- This plot thread has been running since Session 43 when Heldon’s Pass and the Breath of Eden were first introduced. It has long been suggested that Mowbray was behind the plot which has robbed many Lords of Gossamer of their memories and tipped the balance of power on the Stair. Then in Session 97, Grant finally traced the stolen memories back to Mowbray and confirmed that he is indeed behind everything. This has set up Session 99 for a massive battle in the void.
- Mowbray is no pushover. He has X+2 Rank (i.e.: 2 ranks above Dominant) in Psyche, he has Greater Umbra Mastery, Exalted level Channelling, High Sorcery and he has powers over the Void itself (a power almost unique to himself). He is one of the most powerful characters in the game, and he’s on his home turf.
- In comparison, Vala has X+3 Rank in Psyche but she also greatly outranks Mowbray in Warfare. Furthermore she has a very powerful polearm which does Primal Damage and is linked to Eidolon. She’s a powerhouse in her own right, but is it enough to enable the Lords of Gossamer to actually stop him and get back their memories? Read on….
Part 1 - Call to Action
- Ethan and Abbie are heading south in the Eidolon Car. Abbie is very quiet so Ethan asks if something is worrying her. Abbie explains that she lost track of time (especially as they lost a day in Oban) and she has commitment this evening in Manchester. It’s a black tie reception, all proceeds going to charity and she needs to be there. Ethan asks some questions about the event, and then he asks if he is invited. Abbie is clearly astonished by the offer. She would very much like his company but she questions if he plans to conceal his identity somehow, otherwise no doubt he will meet many people who will remember him (and possibly even be photographed). Ethan just relaxes and says that he’ll think of something.
- Abbie drives to her house in Manchester. The gates open and an armed security guard waves them through. She quickly changes into a pale green evening dress and he dons a dinner suit which she had organised for him (just in case, one day). They head to the reception venue and Abbie spends some time explaining the nature of the reception. The people coming are very rich, and some are influential. She isn’t there to be friends - she’s ‘just a drawcard’ and it benefits the charity - but some people may agree with her positions and want to help in the future, and that could be useful. Ethan muses over this but he says nothing. He wonders what he will say when someone asks him ‘what he does’. Abbie suggests that he tell people that he’s studying to be a doctor, and Ethan likes the idea.
- Heading inside, Abbie turns heads and many people want to talk with her. Ethan attracts some attention just by being with Abbie. When asked he answers politely that he’s studying medicine at Manchester even though that’s something he hasn’t actually done yet. He gives his name as Ethan ("Just Ethan"), and never gives his surname (as Abbie has adopted his name).
- Ethan finds it all rather intriguing. He doesn’t have much to say - he listens, and he observes. He feels out of place but doesn’t feel compelled to fit in. Ethan notes that Abbie seems genuinely pleased to see some people and not others - she can tell those who are here to be generous, and those who are more interested in power and prestige. Abbie keeps Ethan nearby and involves him in the conversation so that he does not feel left out.
- Ethan claps politely when the string quintet stop between pieces. He claps politely when there are speeches. He listens politely even when the person he is talking to clearly thinks very little of him. He finds it all rather amusing, but can see it’s important to Abbie.
- Hours pass. A well-dressed man named Lindsay asks him directly about his relationship with Abbie, and he delicately evades the question. He finds subtle use of Psyche and Sorcery to be quite useful to deflect or deflate uncomfortable lines of conversation, and finds that he quite enjoys asking questions of these people. As the numbers of party-goers eventually thin, Abbie decides that it’s time to make an exit. Besides, she explains, it was important for the charity that she attend but she doesn’t have to be the last one here. Leaving together, Ethan feels that he’s made a very positive step with Abbie in her ‘new world’. Even though he felt a little like a fish out of water, he remained cool and polite. Overall it was not an unpleasant experience.
- Ethan goes to get the Eidolon Car from the valet, and he suddenly receives a very painful Icon contact. (GM’s note - yes, Ethan has Bad Stuff) He has felt nothing like this before. It’s like being stuck in the eye with a needle. Instantly, he is connected to Lucien and Cooper. There is no triggering of the Breath of Eden curse. They explain quickly that Grant has found the stolen memories and the Lords of Gossamer are massing an army to take it. They need him to come at once. Because it is Grant, he agrees but says that he needs to get his things. They give him an hour. Just as suddenly, the Icon contact is broken and the pain is gone. He checks his watch.
- He collects Abbie and they drive away in the Eidolon Car. Ethan is a bit surprised by the number of paparazzi waiting outside. Abbie comments that he's probably already been photographed many times. She tells him not to worry about it, kicking her shoes off in the car. Switching topic, he explains about the Icon contact and that he needs to go. They return to her house, and Ethan changes into his travelling garb, arming himself heavily. They say goodbye with a kiss, and she tells him to look after himself. Ethan promises to be careful, and says that if all goes well, he should be able to contact her with an Icon to tell her that he is all right.
- At the appointed time, Lucien and Cooper contact Ethan, and suddenly he is gone.
Part 2 - Waiting for The First Wave
- “We are coming,” Vala said to Grant. He cannot afford to be detected now, so he decides to wait, passively observe and learn as much as he can. He can definitely sense Mowbray’s presence here now that he knows what to look for. His twenty-six Ailsiliar seem heavily focussed on the memory store. Every one of them is masked with a strange near-faceless face-plate. He can tell that they have a degree of influence over this void-realm. He finds it odd that there are no bodyguards and no minions here. His Ranked Warfare tells him that the Ailsiliar feel that they don’t need bodyguards. Grant is very wary of this.
- Beneath the horizontal plane, Grant can feel other presences below. He knows what an Erebus feels like and he can sense multiple below. Cal is also down there somewhere. Far below. Jessamyn is tethered to one of the platform pillars near the entranceway, and there is some sort of bat-sized creature attached to her - a ‘Keeper’ to keep her compliant.
- Grant is still battered and sore from his encounter with the Eidolon Master on the Stair, made worse because he is trying not to use his Umbra abilities to shift into a form to accelerate his healing. He focuses on stealth, despite the discomfort and hopes that Vala and her allies will not be too late. He knows that they will not arrive beside him - using the previous Icon connection, they know his location and he will act as a pathfinder for their arrival. But exactly where they will arrive, he does not know.
Part 3 - Let there be Light!
- There is a painful flash of an Icon contact warning him of imminent arrival, and suddenly he hears Vala’s voice in his mind “Let there be Light!” Shielding his eyes, the Void is suddenly illuminated by the First Wave.
* Image sourced from Google Images but it’s clearly from Magic The Gathering
- Lady Vala appears in golden armour, great shimmering wings unfolded behind her. In her hands is Vajra, her Eidolon-enfused pole arm. Flanking her are two ‘Angels’. Grant recognises them as Annunaki but they appear here as semi-divine beings of light. Then there is Lucien - clad entirely in a bad-ass suit of silver armour which glows brightly with Eidolon tracery.
* Image by Bradjolly on DeviantART
- And lastly, there is Galatea, dressed in white. All are radiant with primal energy. (GM’s note - they have multiple buffs cast upon them)
* Image by Nebezial on DeviantART
- Battle is joined almost immediately, with the Ailsiliar working as a cohesive team. Some of the Ailsiliar erect protective shields, others cast buffing spells. Alien energy erupts from two of them towards the Lords of Gossamer, forcing them to split up. The great memory sphere is ‘jettisoned’ and it begins sinking through the horizontal plane to the emptiness beneath. As Grant takes in what is happening, he notes that the Ailsiliar have released two of the Erebi from the ground, which begin melting through the horizontal plane and floating upwards towards Vala and the the Annunaki. The humming sound that the Erebi make is painful to be close to.
- The first few minutes of battle is a mess. Lucien tries to reach the memory containment device but the Ailsiliar concentrate their efforts on him. Galatea tries to shield Lucien but she becomes the first casualty of the offensive as the Dwimmerlaik hit her with Channeling and she crumples to the floor. The Annunaki face off against one of the Erebi, whilst Vala cleaves her way through the other one with Vajra in order to reach Mowbray. In an astonishing display of raw power, Vala serenely blunts everything that Mowbray and the Ailsiliar can throw at her, and she cleaves Mowbray in two, only to suddenly realise that it is but a shadow of his real self and this is a trap. (GM’s note - yes, Mowbray has vastly inferior Warfare, but he got help on this occasion) The horizontal plane crackles with energy as she is rooted to the spot and unable to fly. Redoubling their efforts, the Ailsiliar pound Vala with a combination of magical energies whilst another Erebus rises to devour her.
- Deciding that helping Lucien is a higher priority than aiding Vala, Grant decides to switch into a bug-form and he tries to attack the key Ailsiliar who are targeting Lucien. He successfully fells one, but another immediately senses his presence and declares that that “At last, Bastiano has shown himself”. (GM’s note - yes, again, Grant has been mistaken for Bastiano)
- Realising that 'Bastiano' is another serious threat, the Ailsiliar begin combining efforts against him. Some use Umbra, some use Channelling. Grant is able to deflect/redirect some of the Umbra energies but he has never seen Channelling before. One of the Ailsiliar simply looks at him and he feels his mind on fire as if a dagger has been thrust into his head. It takes all of his formidable Warfare (and Ranked Psyche) to be able to withstand and sometimes avoid the multiple attacks that are directed towards him.
- Meanwhile, Vala is engaged in cosmic battle with Mowbray and the Ailsiliar - Greater Eidolon Mastery energies being opposed by Greater Umbra Mastery and unspeakable Void magic. The Dwimmerlaik aim to crack the Lady of the Shimmering Veil’s resolve with raw power, and the energies thrown off by this contest of wills are considerable. Even the Ailsiliar are watchful lest they be incinerated by stray energies from the battle. Void structures begin to lose their cohesion and great cracks form across the plane.
Part 4 - Second Wave
- It has only been a few minutes since the battle began but Grant is fighting one of the toughest battles he has ever fought. The sheer power and coordination of the Ailsiliar here is staggering - he is running on adrenaline, using Umbra power freely as he seeks to avoid being vaporised or mentally skewered. Even though he has slain two of the Ailsiliar, he quickly realises the problem of doing so - the plane itself is bubbling as ‘things’ from below the horizontal are trying to reach through. Already the spherical vessel holding the memories has completely disappeared through the horizontal plane and fallen into the void. But this does not stop Lucien - he cuts through the planar 'floor’, dives after it in his silvery armour and quickly disappears out of sight.
- Then suddenly there are tears in the Void and Mowbray has managed to call in reinforcements. Ghostly gaunts, animated by Umbra, leap from the tears and begin running towards living prey. Grant has seen Umbral Gaunts before in the Legendary Realm (GM's note - last seen in Session 66), and seen how fast they move and how tough they are. Black skinned demons, sinewed with misshapen limbs, horns and tusks spill onto the battlefield from more void rifts. The Lords of Gossamer are hopelessly outnumbered, even though Vala is still standing and withstanding everything the Dwimmerlaik are throwing at her. Then, the second wave arrives.
- Greywalker is suddenly there, appearing in their midst riding a white stallion (GM’s note - yes, Shadowfax makes an appearance). Yaeger Zane also appears above the throng. His wings are armoured and he is carrying a massive flaming sword that is taller than he is. With a battlecry of ‘Booyah’, Yaeger charges into the fray. Samaran, the so-called ‘God of War’ is dressed as one. With a mighty axe in one hand, he charges into the nearest concentration of foes and begins cleaving. Cornelius, the trickster, lets rip with sorcery as soon as he arrives, and then summons ’Shirley', his mecha-dinosaur and begins stomping on anything that doesn’t look like friendly.
L to R: Greywalker, Yaeger Zane, Samaran, CorneliusPart 5 - Grand Melee
- Unfortunately the void gates don’t close, the Ailsiliar keep fighting and more Dwimmerlaik allies pour into the domain - dark monsters from a dozen Dwimmerlaik controlled worlds appear in the void-world and begin looking for the enemies of their Masters. The plane has sustained considerable damage by now - the structure of the realm continues to crumble, and the Erebi are now moving uncontrolled and unrestrained, causing more destruction. With Mowbray gone, Vala has enough fortitude to be able to move once more - the light she emits grows brighter still, and she thrusts into the Erebus that has been attempting to disintegrate her, driving it back.
- By this point, all of the Lords of Gossamer are separated from one another and at risk of being mobbed and overwhelmed. Cornelius and Shirley are hard pressed by enemies on all sides, Yaeger is increasingly running out of room to move. Somewhere amidst this, Galatea recovers sufficiently to work out that Lucien is no longer here and she dives into the void after him, flying far into the distance before punching through the planar 'floor' where the structure is weak. As Samaran is seemly overrun by a wall of black bodied demons that pile on top of him, a third wave of Lords of Gossamer arrive and are just as quickly swallowed by the mass.
- Enter Lady Cordelias, the Warlord Taltos and the elite from his Breaker Battalion and the war maiden Gretchen.
L to R: Cordelias, Taltos, Gretchen
- In the same moment, Mordecai and two teams of his Raven Legion, the Simbalion the Aslan Lord and Ethan appear.
L to R: Mordecai, Simbalion and Ethan
- Battle is joined immediately as the servants of the Empire leap upon the newly arrived Lords of Gossamer. Ethan is quickly fighting for his life, beset by enemies on all sides. Even Mordecai’s Raven Legion are being pulled apart as they struggle to create a perimeter to defend. Yaeger Zane doesn’t seem to be flying anymore, and only one of the Annunaki is still glowing dimly in the void. In the mayhem, Grant manages to destabilise one of the void rifts sufficiently to close it (by using Umbra), but then he spies Vala and decides that she is the best rallying point that they have. Cutting a swath towards her, he tries to rally as many Lords of Gossamer as he can to hold Vala's position. Lady Cordelias, bloodied and battered answers the call, as does Yaeger Zane. Mordecai arrives a little later with only half of his troops left alive, and 'eye-eater' demons clawing at them in pursuit like a black tide. With no way out, they fight on. Mordecai, Vala and Grant each take charge of a third of the perimeter, Vala defends her section with great sweeps of her polearm, cutting down demons and gaunts alike. Mordecai's troops lay down suppressing fire as hordes of creatures closes on them. Grant uses Umbra as a barrier, and sends Yaeger Zane out to retrieve Gretchen as she has been cut off and isolated from the rest. Yaeger makes a second trip out to retrieve another Lord of Gossamer but is intercepted by one of the remaining Ailsiliar and he crashes to the ground along with Ethan, disappearing under a swarm of Umbra Gaunts. Grant has no time to think about the situation - he knows that if he breaks ranks to save them that Vala, Mordecai and the others will likely be overwhelmed.
Part 6 - Into the Abyss
- Then quite suddenly there is another piercing Icon pain in his head. It is Cooper and the message is brief. Lucien has recovered the memories. It’s time to leave. Grant can sense a number of the Lords of Gossamer accepting the contact and leaving, but Grant can’t leave without Jessamyn, Cal or Ethan. As the confused tide of demons and gaunts continues to sweep across the unstable plane, Grant fights his way to Ethan's side. Ethan is bleeding from a head wound (they bleed a lot) but still fighting strong against the surrounding Gaunts. Grant grabs him and together they fight their way to Jessamyn. Luckily they are not the only ones who have resisted the call to return. Yaeger is covered in blood and gore but is still fighting despite an injury to his right wing. He flashes a pearly white smile at Grant and doesn't slow down in the slightest, even as an Erebus looms above them and the situation looks increasingly dire. Reaching Jessamyn, Grant finds that Greywalker had a similar idea - back to back, they create some space for Ethan to work his magic and remove Jessamyn's Keeper. The Erebus looks set to devour them by crushing them and Greywalker announces that it's time to leave. Yaeger Zane however has spotted a colossal dragon with fiery eyes emerging from one of the void rifts and calls 'dibs' on it. Grant doesn't have time to reason with him - he lets him go but proceeds to cut through the floor and uses Umbra to mould a ’carpet’ out of the plane, which quickly falls away from the main floor into the void, taking Jessamyn and Ethan with him as the Erebus consumes everything above them.
- With a dazed and barely conscious Jessamyn on the carpet behind him, Grant focuses on diving after Cal - who is far far beneath. Meanwhile void creatures continue to leap at them, and Ethan does his best to keep them off the ‘carpet’. As they go deeper, the attacks become more infrequent, but the creatures in the depths are bigger and faster. Then suddenly Ethan is gone (GM’s note - cue Bad Stuff) - Ethan has been cleaved off the ‘carpet’ by a demon and he spins off into the void like a falling star.
- Cursing, Grant realises that it's too hard to turn this carpet of voidstuff around and even if he does, he'll be going further away from where Cal is. He hopes that Ethan is able to accept an Icon contact and return to wherever Cooper is. In the complete and absolute darkness, Jessamyn can't see a thing so she hangs onto Grant's leg for dear life. She sings a song to herself in the darkness - it sounds to Grant like some sort of child's rhyme designed to ward off evil.
- The deeper they go, the quieter it becomes. Occasionally something attacks them out of the darkness, but by this time they are travelling very fast and Grant swiftly deals with anything that comes too close. Ethan has completely vanished by now - Grant hopes that Ethan got out. At last, in the distant there is a speck of starlight and Grant presses on, finally homing in on the body of Cal. Cal still glows brightly in the void due to Eidolon. Using Umbra to slow the 'carpet', Grant and Jessamyn spiral in on Cal. At last, Grant can see him in the flesh. His body is withered - he looks ancient - but it definitely him. Cal reacts as Grant tackles him, figuring him to be another demon in the void, but Grant restrains him (GM's note - Grant has Dominant Rank Strength) and accepts Cooper's Icon contact. Instantly they are gone - recalled.
Part 7 - It’s Over
- In the blink of an eye, Grant, Jessamyn and Cal appear in a large chamber with medical staff dressed in white and pale green garments. Some of the doctor are tall and thin, almost human. Others are short goblins with large droopy ears and long spindly arms. Pale light shines from the ceiling, but it is still enough to make Jessamyn need to shield her eyes. Cal is unconscious as the medical team wave devices over them, assessing their injuries and summoning remedies to quickly deal with the worst of their injuries. Grant suddenly feels the need to sit down, but before he can be brought a chair, he feels the adrenalin wearing off and he sits down with a thump. A doctor hands him a clear cylinder of water and electrolytes whilst Grant starts rambling, asking if everyone is okay. One of goblin nurses kindly offers him a sedative to help him relax, but he asks instead for a cup of tea.
- It is a strange place - the walls of the chamber seem to be some sort of organic bone-like substance rather than a fabricated material. The air feels crisp and clean.
- Jessamyn and Cal are taken away to be allowed to rest. Grant notes that there are many many medical personnel here - and a number of Lords of Gossamer. It looks like not everyone made it. Using Wayfinding, he tries to figure out who is here. Ethan is here (he is relieved by that) but Greywalker isn't here. Vala, Lucien and Galatea are here. He doesn't need to use Wayfinding to know that Yaeger is still alive. He's already telling stories to a gathering of medical personnel about how many foes he slew and how high the bodies were piled. Grant gives a little smile - he is relieved that Yaeger survived. The Stair just wouldn't be the same without Yaeger Zane.
- A potion is mixed especially for him. Grant drinks it and starts to feel better. He can feel his body coming back to life. A goblin uses a device to disinfect some of his wounds then seal them, applying green paste to the sealed wound to help further 'stimulate the healing process'. Grant marvels at these people - they seem to be natural healers, motivated only by the desire to heal others.
- He tries to stand up - his body is unwilling at first but the taller people help steady him. Isabelle spots him and runs over to him with a broad smile. She's very pleased to see him. They talk a little, and then he ambles over to where Vala is being treated. She has also been wounded (by Umbral energy) which will take some time to recover. She says that they will talk later, but for now, the battle has been won and it is time to let Lucien and Cooper 'weave a miracle'.
- Ethan is sitting quietly with a group of goblins who offer him more 'ooda' (a blue liquid). He offers a tired smile when he sees Grant. Grant is too sore to sit down, and Ethan is too tired to get up. He explains that he came under sustained attack after being thrown off the 'carpet' - he's battered but he'll be fine. He says that it's time for him to go home. One of the goblins interrupts him and tells him to rest, and then he can go home. Grant then offers an apology that he hasn't seen Ethan for such a long time - he explains that he's been trying to find the missing memories. Ethan says that for a long time he didn't remember - he has some of his memories back, but not all of them yet. They agree that there is much catching up to do, but for now, Ethan needs to rest. They can talk later.
- Grant slowly walks from place to place, trying to understand how many were wounded and how many didn't make it back. Vala’s wounds will heal. Greywalker can't be reached by Icon but he's pulled disappearing acts before - maybe he got away somehow. The Aslan Lord whom Grant has never met before has been mauled by demon claws and a team of goblins is working to try and save his life. Taltos also 'fell' but managed to hang onto consciousness long enough to be retrieved - he will probably recover but the men he came with were lost to a man. Gretchen survived and sustained minor injuries. Cordelias survived. Samaran lost an arm to a creature that bit it off - but despite massive blood loss, he seems to have survived too.
- As wounds are healed and the injured are sent to rest, Grant and a tired Ethan join Lucien, Cooper, Galatea, Vala and Isabelle to hear about how Lucien managed to recover the memories. Seeing Ethan, Galatea's eyes light up. (GM's note - yes, she probably has that crush on Ethan from all the way back from Session 33 Part 2) Lucien tells them that he managed to reach the sphere containing the memories, access and retrieve them but he would most certainly have perished if not for the timely intervention of Galatea. Galatea brightens at the praise. Cooper explains stoically that the device to restore the memories is complete. Using an Icon image of the target, he can reverse the effects of the Breath of Eden - which will mean all those Lords of Gossamer who have not been able to remember sections of their past will find that they suddenly can. In addition, Cooper explains that he and Isabelle have devised a strategy for avoiding the Breath of Eden in the future. Using a ‘Icon Buffer’ as a kind of sacrificial anode, a Lord of Gossamer can receive a contact from an infected individual which would result in the Buffer being destroyed rather than the Breath of Eden being transferred.
- Vala asks that they begin the process as soon as Cooper, Lucien and Isabelle feel that they are ready. She reminds them that many other Lords of Gossamer are without their memories and some are even working for the Dwimmerlaik. Once they remember who they are, she hopes that they will be in contact once more.
- While Cooper, Lucien and Isabelle prepare the machine, Grant watches them with interest. Ethan tries to have a quiet cup of tea but is interrupted by Galatea (GM's note - cue Bad Stuff). Ethan has never felt comfortable around many of the Lords of Gossamer and he wants to return to Earth to see Abbie - he congratulates her given that she is now a Lord of Gossamer, but says that he just wants to go home. (GM’s note - Ethan is a little introspective given the terrible battle that he just fought. He needs a bit of time to process it.) Ethan half expects Galatea to go to pieces, but she handles it very well. She offers a glowing smile and then asks his opinion of Bastiano and Lucien. (GM’s note - oh dear…..)
- At last, the machine is activated, one by one the Lords of Gossamer feel a sudden Icon contact and suddenly Ethan finds that he remembers what happened in the gap in his memories. Grant remembers all of his history and time with Sophia. He remembers properly growing up with Ethan and all of the fun they had together.
- The Lords of Gossamer finally begin to rejoice in their victory as little by little those who have been affected remember what they had lost. Icon contacts from lost Lords of Gossamer are received and the gathering slowly increases as the likes of Harrison and Turadok arrive. Ethan decides that this is the time to leave. He seeks Grant out, shakes his hand and waves goodbye to the others. Vala has a few words for him before he goes. Ethan bows respectfully, pulls an Icon from his pocket of Abbie and contacts her to return home. He disappears.
Part 8 - Or Is It?
- Grant revels that it is over. He talks with Mordecai and Vala, and they agree that the Dwimmerlaik are too busy fighting each other to worry about the Lords of Gossamer for the time being. He asks where Bastiano is, and it seems that Bastiano has been here in ’Sikano’ for weeks, being a particularly grumpy patient. Grant goes to find him, and Bastiano is anything but pleased to see him. He is particularly grumpy that he missed out on this adventure in the void. Nevertheless, Grant manages to get him to laugh by telling him that the Dwimmerlaik thought that he was Bastiano, so his reputation is safe.
- Then Vala receives an Icon contact from Lord Drake. Grant is pleased with this - he hoped that Drake would change sides when he had his memories return. Vala explains that Drake has just told him that he’s in Marindar with one of his armies. He came to Marindar with a Lord of Gossamer named ‘Grant’ and a number of Dwimmerlaik. Grant is concerned by this and he decides to head to Marindar at once. Lady Sophia is foremost in his mind. Is it really over?
….. and of course it isn’t over. Session 100 is where the last hurrah for this Story Arc finally occurs.
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