Tombs of Scoria: Episode 94

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== Synopsis ==
With the War for Arcadia ended, Tyrael and Imrik take to settling Mistrya. Tyrael navigates the concerns of the Queens in the royal baths, while Imrik learns the truth of Anton’s fate from the vapors of Atropos. One day, Tyrael decides he has had enough responsibility for a lifetime, and suddenly leaves Arcadia and his kingship behind, living in a cabin in the woods with anti-scrying magics somewhere in Solum. Imrik assumes rulership of Mistrya, while also guiding Anton’s son, Anton Jr., as a father figure. 
Eventually, the Empire of Voraci comes for Arcadia. Imrik calls for Tyrael to aid in the defense of Arcadia, but Tyrael declines. While Imrik suffers a personal loss of magical knowledge to saboteurs, Imrik, now a 16th level warrior mage, is able to lead the defense of Arcadia and repel the Empire, causing the Empire of Voraci to collapse shortly thereafter. At the same time, tales begin to emerge of a scorched Death Knight wearing dragonscale armor, marked with the symbol of Velthara, who walks the lands of Solum, crucifying wrongdoers on the cross of Velthara.
As Anton Jr. grows older, he struggles with the deeds his father and uncles, and all that they did for the sake of Arcadia. Anton Jr. leaves for Solum, looking for answers as to why life is the way it is. As part of his travels and quest for answers, he seeks out Tyrael, the legendary warrior who slayed a red dragon, who is said to have settled into a simple life, somewhere in the woods of Solum. While traveling the woods, Anton Jr. comes across a dwelling with a man in his sixties. Anton Jr. asks the man whether he has heard the tale of Tyrael, which, according to rumor, says he lives somewhere in the woods nearby. Tyrael welcomes Anton Jr. in, saying perhaps they can find such a man together.
== Epilogue ==
Imrik attempts to scry on Anton, but cannot find him, as Anton’s soul now occupies a completely different form as a Death Knight. Imrik also attempts to cast Locate Planar Traveler - Anton, but the spell similarly fails, as does Speak With Dead. Scrying on Anton’s equipment also returns no results. Imrik suspects Anton’s disappearance has something to do with Velthara's quest, but he does not fully realize the extent of it.
Drekis celebrates as Scoria’s head is displayed in a massive, celebratory parade. At some point, Tyrael investigates whether the sending board within King Guilder’s hidden chamber survived Scoria’s torching of Crownhold, and he finds it. Imrik spends time learning Teleport Without Error.
Tyrael levels up to Fighter Level 14 and Rogue Level 17. Imrik also levels up to Fighter Level 14 and Wizard Level 15(16).
=== Tyrael's Ambitions ===
Some time later, however, the Queen seeks an audience with Tyrael, unarmored, within the royal baths, exactly as Tyrael saw in the visions of Glacia. Tyrael does not inform Imrik and heads down alone, voluntarily disarming himself under the watch of the Queensguard. As Tyrael and the Queen drink, she asks him what his ambitions are. Specifically, she asks whether Tyrael will be a reliable ally: would he go seeking Anton should he ever resurface. Tyrael answers he is content resting, no longer willing to cross planes and treat with the gods. 
The Queen then asks if war should ever find Arcadia again, and the circumstances were dire with the armies beaten back, whether he would personally take up arms again. Tyrael answers if it were life and death, he would attempt to defend himself in the face of an immediate threat like Arc Sombar did against Scoria. 
The Queen goes on to remark that surely, without qualification, Tyrael is the mightiest warrior in all of Arcadia, and perhaps even all of Solum, meaning there is no one in the World who could compel him by force to do something he did not want to do. Tyrael answers that he feels he reached a high level of power long ago, and he still followed the Queen’s orders. The Queen says some of her advisors feel that with Scoria dead, Tyrael now poses the greatest threat to Drekis, and at a whim, he could scale Wikk Keep and take all of Drekis for himself. Tyrael agrees that is the case, but that it is wise for the Queen to keep such a quantity as an ally, and he would have done so already if he wished. 
The Queen then asks that when she should die, would Tyrael willingly bow to someone far younger, and perhaps less wise or more temperamental. Tyrael replies he has followed the Queen even through what he thought were unwise decisions, and he followed the questionable judgment of his brothers under the threat of death in the case of a misstep. The Queen expresses skepticism that Tyrael is the rare man of honor who would be uncorrupted by power. Tyrael replies, in essence, it is better to go with the devil she knows. Tyrael answers plainly that gripping the back of Scoria, flying through the air slicing through her scales, and escaping certain death after being teleported to Bridgelight was a peak experience, and he will never feel more fulfilled increasing the number of subjects to tax. The Queen, still unsatisfied, questions whether his views will change as he ages and he begins to think of legacy. Tyrael remains firm, saying he feels he has lived a hundred lifetimes already, and his deeds will live on.
The Queen goes on to regard Tyrael as the more powerful brother, for as powerful as Imrik is, where Imrik could easily level Drekis and destroy the continent if he willed it, Imrik listens to Tyrael. The Queen thanks Tyrael for his honesty, and the two make small talk. As Tyrael leaves, Tyrael warns the queensguard to watch for burps, revealing Tyrael had consumed potions of fire breath beforehand. Tyrael succeeds on a Perception Check and sees that the attendant queensguard is very displeased Tyrael left the baths alive. With Tyrael’s exit, the visions of Glacia, which showed a future where Tyrael is executed, do not come to pass.
=== Returning What Was Taken ===
Not too long after the parades, Imrik spends some time organizing some of their magical gear for their eventual return. Imrik and Tyrael Teleport Without Error to Akuba, to the monks who maintain the Tomb of Rohana. Imrik returns Rohana’s shield, Rohana’s armor, and Rohana’s sandals, noting he wore the sandals in the fight against Scoria, and they were of great assistance to him throughout his journeys. The monks are surprised to see their return, but ask where the Spear of Rohana is. Imrik says Anton has disappeared and that the spear disappeared with him. Imrik apologizes, saying they never could have succeeded without the spear's power, asking whether a powerful weapon from Scoria’s hoard would be an adequate replacement. 
The monks regard Imrik as acting in good faith and believe him, also believing Rohana would be proud her spear struck a mighty blow against Scoria and was lost in the battle against her. The monks return the vials of the Brothers’ blood to them, and the groups part ways. 
=== Learning the Truth ===
Some time later, Imrik finds some bottles of the vapors from Atropos’s cave. He inhales the vapors, and begins feeling the thoughts and emotions of Anton towards the end of his life. Anton felt betrayed as he was trapped in the psuedoplane of Velthara, and that it was his brothers who saved him, not Velthara. Anton would merely use Velthara, fully intent on refusing her once Scoria was dead. Anton feels disgusted that he sacrificed his wife and child, which sent him over the edge as he was trapped. Anton’s thoughts and emotions in his final moments course through Imrik as he inhales the first vial. Slumped against a wall, tears stream down Imrik’s face as his eyes are glazed over from the vapors. Imrik realizes Velthara has captured Anton’s soul, explaining why Speak With Dead did not work. Imrik plays the visions over and over in his mind, suspecting that Anton knew what his fate would be before renouncing his oath, and that Anton is forever lost to them, in spite of all Tyrael and Imrik sacrificed to save him. Imrik informs Tyrael of what has transpired.
Imrik wishes to hold a funeral, but Tyrael questions the wisdom of letting news of Anton’s death spread. Tyrael’s mind drifts towards his Ring of Seeing as he regards Imrik. Imrik hands Tyrael a vial of the vapors telling him if he inhales the vapors and thinks of Anton, he could see Anton’s final moments. Tyrael refuses, and tells Imrik to save the vial for something important in the future. Tyrael then gives Imrik the Phylactery of Long Years, saying it may better serve him in times of peace than the Amulet of Health. Imrik asks Tyrael if he wants to grab a drink, but Tyrael declines, saying he needs to start maintaining some distance between himself and the people as the king.
As Imrik heads out, he sees Anton’s wife, Alyx, and her son, Anton Jr. Alyx says she has arrived to ask Tyrael when Anton will return. Imrik dodges her question and heads off into the night. Tyrael similarly evades answering her. Alyx says she will pray to Velthara for answers. Alyx lingers, asking about Anton’s estate, saying those duties will fall to young Anton Jr. when he comes of age. Anton Jr., born with some blessings, has the following stats: 13, 17, 10, 14, 11, 10, 15 (to be distributed). Imrik suggests to Tyrael that Anton’s family be given a Duchy in Mistrya, and that Imrik would manage it until Anton Jr. comes of age. 
Imrik, realizing he is unlikely to have children of his own, maintains a close relationship with Anton Jr. and discourages him from any clerical influences as he grows up. Imrik tells Anton Jr. stories of Anton’s humanity and the heroic sacrifices Anton made for the Brothers and Drekis. Anton Jr. asks Imrik about his father often, but Imrik remains vague concerning details around Anton's fate. While Anton Jr. hears many good stories of his father, he occasionally hears other stories of a disconcerting nature. Imrik saves a bottle of the vapors to give to Anton Jr. on his 18th birthday, giving Anton Jr. the vapors to learn the truth once he comes of age. Anton Jr. eventually does become a young man; he inhales the vapors, and sees who Anton was in his last moments, the terrible things he did, and who his father was striving to be.
=== Uniting Arcadia ===
Over time, Kel William Marshal overthrows Eridon and brings it under the influence of Drekis. A small battle between Drekis and Eridon breaks out to bring Eridon under heel, and Eridon quickly surrenders to avoid further bloodshed. Wake County remains independent, as do the dwarves in the north. Drekis and Akuba settle into a tentative peace. The elves have disappeared completely from Arcadia. Imrik informs the elves that Scoria is dead, but the elves do not return. The dwarves are content with their independence, and worry little about invasion. Wake County becomes a capital of trade with the favorable location with Redport. Messengers are sent to Gadia, but they do not return. Tyrael focuses on resettling wartorn areas. However, with Mathava, Tyrael feels Mathava would be a great place for Mistryans to settle, and threatens they must swear fealty to Drekis, including to a male ruler if a son succeeds the Queen and becomes Emperor, else war will eventually come to Mathava.
A new king comes to power in Akuba, who marries a half-elf. The king has a son via surrogate mother who is a cleric of Martha. Imrik and the Queen eye Akuba for conquest, but Tyrael shows little interest. Tyrael does however enthusiastically involve Imrik in running Mistrya over the next few months, asking for his counsel in running the kingdom. Imrik stands beside Tyrael as Tyrael holds court. Tyrael takes on projects that interest him like carpentry, and how to line rooms with silver and lead.
=== Leaving Everything Behind ===
One day a few months later, however, Tyrael is late to his kingly duties. Imrik goes to check on Tyrael, and sees in the sending board that Tyrael left a note for him with the everburning candle, saying that he loves him, and that if he ever needs him, to leave a note on the sending board, also writing that between Imrik's might and Shine, the two of them can take care of Arcadia. Tyrael, overwhelmed by the idea of being a bureaucrat after everything he has given, has taken his weapons and armor, including the Amulet of Proof Against Scrying from King Guilder, and left Arcadia for Solum, where he constructed a lead and silver lined cabin in the woods. Tyrael lives out a simple life, having small adventures periodically. Imrik takes to running Mistrya in Tyrael's absence, inheriting Tyrael's titles as King of Mistrya and Lord of the Riverlands. 
=== The Age of Empires ===
With no dragons ravaging the lands, years go by, and Arcadia settles into an era of peace and prosperity. However, the peace is short-lived. Drekis receives word that the inhabitants of Bravo have been united, and have set their sights on Arcadia, planning an invasion on their own. The Empire of Voraci has enveloped all the Western Kingdoms of Solum, and faces instability with no further expansion occurring into the Central Kingdoms. The Arcadian Isles and The Dardens have becomes a convenient target for the Empire of Voraci. Imrik makes the 6 knights who survived the battle with Scoria the Kingsguard of Mistrya, and equips them with the best weapons available and red dragonscale armor. After the Dardens and Ethos fall, the Voraci fleet comes for Arcadia.
Imrik begins to remilitarize the kingdom and lets Tyrael know the Empire of Voraci is coming. Imrik asks Tyrael to help defend Arcadia, but Tyrael declines. Imrik struggles to repel the Empire of Voraci, finding it difficult to make final decisions without Tyrael. Imrik ultimately does repel the Empire of Voraci, but sabotage has destroyed his magical studies, with Imrik only retaining the spellbooks he had on hand while out fighting. The Empire of Voraci ultimately fails to conquer Arcadia under Imrik and Shine's protection. After a few years, the Empire of Voraci crumbles under its own weight.
=== The End ===
In Solum, Anton’s spirit is chained to his physical form which now walks the lands as a Death Knight. He feels a constant, distant agony as if always on fire. Part of his spirit exists within the spirit world, able to see his life as a spectator. Simultaneously, the worst parts of Anton manifest within his physical form. Over time, legends of a Death Knight wearing dragonscale armor, marked with the cross of Velthara, emerge. Parents tell their children stories of the Death Knight of vengeance who will come get them if they behave badly, but physical instances of Anton also emerge, as bodies are staked to crucifixes of Velthara. In the later years of Tyrael’s life, he hears stories of a Death Knight wearing dragonscale armor that stalks the lands. 
Over time, Imrik’s curiosity gets the better of him; he attempts intimacy with a woman of low repute, but the corruption of his soul proves too much. As Anton Jr. grows up, he decides to leaves Arcadia to travel the World, struggling to process the things his father and uncles did to win the war, saying he hopes to find enlightenment with Martha in the lands to the east. Anton Jr. leaves for Solum, seeking to understand why Martha made the world the way she did. 
Years later, Anton Jr. attempts to find his Uncle Tyrael in Solum, hoping to find some answers. Anton Jr. encounters a man in his sixties living in a finely built cabin in the woods. Anton Jr. talks to the man, saying he is looking for a great warrior who slayed a red dragon, who then left for Solum after reaching the height of power, leaving everything behind. Anton Jr. says he heard that man, the great warrior Tyrael, lives somewhere in these woods, and he asks whether the man can help him find Tyrael. Tyrael welcomes Anton Jr. in, saying perhaps they can locate such a man together.
Category:Tombs of Scoria Episodes