Editing Game-Summaries:2/8/2020 Recollections (section)

==Recollections by [[Ember]]==
The battle of [[Windy Bluff]] was almost upon us and we needed to prepare. [[Cassio]] called upon our fire God [[Surtur]] for help. He denied us, I believe he did not deem the foes worthy enough of his attention. However he did tell us the God of death, [[Nerull]], is the driving force behind the dread horde. I am not sure what to make of this news, but the Magistery must be made aware. As long as we survive to pass the news on.

We were concerned this attack was a feint and the real battle would be held elsewhere. Yet we were determined to annihilate the horde and preserve Windy Bluff and the artifact. 

On the eve of battle, an unnatural fog rolled over the city and the battle field. I was able to clear much of it with my control over the weather. However my reach only goes so far. After some time we saw the dread horde emerge from the distant fog.

In preparation I called forth my fire spirit, which has taken the form of Surtur. I close my eyes and remember that Garnet is well worth the sacrifice I have made. 

The next thing I knew a horde of shambling zombies followed by the [[Dreadhorde Soldier|dreadhorde soldiers]] appear out of the fog. Apparently this was only to be the first wave of their attack. The gift of fire Surtur had given me made quick work of the zombies. The soldiers were heartier but we made decently quick work of them as well. As we learned, to a fault, nothing, but fire worked to hurt these creatures. We were finally victorious only to see another mob of the living dead emerge from the fog. 

We now knew what we had to do and how to damage and kill these monsters. I unleashed a storm of pure fire, which rained down from sky on the living dead. The zombies turned to scorched ash and I severely weakened the dread horde soldiers and wizards. This was a huge success. I unleashed a second storm of fire which burned away the rest of the zombies. However to our dismay it seemed to roll off the dread horde with no effect. 

These abominations of wizards hit incredibly hard and almost killed my precious [[Garnet]]! A fire awakened in my belly, that I didn't even know existed. Small flames licked over my skin and blazed in my eyes. I screamed for Garnet to fall back, which he did. In my rage I reversed gravity around several of the creatures. Unfortunately Cassio went up with them, but continued to battle. We realize these wizards had cast an anti magic field and their concentration must be destroyed. Otherwise my flames were useless.

It was up to Ci and Cassio to destroy the concentration of the wizards. Which they did with a ferociousness I've not seen before. Once again my fire was effective and I seared them to the bones. 

[[Amon]] was knocked unconscious and they imprisoned Cassio in a force cage so his healing was useless. Thankfully Ci was able to revive Amon. Amon was weak but I could tell by his eyes the fight had not left him.

We had been badly battered and another wave of zombies came from the other side and attacked the city. There was not much we could do, they were too far away. They were vicious and furious and crashed through to the walls quickly. We were overwhelmed and badly damaged and all seemed to be lost. Then I felt it. It was like a hum all along my body. Power. Major God-like power and in a blink of an eye white light washed over us all. The zombies were destroyed in an instant. To our surprise the dread horde was still standing. We then put a fiery end to the rest of them. Amon told us he believed it was The Yellow who sacrificed herself to save Windy Bluff by using the artifact.

In the distance we saw this hulking form emerge from the fog. This beast was enormous, with the head of a crocodile. It was carrying a giant staff and followed by several small floating figures. I remember thinking that we are doomed. There was no way we could win against these creatures.

We didn't have long to decide what to do. The creatures were barring down upon us. Do we run? Then what was this all for? Do we stay and fight? Which was clearly suicide. Ci and Cassio were insistent on staying and  fighting until the end. What good would it do for all of us to die when there was still work to be done? I tried to convince them, but they refused to listen. We didn't have time to keep arguing and through our bickering.....

Amon spoke.

His voice was meek but determined. "The dreadhorde was not undead, but aberrations" he said. "This is why they did not fall when The Yellow used the artifact." He then said something which made me close my eyes and my heart stop. "I will use the artifact" he said. "Amon" we said "it will be suicide and  what if it doesn't work?"  He had to have faith he told us and he knew this was our only chance to save Windy Bluff and the artifact.

What do you say to your friend when he prepares to sacrifice himself for the greater good? A man who you have known for so long. A simple hermit Warlock who through divine grace turned into a divine Cleric. A man who you've fought side by side with many times over. Tears streamed down my face and I took his hands in mine and kissed them. Goodbye Amon. There is no amount of Thanks we can give you for the sacrifice you are about to make. All we can give is time.

We needed to get Amon to the artifact as quickly as possible. Cassio offered his Cassio listeed to take Amon with Haste. We watch him fly away and turn back to the threat ahead of us. 

The Giant creature let out a deafening roar and slams us with a fireball. He then held his staff to the sky and it began vibrate and glowing blue. The battle ensued and was a complete blur. We were losing and losing badly. Then out of nowhere I felt it again. The hum of power through my body and a blue light emanated over everything. The creatures were all ripped apart and turned to dust and ash.

He had done it.

Amon had done it, saved us all. He will forever be remembered as a Hero. I will light a special blue flame for him in my Grove that will burn eternal. He shall never be forgotten for the sacrifice he made that day. 

If we live that long, that is. As we returned to collect our fallen and The yellow. An unnatural storm rumbled overhead. It became increasingly more violent as the minutes progressed. As our gaze turns to the horizon the sea level began to swell and rise. Next thing we see is a giant mass of tentacles emerge writhing from the water......