[Game Thread] On the Trail of a God

[Majestic Pyre]

Kerz I imagine, Summoner, that Hal was indisposed when my warning came, and the conflict ensued too quickly thereafter for him to react in time. Which, I’ll admit, does show a worrying nonchalance for his and our safety. Haruka will brief him when she returns to the ship. Throwing his leg over the monstrosity that was Durzo’s familiar, Kerz grinned at the only member of the team who was his size. As for the offer of transport, consider me in your debt Durzo. Bombs away?

[Drakeblade]

The Drop. "I agree that its rather worrying, but we have bigger flanks to roast at the moment." Durzo use message back to the Silver Ring. Taping Vel'kor's side twice, he quickly moved to the edge of the ship. Cease flight."Dhoken Phron" Durzo said, taping once more. Tipping over the edge and shooting toward the ground... The world slowed for just a moment as they rolled over the crest of Defiance. The land below seemed so vast, as if a giant mural on a great temple in Zer'thun. Spanning on and on for as far as one could see and on the edge was land meeting with the sea. A sight now far behind them. With the roar of the mighty wind enveloping them, everything suddenly kicked into gear again. The world started accelerating at a rate that was almost unimaginable. Now growing in detail far faster then they could take it in. Durzo focused, saying the word Spell Cast - Feather fall, Target Durzo, Vel'kor and Kerz."Liacore" that would save their lives at the moment he Somewhere around 100-150 feet. About a dozen seconds of drifting down to catch their breath.dare not drop any further..

[kedcoleman]

Ira stands on the deck, watching the blistering displays of power from his teammates. The dragon falls, quickly, leaving the Marshall a bit embarrassed at rushing the crew into action when it was, apparently, unnecessary.

"Captain," he says, a few moments later, as things begin to return to normal, "why are the other airships slowing? Reckon we've got nothing to fear, now, from a beaten creature. It'd have to be pretty damn foolish to try to attack us, after being so soundly beaten in mere seconds. Don't know much about dragons,but I reckon they ain't foolish. We should carry on with all haste - our enemies won't wait for us to clean up messes on the forest floor."

[Ziether]

GM Post

The Airship Formation The Sky Servant began its ponderous descent as the rest of the small fleet slowed to a near standstill, preparing to wait out the sojourn of their most precious cargo. The Darkling, the Wight, the Kobold and the Tengu hurtled toward the surface of the jungle beneath, dropping as fast as gravity would allow, arresting their descent with magic as the ground approached, landing softly. The jungle was flaring up, moist wood and leaves were swiftly overcome by the flames emanating from the wrecked pieces of the Touch the Heavens. The airship itself was barely recognizable as such. The hull and decks had splintered, and crates of foodstuffs littered the canopy and earth alike. Charred bodies were strewn about, limbs twisted into unlikely positions. The magical engine that propelled the vessel through the sky had detonated, creating powerful arcane flames to torch the surrounding trees. A hundred yards to the west of the main wreckage lay the corpse of the green dragon, a large splintered plank from the airship’s decking pierced through its chest and out its back, near the spine. The was no motion of breath, no flutter of heartbeat, no twitch of consciousness. The beast was slain. The inferno that was the carcass of the Touch the Heavens reached ever further outward, racing toward the creature’s remains, seeking to devour all in their path. The four adventurers alighted atop a small rise, a clearing amongst the trees, surveying the destruction that lay about them.

Defiance Main Deck The Herald stepped out into the commotion of the Defiance’s deck, stepping out of the way of crewmembers bustling about this way and that. The human called out to the remaining companions, "What is the commotion? I heard something about a green dragon, but by the time I finished buckling my armor together, I come up to this! I fear I must spend more time in this cumbersome contraption now. I see you have resolved our problem, but I’d rather be able to bring additional force to bear, should it be needed." The Herald paused a moment, looking around, "I see but three of you. Where are your compatriots?"

[Schniderman]

After the Storm Comes a Calm Haruka bobbed her head in a brief nod as Hal went over the situation. Only after he'd finished speaking and asked of the other champions did she break her silence for answers. "Vatarin, Farash, Kerzumal, and Durzo have gone below to make sure of the wyrm's defeat." The mongrel warrior straightened her sleeves as she spoke, pausing only a moment before going on. "While surviving such a drop may be unlikely, a dragon is a long-lived, powerful foe, and not one to make lightly. Even despite our best efforts today, we lost the Touch the Heavens. We may have met success in dealing with the beast, but the slightest change could have meant our utter ruin. If it had approached in the pitch dark of night, under the cover of deceptive magics, I shudder to think of the consequences. With that in mind and to be better prepared, I would like to invite you and the other champions aboard the Defiance to join me in a nightly watch over the ship until we reach our destination."   Status Current Health: 111/111 | Subdual: 0 | Temporary Hit Points: 0 Arcane Pool: 7/11 | Challenges 3/4 | Resolve 5/6 | Honorable Stand 0/1 | Honor in All Things 3/3 AC: 30 | Flat-footed AC: 26 | Touch: 21 Fortitude: +13 | Reflex: +10 | Will: +12 Dr 10/adamantine Conditions: Stoneskin, ([110/110 damage], 1092/1100 rounds remaining [~1 hour 49 minutes]) Fly, (103/110 rounds remaining [~10 minutes]) Shield, (104/110 rounds remaining [~10 minutes]) Bear's Endurance, (105/110 rounds remaining [~10 minutes]) Mirror Image, ([6 Images], 7/11 rounds remaining) Arcane Pool Weapon Enhancement ([+3 enhancement bonus], 6/10 rounds remaining)   Full Round: Fly back to the Defiance

[Winter Wight]

Vatarin Vatarin inhaled deeply, savoring the scent of earth and plant life even as it was tinged with blood and smoke. Silently flexing his toes, he felt for vibrations through his boots as he relished the feel of rock beneath mixed with all manner of living insects. Exhaling blissfully he focused upon the colossal wreck before him. After brief chant and a quick glance back to his other companions he leaped forward, anxious to see what he could find.

[kedcoleman]

Listening to Haruka's speech, Ira raises an eyebrow. He tips the brim of his hat up and peers across the gulf between his ship and theirs. The Felinus Marshall fishes a toothpick from his pocket and casually chews on it. "Lemme see if I understand y'all. Since one of these here flyin' boats got taken out before we Champions could react and put down that there dragon like t'weren't nothin', y'all reckon the best plan is to put everyone on one boat...so's it can get taken out the same like? And with the fella most like to be able to defend himself from anything what comes knockin' anyways?" Ira plucks the pick from his teeth and reflects on it for a moment. "Now, I don't wanna go tellin' how ta do your job or nothin' but that plan sounds crazier than a sack a rabid weasels. Seems to me it'd be safer for everyone if we all stayed on separate ships, that way if'n one of these boats gets exploded, we don't lose the whole blasted group at once."

[Schniderman]

A Choice of words Beneath her hat, Haruka's ear's pinned flat and the fur at her collar bristled. Looking to the distant airship where Ira stood and speaking through the message spell, the mutt replied. "It seems that my intention has been lost. I invite the champions who are aboard the Defiance to join me in my watch. I do not mean to say that those not already aboard should be made to change ships." Though her expression would doubtlessly be lost at this distance, she glared at the Felinus marshall. "However it would perhaps be wise if those without the means to fly could stay amidst those that do have the means."   Status Current Health: 111/111 | Subdual: 0 | Temporary Hit Points: 0 Arcane Pool: 7/11 | Challenges 3/4 | Resolve 5/6 | Honorable Stand 0/1 | Honor in All Things 3/3 AC: 30 | Flat-footed AC: 26 | Touch: 21 Fortitude: +13 | Reflex: +10 | Will: +12 Dr 10/adamantine Conditions: Stoneskin, ([110/110 damage], 1092/1100 rounds remaining [~1 hour 49 minutes]) Fly, (103/110 rounds remaining [~10 minutes]) Shield, (104/110 rounds remaining [~10 minutes]) Bear's Endurance, (105/110 rounds remaining [~10 minutes]) Mirror Image, ([6 Images], 7/11 rounds remaining) Arcane Pool Weapon Enhancement ([+3 enhancement bonus], 6/10 rounds remaining)   Full Round: Fly back to the Defiance

[Panthas]

For a few seconds Farash simply closed his eyes and reveled in the element of air. It whistled in his ears, fluttered and pulled at his feathers, whipped at his clothes like greedy fingers and he felt himself simply falling. He felt his body cut through the air like a feathered knife as he opened his eyes and felt them being dried by the wind, chuckling aloud at the feel of it all. Watching the shape of the falling kobold beneath him as they both hurtled towards the ground. He started to guage his falling speed, making ready to cast his spell when it was required so he had a comfortable landing. Meanwhile, Ialdo was drifting lazily down, circling above his tengu friend. He let out an avian scream of delight as he just let himself drift down. Farash heard the sound and smiled even as he fell far faster than his companion. Finally he let the spell wash over him, carrying him lightly to the down, his claw touching dirt and grass. He felt his weight settle in once more and sighed a bit sadly before shaking his head and looking at all of the destruction.

He looked at the destruction and sighed, taking in the sight of the arcane flames that were eagerly consuming anything they could. He had nothing to combat this and so he turned to the other seeming caster of the party. "Vatarin, from the looks of that fire and the damage no one would have survived that fall and crash. Meanwhile we have a forest fire threatening, do you have anything to quench these flames?" He asked as he watched the kobold leap forward. His own footsteps took him to the dragon as he drew his scimitar. He moved to the corpse and climbed up the cooling hulk, strating to skin it from the exit point of the blank on its back, moving his scimitar carefully to slice through the connective tissue under the skin as he worked on getting a piece large enough for himself in the future, or perhaps for sale.

[Drakeblade]

Durzo Breathing in deep, the scent of green foliage burning was strong and with it came the soft smell of burnt flesh. Durzo's eyes shifted back and forth over the scattered Perception Check, Looking for cargo of value among the wreck that may have survived. Dice Roll: 1d20+8 (1)+8 Total = 9 remains of the ship. Farash led the way toward the green dragon's remains. Durzo hopped down next to the corpse inspecting it, it had been rather impressive creature. Pulling out his Nodachi, Durzo cut a small portion of scales and flesh. Being sure not to cut close to Farash to avoid disturbing his work. "I do enjoy trying new types of meat." He mumbled to himself as he sheathed the Nodachi and placed the future meal into a side pouch in his bag. Hearing Farash's concerns about the flames. " If every fireball those blasted elves missed me with started a forest fire. We would all have to learn how to make boats from steel." Chuckling softly at the thought, "With how green these plants are, I imagine that the fire will not spread far. This immediate area however will probably be nothing but cinders soon enough.Durzo commented, as he gazed upward toward the ships in the sky. Reassuring himself nothing was swooping in to attack again while they were on the ground before continuing his search. Before all was lost to the flames.

[kedcoleman]

Maybe those without the means to put a bullet between the eyes of smarmy mongrels ought to bite their tongues, Ira didn't say. He spits the toothpick over the rail into the expanse of sky below. "Don't see what the fascination with flyin' is anyways. Ain't nothin' better than the feel of the grass under foot, the smell of the cool west wind over the Range, the sound of a herd of cattle grazin'. I mean, if bein' able to run away from whatever problems you have, up into th' air, is your thing, more power to ya, just not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Besides, hokey magic and ancient religions ain't no match for a good pistol at your side, kid." The Marshall tips his hat towards the other ship and turns away to go back below-deck. "Lemme know when y'all are done filleting the wildlife and we can get back on the road."

[Majestic Pyre]

Kerz Kerz stared at the carcass exploded across the blood-red forest floor. Gravity can be such a... messy force. Ribs, lumps of flesh, the grippli saw his handiwork and felt- nothing. No regret, no righteous wrath at the destruction this monster would have caused. He should have felt something, even if it was only satisfaction for future innocents he had protected. Instead, he just felt cold. He saw the darkling slip off the beast, but Kerz knew there was nothing for him down there. He didn't need a fillet'o'dragon. Nor did he need the material for armor, his bracers always keeping him perfectly safe. All he could say was that this venture had been a complete waste of time. But he had needed to be sure. Now he was, and they could continue on their voyage. He stayed atop Vel'kor, hoping the darkling would take care of the return trip.

[Ziether]

GM Post

Aboard Defiance The Herald considered the words of the remaining adventurers for a few moments before responding. "You may choose to travel aboard whichever vessel or vessels you wish. I will inquire of the specialists to see if there is anything we can do to protect the balloons against further attack. Not many creatures are brazen enough to assault a formation of airships" he replied. The man encased in metal paced back and forth along the deck of the Defiance "I will remain in my armor around the clock, and will see if someone can bestow upon my body a lesser need for rest. I feel that I should shoulder a larger portion of the responsibility for the safety of this expedition. You may be here to protect me against the most potent of dangers, but anything short of that is not in the contract. These people are put in danger because of me."

Welcome to the Jungle The fires continued to spread, fanned by the continuing failure of the spells that made the fallen airship's power plant function. As each spell fell from the matrix that bound them, a thunderous crack would erupt somewhere nearby, and swathes of foliage would sizzle, pop, crackle, or simply vanish. A hand shot up from the body of an orc female in the wreckage, grabbing hold of Farash's ankle. "It burns...save me..." Nothing else moved in the debris pile, and the inferno simply continued to intensify. The heat was nearly unbearable, but not enough yet to actually harm the four intrepid companions. The carcass of the dragon was a small distance from the worst of the flames, but the overwhelming majority of the contents of the Touch the Heavens were ablaze. Meat was already starting to char, and grains were smoking in the light of the sun.

OOGM Nothing has been discovered yet. Someone wanted to take some dragonhide. There's a surviving orc. Fire everywhere.

[Panthas]

Farash’s sword cut through the connective tissue, it was slow going as even under the hide the dragon was built hardier than normal creatures. He cut on though, feeling the severing of the tissue holding hide to body and he muttered quietly to himself about needing the proper tool for the job. He did paus in his work though as he looked over at Durzo. "Fireballs are one thing, they aren’t exactly a highly magic flame when you come down to it, but this…….the spells that go into an airship engine……its unraveling, and it could be dangerous. As you can see, these trees are burning rather easily under the arcane flame." He looked at the hunk of meat the darkling had severed and smiled. "I have heard some interesting recipes for dragon flesh, I think I might take some with me, I could use some good jerky."

Feeling the hand wrap around his ankle, he jerked the sword halfway out from under the scaly skin of the corpse before realizing what it was that had hold of him. He let go of the sword handle, leaving it hanging in the corpse before he reached down a feathered, scaly hand to take hold of the wrist of the orc and proceeded to try to pull her from the wreckage. The muscles of his arms corded and flexed as he braced his feet and pulled back, attempting to slide the orc from the crash site.

Even as he worked at helping her out, he wondered just how he was going to get them all back up to the ship without making a crazy a lot of trips. He might have to spend some time with his spells to arrange it, and he certainly didn’t like the idea of teleporting. "A little help would be nice, the faster we get this done, the faster we can continue on our mission."

[Winter Wight]

Vatarin Leaping nimbly about the wreckage, Vatarin searches for any sign of movement beneath the surface of the wreckage even as his eyes search for any auras left intact. The voices behind him are easily ignored at first waving away Farash's pessimistic overview. No matter how likely it was he'd prove right. The fire was catching. Even if Vatarin had a spell that could be valuable in containing fires there was so much already. The continued decay of the hexes were making too many fires to handle. A sudden flare of magical energy caught Vatarin's eye. Quickly backpedaling, the kobold manages to avoid being consumed by a magical burst as the latest matrix of the ship destabilized and collapsed from existence with the force of a bomb. A stream of curses flows from his mouth as colorful as the latest magical fire. Looking back he catches sight of Farash peeling away the scaled flesh of the dragon. A repressed shudder passes down Vatarin's spine as a number of imagined circumstances placed him under the blade instead. His calm wavered. Funny how easily it was to imagine oneself a dragon. Funnier how easy it was to kill a dragon. Vatarin found his mouth forming a silent snarl. If it had not been for Farash's own reaction the kobold might have missed the orc. Reaching into the small field of magic in his left ring he bounds over to the struggling pair, bounding from one piece of wreckage to the next. His light weight barely moved the pieces as he alighted upon them. His curses shifted into a magical chant guided by the magic of the ring. Landing beside Farash he laid his hands upon the orc, holding her face. "Be healedQe irisva," he whispered softly. It wasn't part of the incantation but the woman needed the words even if she did not understand. Turning up to Farash he spoke again, "Be the better manQe wer destha svthyr. We're the heroes after all. One life can have the value of many." Vatarin smirked. He liked this bird.