Season 7, Episode 9: "Wretches & Kings" Report
General Summary
With their forces assembled, the Dream Team began their first combat in the skies, battling for air control in the atmosphere surrounding the Howling Mountain. While their early skirmishes were effortless, they were soon met by a wall of old foes, including the fetid mech piloted by Abelina Tremont and Jun Zhao, the white-and-red starship of Dominic Altraeza, and the black fighter piloted by the Gorgon.
Televised all across the Pact Worlds via portals and Roger Glipglorp's cameras, the prize match was between Lockette, Chamas, and their old rivals, in a mech-to-mech battle never seen before in the galaxy's history. They devastated each other's shields, ripping through armor and flesh with abandon, Lockette burning thirty tiers of Dragonglass inside the SS Iron Drake to enter a higher form of existence, while Chamas handled the afterburn with the powers of Odium. In a critical hit for the history books, Lockette blew a hole in Jun Zhao's monstrosity big enough to fly a fighter through, killing the cruel tinkerer once and for all, and freeing Abelina from his clutches.
On the sidelines, the crew made short work of the Azlanti Star Empire's harrying forces during their firefight with the Gorgon, while Mist and Dominic continued their years-long grudge. But with Jun Zhao and his mech gone, and Isra supporting the crew from the ground with more beams of divine light, the Gorgon was quickly forced to retreat, and Dominic's ship exploded from a barrage of enemy fire. While he attempted to escape via an emergency eject, Mist was quick to deploy his ship's new service arm, nabbing the soldier out of the skies in a technical maneuver most pilots would claim impossible.
The crew let their other forces take over in the skies, landing with the Aga Jain long enough to drop off their ships and contain both Abelina and Dominic. Then it was a mad dash to the base of the Howling Mountain, avoiding anti-air weaponry and a swath of ground forces, as the last of Isra's divine energy faded. Back on solid earth, the Dream Team joined up with Nicholas Carter and Nawa Jin to take on Zolan Ulivestra and his bodyguards, Trinity, and Folda.
On this battlefield the Dream Team displayed their growth since the Pact Summit, utilizing their new powers and teamwork to eviscerate Folda and Trinity. Then the numbers game whittled away the Azlanti forces — save a mysterious woman selected by the System, apparently destined to act as Mist's companion for the end of the world. In the end, the Sardat was slain by blasts from all sides, his fresh corpse broadcast for everyone to see. Accepting prisoner's rights, the Azlanti woman (Anastasia) was cordoned into a null space chamber, and the rush up the mountain continued, with Nawa Jin remaining behind to hold the rear.
On the second tier, the group found Sizzghar the Rotmaster, Shalema, Ilvarti, and Langdon going toe-to-toe with the Gorgon, backed up by Idryll, the remnants of Project 9, and a host of Wither creatures — including the undead corpse of Roar in the River.
All together, the crew made frighteningly-quick work of their foes, banishing the Gorgon back to his pool on Aucturn, and grinding both the Project 9 agents and the undead into dust. Flay was able to use the powers of Brightsever to save River's soul, as Chamas and Tesin delivered a one-two punch through Idryll's skull, serving their revenge harsh and cold.
Collecting themselves for some healing, Shalema, Ilvarti, and Langdon remained behind to hold the pass, with Nicholas Carter and Sizzghar leading the ascent. From the very peak of the mountain, where the strongest of the cosmic players seemed to have gathered, great plumes of dust and flame began to rain down, and Nic became increasingly worried about their side's chances against Jestyr.
But alas, a final tier remained between the two conflicts, as Alexander Marcus himself guarded the stairs leading further up, with Nassistra, the Black Owl, and Catherine at his back. Surrounded by a field of corpses, Mandarb fell to the stones, no longer capable of holding the fiends at bay, just as Rastelviri swooped down over the pass, ready to rejoin an old friend in the hunt.
A battle that would determine the fate of an entire system began in earnest, the future uncertain even to the gods...
Rewards Granted
Tarot Deck
- Chamas used the Blessing of the Disciple and a Card of Good Hope.
- The players used other cards during this broader conflict, which I physically collected at the table, but I was too busy trying to kill them to take notes...
- The party gained... Abelina Tremont and Dominic Altraeza? Oh, and Roar in the River's mutilated corpse.
Created Content
New and updated articles for:
Notes
We played this game the day after the last game, because we have problems.
Lockette go boom-boom. Isra go beam-beam. Flay go slay-bitch-slay.
I find it ironic that Mist worked for Dominic in a warehouse, where he received training in crane arms, which was ultimately his demise.
Tesin didn't just kill Idryll — she said "I never loved you" as he died, and then high-fived his own brother over his corpse. Which was brutal enough that I made a note of it mid-session.
Flame in the Night
Tesin Movahesh
Thunder in the Mist
Lockette Endrinmaster 12 2.0
Isra
Report Date
11 May 2022
Primary Location
Comments