last-minute stratagems
Plot Developments
- The party defeated two mirage dragons, looking whimsical crosses between green dragons and faerie dragons, but refrained from killing them.
- Varlasun, free of his jailors, seemed a little more willing and able to help the party, though dead-dog tired after ten years of non-stop rituals. He mush have had some means to stay alive so long without food and drink, never mind sleep, but it couldn't have been anything other than a living hell.
- Arinew broke ties with Ashenthe, his wicked Chernobogian cousin, and sister to Sir Gliadim. She'd informed him of demons on the mountain, seeking the demonhead Blight from Reedthagn's treasures, and that if left unchecked they could very well succeed during the Savior's tribulations. Of course, in dealing with this new threat, they'd also be leaving time and opportunity for the Chernobogians to do the same. How exactly they planned to enter the Tesseract remains a mystery, though. Since she refused to divulge the Green God's plans, and generally disliking her intentions, he had little other recourse.
- Allies sprung from the most unlikely of places, Varlasun explains, as Ezark, the first of Arinew's alliances and another of Rogar's brothers, was a devout priest of Krysarok, the demon dragon spawned alongside the New Gods at the end of the Demon War. The demons on the mountain were his, part of his 1000 troops, perhaps all 1000...
- After MUCH deliberation, the party decided to enact a four step strategy to counteract the catch 22 scenario they were in, which saw them either going after the demons or going after the Chernobogians, while leaving one unchecked and contending with Anoximoia either way...
- Step 1: Find the Chernobogians. The party opted not to rest, instead pressing on in the dark hours of early morning to track the fey and end the Green God's plots on the mountain, whatever they might be.
- Step 2: First Wave: Varlasun made himself indispensable by contacting Ezark. The dark supplicant agreed to bring his demonic forces to bear against Anoxiomoia. Though Ezark is convinced this is part of a much larger assault, which it will be eventually, his demons really serve to distract the guardian of the summit. It is likely he also expects Blight among his spoils, but that's a challenge for another day. In combination with Varlasun's illusions, the Saviors hope to circumvent the dragoness and reach the hypercube.
- Step 3: Second Wave: Ikkirul, meanwhile, was also contacted, though mobilizing his troops will take much longer than Ezark's (who are already on the mountain). Two days' flight will see the drakeriders join the fray, and another day, at least, for his 8000 ground troops, and whatever else he can muster from the ninth through sixteenth gates. This will hopefully keep Anoximoia occupied during the Savior's activities, and, should they be so lucky, help douse any power grabs once Reedthagn is dead.
- Step 4: Win, or Don't Die: Narra must hack the hypercube, so that the Saviors may confront the eight thousand year old dragon called Thrak'redathra by his own kind, Danthareda by fey, Reedthagn by men, Agthanre by elves, Grauntagger by dwarves, Grigmungr by giants, and Spittingdeath by goblins, First of Greens, Sovereign of Reh'na'thagnatar, the Tesseractian.
Experience: 4200 xp (123,200 total)
New NPCs
Dazzleyes and Honeyswoon: Cerulean dragons with rainbow fins and butterfly accents, known as mirage dragons. Reedthagn instituted them as Varlasun's jailors, but both were defeated by the Saviors.
Returning NPCs
Adaj'iil Varlasun Thagnbrood: Liberated from his dragon jailors, Varlasun agreed to help the Saviors bypass Anoximoia's forces and reach the summit of Reh'na'thagnatar, where they might question Reedthagn for his many, many wrongs.
Princess Ashenthe of Autumn: After informing the prince of demonic presence further up the mountain, and their goal to steal Blight from the Tesseract, Arinew was forced to part ways with the Chernobogians for not divulging what it was they were after in the hypercube.
Prince Gliadim of Autumn: Ashenthe revealed Gliadim was once an Autumn Prince, but that he abandoned the life to live as a mere knight in the summer city.
Fonnig, Featherwing, Dewdrop, Deshkyr, Simra, Kriznob, Yat...
Lore
- Blight is an artifact of unspeakable power, rumored capable of slaying anything, but at a steep and immortal price. Known as a demonhead, the bald, black mace houses the essence of the demonlord Falagoust, Lord of Ruin, an ancient entity of decay and corruption birthed by the Mother of Demons before the God War. It is always seeking his resurrection, but despite that knowledge the temptation to wield such power cows many.
Next Session
113a: With a plan in motion, the Saviors trust in their varied allies to see them beyond Anoximoia and to the Tesseract, wherein lurks Reedthagn, in possession of Solistice and Blight.
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