Day Three of the Odinsleep (The Plains of Vígríðr - A Perilous Defense Part 4)

Day Three of the Odinsleep – 9:50 am

 
What the heavens!?!” Cedron exclaims. “Thanks to Malazzarr for protecting his chosen, but our worries are not over as long as our friends are in danger. Here drink this.” Cedron passes a flask to Arthur while digging a scroll from his belt.
 
“Where are we?” Arthur asks, his voice edged with confusion.
 
“No idea. If I had to guess, it appears to be some type of space in the cloak, but I don’t have time to think about that now.”
 
Raven glances down at the leather and clockwork band encircling his left forearm once more and then around at his allies, those dead and those about to die.  Ra’ziir continues to battle the Jotun with both of his blades.  As he dodges the giant the best he can, he shouts over the fray, “It has been an honor these last several years!  If this is our day to die, I will see you on the other side!”
 
Raven drops Nightwatcher, the blade falling to the ground as he reaches for the dial on his bracer and twists it sharply to the left….
…
 
…

Raven kneels and lays Nightwatcher across his knees, “I was so consumed with rage during the first battle I…”
 
The bracer on his left arm begins to smoke and the glowing lights inside the gems adorning the cuff flicker and die.  Raven’s face goes pale as he stares off into the distance.  His eyes move back and forth as he watches unseen images dance in his vision.
 
“Gods, preserve us” he whispers as he comes back to his sense.  He slides the sword back into its sheath and takes up his bow instead.
 
“Archers!” He calls out, “Fall back!  Use the elementals for cover!  Everyone else!  Target only the Jotun I shoot at!  Ra’ziir, if you have any magic left that can augment our abilities as a whole, use it now or we are all going to die.”
 
“Shaundukal, I ask for your blessing upon this bow.  An army of darkness marches on this city just as an army of darkness marched upon Myth Drannor.  I ask that you empower my weapon and make it more effective against the foes I go forth to face.  In your name, I pray.”
 
 
= = = = = =
• Arthur: 94% health;
• Bubo: 100% health;
• Cedron: 93% health; Major Image (Concentration plus 3 rounds remaining)
• Desmond: 100% health;
• Drax: 100% health; Greater Invisibility (10 rounds remaining)
• Grog: 100% health;
• Grotto: 100% health;
• Hansuke: 94% health;
• Korbin: 100% health;
• Kysek: 100% health; Stoneskin (67 minutes, 1 rounds remaining)
• Morn: 100% health;
• Niklas: 100% health;
• Raven: 86% health; Bull’s Strength (from Grog, 11 minutes, 0 rounds remaining); Bane Weapon (3 rounds remaining)
• Ra’ziir: 100% health; Stoneskin (147 minutes, 3 rounds remaining); Elemental Swarm (8 Large Earth Elementals, 1 Huge Earth Elemental, 1 Elder Earth Elemental – by the time the Elder arrives, 129 minutes, 0 rounds remaining)
• Shadow: 100% health; Overland Flight (14 hours, 28 minutes, 0 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, 2 minutes, 1 rounds remaining); Keen Edge (from scabbard: 50 minutes, 0 rounds remaining)
• Spewer: 100% health
= = = = = = =


I struggled with the decision to use the “rewind” feature on Raven’s bracer because I was hoping that the party would rally and find a way to defeat the giants without it.  The only thing that smacks more of Deus Ex Machina would have been Thor flying in on his goat-drawn chariot, hurling lightning around, and saving the day.

Then again, Tolkien had his giant eagles save Bilbo, Gandalf, and the dwarves from goblins, turn the tide in the Battle of Five Armies, and pull Sam and Frodo off the side of an erupting Mt. Doom.  The CW’s Flash went back in time and prevented the heroes from the Arrowverse from being TPK’ed by Vandal Savage.

If it had only been one of the PCs, I would have let the battle play out and the priests could have cast Raise Dead afterwards but with three party members down and four more who would have realistically joined them this round, it made sense for Raven to utilize his “final option”.  But, using Time Travel to save the party should have consequences story-wise and once I figure out what those will be, the group may end up wondering if they would have been better off dying.

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