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10/27/2024 -- Operation Hell Fall Parts 1,2,3

From The Shivo Library

Hell Catch – Haef 1st, 715AR (10/27/24)

  • All of you begin to surround the Broker of Despair. All of you must roll for order.
  • Oz charges forward, slashing at the Broker of Despair, dealing 128 magical psychic. He begins to backpeddle. Blades of pure hellfire whip around this devil, oz, as you have to constantly stay out of range of the attacks. Oz gives him a wink.
  • Rameris fires an arrow dealing 120 damage.
    • “Rameris! And to think we used to be such good friends.”
      • “Well– that's not–”
    • BG action Glass Canon to fire again. 80 damage.
  • Jay flies forward on their Witch’s Mount, as Bob pivots out of the way of Oz, Jay stands in front of him.
    • “In my life I have been called many things, but there is no title I hold with greater pride then that of James Valerian, son of Lavatera.”
    • He grabs Bob’s dealing hand and attempts to funnel resource points into removing his ability to harness despair.
      • SPIRIT – 8 Successes, 20 Resource Points
    • As you grab hold and funnel your magic in, for the next minute Bob cannot gain any more despair. He is capped to what he has. The four eyes of Bob shift over to you.
      • “Haha. It is a good title. A memoriam. She did think that you might save her, it will be so delicious to inform what she’s become that you failed.”
  • Urs begins Conducting as a free action, choosing Major Key. Urs predicts that he is going to attack. He takes a swing.
    • 21 successes for 1281 damage, taken on 3HB
    • As you swing, a clap of thunder ripples through the battlefield. Bob is struck in the side with an incredibly powerful hit. He digs in his cloven hooves.
      • “Ahhh.. Urs. Seems you’ve learned a trick or two.”
        • “Hiya Bob, you’ve been naughty. Why are you breaking so many rules?”
      • “The rules don’t matter anymore.”
        • “Eh. Fair enough.”
  • Bob takes his first turn. He flicks his fingers out and a spinning portal of hellfire begins to circle him. He uses Suffering Lash, looking around and throwing a swirling ball of hellfire that bisects. A thin line connects Sylris and Cadogan. He teleports between Carduus and Helmuth. At the end of his turn there is a warping, really, as all of you feel up above another portal starting to open.
  • Brandon, what does it look like as Ted descends?
    • A bullet coming down from the heavens, wings are tucked in, he aims for the target. Steel chair straight to the noggin for 420 damage. As you fall toward Bob he quickly steps aside and shoots the hellfire portal upward, as you slam your chair down into the vacated space the portal sucks in the energy and reflects it back out at Quintus. Quintus is killed.
  • Sylris runs over toward Quintus, attempting to bring him back.
    • With 7 successes, bringing the magic together– he isn't sure if it will be enough. He calls upon high magic, folding it into the spell, and rocketing it at Quintus. You summon low magic and start breaking down the area around you, a powerful phlogiston in the area, you look at Jay inquisitively, and start taking more low magic.
    • With a BG action he activates the Warrior Soul.
  • Quintus gets up. He fires Hallowed Divine Magic at him. 7 successes for 77 damage, taken on stamina. BG action Faith of the Devout on Oz (ODD – Even).
  • Bob takes his second turn. He uses Despair Well, everyone must make mental saves.
    • Oz – 8
    • Urs – 9
    • Jay – 3
      • Urs and Oz succeed. Jay takes 100 spiritual crushing, and you lose all tags on your next damage roll.
      • Invulnerability – FAIL
    • Hellfire Lances are sent at Ted and Cadogan.
      • “It’s not polite to drop in uninvited.”
      • 88 Magical Fire
        • Invulnerability – FAIL
      • 88 Magical Fire, taken on stamina
        • As you dodge out of the way, that thin line between you and Sylris begins to glow. Sylris you also take 88 damage (on stamina).
  • Carduus moves forward. He attacks with his sword for 12 successes for 276 damage taken on stamina.
  • Cadogan uses his BG action on his sword. He uses his action for Exorcist's Ward.
  • Helmuth begins. BG action to use his Torvian. He seems to pull from another dimension, a blade spinning with Titanic magic. You watch as parts of reality turn to dust. This sword is Judgment of the Unworthy Martyr, the sword of Niorax. Helmuth attempts to bring it down on Bob. 400 damage taken on HBs. His suit is cut by the blade as he goes spinning backwards.
    • “Ahhh.. It seems like we all have a nice reunion here today. I am looking for more acolytes, though.”
      • “Silence, Devil. This is the day you die.”
    • Parts of Helmuths skin begin to glow. Jay, you swear it looks like aether is beginning to pour out of his pores. It has more of a golden texture and sheen.
  • Bob takes his final turn. Bob uses Traitorous Mind on Urs and Carduus make spirit saves. Quintus uses Steel Thy Self on both of them.
    • Urs – 8 Successes
    • Carduus – 8 Successes
      • Grabbing at your heads, Bob isn’t able to penetrate mental defenses.
    • Jay and Ted make mental saves as Bob uses Crush Their Dreams.
      • Jay – 0 Successes
        • Invulnerability – FAIL
      • Ted – 2 Successes
        • 25 Spiritual Crushing, power score set to -1
    • “You think that you can defeat me? I have title to all the despair in this world. Haha. I have risen through the ranks, not even you can stop me.”
    • You watch as he begins to focus, the landscape begins to change and crack as all around you eyes start to open around the battlefield. Blood red crystals break through the ground and fire erupts as though hell itself rises around us.
  • Oz runs past Cado, telling him to move the fuck out of the way, and meets back up with Bob. They ask if he is ready for a little swordplay, to which he asks who Oz is. Someone who has a lot more sex than he does. That’s for sure. They activate Live Without Chains.
  • Rameris uses his BG action to fire on Bob for 60 damage. Rameris wants to funnel an overwhelming sense of hope, and taking 1 additional damage from each person. 160 damage at an additional Sheer X. 12HB total, Malicious II– loses 10 stamina per HB. Ted is launched into the air.
  • Jay regains 6 resource points. He uses his BG action on Carduus. Jay holds his action until Order 2.
  • Urs begins with the First Movement. He uses the BG actions to move an additional 20 feet. He deals 440 damage. He loses an additional 4HB.
  • You feel the power around Bob begin to grow a little more. He draws in energy, healing for 1000 stamina. He summons another portal of hellfire around himself. He teleports south.
  • Ted moves his initiative to 0.
  • Sylris is up by default! With 5 successes, he is able to disrupt the hellfire portal. Would you like to half the damage, or only allow him to target someone within 30 feet?
    • Half the damage.
  • Quintus would like to use a miracle to attempt to sever the connection between Cado and Sylris.
    • SPIRIT – 9 Successes
    • As you reach out your hand, you send your miracle forward. Cadogan you watch as the hellish tether dies around you. It has been destroyed.
    • He uses his movement to stand and gives his BG action to Rameris (ODD – Success!)
      • He gain an extra success to the next save/damage roll
  • He uses Explode Heart on both Urs and Oz. Both lose a HB.
    • You feel Bob reach forward with his power, crushing both of their hearts. Bob smiles, beginning to look away. As he turns back, Urs, how the fuck are you still standing?
      • He bends over for a second, spitting out blood.
      • “Eh. I’ve had worse.”
    • Oz’s features begin to shift a bit. You’re still up.
      • “Oh. So he is going to die die today. I see.”
    • He fires two pairs of flesh blades into Jay and Rameris.
      • 48 to Jay
        • Invulnerability – Fail. On all counts.
        • 48 damage is sent towards Cadogan, but all is negated by the shield rating
      • 24 to Rameris
        • 12 is taken on stamina, the other taken on AB
          • Invulnerability – Fail
      • 12 damage is sent to Oz
  • Carduus uses his BG action on himself and Urs.
    • 14 successes for 336 damage taken on stamina
      • 168 sent to Urs, reduced by 38, immaculate dodge’d to no damage.
  • Cadogan hits for 540 damage taken on stamina.
    • “Ahhh… the famed Dorcha Adex.”
      • Cado doesn’t reply. He hexes Bob instead as a BG action.
      • “You’re doing a lot of reflecting these attacks. I hope your failures will reflect back on you much more severely.”
  • We watch the flow of golden aether from Helmuth continue. He activates his Torvian again, growing larger. As he does so… Sylris thinks he understands what is going on. In this moment, the aether here is being changed. You watch as Helmuth raises his sword in the air, it comes down as a flare of golden aether encompasses the battlefield. You begin to detect, Sylris, large amounts of High Magic. You think you’re witnessing the birth of a Material God. In this moment, Helmuth is going to bellow.
    • “We will not win. We will DESTROY. Victory will ring through the halls of this place FOREVER.”
    • He lets loose a burst of energy. He embues everyone with the Power of Victory
      • You can either double your damage ratings, gain additional levels of sheer equal to half your power score on all damage, or have your movement speed increased by 200 feet and your powerscore increases by 4.
        • Ted – Double Damage
        • Sylris – Sheer
        • Rameris – Double Damage
        • Jay – Sheer
        • Quintus – Sheer
        • Oz – Double Damage
        • Carduus – Damage
        • Urs – Movement
  • Bob uses Traitorous Mind on Carduus, with 5 successes he introduces Cadogan to his sword. 598 damage.
    • “Focus, what the hell!”
    • 3AB and 1HB
      • 2d6 Mortal Wounds – 4: For the next 3 rounds you are afraid of Carduus, gaining the Scared condition
    • Traitorous Mind on Sylris
      • SPIRIT – 1 success
      • What if Helmuth got hit by a nuke?
        • 135 damage on stamina
    • Crush Their Dreams on Urs and Oz
      • We both succeed. Bob begins to grimace. He starts to pull more and more power into this place. He smiles, teleporting down to Rameris.
      • “Watch this.”
    • He allows the powers of hell to manifest further on the battlefield. From beneath you a pool of lava splits open.
  • Ted flies over and drops down on Bob. He does 1200 damage at “just” Sheer 13.
    • “Ugh! You miserable wretch!”
  • Oz asks Urs to drag them the rest of the way toward Bob, running the rest of the way and holding their actions.
  • Rameris attempts to temporarily cover the pit with magic. It succeeds. He fires an arrow with his BG action. Subjective Truth.
  • Jay regains 5 resource points. BG action Oz gets 2 rerolls. Jay fires on Bob for 54 stamina.
  • Urs goes into the Second Movement. Urs shoves Oz forward into Bob. He deals 1800 damage for 3HB.
    • Bob exudes a slower song with spikes of intensity, almost foreboding. A theme and a melody for a hunter.
  • Oz deals 658 damage for the first one, and over 370 for the next.
    • “You took my face. I cannot wait to wear yours. I will take what meager station you have earned and run it into the ground.”
  • Bob activates the pentagram. It fires upwards into the sky, everyone takes 100 normal fire.
    • He throws up another hellfire portal around himself.
    • He links Urs and Ted.
    • Bob teleports over the fire, waiting.
  • I spaced on what Sylris did. Oopsie.
  • Quintus attempts to sever the link between Urs and Ted.
    • SPIRIT – 10 Successes
      • They are successfully split apart.
    • Quintus uses his BG action on Urs
  • Bob takes his turn again. He explodes the hearts of Rameris and Cadogan, both lose a HB.
    • Ted, Urs, and Oz make mental saves
      • Ted – 2 Successes
      • Urs – 10 Successes
      • Oz –9 Successes
    • Ted takes 100 spiritual crushing damage and loses all tags on the next damage roll
    • Sylris and Carduus take 110 damage.
      • 110 damage to Urs
  • Carduus slashes at Bob for 1590 damage at Sheer 3. The attack carries over to Urs taking off 4AB.
  • Sylris’ held action goes off. He sacrifices 16 stamina to use Shining Annihilator.
    • 11 successes for 330 radiant magic damage at Sheer VI
    • The arrow rips through Bob, he coughs up black blood from the impact.
    • He activates Building Light as a free action.
      • Sylris: Benefit I on damage rolls against the creature, damage rating increases by 2
  • Cado hobbles over to Bob dealing 1804 damage at sheer III.
    • With less than 20 stamina points, he must make a killsave.
      • 11 Successes
    • BG action Heavens Cloak
  • Helmuth fully unlocks his Torvian. 480 damage at Sheer X. He rips through Bobs defenses with Judgment of the Unworthy Martyr. He puts Sheer V on Bob.
    • “KILL HIM!”
  • Bob forces Sylris and Urs to make spirit saves with Traitorous Mind.
    • Sylris – 2 Successes
    • Urs – ???
      • Urs hits Oz for 1562 damage
      • Sylris hits Quintus for 135 radiant
        • Realignment of Fate – All of the rolls become that result (5)
      • Both attacks hit. Oz and Quintus are down.
    • Carduus and Cadogan make mental saves for Crush Their Dreams
      • Carduus – ???
      • Cadogan – 1 Success
        • 25 Spiritual Crushing, power score set to -1
  • Ted flies up to Bob and whacks him in the head for 180 damage.
    • The barrier that Rameris created fades. Helmuth continues standing in the lava.
      • “I’ve taken two of your friends. Perhaps I’ll take you next.”
  • Rameris uses Time Stop for the next minute, taking the minute to focus on lowering the check DC. He wants to reset the battlefield to what it was when we started.
    • As you feel this effect, Cadogan, you feel Bob attempting to resist it.
    • Bob cries out, it looks like the cracks are healing. Blood crystals are moving back down, the eyes are closing, as you reset the fucking battlefield. A lot of his power is reset, and he is currently impaled on crystal.
    • He fires on Bob for 7HB. He has to burn 70 stamina, which he can’t, so he takes the dire condition.
      • Kill 4 – 6  Successes
  • Jay regains 9 resource points. He flies up to Bob, grabbing his deal hand. His ability to gain despair is disrupted.
    • “You. Whelps. I will throw you in the darkest pits of the infernal plains!”
      • “These are words coming from a dead man.”
    • You see his eyes go wide. Fear.
    • BG action on Carduus.
  • Urs begins the Third Movement, predicting that he attacks. He is a little more than half way, but he has no stamina. He is very exposed. He uses his BG actions to switch between keys, gaining 6 charges. We begin rolling d6’s!
    • 30 successes for 3030 damage, and assuming that hits, he spends 10 crescendo charges and ends the music.
    • NOW PLAYING: URS THEME
  • As you fall into position, with this, you have been training with Claus Ruferox for a long time. As you crack the whip, there is no where for Bob to go. All of you begin to see energy start to build around Urs. It is growing to such a point where all of you start to hear a beautiful harmony beginning to make it’s way across the battlefield. In this moment, Urs, as you pull back and strike with the whip, Bob cries out. All of you watch as a beautiful multicolored energy is ripped out of the body, into the air, and it burns away in green flame. Bob’s HB are halved. Urs has Sheer 7. He is struggling to try and use any of the powers he has left, one of his horns falls off of the head. It is an array of power and strength the likes of which none of you have ever seen before. Bob is attempting to latch on and use the powers of a universe he’s no longer supposed to be apart of. It doesn't care what happens to him, Urs, there are no rules.
    • “You don't belong in the harmony, Bob.”
      • “No. No! I’ve won! The infernal storm– The magic of the tree– it will be mine! I had the world! It’s mine! It’s not fair!”
    • “Ohh Bob, you have nothing. You didn’t win anything.”
      • Panic starts to move across the face.
    • Everyone within 20 ?feet gains an extra 2d6
  • It is Bob’s turn. He is trying to draw upon the energy that he once had, but it is not anywhere close to what he was. He is going to attempt to, well, attempt a hellfire portal. He cannot anymore. His eyes go wide, he is going to try and regain stamina points… he regains a measly 250. He attempts to lash Urs and Helmuth in a fit of panic. He tries to teleport, pulling himself up off the crystal, and begins dashing.
    • NOW PLAYING: REQUIEM FOR A DREAM
      • He has to roll for dire. 5.
  • Sylris declares that we should fill him with hope. He fires a shot from Dawn. He draws on all four types of magic. The rage he feels, not despair, Sylris makes an attack.
    • 11 successes.
    • NOW PLAYING: THE LIGHT WARRIOR (SYLRIS’ THEME)
    • As you combine these magics, you all watch as red and blue lightning begins to spark around Sylris.
      • PHYS SAVE – 7 Successes
    • As you handle a red spiral event in your hands, as you push the energies together it grows green. In this moment, you pull it back, and fire a beam of it at Bob. There is nothing he can do. He doesn’t have the stats to make the save. It impacts him, Sylris. In the moment, he loses healthblocks. A crackling event begins in his chest, parts of his body begin to slough off. His energy is drained in this precise manner. A weaponized red spiral. Sheer 12 minimum.
    • NOW PLAYING: AGONIZED CHOIR OF DEVILS AND GODS
    • Sylris smiles, holding up Dawn, and uses Prism Strike. He teleports up to Bob dealing 168 damage. He raises a hand, summoning hellfire, and barely deflects the attack. He clutches at his chest as his energy is drained from him.
    • With 4 successes, the force that attempts to enter Sylris’ body is dispersed. Bob flips around and tries the same thing at Urs.
      • SPIRIT – 4
    • He attempts to throw a hellfire lance at Urs. It doesn’t even break the shield rating.
    • He tries again, it just barely hits… but, no. He uses immaculate dodge.
  • Carduus fires. A flurry of attacks with a 20 foot long sword. It should be physically impossible, but his strength lets him cut into Bob over and over. He grabs Bob's head and starts slowly slicing his neck with the sword, forcing him to look around. With each slice you can see more and more of him slough off. Green pulsating energy, as he cries out. The skin he worked so hard for dissipates off his body.
    • “And now the story ends, Robert.”
  • Cadogan, you’re somehow still alive. 1640 damage. 410 damage. The energy slams down into Bob, he cries out. You see him on the ground unable to rise. He uses Heaven’s Cloak again. Everyone urges him to let Helmuth get the kill.
  • Helmuth makes his way forward. He begins to do something that might send shivers down all spines. He starts to smile. Openly smiling as he takes steps forward. He looks down at Bob as he smiles.
    • NOW PLAYING: HELMUTHS THEME
    • “There is on escape. We have come for you. We have taken you.”
    • He reaches down with a massive hand, grabbing Bob by the throat. He lifts him up. You watch ash e raises up Judgment of the Unworthy Martyr, pressing it to Bob’s head. You watch as he begins to destroy all the power within Bob, eradicating everything that he is. All of you look on in shock as even the bones begin to melt. Bob returns to his true, first form. In this moment. You can see, wriggling around in Helmuth’s grasp, an imp. A lowly imp. He looks down, and looks over to Jay. He pulls out something familiar, Cadogan. A small origami crane. He touches the imp with it. You hear the creature cry out and scream. He is pulled inside of the crane, and Helmuth looks to the rest.
    • “He shall be… punished.”
  • As the golden aether sheds off of him, all of you can smile as you have taken down the Broker of Despair.
  • Helmuth looks to you, Sylris.
    • “Can you save them?”
      • “Yep. Give me a little bit of time. You handled the stoppin of the devil, I’ve got this.”
  • Sylris lights his beacon as a signal that Bob is dead. Sylris shouts.
    • “LET OUR ALLIES KNOW, BOB THE BROKER OF DESPAIR IS NO MORE.”
  • In this moment, we zoom out as the members here begin to rush and work on the fallen. Across Widowstone Keep, an infernal firestorm continues to churn and burn. A manifestation of devilish storm witches. But that is a story for another day. We will end our session here.
  • Everyone here has defeated Bob.
  • +1 LVL UP

Dark Coven – Haef 1st, 715AR (11/3/24)

  • We spend recovery before the session.
  • As we begin, Kleshch, where are you?
    • Kleshch was guarding the entrance to the coffin.
  • We find you, what are you thinking as you hear the explosions outside, the magic churning about this place?
    • Pacing. Kleshch regrets trying to protect the coffin.
  • As you’re pacing, you hear a knock at the door.
    • “Hello?”
      • “Who is it?”
    • A mop of black hair peeks into the doorway. You feel like something may be wrong.
    • “Oh, I was just looking for that coffin! Mind if I take it?”
      • “Um… you can’t have it, sorry.”
    • “Oh. But I’ve come such a long way. I really just want to borrow it.”
      • “It– I mean, we can have this discussion outside but it’s not for you.”
    • “Ohhh… Why?”
      • “Um, it’s for the Brigade, and the Maiden. Soooo..”
    • “Well it’s a good thing I’m apart of the Brigade!”
    • The figures mouth extends wide as you see rows of shark-like teeth.
    • “My name is Enola! I don’t think we’ve met. Heheh.”
      • That doesn’t feel right. Looking at this individual, you haven’t seen them around.
      • “I think I’ll need a second opinion on that one.”
    • “A second opinion? Well, I could take you to my mom!”
      • “Okay, let's.”
    • “Fantastic. And, sorry, what is your name? Kleshch. Good to meet you, Kleshch.”
    • She holds out her hand.
      • “Let’s go step outside.”
    • “Okay! So good to meet you, Big Guy!”
      • “Of course, always great to meet new people.”
    • She extends her hand again.
      • “What uh, what’s destiny?”
    • “Hmm.. Destiny is… Kind of indifferent.”
      • “I’m not one to turn down a handshake.”
      • Kleshch gives it a firm handshake.
  • As you give it a firm handshake you can see as this red fire begins to glow, Kleshch. It starts to spin about the hand. Infernal magic. She smiles again.
    • “Oh… Look at that. It’s time for you to go!”
  • You’re rocketed a mile up into the sky, Kleshch. The wind is summoned to carry you through the roof.
  • As battle begins to erupt around the camp itself at Widowstone Keep, you’re begging to watch as this churning fire tornado is beginning to descend down in the sky toward the Sanctum itself. What are you guys doing?
    • Seth heads off to his room to resurrect his best friend. As you sit and start the magic, the process is beginning. You pull energy from the Primordial Tree, and from yourself. It is slower, though, as you need to remake everything in this moment. You can take the time to wait for things to cook, you would be here for a bit and would likely miss things happening at the Sanctum.
    • He decides to stay. Protection detail is a person down.
  • We pick up at the Sanctum as six of you are arriving.
  • Bee summons up energy, shooting it upward. It shoots into the storm and is seemingly absorbed. She says that we need to ground it, somehow.
  • With two successes, you see shapes within the storm churning high above. Bee wedges Tre’dauthin into the ground. It begins to shake and quiver as along the ground fire begins to manifest like the very storm itself is igniting parts of the area. All of you begin to feel something strange. Churning within yourselves. In this moment, you begin to look upward. As you do, you see a semi-familiar shape beginning to descend. The shape itself is carrying what appears to be a spear of some kind, Angel. However, the spear isn’t made of any metal that you know. This is a spear made of flaming blood. You all begin to watch as Loveday starts to descend from the sky before touching down, right before all of you. She smiles.
    • “Well. It hasn’t been so long, for you. Haha. Good day. I’m sorry, but you’ll need to clear the area.”
    • “Can’t you see, that the pain is what makes things matter? I hunted evil and I lost everything because of it. And now… I bring a different type of hunt. You could join me in it? I’m sure the others would love to have you, Bee.”
      • “I stopped hunting a long time ago.”
  • You begin to see another shape beginning to appear, not from the sky, but zipping along the ground. You see a lithe form stop. This individual is dressed in long, flowing dark robes. Red energy leaks from the eyes. You see, Bart, this individual is pulling behind them a coffin.
    • “Aha! I found it! We can finally begin. Oh! Hi, Bee. Hello, Andreas. Have you come to help?”
    • “Well, I certainly don’t need that. I’d love to add you to the new family though. You’d be right at home.”
    • “This isn’t home! It’s… not enough. Besides, now I have everything that I ever wanted. And it is terrible! Oooh… it allows me to glide. No longer tethered to this ground.”
    • You begin to feel, Bee, the wind shifting beneath Enola. She starts to rise over the battlefield. You watch as the two devils seemingly begin to pull back. Then there is the striking of thunder.
    • NOW PLAYING: STORM MONARCH’S THEME
  • All of you begin to feel, immediately, a shift. As the red fiery skies begin to open up. This white devil filled with violet flame begins to descend. Multiple orbs rotating around her body. The angel descends and lands. Bee, immediately, you feel the eyes fall upon you. Bee picks up Tre’dauthin and points the back end at her, not the sharp end. A smile crosses Lavateras face.
    • “What’s the point, Bee. Are you going to throw your life away so easily?”
    • “Hell showed me that my loneliness brought me strength. And the misery that came along with it… was the key to my greatest powers. You… unfortunately… are a vestige of a bygone age.”
    • In this moment, all of you begin to feel the churning storm above start to grow. And churn. Faster. And faster. And faster. In this moment, all of the Storm Witches begin to move forward.
  • Roll for initiative!
  • Bee slams the end of Tre’dauthin into Lavatera taken on 2HB.
    • Bee tells her she looks very pretty. Lavatera knows. Bee knows she knows.
  • Koilos runs forward to grab the coffin, activating the first and second mountains. She positions herself in front of the coffin.
  • Loveday begins. She summons forth her spear. She makes her way forward, everyone but Ki makes Spirit Saves.
    • Andreas and Angel pass. Bee and Bart light on fire.
    • Fidelis and Bee hit Angel for ~102 damage. Barely able to take it on Stamina.
      • -1AB
    • She takes the other two attacks at Andreas.
      • 56 damage
      • 48 damage
  • I blank on Angel's turn. 5 successes for… something. He attempts Takedown. 8 successes. She cannot fail, basically.
    • Angel uses Stage II on her. She cannot walk more than 10 feet.
  • Fidelis attempts to craft a damage spell, 45 damage thrown all on Enola. She is immune to fire.
    • BG action to Bee – Reroll all 1’s on next roll
  • Enola goes into a dive with her rapier, hitting Andreas twice.
    • 60 magical fire
      • -3AB
    • 60 magical fire taken on stamina
    • “Good to see you again, I’m a big fan of your work with Anahi! I didn’t get it at the time, but now I do! Do you want to take a trip with me?”
    • She reaches out with her Torvian and uses Sky Sacrifice.
      • PHYS SAVE – 3 Successes
      • 15 points of normal fire damage
  • Andreas activates his Torvian. As the Siphon Plate is worn, the energy surges through him.
    • 24 normal damage, she dodges to the side.
  • Kleshch, in the moment, you are about a mile in the sky.
    • NOW PLAYING: DESTINY’S FIST (KLESHCH’S THEME)
    • You see your allies fighting against devils. You see that girl who shot you into the sky.
    • “Oh! Gravity is a harsh mistress.”
    • He decides to wait for her pull. You’re beginning to fall back to the ground, reaching the absolute height of the Sacrifice power. He begins to form himself into a pencil dive.
    • “YAHTZEE!!!!!!”
    • He aims for Enola to break his fall.
      • 220 damage at Sheer I, she misses her invulnerability save.
    • He goes feet first into her chest, landing and shaking himself off. Enola groans in pain. She is rolling around on the ground.
    • “Giant Wind Lady! I’m about to write you a giant reality check– or would you like the cold hard cash of truth?!”
      • “Whatever breaks the most bones.”
    • “I can’t do that!”
    • Andreas says hi. He is doing wonderful, he got to see the sun.
    • BG action to punch again, benefit II – 154 damage, but it procks
    • “You’re making me take off my kid gloves, and making me put on my mean gloves. I’m sorry.”
      • “Don’t apologize, this is a fantastic dance! We should fly together.”
  • Bart saw his buddy fall from the sky, and runs up next to him. In a similar fashion Bart goes for an uppercut. He takes 5 fire damage.
    • 48 damage, invulnerability procs.
    • He activates Aether Barricade. He takes damage.
  • The Storm Monarch begins. At this moment, the heat starts to change on the battlefield. You begin to feel this, Bee. A power and an energy that you certainly remember. At this point, you watch as Lavatera– or the entity that once was her, starts to bring in the power of a storm. It is a power that you’ve always known that she’s had. It’s always been directed at others. Now she’s directing it at you. At least a part of it. She will attempt to hit with an Inferno Strike.
    • 60 normal fire damage, taken on stamina
    • She fires a shot at Andreas
      • 105 normal fire, taken on an AB
    • Lavatera looks upward and fires a shot at Fidelis. She looks around. Fidelis, you’re up in the air. You’re able to see above you lightning begin to crackle. This bright orange burst of lightning descends down towards you.
      • 36 damage, stamina
    • Ki, Kleshch, and Angel make PHYS saves. Magma begins to shoot out and wrap around you.
      • Kleshch passes. You start punching the tendrils that attempt to wrap around you. Angel and Ki, the lava begins to wrap around you. While it is wrapping around, solidifying and hardening, your movement is 0. You can use an action to try and escape, or you can use your full turn to do an escape. You take 25 points of normal fire if you end your turn in this way.
    • Lavatera flicks her eyes over to you, reaching out, using her powers over metal. Disarm.
      • PHYS 7 – 3 Successes
    • Lavatera takes the flail and holds onto it. She begins striding forward towards the inside of the Sanctum.
  • Bee moves in front of Lavatera, casting Storm Strike on her for 48 damage, taken on HB. She activates Swirling Wind and shifts into the Southern Wind.
  • Ki tries to replace Loveday’s Betrayal of the Blood with nothing. She fails her spirit save.
    • BG action – +1 damage rating to weapons to herself and Bee
  • After feeling the impact, Loveday frowns. She accelerates her weapon. All of you feel a burst of flame ripple out around her. Her damage rating increases by 5.
    • Attack on Angel – 75 damage
      • -1HB: 8 – Movement speed reduced by 40ft
    • Attack on Andreas – 105 damage
      • -1AB
    • Attack on Bart – 91 damage
  • Angel uses a free action to activate Stage I and end all conditions. Swinging out with your dagger, cutting away the restraints, you fall into stance.
  • Fidelis falls into Enola, taking HB from her.
    • Kleshch uses a Destiny Token to break the fall damage. Kleshch catches you in a perfect moment, preserving the momentum but stopping the fall.
    • “Nice trick!”
      • “It’s yours! I saw you rocket down by me.”
  • Enola starts laughing on the ground. She activates her Air Mastery. Everyone feels the atmosphere to attempt to crush you. Enola moves 20 feet away, Andreas uses Warden (Negated).
    • Angel defers damage to the end of the round.
  • “Okay, I’m going to do something. I need you to all be cool about it. Okay?”
    • Everyone agrees.
    • Andreas focuses in. His third eye opens. BG action heal Angel for a health block.
      • NOW PLAYING: POWER OF PROPHECY
    • You feel your armor beginning to respond to this energy as there is a mixing. You’ve unlocked the potential for your summonable item. Andreas activates Ishin’s Shield. He lets the energy wash over him. All of you watch Andreas close his three eyes, and then there is an eruption of power and energy.
      • NOW PLAYING: ONE THEY FEAR
    • A shield manifests on your arm, in a shimmering glow. Your armor forms a helm.
      • You manifest a brilliant white shield on your arm while your armor is summoned. All creatures within sight may access any power you know if you allow it. Everyone gainms sihelf rating equal to yours, spirit equal to yours, and movement equal to yours. You have immunity to all sheer effects.
        • +30 movement
        • +7 spirit
        • +1 shield rating
    • “So, remember that prophecy?”
      • “It rings a bell, yeah.”
    • He moves toward Bee. Bee waves her Thalagar at him happily and he nods.
  • Kleshch starts to feel really good. Faster. Stronger. More confident.
    • “[Enola] seems a little too far for our fists!”
    • He turns around to Lavatera.
    • “This one however!”
      • He drags Bart up to Lavatera
    • 132 damage on 2HB
    • “Destiny says hi, by the way!”
      • “I don’t need destiny. I make my own fate.”
    • “Ohhh but she wants you, friend!”
  • Destiny brought Bart here, so…. He punches into her. She is slammed into the ground. He attempts to use Aether Barricade, but it fails.
  • Lavatera uses her movement to rise back up. She looks at Bart with contempt.
    • “Come on now, I thought you would be more talented. But I guess mortals are always disappointing.”
    • She sends an inferno strike at Bart and Kleshch.
      • 105 at Bart
      • 120 at Kleshch
        • Both absorb Iron Body and Glorious Rebuke from Andreas
    • She looks to Andreas, he is pretty tired. His armor looks okay though.
      • Fidelis, Bee, and Andreas make PHYS saves
      • Fidelis is on fire I, Bee is on fire II
    • Lavatera attempts to look back at Angel, trying to disarm them.
      • PHYS – 4 successes
      • She takes the dagger. In the same motion, she launches Infernal Lightning at Angel for 42. They defer the damage again.
      • Something… wrong.
  • Angel uses the Iron Body and Glorious Rebuke. The Infernal Lightning shuts down every power you have until the end of your next turn.
  • Seth rolls 2D6 – 5
    • This individual that you’ve summoned blinks.
    • “Seth? What happened?”
      • “Hello Father, I’ve brought you back.”
    • “You… have. Strange. What’s happening?”
    • He looks a little wobbly but he is brought back.
      • “We are under attack by the Impure.”
    • “I… see…”
    • He definitely doesn’t see.
      • “Wait here, I must help my friends.”
    • He tries to follow you but he is still adjusting. Seth instructs him to lay down, and that he will be back.
  • Bee takes 35 fire damage total. She uses Storm Strike on Lavatera and uses her BG action to gain a charge on Tre’dauthin.
  • Ki spends her turn getting out of the restraints.
  • Loveday moves forward, pulling her spear back.
    • 90 damage to Angel
      • 2d6 – 3
    • 90 damage to Bart
      • 2d6 – 5
    • 78 damage to Fidelis
      • AB
  • Angel calls the dagger back, but takes 100 fire damage.
    • 2d6 – Benefit I
  • Fidelis releases magic, shielding the party with an aura of flame. Everyone gains Resistance III to fire damage of all types.
  • Enola makes attacks against Bart and Fidelis.
    • Bart – 4 successes for 40 magical fire
    • Kleshch spends 2 Destiny Tokens to leave Bart with 1HB.
    • Fidelis – 0 Successes. No Damage.
    • Enola attempts a Skyward Sacrifice on Bart.
      • PHYS – 8 Successes
  • Action, BG action, and movement. Andreas puts Enola into a ball. As you reach out, you focus all the energy that you can muster, and a ball of energy starts to manifest. Enola looks around in panic as she tries to fly out. But your prison is absolute.
    • “Sorry Enola, you’ll understand when you’re better.”
  • “Destiny is calling. Come on over, it’s warm. It’s like the inside of bread.”
    • Kleshch begins to wind up to punch her. 198 damage.
  • Bart uses his BG action to gain an AB.
    • Lavatera is pinned down by Bart.
  • Lavatera uses Inferno Strike on Bart.
    • 30 damage – Stamina
    • 85 damage – 1AB
    • 48 damage. Last HB.
    • As the bolt of lightning begins to build it strikes you in the chest. You feel death wash over you.
    • Lavatera snorts and stands back up. She goes for the disarm of Angel's crossbow.
      • PHYS SAVE – 4 successes
      • She snatches the crossbow.
    • Kleshch, Andreas, and Angel make PHYS saves.
    • “This tree, it will be brought into the fold. From it we will gain access to magic unlike anything hell has seen before. If you could, please, give up.”
  • Seth, you arrive to see a destroyed churning battlefield with Enola locked in a prison, Loveday striding forward, Lavatera in her devilish form standing amongst your allies. What are you doing?
    • NOW PLAYING: LAST RIDE TO GLORY
    • Seth activates his powers. As you activate that power, your form shifts. That primordial energy begins to flow through you freely, Seth. As that Primordial Magic surfaces… your power is fully manifest.
    • Lavatera burns 6 HB.
    • “Ohhh. Look. The one who broke my heart. Thank you.”
      • “I will save you.”
    • “I don’t need to be saved.”
      • “I will save you.”
    • “Hm. We never were truly together. You were just… a fling.”
      • “Never. Our love was real. You’re just saying that because you’re not well.”
    • “Do you think I was capable of loving someone that wasn’t myself?”
      • “Yes.”
    • “Hmmm.”
  • Bee uses Storm Strike again, and uses her BG action to gain another charge on Tre’Dauthin
    • Lavatera looks saddened by this for a moment?
  • Ki takes a swing at Lavatera.
    • “Bee is too nice to be honest. This look is a downgrade, Lavatera.”
    • Lavatera whips around.
      • “How… Dare… You.”
    • Her energy is solely directed at Ki. As the heat and lightning begins to build up, she is vulnerable.
  • I blanked on Loveday’s turn. Andreas absorbed all of the damage.
    • She smiles, and teleports to Angel. She gives a level of On Fire to Angel.
  • Angel hexes Lavatera and attempts to locate Lavatera's weakness.
    • SPIRIT – 10 Successes
      • 1: Drawing her attention elsewhere through insults, Deviltera has her worst traits turned up. One of those is her pride. Her status and her image. What people think of her.
      • 2: She controls the Storm with her hands, and the orbs floating around her. They’re motes of power for her.
      • 3: She has 0 stamina points. She is using all her energy to keep the storm going. Any damage takes a HB from her.
  • Fidelis draws back the greatsword.
    • “How are we meant to be scared of you when you are the one who couldn’t finish one bloody ritual out there.”
      • 3 successes at Sheer V
    • She flips around as you slam into her side with the ax. You feel the heat radiating off of her.
    • He gives his BG action to Andreas.
  • Andreas heals himself for a HB with Shielding Stare.
    • “So, you left the Brigade. You let Bob get to you? BOB? Come on, that guy is as easy to read as a book– and you let him get to you? I guess you’re not as great as you’ve always made yourself out to be.”
    • Andreas aims for the hands.
      • 4 Successes for 24 damage at Sheer VI
    • He regains an AB
  • Kleshch is up. 440 damage and 88 damage.
  • Lavatera is almost feral with rage.
    • Fidelis takes an injury that I didn’t notice. He falls prone.
    • Blazing Bones on Angel, Seth, and Ki
    • She places her Infernal Crown above Fidelis
  • Bee tries to break free but she is unable.
  • “Really now, distracted so easily by Fidelis? I was expecting more. How woefully inadequate.”
    • Ki strikes into Lavateras hands.
  • Loveday fires a blast of heat mixed with blood flying through the air.
    • Kleshch and Andreas are good.
    • Everyone else takes 100 magical piercing, on fire technically increases by 1
    • Loveday uses Infernal Fire, slamming her spear on the ground. The flames turn a sickly orange color and take on unearthly shapes. You feel it burning away more than your flesh, it is like it leaches into your soul. At the start of Lovedays next turn, all of your on fires will be reduced to zero, however attacks against you gain levels of sheer equal to the level of on fire now.
  • Angel shouts to Lavatera.
    • “You know your sister says you can take care of yourself, but I’m not seeing it. I don’t think you could do a thing without her here.”
    • Angel tries to punch her in the face.
    • Takedown – Fail
    • Angel uses Hex on Lavatera.
  • “I know no matter how much you try to deny it you liked spending time with the Brigade. We liked it too. And now you’re trying to destroy us? Really? The Great Lavatera is turning on her allies? Really?”
    • “You were merely a stepping stone to a future I desired, nothing more.”
      • “Don’t lie to yourself Lavatera. We both know that’s not true.”
    • “I… Came here… Simply… To prevent… The end of my world. Thats. It.”
      • “Maybe. But then you met Seth, Me, Bee. You stayed with us, you trained with us, you loved with us. Anything else that you might suggest, anything you can say in this state Bob has put you in, I know that’s not true.”
    • Her eyes continue to narrow.
    • Andreas makes an attack at her hands. Sheer VI for 8HB.
      • He takes another 7HB
    • Her body and form are wavering. Lavatera is going to be using Storm Mastery on her next turn, 200 damage to everyone. With Loveday, that is 4HB to some of you.
  • Kleshch picks up Lavatera. He bear hugs her, wrapping his arms around her wrists, lifting up, and beginning to run.
    • “What are you– no! NO!”
      • “Let me go you worm!”
    • WARDEN!
      • Andreas: 1 success – 6 HB
      • Seth: 2 successes – More!
      • Fidelis: 0
      • Ki: 3 Successes
    • In this moment as all of you attack, Kleshch you’re holding onto Lavatera as Andreas strikes. Then Seth. Then Ki. There is a churning onslaught as Lavatera cries out and Kleshch, the heat gets intense. You hang on as all of you are going nonlethal. Eventually there is a mote of power you see in the chest, you reach out with your Torvian, and you create nothing. You short circuit Lavatera as the Storm Monarch falls unconscious. Just. Barely.
  • Seth is restrained by the magma climbing up his body. Loveday looks like she isn’t wanting to stick around as much.
    • Seth attacks with 3 successes. As you use all of your strength you are able to make a leap out at Loveday.
  • Bee throws Tre’dauthin at Loveday, but she misses. She applies Return to Tre’dauthin and calls it back.
  • Ki holds her action to use Existential Nothingness when Loveday moves to leave.
  • Loveday runs to the coffin, grabbing it, and attempting to use Infernal Pursuit. However…
    • Is there anything in particular you’re focusing this existential nothingness on?
      • The will to continue the plan. The will that is keeping her from just giving up now.
    • In this case, as you’re doing that, as you allow nothingness to spread, Loveday is being powered by one thing. This desire to be a hunter of evil. To bring malice. This is the desire. In this moment, usually there is still fight. But… you have three things going for you. Four.
      • 1: Lavatera, the head of the coven, is unconscious
      • 2: You are standing right next to the Primordial Tree of magic. There is lots of magic in the air for you to help draw on.
      • 3: The coffin, she’s touching it. That’s another benefit.
      • 4: One of your fellow exalted nine, the Xeroxixia, its power is spreading over you. Not just over you, but helping to amplify you. It’s almost like this invisible hand helps to guide. As you place this Existential Nothingness within Loveday, you watch as she looks down and steps back.
    • “Huh… it doesn’t matter anyway.”
    • She just kind of… stands there. Pacified.
  • As this battle is ending, you begin to see farther off, more towards the Temple of the Gods, energy beginning to ripple. You feel more devils trying to be brought through. Something more than that. Fidelis… as you look at this, with an enhanced spirit, you think you can guess what is happening here. A distress call. As some of you begin to look around… Ki, Cordell isn’t here. And Enola talked about… bringing you to meet her mother. That’s not good. As more infernal portals begin to appear, Cordell is summoning reinforcements. At this point, the devils don’t care who they get.
  • +1 LVL UP, Kleshch can take 2

Infernal Thorn – Haef 1st, 715AR (11/10/24)

  • Inside Widowstone Keep, as flame continues to spiral, near the Temple of the Gods portals are beginning to appear underneath the infernal cyclone. At this moment, all of your characters feel a shifting in the world. They are trying to pull more devils, and other allies, into this fight. I now must ask all of you, what are you doing?
  • Ki hops onto Seth. Everyone begins to converge. Fidelis heads to find the Emerald Knight, assuming she is at Widow’s Home. Those on Seth will be delayed.
  • Elise, Charon, Thomas, Storm, and Zey make their way forward. The ground is being sundered open as cracks filled with magma begin to spread across Widowstone Keep. As you’re going forward, you see ahead of you Zey… this churning portal. It is filled with hellfire. Before this portal you can see a woman covered in thorns, a blade in their hand. A mask covers the face as they chant. A ritual of summoning.
  • Cordell, now the Lady of Thorns.
  • Charon activates the First Nihil. She is able to see, not really anything else powering it other than infernal energy from around the area. You’re able to see many different shapes just beyond the veil, creatures waiting to come through. They are already coming through.
  • At this moment, as you start to run forward, you see this devil slowly turns a head over her shoulder. Without a word she draws a blade too. At this moment, everyone rolls for order.
  • Charon attempts the Curse of the Eyeless, but it fails. BG action add a charge.
  • Thomas drops into the First Mountain and adds a charge to his knife.
  • Cordell uses her Thorn Volley twice on Thomas. She raises a hand and fires a hail of thorns.
    • 15 damage
    • 18 damage
    • She draws the Flaming Rose blade and attacks into Thomas twice.
      • 32 damage
      • 36 damage
      • 20 damage
      • 28 damage– Immaculate Dodge’d
    • She spends her movement heading left
  • Storm moves up and attacks.
    • 26 damage on HB
    • Fighting Spirit on Zey
  • Zey moves toward the portal. He fires on Cordell nonlethally. Like a hug, he says. 48 damage on 2AB.
  • Elise heads toward the portal, using lightning bolts to attempt to break the stone. 16 damage. The light begins to waver in certain places, one portal in the distance does flicker out. She flies 50 feet into the air.
  • Seth (5) and Koilos (15) arrive.
  • Ki runs forward and attacks into the other side of the structure. 22 damage at sheer I.
  • Charon uses Curse of the Shadow Chains and gains another charge on her scythe. She runs up within melee.
  • Thomas yells, “Cordell, where is Philip?”
    • A voice begins to rise from behind hte mask.
      • “Heeee is alive. Hiddennnn in the Cosmic Stack. If you ask nicely, I can allow you to see your son again. I figured out where he is.”
    • “Please.”
      • “As you wish.”
    • BG action regain stamina
    • Thomas moves forward.
  • Cordell draws her blade with 96 damage to the portal. She jams it into the structure. As the instability continues to waver… you watch as Cordell carves open part of reality. You begin to see a shape emerging from the portal, Thomas. This is a place that only some of you have seen before. Gehenna is revealed. Opened to the masses. From this place, you can see a massive figure. Seth, you recognize the black horns. The shape. The black horn crawls forward out of the portal. They’re different, in a way. They’ve been in Gehenna, the River of Souls, surrounded by spirits. They’re bigger than the last time any of you have seen the Black Horn, and the entity's eyes seem to dart around the battlefield, madly cackling to itself.
    • 192 damage to Ki– 1AB
      • A briar seed is placed upon your person.
    • 144 damage to Ki– 1AB
      • A briar seed is placed upon your person.
    • 120 damage to Ki– 1AB
      • A briar seed is placed upon your person.
    • Cordell fires a thorn volley at Elise and Zey.
      • Elise – 24 damage, stamina
      • Zey – 20 damage, stamina
    • BG action Bloom activation sequence
    • The seeds from this blade, Ki, are beginning to pop and germinate. Cordell heads right.
  • Storm breaks the tip off his arrowhead and fires at the Black Horn. 10 damage on stamina, it dodges out of the way. He gives Elise Fighting Spirit.
  • Zey aims for the portal dealing 32 damage. As you strike, parts of it chip and shatter. It crumbles in on itself. BG charge and activates the Rising Tide.
  • The Black Horn begins to make its way forward. It swings at Storm for 48 damage and +1 Corruption. It makes its way toward Seth, before stopping to hit Zey on the way.
    • 64 magic slashing. 2AB + 1HB +1 Corruption
      • 2d6 (9) – Prone
  • “Finally. I get to kill you!”
    • “Euuughhh.”
      • Seth howls loudly. He asks the Spirit if it is ready. The Spirit is eager to hunt.
      • “FOLLOW ME IF YOU’RE NOT A BITCH!”
    • SPIRIT – 2 successes
    • It is willing to follow you into a corner, but not off the map. Seth swipes at him with 2 successes.
  • Elise fires at Cordell for 8 damage, taken on stamina.
    • BG action temporary AB
  • As this battle is raging on, Fidelis, roll a PHYS check.
    • PHYS – 2 Successes
    • She is unable to be found. Fidelis elects to keep looking.
  • Ki attempts to find out what the source of her devilish nature is.
    • SPIRIT – 3 Successes
      • It is hard because of the mask, how she is moving.
    • Ki attempts to replace with nothing her ability to get stronger by losing health.
      • SPIRIT – 7 successes, success
    • As you try to replace it with nothing… it doesn’t work.
    • The Briar blooms within you. The seeds fully germinate, and upon this germination, Ki, you feel your entire body start to slow down as thorns begin to cover you. While the Briar Bloom is active, it halves the speed of the creature, power caps the rolls of the creature, and Cordell gains sheer I. Can be removed by doing 30 damage to it or sacrificing an AB.
  • Given her propensity for fire, and the plant like matter still around her, you think that magical cold or freezing would have a heavy negative effect on her.
    • Charon strides forward and swings for 60 stamina.
  • 16 damage to both Thomas and Elise. She moves forward between the two.
    • She reels back with her blade and stabs into Zey for 288 damage.
    • “Sorry I didn’t come to save you Cordell.”
      • 2D6 – 10
    • You gain a briar seed. This has cleave, so the damage hits Thomas too on a HB.
      • Thomas gains a seed.
      • 2D6 – 12
    • Cordell moves and attacks into Charon. 216 damage taken on an AB. Thomas takes 216 damage on another HB. His movement speed is reduced and he has 0 movement for 1 day. Charon gains a seed. Storm gains a seed and takes 120 + 168 damage.
    • Cordell activates the Bloom sequence.
  • Storm swings at her legs, attempting to use Takedown. 4 damage.
    • PHYS SAVE – 12 successes
    • BG action shoot the mask.
      • 4 damage. The mask is impacted, you watch as a crack is there, Storm. It begins to spread all the way down until the mask bursts open. You are met, Storm, with a tangle of thorns. There is no face. There is no mouth, there are no eyes. It is just like opening up a scarecrow. The briars have overtaken her.
    • The Briars form over you as well.
  • Zey crawls up to Cordell. He uses an action for… Something. BG action for an extra charge. You are overtaken.
  • The Black Horn begins. This thing charges at you, Seth. Reckless abandon. As it does so, claws wide, it swings for your throat.
    • 48 damage
    • 28 damage
  • Seth slashes back at him.
    • 93 damage for 7HB
    • The Black Horn cries out in pain, congealed green blood spills out onto the ground. This creature has a look of surprise as if it cannot believe it has been pierced, hurt like this.
    • Combat Ability Elise – Even!
  • Elise gives herself a temp AB. She shouts that she will not lose her friends again, and fires a lightning bolt at Cordell. Elise decides to zip off for the Emerald Knight.
  • Fidelis is still looking. 5 successes. As you’re looking around, with 5 you’re able to see the Emerald Knight is not here. But, outside of the window, you see a mass of bodies. Devils slain and torn in half. She picks up an imp, crushes it in her hands, and using the imps horns uses it as a knife to impale other devils.
    • “Um excuse me– You’re doing a great job. They need help over where that portal is. With Cordell.”
      • “Which direction?”
      • “Okay. Thank you for the information.”
    • “I believe it would be important to go there as soon as possible.”
      • “Oh, is this an order? Very well.”
      • She drops everything and begins running.
    • Fidelis slinks back inside.
  • Ki wants to attempt another spirit check. She thinks the briars represent the pain Cordell has suffered, now using it to harm others.
    • SPIRIT – 3 Successes
    • You gather that what empowers Cordell, here, isn’t necessarily the pain she has suffered. It is a part of it. Moreso, as you watch Cordell dance around, attacking and causing cascades of damage, it is all very intricate. It is like a performance. Cordell was always a patron of the arts. She is combining pain and show, the spectacle of her agony.
  • Charon activates her scythe completely. She picks up Storm and flies back before the seed germinates.
  • Thomas throws his dagger at the seed within Ki, breaking it. He then punches into his own, breaking it.
  • Cordell takes her turn. 28 damage to Thomas on stamina. 24 damage to Thomas immaculate dodge’d to 0.
    • Cordell hits Ki for 216. She uses the Band of Jodis, succeeding. She loses half her stamina.
    • 144 on 1HB
    • 216 on 1HB
    • 144 on… actually it was blocked?
    • Ki gains the tired condition and all creatures gain b1 on damage rolls.
      • 5 days.
    • BG action execute Bloom
  • Storm moves to lay back and fires into Cordell.
    • 8 damage on 1HB
  • Zey uses a heal on Thomas. He continues crawling along.
  • The Black Horn and Seth’s duel continues.
    • 56 damage on 3AB
    • 40 damage on stamina
  • Seth takes another 7HB, and prevents him from taking another claw attack.
    • NOW PLAYING: SETH’S THEME
    • “This is for all the years you kept fucking with me and my family!”
    • You keep going, Seth, you take your claws and slash again, and again, and again. There is a howl that shakes the battlefield. You have ripped off one of the Black Horn’s arms.
    • BG on Ki
  • Elise, you’re flying. Quite fast. You see running through waves of devils the Emerald Knight heading toward your previous position. Elise follows behind to make sure she heads the right way. Elise asks her to focus on Cordell. She also requests that she keep them alive. The Emerald Knight understands. She rolls a 21 on initiative.
  • The Emerald Knight, form shifting with power, enters the Third Spark. 1328 damage. 23 HB. All around the portals begin to flicker and spin.
  • Ki picks up Thomas and flies away.
  • Charon slashes at Cordell for 45 damage, on stamina, and boosts Zey’s damage rating by 3.
  • Thomas regains stamina.
  • Cordell hits the Emerald Knight for 740 (HB), she attacks using the Flame School for 560 damage
    • The Emerald Knight takes the sword out and starts cutting apart Cordell, until there are just pieces. Living, incapacitated.
    • As the attack goes through…
      • 1d100 – 59
    • All of the portals begin to sunder apart all at once.
  • Storm attempts to stab into his chest (to injure the seed). 20/30.
  • Zey breaks a glaive apart and hauls it into the Black Horn with his water. 57 damage on stamina. He burns 2 charges, adding an extra 9 to the damage rating
  • The Black Horn watches your attack come from the corner of its eye. A burst of water flies past.
  • The Black Horn roars. He attacks into Seth, Charon uses Strength from Beyond to coalesce black magic around Seth’s throat. The BH bites into a metal collar, sending it stumbling backwards.
  • Seth uses the Builders Soul for a BG action. Seth punches into the Black Horn, as the memories come back you feel something deep within you. As you cut and slash and cut the BH raises an arm– you knock it aside– each punch harder than the last. You slam your fists into the ground, flaring primordial energy.
    • 1D100 – 100
    • As you give a tremendous howl, you slam your claws down into the black horn, into the ground. All of you feel energy expanding out in every direction, you see Widowstone Keep beginning to heal, parts of the devils begin to be sucked back through portals. Momentarily, Seth, as you look around and give one final triumphant howl– all of you look around and see a Widowstone Keep completely normal. Free of devilish influence. You’ve done it. You’ve won.
  • 1d6 – 2
  • The Emerald Knight begins to haul off the captured devils into the prison, where Magion and Radovan begin locking them the fuck down. Corania checks over plans to make sure that the rooms are secure. In this moment you watch a sequence where the Emerald Knight walks up to Andreas’ bubble, Enola is let out, grabbed by the throat and slammed into the ground, before walking away.
  • You see a very tired looking Helmuth von Grayz make his way forward.
    • “It is good to see all of you again. You have survived. Good.”
    • “There is problem. Cosmic Stack collapsing. Quickly. Very quickly. We will need… eugh… problem is… Primordial Ring holds something important. I believe. The Rings of Meropis are breaking down without it, we must return this eventually.”
    • Helmuth cocks his head at the mention of Gunavar.
    • “This coffin is important. I believe that we must deliver it to the Maiden soon. Is she alright? Where is she?”
    • Helmuth blinks.
    • “Define… bad.”
    • He grabs Charon by the shoulders. He throws her down and begins running for Magion. You don't know if Magion will survive this.
  • Charon heads to the prison, picking up Zey. Andreas picks up Thomas. Ki begins sprinting after him immediately. As you make it to the prison, you see in the atrium Helmuth is there with Magion. He is barrelling down on Magion, pushing him into a corner.
    • “Helmuth it was necess–”
      • “I do not wish to hear. On your knees! Present neck!”
      • He presents Judgment of the Unworthy Martyr.
    • “Please, get him to listen to reason. The Emerald Knight has been an asset to the Brigade–”
  • Ki tries to get between them, Helmuth gives her a death glare.
    • “Move.”
      • Ki is barely holding herself up.
      • “You… didn’t train me… to move that easily.”
    • Andreas goes and joins Ki.
      • “Helmuth, please, you have every right to be angry but killing Magion is not the answer.”
    • “Correct. It is solution.”
      • “No, it won’t fix anything.”
      • “I… have an idea to help the Maiden.”
    • “Hm.”
      • “Um… she has currently undergone ego death, I was thinking it was possible to reignite those memories somehow. The best way is to do it with… Ishins power. Not the Dark Star– the corrupted one. The actual one. That makes sense, right?”
    • “Da.”
      • “And then… I have a way to transfer a form of Ishins power out to other people, but you have to promise not to attack me on sight.”
    • He squints.
    • “I see. I give oath.”
      • Andreas opens the third eye.
    • He raises an eyebrow.
    • “This is eye of Ishin?”
      • “Yes. I have inherited her thalagar. It is where my forcefields come from–”
      • “My forcefields are being transferred directly to me from the uncorrupted form of Ishin that… I believe has survived, somehow. Some reason due to torvians and thalagars. I have the ability to heal people with that power. My hope is that by using it with the Maiden it will… begin to rekindle those memories. Take that armor off of her, and she will be the Maiden again.”
  • “While I might be inclined to agree, and I understand the situation we are all in, there is a coffin that must be delivered.”
  • Charon brings the Maiden back to her quarters, making some tea and setting out the paper frogs. The rest of the party comes along, save for Storm who heads off to do other things. As you all arrive, you’re trying to get tea?
    • Charon prepares tea for the first few people who come by. Kleshch and Katja come bearing the coffin.
    • “Begin. Hope it works.”
  • Andreas begins the Shielding Stare, attempting to put that power into the Maiden. He puts his Torvian hand on her as well. You feel the Emerald Knight begin to squirm almost like they’re in a bit of discomfort. Piece by piece the armor is removed. Magion gives the proper commands to allow the armor to be stripped. You see the Maidens face on the other side. Cold and dead, although you see that she is shaking just a bit.
    • “Maiden. Ishin is not gone. Come back to us. We will save her. The Brigade… she asked me to save you. After Widowstone. God, I’ve made a right mess of it haven’t I? But that’s okay, because I’m still trying. And I’ll do that for Ishin, for Xix, for the Titans, for everyone in this world. That means you too. Come back to me Maiden, please.”
      • “Is… gone…”
    • “She is not gone. She is still there, somewhere. I just have to find her. To beat that thing masquerading as her. Unite us all under one sun. And everyone else here, Helmuth, Corania, Charon, Thomas… Somehow, even the Dorcha Arex.”
      • “She’s… gone…”
    • “She isn’t gone.”
      • “She’s not okay.”
    • “Maiden, I promise you with everything that I am. She is not gone.”
      • At this point, you feel the energy flow from your dullenwier. For the first time Charon, you see the eyes flicker, with a little bit of old life as she looks over to you, Andreas.
      • “She’s… gone.”
    • “No.”
      • “I’m… I failed.”
    • “Maiden… you did not fail. You did everything you could. More than most could ever possibly dream.”
      • “It didn’t work.”
    • “It’s not over yet. She is still there. She spoke to me, Maiden. Look in my eye.”
      • Her eyes fall upon yours.
      • “It’s not the same…”
    • “Not yet. But the Brigade is united. Everyone here a single purpose, together, despite our differences. Despite everything we have been through we are no longer a force of people squabbling with each other, we are united with one goal. To save the Ring. The Cosmic Stack. And… Ishin. The Titans. No matter how crazy it sounds. I was not granted the power of the Xeroxixia to tell everyone here, including you, that it’s over. Because I’ve seen her. And I know it’s not. It won’t be easy–”
      • “I shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t be here. It’s all my fault. I killed her! This is my fault. They said she couldn’t be saved.”
    • “They didn’t know. But we do now. We know now.”
      • “Why didn’t I know? Why didn’t I know.”
    • “You cannot blame yourself for what you did not know. This is not… your task alone. It is our task, the Brigade. For too long we took you for granted, ued you for advice, made you feel as if you could never help us. I vowed to change that. To make a world where good people like you do not suffer. I want to make the world a better place, I want to save them all from the Dark Star. And I would love for you to be here when that happens. Because… we love you, Maiden. Every one of us, even though we are admittedly shit at showing it sometimes. But I hope we can prove, I hope we can show, that my words are true. And I promise you I will continue to do so. I will do everything in my power. Ishin is a High God. A concept. She can’t be eradicated, not…”
      • “Look what I did to her–”
    • “No, it’s okay. Don’t think about that now. You’re allowed to grieve–”
      • “I’m not– I’m not… I have to–”
    • “Everyone is allowed to grieve. You most of all, you’ve been through more than any of us. You can grieve. You can be sad. But I have a new place I’ve opened up, it’s called therapy. I’ve been using it to listen to people, to help them out in small ways, give them advice if I can. It’s… um… I’d like to be able to help you, if that’s okay.”
      • “I… How? I… There’s nothing…”
    • “There is still you. And she’s out there somewhere. And I intend for the two of you to be reunited.”
      • “How would I even look at her? What would I say?”
    • “She still loves you, Maiden. No matter what. You don’t have to torture yourself.”
      • “I’m not the same– I’ve gotten worse– I’ve gotten worse.”
    • “Everyone loves you. And looks up to you. And, unfortunately, we haven’t shown it well. Allow us to change it, please…”
      • Her eyes start to look around. A room full of heroes. A room full of people that have fought beside the Maiden, who she has fought beside with. You can see that she begins to cry.
      • “I’m sorry. I’m not okay. I tried.”
    • “Maiden, can I tell you something? You don’t have to be okay all the time. It’s okay to not be okay. And I know what you’re going to say, you might say that not for you, but I want to challenge that. You are allowed to not be okay. And while you grieve, and mourn, allow us to help you. To be there with you. Not to ask you for advice like we’ve done so much, to dump things on you… Lets help you.”
      • “I feel a poison… in my head… it’s strange… it feels like I should be feeling more…”
  • Andreas looks to Helmuth, wondering if he wants to bring the coffin forward. Helmuth von Grayz, a single tear rolling down one cheek, gives a silent nod.
  • Kleshch carries the coffin up and sets it down. The Maiden tries to get up, and is stabilized by Charon and Andreas. In this moment as the both of you help her over to the coffin, the great coffin that sits before all of you, radiating power and energy… the Maiden slowly lets go of your hand Charon, and she slowly lets go of Andreas’. She puts her hands on the coffin, and, in this moment, you see as she kneels down… she whispers something. Maybe it’s a prayer. Maybe it’s a hope. Maybe it’s just something for herself, you can’t really hear. Ever so slightly she goes and inches a portion of the coffin open. Looks inside. You hear her scream. This blood curdling scream as you feel everyone in this room stop. Blood goes cold. Immediately you can see Sylris moving forward, Urs as well. You’re able to see members of the Ard Magos and the Paladin moving forward. Everyone, all at once. And then you see… the Maiden pull back. It’s not a scream of terror. No. Because she goes to fully open the coffin. As she fully throws it open there is a beat, a long moment where you all look at what’s inside.
  • The Maiden tumbles back onto the floor into the arms of Charon and Andreas. You feel power radiating from her looking upon the interior of the coffin.
    • “I– I don’t understand– how– how–”
  • Inside this coffin, hands crossed over the body, almost like she’s gently sleeping… There is a body. As the Maiden cries out, hysterical, confused, happy, scared– there is a beat inside the room. Everyone looks upon the body of Ishin’s Id. In this moment, you watch as the Maiden makes her way over, crawling on her hands and knees. She reaches in, and tries to cradle the body. You can see, Thomas, it is solid. It is a solid body. It is real. What exactly it is you do not know… But as you all watch… Something has happened.
  • +1 LVL UP
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