Season 11, Episode 10: "The Sideways Steps" Report
General Summary
The wind from the flick of a wrist punched through Mist's chest, and Helen laughed in Ising's arms. The members of the Dream Team started, watching in horror as their friend stumbled, but Flay's divine eyes saw the truth. The Blessing of the Artist faded, its own creator pulling the wool over Ising's eyes, and the real Mist darted to safety, the wheel of time churning back to life.
Caesura threw his Scythe to the ground, pulling his sister from Ising's grasp, and the two slithered over to the body of Kesil, jaws distending as they began to swallow whole his corpse. Drikka Masson reported that she had defeated Hades, and that he and other Anticipations were beginning to flee through the Sideways Steps. Her part complete, she bid Lockette farewell, and bid her mother to find her wherever she may be. Flint Penumbra joined Aggy on her Wild Hunt, to take out a rogue entity inside the XS Pierce.
Jestyr walked out of a shadow, and the Centurion tried to do the same, before Nassistra arrived and pulled the skeleton into her depths. The Worldseed phased into being in sight of Aucturn, and a rejuvenated Denerin called the retreat. Wynrey appeared beside him, promising to watch over the Children until Isra's return.
Ising moved forward, attempting to kill Mist once more, strangely echoed by Carsai the King, who referred to the Ysoki as "Mad Jack". In the sky above the battlefield, Foly and Riley acted as shields for Bast, who battled Crow for everything below them. Tesin and Skittles fled, promising MaMa that they would look after the Rookery.
Vaughn Blackblood reported that he, Kikimora, and Chud had been ambushed by the Dark Walkers, just as the XS Pierce crashed into Paradise, and both Kikimora and Flint vanished. Denerin reported a final bombing of Aucturn before ordering all forces to make a full retreat to the Worldseed, as the Forge completed its docking operation. Ferro and Tera joined the action as the Owls pushed them back.
The soul of the Centurion slipped through the Steps, followed by Zandeer and his forbidden book. Tommen destroyed Chud, and the Godswood along with it, before escaping Vaughn and diving through the Steps. Then the Oni bid the remainder of House Blackblood farewell, telling them to live their own destinies, and Hopped from the Petal by his sheer will. Caesura and Helen finished devouring their sire, and the two crashed into Ising, the brother serpent screaming "Caesura", and then the three vanished in a warping of the worlds.
Carrot emphasized his role in this cycle, choosing to stay if it continued, but promised to see MaMa again regardless. As his final act before leaving the battle, he surprised everyone by cutting down the Guardians, revealing their intent to betray the party at the last possible moment, and guarantee the "natural" fate of the Entwined Infinities. Their souls fell towards Valhalla, but were intercepted by Mist's control, placing them inside the Calamity Prism instead.
In a static-filled message, Agatha Hagglethorn reported that she had successfully defeated the creature on the XS Pierce, and that she was to complete her mission. With a quiet farewell, Aggy used the Authorize function of the Tower to eliminate all Anticipations that did not belong to Crow's chosen, in a blast of White Flame that incinerated both Aggy and all that stood with her. Joined in thought by some secret knowledge, Regulus and Mist met eyes, and the former left to claim the Tower, becoming its Admin. He authorized Mist to speak the words once bound by the Athenaeum, secrets spilling forth at last, before returning to join the crew.
Crow grabbed Riley, hurling her out of the Infinity Petal with raw power, stunning Bast long enough to open up an opportunity... Ana Logan stepped in, giving her life to save her son, forcing Bast to kill her with Azkhrumdar before she could be absorbed. Flailing and traumatized, the avatar of the Godhead began to break down, reverting to a child-like form, saved only by Foly's sacrifice.
Sara No-Name laughed at the scene from her perch, as existence twisted and the last of Crow's Anticipations fled through the Sideways Steps. The Rookery appeared in the sky atop the Worldseed, and began its Hop with haste. The Dream Team fled towards the Steps, desperately stabbing themselves with curatives and pain inhibitors, preparing for the horrors to come. Noticing Caesura's weapon still remained behind, Cornelius rushed the item to his Shepherd, and Isra bonded to the Shard of Choice.
At the threshold of the end of the world, the party bid the last of their allies farewell. Mist used the Blessing of the Colony to give Chamas and Abelina a ride away from the coming doom, the two parting with teary eyes and few words.
As reality collapsed, the Haze issued its final warning (see Babel), and then the Dream Team waded towards the unknown, and the stars went dark.
End Season 11
Rewards Granted
Created Content
New and updated articles for:
Notes
The sheer amount of events we squeezed into just a few hours! This session report is more of a receipt than an actual retelling.
Due to stacking vacations we'll be taking a three week break between seasons — but all things must end, and The Centurion's Riddle is no exception... Onwards to the end!
Flame in the Night
Tesin Movahesh
Thunder in the Mist
Lockette Endrinmaster 12 2.0
Isra
Report Date
13 Jun 2023
Primary Location
Comments