Vitriolic Blast Lingering Damage (FW1): 4d6 = 11 (Acid) (Unconscious)

Vitriolic Blast Lingering Damage (FS): 2d6 = 3 (Acid)

Vitriolic Blast Lingering Damage (Rena): 4d6 = 11 (Acid)

Vitriolic Blast Lingering Damage (FW2): 2d6 = 4 (Acid)

Melinda’s Tumble Check: 1d20+23 = 32 (Success)

Melinda’s Concentration check: 1d20+16 = 32 (Success)

Melinda’s Attack (Rena): 1d20+20 = 34 (touch) (Hit)

Vitriolic Chain damage: 7d6 = 23 (Acid)

Melinda’s Attack (FW2): 1d20+20 = 24 (touch) (Hit)

Vitriolic Chain: 11 (Acid) (Dead)

As the sizzling acid caused the warrior at my side to collapse into unconsciousness, I rolled forward, and then darted down the stairs and behind the wolf, trying to keep her from focusing too closely on any of the others. When my next blast of acid hit her, I knew I had her full attention. And there was another thump as the last warrior fell, a hole melted in their chest.

Siora’s CL Check: 1d20+11 = 29 (Success)

Rena’s Will Save (Confusion) = 1d20+12 = 19 (Fail)

Siora smirked. “Shouldn’t have let our favorite birdie get so close to you, bitch! Eat this!” A blast of swirling lights flashed from her hands, to the Priestess’s head, causing an immediate effect, as the werewolf suddenly looked totally confused.

Frostmane’s Attack: 1d20+21 = 32 (Hit)

Bite Damage: 1d8+14 = 18 (Piercing) (DR 10/Silver)

Freezing Bite: 1d6 = 2 (Cold Resistance 10)

Frostmane’s Trip Attempt: 1d20+13 = 18

Rena’s STR check: 1d20+21 = 30 (Success)

Frostmane moved to get into melee range of the werewolf, but, being as large as she now was, her melee range was quite a bit larger than Frostmane’s. However, she seemed far too fixated on me, probably as a result of my blasting her. She paid for that when Frostmane’s fangs found her leg, but, despite his best efforts, it seemed the white wolf had finally found a foe that couldn’t be so easily wrestled to the ground.

Rena’s Confusion Roll: 1d100 = 83

Rena’s Attack Roll (Melinda): 1d20+21 = 33 (Miss)

Rena’s Attack Roll (Melinda): 1d20+16 = 24 (Miss)

Rena’s Bite (Melinda): 1d20+17 = 36 (Hit)

Damage: 2d6+13 = 18 (Piercing) (DR 15/Cold Iron)

In her confused and crazed mind, the priestess fixated on me. Now, my dancing was a good bit more frantic, as she was attacking with wild abandon, it seemed. Her fangs snapped shut on my arm, but between my natural defenses and the protection Vestele gave me, I was all right.

Vestele’s Attack (Rena): 1d20+12 = 17 (Miss)

Vestele seemed content to let the fight play out, for the moment. Well, mostly. She didn’t bother with using spells, but, instead, fired a silver bolt from her crossbow at the werewolf. Unfortunately, her normal-size crossbow bolt did crap all when it hit the enlarged hauberk the priestess wore.

Vitriolic Blast Lingering Damage (FW1): 2d6 = 8 (Acid)

Vitriolic Blast Lingering Damage (Rena): 4d6 = 11 (Acid)

Melinda’s Concentration check: 1d20+16 = 27 (Success)

Melinda’s Attack (Rena): 1d20+20 = 38 (touch) (Hit)

Vitriolic Blast damage: 7d6 = 34 (Acid)

I didn’t let the massive jaws that just tried to tear a chunk out of me shake my composure. I kept my movements controlled, and unleashed another blast at the priestess. This time, I didn’t chain it, as there was no need. But it definitely hurt the priestess!

Siora’s attack (Rena): 1d20+12 = 20 (Miss)

Siora’s attack (Rena): 1d20+7 = 21 (Miss)

Two silver-tipped arrows flew from Siora’s shortbow, as she followed her sister’s lead. Unfortunately, she, like her sister, was unable to find a gap in the werewolf’s armor. But that didn’t matter. All that mattered was keeping her distracted and confused long enough for us to finish her.

Frostmane’s Attack: 1d20+21 = 30 (Hit)

Bite Damage: 1d8+14 = 19 (Piercing) (DR 10/Silver)

Freezing Bite: 1d6 = 4 (Cold Resistance 10)

Frostmane’s Trip Attempt: 1d20+13 = 30

Rena’s STR check: 1d20+21 = 32 (Success)

Frostmane clearly felt the same way, as he was quick to bite at the werewolf’s tree trunk of a leg once again. Once again, he made a heroic effort, but failed to bring her to the ground. No matter. From the looks of things, she would be meeting the ground soon enough.

Rena’s Confusion roll: 1d100 = 11

As she was glaring at me, I saw when a moment of clarity broke through the haze of confusion in the priestess’s eyes, and, with it, a moment of panic. Not pausing even to breathe, Rena screamed out, “Regreso!” There was a flash from one of the rings on her finger, which spread to encompass her whole body, and then she was gone.

Your party has defeated Rena Darkmoon, a Fiendwolf Sorceress, and two Fiendwolf Warriors!

Melinda gains 9450 xp.

Frostmane gains 9450 xp.

Siora gains 9450 xp.

Vestele gains 9450 xp.

Loot:

Shifter's Chain Shirt x2

Amulet of Natural Armor +2 x2

+2 Heavy Steel Shield x2

+2 Flaming Longsword x2

+2 Precise Composite (+3) Longbow x2

Belt of Settled Form x4

+1 Cold Iron Dagger x2

Robes of the Manhunter x2

Ring of Protection +2 x2

Bracers of Armor +3 x2

Amulet of Natural Armor +1 x2

Cloak of Charisma +4 x2

“FUCK!”

I cursed loudly, once the shock passed. Oh, I was grateful for the experience points, and the loot would sell well, once we got someplace to sell it, but I was pissed that the damned priestess had managed to escape. This was the second time one of the people leading this fucked up mess had managed to get away from us, and it was pissing me off.

Frostmane chuffed. “Don’t worry about the prey getting away, little bird. She was a strong one, and prepared. We came to her lair, and she still proved a dangerous foe. If she hadn’t been so focused on first the pet and then you, things could have gone very badly.”

Siora nodded. “She let emotions control her. Even so, without your magic, we would have been hard pressed to try and fight her, especially on her ground. You Twice-Born are really cheating existences, you know that, right?”

Vestele shook her head in bemusement. “Indeed. Oh, your individual powers are not so abnormal. In fact, some of them are fairly common. However, the combination you have is, frankly, frightening. It makes me glad that the Succubus Queen and the Frostmaiden are not enemies, even if they are not friends. I wouldn’t want to be on the other side of any battle you’re a part of.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “And yet, even with this ‘frightening combination’, I’ve still been knocked down a couple times by much weaker enemies than that priestess, and those wolves captured me when we broke through that barricade, right? Instead of saying that my abilities are frightening, instead say that they are well suited for the job. A sorceress specializing in flame magics would be far more powerful against a frost giant than one who specialized in ice, no? And a warrior’s strength does not ebb after a full day’s worth of battles, while a wizard must conserve their spells.”

Vestele nodded. “And that new variation of your magical blast, that proved so effective against the demon-touched wolves, looks like it is some variation of Melf’s Acid Arrow, yes? If that is the case, then against something resistant or immune to acid, like a black dragon, you would be in trouble.” She shrugged.

I sighed. That was the truth. Black Dragons were indeed immune to acid, and their bodies resisted most spells, just like demons did. Without the Vitriolic Blast I’d learned, I’d have to either rely on just my fists, or trying to overcome their body’s resistance. “Yeah, I really would like to avoid going up against any dragons or golems. Even now, the tribes of the Dale still tell tales of Chilldeath the White, and how that wyrm ravaged the Frostwind Dale.”

Frostmane chuffed. “Back when I was in a pack, if we ever saw signs of a dragon moving into the area, we started looking for a new place to live. Goblins can be dominated. Giants can be bargained with. Dragons are too powerful for such things.”

I looked down at the ritual circle that still had the faintest embers of power glowing within it, visible even to normal sight. As I watched, the magic was fading away, getting visibly weaker by the second. I met the others’ eyes. “At least the ritual is done, and that will buy us some time. If this ritual was supposed to support whatever the Huntlord is doing, then we likely set his plans back a ways.”

Vestele groaned. “I had forgotten that Siora’s little pet mentioned the Huntlord was off doing something to help the barrier come down. This ritual was supposed to help that one bring the barrier down quicker.”

Frostmane shook his head. “Rituals affecting rituals affecting rituals. This isn’t something that they just came up with in an instant.”

“Well, we know that my coming to this world affected the barrier, started it on the road to decline. If the Malarites began planning then, they would have had thirteen years to research their rituals and prepare. That may be a blink of the eye to some ancient schemers, but these Malarites seem to be humans, for the most part.”

Vestele frowned. “Thirteen years… The Necromancer Lord of the Stone Spire made his initial attacks into this region twelve years ago. And this mine, which they’ve been using for their rituals, was abandoned during the course of that conflict, because there were still undead in the deeps.”

Siora’s eyes went wide. “You’re suggesting that the Malarites somehow created the Necromancer Lord and set him on his path? So that they could use the chaos to set up their play? That is a little… intricate, given what we’ve seen so far.”

I shook my head. “No. The Malarites wouldn’t be behind the Necromancer Lord’s rise. They probably just saw an opportunity, and gave him a push. Like dislodging a stone to create a landslide.”

Vestele nodded. “That is what I am thinking, as well. They just set him in motion, and let him distract everyone. The Necromancer Lord draws out defenders in the region, letting the cult know who they have to worry about.”

Frostmane growled softly. “Which is why they killed the Selunite priestess, and blockaded the village, keeping the druidess from investigating things. The witch only has her power on her land, so she’s not a threat away from it. Cutting off communication with the outside limited how many reinforcements might be sent.”

Siora shook her head as she looked down at the cooling corpses. “Well, everyone here is dead, and the lower levels are sealed off for the time being. So, what is the plan?”

Vestele sighed. “Well, the Frostmane should recover from the wounding effect of the barbarian’s greataxe after a night’s rest. Siora and I will need to find hallowed ground to cast spells upon to remove the vile damage we’ve suffered. Most likely there will be some hallowed ground near the town, even if it is just their cemetery, to keep villagers from rising as the undead.”

I nodded. “And we asked the hedge witch and the druidess to scry on the temple for us. Their divinations may have turned up some insights, and better allow us to plan our attack. The barrier should stay up for a few more days, if the information we have is correct, so I think we can afford the time to go back to Moonwater.”

Siora grinned. “That sounds like a plan, then. But, can we save it for tomorrow? I think we could all do with a night’s rest, after all.”

Frostmane shook his head. “The wolves are closer than they were at the shrine, and they have magic. We don’t know every corner of this mine like they do. It is dangerous to sleep in their lair.”

I considered that. “If it weren’t for the possibility of their teleporting, I would agree with you, Frostmane. We don’t know where the priestess teleported away to. Obviously, they will know the ritual has been foiled, but will they have the available spells to teleport a force here?”

Shaking my head as I considered the situation, I continued, “There’s no way of knowing for certain. However, if we set off now, the sun would set before we reached the lake. And while all of us can see somewhat in the dark, the Huntlord’s forces can, as well, and they’ll be hunting us in the dark, and I know both of our true casters have used many of their more powerful spells already.”

With a sigh, I said, “No, we wait for dawn, and make best time for the lake.”