“Oh, you know me, always transforming into giant monsters and getting attacked by flaming monstrosities, the usual!”

Quote from JcAndD >>

OOC: Since I wasn’t able to use the spell, would you mind if I cast a different one? Or is my turn over?

 (No trouble at all, cast away!)

OOC: Great, then he’ll cast Banishment at 4th level on the Fire Elemental!

(Elemental Save: 17)

The elemental shrinks and withers until it's flamr is snuffed out like a candle. For the moment, there is still urgent work ahead, but the moment of relative peace is welcome... (Should be able to add more tonight)

OOC: DC 17, Fail!

Edit: Ah, you already knew that.

Solomon wipes his brow, and breathes heavily, “Man... not getting a break today... Running low here...”

"Solomon! Stay near the beast and heal up. I have a feeling we might have more ahead of us."

The spectral doe walks up to Solomon and rubs it's head against him.

OOC: If combat is over Evelyn will join up with Solomon and the doe will prance around them healing them til its time is up.

(I'm hoping that since the spell last a minute and each turn is 6 seconds then that equals 10 rounds of healing split between Solomon and Evelyn. I roll for healing when/if DM allows.)

Solomon catches his breath for a moment, “I appreciate it, Evelyn. I almost had her. If I had been able to catch a glimpse of her before she left, we would have one less incredibly powerful who-knows-what running around...” Solomon tightens a screw on his armor, “There’s something off about that magic they’re using. It’s something alien about it that throws me off.”

(Spread that healing love! Thank you everyone for the patience. This is my first time doing major DM work outside of isolated one-offs, so things are a bit different.)

As the doe prances around Solomon, the rest of the party regroups as well. In response to Solomon, Talvus interjects, "Their's - and mine, I must admit - is not magic as you understand it. Some draw from a multi-dimensional source of power, others are innately gifted with it in their being. This, however, is a power born of the mind. The things you saw are willed into existence, rather than summoned and shaped. In a way, it is more powerful than traditional arcane arts and is an evolutionary leap: to create and shape from nothing but one's own will is almost divine." Talvus takes a moment to peer down the street leading to the central keep. The Dalenorian army is minutes away, numbering at least several hundred.

"Bear in mind, though, for when you fight against them and as I fight with you, their strength burns like a candle's flame. The stronger the project, the faster they wear away. In that Tadriel is likely the deadliest. His power draws in smaller amounts and he seems to have developed a way to pull energy from others. The others are difficult, but they can only last so long before they can be overwhelmed. There is also Valen the Blessed. We were all once allies and received our gifts together. I do not know the extent or scope of his power, but he commands an army as well."

OOC: Oh hey, I just realized that Evelyn called me Solomon, as far as she knows my name is Red haha

Solomon inhales, and lets out a deep sigh, “That sounds crazy... but it’s not the weirdest thing that I’ve heard...” Solomon glances at his armor. “Alright. So if we’re going up against these monsters, then we need to know everything that we can about them, and you. Powers, drives, specific weaknesses, everything. You worked with these people, right? There shouldn’t be a better textbook on the subject.”

Healing time! 5 rounds of 2d6 for the two of them.

Evelyn: 8 , 4 , 9 , 8 , 7

Red: 9 , 5 , 11 , 9 , 7

Evelyn pats the doe the neck.

"Thanks darling, you can rest now." The doe skips away fading from existence.

Solomon feels much better in the presence of the doe. He stretches a bit and gives an appreciative smile toward Evelyn.

“Agreed” Elon says as he walks up to the others. “We are going to need a plan for attacking them. We have been lucky so far.” he tells them in a somber voice.

Talvus seems overly anxious, though not entirely because of the questioning. He takes a long moment to scan the path with the converging armies. When he is satisfied that no immediate danger is at hand, he hurries everyone into a back-alley nearby.

"I can't speak to their plans, but I can tell you this: everyone with these powers manifests them in different ways. I had said that the king who exiled The Ascended and his people became a jailor for their mad leader. He showed me how to transcend physical limitations. This serves me well in keeping a low profile. The three siblings follow the doctrine of their leader, Maledrith the Ascended. They see the world as a construct of what they call The Eight Pillars. Each emulates elements of the Pillars, even before their abilities came."

The conversation seems to wear on Talvus' mind. Memories of a former life stir amidst feelings of betrayal, "Last was Valen. We always butted heads, but he became totally different the moment his mind was awakened. I could see that his psyche lashed at the world around him, looking to cling to other minds like an anchor. He's a battlefield commander by nature, so I'm assuming he keeps a loyal guard at all times. Don't be surprised to find them fanatics under his cause, but beyond that, I haven't the faintest clue what his capabilities may be."

"As for Maledrith, he is powerful beyond compare, but he's no god or immortal. To imprison him, the Eladrin king fragmented The Ascended's mind and scattered it across the multiverse. When we found the tomb where the king stood vigil, Maledrith's body was held in some kind of prison with only a fraction of his mind on this plane. In the king's final gambit, he summoned a rift which flung everyone - including Maledrith - across the world. I went with the king because I was fortunate enough to grab him before the spell was finished. For two weeks, we fought. Then, we talked, and I learned the truth of our power. I voluntarily took up the new mantle and swore to find Maledrith's body so that my former allies could not."

“And do you have any idea of where the body might be? Is that what this whole war is about?”

Talvus shrugs his massive shoulders, "Honestly, I haven't the faintest clue, but I'm starting to think it possible. When it began, I treated it like a power-play by opportunistic rulers. Now that I see these others amassed, I'm thinking there's a higher purpose." A roar climbs over the buildings around you as the Alvernians finally cross the threshold into Scalebane Keep. Talvus waves for you to follow and he rushes further down the alley. Rounding a few corners, you can see the main street about 40' ahead. From the sound of it, you are in the middle of the two converging forces.

(Ok, from here, we have a bit more freedom than the railroading of fight-to-fight. Alvernia has taken the gate and begun to secure their foothold while Dalenor is charging from the keep to drive the invaders out. If anyone has spells, skill checks, or abilities they'd like to throw out, then by all means!)

OOC: And we haven’t had enough time for a short rest, have we?

(Sadly, no. This section is a bit of a mad dash and a battle for a whole city can ebb and flow drastically within the span of an hour.)

OOC: I thought so haha. Gotta work with a limited repertoire!

Solomon traces a familiar summoning rune in the air and snaps his fingers as a hawk apparates on his shoulder, “Moses, eye in the sky, let’s go.” Solomon will go full top down strategy game mode as he watches from a bird’s eye view.

OOC: Are we just attempting to help the army take over the city now?

(Yep, so right now, I'm giving tactical and strategic freedom to approach this however you like. Cities can be taken by outmaneuvering an enemy, destroying their army, taking objectives, taking out leaders, etc. For example:)

Looking through Moses' sight, Solomon can see movement on several housetops across this block of the city. It appears that several soldiers are on the rooftops with small, glowing brands to act at signalling scouts.