Events+of+Alturiak+5-Alturiak+7+1374+DR

Alturiak 5
The company slept uneasily after their late-night raid on Shaarmid. The tribes looked on at the walls and wondered what lay within.

Alturiak 6
Variska was contacted by a sending: > Have it on good account you are a dwarf-friend. Besieged at the Landrise with siege train. Send help. To which she replied: > Who are **you** and where on the Landrise?

The company set to the task of the tribe's entrenchments and organizing their intelligence on the strengths of the Blood War 435th Incursion Regiment. The camp of the Shaar was laid out and protections against demon attacks were considered.

Alturiak 7
Rena recieved a second sending. It was more desperate. > Besieged by Crinti and Demons, backed against the Landrise. Prince Balkonur requests help. about 12 hours combat effectiveness remains.

The company saddled up and readied a teleport. Lia remained to serve in her capacity as general-elect of the Shaarmid Liberation Army. They landed just behind the dwarf entrenchments. Meedill, who they'd met a month ago burst from foliage nearby, shouting a warning of incoming skirmishers. A dwarf sargeant trained his crossbow on Kethiel, but Calie cast a blessing over the immediate vicinity that diffused any question of the company's allegiance.

The company wasn't there for more than a few seconds before a Massive, sickly-teal demon teleported next to Variska and swung a set of blows at her. Meedill darted next to it, leapt into the air, and slammed a blow at its knee. Apparently, his attack was reasonably damaging, as it snarled at him. Kethiel was already invisible and shot a volley of rays at it, Variska bespelled it further, and before the creature could swing again, it was dead. Arrows poured into the demon from a strongpoint behind them, bringing the beast down.

Prince Balkonur, with whom the party had negotiated at the council, rushed out to meet them, and ushered the party into a shelter. He exlplained that his spellcasting resources were taxed to the limit, defraying demon attacks and healing his men. If the dwarves were to break out from their redoubt, backed against the precipice of the landrise, they would need the party's help. He suggested that if the Crinti force was overcome, the demons would have no choice to withdrawal--they lacked any meatshields, as all of their number were teleport-capable. Balkonur instructed Meedill, who was apparently currently attached to the dwarf contingent, to Liase with the party and assist them in what help they would provide.

A quick accounting of resources reckoned that the party couldn't kill enough drow to break the back of the thousand-strong army of light troops. Balkonur suggested a decapitation strike, and pointed at an enclosure about a mile away. Bannerets and a set of low, thin walls enclosed a secure shelter that was the Dambrathan Command post.

The party debated how to infiltrate the enclosure, discussing options of invisible entry, stealth, and teleportation. Eventually, it was reckoned that Kethiel would teleport the company to about 1,000 feet from the camp, and dacker would colocate their number inside. Calie cast a spell of magical defense on the company, and Meedill, Variska, Kethiel, and Vytorrin were away.

Variska took flight upon their arrival and began assaulting the compound with storm magic, even as one of the lookouts ran to a bell to raise the alarm. The rest of the company joined hands with Dacker and completed the trip inside. They waited in limbo, the victims of the same magic that had protected them from Merlinzak's attacks--anticipate teleport.

Kethiel arrived with a blade in his face and a Drow priestess attempting to dispel his wards. A commanding, fell woman waited behind an upturned desk, and cursed the company with a plague. Calie's magic protected them. A drow warrior smiled at dacker as he reached calmly for the Ffolk's solar plexus. Whatever Kung Fu he was trying to use, it didn't work on Dacker.

The company reacted handily. Kethiel swung his blade at the priestess; she dodged. Dacker began to deal with another guard. Vytorrin swung at the smiling male and bit into his flesh. Meedill attempted the same move he'd used on the demon, and planted his fist into wide, open air. The priestess watched with interest, then told Vytorrin to go away, forever.

Calie's magic almost protected him, but the General-Priestess pulled a trick from her sleeve, and renewed the force of her attack on Calie's ward. Vytorrin Died, leaving his mighty armor in a heap. Kethiel and Dacker exchanged glances over whether they were outmatched. Kethiel threw a moonbow at her, but she deflected most of its force. Meanwhile, the adjutant-priest withdrew next to her superior. They laughed at the party; the general gave a smug spanking to her deputy. The smiling drow, however, didn't feel so good about his chances, and turned to a mote of shadow and flitted away.

Meedill felt his moment of heroism had arrived. He coated his fist in lifestealing poison as the guard swung away at him. He walked calmly to the general, over Vytorrin's gear, and swung his fist at her. Fate conspired to make him a hero, and he brought her low. Dacker finished the show, though her lieutenant didn't give up easily, and tried to fight on, feebly, while the company scooped up Vytorrin's gear.

The company returned, and the dwarves gave them the hospitality they could, waiting for the results of the attack. Within an hour, the Crinti force withdrew, and the demons went with them. The dwarves were on the march by noon, and force marched to make up for lost time. After an accounting of the battle, the prince awarded Meedill with a decoration of valor. Calie and what dwarf priests she could befriend convened to pray for Vytorrin's soul, to wrest it from Lolth's grasp.

Alturiak 8
The next morning, Kethiel, Variska, Dacker, and Calie returned to see how Lia managed as the General-Elect of the Shaarmid Liberation Army without them. Things had been interesting for her in their absence.