ATG Mission 10 - Anaxis Sees You...

Previously on Liters of Tomorrow

The team traveled to The Points to stop an assassination during the White Gold Festival. The Drow terrorist group known as the Morendath Ever'Rend were attempting to plunge the entire continent into war by framing the Eastern forces for the death of an important elven diplomat. Though you foiled the initial attempt the Baron Garizon Thelpyteris wound up slain anyway due to a traveling companion of yours known as Ijin. Dealing with the fallout of this horrible event Karnac put forth a plan to reincarnate the Baron using a rebuilt body, gambling that it would be one that the baron's soul would latch onto.
Utilizing an eye from the Baron's corpse Karnac was able to construct a new body with an elven form. The Baron's soul entered this new form and promised to clear your names of murder. While the baron and his brother began that task the piece of the control rod once more flared to life sensing something below the city. You met a strange masked man, named Von Bloodblight, who agreed to help you in exchange for help in finding something he called Viendall's Staff. You joined forces and followed Bloodblight to the undercity. Below you found the ruins of an ancient elven city known as Herradin that The Points had been built on. Spectral figures flickered in and out as you explored the area. Von Bloodblight seemed to have the ability to speak to these ghosts and he pointed you all to a the Zhavendar Building at the center of the city. Searching the manor you found a secret entrance to a chamber underneath.
Once inside you saw a huge room surrounded by magical globes that created an energy barrier around a piece of metal. Removing the magical barrier you watched as Bloodblight ran forward and held up the metal in triumph. He hailed the glory of Anaxis and laughed, that's when you realized that Viendall's staff was the piece of the control rod you have been looking for.
As the two pieces drew close to each other strange pulses flared out from them changing the very air around you. From behind a strange band of adventurers entered the room and claimed the control rod. A human Cog surrounded by warforged versions of yourselves attacked and a strange melee ensued. Vom Fass and Mew made for Bloodblight who was now surrounded by a force bubble given to him from Anaxis. Vom Fass blasted it with a disintegration ray giving Mew an opportunity to enter the bubble. The two fought over the rod both drawing blood, then Mew pulled out her sovereign glue and literally stuck her hand to the control rod.
More pulses from the control rod changed the alternate Adventure Team Grimm into kobolds , then another pulse changed the team into vassals of Anaxis all with strange purple tinged eyes. As Von bloodblight made to flee the room Mew wrenched the control rod free and stabbed him to death with her psionic blades. Unfurling her tattoo wings she made for the exit. The rest of you faced off against a deadly version of yourselves. Karnac taking his Treant form fought to keep any of the alternates from following Mew. Vom Fass leapt into action using a force wall to seal off the exit and Blizzard Hops worked to hold off The alternate Cog as well as purple hops.
Evil purple Mew slipped out however and pursued regular Mew. Using her tattoo wings and a good headstart regular Mew made her way to the Maycroft building and tried to fuse the pieces of the control rod together. The rest of you down below continued the fight, outnumbered and waning and on the verge of death. Vom Fass fell only to be saved by Karnac and Hops using scarce spellsots to heal. The Control Rod began to heal itself reforming in this timeline. Though you noted that the future reflection of the rod was still missing it's piece. The combatants down below blinked out as the strange multiversal phenomena faded.
The team now exhausted and bleeding trudged back to the blue cauldron for some much needed rest. There you met with Garizon and Delthorne Thelpyteris to discuss clearing your names. You also met once more with Vorleana who wanted to discuss the Morendath Ever'rend and their plans before leaving for Allachi to hunt down one of their agents. Now it seems the Morendath have targeted Agrimor's stronghold and the dangerous treasures within to carry out their goals...

Plot points/Scenes

Last day of the Festival

You awake from your sleep not refreshed or energetic, but your major wounds have healed. You still feel bruised and sore and a bit groggy after an entire day of running and fighting. But the sun rises over the horizon in a bright orange haze and the warm ocean breeze rushed in through the window. You immediately smell hash browns, bacon and coffee from the tavern Kitchen below. The Blue Cauldron is a Big Building in the Wuther District south of the arena. The first floor is painted a cobalt blue and it is The second largest tavern and inn in The Points. As you descend the stairs you see the owner, a half-orc woman named Hansalah Quench. She has bright blue hair due to a wild magic explosion years ago. She claims to have killed the young human sorceror that caused and it and she is quite sensitive about it. Currently she wears it short with some spikes gelled into it. She is about 6'2 and is still quite cut in her musculature. She is wearing silky black shirt and pants with a large red apron in case she needs to pour some drinks.
She sees you all begin to come down from your rooms and she motions to a halfling woman to set some tables. "Mornin' to ya, Breakfast will be ready in five. Have a seat, anyone in need of a drink? I can pour some whiskey or make some bloody Nox's but my bartender won't be in until well after noon."
Karnac you are eventually approached by a three foot tall frog looking man, a Bullywug. He wears an oiled leather jacket and green and brown leather pants. On his shoulder sits a metallic green dragonfly. He bows and introduces himself. "Master Karnac my name is Gonkulu Brunkblug a druid of the Verdant Sigil."
Gonkulu is a member of the Verdant Sigil operating in Ventenheim. He hails from the swamp region outside of Lake Ventrus near Villa De La Vale. He has a familar who is a large green dragonfly named Bibo.
The Return of Jalabraxis 
As Blizzard hops sits down once more in the tavern and orders a drink a well dressed man approaches him. Tall and slender in an incredibly expensive bedazzled silver grey suit bedecked with Gold filagree, he looks like a tiefling but richer in color and an almost magenta skin. His white and silver hair hangs down his back and his horns are a deep magenta and purple as well. He does a half bow as he approaches and looks you up and down. He almost shines as compared to the other patrons in the bar.
"As I live and breathe! The majesty of Blizzard Hops!  I should have known a Rakish Fop like yourself wouldn't miss the White and Golf Festival!"  His voice is loud and musical and he smiles widely as he takes you all in.  "And little Bob Ross!  Your blue scales are looking extra polished these days.  There is your dwarf the great and powerful Animal man!  I believe you go by the Roar master these days but i must admit I don't really pay attention.  Lady mind master, the lithe but dangerous cat of the city streets."
"Come now we must have drinks, and you can tell me all about your recent adventures."

Themes

The Top Hat Man Cometh...

You look out over the street and the masses of people still celebrating the White Gold Festival. Revelers of all types move up and down the thoroughfare all dressed in white shirts, gold hats, and hold bottles or wine glasses full of alcohol. You hear laughter, loud drunk talking and constant movement from the people. The smell of beer, tobacco, and pipe weed assaults your senses and floating lanterns shine with magical light, some white and others casting a yellowish glow. Down the street in the distance you see a splash of purple slowly bobbing through the crowd. A tall purple top hat moves through the crowd several hundred feet away, as it does you see a change in the crowd. At first a wave of fear cascades over you like an ocean wave.
[DM Note: Roll wisdom Saving throws versus fear]
As you watch transfixed on the crowd you see the purple begin to multiply. A human man wearing a white tunic looks down as his shirt turns purple rapidly, a dwarven woman in a lacy white gown watches as her fabric turns bright purple. Then another and another as all the white clothing now turns purple, it pulses out from where you see the top hat slowly approaching. The center of the street now looks purple and gold instead of white and gold. The lanterns begin to change as well as the purple wave spreads out. As you look closer the crowd's eyes begin to change to purple glow as their iris' fills with purple light. The sound around you goes from a loud celebration of the days festivities to an eerie calm. As the purple spreads out all faces begin to turn towards you. Thousands of eyes now look in one direction and they see you. Suddenly the Top Hat man stands a little bit taller and you see his skull like white face with bright purple glowing eyes as he grins widely.
[DM Note: To counter flying utilize crossbows and long bows from rooftops. Also Anaxis will use the remaining members of the Crimson Vettel. There are 3 left and they will fly into action and attack, all of their eyes glowing a bright purple. If necessary Anaxis will combine them together in a body horror like merging. This will increase the size of the creature and their power.]
A Choice...
As the chaos threatens to engulf you things begin to slow. Thousands of angry purple eyed faces look in your direction a level of malice and rage on their faces unlike any you have ever seen. Now frozen as time begins to slow to a crawl. A wasp flees the area in front of you imperceptibly slow as it's wings splay out in haphazard fashion. The golden sunset in front of you takes on a purplish pink tinge as the top hat man approaches you at normal speed. He walks easily and a bit jauntily as he stands in an opening on the street and bows. "Greetings travelers, I thought it a good time to finally meet and perhaps chat about the future. Let me introduce myself, I go by many names. Anaxis, The wanderer, The Top Hat Man, The Bone White Devil, The Deadwrought, there are many more because I have visited many places."
He leans on his cane and tilts his head a bit as he studies you.
"Perhaps we have got off on the wrong foot? I fail to see any reason why we need to be set against one another. Our objectives and rewards seem to overlap more often than not. Watching you I have noticed that you value gold, do you not? You seem to enjoy power and the odd bit of violence. The study and usage of magical artifacts or weapons, You see we have many things that we see eye to eye on."
"Let us reevaluate our relationship! I can offer you all of the things that you value so dear, and so much more. It is a big world, bigger than you even realize. Perhaps you do not want to be involved in business, I understand, Then wouldn't it be more lucrative to just avoid one another?"
[DM Note: If the players agree to this they are each presented with a coin. These coins will be difficult to shake once accepted. The coins always seem to show up in a pocket or pouch even after a person has given it away or thrown it out. "The deal is done! Let us drink to our newfound accord! To future prosperity and power!" A small skull tattoo will show up on their arms later that day. Enough of these tattoos will allow Anaxis to control a PC with a Will save fail.]
[DM Note: If the players try to attack Anaxis or just disagree verbally he takes the news congenially. Or deflects the attack with illusion. "Ah such is the way of the righteous and weak minded. I assumed as much." With a wave of his hand he opens small windows that depict different scenes.]
"Let me present you with three scenarios. All of which are ocurring at this moment and will continue to unfurl as I loosen my grip on time. " He motions to the first window. It is surrounded by a thin crackle of purple energy and as you focus on the scene within you see several figures standing in a large chamber. Dim blue light surrounds these shadowy figures as they crouch down and touch the floor. You realize that the chamber is the one under the theater in the city of the Great Salt Steppe. Where you defeated the Abyssal Knife before they could summon the world shattering demon. A kaiju sized monstrosity to destroy civilization. The shadowy figures begin to complete the summoning circle.
"Do you recognize this place? It resides in the city where your mother lives does it not, Mew?"
He motions to the next window. An army of Adherents of Iron command over one hundred warforged automatons who like Cog. They march on the Eastern Road and cross a Bridge. The Town of Morden's Bridge. They begin to grab residents of the town and torture them, peppering them with shouts and questions. The set fire to several buildings and you watch as the warforged seize a man who is clearly resisting and they tear his arms off as easily as snapping dry twigs.
"Oh, whoops they are a bit more zealous than I accounted for. They are marching on Tellenor next, looking for infidels. Looking for you."
The last window shows another siege. An army sets up camp outside of a mountain stronghold. You recognize the sigil on the flags. That of the Knights of Aventador. A tall figure in a golden helmet leads them as they make perparations to attack. Then the stronghold comes into view. Agrimor's Stronghold. The place where you have stashed a half dozen of the most powerful artifacts in existence and hundreds of pounds of magically infused Shard rock.
"And alas, This one I had nothing to do with! I swear just a happy coincidence! Now I bid you Adieu and when I make my leave all of these things will resume. It seems like you have some difficult choices ahead, which one will you choose I wonder? Maybe none and you all walk away and leave all of this nonsense behind."
With that he blinks out and time resumes. The thousands of angry citizens remain however and they descend on you with a bright purple rage!