SE03 : EP06 - Shards of Estulla pt.1

The party meets with Logan, the quartermaster of the Arcane University. Logan aquaints himself with everyone, gladhanding and interviewing Hone, Kellasin, Mirai, Orwyn, and Mo'Bahn. They talk while waiting for Daphix to arrive at the Guildhall. Once he finally does Ryder appears amongst them from seemingly nowhere. Logan tells them they are to meet an important representative of the celestials for a mission they have requested. Parathas explains a bit of what to expect from the celestial embassy they a headed to. Finally Ryder, Hone, Kellasin, Orwyn, Daphix, and Mirai gear up to head out. As Hone switches rings with Logan, he notices the blue, slowly yellowing inlay on the ring. The Iris opens and the party goes through.   A sea of pearlescent sand stretches out before them. Thin bone-white trees dot the landscape, mixed among alabaster stones. The sky is a blank bank of clouds that obscures whatever sun that illuminates the world. The diffused and even light cast no shadows. To one side a river of clear water lain with wisps of silver shimmering through it. Lining the banks are flowers of the lightest hues. Winding it way toward the horizon the river meets a pyramid of Immaculate construction. The party begins to hike towards it.   The building is of amazing size. Its golden skin shines in the even light. Around and moored to it there are vessels of many makes and shapes. The river forks before the pyramid. Tall rising bridges span the two new waterways. At there top a pair of tall guards in armor flank the entryway.   They are greeted by an angel, Darcin. He inquires to what they have been told. They respond honestly, stating they were not told much. Following that they introduce themselves. The angel welcomes them and leads them into the pyramid, the celestial embassy.   Angels and other flying beings weave in and out of the open inner space. It is vertical and made of open platforms and multi-tiered rooms. They guided to a magic circle that will hoist them higher into the pyramid. A beam of lights lifts them up and through the matter of structures. Finally conveying them to aerial port that contains Darcin’s ship.   The vessel is massive. It’s made of dark wood and has an elegant design. Three decks of triangular shape stack on each other with the top and bottom of these being open to the air. The party crosses footbridge onto the vessel. A Quezacotl laying tucked into itself raises its head to acknowledge them. Darcin introduces it as Isijiki, his companion. It telepathically reaches out to them and takes in their curious behavior. It takes notice of Ryder’s mental barrier to telepathy. They explain themselves before the topic turns to Mo'Bahn, whom Isijiki is oddly interested in. It considers a returning to sleep befoe stretching and floating off to elsewhere on the ship.   They are then told they are going to a training realm known as Estulla. Something has changed it and a barrier has manifested. It has become impossible for the celestial to enter. Two agents Jatal and Urius have been trap within. But it has been three years now and they wish for the party to investigate. They are to try and locate the lost celestials and secure the power source of their vessel.   The world was reported to being on track to greatness, all the people working on the advancement of all, progress had been steady. But the last report did seem to indicate that this was going to change. If the realm has gone away from its planned perfection the Celestials may need to... erase the mistake. Darcin hopes the party can help them avoid this.   Darcin heads back to a pedestal and he reaches within a console. And with that ship rises high above the pyramid. Then with a moment of pause, the party takes in the diminishing globe below them. A golden beam bursts out and pierces the blackness of the void. With that, the ship is catapulted incredibly fast through the heavens. They spend two days of travel learning from their celestial hosts and taking in the wonders of this mode of travel.   They arrive at there destination with a whirl of sound. The scene before them is awe-inspiring. A series of massive continental masses of rock turn around a central star. The sun facing sides are green and blue with thriving land and sea. They continue to fly toward the world before parking underneath the shelf of the exterior rock. Walking into another ring of light and are transferred up and through the rock to the living surface of the planet. They unfurl a map and get their bearings. Mountains and forests cover the pleasant and calm land. They see huge moon-sized stones that obit the central star. These will cast massive shadows when they obscure the sun creating a cycle of day and night. But realize they won’t be able to predict when the night will come or for how long it will last.   The map guided them on a half days journey to the city that was the last known location of the lost celestials. As they approach the area they hear curses in elvish and pounding. Moving towards the voice they find Jatal’s ship. A group of bear folk with an elf in lead notices the less hidden party members. This causes the elf to scream “City folk!” The group tries to call him down but he calls for a stone golem and combat breaks out.   Marai draws her firearm and begins taking shots. Ryder attacks the humanoid bears hitting them with twin light daggers from the shadows. Then elf summons a huge deluge that rocks the battlefield. Orwyn summons the heavens to aid them with a beam of radiant energy. Hone runs up onto the ship hull. The golem clambers up on top and pounds a fist into the hull missing Hone. Both bear men advance on Ryder taking swipes with there weapons. Kellasin runs out from the water to flank the bears. Daphhyx shifts he forms to that of a huge subterranean lizard.   Marai rises out of the water and opens fire on the elf with four quick shots. As Ryder escapes the water one of the bear men takes the opportunity to claw him. Once out of the way Ryder throws dagger back at his attacker. The elf summons a blight down on Daphix. A log rises from the turbulent waters and bashes Orwyn in the head and falls unconscious into the undertow. Hone’s punch dagger bash somewhat ineffectively against the golem’s armor. The bear folk drop their weapons and carve claws into Kellasin. The normal bear climbs on the ship and attacks Hone digging in with a bite. Kellasin unleashes is spear downing one of the bear men and calls upon is holy power to try and smite the remaining one. Daphix’s massive lizard form crawls out of the water and clamps it’s jaws down on the elf swallowing him whole. With that maelstrom of water washes away.   Marai blast the bear from across the battlefield ending it with a bullet to the head. Ryder whips daggers at the bear man to death. The elf tries to escape the innards of Daphix by shift his form. As he vomited out he rises out of spit and phlegm as a giant owl. Flapping its wings it takes flight. Hone levels more ineffective blows. The golem circles and staring a Hone rust forms in his joints causing his moves to slow. Daphix returns to is Tiefling form summoning the earth to grab at the owl. It barely escapes the grasp of Daphyx’s spell.   Marai holds her gun up and eying down the barrel she makes a long-range shot at the owl. The bullet hits winging the creature causing it to falter. Ryder runs after it leaping into the air with thrown daggers. They sail true to their target sinking into the bird. The first hit causes its feathers to fly as the owl form dissolves. The elf begins to fall as the second light daggers jabs into the back of his neck, the point peeking out of his throat. The body falls from the height to the ground punctuated with a bone-crunching thud. Hone stands dumbstruck at his affliction as it coats more of his body. The golem takes advantage of this and punches the Warforged down to size. Kellasin leaps into the air coming down hard onto the golem with his spear. Daphix draws a wand sending three purple darts of magical energy into the golem.   Turning her sights to the golem Marai takes aim and pulls off a few shots. Seeing the weakened golem the party moves up and takes turns downing it. Hone recovers from his slower state.   Out of the corner of his eye, Ryder sees a cat-like figure approaching one o free bodies.