Session XV - The Seven

With the Ghost of Malicon defeated, the party takes a breather and then turns the statue to open the door to the "south". They proceed down the hallway and to some steps leading down into what appears to be the second floor of the library in the ruined West Ward.

* The party encounters what appears to be the wizard Americ sitting at a desk. After engaging the party in less than polite conversation, he initiates combat by firing a lightning bolt through Norman. He then causes two of the desks to transform into wood golems.
* During the combat, Americ becomes terrified of Loobie and urinates in fear. He also complains loudly that the fight is "not fair", shortly before being ended by an axe blow from Loobie.
* The wood golems put up a considerable fight before being defeated, nearly killing Loobie and Brook.
* After defeating Americ and the golems, a disembodied voice offers brief comments of the party's performance.

The party finds that the stairs go down no further and an endless void is to the "north". The other room on this floor has a hole in the wall with multiple tables and chunks of stone forming a crude bride leading roughly "south-west". The party arrives at the gates to the village where they first met Solo Crux and her masked community.

* The village is populated by six other members of Solo's community.
* The villagers remove their masks, revealing various infernal features (fangs, horns, scales, red pupils, and so on.) They tell the party that they are cursed because their forefathers were The Seven, a group of ultra-loyal bodyguards to Emperor Skarsizek.
* Solo Crux is very uncomfortable with the encounter and breaks down in tears, telling the group that she does not want to be like them any more.
* Wandering around the village, the party finds a strangely placed trap door in a home, with a ladder leading into a black abyss.
* A disembodied voice makes comments about the encounter.

Climbing the ladder, the party is transposed into what appears to be the emperor's throne room, though the walls and floor are fragmented, revealing a star field "below" them. Emperor Skarsizek sits on his throne as Minister Illian approaches. Grand Marshall Faxalis stands nearby and Grand General Amarth is walking away.

* The party is aware that none of the figures in the throne room can see them.
* Minister Illian approaches the throne, pulling the Liber Hereticus Malfectorum from a satchel and offers it to the emperor, who begins reaching out for it.
* At this point, Shadowsong attempts to stealthily knock the book out of her hand, while Loobie Goblin Savior provides a distraction by charging into battle.
* Brook tries to hide, while Norman and Solo take no action.

Everything in the area slows down and freezes in place before anything happens. The disembodied voice speaks to the party, though different members hear different messages.

* Loobie and Shadowsong, having attempted to stop Minister Illian, hear the following:

"*I now understand the complexity that your intrusion into this age has brought upon the winds of fate. I seek to share my secrets with an emperor that has no equal. And you wish to prevent our unity, fearing rightfully so, that my devouring radiant darkness will twist his will to my cause. My agenda. My mission to bring an end to the pristine stranglehold that the mortal races have over divinity and the pantheon of lackluster spirits unable to wield true power over the weak. You seek to hinder my path. Your journey will be perilous.*"

* Brook and Solo, having taken no overt action, hear the following:

"*I cannot determine where your loyalty lies, nor can I perceive which power uses you as a pawn in their schemes. But I gather that you have a strong desire to obtain material wealth depending on the risk to your mortal form. My agenda is to bring an end to the exclusive divinity of the mortal races, whose lack of direction has made them unable to wield the universal blade of power over the lesser. Fearful of direct intervention, they will crumble before an unyielding dark fire of rage and purpose. To this end, you may savor but a taste of the power I have to offer. Beware, for I am all ears and I am all eyes. But, I will not hinder you.*"

* However, Norman hears the following:

"*I have seen into the recesses of your mind and explored your secrets. Do not be afraid, for I am the catalyst that will drive a molten spike of acidic terror into the trivial divinity of the mortal races. And the cosmic wound will bleed smoke, fire, and ash. From this blackest pool of storms, a figure will rise and it's blessings will fall upon all of your instances throughout the timeline of fate and certainty. Willing or not, you are bound to me as an ally and I will extinguish the unknown from which you suffer. You cannot veer me from my fate, nor can I deviate you from yours. I will assist you*."

The party's view seems to shift to a position above, where they can look down at themselves. They notice that they appear to be slightly different, perhaps more experienced, with some equipment that they do not recognize. They then "awaken" aboard the Blue Tiger, though they do not feel rested as if they were asleep. They also find that some of the unrecognized equipment is on their person.

* Loobie is wearing a *Raging Breastplate*.
* Shadowsong is wearing a *Cloak of Smokeflash*.
* Norman possesses both the *Book of the Unlife* and *Glove of the Healer*.
* Brook wears a tinted monocle, the *Lens of Targeting*.
* Solo is equipped with the *Sword of Soul Bleeding*.

The party speaks with Captain Havenworth and negotiates passage to the Western Ward, which should take a day and a half.