While Icasaracht stands there, bound by Hjollsted's spell, Aihonen sprints forward to stab twice into her flank with his enchanted sword. Hjollsted joins him, cracking against an enormous leg with his weighty hammer (
Between the two, Ichasaract takes 100 damage). Under the barrage of blows it looks as though Icasaracht might lost control of her necromantic spell, but she somehow draws upon a hidden reserve of power to maintain her concentration - and this time her wounds show no sign of healing.
The sahuagin rush forward, determined to protect Icasaracht. With spear, tooth, and claw they attack the companions, and with every drop of blood spilt they give frenzied screeches (
After resistance Reo takes 3, Hjollsted takes 5, Elisia takes 9, and aihonen takes 12). As Reòthadh is struck by one of the monsters, his ice magic reacts to shock the creature with a coating of ice that saps away its strength.
Elisia's soothing voice clashes with the sahuagin shrieks as as she works a spell of healing over her companions (
All heroes gain 17 hp.). Her own song turns to a cry of pain, however, as one of the sharkmen tears into her. A quick prayer from Hjollsted wraps the sea elf in a shimmering bubble (
Hjollsted casts Sanctuary on Elisia) that separates her from the sahuagin warrior, who warbles in frustration - and then keels over dead as Reòthadh blasts it with a concentrated beam of light.
The sorcerer's powerful spell also snuffs out the lives of two more sahuagin, but the priestesses respond with spells of their own. Each of the companions hears watery voices calling for them to simply stop moving and give up the fight, but with Aihonen's lingering blessing the heroes are each able to shake off the enchantments.
The priestesses hiss and attack with floating tridents that they magically fling toward Aihonen, but the paladin easily deflects them even while stabbing away at Icasaracht.
But the mighty dragon begins to recover from Hjollsted's commanding magic. Her wings throw back Aihonen and Hjollsted, battering them and sending them sprawling, and then her massive tail sweeps across to bruise the paladin (
Hjollsted takes 12, and Aihonen takes 33). Another flap of her wings takes her into the air and over Lac Dinneshere.