03/13/2024 -- Operation Fort Galax Part 3

Date: 9 Chy-sa 715AR. Starring Bloom (lorekeeper), Charon, Cyprian [Jamie], Koilos, Lee [Brandon], Thomas (no roles).
We begin the morning before the attack on Fort Galax. We know we’re to follow right behind Helmuth. Our goal is to get in the fort, cut our way to Gaston, and take the fort.
Bloom uses 1 scrap weapon to get a hand crossbow, spends 2 scrap to put Sharp I on it, and uses Emancipate Zero to reduce his corruption to 7. He goes to get Margaux’s magic/spirit damage resistance, along with Charon, Koilos, Lee, and Thomas. Cyprian goes to the rat race.
- [Cyprian – You see a man, probably about average height, well-built, wearing head-to-toe leather armor. When looking closer, though, you can see the armor is worn through and incredibly thin; it's unlikely that it provides any real protection. On his chest, he's bearing a tarnished, bent pin in the shape of a hummingbird. He also wears an ornate blue cloak and a thick black mask. Behind the mask, you can only see a set of darker brown eyes.]
We decide to bring Enola and the Maiden to the fight with us.
We make it into the fort, and it’s hell on earth. We push towards the tallest spire, where candles burn as an open challenge to the Brigade to fight The Chandler. We each have to make a skill check to push toward the spire, DC 3. On failure, we can either lose 10 sp, lose an armor block, or arrive a round late to combat.
Lee makes a mental check to plot a logical course through the fort. He fails [1 success], and takes -10 sp. Cyprian makes a physical check to muscle his way through, and fails, arriving 1 round late. Ki tries to make a spirit check to bolster our courage and fails, also choosing to arrive 1 round late.
Thomas makes a physical check using wooden pallets/etc around the fort to plow through enemies, and hangs onto it when we get there [4 successes]. In the armory, Seth hears the voice of the wolf, telling him the Hunt is not done – he has to continue his mission, and kill his prey. The enemy set a trap, but he will be the answer of the Ring. Seth gets 5 successes on a spirit check to follow his senses to the spire.
Bloom makes a physical check [3 successes] to knock down objects as we pass by, slowing down the enemies behind us. Charon makes a spirit check at benefit I to call upon its sense of self, and also succeeds. We see Lavatera moving toward one of the main gates, calling down bolts of lightning on a new horde coming through. Enola and the Maiden are ducking and diving alongside us.
We reach the top of the tower, and sitting on a throne, surrounded by a few non-magical candles, is what we assume to be Gaston the Chandler. He stares out at us from a mask that subtly drips wax, and greets the great heroes of the Brigade. Helmuth says his death will be quick, and draws his sword, but Gaston says we fell right into their trap. Thomas hears the sound of too many hooves, and sees the Colonel of Blood, riding a six-legged black horse. She dismounts behind us.
The Colonel of Blood says our deception was quickly identified, and that they all but assured Charon would be here, just as Queen Zolona foretold. They require Charon. Helmuth turns back to us and says that we expected tricks, and it is of no consequence. We will face them all the same. Elyna tells Helmuth that (we) will face them – the Impure will deal with him after the battle is won. Belatrosh swoops down, snatching up Helmuth, and Gaston rises from the throne. He says the heroes of the Brigade and the book all come to them for the reunion, and that “you will come to us like he did.”
It’s at this point that Kynaston appears, brimming with corruption, his old wounds healed over.
- “Do not be afraid, soon you shall know Althara’s mercy too.”
He says to kill the Maiden, and take the scrivener. It’s at this point that Seth makes it onto the field, and the first round of combat begins.
Gaston throws out his first candle – for those who fail its save, they make all rolls at Detriment III, and can’t use powers on their next turn. We also find out quickly that Elyna gets stronger with each health block we lose. She does lose 2 armor blocks to Thomas’s attack.
Seth asks the spirit about his target, and is told to kill the Chandler first, but to leave none alive in the end. On the Maiden’s turn, she gives Seth Benefit III on his next roll, and gives Lee an extra armor block until her next turn.
When Kynaston says “impact,” an incredible crushing force hits Thomas out of nowhere, followed by Bloom. Thomas loses a health block and takes two major injuries (thanks to Kynaston’s abilities), while Bloom loses a health block.
Elyna asks Thomas if he’s one of those that killed the Choir, and he spits blood at her shoe. She says she expected more from John’s father.
Gaston throws another candle – those caught in its radius who fail their save have their power score reduced by 3, and their movement speed to 15. The Maiden is attacked again, and falls back, her body turning to dust.
Thomas shatters Elyna’s ankle on her turn and then punches her, before stabbing her. His left hand is beginning to glow.
Seth makes a check to accept the Hunt, and succeeds.
- “Show me that I can believe in the Hollow once more. Show me that you can survive. Show me your strength.”
Seth’s fur shifts and changes, and he grows quite large, larger than Kynaston. All his health blocks are back, and he has an additional 2 armor blocks, Resistance III on all damage, and his base damage becomes 10 + his power score.
The DM asks Charon what she’s feeling – it says it doesn’t want to be taken again. It won’t leave its friends. She finally made friends, and saw the Maiden. It can’t end here.
Charon hears a voice, telling it all it needs is a hand, just a hand. She accepts the hand, and feels a force growing from her, its aura slightly changing. Do you accept the power within you? To rewrite? To destroy?
- “My name is Charon. I… am a scribe for the Dark Ring, and I accept my position.”
Charon uses its free action to unleash the power. Her hands change to long, dark claws, resembling a being she knows well. The claws have an intense desire to destroy. Charon lets out a furious scream, dissecting Elyna – body to sand, flesh to paper. With Sheer X claws, Charon takes 11 health blocks from her.
In the next series of attacks, Lee is killed by Kynaston. He enjoys the rain in this final moment, next to the candle by his bed. And he fades away. Cyprian is killed – in his last moments, he dies deeply disappointed in himself.
Charon is knocked unconscious (nonlethally), and Bloom loses a health block, taking 2 major injuries.
Thomas, meanwhile, is frustrated at himself. He goes after Elyna again, and gets the killing blow – with the first attack, he breaks her kneecap to get her down, then drives the knife into her heart.
- “I’ll get my son back. How’s that for disappointment?”
His hand becomes bright and shining, a glorious beacon – he’s unlocked his Torvian, the Herculean. It has one ability: Boundless Force. He’s the one to take out Gaston. He crawls forward, hucking a spear, but with his Torvian hand, he flips out a knife and lands it right between the eyes.
“I shall introduce you to Althara’s mercy one day. Do not fret, friends. We will see each other again.” ( – Kynaston)
Kynaston then looks out at all the broken bodies, takes a few steps back, and uses his action to teleport out. Seth passes out from his dire condition, but is kept alive by the spirit of the Hunt.
Lavatera arrives, making her way up the steps. One of her legs is very, very broken.
- “Oh, goodie. Cleaned everything up without me. This could’ve been fun.”
A very beaten and broken Helmuth also arrives back, and asks if we were victorious. Ki says we killed the Chandler. Helmuth raises the banner of the Brigade. We end the session here.
We all level up – 2 levels for those who are level 15 or lower. Thomas gets 3 levels. We also get -5 time, -2 pressure, +3 morale, +5 recovery, +2 emeralds, +3 supply, +2 intel.