Session 24: Echoes of Sanity
General Summary
As the group finishes their conversation with the Magistrate, they are teleported back to the entrance of the armoury, but find themselves only a few feet further away from the gate The Guardian kicked open earlier. Furthermore it feels like they themselves are within a dark sphere, and looking outside they spot more of Killos' followers that they ran away from before. Looking forward they see the Armoury, a beautiful building. Thraastian culture at its absolute finest! Large golden doors show the main entrance, decorated with the three eyes of the God King himself Atrox. Pillars carved with symbols stand firm, guarding the front where no windows can be seen, a counter measure against any transmutation spellcasters. Yash runs his fingers across the symbols and they glow ever so slightly.
Opening the heavy doors, our heroes find themselves in a large hall adorned with paintings and golden armours. Some of the paintings depict A large cheerful man with a warm smile, king Faelax. Others show a more imposing figure with black carapace armour, two large horns diagonal and one pointing forward and the signature three eyes. Atrox, God King. Generals, War heroes, Royal Corps and Magistrate are all represented in frames across the hall. The earpiece is able to translate the Thraastian heard by our heroes, even if Yash specifically has no need for it. As they reach the end the group sees one last painting; Yash and the Guardian. Leecher in the Guardian's hands. Usze remarks Yash has not changed much aside from his beard, in an attempt to lighten up the mood. At that moment the group receives another message from Saan:
Saan: "The Fae tech will not hold long, we've been ratted out. Telarus has found out and is sending troops"
Seraphina: "Be patient"
The party opens the next door and find themselves in a less, but still very fancy room filled to the brim with armour, shields, weapons and other objects. After picking up some weapons, healing potions and potions of heroism Yash takes a look in the "elite" room further back. Picking up a few more powerful weapons, he spots a jar containing a golden liquid. Looking closer, Yash is able to deduce that the jelly within is sentient! Leecher speaks up remembering the item belonged to the guardian, and that he said "If I need it, I'll eat it", plus that Atrox had given it to him. Yash grabs it, but chooses not to drink it yet. He shows it to the rest of the group, and also explains how Atrox himself fell from the sky after king Faelax was killed, suggesting the God King is an Alien. The barrier around the armoury was also made by the king Faelax.
Yash asks if Killos is actually completely crazy. Usze brings up how the jester used to be a soldier of Thraast, but lost a battle and was experimented on. Usze learned this from way back when he still had his mirror, which he used on Killos when they first met him back in the old factory (see campaign nr.8). Yash starts to feel sympathy towards Killos and suggests they should first talk and not kill him right away. Usze reluctantly agrees, but mentions how he'll try his best not to kill the maniac for what he did to Adalai (see campaign nr.9). At that moment the group receive a message from the Guardian and Morra'Callovin, telling them they have found out something important and that they'll be waiting for them. The group makes for the exit but are interrupted by yet another message, this one coming from the Magistrate, mentioning how he himself has worked a few things out and wishes to share it with our heroes. The passage to his office magically appears, and the party goes through.
The Magistrate stands there once again and relays a few things. First, he has found that some of the other Magistrates still remain. They are alright, and told him that the Thraast piece our heroes seek was entrusted with the Guardian decades ago. Furthermore, there is a small group upon Thraast that are worried about Killos' insurgence. They were very close to Atrox and still follow him. He then remarks how the next piece of information is very private and secret, but feels it is fine to share with the boy of the Guardian, Yash. Thraast's anxiety is caused by a strange, formless force. This entity is known as the Qulvo, and is the same Sludge that has been threatening the party's own planet Ekellos. This Qulvo is where Atrox got his power from, but he betrayed it. If our heroes are able to locate the piece, they must head towards a well, the location Yash is familiar with. The party takes their leave, and find themselves back in front of the armoury.
Looking outside the sphere, the followers of Killos still stand guard, waiting for the party to come out. The group ponders a few ideas, eventually settling on simply using Usze's arcane gate once more to teleport everyone quickly out of range of the enemy. Right before they are able to though, Yash remembers teleportation spells are unable to be used from within the barrier, another protection measure. Having run out of options, they exit hoping to catch the guards by surprise. Unfortunately an alarm spell was placed and goes off, alerting all in the vicinity. Now well rested the party attempts to battle the soldiers, however things do not go entirely their way. Everything goes even more grim when a Nahiki brood master shows up, the very same that resided within Darrin and took the sheriff Shaun and Usze's life back in Presco (see campaign nr.3). Casting some sort of spell, it makes Lysander fall to the ground, unable to do anything. Seraphina and Yash fight off two healing soldiers at the same time, while Raine focusses herself on a wind barrier blocking the third healer.
Then, the disgusting smell of death creeps in. Usze immediatly recognises it and highly suggests everyone to retreat to the armoury immediatly. The rest are not willing to flee though and continue to fight Killos' followers and the Nahiki brood master. Vic smashes one soldier who jumped upon the bridge off, and Usze jumps in front of Lysander. In an attempt to protect him, he shoves the Brood master back, surprising it. At this point the Warden has arrived, and immediatly tears a few of Killos' soldiers to shreds. In fear of the beast, Usze orders everyone to cease utilizing spells. Lysander is able to get up at this point and does as instructed. Seeing the power of the Warden, the brood master dimension door's away, but the Warden quickly goes in pursuit, as if the Nahiki was always its target. With one healer down and another wounded, the third makes an attempt to run, however both him and his ally are shot by Vic, killing both. Seraphina then completely pummels the last soldier still standing.
With the danger gone, Usze has a mental breakdown and explains to those who are not aware what the warden is. About how its from the maze, how its corrupted, and its reaction to magic pulses. With the help of Yash's pass without a trace, our heroes make their way safely to where the Guardian and Mortem were waiting. The smell of death fades into the distance, but is never fully gone. Yash opens the door and has a manly nod moment with Vic (this is how they communicate mostly). Everyone moves in and the Guardian relays that the Warden is on Thraast. The group confirms, Usze adding this is his fourth interaction with the beast. Surprised, the Guardian asks more about it, and Usze shares what he knew, slipping in how he was facing Rashall the second time he saw it (see campaign nr.12). Usze remembers Ruuch telling him Telarus was in control of the beast, and shares it. Upon hearing Telarus' name, the Guardian smashes the table in front of him in hatred for the murderer of Atrox. Usze flinches, but continues his story. Yash follows up by explaining Rashall is the son of Atrox, much to the Guardian's surprise and the Lizard folk's annoyance. The Guardian then shares it is the Qulvo that are causing the anxiety, and that the piece of Thraast must be placed deep within the well. That piece, is Leecher.
Usze brings forth that Yash found a golden liquid in the elite room of the armoury. Yash pulls of the jar and shows it to the Guardian, who explains it is actually a piece of Qulvo, somehow "purified" in a sense, safe for consumption. Yash ingests it, but it is horribly disgusting considering how it's technically alive. It will take some time to become effective. Later, Yash comes to the Guardian and asks how he was able to wield Leecher unsheathed without everyone dying. The Guardian states it was sudden, one moment he couldn't wield him, another he could. In addition the sword does not call out to him to draw it, unlike everyone else. Leecher then tells Yash not to trust the Guardian, as he may still be under the affect of Thraast somewhat. Upon gathering the crew, Yash asks Mortem to keep an eye on the Guardian. Mortem agrees and sees our heroes off. "Good luck out there, save the world my friend. Save all of us..." With that, the group makes their way to the building housing the well.
On their way they come across many battlegrounds where Telarus soldiers and Killos' followers had fought and died, scattered across the ground. Some places still have conflict, and Leecher demands again and again to be drawn as usual. Eventually they reach the building. Standing in front of the main gate, everyone readies their weapons (and fists). They decide to go through a side door instead of the main one, and Yash is reminded of a side entrance. Surprisingly there is barely any security. After checking for traps, they attempt to open the door, but it won't budge. Looking through the keyhole, Yash spots a magical veil protecting it. He teleports inside and removes the veil and lock, allowing all to enter. Once inside they sneak past a few more Magistrates. Unknown if they are the fine ones or the ones succumbed to the Qulvo's effect on Thraast, they decide to avoid them entirely. They reach another door, and looking through the keyhole Yash spots a very large room with two muscular men sitting at bureau's facing the centre of the room.
Yash casts silence near the door in order to mask the noise of it opening and the crew sneaks inside. They spot the men writing on paper. However upon closer inspection, the papers they are writing on are completely covered in ink, as if they have been writing on the same pieces of paper for decades. The paper is so worn that at this point the pen is going through it, scratching the desks underneath. Their faces are wrinkled beyond belief, as if their skin is melting off. Their eyes sunken deep into their sockets, any sign of life gone. They swap to a new paper, but this one too is scribbled full. Our heroes unsure of what to do, decide to walk across slowly, hoping not to be noticed. As they reach the centre, standing in between the two desks, the men look up at them, but still continue to write. Our heroes freeze and quickly try to think of a solution. Yash takes a step forward and the men stop writing, continuing to stare at them. Usze takes a step back, and one of the men opens its mouth, a black ink-like substance spewing out.
At this point Usze places an arcane gate towards to end of the room and allows all to pass through. This agitates the two mutated men. Vic passes through first and tries the door, but it is locked. Seraphina then drop kicks through the portal and against the door, but its still standing. Lysander goes through and makes an attempt, no effect. Raine and Yash pass through, and Yash teleports again to the other side of the door and spots the lock, smashing it with sheathed Leecher. As Usze attempts to go through, he is grabbed by one of the giant men who stretched out his arm and wrapped it around the Lizard. It places the pen it used in Usze's arms and then... Falls to the ground dead. Confused, Usze turns to the other Giant across from him and it points at him. Usze grabs a piece of paper and writes down Killos' name to see if the other Giant reacts, but instead it places its own pen near the door to the well. This one not only covered in ink, but also blood. Yash yells at Usze to hurry, and he jumps through the portal, picks up the second pen, and runs into the door. Behind them the door they came in from bursts open and they see some Magistrates run in. Yash slams the door to the well shut.
Report Date
09 Jan 2022
Primary Location
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