Editing Chronicle - The Plane of Air

== Plan of Action ==

There were no ships at harbour, or normal trade vessels docked, at Fontainver. Houses were fortified and archers posted everywhere, prepared for war. Stocks of food, water and weaponry were being put in tactical locations around the city. Milai's captain confirmed that the fleet was at sea due to the threat of being caught at anchor; the ships were about three leagues out and down the coast, but in contact with the city should they be needed. A great warship, which was to be the flagship, was under construction. Findorsfelt was held by Orcus, and the region to the west. Malenwe travelled north in an attempt to bring the traitor elves back into the fold by confronting her father. The men of Farass were not aligned at the moment, and their land was to the far west. Malor held the far north, and the lost souls were somewhere in that region. Orcus held the nearby forest, but not the bridge just to the west of Fontainver. After a strategic update, we were at last able to rest. Again, though, we were all gifted visions of various kinds (although it might be nice to just have a good night's sleep once in a while) and compared them when we met the next day (see the [http://www.oggiesworld.org.uk/bw25.html separate notes]); mine was a very positive omen and gave me heart!

Lanzi communed with Si Lung in the bay of Celinas, as he was concerned about the balance of the planes and the Plane of Water in particular; our visions had told him that Hattori had aligned with the Drow! Si Lung warned him that the Princess of the Plane of Water, the Olyhydra, who had powers similar to a deity, but was currently engaged in battle across the outer planes in order to gain control of some. This was most unusual for a being that should only be concerned with the inner planes, and her lack of attention had contributed to the imbalance between the elemental planes. The Sea Elves had been leading support against the Olyhydra, hence in her rage she tasked Hattori to bring her Milai! Si Lung offered to help us to reach and survive on the Plane of Water, but could not commit to fighting with us.

Lanzi also spoke to Dracor Augusta, who was flying over the mountains of Madur, and explained the concerns over the imbalance of the inner planes and our intended actions. Dracor warned of Demogorgon's intent to attack Nega.

== The Plane of Air ==

Once we had agreed that the most pressing concern was to restore some balance to the inner planes, particularly as we could not afford creatures from the Plane of Water to attack with the Drow, we planned our next move. I transported us to the Plane of Air, where we knew that they were engaged in battle with the Plane of Water, and we emerged into the now familiar clear blue, never-ending sky. Milai fell away from us initially, but eventually came to a stop. Lanzi somehow summons a bright golden Kirrin, which greeted us and was glad for our belated assistance. We needed to fight here in order to have the assistance of allies with the Plane of Water.

The Kirrin moved us effortlessly to the Ethereal in order to travel more quickly, but it was still an hour before we reached the battlefield he intended for us. A large section of the plane, almost cuboid, was filled with creatures moving all the time and fighting whenever they came close to each other. We exited the Ethereal in slightly different places, with those intending to stay at range farther back, but all with the intent to enter combat.

Milai threw an ice explosion at a nearby efreet and moved to attack. A couple of efreet moved to attack Hintzu, and a fireball exploded amongst us, causing me a few singes. Snakelike things started to nibble at Lanzi, causing him some annoyance. Hintzu tried loosing an arrow, but it would not fly in this plane! He switched weapons and attacked instead, quickly killing one foe. Milai also killed the efreet she had first attacked.

At this point things were going pretty much to plan, but then disaster struck... Milai took a massive blow in her chest as she turned and her armour (mithril no less) shattered! With the main body sundered, the rest fell or hung from her offering no real protection. Realising that she was now too vulnerable to fight from the position she was in, she began to flee as quickly as she could. To add insult to injury, a fireball destroyed her cloak as she fled. My tabard was on fire, but was easily removed, and then I joined Hintzu - both of us landing solid blows on an efreet. Realising that Milai needed protection, I used a rare ability of my crown to summon a phoenix to aid us, and set it the task of defending Milai. But then I was hit by another fireball, and my holy symbol was shattered! Were we cursed? I was able to kill a salamander in retaliation, but my sense of loss was devastating; my ability to channel Odin's power was now severely diminished. Hintzu killed another salamander that strayed too close, and I used the crown to hurl a positive energy ball at two elementals.

The phoenix started dancing, which perhaps did not seem particularly useful, but was soon to pay off. Lanzi unleashed a blast of cold, and Hintzu finished off an elemental caught in its effect. Lanzi then sent a lightning bolt into an efreet, which got its attention. The phoenix finished its odd dance, and swept to Milai's defence. He merely scratched the two efreets chasing her, and both abruptly disappeared, banished back to their own plane! Lanzi's mirror images came in handy once more to protect him, but were fast diminishing. More fireballs exploded around us, but we were not affected. The phoenix struck again, killing another foe, and I finally managed to finish off the efreet I had been fighting with my hammer.

Lanzi sent another blast of cold at his foes, but then disappeared and instantly reappeared near to Milai, just in time to be close enough to be struck by a fireball aimed at her, but Milai was fortunately able to absorb it without damage. Hintzu and I took hits, and in response I lashed out with chain lightning... fortunately this did not affect Hintzu or the phoenix, which might have been embarrassing. Hintzu's response was just as impressive, moving into a whirl of fast attacks that were hard to follow but resulted in two dead elementals. Hard to argue with that. The pheonix banished an efreet and Lanzi let off magic missiles as another fireball exploded without effect. Magic missiles flew towards Milai, but did not impact. Perhaps our luck was improving. I let out a steam breath from my crown at another elemental.

The phoenix raised a wall of fire to slow the pursuers of Milai, and she paused to take in the situation. Noting that there seemed to be a leader deep within the elemental forces, she ordered us to direct our focus there if possible. The phoenix dived to attack, realising that this could mark a turning point. Lanzi used magic missiles and also dived to engage the creature. I used my mace to let off a fireball, and then landed a killing blow on the elemental I had been fighting. Hintzu sliced and diced another efreet, his fast attacks unstoppable, and yet again the fireballs and magic missiles directed at Milai and Lanzi did not affect them.

I spoke too soon about Hintzu, as he took a blow to the side of his head and hung limply in the air. I used the mace to heal myself; I would need to be able to survive if I was to help Hintzu, although I then suffered some burns from a fireball. The phoenix reached the leader and evaded his desperate attempt to strike it by slowing suddenly and changing direction. Milai killed an efreet that was trying to reach her, still able to hit as hard even without her armour. I fell through the enemies around me, deliberately, to reach Hintzu, taking some damage as I did so, but then used the mace to resurrect him so that he was at full strength to continue the fight. Milai sent more magic missiles towards the leader, as Lanzi went defensive and created a shimmering globe around himself. The phoenix, now well placed to attack, banished the leader as quickly as he had the other foes - this was our chance!

Hintzu, back with us, attacked the nearest creature and shouted a greeting as our friendly Kirrin swept back, hurling lightning at the foes nearest to Milai. I gave myself great strength temporarily and pressed my attacks with the mace. Milai and Lanzi used dweomer to attack the nearest enemies, including some lightning. Fireballs were returned at me and Hintzu, but without effect, although Lanzi lost another mirror image. Hintzu finished the creature he was fighting off, and the phoenix banished another efreet. I landed another hit with the mace, but didn't quite kill my foe. The Kirrin killed a foe with magic missiles as Lanzi lost yet more images. Lanzi struck back, though, killing one with his own magic missiles and creating a stinking cloud in an attempt to dissuade some from attacking him. Hintzu killed yet another with his fast attacks, but finally ran out of energy and had to slow to catch his breath.

I had been hurt somewhat, which the phoenix noticed and came to my aid with a little healing. Milai hurled another cold attack, not noticing that Lanzi was within the area! Luckily it did not affect him or he might not have lived; it did kill an elemental, though. Hintzu, despite slowing his pace, managed to kill two more foes in quick succession! Finally, I landed a crushing blow with my mace and killed the creature I had been fighting. The phoenix went to Hintzu's aid, healing some of his wounds as he did mine. The greatest shock was yet to come, as Lanzi's disintegration ray actually managed to disintegrate a foe!!  We had suspected that he had found a spell labelled 'disintegrate' that just conjured a grey ray and did nothing else until this moment of truth. The morale of the enemy broke, finally, and they started to flee. The phoenix, having acted to keep the balance, now departed with our thanks, and I was grateful for Milai for lending me a sack to gather the remains of my possessions that had scattered when hit by the fireball that shattered my holy symbol. The Kirrin paused to thank us for our help before going to the aid of his fellows that were harassing the forces of fire as they departed.

My thoughts, though, were focused on the loss of Odin's symbol. The only way of replacing it in this place was to ask Odin directly, not something I would usually do, but without a connection to him I would have to divert my friends away from our quest to restore it. I was able to open a gate to Odin, requesting humbly that he grant me an audience, which thankfully he did. After chastising me (fully deserved) he granted me a new holy symbol, one he said that he "sees through". He was then gracious enough to repair Milai's lost armour and granted boons to us all. He warned that Malor sought the lost souls of the north, and we knew that he was in the right place to do so. He demanded a quest of me, to raise a temple to his glory at Fontainver and spread the word of Odin far and wide. This I must do if I am to serve him. He advised using the wand of Orcus against him and also the amulet against Demogorgon. Milai, blessed by Odin once more and with her armour intact again, immediately announced her conversion to Odin's faith, effectively shifting her alignment, and swore to fight in his name at Fontainver.

With this he left us, and Milai created a pocket of land for us to rest on. It was cosy, but bearable, and we settled down with watches set. After a couple of hours Hintzu, on watch, saw an eight legged horse approaching, apparently disturbing him as he was about to tea bag Milai. Was this Sleipnir, sent by Odin? Lanzi summoned a cloud that we could stand upon and follow the magnificent creature. It took a few hours, and we saw lightning storms and pockets of other planes around us with strong wind currents at times, but eventually we saw a great golden winged serpent approaching. He introduced himself as Kar'at, a Gold dragon who served as the emissary of Bahamut, the Lord of all good dragons and a Platinum dragon deity. He offered us passage to the halls of Biamat for an audience.

== Bahamut - Lord of Good Dragons ==

Milai, her history with dragons still very fresh in her memory (especially for an Elf), was understandably reluctant to allow a dragon to carry her off. However, as Odin brought us to him she wisely followed her faith and we all mounted the great dragon's back. He carried us towards what looked like a cloud formation in the distance. Our escort warned us not to venture outside the citadel we were being taken to without a guide, as a dangerous maelstrom acted as a natural barrier to trespassers. Once inside the clouds it was difficult to see anything, and any sense of 'up' or 'down' we might have had was even more meaningless. Eventually the citadel emerged from the clouds ahead, made of glass and gypsum and looking quite magnificent.

We dismounted on a pocket of Prime material, which I would guess was a way of being made welcome. We did not have to venture inside; Bahamut came to us. The Lord of Dragons was as impressive as the title suggests, over 150 foot long and as much wide in wing span.  He kept his massive head at our level, which made eye contact easy but had the secondary effect of making us realise just how small we were compared to him. I attempted to calm Milai, who was almost shaking with instinctive fear. Biamat was not overbearing in manner, and in fact did his best to put us at ease. Lanzi flattered him a bit, with his usual show of respect for great power.

Bahamut was well aware of our intentions with the inner planes and bade us leave Hattori to him. He also said that Si Lung would help us on the Prime when the time was right. The fight between fire and air was now manageable, and our assistance had been enough for now. Kar'at, who had departed but now returned, offered a platinum bracelet to Milai to carry, which she gracefully accepted. Our short audience was over, and we were to be carried away again, although this experience would linger in all our minds for some time. We were delivered to Fontainver via the Ethereal, appearing impressively astride the great Golden dragon in the air above the city. This effect was, typically, augmented by a great fanfare from Lanzi. We were set down on the highest tower of Milai's chambers, and then Kar'at departed quickly.

== A Journey North ==

We knew that the enemy would have agents within the city, and likely in at least one senior position, based on past experience. On this premise, before we planned to move again, we set ourselves to rooting them out. Milai addressed the troops' officers, commanding them to pledge their allegiance to their true leader, but without their realising it she was using the crown to force them to comply. Those who did not count her as their leader, of which there were two, were soon identified, and later (with some interrogation) a few minions were also rounded up. Interrogation also revealed their plan of attack, which was a simple betrayal to open a gate and let the enemy in during battle. Milai ordered some more preparations, including ballistae shielded from directly above to counter aerial attacks.

Lanzi, meanwhile, contacted Morwath using dweomer. About an hour later a response was received informing us that the Men of Farass were embattled north of the Levolyn, and that Melenwe was there. Morwath was at the Pikes of Amur, having met with the Dwarves. We could not afford to wait, as we could have a major impact on the battle, win the friendship of the Men of Farass, and find Melenwe in one stroke! Lanzi wished for the location of the battle, we buffed with dweomer and then I folded dimensions so that we could walk onto the field.

We entered rolling plains with a mountain range in the distance. Some rocks and grass littered the moor-like terrain, but it was mostly barren and to add to the effect was raining hard. A troll/ogre thing was fighting two men dressed for horseback but on foot, and many more such fights were ongoing all around us. The noise of battle was unmistakeable, and smoke rose from somewhere nearby. A river was at our backs, so the Men could not disengage, and we charged forward to assist them. Milai made the first strike, badly wounding a creature, and one of the men already fighting it was able to land a killing blow as its attention was violently redirected. Lanzi used magic missiles to kill another. Hintzu unleashed an arrow storm, riddling one that quickly fell. I whacked one hard with my hammer, and it turned just in time for Hintzu to finish it off with more arrows. We had cleared a hole from which to work, still in the centre of the battle.

From our front we could see winged creatures rising and moving forward, probably to deal with the new threat that had appeared on the field, but they were still some way off. I used Odin's power to let off a great battle cry, heartening the men around us and drawing attention to our presence. Hintzu worked with some Elven bowmen to take down another foe, while Lanzi killed one with a cone of icy cold. Hintzu, now with plenty of space to pick targets with his Dai-Ku, took down four enemies in quick succession! I called on Odin to held shield me from the enemy's view, having drawn such attention to me with the battle cry. Milai attempted to rally the men around us, calling on them to form a circle and defend the ground we had cleared, and intercepted a creature that had charged towards me, striking with Agan. Odin's protection had caused another to get confused and start wandering, so Hintzu put it out of its misery with a couple of arrows.

The men responded to Milai's call, and finished off the creature she had wounded. Lanzi created a globe around himself, presumably some sort of protection, while Hintzu peppered another two foes with arrows. I charged at the nearest creature, landing a good blow, and once again Hintzu finished it off. Milai used dweomer to fly up and continued to rally the men, this time being seen farther afield. I think Hintzu killed some more, but I was losing track by this point! The men were fighting valiantly and now beginning to get the upper hand.

The flying creatures were getting closer, and seemed to be wyvern-like with riders atop them. Lanzi decided to focus on this new threat, throwing chain lightning at them twice and killing nearly half a dozen. Hintzu killed another couple of creatures, but sadly an Elven archer was struck by arrows and went down. Milai got involved again, killing one with Agan and another with dweomer before flying in to assist some men nearby. Hintzu killed another - no wonder he keeps running out of arrows. I killed one with a strong blow from the hammer, wondering how I could assist Milai with the rally point. The riders were visible now, and seemed to be Drow, and it was they who were firing the arrows; those that struck home did horrendous damage. Lanzi set more chain lightning on them, killing three more. Milai finished off the creature that had been attacking the men she went to aid. Lanzi used a single lightning bolt then, followed by magic missiles, which killed two more flying creature (taking their riders down with them).

I created a continual light above Lanzi, who was stood in the centre of the circle we had cleared, to use as a beacon for troops to rally on. There were still arrows coming in from the Drow, although their numbers had been thinned, but now fireballs started to explode in our ranks as well. I let off another battle cry, this time shouting "to the light", so that the sound would carry above the noise of battle. Milai killed another, dodging between arrows that continued to target us. Lanzi took another flying creature out, and Hintzu started to burn stuff around him. I raised a wall of force to protect against the arrow fire, and Hintzu killed another two flying creatures. One whole flank of the flying troops had now been killed, so we were certainly having an impact. Milai added to this, killing two more with a cone of cold. I called on Odin to give me the power to walk through the air, enabling me to get to a better vantage point. We certainly had a nice pocket free of enemy influence from which to build a counter-attack.

The men of Farass were using trumpet calls to co-ordinate their forces, and Milai located a trumpeter to begin issuing orders. She wanted them to fall back and reform on the archers behind. I called on Odin's power to lift me into the air so that I could get a better view of the tactical situation. Hintzu took down another two flying creatures with arrowns, and Lanzi created an image of himself so that he could better target this threat. He sent lightning arcing through the foe, frying several creatures and riders, and Hintzu took down another two straight afterwards. Seeing our allies backing up to reform, the second line of enemy troops charged forward. Milai was quite far forward, so she raised a wall of ice and grabbed her trumpeter, flying back towards safety. I created a large area of caltrops to slow the charge of the enemy. Hintzu held the line, killing a foe with Lajatang and allowing the men around him to withdraw in good order. Lanzi tried to slow some magically (as he saw the circle of safety collapsing towards him), but the dweomer failed and he blinked back to safety in an instant when he realised. I raised a 'death fog', which is not as effective as it sounds! 'Mildly irritating fog' would be more accurate, and joined the defensive line.  We had now reformed the troops into a line that would stand firm... but somehow Lanzi had managed to remain in front of us and was exposed!

Lanzi responded by raising a couple of walls of fire and then flying to safety, as Milai dropped an ice storm into the advancing ranks. Milai then gave orders for the archers to fire at short range, further disrupting the charge. I took a slight risk and called on Odin to grant a spell that I had only seen in an evil spell book; it involved striking at a foe that meant us harm, and used storms and lightning, so I reasoned that between Odin and Thor I should be on a sound footing. Sure enough a massive black storm cloud started to circle above the enemy troops. No enemies emerged from the walls of fire, although the battle still raged around us as those not trapped by our dweomer had continued the charge.

Milai issued some more orders and then charged into combat herself, killing one surprised foe at the end of her run. Lanzi moved his image so that he could again target the flying creatures. My storm had continued to grow and I am sure I heard Thor laughing as I called half a dozen lightning bolts down, obliterating any of the enemy that were unlucky enough for me to pick out by their height. Hintzu charged forward with Milai, killing one large foe and cutting into the flesh of another. Milai fought with another large foe, eventually cutting him down. The storm I still commanded erupted with large hailstones, pounding a large swathe of the enemy ranks and killing or incapacitating all within its shadow. Lanzi sent lightning again arcing through the flying creatures, killing more. Milai charged forward again, dispatching another large creature, as Hintzu did the same with the one he had engaged. An entire section of the enemy advance had now been destroyed or beaten back.

Milai and Hintzu took up a cry that the Gods were with us as Lanzi and I both launched meteor swarms into the enemy remaining on the field, triggering a retreat that quickly turned into a rout. Milai and I both called huzzah to Odin for granting us victory. Lanzi also called victory in Odin's name... as well as his own, of course. He did this whilst flying around a lot and generally making his presence well known! We all converged to find Malenwe, with Lanzi still calling to the troops and praising Odin. He also called on me to take credit for the storm that was only just beginning to break up before us. I held up Odin's symbol, gifted by Odin himself, and it radiated with power.

Malenwe stepped forward and knelt before Milai. Milai urged her to rise, as she was the Queen of the Efferendil and should act as her equal. She explained that Odin had sent us to help Malenwe in her worthy quest to speak with her father and avoid an evil and unwanted alliance being formed. Milai shared some Sylvan water to revive the spirits of her commanders, for which Malenwe gave heartfelt thanks, recognising the value of this apparently simple gift. Introductions were exchanged, as usual playing upon the best attributes of all involved, and Milai immediately urged Malenwe to reforge the links with her father and turn him from his current path. We made it clear that this was the beginning of the turning of the tide, and Odin had now committed to acting on the Prime as we had seen today; the Gods were again active for good and would walk among us as in ancient times.

I was introduced to Aras, the leader of the men of Farass we had fought alongside. He was a massive man, some six and a half feet tall, battleworn and bloodied with a shield half broken. Despite his fearsome appearance he almost prostrated himself before us, thanking us for a lost battle won. Clearly he appreciated the tactical situation and the difference that our appearance had made. Malenwe stepped to his side and picked him up, clearly thankful for his support, and that of his warriors, to her cause. Milai spoke: "rise, brother warrior; Odin sent us to help." Aras' counsel was sought on the situation and how we might proceed. There were many foes between us and the meeting place Malenwe's father was heading towards; it was easy enough to track them but difficult to follow.

Finally, knowing that Malenwe was guided by Athena but wanting to show that Odin was sympathetic to her beliefs, I presented Malenwe with a gift. I had discovered the Helm of Athena some time ago, and had resisted the urge to use this fine piece of armour, seeing it as a test of my faith when support for Odin was waning. I now gave it willingly to Malenwe, who was understandably awed by such an artifact coming to her at a time of great need.

We took a few minutes to confirm our priorities, the first of which was to intervene with the Elves of Efferendil to stop the potential alliance with Malor. Finding Malenwe and ensuring that she reached her father, Enrahire, in time was critical to this aim. It was likely that Malenwe's brother, Ienore, was influencing Enrahire towards the evil alliance. We also needed to conduct some strategic communications in an attempt to protect Yishmay. We needed to talk to her and the Sylvan elves to convince her to travel north through the Sylvan lands and join with the men of the north to create a power base from which to retake Sutur. The knowledge that her father was alive and held captive by Inwe might help to convince her to travel north. At the same time we would openly encourage her to move west to Ochi in order to avoid an attack from the north; this should set Orcus and Demogorgon on a path to meet each other in the Ochi area, resulting in a fight that would weaken both. We also needed to openly say that we were travelling north to help the lost souls, which might influence Malor to keep some of his forces close rather than release them to assist with the attack on Fontainver. The next priority would be to win the battle at Fontainver! If that went well then we would need to contact Perion, who it seemed was well on his way to locating Magrad... which would then lead to Inwe herself.