Session 12: Collapse and Return Report

Rhomod swiftly noted the oncoming ruin of the situation and attempted to flee the fort, passing by the agent of Acolitus- the two skirted the southern curtain wall toward the gate, but were assailed by a great number of Vojunic beasts which were born from the surrounding smoke. They fought these things but suffered pains from it, and in those moments Rhomod remembered Arelastod who was currently unaccountered for… possibly dead? He couldn’t let the kid die. He turned back against all better judgement, leaving the Judge to escape, and charged back toward the gaping wound from which Rhokun emerged. Dashing down the steps, most of the surrounding ground was destroying, crumbling inward, casting supplies and stone into the pillar city below. He called like wild into the darkness for Arelastod, who was for all this time hiding in his classic hideaway half-way down the stairs. Rhomod rushed down further, suffering many wounds of debris, stumbling into the space to find Arelastod cowering. Arelastod stammered that they could stay- they could wait it out. WE MUST LEAVE NOW, Rhomod shouted, grabbing Arelastod and yanking him up the stairs against the collapsing waves of ruin.

While matters grew worse above, Thelastor, Oradyol, Yaza, and an unconscious Xeyesh made their way through the western corridor to the stairwell. Already debris was collapsing downward and it was obvious that escaping upstairs was impossible. They were compelled to make a difficult decision- push on down the unexplored eastern corridor to seek an alternative path. Yaza took the lead with Thelastor’s while Thelastor carried Xeyesh over his shoulder. The group continued for quite some time down this path, with ancient carving staring down upon them. Suddenly, a massive crash and tremor shook through the entire subterranean, knocking all but Yaza off their feet. Whatever caused it was unknown, but certainly terrible. In this same shaken moment Xeyesh was stirred from his unconscious state. As the other arose of their feet, Xeyesh asked where they were… what happened… why they were here? He looked upon his body and saw terrible burned scars in the shape of hands upon his sides, burned to flesh. A faint bitter stench still wafted from it. Yaza attempted to bandage those wounds as best as possible. Thelastor explained that things were collapsing above. The Nith’eshan was dead. They were attempting to escape. Oh- Xeyesh responded, barely able to stand, perhaps they could wait for a moment to breathe?

Now reaching the surface, Rhomod and Arelastod came under a renewed assault by those miserable Vojunic beasts which continued to spawn from the darkness. They came on vicious and numerous, Rhomod arc’d his sword and struck many at a time, but their progress was slowing the fort collapsing faster and faster. Rhomod shoved Arelastod ahead and continued to fight them himself. He slew many, but the ground beneath his feet was giving way. Rhokun was at center now, chanting and singing terrible hymns of glory on his ascension to Vozukri, after all that had happened- years of silence and stagnation, he had emerged to the beautiful land above. This song mixed thick with the splintering and grinding of destruction around him. The courtyard buckled, and it broke. Rhomod and Arelastod watched in horror as Rhokun crashed through the stone into the depths, blowing open the fort and carrying scores of Vojunic beasts with him. Arelastod was safe, but Rhomod skid toward the oblivion at center stage.

Down below, Xeyesh was now taking the lead, far distant from the Viiryne blades and bars. He intended to seek surviving Vojunic creatures to ask a way to safety. Instead, as he walked the stone corridor faded to dirt. Ahead of him sprawled an entirely unexpected forest of twilight trees with bushy boughs, growing first from the ceiling above but also taking roots from the floor. The they met thickest at the center, in which many skeletal corpses, treasures, and other relics hung. What was this place? Oradyol stepped forward. He explained that this was a passage to Magyagardu, an ancient remnant of what Othos used to look like after the First Feud. Most such locations were gone now, but a precious few remained. Oradyol stepped forward and asked for its keepers to come forth and speak with him. A few moments passed, then two great columns of light swept down from somewhere far above. It took the form of two Odyrzid guardians, and they asked Oradyol of his past trials, his trials to come, and of his purpose.

Oradyol told them what he could about the happenings of the past 2 weeks or so. He explained that they needed to pass through Magyagardu to complete their duties and return to their friends. The spirits asked them what they intended to offer in return. Oradyol offered his Esseythu and life in defense of this passage to Magyagardu- if they would have him. Yaza promised to drive the greedy away from this place, those who wished to plunder for treasure. Xeyesh offered to lord over the creatures in the defense of Magyagardu, for this was a purpose better than none. Thelastor promised to restore order here, so no threat might come again to this place. On Oradyol’s honor as Odyrzid these things were accepted. The group was led through Magyagardu, and granted gifts in a pale blue clearing surrounded by the whispering voices of Odyrzid dead. Xeyesh wanted nothing. Yaza received 5 iron cannisters of reddish powder, sweet and intoxicating to allure the wealthy. Oradyol received iron armor with Esheryne embedded from the burial treasures of Odryzid masters dead. Thelastor received an immense gift to share with Oradyol- the Noyedzar of this city, an ancient Esheryne rod derived from the weapons of the Eshan during the First Feud. These act as items of authority for Odyrzid rulers, and all in these parts remembered the meaning in ancient times. The party was then released, emerging in a shallow swamp surround by thick brown foliage, shading the passage into Magyagardu perfectly. The chose to sleep for the night then return to whatever remained of the fort.

As the fort collapsed, Arelastod was safe at the southern gate with the Judge of Acolitus. He explained that his name was Orellos and that he was summoned here by Thelastor- did he know where Thelastor was now? Arelastod shook his head. His attention was drawn to Rhomod, scrambling to escape the pit. Orellos looked to the same place- it would be a shame if he died, he said dryly. Arelastod nodded in a daze of indecision. Orellos looked down to him, perhaps you should act, for he is your companion? Before Arelastod could respond, Orellos shoved him forward toward the courtyard. This stirred something of a drastic change of action in the previously timid Arelastod. He rushed to the very brink and reached out for Rhomod while the flying Vojunic creatures circled and plunged overhead. Grasping wrists, Arelastod wrenched Rhomod from the edge and dragged them toward the surviving low curtain walls. They huddled beneath the stone while the upper levels tumbled and crumbled overhead, the courtyard yawned open as a ravenous mouth. They could see the mutilated, crushed corpse of Rhokun below, and the whole fort was lost into the abyss. Only three feet of ground remained beneath them, and they remained there stunned and shaken for the night.

When dawn arose, Rhomod blinked a few times and was devastated to see that the events of yesterday were real rather than a bad dream. He rose to his feet and departed the fort upon that narrow strip of land, leaving Arelastod to rest. He found the Judge outside, sitting upon a fallen stone. They spoke about what happened here, the Viiryne, the Nith’eshan, Rhokun, and what was meant to happen next. It was almost peaceful, two warriors breathing after a terrible fight. They suddenly stirred to the new sounds of multiple feet marching from the southern forest. He arose and peered through the boughs from a hidden position. Around 25 Eurobasar warriors marched up the bath, bearing their steel maille and azure banners emblazoned with silver ships and water. At their head Getas, returned sooner than expected. He looked upon the crater ruin of the fort and was wide-eyed with disbelief. He looked toward Rhomod and asked “What the fuck happened here? What did you do?” A moment later Arelastod stumbled onto the scene after just awakening. Getas looked toward him and said- “You! You are under arrest!”