Session Report 93

General Summary

The Muskrats completed their preparations for their upcoming trials. Coach JamJam was not much help for specifics on the challenges but tried his best to boost morale with words of wisdom and delicacies of Magmarath Caldera. After much anticipation, the trial names were finally revealed to all:
1. Trial of Titan's Embrace (1v1) 2. Trial of Relentless Onslaught (Single team) 3. Trial of Suicides (1 per team) 4. Trial of Sovereign Summit (All teams) 5. Trial of Abyssal Currents (1 per team) 6. Trial of Blazing Endurance (1 per team) 7. Trial of the Blind Pilgrim (Single person) 8. Trial of Seraphic Descent (Team v Team) 9. Trial of the Champions
The team did not have much time to deliberate before they had to submit the order of their combatants, yet the Muskrats still debated for quite a while. The group didn’t have much information other than the teams involved, their order, and the names of the trials themselves. Itzal deduced that the 4th trial was likely some sort of ‘king of the hill’ game since it included all 4 teams. They could guess at some of the names, but nothing was certain. Even worse, they realized that some groups would have to start before others since 5 of the trials only required a single fighter from each crew- and the Muskrats were listed first!
As Cambio, Dami, Tazmeth, and Itzal pondered what to do, they noticed that Zelura had somehow made her way into their private room. Zelura greeted them, but the team wasn’t in the mood for much more than considering what lay ahead of them. Still, Zelura confirmed their suspicions. Despite Nihanas’ support, the Muskrats had been rigged to go first. Before she left, Zelura mentioned that she looked forward to seeing them at the festivities if they survived. She also told them that Tritemeus would attend the banquet, perhaps the greatest motivator Itzal and Cambio received.
Itzal decided it was time to divine anything which could give the crew an advantage and cast legend lore. He found details on four of the trials. As they suspected, the first trial was a test of strength. While the challenge never remained the same, some of the previous ‘Titan’s Embrace’ trials included gnome-throwing, weightlifting, and being squeezed. As for the third trial, it was last used 185 years ago. Participants had to cut themselves until only one individual remained. The fourth trial was exactly as Itzal predicted. Lastly, Itzal uncovered the following for the 7th trial- “When you have lost everything but your faith, then you must allow your faith to guide you when all else feels impossible.” Coach JamJam reminded them that Mizanoros, the game master, had a strong preference for physical trials of strength, endurance, and speed. He also informed them that some of the trials would ban the use of all magic and that the rules could be changed at any time on the whim of Mizanoros. With all of this in mind, the Muskrats made some switches and finally came to an agreement. Dami would take the Trial of Titan’s Embrace as the strongest. Counter Saval would take the Trial of Suicides as a cleric able to withstand pain. Tazmeth would face the Trial of Abyssal Currents thanks to his speed and quick reflexes. Itzal would handle the Trial of Blazing Endurance since he had the toughest skin. Last but not least, Cambio would take the Trial of the Blind Pilgrim as one of the few with any faith.
The group made their way to the arena for the trial of Titan’s Embrace. Dami readied herself with blind confidence and a quick bless from Counter Saval before being separated from the rest. The arena held a massive crowd and loud yelling surrounded her. She faced her impressive opponent, Hutogyn from Hell’s Fury. He was much taller than her, covered in scars, and had a Black Iron mesh gauntlet on one arm. He was the obvious crowd favorite and the stands filled with boo’s when Dami was introduced. The announcer revealed that the first trial would be simple- an arm-wrestling contest. Despite Hutogyn’s taunts and insults, he was no match for Dami’s raw strength and unbridled rage. The zealot easily won as she spit in her competitor’s face in anger. The boom of Hutogyn’s arm being crushed into the table could be heard across the arena as the Muskrats claimed their first victory in the Wrath-Spike.
Relieved, Dami headed back to the group to get ready for their next trial. No one wanted to use important resources so early in the trials, so their preparation was short. With a quick reminder not to die, Coach JamJam sent them all into the arena to face the Trial of Relentless Onslaught. As the Muskrats were led into the arena, Cambio looked into the stands and found the gaze of Mizanoros fixed upon them. More surprisingly, he saw Tritemeus standing behind him. The crew steadied themselves as they heard a strange ‘ShhhSssss” above all the noise from the crowd. They came face to face with their second challenge- a deadly snake pit. The pit was covered with large stones and half a dozen three-headed cobras blocked their way. The group stuck close together and managed to take down a cobra. However, more and more snakes began to fill the arena, even faster than they were being killed. Tazmeth, fueled by grief and determination, landed strike after strike on each individual cobra head. Counter Saval, in his quest to protect Cambio, ran forward to help with a fresh wave of cobras and found himself surrounded instead. Itzal and Dami stayed back and fought against the never-ending attacks. Even though they had faced much tougher foes, the continuous bites wore everyone down as the battle progressed. To make matters worse, fire snakes, otherwise known as alnaars, were thrown into the pit and quickly flew across the arena to join the fray. Their smoldering skin produced so much heat that anyone within 5 feet suffered burns. The alnaars were hungrier than the three-headed cobras, more vicious. Itzal managed to confuse an alnaar and the group watched as he ravenously ate his own kind. As Cambio blasted every snake in his sight, Counter Saval and Dami took dangerous amounts of damage. The Muskrats had to get serious. Itzal transformed into a dragon to withstand the hits and Dami fell into a rage. As the herd of three-headed cobras and alnaars finally thinned out, the team beheld a frustrating sight. More snakes had entered the pit, but these were not snakes the Muskrats had ever seen them before. Impressive gemstone serpents slithered in, ready to finish this battle once and for all.

Report Date

09 Jul 2023