Session 37
“If there is any time to save Scabb.. It’s now.”
The gigantic creature that erupted from the shattered plinth was an abomination stitched together from grief, regret, and stolen magic. The combination of the twisted bodies of the Tree-like Aurevald, the bark-skinned husk of Scabb, the corpse of the Gandyr dragged up from the mineshaft, and the blood of the recently deceased Goliath cultist Angrah, was still steaming where it soaked into the wood-grain scales.
Sensing the urgency of the situation, The Fated Eight took a split second to position themselves in the chaos of the smoke eruption before engaging the monstrous creature before them. The Jormun did not hesitate; it attacked The Fated Eight instantly. Jin and Aurevald, the two defenders made haste for the creature, not noticing that their backline formation was bisected almost immediately as two Lesser Gandyr answered the roar of The Jormun, driving a wedge between the party members. As they approached the creature, the party noticed the wooden scales of the creature shift and harden as the energy inside the creature bubbled and festered. The two frontliners landed successive blows, with Ryujin showing his martial prowess through successive blows with Watatsumi - The Blade Of Ramping Tides, and Aurevald landing blows while wielding the newly reforged Fimbul, The Winterheart’s Edge. Members of The Fated Eight noticed a shimmering effect take place upon Aurevald’s head as he swung Fimbul, wherein crystalline ice erupted from the landed blows and slowly formed a crown upon his head. The Jormun attempted to quell blows from the frontliners through the use of its magical abilities, wreathing itself in a magical fire in order to punish those who would dare strike it.
Kezark, realising that The Jormun’s scales shifted periodically throughout the fight, channeled his newly found magical abilities through the use of his Heroic Tattoo, as the tattoo on his arm began to glow, a mirage-like effect encapsulated his body, allowing him to get out of harm’s way and safely shoot his revolver from a distance, combining it with his ability to shoot magical projectiles out of his fingers through the use of Finger Guns. The creature didn’t take too kindly to being damaged, and instinctively reacted by lashing out with paralysing lash attacks and attempted a cold breath attack until Kezark intimidated it by imposing his strong will onto it.
Azriel, calling on the powers of his Patron, activated his ability to inflict powerful magical effects attacking the creatures vitality and mental faculties with his Pact Weapon whilst casting powerful spells like Blight and Armor of Agathys in order to take advantage of the creature’s cycling resistances.
Lady, getting the sense that the best option would be to fight safely, decided to channel her Aeris primordial form, landing blows on the lesser Gandyr from a distance whilst maintaining her ability to dodge and weave if necessary. Morgyn and SHAI provided helpful buffing and healing spells such as Haste and Bless to turn the tide of combat, whilst Axton provided some ranged damaging and healing support through his construction of his Arcane Turret and from firing his Arcane Firearm, managing to kill a couple of the Lesser Gandyr.
During this battle of attrition, The Fated Eight had finally managed to kill four of the Lesser Gandyr. Upon repeatedly inflicting blows upon The Jormun, it was revealed to Aurevald the horrifying truth of what he was fighting. It was Scabb all along, seemingly piloting The Jormun. Upon deducing that Scabb’s lifeforce was tied to The Jormun’s own, it was determined that killing the beast outright would potentially kill his beloved friend along with it.
Through the power of the Haste spell casted by SHAI, Aurevald was propelled into the air with assistance by Jin and Kjott, before landing on the creature. Inside the gaping wound left by a flurry of strikes from Watatsumi, Aurevald was able to see Scabb’s twisted and malformed body, interconnected within the creature’s bark-like connective tissue. He began to carefully cleave through the layers of vines and roots that separated himself and the party’s beloved companion, and after three consecutive attempts of ripping and biting and tearing, he had finally succeeded, and Scabb was in his arms.
Freed of what had been sustaining it, the writhing body of The Jormun collapsed. The corpse of The Jormun did not simply die, it decomposed and sublimated before their eyes, rapidly turning to ash and vapor until nothing remained but a single, large, twisted fang lying in the settling dust. The Husk’s attempt to gain a foothold on the Material Plane had been repelled, for now…
A Bittersweet Reunion
Section titled “A Bittersweet Reunion”As The Jormun’s form dissolved, so too did the corruption holding Scabb. His malformed shape and bark-like skin twisted back into something familiar, and for the first time in what seemed to be an eternity, The Fated Eight had their companion back at their side, whole and himself once more. The Fated Eight allowed themselves a momentary pause of relief. It did not last.
“Scabb, you are the bravest, kindest creature I have ever come across. I came back to save you as I said I would.”
- Aurevald, to Scabb
Within moments of transforming back into his original body, Scabb began to visibly sicken, weakening before their eyes. Axton, to the surprise of the party, without hesitation offered what little healing magic he could surmount in an attempt to try and stabilize Scabb, but alas all it bought them was time rather than an answer.
Azriel, seeing this creature for the first time was the first to put the pieces together. He deduced that Scabb had been drawn back to this plane through Aurevald’s former deal with The Husk, and with that magic lost or destabilized, the binding that let him exist here was unraveling. Scabb would soon be pulled back to wherever he had last been before Aurevald summoned him. Scabb’s breathing became shallower, and the party looked amongst themselves for any solution.
Sensing the urgency of the situation and before waiting for a response, Azriel turned his attention outward, reaching for whatever power, whatever entity, might be willing to make a deal to bring Scabb back properly. It was not enough, and the happy reunion ended as abruptly as it began: Scabb slowly faded into nothingness once more, leaving behind a teary eyed Aurevald with more questions than answers, and an emptiness in his heart.
A Trickster!! A Deal!! A Disagreement!!
Section titled “A Trickster!! A Deal!! A Disagreement!!”A voice unfamiliar to the party broke the silence that followed. Kezark, feeling uneasy, called out to the voice before letting a shot fire into the direction of where he perceived the voice to be emanating from. He suddenly felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around to see nothing before him.
Lo’Key, the Archfey known as The Trickster, offered up a deal after showing The Fated Eight an image of Scabb trapped within a dark and mysterious place known as The Void, a particular part of the Abyss where demons roam free, consuming the weak and unfortunate souls in their path. The choice was presented: Assist Lo’Key, and he would bring Scabb back. He began to explain without a note of bitterness, that his own arrangement with The Husk had soured; thanks to *The Fated Eight’*s efforts, he was no longer getting anything from the entity, and so his priorities had shifted toward a path of vengeance, determined to stopping The Husk from succeeding at all. His price: Simply “deal” with Baldyr - specifically, stopping him from killing Toskaldr.
Baldyr, the Trickster explained, was being slowed along The Path Of The Ascended by traps laid long ago by “a strange mage.” If Toskaldr died, The Husk would gain the opening it needed to consume every realm along Drasiyl’s roots.
The confused and skeptical members began to pry information from Lo’Key, asking them to reveal themselves physically. Jin, wanting to gather some information through the consumption of blood, asked the Trickster to offer up some of their blood. Suddenly, one of the trees in the vicinity begins to grow a large pod that promptly falls onto the ground before the party, and from it, two large branches twist and turn into horns that curl backwards, forming a helmet that a tall man takes into his hands before becoming fully present. After smiling and greeting the party in person, the Trickster pricks his finger on his horned helmet before offering it to Jin. Jin, absorbing the blood, is able to gather that the person before them was being truthful.
When pressed about Baldyr’s immortality, The Trickster revealed a weakness in the blessing granted by Baldyr’s mother, Freyjah Oathkeeper - one he could exploit, if not for the fact that Freyjah had been clever enough to anticipate exactly that. A second blessing barred The Trickster himself from ever bringing harm to Baldyr. If given the opportunity, he could strip the immortality away for The Fated Eight to act upon, he said, but he was unable to deliver the killing blow himself.
The offer caused great tension within the party. Aurevald, frustrated at being manipulated by yet another entity, refused outright. After everything The Husk had put him through during his time in captivity in the Realm-Between-Realms, he would not strike another bargain with an entity like The Trickster, and beyond that, he wrestled with the belief that Baldyr needed to die at all; and if anything, he found himself understanding Baldyr’s grief more than he wanted to.
Jin expressed disagreement, at least in part, arguing that regardless of any deal, Baldyr was a problem The Fated Eight would eventually have to face one way or another. After harsh words were spoken, Jin revealed that he was envious that Aurevald even had the opportunity to see his family again, because he had lost his own as a young man. After this revelation, he came to the conclusion that he needed some time away from the party and made his way through a portal back to the Realm-Between-Realms. Axton, sensing the tension between the two, tried to bring Aurevald around and was ignored for his trouble. He then followed Jin through the portal to try and speak some sense to him before he was kindly told to leave him be.
Whilst the members of the party were deliberating what they should do about the tension between Aurevald and Jin, quietly, without letting himself be heard by the others, Azriel took the deal anyway. His instructions were simple.
“Keep Baldyr distracted…”
- The Trickster, to Azriel
After some time resting, Azriel found himself in a familiar room. He looked up to the image of his mother standing before him. Gathering his senses, he came to realise that time had passed since he saw her last. Growing increasingly frustrated with these visions, he muttered a curse under his breath. His mother stopped sipping her tea to greet her child, to which he promptly swatted the teacup out of her hand, it bouncing off the floorboards beneath him. He began questioning her about where his powers come from, to which she gave a vague and limited response. She simply stated that all mothers must know where their child’s power comes from. After a short but sweet embrace, Azriel returns to the rest of the party, who are gathering their belongings in order to return to the Realm-Between-Realms.
Arriving back, the party began moving forward until they reached the edge of what seemed to be a giant chasm of astral energy.
Seeking guidance, Aurevald sought out the wayward spirits of Graxious Longwood III, Tana Timbers, and Captain Sodar Reginald IV, asking if they were safe and well in their true bodies. Unable to fully recognise this newfound ability to communicate with wayward spirits, Aurevald ascertained that he would be better off speaking with the spirit of a creature he was able to properly communicate with. He began to return to his father’s resting area accompanied by his Alchemist companion Morgyn while the other members spent time with the spirits of their missing companion.
Familial Guidance
Section titled “Familial Guidance”Aurevald relayed all that he could for Toskaldr, about Baldyr, The Trickster’s offer, and the weight of striking bargains with entities whose motives could never fully be trusted.
Toskaldr, patient as ever, poured a cup of hot brandy for his brave but innocent son. An old man who had seen many ages; and had many lives pass him, looked down at his child he fathered but never got to know. Aurevald, an absolutist at heart, uncomfortable with anything short of a clean answer, learned to come to terms with a harder truth during his brief conversation with The Old Fool: that very little in this life, or any life, is as black-and-white as he wished it could be. Upon hearing the pleas of his son, Toskaldr used what little magic he had access to through his rings in order to summon forth the same vision presented of Scabb by the Trickster, stating that if he had access to his power, he may be able to provide a means to rescue their Imp friend.
While father and son talked, the lone Gunslinger Kezark lingered near the gathered Wayward Spirits, studying the facial structure of Captain Sodar Reginald’s ghostly form with a growing, uneasy sense of familiarity he couldn’t quite place.
Doing It For The Right Reasons
Section titled “Doing It For The Right Reasons”Aurevald and Morgyn returned to the rest of The Fated Eight, and Aurevald wasted no time making amends, apologizing to Jin for their earlier disagreement. Jin met him halfway, and whatever tension had lingered between them dissolved as quickly as it had come.
With clearer heads and a renewed sense of purpose, The Fated Eight stepped onto a platform woven together from congregated Wayward Spirits, and it carried them out over the chasm of astral sea of stars that separated them from Drasiyl - the vast, upside-down tree whose roots bound the whole of the realm together.
During their time onboard this shifting platform, Kezark made his way to his Goliath companion, offering kind words and opening up about his own struggles with his family. A sense of kinship was strengthened as they gazed out into the starry landscape. After becoming quite emotional, reminiscing of his regrets with family, Kezark tipped his hat and made his way to a quieter pocket of the platform to ruminate on the decisions that led him to where he was today.
Partway across, SHAI was able to use his prowess as a Wizard to coax a drifting, glowing bubble to glide beside him. Upon popping, inside the bubble was another of the journal entries the party had come to recognize, the handwriting unmistakably Piers’.
646
1590, Rising Boros, VI (glowing a vibrant, vegetal green)The Magisters in Lex’Emplitus have finally granted me access to their Druidic archives - I did not realize they kept anything that isn’t Scripture within their walls. As expected however; any records that even vaguely suggest that the Archons are not the be-all-and-end-all of power has been redacted using strange runes. I could not parse them, but Solusya inferred that they were a seamless blend of Fey and Giant magic.
A colleague of hers; Umyr - a tall Woman with giant-like runes and pointy ears, suggested that I visit the peaks of the Mystveil Mountains within the Feywilds…
As the platform closed the distance to the enormous tree before them, it began to accelerate, compensating for the shifting gravity around them, and The Fated Eight caught their first true glimpse of a withered tree sprouting from what should have been Drasiyl’s base, or its apex, if the whole structure were turned right-side up. There was no mistaking it: this was where the platform was taking them.
Atop The Huskrot
Section titled “Atop The Huskrot”The party located the twisted growth binding Toskaldr’s torso and cautiously approached. Upon seeing the withered and decrepit body of Toskaldr, they searched for ways to free him. Time was of the essence, and the parties attention was drawn to the confrontation they knew was coming. They separated and prepared themselves using various magics and abilities while Aurevald, SHAI, and Morgyn deduced that by using the fang left behind by The Jormun, they would be able to sever the parasitic bond the Husk had over Toskaldr. Upon slicing through the wrappings, a strange Bundle Of Sticks tangled within the withered wood fell to the ground before being recovered by Aurevald. The party felt the presence of the Husk begin to retreat, as Toskaldr’s withered body was laid down and put into a restful pose before turning to greet Baldyr as he finally made his way to the apex of the Huskrot.
Baldyr arrived with a vengeance, and sustained blow after blow as the party did their best to keep him separated from his father, his healing factor regenerating his body through all of the supposed damage taken. Throwing his hammer Wyrmrever with blinding speed, he was able to navigate through the party inflicting serious damage onto them. With some help by some careful positioning by Lady and Jin, Baldyr was being grappled and his legs were being sliced to the point where Aurevald was able to kick Baldyr off the top of the tree. Baldyr, cackling as he was falling, attempted to throw and reposition to Wyrmrever but was suddenly stopped by a clash between two ancient relics. The clash of these titans left a resounding thud as the newly reforged Fimbul, the Winterhearts Edge was able to stand on par with Wyrmrever, and Baldyr could not help but fall to the base of the tree.
The party was alone for a brief moment, they looked around in desperation at one another, not knowing if they had a chance at victory this time. Lady, looking over the edge, let the party know that Baldyr was flying at an incredible speed up the side of the tree through sheer momentum. Soon after, he landed with an explosive stomp and relentlessly continued his assault on the already beaten and bruised party. After realising the bullets from his revolver could not find effective purchase, noticed a glimmering of light and the twang of a bowstring as a golden twig-shaped arrow with plantlike roots shifting across it flew past him, landing mere inches away from Baldyr. Puzzled, the party heard the familiar and conniving voice of the Trickster, who stated that he had missed his shot across various dimensions. Taking advantage of Baldyr’s confusion, Azriel acted with haste and gathered the loose arrow and inserted the arrowhead between Baldyr’s ribcage, twisting it in slowly as he taunted this Giant with determination in his eyes. Baldyr unknowingly and instantly took what felt like the fury of a thousand unfelt punches into himself all at once.
Azriel: “Poor Baldyr, the Eternal Failure… No wonder why daddy forsake you.”
Baldyr: “What is this? How dare you! I can.. I can feel this…”
Battered and finally mortal, Baldyr had finally felt fear. Morgyn, attempting to gauge his next move, questioned whether he was going to run or stay and face his consequences. With unkempt rage, Baldyr began to desperately make what seemed to be his final stand. With all his strength, he launched Wyrmrever into the air, and channeled all his bitterness and rage into this final attack. He descended, slamming Wyrmrever into the ground. Kinetic energy and vibrations shot out from the impact, disorientating and propelling each party member until they were within inches of their lives, going as far as knocking some of them unconscious. The mages suffered greatly, with many of them unable to concentrate on their spells. SHAI, feeling the brunt of the attack, was knocked senseless as his supportive spell dropped on Jin, who then felt a sudden wave of exhaustion consume his body. As he lay prone and semi-unconscious, he felt the unnatural presence of the entity within his blade, as if it were calling out to him in his time of need. Lady Snowblood, with the last of her abilities, continued to land successive attacks on Baldyr before dodging some of his own attacks sent her way.
It was down to this. Aurevald tasted his blood as it gathered at the corners of his mouth. The Rimefrost Crown was complete, the ten ice crystals spinning rhythmically in unison above his head. Kjott, sensing his companion was in need of assistance, ran beside Aurevald to assist him in moving closer to his bloodied brother. As they approached, Aurevald could not help but look down at the creature in front of him.
“Baldyr, I’m sorry it had to come to this. I don’t wish to kill you, but I will if I must. Tell me, are you worth saving. Is your soul worth redeeming?”
- Aurevald to his brother
Baldyr was offered one last thing by Aurevald: a chance at redemption. Baldyr’s answer was to spit venom instead, snarling a final insult about Aurevald’s mother as he accepted his fate rather than beg for it. Aurevald did not hesitate again. In a split second, a prayer for Baldyr’s soul was said, and before the party could blink, Aurevald had summoned the power of the coldest winters Vaelorys had ever known and brought it down on Baldyr, decapitating him in a single blow that sent a violent cold shockwave across the battlefield, forming ice crystals all over his body before destroying his body entirely.
As the mist emanating from Aurevald’s fiery blood clashing with the cold bite of Fimbul dissipated, the party saw one brother left standing. Realising that the battle was finally over, it was time to gather their belongings and leave this place. Toskaldr began to stir and arise from his trance, and found it difficult to stand in his weakened state. Kjott, ever so dependable, was able to transport Toskaldr while SHAI, Lady. and Aurevald gathered around Wyrmrever, the enchanted hammer. To everyone’s surprise, they were both able to perform an incredible feat, they were deemed ‘worthy’ of lifting such an ancient relic. Toskaldr exclaimed that it was incredibly rare to find individuals capable of such a task, but asked if it could be returned to his people. In order to perform a proper burial for his deceased sibling, Aurevald carefully placed Baldry’s head in his Bag of Holding, whilst other members searched the battlefield and found a collection of journal entries left by Piers. After reluctantly agreeing to return the hammer, the party made their way back down the path Baldyr took in order to return home. On their brief journey, SHAI examined the Bundle Of Sticks recovered earlier, and discovered it reacted to the Azure Fang: the sticks grew and wound itself tightly around it, revealing itself as the second relic needed to “fix” his society.
Returning To The Feywild
Section titled “Returning To The Feywild”Upon reaching the portal that would return them back to their bodies in the Feywild, Aurevald hung back after the others had already left the Realm-Between-Realms. He reached down to his belt, and unclasped Wyrmrever, taking it in hands before looking at the gigantic golden fruits that seemed to house an endless sea of different realities foreign to his own. He looked upwards to the sea of stars above him, and took aim at the single distant sparkle he had glimpsed earlier - the reality he had recognized as his own, however briefly - and threw the hammer with everything he had.
Returning to the Feywild, each party member let their lungs take in a deep breath, as barely ten seconds had passed back in the real world. Groggily, they made their way back through the winding cave system until they reached a familiar stone door.
Toskaldr, with renewed strength, knocked on the door to Drasiyl’s Path, before sending an incredible punch straight through the stone itself, pouring the last of his own blood into the dish set within. The doors swung open, and before the party stood The Old Fool in all his muscular glory.
After finally reuniting, Toskaldr expressed his gratitude to The Fated Eight before drawing on the power of his many incredibly powerful rings. With a wave of his hands and a little bit of concentration, he restored the Terralpi ruins to the condition they had been in when he still bore the name King Oden Oathkeeper - and with that, the evacuation the Terralpi had been dreading was called off entirely. The Terralpi Elders Poska and Eldos thanked the party before confirming the death of Baldyr, happy that they would live without fear of their lives being cut short by the wrath of the lost prince Gyi’Gantos.
Toskaldr, seeing his saviours and realising that they are in fact heroes, decided that it was time to keep his end of the bargain. The party was missing one of its members, and it was time he was returned to them. Drawing upon the power of the Rings of Spirit, of Mind, and of Soul, a call was made out into the ether:
“Scabb, dear friend of my son, family of my blood, return to us…”
- Toskaldr
Finally, the Ring of Creation began to glow as a spectral chain pulled off a nearby torch from the walls of the cave and infused it with runic inscriptions, creating The Infernal Chain, and bound Scabb’s essence to the Material Plane entirely. The strong smell of incense filled the noses of all nearby, and from the fire of the forge a familiar Imp sprung forth back into the fold. Scabb was back, and the party was excited to see him again. Scabb excitedly flew around the room, greeting all party members old and new. He landed perched on Aurevald’s shoulder as they spoke of how much they had missed one another.
Exhausted and battered from all they had endured, and after sustaining insults from Dridge about how terrible they looked, The Fated Eight were granted a private rest to recover, while beyond their door, the Terralpi people celebrated long into the night.
Afterword
Section titled “Afterword”Deep within the Gyi’Gantos fortress, while all but a handful of guards had fallen asleep, The Trickster slipped inside unannounced, cloaked in shadow thick enough to hide him indefinitely. Without a sound, he sought Aurevald out and, without waking him, gently opened his Bag of Holding, drawing Baldyr’s severed head out from within.
Later, and far from anyone’s sight, The Trickster began to weave forth a terrible magic, and runic inscriptions began to spring forth from the ground over that same head he had retrieved earlier that night. Alongside the head were the corpses of two wolves that began to merge together with it beneath his hands as he murmured a single command into the dark.
“Rise. Fenrir…”
- The Trickster