The thirty something dragoneers rapidly begin personal preparations, potions are drunk, spells of warding and protection cast, swords set ablaze. Deth and Draze enter Haven, the human holding his nose and asking the eternal question,
"Ok, who ate all the carrots?"
Both emerge a few minutes later with potion flasks draped all around, Deth fair sparking with heroic energy. Cimarohn Gommar offers around a pure white gem which she says will allow the holder to cast a "cold shield" spell upon themselves. Sir Gerin is the first taker. Winsens offers his opinion that the magic of the gem is so similar to that of the potion that it is unlikely to give additional protection. Despite this Winsens uses the gem on himself and sends up a prayer to Somol to save one very scared and rather portly follower.
Fleetfoot watches the entrance to the next cavern, ready to bar the way with a magical barrier should Turshan come a-hunting. Dritzz Zarcon also has all his finely honed senses tuned on the possible entrance of the dragon. Whilst these two keep watch Cimarohn reinforces the growing view that she is an extremely useful lass to have around by casting a rare and powerful Orthian spell to enchant every weapon placed on the 'communal enchanting pile' by the dragoneers.
Snowolf asks if anyone saw The Sword in Sir Eliriad's vision? Nobody claims to have seen the blade and there are a few muttered "no"'s. Turning to Kas the Moranan asks,
"Is it worth the risk of dying, when, even if we kill the dragon, The Sword might be thrown into the Kingdom of Death?"
Kas smiles dangerously,
"I'm going in. You sir may act as your conscience and courage dictate."
Sir Ardna steps in between them and calls on Sir Eliriad,
"Can you tell where the sword is? If it isn't in the dragon's hoard itself then there is no reason to expose ourselves to more danger than necessary. Also can you find the angel in these caverns?"
The Corgul knight bows his head and moves his lips in supplication. The air around him crackles with magic. He then looks up and says clearly,
"Sahmen's Sword is in Turshan's lair. You have the word of Corgul
No mage has been able to scry The Sword so it is obviously well shielded. It may have been in full view but not seen in my image. The dragon may have blocked our view or it may be buried beneath coins. I know not, but I do know we will not face this danger for mere gold.
As to the angel, I have no magic that will plot a path through this maze of caverns to it."
There is a quick discussion to finalise plans drawn up in Haven and then several of the mages cast curse spells against Turshan to the effect that he should have left the sword in clear view. Winsens, Fleetfoot, Deth and Fanif pitch their curses thusly and at a distance. The ubiquitous Cimarohn says she will curse the dragon on sight and aim to have the sword be revealed as the dragon moves to attack. Avalor says he will be casting the Dianodian spell 'chance' as he enters and this may also help, Deth will be doing the same.
Sir Ardna suggests that the strongest warrior be duplicated but Fleetfoot gently informs him it is a personal spell and he doubts that the strongest warrior has it. The Morana knight also expresses his belief that the dragon should be grounded as soon as possible, this idea wins more support and several agree to concentrate their attacks on the wings. Snowolf suggests that Haven should be used as a clearing station for the wounded and that Draze be the one to carry the badly injured back. Draze does not seem opposed to this and rumbles,
"Haven was orignially a Trolin construct for exactly that purpose I suppose."
Before the dragoneers move Raymell Whiteflame calls for a prayer to Sahmen, Kas nods approvingly at the piety which saw Raymell chosen above fiercer warriors to be The Swordwielder. All the Sahmenites follow Kas' lead, kneeling as Raymell conducts the brief service. Concluding the prayer Raymell takes the opportunity to voice his opinion that the party should attack the dragon all at once to prevent Turshan picking them off one by one. A rumble of agreement greets this suggestion though Weapon, Snowolf and Moranthis are notably silent.
All prepared the armoured mass of men moves, following Avalor Dangerous who now strides cloaked in the glowing phantom armour of Orth, its fierce amber overlaying his own platemail. The Orthian says nothing, rapt in the torrent of Orth magics he has invoked, he seems drawn to the fight, needing to look neither left nor right to find his way. A fierce smile plays on his lips and his breath snorts in white plumes into the freezing air as though he himself were a dragon in human guise. Kas and his men walk with Avalor, the southern Sahmenites behind them, Naz, Sir Hellac, Winsens and Sir Eliriad following on. At the rear Dritzz dances ingratiatingly around Bob, winking her way and assuring her everything will be alright. Bob shows no signs of nervousness, Fleetfoot looks equally calm at her side. The Haquarian is a picture of introspection, albeit a blurred picture since he has cast an illusory defence to make his exact position somewhat uncertain. Possibly the mage is musing on the agreed agenda of spell casting in which he is to be a major player, the shaping of a magical barrier to guard the fire elementals that are due for summoning will be tricky.
As they leave Haven behind Deth summons a duplicate of himself and bids it wait a short while then follow on into the lair. Snowolf, Moranthis, Weapon and the duplicate linger by the door to Haven, losing sight of the others as they pass into the next chamber.
As the short tunnel to the lair comes into view Avalor picks up the pace, not much bothered by the weight of his mail. Almost at full sprint he holds aloft his spear and breaking into the vast cavern he howls out his warcry to Orth. Fellow Orthian Cimarohn keeps level with Avalor effortlessly, her speed magically enhanced, longbow in hand. As the Sahmenites spill into the dragon's lair Naz summons a large fire elemental before him and walks along right behind it, so deep in its fiery wake that he should by rights be incinerated.
Turshan lifts his head and rears thirty foot into the air, the motion revealing a large iron chest amidst the silver, set with skull motifs and deeply graven runes.
"The Sword must be in that chest!" Roars Kas.
Fleetfoot enters and first glimpses the dragon in the flesh, its head almost lost in a great white billowing of frost. Quickly the mage casts a spell and a shimmering plane of reddish force springs into being just before the dragon's mouth. Turshan dives his head below the barrier and his icy breath whooshes forth unimpeded from the depths of his alien body. The breath cone speeds across the gap, broadening with every yard to engulf all before it in a nightmare of rushing, flowing white as cold as the darkness between the stars.
Sir Gerin and Blair Shugun leap with perfect timing to fling themselves behind two mounded stalagmites, Cimarohn executes a huge leap to gain the partial cover of the tunnel wall then all is lost in the frost cloud. As the air clears it becomes obvious that everyone who failed to escape the full brunt of the blast is dead. The ogre Draze stands frozen in place, sadly comical in death. Sharing his fate are Dritzz Zarcon, Raymell Whiteflame, Ronin Peach, Tennvar and Winsens. Naz's elemental was blown out as were a number of sunswords spells but the fires are rekindled as the survivors surge onward.
Dritzz makes a convulsive step forwards, ice cracking away in shards. He is nearly as dead as he seemed. Extreme danger and a long life of self preservation combine to overcome Bob's charm and the little thief turns sharply then stumbles blindly away. Fleetfoot brushes the frost from his eyes and painfully rubs his cracked cheeks then makes off after Dritzz. As he goes the Haquarian flashes the thumbs down signal to Bob. The Suocconan however has fared less badly, sheathed in the purplish glow of a 'deflect' spell and having moved swiftly to avoid the worst. She is clearly torn between fleeing with her friend and staying to fulfil her pivotal role in calming the berserkers and battling any dragon charms. Whether it is duty or greed that drives her Bob elects to stay, not ready to quit mere seconds into the battle with all the finest warriors still alive.
Charging to surround the wyrm go Sir Gerin, Kas, Roberr, Blair, Lady Algaria, Harkonen, Deth, Sir Hellac, Sir Eliriad, Beograd, Sir Mithral, Bantainin, Azil, Arnolf and Avalor. Naz, Cimarohn, Bob, Sir Ardna and Jalance find places on the margins of the hoard. As they shake off the frost Gerin, Deth, Naz, Jalance and Kas all throw fireballs at the dragon, all five exploding within the space of a few seconds to hide the beast in a rising inferno and send searingly hot phymere hissing through the air.
As the flames die Avalor hurls his spear with unearthly speed at the dragon's chest, the enchanted weapon seeming to be plucked from his hand and accelerated towards its target. Simultaneously Sir Eliriad hollers out the result of his divination on the beast's health [ This translates as, "Its on 5140 VIT out of 5200 VIT!"]. The spear thuds home, maybe a foot deep, seeming tiny and insignificant in the dragon's bulk. A couple of blades rise from the hoard to join the fray but from the minimal effect they later have it is clear that they are not the focus of their animator's concentration. The sword that Cimarohn gave Gerin leaves his hands, the stumpy warrior faltering as he drives it on with his mind alone. It shines dazzlingly as he evokes its maker's power for one of its rare 'great blows'. With blinding speed the sword powers on, misses the dragon and cleaves a treasure chest nearly in two. Gerin curses his luck and drags out his own bastard sword, setting it aflame.
The dragon coils and writhes constantly, never still, the warriors having to rush back and forth across the shifting coins as they hew and hack. The first to feel Turshan's claws is captain Beograd, pinned and bitten in two. Deth is lashed with the dragon's tail but comes bounding nimbly back for more.
Bob, Naz and Jalance send energy bolts against the dragon, thick shafts of power that mark each as an accomplished mage, but these only seem to burn and char into the upper inches of the dragon's scaly hide. Bob pauses once to create a duplicate which then spends its time bringing prize jewels and rings from the treasure mounds to her feet. Cimarohn begins a rapid stream of arrows, aiming for the head. Sir Ardna close by also begins to loose arrows at Turshan's head, his first two having red hot arrow heads, courtesy of Blair.
Avalor is the only attacker to cause the dragon real pain in these first seconds, his grey blade slicing through armour more obdurate than tripled platemail with no more hinderance than the proverbial hot knife through butter. Roberr and Blair close on the iron chest, Roberr kneeling to inspect it and readying his strongest knife.
The dragon's next victim is Sir Hellac, torn apart with two swipes of its glittering claws. A tail lash flings Sir Mithral against a rock where he lies stunned. Deth backs off, fumbling for a healing potion with numb fingers. Sir Gerin pauses briefly to cast some of Trolin's magic on his own frost bitten limbs. Weapons rain down on all sides but only Avalor and those with the heaviest of weapons make much impact, and that only minor. More arrows and energy bolts rain in to little avail.
The four lingerers now enter the cavern, Moranthis preceded by a bottle of dark liquid seemingly borne by invisible hands. The three friends spread out around the edge of the cavern, Deth's duplicate running in to find and fling spears and axes from the hoard at the dragon.
Cimarohn despairs of archery, a lucky shot convincing her that 'moonstone eyes' was not a flight of literary fancy but a solid fact. She calls out another piece of Orth magic unknown to any of those present and suddenly she is embedded in the larger spectral form of a very familiar looking ogre! Its arms move with and around hers, her face contorts in mimicry of its fearsome mind-howl. Who is in charge is unclear but with one mind the ogre-woman storms forwards wielding a dark iron bastard sword, right into Turshan's attack. Although its claws have first to tear through ogre flesh to reach her enchanted black chainmail, they do, and tear through metal to rip flesh again. The mighty head descends for the kill, diamond fangs piercing spectral flesh and driving on. Cimarohn is quite the warrior though, in the face of death she drives up with her hellsword and scores the roof of the dragon's mouth so that it bites too early and tears away only her mail shirt and strips of skin rather than her head. Sir Ardna runs in behind her, swinging his axe against the dragon's leg. Roberr attempts to force the chest but is instantly paralysed, the life drains from him before Blair's eyes and he crumples across the lid, a withered corpse.
Kas and his remaining men go berserk, both he and Harkonen striking huge blows that rip deep into dragon flesh. Avalor is lashed by the dragon's tail but merely grunts and slashes. The grey sword has lost its miraculous edge and now needs Avalor's strength and skill to pierce the dragon's hide. Something he does quite effectively but not so well as the berserkers with twohanded sunswords. This begins to prove telling as the dragon starts to single out those doing him most harm.
The bottle of sulphur pitch animated by Moranthis smashes on Turshan's head and is ignited by a long arcing 'spark' from Weapon. The dragon is more angered than hurt by this, its thick armour, cold blood and magical 'heat shield' combining to save it from serious injury.
Blair Shugun energy bolts the chest a few times then dares to touch it. Instantly the life begins to drain from him but having killed Roberr there is not quite enough power to slay him and he is free to try and pry the lid open. The dragon's tail flicks over him as he ducks behind the chest.
The dragon attacks Kas but the great warrior evades all but one claw and scarcely feels that in his berserk. Lady Algaria joins the Tulakians in berserking and strikes a vicious blow that carves through scale and steaming white dragon flesh.
Snowolf is sending in burning arrows, Moranthis animates a spear from the hoard to harry Turshan and then sends in his borrowed twohanded sword which he mentally wields with great skill, managing to keep up with the furious darting and swaying of the dragon's head. Weapon continues to firebomb from a distance, casting a spell in between throws to yell an update on the dragon's condition [translating as, "Its on 3100 VIT out of 5200 VIT!"].
The dragon continues to tear at Kas, crushing him to the ground with two clawed feet and biting deep, denting and piercing his enchanted white platemail. Cimarohn and Deth charge back into the melee, having downed a dozen healing brews between them, Cimarohn now berserk. Sir Ardna continues to swing his magic axe; a very skilled warrior but not doing any great harm. Sir Mithral staggers up, goes berserk and rushes to attack. Jalance gives up on his energy bolts and blinding spells, goes berserk and races in. Arnolf Firecrow strikes an incredible blow [820 VIT raw!] cracking scales and sending icy blood sheeting down onto the riches. Avalor moves towards Kas and finding him still alive(!) helps him up. Jalance is struck by the tail but hardly feels it. Blair is still working on the chest, Weapon and Snowolf are having negligible effect from their range attacks. Bob is still burning squiggles into the dragon, hoping to get lucky, her energy bolts flowing in a continuous unbroken stream. Naz is concentrating on blinding flashes around the dragon's eyes.
Arnolf is ripped in two, Azil lashed with its tail, Kas fights on. Besides Kas Harkonen's heavy burning axe rises and falls to good effect. Algaria is clawed and her left arm bitten off at the elbow complete with shield but she fights on. Blair's attempts to open the chest end when his head is bounced off a distant wall by a cracking blow from Turshan's tail.
The swords are still crashing down on Turshan and for the first time the dragon senses defeat is possible. Much as it is loathe to do so the wyrm abandons control and mimics its most fearsome antagonists. In a berserk fury the dragon snaps up Harkonen and swallows him whole, killing Lady Algaria with a heavy down-stroke of its tail.
Weapon abandons firebombing in favour of his bow, Snowolf abandons his bow to start firebombing. Sir Gerin goes berserk, seeking to avenge Algaria no doubt and lays in with renewed fervour. The dragon rips Kas apart and knocks Cimarohn into a stunned heap. Deth splattered with Kas' blood and guts, suddenly goes wild and loses it completely. The would-be bane of Destu sprouts black fur and drops his weapon as large claws sprout from hands that are now paws. His back broadens, clothes rip, potion bandoleers and frost-brittle equipment goes flying. His voice becomes a snarl, his face sharpens to that of a huge black panther. In half man, half panther form he leaps on to Turshan's back, clawing and biting insanely.
Naz finally succeeds in blinding the dragon but although unable to see the wyrm has finally regained its breath and exhales. Sir Gerin is caught full on, surprised. Back against the wall of the cavern Moranthis and Bob are caught in the spreading tide of ice. The white clouds settle to reveal Bob dead and her duplicate gone. Moranthis was badly caught but preserved by his marvellous armour and incredible hardiness he pushes away from where the ice has locked him to the stone.
Sir Gerin is flattened, crusted over with frost and half buried in coins. Naz resorts to Haquarian magic and manages to dispel the dragon's berserk. This proves to be a mistake and one that the old mage blames on Haquar.... the dragon is now calm enough to cure its blindness and leaps clear of the main melee, launching through space to land on Moranthis. The warrior is not ready to run, his borrowed sword flies to his hands. The no longer berserking dragon is still heartily enraged and driven wild with pain from its many wounds. Moranthis is pinned to the ground, raked with diamond talons and then bitten. The fangs go deep, slicing his head from his shoulders. Sir Mithral is clipped with the tail as he gives chase, reels, but carries on. The others are hard on his heels.
Spitting out Moranthis' remains Turshan turns and lunges back, killing Sir Mithral and tail bashing Sir Eliriad. Azil is next to fall before the dragon's claws and Weapon is caught in his retreat, slammed against the wall where he slumps in an unconcious heap. Deth in were-form continues to rip at the wyrm's ridged back.
With a single powerful thrust Avalor rams his brother's sword through a gaping hole that Arnolf tore in Turshan's armour. He shoves it hilt deep into the chest through hard muscle, cracking bone, slicing blue arteries. He twists the nblade right then left, cutting something vital, freezing blood jets out drenching him, the dragon's roar brings down the few remaining stalactites from the roof and flattens all present. Turshan rear, throwing off Deth and for one moment he looks to be taking to the skies, then with a huge crash he comes tumbling down. Dead.
Deth lands near Sir Gerin who is staggering up and both set about eachother. Cimarohn hacks into Deth's duplicate and Jalance hacks into Cimarohn. The only others to battle the dragon hand to hand and live are Avalor, Sir Eliriad, Sir Ardna and Captain Bantainin. Bantainin notices that Azil is not quite dead and with the others' help he hauls the big man clear of the berserkers. Snowolf runs to help Weapon from the chamber and Naz waits at the tunnel mouth urging everybody out.
Deth is tearing Gerin apart, the little man being on his last legs and seeming unable to land a solid blow on the agile were-panther. He makes a couple of good cuts but is badly mauled and on the point of dying. Naz has heard of Deth's feud with the Sahmen priest Sol-Tarek and thinks highly of sir Gerin; he lets fly with a searing bolt of energy and burns a deep smoking hole into Deth's back - killing him. Gerin tosses Deth's corpse aside and rises to see Cimarohn sprinting towards him, having disposed of Jalance and found herself without an opponent.
Dritzz hobbles back to join the dragon-slayers at the tunnel mouth. Fleetfoot comes with him and stares slack jawed at Bob's frozen cadaver. Naz buys a little time by summoning a fire elemental from a small patch of burning sulphur-pitch on Turshan's body and directing it to keep between the two berserkers.
"That won't last for long." comments sir Eliriad.
"I might have to blast the Orthian then." Replies Naz tersely, "Pity. She's a good warrior."
Then Naz turns to the others around him.
"This treasure is Sahmen's. It will build many a temple and fortress in this land. Weapon and Snowolf did little but took some risk, they will get one fiftyith part of the hoard. Fleetfoot did hardly a thing and ran! One hundredth part shall be his.
Does anyone here have a reason why I shouldn't kill this cowardly thief here and now? Or can he prehaps part Cimarohn and Sir Gerin without slaying either?"
To ease the next turn I'm sure Weapon's player won't mind me telling you that he has noticed Deth's key is no longer around his neck!
A good fight, all played out with dice, late into the night. Everyone was a potential target but the chances began to be modified by how much damage you were doing after a few rounds. Despite the number of survivors the whole thing balanced on a knife edge towards the end and it would not have taken many good rolls for Turshan to have won.
DEADLINE : 22/11/94 I'll do it before if they're all in.