Tombs of Scoria: Episode 87

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== Synopsis ==
The Brothers prepare for the final confrontation with Scoria. Mistrya has collapsed, with no semblance of any social order remaining; the elves are fleeing Arcadia. As Anton and Imrik are preparing oils and scrolls for the battle with Scoria, Anton detects Scoria flying far away from her lair, down the eastern coast of Arcadia. The Brothers and Shine prepare to defend in the case of an attack by Scoria, following her into the night. Imrik rests in Suulwikk, unable to follow, as Scoria heads towards Bon'Dundisyer. Anton, Tyrael, and Shine engage Scoria in combat as she arrives to torch the city below, with Tyrael leaping atop Scoria and stabbing her with Ifan. Though Tyrael wounds Scoria considerably, she teleports away to an unknown location, taking Tyrael with her.
==Recap==
===Preparing for the End===
The Brothers are at Wikkthronrarenta, recovering from their victory over Mistrya. The Brothers are updated on the gathered intel from Mistrya: Scoria’s wizard, Balaerius, is a physically powerful man who wields a number of high-level, lethal spells: , , , and among them. Scoria has been seen active with a number of spells: , , . 
King Guilder was not trusted with the location of Scoria’s secret lair entrance or any weaknesses Scoria might have. Balaerius was tracking The Brothers location and communicating it via sending boards, one of which is in the room he died in. There are Crownhold spies in the Wikkthronrarenta castle, who they are is unknown. The elves have retreated almost entirely from Arcadia. Tyrael takes time to update himself on the situation on the ground in Mistrya. Mistrya has completely collapsed, with no semblance of any social order. The Mistryans have attempted to flee, with many falling victim to extrajudicial killings.
Imrik hands Anton hair from Archmage of Mistrya to gather information with .
Tyrael and The Queen discuss why it is Scoria remains with the situation turned against her completely. She muses that with Scoria able to easily flee and with Mistrya gone, Scoria may simply view Arcadia as her home. Tyrael spends some time with Shine, giving her a hug and thanking her for her service in the defense of Drekis. Shine assures Tyrael that she swore an oath. Shine believes she and Scoria are the last dragons in Arcadia. No answer from . 
Anton makes Oils of Slipperiness while Imrik, who was out creating Teleport stations, realizes he needs to be creating Scrolls of Fire Protection and returns home. Imrik creates one Scroll of Fire Protection and gives it to Anton. 
A few days later, while Anton is preparing more Oils of Slipperiness, Anton detects Scoria has left her lair and is flying over the Ironbark Grove, the farthest he has ever detected her from Dragon Peak. He alerts Tyrael, the Queen, and Drekis High Command of Scoria’s movements. Knowing Imrik’s scroll can be ruined with even the smallest of interruptions, Anton, Tyrael, and Shine leave without Imrik for Bon' Theris, where Scoria could be headed next. 
The trio arrives at Bon' Theris, where the town is alive and buzzing with gossip over their arrival. Anton detects Scoria, and feels her flying over the South Vodan Plane. Anton enlists the help of Arc Lydia, the Archmage of Bon’Theris, to scry on Imrik in hopes of alerting him. Imrik detects the scrying but decides to continue his work.
Eventually, Shine to Imrik and interrupts his scroll-making, letting him know Scoria is close. Imrik to the teleportation stand in Bon' Theris and is updated on the situation. Hours pass as Anton continues tracking Scoria, until he eventually detects Scoria flying over the ocean. Imrik casts , and the Brothers and Shine fly out along the coast to mirror Scoria’s movements. The party rides hard into the cold winter night as Scoria flies further down the coast.
Eventually, morning dawns and the party stops for a break as the duration of Imrik’s spectral steed begins to run out. The Brothers stop in Suulwikk, where Anton Imrik. Eventually, Anton detects that Scoria has turned, facing inland, and is headed towards Bon' Dundisyer. Anton, Tyrael, and Shine decide to meet Scoria’s arrival in a show of force. Anton leaves Imrik a note stating that they have left for Bon' Dundisyer to protect the city. 
=== The Defense of Bon' Dundisyer ===
Tyrael, Anton, and Shine await Scoria's arrival in Bon' Dundisyer. Time passes uneventfully, until suddenly, Scoria opens up unseen with her fire breath, torching the city below while also remaining after the fact. Tyrael casts the Scroll of Fire Protection, and deploys an Ioun stone that protects against spells up to Fourth Level. Anton casts . 
Tyrael, Anton, and Shine take off to confront Scoria as two emerge, burning the city below. Imrik wakes up and scries on Bon' Dundisyer, seeing it in flames. He looks for a multi-story building but is unable to locate one. He considers , but thinks the risk of death is too great, and goes back to memorizing spells.
=== Combat Start: The Brothers and Shine vs. Scoria and Balaerius ===
Round 1
Anton casts , summoning a swarm of bats to attack and echo-locate Scoria. The bats attempt to attack Scoria, but are all driven off by the dragonfear. 
 burst forth from an unseen source towards Shine, who resists all but two of the missiles, which deal 6 damage to her and destroy 2 charges of her Stoneskin. The Brothers immediately suspect Scoria’s Wizard, Balaerius, is riding atop Scoria.
Shine and Scoria clash, biting and clawing each other, destroying several charges of each other’s Stoneskin. Both dragons prepare to break away from each other to avoid crashing into the ground.
As the two dragons clash, Tyrael, wielding Ifan, attempts to grab hold of Scoria and onto her. He successfully holds on to one of Scoria’s back spines. Despite Scoria’s Stoneskin, Tyrael slices through Scoria’s scales, as Ifan penetrates her Stoneskin, dealing 15. Tyrael stabs again, dealing 14, destroying charges of Stoneskin with each strike. For the first time in a long time, Scoria is wounded as her blood erupts over Tyrael's hands.
Round 2
Anton attempts to cast at Scoria, but Scoria resists the spell. 
Tyrael makes his first attack of the Round with Ifan, dealing 15 to Scoria, destroying another charge of Stoneskin. 
Scoria s away, attempting to bring Tyrael with her. Tyrael fails his save and is Teleported away with Scoria. 
Scoria has suffered 44 points of damage with roughly 3/4 of her HP remaining. Tyrael has his second attack for the end of the Round, but Scoria's rider is alive, and the destination of Scoria’s Teleport is yet unknown.
Category:Tombs of Scoria Episodes