Demonic Destruction

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It doesn't take long, flying through the air toward the location where Mikilos had said that he was going to be summoning Eclavdran, to spot the conflagration that is spreading through area surrounding Alexandria. The world as they say, is on fire. Flames rise up in swaths along the countryside. It's amazing really, how much can be set on fire when all one cares about is destroying as much as possible in the least amount of time. 

GAME: Seldan rolls perception: (12)+7: 19
GAME: Malik rolls Perception: (11)+23: 34
GAME: Serene rolls perception: (14)+25: 39
GAME: Un'eth rolls perception: (16)+28: 44
GAME: Serene casts Resist Energy. Caster Level: 20 DC: 24
GAME: Seldan casts Resist Energy. Caster Level: 8 DC: 20
GAME: Serene casts Greater Magic Weapon. Caster Level: 20 DC: 25
GAME: Seldan casts Magic Circle Against Evil. Caster Level: 16 DC: 21
GAME: Malik casts S1: Mage Armor With Rod of Extend. Caster Level: 16 DC: 17
GAME: Un'eth casts Resist Energy. Caster Level: 19 DC: 18

It's not hard to spot the balor in the midst of the flames in a small village that is startling close to Alexandria. It looks like it must have burned its way from one far-flung village to the next. Mikilos picked a location far from Alexandria, but the demon must have teleported closer in and then... begun wantonly destroying everything in its path. The creature seems to have slowed somewhat near human habitation, and is currently destroying homes and slaughtering villagers with its whip and sword. 

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+25: (7)+25: 32

Behind Serene, and in Malik's mind, Seldan stiffens for a moment well and truly stunned, and _swears_, perhaps for the first time ever. "That gods-damned -fool-," he snarls, mentally and physically. "He was well and truly warned. I pray but that they are in few enough pieces to find. Come, we stop that thing, in Her holy name!"

Gripping Silver's flanks firmly with his armored legs, he frees his hands to invoke first a prayer, and then a spell, the second one a complex set of sigils united beneath Eluna's holy aegis. "I shall fly on my own once we close!"

Serene is leaning forward in her saddle, head held close to Silver's neck as some measure of protection against the wind as Silver cuts through the air with a grace usually only known by creatures born to flying. Upon seeing the flames, she carefully summons divine magics for both her and her steed, but does not slow her approach. Speed is of the essence, after all. All other concerns are shelved for the moment; thoughts for the dead, fury for those responsible, those can come later. "Be ready, for that moment comes swiftly," she yells back over her shoulder. "Be wary! There may be two of the balors... and I cannot be sure, but I may have glimpsed Aya!"

Malik squints as he moves in behind the others, fixating on something in the distance. "Seldan," he offers, nodding to the flickering shadows down below. Serene's comment gets a nod of affirmation from him. "I think she's correct," he offers, bow already in hand as they get closer to the ground.

A raging fire is not something a warden of Ea can overlook, and certainly not ignore. Streaking in on wings resembling the smoke and air she travels through, Un'eth surveys the trail of destruction to its source. In the course, she also spies the griffin and its riders (as they are also conspicuous).

"There are TWO of them?!" Un'eth screams out as/through the air. "And a mul! The mul?!" While it would not surprise her that there could be an entire army of demonsworn mul'niessa (they are all fiendish in some way), the one looks like it could be recently familiar. 

GAME: Malik casts Overland Flight. Caster Level: 16 DC: 21

Un'eth discorporates into a vaguely avian-seeming mass of dark, whirling clouds. 

GAME: Seldan rolls reflex: (18)+23: 41
GAME: Serene rolls reflex: (13)+28: 41
GAME: Air Elemental rolls reflex: (10)+13: 23
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+16+2: (9)+16+2: 27
GAME: Malik rolls Reflex: (11)+16: 27
GAME: Aftershock rolls 20d6: (69): 69

The balor takes to the sky with a great beat of its wings that sets the fire to burning faster. Now that its been pointed out to you, you can see that there are indeed two others on the ground. A second demon that looks very much like the balor now rushing toward you, and Aya. She glances skyward and grimaces, saying something to the balor on the ground that is lost to distance and the roar of flames that suddenly burst forth from the demon.

The mid-air flames quickly die out save where they catch on the air elemental that is Un'eth. It's as if her nature makes the fire burn hotter and she's quickly ablaze. 

GAME: Malik casts Haste. Caster Level: 16 DC: 19
GAME: Seldan rolls fly+4: (10)+13+4: 27

"Mal, with me!" Seldan shouts as the fires fall away, leaving a streak of angry bred burns down one side, loosing his grip on both Silver and Serene as bright white angel wings begin to unfurl from his back. He lets himself fall away from the griffon, and furls those wings, plummeting straight down in the direction of the demons on the ground. Somewhere in his fall, Reunion appears in his hand, and the cry to Eluna's aid is ripped from his lips in the whistling wind as he plummets. "In Eluna's holy name, you shall end here!" 

GAME: Serene spends TWO uses of SMITE EVIL.
GAME: Seldan spends ONE use of SMITE EVIL.
GAME: Serene casts Saddle Surge. Caster Level: 20 DC: 24
GAME: Serene casts Righteous Vigor. Caster Level: 20 DC: 24
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+17+1+12: (15)+17+1+12: 45
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+30: (9)+30: 39
GAME: Serene rolls 1d6+6+20: (2)+6+20: 28
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+7: (2)+7: 9
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+33: (7)+33: 40

"Elune, shine our way through this darkest night!" Serene calls, beseeches, as she raises her shield arm skywards, and it almost seems like she draws that light into her, briefly, before it lances out to bathe the allies closest to her. Then she drops the arm, summoning another pair of blessings before drawing her sword even as Silver continues his flight forward, seemingly straight into the demon's grasp. A flaming whip lances out, crashing against Serene's armour, but then Silver's shining beak is slashing into the Balor's thick hide. 

GAME: Air Elemental casts Strong Jaw. Caster Level: 19 DC: 20

Air Elemental watches as Seldan launches himself at the one on the ground (with Malik close behind) and Serene and Silver do the same at the one in the air. All is getting cluttered rather quickly, and she is keenly aware of unwise decisions in cluttered spaces. She calls upon Ea's power unto herself, instead, for the moment. 

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+30: (11)+30: 41
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+33: (6)+33: 39
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+25: (13)+25: 38
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (19)+20: 39
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+31: (20)+31: 51
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+31: (5)+31: 36
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+26: (13)+26: 39
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+21: (3)+21: 24
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+16: (3)+16: 19
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+7: (1)+7: 8
GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d6+13: (2)+13: 15
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+30: (19)+30: 49
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+33: (18)+33: 51
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+30: (11)+30: 41
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+25: (12)+25: 37
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (15)+20: 35
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+15: (5)+15: 20
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+7: (4)+7: 11
GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d6+13: (10)+13: 23

The demon on the ground waggles his finger at Seldan. "You can kill us, but what good does that really do? Go Aya. Run. Flee like the child beneath Eclavdran's steps that you are." He laughs mockingly and she stares at him hatefully but runs. Disappearing into the shadows with something like regret on her face. The demon meanwhile launches a series of brutal attacks on Seldan, one that nearly cleaves the man's head from his shoulders if not for the Grace of Eluna.

Above, Serene faces a similar battle, and quickly finds herself entangled by her foe's weapon. It's burn does not harm her, but the whip is securely around her form and it squeezes tightly while the demon thrusts its blade readily into her body. 

GAME: Malik casts Heroism. Caster Level: 16 DC: 19

Malik sees Seldan dive, and does as instructed, diving down with him and landing just behind him. He knows this drill. reaching out, he touches Seldan's shoulder, channeling energy into the man as he looks at the slack-jawed villagers watching the Balor. There's a moment of consideration before he shouts at them, "RUN AWAY, IDIOTS!" 

GAME: Seldan spends ONE use of LAY ON HANDS.
GAME: Seldan rolls 6d6: (27): 27

Once again does Seldan walk in the palm of Eluna's hand, as he has done so many times before. The mighty blade and whip crash around him, but only a few find their mark - although one blow nearly takes off his head! Still, he calls on Her grace with a swiftly murmured prayer and a hand over his heart, then weasels backward just enough for another prayer. "Holy Dreamer, send Your servant to shine your wrath down upon these fiends!"

At once, Reunion begins to glow, with the soft blue white of moonlight, an effect that obscures the runes and trappings on it, a beacon amid the nighttime dimness. 

GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+1+12-2-6: (12)+20+5+5+1+12+-2+-6: 47
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+1+12-2-6: (20)+20+5+5+1+12+-2+-6: 55
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+1+12-2-6-5: (19)+20+5+5+1+12+-2+-6+-5: 49
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+1+12-2-6-10: (19)+20+5+5+1+12+-2+-6+-10: 44
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+1+12-2-6-15: (19)+20+5+5+1+12+-2+-6+-15: 39
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+1+12-2-6: (13)+20+5+5+1+12+-2+-6: 48
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+1+12-2-6-5: (6)+20+5+5+1+12+-2+-6+-5: 36
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+1+12-2-6-10: (7)+20+5+5+1+12+-2+-6+-10: 32
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+1+12-2-6: (16)+20+5+5+1+12+-2+-6: 51
GAME: Serene rolls 1d3+5+5+40+12: (2)+5+5+40+12: 64
GAME: Serene rolls 1d3+5+5+20+12+1d3+5+5+20+12: (2)+5+5+20+12+(3)+5+5+20+12: 89
GAME: Serene rolls 1d3+5+5+20+12: (1)+5+5+20+12: 43
GAME: Serene rolls 1d3+5+5+20+12: (3)+5+5+20+12: 45
GAME: Serene rolls 1d3+5+5+20+12: (2)+5+5+20+12: 44
GAME: Serene rolls 1d8+5+2+20+6+2d6: (1)+5+2+20+6+(9): 43
GAME: Serene rolls 1d8+5+2+20+6+2d6: (3)+5+2+20+6+(10): 46

Serene is yanked, rather unceremoniously, out of her saddle as the whip coils around her waist. She brings her shield to bear against the massive sword the Balor wields, but it's a small protection against the size of the weapon and its wielder and not all of the blows can be deflected, divine assistance or not. But as the Balor spends itself against her, she begins to glow faintly of the same light as before... and then the shield becomes a weapon. The melee that ensues is not elegant. As she literally dangles from its flaming whip, Serene deflects the last of the sword blows, and then drives her shield into its torso repeatedly, almost as if she were trying to punch through a wall. The shining sword in her left hand flashes and cuts as well, as though the paladin were utterly committed to one goal only.. the utter destruction of the demon, regardless of what is very likely going to happen to her should it be defeated. Meanwhile, her gryphon hovers close, having backed off his own attacks out of concern for his rider. 

GAME: Air Elemental rolls weapon0: (7)+20: 27
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+30: (11)+30: 41
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+33: (18)+33: 51

Air Elemental now darts in to aid the un-griffoned, tangled, yet still exceptionally feisty Serene with the flying fiend. The flying strike of smokey 'talons' scrape off the unnatural things' infernal hide. 

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+31: (1)+31: 32 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+26: (3)+26: 29
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+21: (16)+21: 37
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+16: (10)+16: 26
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+7: (3)+7: 10
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+33: (4)+33: 37
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+30: (1)+30: 31 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+25: (13)+25: 38
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (8)+20: 28
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+15: (5)+15: 20

The demons continue their barrage of attacks, the one on the ground managing to entangle Seldan in its whip. "Your goddess didn't help these people. Why do you expect her to help you?" Mocks the demon, apparently unaware of the beating that its fellow had taken from Serene. The demon in the air seems desperate. Throwing attacks at Serene that can not land. 

GAME: Malik casts Dimension Door. Caster Level: 16 DC: 20
GAME: Serene spends ONE use of SMITE EVIL.

Malik sees the whip go around Seldan, eyes widening as the Balor starts the entangle with that whip. "Don't fight this," he tells Seldan, once again reaching out to put a hand on the man's shoulder. The world spins and twists in that stomach-churning, unsettling way -- and where once they were standing in front of the thing, now the pair of them appear to be standing behind it -- free of the whip.

"Stay clear of that thing," he tells the paladin, already starting to nock some arrows -- just in case. "I only have so many of those tricks up my sleeve." 

GAME: Seldan casts Disintegrate
GAME: Seldan rolls 1d20+20: (11)+20: 31
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20: (2): 2
GAME: Seldan rolls 32d6: (104): 104

"But I depend not on Her alone!" Seldan does not resist Malik's pull, and staggers only a little as he comes free, whip marks burned across skin and armor alike. He is undaunted, though, and quickly chants a spell from just out of reach, the sigils before him coalescing into a sickly green ray. The ray slams into the whip handle in the creature's hand, and hand and whip handle alike crumble to dust. The evil-looking whip drops limply to the burning grass, and the balor roars in pain and fury as the stump of its hand gushes blackest ichor into the grass, a substance that drops with a hiss to the dirt at his feet.

"No need, Mal," Seldan flashes a wickedly boyish grin at his rescuer. "It shall not trouble either of us further." 

GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+17+1+12: (15)+17+1+12: 45
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+17+1+12: (17)+17+1+12: 47
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+17+1+12-2: (14)+17+1+12+-2: 42
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+17+1+12-2: (6)+17+1+12+-2: 34
GAME: Serene rolls 1d6+6+20: (6)+6+20: 32
GAME: Serene rolls 1d6+6+20: (2)+6+20: 28
GAME: Serene rolls 1d4+6+20: (1)+6+20: 27
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+1+12-2-6: (18)+20+5+5+1+12+-2+-6: 53
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+1+12-2-6: (19)+20+5+5+1+12+-2+-6: 54
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+1+12-2-6-5: (16)+20+5+5+1+12+-2+-6+-5: 46
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+1+12-2-6-10: (4)+20+5+5+1+12+-2+-6+-10: 29
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+1+12-2-6-15: (2)+20+5+5+1+12+-2+-6+-15: 22
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+1+12-2-6: (15)+20+5+5+1+12+-2+-6: 50
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+1+12-2-6-5: (14)+20+5+5+1+12+-2+-6+-5: 44
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+1+12-2-6-10: (14)+20+5+5+1+12+-2+-6+-10: 39
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+1+12-2-6: (15)+20+5+5+1+12+-2+-6: 50
GAME: Serene rolls 1d8+5+5+20+12+2d6: (2)+5+5+20+12+(10): 54
GAME: Serene rolls 1d8+5+5+20+12+2d6+1d8+5+5+20+12+2d6: (1)+5+5+20+12+(6)+(3)+5+5+20+12+(6): 100
GAME: Serene rolls 1d8+5+5+20+12+2d6: (4)+5+5+20+12+(6): 52
GAME: Serene rolls 1d3+5+2+20+6: (2)+5+2+20+6: 35
GAME: Serene rolls 1d3+5+2+20+6: (3)+5+2+20+6: 36
GAME: Serene rolls 1d3+5+2+20+6: (2)+5+2+20+6: 35
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+16+1: (17)+16+1: 34
GAME: Aftershock rolls 20d6: (64): 64
GAME: Air Elemental casts Mass Cure Moderate Wounds. Caster Level: 19 DC: 23
GAME: Air Elemental rolls 2d8+19: (10)+19: 29

As if ensnaring, flaming fiends were not enough... after experiencing slight turbulence they then also explode. Un'eth's 'airy' form is rather drained of oxygen from the searing flames, and there is much more smoke content than before. This is possibly not as bad as Serene having been suddenly returned to Ea by a fundamental law of nature. She drops down to the possibly pancaked paladin and calls upon Ea to mend some of their wounds.

The balor backs away from Seldan, dripping ichor and suddenly vanishes only to reappear where Serene is laying on the ground. He points his sword at her, obviously threatening the downed woman with his weapon. "Stand down. Or the chicklet dies." He laughs. 

GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+13+6+5+2+1-2-3+1: (14)+13+6+5+2+1+-2+-3+1: 37
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+13+6+5+2+1-2-3+1: (9)+13+6+5+2+1+-2+-3+1: 32
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+13+6+5+2+1-2-3+1: (6)+13+6+5+2+1+-2+-3+1: 29
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+8+6+5+2+1-2-3+1: (16)+8+6+5+2+1+-2+-3+1: 34
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+3+6+5+2+1-2-3+1: (12)+3+6+5+2+1+-2+-3+1: 25
GAME: Malik rolls 1d8+5+3+6+2+1d6: (7)+5+3+6+2+(4): 27
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+31: (19)+31: 50
GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d6+13: (5)+13: 18

Malik sees the demon shift his position, standing over Serene, having fallen to the ground. He lets fly those series of arrows, though only one manages to find purchase, a small rime of frost appearing around the wound for a split second before there's no sign it was ever there at all -- and the Balor looking no worse for the wear. "I hate demons..." he sighs. 

GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+2+2: aliased to weapon1+charisma+2+2: (2)+24+8+2+2: 38
GAME: Seldan rolls reuniondmg+sedmg+sedmg: aliased to 1d8+9+8+8: (1)+9+8+8: 26
GAME: Seldan rolls 2d6: (3): 3
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+30: (19)+31: 50
GAME: Serene spends ONE use of SMITE EVIL.
GAME: Seldan casts Paladin's Sacrifice. Caster Level: 8 DC: 20
GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d6+13: (2)+13: 15
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+1+12: (5)+20+5+5+1+12: 48
GAME: Serene rolls 1d3+5+5+20: (2)+5+5+20: 32
GAME: Stegosaurus rolls bab+strength-2+3: (10)+14+8+-2+3: 33
GAME: Stegosaurus rolls bab+strength-2+3: (15)+14+8+-2+3: 38
GAME: Stegosaurus rolls 8d6+8d6+strength+3: (26)+(25)+8+3: 62
GAME: Stegosaurus rolls cmb+5: (10)+26+5: 41
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+31: (9)+31: 40
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+26: (8)+26: 34
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+21: (17)+21: 38
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+16: (19)+16: 35
GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d6+13: (6)+13: 19
GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d6+13: (8)+13: 21

The demon teleports away, and Seldan scowls blackly, brandishing Reunion in one hand. "No! You shall not have her!" Bright, blood-spattered feathery wings beat hard and fast, and he follows the demon unerringly, blade slamming into the creature. "Serene, Malik, get away from it!" he adds, settling to the ground and trying to put himself between Serene and the demon. When the demon's blade lashes at Serene, he shouts a word, and another gash opens beneath the pristine armor, leaving her untouched. A momentary stagger as the unseen force hits him, but then he takes the blade between his hands, preparing to strike again.

Years from now there might be a story, about how a knight.. or maybe an angel.. in an epic battle with a demon was hurled from the sky, the impact creating a spot that would one day fill with water... Lake Serene, is what it would be called, as children all around are told the tale of its origin.

The reality is much less glamourous. Yes, there is an explosion. While Silver, almost desperate himself now to free his partner, tears into the Balor with beak and claw, Serene continues her assault. She is not completely oblivious to her precarious position, relying upon her enemy to keep aloft... but her commitment to the destruction of these creatures is also not one that could be possibly understated. Holy weapon and shield continue to pound into the bulky form of the night's current Terror given form, and then something breaks. A breath... and then from within the Balor unholy fire erupts into an explosion. Silver manages to wheel out of the way, but the explosion propels the aging paladin back to Ea.. and it's not crater she leaves. Instead she hits at a bit of an angle and bounces. Once, twice, pirouetting with flailing arms that somehow manage to keep a hold of her sword. Finally she comes to a rest.. only to find the Balor standing above her. It takes precious seconds for her head to clear, and blood threatens to obscure her vision.. and all she can think is, "Didn't we just kill you?" She becomes aware arrows flying by, and hears Seldan's charge.. and though it might be smarter for her to stay down, to listen to Seldan's order, she struggles instead to rise. A feat likely only made possible by Un'eth's healing magic. As she does, oblivious to the sword thrust Seldan takes in her stead, she lashes out with her shield with a meaty 'thunk'. "Suffer.. not.. a demon to remain," she forces out, mantra-like. And then, louder, "FINISH HIM!"

Stegosaurus already had one fall in her midst a few days past, and she's not keen on another doing so, even if that was just a mul. As Serene stands and Seldan charges in, she glides towards the fiend as well. She stops somewhat short, form solidifying as she tucks and rolls. All to bring a rather long, rather wickedly-spiked tail in a large overhead arc down into the Balor. Spikes first, of course. Said spikes are then tugged sharply back as the tail coils like a snake, but they pull from from the fiend rather than pull it with them.

Fiendishly irritated by the fact that its threats went unheard, the balor unleashes on Serene, bloodying the poor beaten woman even further. In spite of this, she stands in the wake of the attacks and the beast hisses. "JUST DIE ALREADY!" 

GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+16: (13)+16: 29
GAME: Malik casts Dimensional Anchor. Caster Level: 16 DC: 20

Malik attempts another spell, making a complicated sigil with his hands. A ray of light streaks from his hands, toward the Balor -- but seems to have no effect. He curses in that flowing, strange language of his, looking at Seldan. "I *hate* demons..." 

GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+2+1: aliased to weapon1+charisma+2+1: (20)+24+8+2+1: 55 (THREAT)
GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+2+1: aliased to weapon1+charisma+2+1: (5)+24+8+2+1: 40
GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+2+1-5: aliased to weapon1+charisma+2+1-5: (9)+24+8+2+1+-5: 39
GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+2+1-10: aliased to weapon1+charisma+2+1-10: (9)+24+8+2+1+-10: 34
GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+2+1: aliased to weapon1+charisma+2+1: (10)+24+8+2+1: 45
GAME: Seldan rolls reuniondmg+reuniondmg+sedmg+sedmg+2+2+2d6+2d6: aliased to 1d8+9+1d8+9+8+8+2+2+2d6+2d6: (4)+9+(4)+9+8+8+2+2+(8)+(7): 61
GAME: Seldan rolls reuniondmg+sedmg+2+2d6: aliased to 1d8+9+8+2+2d6: (3)+9+8+2+(7): 29
GAME: Seldan rolls reuniondmg+sedmg+2+2d6: aliased to 1d8+9+8+2+2d6: (2)+9+8+2+(6): 27

Finally, finally, it's holding still for long enough, and Seldan's moonlit sword echoes off his armor, the gleeful cries of a crotchety old man's voice lost in the roar of the demon's anguish. Now in full cry, his sword is impossibly fast, almost too fast to follow, drawing demon blood again and again until black ichor flows freely from multiple deep slashes. The moonlight is harsh on black, red, and silver, lending harsh shadows a relentless cast. The ginger-blonde man is set now, ignoring wounds that will no doubt hurt like hell later, to see this thing banished. 

GAME: Stegosaurus casts Heal. Caster Level: 19 DC: 23
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+1+12-2-6: (11)+20+5+5+1+12+-2+-6: 46
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+1+12-2-6: (18)+20+5+5+1+12+-2+-6: 53
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+1+12-2-6-5: (1)+20+5+5+1+12+-2+-6+-5: 31 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+1+12-2-6-10: (13)+20+5+5+1+12+-2+-6+-10: 38
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+1+12-2-6-15: (20)+20+5+5+1+12+-2+-6+-15: 40
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+1+12-2-6: (8)+20+5+5+1+12+-2+-6: 43
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+1+12-2-6-5: (4)+20+5+5+1+12+-2+-6+-5: 34
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+1+12-2-6-10: (17)+20+5+5+1+12+-2+-6+-10: 42
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+1+12-2-6-15: (16)+20+5+5+1+12+-2+-6+-15: 36

Stegosaurus does not like fiends, but imagines that the holy warriors dislike them even moreso. Serene has more than proven her zeal in that regard, given the last fiend. Un'eth also recalls that that last fiend EXPLODED. Now, rather than strike at the demon, her tail serpentines to Serene. The fleshy tip reaches out to tap her on the snout as Un'eth channels Ea's lifebringing essence through herself and into the stubborn paladin. If nothing else, the renewed life gives Un'eth a chance to slap her on the snout in chiding later, without worry of breaking anything important. 

GAME: Serene rolls 1d8+5+5+2d6+20+12: (1)+5+5+(11)+20+12: 54
GAME: Serene rolls 1d8+5+5+2d6+20+12: (6)+5+5+(10)+20+12: 58
GAME: Serene rolls 1d8+5+5+2d6+20+12: (1)+5+5+(5)+20+12: 48
GAME: Serene rolls 1d8+5+5+2d6+20+12+1d8+5+5+2d6+20+12: (8)+5+5+(7)+20+12+(8)+5+5+(2)+20+12: 109
GAME: Serene rolls 1d3+2+5+20+6: (2)+2+5+20+6: 35
GAME: Serene rolls 1d3+2+5+20+6: (1)+2+5+20+6: 34
GAME: Seldan rolls reflex: (11)+23: 34
GAME: Stegosaurus rolls reflex: (14)+13: 27
GAME: Serene rolls reflex: (3)+28: 31
GAME: Serene rolls reflex: (9)+28: 37
GAME: Malik rolls Reflex: (12)+16: 28
GAME: Serene casts Paladin's Sacrifice. Caster Level: 20 DC: 24

He'd been half-expecting it, when Serene laid into it so mightily, and so Seldan manages to dive for cover, turning aside from the worst of the explosion as the Balor vanishes from this realm. He groans, rolling to his feet with an effort - and then looks around immediately. Checks in mentally.- to no response. "MAL!" he shouts at once, scrambling to get to the wizard, all others momentarily forgotten as he checks for a pulse, then immediately places hands on his neck. It takes a minute for the rote prayers to come to him, but after several seconds of prayer, he does manage to still himself, enough for Eluna's grace to flow through him and a moonlit glow to form under his hands. 

GAME: Seldan rolls 6d6: (20): 20 
GAME: Seldan rolls 6d6: (18): 18
GAME: Seldan rolls 6d6: (19): 19

There's something to be said about the control one has to be able to deliver such a relatively delicate touch with such a large tail, one with spikes and such to boot. And really, Serene ought to appreciate that skill... but the surge if vigor and energy is appreciated even more, and then the tails is gone. She joins Seldan is bringing Eluna's cold, hard judgement upon the Balor.. and this time, anticipating the results of its death, she turns, crouching, as if to hide under her cloak.. and as she does she watches the unholy flame wash over the stegosaurus. She reaches out, divine magic protecting the druid and taking the the burns upon herself.

And there is the flaming burst of fiery doom. Un'eth does her best to turn away from it, though, admittedly, there is a lot of her to try and turn. Inertia is a fundamental part of nature, and getting caught broadside is not so beneficial. And yet... she isn't singed?

Small eyes blink as small head looks around. "Are there more? Are we..." She notes the scrambling Seldan and his actions over the downed Malik. "Does he need more aid? Do any?"

Malik lets out a choking gasp as that light hits him, sitting up and wiping the blood away from his mouth as he turns to the side, coughing it up out of his lungs as Seldan's prayers knit a badly broken form back together. He clings to his husband, holding him tight as just shakes, attempting to get his stolen breath back. "I... hate... demons..." he manages to wheeze…

Your actions have saved the village, though much of it is burning to the ground even as you heal yourselves of the damage done by the balors. The last explosion destroyed at least two homes in the process, and yet most of the villagers that remained have fled. Only those that remain are dead, dying, or trapped in the flaming houses unable to escape for fear of the demons rampaging outside as well as the flames consuming their homes.

In short... your work is not yet done.

-End

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