Season 11, Episode 2: "Drifting Apart" Report
General Summary
As Ark Prime loomed overhead, and all of Absalom Station went dark, the Pact Council erupted into activity — calling their contacts in the military, checking in on key systems, and organizing a city-wide call to seek shelter. The Dream Team looked to each other, as if to plan their next move, and in askance, time slowed. They slid into the space reserved for the gods, as Losifaran alone looked down from his table, their faces now reflected in his all-black eyes.
He urged them to choose their next steps carefully. To leave and go on the offensive, or stay and defend the last remaining civilization known to the stars. The crew quickly jumped to debate the merits of these choices, Masamune alone questioning the Elf's motive, and his strange ability to work with the divine.
Losifaran explained that he was a mortal aspect of Abadar, set to watch over the Pact Worlds since the days just before the Gap ended. He had been helping protect the Starstone ever since, intervening only when appropriate, and otherwise leaving matters to his councilmembers.
When asked what he thought they should do, he offered no opinion, but stated that he would support them either way. But as the Dream Team began to speak of the Rambling Road, the dire nature of Absalom Station's situation, and the state of the Material Plane, a spark lit in Losifaran's eye. Through prompting in an argument between Masamune and Mist, the group realized that the Road had always taken them to places of conflict — creatures in their domains, the middle of battles, puzzles unsolved. If they were to go there in this moment, in a place where all remaining life had gathered, now assaulted from all sides...
There was no conflict in the galaxy like the one surrounding Absalom Station.
After obtaining group agreement, the Dream Team decided they would have their cake and eat it too — to defend Absalom Station by going on the offensive, giving the ultimate challenge to the Rambling Road. All Ruby Keys at their disposal, and all the runestones they could bring to bear, combined with any future challenges and resources that would have been offered in their last four Avenues, collapsed into a single, mighty run.
Losifaran dropped his barrier, taking the Dream Team away from the Plenara with little explanation to his peers, and into a pocket plane containing vast quantities of arms and armor. He invited the crew to take whatever they needed, and then led them to a simple door of his own making, pushing through to the Rambling Road. As a last minute addition (perhaps sensing Mist's internal wish), he used a vestige of his god-like power to pull Anastasia from her location on Ark Prime, and then pushed her through the door without farewell.
With little time for reunion, the Road accepted the Dream Team's offer, and their mighty trial began.
Starting with the first challenge, they landed in the ruin of Jatembe Park, where a rogue Kami had been corrupted by Wither and was terrorizing the fleeing populace. The Dream Team quickly put the creature out of its misery, with Masamune seeming to gain strength from the Kami's defeat, and then it was on to the next door before the next wave of minions could entrap them.
The second challenge quickly became personal, as the crew arrived behind a Stewards barricade in the Ghost Levels, who were trying desperately to keep Chamas, Ragarot, and Hades out of a secure elevator door.
Their monstrous friends now turned against them, the party struggled to keep the Vanguards from decimating their casters while Hades hurled spells at them from afar. It was only through quick work by Lockette, Wyatt, and MaMa that the priest of Charon was contained, with Isra and Flay holding off Ragarot in time for the rest to beat down on the Beast of Odium.
As Hades and Chamas fell, the Anticipations returning to the mass of their master, Ragarot decided not to waste the resources that would be required for his revival, fleeing of his own will, and dropping a key to the elevator doors behind him...
Rewards Granted
Tarot Deck
- No changes.
- The crew was granted 1 million credits each to spend as they wished, representing the wealth of options presented to them in Losifaran's vault.
Created Content
New and updated articles for:
Notes
As only proper for Episode 100 of the Centurion's Riddle (!!), this game had one of those lovely moments where by talking through their options and a bit about the lore, the players arrived at a completely unique strategy I had never considered — I'm calling it their "High Chaos Ramby Road Run".
I'm excited to see where this goes... I'm not sure how this aligns with my steadfast promise for Rambling Road Trivia Round 2 (but damn it we're gonna make it happen).
Flame in the Night
Tesin Movahesh
Thunder in the Mist
Lockette Endrinmaster 12 2.0
Isra
Report Date
06 Apr 2023
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