We waited for nightfall, on the assumption that, well, there would be fewer people awake and looking to kill us at that time. Ideally, this would be a nice, simple meeting, where we take the Princess to the General, we find out the general is not a bastard, and we get some help getting into the capitol to do what we need to do. That was the ideal. If things were less ideal, well, we might find ourselves having to smack some sense into the general, first.

I really hoped it didn’t come to that, since I was not entirely confident in my ability to fight off an entire army. Ah Alora was an army fortress that had grown into a city, but the army was still there, and I didn’t doubt that they had people there that could easily prove a threat to us. So, I was very much hoping that the diplomatic approach worked.

We didn’t land the ship. Instead, all six of us (including Ebonheart and the Princess) stepped off the side of the Black Wraith and flew down towards the fortress city below. We kept close together, so we could take advantage of Siora’s Invisibility Sphere spell. Anyone who spotted our descent like that would have seen through us, regardless, and there wasn’t any point in worrying about things like that.

Thankfully, our descent was not marked by arrows or spells coming up to greet us, and we managed, with the Princess’s help, to land in the courtyard of the headquarters for the entire Silverwood Army! Getting into the courtyard was one thing. Getting into the building itself, however, was another. We may have been invisible, but we were still physical, and would have certainly set off any wards if we tried to get into the building without authorization.

Needless to say, five people and one black unicorn suddenly just showing up in the middle of the courtyard as our invisibility dropped did not endear us to the guards who came down from the courtyard wall, I was sure. In fact, by the way that they all drew swords and called large tower shields to their hands, I was fairly certain that things were going to go a less than diplomatic route. At least at the start.

Initiative

Fartooth

Findelye

Melinda

Silverwood Elite Soldiers

Ebonheart

Silverwood Elite Warmage

Siora

Vestele

Silverwood Elite Warpriest

Fartooth took a breath, his fingers twitching in that way I knew meant he was about to unleash his flurry of psychic arrows. Still, he held back, for the moment. “Princess, perhaps you should talk to these people. I doubt they’ll listen to us.”

Findelye’s Diplomacy check: 1d20+4 = 9 (Fail)

The Princess suddenly began glowing like a torch, filled with holy light. “Stand down, defenders of Silverwood! We’re not here to hurt you!” Unfortunately, it was not the best speech, and was quite rushed. And, well, it was clear that the princess had never exactly practiced swaying hearts and minds before. The result failed to sway any of the soldiers.

Melinda’s Concentration check: 1d20+35 = 42 (Success)

S1’s Fort Save (Word of Changing): 1d20+5 = 11 (Fail)

“Sorry, princess. Looks like we’ll have to rough them up a bit first, before they’ll listen. We’ll try to keep from killing anyone.” That said, I wasn’t going to just sit around and wait for them to attack. Stepping forward, I looked at the guard closest to me, and said, “You’re a cat.” And, the next moment, he was a common housecat.

Fartooth’s Attack (S4): 1d20+31 = 37 (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+11 = 17 (Piercing)

Wounding: 1 CON

Fartooth’s psychic arrow shot through the night as the soldiers began to move, impacting the soldier closest to him. Chirping, he said, “Guess we’re going to do this the hard way!”

S2’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+35 = 41 (Miss)

S2’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+30 = 32 (Miss)

S2’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+25 = 43 (Miss)

S2’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+20 = 31 (Miss)

S3’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+37 = 49 (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+16 = 21 (Piercing)

Iron Vulnerability: 1d6 = 1 (DR 15/Cold Iron)

Flaming: 1d6 = 2 (Fire) (+50% Fire Vulnerability)

Frost: 1d6 = 1 (Cold) (Cold Immunity)

S4’s Attack (Fartooth): 1d20+35 = 48 (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+16 = 21 (Piercing)

Flaming: 1d6 = 1 (Fire)

Frost: 1d6 = 1 (Cold)

S5’s Attack (Findelye): 1d20+35 = 37 (Miss)

S6’s Attack (Findelye): 1d20+35 = 47 (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+16 = 18 (Piercing) (DR 10/Evil)

Flaming: 1d6 = 4 (Fire) (Fire Resistance 15)

Frost: 1d6 = 2 (Cold) (Cold Resistance 15)

S7’s Attack (Findelye): 1d20+35 = 40 (Miss)

S8’s Attack (Findelye): 1d20+35 = 40 (Miss)

The soldiers stabbed out with their blades, focusing their attacks on Fartooth, Findelye, and myself. Their weapons were surrounded by frost and fire in equal measure, and the iron burned as it pierced my skin. But more thrusts missed than hit, even as the soldiers joined up in a shield wall to oppose us.

Ebonheart’s Horn attack (WP): 1d20+36 = 42 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+18 = 26 (Piercing)

Vile: 1 (Vile)

Ebonheart’s Bite attack (WP): 1d20+31 = 37 (Hit)

Damgage: 1d8+10 = 18 (Bludgeoning)

Vile: 1 (Vile)

Ebonheart’s Hoof Attack (WP): 1d20+31 = 38 (Hit)

Damage: 1d4+12 = 15 (Bludgeoning)

Vile: 1 (Vile)

Ebonheart’s Hoof Attack (WP): 1d20+31 = 42 (Hit)

Damage: 1d4+12 = 13 (Bludgeoning)

Vile: 1 (Vile)

Ebonheart’s cry pierced the night. “Finally!” The unicorn began frothing in rage as he stepped forward, eyes locked on the priest of Corellon who had the misfortune to be the closest foe. His horn pierced, teeth gnashed, and hooves stomped, battering the priest, who was clearly not ready for such an assault.

Findelye’s Fort Save (Implosion): 1d20+13 = 24 (Fail)

A mage in the far corner called out the words of a spell, his eyes locked on the focal point of the whole fight, namely the elven princess. The princess barely had a moment for her eyes to widen in shock, before the magic grasped her, and then collapsed in on her in an instant. The result was emphatic, as her golden light was snuffed out, along with her life, her corpse a wadded ball of flesh and bone the size of a softball.

Siora’s Power Word: Kill (WM): WM has less than 100 HP. (Dead)

Siora cursed, barely managing to keep the squelching blood from splattering on her. “OK, guess we’re going to play it that way, then.” She turned, and pointed at the warmage, and said, “DIE!” And the mage died.

Vestele’s Concentration check: 1d20+25 = 37 (Success)

S7’s Fort Save (Heartclutch): 1d20+15 = 22 (Fail)

Heartclutch: 1d3 = 1 round

“Well, that is definitely beyond the spells I can cast at the moment.” Vestele shook her head. “Might as well finish them off, and see if we can find someone to raise her.” As she spoke, she held out her hand to one of the soldiers close to her, and a still-beating heart appeared there.

WP’s Concentration Check: 1d20+26 = 44 (Success)

WP’s Cure Critical Wounds (WP): 4d8+20 = 36

The priest that Ebonheart savaged cursed under his breath. “Do not falter, brothers! Corellon is with us!” As he shifted his stance, trying to get closer to the rest of the group, golden healing light played over him, closing the worst of his wounds.

Fartooth’s Attack (S4): 1d20+31 = 47 (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+11 = 14 (Piercing)

Wounding: 1 CON

Fartooth’s Attack (S4): 1d20+31 = 37 (Miss)

Fartooth’s Attack (S4): 1d20+26 = 32 (Miss)

Fartooth’s Attack (S4): 1d20+21 = 34 (Miss)

Fartooth took a step back from the soldier in front of him, and unleashed a rapid flurry of shots at the elf. Unfortunately, the soldier’s defense was too strong, and only one of his arrows found its mark. “This is going to be a pain!”

Melinda’s Concentration check: 1d20+35 = 52 (Success)

S2’s Fort Save (Word of Changing): 1d20+5 = 23 (Fail)

I waved at another of the soldiers next to me, and a cat replaced him, as his gear fell to the ground around him. I sidestepped, moving to block the two next soldiers so that they would need to contend with me before they tried to chase Fartooth. “Nothing for it. We’ll deal with this lot, and then find someone in charge. Get them to raise the princess, and that’ll be one more thing this kingdom will owe us for. And I aim to collect!”

S3’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+35 = 55 (Crit threat)

Confirm Crit: 1d20+39 = 59 (Crit)

Damage: 2d6+32 = 39 (Piercing)

Iron Vulnerability: 1d6 = 5 (DR 15/Cold Iron)

Flaming: 1d6 = 1 (Fire) (+50% Fire Vulnerability)

Frost: 1d6 = 4 (Cold) (Cold Immunity)

S3’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+30 = 41 (Miss)

S3’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+25 = 42 (Miss)

S3’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+20 = 29 (Miss)

S4’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+35 = 36 (Miss)

S5’s Attack (Vestele): 1d20+35 = 45 (Crit Threat)

Confirm Crit: 1d20+39 = 48 (Crit)

Damage: 2d6+32 = 39 (Piercing)

Flaming: 1d6 = 2 (Cold)

Frost: 1d6 = 2 (Fire)

S5’s Attack (Vestele): 1d20+30 = 38 (Miss)

S5’s Attack (Vestele): 1d20+25 = 41 (Crit Threat)

Confirm Crit: 1d20+29 = 40 (Crit)

Damage: 2d6+32 = 43 (Piercing)

Flaming: 1d6 = 3 (Fire)

Frost: 1d6 = 5 (Cold)

S5’s Attack (Vestele): 1d20+20 = 39 (Crit Threat)

Confirm Crit: 1d20+24 = 34 (Normal Hit)

Damage: 2d6+32 = 35 (Piercing)

Flaming: 1d6 = 1 (Fire)

Frost: 1d6 = 2 (Cold) (Down)

S6’s Attack (Ebonheart): 1d20+35 = 48 (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+16 = 19 (Piercing) (DR 3/-)

Flaming: 1d6 = 6 (Fire)

Frost: 1d6 = 4 (Cold) (Cold Resistance 5)

S7’s Attack (Ebonheart): 1d20+35 = 36 (Miss)

S8’s Attack (Ebonheart): 1d20+35 = 39 (Miss)

S8’s Attack (Ebonheart): 1d20+30 = 44 (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+16 = 17 (Piercing) (DR 3/-)

Flaming: 1d6 = 4 (Fire)

Frost: 1d6 = 3 (Cold) (Cold Resistance 5)

S8’s Attack (Ebonheart): 1d20+25 = 26 (Miss)

The soldiers proved their mettle. Despite the loss of the mage, or the fact that two of their number had been turned into animals, they moved like the elite soldiers they were. A cruel stab of one soldier’s sword caught me in the gut, but I managed to dance out of the way of the other blows. I could not take too many blows like that, however, or I would be in a bad way. Fortunately, I was able to dance in such a way that the other soldier facing me fumbled his blade, dropping it to the floor.

The other group of soldiers moved lockstep, in formation, their shield wall moving to close in on the others, and link up with the priest, to include him in their wall. Three vicious stabs and Vestele fell to the ground, her lifeblood seeping from the open wounds. One of the soldiers stepped forward into the gap, and stabbed at Ebonheart, catching the unicorn in the flank, drawing his attention away from the priest he’d savaged.

Two more struck out at the black unicorn. Ebonheart turned, deflecting one blade with his horn, causing the soldier to drop their sword. The other slipped his sword past the straps of the unicorn’s breastplate, drawing his blood once again.

Ebonheart’s Horn attack (WP): 1d20+36 = 47 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+18 = 25 (Piercing)

Vile: 1 (Vile)

Ebonheart’s Bite attack (WP): 1d20+31 = 41 (Hit)

Damgage: 1d8+10 = 15 (Bludgeoning)

Vile: 1 (Vile)

Ebonheart’s Hoof Attack (WP): 1d20+31 = 41 (Hit)

Damage: 1d4+12 = 13 (Bludgeoning)

Vile: 1 (Vile)

Ebonheart’s Hoof Attack (WP): 1d20+31 = 35 (Hit)

Damage: 1d4+12 = 13 (Bludgeoning)

Vile: 1 (Vile) (Dead)

Ebonheart whinnied, and turned back to the warpriest. “I will deal with you, first!” Horn, bite, and hooves all struck home, and, when he was done, the priest was a broken and bloodied wreck upon the ground, unmoving and dead. “Yes! More! More blood, more slaughter!”

Siora’s Concentration check: 1d20+30 = 42 (Success)

S5’s Will Save: 1d20+10 = 13 (Fail)

S6’s Will Save: 1d20+10 = 25 (Fail)

S7’s Will Save: 1d20+10 = 23 (Fail)

S8’s Will Save: 1d20+10 = 16 (Fail)

WP’s Will Save: 1d20+21 = 34 (Success)

Siora saw her sister fall, and screamed with rage. “ENOUGH!” A wave of power pushed out from her, and the shield wall of soldiers froze in place, bound by her spell, unmoving. “MELINDA, I KNOW YOU HAVE SOME HEALING MAGIC ON YOU! GET OVER HERE RIGHT THE FUCK NOW!”

As she spoke, one of the frozen soldiers dropped to the ground, like a puppet with the strings cut. It was the soldier that Vestele had stolen the heart from, before she was brought down. The others could not react, couldn’t even move their eyes to look at their fallen comrade.

But this fight was still not yet won.