What See the Hourglass Eyes

**"What See the Hourglass Eyes"** is the premiere session of The Last Enemy is Death. It took place on the 28th of January, 2022.

## Synopsis

The 35th of Terrus, 1225 AR. The city of Dawnhold in the Kingdom of Astielle celebrates, for today is the Feast of the Chosen Hero, the commencement ceremony for Alistan Arinson, the Champion of the Everlight. Castle Astielle is alight with music and song and hope for the future, and it seems to all like a night that shall not soon be forgotten. How soon the tides turn...

### Part I

#### The Feast of the Chosen Hero

Alistan Arinson is being readied for the ceremony by attendants, dressed in the ceremonial garb of the Champion of the Everlight. There is a knock on the door, and Prince Dorian Hadwyn enters, trading banter with the champion before Edarin Allseer arrives to escort Alistan to the chapel where the ceremony proper is soon to begin. Edarin, sensing Alistan's nerves, attempts to soothe his anxieties, telling the champion that the night will be "a night to remember."

Meanwhile, an attractive tiefling bard finishes a solo, basking in the applause of the partygoers. This is Rose, and with her performance complete she makes her way towards the servants' quarters, graciously accepting the compliments and accolades sent her way. Slipping into an empty hallway, the bard quickly finds the gear she has stashed here, donning a cloak and the face of the half-elf rogue Hemlock and awaiting her contact.

In a nearby gathering hall, filled with guests from all across the continent, an affluent human spice merchant hawks the many benefits of thyme to a rapt half-orc trader, working an easy mark. Accepting the business card, the merchant likewise makes his exit, slipping out from the disguise to reveal Arthur, a thieves' guild hopeful on his application mission. Meeting up with Hemlock, the two begin their job of infiltrating Castle Astielle's treasure vault, where they will find their marked treasure.

Deciding to set a distraction against the castle guards protecting the vault, the two rogues sneak into the castle dungeon, releasing drunken revelers that have been kept to sober up. Within the vault itself, the two quickly find their quarry: a silver ring bearing the image of two fallen leaves: a signet ring belonging to the Autumnal Court of the Faewild. Pocketing the treasure, the two attempt to make their escape, only to realize they have tripped an alarm, summoning the orc captain of the castle guard, Captain Oreg. In an attempt to throw off the authorities, Hemlock dons a new face, that of the human Sunflower, though the captain sees through the rogues' attempts at deception, and instructs the two to be taken before the Sovereign.

As the guard procession leads the captured rogues towards their fate, they are intercepted by Alana Polias, a halfling member of the castle's kitchen staff, who upon seeing the distraught Sunflower leaps to their aid, arguing with Captain Oreg about his decision to bring the two before the Sovereign. The two quarrel until they are practically at the halls to the chapel, where the ceremony is just beginning.

#### Invasion!

Before the gathered audience, Sovereign Marius Hadwyn III begins a speech on the nature of heroes and the role of the Champion of the Everlight. Waiting in the wings, Alistan tells Edarin about the reoccurring dream he'd been having, worrying about what it may portend. Edarin's eyes flash in a vision, and he places a comforting hand on the Champion's shoulder, saying: "let us go face our destinies together."

On the stage, Edarin instructs Alistan to kneel, asking the Champion if he will pledge himself to the protection of Astielle and the service of the Everlight "until the light fades from his eyes." Alistan confirms this, and the Oracle conjures a sword of pure radiance, touching its edge to both Alistan's shoulders and officially appointing him as the Champion of the Everlight.

Before the audience can applaud their new champion, there is a sound like ripping canvas. A dark portal tears itself asunder within the chapel, and from it steps a deformed, skeletal creature - a Boneclaw Servitor of the Lich King. The creature cackles, announcing to the assembled crowd that "the King of the Dead sends his regards. He shall awaken: your world is forfeit. Thus falls Te'om."

Panic erupts and the crowd begins to flee as similar portals open up around the chapel. The castle guard engages with the invading force of demonic undead, and without hesitation Alana, Alistan, Arthur, and Sunflower leap into the fray.

The Servitor is soon defeated as Edarin manages to forcibly close the portals and kill off the rest of the invading force with a bolt of chained lightning, before pointing to the group and instructing them to follow him, saying: "This is an ill omen, indeed. I have long feared a day such as this. You four, come with me, now."

### Part II

#### A Vision of Darkness

Quickly, Edarin leads the four to his private sanctum, high in a castle tower. The room is cluttered with the musings of the oracle, magical trinkets and arcane accoutrement. At the center of it all is a round stone table, in the center of which sits a perfect crystal orb. Addressing the group, Edarin claims that he has long feared a day such at this, and that he fears whatever is coming has drawn not only Alistan, but also the rest of the party into the conflict.

At Edarin's bidding, the party peer into his crystal ball as the Oracle shows them a vision of the future. What they see is almost beyond belief.

They see themselves, locked in combat with the Lich King himself. Overhead spin the twin planets of Te'om and Ah'kot as they do battle with the Corpse Emperor, locking blades and casting spells far beyond their ken. The Lich King calls down meteors from the void of space, and the party responds with overwhelming force, caught in the fury of an evenly-matched assault.

Slowly, painstakingly, the fray begins to turn in the party's favor. It is then that the Lich King roars, stopping time itself long enough to curse his enemies and entreat the cosmos itself with a Wish: to "be rid of theses pests, now and evermore!"

With that, the world goes black, and the vision fades.

#### Thus Falls Edarin Allseer

Edarin gasps for breath, drained by the effort of peering so far into the future. He confirms the party's worst fears: the Lich King will soon return, and take up once more his conquest of Te'om. He must be stopped, at any cost. The secret wards he has hidden throughout the planet must be sought out, uncovered and destroyed. A weakness must be found, for the salvation of the planet. They must-

A choking gasp. His grip tightens on the seeing-stone. The life itself is being drained from his body. The Oracle is under seige. It is all Alana can do to ease his passing. He has no words for her, but looks at her as though she has granted him the greatest kindness imaginable.

To Alistan, Edarin chokes out his final words. "Find... my successor. He will be young... but a child. You will find him in... Dragonfell. He will help you... find the wards. You must... stop the Lich King. Te'om rests... in your hands...

"Forgive me, my boy... I thought we had more time."

The golden light fades from the Oracle's eyes with his final, dying breath, the hourglass of his pupils returned to dull, lifeless circles.