Session 36: He Who Burns
General Summary
The session began with the players riding back to shore as the enemy fleet retreated. Rather awkwardly, Kutter sat across from the bloodied and bruised Jason and Blair, surrounded by Rough Riders and Kutter's Blades. They rode wordlessly.
They arrived at the sprawling Hanscom AFB, the headquarters of the Air Corps. They were congratulated and thanked by Director Lucas. However, he solemnly had to arrest Kutter and his Blades until the CFR decided what to do with them.
The players received new orders from General Jane, who updated them on the status of the war and then assigned them to respond quickly to a growing situation at the Glowing Sea Containment Site. The players obliged, resting quickly at Vantage before departing to the area of operation.
The faithful of Atom were waging a holy war on the Strontomites at their holy site of the Crater of Atom. In the holy city, Strontomites were being judged by the faithful Zealots, and their heretic forces had been fully defeated. The players were recognized and approached by Brother Willem. He knew they were friends of Leroy and told them he likely needed help at the containment site, so the players quickly departed.
Wading through the Glowing Sea, they had to endure the unrelenting radiation, but due to the Glowing Sea Containment Site the levels were low, so they fared well. They witnessed a full battle at the massive domes; atop the structure, Minutemen fired down at the heretic attackers near the walls, who were also taking fire from loyal Zealots further away from the dome, trapping them. However, they saw the containment site had been breached, and a Zealot informed them Leroy was already inside. Intent on helping him, the players ordered their breachers to make an opening, and they did so immediately, led by Jeremiah, allowing the players to get inside.
When they stepped inside, they were hit with a massive wave of radiation. Were it not for their precautions, they would have been dead in minutes, but they knew they had to help their friend. Leroy stood with Atom's Judgement, his holy super sledge granted by Titus, and a new set of plate armor forged by his own hands. Inside the decayed reactor stood Mother Isolde, who stole Leroy's hammer with a telekinetic grasp and used it to crack open the ground, allowing blue glowing sludge to bubble out and widen the gap.
As Leroy burned Mother Isolde to a crisp with his flamethrower, a charred skeletal hand reached out of the gap. As it widened, a towering withered figure—like a glowing one but charred and half-skeletal—arose from the breach, undoubtedly He Who Burns, and a brutal battle ensued. The players endured intense radiation from the slagged reactor and the irradiated being. He Who Burns also unleashed a torrent of inexplicable spells, which Jimbob did his best to counter. However, his withered frame was reflected in his vitality, and with persistent attacks, he fell quickly to the player's attacks and Leroy's relentless holy smites.
A much more insidious threat became apparent as Quinten suffered from acute radiation poisoning, going into shock. The players quickly exited the containment site. Quinten had to be resuscitated and administered Rad-Away. The players called for help, and a vertibird belonging to the Support Corps arrived. Minutemen Responders quickly jumped from the aircraft and treated Quinten and Sharos, who also had severe radiation poisoning. With a quick medivac to the national hospital at Sanctuary and a night of intense treatment, they were stable.
As soon as they could, all the players were summoned to the capital building by the General. Minutemen honor guard escorted them into the senate chamber, where Jane, Warden Danse, President Piper Wright, and representatives the players didn't recognize sat, using the chamber to hold a military tribunal for Kutter, who stood at the podium with his hands bolted.
President Wright interrogated Kutter on the events of his infiltration and the crimes he had to commit against the CFR and other groups in order to achieve his objective. Kutter answered truthfully, even when unexpected questions arose, and Wright found him trustworthy for completing his mission. However, she was worried about the uncontrollable rage state Kutter had developed and refused to let him operate as a sanctioned mercenary under the CFR in this state. Warden Danse spoke up, offering to help Kutter by training him to manage his condition until he was found fit and able to serve with the Liberators again. Kutter and Wright agreed.
Jane took charge of the meeting from there, declaring they would compile all the information they had on the enemy. The players and the characters put together the pieces, finding every connection they could between the Red Tide, their lieutenants, the Sigilite, the Heralds, the Crimson Hand, the Marauders, 1st Vanguard, and every investigation they had undertaken that could be linked to the Red Tide's machinations, clearing up the story so far and hopefully giving them insights into the enemy they now faced.
Report Date
16 Sep 2024
Primary Location
Secondary Location
