Dramatis Personae:
Ayrkin (Andrew), Alexios (Jola-Absent), J'nan (Shelly-Absent), Jayden (Paul H), Thufark (Paul V), G'dzang (David), Rook (Chris), Mort (NPC)
When last we left our tepid adventurers, they had elected to rest just inside the entrance of the Necropolis before setting off to return to the dwarven dirigible. Resting went without trouble.
In recognition that Spirewall was infested with the troops of Minh, the party decided that the safest course was to leave after dark and fly the party out. The limited duration of the fly spells posed a problem as the enemy troops extended beyond the distance that could be flown during the spell's duration. G'dzang sent his familiar Cardilex out to scout and found a lightly patrolled route. At sunset, the party flew as far as possible and then - with the timely assistance of a silence spell from Jayden while passing an enemy encampment - made it safely beyond the enemy troops and, after a day of travel, to the concealed dirigible.
All went well with the dirigible flight until Ayrkin sighted the approach of three of Perimal's blue women. Knowing the dirigible was vulnerable, the dwarves began a quick descent while the party readied themselves for the attack. Ayrkin cast a fly spell on Thufark and Alexios and Ayrkin readied crossbows armed with black metal cross bolts lent by Thufark. Rook cast a multi-missile spell on each of their weapons.
Events happened quickly. As Ayrkin and Alexios loosed their crossbow bolts - with limited effect - the blue women blasted the dirigible opening a huge rent and sending it plummeting towards the ground 100' below. Thufark flew out to engage the blue women and Ayrkin called for everyone else to gather around him as he cast a feather fall and leapt out of the vehicle.
Rook was knocked out of the feather fall but managed to somewhat arrest his fall by falling through a conifer, making it to the ground with little injury. Gdzang threw a desperate web spell as an ersatz safety net managing to arrest himself at the cost of entanglement. Alexios….was not so lucky.
While his fall was arrested by the feather fall, the dirigible continued to fall at normal place and a glancing blow by it threw him (as well as the hapless dwarves) too far from the feather fall's effect. He struck, hard, and in so striking ruptured the flame gun and one of the acid lozenges he was carrying. The results were unpleasant as his right arm was burnt away and his leg was soaked in acid. Luckily, Jayden was able to heal him in time to prevent his death.
A wild melee ensued with the results touch and go. Thufark held his own but was doing relatively limited damage to his opponent. Rook transformed himself into a replica of one of the blue women to avail himself of their flying ability and backstabbed one. Mort inflicted her usual impressive damage but was hard pressed by her opponent. With the aid of a Tuley's cast by G'dzang - who had eventually extricated herself from her web - Ayrkin waded in wielding his flaming sword.
The battle hung in the balance when a bow shot from J'nan struck a canister aboard the stricken dirigible causing a huge explosion throwing both Ayrkin and his opponent through the air. Both Ayrkin and his opponent recovered but the blue woman's energy armor fell causing her to begin a withdrawal. Ayrkin finally slew his opponent leaving a single blue woman—a woman inexplicably wielding Rook's sword.
Thinking that the blue woman had slain Rook and stolen his sword, Ayrkin attacked this last opponent, dealing a solid blow before Rook identified himself and thus arresting Ayrkin's attack.
Meeting ends.
