[Alliance] Chapter Five: Session Eighty-Five
Appearing Characters: Aquaclease, Dagran Thaurissan I, Elissa Cross, Fineous Darkvire, Gilveradin Windrunner, Golemagg, Hjalmar Anvilmar, Hydraxis, Liiraluma, Magmadar, Reginald Windsor, Samia Inkling, Thargas Anvilmar, Uther Menethil, Velameestra Windrunner, Victor Prestor, Voone
December 5th
The party approached the prisoners, and Vel shifted down into a visage-like humanoid form to check on Victor. He asked what happened, as he remembered that he and Samia had gone out and their escorts had incarcerated them. However, he couldn’t remember what happened after they were brought before the cultists.
Vel explained the date was December 5th, and that they had been held in a binding circle, but the cultists were dealt with and their attempt at a trap had failed.
He looked beyond Vel at the remains of the battlefield.
Windsor offered a salute.
Samia blinked.
Windsor laughed and said it wasn’t normal protocol but he would wrestle anything from the jaws of defeat, even if they were made of molten magma.
One of the dwarves was processing the date, and apparently there was a variety of lengths of time, between several weeks to nearly a year for one of them. One of the dwarves with a bald top of his head and a messy ponytail called for them to calm down, as panicking was helping no one. He stepped forward.
The dwarf rolled his shoulder.
He looked over at another dwarf that was a bit younger than him, but they looked to be related.
He looked at the group with a smile.
He looked at the rest of the dwarves and demanded to know who could still hold their own. The dwarves were checking each other and a few of the dwarves were ultimately willing to fight. Gil warned them that the reinforcements coming in were trolls, and one of the dwarves willing to fight promptly said he was out.
Thargas said that anyone that didn’t want to fight alongside trolls could help the evacuation team. Gil warned Voone that they had recovered some Ironforge and Wildhammer dwarves that would be their allies, and Voone assured him that their axes would find purchase in the right “shorties”.
As the group then turned to regard Hydraxis, who was waiting patiently for them to check on their allies.
He looked at them.
He cleared his throat.
Gil regarded Hydraxis and said he believed he could help.
He conjured his magic and used [Mass Heal] as a small sun manifested in his hand and a ray of healing magic fell upon the elemental duke. The remainder of the magic fell over Windsor and Uther, healing them as well.
The light on Hydraxis’s essence expanded and grew into a much larger water elemental.
He looked down at the group.
He held a hand over the group.
A current of water washed over them, protecting them against the worst effects of the volcanic climate. He then conjured a small bead of water and floated it in front of Vel, who took it.
He then conjured forth a contingent of water elementals, including a powerful feminine-sounding elemental he stated was named Aquaclease. She was noted to be the Spear of Neptulon, and she regarded the group of mortals before her.
At that moment, Vel caught movement out of the corner of her eye. As she glanced over, she saw Emperor Dagran Thaurissan standing on the defeated fire elemental that the prisoners were on originally. He had Ironfoe in his hand, and he held it over his head. A blaze of conflagration consumed the body of Loregrain, and one of the runes on the hammer began to glow.
Thaurissan turned away and gripped a molten hearthstone. He vanished in a conflagration as quickly as he arrived.
Thargas proclaimed that if he wanted a fight, they’d get one, and his brother agreed as the dwarves rallied a shout of “For Khaz Modan”.
Hydraxis said that he could offer them a path to the molten keep across the lake of lava, and Windsor said that those who were being evacuated needed an escort. Samia was assigned to help them out, and she promised she would inform them when they made it to safety. She assured the prisoners they were in good hands.
The dwarves were able to scrounge some weapons and armor from various cultists, and the groups set off. Luma also quickly cast [Prayer of Healing] over the group so they could shore up some of their injuries.
Hydraxis floated ahead of the group as they reached the edge of the lava.
He held up his hand, and a massive sword made of pure water manifested in it. He raised the blade and made a wide swing that slashed over the laval. An arc of water shot across the magma and hardened a path of cooled magma.
They headed across the path that had been created, and the magma spouts and oppressive heat was completely ineffective against the boon Hydraxis had given them. A contingent of salamanders erupted from the lava as they grew closer. Vel sensed the boundary between the plane thin even further, and she knew that ghosts could no longer exist on the ethereal plane in the area.
Hydraxis warned the group the forces were beginning to amass, and he called to the mortals they would be right behind them as they focused on fighting back the Firelord’s forces. Vel took her draconic guise again and released a blast of deathfrost across the contingent of forces in front of them. Gil and Luma fired sniper shots at range while Uther offered them direct cover, and Elissa, Victor, and Windsor focused on closer enemies.
They managed to push through to the entrance of the fortress, which appeared to be a marriage of Firelands and Dark Iron architecture. Dark Iron dwarves had erected barricades and were attempting to raise the drawbridge, but Uther slammed into one of the chains and broke it, forcing the bridge to slam into the ground again.
At that moment, roaring through the sky, was a troll battle cry. A few dozen Smolderthorn warriors flew down from the ceiling and started to rain their weapons upon the Dark Iron contingent. Voone created a blast wave at the point of his impact, sending dwarves flying, and he released a shattering shockwave from his guitar and then swung it around like an axe.
They heard a loud rumbling in the distance, and stepping from a massive gate with the runes of Ragnaros emblazoned around it, was a huge molten giant. His body was a network of cracked rocks that seeped magma, and he was holding a chain in each hand massive two-headed corehounds were straining against.
He dropped the chains, and the hounds came surging forward. Windsor moved to watch the group’s back and he called for them to handle “tiny”, while Victor and Elissa went and distracted another massive beast in the courtyard of Mortal’s Demise.
A Dark Iron dwarf also stepped in, and he also seemed to be wearing a hotsuit.
He chuckled.
Some of the Dark Iron machinery started to move and shift, and missive pillars erupted from the ground. A small construct stepped out in front of him, ready to defend.
Luma snorted.
Gil began to fire off arrows of cold energy, and a core hound ate the first arrow that was fired.
The second shot hit the corehound straight in the mouth, as did the third. The corehound was already heavily wounded. He then teleported up onto the rocks.
Vel screeched out a banshee-like scream and rushed at Golemagg the Incinerator. He rolled up into a ball to deflect her claws, and she hissed and whipped her tail around, instead killing the corehound that Gil had weakened.
Golemagg ordered his corehounds to charge the group as he attempted to slam against Vel, but he was unable to land a good hit. The corehound closest to her attempted to bite her as well, but it was also deflected away.
Luma watched as the Omnotron Defense System activated and lights began to flash. It stated Electron and Magmatron were online, and two constructs stepped into the fray.
The ambient temperature began to briefly rise even higher, and Elissa ran in with her sword scintillating with magic and drove it into the corehound that closed closest to Gil.
Electron teleported closer to Vel and raised its hand, which became a cannon that exploded into a lightning blast that seared over her body.
It then moved to punch her, but she was able to turn the blow aside. Magmatron fired a blast of fire at Uther, but he blocked it with his shield.
A corehound used its magma breath at Vel, but she was also able to largely evade as the other corehounds charged for the rest of the party.
Fineous Darkvire reached into his suit and two generators of magma on his back started to overclock as he used [Haste] and then started to take shots at Gil with a dark iron rifle.
The corehounds performed a flanking maneuver on Uther as one used its magma breath and the other snapped at him. The second one managed to briefly clamp down on his arm. Luma asked Uther if he was alright if they left him.
Luma used [Far Step] and teleported closer to Electron. They were able to fry Electron’s circuits and caused it go haywire.
Uther slammed his hammer into one of the corehounds. Vel screeched again as she used her terrifying presence and continued to focus on Golemagg. Gil killed off the two corehounds on Uther as he used [Swift Quiver], and he ducked back behind cover.
The defense system activated again, and two more constructs, Toxitron and Arcanotron, activated.
He turned into a canon that launched a bomb through the air that exploded caustic spray over Gil and Uther. The acid started to eat away at Uther’s clothing.
Magmatron used its rocket boots to propel itself on top of a rock formation, and it launched a fire projectile into the middle of the toxic cloud. It set off a series of explosions that blasted Gil from his perch and across the ground where he landed in a smoking heap behind Luma.
He suddenly felt some of the power of the bronze flight discorporate him, and then he reappeared where he was before the explosion. He tried to brace himself more, but was sent flying again.
Luma teleported up onto a rock formation and took aim at Fineous. They fired, but the mechanical defender interceded and gave Fineous a chance to erect a [Shield] spell.
He raised his gun at Electron and fired, which did damage to the construct, but it shook the construct out of the turned effect.
Luma flashed their middle finger at him, and Fineous backed up and fired at the draenei, but it went wide. The iron defender charged right up at Luma. Luma raised their hoof and put it in the construct’s face to keep it away.
Golemagg’s body started to superheat and he lashed his chains around Vel. The dragon screeched as the giant’s body erupted with waves of heat.
The corehound launched at her, but as the dragon flailed it was cast aside.
Suddenly, they heard a deep howl that shook the very ground. Golemagg had a brief look of fear as bright glowing eyes leaped from the shadowed parts of the cavern. A massive corehound landed on the large chain, its maw dripping with magma that chewed through the links of the chain.
Magmadar, the Core Hound Alpha, landed right behind Uther and howled again. The slain core hounds began to stir. Gil could understand what it was saying as it promised Uther he would burn for raising his hand against his children.
A sudden surge of radiant energy erupted around Uther as he used [Holy Wrath] and promptly knocked one of the resurrected core hounds to the ground.
Arcanotron fired an arcane projectile at Vel, and she felt the magic scintillate across her form. She resisted, preventing the effect from tearing magic from her. Electron and Toxitron also focused entirely on her as she was barraged with a slew of lightning and acid.
Magmadar continued to focus on Uther with another wave of magma, and one of the core hounds used its magma breath and it rapidly cooled over the skeletal dragon, restraining her.
Magmadar began to superheat and entered a frenzy as he moved to charge through the ground, but Uther got a fearsome blow on the massive core hound. He saw recognition in the eye of the core hound, it seemed that the weapon Uther was wielding against the core hound had been wielded against it before.
It evaded the severest parts of the hit as it snapped its jaws at Gil and then redirected back at Uther with a fearsome bite. Thorns erupted between Gil and the core hound, which jabbed the hound in the face.
Magmadar released a terrifying howl, but the ability was ineffective.
Vel shrieked as she used [Misty Step] to escape the magma and she whirled around and released her breath weapon on Golemagg and the two constructs that had started to dogpile her. She then launched herself up into the air and dug her claws into the wall, giving her a chance to reassess the battlefield and center herself after the assault.
Golemagg’s eyes followed her, and he shouted at Fineous.
However, one of the core hounds continued to attack Gil, and its fangs clamped down on the Demon Soul. It pulled, and the core hound began to rip the amulet from his neck. However, Gil grabbed it, and there was a pulse from the Demon Soul.
He started to see a battle that was not taking place in the room. Magmadar was there, in some ancient battle in history. His mind was reeling as he struggled to get his senses back in order.
There was a sudden pulse of magic from Omnotron, and Luma was sent reeling away from Arcanotron.
At that moment, a glyph of warding exploded underneath Vel, and she roared in pain as she shuffled her position.
Uther managed to finish off the two smaller core hounds and he turned his focus back to Magmadar. The massive core hound roared and turned his attention entirely on Uther.
Arcanotron fired an arcane projectile at Vel, and then moved to stomp on Luma.
Magmadar howled again, and once more the core hounds resurrected. Gil teleported back up to his perch on the rock formation, away from the death pile of the core hounds. He raised his bow and released a flurry of shots into Magmadar.
Magmatron looked over at Vel and started to march forward. He fired a blast of magma up at her, and it exploded near the frostwyrm. Golemagg hurled two rocks up at Vel, and one managed to clip her with them.
Luma got to their hooves and looked down at the iron defender that had been cast from the rock formation with them. They decided to undo the damage of the fall, and the iron defender’s eyes lit up.
Luma, at that point, triggered their channel divinity again, and another EMP activated across the constructs. Luma lifted the iron defender up by the head and spun the panel off the back of its head. They activated its servos and flushed power into it, which completely overwrote its programming as its eyes turned magenta.
Meanwhile the other constructs were shouting out error codes as they started to go haywire, and both Luma and the iron defender flipped Finneous off.
A core hound tried to bite at Gil, but he was able to avoid the snaps as the constructs all started to flee the scene calling out error codes.
He hopped down and turned into portable cover.
The defender ended the warding bond he had on Finneous.
The dwarf scrambled behind Golemagg and shot at Arcanotron, knocking it out of its haywire state.
Vel launched herself off the wall and landed over Luma with a roar as she released another deathfrost breath over Arcanotron, Golemagg, and Finneous. Finneous was promptly knocked into an addled state, losing the concentration on his haste due to the necrotic draining off the breath, and she rent her claws through Arcanotron.
Magmatron started to heat up the arena again as the Arcanotron was overclocked. It fired its canon at Vel, but she was once more able to resist the draining effect of the magic.
The Arcanotron moved back and Golemagg rushed forward and used his eruption ability again. Vel flared her wings around as she used song of defense and completely deflected the damage aside. Golemagg looked at her with an angry growl of frustration as he realized she was completely unaffected.
Meanwhile, Gil used [Conjure Volley]] it rained a barrage of arrows over the core hounds and constructs. Gil then lined up a shot on the core hound alpha. Magmadar staggered and roared, but with every shot, he froze the core hound’s body and then it froze completely, dead, as it shattered.
Luma teleported away from Golemagg and ducked behind some cover as they lined a shot up on Arcanotron. Lightning launched off the construct and slammed into Golemagg, and then back to Arcanotron. The construct exploded as it was overloaded.
Core hounds started to scramble up to bite at Gil as the Dark Iron Defender whirred over to Finneous.
Uther slammed his hammer into a core hound, and carried it around to the other nearby as he shield bashed it back at Electron. He swung again, successfully destroying the core hound and leaving Electron critically damaged as it started to spark and break apart. Electron fired its cannon point blank at Uther, and it slammed into the ground.
The constructs seemed to be falling apart as they were trying to scramble.
Vel and Golemagg were continuing to fight it out as Golemagg curled up into a tight ball and Vel was rending into his armored body, tearing off chunks of magma as she did. Gil finished off the last two core hounds and then Electron. The Dark Iron Defender grappled Fineous.
The construct put Fineous into a headlock.
The construct covered his mouth and crushed the architect’s weapon. Fineous shoved the construct’s hand off.
The group agreed, and Fineous ordered order 66, which directed the weapon system at Golemagg.
He started to slam the ground as he cast [Earthquake], but Vel managed to counter the spell. Vel snarled.
Magmatron apologized to Luma for punching them, and ran around to punch Golemagg instead. Fineous said if they released him, he’d help, and Luma trained their scope on them and told them to go ahead. Fineous readied his [Haste] contraption as he threw a pad on the ground.
Uther charged forward and the haste spell activated as he reached it. He rushed the rest of the way through to Golemagg, and he raised his hammer. He slammed his hammer into Golemagg three times, and Luma materialized on the rock formation and lined up a shot. The blast chunked into the giant, and as he swung around at Vel, she dodged the blow and opened her jaws, releasing a deathfrost breath point blank that rapidly cooled his body and he crumbled into ruin.
