Session 20: Ozymandias Report

General Summary

Deciding to linger in Holdenglade just a tad longer, the Masters of the Nine Elements, now one member short, prepare for the worst and anticipate the Imperial attack. Averel scouts ahead with Baby Homonc and some of his men he recruited during the siege, finding 4000 of Emperor Barontyne's troops marching towards the city from the North, 150 miles away. Accepting the fact that Holdenglade will fall to the Empire during the attack, the party instead focus on assembling men within the inner wall to hold off Barontyne long enough for Ablio Nickelbraid and the journalists to take photos of the Empire that can be used as blackmail, as well as establishing an evacuation route consisting of a wall trapped with landmines and thousands of horses. Before nightfall, Donevan also seeks a blessing from Ax that will guide him in battle.   By the next morning, more troops have been spotted, with the combined number of Imperial warriors, artillery and airships outnumbering Holdenglade's 3 to 1 - not to mention they have them surrounded on all flanks. Out of the blue, nonchalant fanboy Elkas Rosalore arrives in the city awaiting adventure, and meets the party for the first time. Due to his skill (and being a perfect replacement for their other similarly levelled party member who left a week ago), Tony welcomes him into the party for the time being and gives him some troops to command in the nigh onslaught. Later that day, out of the mist returns Lerog from his expedition in Osgrove, reporting that his men managed to fend off Barontyne's army in the south but were also severely damaged in the process. And with one final pep talk from Tony, the Masters of the Nine Elements and their army await the wrath of the Everen Empire.   At highsun, the first Imperial troops breach the city, wreaking havoc on the Aspen Vestige. Both sides exchange blows and heavy artillery fire as the Northern half of the city erupts in a mix of fire and chaos. The party can do nothing but watch as the Empire tears down the Northern wall and breaches the inner city. Lerog falls as a martyr to the revolution as the Imperial army surrounds Holdenglade's. Together, they make the judgement call to gtfo and book it to the Southern Wall where they command the mages to fire at the landmines, starting a chain reaction that blows 1000 of Barontyne's men attempting to siege San Cherico sky high. On horseback, they ride out of the burning city with nothing left but the hope that their last stand, and their evidence against the corrupt Empire will be enough to spark the revolution in the South. Barontyne glares at them as they escape from his clutches.   Perched on a nearby hill, the party decide its best if the surviving members of Holdenglade's army try to find solace in Osgrove, as they would be in better hands under the Rebellion rather than on their own. Left now with nothing of their city, the Masters of the Nine Elements set course for the Ruins of Harbinger II in an attempt at locating the hilt of the Astral Key. On their way, they stop by a druidic shrine where Rostliem relives his days with the Lymins Tribe through a series of memories and speaks to Xlourdinsckærn Lvodordpsp, the tribe elder as old as time itself, who tells him that he has ancient blood within him, and has the potential of doing something great in the world (by far the greatest plot twist of the campaign yet). By nabbing a boat from the Mesilist infested High Harbour, the party begin their 12 day journey along the basin to the promised land of the Harbinger II (basically just a one piece reference).   Rostliem receives a birthday present in the form of a Sahuagin ambush, leaving the boat wrecked and the party cautious of further attacks. They travel near to the coast until they get within reach of the Harbinger II, which they manage before the end of the month. Upon entry, they find the place overrun with nature (Percy Bysshe Shelley reference?!) and completely desolate, though strangely, the remains of the starship harboured signs of recent activity. How odd. After unlocking a series of doors through consistent use of big brain manoeuvres, as well as surviving a murder of hungry Berbalangs in the control deck, the party eventually make it to the main hull of the ship, crawling with the ghosts of its dead crew, still drunk and merry after 600 years. Here they politely ask for directions to Drax's quarters, but are warned that the crazed pirate captain isn't in the best of moods.   Upon making it to Drax's quarters, they find it ransacked, with the hilt of the Astral Key stolen. The distraught spirit of b drinks alone in the corner of the room and tells the party that they're too late. His precious hilt is already gone (yaaarggh matey). Believing there to be no point for him to keep on living (or unliving), Drax suggests an honourable duel between himself and the party in return for his information on where the hilt could be. What ensues is a dramatic fight against the pirate lord that almost leaves the entire party dead, but they pull through when Donevan mortally strikes him with his mace, finishing him off. In his last breaths (do ghosts even breathe?), he tells them of this group of infamous Marauders nestled deep within the Elmisle Wood that took his sword from him mere weeks ago, before closing his eye sockets (what) and sailing the endless seas of the afterlife.   With a new objective, and attempting to find a needle in a haystack, the Masters of the Nine Elements set off for the Marauder's Camp.   All characters level up to Level 9.