Tales of the Heroes

[Asinjin]

Battle of Mount Ila'Alnar part 7

The next day started off not different than any previous day.  The noose would be close several dozen feet.  Planes would bomb the mountain.  Scouts would make their counts of sighted enemies.   Such was the progress that the Icefian artillery was hopeful that bombardments could start soon.  Talk among the soldiers was that things were going well enough that tinker artillery might soon arrive.

But the day did not long stay like the many other before it.  Calls of warning rang out from spotters and scouts.  Those posted the most advanced fled back.  The mountain spewed forth not lava, but mixed with the endless smoke a flock of creatures.  They were all manner of things, thousands of them.  Fiends and demons, celestials and shadow, animal and beast, elemental and undead.  Running, flying, swimming, crawling, hopping and floating.  The swarm rushed down the mountain side like a perverted creeping doom.

“Clearly summoned”, Khenmet said as he and many other watched from outside the tent.  “And if they aren’t?” Koth asked as he lifted his heavier than it had ever felt hammer.

Not able to take the chance, Dourvan motioned to one of the Nomad Lords who raised a pillar of sand under him so that all could see.  Calling out direction in a voice the was reassuring and seemed as if spoken to each ally individually, the deity of strategy moved the field as a chess board.  In a unison the diverse forces could never have hoped to achieve, the formed up lines of defense faster than the swarm descended the mountain.

The military among them marveled at the sight.  Arion and the prince of the elves teared at he magnificent of the dwarf’s power and ability.  The only ones there not out of devotion to the cause, the Trio of Gold, were even inspired it.  As quickly as it had come, the swarm vanished.

“A test.” Dourvan spoke, and all agreed.”  There was quiet and concern.  The army waited in place for thirty minutes.  The sound of planes could be heard above, waiting for an order.  One figure walked out beyond the lines.  The only bugbear present, Knot strode out defiantly.  Yelling in bugbear at the mountain, he turned, bent over presented backside.  The army roared.  The rest of the day was quiet.

[Asinjin]

Battle of Mount Ila'Alnar part 8

While there was no way to prove or disprove it, many argued that the arrival of the Collector’s agent triggered the mountain and Sutyr to act.  Certainly, from that day forward, there were few quiet ones.  Not a day in the next thirty passed when the swarm did not descend from the mountain.  Each day it would have some different combination of creatures.  Always summoned, they tested and probed.  They slowed advance of the allies, they made some nervous, and other anxious.  Some clamored for action, which in turn took time and energy away from their efforts to keep everyone on task and on plan.

Only Dourvan’s presence allowed for such a diverse collection to function together.  The other leaders, Haas, Arion, Raygen, Dedaryl, Bezeded S'z't, and Kven the leader of the ice gnomes began to worry about an assassination attempt.  Some thought it silly to even consider the thought.  A quasi deity, assassinated?  To put their minds at ease, they assigned two to bodyguard Dourvan.  First, they asked one of the dragons, the one called Miril.  Second, they asked Tania Falconsoul.  Both would not leave his side.

In the midst of that, Malchia returned, this time accompanied by a slick and pompous looking fellow.  Word spread that it was the high cleric of the Collector, named Natsu.  Hours later, the two left the tent, carrying one of the lead boxes.  Once outside, the high cleric declared.  “Today, thanks to the wisdom of the religion of Stasis and the greatness of the almighty Collector, you have all been delivered a gift, assured victory!”  A cheer rose up and dozens went to sleep more confident that they would survive the battle.

The day after the Collector’s agents left, the bombardment began.  Icefian ballista began to pound the mountain.  The did not expect to collapse it, but giants and wizards were not imperious to falling rocks.  They needed to sleep and feel some security.  Now planes by night and artillery by day would endlessly pound the mountain.  Spotters began to pick out spells being used to deflect the attacks, something that had not been done before.  The leaders sighed and hoped the plan was working.

The call three days after the bombardment began was one of great alarm.  Ajax sensed a new type of presence in the field of battle.  Other confirmed that undead were now in play.  The leaders gathered in the tent to discuss.  Now new enemies had entered the mountain to date.  Was this a sign of growing concern on their part.  Could it be good that they were worried, or bad that they were able to call reinforcements.  It proved neither was true.  Saren went to Ajax and confirmed to each other who now approached.

Still at a distance, covered in shadow despite the sunny day, a man with skin drooping neared.  Trailing behind him was a collection of creatures that appalled the paladins and many others gathered.  They got no closer, but their leader did.

“In the name of Vestilion, I Harrick, his high cleric, do offer the services of our religion in the most noble cause.”

[Zunder]

Harrick looks at Ajax with his hands up.. " Before you go off and Glory Bolt me 6 times, I'm still not evil "

[Asinjin]

Battle of Mount Ila'Alnar part 9

The reaction of the Icefians and those from Gnarland was nearly hostile to the appearance of the undead fire users; and none of the groups that made up the army were pleased.  A conclave was called, the activities of the day were slowed.  The tent, which had grown non magically so that it could accommodate a hundred individuals was active with debate.  Only a few weren’t present, making sure the field was not empty of leadership should the mountain launch an attack.
“What are we if we ally with them?”
“They are as close to what we are fighting against as is possible?”
“We allow the shades to be here, how different are they?”
“Sutyr and the Iottians cannot be prepared for them, it is a clear advantage.”

The choice to expel the Gremlins had been a practical one, and almost no one had dissented from the choice.  This posed a problem.  Some members seemed adamant they would not participate if Harrick and his minions were allowed to stay.  Others demanded that if this threat was as great as was they were lead to believe, no help could be turned away, if it was, then the threat was not that great and they should reconsider the plan.

Dourvan had become the leader, but he could not help here.  “The strategic decision is simple.  They make our mission easier.  They can be put to great use in the field.  I would have them stay, but I understand some of your objections.  Victory at any cost may cost you the ultimate victory.  Whatever you decide, decide soon.  Indecision here is the worst path.”

Lukius, likely the second most respected at the gathering, recused himself.  While some had hoped based on him being here at all he would enter the debate, in truth, that was a lot to ask.  Haas took the center and as judge set the rules.  “One day to decide, then we vote.  Discuss and debate.  I will start.  Their actions say that want to help.  For me, for this moment, that is enough.”  For the next day, the debate raged.  As arguments grew, fights began.  Vishtoo and ice gnomes, elves and tinkers, Icefians and fey.  The worst of it saw Valizar take great umbrage over the perceived insulting of Grand Father Haas.  He nearly squeezed the life out of Jamison Wokal, before others calmed the situation.

The Trio of Gold watched the debates with great amusement.  They were obligated to be present by payment, so their vote was for help to stay, anything that made the battle better for their side.  As the only mercenaries present, they proved their worth in that day.  Khenmet figured it out first, and protected himself, followed by his partners.  He went to talk to Dourvan to confirm what he saw.  Soon after, the wizards were rushing around, ahead of the growing anger in camp, dispelling and warding.  The Iottians were in the mix, casting spells of rage and influence.  A mad race against time began.  Stop the enchantment from spreading and find the Iottians.  Planes were grounded. War machines were stopped just before they were fired at the distant undead.  Vishtoo pulled out of the gnomish trenches.

Prince Dedaryl and Palaat claimed the only prize of the day and scored the first casualty among the defenders that they knew.  An Iottian wizard, a human in her 40’s, undetectable in all ways, found only by physically running into her.  They took her alive, but soon learned a valuable piece of intelligence at a great cost.  As the two dragged her towards a pit which had been prepared and called for help, she exploded.  The Trio, the most skilled wizards present used to working together would later say she had initiated the spell which then triggered all of her magic items to explode.  The blast annihilated Palaat, nearly killed Dedaryl, and left more twenty nearby fey and elves dead.

Saren commented shortly after, “If they get desperate, and enough of the Iottians decide there is no option left, we will all die out here.”

[Windblade]

Any one know what was in the case that was traded to collector which sealed the deal of selling our soul to the devil or more precisely the slaad.

[Asinjin]

Battle of Mount Ila'Alnar part 10

The vote was held the next day, and although by this point is was clear that Harrick was going to be allowed to stay, the sobering attack and loss of life drove home the need to all the help they could get.  The leadership overwhelmingly voted to allow them to stay, although it was made clear that they were not intermingle with most of the others.  It was decided that Kagetora Uso and Kaiu Tingsho would be the liaisons between the groups.  With the decision made, and a brief ceremony held to honor the fallen, Dourvan spoke.

“The time is now.  Although months remains, I calculate that they will grow more desperate.  Our numbers will continue to grow, more allies will arrive.  As they do, the mountain will see that and grow less confident.  They will recruit more allies and look to delay ours from arriving.  Their ability to stay cohesive is better than ours.  There is a greater chance, as we have seen recently, of us losing ground in the escalation of forces.  Nearly wiping out both sides and forcing this to start again benefits them, as they only need to stall and we need to win.  The circle has closed enough to allow for success.  We can succeed.  Ready your armies.  No need to hide, they will see and know.  We go tomorrow.”

With energy and confidence, the tent emptied and everyone prepared.  Only Escalon and Ajax remained with the dwarf.  Moments later, they were both gone, having left not only the area, but the plane.  Dourvan went out to a position a quarter mile from the bottom of the mountain.  From there, here rose on the sand pillar the nomad lords had made for him and began to conduct.

Hair perfectly organized, trimmed and even grey all the way around, the dwarf looked every bit the Maestro.  His short sword his baton, his breast plate emblazoned with grey shield and brown cross of his faith, he began his work.  Dash described the scene from above as if he was watching a swarm of ants moving in perfect harmony.  It was incredible to see the coordination between such disparate forces.  The planes, now flying lower than ever, dropped bombs that shook the mountain.  The Icefian Artillery rattled it as well, now within range to unleash the heaviest of loads.  All this took place under one sun or two, as it was hot and little night would give them comfort.  The ice gnomes, their trenches completed, moved into position from the south, closer than any other force.  The undead took the eastern front, farthest from the rest.  The Vishoo flew to the north, Haas, Valizar joining them.  The elves were to the southeast.  The tinker golems, the slowest of the forces moved from the west.  The Icefians and their knights took the northern flank.  The rest mixed into the forces where they were needed and able.  The nomad lords took the task of protecting Dourvan on the battlefield.

For hours, the bombardment continued.  After four hours, as the short night began, the mountain started to respond.  Elementals spewed out racing towards planes and artillery.  The planes scattered, Dourvan directing them to head in certain directions and the dragons went to work destroying them.  Hidden by the night and the smoke, the three chased and dispatched the elementals one by one.  Those that came for the Icefian artillery were more successful, but partially by design.  The Icefians retreated and allowed the elementals to go to work.  But artillery had been protected magically, and only a few were destroyed, but the elementals suffered mightily.  The tinker golems, each sporting elemental engines of great size and stationed nearby began to suck in elemental after elemental, discharging the them back out as quickly as they absorbed them, wiping away waves after wave.  Guardians and the other heroes moved swiftly to the area to help out the fight.

By the time the sun rose a few short hours later, the bombardment would begin anew.  Dourvan, master calculator of forces, strategist supreme, spoke softly to nearby Haas.  “Our odds have improved after that first round.” 
Haas responded, “Never tell me the odds.”

It was the 16th day of the 8th month of 815.

[Asinjin]

Any one know what was in the case that was traded to collector which sealed the deal of selling our soul to the devil or more precisely the slaad.

I do.

[Malchia]

It was the 16th day of the 8th month of 785.

Should this read 815?

[Asinjin]

The forces ate breakfast where they stood.  Morale was impressive considering what was coming.  The assembled leaders were some of the best at what they did and had proven during the months that they were willing to die with the rest.  Arion, Gnorsendar, Bezeded, Dedaryl, Kven, and even Spaz were all liked if not loved by the troops.  The assembled heroes were no less impressive.  Two hundred individuals that by themselves could likely defeat a dozen giants, a swarm of elementals, or a handful of fiends were gathered.  It was the several dragons and the presence of a quasi deity which gave them more comfort than all of that.

After morning, the weather came.  All manner of wind and storm were summoned to thwart the allies.  Dourvan had foreseen this tactic, and the counters were in place.  The artillery paused for less than an hour as the field was cleared, and it began again.  The forces moved closer, encircling the mountain in a tighter ring.  As he suspected, the mountain unleashed a swarm of summoned creatures.  The swarm that had experienced before rolled down again.  For the first time, the armies would come melee.  There were no lesser troops in their midst, there were no easy pickings for the summoned.  All that was here were elite troops, each the match for a giant spider or fiendish griffon.  Whether because they flew or were in trenches, or protected by shield walls or arrow storms, the forces were little effected by the swarms.

The heroes, dispersed among the soldiers deftly found the assassins in the ranks of the summoned.  Fiends would kill the occasional soldier, but once revealed, they were sound destroyed.  Spells with great distance would test the lines, only to be countered by spellcasters.  The circle tightened again.  The nomad lord Renalshaw, leader of them, fell to the ground, convulsing and stricken by a dozen spells, he died painfully in moments.  Dourvan motioned to Juhutimose, who sent their allies in the Great Forest.
Battle of Mount Ila'Alnar part 11

Now was the time, Tchau had received the order.  He turned to Ash.  “It has begun, I will go in, you know what to do.”

With a snarl, Ash growled back in elven, “I hate you; I hope you die too in there.  Dedestroyt curse you and your kind.”  He spit.  Tchau did not respond and flew through the forest.

Once he was out of sight, Ash picked up his bow and turned to towards Vor’Ruk.  The orc was chatting with Rompei and grooming his horse.  “You sure there’s no way to get him in there?  Would make this easier.”  Ash didn’t speak.  He pulled back the bow string and aimed true.  “You will be avenged.”

[Asinjin]

Ash's List:

Lana Swiftbreeze

Half breed bastard orc that captured Malchia

Douche clowns that killed Ty

Trix Topshot

Pompous Ass that Called himself the Kingtaker

vigilantes that helped kill Wilham

Fal Swift

Esyan Pavrosa

so-called Iottian governor of Southern Yellowia putz

doppelganger assassin that killed Alwidst's consort

Vowgist Sharpe

Henry Forreshot

Governor of Yellowia

Tchau

[Asinjin]

Should this read 815?

Yes, will change

[Asinjin]

Battle of Mount Ila'Alnar part 12

Walking into the circle of magic was it is being reconstructed is no small task for virtually anyone in the world.  But Tchau was one of the most notable members of Iottian arcanery, and he had some privileges.

“How goes the progress?”  The twenty arcanists paused their work.  The four guards looked to him.  The momentary pause was all Tchau needed.  Bursting into flame, his formed raced through the guards.  Each one was hammered by a fiery first that looked to stun and ignite them.  Almientiro, unleashed a fiery blast that engulfed the arcanists.  The timing was perfect.  Vor’Ruk appeared, city cleaver in hand.

One last time, the orc charged the stones.  He charged and chopped and Tchau held back the guards and arcanists.  It could not have gone better.  Shocked and unprepared, the Iottians could not handle Tchau.  Fire exploded every round and before any response of meaning could happen, only two guards stood against their fiery foe.  Vor’Ruk had cleaved through all but two of the stones.

“Its over, burn to death hear or take your chances out there.” The guards fled, but not quickly once they realized Tchau was not paying attention.  A lifetime of magic was strewn in the circle, the two would live happy lives with that bounty.

Vor’Ruk approached the last stone and paused, “What will happen after this?”  There was no one there to answer except the fiery elf who shook his head.  Vor’Ruk shouted a prayer and cut through the stone.  In a flash, he was gone as was city cleaver.

In Intoria, Dourvan sensed it and waited.  It took a few minutes, but the fey began to report.  Spaz confirmed “Chaos inside the mountain.  The Iottians are going mad, their powerful spells are failing, they need time to re-prepare.”  Dourvan allowed a smile and a nod.  He pointed his sword towards the mountain.

“Charge!”

[Asinjin]

Battle of Mount Ila'Alnar part 13

Mount Ila'Alnar was not an original part of the desert’s edge range which was the capital of Baenrl.  It was created by Sutyr as he arrived on Habololy hundreds of years ago.  Crafted to be a symbol of his power and his high temple, the lone mountain rises two thousand feet from the rock and sand.  It is surrounded on all sides by a mostly flat landscape.  To the south, hill begin and continued until the range of moutnains starts.  To the west and north, desert for miles.  In the west, it become sandy quickly, while in the north it is a harder landscape of desert.  To the east, after several miles is the desert’s edge road that marks the border between Intoria and the Great Forest.  The mountain oversees the road, and has long threatened it.

This is the place where the battle to banish Sutyr was fought.  On his terms, but with no where left for the deity to retreat to in Habololy.  Should his avatar he destroyed, his power would fade to a level that would not sustain those who might still believe in him.  It had been quite a long time since this had happened.  Cults had come and gone, but to have one defeated in such a way was rare.  What was strange to those among the allies that knew history and some religion was why this was such an imperative task.  Sutyr likely had less power than anytime since he first arrived on Habololy.  For a decade, the guardians and other goodly forces had sough out his unholy places and his faithful.  Only his following in Iott sustained him now, and Iott looked to be fading from the world stage as well.  Something else must be the cause of this urgency.  If some of the leaders of the attack knew, and some surely must, they did not share with the others.  Luckily, few thought about it that deeply and most were content to know that defeating an evil cult deity was reason enough.


The call to charge echoed around the mountain.  Soldiers heard the call in the ears and their heads.  They knew what they had to do, guided by divine direction and a plan that had been made clear to all.  Even the undead had been placed into the grand strategy by the master planner.  The artillery stopped, the planes circled, the soldiers advanced.  Fey flew invisibly ahead of each group, looking for pitfalls.  A quarter of the way there, and still no retort from the mountain.  They pushed farther, not in a sprint, but on double time up the ever-inclining slope.  There was not sign of giant or fiend, elemental or wizard.  None thought for a moment that it was over, that surrender neared.

Spaz was the first to figure out from where the attack would come.  Flying with several of fey ahead of the elves, a fey hound found a hole.  Thinking it only a small hole and expecting to escape, it went in to Spaz’s dismay.  He chased after it and heard a crunch and squish.  Only in the hole a moment, Spaz was able to see.  A stone wall, part of the mountain.  Hollowed out and thin enough for giant to crash through yet thick enough to prevent magic penetration.  Spinning around he launched a red trailing sparkling comet, the signal for all stop.  The fey leaders had been given them by the tinkers.

In the next few minutes, the full chaos of battle erupted.  The allies stopped and waited for orders.  The fey began to mark the areas of thin stone in hopes that they could be targeted by artillery.  The mountain hoped to wait for the soldiers to get closer, but seeing that their plan had been uncovered, the call for attack before an advantage that could be had was lost.  A brass horn blew from deep inside the mountain.  Giants with mighty hammers blasted away the tone walls that held them back.  Cloaked by mists and fogs and other minor spells to hide them eight columns of fire giants flowed out of the mountain.  Each column rushed towards an objective.  Each column seemed endless in the way a line of two hundred giants might seem.

The fey scattered, not out of fear or cowardice, but as instructed.  The Icefians formed a block and readied themselves.  The vishtoo took to the air and met the eye level of the giants.  The gnomes retreated to their trenches.  The elves set their spear wall and began to pour arrows into the giants.  Only one column of giants stopped quickly.  The one that moved out to face the undead stopped.  Gathering boulders and spears, the readied to bombard the undead.  Farther up the mountain, more rubble began to fall and more walls were knocked out as spotters saw the mountain’s artillery began to take its place.

The pieces on the board moved as Dourvan had predicted.  Nothing he saw he had not thought might happen.  What he could not control was the nerves and skill of those he commanded, although he lent every one of the thousands a bit of skill from his planning.  The giants were in play, the wizards out of commission, the elementals diminished.  “The fiends will come from behind, likely teleporting.”  is what he said.

Each group held its own against the giants.  Prepared, armed, and buoyed by heroes, they held.  The giants were formidable and organized.  The smashed shield and snapped spears, they broke bodies of all types.  They did not break one unit in their initial charge.  They had only needed to hold long enough for the mountain to respond, as it finally did.  Minutes after nearly 2,000 giants had charged out of the mountain, with no allied group having broken, the fiends took the field.  Teleporting in behind the allies, a thousand planar creatures from several planes started appearing.  It was an overwhelming number, one that in a minute would have turned the tide and led to utter defeat.  As the soldiers kept fighting the giants, the heroes that were mixed in and waiting turned to the fiends and planar creatures.

Dourvan motioned his sword and Lukius nodded.  He called to Ajax.

[Asinjin]

Battle of Mount Ila'Alnar part 14

For hours that could not be counted in the same way time was measured on Habololy, Ajax has traveled the planes.  Now, he heard the call.  Looking back at the group he had gathered, he felt confident as he could be.  But the plane called to him.  Every time he came here, it was harder to leave.  He wondered how may more times he could make this trip before the call would be too great.  But he dismissed the thought for at least the moment.  Calling upon his divine power, Ajax again opened a gate.  He would open several in the next minute and nearly collapse from the effort.

Over but not directly above the mountain, the gate opened against the sun so that few could see its appearance.  When they saw the results, either joy or horror befell the viewer.  Dropping like a stone and stopping on a coin above the other Vistoo was one with platinum skin and black wings instead of a cape.  Armed with a great sword, he shown in the sun and inspired the Vistoo that had never seen such a thing.  With every swing of his sword, a fiend seemed to die.  Inspired in a different way, Bezeded S'z't went kill for kill, matching a giant death for each fiend.  The Vishtoo need only watch.

Following him were a flock of archons the likes of had not been seen on Habololy.  With the faces of children, cloaked in garbs with no armor or weapons, they descended softly on flower petal wings.  They did not attack the fiends or giants, but sprinkled petals from their wings.  When the landed on the wounded, they healed.  When they landed on the enemy, they calmed.  When the landed on the fiends, they burned with holy fire.

Next came a Solar, the first that Habololy had seen in thirty years.  Winged and emblazoned with the symbol of Hemator, many of the heroes soon recognized the form and features of the Saint Solaris.  Soaring across the sky he hurtled around the mountain smiting the flying fiends as he circled.

Ajax did not descend like a glorious angel, but walked up to Dourvan’s position and let out a deep sigh.  Engrossed in action, Dourvan managed a nod and smile.  The Nomad Lords rushed off into battle as did Dourvan’s other bodyguards.  Ajax remained with the Trio of Gold, who floated about, mostly unable to help with meaningful magic disabled.

With the battle fully raging, with his plans mostly played out, Dourvan pondered the outcomes and wondered one which side the coin would land.

[Asinjin]

Battle of Mount Ila'Alnar part 15

It was a rare meeting of high clerics that was taking place during the battle.  Lukius, high cleric of The Oldest Orc was aiding the battle with spells and blessings as directed by Dourvan.  But his presence meant far more than those simple spells.  Him being there indicated to the powers of Habololy that this was a time for intervention, perhaps even interference.  It meant that the rules were suspended, forever briefly.  In that short time, around the world, a deity can accomplish a great deal.  But here, at the mountain near the battle one other deity chose to send its high cleric.  Valen Tracenkall, rarest seen of the Counsel deities, ever in a new form, now took the shape of an orcish child, a female one at that.  Had the battle not been raging, Haas and many others would have sensed its presence.  As it was, only Ajax noticed out of the corner of his eye and gave a pouting face.   His sight revealed nothing static.  A changing mass in constant motion and he sensed Compture at play.

“This is fun.” Ajax heard.  Directing for its lord, pointing in amusement, a giant each round was turned into another type of creature.  A moth, a beetle, a toad, a giant Icefian molted hare.

The battle was hard but hoped swelled among the allies.  Guardians and heroes defeated more fiends each round.  Giants failed again and again to break any of the blocks of soldiers.  Songs began to fill the air, piercing the ears of the fiends and uplifting the hearts of the allies.  The winds sang and the sun’s rays seemed to burn a bit less.  Arion, at the head of the Icefians, now moving them up the slope, stowed the hammer and brought out the gemblade.  The first of any of the blocks to do so, they left the fiends behind and the giants fell back.

Not hearing the calls of the guardians in the rear guard, Arion waved the gemblade in an arc in front of him and cut a burning light through the fiends in front of him.  They did not flinch and he paused, but too late.  The creatures, giant planar creatures armed and adorned like the rest were not fiends.  Why they were here and what they were Arion did not know, but he sensed the jeopardy of the situation.  With the captains of the knights at his sides, he attacked.  The Icefians followed.

Calls went out around the mountain.  A fey sent up a yellow flare near the Icefians calling for aid.  One of the planar giants quickly extinguished it.  With axes and sword, the ten doubled to twenty in a blink.  The giants that had fallen to the sides, still dozens of them cut off a retreat.  Darkwind answered the call, but even he could not get there instantly.  Solaris soared in, but he stalled in his descent seemingly unable to engage these creatures.  Arion watched as his knights were cut down.  Realizing that he was the target and not the soldiers he charged forward, drawing their attention.  Up the mountain he raced, leaving the soldiers behind, hoping to save them.

Ajax could not see the distance, and did not know what was happening.  He sensed something was wrong and the flare concerned him.  “Your king is in jeopardy.” Said Valen, “you may want to relieve him.”  Ajax started off, and then heard, “But if Dourvan dies, the whole plan is in jeopardy.  What to do?”  Lukius murmured in response, “Stay Ajax, help nears Arion faster than you.”

A thunderous boulder smashing his leg, Arion fell to the ground.  Propping himself up, he faced the creatures.  A valiant death was not a terrible thing.  For a cause as worthy as this, he could do far worse.  A hammer crashed down into the head of the leading planar giant, driving it into the ground.  Landing on the creature was a giant of a different type.  Arion had spent only a short time talking the old half orc, but he smiled at Koth’s appearance, above him, briefly, he saw a dragon.  Every bit the warrior Arion was, and not exhausted and wounded, Koth kept the creatures at bay.  Darkwind arrived and drove them farther back.  Enough for the Icefians to gather around the king.

“You okay?” Koth asked.  “No” replied Arion.  His leg shattered, badly wounded and feeling the effects of some planar sickness, the last captain demanded the king withdraw to find a healer.  Arion begrudging agreed.  Koth whistled and an invisible hand carried Arion.  Before he left, he looked to Koth and said, “Would you like to borrow another hammer for a few minutes?”