Session 6 - Right Next to You

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Kral vision
* You're at an endless beach - a silhouette is staring at you from far out, beneath the ocean in front of you.
 
Arrive at the Valley of Black Sand
* Ground is black, The Knight of Ruin is standing in the field with his back to the party
 
Knight of Ruin fight
* “Master said you wouldn’t be able to kill me. None of you would. And he’s never wrong. Let’s prove that.”
* To Kral: "Master said that he liked you. That you were just like him."
* As the Knight is dying and the party talks to him, he says: "This isn't possible, how could you... kill me... If I'm going to die, I might as well take you with me" but then Q appears, saying "Do you guys need some help?" and kills him > the Knight says "why?" before dying
* Voladore feels some strange force from within him, and he takes no damage from one of the Knight's attacks
 
Meeting Godric Galahad (Door of Ruin)
* Call from GRG #6 > "I finally got a signal through - who am I speaking to? I felt two intense forces clashing above me, and figured someone must be fighting the Knight of Ruin. And if this call has gone through then it must mean he’s dead... Is that still what he's calling himself? The 'Knight of Ruin?' I can't believe he uses that name when he was too cowardly to take the Door from me. What a fool."
* Entrance to a cave about 100 feet in the distance - a few feet in is a wall with a seal on it, and behind it is Godric (short, old tiefling)
* To Castor: "I know your father. Every once in a while, when I’ve felt beings of immense magical power passing through the area, the seal on this place is disturbed and weakens just enough for me to slip out. The last time was 15 years ago - I met your father, and he was able to get me one of these new fangled speaking stones. Said to call if I was captured again - but a signal can barely get through the magic, and even if it does, it’s just static."
 
 
1. Backstory
* "I suppose you're wondering about me, seeing as how two of you hold Doors. The Door of Ruin has been passed through my family for generations, like a curse of sorts, but it was only until I inherited it that I sought to learn what it actually was. One day, some of my colleagues and I were attacked by some individual. We were quite skilled, and although we did manage to kill him, I was the only one who made it out alive. The day after, I was captured by the "Knight" and some other men, and sealed underground. He wanted to keep me alive but didn't want to take my Door from me, as it would harm him in the long run."
2. Satroleyes
* (He looks into your souls for a second) > “Sorry, just had to make sure you weren’t members of the Order. The Door of Ruin deals with manipulation of the soul, so I just took a quick peek inside all of yours. You have a satroleye? And I see you know 'that man…' When I was much younger, some colleagues and I were historians, and we were researching the history of this world, as it always seemed a bit strange to us - too... recent. It was a lot easier to get information back then, and two things came up repeatedly in our studies: the first were these objects - satroleyes. Magical fuel sources, or so we thought. Mentioned in passing in dozens of diaries and journals. We weren’t entirely sure where they came from, but it was as if they were slowly disappearing over time. Disappearing from records, and seemingly from existence. I could tell that something was off about them, probably due to my wielding of this “Door power.” Something I could never prove, as I could never get my hands on one. Until now, at least. Give it here.”
 
* (Voladore hands the satroleye to him) > "The funny thing about the Door of Ruin, is that I don’t believe it’s meant to be “used" - I think it rather exists as a statement, of powers that should not be wielded. It is certainly ruinous as the name implies, but the only one upon who the ruin is cast is me, the wielder. Slowly eating away at my soul - it took most of my sight years ago, and has since left me with this decrepit old body. If one were to have two souls, perhaps, they could wield such a power to the fullest extent. That's why I wasn't killed but instead sealed away. That Knight didn't want to take this self-destructive power from me."
 
* (He grabs the satroleye, as it falls out of his hand and smashes into the ground, leaving a satroleye-shaped crater) > "Have you heard of something called the “Strings?” Well of course you have, I’ve read it in your soul. I believe satroleyes to be the physical manifestation of these Strings - an otherworldly force present within everything, with one’s connection to the Strings measured as something called Resonance. The Strings should not be able to physically manifest, but somehow, I believe they do in the form of satroleyes. Now I’m not sure exactly how they could physically manifest into our world, but if they did, they would certainly be highly unstable. Only could they become stabilized by something or someone with an incredibly high attunement to the Strings, or Resonance. As I wield a Door of great destruction, it would naturally reject me... The Door of Harmony is unique, in that it does not transfer between individuals upon the death of its wielder, like every other Door. It only transfers between those with an exceptionally high attunement to the Strings. In all my life, I have not seen one wielder of the Door of Harmony, and I was even uncertain of its existence. But if I came across one, surely their Resonance would allow them to stabilize a satroleye."
 
* (He wries it from the ground, turns to Maryn, and says to put out her hand” - it’s as light as a feather) > “Hmm. Perhaps you’re not quite at that level yet. I have a feeling you'll awaken in the near future. You'll know what I'm talking about when the time comes. Hold the satroleye then. But on the topic of Resonance, Castor - when I met your father, I could feel within him an unbelievable amount of Resonance, an unheard of attunement to the Strings. Out of curiosity, I took a peek into his soul, and information came flooding in - too much to process. The one thing I remember was that he had to go to Asphodel, to stop someone. And about a week later, Asphodel... changed. It had become engulfed in magic, and lights began to rise out of that sea around it. I knew for certain it had something to do with your father, but I was recaptured soon after that, and wasn't able to learn anything else. But if he's still alive, he's definitely in that city."
 
3. Underground area
* Arrive at a massive underground opening > "This place is an old bunker built for Corcoran royalty - it’s full of ancient magical items and books. Feel free to have a look around and take anything you desire. I won't be needing much seeing as how I'll finally be leaving this place."
* 100 foot tall cavern
* Bookshelves extending to the ceiling
* Small farm
* Everburning Lanterns
* Like an M. C. Escher painting
* "Now... have any of you been to Magnostadt recently? Surely you must have a copy of that prophecy. I always went through it back in my day for fun, and would love to get my hands on it again."
** To Kral: "Who did you say you were? You are Kral Boymans, no? I don't think you're understanding me, child. You... are Kral Boymans. Mar, Mar, Mar... Mar was the one who bombed your school. Killed your wife? In her last moments, she grabbed hold of your weakened soul through sheer force of will, and took over. Shredding off and replacing any memories of the event. Contorting her form to replace you completely. Burying your soul deep within your mind. Only sinking further as the years passed. And that armor can't possibly help - it buries your identity even more. To your forgotten soul, that steel against your skin must be... deafening. But you're still in there. I can see it, in your eyes. They show a soul - unconquerable."
 
4. Ugashi
* "Ugashi… you’re wondering what happened to him. The poor boy. I was too - it was the last thing I was researching before I was attacked a week later. I managed to find a few transcripts from the event - this one is the most clear" (he hands you a short book that is a few pages long):
 
* Year 900, 3:18 PM
* The last recorded words of King Nephret are spoken: "It seems the time has come. If we don't kill him now, the worst possible fate will descend upon humanity. To my friends, my people, my son - everything, even resistance, may be but a step on a predictable path. I cannot simply surrender without even trying. Please forgive me. He's already killed my son once."
 
* King Nephret - a fully realized Door of Dominion - proceeds to imbue the lifespan of every sentient being in Corcoran, from now, until the end of time, into the body of his recently deceased son - Ugashi - making the following request: "Kill Gabriel."
 
* Year 900, 3:19 PM
* The main body of Ugashi, Sovereign of Annihilation - now contorted into a massive, demon-like form - manifests in the outskirts of Corcoran. Upon appearance, all life forms, sentient or otherwise, within a 100 meter proximity of Ugashi are immediately annihilated. The ground is turned black.
 
* Year 900, 3:20 PM
* Ugashi ascends into the air and advances toward the target.
 
* Year 900, 3:25 PM
* Ugashi stops.
 
* Several pages are torn from the book, and only the final one remains:
 
* Year 900, 2:03 AM
* Ugashi has been sealed. Final words: "kill... tiefling..." Target unwounded. Survival is certain.
 
* "You're familiar with the Sovereigns, I assume? Well I know you are - I saw it in your soul. Ugashi was the son of King Nephret - the former king of Corcoran. He was a good kid, but he had gotten himself involved with some bad people. These "sovereigns" - he had become one himself. One day, however, he learned something so terrible and horrible that he tried to kill the leader of the group, but couldn't even touch him, and was killed himself. His father, the King of Corcoran and the Door of Dominion, brought him back by sacrificing every present and future citizen of Corcoran - making that dark patch of land above us. But he still stood no chance, and his final recorded words were "kill tiefling." I'm not sure what that means, as he was a tiefling himself, but those words were recorded as scripture and I believe that's how the Order was formed. After that, the King went mad and started killing random people in Corcoran in a daze, but he suddenly disappeared and the Door of Dominion was gone with him. And Ugashi... he died on that day, but I can feel something. He's here. He's right next to you."
** He goes over to Maryn, reaches into her bag, pulls out a doll - the one given to her by her mother > "I always wondered why the curse of the old King was never lifted from the citizens of Corcoran, but Ugashi was sealed away in his fight. It's possible that his body still exists, and I can feel it. In here. There's some incredibly powerful seal on this doll - where did you get it?"
 
* He reaches into the doll's front pocket, and takes out a folded letter and a folded piece of paper > he first unfolds the paper which is an old and worn textbook page about the "forgotten astronaut" with one thing written on it in pencil: a scribbled out "Caspar Loach" written near the bottom
** Caspar says "I think I know what this means. I was researching something I should not have, and paid for it with my own life. Although I was given a second, I think this means that I won't be given a third." > the folded letter says: "I would put that back if I were you" before the doll starts to vibrate.
 
5. Tavern Dream
* "I also saw in your minds that something happened to you recently. In a... tavern? It's all dark, and the information seems to be hiding itself from you. I can attempt to "lift the veil" on the information if you'd like. But don't worry - I won't look at it myself." > "You should be able to process it clearly in a day or two."
 
6. Dark Star
* Godric asks Voladore to explain to him who the Dark Star is - “It’s possible that the identity of this being is buried deep within your soul. I could have a look, if you wouldn’t mind.” > his eyes widen for a moment, before returning to normal
* “Oh. So that’s how it is... Now that I peeked, I suppose I’m not long for this world. The story will do anything to protect itself from prying eyes… Nevermind that, Voladore. Their identity is not something you should concern yourself with.”
 
7. Collins
* "I mentioned how some colleagues and I were researching the history of this world, and that two recurring topics kept coming up. The first was the satroleyes. And the second was... a man, of many names. I know he's been around since at least before I was first captured. It was extremely difficult to find anything on him, but I believe him to be old. Very old. From a world before this one. Something... happened, a thousand years ago, that changed everything. It would've been catastrophic, and if he was from that world, it would be a miracle if he were to survive it... His presence is suffocating. I feel as though he's watching me now. Before I was captured, however, I stumbled across something. A letter that I'm almost certain he had written, but never sent out. I believe there is something wrong with his mind or memory - a singular weakness. And he writes a lot of letters, for some reason. Anywho, I have it here, but do not open it in this place. I also have some of my old research on the world... There's a chill up my spine, like he's getting closer - and I think its time you get going. There are some mountains to the east of here - I will send you there. Go to Asphodel and try to find your father. Trust no one. I don't know why, but I feel as though that man is... coming for you. Here, gather together and take my things."
* You see Q in the back fiddling with a bookshelf, and he starts to come over as Godric puts his hands together and begins casting some sort of teleportation spell
* Godric: "Ah don't worry about your friend - I'll make sure he gets out of here safely. But... there is one more thing. The man you call “Collins…” I met him once, right as I was captured for the first time. I saw his face. My sight has deteriorated greatly over time, and I probably wouldn't even be able to recognize him - but I certainly do remember. I didn't want to dig up the memory, but if what I feel is true, and he really is coming for you, you'll need to know. I barely saw him for a second, but he had this white hair, and was wearing a blindfold..."
* Just as the teleportation spell finishes, you see Q walk up behind Godric, put his hands on his head, and snap his neck. When you arrive in the mountains, there's a call from Godric's flipstone: "Ugashi was a nuisance. I had to get rid of him in some way. Your mother's work was of the finest quality, Maryn."