- GM’s note: This session marks (yet another) turning point in the series. It concludes the Courts of the Shadow Fey plotline for Grant. It also concludes the plot where Lord Wynterlyr has been seeking to reclaim the Ring which he made from the Crawler’s chitin which will free him from his prison. Finally Isabelle and Ethan receive an invitation to meet the Olympian Hephaestus, which then starts a new plotline.
This session writeup concludes the flashback for Grant and the storyline can now continue once more in the present.
The End of the Moonlit King
- Grant enjoys a number of blissful weeks (?) where he is the paramour of Queen Sarastra, the Queen of Night and Magic. Then suddenly it is over and he is left quite bewildered. There is no warning, but she has grown tired of him and he finds himself back in the Royal Courts with little more than the clothes on his back and a deep purple gemstone in his pocket. Many of the other nobles are in awe of him - it has been an age since the Queen has taken a lover. It is not forbidden but it is highly unusual. Many of the courtesans look at Lord Grant with fresh eyes - if he is good enough for the Queen, then perhaps he is worth another look. Even though Lishekki has moved on and other suitors are pursuing her, she shows genuine concern for Grant’s wellbeing.
- Grant tries to recall the conversations that he had with the Queen but his mind is a besotted blur and it takes him time to make sense of what happened.
- There was lovemaking. There were many conversations. A lot of pillow talk. He remembers asking her about the Agora but she seemed uninterested in releasing ancient claims. He remembers a vague conversation about the Moonlit King - he wasn’t foolish enough to ask her directly whether she would remain the sole ruler of the Courts forever, but he did get a hint from her that the Moonlit King might be more willing to relinquish the Shadow Court’s claims over the Agora than she was.
- Grant is annoyed by the situation. He hoped that the Queen could be reasoned with, or bargained with. He spent considerable time working his way into her favour, but has been thrown aside with nothing to show for it except the ‘hint’ that he could ‘perhaps’ reason with the Moonlit King. She has played him and thrown him aside when she done.
- Still, he had to admit that being with an intoxicatingly sexy Queen of the Fey wasn’t entirely a waste of time. It was fun too. On reflection, he thinks he can now better understand the attitude of the Fey who have been fleeced and cast aside at the end of a relationship - they were laughed at but they laughed at their own misfortune and simply gave it another try because it was fun while it lasted. Besides, what was the alternative?
- Lishekki talks kindly with Grant and she offers to help him where she can. She even offers to ditch her current love interest and make room for him if he would desire it. Grant appreciates the thought but he has a better idea. He plans to visit the Moonlit King in the Labyrinth. This shocks Lishekki and she says that those who offend the Court are thrown into the Labyrinth - and none return.
- Grant kisses Lishekki goodbye and tells him that he will return if he can.
- He goes to find Macavity. The Cat is not surprised to see him - he asks Grant bluntly if he has finished fornicating with the Queen yet or whether it is time to go. He likes the fare in the Court but he comments that he is getting fat, and his obligation to the Dragon Emperor is not being met whilst he stays here. Grant inquires about his obligation, and Macavity says that he is Lady Abigail’s bodyguard. Grant blinks at this - Macavity is so fat that he would be a most ineffective bodyguard, and Grant is surprised that Macavity feels any kind of obligation…. to anyone. Nevertheless, he lets the matter go and suggests that they visit the Moonlit King.
- Macavity agrees to this without complaint. Grant asks where Ethan is and Macavity does not know. The Black Prince was very angry after Grant gave the Firebird to Queen Sarastra, and there were some minor reprisals. Ethan was rewarded with the title of ‘Royal Dragonslayer’ and then sent off to slay some poor defenceless reptile, and Macavity has heard that Lucien was also bestowed with some sort of title like ‘Royal Stablehand’ and he's been mucking out stables ever since.
- Grant pauses. He can’t imagine Lucien agreeing to muck out stables and he assumes that Macavity is inventing an explanation to cover for what he doesn’t know. Shaking his head, he gathers his things and decides to head for the Labyrinth. Macavity waddles along behind.
- What follows is a journey into a great maze of shifting stone-walled passages. It is a bleak place where the refuse of the Courts is discarded. There are blind and disfigured fey, there are dishonoured ambassadors and cast-aside servants. The maze itself has a centre which holds a great tower made of white stone which is illuminated by a shaft of moonlight from above. As Grant works his way through the maze, he finds that Wayfinding is difficult but not impossible. There is no direct way through the maze, and the maze tries to redirect him as he gets closer, but Grant is able to use Umbra to break through the many defences of the Labyrinth, bypassing some of the constraints and reach the white tower itself.
- The white tower itself is controlled by strange moon demons, corrupted servants of Akyishigal that keep intruders away. Grant slays a number of them and makes his way up the tower to its summit.
- At the top of the tower, Grant meets the Moonlit King. The King is confused, and mistakes Grant for a figment of his imagination. His mind is fractured by Umbra and he speaks in fragments to ghosts that are not there. He seems to remember that he has some measure of authority as he commands his imaginary courtiers to do his bidding. He sends one to fetch two cups of girlish laughter. After listening to an imaginary petitioner, he demands his boots for crushing mortal hopes.
The Moonlit King, Image by Bryan Syme (from Courts of the Shadow Fey) sourced from Google Images
- The Moonlit King seems to be a lost cause. He is completely insane, and unable to be reasoned with. Even Macavity tries and fails. Like many in the Shadow Court, the Moonlit King seems to have been touched by Umbra - but in the King’s case, it has affected him so badly that there is not much left of what he once was.
- Grant persists over a long, troubling time to elicit a small amount of meaningful conversation out of the King. It is exceptionally hard work. He tries to explain to the King that the Queen rules in the Court, he does not. The natural cycle has been broken by the interference of Lord Akyishigal.
- Often the King does not believe Grant, and he wishes Grant away by giving orders to his imaginary guards, telling them to drag the traitors to Archduke Bonerattler, or to demanding that Master Quickstep attend him and throw the wretches into the Labyrinth. Sometimes he grows so irate that the King takes on an alien form made of light and hardened glass. Wielding his Ruling Orb as a weapon, he calls down lightning from the stars in the sky above, each blast consuming a star and causing it to wink out. But each of these episodes does not last long as the King easily tires and is just as easily distracted.
- Despairing at the situation, Grant looks out across the Labyrinth from the summit of the Lunar tower. The Courts of the Shadow Fey are a beautiful place, but maddeningly frustrating. He has learnt so much about this place and yet there are still secrets and solutions that seem out of his grasp. He reaches for his Icon of Ethan, wondering if his friend can heal the Moonlit King’s madness. He considers this, but Macavity detects his intent and tells him that Ethan won’t be able to help. Ethan has told him many times that Eidolon can only restore what is there. Grant knows that the Moonlit King is suffering from Umbra-based degeneration and there is no cure. There isn’t enough of the King left to restore. Grant asks Macavity if he has any ideas, and the Cat replies coolly that if they can’t find a way to restore the King’s mind, then ‘new leadership’ may be required. Macavity caustically remarks that he’s sure that he’d make a fine King - King Macavity, Lord of the Fey.
- Macavity whimsically invents titles that suit him. All seem to revolve around providing for his needs. Someone to bring a warm ray of sunlight. Someone to comb his fur. Someone to provide him with small creatures to hunt and torment. The Cat goes on for so long that Grant loses interest…..
- Weighing up his options, Grant decides to try to use Umbra to stabilise the Moonlit King’s mind sufficiently to have a conversation with him. It takes some time for him to convince the King to even try this, but eventually he succeeds. This technique works, and the Moonlit King is coherent…. for a time. It takes Grant a lot of effort to achieve this.
- Grant explains the situation and his desire for the Courts to release their claim on the Agora. The Moonlit King is very weary but he understands. The King does not blame the Queen for his situation, but rather the Demon Lord Akyishigal, who has ‘mortally wounded’ him. The King will release his claim on the Agora in return for an end to his suffering. He asks this while his mind is clear.
- The Moonlit King tiredly points to his Orb and says that it should be given to the future King of the Shadow Fey. Looking at Grant with a critical eye, he suggests that Grant take it. Macavity grumbles at this, but the Moonlit King says that the Cat would not like the job - it is too much work for any Cat, and Cats do not like work. The Moonlit King explains that Grant can continue to travel as he pleases, leaving his ‘Shadow’ behind to rule. Grant thinks this over, and asks the Moonlit King if this is truly what he wants.
- The Moonlit King nods sadly. The King looks incalculably old and terribly weary. Grant agrees to slay him, and the King relinquishes the Courts’ claim to the Agora. Grant draws Gorgorin the Shatterer and strikes him dead. The King withers and vanishes in the moonlight. The shadows in the tower grow longer and an icy cold wind blows across the landscape. The King is dead.
- Macavity stares intently at the crystal Orb, as if weighing up his own decision whether to claim the title. But it is Grant that picks up the crystal Orb.
The Rise of the Shadow King
- As Grant claims the Orb as his, he brings forth his Shadow. The Shadow takes corporeal form and looks very much like Grant, but it has sharper features (including a sharper beard) and a mischievous glint in his eye. Shadow Grant winks at Grant, and Grant smiles. The Shadow is not a separate entity from him. He and his Shadow are the same entity, but there are two parts. He knows exactly what his Shadow is thinking, is feeling and is doing; and the Shadow knows the same of Grant.
- They turn their attention to the Courts of the Shadow Fey and Grant asks himself whether rulership is really what he wants. A crooked smile passes across Shadow Grant’s face and he takes the Orb.
- The Moonlit King is dead. Long live the Shadow King.
- Grant returns to the Courts of the Shadow Fey with the Orb in his hand and Macavity at his side. There he is welcomed as the Shadow King, and ushered into the Royal Apartments. Queen Sarastra is waiting for him and she regards him with a cool smile. She welcomes him back as ‘her husband’ but the Shadow King deftly rejects that. She may be Queen but she was married to the Moonlit King, not him. Her smile widens and she acknowledges him as King. She glides up to him and says that she will depart for ‘her time’, but she will look forward to their next meeting.
- The Shadow King presides over the Court. All give him deference, even the Black Prince. The Shadow King exiles Lord Akyishigal and threatens him with death if he returns. Before the Demon Lord leaves, the King places an open bounty on Akyishigal’s head, effective from one hour’s time. Akyishigal says nothing and he leaves in the Court hastily.
- Remembering his promise to Knuckletooth (from the Agora) who helped him to reach the Courts, the Shadow King demotes Achingfast from Royal Corpsehanger and Skullpolisher to Royal Stablehand, responsible for mucking out the stables.
- The Shadow King then bestows rewards to each of those who helped him in the Courts. He gives Eracen (the crazy elf musician) the freedom from the Courts that he craved, sending him home. He promises the Blind Seer to root out any residual demonic influence in the Courts and asks for the Seer’s counsel in the future. He thanks Lord Hollowgrin for his assistance and offers him royal patronage in his future endeavours. To Lishekki, he offers the choice of either his companionship or to return home with his royal favour. She asks for time to consider his offer. Considering Macavity, he asks the Cat what reward he would like. Smugly, Macavity offers to draw up a list for consideration, and the Shadow King chuckles. The Shadow King makes Macavity a Royal Advisor, who is free to come and go as he pleases. This pleases the Cat.
- The Shadow King then orders that Lords Lucien and Ethan be brought to him. He speaks to them in friendly terms, and says that the matter of concern has been resolved. The Court no longer has any claim to the Agora and he has given instruction to this effect. Ambassador Thelamandrine will remain in place as the Shadow King’s emissary and ambassador. If they wish to speak to him, they may do so through his ambassador.
- Lucien and Ethan are confused by the situation but Macavity simply looks smug. The Shadow King offers friendship to Lucien and some goblins attendants to help clean him up (given that Lucien has been working in the stables). Considering Ethan, the Shadow King asks what favour he should bestow. Ethan bows and says that he desires nothing but a safe return to those who have missed him, but perhaps he would be allowed to make a request in the future. The Shadow King agrees to this, and he dismisses them.
- Leaving the Royal Courts, Ethan and Lucien are joined by Grant. Thumbing towards the gatehouse, Grant suggests that they go home. A little confused by the fact that there are two of them, the Lords of Gossamer turn to return to the shadow road. They find Macavity at the gatehouse, waiting for them.
- Grant pauses as he is about to step onto the shadow road. He looks back and smiles. Inside, Shadow Grant is holding court as the Shadow King. Outside, he is heading home. But he is aware of what is happening in both places simultaneously.
- The four companions follow the shadow road and disappear into the mists. They return to the Agora a year and a day after they left it.
- This ends their first adventure to the Courts of the Shadow Fey.
Down the Faerie Well
- Back in the present, Ethan has returned to Marindar with Isabelle and Hilda. It is very late when they return and as such, Hilda does not wake early in the morning.
- Ethan attempts Divination spells but they are badly inconclusive. Normally the future is clear or there are simple options - but this time it seems to be messy. That sometimes happens when there are too many factors at play or when there is some other powerful force interfering. Isabelle listens but she has already decided not to worry about the situation.
- Ethan attempts another Divination spell to determine when Hephaestus will respond - but again the results are inconclusive. Isabelle is disappointed with this. She asks what they will do next. She doesn’t mind staying in Marindar but some of the recent conversations have been a little awkward. She also notes that if Yaeger’s Belt does work at any range, she would expect Abbie to contact Ethan soon. Ethan shrugs at this - he hasn’t heard from Abbie in some time.
- Ethan wants to return to Tyrandor and try to free Lady Sophia. Isabelle asks how long that will take - she doesn’t like hanging around Marindar on her own and she wants to check on Taneer and what he has been up to. Ethan suggests that it may take a few days and he doesn’t want Hilda around when dealing with the fey. Isabelle agrees to take Hilda when she wakes up - she may even like to meet the Eldar. Ethan agrees - she probably would like to meet Taneer.
- Ethan kisses her goodbye and he heads to the Arcadian Embassy. The elves are surprised to see him but Vidaniel agrees to meet with him. Ethan says that he’s going to deal with Lord Wynterlyr and he wants Vidaniel to accompany him. If Lady Sophia is alive, she’ll need her friend. Vidaniel agrees but she is surprised by Ethan’s decision to leave suddenly.
- Ethan and Vidaniel head to the Marindan Gates and onto the Grand Stair. She is dressed for travelling and she is armed with a light sword and a bow. On the way, Ethan describes Tyrnador and what to expect. He explains that true Sorcery can be used, but it is vulgar in this place. Vidaniel understands. Ethan contacts Cal via Icon and tells him to expect him in three days.
- The Door to Tyrnador opens in Scarlet, the Ventarian capital. They purchase horses and set off to the south along the Watchman’s Road towards Tyland Mill. Ethan and Vidaniel say little to each other on the first day.
- It rains steadily on the second day, and Vidaniel comments that it has been an age since she travelled like this. She asks about Ethan’s plan to deal with Lord Wynterlyr and rescue Lady Sophia but Ethan says that he would prefer not to speak of it. Lord Wynterlyr has many allies and he doesn’t know who may be listening. They travel on.
- That evening, Ethan considers whether to contact Abbie via Icon. It has been a long time since he spoke to her. But before he can give it much thought, Vidaniel spies the Icon and asks about it. He pockets it and changes the topic.
- On the third day, they cross the Dusker River and reach the little town of Tyland Mills. People remember Ethan and they are pleased to see him. The Mayor (Prigg) tries to sell him some wares and Ethan purchases Prigg’s entire stock of clothes, even those which were awaiting repair. He talks with Salthia and some of the Fellowthongs Dwarves who took over the Good Omen Inn, and eats a hearty meal there. Sheriff Cal joins them whilst they eat. Ethan introduces Vidaniel and Cal shares what he has learnt about the Necromancer so far.
- Cal is pretty certain that the Necromancer is a Stair-capable threat but clearly he wanted the Elven Trees from this realm. One was destroyed by the humans rather than let it fall into the hands of the enemy, but the other still exists in the elven lands to the north. Cal has been considering taking a trip north to study the tree. There seems to be little more that he can do here.
- Ethan asks about the dead Crawler, and Cal snorts. From his point of view, it’s a Godling - a weapon from another world. He’s seen one before that Lucien dealt with. Cal doesn’t know where it came from, but he considers the matter resolved. Ethan isn’t happy with the depth of Cal’s investigations or his conclusion but he says nothing.
- Ethan asks if Cal remembers a belt that he lost to Yaeger in a poker game. (GM’s note - which Yaeger mentioned in Session 280) Cal remembers - he is surprised that Ethan now has it. Cal knows a lot about the Belt. He found it in one of his travels, but he too discovered its properties. He admits that it might have had something to do with his relationship to Jessamyn but he sought to lose it when it started becoming problematic. It was nice to have lots of attention but it became tiring after a while. He remembers being fascinated with where it had come from and who made it. Cal received it as a gift from the Dragon Highlord Sturmvald (who died in the Dragon War), but he never figured out who made it. It wasn’t made by Dragons - he suspects one of the ancients, someone like Hephaestus or perhaps one of the dwarven smiths like Brokkr. The way it was enchanted, he wondered if someone like Loki had something to do with it. Cal remembers asking Lucien about it but he was evasive.
- Ethan explains that he plans to deal with Lord Wynterlyr but Cal is sceptical. Faeries are dangerous and bargaining with them is treacherous. Ethan accepts this with good grace - he says nothing about his experience with faeries.
- Ethan and Vidaniel head north into the forests of Tyland, into the place that the locals call the ‘Forbidden Woods’. Everything is much quieter there as if the forest is holding its breath. A tiny faerie, Whistlercow, calls down from the branches of a pine tree and asks what they are doing in Lord Wynterlyr’s domain. Ethan recognises the faerie and he asks Whistercow to announce their intention to bargain for ‘His Lordship’s freedom’. The faerie smiles and flies away to tell his master.
- They reach the deep well where Lord Wynterlyr is imprisoned. All is quiet and still. Ethan asks for Vidaniel to remain with the horses while he bargains with the fey lord.
- Whistlercow has been joined by another pixie that Ethan does not recognise. They watch to see what he will do next. Whistlercow suggests that Ethan should simply jump in. Smiling, Ethan waves his ring-hand and a staircase forms around the perimeter of the well. He descends using the steps.
- At the bottom of the well he finds a damp grotto which lies below the waterline. He descends under the surface but does not get wet. It is still breathable air below the water. In the grotto he finds a faerie noble with a scarred face. The noble looks bored, and he waves to his attendants to be silent when Ethan approaches. The attendants had been trying to amuse the faerie lord with their music and songs but it looks like Lord Wynterlyr has long since tired of their melodies.
- Sad looking faerie hounds look up as Ethan approaches. There are a lot of them here but they seem to be sluggish and depressed. Some of them hardly move at all.
- The faerie lord waits for Ethan to speak, and Ethan decides that he will not make the first move. He can read the faerie lord easily - the lord wants his Ring and will make any promise to secure its return.
- At last, the faerie lord gives in and asks if Ethan plans to return his Ring. Ethan says that he will bargain for Lady Sophia’s return if he can be convinced that he truly has Sophia. Pleased, the faerie lord suggests that they haggle. He points to one of the faerie hounds and indicates that he has her, and he is willing to propose a trade.
- What follows is a lengthy dialogue between the two of them. Ethan is relaxed and takes care in his language. He is in no hurry to strike a bargain, but rather to tease out what Lord Wynterlyr knows and what he can extract from Lord Wynterlyr. Lord Wynterlyr has already made multiple attempts on Ethan’s life, and has called in favours and made promises in order to solicit outside help - Ethan wonders if Lord Wynterlyr has many resources left to him.
- Ethan carefully draws him out. (GM’s note - Ethan has Dominant Rank Warfare, and using FitD Vergence rules, he scored a Critical success during his negotiations) As the conversation continues, Lord Wynterlyr becomes more irritated. The Ring will grant him his freedom and it is so close, and yet he cannot seem to pin Ethan down to agree to a deal. Each time that Lord Wynterlyr thinks he has an agreement, Ethan seems to slip away only to start the negotiation from another perspective. Lord Wynterlyr’s brow twitches. He can’t seem to figure out what this pesky mortal wants - surely it can’t be to toy with him.
- Ethan wants assurances from Lord Wynterlyr that this is the real Lady Sophia, not a doppleganger, a shadow or any other ploy. He asks for details as to how he stole her in the middle of the Dragon War despite being imprisoned at the bottom of the faerie well. He wants to know how he transformed her and to be assured that the reversal will be permanent and not subject to any strings which would nullify the purpose of the bargain being made. He wants assurances that Lord Wynterlyr will quit this realm and leave Tyrnador alone. He wants assurances that Lord Wynterlyr will not target him or any of his friends or other interests. He asks questions about his plans for the future, and then wants assurances that Lady Beethania will not be harmed or targeted directly or indirectly.
- The conversation goes on and on. Lord Wynterlyr tries to remain calm but Ethan can tell that the faerie lord is very angry with him, but he is so focused on the Ring that he is underestimating Ethan. Meanwhile, Ethan is learning a great deal: the faerie hounds are transformed people and Lady Sophia is indeed among them; Lord Wynterlyr doesn’t know how powerful, well travelled or well connected Ethan actually is; and Lord Wynterlyr has run out of favours and assets to leverage. No more attacks have come for some time because he has nothing left to offer.
- But Ethan is not completely sure, so he continues to play Lord Wynterlyr, figuring that eventually Wynterlyr will either crack or he will come at him with everything that he has left. The faerie well is an excellent place for an ambush and Wynterlyr must surely have some bodyguards left. It can’t only be the two tiny pixies - or can it?
- The hours roll by, night has fallen and they are still talking. Wynterlyr offers Ethan a beverage but Ethan refuses it. Wynterlyr is running out of patience. He wants the Ring and yet he feels that Ethan is not being serious about bargaining with him. Wynterlyr doesn’t like his time being wasted and yet he has no alternative.
- The conversation turns to the Crawler, and how Wynterlyr made the Ring from its shell. Ethan is fascinated by this. Wynterlyr smiles at this - the Crawler is a primal force and he took a piece of it to create a powerful tool. Wynterlyr brags that his domains are vast and he goes where he wants, and takes what he desires. There are many such primal forces across the realms, and he has seen many of them. Ethan asks him what he was before he became Lord Wynterlyr. The fey lord doesn’t like the question and says that he has always been Lord Wynterlyr. Ethan doesn’t believe him but he lets it go.
- The thought that Ethan might try to retain the Ring enters Wynterlyr’s head, and the fey lord tries to dissuade Ethan from doing so. Again, he underestimates Ethan as he seeks to weave a story of doom for the mortal who tries to wield such a device, let alone retain it. Ethan does not correct Wynterlyr - he listens and sagely proposes that if the device is so dangerous then he should bargain well for it.
- This placates the fey lord for a time, but the conversation goes on and on without resolution. The fey lord’s anger simmers away as Ethan continues to probe and test him. At last, Ethan is satisfied that there is nothing more to learn, no hidden depths that he has not explored.
- Ethan tells the fey lord that there is no bargain that he can negotiate with him that would result in a satisfactory outcome for him. The fey lord would find a way around the words of the agreement and cause mischief in some way. He has already been stabbed and cut by faerie weapons and he has no wish to continue looking over his shoulder forever. The fey lord sneers and asks if this dialogue has all been for nothing.
- Ethan shakes his head and says that their conversation served a purpose. He knows that he can’t deal with the fey lord, nor can he leave him here. The fey lord stands and says that he’s prepared to kill the faerie hounds one by one unless Ethan gives up the Ring. The tiny faeries Whistlercow and Sourmilker grab tiny spears and ready themselves for the command.
- Ethan expected this gambit. He gives a casual flick of his hand (using Force Push) and the faeries are blown away from the hounds. He asks the fey lord if there is anything else that he’d like to try - he assumes that Wynterlyr has significant control over the contents of the grotto - he has been here a long time. The fey lord is surprised and asks if Ethan plans to murder him - to become a feykiller. Ethan shakes his head - he understands the stain that this would leave upon him.
- The fey lord asks if there is some course of action that he has missed.
- Ethan stands up and begins reversing the transformation of the faerie hounds. Each hound twists and forms a new shape - the shape of a naked and filthy person. The fae lord acknowledges that Ethan clearly knows some faerie magic, but Ethan ignores him. Ethan goes to check on Whistlercow and Sourmilker - both are a bit frazzled but they quickly gather their wits when Ethan addresses them. He asks if they are able to travel and they nod. Ethan tells them that they are free for a lunar month, at which time they should attend him. They look at the Ring and agree. Turning his attention to the wide-eyed musicians, Ethan declares that he no longer needs their services in this place. He frees them from their obligation to serve his ‘predecessor’ and he suggests that they attend him in a lunar month. The entertainers take their things and leave.
- The fey lord gives feeble protests as the situation becomes clear. He is no longer Lord Wynterlyr. Ethan has accepted the title and the title has recognised him as its true bearer. The fey lord makes further offers to aid Ethan and share his knowledge but he is further ignored as Ethan tends to the poor people who have been restored. One by one, he helps them to the surface where he promises that clothes will be provided.
- The fey lord continues to plead with Ethan not to be left forever in this prison. He realises that Beethania’s curse affects him as an individual - it does not target the title or the Ringbearer. Ethan continues to ignore him which drives him into a rage. As Ethan tends to a shaking Lady Sophia and assures her that all will be well, the fey lord that was Lord Wynterlyr finally attacks him with a knife. Ethan grabs him and snaps his neck like a twig. It is over so quickly. Again, it seems that he is right in his calculations - while the fey lord lived he could always exert influence over the Ring that he created; but killing him would mark him as a feykiller, unless of course the fey lord started the fight. He wasn’t sure that he could rely upon his status as a faerie lord to grant him immunity. He felt sure that if a fey lord had killed a goblin in the Shadow Courts that he would not have been punished for it, but Queen Mab might have looked unkindly on the precedent if Ethan had simply slain him without cause.
- Escorting Sophia and the last of the humans to the surface, Ethan finds that Vidaniel has been reassuring and clothing them. Many are greatly distressed - they have been living in filth, eating little but the occasional scrap of raw meat, and generally treated poorly. Lady Sophia is traumatised - she weeps in Vidaniel’s arms.
- Ethan returns to the faerie grotto one last time. He considers burying the body but decides instead to burn it using Sorcery.
An Invitation
- Cal is astonished as Ethan and Vidaniel return to town with almost thirty bedraggled people. That night the Good Omen Inn and every spare bed in Tyland Mills is taken, and the people of the town begin caring for the poor people.
- Vidaniel thanks Ethan (as Lord Wynterlyr) for his kindness, and she focuses on looking after Lady Sophia. Ethan quickly learns that many of the people are not from Tyrnador, and some of them have been Lord Wynterlyr’s prisoners for a very long time. Each is confused and disoriented by their sudden return to humanity.
- Ethan contacts Isabelle via Icon to explain what has happened. They talk for a while. She isn’t surprised that Ethan is now Lord Wynterlyr - she asks if he feels different and he admits that he does. He feels that he did something right in freeing the people that Lord Wynterlyr imprisoned, and if anything he feels older. Isabelle congratulates him and says that Hilda has been talking with Taneer. They seem to be enjoying each other’s company. Ethan promises to join them in a day or so.
- Cal and Ethan talk. Cal has never heard of a Lord of Gossamer becoming a faerie lord. (he doesn’t know about the Shadow King) He questions whether Ethan knows what he has accepted but Ethan explains that he had help and advice. He needs to meet Queen Mab but he doubts that she will object. Turning the conversation to the matter at hand, Ethan points out that it will take time for the people to regain their bearings and decide what they want to do next. Cal promises to take care of it, which surprises Ethan. Ethan says that Lady Sophia may take some time to heal, and not to tell Grant about it until she is ready.
- Ethan is on his way to talk to Vidaniel when he receives an Icon contact from Antigone (on Marindar). She explains that a cryptic message has been left for him. The message was delivered verbally - simply “yes, you are welcome”. Ethan asks Antigone to describe the messenger and she does so. It sounds like Hermes. Ethan thanks Antigone for passing the message along. He then contacts Isabelle with the good news that Hephaestus has extended a welcome to them. Isabelle is very pleased by this development and she urges him to hurry back.
- Ethan speaks to Vidaniel and tells her that he intends to leave. He hands her an Icon and asks her to look after Lady Sophia.
The Bronze Ship
- Ethan returns to the Stair via the Door in Scarlet, and then he contacts Isabelle once on the Grand Stair. Isabelle and Hilda are on the Eldar ship, and Isabelle offers to bring Ethan through. Ethan accepts.
- Hilda immediately launches herself at Ethan when he appears. She is very pleased to see him and she wants to tell him all about the discoveries that Taneer has made. Ethan asks for a cup of tea and then listens intently to all that has happened.
- The Bronze Ship hasn’t moved and Taneer has been monitoring it and the debris field for some time. The Dwimmerlaik Voidship has been mostly destroyed and is currently inert. It may still be possible to salvage part of it, given time. Hilda is fascinated by all of the different starships and where they might have come from. She has been drawing some of them - she shows him many pictures but one catches his attention. It is a picture of Isabelle, looking very happy, surrounded by lots of golden objects. Ethan asks about this picture and Hilda says that she had a dream about Isabelle, so she drew it.
- Ethan and Isabelle discuss the invitation and how to get access to the vessel. Taneer has some suggestions based on his (its?) observations.
- After some planning, Ethan and Isabelle decide upon a spacewalk to reach the vessel. Then they are able to open an outside hatch (which doesn’t look like a hatch) by putting together the clues inscribed on the ship’s exterior.
- Once inside, the ship is pressurised. There is no obvious exit to the airlock chamber but there is a control panel and a series of clues written on the wall. Isabelle is fascinated - it seems that Hephaestus likes logic puzzles. She describes the problem but Ethan doesn’t understand why he doesn’t use his Warden abilities to simply open the door that leads further into the ship. Isabelle points out that the only door is the one that they opened which leads outside. To go further inside, the door needs to be ‘assembled’. Hephaestus clearly has knowledge of what Wardens of the Stair can do, and he doesn’t want to make it too easy. Ethan is a bit miffed - he thought that they were invited.
- Isabelle examines the problem for a while and then keypunches in a solution. She is correct and the wall reconfigures to reveal a metallic-hued corridor. A golden boy and a golden girl are waiting for them. Both the boy and girl are not alive - they are both machines. Both give lifelike smiles and they welcome Isabelle and Ethan. Ethan asks if Hephaestus made them and the girl nods. The golden boy asks for their names, and he offers to show them the way.
- Ethan is suspicious and he asks where they are going. The golden girl says that they will take them to the next test. Ethan shakes his head - he isn’t interested in being tested. But Isabelle tells him not to be a spoilsport and she encourages the golden children to lead them on.
- The next chamber contains a massive mechanical device of spinning hoops, like a complex planetary system. It is a work of godlike beauty, spinning, weaving. Isabelle is fascinated by it - the movement is almost hypnotic. Ethan asks what the test is, and the golden boy simply points at it in response.
- Frowning, Ethan uses Eidolon-Sorcery to study it whilst Isabelle produces a device to do the same. Isabelle cannot see a problem - the machine is functioning perfectly. Ethan agrees that the machine is performing very well, but not quite perfectly. There are some imperfections that Eidolon would correct and he wonders if that is the test. He decides to look deeper into the machine’s purpose and finds that it is capable of moulding Gossamer Reality in this place.
- Ethan wonders what will happen if he makes adjustments to an Olympian masterpiece. Will Hephaestus be pleased, or offended? Ethan decides upon a Divination spell and he gets a strong reaction - they are being watched (presumably by Hephaestus himself) and the Olympian is excited by the decision they are going to take. He thinks that Hephaestus will be pleased but he is not sure.
- Isabelle looks over the machine again and asks what changes Ethan would make. Ethan takes time to explain them and Isabelle studies what the possible results might be. She concludes that it is unlikely to damage the machine, only improve it, and Ethan should try it.
- Ethan uses Eidolon-Sorcery once more and gently contemplates the spinning machine. With a touch barely more than a whispered breath, Ethan begins his adjustments. In a few minutes, he is done. The result is anti-climatic - there is no visible difference to the way the machine moves.
- The golden boy studies the machine and states that the machine’s ‘imbalance’ has been corrected. The golden girl agrees. Both golden robots seem pleased, and they gesture towards one of the solid walls. The golden boy then walks straight at the wall which splits open, revealing a colossal forge.
An Audience with Hephaestus
- Isabelle and Ethan follow the golden boy and girl across the threshold. It is warmer here but not hot. They sense that they are no longer in the same realm. Ethan can feel the strong presence of an Olympian and they follow the golden boy along gantries and platforms.
- The complex is vast and they pass many work areas where golden machines toil. At last they stop at a work space that looks like all of the rest, except that there are gold-leafed plants here and golden animals that behave like real ones. From a golden tree, a golden owl blinks down at them as they pass beneath it.
- Ethan can sense the Olympian but he can also sense fear. Taking Isabelle’s hand, Ethan calls out and thanks Lord Hephaestus for his kind invitation. He did not expect to have the honour of visiting Hephaestus’ workshops - they were merely curious and wished to explore and learn. Isabelle follows Ethan’s lead - she praises the beauty and skill of his craft.
- From a distance, Hephaestus asks cautiously whether she truly likes his creations. Isabelle says that she does. Hephaestus thanks her for her kindness. He has wished to meet her - to meet them both. He thinks that they could help him, and if they are willing to help him, he would be most grateful.
- Ethan and Isabelle glance at one another. They were expecting to explore, not be asked to help one of the Olympians. Besides, what could they possibly offer Hephaestus?
- Isabelle replies that they will do what they can to help. She refers to him as “Lord”. Her response pleases Hephaestus, but he still remains a voice in the distance. Ethan also says that he will help if he can, but he asks if they can speak face to face with him.
- Ethan senses fear from the Olympian but Hephaestus comes forward. He is a goliath-like figure, strongly built. One of his legs is supported by iron bands. However, he is terribly ugly. He wears a mask to conceal most of his face.
Hephaestus, Image from Mythic Battles Pantheon, sourced from Google Images
- Hephaestus asks them not to flee from the sight of his ugliness, and he seems relieved when neither Isabelle nor Ethan move from their spot. Taking a deep breath, the words start tumbling out. He has long wanted to meet Isabelle - he has heard such good things about her - about how smart she is and how good with machines she is. And he has wanted to meet Ethan. Hephaestus says that he has met many Eidolon masters over the millennia, but it’s been a long time since one as powerful as Ethan has come along.
- Both Isabelle and Ethan realise that they haven’t been looking for Hephaestus. He’s been watching and studying them. They struggle to understand why. Ethan can sense a mix of fear and awe in the Olympian.
- Hephaestus retreats to the nearest workstation and he begins tinkering. He tries to continue talking to them but he is so nervous that he stammers and can barely string more than a few words together. Hephaestus tries to focus on his project while he talks but this strategy does not work and he hurls down the damaged pieces onto the benchtop in frustration. Choking back tears, Hephaestus babbles that Isabelle and Ethan are so lucky. They are both so smart and so beautiful together. A sudden burst of fear grips him and Hephaestus pops back into view. He wants them to stay and he offers them marvellous gifts if they will help him. He begs them not to leave and shaking with emotion, he steps forth and kneels down before them and begs for their help.
- Hephaestus weeps briefly and thanks them both for coming to his aid. Stuttering, he explains that he needs them to help him to solve a problem that he cannot solve alone, and none of his fellow Olympians can or will aid him with.
- Hephaestus is lonely. He is married to the most beautiful woman in the cosmos (Aphrodite) and yet she recoils at the thought of his touch because he is so ugly. He is ugly because this is how his mother (Hera) made him. She threw him out of Mount Olympus when he was but a baby, and his leg was ruined as he fell. He has tried many times to win his mother’s respect and his wife’s affection but he has never succeeded.
- Hephaestus asks for their help in making him complete. To help him become the god that he should be. He thinks that with Isabelle’s brains and Ethan’s power that it might be possible to achieve what he has never been able to do alone. He has tried working with an Eidolon master before to heal his leg, and to make him complete but this failed. Hephaestus thinks that it will be different this time.
- Isabelle is stunned by the request. Ethan takes a deep breath as he considers the enormity of what Hephaestus is asking for. Ethan knows that it is possible for an Eidolon master to improve upon what already exists, and also to edit and incorporate new elements - but to do this for an Olympian seems almost impossibly hard. According to the legends, Hera made Hephaestus by herself, so he was incomplete when he was first formed. Completing him is one impossible task, making him desirable to Aphrodite seems even more impossible.
- Ethan thinks of the hand drawn sketch that Hilda made which showed Isabelle happy and being surrounded by golden objects. He wonders about Yaeger’s Belt and whether the artefact could be used as the basis for something to make Hephaestus attractive. He finds Isabelle looking at him and he takes her hand and kisses it gently. Ethan would like to help Hephaestus - he asks if Isabelle would like to do the same. She brightens and agrees. Holding Ethan’s hand firmly, she tells the Olympian that they will help. In fact, she already has some ideas.
- Hephaestus sheds a tear, and he thanks them both. Isabelle asks if she can bring in some equipment, and fetch Hilda and Taneer. Hephaestus brightens at this - he would like to meet Hilda.
- GM’s note: I thought of including Hephaestus in this Lords of Gossamer game more than six months ago. It made perfect sense to me to include a socially awkward and desperately lonely Hephaestus who greatly desired to be made complete so that he could be reunited with his wife. However, the reader can probably appreciate that this is not going to be easy.
Furthermore, there is likely to be interference if the other Olympians learn of Hephaestus’ efforts. Ares will not like the idea of Aphrodite’s attentions being diverted, Zeus may not like Hephaestus being distracted from his work or his slavish devotion to Zeus himself (given that Zeus is the only parental figure that shows kindness to him) and even Aphrodite may not like the idea of an improved Hephaestus.
Sure enough, this will all blow up somehow.
Some readers may also guess that Hephaestus is the factor which is interfering with Ethan’s divinations and a source of upcoming conflict between Ethan and Isabelle. Hephaestus idolises Aphrodite because she is the epitome of physical beauty but she is no match for his brains. The more time that Hephaestus spends with Isabelle, the more conflicted he is going to become. You can imagine him showering Isabelle with golden gifts because he values her, but it is a slippery slope. Will he continue to desire Aphrodite when he is made ‘complete’. We shall see.
As usual, a beautiful mess is coming. I’m not sure exactly how it will play out, but hopefully it will be an enjoyable story.
