Session 19 (The Pirates of Atlas)

 

"Session 19"
The Pirates of Atlas episode
Episode no.	Episode 19
Original air date	January 21, 2024 (2024-01-21)

"Session 19" is the nineteenth session of the campaign The Pirates of Atlas.

Synopsis

Willem and Krovar the Blind continue their discussion in private by the campfire. Akula and Pravuil notice one of the leonin whispering to an elven archer. They see the expression of the elven grimacing. They overhear the archer inform the leonin that they will take over. Vidro speaks on behalf of the party before the archer. They are welcomed in but reminded that they should respect the customs of the land. They are allowed to remain armed within the city until they enter into the palace walls.

As they make their way through the city, they notice the intricate architecture around the city. One of the most defining features they notice is that the overwhelming race represented the city is elven. They see waterfalls cascading down and birds flying about throughout the city. Durgl fetches for Willem who has finished his talk with Krovar the Blind. Krovar the Blind bids Willem farewell and says they will continue meeting in Atlas. Akula remarks why Willem seems to always have one-on-one meetings with men and never Maren. Akula brings Willem to his arms.

Vidro hears the sound of skittish footsteps near him. He notices a 3-foot archer munching on an apple, making his way towards the party. He introduces himself and says he has never seen a dynamic team as theirs. He offers to give them a tour. Vidro speaks with the archer. The archer explains that the elves and leonin are both native to this particular land, although the elves have been here far longer than the leonin. They live in a mutualistic relationship. He then formally introduces himself as Grimlak and offers to buy them a meal. He has a business proposal and says he notices that based on their clothing, they are into business. He says that great businesses cannot be discussed publicly and should be spoken in private. He suggests they conduct their business in secret. Akula expresses disbelief and thinks he is a thief. Durgl addresses the archer and determines what is the nature of his business. Grimlak tries to defend himself after Akula takes notice that he is not wearing any shoes. He grabs Grimlak and inspects him. Grimlak takes offense and storms off.

Vidro excuses himself as he needs to relieve himself. Durgl questions why Vidro is defecating in the bushes. Akula remarks this is the custom of the elvens. As they wait for Vidro, Durgl starts singing. Akula asks "Jurgl" if she can sing too and she replies she cannot. Durgl's singing is awful today and onlookers start taking notice of his music. Nonetheless, the crowd applauses. The elven guard instructs the music playing to stop. Durgl makes 195 pieces of gold from the onlookers who dropped some money as Durgl inadvertently busked.

The party continues their journey. They eventually start seeing the inner city and take notice of a large vine wrapped around the palace before them. It is located in a large tree. As they make their way into a tunnel which leads into the palace, they see gold-armored guards wielding scimitars, bows, and spears. They count at least ten guards. They speak in Elvish and one of them addresses Vidro, informing them that they must come in unarmed. Akula flexes his muscles before the guards to show that he is unarmed. One of the guard asks Vidro if they need to shackle Akula. Vidro says they do not and implies he is "crazy". One of the guard blows a horn and the vines blocking the entrance unravel, clearing the path for them.

None of them, except Vidro, is able to see the interior well because they lack darkvision. Akula tries, nonetheless, to navigate his way through purely with his bloodscent. Akula tries to feel around the walls surrounding them. He kicks up dust as he does this. They make their way into the center of the tree which they notice is a religious area. Hundreds of elves surround the area in a worshipping stance. The worshippers are under the protection of guards. Vidro senses the arrows pointed towards them. The party sees three important-looking figures at the center of the stage.

Vidro observes the figures. One is a human and the other two are elves. They appear to be priests. One of the elf, being an astral elf, is seated. They are surrounded by attendants. Beneath the palladium upon which they stand, they notice various kinds of races including grungs. Durgl is excited to see his fellow people, as does "Jurgl".

The astral elf then projects his voice. He speaks of a threat coming soon. They received word from scouts that their land has been threatened what they call The Blight. He says they must evacuate from their home and understands that such a decision is no easy one, but that they have no choice. He says that their salvation rests in the stars instead of here. He says that this world should not be a prison for them and that they should seek shelter elsewhere in the cosmos beyond. The reception from the great crowd is temperamental. Some are enthusiastic, others not so much. One of the other priests is then afforded time to speak. She presents her take on the crisis. She says that she has traveled far, ordained by her church, and that her people on the continent are at war. She says that it is her belief that if they stand together in faith, they can solve the Blight and that the Blight is weary of several things, including holy fire and holy light. She says she cannot compel people to convert to her faith, she suggests that her faith still welcomes all and offers a solution to those who are fearful. She says they should band together and take down the faith as elves and humans. While she speaks, Akula sneaks onto the stage and is mistaken for one of the speakers. He is next. She then sits down. The moderator, a furball, then says there is a third guest to speak. Akula is then introduced. Durgl beats the drums. Akula starts his speech and introduces himself to everyone as Akula's Friends and says they are open to all. His speech is brief and it ends. The moderator says if that is all Akula has to say. The moderator then recognizes that Akula has brought Maka'toa to them, referencing his weapons. They say that he brought to them a very sacred item. The moderator says the wielder of Maka'toa is a powerful warrior foretold who will champion for their cause. Akula is flattered but then asks if they have a prisoner among them, a young elven woman. Durgl says they know of the spirit forest and told them of their trouble with one of the other city's druid. Willem pulls Akula and Vidro aside and says not to reveal Vidro's identity to them. Vidro, horrified at the entire experience, asks for the last rites to be performed on him.

The moderator says this prisoner is part of their home and they are trying to stop her from sacrificing herself. They believe that there is another way. They say with the wielder of Maka'toa here, the Wildlands has spoken to them. The moderator tells Akula they should meet their chieftain who knows the true nature and power of Maka'toa. They said that Maka'toa is given by the gods above to their loyal servant. Akula then introduces his crewmates. The moderator says it appears their fates have been destined. The furball leads them to the chieftain through the tree into another chamber. Before they go off, Durgl shouts out Akula's name and then they hear Grimlak among the crowd, saying that Akula has dirty feet.

The party heads downward through the tree into a larger cave system. It is filled with stalactites and stalagmites. They notice a large wooden warforge in the cave. It takes notice of them and it begins speaking. It tells the furball that it recognizes the party are the outsiders the furball told it about. The warforge scans the party and greets them. It introduces itself as Steve, the tree's caretaker. It says it was designated as such. Vidro asks who made it. It says it was the first one created, as the Prime. It says the first of the warforges were made of wood, and subsequent generations were made of metal. His eyes flicker in different colors and he clutches onto his staff. He says he notices that they are carrying an ancient weapon. It takes notice of Akula's Maka'toa. It says it has three carriers of the Maka'toa. Each one has died. Akula says he will not be the fourth one to die. It then takes notice that Vidro has the bloodline of the Anari and has been "marked". Vidro says he is still unsure what this means. The warforge asks has he not been told. It then notices Durgl has the Golden Ribbit and asks why he will not take it out. The warforge then grabs the Golden Ribbit from Durgl's throat. A lot of mucus surrounds the warforge's branch. It grabs his heart by accident. It remarks that Durgl has a fascinating anatomy, saying he has four hearts. He then pries the Golden Ribbit out of his body and Durgl immediately loses three pounds. The warforge's claws conceal the Golden Ribbit but its light shimmers brightly. The warforge says it is capable of doing this because of its training. It says now that Durgl may choose to consume the Golden Ribbit the proper way or bestow it to someone else. Durgl says he wants to eat it again. Durgl asks how he should eat it right. The warforge says he was supposed to chew on it, and not swallow it. The warforge cautions Durgl though what his purpose is to have the Golden Ribbit. Durgl ponders frankly of the different reasons he wants the Golden Ribbit. One of his reasons is to spread cheer throughout Garganzola. The warforge says that the Golden Ribbit is not of this world and that it must be imbued magical properties as a way to feed Durgl the proper way. It says that whomever feeds Durgl the proper way, they will be connected. The warforge says the Golden Ribbit was created long ago by a female elven bard who created it for her lover to always have a link together. Someone of one's choosing will always be charmed by the Golden Ribbit's music. Willem wonders who is "Ms. Durgl". The warforge then sees through Jurgl, after Willem remarks if Jurgl is Durgl's lady friend, and knows that it is Zosteif, the changeling. The warforge says Durgl must think of someone who may be of romantic or intimate interest. Durgl takes a moment to think about it.

Durgl remembers the person he remembers quite fondly. It is London Tipton, the laser-beam shooting girl he met back in Elytra. The warforge then prepares the binding between Durgl with Tipton in the Golden Ribbit by inscribing her name on it. The warforge says that Tipton will be able to find her way to Durgl. The warforge pulls out its records of names. Two of the names they take notice is "Akula" and "Cal". They wonder how it has Akula's name and the warforge says druids have mystical ways of knowing each other on another level. The warforge says that as a druid, it has mystical sense and can look into people. Vidro asks if the warforge can look into his life and offer answers about his early life. Vidro explains how he grew up believing the Coven were his family.

The warforge then turns its attention to Willem and tells him to be careful with his powers of souls. It says druids do not take kindly of this power. Willem says there is only one druid's opinion he cares about and she is currently angry at him. The warforge then informs them all that it is the chieftain they seek: Chief Steve. It then says it will make a purification ritual for Vidro but says it has some parting words for the rest of the crews. It then extends its vines and grabs some stalactites. Vidro is instructed to open his mouth as Chief Steve holds one of the spikes over his tongue. A blue liquid then drips into his tongue. Durgl questions the procedure throughout the process. After a minute, the warforge says Vidro has taken enough fluids and says that he will start to fall asleep. Vidro then drifts into sleep. He then falls unconscious. He begins to dream.

The warforge then says Vidro will need an hour. It says it will prepare a feast for the rest of the crew. Akula says he will cook instead. The warforge says it does not eat as it is a warforge without a mouth. Nonetheless, Akula knows he can provide and creates something Chief Steve can absorb as nourishment. Akula makes a bomb with various oils, topped with chili.

Chief Steve begins to consume Akula's dish and it is amazed. It says it has gained a new sense as it eats the entire dish. It suddenly grows and remarks that it was delicious. It offers Akula a gift and asks what he likes. Akula immediately looks at Willem. Akula says the thing he likes most is protecting his friends. Chief Steve says it has something for him. It grabs a spherical object and gives it to Akula. It says it belongs to another warforge that was created from his generation. It can be used by throwing it down and it can expand into a protective dome. It belonged to a warforge named Groot. It says it will protect his friends. Chief Steve reminds them all that it will take an hour for Vidro to dream.

They then hear the sound of a warhorn. The cave shakes. They hear the sound grow louder and Chief Steve takes notice of it. They hear muffled screams above. It then says its city is under attack. Willem asks what they should do with Vidro. Chief Steve says Vidro will be under his care and that it will need Akula. However, it beckons the rest to go up and assist. Akula gives his crewmates all of the weapons. Zosteif asks the captain if she can stay behind. Willem grants her permission.

Willem, Pravuil, and Durgl ascend up. They hear the carnage growing louder and louder. They see a massive mass with zombie-like husks chasing after people. They see a winged beast darting around. Centaur guards rush towards the threat. The winged beast is a dragon which spews poisonous cloud of green gas. Those who breathe the noxious fumes begin to convult and turn into zombified husks. The dragon continues to fly around frenetically, spewing out more gas. One of the tower spires collapses as it is damaged by the dragon. The three discuss how to attack the dragon. Pravuil suggests he can be used as a spring to propel the two closer. They discuss their plans. They are on equal height with the dragon as they are perched atop a cliff, and they need to get atop of the dragon and lure it. Willem will use a power to enlarge himself and fling Durgl towards the dragon and attack him.

Meanwhile, below, the warforge asks Akula if his friends are ever in serious danger, his special ring may be used to protect them and get them out of harm's way. It then looks at Zosteif and asks what she will do. She says she will pickpocket the unconscious Vidro. She pockets 32 gold.

Vidro, during his dream, hears chimes. He sees various colors and sees portals swirling around him. He sees the scene of a large, still lake. He feels elevated, mentally, spiritually, and physically. He then hears a voice, though no figure emerges. It speaks. "Kal'un...son of Dral'hu, you have come to reclaim what was lost". Vidro affirms this. The voice says that memories are in a conflict and that his old life can be restored. A portal spawns before Vidro and Vidro steps through it. Vidro sees his past. He notices a brown-haired elf walk through. He sees the scene of a house. There is a doctor and a mother giving childbirth. The voice explains the scene to Vidro that he was born as a marked anari. The scene progresses forward. Vidro sees his younger self learning their language by what it appears to be his father. The young Vidro cries as his father berates him while his mother tries to console him.

They return to the scene of the doctor and mother. They then flash to another scene with Vidro's frustrated father, who cannot fathom why Vidro is unable to do well with his druidic studies. However, with time, he notices in shock that his daughter has appeared to have attunement with druidic powers. He says Vidro cry "Igni" and suddenly, he is able to also demonstrate druidic power. However, his father remains focused on the daughter. His father begins to take pride in Vidro's sister instead of him. They then flash forward to the fateful day when his village was raided. His parents separated. The voice then says that the first time in hundreds of years, his village was attacked. His father was unable to reunite with his family but continue down the path. Vidro then sees his sister running away and then his own mother, wrapping her arms around Vidro, as their house is raided by attackers. The attackers slay his mother with their pointed swords. The guards then try to grab Vidro, saying that he is what they were looking for. Vidro tries to resist but knocks him out. The memories then start to fade away.

Back above, Durgl starts luring the dragon by creating a minor illusion of a baby dragon to distract the dragon. As he does this, he makes baby dragon sounds. The dragon is convinced and makes its way to Durgl's illusion. Willem gives Durgl the spherical object given to Akula. Once they throw the object into the dragon's mouth, it will hopefully expand and kill the dragon. Willem then tells Durgl to concentrate his illusion while he grows. He then lifts Durgl as he prepares to position him in throwing distance. He then chucks Durgl towards the dragon's mouth. Durgl, clutching on the wooden orb, propels into the dragon's throat and snakes his way down through the dragon's esophagus. He smells putrid, swampy smell as he travels down the digestive tract. He then activates the orb as it begins to expand. The dragon begins to choke and then suddenly, its neck starts to tear apart and its innards splatter. The dragon, decapitated, tries to fly away before it careens into a building and dies. The protective dome rolls down onto the streets below as it tumbles and crashes into various husks. Willem and Pravuil then join Durgl below as they start cleaning up the mess below and prepare to take out the undead hordes.

Down below, Zosteif notices Akula becoming binded with the tree and Vidro deep in his slumber. She then senses a chill in the room. She feels a cold breeze which unsettles her. It begins to wrap around her. She hears three whooshing sounds. She sees three figures emerge. One of them is a sickly-looking woman who levitates, then a faceless warrior, and a pale woman consumed with bloodlust. The middle woman, a witch, addresses Chief Steve and Zosteif. The witch says she will go after the relic while the knight is told to deal with the rest. The knight then tells Zosteif to run away and live or stand and die. He then walks towards Akula. Akula, in a trancelike stance, paralyzed, does take notice of the warrior walking towards him. Akula tries to end his process but is warned by the warforge that there is a chance to die.

Zosteif lashes at the warrior. The warrior turns his attention back to Zosteif and tells her "So you have chosen death" and marches towards her.

Vidro, still in his slumber, is addressed by the voice. The voice says Vidro has had many identities and lives now with two memories. It asks what Vidro must now do as he must choose one clearer path. It asks if Vidro wishes to remain living as the Vidro he has now come to know or as Vidro as he was meant to be originally. Vidro, at this crucial inflection point, says that both of these lives are him. The voice affirms this but says that as an anari, it is his fated destiny if he chooses this path. If Vidro chooses the fated path as an anari, he will no longer be known as Vidro, the gunslinger, but as Kal'un, the robed, fire-empowered staff-wielding prophet. Both versions of Vidro appear and stare at Vidro. The voice assures that if Vidro becomes Kal'un, he may remain with the crew, but that he may be a danger to them. Vidro walks up to his gunslinger self and says he has been good to him, but he can no longer continue running away. With a tear to his eye, he walks towards Kal'un and accepts his destiny. His face and personality begins to morph. His hair becomes braided. Their eyes meet. The image of Kal'un says that fire protects and then engulfs Vidro in flame. His clothes begin to burn away as his new cloak forms. His eyes glow red. He feels burning sensation, but it is a wonderful feeling.

Back aboveground, Durgl emerges from his dome and casts invisibility onto them. Willem charges towards the dragon's corpse, using his soul magic. Pravuil bounces up and down atop the husks and smites them at each plop. Durgl reconvenes with them. They climb atop the walls and notice a large army charging towards the cities, and the city's own defenses rallying.

Underground, Akula's vision begins to distort as he tries to break free from his trance. However, he finds himself underwater. He sees himself on the ocean floor with the sunlight above barely piercing through. He sees magma pouring out from the ocean floor. He hears a voice. "Akula, you come to my gate". It tells him that it has given him the weapon. It says if Akula wishes to hold the power, he must be its champion, its essence. Akula says he cannot do this if it gets in the way of his friendship. Akula asks why it wants Akula. The voice says that it is a god and it wishes the world to know its true power and that Akula belongs to it. It says that the other son of it is an abomination and that Akula must reassert flesh over metal. It asks whether Akula accepts this path. The ocean floor opens up. Akula says he will accept. The floor cracks open. Karthanax, the god of sharkin, swims up. He is a fearsome, massive shark.

Zosteif tries to restrain the knight with her voidcutter ability, by pinning him down. He is able to parry against her voidcutter strings. She shoots out another and she is able to deal some damage against him. As she attacks him, she notices the witch to her side. The witch hurls a spell at her and Zosteif's mind begins to be affected. She is restrained and she feels blades encircle around her. Zosteif is now restrained. The knight lashes at her and is able to land a lick.

At the gates, Willem, Durgl, and Pravuil notice that the coloration of the wall goes from the city's natural green to hues of otherworldly red. They see legions approaching the city and scaling the walls. They see two large dragons and ominous-looking figures. One holds a holy book, another a haribard, and another a sickly creature. One of the dragons flies away while the other charges up a fireball. It then shoots out a fireball right where the three stand. However, Durgl casts their protective globe around them and it bends the fireball away. Some of the elves who are inside the globe as well breath a great sight of relief. Around them, they notice people outside being flung across and slammed against the barrier of the globe.

Zosteif watches as blade-wielding woman attempt to stab Vidro. Suddenly, a flame shoots from him as he awakens, engulfed in burning flames, dual-wielding swords, and his eyes glow a burning red. He immediately slams the woman out of his way. He is the awakened Kal'un.

Willem, Durgl, and Pravuil devise a plan to take on the new dragon before them. Willem decides to use two of his harvested souls and sacrifice two of them, to re-summon the lightning twins he had slain back during the Stormlord showdown. The twins emerge in a wispy manner and look at Willem. He then gestures them to attack the dragon. They obey.

Zosteif hears a voice speaking to her. Steve addresses her. It acknowledges that she can change identities and confuse her enemies.

At the wall, the twins leap towards the dragon and fly. The three muster the elven troops around them. They make a beeline for the priest, the abomination, and harbard-wielding warrior. Pravuil goes for the abomination, Willem goes for the warrior, and Durgl goes for the priest.

As Willem makes his way towards the warrior, he intimidates him. Pravuil looks up at the alien and he feels a ring of golden life form between it and the priest. Durgl, in between the glowing light, is suddenly flung towards the alien. The priest addresses Pravuil as a traitor and says he has remained loyal, whereas Pravuil has not. The priest then draws out his sword.

The priest dashes towards Pravuil with a flurry of blows. Pravuil parries each attack.

Willem casts his clone behind the warrior and takes a swing. He lands a hit and swings another. Willem then delivers one more blow.

Durgl, confused, then sees the hissing alien creature leap towards him. It then lands atop Durgl and pins him down, digging its appendages into his limbs. Its maw, wide open, is right before Durgl's face as it shrieks.

Pravuil turns into a spring and holds a sword at the end of his body and tries to lash at the priest, declaring that he will show who is the true traitor. However, he is unable to land a blow.

Akula is reawakened and Chief Steve welcomes Akula back as the son of a god. Akula sees Zosteif and immediately claps, getting Zosteif out of the sphere of blades, and then rushes towards the witch and warrior.

Durgl breaks free from the creature and attempts to restrain the creature. He lunges his own manticore tail towards the creature and manages to pierce it. He then grabs his Golden Ribbit and binds it to the creature. It works and now, is loyal to him. He directs it to attack the priest but the priest's holy barrier blocks it. Durgl looks at the creature, visibly angered, and says he too hates magic.

Zosteif, broken free by Akula's power, does a stealthy puppeteer attack on the witch. Zosteif completely immobilizes the witch and has complete control over her. Zosteif makes her drop the staff.

Pravuil sees the holy book shine. The priest vows to send Pravuil to his maker and is able to land two blows.

The witch, under Zosteif's power, is forced to cast a spell on her own teammates and lands a blow on them.

Kal'un casts plant growth and entrap the pale woman, bringing her closer to his fire. At the same time, the knight lands a volley of blows on Akula. Akula then hears the screams of pale woman disintegrate as she burns into a crisp and fades away into ash.

Willem makes his move on the warrior and lands a series of slashes on him.

The alien creature looks on Durgl for direction. Durgl directs it to lead them towards the dragon.

The harbard-wielding warrior tries to attack Willem back with desperation and he is able to land a surge of furious counterattacks. Willem reflexively counterattacks on the blows which land on him.

Featured characters

Player characters

• Akula
• Anradeem Pravuil
• Durgl
• Jué Zosteif
• Ryul Vidro
• Maren
• Willem