exterminating the other team on the off-chance they lost.
Both groups nodded.
He held his hand up.
Arthak looked over at Jubei’thos, who returned the stare and drew his blade. It started to burn as he entered a battlestance. There was no intention of holding back.
Varedis scratched his chin, a signal for Nyxxa to wait for his signal. Caria’s glaives ignited and she licked the edge of the blade as her gaze bore straight into Nyxxa.
Skolvad stepped forward and hefted his weapon as he held out his corrupted hand in a “bring it on” gesture. Velhari similarly drew her weapon, and Iskar conjured his own magic.
Lightning crackled around Symma’s talons, and Fathnyr released a loud roar. Zar’Kaa drew his spears and looked directly at Skovald.
He rushed straight for Skovald as he used [Hex] on the massive man. He slashed at the vrykul, but Skovald commanded Fathnyr to take the strike instead as the dragon shielded Skovald with his wing.
Skovald regarded Zar’Kaa with fearless scorn as Zar’Kaa whipped his spear around again, but was deflected by Skovald again and again.
Varedis, meanwhile, disappeared into a blur as Caria eyed up Nyxxa. She darted through the air toward the satyr, but she moved quick enough that she zipped across the battlefield and used [Steel Wind Strike]. Most of her targets were able to block, but she was able to strike true against Lanstresor and Symma.
She cackled as she spiraled down and swung at Nyxxa, who erupted into fire as she activated her [Metamorphosis]. The pair of them started to dance with their glaives as they exchanged blows back and forth. Nyxxa’s holy poisons began to eat into Caria’s flesh. The other hunter looked shocked.
Caria snarled, but then she sneered.
She crossed her blades, and her tattoos started to blow a bright gold as her body became nearly intangible. Lantresor followed up with his full blade as he tried to pin Caria between him and Nyxxa, a few glancing blows landing on the nearly imperceptible woman.
Fathnyr launched through the air and cracked Zar’Kaa in the back with his tail and knocked him back. He twisted around and opened his maw to release a cone of felstorm. The blast ripped across the battlefield, including Caria.
It was a cone of green thundering lightning, and it swept up toward Odyn, but the Aegis activated and the blast washed harmlessly over him. Over the wake of the destruction, Fathnyr then soared back over to Skovald.
Skovald started to walk toward Zar’Kaa, and his eye shone with spite. Zar’Kaa was able to resist the effect of the gaze, but Skovald was on him in an instant as he raised his greatsword. Skovald’s overwhelming strength came barreling down on him, and Zar’Kaa realized the gulf between their strengths. Zar’Kaa’s anxieties and fears began to overwhelm him. Skovald swept around with another strike, but Zar’Kaa ducked beneath the massive blade.
Arthak grew to his giant size and he started to storm toward Skovald. Again, Fathnyr guarded Skovald and the blow battered on the great dragon. Arthak swung at Skovald again and flaming chains erupted around the so-called God-King. Skovald broke through them, but his armor was dented and battered.
Arthak continued the assault as the armor was damaged even further until it just fell off Skovald’s body. He carved Skovald’s helm completely off, and all he had left was the overgrown fel-corrupted scars on his body.
He started to speak in eredun as he drew a runic curse in the air, but Arthak tried to swing his blade down, forcing Skovald to interrupt himself.
Symma swept back in front of the statue of Freya and she used [Windfury] before she hurled two [Jolt] cantrips at Skovald.
Skovald looked over at Fathnyr.
The dragon’s body started to superheat as he exhausted a blast of fire around him. Varedis, meanwhile, darted behind Nyxxa and released a flurry of blades that he subtly indicated to Nyxxa what he was doing. He then cast [Haste] on Caria.
Caria started to cackle, completely oblivious to the trap he had laid.
Jubei’thos closed on Arthak and slashed with Sanketsu. The serrated blade dug into Arthak’s leg, opening bleeding wounds.
Varedis unsheathed a number of blades and teleported around the battlefield striking various members of the warband with glancing blows that appeared to be more severe than they were.
Velhari snarled.
She pointed her sword at Arthak.
She drew a fel run and black steel chains appeared from micro-portals to restrain Arthak down, but he broke them. Velhari struck into Arthak with two slashes as she then pivoted beneath Arthak to stand near Zar’Kaa.
Iskar looked at Arthak.
He reached out a talon and his eyes turned deep violet as he used [Psychic Crush]. Arthak’s vision started to cloud, but he was able to push through and prevent himself from being stunned.
Iskar cocked his head to the side.
He took to the sky and looked over at Symma.
He launched a pulse of magic at the harpy, but it went wide as if it intentionally missed to mess with her.
Seria flew through the air as a winged serpent to try and heal Zar’Kaa with [Life Transference]. However, Velhari struck her blade at the spell and cleaved in twain, reducing the spell’s effectiveness. She then bit down on Velhari and wrapped her coils around the eredar before she launched back into the air and flew away from her.
Iskar smirked over at Symma.
Fel energy crackled around his talons and he hurled a [Lightning Bolt] at Arthak and Zar’Kaa. A curse enveloped around Arthak, and Iskar grinned at Symma.
Sol pulled out his scroll of gate and said the incantation on it.
The scroll burned and faded into sparkling ash that created a bright white portal. Another dragon stepped through the doorway and roared.
He flew up into the air.
The gate stayed open as more drakes passed through the portal, and the last to join them, nearly the size of Fathnyr, was Thrymjaris.
Fathnyr roared in anguish and rage.
Fathnyr was rendered unbalanced by the cries of his family. Iskar looked completely intrigued and impressed by the display. Odyn grinned as he realized what Sol had done.
Sol then cast and held [Prayer of Healing] before he flew back toward the group and looked up at Iskar.
Jubei'thos cast [Mirror Image], though his copies looked more solid than they should have been.
Sol opted to release his spell.
