UC 327, Ixtuun, 7th day of the 3rd Ride in Spring’s Light (By Demitrri)

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After a long annoying fight with Hanza, who unfortunately got away, the moonstone dragons stood victoriously in front of his burning house. Ardel took the time to preserve the bodies of his sister and Shellan’s mother. I transformed into a centaur and offered to carry the two bodies on my back, but Shellan had a magical steed that appeared and accomplished the task. Once we were ready, we headed back to the bear clan village to seek assistance with the bodies.

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Once we got back to the village, I checked on the status of the Lion’s claw to see if there was any progress in the removal of the taint set upon it. Unfortunately, the old lady stated that it would be a while longer so I took Tiewaz and Lancelot to the Pantry to make sandwiches. Ardel and Shellan asked for assistance with the bodies, but no one in the village had the ability to assist us in that matter. We decided to get some rest and travel back to our headquarters up north. As we were leaving, the bear clan summoned Ardel, surrounded him, and began roaring rather loudly--not as loud as Mufano and I, but loud enough to be heard by anyone standing close enough. After all of the noise was over, the color of the crescent on Adel chest turned crimson and he had a look of great satisfaction on his face.

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As we moved north en route to our headquarters, we ran into a wing of the orc army that we saw days earlier. We attempted to get the element of surprise, but we were spotted so we initiated contact. As soon as I got onto the battle field I noticed spell casters in the distance behind the fighters so I attacked them with magic while Lancelot provided me cover. Shellan was in the east picking fighters of in droves. Ardel was in front of us swiping at everything in sight. Tiewaz was in the rear playing it safe, but assisting with the spell casters. The more orcs we destroyed, the more fired up we became. I was so fired up, that I readied myself to charge into the fray. I looked to my right and noticed Shellan pointing his bow up to the heavens and releasing some type of meter storm that wiped out the entire battlefield. I looked over at the rest of the group who had the same stupefied look that I had. Ardel yells over at Shellan, “You waited until NOW to do that?!!!” Lancelot looked over at me arms sprawled wide and asked, “Why do they do these things?!” I didn’t have an answer. We combed through the dead/charred bodies to salvage any loot we could find. I figured it’d be smooth sailing from there, but I was mistaken.

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Moving further north, we ran into a second wing of the orc army. This time I just knew I was going to get into the fray! In centaur form, I feel so powerful! I just had to test this new form out. Just as we were about to get our kill on, everything on the battlefield disappeared; however, the rest of the group seemed to be reacting to something ahead. I saw arrows appear out of nowhere—that’s when I knew I had been affected by illusion magic. I asked Shellen to give me a bearing on the enemy. He yelled, “40 feet ahead of my position!!!” Using my best estimate, I sent a thunderous roar into the fray, which ended up destroying numerous orcs! As the illusion wore off, I noticed the spell casters in the distance. They targeted us with fireballs, tentacles and everything else to no avail. Shellen shifted to the east to target one side of the wing. After Ardel dispelled the enemy battlefield effects, he charged forward along with Lancelot to dish out some pain. Ardel also casted a spell that wiped out any enemy that got close but left the rest of us unaffected. Tiewaz took a few steps back and began crushing the spell casters from a distance. An entropy druid to our west changed into his incorporeal form thinking he was safe, but Tiewaz laughed and said,” Not today—“ pummeling him with magic missiles. While this was going on, Lancelot was taking a lot of damage as half the army was focused on him. I had a contingency plan if things got bad for him, but he’s a warrior so I wasn’t too concerned. As we’re making waste to the wing of orcs, the entropy druid decides to charge towards me, Ardel and Lancelot. All I could think is, “I wish a treehumper would!” As he moved forward, an orc was blocking my path so I charged the orc fighter in my majestic form, holding my sylvan sword in the air while screaming, “For the Dunia!!!” Unfortunately, I missed…I heard a few orcs laugh…now I was really peeved! I cut the orc down and made my way to the druid who was now surround be Ardel, Lancelot and I with Tiewaz targeting him from a distance. Needless to say, he did not last long. Once the druid fell, Ardel ran around the battlefield mowing down everything in his path. A few orcs tried to run, but they died quickly as Tiewaz and Shellen were able to pick them off. After the fight, Ardel cured Lancelot of his wounds, we took the available loot and moved forward.

 

We were almost in the vicinity of Stone hearth when Navi came back from a recon notifying Tiewaz of what was up ahead. Once Tiewaz relayed the message, we moved forward carefully until we noticed some minotaurs hauling a cart along with a fighter and spell caster. I sent Lancelot to the woods in front of us to lie in wait. Shellan took two spells from me then hid in the eastern side of the woods to get the drop on the spell caster behind the cart. My centaur spell wore off so I wild shaped into my celestial ape form. Tiewaz took to the rear. Almost immediately, the minotaurs charged Ardel. They were so focused on him, that they did not see Lancelot charging them from the woods. Shellan managed to sneak up on the spell caster impaling him with my splinter bolt spell. I moved to where I could clearly see the spell caster then I hit him with a bolt of lightning, which ended up killing him. Ardel and Lancelot dealt with the minotaurs rather quickly leaving a one warrior left who did not live to see another day. We looted the bodies and headed to Grumbar’s temple, which had been destroyed by orcs.

 

We rested in the temple, then left after mutually agreeing to come back and fix it. As we were leaving, we could hear a dragon stomping through the woods nearby. Tiewaz kept saying how excited he was…until we were face to face with the copper dragon. The dragon asked,” who destroyed my temple?”  Tiewaz was temporarily tongue tied then responded,” It was the orcs, but we killed most of them…there may be more in the village to the south.” The dragon grunted then flew south. I looked at Tiewaz and asked,” Seriously?! I had questions.” Tiewaz just looked at me with that blank look he always gives so I decided to drop the conversation. Eventually, we made it back to headquarters. From there we started recovery and planning for our individual missions.

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UC 327 in Spring’s Light (By Ardel)

Fill the Mugs!  Down then quick!  Fill them and listen up!

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The Moonstone Dragons had business to take care of Shellen took his mother back to the Dragon Isles, Fdh Chat was cleansing and repairing the Temple of Grumbar.  Nathir and Ardel went off together to map out the rest of the area around Westreach. They left their tower and their new help, they bid their guards and housekeepers goodbye.

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Nathir and Ardel moved through the mountains to greeted by the west ocean.  There they met Captain Timook, of the “Prancing Nyrad” and his wife, Tessa.  They spoke of a great stone door to the north that they fishermen could not open.  Captain Timook told them tales of the Shadow Plane overtaking the kingdom of Xulin.

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From there Ardel and Nathir made their way to find the lair of a Great Copper Dragon!  As there was no sound, and it is never polite nor wise to wake a sleeping dragon, Ardel made some savory stew to wake up the dragon.

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            The first thing one should know about greeting dragons is, Never assume gender!  After laughing at Ardel, the Lady, Rethidiira introduced herself, and ate the savory stew.  The ancient Copper Dragon spoke to the two.  Rethidiira guessed at Nathir’s need and agreed to provide the material Nathir needed to become a full dragon.  Copper dragons love jokes riddles and messing with werebears it seems.  Rethidiira asked that Nather and Ardel go north through the stone door and close a portal that allowed devils through.

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Just north of Westport Ardel and Nathir found the great stone door with Infernal symbols upon it.  Ardel created a Magic Circle to prevent anything from coming out.  Then he tool a mallat to break it down.  Just by chance Nathir cast Resist Fire on Ardel.  Luckily this occurred just before Ardel tripped the trap that ward the door.  Ardel stepped out of the way while Nathir hit it with a fireball.  Nathir was quite pleased with himself.  The door was destroyed and opened up to steep stairway.  The stair way led them up to the high alpine level on top of the mountains.  Nathir did not like the cold.

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Behind a stream, up on a cliff was a cave entry.  As the two entered they were set upon by two ice demons known as Charaal.  They breathed their icy breath and affected the two.  Ardel stepped back and cast protective spells upon Nathir and himself while Nathir went wild with two fireballs.  Inside the room was the first treasure cache that the Moonstone Dragons had EVER seen!  Nathir went through the treasure while Ardel inspected two Snow Tiger Fellians frozen in ice.

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Ardel followed hallway and busted through two doors of ice.  Nathir was acting like a child and throwing rocks at the ice sculptures, and other magical devices.  Ardel finally understood Fadh Chat, and shouted: “Why do you do these things!?!”

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The two prepared to enter through a sliding stone door.  Behind the door they found the portal gateway but standing in the way was a green devil with ax!  The Amnizu charged both Nathir and Ardel readied themselves in their hurry however, they both blocked each other.  The devil blasted them with a fireball, and began to lay about with ax.  Nathir used his dragon breath and hit the devil with Acid Breath!  Ardel smashed a flask of Holy Water and caused a Holy Storm, then Blessed his claws against the beast. 

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Nathir continually sent orbs of acid at the devil, while Ardel lashed about it with his claws.  The Infernal beast had enough of the acid burns and targeted Nathir.  Nathir disappeared!  Ardel went wild and finally downed the devil.

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Ardel used his divine power to find, Nathir and gathered the treasure and destroyed the portal/gateway.  The resulting explosion shook the mountain itself!  Ardel left the area and down the mountain.  On the beach in the light of the Moon Ardel performed the Bonding Ritual of Faith.  This along with the offering to Ellana were accepted!  The adamant necklace with its moonstones were imbued with the power of Ardel’s patron deity.

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The next five days were spent by Ardel dispelling the Devils curse on Nathir.  When completed they visited the Copper Dragon, who gave Nathir the materials Nathir needed to start his ritual. 

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So in the end Ardel with the help of Nathir completed the quest laid upon them by the Copper Dragon!  Rid the area of an Infernal infestation, and brought back riches and glory for Westreach and the Moonstone Dragons!

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When you drink your mead, drink to the cleansing of the area, the bulwark against the tide of darkness, and the courage of the Moonstone Dragons!