Siora’s Spot Check: 1d20+43 = 49

Blackmane Wolves’ Hide Check: 1d20+39 = 42 (Fail)

I was bent over the side of the fortress in one of the crenelations, eyes nearly rolling back into my skull as Siora’s ministrations drove me to the peak, when, suddenly, she stopped. Before I could beg her to stop teasing me, her hand vanished from under my skirt, and she was by the stairs. Calling out to the people below.

“WE’RE UNDER ATTACK! FLYING WOLVES COMING OUR WAY FAST!”

At her yell, my frustration took a back seat, as I readied myself for battle. Siora smiled ruefully as she looked my way. “Sorry, Mel, they thought they were being sneaky, but I saw one of them cross in front of some stars. Get ready!”

Initiatives

Blackmane Wolves

Melinda

Vestele

Fartooth

Siora

The wolves were startled by Siora’s outcry, but not dismayed. Knowing they’d been spotted, they let out howls of the hunt, and charged forward, in two groups of three. They were large creatures, with ebony fur that barely stood out against the starlit backdrop of the night sky. If not for Siora’s eyes, they would have easily gotten complete surprise on us.

BW1’s Attack (Siora): 1d20+53 = 55 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+44 = 46 (Piercing) (DR 15/Adamantine)

BW1’s Trip Attempt: 1d20+45 = 63

Siora’s DEX check: 1d20+7 = 19 (Fail, Prone)

BW2’s Attack (Siora): 1d20+53 = 68 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+44 = 50 (Piercing) (DR 15/Adamantine)

BW3’s Attack (Siora): 1d20+53 = 65 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+44 = 47 (Piercing) (DR 15/Adamantine)

BW4’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+53 = 69 (Hit)

Miss Chance: 1d100 = 79 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+44 = 48 (Piercing) (DR 15/Adamantine)

BW4’s Trip Attempt: 1d20+45 = 50

Melinda’s DEX check: 1d20+13 = 23 (Fail, Prone)

BW5’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+53 = 64 (Hit)

Miss Chance: 1d100 = 97 (Hit)

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

BW6’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+53 = 54 (Fail)

A flurry of snarls and fangs fell upon us. Both Siora and I were bitten, and thrown to the ground, and bitten again as the pack tore into us. Our protections helped, somewhat, and if we had not endured the trial of that Repository, then it is not impossible that one or both of us would have been near death from this attack alone. Even so, I found myself cursing whichever god thought Paragon creatures were a good idea to unleash upon the world.

Melinda’s CL Check: 1d20+47 = 50 (Success)

Utterdark Doom damage: 17d6 = 47 (Negative Energy)

BW1’s Fort Save: 1d20+32 = 35 (Fail, 2 negative levels)

BW1’s Ref Save: 1d20+31 = 38 (Success, Half damage)

BW2’s Fort Save: 1d20+32 = 46 (Success)

BW2’s Ref Save: 1d20+31 = 37 (Success, Half Damage)

BW3’s Fort Save: 1d20+32 = 40 (Success)

BW3’s Ref Save: 1d20+31 = 41 (Success, Half Damage)

BW4’s Fort Save: 1d20+13 = 25 (Fail, 2 negative levels)

BW4’s Ref Save: 1d20+12 = 16 (Fail)

BW5’s Fort Save: 1d20+13 = 24 (Fail, 2 negative levels)

BW5’s Ref Save: 1d20+12 = 21 (Fail)

BW6’s Fort Save: 1d20+13 = 29 (Fail, 2 negative levels)

BW6’s Ref Save: 1d20+12 = 30 (Fail)

I grit my teeth, and resisted the urge to get to my feet. That would only draw more attacks. I needed to weaken the enemy somehow before that. And, for that, I needed magic. “All right, Siora. Let’s show these mangy wolves what magic tastes like!” Not my most inspired work, but it allowed me to refocus my Marshal aura to overcoming the enemy’s resistance to magic.

Thankfully, I had progressed past the point where having enemies in melee with me would hamper my magical abilities. A wave of inky blackness rolled off me, and blasted across the rooftop. Siora and I were the only ones spared as the utterdark blast hit the wolves. It was not quite as effective as I would have wished, but that was neither here nor there.

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

Vestele’s Mass Cure Critical Wounds: 4d8+27 = 44 (Healing)

Vestele charged up the stairs, ready for battle, and snarled as she saw the two of us already wounded. With a prayer to her demonic goddess, a wave of healing light flowed over the two of us, healing the worst of our wounds. Turning back, she looked at Fartooth, and cried, “It is too crowded up here, Fartooth! Do what you can!”

Fartooth’s Tumble Check: 1d20+48 = 51 (Success)

Fartooth’s Attack Roll (BW1): 1d20+37 = 49 (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+17 = 20 (Piercing, Epic)

Wounding: 1 CON damage

Fartooth popped up, out of the stairs, and immediately tumbled backwards, off the edge of the fortress, taking flight with his cloak. As he took to the air, a psychic arrow flew from his hand, and struck one of the wolves threatening Siora. “These creatures have thick hides! I don’t know how much good this will do!”

Siora’s Tumble Check: 1d20+31 = 36 (Success)

Siora’s CL Check: 1d20+45 = 60 (Success)

Black Blade of Disaster’s Attack Roll (BW2): 1d20+26 = 37 (Touch) (Miss)

Siora followed the kobold’s example, using a bit of acrobatics to roll off the fortress, and into the air. Looking over her shoulder as she turned in the air, she muttered a spell, and an inky black blade of pure void sprang into being between her and one of the wolves, slashing at the creature. It missed, but the wolf still snarled at the obvious spellwork that was threatening it.

Blackmane Wolves: Fast Healing 20

BW1’s Attack (Vestele): 1d20+51 = 71 (Hit, Crit Immune)

Damage: 1d8+44 = 46 (Piercing) (DR 15/Adamantine)

BW1’s Trip Attempt: 1d20+43 = 48

Vestele’s STR check: 1d20+9 = 11 (Fail, Prone)

BW2’s Attack (Vestele): 1d20+53 = 54 (Miss)

BW3’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+55 = 56 (Miss)

BW4’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+51 = 63 (Miss)

BW5’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+51 = 63 (Miss)

BW6’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+51 = 66 (Hit)

Miss Chance: 1d100 = 9 (Miss)

The wolves were apparently startled by the ferocity of our response. Well, that much was probably to be expected, since most people in the area wouldn’t be seasoned adventurers of our caliber. After all, there was a reason why these wolves had been allowed to go unchallenged for so long. Thankfully, Vestele was the only one to receive a wound this time, as two of the wolves moved to take down the healer, while the other four tried, and failed, to maul me while I was down.

Melinda’s Tumble Check: 1d20+52 = 67 (Success)

Melinda’s CL Check: 1d20+47 = 64 (Success)

Utterdark Doom damage: 17d6 = 54 (Negative Energy)

BW1’s Fort Save: 1d20+29 = 35 (Fail, 2 negative levels)

BW1’s Ref Save: 1d20+29 = 49 (Success, Half damage)

BW2’s Fort Save: 1d20+32 = 47 (Success)

BW2’s Ref Save: 1d20+31 = 32 (Fail)

BW3’s Fort Save: 1d20+13 = 25 (Fail, 2 negative levels)

BW3’s Ref Save: 1d20+12 = 25 (Fail)

BW4’s Fort Save: 1d20+11 = 30 (Fail, 2 negative levels)

BW4’s Ref Save: 1d20+10 = 23 (Fail)

BW5’s Fort Save: 1d20+11 = 19 (Fail, 2 negative levels)

BW5’s Ref Save: 1d20+10 = 26 (Fail)

BW6’s Fort Save: 1d20+11 = 28 (Fail, 2 negative levels)

BW6’s Ref Save: 1d20+10 = 29 (Fail)

Using a bit of acrobatics of my own, I flipped myself up, onto my feet, and unleashed another round of the burst of negative energy. My attacks probably wouldn’t kill the wolves, immediately, but they were definitely going to have to pay more attention to me than the others. I knew that, if Siora and Fartooth could keep out of the wolves’ jaws for a second, that they would make them pay for that lapse in attention. I just had to hold the wolves’ attention for that long.

And, to make that task a bit easier, I cried out, “Don’t worry, my friends! These hounds will soon be toothless! Stand strong, and don’t let them scratch your armor!” I could feel the extra protection, as my major aura began to bolster my defenses.

Vestele’s Concentration check: 1d20+33 = 34 (Success)

Vestele’s CL Check: 1d20+46 = 51 (Success)

Vestele’s Word of Chaos: Affects all Nonchaotic creatures (no save)

Confused: 1d10 = 5 minutes

Stunned: 1 Round

Deafened: 1d4 = 2 rounds

Vestele cried out a single word in the Abyssal tongue. It was a word with no direct translation to Common, but could loosely be defined as the demons’ own word for the essence of Chaos itself. Power was in her voice as she spoke that word, that much I could see. But I felt nothing from the spell. The wolves, however, all staggered, as though they’d been stunned.

The priestess stood, and not one of the wolves so much as growled at her. “This is but a brief respite! They will be stunned for a moment, and then confused for some time. If you attack them, they will focus on you, to the exception of all others!”

Fartooth’s Swarm of Arrows (BW1): 1d20+37 = 53 (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+17 = 21 (Piercing, Epic)

Wounding: 1 CON damage

Fartooth’s Swarm of Arrows (BW2): 1d20+37 = 46 (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+17 = 19 (Piercing, Epic)

Wounding: 1 CON damage

Fartooth’s Swarm of Arrows (BW3): 1d20+37 = 53 (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+17 = 21 (Piercing, Epic)

Wounding: 1 CON damage

Fartooth’s Swarm of Arrows (BW4): 1d20+37 = 54 (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+17 = 19 (Piercing, Epic)

Wounding: 1 CON damage

Fartooth’s Swarm of Arrows (BW5): 1d20+37 = 41 (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+17 = 20 (Piercing, Epic)

Wounding: 1 CON damage

Fartooth’s Swarm of Arrows (BW6): 1d20+37 = 51 (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+17 = 23 (Piercing, Epic)

Wounding: 1 CON damage

“Then, while they’re stunned, allow me to give them a gift!” Fartooth chirped happily as he flew around the tower’s edge, lining up his shot. A flurry of arrows shot from his palm, striking each of the wolves with deadly accuracy. And, more importantly, each one carried the wounding effect all his arrows did, weakening them further.

Black Blade of Disaster’s Attack Roll (BW2): 1d20+26 = 39 (Touch) (Hit)

BW2’s Fort Save: 1d20+31 = 40 (Success)

Disintegrate: 5d6 = 16 (Magic)

Siora’s CL Check: 1d20+39 = 47 (Success)

Siora’s Mage’s Sword (BW4): 1d20+28 = 38 (Hit)

Damage: 4d6+3 = 25 (Force)

Siora’s black blade swung at the wolf she targeted again, and, this time, it hit, but the wolf was far from badly damaged by the magical blade, shrugging off the worst of its effects. Undeterred, Siora placed her hand to her belt as she called out a command word. A shimmering blade of force appeared behind two of the other wolves. The blade hung in the air for but a moment before it swung, drawing blood against the wolf.

Blackmane Wolves: Fast Healing 20

The wolves began to stir, even as the worst of their wounds began to knit themselves back together. But, as they stirred back to full awareness, a change came over them. Madness filled their eyes, as they each looked to the last creature or object to hurt them, focusing completely on them.

Melinda’s CL Check: 1d20+47 = 67 (Success)

Utterdark Doom damage: 17d6 = 53 (Negative Energy)

BW1’s Fort Save: 1d20+27 = 40 (Success)

BW1’s Ref Save: 1d20+27 = 29 (Fail)

BW2’s Fort Save: 1d20+31 = 35 (Fail, 2 Negative levels)

BW2’s Ref Save: 1d20+31 = 47 (Success, Half Damage)

BW3’s Fort Save: 1d20+11 = 24 (Fail, 2 negative levels)

BW3’s Ref Save: 1d20+10 = 25 (Fail)

BW4’s Fort Save: 1d20+9 = 27 (Fail, 2 negative levels)

BW4’s Ref Save: 1d20+8 = 14 (Fail)

BW5’s Fort Save: 1d20+9 = 28 (Fail, 2 negative levels)

BW5’s Ref Save: 1d20+8 = 26 (Fail)

BW6’s Fort Save: 1d20+9 = 18 (Fail, 2 negative levels)

BW6’s Ref Save: 1d20+8 = 10 (Fail)

I smiled at the sight of what had been a tense battle suddenly looking far more winnable. As I unleashed another pulse of magic to continue wounding and weakening the wolves, their eyes all turned to me. Quickly, I turned my gaze towards Fartooth. “Focus fire on one of the wolves Siora’s blades are hitting! That will keep you out of the fray, somewhat! At the very least, it will make sure that only one comes after you!”

Vestele’s attack roll (BW4): 1d20+38 = 53 (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+14 = 16 (Slashing, Epic)

Wounding: 1 CON

Anarchic Power: 3d6 = 13

Anarchic Power: 1 Negative Level

Prismatic Crystal: 1d6 = 5 (Acid) (Acid Resistance 10)

Prismatic Crystal: 1d6 = 6 (Cold) (Cold Resistance 10)

Prismatic Crystal: 1d6 = 6 (Electricity) (Electricity Resistance 10)

Prismatic Crystal: 1d6 = 1 (Fire) (Fire Resistance 10)

Vestele took to the sky, the wolves no longer paying attention to her, thanks to the confusion. Circling around, she got behind the wolf that Siora’s mage blade cut just before, and lashed out with her whip, which crackled with lightning, frost, acid, and flame as it did so. “I’ll do what I can, as well, but don’t expect too much from me. I’m a lover, after all, not a fighter.”

Fartooth’s attack (BW2): 1d20+37 = 43 (Miss)

Fartooth’s attack (BW2): 1d20+37 = 52 (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+17 = 22 (Piercing, Epic)

Wounding: 1 CON damage

Fartooth’s attack (BW2): 1d20+32 = 51 (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+17 = 19 (Piercing, Epic)

Wounding: 1 CON damage

Fartooth’s attack (BW2): 1d20+27 = 29 (Miss)

Fartooth shifted slightly in the air, and chirped, “Got it!” Then, four arrows flew from his hand, at the wolf targeted by Siora’s black sword. Two arrows found their mark, causing the wolf to turn and growl at the insolent kobold.

Black Blade of Disaster’s Attack Roll (BW2): 1d20+26 = 40 (Touch) (Hit)

BW2’s Fort Save: 1d20+28 = 30 (Fail)

Disintegrate: 40d6 = 125 (Magic)

Siora’s Mage’s Sword (BW4): 1d20+28 = 37 (Miss)

Siora’s CL Check: 1d20+39 = 44 (Success)

BW4’s Will Save (Hold Monster): 1d20+4 = 7 (Fail, Paralyzed)

Siora’s magic blades continued the attack. The black blade cut its target wolf, and the wolf’s flesh practically melted away from the wound as the magic ate at it. The second blade, however, missed its mark, and that wolf continued snarling at Vestele. “Don’t worry, I got it!” she cried, as she unleashed another spell, freezing the wolf in place. “It is too weak to resist the spell, for now.”

Things were moving steadily in our favor.