Session 33: Central Terminus, 21 Eyre 998YK

General Summary

The long low whistle of the shift change wails into the early morning as the weary workers of the Central Terminus begin trudging down the muddy trail toward the massive trainyard. The series of low buildings that support the massive train station at its center are hewn from rough stone and are utilitarian in design. The train station is, by contrast, much larger and set with ornate windows emanating a warm glow against the sky of a cold spring morning. A tall stone archway outlines the doorway to the Central Terminus, crowned with an ornate golden unicorn statuette that appears to be running back at you as you approach. Two massive doors groan as they open, with four men pushing them open from the inside. They nod to some of the better dressed workers, as the more comely looking staff turn to make their way toward the support buildings in the distance.

The Sharn Dragons entered the Central Terminus and were directed by the footman at the door to where to purchase tickets. Glittergem noticed the large orange stone in the central chamber, and correctly identified it as a Manifest Zone. She decided to study it while the rest of the party continued their tasks.

Erisna bought tickets to Fairhaven, and as she returned she discovered that Bernard was already heading upstairs to The Hub. She chased after him and they entered the dark, hive-like central chamber that served as a command center for the multimodal logistics that came and went from the enclave.

In The Hub, the party saw a weary employee, Todd Flow, that was being berated by several of the senior members of The Hub for a mistake that he had made that cost the House a substantial sum. When the party intervened, Todd told them that if they distracted the senior members for a few moments he would tell them all that they needed to know. Erisna attempted to lie, but was prevented from doing so by the effects of the Manifest Zone. Glacias was also became visible for the same reason, and the party tried to captivate the attention of the senior Orien executives to buy Todd the time that he needed to "unwind" before Baron Kwanti d'Orien's visit.

Glittergem, after discovering that the Manifest Zone was tied to Daanvi, The Perfect Order, ran up to join her comrades. She did not notice the Mysterious Black Flame Lantern syphoning off energy to the Manifest Zone as she passed it on the stairs. When she entered The Hub, she encountered her friends beginning to lose the executives' interest. With the assistance of Aon-Ní the Skáld she launched into a TED Talk about the Manifest Zones with a full sound and light display. This captivated the audience for the rest of the time they needed, and Todd began to escort the party to the couriers.

They ran down the stairs and into a hall that displayed all the Wagonmasters of the Central Terminus, including Devin d'Orien. They continued through the caravan staging area, and eventually met with the couriers and asked them about Hazel and her destination. The couriers confirmed that Hazel had been taking a lot of commissions up north recently, and they didn't know exactly which one she was on when she went missing. When Rare Mavari produced the note they recovered from their fight with the rakshasa, the couriers confirmed that "Kelvin" was a pass in the Starpeaks that avoided the main road. With the dragon sighted on the Daskara Pass, it was very likely the route that the courier took to get to the Observatory.

After thanking the couriers for their assistance, the Sharn Dragons tried to make their way back to the train. There, the energy from the Mysterious Black Flame Lantern completed its work, and some denizens from Daanvi crossed into the lobby and began sprinting for their train. The Mysterious Black Flame Lantern sent the last of its energy into the Manifest Zone and then...

"Manifest Zone breach! Manifest Zone breach!" the Manager's disembodied voice shouts across the central chamber. Plasmic energy branches off the central stone in the chamber and touches the marble floor near your feet. Two large metalic claws reach through the tear in reality that the energy created force it open wider. Two large creatures step through and five smaller creatures dash out behind it. As your eyes adjust to the light you see the large armored creatures have small wings at it's shoulders, elbows, knees, and ankles. Instead of a head, the creatures have a single massive eye in the center of its chest. The smaller creatures appear to be enormous eyes covered in brass plates, with small spindly wings holding them aloft with their lanky legs just barely gliding across the floor.

The extraplanar beings, two modrons and five monodrones, began remaking the lobby in the image of Daanvi- their home plane. The Sharn Dragons quickly discussed the ethics of fighting something that wasn't technically hurting anything. They attempted negotiating with the creatures, but the modrons set about making turning the floor and wall into a quartz-like crystalline substance. When Glittergem interrupted too much, a monodrone lifted her into the air and the party attacked to defend their friend.

The fight was short, but viscious. Glittergem, having fallen prone, was beaten unconscious by the suddenly hostile denizens of Daanvi. Each of the creatures was eventually defeated and reduced to a fine powder. Bernard assisted his ally by casting Cure Wounds, and discovered that a second, smaller, life was living within the gnome! Back on their feet, the Sharn Dragons ran to their train and collapsed in their private traincar as the Orien conductor came through the carriages to stamp tickets.

The Sharn Dragons met---
Todd Flow, a hapless Manager at the Central Terminus who was found responsible for an egregious mistake that would cost House Orien a substantial sum of money. The party made a diversion to allow the man some time to "unwind", and he in turn led them to the couriers.

Report Date

27 Nov 2021

Related Characters

• Glittergem Boondiggles
• Rare Mavari