- This was an example of a full-blown battle on the Stair, including sorcery, enslaved Wardens, technological weapons, bio-weapons etc. Ethan may have ranked Warfare but he is not experienced in the way that the Mordecai’s Raven Legions are. They are practiced in fighting in a variety of realms so this was an eye-opener for Ethan.
- Before anyone asks about ‘how can technology work on the Stair?’, paid points items work on the Stair. We’ve also ruled that Eidolon can be used to enable things that would not normally work on the Stair to work at least temporarily. As to how the Raven Legions have access to weapons that work on the Stair, I don’t have the foggiest - that’s Lurker37 ’s reveal. Does it unbalance the game to have technology work on the Stair? Probably not, if there is a Major Power backing it up.
- David also threw in a moral dilemma with Abbie in trouble at a critical moment. Her ‘superhuman’ (Paragon-ranked) antics have drawn attention from some of the things that are trapped in Realm 0.
Part 1 - Tactics
Realm 72 - Eldale (Oak Door)
- Finn’s band is a motley crew but they are strangely relaxed even though Ethan is sure that they will shortly see combat. After their bellies are full, Finn calls them to order and they listen attentively whilst Ethan tells what he knows of the Great Hall and the forces that hold it. The entire group participates as they seek to understand the ‘lay of the land’. Once they understand the situation, they begin to discuss tactics. Ethan is not an experienced soldier and he listens. Ethan quickly realises that the group is very well trained and very experienced - he feels like he’s surrounded by the Grant Stair’s equivalent of ‘Delta Force’ or perhaps ‘The A Team’. They plan to deal with the situation themselves although they’ll need Ethan to open the Door and also provide them with an exit should the battle go badly. This team has fought the Dwimmerlaik before but Mechanoids are new to them though they know of them (and how to fight them). According to Finn, the Dwimmerlaik use Umbra more than Eidolon but there may a ‘witch’ with them capable of using either so they need to be prepared for both.
- Finn pulls the ideas from the team into a coherent plan. They mention a ‘Vault’ of weapons that they can use which will work on the Stair - in fact it’s clear that they have fought on the Stair before. Ethan didn’t think it was possible to use modern or advanced weapons on the Stair but this group clearly has access to a cache of weapons that will work. Ethan asks if it possible to destroy the Door between the Home Stair and the Great Hall and Finn says that nothing can destroy a Door from ‘Stair-side’ - he has seen Bastiano try with Umbra and it can’t be done. Finn also remarks that many Lords of Gossamer have attempted to weaponise the apparent invulnerability of the Stair but no one has yet managed it.
- As the plan takes shape Ethan remembers that they don’t know about his recent ambush in the Middle Kingdom, so he fills them in. They listen and then adjust the plan as they expect the Dwimmerlaik may have even more reinforcements in the Great Hall and the surrounding realms. They also expect traps. It also becomes evident that they can ill afford to risk Ethan or be separated from him as otherwise they could find themselves stranded on the Stair. Ethan will not be in the front line - he will be in reserve. When the big Dwimmerlaik from the Middle Kingdom with the impressive antlers is described to Finn, he identifies the Dwimmerlaik as Krovaliss. Finn advises that if Krovaliss is there that they should escape at once - none of them are a match for him.
- Finn decides that they should stay the night, access the ‘Vault’ in the morning and then proceed directly to the target. He directs his men to get some sleep. Ethan goes to find Carish and asks if Jodan will come back before they leave - Carish predicts that Jodan will not and Ethan is a little disappointed with the news.
Part 2 - Something Ate The Hotel
- That evening Ethan goes for a walk along the battlements. With the stars above he decides to contact Grant via Icon. Ethan explains the plan and asks if he can see anything to add - Grant’s only advice is that it would not be wise to stand in the doorway when it is opened. Ethan promises not to do so. Grant wishes him well and asks to be kept informed. Before Ethan cuts the contact, he asks Grant to relay a message to Macavity that he’ll come to see him soon. Grant agrees to this.
- It is cold in the night air. Ethan considers whether to contact Abbie but decides to contact Meliander first. Meliander is surprised to hear from Ethan so late and asks him if there is something wrong. Again Ethan explains what he is about to do. He remembers that Meliander fought in the Great War and Ethan asks whether he has any advice for him. Meliander asks if he has considered biological or chemical weapons. He suggests that Ethan take appropriate gear. Ethan thanks him and the Icon contact is cut.
- Ethan really wants to talk to Abbie but he doesn’t know what he wants to say. In the end he just contacts her to say hi and ‘hear her voice’ (even though there are no spoken words in an Icon contact). Abbie is once again pleased to hear from him - she remarks that he must be really missing her given that it was only yesterday that they last spoke. Ethan confesses that he hadn’t realised - he felt it had been longer. It is a pleasant conversation but it is suddenly interrupted and the connection is cut. Just before the connection was broken, Abbie was clearly surprised by something - that feels very odd because she was apparently relaxing in a hotel room.
- Ethan attempts to contact her again but there is no response. He frowns and worries but there is nothing he can do quickly. Ethan goes for a bit more of a walk before heading inside to find a place to sleep (on a sleeping mat on floor near a fireplace). He wonders what could have happened. He tries to relax and shrug it off as nothing. After ten long minutes, he tries again and reaches her. She is a bit flustered but she gives a polite apology and says that she needed to get out of the hotel in a hurry as “something *ate* the hotel.” Ethan questions this asking if he somehow misheard what she said but she confirms that the hotel is actually gone. The entire building has ‘dissolved’. (GM’s note - the creature from Session 70 comes to Ethan’s mind - the one that Ethan refused to do anything about)
- Ethan pauses as he tries to work out whether he needs to head home immediately. He asks if she is currently in danger and she tiredly says that her assistant will find her another place to stay. Ethan asks if she wants to come through the Icon contact but she says that she is fine but she asks Ethan to come back when he can to find out what happened as it clearly wasn’t a natural occurrence.
Part 3 - Gear Up
- Ethan doesn’t sleep very well that night. He dreams of Abbie being chased by the monster that chased his car - it catches her and she begins dissolving.
- The team wakes before dawn and begins the march back to the Door. It is cold and foggy but the team is in good spirits. They reach the Stair without incident.
Grand Stairway Section 0 - Proximate to Home Realm
- Heading away from Realm 0, Finn leads the team to an alcove where there is no apparent Door. He finds a panel in the wall and a secret catch unlocks a section of wall which slides back and reveals a deeper alcove behind. Set into this new recess is a Door. A massive Door which looks like it is built for an armoury. Ethan obliges and opens the Door for the group with the words “Open Sesame”, a phrase that means nothing to the others. (GM’s note - it is of course a reference to Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves)
Realm 74 - Mordecai’s Vault (Reinforced Door)
- Mordecai has clearly well prepared this warehouse. In it there are racks and racks, and boxes of boxes. Ethan asks but Finn doesn’t know how Mordecai managed to get all of this equipment here. The team clearly knows where everything is as they quickly crack open some of the boxes and start handing out grey suits. Each of Finn’s team dons a NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) outfit with self-sealing boots and gloves. Each takes a helmet with a built in gas mask. They break out the heavy weapons, and strap on bandoliers of extra ammunition and grenades. Ethan follows their lead and dons a suit. Ethan notes that they have no counter-magic devices (charms) on any of them. Ethan asks Finn about this and Finn says that they lost their mage.
- Before they leave, ‘Doc’ Ethan uses Eidolon to reinforce all of their equipment, effectively blessing the group. This pleases them.
Part 4 - Battlefield
Grand Stairway Section 0 - Proximate to Home Realm
- The team proceeds cautiously as they approach the Door to the Great Hall, pausing as they detect and disarm simple trip-wire traps. Ethan spots the wasps’ nest and he pacifies them using Psyche (although he notes that they are stronger than they were). The team splits in two, each half flanking the Door to the Great Hall.
- To the left of the Door leads back to Realm 0 and Westgate cottage (only 15 mins walk away). The corridor continues straight for perhaps fifty metres and there are four Doors before the corridor kinks to the left, one on the left hand wall, three on the right.
- To the right of the Door there is a long corridor which does not turn for a long way, but there is another Door about thirty metres away on the opposite side. Then there are five more Doors within the next two hundred metres.
- Ethan has explored none of the nearby Doors. He does not know what lies behind any of them. He senses danger.
- With the team in position, Ethan opens the Door and remains well out of the doorway. Instantly there is a tremendous roar as a hail of bullets fills the breach. Strangely, none of them ricochet - they simply impact the opposite wall and tumble to the ground. One of Finn’s men tosses a device through the open Doorway and suddenly there is a glow of purple light and a strange sweet smell which reminds Ethan of fudge. Finn and the lizard-man on either side of the Door spray the room with rapid fire and they charge into the Great Hall. They are quickly followed by more than half the team, leaving Ethan and three others holding the Door.
- There is a lot of small arms fire and occasionally a flash of light as the battle rages within the Great Hall. Ethan can hear the shouts from the various soldiers as they coordinate their attack. Occasionally there is a louder ‘boom’ as one of the heavier weapons is discharged. Twenty seconds tick by ….
- Suddenly a Door to the right opens and Ethan instinctively raises his dragon-shield as a group of gun-toting Dwimmerlaik appear on the Stair and open fire. Three Raven Legion rearguard go to ground and return fire. Neither group has any significant cover on the Stair so Ethan improvises some with a sorcerous shield.
- Only a few seconds after the new Door has opened, another Door opens, this time on the opposite side. A huge arm reaches out onto the Stair from the third Door on the right hand side, then the massive, bloated body of a troll squeezes through the tiny Doorway out onto the Stair. Its body almost fills the breadth of the corridor - it is hunched over, straining to fit. Ethan looks at it and he can sense that this is a Warden of the Stair. It’s body is diseased and broken. It reeks of Umbral corruption. It begins slowly moving forward. Clearly the creature is in pain - its eyes are full or torment.
* Image sourced via Google Images but it is clearly a still from The Fellowship of the Ring
- Concerned about the team’s ability to fight on three fronts, Ethan decides to engage the troll. He uses sorcery to press down on it but it is not only strong but also it radiates so much Umbral energy that the spell weakens and fails. Ethan ignites his lightsaber and attempts to slow it down with a leg wound. He cuts deep into it and its black blood spurts out and starts hissing. The troll takes a swing at Ethan and he has to retreat to avoid it. He feels odd even though the troll missed - clearly this creature is a walking Umbral contagion, strong enough to affect even Ethan with a near miss. Ethan decides that he will have to kill it and he cuts deep into its head. More ichor showers out, hitting his NBC suit - the suit begins to hiss and dissolve. Such an injury to the head would normally be a mortal wound but the troll’s grievous wound fills with strange creamy pus and the creature staggers on. Striking again, Ethan plunges his lightsaber into the creature’s chest and he channels Eidolon down the blade. This works to destructive effect, blowing a huge hole in its chest. The creature sinks to its knees and is still. Its diseased mass still fills the Stair, blocking it.
- With the creature’s fluids still eating through his Eidolon-enhanced suit and one flank of the battlefield secured, Ethan decides to assault the other flank.
- Heading down the corridor with his dragon-shield in front of him, he runs at the Dwimmerlaik. As he passes the other Raven Legion troops, they stagger and keel over (due to proximity to the troll’s diseased blood which is all over Ethan’s uniform). When the Dwimmerlaik realise what Ethan is covered with, they recoil but not quickly enough to escape. Igniting his lightsaber once more, Ethan ruthlessly cuts down four of the Dwimmerlaik as they suffer the effects of the troll’s contagion, then he opens the Door and prepares a thermal detonator. (GM’s note - where did he get those from? Way back since Session 20)
Realm 75 - Normal Village (Ordinary Door)
- Inside the realm is a normal township. The structures appear prefabricated and modern. A short way from the Door is a glowing ovoid shape, possibly a portal, flanked by two Dwimmerlaik. Ethan throws the thermal detonator and ducks for cover. There is a huge explosion and the Door is severed. (In hindsight this was probably overkill, but Ethan did use a thermal detonator).
Grand Stairway Section 0 - Proximate to Home Realm
- Heading back to the others, Ethan uses Eidolon to purify his own NBC suit and then restore the members of the Raven Legion that were overcome. With the wasps overhead still passive, Ethan makes a mental note not to forget to get rid of them. (He’s astonished at how strong he is feeling - he’s maintaining multiple spells quite easily).
Grand Stairway Section 35 - The Great Hall
- Peering into the Great Hall, Ethan notes that the purple light has cleared. There are a lot of dead Dwimmerlaik here, and some fallen Mechanoids. The Raven Legion are continuing to fight, using some of the supporting pillars and even some of the fallen Mechanoids as cover. Holding them off is a four-armed Dwimmerlaik in some sort of insect war-form, wielding two blades and two pistols; and there is a nine-foot tall Dwimmerlaik in a black robe and ornate mask guarded by three surviving Mechanoids. Ethan quickly looks over the battlefield and realises that the Raven Legion have lost the momentum. It’s a stalemate.
- Following the plan, Ethan uses Wayfinding to work out which Door the Dwimmerlaik came from. He spots it on the far side of the chamber and he makes a run for it, using as much cover as he can find and keeping his dragon-shield up. As soon as he enters the Great Hall, he has the attention of the Dwimmerlaik. They sense him. The black-robed Dwimmerlaik hurls a sorcerous attack at him which goes clean through his shield (GM’s note - Psyche v Endurance) which Ethan withstands, and the second Dwimmerlaik hastens to close upon him, raining bullets as he does. Ethan cops a bullet but the Eidolon reinforced NBC suit absorbs the impact.
- Ethan reaches the Door and opens it a crack.
Realm 76 - Conquered Realm (Wooden Door)
- A group of startled Dwimmerlaik raise their guns. Ethan sees Mechanoid foot soldiers charging their weapons. Ethan pops a thermal detonator through and shuts the Door.
Grand Stairway Section 35 - The Great Hall
- Meanwhile the Dwimmerlaik are practically on him. Ethan tries to get away using the pillars as cover but the Dwimmerlaik in war-form scores more hits on Ethan with his pistols. Ethan feels the impact on his right leg and he is knocked sideways. Unfortunately this leaves him open to another blast from the black-robed Dwimmerlaik. This time the black-robed Dwimmerlaik hits Ethan squarely in the right shoulder with an Umbra-enhanced spell. Ethan feels paralysis seeping into his arm and there is considerable pain.
- The black-robed Dwimmerlaik seems confident that Ethan cannot hurt him as he’s not concealing himself. Dropping his lightsaber (as he cannot easily switch weapons), Ethan grabs his plasma rifle. Firing one handed, Ethan showers the enemy sorcerer with Eidolon-enhanced plasma bolts. Despite his enemy being ‘phased’, the Eidolon enhanced bolts cut him down and he crumples. Instantly the Mechanoids flanking him collapse, one of them gunned down by the Raven Legion.
- At this point the war-form Dwimmerlaik finds himself the sole surviving defender. A hail of gunfire from Ethan and the rest of the Raven Legion drives him to retreat and he flees towards a Door. Ethan wants to pursue but Finn stops him, calling a retreat.
(GM’s note - I asked David whether the black-robed Dwimmerlaik had a ‘glass jaw’ given that he went down so quickly. His feedback was that Ethan had used 1st PC Rank Psyche to charge an Eidolon attack, and he compared that against the Superior Strength of the Dwimmerlaik sorcerer. The Dwimmerlaik was focusing on defending against the physical attacks from the Raven Legion and he’d just hit Ethan with one of his best shots. If he had struck Ethan again, Ethan would have been in real trouble. Furthermore, the Dwimmerlaik sorcerer had been maintaining several spells for quite a while under combat conditions and he only had Paragon level Endurance. In comparison Ethan had delayed entry to the combat and had significantly higher stats. The black-robed Dwimmerlaik had the stats of a Dwimmerlaik witch, with increased Psyche and added Umbra Mastery. Even then, he was outclassed by Ethan)
Grand Stairway Section 0 - Proximate to Home Realm
- The Raven Legion escape to the Home Realm section of Stair just in time, as a dirty bio-bomb (probably a trap) explodes in the Great Hall section. (Finn warned the team that the Dwimmerlaik would likely be ‘sore losers’) On the Home Landing there is a burning smell - some of the Raven Legion have burnt the wasp nest. Finn calls a ‘Reorg’ and the Raven Legion call out their status in terms of men and ammunition. To Ethan’s surprise, they are all still alive. Some are wounded, but none seriously.
- The clean-up begins. Ethan purifies the Troll body and the Raven Legion break it into pieces to remove it. Ethan still feels strong as he uses Sorcery - he thinks of the number of spells that he has used here and he still feels good.
Grand Stairway Section 35 - The Great Hall
- Ethan then returns to the Great Hall and purifies the area of the taint. He then verifies that the Door to the realm which had Dwimmerlaik forces in its has been severed, and he inspects the Door which the war-form Dwimmerlaik fled into.
Realm 77 - Deluer (Stone Door)
- Stepping into a cold stone corridor which is almost pitch-black, Ethan searches for the escaped Dwimmerlaik using Wayfinding but he has already escaped (probably via Icon, but possibly via Sorcery). Ethan returns to the Great Hall, unsure as to whether the Dwimmerlaik could possibly return to the Great Hall with reinforcements. He decides not to sever the Door (with explosives) but is not convinced that this is the right decision.
Grand Stairway Section 35 - The Great Hall
- Ethan inspects the dead Dwimmerlaik and the Mechanoids. It seems inappropriate to leave the dead bodies here and he is not sure what to do. Opening the Door back to the Home Landing, he consults with Finn. Finn sends Grey through (the small grey alien with four arms) who has a small screwdriver sized device. When asked, Grey explains (in his own strange language) that this is a ‘Zap Gun’. Grey demonstrates this on one of the dead bodies - it makes a ‘Zap’ sound and the body vanishes, seemingly disintegrated. Ethan is suitably impressed and watches the little fellow Zap the corpses one by one. When he comes to the last of the Mechanoids, Ethan stops him - he has decided that he wants to take a closer look at it. Grey shrugs.
- With the evidence removed, they return to the Home Landing.
Grand Stairway Section 0 - Proximate to Home Realm
- Confronted with the huge corpse of the troll still blocking their way, Ethan asks why they didn’t use the Zap Gun on it, to which Finn explains that it wouldn’t work on something so large. This raises more questions in Ethan’s mind, but Finn asks him what he plans to do with the Mechanoid. He reminds Ethan that some Mechanoids can reanimate. Ethan says that he’ll figure it out, but he says that it might hold useful intelligence on its masters. Finn shrugs at the idea, and asks “Where next, Doc?”
- Ethan suggests that they get rid of the gear, which Finn points out was always part of the plan, and then Ethan suggests heading back to Westgate cottage. He says that it won’t house the entire team comfortably for any length of time, but it least it will be safe until he can locate something better. Finn agrees to this and they head back to Realm 0.
- On the way, Ethan remembers the Door that the Troll came from. The Door appears to made from crudely forged iron. It is heavy and there is no door handle. However, Ethan is able to push it open.
- Peering through, the chamber on the other side is a desiccated ruin, painted with streaks of black fluid that oozes slowly towards the floor. This is definitely the place that the Troll came from but it is tiny. It is barely big enough for it to fit into. Ethan cannot see another opening so he steps through to get a better look. Finn insists that two of his men go with Ethan and he agrees to this. He sends the blue haired woman and the grizzled veteran who were with Jodan.
Realm 78 - The Tyrant’s Domain (Iron Door)
- Stepping through the Door, Ethan is struck by just how cold it is in this chamber - the blue haired lady doesn’t seem to feel it but her colleague does. The room looks very much like a holding cell. There is a pit for a toilet and not much else. Ethan closes the Door and opens the door to see what lies beyond. He finds a handful of other rooms, some larger than others - possibly some would be storerooms but there are no contents; there is also a chamber which has many three level bunk beds, but there is no one here.
- The veteran suggests to Ethan that it is time to return, and Ethan reluctantly agrees. He feels that this place is unfinished business.
Grand Stairway Section 0 - Proximate to Home Realm
- Returning to the Stair, Ethan briefs the troops and they proceed on. On the way, Finn comments quietly that he is very impressed with Ethan. He says that there is no doubt in his mind that the Enemy underestimated him, but despite that he acquitted himself very well for someone of his age. Ethan is surprised at the praise but pleased. After the number of times he has been defeated or severely pummelled, it feels very strange to have a victory.
….. and that’s where Session 76 ends.
But now, some more LEGO Lords of Gossamer….. !!!
Introducing Mordecai’s Raven Legion …. in LEGO
Unlike Drake, Mordecai fields small teams of highly trained specialists. Often these unorthodox individuals come from a variety of different worlds.
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