We Have To Kill Alaerith!?

**We Have To Kill Alaerith!?** is the fifty fourth episode of *Another Bad Side Quest*. The party learn more about Alaerith and chase after him.

## We Have To Kill Alaerith!?

### **Synopsis**

**Pre-Show Shenanigans**

* No Ian as he is on vacation, we miss you! Zach will be piloting RX for tonight!
* Haelley with a fun announcement - Mak is leading Ian, Haelley and Zach through an all new adventure in *Mist Connections*. Using the *City of Mist RPG* rule set, enter a world where myths and legends come to life!
* Reminder, new episodes of the *Well Versed* premieres every Friday!

### **Part One**

As Alaerith mentioned the underwater city of *Alaskari*, Sterling mentally recalled that there were two underwater cities along the edges of *Palamoa,* Alaskari north of *Vayilcor* and *Bilgehog* on the other south of the *Puhan Trading Company.* Sterling also recalled that several years ago an incident occurred in *Alaskari,* that not much of the city was left afterwards, but chose to remain quiet on the matter. Alaerith noted Sterling would be likely interested in that the underwater cities didn't have restrictions on magic as they weren't within the boundaries of the *Skorian Empire* and anyone could learn if they showed talent in it or just a desire to learn. Sterling asked if that was different to Alaerith or if he was one of the student and Alaerith noted he was a student, that he wasn't talented in it, but had a desire to learn and worked harder then the other students to achieve results. He noted two years later he suddenly felt his magic easier to use and at first thought his hard work paid off, but noted an unbearable itchiness that eventually revealed the blue scales across his skin. Alaerith stood up, cast *Disguise Self* to reveal the extent of the scales across his upper back and chest and added how his right eye changed eventually. Alaerith dropped *Disguise Self* as he said he tried to hide it at first, that it was eventually discovered, but unlike his worry of being feared he was instead celebrated and revered when he demonstrated lightning magic, which was unknown to them as something mortals could do, though he joked about how he had seen others do so in *Palamoa* since then.

When the Chieftain found out he and his family were brought before him and when he saw what Alaerith was capable of, declared a prophecy that *“the being with the sapphire scales would be the greatest champion, a defender of their home and people and a hero to rise above all other heroes”*. The Chieftain gave him a new last name befitting of his new destiny, Alaerith which came from the Draconic words *"Alae for bright"* and *"Rith for water"* and put together created the title of *“the ocean’s light”.* He also gave a second gift, the leviathan's fang, the necklace Alaerith wore which was passed from Vile’s son to Vile's son or Chieftain to Chieftain. Alaerith said he recieved other honors and celebrations and that his family were filled with pride, but noted he was never really told what he was supposed to do as this hero and just trained on his lightning magic.

Alaerith said one year later he was pulled out of school randomly, told something was coming and was put at the front of the city to defend it. He noted the last memory he had then was being hit by something and thrown to the ground, that he woke to the screams of those dying and those finding those they cared for dead and opening his eyes saw many bodies. Alaerith ran through the city, passing many bodies he recognized, that he eventually found a body he could barely recognize but knew it was his sister because she still wore her birthday gift around her neck and Alaerith pulled out the little red necklace many of the party had seen in passing. Alaerith added that there was a bigger one behind her which he knew was his father before he said when he made it home the only ones of his family remaining were his mother and elder sister, Deira.

Alaerith said that without even a chance to mourn the populace was gathered and he soon noticed he was surrounded on all sides. The Chieftain announced that 9,000 of the populace were dead, that less then 1000 survived and the people called him a failure at best and a fraud at worst and was to be punished for the destruction of their home and it's people. His first was Alaerith's meaning of his name was changed, as the Draconic words had multiple meanings, *"Alae also meant lightning"* and *"Rith for doom, destruction..."* and as Alaerith struggled with the last word showed the mark of ruin on his left hand to allude that it also meant *"ruin",* that he was now treated as his name now meant *“destroyer of light and lightning of ruin”*. Alaerith looked to his remaining family who turned away, with his mother also taking his name to show he had no place there, and as he tried to move to them was slapped by her to the ground. Alaerith's second punishment was to be banished from the city and their hope for the oceans as well and to wander forever. Alaerith tried to beg but before found a stone thrown at him, saw that it was from his sister, that a second soon came from his mother and as everyone also did in turn swam from Alaskari and didn’t look back.

When he was finally exhausted he realized he still had the necklace he was given, along with his sister’s necklace and the clothes on his back, although manically laughed that he didn't even have that now, and wanted to throw them away but couldn't. He eventually cried himself to sleep, but was when the first nightmare came, that he saw visions of the corpses sometimes unmoving and sometimes moving to blame him, that it was like 10,000 transformed Tabernacle's and after finding the nightmares came each time he slept chose to *Trance* from then to avoid them. Alaerith swam closer to the coast and unaware of the land and yet knowing the waters didn't welcome him. found a deep dark pocket in the ocean to stay for several years in, but when he turned 17 decided the only to give those back home peace was to not return and made his way on to the land. Alaerith noted he spent two months in the nearby forest, scared of nearly everything he saw as it was all strange and unusual and at the point of hunger found a farmer who let him work in exchange for a little food and a bed until the crop's season passed and left when he was 18. Alaerith said he was confused that for some reason he woke feeling happy that day, for the first time since he had left, and eventually bumped into a green person with a mask, Yashani.

Alaerith recalled when he heard the screams then with Yashani and being worried he would do nothing but screw it up told her wouldn't be able to do anything, but when Tabernacle dragged him there and he found out about the missing girl thought to his parted sister Xipha and how she wouldn’t want him to not try again, decided to try once more and failed again. Alaerith added that other things kept happening, from being banished for as second time and that when he heard of what Esmeria had done to Killian and Quincy, noting he was the one who kept the others from going to them, that seeing them reminded him of that day and first wondered what everyone was right. Alaerith added that it seemed like the only time the party was ever successful was in times of killing before noting they he literally got a mark on his hand, with the same meaning as his name, and how he was the odd one out, with no one’s color matching his own. Alaerith added that afterwards was the destruction of another city, that, while he didn't understand, somehow he was connected to Tabernacle's painful past and that at that point lost any way to push out the thoughts he had, except for drinking but added that too much made it worse.

Alaerith said things changed again when he was given a gift from Kaz and still didn't understand why, the anger from seeing Killian die that first time, the sadness when Seren departed from the group and even made another promise to help in something. He also spoke about how someone said they thought they were like him, noting it was past tense, how Ob said he was similar to him and how even after the party learned Ob was a mass murderer they still liked him so maybe Alaerith could be as well. Alaerith said he tried again in *Cessunaler* and screwed it all up with the first idea which cost Killian and Tabernacle their lives, with not even one day passing after Tab had said Alaerith was like a son to him and loved him, how not even being the Champion of the God of undeath could be saved by whatever curse Alaerith brought with him and manically laughed that the two of them were probably with his father cursing him. He added that he got the shield in an attempt to be targeted and that the shield became useless, that he asked for power in the fight with the hags to stop them, but couldn't save Bo in front of him just like Killian.

Alaerith reminded Quincy how they asked why he didn't leave and noted no where to go, that he originally thought to remain in *The Underdark* or any place to not cause any more harm until his long life was too much to endure anymore. Alaerith fiddled with himself as he noted that he got complacent, got used to having the warmth of people and food around him, but pointed out that multiple people had mentioned fate to him, not only Ob but the Skein Witch in *Qho’sovo* and Robert in the *Dusterburyn Lighthouse* who had said this groups’ meeting was preordained. Alaerith wondered if all the destruction that he had caused was fated as well or if the last words his people yelled at him had cursed him and caused his fate. Eventually, Alaerith said things wouldn't change, noted he knew he told gave them another lie from a beastie who should have been turned into a rug as Tabernacle said on their first meeting and quickly thanked them for putting up with him and apologized for everything before he ran out of the kitchen and cast *Expeditious Retreat* on himself, dropping *Ob’s Charm* and the *Ring of the Sandrunner* to the floor as he did. Without a moment to hesitate Quincy cast *Misty Step* to follow after him, though Sterling cast *Counterspell* to stop their first attempt.

Alaerith ran as he could to the garden, with Yashani on pace as she activated *Step of the Wind*. Quincy cast *Misty Step* and loaded a particular bullet into *Panache* as they ran to keep up, while Seren cast *Misty Step* to also follow. Kaz, noticing the dropped tokens picked them up before she activated *Sandslide* to drop into the sand and follow though at a slower pace, followed by Sterling and RX. Alaerith managed to get to the garden and as he started to cast *Polymorph* to take to the sky and part with them, Yashani tackled him but overshot her power causing the two to tumble forward past the garden beds and over the side of a steep hill. As the rest arrived in time to see them fall Sterling cast *Moment to Think* to try and theorized Alaerith was trying to run. Quincy levelled Panache in their direction and fired their *Negative Image* bullet to swap with Alaerith and let the others handle him, but unfortunately missed the timing, accidentally hit Yashani and swapped places with her. Seren, now with Yashani at his side, thought to cast *Banishment* on the two to keep them from going further down the hill, but noted they were much too far. Sterling sighed heavily, placed a hand on RX’s shoulder and cast *Dimension Door* to teleport them to the bottom of the hill in the hopes of catching them at the bottom. Kaz, still at the top of the cliff, sent Boris underground and with his impressive burrowing speed reached the tumbling pair, poked his head out and leapt on to Quincy's pant leg. Kaz then immediately cast *Swift Flight* on Quincy through Boris causing them to sprout spectral wings and Quincy managed to stop themself and Alaerith from tumbling and keeping a tight grip on him, landed them on a steady, mostly flat area about 150 feet from Sterling and RX. Back at the top, Seren asked Yashani if she wanted to go surfing before he dropped his shield and staff, retracted into his shell giving Yashani only a moment to wonder what was happening before she deftly caught the items and jumped on to Seren's shell as he began to slide down the hill.

Quincy hugged Alaerith in a death grip and asked him if he could just pretend for a moment that the group cared about him while he flinched hard in their grasp. Meanwhile at the bottom of the hill RX and Sterling heard an odd creaking noise and as they turned to look saw one large tree uprooted itself before it grabbed RX and ran off with him. Sterling screamed before he cast *Moment to Think,* racked his mind to understand what just happened and when it came up fruitless screamed again as time restarted itself. Quincy noticed the pine doom disappear deeper into the wooded swamp with RX in its grasp and activated *Ob's Charm* to tell the group RX was “tree-napped”, while Boris let go Quincy and bit on to Alaerith, who resisted the stench that Boris gave off not even aware of his presence in his mental state. Sterling ran after the pine doom in hopes to cast *Vortex Warp,* but unable to get a line of sight on RX to cast it instead activated *Ob's Charm*, told tell everyone to quit messing around, that RX was taken and this was too much.

Quincy asked Alaerith if there was anything he can do to get them closer to the pine doom that has RX and as Alaerith hesitated told him to look at him and that they believed in him. Seren and Yashani rocketed by as Seren’s shell slid down the slope and called out that he believed in Alaerith, too. Alaerith waited a few seconds before he cast *Misty Step* to get out of Quincy’s grasp, concerning them at first, then cast *Polymorph* to turn into a blue Giant Eagle, flew in the direction of RX. Quincy thought to follow after RX with a *Dimension Door* bullet and go on foot, but finding their view was obscured by trees, adjusted their aim and fired it towards Alaerith teleporting them also onto his back. Boris let go of Alaerith's leg, climbed on to his back with Quincy, waited until the two neared the tree that took RX, and Kaz cast *Wall of Fire* through him, which the pine doom failed to resist but chose to push through as the flames burned it and dropped *Wall of Fire* afterwards. Meanwhile, Sterling cast seeing he couldn't see RX to cast *Vortex Warp* instead cast *Decelerate* on the pine doom causing it's speed to cut in half. As the party closed in, Seren, Alaerith, Kaz, Sterling and Yashani noticed another pine doom in the distance, as well as a large portion of the swampy wood that appeared to rise up revealing a centaur like creature, made of plant material, with long clawed hands, eyes covered in flower petals and wings sprouting from its back.

### **Break!**

* This is going to be a doozy of a combat so buckle in!

### **Part Two**

Alaerith, with Quincy and Boris still on him, flew towards the pine doom holding RX, pecked it with his beak instantly becoming *Grappled* and *Restrained* on it's slime covered back, but failed to slash it with his talon. Yashani, seeing Alaerith stuck to the tree, ran to the edge of land the party was on, stopping short of the water lapping at the edges, activated a long range *Hand of Harm* on the same pine doom, then jumped over the edge of the water to the next bit of land. The large centaur creature *(Forest Emperor)* flew into the air, moved closer to the party landing near to Seren and Nubbi, turned to look at Alaerith, causing Alaerith’s eagle form to feel a pulse and hear in his inner ear a snarl followed by a voice that said

*“It’s eaten a heart! Kill, kill, kill it.”*

The Forest Emperor then activated *Toxic Nectar Spray* to fire a cone of acid from its eyes at Alaerith, Quincy, Boris, Yashani, RX and the pine doom, which Quincy managed to dodge most of, while Boris, RX, Alaerith and took the full brunt, of which Yashani's *Evasion* helped her avoid more, but Boris's form disappeared from the damage and Alaerith to drop *Polymorph* as the damage carried to his regular form and Quincy dropped to the ground to avoid being stuck to the sap of the tree with Alaerith.

Seren resisted the Forest Emperor's *Rattle* as it filled his ears realizing it originated from it's tail before he side-stepped, activated *Channel Divinity : Twilight Sanctuary* to cause his purple glow to blanket the area around him, then cast *Spiritual Weapon*, immediately attacked it with it and instructed Nubbi to disengage and run out of range. Kaz, seeing Boris disappear, screamed and cast *Fireball* behind the Forest Emperor, to keep her allies out of its radius, which took the full brunt of the flames. Sterling activated *Manifest Mind* to summon Tollanessa near him and Kaz, failed to cast *Resilient Sphere* around the Forest Emperor which dodges the spell, even as he used his reaction to cast *Silvery Barbs* to distract it, then put a little more distance between him and enemy. RX struggled against the hold of the pine doom tree but when Quincy called out to say they could help readied himself to free himself when they were done. Quincy loaded a *Hex* bullet into *Puncture,* fired it at the pine doom to give it disadvantage on strength checks while piercing and burning it with the bullet itself, then told RX to try to escape and RX used the readied chance to break free from it restraints.

The pine doom activated *Flurry of Pinecones* to unleash a volley of pine cones on everyone around but Kaz and Sterling, which Yashani, RX and Quincy managed to avoid most of, while Alaerith and Seren took the full brunt of the slashing projectiles. The second pine doom approached the party stopping near Yashani, then bludgeoned her twice out of his three slams leaving her *Grappled* and *Restrained*. Alaerith failed to resist the Forest Emperor's *Rattle* and was left *Frightened* by it and with the disappointment of his attempts to do something good for them only brought bad results again, combined with the relieved trauma of being stoned brought back by the pine cones and the voice in his head, warned the Forest Emperor that it didn't want any of this and, despite the current circumstances, was forceful enough to cause it to back pedal. Alaerith then focused on the pine doom he was still stuck to, cast *Dragon Roar* on it, but as *Vile's Fang* sparked yellow lightning midcast and crackled with electricity found that it looked like time slowed around him to a crawl.

Alaerith heard a voice say that he looked afraid and when Alaerith turns to look found he did so easily noticed he was no longer stuck to the tree, but soon saw his body was still stuck and he was separated from his body. Alaerith questioned if he was dead and as he continued to turn to the voice was face to face with an ancient blue dragon. The dragon corrected him that he wasn't dead, that he himself was dead for a long time and pointed out that he smelled afraid. Alaerith questioned if that was not to be expected, but the dragon scoffed and said someone with dragon’s blood should not be afraid of wood. Alaerith asked who the dragon was and the dragon told him long time ago he was known as Derithon. Alaerith started to politely greet him before noting he was confused at what was happening, citing that he had a very tiring day so far and Derithon said he was not happy with the way Alaerith had been misusing his power and doubted Oganon was happy either. As Alaerith noticed Derithon's eyes looked similar to his when changed to their dragonic form Derithon turned his head in the direction of an ancient bronze dragon that was behind him taking a nap. Derithon warned Alaerith not to make him wake Oganon up and when Alaerith assured him he wouldn't ask him to added that he's supposed to be the nice one. Alaerith said he wasn't sure what to ask but assumed that they were the ones his powers were drawn from and Derithon said they were and explained that the two dragons made up what was known as the Demi-God Vile.

Alaerith questioned that he must be hurt to the point of losing it a little and when Derithon asked what lost said a lot. Derithon asked what he didn't understand and Alaerith nervously fumbled that he was taught Vile looked a lot different than what they were saying, that he didn't know he could see them, why they could see him and was a bit much. Derithon flicked Alaerith on the forehead with one claw, told him he needed to understand this was the form they took, noting Oganon regularly changed a lot when he was alive, that what people assumed the creature known as "Vile" was was his sun Vain, the dragon eel that roamed the sea causing destruction. Derithon pointed to the Forest Emperor, told Alaerith that those creatures were only made by eating the heart of a dragon, that somewhere in the area was one of their kind dead, that it consumed them and wanted Alaerith to kill it, citing it had to die by any means and takes *"our"* blood. Alaerith questioned the use of “our blood” if it meant the two of them or him included and Derithon explained they lived on in him in small ways. Alaerith wondered if they thought he could truly make that happen and Derithon said Alaerith was one of the last wielders of draconic blood and in their name who else was better suited. Alaerith questioned if he would cause more damage to the forest or his *friend's* home and when Derithon said he didn't need to cause harm if he didn't wish to, but needed to have more volition then he had at the moment to control his magic just expressed that he just didn't want anything bad to happen to the group, Derithon told him he better hope he didn't as the vision faded and as Alaerith’s consciousness was returned to his body and time returned to normal, the pine doom took the full psychic and lightning energy of *Dragon Roar* and *Vile's Fang* and was left *Frightened*, though it couldn't move away as Alaerith was still *Restrained* on it's back.

Yashani, badly hurt and *Restrained* to the pine doom that attacked her, activated *Hand of Healing* on herself, attempted and managed to pull away from it's sap breaking from her restraints, hesitated before jumping back over the water and to Sterling, as the pine doom used it's reaction to slam her, while Quincy used their reaction to activate *Gambler's Taunt* to stop it and bring it's attention to them. The Forest Emperor bludgeoned Seren with two of it's three slams, as RX used his reaction to activate *Protective Field* to reduce the blow. Seren resisted the Forest Emperor's *Rattle* again as he rolled out his shoulders from the attacks, turned to the two pine dooms, activated *Metamagic : Twinned Spell* to cast *Banishment* on both of them causing them, along with the still *Restrained* Alaerith to be banished away out of the fight, then had his *Spiritual Weapon* attack the Forest Emperor and skirted around to the backside of it.

Kaz activated *Ob’s Charm* to tell Seren to hold strong, used her special connection with the charm to cast *Protection from Energy* on him to help him resist acid damage and moved closer to Quincy, as the Forest Emperor used it's reaction to strike her with it's tail. Sterling activated *Ob's Charm* to ask Seren if he needed help but when Seren told him to do whatever he thought was best uncharacteristically rushed the Forest Emperor, pulled out the the *Basilisk’s Dagger* taken from Esmeria's body, cast *Anticipate Weakness* to give himself advantage in piercing it, but on seeing it didn't turn to assume ran away as the Forest Emperor creature activated it's *Legendary Action* to strike him back with it's tail. RX activated *Psi-Powered Leap* to launch himself over the field to join the others, slashed the Forest Emperor once with his two strikes from *Passus* while activating *Psionic Strike* to empower the attack, then activated *Action Surge*, slashed it with one of his two strikes again and activated *Psionic Strike* to empower the attack again. The Forest Emperor activated a *Legendary Action*, missed slashing Seren with it's *Acidic Claw*.

Quincy told Kaz they likely didn't want to be this close, waded back through the water to create distance between themself and the Forest Emperor then fired at it once with her two with *Puncture,* as Sterling used his reaction to cast *Auspicious Warning* to help the second shot hit it's target. Yashani rushed the Forest Emperor, pierced it with one of her two darts thrown at it, then hurled a third and backed up near Sterling once more. The Forest Emperor, un-phased by the attacks, slashed Seren once with it's two acidic claws, as RX activated *Protective Field* to lessen the blow as best he could, then bludgeoned him with it's tail. Seren, very bloodied and barely standing, cast *Booming Blade* to strike the Forest Emperor with his staff, then cast *Misty Step* to get across the field to Quincy. The Forest Emperor activated three *Legendary Actions* to fire an acid spine at Seren, leaving him *Unconscious* and forcefully dropping *Banishment* causing the pine dooms and Alaerith to return. Kaz failed to resist the Forest Emperor's *Rattle* and was left *Frightened* as she cast *Spare the Dying* on Seren through *Ob’s Charm* to stabilise him*,* then backed away into the trees with Sterling and Yashani. Sterling failed to resist the Forest Emperor's *Rattle* and was left *Frightened* by it as he cast cast *Fireball* at the center of the attacking creatures while activating *Metamagic : Careful Spell* to help protect RX and Alaerith from some of the blast, which both the pine dooms and Forest Emperor failed to dodge causing one the pine doom restraining Alaerith to burn up, but dropped Alaerith to the ground and was left *Unconscious* by the fall. RX failed to resist the Forest Emperor's *Rattle* and was left *Frightened* before he made himself glow brightly to appear as more of a threat, moved from it to goad it, which worked as it used it's reaction to bludgeon him with it's tail.

Quincy, seeing Seren down, pulled out *Panache,* loaded Bo’s *Cure Wounds* bullet into it, fired at Seren to revive him to consciousness, fired at the remaining pine doom with *Puncture* and retreated from the pine doom to get it's attention, but as it used it's reaction to slam them was left *Grappled* and *Restrained* by it. The pine doom activated *Flurry of Pinecones* on the still Alaerith, Seren and Quincy, with Seren and Quincy who dodged the majority while the *Unconscious* Alaerith auto failed a death saving throw from the damage. It then rushed up in front of Yashani before Alaerith rolled his death save. Yashani resisted the Forest Emperor's *Rattle* again before, having seen Alaerith on the ground, skirted around the edge of the pine doom, activated a long range *Hand of Healing* to revive him to consciousness, then bludgeoned the pine doom with her staff getting it stuck to it, but pulled it away from the sap although a little bit goopy. The Forest Emperor moved to RX and Yashani, causing thunderous energy from Seren’s *Booming Blade* to damage it, slashed RX twice with it's attacks on RX leaving him *Unconscious* and bludgeoned Yashani with it's tail as Quincy used their reaction to activate *Gambler's Taunt* to stop it and bring it's attention to them. Seren, still bloodied, got to his feet, moved closer to the group, cast *Mass Healing Word* to heal everyone, which also brought RX back up to consciousness, then failed to cast *Toll the Dead* on the Forest Emperor.

The Forest Emperor, seeing the healer was back up, activated three *Legendary Actions* to fire an acid spine at Seren leaving him *Unconscious* again, in spite of Sterling using his reaction to cast *Silvery Barbs* to try and distract it. Kaz once again cast *Fireball* behind the Forest Emperor to avoid her allies before backing away from the majority of the fight. Sterling told Kaz that team work makes the dream work, asked RX to move and readied himself to cast *Fireball* when RX was safely out of range. RX moved, allowing Sterling's readied *Fireball* to be is, which the Forest Emperor managed to resist while the pine doom took the full brunt of the flames, in spite of Sterling using his reaction to cast *Silvery Barbs* to try and distract it. RX slashed the Forest Emperor with one of his two strikes with *Passus* while activating *Psionic Strike* to enhance the slash, activated *Passus* with it's command word to change the slashes to force damage, activated *Action Surge,* then slashed it with one of his two strikes again. Quincy, still *Restrained* to the pine doom, fired wildly into it's branches twice with *Puncture*, then activated *Deed :* *Bite the Bullet* to regain health. The pine doom moved towards Seren, as RX used his reaction to strike it taking his sword, while Yashani used her reaction and missed it, and as it moved to him Sterling, Yashani and Quincy noticed the Forest Emperor held out a guiding hand to puppeteer the pine dooms to magically do it's bidding. The pine doom approached the *Unconscious* Seren and bludgeoned him with two of his three slams, auto-failing two of Seren’s death saving throws. Alaerith slowly got to his feet, confused that he had been revived from what he knew was close to death and unsure why, but hearing Sterling and Quincy's screams as they try to help Seren and seeing the pine doom looming over him cast *Misty Steps* to get to Seren’s side and activated *Life Drain* using his Ruined Moon mark to heal him to consciousness with his own life force.

Yashani circled around the Forest Emperor, slammed *Umbra* into the ground to activate *Umbral Bite* causing a 15 foot bubble of darkness to appear around her while leaving it *Blinded,* then activated *Flurry of Blows* to bludgeon it with one of her two stave strikes, while activating *Bloody Smite* to empower the blow. The Forest Emperor took to the air, activated *Toxic Nectar Spray* to spray acid at RX, Quincy, Alaerith and Seren, which RX managed to resist, while the rest took the full brunt, leaving all four *Unconscious*, then flew in their direction, as Yashani used her reaction to bludgeon it with one last desperate swipe with *Umbra*, as Sterling who used his reaction to cast *Auspicious Warning* to aid her, ending the creature. Kaz turned to the remaining pine doom creature cast *Scorching Ray* burning it with three of the four rays consuming it in a wreath of flames.

The remaining party rushed for those who were downed and to bringing them back to consciousness. Sterling went to Quincy, cast *Life Transference* to revive and heal them at the cost of his own life force, but when Quincy, recognizing the magic as something they told him not to do again, punched him weakly while activating *Life Drain* to use their Ruined Moon mark to heal him with their own Sterling noted that didn't help. Quincy refuted that they hated that spell and as Sterling countered that they were literally dying quietly thanked him. Yashani darted to RX, Alaerith and Seren and used her remaining ki to activate *Hand of Healing* to revive the three of them as well. The party slowly gathered to their feet and while discussing that they should leave the area and return to the monastery Quincy, Sterling, Seren and Yashani noticed the sound of footsteps in the underbrush drawing closer to the group.

1. ↑ Haelley noted in the recap Quincy gifted RX their pact talisman, that they recieved from their Warlock class, to him as a birthday gift.
2. ↑ the *Ring of the Sandrunner*