The Cycle

*The Cycle* is the title of the first episode of the seventh season of S.H.A.D.O.W. and the seventy third session of the entire game.

This session was played on April 12th, 2020

## The Cycle

### Writer

Jonny Christie, Matt Christie, Rob Christie, Richie Maynard, Eric Rios

## Plot

One Cycle later, where does S.H.A.D.O.W. stand?

## Synopsis

Fire. The Defteros tribe is burning. Why is this happening? Chief Diatarachthei gets away from the carnage and a group of people remain within the flames. Their leader is a large Tiefling that sends the others to find not only the Chieftain, but the other missing Silver Dragon.  Aragi awakens from a nightmare about a shadowy Dragon destroying a city. He gets up and goes with Sirobe to have a meeting with Lara. They have chosen the ruins of Maeurt as their new base of operations and actually have homes now. It’s not perfect but it’s a start. The three new leaders of S.H.A.D.O.W. discuss the many tasks they have to complete. Aragi is desperate to actually go do something outside of the city so Sirobe suggests taking him to the meeting he has in Perona. Meanwhile at another meeting in Petropolis, King Vargas is discussing trade with Elbije. She agrees to support him for one payment. Justice for her late mother and uncle. To appease her other uncles and keep the peace. A large man in Dragon-scaled armor is sprinting through the woods, hunting for the Defteros. Only, it’s not actually this man, it’s Rathisi in disguise. He shifts back to his natural form and rests in a tree, satisfied he has escaped. However, a voice echoes around him. It feels like the wind is speaking to him. He panics and begins to sprint away again. The voice does not cease and it convinces him it is on his side. He gives it information about Xander and that he needs to find him. The voice introduces itself as “Locke” and claims to have a restoration spell but it needs the body. A group of soldiers are marching through the street. The inquisitor enters a room to inform his commander of another destroyed city. The commander turns to reveal that it is Phylyco. He has joined S.W.A.R.M.

 Vargas and Feyfinder are walking up towards the roof. The gnome requests who the king had in mind as a scapegoat since Mordecai has vanished and even then, is just too powerful to betray. Vargas promises to discuss once they return home. They get to their Wyvern mounts and depart. Phylyco requests his Inquisitor to get three captains and head to the destroyed city, He’ll meet them there. He just needs to meet with his superior first. He is interrupted by Harvest and Amarel who reminds him to keep a smile on. He barely acknowledges the woman and enters the office. He bows to his leader, Saint Wroth, who reminds him that his men need to respect the rules. Phylyco understands and departs. Aragi and Sirobe are on their way to Perona and have a brief conversation about the state of the forest the past year and something flies past them at an uncomfortable speed. They put their guard up and pick up the pace. Rathisi leads this voice to a small hut at the Aethel border and Locke asks if this is where his cousin is. The chief admits it is not but the shaman here can help figure that out. In reality, Rathisi is just attempting to figure out more about Locke. What exactly is he? The shaman Becktick helps the Dragonborn determine that Locke is a good soul trapped between life and death. Rathisi acknowledges this and takes Becktick and Locke to where Xander is being kept.

Aragi and Sirobe arrive in Perona and prepare for the meeting in the morning by drinking the night away. Vargas is at the range with his apprentice, Tadal. He offers to let the young Orc fire his rifle and teaches him how to shoot it. He returns to the castle and finds his STG rep, Aurora. He requests her go to Maeurt and set up a meeting with Aragi Maxul. Rathisi and the others arrive in Eastmaer and enter the crypts to find Xander. Becktick unfreezes the blackguard but as they are performing the ritual, The Tiefling and his elven assistant arrive. Rathisi manages to get away again but Becktick is killed and Locke is revealed to be working with the Tiefling. They let Xander fully solidify and melt the body. They then go after Rathisi once again. Phylyco is on his way out of the city when he is once again stopped by Amarel. She gives him a dozen hints that she wants to sleep with him and also warns him that the boss doesn’t trust him so he slaps the insanity out of her and leaves.

Aragi and Sirobe arrive at the home of one Groin the goblin. They intimidate her enough to get a meeting with the new merchant king and head home. Phylyco arrives at the destroyed town where Inquisitor Layne and the captains are waiting for him. Up ahead is a cloaked soldier with a black-flame sword. Phylyco approaches the man, Commander Winter. The tortured being is lost in his head and begs Phylyco to kill him or leave him to his mission. He won’t stop destroying Stoneclaw. Phylyco leaves the man to his vices, for now but suggests if he wants to destroy cities, start in Aethel. Vargas visits a young woman and spends the night. Rathisi is once again haunted by Locke. He demands the spirit show himself as the other two arrive. Rathisi attempts to escape by transforming into a Bulette to burrow away but something unexpected happens. A massive Sapphire Dragon lands behind him and devours him. He morphs back into himself as he is being swallowed and encases himself in a frozen egg to extend the process and let him survive a bit longer. The Tiefling is convinced Rathisi will die eventually and isn’t concerned about it. They mark down the Defteros tribe as extinct and prepare for their next tribe, the Kokkalo.

## Cast

### Main

* Aragi Maxul
* Phylyco Brokenwhisper
* Lara Youngheart
* Vargas de Orion Highstar
* Sirobe
* Onyx Winter
* Pragaras

### Supporting

* Bregand
* Salen
* Locke
* Singula
* Gris Soulspark
* Elbije
* Harvest
* Amarel Jenella
* Saint Wroth
* Xanderfos'Defteros
* Tadal
* Aurora Lightblade
* Vomenos the Sapphire Strike

### Guest

* Ronxim Feyfinder
* Layne Mauricio
* Fara
* Thoren
* Thane
* Kazad
* Becktick
* Groin

## Trivia

* Season 7 premiere.
* First appearance of Pragaras.
* Final appearance of Rathisi'Defteros.
* This session confirms the Dragonborn belief that should the entire tribe die, the original Dragon will be resurrected.