Kite Where We Want Them

## Synopsis

In Season 2, Chapter 15: Kite Where We Want Them, Safira's standoff with the mighty Girallon lasted only but a moment as the creature hurdled forward with four fists cocked.  She was quick enough to land a glancing blow, but the ferocity of the counterattack that followed sent her spiraling into the spiritual abyss – and before we ever saw her hit the ground, she had vanished.

This was Erland's cue to spring into action – vacating his concealed position to make a ruckus and sprint for the house that currently housed the Wild Ordnance bow. Not wanting to risk giving the Girallon an opportunity to strike, Erland used his Tree Stride ability to vault himself forward – ensuring that even at its maximum speed, the beast would stay out of reach.

While the others quietly trailed behind, Safira reappeared beside her weapon and found an advantageous spot that looked down an open corridor between the trees. Far-off sounds of shouts and snapping branches were getting closer, and in response she carefully drew her bow knowing what was at stake both for her training and for the group's safety.

Moments later the distant outline of Erland – running as fast as she'd ever seen – was followed by a great simian shadow, but perhaps the pressure of the moment got to Safira… who even with two arrows and the fortune bestowed by the lost souls of the Ebbwoods could not land a decisive shot.

The backup plan was provided by Orba, popping in on the heels of using an Expeditious Retreat scroll to get in range to cast Slow, which restricted the Girallon's movement enough for us to go on the offensive.  Suddenly everything was finding its mark, including Graven's Guiding Bolt that not only packed a powerful radiant punch – but set up for Safira to land the killing blow and solidify the spiritual bond.

With Terminal Rebound now a part of her arsenal, it was time to say an overdue farewell to the forest and instead head for the mountains.  After saddling up and returning to the northbound road, we stopped briefly to lick our wounds and spotted a caravan of travelers – or possibly merchants – who were making camp for the evening.

We didn't want to get mixed up in something that would delay us further, but as we briskly rode by they only had a passing warning about trouble to the east – two spellcasters of orcish blood locked in a duel of sorts.  From a vague description we had some theories about who they might be, but with our current obligations it wasn't something we could investigate further – at least not now.

The caravan's leader, Eos, also had some useful trinkets for sale, which – after a few close calls in the Ebbwoods – we were eager to purchase.  After making the exchange, we thanked him for his intel and continued forward with the night upon us to make the final push to the base of the mountains where we were set to meet our guide.

As promised, Praxis vo-Malga was stationed at a small stone archway – and though he was already dissatisfied with the late hour of our arrival, he could see that we were in desperate need of a full night's sleep.  Before that, however, he gave us the basics of our intended route: taking Ozryn's Pass to the eastern peaks and then ascending to the Skybowl – a large, flat area where the Coldlight Walker had last been spotted.

There was also an option to visit a small village in the Rapras to resupply, but Praxis warned that doing so might give the walker time to reach another, less forgiving area – so from here on we'd have to carefully consider the cost of any further deviations.

As we cycled through our watches, Erland took advantage of the privacy to divulge to Graven some additional details about what he'd learned from his fellow monk, Ortiz – and while it hardly clarified what was going on behind the scenes, it was a rare glimpse into Erland's mind and the belief that perhaps some of his past troubles were not entirely his fault.

It was then that Praxis woke, needing only a short nap after spending the day lying in wait – and as Erland set down to rest, the two goliaths shared an awkward stretch of silence.

## Trivia

* Natural one count: one natural one was rolled in this Chapter, by John.