Session 9: The Long Road Home Part 3

Thunder at the Gates of Time

Feeling secure in his new position Azhanti decides it is time to move against the Warlord Najentus. He learns that the Warlord has gathered his forces more quickly than expected and is already marching on the City. Acting quickly he calls a meeting of the Clan Council, the only group which can challenge the decisions of the Warlord. Four members currently make up the Council. Najentus has maintained his place on it despite his elevation to Warlord so that he can block any attempt by the Council to stymie his ambitions.

In a move designed to challenge his authority Azhanti calls a meeting of the Council of Five.

The group return to the City the same way they left and quickly find themselves in the Temple of Mael. A message arrives for Azhanti, Najentus wishes to meet with him in private before tomorrow’s meeting. He decides to go and takes Morn and Assamber with him. His two companions must wait outside. As they watch the tent of the Warlord the serpent priest Sheol emerges and glares at them. Inside Azhanti learns much of what has been happening.

Najentus explains much of his plans. The ancient Dragonborn Empire of Arkhosia has been reborn and its Emperor now sends his armies out to conquer the world. Five legions of imperial shock troops lie just off the coast in the Lokarnos City Ship Behemoth. Once the Cabal have exhausted themselves destroying the Rebellion then they will strike. The Legion will seize the docks, disable the defences and Imperial Troops will sweep into the City. A new Dragonborn King will sit on the Throne and he will need a High Priest he can trust. The humans will bend their knees to Najentus and the entire Tiefling race will be given to the Emperor as his slaves.

The plan is audacious but Azhanti is persistent. He stresses the need for the Warlord to respect the traditions of the Clan and restore the Council. He pleads on behalf of the Rebellion to aid them against the Cabal before taking the City for the Dragonborn. His makes an impassioned case and gives even Najentus pause for thought. He promises to think on the matter and reconsider at the meeting tomorrow. As Azhanti leaves the tent the Veni serpent priest emerges from the shadows “Should I kill him?” “No, not yet, he might still be useful to us.”

With much still to think about Azhanti, Morn and Assamber make the rounds of the Council members.

Xaltotun, the Warlock, meets them in his disturbing tent filled with bones and body parts. He is an aged Dragonborn, almost a mummy and was in Azhanti’s vision of the future. His command of the elements is prodigious but he is quickly swayed by promise of the Cabals sorcery and the possessions of Darius, their leader.

Tanith, High Priest of Vulcan presents a more difficult task. Humans are forbidden from entering the shrine and he has strong loyalties to the Warlord seeing him as the best hope for their people. His faith is shaken when Azhanti reveals the Warlords offer to replace him and his association with the forbidden Veni priests.

Balasar the Hunter welcomes them into his tent. He has heard of their victory over a Dragon and is keen to hear the tale. He offers to have its hide enchanted with powerful sorcery. He has many doubts about the Warlord but is reluctant to counter his orders. He respects the line of command and fears for the morale of the Legion if its commanders quarrel. Ultimately he agrees to help only if the other Council members do and only if the Warlord position returns to its ancient roots as a leader in time of war only.

As night closes in Azhanti spends his time walking amongst the common soldiers of the Legion speaking of the faith of Vulcan. Morn settles in with a group of Warriors and together they swap war stories. As he listens to their talk he is left with the distinct impression that the Dragonborn army will be on neither side in the coming conflict (Azhanti hasn’t been sharing with the rest of the group).

Assamber returns to town. At the Temple he finds Torvad Nom, the Hidden Priest from the City Ship Behemoth waiting for him. The Behemoth stands only a short distance away from the city and has 5000 Dragonborn warriors on it waiting to invade. He advises Assamber to flee before fire and death engulf the City. Desperate to stop this Assamber takes the plunge. He visits the Grub, a child of Mael and asks for his help. The Grub represents the darker side of Mael, the Lord of Monsters as opposed to Assambers vision of him as the Lord of Change. There he learns that the Cabal came from the continent of Arkhosia where once they enslaved the Dragonborn until they rebelled against their cruelty.

Concerned about the presence of such a large army the Grub agrees to help. Together they will perform a ritual powerful enough to drive away the ship so it cannot make landfall. The ritual will take time to prepare and news of what is happening still has to spread. Assamber contacts Morn who speaks with the Rebellion.

The next day Azhanti meets with the Council. He faces down Najentus and forces him to accept a new member onto the Council to take the place he should have vacated. Then the difficult work begins. Azhanti seeks a change of policy, the Warlord refuses. The serpent priest is brought before the Council and makes many threats. The authority of the newly returned Emperor is questioned and Najentus comes close to being deposed by his own council. At the last moment he relents in the face of strong opposition and agrees to withdraw the Legion to test the Emperors strength. If he is who he claims to be then he will be able to land his troops without their aid.

Incensed at the about face Sheol acts. He murders Najentus where he stands, poisoned blades piercing his throat and vanishes in a cloud of darkness promising dire retribution.

*cut scene*

The Imperial Palace of the Emperor of Arkhosia

A palace mage in robes of crimson enters the chambers of the Emperor. “My Lord, the Warlord has failed us, the High Lightning Clan retreats from the field.”

“So be it, unleash the dragon riders, I will see the home of Reptos reduced to rubble before this is over.”