An excited laugh escaped Ube as the number of opponents dwindled. They were doing it. Absolutely didn't think they would be able give much input but hey, something was better than nothing in this case! The fellblood looked towards the shouting knight, nodding at the request to clean up the elementals.

Before they could move to the next however, the ground began to shake. It was oddly familiar, shaking not unlike how it did before this god's arrival. Ube looked towards where the quakes seemed to be coming from, a now nervous gulp forming in their throat as Vulcadreaus crashed into what will most likely be renamed "Drakolt Nest". Plumes and waves of malevolent molten minerals made their move down across the land at an alarming rate. 

Ube was at a lost for what to do. Their summon wouldn't be able to carry them overhead, nor were they capable of stopping the lava from reaching them. Frantically, the looked around for something that may be of help. Thats when they felt a shuffling within their robe. Ube froze, utterly confused... Realization slowly hit the fellblood as they began hoping it wasn't what they were thinking. Out from clothing, a certain small flying manta who apparently had a knack for sneaking flew out and circled Ube in excitement for all the noise. 
"Cebu you- Why are you- How did you even-" The fellblood stuttered and stumbled over their words, too mad to finish any of them. 

The onsetting heat snapped them out of their moment. This wasn't the time to be arguing. 
"You need to go, please. Its da-" Cebu ignores the worries of her friend, nudging her small body into them as if to push them away from the lava. "What are you trying to do?"  ¹She pushes their hand up and moves under it before rising. Somehow, despite her small body, Ube is lifted into the air as they tightened their grip at the sudden performance. "O-oh." 

²As the two arise, the manananggal leaves the dusted remains of obsidian creation opting to defend Ube from any sort of danger. Ube themself take a breath, keeping somewhat of a hold on their friend. ³Keeping an eye out now that they were in clear and open view, they prepared a chaos bolt for any sort of incoming danger that may approach. With this new angle, perhaps they could spot some sort of advantage.

---

1. Celestial Manta Ray (Mount/Pet) carries Ube into the air

Defensive Actions
2. Dark Elemental flies to Ube to act as a shield
3. Ube prepares Chaos Bolt for any enemies approaching

Summary: (FRONT) Caedes is picked up by Lady Astrid Stormstone and saved from the lava below. He requests she take him to the head of the dragon, and uses Desperation on it while in flight. He summons back the throwing knife(s) left between the Dragon's scales when he fell with Summon Possession, and preps for the next course of action.

The natural chill of undeath does nothing for the heat that emanates from the beast; but his extensive pain tolerance— or perhaps, the fact that any nerves he might have had left in his fucking palms have been burned off by now— is enough to keep him from jerking away in reflex. Caedes jolts, hitting his boots against the dragon’s scales in an attempt to rebalance himself when the beast starts to move its leg; its massive limb rips and tears at the shadows put in place to bind it; falling apart piece by piece like simple twine.

The motion is not enough to knock him off— and he manages to maintain his focus for only a few more moments— arms trembling from a the exertion. When the undulation of the dragon’s scales start, however, there’s not any hope for him hanging onto this thing any longer. Caedes tries— but after he loses his footing, there’s not any recovery.

Caedes plunges towards the lava.

Heat from the dragon coalesces with heat from the magma below; the yells of adventurers; the shuddering of the earth; the howls of spells, creatures, and monsters alike. Gods damn this fucking dragon.

He twists around in mid-air to the best of his abilities, trying to rattle off any number of ways internally to—

“Oi, there’s a big wave a’ lava coming’! Ya need a lift?”

He doesn’t even know who the hell said that. He can’t see them; the motion of falling is too fast. Everything’s too much. His mind is reeling, stuck in some kind of fight-or-flight where neither of these options are actually available to him.

Caedes is, admittedly, a proud man; but not proud enough to go out like this.

Not right now.

“PLEASE.” He manages to bark into the wind; he only has one Hail Mary, but if he can avoid wasting his energy on it right now, that would be ideal; and despite preparing himself for using it at the very last moment before he hits the liquid magma below, something— someone— grabs him.

Caedes gasps as gravity stops; there’s a sharp pain on either side of his arms simply by the sheer downwards force; but he’ll take that over what lies below any day. “Thanks,” he manages to choke out, gritting his teeth as the adrenaline fails to mask the pain in the palms of his hands. He looks over his shoulder at the woman who— wait a second.

That’s a child.

Where the hell is this kid's parents?
Why the fuck is she so strong?
Who's letting this kid fight a primordial god?

For a second, he simply looks back at her, too stunned by the absurdity of the idea that there is a child on the battlefield. “…To the head.” He answers, but then repeats himself when he realizes that the sound of the wind drowns out his voice. “The head!”

"Sounds good ta me!" Astrid shouts cheerily. "I just gave him a good bonk up there an' I'm rarin' ta do it again!"

"Did you?" Caedes remarks, "That's... impressive." He looks briefly at his hands while he speaks; the skin there, once a pale white, has darkened to a deep grey from the burns.

As she pumps her wings to get some more height, Astrid realizes that this man's body temperature is surprisingly cool to the touch. Looking down at him, he's pale, silver hair, red eyes... HMMM... "Hey, yer name don't happen ta be Caedes, does it?" she asks bluntly.

He grits his teeth, but perks up when he hears his name. The man's eyes narrow sharply, and he looks over his shoulder at her. "...Why? How do you know that name?"

He recognizes it, it must be him! But wait, while Astrid's fairly certain this is the mysterious guy who was dancing with Zarius almost a year ago at the ball, she has to be sure. After all, Zarius told her not to go spilling all of the beans for their safety. But... how the heck does she fish for information when they're dodging flying rubble and lava spittle!?

"Erm-- ACK. Hot! Ah, a couple a' friends mentioned the name when we were talkin' 'bout another friend. D'ya know Beist or Kamille?"

Caedes, himself, finds it hard to keep up an act of intimidation when this child's holding him like a godsdamned cat. She jolts with the arrival of some of the flying rubble, and he winces in return— bidding himself not to look down at the lava below.

He chokes back a, 'Watch it!' because he doesn't feel keen on being let go if he pisses the child off.

When she mentions Beist and Kamille, he narrows his eyes slightly; but Beist and Kamille are both trusted compatriots, and so, it does something to alleviate his initial skepticism. "I do." he answers after a hesitant moment. He looks towards the massive draconic beast as it's assaulted by numerous adventurers. "But it's been some time since I last saw either of them."

Upon hearing that this guy knows Beist and Kamille, Astrid perks up, though there's a bit of snarky deviousness in her expression. "Well, ya ain't lookin' all that hard! Kamille's over there!" With surprisingly little effort, Astrid turns Caedes quickly to see Kamille flying on Kalaf and picking up others to avoid to lava onslaught.

"Kamille's me gran," Astrid continues, correcting the way she's holding Caedes as if that makes it any less comfortable despite the fact that his legs flailed about like a limp doll.

Caedes gasps, well below the mood to play games this far in the air, when Astrid suddenly turns him without warning. "That—- that she is." The changeling's grasp is cold— and after Astrid turning him— he's holding loosely onto her arms for support.

For the first time, he starts to acknowledge some of the other individuals who are here; faceless static giving way to familiar form and understanding. Of course, the Witch of the Moonglade arrives where trouble brews.

Weird though. She doesn't seem the 'gran' type.

Astrid decides to ask the question again. "So, are ya Caedes or not?"

For just a moment he's silent; and then Astrid sharply turns him like a gods-damn toy and he clears his throat after a sharp gasp. Gods above and below, he wants to be put down. "—- Uh, look, Astrid; it's good to meet Kamille's granddaughter, but I don't know if this is the best time for introductions. For what it's worth, I am— but I'd *really* appreciate you not going and spreading that around if we live through this, alright?"

With a trembling hand, palms damaged by the burns of the dragon, he reaches out towards it and utters something inaudible beneath his breath— desperate to make the primordial god hurt to some degree for what it’s already done, even if he can’t be the one to harm it. ^{(1. Desperation)}

He’s angry, but not foolish; he’s not a powerhouse.

He’s not going to pretend to be one.

There are a number of adventurers already going to the head, and so he focuses, for now, on returning his throwing knives back to his possession for the time being, until he's gotten to a position he can actually use them. ^{(2. Summon Possession)}

It takes everything in Astrid's power (and she has a lot of it) not to drop Caedes from the sudden burst of excitement that escapes her in the form of a gasp. Sure, there's a lot going on around them, but now she's focused. Her grip stays steady, but any fear of death and destruction are completely gone from her eyes. Now she just looks childish and excited.

"Ahhh! I can't believe I finally get ta meet Zarius' boyfriend!" she squeals, her arms sliding around Caedes' torso for an uninvited and frankly very awkward mid-flight hug. Somehow, this works out well enough as they approach Vulcadreas' head, and she works to get Caedes in a decent position.

"Don't worry, I won't tell no one." Likely story. "Well, I'll tell him. He can't keep nothin' from me!!" As she sets Caedes down, there's a huge grin on her face. Whether or not the day will end in victory against the god, Astrid has won something. "He did say ta keep it quiet 'cause of safety an' stuff, so don't ya worry!"

She looks around, realizing she hasn't seen the charcoal fellblood, but then again, he's quite stealthy. "Wonder where he is, anyway. Tends ta show up fer this kinda stuff. Must be keepin' his family safe."

---

Actions:

1) Debuff Action: Casts Desperation in an attempt to weaken the Dragon as the offensive is being pushed upon it.

SPOILER: Click to show

By pointing at a target, Your target suddenly feels starving, badly dehydrated, mana-deprived and fatigued, as though they are on their last legs. They will struggle with normal everyday functions and will find it incredibly hard to focus, ignoring their ability to cast spells or even make offensive attacks. Lasts for a post, at which point they are returned to the condition they started in before Desperation was cast. Can only be used twice per topic.

2) Buff? Action: Casts Summon Possession to call back his throwing knife(s) to him from where they were stuck in the dragon's leg.

SPOILER: Click to show

You can call forth a weapon or item that you own, causing it to return to you. This will call forth anything not currently on your person, regardless of where it is. That item will vanish from its current location and reappear in your hand or in a storage item. This item does not travel and instead just teleports. You can not use this spell on something to big or heavy to hold. .

---

Passive:

Sanguine Bond — STILL DON'T WASTE YOUR HEALING SPELLS

SPOILER: Click to show

Now reliant on drinking blood, your body has become weak without it and is actually unable to heal itself without the blood. You no longer benefit from healing spells from the Light domain (or similar specialty spells) and will actually start to feel weaker if in direct sunlight. Most vampires use this as an excuse to stay inside but this weakness can be navigated by covering up ones skin or diminishing the amount of sunlight you come into contact with. You are also now considered an undead for the sake of abilities and spells.

Vail looks upon the results of his blows, seeing only flames within the cracks in place of blood. He isn’t given time to contemplate the nature of this revelation before the dragon moves, clearly readying some manner of counterattack. He dashes backwards as the beast begins to slam downwards, shaking the surrounding earth and attempting to shower him and every other foe in a wave of lava. It was clear that he could no longer reside in the shadows; he needed to get to somewhere vulnerable if he were to have any effect.

A pair of bright wings emerge from his back, casting away the darkness which sealed him from sight. He flies upward, clearing the wave as he travels parallel to the dragon’s flaming scales. He can see the edges of his jacket begin to brighten as he soars, the effects of his prior spell beginning to wane.

He spies yet another pair of dark wings take to the sky for a brief moment before landing atop the beast's back. Despite the circumstances, he cannot help but wonder why so many give themselves over to such a power. It shouldn't come as a surprise to him given the locale, but it elicits a strange feeling within him, one that questions whether he should even be here, whether he even belongs to a world so engulfed in darkness. His thoughts are interrupted as he senses an even greater darkness. It’s a familiar presence, consumed by desperation and fear, giving in to the darkness she devotes herself to.

The compulsion inside of him is hard to ignore; were it not for his disgust towards their shared enemy, he surely would have engaged her in battle. He refocuses on his plan, converting his latent rage into a bolt of light which he fires across the dragon’s body, hoping to mask his approach^[2]. With his shot fired, he looks toward the beast’s massive head, his final destination.
You will be made to bear witness. To what it means to be alive.

---

Summary: On Left Flank - Vail dashes backwards and takes the sky with Divine Ascent. He flies parallel to the dragon's body as he approaches its head, while firing a purity bolt to the dragon's opposite wing to distract from his approach.

Free Action: Back dash away from the lava wave - Bare hands enchantment

Support Action:

[1] Casting Divine Ascent and flying over the lava wave, ascending parallel to Vulcadreaus's body, approaching its eye.

Offensive Action:

[2] Purity Bolt fired in arc towards dragon's far wing to maximum its size and distract from Vail's approach.

Active effect: Resist the Elements [2/2]

Active relevant passives:
Controlled Immunity - poison/toxic reduction
Dashing Enchantment (Bare hands) - Dashing away from the dragon

Pride surges through Del watching hers and Cyran Fenastra-Asiliari s and the shadows of one other (who was that?) pull around the wings and legs of Vulcadreus, immobilizing the god-creature in as much as they are able. It is a small advantage, but a victory nonetheless on this massive scale-- and reverberating back at her, curiously, from across her bond with her fiance, something else. Something darker, something full of self-loathing, pain, regret, shame. A profound guilt like nothing she had ever felt in Cyran before. It makes her stomach drop with worry, concerned for what she could not see as her beloved took to the skies on wings of shadow.

There are only a scant few seconds, but she takes a couple of them to focus on him, that feeling of woe that emanated from Cyran. A pulse rushes through their joined bond from her to him, conviction, an unbreakable resolve tempered only by the softness reserved solely for Cyran, a reminder that her love was not fragile. It's chased by a feeling of certainty, the fluttering electricity that she got when they held hands, trying to convey what she could not in the midst of this fray.

Not without you.

The next instant, the shaking starts. "Shit!" she curses, her grip digging into the scales of Vulcadreus as a violent rumble begins, experiencing an earthquake at its very source. Her teeth clack together painfully in her head, her fingers hurt from how hard she holds fast to the metal-- and burn, stinging as the magic Cyran cast on her earlier reaches its end. But it was this or fall into the lava below, and that was not an option. And so, she hangs on.

For a split second, she thinks the sudden tip to the world is because of this form-wide earthquake on the body of the Great Dragon God itself-- before her instinct kicks in, seizing her lungs with a rush of scalding air. It was falling.

As though shot out of a cannon, Del suddenly tears upwards, climbing with wild and reckless abandon up the left side of Vulcadreus' hip as it begins its downward descent towards the pool of lava below. Each handhold tears away a layer of skin, despite her thick smith's hands, searing her flesh as if she was sticking her hand right into a forge. She cannot comprehend the pain right now-- the only thing that matters is escape, is getting to high ground to avoid--

With one final leap pull of her upperbody, throwing herself up and onto Vulcadreus' back, Del avoids the splash-down into the lava, the displacement sending the waves away from her instead of over her. She pulls herself into a crouch, coughing hard against the heat in her lungs. Intact. Breathing.

She could go on. She must.

Chest heaving with her exertion and the intense heat that surrounded her, she distantly hears Cyran's voice callingn out for her and Cirice, but feels the urgent panic through their rings. Not wanting to alert the dragon to her presence, not relaly able to talk either in this heat, she runs her thumb briefly over the ring on her finger-- reassurancecomfortrelief I'm here, I'm here.

Though, far from safe.

Now on the vast expanse of the back of Vulcadreus, the immensity of their task hits her square. This creature is big enough to build a city on-- she supposed they had, hadn't they. Never more in her life than now does Del feel less, an insignifigant insect, a microcosm against the macro of the god before her. From up here, she cannot see anyone, only the vague shapes of those flying above, and those directly nearby, aboard the creature with her. Worse, with the clamour and the war going on on all sides. Those she cared about. Her friends... family. It's hard to suppress the compulsion to help, the sense of panic of those she loved being out of her view.

She squares her jaw, wincing as she pulls the dross from her bones, the ki that flows from her pores and onto her arms and legs-- a shield to protect her, but gods knew how long it would last. Pulling herself to her feet, she starts to move, carefull picking her way across the barren jutting crags of scales to the valley of this creature, this... God's mid back,  between its shoulder blades. Blood thrums in her ears as she advances. If she did not act, there would be no one left to mourn, no one to grieve. There was a job to do, and with tears of pain from the heat stinging her eyes with smoke and evaporating the moment they touched her cheeks, she presses on toward her target. A target that, she hopes, would be enough to slow the Great Dragon God down for a moment, a moment, to give those locked in combat a moment more.

Time to see if this God had any heart at all.

---

Summary: Del continues along Vulcadreus' LEFT FLANK[/i] using Iron Grip to avoid being shaken loose, Surface Scaling and Cat's Grace to accelerate her climbing on the back of the Dragon. Now standing on the shoulder blade of the God before it can right itself, Del takes one last moment to ensure she is safe and secured, light on her feet despite the dross covering her arms and legs. She climbs to a spot between Vulcadreus' shoulder blades on their back, looking for the weak spot to deliver what will hopefully be a devastating blow.


Action Type

1. Defensive Action: Float Like a Butterfly - Used while on Vulcadreus to grant her a preliminary hit prevention. (1/1)

SPOILER: Click to show

A skill that represents years or even decades of training at the edge of physical limitations, you are capable of adjusting your footwork in an instance within melee range of your opponent/enemy. Until you launch your first attack, your fancy footwork grants you a hit prevention while within melee range.

2. Defensive Action: Art of the Iron Fist - Del activates this monk ability, primarily for the hit preventions (4/4).

SPOILER: Click to show

Your arms, (shoulder down) and your legs (hips down) become coated in iron for the next three post, making your melee attacks sturdy and impactful. Your melee attacks will now deal earth damage that is not considered magical. Each limb gains one hit prevention (does not stack with armor) and once per duration you can redirect one elemental ranged spell, causing it to deflect, bounce, or channel off of your body.

Active Items
    - Gauntlets of Ginma - Strength, 1/1 Hit Prevention.

SPOILER: Click to show

These gauntlets provide one hit prevention, and allow the wearer to smash through stone as if it were glass, and lift natural boulders more than twice their weight. The abilities of these gauntlets will last as long as they have a hit prevention left.

Active Passives
    - Bare Hands
        - Enchantment: Deflective Rune

SPOILER: Click to show

Can be used to catch ranged or thrown physical attacks, such as arrows or spears. If caught the ranged item can be thrown back and used for its own offense.

        - Enchantment: Magic Blocker

SPOILER: Click to show

If this weapon strikes bare flesh (by cutting through fabric or armor) that target can not summon their magical energy for their next post. Active effects will continue to persist, however they can not use new spells.

    - Baloth Muscles x4

SPOILER: Click to show

It is now extremely easy for the bearer to use said limb to rip through doors, knock down walls, or break holes in structures such as created walls or blocked door ways. Applied to all four of Del's Limbs

    - Bull's Strength Tattoo

SPOILER: Click to show

This tattoo increases your normal strength, making you twice as strong as you normally would. This is a latent tattoo that is always in effect, making you permanently strong. Since Baloth Muscles are a graft, not an item, this stacks with the Baloth Muscles.

    - Heat Gland

SPOILER: Click to show

A Warm gland causes you to be be incredibly warm to the touch, giving off a small aura of heat and allowing you to ignore non magical cold.

    - Cat's Grace

SPOILER: Click to show

As long as you are moving you can not be knocked over or knocked off of something. If you do fall you will take no damage, landing safely on your feet as long as you have fallen less than two hundred feet.

    - Surface Scaling

SPOILER: Click to show

you have gained the unnatural ability to hang onto walls or solid surfaces and climb up vertical surfaces that normal people could not. You have expert knowledge of hand holds and vertical movement, letting you reach higher places than normal.

    - Resist the Elements (Granted by Cyran Fenastra-Asiliari ;A;) [Immune to Fire] 0/2 posts remain. Ends this turn.

SPOILER: Click to show

For the next two post the effected target will become immune to that single damage type, taking no damage from spells or effects of that damage type. (Fire)

Shadow Dancer Prestige:
    - One With the Shadows

SPOILER: Click to show

You are always aware of any form of shadow or body of darkness in the immediate area, able to passively sense where these shadows are and what is creating the shadow. In addition you can manipulate your own shadow, changing its size, shape and even removing it altogether. While within a shadow you have the effects of the spell Shadow hiding active at all times, but can now move and interact with objects without breaking the effect.

    - Shadow Sight

SPOILER: Click to show

While inside of a shadow created by you or another object, you can see perfectly, your vision not hindered by the darkness. You can also see others who would attempt to conceal themselves in the shadows or darkness. You can see the outline of others who are within the shadow or darkness as if you could see them in the daylight however this does not apply to magical means from spells or abilities.

Brawler Prestige:
    - Hands are Weapons

SPOILER: Click to show

The skin of your fist have become tougher, ignoring minor damage such as cuts or bruises. You can now use your fist like they were made of metal, able to grab sharp edges without being cut, or blocking a blunt weapon without feeling the impact.

    - Iron Grip

SPOILER: Click to show

Their grip is so tight now that they can no longer have things ripped from their grasping, preventing things from knocking or pulling objects out of their hand, regardless of how hard it was hit or how strong the force was. This also makes them excellent grapplers, able to hold onto an enemy without easily being pushed off.

    - Fighters' Sense

SPOILER: Click to show

A brawler can feel any enemy or creature within their immediate area, up to 10 feet from their person, gaining a sense of their location. They are able to react to close range melee attacks.

Charging Actions:
    - Heart Stopper : 3/3 Activating Next Turn

SPOILER: Click to show

Requiring precise timing and knowledge of your opponent, after three posts of observing your opponent you come to understand the rhythm of their breathing. Once you are primed with that information, a strike specifically aimed at the heart will cause it to momentarily pause its beating if the blow lands, sending the victim into an unconscious state for their next post. Can only be used once per topic.

Recharge Tracking

    - Shadow Walk 2/2 Recharge.

Recharged!

Minions

    - Thistle (Earth Pixie)

SPOILER: Click to show

Once per topic this Pixie can coat its owner in earth magic, which turns all damage the owner would do into earth damage, regardless of the damage type it was before. For the next two post, any source of damage from the owner will be only earth damage, going back to their normal damage types after the duration.

F Long meetings
(Keyke is picked up by Bstrid, Nit by Cstrid)

---

NPCs:
Nitin Ashwood- Earth domain Apprentice
Finhad Ashwood- Warlord: Blade Novice
Rosemary- Water pixie (Does not count to NPC Cap)

Pets:
Carminda-songbird griffon (Does Not Count against Pet Cap)

---

Support Action: Summon Possention: 'Javal Knife'
Offensive Action: Thrown knife at the Mephit targeting her

NPC Actions:
Nit- N/A: Got picked Up by Cstrid
Rosemary- Defensive action: follows Nit into the air
Fin- Offensive action: Strikes Blade at Mephit close to Taki

Pet Actions:
Carminda- Offensive action: Backing up Fin by striking the same Mephit from behind

---

Passives:
Bulls Strength Tattoo

SPOILER: Click to show

This tattoo increases your normal strength, making you twice as strong as you normally would. This is a latent tattoo that is always in effect, making you permanently strong. This tattoo does not stack with itself or other strength buffing items.

Veiled Sunhat

SPOILER: Click to show

A sunhat popularized in the deserts of Zeinav; this hat is veiled by translucent sheer fabric around its rim which falls down to the wearer's shoulders. The veil blocks both sand and sun from hitting the wearer's face. While wearing this hat, your sight is unaffected by particles such as snow, sand, or silt.

Necklace of Animal Speech

SPOILER: Click to show

A brown piece of cord or leather with silver designs of animals and vegetation etched into it. While worn this necklace allows its wearer to speak to animals as if they could speak common. This could be birds, cats, bears, any natural animal. This does not let you speak to summoned creatures by magical means, and speaking to an animal owned by someone else will not grant you any special features from them.

Mask of Memories

SPOILER: Click to show

A wooden mask etched with images of moons and stars, painted to look like the night. For as long as you are wearing this mask, you can not be made to forget anything, or have your mind cleared, wiped or erased. Your memories can not be read, altered or affected in anyway.

Dark Lantern

SPOILER: Click to show

A lantern developed for use by sentries in the Dark lands so that they could observe their surroundings without being betrayed by a light source. This lantern has been enchanted so that it will only provide light to the person that holds it; to everyone else it will simply appear dark and useless.

Space Pocket

SPOILER: Click to show

This is a passive spell that is always active after purchase. You now have access to a small pocket of space in which you can store any and all of your items. This pocket exist in its our domain and can only be accessed by you. You can access this pocket by simply reaching into space, pulling out anything that is stored in that pocket. The pocket can hold any amount of items but can not hold anything larger than your own person. Living creatures can not be stored in this pocket.

Ice Skates

SPOILER: Click to show

A unique metal attachment that can be fitted to any kind of shoe or boot. Two thin, metal blades are built into the shoe, able to be popped out or popped back in by clicking the sides of the shoes together. When summoned, these thin blades will be coated in a very thin veil of ice, allowing the user to skate across solid surfaces such as earth and stone. The blades can also be used as weapons when kicking.

In response to the dragon’s attempts to flash fry the adventurers into crispy snacks after giving them a good tenderizing, the adventurers use all manner of magic and evasive tactics at their disposal to mitigate the damage they would have taken. Many are successful, some less so. But ultimately the fight continues, now with the added feature of no solid ground safe to stand on. 

FRONT

The elemental to the front makes a punch against one adventurer only to be deflected by an ice strike out of nowhere. It goes for another swipe when caught in the fearsome aura coming off of the swordsman. It hesitates long enough for the adventurer to make an escape into the sky moments before the flood of lava rushes over the ground, and the elemental. The sticky substance keeps its feet in place as the lava hits it and knocks it over. Now covered in lava, the elemental gets back on its feet and rumbles in frustration, looking around for its next target.

The two remaining mephits in the air with the one adventurer miss their attacks as he flips out of harm’s way. A risky, speedy attack downs both mephits, though the adventurer does take a light scorching as they explode after being bisected in mid-air. From this vantage point, the adventurer would see that one remaining mephit is taken out by another ally, but sprays them with flames before they are rescued by another adventurer.

Where the fissure of toxic gas was, the lava bubbles, releasing little bursts of gas for now.

RIGHT FLANK

The two remaining elementals to the right flank strain against the magic trying to repel them. They seem unaffected by the rattle and roll of the ground beneath them as it fractures and shatters. A stone funnel created by a skilled terramancer quickly fills with some of the oncoming waves of lava, quickly getting gummed up with the highly viscous molten rock. The funnel does focus some of the flow directly towards the earth elementals who get knocked over and float a ways down the crater’s slope before digging into the ground with their jagged stone fingers and pulling themselves back up. They gather up globs of slowly solidifying lava and lob them at the terramancer.

The remaining mephits fluttering around immediately go on the attack as soon as the defenses around one group of adventurers flicker and fade. Two are quickly dispatched by those holding their attacks, but the resulting explosion of the mephit’s demise showers them in flames. The last mephit inhales and is ready to blast everyone on a newly formed crystal pillar when it’s skewered from behind by another ally’s minion who flinches from the flash of fire singing their face.

LEFT FLANK

The remaining elemental prepares to throw another boulder when its first rocky projectile is inexplicably used as a step as if this was some sort of platformer. Before it can, it gets knocked off balance by a drake making a fly-by to pick up the knight, an added punch to the head region cracks its rocky exterior and sends it to its knees. It recovers after the drake has passed by only to get slashed twice by an adventurer still on the ground. One of the blades manages to find a crevice left behind by the other attacks and with leverage, it is pried open and shatters the golem into fragments. The adventurer then flees the scene on the back of the knight’s horse.

As two constructs attempt to flee the earthquake and wave of lava, protected from the brunt of the damage by the lava. The great dragon, much like a cat seeing some bugs scurrying away from it, reaches out with a massive talon, drags it through the earth under the molten golem’s feet, and promptly flings the pair up into the air while ripping up a shower of rocks that rains down on any in the area.

DRAGON

One after another, the great dragon’s head is bombarded with attacks bolstered with various magical effects and delivered with expert technique. Lifetimes of accumulated experience and generations of arcane knowledge, all gathered here in this place to face down a threat to their very existence, to their futures, and the futures of those they cherish, and even those they don’t. Every hit is heavy, laden with anger, pain, desperation, and an instinct to rebel, to survive. Many had stood before a god before and had not shied away from the threat or prioritized their own safety. Why would this be any different?

One hit.

Two hits.

Three.

There’s a loud cracking noise as a large split forms down the length of the plating protecting the top of the dragon’s skull. The barrage was finally starting to show results. Perhaps this was doable. Perhaps one more push would be enough to fell the primordial god.

The dragon is not about to just roll over at the adventurers' feet. It rips free of the shadows that tried to bind its massive form and it rises back out of the lava pool. Lava drips down off of its belly and legs, but its movements are slow compared to when it first appeared. It’s almost sluggish.

Before it can unleash its next onslaught, two adventurers plummet from the sky and strike the dragon’s wing. Scales shatter and create a burst of shrapnel which bounces off armor and cuts into exposed skin.

The combined attack is not enough to sever the wing, but the force does plunge it downwards into the lava at the base of the crater. The pair of adventurers who land on the membrane of the wing after delivering their strike rapidly feel the heat all around them, searing into their skin. Their magical protections do what they can against the intense heat and splatters of flame and molten rock, but lingering here for long will spell disaster.

On its back, an adventurer’s blades score the thick plating along the back of the dragon, but a lone adventurer’s effort against any single area of the dragon would require far too much time and put them at increasing risk of the dragon retaliating in some new way. At least, the adventurer and others who have climbed to the back would notice the shift in color of the scales as the ice temporarily cools the surface. In fact, they may even notice that the recovery is ever so slightly slower than it was during the first onslaught of ice magic used against the god.

One adventurer extends their will and tries to overpower the dragon, placing their hands on the scalding surface of the dragon but not enough to deter them from protecting those they care for.

For a moment, there’s a connection. It feels like a lifetime to the adventurer, but is mere seconds of the battle. Images of cycles of life and death flicker through the adventurer’s mind. Tragedy and triumph in a constant cycle that defines all history of the realm, and will define all the history yet to be written. Then there’s a reverberating deep voice that shakes the adventurer’s core. A single word of denial, not out of spite, anger, or any emotion, but out of unwavering ancient determination and purpose.

No.

The dragon stands at its full height and draws its wings up and out, spreading them wide over the surroundings once more. Those on its wings risk being flung off and falling into the pool of lava.

Light grows at the base of its neck, a familiar light forewarning of an incoming breath attack, and so many were in the air all around it with no way to bring up walls to defend.

Down near the lava’s surface, the molten rock starts to behave unnaturally. It bubbles and boils before forming streams that defy gravity and climb up the dragon’s legs. They reach up, flowing between the dragon’s scales before seeping into its body.

Meanwhile, inside the dragon, a summoned ghost takes a look around and finds that their vision is completely filled with roiling magma, pockets of white-hot energy, and nothing even remotely discernable as what would be expected of normal internal anatomy. Yet there are patches closer to the surface that take on a deeper red hue, the energy needed to sustain such heat having been sapped by ice spells lobbed at the dragon’s hardened scales. This discoloration, however, starts to shift and glow brighter as the dragon draws on more energy.

Whatever was coming next would not be good.

---

ROUND SUMMARY
This summary includes the most important information to consider for the next combat round. This includes active threats and information on the boss creature gained as a result of actions taken in the previous round. Use this new information to strategize and coordinate efforts with your fellow players. If you choose to take damage or use hit preventions at any point within your own reply, please include that in your Action Summary.

NOTE: To make things easier to track as people move about the battlefield, please indicate somewhere in your Action Summary if your character is in one of the following positions in relation to the dragon (FRONT, REAR, LEFT FLANK, RIGHT FLANK).

Damage dealt to PCs and NPCs:
Leandros Aurthurian : -2 Devoted Spirits hit preventions (earth and fire damage), and is at risk of falling into lava this round (1 major wound without intervention or using hit preventions)
Lady Kamille Verlithax : Poe received 1 minor wound (fire damage), Mayhem has been sent flying and is now falling (at risk of 1 major wound upon crash)
Lady Cirice Lunestre : Cirice received 1 minor wound (fire)
Lady Astrid Stormstone : Buttfellow has been sent flying and is now falling (at risk of 1 major wound upon crash)
Arashi Tento : Arashi received 1 minor wound (fire damage)
Ulrich Ambriz  : Ulrich received 1 minor wound (earth) and 1 minor wound (fire), and is at risk of falling into lava this round (1 major wound without intervention or using hit preventions)
Delaela Fenastra-Asiliari : Del received 1 minor wound (fire)
Lady Keyke Runi : Fin received 1 minor wound (fire)

Active environmental threats:

ALL AREAS: There is a layer of molten rock across the ground, any character that contacts the ground during this round will take 1 major wound (fire and earth damage)
FRONT: There is bubbling under the layer of lava where the gas fissure was. Nothing is happening, yet.
LEFT FLANK: There’s a shower of rock and rubble raining down, as well as two constructs. Any character unprotected in this area by the end of the round will take 1 minor wound (earth damage).

Active minions: See Bestiary for creature details
FRONT
1 earth elemental remains
RIGHT FLANK
2 earth elementals lob lava globs at Shaa Rhunn

Boss abilities discovered:
Immunity to magical and non-magical fire and earth damage
Immunity to non-magical weapon attacks
Gifts Ungiven appears to have no effect
Exterior can be cooled with ice and water damage
Interior appears to be made out magma or plasma
Tremorsense
Interior does not appear to have any recognizable anatomy
Charm, Fear, and other mind-altering abilities appear to have no effect

Action System is Active

The deadline to get your reply in for this round is August 27th, 11:59 pm ET

It is difficult, Del thinks as she searches for what she is looking for, to attempt stealth along what is ostensibly a creature's skin without its notice. It was no mean feat at the best of times to sneak across a battlefield at the best of times, never mind when she was faced off against both comabatant and arena. Still, there is a job to do, and Delaela Asiliari has never been one to shirk her share of the labour.

She can only hope that it will work.

Exhaling a slow, steady breath, shadows ripple among the crags and crooks of the scales of the scene, pooling at her feet before lifting up and over her form, obscuring her in darkness as she moves, feet touching not the dragon-god, but the shadow that surrounds her. Invisible to all but a select few-- or at least, she hoped as much.

Still, it's painful going; the hot air scalds her lungs with every breath, and she can feel the heat creeping up the back of her neck. The shadow that surrounds her protects and allows her to maintain the dross that tugs on her bones... she only needs it for a little bit. Just a few crucial moments, while the battle rages on around her. It makes her heart soar, hearing the sounds of those diving for the wings to shatter them, carefully avoiding the scales as they fall about her head. There's a thunderous crack as Vulcadreus' head splits, a fissure that brings a fierce grin to her face. It was too soon to assume they were winning, but dust and ash, Del would take that as a good sign. Though Cyran's anguish still alarms her-- she cannot see him, but she knows he is there, knows he is fighting and doing what he can to stop this from happening again. He has her back, as she has his. Her only hope is that this will be enough.

Then, the dragon suddenly lurches. She grasps the scales in front of her tightly as the God stands to its full, massive height, the scales around its neck beginning to glow white hot. Another wave, another onslaught that was going to bear down on people fighting to survive.

There isn't time to examine the outside worries she has-- her window of opportunity has arrived, and the time to act was now.

So many people were here; Leandros and Taki and Astrid and Cirice and Javal and her precious Cyran and so many more. People who had so much to defend and protect, so much to lose. And who protected them? Who defended them?

Del stands at that proverbial precipice, following the line of the crack in Vulcadreus' head to where she could widen the split further down the body, deepen it and make it worse. She could identify what needed to be done here, as a smith, as the Crucible. Her fists clench as she squares her jaw. There was no guarantee this would work, but she had to try. They all were trying, so damn hard to end this terror before it could properly begin. Looking at the metallic scales with a faint grimace pulling at her mouth, Del knew one thing was for certain.

This was probably going to hurt.

Covered in shadow as she is, no one but those with the ability to see into shadow can see the sudden incandesence that emanates from her multitude of scars, the gold light of the forge searing through her flesh as she grits her teeth, summoning every ounce of strength she has. The dross melts away from her hands, leaving the wrist of her gauntleted hands pulsing with forgelight. Timing the drawing in of the lava into Vulcareus' throat as it nears, but does not cross its peak, a furious, ragged snarl rumbles through her throat and she drives down hard with her fist once, twice, hard enough to shatter boulders, hard enough to collapse a cave as she had a few weeks prior, hard enough, she prayed, to save everyone she knew, or at least give them more time for what needed to be done.

Would it be enough?

---

Summary: Del does the biggest hit of her fuckin' life.

Finding the spot between what passes for Vulcadreus' shoulder blades, Del manipulates her shadow to coalesce around her, rendering her invisible through Pass Without A Trace before attempting to deal a pair of devastating blows to the armored, metallic hide of the Dragon God. Her hope is to debilitate Vulcadreus and cause the effect of any, some or all of the following (or none, should The GM see fit):

    1) Prevent Vulcadreus from Attacking;

    2) Prevent Vulcadreus from Using Movement;

    3) Create an opening/weak spot within Vulcadreus' hide for others to exploit;

    4) Stun Vulcadreus for a time;

    5) Knock Vulcadreus Unconscious for a round [unlikely].

In any case, the intent behind her manuvere to set up the next round of attacks for others to engage in, if this gambit works out in any way, shape, or form.

Wound Count: 1 minor

Action Type


1. Buff Action: Overbearing Shadow - Del's manipulation of her shadow envelopes her and the general area between Vulcadreus' shoulder blades in order to draw attention from those who have the angle to see her location. Being within the shadow automatically activates PASS WITHOUT A TRACE rendering her invisible to Vulcadreus' tremorsense.

SPOILER: Click to show

While standing in a shadow, any source of light, natural or magical, will be unable to reveal you or remove the shadow. The shadow will remain as long as you are within it, and can not be manipulated, altered or removed by anyone else until you leave the body of shadows. You can also affect the light source creating the shadow, increasing or decreasing the amount of light that effects the shadow. However once you leave that shadow light can now affect it.

2. Offensive Action: Resonating Strike AND Heart Stopper used at the same time with Two-Piece with GM Consent (stacks with BACK STAB, STUNNING BLOWS, BULL'S STRENGTH, BALOTH MUSCLES, GAUNTLETS OF GINMA [for boulder shattering], ENCHANTMENT: MAGIC BLOCKER, BARE HANDS, and HANDS ARE WEAPONS)

Back Stab on the first hit cancels out the halved-damage from Resonating Strike in its attempt to pierce through the armore hide of Vulcadreus and used in concert with GAUNTLETS OF GINMA. If it is also applied to Heart Stopper since the shadow effect does not drop, it will double on that as well.

SPOILER: Click to show

- A melee fighters nemesis has always been armor, heavy knights who rely on metal or wood to protect them. The brawler has adapted to this however, making their strikes effective against foes who would try to protect themselves with sets of armor. If the brawler were to strike armor they could cause vibrations to echo through out the gear, shaking it and allowing the damage to transfer through to the person inside of it. While this strike will only do half damage, it will still deal damage while also removing the defensive point with the same strike.

- Requiring precise timing and knowledge of your opponent, after three posts of observing your opponent you come to understand the rhythm of their breathing. Once you are primed with that information, a strike specifically aimed at the heart will cause it to momentarily pause its beating if the blow lands, sending the victim into an unconscious state for their next post. Can only be used once per topic.

Active Items
    - Gauntlets of Ginma - Strength, 1/1 Hit Prevention.

SPOILER: Click to show

These gauntlets provide one hit prevention, and allow the wearer to smash through stone as if it were glass, and lift natural boulders more than twice their weight. The abilities of these gauntlets will last as long as they have a hit prevention left.

Active Passives
    - Bare Hands
        - Enchantment: Deflective Rune

SPOILER: Click to show

Can be used to catch ranged or thrown physical attacks, such as arrows or spears. If caught the ranged item can be thrown back and used for its own offense.

        - Enchantment: Magic Blocker

SPOILER: Click to show

If this weapon strikes bare flesh (by cutting through fabric or armor) that target can not summon their magical energy for their next post. Active effects will continue to persist, however they can not use new spells.

    - Baloth Muscles x4

SPOILER: Click to show

It is now extremely easy for the bearer to use said limb to rip through doors, knock down walls, or break holes in structures such as created walls or blocked door ways. Applied to all four of Del's Limbs

    - Bull's Strength Tattoo

SPOILER: Click to show

This tattoo increases your normal strength, making you twice as strong as you normally would. This is a latent tattoo that is always in effect, making you permanently strong. Since Baloth Muscles are a graft, not an item, this stacks with the Baloth Muscles.

    - Heat Gland

SPOILER: Click to show

A Warm gland causes you to be be incredibly warm to the touch, giving off a small aura of heat and allowing you to ignore non magical cold.

    - Cat's Grace

SPOILER: Click to show

As long as you are moving you can not be knocked over or knocked off of something. If you do fall you will take no damage, landing safely on your feet as long as you have fallen less than two hundred feet.

    - Surface Scaling

SPOILER: Click to show

you have gained the unnatural ability to hang onto walls or solid surfaces and climb up vertical surfaces that normal people could not. You have expert knowledge of hand holds and vertical movement, letting you reach higher places than normal.

!!NEW!!
    - Art of the Iron Fist (Hit preventions 2/4). Dropped the effect on her hands, left them on her legs.

SPOILER: Click to show

Your arms, (shoulder down) and your legs (hips down) become coated in iron for the next three post, making your melee attacks sturdy and impactful. Your melee attacks will now deal earth damage that is not considered magical. Each limb gains one hit prevention (does not stack with armor) and once per duration you can redirect one elemental ranged spell, causing it to deflect, bounce, or channel off of your body.

    - Stunning Blows

SPOILER: Click to show

Your strikes have become so quick and so powerful that they no longer just deal damage but also are able to stun an enemy, causing them to feel intense pain for the duration. If your strike hits an enemies body part, such as an arm or a leg, it will stun that body part, causing it to feel numb and be unable to be used. A stunned body part will remain stunned for the next post, preventing the enemy to move that limb or make any offensive actions with it. A stunned leg can not walk and a stunned arm can not swing a sword. If the torso or the head gets stunned, the affected target can not cast spells for its duration.

    - Myriad Barrier (Earth Resistance)

SPOILER: Click to show

Tapping into the world around them, monks have learned to balance both the physical and elemental world, adapting their bodies to the energies of the universe. When you use an Art from the listed table, you gain a resistance to the element that correlates to the art used, keeping the resistance until you use a new Art. While resistant you will take half damage from that specific damage type, can not be killed (knocked unconscious) by that elemental type and any effects of that damage type that effect you for more than one post will have the duration of that effect lowered by one.

[/poiler]

    - Two-Piece

SPOILER: Click to show

Brawlers have learned to combo their attacks, able to deliver quick successful attacks one after another. If a brawler is able to successfully land an attack with just their fist, they can launch another attack with their other fist directly after it as apart of the same attack. This follow up attack follows the outcome of the first, meaning if the first strike lands, the second one will automatically land.

    - Pass Without a Trace

SPOILER: Click to show

The shadow dancer has learned to completely conceal themselves while hidden, becoming one with the very shadows. While under the effects of a hiding spell or ability, or while concealed in a shadow, you can no longer be detected by any some of the mortal senses. You can not be smelled or heard, preventing people with increased senses to detect you. For as long as you are concealed they can only find you by physically detecting you or removing you from the shadow. Your tracks also no longer exist, leaving no foot prints or indentations in the ground.

    - Back Stab

SPOILER: Click to show

You are most deadly when unseen, and this skill allows you to strike at the perfect moment. As long as you are striking you enemy in the back or from an unseen position, you deal double damage with your strikes. You enemy must not be able to see you for this ability to work and it must come from behind them. However when these conditions are met, you are able to deal a large amount of damage.

Shadow Dancer Prestige:
    - One With the Shadows

SPOILER: Click to show

You are always aware of any form of shadow or body of darkness in the immediate area, able to passively sense where these shadows are and what is creating the shadow. In addition you can manipulate your own shadow, changing its size, shape and even removing it altogether. While within a shadow you have the effects of the spell Shadow hiding active at all times, but can now move and interact with objects without breaking the effect.

    - Shadow Sight

SPOILER: Click to show

While inside of a shadow created by you or another object, you can see perfectly, your vision not hindered by the darkness. You can also see others who would attempt to conceal themselves in the shadows or darkness. You can see the outline of others who are within the shadow or darkness as if you could see them in the daylight however this does not apply to magical means from spells or abilities.

Brawler Prestige:
    - Hands are Weapons

SPOILER: Click to show

The skin of your fist have become tougher, ignoring minor damage such as cuts or bruises. You can now use your fist like they were made of metal, able to grab sharp edges without being cut, or blocking a blunt weapon without feeling the impact.

    - Iron Grip

SPOILER: Click to show

Their grip is so tight now that they can no longer have things ripped from their grasping, preventing things from knocking or pulling objects out of their hand, regardless of how hard it was hit or how strong the force was. This also makes them excellent grapplers, able to hold onto an enemy without easily being pushed off.

    - Fighters' Sense

SPOILER: Click to show

A brawler can feel any enemy or creature within their immediate area, up to 10 feet from their person, gaining a sense of their location. They are able to react to close range melee attacks.

    - Deflecting Palm (Projectile Hit Prevention)

SPOILER: Click to show

Not only is the brawler an excellent offensive fighter, but they have also mastered the skill to defend themselves, even at a range. If they are attacked with a ranged physical attack such as an arrow, bolt or spear, they can use their deflecting palm to either knock the projectile out of mid air or even catching it, allowing them to throw it back. If a weapon is caught and thrown back, it can only go half its normal distance and will only deal half its normal damage. This can be used twice per topic.

Charging Actions:

n/a

Recharge Tracking

n/a

Minions

    - Thistle (Earth Pixie)

SPOILER: Click to show

Once per topic this Pixie can coat its owner in earth magic, which turns all damage the owner would do into earth damage, regardless of the damage type it was before. For the next two post, any source of damage from the owner will be only earth damage, going back to their normal damage types after the duration.

"We will have to save catching up for when the battle is over, but it is good to see you again." Leandros smiles over to Ulrich from behind his tower shield, the shrapnel from their combined attack bouncing off the thick shield he holds.

The knight can hear the cracks and ripples as everyone around them starts to hit with their own attacks. Cracks and fissures his with steam and heat as they take this would-be god to task. Leandros readies for another attack as the beast starts to stand and move again, trying to steady his legs and remain atop the beast is more trouble than he imagined.

The downside of being so heavily armed and armored is that Leandros doesn't have a free hand to grab Ulrich as he is tossed off, but the man literally fell from the sky minutes ago so surely he has a way to handle himself right? The knight would just have to trust his friends to handle himself, there was only so much he could do in the pitch of battle.

His attention draws sharply back to Vulcadreus, "YOU INSOLENT BEAST, I AM NO GNAT TO BE SWATTED AWAY. I AM LEANDROS AURTHURIAN, THE LION OF THE LANDING, YOU WOULD DO WELL TO REMEMBER THAT NAME IN YOUR NEXT LIFE." The ethereal armor around him seems to expand, claws extending forth to hold on to the knight and dig into the dragon keeping Leandros in place.

Leandros draws back his halberd again, the blade beginning to glow with a blinding light. He looks for a soft spot between the scales, or simply plunges his blade through a scale if need be, thrusting it as far into the side of Vulcadreus as possible. When he does, a pulsing beam of holy energy bursts forth aimed at the beast's heart or at least where Leandros best approximates a heart to be.

---

Summary: Leandros protects himself with his shield then uses spirit guardians to hold himself in place and fires a laser into vulcadreus.

Action 1: Support Action
Ancestral Fervor

SPOILER: Click to show

The spirits a guardian can summon have now grown attached, not only wishing to protect but now are able to offensively support their summoner. Summoned spirits can now grapple enemies, using their bodies to restrain an enemy. This can take the form of holding a person with their arms, biting down on someone or just sitting on them. A restrained enemy can not move for their next post and any offensive action must be taken against the spirit holding them. The spirits hold will break after the next post and each spirit can only grapple once per topic.

Action 2: Offensive Action
Paladin's Halberd

SPOILER: Click to show

This beam has a medium range and shoots out in a straight line. If the beams strikes an enemy it will deal a large amount of holy damage, and if the beam passes through an ally it will heal them of all surface level wounds. Can pass through multiple targets and even solid surfaces.

Passives:

8/8 Armor Hit Preventions

7/8 Devoted spirits Hit Preventions

Holy Damage on Halberd

Heat and Earth Treated Shield (both used)

Lion's Strength Tattoo and Baloth Muscles

    Looking around as she drifts towards the dragon, she could see various adventurers take to the skies. And also a giant blue eagle with…Is that spicy pawsage? LORDE WOLFE?! It dove straight for her, dipping slightly and caught the armoured woman on it’s back. She held on tightly as the wind once more rushed into her face. She blushed fiercely at his statement, and held her arms around the now giant eagles neck. It was there she felt the gob of acid slime moving up, ejecting onto Vulcadreus like some sort of turkey vulture. She leaned back again, patting him gently on his head. This was no time for romance after all, and most of his abilities were strangely goo and slime based. She couldn’t fault him for it. Plus, at least the dog was on the bottom this time.



    Looking down, and seeing how many people needed to get close to the dragon god to affect, she was kind of glad that Wolfe had saved her from an almost certain fiery demise. It was nice up here, gliding around in relative safety, though she did feel a bit of pity for those below. Sitting up on her fiancées back, she extends her fingers into the airflow surrounding them. Magic trailed behind them as she dipped into the weave, pulling energy directly from what remained of Avasha’s legacy. At home, several of Alvina’s eyes opened as she herself channelled the energy for this sigil. Two huge sigils appeared in the sky above her and Vulcadreus’s back, from which a massives orb of smoke emerged. It hung, fixed high in the air, and billowing out a sweet scented incense for the enjoyment of all who ventured too close to the god itself.



    she almost floated off of the bird before tightening her grip slightly. She wouldn’t tell Wolfe right after she had been saved, but unfortunately the plan to get to the gods mouth was still in effect. It was just about timing.


Mentions: Blue Raspberry Lady Astrid Stormstone spicy pawsage

Position: Above Vulcadreus

Buff action: Gwendolyns Grand Censer above Vulcadreus
    The user will twist and bend the air above them, creating a translucent, smoke filled orb that just rest above the area for three post. While the orb exists, smoke will slowly billow out from above and spill out onto an area that is 30 feet in diameter. The smoke itself has no vision impairing abilities, having an almost translucent smoky appearance, however any allies who breath in the smoke will find themselves invigorated. For as long as they remain inside the smoke, they will find their movement speed and reflexes enhanced, moving twice as fast as normal. Additionally any spell that has a range attached to it will have that range increased by 10 extra feet. This spell can be used twice per topic.
(It specifies a diameter of effect, but not a height lmao)

Buff Action: dual cast
    


Filter Veil - Airborne poison immunity

Arcane Glasses - Magic detection and Identification
Infinite Soul - Age immunity
Overwhelming Magic - Spell Damage ignore resistance/immunity
Dread Helm - Glowing red eyes, Nonmagical Darkvision
Blue Raspberry's Energy Drinker - Lightning for Actions
Levitate - free movement
Grand Censer- double speed/+10 to range (1/3)
Dual cast - (1/2)

Adventurers on all sides unleashed their spells and abilities upon the summoned elementals, and Vulcadreus themselves. It played out in Taki's mind as the vibrations traveled through her feet, which she tried to fill in as she saw different people swoop, dive and climb. She was surprised when she sensed Del reaching up between the Dragon's shoulders to deliver a powerful blow. Taki uttered a guttural word in Druidic, flexing her body once more and throwing her hands into the air as if she had a large rock in them. Beneath the Dragon's gut, positioned directly below Del, a massive shard of deep blue crystal¹ with a dark grey core punched up from the earth below. Covered in jagged spikes and sparking with electricity, the pillar raced skyward into the beast.

"Kamina, take Shuna and Yukina, get clear of this disaster... I'll find you when it's over. Keta, Ryu... we're heading in." She commanded her companions, pondering what to do about those Kamille had sent earlier. The Lightning Pixie took to the sky, then together the trio headed towards Darkveil City. "Poe, Allan, anyone who's on this platform is to be protected. Should the platform fall, save all you can and get to safety yourselves." She instructed the pair. "Everyone else, keep safe and help where you can. We'll catch up after we deal with this catastrophe."

Without another word, Taki dashed to the edge of the platform and dove off over the magma as her Guardians followed. Her normally cerulean skin gave way to heavy scales of a brilliant white with icy blue accents, body stretching out like a snake as leathery ribbed wings sprouted from her shoulders². She let out a defiant roar, catching an updraft at the edge of the heat to rise up and over the magma flow and elementals. As she approached closer, pumped her newly formed wings and reared up.

"OVERGROWN LIZARD!! BACK TO THE FOSSIL RECORD WHERE YOU BELONG!!" Shouted the shaman in an icy, booming voice. She opened her toothy maw and blasted the side of his head with an icy stream of elemental magic³.

---

Summary: Taki casts Crystalline Shard from beneath Vulcadreus, in an effort to form an 'Anvil' to Delaela Fenastra-Asiliari 's 'Hammer'. Afterwards she gives instruction to her companions, as well as Kamille's, then dashes off the platform. Using Shapechange, she turns into an Ice Drake and flies closer before taunting. Finally she unleashes a Breath Attack of her own. She remains on the RIGHT FLANK.

Taki
1: Crystalline Shard (Empowered by Lightning Pixie [3/3], One with Nature, Force of Nature, Spirit Shroud)
2: Amplified Shapechange [Adult Ice Drake]
3: Breath Attack [Ice] (Empowered by Lightning Pixie [3/3], One with Nature, Soul of the World)

Shuna, Kamina and Yukina
1: Retreat from the battlefield

Ryu and Keta
1: Follow Taki into the sky, keeping her within their aura.

Active Passives:

Silent Spell
Controlled Immunity

Ice Drake Abilities:
Massive Size
Strong Bite
Claws
Heavy Tail
Flight
Elemental Breath [Ice]

With Gwen (relatively) safe on their back, Blue flew above the fray and saw the state of the battlefield. Everything was lava now. The only safe place was the sky, and could that really be called safe with a giant fiery dragon tall enough to reach into it just by standing up?

With the appearance of two orbs in the sky and a strange smell that overpowered the scent of raspberries that always wafted off of the ooze, the bird suddenly flew even faster, feeling invigorated for some reason. They didn't know this was Gwen's magic, but they could feel the effects of it all the same. They wanted to use this speed to attack the dragon.

But they still had a passenger taking up their claws at the moment. Luckily, while surveying the battlefield, they had noticed there was now an abundance of Astrids flying around. They were already familiar with her magic to make copies of herself, so seeing that didn't phase them. In a blur, they swooped over to one of the clones who looked unoccupied and called to her before dropping Spicy Pawsage into her arms and flying off toward the dragon's head.

There was already a crack on its face where previous attacks had struck and others already preparing to strike at the weak spot. With outstretched talons that suddenly grew sharper and larger, they slashed across the already formed crack in a diagonal. The slashes sizzled and grew larger as the hefty helping of acid ate away at the surrounding... flesh? Was it flesh? Well, the acid ate away at it anyways. As the acid sizzled, crackles of electricity also sparked across the scales as electricity diffused outward from the slash, trying to paralyze whatever counted as nerves in a creature made of molten rock.

There was already another problem on its way though. The dragon was also preparing an attack, another burst of fire breath and no one could hide behind a wall anymore with the ground covered in molten lava. They'd all be sitting ducks, ready to be roasted! Mmm... roasted duck... No, there was no time to think of food! They needed to act fast!

"Hold on!" Blue said to Gwen as they turned in the air.

The blue bird swooped around back toward the dragon's head and flew straight between the jaws and into its mouth. From the enlarged talons, a flood of sticky blue goo started to flow over the insides of Vulcadreus' mouth. Hopefully, with all the others planning to strike the top of its head, it would be forced to close its mouth and the sticky slime would glue it shut long enough to stop its fire breath.

Blue flew back out of the mouth and around to behind the dragon as fast as they could, their speed enhanced by the electricity within them and the smell from the two orbs.

---

Action 1
Offensive Action
Activate Eldritch Claws, slash at crack on Vulcy's head.
Enhanced with Static Synapses using 1 charge from Electrical Surge to try to paralyze Vulcy's head/neck for 1 post.

Action 2
Offensive / Support Action
Cast Flesh Rend on claw attack, making a weak spot that takes double damage from physical attacks.

Addition Action (Energy Drinker)
Defensive Action
Cast Goo Puddle inside Vulcys' mouth to try and glue it closed

Current location, in the air in the rear.

Ongoing Effects
Energy Drinker (cooldown 2/3 posts remaining)
Armor hit preventions + Stalwart Armor
1 fire hit prevention from thermal core
Bull's Strength
Eldritch Claws, attacks deal additional dark damage
Shapeshifter Plate, transformed into giant eagle
Electrical Surge- 3 charges (gained from casting energy drinker)

Mentions Lady Astrid Stormstone and Gwendolyn Mystwud

As Shaa watches things settle down from the safety of his cloud, he smiles a bit watching as the lava blasts into the elementals. Maybe he would get lucky and they would get flushed into a sink hole or something? No such luck. The two elementals mange to catch themselves and push themselves back up. Son of a…. Now Shaa was pissed. It should not take a Terramancer of his caliber THIS LONG to take out a couple of guys MADE OUT OF ROCK. On top of that, now the field was full of lava. So hopping down there would just burn him or get him hit with rocks. HIM! His friends were in trouble, the feild was all messy, he was pretty sure there were Mephits screwing around somewhere. He can’t call Skippy because of the stupid lava. ARRRGGGGHHHHH! Shaa screams out in a blood curdling rage. 

Now normally, Shaa was actually pretty calm and even when it comes to fighting. “Those who keep their heads keep their head” was a philosophy that he had learned as a slave fighter for the nomads and it had kept him alive all these years. But very recently, he had gotten in touch with his Minotaur roots and, deep deep down , there was a part of him that justified the Minotaur race’s ignominious title of “Evil Monster”. It was full of absolute and unrelenting rage and aggression. It was the little voice in most people that said “ hmmm this is stupid, let’s find a better way” but in Minotaurs says “ We don’t like that face, let’s go out and put an axe in it” But Shaa was no normal Minotaur. Years of training and battle had allowed him to overcome the stupidity of Berzerker behavior and harness its raw power. His rage was not blind.

As his rage fills his body, he can feel his muscles turn and bones shift. Oh yes, someone was going to be the unfortunate target of all his pent up frustration. Suddenly, his fighters senses kick in. Using the increased mobility of the cloud, he manages to swing out of the way of the globs of cooled lava that the elemental chucked at him from the ground. Did those guys just attack him? Did those GLOSSY FACED, ROCK BRAINED, SACKLESS, TROLL LICKERS JUST FRIGGEN ATTACK HIM!?? Oh that was it. He is sending them back where they came from, once and for all. He just needed to get on the ground. Rain? Yeah, he could. But he needed to cool things down faster. Pulling the icy winds from the elemental ether, Shaa causes a massive snow storm to start to form as far as he can push it, attempting to cool as much of the lava as possible. He can feel the power of his parents pushing even more energy into the pending snow storm. He feels the snow and his rage coalesce. Rage and Storm. Rage and Storm.

Shaa has something else in mind. Along with being magnetic, obsidian has one other quirky characteristic. If you hear it up, you have to cool it back down very slowly. However, if the lava has heated the obsidian elementstals enough, and he can cool them quickly enough, the obsidian itself…should shatter.

---

Sill on Right Flank

Uses the increased mobility from the cloud and fighters sense (passive) to dodge the lava globs
Electromagnitsm still in effect and trying to pull them together 

Action One: Ability Berzerker Rage (turn 1 of 3) - Tempered with subclass Stalwart

Action Two: Frost Cloak- Enhanced by Guardian Shroud: Upon entering a meditative state, the Elementalist is capable of generating falling snow within a large area. Each subsequent post after the initial meditative state will generate three feet of snow, up to a total of twelve feet of snow. ( 6 x 24 feet with guardian shroud minus whatever the lava melts)

2 hit prevention- Iron Skin
4 hit prevention Mom (Soul Guardian)
4 Hit prevention Dad (Soul Guardian)

Passives
Meditative State from Frost Cloak
Bulls Strength
Fighters Sense
Guardian Shroud


Item 
Lion Dragon Tooth (Inactive)

Pet
Fire Pixy

Mount
Fluffy Cloud

   Well then, I look around as I'm in the air, I could get used to this. The rush in the air was exhilarating, even without a bird under you. I glance up at Astrid- not one of her replicants, and an idea appeared in my mind as I look around at those around me. I gather energy around me as I giggle a little at how silly this could be. "Hey, Astrid," I look around, "Have any song suggestions? I have an idea!"  I listen around to the chaos before looking up. From there I see the chaos of rubble in the air. As I listen to the reply from Astrid, I click together a plan.

   I started the beginning of the song, feeling the magic of the tune flowing out. The air shifts to allow quicker movement, the tune allowing for quick movement. I point up and reach each one to shift them away from everyone else. Some of the larger ones had only a slight shift, but I make sure each piece will not hit anyone on the way down.

   Nit glanced at the child from before, slightly worried about what influence she is going to have on Keyke before hearing the lullaby. He raises his eyebrows at the song choice before feeling the shift in movement. With a smile, he grabs the arms clutching him and holds on. Rosemary quickly shares the same expression before slipping onto a spot between his neck and clothes and held on. With quick and flourished movements, they were high in the air, able to look down on most things, and able to see a person stab the dragon. His smile remained at the sight of Keyke shifting the rock away from other people. There is still hope.

   On the front of the battle, the lava floor freaking hurt! Fin rushed to what he saw as the closest opportunity of relief and jumped onto a crystal platform around Taki. As he jumped up, Carminda latched onto his cloths and lifted him with the help of his momentum from running to help him reach it. Just as he makes it up, he sees the nature in human form leave. With little care, he sat down readied his sword, ready to help if duty called.

---

NPCs:

Nitin Ashwood- Earth domain Apprentice

Finhad Ashwood- Warlord: Blade Novice

Rosemary- Water pixie (Does not count to NPC Cap)



Pets:

Carminda-songbird griffon (Does Not Count against Pet Cap)

---

Keyke and Nit are in left flank

Fin is in frontal flank

Support Action: Activating Note of Momentum, singing Lunala's Lullaby(1/3)

Defensive Action: Telekinesis stones and rubble away from Nit and Rosemary and herself



NPC Actions:

Nit- Support Action: hanging onto Csrid to keep him moving higher into the air to avoid the breath attack.

Rosemary- Defensive action: Grabbing onto Nit's clothes to stay close.

Fin- Defensive action: Jumping onto the safe area around Taki to get off the hot ground (a part of whatever is in Taki's post)



Pet Actions:

Carminda- Offensive action: Grabbing onto Nit's clothes and helping slightly lift him to the deck.

---

Passives:

Bulls Strength Tattoo

SPOILER: Click to show

This tattoo increases your normal strength, making you twice as strong as you normally would. This is a latent tattoo that is always in effect, making you permanently strong. This tattoo does not stack with itself or other strength buffing items.

Veiled Sunhat

SPOILER: Click to show

A sunhat popularized in the deserts of Zeinav; this hat is veiled by translucent sheer fabric around its rim which falls down to the wearer's shoulders. The veil blocks both sand and sun from hitting the wearer's face. While wearing this hat, your sight is unaffected by particles such as snow, sand, or silt.

Necklace of Animal Speech

SPOILER: Click to show

A brown piece of cord or leather with silver designs of animals and vegetation etched into it. While worn this necklace allows its wearer to speak to animals as if they could speak common. This could be birds, cats, bears, any natural animal. This does not let you speak to summoned creatures by magical means, and speaking to an animal owned by someone else will not grant you any special features from them.

Mask of Memories

SPOILER: Click to show

A wooden mask etched with images of moons and stars, painted to look like the night. For as long as you are wearing this mask, you can not be made to forget anything, or have your mind cleared, wiped or erased. Your memories can not be read, altered or affected in anyway.

Dark Lantern

SPOILER: Click to show

A lantern developed for use by sentries in the Dark lands so that they could observe their surroundings without being betrayed by a light source. This lantern has been enchanted so that it will only provide light to the person that holds it; to everyone else it will simply appear dark and useless.

Space Pocket

SPOILER: Click to show

This is a passive spell that is always active after purchase. You now have access to a small pocket of space in which you can store any and all of your items. This pocket exist in its our domain and can only be accessed by you. You can access this pocket by simply reaching into space, pulling out anything that is stored in that pocket. The pocket can hold any amount of items but can not hold anything larger than your own person. Living creatures can not be stored in this pocket.

Ice Skates

SPOILER: Click to show

A unique metal attachment that can be fitted to any kind of shoe or boot. Two thin, metal blades are built into the shoe, able to be popped out or popped back in by clicking the sides of the shoes together. When summoned, these thin blades will be coated in a very thin veil of ice, allowing the user to skate across solid surfaces such as earth and stone. The blades can also be used as weapons when kicking.

As Arashi cut dpwn the mephits they immediately exploded thankfully since he was flying by at top speed he was only slightly singed rather than engulfed by the flames... being out of immediate danger, since the Mephits were no more, he took a moment to assess the battlefield. The floor was Lava (literally not like a game or anything) a few elementals remained, the dragon began to stand up to its full height, although it seemed like it was a bit winded from the strikes... it was doable... they could win this yet!

The battlefield though was chaos, most were in the air a few were on top of crystalline structures to avoid the hot ground, another few were on top of the dragon itself, giving it their all to hurt it... Arashi felt quite powerless... he had only taken care of a few Mephits... while everyone was giving it their all, to take on a primordial god... Clenching his sword tightly for a second, he put it in its sheath... it was practically useless against such an opponent, frustration welling up he wondered what he could do... he felt useless again...

So he would do the only thing he felt he was useful for. As the dragon prepared a breath attack Arashi began flying towards it, at one point he heard a bittersweet melody coming from Keyke of all people, she was singing, thinking about his own life and all the things he ruined by not being proactive enough... by being scared of failing... not anymore even if he failed he had to try! the melody brought to him the last bit of determination needed for this. speeding up Arashi activated one of his monk arts... the art of the storm bow¹ was at full gear, creating an area of lightning around him, a little bit after he could feel an aroma which brought him back to his childhood... those carefree times... and how the carelessness that came with that brought tragedy upon his best friends life... With a tear beginning to form as he sped up yet again, He muttered Sorry Celeste, you have your brother now. may you find the happiness you deserve. Take care of Cookie for me. The tear just evaporated as he went inside the dragons maw, the heat almost unbearable, his prior burns starting to blister and boil again. Even if he doesn't make it out, he's gonna try his hardest to make sure the dragon doesn't get out unscathed!

Once inside the sphere of electricity around him starts going into the dragon... usually enough to stun whatever got close... hopefully it would do something, looking down the dragons throat he could see the glow of the lava and plasma that made it's innards... as it rose towards him Arashi turned to his left, which should be the right flank of the dragon. Focusing all the lightning around him he formed a huge bow of pure electricity "For all of my friends! and for the ones I haven't met yet!" Pulling on the string with all his might a huge lightning arrow formed "You will NOT Take our world!" All of Arashi's muscles tensed even if the arrow didn't pierce all the way through it would hopefully make it so the pressure from the fire breath finished breaking it... It was here.

Fire began consuming Arashi as the flame breath rose through the dragon's neck, burns that went far beyond 3rd degree as the power of a primordial earth god attempted to burn him to a crisp, and turn him to ashes. the scales began expanding, hopefully the fast expansion and contraction of the obsidian scales made them weaker and as they began expanding, their density should decrease making them easier to pierce.

A moment of intense pain passed and then He couldn't feel it anymore, whether this was because his brain couldn't handle it as it began sending him pictures of his happiest moments, or simply because there were no nerves left to tell him he how bad he was hurt, his life flashed for a second, Playing With Celeste when he was a child, eating out with his caretaker, Cookie's hatching was for sure a highlight... hope she doesn't take the news too hard... even if his life hasn't had that many adventures yet, He was... satisfied... he was happy. coming back to himself, he thought Hope this does something. and let go of the arrow, which was shot at blinding speeds and made contact with the front right of the dragon's inner throat, bursting through stone and hopefully piercing through the softer more malleable part of it.

Whether he'd survive or not it didn't matter, no one could blame him of not trying his best anymore. Feeling for the first time in his life that he was... enough

---

Summary: Arashi activated art of the storm bow before dive-bombing into vulcadreaus' mouth and going down it's throat as it prepared it's firebreath once the fire breath began going up it's neck Arashi used the Art of the storm bow to make a big lightning bow and Fire it at the rightmost front of Vulcadreaus' inner throat hoping to pierce through most if not all of it as the Firebreath expanded the scales and hopefully made them weaker.

Actions:

1) Activate first part of Art of the Storm Bow

SPOILER: Click to show

Lightning begins to course around your body, creating a small electric field up to ten feet from your person that moves with you. This last for three post and any enemy who enters this field will be delivered a terrible shock that will stun them for one post. If stunned they can not make any offensive actions, such as attacking or casting a spell (they can still move however). Once during the duration you can summon a bow of pure crackling lightning. From this bow you can fire a single bolt of lightning, which will penetrate up to two barriers (such as a wall) and will ignore hit preventions.

2) Shooting Art of the Storm Bow

Wounds:

2 Minor wounds (equal to 1 major)

Passives:

Flight

Speed increase from Lady Keyke Runi Note of Momentum

Increased Speed and Spell range from Gwendolyn Mystwud Grand Censer

“I ain’t Astrid, I’m Bstrid!” the duplicate calls to Lady Keyke Runi, lifting her up and following wherever she would like to go to be most effective. Cstrid with Nit in her arms does the same. “We should be alright ta carry ya as long as none of us get whacked by anythin’, otherwise yer goin’ fer a dip in the hot lava!” Luckily, Keyke makes efforts to prevent that from happening by shooing away flying debris with levitation magic. The duplicates, who aren’t at risk of anything tragic happening to them because they are temporary by nature, are grateful nonetheless since their original really doesn’t need to lose more friends.

Speaking of losing more friends, Cstrid and Dstrid spot Mayhem (Lady Kamille Verlithax) carrying Buttfellow overhead to avoid the wave of lava, but with a scoop of his mighty claws, Vulcadreas sends them both flying. “Bet we could catch ‘em!” the duplicates say to each other with a determined nod. But they don’t drop their riders; instead, each of them quells up enough magic to summon yet another pair of duplicates, Estrid and Fstrid. “Buttfellow an’ Mayhem are about ta hit the ground hard!” they shout.

The new duplicates know exactly where to go, pulling information from their original doubles, and fling themselves through the air toward the falling golems. They might be too heavy for each of them to carry, though! Estrid and Fstrid conjure even more Replicants, so Gstrid and Hstrid are born! But they won’t make it in time as they are, so the newest duo casts a spell on themselves that gives them each a burst of speed, and they rocket toward each of the golems.

With the extra speed, Gstrid and Hstrid make it to Buttfellow and Mayhem, grabbing each of the golems by the arm with enough strength to stop the descent, though not without falling a couple dozen more feet before they halt. It’s hard to hold, but they manage for long enough so that Estrid and Fstrid can come and assist. The result is Gstrid and Estrid carrying Mayhem, and Fstrid and Hstrid carrying Buttfellow.

“What do we do with ‘em?” one of the duplicates asks.

“Mayhem’s got his eyes on Taki and the Quills down there! Let’s go help our friends!” another replies. All four duplicates carry the golems toward the platform @shitakibo conjured with Allan and Poe still hanging around. If anything, the group of duplicates and constructs can help protect them or even move them elsewhere should they so desire!

Buttfellow starts to lose energy, coming to the end of its first real combat cycle. The duplicates take notice of this and bang on it enough to wake it back up, at least temporarily. With a robotic grumble, the golem becomes attentive again and manifests the last spark of its magic to cast the same protective spell on itself that it had on Mayhem. A faint golden aura covers the golem just as the duplicates reach the platform. If anything, it’ll at least be preserved enough to run another combat cycle soon.

–

Up at the head of Vulcadreas, Astrid isn’t exactly sure why Caedes shut down a bit, but she gets so caught up in making sure that other people are safe that she doesn’t dwell on it. There’s no time. Luckily, Bstrid and Cstrid caught Keyke and Nit, and Dstrid sent Melodia inside. When Dstrid flies up to the head, the duplicate sees Spicy Pawsage doing a mild panic being carried around by Blue Raspberry. She meets Blue as they drop off the hound into her arms. Spicy looks happy to see its master, relieved even, his long, bony tail wagging and his bark desperate.

“Yer bein’ a good boy, ain’t ya, Spicy?” Dstrid asks, giving the hound a good ruffle of the ears. “Thanks fer takin’ care a’ him, Blue!” she shouts. Then she grabs the hound from the bird and flies him down to the head of Vulcadreas where the hound gives him a good bite on the nostril for good measure. Setting him down won’t be good though, because the surface of the dragon is hot, so Dstrid snaps her fingers. Reality bends to open up a small pocket dimension, and she shoves the hound inside with another pat on the head and reassurance of the fact that he’s a very good boy.

A violent burst of scalding hot wind hits the group at the dragon’s head, and Astrid braces herself. Looking in the direction of the wings, she can faintly hear a knight’s voice and catches a glimpse of the last remnants of lightning crackling off a familiar figure: Just Some Guy. “Ah, shoot! Ulrich!” she cries, flaring her own wings out and readying herself to go save him, prepared to send a replicant if she must.

That’s when Dstrid sees a very determined samurai beelining for the dragon’s mouth. “Oi, Astrid, look there!” She points, and Astrid looks with wide eyes to see what’s happening. Crap, will he be okay? Will Gwen?!

Melodia emerges from the body of Vulcadreas, however, she also notices Arashi heading for the mouth. The ghost’s eyes widen, and she hurriedly goes over to Astrid to explain what she found inside. “Astrid, inside there doesn’t seem to be any usual anatomy! It’s all just hot magma! If anyone goes inside, they’ll likely die!”

Astrid’s head whips between the falling Ulrich and the foolish Arashi. It’s very likely someone could die here, but she’ll do everything she can to keep that from happening. “Shoot! Dstrid, take this!” Shoving her hand into her pocket, Astrid tosses Dstrid a small metal rod with runes engraved into its surface. “Hand it off ta the guy before he gets inside! Melodia, go with him! I’ll try ta keep him safe!” Dstrid catches the rod and flies off as fast as she can to catch Arashi while Astrid rockets herself along the Vulcadreas’ back toward Ulrich.

“OI!!” Dstrid shouts as she zooms to Arashi Tento, bolstered by Keyke’s Note of Momentum. “If yer goin’ in there, take this!!” The Replicant narrowly makes it to the samurai in time to tuck the rod into his pocket. “An’ don’t lose it!” She barely dodges dripping flames before Arashi disappears into the gullet.

As he descends and prepares his attack, Melodia phases through the magma throat of the dragon. “Samurai, the girl who gave you that rod will cast protective magic on you to help protect you as soon as she has a chance! It should help your efforts in here. She might also have something to help your efforts soon! I will be here a short while longer to report back on your condition! Steel yourself!”

Why ain’t he catchin’ himself?! Astrid thinks to herself, desperately inching toward Ulrich Ambriz as the sky mage is taken by gravity’s embrace. The last thing she expected to be doing while fighting a giant dragon was expending a lot of energy keeping other people from going in the drink. The even laster thing she expected was to be trying to save a guy she’s seen flying before!!

“ULRICH!!!” Astrid screams, pumping her wings for a final push and managing to grab the mage firmly by the hand before he falls into the lava pool. “What the heck are ya doin’!? Can't ya fly?!” she demands, pulling him up into her arms and heaving heavy breaths. “Leni would kill me if I let ya go fer a hot bath like that!!” She looks at the man who helped teach her the first spell she ever learned. “Avasha above, I missed ya. Glad I didn’t just miss ya.”

With the wave of sudden fear quelled, Astrid works her way back to the dragon’s back. She saw Gwen preparing a spell that looked familiar earlier, and it’s given her an idea. Maybe they can combine their efforts into something even more powerful!

“Didja see me screamin’ through the air as a lightnin’ bolt earlier?” she excitedly asks Ulrich. “I made that spell! Streaked through the sky an’ smashed the dragon in the face! We’ve made a lotta progress on kickin’ his butt!!” A devious grin spreads across her face. “We’re about ta make a lot more, I bet!” Freeing one hand just enough, Astrid summons her hammer and moves it through the air in a specific way, tracing invisible symbols and sigils as she focuses on prepare for one of the bigguns.

“I learned a few thin’s since we last saw each other. Yer about ta see how bright this lil’ spark can shine!”

---

Direct mentions: Keyke, Arashi, Ulrich, Taki, Kamille
Keyke - Please note that the Replicants will be unable to fly after next round.
Arashi - I will cast Circle of Life on you next round (given that things proceed smoothly)
Ulrich - Astrid caught you and took you to the rear of the dragon with her.
Kamille - 2 duplicates have Mayhem aloft. This will last until the end of the next round. Navigate with them as you wish. We are at the platform with your minions.

Positioning/Summary: Astrid flies to the REAR/ABOVE the dragon to prepare Scern’s Godkiller to cast next round. She catches Ulrich along the way. Buttfellow is on the LEFT of the dragon, starting to slow down as his combat state ends. Spicy Pawsage is in his Pet Pocket. Bstrid and Cstrid are carrying Keyke and Nit on the LEFT FLANK. Dstrid heads for Vulcadreas’ mouth and hands off the Arcane Proxy at the FRONT. Melodia joins Arashi INSIDE the body of Vulcadreas. Estrid, Fstrid, Gstrid, and Hstrid head to help Taki at the RIGHT FLANK.

Actions:

• Buff Action: Astrid casts Energy Transformation. (next round: will change Scern's God Killer to Ice damage)
• Buff Action: Astrid casts Dual Cast. (next round: will Dual Cast Scern's God Killer)
• Persistent effect: Howling Gale (Defensive)
  
  SPOILER: Click to show
  Your mastery has become so pervasive that you are like a maelstrom, able to create a tornado like effect that encircles you beginning at ten feet from your body and going out another five feet from there. The harsh winds buffet and slice at any you deem an enemy while being completely harmless to yourself and allies. You can see through the effect but others cannot, and it automatically blocks any sky domain or ranged weapon attacks that are used against you, while speeding up those same spells and attacks that you and your allies use.

Minion/Pet Actions:

• Offensive action: Spicy Pawsage bites Vulcadreas’ nostril.
• Defensive Action: Buttfellow casts Armor of Faith on himself.
• Support action: Bstrid casts Replicant to create Estrid.
• Support action: Cstrid casts Replicant to create Fstrid.
• Support Action: Dstrid casts Pet Pocket and stores Spicy Pawsage inside.
• Support action: Estrid casts Replicant to create Gstrid.
• Support action: Fstrid casts Replicant to create Hstrid.
• Buff Action: Gstrid casts Quicken on herself.
• Buff Action: Hstrid casts Quicken on herself.

Tracking:

• Armor/shield hit preventions: 8/8 (+ activated items for more preventions)
• Minor wounds: 0
• Major wounds: 0
• Gold Coin: 1
• Silver Coin: 1
• Arcane Activation: 1 use remaining, Post 4/4 - expires
• Buttfellow’s Mana Bulwark: 3/3 spells cast (Ancient Arcanatek Core gives +1 cast from base 2)
• Buttfellow's Lightning Armor: post 3/3
  
• Buttfellow's Wounds: 1 minor
• Call Ghost: post 2/3
• Bat Wings: post 2/3
• Number of Replicants: 7
• Electrical Surge charges: 3
• Howling Gale (no duration listed)

Active Passives:

SPOILER: Click to show

• Sun Sparked Goggles - immunity to blinding effects
• Diplopia Armor - creates afterimages that makes it hard to target the wearer
• Greaves - Lightning-grounded enchantment
• Raider’s Loincloth - Prevents movement from being slowed or restricted
• Arcane Proxy - can be the source of spells if within 100ft of user
• Bull’s Strength tattoo - double strength
• Night Vision - see in the dark (except magical darkness)
• Touch of Divinity - I don’t fuckin’ know, but I'm listing it
• Baloth Muscles - right arm, smash through structures
• Arcane Soul - Lightning damage on bonded weapon (war hammer) ignores resistance/immunity
• Arcane Focus - Bonded weapon is spell focus, can cast spells through it
• Always There - Cannot be disarmed from bonded weapon. Can summon bonded weapon.
• Stalwart armor - Ignores effects that bypass armor
• Master Combattant - Can wield two-handed weapons in one hand
• Immovable Bastion - Cannot be forcibly moved or knocked down by spells or effects
• Light as a Feather - ignore armor weight
• Electrical Surge - Gain charges for casting lightning spells
• War hammer - bonded weapon (lightning damage), Pale Ice, Heavy
• Battle hammer - silvered, ice rune, weapon tether