Session 33: Rise of the Machines

We played again tonight. The first section was a bit of a scene setting for the PC’s to cover some of the stuff which happened at the end of the last session. Azhanti spent time putting the Empire into order and unleashing the Dragons to give his people a fighting chance. Morn meanwhile headed home to stop the slave army of Reptos, neatly collapsing a mountain pass to protect them for a while. This also continued to cement his legend as a God to his people, something which annoys him no end.

When the message from the Belmondo the Artificer arrives the group decides to decamp post haste to the southern continent to recover the weapon of mass destruction.

Scene 1: They're digging in the wrong place!

Their arrival is not without incident. Ancient wards send them crashing into the side of a mountain but they quickly recover and head into the ruins of the City of the Ancient Race (essentially elves which are otherwise not present in the setting). They were a race which arose at the beginning of time and they built many mighty works, the vast city being but one of them. Somewhere within its ruins is the Void Star, a God built by that race to destroy the Primordials.

Belmondo greats them warmly, initially appearing to be a loyal mind controlled servant of the Empire. He tries to dissuade the PC’s from hanging around, stressing that the work goes slowly and that they surely have better things to do. They demur and Azhanti quickly discerns that Belmondo has slipped imperial control. As realisation dawns Belmondo strikes, animating several huge battle golems and a set of assassin droids.

The battle is fierce, the droids prove remarkably agile and keep trying to chase down Artemis but the Golems cannot manage to land a solid blow on Morn. Belmondo directs his golems ably but they are not enough. Artemis breaks free from his pursuers and lands a series of devastating blows on the magician. With his death passes the last of the Cabal magi of the City of Kings.

With the wizards death the Golem army ceases its excavation of the City. The group begin their own delving, eventually finding their way to the upper levels. There they find a map of the lower levels with several interesting sections marked on the map which the group decide to explore before heading to the central power core.

Scene 2: Dark Dungeons

The Resurrection Chamber is their first destination. Here they find hundreds of members of the ancient race lying in suspended animation, the system designed to wake them having failed. The group head off quickly when trying to remove the strange technology proves extremely difficult. They head to the Dawn Forge where their weapons were forged in ancient times. Trying to reactivate the forges to empower their weapons they instead flood the forge with chaos and are forced to flee. Their explorations lead them to the Star Drive where the secrets of creating flying cities which can travel between worlds are there for the taking. The group pass on and find themselves in the Navigation section. Here they unlock the hidden codes to the portal system, portals initially built by the ancients. Now they can control Gates across the world, changing, diverting, opening or closing them as required. They press on.

Time is running out as they are not the only ones here. Danku Sinesh, the doomed man and agent of the giant Emperor Amaan is also here looking for the weapon.

Scene 3: Throw him in the pit!

Breaking into the power chamber they find him already there with his dwarven allies. A gold dwarf astrologer works at a console trying to take control of the Void Star, a mass of crystal and dark radiance spinning within a huge pit. Sinesh lounges arrogantly against the railing. He and Morn trade insults and then the battle is on.

Their enemies strike quickly, Sinesh moves with lightning speed and in a flash Artemis is unconscious on the floor and bleeding out. Azhanti manages to drag him back from near death and tries to descend on the dwarves but is quickly intercepted. Morn pins down the doomed man but reaching the astrologer proves difficult in the face of his iron dwarf allies.

Artemis manages to recover and tries to teleport away from Sinesh. Unfortunately the crumbling wards send him off target and he reappears over the pit falling once again to his demise.

The Thunder Brothers block Azhanti’s approach while Morn remains pinned down with Sinesh. Artemis up again struggles to get into position and the group are running out of time. In desperation they look for alternative options and decide to target the power generators.

Unfortunately Artemis cannot help as Sinesh slips from Morns grasp and strikes him down. Standing over his unconscious form he separates his head from his body. As the dwarven ritual reaches its climax the group are saved by battlecat who destroys the last of the generators.

As their enemies fade away the Void Star loses power and the city begins to collapse. Amaan claims his prize but it’s a pyrrhic victory unless he can find a new power source to activate his weapon.

*cut scene*

In the Throne Room of Reptos, Tyrant of the World, his courtiers, princes and slaves cower in terror. The Tyrant rages at the closing of the portals. No longer can he use them to send his slave armies to every corner of the world. Now he sets his Taken to crafting new battle barges, huge floating platforms which will allow him to cross the oceans and spread his tyranny.

*cut scene*

In the southern province of the Empire of Arkhosia chaos giants rampage at will. Now finally the dragons have been unleashed and the two powers battle each other in a conflict which tears the earth apart.

*cut scene*

In the depths of the mountains, in the ancient capital of the Giants Amaan, newly installed Emperor slowly melts down the minions who failed him, returning them to the forges from which they were cast. Their screams echo through the ancient hallways while Danku Sinesh watches. Amaan regards the doomed man with a calculating eye. “I would have sealed you in a block of lead for all eternity for having failed me human but return to me the power source you spoke of and I shall forgive your incompetence...”

Session 32: Rise of a Dragon God Part 2

We played again this Sunday and the session built on the events of the last one. Azhanti has established himself as a power within the Empire and now he seeks to use that to fuel a power play against the Emperor himself.

Scene 1: Search your feelings!

Of course nothing can ever be quite that simple. First the capital city is currently under siege from the flying city ships of the Lokarnos. Second the Imperial Palace is perhaps the most heavily guarded place in the world, virtually impregnable (unfortunately for them the city around it isn’t and is in line to be flattened by the Lokarnos). Third Azhanti made a deal a while back with the High Priestess of Panath, Goddess of Serpents, Treachery and Deceit to make her his Queen. Azhanti decides to tackle the Panath issue head on. Panath has subverted the worship of a large section of one of the Dragonborn Clans and Azanti wants them back. He plans to unite the entire Dragonborn nation under his leadership so the group decamp to the City of the Serpent to hash things out.

Their entrance into the Temple is uncontested and Tamus is capable of providing no real opposition to them. Azhanti’s presence however does draw out Panath and the Queen of Serpents is drawn into her temple statue and speaks to them through a dozen insensate priests.The two exchange insults for a while. Azhanti demands that Panath give up her hold over the dragonborn and she refuses. She threatens to wipe out his nascent Cult and claims that she, and the Emperor, are clutch brothers. None of them are dragonborn, instead they were unborn true dragons pushed into dragonborn form when the Primordials stole the last of the dragon eggs to use to build the world. Azhanti is dubious but there is nothing to be done. Panath refuses the direct confrontation and the group must look elsewhere for a way past the defences of the Imperial Palace.

Scene 2: Take out the Lightning Shield!

That route is provided by the Lokarnos. Six huge city ships are taking up position to bombard the capital and some quick negotiations give the group access to one to ram into the Emperors lightning shield and force an entry. The daughters of Mael who lead the Lokarnos want the Emperor dead and plan on taking out much of the city and surrounding countryside as well so the group need to hurry if Azhanti is to save his city and his people.

Smashing their way into the Palace they force an entrance but are swiftly confronted by the Twin Star Sisters, demigoddesses in service to the Empire and the Emperors personal bodyguards. They wield powers of fire and ice, complementing each other and are backed up by the Praetorian Guard. Unfortunately they are unprepared for the onslaught and one sister falls quickly leaving the other vulnerable. She is swiftly dispatched.

As they fall Panath chooses that moment to attack. She strikes silently from the shadows and then tries to fade away. Unfortunately she cannot quite contend with Morns ability to demolish large areas of scenery and is quickly exposed. In open play she loses the advantage and cannot reclaim it. She is quickly dispatched and Azhanti takes her children as his own as Azhanti-Panath!

Scene 3: Once upon a time in Arkhosia

However, the groups entrance has triggered every alarm in the Palace, and time is now of the essence. As they rush through lush gardens and private courtyards their advance is halted by a figure stood framed against the moon. “Artemis Antarion, you and I have unfinished business.” It is Kallista, Artemis’s tiefling half sister and agent of the Emperor. Sending the others ahead Artemis stays to deal with his family issues.

Morn and Azhanti breach the inner palace and find themselves on the edge of a huge parade ground, the Emperors personal palace at its centre. As they rush across more of the Praetorian Guard begin swarming in. Hundreds of spear wielding warriors fill the courtyard and archers begin to covers the walls. Morn turns to face them, holding them off to allow Azhanti time to confront the Emperor.

Scene 4: Unfinished Business

Artemis faces his sister. The two have not seen each other for some time. She hates him for killing her father, the only parent she ever knew as Artemis rescued her mother from their estate not long after she was born. For his part his is unrepentant. Her father kidnapped and raped his mother and the tieflings have persecuted his people for hundreds of years. He deserved to die.

Kallista charges knives drawn. The battle is a fast and furious one, both possessed of unnatural levels of speed and strength. Kallista presses him again and again trying to close while Artemis dances away into the shadows trying to convince her that he only did what he had to do. She seems unwilling to listen so reluctantly he opens fire trying to wear her down. The two engage in a dance of death, leaping from rooftop to tree branch, each seeking advantage over the other but it is Artemis who strikes the telling blow.

Kallista staggers, her eyes cloud and she pauses. As she does Artemis spots a small green serpent, invisible until now, wrapped around her throat. Kallista hesitates and it sinks its fangs into her neck and she shudders, turning to try and kill him again. As she charges Artemis leaps over her, twisting in mid air to slip the snake from around her neck and crushing it beneath his boot. Kallista collapses, looking up at him her eyes are filled with sadness, regret and a haunted look she may never lose. She throws herself into his arms, free at last from the Emperors influence. In the distance bells begin to ring.

Scene 5: Hold the Line

Morn stands before the entrance to the Palace, an entire battalion of troops before him. As one they charge, desperate to protect the Emperor and Morn charges back. There is a bone crunching impact and dozens of warriors are hurled away from the terrible hammer blows. They fall back and regroup. Shields are locked, spears levelled and as one the phalanx moves forward. Dozens of warriors pile onto Morn seeking to drag him down through sheer weight of numbers. Beneath the pile a dim blue glow can be seen as, with a roar, Morn hurls them off him scattering their formation.

Any normal force faced with such an enemy would have broken and ran by now but these are no mere mortal soldiers. They are the Emperors elite, his personal guards and they have faced more than one enraged demigod in their time. They circle Morn and, spears extended, seek to trap him within a cordon of steel. He is having none of it and with a series of hammer blows he shatters the battalion. As they scatter a trumpet blows and the archers take position. A flight of arrows fills the night sky but Morn remains undiminished, shield raised he weathers the storm. As they crash to the ground all around him bells begin to ring.

Scene 6: Your arrogance is your weakness

Azhanti enters the throne room, a huge columned hall filled with elegant silk hangings displaying the banners of every nation brought under the Emperor’s dominion. At the far end is the ruby throne, the seat of power carved from a single huge gemstone. Sat in it is the shrunken figure of Khitai, Emperor of Arkhosia. He looks terrible and he cradles a crystal orb in his arms. The two exchange words briefly, the Emperor asserts that Azhanti has compromised his soul, he has been tricked by Amaan, the last ruler of the Giants (and an undead one at that who the group freed). He offers him the Orb of Draconus, a dragonborn artefact which records the lives of every dragonborn who has ever lived through each of their incarnations (dragonborn reincarnate as adults from their original egg, there are no dragonborn children).

There can be only one outcome of this confrontation. Azhanti seeks the position of Emperor, Khitai will not relinquish it to someone who may be a pawn of Amaan. Azhanti issues a formal challenge and it is accepted. The Palace bells begin to ring, summoning the Court to witness the battle.

Azhanti has a little time to reflect on his upcoming battle and he uses it to explore the Orb. He discovers some of the secrets of Panath and then turns its attention to himself. In it he sees Amaan send his furies to influence his dreams, showing him what he wanted to see and driving him towards this point. Amaan seeks vengeance against the dragons and their children who usurped the rule of the giants and the splintering of the Empire is merely his first step. As Azhanti delves deeper into the Orb he finds his mind being drawn away, it shows him the Empire on the brink of collapse, it shows the forces arrayed against them as vast and unstoppable and in the background is the mocking laughter of Amaan. These are the images he has shown Khitai which have left him paralysed with indecision and doubt, left the Empire vulnerable and so close to complete collapse.

Scene 7: Fight!

The Court has gathered at the place of challenge. The chancellor calls for order and the challenger Azhanti is brought forward. Beyond the precincts of the Palace the Lokarnos city ships can be seen. They have begun their bombardment and soon there won’t be anything left to save. Both challenger and challenged may choose to fight alone or with their clutch brothers. Azhanti chooses Morn and Artemis. Khitai chooses to fight alone, unable or unwilling to show weakness. It will prove to be a mistake. The Emperor strikes first, he is fast, dangerous and resilient and Azhanit quickly finds himself in trouble. However, Morn proves himself the more capable defender keeping the Emperor pinned down but not before Azhanti is driven to his knees. However, he is not the Avatar of Storm for nothing, lightning flares searing Khitai as he surges back to the attack.

Outnumbered Khitai finds himself pressed. He tries time and again to disengage from Morn to reach his target but cannot. All the while Artemis and Azhanti unleash terrible punishment on him. Khitai looks like he will fall when something within him snaps. His eyes fill with flame and he seems to come to life. He casts off the pall which has fallen over him and rises to his full height. His wings unfurl and fire kindles all through the arena. The Emperor enraged unleashes his full fury on Morn who staggers but does not fall. Morns resilience has become legendary and not even an enraged Dragon Emperor can daunt him now. Khitai, first and last Son of Vulcan and Emperor of Arkhosia falls and for his arrogance Azhanti imprisons his soul in the very statue Khitai had prepared to trap the soul of Venemus. As one the Court kneels, “All hail Azhanti, God Emperor of Arkhosia.”

In the distance much of the capital and the surrounding countryside is smoking rubble and the Lokarnos bombardment continues. Azhanti ascends into the sky and as he does so he calls on Fulmenus, the Blue Dragon to aid him. He moves to confront the Lokarnos City Ships and the seven daughters of Mael. They are an arrogant bunch, more so now given they are united for the first time in a thousand years. They seem inclined to continue to seek their revenge until Azhanti reminds them of just what he and his allies have accomplished. They decide that the death of Khitai and demolishing of his capital is enough to sate their vengeance and the ships begin to slowly move away.

Calling on the power of Fulemnus Azhanti sends a burst of lightning throughout the City, deep into the earth and the caves below where the Imperial Dragon Host sleeps. As one the dream dragons awake and their riders rush to prepare. Their Emperor has finally called upon them.

*cut scene*

Sometime later a Minister brings Azhanti a message received while Khitai was still Emperor. It is from the Wizard Belmondo, an old enemy and member of the Cabal and now an Imperial Agent. “My Lord, we have discovered it, the City of the Ancients. I have sent you the co-ordinates but I am convinced that the weapon must be buried somewhere beneath the ruins. Soon you will have access to the Void Star, the death of worlds, and none of your enemies will be able to stand against you!”

*cut scene*

Deep beneath the earth lies the Well of Life. It is an ancient place, sacred once to the children of Ashura. It was corrupted by the Entropic Lord Shraal who was killed by the group some time ago. Now the Giant Emperor Amaan has come to take possession of it. He has filled it with the blood of a thousand angels and performed blasphemous rites carved onto the hides of bound demons in his service. Now his ritual comes to fruition as he closes the Well. The tide of life giving energy falters, stops and finally reverses.

On long forgotten battlefields armies of skeletons rise to march on Empires long since fallen to dust; from mass graves hordes of zombies emerge to feed on terror and flesh and in ancient necopoli and mausoleums mummies and spectres seek to usurp their descendants. However, perhaps most horrific of all, unborn life the world over dies and mothers to be are slain by their own undead offspring, cannibalistic ghouls devouring them from within.

*cut scene*

With the rise of the undead menace the remaining human Kingdoms flock to the banner of Reptos and his slave army swells. Now he begins to exert his power and the long dormant portals of his Empire flare back into life. In the deserts of the south his armies lay siege to the Shrouded Oasis, seeking to find its hidden gateways. In the mountains of the North the people of Frosthome retreat to their sacred mountain in the face of his advance. Reptos demands dominion over all of humanity.

However, the bulk of his forces move directly against the Wyrm Ouroborous. Chaos is the enemy of Order and Reptos seeks to make himself the one true Lord of Order, the ultimate and eternal Tyrant.