The Fall of Filial Wisdom

The previous session ended with a cliffhanger.  The party decided to hack off Maederos’ arm in an attempt to remove the bracelet controlling his actions.  After they did so Maederos informed them that he still felt the complusion, and Ukem was able to identify the bracelet on the severed wrist as being an illusion.

Omen used a charm to regrow Maederos’ severed limb, and the party agreed to keep a watch on him as he is still potentially compromised by whoever found the bracelet.  They are hoping that in time they can learn more of it and perhaps block its influence.

The party left the northern sky tower and headed for the Orrery of Athainu where they hoped to be able to obscure their future from the Loom of Fate.  Upon arriving they found that the place was severely damaged.  It would turn on, but too many pieces were missing and if it functioned they doubted its accuracy.

In addition to the Orrery itself there was a large planetarium that the PCs investigated.  It appeared to be a place to study the readings garnered from the Orrery, and was in better repair than the Orrery itself.  After they’d learned what they could the party exited the planetarium to find that an ambush had been set for them.

A fierce battle ensued as Filial Wisdom and his great goblin troops tried to kill the party.  Shara was nearly killed by an arrow, which sent Ukem into a frenzy.  He left the safety of the planetarium, and was nearly killed by Filial Wisdom before making it back inside.

They heard a high pitched whine from above which they correctly identified as a warbird.  As Sirio had been working on them in Relza’s hangar just a few hours before it wasn’t hard for them to figure out who was piloting it.  Sirio managed to kill a pair of goblins before Filial jumped into the air and cut the warbird in half.

Sirio would have died on impact, but due to his heroism he exalts into a Lunar.  He was still badly wounded, and Omen raced outside to rescue him.  Filial took the opportunity to attack Omen who fended off the flurry.  This left Filial exposed to Gargas and Ukem who moved in to flank him.

Ukem was severely wounded, but so was Filial.  He fled and Ukem carried Gargas after him.  They finally cornered the corrupted solar, and after an intense battle were able to kill him. 

The party regrouped at the planetarium, where Relza revealed her presence.  She offered to let them recover their strength in her hangar bay and the party agreed as it gave them a place to plan their next move.

No one returns from Rathess…

Our last session ended with the party reaching a ridge in the jungle above the ruined city of Rathess.  They sent Omen and Gargas on a Cirrus Skiff to scout the city, and the pair found a Dawn Caste performed some sort of cannibalisitc ritual for about 300 goblins and humans that were worshiping him.

They pulled back to tell the group what they’d witnessed, and Gargas made the decision to send Jingu and Shara to scout the city.  Before they left Ukem used the Borrow Sense charm so he could see through Shara’s senses while she scouted.

Jingu triggered a pressure plate embedded in the cobblestone street, and it knocked her unconscious.  When Shara crept into the street to tend to Jingu she was shot by a poison dart that knocked her unconscious too.  Ukem immediately told the group, and he, Talak and Gargas came to investigate.

When they arrived they were attacked by lizardmen who Omen theorized could be the descendants of the Dragon Kings.  One of them managed to knock Talak out with a poisoned dart, and after killing a few dozen the solar retreated back to camp with one as a prisoner.

Gargas and Ukem returned to try tracking Jingu and Shara, but it was slow going and they were constantly ambushed by more lizardmen.  Gargas made the difficult decision to return to the camp, and armed with SheIs the party interogated the lizard.

They learned that Jingu and Shara would be taken to the Eastern Sky Tower, which appeared to be the stronghold of the lizardmen.  They also learned that the lizardmen were ruled by a goddess, though they didn’t know her name or how powerful she might be.

After lengthly deliberation Gargas decided to send the bulk of the party’s strength to assault the tower and recover Shara and Jingu.  They left behind Gloom, Sirio and Fredden under Talak’s watchful eye.  Mindful of the camp being discovered Gargas asked them to leave the camp and hide while the party was away.

The party used Cirrus Skiffs and Ukem’s deadly beastman form to ferry the party to the top of the sky tower.  They entered through a docking bay that was filled with functional warbirds, but before they could go any further a winged goddess appeared and introduced herself as Relza.

She demanded to know why they had invaded her domain.  Ukem told her to stand aside or be attacked, and this seemed to really upset her.  Relza used principle of motion to tear Ukem apart, and only Omen’s immediate healing saved his life.

The party apologized to Relza, and thanks to Maederos she was mollified enough to listen rather than attack them.  Once they’d told their story she explained that they’d need to meet with the leader of the tower, the goodess Leeayta. 

The PCs were lead to her throne room where she explained her motivations.  She wants to raise the lizardmen from their primitive soceity back to the thriving metropolis that once existed in Rathess. 

Leeayta agreed to let give Shara and Jingu back to the group, but only if they’d destroy her enemies.  The first target she assigned them was the western sky tower, which she said was controlled by fair folk.  Gargas agreed, and the goddess gave the PCs lodgings for the night to recover their strength.

During that night several events occured.  First, Sirio and Relza became close friends.  When she realized that he could repair the warbirds, and loved them as much as she did, Relza was pleased and more than willing to teach him about the first age airships.

The second major event was the assault on the camp.  Gloom sent word to Omen that the solar from the pyramid was assaulting the camp.  He killed Talak, Tribben and Fredden while Gloom and Sirio managed to flee into the jungle.  No one knew how he found the camp to begin with.

Omen flew out to recover the pair, who were both wounded.  He brought them back to the eastern sky tower to join their battered companions.

The other major event was the death of Seris, who was killed by Maederos.  Just after Maederos exalted V’neef placed a magical bracelet on his arm that controlled his actions.  She sent the control unit for this bracelet to Gargas, so that he could bend Maederos to his will if necessary.

When the party was at the training camp all of Gargas’ belongings were taken from him, including the control unit.  In their frantic escape from Maduka Shin and her infernal allies Gargas had no choice but to leave it behind.

Apparently that unit was found, because Maederos was orderded to kill one of his companions.  He chose Seris, but used a loophole in the control to at least let Gargas know he was being controlled.

Gargas and Maederos decided to approach Leeayta to explain the situation.  She recognized the bracelet from the first age, and told the Solar that the deal was off.  She wanted no corrupted Solar in her domain, and gave them until midday to leave her domain.  The upside is that she agreed to release Jingu and Shara.

Gargas and Maederos gathered the party the following morning where they filled them in on what had happened with between Maederos and Seris.  No one was happy with the situation, and they brainstormed possible ways to remove the bracelet.

The only solution they could come up with was amputation.  Maederos agreed to have his arm removed with the understanding that Omen could reattach or regrow it afterwards.  They sliced off his arm in a spray of blood, and that’s where I ended the session…

Bad food, bugs and oppressive heat

Last session the PCs arrived in the ancient Dragon King city of Ela’dune.  They’d decided to head to the Dragon King capital of Rathess to find the Orrery of Athainu, an astrological device of incredible power that might be able to mask their presence from the Sidereal they fear may be hunting them.

They settled down for the night to rest, but two important events occured by the next morning.  First, the Lunar Hanlon left the camp to see out Raksi to learn from her.  He spoke to Ukem before going, and promised to keep in touch.

The second event was more momentous.  An Abyssal named Kodara Moonshadow was caught prowling around the edge of the camp.  When they confronted him the party learned that Kodara had come to collected Shara.  He claimed to be in love with her, and that their mutual master had wiped Shara’s memory before sending her to the training camp.

When it was clear he wouldn’t be allowed to take Shara, Kodara fled.  He jumped from a 300 meter platform towards the lake below, but before he could get there Ukem snatched up Gargas and dove after.  They caught him before he reached the ground, and while Kodara successfully defended against Gargas’ attack it left him unable to save himself from the fall.  He broke his spine and skull on impact, dying instantly.

After the fight Daerian sent an Infallible Messenger to Ayesha, who ordered her to return home.  Daerian agreed, but cast a Swift Spirit to take the party to the town of Chaing-Dav before passing through a portal into Yu-Shan.

Every member of the group grew up on the Blessed Isle, which means they are used to weather control, air conditioning and indoor plumbing.  Being thrust into the depths of the hottest part of the jungle was a very unwelcome surprise.

The bugs, the oppressive heat and the rampant disease were all a bit of a shock, but at least Omen’s command of medicine prevented anything more than discomfort.  They stayed in the rudest hovel they could imagine, and were repulsed by the fact that the fire was made using dung instead of wood.

The party was able to find a guide and decided to make their way upriver using a normal canoe.  Two weeks of uncomfortable travel later they finally reached the point where they had to leave the canoe behind.

They travelled through the tops of the trees for the next several days, and eventually reached a ridge overlooking the ruins of Rathess.  Their guide headed back at this point leaving them to explore the ancient city.

Gargas wisely decided that before they entered they needed as much information as possible, which meant scouting.  The party was especially worried about locating the Orrery as they had no idea in the vast city where it would be located.

At this point they finally figured out that SheIs had a map, and called upon her to display it.  They realized where the Orrery was, and used a Cirrus Skiff to scout the city out.  What they found shocked them.

Many parts of the city were overrun by primitive lizard men, but what drew their eye was the ritual being performed atop the Pyramid of the Sunset.  A solar with a dawn caste mark had about 300 human and goblin cannibals worshiping him.  They were feasting on what appeared to be the remains of defeated foes.

Who is this Solar?  What sort of cult is he running?  How will he react to the party?  The PCs were left to ponder these questions until next week!

Those Damn Solar

For the first several sessions of the campaign the players were working their way towards Kether Rock, the training camp ran by the Cult of the Illuminated.  Just before they arrived I obtained a copy of the 1st edition book Cult of the Illuminated.  Great!  Now I had source material to work with, right?

Yeah, not so much.  The CotI book is heavy handed and not designed to be fun for the players.  The PCs arrival at the camp did not go well, and I quickly realized the camp was a bad idea.  So I accelerated the time line I’d initially come up with to get the party away from the camp.  Part of the reason I did this was to limit the number of celestial NPCs the group had access to.

Enter Maduka Shin, a very powerful Akuma complete with her own legion, a second circle demon lord and a pair of Akuma flunkies.  The Solar in the camp were overwhelemed, but the party managed to concoct a plan to save as many as possible.

They ushered sixteen celestials into a small barracks.  Daerian called a Swift Spirit of Winged Transportation to carry them away.  As the barracks lifted off the party saw an enormous first age ship outside the walls of Kether Rock, and it had a barrel at least thirty feet wide.  Now they knew why the top third of the spire was missing.

The first age ship took a shot at them and disintegrated the front third of the barracks.  Many of the celestials spilled out the side, but the players were able to save more of them than I’d have expected.  Each was required to make a dex + athletics check.  Three successes meant they saved themselves, five meant they could help someone else.  Every last one of them got five and saved one of the celestials.

The end result is that eleven celestials survived the assault on Kether Rock, and sped off to the east.  As they were passing out of sight they saw the five metal shrike zip up to Kether Rock, and destroy the infernal ship along with a significant portion of their army.

The mood was somber on their makeshift conveyance, but people were happy to be alive.  The players discussed the events that had led to the attack, and the possible outcome.  All were afraid that the infernals would track them, especially when Daerian explained a bit more about how the Loom of Fate worked and that essence use could be tracked from Yu-Shan.

Now that they knew they could be tracked the party decided they needed a way to throw the Sidereal and/or infernals off the scent.  They spoke to SheIs, who told them of the Orrery of Athainu in the lost Dragon King city of Rathess.  It could be used to shield the party from the Loom, so they decided to make it a priority to investigate.

Their plans were interupted when Ukem inexplicably changed into a horrifying human shaped mass of bugs, each with a tiny white mask for a face.  Horrified, they subdued him and he collapsed into a writhing pile.  They gathered up the bugs and put them in a pillow case while they tried to figure out what to do.

Omen investigated, but wasn’t entirely sure what he was seeing.  Daerian sent an infallible messenger to Lytek to see if they could learn more from the god since he works so closely with the shards.  He told them of an unfortunate flaw some shards posses, called a throwback. 

A throwback occurs when too many memories remain from the previous incarnation.  This allows the previous incarnation to seize control of the Lunar, effectively changing them into another person for the duration.  There is no known way to remove this flaw short of death.

Three hours later Ukem changed back, and had no memory of what he’d become.  He did remember having a dream about his first age incarnation, one Vaevictus the Chimera lord.  He remembered a golden tower somewhere out in the wyld, but very little else.  The PCs reluctantly accepted that they couldn’t help Ukem, and resolved to keep a watch over him.

Ten hours after taking off the party landed at the deserted Dragon King city of Ela’dune.  Much to their surprise the city wasn’t deserted, and they met a scavenger lord by the name of Sirio who was investigating Ela’dune to see what he could learn about its former inhabitants.

Sirio was a beastman who’d cobbled together his own warstrider, but the warstrider is unarmed and Sirio is merely a heroic mortal.  He told the party that no one ever returned alive from Rathess, but when they revealed the fact that they were anathema he was willing to join them on their journey there.

Training camp? What training camp?

Last session saw the PCs arrive at Kether Rock, the training camp run by the Cult of the Illuminated.  Maederos, Gargas and Ukem underwent harsh training under Michael, the warmaster of Kether Rock.  Both Gargas and Ukem have scars from the multiple stab wounds they took, though Maederos capitulated quickly and spared himself quite a bit of pain.

Omen was whisked off by Ayesha Ura, who taught him his first few terrestrial circle spells.  His training was considerably easier and a good deal less violent than the others.  Ayesha agreed to help him bind the demon lord Octavion who is wandering creation after they killed the woman who’d bound him.

She was particularly interested in SheIs, Omen’s hearthstone.  SheIs revealed that she was the prototype to the Salinian working, and that anyone who enters the manse will have sorcery unlocked for them if they meet the requirements.

A few days later Gargas and Ukem still hadn’t capitulated, and spent most of their time naked in the bottom of a pit.  They created a short lived tradition of breaking out of the pit so they could find Michael’s room.  They’d break in and attack him, and be’d beat them down.

The tradition ended on the forth morning, because when they broke in they found Michael dead in a pool of his own blood.  His wound had been caused by a grand daiklaive, and footprints matching both Ukem and Gargas were tracked through the blood.  Someone had framed them.

They headed back to the barracks to speak with Maederos, and learned another interesting piece of the puzzle.  The day before Maederos had spoken to Michael, and told him that the other two training camps had been wiped out.  Michael was unaware of this, and told Maederos he was going to investigate.

None of them thought it was coincidence that he ended up dead the next day, which means someone high in the power structure of the camp was likely involved.

Maederos had made friends with Shara, a day caste Abyssal, and Jingu, a night caste Solar.  They were the ones who revealed the destruction of the other two camps, and were just as alarmed as the PCs to hear about Michael’s death.  They agreed to help the PCs investigate, and Jingu slipped off to find out what she could.

Ukem and Shara headed back to the murder scene, where Ukem used eyes of the cat to look for additional clues.  They didn’t find much and headed back to the barracks.  They decided they needed Omen’s help, and Shara showed Ukem where to find him.

They awoke Omen in the hospitalers pavilion, and brought him back to the barracks to fill him in on the situation.  Omen was very concerned and had Ukem fly him back to Michael’s body to see what he could learn.

After a careful examination Omen concluded that sorcery was used.  The scene was simply too perfect to be real, and he believed a Celestial circle spell was used to mask the scene.  He placed the actual time of death several hours before what the scene showed, and noted that the cause of death could really have been anything, not necessarily the wound from the daiklaive.

Omen and Ukem returned to the barracks and shared the news with Gargas, Maederos, Shara and Seris.  They made the decision to send Omen, Ukem and Gargas to Maduka Shin to tell her what had happened.  Better they reveal the death than have it discovered independently.

When the trio met with Maduka Shin Omen scored six successes on his awareness check, and realized Maduka wasn’t surprised about Michael’s death.  As far as he was concerend that was proof of her duplicity.

Maduka escorted the PCs down to Michael’s room, and gave it a cursory examination.  Omen was positive that she wasn’t surprised, and could tell she knew what she’d find without being told.  She ordered the PCs back to the barracks, and told them that a trial would be held.

Unfortunately, Gargas and Ukem would be charged but Maduka assured them that their innocence would be proved.  Omen realized she was just trying to get them away from the crime scene so she could remove the proof of sorcery.  He stalled Maduka long enough for Gloom to perch in the window so he could keep watch.

Sure enough as soon as the PCs left Maduka altered the scene.  Worse, one of the other camp physicians, Ederan, had mental charms used on him.  His testimony would be key in the trial, and with him compromised things were looking grim.

After discussing the situation in the barracks Omen contacted Lytek using the Infallible Messenger spell.  Lytek confirmed that Michael’s shard hadn’t returned, which it would have if he was dead.  That meant either he was still alive, or they’d found a way to capture his shard.

Their next contact was to Ayesha Ura, who arrived just as the great bell was wrung.  Omen explained everything to her, and Ayesha was horrified.  She returned to Yu Shan to continue her investigation, and said she’d dispatch a perfect circle strike team to watch over the PCs.

The great bell summoned everyone from the barracks to the main square where Maduka Shin announced the murder.  She ordered everyone to remain in the barracks while the investigation was conducted, under pain of death.

She also revealed that a second person had been killed, the doctor that Gargas had wounded the day he’d entered the camp.  The gathered Celestials eyed Gargas and Ukem darkly, obviously assuming they were the murderers.

The PCs returned to the barracks to try to plan for the trial.  While waiting they were accosted by a group of Solar who wanted to take vigilante style justice.  Talak, a dawn caste, attacked Gargas with his goremaul.  Seris tossed Gargas her sword, and Gargas fended off the blows while protesting their innocence.

Maederos and Omen convinced both Talak and the other Solar that this wasn’t the proper way to go about things, and by the time they left they were fairly sure Gargas and Ukem were innocent.  Their chief argument was simply that Michael was too strong, and there was no way they could have killed him.  The others knew that was true.

Two hours later the great bell was rung again, and everyone filed into the square for the actual trial.  Omen served as advocate for Gargas and Ukem, and Maduka Shin presided as judge with two lackeys backing her up.

The trial was short, because Omen revealed to the camp that both other camps had been wiped out.  He also told the crowd that he had a witness that could prove Gargas and Ukem were set up.  Maduka Shin panicked, and called a short recess.  She sent everyone back to the barracks to await her next summons.

That summons never came.  Instead the entire camp was shaken as if there were an earthquake, and a massive explosion nearly deafened them.  When they looked out the window the top third of the spire was missing, and a thick plum of smoke drifted skyward.

Worse, arrows arced over the walls from every direction.  Maduka Shin was surrounded by the hellish glow of an Akuma, and along with another pair of Akuma she was cutting down everyone in the camp.  That’s where I ended the session.  Gotta love cliffhangers!

Arrival at Kether Rock

This Saturday’s session was shorter than some, but certainly eventful despite the its length.  At the end of the last session the party arrived at Kether Rock, a training camp run by the Gold Faction.

They were told that the gates only open at sunset, and spent a good two hours waiting.  During that time Daerian leapt over the gate and congratulated the party on arriving safely.  She took Gargas aside for a few minutes to discuss House V’neef business, though both remained tight lipped about whatever it was.

Daerian also told the party of Maederos’ impending arrival, and they gaped in awe as the Swift Spirit of Winged Transportation dropped Maederos off in a small stone building.  Introductions were made just before sunset, after which Daerian disappeared back inside the fortress.

The gates finally opened to reveal a veritable army of celestial Exalts.  Over two dozen Solar, Lunar, Sidereal and even an Abyssal were arrayed in military formation.  Accompanying them were several major gods and a pair of Celestial Lions.

At the column’s head was a man who gave his name as Michael, Warmaster of Kether Rock.  Omen was whisked off to help track down the demon lord Octavion, but the rest weren’t given a very warm welcome.

Michael challenged the rest of the group to a fight, and didn’t hold back even slightly.  Without healing Gargas would have died, and both Ukem and Maederos were wounded.  After Gargas was healed he went berserk nearly killing the Solar who’d healed him, and then going after Michael.  It ended just as badly the second time.

When the party woke up they’d been moved into barracks, and had a chance to meet their new roomates.  All four were female, oddly enough.  They’d started their training about two weeks before, and one of them was someone Gargas knew from the House of Bells.

Once they’d recovered they were whisked off to meet with Ayesha Ura, the leader of the Gold Faction.  She took her measure of them before introducing them to the god Lytek.  Lytek gave each a special draught of ambrosia and memory shavings from divine shards.  These memories allow the characters to learn charms more quickly than normal, and have the system effect of making each cost 2xp less.

After their audience with Lytek the party was brought before the master of Kether Rock, Maduka Shin.  Maduka was a harsh woman and lectured the trio on discipline and on what would be expected of them.  She demanded that they strip and took all of their worldly possessions.

Maederos complied without comment, but Ukem and Gargas refused and it came to blows again.  The two unconscious Celestials were dragged back to their barracks, while Maederos had a chance to get to know Shara, Jingu and Seris.

The next day Michael woke them early for training.  Ukem and Gargas once again decided not to cooperate and attacked Michael.  He put them down again and dragged them off to a pit as punishment. 

The rest of the session was Gargas and Ukem refusing to train or cooperate in any way, and ending up back in the pit after every meeting with Michael.  In revenge they found Michael’s room and attacked him in his quarters.  It ended just like every other time, and soon enough they were back in the pit.

Meanwhile, Maederos was actually going through training and getting to know his new companions.  He and Jingu started sharing a bed, and on the second night Shara woke Jingu with startling news that both of the other training camps had been wiped out.  Nearly fifty Solar were killed.

Maederos felt out Michael and found that he knew nothing of the incident.  Michael was angry at being left in the dark, and told Maederos he’d be investigating to find out whether or not the news about the camp was true.

The session ended with Maederos sneaking food and water to Gargas and Ukem, and telling them about the other training camps being wiped out.

Poor Faruq

The last session ended with an audience with Grandmother Bright.  She agreed to give the players information about Tamuz, a first age Lunar who might be able to help them retreive Egeria from Dharr.  She also told them she knew the final resting place of Omen’s first age incarnation, and that she was willing to share the information…for a price. 

Grandmother Bright demanded that Omen search the slums of Chiaroscuro for a boy of ten.   Once found the boy must be cured of his malady, though the spirit told Omen nothing of where to find this boy or what might afflict him.  After three days of searching Omen was able to locate the child, who was being opperated on by a man with no understanding of medicine.  The charlatan had cut away a portion of the boy’s skull murmuring drivel about evil spirits.  Omen was horrified, but pushed them an aside and was able to cure the boy.

While examining the boy Omen found something odd he’d never seen before.  The child had a series of birthmarks across his body, and when they were read in the proper order they formed some sort of spell.  The spell was more powerful than Omen is currently capable of understanding, and he has no idea of its purpose or Origin.

Grandmother Bright required Ukem to find and slay a specific spirit that she said was emerging from a Shadowland at night to pray on the populace.  After two days of diligent searching Ukem found the spirit, a horrible monstrosity.  It was attacking a woman in the middle of a Shadowland, which gave Ukem the chance to attack it from behind.  After a fierce fight he was able to slay the spirit and ran to the woman’s side.

Much to Ukem’s suprise it turned out to be his Aunt Lynette, who’d become an Abyssal years ago to protect him from his Uncle, the infernal Urtan.  Lynette was severely wounded during the fighting with the Nephrack, and Ukem sped off to find Omen to see if he could heal her.  Ukem reached Omen at the tail end of a confrontation.

Omen had been approached by three Immaculate Monks who’d come to slay him.  They approached courteously and one of them was a woman named Parra that Omen knew from his time with the Order.   When they attacked Omen defended himself, but before the battle could escalate citizens clogged the alleyway and lined the roof overhead.  They demanded the Immaculates leave Omen in peace, because Omen had performed so many miracles.  His time healing the sick  made him a hero to the downtrodden, and they vowed to protect him at all costs.

The Immaculates agreed to leave Omen alone, at least for the time being.  Right after they left Ukem found Omen and begged him to come help his Aunt.  Along the way Ukem revealed his ‘plan’.  He wanted to know if Omen could survive a fall off of a three story building.  Omen blinked in surprise, and when he probed further found that Ukem’s ‘plan’ was for Omen to fall off the building to distract Lynette long enough for Ukem to use a charm.  Omen refused, saying that he could think of twenty-five better plans, which sounded about right.  The write up doesn’t do it justice, but this was one of the funniest scenes I’ve ever seen in a roleplaying game.

While they were crossing town an old man named Talak approached Omen, and told him that he is a priest in the local Cult of the Illuminated.  He offered to help Omen in any way that he could, and said he’d stop by the Silver Veil later as Omen was busy trying to save Ukem’s aunt.

The pair reached Lynette and Omen healed her.  Ukem applied his charm, which allows him to see through Lynette’s senses at will.  She thanked them for their assistance and reiterated to Ukem that she has no wish to be enemies.  She is obviously quite fond of her nephew and they went their seperate ways more as friends than enemies, depsite their different allegiances.

As challenging as the services Grandmother Bright required of Ukem and Omen, they paled compared to the sacrifice that was asked of Gargas.  Grandmother bright demanded he service her sexually for three days.  Now for those who haven’t seen Gargas in action he’s very much like the character Adam Sandler plays in Don’t Mess with the Zohan.  He’ll have sex with any woman regardless of age or appearance.  He eagerly agreed to perform this service, not realizing what he was getting himself into.

You see, Grandmother Bright is the former goddess of vengeance.  She is nearly as old as time itself, and quite jaded with conventional sex.  The acts she performed with and on Gargas have left deep emotional scars, and she took his viriginity in some very alarming ways.  Worse, Gargas agreed to come whenever Grandmother Bright calls to perform additional services.  For the rest of his life.  His several thousand year life.

Once their services were complete the group gathered at The Silver Veil to rest before departing with Faruq for the training camp to the South.  Unfortunately, Ukem’s admission during the last session that he was an Anathama, combined with the miracles Omen had performed attracted the notice of a Wyld Hunt.  Talak sent a young man named Farrar to warn the PCs that the hunt was approaching.  Because of the warning they were able to flee over the rooftops and eventually escaped. 

The party spent the evening camped on the upper stories of one of the heavily damaged first age towers.  In the morning they sent Gloom to rendevous with Faruq.  When the pair returned to the tower they began preparations to head south.  On the way out of town they met Talak, and Omen thanked him for the warning that may have saved the PCs lives.  Talak abased himself before the ’shining ones’ and promised them that the entire cult would give their lives if necessary.

Faruq didn’t seem in any hurry to reach the training camp.  Instead, he went so far as to the tell the PCs there was no drink, women or gambling there and that if they had any business they wanted to take care of on the way to Kether Rock he was ok with it.   The party told him they’d like to see Tamuz, the first age Lunar.  They also wanted to stop by the Infernal temple that had once belonged to Omen’s first age incarnation.  Faruq seemed nervous about the first, as any Sidereal might be when the prospect of meeting a powerful Lunar came up.  About the second he was more excited, and seemed to relish the idea of clearing out the infernal temple.

Faruq warned the PCs that the Sidereal running the training camp were very controlling.  The more he told them the more nervous the PCs became at the prospect of going to Kether Rock, but they’d come to far to turn back and pressed on despite their reservations.

On the second day south the players were attacked by a dune worm that wanted to eat their camels.  The best stood twenty-five feet at the shoulder, and had thick, bony hide.  The only vulnerable part of its body was its mouth, and Gargas focused on slashing at that.  Ukem took things a step further and actually flew into the creature’s mouth to attack it from the inside.  The worm went mad with pain and burrowed back into the sand with Ukem still inside.  The PCs gave up Ukem for lost, but against all odds he killed the worm from the inside.  

He tunneled his way to the surface using the eight-tales mole hound form he’d recently aquired, and through luck was able to find the party again.  Unfortunately, Ukem was coated in blood, dirt and stomach acid and reeked like a skunk.  With no bath in the desert the party had to put up with the stench for several days.

They eventually reached Imaree Stand, the home of the Lunar Tamuz.  The Elder was none too pleased to see a Sidereal, but while Tamuz humiliated Faruq he inflicted no lasting damage.  Tamuz heard Ukem’s plea regarding Egeria, and explained that removing a pup from her pack without her permission was a grave crime.  He explained the two options that Ukem had.  He could either challenge Dharr in a Circle of Equals, or he could call Dharr to trial before a moot of his peers.  Ukem chose the second and Tamuz agreed to call and host the moot in two months time.

Satisfied that they could eventually help Egeria the party continued South to the infernal temple.  They explored the place battling cultists and first circle demons, and saved a beautiful young woman who introduced herself as Ariel.  None of the characters trusted her, and for good reason.  When they reached the top of the temple she revealed herself as an Akuma, and the second circle demon Octavion manifested.  He was far, far more powerful than the party and the group assumed they were dead.

Faruq held off Octavion while the rest of the group battled Ariel.   Gargas and Omen were able to kill her, but not before Octavion ripped off both of Faruq’s arms and caved in his chest.  Because Ariel was dead Octavion was free to walk creation, and left instead of attacking the survivors.  Omen, Ukem and Gargas were left to explore the rest of the temple, but all were somber after Faruq’s death.

Inside they found a fabulous manse obviously constructed during the first age.  Further exploration revealed the hearthstone chamber, and it turned out the hearthstone was an AI named SheIs (A play on IAM from Dreams of the First Age).  SheIs told Omen about his former incarnation, Salina and that she’d done much of her research here.  SheIs was a prototype for the Salinian Working, and one of her abilities was to awaken sorcery in any candidate that was worthy.  As all three PCs met the requirements for Terrestrial Circle, they all suddenly found themsevles with the ability to cast spells.

Omen also found some of the artifacts belonging to Salina.  The most powerful was a silver girdle that gives +5 charisma, and makes the wearer immune to penalties due to someone having a higher appearance.  Other items included a malfean brass Daiklaive and chain shirt, and a tome that gives Omen +2 Occult skill while he has motes committed to the book.

The party took the time to desecrate the infernal altars, and to give Faruq his last rites before moving on.  They continued south until they reached Kether Rock, though the reception wasn’t quite what they expected.  The PCs were required to wait outside the main gate until Sunset.  When sunset finally came the great gates swung open to reveal nearly twenty-five Solar, a few Lunar, three Sidereal and an Abyssal.  There were also four Celestial lions and a number of gods.  The session ended there.

Gloom is never getting on a ship again

Thanks for another great game on Saturday! 

Our third session saw the PCs sail from Arjuf to Chiaroscuro, with the trip being far more eventful than the PCs were expecting.  They were attacked by an angry goddess who sent a storm to destroy their ship.  A twenty-five foot wave crashed over their vessel capsizing it.  Through a feat of heroism Gargas and Ukem were able to right the ship, although one of the masts was torn off and most of the crew was swept overboard.  Only four sailors survived the attack and they were terrified as the players revealed they were Anathema.

Gargas took control as the vessel’s new captain and they limped across the ocean towards Chiaroscuro.  About a week later they were assaulted by a Linthan vessel.  The pirate captain was a swordmaster of the second Kur and wielded a jade Daiklaive.  He challenged Gargas to single combat and slightly wounded him.  Gargas’ return blow cut him in half.  The party was able to stop the Lintha, but their vessel was further damaged in the attack.  They chose to abandon their ship, and instead stole the Lintha’s galleon.

The rest of their trip was uneventuful and just under a month after leaving Arjuf they passed under the watchful guns of Chiaroscuro and into the harbor.  As their ship was obviously Linthan they flew a white flag, and surrendered the vessel to the authorities while they investigated the matter.    The harbormaster told them the vessel would likely be returned in a few days if the PCs were patient.

The group made their way to the inn they’d been directed to by V’neef, The Silver Veil.  On the way Gloom was challenged to a duel by a hostile ata-roadrunner.  He won the fight and the roadrunner, Abdul, swore himself as Gloom’s liegeman.  Omen also saw a young boy caught as a thief have his hand cut off by one of the local watch.  Omen rescued the boy and brought him with them to the inn.

The party made it to the inn without further incident and took rooms there.  After a month at sea they eagerly enjoyed the sweat tent, though it wasn’t the same as taking a real bath.  They took some time to relax in the common room, with Ukem getting drunk on fermented mare’s milk.  While drunk he told his two female companions that he was an Anathama, loudly enough for everyone in the common room to hear.  Gargas ushered him upstairs to prevent him from telling any other damaging secrets, and Ukem had a great time with his two new female friends.

While Ukem was upstairs, uh, working off the alcolhol the rest of the party was approached by the contact from the Cult of the Illuminated.  The man gave his name as Faruq, and revealed that the roadrunner Abdul was his familiar.  He let the PCs know that he can take them into the desert to the temple at Kester Rock whenever they’re ready to go, and that he’d check back every two days until they were ready to go.  Gargas and Egeria went clothes shopping and purchased silks and turbans for the party so they’d pass a little better as locals.   

The next day Omen went with the little thief boy Khir to cure the sick and tend to the crippled in his neighborhood.  By the end of the day rumors started to spread all over the city that a ‘Chosen of the Moon’ was performing miracles.  The people assume he’s a Chosen of the Moon, because they follow the religion created by the Lunar Tammuz.  It claims anyone performing miracles is basically a Lunar, so that’s what the people assume Omen is.

Egeria, Ukem and Gargas went to the market where Egeria sold the cargo they’d brought from Arjuf (what survived anyway).  She also arranged the sale of the Linthan vessel to the Tri-Khan.  As the PCs aren’t heading home anytime soon they could use the money, and agreed to give a share to each of the four sailors who’d survived the trip.

On the way back from the market Gargas, Egeria and Ukem were approached by a man identifying himself as Dharr Mhaal.  He said he was a Lunar of great age and power, and was very hostile to Gargas.  He took Ukem and Egeria away to have their moonsilver tattoos applied.  After applying Ukem’s he knocked him off the top of the first age tower he was using as a perch.  Ukem survived the fall by turning into a winged wolf, but by the time he returned Dharr was gone and had taken Egeria with him.  He did tell Ukem he was going to teach her sorcery, but that did nothing to stop the rage Ukem felt.

Ukem returned to meet Gargas and Omen in the inn and told them what happened.  As they were out of ideas the PCs decided to speak to Grandmother Bright who they hoped would be able to help them find Egeria.  They also wanted to know more about the first age, and what she could tell them about their place in the world.

Grandmother Bright was more than happy to cut a deal with them.  Omen agreed to find a specific boy and save his life.  Ukem agreed to find a specific spirit that was preying on the city so he could destroy it.  Gargas agreed to effectively serve as a sex slave for three days.  Not only that but he agreed to come whenever Grandmother Bright had further need of his, uh, services.

In exchange she told the group many things.  They learned of the first age and the rule of the Solar, and of the Usurpation that ended their rule.  Omen learned that his first age incarnation was a woman named Salina, and that somewhere in the deep desert to the south lies a manse that holds the answers to his past.  The temple is currently controlled by a Cult of the demon Sondok, so he’ll need to deal with them if he wants to reclaim his heritage.

Grandmother also told them that Dharr is nearly 900 years old, and beyond their strength to defeat.  However, stealing a member of their pack is a crime among the Lunar.  She recommended speaking to the Lunar elder Tammuz to see if he’d help them get Egeria back from Dharr.

Yes, Gargas actually went there

Saturday was our second full session and included a lot of action as well as quite a few laughs.  The game started with the PCs trapped in a no name inn surrounded by the Wyld Hunt.  Much to their surprise the Hunt wasn’t there for them, but for another Anathema who happened to be there.  Her name was Egeria, a Lunar of the No Moon Caste.

Egeria had absolutely no combat skills and was terrified of being killed.  Omen tried to calm her down but she shifted into her spirit form (a small white house cat), and dove inside Omen’s Gi where she hid the entire fight.  That left Omen, Ukem and Gargas to fight a full scale of the Black Helms led by a fang of the Imperial Force.

The fight was short and bloody, with Gargas and Omen coming precariously close to death.  Gargas battled and ultimately slew a former friend from the House of Bells, the legendary Cathak Urusai.  Omen also fought a friend, the immaculate monk Isoro.  When the dust settled the Wyld Hunt had all been slaughtered save Isoro, who was unconscious.  Gargas and Ukem pressed hard to kill her, as leaving her alive exposed the group to greater danger.  Because she was a personal friend of Omen’s they allowed her to live, and the group fled into the wilderness.

Dissention

The party disagreed on their next course of action.  Gargas feared that their identities had been compromised, because they’d let Isoro live.  If they returned to Arjuf, he reasoned, they could bring the wrath of the Wyld Hunt down on House V’neef and that was something he’d die before allowing.  Omen believed they’d still be able to get into Arjuf without jeapordizing V’neef, and wanted to continue with their original plan.  Ukem was torn, but ultimately decided to follow Gargas’ lead.

They paralelled the Caracal river until they were able to flag down a merchant vessel headed downriver.  The Captain, Teena, drove a hard bargain for passage but followed her motto closely, “If the coin is there I don’t care.”  She asked no questions of the characters, and took them downriver to a small port town not far from Arjuf itself.

Troubling Rumors

Much to their surprise an entire Realm legion was preparing to depart the port.  Egeria and Omen went ashore to investigate, and learned some troubling rumors.  First, the legion was pursuing a renegade Dragon of troops that had fled into the Threshold.  Such a betrayal hasn’t happened in living memory, and was troubling in and of itself.  One of the renegades was captured and let loose at the House of Bells for the students to hunt.  During the hunt he Exalted into a Solar, killing six students and greviously wounding another.  Ukem’s sister was one of those students, and he didn’t know if she lived.

Concerned about these rumors the party sent Gloom to meet with V’neef and request instructions.  He returned with a summons, and the party sailed to Arjuf to meet with the Lady V’neef herself. 

Audience with V’neef

She informed them that eleven Anathema had Exalted on the Blessed Isle in the last ten days, and eight had escaped the Hunt.  Never in the history of the Realm had more than two Anathema Exalted at the same time, and the Hunt was strained to stop all of them.

V’neef’s attitude toward the newly exalted Celestials was surprising.  She sought to use them to further the fortunes of her house, and evidenced no fear of them.  V’neef revealed the existence of the Sidereal, a fact she’d learned from her mother while growing up.  She also told the party that Daerian had given the party the option of heading to a training camp somewhere in the South run by the Cult of the Illuminated.  This is a course she strongly supports, because she wants the party to get stronger so they can be of greater use to her house.

V’neef was also able to answer Ukem’s question about his sister and the attack at the House of Bells.  It turns out she was the sole survivor, but she’d been crippled and was paralyzed from the waist down.  Omen offered to take a look at her so V’neef pulled some strings to have her brought from the House of Bells to her manor in Arjuf.

The party also learned that Ragara Yeris had told her house of Ukem’s Exaltation.  The dark secret binds V’neef and Ragara together as both houses have Anathema, and either would be in a precarious position should that knowledge come to light.

Special Instructions

After everyone was dismissed V’neef asked Gargas to remain behind, and gave him special instructions on a number of issues including Ragara Aelianna.  These instructions were shared with no one else.

Ledaal Thoren’s Arrival

Thoren arrived the next morning wishing to speak to Omen.  He recommended that if the PCs are heading to Chiaroscuro they seek out a spirit of great age.  Rumor has it that she’s been alive longer than creation has existed, and while that hardly seems possible she has at been alive since at least the first age.  Her name is Grandmother Bright, and Thoren recommended the party bring gifts if they want her help.

Oh no you didnt…

As soon as Aeli arrived Omen rushed to tend her.  Her injuries were beyond the care of any Dragon-Blooded physician, and even Omen wasn’t positive he could help her.  While tending her his essence flared into a towering inferno flooding the room with golden light.  His Essence increased from 2 to 3 and he spontaneously learned a medicine charm that allowed him to heal her injuries. 

Aeli vividly remembered the battle with the Solar that had caused her injuries, and became hysterical at the sight of another Anathema.  Ukem rushed into the room and was able to calm his sister, who was pleased and relieved to find her injuries healed.  Not long after Gargas came to visit her, and Ukem was shocked to learn how well the pair knew each other.

Aeli had long idolized Gargas as he was one of the upper classmen while she attended the House of Bells.  She wanted to be like him, and had long harbored a crush on him.  It’s hard to say who seduced who, but the pair headed to Gargas’ quarters where they engaged in some very noisy sex.  Ukem heard this and flew into a rage.  He intended to kill Gargas, but was stopped by Omen who asked him to respect the sanctity of V’neef’s home.

Ukem relented, but headed down to the practice yard to blow off some steam.  While there he looked up at Gargas’ room, and happened to make eye contact with the Solar who’d just violated his sister for about two hours.  He clearly indicated that he wanted Gargas to come down to the training yard for a duel, and waited patiently for his rival to arrive.

Instead, a few minutes later he heard his sister screaming Gargas’ name.  Yup, they were going at it a second time.  This time Ukem was even angrier, but Aeli came out to speak to him.  The pair had a long conversation, and Ukem agreed to allow his sister and Gargas to do whatever they wanted without interference.  He was definitely not happy about the situation though. 

Conclusion

The session ended with the party deciding to head to Chiaroscuro.  V’neef has procured a ship for their use, and they are supposed to meet a contact there who will take them to the training camp in the South.

The first session went well

We kicked off the game with our first session last Saturday!  Ukem, Gargas and Omen were able to drive off the Akuma Vrod, but weren’t able to kill him.  They escaped the city of Lord’s Crossing with help from Daerian and the Cult of the Illuminated.  They spent a night in the Cult’s secret temple located deep under the city of Lord’s Crossing, and the patrons worshipped Omen and Gargas as gods.

Assuming a disguise as drovers the party made their way south towards Arjuf where V’neef awaits them.  The party had a run in with the Black Helms, who paid the price for raping a shepherd girl.  After six days of travel they ended up in a ramshackle inn located in a no name town.  Not long after they sat down to enjoy burnt stew and flat beer dozens of horses rode up outside.  A deep voice boomed, “Anathama!  Come out, or we’ll burn you out!”

I ended the session there.  Next week be prepared to deal with the Wyld Hunt!  How did they find you?  How much do they know about your identity?  Both questions will be answered next session!