Session 14 (The Pirates of Atlas)

 

"Session 14"
The Pirates of Atlas episode
Episode no.	Episode 14
Original air date	November 5, 2023 (2023-11-05)

"Session 14" is the fourteenth session of the campaign The Pirates of Atlas.

Synopsis

As the crew continues their fight on the ship, Lockwood, on horseback, slays the last of her enemies. Vidro watches in horror as Durgl appears lifeless on the ship deck. Time suddenly stops as Death returns and says there has been change of plans. Death informs the crew that Pravuil, Vidro, and Lockwood must be whisked off and explains that he received these directives from the angels above. They are struck by a sleeping spell. Vidro pretends to sleep as he is immune to such spell but must pretend under threat of Death. Three days pass.

Vidro is the first to come back to his senses after the three days elapse. During this time, he was counting how many seconds were passing. He finds himself in the medical bay. He sees that Pravuil is also in the medical bay, this time not as a doctor but as a patient himself. He notices that Reyen is holding one of Pravuil's medical books. In Pravuil's slumber, he has a vision. Pravuil hears a chant, soft in the distance, a holy choir that fills his soul with purpose, with warm feeling of relief, a weight lifted off of his shoulders. As he slowly gains vision, he sees within a town filled with residents. He sees an obscure building, at first blurry in its sight, but as the holy music gets louder, it becomes clear in its view and finds a midnight blue sky, torches lit up in the church. He notices robed men walking about with scepters. He then hears a voice, "Come find me." He then wakes up.

Reyen, holding a syringe, sees Pravuil is awake and gives him the syringe, greeting him. Pravuil immediately plunges the syringe into his own chest. Unfortunately, the syringe is filled with poison. Pravuil quickly rummages through the cabinets for an antidote. Lockwood wakes up as well, briefly believing she has met her death. Reyen brings them all back up to speed as to what has transpired. They have been at sea for three days.

Vidro steps outside to the mess hall and sees the other members of the crew. Cannoneer sees him and welcomes him. The crew assembles over for lunch. Reyen gives her an onyx-emblazoned letter. She opens it up and at first, it is empty but then scarlet-lit glyphs begin to appear. She hears a voice in her head. It is Fae from the Ruby Court. Lockwood is to be assigned a mission. The Ruby Queen wants Lockwood to talk with the Blairwinds but warns her that it will be a dangerous mission as they can be ruthless. They live in the town of Parakis, a town next to Winestead. Lockwood accepts the mission. She convinces them that they must go to Parakis due to Ruby Queen's orders. Reyen teleports them to a teleportation circle in Atlas. Cannoneer is ordered to accompany them. They are then whisked to a teleportation circle in the Library of Atlas.

As they walk around the library, they notice a group of wizards reading and carrying books. Vidro goes to the bathroom to put on a disguise. Lockwood goes to talk to the receptionist and she finds a new person, Mortima, at the front desk. Vidro changes into his disguise and notices that there are light footsteps coming into the stall he is in next to him. Vidro readies one of his weapons but continues to change. Suddenly, a voice whispers. "Are you Ryul?" He asks who is the person asking. The person asks him if he has heard "Tulip". He gets his weapon ready but the voice tells him to stop because they have been posted here for three days and they have been on the lookout for them. However, someone else informed them to simply give Vidro a letter and to leave him alone. They listened to her and decided to not harm Vidro. They then leave the letter and leave. Vidro takes a moment to ease his nerves. He then goes into the stall which the voice was in and discovers the enveloped letter which has no visible glyphs or marks in it. He opens it and uncovers just one word: "Parakis", and a white feather falls out onto his hand.

He steps out of the stall and sees a fat janitor tell him if Vidro was the one stinking up the restroom. Vidro denies it and leaves. He returns with his crew and they step out of the library, into the streets of Atlas. Vidro tells Lockwood that he also now has business in Parakis. As they continue, they notice a rowdy crowd and people acting in a panicked manner. They hear Markello cry out as child thieves steal his goods from his shop. Lockwood intervenes and grabs the crates away. Vidro notices that there is a larger presence of guards in the area and that there are a dozens of guards patrolling in the alley adjacent to theirs. He notices that the guards here appear to be more confrontational and aggressive.

Lockwood catches up with Markello, returning his wares and he welcomes her. She asks how he has been and he says, not good, and invites her in to explain why. As they go inside and he places the wares back and offers her a cup of hot chocolate, he asks how Lara has been. Lockwood lets him know that she is doing well. She asks how the boy she had placed under Markello's care has been and says he has been sent off to the Navy to fight in the war against the Blight. Lockwood explains her business back in Atlas as they are seeking for a wizard who is capable of sending them closer to Parakis. Markello tells her a place where she could find some wizards but warns them about the checkpoints throughout the city by the military. Markello tells her that in Atlas, a new martial law has been declared where all wares are to be bought by the Army at their prices. Businesses can only make even when they sell their goods to the military. With the new restrictions, it can only be bypassed if they are considered a citizen. Markello says that the Parliament has passed a new law to distinguish civilians from citizens. Civilians have lesser rights than citizens. Those who wish to be citizens are to be compelled and conscripted into military service. Days after this law, rebels began to attack, thus necessitating stricter security lockdown measures by the Navy. Lockwood decides to investigate and figure more about this rebel organization.

Pravuil heads into a wareshop. He notices that the prices have been drastically gouged. He asks why the prices have increased and the shopkeeper explains and rants about the political and economic circumstances have caused this.

Vidro notices a family being searched by soldiers under command of the First Lord.

Featured characters

Player characters

• Akula (absent)
• Anradeem Pravuil
• Durgl (absent)
• Jué Zosteif (absent)
• Ryul Vidro
• Serena Lockwood
• Maren (absent)
• Willem (absent)