Coulerain Campaign - Session 9 Recap

As the Party climb the ropes to Little Bird's ship they see frost-tipped black feathers fall around them, following the path Morrigan took with Kai in her arms.

Once on board, the Party hear Kai's apology. He struggles to put it into words, Morrigan is next to him, offering comfort.

He tells them of his story, of his fear of death and how he wished to overcome it.

Dio asks if death wasn't beautiful for Kai, he says life after death is. He was searching for immortality for that but he didn't expect it to get this far. He wanted to survive, to help. He didn't want the first blade to touch him to transform him into a useless corpse. He says he wanted to take down Lilith and anything else that would come in their way. He accepted the deal because he believed it would be something else. It was not.

Dio tells him true immortality is achieved by being remembered, by being sung about in songs for your deeds, and he calls for the Party to unite and remove Lilith so they achieve that better form of immortality together.

Jotaro tells Kai to share his secrets beforehand. Kai asks him to come closer and apologizes for his actions when he fell from Lilith's dragon.
Jotaro calls him brother. Kai hugs him tight.

Morrigan closes in on Jotaro. She apologizes as well. For the fact that she, despite her decision, which after a conversation with Cammie, she should have respected and shouldn't have denied aid. But she denied it because she didn't know and still doesn't know, so she asks, what exactly does the child Valiar mean to him.

Jotaro says he doesn't fear death and doesn't blame her. He's afraid of losing one of them. He sees himself in the child, another lost soul he can help. He's the future of this torn word they sundered. A world they must restore.

Morrigan asks if he knows something about the child. He tells her he isn't important for a single reason as all children are important for every reason.
Morrigan has no idea what will happen with their deal, but she tells Jotaro to be prepared to run when the it takes effect, as he's the only one free of it.

Jotaro says they'll cross that bridge when they reach it.
Morrigan asks why he relates to the child. Jotaro explains that when he got his powers it wasn't pleasant, as there were other expectations and his powers were a hindrance. That's why he left his birthplace, to learn to control it. And in the Party he found a family that accepts him, a family with which he can do just that, learn to control his magic.

Morrigan says he certainly found a family as destructive as he is.

Morrigan then turns to Jorian and asks him to share whatever is troubling him. Jorian remains silent.

Kai casts a haste spell on Dio and says he's sorry again. It's an experiment, he asks Dio how he feels and Dio says "taller".

Morrigan approaches Cammie. She asks if she could come down from Satsumi. She clumsily does so. Morrigan ruffles her hair a bit and says their talk changed her. She says she wouldn't be here if Cammie hadn't said Morrigan reminded her of her mother. And asks for her name. It'd Kida, which means flower. She asks if Cammie means anything, it means Tigress.

Jotaro asks Jorian what's on his mind. Jorian has no words that could describe his thoughts. Jotaro gives him a pat on the shoulder and leaves him alone, but not after telling him that if he needs something he can turn to him.

Morrigan approaches Dio. They try to mend their relation as they've been on edge since the beginning. She asks him if he realizes that if he'd succeeded in his attempt to stop them they would all be dead.

Dio justifies his actions but says it is better to leave bygones be bygones.
Morrigan says putting the whole Party at risk after a rush of vengeance is not exactly justifiable. She understands they're both guilty, but the number of lives do not add up.
Dio tells her that her leaving Jotaro would have doomed the Party just as well.
Morrigan asks about the dream they had. She asks if the crystals were supposed to be used at that moment and for that person.
Dio says he got them on the night of the campfire when they were climbing the mountain. He says the crystals began to shine when Jotaro fell, so he realized they could be used then and there. If he could've used them on Olorin, he would've. He says he doesn't plan on losing any friends, no matter their bad relations. But if the Party is dis-unified, he won't be trampled so others can go scot-free of their actions.
Morrigan recalls the story of the person Dio loved. And how they were taken away. So he surely should know the pain he meant to inflict on her.
Dio says he's changed since then, and he says he wouldn't let his relationship put his friends at risk. He hasn't said this before, but if it wasn't for Cammie they would've all died long ago.
Dio calls for unity, for trust.

Morrigan says the Party has been together for a short while, and she sympathized with her kind because she made promises. She did not expect her promise ending up in affection. But things happen and it did. And while she does agree she should be more helpful, she'd like for him and the rest of the Party to understand that when you've grown up in an environment devoid of trust, one can't open up as easily.

Dio says he doesn't wish she opens up, he wants her to bury the problems of their past. Dio says she might have made a promise to some people, but they have a duty to millions, that takes precedence.

Morrigan promises to be of help in the future, but that will mean she keeps her promise. Because in the end of the day, everybody can and potentially will die, but one thing that remains after death, at least she'd like to believe so, are the memories we make along the way. And she doesn't have many good ones, but is hoping to make some, with Kai or with the Party. But being at each-other's throats with no respect will not lead to good.

Jorian is making circles around the deck of the ship, lost in thought. In a moment he heads somewhere with a goal, he heads to Kai with his arms crossed. He stands over him and looks at him, pauses for a while. He lowers his arms and extends his right to Kai with the words "A lot of lives are at risk at the moment, it isn't the moment for what I'm feeling to hinder my judgment." He stands with an extended hand.

Kai takes it and shakes it.
Jorian then lets him go and heads off again.

Meanwhile, Little Bird asks Linen where Doram Greyjay and Naergon Naylor are. He points at the spiraling dark energy that is spewing from the hole in the Lorian Sea where the Isle of Udun once was.

Their ship is suddenly covered in darkness as they hear whispers.

"When the blood of the last heir spills."
"Those chained shall be free."
"Of Destiny's two children, one will break the spear upon the great divide."
"And it will divide us all from them no more."

The Stranger appears on ship, wounded. He wishes to speak to the Party before they get their ring as that would prove more difficult.

Little Bird tells everyone to take a step back, he's wounded but still dangerous, as he assures them.

The Stranger seems regretful over the recent events. He calls Morreniel the Raven Queen an old friend and promises the Party that when the newcomers to the Paths that she ruled over come they will owe him a favor he means to use.

He threatens the Party with the next King of Death owing him one, he threatens Morrigan that if Aryon Ravenknight and the Raven's Daughter do not kill each other before one ascends to the Shadow Throne she will be next to experience their ire.

He turns to Kai'ral to explain how he has not thwarted him in the slightest, but only missed an opportunity.

Jorian interrupts, calling the Stranger a con-man. Before he can finish, he's thrown off the ship but Little Bird's quick reactions conjure a wind that catch him and carry him back.

"How many of those can you manage, Little Bird? Because I bet I can manage a few more."

After that the Stranger continues without interruption. He says he warned the both of them that he has other candidates and that he's recently found a new one, a better one. One that's shown a fiery spirit.

The Stranger then tells them he will rest and watch as their pathetic mortal lives take their course. He leaves them with a warning and a hint. He is a Pathmaker, as is their ally in the Path of Light, Lumetan. As such he is aware of the natures of his name, a name that has not been given yet has existed since he has, which is a long, long time, even before the Paths were the Hegemony. He says he wished for this stability they all enjoyed to continue but that cannot be now, it is inevitable that the great divide, as he calls it, is broken and opens up.

The Stranger tells them to listen for the winds from outside when they do open it, coming from gates they can never close. He tells them to prepare for unforeseeable consequences. And vanishes.

Jotaro asks who this being was. Kai says he's a being he didn't want to be entangled in their paths, but that if it bleeds it can die.

Little Bird tell them to not be so sure about that. She tells them of the Pathmakers and how if Lumetan is wounded they are in great trouble.
She tells them of stories of past that she cannot share but if they are true then truly what went down in Udun will change everything.

Morrigan asks about Harn'Istar and the boy. Little Bird says that if Harn'Istar is showing interest then the Path might finally have a Prince and that might just be Valiar Breakspear.

Little Bird tells them about the Siege of Kovacs, of the food that is running low and of the final plan for the Bayfrontians to ambush the armies of Lumerin at dawn when they arrive.

Jotaro asks about the Clockmaker he saw in his brief encoutner with death. He asks if he saw the same person as Lumetan. Little Bird tells him that maybe Lumetan has shown his favor and that is why he is still with us.

Cammie tries to recall a prayer to her tribe's old gods for help but cannot remember it.

Little Bird tell them to get some shuteye as they wont be getting any under the siege.

Cammie paces around the deck while the others sleep but eventually heads below deck to rest.

Jorian waits for Cammie to return and fall asleep. He wakes up Kai and wants to show him something above deck.

Jorian points at a star in the distance at one end of the ship. He asks if he sees it. Jorian seems to think things over. Then he presses a dagger to Kai's throat, warning him to make no spells. It's time for a heart to heart, he says.

He says he has been waiting since the day Olorin "slipped".
Kai asks if Jorian thinks he doesn't regret that. Kai says he's made his peace, Jorian tells him he's not dying tonight. Jorian tells him he's not as forgiving as Naergon.
Jorian warns Kai that if he fucks up one more time he'll be meeting death.
Kai says very well.

Kai offers some words. After Lilith is dealt with chaos will emerge. Somehow and someone has to control that chaos. He's not saying it'll be him, as he for one enjoys chaos in its natural form not in this twisted one. But things will happen in one way or another and they will need to provide their aid, so whatever happens, and should the Stranger come for both of them, he'd rather stand beside all those who sleep now and someone who was also temped by his deals. Preferably not someone who's going to slice his throat while he sleeps.

Kai asks Jorian for a favour, if and when Kai dies, not by his hands, that Jorian would find the one who leads the Path of Flames, the one the Stranger called Finniel, simply inquire of what happened at the Leveilleur estate. Write it down and place it there, at his grave. In turn, he would also honor any request of his, if he perished, and no, he would not bring him into undeath, no one in the Party deserves that fate.

Jorian says his place is with the worms below the earth as he has no home. So he has no need of that favor. But he has advice, he asks Kai if he wonders why men build such great empires despite their short lifespans. Has he ever heard live life to the fullest. Men do that best, it's men who do the most with what little they have, for they know their days are numbered. Kai should take that advice.

Little Bird has been listening the whole time, invisible next to the main mast, she says Linen was more pessimistic about the two of them but she likes the outcome they've reached. However she's angry so she pushes them over the ledge and lets them hang there for a while before she tells them they will be sleeping on ropes next time they wake up. Both of the retire to their quarters.

The next morning Little Bird wakes them up with the sound of thunder.
Little Bird tells them of the siege spell that makes magic food poisonous as she beats the berries out of Cammie's hand.

As they land in Kovacs they see the horrors, they smell the starvation in the air. If Udun was the horror after death, this was the horror preceding it. Children gather around the ship and desperately for food, Little Bird tells them that other ships will arrive carrying food but they're not pleased by this.

It is raining as the Party make their way up to the keep. A woman stops them in their tracks, looking for Doram. Once she lears he has perished she falls but Jorian is quick to catch her. The woman is pregnant, with Doram's child from what the Party can gather. Little Bird and Jorian calm her down, Little Bird calls her Ari and tells her there's some food stowed away in the ship for her and her baby. She thanks them and heads back to it.

They find Amariya Lorr in a small chamber not befitting her position as the head of the Lorian Triumvirate but the room isn't the only thing she's been depriving herself of. Amariya is weak, physically she is starved, she speaks in a low and slow tone and barely moves her body as she gestures.

She tells Morrigan her horse is still alive as it proved inedible, unlike the other horses, cats, dogs and even rats, none of which now occupy the city.

Linen says she should eat more but Amariya refuses to take a bite more than what is afforded to her people, she tells the Party of the food distribution policy, how the nobles are the last in line and how some of them disagreed. Their skulls are still on the walls of Kovacs for it.

Linen asks about evacuating some children and Amariya says that if he can find the 100 to 150 children that would fit and convince the tents of thousands of other mothers in the city that they should just wait he's free to do so, but most likely he'll cause a riot that will end up killing more people than he wishes to save. They're stuck there, their only way is out through those gates, into freedom or into death.

She calls Kai forward. She asks them all to swear temporary fealty with the rest of the Party. They show support for the tiefling so Amariya shows mercy, she drops the act of fragility and stabs a knife between Kai's fingers. She was thinking of taking a few fingers for the treason he's committed, usually she'd take a hand, but now is not the time for that.

Amariya Lorr names Linen Healbright captain of the Black Company as they leave and refuses to give Jorian, a commoner, an audience, as she has more pertinent tasks to attend to.

The Party are next escorted to Wella's chamber where they find Valiar. The boy jumps at Jotaro and hugs him tightly. He's grown since they last were together.

Wella tries to smooth over their past with her usual patronizing attitude. Jotaro is the one who disagrees the most, Wella did force them to kill her father by his words. Wella argues that she did not move his lips nor hands, she did not squeeze the air out of his lungs, and mentions how brilliant it is that Jotaro of all people was hurt by the death of her own father, apparently more than she was.

Wella gives the Party a short speech, a warning. She tells them of Amariya's secret, of the child she lost during the siege and how if they do not get their act together completely, if they let millions of sacrifices to go in vain, if they let Doram and Dorian and Naergon and everyone else who has followed and will follow to die for nothing, she will haunt them to the ends of Coulerain for death will not take either of them so easily.

The Party then speak with Valiar who shows them a crudely drawn map. He throws some bone dice and they reveal the natures of Tie Cuil, the Path of Life, Tie Gurth, the Path of Death and Tie Imbe, the Path of the Between, as well as Tie Gwath, the Path of Shadow. They're all empty, as the Stranger claimed, Morreniel the Raven Queen has fallen and new ascendants are vying for her thrones.

There is also another thing, two new lines on his map. Wella tells the Party that other people have been know to have the power of path divination, but the talk of new paths and their sanctioning, that is completely new. If anything were to go wrong, their top priority is Valiar, if Lilith Lumerin gets control over the Prince of Paths, then the mortals aren't the only ones who should fear the Clockwork Queen.

The Party leave Wella and Valiar to meet up with Jotaro's family. They find them on a small hill overlooking the walls of the city with large canons mounted and aimed at Lilith's forces.

Rei and Sophia are Jotaro's baby sisters. Rei looks overjoyed to see Jotaro whilst Sophia tackles him to the ground, slaps him and calls him a fool, of all the places he could go he chose this.

Jotaro exchanges a few words with his father, it is clear he has much colder feelings for his son.

Morrigan is finally reunited with her steed Onyx as Allen Kujo, the Baron of Kovacs and Jotaro's father calls him forth.

Allen Kujo leaves them to their duties but not before he speaks with Linen Healbright, telling him that some of his eastern comrades are in the city, medics like him, and that he appreciates their continued aid.

Jotaro and his sister Rei modify his arcane focus into a pistol that can fire bullets and aid him in the casting of spells.
The Party are then tasked with the repair of some of the canons, Rei explains the simple multi-phase process, the first phase of which has only forty-seven steps.
It takes some time for them to get the hang of it, Rei and the Party are covered in oil and dirt at the end but the canons are working.

Then a daily occurrence during this months-long siege repeats. The High Sentinel of Lilith's army charges at the gates. Rei tells them he's never reached them, the artillery on the walls always stop him.

They see a flash of light as Dun'Istar Tella'Estel descends behind the gates. Rei changes her demeanor as she sees the High Sentinel increase his speed. Today won't be a repeat of yesterday.

The High Sentinel crashes through the gates and engases the Ara'Oronte in battle. Tella'Estel fights valiantly but the High Sentinel gains the upper hand a couple of time and crushes him inbetween his massive clockwork hand. The Party see as the white robes of Dun'Istar are stained with blood.

They struggle to rotate one of the canons to help Dun'Istar meanwhile Kai and Morrigan rush to save some civilians from the rock barrage that the High Sentinel sent up, distracting Dun'Istar yet again with the safety of the city's people.

The Party and Jotaro's sisters manage to fire twice, every time hitting their mark as Rei follows the canon with her fingers, as if she's guiding it. That proves enough to take down the High Sentinel as Dun'Istar stands up and slices it in half with a disc of light.

The Party then rush to the gates to help it be sealed. They see Lilith's army marching slowly towards them. Spells are cast and Dio and Jorian are enhanced in their speed and strength. Dio single-handedly seals up a good half of the gate and Kai finishes it off with his catapult spells. In the ends most of them stand exhausted but the gates are sealed.

Dun'Istar Tella'Estel refuses the Party's attempt to heal him, those spells will not aid his wounds, not in this form he's taken, those wounds may never heal...

Jorian notices peculiar markings inside the city, small sharp footprints but before he can investigate a shout is heard from atop the walls and Linen calls them up. A child is outside the gates, at the foot of Lilith's Army, dragged by a drone that is just now becoming visible again.

A man has jumped the wall and rushed over the thousand or so feet that separate the walls and the besieging force. As he reaches the boy and tears him free of the drone Linen recognizes him.
"Julius, you idiot." Linen says. "It's a trap."

The tiefling medic turns to the walls and locks eyes with Morrigan. They both recognize each other, father and daughter.

Morrigan conjures up her wings and desperately flies towards him but it is too little too late as he's so far away. Lumerin swoops down and takes hold of him, flying back to the safety of her army's ranks. Morrigan is shot at by a volley of the clockwork soldiers and is wounded, Kai calls her back and she retreats.

Kai covers her eyes but she pushes his hand away, she needs to see this.

"Look what I have here, dear Sarah." Liliths speaks in an amplified voice they can all hear.
"You know, I would've used him to lure you out as he is, but since you deem it fit to mark my servants with the mark of your Raven Queen, it is only fit I do the same. Don't worry, mine is much more non-lethal. In the long run, at least."

Lumerin thrusts her arm through Julius's chest and takes his still beating heart in her hand. Parts of her start to dig into him, slowly replacing flesh with clockwork. He screams. "Sarah! Don't look!"

The Party see the life give out from within him. And then the Clockwork starts spinning. Julius wakes, a warforged soldier of the Clockwork Queen.

"So, Amarthernilir. Shall we begin?" Lilith asks as they hear explosions behind them. At various points across the city's crossroads they see familiar explosions. The city has been infiltrated by invisible drones, the High Sentinel was a distraction so they wouldn't be felt, as the magic interference from the Ara'Oronte's combat would prove too much.

Linen grabs hold of Morrigan and shouts. "Valiar, Valiar!"

The Bayfrontian relief army will not arrive until dawn but the sun has not set yet. Dun'Istar Tella'Estel is heavily wounded, Naergon Naylor, Olorin Bronzebear and Doram Greyjay and his Black Company are gone. The Party stand alone at the walls of Kovacs. It is the eleventh hour of the Clockwork War...