((Aww, no Battlefield Perchers?))

Aeris saw them too, the giant flock moving at a substantial speed toward them. She knew they probably wouldn't make it in time, and that the hostiles were most likely weak undead.

She shouted up to Wind's head, "Wind, Try and get as steady as you can, level, below them, I'll do the rest." Aeris really hadn't had a plan yet, except that she'd need to cast a spell. Quickly going through her mind, she settled with a spell she had used to entertain young children at the magic academy. The range wasn't so good, but it could hit enough targets to down a good portion of the ravens, or at least harm them. Aeris really didn't know how reseilant they were, but, knowing undead, she thought for the worst.

((I'll wait till we slow down before I try my megaman style airship rescue))

Charcion jogged up beside Arthus as they walked. "You know we cannot outrun the undead, right? The men are too tired to keep up this pace!" Arthus turned his head and glared at him.

"And you would have me do what?"

"Leave me." Charcion replied. "I have a bone to pick with this necromancer's army."

Arthus shook his head. "Suicide."

((I'll let Kildare finish this conversation.))

Wind did not need Aeris to tell her to halt their progress. She knew that even her hide would do nothing to protect her from the fierce, dead aviators of the sky. Her wings are far too delicate, and, punctured too many times, will not take her weight up into the skies anymore. What's further, if she risked changing back into human form, her back and shoulder tissue would be lacerated beyond the ability of healing. She angled herself so that she turned a wide circle, in doing so, slowing down and assuming a more stable flight before advancing. She inhaled, her eyes glowing fiery orange before she let loose an unnecessary blast of fire that scorched the air before them.
"<Ashes to ashes, cursed ravens!>" she roared in her draconic tongue.

"Suicide." Arthus shook his head with disbelief at Charcion's words. "Impossible. I will not allow you to go off on a suicide mission just because you feel like avenging your brother's death. Besides, I need you in the quest for the Celestial artifacts." His faced turned grim and serious. "No. Definitely not. We will push on, and if they come, we'll meet them head on and beat them back in the same way we did. Unless....." Then he paused as he looked at Charcion with an amused expression. "Unless....you have an alternative?"

Aeris kept her grip with her right hand while using her left to unsling her staff. Tearing the strap off, she handed it to Shuren, "Tie this to my leg, and find something to anchor it on." not knowing if he understood or not, it was still a better plan.

Carefully standing up, in a wide stance, Aeris hoped to keep her balance long enough to cast a single spell. Getting a good view of the maximum number of ravens, Aeris began her spell. Without being close to the ground, it took a bit longer than she expected to summon the mana for the spell, but it allowed to ravens to get well within range. Twirling her staff, Aeris fired. "Ortano! Fordiguma Ezikiel!" (Issac's Torrential Missle Storm)

Several blue bolts, each about the size of a fist, launched from Aeris' staff. There were around 20 bolts in total, each targeting a seperate raven. The cleric still didn't know if her little Arcane trickery would be strong enough to halt their advance, she could only pray as the missles lazily arced toward their targets.

OOC: If I was a bit out with the spell effect, please tell me.

The bolts strike true, making blue energy crackle around them and setting their moulting plumage ablaze. But they are only a few amongst hundreds and they still fly even as the flames creep over their rotting bodies. The gorecrows haven't even flinched. They have felt no pain - they can't feel pain. Making horrible cawing cries they swoop closer and prepare to attack, looking to focus upon the vulnerable wing-membrane, eyes and the passengers riding upon Wind's back.

Shuren holds on to one of the spines on Wind's back while holding the strip in the same hand. With his free arm he leans done and ties it to on of the spines. Trying to do the same thing himself he unravels the banding wrapped around one of his forearms, the strip being as long as a short rope. He awkwardly ties it around his waist, made awkward by his haste and the wind and also slips it around another spine. The gorecrows come ever closer.

Seeing that Aeris' spell failed, Wind spun around abruptly, nearly unseating her passengers. She circled tightly, inhaling deeply. Deep within her, her dragon furnace built up, until she will release at her wish.
White-hot flames, tinged with the slightest blue, erupted from her mouth. Spirits of the air, aid me, she prayed, and they answered, clustering around her flame and throwing in the oxygen to fuel her explosive fire.
If all else fails, I will have to burrow into the ground, she thought wryly even as she aimed her spreading fire about her, the elementals aiding in fanning her flame around her like a protective, fire bubble. Two elementals wrapped themselves around her passengers to protect and cool them from the harmful heat of her fire bubble.

OOC: If the gorecrows come close, the fire will scorch their feathers and make them flightless. VERY hot fire.

OOC: Please duly note that the battle is FAR from over if you managed to kill the bloody birds....:D

((Humor time))

Aeris wasn't suprised it didn't work too well. she was in range for plan b now, however. Drawing her holy symbol, she almost begged the tiny undead auras to challenge her.

Wind jolted to the right, unleashing her flames. Aeris flew left, lost her footing, but was saved by a dull, Ka-Snap! as her anchor went taut. However, now, she was hanging 3 feet under the dragon's left wing, dangling upside down, watching the gorecrows approach. She raised he holy symbol, and began to turn the undead, "In the name of Lathander, I..." JOLT! Aeris almost looses her grip, holy symbol being barely caught by the silver chain she wears it around. "Just go back to hell, Damnit!" She just screams, finishing the turning attempt.

((That should still work, as fightening as being turned by a pissed off cleric dangling helplessly off the side of a dragon could be.))

OOC: I'm afraid that flocks of undead birds are scarier and thus they aren't affected. That's logic that is.

The gorecrows barely slow down, some dark force bolstering them against the botched turning. They don't slow down for the flames either, some of them simply plunging straight through Wind's fiery aura while the others circle. Their feathers burst into flame but they don't seem to care, swooping in and attakcing with bony claws and sharp beaks. Alread the ones that had been burnt before by Aeris's spell are beginning to stagger through the air but those that lose their flight simply try to cling on and peck. They focus on Shurne and Aeris while others try to rake at Wind's wings and some fly up to her head and try to go for the eyes. Shuren tries to beat the flaming gorecrows away with his one free hand but is hampered by his precarious perch and the suicidual, single-minded nature of the birds' attacks. It is a bizarre and terrible sight, a dragon wreathed in white-hot flames attacked by burning ravens while more circle.

Things aren't much better for the main force of the knights. Nezurahl has unleashed a new weapon against them. Floating eerily through the trees spectral figures approach, cloaked in darkness and fear. They literally pass thorugh the trees, surrounded by an aura of chill malice. One of the scouting knights strikes at one, attempting to hold it off so his companion can escape and warn the knights, but his blade passes straight through it, causing nothing more than a faint ripple in its form. It stretches out one hand, passing straight through his armour and its touch chills his heart. The spectres silently float past his corpse. They are few in number but they do not need to be numerous for they wield terror and no mundane blade can harm them.