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Session Eighteen

Ascending Wood 3, 768

As the warriors charge forward, Lapis shouts his signal to Tepatiani, who activates the Areana controls and floods the passage with water. Filial Wisdom leaps clear of the sudden surge, knocking over a column as he chases Anaba, Grace and Sanura up onto the tops of the maze. From across the arena, Lumo fires Essence-charged attack after Essence-charged attack, but all shatter against Wisdom's perfect defenses. Anima flaring, he rushes forward to strike at the three Solars facing him.

(His anima reminds Anaba of something she saw once in a dream...)

Back and forth the battle rages for strike upon inconclusive strike, until finally Wisdom's Essence reserves cannot sustain him. Even as Anaba sends him bleeding to the ground, a sudden outburst of shrieks and chaos can be heard among the forces gathered outside the arena, unable to enter because of the water. Anaba stands over Wisdom, preparing to deliver a final, telling blow, when her spear is blocked - by the warclub of Hiparkes, who now stands over the fallen Wisdom! "I cannot let you kill him," Hiparkes says gravely. "In a previous incarnation, he stood beside me and helped me found a nation. I owe him." He looks straight at Anaba and adds, "And I feel certain you would have come to regret doing this eventually.

"What will you do with him?" Anaba asks warily.

Lifting the massive Wisdom easily, Hiparkes answers, "I will take him to Yu-Shan. Perhaps someone can be found there to help him." In acknowledgement of their victory, Hiparkes leaves behind Wisdom's grand daiklave, Glory of Decay, and armor. The sparkling Hearthstones in the daiklave will assist the Circle in their plans to restore Rathess' flying machines as well.

Tepatiani and Lapis drain the water and rejoin the others. (Lapis claims Glory of Decay for himself, though it takes some time before he can manage to wield it effectively.) Outside, they find an astonishing scene - the hobgoblin followers of Filial Wisdom have been attacked and scattered, apparently by the group of Dragon Kings now standing calmly before the arena, lead by Twisted Serpent! "I have performed an abomination," he says weakly to Tepatiani. "I forced these youths to awaken, rather than letting it occur naturally. The effort has... reduced me." He sags slightly, and the proud red crest atop his head droops. "It will not last long... a few hours at most. Then they will return to the savagery they possessed before."

The Circle discusses this news briefly, but decides that it cannot be dealt with right now. They decide to lead the stalkers back to the Flying Tower and report to Relza that the issue of Filial Wisdom has been dealt with, though Song of Gales remains a concern.

Upon the arrival of the Circle and their Dragon King allies to the Tower, the young Dragon Kings and the weakened Twisted Serpent are turned over to the care of Rising Blade while the Solars go to deal with Relza. After satisfying herself that the Solars have "cleaned up their mess," she restates her demand that the Solars repair her flying vessels in exchange for her assistance in locating the spell they require. To this demand, she adds that she will only allow Twisted Serpent to stay in her city if he agrees to permanetly become her subordinate. When the Solars are hesitant to agree to this last point, Relza snaps, "Go ask him then!" Tepatiani and Lapis descend to the lower floors where the other Dragon Kings have gathered to relay this offer, but what they find derails their plans.

Rising Blade stands among the assembled Dragon Kings of the Flying Tower, including the newest arrivals, just awakened from their bestial instincts. The tone of his voice is that of a demogogue or street preacher as he says, "Too long have we suffered at her whims! Too long have we hidden away in here, unable to grow! But now, we have the force to stand up to here, and the leaders to show us the way! Twisted Serpent has given us what we need to begin, and the Solars can help us move forward! Now is the time! Never again will we have such an opportunity! Our new allies will return to their savage natures in hours - we must act now!"

Paling, Lapis turns and heads for the door, telling Tepatiani over his shoulder, "I think I'd better get the others..."

(10 xp)

Hapushet/FallingShadowsSessionNineteen