Sul 8th Nymm, 998 Y.K.
The Approach to Six Falls Ravine
The shifters fail to return, and the group packs up camp and sets off on the course indicated by Clian. As they travel, they see a large figure, perhaps eight or nine feet tall with orange and black fur, in the woods. As soon as it is seen, it races off, outpacing Lorric who tries to communicate with it. Kapek identifies its tracks as similar to those of a tiger.
The trail, although old and faint, is easily found, picked out as it is with weathered marker stones. It leads to a large marble bridge, which must once have been very impressive but has now succumbed to age. One of the spans has fallen away into the ravine. As the Crimson Fist stand on the edge of it, considering their next move, Lorric notices people approaching from behind, mainly shifters but there is also an elf, a human and a centaur. Most are wearing leathers, but one of the shifters has a metal breastplate.
The human addresses the group, identifying himself and his companions as the Burning Tree and demanding that the Crimson Fist leave their land. Lorric responds in affable tones, inquiring about the whereabouts of Palomino Nehar and attempting to defuse the tense situation. The Burning Tree seem disinclined to compromise however, and when the human begins casting a spell that Anvil identifies as “Obscuring Mist”, the gloves are off.
The Burning Tree
Kapek initiates hostilities by flinging boomerangs at the spellcasting human, followed by a mounted charge from Anvil. The elf’s form ripples and warps into that of a huge humanoid tiger which promptly attacks Lorric. Two of the shifters go berserk, one attacking Kapek and the other leaping into battle with Anvil. The centaur remains in place, using a powerful bow against his foes. The final shifter, he of the breastplate, seems to favour axes, first hurling a smaller one at Lorric then attempting to eviscerate Kapek with a more impressive looking one. Katerina takes her usual role, racing around the battlefield restoring health and hope to the wounded warriors.
Anvil slays the berserker attacking him, while the iron fists of Lorric put down the spellcaster. Kapek takes a mighty blow from the other berserker, before he and Reaver tear him apart. The tiger-elf takes a battering from the combined forces of Lorric and Anvil, and chooses to flee that particular engagement, heading towards the deceased spellcaster.
However, his attempt to retrieve a healing potion from his fallen comrade is thwarted by the efforts of Anvil, who kills him before he can reach it. Kapek turns his attention to the axe-wielding shifter and, with the aid of Lorric, manages to despatch another foe. Lorric then dashes over to the centaur and delivers a devastating combination blow, which first stuns the archer, then shatters its skull.
Peace returns to Six Falls Ravine.
11.30 a.m.
The Tower of Rainbows
Having defeated their foes the Crimson Fist get down to the serious business of looting the corpses.
Meanwhile Ajax and Clian are returning from their scouting mission having encountered and defeated a were-tiger of their own. Just before the rendezvous Clian splits off to inform the Ashbound of this and Ajax continues on. As he approaches where they agreed to meet, Ajax hears the sounds of violence that come to a sudden end. Ajax approaches cautiously and is relieved to hear his comrades voices. Not wanting a repeat of what happened the last time he appeared without warning Ajax calls out and identifies himself before approaching.
Loot having been found and split up the Crimson Fist turn their attention to the island and the bridge that joins it to the land around. They notice a huge tree in the middle of the island surrounding a tower.
It is decided that Kapek and Hurricane will ferry the group across to the island one at a time. Apart from Anvil who is too heavy and will cast 'Whirlwind' on himself.
Kapek sets off with Lorric but they haven't travelled far when they both get the feeling that something is approaching them, although they cannot see anything they trust their instincts and turn around and head back. Instantly the feeling of danger fades.
Anvil infuses 'See Invisible' on himself and see's five clouds floating over the bridge. He identifies them as a form of Air Elemental known as Invisible Stalkers. Ajax addresses them, saying that the group only want to speak to Palomino. One of them moves closer and it seems to respond but in a breathy tongue no-one can understand. Anvil casts 'Tongues' on himself and converses with the creature.
It reveals it cannot contact Palomino, indeed it hasn't seen him for centuries but it is bound to attack anyone who uses the air or the bridge to travel to the island. When asked about other guardians it say's it has seen movement in the water and on the grey beach.
The Crimson Fist then engage in a long debate about the best way to cross to the island. Many ideas are proposed and discarded before a decision is arrived at. It is decided to fly across to the island at top speed not engaging the Invisible Stalkers. Kapek and Lorric will fly on Hurricane and Anvil will cast 'Fly' on Stampede and transport himself, Katerina, Ajax and the child. (Ajax leaves Ranger signs to tell Clian what they have found out and what they intend to do).The Crimson Fist fly away from the island rising to their maximum height, then they turn around and power dive towards the island at top speed, with the sun at their backs to blind their enemies.
Hurricane shoots straight through but the slower Stampede is intercepted and its passengers have to endure a battering as they pass through the gauntlet of Invisible Stalkers. The Invisible Stalkers cease their attacks as soon as the Crimson Fist's feet touch the island, they are annoyed they have failed in the task which they have been at for so long but ask Anvil to speak to Palomino to release them.
On the island it seems suddenly colder and the sky seems greyer and an air of melancholy fills the place.
The Crimson Fists find steps leading up to the tree in the centre of the island. The tree is a massive oak with its roots entwined around a stone tower. Mysterious lights dance around the tree as the Crimson Fist cautiously approach the double doors of the tower and knock. Nobody answers.
Anvil notices magical runes carved around the door and identifies them as being an Enchantment (Compulsion) spell and a Conjuration (Teleportation) spell. Anvil uses his knowledge of magical devices to discern the command word to temporarily suppress the magic of the runes. This done Anvil, Lorric and Ajax put their shoulders to the door and, with some effort for it is stiff from the long years without use, heave it open.
Inside the tower stained glass windows line the walls. There are steps leading up and down but the thing that draws the Crimson Fist's attention is the horde of tiny, glowing faeries. These cute creatures are identified as Shimmerlings.
Ajax addresses the Shimmerlings but gets no response.
The Crimson Fist head to the stairs leading down and suddenly for Kapek and Ajax the world shifts as they find themselves on the path outside the tower. Inside the tower Anvil and Lorric suddenly find the lights of the Shimmerlings entrancing but throw of the effects, although Katerina is 'Fascinated' by them.
The Shimmerlings expression suddenly turn hostile and they pour towards Lorric, Anvil and Katerina tearing at them with tiny claws and teeth.
Kapek and Ajax charge up the path. Kapek swings his cold iron Shareesh at the swarm but they are too many for him to appreciably affect. Ajax hurls a flask of Alchemist Fire into the Shimmerlings. Anvil opens up with this Wand of Fireballs.
Ajax is Fascinated by the lights of the Shimmerlings but is 'rescued' by Lorric who hurls a flask of Alchemist Frost at him (which does also catch some Shimmerlings).
*Ajax comments
Ajax isn't at all annoyed at being blasted by Lorric. Not even slightly. Not a bit. No
Kapek rushes into the tower to aid Anvil but is teleported down the path, again. Ajax retreats back out of the tower hurling a flask of Alchemist Frost at the Shimmerlings as he goes.
Anvil lets fly with the Wand again and Embattle adds a flask of Alchemist Frost. The remaining Shimmerlings congregate on the lone Anvil, Fascinating him.
Lorric helps shock Anvil back to reality by hitting him with a flask of Alchemist Fire and Ajax hurls another at the swarms .
Ajax attempts to reach Anvil but is teleported down the path to his immense irritation.
With a final blast from his Wand and a flask of Acidic Fire from Embattle the last of the Shimmerlings are destroyed.
