Hapushet/FallingShadowsSessionSeventeen

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Session Seventeen

Ascending Wood 3, 768

Next morning, group discusses options, decides to begin with Solar tombs in the necropolis and journeys there. Just before arrival, Tepatiani prays for her spiritual mentor, Twisted Serpent, who appears to them. After shock at seeing her arrive, Serpent informs her that there is a group of awakened Dragn Kings, all very young, in residence in the eastern flying tower, but that he cannot go to them to guide them because their patron goddess, Relza, is more powerful than he and will not permit other worship from her subjects. Tepatiani resolves to deal with the matter in some fashion or other.

The Circle moves on to the necropolis, which is protected by a guardian lion who will not permit them to enter. The conversation does not progress very far, despite its generally polite tone, but some information appears. In addition to the massive Dawn Caste Solar - whose name, they learn, is Filial Wisdom - there is another Solar in the city, a Twilight, who has also attempted to enter the necropolis.

Unwilling to challenge the lion at this time, the group decides to check out the eastern tower to see if the locals might be able to help somehow. They climb the tower, only to find obstructions at the 278th floor. These obstructions consist of Dragon Kings who throw fire, but some quick talking by Tepatiani clams down the fighting and earns them an audience with Relza. They are escorted into her presence by a young Dragon King named Rising Blade, who seems shaken by Tepatiani's mention of the god Twisted Serpent. Relza meets with the Circle, displays callousness toward her worshippers (she kicks Rising Blade when he mentions Twisted Serpent), and reveals that her primary interest is in seeing the flying artifacts that still remain in the tower repaired. A deal is negotiated: the Circle will attempt to determine if they can combine their knowledge to repair some of the artifacts, and in exchange Relza will provide assistance in locating the spell Cleansing Solar Flames. Lumo determines that each repair would likely take no more than a couple hours, but the group feels it needs to consider the situation carefully. They decide to leave the tower and find a location elsewhere in the city to dicsuss options.

The discussion circles around to the lack of options, but before a consensus can be reached, a sudden noise in the street reveals that they have been spied upon. As they look around, a small figure atop an Azure Chariot can be seen speeding upward toward the flying tower landing bay - clearly, it is the mysterious Twilight mentioned earlier. Grace casts her own Azure Chariot to follow suit, but the man reaches the tower first, then turns and counterspells her Chariot, causing all inside to fall hundreds of feet. Tepatiani calls up vines to save them, but the man has already slipped into the tower, and when they reach the landing platform themselves, no one is to be seen.

After only a moment, though, Relza and the man appear, Relza armed for battle. She accuses them of plotting to steal the flying machines for Lookshy, as overheard by the man behind her. They protest that they had no such intentions, and the Twilight, who introduces himself as Song of Gales, cockily mocks the entire group in an attempt to persuade Relza to ally herself with him. The conversation takes an abrupt detour, however, when Lumo recognizes Gales from a previous encounter, and then things become even more bizarre when Lapis discovers that Gales has a tie to the mysterious voices of Lapis' past. Gales becomes concerned, aggressive and then attempts to leave; when Anaba moves to stop him, he draws on his Essence for speed and jumps off the landing bay edge, summoning an Azure Chariot as he falls that catches him and carries him to the great central pyramid. Relza, confused by the turn of events, agrees to table the discussion while the Circle deals with this little problem, lest the forces of Filial Wisdom invade the flying tower.

Instead, they decide to garrison the Arena in the southern part of the city, using its variable terrain functions - if they can get them to work - to even the odds of victory against what may be as many as 5,000 hobgoblins, larger fae and even some feral Dragon Kings. A swoop across the sky in Grace's Azure Chariot draws the forces away from the tower and toward the Arena. Then they settle in to make plans, get the controls functioning again and prepare themselves. Grace, Anaba and Sanura prepare to take on the warriors directly, while Lumo snipes from the stands and Lapis and Tepatiani work together to manipulate the Arena controls. Tepatiani also prays to Twisted Serpent while Saunra calls out to the Unconquered Sun - Twisted Serpent says he will try to turn the feral Dragon Kings against their handlers, and the Sun grants the Circle refreshed Essence and Willpower. Then all is ready, and they have but to wait.

The wait is not long. At last, the forces of Filial Wisdom arrive, though Song of Gales is not with them. At first, Wisdom charges forward to face Sanura, Anaba and Grace alone, and a few uneven blows are exchanged with serious effect. Then Lumo, as yet unnoticed by Wisdom, fires an arrow deep into Wisdom's back, and he tosses aside pride to call, "Forward!" to his men. The battle is on...

(10 xp)

/FallingShadowsSessionEighteen