Adventure 10-11

**Previous: Adventure 9**

The party puts out fires all around Risur as a result of the planar rearrangement, and then all around Lanjyr. Wtf is going on, planet.

## Fey Titan Aggro Hour

### Session 1

Hoya learns from Ratios that the Gidim don't seem to be around anymore, though Ratios wishes it could send the Gidim after still-live planets. Gatria experiments with Fourmyle's teleportation with little luck.

The party travels to Bole and meets Shayla Langquist, who is salty and tired from all the fires to put out. The party suggests a few ways to handle the logistical matters and tends to a few of the more demanding items: bodies washing up from the river, which Hoya finds are miners whose children were stolen by Granny Allswell and who were killed when their offering songs displeased her. Hoya also finds out that she needs mirrors to talk to the dead now - with the upside that others are able to see the dead through mirrors now (if summoned by a medium), all thanks to Av.

While investigating a ever-burning fire at Muelshoe near Bole, the party attracts the ire of the Ash Wolf. Using a mirror Hoya is able to see the spirit of his dead mate and child - but when Cleone and Hoya try to get his attention, the Ash Wolf tears Cleone's wings off before Marcel and Hoya can properly direct his attention. The Ash Wolf is angry at the humans over the death of his cub - but the cub reveals that he was killed by a creature resembling the salamanders of Jiese, who the party suspects came in through a portal in the Ziggurat of Jiese. As thanks for letting him talk to his mate and cub and in recompense for injuring Marcel (AKA the king, AKA the Ash Wolf's peer the fey titan of civilization) the Ash Wolf pledges to aid the party in one battle. But although the Ash Wolf also has dominion over true love, he is unable to help with Dreues' current condition...

### Session 2

The party heads to the Ziggurat of Jiese, which has been turned to brass. The ziggurat is currently inhabited by Jiese salamanders, who consider the Lanjyr locals primitives while also not being especially bright themselves. One tries to "pspsps" Gatria and gets his sword stolen for his troubles. The salamanders' sultan has an interest in setting all of Lanjyr on fire and conquering it. The sultan's enslaved efreeti djinn, Liesi, telepathically communicates to Gatria that she wants out and is more than willing to betray the salamanders.

> **Mona:** You could kill us now, *or* we could tell you how to make the world more flammable.
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> **Sultan:** REALLY. So what do you propose then? Seems like you’re coming around to the whole world-burning thing.
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> **Mona:** Do we get to survive?
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> **Sultan:** Yeah, of course! Of course!
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> **Cleone:** Asbestos. It makes everything catch on fire!
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> -A conversation that zero people are going to regret, definitely.
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Although Liesi's reference to her own former empire is concerning, the party manages to work out a solution. Marcel, negotiating as king, demands recompense for the Ash Wolf's killed cub; the sultan agrees to use a wish from Liesi to revive them, and Gatria uses the cover of the language barrier and a "translation error" ("one wolf? No, there were two dead wolves") to get them to revive the Ash Wolf's mate as well. Marcel also has the sultan read out a wish in Primordial under the guise of a verbal contract/ritual to cede territory that actually ensures the sultan will be confined to the forest while freeing Liesi. Liesi, in return, agrees (via another wish for the favor of freedom) that neither she, her people, or their descendants may return to Lanjyr. Plenty of other places to conquer anyway.

The Ash Wolf is reunited with his mate and cub, and will not forget what Risur has done for him. The party asks that he remains awake and guards his territory, in the process finding out that the Voice of Rot has disappeared from *his* territory. Where is he now? A good question to which any potential answer is extremely threatening.

Swinging by the Ziggurat of Apet for a quick check, the party finds...the ghost of Toteth, one of the Ancients, who participated in their ritual to change the planes and wished to survive to see the fruits of their effort when the seal was opened once again. He's disappointed to see the sun gone, which the Ancients added to ward off monsters. According to Toteth, the Ancients used the Sacrament of Apotheosis to help open the seal and change the planes; they also did it with longer deliberation and greater representation than the Obscurati did, gathering representatives from different clans over generations before coming to a decision and hoping their descendants would advise the future. This last part, unfortunately, did not work out.

### Session 3

The party talks a bit more with Toteth, who ends up hitching a ride with Hoya. Toteth is dismayed to find out the future no longer has margaritas, though maybe these daiquiris could be tasty?

Onwards back to Bole, where the party finds suspicious sigils - tampered with to invite fey in instead of keeping them out. Bole's spirit tells Hoya that they're the work of the local druids, and when Mona goes to meet with the leader...well. Mona's able to tell that the head druid doesn't like the king or his people, and is lying to her with every word. She and Gatria confront him, and it turns out he's a member of the Voice of Rot worshippers much like Abiera (Faction of the White Tongue?), as are many other of the Bole druids. Hoya fixes the sigils while Marcel executes the leader and Gatria deals with the other druids, and on that happy note it's on to Favela.

Favela of course manages to be worse! The mayor is largely concerned with the town's survival and unconcerned with the child-stealing Granny problem. Marcel begins acting resentful towards Hoya for reasons he won't state. One of the workers at the mayor's brothel comes to the party seeking help, unable to leave her indentured servitude at the brothel and afraid that the mayor will take her soon-to-come baby to give to Granny Allswell herself. The party uncovers a crying rock and signs of possible sabotage at the dam, which could flood the entire town, and turns their suspicions to the mayor.

> **Gatria:** Tell me, Miss Mayor-What’s-Your-Name--
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> **Mayor**: That’s Miss Langleigh to you.
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> **Gatria:** That's nice. Anyway...
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Cue all players going nuts because oh, that's Marcel's biological mother.

### Session 4

Gatria has a private chat with the mayor, Lis Langleigh, pretending to be impressed with her pragmatism as mayor to get information. Lis is taking directions from the fey titans: nominally Granny Allswell, but Gatria is able to figure out that she's stuck between Granny and - interesting enough - the Voice of Rot, with the king on a third side. She was the one setting up the dam's sabotage and casting Magic Mouth on a rock, under the Voice of Rot's direction.

Toying with Lis' desperation via the implication of a promise of protection, Gatria secures her cooperation for a visit to Granny. Lis seems to have an interest in whether the party wants to kill Granny Allswell, a scenario that the party guesses would benefit the Voice of Rot, remembering the Bole druids' mantra: *"with every death his power grows."* Via cat crimes, they also discover that Lis has been trying to produce an antivenom as a desperate measure of protection.

Traveling to the Red Cap Mines with an offering of gold and Lis stowed in an extradimensional pocket, the party avoids traps and gremlins with comically large scissors as they descend. Cleone, as the recipient of Granny's boon, receives one of Granny's gigantic eyes as a gift/escort and regrets her life choices a little. Granny herself is disarmingly friendly once they reach her, and claims that everyone of the party could have been one of hers in one way or another - especially Marcel.

The party discusses Granny's taking of children (increased due to the distressed cries of Lis' magicked rock) and the Voice of Rot's subterfuge, the latter of which Granny wants proof for.

> **Granny:** Hmmmm, they did say I don’t have any more babies to find tonight. Why don’t you tell Granny what you found?
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> **Gatria:** We told you, we found a rock that was crying.
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> **Granny:** (Shrieking) *YOU KNOW WHAT GRANDMA MEANS! TELL ME THE SPELL.*
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> **Mona:** *Volume*… (Pause) And the spell was Magic Mouth.
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> **Granny:** Oh, so someone’s trying to trick old Granny. Granny doesn't like that at all...
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### Session 5

The party returns to Favela to fetch proof of the Voice of Rot's interference, which Lis has. By this point Lis' justifications about her actions have impressed exactly nobody, even Granny herself.

> **Granny:** We’ve met! We met 22 years ago we did. And we met again five years ago, and four years ago, and three years ago, and… (Beat) My dear, you’ve come to plot against Granny now? After all the years I’ve done everything I could for your little village.
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> **Gatria:** Plot against the village? Why, this woman has been "defending" your village.
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> **Lis:** All I’ve ever done is make sure that the people in Favela are happy. I know that the children would not live full lives there. I know that they would be miserable... (Trails off, losing her nerve)
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> **Granny:** (Putting a hand on Lis' shoulder to cast Curse of Truth) *I DON’T SUPPOSE YOU’VE HEARD THAT IT’S BAD TO TELL LIES.*
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Granny accepts the proof - the corpse of a white snake that visited Lis in her sleep - and the party negotiates with her so Granny will only take lost or unwanted children. Granny would also like them to deliver her the Voice of Rot's tongue before Lanjyr is destroyed, please and thank you. <3 According to her, the Voice of Rot is in the Gyre now, traveling towards Reida to eat it and the histories contained within before the plane is destroyed by the Gyre.

With Granny dealt with, the party returns to Favela and Lis is formally arrested for treason. Marcel tries to get some measure of closure with her, but finds none.

> **Marcel:** Do you know who I am?
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> **Lis:** Are you an idiot? Of course I know who you are.
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> *[...]*
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> **Marcel:** Did you even look for me?
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> **Lis:** Did you want to be found?
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If your biological mother is abusive and negligent, found family is fine! We're better anyway.

### Session 6

The party investigates how to deal with Father Thunder next. He's a giant frat bro of a fey titan who loves alcohol, sex, and competition, so the party co-opts most of Bole's whiskey supply as an offering to him. When considering the logistics of transporting that much whiskey Cleone's steamsuit is brought up and - hey, can Father Thunder outlift a STR 60 carrying capacity? Turns out he can't, when they visit him and appeal for him to return the harvest. Father Thunder acquiesces when he loses the challenge.

The party returns to Flint to find Lauryn Cyneburg, who brings 1) news that Slate has been retaken and 2) Gully, a curious young man with such an overpowering knack for teleportation that he's been arrested and overwhelmingly restrained. Gatria has the idea to offer him a job for the crown under a geas, which Gully enthusiastically accepts. Kasavarina comes over to help with the geas...and that's when Asrabey shows up, acting suspiciously friendly. The party confiscates a magic item improving his deceptions, and Asrabey's true motives come out.

> **Asrabey:** That woman is not my wife. My wife is not WEAK, she would want me to complete my mission. I'm here to serve Risur, as she instructed me.
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> **Mona:** Your old wife is dead. You are effectively a widow.
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> **Asrabey:** *(Turning to Kasavarina)* No, I don’t think this a fight I can win, but I’ll say this much–
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> **Kasavarina:** You don’t get to speak to me.
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> **Asrabey:** *(Raising his voice to speak over her)* This world is doomed. There is one way that we can save it. None of you have any capacity to do anything to prevent the end of the world. Only the Obscurati can do that. When you’re finally ready to accept that, I’ll be here.
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...But he won't be, because the party is considering killing him instead. Or - hey, actually, doesn't She Who Writhes want a handsome new man to play with? And Asrabey's artwork *is* modeled after the biggest actor in Bollywood...

### Session 7

With Asrabey tied up as a gift the party summons Beshela for help dealing with She Who Writhes, who likes treasure, hot men, and unpolluted waters. The king can arrange some of that but not all, and the party considers whether there'd be any willing men who'd be into being voluntary tributes for a fey titan. Beshela forewarns them about her mistress's deadly scream, and with some effort and a bit of getting knocked around the party is able to avoid the danger and negotiate with her to continue protecting Risur in exchange for offerings.

Afterward, Mona begins to feel something trying to take over her body: it's Ashima Shimtu, newly empowered by Ostea's influence. She warns the party that strange creatures are stirring in Ber, and that Gradiax and his cult have taken over Axis Island since the planar change, with Danor trying to take it back. Leaders and scholars from all over the world are being invited to Danor for a consortium of minds meanwhile, except of course for Risur.

## Axis Island Aggro Hour

### Session 8

While the party prepares to head to Axis Island and then Ber, Morgan has ominous news for Gatria: one of the Flint Family, a worshipper of a minor Clergy god, has died in a way similar that of eladrin women during the Great Malice. Morgan decides to head to Crisillyir to investigate, passing on his position to his daughter Antonia and expecting that Gatria will report to him again in the future. Gatria is alarmed by both his actions and his secrecy, especially in light of what she saw in the Temple of Ingatan.

> **Gatria:** Would you promise me something? ...That if there’s a time in the future that I come to you with a question, would you answer it, fully, and truly honestly?
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> **Morgan:** If I’ve ever kept a secret from you, Gatria, it’s only because I thought there was a very good reason.
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> **Gatria:** Yeah well, when that time comes, when I ask, I don’t want there to be any secrets.
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> **Morgan:** Okay. I think I owe you that much.
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> **Gatria:** *(Nods)*
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> **Morgan:** *(Lingering, hesitating, deciding)* She doesn’t need it,  but you’ll look after her, my Antonia? For me, while I’m away?
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> **Gatria:** Yeah. Always.
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Fun DM fact: under the new planar system promises are binding now. :) Fun!

Upon arrival at Axis Island, Gatria independently scouts around to get a feel for Gradiax's forces (using exactly the training she received under them, for maximum irony) and finds that they're focused on searching for something. At some point she trips an alarm spell that catches the attention of one of Gradiax's Duplicants, who casually tells the air that Gradiax has Brakken of Heffanita with him and he's willing to release Brakken to the party if the king will meet him.

Upon Gatria's report, the party theorizes that the cult is looking for planar icons. Toteth elaborates more on the process to make an icon. The party doesn't have the familiarity with planes that they need to make one easily, but perhaps with scrolls of Plane Shift like Rock Rackus had (and now the Family has) it might be possible in the future.

### Session 9

After some more questions for Toteth about the Axis ritual and the Deck of Many Things, the party continues their investigation. Gatria scouts a sea cave and comes across a kobold masquerading as a gnoll, who says the Strange One is looking for her. She also finds the Icon of Nem using planar Smellovision, handily taking the thing that Gradiax is looking for!

The party investigates a near tunnel containing Danoran soldiers on the brink of starvation and Cosette Aryan, a quartermaster with a syringe of Nic juice and a Ring of Mind Shielding protecting her from the hivemind of hunger that's formed a thoughtform creature outside. The party takes the quartermaster into custody and mercy kills the soldiers, getting rid of the Gidim creature and freeing up a path towards the Axis Ritual site. Gatria goes ahead again to scout, and the rest of the party spies Gradiax and Pardo also on their way to the ritual site in a prototype car.

At the ritual site, Gatria finds Borne trapped underneath the seal, missing his arms. Borne tells her that the ritual to change the planes was interrupted by an explosion caused by a white serpent. Nicodemus hasn't contacted him since, and meanwhile Borne is trapped where he is; the ritual site's energy makes it too dangerous to help him out.

> **Gatria:** Look, those dangerous people. You’re going to be stuck here alone with them. They’re gonna tell you a lot of things. They’re going to try to use you, if not outright dismantle you. Try not to give them what they want.
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> **Borne:** I won’t.
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> **Gatria:** Just remember that I know you want to make everything better, but they, the people occupying this island now, will do everything in their power to make this world theirs.
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> **Borne:** I will not let that happen.
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> [...]
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> **Gatria:** I need to go. Is there anything else?
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> **Borne:** *(Hopeful)* I want to do the right thing.
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> **Gatria:** Yeah. I guess a lot of people do.
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Gradiax arrives, and soon the party does as well...

### Session 10

Gradiax talks with the party minus Gatria (hidden). He proposes an alliance between himself and the party, as the two remaining forces free of the Obscurati's brainwashing. He provides resources and the grace to not conquer various countries once the Obscurati is gone; they provide information, like how to make planar icons, and their blessing to let him kill Gatria. <3 Hoya goes OFF on him with immediate refusal, and the rest of the party follows.

> **Gradiax:** *(After making a show of laughing himself breathless, when he doesn't breathe)* Your reputation precedes you. Either I work with you, or against you.
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> **Hoya:** So, that’s not different than now?
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> **Cleone:** What are you going to do, go to the Obscurati?
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> [...]
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> **Gradiax:** Well, let me know if you ever change your mind.
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No thanks, jackass.

Enter the Strange One, who's been busy along with his operatives. He gives more information about the upcoming international symposium, in which Nicodemus is about to blame Risur for the apocalypse; Brakken, who thankfully has not been a hostage of Gradiax and more a Beran operative having a very bad time existing on the same island as thought creatures, will be able to help with a new ability he discovered thanks to the planar shift. The Strange One also and hands out Methian stone rings to the party as anti-divination measures before hijacking one of Gradiax's cars to crash in the jungle. Gatria meets up with him separately, having observed the proceedings while hidden, and asks him to buy some time for them and delay the symposium while the party investigates the Gidim in Ber.

## Gidim Better Get Out

### Session 11

On the Strange One's suggestion, the party heads to Seobriga to find Glaucia as Gradiax clashes with Danor over Axis Island. Thanks to a tip from the party Seobriga has resisted the Obscurati's control, but it remains under assault by the Ob as a result. Magical eyes are spying all around the city, commanded by Vicemi of the ghost council. The Executores are being picked off or assassinated as they're sent out, and Glaucia herself is fending off attacks from Ob ghosts and living assassins alike. (She's also not pleased to see a dragon tyrant with the party, but Gatria and Marcel have worked out an excuse to keep Harkover where he is.)

Glaucia also regrettably agrees with the party that it's not the best idea to involve Bruse Shantus right now - he might take offense to the party's involvement out of pride. She gives the party other leads: in Ursaliña where members of the Executores have been going silent, the last word from a rookie Enforcer (in fact Acredo, one of Gatria's former squadmates also freed from the cult) mentioned a merchant named Flida. Brakken is able to give them more intel on the city itself, including a point towards the governor's son Dieter.

### Session 12

The party finds and ambushes Vicemi, and Gatria traps his soul in witch oil to prevent him from being resurrected by Nicodemus. Questions about why she has witch oil lying around are ignored. After warning Glaucia to up the city's protection following Vicemi's threats, the party heads to Ursaliña.

Ursaliña is, unfortunately, teeming with Gidim to the point where Hoya's able to see a whole other layer of reality in the city represented as a vast fungal network. The party is able to investigate under the Gidim radar thanks to Harkover's Mind Blank, and they soon find that the lanterns in Ursaliña's lighthouse have been pulverized by somebody. At the Executores headquarters they find Acredo's trail leading into the city, as well as some cloyingly sweet-smelling flowers. Burning the flowers yields some Gidim screams, and attracts the attention of some Sijhen-like Gidim. The party runs.

In the Ursaliña markets, just about everyone is running NormalSpringDay.exe - even if they recognize it isn't a normal spring day, because the police are taking anyone who diverges from the script. The party eventually finds Flida, who legitimately makes Mona a new dress for NormalSpringDay.exe appearances while they talk.

> **Flida:** *(To Mona, sternly)* What can I get you fitted for?
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> **Mona:** A nice spring dress for this…spring day…?
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> **Flida:** What brings outsiders from around the world to Ursalina this time of year?
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> **Mona:** I heard good things about your wares... *(Slowly realizing they don't need codewords)*
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> **Gatria:** We have noticed that something has gone terribly wrong in Ursaliña. And the outsiders know this is more than just an Ursaliña problem.
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Flida gives them several tips, including what happened in Ursaliña during the planar shift; a crash landing by the docks; the murder of a well-dressed man; a girl with a bad leg nearly rounded up by the police. People are likely being taken to either the arena or around the governor's mansion, managed by Dieter.

### Session 13

The party investigated the murdered man, who turns out to be none other than Dester Rathine. Far from Flint, Dester is in Ursaliña on a mission from Antonia Cipiano that he refuses to talk about even in death as he fears Antonia more than he fears the party. Hoya has an idea of what it is (i.e., the search for Gatria's mother), but her attempt to get the information out of him without tipping Gatria off fails and Gatria has a quick, threatening confrontation with Hoya before storming off.

Dester claims to have been murdered by a woman covered entirely in black. The party soon finds her, as she and a different figure tail the party; Hoya via the Hook recognizes them as Dabo Griento and Sor Daeron. As it turns out, Sor was revitalized due to Ostea's influence and became Dabo's mentor in swordsmanship as they both attempted to protect Ursaliña; Dabo killed Dester as both protection from outsiders and revenge for the Family's part in her father's death. The two parties begrudgingly band together to check out the crash site, where Hoya finds a Gidim eye-creature-on-a-string, which the Hook informs her is called (part of) the Leviathan. Cleone pulls Sor Daeron aside meanwhile, more than a little alarmed at Sor's choice of company:

> **Cleone:** I think you should just be *very* *careful* with your charge. *I* know what mistakes I’ve made, and my past lives have made.
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> **Sor:** She would be dead if it weren’t for me. I don’t owe you anything.
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> **Cleone:** You don’t owe me. You owe Launga.
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> **Sor:** *(Shouting)* And so do you!
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> **Cleone:** *(Under her breath)* Dala, actually.
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> **Sor:** No, don’t act like you were there. I saw what happened to the eladrin after what you did to us. You think you can know, you think you can be sorry, but you can’t!
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> **Cleone:** I owe both of Kasavarina’s children more than I can ever make up for. I may not ever be able to accomplish what I set out to, but that will NOT stop me from trying. AND I owe Kasavarina herself more than I can say. Mind your hubris. Be careful of this life you hold.
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Unfortunately the argument attracts the Gidim's attention, as Sor isn't hidden by Mind Blank. Time to run, again!

### Session 14

The party splits up with Sor and Dabo for tactical (risk reduction) reasons, but enough damage is done: the Gidim are aware of the party as a threat now, and now they'll be on alert.

> **Marcel:** We can use them as a distraction.
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> **Gatria:** We can probably sell it to them to lay low for a while…
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> **Cleone:** *(Guiltily, given her part in Sor's blowup)* It’s maybe for the best that we split up.
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Hoya gets intel from the world's worst Gidim fungal mind palace, discovering that Ber is the frontier of the Gidim's colonization/husbandry effort ("Boy did they pick THE worst nation for this"), and that the Gidim seek to bring more in from their homeworld.

Gatria and Lucita scout the Arena, where people are being brought for unknown reasons. The arena is supposedly being prepared for new games, but there is no actual game activity: the actual preparations are of culled people, their brains fed to bears in order to create new Gidim warbeasts. It's all extremely horrific, and the party debates whether to stage immediate rescue or try to stop the operation at its root by taking out the Gidim.

Towards they end, they investigate the governor's son Dieter Cadyger, stationed at a high-end cafe's fireplace. Dieter is a stonewall of mistrust until a Hoya-Gatria tagteam manages to convince him they're worth allying with and inform him of the situation regarding the Arena and the Leviathan. Dieter in turn tells them that proximity to fire is the only safe place from the Gidim's surveillance, a second hint towards fire being a potential tool against the Gidim. Dieter's father, the governor, has been taken over by the Gidim and has been aiding the arena operation; while Dieter is trying to relocate those still free away from known corral points. Dieter gives the party a tip about the bardic college and asks them to assassinate his father - or rather the puppet that used to be his father, although the party decides against it.

### Session 15

The party investigates the bardic college. Gatria and Hoya's scouting reveals that the Gidim have fully taken over, on the prowl and integrating with themselves within the barely-still-alive population of the college. Hoya encounters the ghost of Ruik, a recent graduate who recounts the forced rehearsals leading into his being fed into something...fleshy. Ew.

Turns out that the college is built on top of Ancient ruins, so Mona (shapeshifted) and Hoya investigate the ruins of the Ancient Grand Music Hall, finding that it's been occupied by the Leviathan - itself a massive living ship. The Leviathan burrowed into the ruins and serves as the center of current Gidim operations; people at the bardic college are fed through a hole in the college foyer to the Leviathan, as Ruik was. Toteth confirms that Gidim like the Leviathan served as carriers for other forces, and that a war leader would have likely come with it. Thanks to thirdhand memories shared from Sijhen to Xambria to herself, Hoya remembers that a living mechanical obelisk should be inside the Leviathan.

### Session 16

The party tracks down Acredo, who's living in a dump near the sewers burning trash and wearing sludge. Although he's initially suspicious, Glaucia's name earns his attention and trust and Acredo informs the party that strong smells and fumes help repel the Gidim. (Gatria remains silent, not wanting to be recognized.)

> **Acredo:** Yeah, fumes, I discovered that all on my own. … But, uh, they can still see you with their eyes, so–
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> **Cleone:** Fumes, but not fire?
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> **Acredo:** *(Condescending)* Uh, yeah, if it were just the fire, then we’d have to be inside the fire, wouldn’t we?
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> **Cleone:** *(She chooses to ignore that and starts thinking)* Hm, so – some sufficiently stinky chemicals could work…
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> **Acredo:** The stinkier the better, the fire helps generate smoke; but this shit? Keeps them away for quite a while.
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After some theorizing and discussion of options, the party opts to buy sage in bulk to create stink bombs. Heading down the hole in the college foyer and deploying some sage bombs, they land inside the Leviathan. Cue a fight through the Leviathan's interior, fighting Gidim overseers and Ursaliñan meatpuppet shock troopers while passing Executores and other Ursaliñan citizens in the middle of being taken over by the Gidim. Nobody will ever have nightmares about this for sure.

### Session 17

The party defeats the Gidim's commander and start taking care of cleanup. Gatria and Hoya are able to use the obelisk Hoya saw, the Vortex Array, which serves as a sort of living computer inside the Leviathan. They're able to view maps of the planes and verify that the Gidim currently only seem to be on Lanjyr. Gatria commands the ship to let go of the prisoners, some of whom have been restrained on tables of living steel. The tables take commands and could potentially be used to help heal people instead of harming them depending on instructions. Gatria and Hoya coax the ship into allowing the party to take both the tables and the Vortex Array.

### Session 18

Cleanup continues, this time in Ursaliña proper. The inhabitants of the bardic college are too far gone in their infestation to be saved and are summarily mercy-killed, the college itself torched courtesy of Harkover (thank goodness for the stone foundations). The arena prisoners are freed, and Gatria talks to a kobold to pass information on to the Strange One.

For the rest of the city, Cleone uses her repurposed anatomical knowledge and the living steel tables to perform Gidimectomies on...many, many, many people. She's even able to save the governor, Dieter's father, although he's lost his memory and talks about turning Ursaliña into a "farm" so he isn't going back to governing anytime soon; still, Dieter is grateful. Leadership goes to the Executores in the meantime.

Gatria and Hoya talk to Dester's ghost again, to look after his affairs (Gatria) and follow up on the search for Gatria's mother (Hoya, also covering for Antonia). Hoya slips away afterward to investigates one of Dester's leads, to Mona's chagrin.

> **Mona:** Where are you going, Hoya?
>
>
> **Hoya:** *(Ignores her and phases through a wall to leave)*
>
>
> **Mona:** YOU GET BACK HERE, YOUNG LADY!
>
>
> **Hoya:** *(Using Message, already outside)* I’m older than you!
>
>
>
> **Mona:** *(Frustrated screaming)*
>
>

Gatria finds Sor and Dabo's hideout to give Dabo a talk and a choice. By killing Dester, Dabo has also technically killed a Risuri "informant" which Gatria could turn into an international incident that would drag the rest of the Grientos into the spotlight if she needed to stop Dabo's quest for revenge against the Family. The alternative is that Dabo turns herself in for murder, and Gatria directs her specifically to Glaucia ("she has experience with angry kids"). Dabo chooses the latter.

Hoya, meanwhile, finds more success than she could have suspected: Reina Solis-Ortiz is living in an Ursaliña tenement thanks to the Executores' aid, paralyzed since the attack by the Cult's soldiers and unaware that her daughter has been alive all this time. Powered by pure force of GO SEE YOUR MOTHER, Hoya proceeds to find Gatria and drag her to Reina's residence. Gatria has an awkward conversation with her mother that nevertheless ends with tentative hope on both sides. Despite the danger Reina agrees to come to Flint, where Gatria has room for her.

> **Reina:** To hear that you’re alive, that’s enough. You just being alive makes me happy. You doing well makes me happy.
>
>
> **Gatria:** *(Looks away awkwardly, giving a little self-deprecating laugh)* You say that now, but you’re not going to find one person that says I’m pleasant to be around
>
>
> **Reina:** *(Plainly and pragmatically)* Well, pleasantness didn’t do us any good. Better to be strong and survive than to be pleasant
>
>
> **Gatria:** *(Smiles faintly, genuine)* Look. I said I have property, but…it’s in Flint. It is…even after what happened with the Gidim, it’s probably one of the most dangerous cities you can be in these days. Are you still okay with that?
>
>
>
> **Reina:** *(Glances towards the window, though she can’t quite turn that far)* I don’t think I want to be in Ursaliña anymore.
>
>

Reina asks to hold Gatria's hand before they go, and as she approaches Gatria realizes that to her the scent of Apet - something she can't quite remember, something just out of reach - is in fact her mother's scent. She's visibly upset, and Reina comforts her with a hug: "My little light."

## International Aggro Hour

### Session 19

After wrapping up in Ursaliña, the party prepares for the symposium with liberal use of Fourmyle teleportation. They stop by Seobriga, where Gatria gives Glaucia notice regarding Dabo and advocates for better treatment at the Executores' charity houses (where Reina worked). The party makes a quick stop to sneak into the Summer Court palace and steal the design for the Bruse's fancy telescope, for Nathan Jierre's benefit. Gatria splits up with the party to start spreading unrest in Cherage.

In Danor, the Obscurati has gone public, casting themselves as enlightened thinkers that Danor has been supporting. They claim credit for all the positive changes resulting from the planar shift - including the return of magic to Danor - while blaming Risur for the negative changes. Curiously no hiveminds have ever made an appearance in Cherage, a fact Gatria plans to take advantage of by manipulating rumor. Through spreading suspicions about the legitimacy of Danor's elections as well as Han Jierre's independence with relation to the Obscurati and then spreading rumors of an announcement by Han at a certain time on the day of the symposium, Gatria hopes to create a massive hivemind creature through a gathering of expectant citizens and use the shock of its appearance to cast doubt on the Ob's propaganda.

The rest of the party returns to Flint. Vihan shows Mona a letter from Vlendam Heid to eschatologists worldwide, detailing a siege of the city Bhad Ryzhavdut by Grandis Komanov and the Lost Riders, seemingly summoned through the Sacrament of Apotheosis Komanov learned in Adventure 8. And wherever Komanov is Leo is bound to be with her...

> **Vihan:** As far as the radical eschatologists know I’m still with them, I’ve just been a prisoner of Risur this entire time. We can go in, get Leo, get out. Of course, I will expect a bit of a reward for helping you get in with Komanov and all but considering you burned all your bridges with Drakr anyway I’m the only hope you have! :D
>
>
> **Mona:** I’M NOT OKAY WITH THIS, WHAT IF I LOSE YOU AGAIN?
>
>
> **Vihan:** That’s not going to happen. I know my way around these people. I know you have stuff to do, but when you and kingy are ready I’m here! Might need help from your Family friends. What else are you doing to do, go up in your dinky ship and get shot as you approach Drakr? Just pass that along to your little mob friend for me, if you will. I’m sure she’ll see things my way.
>
>
> **Mona:** *(Assuming he means Gatria)* She is NOT my friend.
>
>
>
> **Vihan:** Well she’s real good at cards and she’s friends with Andi, so I don’t see why not! Useful person to know.
>
>

Meanwhile Cleone talks with Nathan: Marcel is going to officially grant him asylum as a political ploy, whether or not Nathan really wants it. This will reveal to the world that Nathan is still alive and hiding out from Danor in Risur.

> **Cleone:** When I saw your cousin Luc last, he wanted me to make sure you were safe from your father. What do you want?
>
>
> **Nathan:** I’m an academic, I like sharing my ideas with other people. Chatwood has been a lot of help, but I could do this a lot faster if I had more hands on deck - if I could share my ideas with other astronomers. If you think you can pull this off without damning Risur, [I'd like to work with more people].
>
>
> **Cleone:** One of these days, I would like to go back to being an engineer myself.
>
>
> **Nathan:** Yeah. Don’t let the king drag you around being a minister too long.
>
>
>
> **Cleone:** You know, you’re the second one who's said that to me this month.
>
>

Harkover also suggests that the party start to think about how to make planar icons, as the party will need to craft their own if they want to complete the ritual with a planar configuration other than the Ob's. He also notes that should they need the Sacrament of Apotheosis down the line, he is willing to donate a bit of his own blood for the dragon's blood component.

### Session 20

The Forward Symposium begins. Gatria, Marcel, and Harkover attend as magical simulacra. Everyone else hitches a ride in Brakken's head, and observes as people arrive and mingle. This is the party's first look at several world players and leaders such as Betronga Sidhon, representing Elfaivar; Dmitra Takhenova, Grand Chancellor of Drakr; Savina Tullius, Prime Cardinal of Crisillyir; and Sagu Jacksdotter, representing the Malice Lands; as well as representatives from Thelia. Some familiar faces (of varying degrees) include Lord Kulp, Vlendam Heid accompanied by Kvarti (eyyyy), Eloise Duffet, and of course Nicodemus and Lya possessing a couple of Danoran politicians Cleone is familiar with. There is much chatter had, shade thrown (especially by Savina), and suspicion cast on Risur with a couple doubts about the Obscurati.

The simulacrum trio makes their entrance exactly one paragraph and three words into Nicodemus' opening speech, disputing his accusations against Risur and his claims about the Obscurati's trustworthiness. Nic himself doesn't seem to know that Borne survived on Axis Island, Gatria points out flaws in Nic's plan to gather world leaders in specifically Cherage, where the common people are in the perfect position to put the pieces together regarding the Obscurati and riot - which is, of course, what she herself has fomented. As Nicodemus continually deflects blame away from the Ob and towards Risur, Marcel and Gatria go on to clarify that the Voice of Rot was responsible for the ritual's sabotage and officially considered a rogue state separate from Risur, thanks to his actions and the other fey titans' opposition - something which the Thelia representatives help verify.

Gatria further points out that Gradiax is on Axis Island attempting to use the Axis ritual for his own ends, and that the gathered nations ought to declare war on him rather than Risur. She offers alliance and academic collaboration (as per Nathan's request) to any country interested, and Dmitra and Betronga give their support. Brakken does as well, and his friend Sagu follows suit. Savina attempts to stay neutral, claiming Crisillyir lacks the resources to focus outside its borders.

> **Gatria:** Now, Nicodemus, are you going to put aside your differences and work with others against Gradiax?
>
>
> **Nicodemus:** Minister Duffet already explained we have a plan to stop him.
>
>
> **Brakken:** What is this plan?
>
>
> **Nicodemus:** Danor will succeed.
>
>
> **Heid:** In a debate, you typically do not deflect an answer brought up to you.
>
>
> **Nicodemus:** *(Tosses down his cigarette)* For 500 years we’ve been planning! We will finish it! We do not need the help of an aggravating country!!!
>
>
>
> **Gatria:** You didn't get the help of the rest of the world, either. Now that you’re being offered a united front, you don’t want it. You want an *army*.
>
>

Eloise also refrains, but seems to think twice when Gatria drops the double-bomb that the Obscurati has killed Luc Jierre, along with various other Ob members spanning the countries, and that Nathan Jierre is seeking asylum with Risur.

This, of course, is when the massive thoughtform creature Gatria stirred up through the Cherage populace comes knocking. (Gatria, to Nic: "I TOLD YOU THIS WAS DANGEROUS!") Everyone able teleports outtie; Harkover gives Heid and Kvarti, who've used up their teleports already, a teleport to Brakken's boat. As Nicodemus leaves to investigate what happened Lya asks Gatria to confirm that the planar shift is responsible for the hiveminds.

Oh by the way, Gatria didn't tell anyone she was planning to stir up a city-sized hivemind and didn't expect it to be quite this big. Oh boy.

### Session 21

As a colossal hivemind creature hunts for Han Jierre in Cherage's nobility district, Cleone lashes out at the party believing they might choose to abandon the city to its ruin. Marcel recognizes that Cleone won't leave without trying to save Cherage, while Gatria struggles with fear of both hiveminds and blame.

Brakken offers his help getting Cleone and Hoya into the hivemind to try and convince the people to stand down. Mona serves as a distraction for the hivemind by taking on the appearance of Han Jierre, while Marcel and Gatria further distract it from catching Mona. Gatria tries to weaken the hivemind from the outside through both physical and psychological attacks, questioning what Danor is without its elections - though careful not to kill the creature, which will kill the people forming the hivemind as well. On the inside of the hivemind with Brakken's help, Cleone gives a speech to the people exposing the Obscurati's control of Danor and challenging people to reclaim it from the Ob ("Our country has yet to be its own"). This, combined with a call to bring Han Jierre to justice through civil means rather than immediate lynching, breaks people out of the hivemind.

Those physically in Cherage teleport back to Brakken's ship, and Cleone apologizes to everyone for assuming the worst of their intentions while thanking them for helping to save the city.

> **Hoya:** *(Extremely mindful of Gatria)* We all did the best we could with what we had. Things in Cherage may really have gone the best they possibly could have today.
>
>
> **Gatria:** *(Attempting to exit stage left)* Sometimes people give you a reason to think the worst.
>
>
> **Cleone:** *(Calling out)* Gatria!
>
>
> *(Gatria stops, an ear swivels)*
>
>
> **Cleone:** Thank you. You didn’t say anything I didn’t want to say to the people of Danor myself, and you made a mess…but you helped clean it up. Danor needed this, even if it didn’t turn out the way anyone would have wanted.
>
>
> **Gatria:** No one said change was pretty. The quicker this gets over with, the better.
>
>
>
> **Cleone:** Tell me about it. *(Long look at Cherage, and further west towards Gagneux)* Danor has a lot of discovery to do.
>
>

Cleone uses her Sending ring to notify Florette that it's a good time to go home and raise a resistance against the Obscurati. She also gives Marcel official notice that she's quitting her position as minister and returning to Danor once the fight against the Ob is over: Danor needs her more than Risur does, now.

> **Marcel:** I don’t know what the leadership of Danor will look like when this is all over *(knowing look, good luck not getting elected Cleone)*. As the King of Risur, I am done with leading our nation against Danor. I want you to know that when this is over, if the people of Danor will have Risur as an ally, I will do everything in my power to make it so.
>
>
> **Cleone:** I think the people of Danor will be interested in forging a relationship with Risur in a world without the Obscurati.
>
>
>
> **Marcel:** I hope so.
>
>

That night, Gatria gets a Sending message from Morgan Cipiano: *Requesting aid in Crisillyir. Alais Primos in crisis. Swaying public loyalties towards Family. Urgent meeting of all Family heads. Antonia aware. Need you here, Gatria.*

## Gatria and Toni Matrimony...oh and some plot

### Session 22

On Brakken's boat the party talks with Vlendam Heid, confirming that he was invited as a philosophical leader and letting Heid (but not Kvarti, on Heid's request) in on the knowledge that Nicodemus was once William Miller. Heid in return tells them more about Grandis Komanov, who seeks power and worship through crisis; and Chancellor Takhenova, who...seeks political power through war and crisis. Whaddya know. Gatria suggests sending one of his own followers familiar with Drakran law to Flint for some Family help, and Mona mentions an inside man for the radical eschatologists. Heid and Kvarti later get dropped off somewhere where they can teleport back home.

Gatria fills the party in on Morgan's request and the hints that someone is killing Clergy gods. "I don’t know what it takes to scare Morgan, but he’s scared." They stop by Flint on the way to Crisillyir, picking up Antonia and Reina (who's unknown to everyone but Gatria and Hoya) on the way. Gatria talks with Toni about what to expect from the rest of the main branch of the Cipiano family, and Toni mentions that Morgan has told the rest of the Family about Hoya's possession of the Humble Hook. Oh boy.

Toni and Gatria are warmly received in Alais Primos. Everyone else...is also there, sure, but who cares about those guys. They might care a little bit about the tiny one. Morgan is happy to see the two of them, but Gatria is also able to tell that he's holding back some kind of grief. Most of the party is assembled to meet with Donna Aneenya and the rest of the Family minus Morgan. The Donna gives Hoya about ten thousand times more attention than Hoya is comfortable with given Hoya's ownership of the Humble Hook. Meanwhile Gatria meets with Morgan upon his request, desperate to head off the future she saw at the Temple of Ingatan. Just as desperately, Morgan begs for her patience and trust.

> **Gatria:** The longer you go without telling me, the worse this is going to get. You know, I didn’t tell you the entire thing either, when I told you about Ingatan. And I swear, Morgan, if I have to watch her cry again–
>
>
> *(Morgan freezes)*
>
>
> **Gatria:** You think she doesn’t know something’s wrong? You think she’s not terrified of something, especially something happening to you?
>
>
> **Morgan:** *(Holds his breath, for a long moment. Thinks, very carefully, and then sincerely:)* I know, Gatria. I want Antonia to be happy. But I don’t want you to put you in a position of having to lie to your wife. It’s not proper to start a marriage with lies.
>
>
> **Gatria:** You know what Morgan, I want to be able to tell her that it will be all right, and that YOU will be all right, and I want to KNOW. I want to MEAN IT. She’ll know it if I don’t. You gonna at least say why you can’t tell me?
>
>
> **Morgan:** *(Takes a breath, calming himself)* Because I want the wedding of my daughters to be happy. For one night, I want to see the both of you truly happy.
>
>
>
> **Gatria:** *(After a pause)* I never needed a wedding to be happy.
>
>

According to Morgan, Ashima Shimtu has revealed the minor Sacrament of Apotheosis to another person and has more she's currently keeping to herself. That factors into the current situation regarding the killed gods, somewhat complicated by Mona's deal with Ashima Shimtu - although the Family does still have ways to work around it.

Eventually the two of them join everyone else in the dining room, Antonia highly suspicious of what's going on. Morgan officially announces the marriage of Antonia Cipiano and Gatria in two days' time, inspiring a variety of emotions in the party ranging from joy (Hoya) to internal screaming (Marcel).

### Session 23

Congratulations and celebrations go around for the upcoming wedding. The Donna gives a speech about Morgan's embodiment of Clergy principles, through offering their enemies the chance to redeem themselves. Afterward, Gatria and Antonia talk privately in the family cemetary: two of Toni's Crisillyiri uncles are dead, one of them discovered to be working with the Obscurati. Morgan took care of it, but Toni knows that isn't the only reason he's acting strangely. Trying to avert the future she saw at the Temple of Ingatan, Gatria reassures Toni that she's on it. The two share some time together, a happy couple.

Wedding preparation begins: Gatria commissions a wedding ring made from an undead dragon's tooth, sends a wedding invitation to troll Price-Hill, and sends Glaucia a more sincere thank-you note for the path that led Gatria to Toni. Mona and Cleone attempt to shop for clothing, only to find they're not allowed off the estate. Hoya talks with Donna Aneenya about Triegenes and the Hook, and also finds that she isn't allowed out for her "protection." The Family has everything they need on-site, of course.

The day of the wedding arrives, and everyone convenes at one of the biggest cathedrals in Alais Primos...which is, as multiple people notice, heavily patrolled by Family lieutenants, too well and freshly renovated for a historic cathedral, and housing a well-vetted audience. Hoya, sensing something wrong, manages to wheedle a secret out of a young and extremely nervous Family granddaughter but doesn't get the chance to act on it.

Gatria gets ready for the ceremony with Reina's help meanwhile, both of them proud but emotional catfolk. Morgan comes in and offers Gatria a gift, somebody to heal her eyes: "I didn’t think it would be fair that you had your wedding day without being able to see your bride." Gatria takes off her blindfold, sees him looking at her with nothing but love, and lunges to hug him for a long time. (Cue the players squealing.)

The ceremony begins: Gatria and Antonia walk down the aisle, escorted by Reina and Morgan. Gatria is unable to take her eyes off Toni throughout the entire ceremony, or after it: she hasn't seen her new wife in two months, and doesn't intend to stop seeing her. Marcel gives a diplomatic speech, while Hoya gives a heartfelt one. Morgan dances with Mona, as a symbolic gesture relating to her deal with Ashima Shimtu (he's not scared of her, nor should anyone else be), then talks to Gatria privately after hours of party and dancing.

> **Gatria:** It’s kind of stupid. World’s ending, but…I’ve never felt better. I’ve never felt this… *(raises a hand, gestures vaguely, lets it drop)* It’s like…something in me’s gone quiet, but in a good way.
>
>
> **Morgan:** *(Smiles, gives a knowing look)* Even during an eclipse like this, you deserve to be happy.
>
>
> **Gatria:** Happy. The world’s ending and everybody out here is losing their minds, but I’ve never been happier. I didn’t even know it was possible to feel like this, Morgan.
>
>
> **Morgan:** *(Breaks her gaze, looks out into horizon)* That’s all I wanted for tonight. *(A pause)* Maybe…it’s true you won’t always feel like this, Gatria. Maybe tomorrow these people will go home and the panic will set in and maybe things will get worse. But tonight gets to be a good night, and you get to truly enjoy yourself and be happy, and you shouldn’t feel guilty about that.
>
>
> [...]
>
>
> **Gatria:** Hey.
>
>
> **Morgan:** Hm?
>
>
> **Gatria:** Why…why did you take such a chance on me, that first time? I tried to steal from you.
>
>
> **Morgan:** *(Smiles, looks at the horizon, then at the people)* Weren’t you listening to my mother?
>
>
> **Gatria:** Well, yeah–
>
>
> **Morgan:** All Family members know that everyone just needs to be given a chance, for things to be better.
>
>
> **Gatria:** So that’s it?
>
>
>
> **Morgan:** Not quite. Call it intuition. I had a good feeling about you.
>
>

Backdated conversation between Cleone and Nathan, during the stop in Flint: Cleone fills him in on what happened in Cherage and how Danor knows about the Obscurati and the Jierres' history now. Nathan is dismayed but not surprised, and they talk about his family: Nathan has never understood his father's motivations and wishes he could. He has higher hopes for Lya, though, and is interested in talking with her should the opportunity present. He plans to return to Danor with Cleone once the Obscurati is taken care of and definitely avoid politics...unlike Cleone, who may end up getting pulled into it for lack of better options.

In the meantime, news that Nathan is alive combined with the offers of international academic collaboration means more research opportunities for an excited Nathan. Once the fancy telescope is complete, Nathan and collaborators will be able to look into the Gyre and research their options for changing the planes, as well as look potential side effects of planes such as the appearance of hiveminds thanks to Ratios.

### Session 24

Early in the morning after the wedding (yay compartmentalization!), Gatria shows up at Morgan's door demanding the answers he promised. Turns out Morgan is involved as a pawn in the struggle for power between Savina Tulius and the Family: armed with the Sacrament of Apotheosis, Savina is leading an inquisition against the gods. The god trials entail using Sacrament avatars to blame the gods for not stopping the apocalypse, then executing said gods/avatars - and their believers with them. Morgan is representing Triegenes in such a trial in three days as the Family's political pawn: if he successfully defends Triegenes and strengthens Crisillyir's faith, he will earn the Family significant power in Alais Primos and in Crisillyir. If he fails, that will be his punishment for withholding information about Hoya and the Hook from the Family.

Gatria, of course, is livid. That Morgan has a plan to protect Antonia via a scroll containing the Bonds of Forced Faith ritual barely helps.

> **Gatria:** Hey, Morgan. *(Sucker punches him in the face)*
>
>
> **Morgan:** *(Lets that happen. He stays down, collects himself, and looks her in the eye)* You, the King of Risur. You make it look easy. I’m sorry I let you down.
>
>
> **Gatria:** I COULD HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS A FUCKING WEEK AGO.
>
>
> **Morgan:** You are working on this, Gatria. You saved Ber. You stopped war. You’re here now.
>
>
> **Gatria:** *(Turns around and paces, silent)* Why the hell are we out here?
>
>
>
> **Morgan:** Because they’re coming to arrest me.
>
>

Enter Aulus Atticus, the godhand in charge of the trials; and Hoya, who's previously heard Morgan is about to participate in the god trials without knowing the details. Hoya pulls rank as the "Saint of Triegenes" - extremely unprecedented for her - to ensure Morgan stays free before the trial, throwing her fate in with Morgan's in the process because we run on Ace Attorney: Spirit of Justice rules here. She and Gatria notice that Aulus seems to be having his own crisis of faith.

Preparation for the trial begins: Gatria uses her contacts to dig up information on Savina and potential advantages for the trial. Clergy records and information about Triegenes is stored in the Jeneva Grand Librarium (as are the components for the Sacrament, unfortunately), which Mona knows from her time possessing Ken Don is heavily trapped to prevent unwanted intruders or imposters. Hoya and Gatria try to get access to the library starting with the Alais Primos secular governor Natalia Degaspare, who is reluctant to openly aid them. An application of the Gatria/Hoya tag team eventually convinces her to help them *secretly* via allowing them to impersonate her through library security, although she isn't happy about it.

### Session 25

After talking with Degaspare, the party finds Savina rallying the people of Alais Primos for a midnight trial against Vekali, the goddess of oases; Gatria attempts to poke holes in her reputation by pointing out that Savina previously refused Risuri aid at the Forward Symposium.

Seeking the second half of the party's permissions into the library, Hoya talks with Aulus Atticus during his morning prayer. They bond over a shared interest in music and bardic arts, and gets his approval to investigate the library - with the added complication that based on Desgaspare's concerns, it would best that he not be seen with them in public. Eventually the party realizes Aulus is hiding something about his part in the trials. Eventually he confesses: Aulus is the one who gave Savina the Sacrament of Apotheosis, given to him by Ashima Shimtu as a "challenge." Although he told Savina out of trust, he regrets the direction she took it in and the deaths that resulted.

Returning to the Family estate, Gatria talks with Donna Aneenya and suggests an isolated demiplane as a way to protect a select handful of Family members. Mona consults Ashima Shimtu via an offering of pig's blood for answers on why she gave Aulus the Sacrament: Ashima Shimtu did it as a challenge to Crisillyir and its corruption, as Triegenes once challenged her to improve herself. Ashima Shimtu also believes her end is coming, one way or another, but hopes to make some positive impact before that happens.

> **Cleone:** Then how are you sure that this won’t turn out the same [as the eladrin]?
>
>
> **Ashima Shimtu:** *(Stares at Mona)* She is sure because she has faith.
>
>
> **Hoya:** Did I NOT just ask you to TALK STRAIGHT?
>
>
> [...]
>
>
> **Hoya:** Well, you know how the god trials work. What can we bring to Triegenes’ defense?
>
>
> **Ashima Shimtu:** Ashima Shimtu already told you.
>
>
> **Mona:** You mean in the crypt?
>
>
>
> **Ashima Shimtu:** *(Grins with all her teeth)*
>
>

Cleone also takes the opportunity to ask for clarification on the message Ashima Shimtu gave her via Alais: devas are able to die permanently now, and as they die so will the remainder of Srasama's divinity. Cleone will likely be in a position to decide what to do with the remainder in the future, and while the choice will be concealed one option will allow the restoration of Srasama's domain - i.e., a patch over the metaphysical vacuum her death left. Mona also asks Ashima Shimtu about her foretold death, and learns that it's one Ashima Shimtu hopes will come to pass but cannot detail for fear of changing events.

### Session 26

Using a combination of disguise spells and dimensional pockets, the party successfully gets into the library and uses Marcel as a decoy for the attention of the reaper-angel Hezophiel's "dove" watchers. Everyone looks for information about Triegenes, aided by Hoya's ability to talk to the library itself. Accounts written by Triegenes' apostles detail his ascension to a god and the promises he made, but Hoya finds a diary written by Triegenes himself that tells a very different story.

In the diary, Triegenes details his efforts to become a better person after a fishing boat accident in which he'd forgotten about his wife's safety in favor of his own. His efforts to do the right thing brought him into leadership, first against invaders and then the Demonocracy. Before his final battle Triegenes was offered the power to become a god by Ashima Shimtu, but chose not to use it as it both would risk magnifying his flaws without the grounding of mortality and would endanger his followers should he die anyway. Triegenes would of course perish after taking out the Demonocracy with a giant meteor, his death mistaken for ascension to godhood.

Hoya is deeply moved with the new understanding that Triegenes was just a guy trying to be better. For the upcoming trial, the party faces two options for their arguments: use the apostles' account and argue that Triegenes lived up to his promises, or use Triegenes' diary and argue that Triegenes was never a god and made no promises at all. Harkover, meanwhile, starts transcribing Ancient texts about the Axis Ritual and how they might be able to deal with the seal's energy.

At midnight, the party attends the trial for Vekali and watch as her deva avatar is thrown into a volcano. Gatria recognizes Savina's anger towards the gods as similar to her own. Cleone recognizes a light that appears after the goddess is killed as similar to the one that once made her a deva, only this one is safely dispersed instead of being embedded in other people. The trial has also left some spectators unmoving, possibly dead - but angels carry them away before anyone else can look closely.

### Session 27

Just after Vekali's trial, Gatria talks with Morgan about what they mean to each other: "Gatria, if you had never gotten involved in any of this...if you had just been somebody I had the opportunity of letting into my life, that would have been enough." Afterward with the party in tow, she tells him the truth about Triegenes and they discuss what it means for the upcoming trial. The revelation can be used strategically as a final trump card, but it will be important to win Crisillyir in the Family's favor first. To that end, they'll have to follow by the rules of the trial. Morgan cautions against bringing up Ashima Shimtu's imprisonment should it come to that: a rogue Clergy member has offered her full forgiveness, meaning that she's technically being held in the Vault illegally.

Before the trial, Brakken reports to Gatria about Savina's capabilities. Gatria and Antonia ask Hoya to use the mortal possession spell to allow Antonia to possess Gatria as Reina guards her body, as a compromise on Toni's safety during the trial.

The trial begins the next night. Savina makes her arguments against Triegenes, claiming he broke his promise to the people. Gatria argues that the people broke their promises first by appealing to the gods to solve their problems, rather than making efforts on their own. Eventually, the Hoya card gets played: "Is not his presence in the saint wearing his own hook an indication that he’s not abandoned you?"

The trial then turns to Hoya's status as the Saint of Triegenes and the benefits either she or Triegenes has brought to his believers specifically, as a result of his divinity.

> **Savina:** And how did you come to be chosen by the Humble Hook?
>
>
> **Hoya:** I encountered someone who was carrying it before and it broke the chain - the chain broke, so it fell off of them. And when I picked up, I was able to pick it up and put it on, and then it was talking to me…
>
>
> **Savina:** *(Chuckling)* I see, so you stole it.
>
>
> **Gatria:** Objection.
>
>
> **Aulus:** Sustained.
>
>
>
> **Gatria:** By these proceedings we know that the angels enforce the truth. Hoya has said that she found the Hook and it chose her. Without the angels stopping her for falsehoods, that is what happened.
>
>

Although the party has never done anything for the Clergy specifically, saving cities that include said believers ought to count for something. The topic of the Obscurati comes up during Hoya's questioning, and it comes out that its leader Nicodemus is able to inhabit others' bodies - a problem that the Hook helps with, contributing to the party's attempts to save the world. Although the party has long known this, it's certainly news to the rest of those present.

### Session 28

The trial for Triegenes continues. Gatria calls Savina to the stand to testify on Triegenes' history as a member of the Clergy pantheon and then Savina's knowledge of the Sacrament. In the process, she publicly confirms that Savina conducted the god trials knowing full well it would kill believers - though believing herself that the country would weather it given waning faith in the wake of the apocalypse: "Those believers are a small minority in the face of a rational majority."

The next witness is Ashima Shimtu, summoned through an already-bound Mona to testify on the impact Triegenes had on her. Savina seizes the chance to try and control the narrative regarding the Sacrament, but Gatria turns it on her again.

> **Savina:** Was the demonness Ashima Shimtu aware, yes or no, that death of gods resulting from the sacrament would cause the death of their followers?
>
>
> **Ashima Shimtu:** It is true.
>
>
> **Savina:** *(Nod)* And did Ashima Shimtu give the sacrament to summon the gods to Justice Aulus Atticus knowing that the followers of the clergy would die?
>
>
> **Ashima Shimtu:** It is true.
>
>
> **Savina:** *(Smirk, heads back to her podium as the crowd murmurs Ace Attorney style)*
>
>
> **Gatria:** *(Staring into Mona’s eyes)* Did you pass the sacrament to Aulus Atticus expecting that it would ultimately end up in the hands of a corrupt clergy official with malice in her heart?
>
>
>
> **Ashima Shimtu:** *(Big toothy grin)* Yes.
>
>

In the defense's closing arguments (taken after the prosecution's, as the party knows Savina works best when she has the last word) Gatria finally reveals to the public that Triegenes never ascended to godhood and died a mortal. But, she also argues, that changes less than the faithful may think: their faith has given them power already, regardless of the gods' actual existence. With that in mind, Crisillyir should be able to figure out a new way to conduct themselves now that they know the truth.

Aulus declares Triegenes innocent in the trial, but the revelations have magnified his crisis of faith and he surreptitiously tries to summon Triegenes with the Sacrament himself before he's subdued. Antonia, possessing Gatria, uses her divine magic to demonstrate that their faith is real to reassure him while Cleone points out that Crisillyir is not alone in needing to rediscover its own path forward - Danor has to deal with much of the same. A relieved Aulus begins to free Morgan of his own bindings...which is, of course, when the tremors start.

As it turns out, the volcano is less a place for eliminating evil so much as storing it like a landfill, and the wards on the seal keeping it all down is about to break. It takes Morgan's lead supported by several other people's prayers - some Clergy, some not - to prime the seal for a massive but stable plug. To finish the job, Morgan willingly uses the Sacrament to become an avatar of Triegenes in order to call down meteors into the volcano to serve as the plug. After having moments with Gatria and Hoya each, he finishes up with the Sacrament and becomes just Morgan Cipiano again: completely drained from the strain of temporary godhood, but still alive.

### Session 29

The party arrests Savina for murder of Risuri citizens via the god trials. While Morgan takes a week to recover from the Sacrament and Gatria looks after him, Cleone visits her father in nearby Terenz with Mona for company and leaves instructions for dealing with the Ob's beacon there. Hoya and Marcel check out the vault in the Grand Librarium again, this time with broader permissions, and get information about the Ritual of Apotheosis and the Demonocracy.

Once he's well enough, Morgan has information about Hoya's family following up on a previous request from Gatria. Hoya's sister is in Crisillyir and holds against her sister, but her parents were last known to be searching for Hoya in the Dreaming before the planar shift. Gatria has an additional request for the same priest who healed her eyes to heal Reina of her injuries. Morgan and Gatria also discuss the problem of what to do with Ashima Shimtu: they can't keep her where she is for much longer, but she's only useful as far as her knowledge of the Major Sacrament. Gatria declines killing her immediately in favor of seeing if the party can wrangle anything. Mona summons Ashima Shimtu and they do, in fact, manage to wrangle something.

> **Ashima Shimtu:** Ashima Shimtu, Lady of the Forked Tongue, The Last of the High Fiends, Steward of the Demonocracy, Keeper of the Secret Which Must Not Be Lost sees that the time has come to decide her fate. Ashima Shimtu [kitchen sink] already knows the question that you are to ask however she will allow you to ask it.
>
>
> **Gatria:** We’re *so* thankful you allowed us.
>
>
> **Mona:** Is there any chance, any circumstance, that you will give up the secret?
>
>
>
> **Ashima Shimtu:** *(Looks into Mona’s eyes)* Indeed there are circumstances in which her lady of the forked tongue would gladly give the secret that shall not be lost. Ashima Shimtu [kitchen sink] does not believe that redemption is redemption but the opportunity for choice. Ashima Shimtu [kitchen sink] would like to live a normal life and go about living out her true redemption.
>
>

In exchange for revealing the secret, Ashima Shimtu would like to start a new, normal, and anonymous life as a mortal. After some negotiation she agrees to reveal the secret to Mona/Celeste in exchange for her chance at a human life unknown to anyone but Gatria, revoking her own demon powers and agreeing to a geas so that she can't reveal the secret to anyone after Mona. With the Family's resources and Clergy support the deal is carried out, and Ashima Shimtu gives Mona the secret. "I am very sorry that I am about to break your heart." And with her new identity known only by Gatria, the mortal formerly known as Ashima Shimtu disappears into Sid Minos to start anew.

## Mona Doesn't Get Married Here, Unfortunately

### Session 30

From the Grand Librarium, the party finds information about the Lost Riders and the Demonocracy - including a hint that the Voice of Rot was once a Demonocracy leader, the Speaker of Snow. Morgan makes his bid to become Primarch of Crisillyir, but the country is still getting on its feet and unable to devote significant effort to the rest of the world. Cleone reports from her communications with Florette that Danor is in much the same boat.

The party prepares to head to Drakr, with a quick stop in Flint. On the way Marcel presses Mona about the secret she learned, but Mona will not reveal anything until she believes the time is right. The party talks to a defeated Savina, who hopes to make a Harkover-style deal to serve Risur in exchange for not getting executed.

In Flint, Vihan has been sent north ahead of the party. An international planar research effort is being set up, with Nathan at its center. Gatria checks in on the Gradiax taskforce, which Delft has joined. Hoya convinces Xambria not to punch Toni for not inviting her to the surprise wedding.

Vihan meets the party in Drakr with intel about Komanov and her forces.

> **Vihan:** Alright, well, where do we want to start?
>
>
> **Mona:** *(Giving quick introductions)* This is Marcel. You’ve met Cleone, you’ve met Hoya.
>
>
> **Gatria:** *("What did I miss" face)*
>
>
> **Vihan:** Two fireballs!
>
>
> **Gatria:** I guess I didn’t miss that much.
>
>
>
> **Cleone:** You didn’t.
>
>

The radical eschatologists are having a grand party for the end of the world, and between the parades and the looting they're making it everyone else's problem. Every night Komanov appears with the Lost Riders, *minus* her top five lieutenants including Leo Faellen-Brizside, and shows up with her lieutenants at a mine in the morning seeking "the strongest weapon in the world." It's unclear whether the Riders are summoned using the same avatars every time, given it should be near-killing them at best, but Hoya will be able to check by observing their names.

Vihan offers a couple different options for dealing with Komanov's various forces: assassinate Komanov and her Riders directly, divide and conquer them individually, or take out Komanov's army first. Gatria sneaks into the mines and finds Komanov messing around with a weapon she calls the Cyclopian Revelation, a 12-foot scythegun attached to a giant golden eye that can create wraith servants out of living people. Wonderful.

### Session 31

*Hoya's plane chats:* Bonilathe, Elofasp, Dunkelweiss

Hoya and Mona talk to Chief Plar of the frost giants around Bhad Ryzhavdut. Plar has an alliance with Komanov but is willing to turn a blind eye to the party as long as they aren't openly fighting within the city, in return for the party helping her tribe to negotiate land should they successfully protect the city.

> **Plar:** *(Glares)* The city will fall. There are none capable of preserving it
>
>
> **Hoya:** *(Crosses her arms)* I thought you said you’ve heard stories of us?
>
>
> **Plar:** Do you mean to boast that you can take on Komanov, her army, and her Riders combined?
>
>
>
> **Mona:** We wouldn’t be here otherwise.
>
>

Gatria reports on the mine and the giant danger gun, as well as the protections around both. The party goes to see Komanov's nightly parade, verifying that Leo is the avatar of Nebo and finding that Tzertze may not be as committed to the cause as the rest judging by his drumming. Komanov makes a speech, referencing both the Voice of Rot and an upcoming attack on Mirsk in three days. She also gives Heid an ultimatum to surrender to her before the attack.

Gatria teleports to the mine to check out who's guarding the gun in the absence of Komanov and her lieutenants. Turns out: it's basically nobody!

### Session 32

The party takes out the security remaining in the mine and take possession of Grandis' weapon. Cleone is able to successfully separate the eye from the rest of the gun; Gatria cuts the gun in half and stows the eye away in a dimensional pocket. With that matter handled, they return to talk to Vlendam Heid.

> **Heid:** I’d ask what business brings you here, but as you know I’m a bit of a straight shooter. I assume that you’ve come to discuss my terms of surrender.
>
>
> **Party:** What? *(Various noises of confusion)*
>
>
> **Heid:** Then what are you here for?
>
>
> **Gatria**: To tell you that we destroyed Grandis’ weapon of mass destruction?
>
>
> **Kvarti:** YOU DESTROYED THE WEAPON?!
>
>
> **Gatria:** She’s kind of an arrogant ass, wasn’t really subtle about it.
>
>
> **Heid:** Good show. Yes…having a realistic view of things has never been her strong suit, as she fancies herself much more spectacular than she actually is.
>
>
> **Gatria:** So she has illusions of Grandis?
>
>
> **Kvarti:** *(cackles)*
>
>
> **Heid:** *(diplomatic nod)*
>
>
>
> **Cleone:** You could say the same for a lot of people we’ve met.
>
>

Eventually some skeleton drummers come calling as messengers for Tzertze, and while Gatria intercepts them Vihan raises the question of Drakr's future leadership to the rest of the party. Drakr's political landscape is unfortunately conducive to demagogues like Komanov, and the easiest solution is to find a more trustworthy leader. Heid is the best (if reluctant) option known to the party, and Vihan wants them to convince him to run as candidate for the next chancellor.

Gatria, Hoya, and Mona meet with Tzertze, who finds no glory with Grandis Komanov and wants to fight against her instead. After some negotiation and a duel against Gatria (in which Malicious Deflection causes him to blow up his face), Tzertze agrees to fight against Komanov in exchange for a glorious sendoff, Viking-style.

### Session 33

Thanks to the shards of Mishados Mona collected, the party has access to materials effective against immortal beings. Using one such shard and the portable hole for containment, Gatria stabs the Voice of Rot in the eye.

The party spies on Komanov and the Riders, waiting for the Sacrament to expire for Leo and striking just before Komanov can perform it on him again with a condescending speech. Tzertze helps by taking out one of his Rider brothers. Mona strikes the final blow on Grandis Komanov, and Leo is left near-dead but at least still alive.

### Session 34

Tzertze gets his desired death by immolation thanks to Harkover. Leo gets medical attention thanks to Cleone. Heid gets a good talk from the party about the future of Drakr's leadership and eventually accepts that although he would prefer not to be involved in politics, getting involved is necessary if he wants to help guide his country in the right direction.

> **Heid:** Politics, my least favorite inevitability.
>
>
> **Hoya:** Join the club.
>
>
> **Gatria:** Yeah, me neither.
>
>
>
> **Cleone:** You’re not the only one looking forward to a reluctant future in politics.
>
>

There's also the matter of the party's promise to the frost giants. Heid accompanies Hoya and Marcel/Harkover to meet them, and in the process asks about the party's plans for the next planar arrangement: do they want to make the next one the final one for all time, or open for far-future generations to change again? Hoya talks to Toteth and learns that the Ancients intentionally arranged Reida's fate to reach its end as a way to enforce future revision. Unfortunately, their expectations for preserving information about the planes and the Axis ritual did not work out.

Afterwards the party heads to Trekhom for some general diplomacy time. Eventually Leo recovers enough for a talk, although it doesn't go great. Leo truly believes in Grandis Komanov and the Voice of Rot, claiming by that trying to kill the Voice of Rot the party will be depriving Lanjyr of its chance to be memorialized long after its end. Gatria and Mona have choice words about this idea.

> **Hoya:** *(Pulling Gatria’s sleeve)* Now, we’re not going to speak ill of other people’s gods. We can disagree with him without being mean. If that’s what he believes, then we’re going to let him do that and maybe…don’t be like this. Why are you like this?
>
>
> **Gatria:** *(Glances at Hoya)* Years of practice. It’s kind of habit.
>
>
> **Hoya:** Can you practice not being like this?
>
>
> **Gatria:** But I’m so good at it.
>
>
> **Leo:** *(Turns to Mona)* What are you going to do with me?
>
>
> **Mona:** Take you home.
>
>
> **Leo:** *(Laughs)* Your home, maybe!
>
>
> **Mona:** It was yours, once!
>
>
>
> **Gatria:** You know he’s committed a bunch of horrible atrocities and is wanted in Crisillyir, right?
>
>

Mona negotiates with Marcel, who has to negotiate with Thelia about extradition for Leo so he can spend a few days/weeks with his family (whether he likes it or not) before a likely execution.

Next stop: Axis Island, Gradiax, and impending Danoran-vs-Danoran conflict!

*Plane chats:* Teykfa, Metarie, Guay, Ringes

## Intermission: Axis Island Aggro Hour...2! Danoran Politics Edition

### Session 35

During a quick pit stop at Flint, Nathan reports on his research: Lanjyr's path towards the Gyre is slowing down, but Av's is speeding up. He also requests to come with the party to Axis Island, knowing his father will be there. The ghost of Lya Jierre shows up while he boards the Guiding Star, and the two of them have a bit of a reunion. Cleone and Lya talk briefly about Nathan, Axis Island, and the Obscurati. Lya won't be there as "[her] battlefield is elsewhere," but she does advise the party to think about what they'll do with the island if they succeed.

Which is, in fact, a very good question. Marcel and Gatria have the idea for Marcel to challenge Gradiax for control of Axis Island, both to invoke the Rites of Rulership and for the island's safekeeping in Risuri hands. Cleone also believes that Danor ought to concede Axis Island for the time being, although she isn't sure about whether Risur (or any country) can be trusted with it permanently. Hoya wants to establish a worldwide council - essentially the United Nations of Lanjyr - collectively protect the island and preserve knowledge about the Axis Ritual. Nobody so far agrees on what to do long-term, and the party argues all the way to Axis Island ~~except for Cleone, who escapes to hang out with Nathan while Gatria and Hoya carry the debate~~.

Various countries have mobilized their resources for various tactical maneuvers on Axis Island. Danor's contribution in particular is...extant, mostly consisting of Eloise Duffet and a conscripted militia. Eloise is extremely invested in taking on Han Jierre. Gatria realizes that Eloise wants to straight up assassinate Han, and intimidates her into sticking back and out of the direct confrontation.

Instead the party presents an offer to Han's forces, largely Danoran military co-opted into the Obscurati and stuck on Axis Island for months with dwindling resources and morale. Any Danoran soldier co-opted into the Obscurati who turns themselves in to Eloise's militia will be welcomed back to Danor and given food and shelter. Between that and a display of bullet-dodging intimidation by Gatria, a good chunk of Han's forces desert. Han himself remains unmoved, claiming that the Obscurati is the world's only salvation.

> **Han:** Indeed, I am a traitor to my country, but not in the way that you think.
>
>
> **Gatria:** Do you think that I care?
>
>
> **Cleone:** I have a message to you from your son.
>
>
> **Han:** *(Turns to Cleone, intentionally calm and slow)*
>
>
> **Cleone:** “Why?” Why did you let this happen to Danor?
>
>
> **Han:** *(Sad eyes)* You seem well informed. Were you aware of what my ultimate goal was with the Ob?
>
>
> **Cleone:** That’s what he and I would like to know.
>
>
> **Han:** I imagined a world that was free of tyrants.
>
>
> **Gatria:** He’s going to give you the Panarchist spiel, Cleone.
>
>
> **Cleone:** Yet you fell for Nicodemus.
>
>
>
> **Han:** My choices in my life have never been my own. It’s the simple truth I’ve accepted. At this point, standing on this beach, there is only one road ahead of us. The only option available to us is to finalize  Nicodemus’ ultimate plan. Otherwise, everyone will die.
>
>

Han casts doubt on Danor's future without the Obscurati, claiming that there is nobody capable of leading the country without getting crushed by the realities of politics and tyranny. Cleone realizes that the same could very well happen to her if she steps up to leadership herself, but refuses to give up without trying: "I will do my duty to Danor, until the day my life finally comes to an end."

With his reduced forces against the party, Han Jierre goes down quickly. Gatria punches him in the nose, knocking him out and taking him into custody.

### Session 36

Han Jierre is taken into Risuri custody while the party prepares to fight Gradiax. Gatria prepares a special surprise for Gradiax (Terakalir's skull) to successfully provoke the real, non-duplicant Gradiax out into the open. Gatria identifies his precise location for Cleone, who uses a special arrow and extreme accuracy to counteract his invisibility.

The party begins taking him on while Harkover holds off his other forces. Mona accidentally creates a rule minutiae snarl; Cleone draws Gradiax's ire with a crit and gets critted in return; Hoya goes Angry Saint. Gatria continues goading Gradiax, eventually tearing out his throat with a double crit. Gradiax is dying before he even realizes he's been wounded. Once he's dead, Gatria addresses the recently-arrived Pardo:

> **Gatria:** You held his laws in such high regard. They were sacred to you. But see, I was part of that, I know how it works. So tell me, Pardo, what does that make me if I kill your god?
>
>

Pardo kneels, recognizing Gatria as above a god. Gatria pries out one of Gradiax's scales as a prize while using Marcel's magic to address the cult across the entire island: "I am Gatria Lucita Solis-Ortiz Cipiano, and the Steel Lord is dead. You will surrender to the opposing forces or challenge me directly. These are your choices. Pardo has already knelt, so you better too."

### Session 37

Unfortunately Gatria wants the cult to turn themselves in to the Beran government, and Pardo is unwilling to do so. He would rather die fighting than rot in prison, but Gatria has other plans. Gatria has Harkover teleport them both to his original body and she cuts off his hands and tongue before dragging him to turn him in herself.

> **Gatria:** [The smart people will turn themselves in.] You’ll I’ll toss handless, footless, maybe earless, to the Executores. Or, you can go to prison with your limbs intact... I don’t want you to fight and die for me, Pardo. I want you to suffer.
>
>
> [...]
>
>
> **Gatria:** You know, Pardo, I do actually have a lot to thank you for. If it weren’t for you, Gradiax would never have died.
>
>
> **Pardo:** *(Last minute understanding)*
>
>
>
> **Gatria:** I guess you could say I am the consequences of your actions.
>
>

Onboard the *Guiding Star*, Han Jierre requests to see Cleone after a talk with Nathan. He welcomes Cleone as family, Nathan's romantic partner, but reiterates that she's poorly equipped to lead Danor or save Lanjyr. Cleone doesn't completely disagree, but she believes she has to try anyway because the Obscurati isn't the answer. Han also writes a lengthy confession of the Jierres' history with Danor and the Ob to be spread among the Danoran people, and drops hints that Nicodemus plans to change the planar configuration to something that changes people's inherent natures.

> **Han:** Do not mistake me, I still think you are doing the wrong thing. But my country deserves to know the truth.
>
>
> **Cleone:** What do you really think is the right thing?
>
>
> **Han:** I believe that a world beyond the status quo is the right thing. We should have a world where we do not fear tyrants and governments work for the people, not the other way around. And I DON’T think you will be able to accomplish that without the Obscurati.
>
>
> **Cleone:** And I have trouble believing that a world with the Obscurati will achieve those ends.
>
>
> **Han:** Maybe we are caught by titles …. I believe that by admitting your [goal to change the planes] you’re a member of the Obscurati yourself.
>
>
> **Cleone:** *(Cackles; not in the mood to debate definitions so this might as well happen)* Well, this would be the second time around.
>
>
>
> [...]
>
>     **Han:** Cleone. You have a long fight ahead of you. You will be working against a system I designed to fail. I can make it succeed.  Not only Danor, but the planes as well. If you want my help, I offer it freely. I do it with no malice. But I am working for the betterment of the entire world now.
>
>

Cleone wants to bring Han back to Danor to receive justice there, but is shot down by the others because they don't trust he'll be secure there. When Gatria implies she's going to conduct subterfuge to sabotage Eloise Duffet's chances at getting elected in the future, Cleone asks that she refrain from making Danor the product of conspiracy a second time. Both know, however, that Gatria will do what Gatria has to do and Cleone may never know what that entails. Cleone spends most of the next six weeks feeling out the state of Danor's politics and, semi-reluctantly, presenting herself as a candidate for future sovereign to a democratic faction opposing Eloise's.

Once everyone's back in Flint, Nathan reports in a panic one morning that Av is going to crash into the Gyre in three days. At the same time, Hoya picks up Rock Rackus in her head via a mirror because he wants the party to help save Av and Thisraldion, who's due to be executed by devils in gold chains. Unfortunately for Hoya - and Toteth - Rock is not a great head-guest, but he yeets out anyway to get his hands on a flying ghost pirate ship to help get them to Av.

*Plane chats*: Amrou, Gardboral, Apo, Iratha Ket

### Session 38

*Plane chats:* Egalitrix, Obliatas, Ascetia, Drozani, Etheax, Hunlow, Wilanir, Thrag, Bhoior, Shabboath, Caeloon, Padyer, Av (brief)

With the help of Nathan and the international group of astronomers we've gathered, it's also possible to make a few extra planar icons from planes not in the Gyre.

Some of these planes are real winners. The Golden Legion's name crops up a couple times, specifically in relation to Egalitrix and Caeloon in addition to their current invasion of Av. Surely they won't be too important in Adventure 12.

Ascetia has multiple flashing PLOT POINTS HERE signposts, especially after Ashima Shimtu's warnings to Cleone about devas and eladrin. The implications of its existence and information overload drive Hoya to drink. Realizing that it may be possible to talk to the remnants of Dala in the future, Cleone tells Kasavarina about what they found about Ascetia and offers to convey a message if Kasavarina wants.

Hoya briefly asks Av about why it's on such a rapid course towards the Gyre. As the stabilization of Lanjyr's countries has slowed its descent into the Gyre, Thisraldion's capture and the resulting panic have created turmoil accelerating Av's path.

To get to Av, the party has multiple options including 1) Rock's flying ghost pirate ship, 2) planar travel scrolls courtesy of the Family, 3) temporarily unsealing the hole in Cauldron Hill.

**Next: Adventure 12**