GM’s Observations
- Another long absence due to poor health on the parts of both myself and David. This session focuses on two key events during Ethan’s attempt to charge the vessel with Wits. The background section is a bit lengthier as it explains what has happened between sessions.
- I quite enjoyed this session as I like it when there is development in the relationships between characters.
Major Characters
- Ethan, Abbie (Abigail)
Adversaries
- Ares
Adventure Hook
- Abigail is directly threatened as part of the Test of Wits.
Background - Olympus
- In Session 288, Ethan and Isabelle successfully charged a vessel with the essence of Courage from their time facing the Necromancer’s minions in the Legendary Realm. The priming of this vessel gives Hephaestus the base courage that he needs to achieve his first Great Task (on his journey to become Complete).
- Hephaestus travels to Olympus with Ethan, Grant and Isabelle as his ‘companions’. Presenting himself to his fellow Olympians, Hephaestus declares his intention to become ‘whole and finished’, and to become worthy of his mother’s respect and his wife’s love. This course of action pleases Zeus. Zeus praises Hephaestus’ determination and he offers encouragement. Hephaestus achieves the first Great Task with his public declaration of his intent.
- Hera is cautious of Hephaestus (she remembers being tied to a chair by him) but does not dissuade him from his course of action.
- Aphrodite says nothing but her feelings towards Hephaestus remain unchanged (she is disgusted by him). Aphrodite does not want Hephaestus to succeed but she cannot directly interfere. She quietly sends spies to monitor and report back on her husband’s progress. She also discusses the matter with Ares. Ares has every interest in seeing Hephaestus fail.
- Some Olympians begin taking wagers as to whether Hephaestus will succeed or not (Hermes is the ringleader of this).
Background - Barida
- For some time Vala has warned about a flashpoint called Barida. She has asked Ethan to intercede before but he has not done so.
- Three Stair-capable factions are vying for control of a key world which used to be part of Bastiano's Empire. The remnants of that Empire still remain on Barida (including some Bastiano's descendents) but the 'Emperor' has been missing for some time.
- Abraxas considers himself the God of Cats, and he rules the Allax Brotherhood (aka the Black Brotherhood) which rules from the shadows.
- The Draconian Empire had sent Abigail to lead 'diplomatic' efforts, but her mission has now changed - she has been directed to seize control of the realm.
- Vala is concerned about Barida being a flashpoint and since Ethan could not be convinced, she sent Drake to secure the world, or at least to prevent the Dragon Emperor (Lofwyr) from doing so.
- Barida itself is a feudal world with advanced technology. There are other starsystems as well but Barida is the focal point. Since Bastiano’s departure (death), four Kings have arisen - one for each of the noble splinter-houses - Visari, Ventauri, Vincentius and Sinden. A fifth faction is ruled by the warlord McBride.
- Isabelle and Ethan have determined that resolving the conflict on Barida can be used to charge the vessel of Wits, which is needed to help Hephaestus with his second Great Task.
- Ethan’s Divination says that Abigail will be killed if he does not intercede. He is certain of this, hence he has a personal stake in wanting to go to Barida.
Adventure Preamble
- Ethan decides to deal with Abraxas first. Macavity refuses to get involved (this is another Cat’s turf) The conversation with Abraxas is cordial - he can be persuaded to stay out of any upcoming conflict but he wants to be well paid. (Ethan agrees to this but feels like he is being conned by the Cat)
- Ethan meets with Drake. Drake doesn’t like the potential for conflict with the Draconian Empire and he agrees to hold off. Ethan says that he will attempt to bargain with Abigail (the Dragon Emperor’s representative).
- King Visari is seeking support from the Dragon Emperor (Lofwyr) to increase his control over the Baridan realm. However, King Ventauri plots to destroy House Visari before assistance from the Draconian Empire is provided which would make House Visari unstoppable.
- Grant agrees to talk to Lofwyr (whom he has a good relationship with) and see if he can persuade the Dragon Emperor not to pursue Barida. He knows that Lofwyr respects him but he has never asked for a favour like this.
Part 1 - Abigail Under Attack
- Ethan knows Abigail has been tasked to secure Barida on behalf of the Dragon Emperor Lofwyr. Abigail is highly valued by Lofwyr as a precious asset (mine!). Ethan also believes that she will be killed unless he intervenes. His Divination spells are clear about this but it’s not clear to him as to how this will happen. Ethan suspects that an Olympian working against Hephaestus is involved but he doesn’t know who or why (yet).
- Ethan knows that Abigail won’t be dissuaded from her mission. He knows her very well - if she accepts a job, she will dogmatically pursue it even if it kills her. She doesn’t back down. So Ethan tries a different tactic: he explains that her life is in danger and he will join her until the danger has passed. At first Abbie is cautious but Ethan seduces her (an unusual tactic for him), and then promises to protect her, even if that means standing against fellow Lords of Gossamer.
* Image sourced from Google Images, representing the Royal Palace on Barida
- Ethan joins Abbie’s retinue at the Royal Palace on Barida. She is busy with negotiations and has little personal time. They both remain visibly professional but increasingly they talk secretly via Icon. Abbie has no idea why Lofwyr wants Barida, except that he wants it - and she doesn’t question the Emperor very often on his motives. If he wanted her to know the reasons, he would have already told her.
- Ethan remains very tense during the weeks that follow. His Divination spells continue to warn of imminent danger.
- Then it happens. The King of the Visari is dead, killed by poison.
- His death triggers conflict but not open war. The King’s two children (Moni and Hurel) become Abigail’s wards and she becomes defacto ruler of the Visari. This triggering event results in her calling in Draconian reinforcements to reinforce the Visari.
- Meanwhile, Ethan feels that the danger has not passed. In fact, he is even more certain that Abigail will be next.
- The poison is traced back to a trusted servant who is found dead. A doppelganger is suspected. Ethan works with Doctor Thrann, a middle-aged physician in the service of House Visari, to perform an autopsy on the body and they find a small mark on the lower back below the ribcage. Ethan wonders if a parasite could be involved and they investigate further. This is quickly confirmed as they confirm that this is an entry mark, but the parasite exited explosively from within the throat (making a mess inside the mouth). From outside, the body appears unmarked. Within, not so.
* Image sourced from Google Images, representing Doctor Thrann (the image is actually of Ursula Le Guin who wrote the Earthsea books, and many others)
- The parasite has escaped, and Ethan wonders if there could be more of them. Doctor Thrann and Ethan look through the medical and biology archives and find evidence of a parasite that can puppeteer and kill. It has been used before on Barida, but this sort of engineered lifeform is highly illegal (but so is assassination). The parasite is reasonably vulnerable outside the body but it is difficult to detect when inhabiting a host. Even a medical scan might not find the parasite. However, there are certain scents which an infected person becomes hypersensitive to and this may trigger a reaction.
- Armed with this information, Ethan goes to check on Abigail and confirms that she is not herself infected. He explains what they are looking for and she orders him to deal with it. (Ethan notes that Abbie is a little shaken by what this parasite can do but she keeps it well hidden).
- Ethan and Doctor Thrann go to work to synthesise the offending odours that will trigger a reaction, then they start screening people. They find Abigail’s normal bodyguard, a bulky draconian warrior named Murak, has been infected. Ethan uses a spell to put Murak to Sleep, enabling Doctor Thrann to perform an operation and remove the parasite. They continue hunting, finding two more - one in a House Visari chambermaid (who dies when revealed) and one which has control of the family pet (a ‘bog’).
- The danger has passed.
- That evening, Abbie asks Ethan to stay with her. During the night, Abbie has nightmares which disturb her sleep and Ethan tries to reassure her. He has not seen her visibly frightened in a long time. Abbie tells Ethan that she loves him, and apologises for sometimes pretending that she doesn’t, and that things are okay when they aren’t.
- The next day, Abigail’s confidence has returned and she maintains a professional and commanding presence. Ethan remains watchful - they may have found these parasites but not the individual who unleashed them in the first place.
Part 2 - Ethan under Attack
- House Ventauri (the No.2 house) allies with House Vincentius (the No.3) against the ruling House Visari. Abigail assumes the formal title of ‘Lord Protector’ and puts Ethan in charge of Moni Visari and Hurel Visari (the two surviving children of the King). Ethan contacts Isabelle via Icon and they talk about the situation. Isabelle hopes that Ethan is using all of his ‘wits’ to charge the vessel (it is going poorly so far). She comments that Hilda has been asking for him so Ethan agrees to let her come and visit. Hilda is introduced to the two Visari children and they get along well.
- As tensions continue to rise, Ethan tries to talk to Abraxas again. However, the Cat is having too much fun (and making a lot of money from both sides) and isn’t interested in helping further.
- By this point, Ethan suspects that Ares is involved, probably at Aphrodite’s request. If the myths are true, Ares enjoys stirring up trouble and formenting conflict. He could be behind it all.
- Representatives from House Ventauri and House Vincentius appeal to the Lord Protector (Abbie) and attempt to reach a peace accord. However Ethan correctly divines that this is a ruse and he protects Abbie and House Visari from another attack.
- This open attack further escalates the conflict and Ethan visits House Sinden to try to find out which side he will take. Ethan has already divined that King Sinden is not interested in joining the civil war but he believes that King Sinden will reveal what he knows. Ethan travels by a space vessel to the world of Sindar (ruled by House Sinden). He is expecting trouble from what is revealed, and Abigail advises him to be careful. King Sinden is an honourable man but honourable men still do terrible things when they feel that they have no choice.
- Ethan visits the palace and is welcomed by King Sinden and his court. However, the welcome is short-lived as Ares is introduced. Ethan realises that King Sinden is being coerced and Ares has taken this opportunity to isolate and eliminate Ethan.
* Image by Stefan Kopinski which is part of the Mythic Battles Pantheon board game
- Ares is almost eight feet tall, well built and armed to the teeth. As soon as Ethan sees him, he discerns Ares’ intent and Ethan cuts loose. He has long had time to adjust Sorcery to this realm’s particulars, and he slams Ares back with a Force-Push. Ethan starts the fight in the throne room.
- What follows is a no-holds barred fight. Ethan has fought Grant many times in personal combat and been beaten (almost) every time. He assumes that Ares is as strong as Grant is so his only choice is to use brute spellcraft (which is tiring), fight dirty and get the hell out of the fight as quickly as possible.
- Ethan’s use of Sorcery brings down a good part of the palace, killing King Sinden and some of his court. Ares is unable to close to use his sword (Ethan keeps driving him back), so he decides to use other, more modern weapons. Ethan’s Dragonshield will protect him from pretty much any weapons, but it doesn’t cover him completely, nor does it protect from sonic attacks. Ares successfully puts a hole in Ethan’s leg and uses concussive blasts from a sonic pistol to disorient him. Ethan is unable to inflict more than a flesh wound on Ares using Sorcery and Power Words. He quickly realises that he is completely outmatched here and he attempts to run (or rather fly, using spells which give him Superman-level flight). Unfortunately this again fails as Ares is able to continue to disorient Ethan and close the distance.
- At last Ethan whips up a vortex (which requires less concentration and is more a case of ‘cutting loose’). This gives him a little protection from the sonic blasts, keeps Ares at bay and gives him the opportunity to use one of his more basic spells (Mental Invisibility). With a final push, Ethan vanishes and the storm dissipates. He has taken to the sky and Ares is not sure where he has gone.
- Returning to House Visari, Abigail is concerned by what has happened. King Sinden is dead and House Visari is being blamed for the assassination. The other houses are aligning against House Visari. She finds it interesting that Ares has singled Ethan out. Mars (Ares) is venerated on her homeworld of Meridian. Ethan remarks that if Ares is involved then Venus (Aphrodite) will also probably be involved. Abigail is smart enough to realise that Ethan knows more than what he is prepared to say. However, she doesn’t like that Ethan is withholding information from her which might be important.
Adventure Conclusion
- The Houses gang up on House Visari, leaving Abigail in charge of defending an otherwise leaderless house.
- Grant asks the Dragon Emperor (Lofwyr) to withdraw from Barida. Lofwyr is surprised by the request and readily agrees to this. He can’t remember the last time that Grant asked something of him, and he quite likes the idea that Grant will owe him a favour in the future.
- Grant returns with this news to Barida and Abigail is crushed. The Dragon Emperor has withdrawn his support and the people of House Visari will almost certainly be annihilated if she leaves. Grant offers to stay and turn the tide of the war, as does Ethan. Abigail is quietly furious with Ethan, believing he has somehow engineered this mess, interfered with her task and lessened the Dragon Emperor’s opinion of her. Abigail agrees to Lofwyr’s instructions to withdraw most of the military forces, but retains what is needed to protect ‘Draconian interests’ (ie: protect House Visari from annihilation).
- Grant becomes ‘General’ of House Visari and takes over the defence of the house. He works with Abigail and Ethan to stabilise the realm. It takes him more than a year to engineer a new peace, but this requires multiple battles to be fought before the other Houses are willing to entertain the idea. Those battles require personnel and equipment from the Draconian Empire and from Hephaestus himself in order to achieve victory. Grant suspects that Ares remains involved but there are no sightings to confirm it. Tinkerbell and Grant grow very close during this time.
- Hilda makes good friends with Moni Visari and Hurel Visari (the surviving children of the late King) and wants to stay longer with her friends.
- Abigail makes the best of the situation, being stuck on Barida for a year. She advances the Dragon Emperor’s interests and stays close to Ethan.
- Isabelle continues to work in Hephaestus’ workshops, making significant leaps in her projects due to the equipment and resources available to her. She enjoys working with Brontes, a jovial cyclops who works in one of Hephaestus’ forges. She wonders when Lucien will return, and is saddened that Ethan has been away so long.
- The ‘Test of Wits’ vessel is finally charged and Hephaestus is ready for his Second Task.
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