Sidriel was not hiding his presence, or trying to sneak up on us. Instead, he was flying fast, his two wolves struggling to keep up with him. He may have fallen from being a ‘pure’ archon, but that righteous wrath they were famous for was clearly still inside him.

“Impudent mortals! You DARE enter the domain of Sidriel, the Perfect Wolf, and strike down his servants?”

Despite myself, I had to laugh at the cliché line. “Well, we were actually looking to strike you down. So, thank you for sparing us the trouble of hunting you through the woods!”

The Archon, unsurprisingly, was not amused by my words. Instead, he waved his wolves forward. “Kill the unicorn and the kobold. The others will be used to breed new followers to replace those they slew.”

Initiatives

Sidriel

Blackmane Wolves

Fartooth

Siora

Ebonheart

Melinda

Vestele

Melinda’s Will Save (Aura of Menace): 1d20+55 = 64 (Success)

Ebonheart’s Will Save (Aura of Menace): 1d20+26 = 39 (Success)

Siora’s Will Save (Aura of Menace): 1d20+24 = 42 (Success)

Vestele’s Will Save (Aura of Menace): 1d20+35 = 41 (Success)

Fartooth’s Will Save (Aura of Menace): 1d20+37 = 46 (Success)

Sidriel’s CL Check: 1d20+14 = 20 (Fail)

With a beat of his wings, Sidriel surged forward, an aura of menace cloaking him as he did so, but we steeled ourselves against that. With a hand upraised, he called out a word of power, a lawful mirror to the word of chaos that Vestele had used earlier. Whatever the spell was supposed to do, I couldn’t tell, because it slid right off of us, thanks to the magic items we wore. This only enraged Sidriel further. “Fine! A test of tooth and claw it is, then!”

BW1’s Attack Roll (Fartooth): 1d20+53 = 59 (Hit)

Miss Chance: 1d100 = 86 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+44 = 53 (DR 15/Adamantine)

BW1’s Trip Attempt: 1d20+45 = 50

Fartooth’s DEX Check: 1d20+9 = 21 (Fail, Prone)

BW2’s Attack Roll (Ebonheart): 1d20+53 = 63 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+44 = 52 (DR 15/Adamantine)

BW2’s Trip Attempt: 1d20+45 = 50

Ebonheart’s STR Check: 1d20+23 = 31 (Fail, Prone)

The wolves surged forward, circling around the front to get to Fartooth and Ebonheart, as their lord commanded them. Both kobold and unicorn were caught in those maws, and thrown to the ground. Thankfully, they were still atop the tower, instead of midair, or that could have been dangerous.

Fartooth’s Tumble Check: 1d20+48 = 53 (Success)

Fartooth’s Swarm of Arrows: 1d20+37 = 54

Sidriel: Miss

BW1: Hit

Damage: 1d6+17 = 20

Wounding: 1 CON

Anarchic Power: 3d6 = 8

Anarchic Power: 1 Negative Level

BW2: Hit

Damage: 1d6+17 = 21

Wounding: 1 CON

Anarchic Power: 3d6 = 9

Anarchic Power: 1 Negative Level

Fartooth nimbly rolled to his feet, and unleashed a flurry of arrows, striking both wolves, but merely bouncing off the archon’s mystic aura. The wolves howled in pain, and Sidriel gave the kobold a baleful glare, but that was fine. The arrows still did damage to the wolves, at least, and sapped their strength. Enough of that, and even the archon would fall.

Siora’s Concentration Check: 1d20+36 = 54 (Success)

Siora’s CL Check: 1d20+45 = 57 (Success)

Black Blade of Disaster Attack Roll (BW1): 1d20+26 = 38 (Touch)

BW1’s Fort Save: 1d20+30 = 35 (Success, Partial damage)

Black Blade of Disaster: 5d6 = 24 (Magic)

Siora took a breath to center herself, and then called out the words of the spell she’d used in the last fight as she moved away from the archon.. A blade of utter blackness came into being, and slashed at the wolf threatening Fartooth. Yet, while it hit, and drew blood, it did not have the massive success she was clearly hoping for. “This is a lot harder when they’re not near you, Mel.”

Ebonheart’s Intimidate check (Terrifying Rage): 1d20+58 = 77

BW1’s Will Save: 1d20+29 = 39 (Fail)

Panicked: 4d6 = 13 Rounds

BW2’s Will Save: 1d20+29 = 42 (Fail)

Panicked: 4d6 = 18 Rounds

Sidriel’s Will Save: 1d20+24 = 28 (Fail)

Shaken: 4d6 = 21 Rounds

Ebonheart let out a mighty war whinny, an equine equivalent to a scream of rage, and surged to his hooves. Surprisingly, the wolf standing over him backed up. Both wolves had a look of abject terror cloud their eyes at the sight of a raging unicorn. Even the werewolf was not unaffected, as Ebonheart strode up to meet the archon head on.

Melinda’s CL Check: 1d20+49 = 63 (Success)

Melinda’s Attack Roll (Sidriel): 1d20+37 = 54 (Touch) (Hit)

Utterdark Blast Damage: 17d6 = 47 (Negative Energy)

Sidriel’s Fort Save: 1d20+35 = 45 (Success)

I decided that now was the time to get Sidriel’s attention back on me. However, I wasn’t blind to the werewolf’s defenses. Something had caused Fartooth’s arrow to miss, after all. So, instead of a more energetic move, I opted to simply blast him at close range. While not quite as effective as I hoped, drawing first blood from archon did earn me his ire.

Vestele’s Concentration Check: 1d20+33 = 42 (Success)

Vestele’s CL Check: 1d20+46 = 59 (Success)

“And oh, in this hour of peril, do not let your hearts tremble, for the Lady of Shendilavri is with us! The Lady wills it!” A reddish light emanated from Vestele as she uttered her prayer, bolstering each of us. But it also fell upon the Archon and the wolves, and they seemed quite discomfited by it.

Sidriel: Fast Healing 20

Sidriel’s Attack roll (Melinda): 1d20+62 = 68 (Miss)

Sidriel’s Attack roll (Melinda): 1d20+57 = 76 (Crit Threat)

Confirm Crit: 1d20+57 = 63 (Normal Hit)

Miss Chance: 1d100 = 47 (Hit)

Damage: 2d6+35 = 47 (Slashing)

Iron Vulnerability: 1d6 = 6 (DR 15/Adamantine)

Melinda’s Fort Save: 1d20+49 = 60 (Success)

Sidriel’s Attack roll (Melinda): 1d20+52 = 63 (Miss)

Sidriel’s Bite (Melinda): 1d20+44 = 59 (Miss)

Sidriel swung his blade three times, and the second stroke caught me hard, just under the ribs. My ring lessened the damage somewhat, but the bit of iron still hurt. Thankfully, the other attacks were too sloppily made to actually be a threat to me.

However, this exchange did give me a sense of Sidriel’s style. He was a brawler, focusing more on brute power and overwhelming a foe than on tactics and training. Perhaps that attitude was the reason he got infected with lycanthropy in the first place? That was something that I could use against him.

Blackmane Wolves: Fast Healing 20

Siora’s AoO (BW1): 1d20+29 = 35 (Miss)

Fartooth’s AoO (BW1): 1d20+38 = 44 (Miss)

The wolves he brought with him as an honor guard were clearly too terrified of Ebonheart to fulfill their duties. They both turned and ran, seemingly at random, not caring about the direction. Just so long as it was away from the unicorn. Siora and Fartooth took halfhearted swipes at the fleeing wolf, but could not catch it before it fled the field.

Fartooth’s Attack Roll (Sidriel): 1d20+38 = 55

Fartooth’s Attack Roll (Sidriel): 1d20+38 = 49

Fartooth’s Attack Roll (Sidriel): 1d20+33 = 50

Fartooth’s Attack Roll (Sidriel): 1d20+28 = 32

The little kobold, no longer having wolves to worry about, turned his attention back on the werewolf archon. A flurry of arrows launched from his hands, but not one of them was able to strike true. “This bastard’s too tough for normal attacks! What do we do?”

Siora’s CL Check: 1d20+45 = 59 (Success)

Black Blade of Disaster (Sidriel): 1d20+27 = 47 (Touch) (Crit Threat)

Confirm Crit: 1d20+27 = 31 (Touch) (Regular Hit)

Sidriel’s Fort Save: 1d20+32 = 38 (Success)

Damage: 5d6 = 22 (Magic)

Siora laughed as she moved to get a better line on the archon. “Well, Fartooth, if the normal things won’t work, then, we’ll just do what we can, of course! But you have to admit that it has been a while since we had a fight where we were challenged, but not fearing for our lives.” As she said that, she directed her black blade of death and doom to float menacingly through the air, and then it slashed at the werewolf, drawing blood, but only just. Yet, every little bit helped.

Ebonheart’s Horn Attack (Sidriel): 1d20+52 = 58 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+27 = 29 (Piercing)

Anarchic: 2d6 = 6 (DR 10 Silver and Epic and Evil)

Vile: 1 Vile Damage

Ebonheart’s Bite Attack (Sidriel): 1d20+49 = 66 (Hit)

Damage: 2d6+17 = 25 (Bludgeoning)

Anarchic: 2d6 = 7 (DR 10 Silver and Epic and Evil)

Vile: 1 Vile Damage

Ebonheart’s Gore Attack (Sidriel): 1d20+49 = 68 (Hit)

Damage: 2d6+17 = 25 (Piercing)

Anarchic: 2d6 = 6 (DR 10 Silver and Epic and Evil)

Vile: 1 Vile Damage

Ebonheart’s Hoof Attack (Sidriel): 1d20+49 = 60 (Hit)

Damage: 1d4+17 = 20 (Bludgeoning)

Anarchic: 2d6 = 11 (DR 10 Silver and Epic and Evil)

Vile: 1 Vile Damage

Wounding: 1 CON Damage

Ebonheart’s Hoof Attack (Sidriel): 1d20+49 = 66 (Hit)

Damage: 1d4+17 = 20 (Bludgeoning)

Anarchic: 2d6 = 8 (DR 10 Silver and Epic and Evil)

Vile: 1 Vile Damage

Wounding: 1 CON Damage

Ebonheart ignored the kobold’s question. Instead, he showed us why he was still a force to be reckoned with, especially when he gave himself over to his rage. Horn and teeth and the antlers on his helm and enchanted horseshoes all struck home, battering the archon like a two-copper whore that hadn’t earned enough for her pimp yet. “Come on, big wolf man! I thought you were supposed to be the perfect wolf? Then why are you acting like a bitch?”

Melinda’s Tumble Check: 1d20+52 = 64 (Success)

Melinda’s CL Check: 1d20+49 = 60 (Success)

Melinda’s Attack Roll (Sidriel): 1d20+39 = 54 (Touch) (Hit)

Utterdark Blast Damage: 17d6 = 58 (Negative Energy)

Sidriel’s Fort Save: 1d20+31 = 46 (Success)

I took to the air, rolling as I did so, and wound up behind the ‘Perfect Wolf’, in perfect position where I could flank him with Ebonheart. It was a small benefit to me, but I knew that it would help more of the unicorn’s attacks hit. Of course, a taunt would help keep the wolf from actually thinking, which was always a good thing. “Perhaps this fleabag is just tired of life? It would make sense, given how poor a fight he's putting up.”

Vestele’s Concentration Check: 1d20+33 = 37 (Success)

Vestele’s CL Check: 1d20+46 = 62 (Success)

Vestele’s Attack roll (Sidriel): 1d20+23 = 43 (Touch) (Automatic Hit)

Sidriel’s Will Save (Greater Bestow Curse): 1d20+19 = 25 (Fail)

Greater Bestow Curse: CON Reduced to 1. (Dead)

“Well, if that is the case, then let this curse from the Queen of Pleasure send him on his way!” With that declaration, Vestele cried out the words of a terrible curse. The moment her hand, glowing black, touched the werewolf, he howled once in pain, as his body withered, losing all its vitality in a single go. And then he dropped, dead as a stone before he even hit the ground.

Your party has defeated Sidriel and two Blackmane Wolves!

Melinda gains 16187 XP.

Ebonheart gains 15030 XP.

Siora gains 16766 XP.

Vestele gains 16766 XP.

Fartooth gains 16766 XP.

Loot:

Sidriel’s Trumpet

Wolflord’s Necklace

All eyes turned to Vestele. It was her sister that broke the silence. “What in the Infinite Abyss was THAT?”

Vestele simply looked a bit smug, as she said, “A Greater version of the ‘Bestow Curse’ spell. One of the functions it can be used for is to reduce a single attribute on the target creature to 1. Because of how the World System works, the damage a creature has received carries over when their attributes change. Even if their Constitution becomes 1.”

I laughed. “And so, because Constitution helps with your health, you dropped his health below the amount of damage he’d taken? Brilliant!” Still laughing, I swooped down to the ground, to see what the perfectly dead wolf had to give us.

Sidriel’s Trumpet

Type

Tool

Weight

4 lb.

This useless hunk of metal was formerly a trumpet archon’s trumpet. It is useless to anyone else, save as a memento.

Wolflord’s Necklace

Type

Neck

Weight

This necklace, made of wolves’ fangs, has been enchanted to allow a Lycanthrope (or Greater Lycanthrope) to pass on their curse through all their melee attacks, no matter their form.

Neither were particularly useful, or valuable to us. That being said, they would provide a nice little bonus to establishing our bona fides with the officials in the capitol, when we returned. That, and the wolf archon’s head, which I made sure to collect while I was down there.

As I flew back to the rooftop to show off the spoils, the mournful howl of wolves in the forest could be heard. I wasn’t worried, though. Their pack leader had died, so the rest of the wolves were no doubt going to return to their dens, and make sure that the killing didn’t follow them home.