Session 19: A Turn of Fate, The Tovag

Scene 1: Tovag Assault

The session began right where we left off. A sudden horn blast reverberated across the square, sending Regiment soldiers scrambling toward the palisade walls. The village square, moments earlier full of life and laughter from the circus, now fell silent. Confusion spread as the sharp crack of musket fire echoed, followed by thick clouds of smoke and the pungent scent of sulphur. In the ensuing panic, the crowd scattered, horrified as human intestines were flung through the air like macabre confetti, landing with a sickening splat.   The source of the terror quickly became clear: Tovag.   The monstrous Tovag—towering, horned werewolf-like creatures with twisted wolf-like faces and goat’s eyes—broke through Veligrad's defenses. The Regiment’s musket fire barely slowed the creatures as they tore through the palisade. Civilians fled in terror, while many froze, too slow or too scared to escape the advancing horrors.   The players arrived just as Karl and Alexey Ostrov braced themselves for battle. Karl swore loudly, readying his crossbow. “Fucking Tovag!” His face twisted with frustration, knowing his crossbow bolts lacked the argent tips needed to truly harm the creatures. Beside him, Alexey, his face drawn with concentration, conjured an optical illusion, making them appear several feet from where they stood. The brothers exchanged a grim look, steeling themselves for the oncoming fight.   The Tovag pack—five monstrous creatures—surged into the square, their hulking forms embodying the very essence of death. The players, upon seeing them, were gripped by overwhelming fear (Breaking Point roll). Orian, haunted by past traumas, collapsed into a state of catatonic shock, paralyzed by the sight. Villagers nearby fell to their knees, weeping in terror, unable to comprehend the horror unfolding before them.   Karl loosed a crossbow bolt into one of the Tovag’s chests. The bolt struck true, but the creature barely flinched, ripping the bolt free with a low growl as the wound closed almost instantly. Alexey’s mastery of what the Imari call Falāk-zādeh magic—manipulating time, mind and matter—allowed Karl to reload unnaturally fast, betraying his rare power.   Ren, not one to shy from danger, leapt into the fray. His sword sliced across the Tovag’s hide, but the blow barely scratched the surface. In an instant, the Tovag retaliated, its claws ripping through Ren’s abdomen, spilling his intestines to the ground. Ren collapsed, blood pouring from the terrible wound as he desperately tried to hold his insides together.   Zorin, leader of the circus, rushed into the fight with a cry. His courage was met with a brutal end as a Tovag cut him down in a single strike, ending the life of Zorin the Magnificent.   The battle seemed hopeless. Rolandus quickly realized that his sword, crafted by the Ardent Knights of Aryn Chernaya and treated with silver and alchemical processes to battle the Feyn, was the only weapon capable of doing real harm to the Tovag. His strikes forced the creatures to keep their distance, wary of the blade’s bite.   Meanwhile, Zenscha sprinted toward the stables, calling for terrified villagers to follow. Only Orian, finally breaking free from his catatonic state, managed to follow her, though the situation remained dire.   A sudden, deafening braying sound echoed through the square. From the stables emerged a monstrous stag, larger than any beast the players had ever seen. Eldryth Heartseeker, his twisted horns scraping the broken stable doors, strode into the square, his massive form towering above the Tovag. On his back sat Danyar and Elara, their faces glowing with pale fire. With a terrifying roar, Eldryth brought the battle to a halt.   The Tovag, at the sight of Eldryth, ceased their attack, their aggression draining away. One of the larger Tovag stepped forward, bowing before the stag, placing a clawed hand on Eldryth’s head.   In a guttural voice, the Tovag leader spoke: “The Blood King is returned. It is as One Eye prophesied. We must confer with the bones.”   The Tovag retreated, leaving behind a village in ruins and many unanswered questions.  

Scene 2: Aftermath

With the Tovag gone, Veligrad lay in tatters. The palisade was shattered, homes burned, and the streets were littered with corpses. Blood stained the cobblestones, and the once lively square was now a battlefield of debris and death. The few surviving villagers huddled together, trembling in fear.   Ren lay disemboweled, his breathing shallow, clinging to life. Rolandus and Zenscha worked frantically to keep him alive. Rolandus used his battlefield surgery skills to close Ren’s gaping wound as well as his last dose of the regenerative they’d gathered from the Bogshade, while Zenscha applied a poultice to stem the bleeding. Despite their efforts, the wound was grave, and Ren hovered on the edge of death, his skin pale and slick with sweat.   As the party regrouped, Karl and Alexey Ostrov urged them to leave Veligrad and head toward Rostova. However, the threat of a Regiment force moving north complicated matters. The players needed to decide whether to evade the Regiment, confront them, or find another path.  

Scene 3: Volos’ Command

Even as the group discussed their next steps, Volos made his move. His voice slithered into Rolandus’ mind, cold and insidious: ““The Tovag are uncouth savages, so they revere this beast. The boy’s power grows with each step you take. Kill him before it’s too late. Kill him, or I will be forced to make you.”   Rolandus felt the icy grip of Volos’ presence spreading, not just through his mind but deep into his bones, violating his body. Volos attempted to Dominate him, burrowing deep into his thoughts, trying to seize control. It was a crushing, invasive force, driving itself further into Rolandus’ consciousness with each moment.   For a moment, Rolandus faltered, his body trembling as Volos’ influence tightened. The group looked on in fear as he struggled, his hand gripping his sword in desperation. His limbs seized up, and it seemed as though Volos would win. But with a final surge of willpower, Rolandus drove Volos out, reclaiming his mind, though the battle had left him drained and shaken. Volos, however, still lingered, waiting for another chance to strike.   The group gathered at the blacksmith’s partly ruined smithy, where Orian retrieved his freshly made leather armor. The decision was made: Volos’ influence had to be severed. Danyar, consulting with Eldryth, revealed the only way to free Rolandus was to shatter the sword, specifically the Nirithean Crystal embedded in it—the conduit through which Volos controlled him.   The party labored for hours, trying to break the blade. Zenscha, with her knowledge of crafting, led the effort, but their attempts failed, one after another. Frustration built as the hours ticked by, and hope began to fade.   Finally, Rolandus called to Eldryth. The stag approached, his massive form filling the smithy. With a single powerful strike of his hoof, Eldryth shattered the sword, breaking the nirithean crystal in the process and severing Volos' connection.  

Final Scene: Zorin’s Legacy

As the night fell, the surviving members of the circus gathered in the common house with their new members. Desmond passed around whiskey, although the surrounding atmosphere was heavy with exhaustion and loss. Zenscha, exhausted from hours of tending to the wounded, collapsed onto her cot. The weight of the day hung over them all.   Although it was already something of a foregone conclusion, the group officially decided to reform Zorin's Magnificent Traveling Circus keeping the name in honor of their fallen leader, at Karl’s suggestion. Plans were made for the road ahead, but the weight of many questions—of Volos, the Blood King, and the prophecy of the Tovag—still hung in the air.   Tomorrow would be another day, but for tonight, the survivors shared a drink, united by the horrors they had faced.