Arvandor Falls

"Arvandor Falls" is episode 70 of SuperQuest Saga. The party has defeated The Logician, but now the Library of Ancients is falling down on top of them.

## Synopsis

### Introduction

* Will Stark shall be your self-destructing dungeon master for this evening.
* Josh Freeland is playing Sebastian Crenshaw, half-orc fighter, The Forsaken.
* Your Special Guest Jake is playing Persephone Goldpetal the firbolg druid.
* Brian is doing the Echo. Echo does the magic and the stealing. (Wizard/Rogue)

### Recap

Last time a lot of stuff happened. The party partook in The Logician’s game of twisted Jeopardy! and they answered their way to victory. Sebastian answered all the questions in the Combat category correctly and made it to the end. Unfortunately, when they did win, The Logician was not a graceful loser and seemed on the verge of trying to weasel his way out of giving them the info by accusing the party of cheating. Unfortunately for him, The Ambuscade killed him because it seems like The Ambuscade just doesn’t like sore losers. The Ambuscade handed over the star map, warned the party that The Logician is a very sore loser, so they should leave now, and, before disappearing, told them that he would see them again and most likely kill them. The party felt the floor shudder as explosives went off in the building.

### Is There a Crazy Alarm Sound?

An alarm sounds and it is clear the building will be falling soon. Sebastian looks around to see if any doors opened up or if they’ll need to go back the way they came. The door to the room The Logician was hiding in is now open, and the way behind them is open as well.

Persephone casts Enhance Ability on everyone to grant Cat’s Grace; she touches everyone and they all get different colored cat ears and tails. Echo rushes forward to check out the door in front of them. He sees a stairwell to the left that leads up out of sight. He starts running up and learns it leads to the room above where The Logician was running his game show. Persephone, Primina, and Sebastian see him up there. Sebastian waves up at him. Echo hears the beeping that indicates The Logician’s head will explode soon, just like all the other Freelancers they fought. He quickly investigates the room and finds an electronic device of some interest to him, he’s not sure what its function is but he knows it is high tech. He uses his sword to cut The Logician’s arms off and take them as souvenirs. He jumps down and rejoins the group telling them to run.

Shrapnel, furniture, and blazing fire blast out of the room as the bomb explodes. Echo and Primina avoid some of the damage, but everyone is pushed out of the room into the room where Sebastian found the horn. They can see across into the room with the glass bridge, which has been shattered due to the building collapsing around them.

Primina offers to fly everyone across; she has wings and can probably carry each of them one at a time. Echo tests whether or not he is able to Misty Step and successfully teleports a few feet to his right. Persephone is also able to Wild Shape into a quetzalcoatlus to help carry someone across. Echo can ride Bigby’s Hand, so Primina and Persephone each take Sebastian by a hand and swing him between them.

### Hacky-Sacking Seb

They make their way back to the wordsearch room and see that the collapsing building has shaken tiles loose. The entire grid is flashing and short-circuiting, and fire is shooting up in random directions across the hall. The party continues flying, trying to dodge the fire as best they can; everyone but Sebastian takes some fire damage. Echo re-ups his Bladesong.

Ahead of the group is the set of double doors powered by necrotic energy; one door is closed and one is open, but the necrotic energy pillar beyond has fallen and is blocking the opening. Echo does a cool flip off of Bigby’s Hand and uses the hand to move the debris away. Primina and Persephone continue carrying Sebastian as they fly up the long spiral staircase bookshelf. Books are falling off the shelves everywhere; Echo manages to snatch a book out of the air as they travel up but Sebastian gets hit by books as Persephone and Primina toss him around, dodging the debris.

Everyone flies as high as they can go in this tower and reach the landing with the teleportation device. “That’s not what I had in mind when I wanted an immersive reading experience” Echo says. The party stands around the glyph, Persephone still in quetzalcoatlus form, and Echo concentrates his arcane energies to activate the teleportation.

The group is moved to the waterfall room and find the water that was once flowing upwards is now cascading down. Echo removes the dusk and dawn stones from the device to return them to the teleportation device near where they entered the library. Water and debris is falling around them and they receive a notification on their bracer jacks.

Sebastian hits the button and they hear Watt’s voice. “Can any of you hear me? Come in!” Sebastian confirms and Watt informs them he has tried his best to fix what he can on *Victory’s Ascent* but things are highly unstable and they only have a few minutes at best to get out of there. Primina and Sebastian tell him that they are on the way.

The party decides to make a run for it on the perimeter walkway instead of trying to fly through the center with the falling debris and water. Echo prepares to cast Dimension Door in case anyone needs help as they make their way out. Persephone returns to her firbolg form and trips about halfway there as the others pull ahead. The tower starts coming down even faster; three giant chunks of stone fall directly on Percy but she dodges out of the way and Wild Shapes into the Megapede as she rolls away, taking some damage.

The building shudders worse than ever as they make it to the stairwell exit. Echo stumbles and falls. Percy, who had lagged behind a little bit, now catches up with him as they run up the stairs. Sebastian followed by Primina, then Echo and Primina make it to the top of the tower.

The tower is shaking violently and entire sections of stone blocks are beginning to upheave. Across the platform they see *Victory’s Ascent*, 200-ft away with the entry stairwell still extended, starting to slope since the ground is no longer level. Echo yells for Percy to change back to her firbolg form and, as soon as she does, he grabs her by the shirt and pulls her through his Dimension Door. They teleport to the foot of the ship. Primina and Sebastian start running across the platform and Echo runs back towards them from the ship.

Echo is the only one who notices a shadow on the ground; he looks up and sees that the windmill hanging above the platform has fallen off and is about to bisect the tower where the three of them are about to meet. Echo tells Primina to fly to the ship; he shoots up in the air at the falling windmill to get their attention on it, casting Zephyr Strike on himself. Primina looks up and flies up and around it. Sebastian cranks the Haste on his arm to increase his speed and dashes towards Echo. Right before the windmill crashes down on the two of them, Echo and Sebastian grab each other and Echo activates Dimension Door, teleporting them in front of Percy. The windmill bisects the tower and the platform they’re standing on heaves up, causing the ship to slide.

Seb tells everyone they gotta go. Prim zooms into the ship as everyone else scrambles on. Watt is practically pulling his hair out from stress. Primina enters the control tank and *Victory’s Ascent* takes off into the atmosphere. They watch on the rear view butt camera as the entire tower teeters and crumbles, falling off the waterfall it was seated on.

### It’s Watt, This is What Watt Do.

Across their telepathic bond they sense Sebastian’s adrenaline from his Haste. Persephone is very worried. Primina has a little stress, but is mostly exhilarated. Watt is incredibly stressed. Persephone asks if they should check the flash drive to see if all this work was worth it. Echo tells her they need to pick up a converter to use the old tech. Watt asks what they’re talking about and Sebastian shows him. Watt has the tech they need and disappears into his quarters; Echo is dumbfounded.

Watt returns with an old analog attachment for his bracer jack, plugs the flash drive in, and pulls out a map of the galaxy. He projects it for the party and shows him the highlighted path. “I do believe we have our star map here.” Percy celebrates. Echo studies the map, looks at Percy, then looks back at the map and shoots her in the shoulder with a healing cartridge without saying anything. Percy and Prim call him out for being rude as fuck. “We ask for consent first before we jab each other,” Prim says firmly. Echo apologizes.

Sebastian asks Watt what they’re looking at. Echo seeks clarification for when he can shoot his friends with healing without consent. Watt tells everyone it appears to be a star map of the galaxy. Percy asks if they should just head to the center now, or do they need to tell people. Watt responds that they certainly could just go, it looks like a two week journey. The jump points are key; the center region of the galaxy is riddled with supermassive black holes and other dangerous celestial bodies. Percy asks Echo if he needs to tell his parents since they were overseeing the mission. Echo heard Watt say “two week journey” and had bad flashbacks to their space chess games. He snaps out of it and tells the party that his parents will be fine, they know what the mission is. Watt suggests they get out of the active warzone before they make a decision.

*Victory’s Ascent* begins flying out of Arvandor’s atmosphere. The battlescape has dramatically changed from when they descended onto Arvandor. Draconic Star Sovereignty forces have seemed to overwhelm the elves; D.S.S. armadas are descending on the planet in full force. Dominating the backdrop of the scene is a gargantuan fortress ship; it looks less like a spaceship and more like a complicated machine tower as wide as a city. Countless smaller vessels and dragons fly in a flurry around it, both entering and exiting.

Watt informs them that it is *The Chronepsis Zero*, flagship of the entire D.S.S. fleet; if it is here then Arvandor has fallen. Sebastian asks why Echo is carrying around the robot arms from The Logician. Echo saw a movie, Spiderman: No Way Home and he wanted to be like Peter Parker. Watt goes to get the A-Reactor heated up. Persephone also heard about the spider movie and tries to cast Polymorph on Echo to turn him into a spider. Echo slaps her hand and casts Counterspell, reprimanding her since they just had a discussion about consent. Watt reports that the A-Reactor will be ready in five minutes. Persephone explains was just trying to make him a spider like he wanted, Echo explains it was a suit. Primina laughs, but her laughter is cut short as everyone hears a psionic voice in their heads. “Why, fancy meeting you here.”

### Stellar Friends

Two stellar dragons appear on the monitor; they are white scaled dragons, streaked with ultramarine blue and vermillion along their necks, arms, and legs, with frilled crowns on their heads made of the same pure, shining light as their wings. Persephone, Primina, and Sebastian recognize the pair as Lightsong and Brightwind. “Why hello!” Sebastian calls. Echo greets them as well. Percy says, “Hello Brightsong and Lightwind!” and Prim whispers to correct her. Percy formally says “Lightsong and Brightwind. Salutations.”

Brightwind chuckles and Lightsong tells them it’s a pleasure to see them in good health. She notes that two of the party are no longer with them, but they have a new party member she has yet to make the acquaintance of. She addresses Echo. “I am Lightsong, and this is my brother Brightwind. Who do we have the pleasure?” Echo introduces himself. “Codename: Echo. It is an honor, I have only heard tales.” He has never seen such stellar dragons before. Brightwind notes that they haven’t seen an elf like Echo before either. Echo explains he is not from here, and Brightwind is interested in learning more. Echo explains they are currently on assignment. Brightwind understands and reveals that this is not a social call, the stellar dragons are here on business as well. “You have caught the attention of Their Majesties. You are summoned to attend the three Nova Kings at the Court of Fate and Judgment.”

Echo asks if they can schedule that for a week or two out. Brightwind explains that the Nova Kings’ invitation is for now. The Court is wherever The Majesties lair is, and currently that is aboard *The Chronepsis Zero*. Percy asks what they’re being fated and judged for. Lightsong laughs a little bit; “I do not believe Their Majesties mean you harm. They could have sent an armada at you, but instead they sent us. That tells me that speaking and understanding is likely their goal. The Nova Kings may be both imperious and severe, but they are neither treacherous or deceitful; I do not believe they mean to harm you. They do wish for your attendance.”

Echo apologizes for his hesitancy and explains that lately they’ve been running into people who try to arrest them. He is fine with meeting the kings now. Brightwind says “I believe that he is deeply concerned. I do not know if you were aware of this, but it was found that the Emperor and most of his contingent were not found on planet.”

Lightsong asks if they will come. Primina looks unsure, Percy as well. From his research into the New History, Sebastian knows that The Nova Kings are the three Nova Dragons that make up the triarchy of Neo-Arkhosia. All three are probably above 10,000 years old and immensely powerful, probably the second-most powerful beings next to the Emperor himself in the known galaxy. He thinks it is best that they go check this out and see what they have to say. Percy says that as long as the Nova Kings do not try to take Prim, then they should be okay. Watt agrees they should go as well. Prim tells Lightsong and Brightwind to lead the way. They nod solemnly and begin to fly towards *The Chronepsis Zero*.

### Follow the Yellow Brick Road

*Victory’s Ascent* follows the dragons towards the mega-ship, entering slightly below the domed city at the top of the tower. The docks inside have a semi-permeable barrier that allows ships in and out but keeps the air inside. An honor guard of six dragonborn in golden armor bearing shock lances marches out to meet them. Brightwind and Lightsong land and transform into their human forms; blonde, fair humanoids in strikingly archaic finery.

Persephone casts Mass Cure Wounds on everyone before they disembark. She fusses around to make herself more presentable. Echo casts Prestidigitation to clean everyone up and dry Primina’s hair. All five of them, Echo, Persephone, Primina, Sebastian, and Watt, disembark side by side. There’s an awkward moment where no one is sure what to say before Lightwind rushes over to give Primina a big embrace. “It is so good to see you again, sister.” Primina is a little surprised before hugging her back. Brightwind approaches and bows formally, she awkwardly returns the bow. Lightsong tells the party to follow her to the kings.

Lightsong and Brightwind make small talk as they walk through the labyrinth of the spaceship/palace with the honor guard marching silently behind them. Eventually they reach an enormous chamber lined with smooth, white marble floors and pillars, topped with the large glass dome through which they can see the stars. There are three very large pools of water that dominate the room, each with a dragon in it: three Nova Dragons. Each of these dragons has skin of heavy plated gold with black joints and under-folds. They have heavily muscular upper bodies that are holding themselves out of the water. Their heads are crowned with trident-like horn formations and their eyes are molten white light.

At this point, the honor guard about faces and stops right outside the chamber. Sebastian asks if they are supposed to go inside. Lightsong and Brightwind nod and enter the chamber ahead of the party. They move forward up within 50-ft of the three Nova Dragons and kneel. Sebastian follows and bows, ready to kneel if he needs to. A voice that seems to echo through the entire dome states: “You now stand before the triarchs of the Draconic Star Sovereignty; the Wardens of Neo-Arkhosia; Wielders of the Supreme Fire; Arbiters of Fate, Justice, and Time. Kneel before King Kalagath. Kneel before King Ebonskaith. Kneel before King Raudhrskal.”

Everyone kneels, Percy unsure if she needs to kneel once or three times.

## Characters

### The Party

* Sebastian Crenshaw: a half-orc fighter. Hackey Sack for two strong women.
* Persephone Goldpetal: an albino firbolg druid. Consent is important!
* Codename: Echo: an elf wizard/rogue. Wants to be a spider, man.

### NPCs

* The Logician('s head): formerly a warforged. One of The Freelancers.
* Primina: a genetically engineered young woman. The MacGuffin. Carries the team, like literally carries Sebastian.
* Watt Wainwright: an elderly gnome. Hoarder of old tech.
* Lightsong and Brightwind: a pair of stellar dragon siblings. The party has changed since they saw them last.
* The Nova Kings: three massive gold dragons. Unreasonably sexy.

## Trivia

### Dice Breakdown

#### Nat 20's (1 total)

* Special Guest Jake (Dexterity Saving throw)

#### Nat 1's (2 total)

* Special Guest Jake (Athletics)
* Brian (Perception)