Later Crater

## Synopsis

In Season 2, Chapter 14: Later, Crater, Graven cleared the platform of the ruins lift to make space for himself and Orba, who was still firing off beams of frost to keep the advancing Kobold swarms at bay. After making room, we boarded as quickly as possible – but the speed of our ascent left much to be desired, and we could tell that we'd be forced to dodge projectiles until the fog took us out of sight.

For a time, our fate was in the hands of Erland and Safira – who were holding their ground topside against additional scouts who were bringing more than just the standard spears and slings to the fold.  Using her significant range advantage and a concealed position, Safira dropped a half-dozen Kobolds who were foolish enough to poke their heads out – and things were feeling manageable until reinforcements arrived in the form of a Giant Boar.

A volley of direct hits neutralized the charging threat, but the attention it garnered allowed a few Kobold tinkerers to creep closer to the point where they could start hurling their harmful concoctions over the hillside.  After lighting Safira ablaze with Alchemist's Fire, our enemies revealed their most dangerous weapon yet: an oversized black powder bomb heading straight for the lift that had not yet reached the surface with our companions in tow.

Bringing down the bomb-carrier became priority number one and Erland emerged from his hiding spot to ensure it never got close enough to destroy the machinery, but as the fuse was already lit there was no avoiding the blast that followed – and with ringing ears Erland was knocked unconscious while exposed in the open battlefield.

With Safira guarding Erland's body, Orba and Graven arrived at the top just in time to whisper a rejuvenating Healing Word that allowed us to regroup and fend off the last remaining creatures – and with barely so much as a glance back we left the ruins behind us… hopefully for good.

Retracing our steps through the Ebbwoods we were met with little resistance, which gave us a chance to catch up on the absences of both Erland and Graven – though Erland was dismayed by what he thought were disappointing leads provided by his fellow Atonement's End disciple.

It was surely not the end of the discussion, but our bruised and battered party needed rest more than anything else – and since we didn't want to take a prolonged break before making our rendezvous at the base of the Rapra Mountains, we summoned the strength to push through until the evening.

A new wrinkle presented itself, however, when the ghostly child that Safira assisted on our way into the Ebbwoods returned and beckoned the wolf from her Animus bow. Leading us astray from our intended course, we arrived at a house that had served as shelter during the fall of Manasami – and the spiritual energy here was strong enough that it seemed like a suitable place to follow the instructions we'd received from Sarn Darrow.

With great hesitation given our depleted state, Safira recited the prayer and followed some Kobold markings to an area with warnings of a "big enemy ahead" where we found a cave belonging to a mighty six-limbed Girallon.  The plan was to, at first, let Safira face the beast alone – and then after she is successfully recalled, assist her in bringing it down so she can solidify her new ability within the Wild Ordnance weapon.

As it turned out, the Girallon had no quarrel with this approach – for after locking eyes with the half-elf trespassing in its territory, it rampaged forward beating its chest.

## Trivia

* Natural one count: three natural ones were rolled in this Chapter, by John.