Day Three of the Odinsleep (The Plains of Vígríðr - Ride of the Dark Elf Cavalry Part 2)

Day Three of the Odinsleep – 9:40 am

With the darkness provided by the thick storm clouds overhead, the dark elves race toward the wall.  The horses leap rocky berms and slip past boulders and fly across the open craters left from previous battles.  The adventurers respond instantly, years of experience lending speed to their actions as they brace to receive the charge.

 

Hansuke drops from Raven’s shoulder as the elf leaps to the top of the stony ridge where he took cover from the Jotun’s crushing axe blows and fits an arrow to the string of Luican’s Bow.  His hands move swiftly and surely as he fires one arrow after the next into the leaders of the cavalry charge.  Each shaft flies true, piercing arms, legs, or shoulders as the riders bear down on the party’s defensive line.  As soon as his last arrow leaves the bowstring, he is in motion again, sliding down the face of the ridge and drawing Nightwatcher.

Arthur, still floating above the battlefield makes a quick count of the oncoming dark elves, reaching twenty before he singles one out and activates the magic of his enchanted helm.  In an instant he vanishes only to reappear directly in front of the lead rider, Lawbringer already in mid-swing.  The silvered holy blade flares brilliantly as it slices through black plate armor and the pale white flesh beneath.  The rider is knocked from the horse which charges on without him and both the dark elf and the First Paladin of Malazzarr are forced to dodge aside from the other horses as they race past.

Ra’ziir draws Deathblossom and raises it high over his head.  The drow-killing enchantments of Evithyan’s Blade run powerfully through the fiery sword and the bladesinger can feel its eagerness to drink the blood of its enemies once more.  He holds out his left hand, drawing upon the power of the earth beneath his feet, gathering his will as the energy builds within his chest.  He stomps his right foot down, hard, and releases the gathered power pouring it into the ground.

The earth responds.  Dirt and stone heave and split open.  Gaping fissures tear the ground apart in front of the riders.  Horses stumble and fall, spilling many of the Svartálfar from the saddle.  Two of the mounts and their riders drop into one of the jagged cracks and disappear from view as the fissures grind closed once more.

Drax rises out of the shadows of one of the earthen berms and sneaks up on the closest of the fallen riders.  He reaches around with both of his shortswords and draws the blades across his target’s neck with practiced efficiency.  The blades cut so deep the nearly sever the svartálfar’s head and it falls, never to rise again.

Kysek continues the counter-assault against the dark elves.  He focuses his mystical energy and cries out, “Снежная буря”.  Hail stones pound down out the sky, pummeling the second rank of riders and their mounts.  While none are killed in the attack, several are slow to rise to their feet.

Korbin flies out beyond the reach of the elves and lands, unfolding his portable hole and dropping down inside of it to retrieve one of the many stones he has gathered for throwing at unsuspecting or distracted foes – words that definitely apply to the jumble of the elves rolling around on the ground.

Grotto calls upon Hanseath to grant him power, strengthening his arms and inspiring him with an even greater furor for battle.  He raises his massive axe with both hands and races toward the front line of the battle, screaming out a war cry.

While the dwarf charges, Niklas takes aim and opens fire on one of the fallen riders.  The svartálfar, dazed in the aftermath of both earthquake and hailstorm, is pierced with two shots in his back and topples forward to crash down on its face, it life blood pouring out through the wounds.

Hansuke takes off running toward the fight, transforming back into his human form on the move and focuses his qi.  Years of disciplined training have granted him mastery of the technique of Abdundant bù zhòu, allowing him to step through the space between spaces.  The monk takes a single stride and reappears behind the fallen riders.

The svartálfar begin climbing back to their feet, dropping broken lances and drawing weapons meant for close-in fighting.  Many are unsteady on their feet, still shaken by the fall from their horses and injuries from the falling hail but they start to form up, ready to continue the fight.

Cedron invokes the power of Malazzarr, beseeching the God of Progress to lay his blessing upon the party members to carry them through this battle and the ones to follow so they may carry his divine message across the heavens.  Malazzarr responds and his power flows through his priest, spreading out to everyone Cedron can reach.

Shadow growls, “Family reunions never end well.”  The dark elf flips back his hood, exposing his visage for the svartálfar to see and draws Swiftwind.  The drow flies into the air and rushes toward the rider engaging in battle with Arthur and before the Norse elf can react, runs him through with the phoenix-blessed rapier.  Force pulses down the blade, lifting the elf’s maggot-white body into the air and hurling him back to land in a broken heap several feet away.

Grog raises his club in both hands.  He backs away slowly, keeping as many of the attackers in sight as possible.  He thought at first that the giants were at war with the party but the arrival of these newcomers has thrown his theory for a loop.  The language barrier only makes things worse because even though he can understand the words the party uses, he has little context to apply to them.

 

Desmond looks around, biding his time and waiting for the exact moment to strike.  The former sergeant sights down shaft of his arrow, takes a breath, lets half go and holds the rest and fires.  The feathered projectile speeds through the air and strikes one of the riders who had been pounded by Kysek’s summoned storm.  The arrow hits dead center of the elf’s chest and bursts out of his back.  The svartálfar’s mouth moves soundlessly as it dies, its face locked in a pained grimace.

The elementals begin to move forward, stepping over the broken ground and spreading their arms wide, reaching for any of the cavalry or their horses to come within reach.  What the earthen monsters lack in speed, they more than make up for in sheer strength.  Those enemies cognizant enough to realize the danger the monsters pose, leave them a wide berth and start to scatter towards the edges of the field the party has control over.

 

= = = = = =

• Everyone: Prayer from Cedron: (10 rounds remaining, +1hit/dmg/skill/save, enemies -1 hit/dmg/skill/save)
• Arthur: 94% health;
• Bubo: 100% health;
• Cedron: 93% health;
• Desmond: 100% health;
• Drax: 100% health;
• Grog: 100% health;
• Grotto: 100% health; Divine Favor (9 rounds remaining, +2 hit/dmg)
• Hansuke: 94% health;
• Korbin: 100% health;
• Kysek: 100% health; Stoneskin (77 minutes, 7 rounds remaining)
• Morn: 100% health;
• Niklas: 100% health;
• Raven: 86% health;
• Ra’ziir: 100% health; Stoneskin (157 minutes, 7 rounds remaining); Elemental Swarm (8 Large Earth Elementals, 1 Huge Earth Elemental, 1 Elder Earth Elemental – by the time the Elder arrives, 139 minutes, 6 rounds remaining)
• Shadow: 100% health; Overland Flight (14 hours, 38 minutes, 8 rounds remaining); Iron Body (DR15/adam, immune to blindness/critical hit/deafness/disease/drowning/electricity/poison/stunning and effects that affect physiology or respiration, Str 21 (+5)/Dex 16 (+3) attack bonus/penalty cancel out, gains +3 damage, ASF 50%, -8ACP, 12 minutes, 7 rounds remaining);
• Spewer: 100% health;