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Stratagem to the Winds
With a nod to the group, I shot off south to reunite with Zorzol. He was able to hold his own well enough. I had my hasted speed, my Claw and Fang, and once in position I found a great place to hide and prepare.
A loud boom from the north heralded something: an arrow, with a resounding boom to follow. An aarakocra, clad in a majestic set of armor and a magnificent bow. She made eye contact with Murg.
Then the boom resounded again, and trees began to split and fall. It was a living elephantine humanoid, a loxodon, clad in similar armor. He was unstoppable in his advance. The pair seemed to be working together, sand and sky surging forth.
Zorzol and his men retreated to my position. I nodded, slipping him a potion with great speed as Claw and Fang focused on his attackers. With the words that Theo taught me, I pointed with my sword: the Sapphire Claw fired a large bolt about fifty yards southeast, then it followed up with a one-two shot with the Redfang. From the point of impact, a cloud of crystal and ice blossoming outwards and then upwards in a glittering arcane ice storm. The crystals, now suspended, fell back to earth to shred and slow the advancing machines. It provided us some safety, for now.
One of the constructs loped out from the crystalline gale, darting forward. It readied an arm, a shell cycling through its automated cannon.
Too slow!
"Sapphire!" The Claw snapped a shot at the construct, the Fang surging an arcane barrier around us. A single charged shot met the construct's arm cannon and threaded the needle, finding the newly loaded shell. Charge met charge, and in a split second the prismatic shot exploded in its chamber. In a brilliant display the antimagic construct's arm exploded in light and metal, the shock shattering upwards until mythicite and adamantine fractured at its shoulderblade. The blow was enough to send it careening to the ground, smoking.
Zorzol was back in the fight, moving to lock blades with his remaining attacker. Blow after blow they traded, and when the antimagic operative opened up its arm cannon at point-blank range, I invoked the words of my sister: "Sure-shot". Several of the crystals embedded in its metal shroud cracked, splintering the arcane arm-cannon and causing yet another misfire. It was playing my game now, with my tools.
And when it fired next, the Sapphire Claw removed the other arm of the second antimagic operative. We knew how they worked now, and where the weaknesses were hidden.
Now to trust in my allies.
I looked to Zorzol and nodded. He grinned the wild smile of battle and turned to end the construct, while I spun on my heel. With the wind at our feet we zipped back northwards, sliding into view with Theo at my back. A last charge from my ring reinvigorated the Claw and Fang, and we turned -- ready.
From behind, I heard the dull thunk of steel on metal: inspired, my Bezian men ended the last of the constructs.
The arcane construct currently grappling Milo and Murg shunted some of its antimagical energy before leaping through weave and ether, appearing next to Theo and letting an antimagical pulse hit our wizard in a second wave. Theo's magic failed him, as did my armor -- three strikes from the mechanical talons drew thick rivulets of blood from beneath his robes.
The now-standing Captain Lihn jumped to the defense, trying to hit back.
I heard from my periphery: "Samiel, guide my blade."
Then a groan from a voice I knew too well. Dannerick slipped from this mortal coil, to see The Endless upon the sea of death. As if called by Abadar Himself, Murg had already begun his hustle to our rogue's side.
In response, I shouted for fire. tongues of flame erupted from the Sapphire Claw and Redfang alike, striking all enemies within range. It was then my turn to take blade to the nearest arcane construct, in a vain effort to protect Theo.
The wizard could protect himself though: a steady hand reached out to touch the construct with a spell. It dazed the construct enough for him to step back quickly, to be replaced with the avenging shadow of our barbarian. Two large swings removed most of its armor and weapons, with some small semblance of life clinging to its construction. As it moved to attack, something changed in its demeanor -- some change in time and space by Theo gave it great pause. The weave itself sought to destroy the arcane construct.
And so we danced, I dodging out of the way through training and magic, Milo grinning maniacally as he brunted the blows head-on. Theo bent time for us, shattering the construct's timeline and existence. Its future was nonexistent, confirmed with a final strike from the Sapphire Claw.
Death Becomes You
The shifting, churning mists that make up the sea of souls: Dannerick from beyond the veil. There, he witnessed (once again) M'Crush, all while watched over by the twin gods of death Eros & Stygia.
Hastily, they warned our rogue that this trip was more than just a resurrection: like M'Crush before him, Dannerick would return marked by fate. He, could, choose to stay dead or return "only to die soon enough". There was some inner warning behind their words, that the embrace of Arsene and Sarabi would not protect Dannerick living or dead from the obliteration of Asmodeus.
Soon, Murg's voice reached the sea of souls: "Dannerick!" It was a hollow echo, confident and yet unsure all the same.
At the same time, Eros and Stygia offered a "choice: the end of Dannerick's journey now, or the end of his existence later.
"Are you the gods of fate?" he pushed back.
They spoke in the negative: "that is Sarabi's domain."
With a grin and a turn, Dannerick left their presence. "Not today."
A force immaterial and divine, a force unrelenting, pulled Dannerick screaming back into reality.
And Life Springs Anew
On the plane of the living, Murg sank to his knees with a diamond in his clutches. He spoke the holy words Abadar had taught him, swearing contract and a favor before crushing the gemstone for the rite of raise dead. "I need an hour!"
Once inside his war tent with the living vanguard, Steel collapsed to the ground, physically and magically exhausted.
The loxodon and aarakocra remained outside, tending to the weak and collecting weapons. As they worked, more and more non-humans emerged from the northern trees. They were accompanied by tarnished Eschatonian soldiers, all in all a scrappy bunch that was very much alive and fight-worthy.
Like the newly resurrected Dannerick, I reasoned.
Reunited, we all discussed the existence of Excanerix in a demiplane upon the sea of souls. If Stygia and Eros knew of his existence, they would smite him for sure, we guessed -- undead was an insult to the cycle of life and death.
It was then that Dawn the aarakocra introduced herself, agreeing with our sentiments. Sigis took a seat and his drink outside. She introduced herself as the new Commander of the Eschatonian Resistance. I commented on her namesake with my previous steed, to which we all laughed before Dawn debriefed us.
The aarakocra came from the far north. Though she settled in Eschaton when she came to Vhaal, she was mistaken -- and later imprisoned along with Sigis and the other non-humans of the city. They bonded and kept one another alive (along with some help from Sigis' oath-taking god). While imprisoned, the two led a revolt to free their fellow prisoners.
She confirmed that King Henrik killed his father, and that the castle continues to be in disarray. Only some semblance of keeping the city to order is held there; at least half of Eschaton has defected, deserted, or been killed.
"By my number, we are some three-thousand strong. At least 2,500 can fight -- and we seek your alliance. We want to free Eschaton, and keep the Bladelands whole."
Milo and Sigis spoke outside, before Dawn got the loxodon's attention. Dawn knelt, as did Sigis.
At Steel's urging, Dawn gave more information (on Eschaton proper):
To Seige
Eschaton is staffed by antimagical constructs like the ones the vanguard has fought, and those who do believe in their cruel hearts in King Henrick's leadership.
A true siege could lay Eschaton to waste, especially with the help of Dawn's brigade.
On the other hand, a fortress -- Fort Agon -- sits to the west of Eschaton across the river. Its walls are more easily breached than Eschaton's. And Agon features a tunnel from a nearby Fandell Tower
As wise as the day is long, Dawn suggested to do both.
Prince of Bezia
In two weeks, we assault Eschaton from the east.
2 weeks
1 day to the coast
1 day to the harbor
1 day to the maze
x days through the maze & the harbor
1 day back to shore
2 days to the war camp
Goblonia
Eschatonian Resistance
Bezian army
KIEVAN KIEVAN KIEVAN
Yu-Gin has men south of Eschaton (300, x5 so to speak in power)
Ibrithil sent Storm Giants to Bezia
On horseback, I took a ride around the camp for some peace, and then called on my sister.
There were Eschatonian scouts hitting Bezia, which the city pushed back. Sapphire confirmed the presence of Ibrithil's giants.
The temple of Abadar provided Queen Sapphire with a necklace of (single use) word of recall, to Grandwatch in Ibrithil.
Steel and Sapphire where of one mind, agreed on the march to Eschaton in a fortnight. The vanguard told Commander Dawn the news all at once.
(Royal Consort) Murg called Lieutenant Ripper, for his wife and queen, to rally for war (with the same timing).
Zorzol and Marshall Lihn entered the meeting, to encourage the vanguard to bring a lieutenant with them to Fort Agon in two weeks' time: Sigis, Zorzall, Lihn, or Dawn.
The vote was for Sigis, even before Steel or Theo could argue the case for Zorzall. As he gave his personal amulet -- a teleportation anchor -- to Milo, I made Theo a promise in Tsejvi: "Next time."
We heard from Francis, on his successfully acceptance into the Church of Abadar. Bryndirion made an appearance as well -- and seems to be in good spirits.
Once we were on the road, Dannerick confided in me: blueprints. Pages and pages of a new project, something "you don't need to worry about". They were plans for a bolt, a simple crossbow bolt with the power to subjugate -- Dannerick had a specific bolt for the base ("Use this one"). Specifically, to slay Prince Henrik.
In addition, he offered gorgon's stone for Steel to carve a ring for himself.
(Gorgon's stone has anti-teleportation properties.)
In two weeks, we assault Eschaton from the east.
For now, we head east, to the coast and the Ocean Spine Maze.
On the plane of the living, Murg sank to his knees with a diamond in his clutches. He spoke the holy words Abadar had taught him, swearing contract and a favor before crushing the gemstone for the rite of raise dead. "I need an hour!"
Once inside his war tent with the living vanguard, Steel collapsed to the ground, physically and magically exhausted.
The loxodon and aarakocra remained outside, tending to the weak and collecting weapons. As they worked, more and more non-humans emerged from the northern trees. They were accompanied by tarnished Eschatonian soldiers, all in all a scrappy bunch that was very much alive and fight-worthy.
Like the newly resurrected Dannerick, I reasoned.
Reunited, we all discussed the existence of Excanerix in a demiplane upon the sea of souls. If Stygia and Eros knew of his existence, they would smite him for sure, we guessed -- undead was an insult to the cycle of life and death.
It was then that Dawn the aarakocra introduced herself, agreeing with our sentiments. Sigis took a seat and his drink outside. She introduced herself as the new Commander of the Eschatonian Resistance. I commented on her namesake with my previous steed, to which we all laughed before Dawn debriefed us.
The aarakocra came from the far north. Though she settled in Eschaton when she came to Vhaal, she was mistaken -- and later imprisoned along with Sigis and the other non-humans of the city. They bonded and kept one another alive (along with some help from Sigis' oath-taking god). While imprisoned, the two led a revolt to free their fellow prisoners.
She confirmed that King Henrik killed his father, and that the castle continues to be in disarray. Only some semblance of keeping the city to order is held there; at least half of Eschaton has defected, deserted, or been killed.
"By my number, we are some three-thousand strong. At least 2,500 can fight -- and we seek your alliance. We want to free Eschaton, and keep the Bladelands whole."
Milo and Sigis spoke outside, before Dawn got the loxodon's attention. Dawn knelt, as did Sigis.
At Steel's urging, Dawn gave more information (on Eschaton proper):
To Seige
Eschaton is staffed by antimagical constructs like the ones the vanguard has fought, and those who do believe in their cruel hearts in King Henrick's leadership.
A true siege could lay Eschaton to waste, especially with the help of Dawn's brigade.
On the other hand, a fortress -- Fort Agon -- sits to the west of Eschaton across the river. Its walls are more easily breached than Eschaton's. And Agon features a tunnel from a nearby Fandell Tower
As wise as the day is long, Dawn suggested to do both.
Prince of Bezia
In two weeks, we assault Eschaton from the east.
2 weeks
1 day to the coast
1 day to the harbor
1 day to the maze
x days through the maze & the harbor
1 day back to shore
2 days to the war camp
Goblonia
Eschatonian Resistance
Bezian army
KIEVAN KIEVAN KIEVAN
Yu-Gin has men south of Eschaton (300, x5 so to speak in power)
Ibrithil sent Storm Giants to Bezia
On horseback, I took a ride around the camp for some peace, and then called on my sister.
There were Eschatonian scouts hitting Bezia, which the city pushed back. Sapphire confirmed the presence of Ibrithil's giants.
The temple of Abadar provided Queen Sapphire with a necklace of (single use) word of recall, to Grandwatch in Ibrithil.
Steel and Sapphire where of one mind, agreed on the march to Eschaton in a fortnight. The vanguard told Commander Dawn the news all at once.
(Royal Consort) Murg called Lieutenant Ripper, for his wife and queen, to rally for war (with the same timing
Zorzol and Marshall Lihn entered the meeting, to encourage the vanguard to bring a lieutenant with them to Fort Agon in two weeks' time: Sigis, Zorzall, Lihn, or Dawn.
The vote was for Sigis, even before Steel or Theo could argue the case for Zorzall. As he gave his personal amulet -- a teleportation anchor -- to Milo, I made Theo a promise in Tsejvi: "Next time."
We heard from Francis, on his successfully acceptance into the Church of Abadar. Bryndirion made an appearance as well -- and seems to be in good spirits.
Once we were on the road, Dannerick confided in me: blueprints. Pages and pages of a new project, something "you don't need to worry about". They were plans for a bolt, a simple crossbow bolt with the power to subjugate -- Dannerick had a specific bolt for the base ("Use this one"). Specifically, to slay Prince Henrik.
In addition, he offered gorgon's stone for Steel to carve a ring for himself.
(Gorgon's stone has anti-teleportation properties.)
In two weeks, we assault Eschaton from the east.
For now, we head east, to the coast and the Ocean Spine Maze.
Continue reading...
-
To Bezia: Dangerous & Familiar
10.22.19
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To Waylay Arcadia
10.29.19
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As the Gods Watch
11.12.19
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Recap: Riding the River to Bezia
12.03.19
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Honor Returns to the Redtails
12.03.19
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Honor and Innocence
12.10.19
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What Ends & What Begins
01.07.20
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Night Before the Report
01.14.20
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Adrenaline
01.28.20
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Fairytale's End
02.11.20
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CSI: Abominable Charges
02.25.20
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Stones in the Basement
03.03.20
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Saviors
03.17.20
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A Night To Remember
03.24.20
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The End Draws Near
03.31.20
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Black Reckoning
04.07.20
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Argyle's End
04.10.20
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Two and Two
04.14.20
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Concentration
04.21.20
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The Magic in Winter
04.28.20
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Real, Under, Dark: Indrada
05.12.20
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Puzzling the Way Forward
05.19.20
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The Cold Cases
05.26.20
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Band through the Woods
06.02.20
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Cold Claws of Death
06.09.20
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Another Shot in the Dark
06.16.20
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More To Learn
06.30.20
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The Heart of Varunmund
07.10.20
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Arcane Mishap
07.14.20
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The Treasure of Weave-Steel
07.21.20
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Rolling Bones
07.28.20
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A New Land
08.04.20
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Ice and Storm
08.11.20
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Up Rocks
08.18.20
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At the Top of the World
09.01.20
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Beware the Depths
09.08.20
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Granting Repose
09.15.20
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Trial by Crystal
09.22.20
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Cries of the Pained
09.29.20
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Old Friends
10.06.20
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Watch and Tower
10.13.20
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The Death of a Gate and an Alhoon
10.20.20
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Joy in Many a Reunion
10.27.20
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A New Line of Questioning
01.05.20
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Renewing the Offense
6th of February, 2022
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The Last Vanguard
02.13.22
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Portals
02.20.22
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Heed the Changing Winds
03.13.22
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Champions of the Winds
03.27.22
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The Epicenter of Truth
04.03.22
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It Begins Again
04.10.22
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Stratagem to the Winds
04.24.22
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Wet Cat
05.01.22
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Another Hot Time
05.15.22
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The Aegon Assault
07.31.22
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Unfavorably Familiar
08.07.22
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Cloaked in Red
09.11.22
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Forged After War
09.18.22
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Truthseeking
10.02.22
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Two-Parters
11.12.22
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Blade & Bow, Hammer & Axe
11.20.22
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Faith, Truth, and Peace
11.27.22
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Act as you know, and you will never shame me
12.04.22
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The Stringing of the Bow
01.08.23
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A Clashing of Fangs
01.15.23
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Nleyke [v. To Wish]
01.29.23
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10.29.19
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09.15.20
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09.29.20
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6th of February, 2022
02.13.22
02.20.22
03.13.22
03.27.22
04.03.22
04.10.22
04.24.22
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05.15.22
07.31.22
08.07.22
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11.12.22
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11.27.22
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01.08.23
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