12/15/2022 Virtuous Age Session 30: Return of the Prince, The Great Dome, and Bhishma Round Two

September 18^th. We begin this session stepping out of the Ways through a yawning portal with pillars on each side. We recognize the chamber from the Solarium. Aevum’s amulet device adjusts by itself and confirms we have arrived on our home plane and our time of arrival. (Spell focus now grants +1 CL in the Ways)

Our characters experience brief nausea upon our return, Arcanthorth collapses from the travel. We are all tired. We do not see Kailius either. Eventually we see him as an image in the portal- like he is falling away.

For Tena, she feels the Temple react to her presence; she feels she could cleanse the temple and make it her own.

Aevum also feels a connection to the portal and feels this has more stability to it than at first glance. The prince also feels Arcanthorth has been reckless with his knowledge of the ways.

We ask Arcanthorth about his strange behavior in the presence of Kailius. He maintains that you do not take from the ways especially someone lost to the ways. He was being cautious around an unknown entity. 

After some magical healing, with time being sensitive our characters ultimately decide to press on to the Dome City and the King. 

On the way out of the temple we revisit the statue of Agamotto and are amazed at how it discerns individual morals as well as his or her level of power with light and intensity. Arcanthorth: Chaotic Good with power intensity lower than ours.

We reach the night sky at 10 pm, it does not look like anyone has been up here since our last visit a short time ago. 

Out side the dome we see a large number of tents and military wagons of knolls. About a thousand “Howlers” and to our characters it looks like the dome is locked down.

We skirt around the Dome to find an entrance to see a wide mix of races and activity. Here there is torchlight with groups moving about. The Dome is on lock down. 

Kron separates himself from the group as they move through the crowd hoping out characters aren’t recognized. A woman intercepts Kron with seemingly benign conversation. 

However Kron notices she is armed with bladed scarves and errantly drops is name. At this, Kron attacks the woman and alerts the party who had a group of individuals following them.

Aevum approaches the scene and scolds Kron. Individuals draw weapons in confusion while the woman accuses Kron of being ‘corrupted and killed Talbot’. Other bystanders take to cover.

Our characters are able to leave the area, pass the gate and see a sign that indicates Kron as Talbot’s killer and corruptor of the prince.

Kron surrenders his weapons to his friends, Eabrossi carries Shieldbreaker.

We approach Garlack Greatskull accompanied with troops. They immediately recognize Kron.

Aevum says we have come to talk to the king. Kron is surrounded.

A lieutenant approaches and by the king’s council we are to answer for the accused crimes. Since the prince has approached honorably- the lieutenant will treat Aevum and our characters honorably.

Our characters are guided to a pair of wagons where we are invited to wait until morning. Word has been sent to the King. Watches are set up and soldiers look very uncomfortable.

Kron rests in a prisoner wagon, Zaigan stands watch. Aevum spends time in the extra dimension workshop. Tena sees one of the individuals that was following our group talking with the lieutenant.

Three hours go by when Zaigan hears the gate of the dome opening and closing- enough for one or two individuals to pass through the gate.

Zaigan has a late conversation with a guard named Iston. 

‘Pyerstrider of the Blacktar minotaur clan has pulled his support for the king. Not everyone believes the Prince is corrupted and believe the king is in great peril. It was Garlack who ordered them out here.’ 

Ultimately it is Aevum’s decision to escape or breach the Dome City.

At 6:30 in the morning we are roused, Zaigan buys Aevum one more hour of rest for a complete long rest and we are brought food.

We are led into and the inner dome. Our characters see several individuals gathered in the council chambers. The Lieutenant speaks with someone we realize is a tengu and Kamun the efrit. There are many resolute clan members here as well.

Iston takes possession of the partys weapons and we are escorted to the King’s council where most of the Clan leaders are present. We are greeted by Quovig who thanks us for surrendering peacefully.

The Blacktar minotaur clan with the members of the Luna clan have levied charges against our characters for the murder of Talbot of the Luna clan (rat clan and handsome beasts).

They suggest a trial in two days. Eabrossi presses for a meeting with the King for the Prince.

Formalities are observed and Kron is trusted in our group and we are taken to the Princes chambers at about 9 am. Arcanthorth is here waiting for our characters. Here we can immediately see this area has been searched and will discover an invisible magical wizard eye.

We leave to meet with the King, leaving Arcanthorth in our room. We reach the hall, turn and find the group of ambushers from our earlier disastrous encounter now guarding the door. They did not see us.

Tena casts a spell immunity on Kron to protect him from dominate person and we decide to try our luck with the servant’s access. Along the way our characters come across Iston who wants clarification on his role for us. We decide to have him accompany us.

Bhishma

Through the halls Aevum sees that he has more who adore him than not but Gossip is Aevum’s worst enemy.

We eventually reach the kitchen and the dining room and come to King Saxo. Seated, Saxo invites us to sit down. Zaigan searches the area, the king protests and at the same time Skullarus steps out from behind the curtain. The once King Saxo dissolves into Bhishma, Zaigan’s uncle.

After 3 rounds Kron kills Scelarus and Bhishma escapes into gaseous form for the time being.