SE05 : EP33 - Blackstar Skyline

In the beleaguered ruins of Tivs a group walks through the rain, the team of Daphix, Orwyn, Allory, Rosella, Mistwine, and Aoh-Gynn. The team of Kayla, Merit, and Warren see them as they make their way out of the fields. But before they can reach them a tower falls shattering the ground and falling underground. Unscathed they see a figure siting.   "Hello students." A familiar voice rises up. Sara Bloodmare sits opening a liquor and seemingly unmoved by the battle around her, save some signs of batlle and a severed demon head. The students lead by Merrit pepper her with questions. "Why are you hare?" "What are you planning to do?" "Are you going to help us?" She lets the inquires roll off her. Her agenda is always her own. Despite their indignation and in some ways spite, she praised them. Leaving them to their fate she comments on the Ithalids influence abound and to be warry of their influence. And before disappearing she leaves them with a reminder to keep their minds independent, think on things clearly, always. Witchem finds them in the rubble pulling them to safety.   They continuing on to the throne room. All the while Daphix is distracted by the voice simmering in his head. They steel themselves and push the double doors open. The room is vast and ornate. Pillars flank a plush carpet with a number of hostages tied to them. Cloaked in armor and much taller, wider Stargazer descends the stairs on the plinth smirking at them. And attend he was speaking to recedes away as monstrosities glide in form the wings. Gynn barks at him.   "Killikith Mettazongunae, Stargazer, for your numerous crimes against the The Free City of Horizon and her allies, I Aoh-Gynn, Seneschal of 27 Kensai, by order of The Watch, and by right of the Council so cndem you to death."   Dapix reaches out to Brumhilde psychically and assure him she is ok but remembers little of what happens. As Gynn still boldly declares a death sentence to the Goliath, Stargazer approaches them. As he does, he grows in size. before long they see it is no illusion. Armor and clothing rip and fall away as he strides across hall. Orwyn and Daphix share telepathic thoughts noting but not recognizing runes carved in the flesh of the monsters. Each bears a single mark with Stargazer bearing many.   Rosella attacks but as the magical energies crackle upon him Stargazer laughs. To one side the people tied to a pilar scream in agony as they absorb the pain. Mistwine doges to one side swiping at the ropes to free the closest hostages yelling to the others to do the same. The monstrosities assault the party as Stargazer wades into battle. The party works to stay alive as they free the hostages while under attack. Daphyix shifts into a giant snake as Gynn is charmed into a stupor. They find they can attack the monstrosities without harming the prisoners, and do so. As the room is cleared of the civilians Gynn throws his lightning javelin across the room and hit true on Stargazer, while he is unphased his minors howl in pain. Rosella then preforms a steel wind strike to kill the attendant and other monsters ending up next to Allory. As Dpahix drives his fangs in one of the monsters leaving only two of t hem left. The party also notices that two of the runes on the pillars have now blinked out. The damage starts to pour on to the combatants, with another monster falling as the heroes suffer grievous wounds. But with the minors out of the way the whole party moves against Stargazer. He rages and powerfully unleashes frenzied attacks. As his body is carved at he becomes more incoherent and mad. He breaks away and heads back to the crystal arch infront of the throne.   Sara Bloodmare and her associates stand there. "Help me Bloodmare!" Stargazer bellows. Then Gyn drives his blade through his back killing him is spray of blood. Sara looks on with guarded pity. Teh group gathers around the slumping corpse.   The party speaks with her. She coyly dodges the questions but shows apparition for them "putting down the rabid dog." They notice amongst the associates of Dark Rider, Rouge Mobahn, and a new figure a girl in a deep cloak wearing a symbol. Gynn askes how the girl came by the symbol. This is sent back through to Hone an then Cassandra. This causes memories to bubble up of the night she escaped. Then she stirs with new found clarity, and name rises the name of her sister Eveline.   Sara takes her leave and then all exit through the gate, shattering after her group has exited. Then the body of Stargazer trembles as a greater beast rips out of it. A giant fiend casts of the bady. Everyone rushes out as the throne room collapses onto it.   In the aftermath it is victory but not without cost. Tivs is freed but devastated. Horizon's casualties are low but deep. Uria Wellmar dies in cobat on Tivs. Hyrim Mason defended the intruders in the Guildhall to his last breath, dying in his daughter who he names to succeeds him on the Council.