Session 11: Death is only the Beginning, Part 5

Act 5: Revenge of the Rebellion

Darius enters the battle at last and the group bring their strongest powers to bear. Curses fly, blade barriers are conjured, walls of fire burst to life and flesh melting flames erupt. Morn and Azhanti are banished to a nightmare realm and only escape with the aid of Hu’Maa. Artemis is nearly slain but Morn manages to rescue him in time. Assamber flits around the battlefield shielded from view but harassed while Darius hurls his enemies into their own spells.

The battle is desperate. The group call upon all the aid they have bargained for and it is still nearly not enough. They are battered, scorched, poisoned, blasted and subjected to all the power at Darius' command and more.

Still he cannot overcome them. They draw deep from reserves they barely knew they had and it is enough, just. With a final gasp the last leader of the Cabal falls to his death and the Spire is finally free of their corruption.

The ancient crystal walls of that place resonate with power as its defence systems activate. The Spire is the entrance to the Labyrinth and interference by immortals is not tolerated. Beams of light lance down and obliterate the Dragons attacking the Spire but not before they incinerate Jocasta, High Priestess of the Cult of the Eternal.

Epilogue

The City lies in wrack and ruin. Flames spread in a dozen different places and what power groups existed are mostly broken. The Tiefling nobility has no leader, the Cult of the Eternal is nearly extinct and many of the Rebellion warriors are dead. Antonius died fighting demons but Marat Kesh has escaped.

In the harbour the residual necromancy of the Ship of Death poisons the waters along with the corpse of a Dragon. Many of the rogues and thieves have survived and may yet flourish in this lawless place but our heroes are unlikely to be around to see it.

They gather in the silent Chamber of the Spire. The Key of Time has been handed over to Vintu and the place has been looted by Xaltotun. The group keeps their various bargains. Catalia Anatarion, mother to Artemis has called them there. “There is something which you need to see”, she places her staff into the stone floor beneath the now floating and free Stone. A shaft of light penetrates the room and around it emerges a map of the world. “The Labyrinth imprisons Sopias still but we have no Centurion King to restore its power. It will fail and he will be released. I don’t know when but it will be soon. If someone can confront him inside the prison then he may yet be stopped. To do so you will need the keys, the Hearts of the Primordials, this map shows their locations.” As she speaks five lights begin to glow softly at different points. “Will you do this?”

Three agree quickly, Assamber, Artemis and Azhanti. Morn turns to her, “I have had enough of Gods and Demons, I came here to do a job and I have done it” and he turns and leaves.

*cut scene*

Several weeks later.

Drums roll and banners are unfurled as the might of the Kireshi nation enters what remains of the City of Kings. Catalia Antarion meets them as they enter. “We come to fulfil our ancient agreement, your City is free and we recover the remains of our Lord Ashura” Casting her eyes around the devastation Catalia nods slowly in agreement. “So be it”

The Children of Ashura enter his Temple to find it has been defiled. The bones are scattered on the floor, the skull missing, the Heart and the Bow gone. There is much wailing and cries for vengeance. They confront Catalia, “Who has done this” Stern faced she is compelled by ancient oaths sworn before she was ever born to answer. “Morn, Azhanti, Assamber and Artemis”

“They shall die a thousand deaths for their crimes”


And this brings the Heroic Tier of our adventures to a final conclusion. The City is in ruins, no one is really in charge but the Cabal has been destroyed, albeit at great cost. The group have a bunch of possible Paragon Tier quests to kick them off along with an overarching goal for the next 10 levels.

One final point on the bargains they made. This was one long extended sequence. There was never going to be a chance to take an extended rest but I didn't want it to be limited to what a party can survive in a single day. I decided that they needed to have some sort of method to recharge their powers. I toyed with the idea of recharging everything when they closed the Spire gates but that would be too simple. Instead each of the bargains allowed them to refresh a small number of abilities giving them a tactical edge.

Of course the group decided to hoard them all until the very final confrontation.

C'est la vie.

We play again in mid January giving me time to recharge the batteries and allowing us to have a Christmas break. Next year we get a 5th player as well as an old member of the group returns. How will they react to a Feypact Warlock of Sopias!