Seat of Our Noble Line (Part 13)

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GAME: Telamon casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 20 DC: 20

As Seldan states his last words, something miraculous happens. Every single person hears words that are said in familiar voices to them. For Seldan and Telamon, the words are in the voice of a young woman. For Verna, the words are said in an ageless, genderless voice. For Zeke, the words are said in the voice of a man.

"Let there be light.
Let there be hope.
Let there be faith."

The words that had been said by Telamon, Zeke, and Seldan, but said by voices who have full belief, full conviction, in every person here, fighting here in this space, in this one instance of time. Suddenly there's a swelling of power inside of the quartet that have come this far. There is light. There is hope. There is faith. 

GAME: Telamon casts Meteor Swarm. Caster Level: 20 DC: 28
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+sorcerer+4: (1)+20+4: 25 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+sorcerer+4: (20)+20+4: 44
GAME: Telamon rolls ranged: (16)+15: 31
GAME: Telamon rolls ranged: (7)+15: 22
GAME: Telamon rolls ranged: (17)+15: 32
GAME: Telamon rolls ranged: (18)+15: 33
GAME: Telamon rolls 2d10+2d10+2d10+2d10: (7)+(4)+(7)+(13): 31
GAME: Telamon rolls 6d10: (39): 39
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+13: (15)+13: 28
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+13: (14)+13: 27
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+13: (18)+13: 31
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+13: (18)+13: 31
GAME: Telamon rolls 6d10: (36): 36
GAME: Telamon rolls 6d10: (40): 40
GAME: Telamon rolls 6d10: (38): 38
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+22: (5)+22: 27
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+22: (15)+22: 37
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+22: (14)+22: 36
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+22: (7)+22: 29
GAME: Telamon casts Greater Invisibility/Quicken. Caster Level: 20 DC: 27

White light pours out of Telamon's eyes and mouth for a moment, as he arches in confusion. Then the light begins to dim down, though it's still there. "It's not Rhain!" he yells. "It's a creature of the void, a star-spawn, wearing his face! Powerful fighter, don't try to read its mind! Use fire, it regenerates, and it does not fear cold or disease or poison!"

Then Telamon follows his voice with action, drawing on that intense light welling within him. His voice becomes thunderous. "MULAN KI-LA, GESHE NAMGILIMA. GANZER DIB." Seething energy crackles around him, coalescing into four blue-white spheres of blazing fire, that suddenly rocket towards the unholy creature -- slamming into it with thunderous detonations, Telamon's fiery magics now amplified to white-hot fury. Seething plasma rakes across the monster, as Telamon growls, "Filth of the starways. The Watcher knows you, and so do I." He swiftly gestures, and the sorcerer shimmers before fading from sight. 

GAME: Seldan casts Divine Favor. Caster Level: 8 DC: 21
GAME: Telamon rolls Will: (3)+23: 26
GAME: Zeke rolls Will: (18)+26: 44
GAME: Verna rolls will+2: (5)+24+2: 31
GAME: Telamon rolls Will: (20)+23: 43 (CRITICAL SUCCESS)
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+33: (16)+33: 49
GAME: Riptide rolls 4d6+18: (10)+18: 28
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d6: (12): 12

For Seldan, the light that pours from every fiber of his being is a blue/gold/silver burst, and for that brief moment, his senses are wholly lost in a deep connection. What was, what is, and what will be for one moment - unite. It's a brief, fleeting thing, but that connection rips through him, and a burst of surprised voices from Reunion say only too clearly that they felt it as well.

When he can speak again, it is with a renewed faith, a renewed power, and a lingering deep gratitude for all that he has been given. "The Light stands with us!" he shouts to the others. "By Eluna's holy path through the night sky," he snarls, "you shall be thrown down and destroyed, and that which you have taken released!"

Almost unconsciously, he touches the moonlit armor, still glowing with that blue/gold-silver light, and in a burst of speed flies in the thing's direction. Rather than approach too closely, though, he reaches for the crescent-and-sphere around his neck, murmuring a prayer that almost immediately fades into the light that holds him.

The star-spawn, as identified by Telamon, charges back upwards into its original position in the space-beyond-space.

"It is inevitable. Return to nothing. Return to zero."

A wave of fear rolls out from the entity, but it doesn't take hold on the deity-blessed adventurers.

Meanwhile, two dragonlike entities suddenly rip into existence, emerging from the dark and bellowing in space. One of them surges forward and snaps at Seldan, but its bite is more noxious than the average dragon bite, laced with the power to unmake, to render into 

GAME: Zeke casts Greater Angelic Aspect. Caster Level: 20 DC: 27

Only in the dark can exist such a bright light such as the one that Zeke feels infusing him now. He is blessed he knows now, truly by the Dragonfather whom he has served nearly his entire life. "Thisss one isss grateful Dragonfather." He murmurs. If he had the ability to weep tears of gratitude, they would fall now, but he is not capable of such.

Zeke quickly pulls free an item purchased before their trip here, using it to speed his prayer as he forces the wings granted to him by his god to move him at haste toward Seldan. It is his sole duty to protect, defend, and aid his kin. "Dragonfather, give thisss one ssspeed."

The pulse of divinity shines through him, reflected in a shining rainbow of color spilled through his crystalline limbs. Shards of light dance and reflect off his blue scales as he moves toward Seldan. 

GAME: Verna casts Horrid Wilting. Caster Level: 19 DC: 26
GAME: Verna rolls 1d4: (2): 2
GAME: Verna rolls 1d20+20+4: (14)+20+4: 38
GAME: Verna rolls 1d20+20+4: (3)+20+4: 27
GAME: Verna rolls 1d20+20+4: (18)+20+4: 42
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+22: (20)+22: 42
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+21: (20)+21: 41
GAME: Verna rolls 20d6: (64): 64

The Harpist is not one many would consider a source of light, per se, yet Her silent compassion, somber duty, and deep understanding is such to Verna. In and for a brief instant, the Mourner receives a divine boon of the last from her matron. All is known, parsed, comprehended: The Cycle and the components of life, death, spirit, and paths between. This assures her that this pocket realm/fracture does not belong. These -things- do not belong.

It is not Rhain Padarayn, nor even his soul. It is a Thing That Should Not Be. Thus their appointed time is overdue, and she enacts her duty. "Return to the nothingness beyond!" Energy from beyond the Void is drawn, pooled, and then poured into Not Rhain and the nearest dragon to hasten them on that journey. Goddessspeed. 

GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+33: (7)+33: 40
GAME: Riptide rolls 4d6+18: (22)+18: 40
GAME: Seldan casts Paladin's Sacrifice. Caster Level: 8 DC: 22
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d6: (9): 9

The other void dragon decides to draw blood, charging forward in the expanses of darkness and space towards Zeke, who makes for a brilliant beacon of light. It snaps at him--

But Seldan, as always, sacrifices for Zeke.

He takes the blow intended for Zeke, a grievous blow and a blow on top of that from the void dragon's affinity for the plane, tearing into him in the way that Zeke should have been torn into. 

GAME: Telamon casts Meteor Swarm. Caster Level: 20 DC: 28
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+sorcerer+4: (7)+20+4: 31
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+sorcerer+4: (19)+20+4: 43
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+sorcerer+4: (16)+20+4: 40
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+16: (12)+16: 28
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+16: (15)+16: 31
GAME: Telamon casts Fireball/Quicken. Caster Level: 20 DC: 26
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+sorcerer+4: (4)+20+4: 28
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+sorcerer+4: (6)+20+4: 30

Invisible, but still there. The cloaked Telamon dips his hands into the deep well of power gifted to him again, and whispers, "Thank you Sky-Singer. I pray all that I do is righteous in your eyes." Then he begins drawing on the energies, focusing the terrible fiery rage of the stars once again. Once more, four searing blasts of fire detonate around Rhain...

But sadly, the abomination's own mystic defenses ward off the assault. His escorts are not so luck as the flames tear at them savagely, intensified to a surprising degree. Seeing that Rhain is unscathed, Telamon swears, and incants a quick spell -- sending a fifth detonation into the star-spawn's face... with no effect. "Damnation," he curses. "Well, no one said it'd be easy...." 

GAME: Seldan rolls 6d6: (24): 24
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+32: (2)+32: 34
GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+pa+se+25+3: aliased to weapon1-4+charisma+25+3: (16)+27+-4+10+25+3: 77
GAME: Seldan rolls reuniondmg+sedmg+sedmg+padmg+3: aliased to 1d8+9+8+8+8+3: (3)+9+8+8+8+3: 39
GAME: Seldan spends ONE use of LAY ON HANDS.
GAME: Seldan rolls fortitude: (20)+30: 50 (CRITICAL SUCCESS)
GAME: Zeke rolls Fortitude: (15)+20: 35
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+22: (12)+22: 34
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+22: (12)+22: 34

In the blink of an eye, the claws of void dragons wreck everything that Seldan had planned to do next, but when the second one lunges for Zeke, his ice-blue eyes widen. "NO!" he shouts, a single gesture transferring the contact to him in a single burst of silver light that elicits a second scream from him. In mere seconds, only the gleam of the armor and the divine blue-silver-gold light reveal his location, for the rest of his far skin is increasingly bathed in glittering black and sets him difficult to see against the blackness of the void.

Reunion rasps from its sheath, the cacophony of voices shouting, and he takes a bare moment to lay the gauntleted hand on himself with a breathed prayer for aid before turning and, wholly ignoring the claw that futilely swipes at him from behind, _lunging_ towards the dragon that attacked Zeke, snarling, "And by Her holy light, you shall follow! Or go first, I care not!"

A silver flash lances across the blackness, laying into the void dragon without mercy. 

GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+33: (13)+33: 46
GAME: Riptide rolls 4d6+18: (17)+18: 35
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d6: (9): 9

The starspawn lets out a terrible howl, one that carries magic power to try and rip apart those closest enough to be caught within the magic: but Seldan, Zeke, and the two void dragons withstand its sonic assault.

Seeing that Seldan's trying to escape its grasp, the void dragon charges forward and tears at the Silver Guard again with its jaws, horrible teeth ripping and tearing with intent to render Seldan into nothing.

Zeke feels full to the bursting with the power of his god. There is no fear in him as the void creatures seek his flesh, and though Seldan bears his injuries for him, he knows that the pain shall be fleeting for his kin. The blue-scale narrows his green eyes at the creature and allows his hand to become the weapon of the Dragonfather. Warmth pours out of his body, knitting his kin's wounds back together even faster than the black ooze can do. This is his gift. This is his path. "There issss alwayssss, a dawn." 

GAME: Verna rolls 1d20+20+4: (6)+20+4: 30
GAME: Verna rolls 1d20+20+4: (2)+20+4: 26
GAME: Verna rolls 1d8: (3): 3
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+22: (13)+22: 35
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+33: (3)+33: 36
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+32: (13)+32: 45
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+32: (17)+32: 49
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d8+12: (3)+12: 15
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d8+12: (12)+12: 24
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+30: (5)+30: 35
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+30: (14)+30: 44
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+30: (4)+30: 34
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d6+6: (9)+6: 15
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d6+6: (6)+6: 12
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d6+18: (5)+18: 23

The void dragon that is the attention of Seldan's efforts decides to divide its efforts between the two. A bite and two claws go for Seldan while wing and tail attacks go for Zeke. The bite doesn't find purchase into Seldan's armor, but the claws do.

Zeke's angelic blessing means that, while the dragon's attacks pierce his defenses, the blows are not as grievous that they might have been before.

Yet blessed by her goddess' infinite understanding, Verna calls upon Her to aid in sending these abominations and pretenders on their proper path through The Cycle. Her Scales are clasped in one hand as the other reaches out towards the thing posing as Rhain Padaryn. Her reaching hand then clenches into a fist, as if she might rupture him from this realm, or crush him from existence entirely. Unfortunately, neither occurs... yet she continues to hold the Scales at her throat. 

GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+sorcerer+4: (10)+20+4: 34
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+sorcerer+4: (15)+20+4: 39
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+sorcerer+4: (20)+20+4: 44
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+22: (5)+22: 27
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+21: (4)+21: 25
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+21: (15)+21: 36
GAME: Telamon casts Dimension Door/Quicken. Caster Level: 20 DC: 27
GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+pa+se+haste+3+25: aliased to weapon1-4+charisma+1+3+25: (4)+27+-4+10+1+3+25: 66
GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+pa+se+haste+3+25-5: aliased to weapon1-4+charisma+1+3+25-5: (11)+27+-4+10+1+3+25+-5: 68
GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+pa+se+haste+3+25-10: aliased to weapon1-4+charisma+1+3+25-10: (13)+27+-4+10+1+3+25+-10: 65
GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+pa+se+haste+3+25: aliased to weapon1-4+charisma+1+3+25: (7)+27+-4+10+1+3+25: 69

Telamon exults in the power, though he's aware it's not a permanent thing. A loan, from his goddess, and one he will gladly return once this battle is through. He begins to chant, "Vnimanie, vnimanie..." blue-white energy gathering in his palm. Then it is flung, and a soundless detonation rakes across the star-spawn and its minions, clawing at their flesh. One of the void dragons takes the brunt of it, scales cracking and crumbling under the relentless energies unleashed.

That done, Telamon casually pulls an ivory rod from his haversack, spinning it in his hand. "And now, let's deal with this." He steps through an instant doorway, rematerializing, still invisible, on the other side of the cosmic battleground. 

GAME: Seldan rolls reuniondmg+padmg+sedmg+3: aliased to 1d8+9+8+8+3: (2)+9+8+8+3: 30
GAME: Seldan rolls reuniondmg+padmg+sedmg+3: aliased to 1d8+9+8+8+3: (4)+9+8+8+3: 32
GAME: Seldan rolls reuniondmg+padmg+sedmg+3: aliased to 1d8+9+8+8+3: (4)+9+8+8+3: 32
GAME: Seldan rolls reuniondmg+padmg+sedmg+3: aliased to 1d8+9+8+8+3: (7)+9+8+8+3: 35

The rush of pain and instant healing, sweet relief that follows, is a lot for Seldan's brain to process, but it's not the first time such has flooded through him. He automatically murmurs the rote response of thanks to the Draco Solis for the healing, drilled into him from a child, and he'll have to thank Zeke later. Again. As usual. But right now, he's got other things he needs to do, for all their sakes.

Still vibrating with that oh-so-brief connection, and its lingering effects, Seldan takes the opportunity given as the mighty creature mere feet from him roars and writhes in pain, and breathes a prayer - to Reunion or Eluna, who knows? "Guide my hand, and let us finish this!" The last is roared, and Reunion flashes with reflected silver light again, and again, and again, until with a single raking scream, the dragon that had assaulted his kin tears apart.

Returns to nothing.

Returns to zero.

"Your turn," he snarls, turning effortlessly in the air to face the other dragon. 

GAME: Verna rolls will+2: (5)+24+2: 31
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+33: (19)+33: 52
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+33: (10)+33: 43
GAME: Riptide rolls 4d6+18+4d6+18: (11)+18+(14)+18: 61
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+33-9: (7)+33+-9: 31
GAME: Zeke casts Mass Heal. Caster Level: 20 DC: 28
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d8+12: (8)+12: 20
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+30: (9)+30: 39
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+30: (6)+30: 36
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+30: (12)+30: 42
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d6+6: (6)+6: 12
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d6+6: (7)+6: 13
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d8+18: (10)+18: 28

The starspawn that wears Rhain Padaryn's face atop a writhing mass of tentacles turns its attention to Verna, speaking one horrifying eldritch word. But the Vardaman has seen and faced horrors worse than it. She withstands, unbroken.

The remaining void dragon focuses its efforts onto Seldan and Zeke, who remain within its capable reach. A bite goes for Seldan, but Zeke returns what was given for him: intervention. The sith-makar glows all the brighter, and a voice that is his and also not his leaves his mouth:

"No."

The bite clears entirely off of Seldan, and only one claw sinks into him for all of the dragon's might. Zeke withstands the wing lash and tail strike given against him, empowered still by his god's might. 

GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+25+25: (5)+25+25: 55
GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+20+25: (16)+20+25: 61
GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+13+25: (14)+13+25: 52
GAME: Zeke rolls 1d8+6: (6)+6: 12
GAME: Zeke rolls 1d8+6: (8)+6: 14
GAME: Zeke rolls 1d8+6: (8)+6: 14

Maybe it's the fact that the Dragonfather chooses to speak through him. Maybe it's the feeling of that god lingering in his veins. Zeke can not say for certain. Only that his sword, still shinning like a rainbow of color, strikes the dragon true. Each, and every time.

The blue-scale snarls a challenge at the beast, his golden wings beating to keep him aloft in the nothing. "Thisss one will not allow you to continue!" 

GAME: Verna rolls 1d20+20+4: (11)+20+4: 35
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+21: (14)+21: 35

Verna maintains her focus on The Harpist's gifted spell, even as she shifts that focus to the remaining Void Dragon. Once more she seeks to crush it from this, or perhaps any, existence. Once more, the target refuses to implode upon itself. How impolite. 

GAME: Telamon casts Disintegrate. Caster Level: 20 DC: 25
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+sorcerer+4: (7)+20+4: 31
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d6: (6): 6
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+22: (2)+22: 24
GAME: Telamon rolls ranged: (10)+15: 25
GAME: Telamon rolls 60d6: (210): 210
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d5: (4): 4
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d4: (3): 3
GAME: Telamon casts Fireball/Quicken. Caster Level: 20 DC: 26
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+sorcerer+4: (8)+20+4: 32
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+13: (7)+13: 20
GAME: Telamon rolls 10d10: (49): 49
GAME: Seldan casts Flame Strike. Caster Level: 16 DC: 24
GAME: Seldan rolls 1d20+16+4+10: (2)+16+4+10: 32
GAME: Seldan rolls 1d20+16+4: (7)+16+4: 27
GAME: Seldan rolls 1d20+16+4: (16)+16+4: 36

Stepping out of a portal, Telamon watches impassively as Seldan cuts down one of the voidwyrms, and Zeke fends off the other. His attention locks onto Rhain, and his voice rolls out, reverberating. "There is no escape for you, spawn of entropy. I will purge you from the stars." He raises his rod, and focuses the intense light surging through him into it. Arcs of energy begin racing up and down it as Telamon holds on, feeling like the lens concentrating said light. A strain, but one he can endure.

"Now: ILIM SUGZAG, GU UBRI SAHAR." A flash, and then a coruscating beam of energy stabs out, blasting through the tentacled horror, actually leaving a visible hole right through the creature. "FALL. FALL!" A fiery explosion in the creature's face, adding to its misery, as Telamon rains destruction down on the horrible monster from beyond reality. 

GAME: Seldan rolls 15d8: (52): 52
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+13: (15)+13: 28
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+36: (4)+36: 40
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d6+20: (3)+20: 23
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+33: (2)+33: 35
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+32: (6)+32: 38
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+32: (7)+32: 39
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+30: (16)+30: 46
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+30: (12)+30: 42

"Kin, I cannot abandon Atlon to that thing!" Seldan shouts across the void, glancing at the barrage of spells raining down upon the star-spawn. "See to the dragon!" Instead of charging in, he turns to the star-spawn, and begins chanting, a set of sigils drawn before him that ripple with divine silver fire, far more visible and substantial than they would normally be. Truthfully, channeling this much power is a strain indeed, and he reaches freely for Eluna's guidance in that control, another pang of gratitude passing through his mind as that support is here, strong and sure.

Then they vanish, and a pillar of blue-silver fire _crashes_ from nowhere, slamming into the star-spawn and leaving its own marks behind. Not as grievous or as deep as Telamon's, but there. 

GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+30: (16)+30: 46
GAME: Riptide rolls 4d6+18: (13)+18: 31
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d8+12: (10)+12: 22
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d8+12: (15)+12: 27
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d6+6: (7)+6: 13
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d6+6: (9)+6: 15
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d8+18: (14)+18: 32

The starspawn finally moves forward, floating forward in a gargantuan figure over Seldan. Blue eyes that are not its to use stare down. "You are nothing. Will be nothing. Have always been nothing."

It swipes a claw down at Seldan far too calmly--considering the power behind its hand. It feels like it could unmake if it had just a bit more power behind the attack. Disintegrate into nothing.

The void dragon focuses its entire ire now entirely onto Zeke, whirling and gnashing at him. But Zeke's blessing aids in reducing the damage done.

Zeke is full of light, full of strength born of the fact that he must and can stand alongside his kin and his allies in this moment. Golden wings shine with brilliant light and he is a radiant sith-makar. "You are the onesss that are no-thing. You can not sstand in the fasce of Light. The Dragonfather isss inssside thissss one. There isss no-thing you can do, that can not be undone."

Though the dragon batters his body, breaks his bones, and spills his blood, the Dragonfather makes him whole once more. Everything hurts, but he stands strong between the dragon and Seldan. He will not be moved. 

GAME: Verna casts Destruction. Caster Level: 19 DC: 24
GAME: Verna rolls 1d20+20+4+2: (8)+20+4+2: 34
GAME: Verna rolls 1d20+20+4+2: (13)+20+4+2: 39
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+22: (20)+22: 42
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+22: (8)+22: 30
GAME: Verna rolls 10d6: (37): 37
GAME: Verna rolls 3d8+20: (8)+20: 28
GAME: Verna rolls 1d4: (3): 3
GAME: Telamon casts Disintegrate. Caster Level: 20 DC: 25
GAME: Telamon rolls ranged: (14)+15: 29
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+sorcerer+4: (10)+20+4: 34
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+19: (8)+19: 27
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+19: (15)+19: 34
GAME: Telamon rolls 5d8: (29): 29
GAME: Telamon casts Fireball/Quicken. Caster Level: 20 DC: 26
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+13: (2)+13: 15
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+sorcerer+4: (11)+20+4: 35
GAME: Telamon rolls 10d10: (52): 52

Verna relinquishes the prior spell granted by the Harpist and returns her focus to The Thing That Merely Resembles Rhain Padaryn. "You do not belong here. This HERE does not belong. Begone!" She then calls upon both the blessings of her matron and her own studies in attempt to unmake the creature entirely. The entity resists the majority of her efforts, and yet a partial unmaking is still progress towards the goal. Not to mention uncomfortable for the creature.

It's almost intoxicating, but Telamon keeps his head above water, figuratively. Flogging the creature wearing Rhain's face with relentless lashes of disintegrating force, raking the monster and evaporating its flesh with his ferocious spells. "You will not win," he intones. Another fireball blasts it, scouring its tentacles and setting it aflame. "You will not be allowed to continue. All the worlds will be safe from you, wretched thing." 

GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+32: (2)+32: 34
GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+haste+pa+se+25+3: aliased to weapon1+1-4+charisma+25+3: (2)+27+1+-4+10+25+3: 64
GAME: Seldan rolls 1d8+13+padmg+sedmg+3: aliased to 1d8+13+8+8+3: (4)+13+8+8+3: 36
GAME: Riptide rolls 12d0+31: (5)+31: 36
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+33: (13)+33: 46
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+32: (5)+32: 37
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+32: (13)+32: 45
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+30: (5)+30: 35
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+30: (12)+30: 42
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+30: (11)+30: 41
GAME: Riptide rolls 4d6+18: (16)+18: 34
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d8+12: (13)+12: 25
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d8+12: (13)+12: 25
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d6+6: (4)+6: 10
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d8+18: (13)+18: 31
GAME: Riptide rolls 2d6+6: (7)+6: 13

"Alone, perhaps. But I stand not alone. You, on the other hand-" Flooded with deep gratitude and a level of _connection_ that he has never known before this, Seldan reverses Reunion and charges in, again ignoring the half-hearted attempt of the void dragon to strike at him and instead bringing the curiously-silent blade across his body, slamming it into the star-spawn. "You shall cease to be!"

The starspawn rocks back with the force of Seldan's strike, but it continues to stare down at Seldan. "It is foolish. Where I might fail, others exist. It is inevitable. Ruin will come--if not for you, then for the generations that are to come. Choice is an illusion."

A tentacle raises up and tries to slam into Seldan, but his armor protects him well from the blow.

"It will all return to nothing. It will all return to zero. A harbinger will rise in my place."

The void dragon continues to thrash violently against Zeke, biting and clawing and raging. It is looking so very rough, but it intends to make Zeke look just as rough as it does. 

GAME: Zeke rolls Heal: (8)+27: 35
GAME: Zeke casts Heal. Caster Level: 20 DC: 25
GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+25+25: (19)+25+25: 69
GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+25+25: (4)+25+25: 54
GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+20+25: (12)+20+25: 57
GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+13+25: (18)+13+25: 56
GAME: Zeke rolls 1d8+6+1d8+6+2d6: (8)+6+(1)+6+(6): 27
GAME: Zeke rolls 1d8+7+2d6: (2)+7+(4): 13
GAME: Zeke rolls 1d8+7+2d6: (1)+7+(5): 1
GAME: Verna rolls ranged: (17)+12: 29
GAME: Verna rolls 1d20+20+4: (14)+20+4: 38

Zeke knows well the pain of standing on the edge of death. He breathes blood. Hears his bones crack. He is made whole again. It is a memory of a time that is torment to him, but this time, _this time_ he is full of the power of his god. _This time_, he is surrounded by his friends. He is not alone in the dark and cold. He is filled to the brim with grace.

"Come, ssssoon thisss one will free you." His green eyes are full of faith. 

GAME: Verna rolls 2d4: (3): 3
GAME: Verna casts Enervation. Caster Level: 19 DC: 22
GAME: Verna rolls ranged: (3)+12: 15
GAME: Verna rolls 1d20+20+4: (5)+20+4: 29
GAME: Verna rolls 1d20+20+4: (20)+20+4: 44
GAME: Telamon casts Horrid Wilting. Caster Level: 20 DC: 27
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+sorcerer+4: (9)+20+4: 33
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+sorcerer+4: (17)+20+4: 41
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+14: (13)+14: 27
GAME: Telamon casts Magic Missile/Quicken. Caster Level: 20 DC: 24
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+sorcerer+4: (20)+20+4: 44

Verna knows there will be those to stand against further threats, now, tomorrow, or generations hence. For now, though, this threat is theirs to attend. She does not call out as much; it is focused upon Seldan and Seldan has more than enough in wits, wisdom, and even words to deal with any retorts. As well, she focuses less upon utterly removing it directly, now and more upon preparing the starsoul for its imminent arrival in her mistress' Hall. She creates and directs two rays of the same negative energy of said Hall at and into the entity. 

GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+pa+haste+3+25: aliased to weapon1+charisma-4+1+3+25: (3)+27+10+-4+1+3+25: 65
GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+pa+haste+3+25-5: aliased to weapon1+charisma-4+1+3+25-5: (13)+27+10+-4+1+3+25+-5: 70
GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+pa+haste+3+25-10: aliased to weapon1+charisma-4+1+3+25-10: (18)+27+10+-4+1+3+25+-10: 70
GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+pa+haste+3+25: aliased to weapon1+charisma-4+1+3+25: (5)+27+10+-4+1+3+25: 67
GAME: Seldan rolls 1d8+13+padmg+sedmg+3: aliased to 1d8+13+8+8+3: (3)+13+8+8+3: 35
GAME: Seldan rolls 1d8+13+padmg+sedmg+3: aliased to 1d8+13+8+8+3: (5)+13+8+8+3: 37
GAME: Seldan rolls 1d8+13+padmg+sedmg+3: aliased to 1d8+13+8+8+3: (4)+13+8+8+3: 36
GAME: Seldan rolls 1d8+13+padmg+sedmg+3: aliased to 1d8+13+8+8+3: (6)+13+8+8+3: 38

They're so close now. Telamon can sense it, in the ragged swings of the monster wearing Rhain's face, in the flailing of the dragon, unable to strike Zeke down. He draws himself up, chanting again, tapping into that deep well. "And yet," he replies disdainfully to the abomination's threats, "we are still here, and we will always fight you. It is worth it."

With that, he flings more magical rending energy into their midst, the ghostly blue-green glow raking across them, cracking flesh and crumbling sinew. Still alive, but not for long, as Telamon incants again, "Izigi'edena zanzana!" A volley of magical darts zip around Zeke like friendly fireflies or falling stars, striking the dragon in its skull. The fifth penetrates the brain case, and it crumples. 

GAME: Seldan rolls perform/sing: (19)+10: 29

"One day, perhaps that shall be so. But that day is not this day, for we are still here and - you shall not be." All anger has drained from Seldan's tone, all urgency, and he relaxes. Suddenly, without warning, the sword in his hand - still silent - shifts to become the mighty star-knife that first brought them here, and he begins - to sing. This time, it is not the pitiful, off-pitch thing that he'd attempted before, but - a harmony, strong and sure, a female voice joining his and weaving a thing of unearthly beauty.

"I will unveil what has been veiled.
I will reveal what has been forgotten.
I will sing to you the name you know,
I will sing to you the home you have,
Reunion, Reunion, we reunite the souls,
Reunion, Reunion, we reunite the family,
Reunion, Reunion, I sing you on your way:
Reunion, Reunion, I sing you safely home."

It is the same song that Eluna sang, but now they sing together, his fighting style effortlessly shifting into the close-combat style of the star-knife, laying into the star-spawn with deadly speed and skill at odds with the unearthly beauty of the song that banishes the creature, blow by blow, back into the hole whence it came.

The knife finds purchase... And the star-spawn cracks, like a sculpture being undone from the inside, but each of the cracks is like light is shining through, pouring through. And then the star-spawn is no longer itself, its form cracking apart to reveal blessed light. Holy light. Eluna's light.

The void dragons disintegrate into nothingness, and the dark space becomes light. Bountiful light. Beautiful light. A wind that should not be rushes through. It feels like home. Like a gentle breeze on a spring day, walking side-by-side with a friend, a beloved family member, a lover. Someone who is cherished. Someone who is loved...

Light fills the soul, swells up the heart, and then--

And then...

And then...

And then...

Telamon, Seldan, Zeke, and Verna find themselves... in Ivyhold Manor, with the front door open. It's vacant. It's empty. It's quiet. But it feels like light.

It feels like a place that could be called a home again, if someone wanted to make it that way.

By the front door stands two figures. Rhain Padaryn and Cosette--except this time, Cosette has a head. She's a lovely woman, lovelier for the fact that she's smiling, and she has her arm wrapped around Rhain's arm.

"Thank you," they say.

And then they're gone. Gone to the Halls. Freed by Eluna's light. Freed by Daeus's hope.

-End

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