Session XVIII: Heavy Metal

Upon meeting, the group decided to sleep on the matter and revisit their next course of action tomorrow, after they had retrieved their equipment. Morning came and Del'Gado and Caerlin decided to visit Tarentan's recently-established charity shelter, where they encountered members of the village council, including Speaker Radzor of the Ebon Slayers. Del'Gado asked general questions about life in the village and about recent changes, empathising and relating with some of the topics raised, such as that of poverty, which, according to Radzor, had been an active part of the Akkonian stewards' strategy of generational stratification. The shelter, housed in the former magistrate's estate, was part of a temporary housing arrangement whilst Tarentan readjusted its management and supply. Asking about the military outsiders, Radzor gave little in the way of new information, but said that they were trusted allies and had made their first real appearance the dawn of the uprising, but had been involved for much longer. Caerlin, notoriously drunk, also conversed with the Speaker, but Radzor eventually excused himself, referring to unclarified duties that needed to be attended. Afterwards, Caerlin and Del'Gado headed back towards the tavern. On the way, Caerlin expressed some worry about the outsiders' unknown technology, for the first time in his life feeling vulnerable. This could be the hangover talking. They also managed to undertake some relationship talk about Jacqualine, and Del'Gado wasn't entirely certain he was the best person for that type of discussion, but still provided some very cursory advice. Before they got back to the Griffon & the Falcon, the pair was intercepted by corporal Estrid Falk, who took Caerlin around for a stroll.   She mentioned that in her inquiries into the defunct Sun-Order Chapters of Greyhyx a man, named Caerlin Krexis, appeared in the records of the Cerymar Chapter. Caerlin called this a coincidence, but eventually Estrid admitted that this Caerlin Krexis had apparently been found, and declared, dead. Quickly coming up with a plan to get himself out of any potential trouble, Caerlin said that his real name was "Zachiapedes" and he was a secret agent of the Crown who had assumed the deceased knight's identity. He had also had a destitute childhood. When asked if it wouldn't be less conspicuous to create a new alias from scratch, Zachiapedes stated that this was, of course, a confidential matter only entrusted to certain individuals. For some reason, the intelligence officer did not press this matter further. The newly-exposed secret agent also wished to talk about the importance of honesty, and the two seemed to be of a similar mind on the matter: agreeing that honesty was to be valued. Before leaving, Estrid again asked if the party intended to look into New Akkon and Project Chimera and Zachiapedes said that this was a possibility. She also gave him the precise location and time that they could retrieve their equipment. Upon rejoining Del'Gado, Caerlin explained what he had done. Checking if his story held up, Del'Gado resigned himself after hearing the phrase "living mouth-to-mouth."   The party decided to spend the remaining time training with the local militia, which was supervised by the local Hellfire Hellknights. Maralictor Baldur took this time to summon a steed, Danold the Dread Ram, and Imaros did not feel like proving anything. Paralictor Hildegard ordered the participants to put on rudimentary armour and to wield a basic set of melee weapons and a shield. Caerlin, in spite of his lacking background, performed more than adequately in the regimen; Del'Gado excelled in running; and Jacqualine received some rebukes during the session. When finished, they returned the borrowed equipment, and afterwards, bore witness to a convoy of seemingly self-driving metal vehicles. They numbered three: two were large and had canopies on them, whilst the lead vehicle was smaller. They were filled with soldiers in full gear. The convoy stopped in the village and picked up some council members before heading in a southernly direction. Baldur blamed this technology on gnomish science; met with some skepticism by Jacqualine. The group then retrieved their equipment and in the process received paper slips bearing the emblem of a star. This was supposed to be shown in the event of being subjected to inspection. Then they returned to a tavern room and activated Izdubar's invitation to the Palace of Remembrance.   The former king of Jalron was present, and as is customary, offered them tea before initiating discussions. The party informed him in full what they had gone through: meeting soldiers of an entity calling itself the Unitary Mandate of Kaedra, describing their strange technology, being put before a military tribunal, and subsequently being issued a spatial injunction forbidding them from leaving the territory of the Mandate. Izdubar explained that is was completely understandable if they no longer wished to partake in the final stages of his elaborate plot to kill Vyriavaxus, but still wished to introduce them to someone, and that is was apparently a boon if they had dispatched of a somewhat notable demon, namely the last remaining Harbinger of the Dark Host, before this introduction. He informed them of a supposed cursed stretch of land in the Ruined Lands that he believed was the most likely respite of the Last Harbinger. The party also told him about New Akkon and Project Chimera, two terms they had learned during their recent travels, and if he was willing to assist them in uncovering what they encompassed. He was ready to provide them with whatever help he could. Jacqualine then asked Izdubar if he knew anything about Adarant. He could recall only that they were a supposed precursor, or progenitor, human civilisation on a long-lost archipelago; shattered by the impact of a meteor. Some, he said, believed that this meteor was the bringer of the mythical Starstone. When their debrief was over, the different parties bid each other farewell and Izdubar returned them to the tavern room.   Before leaving Tarentan, the group was obligated to report their whereabouts to military authorities. The reporting officer demanded a "deviation timeline" in regards to their trip to Vindova, which Del'Gado estimated to be one and a half months. The party's plan was as follows: to go to Vindova in order to gather more information, but before doing so, check out one of Hazred's map markings. On the way, the group encountered a checkpoint of sorts. A metal vehicle, manned by an armed lookout, was parked at the roadside. A dozen soldiers stood watch, and simply told the party to move along. Del'Gado realised that this area was near one of the southern encampments of the Noble Alliance Army. Nevertheless, the party moved along, and Baldur could overhear one of the soldiers, "Scalar-3" report to "Baseplate" that five armed individuals passed by them and were now moving north. A few hours later, they saw another convoy; this time a troop of around sixty to a hundred, accompanied by horses transporting six unusual cannons (a design which Jacqualine could recognise from her vision in the embattled Abyss). The unit marched onwards without paying much heed to the party. The group then discussed the implications of this movement south. Jacqualine was of the opinion that Akkon's forces stood little chance in a confrontation, recalling how similar cannons had deleted rows of demons beyond her visible sight range in the Abyss, and Del'Gado opined that even Akkon's mastery of magic would likely not matter in a prolonged engagement. Baldur was of a contrary opinion, casting doubt on Jacqualine's recapitulation, but ultimately maintained that Hellknights were neutral in matters of state. That day, Jacqualine contacted Varkallin, who expressed a strong desire to receive a comprehensive report from the party; to that end, she had procured some scrolls from the High Garden Arcanists which allowed her to teleport to them, for a short time. At camp, she arrived, and could be present for ten minutes, which was spent detailing the outsiders' technology, long-range capabilities, general sense of organisation, as well as the underground warehouses filled with gold and food. Like with Izdubar, they told her about New Akkon and Project Chimera, and she would try and use her sources and contacts at court to find out more. Varkallin also revealed that she had been somewhat careful with the party's recent experiences, seeing as it could be interpreted as a failure to be indicted by a foreign court, and had been working to present everything in the best light possible. For example, mentioning that commander Davke was dead, fulfilling part of the royal writ, without stating that it was the enemy that killed her. Subtly implying that a message from Kadaron Hoymat was imminent, Varkallin departed, activating the scroll. The rest of the evening was spent on more speculation. Del'Gado entrusted to the party a piece of sensitive information: that the Crown of Akkon had long been funding the construction of a fleet based on Hyxian schematics. This fleet was being built somewhere in the Helvatian Clanlands. Perhaps New Akkon was a colonial initiative, Del'Gado opined, but Jacqualine was skeptical about this line of thought: there were much more readily accessible lands for such enterprises on the continent. Regardless, the party went to sleep and continued towards the marking by Hazred.   Leaving the main road, the party travelled for two days into the wilderness. A clearing marked the end of their journey, which housed a singular, magnificent villa of ancient Hyxian grandeur. Despite its magnificence, it was eerily out of place, somehow standing pristine despite the demonic campaign of destruction that defined these lands. Before taking a closer look, Del'Gado felt observed. Informing the party, Baldur loudly proclaimed to their unseen observers that they were aware of them. A squad of four black-uniformed soldiers left their well-camouflaged posts and approached, shouting a familiar command: to stand in place and identify themselves. Before they moved too close, Del'Gado presented the paper they received from the registrar in Tarentan, and the squad halted. Baldur could understand that this particular unit was designated Ordinal. Talking amongst themselves, squad Ordinal seemed slightly surprised, but eventually asked them what they were doing here. Replying with vagueness, the squad informed them that this villa was under armed observation. Seized communications from Akkonian forces had forbidden their troops from entering the villa; additionally, they had repeatedly tried to get Arcanist specialists to investigate, to no avail. Also, the scouts had sighted a number of clandestine figures sneaking into the villa three days ago, who were presumably still present. As such, Ordinal recommended that they stay away unless they had the same capabilities as these Arcanists. Replying that they did, the squad gave them a go-ahead, stating that they would intervene if things visibly went awry. Now free to investigate the premises, the party split in two. Baldur and Jacqualine checked out one side whilst Caerlin and Del'Gado searched the other. Baldur touched the villa's walls and tried to detect good and evil: just by the edge of the radius he could feel something desecrated in an unusual manner. Jacqualine walked the same route, but instead searched for magic: she could pick up strong senses of abjuration, enchantment, and a completely unfamiliar form of magic. On the other side, Del'Gado stealthily looked inside from the windows, and he could see a congregation of dark-robed individuals mostly standing near a pillar. Caerlin tried to use mind reading to gain some insight, but witnessed something so utterly distressing he was left unable to move for a minute.