2. Inverted Spire
| "Nessus proves an opportune location for a retreat. There are many forces at work that would make pursuit difficult. Prove to me that you will not be dissuaded by complexity. Cut through the chaos like a gilded blade, still hot from its forge." - Emperor Calus |
Emperor Calus' landing crew, a contingent of his Loyalist legion, has struck out in pursuit of a final artifact. Werner 99-40 has let you know that they headed in the direction of the Glade of Echoes, but the crew has not responded to contact for over a full day. It is estimated that the Vex had seized possession of the missing artifact, and it is likely the landing crew has encountered some resistance. Werner asks you to follow up with the landing crew in person to make sure the artifact is retrieved.
| Determine the status of Calus' landing crew. | Completed?: N |
| Secure the missing artifact. | Completed?: N |
Calus Bounties
| Task | Complete |
|---|---|
| Defeat 2 creatures with a single Attack action, or a single Light ability. | 0/1 |
| Afflict a creature with a condition. | 0/3 |
| Deal damage matching the active burn two times in a single round. | 0/3 |
Plot points/Scenes
- The Vex Attack
- The Anchor
- Mining Camps
- The Drill
- Protheon
Structure
Exposition
After retrieving the Radiance and Loyalty artifacts, the party is tasked with following up on the Loyalist landing crew that traveled to the Glade of Echoes. The Loyalists had set up a recon camp, but the camp shows signs of battle leading away to The Cistern. Following the warpath, the party meets Field Commander Venichus who is injured and assessing a Vex presence near a conflux. He tells the party that his Commander pursued the artifact out over the coast, but the Vex sealed the path of travel with the conflux.
Conflict
The conflict here is with the Vex, who are in direct opposition to the party's goals. There is also a Red Legion mining operation still in effect, which has prompted the Vex to enter conflict with the Loyalists in the first place as a conflation of the two forces. The party will need to fight through both the Vex and the Red Legion to retrieve the artifact.
Rising Action
The party activates the conflux and uses the propulsion rings to chase after the artifact. The first thing they encounter is Commander Bahr'Toran attempting to break through a Vex barrier. This barrier is enabled by a Cyclops, shielded by a conflux on a lower level of the area. The party must interface with the conflux to deactivate the shield, then defeat the Cyclops and its minions. Bahr'Toran will ask for a communication channel and be in contact with the party through the rest of the mission. Beyond this, the party comes face-to-face with a massive mining operation. Bahr'Toran will inform the party that it is a Red Legion operation that has been underway for years. Their intent is unclear, but the Red Legion had managed to punch into a major processing hub and it has caused much agitation in the Vex, which likely led to the artifact being stolen. It was Bahr'Toran's intent to take the mining camp anyway to allow for a direct route to the Vex beneath it.
The party enters the mining camp and dispatches the crew manning the station. They see a few crew members take Cabal launchers up to the actual drill control tower, and Bahr'Toran advises pursuit; he outranks Judge in the Loyalist hierarchy so Judge is obliged to do so. On the drill, the party has a few things to juggle. First, they need to continue dealing with the drill crew who are trying to defeat them. Second, they need to reorient the control tower launchers to reach the main body of the drill. When both those things are done, the party can peruse the console in the center of the control room to preview the Vex mind waiting for them further along.
The party enters the mining camp and dispatches the crew manning the station. They see a few crew members take Cabal launchers up to the actual drill control tower, and Bahr'Toran advises pursuit; he outranks Judge in the Loyalist hierarchy so Judge is obliged to do so. On the drill, the party has a few things to juggle. First, they need to continue dealing with the drill crew who are trying to defeat them. Second, they need to reorient the control tower launchers to reach the main body of the drill. When both those things are done, the party can peruse the console in the center of the control room to preview the Vex mind waiting for them further along.
Climax
The party takes the command center launcher over to the main drill site. Here they encounter solely Vex, who have overridden the drill structure and caused it to go haywire. The party must make it through the rapidly spinning drill & a small number of Vex forces to reach a tunnel down into the Vex processing hub. Arriving in the hub, the party is confronted by Protheon, Modular Mind, who has assimilated the artifact into its frame. The party must now defeat Protheon in combat to pry the artifact from its chassis.
Falling Action
When Protheon is defeated, the party is able to interface with a conflux linked to the gate network. If successful, a gate spawns that drops the party back in The Anchor with Bahr'Toran to return to the landing barge. If they fail, the party is deposited in The Hallows which requires them to climb out of the underground cave way in order to return to Watcher's Grave and wait for Bahr'Toran.
Resolution
When the remaining Loyalists arrive on the landing barge - Bahr'Toran, Venichus, and a few Legionaries - the party is brought to the Leviathan for their audience with Calus.
Backdrops
Encounters
- Combat / Engagement
- Discussion / Interaction
- Pursuit
Plot type
Chapter: The Leviathan
Parent Plot
Related Locations
Comments