GOTG - 12/21/23

 How to Save a Life

With time and options running, the Guardians seek to bring Diego back to chase down any more leads from Duvall’s Journal. The first step was to speak with Vaughn and learn more about the Cabal ascension, like-minded individuals whose purpose is to “survive the cycle” or the Wyrms Eternal and ascend. Vaughn reveals a limited knowledge of the ascension because Altisha is much older than him, and this “cycle” is not entirely familiar to him. Regarding reaching the Divine Gate, Vaughn presents the only available options of astral projection and plane shifting, both with their complications. Powerful Astral Dreadnaughts can sever the projection tethers and kill the Guardians. Physically going to the Astral Sea would require a vessel and a means to survive the environment. With that said, the Guardians are gifted with a tuning fork through Blood’s window, and they set off to speak with Nathee about a possible vessel.

Nathee informs the Guardians of a tinkerer named Corstock, who may have the means to rebuild a dominion ship to traverse the Astral Sea. Adventurers currently use another active ship, but seeking them out would be extremely challenging. The Guardians also contacted Mira about possibly meeting to help, but she is currently researching the Faewild and cannot meet; she informs the group that the cube she possessed was lost when killed and may still be in the Woodberry rubble from the Master’s old tower. Question after question leads the Guardians down to a difficult choice. The path to Diego will not be conventional, so Wulf chooses to summon the Withered One.

The Withered One appears with answers but not without a cost for each question (FP per level per question). 

• What were you before?

• Daes the Decievever

• How Daes to now?

• ---

• Nature of the Wyrms Eternal was asked by Aeon to devise a strategy.

• Are you trying to stop it or speed it along?

• In order to stop it the process has to be started

• Are you independent of the cycle?

• --

• Why are the Gods behind the Gate?

• To shield signals from Conduit to activate/Jams Signals

• Will seed destroy the barrier?

• It will begin destruction

• What was the reason behind the war of gods?

• --

• Will the gods help stop the Wyrms Eternal?

• No, but it buy time.

• Are you lying to us? 

• I do not lie, not anymore

• Describe the nature of the Wyrms Eternal?

• Beings of immense power, appear once in 10000 years and used “us” as resource/fuel/food. There have been many cycles, useful or powerful beings selected to become gods to oversee the next cycle (harvest)

• What is the purpose of the deities 

• Grow along certain trajectories become cattle/good good.

• What is the Conduit?

• Device used to reach between realms

• How is it activated?

• Required to be powered.

• Who is Eriathax the Eclipsing shadows

• The reason behind his responsibility.

• What's your plan? 

• Destroying the device would delay it and give us time to prepare.

• Why do you want him to know?

• Bring the conduit into position and destroy it.

• Where is the Conduit?

• Beyond the Divine Gate.

• Missing question----

• Eriathrax is consuming souls for the conduit.

• What is needed?

• Conduit is an Antenna, floating city center the Conduit.

• Destroy city= Destroy Conduit

• Cult of Ascension?

• Enemy - Eriathrax

• Who are the people?

• Officer Magister Alistar Alizer (the Marionetist)

• Officer - Solice - Clan Dare Champion of Shadow

• Three unknown officers under Fennic.  

• How can we contact like-minded groups?

• It is being arranged, as a counter-offensive.

• How long till he is ready? 

• Months

• When we are ready where do we go?

• Darkwater Bay - half-day march - await the ferrymen

With some choices before them, the group now makes plans before initiating “the end of the world” to stop the “end of the world.” What will everyone do?

GOTG - 11/30-12/7 - Guardians 2 Rakshasa 0

             Guardians 2 Rakshasa 0

As the battle begins, Duvall lays some heavy offense alongside powerful lair actions that temporarily banish the Guardians or re-position them into unfavorable spaces. However, the Guardians are able to maneuver around Edson Duvall and pull off several combinations of attacks to tear Duvall’s form. Wulf exchanges equally powerful blows with Duvall. At the same time, the El, Corvus, and Atheya barrage him with attacks. Blood, keen to end the battle, releases his fiend arrow at Duvall and critically wounds the Rakshasa; before they even have a chance to celebrate, Duvall calls out to an unknown “divine” entity which twists and turns the room they are fighting and relocates the Guardians to a more hellish landscapes of small lands connected by chains among a large gate. From the gate emerges Edson Duvall in a new and terrifying form. 

                In round 2, Duvall releases a fiery breath from the Guardians, shaking them up, and follows up with a terrifying barrage of attacks. Several Guardians are immediately in a dangerous situation and must regroup to survive. However, before the situation improves, a gate opens, and several creatures appear to aid Duvall. With the situation getting worse by the second, the Guardians rally. Corvus leaps into action and delivers a flourish of blows that dispatch most of the reinforcements. Wulf and Blood occupy Duvall’s attention and receive the brunt of his attack. Meanwhile, Eltuire can perceive that the runes around the gate can be dispelled and closed. Atheya, seeing her chance, dispels the gate and cuts off DUvall’s reinforcements. Before the gate can completely close, another figure is able to push through and enter the fray. Lexa, an “ally” to the Guardians, appears and provides them with assistance, and Duvall another target. 

With Moonblade in hand, Lexa unleashes a deadly barrage onto Duvall; fighting through the powerful effects of the lair and Duvall’s might, the heroes gradually turn the tide of the battle. However, Duvall's strength seems endless; he begins to overwhelm the likes of Blood, Lexa, and Atheya. With resources running low and Duvall turning this encounter deadly. Eluire reaches into her case and pulls out a forgotten scroll and vial. Consuming the vial and casting True Polymorph on both Lexa and Blood. El turned them into the most powerful creature she could visualize as the most recent one that tried to kill her, a Silver Dragon. With this, Duvall’s fate is sealed; as he roars and crashes with the Dragons, the combined forces of the Guardians, aided by two silver dragons, ultimately lead to Duvall’s demise. Blood provides the finishing blow.

With Duvall defeated, the heroes return to the chamber they were in before to find Lysandra waiting and applauding the heroes' triumph. With glee, Lysandra comes to an agreement with the Guardians for ten percent. 

• Ten Celestial Children

• Duvall’s Journal

• Frieda’s contract

Lysandra provides transport to the Hollowed Inn for Corvus to retrieve Frieda. Frieda jumps into his arms, calling him a hero. Irrespective of his well-deserved title, Corvus brings Frieda outside, and the group escapes to Alya. Upon arriving, Lexa offers to take the children somewhere safe within the Divine Panosphical. The Guardians stand there, having returned from the hells mostly in one piece and freeing Atheya from any burden from Duvall; the Guardians complete this task, but more adventure lies in wait.