Sx23 - The Fallout

***The Fallout*** is the 23rd session of the campaign. It is preceded by Sx22 — Rock Bottom and followed by Sx24 — And Finally Release the Darkest Flood.

This session still takes place the same day of the 18th of Akhamentes, and was the 23rd session. Notable moments consist of: Leoven and Khantos' fight with the dragon automatons and investigation of Quintus' Tower; Neleous investigating Stergio Malleas and Briphina Palteas; Oto's investigation into Eltin Burrowheart and left the Palace. Leoven and Khantos' flight from the tower and the carnage during. Finally Khantos Evergreens solidification of his allegiance, binding himself by oath.

## The Battle of the Green-Eyed Dragon

Leoven and Khantos stand off against the dragons. They quickly discover in this fight that staring into its emerald eyes causes a person to become petrified. Khantos also notes that the celestial bronze wings are the same as those from the blueprints he found in Braxion Malleas's room.

The party eventually learn that the DC against becoming stunned is 14. The Dragons have a -2 Charisma. Their AC is 11>14. Their breath weapon is an lightning bolt that attacks in a straight line. They have the ability to use the dragon fear ability.

Throughout the fight they attempted on multiple occasions to grab Leoven or Khantos and fly them over the edge of the balcony and drop them. It does this by releasing grasping wired to wrap around the player You need to succeed on a DEX save to resist this. The pair eventually defeated the dragons and began to look around the tower. It's at this moment that Leoven remembers she has the ability to use the spell Locate Object and does so to find the contract that she has been looking for (something that only Khantos knew about at the time). She quickly learns that the contract is outside the 1000 foot radius of the spell and likely on Quintus Pterygas' person.

They all quickly realise that this entire endeavour has been a waste of time but, attempting to make some use of it, the pair decide to look around the tower to see what information they can gleam. In his study and private quarters are a number of bookshelves, mostly containing books on history, war and battle strategy. There are also books on the origins of runes and the progression of automatons. I believe he is giving himself a basic knowledge of the subjects that Braxion and Lirit are studying, giving him the ability to input and discuss it more efficiently. He may not be a good person, but Quintus may be a good boss? Khantos looks for books on Bags of Holding but does not find any. We now know Quintus to be a talented graviturgy wizard(? not sure if he is actually a wizard) but Leoven and Khantos didn't find any books on graviturgy and aether? So does he keep this research secret even from his own people?

Leoven goes and searches his desk and only seems to find faster missives to people, including one to Eltin Burrowheart requesting she excavates the tunnels faster. There is also a letter from Auto, which seems to be a response to a research request Quintus has that outlines the effects of some incendiary device.

Leoven moves on from the desk to look at the dragons and finds the Owl and Spear Sect logo branded on them. They are also covered in arcane runes that appear similar to those on Ayleth - likely these are what animate them. There are also arcane runes on the wings that make the metal lighter, allowing them to fly. This magic makes them lighter via gravity not weight. A small amount of Graviturgy magic, to what degree is/was Lirit/Braxion aware of Quintus' graviturgy magic.

> **Leoven** *(to Khantos)*: "Are you a top or bottom?"
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> **Leoven**: "Do you want to... check it. Before you touch it?"
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> "I didn't know if you could look at it." - Leoven / "Eat shit and Die!" - Eva / "It solved our problem. Nothing \*vOoDoO\* happened." - Leoven
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In the lounge area of the tower there are several cases of wine seems to be a place entirely dedicated to entertaining people who visit. In the war room of the tower, there is a map of the continent for battle pieces. Most pieces seem fairly simple to understand but there is also one bronze piece in the north of Imperum Crescent, but west of Artemis Sentry. In this room there is also a forge and alchemy station. There are reports on the map stated that there have been changes in Hecate's Ravine, though not the writer's opinion on these changes. The usurping of the Ambrogio family? There are also letters stating they have found an object that is only ever referred to as the package. There are also a number of The Myth Enders Soldiers around The Grand City Dexicos and Heliotym. On the shelves of this room are a number of scrolls and blueprints. Some are missives from Braxion. Some talk about runes and their effects. There is a whole section on the effects of necromantic runes. There is a missive from Orym Omara about bags of holding. There is a single missive about a single use for a improved immovable rod signed by an Evergreen, Leoven notices this but chooses not to question or comment on it. There is a schematic that was created by The Vallotis that collects sunlight and transforms it into a single beam of light; Leoven comments that she has seen an example that went wrong. This blueprint also has notes about the applications of runes on this machine. In the forge section of the room there is an anvil that has been magically enhanced to work on celestial bronze.

The tools in the forge are impeccable and of exceptional craft. Next to it, the alchemical tools are still working and producing a white liquid that is dripping and filtering into a jar. Khantos figures out this is a jar of sovereign glue that is being created - an indestructible glue that needs the Wish spell to remove or universal solvent. In the corner of the room is an armour set that seems to have been improved. It is branded with the Owl and Spear Logo with celestial bronze lining. This amount of celestial bronze must have taken decades to collect. Celestial Bronze is collected when Hephaestus discards a project, something that can kill people. In the chests, there are the beginnings of materials for tools, alchemical components and celestial bronze. which Khantos picks up.

Khantos quickly learns this was a mistake. The piece of celestial bronze was covered in sovereign glue and has a rune on it that immediately activates casting Heat Metal on the object. Khantos' hand begins to melt and burn, while Leoven casts Locate Object to find a universal solvent, of which there are 6 in the room. The first one she finds is acid, which she pours on Khantos' hand. The second one she finds is the solvent and Khantos drops the bronze. They decide to leave and Khantos gives Leoven the paints and tells her to use it to get them out of there.

> "Paint something." - Every piece of information Khantos gave Leoven.
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Leoven paints a rope and she abseils off the balcony holding Khantos in her arms. Meanwhile, they begin to see the dragons start to wake up and move closer, piling together, until they melt and morph together. The four dragons become a 20ft tall bronze dragon with emerald green eyes that begins to rampage around the castle, chasing after Leoven and Khantos.

### Meanwhile Adrasteia…

...In stag form, finds herself unable to discreetly change out of wild shape as she is being watched both by a crowd in the courtyard but also by an artist who sits and begins to draw her. Everyone becomes distracted when a fucking dragon turns up and she becomes a person again and goes looking for Leoven and Khantos.

## Oto Talks to Eltin

Oto goes to Eltin Burrowheart's room to speak to her. In her room he sees that it is covered in precious gems. There are a few books but not as many as Quintus Pterygas and most of the workspace seems to have been taken up by magnifiers, gems, and mining tools that all seem to be more on display than being used. There is also a plaque of her firsts. Oto talks to Eltin about issues in the council and subtly casts Detect Thoughts which is where the more valuable information was held. This included anger about being stuck in the castle, which most people have felt. There was also knowledge that the miners are freaked out about something but she doesn't believe there to be anything of note down there. She also notes the lack of the King and at his mention thinks about the door behind her. She is also scared of Bane Sarreas and angry at Auto because she blames Auto for multiple attempts on her life. Also when Oto mentioned the King he sees an image of a banquet but not the context.

Afterwards Oto heads out of the castle to deal with something in the Zeus District.

## Neleous Talks to Briphina

Neleous goes to speak to Briphina Palteas, keeping a specific eye out for Aphrodite's magic. In this conversation Neleous learns that she doesn't enjoy yelling at Chione but feels that it is necessary to get the job done and as a show of strength. In her room is a wide variety of makeup.

Neleous asks how Briphina came into her position. She says it was just offered to her because of her political skills and high status

> "Natural talent." - Briphina on her charmspeak
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> "When you're offered a role in the council..." - Briphina, implying she did not necessarily want the role.
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> "The King is fairly stern in his approach." - Briphina
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Briphina says that she doesn't agree with King Eugamon sending Dallias (Stergio's father) up north on the trip that got him killed. She also notes that no one actually ever told Stergio what happened and that only the King and Queen likely know the entire truth. Briphina also comments that this mission was supposed to be kept off the books but that couldn't remain that way due to the death of Dallias. This is something that never sat right with Briphina.

> "(The Queen) is strong where it counts but politically is too uninvolved" - Briphina / "She didn't take her brother's attitude to sorcery as much" - Briphina
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Briphina also didn't know her mother, meaning she is likley a demigod - most likely of Aphrodite.

### Neleous Realises Stergio is a Person and Feels Guilty so goes to Apologise

After speaking to Briphina, Neleous goes to speak to Stergio in the library. Neleous starts the conversation by writing "hi" on a piece of paper. Stergio responds with "hi". Neleous asks for a chat and apologises for bringing up "a load of shit."

> "I'm sorry for bringing up, you know, a load of shit." - Neleous being so smooth.
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They talk briefly and then Stergio informs Neleous that it seems like someone has been sneaking in and out of Turnics. This is probably a reference to the money under Turnic's bed that Theobald found but the rest of the group never learnt about. Love a loose plot thread. Neleous hears a crash and leaves to find out what happened.

## Swear it on the Styx

Khantos awakens to the sounds of a storm. He is unarmoured and atop a mountain within the clouds. Below him is a beautiful garden leading up to a ruined palace (Khantos is standing between the two) this is Atlas' realm/prison In the dream Khantos' hand is back to normal however he is notably not physical. He hears someone calling his name: "Khantos!" However, he can hear the voice is clearly struggling. And he begins to walk up towards the ruined palace. Inside is a hallway that has the ruins of what looks like it could have been a throne at some point. There is also a vaguely male figure, around 30ft tall struggling under an immovable cloud which he seems to be holding up - Atlas. This is clearly a divine figure but is using all their power to not be crushed by the sky. Khantos at this point also notes that he is missing his necklace.

> "Your family and you have served me well but I fear they have gotten lost." - Atlas
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> * **Atlas**: "They aid him foolishly."
> * **Khantos**: "Then they are dead to me."
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> "You must not let this necromancer prevail" - Atlas
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> "The age of grey will fall upon the world and even the titans cannot prevail" - Atlas
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> "Find the culprit. Slay him." - Atlas
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> "Keep that key close" - Atlas
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> * **Khantos**: "If I can ask one thing my lord. With only one hand I will do my best to serve you but-"
> * **Atlas**: "Then you must swear it on the River Styx, that you will complete your work."
> * **Khantos**: (Pause) "I swear it upon the River Styx"
> * **Conor (DM)**: "Even those outside the castle hear the crash of thunder as Khantos makes this promise."\*
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