Episode 56: Imperial Alignment
General Summary
| Quest | fin | What's up with that? | fin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attend dinner in Ignix on Greenbloom the 25th | Veritas Immortalis | ||
| Gather the Divine Raiments | 5 of 9 | The Voices | |
| Empower the Raiments | 2 of 9 |
Clocks
| Event | Segments |
|---|---|
| Days until the Banquet | |
| Vlask's network uncovers a lead on a spelljamming helm (days) | 7 of 35 |
| Pharos' Goblin lessons (days) | 17 of 63 |
| Pharos' Armor (days) | |
| Valan's smithing proficiency (days) | 66 of 70 |
Recap
Greenbloom 25, 3033: Year of Darkness
The session began with a visit from the Distortion, who sat in the darkness of Valan's room, waiting for him to retire for the evening. It seemed to want to pay him one last visit, as the next time they met it would be very unlikely they would have the opportunity to talk.
It confessed that while the Deep may have been the one that found Valan, it was the Distortion that wanted him. His conflict, what he had done, what he wanted to be. His brother is good, but too easy to lead, too quick to obey. But Valan, it would have had fun with Valan.
Upon the Apostate's departure, Valan called an emergency meeting. The group was surprised at the Distortion's audacity, and Pharos set to work casting a forbiddance on the ship that would prevent any unwanted travel. Charles also placed a faithful hound in the hallway to keep an eye out as they slept. Everyone owes Tyra gold, since they sacrificed a good chunk of their rubies for the spell.
Flemming also received a message from the higher ups in Ignix:
Response: We are en route, be there within the day. Compliance unlikely.
You'll See Me Later
Storms loomed overhead as the Flamebringers approached the gates of Ignix. The sloped rooves of curved tile caught the first droplets of rain and bamboo shoots widened their leaves to drink it in.
Aisha pulled Valan aside, telling him now is where she leaves him; the younger her should be catching up soon enough. She tries to slip away with a kiss, but the others see her go, and give solemn nods. She slipped into an alley way, silhouetted by the setting sun, and raised her hand in farewell. Then, she pulled up her hood walked away.
Political Pleasantries
Entering the gala, the Flamebringers were first met with an unfamiliar face: Aiotar Solonys, Emissary of the Fall Court, and the Third Heir to come forward in a bid for the Aurelian throne. Tyra asked them their stance on a few political hot button issues, but Aio (that's what her friends call her), while willing to answer their questions, did tell them all this and more will be revealed in their tell-all interview she did with the Lamplighter.
Questions for all three candidates can be submitted below.
Submit Your QuestionsThe party also had a moment to reconnect with a less than beloved acquaintance, Baron Octavian Spencer. He had been left scared by their past encounter, lichtenburg lines covering the left side of his face and head, stretching down his left side. They pulsed with blue energy, which could be seen thrumming behind the white of his now-blind left eye. He told them to enjoy their audience with the emperor. Charles, seeking to make an impression, used Stormdancer to move with the lightning and quickly put his hand on the baron's shoulder. It didn't go as expected, however, and Charles could feel Octavian syphon off some of his energy. Charles didn't love that.
Valan actually took a moment to approach the baron and apologize to him for their actions previously; while it was an auction in the Undercity, the way the Flamebringers reacted was inappropriate, and they should not have shot up the crowd and perhaps not even stolen more than what they needed. Octavian took a moment, and was taken aback by Valan's earnest bid for forgiveness. He warned Valan to watch his back and left the party.
An Audience with Death
The private dining chamber was even more grand than the main hall. Tapestries decorated the circular room, illustrating misty landscapes of the Fulminarian coast and scenes from the War. Draperies hung, decorating the the dome, and the eastern wall consisted of arched doors, where the Flamebringers could watch the stormfront roll in over the bay. A dark sea roiled and lightning crashed in the distance. Emperor Nicodemus Anduriel stood behind his chair, arms raised, welcoming them. His throne was raised behind him, separated from the table so that during the meal everyone sits on the same level.
Dinner was of roasted triceratops shipped up from the Southern Wilds, accompanied by a litany of fragrant sides and exotic deserts; it smelled fantastic. The emperor asked the group about their adventures, and they told him about their journey to track down the Vagabond, the casting of the Winterspell, their fight with the False Arctiax and House Devereaux. Their defeat at the Sentinel, and the true deicides. New Gods are being born, potentially, and the Old Gods are under the influence of a Damnatio Memori.
He asked them why they are doing what they are doing. Tyra said that when they started, it was like the path had been set before them, and now they feel trapped. Nicodemus remarked that they aren't quite trapped. They believe what they are doing is right. It is what they must do. But they are by no means trapped, they are some of the most powerful people in the empire. Because they feel trapped, it is a sign that they are good people.
But that brought him to his next point: Sir Aurus-Valoric has done a good thing, a great deed: he has brought Stormdancer home. In times like this, Fulminaria's people need hope. They need someone to look to, a symbol they recognize. Stormdancer is that symbol. A beacon against the night. They need to see their emperor confidently striding into battle with the emperor's sword. That blade belongs to Fulminaria, and it needs to come home.
Charles said the sword is needed elsewhere. Emperor Anduriel stood, and moved to the throne. And he told the Flamebringers a story: When Elaria built the throne, with her own two hands when Fulminaria unified against their nation, each portion was built from the lumber of a different province. She set eight pins into the seat, one for each of the provinces that came together to form Fulminaria, so that whenever she sat on the throne, she was reminded of her responsibility to Fulminaria and the people within it. That responsibility has been carried faithfully by each emperor before Anduriel, and now it is his. And it is the emperor's duty to protect their people.
He posed a question to the Flamebringers; Fulminaria is a meritocracy, everyone must know their place. Do they know what he did to earn his place? He was willing to do anything to protect Fulminaria. Anything. Even if it meant destroying himself; he allowed his illusion to fade, the one that hides the scars from the attempt on his life, revealing the right side of his face and body is scared, warped, and burned away to reveal his muscles. Even if it meant betraying his morals. Or even Fulminaria, if it meant the empire's long-term success. He only asked for the sword one more time.
And Charles said no.
Emperor Anduriel then welcomed Lord Devereaux into the chamber. He said that he, unfortunately, misplaced his faith in the Flamebringers, and since they did not wish to return the blade, he would then, graciously, accept the Nightbringers' gift. Warforged filed into the room. Red Mountain design, pre-liberation, Duke Hesse's personal design, evidenced by the immobile, mildly amused faceplates, perhaps sent in shipments by skytrain, one that could crash into ships unaware of what the skyline means; they wore blue, mage-like uniform robes, perhaps reminisce of the Scribes of the Six, a group of recently deceased individuals killed enmasse who were looking to find a way to survive to see the Next World; they held weapons topped with strange triangular prisms that float suspended within the hilts, hafts, or blades, similar to the ones the Flamebringers saw being shipped out of Baron Spencer's mansion, the black market arms dealer whose auction the Flamebringers crashed; and all throughout laced with a twinge of darkness, weaving through the metal frames and consuming any light that would be shed from their eyes, as it would a normal warforged, as if imbued by a certain Dusk.
The thunderstorm outside made landfall.
Deveraux made it clear that if it were up to him, he would kill them. Fortunately for the Flamebringers, it is not up to him; the emperor has decreed that the group remains protected under the laws of Guest Friendship. Devereaux gave them a two minute head start, then the Wraiths come out.
The group made it to the Green Nest, led by Flemming, who had forsaken the emperor after he made his allegiances known. They ran into Dyvin, the bandit they rescued nearly two years ago, who had taken up residency in Green Nest after the druids there, while unable to restore his legs, grew him Tanuki, a dire wolf of vines, to give him his mobility back. He can guide them out of the city through the exit; an exit he just helped Valan's girlfriend escape through.
Vinum 10, 3032Charles is gone. Valeria is gone. My people are gone. How much loss can a heart bear before it breaks under the burden of memory?
Missions/Quests Completed
Attend the Banquet. Well... you've been to worse parties. Someday you'll be able to go to a gala and just have a normal time.
Pharos' Armor. The white wyrm rides again! This time, with adamantine.
Related Reports
Notes
Valan Sildurflame
Charles Aurus Valoric
Tyra Dawnbreaker
Olette Etienne
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