SE05 : EP29 - Falling Short of Standard

On the plane of Tivs Killikith "Stargazer" Mettazongunae returns.

 

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A pleasant Sunday begins with several Meridians and Aspirants having a pancake breakfast made by Lord Daphix. Brumhilda is for once not here for his semi-regular "I cook for the staff" breakfast, as she had actually joined up with a routine supply run through the Iris to dust off the old Guild muscles.  Present today are Guinn, Cassandra, Kayla, Merit, Warren, Allie, and Mo'Bahn.  (maybe others? Those are who Mike remembers)   After breakfast, all of our characters go their separate ways to enjoy the day.  Against Daphix's advice, Warren is dead-set on taking Patches for a run through the great forest bordering Horizon. Kayla and Allie (+ others?) accompany him to make sure he avoids the dangers deeper in, and also to get some fresh air themselves.   Orwyn and Yith are both "occupied by important Meridian business" to avoid less-fun other duties.   Adaline is trying to wheel-and-deal a better price on the diamonds Kayla wanted to buy as spell components, but is having no luck finding them at any price, good or bad.   Other people did other things but Mike has a foggier recollection of these.   Daphix has been summoned on what is ostensibly some actual official business, but is interrupted by the general alarm warning bells ringing through out the city. These bells do not toll lightly, and this creates some confusion as all the Meridians within earshot head to their rally point at Meridian's Gate.  A short while later, a runner arrives letting the available Primes know they are needed at the Iris. There has been an attack, and they believe it is Him.   Orwyn, Daphix and a few others head to the Guildhall while Cassandra takes off to locate the kids in the forest.  Allie had already heard the alarm and bolted back without a word, so they meet halfway in confusion, eventually tracking the kids back to the Guildhall as well.   While this was going on, a survivor of the attack explains to the Meridians that a crystal archway unearthed by the people of Tivs opened a portal from which Killikith "Stargazer" Mettazongunae poured through with a warband and slaughtered everyone. The man only escaped thanks to his Signal - the others are unaccounted for, most likely dead. Fire and war followed him all the way to the portal, causing bloodshed in the Iris chamber before it could be closed.  It is firmly shut now, but by all accounts a good-sized army of Simic hybrids and other monstrous foes stands ready just on the other side.  

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The folk in the Guild present an opportunity to gather some intelligence: they have a device which allows someone to scry through and open Traveller portal.  After the Meridians locate another crystal which will allow entry into Tivs from the Oculus, the portal is opened (in a remote forested area to the south of the small kingdom), and the Guild operator sends the invisible, magical eye through. What it sees is projected across the shimmering threshold of the gateway.   The kingdom of Tivs is in shambles.  The gleaming new aqueduct they had only recently completed is a broken ruin, and the war-fires of the army at the other portal are clearly visible to the northwest.  The vast yam fields have been razed, and the local farmers appear to have been put to work salting the earth by some unknown mechanized means.   Looking closer to the seat of power, the central city is overrun with Stargazer's forces, and eventually the Goliath himself is seen, sitting atop the throne that once belonged to the King of Tivs, whose head now appears behind him on a pike.  Stargazer himself is arguing with an underling, while various tubes and apparatuses pump an unknown liquid into his body.  He no longer has the warforged arm or false eye he was once seen with.  Instead, his missing eye now appears yellow, very much organic, and catlike.  With this eye, his gaze locks to the invisible scrying sensor, which he addresses directly.   Stargazer gloats of his accomplishments, and expresses his hope that it is in fact the Meridians who are watching him right now.  He even as a surprise for them, as from the ranks of various hostages being kept nearby he pulls forth a battered and bruised Brumhilda, presenting her like a trophy before his distant audience.   The scrying arrangement is closed down, and everyone - Meridian, Aspirant, Guild and more - gather together to plan for the coming storm...