Session 6: Escalation Report

After spending the day raising the ship from the sandbar, the fort’s garrison, party and otherwise, returned home- with the exception of two sailors who were left to guard the ship. After the recent battle against the Duyor it was generally agreed the manner was resolved and they would not return. The walk was short and without much incident. Upon reaching home, Arelastod went to sleep; Thelastor prepared the weary conscripts and other sailors for watch (or had they forgotten their duties? Rhomod set himself to some meditation to relax; Oradyol attempted to repair Qetukras’ armor at the Viod’s forge while Qetukras settled himself to fanatic writing; Yaza tended to her bow; Othyrus went outside to scout around for a short while, and Xeyesh plunged back into the Viod’s depths to speak with the Vojunic beasts.

Othyrus took up his spear and travelled a short distance into the thick forests which surrounded the Viod. He did not get terribly far before he noticed something quite strange and duly concerning- new pit traps littering the forest, masked beneath the undergrowth. Odd. He decided to investigate them by tossing fragments of wood into them, causing a disturbance, to see if any enemies were near-by and waiting. Nothing leapt out at him, and thus he chose to hide himself to await any enemy movements. Some time later, as the evening grew darker, the rustling and movements of lesser and greater Duyor sounded in the darkness. Five children emerged, along with three adult Duyor. Othyrus measted how to proceed. He drew some bread for his pack and emerged into the open. The Duyor rose in defense, but he uttered the name Kastayos which caused them to draw back and be calm. He broke the bread among them and gained their relative trust, save for one young Duyor who he recognized from the affairs at the traps with Oradyol. The young one attempted to take his eating knife, but was rebuffed… the young on responded with great angry chittering. The adults bid he be silent in the best gestures they could muster, and Othyrus departed from them without negative incident.

Meanwhile, Xeyesh was down in the depths speaking with the strange Vojunic creatures. He attempted to speak to them of his origin and his purpose- the wheel and the way. The beasts listened intently. The precise words cannot be easily recountered here, but the concept was that: there is a wheel, around which all beings travel for all time, we are within it and can only see ahead and know what was behind. Inside, the beasts interpreted, is Rhokûn, who was the one who existed since the beginning of time. Outside was the domain of the Vozukri, those from the heavens. Xeyesh explained the Way, being how we travel through the wheel, which the beasts interpreted as him rather than an abstract idea. Xeyesh was the Way, or a Way, and that is why he did not “join them” like the other Vozukri, he was of a higher, better form. The wheel, therefore, must mean the stairs (of which the beasts were ignorant of its truth) down which Xeyesh arrived. The world beyond must consist of many wheels, rising higher and higher, and the worlds are sideways in nature, going out but never up or down. Xeyesh, as the Way, dwelled at the top of the wheels with greatest wisdom and knowledge. Somewhat close, Xeyesh thought, but there was still much to teach them.

While Xeyesh was in the smoke, Yaza, Othyrus, and Rhomod were on guard above. In the darkness they noticed strange movements coming closer, small and scampering forms which came up to the torch posts set outside and toppled them. This was a bad sign. The Duyor were making another attack against the Viod! Othyrus reached out to Kastayos to convince him against attacking the Viod. He asked Kastayos if they did not have a deal to protect the fort and be peaceful? Kastayos explained that THEY had a deal, but there were other Eshanic schemers in the viod. He brokered no deal with THEM. Othyrus could be safe, so long as he stayed out of the way. Yaza and Rhomod took position while the adults became advancing. The younger ones clambered up the walls, passing inside through loopholes and other defiles. Some garrison were dispatched to halt them, but matters were devolving.

After failing to broker peace, Othyrus explained that escalation was inevitable. Yaza then chose to speak with Artem and Marasi, told them about the Nith’eshan, and was then deferred to speak with Acolitus, whom was a close ally to them and more capable of dealing with such Eshanic threats. She spoke to Acolitus and asked him to save the viod- he explained that none of them possessed the Acumen to use his powers were he to grant them. Instead, he would send his own agents to deal with the Nith’eshan, but that would take some time indeed. For now they needed to hold upon their own merits.

Around this time, Othyrus had a radical idea of how to proceed. He dashed down from the walls into the lower levels, where the Viiryne was stored, and found there Arelastod curled in the corner- awoken by the sudden clamor and seeking the safest place. Othyrus briefed pause, bewildered, and explained that this place wouldn’t be safe if the Duyor got inside. Arelastod nodded and explained that’s why they rest of the party was upstaring fighting. Strange. Othryus gathered a bar of Viiryne and rushed into the depths. Immediately the smoke began to rush upon the bar, being sucked within it and destroyed in remarkable quatity, such that Xeyesh was able to recognize it down at the bottom. This was terrible- a completely raveling of this opportunity, perhaps, since the destruction of the Vojunic energy certainly meant the death of the beasts. Xeyesh rushed up to meet him.

The two met about halfway up or down, just outside the forge room discovered earlier. Xeyesh demanded that Othyrus take the bar back up, away from here- and now. Othyrus paused, unexpected halted, then drew out his knife. Yet, rather than attacking he brought the knife close to his hand and sliced the palm, causing the Vojunic energy to run right into his blood. This immediately introduced massive corruption into his blood, but he was curious to see the effect. Xeyesh was furious and prepared to pounce- Othyrus responded with the unexpected, he threw the Viiryne bar at Xeyesh, then dashed. This triggered the blood of Elirev within him, causing him to grow into a massive beast of furious instinct, and he rushed after Othyrus with murderous intent. He slashed Othyrus with him great claws, causing miserable damage and rending his armor, then prepared to strike again. Othyrus attempted to jump across the gap to the other stairs to escape, but fell short, hit the landing, but fell backwards into the smoke. Xeyesh thought he was dead in this case, so continued onward. In reality, Othyrus crashed into the thick mud below, heavily wounded but still alive.

Xeyesh continued up the stairs in his wild state, but it grew less intense the farther away he moved. Meanwhile, Arelastod heard the sounds of contest and decided to flee back up the stairs, but was too late. Xeyesh came bursting through the passageway, charging right up to him. In muddled, difficult words he said “You must get the Viiryne- it’s down the path, do it or I’ll kill you!” Now this Elirev beast was terrifying to all eyes, hardened or not, and thus Arelastod’s heart and will broke immediately. Arelastod pleaded that he’d do anything- just show mercy! Xeyesh waited and the effect grew lesser. Arelastod gathered the bar without incident nor sign of Othyrus, then returned back. Xeyesh was near normal by then, and released a heavy sign… he was going to go up and fight the enemy, crush them with Eshanic power, and unleash the rage of the beast still inside. Arelastod returned to side in the corner.

While the three others struggled below- Rhomod, Yaza, Oradyol, and Thelastor fought alongside the garrison against the Duyor who were fast climbing the walls. They arrayed themselves upon the four viod walls, but they were few against the multitudes. Duyor continued to surge up and through the walls, worsening the situation by the moment.