Session0066

Episode 0066 - Battle of the Bands
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**Setting:**

Mimrinoth - June 20th-21st, 211 AW
**Synopsis:**

* Piloting the Imlaq Colossus, the party does battle with the Titan of Sapphrius Bay, as Israphel attempts to use it to destroy Mimrinoth.
* Before the Titan can do much damage to Mimrinoth, the party successfully deactivates its shield and renders it inert.
* Heading into the Titan, Louche confronts Israphel, and the two discuss their relationship, their natures, and their possible future together.
* Louche convinces Israphel to allow himself to be affected by the *psalm of absolution*, which temporarily breaks Aedra's influence over his mind as a valkyrie. In doing so, Israphel realizes the evil of his actions.
* Louche offers to take Israphel with him to another universe to escape Aedra's influence. In order to facilitate this, he plays the *psalm of assimilation*, and Israphel is absorbed into Louche.
* The party spends the remainder of the day helping Mimrinoth to recover from the Titan's attack, and dismantling both the Titan and the Colossus to prevent anyone from ever using them again.
* The following morning, a troop of imperial soldiers from Ossidia arrives in Mimrinoth asking questions about what has taken place. Amongst them, the party spots Gragnok.

## June 20th

As the Titan of Sapphrius Bay appears on the horizon, rapidly approaching Mimrinoth, Louche apologizes to the party for having been selfish and short-sighted, and says that he agrees the party should just attack the Titan, and that hopefully Israphel can be reasoned with once the Titan is destroyed.

Aboard the Imlaq Colossus, piloted by Malkoth, the party takes a defensive position in the foothills of the Silverslate Mountains near Mimrinoth as the Titan approaches. Falgron remains hidden outside on the ground to make his own attack. XVIII likewise leaps out from the Colossus and polymorphs into a giant bat, and begins flying toward the Titan to attack.

As the Titan approaches, Louche plays the *psalm of awakening* and *psalm of rest* in competition against Israphel, who plays the same psalms, as they both attempt to both provide power to their own constructs while weakening their opponents'. Meanwhile, Odell remains with the Conjuration Anchor within the Colossus' abdomen, invoking runes of Asmodeus to power the Colossus.

As the Titan draws nearer, it releases smaller flying constructs to join the assault. XVIII drops flaming oil on the Titan, but it ignores them and charges onward, attacking the Imlaq Colossus. The Colossus and Titan battle, as the party gradually begins to weaken the Titan's protective force field. The flying constructs also attack the Colossus and insert drones into the Colossus through breaches in the hull, which the other party members inside the Colossus battle.

As the battle rages on, Jack mounts his flying mount and flies toward the Titan. Using a *disintegrate* spell in conjunction with his conduit abilities, he creates a brief opening in the Titan's protective force field, which the party uses to deal a devastating amount of damage to the Titan itself. Following through the breach in the force field, Jack then makes it aboard the Titan before the force field once again closes.

As the Titan and its force field continue to be weakened, Louche once again calls out for Israphel to cease his attack, come out of the Titan, and talk. Israphel responds, refusing to come out unless Louche and the party deactivate the Colossus and Louche comes out first. He also points the Titan's weapons at Mimrinoth, and threatens that if the party refuses to cease hostilities he will fire at the city. After a brief discussion, the party continues attacking with the Imlaq Colossus, and the Titan fires its weapons at Mimrinoth, destroying large segments of the city.

From inside the Titan, Jack uses another empowered *disintegrate* spell, which destroys the entire head and upper torso of the Titan and renders it inactive.

With the Titan disabled, Louche, Jack, XVIII, Frog, and Falgron head into the Titan's wreckage to search for Israphel and the Divine Titanheart. Malkoth, Odell, and Patches meanwhile remain outside aboard the Imlaq Colossus. Odell uses a *sending* spell to inform the Paragons of the College of Mimrinoth that the attack is over.

Inside the Titan, Israphel speaks to Louche through the Titan's communication system, urging Louche to leave, as he doesn't want to have to turn his sword against Louche. He continues to express to Louche that only the most powerful are truly free, and that the only path to freedom for him and Louche is for them to rule the world.

The group arrives at the Divine Titanheart within the Titan's abdomen. Louche approaches the titanheart, and expresses his love for Israphel, urging him to leave with him to another universe. Isrpahel, from within, insists that no matter where they go, they won't be free unless they rule. Louche asks Israphel to come out of the titanheart to talk, but Israphel expresses concern about all of Louche's armed, combat-ready allies nearby. He says that he will only come out to talk once the rest leave. After a brief telepathic discussion, the rest of the group tentatively agree and walk away, though Jack and Falgron both secretly remain hidden nearby.

Israphel emerges from the titanheart, and he and Louche discuss their natures and their relationship. Israphel shows Louche that there are still active, combat-ready construct protecting the titanheart which he could activate if he wished, expressing his anger at Louche for ruining his plans. Louche nonetheless stays rather than fleeing, and embraces Israphel. He eventually convinces Israphel to allow himself to be affected by a *psalm of absolution*, which he explains will free him from Aedra's influence and allow him to see what his mindset would be if he was not a valkyrie.

Under the effects of the *psalm of absolution*, Israphel realizes the evil of his actions, and expresses horror and regret at what he's done. Louche explains that the psalms's effects are only temporary, and offers to send Israphel to a new universe through the Star Road now, before the psalm's effects wear off. Israphel refuses to leave without Louche, and asks Louche to play the *psalm of assimilation* and assimilate him into Louche. Louche tells Israphel about having already assimilated with Mahadi, but Israphel nonetheless wishes to be asssimilated. Before proceeding, Louche telepathically checks in with the party for their thoughts and agreement with this plan. In response, Odell uses his *truthseeker armor* to ask if Aedra will allow the two of them to escape her influence. He learns that, while Aedra won't freely release them, she will be powerless to stop them. With the party's approval, Louche plays the *psalm of assimilation*, and Israphel is destroyed, his soul assimilated into Louche.

Meanwhile, the Paragons of the College of Mimrinoth, along with many scholars and students of the College, return to the surface of Mimrinoth, having received Odell's message. The city begins to triage and assess the damage from the Titan's attack. The party also goes down to the city to join in the triage and recovery efforts. After his assimilation, Louche joins in these efforts, spending time using healing magic to aid the wounded, and donating a great sum of money to Mimrinoth's upcoming rebuilding efforts.

Later, the Paragons of the College, meet up with the party to discuss the future of the Imlaq Colossus and the wreckage of the Titan of Sapphrius Bay. Auvorix, among others, reminds the group that prior to excavating the Colossus, the Paragons had agreed that it should be decommissioned and destroyed after its use, to prevent anyone else from ever using it for evil. Kajido protests vehemently against destroying the Colossus, pointing out that its power could be used to destroy the party's enemies and make them rulers of the world. In spite - or perhaps *because* - of this, the group agrees that the Colossus should be destroyed. There is some discussion of simply hiding or sealing it away rather than destroying, but this is eventually rejected as too big of a risk.

The group discusses how to go about destroying both the remains of the Titan of Sapphrius Bay and the Imlaq Colossus. Ursula Wolff expresses a need for some caution, as there is a risk of the Alviren Empire finding out about the Colossus and the Titan, which they are as-of-yet unaware. The party takes this into consideration, but expresses some skepticism that such a thing could be kept secret, especially after such a great spectacle as the battle that has just taken place.

Eventually, the party agrees to use the Imlaq Colossus to finish fully obliterating the wreckage of the Titan. Afterwards, the Colossus will be likewise violently destroyed using demolition explosives, and the wreckage of both constructs will be scattered through the Silverslate Mountains near Mimrinoth, where the Circle of Architects will take responsibility for watching over the remains to avoid any future tampering. Notably, the party saves a few magical components of the Colossus for possible use later, as well as the Conjuration Anchor.

The party spends the remainder of the evening recovering and planning. Making plans for their next move, they decide that they next order of business will be to deal with the problem of the Earthstar in the underdark beneath Kameshima.

Louche spends some time with the Circle of Architects providing them with information and schematics on developing airships, sharing the knowledge he acquired by virtue of his assimilation with Mahadi. Later, he contacts Mydaiel, and informs her that Israphel has been saved.

The party spends most of the remainder of the evening at Odell's family home with his parents, enjoying food and drink and relaxation.

## June 21st

As the party regroups in the morning, they are approached by Ursula Wolff, who informs them that imperial forces from Ossidia have arrived in Mimrinoth, and are asking questions about yesterday's events. The party heads above ground to investigate.

Ursula Wolff leads the party to the hall of the Chancellor of Mimrinoth, where they finds a few dozen imperial soldiers, led by Grenfi Nackle, who are asking questions to the Chancellor of Mimrinoth and Auvorix about yesterday's events. Amongst the soldiers, the party spots Gragnok.