The aftermath of Truush
Session 84
Flying over the moonlit city of Rexxentrum, a metropolis of might, wealth, art, and innovation, we find ourselves at the centre of this magnificent city. The central citadel is a colourful and imposing structure, boasting a bochka roof architecture that showcases intricate, baubled, and rounded designs. Our gaze is drawn towards the Candle of Dramer, a towering, silvery-white marble spire that radiates a soft glow, illuminated by the city lanterns. Balconies protrude from various locations, while staircases connect different parts of the citadel. On a grand balcony near the summit, we discover a curled-up red wyvern, resting peacefully.
Inside, we meet Archmage Orius Alezar, the leader of the Domestic Protection and the eight members of the Cerberus Assembly. He is a tall elven tiefling with maroon red skin that glistens like oil under the candlelight, long black hair, black horns that curve back around his ears, and pointed features. His long dark beard is threaded with rings and precious stones, and his dark eyes flick around as he rifles through notes on his desk. The room is filled with a hum of latent magic, sigils, and arcane cabinets adorned with magical apparatuses.
A knock at the door that Orius seems to have expected causes him to halt his pacing. Entering the room is Devon Talani, a young human around 26 years old. He has an average height and build, but is slightly slender compared to others. His blond hair is beautiful and angelic, and he wears student garb adorned with personalized items that signify his high status within the academy. His deep purple eyes are captivating.
“You called for me?”
“It appears that the tides are changing. I have a task for you. Atheseus’s niece has returned from her journey; the time has come. The arm of the traitor — I’ve been observing it for some time; now is the opportune moment to act.”
He opens the lid of a box containing a pair of arcane scopes — glasses that wrap around the wearer’s head. They have a steampunk design, crafted from brass and gold with multiple lenses, including red ones and dials that shift like clockwork. He places them in Devon’s hands and says, “These will enable you to perceive what others cannot. I expect you to meet Uludan within the hour. He is about to depart with a few of his retainers; take any necessary measures to secure the artifact.”
“Very well. Any unfortunate bloodshed will be… swept under the rug?”
“I don’t expect a battle; one can never be unprepared. Go now; you’re excused.”
Devon turns and wth his cane under his arm, puts on the glasses, and makes his way out to meet with Atheseus Uludan. (Popofsky’s uncle)
Maltheo seems to be gone. The King of Fate and Flow approaches the group with quiet contemplation. (Outside the room, with the defeat of Truush, whatever forces remained are dwindling and quieting). Lotus appeals to the King “please is there nothing you can do?”, and he replies that he’s Fate and Flow. He looks at Maltheo’s body; bringing something back isn’t something he’s able to do. “However, I don’t think dying here was his fate. Something intervened. There are threads of a soul that seem to have been extended long past this point.
Æsheryn speaks of feeling lost; Briya of failure. Lotus tries to convince her otherwise regardless of how she feels about him. Æsheryn thinks it’s Vesh; something had to have corrupted the Queen.
What do we do next? (Says the Queen, as she enters the room; she was able to free herself from the chair now that Truush is dead).
We confirm she’s unharmed, and in kind she greets Cass and says it’s good to see her. Lotus continues about how Cass is now the leader; she says she’s aware of what’s been going on in “my” realm. They talk of Cass’s boon. She wants to be above the King and Queen, and they can deal with each half of the court. The boon is granted to Cass to be the True Queen of the fey realm.
Everyone discusses opening the bridge to Molaesmyr once more. The King says, “Under my rule, the Sylvan knights traveled to the material plane to create a relationship & comraderie with our cousins at the Molaesmyr outpost.” The Queen chimes in and continues, “And when I took power, I was worried that the material plane would come in our direction; I ordered it sealed. Took all 9 guardians and banished them to the material plane to seal it from that side. Obviously it didn’t go as planned.” Cass senses the Dowager Queen is holding back. “I wanted the bridge sealed to prevent someone specifically from conquering it the way he said he would. A past lover of mine. In all fairness I didn’t know there were devils.”
Cass asks who she’s referring to. She replies a simple mortal from the Julous Dominion; a disallusioned, scorned man. When his country was lost to the Empire, he was willing to do anything to get it back. It may have been their start of geting into blood magic. His name is Piotr. The beacon you seized from these devils was a gift of his. One that terrified me.
(During all this time Æsheryn has been casting Gentle Repose on Maltheo’s body)
He gave it to me as a gift to work against the Empire. But this dark corruption scared me. I was a dumb and blinded by passion; giving royal titles to Truush in his disguised form. But I locked the bridge and kept it safe for hundreds of years. But it seems that the corrupted beacon was the source of all the corruption in Molaesmyr, too.
Cass removes the collar and it vaporizes. The King and Queen leave the room as we collaborate. Æsheryn wants to leave, Cass wants an army. Æsheryn thinks the Fey need to help Molaesmyr clean and resettle. Portal will be opened. It is decreed to secure the peace in Molaesmyr and work with the Uthodurn elves to help those resettle who want to.
Uludon had Cass’s mistress murdered, and put Popofsky in her place. Cass asks an oracle where to find Ulodon because we need to act against him soon.
During the long rest the group takes, two things happen that night. The Dowager Queen gives True Queen Cass, in lieu of a real crown, something for a material plane traveler: another collar, featuring a beautiful, glittering emerald set within the silver chain, humming with power and possibility. This magical item, called Kiss of the Changebringer, is awakened. A Vestige of Divergence that belonged to the Changebringer.
The other event is a dream that comes to Æsheryn. In a dense forest with green and purple trees, a pond that reflects the stars. Sitting on a tree stump is an elven man. “So, I get the feeling things have been tough.”
Æsheryn responds, “Tough? In a matter of weeks, I’ve seen life being taken time and again. Now I’ve seen the death of Maltheo, and though he may not have been the most righteous of characters, he protected his companions and stuck to his convictions. And now he’s gone. What’s the point of it if I fail? Corellon, I do this all in your name. What good is it if I fail?”
Corellon’s eyes water. He gives Æsheryn the space to grieve and walks toward him. Æsheryn kneels, overcome with emotion. Corellon says, “The whole point of protecting and honoring life is respecting the fact that it is ephemeral. We can’t protect and save everyone. Some people are here for shorter periods of time. That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be honored.”
Æsheryn hasn’t given up on saving Maltheo yet. They discuss the Matron of Ravens. It’s cryptic though. Corellon admits that he doesn’t think Maltheo is done; that he has unfinished threads for his country, and that perhaps someone is trying to keep him out of the living realm.
Corellon gives Æsheryn a kiss and he wakes.
The next day sees Cass create a Simulacrum that she leaves behind with the homunculous, and Lotus bestow a telepathc bond and temporary HP on us.
She and her regents gather in the center of town. One by one, little animal spirits appear. No words are exchanged as they know it’s time. The last is the fox; “Sorry about your friend,” and an opening is made. A bridge in name only, manifesting as some sort of snowglobe where both realms briefly mix together. We all step through and out on the other side, into Molaesmyr. The trees are still gray and purple; it’s still a ruined city, overgrown, but it now has a promise of something better.
Waiting there is a little gathering of Dwendalian Empire soldiers standing by for our return. It’s only been a few days. In the group is Captain Jane, and a tall man with a salt and pepper beard in a black robe with gold trim and red undershirt. A tall black turban-style headdress. Cass feels alarm bells: it’s Archmage Athesias Uludan, and Devon standing behind him.
Lotus tells everyone not to worry; that we’ve fixed everything and all is well. Jane and her soldiers relax. Athesias Uludan doesn’t move much, but seems a bit surprised we succeeded. “Good to hear you’re safe. My niece informed me you’d be coming back. She had to be relieved of her duties for now; thank you for taking care of her while you were trapped.”
Athesias Uludan, a human, steps forward. He’s quite proud of what was accomplished here today and in the decades to come. “All thanks to you, Librarians. I’ll return to my post in Rexxentrum and inform the King we can start organizing the repatriation of Molaesmyr to the displaced elves. We’ll work with the Diarchy on that.” Insight from Lotus shows he seems to be being genuine. There is something he feels more important about than Molaesmyr though. “My niece informs me that a relic was found on the other side of this gate. (creates an illusion of a beacon). As part of the deal with Diarchy of Uthodurn, it must be surrendered to us.”
This seems to be what Athesias Uludan wanted all along. Devon says, “Friends please (as he notices someone is missing), it would be a shame if the deal didn’t work.” Lotus fights for his people as a counter argument.
Cass history checks on Devon’s name. Mid-20s human; not alive when Cass would have known anything. But this is the person groomed by the archmage to take his place. His uniform is somewhere between military and school. Badges that hint at his station as Orius’s apprentice, and that he most likely focuses on conjuration magic, other planes; other beings.
Lotus: But it’s filled with souls that don’t belong to you. Devon: Who really owns souls, though?
We are invited to the Empire’s camp. Æsheryn wants to send the corrupted beacon back to Rosohna. Devon says they don’t belong there. Even with souls inside. More talk of how the beacons came from elsewhere. Devon says there’s no ulterior motives that he is aware of. There is arcane potential, but as far as he knows, it’s not to use against the Kryn.
Æsheryn tosses it to Devon. Athesias Uludan telekeniseses it to himself and promises in the name of King Dwendal and the Empire that it will be “cared for with same respect and devotion that your people would treat it themselves”.
30 insight from Lotus shows he knows more than he’s letting on. When he says he’ll treat it the same as the Kryn, will he use it the way the Kryn do really?
We explain Maltheo’s death to Devon, who reinvites us to the camp; the Diarchy is there as well, as there is much to discuss about the plans for reconstruction. The True Queen is introduced to Devon. Devon says he’ll inform the assembly of the rulership change.
Jane leads everyone to the camp, which will become the Empire’s “Embassay” eventually. We catch up with the Diarchy representatives, Monica, the Cleric of the Brew dwarf, and Kra’naelen’s brother Vesryn.
