Season 12, Episode 1: "But If You Seek to Split the Middle" Report
General Summary
Descending the twisting path of the Sideways Steps, Mist took advantage of the lull in combat to share his Enlightened knowledge with the rest of the Dream Team, finally freed by Regulus' use of Authorize. He shared his discoveries surrounding the Towers of Azkhrumdar, each with their own function, which manifested on an epic scale within the Entwined Infinities, and were the target of several hidden players in the game they were all playing. He also expressed concern about the road ahead of them, the truths of what they had been told since the days of Varos, and how what was to come may effect more than just the Infinity Petal — they could possibly shake the very foundations of Norn.
But even the Sideways Steps come to an end, and soon the party was greeted by the threshold of Vulreach, a room plucked out of place and time, and a golden door separating them from the battles of End Day...
It would have been a marvelous sight, save for Roger Glipglorp and Hush scuffling in the middle of the floor, with the mysterious Che watching over them in disdain.
Having slipped through unseen in the greater conflict, the two mortals were determined to survive, both jaded by their experiences and the perceived unfairness of the road left ahead of them. Che remained as an observer-turned-actor, ready at last to confront Crow as all their pieces coalesced, meaning she could attempt to save both Ragarot and Mikhael in one fell swoop.
Wary of betrayal, the crew took the time to really question her motives, and picked her brain about the tower's defenses. Che described a cruel place created to Delete the world, a force of nature without rhyme or reason. But having been captured for many years (as seen in My Mother's Keeper), she did not know how the tower would truly manifest, and expressed concern that it wouldn't be long before Charon — Vulreach's current Admin — discovered their presence, and attempted to Delete them.
So the party moved forward, using Brightsever as a key to pass through the first door, catching a glipse of Sara No-Name as the doors closed behind them. They were then faced with a series of challenges, sacrifices that must be made to enter the tower, and enhance its vast knowledge of destruction.
Welcome to a place unkind, to go you must leave things behind.
The first room offered only three plinths, underlit by ruby, gold, and sapphire lights. Mist recognized these as the colors of the Harmonic Trinitarianism faith, prompting the party to try offering items related to Body, Mind, and Soul. But as it became apparent that not just any item would do, the Dream Team began to argue and speculate, until Che's fear came true.
Hush exploded into a mist of blood, which then vanished as if it had never been there at all. The Gnome had been Deleted.
Fearing what would come next, the party quickly settled on MaMa's wedding band for Body, and Mist offered Vic's lighter for Soul. While initially hesitant, Binder pushed Flay to give up Unari's Spectacles, sacrificing herself for the greater good, and allowing the party to rush through the swiftly-closing door ahead of them.
Welcome to a place unkind, to go you must leave one behind.
The room offered only a single circle on the floor, the party immediately erupting into argument as none offered themselves forward, prompting Masamune to grab Roger and push him towards the center. Lockette snapped forward to stop him, resulting in a tense moment that nearly broke out into physical fighting, and Roger withered in the strength of their arms.
In an act of desperation, Mist attempted to summon Theophane from the depths of the Calamity Prism, but the tower seemed to reject the Beast of Armageddon as a summon. Although practically unknown to the rest of the party, Theophane appeared to know Mist on a very personal level, and was deeply hurt by his betrayal. Shouting curses, dark magic stabbed into Mist as she fled, ascending higher into the tower...
Realizing there was no way forward, Roger bitterly offered his own life, pausing only to thank Mist for trying. He lamented the fate of the weak, and questioned whether the party had truly done their job as heroes, now that all that was worthwhile had gone. Then the tower Deleted him, leaving nothing behind but his memory, and the door opened ahead.
Before you lies a raging beast, pick the two you like the least.
After the tense discussion in the previous room, the Dream Team barely spoke on this decision, and Lockette and Masamune volunteered to enter the circle on their own. They were both cursed with ill fate, the tower's defensive auras clinging to their spirits, and the doors forward slammed open.
Before you is the final door, pick the brain that's full of lore.
While initially the group thought to offer Mist, the Ysoki declined at out of fear of the consequences, especially so close to Crow and their Anticipations. Surprisingly, Regulus offered to step forward, black smoke roiling off of the walls and entering into his mind. The Tinker shared nothing of what he saw there, only expressing his surprise at the knowledge gained...
And then disappeared into a cloud of that same black smoke.
Feeling the danger rise, the Dream Team cautiously stepped through the last set of golden doors, arriving in a large laboratory designed to test the Deletion of all things. Creatures stood frozen in place, surrounded by machines that repeatedly destroyed their designated element, and large wires that ran directly into the stone walls. But this was the backdrop to a duel between the Dark Walkers and Higri, who seemed to be fighting over the many Cagn larvae spread across the room. Regulus appeared at Higri's side, making his true allegiance known, and Mist realized his role in this game: a sort of proxy to the Dark Walkers, with Higri standing in as an opposite of Tommen, and Regulus to Siren.
But before he could ruminate further, Crow had finally become wise to the Dream Team's location. Seeing that more than one of their challengers stood in proximity to each other, they enacted the first of many schemes. The party reeled as Masamune drew his sword, attempting to cut down Cornelius (but specifically, the god of Memory), and Higri began to play the Fetal Accordion — retrieved from the depths of Absalom Station before its fall.
It was a four-sided encounter, with Masamune enhanced by the aspects of Crow, and Regulus joining Higri's broken song. Although Siren attempted to turn the tune against them, it was Mist who won the battle of the bards, with the song of the Heartstring rising above the rest, saving the party from its twisted effects.
Seeking advantage, Isra focused on getting out of melee range long enough to council with Cornelius, as the rest of her party spread on the defensive, and Che focused on saving the Cagn from their enemies' grasp. Thinking on his (little) feet, Cornelius decided to recall a recent moment, and invoked the True Name of Caesura.
Isra and Cornelius disappeared, shunted to an in between place locked out of time, where Helen and Caesura continued their conflict with the mighty Ising. Although impatient, Caesura only dug in a little on the crew's choice to not choose him as their seventh, and offered the last bit of aid he could. On the lips of a true farewell, he invoked the Postulates to pull the Shard of Death from Ferro's body — currently locked behind the forces of the Calamity Prism — and Isra bound the Shard to herself.
As the duo returned to Vulreach, they found many of the Cagn taken, with many injured, and MaMa knocked unconscious by the onslaught of David Bastion. In an eerie display of power, Isra lifted MaMa from the ground and back into clarity, displaying a mastery over both Life and Death. Speaking out loud for the first time, Cornelius asked his Shepherd for her trust, and once given, the Shape Squirrel fled the battle into the depths of Vulreach.
Sensing that the battle was coming to a stand-still, Regulus invoked his administrative right of Authorize upon the floor below them, causing the chamber to rise towards the final conflict, as Crow's presence loomed ever stronger...
Rewards Granted
Tarot Deck
- Flay used the Blessing of the Roaring Justice to destroy Cagn pods, and discovered Higri's immunity to sonic damage.
- MaMa gave up her wedding band to the challenges of Vulreach, followed by Mist giving up Vic's lighter, and Flay giving up Unari's Spectacles (with Binder still inside them). They were all Deleted.
- Mist gave a set of Freebooter IV armor, an all-terrain instant vehicle, and a blue-star plasma caster to Roger Glipglorp, which were lost when he was Deleted.
- Isra gained the Shard of Death.
Created Content
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Notes
Looking through my notes on Vulreach from 2012-2014 really felt like closing the loop on the story of the Entwined Infinites, and rolling through these funhouse-dungeon-esque walls is certainly nostalgic! But we haven't even started on the mayhem...
Next time, the finale of The Centurion's Riddle!
Flame in the Night
Tesin Movahesh
Thunder in the Mist
Lockette Endrinmaster 12 2.0
Isra
Report Date
23 Jun 2023
Primary Location
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