I cannot begin to tell you how happy I am to be heading out of the cold mountains. I am overjoyed at the sight of green foliage once again. Alyana and Talos insist that there is still a considerable journey ahead, but it doesn't bother me in the least. I've been on this vessel several days and so for, nothing has tried to kill me. The sun is shining and the warm winds rejuvinate my senses. It's evident that this pleasent change in scenery is doing wonders for us and our crew.
That reminds me! We've gained the service of two additional crewmen, which I will speak of later, since I wish to recount my story from start to end. So, to continue my tale: I last left off with the triumph over Shirou's gang of undead spirits.
After our skirmish with the wraiths, we resumed our stations. The enemy had reached the fortress doors, and the towers shook from their determined pounding. We had several runners which traveled back and froth from Elwoz and Groth in the command center, and brought orders to redirect fire on several occasions. Unfortunately, it seemed with each shift in directed fire, the enemies poured through. It was only with the aid of Alyana's attuned senses and perceptive eyes that we managed to alert the misdirected dwarves to greater threats and enemy diversions.
Alyana's bowstring sang a deadly song, harmonizing with the constant clicking from the dwarven crossbows. For a brief moment, we three atop the tower and our dwarven units pelted the advancing army beneath us without much resistance. Eventually those below noticed that we were no longer being assaulted from the air and redirected their arrows and stones. A trebuchet missle crashed against the other tower, rattling it so violently that several dwarves were thrown to their demise, but the strong dwarven structure barely suffered a few cracked stones from the devestating blow.
Meanwhile, Lightning cracked, icey shards fell, and bursts of magical fire erupted upon our enemies from Without's wiggling fingers. Summoning the ever-present magic in the air and, gathering my strength, I parted the clouds for an instant and burned a crowd of Drow archers with heavenly fire.
Two dragon riders swooped down from the thick clouds above and circled us, again launching deadly elemental blasts upon the towers, drawing our fire away from the troops below who continued to assail the fortress door. The situation was beginning to look desperate as their assault upon the door would eventually prove fruitful, and we would no longer be at an advantage as they streamed into the fortress halls. Our attempts to motivate the dwarven artillery was beginning to feel more and more futile.
Suddenly, our forces on the twin tower cheered, and a portion of the army below split off in apparent retreat to the north. Alyana focused, then grabbed a dwarf's spyglass and gazed into the distance. Punching her fist into the air and squeeling with delight, she shouted "Stovokor!" and our tower erupted in a joyous roar. Then, through the wispy haze of the storm, we saw two dark masses, the forces of Dreknar and Northwarden, collide. Though our total numbers were still less than that of Dreknar's, we had them surrounded. With renewed vigor, we resumed our assault on the army, coordinating attacks between the dragon riders and the ground troops.
Just after Without left us to aid Elwoz in the command center below, Alyana noticed a huge creature making a beeline for the fortress door. Her keen eyes detected the frost titan as it tore through its own army, scattering and trampling Dreknar's minions. The tower collectively took aim and fired upon the giant, slowing its charge as it tripped up amongst the army and momentarily toppled down.
I turned my attention then to one of the Shadar-kai dragon riders and fired a divine bolt at him. True was my aim as the magical energy connected squarely upon his chest, knocking him clear of his mount and down into the rushing tide of soldiers.
Alyana again warned us that the frost titan was charging in on the door. The chilled titan tossed monsters about as it again plowed through toward the fortress. Alyana fired a shot which connected with the titan, catching his attention and distracting him long enough to seal his fate, for one of the dwarves' trebuchets on the opposite tower struck the creature with its missle. As the titan scowled at us, it took a single step just as its head evaporated into a fine blue mist, pulverized by a massive stone launched from above. As his limp form crashed down into the crowd, the scattered flying creatures of Dreknar's army began to fall back out of our range.
One dragon rider broke away from the retreat and swooped low over the army, then climbed up the side of the tower. I gave the signal for battle and the horn was blown again to summon the 42nd. We recognized the shadar-kai as his dragon landed and he dismounted upon the tower platform. It was the rider which escaped our battle upon the airship. The soldier wore simple, dark vestments, usually worn by servants of the Raven Queen. As we have previously seen, however, this strange warrior carried the insignia of Orcus, the Prince of Death.
The surrounding dwarves kept their attention on the army below as the 42nd assembled to face the threat. Without's current affliction caused the tower to sway with his every step. It seemed as if the tower itself was repeled from Without's feet by some magical energy. Even the dwarves upon the edge of the tower somehow instinctively parted anytime Without got near. This kept the dragon and his master off-step as the halfling danced around the tower, launching his madness upon them. The dragon inhaled deeply, looking to assail us with his blistering cold breath. Seeing an opportunity, I concentrated my next attack as the dragon threw its head back and stood on its hind legs, ready to heave himself down and unleash his wicked attack. An explosive blast of holy light erupted squarely on its chest, knocking its breath from its lungs and throwing it off balance. Without conveniently lept back to avoid the shadar-kai's whip at just that moment, rocking the tower and sending the dragon bouncing along the side of the structure as it plummeted down into the fray.
We focused then on the shadar-kai, who now knew he was outnumbered, but continued swinging his whip defiantly, striking Talos with its necrotic energy. Our attacks strategically drove the soldier towards the edge of the tower. Elwoz yelled something in his own drunken language, but Getty seemed to understand. The ghostly lizard formed before the shadar-kai and exploded in a thunderous boom, rematerializing beside Elwoz. The shock lifted the shadar-kai off of his feet and sailing off the edge.
As I ran to the edge of the tower, I saw our enemy disappear into a crowd of orcs. Below me the dragon had arisen and was now flying back up the side of the tower, his wounded wings pumping frantically. I leaned over the edge, my boots holding me tightly to the stone tower, and fired a bolt at him, momentarily slowing his advance. We then stepped back, gathering at the edge and waiting for the dragon to appear before us. My blade ready, I sliced the dragon as it flew by and landed beside us upon the tower's ledge.
Elwoz and Getty assaulted the dragon's mind, and Elwoz taunted the beast with claims of conquest over his mother by his friend, the cave rhino. The tired and tattered beast was struck in the leg by Talos as I conjured another of my forceful radiant bursts. Again my aim was true and the dragon was struck upon the shoulder. Finally overwhelemed by the mental assault from Getty, the dragon slumped backwards, dead before its limp body crashed into the river of soldiers below.
Dreknar's air support was in disarray. The last few remaining monsters flew north to meet Stovokor's advancing army as the dwarves resumed their barrage upon Dreknar's ground forces. Seeing that the towers were secure, Alyana and I went downstairs to help the others. I joined Elwoz and Without in the command center and Alyana and Diogi sped off to hold the gate with Talos and Diesa.
This looks to be an excellent stopping point in my tale for now. I shall be up many more hours if I wish to continue at this point, for the battle takes a thrilling twist. Just writing about it again makes me feel the invigorating rush of battle once more. I think I shall open another bottle of wine Elwoz brought up from the cellar and sit with the others for a while.
Blessings be upon this crew and these warriors. May His light guide us safely to Merkemia and beyond.
