Summary: Session A042

Session A42 took place on 1/8/2021 and was attended by Brittany, Dylan, Joe, and Katrina, and Mandie. It was the 44th session overall to take place.

This session takes place in-game for the Main Party from March 23rd, 1766 to April 15th, 1766.

## The Party

* Brittany as Lusine Vavrad
* Dylan as Tholgar Ironfoe
* Joe as Saber, Kapa
* Katrina as Claudia Bastille
* Mandie as Aislinn Nolani, Bubbles

## Locations

* The Golden City, Stal Empire
* Jormundar, Nosk Raiders
* Sudas, Askia Tribes

## Events

* The party asks of Ruxin, "What was the history of the old gods?"
	+ He replies, "Around 2000 years ago, there was the end of a war. The Galorian gods weren't the primary gods of this plane. In fact, they weren't gods on this plane at all. The old gods, that you call them now, were. They had been fighting the nasty things that come from between the spaces of dimensions. Many refer to them as elder gods, but that isn't entirely correct, as the term is reserved for something else. The old gods were losing. Very badly. They requested aid from the Galorian gods. This was a problem when the majority of them murdered the rest of the old gods. At least three are awake, though they seem to be a bit unable to act at the moment... though Death is still popping around here and there."
* The party asks of Ruxin, "Why were we chosen?"
	+ He replies, "Only one god brought you together. What you have to realize is that quite a lot of individuals... well, those rifts that you went through. Morals don't survive those. They're one-way and you went through the wrong way. One who would normally come to collect you decided to accidentally poke a hole in her bag and drop you all in the same spot. She's a bit busy. Playing around with some tower thing? Death can be a bit picky with whom she chooses, and she chose you lot for whatever reason. As for the other old gods? That would be their personal opinions. I assume the old gods are trying to regain some of their power base, and you lot fit very nicely into some of them. Those of you that don't? You have quite a bit of influence, even if you don't realize it."
* The party asks of Ruxin, "What do you know about these areas we've seen mentioned in our travels?" (Referring to the Sunken City and the Tower of Cinders)
	+ He replies, "Tower of Cinders... I think that was a Dragon Roost, back in the day, before the god war. Nothing but dust now. But... this other one... this phrase... prophecy? It would seem so. Ah, yes. This is... hm... hm..... It seems a part of a prophecy. Whomever made this one is awfully narcissistic. It seems to be referring to a city or location, or something similar. This phrase seems to correlate to the sunken city, but you guys are missing quite a few. This prophecy, or this section of it, describes potential outcomes. To what, I'm not sure. You would need the rest of the prophecy. Arcane power shan't fall apart... it seems pretty obvious, referring to an event that could potentially come to pass. Very intriguing. There are a number of interesting locations similar to the sunken city. I see the taint on one of them on a couple of you already."
	+ Tholgar hands him a stone tablet he found on a cultist in the caverns of Jormundar.
	+ Ruxin speaks again, "Well, my thieves' cant is a bit rusty, but it appears to be a similar phrase... though... '*As the gods sealed stir, the candidates' choice shall occur. Three paths laid before, Though the Five cities they shall tour...*' I'm not being funny here, but the three paths might not be so literal. The five cities, I do know about. The sunken city is one of them. I heard recently there was a rift to the fallen city not too long ago. I would suggest not going there for a very long... forever. There was also that city that was on fire, I think the Ashen City. Again, dangerous place. Better than the fallen city, but... being set on fire is not exactly comfortable when it ignores resistances and such. There was that giant clockwork thing in the sky that passes overhead now and again. I think... the floating city, the legends say? I don't know what they call themselves. I wouldn't touch it, though. The antimagic fields make my skin crawl. And the sunken city? I wish you luck getting there, and remember there's a reason they're down there. As for the fifth city... the city of rain. It never stops raining there. A nice summer rain... You need more to piece this together, but prophecies such as this usually have an introductory rhyme and an outro rhyme to explain what follows. This seems like it's a bit down the line, though."
	+ The party hands him the final note from the ratfolk, given to Savo.
	+ Ruxin explains that it appears to be an apology for attacking the party, signed by the assassins' guild. "The assassins' guild and the thieves' guild had a... thing going on. I don't work with that lot."
* The party brings Need out of Claudia's bag.
	+ He replies, "That one is Need. He's a narcissist and a bit of a psychopath. Demands the blood of non-spellcasters. Difficult to wield by anyone not Neutral Evil. He is one of the more difficult of the sin series weapons to control, and the most annoying to deal with on a consistent basis on account of the fact he's the most difficult to resist. Need was formerly Chaotic Good, apparently. Violet wasn't too happy with him, and tossed him down here, where he's been causing issues ever since. You should be careful around the sin series of weapon. While their alignments are varied, and many are helpful, they are all powerful and dangerous weapons."
	+ Claudia asks what he recommends they do.
	+ Ruxin recommends using some of them. "Greed is a helpful individual so long as you help their goals. All of them can be useful. Greed is one that I know off the top of my head that isn't quite so malicious. They are quite a variety of weapons. I don't believe any of them are the same. They're all over the place. Need is particularly a pain in the ass, with an ego high enough to demand constant control even when seeking his own goals. The Red sin series is named after the original ones. Pride, Wrath, Greed, Sloth, Lust, Gluttony, Envy. Vainglory used to exist, but was broken down and remade into parts of other weapons. Violet sins are slightly lesser. Dignity, Rage, Resentment, Desire, Need, Gourmandizing, Indolence. Black sins are, according to black, greater sins. Hubris, Fury, Spite, Covetous, Avarice, Hunger, Apathy. Apathy is dangerous, moreso than Need. However, he's more... diplomatic than Need."
	+ Ruxin explains that he knows Envy is a Rapier.
	+ Ruxin expresses relief that the party didn't bring any of the seven song series, named after the sound they make when used. They sing. They are also major artifacts, at least one of which has been used to kill gods. Good luck fighting for them. At least one is held by an individual you will NOT win a fight against. The names of those, so you may keep an eye out for them and be aware of their danger, I will give to you: Requiem, Hymn, Ballad, Rhapsody, Anthem, Lullaby, and Dirge. I warn you, if you see someone wielding a scythe who starts to sing a requiem, do NOT pray, whatever you do. She has no fondness for the gods."
* The party asks Ruxin, "How is Lady Death tied to us?"
	+ Ruxin replies, "What do you think happens when one goes the wrong way through an interdimensional rift? They meet death. Rifts have a tendency to... twist things when they enter the wrong way. On a physical level. Your fingers become your tongue. Your blood on the outside and skin on the inside. The only one to protect you would be death, or she knows who did. She may have pushed you together. She's quite busy even though she doesn't often do her job around here anymore. She's been drifting between dimensions for a while now, last seen doing some stuff with a weird tower thing. A weird sorcerer pissed off some gods, and she ensured he was dealt with. Perhaps she recruited some individuals to help out here. She's been assembling groups for a purpose. Perhaps she thinks you're the candidates referenced in your prophecy. Though, she's likely done this for many people, believing anyone could be the candidates, even from other dimensions."
* Ruxin recommends the party go and talk to Keenaxe. He offers his court mages to help with sending a message.
* Saber asks, "Do you think revenge can be just?"
	+ I find that rehabilitation can be far more rewarding, and in long term, can lead to a better power base. After all, half the nobles used to be murderers.
	+ The best revenge is one where your enemy becomes your friend and ally.
* Ruxin gives one last line of parting advice to everyone:
	+ Claudia, I hope you live long enough to find things that may blow your mind.
	+ Tholgar, your brother would be proud. He waits for your return, but be careful not to rush. Don't step into something you're not ready for.
	+ Lusine, that what is lost does not always need to be recovered. Sometimes it is best to let sleeping dogs lie.
	+ Aeslinn, remember to feed your velociraptor. And also, redemption and coming home are not exactly out of reach if you know where to look.
	+ Saber, be careful of those you trust most. Perhaps you should take a deep look at what you wish to accomplish, and how you wish to accomplish it. The methods you go about trying to achieve something often change what you are trying to achieve. Be careful the actions you take.
	+ And all of you, be careful what you eat at the masquerade.
* Keenaxe is in highly magical gear, and explains that undead are attacking. He's happy that the party secured aid. He offers Claudia a title of Baron, Lusine the title of Earl, and Saber and Tholgar the titles of Viscount. He has no title for Aeslinn now, but with a scream in the background, acknowledges perhaps there will be an opening soon. He tells the party to attend the masquerade and secure aid from Lon too, if possible. Keenaxe explains that there is a massive army of the undead pouring out from the ruins of Jormundar and laying siege to Sudas.
* The party sells off their loot from raiding the cultist camp, places orders for new equipment, and trains their skills during the next two weeks.
* After they finish, the party leaves for the dungeon they previously encountered. Inside, they encounter another incorporeal enemy. Lusine triggers a trap that hits most of the party.
* Tholgar breaks down a wooden door to a room containing several fungal enemies, some gargoyles, and a giant slug. The party takes the fight into the room, slaying them.