Stormcaller

*Stormcaller* is the title of the fifth episode of the fifth season of S.H.A.D.O.W. and the fifty third session of the entire game.

This session was played on June 9th, 2019

## Stormcaller

### Writer

Jonny Christie, Matt Christie, Richie Maynard, Eric Rios, Corey Sexton

## Synopsis

Aragi is standing before Darrow. The man remembers the archer and Aragi asks him what he just did. He checks the man’s vitals to confirm that Cain is dead. He asks why again and Darrow leaves to enter Cain’s hut. A bolt of lightning strikes again as Aragi and Cain vanish. Aguero is following an energy. He is unsure why he wants to follow it but it feels right. He senses Grekkus and hides. As the Paladin feels he lost the tracks and head back home, The Blind Man reveals himself. He asks why he’s so adamant on following him. Mal in the meantime heads back to Aethel, Bhalgus in hand. Phylyco and Locus are also on their way back to the capitol. They pause briefly since Phylyco has been at a full sprint for hours. Locus asks if he thinks Sachayoj is trying to head for Karton island but Phylyco thinks he’s circling the Gladelake.

*Four months earlier, Aragi is reading a book as he walks through the forest. He is following the border of Stoneclaw in the direction of Fort Tidus. He finds a large section that has collapsed and uses this to enter into the country. Awhile later, he arrives at the mountains. He begins his ascent and gets into a fight with a polar bear. He wins but is interrupted by a voice. A tall hooded man with red locks over his face. He introduces himself as “Bravefinder” and offers to lead the man to his people. Aragi doesn’t hesitate to agree as he’s the first friendly person he’s spoken to in the entire country.*

 Darrow examines where the lightning strike occurred. He is perplexed but he quickly loses interest. He re-enters the hut and finds a small bone with carvings of unfamiliar origin on engraved within. He pockets it and burns the hut down. Phylyco and Locus arrive back and head to the STG house. They pass by Mal who is carrying a dwarf and don’t acknowledge it. Mal places Bhalgus beside the entrance and tells him to guard. Maybe he does, who knows. Phylyco goes to The Saint and Hylophagous asks how the meeting with Elbije went. Phylyco convinces him she’s not interested even though he never actually went to talk to her. He brings up the true issue, Sachayoj. The Saint sighs and calls a meeting. Meanwhile, Grekkus explains to Aguero that it is his lord’s duty to protect him and Aguero laughs at the idea. The blind man tells him he shouldn’t risk his life for a broken man. Grekkus is persistent. Aguero gives up on trying to convince the man to go home so he agrees to bring him on the journey.

*Three months earlier, Aragi and “Bravefinder” are in a familiar hut. They talk about a familiar issue, exile. The man asks him why he keeps reading those books. Aragi tells him he is on a mission he must complete. The man is very sagely and Aragi puts together that he is an Emberstorm. He tells him that the name was taken from him long ago but he used to be Cain. He asks him to never call him that. He also reveals that he can’t go where he’s taking the archer. He mentions that he should fire one of those lightning arrows once they get there. A few days later they arrive at a cave where they depart. Aragi asks him to please let him know if he finds any information and hands the man one of his books. Cain nods and lets him enter the cave alone. He gets to the other side and finds a large wooden gate. He knocks but gets no answer. He then takes a few steps back and fires one of his lighting arrows at the door. It swings open and a massive man, almost nine feet tall, tells him to do that again. He fires another into the distance and the large being lets him past. He steps into a hidden city of these massive people. He smirks and mutters the word “Goliaths”.*

 Darrow continues to climb the mountain, hoping to find the peak. For just a moment he thinks he sees a dog but when he turns to look it is gone. He investigates and finds not only dog prints, but another set of a humanoid. He decides to follow it. Back at the Circus, Hylophagous has given everyone their mission. He sends Locus and Sirobe to find Aguero and if he can, Grekkus. He then Sends Lara, Mal, and Phylyco on another task. Aguero and Grekkus are following this path the Blind man has laid out. Grekkus realizes they have shifted south and starts to have a mild panic attack. Aguero questions him but doesn’t get a clear answer. Just rebuttals about how he is “following nothing”. Aguero knows something is wrong but decides to let the Paladin have his fears and either get over it or leave. He gets over it. Darrow’s path has led him back down the mountain. He notices irregularities in the tracks and he becomes obsessed with finding what caused them. Someone or something is trying to run. It won’t escape.

*2 months earlier, Aragi is being brutally beaten in a large pit by a dozen or so Goliaths, including children. He stands his ground but doesn’t fight back. Once he gets a moment to breathe, he punches the largest guy, or tries to and falls to his knees. He collapses. He reawakens in a cot. Sitting next to him is an older man, fiddling with bone dice. He introduces himself as “Dreamcarver” and promises Aragi will get a name soon as well. The Archer asks how but he is ignored. Dreamcarver tells him that he was sent to them from a rip in the sky that signaled his arrival just under two hundred years ago. Aragi has heard of such an event but most stories suggest it was actually a sign of the Tieflings winning the war. Aragi sits up and asks where his gear is but the shaman informs him that he will not need it anymore, he will soon control the sky. The large man leads him to a path that goes up the mountain. He signals for the archer to enter and he does. As he is following the path, he begins to notice corpses along the way. He grabs a bone of each as he is zapped every few feet. It’s terribly painful but he powers through. He makes it to the end of the path and finds a small platform. He congratulates the bones he picked up on making it to the end as he stands on it and Shouts to the heavens as a bolt of lighting strikes down on him.*

Locus and Sirobe catch up to the others and attempt to bring them back for about fifteen seconds before deciding to join them because Aguero is just that persuasive. Lara, Phylyco, and Mal leave for their mission which happens to all be together. Phylyco and Mal share a brief glance and Mal claims it “can’t be worse than last time”. Jinx.

*1 week earlier, Aragi has ascended to a new level. He is now referred to as “Stormcaller”. He is informed that Bravefinder is at the gate for him and is reminded that they cannot cross the gates. He goes to meet with his companion. The gates open and they stand on either side. They share a brief hello before Bravefinder informs him that he found the target. This rattles Stormcaller and he decides to end his tenure with his hosts Prematurely. He knows he cannot return if he does this but he is too invested in this vendetta. He leaves with Bravefinder. The former Emberstorm hands him something and tells him that he will catch up but he needs to do something first. Stormcaller thanks him and goes to where the item tells him. He is led to a field and standing before him is none other than Ravela and a much larger Echo. They have a brief conversation and she prepares to attack, reaching for her cards. They are not there. Aragi reveals them to her and she smirks as they are suddenly back in her hand. He is a bit frazzled but not waivered. The fight begins. She DECIMATES him. He is prepared to die but then the words “Stormcaller” reverberates in his head and he is transported away.*

 Darrow is still following these tracks. They lead continue to lead East. He catches a brief glimpse of Stoneclaw city and for a moment heads towards it but his head goes to his brother’s last words. He mutters “Stormcaller” and that man is transported before him. Darrow is amazed. Stormcaller asks him What he wants and the man grabs him but is shocked. He tries again and is shocked again. Stormcaller tells him to stop wasting time he has to find the girl. Darrow believes these were the tracks he was following and suggests they hunt her together. He agrees they head East.

## Cast

### Main

* Aragi Maxul
* Phylyco Brokenwhisper
* Lara Youngheart
* Aguero Cryhawk
* Mal Bloodjaw
* Ravela
* Sirobe
* Locus Fochuckl
* Darrow Emberstorm
* Grekkus Raisir
* Saint Hylophagous

### Supporting

* Echo
* Cain Emberstorm

### Guest

* Dreamcarver
* Lowwatcher
* Dawnwalker

## Trivia

* This session reveals that Aragi obtained Lightning-based magic from the Goliaths.
* "Stormcaller" refers to the title given to Aragi Maxul by the Goliaths.
* Cain Emberstorm also trained with the Goliaths and recieved the title "Bravefinder".