With a loud crack like shattering pottery, Ophelia reappears where the ambulatory potted plant had been, continuing her rant as if she had never stopped.
"...the worms that gather in the darkness and surround the world with the power of their lives while from the dim-lit halls of other places forms that never were and never could be writhe for the impatience of the few who never saw what could have been..."
Scrambling north, then northeast, chanting and shouting madly, Ophelia draws her shortbow, shimmering with the same violet glow that her dagger had, nocking then loosing a warbling lavender-suffused arrow at the fire serpent (blue) near Satina and Zephirah.
Movement: N - N - N - (attack) - NE - NE - NE (taking cover from the guardian behind the NW pillar).
After taking the blow from the dying air mote, Satinamoves back clockwise around the pillar towards the fiery serpent (blue). She quickly draws on her reserves to recover from the damage she's taken. (Bonus Action - Second Wind: 4 hp) She then strikes at the serpent with her flail. (Flail Attack: 15, Damage: 11 bludgeoning; Sap on hit)
"Do you suppose there's an end to these elemental creatures?" she calls out to the others. "There has to be right? If we keep fending them off?"
Emboldened and inspired by Zephira's music, the tiny blue sphinx swoops in to engage the Binder, scratching him fiercly to get him off balance. Meanwhile Nephthys peeks into the chamber, ready to use her divine healing.
Zahara stands firm, the firelight dancing over her skin, flickering along the lines of her jaw, the furrow of her brow. Embers from the red mote whip and curl toward her like reaching hands, licking against her skin with hungry tongues, but they find no purchase. The fire does not burn her. It remembers her.
The ray from the Binder had seared across her flank moments before, and though it bit deep, the sting of it had dulled. Her blood runs with something older than most know, a legacy born not of choice, but of survival. Infernal. Enduring.
Her breath is steady.
The red mote flickers before her, pulsing with heat and erratic malice. She lifts her staff in both hands, a slow and ritualistic motion, shoulders rolling back, spine straightening.
The staff comes down.
With a sharp crack of air and wood, she brings it down toward the mote.
Her gaze lifts, drawn outward, toward the tangle of battle. Zephirah’s voice, a lilt above the wind, cuts through the fray. Magic unfurls with it, shimmering threads of fey grace weaving into Zahara’s limbs. She feels it, a bloom of resilience beneath her ribs. Strength borrowed. A gift of motion, of breath.
She meets Zephirah’s eyes across the chaos and offers no words, only a small, solemn nod, an acknowledgment both ancient and intimate.
Zahara then turns slightly, her hand once more lifting from the haft of her staff.
“The desert gives as it takes.”
Her voice drops to a whisper, directed toward Zephirah, not shouted, but somehow heard. Healing word.
Then Zahara moves. She drifts back from the fire-mote, the magic of Zephirah’s Mantle guiding her steps like a breeze at her back. She flows toward what shelter the chamber offers.
Action:Attack with Staff21 to Hit, 6Bludgeoning Bonus Action: Healing Word 8HP-Zephirah NOTE: Zahara has Fire Resistance
Zephirah wrests a fierce melody that resonates with desperate power, and shadows seem to flicker across the three foes: she’s laid Bane upon their hearts. The magic cannot seem to latch onto the Binder or the (red) serpent, but the (blue) serpent trembles mid-air (blue fails). Still trembling, she closes her eyes and shifts the viol to a gentler, more uplifting strain—each bow stroke a harsh gasp for relief. Prismatic lines of song swirl around Zahara, Thoth, and whichever companion stands most in need of vigor. The serpent strikes out at Zephirah, but it’s speed is slowed by her magic and it bites only air (missed OA).
Ophelia, scrambling north, then northeast, chanting and shouting madly, draws her shortbow, shimmering with the same violet glow that her dagger had, nocking then loosing a warbling lavender-suffused arrow at the (blue) serpent. The arrow pierces the serpent through, eliciting a torturous hiss (hit!).
Satina, after taking the blow from the dying air mote, moves back clockwise around the pillar towards the (blue) serpent. She quickly draws on her reserves to recover from the damage she's taken. She then strikes at the serpent with her flail. The blow lands solidly, and the serpent nearly falters from its flight, but recovers and swims upward once more (Hit! Sapped).
Thoth, emboldened and inspired by Zephirah’s music, swoops in to engage the Binder, attempting to scratching him fiercely to get him off balance, but the Binder spins away and avoids the attack (miss). Meanwhile, Nephthys peeks into the chamber, ready to use her divine healing.
Zahara lifts her staff in both hands, a slow and ritualistic motion, shoulders rolling back, spine straightening. With a sharp crack of air and wood, she brings it down on the (red) serpent (hit!).
The red ground-glyphs glow red-hot. Then, with a deep pulse of arcane force, two perfect spheres of fire, roiling and churning, coalesce at their center.
The Binder extends his hands, each toward one of the two spheres, and they begin to roll across the stones! (Each is a Flaming Sphere). One sphere rolls north, toward Zahara, but doesn’t quite reach her. The other rolls north toward Sophelia and crashes into her! Sophelia, make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw (Failure:7 Fire damage; Success: 3 Fire damage) (This is a magic effect).
The fire serpents attack. The (blue) serpent turns on Satina, while the (red) serpent flies across the pool toward Thoth!
Blue @ Satina (disadvantage, Bane): Attack: 5 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll. Piercing plus 4 Fire
Red @ Thoth: Attack: 16 Damage: 8 Piercing plus 1 Fire
Satina and Thoth also take 3 Fire damage from fire aura (no save).
Please make a check to resolve these effects:
Sophelia: DC 15 Dex saving throw v. Flaming Sphere
Initiative (bold may act):
PCs
The Binder
Other Enemies
Conditions: Elemental Empowerment: Fire spells ignore Resistance. The water in the pool is difficult terrain.
Zephirah catches Zahara’s gaze, returning her companion’s aid with a grateful nod—fresh vitality thrums in her veins, albeit amid flickers of pain. Taking in the battlefield, she sees Satina slugging it out with the wounded serpent, and her heart lurches at Thoth’s struggle under the wrath of the other. Deciding at once, she plants her feet, draws a vibrating chord on her viol, and channels her voice through the resonant hum.
Her words lash out, seemingly harmless at first—an airy, half-sung taunt echoing through the tumult. Yet each syllable curls with subtle enchantment, tugging at the serpent’s very essence. “You hiss like a kettle on the cusp of boiling over—are you sure you’re worthy of this stage?” In time with her sardonic melody, the creature quivers; Zephirah can only hope the biting mockery (DC 13) cuts deep enough to seize its attention and spare Thoth further harm.
Ophelia's ravings rise to the pitch of a cat's pained yowl as she avoids the worst of the flaming sphere, yet is singed nonetheless, her hair standing on end.
"... and then there shall be a fire that knows the naming of you ..."
Recoiling and retracing her steps south back around the pool, she nocks and awkwardly sends another violet-tinged arrow at the (blue) fire serpent.
Satina again takes a moment to recover after the strike from the fiery serpent. (Bonus Action - Second Wind: 13 hp) Then she strikes at it once again. (Flail Attack: 8, Damage: 8 9 bludgeoning; Sap if hits)
The sphere rolls toward her like a burning eye, heat trailing in its wake, but it falters just short, flickering at the edge of its range. Zahara does not flinch.
Her gaze lifts to the Binder.
Her fingers curl low around the haft of her staff, then spread wide, pressing to the stone beneath her. She lowers to one knee, not in reverence, but in invocation. Her palm touches the ground, and her voice, barely above a murmur, ripples outward like wind over dry dunes.
“Let the earth remember its thorns.”
The stone responds.
From the floor surrounding the Binder, the flagstones begin to shift, the ancient glyphs briefly dimming beneath an encroaching tangle of roots, thorns, and buried malice. Cracks bloom across the stone as the desert reclaims its voice.
Pale brambles twist upward like grasping hands, tipped with jagged, sun-bleached thorns. Their growth is unnatural, silent and swift, spiraling in an ever-widening ring around the figure. Bits of obsidian-colored vine flicker with faint phosphorescence, as if echoing Zahara’s infernal lineage, their edges glinting faintly in the dancing firelight.
“Step lightly, Binder… The sands are not yours to command.”
Zephirah channels her voice through the resonant hum. Her words lash out, tugging at the (red) serpent’s very essence. The creature shudders under the influence of the magic (failed save, 4 Psychic damage and disadvantage on next attack).
Ophelia recoils and retraces her steps south back around the pool. She nocks and awkwardly sends another violent-tinged arrow a the (blue) serpent. The arrow strikes true. The serpent hisses in pain, barely maintaining its flight (Hit! 4 Radiant damage).
Satina gathers a second wind, then strikes out with her flail. The creature, writhing in pain, manages to avoid the weapon (miss).
Thoth, singed and bitten by the (blue) serpent, swiftly and ferociously retaliates against it. His claws rake across its scales (Hit! 7 damage). Nephthys calls upon her divine powers to bathe her mentor in a healing light.
Zahara presses her palm to the stone beneath her. From the floor surrounding the Binder, pale brambles twist upward like grasping hands, tipped with jagged, sun-bleached thorns.
The Binder waves his hand toward the flaming spheres. They rumble across the stones and into toward Ophelia and Zahara. Ophelia and Zahara, make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw (Failure: 7 Fire damage; Success: 3 Fire damage) (This is a magic effect).
The fire serpents strike at Satina and Thoth!
Blue @ Satina (Bane): Critical hit! 10 Piercing damage plus 6 Fire damage
Red @ Thoth (Disadvantage from Vicious Mockery): 6 to hit (miss)
Satina and Thoth also take 3 Fire damage from fire aura (no save).
Please make a check to resolve these effects:
Ophelia and Zahara: DC 15 Dex saving throw v. Flaming Sphere
Initiative (bold may act):
PCs
The Binder
Other Enemies
Conditions: Elemental Empowerment: Fire spells ignore Resistance. The water in the pool is difficult terrain.
Zephirah darts across the slick stones, skirts flaring behind her as she splashes through puddles toward the singed but still‑standing Ophelia. With a sweeping bow stroke she snaps out a jaunty, irreverent motif that rings off the pillars like a marching drumline. Mid‑phrase she spins, flicks an unapologetically rude gesture at the hovering Binder, and plants her boots just five paces from the rolling sphere of flame—close enough to draw its hungry glow, far enough to leap aside at a heartbeat’s notice. Every muscle coils, ready to dodge the next fiery surge even as she forces a cocky grin for the hovering zealot above.
Without breaking the rhythm, Zephirah pivots the tune into bright, bounding arpeggios that evoke racing footsteps and clear escape routes. The melody wraps Ophelia, Satina and Thoth in a buoyant aura—Mantle of Inspiration—its final trill a whispered promise: Run when you must, strike when you can. The music’s pulse beckons their allies as well, a rallying call that slices through heat and chaos, urging movement, daring victory, and daring the Binder to follow her lead.
Move: North, trying to offer herself as target for the flaming sphere Action: Dodge Bonus: Mantle of Inspiration for Ophelia, Satina and Thoth (free reaction to move without OA and 6 temporary HP)
Nephthys unleashes a radiant beam of eldritch crackling force from her outstretched hand towards the fiery serpent assailing her brave mentor. Eldritch Blast: 17 Force: 11 She then steps into cover.
The tiny blue sphinx meanwhile does his best to distract the Binder and the closest fiery serpent. (Dodge)
Zephirah moes north and plans her boots just five paces from the rolling sphere of flame. She pivots her tune into bright, bounding arpeggios that evoke racing footsteps and clear escape routes.
Nephthys unleashes a radian beam of eldritch crackling force from her outstretched hand towards the (red) serpent. The beam collides with the serpent in a bright burst, leaving only ashes in its wake (hit, red destroyed!).
Initiative (bold may act):
Ophelia, Satina, Zahara
The Binder
Zephirah, Nephthys
Conditions: Elemental Empowerment: Fire spells ignore Resistance. The water in the pool is difficult terrain.
Ophelia's voice has become a panting shriek as she zigs and zags along the wall, instinctively shying away from the ball of flame relentlessly pursuing her.
She is beginning to repeat herself in her discordant litany. "...its dark flame shall acquire every part of you that remains..."
Hearing Zephirah's whisper, she feints as if turning back, but continues counter-clockwise around the edge of the chamber, loosing another violet arrow.
(Before Ophelia's turn, due to Zephirah'sMantle of Inspiration, using her reaction): Movement: S - S - S - SE - SE - SE (no opportunity attack). (After which Ophelia's reaction resets at the start of her turn).
Ophelia feints as if turning back, but continues counter-clockwise around the edge of the chamber, loosing another violet arrow. It skewers the remaining fire serpent, which instantly burns up, raining ash gently down upon the water.
A deep tremor thrums through the chamber, and all eyes are drawn to the third of the four pillars encircling the Binder. The worn stone suddenly flares to life, as if awakened from a long slumber. Its ancient glyphs ignite in brilliant yellow light. Dust sifts from the ceiling. The air grows heavy. The Binder turns, eyes gleaming with purpose, and extends a hand toward the pillar. With a slow, deliberate gesture, he channels the ancient power sealed within.
From the churning waters of the pool, something vast begins to stir. A monstrous elemental of stone and sand begins to rise, hewn from the very bones of the earth, crowned in jagged shale, its limbs the size of trees. It bellows a soundless roar as water sloughs from its shoulders, and the shrine’s walls groan under its sheer presence.
Then, there is an abrupt, grinding click. A shudder, not magical but mechanical.
The glyphs on the yellow pillar stutter. Sparks flicker where the runes meet the metallic inlays winding through the stone. One by one, the glyphs begin to dim—not because of dispelling magic, but because something deep beneath the shrine has failed. The old systems, ancient beyond memory, falter under the strain of power they were never meant to hold forever.
The elemental, still half-formed, staggers, its limbs folding inward like softened stone. Its glowing eyes flicker out. Cracks race along its shoulders as its form begins to collapse. With a groan like mountains breaking, the earthen behemoth crumbles in on itself, its mass liquefying into thick mud. Slabs of rock splash into the pool, stirring up cloudy water as the creature falls apart. In seconds, the towering elemental is nothing but sludge and broken stone--a failed summoning from a dying system.
The protective globe surrounding the Binder flickers, sparks, and fades away. Still levitating, he lowers his hands slowly, his expression unreadable, but the fury in the air is palpable. “So be it! You may withstand air and fire, but your wickedness shall be swept from the world by the very power you seek to unleash!”
The final pillar flares to life, its surface a current of icy blue veins that wash over the ancient stone in sequence.
Initiative (bold may act):
Satina, Zahara
The Binder
Zephirah, Nephthys
Conditions: The water in the pool is difficult terrain.
Zahara sees it. The globe, once pulsing and impervious, flickers like a candle and then vanishes.
Her golden eyes narrow.
“Now,” she whispers.
Her free hand arcs upward, tracing a sharp spiral in the air, fingers curling inwards as if gripping the very breath of the world. At the apex of the motion, she snaps her wrist and thrusts her hand toward the Binder, the tips of her fingers glowing a searing orange-red.
A bead of fire forms in her palm—compressed, coiled, waiting.
With a sharp cry in Infernal—“Ashka'tor!”—she releases the bolt.
A lance of flame tears forward from her outstretched hand, trailing gold and copper sparks in its wake. It cuts through the air like a comet, illuminating her silhouette as it streaks toward the Binder, its heat painting flickering shadows across the ancient walls.
Zahara raises two fingers to her lips, pressing them there with reverence. Then, with a low exhale, she stretches her hand toward Ophelia and releases a soft, melodic whisper—half spell, half lullaby.
“The storm hasn’t taken you yet, sister. Let the earth hold you for a moment longer.”
The words are carried on the wind, warm and gentle, like a breath of spring through scorched leaves. As they reach Ophelia, a faint glow swirls around her, soft green and gold motes dancing over her wounds, knitting skin and sinew with quiet grace.
Action Cast Fire bolt; 14 to hit, 4 Fire damage Bonus Action; Healing word 10HPOphelia
With a brief reprieve from other attackers, Satina switches from her flail to shortbow. Facing the Binder, she moves back a few steps to get out of the water. She then fires a shot at the Binder. (Shortbow Attack: 4, Damage: 2 piercing; Vex on hit)
Zahara’s firebolt flies toward the Binder. He twists sideways with startling speed, and the bolt flies into the wall on the far side of the chamber (miss). Satina’s arrows flight through the air where his heart was a moment before, but likewise flies off into the chamber (miss).
The Binder flies north, behind the northwest pillar, but in line of sight of Zahara. He raises a withered arm slowly. The air grows heavy and thick with pressure, as if the air in the chamber is being pulled inward. Water from the pool rises in narrow streams, spiraling up his body like serpents drawn to his will. With his palm outstretched, he controls the rising water, shaping it into a dense, spiraling bolt of compressed force. The bolt launches with a shriek, tearing through the air, trailing mist and leaving a wake of spinning spray in its path, bearing straight for Zahara. 15 to hit. Zaraha, if it, you take 14 Bludgeoning damage and must succeed at a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or be silenced (unable to speak or cast spells with verbal component) by the deluge of water until the end of your next turn.
Initiative (bold may act):
PCs
The Binder
Conditions: The water in the pool is difficult terrain.
Thoth presses the attack and quickly flies after the elusive Binder, his paws crackling with divine power as he rakes at him. Rend: 16Slashing: 5 Radiant: 11
Meanwhile, hoping the Binder is distracted, Nephthys sneaks closer, taking cover behind a pillar.
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With a loud crack like shattering pottery, Ophelia reappears where the ambulatory potted plant had been, continuing her rant as if she had never stopped.
"...the worms that gather in the darkness and surround the world with the power of their lives while from the dim-lit halls of other places forms that never were and never could be writhe for the impatience of the few who never saw what could have been..."
Scrambling north, then northeast, chanting and shouting madly, Ophelia draws her shortbow, shimmering with the same violet glow that her dagger had, nocking then loosing a warbling lavender-suffused arrow at the fire serpent (blue) near Satina and Zephirah.
Movement: N - N - N - (attack) - NE - NE - NE (taking cover from the guardian behind the NW pillar).
Action: Ophelia casts True Strike with her Shortbow, targeting the blue fire serpent with advantage due to Innate Sorcery.
True Strike with Shortbow to hit: 23
True Strike with Shortbow damage: 9 (radiant)
Bonus Action: None
Tanis (Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian (Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons | Ophelia (Sorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Dyson/Eleo (Cleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren (Druid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Nivi (Rogue4): Raiketsu's CoS
Joren (Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha (Monk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court
After taking the blow from the dying air mote, Satina moves back clockwise around the pillar towards the fiery serpent (blue). She quickly draws on her reserves to recover from the damage she's taken. (Bonus Action - Second Wind: 4 hp) She then strikes at the serpent with her flail.
(Flail Attack: 15, Damage: 11 bludgeoning; Sap on hit)
"Do you suppose there's an end to these elemental creatures?" she calls out to the others. "There has to be right? If we keep fending them off?"
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Emboldened and inspired by Zephira's music, the tiny blue sphinx swoops in to engage the Binder, scratching him fiercly to get him off balance.
Meanwhile Nephthys peeks into the chamber, ready to use her divine healing.
Thoth Rend: 12 Slashing: 5 Radiant: 6
Zahara stands firm, the firelight dancing over her skin, flickering along the lines of her jaw, the furrow of her brow. Embers from the red mote whip and curl toward her like reaching hands, licking against her skin with hungry tongues, but they find no purchase. The fire does not burn her. It remembers her.
The ray from the Binder had seared across her flank moments before, and though it bit deep, the sting of it had dulled. Her blood runs with something older than most know, a legacy born not of choice, but of survival. Infernal. Enduring.
Her breath is steady.
The red mote flickers before her, pulsing with heat and erratic malice. She lifts her staff in both hands, a slow and ritualistic motion, shoulders rolling back, spine straightening.
The staff comes down.
With a sharp crack of air and wood, she brings it down toward the mote.
Her gaze lifts, drawn outward, toward the tangle of battle. Zephirah’s voice, a lilt above the wind, cuts through the fray. Magic unfurls with it, shimmering threads of fey grace weaving into Zahara’s limbs. She feels it, a bloom of resilience beneath her ribs. Strength borrowed. A gift of motion, of breath.
She meets Zephirah’s eyes across the chaos and offers no words, only a small, solemn nod, an acknowledgment both ancient and intimate.
Zahara then turns slightly, her hand once more lifting from the haft of her staff.
“The desert gives as it takes.”
Her voice drops to a whisper, directed toward Zephirah, not shouted, but somehow heard. Healing word.
Then Zahara moves. She drifts back from the fire-mote, the magic of Zephirah’s Mantle guiding her steps like a breeze at her back. She flows toward what shelter the chamber offers.
Action: Attack with Staff 21 to Hit, 6 Bludgeoning
Bonus Action: Healing Word 8HP-Zephirah
NOTE: Zahara has Fire Resistance
Zephirah wrests a fierce melody that resonates with desperate power, and shadows seem to flicker across the three foes: she’s laid Bane upon their hearts. The magic cannot seem to latch onto the Binder or the (red) serpent, but the (blue) serpent trembles mid-air (blue fails). Still trembling, she closes her eyes and shifts the viol to a gentler, more uplifting strain—each bow stroke a harsh gasp for relief. Prismatic lines of song swirl around Zahara, Thoth, and whichever companion stands most in need of vigor. The serpent strikes out at Zephirah, but it’s speed is slowed by her magic and it bites only air (missed OA).
Ophelia, scrambling north, then northeast, chanting and shouting madly, draws her shortbow, shimmering with the same violet glow that her dagger had, nocking then loosing a warbling lavender-suffused arrow at the (blue) serpent. The arrow pierces the serpent through, eliciting a torturous hiss (hit!).
Satina, after taking the blow from the dying air mote, moves back clockwise around the pillar towards the (blue) serpent. She quickly draws on her reserves to recover from the damage she's taken. She then strikes at the serpent with her flail. The blow lands solidly, and the serpent nearly falters from its flight, but recovers and swims upward once more (Hit! Sapped).
Thoth, emboldened and inspired by Zephirah’s music, swoops in to engage the Binder, attempting to scratching him fiercely to get him off balance, but the Binder spins away and avoids the attack (miss). Meanwhile, Nephthys peeks into the chamber, ready to use her divine healing.
Zahara lifts her staff in both hands, a slow and ritualistic motion, shoulders rolling back, spine straightening. With a sharp crack of air and wood, she brings it down on the (red) serpent (hit!).
The red ground-glyphs glow red-hot. Then, with a deep pulse of arcane force, two perfect spheres of fire, roiling and churning, coalesce at their center.
The Binder extends his hands, each toward one of the two spheres, and they begin to roll across the stones! (Each is a Flaming Sphere). One sphere rolls north, toward Zahara, but doesn’t quite reach her. The other rolls north toward Sophelia and crashes into her! Sophelia, make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw (Failure:7 Fire damage; Success: 3 Fire damage) (This is a magic effect).
The fire serpents attack. The (blue) serpent turns on Satina, while the (red) serpent flies across the pool toward Thoth!
Blue @ Satina (disadvantage, Bane): Attack: 5 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll. Piercing plus 4 Fire
Red @ Thoth: Attack: 16 Damage: 8 Piercing plus 1 Fire
Satina and Thoth also take 3 Fire damage from fire aura (no save).
Please make a check to resolve these effects:
Initiative (bold may act):
Conditions: Elemental Empowerment: Fire spells ignore Resistance. The water in the pool is difficult terrain.
Zephirah catches Zahara’s gaze, returning her companion’s aid with a grateful nod—fresh vitality thrums in her veins, albeit amid flickers of pain. Taking in the battlefield, she sees Satina slugging it out with the wounded serpent, and her heart lurches at Thoth’s struggle under the wrath of the other. Deciding at once, she plants her feet, draws a vibrating chord on her viol, and channels her voice through the resonant hum.
Her words lash out, seemingly harmless at first—an airy, half-sung taunt echoing through the tumult. Yet each syllable curls with subtle enchantment, tugging at the serpent’s very essence. “You hiss like a kettle on the cusp of boiling over—are you sure you’re worthy of this stage?” In time with her sardonic melody, the creature quivers; Zephirah can only hope the biting mockery (DC 13) cuts deep enough to seize its attention and spare Thoth further harm.
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || b'Reh - Stig Cleric - Humblewood || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Tribute || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Zephirah - Demonic Bard - Sands || Merry - Gifted Surgeon - Short || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus || Lan - Dwarf Dragon - Wuxian ||
Ophelia's ravings rise to the pitch of a cat's pained yowl as she avoids the worst of the flaming sphere, yet is singed nonetheless, her hair standing on end.
"... and then there shall be a fire that knows the naming of you ..."
Recoiling and retracing her steps south back around the pool, she nocks and awkwardly sends another violet-tinged arrow at the (blue) fire serpent.
Movement: SW - SW - SW - S - S - S (then attack)
Action: Ophelia casts True Strike using her Shortbow on the (blue) fire serpent, with advantage from Innate Sorcery.
True Strike with Shortbow to hit: 20 (dirty)
True Strike with Shortbow damage: 4 (radiant) (minimum)
Bonus Action: None
Tanis (Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian (Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons | Ophelia (Sorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Dyson/Eleo (Cleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren (Druid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Nivi (Rogue4): Raiketsu's CoS
Joren (Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha (Monk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court
Satina again takes a moment to recover after the strike from the fiery serpent. (Bonus Action - Second Wind: 13 hp) Then she strikes at it once again.
(Flail Attack: 8, Damage:
89 bludgeoning; Sap if hits)Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
The fire singes the blue fur of the tiny sphinx and he swiftly and feroiciously retaliates against the fiery snake.
Rend: 19 Slashing: 5 Radiant: 2
Meanwhile Nephthys calls upon her divine powers to bathe her mentor in a healing light.
Healing Light: 9
The sphere rolls toward her like a burning eye, heat trailing in its wake, but it falters just short, flickering at the edge of its range. Zahara does not flinch.
Her gaze lifts to the Binder.
Her fingers curl low around the haft of her staff, then spread wide, pressing to the stone beneath her. She lowers to one knee, not in reverence, but in invocation. Her palm touches the ground, and her voice, barely above a murmur, ripples outward like wind over dry dunes.
“Let the earth remember its thorns.”
The stone responds.
From the floor surrounding the Binder, the flagstones begin to shift, the ancient glyphs briefly dimming beneath an encroaching tangle of roots, thorns, and buried malice. Cracks bloom across the stone as the desert reclaims its voice.
Pale brambles twist upward like grasping hands, tipped with jagged, sun-bleached thorns. Their growth is unnatural, silent and swift, spiraling in an ever-widening ring around the figure. Bits of obsidian-colored vine flicker with faint phosphorescence, as if echoing Zahara’s infernal lineage, their edges glinting faintly in the dancing firelight.
“Step lightly, Binder… The sands are not yours to command.”
Cast Spike Growth: 8 Piercing Damage
Zephirah channels her voice through the resonant hum. Her words lash out, tugging at the (red) serpent’s very essence. The creature shudders under the influence of the magic (failed save, 4 Psychic damage and disadvantage on next attack).
Ophelia recoils and retraces her steps south back around the pool. She nocks and awkwardly sends another violent-tinged arrow a the (blue) serpent. The arrow strikes true. The serpent hisses in pain, barely maintaining its flight (Hit! 4 Radiant damage).
Satina gathers a second wind, then strikes out with her flail. The creature, writhing in pain, manages to avoid the weapon (miss).
Thoth, singed and bitten by the (blue) serpent, swiftly and ferociously retaliates against it. His claws rake across its scales (Hit! 7 damage). Nephthys calls upon her divine powers to bathe her mentor in a healing light.
Zahara presses her palm to the stone beneath her. From the floor surrounding the Binder, pale brambles twist upward like grasping hands, tipped with jagged, sun-bleached thorns.
The Binder waves his hand toward the flaming spheres. They rumble across the stones and into toward Ophelia and Zahara. Ophelia and Zahara, make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw (Failure: 7 Fire damage; Success: 3 Fire damage) (This is a magic effect).
The fire serpents strike at Satina and Thoth!
Blue @ Satina (Bane): Critical hit! 10 Piercing damage plus 6 Fire damage
Red @ Thoth (Disadvantage from Vicious Mockery): 6 to hit (miss)
Satina and Thoth also take 3 Fire damage from fire aura (no save).
Please make a check to resolve these effects:
Initiative (bold may act):
Conditions: Elemental Empowerment: Fire spells ignore Resistance. The water in the pool is difficult terrain.
Zephirah darts across the slick stones, skirts flaring behind her as she splashes through puddles toward the singed but still‑standing Ophelia. With a sweeping bow stroke she snaps out a jaunty, irreverent motif that rings off the pillars like a marching drumline. Mid‑phrase she spins, flicks an unapologetically rude gesture at the hovering Binder, and plants her boots just five paces from the rolling sphere of flame—close enough to draw its hungry glow, far enough to leap aside at a heartbeat’s notice. Every muscle coils, ready to dodge the next fiery surge even as she forces a cocky grin for the hovering zealot above.
Without breaking the rhythm, Zephirah pivots the tune into bright, bounding arpeggios that evoke racing footsteps and clear escape routes. The melody wraps Ophelia, Satina and Thoth in a buoyant aura—Mantle of Inspiration—its final trill a whispered promise: Run when you must, strike when you can. The music’s pulse beckons their allies as well, a rallying call that slices through heat and chaos, urging movement, daring victory, and daring the Binder to follow her lead.
Move: North, trying to offer herself as target for the flaming sphere
Action: Dodge
Bonus: Mantle of Inspiration for Ophelia, Satina and Thoth (free reaction to move without OA and 6 temporary HP)
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || b'Reh - Stig Cleric - Humblewood || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Tribute || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Zephirah - Demonic Bard - Sands || Merry - Gifted Surgeon - Short || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus || Lan - Dwarf Dragon - Wuxian ||
Nephthys unleashes a radiant beam of eldritch crackling force from her outstretched hand towards the fiery serpent assailing her brave mentor.
Eldritch Blast: 17 Force: 11
She then steps into cover.
The tiny blue sphinx meanwhile does his best to distract the Binder and the closest fiery serpent.
(Dodge)
Zephirah moes north and plans her boots just five paces from the rolling sphere of flame. She pivots her tune into bright, bounding arpeggios that evoke racing footsteps and clear escape routes.
Nephthys unleashes a radian beam of eldritch crackling force from her outstretched hand towards the (red) serpent. The beam collides with the serpent in a bright burst, leaving only ashes in its wake (hit, red destroyed!).
Initiative (bold may act):
Conditions: Elemental Empowerment: Fire spells ignore Resistance. The water in the pool is difficult terrain.
Ophelia's voice has become a panting shriek as she zigs and zags along the wall, instinctively shying away from the ball of flame relentlessly pursuing her.
She is beginning to repeat herself in her discordant litany. "...its dark flame shall acquire every part of you that remains..."
Hearing Zephirah's whisper, she feints as if turning back, but continues counter-clockwise around the edge of the chamber, loosing another violet arrow.
(Before Ophelia's turn, due to Zephirah's Mantle of Inspiration, using her reaction): Movement: S - S - S - SE - SE - SE (no opportunity attack).
(After which Ophelia's reaction resets at the start of her turn).
Movement: (Attack) then SE - SE - E - E - E - E
Action: Ophelia casts True Strike using her Shortbow at the blue fire serpent, at advantage, due to Innate Sorcery.
True Strike with Shortbow to hit: 21
True Strike with Shortbow damage: 8 (radiant)
Bonus Action: None
Tanis (Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian (Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons | Ophelia (Sorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Dyson/Eleo (Cleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren (Druid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Nivi (Rogue4): Raiketsu's CoS
Joren (Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha (Monk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court
Ophelia feints as if turning back, but continues counter-clockwise around the edge of the chamber, loosing another violet arrow. It skewers the remaining fire serpent, which instantly burns up, raining ash gently down upon the water.
A deep tremor thrums through the chamber, and all eyes are drawn to the third of the four pillars encircling the Binder. The worn stone suddenly flares to life, as if awakened from a long slumber. Its ancient glyphs ignite in brilliant yellow light. Dust sifts from the ceiling. The air grows heavy. The Binder turns, eyes gleaming with purpose, and extends a hand toward the pillar. With a slow, deliberate gesture, he channels the ancient power sealed within.
From the churning waters of the pool, something vast begins to stir. A monstrous elemental of stone and sand begins to rise, hewn from the very bones of the earth, crowned in jagged shale, its limbs the size of trees. It bellows a soundless roar as water sloughs from its shoulders, and the shrine’s walls groan under its sheer presence.
Then, there is an abrupt, grinding click. A shudder, not magical but mechanical.
The glyphs on the yellow pillar stutter. Sparks flicker where the runes meet the metallic inlays winding through the stone. One by one, the glyphs begin to dim—not because of dispelling magic, but because something deep beneath the shrine has failed. The old systems, ancient beyond memory, falter under the strain of power they were never meant to hold forever.
The elemental, still half-formed, staggers, its limbs folding inward like softened stone. Its glowing eyes flicker out. Cracks race along its shoulders as its form begins to collapse. With a groan like mountains breaking, the earthen behemoth crumbles in on itself, its mass liquefying into thick mud. Slabs of rock splash into the pool, stirring up cloudy water as the creature falls apart. In seconds, the towering elemental is nothing but sludge and broken stone--a failed summoning from a dying system.
The protective globe surrounding the Binder flickers, sparks, and fades away. Still levitating, he lowers his hands slowly, his expression unreadable, but the fury in the air is palpable. “So be it! You may withstand air and fire, but your wickedness shall be swept from the world by the very power you seek to unleash!”
The final pillar flares to life, its surface a current of icy blue veins that wash over the ancient stone in sequence.
Initiative (bold may act):
Conditions: The water in the pool is difficult terrain.
Zahara sees it. The globe, once pulsing and impervious, flickers like a candle and then vanishes.
Her golden eyes narrow.
“Now,” she whispers.
Her free hand arcs upward, tracing a sharp spiral in the air, fingers curling inwards as if gripping the very breath of the world. At the apex of the motion, she snaps her wrist and thrusts her hand toward the Binder, the tips of her fingers glowing a searing orange-red.
A bead of fire forms in her palm—compressed, coiled, waiting.
With a sharp cry in Infernal—“Ashka'tor!”—she releases the bolt.
A lance of flame tears forward from her outstretched hand, trailing gold and copper sparks in its wake. It cuts through the air like a comet, illuminating her silhouette as it streaks toward the Binder, its heat painting flickering shadows across the ancient walls.
Zahara raises two fingers to her lips, pressing them there with reverence. Then, with a low exhale, she stretches her hand toward Ophelia and releases a soft, melodic whisper—half spell, half lullaby.
“The storm hasn’t taken you yet, sister. Let the earth hold you for a moment longer.”
The words are carried on the wind, warm and gentle, like a breath of spring through scorched leaves. As they reach Ophelia, a faint glow swirls around her, soft green and gold motes dancing over her wounds, knitting skin and sinew with quiet grace.
Action Cast Fire bolt; 14 to hit, 4 Fire damage
Bonus Action; Healing word 10HP Ophelia
With a brief reprieve from other attackers, Satina switches from her flail to shortbow. Facing the Binder, she moves back a few steps to get out of the water. She then fires a shot at the Binder.
(Shortbow Attack: 4, Damage: 2 piercing; Vex on hit)
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Zahara’s firebolt flies toward the Binder. He twists sideways with startling speed, and the bolt flies into the wall on the far side of the chamber (miss). Satina’s arrows flight through the air where his heart was a moment before, but likewise flies off into the chamber (miss).
The Binder flies north, behind the northwest pillar, but in line of sight of Zahara. He raises a withered arm slowly. The air grows heavy and thick with pressure, as if the air in the chamber is being pulled inward. Water from the pool rises in narrow streams, spiraling up his body like serpents drawn to his will. With his palm outstretched, he controls the rising water, shaping it into a dense, spiraling bolt of compressed force. The bolt launches with a shriek, tearing through the air, trailing mist and leaving a wake of spinning spray in its path, bearing straight for Zahara. 15 to hit. Zaraha, if it, you take 14 Bludgeoning damage and must succeed at a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or be silenced (unable to speak or cast spells with verbal component) by the deluge of water until the end of your next turn.
Initiative (bold may act):
Conditions: The water in the pool is difficult terrain.
Thoth presses the attack and quickly flies after the elusive Binder, his paws crackling with divine power as he rakes at him.
Rend: 16 Slashing: 5 Radiant: 11
Meanwhile, hoping the Binder is distracted, Nephthys sneaks closer, taking cover behind a pillar.