Session Eighty (Graveyard of Empires Summary)

From RPG Campaign Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Session 80 – The ‘I Bet You Thought I’d Forgotten Again’ Edition

Having spoken to Lupaa, and gotten her support should we choose to return the overrun bioforge facility, the party considers what to do next. The task of retaking the area is a tall order, especially with our suspicions of what dwarven technology they possess, in addition to the literal horde of Undying at their disposal. Our best method of attack would be to replicate the crown-stealing-shadow-step-assault trick, but the surprise of that method may have been spent if the crowns were truly connected in a hierarchy.

We also learn what the event of ‘Heaven’s Fall’ actually constituted. The name seems to be bit of a misnomer, as it wasn’t just the Crystal Tower that fell, but the very land, forming the archipelago we know today. This admission puts the entire party in shock, as the forces required to such a thing seem unimaginable. The power the Dragon Emperor’s Consort must’ve had, as it was her plan are frightening.

Lupaa reveals that her and her sisters were installed as guardians here by a large number of people, including the leaders of the rebellion, the Dragon Emperor, and if her glance at Kottar meant what I think it did, the Devilfish. That final one might go a way to explaining the effects of Heaven’s Fall at least.

Turning back to more immediate concerns, we address the problem of the monkey-automatons running around the place. Lupaa has been able to hunt down and kill several, but confesses that there a more in place she simply can’t access, and apparently often hears machinery working in the distance. We encourage her to continue her hunts for now, but Chuq suggests she should be careful not to give away her lair, especially since we’re also leaving the Derich’s people with her.

We pile-up most of our pilfered magical weapons in Lupaa’s chamber, as we don’t feel like selling them to the Silver Throne for obvious reasons, only taking a few to appease them and prove we’re still working towards the goal. We also leave all of our rations for Derich’s group, as they’re likely going to be in the Lower City a while. As usual, I also leave my Power Armour in the chamber, as well as the new suit we’ve found.

As we head back to the surface, we see an Automonkey dragging a gear as big as himself cross our path. Before Thorfus can suggest following it, I throw an axe at it, which is swiftly followed by Chuq’s daggers. It’s damaged, and drops the gear and turns to run. Chuq runs after it. Thorfus attempts to follow, partially for mapping concerns, but loses them quickly as they leave the civic area on a general south-western heading. Realising he is getting far beyond the party, Chuq makes one final attack with his spear, mananging to kill the thing.

Retrieving its body, he returns to the rest of party, spotting another shape at the edge of his light at one point. He meets Thorfus and Belroar part way, and they chalk-mark the tunnels so we can follow them later.

The rest of the trip to the surface is uneventful outside of some distant hammering. At the top, we’re once again greeted by the dwarven guards. They ask after the naga, but we wave them off by saying we’ve come to blows with automatons, which is a distraction. The guards send a runner, a decide to lead us right to Marchmain to report in.

Chuq slinks off in the meantime to avoid Marchmain. Edan seems to be trying to hide amongst the party for now. We are shown in with respect as normal, ushered into the meeting room and offered drinks.

When Marchmain enters, he takes a moment to scan our party, remarking on Chuq’s absence and noticing Edan. Thorfus smoothly feeds the dwarf our cover story, which details a rescue from automatons that also caused the deaths of several of our number. This handily covers why we still hadn’t slain the naga. He does little to hide his disappointment though. They do act in shock when they realise Talon was amongst those slain, reportedly being fans of the books.

We turn to selling our artifacts, and begin with the magical and elven items to start big. They note the oddity of the manufacture of the elven gear, being similar to adamantine, but wish to confer with a smith, so one is bought in. From this it’s just a case of showcasing our various items and haggling, but all in all the party comes out with yet another huge number of gold and gems.

With our transactions complete, we decide to take our time on the surface to get in some more training, especially as it will be a few days before Marchmain can gather all the funds. Before we leave however, he asks if he can talk to the group alone.

He admits to having not been totally forthcoming, and explains that he didn’t know if he could trust us, as there are many forces arrayed against the dwarves and Curabel as a whole. Apparently he was even aware of our dealings with Talessin and Desric Threehorn. There are ongoing skirmishes between the Empire and the Silver Throne Company, where the former are subverting, sabotaging and stealing from the latter, and he brings up our own dealings with an Imperial Dervish and Inquisitor Jardin, although he thought there could be a chance we were working for the Empire, which is why he didn’t initially trust us.

He confirms our suspicions that the leader of the Empire is the same shapeshifting dragon that led the rebellion against the Ancient Dwarves, and explains that the Emperor’s war on Curabel is no longer just. It is believed that the Emperor is suffering from some homicidal madness from the war. Marchmain explains that this is why he wants our help, to find the sphere, free Xen’Tellar and put an end to the Dragon Emperor. To continue Bryce’s task.

I’m sure that the rest of the party mirrors my wariness in what Marchmain is telling us. Whilst everything the dwarf is saying is true, in at least interpretation, there is no telling how much he is omitting in talking to us, even with this odd amount of transparency. It’s clear that he in unaware of at least some of knowledge, namely that we have been talking to Lupaa, and the true identity of the entity trapped within the sphere he seeks.

Thorfus questions Marchmain about the Silver Throne’s other operations, who passes off the slavery ring as ‘unsanctioned’ and working with Imperial Agents. The company’s relationships with the two dwarven churches is uncovered as being only minor, due to poor information sharing, and again is blamed on Imperial influence, this time because of potential mind control to explain their amazing persuasiveness.

Marchmain is being quite persuasive here, saying that the end goal is to ensure Curabel remains free forever. Quite the politician, as obviously we cannot disagree that repelling the Imperial invasion is a good thing. Marchmain’s plan as a whole is to cut the Dragon Emperor off from ‘whatever he put in place of our God’ and reduce his power so they can then cut off the head, hopefully ending thier obsession with the islands.

We learn that Marchmain’s group, specifically focused on Ancient Dwarven technology was initially just a small faction of the Silver Throne, took over the company when they began to learn more about the old empires. They believe they’re currently excavating the base of the Crystal Tower on the Lonely Isle. Marchmain also confirms the existence of an ancestor with the same name as his, who was noted as not being very nice.

We bring up Alain Grell’s current piracy in the bay, and urge him to do something about it. Marchmain explains that he already has a bounty on his head, and the Midmark Navy is gunning for him.

When we make note of the growing Automonkey activity around Vargen, he wonders if they’re connected to the growing activity of the Dark King to the north, but says he doesn’t know much more, although agents are working on it.

During this whole thing, he inquires repeatedly after Chuq, our ‘monk friend’. We tell him he had things to take care of, but he seems dismayed by that, planning to mention something to the guards.

The meeting leaves us with much to think about, with how long we can keep putting off the tasks he put to us, the Silver Throne’s intentions and the ever looming Imperial threat. We all leave to find our seperate trainers.