Session 72

The Giving of Gifts
The next morning, each of the Saviors was met by someone who cared for them and given gifts and equipment that would, gods willing, help decide the outcome of the battle in their favor. Though perhaps not everything they could have wished for, it was something, perhaps the straws that would break the icy, demonic camel's back.

Gold vs. Black
Aftweward, Serren spent most the day mediating between his devil girlfriend and their half-dragon live-in, a struggle that quickly went from attempted murder to a cat fight of monstrous proportions. Serren finally had had enough, grabbing their by the scruffs, sitting them down, and attempting what Tazjaree called "group therapy". But despite Serren's good intentions, it didn't really work, and the devil stormed off, only to return a little later, as she and the mage shared equal concern for their unborn daughter. Serren managed to shift the pregnant devil back to Hell for safe keeping, though it would take some ample skill to eventually bring her back... if he survived... if there was anything else to bring back to... if he didn't end up moving down there with her to escape a demon-dragon god's wrath.

The Idyll Plane
Finduilas, after some trouble finding the promiscious Matthias, and meeting Victoria along the way, collected her two closest friends and brought them to Kalinda's plane. Not before collecting her mother, the figgidty Katcha, who was nervouse about meeting her godly granddaughter. However, once inside the plane, looking at beautiful as ever but for 9 new stars always burning in the sky, they hit it off wonderfully. While they played, the three Saviors took some time to bask in the idyllic scenery, the warmth of the sun, the faint smells of mountain flowers and the caress of the wind.

Julaia
A little later, when Finduilas went to inspect the Phoenix egg, she found it had hatched! Kalinda called for the Phoenix, Julaia, who appeared moments later in a blue fireball, a blueflame phoenix with eyes like white stars, a huge presence warm and good. She and Fin thanked one another for what they each had done for the other, though Julaia was revealed to have the same memories of her predecessor but not the exact same personality. It was a new person, and all the old ones, too. Julaia had been acting as companion and guardian of the little goddess while her mother and surrogate father were away.

Goodbye Again
And thankfully the firebird was called, for she curiously asked why the group was not back in Ivristel for the battle, a week having passed by their reckoning of time. Oh the planes...

After a quick, heartfelt goodbye between mother and daughter, Fin took Matthias and kicked Victoria awake, saying it was time to go. She promised to visit Kalinda, or have her come to them, to which the goddess gave a fording reply that she could not leave her plane yet for others like her who "didn't want to play". Everyone was teleported back, but not before Kalinda purified the lich boots for her mother's use.

The Final Battle!
The unsuspecting discovered the worst, that the battle had already begun. In fact it raged, many demons having breached the walls, though the bulk of the army choking the valley of the Ilon Pass for what seemed like miles. Magic, prayer, muscle, nature, will mixed together in the scene below with a thunderous clamor and roar. There was also a funny shrilling sound... When Matthias pulled back the curtain, he barely had time to shift into giant form and catch a catapult-sent rock chunk from collapsing their room. He tossed it aside, even as Fin, Victoria and Katcha prepared to face the end, whatever it may be.


During the time away...
I'm sure you're all confused about having been promised a week of R&R and getting teleported back during the final battle. Forgive my impatience. If there was anything you wanted to do on your own time that we didn't get to (hunting a mammoth mount for instance), things that could have been done by yourself, then talk to me and I'll see what I can do. For pacing reasons I just didn't want to spend any more game time on side stuff, especially since some group member are ready to go on with the show (as am I).

If there is something you wanted to do that we didn't get to, please talk to me before Monday so we can discuss what went down, because next session it'll be too late and I'll be moving on with the present. If it's feasible, I may allow it.

Six days have passed. The first demon and undead army appeared on day 4, but waited until 5 to approach as its reinforcements arrived from Veluvia (who thankfully lacked Anubian weapons and Anansiel). Serren and Sev helped the city defend itself alongside Northstar's Giants, Issima's elves, Dante's vampires, Gravant and the Veluvian survivors, the good barbarian tribes, the raptorans able to fight, and the surviving Mongrel races of orc, goblin, bugbear, hobgoblin and ogre.

It's now the middle of day 6, around 24 hours of straight fighting, and though the city has been breached, the battle is very far from over.

Serren discovered some lore in the House of Scrolls that could help with activating the Hoping, though it seems Fin, as a devotee of Raya, must perform a potentially deadly unlocking ritual.

Sev, through dreamwalking with his elemental guide Stirba, discovered that he would need to combine the worldly elements into a perfect prison with which to entrap the Spark of Delilah and prevent it from jumping.

Both tasks would require the utmost precision and skill (skill challenges forthcoming!)

Experience:
17: 2200
18. 1800

Loot:
Given individually.

Objectives Include:
1. Fin: Activate the Hoping
2. Sev: Create the Prison (and choose its form).
3. Infiltrate the glacier (prepare for Victoria, Matthias and Serren to test their skills).
4. Find and defeat Shalraza!

Next Session: The Winters Finale PART I