Ashe C2 Episode 73 - The Fierce Stargazer flies again
Previously On Liters of Tomorrow...
Returning to the city of Westinox you headed to Kovara Manor to fulfill the bargain set before you. Use the arcane focus to release Anak Kovara from his magical prison. He set up a device to allow you to funnel spells into it with the focus at the center. He asked Nuth and Mausim to cast spells into control rods to fuel the focus' power. Finn monitored the power levels reading a meter on the device and activiting limiters.
The operation was a success, though it left Mausim and Nuth physically drained and low on magicks. The arcane focus crumbled after the enormous use of power and turned to a pile of dust and debris surrounded by it's now loose gems.
Finn and the newly recruited pilot, a half elven man, raced to the docks to watch as the airship was pulled out of the river. Warned by a stealthy Virgil Capsaiscin and the cricket known as Jeremy, the rest of the team stayed behind to search for any illusory surprises left by Kovara. They discovered a few invisible guards who were set to make sure the team didn't cause any trouble and they found a strange empty compartment underneath where the focus sat.
Negotiating with the guards rather than fighting them to the death, everyone headed to the Dryad's Globes tavern to celebrate the dual accomplishments. As drinks and food were brought around Anak, Finn and Nuth engaged in a shot competition. Anak, a newcomer to bawdy taverns, found himself to be the loser and blacked out from the alcohol consumption.
Not too long after you were all joined by Genesee Red, Crashe, and Natali who have all been living in Westinox since you last saw them. After a few more drinks they all began to cough up a black oily substance. As their eyes turned inky black you heard the voice of Lord Vedemire Darkhorse. He taunted you while dozens of other bar patrons coughed up the same substance. In moments you found yourselves surrounded by 25 thralls of evil.
The battle began as an exhausted Mausim pulled Anak Kovara to safety. Nuth engaged his blade song and wielded his sword. Finn grappled Genesee Red to try to protect her rather than damage her. Knowing that the substance was responsible for the violent behaviour, demaia acted. All eyes turned to her as she drank a strange potion and chanelled the power and fury of the two moons above. A bright white shaft of moon beam broke through the tavern roof and struck four infected people at once. The black infectious substance burned away as well as some of their skin. Her eyes glowed a bright white as she moved the beam through more and more of the infected.
Moments later Qesa Huss, of the daughters of light, strode through the doors offering her radiant guiding bolts as well. Between the two of them they worked through the crowd removing the infection and then curing the burns and damage that had been so necessary.
Returning to the city of Westinox you headed to Kovara Manor to fulfill the bargain set before you. Use the arcane focus to release Anak Kovara from his magical prison. He set up a device to allow you to funnel spells into it with the focus at the center. He asked Nuth and Mausim to cast spells into control rods to fuel the focus' power. Finn monitored the power levels reading a meter on the device and activiting limiters.
The operation was a success, though it left Mausim and Nuth physically drained and low on magicks. The arcane focus crumbled after the enormous use of power and turned to a pile of dust and debris surrounded by it's now loose gems.
Finn and the newly recruited pilot, a half elven man, raced to the docks to watch as the airship was pulled out of the river. Warned by a stealthy Virgil Capsaiscin and the cricket known as Jeremy, the rest of the team stayed behind to search for any illusory surprises left by Kovara. They discovered a few invisible guards who were set to make sure the team didn't cause any trouble and they found a strange empty compartment underneath where the focus sat.
Negotiating with the guards rather than fighting them to the death, everyone headed to the Dryad's Globes tavern to celebrate the dual accomplishments. As drinks and food were brought around Anak, Finn and Nuth engaged in a shot competition. Anak, a newcomer to bawdy taverns, found himself to be the loser and blacked out from the alcohol consumption.
Not too long after you were all joined by Genesee Red, Crashe, and Natali who have all been living in Westinox since you last saw them. After a few more drinks they all began to cough up a black oily substance. As their eyes turned inky black you heard the voice of Lord Vedemire Darkhorse. He taunted you while dozens of other bar patrons coughed up the same substance. In moments you found yourselves surrounded by 25 thralls of evil.
The battle began as an exhausted Mausim pulled Anak Kovara to safety. Nuth engaged his blade song and wielded his sword. Finn grappled Genesee Red to try to protect her rather than damage her. Knowing that the substance was responsible for the violent behaviour, demaia acted. All eyes turned to her as she drank a strange potion and chanelled the power and fury of the two moons above. A bright white shaft of moon beam broke through the tavern roof and struck four infected people at once. The black infectious substance burned away as well as some of their skin. Her eyes glowed a bright white as she moved the beam through more and more of the infected.
Moments later Qesa Huss, of the daughters of light, strode through the doors offering her radiant guiding bolts as well. Between the two of them they worked through the crowd removing the infection and then curing the burns and damage that had been so necessary.
Plot points/Scenes
The Fierce Stargazer
Currently it still sits at the bottom of the river that flows around Westinox. It will need to be repaired and restaffed once it is pulled out of the water. Some of the crew who operated under Exatron Saul will still be in the city including
Crew of the Fierce Stargazer:
Meeting with Cog - Dreiduaras Dome / The Forest Realms
Finding Lord Darkhorse's Phylactery / Stoneport - Virgil believes that the stone statue in the possession of the dragon Vom Fass is the Phylactery of Lord Darkhorse
The Great Dead Tree - This great tree is now infested with a hive of Darkhorse's Krullocs
City of Warshaw - Now in the control of Lord Darkhorse
Southern Team - Are on the verge of raising the great forest spirit Oppapan. They are going to need the entire team to hold the connection with Oppapan to defeat the great Kaiju Demon.
Other things happening in Tanaheim:
As the Dark One's power rises several things are happening in the background.
Inorr Auslav Rakovonarr has been slowly taking control in the Forest Realms. The elven lands are becoming more militant in an eerie reverberation of the end of the second age.
Queen Mew of the Land of Crossing Sun and Stars has become a vampire and threatens to turn most of her population.
1st day of Kieralar (July), 6:30 pm. 27 Celsius / 82 Fahrenheit.
On a bright sunny day in the city of Westinox you walk towards the Dryad's Globes Tavern. The sun dips to just above the skyline of the various three and four story buildings of the west side of the city. It's bordering on evening and a light breeze finally breaks through the summer heat.
Finn you have spent the last two weeks working nonstop on the repairs for the Fierce Stargazer. You have developed a friendship with the head of the ground crew, Alexi Brighthammer. He is a dwarven man still in the employ of the Dicen Mining operation, a subsidiary of Anak Kovara's many enterprises in the city. Despite that he seems friendly and competent. He works along side you to rebuild the starboard engine array while Genesee Red recovers from her ordeal with what Kovara has termed the Dark One's Elixir. You have checked on her nightly and she seems to show no sign of Lord Darkhorse's influence. She suffered a respiratory illness and a lack of strength until recently. If all goes well you hope to have the maiden voyage of the rebuilt Stargazer first thing in the morning.
Mausim, inbetween assisting Finn and the engineers with the stargazer, You and Nuth have been combing the city for the remaining crew of the airship. Most of whom have been wary at first but then eager to resume their duties amongst the clouds. Despite the promises made by Exatron Saul when they were hired most of them were not loyal to him but to the airship. The first of it's kind to fly the Tanaheim skies. So far you and Nuth have recruited Pelly Portnut, Nock Littlefoot, and Mevi Flashfoot a halfling woman who is good with maps. You have also spent your spare time practicing your sorcerous arts and training with your sword.
Halo you have been staying at the Lodestone Inn with a small stipend from Anak Kovara. He has paid for your room for the next week and several gold for food and drink. Lately the nights have been difficult, you have been plagued by strange dreams and nightmares. Many of the dreams start with you flying through dark clouds at night, sometimes on the deck of the airship and sometimes just yourself being hurled ever faster into the dark clouds. Often they end with you being rent in two by an unseen force, dark clouds wrap themselves around your arms and you fell yourself pulled apart. When you awake you hear a keening wail that drifts into a howl which then just sounds like the wind. You convince yourself each night that the sound is from the dream. No one else in the Lodestone seems to notice or comments on it. In the last few days you have developed a pain in your chest. Not your heart or lungs but almost a sharp cramp in your center at time it is even painful to breathe.
Nuth you have walked the city with Mausim recruiting the wayward crew of the airship. You've also spent your off hours studying your new spells. Recently you have been approached by Tersi Friloth, an assembly evocation wizard of the Magus level with the Assembly of the weave. He has asked for a meeting so that you and he may discuss Assembly business. You have also been keeping up on the rumors and news of the murdering ranger known as Wes. You still are burning from your last confrontation where he escaped you yet again. You also find yourself thinking of Demaia and how she is doing. After saving everyone from the Dark One's elixir she was summoned by the Verdant Sigil and ran off to the Ashen Forest.
Currently it still sits at the bottom of the river that flows around Westinox. It will need to be repaired and restaffed once it is pulled out of the water. Some of the crew who operated under Exatron Saul will still be in the city including
Crew of the Fierce Stargazer:
- Navigator - Mevi Flashfoot, halfling woman
- Pilot - Mike's Character, Half elven man with the mark of the Dragon. recruited
- Cook - Pelly Portnut, half orc man with a large belly and a topknot of black hair. recruited
- Engineer - Gnome man by the name of Zumf "Tumtum" Brushnickel
- Assistant engineer - Firbolg woman named Sippi Cashelhorne
- Squabbie - Halfling man by the name of Nock "Gaffer" Littlefoot. recruited
- Ground Crew - Alexi Brighthammer, Dwarven artificer *Note still technically employed by Anak Kovara
- Ground Crew - Casilium Bex - Half elven woman with a half shaved head.
Meeting with Cog - Dreiduaras Dome / The Forest Realms
Finding Lord Darkhorse's Phylactery / Stoneport - Virgil believes that the stone statue in the possession of the dragon Vom Fass is the Phylactery of Lord Darkhorse
The Great Dead Tree - This great tree is now infested with a hive of Darkhorse's Krullocs
City of Warshaw - Now in the control of Lord Darkhorse
Southern Team - Are on the verge of raising the great forest spirit Oppapan. They are going to need the entire team to hold the connection with Oppapan to defeat the great Kaiju Demon.
Other things happening in Tanaheim:
As the Dark One's power rises several things are happening in the background.
Inorr Auslav Rakovonarr has been slowly taking control in the Forest Realms. The elven lands are becoming more militant in an eerie reverberation of the end of the second age.
Queen Mew of the Land of Crossing Sun and Stars has become a vampire and threatens to turn most of her population.
START HERE:
1st day of Kieralar (July), 6:30 pm. 27 Celsius / 82 Fahrenheit.
On a bright sunny day in the city of Westinox you walk towards the Dryad's Globes Tavern. The sun dips to just above the skyline of the various three and four story buildings of the west side of the city. It's bordering on evening and a light breeze finally breaks through the summer heat.
Finn you have spent the last two weeks working nonstop on the repairs for the Fierce Stargazer. You have developed a friendship with the head of the ground crew, Alexi Brighthammer. He is a dwarven man still in the employ of the Dicen Mining operation, a subsidiary of Anak Kovara's many enterprises in the city. Despite that he seems friendly and competent. He works along side you to rebuild the starboard engine array while Genesee Red recovers from her ordeal with what Kovara has termed the Dark One's Elixir. You have checked on her nightly and she seems to show no sign of Lord Darkhorse's influence. She suffered a respiratory illness and a lack of strength until recently. If all goes well you hope to have the maiden voyage of the rebuilt Stargazer first thing in the morning.
Mausim, inbetween assisting Finn and the engineers with the stargazer, You and Nuth have been combing the city for the remaining crew of the airship. Most of whom have been wary at first but then eager to resume their duties amongst the clouds. Despite the promises made by Exatron Saul when they were hired most of them were not loyal to him but to the airship. The first of it's kind to fly the Tanaheim skies. So far you and Nuth have recruited Pelly Portnut, Nock Littlefoot, and Mevi Flashfoot a halfling woman who is good with maps. You have also spent your spare time practicing your sorcerous arts and training with your sword.
Halo you have been staying at the Lodestone Inn with a small stipend from Anak Kovara. He has paid for your room for the next week and several gold for food and drink. Lately the nights have been difficult, you have been plagued by strange dreams and nightmares. Many of the dreams start with you flying through dark clouds at night, sometimes on the deck of the airship and sometimes just yourself being hurled ever faster into the dark clouds. Often they end with you being rent in two by an unseen force, dark clouds wrap themselves around your arms and you fell yourself pulled apart. When you awake you hear a keening wail that drifts into a howl which then just sounds like the wind. You convince yourself each night that the sound is from the dream. No one else in the Lodestone seems to notice or comments on it. In the last few days you have developed a pain in your chest. Not your heart or lungs but almost a sharp cramp in your center at time it is even painful to breathe.
Nuth you have walked the city with Mausim recruiting the wayward crew of the airship. You've also spent your off hours studying your new spells. Recently you have been approached by Tersi Friloth, an assembly evocation wizard of the Magus level with the Assembly of the weave. He has asked for a meeting so that you and he may discuss Assembly business. You have also been keeping up on the rumors and news of the murdering ranger known as Wes. You still are burning from your last confrontation where he escaped you yet again. You also find yourself thinking of Demaia and how she is doing. After saving everyone from the Dark One's elixir she was summoned by the Verdant Sigil and ran off to the Ashen Forest.
Themes
Hiring the Engineers
The two remaining necessary members of the crew are Zumf "Tumtum" Brushnickel the head flight engineer and his assistant a Firbolg woman named Sippi Cashelhorne. They are the most experienced in making in flight repairs and helping in combat situations. They are said to frequent the Dryad's globes and are said that they helped with repairs after the scuffle with the strange oil that infected several patrons a couple weeks back.
The owner, Ursula Mistovech, supposedly gave them free room and board while they figured out what to do next. They have had several offers from the city of Warshaw that are said to be quite lucrative. The Prince Vestun Ricard Tred Wardashar is said to have reached out to them himself with offers to upgrade the city's security. [DM Note: the Prince is under Lord Vedemire's control. Vedemire is creating new war machines for the Dark One and would like the two engineers to help out.]
As you enter you see the familiar face of Vestovich Daguerre, an attractive dark haired half elven bartender. She nods at you and begins pouring your regular drinks. The two engineers sit at a corner table in deep discussion with another familiar face. Recelia Serise, otherwise known as Kirana Castaliogne. She shows the pair a scroll that has the wax seal of the city of Warshaw on it.
Nuth you see a figure approaching you as well. The angular features of the elven woman named Tersi Friloth. She wears her grey wizard's robes with the cobalt blue embroidery on the neck and sleeves. "Greetings Nuth, I was hoping to meet with you. We have much to discuss." She has the severe features of Bebe Neuwirth including the jet black hair and some small spectacles perched on her nose. [DM Note: Tersi is attempting to get Nuth to rejoin the Assembly for several reasons.
As the team negotiates with the engineers in the dryads's globes, Halo's condition will get worse.
Halo as you sit in the bar you feel a pressure on your ears. A rush of wind almost deafens you and the pain in your chest intensifies with a new sharpness. You double over in pain as other patrons just stare at you. You feel a movement in your stomach like on a roller coaster or a fast elevator, if feels like you just flew into the air though your surroundings haven't changes and no one else seems to notice.
Just then Pelly Portnut rushes into the Dryad's Globes and shouts at all of you with a mixture of fear and excitement. "Guys!! you are not going to believe what I just saw!" Pelly points outside and you see a large chunk of earth has risen into the air several hundred feet. A small island from the river has now been lifted into the sky.
The two remaining necessary members of the crew are Zumf "Tumtum" Brushnickel the head flight engineer and his assistant a Firbolg woman named Sippi Cashelhorne. They are the most experienced in making in flight repairs and helping in combat situations. They are said to frequent the Dryad's globes and are said that they helped with repairs after the scuffle with the strange oil that infected several patrons a couple weeks back.
The owner, Ursula Mistovech, supposedly gave them free room and board while they figured out what to do next. They have had several offers from the city of Warshaw that are said to be quite lucrative. The Prince Vestun Ricard Tred Wardashar is said to have reached out to them himself with offers to upgrade the city's security. [DM Note: the Prince is under Lord Vedemire's control. Vedemire is creating new war machines for the Dark One and would like the two engineers to help out.]
As you enter you see the familiar face of Vestovich Daguerre, an attractive dark haired half elven bartender. She nods at you and begins pouring your regular drinks. The two engineers sit at a corner table in deep discussion with another familiar face. Recelia Serise, otherwise known as Kirana Castaliogne. She shows the pair a scroll that has the wax seal of the city of Warshaw on it.
Nuth you see a figure approaching you as well. The angular features of the elven woman named Tersi Friloth. She wears her grey wizard's robes with the cobalt blue embroidery on the neck and sleeves. "Greetings Nuth, I was hoping to meet with you. We have much to discuss." She has the severe features of Bebe Neuwirth including the jet black hair and some small spectacles perched on her nose. [DM Note: Tersi is attempting to get Nuth to rejoin the Assembly for several reasons.
- She desperately wants an assembly wizard to act as a spy to watch Finn and Mausim.
- She wants to get aboard the Airship and find a way to bug it or get it into the assembly's possession.
- She is also on orders to bring in Mausim as a rouge storm sorceror.
- Of course, if possible, to find out what happened to the Arcane Focus as well.
- She offers some rewards like a scroll of Trollish Fortitude and a spell scroll of Mass Suggestion.
As the team negotiates with the engineers in the dryads's globes, Halo's condition will get worse.
Halo as you sit in the bar you feel a pressure on your ears. A rush of wind almost deafens you and the pain in your chest intensifies with a new sharpness. You double over in pain as other patrons just stare at you. You feel a movement in your stomach like on a roller coaster or a fast elevator, if feels like you just flew into the air though your surroundings haven't changes and no one else seems to notice.
Just then Pelly Portnut rushes into the Dryad's Globes and shouts at all of you with a mixture of fear and excitement. "Guys!! you are not going to believe what I just saw!" Pelly points outside and you see a large chunk of earth has risen into the air several hundred feet. A small island from the river has now been lifted into the sky.
Structure
Exposition
The Elemental Conjurer
A rogue wizard by the name of Tamvir H'chost, has become infatuated with elemental magic. After studying the works of the wizard Melvikothe he moved to Westinox to find any remnant of the old mage's works. Shut out of Kovara Manor, which was vigorously guarded by the wealthy recluse inside, he scoured the rest of the city to find old notes and spellbooks.
Recently he has summoned a host of air and earth elementals and has worked hard to bind them to his will. His most recent success is raising a small island from the River of Daggers into the air 450 feet. To do this he has split the air elemental that resides in the Fierce Stargazer in half. The pain of this separation has caused it to function at half strength in every way. The airship will move at half speed and maneuverability. It is also in tremendous pain. This pain is being transmitted through the bond to Halo who is now experiencing it in his dreams and physically in his chest.
Tamvir has bound the half of the air elemental to his very being. He is drawing from it's power to maintain control of the island and several air elementals. It also allows him to use his Elemental Shuffle and Liminal straddle abilties. His next move is to figure out how to move his island and use it as a floating stronghold. He also needs gold to fund his new warlord venture. His next move will be to rob a bank or the royal treasury. Though he is not opposed to taking from the ETC or anyone else who has a large cache of coins.
Conflict
EPILOGUES
That finish with Mausim in a dream “A man with dark blonde hair streaked with gray walks out of the mists. His armor is a mix of gold and silver plates bound with thick leather. He wears a think cloak of dark blue embroidered with silver leaves and branches. He looks at you with bright blue eyes under thick blonde eyebrows. “Mausim, I believe it is time we met. My name is Encealadus Calwyn.”
Following session we will have Mausim and Calwyn spar with swords. Mausim can notice that Calwyn’s sword is of elven make and form House Rivendrias. Eventually Jeremy will notice that Mausim is thrashing in his sleep and he will Urge Demaia to try to help him. She can try to enter Thra Onerios with a Wisdom check. If she makes it Calwyn will be quite surprised and alarmed that she is there.
Battle for Serpico-
At the end of the night on the deck of the airship you see a bright flash of green light. Despite the night sky around you a sphere of light appears over the ship granting you a feeling of daylight sun. A warmth hits your faces and a caressing breeze moves about you. The sphere glides to the deck and coalesces into the strange form of a stout dwarven man cloaked in armor made of bark and leaves. His red beard is streaked with white and he has a transparency to him as if he isn't really there.
"I am Karnak the head of the Verdant Sigil. I am here to enlist your aid. Not only for the safety of your friends in the south but for the safety of the world. A great demon has been summoned and you are needed and uniquely outfitted to assist"
He shows you an illusion of a massive kaiju sized demon walking out of the ocean towards the city of Serpico...
Current Date : The Year SF3, 3029 the month of Ventel (June)
Conjurer Lore
Arcana DC 10: Conjuration is among the most versatile schools of magic, as the sheer multifarity of the multiverse allows for the simple act of connecting two points in space to produce nearly any effect imaginable with the proper ingenuity.
Arcana DC 15: For short-term tasks, conjurers tend to prefer elemental and fey spirits, as their drive for novelty often often dulls their lust for revenge after an involuntary stint on the material plane. For longer-term assignements, however, demons are the spirits of choice, as their unbridled hatred evokes, if properly directed, evokes from them efforts that mere magic could not compel.
History DC 15: Conjurers rarely do much fighting themselves, instead preferring to summon extraplanar allies to protect them, which they often carry bound in minimum containtments for just such an eventuality. When they must fight directly, however, they do so by forging brief connections between the material plane and some extreme extraplanar hazard, and are such able to produce a near-infinite variety of unpleasant effects.
Religion DC 15: Arcane conjurers rarely attempt to summon or bind good-aligned spirits, as doing so tends to bring undue attention on their means and methods from forces they'd prefer not to tangle with. No such cosmic authority exists to safeguard the interests of the demonic hordes of the abyss, however, and such it is that conjurers find themselves reliably surrounded with the fell whispers of demons. Perhaps it is in part due to this that so many conjurers are swayed into reckless grabs at ultimate multiversal power leading to their swift and predictable demise.
Arcana DC 10: Conjuration is among the most versatile schools of magic, as the sheer multifarity of the multiverse allows for the simple act of connecting two points in space to produce nearly any effect imaginable with the proper ingenuity.
Arcana DC 15: For short-term tasks, conjurers tend to prefer elemental and fey spirits, as their drive for novelty often often dulls their lust for revenge after an involuntary stint on the material plane. For longer-term assignements, however, demons are the spirits of choice, as their unbridled hatred evokes, if properly directed, evokes from them efforts that mere magic could not compel.
History DC 15: Conjurers rarely do much fighting themselves, instead preferring to summon extraplanar allies to protect them, which they often carry bound in minimum containtments for just such an eventuality. When they must fight directly, however, they do so by forging brief connections between the material plane and some extreme extraplanar hazard, and are such able to produce a near-infinite variety of unpleasant effects.
Religion DC 15: Arcane conjurers rarely attempt to summon or bind good-aligned spirits, as doing so tends to bring undue attention on their means and methods from forces they'd prefer not to tangle with. No such cosmic authority exists to safeguard the interests of the demonic hordes of the abyss, however, and such it is that conjurers find themselves reliably surrounded with the fell whispers of demons. Perhaps it is in part due to this that so many conjurers are swayed into reckless grabs at ultimate multiversal power leading to their swift and predictable demise.
Completion Date
7/11/2024
7/11/2024
Plot type
Main Story
Related Characters
Related Organizations
Related Locations
Comments