Domination: Rising

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**Domination: Rising** was a 4 session arc that took place during Season 4 of the campaign. It covered sessions 14-17 of said season, and focused on the impending threats of Dr. Aurghnamm and his Automatons along with the main season villain Zashrir the Voodoo Master.

This arc had been anticipated for as early as mid Season 3, when Aurghnamm was introduced. This group of sessions also served as a stepping stone to the next arc, Senothia's Last Stand. The arc was dubbed the 'Automaton Arc' until April 4, 2021 when 'Domination: Rising' was made the official name.

## History

### Pre-Arc

Dr. Aurghnamm was introduced midway through the Indunar storyline as a side character. Although his sinister intents remained hidden, the players were suspicious, and would do things like infiltrate his lab to gain answers.

Since then Aurghnamm was hinted to be a future villain more and more, giving the players anticipation for the future 'Automaton Arc'. After this it became clear that the Voodoo Master would also be an integral part of the arc as they have learned that he has temporarily left his tower.

### Session 14

To begin the arc, the Heralds of Retha would finally make their way into the Automaton Lab in search of the Voodoo Master. They had some trouble opening the entrance to the base but managed to do so. After this the team spent some time exploring, fighting automatons along the way. Additionally, they met Aaron Bridges, an inventor who was being kept prisoner in the base. He could make new devices to help the Heralds which prompted them to defeat an automaton Factory for materials. To conclude the session, the Heralds heard a conversation between Aurghnamm and Zashrir about their future plans.

#### **Major Events**

* The Heralds enter the Automaton Lab.
* Aaron Bridges makes his debut in the campaign.

#### **Minor Events**

* Factory was defeated.
* The team learn about Zashrir's plans.
* Pagranor Boquilak obtains a Precision Lens.

#### **Characters**

* Daniel Skrimir
* Pappen Vafaran
* Pagranor Boquilak
* Eljenai Alminak
* Evangelion
* Aaron Bridges
* Dr. Aurghnamm (Voice)
* Voodoo Master (Voice)
* Automatons

### Session 15

The second session into the arc, the Heralds are continuing to explore the lab in search of Aurghnamm and Zashrir. They begin to come across voodoo-possessed Magma Dwellers with weak resurrection abilities. Aaron Bridges offers them more inventions like damage chips/sigils. Bridges also tasks them with finding a map of the base. After some more searching they find the map with a more powerful King Modithrimus, resurrected and reformed by Zashrir. He destroyed the map and nearly began a fight but the team managed to escape. This encounter put the base on lockdown but the Heralds were determined to succeed.

#### **Major Events**

* The Heralds encounter the new Modithrimus.
* The Automaton Lab is placed under lockdown.

#### **Minor Events**

* The team encounter and defeat Magma Husks.
* Members of the Heralds obtain damage chips/sigils.
* The Map was destroyed.

#### **Characters**

* Daniel Skrimir
* Pappen Vafaran
* Pagranor Boquilak
* Eljenai Alminak
* Evangelion
* Aaron Bridges
* Modithrimus
* Automatons
* Magma Husks

### Session 16

The third session into the arc, the Heralds continue to roam the base and find certain keys that would let them access certain places. They overhear a conversation between Zashrir and Modithrimus, learning that the fallen king will soon meet his end. After this they encountered the infamous Dr. Aurghnamm. He tells them that Zashrir has brought in more husks and slowly taken over his base. The doctor decides to ally himself with the heroes, giving them command over automatons, giving them a key, a summoning device, and information about the Fallen Star and his base.

Knowing where Zashrir is, the team head to collect the rest of the keys needed to get to him. Along the way they encounter Modithrimus. Knowing he will soon perish, the team stall in battle until his body gives out. After a stressful oxygen-related battle the Master Artificer does give out and perish for good. Some of his items are kept by the Heralds. At this point the only obstacle left was Zashrir himself.

#### **Major Events**

* Dr. Aurghnamm allies himself with the team.
* Modithrimus is permanently defeated.
* The Heralds learn that Aurghnamm has been draining the Fallen Star, making it weaker.

#### **Minor Events**

* Zashrir's location on the base is revealed.
* It is noted that Zashrir must return to his tower soon.

#### **Characters**

* Daniel Skrimir
* Pappen Vafaran
* Pagranor Boquilak
* Maurus Melgoron
* Eljenai Alminak
* Evangelion
* Dr. Aurghnamm
* Voodoo Master (Voice)
* Modithrimus
* Automatons

### Session 17

To end the arc, the Heralds destroy every Magma Husk and their voodoo dolls. They see Krites fighting Prototype 4 but convince the awakened human to help the team defeat Zashrir. Krites gives the team the final key, and along with Prototype 4 and a dozen other automatons at their command, the Heralds storm Zashrir's room. This is where they find a Soul Doll for every member of Dirlock's Tournament, and must defeat them all. Several automatons become damaged. The Heralds are ultimately victorious and advance to the next part of Zashrir's new enchanted lair.

They find the Voodoo Master, now powered with the abilities of all the tournament fighters. A fight ensues along with Zashrir controlling Krites' actions. He also manages to un-fuse Danjenai back into Daniel & Eljenai, then kills them both. Once he had destroyed every regular automaton, Zashrir used his powers to transform into a huge amalgam. At this point Pagranor used the summoning device, which called in Dr. Aurghnamm and a huge autonomous dragon. Pagranor manages to resurrect both his teammates, at a cost. The dragon, Drago, fought Zashrir until the Heralds decided to have Aurghnamm self-destruct the base, distracting Zashrir before he could return to his base. The Heralds, along with Krites, Prototype 4, Aurghnamm, and Aaron Bridges all use Prototype Drago to fly into the sky. The base explodes and Zashrir perishes. Drago is then used to destroy the Voodoo Master's tower, eliminating any remains of his legacy.

#### **Major Events**

* Zashrir the Voodoo Master is permanently defeated.
* The Automaton Lab is destroyed.

#### **Minor Events**

* The Fallen Star approaches.
* Pagranor's healing is damaged.

#### **Characters**

* Daniel Skrimir
* Pappen Vafaran
* Pagranor Boquilak
* Eljenai Alminak
* Evangelion
* Aaron Bridges
* Dr. Aurghnamm
* Voodoo Master
* Krites
* Automatons
	+ Prototype 4
	+ Prototype Drago

### Post-Arc

The Heralds give Modithrimus' damaged crown to Krites, implying he might become a leader of sorts within Dirlock. Dr. Aurghnamm and Aaron Bridges relocate to Retha while beginning to use the Beasting Dungeon as a makeshift lab. Evangelion, Prototype 4, and Drago are the only remaining automatons, at least at the time. As the fallen star approaches the Heralds begin to prepare for an arrival and plan to explore the rest of Lorisin in search for information.

This arc concludes the main Season 4 Voodoo Master storyline and begins the transition into the main Voidal Knights storyline with Senothia's Last Stand.

## Trivia

* The players were given a choice, to ally themselves with Dr. Aurghnamm and the Automatons or with Zashrir and the Husks. The players ultimately chose the automatons resulting in the events of the arc.