Session+48

**Melar's Hold - Broken, Bridget and Kazavon fall, and Chieftan Posy - the Littlest Bear!** *Player Note* in case anyone missed it... 4,583 gold to everyone from the stuff we sold. :-)
 * 6-14-14 **

Everyone had returned to the Destiny and were healed. Erevin and Yuki discussed plans of returning to the already crumbling castle to purify it with blessings. Yuki nodded excitedly, "Once we defeat Bridget and save Uther, I can perform the wedding for Posy and Uther, and then we can come back here and cleanse the site." Erevin looked across toward the gnome in surprise, "Posy! I hadn't heard! Congratulations!" Yuki blinked, talking under the woodsman, "But... they're always..." Erevin continued on, "Why were you keeping it a secret? You sly dog, you!" Mali perked up at the announcement and cheered, "Hooray!" Posy shook her head, "There is no wedding yet..." Wren giggled, thankful that Yuki's wedding fever had been distracted to someone else. Yuki shook her head, "But... barbarians have different customs, right? You just have to sleep together and you're married, right?" "Nooo!" Posy shook her head, "We just keep sleeping together. We don't marry... we're not monogamous." "Huh... I swear I read that in a book somewhere," Yuki pondered the idea. "Hmm... barbarians must be like the elves," Erevin nodded to Posy. Yuki sighed a little, "I want to perform a wedding!" Kale sat down next to Wren asking for the story of their battles over the last two days. Thorn walked by the table nonchalantly, "Yuki died, she came back... Wren died and Yuki kissed her back to life... They're both fine now." Axton's head whipped toward the halfling, "What?!" "Thorrrrnnnn!" Yuki waved her hands crisscrossing back and forth in front of her, "ixnay on the ead-day!" Axton turned back to her, "I can understand pig-latin, you know!" Erevin chuckled, "He 'was' a spy..." She wilted a little, "Darn it! Thwarted!" She then smiled cheerfully, "Nevermind... I have to be somewhere... Bye!" Thorn stepped in front of her as she was leaving, "You don't have to hide it..." She shook her head at him, "I just don't want Kale to make it so Wren can't come play with us anymore..." He shook his head, "You're both fine. No harm done." "Axton and Kale aren't going to see it that way..." Thorn smiled and shook his head, "It'll be fine, Yuki. If there's a problem... tell them to come talk to me." Wren smiled up at Kale, "You probably don't want to know how much trouble I was in..." Erevin nodded, "She nearly drowned in the belly of a beast!" "Well... I wasn't in it's belly, but... I did drown in it's acidic vomit," she shook her head. "Same thing," Erevin nodded to her. Wren giggled and told Kale the tale of Scarwall castle... All of the strange and dangerous things... the parts that nearly took her life, the disgusting and grotesquely twisted nature of nearly everything inside... even the deceitful beautiful dance, and the freeing of the shadow dragon. Everyone went through loot and gave out lots of new equipment while the Destiny rested in the sun of Tyrian's city. While sorting through treasure, we discussed the plan for Bridget as Saben and Thirteen poured drinks... Ursus suggested some sort of tactic to avoid slaughtering as many of the barbarians as possible, "They are my brothers... and I'd rather not have to cut them all down if possible." Axton volunteered to direct Rue, Ori , and Mynta to calm the barbarians, trying to keep as many of them out of the battle as possible.

Yuki mentioned a spell that could command several and Axton suggested that she use it if necessary to gather the barbarians for them. "For the blast!" She nodded excitedly. "Well... for the calming," Axton looked over at her, "We don't want to blast the barbarians." "Right, right," she nodded, "I'm just still all fighty from the castle... You should have seen me!" Erevin nodded, "She was magnificent." "Glorious," Wren nodded in agreement, "Even when I was trapped with dead dwarf... Yuki bravely climbed up the whole ladder to come and rescue me." Axton smiled over at her, "I look forward to the tale later." "Speaking of tails..." Erevin muttered quietly, "You should have seen her at the top of the ladder." "Yuki..." Axton looked over at her, "What have I told you about wearing proper adventuring clothing?" "You said nothing about adventuring panties..." Yuki shook her head. "We'll talk," he nodded to her. "Oooo adventure panties!" Mali looked thoughtful for a moment. "That's what I thought I was wearing..." Yuki nodded. "I'm picturing them right now," Thorn nodded to Yuki, "On you." "Can we get back to the plan?" Axton quickly interrupted. Kale nodded and turned to Wren, "I assume I'll be at your side, so you don't have any... mishaps?" She smiled up at him and nodded, "I would appreciate that." "What can we do, sister?" Crowe and Loch stepped up. Wren glanced up at them, a little surprised, "Having you two along would be great, but..." she turned to Loch, "Are you sure you're feeling up to it? Have you been casting and working on your spells again? I... don't know that this is something you want to just jump into... it's been 10 years since you've had your magic." "I can handle it," the pale witch nodded, "It's like riding a man." Everyone looked at her, a little surprised. Wren shook her head, "But you haven't done that either..." "Well that's what Crowe said..." Loch nodded, "But surely we can be a distraction or something?" Crowe sashayed in a circle around Yuki, tracing a finger for a moment over the priestess's shoulder, "I promise no lightning bolts..." "Wren? Wreeennn!" Yuki's eyes were wide. Wren giggled and slid beside the priestess, "Just stay by me." "So what shall we do? They're our companions too," Crowe nodded to Wren, "And that Uther is one hunk of a man." Wren laughed softly and put an arm around her sister's shoulders, "Sweetest sister... as much fun as I'm sure you'd have with him... believe me, that little gnome is more than she looks," Wren nodded toward Posy. "Oh..." Crowe sounded a little disappointed, "but I thought I heard something about barbarians sharing? not being monogamous?" Wren giggled and nodded, "Well if Posy is into sharing and she wants you to jump in with them, then be my guest... but you'd better check with her first." Crowe glanced at Posy. "So anyway... there's this ice crystal fist building... that they might be in," Wren nodded, bringing the conversation back to the plan. Crowe nodded, "So you'd like us to fly by it... draw them out?" Wren shook her head, "I... I don't think I want you two to be bait... You're kind of fragile." Crowe and Loch looked at each other and folded their arms, "We are daughters of Raven! Powerful witches! We can handle whatever!" "Of course you can..." Wren nodded and smiled sweetly. "Now you're just patronizing us!" Loch shook her head at Wren and turned to Crowe, "She's gotten a little too full of herself." Crowe nodded, "Yes... I've noticed that." "Me? Full of myself?" Wren laughed, "I don't know what you girls are talking about." "Well she is pretty amazing," Yuki piped up with a nod, "She's actually very awesome! You should see her in action. Her lightning bolts are very terrifying... and the spiders!" "More terrifying than mine?" Crowe turned to Yuki with a bit of a soft purr to her voice. "Wren! Wrennn!" Yuki turned back to the younger witch, quickly walking closer. Wren giggled, stepping between them casually, "I'm sure yours are much more terrifying... especially for Yuki." She nodded to her older sister. Erevin nodded, "Death from on high... You two can stay high in the air and rain down your magic." Wren nodded, "You 'are' an elemental witch... so surely your spells are better than mine for mass amounts of damage." "Of course," Crowe nodded, "We'll provide aerial support then... unless there's a dragon? You didn't see any dragons there, did you?" Wren shook her head. "We didn't see any... but if there's a dragon..." Erevin spoke up, "Come down to us." "And where do you want us, Oh lordly prince Lionspaw?" Dominic and Shri walked to his side. Erevin ignored their dramatic titles. Dominic smiled, "I could provide fire protection for the priests..." He glanced over at Amynta. "That's not a bad idea... and you have a vested interest there," Erevin glanced at the very buxom priestess and nodded to the alchemist, "Make it so." Shri nodded, "And I will be at your side as always." He nodded to her, "I would have it no other way." Yuki sighed, "Everyone gets to be with their lover except me..." "No they don't," Posy shot her a look. "Well... we're going in to get yours..." the priestess countered. Thorn stepped beside Yuki and put his arm up around her hips, "I'm with you, babe." "H-hey!" Yuki scooted away from him as his hand rested on her butt-cheek. "Nice adventure panties," he nodded up to her. "H-hey! You couldn't feel them!" She shook her head at him. "Well you do wear kind of a diaphanous silk... I bet he c..." Wren was nodding, but Yuki quickly cut her off, "Wrennnn!" Wren nodded to her, "Sorry!" Yuki hid behind Axton, "Smite him... just smite him!" "You do have one of the hardest jobs... duties calling you away," Erevin nodded to Yuki. She sighed and nodded. Plans were made to disembark the Destiny, jumping out to land quickly near the blood-ice building to not draw their attention before our arrival. Gregori shrouded Destiny in mist, making her look like a fast moving cloud. Buffs and teas went out to everyone. Wren brushed Kale's special feather ring as she took his hand, and leapt off of the ship with him, the two of them carrying Posy and Thorn. Erevin slipped on Mali's feather fall ring and leapt off with Mari and Shri while Ursus took Mali and Melleron with him. Loch flew Dominic and Amynta while Crowe took Ori and Rue. Yuki expanded her new celestial white wings from her armor and hugged onto Axton, carrying him down with her.

Uthgarte and another barbarian guarded the door of the tower. A wave of hate and rage washed over us as we landed. A glowing aura surrounded Posy from her sword, protecting her and keeping her calm. It whispered to her, "I can feel him... he's close... Kazavon, my old enemy." Posy nodded, "We'll get him, don't worry." Posy stepped forward drawing her sword and ushered in a challenge toward the bloody fist of ice tower. She recalled the speech Erevin went over with her on the ship, "Slave of Melar, come forth! I have your old friend!" About 100 barbarians came out of the tower along with Bridget, holding a leash... attached to a collar around Uther's neck. He was dressed in all black leather, wearing a skull of a bear with antlers for a helm, and walked willingly beside her. His arms were furry and his claws were out. Posy's eyes narrowed, "What did she do to you?!" Serithtial, the sword in her hands, whispered, "We can kill him with just one slip." Bridget looked across the battlefield at the gnome in the center, "Are you challenging me, little one? Didn't I already send you packing once before?" "You didn't... your friends did," Posy growled back, gesturing to her own friends standing behind her before throwing her axe at the crowned barbarian woman! Uther stepped in the way, taking the hit across his shoulders and protecting his new dark mistress. He didn't even grunt in pain as his blood sprayed onto Bridget's smiling face. His eyes were lost in the madness. "Is this how you follow our laws, little one? An unprovoked attack?" Bridget mocked her. "You can't fight without your pets..." Posy growled back. "Are you challenging me?" Bridget didn't even flinch, "Say it then." "I challenge 'you'," Posy pointed across the field to the crowned woman. "I accept your challenge, little one... and I send my champion to fight you," Bridget nodded. Yuki gasped! "No!" Posy shook her head, "You and I." "It is customary among our people to choose a champion," Bridget nodded. "Bullshit!" Posy shook her head. Wren smiled from behind Posy, "Apparently she's not champion enough..." Posy nodded to her. Thorn whispered lines to Posy from behind her and the barbarian gnome stood tall with her blade, repeating his words aloud, "You're not fit to wear that crown!" Bridget looked as though she was about to deny Posy again and send Uther forward, but then she clutched her head as tiny rivulets of blood ran down from the crown, "Very well, Littlest Bear, You and I." Thorn shook his head in mock disappointment, "Melar must force his champion to act on his behalf? Melar has chosen... poorly." Erevin nodded, "This place stinks of fear." A snarl growled in the air...   Bridget stepped forward, "You were a fool to come back here! You should have stayed away. These barbarians are mine. 'He' is mine! Now feel the power of Melar!" Her voice became more dark and guttural and she raised her hand with the claw and Yuki gasped, remembering that was the spell that had killed Axton dead... if she hadn't rushed to his side and kissed him with a breath of life, he would've been dead. Bridget hurled the dark energy formed like a claw at Posy. Posy brought up her sword strong, severing the power in half as it's force dragged her feet backward in the dirt, and still wisps of the dark energy brushed over and burnt her skin. Posy charged forward, striking the barbarian with mighty cleaves of her sword! A dark and guttural masculine voice poured from Bridget's mouth, "The sword! Where did you get the sword?!" The crowned barbarian took a step back. No one else stirred as they watched the battle. Bridget sent out a whirlwind of a little tornado through Posy, picking her up for just a moment before Posy was able to get her feet solid on the ground... but then the tornado continued to rip through the group, grabbing up Wren and carrying her away... Kale chasing after her. Bridget took another step back... Posy following her, attacking again with Serithtial guiding her hands! A fountain of blood erupted from the barbarian's body as she dropped to her knees, gasping for air. The group moved forward, staying near to the gnome, just in case. Posy raised up Serithtial, glowing bright as the voice whispered to her, "Do it now!", and she brought down the blade as in slow motion Bridget turned her gaze to Ursus and reached her hand out for him just before Posy cleaved off her head! Images of a much younger Bridget and Ursus playing together played out in Yuki's mind... young love now lost. The red glow around Bridget didn't diminish... it grew stronger... and a dark voice whispered in Posy's head, "Put on the crown!" The gnome grabbed the crowned head by the hair and hoisted it up. The voice continued to whisper, "With 'this' crown and 'this' sword... we could cover the world in blood... and fear... and terror!" She seen herself dressed in shiny black armor with her foot resting on Thorn's skull. She shook her head and managed to resist the call as the sword whispered in her head, "I can only protect you for so long... destroy it! Destroy the crown!" Posy used the blade to cleave the crown of fangs from Bridget's head! The individual fangs flew out and spun in the air to form a mouth... forming a spectral dragon! It growled out in that guttural male voice, "Free! Free at last to reign with terror and destruction again!! Finally I am free of that weak woman's mortal shell! She was so easy to manipulate... Her love... so easy to twist it. I was trapped in her body until you freed me! Now... my people... Kill them all!" Kale and Wren arrived to see the barbarians rushing toward everyone! Serithtial whispered to Posy, "Kazavon..." The spectral dragon pushed the victorious gnome out of his way and went for the halfling behind her, grabbing him in his taloned hand... his voice rumbled, "Melar is weak, is he?!" Kazavon squeezed him. Erevin ignored Uthgarte and the barbarians heading for him, and fired his bow into the dragon as Shri sent a prayer of Eilistraee over the group. Wren directed Dominic to stay with Amynta and Ori while she and Kale went with Axton and Rue, splitting the priests away from the dragon as a hundred barbarians came rushing in. The young witch laid a hand on Kale's shoulder, "I'll be right above you." Wren flew straight up and threw lightning across the field into the barbarians at the top of the ice tower. Seeing the bolt arc through the sky, Loch and Crowe joined their sister, sending another 2 lightning bolts to follow Wren's. Thorn managed to get an arm free and threw one of his daggers up and over the dragon, porting back behind him by his wing. Uther charged in toward Posy haltingly... Posy put her hands on his face, looking into his eyes, "It's me, Uther, it's me... I love you! Please don't make me kill you." The raging fire in his eyes faded and he blinked at her, "Posy? Is that really you?" "Yes! It's me!" She hugged onto him... mushy stuff... mushy stuff... mushy stuff... ;-) Uther hugged her tight, still struggling to maintain control against the raging power that still tried to call him. Hearts blinked around Yuki as she heard Sune breathe a happy sigh. Mali sent Melleron up to the dragon, but he hesitated a little at the idea of the frightening and intimidating specter. Dominic held flasks ready as he watched over Amynta and Ori as they excitedly sent out waves of pink magic to calm the barbarians. Yuki whipped out her ribbon and created a pink bubble shield around herself, looking at the specter dragon in the eye, "You think love is weak? You fool." Spectral green fire washed back from the dragon's narrow eyes, "Love 'is' weak... Rage!" He blew out green fire, engulfing Yuki's shield for a good 10 seconds. Held breath released, Wren and Erevin were relieved to see the priestess still waving her ribbon around her as the fire cleared. All of the ground around her was destroyed, but after a brief almost spill Yuki remembered she still had wings out from her armor and she started flapping.

A fire storm arced back across the battlefield from the barbarian mages in the bloody ice tower over to the witches! A few straggling barbarians went after Mali and Dominic. Uthgarte ran toward Erevin, transforming into a huge white bear with a scar over it's eye and swiped across the woodsman's chest with his claws. Erevin called over his shoulder, "Can you subdue him somehow?" Shri nodded, "Leave it to me. I can take him out of the battle." Erevin nodded, throwing the bow over his shoulder and drawing his sword. Shri danced... mesmerizing and beautiful... slowly drawing Uthgarte away. Wren, Crowe, and Loch sent in another barrage of lightning bolts back at the mages... one of them fell to the ground dead. Thorn lit into Kazavon's back with multiple strikes of his daggers while the dragon was occupied with Yuki in front of him. Posy took Uther's cheeks into her hands and kissed him passionately, "Hurry up and snap out of it! We've got a dragon to kill! We don't have time for this..." Uther blinked and nodded to her, "Yes... You're right. We have a dragon to kill." He extended his claws and smiled over at her, "And I love you too." Posy grinned and swung Serithtial mightily into the dragon with Uther following her in. Mali shifted into her lion form while Melleron slashed into the dragon, and her manticore shot it's spikes! Yuki sent out a holy smite into Kazavon, but it's powerful holy goodness burned Thorn on the dragon's back as well, making the unsuspecting halfling scream out in shock! Kazavon clawed into Posy, knocking her out of the way as he leaned forward and bit into Yuki! "Kiiiiyah!! I don't care what Wren says! Dragons are mean! I'm all for Erevin getting his dragon scale cloak!" Thorn shook off the pain and surprise of the smite, and pulled back with both of his daggers... only to gasp out in pain as the dragon's tail whipped around to impale him through his back, coming out of his chest. The only thing that kept him from falling completely was his strange moving armor. One of the barbarians slashed into Mali and Melleron, and another fireball launched across the sky to hit Crowe, leaving her smoldering but still alive! She spat out as she prepared her next spell, revenge sweet on her lips! Dominic threw out a flask, shattering it on the ground near a barbarian heading for him and the 2 priestesses... a greenish fog of stench wafted out causing the barbarian to turn away and vomit from the smell! Amynta turned to him, but stopped short, wrinkling up her nose as the flask shattered, "Oh Domin... eww." Erevin sent Mari to help Maliumpkin and then charged up to Kazavon, slashing into the spectral dragon with a powerful strike... green fire washed off of the dragon, hissing over the icy moonblade! Wren wove a spell over the barbarian who fireballed her sister, and he clutched his throat with his hands, unable to breathe, and stumbled out of the window to his death on the ground! "You will claim no sisters this day..."

Posy slashed into him with a double strike of her blade as Uther dug his claws into Kazavon's eye despite the green fire burning his hands! Thorn struck into him with both of his daggers bravely defying his own wounds! Mali and her menagerie continued to strike into the dragon from his other side. Yuki whipped her ribbon out to caress much needed healing over Thorn!

Surrounded... Being attacked from all sides... Kazavon backed himself up, growling out, "Enough of this!" He breathed out a brilliant green fire breath, washing over everyone! Barely dancing back out of the way of the fire, Erevin looked to Posy, "Follow me in!" and he charged back in with his moonblade, cutting down the dragon's foreleg... Kazavon face-planted into the ground from the hit! Thorn, renewed by Yuki's healing, slashed into the dragon's back again and again. Head on the ground and reeling in pain, Kazavon growled out, "No! This can't be happening! I've just been reincarnated..." and Posy moved in for the kill... Serithtial whispered to her, "Finally!" as she slashed through the spectral dragon's neck with her holy blade to take off Kazavon's head!! His teeth and fangs shattered and passed through his body as the entire dragon vanished, parts of the shattered fangs scattering over the ground! A pair of giant slitted cat eyes opened in the sky and a deep, thrumming, and divine voice rumbled out with anger, "I will not forget this, Posy... earth-shaker!" The eyes closed... and the red misty rage in the air shattered like glass... releasing the barbarians from their rage. Some of them fell over from their grave wounds and exhaustion. Yuki sent out a warm wave of healing over everyone. Thorn glanced back at the light sound of cracking ice to see splits spreading up the bloody ice fist tower... Almost everyone quickly spread out as the tower came crashing to the ground! Posy waited til the last moment and shattered it as it fell with a mighty strike of Serithtial! Uther swept her up into his loving arms, "You did it! You freed our people!" "Yeah, yeah, yeah..." the little gnome dismissed the overzealous credit and attention and kissed his lips. He smiled over at Yuki, "She still needs some work..." Erevin stuck his moonblade in the ground before her and bowed, "Posy... Chieftan of the clans!" "No, no, no!" She shook her head, trying to dismiss it... Uther started the chant, "Posy! Posy!" and Ursus fell quickly into step with the other barbarians joining in unison... over 100 strong muscled men... all of them chanting her name! Their voices far overpowered her blushing attempt to calm them and get them to stop. Yuki clapped and chanted along with them as the others smiled over at her with pride. At the sound of the voices, Shri returned from the woods with a rather sheepish looking Uthgarte. He shook his head, "You're young enough to be my daughter..." She smiled over at him and winked, "I know..." The barbarians hoisted up Posy and carried her back to the Destiny! She presented Serithtial to Uthgarte, asking him to watch over it for her for awhile, "I still have more adventures to attend to..." He nodded, honored, "I will watch over this sword for you, Littlest Bear... Chieftan Posy." She nodded, "And rule our people in my absence." "This old man will carry out his duty for a little longer," Uthgarte nodded to her and then turned to his sons, "But you, my sons, must go with them. You must carry the pride of our clan with you." Mali fluttered her eyelashes sweetly, "...if they have to." Yuki was humming wedding songs gleefully to herself. "Gloating isn't very becoming of you," Axton slipped up beside her. "Hey! When did you get back?" She turned, a little surprised to see him. "I followed up after we were no longer needed to calm the barbarians." "Oh!" She looked him over, "You don't look hurt..." "No... the plan worked pretty well," he nodded. "Did you see the dragon?" She grinned excitedly. "I was very worried when it almost ate you," he nodded to her, "You sure get into trouble... I need to keep my eye on you. I don't think half of what you've told me on your adventures is..." She cut him off, heading quickly across the crowd as she spotted the witches, "Wren!" "Yuki!" Wren hugged her, "You're alright! I was so worried!" The beautiful priestess cheered happily, dragging Posy and Mali into their little group, "We lived!" We boarded the Destiny and returned to The Sun's Heart where we were met by the relieved elves and Tyrian... all happy to see us returning alive. Yuki beamed up at him, "Posy's now a Chieftan!" He nodded to Posy, "Welcome Chieftan Posy... you and your people, now that they are free, are welcome to take refuge here whenever you wish. We shall have a great celebration! We will celebrate not only freeing your people but ours as well... for such is the influence... Melar would have caused our people to eventually go to war." As we walked into the city, Yuki produced a book from out of nowhere with colorful drawings and bits of material and flowers stuck inside titled Posy's Wedding, "So I was thinking... tartan! Lots and lots of tartan!" Posy shook her head, "Not yet... years to come." The priestess's face fell a little, "Wha... but?... but... I'm not getting any younger!" Erevin shrugged beside them, "She's not putting off 'your' wedding." Posy nodded to him and back to Yuki, "You can have yours whenever!" "But..." Yuki looked up at her with glossy puppy-eyes, "Am I not conducting your ceremony?" She started to sniffle. "Well yeah," Posy nodded, "But what does age have to with 'my' ceremony?" Yuki gasped, "You want me to be an 'ugly' clergy?!" "It's only a couple of years," Posy flailed, "Not ten!" Yuki sighed softly, "Every year is a wrinkle." "Put some makeup on..." Posy shrugged. "The sooner, the better!" Yuki insisted, "The passion is hot and the love is strong!" "Don't rush it!" Posy shook her head, "It will be stronger later." "Tartan!" Yuki held up the book again, "Look at the pictures! I drew them really well." Posy glanced at the cute little stick figures on the page, surrounded in hearts. Wren giggled herself silly, leaning against Kale, "Does she have a book for everybody?" Thorn shook his head, walking along her other side, "No... not everybody." "Aww...." Wren giggled and patted his shoulder, "Don't count on that."