While the couatl was seeking help from the adventurers, Zizz soared in a looping path over the mine entrance and back over the western cliffs, casting heal on himself in the process. Just in time, as the lesser rust dragon flew straight toward the blue dragon and loosed a line of acid breath that Zizz failed to evade. The larger rust dragon rushed toward Simeheff. The brass dragon was stopped in mid-air and plunged to the top of the western cliff, felled by the rust dragon’s stunning breath.
On the valley floor, the godslayer quaffed a potion of cure critical wounds, then moved to back up the surviving stormlizard. The potion’s effect was undone, however, by two more light rays from the eladrin. The stormlizard in turn gored the celestial triceratops for heavy damage. The dinosaur’s attempt to gore the nearby godslayer was unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, Iphess flew up and north over the eastern wall of the canyon, seeking a brief respite to cure some of her wounds. The iron dragon refused to allow her to flee, and dimension door’d next to her.
And then, rushing in from the southeast, new combatants intervened!
Green Arrow loosed an epic arrow of death at the greater rust dragon. No harm! Flaming holy arrows, however, managed to inflict some damage on the creature, but the metal arrowheads then disintegrated, rusted away. The elven archer suddenly began to shake. The rust dragon’s frightful presence was affecting him!
As Green Arrow attacked, the couatl saw an opening and attempted to charm the greater rust dragon, but its attempt was easily resisted. Still worse for the elven archer, the greater rust dragon reversed course and bit him in a flyby attack for severe damage.
As the greater rust dragon came under attack from Green Arrow and the couatl, Zizz, hovering next to the lesser rust dragon, savaged the creature with devastating bite, claw and tail attacks. The tail attack was particularly effective, since Zizz was armed with a tail weapon. Only once. On contact with the rust dragon, Zizz’s tail weapon instantly corroded and turned to dust! And the lesser rust dragon wasn’t finished. He maneuvered into a flyby attack on the blue dragon and stunned Zizz with his breath weapon! The great wyrm blue dragon plummeted toward the western cliff bordering the valley.
Seeing Simeheff plunge to the cliff-top, the ghaele eladrin sped to him and healed the dragon with his healing magic. Iphess too made her way to Simeheff, via dimension door. No longer stunned, Simeheff then rushed the greater rust dragon and grappled the planar invader!
While Green Arrow was dealing with the greater rust dragon, Lina flew to within range of the iron dragon and used her wand to assay the dragon’s spell resistance. "See if you can stand up to this!" Lina taunted the dragon, before sending a black ray of necromantic energy. Not enough! The dragon withstood Lina’s avasculate. Lina, however, was unable to resist the terrifying presence of the monster, and found herself starting to shake uncontrollably.
The iron dragon was not amused by the sudden intervention of the adventurers. He looked directly at Lina and Edward. "Leave now, puny mortals!" the dragon hissed. "This is a matter for dragons. You have no business here." The dragon quickly cast a spell, and his scales began to shimmer with protective energy.
"That’s where you’re wrong," Edward replied, as he rushed toward the iron dragon and swiftly cast find the gap, boosting his ability to strike the creature. "Hieroneous, grant me victory!" the paladin exclaimed, invoking the full power of his patron god at the scaly creature. But mighty as it was, his swing missed the target!
From the battleground, an arc of electricity struck Edward, loosed by the surviving stormlizard. The godslayer finally destroyed the celestial triceratops, and maneuvered for his next attack.
The free-for-all continued. The lesser rust dragon wheeled around and rushed toward his iron dragon companion, casting iron guard on himself as he flew. The greater rust dragon managed to break free from Simeheff’s grapple, then flew toward the iron dragon and the near-by paladin.
Suddenly the ground in the midst of the valley erupted. Four huge blue reptiles emerged–bluespawn burrowers!
But the first two, amazingly, turned around and immediately fled the battlefield! The couatl had spotted them and targeted them with a fear spell, driving them off.
Lina’s and Iphess’ greater dispels nullified several of the iron dragon’s magical enhancements. While the two casters were dealing with their foe, Green Arrow, who had held up for Lina, struck the greater rust dragon, damaging its wing for critical damage! Edward activated his boots of teleportation to reposition himself away from the iron dragon.
The ghaele eladrin sped toward Simeheff and cast mass cure serious wounds, benefitting both the dragon and Green Arrow. Now revitalized, the brass dragon launched a firestorm at the three invading planar dragons, scorching the rust dragons but failing to damage the iron dragon. Said iron dragon’s scales again shimmered, and he advanced toward Edward, claws readied.
The godslayer positioned itself on the battlefied, and the stormlizard moved behind it. And then, another spray of rocks and dirt shot up from the ground, and four bluespawn ambushers emerged to join the fray.
Zizz finally came to his senses. Immediately, he took to the air, headed for Edward. As he flew by the mighty paladin, the dragon directed a black ray of crackling energy at him. To no effect–Edward’s scarab absorbed the attempted enervation. But the greater rust dragon flew around and back toward Edward, and struck the paladin with his stunning breath weapon. Edward was severely injured and stunned! Meanwhile, the lesser rust dragon landed in front of Iphess and bit at the brass dragon, drawing blood. Iphess did not let the attack go without response. "Name yourself, dragon!" she demanded. "Ukhuuz," hissed the rust dragon. "Then, Ukhuuz," screamed Iphess, "feel my wrath!" She struck at the rust dragon with every attack she had, and did–no damage! The creature’s magical protection blocked every blow and every bite.
The godslayer was able to land another blow on the brass dragon. As he did so, three more bluespawn burrowers emerged from underground, while the two who had not fled the battle rushed toward the mine entrance.
Lina saw an opportunity. After a swift assay of Ukhuuz’s spell resistance, she directed her own ray of blackness at the rust dragon. Ukhuuz bellowed in pain as Lina’s avasculate devastated the creature! But Lina in turn was stung by an electric discharge from the stormlizard.
While the great wyrms were engaged in battling each other, Green Arrow flew to Edward. Grasping the paladin’s hand, the elven archen then teleported with Edward to the mine entrance ahead of the bluespawn burrowers. "We have to protect the mine!" he cried.
The couatl and the ghaele eladrin used their magic against the ambushers and the iron dragon, driving one of the ambushers away and dispelling the iron dragon’s scales of energy. But the dragon simply re-cast the protective spell as it flew back above the mine entrance. Meanwhile, three more ambushers emerged from underground. At the same time, the three that had emerged previously loosed bursts of electricity at the eladrin. None of them did the eladrin any harm.
Both Zizz and Ukhuuz suddenly disappeared, driven away by the heavy damage they had suffered. The greater rust dragon, however, winged his way toward Lina, reached out, and brushed her with his huge claw. Instantly Lina began dancing about, compelled by Otto! "Remember my name, foolish girl!" the dragon bellowed. "I am Bruccaahav the mighty! You cannot defeat me!" Lina resolved never to forget that name. And also to make sure he never forgot her.
Now the godslayer, with several of the emerged burrowers, launched a full attack on Iphess. The godslayer was unable to land a blow, but three burrowers shocked the brass dragon with electric bursts, and also struck Green Arrow and Edward for serious damage. And three more burrowers emerged, but the couatl flying overhead struck fear in their bluespawn hearts. At the same time, Edward laid hands on himself to heal some damage he had previously suffered, then rushed out of the mine entrance and back toward the main battle.
Having survived the onslaught of the godslayer and the burrowers, Iphess attempted to dispel the dancing enchantment cast on Lina. Bruccaahav’s spell proved too powerful for her magic. The eladrin directed a flamestrike against the burrowers, but only did minor damage as the targeted bluespawn successfully avoided much of the flaming attack.
Overhead, Simeheff flew in Lina’s direction, then dimension door’d his way back to the mine entrance. But the iron dragon also soared overhead. Then, pointing his mighty head downward, the iron dragon blasted all below him with his breath weapon admixed with cold! A cone of sparks, fire and ice annihilated the godslayer, and devastated two of the burrowers and Iphess. Green Arrow and Edward screamed as they too suffered the effects of the dragon’s triple-energy attack.
And the battle continued as three more bluespawn ambushers emerged into the valley. Bruccaahav flew higher up over the battle and protected himself with iron guard. The bluespawn burrowers regrouped before the mine entrance. Three of the burrowers together swept the area with a blast of electricity, which shocked Iphess and Simeheff, as well as the three adventurers, for serious damage. Edward quaffed a potion of rage, enhancing his fighting prowess. The couatl scorched one of the burrowers. The ghaele eladrin’s flamestrike burned three of the ambushers for heavy damage.
Enraged by the attacks of the enemy dragons, Iphess rose up and struck the burrowers, and the stormlizard hiding behind them, with her sleep gas breath weapon. The creatures fell down unconscious. As she was attacking the burrowers, her mate attempted to free Lina from the dancing enchantment. He succeeded! Lina instantly stopped her prancing about. But overhead, the iron dragon flew through three-quarters of a revolution and landed on the eastern canyon wall. From there, the great wyrm attempted to dominate the heavily-wounded paladin. But Edward’s will was able to overcome the dragon’s magic!
A stream of acid from Bruccaahav seared Iphess as the rust dragon flew by. "I’m with you!" Lina called out, speeding to the brass dragon to confer a protective spell from acid damage. While the elven caster aided Iphess, Green Arrow sent five arrows of cure critical wounds speeding toward Edward. "Thanks," the paladin replied, "I needed that!" Meanwhile, Iphess cast heal on herself, restoring much of her vigor.
From above the battlefield the couatl blasted the bluespawn ambushers with a last fireball, killing one of the creatures. Telepathically, the creature informed Iphess, "I must now return to my home. Good luck!" And with that, the creature vanished from the battle, its summoning ended.
Now the iron dragon wheeled about overhead and bore back toward the adventurers and the brass dragons. A blast of sleep breath rushed upon them–and was resisted by all. But suddenly the lesser rust dragon reappeared over the battlefield, and apparently substantially restored to health! "Oh no," cried Lina, "he’s back!" "Look out, so’s the other one!" shouted Green Arrow. And then Bruccaahav was overhead and rushing toward the entrance to the mine. As he flew overhead, a greenish cone from the creature’s mighty jaws. Suddenly all of the adventurers’ metal weapons disintegrated, rusted to nothingness. Including Edward’s mighty mercurial greatsword!
Green Arrow immediately recognized that the party was in serious danger without the paladin’s fearsome weapon. Quickly he activated his ring of three wishes. "I wish that Edward’s sword had evaded the rust dragon’s breath!" the elven archer declared. And with that, the paladin’s sword reappeared in his hand as if suddenly reassembled from nothingness! "Well done, my friend!" Edward called out gratefully. He immediately secured the sword in the portable hole he had been carrying for just such purposes, and drew the mighty hammer of thunderbolts that he himself had quested for. Then he called out to the iron dragon, "Let us end this fight and work our our differences!" But the dragon only hissed with contempt, then roared, "We demand metals!" His claws suddenly seemed to take on an exceptionally sharp appearance.
Edward flew to Simeheff. "The iron dragon demands metals. Of course, we will defend you." He added, "Provided your claim is legitimate." Simeheff looked askance at the paladin, as if somewhat insulted by the implication that the brass dragons’ claim to the mine and its metals were anything BUT legitimated. But then he turned to more pressing matters. For while Edward had been parlaying with the iron dragon, Zizz had also returned, seemingly from nowhere, and also appeared to be in much better health. Ukhuuz suddenly disappeared, then reappeared inside the mine, where he positioned himself for combat with Simeheff. And Bruccaahav flew overhead, landing a claw on Iphess as he did so that set the brass dragon dancing! Even Simeheff’s breath weapon attack was insufficient to prevent the spell from going off, despite doing serious damage to the passing rust dragon.
Firiona saw what she needed to do. Swiftly she reached for a scroll, and read the incantation. A gate immediately opened, and through the gate emerged an adult force dragon! "Your assistance, if you please," Lina requested of the epically powerful creature. "But of course," the dragon replied serenely. Suddenly the creature blinked to a spot near Edward, who felt suddenly speedy, as if someone had cast a spell on him between the ticks of a clock. As Edward prepared to make his move, the force dragon blasted Bruccaahav and Zizz with his force breath. Both dragons took heavy damage.
And still the iron dragon continued to bellow, "We want the metal!"
Looping up and around overhead, Zizz returned toward the newly-arrived force dragon. A dark bolt from the blue dragon struck the force dragon–and failed to affect it. Ukhuuz’s bite attack was more successful, slashing Simeheff.
"That iron dragon needs a lesson in who’s who," said Lina. The elven sorcerer proceeded to dispel all of the great wyrm’s magical defenses from him. "Let’s see who’s tough now!" she cried.
Meanwhile, the speedy Edward used his wand of cure critical wounds, as well as his paladin healing power, to bring himself back up to nearer his full strength. He again called out to the iron dragon. "I, Edward Gallahand, paladin of Hieroneous, urge you to cease your attack. Let us resolve the matter peacefully!" But Simeheff was again miffed by Edward’s impertinent suggestion, and cried out, "This is our home!" He attempted to dispel Otto’s irresistible dance, but failed, leaving Iphess still tap-dancing about the battlefield–a strange sight indeed.
"No more interference, puny mortal!" bellowed the iron dragon. "I, Axomox, mightiest of iron dragons, will take what I came for!" And the great wyrm sent out a cone of sparks, but strangely admixed with ice. The triple-energy assault severely wounded the force dragon and Iphess, as well as Edward. But worse for the adventurers, Green Arrow as also caught in the cone. The elven archer shrieked in pain and fell to the ground, struck dead by the blast!
The draconic free-for-all contined. Zizz and Brucc both flew by the force dragon and blasted it with their breath weapons, while Ukhuuz launched an all-out attack on Simeheff, brutally slashing the brass dragon. The force dragon in turn teleported from the battlefield, to reappear inside the mine and behind the lesser rust dragon. But now Lina chose the right time to strike. A bolt of blackness struck the lesser rust dragon, as Lina’s avasculate devastated the creature. Simeheff struck back at the now-weakened Ukhuuz with his full might, biting into his foe’s neck and slashing with his claws. "Die, invader, die!!!" screamed the enraged brass dragon. Ukhuuz’s life breath sputtered from his bloody throat, and the rust dragon dropped lifeless to the floor of the mine.
While Simeheff was dispatching the lesser rust dragon, and the iron dragon soared far overhead, readying another attack, Edward rushed to his fallen companion. He searched through Green Arrow’s belongings, desperately searching. "Found it!" he exclaimed, as he retrieved the elven archer’s ring of three wishes, now reduced to two. "You’ll thank me for this later," the paladin muttered to himself. Placing the ring on his finger, he called out, "I wish Green Arrow had been fully healed before the iron dragon’s breath killed him!" Instantly Green Arrow began to stir, then suddenly he leaped to his feet. "Thanks, I needed that!" he said to the paladin, just as Edward had expected.
Still the free-for-all raged on. Zizz rushed up a hundred feet above the valley, then sent chain lightning at Iphess below. The brass dragon’s spell resistance was sufficient to resist the blue great wyrm’s attack. Iphess was able to cast heal on herself before retreating back into the mouth of the mine. But Zizz himself came under a fly-by attack from Bruccaahav, which inflicted heavy damage. And far above the mine entrance, Axomox prepared himself for his next attack with protective magic.
The rest of the adventurers retreated into the mine as well, before the force dragon, accompanying Lina, blocked the mine entrance with a wall of force. "Time for reinforcements!" Simeheff cried. Suddenly a gate opened up within the mine, and through the gate emerged a mighty solar. "Please, aid us!" the brass dragon urged the angelic being. And the solar complied, providing a mass heal to the beleaguered brass dragons and their adventuring allies.
Down bore the blue great wyrm toward the wall of force at the mine entrance. Suddenly, the magical barrier flickered, then vanished, dispelled! Seeing how Zizz had unintentionally aided him, Bruccaahav turned round and also headed for the now-open mine entrance. Green Arrow launched a volley of arrows at the on-rushing dragon. "Blast it! That dragon has iron guard!" the archer cried in frustration, as none of the arrows did any damage against the magically-protected creature.
Iphess successfully cast mass cure critical wounds, further restoring the adventurers and her mate. Lina, emboldened by the healing, flew out of the mine, accompanied by her force dragon ally. Swiftly she assayed the spell resistance of Bruccaahav. "Now I’ve got you!" she thought to herself. Another bolt of utter darkness shot from her finger and intercepted the greater rust dragon. The creature howled in agony under the effect of Lina’s avasculate. He howled again as the force dragon’s breath weapon dealt further massive damage. The rust dragon bled profusely, its flesh torn and its wings perforated. Now the summoned solar rushed to Lina’s side, and spoke but a single word. The power of the word struck Bruccaahav like a sledgehammer. With a horrible shriek, the rust dragon plummeted to the mountainside above the mine entrance, its life extinguished!
Hovering far overhead, Axomox further fortified himself against the inevitable attack from the defenders, and his scales shimmered with crackling energy. But he was not the immediate target of the adventurers’ retaliation. Instead, Edward soared upward to Zizz and smote the blue dragon with Hieroneous’ righteous might. The dragon bellowed as Edward’s weapon bit deep and devastated him with its power.
But the enraged Zizzetokhtaangkesh flew around and back at Edward, and caught the paladin in an antimagic ray, depriving him of his magical flight capability, among other things. The paladin plummeted to the ground and found that his magical items and protections no longer functioned. The blue dragon, in turn, was devastated by Lina’s avasculate, directed at the passing dragon from inside the mine entrance. "Got him for you, Edward!" cried Lina. The solar targeted Zizz as well, and brought the great wyrm crashing to the ground with a power word, stun, as Edward had previously crashed.
The force dragon tried to seal off the mine entrance with a wall of force, but was unable to prevent Axomox from diving from high above the battlefield to breathe another admixed blast of electricity, fire and cold. Lina, the solar and Simeheff suffered heavy damage, especially Lina, who fell mortally wounded! Green Arrow, who had previously teleported to Simeheff, hovered near the brass dragon as he made a fly-by attack against Zizz. The bite, unfortunately, missed its target badly.
Iphess had seen enough. "We require further assistance," she declared. A wave of her claw and the enunciation of mystic words of power brought a thundering seismic incident. Suddenly, a towering figure comprised of flaming liquid rock appeared. Iphess spoke to the creature. "Fight for me now, oh mighty burning one," she said. The magma para-elemental took its place on the battlefield, preparing to remove the puny humans below.
And equally suddenly, the ground before the mine entrance became active again–the sleeping bluespawn burrowers, and even the surviving bluespawn stormlizard, stirred, then awoke from their magical sleep! Instantly they began to charge toward the mine entrance! The nine remaining creatures rushed Edward and the force dragon and ripped into their foes. The force dragon in turn landed behind one of the burrowers and attacked, severely wounding it. The same burrower was further battered by the magma monolith, as Iphess concentrated on controlling the para-elemental creature.
Edward took serious damage and had no remaining magical protection. Seeing this, Green Arrow could think of only one answer: use the final wish in his ring to free Edward. "I wish," said the elven archer, "that Edward is no longer affected by the antimagic field he is now trapped in!". But the ways of magic are strange, even wild, especially when it comes to altering the fabric of reality via wishes. For as soon as Green Arrow completed his wish, Edward vanished!
The paladin’s sudden disappearance had little effect on the battling dragons. Simeheff tried to bite the prone Zizz, but amazingly, missed the seemingly unmissable blue dragon once again. The iron dragon was more accurate, landing next to Simeheff and delivering a powerful bite of his own.
Lina was at death’s door when the solar flew to her side and revived her with a heal spell.
With a mighty burst, Simeheff finally landed blows against the stunned Zizz. Unable to defend himself, the arrogant blue great wyrm could only shriek in agony as a last fatal wound put him down. But Simeheff had no time to gloat, as lightning from a number of the burrowers shocked him for serious damage. The monolith was blasted by lightning from four more of the bluespawn for serious damage, but, guided by Iphess, managed to strike one of its attackers in return. As the dragons battled, Green Arrow desperately tried to bring Edward back into the battle. "Bracelet of friends might work. I hope," he thought to himself. He tried activating the magical article. Nothing happened. Edward remained lost.
Meanwhile, Lina, now restored to vigor, targeted the iron dragon with a greater dispel magic. Two of the dragon’s defensive spells were eliminated. The force dragon flew to Lina, then took her with him as he teleported into the mine, near Iphess and behind the wall of force blocking the entrance. Outside, Axomox grappled the solar, which failed to dispel any more of the iron dragon’s magic or break out of the grapple.
The burrowers and the storm lizard, not deterred by the battle around them, continued their attacks on Simeheff and the monolith, dealing out serious lightning damage. Green Arrow peppered the creatures with a hail of arrows, one of which also struck the nearby iron dragon. "Looks like you could use some extra protection," Lina remarked to her force dragon ally, bestowing protection from electricity on the creature. "Many thanks," the force dragon replied, then charged at one of the burrowers seeking entry into the mine, passing right through the wall of force that was blocking access. The burrower was grievously wounded by the assault. Now Simeheff flew to the aid of the grappled solar, and slashed and bit the iron dragon, forcing it to fly up over the battlefield with the solar still in his claws. As the dragons flew overhead, solar still in tow, the monolith landed a fatal blow on one of the burrowers, then followed through to devastate the storm lizard and wound another of the burrowers. The tide of the battle had clearly turned.
Seeing their leader stricken down and their companions destroyed by the monolith, four of the burrowers broke off their attack and burrowed away from the battle. The others continued their electric assault on Simeheff. Green Arrow loosed arrows at the iron dragon, wounding it for heavy damage.
Lina dimension door’d out of the mine to the side of the force dragon, who advanced on one of the remaining burrowers and ripped it to shreds. Simeheff and the solar continued to attack the iron dragon, wounding it seriously. Not seriously enough: the mighty planar dragon’s admixed breath weapon blasted both Simeheff and the solar. The solar was brought almost to the point of unconsciousness, and Simeheff fell, mortally wounded!
Iphess was horrified to see her mate fall in battle, but still maintained her concentration to guide the magma monolith rampaging toward the three remaining burrowers, who had in the meantime redirected their lightning to strike Green Arrow, shocking the elven archer severely. "Need a few of my own arrows," he thought to himself, then drew five healing arrows from his quiver and restored much of his vitality by shooting himself with them! Then the monolith, guided by Iphess, advanced on the burrowers and destroyed one of the surviving three, smashing it to bits and burning it to cinders. The two remaining burrowers bellowed in terror, then turned around and followed their surviving companions in burrowing away from the battle.
With the burrowers removed from the battle, Simeheff, Lina and the force dragon flew toward Axomox and focused their attention on their most powerful remaining foe. Lina dispelled another of the iron dragon’s protective spells. Though Simeheff’s breath weapon did no damage, the force dragon’s powerful breath weapon broke through Axomox’s defensed and devastated the planar creature. As they attacked, the solar had just enough strength left to wish himself and all his allies healed!
The iron dragon knew that his attempt to seize the metallic riches of the mine had failed. Axomox let loose a final roar of defiance, and then, casting greater plane shift, left the battlefield forever and returned to his home plane.
Firiona and Green Arrow looked at each other. "Is it over?" asked Green Arrow. "Seems to be," replied Lina. "Unless something else comes up out of the ground." But nothing did come up out of the ground.
Something did come back out of thin air, however. About a minute after Axomox’s departure, Edward suddenly reappeared. He looked askance at Green Arrow. "Well, what did I miss?" he asked. "One second I’m in a dragon free-for-all, the next second I’m here and you’re the only ones left."
"I thought I was freeing you from the anti-magic field you were trapped in," answered the elven archer. "Seems I managed to do so, just not the way I had in mind. You must have been sent into the future, to just before the field would have ended on its own."
"Magic," said Edward, shaking his head. "Well, at least you finished the job."
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