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Zyf's Journal Part 20
This is chapter 20 of the Journals of Zyf, devoted of Myn
Fog and Shadows of the Past!
The winds propelled him forward, but d’Breezy knew he had to go faster still if he was going to save his master, Quintain. Even now, the bad finger wigglers could be re-entering the cave and casting more devastating magic on his poor weakened master and the human with the flying horse-bird! d’Breezy hated leaving but there was no way he could defeat so many finger wigglers by himself. He needed help. He needed the others. He needed Zyf, devoted of Myn.
Miles away, Zyf was regaling Lord Darrien‘s household staff with some tales of his adventures in the northern Wyldlands restoring the sun to its place in the sky when suddenly d’Breezy flew into the room.
“Zyf! Come quick! Need helps!” And with that, d’Breezy collapsed from exhaustion.
“d’Breezy!? What, ho?” Zyf hurried to the fragile air mephit’s side and cast a minor healing spell reviving it instantly.
“Hurries! Quintain and Shiny Man is trapped by bad finger wigglers! Need helps! Zyf rescues them, yes?”
“Yes, of course,” said the heroic dwarf squaring his mighty shoulders and turning to the paladin’s major domo, “You!” he ordered, ‘Fetch horses and a guide. We ride at once! Talons Assemble!’
Hours later, d’Breezy had guided the party to the area where Quintain and Darrien were imprisoned. The ride took longer than expected, but the time had gone quickly as the party discussed possible courses of action.
“There,” said d’Breezy pointing up a small rise, “we went there.”
“Excellent,” said Zyf, ‘go scout the area with Emma and report back to us what you see.’
“Two, maybe t’ree casters up there boyo,” said Flann after the two had moved off. “At least, based on what dat little flyin’ fella said. Oi figger dere’s a coupla swords along wit ‘em, maybe more’n a couple.”
“Smuj will protect you, Flann,” said Smuj cracking his knuckles and unsuccessfully keeping the lopsided grin off his face as he anticipated the battle soon to come.
“I have a plan for the casters,” said Zyf, “I’ll make Smuj Fly and then cast Silence on him. He can then charge the casters and ruin their day. That’ll leave you to blast the swords with your…” (punch) “What the hell was that, Flann!?”
“Methinks dere’s anudder sorceror in the area,” said Flann by way of apology, “Oi can feel his res’nance ticklin’ me from here.”
d’Breezy soon returned without Emma. “The Lady stayed. We seen this many,” and he held up two slender fingers. “The Lady waits for you.”
“Let’s get going, gents. Smuj, drop me once we get past the lip there,” said Zyf pointing to the crest of the short rise above.
(BULL’S STRENGTH) – Zyf → Smuj
(MAGE ARMOR) – Flann → Flann
(BEAR’S ENDURANCE) – Zyf → Smuj
(SHIELD) – Flann → Flann
(FLY) – Zyf → Smuj
(FLY) – Flann → Flann
“Ready Flann?” asked Zyf.
“Aye.”
(SILENCE) — Zyf → Smuj
The sudden loss of hearing was mildly disconcerting, but the teammates had planned well for this fight. Smuj picked up Zyf, and the three flew towards the caves. Coming over the rise, Zyf saw two figures gathered around a small campfire as well as two more up on the far side of the ravine and then Smuj dropped him and continued on to the nearer pair. Smuj’s fiery spear flashed while arrows whistled from the side of a tall boulder. The unarmored foe fell after Smuj’s mighty blow but the armored humanoid drew his weapon as he clutched at his wounds. A fireball exploded on the two standing off to the side and they fell, dead. Zyf charged the fighter.
A magical fog arose from the center of the tiny ravine and Smuj flew off toward the far side of the tiny ravine spying yet another pair of casters as a quartet of armored humanoids advanced from the area above the two burned by Flann’s fire ball. Smuj fell out of the sky as he hit a null magic zone surrounding the pair. Flann, realizing what it was, scampered away flying as fast as he could, but not before launching another fireball at the foursome advancing on the stoic dwarf. Emma shot at the two protected wizards while Zyf finished off the wounded swordsman.
Meanwhile, Darrien’s squire, Samuel, charged the remaining brawlers as the evil cleric cast a spell of holding on Smuj rendering him impotent for the nonce. Always quick with her bow, Emma targeted the cleric and peppered him with arrows. Flann sent an acid ball towards the follower of Tiamat but another caster appeared up on the ledge and countered it. Zyf moved toward the rocks below Emma to reassess the situation and cast fly upon himself. One of the two wizards protected by the null magic sphere stepped out and sent magic missiles at the mighty dwarf severely annoying him.
The cleric of Tiamat cast another hold spell; this time on Emma then leaped off the wall and advanced on his prone comrade at the fire. Flann sent a battery of magic missiles his way but they were also countered. Zyf brought forth the power of Myn and cast holy flames on the evil cleric totally ruining his afternoon as his cloak and robes smoldered in the aftermath. Meanwhile, Samuel had finished off the sell swords and advanced on the smoking cleric. The wizard jumped off the wall and cast a defensive blink spell on himself making him very difficult to hit.
Zyf cared not and prepared a particularly nasty spell that he hadn’t cast before but had learned from his reincarnated friend, Dannis. Advancing on the blinking wizard, Zyf timed his touch perfectly and imbued him with virulent neurotoxin killing him instantly. Samuel attacked the cleric and had him on the ropes when Emma recovered from her hold spell and continued shooting him with her mystical bow.
Flann cranked his crossbow realizing that sometimes the old fashioned way worked just fine versus casters. Smuj also recovered and flew up the cliff face above the casters protected by the null magic shield crashing into them with his spear a’blazin’.
In just a few minutes, the fight was ended and the Talon’s re-grouped outside the cave mouth. The entrance was blocked by many layers of stone so they made camp while Emma scouted the nearby area for any survivors of the fracas.
The next day, Zyf cast a minor spell and opened the cave freeing Lord Darrien, who was now beholden to the mighty cleric, and Quintain, who was as dumb as a lizard.
For a more complete (accurate) telling of this tale, go here!
Or, just go here and see them all.
