Season 7, Episode 7: "Wither Away // Crawl" Report
General Summary
The Dream Team woke from their pods in the Access Beacon, and moved to contain the Crook while Isra bound its magic and got it under control. Then the crew headed to the cantina for some much-needed rest, getting drinks from the newly established bar, where it was revealed that neither Mist nor Flay could get drunk via conventional means.
During their reverie, Tesin spotted Nawa Jin waiting in disguise at the bar, and the two spoke in low tones about her interest in the Shadari Confederacy conflict. Nawa Jin expressed that although not all of the Solarions of Idari would follow him, some of his loyal allies would go to the system of their own accord, acting against whatever interest Alexander Marcus was fostering there.
After their chat, Tesin and Lockette checked in on Shalema, who was nearing the end of her recovery after nearly a week in an induced coma. Lockette noted that while Ololot and his influence were truly gone, Shalema had not fully returned to being biologically Lashunta, and would likely remain in this new state for the rest of her life.
On the way back to the bar, Flay was just leaving her consultation with Unari's Spectacles, and at last revealed to the group that both the intellects of Unari Dama and Aroden lived inside. Pulled by her the brand given to her by Pharasma, Tesin felt herself compelled to destroy the glasses, but was stopped by Carrot. An accord seemed to pass between the Scythe of Memory and Brightsever — tabling the issue, for now.
Then a deep sleep, dreams of Wynrey pervading the minds of the party (see Open the Door), followed by a day of weapon tuning and shopping. Isra paid a visit to Derrak, passing along the information Styx received from Asmodeus, which pushed the fiery Dwarf into a storm of curses. He claimed that all of the Hellknights — not just the Order of the Scourge — would follow Isra to battle, and dismissed her so that he could prepare.
Then another sleep, dreams of Lockette Endrinmaster the XIth and her wonders (see Doctor Dinosaur), and schemes for power began to form.
The Dream Team returned to the Rambling Road, plowing their way through the Seventh Avenue, stopping only to decipher an Azlanti communication device found in the middle of an Azlanti Star Empire encampment. With the boss door in front of them, the crew saw new options to augment the challenge at the end of the Avenue, and inserted the Butterfly Key, the Sun Key, and the Odal Runestone in the associated slots.
Within, they encountered the Apostle of the Black Wood, a Dark Fey that quickly took hold of the original challenge (a draconic robot in the Fairy Killer line), along with strange Espers that resembled creations of the First Ones, and the massive Wither Dragon known as Nekahar. While overwhelming in their initial onslaught, the Dream Team kept their literal and magical shields up, keeping the combat moving even after several members fell unconscious, who returned to the fight almost as quickly as they had left.
Flay pounded on the Espers, giving them no chance to breathe, while Tesin led the charge against the Fairy Killer. Meanwhile, Lockette, Mist, Isra, and Chamas tangled with Nekahar, warding shots from the Apostle as she drifted across the room. The robotic dragon fell first, allowing Tesin to focus on Nekahar, and then the Wither Dragon could hide no longer, felled by a Drift-driven arrow through the eyes. With the Apostle on her back legs she began to attack Tesin deliberately, unmasking herself as the shade of a corrupted shard of Nazeema, known otherwise as both Senka and Smother.
Sensing the Wither in her veins, Chamas gave Flay the chance to disengage from the Espers, and Brightsever flared with holy light. Dogged by mining lasers, elemental barrages, arrows, and Tesin's Scythe, the Apostle had nowhere to dodge as Flay brought her worst to bear, and the Wither creature was burned from within. Free of her influence, the Espers pushed towards the kill switch, channeling the energy of all thirteen spirits within, and erupted into a blast of terrible darkness. Thanks to quick feet and Lockette's defenses, the crew survived the blast...
And the rewards of the Road were revealed.
Rewards Granted
Tarot Deck
- The party used the Blessing of the Songbird.
- Isra gained the Infinite Band and the Key to the Sky King's Door.
- Chamas gained the Heart of the Jackal King and the Blade of Odium.
- Mist gained the Explorer's Spyglass and a piece of crystallized Drift.
- Flay gained the Soul Fragment of Nekahar and Neolien's Looking Glass.
- Tesin gained Forao's Hunting Horn.
- Lockette gained a Tier-10 piece of Dragonglass.
- The party also gained the Raido Runestone and the Hagalaz Runestone.
Created Content
Notes
This was one of those neat fights where everything could have gone horribly wrong if I'd rolled better, but the party really worked together well and basically offset every major challenge this gauntlet of bosses could throw at them.
After levelling up to 13 this game, they are effectively APL 15 with all their Mantle powers and magic items.
Flame in the Night
Tesin Movahesh
Thunder in the Mist
Lockette Endrinmaster 12 2.0
Isra
Report Date
11 Mar 2022
Comments