Session 63: Overwhelmed Report

General Summary

Treasure is divvied up more. Virion considers selling the Staff of Power. He is not presently attutned to it.

On the night of the 39th of Deep Winter, Virion suffers a vision of the conflict with the Cult of Elemental Evil Fire that forged the Pact of the Eternal Flame. There's gunshots, fire, smoke in the night. There's a burning figure, a dwarf shouts "Jinn!" and then an explosion. He awakes in the morning of the 40th.

Virion meets with Mystan in Castle Feldren, and the two are led to the East Tower by Senior Talon Delmirev to the teleportation circle so they can bring Whelm and Sir Bluto's head to the Master-General. As they walk, Virion asks for Mystan's opinion on something.

He isn't sure what to ask of the Master-General and his councils, but he's been considering trying to request passage and protection out of the empire. But now... now it's confusing. It's real too, no longer and abstract future reward. He wants to, but he's hesitant.

Mystan turns to his comrade, "I... I certainly understand where the apprehension is coming from. As I believe I mentioned last time, or at some point I'm sure, the Order is still at large under the direction of the Empire. It is a bit removed, of course, but I would say there would not be any reason not to ask. You've certainly, especially recently, have done much to help the order." He gestures to whelm.

"Just, be prepared for the possibility that it may not give you the results you're looking for. But regardless, if this is what you want to do, then I have... I have no objection to it. And I will easily give any sort of sponsor I can."

"We're here." Delmirev says. He opens a door and a large, circluar room is revealed with an intracte circle on the ground. The Courier is there, and they mumble some words to open a portal. With Sir Bluto's Gentle Repose'd head and Whelm on hand, Virion and Mystan step through the portal.

They are greated by a female Courier and Castellon Salvador Hammerstone. He is a dwarven paladin with a triple-barrled bronze musket.

"Talon Co'oqulian and Sir Sylvenne I presume? Welcome to Fort Mantillo" They bow.

With guards escorting them, they meet the elder scale Wurash and head into the castle. They are brought to the throne room and there are two Razor Talons there!

Virion, now in warmer clothes, bows, as does Mystan (still in his plate armor).

The Master-General introduces them to the Razor Talons and vice versa, then asks how it went. He asks how the mission went, and Mystan hands over Whelm and shows Sir Bluto's head.

"I stemmed the river of blood at the source."

The Master General and Razor Talon Heskan are both pleased. Virion and the Scale Council are a little grossed out by the severed head.

A bag of holding with 10,000gp, as promised, is given to Mystan who says it will be split evenly.

Mystan is made a Senior Talon. The Master-General says they will send a missive to Selina regarding being a Half Dragon--and she still can have an audience--and Hunter Bubbles may have their audience as well. The floor is then opened to the two knights for their wishes.

Virion is hesitant, so Mystan goes first to give his friend time to mull it over.

"For myself, I request only trinket--a powerful amulet of the devout." They gift unto them a gorget with such powers befitting Mystan's new rank.

Virion is staring at the floor, unsure of himself. Wurash reassures him, and Virion sighs heavily. Mystan, knowing what he's trying to ask, puts a hand on Virion's shoulder.

"Just think, words will come." And Mystan casts guidance.

Virion stays silent, and Mystan whispers, "Do you wish me to speak for you? Do you need any..."

Virion finally speaks, "I think... I think I will delay my request, for now."

"That is alright. Whenever you are ready, our doors are always open. We are in your debt, Sir Virion Sylvenne."

Virion nods, and he's nearly crying. It is then that the doors open.

The dwarf has a far off look in her eyes, and she simply says "The presence of the Saltmarsh Irregulars has been requested at Fort Martillo, along with the prize warhammer."

Mystan instincitvely casts Word of Recall, naming the area.

The Master-General leans forward and asks on whose authority.

A Guard of the Royal Bloodline.

Heskan offers to be their emissary, and promises the Master-General to bring the hammer back. Heskan asks for a bag of holding, and is given one.

Heskan and Mystan speak on the way over, the Courier leading them. Heskan mentions watching Mystan's career, and mentions that Mystan has the makings of a Razor Councilmember. They shake hands. Virion, meanwhile, is slumped.

The path to Fort Martillo is dusty, white walls of stone seemingly shaped from the surrounding terrain itself rising around you. The parapets atop the walls have the occassional guard or ballista. The gate of the fort is imposing, with towers flanking it. More weapons emplacements are atop them, and a moat connecting to the nearby river runs around the white fortress. On the battlements you can see Castellan Hammerstone. As you near, he makes a hand moton. The drawbridge lowers, and an imposing figure clad in gold armor and black cloth appears. It carries a halberd, and its skin is nearly as pale as the surrouding stone. Its height and piercing eyes give it away as something beyond human; it stands above seven feet tall and its eyes seem to smolder with an arcane light. This is a Guard of the Royal Bloodline.

"The Order has lost the Hammer. You have found it. The Order has failed in its duties; you are to return the Hammer to me, and I in turn will return it to our Emperor."

Heskan asks for proof that this is legitimate, and a scroll with the imperial seal is presented. Heskan asks if the orb will be returned; it will not. This is a flagrant violation of the treaty.

Razor Talon Heskan walks right up to it. They say "If such a drastic change is to occur, it will require negotiattions." Virion steps forward, "It does seem a violation of treaty."

Mystan stays silent, keeping his eyes on the periphery. Muskets and ballista are trained on them.

Virion continues, "As this is a successful treaty in the empire, this seems worthy of negotiation. Consider this humble council."

"I am the official channel. There will be no negotation, there will be no quarter. The Emepror has demanded the return of Whelm, so hand it over or suffer the consequences."

Heskan says "no", walks away. The Guard attacks, and Mystan intervenes to use Gift of the Metallic Dragon to stop the attack from hitting!

Heskan turns, says "And I thought this would be a boring day," and then runs up with the sword. They hit twice and drop their sword. The blazing blade blinds the Guard of the Royal Bloodline temporarily. She then circles around and says to the guards on the parapet, "Don't throw yourselves on my sword as well! I have thousands of knights who will answer my call in this city."

Virion uses the blindness to cast Distegrate on the guard. Virion then begins a harmonious bladesong, better than any ever heard before.

Mystan casts summon celestial, choosing Avenger. They take the form of a large heavenly dragon. The radiant bow (breath weapon) streaks off towards the Courier. The beam breaks through the mage armor, and a second assault annihilates the Courier. They are incinerated, and left on the ground are naught but sending stones and a golden headband.

Mystan activates Duskcrusher.

The Guard of the Royal Bloodline swings blindly at Heskan, hitting once, missing once, missing a slam and then hitting a pommel strike. It then steps off the drawbridge and Heskan makes an opportunity attack, hitting.

Guards train ballista and move up, taking shots at the celestial. They all miss.

Castellon Hammerstone begins firing at Heskan, hitting once and missing twice with magical radiant energy.

Heskan flies up to the castle walls to attack the guards but the Guard of the Royal Bloodline swoops their halberd out with an opportunity attack. Due to the injuries, they heal. Virion casts fireball.

The parapet explodes, two guards die and two of the ballista flie off into the moat. Virion nervously says, "So, um, I trust your day's been good." The Guard of the Royal Bloodline snarls.

Mystan looks to the Guard of the Royal Bloodline, and says "I lost my eye reclaiming this weapon. You will not take it that easily." He then uses Lighting Breath

"The Emperor appreciates your sacrifice." and the Guard of the Royal Bloodline is engulfed in crackling energy. Mystan follows it up with an attack from Duskcrusher with a Channel Divinity! The celestial follows up with a pair of radiant bow attacks on the Guard of the Royal Bloodline. The Celestial then flies up and away. The Guard of the Royal Bloodline slams their Halberd onto the ground and casts Errupting Earth, Mystan fails, and the Guard of the Royal Bloodline glides through the churned earth with ease.

Virion and Mystan are shot at, Virion is critically hit by musket shot while Mystan is missed. Castellon Hammerstone, meanwhile, uses their gun to cast Sunbeam, hitting Virion and Mystan. Mystan drops concenrtation and the celestial disappears. Heskan kills a guard and then grabs ballistas bolts, flies up and hurls two spears at them, hitting twice and breaking their concentration on Sunbeam. Heskan levels their sword at Castellon Hammerstone, and says "As a professional courtesy, you may surrender."

"Ha! And give my fortress up to you draconic scum? Never."

She cracks her neck, "Oh this will be fun."

Virion then casts Fireball again, killing two more guards and hurting the Guard of the Royal Bloodline. Mystan, still blinded, casts Spirit Guardians at fourth level. The enemy fails and it howls in pain. It attacks Mystan, hits, misses Virion twice, and then hits Mystan again with the other end of its halberd.

Castellon Hammerstone takes out his glaive and stabs at Heskan thrice, missing once. The first hit is a Branding Smite. But Heskan wrestles with him and throws him off the building and into the moat! Heskan then flies to her allies. Virion casts Cloudkill on Castellon Hammerstone and it moves with the river!

Mystan casts Inflict Wounds at fifth level, using another channel divinity, and hits! The Guard of the Royal Bloodline turns invisibile and tries to flee, but Virion and Mystan make attacks of opportunity. Mystan uses his last channel divinity and hits with another inflct wounds. Virion's attack misses. The guards shoot their musket (a miss) and a ballista (a hit), and the Castellon falls further down the river. Heskan uses their breath weapon to heal their allies, but it clips the invisibile Guard of the Royal Bloodline. This kills the Guard of the Royal Bloodline, who disintegrates into a powder. The other two guards are easily dispatched.

Virion sets fire to the bridge, they grab the Guard of the Royal Bloodline's halberd and armor, and the party flees back to Castle Raan.

Port Ountzous is devolving into civil war. Frankly, the empire is outnumbered within the city.

Notes

Heskan is ace, i.e. fight sexual.