A Lesson in History

**A Lesson in History** is the twenty-second episode of *Another Bad Side Quest*. The newly named Order of Restoration grapples with their loss and are given a lesson in Palamoan history that unlocks new information about the the Order of Ruin.

## A Lesson in History

### **Synopsis**

**Pre-Show Shenanigans**

* Halloween episode! From around the circle we had - Darrin as Giyu Tomioka from Kimestu No Yaiba (Demon Slayer), Mak as Hans from ABSQ's *Carbon 2184* Mini Series, Ian as Aslan from the ABSQ One Shot *The Mistakes*, Jeremy as shadow monk master Chuluu, Zach as Don from *The Mistakes*, Haelley as a sheep and Jessa as Little Red Riding Hood
* ABSQ's main character art is done by @laniekun, the world map of Palamoa by @TheBrassBailey and ABSQ logo commissioned by @KacperGilkaArt
* Music and sound made possible by Syrinscape and Epidemic Sound!
* Check out our sponsor Geeky Tendencies for wonderful TTRPG supplies!
* Tell your friends about the show! Spread the love and get together to watch and enjoy the chaos
* A new intro! Well, kinda? We've added percussion to the intro you know and love, feel free to stomp along!

### **Part One**

As the portal between Seren and the rest of the party sealed shut in a small flash of light, the party stood silent for some time before Ob apologized to the group, while his eye twitched as he maintained the magic over the area. Knowing they had questions, Ob offered to answer their questions now or to bring them out of the cold first, and after the party agrees on the later, pulled out the spell components he needed and cast *Ob's* *Magnificent Mansion* causing a large iron, purple door to appear before the party, with the symbol of Rhizadeal on the front. Ob told them not to be perturbed by the servants within as they weren't harmful to them, and as they entered were greeted by the sight of the room cut from black sandstone marked with engravings of the past, lined with braziers that lighted the room, walls decorated with purple and gold glyphs and dark black and grey furniture and several sets of stairs that disappeared in different directions with more hallways that exited from various points in the room. They also noted within several semi-incorporeal people walking around with gold markings along their skin, and as Ob took his coat and bandages, they saw he had changed as he now had short dark hair with golden streaks and his once burn scarred face was tanned with similar gold markings. The group recognized Ob and the servants to be that of sand genasi.

As Ob let a servant take his coat, he offered the party do the same. Killian did so before he headed to a seating area with ebony wooden chairs, while Tabernacle suspiciously poked at one of the servants which went through with no resistance and quickly told them to keep moving before following after Killian. Quincy and Bolton took their coats and hats as Ob offered the party time to think and talk, but said they could call if they needed anything. Bolton headed down a staircase in the corner and mentioned he would head down to "the range", and after Tabernacle asked about it Ob explained that anything he wanted could be in the mansion and anything they would need as well before he departed as well.

Tabernacle started their alone time stating that even if he was the only old man left, he wouldn't be used for free therapy. After a long pause, RX asked where they would like to start and Killian began by stating that Seren had left and likely wouldn't be back anytime soon. He added that they not only lost a friend, but an integral part of their their team who was particularly good at making sure no one died, mainly Killian, which made Quincy scoff. He continued wondering aloud how they would go on without their *surgeon,* as Tabernacle had dubbed Seren when they party became their own crew. Another quiet moment passed before Yashani spoke up to say that she believed while Seren was not physically there, he was still with them just as Yashani believed it was with her old friends, that he was still their friend and just had something to do. Yashani added that while Seren was adept at healing, she also trained all her life in such things and could manage healing as well, adding that RX could attest to it's capability. Tabernacle quietly admitted that so long as he survived their problems, he at least might still be alive to see Seren again. As that was said, a servant who looked a decent bit like Kaz, which seemed to cause Quincy some distress, came to the table, put down a tray with water, coffee, ale, mead, wine and an assortment of liquors for the party to take, then left.

Quincy stated that if all they were going to do was talk about loss, than she would rather not be there. She soon asked if they were done, and after Killian replied they should take time to process, got up from the table and made her way down the staircase Bolton left down, passing walls made of the same black sandstone that Kaz had once told Quincy her home was like. Killian stood from the table and asked for Ob to discuss some things, and at the mention of his name, Ob appeared from a set of stairs as if summoned. Killian asked for a private place to speak, citing a few personal questions, as well as group things, but offered to relay whatever they discuss. As Ob led Killian away, Yashani pulled an ale for herself, served Alaerith and Tabernacle and suggested they drink in Seren's stead to celebrate him and wish him well on his journey. As RX thought of joining, a bottle of finely filtered petroleum appeared for him on the drink tray, and as he took the offered oil thanked the "ghost people" and then wandered away to explore his new surroundings.

Tabernacle took the offered ale and poured some on the ground in toast before calling for one of the servants, with one appearing before him in a wash of semi-corporeal sand, and asked if they had a name, which they replied with a shake of the head for no. Tabernacle told Yashani he didn't feel much like a drink as he felt it wasn't right, noting that after everything he'd seen and loss he experienced he seemed to only ever drink to make it right and never managed to do right by the dead through that. Yashani reminded him Seren wasn't dead, but Tabernacle replied that though he knew that, in his heart he he had a deep feeling he would never see him again. He was worried that while Seren was away and the millennia's passed he would eventually forget the few weeks he spent with them and he would just be an old man with ne'er-do-well children. Yashani told him he was free to dwell on that, but added little good ever came of guessing what someone else thought. Tabernacle called Yashani an asshole for being right all the time, but Yashani corrected that she was not always right as she took a large drink of her ale. Tabernacle joined as well before he turned to the servant and asked for food. Noting the point he made, Yashani asked where the kitchens were and in response the servant waved for them to follow and led them down a hallway.

Killian and Ob made their way down a hall, with walls dark and interspaced with tall columns and as they reached a large door, Ob ushered Killian into an office. While Ob waved his hand causing the door to disappear behind them, Killian found a modest cherry oak desk and pale blue cushioned chairs that had faded with time, and a nearly worn out symbol of a pupil less eye in black ink engraved into the desk. As Ob sat down he invited Killian to join him and ask what he wished to ask of him. As he sat, Killian started by asking if what Seren taught him was true, that Rhizadeal and Avranti were sort of two sides to the same coin. Ob agreed to a degree, explaining that one side was marred and he was that marring. Killian assumed Ob, as a champion to his god, did not have the same problems with communication as Killian did, but Ob noted Rhizadeal didn't speak back especially since being imprisoned again. Killian noted that Avranti had the same tendency of leaving him unanswered, adding he had to die to get a response from her, but Ob replied that Avranti was rather pensive on how open she was with her followers and it seemed, as a goddess of promises, she had kept a promise to not inform Killian. Killian asked then if it would be sacrilegious to try to commune with Avranti while within Ob's mansion and but Ob assured him it should be fine. Killian then asked if he might have a place for him to pray after their conversation and Ob said anything he could need could be provided.

Killian then asked why the party was here if Seren was the only one leaving. Ob explained that the problem Seren and Avia, Kenala's champion, were dealing with was also being dealt with by him, and explained he was not *technically* in the mansion. Ob explained that Killian was talking to a *simulacrum* with Ob's consciousness projected onto it with the assistance of an archfey and noted he would deal with the situation himself if wasn't doing helping to deal with the Far Realm's broaching of the Feywild. Ob said he needed the group to retrieve his spellbook and glaive from someone's personal collection. Ob explaining the man was Elzagerick Vintorvas, the Baron Lord of the city of *Cessunaler,* in Puhan, which they were currently 10 miles south of. Ob added that Elzagerick ran a gold mining operation for the PTC, Puhan Trading Company, and took a lot of pride in his private collection of historical artefacts, which is where his things were, and needed them to help with the problem at hand.

Ob continued and noted that the party had made an *interesting* friend, then pointed to Killian's left hand and asked for Killian to show the Ruined Moon mark so he could see the color of it. Killian showed his red colored mark and Ob, relieved, stated it was not that bad. Killian tried to state his awareness of what the most concerning one is, but Ob cut him off to say he was aware of nothing. Ob asked if Killian knew what the mark meant, but he admitted Seren was more in the know and even he didn't know much. Ob explained that was because it had been lost to history, as the Empire intended. then raised his own left hand and showed the mark of the Ruin Moon as well, colored purple and confirmed that Killian had no understanding of the balance of good and evil in the world. Ob then asked Killian his reasoning for why there were no evil aligned gods on this plane and Killian replied that he thought morality was not so black and white, but Ob explained there was a balancing system for power and the party was now a part of it, just as Ob was. Ob stated that was something they should all hear, because what happened to them should not have happened the way it did. Killian butted in to say they had had some communication with the people who put the mark on them, but Ob cut him off to say they had never met *her*, just her subordinates. When Killian explained they believed the mark came from Kalistock Hgymire, Ob explained he was her oldest follower of the new Ruin Bringer. As Killian tried to ask if that happened before and brought up Esmeria and her allies, Ob stated that the group were now in the same boat, and welcomed them to the world of destruction. As he stated it was time to call the rest of the group, he quickly re-apparated the door on the wall and walked Killian out to gather the rest of the party.

While that conversation happened, Quincy followed the stairs Bolton had disappeared down and as they went down and turned left, went down and turn left, went down and turned left again until they began to hear the sounds of gunfire that grew louder and louder. As they arrived, they saw the room was mostly a bedroom, with minimal furnishings, and a very long tunnel where Bolton stood at the mouth of and fired. As he heard Quincy's approach, Bolton turned to the sound and greeted her, but they walked past him to look down the firing hall, aimed *Peril & Pain* as they activated *Barrage* and firing down on the hay stuffed dummy at the end. Bolton asked if she needed to blow off steam and when Quincy agreed, Bolton walked to a case that rested against the wall and pulled out *Panic & Punish* . Bolton told her they had new tricks, then pulled the slides off the weapons to reveal perforated metal through it and told her they wouldn't burn out like *Peril & Pain* do. Quincy picked them up and unloaded into the dummy, the weapons now fully unlocked as Quincy has become a true *Gunslinger* letting her activate *Rapid Fire* which allowed her to activate *Barrage* without the weapons needing to cool down after usage.

After only a couple minutes with the pistols, Bolton called out that it wasn't enough, which Quincy agreed with, and Bolton deciding she needed something with more kick, pointed to another case on the wall and Quincy went to it without question and found *Reaver*, the sniper rifle Bolton used at *The Burrow*. Quincy laid down at the end of the range at Bolton's suggestion and fired, with the recoil throwing Quincy off for a moment before she learned to aim with the kick of it. Bolton inquired if she needed more and Quincy agreed to just one more. Bolton put *Reaver* away, reached behind his back and pulled out what looked like a long square piece of metal, with a round end, a handle and a trigger at the other. As he put it down on the table he told Quincy if they could pick it up, then they could fire it. Quincy managed to lift it, surprised by how heavy it is, and as Bolton kicked out one of her feet for a better stance, warned this one will hurt and Quincy only replied "good" in response. Bolton then ran a finger down the barrel causing a white fire to burn up the side and told her to fire, but recommended only one shot. As Quincy breathed deep and fired, the gun ripped at her life essence and fired a flash of radiant light down the range and vaporized the dummy at the end. The gun immediately dropped to the table as Quincy reeled from the experience, and Bolton put the gun away. Bolton then checked if she was alright before telling her that firing off rounds wouldn't solve anything. Quincy pulled out *Panache* and started to clean it, obviously looking for something to do with her hands and Bolton took one of his pistols and did the same.

Alaerith, having taken a sip from the ale while Yashani and Tabernacle were at the table with him, lets the two of them head of to the kitchens without him. Instead, he made his way out the front door and stood on the snow, feeling the cold press against him as he looked out and saw the trees as they continued to shift in and out of place occasionally.

Meanwhile, Yashani and Tabernacle were lead by a servant through hallways and up some and through a door to the most elegant kitchen they had ever seen, full of sand genasi cooking everything from pastries to roast meats and the very center island full of every ingredient they could ever want and all of it perfectly fresh. Yashani, pleased by the sight, said that Phaust would have liked to see it and smiled as she collected tomatoes, onion and garlic and started to chop then in an area that looked made for her to use. As she did, Yashani said aloud how soup was good for the cold, and citing when she was sad a child, that it was good for the heart, even if it didn't solve all your problems it still brought a warmth when you felt cold either inside or out. Tabernacle asked if Yashani needed a sous chef and was given the task of chopping onions, and though he complaining a bit refused to give up the job, and slowly sobbed into his work.

At the same time, RX on his own wandered hallways and a he wondered if there was a library for him to peruse, found as he thought of it, a particular door appeared and as he stepped through curiously found a grand library just beyond, with a round room, a rolling ladder that went up three tiers of bookshelves and two large sitting chairs in front of a fireplace that crackled happily. RX, noting it was a very large place and had very little time that he ought to make the most, called for a servant that could help him and was greeted by an older semi-corporeal sand genasi with spectacles. RX asked the servant if he could get him a selection of books on constructs and the servant went up ladder, grabbed three large tomes, came down and placed them on the table between the chairs. RX thanked the servant, that he had dubbed "book master", and asked if he would like to read with him and the servant nodded, sat in one of the chairs, picked up 1 of the books and started reading. While RX read, trying to focus on the history of constructs in Texildra, he asked the servant if the books would disappear with the mansion and as the servant nodded in response, RX sat on the ground, criss-crossed his legs and continued to read.

As time passed by, and Killian and Ob left his office, the rest of the party heard a chime in their minds before Ob called for everyone to regather in the foyer lead by a servant, where the nearest servant to each of them stopped what they were doing and began to lead them. Bolton told Quincy they were needed, but Quincy stopped Bolton to quietly ask if he could make the servant go away and Bolton easily complied before they made their way. Yashani asked a servant to ensure the soup didn't char before she left with Tabernacle, while Alaerith returned inside the mansion when he heard everyone return to the front room.

As everyone seated themselves, Ob explained, that after talking with Killian, he thought they should all discuss something to bring their attention to the same point and raised his left palm to show his purple mark of the Ruin Moon. Ob then said he needed to know what colors they had, noting that Killian's was red, and after some hesitation Yashani shows hers, followed by Tabernacle and RX who noted the two shared a similar color, then Quincy who believed she and Ob match, then finally Alaerith who sighed before showing his. Seeing their colors, Ob noted that none of them would be directly affected by what would happen and that a white mark was a problem. Yashani asked if there was anyone with a white mark and Ob said only the "creator". Tabernacle asked if there has been anyone beside the creator in the past, to which Ob replied "a few", but when Tabernacle assumed those people were no longer around Ob said no as he stood right in front of them. Tabernacle pointed out that Ob's mark was most definitely purple and Ob corrected that it was now and added they all needed a history lesson of what was before the Empire, the Age of Varimathias, which Quincy bemoaned was her least favorite subject.

Ob grabed an ale and drank a bit before beginning his tale

*"This world was formed a long, long time ago, further than any history goes, further than any book goes, further than you can fathom. There are many like it, our world is that of thousands. Fortunately, the ones that made this world, the bringers of its life, left it behind. Over time things were brought into existence by belief and thought. Through all these worlds connected by the Astral Sea and elemental chaos. The Astral Sea is so indifferent, anything can come from it, there is more connected to this world than the rest. Thought makes belief and in this world belief makes a reality. If enough people believe in something here, it makes it real, makes it powerful.*

*It's why the prime deities of the Empire, the Aj'Snaga, exist the way they do, because they were once real people, good people, protected those in a time of strife and when pain came after their demise, they became Gods through people's worship and belief, became that reality. So, if that premise exists, then if enough people think and believe in something strong enough, comes to fruition. My god, giver of power, deity, is of an unsultry type. We deal in knowledge, we deal in the darkest of secrets and we deal in people's embarrassments. People don't want anybody to know where we gain our power, where it comes from. What do you think happens when enough people believe in destruction? . . . Lunala was created.*

*A God off the chart, off the map, off the list. But Lunala's not really a God, it's a presence, an entity, the balance. Lunala was created when power holds too strong on people and on the good. Lunala was created at the end of the Age of the Varimathias, the first destruction. It's what the Varimathias were doing, a lot of people of the world were unhappy with it and wanted something to come of it, all that dark knowledge, all that hate, pain, want of destruction. Rhizadeal and Lunala were created at the same time, two sides to the same coin. Every dark secret comes with pain. That pain amplified creates hate, creates a want of destruction. Well that is where Lunala comes from, wanting destruction. She's never been physical, corporeal. It's an essence that jumps from entity to entity. The essence of Rhizadeal's birth, he was the first. So was I."*

Tabernacle noted Ob's mark and Ob agreed and said it used to be white, also noting that was a milenia ago. Ob explained that champions don't die by aging, that they could still die by other means, but time for them was stalled. Tabernacle commented that it was good to know, but wished he knew more, noting that he didn't not even know exactly what his God was and Ob replied they needed to have a private conversation later, which Tabernacle agreed to. Ob continued that Rhizadeal was the first, and that was bound to him because he released him. Ob added further that a long time ago, he was not Ob, having had change his name every couple 100 years as people got curious every so often, to which Quincy said that it was lonely, but Ob replied that was why he had Bolton. Ob then said his real name was Velix Rex Ignis, that he was originally a war priest for the Void's Eye Desert Hall and that unleashed the destruction upon the world in his attempts to be educated, that he was arrogant and brought down the Varimathias, but brought everything to ruin and was stopped by the people the party would now call Gods. Ob noted that the Aj'Snaga were real people, humans, elves, a gnome, who sealed Rhizadeal away and ripped him away from him, though not his connection to him which eventually grew back.

Ob said the destructive essence, though, moved on to someone else. Tabernacle asked if he knew who it was now and Ob replied while he did not know personally know he did have his thoughts. Ob then asked the party to think of what they consider to be most evil, whether it was murder, rape, slavery, and that it was minor compared to ruin. Ob noted that with how the world was, the Skorian Empire held more power than it deserved, that they banned magic in fear of what happened, and was only making Lunala more powerful, adding that they those with innate magic or studied were oppressed which caused the want to bring down an empire to grow more powerful. Ob believed that want of ruin was in Puhan, noting that what they had done through their slave labor and criminal labor was cruel and malicious and added that whoever held Lunala's power resided in Puhan. Ob then said that the party would get to have a bit more fun because he didn't think *she* figured they would run into him and asked them all to put their hands at the center of the table with their palms up.

When the party all complied Ob put his marked hand over them, palm down and caused purple smoke emanated from his fingertips that rushed into each of their palms and their marks causing them change a deep purple with gold outlining. Ob then told them they were now at least bound to him and it was better than who they were bound to before, with red being wrath, green being envy and yellow being gluttony and greed, things that everyone had, but nobody admitted to. Ob added that sadly, he was none of those, that he was the original bringer of ruin, and "can't be thwarted by that bitch". Ob noted the only problem was that Ob couldn't disconnect them from the *Nine Hells* as that was something that came into being after him and to disconnect themselves they would need to find where Lunala went in the *Nine Hells* to make herself what she is now. Ob also added they could simply stay connected to the devils' magic as it might be beneficial so long as they don't let it consume them.

When Killian asked if he meant physically going to the *Nine Hells* Ob replied there was nothing wrong with that, but warned them not to go to the *Dispater* as it was a little fucked up. Tabernacle stated how he believed the whole place was likely fucked up as Killian commented that he had never been to a different plane in general. Tabernacle added that he didn't believe it actually existed and Ob said it simply didn't exist to him, but enough people believed in it so it existed, reminding them that if you get enough people to believe in something, it happens and Tabernacle noted that was a terrifying power. RX compared it to the mansion and Ob called it minimal, noting they didn't have to be here, but RX stated he enjoys his time with "book master". Tabernacle commented that he enjoyed bossing around the "little ghost people", but Ob informed they were actually people who once existed, the people who once populated his home town before he destroyed it including his friends, family and even shopkeepers. Killian smacked Tabernacle with the flat of halberd as Tabernacle noted he deserved it and felt terrible. Ob noted they didn't have to be that and turned the servants into turtles, but when Tabernacle exclaimed that was worse Ob turned them back to sand genasi.

Yashani spoke up to clarify that those they have encountered work for Lunala's interests and Ob agreed, noting that being bound did not rob you of freewill, but needed to somethings by their command. Ob added that the ones bound under Lunala were different, and that they have yet to meet the last of them as they totalled five. Ob said he unfortunately couldn't tell them which one as he only knew them as a sort of signal, a noise when they were around, with each of them unique. Tabernacle asked if it related to the colors and Ob says yes, as each color were aspect of Lunala that was connected to people, bound to her power and bound to wanting hate and destruction, such as money, emotion, family, pain, all things that could be connected to people's hate and how much could be bound to that.

Quincy asked what it took to stop the destruction last time and Ob explained the Aj'Snaga used something old, a group from the Age of Varimathias, called the Imperionus, that found ways to connect magic together in new ways, from many sources such as deities and innate ability with the Æther, noting that if combining the sources together was able to bring down the essence of destruction. He added that the Aj'Snaga found the Tower of the Imperionus which was in one of the most dangerous places in Palamoa, the *Maltrop Strip,* adding it was a place he feared to go as magic didn't work like they would think it would and noting that was from someone who had been around more then 1000 years, and after a moment and a look to Tabernacle, Quincy asked Ob to move on. With that in mind, Ob said the party would need his help as much as he would need ours and reminded them that a long time ago he was a war priest. Ob explained that they were 10 miles south from the gold mining town and operation called *Cessunaler* and the man who ran it, Lord Baron Elzagerick Vintorvas, a collector of historical artefacts, who Ob assured was a terrible man in many ways, had his glaive and spellbook. Ob stated he needed them to get them back and didn't care how they do it, whether sneaky or loud, noting that with his helping in feywild issue he couldn't deal with it himself. Several of the group noted that they weren't generally good at doing things quietly or peaceful anyhow and Ob admitted he would love to see him dead.

Tabernacle added that he never thought he would see someone's face melt, and Ob noted it was the clay as he smooshed his face around a bit. Ob, then remembering he only told Killian this bit, told the party he wasn't actually in the room, but Quincy exclaimed asking what that means. Ob reiterated the part of being a *Simulacrum* and Killian jumped in to help playfully, but Quincy angrily snapped at Killian to shut up. As RX tried to help saying it was just an image of himself, Quincy writ it off simply as magic and Ob pointed out they were bound by magic now. Ob also added that that outside of the Empire magic was still powerful, even in Puhan where those incarcerated within had to wear magic disrupting black chains and that those individuals may be the ones that could help the party the most if they needed to get assistance. Tabernacle asked how much time they had and Ob said there was no real timeline on it and that they could take as long as they needed to get his things back for him. Killian noted that the situation in the Feywild may get worse if they delayed, but Ob reminded him that the Feywild ran on an everchanging and very different timeline than them. Quincy noted she was a bit singed and would like a nights rest and Ob replied that the mansion would stay until the next morning and they could use it while it was there however they pleased to do so.

Tabernacle said he wanted to follow Ob as he wished to learn what was going on. Ob noted that he could tell some more, but felt that the rest of the group needed time to breathe, to which Tabernacle explained he referred to his deal as he activated *The Claws of Vaust* and Ob noted that was what they needed to talk about. Quincy said to have fun talking "ghost shit" and was going to bed. Bolton pointed her up a hallway to find what she needed, while Killian thought as he wandered away in search of a prayer room. RX returned to the library to study constructs, while Tabernacle walked away with Ob. Yashani told Alaerith she and Tabernacle made soup if he wished, but would not force him if he chose not. Alaerith looked apprehensive at first, but when his stomach rumbled loudly, Yashani gestured to follow her, noting he might like to see the kitchen, and Alaerith followed her as she led the way.

### **Break!**

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### **Part Two**

We return as Ob led Tabernacle into the same office he had brought Killian earlier, repeating the same process of magicking the door away, then took a seat and opened the floor for questions. Tabernacle started by clarifying his statement if all the Gods once being people if it was the same for Vaust, but Ob noted that was only true for the Prime Deities, not the demi-gods. Ob added that the demi-gods were brought about as the essence of an ideal, with Vile being the crushing ocean waves, the tempest and wrath of the water and storm, Avranti being the belief in keeping promises of those you cared for, Rhizadeal being the essence of keeping dark secrets and knowledge and in the case of Vaust, the belief that everything that lived was connected in death and turning to it's most primitive form. Ob added that Vaust only ever picked one champion, an honorable man who could still do more for the world when he died and as such Vaust brought him back. When Tabernacle asked more about the former champion, Ob spoke how people told myth of this man in *The Underdark*, a duergar more honorable than a 100 men, Keiespo, who died due to the danger in *The Underdark*, but was brought back, helped the Sogo family in *Still Geyser* and helped the Black Diamond King, forefather of the Obsidian King to defeat the cave dragon. Ob noted he arrived after this man had disappeared from *The Underdark* after the cave dragon's defeat, and with Tabernacle as he was, it was obvious that man's reign as champion has ended and meant Tabernacle was brought back to do something that only he could accomplish.

Ob asked what that might be, but Tabernacle didn't know, unable to tell if before all of this he was worth anything, and that he had had a ship and a crew, a wife and a daughter on the way and thought he had it all. Tabernacle asked if Ob knows anything and Ob replied he dealt in knowledge so he does know some, that he knew Tabernacle joined the Navy to protect people from what he thought was unjust and died doing that, honorably so. Ob continued to say that now Tabernacle was back and was that same person, but his views had changed and asked what he saw as unjust. Tabernacle replied that his had not changed, stating Ob's prior question of what he saw as evil thing and that his answer was man, that their deepest desire and hunger was rooted in evil. Tabernacle added that he now knew that belief creates a reality, that there was an evil entity out there and now that his rifle glowed green he might be able to do something about it. Ob agreed that it was possible, re-apperated the door behind Tabernacle and said that his thoughts of man being evil was a lot more similar to how Lunala was brought about, that man made power, that power rots and that man corrupts. Ob finished by asking what were they to do, and as Tabernacle walked to the door, Tabernacle replied they might just have to restore it and left the room.

As Tabernacle noted it was a lot he had just learned and left the room, he pictured to himself a wooden cellar, dark, that smelled faintly like mold, and as he turned the corner he found finds a small alcove where he saw a wooden trap door. Tabernacle then opened it, stepped down into the room, sat with his back himself against the wall and did what he assumed was praying, thinking to himself. Meanwhile, as the view passed RX who was still deep in the books he received on constructs, it moved to the kitchen where Yashani and Alaerith stood around a large soup pot as it boiled.

Yashani noted the kitchen was magnificent and Alaerith quietly agreed, noting he was getting quite used to what Ob seemed to be capable of. Yashani said little was surprising when you met the champions of a God, or that in their case, multiple champions of a God. Yashani then asked if there was something on Alaerith's mind, but Alaerith shook his head and said he thought he was just tired. Yashani admitted it had been a long day, but added she had something on her mind, and after taking a few seconds to think, asked if he feared the beast that lived inside him. Alaerith asked what she was speaking about and Yashani replied that she had seen it in the battle with the Reaper when she came to his side and that his eye became reptilian in nature, though she added that his eyes were not that way now. Alaerith looking confused, immediately looked for a reflective surface in the kitchen, and approached a large metal table, examined his eyes, and startled himself when his right pupil slowly shifted into that slit shape before it returned to normal.

Yashani began to ask if he had seen it before, but cut herself off and restarted by telling Alaerith she had a story to tell him. Yashani said it was about a little girl with a beast inside her, who was given away by her family because of their fear what she might become. Yashani added that the little girl was given to strangers to grow up somewhere cold and dark, where she hid and whenever she was angry or sad she could feel the beast like a boiling under her skin. Yashani noted the strangers were kind and that they taught the girl calm and peace, so that the beast may never take over, but to this day that girl, though older, still feared the beast as she felt it there still. Yashani wondered aloud if Alaerith was anything like that girl or was something very different. After a moment of quiet, Alaerith bit his lip as he admitted he didn't know, that he hadn't for a long time and that with everything that had happened he wasn't less sure or more sure. Alaerith came a little closer to Yashani, and asked what else did he do when his eye changed and Yashani told him that he had a voice unlike his own that was filled with anger and sometimes fear, but it seemed to be a fierce protector. Alaerith stepped back at the word anger and shook his head at the word 'protector'. Seeing that Yashani asked if he knew the voice and Alaerith stated he didn't think so. Alaerith struggled as he said he didn't remember much from their battle at *The Shipyards*, that he remembered going there, being entranced by the sirens, the sight of the Reaper, but after he saw Killian lifeless, though Alaerith couldn't finish that sentence, and Yashani supplied that what she saw was after that. Alaerith noted that he didn't remember anything outside a feeling of pure malice, that he didn't remember anything other then the thought to destroy and break, though he didn't remember who it was directed to but assumed it was the Reaper, that despite the haze in his mind his body remembered some of the magic he did, from trying to cast *Misty Step* with someone or when he cast *Counterspell.* Alaerith added that the first clear thing he remembered was being in more pain then he ever felt before, and slightly stumbled in his words as he mentioned Yashani being beside him.

Alaerith noted that he had been angry before, but not like that and was terrified of that. Yashani told Alaerith she understood, and that she would like to tell him a secret of her own. Yashani then pulled *Ob's Charm* from her chest, as well Alaerith's and admitted that the girl with the beast inside her was Yashani and while she did not know if one lived inside Alaerith as well, she thought it important that to let him know he was not alone, which he shook his head to. Yashani stated that a great anger lived in her and that she didn't know if the anger was her own or from what lived in her, but if she could help it she wouldn't let it overtake him and asked him to do the same for her. Yashani placed the charms back on them before turning to the soup and announced it was done. Yashani saw as Alaerith tasted her food his eyes widened and saddened in the space of a few seconds, reaching it's usual expression and told her it was lovely, as they enjoyed it together.

Down a few hallways and various flights of stairs, Killian took a deep breath as he pushed open a set of doors to his requested prayer hall, and found a that was mostly bare but for a few maple wood pews and at the front of the room a stone table for offerings and penances. As he approached the table, he saw it was surrounded by symbols of the prime deities and the demi-gods and even a few symbols he does not recognize, with one that sparked a momentary thought, hands and a blood droplet though he couldn't place it. When he found the familiar symbol of Avranti, the halberd wrapped in a scroll, Killian placed his halberd on the stone table, took out a parchment from his possessions and attempted to wrap it around the halberd to replicate her symbol before he began to pray. As he did, Killian felt a warmth wash over him, opened his eyes and turned to find a female half-elf sitting in one of the front pews, with dark skin and long dark hair that fell to her waist, that wore a golden tunic with a silver sash and was barefoot.

Killian addressed the women as Avranti's champion, but the woman corrected him that she was the one he called, having made herself an avatar to speak with him. Avranti noted it was odd to be called from Rhizadeal's power, and when Killian began to defend himself having asked Ob if it would be a problem, assured Killian it was fine and commented it was clearer now that he had found Killian. Killian said that he had two points of interest *for now,* as Avranti poked he had more than that, and started by noting Ob had told him she was withholding information from him, that he understood their partnership was new and not earned the right to, but was eager to learn and was trying to be better, and that even if she couldn't tell everything if there was someone who could guide him, a champion maybe.

As Avranti laid down on the pew and kicked her legs a bit in the air, she admitted it was hard to trust Killian because of who he was before and that the promises he made then and broke were impactful to their relationship, but understood that he wished to do better and proved so when he died, as he wished to stay dead due to his exhaustion with life, yet chose to live and keep his promises to those he wished to do better for, which earned more of her trust. Avranti noted that she had no champion and that the only person she could guide him to would be one he would not want to talk to, someone that she described as one of the most honorable she had ever known, who swore fealty to her and others to protect people, and still did even if not how Killian might think. When asked to hazard a guess Killian admitted there were many people he would not like to talk to. Avranti told him to gain the true understanding of how to be more powerful then he could imagine by keeping the promises he made, that he should seek out Jonathan Ilvwinter. After letting that sink in, Killian agreed to her suggestion. Avranti added that he had earned a bit of trust and aid, and that she knew of what Ilvwinter did, but stated that he had yet to break his promises, and that there was no black and white, only grey. Avranti then shifted her hand over the offered halberd, causing it to shift and swirl and change into a dark, lacquered wood with red and purple bindings and a dark silver blade and noted it as an adjustment as he was not strong, but was quick.

Killian asked for one last thing before they finished unsure how long they would have, but Avranti assured him it would be easier now. Killian said he would like to make a formal promise to her, the same one he made Seren before he left, that he would take the role of a leader with 100% certainty, and that if he faltered he expected to be punished accordingly. Avranti agreed to hold him to it before going on to say Seren was a very honorable to do what he did, protecting more than just his group that he considered good friends, which was something he missed out on previously. Killian said it was nice to get to talk with her like this and Avranti admitted that he and the party had found themselves in an interesting place. Avranti noted that he and his group had been drawn together by something greater, become recklessly become connected together, that in someway given everything to each other that they hadn't had and expected nothing. Avranti reminded him afterwards to not take it lightly, as they depended on him like he depended on them. Killian asked how he was supposed to approach Ilvwinter and Avranti admitted it would be difficult as they were at odds, but pointed out that though he was connected to the *Nine Hells* and bringing destruction did not mean he was not human and still needed time off, and told him Ilvwinter frequented the city of *Rra'jaz*. As Killian thanked her, Avranti headed to the door, and faded from existence as she exited the doorway, leaving Killian alone. Killian turned toward his newly changed halberd, picked it up, gave it a few spins finding it was now incredibly light, then placed it on his back and headed for one of the empty rooms.

The view followed down the opposite end of the hallway and down a ways to where Quincy rounded a corner and found Bolton leaning up against a wall next to one the bedroom door and told Quincy they had to stop running from their problems. Quincy replied it had worked so far, but Bolton countered it won't work anymore because it didn't work there. Quincy said that she had been running for a decade and Bolton replied it had been longer and that she shouldn't lie to him. Bolton then asked her if they knew what came with knowledge and then if she thought Ob was the only champion around here. Quincy asked if he was good at keeping secrets and Bolton replied that he has been doing it a long time. Bolton also revealed that he knew where Quincy came from, why they were running, that they ran because they had to and that they didn't want to keep running but still did. Bolton then asked what would happen if they stopped running and Quincy, appalled by the idea, said they would be found. Bolton asked what that would entail and Quincy replied that being found would mean being caught and taken back, and that she couldn't go back. When Bolton asked why, Quincy explained they were the villain in someone's story, but Bolton says everyone was bad to somebody.

Bolton continued to say that as far as he could tell Quincy didn't deserve it, that you can tell when someone was running from something they did. He added that Quincy ran from something they were, afraid to show the world and asks why they are afraid of themselves. Quincy replied that was a good question, but Bolton admitted he didn't expect her to answer. Bolton asked again if she knew what came with immortality by being ageless, but Quincy couldn't begin to imagine it. Bolton said it was time to think and realize what was stupid of what they did. Bolton gave his opinion that if Quincy continued to run from who they were, who they could be, then they would be doing themselves a disservice, as well as her friends. Bolton added that a lot of people ran from hard things to avoid the struggle, but sometimes running yourself through the hard things was needed. Bolton pointed out that Quincy came to him and said she just wanted to fire off a few bullets, but if she lied to herself about the most trivial things then how was she supposed to handle the bigger things.

Bolton stated that Quincy had a lot to learn, noting she wasn't 750 years old, that she likely would never will be and didn't want to be, which she agreed with. Bolton added that their time wasn't done yet, and when Quincy asked if he knew what done was for himself Bolton said he did and it wasn't far off. Quincy asked if that was scary and Bolton replied when you live as long as he had, you accept your time when it comes. Bolton explained that with time came patience and understanding that there was a lot more out there, that he himself had been to several different planes since he became a champion and worked with Velix, before remembering they knew him as Ob. Bolton went on to tell Quincy about a plane made of all doors, places called Faerun and Grey Hawk, but this place was better because it was theirs, not Bolton's or Velix's, but Quincy's and it was her job to protect it. Quincy said that was a lot to ask of someone so small and Bolton agreed she might be right, but he trusted his gut and what he believes in and he believed in her.

Bolton explained that Quincy was stronger then they give themselves credit for, citing that he looked into her past, noting the cannonball incident and Quincy admitted it hurt and left a gnarly scar. Bolton added that that Quincy kept running and pushing until she found this group and then met him and Ob. Bolton admitted that he and Ob knew they were coming, though they didn't know who they were, and admitted that he was curious on what connected them all. Bolton added that while he was not as smart as Ob and hadn't been around as long, he knew things like that didn't happen without a reason, listing off that they had a champion of Vaust, a connection to Avranti, connection to an ancient god and a connection to Vile, not to mention their warforged and then Quincy. Seeing her reaction, Bolton asked if Quincy felt underrated and Quincy replied that she thought, compared to her companions, she was accurately scaled. Bolton reminded her of that the gun she fired earlier that had caused her pain, *Soulfire,* and told her that it can not even be lifted by anyone with an an ounce of evil in them, as it took every strong happy emotion inside to fire it. Bolton added that she was the only other person besides Bolton to do it, affirmed that she was not underrated and pointed out you don't get guns from angels that work for everyone.

Bolton went on, more jokingly that they liked to joke that Bolton was the "God of guns" and asked where they even got ideas like that. Quincy laughed and simply asked if it was true to which Bolton replied he didn't know and Quincy insisted his answer wasn't a no. Bolton stuffed his hands into his pockets and insisted that he was not the God of guns and that there was no God of guns, but he was believed for something. Bolton dug in his pockets before he pulled out out a square of shiny white metal, spun it between his fingers while noting that he used to be known for something but had been less known as of late. He flicked the piece to Quincy, told her to attach it to one of her guns, recommending not to choose *Peril & Pain*, and to consider it an adjustment and a connection, since the God of something needs a champion of something. Bolton then turned and walked away as Quincy complained of being the follower of the most vague God and as Bolton called back he wasn't a God, Quincy told him to prove it as he disappeared around a corner.

Across the mansion, each of the party heard a chime in the mind as Ob called them back to the main foyer for a meeting. Yashani and Alaerith brought soup and bowls while RX returned with the "book master" and several more books in each of their arms. Quincy and Ob hurriedly partook in the soup, while after a few minutes later Tabernacle joined, wiping the sleep slobber from the side of his mouth and with no pants on. Ob apparated his pants on while exclaiming that he was the only one allowed to not wear pants and when Tabernacle complained Ob reminded them he had an archfey's fingers against his skull and could do what he wanted. Ob then turned to the group to say he would feel unjust as the champion of the God of knowledge if he didn't share a bit more information. While Ob explained being the champion of the God of knowledge meant he didn't know everything, he noted in his time he was quite the scholar, and that after he went to find information in a place he would prefer not go for some books found that Lunala was bound to somebody in *Krak*, the capitol of the Puhan Trading Company. Ob noted if they desired, after they finished with the current matter, that they could go there or deal their personal matters before storming that place because if they failed, they would die, leaving all of that unfinished and may end up haunting the world in spite of that, like Tabernacle.

Ob then quickly switched gears and reminded them that they were now bound to him now, the original ruin bringer and Lunala's first vessel. While he reasoned the people he was against were a bunch of "shit bags", so was the Empire, Puhan and Pathu, but no one deserved to die like that again. Ob pleaded with the party to end the cycle of raising empires just to see them fall to ruin over and over. Tabernacle turned to Killian and asked what they should do and Killian said they might as well try. Ob agreed that was a good way to look at it, that if they were going to try they should be prepared for it and stuck out his left hand. Ob restated that he didn't want to see the world burned again, or in the first place and asked them to what he gave them and stop Lunala. Killian put his hand near Ob's and said they can and Tabernacle, after a little disgruntle statement of the whole 'team go' thing, soon followed suit and said this was something he could handle. Yashani admitted she did not know how to kill a thing brought about by thought, but agreed to try as well, and put her hand in. Quincy admitted she felt it irresponsible to not try once you knew what was happening, especially seeing as how they were saving the world they were living in and puts her left hand in as well. RX, though confused by the custom, also put his hand in after handing off his books to the "book master" servant. Alaerith looked to the group and then the green hand within the circle, and after some hesitation added his own hand in near theirs.

While Killian started to mention it was getting awkward, Ob then asked them to not hate him for what he did next as he yanked their hands causing the room around them to shift, leaving them in a circular room with Ob standing above them on a platform 30 feet up. Ob declared that if he was going to send them out into the world with his new power he had to ensure they could use them correctly. Ob explained they couldn't die here leaving RX very confused and Tabernacle offered that if Ob needed someone fucked up he could just ask. Ob says they will *try* to fuck somebody up, noting that in binding them to him they gained a portion of his power and needed to see they were up for it, plus Ob simply wanted to have a bit of fun. Ob then called for Bolton and as the magma genasi stepped through a doorway with *Reaver* over one shoulder and *Soulfire* in the other hand. Quincy playfully waved *Panache* and asked if she prayed for moral support would that be of any help, but Bolton stated that he wasn't the only one they are fighting.

Tabernacle in the mean time pulled out the component needed and cast *Tiny Hut* as he blew a nasty green bubble that expanded around them. Bolton stated he didn't want to touch that as it was gross and RX noted that he didn't think the party wanted to be inside it either. Bolton then called for "Silence" and the party immediately heard small footsteps around the room, but despite their efforts no one could identify the source before a puff of black and white feathers appeared, within the hut, as a three foot tall Kenku, with a beak carved with gashes, stood before them. RX reached out a hand for a handshake and as the Kenku, named Silence, took his hand, but quickly disappeared in a puff, leaving RX confused, while Killian took out his halberd, Tabernacle grabbed his rifle and attached his newly gift *Spider Druid's Gemstone* to it. The party soon heard a sound, followed by a small burst and as *Tiny Hut* disappeared around them, they spotted Bolton on the ground with *Reaver* aimed at them and said that wasn't going to work.

As the party prepared to fight against Bolton and Silence, Quincy called Bolton a bitch and activated her *Smart Mouth* ability to subtract her charisma modifier from Bolton's initiative roll.

1. ↑ A reference to the end of the episode "Deliberations"*.*
2. ↑ These are the pistols Quincy had borrowed in the fight against the kolbolds in *"The Burrow".*
3. ↑ Being bound to Ob gave the party and Auxilary Level. This is a level parallel to regular D&D levels and is an option created by *Mage Hand Press* in their published book *Valda's Spire of Secrets*. All party members got to roll for more HP and were given special abilities through the Ruin Moon mark that shall be discovered in the future!
4. ↑ Killian's halberd is now a dexterity based weapon, as he does not have the strength to wield is effectively