Cataclysm Act 1: Dustria City

A Vessel of Violence

  Upon the smuggling vessel, a disruption comes from below deck. The party rushes to the scene to find a mysterious robot in one of the shipping containers. The robot is labled on the front reading "QUARTZ-Theta." The mysterious robot, which was not listed on the ship's manifest, activates before the group and attacks them. They are joined by two of the crewmates to fight against the robot, John and Mike. The group tries valiantly to destroy the rampaging automaton, but with little luck. When all seems lost, a cloaked figure who boarded the ship with the trio from C.A.D.I.A. joins the fray and makes quick work of the robot. The helper introduces herself as Wendy Kuzo, and it is immediately apparent to the group that she is a Revenant. She is journeying to Dustria City to track down the man who killed her and avenge her own death. NaVita makes a deal with Wendy that the group will assist her in tracking down her killer if she helps them recover their lost agent. Wendy agrees to the terms. The smugglers John and Mike introduce the party of travelers to the captain of their vessel, Captain Robert. Captain Robert informs the party of the state of affairs within Dustria City and the high tensions between Gemstone Industries and the Dustria City Police Department, particularly the 17th Precinct.  

First Impressions

  Upon docking in Dustria City, John and Mike offer to escort the party to the Smuggler Safehouse within the district. Before a deal could be reached however, a group of individuals approaches them. The leader introduces himself as Andrew Blood, and that he is with the Gemstone Militia, and proclaims that he is leading a sort of underground resistance against the government of Dustria City. Blood offers the party an inside look at his operations and an opportunity to join, which Sevrica convinces the party to accept so that they can gain some intel right off the bat about the whereabouts of Agent Wu. Before anything else, from the other end of the docks is an explosion, and the DCPD arrive on the scene. Mike the Smuggler rushes to investigate the explosion along with other crew members from his ship while John stays with the party and Blood. The DCPD confront the group, led by the Chief of Police himself, Richard Briggs. A fight ensues, the party feigns an alliance with the Gemstone Militia and holds back so as to not wound any police officers. Upon the discovery of this ruse, Andrew Blood flees into a nearby warehouse and is pursued by Sevrica and John. The pair walked straight into a trap set up by Blood with the use of his shadow manipulation. Sevrica attempts to fight, but before any progress could be made, Blood kills John and uses Sevrica's anger as a distraction to leave. The rest of the Gemstone Militia flee the scene and the party is escorted to the 17th Precinct in the Central District of Dustria City. They explain to Chief Briggs the reason they have come to the city and he agrees to assist the party in their search if they assist his team in a mission of their own that evening.  

A Night with the Police

            The Special Investigations team of the 17th Precinct is shorthanded and two members need assistance investigating a reported disturbance at the Dustria City Historical Museum. There are rumors of a meetup and deal of some sorts between the Gemstone Militia and an organization known as the Bandits. The party agrees to go along, but not before having a look around the rest of the precinct and meeting the Special Investigations team members. Sevrica, NaVita, and R34P3R introduce themselves to Maurice Williams, Elizabeth Walters, Alexander Rite, Annie Denn, Adam Dal, Thomas Jones, and Neil Sanders. They also meet back up with Mike the Smuggler in one of the holding cells and inform him that John was killed in the fray with Blood. Upon hearing this, a deal is made between Mike and the DCPD so that he can work with them to avoid criminal charges of smuggling so long as he brings in Andrew Blood. He agrees without hesitation. The group of NaVita, Sevrica, R34P3R, Wendy, Mike, Thomas Jones, and Adam Dal make their way to the museum, the door to which is wide open. Slowly making their way through the museum, the group encounters a group from The Bandits led by Wilhelm Knochen. Wilhelm challenges the group to a boxing tournament, which R34P3R happily obliges, moving through the tournament to knock out Knochen personally. Now finished with the Bandits, they proceed into the basement searching for the delegation from Gemstone Militia. Quickly, the group is shrouded in the same darkness from the docks and split up. Not able to see their foes, they are quickly picked off and knocked unconscious.          

An Unexpected Reunion

  When the party awakens, it is the next day and they are somewhere unrecognized. NaVita, Sevrica, R34P3R, and Wendy awaken in what seems like a conference room along with another person. An elf woman named Saoirse, who Sevrica recognizes as her sister. Unaware of how she arrived in this place as well, a reunion is held off when Andrew Blood enters the room, followed by the missing C.A.D.I.A. agent Ho Wu and the CEO of Gemstone Industries, Cole Johnson. Johnson apologizes for the inconvenience and explains that the Militia is a subset of Gemstone Industries in charge of recovering the lost and experimental Power Rings which were developed by Gemstone Industries. The party demands to contact Director Fierce of C.A.D.I.A. to inform him that they found Agent Wu. That is when Wu informs the party that C.A.D.I.A. headquarters has been burned down and Director Fierce is dead. As such, he has permanently joined up with Gemstone Industries. The party is awestruck. Johnson offers them his condolences as well as a position within the company. They do not accept or decline the offer. Johnson then takes the party on a tour of the facilities and upon reaching the lobby, a disturbance is heard just out in the courtyard. A masked individual has frozen a large portion of the security team solid and attempts to do the same to Cole Johnson, but misses. Seeing that he is outnumbered, the mysterious man retreats, and the party follows suit. They pursue him deep into the city and manage to corner him in a complex series of alleyways. Upon questioning he introduces himself as Cyrus White, a member of the vigilante group known as the Guardians. Cyrus proclaims that Gemstone Industries is corrupt and not to be trusted, but before a true discussion can begin, the group is ambushed by a biker gang which seems to have a grudge against Cyrus. He flees the scene, leaving the gang to the party, who makes quick work of them. Pursuing Cyrus to the rooftops nearby, they find themselves surrounded on the nearby rooftops. On three sides are different groups. To the right is Chief Richard Briggs with Thomas Jones and Alexander Rite from the DCPD. To the left is Cole Johnson along with Andrew Blood and the other two men who ambushed them in the Museum. Directly behind them is Wilhelm Knochen of the Bandits. Cyrus, utilizing his ability to create and control ice, retreats to the roof ahead of the party via an ice bridge. It is time to choose a side in this messy and complex battlefield. NaVita, falling back on her cleric training, aligns herself with the DCPD, and Wendy follows as a testament to their agreement. Sevrica, seeking to redeem herself, chooses the DCPD and pleads with her sister to do the same. Saoirse takes much deliberation, but decides in the end it is better to stick with family you know, and goes with Sevrica. R34P3R considers his options, his fellow agents of C.A.D.I.A. having made their choice. Something sparks within his soul, something telling him it is time to break away, now is his chance. Without a word, R34P3R runs to the edge of the roof and leaps over the gap to join Wilhelm Knochen and the Bandits. Cyrus flees in the chaos, ever the opportunist. Cole Johnson and the representatives from Gemstone Industries retreat into a void created by Blood. The party splits and goes their separate ways.