Act 1: Choices
Phase 0: Transitions
Phase 1: Choices- Phase 1.1: Prophecy
- Phase 1.2: War
Phase 2: Divisions
Phase 3: Quests- Phase 3.1: Tides
- Phase 3.2: Destiny
Phase 4: Darkness
Phase 5: Light- Phase 5.1: Searching
- Session 138: Hot and Cold
- Session 139: 3 Teams Starring in '3 Ways To Die'
- Session 140: Searching for Answers/Truths/Friends
- Session 141: 100 Problems For the Angel
- Session 142: A Slave to One's Desires Part 1
- Session 143: A Slave to One's Desires Part 2
- Session 144: A Slave to One's Desires Part 3
- Session 145: A Game of Elf and Mouse
- Session 146: Wily Elven Sexy Deception
- Session 147: Searching for a Way to Steal Your Heart
- Session 148: On The Run, On the Hunt
- Session 149: Full Speed Ahead!
- Session 150: The Angel Dances on the Head of a Pin
- Session 151: Unstable Emotions
- Session 152: Unstable Life
- Session 153: Fragmented Memories Part I - Confusion
- Session 154: Fragmented Memories Part II - Sacrifices
- Session 155: Fragmented Memories Part III - Visions
- Session 156: Fragmented Memories Part IV - Entering and Escaping
- Session 157: Fragmented Memories Part V - Truths, Lies, and Misdirections
- Session 158: Fragmented Memories Part VI - A Ruined Flashback
- Session 159: Fragmented Memories Part VII - A Work of Art
- Session 160: Fragmented Memories Part VIII - Reformatted
- Session 161: Fragmented Memories Epilogue - Recovery
- Phase 5.1.2: Events
- Phase 5.2: Headway
- Phase 5.3: Truths
Phase 6: Changes
Phase 7: Hunts
Phase 8: Preparations
Phase 9: Prophecies
- Phase 9.1: Holy
- Phase 9.2: Night
- Phase 9.3: The First Trinity
Phase 10: Godwar
Phase 11: Others
Act 2: Consequences
Mini Series: Heart of Terra
(will come back to this)
Location: PAX
Rachael, Valen, Seth and Parita make it to the city of Agata, where they find Ruun holding an injured Nephilim, trying to talk her way into the city. They group reunites and Seth is offered to the Guards for the evening in order to waive the entry fee to the city. The group gets in and gets settled down, over the evening they talk, plan, and get ready to go out again to a nearby ruins while they wait for the others to catch up to them. Valen eventually offers Seth the money needed to pay off the guards, causing the man to sit down and think about his ways.
The crew of the Hope, ending a quiet spell of time where they can relax. After Jean tells on Sia for her recent stretch of being a little TOO bold with people, she's turned over to Aschae for punishment. Before that can happen however, Pirates are sighted out in the distance. Aschae and Sia's combined magik proves too be way too much for the pirate ship, and they take it out before it can prove to be a danger, losing it's treasures to the bottom of the sea. Faile tells the new deckhands, Gerard and Zane, that Sia is the Angel, distracting them away from Jean.
Breaking camp, McTreggor tells Zeal's group that the next leg of the journey will be through the Wastes of Despair. As they move through the wastes, a dangerous but fast route towards the others. As they move along, they come to a spot with dangerous ice, which Rose gets caught out on. Tanan, using the skills of a flaming monk, leaps out into the crashing ice and saves her, the group using ranged abilities and spells to help him get her back to the cart. They move on into the Wastes.
Rachael's team sets out into the ruins nearby Agate, passing through an ice barrier and multiple challenges, solving riddles and puzzles to make their way through. They begin to delve deeper, hoping to find something useful.
The Hope faces another challenge on the horizon as the waves begin to roughen, the sky ahead darkening. After a quick discussion, Sia takes the helm and guides the ship out into the storm, ready to brave it.
Kaelan sings a song of warning from her childhood about the Wastes of Despair, it warns not to follow voices, or walk into danger, to keep out of the woods and away from death, lest one joins the dead. Rose hears a voice and rushes out into the woods, the others beginning to chase after her. Kaelan hesitates due to childhood training, holding Mercy back, Tanan also waits with some wisdom.
Rachael's group finds a puzzle demanding four scrolls or a fight with four golems, the group debates splitting up or working together, surprisingly, Valen wanting to split up and Seth wanting to stick together. They end in a choice of unity and get to work.
Session 139: 3 Teams Starring in '3 Ways To Die'
Location: PAX
Rose rushes into cursed woods, the other members of the team, all but Kaelan, Mercy, Tanan and McTreggor rushing after her. After considering for some time, Kaelan and Tanan give up hope the others will turn back and rush in after them with Mercy. Both groups hear voices in the mist, voices of the dead and the damned. As they grope in darkness, they find visions of corpses rising to take them, after both sides seem to hesitate, they group realizes they are in fact, seeing the rest of their teammates under an illusion and disperse it.
As they begin to break free, the forest fights back, trees cutting off their escape, skeletons of the dead rising from the ground to fight them. The skeletons are easily dispatched by the group, however they merge together once defeated, forming a giant skeleton monster. The group battles a monster who rains down it's own parts on them as they fight it. Kaelan summons Anima T and takes it on with her blade, showing for the first time her new skill at operating it's Wings. The group discovers an orb as it's weak point and pull it out of the giant, collapsing it. Recovering the orb and taking it with them, they press on to more danger and excitement out in the Wastes.
The Hope rides into a storm, while Sia and Aschae try to use their powers to help the boat survive, the reach the roughest part of the storm. As people struggle to stay aboard, Sia takes the helm again and lashes herself to it, using her skills as a sailor to bring them into land, an island in the middle of the ocean to which Lenneth has no knowledge. Moving to the safety of the land, they dock the ship on the shore and secure it, facing a small crab army before seeking a cave to rest in for the evening. Sheltering from the storm.
Team Nephilim raids the ruins, together they overcome a series of traps to gain all four scrolls, taking down a trapped hallway, a riddle, a word puzzle, and mirrors which create shadow versions of Seth and Leruste, who they battle together and bond as bros, becoming changed men. Finally Parita, having gathered the four scrolls with minor help from the brave company of heroes, activates them and the golems shift aside, giving them access to the treasure room. Inside they find words written all over the walls, in scatttered and broken ancient. "Protect", "For You", "This Blade" can be made out, and among the words hangs a fine sword. Alongside the sword they find Anima C. The group takes their loot back to town.
McTreggor tells them what he knows as they ride along, that the gems will aid the Angel in her task, when all five are combined they will find a way to travel up the glittering, to the home of the gods themselves. His ancestor once did the same, and never returned. He also tells them of the prophecy that when the 5 are reunited, the group will travel to Navarro, where it all started. The group decides they need to return to Matias to speak to the Bishop and learn what really might happen. Setting the stage for many homecomings.
Session 140: Searching for Answers/Truths/Friends
Location: PAX
The crew of the hipe wakes to calm outside, Jean, Faile, Lenneth and Aschae having returned from an excursion outside, carrying a case that they found, Jen clinging to it with deep interest. With the sound of no beasts at all on the island, the group readies to go back to the ship. Lenneth informs them that the island is cursed, filled with terrible poison that dulls their powers. They head back to the boat and hear a blood curdling scream, finding that Carly is missing. Sia remains behind to get the ship going with Faile and the deckhands, while Aschae, Jean and Lenneth rush off to help Carly.
The trio find demons cutting and working dark things on poor Carly. Jean enters a feral rage and fights wildly while Aschae uses her magicks, Lenneth and Seraphim taking damage and guarding her. As the demons are mopped up, Sia arrives with Charles to find Lenneth wounded mortally with a cursed wound, magik healing destroyed in the posioned enviroment, they rush the wounded to the ship. As Sia gets the ship out to a safe distance, Aschae notes the box left behind and goes after it, facing the demons with Sia launching magik support from the ship. Aschae flees with the box and gets back aboard, just as the ship is taken out to sea. Sia heals Jean, who's taken on the poison wound from Lenneth, and the ship sails on as Gemane appears on the teleporter, wounded terribly.
Zeal's group prepares to go after camping and resting once again. McTreggor gives the group a choice, save days by taking an ancient path where they will learn terrible truths, or pass over it, taking a longer, but safer route. After some debate, the group decides as a whole to face danger and travel through the underground. The group travels into the dark, going for hours before stopping at a location with a side tunnel. McTreggor tells the brave to go in and learn the truth.
They find inside a cavern, a strange blank mirror, attached to metal snakes, when each touches it, they see something which seems to be a vision of the future. Tal'ka sees a vision of himself atop a pile of bodies but surrounded by friends of other races, and then again a fat, sleepy wolf, never having fought; after he asks the mirror if Mar'Kus would ever see equality in the eyes of others. Tanan sees a vision of himself killing Aschae and attacking Lenneth. Kaelan sees her child taken and used as leverage to force her to kill Jean. Wynne seens death and ruin in her future with Yewn. Yewn, testing it out, sees the same, and in rage over such a suggestion for her future, shatters the mirror.
Rachael's group sits around attempting to decide what they should do, when Valen, who took the sword from the ruins, finds the need to kiss the blade of his new weapon. When he does, he finds his lips touching those of a beatiful girl with golden hair. The girl explains that she is the Angel Blade, made for the Angel, and existing to protect her. She identifies them all, feeling their marks, and after some questioning, the group takes her in, Rachael taking the blank slate of a girl, who can turn into a sword, under her wing.
Rachael feels the tug of another crystal to the East, in the imperial land, and as the group tries to discuss what to do about it, Euki, a girl the group recently met butts in, revealing she was eavesdropping. Rachael rushes to get the group ready to follow the gem while Euki is reassured that they are not dangerous by Ruun, having been disturbed when Seth tried to use pheramones to calm her down. Suspecting her of being a demon like himself, Seth eyes the girl warily as they all settle to leave in the morning when the situation calms.
Back in the caverns, the group stops at the second cave, and find another mirror, here they are told they will be shown the past, that is important to their growing future. Tal'ka learns that he was doublecrossed by an old friend, which led to his tranformation. Tanan is told that the only one to help his escape was himself. Kaelan learns that she had an Azuha sister, that her father and mother were on the run from The Hand of the Church, and that they were trying to keep something from the Church. Zeal learns that it was the actions of Kaelan's parents that led to Zeal's mother dying, and the Di'neers who brought her to Sinai to become the Templar she is today, that she was raise due to a prophecy where she and she alone would make a choice that would lead the Angel into ruin or salvation.
Session 141: 100 Problems For the Angel
Location: PAX
After Sia has spent the day healing the wounded Jean and Gemane, the fallen Azuha seems ready to wake and tell them what's happened. When it comes up that Gemane has been to the other Azuha village, Sia informs them in fear that there was a prophecy that the Angel's arrival at the Azuha village would bring the Church down on them. Gemane soon confirms this, telling them that Church Officals with 100 Pirates and Slavers arrived at El, seeking to take them all in.
The group tries to discuss a plan, and discover Zane peeking in on the conversation. Sia, deciding that he can't be left alone now, opts to take him and Gerard, who is also suspect, with them to El. Taking the Light Stone, they teleport to El, arriving in a pit in the ground and surrounded by the jungle, it's quiet.
Rachael's group mounts baby Behemoths thanks to their new guide, Euki. While some eye the girl who claims to be normal with some mounting suspicion, as she can speak to monsters, the group continues on with her aid, crossing the ice atop the beasts.
Zeal's group takes another break at a third passage, McTreggor informing them that this mirror carries no explaination, whatever it shows, it shows with purpose, it answers questions posed to it. Kaelan learns from the mirror that her parents were hiding either herself or the pendant she carries from the Hand. Tal'ka learns that only through battle and the end that the Angel will bring will the Mar'Kus know equality. Yewn is shown that after the end, she will have the wealth and power to make others lives better if she so chooses. Mercy sees how her child with Kaelan will be when fully grown. Lilica's scene shows she and Gemane, one standing over the body of the other.
Zeal poses the question if peace can exist, the mirror shows them that only by the Angel's death, or the success of her mission, can there be peace. Mercy expresses her sadness that their child may have to grow up in a barren world, which seems to be very sad and lonely. Kaelan reassures her, stating that any world where their child can walk free will be a happy one, reguardless of it's circumstances.
The crew of the Hope, now in the destroyed village, find two boats remaining in the harbor. Using magical fog and a vine created climbing rig, the group starts to infiltrate the pirate ships in search of captives. All hell breaks loose when Jean spots an Azuha about to be raped by a pirate, she berserks and attacks, leading to a long and bloody battle as the group fights from the top and bottom of the ship, slaughtering pirates at great injury. They take the first boat and free a small number of warriors, together, with them, they take the second boat and free the rest, only about 30 in all, 30 of 400.
They take the cannons from the ship with them back to the Hope to heal and plan, the rest of the enemy, 50 or more, having headed to the village of defenseless, peace loving Azuha. Jean, having taken on the memories of all the rapes and injuries to herself, is critically uinjured, Aschae and Lenneth entering Anne's mind to help her help Jean. The rest of the group licks their wounds, Sia using her magik to heal them, finally forced to rest herself. They wait for the following day.
Rachael's group stops in a frozen ice village for the night, in an iced cave, they set up camp to relax, Rachael taking extra time to teach Truth about the world. Zeal's group stops at a fourth, unexpected tunnel to set up camp, and they plan to head in while the rest of the group rests.
Session 142: A Slave to One's Desires Part 1
Location: PAX
Jean awakens with a closed mind, but claiming to feel better. The group makes final preparations before Gemane uses the Light Stone to teleport the entire ship to the island they seek. Landing in new waters, the boat is docked and the group disembarks to find the village. There they must give the horrible news of the darkness waiting for them on the horizon. The group spreads out to join in some celebration and rest, as the experts begin to organize the defenses, teaching the defenseless to defend themselves.
In the deep roads, those who waited behind hear a massive explosion and worry for a moment before Kaelan, McTreggor, Tanan, Lilica and Tal'ka return from their excursion, an inventory of ancient weapons and devices in hand. McTreggor gives Zeal a special weapon that fires blasts of Magik at the enemy, and helps Zeal learn what it takes to fire her mother's bow. Yewn cries in devastation at the loss of amazing inventory items to the Di'neer stores.
As the group leaves, riding toward the exit of the tunnels, McTreggor informs them of the next danger they will face to cross into the Empire's territory, a massive monster known as the Ice Giant, and ancient relic from the old war.
Rachael's group disembarks from the caves, Euki warning them of the slavers in the areas to come, people who snatch up women and other useful people to sell to the Empire. The group with some degree of confidence works itself into readiness to face any challenge in their way. When they arrive at the foot of the mountains they are given several paths, many obvious for ambushes. Euki shows off her interesting control over ice to widen a path for them into the mountains, Seth remarks on the possibility of her being a demon, this seems to anger the girl greatly.
Back on the island of Azuhaha, the crew of the Hope gets ready for battle, some planning strategy, some getting lucky with the residents. Zane gets lucky while Gerard seems to keep his distance, Sia winds up having to deny the Azuha who collared her months ago, to her own sorrow.
Zeal's group finds themselves in the hands of the Ice Giant before long, literally in it's hands, and caught many feet up in the air. Several leap out onto the giant to fight, McTreggor, Tal'ka, Lilica and Tanan. Kaelan leaves Mercy under Zeal's care and leaps out of the cart and into the air, summoning Anima T and taking the skies on wing. While Kaelan tries to keep the monster distracted with her sword, the others begin to attack massive orbs that seem to hold it's power, Zeal doing great damage with her new weapon.
The cart gets dropped and Kaelan soars to the rescue, taking the group remaining on the cart out of the fight. Rose falls off at some point and vanishes into the snow, causing Tal'ka to abandon the fight to look for her. Tanan keeps his vow of silence at the wrong moment, causing Lilica to seemingly be crushed in the giant's hand. McTreggor seperated from the fight for a moment, Tanan goes for a killing blow and is thrown away, leaving Kaelan in Anima T to take the killing blow, ending the monster. Among the rubble they find Lilica mostly alive, her tail ruined by the hand, and Rose injured. They take shelter in a stone dome that Yewn makes and they recover from the fight.
Rachael's group sets up camp in a ridgeway, and finds themselves surrounded at all sides by raiders. The group quickly prepares to face the enemy, Truth asking who will weild her in battle. They decide on Valen, and Truth speaks the words, "Shake off your slumber. Seize upon the truth. Take the element in hand and kill Gods." Becoming a sword for Valen to take up in arms.
Session 143: A Slave to One's Desires Part 2
Location: PAX
Surrounded on all sides, the raiders call for Rachael's team to surrender. Leruste starts the fight, calling on Anima E and stumbling his way through the enemy. Ruun tosses Anime C to Seth, who looses three arrows into the ranks of the enemy and attempts to call C. C appears but does not stay for long, apparently rejecting Seth as a pilot. C appears to be a rather large Anima with a whip coiled around it's arm, strong and fast.
Valen and Truth launch holy magik at the enemy, as a Lizard King enters the fight, Valen leaps aboard, seeking to dismount it's rider. With Anima E's help, he succeeds in getting aboard and getting rid of the rider. Ruun is overpowered, and with Parita and Euki in danger, Anime C blinks, allowing Seth to activate her once more, Anima C rips the enemy a new one while Rachael is taken off into the mountains.
Forcing the rest of the raiders to surrender, Seth sends them packing away from the mountains in a fit of mercy, clouding one of the raiders, a young girl, with his pheramones to have her guide them into the mountains. Valen releases the King Serpent from it's bonds and it flies off. The group heads into the caves and finds a wall which isn't really there. Seth and Leruste go through and are subdued, finally the others join them, going in swinging. They overpower the raiders waiting for them and take them out together. It's then that they hear a scream from deeper in the caves.
Following the screams they find the village of the raiders in the caves, burning to the ground as the Lizard King that Valen released gets it's revenge on the occupants. Seth rushes through flames to save a boy who was left behind while the others move through danger to find Rachael in a central hut, beating those who would otherwise harm her. They all escape from the flames and rejoin Ruun by the exit, moving to hide as the Empire moves in to mop up the remaining raiders.
McTreggor gives Zeal's group the option of another path to take to speed up their travel time. They can pass through a rift in time, a passage in the Wastes where time itself is shattered, they can move faster if they take the right path. The group agrees, low on supplies and deciding to brave time itself rather then die of starvation on the ice plains. They ready themselves to go in, considering tying Rose to the cart this time.
Planning continues for the crew of the Hope on the Isle of Azuhaha. As new bonds form and the group comes up with a plan to take the ships by surprise, they agree to rest up. Anne having taken up a new blade she found on an expedition with Aschae, Lenneth, Sia and Charles, she starts to attune herself to the blade known as Wyrd. Sia learns to deal with her new anatomy, Anne having made her into a catmewgirl during the trip. Zane continues to get it on with Ty.
Rachael's group sets up camp in the mountains, looking over the Empire's camp, the gem they seek inside it. The team tries to formulate a plan to get it back, meanwhile they rest and recover from the previous battle.
Zeal's team sets up camp, in the morning they will travel through a rift in the veil of time.
Session 144: A Slave to One's Desires Part 3
Location: PAX
Zeal's team sits around in the cold, finishing a meatless soup and worrying over their dwindling supplies before they head into the rift. Securing themselves in the cart, the group enters the rift, riding through time itself. As they travel, they see the scene of an ancient battle long forgotten, they see Jean and someone with her lost in a blast during a great war.
As they clear that scene, another battle shows, a wooden fort in the wastes under empirial attack. The scene is quickly reckognized by Kaelan and Zeal as the attack where Kaelan's mother was killed. Indeed, they see the vision of the Hand and a woman who looks a lot like Rose cornering Arethia Di'neer. The Hand demands something from her and when she refuses, the Hand orders Rose to kill her. Kaelan watches as the past Rose slaughters her mother, refusing to look away, witnessing it for the first time. Rose watches as well, filled with sorrow for her past actions, Kaelan forgives her, knowing she was being controlled.
As they travel further, four days along the path in the rift, they come across a scene of Tanan stuck in prison. True to the words of the mirror, Tanan realizes help did not come from a Templar. He writes a note to his friends passing in another scene and tosses it to them, informing them years in the past of his capture, and they venture to free him. During a conversation that occurs on this day, Zeal says some mean things to Kaelan, hurting her feelings, the woman refuses to apologize, earning her a stink-eye from the rest of the group.
Six days later, Kaelan and Mercy are down in feelings, the girls are growing restless, and Kaelan sees another vision. She looks outward and bears witness for the second time, to the execution of Tam Di'neer. Kaelan relates her feelings on that day and refuses to let anyone stop it or change the future now that they know they can, not willing to risk anyone getting lost in time for her benefit.
The group leaves the rift, barely any time having passed in the world outside, yet so much distance covered for them, now only a day away from Rachael's group as it waits for the right moment to rob the empire.
On the Isle of Azuhahuha, the Slavers land in number, abandoning most of the ships to get what they think will be an easy catch. The Angel, Sia, Lenneth, Aschae and Charles rise from underwater to sneak aboard the ships. When Lenneth says she feels a Weapon, a fighter created from the Gods with the blood and souls of many dead men, Aschae becomes distracted trying to feel the threat out.
Anne and Sia fight thier way below decks while Lenneth and Charles assist from above, as they meet, Aschae joins to help and they free the first of four ships, they continue with the assault on the other ships, Aschae goes Weapon hunting. The Weapon, meanwhile, finds the cave where the little ones and the elderly, as well as the rare males, are being kept. As the weak flee, Gemane and Calico try to hold it off, Calico having to risk the ultimate price to hold them off and save Gemane.
The cave destroyed, the Hope arms it's cannons and the deckhands try to hold the Weapon off with gunpowder. The creature seems impossible to kill, constantly rising over and over again. As the four boats are freed, Anne rushes to shore with the rest of her party and they make for the Hope, arriving in the nick of time, thanks to the efforts of Aschae, Lenneth, and the deckhands in holding the beast off. Angelus appears in the sky and having to leave some Azuha behind, they take 500 Azuha with them as they stone-teleport away.
They reappear at the port city they left such a short time ago, Lady Nicci lending them help to send the Azuha into the plains for Oas. The team settles down to rest and recover, Gemane and Calico in bad conditions, the rest of the group tired from the ordeal. Sia discovers the girl she turned down to be missing, and later that night, the group parts ways with Gerard, discovering him to be an imposter and having planned to kidnap the Angel.
Session 145: A Game of Elf and Mouse
Location: PAX
Anne starts an impromptu meeting inthe garden of Lady Nicci's mansion to plan things out. Wyrd makes her first real, physical appearance, guarding her Angel. Anne draws into question how they can catch up to the ships heading back to the Church Headquarters between the stones and the winds. Between Anne, Aschae, and Sia, they create a plan of action. Sia raises the question of bringing Zane and Lucky along, Zane approved, but Lucky still not having proven himself.
Using a test of archery, Anne has Sia, who vouches for him, put a fruit on her head and directs the elf to shoot it off her head. He succeeds, with Sia remaining calm, and is allowed to join them. Wyrd describes Sia as foolish while Sia declares her faith that Anne would never put a friend in danger carelessly. As they each recieve their tasks to prepare for the journey, Sia asks Anne to remove her catmew features and Anne returns her to normal.
While Zane checks up on his new woman, Ty, Aschae and Lenneth flirt while beginning Lucky's training. Sia accompanies Anne to see Nicci, and pauses to ask about marking Charles. They agree not to mark him, Charles being unwilling and Anne feeling a mark on him could cause problems between Sia and herself in the future. Anne imparts her belief in Charles' love and willingness to sacrifice anything for Sia's safety.
Ruun and Euki return from their misdirection planning and lay out the plan to stop the Empire's forces. Seth departs from the group temporarily, remaining behind as they move ahead to start the plan, Seth remaining behind to stalk the Empire's forces and keep tabs on their movements. Euki with Rachael and Truth head up one side of a mountain valley while Valen takes the other side with Anima E. Working together they collapse the snow, creating an avalanche that blocks the path ahead for the Empire.
Aboard the Hope, the crew gathers once again to finalize their plans. The Angel gives them all the option of walking away lest they travel to their deaths, no one backs down. Sia and Aschae, once the Hope has teleported back to the Azuha isles, use Wind Magik and the support of Water Sprites to speed the boat ahead after those who have taken El.
Seth rejoins Rachael's group as they all make camp while the Empire moves into place. A plan forms for Nephilim, Ruun and Seth to sneak into the camp and cause mayhem while they reclaim the gem. They prepare for their most largest temptation of fate yet.
Session 146: Wily Elven Sexy Deception
Location: PAX
On the Hope, Jean looks out over the ocean while Sia talks with her. Carly hits on Lucky while Zane is stalked by Ty. Gemane rests from the ordeal of teleporting the ship, and Carly meets Wyrd, the two match wits. Aschae toys with Gemane while Sia breaks her period of seriousness to tickle Jean. Zane has fun with the incident which leads somehow to Jean plotting a date between Sia and Charles. Overhearing the conversation, Lucky becomes upset and flees, betraying a crush he has on Sia. Sia and Zane discuss the quality of kindness, and Sia states her worry that Wyrd's rough personality will make her wind up lonely.
Zeal's group is brought up to date on Rachael's group through the mark, and they get ready to move to a location they will meet up with the others at. Kaelan talks about the foolishness of challenging the Empire head on which leads to a discussion over the neccesity of fighting. Tanan and Tal'ka prove to be opposites in their opinion of the matter.
Team Rachael waits as Ruun, Seth and Nephilim prepare to head out. They scout ahead a little after Seth leaves a parting shot of advice for the team to scout out for a fast escape after they get them gem. This advice is taken to heart and Valen forms a second group for the expedition, but not before Ruun lays her 'trap', getting Nephilim and Valen alone in a tent and feeds them passion fruit. After Nephilim is sufficiently deflowered and Valen made into a man, the groups head out to their respective missions.
Ruun, Nephilim and Seth, posing as an elven slave couple and their little girl respectively, get captured and taken into the camp. Led through they find that the armor the Empire's knights wear appears to be alive and chitinous, the slaves clad in a strange blue second skin that also appears to be alive. With the threat of living organisms to be put on them, they quickly try to make a plan. Seth shifts into the old woman in charge of the slaves and scouts the area around the tent, finding the gem in the central tent, but needing to keep his cover, he heads back for the others. Seth informs them and tries to create a plan of action, however, Ruun is taken away to be interviewed by the Captain.
Valen and his team discover a cave in the mountains, and traveling into it, they run into a little girl in a dress with a broken doll. The creepy girl introduced herself as Haru, and claims to know the monster of the cave, her friend. Valen successfully convinces Haru that the Empire's guards would be a tastier meal for her friend and that they can be friends. They bring Haru back to camp with them to meet new people.
In the slave pens, Seth and Nephilim come across the central flaw in all their plans, they hate one another. When Nephilim opts to do nothing but sit in the tent and wait for Ruun to handle everything on her own, Seth becomes angered by her inaction. Seth's twisted emotions wave out to the others and they become worried, and when they do nothing for a while and the camp starts to move, Seth becomes highly nervous, causing Rachael to move after the camp to get ready and save them. Mastering his emotions, Seth convinces Nephilim to signal Rachael to stop her plans. They travel on with the camp and wait for the chance to move again.
Session 147: Searching for a Way to Steal Your Heart
Location: PAX
Seth attempts to scout out the area again after they're done moving, posing as an armored soldier, using his shapeshifting to mimic the armor. He brings Nephilim with him, however their clever plan is foiled when the old lady stops them, telling the 'soldier' he has to apply if he wants a slave. Smooth talking out of being discovered, Seth lets the old woman take Neph back and goes to check out the tent. Realizing a little late they the woman will realize that the slave girl is missing, Seth rushes back, appearing as a lost and scared little girl just in time to diffuse the woman from alerting the guards.
As they pause to think in the tent again, Ruun appears finally and she has the gem with her. However, she is also covered in the slave garments that prevent escape, and waylays Nephilim, sending Seth out of the camp with an unconcious Nephilim and the gem. Seth retakes his soldier disguise and sneaks out of the camp, leaving Ruun to her fate.
Seth and Nephilim reach the camp to give the bad news. Rachael however, determined to get Ruun back, has them flee for the moment through the caves, swearing to lead the Empire's forces along till they reunite with friends, then rescue her. The group travels through the caves and Haru negotiates with her monstrous friend, a gigantic snakehiss, letting them camp far into the cave, leaving the Empire to the mercies of the monster.
Session 148: On The Run, On the Hunt
Location: PAX
The crew of the Hope sails on at full speed. While some rest, others enjoy a morning meal. Sia strikes up a conversation with Faile, planning out some ship expansions. Zane strikes his own conversation up with Gemane, while Lucky and Jean talk. Lenneth and Aschae talk clothes while Zane tries to flirt with Gemane. Lucky's conversation strikes a sad chord in Jean, Sia takes Lucky away to show him how to feed Kaji.
Gemane makes Zane more aware of Ty's intentions towards him as Sia comes back to comfort Jean. Zane goes after Ty while Sia and Jean battle in a blanket, Jean winning. The group continues to discuss things and grow closer as they speed along towards possible doom.
Zeal's group gets into position to meet up with the others. Meanwhile, Rachael's team races down the mountains on the backs of baby behemoths. They race against Serpent Kings in the sky, and Euki, using her mysterious control of the cold, provides them cover according to Truth's suggestions. The group passes dow the mountain in freedom, leading the Empire closer and closer to their friends, so they can save another friend.
4 Days pass, and the groups are united. Together they greet and feel the happiness of each others company before making their plans to save Ruun. After some food and rest, McTreggor shows the team how to use a Crystal without the help of Jean, it allows one user to use two powers magick techniques, as long as they are the element matching the crystal. After planning, the team swoops in, Rachael leading the distraction squad with Truth at her hip, and Seth and Tal'ka backing her up, Parita joining them in Anima C.
The rescue team, Valen, Nephilim, Leruste and Euki sneak into the camp and make their way to the main tent. Getting into trouble along the way. They run into the Old Lady Slave, who uses a stick to steal Leruste's magick, causing Jean, many miles away, to double over in pain, in reaction, Anne takes over and cuts off Leruste's rune. They overpower the woman and then they wind up forcing their way into the tent, only to find the Captain waiting for them, and a deeply abused Ruun.
The distraction force meanwhile, has launched a full on attack against the camp, causing most of the Knights to vacate, allowing the rescue team in. They get their attention and run away, many of the Empire's warriors on their tail. They take the fight up into the mountains, facing a terrible struggle against superior forces and superior numbers. Seth nearly bites the dust during the fight, and the rest wind up injured in some way.
Valen's group tries to fight the Captain, winding up on the losing end of a battle when the man pulls out a magick stealing stick of his own. The group nearly fails, until Leruste pickpockets the stick away and they're able to somewhat turn the tide, taking Ruun and backing out of the tent. Kaelan, who flew everyone in on Anima T, returns and creates a distraction, trying to scoop them out of the camp. She nearly fails, but the highly reactive team leap aboard and she takes them out of the camp, shocking the slave skin off her.
Kaelan doubles back and picks up the distraction team, and they return to camp to lick wounds and rest before moving on, their next target the port city to the south, and hopefully a Light Stone nearby it.
Session 149: Full Speed Ahead!
Location: PAX
The good ship Hope approaches a port city, Innes, where they hope to catch up with the ship carrying El before it can reach the Church Capitol. Sia steers them in and slows the ship to normal speeds so they can take easy port. They dock smoothly and the Hope is boarded by an inspector. Sia handles him, talking him through their simple manifest and registering them under the name Hope, possibly the one and only time they will be able to use that name in ports. After the dockmaster leaves, they make a quick plan of action and Sia leads them out into the streets to scout out the situation and hopefully have Gemane sense out El.
Heading southwards, Kaelan's team, now the entire Wastes groups united, head for the port city. They glance back in the direction they've travelled in worry over the safety of McTreggor, who failed to return to them after the assault on the Empire's forces. As they discuss their travel is halted near the edge of the city, where they discover a deep cliff standing between them and the town itself. After some deliberation and planning, Kaelan decides to use Anima T and her ability to make it fly to bring the group down carefully in bits. She summons the Ore Monster and starts her work.
Arriving at the Church Docks, Sia's group pauses for a moment to take in the sight, unable to sense El, Gemane parts ways to scout the docks on her own. Due to Wyrd deciding to scold the group publicly for endangering the Angel by bringing her here, and saying her name out loud, the group is forced to carry on deeper into the town to shop lest anyone have heard them. They travel towards the shops and as they do, a little girl bumps into Sia, stealing her coinpurse. Sia leaps after her like an angry cat and Charles and Zane help her make chase. They catch the girl and Sia, instead of punishing her, gives her coins and sends her on her way. The apprehensive girl sneaks off into a hole.
As the others continue to shop, Sia rejoins them, buying food and things they need with the ship's supply money, and Aschae blurts out the term Angel in a conversation, while a man overhears her. Aschae follows the man as he tries to make his way to the guards and they disappear into an alleyway, where Aschae beats the man into submission with Lenneth keeping watch. She takes the man captive and returns towards the ship with him. As Jean and Sia make their way back to the Hope to drop off supplies, Zane breaks off with Gemane to help her scout, reducing the number of males in the group.
When this happens, sailors who spotted the attractive ladies come out to play, knocking out Charles and taking out Lucky. Sia pulls out her knives to ward them off, when Jean starts to go into a tantrum as she always does in the face of rapists. Wyrd tries to calm her down but to no avail. Just as things look bad, Lucky wakes and Anne takes over Jean, using magik subtly to blow several of the sailors into the water. Sia takes out more by hurling knives and Aschae begins to pound into the ones who try and run away as she arrives. The group safe, though bloodied, they return to the ship and lock the man away inside a converted cell. As they decide what to do next, a Church Battleship begins to dock, and Lenneth senses it has the Goddess Autumn aboard.
Session 150: The Angel Dances on the Head of a Pin
On the Hope, night falls and Gemane and Zane have not returned. As the group considers going in after them, a bloodied Gemane stumbles onto the deck, telling them they were caught in a trap, that the Church somehow knew they were there and Zane was killed in the escape. The group, unable to firm up a reason why the Church knows decides to move willingly into the trap. Sia's suggestions are taken into account and she leads a group through the water towards the ships, while Anne leads a group of her own to create a distraction.
Sia takes Charles, Gemane, and four Azuha warriors with her into the water, while Anne steps out with Aschae, Lenneth, and Seraphim. Lucky ordered to stay behind with Faile. Anne's group wastes little time with subtelty, taking a head first approach with the Church, they fight their way through Templars, rousing the whole docks. Sia leads her team through the water and into the Church docks, where she has to rescue Charles from his own armor after a bit.
As Aschae, Lenneth, Anne and Seraphim lay a path of destruction using all their abilities, anotehr commotion springs up north of the complex, as someone else launches an attack of their very own. Sia sneaks onto the ship with her group, and they make their way on board, Gemane senses something wrong with El, weakened and trapped.
Templars, Mages, and Archers join the battle with the four on the docks, and the group turns the docks on the templars, collapsing them under the charging forces, striking with magik at the ranged powers above. Sia's group gets on board and discovers 60 Templars laying in wait for them. Sia hesitates, trying to come up with a plan, but Gemane rushes in seeing her hesitation, and screams in pain. The warriors wait worriedly as Sia tries to think what to do, knowing a trap is laid for them.
Aschae's team learns that the attacker up north is a single Azuha, Lenneth then tells them that Ty ran off in a fury hearing that Zane was dead. Sia, wanting to attack from another angle, orders the warriors to retreat for a moment, instead, they rush in after their leader, screaming as well. Sia abandons her patience and unleases a Gale Storm in the center of the ship to scatter the Templars, as Charles drags her out of the hole and into the water to safety.
Seraphim appears to go down and Aschae redoubles her efforts to fight the enemies as an injured Anne and Lenneth make their way out of the dock waters. In the confusion, Aschae continues to fight and feels Anne get on the enemy ship on her own. Sia's attempts to use Anime and Albert come up unsuccessful so she heads back to the docks. She gets onto the wood and tries to come up with yet another plan, when the sight of the child from before looting and covered in gold coins takes her aback.
The child reveals she learned about the Angel's presence when Aschae uttered her name and attacked a man the previous day. She followed the group and learned of who they were and reported it to the Church. Sia lies about being involved with the Angel in order to send the girl on her way and out of harms way, then begins to move back to the battle when she's clear. Aschae as well begins to head for the Angel, leaving Lenneth behind to get Ty. As they both shift onto the docks to head for the ship, they feel a terrible pain in their eyes, feel the Angel die, and pass out.
Meanwhile, Rachael's group approaches the port city, which seems relatively simple and unimposing. As they near it, Valen suggests they hide in the wastes and wait. Everyone finding this off, Valen turns about and asks to see Nephilim and Rachael in private. He takes them aside as the others discuss his odd behavior, Kaelan remarking that at one point, Valen was godtouched and worked for the Church.
As she speaks, Amazo decends on the port city, filled with Wrath. The group is quick to notice the obtrusive god. Valen declares he wants to protect his girls, and tries to inject Rachael with a sleeping needle. Nephilim stops him in time and pushes hi away. Parita, having snuck along to eavesdrop, reports back to the others about Valen. Leruste, Seth and Ruun speed off to help as Kaelan orders everyone else to head to the town in the cart.
Tal'ka refuses to obey and rushes off to his death like a dumb wolf. Lilica moves to follow but Mercy knocks her out with a frying pan to keep her from also dying a nasty death. Seth and Leruste arrive at Valen, and Leruste swings Valen dodging and going for E. Seth attempts to disarm him with an arrow, and while he fails, it lets Leruste actually dismember his arm. Nephilim steals E and Valen is taken down by Leruste.
Kaelan orders them to a smaller vessel, the Empire occupied with fighting off Amazo, confirming for the group the truth about the Empire, they oppose the gods. Rachael races towards Amazo, seeking revenge, as Leruste and Seth charge after her to tackle her down and put her under until they can get her to safety. Leruste carries Rachael, and Seth carries Parita as they race to the others. All feel the Angel die momentarily in the mark.
And then they feel her return to life, Valen suddenly ages into an old man and Nephilim slits his throat, killing him. Nephilim and Ruun race after the others for the boats. At the boats, the group is saved from a prolonged battle when a blast of light knocks the knights guarding the ship away, McTreggor riding in. Kaelan leaps onto the deck to handle the rest, outnumbered, she's joined by her friends quickly. Tanan takes one as McTreggor and Thomas take the others. Truth becomes a sword and allows Kaelan to use her, and the battle quickly turns in their favor.
As everyone leaps aboard, Rose dragged in her grief as she realizes Tal will be left behind, though unaware as they others sense that he is already dead. The boat move out into the water after everyone gets aboard. Coming out from the boat is a giant man, the guard captain. Together the team uses their combined might to force the captain overboard, after discovering that he is a demon.
Stardate: 10-592.3.08
Xanatos steps up to the teleporters to greet Ariel, the new Ambassador for the Guardians. As they greet and begin to step away, a second teleporter brings in a bomb. Seeing it just in time, Xanatos grabs Ariel and shields her as it goes off. In the smoke, emergency groups response, security moving in with Leyaeh at their lead, Carter rushing to go to help, Jennifer following. Isis moves in to secure the teleporters, no one noticing that in place of Xanatos is now a pile of acid drenched remains.
As Ariel gains enough sense to look about and notice him remains, Isis notices and begins to scream. A teleporter begins to fall forward for her when Carter leaps and pushes her out of the way, the teleporter hits him, crushing in his skull. Jennifer stares in horror a moment before regaining her wits and ordering the injured to medical, setting Ethan to use his powers as needed. The family and crew, souls ripped from the terrible confusing few moments, begin to treat wounds that will only physically heal.
Date: 2389.9.06
Back in on the Church docks, Sia and Aschae awaken to feel the Angel in danger. They race back to the boat and follow a trail of blood and death to a room inside the ship, where Anne warns them not to step in, as Autumn has laid life training strings about them as a trap. Sia and Aschae try to talk Autumn down, but in the end they have to agree to exchange Anne for El. As they exchange is made, Autumn turns to talk to Anne and Sia tries to sneak up. Autumn turns back to scold Sia and scare her off, giving Wyrd just enough time to use her special abilities on Autmn, attacking her face. Anne is tied up and held at bay as they group begins to back away, an enraged Autumn coming after them.
Lucky and Faile fight off Templars who board the ship, thanks to an 11th hour change of wind in their favor and Lucky's ingenuity. They recover and begin to move the Hope out to sea, heading for Church docks.
Sia and Aschae back away and Sia tries to use Wyrd against Autumn. Wyrd refuses to cooperate, but Sia uses the ploy to get Wyrd dropped and rolled around Autumn, allowing the Demon BLade to free Anne. Surrounded on both sides, Autumn engages in battle with them. Aschae leads one side, Anne the other with a functional Wyrd. As they fight, Charles and Sia get the fallen Gemane and El to the boats, noticing Lenneth battling on her own to get Ty. Unable to come up with a plan, they leave her to her own devices as Autumn rises into the air, creating a water shield.
The Hope having arrived, Sia boards with Charles and they begin to get the boat ready to leave after healing the wounded. Aschae and Anne battle Autumn, Sia joining in, and then Lucky with a cannon. The battle turns in their favor a moment as they work together, and Lenneth boards the ship, allowing Sia to rush them away into the water and escape from Autumn.
Away and safe, Sia heals more wounds and calls for a ceremony in the morning to send off the three, soon corrected to seven fallen. Aschae, refusing to let Autumns taunts about having Ty go unanswered, returns by small boat with Lenneth to retrieve Ty. They succeed, Aschae using a brilliant munipulation of Autumns special abilities, binding her to Aschae as a slave. They return with a prisoner and Ty.
Stardate: 10-592.3.08
Erevis and Ariel make recoveries under the care of Jennifer and Ethan. The family gathers, greiving, the children learning of what's happened. As the Cridhes join in trying to help the Zhenmei family with their loss, Jennifer takes over medical, the new Head in the wake of Carter being declared dead. Sitting in medical, Ethan and Tamara talk, Tamara numbed by losing the man she had started to think of as her Grandfather. Tamara mentions an old question, of how long an angel can balance on the head of a pin. How eventually, everything must fall, and even Angels cannot stay on top forever.
Session 151: Unstable Emotions
The crew of the PAX says goodbye to Xanatos Durran, Leyaeh delivers a speech and Xanatos' shuttle is launched out to a nearby sun to claim his body, the shuttle crashing into a meteor as it exists the ship. He died as he lived. The crew somberly goes about their days, some heading home to mourn, the children devastated.
Date: 2389.9.08
Back on the hope, Autumn howls with indignation as Aschae trains her to be better behaved. Sia updated Jean as she awakens, Jean steps out to find Aschae's unorthodox training methods, disapproving of her tactics, but allowing her trusted to do as she wishes. Aschae lets her down and Autumn is led off, spouting claims of how evil and savage they are, Sia speaking her mind that Autumn, after what she's done, has no right to speak so.
On Zeal's boat, Rachael curls into an antisocial shell as her mourns the death of her brother. Kaelan seems to take charge as grief councilor, while Leruste tries to help Rachael, she befriends Haru and works on breaking Rose and Lilica out of their sadnesses. The group debates over what they will do when they arrive at the Empire. Seth believes they might be potential allies, while Kaelan considers this, Thomas voices his concern that things may not be so simple, despite the Empire being anti-Gods. Kaelan seems near breaking, in contrast to the sad and depressed. As she considers the possibilities of everything that has been revealed over the last few months since the Angel fell to Tareh.
Date: 2389.9.09
A day later, a storm begins to gather when the crew of the Hope realizes they are being followed. Sia creates a fog to hide them, and speeds them on their way. As the others gather below, Autumn offers to restore Ty to her full health. At great risk, they allow it, Aschae temporarily removing her tether on Autumn. Up above, Lucky spots birds in the story skies, tracking them. Sia rushes up and orders him to take them out. Lucky displays amazing archery, killing the birds before they can get away to report. Down below, Autumn proves true to her word, healing Ty, then getting tethered once more. After confirming they have lost those following them, the group stops at a small island, getting ready to refill their stock of food.
On the other ship, things seem to cheer up a little, Leruste having brought Rachael a bit out of her darkness, and with her cheer, the others seem to light up. Kaelan has formed some form of relationship with Lilica, she looking better then before, and Rose seems to cling to the woman too, a bond growing stronger since they learned the truth of what happened at the Sinai Fort in Kaelan's past. They approach an island, which seems to carry with it the prospect of correcting their new problem: food supply.
Late at night, the ship makes an unscheduled stop. Leyaeh leaves her desk on graveyard shift to investigate th bridge and finds Erevis at a console, directing the PAX's extensive weapons on a planet. Leyaeh tries to talk her down, keeping her occupied as she gets ready to take out her own leader if needed, making one simple point, PAX needs its neutrality, and this act of war could destroy the PAX as readily as any bomb. Finally, Megumi contacts her and calms her down, she stands down, passing on leadership of the PAX to Ao.
Session 152: Unstable Life
Lucky, Sia and Charles disembark to go hunting, Sia wanting to get Kaji something fresh to eat. When Kaji devours an entire deertard like a pirranna on a cow, Charles makes note that feeding the baby dragon is going to become an issue. Sia clings loyally to her 'baby' and says she'll figure something out. As they continue hunting, they are attacked by a powerful Sabertoothed Tigroar. The three take it out with little injury, and begin to take it back for use as food.
Seth, Thomas, Zeal, Rachael, Truth, and Tanan disembark to go hunting on their island as well. What they find is a barren land, eventually running into an easily killed beast. The group sets it aside to bring back later and moves on. As they continue, they discover a swamp, and a strange metal crash site, a dead man's remains splashed about, looking like it hit something. Deciding they are better off not knowing, the group continues on, beginning to note a lack of wildlife, that is, until the squirrel attacks. As the group quickly takes out the savage little beast, they find an even worse enemy, the Grass strikes!
Learning that it hates fire, the group is able to beat it back a little. Just as they seem to get an upper hand, the ground below them collapses and they fall into a cave. Here they find a supply of ancient equipment, including a food making machine and, to everyone's joy, a Light Stone. THe group sends out for Kaelan, Rachael contacting Nephilim to get her, just as the Grass strikes again. As the group battles it below, Kaelan lands above them in Anima T and uses a giant flaming sword to get it to go away, busting through the ground, Kaelan moves to save them, a metal monster attacking the group as it's weak.
Kaelan considers pursuit, but abandons chasing the monster as the team is still in danger, she takes them, the equipment, and the stone back to the ship.
Back on the Hope, the group is surprised when Lilica comes through the Light Stone, bringing them up to date on things. Jean heads through the stone to see the rest of the group. There she raises Kaelan's mark and brings some of the new team members back with her, Truth, Tanan, and Seth bringing Parita and Todd with him, depart from the Empire vessel to join the Hope.
Session 153: Fragmented Memories Part I - Confusion
Kaelan, Zeal, Leruste, Rose and Carly awaken in the food storage room of the ship, a crystal barrier reinforcing the door, they seem fine, if left with major headaches. Unable to remember anything that had happened, the group tries to reason out the situation. Eventually, Kaelan and Leruste use the vents to sneak out of the room, once out, they run into two poorly armored, yet still powerful Imperial Guards. Kaelan, not having expected such a thing, is taken out with a ston blast, Leruste hides for a bit, then tries to attack, when he sees that he cannot win the fight, he rushes to the door holding the others, trying to open it rather then run, he too is taken out. The guards hold the two hostage, forcing Zeal to give in and submit to them as well.
Sia, Aschae, Lucky, Truth, and Gemane awaken in beds in a Church infirmary. The group of them disguised, they find they are not prisoners, but being treated as victims, having been found out in the desert. No one in the group remembers a thing since their last evening on the Hope, and as they try to figure it out, they learn they must stall the Churchgoers from burning the body of Seraphim, who is playing dead like a good vampire. Merran, a priestess helps them and settles them down for the evening, Merran gives Sia back her dragon, who she was hiding from the other priests, thinking it just a strange pet.
Back on the other ship, Kaelan and Leruste get Rose to shatter their bonds, and on Carly's advice, they mime still being bound, waiting to be brought back to their attacker's base. Gathering that they are not true imperials, but rather well armed slavers, they ready themselves for a fight.
Stardate: ????
Megumi, Jennifer, Ethan, and Athena awaken on a strange Cartel world, disgused as if on a mission. Nearby they find the remains of a red haired person, whom Megumi manages to discover only that it is not biologically Erevis. As they try to orient themselves, Jennifer takes charge and leads them in the direction of a nearby city, as they cannot remember a thing that happened, they need answers.
Cheryl awakens in the middle of a lush jungle, along with Chii, Hale, Tabetha, Angelos and a blonde haired Erevis. Without being able to remember how or why they go there, Angelos reasons Erevis' disguise coiincides with the plans they had for a trip to the Lunar Colony. Following that reasoning, they decide that they are there. Chii determines that they have been out of it for a whole week by asking her espers. Cheryl begins to lead them around, determined to find answers.
Date: 2389.9.13 ...?
The group in the monastery talks and tries to reason things out, when Merran says they will be escorted to the seaport in the morning, then begs forgiveness for having to leave them early, needing to attend a ceremony. When Sia feeds Kaji some meat, she falls asleep, and the group realizes their food was drugged. Aschae heads out to check on the girl and poses as a priestess, while the rest of the group scouts the area and finds that the ceremony is in the basement, and an orgy is beginning. It seems the priests in the monastery follow Manus Dei in secret, and they have Autumn captive, in a collar.
Session 154: Fragmented Memories Part II - Sacrifices
Jennifer's group continues on towards the city, trying to reason out their situation when a speeder rushes towards them, with four armed men aiming weapons at them. Megumi uses her Dragoon Shotgun to cause the vehicle to crash, Jennifer and Athena leaping into the car and beating down the four attackers together. Jennifer pulls the car around and picks up two hot chicks and a chicken, then drives them off towards the city.
Date: 2389.9.18 ...?
Sia, Truth, Lucky and Gemane make their way into the Head Priest's office, Sia uses her body to distract the sexually frustrated guards. After Gemane disables them, they head in and reclaim their gear, and find further evidence of Manus Dei. Gaining what they need, they move back down and send Seraphim into the den of lions, disguised as Merran, to lower the guard of the priests. Sneaking behind them, they come out to see the orgy well under way, when they step in, the fight begins. Attacking the priests with spells, by proxy injuring the women, the party overpowers the priests, accidentally hitting the bell which summons Manus Dei. Truth releases Autumn form her collar, deciding that she is an ally. Manus Dei seems pleased at their slaughter and does not attack, instead she lets them live to see what other mayhem, to her: art, they will cause.
Autumn is surprised to find they remember nothing, but as Truth has decided her imprisonment means they are on the same side, Autumn doesn't push the point. Aschae neglects to tie up Autumns power again and sends her off, free. After the group deliberates on what to do, Aschae and Gemane set out into the desert in the hopes of catching up to Anne, while Sia takes the conservative route, taking the rest of the group back to the port city to save those who may have been captured in what they learn was an 'attack that devatasted the city'.
Kaelan's group arrives at the island where the Imperials are supposedly holding their group. Once the guards, distracted by a fire occuring on the island rush off, Kaelan and Leruste spring to action, between Zeal's Templar Lightning and Kaelan's Ice Blade, the guard falls, they reclaim their equipment and go onto land, heading for the fire. Stepping into the burning base, they meet up with Thomas, who informs them that the others are taken. The only other group member they find is Euki, who does not share with them what happened. Heading back to the boat with the intent to follow slavers who already left with their group, the team fights a group of imperials, Kaelan grabbed by the neck by the last survivor, Leruste pulls at her with a Wind Retrieval, breaking her neck. Zeal heals her enough to move and the group boards their ship, sailing away.
Stardate: 10-592.3.17 ...?
Cheryl's group scouts around, finding a shuttle in a clearing. As they near it, they realize it's rigged and all barely dodge the horrific explosion. The trap sprung, soldiers drop down intent on taking them out. Cheryl leads the group to run and they take off into the trees, they find a cavern and duck in, Angelos' hand blasts taking the entrance down and caving them in.
Date: 2389.9.18 ...?
Out in the desert, the Angel travels with Wyrd, Tanan, Seth and Lenneth, the group headed in the direction of the gem. Anne seems completely out of it, looking weak and ill, and still this close to her, no one is able to tap their marks to her, completely blocked out. Seth and Tanan tame a Sand Lizard and the group boards, racing towards the island capital.
Session 155: Fragmented Memories Part III - Visions
After resting and trekking through the cave, Cheryl's team comes out the other end in a fruit filled clearing. Here they rest and contemplate, Erevis sitting down to teach Tabetha some new telekenetic tricks while Cheryl worries over her used up Reality Powers, wondering what she did. They divide watches and rest.
Date: 2389.9.19 ...?
Approaching the Empire, Kaelan lays out a plan to have the girls dress in the slave outfits they acquired and the men in the armor, playing the roles of slaves and slavers respectively. While this plan doesn't seem the best, it's the only they can come up with so everyone agrees, mostly. Kaelan and Rose put on their symbiotes to find they give them intense stamina and energy, and extreme sensitivity, their primary purpose more then a little evident. The men find their armor gives them intense strength and major arousal, causing Leruste to complain. After Rose and Kaelan force a symbiote on Zeal and Euki, they all work to get used to their new clothes as the boat travels on.
Out in the Desert, Seth asks Anne what's wrong, but she responds vaguely, still out of it and getting progressively worse. Lenneth worries that her broken mark may be killing her, and the group discusses how they will get at the gem. Seth makes it plain that if it's under the city, as many ruins are in this part of the world, that getting it will be a large task, especially with people like Sia, who can read ancient, missing from their numbers. They travel onward, heading to the city.
As Sia's group travels in a cart Sia drives towards the port down, Autumn creates mischief by informing Merran that the people she travels with are the Angel's followers. Merran seems to nearly go insane until Sia counters by revealing that Autumn is the goddess Autumn. This calms Merran, however she reguards the rest as traitors and heretics now, seeing them not as saviors, but kidnappers. Autumn offers to help them remember what happened, and uses Sia's mark, combined with her magic to unlock the memory based portions of the bond. She begins to weave her magic into Sia Mason.
Stardate: 10-592.3.18 ...?
Jennifer's group nears the city and Athena declares she has an idea on how to remember what occured. However, before they can attempt to link minds to find out information, mainly due to Megumi spacing out, they run out of time as a shuttle overhead searches for them. Jennifer drives them into the city and into a tunnel to escape it. Getting them out of the car, she leads the group into an emergency exit and into back hallways. Following the route to a maintenance room, they take out a guard and lock themselves in, there they begin to comb computers to figure out what happened.
Morning comes in the jungle, and Cheryl has morning sickness. While the group chides her and jokes about possible pregnancy, Tabetha seems to think it may really be the case. Cheryl denies it due to Chii not wanting another, and Chii merely points out that that's no reason she can't be carrying. The group ventures into the tree cover to find a group of shuttles and only a single guard. Tabetha and Angelos take him out, and they discover it to be an EarthGov soldier. They board and take off, Cheryl revealing what she can find, they were all branded traitor, by Kane, who wants them arrested and Cheryl taken.
Date: 2389.9.19 ...?
Sia attempts to remember, focusing, she learns several things. She sees her twin sister defending her from Templars, who call them murderers. She also sees Anne, destroying a building full of innocent people, this shocks her to the core. When Templars begin to head after Sia's group, Merran nearly betrays their location, and Truth knocks her out to keep her from causing trouble. Sia takes the cart into the sands, using Wind Magic to cover their tracks, however, they are still followed. They head deeper into the sands, and the cart is eventually tipped over into a pit, they climb out and head into the night, away from the Templars.
Back in the Desert, Seth lets out a sigh as they determine the gem is indeed inside the city. They make camp, deciding that sneaking in at night will only lead to more problems. As they rest, Anne seems comtemplative and weak, as does Lenneth. Seth laments his worries over his 'kids', having no idea where they are now.
Back on the other boat, the girls adjust to their new gear, and they meet thier new enemy, gentle rain on their skin. Kaelan drags Rose off to teach her something, Zeal finds she has no control over people. Carly looks on in dark pleasure.
Stardate: 10-592.3.18 ...?
In the maintenance room, Jennifer's group discovers they are on the Cartel world which sent the bomb which killed Xanatos and Carter. Athena sits down with Jennifer and Megumi and begins to use their bonds to look into memories. They see horrific scenes. Tamara laying in a pool of blood. Another attack. Isis in the reactor core when it goes critical, they all knowing she will die. THey see a casket, another funeral. The Cartel attempting to overthrow the PAX. Erevis declaring that they will not stand idly by. As the visions end, Athena passes out. Jennifer lays in tears, hoping her daugther is still alive, they all feeling the sorrow of loss, somehow knowing Isis couldn't have made it alive. It's then that the Cartel begins knocking on their door.
Session 156: Fragmented Memories Part IV - Entering and Escaping
Cheryl flies them to the mainland, bringing them in under the enemy's nose, even if that enemy is EarthGov. As they approach, a comm signal comes in, and Angelos plays the part of a solider, talking, they discover that Kane indeed wants Cheryl for her Reality Powers, with the President and their long time friend having turned on them, they decide to gather intel and find out what happened on Earth.
Jennifer leads her group to another door, planning to let them take their time with the locked door. Megumi however, opens the door, taking out some of her rage by devasting the security officers on the other side with shotgun blasts. After they are down, she locks the door again and the three make their way out, Jennifer carrying Athena in her arms.
Date: 2389.9.19 ...?
Kaelan's team arrives in the Empire, they are allowed to dock and a patrol boards, looking over the 'merchandise' with interest. Thomas plays an alpha male and pushes them off when Zeal and Euki fail to act obedient, acting bold. His display seems to work as the guards let them go, they head out together into the city, following a trail of slaves to the slave stocks, there they run into Ruun, who seems to have taken over as the slaver leader. She brings them to an inn room and the team is reunited, only McTreggor missing from the ranks.
Rachael uses their bonds through the Marks, and Kaelan, Zeal and Rachael enter a trance to remember what happened. They see the attack, McTreggor falling into the ocean with a group of demons, the others being captured, bringing them up to date when Rose sealed them away in the room They also see a flash of Anne destroying a building of innocent people. The horror jerks them all back, and they realize it was that point that their memories blanked out. Kaelan fervently denies it could have been Jean or Anne willingly acting, insisting she was controlled, the action so against either woman's nature. Most seem to agree.
Sia's group trudges through the darkened sands, and they run across a speeding swordswoman. She pauses and greets Autumn, and declares she is after the Angel after trying to attack Autumn. Realizing she cannot take a goddess on, the woman travels in the direction Autumn points to head after Anne. Sia urges them to let her go, and they comply, after which, Sia sends Aschae a direct warning about the woman coming her way, and tries to send Anne the same without any success, as though Anne was missing from the marks entirely. Autumn hints that the woman was a Weapon, which Sia agrees with and reveals that was the reason she held them from fighting, they had an important mission to finish. Sia looks at Autumn, and addresses her as a goddess properly, thanking her for not turning against them so far, this respect and change in Sia draws Autumn's attention, they continue on.
Gemane summons a Sand Lizard while Aschae recieves the message, intrgued. They both agree to speed on towards Anne.
Sia's group arrives at the port down, and after getting past the guards, due to being with Merran, and Truth keeping Merran quiet, they get inside. There they learn that people who were captured in the attack are soon to be executed for their crimes. Sia, deciding they can find the boat while they make their escape, decides to head to the church to see about the execution and with luck, save those still unaccounted for. It is now she reveals that all this time, she has been keeping her trump card quiet, she has Anima D.
Stardate: 10-592.3.18 ...?
Angelos returns with his litlte scouting group, bringing changes of clothes for everyone. As they dress up, Cheryl orders them to check in at a comms terminal and contact the base, where hopefully, Peter might have some answers for them, if her team is still there and not in custody. Meanwhile, Jennifer's group emerges from the underground and Athena awakens, she declares what they have all hoped to hear. She remembers everything.
Session 157: Fragmented Memories Part V - Truths, Lies, and Misdirections
Athena recalls for Jennifer, Meg, and Ethan why they are there, that they came for a rare flower that would cure something, and that once they found it they needed to activate a transmitter in Meg's butt to get the PAX to pick them up. Searching themselves, Ethan finds the flower and uses his healing ability to restore it from wilting, Athena then presses the transmitter, Jennifer picks her up and gets them moving to avoid being found by the Cartel, and Athena begins to tell the story.
Cheryl's team enters a cafe and sits while Tabetha begins to hack the EarthGov database. After getting inside, what they find is highly disturbing. The Mansion is protected by a force field while EarthGov keeps attempting to storm it. Cheryl refused to let Kane use the teleporter to launch an invasion on PAX. Kane, seemingly having gone insane, has declared them all traitors for this act, and wants Cheryl for her reality powers. Motivations, Angelos notes, that hints that Hermes may have done something to him in his captivity, as Cheryl's reality powers were part of his and his brother's goals. Worryingly as well, Kane has spilled the beans on Erevis and the Progenitors destroying the Hyperspace lanes, something Kane could not have known unless there was a traitor in the team. Tabetha and Angelos begin to work together to forge information that will discredit Kane and put him under accusation, they have four hours to prepare.
Date: 2389.9.19 ...?
Heading through the city towards the execution grounds, Sia's group finds Celerity getting supplies. Todd, yelling at them as if they were monsters, runs away in fear and Celerity tells them about how they attacked the city. Digesting this, the group doesn't notice as Autumn makes her exit from the group, after seeing she's long gone, and at Seraphim's urgings, the group rushes onto the execution. There they find themselves blocked out of the event form the crowd. Sia seperates and forms D to cause a distraction, Truth pushes Merran towards the crowd so she can get lost, however, D's appearance makes the crowd into a fleeing mob, and Merran is trampled before they can do anything. Truth impassively blows out the wall to the execution grounds, as as they step in, they find a scene of mounting chaos.
Parita and L appear and attempt to take the prisoners away to a nearby rooftop as two God Generals attack, focusing on Truth and D. A red haired swordswoman and a man in a Black Mask attack the two. While Sia tries to keep the Black Mask busy, and Truth dodges the attacks of the Red Haired general, a light strikes the rooftop Parita and L have taken the others too and the group is scattered. Sia rushes over by teleporting and catches most of those falling, when a small portal appears, she pushes them through, Truth rushing to the scene, she and Lucky fight off the Red Hair as they apprpach. When they get there, the portal by Sia threatens to close and Red Hair grabs up Merran, whom Truth tried to heal in the battle and thought dead. Red Hair threatens the girl's life if they don't surrender, Truth, feeling it is a bluff, urges them to ignore her.
They do, Sia leaping through a portal with D's gauntlet, the Red Hair executes Merran, who turns out to have been alive, with only mere moments left, Truth takes up Charles, and leaps through with Lucky, they leave Faile and Seraphim behind. During all of this, Manus Dei has projected the battle out into the sky, and at least the entire island has now seen their faces, and the battle was portrayed in a way to make the group look like monsters. They come out in a secret cove, where the Hope waits. Sia, Truth and Lucky help get the wounded aboard and Sia takes the Hope out to sea, leaving the port city behind as tears begin to form. They realize their mistakes but know now they will simply have to deal with the consequences. Manus Dei's artwork grows.
Meanwhile in the Empire, they apparently do not see this scene in the sky, instead, Ruun returns with the results of her scouting, having found the Gem is being kept in the upper city, the place they are in it turns out is the equivalent of a slums. Deciding they will need to sneak in to accomplish their mission, Ruun, Rachael, Nephilim, Leruste and Kaelan set out to try and steal the gem, Kaelan brought along for added muscle in case something goes wrong. They begin to ascend up to the upper city, Ruun seeming distracted.
In Bulte; Lenneth, Seth and Tanan think of what to do and agree to use Lenneth's goddess status, as of yet unspoiled by the other gods to get into the ruins. Seth disguises himself and the three enter the digger guild, beginning to research the ruins they will need to search for the Gem and Anne alike. After hours of research, they pick out the two most likely only to find that two gods are already in those, searching as well, Autumn and Manus Dei. An earthquake erupts and they find that Anne has bored a hole into the ground to go for the gem. The three decend after her. As they move down, Seth notices that among the Templars with Manus Dei is none other then his sister, Sally Vimes.
Back on the Hope, Sia rallys a group to try and use the Light Stone to find an escape route for the others. She takes a half hour to prepare.
Session 158: Fragmented Memories Part VI - A Ruined Flashback
It is another day on the PAX, Tamara is working in the medical bay with Jennifer and Ethan, Robb in Engineering with Isis. Ao is in conference with the Ambassadors, discussing how to handle priorty on PAX transport when the entire ship shakes. An attack from the Cartel Colony sends the ship's systems into critical. Tamara, having been finishing her final injection for Aya, accidentally injects herself, the dose meant to cure Aya is a perfect poison for anyone else. As Jennifer and Ethan rush to get control, the ship's reactor goes critical. Power veins burst in the ship, one in Medical happens to explode, injuring many, and sending a shard of shrapnel straight into Tamara's heart, blood pooling. As Robb and Isis try to deal with the mess, Isis discovers that someone has to go into the core to shut it down to prevent overload.
She announces she's going in, everyone knowing over the comms that it's a death sentance. At the last possible moment, the core suddenly calms. Jennifer gets Tamara into stasis to keep her alive for the present, while Isis is seen, quite alive. As Ethan heads down to treat the injured in Engineering, others rush down to check on Isis, and she explains that Drasek used his own energy to stablize the core, his actiosn sacrificing his own body and life, saving the PAX. A short while later, the team meets on the bridge and they determine the attack came from the same Cartel colony that bombed the ship earlier, killing Xanatos and Carter. They launch a mission to go to the surface to investigate, Jennifer taking the lead in going down, along with Athena, Megumi and Ethan, as they need to find a special plant down there which can cure the poison in Tamara.
Stardate: 10-592.3.15
Athena finishes telling the story of what happened and the group considers the events, glad to have found the flower, sad for the loss of Drasek. As they continue on, a series of beams begin to fire at them, and just as things seem hopeless, a subspace portal opens, one of Megumi's design. Megumi, deciding this could be dangerous, fires her shotgun into the portal before leaping through, the others follow suit. Back on board the PAX, where they appear, they find Erevis hit by the shotgun blast, slumping over.
Date: 2389.9.19
In the Empire, Ruun's group enters the vast, advanced city of the Imperials, walking along, they find a strange sight in the monument of stone and metal, a temple surrounded by green, a strange spot in the middle of the city. The group, getting a good feeling about this place, heads to the temple, there they meet a dark woman who fufus and claims to be evil. They sit to tea with her, and she explains that the gem they seek is guarded in the very heart of the Emporer's chambers, surrounded by Generals, and the odds do not look good.
Resolving that they must try or die, Kaelan advises they get the others ready for a safe exit and Leruste is sent back to get them all on the boat and ready to run, or use the Light Stone at a moment's notice. That being done, they rest for a bit and ready to sneak into the heart of the Empire itself. Nephilim tries to get laid.
Sia's group appears in a dark cavern, pinging the gem, Sia feels it not too far off, and when Charles activates a glowstone, they search about the cavern. They discover an emergency exit and after Sia fumbles a little, she solves the puzzle which leads onwards, they head deeper into the unknown.
Lenneth leads her duo of Seth and Tanan deeper into the caves, and they meet up with Aschae and Gemane, who have followed everyone deep down into the ruins. Time for talk is interrupted however, when Sia's group solves a floor puzzle and the next door in their path opens to show the group together. Surprised at this sudden swelling of the ranks, they find they have even less time to sink in everything that has occured when Templars spot them. Recognizing Sia and Truth from the vision in the sky, they attack. The Templars are taken down, Sia and Truth having to flee away from an explosion at the end, seperating the group again.
Stardate: 10-592.3.15
Jennifer treats Erevis, and Megumi laments that the children must have died due to her stupidity. Jennifer however, tells Megumi that Erevis suffered a miscarriage while they were gone. Tamara is treated and woken up, and warmth spreads momentarily as families are reunited. Ao and Leyaeh discuss the issue at hand, that Earth and the Cartel plan to invade the ship, and agree that someone needs to bring it up to the other Ambassasdors, they try to plan a method of attack, and Leyaeh decides they should run the gambit, asking Kyun for aid. They go off together to discuss matters with him.
Date: 2389.9.19
Seth, Tanan, Aschae, Lenneth and Gemane run into a spot of trouble as they run into Sally Vimes. For some reason, Seth's transformation reverts to his old form when he sees his sister and she moves to attack him, blaming him for everything that's gone wrong. Seth tries to talk her down, and Parita rushes to intervene, calling Seth her family and begging Sally not to attack, Sally however, has already swung and Parita is sliced open with a terrible wound from a magical blade. Seth forms his own sword of Ice, trying to talk her down as she transforms into a metal monster in her rage.
As Seth tries to dodge attacks with Parita in his arms, the others finally step in to aid him, Gemane stopping Parita's wouns from draining to the sword and Tanan halting her death with Spirit Healing, while attacking Sally. Truth and Sia show up and Truth begins to attack Sally with Holy Energy, the two entering into combat as Sia rushes over to heal Parita. Sally launches an attack at Truth, and all hell begins to break loose.
Back on the Hope, Lucky steps out from his moping below decks to get some sun, only to be roughly grabbed, the shit smacked out of him. His old Master stands over him, grinning in joy at the prospect of finding lost property, holding Lit to him, a dagger to her throat. Lord Kalo, face mashed in, metal stuck to his head, stands there too, Manus Dei having promised them the Hope and the chance to find their lost servants. A group of Templars with them.
Session 159: Fragmented Memories Part VII - A Work of Art
Cheryl's team makes it's way to the presidential building on Luna Colony, where Kane intends to give his speech. Resolving that what they need to do is rip the truth out of Kane, plans to smear campaign him are flattened. Cheryl appears to grow queasy again and Angelos insists it's either pregnancy or the aftereffects of her using her reality powers. Tabetha, giving Cheryl no time to protest, scans her for pregnancy and discovers she is indeed pregnant, though the mix is odd, human, dragoon, and kitsune apparent within her. Happily absolved of accusation, Angelos suggests Chii's been misbehaving.
They land and Erevis takes out the guards at the door, slipping in, the team makes their way through the hallways and elevators, then uses the elevator comms to alert the Mansion of their actions and request help. Coming out on Kane's floor, Tabetha follows Erevis' example and uses telekenetics to take out the guards. The group reaches a door and Hale goes in to investigate. The door slams and then reopens, and the others follow, worried for Hale, to discover him unconcious, on Kane's desk, a gun to his head. Kane invites them in for a chat.
On the PAX, Leyaeh and Ao discuss the issue with Kyun, who agrees to call a council meeting, aiding the PAX. Leyaeh, surprised with how helpful she is, thanks him.
Date: 2389.9.19
Sally slams Truth across the hallway, and the group works together to try and seperate the mad woman from the cursed sword. The manage to slam it away, and Seth tries once more to talk his big sister down from her rage. However, she has become corrupted and is beyond the reach of a sibling. She lunges for her sword and summons a black hole, which begins to suck the group in. After much fighting, the group resists the pull and seperates her again, and Lenneth buries Sally in stone to hold her off, insisting they move on. They rush onwards, heading for Manus Dei.
In the Empire, Leruste rejoins his friends and they embark to the capital building. Here they see the impossibility of their task, the palace is surrounded with metal walls and energy barriers, guards all over. The girl, whom currently is known only as Evil, offers to get them in for an unknown cost. After quick deliberation, they agree and are shadowported onto the roof. Here they ready to go inside, Leruste picks the lock on the door.
The party in Bulte arrives in the ruins where Manus Dei waits. A voice in ancient, a large blonde face projected out asks for something, which Sia later says was a request that sounded like, "Bring the gems together." Manus Dei cuts the message short by destroying the console, then peers them over, laughing as she holds up the gem they worked so hard for. Jean stands nearby, little more then a puppet, the other gems floating about her. Manus Dei announces that the only way to free Jean from her power, is to kill her.
Teleporting away, informing them that she's taking the gem to the Arch Bishop in the Island Nations, she leaves them to their fight. Jean locks out elements as she uses them against her, Sia quickly naming the opposing elements to attack and defend with. They resolve they must kill Jean and revive her in order to win, and after dangerous exchanges, where Aschae is shocked twice by lightning, Truth is slammed, Sia is punched, and Tanan is hit with lightning as well, the group finally overcomes Jean. Sia reveals her new ability to use vines like Lenneth, and the two hold her as Aschae shocks Jean with Lightning, stopping her heart.
Sia moves over, beginning to cast a Ressurection when Lenneth stops her, shocked that Sia has learned such forbidden magick. Aschae finds an alternate solution, giving Parita the Lightning Gem, as when Jean died, the others lost their access to element magick and their marks. Parita, with Sia's guidance, is able to shock Jean's body back to life, and all feel the mark restored. The gems returned to Jean, she remains unconcious as the group rallies and decides to return to the Hope before moving on for the Archbishop.
Back in the Empire, the Marked feel terrible pain at the death of Jean, then relief as she comes back to life. They see visions, of Sia, Aschae, and Truth killing Jean, then Parita reviving her. Why the unclear message was sent is unknown, perhaps Manus Dei's games, perhaps a spark of Anne or Jean's shock at the actions of her followers. The party on the roof is just as confused, but deciding that it must make sense somehow, they decide to drop the matter, Kaelan reminds them that with the marks, they are more powerful, they may have a chance stealing Darkness from the Empire.
Stardate: 10-592.3.15
Cheryl's group faces Kane, questioning his sanity, and just when he reveals that he thinks he's working for the good of Earth, a shuttle lands outside, and Cheryl's voice, or Lemon's, cries out from the outside, declaring Kane an evil clone. Kane hearing this, races for a teleporter, but the efforts of Chii and Angelos take him down. Angelos moves to bind him and Kane activates a cyanide pill, killing himself. Detoxing him fails and Cole, seeing Kane die, runs for it. Angelos reveals that Cole was the traitor that informed Kane on Erevis' activities.
John, getting the tipoff from Tabetha about Cole, trips him as he runs by and he crashes into a fountain, exploding. Eluere doctors the security feeds over Kane's death to prevent the truth of the Hyperspace destruction from getting out, and everyone returns home, moving out to get Darien Starr out of prison, which he was sent to to keep him from interfering in Kane's plans.
Date: 2389.9.19
Lucky, forced to clean the deck of the Hope with his tongue, finds his master abusing Lit in front of him, and stands, defying the man and demanding he stop. The cruel man grabs Lit and holds a sword to her throat, Lucky backs down and begs for her life, and the master only takes this as encouragement, slitting her throat. Lucky, in a rage, attacks his master and the Templars seize him, taking him over to the side of the ship and tossing him overboard. Darkness encloses the elf, who cannot swim, as he begins to drown...
Session 160: Fragmented Memories Part VIII - Reformatted
Kaelan, Rachael, Nephilim, Leruste and Ruun recover from feeling the death and revival of the Angel and head down into the Imperial Palace. As they get down the stairs, Leruste notices a strange device watching them from the corner of the entryway. As he freezes, the others remain hidden. When guards come up to inspect, Leruste valiantly rushes into another room to draw the attention of the guards. Remembering his sacrifice the others move on... only they don't. Waiting for two of the nine guards to come to them, they ambush them and kill them. Ruun switches her armor out for the fresh Imperial Armor, while Kaelan, with the help of Evil, switches from Slaver outfit to the Imperial Armor as well.
While Leruste battles four guards at once, using his time magik and speed to try and keep the advantage, Ruun and Kaelan part from the others and pass the remaining three guards without much suspicion, going to the floor below. Rachael and Nephilim strike, taking out the three guards outside with Rachael's Magik and Nephilim's enchanting songs. They storm into Leruste's room to help him out, just saving him from certain, horrible, bloody doom. They head down below to help Ruun and Kaelan, who seeing the large amount of guards awaiting them in front of the doors holding the gem, hesitate. As the others storm down as a distraction, Kaelan opts to aid them. Just as things begin to get crazy, a dark magik beats down on the group, holding them captive as Nephilim and Rachael hide in the stairway.
The Emporer makes his appearance, interested in talking to the party before killing them. Noting the lack of Elves from her party, Kaelan begins to tell the Emporer wishes to know, especially after he drains 5 years of life out of herself and Leruste for lying. She takes her time, explaining everything, stalling while Rachael explains to Nephilim that she has an oppurtunity to do something. After a great while, the Emporer conceeds to send the group away with a fake Dark Rune, revealing that he controls the real one, has learned to use it without harming himself, and that he can manufacture fake runes. As he asks which person will remain his hostage to ensure the group returns with the Angel, Nephilim strikes with time magik and a quick hand, attempting to take the gem by cutting the Emporer's hand. This proves feeble, until Evil appears and blasts the Emporer, throwing down his defenses. Kaelan and Leruste are repelled in their attacks, but their distraction helps as Nephilim sacrfices 20 years pickpocketing the Dark Rune.
Able to blow the Emporer back for only a moment, the group is Shadowported back to the ship by the weakened Evil. A black beam of power is aimed at their ship and everyone gathers to use the Light Stone to escape. Seeing Rose missing, Kaelan rushes back into the ship to get her, arriving back at the last possible second, darkness envelops the team as they teleport out at the last possible moment.
The others, heading back to the Light Stone in Bulte, find Charles skewered on Wyrd, Wyrd cursed by Sally Vimes to remain in him. Gemane breaks the barrier and before Sia can safely pull her out and heal, Wyrd carelessly transforms back, spilling Charles' blood. Sia uses all her reserve magik to save Charles' life, draining her completely for the time being. With their healer down and so many injured, they choose to head back up and get rested in order to face Sally, who they believe may be guarding the stone. Heading to the surface, they meet a woman named Moira, who after they settle down, helps them by informing them about thugs planning to kidnap Jean.
Lenneth makes a contract with Moira the Mercenary and the group heads back into the underworld, where instead of Sally, they find 10 inferi awaiting them. Corpses animated to the fight. The group overpowers them easily and heads to the stone, where they all get aboard. Sally, attacking them as they try to escape, fails to kill them before Lenneth tosses everyone on board with vines and the stone activates. They teleport to the boat.
Both groups appear on the Hope at the same time, just in time to save a dying Tranquility. The groups unleashes their combined might, even a Legion of Templars occupying the boat no longer a challenge to the united forces of the Angel. Kaelan faces Kalo and Leruste faces his uncle, Lucky's former master. Lucky is rescued from the water as he begins to drown and able to join the fight. Seeing they are overpowered, Kalo attempts to flee by leaping into the ocean, clouted over the head as he does, and LEruste's uncle finds his death at the hands of the Angel's Followers.
Licking their wounds, the group is reunited temporarily, at least, and Sia sets sail for the norhtern Island in the Island Nations, the center of the Church's Empire, where they must go to face the Archbishop.
Session 161: Fragmented Memories Epilogue - Recovery
The crew of the PAX and Cheryl's unit meet together to discuss what has occured. Darien reveals that the Earth's Government is still in horrible disarray, General Steel has been released from Prison and is currently trying to curry power and favor from members of the Senate, placed in charge of a program to mass produce a new line of NGDs with Light Engine capabilities to dominate the other races and set Earth on a superior path. The group, outraged that the man is even free, try to come up with strategies to denouunce him, Angelos offering to toss his hat in the political ring to see if the Cran name can still hold power and sway, and possibly effect Steel, who once worked for him.
Another subject of interest that comes up is the idea that the memory wipes may have occured due to use of reality powers, as Cheryl does not seem to have been responsible for it. Angelos brings up a simple fact for them to dwell on, Lorelei was concieved after Cheryl got her reality powers, meaning the child possibly gained Cheryl's reality powers during conception. While this explains why some were effected, it doesn't seem to answer the real question, until Tabetha points out that everyone involved was indeed involved in some way with the family.
These conversations come to a close when Ao comms the groups, telling them to come up to the PAX to see something. Everyone arrives to see an ancient Erusian Battleship which was likely hidden, much like the PAX once was in deep hyperspace. With the destruction of the lanes, it has been brought out, and it begins to fall apart. Every government wants to lay claim on it, and even before that complication can rear it's ugly head, Aya detects a life sign on the ship. Leyaeh suggests declaring it the property of it's occupant, and Megumi and Zephyr are sent out in Dragoon Gear form to retrieve the stasis pod. While they do, Shretrav launches an investigation, having Leyaeh see evidence that Cartel Agents appear to be scouting the old tramways that lead to 1C, which were closed to keep the public away from the crew's private areas.
Angelos, finding this intriguing, sets up some devices down below and seals off the entrances to 1C, leading them back up. He suggests talking to Kyun, as all the recent activity seems to be easily explained with one thing, Mind Control technology that Angelos knows for certain that Kyun possesses, confessing to having struck deals with the Tsiv Ambassador in the past. The pod is brought up and Jennifer analyses the survivor, a Yloi with multiple unknown implants in her body, an Ancient Erus from 25000 years prior, the sole survivor of the Dark War.
Jennifer deems her name to be Yasha Arhnya, based on the codenames that the woman offers. THeorizing that she is the Progenitor of Arhn and Myria, Jennifer becomes quite attached, working on her personally. She does however, send Tamara out of the medical bay until she gets the promise of Yasha to not harm any Dark Ones on the ship, afraid for her daughter's safety.
Date: 2389.9.20
Gathering for a meeting on the main deck of the Hope, the team also attempts to sort out all that has happened. Zeal reveals to everyone when asked, with minor interruptions, that the Emperor can forge Runes, and that he commanded power over the Dark Rune. Now that they have stolen it, there is no doubt the Empire will launch and invasion over the rest of Tareh to get it back. Another prophecy to be fulfilled, Lenneth refuses to believe this one can be allowed to pass, and declares that she will head back to the Empire and stop it. Eventually, it becomes apparent she will not be alone, with Aschae, Thomas, Zeal, Carly, Seth (despite his protests to the idea), and Tanan all likely to go, and Lucky recruited to sail them there.
Sia questions where the prophecies come from, and Lenneth explains to them that the prophecies come from a book, which Gartareh himself claims to have written. This book writes itself, telling of future events as they develop, and it is with this that the Gods have been able to track the followers of the Angel and know when they will turn up, helping the prophecies to come about. Sia theorizes that if they can claim the book, they can divert many of it's prophecies from occuring, as they can prevent the ones the Gods themselves actually cause, and have a heads up on what they will do before it happens. Anne, overwhelmed for the time, goes to rest.
Later, Moira is introduced to the concept of the Mark and accepts one, becoming a new follower of the Angel, on an irrevokable contract. They plan their trip into the city, Sia stating she's charting them a course away from the actual city to not meet the Templars that will likely be laying in wait. The group will divide up, those who's faces are not known will scout and get them an inn, then those known will sneak in, from there they will plan more, Lenneth planning to leave after that meeting. Happy Jean meets Moira and introduces her to the ship, and Seth begins to contemplate his feelings for Carly to his best friends. Rachael and Leruste tell him to go talk to her.