Chapter III. Unsung War
Session 24. Symphony of Ascension
*June 26, 2024
The fateful day of the Lunar Eclipse dawns, shrouded in anticipation. The Scions gather around Diallos, who delivers a profound lecture on the secrets of the Great Natu Tree. His findings from a previous expedition, conducted by the Solar Scions 40 years ago, reveal that the tree harbors a mystical pool connected to another world. The Ecclesia Solari had sealed the tree under the order of Saint Ascon, the former High Priest, with the promise of reopening it at the next Lunar Eclipse. However, the Church’s redactions on the Scroll hint at hidden truths, casting a shadow of doubt.
Determined to uncover these secrets, the Scions compel Vincent to clear their path from the Inquisition into the Grove. Silas is cleverly concealed in Carter’s bag of holding. Diallos prays for divine guidance and receives a vision of Vincent commanding the Inquisition soldiers to kneel, which compels the Scions to take Vincent along. Vincent’s menacing devilish aura intimidates the soldiers at various checkpoints, though his actions unsettle the Scions. Diallos discerns Vincent’s concealed pain as they near the grove’s barrier.
At the final checkpoint, they encounter Inquisitor Simon Moonwing, who confronts his brother Carter, suspecting Silas’s presence. Vincent magically persuades Simon to step aside, but Simon warns Carter of impending doom if Silas enters the Grove. Vincent, fulfilling his duty, bids a sorrowful farewell to Virtus and returns to the Inquisition soldiers.
With Finley the Druid wielding his newly empowered Natu-branch Staff of the Seasons, the Scions breach the barrier and enter the Grove. They find the Symphony of Ascension already underway, but no rowboats are available to reach the inner grove. Finley summons a massive, injured fish beast from the river, which agrees to ferry them after being healed.
Riding atop the fish, Finley creates a protective sphere of daylight, repelling Lunar Demons and drawing celestial birds, the Avieres, seeking refuge. The grove is in chaos; tree-folk and centaurs rush to defend the Symphony ritual. The Scions witness a centaur fall to a Lunar Demon, their grief overshadowed by the urgency of the Eclipse window.
Upon reaching the inner grove, they find Druids defending critical facilities against Lunar Demons while Archdruids perform the Symphony, guiding Souls into the Tree. The Scions assist Bramble the Minotaur Archdruid, battling two Lunar Demons at the Circle House. With Whimsical and Virtus leading the charge and Carter’s time-altering magic, they vanquish the foes.
Spotting young apprentice druids – Dahlia, her brother Erevan, and Rowanbran – struggling against a Lunar Demon, the Scions intervene. The siblings and Whimsical stagger the demon, only for it to return and fatally strike Rowanbran. Finley distracts the creature, allowing Silas to deliver a final radiant blow, saving Rowanbran.
Racing up the tree branches, the Scions reach the Great Love Door at the mouth of the Great Natu Tree. The Tree speaks to Finley, revealing its illness and the corruption of Souls within. Finley opens the Great Love Door, and the Scions venture inside to continue their quest.
Session 25. Venturing into the Great Natu Tree
*July 1, 2024
The Scions venture into the Great Natu Tree during the Lunar Eclipse and the Symphony of Ascension, embarking on a heroic quest to cleanse the tree of its corruption. As they navigate the tree’s intricate layout, they discover that moonlight is penetrating all the way down to the corrupted Well of Souls. This Well, brimming with necrotic energy accumulated over 40 years, shoots a beam upwards, creating an impassable barrier. Silas, showcasing his bravery, teleports to the other side, distracting the Souls and allowing the Scions to pass.
The Scions then reach the Forsaken Shrine of Natu, where a collapsed suspension bridge leads to a desecrated place of prayer. The shrine’s statue of Natu, Empress of Heaven and Goddess of Nature, stands defiled, clutching an empty slot where the ‘Love Fragment’ belongs. This fragment symbolizes Natu’s broken heart, and the Scions realize that finding and restoring it will earn them a divine reward.
Venturing too far, Silas finds himself in dangerous gassy tunnels filled with explosive bubbles and flowing acid rivers. Attacked by an Ankheg protecting her eggs, Silas teleports to safety. The Ankheg follows them to the Shrine, where Diallos attempts a stunning strike. Finley, with great reflexes, slashes the Ankheg’s legs, allowing Diallos to incapacitate the queen with a stunning palm and a final headlock.
Atop the statue of Natu, Squanatos the Necromancer Squirrel reveals himself, declaring his title as ‘Dread Lord of the Great Natu Tree’. He demands loyalty from the Scions, hinting at his tragic past of losing his family to the blight. Squanatos, using necromantic magic learned from stolen Orbs of True Knowledge, animates the Ankheg’s corpse, providing the Scions with a new traversal method. Though Virtus initially doubts him, she is soon impressed by his abilities.
The Scions decide to head to the Wingless Library, where they meet an undead Oocoo who informs them of Squanatos’s theft and banishment. Entering without him, they face the library’s corrupted stewards, the Oocoo. Carter kills one in self-defense, prompting Finley to realize the Orbs of True Knowledge are corrupting the denizens. Carter dispels the Orb’s magic, pacifying the Oocoo. Despite their sorrow, the Oocoo agree to help the Scions, acknowledging their duty to preserve the library’s knowledge even if the Tree seems beyond saving.
Taking a short rest, the Scions contemplate their next move. Carter and Silas pray to Magi for guidance. Silas receives no response, but Carter learns troubling insights about his companions. Resolute, the Scions prepare to continue their quest to purify the Great Natu Tree and restore balance to their world.
Session 26. Rekindling the Heart
*July 9, 2024
The Scions continue their brave expedition through the Great Natu Tree, taking a brief but much-needed rest in the Wingless Library. Diallos, driven to uncover his past, explores the rooted shelves and alleys displaying corrupted wisps. Infusing one wisp with divine energy, he manages to cleanse it of its corruption, unveiling an Orb of True Knowledge. This now-purified Orb reveals a touching history: an old man, Karthis tells a story to his young daughter, who is later revealed to be the Solar Scion Renalla of Astraloftum. The tale speaks of Renalla’s origins; a Cometborn, her infant body hatched from a ‘dragon-egg’. This story strikes a chord with Diallos, confirming his own past. Content with this newfound knowledge, he leaves the healed Orb on the bookshelf, its secrets now available once-again.
Whimsical speaks to the Oocoo, who help decipher the origins of the tree’s blight. They reveal that 40 years ago, a Solar Scion named Gragun Tides led an expedition into the tree with his fellow brothers, making a discovery so profound that the Ecclesia Solari classified the findings and sealed the tree, dooming it to a slow, evolving disease. Diallos recalls that Gragun Tides is now an infamous apostate, linked to the ‘Ruby Incident’ where the young ruby-dragon Syrax became a living phylactery through a horrific ritual. This dark revelation identifies Gragun Tides as a potential architect of the tree’s corruption, turning the Scions’ quest into a mission of justice.
As the Scions venture upwards, they encounter a complex mirror puzzle. Finley’s Moonlit Scimitar, glowing with ethereal light, illuminates a column, unlocking access to a hidden ‘Rubix Cube’ within the tree. Carter, with his knowledge of ‘Rubix’, attunes to the Cube and discovers its threads are spreading the tree’s corruption to other islands. Utilizing the Cube’s Time-Space manipulation capabilities, Carter attempts to sever the threads, causing the island’s gravity to shift and loosen. This unexpected shift aids the Scions in scaling the tree further.
At the summit of the tree, the Scions witness a somber scene: a large, devoted orange Golem, infused with stone and wood, defending a cracked light-orb from the corrupted Souls of the tree. Whimsical, with her motherly charm and persuasive eloquence, convinces the Golem that the Scions are allies. Trusting their intentions, the Golem allows them to help defend the light-orb. As the Golem begins to sacrifice its essence to repair the orb, Silas, filled with empathy and remorse, steps forward. He offers the Soul of Elias Threepwood, housed within him, to complete the task. Elias’s Soul, given a final quest, repairs the orb, sparing the Golem from its sacrificial fate.
In gratitude, the Golem thanks the Scions and vows to defend the Light-Orb alongside Elias’s Soul from the corrupted Souls of the tree. As a token of appreciation, it presents Virtus with a Mirror Tower Shield, a symbol of their bravery and unity. Additionally, the Golem rewards the party with the other half of the Love Fragment needed to restore the statue of Natu. With their mission far from over, the Scions must now descend to the tree’s stump to deliver the fragment and continue their noble quest to purify the Great Natu Tree.
Session 27. Village of the Lost
*July 23, 2024
The Solar Scions restored the Shrine of Natu within the tree by returning one of Love’s Fragments, reuniting it with the other fragment. The Statue of Natu awakened, embraced Virtus, and thanked her for briefly restoring the love between Natu and Noctu. It then used Finley and Whimsical as vessels to demonstrate the Great Natu Tree’s pain and decay before bestowing health boons upon the Scions. They continued downward to the Tainted Lake of blood and sap.
At the Tainted Lake, Diallos dived to retrieve Carter’s lost textbook. The Scions then journeyed to the Village of the Lost, Squanatos’ home, where they discovered Squanatos reanimating the decaying bodies of his family and friends in a macabre mimicry of life. Finley, Virtus, and Whimsical decried this necromancy, demanding Squanatos release control of the bodies. A debate on the morality of necromancy ensued. Squanatos prayed to the Great Acorn, defending his actions as necessary to combat the blight. Diallos acknowledged Squanatos’ perseverance but condemned his abuse of power. The Scions then descended further to find the Well of Souls.
In the Crimson Forest, Finley created a charming pathway through a corrupted bramble, leading the Scions to a Wall of Thorns. Carter discovered a secret door hidden behind the bramble, sealed with a Brand of Nirvana, the same mark on Silas’ chest. As Silas attempted to remove the Brand, they were attacked by Corrupted Vine creatures. The Scions fended them off while Silas opened the door to the Well of Souls, sacrificing another Soul and inadvertently releasing Dark Silas. The Brand relinquished, the door to the Well opened, and Dark Silas’ shadow ran inside.
Dark Silas betrayed the Solar Scions, activating the Well of Souls into a shimmering mirror that reflected the Lunar Eclipse, ushering in a Fomorian invasion. Cultists known as the ‘Servants of Nirvana’ emerged, aiming to steal the Souls within the Well to crown their Unborn Fomorian King. An army of Demons and two Fomorian Generals, Count von Preshons and Xor’Ocu, arrived. Xor’Ocu, the Beholder, sought the location of Animus Tenebris and, receiving no response, flew up the tree’s shaft with the demonic army to invade Astraloftum. Count von Preshons stayed to confront the Solar Scions and secure the Souls. After an emotional speech, Silas hurled a Fireball at his father, the Count, initiating a climactic battle between the Fomorian general and the Solar Scions for the fate of Astraloftum.
Session 28. Battle at the Well of Souls
*July 30, 2024
The Solar Scions engage in an arduous battle against Count von Preshons—Nirvana’s Drakebane, Fallen Lord of Yahar’gul, and Silas’ vampiric Father.
The calculating Count absorbs a flaming Fireball from his son Silas, taunting him. Seeing that he might have underestimated the Solar Scions’ strength, Count von Preshons begins to demonstrate his demonic abilities. Diallos sends his falcon, Eden, upwards to the top of the tree to ask for the Guardian of Love’s Fragment’s assistance in the fight…
The fight begins. The Count launches one of his three ‘Spears of the Damned’ towards Carter. Using the Tome of Time’s time reversal properties, Carter reflects the Spear back at the Count, restraining him with his own attack and surprising him. Whimsical charges at the Count with a fierce but controlled rage, enlarging her body and using her improved strength to tie up the Count with her rope. The restrained Count confidently smiles, his eyes behind his circular spectacles glaring out with an intense flame. His body erupts in fire and he breaks free of all restraints, transforming into the visage of a flaming dragon and dashing through the Scions towards Silas—leaving a trail of crackling green flames in his path.
The Count lands on the other side of the battlefield, fixing his glasses as he transforms back from his flaming form. He looks for signs of Silas, but he is nowhere to be found. In a sign of emotional vulnerability at the thought that he must have incinerated his son instantly, the cunning Virtus taunts the Count for his ruthlessness, forcing him to come to terms with his filicide. This allows Carter to land a devastating attack with his Tome of Time. Attempting to end the fight with one attack, he uses Temporal Stasis on the Count, but the book’s powers are beyond control. To the Scions’ surprise, the Count begins to slow down in time—but not before the cunning man swiftly sacrifices one of his own Damned Spears to stave off the Temporal Stasis.
The Count begins his dark counterattack, creating a magical darkness that emanates out of him. The Scions lose track of one another and one by one, are slashed, drained, and stripped of their blood, their soul energy by the Count’s demonic blade, ‘Sanguinus,’ which takes their vitality from the darkness. When the darkness ends, the Count hovers over the center of the Well, Sanguinus in hand, drenched in the blood of the Scions. He magically orders Virtus to attack her friend Finley.
Virtus, in confusion, uses her boomerang shield to slash at Finley, injuring him deftly. The Scions realize they might be outmatched. Then—from virtually nowhere, Silas emerges from magical invisibility, revealing he is very much alive, and goes to bite his own father in the throat. The Count shrugs off the attack but is slightly relieved to see that Silas’ disappearance was an act. He shoves him off with his elbow. “You are alive, I should’ve expected so from my own kin.”
Silas, with bitter hatred, looks at his father and reveals the truth: the Count’s wife, Silas’ mother, was not killed by the Ecclesia Solari during the Siege of Yahar’gul—it was Silas himself who stabbed her. For all the suffering, the torture, the manipulation he had endured as a child because of her, he killed her, and he showed no remorse for it.
Count von Preshons initially refuses to believe it, but he soon realizes that his son must be telling the truth. He laughs in chaotic vigor. He stares at his own son, telling him:
“You truly are a failure. You will die by my hands, witness the demise of your friends with your own eyes, I will kill you, revive you, and then I’ll do it all over again—ad infinitum.”
After the intense revelation, the battle continues. This time, Count von Preshons spares no mercy; he means to kill Silas for good. He creates a magical darkness once more. Five slashes of Sanguinus aim at Silas, torturing the Scion, and inflicting mortal wounds as all his vitality is drained with every swipe of the Count’s blade. Silas begins to die—but the Gods refuse to have one of their champions fall here, and so do Silas’ friends. Finley, feeling Silas’ unlife fade fast, is ushered towards him by the guiding hand of the Goddess Natu to save his life, taking the final blow of Sanguinus in Silas’ stead.
The Scions turn the tide and converge on Count Preshons. Whimsical and Virtus raise their weapons into the sky, praying to Tekk and Natu to guide their strikes true. The Gods bless their weapons, and the two women unleash their Divine Smites on the Count, creating a wind-shattering blow and delivering justice upon the fiend. Diallos pummels the Count in unison; Finley rings back from the blow he was inflicted and slashes at the Count’s shins with his moon-lit scimitar. The Gods lead their champions, allowing the Scions to turn the tides of battle.
Count von Preshons, his cool perturbed, begins to fly up into the air, vowing to annihilate the False Gods, the Solar Scions, and crown the Unborn Fomorian King. The Scions realize he is securing a path of escape up the tree, following the rest of the invasion force, but they refuse to let him go. Carter, with the last of his strength, channels the magical prowess of the God Magi to control the Well of Souls and prevent the Count from leaving. He succeeds, and the Well begins to crack, thousands of soulish hands surface from the abyss in unison, grabbing the Count by his legs and pulling him down—his attempts at healing hindered by the intense grasp of thousands of souls.
Diallos unfurls his divine wings and flies up in a brilliant swirl, determined to end the fight. The Count desperately launches the second of his Damned Spears down. The astral arms of the devoted monk are able to grasp the Dark Spear mid-dive, flipping it around and hurling it back upwards at the Count, impaling him with his own spear. Diallos flies up to the Count and they trade grievous blows in mid-air. As Diallos begins to wear down the Count with his astral strikes, the Count, as he falls to his demise, looks at Diallos and says, “My son may not have been a suitable candidate for the Fomorian King after all, but you may certainly be the one…”
In the climactic battle against Count von Preshons, the Solar Scions, with the help of their Gods, defied all odds and achieved victory. As Diallos delivered the final, decisive blow, both he and the Count fell into the Well of Souls. The impact shattered the mirror portal that hovered over the Well, and the Scions, except for Carter, were pulled into along with Diallos, their fates unknown…
Session 29. Demonic Invasion
*August 7, 2024
Thanks to the heroic efforts of the Scions at the Well of Souls, the Great Natu Tree was saved from destruction. The Corrupted Souls that once threatened to overwhelm the tree were drawn into the phylactery known as ‘Dark Silas,’ a vessel of dark power now burdened with containing the Fomorian influence. To prevent this dark force from spreading further, Solar Scion Carter Moonwing placed ‘Dark Silas’—now an empty husk—in Temporal Stasis, sealing it within the Well of Souls until the prophesied Promised Day. The once-dangerous Well now lies empty, a silent sentinel awaiting the future.
With the Great Natu Tree safeguarded, the Scions turn their attention to the Demonic Invasion of the Fomorians. As they leave the sacred tree behind, they arrive at the Grove just in time to witness a massive assault by the demonic forces. The Archdruids stand at the front lines, desperately fending off the invading horde. The situation grows dire, but the Scions do not hesitate.
Silas and Carter combine their powers in a dazzling display of Unity Magic, conjuring a massive Fireball that obliterates a significant portion of the lesser demons. However, this powerful spell leaves them drained and vulnerable. As the battle rages on, Finley and Virtus engage the menacing figure leading the siege: the beholder Magus Xor’Ocu. Virtus strikes with fierce determination, but in doing so, she is struck by a terrifying vision of the future that leaves her shaken to the core. Meanwhile, Diallos and the raging Whimsical charge headlong into the fray.
Session 30. A Druid’s Final Duty
*August 14, 2024
The battle for the Grove rages on as the Archdruids valiantly hold off the Fomorian Demonic Army, led by the grinning beholder Magus Xor’Ocu. Amidst the chaos, Archdruid Elowen, the wise and revered leader of the druids, speaks to Finley telepathically. Her voice carries both strength and finality as she delivers her message:
“Finley… Listen well, my favorite pupil… This is my duty, and you must honor it. There is no need for mourning—death, to us druids of Natu, is not an end, but merely a transformation. Life persists in all forms… Now, you must follow my instructions. Go to my hut and retrieve the Lifebook from the table and the Medallion of Natu. Its power will aid you. Save the apprentices, for they will not survive this battle without you.”
With heavy hearts, the Scions prepare to follow Elowen’s directive. They quickly repair a sailing boat and navigate the Grove’s winding canals, determined to escape and safeguard the future of their order. As they reach the outskirts of the Grove, a chilling sight greets them—the protective barrier has shattered, allowing Lunar Demons to spill out into Astraloftum.
The situation grows even more dire, but hope arrives in the form of Solar Scion Bartholomew, who joins the Scions in fending off the demonic threat and rescuing terrified civilians. Together, they devise a plan to counter the invasion, seeking aid from the Solari Inquisition and Lord Commander Zariel Tenebris. A difficult decision is made: the party must split into two teams. One team will lead the evacuation to a location seen in Diallos’ vision, while the other will secure the battlefield for the Scions’ return to the Grove. The weight of the Archdruid’s words lingers, but the Scions press on, resolute in their mission.
Mini Scion 3. Chokepoint of Destiny
*August 18, 2024
Determined to contain the demonic forces, Silas and Bartholomew, accompanied by soldiers from the Inquisition, embark on a perilous mission. Their goal: to destroy three of the four exits from the Grove, creating a bottleneck at Exit 4 where the Fomorian invaders can be more easily controlled. The two Scions work in perfect harmony, their unity magic cleansing the tainted waters that flow from the Grove, restoring the river’s purity.
As they continue their mission, they encounter Holy Mother Anastasia, valiantly defending a group of orphans from a monstrous Tormenauk—a fiendish creature with countless maws and an insatiable hunger for souls. A fierce battle ensues, with Holy Mother Anastasia providing divine support from above. Silas and Bartholomew unleash their might, shattering the Grove’s exit and trapping the beast in a pit formed by Silas’ powerful shatter spell. From a distance, they rain down spells and strikes, determined to defeat the demon and ensure the safety of the orphans.
But the demon does not go down easily. In a desperate move, it emits a mind-shattering screech that sends Silas crashing to the ground, his mind overwhelmed by the psionic attack. Qilla, the Inquisitor Priestess, rushes to his aid, healing Silas and allowing him to rejoin the fray. As the demon claws its way back up from the pit, Bartholomew delivers a devastating final blow, ending its threat once and for all. With the battle won, Qilla takes the orphans to safety, while Holy Mother Anastasia joins Silas and Bartholomew on their journey east, toward Grove Exit 3.
As they approach their destination, their Sol Phones suddenly go dead, an ominous sign. At Exit 3, they find Solar Scion Animus Tenebris, battered but victorious, standing over the corpses of three vicious Ruinants. Animus had the same idea as his comrades, and had already destroyed this exit to prevent further demonic escape. Grateful for their assistance, Animus agrees to accompany Silas and Bartholomew back to the Inquisition army, ready for the next stage of the battle.
On their way back, they notice a body floating in the river. Silas and Animus work together to retrieve it, only to discover that it is Archdruid Agni, unconscious and barely clinging to life. Upon closer inspection, they realize that his soul has been consumed by a demon in a previous battle, leaving him as an undead husk. Holy Mother Anastasia casts ‘Gentle Repose’ on Agni, halting his decay. With great care, Animus lifts the weakened Archdruid onto his back, and together, the Scions make their way back to the Inquisition Army, which awaits them at Grove Exit 4.
At the final stronghold, the Inquisition Army is hard at work, laying traps and preparing defenses for the impending demonic counterattack. Zariel Tenebris and the remaining Solar Scions prepare to lead the charge. Meanwhile, Silas and Diallos communicate through their Sol Phones, coordinating their efforts. Eden successfully delivers the Ring of Magi to Diallos, securing two of the three artifacts needed to open the Golden Door in the Forgotten Chamber of Forgehearth. As the final battle looms on the horizon, the Scions steel themselves for the fight of their lives, knowing that the fate of the Grove—and perhaps all of Astraloftum—rests in their hands.
Session 31. Stun or Eye?
*August 21, 2024
Diallos, Virtus, Carter, Finley, and Whimsical gather the citizens of Astraloftum as they traverse the streets, leading a mass exodus of people to the location Diallos prophesied: a safe-haven for everyone in case the Invasion dooms them all. The Scions arrive at the Golden Door in the Forgotten Chamber underneath Forgehearth - they encounter a focused Abbot Muho who is traveling the astral plane. Diallos picks up the Bracers of the Blacksmith, creating a shimmering halo around his head, and concluding it to be the last emblem required to open the Golden Door.
Alongside Carter and Finley, who possess the Ring of Magi and the Medallion of Natu respectively, the three Scions place the emblems of the Trinity on the slots: Dawn, Zeal, Ruin - opening the fabled Golden Door. Whimsical and Virtus lead the cautious masses down the wide tunnels as Finley feels the now healed - pulsing roots of the Great Natu Tree wrapped within metal pipes that run adjacent the cavern walls. The throng of citizens now being led by Diallos, fulfills the prophecy Diallos received a few hours ago - a messiah leading them into a massive cavern lair where they all discover a massive, wooden, ancient Ark. The vision did not lead them astray.
The Demonic Invasion force arrives at the battlefield from within the Grove, a fierce laserbeam cuts through the forest river, snipping rock like paper, a call to arms by the Magus Xor’Ocu, surely, however - the steadfast Armies of Astraloftum, ready to defend their holy land, stands ready. A coalition of Inquisition and Solar Scions, spearheaded by Liara Cetra, Animus Tenebris and his mother the Lord Commander Zariel.
Sir Bravefur and Renalla accompany our heroes Silas and Bartholomew sneaking past the Grove’s cliffs to create a flanking opportunity on the demonic insurgents. They all work together to create an illusory Animus, knowing the Servants of Nirvana want him, deviating some demons from their warpath fooled by the deception to its location. In communication over the Sol Phone, Bartholomew and Finley scout out a potential tree to leverage the Medallion of Natu’s innate ability to provide Transport Via Plants, facilitating a surprise entrance for Diallos, Carter, Finley, Virtus, and Whimsical.
The horde of devoted Demons bottleneck through the Cliffs of the Grove, heedless of traps and barricades, they storm through, a hungry void of despair. Cannons and ballistae whizz past in defiance of their approach by the river. Armies clash. Liara Cetra’s divine righteousness spells a swarm of Locusts, impeding the demons from venturing further down the river. Soldiers from atop the cliffs are consumed by fiendish teeth and claws, the first victims. The ire of the beholder: Magus Xor’Ocu casts its malevolent gaze upon Silas and Bartholomew. The illusions cannot fool it. Floating fiends of malice evade the Inquisition’s traps, their tentacles of hatred seeking out souls to devour, leaving squirming corpses in their wake.
Back at the Ark, the Scions debate whether to use the Bracers of the Blacksmith to grant sentience to the ancient vessel. Time, however, is not on their side. They decide to join the battle, and Finley calls upon his connection to nature, creating a divine pathway between the Ark and a tree named Roger (every tree, every rock, every critter has a name, Finley always says). Roger, a proud pine, stands ready to aid them, providing the Scions with a flanking opportunity. As they emerge, they spot Davi Greymane—a former ally turned apostate, now a pawn of the enemy, guarding the backline for the Servants of Nirvana. Whimsical, ever hopeful, appeals to Davi’s sense of morality, but his mind is clouded by his infatuation with his Harpy wife. Finley, transformed into a majestic Liondrake, charges into battle with Diallos and Virtus on his back. In a swift, decisive move, Finley slashes at the Harpy, sending Davi plunging into the river below.
Diallos, still riding atop Finley the Liondrake, unleashes a barrage of stunning strikes upon the Magus. Bartholomew, ever quick with a quip, taunts the Beholder with each blow:
“Stun, or Eye?!”
The Prophet’s attacks land with precision, each strike forcing the Magus to sacrifice one of its eyes to escape. Its once smug expression fades, and in a desperate bid for survival, the Beholder teleports away. Yet, it cannot hide. Virtus, her boomerang shield glowing with Tekk’s light, prevents it from turning invisible, leaving the Scions hot on its trail.
But the tide of battle turns. With Carter isolated, a Slaughter Demon lunges from the cliffs, pinning him to the ground. Exhausted, Carter fights for his life, his only hope lying in the power of his god, Magi. Meanwhile, fiendish archers known as ‘Woblas’ unleash bolts of pure despair at Silas, who soars above the battlefield with Renalla. The bolts find their mark, overwhelming the exhausted sorcerer. Renalla, desperate to save him, carries the unconscious Silas through the sky, but her exposed position leaves them vulnerable.
The Magus Xor’Ocu, now cornered, taunts the Scions with venomous words:
“Astraloftum will fall, I proclaim as I see, and you—” it sneers at Finley, “I will show you how your master ended up, the Archdruid, as ash so shall you return to.”
The Beholder unleashes a devastating beam of necrotic energy, aiming to obliterate Finley. The druid’s Liondrake form stands resolute. Though he cannot speak, the trees of the Grove answer for him, their voices a chorus of defiance:
“He shall not fall, for he is the Prince of Arcadia.”
Xor’Ocu stifles a toothy laughter beset with paranoia. Its massive central eye flares into a pitch black orb - paradoxically erupting into a dazzling-rainbow. The magic in the air is dispelled in an instant, breaking Finley’s Liondrake form and sending him, Diallos, and Virtus plummeting from the sky - to the ground; dazed but alive, as the Beholder’s malevolent command echoes across the battlefield. With a single order, Xor’Ocu directs the demons, an abyssal thump produced by a wicked tongue of an aberration so foul and pretentious, ‘kill the Scions’.
Session 32. Carnage
*September 4, 2024
The battle against Magus Xor’Ocu and the relentless Fomorian Demons reaches the climax. Diallos and Virtus, battered but unwavering, uncover a disturbing truth—the Beholder before them, Magus Xor’Ocu, may once have been human. Yet, the twisted creature no longer recalls its past, and amidst its haunting gaze, recognition sparks in its many eyes as it spots Virtus. The connection is unclear, but it sends chills through her.
The Scions fight with everything they have, but the demonic forces are relentless. One by one, they are overwhelmed, forced to their knees by the onslaught. Magus Xor’Ocu turns it’s gaze toward Diallos, unleashing a devastating Necrosis beam. Time slows for the Scions as they watch in horror—Diallos falls, lifeless, his soul drips out from his body in an instant of utter destruction.
Enraged beyond measure, Virtus and Finley rush at the Magus, their hearts burning with vengeance. They strike with wild fury, but the Beholder continues to weave through the chaos, seemingly invincible. Bartholomew seizes a moment of opportunity. He leaps onto the back of a monstrous Tusker Demon, propelling himself into the air with precision. His divine blade gleams as he plunges it into one of Xor’Ocu’s many eyes. The Beholder roars, disappearing in a sudden flash of teleportation—but Bartholomew is relentless, using his own magic to follow. Meanwhile, Whimsical with the surprising help of the betrayer Davi, stage a cunning deception, with Whimsical disguised as Animus. The ruse works, if only briefly, as Xor’Ocu falls for the ploy, distracted by the false image of his intended target.
Across the field, Animus and his mother, Lord Commander Zariel Tenebris, stand back-to-back against a monstrous Chimeron. Zariel falters, distracted for a split second, and the creature strikes, wounding her gravely. Animus, with a surge of fury, delivers the final blow to the beast, but his victory is bittersweet. He rushes to aid the Scions with the help of Mother Anastasia’s magic, slaying a Slaughter Demon in time to save Carter, who had been hiding underwater to escape its wrath.
Yet Carter’s fate is sealed. Before Animus can intervene, Carter, fighting a Tormenauk, is overwhelmed and killed, his soul devoured by the monstrous fiend. Animus arrives too late, devastated by the sight of his fallen comrade. His fury shakes the battlefield, but there is no undoing the damage. The loss of Carter echoes across the battlefield.
Amid the carnage, Solar Scion Liara Cetra steps forward, her divine light radiating like the sun itself. She reveals her true identity as the High Priestess Cetra, leader of the Ecclesia Solari. With the authority of a goddess, she delivers a speech to the remaining soldiers of the Inquisition and the Solar Scions:
“Astraloftum is not our last bastion of faith; a new dawn awaits us. Retreat, followers of the Trinity, and let us finish this fight!”
Her voice thunders across the battlefield as she ascends in a brilliant flash of radiant light, blinding the demons that dare look upon her. She warns her allies not to gaze upon her true form, as it is too divine for mortal eyes. With a final burst of brilliance, she descends upon Carter’s body, her light too pure for the darkness that surrounds. Beside her, Animus kneels, emotionally shattered.
But there is hope still. Finley, heart heavy with grief, rushes to Diallos’ lifeless body. Kneeling beside his fallen friend, he offers a desperate prayer to Natu. His hands tremble as he casts Revivify, calling out to Diallos’ wandering soul. Lost in the void, Diallos drifts, his memories fading, paradise slipping from his grasp. But then, through the darkness, he hears the voice of an angel—the cries of Finley—and his soul finds its way back. Diallos gasps for breath, alive once more, and with his newfound strength, he hurls javelins with divine precision at the Beholder, his final throw piercing Xor’Ocu’s main eye.
Bartholomew, still locked in combat with the floating aberration, strikes with one final smite, delivering the death blow. Xor’Ocu, Nirvana’s Fomorian General, falls, and with his demise, the tides of battle momentarily shift in favor of the Scions.
But the victory comes at great cost. The Scions, now battered and weary, have barely survived the assault. Carter is gone, his soul stolen by the demonic forces. The Inquisition Army has retreated, leaving Astraloftum vulnerable. Demons still roam the land, their hunger for destruction far from sated. As the smoke clears and the echoes of the battle fade, the question remains: what will become of Astraloftum, and will the Scions have the strength to face what comes next?
Session 33. A New Dawn
*September 12, 2024
The exhausted Scions are rescued by the Abbot Muho and the High Priestess Cetra; Animus retrieves Carter’s soul after viciously killing the Tormenauk demon who had consumed his friend, allowing Finley to revive Carter with the help of Diallos, who has experienced death already. The Scions use the Beholder’s Twilight Shard to teleport out of the battlefield, escaping to a nearby encampment of injured Inquisition soldiers and Natu’s Druids. The High Priestess Cetra and the Abbot Muho return from the battlefield, having finished off the remaining Demonic forces, securing a victory for the Scions and for all of Astraloftum! High Priestess Cetra thanks the Scions for their Godsgiven bravery and determination, she begins singing, the survivors join in:
“Shadows fall, and hope has fled
Steel your heart, the dawn will come
The night is long, and the path is dark
Look to the sky, for one day soon
The dawn will come
The shepherd’s lost, and his home is far
Keep to the stars, the dawn will come
The night is long, and the path is dark
Look to the sky, for one day soon
The dawn will come…”
One week passes and the Scions rest, they help restore and secure Astraloftum and its people, finishing off with a bountiful dinner at the Whimsical House.