STATIC 24: Challenge in Goat's Square

General Summary

Wherein The Interdimensional Blinkerton Detective Agency battle against the Banished Brother

Through the District

The strange hounds dripping with ooze hot on the tail of our detectives attacked and battle commenced. A frustrating thing about these particular dogs--when you attack, they sling acid at you. Osborn Moonspark found this out the hard way, as did Corinna Himmelswander and Skipjack. These dogs were destroyed, though, and the Blinkertons made it to the Ratkings territory and convinced Khar Flintale, their leader, to show up for the Challenge tomorrow.
With all parties on board, all that remained was to head to the Commune of the Anatraxan Brethren, and burn the Challenge symbol to Challenge the Banished. As they did so, they--meaning Corinna--encountered both Anatraxus and Parvatrovis, who promptly engaged in a heated back and forth in her head. Painful as that was, Corinna did ascertain that these divine entities were forced to let their followers decide this issue, understanding that their mother, Khuldrossa, wishes this contest to occur. No pressure!
Fortunately, our gumshoes made it to the Commune and burned the symbol, ceasing all current conflict in the district. All of this will be decided, one way or the other, at dawn tomorrow during the Challenge.

The Challenge of the Banished Brother

It quickly became apparent that it was a good thing that our heroes united all three factions against the Banished, as the forces that Sketchy Deevs assembled were significant, and Deevs himself was markedly changed into a mighty display of putrid power. Navigating the battlefield itself was going to be a challenge, given the crush of combatants, but the Blinkies proved up to the challenge.
It was a bloody, brutal contest. But Deevs was ultimately destroyed, and Parvatrovis once again found his position diminished.
Having fought this fight, the Blinkertons found themselves, once again, undergoing Displacement. This time, however, they lingered in the "space between spaces," that time out of time.

Void & Echo

As our heroes came to themselves, they discovered all of themselves, floating. Corinna and Fritz Himmelswander, Sharkbait & Tridge, Hypatia and Osborn Moonspark, Nero Rubicant and Skipjack--together, but apart, awash in their own personal void, unable to connect or speak with each other. In the distance, they saw a figure--one they recognize from dreams--Elaugzar Wyrdloom, Displacement traveler. Spanning the distance between themselves and that figure is a extensive desert wreathed in pink crystal, punctuated with void and echo.

And That's Where We Left It

We'll discover how the Blinkertons navigate void and echo during our next session.

Varied & Sundry Details

• Sharkbait used a harrowing "Tale of the Brute" on some ooze dogs and it sounded like "Du hast."
• As Skipjack raced through the chaotic district, he came upon a weapon made of wood & bugs, which seemed very much like Corinna Himmelswander's jam. Indeed, it was, as the Mandible of Chilopodora Centipedinius became a fearsome sword made entirely of centipedes in her hands. Whatever is hiving within Corinna seems to be growing stronger, more insistent.

Rewards Granted

• Level 7!
• The Mandible of Chilopodora Centipedinius.

Character(s) interacted with

• Voyiva--first among the Chosen of Anatraxus , speaks for Anatraxan Brethren
• Darvala--representative of the Ghost Pier Folk
• Khar Flintale--leader of the Ratkings
• Melver Trillmork--leader of Lizardskull's Lot
• Sketchy Deevs--former leader of the Butcher Street Toughs, associated with Lizardskull's Lot, now the Champion of the Banished Brother
• Anatraxus--the Librarian of Secrets
• Parvatrovis --of the The Banished Brother of Anatraxus, son of Khuldrossa, now returned
• Khuldrossa, Lady of Delightful Discord

Notes

An excerpt from "The Challenge of the Banished Brother"

Acrid smoke and old blood saturate the air as you regard the blasted remains of the marketplace of Goat’s Square in the wane dawn light. The Float seems thicker, as if the Lady of Delightful Discord has taken a special interest in this morning’s events. Across the soon to be battlefield, you can see the Banished, wielding maces and blades, teeth and claw, foul magicks,, each face a mask of rank violence. As you cast a glance over your compatriots, you can see that same expression written in their steely glares, their murderous and determined grimaces.

As the forces coalesce, Voyiva raises his maul, makes his voice heard over the din. “BY CHAOS AND COMBAT, I challenge you, Deevs, along with your so-called Banished. You have gone against the goat-eyed, have brought back him whose name will not be uttered. You—all of you—will pay for this transgression with your lives.”

The figure that—presumably—once used to be Sketchy Deevs lets out a laugh. “BY CHAOS AND COMBAT, I ACCEPT THIS CHALLENGE. Come, Chosen of Anatraxus, and receive the bounty of blessings the Banished Brother has prepared. I shall save his most potent gift for you.”

At that, both sides roar and sprint toward each other.

Report Date

04 Jun 2023

Primary Location

Goatknob