Defending the Spell Cannon G3

Log Info

• Title: Defending the Spell Cannon G3

• GM: Aftershock

• Characters: Aelwyn, Carver, Eztli, Harkashan, Irshya, Jarik, Ravenstongue, Rune, Skyler

• Place: Spell-Cannon, Alexandros

Word had quickly spread through Alexandria: Heth, the great threat that lurked in Dragonier, is coming. His undead, previously seen in probing attacks over the years as he spread like a malignant plague through the land, had begun moving en masse. Rumors already speak of battles already being waged on the Dranish border, of scores of undead appearing amongst the people of Rune, and other wilder rumors still.

But one thing is certain: the great dragon itself, flanked by the undead remnants of Dragonier and accompanied by winged shadows thought to be its spawn, is on its way. The butcher of Dragonier would visit slaughter on Alexandria at long last…

...but for one thing. The moment had been long prepared for.

They call it the Spell Cannon. A work of artifice that laid dormant in the mountains east of Alexandria until it was discovered. Today, that great work has served as an ultimate deterrent, an artifact of Kulthian malice so powerful that even the great Charnish Empire has not dared attempt to take the crown jewel of Alexandria in light of its presence, fearing the use of it would ensure the move would simply be too costly…

...but Heth has no such mortal considerations. They fear not the works of man or god, Kulthian or Alexandrian. They seek only destruction and slaughter, so they say, and so now the cannon is being prepared, and it must at all costs be protected.

This is the story of those called who stand ready in the control room itself. A piece of lost ancient Kulthian technology that few understand and even fewer are willing to risk. Risk fighting against, or risk using. Yet today it must be used.

Everything depends on this.

Everything.

Countless lives not just in Alexandros, but the world over. Should Heth survive here and commit his great atrocity on Alexandria, there will be no stopping them, they say, from ushering in an era of darkness that has long threatened.

And so these brave souls stand in the very control room itself, ready to fight should anything get past those patrolling the edges of the mountain, or - somehow - get past those who stand just outside the control room itself. Already the brave controllers of the spell cannon are climbing into the control system, where they will work together to fire the cannon on Heth when they come into range.

"Oooo, what does *this* button do?"

Three guesses who said that.

Skyler Skywalker is clad in his best gear: his much-mended greatcoat has been replaced by a new one with metallic threads that seem to shimmer with arcane energy. There's also a belt and tiara, a pair of white gloves, and tall glossy black boots... all shimmering with arcane energy. His sword is the same as always, well made and well worn, but there's a hint of arcane energy there. About the only thing that isn't shimmering with arcane energy is his buckler, which he's got slung on his arm as he stares at the buttons of the console in front of him, one hand lifted as if preparing to press a button, his pale grey-green eyes wide with wonder and empty of thought.

GAME: Irshya casts Greater Angelic Aspect. Caster Level: 15 DC: 22

Eztli was... not happy to be here in the slightest. Or rather, the nervousness emanating from the small makari was palpable, given how Eztli could barely sit still. All of this was perhaps the last chance to avoid another dragoneir after all, and there would be no fleeing elsewhere if this went wrong.

The small makari's hand was more than a bit bloody from how hard it was clenched, as she continued to scan the room. It was possible nothing would even reach them, but still...

GAME: Rune used a Wand of Shield.
GAME: Jarik casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 4 DC: 15

Roved Out for the End of Days,

Carver accepted this task with some reluctance. A Kulthian Artifact to be one's savior? History yearns to rhyme more than a bard, so they say, but when so much wisdom and arguments are laid against her own intuition? One must relent and make the best of it one can. She stands off to the side, her massive white bow held casually at down near her side as the last minute preparations are put into firing fate's final farewell.

GAME: Carver casts Flame Arrow. Caster Level: 14 DC: 17

Cor'lana Lupecyll-Atlon's violet eyes are hard things. Her husband and her sister-by-bond are outside the control room, and she has every belief in them that they will be able to keep anything from busting in the door.

However, she's also fully aware that gates and portals are things that exist. For that reason, she is utterly calm and recites a small incantation to shield herself: specifically, her mind, which is her greatest weapon.

(If one believes the Crimson Pen, her corset is her second-greatest.)

When her eyes open again, she smiles at Eztli. "Have no fear. We will see this day through." Cor'lana has no doubt about that.

GAME: Ravenstongue casts Mind Blank. Caster Level: 20 DC: 30

"Don't touch." Jarik says to Skyler in his gruff voice. It's not really a reprimand, he's just offering a friendly reminder. And a stern look.

He's not excited to be here, he rather be where he spends most of his time, lost in the woods, but an existential threat means one cannot bury their head in literal or proverbial mud. As nice as that sounds right now. "You'll have plenty of chances to poke things, I'm sure."

GAME: Eztli casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 14 DC: 20

Harkashan's nerves are at an all-time high. He's walking the entire perimiter of the control room itself, trying to properly hallow the location against any kind of death effects and the undead.

They are up against an enormous undead army. There's no way he's leaving any of this up to chance. This is the center from which all will happen. Every single person in this room is of critical importance to the success of this mission.

Pale white lines criss-cross and expand out from near the center of the room, as his eyes close. Speaking to his Blood. Speaking to the Past to gain the aid of beings who may not be able to be here materially anymore... but can give guidance to every aspect.

Immensely powerful magic being constructed in a matter of time that seems almost mythical in nature. That ward being interwoven as it by many hands perfectly aligned to weave this magic as one. Before finally, pearls of white spark up into the air around the consoles and sparkling throughout the room.

Irshya is unhappy with being here in the control room. She is loathe, these days, to leave the comfort of the TarRaCe, which is home and livelihood mixed into one. But her sense of civic duty has her leaving the comfort and safety of home, and venturing into the mountains, to this ancient monstrosity of war.

The pool-shark is happy to see Ravenstongue, Rune and Harkashan. With Hark pacing the walls, the Goblin moves to lean against Rune a little.

Rune is quiet, moreso than usual given the circumstances. If dire warnings hadn't been looming already, seeing the danger first-hand in Dragonier had been enough to know that this is no simple enemy to face. This is something that requires many hands if they are going to keep the people of Alexandria alive to see another dawn.

For now, the rogue simply has her weapons drawn, her eyes sweeping the area as she silently watches the others prepare. The only addition she has is a quick flick of the hand to cast a spell from one of her wands, and then she steps forward, following behind Harkashan and eventually standing nearby her mate.

It's Irshya that seems to draw her from the tension of the moment, looking down at her goblin friend. She has no words to say, but there is a nod. They are in this together, whatever comes.

Aelwyn, for his part, seemed to be brimming. It was hard to tell whether it was excitement or nervousness - but he looked as if this were yet another day at the front. The confidence was evident in each of his steps, flash of his teeth and movement of his weapon.

"This one feels it to be a shame that the whole world cannot witness the victory today." The crimson scaled Dragoon, the knight-squire of the Cockatrice, the member of Crimson Troupe, rumbles, before his attention is diverted towards the talk of buttons. "... though this one had a different thoughts of a battlefield, where a battle to the end would be fought."

As Harkashan sends his magic through the room, one of those working the controls looks at him in concern and yells, "NOW!" He pulls a dagger from his belt and stabs himself in the throat with it, yelling, "VOID TAKE ME!"

Another controller at the opposite end of the room does the same thing, and a third - one of the trusted souls who is meant to fire the cannon stabs one of the other controllers in the back and steps away with a gleam of insanity in his eyes. "FOR THE VOID!"

The stabbed controller falls to the ground, dying. The void cultists however aren't just dying... they're... Exploding. Exploding into void creatures. Creatures whose very taint is destroying the work that Harkashan has done to hallow this mountain. The last void cultist turns, seemingly intent on doing as much damage as is possible.

GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+1: (8)+33+1: 42
GAME: Rune rolls damage1+1d6: aliased to 1d6+8+1d6: (3)+8+(3): 14
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+31: (16)+31: 47
GAME: Irshya rolls will: (10)+13: 23

The void creatures slowly roll forward. One of them staring deep into Irshya's soul but she is unblinking in the face of its horrors. Even though the gibbering that spews forth from its mouth is... Noxious. "VOID... VOID... ALL FOR THE VOID!!! BECOME ONE WITH US!"

The void creature behind that one picks up the dead (or dying) controller and dumps him into its waiting maw. Another tries to do the same to Rune but she slips free before she can be placed inside it's... IS that a mouth? It doesn't seem totally like a mouth. The last of the creatures tries to get position on the rogue but it moves too slowly to catch up to her... yet.

GAME: Eztli casts Getaway. Caster Level: 14 DC: 25
GAME: Eztli casts Haste. Caster Level: 14 DC: 22

Eztli had to repress the urge to scream as the cultists made their presence known, but she knew that it would not actually help anyone in this particular moment. the claws on her right hand where threatening to pierce the back side of her hand, however. The sorcerer brought her less bloody hand to her eyes, causing them to glow with a bright orange light for a split second. "N-nothing-g h-hidd-den!" They stammered, catching a breath afterwards and exhaling, the blood on their hand igniting in the air, her allies growing more limber, quick, and ready for the fight to come.

GAME: Irshya casts Blessing of Fervor. Caster Level: 15 DC: 18
GAME: Irshya rolls 1d20+cleric: (19)+15: 34

The diminutive Goblin smiles up at Rune, revealing a hole in her toothline, where one of her triangular teeth appears to have fallen out. "We've got this.", she says cheerily.

Irshya squeaks as suddenly many of the personnel inside the room start attacking each other and harming themselves. Four of the unfortunate souls burst into otherworldly horrors, sprouting tentacles from their faces. "Ewh."

Then one gets close enough and attempts to stare into Irshya's soul. She simply frowns at it, and gestures with a dainty hand. "Rada protects my soul and heart, foul beast. Go chew rocks."

GAME: Carver rolls weapon24-4+2+4-2: (2)+24+-4+2+4+-2: 26
GAME: Carver rolls weapon24-3: (14)+24+-3: 35
GAME: Carver rolls weapon24-3: (19)+24+-3: 40
GAME: Carver rolls weapon24-3: (2)+24+-3: 23
GAME: Carver rolls weapon24-8: (4)+24+-8: 20
GAME: Carver rolls weapon24-13: (8)+24+-13: 19
GAME: Carver rolls weapon24-3: (16)+24+-3: 37
GAME: Carver rolls 2d8+2d6+4d6+4d6+22+4d8+1d6+2d6+6d6+44: (6)+(7)+(10)+(12)+22+(24)+(2)+(10)+(18)+44: 155

Carver's soul tingles. Effervescent adrenaline sours with the taste of seawater from Irysha's spell mixing with the tang of blood, as snarling jaw's bite hard into the meat of her thumb, red blossoming and spreading across the pristine white of her bow...

Red Harvest,

"I am Asana! Lastborne and Lastliving of Seven! One of us sees the final days and the other's final days are here!"

Crack. Pop. Sizzle. Arrows smoldering with fire hiss like bloody meteors as the battle is joined.

GAME: Skyler rolls acrobatics+5: (5)+20+5: 30
GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1+2+2: (10)+21+2+2: 35
GAME: Skyler rolls damage1+10: aliased to 1d6+10+10: (5)+10+10: 25

"HEY! BAD TOUCH!" Skyler's eyes widen when the voidsent burst out of nowhere, eyes widening as one tries to eat Rune. He relaxes when she wiggles away, shaking his head, "RUDE! Consent!" He pauses, gives Jarik a quick wink before blowing the half-orc a kiss and bashing the buttons before sprinting away.

A tentacle wiggles at him, but he effortlessly dodges it, clicking his heels so that fiery energy surges up his boots as he barrel rolls through a space between two tentacles. He then bounces off the edge of another console, surging forwards towards the cultist. "Lana Banana should sue you for stealing her look!" He snarls, even as he flips his sword into an underhand grasp that lets him use momentum to slice the bare skin of his chest. "I'm allergic to tentacles, y'all got them, right?"

GAME: Jarik casts Steal Breath. Caster Level: 4 DC: 16
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+10: (18)+10: 28

As the controllers suddenly become, well, something that Jarik isn't overly familiar with he makes a disgusted face. "Unnatural." He growls under his breath. Looking to the others as they spring into action without hesitation despite the shock of the situation has him breathing easier. He quickly moves around the battlefield, aided by the Haste spell as he points a finger to the cultist, incanting as he hooks his finger in the air, pulling it to his mouth as he inhales.

For a moment, the air funnel forms, then flicks away as the cultist keeps a hold of the air in his lungs.

GAME: Ravenstongue casts Polymorph Any Object. Caster Level: 20 DC: 31

As Jarik closes in, Cor'lana blinks. Then she smiles. There's a twinkle in her violet eyes. Oh no.

"Let's make some chaos." Cor'lana reaches out and gently taps Jarik on the shoulder, whereupon he transforms into a giant boar that is slightly hovering now. He has quite the large form, with great strong tusks and shaggy fur. He has become the envy of many a porcine being.

She smiles brightly at the enemy. "Go and wreak havoc!" she commands of Jarik. "I'll make sure everyone gets out of this okay." She's not even slightly concerned with the console.

GAME: Aelwyn rolls intimidate: (14)+21: 35
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+27: (9)+27: 36

Aelwyn strides forward when the tentacled beasts rush ahead, flicking his glaive out. It's blade is suddenly lit on flames; the heat surging around it. The ruddy sith-makar's mouth opens and a wide grin appears on his face. "This one is Aelwyn, the Dragoon of the Cockatrice; the one who dances with the flames!" He calls out towards the beasts, like a rational person would. And the draconian slices an array of flames in front of him; before taking a position in front of the tentacled horrors; the little flames fluttering upon his scales. "Yet none of you shall witness it, for today you shall be forgotten." One of the short sith-makar's horn ribbons catches on fire.

GAME: Skyler spends ONE use of CHARMED LIFE.
GAME: Skyler rolls will+4+3: (5)+5+4+3: 17
GAME: Skyler rolls will+4+3: (17)+5+4+3: 29

The cultist grins threateningly at Skyler, stepping back and casting a spell upon the other man. Trying to dominate his mind with magic. Skyler however is less impressed by his magic (and his corset) than can be said of other men in similar situations. "Go kill your friend." He commands, but Skyler doesn't.

Of course he doesn't! Why? Because...

"He isn't my friend, you idiot. He's my *boyfriend*! You'd know that, but the only thing you're fucking is stupid." Skyler sneers, as he resists the compulsion.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (13)+20: 33
GAME: Harkashan casts Destruction. Caster Level: 19 DC: 27
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (3)+20: 23

Harkashan is shocked to see that beings such as these had gone unnoticed! What kind of lax security could have been in place around such a critical operation? It's like someone in Alexandria wanted this to fail...

Which is a concerning thought.

Watching in horror as multiple people are being slain around him, he begins to act. Moving with Rune as fast as he can, moving his hand to one of the Lava stones on his armor and actually digging it out with his claws, before throwing it at the hideous being Rune is targetting...

Followed by a searing beam of pale white light, carving a hole through the thing. Not quite eradicating it, but harming it with pure holy power.

GAME: Rune takes ten on bluff+1: (10)+39+1: 50
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+27: (12)+27: 39
GAME: Rune rolls weapon2+1-2: (16)+33+1+-2: 48
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+1-7: (12)+33+1+-7: 39
GAME: Rune rolls weapon2+1-7: (6)+33+1+-7: 33
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+1-12: (4)+33+1+-12: 26
GAME: Rune rolls weapon2+1-12: (20)+33+1+-12: 42 (THREAT)
GAME: Rune rolls weapon2+1-12+4: (3)+33+1+-12+4: 29
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+1: (4)+33+1: 38
GAME: Rune rolls damage2+1d6+10d6: aliased to 1d6+8+1d6+10d6: (4)+8+(2)+(26): 40
GAME: Rune rolls damage1+1d6+10d6: aliased to 1d6+8+1d6+10d6: (1)+8+(6)+(30): 45
GAME: Rune rolls damage2+1d6+10d6: aliased to 1d6+8+1d6+10d6: (2)+8+(2)+(33): 45
GAME: Rune rolls damage2+1d6+10d6: aliased to 1d6+8+1d6+10d6: (3)+8+(6)+(35): 52
GAME: Rune rolls damage1+1d6+10d6: aliased to 1d6+8+1d6+10d6: (5)+8+(4)+(44): 61

Rune might be questioning why it is that she always ends up surrounded by creatures of the tentacled variety. Perhaps she simply pissed off the wrong mimic at some point and now has angered every being of dark wibbliness that has ever existed. Thankfully, the rogue is relatively quick and able to avoid being snagged and turned into a snack. "Tsk, tsk. Hasn't anyone ever told you eating people is bad for your health? Goes straight to your waistline." Her brows furrow. "Not that you have a waistline."

With Harkashan coming to join her, the rogue peeks between the flailing tendrils of the void creature, giving him a nod. She ducks just in time for him to blast a hole through one of the creatures, and then turns towards the other, lashing out with a series of quick blade strikes that lop off a number of those grasping tendrils. They splat to the ground and writhe around, spurting foul ichor everywhere. It's a mess.

"Why can't we ever just fight something normal for once?" She wipes a bit of the blood off of her cheek. "What the fuck are these things?"

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+25: (14)+25: 39
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+25: (1)+25: 26 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+25: (19)+25: 44
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+25: (3)+25: 28
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+25: (18)+25: 43
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+25: (15)+25: 40
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+25: (12)+25: 37
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+25: (10)+25: 35
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d8+9+2d6: (5)+9+(7): 21
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d8+9+2d6: (4)+9+(4): 17
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d8+9+2d6: (3)+9+(10): 22

It's the fall of void creatures. Gibbering to the void that is their master they make frenzied attacks upon the group. Irshya and Aelwyn take the brunt of their attacks, but the ones attacking Rune and Harkashan are barely alive and still standing. Their attacks simply lack the luster that they should have. Still, their voices rise in deafening cacophony. "FOR THE VOID! BLOT OUT THE LIGHT! BREAK THE RIGHT! BECOME ONE!!!"

GAME: Eztli casts Getaway. Caster Level: 14 DC: 25
GAME: Eztli rolls 1d20+11+2: (16)+11+2: 29
GAME: Eztli rolls 1d20+11+2: (19)+11+2: 32
GAME: Eztli rolls 1d20+11+2: (15)+11+2: 28
GAME: Eztli rolls 4d6+4: (12)+4: 16
GAME: Eztli rolls 4d6+4: (12)+4: 16
GAME: Eztli rolls 4d6+4: (15)+4: 19
GAME: Eztli casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 14 DC: 23
GAME: Eztli rolls 1d20+11+2: (5)+11+2: 18
GAME: Eztli rolls 1d20+11+2: (16)+11+2: 29
GAME: Eztli rolls 1d20+11+2: (1)+11+2: 14 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Eztli rolls 4d6+4: (18)+4: 22
GAME: Eztli rolls 4d6+4: (16)+4: 20

Eztli gathered a stream of flames around her arm, conjuring numerous streams of flames that coalesced into several flaming spears, which a flick of the wrist sent hurtling towards one of the abominations, showering it in flames. A normal creature would likely be burnt to a crisp, but it seemed whatever spawned these creatures made them frighteningly durable.

GAME: Irshya rolls cleric: (1)+15: 16 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Irshya rolls cleric: (3)+15: 18
GAME: Irshya rolls cleric: (18)+15: 33
GAME: Irshya rolls cleric: (6)+15: 21
GAME: Irshya rolls cleric: (6)+15: 21
GAME: Irshya rolls 3d6: (12): 12
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+11: (5)+11: 16

The Goblin takes one lashing from the creature's tentactles, whimpering slightly in pain. She glances around, seeming satisfied that her companions, defenders of the spell cannon, are still standing, and do not seem to be in dire straights.

Bolsters by this, she begins to hop from foot to foot, gesturing with her trident. Little crackles of electricity begin to jump between the tines of the weapon, and occasionally jump to her hair, where they fizzle and pop.

"THE DEPTHS WILL SWALLOW ALL YOU'VE KNOWN

CARVED INTO YOUR DYING BONES

I AM THE STORM."

A bolt of lightning crackles into the horror before her. And then the trident points to the one near Cor'Lana.

"FIRE PAINTS A MOONLIT SKY

ALL WHO OPPOSE ME SHALL DIE!

I AM THE STORM"

Another bolt hits the one before Cor'Lana. The trident again and again, with lightning striking downwards against the enemies before Harkashan and Rune.

"I AAAAM THE STORM!"

GAME: Carver spends ONE use of JUDGMENT.
GAME: Carver rolls weapon24-2: (19)+24+-2: 41
GAME: Carver rolls weapon24-2: (6)+24+-2: 28
GAME: Carver rolls weapon24-2: (4)+24+-2: 26
GAME: Carver rolls weapon24-2: (4)+24+-2: 26
GAME: Carver rolls weapon-7: (18)+0+-7: 11
GAME: Carver rolls weapon24-7: (9)+24+-7: 26
GAME: Carver rolls weapon24-12: (1)+24+-12: 13 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Carver rolls 2d8+2d6+4d6+22: (16)+(7)+(13)+22: 58

Carver slips to her right, clearing line of fire as Aelwyn boasts of dancing with fire, her small collection of monster's trophies and trinkets clittering together; almost like the laughing of a pack of coyotes.

Her bow's string sizzles as more of those fiery arrows howl across the gap, pounding into the void's embraced, boiling and piercing mounds of abberant flesh.

GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1+2: (3)+21+2: 26
GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1+2: (3)+21+2: 26
GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1+2-5: (20)+21+2+-5: 38 (THREAT)
GAME: Skyler rolls critmonster+2: aliased to weapon1+4+2: (2)+21+4+2: 29
GAME: Skyler rolls damage1+damage1+swashbuckler+swashbuckler: aliased to 1d6+10+1d6+10+swashbuckler+swashbuckler: (4)+10+(6)+10+10+10: 50

The swashbuckler moves with precision and surprising intelligence towards the cultist, "Is the barbeque cancelled?" Skyler sneers towards him. His blade swishes twice, a blow to the left that is dodged, a blow to the right that barely misses, and then a wicked blow to his face, aiming for his mouth. "Coz your grill is about to get fucked up!"

GAME: Jarik rolls 1d8: (8): 8
GAME: Jarik rolls 1d8: (5): 5
GAME: Jarik rolls 1d8: (1): 1 
GAME: Jarik rolls 1d8: (2): 2
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+11: (5)+11: 16
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+11: (3)+11: 14
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+11: (2)+11: 13

Jarik is only to happy to accept Cor'lana's spell. A smile growing in his now porcine visage as he stomps and snorts, getting used to this particular boarish form. So much more powerful than what he's used to. With a snort, he steps forward looking like he's about to stomp some tentacle beasts into paste, but after a moment his snout scrunches up and his eyes squeeze shut. Then with a trumpeting sneeze, a blast of rainbow colors issues out the piggy snout of the giant boar, washing over the two void monsters and leaving one of them a rock.

The boar Jarik takes a moment to look truly confused by this bizarre outcome.

GAME: Ravenstongue casts Feeblemind/Quicken. Caster Level: 20 DC: 31
GAME: Ravenstongue casts Hold Monster/Persistent. Caster Level: 20 DC: 29
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+21: (11)+21: 32
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+21: (12)+21: 33
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+21: (15)+21: 36

Cor'lana smiles almost grimly as Jarik reduces one of the monsters to stone. She looks over at the cultist that Skyler is squaring off with, and she decides that the cultist cannot be allowed to live. He's stealing her style, for one thing.

Her violet eyes flare with life as she stokes the magic in her hands. "Be without _sense_," she snarls at the cultist, then, for good measure, she adds, "And stay in your place!"

Yet, when she releases the magic, the cultist doesn't seem much at all affected, shrugging it off. Cor'lana's dark lashes bat in surprise. "That usually works," she murmurs. Maybe her corset's not laced tightly enough. Maybe... he's immune to corset?

GAME: Aelwyn rolls perform/dance: (17)+15: 32
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+19: (12)+19: 31
GAME: Aelwyn rolls weapon19-4+2+1+2: (11)+20+-4+2+1+2: 32
GAME: Aelwyn rolls weapon19-4+2+1+2: (15)+20+-4+2+1+2: 36
GAME: Aelwyn rolls weapon19-4+2+1+2-5: (5)+20+-4+2+1+2+-5: 21
GAME: Aelwyn rolls weapon19-4+2+1+2-10: (13)+20+-4+2+1+2+-10: 24
GAME: Aelwyn rolls damage19+1d6+12: aliased to 1d10+5+1d6+12: (1)+5+(5)+12: 23
GAME: Aelwyn rolls damage19+1d6+12: aliased to 1d10+5+1d6+12: (3)+5+(2)+12: 22

Aelwyn lets the chaos unfold around himself - even the rainbow puke - as he steps up. His glaive slides out in practiced ease, luring one of the beasts into a rhytmic dance of his own. Swing, sway, parry - and ultimately, death, as the Dragoon thrusts his glaive into the creature's depths.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+27: (5)+27: 32
GAME: Skyler spends ONE use of CHARMED LIFE.
GAME: Skyler rolls will+4+2+3: (12)+5+4+2+3: 26

The void cultist tries another spell on Skyler, but this has about as much effect as the previous one. "All things die! And so shall you!" His voice is hateful and angry. Things are not going as planned.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+25: (13)+25: 38
GAME: Harkashan casts Miracle. Caster Level: 19 DC: 29
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (11)+20: 31
GAME: Harkashan rolls 10d6: (28): 28
GAME: Harkashan rolls 11d6: (41): 41

Harkashan's holy light continues to beam down on the creature, but it's clear the power is no longer enough to tear through its defenses. "People are getting hurt over the other way, so I'm going to interfere. You've got this." Harkashan rumbles to Rune with certainty, healing over to the other side of the controls, whence his sacred power emboldens and knits the wounds of his allies!

GAME: Rune rolls weapon2-2+1: (3)+33+-2+1: 35
GAME: Rune rolls damage2+1d6+10d6: aliased to 1d6+8+1d6+10d6: (2)+8+(1)+(44): 55
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+1-7: (5)+33+1+-7: 32
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+1-7: (9)+33+1+-7: 36
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+1-12: (16)+33+1+-12: 38
GAME: Rune rolls weapon2+1-12: (6)+33+1+-12: 28
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+1: (4)+33+1: 38
GAME: Rune rolls damage1+1d6: aliased to 1d6+8+1d6: (3)+8+(1): 12
GAME: Rune rolls damage2+1d6: aliased to 1d6+8+1d6: (4)+8+(5): 17
GAME: Rune rolls damage1+1d6: aliased to 1d6+8+1d6: (4)+8+(5): 17
GAME: Rune rolls damage1+1d6: aliased to 1d6+8+1d6: (5)+8+(5): 18

The expression that Rune shoots in Harkashan's direction as he excuses himself from the fight is comical. There she stands, void-creature blood splattered across her face, and he's off merrily skipping to the other side of the room, leaving her with two tentacled creatures wobbling menacingly in her direction. "Fine." She grumps. "Keeping our friends safe matters more. But you owe me after this one, and I intend to collect." Ominous.

Rune looks towards the creature she'd been previously fighting, makes a distracting flourish of her blades, and then stabs it straight in the core, slicing down the middle and neatly parting it in half. Then, the rogue looks at the one Harkashan had left behind. It is also barely hanging on, so Rune just tears into it, slashing down two of the appendages before stabbing both blades into the heart of the beast.

Afterwards, she steps out from the mess and looks around, eyes narrowing on the cultist, but she seems to be holding back, at least for now.

GAME: Eztli casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 14 DC: 23
GAME: Eztli rolls 1d20+11+2: (18)+11+2: 31
GAME: Eztli rolls 1d20+11+2: (5)+11+2: 18
GAME: Eztli rolls 1d20+11+2: (3)+11+2: 16
GAME: Eztli rolls 4d6+4: (11)+4: 15
GAME: Eztli rolls 4d6+4: (13)+4: 17
GAME: Eztli rolls 4d6+4: (16)+4: 20

Eztli, seeing the remaining cultist, flew off to one side of the room, finding a better angle on one of the cultists. Conjuring another trio of flaming bolts with a practiced motion of their healthy hand, a flick of the sorceress' wrist sent them careening into the person, covering them in white hot flames. "YOU WILL NOT TAKE THE FUTURE FROM ME AGAIN!" The small makari snarled, the flames lingering a touch longer than prior, leaving a stiff and blackened body when they subsided. <Draconic>

... And there each of you stand, in the control room, the cultist, the void creatures all defeated. One turned to an eerie statue… when you see through the glass…

Him.

The great shadow of the dragon spans the horizon, great wings outstretched as if they could blot out the sun itself. So great in size and scale, this monstrosity that its visible in detail even from this far away from it. A flock of others accompany it, smaller, but no less fearsome. Dragons so black as to be living shadows.

Quickly the controllers jump into their positions, one of them grabbing Skyler by the shirt and yelling for him to get into one of the controller pods. Which… he does.

Each of the dragons are stricken. Voices in their minds, calling out.

"ALL FOR HETH! ALL FOR HETH! THE FIRST BORN! HAIL THE FIRST BORN"

Thousands of voices. The fallen of Dragonier, forced to worship their murderer's divine birth right.

And then a great thrumming. The hair on the back of the neck stands up. Energy. Building up. The great complex of the Spell Cannon opens wide and the barrel of the gun itself arises from the mountain, glowing with brilliant white light that seems to distort everything around it.

...and then it fires.