Session 148 March 21, 2017
2:00 pm on the 4th day of the Great Fair, Aurumthrax torture room
The A-1000 stutters during its melee with Thorfus making the machine wholly miss attack opportunities. As it stutters, the flowing liquid like skin becomes static like plates or armor. The effect becomes more frequent as Thorfus throws more bolts of lightning at it, eventually exhausting two modern batteries. On the catwalk, Ronan collects Aurumthrax’s blood from a weeping wound on the dragon’s side. Axel hands Chuq a healing potion as Sutung the Fire Giant opens a door in the northern wall curios to the fracas in the torture room. He ignores Chuq’s greeting so the monk leaps from the catwalk to the floor hoping to dose Aurumthrax with the healing potion. Edan examines the torture cube controls, devising a plan to release Aurumthrax.
Our efforts are foiled as a trio of undying fire giants bursts through the floor level double doors. They split, charging separately at Axel, Chuq and Edan. Chuq’s foe slams his mighty hammer into the adventure’s athletic frame. Three Fire Giant Undying in flames burst through the first floor door, behind the trio is an horde of people. Chuq escapes by shadow stepping directly to Sutung by the door. Axel, Edan & Ronan move to release Arum from the cube, each taking a position on a separate side.
The A-1000 proposes an alliance to Thorfus in the name of the Conclave to survive the return : “Hail, Thorfus of the Ironhand once Steel Hand Clan! Abandon whatever madness the traitorous cleric’s words to your comrade have inspired! Our long awaited brethren will arrive soon from the Great Dark and they have let us know that these islands will be spared in the coming holocaust if the Conclave in Exile can subjugate those who rule here as heirs to rebels. This return will happen – the desperate plans of Sivis and Azrael cannot prevent this –but it need not be the end. Join with me to finish the Conclave’s work and together our family can undo the failures of ages past as last Lord Marshal of the Old Order and first Lord Marshal of a New Empire! Lower your weapon and call on your allies to do the same; this guardian will take care of those who do not heed your authority.).
Edan coordinates Axel, Chuq & Ronan to release Arum. Tragedy! The controls were trapped! Axel’s catwalk drops to the first floor. Chuq dexterously avoids slashing poisoned blades. Edan is electrocuted which we learn later transferred Kalgunn the liar from the sword. Ronan is gassed but seems unaffected.
Thorfus refutes the offer of an alliance then leaps to the first floor. Realizing our options are few, he lops the young gold dragon’s head off as he charge’s past towards Sutung waiting by the door to the north. Then an undying Fire Giant rips away the catwalk below Edan’s feet. Our nimble academic keeps his footing and flees to the north. The Dwarf and Elf are followed closely by Axel, Chuq and Ronan, the three shadow stepping into the hallway behind Sutung. With a flourish Axel dons an inquisitor mask assuming the visage of Marchmain Sivis. The familiar face convinces Sutung to help our escape from the forces of the Dark King. Thorfus uses the talkie broachie and contacts Kotar for an emergency pickup.
Axel & Thorfus cover our retreat by delaying the pursuing undying Fire Giants. Sutung leads us north then east when we reach an octagonal room. Edan uses the Merendur wand to trap the pursuers in a wall of ice in the octoganal room. Shortly after, their pummeling against the frozen barrier can be heard. Trapped in a dead end, we notice Sutungs drawings: plans to fix shuttles and orbital defense. Edan sees two glowing disc (2′ diameter). Desperate for an escape, Sutong clears the fire in the fireplace. Chuq clambers up and discerns the party can flee upward. Securing two ropes in the flue, the party and the giant escape upward as Edan sets another wall of ice to cover our retreat.
Sutung expects we will emerge in caves above Glavnone. Leading the group ever upward, Chuq stumbles upon a chockingly sooty section where the very air feels is as black as a darkness spell. Fishing for details, Sutong suspects Axel isn’t Marchmain Sithis. Eventually Axel slips and fails further cross examination. Dismissing the subterfuge we head on into the sooty darkness. Some are almost overwhelmed by the smoke but make it through with help. Socrates the invisible owl succumbs. He has not been seen since. After Axel using his power suit’s strength enhancement to yank an iron grate blocking the exit of the ventilation network, Edan faints from the acrid air. He recovers quickly as we rally in the before mentioned cave in the heights above Glavnone.
Sutung claims we are slightly west and above Glavnone. The sun indicates the time is 3:25pm. The cave mouth has an obstructions that can be hidden behind affording a concealed view of Glavnone from above. We are close enough that we can smell the cooking from the camps below. Sutung reports that a portable portal stone is proven; they were making more for multiple attack approaches against a foe. He wasn’t privy to their exact progress but heard things now and then. He has the developed a repair that Marchmain is striving for but doesn’t explain exactly what that is.
About twenty minutes later, the group treks west and up from Glavnone. Eventually we climb up then turn back to the east keeping out of sight. When we reach the ravine, we decide to shadow step ferry everyone across. We come upon a shale slide and scramble over it as Chuq is violently buffeted by a freakishly strong wind. Feeling set upon, he can’t hit anything in retaliation. Neither can Thorfus when he rushes to the monk’s aid. The gale moves down the marching order and knocks Ronan off his feet. His tumult pulls the others tied to him. Seeing the calamity, Chuq and Thorfus lash their bindings to keep their footing. Sutung stops the other descent by grabbing hold of something. Those on the ground raise themselves to face this new threat…