Ectival Arc: Part 2 Report

General Summary

With the High Chancellor and the council dead, Tharsis fell into its initial wave of chaos. Fighting erupted in the streets, killing many in the first few hours. News also spread fast as traders, nobles, or anybody else with the means to escape the city fled from the clashes of steel and fire. In Astoria, Emperor Emannar III immediately made plans to use the opportunity to assert Astorian rule again on not only the city, but the whole continent. If there would ever be a time when the Astorian Empire could be reborn, it would be with the once-glittering capital in turmoil. The problem for the Astorians is that they have been dealing with increased attacks by Grestovich, who have been being urged on by Dion to assault the mainland. The Grestosi work upon their own agenda to pillage and gain wealth, while also under the directive of Dion to gather his breastplate. The High Speaker of Lothrid, seeing the continent fall into chaos and unable to contend with it alone, appealed to Everos for aid. The Order of the Scarlet Hand will be the clandestine Everosi response to the spread of the cult heresy. The King of Vestidia, wholly opposed to the restoration of the Astorian Empire, will stand against Emperor Emannar and ensure that Tharsis remains neutral, or at least not in Astorian hands.   In the short term, the Faithful of Sinestra had to find a way to escape the city of Tharsis. The followers that Logan hired died to hold back Ectival's minions from giving chase after Sir Reginald, the leader of the mercenary group, bravely offered to stay behind. On the city streets things were caught in utter chaos. Buildings, some of them centuries old, will be caught in an inferno as Tharsite soldiers attacked the guards of the other kingdoms. The party had to make their way back to the inn where they were living. When they arrived it was be more or less deserted in terms of patrons. Inside they discovered a band of 3 looters, searching about for treasure. They party, rather than attack them right away, decided to negotiate with them. It went well until a fourth looter appeared, holding was seemed to be some of the party's belongings. This prompted a violent reaction, and the party fell on them in fury and slew every one of them, covering the room in blood and gore.   Upon arriving at one of the city's main gates, they found them to be shut tight, with no guards to be found. Dejected, the party hung about the gates pondering a way to get outside. Suddenly, the noticed a man in dark blue and black robes watching them from the shadow of an alley. He wears goggles, and has black cloth over his mouth. The designs on his robe are complex and confusing, trailing across the fabric, and on his chest will be an eye with five stars curved above it. Knowing that he had been seen, he emerged from the shadow to introduce himself. Calder Throne was his name, and he was there to assist the party in escaping the city alive. Moving quickly, he lead the party to an isolated portion of the wall. Crouching next to a remote section of wall, he brought his finger to his mouth to indicate silence. He then pulled out a small bronze colored device unlike anything the party had seen before. He flipped a switch on the side, and it creaked open into something that looked like a small supper plate. The center gave off a glow, illuminating the dark walls with a faint blue light. He spoke into it, hushed so that the party could not hear, and after a few minutes shut off the device. He ordered the party to wait there, and after a moment a metallic basket, colored a dull bronze. The basket took up the party members one by one, and finally Calder at the end.   Once the party got to the top, they saw what seemed like a small crane mechanism of the same bronze color as the other device. Standing beside it were two similarly dressed men on cranks. From farther down the wall another figure approached the party. He was similarly dressed, but he wore a medallion with similar imagery to what the other figures had on their robes. He introduced himself as Oxton Spalding, the Prophet of Imzeral, and that he knew who of the party and its actions. Solomon and Oxton discussed the information learned and Oxton told him of the potential threat of the return of Typhon. After their discussion, the followers of Imzeral and Sinestra concluded a research agreement so that both parties might learn more of the artifacts. The next day the party moved southward toward the Great Forest of Lothrid so that they could acquire the artifact of Admaris.