How Kin We Help You?

Thumbnail for Season 2 Chapter 45 featuring Talon and Steven

## Synopsis

In Season 2, Chapter 45: How Kin We Help You?, the dreadful roar that echoed out into the holding pens was surely the cry of the mighty myconid-poisoned chimera that we'd tracked across the entire continent – and in that moment we felt we were both very much in the right spot… and very much in the wrong spot.

With the magical barrier separating us from the beast disappearing, Graven felt a rush of divine fervor flow through him that seemed to slow time and suspend his allies – a sensation more familiar than he'd like to admit and a precursor to the agonizing reality that was about to unfold.

Like Lady Sengri-la before them, Erland and Safira were banished from this plane for what we could only assume was Q'usñi's desire to see Graven realize his obligations alone – and the same might have happened to Orba if not for her strong, spiritual reaper connection pulling her back from the brink.

Graven's strength of will wasn't quite enough to spare his companions, but it did rattle the foundations of Q'usñi's connection between worlds – a chaotic disruption that loosened the god of light's grip on some of his previous prisoners.  Materializing back into existence were two goliath men, disorientation in their eyes and burns on their arms… and despite decades of separation, Graven knew in his heart that it was his two brothers, Rumik and Sascha.

There was barely enough time for so much as a wistful exchange before the chimera leapt from its cage, snarling and soiled from the myconid extract poisoning that fueled its madness.  The brothers il-Vigo, having trained for this moment their whole lives, did not hesitate to enter the fray – and from that moment on the holding pens would play host to this legendary showdown.

After blinking away at the first opportunity, Orba showed off her new ability to summon a fiendish creature to serve her in battle – and though there was always a worry he might start taking his own orders, we were grateful for the help from rugga'bugga'tugga'tin.

Following a few decent smacks and smashes from Rumik in his bestial form, Sascha wound up a guiding bolt that looked like it was right on target – but the chimera's skin hardened in a similar way to Erland's bulbark, and in that moment we confirmed that this beast possessed powers beyond the typical fare of these monstrosities.

Our line was holding strong and we were giving as good as we got – but a turning point came when the chimera started using the vertical dimension of the chamber to its advantage.  By grappling targets with its tentacles and flying up in the air, gravity became one of our greatest obstacles… and Rumik might have come crashing down into his demise if not for a heroic (if gruesome) grab of the defensive spikes on one of the ballista platforms.

The battle raged on and finally it seemed the chimera was struggling to stay aloft – so we shifted our strategy to withstand and distract while Graven looked for an opportunity to land the killing blow.  With its attention divided and rugga'bugga'tugga'tin pulling on its tail, Graven channeled every ounce of his power into a guiding bolt of his own… and when the light and dust had settled, an oath from a cleric to his god had been fulfilled.

In stunned silence, we braced for what might come next – for arcane eyes had been observing us throughout our fight, and a second wall of force was disappearing on the opposite wall.  As we turned our heads, the half-orc – now deprived of purpose – was set free.

## Trivia

* Natural one count: five natural ones were rolled in this Chapter. 1 each by Anthony, Jordan and Matt, and 2 by Talon.