Fall of the Republic

**Fall of the Republic**, often abbreviated as **FotR**, is the name of a prequel mini-campaign that takes place 5 years before the beginning of SOTE. The Lyrdian Republic struggles to remain stable as both external and internal threats shake the foundation of the country and its denizens. The people clamor for revolution as the Golden Days Rebellion causes chaos for the Lyrdian government. At the center of it all is the Council of Flowers, the elected leaders of the Republic who have been informed of a prophecy that the Republic will collapse in one week's time. Will the Councilmen rise above their vices and fight their hardest to maintain peace in this dismal era, or will they succumb to their corruption until the bloody end?

## **Session Summaries**

### *Chapter 1: Whispers of Ruin*

**T**he Orc Fighter known as Gorestitch the Bloody has visions of doomsday and rioters possessed by a green spirit. It warns him of a terrible fate that is rapidly approaching him and his council members as he can see them fighting in the Sanctum. He then wakes up and heads to the Council Chamber where he meets with the other council members. They consist of a human sorcerer, a Shadar-Kai Paladin, a changeling rogue, and a human(?) wizard. They argue over politics and such until a sudden interruption occurs! Gaiseric Idlegard... He has a heated confrontation with Gorestitch and Reginald as he leaves, his belly aching from laughter. The group then disperses as they further each of their schemes and learn of a coming “Scourge” and a figure known as “Goldenhands” who is the revolutionaries' leader. They are soon interrupted from explosions occurring in the city! They meet up at the Sanctum where they are attacked by a Oni named Demarious, the Flaming Fool and a Bone Devil. After their guards are incapacitated, the Council fight off and kill the intruders. The people cheer for them until a giant appears. However, it's swiftly killed by Gaiseric who the people then cheer for and hail as a hero. In this confusion, the Council hears three rings of the bell, meaning a death in the Council. They rush towards the Sanctum where they find an impaled Korrin Talewinder on the council table and a message left behind, reading “Goldenhands will strangle corrupt sinners”.

### *Chapter 2: The Seeds of Dissent*

**T**he Council Members discuss the death of Korrin with many blaming each other as traitors. Ionios interrupts their argument as he tells them that this is no time to fight and that he is going to check out the Magical Barrier Field which failed during the attack, meanwhile Captain Kirion Kilfang is going to investigate Korrin's household. Gorestitch and Jendrun head to the Magical Barrier Field, here they uncover farming tools and rip clothing in the Machines. Though as they investigate a riot breaks out outside that Gorestitch stops by threatening the crowd. One Golden Days rebel in the riot jumps forward and uses a spell scroll of fireball on the council members though. Damaging them and killing himself in the process. Meanwhile, Rubio, Quentin, and Reginald all head to Korrin's house where they find it under investigation by the guards. Rubio begins stealing some of the items in the household as Quentin and Reginald explore a secret room. Here they find photos of Reginald and his daughter with lots of blueprints on Warforged. Quentin burns the blueprints and they head out before being attacked by a mysterious undead in the mirror. Afterwards, Gorestitch and Jendrun investigate the Farming tools and find out it was sold to a group of kid wearing Golden Days uniforms. Rubio disguised himself as Quentin and kills someone in the streets. Reginald catches up with his friend, Max to get extra protection. Quentin visits Gorestitch and begins a conspiracy. After all of this, the council sleeps for the day until they are suddenly woken up by bells. They all rush to the Sanctum to find that there was a failed assassination attempt on Laryn so the knights lock the council in their room as they investigate. The council argue until the room goes dark and they discover a dark tunnel. Here they find ancient ruins under the Sanctum and find an altar of blood. They touch and receive a vision of Laryn giving blood to activate a ritual to summon an undead known as Goldenhands, he tells the party that their doom is near and that Lordrun will be destroyed. He then summons corrupted Warforged as they attack the party. The council fights them off and escape as they discover it was all a dream. Gorestitch is told to head to his home as the Black Axes need him. As he heads home, he finds a bloody Gaiseric covered with the dead bodies of the Black Axes as he attacks Gorestitch…

### *Chapter 3: Fallen from Grace*

**G**orestitch finds himself in a fight with Gaiseric who had just slain all the Black Axes. In a rage he rushes him as the two have a fierce duel atop of the roofs of Lordrun. Both bloody each other badly but Gorestitch gets the upper hand and bashes Gaiseric down to the street where he is ready to finish him off but he sees a crowd of angry rioters yelling at him. He ignores them and kills Gaiseric as the crowd rushes him and tears him apart. Meanwhile, the Council meet at the Sanctum where Laryn accuses Reginald of sending the assassin after her with a speak with the dead spell and accuses Quentin of murder. The council members try to defend themselves but without any evidence aren’t able to save themselves. Soon, Ionios comes in with a badly damaged Gorestitch where Jendrun runs to heal him. As he does that Rubio shoots a disintegrate at Gorestitch but Jendrun pushes him out of the way. All out pandemonium breaks out as Rubio attacks everyone then escapes and Reginald escapes confinement. As they recuperate, Rubio immediately disguises self and sneaks back in to finish off Gorestitch while Reginald lets in a flood of angry peasants into the Sanctum. Rubio enters to find them arresting Quentin, Rubio immediately attacks his fellow council members with Laryn attacking all of them and downing Gorestitch. Reginald tries escaping through the side of the Sanctum. Gorestitch succumbs to his wounds and dies while Jendrun and Rubio get downed by Laryn. Quentin watches this all as he breaks out of his confines and tries to attack Rubio. Though, Laryn casts Scatter as she, Gorestitch, Quentin, and Jendrun teleport. Rubio is grabbed by Elwind who swooped in while Reginald is stunned and kidnapped by a unhurt Gaiseric who appeared and just said “The time has come for the Scourge to begin…”

### *Chapter 4: The Scourge of Lordrun*

**T**he Council awaken to find themselves chained as they see Gaiseric, Laryn, and Elwind. They explain that they have a bomb capable of destroying anything within a 25 mile radius and it will consume the Councils souls when used. The party can see that their actions have left Lordrun in complete chaos as fire consumes the buildings and rioters kill people in the street. Gaiseric mocks them as he says they’ll let them try and survive to see what happens because “it’s fun to see what happens”, he throws Kingbreaker over the walls into the streets. He then leaves with Elwind as they carry the K’haos bomb to the Sanctum, Laryn then mocks the party as they fight. The party escape their confine and fight Laryn though Quentin still tries to kill Reginald and Rubio. Jendrun revives Gorestitch under a pact that he serves the Raven Queen and Jendrun, he agrees and is revived. They best Laryn who reveals to them that they are Goldenhands and will face them again. They settle their differences with a good speech from Jendrun who tell them that they need to work together to save their souls, they agree as Rubio and Jendrun get separate messages from their men saying that they are being held hostage in the Church of the Gods. The Council quickly raid a destroyed potion shop and heal up. Jendrun and Rubio head to the church and fight the Holy Heart Cultists there, they soon free their men who escape from the city ,Gorestitch reclaims Kingbreaker, Reginald visits Max as they have a heartfelt goodbye, and Quentin helps his family escape.

Afterwards, they meet back at the Sanctum as they open the doors to find it burning and destroyed while Gaiseric plants the K’haos bomb. They break in and Goldenhands in his Herald Form shows up and attacks the party. As they fight, Kirion and Ruby teleport into the force field Gaiseric and the bomb are in as Kirion grabs Gaiseric and teleport out as they fight on the rooftop. Ruby attempts to defuse the bomb as the Council fight Goldenhands and his corrupted Warforged. Though, the fight starts going wrong as Quentin gets stuck in a spell then disintegrated by Goldenhands. Goldenhands then throws a fireball at a unconscious Reginald and Rubio who both burn to death. Leaving only Gorestitch and Jendrun left to fight the Bloody Goldenhands. Ruby says the bomb is too dark magic and that they can defuse it, she asks the council to tell Kirion she’s sorry as she teleports with the bomb out. The teleport goes wrong though as the dark magic causes a problem and her arm carrying the orb is severed. Goldenhands is then killed by Gorestitch who rips his head clean off, Jendrun and Gorestitch then take the orb and escape the burning city. The Republic falls as an empire rises…

In the aftermath, Lordrun is rebuilt under the Golden Empire. The Sanctum is turned into the Holy Imperial Palace where Gaiseric resides. He sits on his throne as Imperial Knight, Terrance Kellinger enters and tells of the recent actions of the Sovereign Slayers. Gaiseric thanks him as he watches the Slayers through a scrying spell and says they will reach the “truth” soon…