Session 43 - Avatars and Gods Report

General Summary

1st Sungleam   It is the afternoon, and after Aarkatus' navigation, the adventurers find the ancient Rhunaka temple deep within the forests. They spend a time examining it with spells and attempting to understand the runic symbols engraved on it's front surface.   After a few minutes, they proceed through the front door and into the first room, which is engraved with images of orcs at war with pale figures. Akio examines the figures and guesses they may represent the Kaldar Imperium. On the ceiling of the room are engraved clouds, with enthroned figures atop them.   Elxis prepares Detect Magic for ten minutes while the adventurers peer into the next room - a tall chamber, with a platform at the bottom surrounded by crystal clear waters. The walls are covered with thousands of mythical figures and engravings, and the roof has partly collapsed, allowing the afternoon light inside. Panser uses his lantern necklace to illuminate the room further.   On the platform are two ancient twelve-foot statues or orcish design, atop short plinths. Elxis having prepared her spell, the group proceed down the stairway. The statues stir, turning to face the group. Aarkatus stays behind Elxis and Akio, while XIV and Panser approach the statues.   XIV asks the statues what they are, and learns that they are the Avatars of which Tufele spoke. XIV demands that they serve him as a new god, and the Avatars nod at one another, seemingly processing the command.   They step down from their plinths and begin attacking the group. XIV easily fights the Avatar of Taman'Gori, while the Avatar of Taman'Raka wounds Elxis with a strike in the side with it's staff and attempts to steal Elxis' Deerhorn Knives with a strange magnetic power.   XIV nearly destroys the Avatar of Taman'Gori, and it swiftly returns to the plinth. After a moment, the Avatar of Taman'Raka does the same. Clearly, XIV has proven himself worthy to command them.   The Avatars declare their subservience to XIV. Panser and Elxis repair the statues as Panser sets up the dome for the group to sleep. They discuss their plans - whether they should try and end the war between goblins and orcs, whether they should give the avatars to either side or keep them as allies.    Panser casts Sending to Iaidar, briefly explaining that they could gain the favour of both orcs and goblins. Iaidar is happily surprised by this achievement but warns them of the dangers of trying to be diplomatic with greenskin races.   The conversation shifts to their growing distrust of Iaidar, and they bring up the idea of a contingency plan in case Iaidar attempts to take power after the uprising. As they talk of the Chronoract, of which they recently learned, Panser tells XIV about Ila, an "old friend".   They also discuss the situation with the dying gods and the goblin trickster god which they spoke with.   2nd Sungleam   The group awakens in the temple, the avatars unmoving as statues. They experiment with the strange cleansing waters at the temple's base and communicate with the avatars, who seem to lack any emotion and possess little intelligence.   XIV discusses his own surprise, having again entered the logical state of mind in which his empathetic capabilities are cut off. The conversation segways to what must be done with the avatars, and the group land on the idea of using the avatars to scare the Orcs of the nearby outpost commanded by Tufele into ending their war against the goblins.   As the group leaves the temple, just as the avatars leave the central room, the magic holding the temple together seems to falter. The reliefs on the walls fade and erode, and the walls begin to crack. They sprint out of the temple as it crumbles behind them.   As the dust settles and the group regain their breath, the Avatars seem to heal themselves, perhaps absorbing the magic. The old black, red and yellow paint on their body covers them once more, the cracks and dents fill in. They now look as they once did.   The group begin travelling through the forests once more, resting in a clearing not far from the city of Eutrakha, where they encountered the strange cult centered around Kaldar. The avatars stand guard as they sleep.   3rd Sungleam   A new day begins, it's lightly raining. XIV tells the avatars to outstretch their staffs and to tie a cloak between them, forming a rain cover. The group walk through the forest with this new cover, discussing their plans as they approach the outpost.   As the outpost comes closer, XIV summons a magical steed, taking the form of a giant bronze centipede. They ride to the outpost, first encountering a couple orc hunters who are quick to drop their weapons and follow the party as XIV ordered.   They reach the outpost, and the orcs begin to turn in fear towards the sight of the two avatars (With Panser and Elxis riding their shoulders) and XIV, who rides atop the bronze centipede. One orc guard summons Tufele, who is immediately furious, having been humiliated and wounded by XIV not long before.  

A war is coming between those who have power and those who deserve it.

XIV

All of the orcs kneel before XIV and profess their allegiance - all but Tufele, who refuses to kneel, his eyes full of rage and despair. The avatar of Taman'Gori, with Panser on it's shoulders, comes to Tufele and uses it's magnetic power to pull Tufele facedown into the ground.   As he again refuses to submit, XIV watches gleefully as the two Avatars use their power to rip Tufele's armour from his body, tearing gashes into his flesh. XIV strides over to the wounded Tufele and crushes his skull with his hammer.   XIV tells the Orcs to end their war with the goblins, and they agree with excited obedience. As one final show of brutality, XIV impales Tufele on the metal spike of his spirit steed.   As the group leave the dumbstruck orcs behind, the orcs begin to cheer. The group is disturbed, having witnessed XIV be more merciless than ever before. XIV, meanwhile, feels utterly high on his power, and feels a strange recognition - as if, beyond the veil of his lost memory, he has felt this power long before.    The group settle down on the side of the valley they crossed just days before. XIV sits away from the group, the Avatars taking guard, and XIV sleeps, dreaming that he is a figure grasping a sword, and that knelt before him is a man in a crown. He is being watched by thousands. The dream fades as fast as it arrives.   4th Sungleam   A new morning begins. The group is quiet, feeling discomfort after XIV's actions the previous day. They set off for Atama and the Warfields, with just a day's travel ahead of them.