Campaign6/session19
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Vortices and Whorls.
Session Date: April 23, 2005
Trailer: "Hard to port! Steady.... Steady.... FIRE!!!!"
It was about time that something bizzaro happened, and now its BOHICA time. Swashbucking on the seas of the air? Who gave that man Pitch Black!!!
Synopsis:
Assynt 35 - late afternoon (Nith Time) / Alternate Timeline Date: Assynt 35 - Sundown (Hebridonia), 1022
As the party gains its senses they determine that they are on an elven airship, which they later determine to be the Eloshai Airship "Kalia". Everyone from the underground chamber is present with the exception of Naruko. More surprising, everyone spots Jake examining the operation of a bulbous magical device protruding through a hatch in the port side of the ship. This is especially odd because Jake was last seen being consumed by the Drysophian Collective several days ago.
Also present on board the ship are Nyria, who is on deck, and Gheist and Elyse who are below decks due to Gheists fear of heights.
The party's appearance has changed dramatically, with everyone decked out in elven armour and sporting obsidian-tipped weapons. Feiruhn's appearance is the most dramatic departure because he is not disguised, and has his natural appearance as a Dargai.
The crew all appear to the elven, and seem to pay little heed to the party as they tend to the rigging controlling the ship. Everyone, including the passengers, is secured to the ship by belay lines attached to loops in the armour. The ship itself has a main deck, with 4 port-side and 4 starboard-side weapons mounted fore, and a raised bridge located aft.
As the ship continues to turn to port, the city of Kalen comes into view quite clearly visible several miles away, along with a second Eloshai Airship (Moravia) trailing several hundred yards behind the Kalia. The problems that can be seen immediately are several: The city of Kalen is on fire, there are no humans around and a large horde (10,000 give or take) of zombies is streaming from the city.
Party is now (it apprears) in an alternate time line because of some interaction with the underground Nilhen chamber. In this reality the Dargai invasion force was successfully summoned through the portal by Nymvayas and the elven airship we are on is trying to fight a delaying action against the zombie horde that is assembling on the plain north of Kalen.
Triella and Feiruhn talk with Nyria, first to ask some questions, and then to explain that the current set of events is completely wrong. Nyria almost believes that Feiruhn is warping Triella's mind, but before she can act, Feiruhn pops a picture of the underground chamber into Nyria's head. After digesting the image as best as she can, Nyria reluctantly agrees that things are not as they should be, and agrees to help if she can.
A conversation with Jake reveals that he does now remember anything of the "correct" timeline.
Gurath is instantly bored with their plight and decides that a good stiff drink is in order. He pops below deck to see if he can score some ale.
After some observation, it is clear that the zombie horde is being controlled by figures wielding sceptres with glowing purple stones embedded at each end. Anna starts shooting Zombie masters with legendary skill. Those elves not totally engrossed in keeping the ship on course and in the air are visibly impressed with her marksmanship. Anna's hunting is interrupted by a powerful vision, which she later shares with Triella and Melosia: She sees Naruko emerging from her home, her face wet with tears, looking bewildered. In the background, she can hear the giant's bellowing voice, and the terrible crashing of something beating down a house.
Anna resumes her hunting. Meanwhile, the rest of the party learns one important difference between the "correct" timeline and this one: In this timeline, Nymvayas succeeds in opening the gate to Neist, and instead of the party rushing in to deal a coup de grace against the Demarian collaborators, they arrive at the underground temple in time to see S'renara Rannoch step through the gate, her consort and several undead minions following close behind. Somehow the party manages to escape, though it is clear that Jake is still shaken by the experience.
The dwarf joins Anna in shooting Zombie masters. Anna has a second vision, again relayed to Triella and Melosia later: Naruko emerging from the guest house where the party had stayed. She is clearly confused, since she finds no indication that the guests ever arrived. The sounds of the giant attacking continue.
Anna is snapped from her reverie as the Captiain Azurien yells to the crew: "Incoming Fire! Brace for Impact!!!". Neither Anna or Tegred understand this, since it is yelled in Kyelsoran, but fortunately Ban and Nyria take the initiative and knock them to the ground. A fireball flashes overhead a second later and nails the top of the main mast. Parts of the rigging fall, but no one is hurt, and the crew quickly restore maneuverability.
The party decide to consult with the Captain to request a rendezvous with the other ship, so that they can consult with the Seeress Melosia. Triella, Nyria and Feiruhn decide to broach the topic, while Anna and Gurath return to their Zombie-master-smiting activities. The request is denied angrily by the Captain, who points out that his duty is to establish a containment zone against the undead horde below and protect the elven lands, NOT act as a common teamster. He also gripes that the other ship made a similar request, but he has refused it as well, noting that in an hour it will be dark and there will be plenty of time to converse then.
Feiruhn tries to work his charm, but manages to enrage the Captain enough for Azurien to attempt tossing the Dargai overboard! A struggle ensues and the Captain yells "Mutiny!". The crew are at-arms in a heartbeat, and only Nyria's quick command spell holds them back while Triella takes control of the Captain's arms. She tells him about the problems with this timeline and threatens him with further harm unless he agrees to a rendezvous, which he does grudgingly. With the matter resolved, Triella restores the Captain's arms to working order, and Nyria releases the crew. They hastily leave the bridge before the Captain changes his mind.
The ship turns to the east, and comes alongside the Moravia, signalling to land. Anna has another vision, this time of Naruko sharply questioning the miner who led the party to the underground chamber. He clearly thinks Naruko is mad, and she has drawn her sword to make sure he takes her questions seriously. Sounds of battle with the giant continue.
The two ships land roughly a mile east of Kalen in an open field. Melosia, Sitric and Mazeriyan climb down a rope ladder from the Moravia and meet the party on solid ground. Melosia (through Sitric) tells Anna that she should not be here, and that all that is happening is wrong. She can sense that this is not the way things are supposed to turn out, and she can tell that the party is somehow at the core of the problem. Captain Azurien yells from the Kalia that he intends to take off and resume the fight, and orders Captain Dralovia of the Moravia to do likewise. The party heads toward the Kalia, but Dralovia tells them they'll have to go on Kalia because otherwise she will be unable to maneuver effectively to protect the royals.
Reluctantly, Azurien accepts the party, plus Melosia, Sitric and Mazeriyan on board the ship and then orders the crew to get them back in the air. Anna and Triella join Melosia and Sitric in the Captain's ready room, and attempt to contact Naruko. They see her just as she is leaving the miner's hut, splattered with blood, her sword drawn and wet, with madness in her eyes. She snaps out of it when she sees Triella and Anna in front of her. They try to explain briefly, but its too much for Naruko to take in. They tell her to go to the underground chamber and they will contact her again. Contact is broken and Anna resumes shooting at the horde below. Gurath and Anna change strategy and start shooing at the warcasters who are firing on the ships.
Meanwhile, Tegred and Nyria have a moment together to talk. Nyria asks Tegred if he still has the item she gave hime for safe keeping. Tegred has no idea what she is talking about, but quickly finds a ovoid stone with markings on it in one of his secret holdout pouches. She reminds him to keep it safe for her, because it is very IMPORTANT. She also asks him if he remembers anything else about their relationship. He shakes his head, and tries to keep from licking his lips thinking of the possibilities. Nyria places a hand over his heart and says "All you need to remember is this." He is filled with the most euphoric feeling he has ever experienced... an intense rush of pleasure that makes all previous joys dull in comparison. The conversation is cut short when the Captain yells that there is incoming fire!
The ship takes a direct hit below deck, and Gheist barely escapes unsinged. A damage crew is sent to work on repairs, and the preliminary assessment is grim: another hit will challenge the integrity of the ship!
Anna and Gurath continue shooting at the warcasters, and manage to slay two of them. Anna is temporarily distracted by another vision, this time of Naruko entering the mine, running toward the underground chamber. She shakes it off and continues to shoot.
Ban, Feiruhn and Triella joind Tegred and Nyria before they can resume their conversation and discuss what they should do next. Anna gives a yell as she fells the third warcaster. They see the last remaining Demarian pull a Ysyryl from a pouch and stand over his fallen comrades. Feiruhn makes a comment about 'standard retrieval protocols', which no one decides to inquire further about.
Anna has another vision, of Naruko just outside the chamber. She is nervous and uncertain what to do because there is someone inside the chamber and they look VERY strange. Anna looks into the chamber, and can see a Nilhen man standing in the center of the chamber, the writing on his flesh plainly visible.
Previously: Session 18 Sleeping Giants
In either case all is continued in Session 20 Ouroboros
Campaign 6 Index
Notes:
At this point play picked up in what is refered to as the Alternate Time Line. It is advised to read through the sessions summaries first and then read through the alternate timeline section to see the differences.
These sessions were played when Mountain Dew-Pitch Blach (version I) was available and in regular consumption. Can you see the effects of its hallucinagenic properties?
