Session 76: A Conclusion in Time Report
General Summary
Returning to Amarantine the Scales were alerted by Neia of strange happenings at the Temple of time. With haste and the morning sun just cresting the mountains around the Ary the Scales ascended to the great temple at the heart of the city. The grounds were filled with an eerie silence, an almost oppressive stillness. Adalon would lead the Scales into the temple and beyond the common rooms towards the Chronarchs sanctum. Within they would find various members of the faith holding open a simple portal, lost in the trance of their work. A dark haired snow elf that the Scales would remember as Saellryths representative would emerge, the Scales drew ready to fight.
She would hold up her hands, "I can not stop you, there is no need for that...My mistress simply has a message." Unsure looks would be exchanged amongst the party, "And what is that?" A'lar would finally ask. "To simply go, leave this place and ensure the ritual happens at the millennial turning. She will set right the imbalance caused by Thurazdur." Adalon would point to the portal, "And what is this?" The elf would frown slightly, "A way to that time....my mistress saw no future where you did not oppose her between now and then, so, she has simply gone to when she is needed." A'lar would shake his head, "She sees we oppose her at every path forward and thinks because of this we will turn away? What is it she will balance what will she do?" The elf would shake her head, "I know not, but I have faith she will do as she asks." With the use of faith it became apparent, Saellryth would use the ritual changing draconic nature to change her own, ascend properly where Thurazdur did not, and do what from there was anyone's guess. "We need to go now," Ismaril would say stepping into the portal while A'lar seemed caught in thought.
Inside the portal Ismaril would be confronted by a woman that seemed very familiar, elven with silver hair. "More of you linear type is it?" the woman would sigh, "Why are you here and now?" Ismaril would explain they are following the other Lineare being as the others arrived. They would be directed down a hall way from this great expansive labrynth of a library they found themselves in. A'lar would step forward, "Where is your mistress? Is she awake?" The woman would frown, "She was never asleep, or truly cut off, but you are linear so you simply can not see from now...but you are not meant to be now, nor is the one before you meant to be then, hurry thru and see that they do not disturb the flow of time." As Ismaril went to leave she would look back, finally recongizing the woman as her Mother in Law, but perhaps not her but merely appearing as her, she could not say but thru the portal they traveled.
Thru the portal the Scales of Fate would find themselves atop a great outcropping within a massive cave complex, but it was not of stone, but rather wood, as if within a giant tree. Light would filter thru branches and roots where strange fungi ate up the sunlight eagerly. Far across the strange field of fungi a ritual would be underway, cloaked figures guarded by other cloaked figures, with Saellryth watching eagerly from a nearby perch. "You simply would not wait...you had to follow me.." she would sigh. A'lar would fly down with his magic to settle near and shout up to the massive Dracolich, "What do you intend to do once you ascend! How will you keep balance?" Saellryth would turn extending her wings, "Thurazdur has created imbalance in his existence... Chronokarah has seen all of him from beginning to end and allows him to continue and so I shall supplant her and manage the flow of time to ensure all is not lost to his despair!" Adalon would ready his ranseur and drive his drake into an attack position at the notion of his Goddess demise. A'lar would consider these words but not seemed moved. The others beginning to move into position, Saellryth would turn and release a blast of her breath weapon, void and death itself eating away at the life force of her foes. Swooping form her perch claws would tear into Thirhe but Adalon would harness the powers of Chronokarah and Saellryth would find herself slowly becoming unstuck from her unnatural time.
The Scales would descend upon the floundering Saellryth, Longweis fists cracking into ancient bone and rotted scales. Indalells and Ismarils blades would strike and Ayriens bow would flash as all manner of damage was inflicted on the slowing Dracolich with minimal effect as she seemed to resist most mortal damage. A'lar would light Ilmarens candle, its sacred light would diminish the Dracolichs power while Adalons holy infused spear would land several blows. Saellryths claws and jaws would lash out but in the sacred light she floundered, becoming more crippled by the swirling time magic, the onslaught ensued. A'lar would strike her with a sacred blast of energy which slowly began to eat away at the Dracolichs profane form. She would harness her own time magic shattering Adalons hold over her and rearing her head up but rather then exhaling her deadly breath she instead inhaled. The scales could feel their very soulds being drawn into the Dracolich, but their wills prevailed. Unable to consume any souls to fuel her failing body the spark of sacred light A'lar had placed upon her ate away the last of her profane being and she collapsed. Indalell made short workin locating her soul cage, that was hidden upon her person, a necessary component for her ascension. Adalon would destroy it, and the scales would watch as her soul energy escaped rushing towards one of the many rituals happening beyond.
With Saellryth defeated the Scales would move to aid the ritual that had come under attack shortly after them, however its defenders had done their job well and the ritual was nearing completion. A'lar would prepare to fly beyond and find where Saellryths soul had fled, but a voice would come into his head, "You did it boss...its time to go home now" A'lar would land staring at one of the cloaked figures, and would start to protest, "Boss....you aren't suppose to be here...." with a nod he would finally understand and encourage the others to return thru the portal. Back within the realm of time the woman would great them and be very sure to usher them back to the open door they had arrived from. "Where did Saellryth go?" A'lar would press trying to discern if this woman was Chornokarah or a divine being of the realm. "Where she was always meant to...take solace in that and worry not," would be the woman's reply. As the scales went to leave the woman would stop Ismaril giving her a hug and palming over a simple pendant necklace. Ismaril would be confused but would step thru and examine the trinket, finding nothing remarkable she would put it on as a memento of her time in the future. The snow elf would hang her head seeing them return only seconds after departing knowing her mistress was gone. A'lar would offer her a deal to preserve their forested domain and join the Pax Draconis, ending the war. She would accept and go to see to the final details of the surrender and their incorporation into the Pax.
With the War ended, the ritual ready, the Scales would become the force that held the Pax together, making sure they were ready for the millenial convergance to do their part in whatever was to come. The next 2 centuries would have many challenges for the Pax Draconis and its neighbors. Anti Dragonists would still attempt to eliminate slumbering dragons but had only little success in continuing their genocide. Border disputes and small wars would involve the Pax Draconis but most of Ioban had settled into an unneasy peace for this time.
Adalon would set to putting the Temple of Time to right. He would pursue the position of Chronarch in the absence of Niniel who as in fact Saellryth. Having achieved the mantle he would set about to purging any doctrine or thought that strayed into undeath and Saellryths influence for the last several millennia. This early upheaval was not without its challenges and strife, but by the coming of the great convergence Adalon was confident the Temple of Time had been restored to is proper purpose and place.
A'lar would step away from the scales shortly after their success, focusing more upon his art and spreading it across the world. In but a decade his plays would sweep the world by storm, becoming compelling commentaries on the nature of the divine, the purpose of the gods, and in many cases challenging the conventional interpretations of them, most specifically altering the idea of Chronokarah. He would challenge the image of her as a dispassionate observer and in its place instill the idea she is the carrier of existences heaviest burdens which she does willingly, and with sorrow as she must watch every mistake unfold. More cheerful pieces would include a heroic romance featuring Idrial as its main lead, an apology for all the times he was cast as the damsel in distress.
Ayrien would set about to having a proper wedding celebration upon the conclusion of the Dracolich. After as Matron of house Enre she would step in to fill the vacant seat upon the family council as Adalon was engrossed in the matters of the Temple. She would lead House Enre's rebuilding efforts and expand their agricultural influence due to connections made across Ioban. She would also personally undertake many expeditions to accumulate and grow the Drake Stables of Amaranthine and help grow a Drake mounted military units across the Pax Draconis.
Indalell would marry Elysia and ascend to the seat of power of Moonfrost after her fathers passing. This would cause much consternation within the Clan as many did not trust Indalell. Indalell along with his mentor would spend much of the next centuries finding, freeing, and bringing others like them to Clan Moonfrost. Here this cabal of shape changers would embed themselves and become the power behind the Throne, as well as bringing into question much of Moonfrosts influence within the Pax and beyond.
Ismaril would return to her home within Clan Starlight, where Sildenaer would be perplexed at finding his mothers necklace around her neck. Ismaril would also be confused and when they would go to inquire to the condition of his mother she would simply be gone with no trace of her. This mystery aside Ismaril would also step away from the Scales focusing upon her house and family. While Sildenaer would remain commander of the Pax Draconis military, Ismaril would turn her attentions to Clan Starlight, seeing the integration of the Dwarven element of their society progressed and putting her skills to use at the court of the Speaker of the Stars.
Longwei would spend his time working to stop the Anti Dragonist movement, eventually uncovering his brothers involvement there in. This would lead to many conflicts within his family but eventually Longwei would find and apprehend his brother. Keeping him from the proper authorities within the Pax, Longwei would eventually turn him, gaining enough information for the Scales to drive out the Anti Dragonists from the majority of the Pax. Kamori would never assume the mantle of his family as Ikehara had intended, instead he went into self imposed exile within the Seojung Khanate from where the Yong family had come so many millennia ago. Longwei would succeed his father and be elected the 3rd Tagavor after A'varias passing some centuries later.
