Ectival Arc: Part 1 Report

Across the sea, to the North-east of Everos, lies the continent of Othos. It is an infamously divided land, and not within the last half century has there been a power strong enough to bring it all under one banner. The most recent nation to achieve dominance was the Empire of Astoria, but their empire broke up due to religious and political unrest a mere fifty years ago. The remnants of the Empire still call themselves the Empire of Astoria, while the successor kingdoms have distanced themselves from the old empire. This conflict between the kingdoms is the backdrop from which the story forms.   It begins in an isolated temple, built into a hillside in the eastern foothills of Vestidia. Within is a small series of carved stones rooms was an altar. It was of simple design, fashioned from the stone into a basic rectangle, with a purplish, pink cloth thrown over its length. Roses, mirrors, and other objects of vanity and beauty adorned it, with dark crimson candles giving the inner chamber a sweet smell and swirling purple smoke. This is the temple of Sinestra, the aspect spirit of vanity. She has existed for over 2,000 years, and been influencing events on the continent along with the other aspect spirits ever since. Her goal, and that of her prophets has been to secure the five artifacts of Typhon, the powerful being who held the land in darkness during the Interregnum. Her artifact is a pair of beautiful, purple and gold gauntlets, with the ability to alter the appearance of things to look more favorable.   Gathered within the antechamber are a group of adventurers, a strange collection of strange people. There is Solomon, an Etayen from Etal who is the prophet of Sinestra, and in that service has lived over 350 years. He is a sharp looking fellow with decadent robes and flowing hair that certainly meet the standards of beauty of his master. Next there is Logen Orstead, of a minor noble family from Everos. He had spent the majority of his life in Everos, living a life as a sword for hire, doing the dirty work of whatever lord or merchant had need of his services. He met Solomon some five years ago during one of his trips through Everos, and they became friends. Solomon took him back to Othos and brought him into service with Sinestra. Finally, there is Allistare, a native Astorian who is on the run from royal troops, and found Solomon and the temple. In exchange for payment and lodging, he agreed to lend his sword to help the group, despite not knowing their mission.   They were given the task of going out into the land and retrieving all of the artifacts of Typhon so that Sinestra could come back to the mortal realm to reshape it in her image. How exactly that would work was left vague to them. All Sinestra wanted was the items, the rest could be left to her. Not one to ask questions of his patron, Solomon gathered the party and prepared to move. The first location they would visit is Tharsis, where it is said that one of the aspect spirits, Ectival, has made his base. Obtaining his helmet would be the first mission of the party.   Tharsis, the greatest city in Othos and the capital of the old empire, is now ruled by a council. It is a collection of local nobles and merchant representatives. This is in accordance with the terms of the Treaty of Ascot: Tharsis would become a semi-independent entity ruled by a council. The treaty was hammered out in the town of Ascot, which was Lothridite town that was the final battleground of the War of Imperial Shattering. The treaty also stated that the city itself would be divided into three districts, and each of the three kingdoms would have dominance in their third. Under the influence of Ectival, the city council has managed to connive its way to great independence. This has proved to be an immense pain for the surrounding powers, for not one of them who care to see the city fall into the control of the others. This question of control over Tharsis would be the igniting factor for the Tharsite War that engulfed Othos in 3451.     The revolution for Tharsis to become an independent city-state was spurred on by the cunning and cruel methods of Ectival. The party believed they had defeated Ectival permanently, though that wasn't quite the case. He was weakened, but his power was not broken. He would return again, and in the meantime he would bide his time and allow interparty conflicts to weaken their resolve. The city's forces managed to expel the disorganized and surprised soldiers of the other kingdoms in the first days. The new council then pursed a policy of diplomacy to reacquire the good faith of the kingdoms once the dust settled. It worked well, since before long the Kingdoms of Astoria and Vestidia were fighting each other over the fate of the city, putting it in a advantageous bargaining position. By pinning one belligerent against the other, the city managed to maintain its independence for a considerable time, but not forever.   The party didn't know or understand this, but Ectival's intention was not for Tharsis to win in the long run. Control of the city, while a useful step, was only part of his greater plan for dominating the continent. The chaos created by the city's independence and the war that followed simply made it easier for him to divert attention to gathering the artifacts without exterior forces intervening. He intended to kill the party off when they visited Fornladur and be done with them and free to continue his scheming. His soldiers did manage to kill Solomon, but Sinestra intervened on his behalf and saved him from death at the last possible moment, ruining the plan. The party managed to fight on an slay the High Chancellor and his men and take the helmet.