As the glow from the ritual site began to fade, I looked to Vestele. “Vestele, what can you tell us about what we’ll be facing? What won’t work on him?”

Vestele’s Knowledge (Religion) check: 1d20+40 = 55 (Success)

Vestele took a breath as she went over her knowledge of the divine. “Polymorphing, or anything that changes his form is a waste of time. So are energy drain, ability drain, or ability damage attacks, as well as mind-effecting effects, including that aura you put out, Mel. Worse, since he is at his full power, electricity, cold, acid, disease, poison, stunning… honestly, it would be quicker to list the number of things he is not going to be immune to. Stick with direct damage. However, he’s not going to be easy to hit, and is definitely going to have some measure of resistance to magic, but we should be able to overcome it, most of the time.

“Other than that? He will be surrounded by an aura that can daze or frighten foes, or fill his allies with courage. But, if you can muster the force of will to overcome that aura, you are immune to it for a day. Torm is also known to wield a greatsword, and his favorite mount is an ancient gold dragon. The dragon does not share the same protections as Torm himself has, but is still a dragon of considerable age. It won’t exactly die easily, but should be easier to take out than the god himself.”

She paused, and then said, “Then, there are some divine abilities that Torm possesses. He can change his shape and size, so simply killing his mount will not ground him for long. He can also change reality itself, to some degree. He cannot be caught flat-footed, and as a divine paladin, if he lands a smite attack, it will do a terrible amount of damage. He can also create a shield that outright blocks a certain amount of damage. There are some other things, but those are the most important.”

“Fine then,” I said, as I watched a spot of golden light in the distance quickly grow closer. I took a breath, and channeled magic into my voice, activating the Force of Will aura that my Marshal levels gave me, to bolster our saves against those auras. “Then hear me, my comrades! We will not let this bastard deity tear down what we have built for his own petty reasons! Stand fast, and let us show the world that even gods may die when they seek a fight against those who will not simply allow their abuses!”

Indsamling chuckled. “Inspiring, my dear. And good thinking, too. Once we are past the initial hurdle of defending against his aura, and the dragon’s presence, then things become a fight that is, at least, something that we can win, with a bit of luck on our side.”

I laughed, and readied my blade. “I am a follower of Auril Frostmaiden! We do not rely on luck, for the Mistress of Winter’s Wrath shows no pity or remorse at those who have not the wits or fortitude to withstand her onslaught. No, we will cut Torm down, piece by piece, until there is not even enough of his divinity left to send back to the heavens! This day, a god dies!”

“Hmm. I think I’ll add in something to prepare, as well,” Vestele said. “Oh Malcanthet, Mistress of Shendilavri and Queen of Pleasures profane and untold! Hear my prayer! Grant us the strength to fight against this godly foe!” I smiled, as the divine aura of her prayer spell fell over us. A little extra insurance never hurt, after all.

Melinda’s Will Save (Divine Aura): 1d20+101 = 104 (Success)

Melinda’s Will Save (Frightful Presence): 1d20+101 = 106 (Success)

Siora’s Will Save (Divine Aura): 1d20+57 = 71 (Success)

Siora’s Will Save (Frightful Presence): 1d20+57 = 67 (Success)

Vestele’s Will Save (Divine Aura): 1d20+61 = 78 (Success)

Vestele’s Will Save (Frightful Presence): 1d20+61 = 79 (Success)

Fartooth’s Will Save (Divine Aura): 1d20+68 = 75 (Success)

Fartooth’s Will Save (Frightful Presence): 1d20+68 = 72 (Success)

Sanvi’s Will Save (Divine Aura): 1d20+64 = 81 (Success)

Sanvi’s Will Save (Frightful Presence): 1d20+64 = 76 (Success)

Indsamling’s Will Save (Divine Aura): 1d20+68 = 80 (Success)

Indsamling’s Will Save (Frightful Presence): 1d20+68 = 82 (Success)

The dragon roared as it flew overhead, and then circled back around to land, not far from us. Upon its back was Torm, looking like a human man, dressed in full plate armor, with a glowing sword in hand, while a divine light shone about him. When he spoke, his words could be heard for miles around, though his volume never rose above a mild roar.

“INSOLENT MORTALS! FOR TOO LONG, YOU FOUL HERETICS HAVE ESCAPED JUDGEMENT FOR YOUR CRIMES! NOW, I, TORM THE TRUE, SHALL JUDGE THEE, AND CAST THEE DOWN INTO THE ETERNAL TORMENT THAT IS YOUR DUE!”

I made a show of yawning, with as much disrespect as I could manage. “What are you blathering on about, old man? Are you still upset that your little plan to invade the mortal realm blew up in your face? How many of your precious followers died because of your arrogance, I wonder? Every temple or shrine of yours blew up, after all, and then there are all the angels and other servants of yours who got dragged down into the Nine Hells, for the amusement of Asmodeus? Have their screams reached you? Or was your head still ringing from having been too close to the blast?”

“YOU WILL PAY FOR THAT INSULT, MORTAL, AND ALL THE OTHERS! TO ARMS!”

Initiative:

Fartooth

Melinda

Indsamling

Torm

Sanvi

Vestele

Siora

Fartooth’s Attack roll (Torm): 1d20+52 = 69 (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+24 = 26 (Piercing)

Good Outsider Bane: 2d6 = 7

Lawful Outsider Bane: 2d6 = 11

Vile: 1 (Vile)

Anarchic Power: 3d6 = 10

Anarchic Power: 1 negative level (Immune)

Wounding: 1 CON damage (Immune)

Divine Shield: 35/80 HP remaining

Fartooth’s Attack roll (Torm): 1d20+52 = 61 (Miss)

Fartooth’s Attack roll (Torm): 1d20+47 = 52 (Miss)

Fartooth’s Attack roll (Torm): 1d20+42 = 44 (Miss)

Fartooth was the quickest off the draw, as usual. The little kobold fired a flurry of psychic arrows at the god, and managed to strike him once. However, even though the arrow hit, it did not damage the god himself. Rather, it tore into the aura surrounding him, weakening it. “This will not be as easy as I would like,” he frowned.

Melinda’s CL Check: 1d20+42 = 46 (Success)

Melinda’s Attack Roll (Torm): 1d20+58 = 73 (Hit)

Damage: 1d10+29 = 31 (Slashing)

Vampric: 1d6 = 5

Ruinous: 1 CHA (Immune)

Anarchic Power: 3d6 = 5 (chaotic)

Anarchic Power: 1 negative level (Immune)

Vile Weapon Ring: 1 Vile

Fell Channeling: 22d6 = 84 (magic)

Vile Spell Ring: 9 Vile

“Focus your efforts on the dragon, then! Indsamling and I will take the fight to the god!” My wings spread out, and I flew forward, wreathing my blade in violet light. If cold and acid would not avail me in this fight, then I would just use the simplest form of my powers, which dealt raw magic damage, with no extra effects. I landed on the dragon’s back, just behind the wing, where Torm was still in the saddle. I turned, and slashed the god across his back, my blade ignoring the armor he wore and tearing through the divine aura he raised, before cleaving the flesh beneath.

I smiled darkly at the sight of divine blood upon my blade. “You know, Torm, in my old world, there was a saying. ‘If it bleeds, we can kill it.’ You’re here, not as an avatar, but your true self. And it seems you bleed just fine.”

Indsamling’s CL Check: 1d20+50 = 61 (Success)

Magic Missile damage (Torm): 24d4+24 = 83 (Force)

An absolute TORRENT of magic missiles flew up from the dragon’s feet, slamming into Torm like water from a fire hose. I looked down, and there was Indsamling, a wicked grin on his face, as if he knew that he had just unleashed an absolutely impossible amount of magic all at once. And, the scary thing was that I was fairly certain that was just one spell. “Oh, dear, it would be most unbecoming if I allowed the young lady to show me up in this fight. After all, I still have not given up on taking her as my consort.”

Torm: Divine Shield: 80/80 HP remaining

Torm’s Attack Roll (Melinda): 1d20+61 = 64 (Miss)

Torm’s Attack Roll (Melinda): 1d20+56 = 72 (Miss)

Torm’s Attack Roll (Melinda): 1d20+51 = 52 (Miss)

Torm’s Attack Roll (Melinda): 1d20+46 = 58 (Miss)

Melinda’s Balance check: 1d20+43 = 53 (Success)

Torm’s Ride (Dragon) check: 1d20+38 = 44 (Success)

Dragon’s Bite Attack (Indsamling): 1d20+60 = 66 (Miss)

Dragon’s Claw Attack (Indsamling): 1d20+55 = 66 (Miss)

Dragon’s Claw Attack (Indsamling): 1d20+55 = 64 (Miss)

Dragon’s Wing Attack (Indsamling): 1d20+55 = 61 (Miss)

Dragon’s Tail Slap (Indsamling): 1d20+55 = 59 (Miss)

That divine aura surrounded Torm once more, even as he growled in the face of the very real damage we were doing to him. He swiped at me with his blade, but I was too quick, and dodged out of the way each time. Perhaps part of that was because his attention was on Indsamling more than it was me. “A Transcendent Soul? I thought we had rid the planes of your blasphemous lot! Well, that is one more wrong I shall right this day!”

Then, I had to move quick to remain upon the dragon’s back, as he began striking out at Indsamling. But the fey creature did not seem to care, easily dodging tooth and claw, ducking under a wing, and then hopping ever so lightly on the dragon’s tail as it slapped where he had formerly been standing. With a glare at Torm, he said, “I am the last. Or the first of the new! Once I have a child from this Twice-Born Aurilite, another Transcendent Soul will be born, for the first time in centuries!”

Sanvi’s CL Check: 1d20+46 = 50 (Success)

Sanvi’s Attack Roll (Torm): 1d20+42 = 54 (Touch) (Hit)

Mastery of Elements turns Polar Ray to Sonic Ray

Sonic Ray damage: 25d6 = 76 (Sonic)

Divine Shield: 4/80 HP Remaining

“Oh, my, I won’t have you forgetting about me, and all the things you allowed my father to do to me!” Sanvi’s words were accompanied by a bolt of visible sound which crashed over Torm from the side, stripping away much of his renewed aura.

Vestele’s CL Check: 1d20+34 = 47 (Success)

Dragon’s Fort Save (Heartclutch): 1d20+16 = 18 (Fail)

Heartclutch: 1d3 = 2 rounds until death.

Vestele called out the incantation for a spell, and then the next instant the dragon under my feet staggered, as a dragon’s heart appeared next to the priestess’s outstretched hand. From afar, I heard her laugh, “The god might be immune to a spell like this, but his mount is not!”

Siora frowned as she looked at the emerging battle. “This is not the kind of fight where I can be of much help. But I will do what I can!” As she spoke, misty swordsmen formed all about the dragon’s feet, and even underneath him, as she brought back one of the first spells I’d ever seen her cast, the Legion of Sentinels.

The fight may have started off in the right direction, but this was a god we were talking about here. If there was one thing that I was certain of, it was that he would not be so easily destroyed. Especially since we had no way of keeping him from running away, save for his own pride. But if we could wound that enough, then there was a chance that he would ignore everything else in his quest to take us down.

It was a bold plan, but the only one I had.