Sisters are doing it for themselves - NOT DONE

Erastus 13, 4712, continued

Following their encounter with the Storm Queen, the Coopers triplets have taken refuge back on Darelle's jar of cloud to debate their options. They don't really want to abandon the city of Jol to the whims and caprices of a crazed cloud giant. At the same time, they don't really want to confront her and her blue dragon. After discussing their options, they decide their best course of action is to return to the Storm Queen's fortress and deal with the Rift above the storm.

Before leaving Darelle's cloud, Gerald casts fly and heads to the platform. He plans on coming from below the Storm Queen's flying contraption and sneak aboard, but unfortunately the blue dragon and the rocs were flying in tight formation, and the blue dragon notices Gerald as the sorcerer swoops low, dodging between darker clouds inside the large storm formation that surrounds the fortress. The dragon immediately turns and heads in the sorcerer's direction, gaining ground fast. Darelle catches glimpses of a blue streak heading towards her brother. Gerald is in trouble again. Darelle summons nature's ally, calling forth a griffon and sends it to distract the dragon. This diversion works, and the dragon pivots towards the new arrival. The rocs, guided by their hill giant riders, pursue Gerald. The sorcerer loosens a fireball. The rocs and hill giants suffer tremendous damage, and the straps holding one of the giants to his roc burn, breaking in pieces. He falls over, plummeting to the ground. The giant's trajectory avoids the city but crashes in someone's garden, creating a lovely crater near the city wall that in later years will be known as the hole from above.

Daryle positions herself on the edge of the cloud and begins firing arrows at the rocs. Gerald casts another fireball, hitting the rocs and the remaining giant. Unfortunately the rocs pursue their advance and catch up to the sorcerer. Each roc makes a pass and successfully rakes Gerald. The damage is terrifying and Gerald passes out from the pain. He begins plummeting to the ground, and is about to suffer the same fate as the hill giant from earlier before the riderless roc sweeps down and catches him in his talons, intent on eating him. Both roc and the remaining rider retreat and return to their nest to devour poor Gerald. While unconscious, Gerald receives a vision of Pharasma, goddess of death, healing, knowledge, repose and water. In the vision, Pharasma states she has become too familiar with his face, and desires very much to prevent a disturbing of her peace by prolonging the time between his visitations to the very gates of death. The goddess shows him what it could mean if he followed her as an acolyte. Now Gerald will have certain abilities to deal with death and with life, in order to maintain a balance not only for the world in general but for his life as well. He's also fairly certain that another near death experience in the near future would not be welcomed by Pharasma.

Meanwhile, the griffon lands several blows on the dragon, but it doesn't deter the lizard, who deals as good as he gets. Sensing the griffon's distress, Darelle recalls it to her and heals it, restoring it to full health. With the rocs gone, Daryle turns her arrows on the dragon and scores a direct hit. The dragon, meanwhile, pivots and unleashes his breath weapon, shocking the Cooper sisters and the griffon with a bolt of electricity. Pursued by the griffon, the dragon disappears into the cloud cover, closely followed by Darelle's summoned creature. The two of them disappear from view in the storm clouds.

The rangers decide to attempt a rescue of Gerald, and they board the Storm Queen's floating ship. They carefully and quietly climb up to the rocs' nest. Daryle moves quietly and manages to drag Gerald away while the rocs are fighting each other for the pleasure of eating their meal. They bring him back to the lower platform and are able to heal him. When he comes to, his facial expression has changed to one of contentment. The Coopers climb up to the rocs' nest again, and they engage the birds one more time, managing to slay both of them in a surprise attack. Gerald casts his Hellknight uniform over the edge of the platform, renouncing his allegiance to this dark organization. Darelle feels herself being scryed. Gerald argues that it might be Zoarth trying to find their location. Daryle voices her opinion that it might be the Storm Queen, so her sister should not allow the scry to take place. Unfortunately Darelle has no way to prevent the scrying. After a minute and a half, Thedan Nammas appears in a puff of smoke, ready to help the Coopers.

The Coopers explain their situation to Thedan to fill him in on what has transpired since the tree token was sent to him. Thedan voices the idea that if the Storm Queen is really upset at Zoarth, perhaps they could use that to their advantage and convince her to find him and exact her vengeance on him instead. Daryle worries that she might abandon the rift behind if she discovers where Zoarth lives. Darrelle replies that they really should confront her and figure out what it is she really wants. Gerald expresses no opinion on the matter, but frets that the dragon might still be out there, waiting for them to pounce and attack.

Thus, the Coopers and Thedan make the decision to return and confront the Storm Queen and attempt to negotiate an agreement. They cautiously approach the uppermost platform. The Storm Queen

whereby they will convince Zoarth to return with them.


Erastus 19, 4712, continued

FThe Coopers arrive at Zoarth's keep and find that some progress has been made on fixing it up.


Erastus 25, 4712, continued

The storm still rages on. Daryle tells her that Zoarth is right over there, the two of them fight, Zoarth emerges triumphant. Gerald heals him.