33: Rise of Mask

General Summary

Ember's Cleansing

The Crimson 8 were feeling lighter and more relaxed than they had in a long time, having successfully defeated their Therapy Monster in their group session. They, as is true for nearly anyone, still had their traumas to carry, but they had made strides in carrying it all better, and letting go of much of what weighed them down.
But there was one member of the group who had not undergone cleansing in the Cave, someone who desperately needed it, as he teetered ever closer to full insanity in his fear and and loathing that he had piled into goblins. It was Ember's turn now to make his way through the Cave of Cleansing Waters, and he would face these trials with only Mirri at his side, having pushed away his allies with his actions.
He made his way through the cave, facing the same pre-trials as his allies had when they had gone through. He walked through the cleansing waterfall, and just as with his allies, his trauma and burdens began to manifest into a living creature. One would think that a single person's Trauma Spawn would be smaller, but it would seem there was much darkness in the young genasi's mind as a spawn no smaller than his allies formed in front of him and began to attack.
Ember's response was valiant and he attempted to overcome his fears and anger made manifest, but the strength of his inner turmoil was set to overwhelm him. But then, from the darkness of the cave corridors, came his allies. Despite their differences and reservations, they would not leave their ally on his own!
Together, and narrowly so, the group managed to slay the dark creature that had spawned. The chaos of Ember's inner darkness had gravely injured his allies who had arrived to help him, and they required a great amount of healing.

Yuletide Rituals & The Rise of Mask

It was time for a much required rest, but this would not be allotted to the heroes as they were attacked by cultists and pulled into a different realm. Suddenly the group was in a snow-covered field, surrounded by pine trees decorated with baubles and lights. There beneath the largest tree was Jin-e, their former ally who had betrayed them all by allying himself with Shar, the Dark Goddess.
A great battle commensed between the battle-tired heroes and the cultists, during which Jin-e underwent a dark ritual. Try as they might, the heroes could not penetrate the protective bubble around Jin-e. Even setting fire to the enormous tree did not break the protection or concentration of the cultists who were casting magic upon Jin-e.

The heroes fought their way through the cultists, growing more exhausted with each attack, but they were overcoming their enemies. But then, in a purplish flash, Jin-e rose as something new. A feminine, sultry voice announced this as the second coming of her son, the God Mask. Strengthened by dark magic, Jin-e, now Mask, attacked his former allies.

He used his knowledge of his former allies to torment their minds and slide behind their defenses to deliver deadly blows. Indeed, he ended the life of more than one of the Crimson 8, all the while wearing a demented grin. He took down Aralia first, knowing the halfling distrusted him early on. Then he set his sight on Rowan, letting him know that Kedar would be following suit soon enough. Rowan fell to the new God's blade.
Ember kept away from the primary battle, attacking from afar and using his wit to analyze the situation to see what could be done. Vash sprung forward to attack, to avenge his love, Aralia, and his dear friend Rowan. Gabriel knelt in the snow and pleaded to his God, Ilmater, to help them in this time of great need. A flash of light answered in the sky, followed by a flash of purple. The sound of thunder filled the air as arcs of purple and white lightning fought for only a moment, and then it ended, and Gabriel's prayer when unanswered.
The fight continued, growing more and more desparate. Even hard-headed Vash began to think for ways to escape what appeared to be an assured death if the fight kept on as it were. Before he could enact his plan to recall away, Mask made his move instead. He taunted, promising the next time they met would be the death of them all, and then he vanished. Before the remaining heroes could even process what had happened, they found themselves teleported back to the Cleansing Caverns.
Souls were brought back to their bodies and wounds were healed.
Exhausted, the group rested, and then began their plan for the next steps of their journey. Rowan sent out invitations to many places they had been, inviting the greatest minds to a summit to figure out what to do next. Meanwhile, as Vash stared ponderously out at the water, he was attacked in a fierce group-hug attack by none other than his adopted children, Chrysaor and Nav, with Duane the Construct waving from nearby.

Report Date

22 Dec 2023

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