Session 15: Interlude Part 1

Having overcome the forces of the undersea region our heroes prepare to return to the surface world. Assamber, now the highest ranking servant of Mael (heretic that he might be) establishes a power base for himself in the Temple and orders his people to go forth and trade.

The Ship of Dreams sails on no ordinary currents. It navigates the pathways of Dream, the realm of the imprisoned Primordial Sopias. Occasionally travellers sail too close to his prison and the mad god touches the minds of those who draw near showing them images of the past, present and future.

As our heroes take some well earned rest the mists of Sopias roll over them carrying them away deep into the realm of Dream.

Morn wakes to find himself amongst a panicking multitude of people. He is a young man, no more than 14 or 15 burdened down by many bags and stumbling over his staff of office, only recently received on his elevation to Apprentice Mage. He must get to his master, he knows that he has many of the components he will require for the great Undertaking that will save these, the last remnant of humanity. Hijacking a cart he careens through the throng and tumbles into the meeting of his Master with the King. The five great Magi of the Incarnum are here, ready to perform the Ritual which will save them all from the Chaos Gods they have summoned which threaten to devour their world.

The Magi gather and the King departs with his advisors. In the distance a rolling cloud of blackness races towards them. The Lords of Chaos dwell within, That Which Dwells Beneath, The Shadow of the Void, The King in Yellow and more hunger for the last blood of humanity. The Ritual begins as the Magi construct a huge bridge of light, an escape from this world. Morn hesitates, he looks full in the face of chaos turning away only at the last possible moment. As the bridge carries him to safety he watches a world dissolve into unrestrained chaos.

It is several weeks later. The bridge has deposited the remnants of humanity onto a new world, a great grassy plain near the ocean. Morn recognises the stars, they are not far from where the City of Kings will one day rise. He is stood with the Kings advisors, one of the few Magi left. A tall figure enters the room and it falls quiet. He bows to the King. "We have scouted the region my lord, there is no intelligent life here only some primitive lizard people. They will pose no impediment to our rule" As he does so his men throw down the dead body of a Dragonborn, cut to pieces. "Very well General Reptos, we shall build our Capitol here."

Assamber finds himself stood on the rolling deck of a Lokarnos City Ship in the middle of a terrible storm. He is dressed as a senior Priest of Ul-oo-thee and Vedris, daughter of Mael writhes in ritual ecstacy before him. The seven ships of the Lokarnos fleet are here and on each the daughters of Mael perform the Ritual of Binding. This is their vengeance against their father who is trapped within the Maelstrom, the great whirlpool at the centre of the world. He is slowly sinking into the depths as the Ritual reaches its climx.

Around him the Priests of Ul-oo-thee begin to explode, their essence used to power the Ritual, drawn into the raging spellstorm at the edge of the Maelstrom. Some resist, hurling themselves into the Maelstrom, shedding their physical bodies and joining Mael. Beneath him Assamber can sense the rolling power of pure Chaos, the original force of creation, the power which the Primoridals used to breathe everything into existence. It is close enough to touch if only he reaches out. He begins to dissolve himself into the Spellstorm when Vedris turns to him.

"Leaving so soon Assamber, would you so readily accept the limited power of the Spellstorm. Look into the heart of creation, this is the crucible of all things. Together we can learn its secrets, together we shall achieve unlimited power."

Assamber turns to her. "You are afraid and untrustworthy, you would use me as you have these. I reject you. I will take this power for myself."

Artemis finds himself standing naked on the cold marble stones of a balcony in a palace overlooking an ancient city. The City curves and twists with the surrounding jungle, the two intermixed and at its heart stands a great golden pyramid.

"Come back to bed my love" comes a voice from behind as slender arms enccircle his chest. Turning he finds himself looking deep into the eyes of a beautiful woman. In the mirror behind he sees himself but not himself. A stranger looks back at him but one marked with the symbol of the Master of the Hunt, a path he has just begun to walk.

"Who are you?" She steps backs, she looks confused, hurt perhaps. "You know me Artralis, I am K'shatta, the woman you love. The woman you found in the eternal city of Tamurlan" "I dont know you, my name is Artemis"

She rears back. "Thats not possible, the vision failed and yet you are here. I had sought to divine the future for my dreams have been dark of late. Somehow you have come here, I dont know how. We dont have much time. You are my future, Tamurlan is lost, the Eternal City is the promise of Ashura on his deathbed. A City beyond the influence of God or Demon or Primordial. Only the Huntsman can reach the Gates of Tamurlan and only you can ensure its and my rebirth. Come to me Artemis, come to me you are my only hope"

Chiniko is used to the dreams which Sopias brings. He has travelled their paths many times. It is no surprise for him to find himself in the body of some alien hunter on a desolate tundra, wrapped in animal furs and standing over the corpse of an ancient enemy. His people have been at war with the creature he has killed for thousands of years. Genocide is all they know and now the last of their kind lies just a little way off hiding in a ruined keep. He has killed its mate, now he will end their line forever.

He leaps up into the ruins scenting the trail. He has his spear with him, the flint spearhead infused with powerful sorcery. There is a flash of movement from above and he twists to meet its leap. The spear pierces its chest and it collapses onto the stones. Their eyes meet. "You are too late" A rent opens in the sky above the keep and from the top of the tower two children leap through. "My children will live."

His perspective changes. He is the corpse of the creature. In the sky above him the tear has widened, a large ugly bruise across the sky. Five figures walk up the hill. He recognises one, a dark humanoid shape surrounded by flowing purple mist. It is Sopias and the others must be his brother Primoridals.

Sopias speaks, "This cannot be permitted to be, if left unchecked it will undo all we have created" "We are forbidden from interfering" the others reply. "Our compact binds us all, this world is theirs, they will do with it as they will." Turning on them Sopias objects "They are still children, they have much to learn." The others shake their heads. "Do not do this brother, it will harm you" "I know" he says and as he expands to swallow the rift into Chaos he turns to Chiniko "Remember."

His perspective changes again. He is an old man, older perhaps than any other. His name is Utu'Kamla, the first Archmage and as he sits in meditation he contains the Primoridal Sopias within his mind, driven insane by his exposure to Chaos. Sopias thrashes within his chains, desperate for release. Chiniko struggles against the binds holding him but he cannot break the old mans will.

The Primordials gather around the old man. "You had best hurry up and do something, I cannot keep him here for ever" he snaps at them. Again and again Sopias changes form pressing against the barrier. Suddenly he goes still, his face emerges from the mass in a moment of sanity. "Do it" he gasps and plunges his fist into his chest ripping out his heart and dropping it into the old mans hands. His brothers follow suit and drawing on the power of the hearts the old man binds Sopias into the Labyrinth and raises the Spire above it, an eternal marker and impenetrable defence to the prison of the mad god.

As Sopias sinks beneath the earth he looks at Chiniko, "Remember"

Azhanti [To be added]