Session 8 (The Pirates of Atlas)
| "Session 8" | |
|---|---|
| The Pirates of Atlas episode | |
| Episode no. | Episode 8 |
| Original air date | August 6, 2023 |
"Session 8" is the eighth session of the campaign The Pirates of Atlas.
Synopsis
Akula's Friends are in Apolis in order to seek vengeance for Anradeem Pravuil. The crew have two pending requests: one to head to the north and two, to uncover who was behind the deaths of Pravuil's parents. Captain Willem has been hired by Atlantean scholars to board the four explorers.
Encased in the envelope which Vidro obtained contains the details of the auction, including its location and attire. Everyone must wear masks to conceal their identities.
Zosteif, who has been at the timespace room, is finally able to return to the real world and finds herself transported to Apolis. She panics, wondering why she finds herself here.
Reyen whistles on the boat and is confused why Zosteif is shocked to find herself in Apolis. Reyen asks and inquires Lockwood if she could help track someone he is looking for, someone who may have more information on the Dreamwell. He gives her a ticket and tells her to that man that Reyen sent him. Maren decides to go with Lockwood.
Azula stands up and tells the captain that they have a problem. She received a sending from someone within the Stormlords and suggests that they pay the toll and stay low when they head north due to a blockade set up there. Azula also says that she has a problem and she says she has a strong urge to kill them and asks permission to remain in the quarters during their passage. Willem brings up their dolphin mascot on the shiphead which could help them travel through the blockade efficiently and quickly.
Vidro says he has seven tickets for the auction. Vidro explains the plan to the captain that he and Pravuil had discussed overnight. He reveals that they should split into two teams, one team sitting in the auction and the other team sneaking behind the stage. Lara pops up and requests that she take part in the mission and be the operation commander. Zosteif tells the captain that she plans to take part in the stealth team.
Flynn comes up from below deck and says that she crafted a pod that could go underwater and requests if Maren can come down and check it out. Maren says she may be able to do it after the auction mission. She asks if there was ever sea life bustling underneath the Bay of Apolis.
Vidro, Pravuil, and Zosteif make their way to the mask. They find a very slim, slender figure who tells them they wish to wear a face. Lockwood is given a fox-themed mask. Pravuil is given a mask similar to a legendary warlock. Durgl receives a cute froggy mask. Zosteif receives a reaper's mask.
Zosteif and Pravuil go to help Zosteif obtain clothes from the tailor.
The captain does pushes up while Durgl stares and plays music.
Zosteif and Pravuil head to the tailor shop, reminiscent of Logon's store. They are met by a tailor who greets them. She tells him that she needs male's clothing in order to go under disguise. He demands high price and Zosteif reluctantly gives her coin away.
Lockwood and Maren arrive to the address that Lockwood received from Reyen. They find themselves outside the door with a sigil that instructs them to press it. It opens and they are met by a well-dressed aarakocra. Lockwood says that they were sent from Reyen to learn more about the Dreamwell. Lockwood says that she is a reporter from Port Royal. They are brought into his living quarters which is rather messy and they sit on two perches. The bird inquires how Reyen has been and whether he is still interested in finding the Labyrinth of Madness. He is willing to give information and says that his name is Dr. Stonewall and asks if his information will be cited to him. He says that he has had the privilege of flying over the Dreamwell and then takes note of Maren. He says she has the same coloration of the waters of Dreamwell. Dr. Stonewall says that he occasionally sees the fabled mermaids and siren that live in Dreamwell. He says that he has deciphered something and has seen many wondrous sights and continues rambling a stream of consciousness. Lockwood suspects that Dr. Stonewall is embellishing some of his words. She does not believe that she has flown over the Dreamwell but believes that his description of the weather and sightings of the mermaids and sirens are accurate. He says that he has studied astronomy and believes that Dreamwell has some relation to the sky and space, including the constellations. He says it is very exciting science and has learned this from a historian. Opening of the gates to the Dreamwell can be done through an ancient order of paladins known as the Medjaii, of whom there are 12. He says that this is secret knowledge from the Explorer's Guild and that the person he obtained this knowledge from is from Atlas.
Dr. Stonewall then draws his attention to Maren. Maren inquires how he knows how her skin matches the waters of the Dreamwell. At they talk, Dr. Stonewall realizes that she is royalty. Meanwhile, Lockwood snoops around the house after she falsely says she needs to use the bathroom. Lockwood discovers what appears to be the original map of Dreamwell which includes a snow-filled landmass to the north with a tomb with notes indicating that an expedition is to be sent there in three months. Lockwood jots down notes and copies the entire map. She accidentally knocks a book down and rushes her way back to Dr. Stonewall. She says she was lost and Dr. Stonewall directs her to the neighbor for the bathroom.
Maren distracts Dr. Stonewall further, pretending to be a news reporter. Dr. Stonewall refuses to give his secrets unless she wishes to break her marital vows. He says they can have dinner and eat worms but Maren says she cannot do that because she hates eating worms and can transform into worms. After this, the situation is awkward and Lockwood decides to take Maren away and they leave.
Lockwood tells Maren the information she obtained from the map she saw inside.
Everyone returns for the night on the ship. During the night, Vidro takes the night's watch. As the night progresses, he takes notice of people carrying various wares. He sees armored people carrying special crates and large jars. He sees four long crates. He sees some ladies and one of them elbows one of the guards as she darts for the alleyway. She is then apprehended and captured by a freezing spell. He observes as the guard tells her that she needs to only endure another week for the sake of her family and must return underground.
Ren approaches the captain and says that Akula has been missing in action. He says he received a letter from Akula. It is a holographic letter and it is Akula. He says he must head west and cannot explain why. He says he must take a temporary leave of absence and he left the Stormlord weapons in the vault. Ren says he can cook in Akula's place and Willem gives him permission to sleep in Akula's quarters.
Maren feeds all of the pets.
Lockwood sneaks out for the night and check out the nightlife. She asks a guard if there was a large Navy ship came by recently. The guard says one had come relatively recently with scientists. She asks if the Navy is allowed in Apolis and he says they are not but certain Navy personnel are allowed to come to Apolis temporarily in limited cases. He says they came for a blue-haired woman in a man of war ship and had come for Melora as well.
Willem goes down to the engineering room and is met by Flynn. He says he is looking for Akula's hammer and Flynn asks if he is willing to wield it. He is led to the vault and grabs the hammer.
Lockwood describes the woman to the guard and is able to obtain more information from him. She returns to the ship.
Once everyone is back on the ship, Vidro recaps the plan to everyone and Lockwood shows the map. The auction team will consist of Vidro, Pravuil, Willem, and Durgl. The stealth team will consist of Lockwood, Zosteif, Maren, and Lara. The issue is that they only have seven tickets. Reyen warns that anyone who comes to the auction without any apparent intent to auction or pay coin will be deemed suspicious. He suggests that someone invoke their noble sigil to gain leniency. Reyen suggests they obtain Diana Durathyon's family sigil. The alternative is gold. Maren checks her accounting book which indicates 28,000 gold in the vault. Diana Durathyon says the sigil idea could not work as she threw the sigil out of sea back in Apolis. Willem says not all hope is lost as he has a letter that contains the mark of the Durathyon sigil. Reyen says he could fashion rocks into fake gold in order to appear as the Durathyon sigil. Cannoneer suggests they have yet to use cannons and that they could simply fire cannons at the auctioning event. Willem is open to the idea and says if the plan goes wrong, they could send the event. Azula warns that the event could invoke the wrath of the Coven and then Willem suggests what if they staged it as a false flag operation by the Stormlords. She changes her tune and is intrigued, while Vidro is highly skeptical of the idea.
Willem instructs Cannoneer, Elsa, Lara, and Ren to open up a merchant wagon during the night of the auction as a means of distraction and averting suspicion, while the cannon is hidden.
Zosteif and Lockwood, knowing each other's identities, speak among themselves and Zosteif tells her that they should stick together should Zosteif see someone she seeks to enact vengeance against.
They do a final rundown. There will be three teams: Team Stealth, Team Auction, and Team Vendor.
Vidro warns them if they see anyone with jester's masks, they must simply run. He also gives them smoke bombs.
The next day at 6 PM, the crew readies themselves for the auction.
Ren readies his sushi station outside at the vendor's wagon while Cannoneer places the cannon underneath the sushi wagon. The crewmates prepare the tickets and disguises.
They make their way to the event and enter with their tickets. As they enter, they see the rest of the crew at the vendor's wagon acting their part.
The event is full of masked, lavish individuals enjoying themselves. Vidro investigates their surroundings. They are then led to the auctioning event and head downwards, going through the management room. Lockwood is on the lookout for Desmond. Vidro notices a number of operatives walking around and socializing with the guests. He does not notice anyone of importance or noteworthiness. They enter a large room with rows of chairs and a large stage.
Maren asks for the ladies' room and is pointed the directions to it.
Team Auction splits up. Willem and Durgl go to the left-hand side while Vidro and Pravuil sit on the right-hand side. Vidro notices more people in the back of the stage and additional rooms. He communicates through sending storm to Team Stealth about the general layout of the backstage.
More guests come in, many of whom are armored. Many are armed and have not been confiscated, but each seem equally confident to their self-defensive abilities. Lockwood notices to the right and sees Desmond carrying items away in that direction to another hallway. She tells her crew that she has caught sight of Desmond and says that it seems to be a job for Zosteif. Maren sends Ara Ara to follow Desmond.
Lockwood stakes out on the right, backside of the room and makes small talk with some of the guests.
They see a black-robed gentleman, a high-elf, appear onstage and announces that the auction will be starting. He does not have a mask on and says he welcomes everyone. The nobles begin to sit down. Zosteif shapeshifts into a man and wears the men's clothing she received from Pravuil. Maren does not notice Zosteif's new disguise and waits at the ladies' room.
The high-elf host announces the first item: the Bleeding Bouquet. They are throwing pens that can cause massive bleeding damage and is ideal for bounty hunters. It has a honing sequence. For nobles, if they hire assassins, the Bleeding Banquet at 2,000 gold. It is sold for 7,400 gold.
Lockwood walks up to one of the champagne attendants and takes a glass. She bumps into someone, accidentally spilling champagne on them, and tries to help wash off the man, who is a reporter, who has a press pass. She flashes a gesture in hopes that someone from her crew takes notice. Zosteif takes notice of Lockwood's gesture and she comes over and tries to distract the reporter. She pickpockets the man and grabs away the pass and slips it back into Lockwood's pocket. Lockwood heads back to the bathrooms with the disguised Zosteif. She passes the pass to Maren to gain access into the private rooms.
The next item is the Waterwhip which can use any kind of liquid and be used as a striking weapon. It is sold for 2,300 gold.
Maren approaches to the private rooms and shows her the card to gain access. The guard asks that a reporter is here and a blonde woman appears and lets Maren in. She communicates with Ara Ara who says that the people inside are simply discussing about Winestead. Maren presents herself to the older gentleman and says she is here to report from the Reapers. She says she is here to take commissions for the Reapers. The older gentleman says one of them is Lucia Highborne and must be pushed down the stairs.
Ara Ara is about to swoop by and the man attempts to swat the spider. Maren grabs Ara Ara before it is attacked.
The next item is an exotic, great product. Two carts are brought in and as they are unveiled, it is the four jars of eyes belonging to the Zosteif family. The eyes constantly shift different irises. The Zosteifs were once nobles of Apolis but were murdered by their daughter. It is revealed that they belonged to shapeshifters. The bid starts at 70,000 gold. The price keeps climbing. During this bidding, Desmond is seen walking along the side. A childish voice cries 1 million gold pieces. It is the stepchild of the Zosteif family: Damien Zosteif.
Lockwood bumps into Desmond and pulls them aside to a private quarter. Behind them, there are people doing sexual encounters. One of the clients barks at them. Desmond brings Lockwood to the hallways. Desmond asks what Lockwood is doing here. Lockwood is asking what Desmond is doing here. Desmond asks her if she is spying on him and she says he is. She tells him if he is involved in the auction. He tells her why she is shocked that nobles partake in such activities. Lockwood and Desmond start arguing. Lockwood is deeply disappointed and disgusted by Desmond and feels betrayed by her best friend. He says he joined because he did not wish to starve to death in the streets. Before Lockwood runs away with tears in her eyes, Desmond cries "Your principles will die in the grave with you".
Outside, Reyen is busy selling magical watermelons. Lockwood leaves the premises and needs to take a time to decompress.
After Damien wheels away the Zosteif eyes. There is a deafening silence before red curtains are unveiled. Stapled on the wall are the wings of the Pravuil family. It is set for 300,000 gold. Durgl sets the bid for 1.7 million gold, the largest bid ever in the auction's history. As a reward for the highest bid, Durgl will get to meet the people who acquired the wings.
Zosteif rushes to Maren and tells her everything that has been unfolding.
Willem and Pravuil pretend to be Durgl's bodyguards and are led to the backstage.
Lockwood expresses her devastation with Lara about what has happened to Desmond. Lara gives a heart-to-heart advice to Lockwood. She says she is called a "simic hybrid" and was tested young. She was experimented on, including her hair. After her surgery was botched, she was abandoned by her biological parents. However, she was eventually taken by her stepfather Markello and was compared to a beautiful blossom who simply needed sunshine. She says that Desmond may have changed but if he changed, Lockwood should not be angry for him, but sad for him. Lockwood asks what she should do and Lara says it depends on how much she liked him back then.
Vidro sneaks behind the group including Willem, Pravuil, and Durgl to observe them from a distance.
Willem, Pravuil, and Durgl devise a plan to swap masks with Damien Zosteif by beating him up and having him inadvertently kicked out, so they are able to steal the wings and eyes. They meet a hunter, grey-skinned aasimar, Aldrin, who has one white wing and has one black wing. Durgl is able to persuade the auctioneers to allow them to have audience with Damien Zosteif. He explains how he killed the Pravuil parents. His father tried to fight but could not put up with a fight, and was begging for Anradeem to save him. He dragged him off and plucked off his wings violently. The mother was knocked out of his carriage, taken to the alleyway, and had her wings ripped off, and his guards had his way with them.
Damien Zosteif appears and begins their negotiations to trade each other the items. After they talk back and forth, they agree to conduct their meeting inside a private room. Durgl and Damien Zosteif have a private room to each other, and Ryul sneaks in from atop.
Damien asks for his name and Durgl says rather than telling his name, he will show his name. He takes out the Frogger and attempts to intimidate the child. The child's eyes shimmer pearl white and is prepared to cast a spell. Phantom-like tendrils start to emerge and throws him against the wall. He tells him how dare Durgl tries to threaten him and says that he was the one who killed the Zosteif family.
During this fight, Jué oveerhears Damien confess to the murder of her parents. As Durgl is getting choked to death, Vidro calls for the cannons to commence as the operation has botched. Durgl is brutally crushed by the neck.
Reyen receives the OK from Vidro to attack the venue. It violently shakes the building and everyone in the building starts to panic.
In the midst of the confusion, Vidro casts a smoke bomb and attempts to grab Durgl. Damien whisks away. Zosteif rushes in, still in her disguise, to also help Durgl. Willem and Pravuil grab the wings.
Team Vendor runs away as guards rush towards the chaos.
The whole crew rushes back to the ship while Maren scrambles to get the expedition crew at the tavern. Durgl is healed by Vidro's healing spell.
Lockwood tells her crew that she has unfinished business to settle and that if the crew must leave now, they should and that she will come back to them eventually through a teleportation spell.
The crew readies to set sail as the expedition crew members have been gathered.
Lockwood goes back to find Desmond and try to convince him to change his ways. He says his mother has been sick and he sent gold back as remittances. He was seeking a physician that Maiya had spoke of to treat his mother. His mother has since died six years ago and the people who Desmond works for has still kept the money. Lockwood questions why he still willingly chooses to work for such people. He says he is playing them at their own game and seeks to enact revenge methodically. She extends a hand to Desmond to seek vengeance a different way that does not endanger innocent lives.
He says if he must allow a hundred to suffer so that one may live, he will. He says he will cleanse the streets of the nobles. He questions if there is a better path, why has it not presented itself. Lockwood says she came to the crew with nothing and was given many opportunities, many of which she has since seized. Lockwood says that Desmond has not had those opportunities due to his blind hatred and draws a blade at him, persuading him to join her.
Desmond rejects her. Lockwood proposes that they duel and whomever falls first shall accept the other's fate. He turns it down and says he should be shown out in the world. He says they must part their ways for now and perhaps one day they shall fight for real, but until then, they must forge their own paths. He says he hopes that Lockwood is right and walks away. She feels defeated and collapses to the ground, staring at the sky forlornly.
Some guards approach her and ask if she is okay. She says she is okay and she decides to go on an introspective walk.
Back on the ship, Reyen asks what they should do while Lockwood is not here. Vidro offers to assume the role temporarily. Reyen also raises the point that Azula had mentioned previously regarding the Stormlord blockade. They agree that they need to change their banner and ship name for a while as they travel north. Toto is asked to decorate the ship.
During Lockwood's walk, she bumps into Lucia. Lucia notices Lockwood and warns her about a terrorist attack which had just occurred. She says it was initiated by the Stormlords. Lockwood asks Lucia what her philosophy is. Lucia says that she hopes the world changes and she sees changes through the pursuit of the sciences. Lockwood asks how Lucia feels about the people in power. She says she was inspired by a man named Flynn and Lockwood realizes that this is the same Flynn that is on Lockwood's crew. Lucia asks where her crew is. She also imparts som eadvice to Lockwood and says that there are some good people in the world. She speaks of the town of Elytra and is a place she could go and find. Lockwood also tells her that there is a 2,000 gold bounty on her head. Lucia says she will make haste and pulls out her journal and says that she learned Aldrich language. Apolis was actually called "Opolis" and once, she visited ancient ruins, which below had an ancient civilization known as "Necropolis". Lockwood then pays a visit to the local blacksmith and has a special buckle prepared. She then returns to the ship by teleportation spell.
Meanwhile on the ship, the disguised Zosteif inquires Durgl what happened back at the auctioning room. She then whisks into the bathroom.
Reyen goes to Pravuil with some books and informs him that it may be in Pravuil's best interest to bury his parents' wings in the ancestral tombs to the north so that they may be able to find their way to heaven. Pravuil agrees.
Three months pass as they venture north. The waters grow rougher, causing some people to take shelter below deck. They hear rumbling thunder as they go further. The crew decide to rename themselves temporarily as Willem's Willies (W.W.) and their ship as the Drowning Durgls (D.D).
As they sail further north, they notice a large armada of Stormlords in the distance. Azula says that each of the lightning strikes they see in the distance belong to the Stormlord himself.
They continue sailing towards the blockade line. They are greeted by one of the ships that demands a tithe of 300 gold. Captain Willem tells them that the crew's name is the Willem's Willies and Maren shows the inspector her shirt which has a crudely written "Willem's Willies" on it. They are granted passage. The sea is unmerciful and if they should die, their lives must have been lived well.
As they go through the line, the storm gradually dissipates and the weather turns into snow. They are month away from Stormwind and have winter clothes fashioned for themselves. Vidro passes along information to the Coven that the Stormlords were behind the terrorist attack at the auction in Apolis and that Willem's Willies were there, stealing some items from the auction.
Interesting news headlines of note reach their way to the crew during their voyage:
- Apolis Terrorist Attack, caused by the Stormlord Pirates: A recent attack done by a rogue crew of the Stormlords have committed an explosive attack towards a private venue.
- 7th Fleet Defeated: The 7th Fleet of the Navy, has gone MIA for the past 4 months and recently their wreckage has been discovered to the East
- Elytra Eurika: Elytra has recently annouced a special type of magic that is said could be combative towards The Blight
- Mechagon takes Flight: A brand new line of inventions showcase that the High Forge has harnessed the ability of flight, these incredible flying machines are capable of holding canons on them
Finally, the crew lands in an icy tundra cove. They notice a large, 120-feet fjord and they must find a way to ascend it. They discuss among themselves how to ascend the fjord. Vidro and Flynn spend their time working on creating a ballista-like grappling hook. Cannoneer shoots the hook upward and Maren turns into a bird, hoisting up the levee system onto the lift. There is 17.6% chance of falling off. Vidro falls but casts a spell to return back to his original position while Durgl is able to ascend safely. Pravuil carries Zosteif and flies up. Willem falls 65 feet and summons his echo clone and swaps positions.
Diana and Ren are the ones next to be sent upwards. Below Reyen has the ready to take the anchor off. Ren informs them that he must head back to his village to inform the elders regarding something but that he will be back. He leaves with them a map. He teleports away.
They make their way to a village surrounded by beautiful forestry where they smell sugar cookies. Lockwood says they have multiple paths to choose. They could head to the ancestral tomb of the Pravuil family or head to the village nearby. They decide to head towards the ancestral tomb.
As they walk down a path, they notice both human footprints and animal footprints. They see a large minotaur figure lying down in the snow. The minotaur is awoken and says he should be left alone because he wants to die. He says he cannot reach his dream. His dream is to sell ice. He says that there is no other place in the world to sell ice. They suggest perhaps he could sell magical ice. The minotaur finds hope and he walks off, leaving behind a large shield. Vidro yells at the minotaur to sell shaved ice with flavorings. Vidro identifies the shield and it is called the Shield of the Sea.
As they continue their way, Vidro finds a fluffy creature, a poro, which is happily munching on cookies. Maren speaks to it in its tongue. It says that he and others are preparing for a large festival. He says many are seeking to get adopted and he cannot be adopted because he needs to go to school. The annual festival happens yearlong and it invites them to go to the adoption event.
In the distance, they see a billowing black smoke behind the snowy hills. As they touch the snow, it is the first time any of them had ever encountered snow. They feel comfortably warm due to their clothes. However, they start feeling too warm as they approach towards the volcano. The embers flitter by and they see two paths. One leads to a direct path to the volcano with obsidian and another, to the right, has a manmade structure that has been damaged by the lava pools surrounding it. Vidro inspects the paths.
Maren learns from the poro that there is another poro that is capable of walking on lava.
Vidro ventures on the left-handed path while Lockwood tries to throw some stones into the right-handed path to create a more navigable path. Vidro learns there is a straight path down into the volcano with a water hole that leads into the cave below.
Lockwood scales the path on the right-handed side and is able to make it across. The others go on the left-handed path. Vidro gives everyone except Pravuil and Zosteif feather fall, while Pravuil will fly down with Zosteif.
Lockwood, being the first at the entrance of the vault, notices that it is a vacant tunnel with no door. She ignites her sword and hears splashing noises in the distance. As the rest of the crew exits the lake, they enter a brimstone-obsidian structure. They walk through the tunnel. They find themselves a gate with two unlit sconces. Zosteif and Durgl stay behind as Pravuil warns them only that the holy and pure-minded may enter.
They enter a central plateau with no land bridges. They see a series of statues and Pravuil feels a warm feeling. There is a blue light shimmering below. There are six to seven land bridges below. In the center is a large tomb and a sword implanted between its hands.
They descend as they reach down to the central crypt. Pravuil places the wings on the altar and Nolideer Pravuil's astral form appears. A sword appears, Nolideer informing Pravuil he must be the one to save their race. An astral figure appears and it is the first Pravuil, Artorious. He tells them that there were Magi and when Atlas had ascended, the landmasses had been split up and spread across the world. The Medjaii and him were keepers of 12 keys that gave access to the Dreamwell. The keys do not originate from our world but came from the cities among the stars. It was created by the greatest enemy yet. He points the sword and constellations begin to emerge and the Dreamwell emerging as a black hole. Within the hole is a very large figure. The first celestial, the Zodiac, is responsible for creating these keys and each key is associated with an item, alongside a particular constellation which he willed into existence. This sword contains one of the keys. There are 11 other keys to obtain in order to open the Dreamwell. The wish they have at the Dreamwell must be chosen wisely. If they fail, the world will be destroyed and if they fail to open the Dreamwell, the Zodiac will come after them. He reveals that he was Ares. The magis instilled fear in many. Each tomb's location is knowable and are guarded by beasts. In Lordorin, they will face their first enemy, Scorpio. Before he parts, he warns Pravuil that there are traitors among them, whose hearts are not true. Vidro is unable to identify it. Pravuil attunes himself to the sword by slashing his right arm and allowing the blood to trickle on it.
Willem prays for a way out of the crypt while Vidro investigates. They find their way out and follow the map towards the village. During their journey, they endure an unnaturally strange storm. They notice a large creature being transported by guards. They decide to continue navigating and brave the storm, bracing themselves for the creature. It turns out to be a man and it is Varen Hollow, the Stormlord himself.
Vidro shoots an icicle at him and buckshots him. Varen Hollow rips off his cloak and shows lighting streaking across him. He shoots at each of them and all of them suffer great damage. Varen leaps up and slams right before them. He meets Willem and says "You are the captain. You shall be the last to die." Willem sends his clone behind Varen and pulls out his lesser weapon and swings at him. He is only able to graze him. Maren casts a tidal wave towards Varen and is able to deal with moderate damage. Lockwood attempts to affix a smoke bomb to an arrow and uses second wind to regain health. Diana casts eldritch blasts but misses as Varen parries the attacks. Pravuil attempts to cast banishment on him but it fails. He then casts First Aid to enhance his healing. Varen starts shooting bolts from his hands and they all come thundering down. The lightning do not strike Zosteif and Lockwood; the former backflipping away and the latter's armor deflecting it. Vidro has a flash of genius and throws a rod away to redirect the lightning bolt. Pravuil is also able to avoid getting hit with quick reflexes. Maren and Willem meanwhile get hit by the lightning. Lockwood casts additional arrows as the initial arrow comes back down with the smoke bomb.
Zosteif attempts to shoot an arrow at the Stormlord as the cloud of smoke billows around, obscuring everyone's sight. Zosteif is able to see him and shoots but he dodges. Vidro drinks a potion and teleports himself and Diana away up the slope 500 feet. The Stormlord takes notice of them and shines his eyes brightly towards them. He teleports right in front of them and his eyes impose a will on him. Vidro loses consciousness and the last thing he sees are footsteps running towards him. The crew, in a confused and frenzied state, discuss what they should do. Varen reappears, knocked by prone. Another figure reappears and says he is a friend of Ren's. Varen is visibly bloodied, having finally taken considerable damage. Varen taunts Willem as someone strong has finally appeared and says he will get him one day. Ren's friend engages in an epic duel against the Stormlord, a fight between wind and lightning.
As they ascend the snow, they find Ren and other figures. They point towards Vidro and Diana being brutally slashed. Pravuil heals Vidro and Maren heals Diana. Zosteif tries to locate Lockwood who has ran off. Stones come crashing down as Zosteif sees Lockwood running away with Autumn. The fight between Ren's friend and Varen continues, and suddenly the sound of thunder ends.
Vidro and Diana are unresponsive as the healing seems to have no effect. Ren says they must be taken to the village right away for deep spiritual healing. Willem picks up Vidro while Pravuil helps Ren carry Diana.
Lockwood, still navigating the mountain, bumps into a bloodied Reyen. Reyen asks where Pravuil is and they retreat into a cave. Reyen said that the ship was attacked and that he had sent many sending stones for the emergency. Lockwood causterizes Reyen's wound with her flaming blade.
As the crew continue their way to the village where the storms fade away, they see a panoramic view of the village.
Lockwood and Reyen talk. Lockwood tells Reyen that they faced the Stormlord himself and they were saved by another man who was able to match Varen. Reyen tells Lockwood that Lara and Toto was taken by one of the Stormlords and thrown into a portal that leads back to Stormwind. Azula is dead. Someone shoved a spear through her chest. Reyen says they need to go back and fight but Lockwood tells him that they should not as she has witnessed the fearsome prowess of the Stormlord. She places her coat to Reyen who has fainted. She recognizes that his wound needs to be stitched out and decides to hunker down, ensuring that his wounds do not become gangrenous.
The crew finally enters the village and are greeted by a wonderful scenery that they would have appreciated had the circumstances been different. They are taken to a building where there is an ever-still pond. Ren tells them that Vidro and Diana could be revived in these waters but it is not a sure guarantee. Vidro and Diana's bodies are placed in the pond and they do not sink. They float and slowly drift towards the center. After a while, Diana wakes up while Vidro's chest does not rise. There is no movement. Ren says that his heart was not pure. However, it is fabled that someone could still be revived if they offer their soul to them. Pravuil offers his soul but Willem advises him not to be so hasty and to put faithful thought first. The forbidden act which serves as an alternate may allow them to split the souls in half. Willem prays, dips underwater, and receives word from his god that he must offer sacrifice. Pravuil meanwhile hears a voice from Artorious to offer his wings in exchange for his friend's soul. By losing his wings, he will lose his divine nature. He offers himself into the pool and his wings are annihilated completely. Moments later, Vidro is revived. He is confused and upon learning Pravuil lost his wings in exchange for Ryul's revival, Vidro tells Pravuil he should not have done it. Pravuil bears now two permanent scars.
Lockwood waits until Reyen wakes up and Reyen tells her of his backstory, including of his deceased wife. His wife was named Emily and they had a daughter, Lilian. However, Emily died from childbirth. Lockwood speaks of her dreams in the past. They bond over the pain they endured during their lives. Reyen said he wanted to give up when he lost Emily but because of his daughter, he vowed to live for her and to protect her. She was unfortunately a sickly girl and her affliction was incurable. He went to every doctor but caught wind that there were doctors in Atlas. When he arrived to Atlas, he saw that Atlas had been lifted to the sky, 15 years ago. Ever since, Reyen went on a search to find a cure through magic and learned of the Labyrinth of Madness which could have had the answers. Lockwood speaks of her desire to fix things, such as with her recent loss with Desmond. She encourages Reyen to atone by finding a new path. Reyen says he heard of the Apple of Eden which could change one thing in the past without repercussion. He says the one thing he would do is to have never gone to Atlas and to remain with Lilian. Reyen concedes that Lockwood is wise and is a shame she is insulting half of the time. Lockwood appreciates it and says she would say the same had he not been an old prick. They reach to a mutual understanding.
Ren says they must train to become stronger in order to take down the Stormlord. Back in the village, the figure who fought Varen Hollow returns. Ren welcomes them to the village of Haki. He says there are those in his villages who pursue the darker arts and are banished because of this. Ren further informs them that three of the four expedition crew members who had accompanied the crew from Apolis are now dead. Only the woman with the blue-haired survived.
As Lockwood and Reyen ascend the mountain slope, they are met with masked guards who tells them that her friends are in safe hands in the village. She remains weary of them but nonetheless follows them. They are brought to private cabins.
When the crew reconnects, Reyen informs them that Lara has been captured, Azula is dead, and Cannoneer and Elsa were teleported elsewhere. Reyen remarks he had never known someone capable of teleporting multiple peoples very far quickly. He suspects that Elsa wields powerful teleportation magic. He warns the captain that the Stormlords will pursue them relentlessly.
Ren then convenes the whole crew together and informs them that their training will entail the consumption of a fruit or learning a new power. Ren says he has insight into each of their physicalities and strengths, and able to direct them each to the rightful fruit.
He says some of them will do well to eat the fruit. Others do not. Those who eat the fruit will lose their ability to swim. They must be taken to the spirit tree. They are teleported there and they join hands. They are whisked to the largest cherry blossom tree they have ever seen, surrounded by pouring waters. They are met with the powerful scent of cherry blossoms. Any worries and fears melt away as they feel lighter and high. They are taken to the base of the tree which has markings all over. Ren tells them to pick any fruit they desire and says it will choose them. Four of them feel a calling, a magnetic pulse drawing them to the fruits. They each grab and eat their fruits. Pravuil sees a black, dark fruit, devoid of light, which tastes initially delicious but then suddenly repulsive. For Willem, he receives a fruit that descends down, feathery, and initially delicious but also disgusting. For Zosteif, she receives her fruit which seems quite small but she nonetheless eats it. For Lockwood, she receives a fruit that has various seasons on it.
Vidro tells Pravuil to come over and shows him his own self-imposed scars, which are reminiscent of Pravuil's own scars. Vidro says that his scars will be his as well and that he has placed complete trust in him.
Ren tells them that all of their weapons are weak and must be improved.
The night draws and they recede to their quarters.
Featured characters
Player characters
Returning
- Ara Ara
- Artorious Pravuil
- Azula†
- Autumn
- Cannoneer and Elsa
- Dr. Stonewall
- Chowder
- Desmond
- Diana Durathyon
- Flynn
- Lara
- Lucia Highborne
- Nolideer Pravuil (wings displayed and as astral projection)
- Ren
- Reyen
- Rholdrea Pravuil (wings displayed)
- Toto
- Varen Hollow (first in-person appearance)
New
Mentioned
See also
Dungeon Master: Monke_M0de (Laith) Players: Alko (Arvel/Dean) · Ashyevie (Ashley) · Centrist16 (Justin) · FreeStyl3 (Edward) · Shiba (Jason) · TheRealSanae (Sharon) Former players: Darnoc (Conrad) · Khaiya (Emma) | |||||
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