Setting up the meeting was easy enough. The Archons were only too eager to get more people on board with their crusade, and the appearance of our ships, and the island hidden in the mist, had not gone unnoticed. I’m sure they suspected we had come looking for them, perhaps even reached out to the locals ourselves. But I was counting on them believing that, in our wickedness, that we had pushed the magelord into siding with them, instead.

The idea that a good man might side with evil beings like us in order to rid his land of disruptive elements, especially ones that are ‘good’ themselves was totally alien to the mindset of fanatics like them. Not that I cared, of course. I always preferred it when my enemies had flaws that were easily exploited for my own gain.

Of course, I also was not so foolish as to believe that the Magelord trusted us in the slightest. Nor was I naïve enough to think that he would not be making preparations, in case it became necessary to move against us. In fact, I wouldn’t doubt that he had his troops ready to strike against us, if we were weakened too greatly while killing the archons, and the same in reverse if the archons were too weak after overcoming us to defend themselves. It was the smart play, after all, and one did not become a Magelord by being foolish.

That night, after treating ourselves to a Heroes’ Feast thanks to Vestele’s magic, our party trailed behind the Magelord and his companions as they made their way by boat to the meeting site, flying behind him under the cover of Siora’s Mass Invisibility spell. So long as we did not attack anyone while in flight, we would be hidden from most prying eyes. If any sneaky little archons were scrying on the Magelord’s party, then they would have to use more advanced spells to spot us on his trail.

The Magelord was not going to this meeting alone, of course. With him, he had seven warriors and six archers, spread across three boats. All of them armed and ready for battle, just in case. Of course, if it came to combat with the archons, they would be mostly useless, save for giving the Magelord time to cast a spell and retreat.

The boats pulled up upon the shore, and the Magelord and his soldiers disembarked. The warriors quickly began hacking at the nearby trees, gathering the wood in a pile on the sand. The archers, however, remained aboard the ships, keeping their bows at the ready.

Melinda’s Hide Check: 1d20+23 = 42

Ebonheart’s Hide Check: 1d20+11 = 24

Siora’s Hide Check: 1d20+12 = 27

Vestele’s Hide Check: 1d20+14 = 26

Fartooth’s Hide Check: 1d20+70 = 73

Sanvi’s Hide Check: 1d20+8 = 24

As the Magelord’s forces began their preparations, I turned my auras to aid our defense, both from physical attacks, and those that needed to be overcome with fortitude. That done, we hid ourselves in the trees as best we could. Some of us better than others, of course. Once we were hidden, the Magelord used a cantrip to set the wood that his soldiers had piled up ablaze, creating a bonfire on the beach. A signal.

Soon after the signal fire was lit, two boats came into view, and pulled up on the beach, deliberately separate from the Magelord’s boats. It seemed that the archons were properly wary of an ambush or betrayal. Too bad. I would have hoped they’d be a bit more overconfident.

Picking the archons out of the crowd was easy enough. Of the eight beings aboard the two boats, four were men, all armed and armored as soldiers might be, though in different patterned gear than the magelord’s soldiers. Two of the women were archers, and remained in the boat. By the process of elimination, the other two were our archons. Oh, they also had brilliant white wings and an otherworldly presence, as well as bracers and a collar like Sanvi wore when we first met her, which was also a pretty solid clue as to their identities. I was good at noticing little details like that.

One of the archons, dressed in a priestess’s robes bearing the mark of Torm openly upon her breast, stayed behind the rough line of soldiers, using them as protection. That probably made her Iahhel, the cleric of the pair. Which meant that the other one, with twin scimitars sheathed at her waist, was Araqiel, the swashbuckler. I had a feeling that she would be the more troublesome one to bring down.

Araqiel was the first to speak, as she moved into the firelight. “Ah, Magelord Fargleam, I am so glad you reached out to us. Does this mean that you have decided to join the crusade, and crush the evils that reside in the Aurilblood Jungle? Or does your message have more to do with the sudden addition to the lake near your city?”

“The latter,” Fargleam answered. “The Wyrm of the frozen jungle is no concern of ours. At least, not so long as fools don’t go and rouse his ire. But I would speak about the visitors to the lake that I met this morning. It would appear that your actions have been noted, even outside our lands. Hunters from the distant north have come to claim your heads, I am told.”

Araqiel sneered. “The one known as Rimedancer, right? We had hoped destroying the wyrm, and his base of operations, would draw out Auril’s champion to fight, but this is better than we could have thought! The great evil will be dealt with, before the night is out!”

“Oh?” Fargleam asked. “What do you mean by that?”

“We suspected that the bitch was behind the ships that teleported into the lake, so we sent some of our most skilled forces to take their ships, and slaughter everyone on the island hidden in the mist. They’ll prove a useful base for the crusade as we cleanse the world of her filth.”

As she spoke, seven fireballs erupted in the distance, lighting the night sky, followed by several lightning bolts striking across the sky, and hitting objects upon the water. The surprise on Araqiel’s face was all I needed to know that she had not expected her assault to be resisted like that. Fargleam barely managed to keep control of his features, as he asked, “I suppose that was your assault beginning? I did not know that you had recruited so many mages to your group.”

Iahhel spoke, then, “Mother, a message from our forces. They were spotted, and the defenders unleashed magic upon them. They are assassins and warriors, not mages. They’ll need support.”

I decided that now was the proper time to make my entrance. Stepping out of the shadows of the jungle and into the firelight, I held Soul’s Violation aloft, and pointed it Araqiel. “Oh, I think you have bigger things to worry about than the fate of your pawns. The only filth getting cleansed this day will be removing you two whores from existence. Unless you are too scared to face me little whore?”

“YOU DARE?” Araqiel raged, her eyes focused on me. She drew her blades in a well-practiced flourish. “I WILL ENJOY KILLING YOU, BITCH!”

Fartooth’s Attack Roll (Iahhel): 1d20+43 = 59 (Flat-footed) (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+20 = 22 (Piercing)

Lawful Outsider Bane: 2d6 = 8

Anarchic Power: 3d6 = 10

Anarchic Power: 1 Negative Level

Wounding: 1 CON damage

Fartooth’s Attack Roll (Iahhel): 1d20+43 = 58 (Flat-footed) (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+20 = 21 (Piercing)

Lawful Outsider Bane: 2d6 = 7

Anarchic Power: 3d6 = 13

Anarchic Power: 1 Negative Level

Wounding: 1 CON damage

Fartooth’s Attack Roll (Iahhel): 1d20+38 = 46 (Flat-footed) (Miss)

Fartooth’s Attack Roll (Iahhel): 1d20+33 = 49 (Flat-footed) (Miss)

A flurry of psychic arrows flew out of the jungle as Fartooth announced his presence. Two of them struck the cleric in the chest, causing her to stumble back, in shock. “You birds talk too much.”

Araqiel snarled at that. “KILL THEM ALL!” It seemed that the time for talking was at an end.

Initiative Order:

Iahhel

Melinda

Fartooth

Araqiel

Archers

Ebonheart

Soldiers

Sanvi

Magelord’s Forces

Siora

Vestele

Iahhel’s Quickened Acid Arrow (Fartooth): 1d20+37 = 42 (Touch) (Hit)

Blur Miss Chance: 1d100 = 92 (Hit)

Acid Arrow: 2d6 = 6 (Acid)

Iahhel’s CL Check: 1d20+42 = 51 (Success)

Fartooth’s Fort Save (Implosion): 1d20+50 = 56 (Success)

Iahhel whirled her crossbow around and fired at Fartooth. However, instead of a crossbow bolt, as one might expect, an acidic green bolt of energy shot from the bow, striking Fartooth and causing a sickening sizzling sound as it burned his scales. “A kobold? A lowly kobold dared strike me?” The archon sounded offended at the very idea of such a thing. “Take this!” She launched a spell at Fartooth, but it failed to do anything.

Melinda’s Tumble Check: 1d20+52 = 69 (Success)

Melinda’s CL Check: 1d20+33 = 45 (Success)

Utterdark Doom: 18d6 = 60 (Negative Energy)

Utterdark Doom: 2 Negative Levels

Araqiel’s Fort Save: 1d20+18 = 26 (Fail)

Soldier 1’s Fort Save: 1d20+15 = 21 (Fail)

Soldier 2’s Fort Save: 1d20-4 = 8 (Fail)

Soldier 3’s Fort Save: 1d20-4 = 14 (Fail)

Soldier 4’s Fort Save: 1d20+15 = 25 (Fail)

I tumbled, rolling through the gap between Araqiel and one of the fighters. As I came to my feet, I unleashed an utterdark blast in a sphere around myself. With the archon and two of the soldiers inside the aura granted by my fey ancestry, they were unable to fight off the effects, much to my delight. It was only a drop in the bucket, to be sure, but it was still better than nothing.

Fartooth’s Attack Roll (Iahhel): 1d20+43 = 51 (Miss)

Fartooth’s Attack Roll (Iahhel): 1d20+43 = 55 (Miss)

Fartooth’s Attack Roll (Iahhel): 1d20+38 = 57 (Miss)

Fartooth’s Attack Roll (Iahhel): 1d20+33 = 36 (Miss)

Fartooth unleashed another flurry of arrows, however they were unsuccessful in reaching the archon through her magical protections. “This one is better armored than she seems! Could be trouble!”

Araqiel’s Tumble Check: 1d20+62 = 65 (Success)

Araqiel’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+58 = 61 (Miss)

Araqiel’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+58 = 65 (Miss)

Araqiel’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+53 = 72 (Crit Threat)

Confirm Crit: 1d20+53 = 60 (Normal Hit)

Damage: 1d6+32 = 38 (Slashing)

Iron Vulnerability: 1d6 = 6 (DR 15/Adamantine)

Araqiel’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+53 = 68 (Miss)

Araqiel’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+48 = 50 (Miss)

Araqiel’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+48 = 55 (Miss)

Araqiel’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+43 = 48 (Miss)

Araqiel’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+43 = 44 (Miss) (Disarmed)

Araqiel snarled at me, and said, “You’ll pay for that, whore of Auril!” She then began to dance upon the sand, her blades flashing as she darted quickly about the beach. Each time she darted within range of me, her blades struck out. But only one managed to catch me, tearing through the temporary hit points granted by the Heroes’ Feast, and doing a little damage to my body. But the archon got upset, since I dodged the majority of her blows, and overswung on the last blow, causing her to lose her grip on the weapon in her left hand, letting it fall to the sand at her feet.

Archer 1’s attack (Fartooth): 1d20+29 = 40 (Miss)

Archer 1’s attack (Fartooth): 1d20+29 = 34 (Miss)

Archer 1’s attack (Fartooth): 1d20+24 = 37 (Miss)

Archer 1’s attack (Fartooth): 1d20+19 = 37 (Miss)

Archer 1’s attack (Fartooth): 1d20+14 = 20 (Miss)

Archer 2’s attack (Fartooth): 1d20+29 = 37 (Miss)

Archer 2’s attack (Fartooth): 1d20+29 = 45 (Miss)

Archer 2’s attack (Fartooth): 1d20+24 = 34 (Miss)

Archer 2’s attack (Fartooth): 1d20+19 = 31 (Miss)

Archer 2’s attack (Fartooth): 1d20+14 = 17 (Miss)

The two archers still on Araqiel’s boats fired a flurry of arrows at Fartooth, but not one of them came close to penetrating his armor. One of them called out, “Mistress, the kobold is too quick! He keeps dodging our arrows!”

Ebonheart’s Intimidate: 1d20+59 = 61

Terrifying Rage: 4d6 = 15 rounds

Araqiel’s Will Save: 1d20+4 = 20 (Fail, Shaken)

Iahhel’s Will Save: 1d20+37 = 46 (Fail, Shaken)

Soldier 1’s Will Save: 1d20+5 = 10 (Fail, Panicked)

Soldier 2’s Will Save: 1d20-14 = 0 (Fail, Panicked)

Soldier 3’s Will Save: 1d20-14 = 0 (Fail, Panicked)

Soldier 4’s Will Save: 1d20+5 = 8 (Fail, Panicked)

Archer 1’s Will Save: 1d20+8 = 28 (Automatic Success)

Archer 2’s Will Save: 1d20+8 = 27 (Fail, Panicked)

Ebonheart’s Attack Roll (Araqiel): 1d20+54 = 57 (Hit)

Horn: 1d8+27 = 31 (Piercing, Adamantine)

Chaotic Rage: 2d6 = 7

Vile Natural Attack: 1 Vile

“FINALLY! A WORTHY FOE! I WILL FEAST UPON YOUR CORPSE, ARCHON!” With a mighty roar, Ebonheart charged into battle, already going into a rage. The very sight of him struck fear in the hearts of the enemy, as they despaired, seeing such a ferocious beast barreling down upon them. The black unicorn’s horn struck true, stabbing Araqiel in the side, drawing blood as he did so.

Melinda’s AoO (Soldier 2): 1d20+38 = 52 (Hit)

Damage: 1d10+19 = 24

Ruinous: 1 CHA damage

Anarchic Power: 3d6 = 17

Anarchic Power: 2 negative levels

The soldiers all dropped their swords and shields, and turned to flee, seeking only the blessed safety of ‘away from the insane unicorn’. I did not miss this chance, and caught one of them as they turned to run, slicing them deeply with my spectral blade. The panicked soldier did not even seem to notice in his terror.

Sanvi’s CL Check: 1d20+46 = 65 (Success)

Sanvi’s Attack roll (Iahhel): 1d20+40 = 45 (Touch) (Hit)

Dimensional Anchor: Prevents all extradimensional movement, 40 rounds remaining.

Sanvi strode forth from the jungle as well, her black wings spread wide and proudly, announcing to all that she was no longer as she had been. She uttered an incantation, and from her hand sprang a green ray, which leapt through the air to strike Iahhel in the chest. It did no damage, but surrounded the archon in a field of green energy. In a cold, hateful voice, Sanvi declared, “That one will not be escaping anytime soon.”

Equally cold, Magelord Fargleam declared. “This fight is none of our concern. Everyone to the boats! Make ready to cast off! We’ll not shed our blood for these outlanders!” His people, seeing the current state of the battle, were only too happy to comply, quickly moving to get in the boats, and get them back in the water.

Siora moved forward, as well, getting close to the signal fire. “Yes, I think we’ve had just about enough of your dancing, thank you very much. The only dancer we want to see weaving her blade through the air is Melinda. So please entertain my friends for a while!” As she spoke, she conjured up a favorite spell of hers, one that I’d seen her use many times over our adventures, as ghostly swordsmen rose up all around (and sometimes inside) Ebonheart, Araqiel, and myself. The archon would find doing her spinning dance about the sand quite a bit more difficult, now!

Vestele’s CL Check: 1d20+28 = 41 (Success)

Now, Vestele, too, strode out of the jungle, and brandished her shield with the symbol of Malcanthet upon it. “Oh, Queen Malcanthet, profane beauty of Shendilavri, bestow your favors upon your servant and her allies! Weaken these fools who deny your power! By your unholy name!” As she uttered her Prayer, the spell activated. I felt vigor rush through me, and I could see in Araqiel’s eyes like it was another weight upon her shoulders.

But this fight was just beginning.