Session 42 - Ruinlords vs The World
General Summary
Audience with Saint Alduin
The festive air of Tent City crackled with energy, but it fell silent in an instant as Saint Alduin approached. The gleam of his golden armor caught the sun, a beacon of power cutting through the morning haze. His purple eyes swept over the Ruinlords, his smile practiced, calculated. He spoke with the effortless grace of someone who knew he was the most powerful figure in the room—even under the open sky. “So, these are the Ruinlords,” he mused, a smirk ghosting his lips. He acknowledged their role in bringing the Helm of Titan’s Wrath back into the world—an act that had set the stage for something far greater. Not gratitude, not condemnation. Just fact. His knights, the Silver Flight, were in the Games, not for spectacle but for purpose. To forge themselves into paragons in the crucible of combat. Alduin’s words carried weight: The arena does not forgive weakness. It tests the soul, not just the body. As he turned to leave, his final words settled like a heavy stone. “Tread lightly, Ruinlords. Fate is a funny thing, and I really don’t like to see potential go to waste.”The Feast of Aroden
The arena gates swung open at sunset, revealing the Feast of Aroden, a spectacle of grandeur and indulgence. Long banquet tables encircled a raised stage, draped in gold and crimson. Bonfires roared, casting flickering shadows across polished armor and noble finery. The scent of roasting meat filled the air, mingling with spiced wine and laughter. As gladiators, merchants, and nobles took their places, Loris Raknian made his entrance. The arena’s master strode through the crowd with the confidence of a man who ruled this stage. Vixus, the reigning Champion, sat beside him, reveling in the adoration of the crowd. Talabir Welik stepped forward to announce the Rules of Battle, the unbreakable code that governed the Games. Surrender was honored, betrayal punished. Flight was disqualification. Death was an ever-present risk. Raknian’s voice boomed over the arena. “Champions of Tymon,” he declared, christening the gladiators before him. The feast began, but beneath the revelry, tension simmered.Intrigues of the Evening
- Raknian’s Interest: Those watching him closely noticed his attention lingering on the Ruinlords—his gaze sharp, assessing.
- Ekalim’s Obsession: The Ruinlord's manager and coach, Ekalim Smallcask, was more focused on Raknian than the Games, a deep worry lining his face.
- Tirra’s Proposal: The rogue from Magnimar’s Gilded Claw arrived with an offer—her benefactor wanted to bet on the Ruinlords, offering a cut of the winnings if they could defeat Vixus’s Warband. The price? 2,500 gp up front. And one personal favor—*if you fight them, don’t kill them.*
Into the Coenoby
After the feast, the Ruinlords descended into the Coenoby, the gladiators’ underground quarters. The air was thick with tension, the halls lined with warriors who knew that by tomorrow, only a fraction of them would remain. Arena guards were present in numbers, ensuring no combat started before the games could begin. As the Ruinlords settled in for the night, the sound of a distant horn echoed through the caverns. Tomorrow, the blood would start to flow.DAY ONE: The First Battle
Morning came with an air of expectation. The matchups were posted in the Coenoby, warriors gathering to see who they would face. Group E was set:- The Ruinlords
- The Crowned Conquerors – A team of arrogant nobles, their wealth and enchanted weapons their only true strengths. Their hired champion, Pake Jaul, was the real danger.
- Sapphire Squad – A team of fluid, tactical fighters from Absalom, their leader a former pirate bard.
- The Mountain’s Fury – Three stone giants, seeking revenge on the small folk for the death of their lord, Mokmurian.
The Battle Begins
The Ruinlords wasted no time. Pake Jaul’s taunting made their first choice easy—they struck the Crowned Conquerors first. Tike Myson, magically enlarged, met Pake in the center of the arena. Fists collided like thunderclaps, the two brawlers exchanging devastating blows. Around them, mages unleashed fireballs, rays of scorching light, turning the sand to glass where they struck. But the Ruinlords had their own firepower. Vaz’non answered with a draconic fireball—one moment, the nobles fought with sneering bravado, the next they were charred corpses. The last survivor surrendered in sheer terror, Cal’s magic missiles ending any further resistance. Pake fought on, his strikes landing like hammer blows, but Tike was bigger, stronger, and much more relentless. After a vicious onslaught the pugilist fell, a battered and bloody heap in the dust. Dunner charged across the arena, closing in on the giants. Vaz'non dropped a fireball on the stone giants to light the way. The Mountain’s Fury, once content to hurl boulders at the Sapphire Squad, now turned their full attention to the Ruinlords. The ground trembled as they advanced. The battle was far from over.Rewards Granted
XP
- Each character earned 2,400 XP for this session.
- Current total: 44,300/50,000 XP.
Tike Myson
Cal Volsung
Dunner Greatblade
Vaz'non
Report Date
01 Feb 2025
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