EVENT #18: ENDGAME PART 2/2

[vivalamods]

Event #18: END GAME PART 2/2

Imperial soldiers are in high spirits as they board warships and pilots don armors. Their generals are at the helm, and even the Emperor makes an appearance in his large crimson and gold armor to lead those heading to Bavrecht and The Vault. Victory feels close.

The Corsairs are not alone in this battle though.

Citizens across both the Upper and Lower Isles have realized this might be their chance for freedom. Sympathetic groups had been reaching out to the Corsairs ever since the radio transmission had gone out, many of them those who had been protected by the Corsairs in some way before. Freed slaves and their loved ones, those who had been treated or given vaccines by Corsair healers, villagers who had been protected from natural disasters by the Corsairs, worshippers of the Old Religion, non-humans who had been second class citizens all their lives... Even some Bounty Hunters and Nobles reveal that they'd like to see things change.

With their new allies ready to take up arms and provide supplies, the Corsair leaders make plans to pincer attack the army, and bring Emery and the Will of Apollo home. The strongest of the Corsairs are entrusted to confront the leaders of the Empire and the Church of the Divine.

MISSIONS

Surround the Imperial Army: Once again, the Imperial Army descends on the Lower Isles with their generals leading the way. The fleets split, with warships heading for multiple isles where Corsairs were believed to be, and seeking out Flotsam once more. The Vault on Bavrecht draws the most firepower now that its location is known.

The Corsairs and their allies come at the army from two directions. Those waiting below on the Lower Isles and on sea, and those hiding in the Upper Isles, who will surprise the army with an attack from above.

Description: The Corsairs are spread across the map and will find battle in air, land, and sea. Defend The Vault or other Lower Isles locations, in the Upper Isles sneak into position to board ships and take the army from above. The Generals, including the Emperor's favorite, Quirin Blumstein, are all priority targets. The battle lasts several days, making it possible for characters to travel between battle sites at different times.

General Quirin Blumstein may be played by a log leader or written jointly by all participating players.
Additional General NPCs can be created by players and thrown into threads as desired. The Emperor can appear briefly but will not be seriously injured in this prompt, and his soldiers will enthusiastically intercept attacks aimed at him.
Additional NPC information is in the comments below.


Invade the Palace: Those who aided Odilo's escape from the capitol will remember the layout of the floating island and the expansive Varschein Palace occupying it. Last mission here had been outside and on the first couple levels of the palace. This time, the palace must be explored further to find Emery and any other allies being held prisoner there.

The palace has two known areas usually dedicated to holding people. One in the upper floors of a tower, the other in the underground floors. Spies have provided maps, and warn that both locations are miles from the easiest entrances to slip through. It could save time to attack the main entrance and go from there, but only if the Honor Guard there are neutralized quickly.

Spies also warn that the Pope of the Divine and a few other high ranking priests are guarding Emery. It's unclear where he'll be held at the moment the Corsairs arrive, as he has been moved a few times over several days. The Pope seems paranoid and is in a terrible mood despite being the safest one present, having been blessed with his own godly power. Emery has made no move to try escaping yet, but the Pope frets, regardless.

Description: Decide how to enter the palace. Take on those guarding the palace head on, or slip past them while others keep them distracted. Locate the dungeon where Emery is located and remove his power suppressing collar. From there, Corsairs must decide whether to leave the Palace or stay and fight any enemies not yet defeated.

Apollo's power cannot be used to attack the Honor Guard and other soldiers without cursing Emery, but it can shield the Corsairs. Apollo and Hades can, mysteriously, attack the Church of the Divine leaders without being cursed. Emery is currently an NPC. He and the Pope can be played by a log leader or shared among players.

Emery will be found in the tower prison, while other Corsairs who were taken are in the basement. Let the mods know if your character wants to open the Golden Door. See comments for more information on the locations.

The Emperor: Emperor Cladius Varschein II sees his generals begin to fall and is alerted to an attack on the palace. Enraged and bewildered, he returns to his palace to seek out his throne and conjure up his greatest power.

The final battle takes place in the throne room. Only those willing to give their lives should face him.

Status: Open
Description: Face the emperor in direct battle at risk of serious injury and possible death. Defeat him by either death or inability to fight.

2-4 participants may take part in this prompt. The Emperor will be played by the mod account.

Wildcard
Description: Not playing a fighter? There is much to prepare in anticipation of battle- traps to set, spells to cast on equipment and weapons, repairs to tune ups. Even an inspiring speech or a thoughtful battle plan for a specific island is in demand. Injured will need treatment and civilians who have little experience in battle might need help taking cover if they are overwhelmed.


OOC INFORMATION

-You may join as many open prompts as you desire. The final battles take long enough that someone might be called away to a different front as circumstances change.

-If you wish to kill your character (temporarily or permanently), feel free to DM blessmefather about any desired interaction with Hades in the underworld.

back to navigation
code credit

Comments

Re: The Emperor [closed]

[blessmefather]

Elsewhere in the gigantic palace, Matthias has been keeping guards busy on a wild goose chase. He doesn't engage them yet, with the threat of being cursed looming and only worthy of a true emergency, but he does what he can to lead them down dead ends or right into the paths of other Corsairs who have their weapons ready. Emery's freedom is in the back of his mind the entire time. No word yet or a summoning via the coins he had handed out before the battle, which could be both good or bad.

The battles going on throughout the capitol make walls and windows shake. He can sense defeated soldiers leaving the mortal realm and hear voices whispering spells between cries and crashes. When he pauses, seeking out signs of the souls within the palace, he picks up on large amounts of ether and spirit way up in one of the towers and somewhere down below. Emery could be either one of them. Thankfully, other Corsairs had headed to both areas.

He's just about choose a group to join when the Emperor comes crashing into the palace. Matt's heart sinks at the powerful presence that just entered. Emery's soul was powerful but had a gentleness to it. This soul was more of a sparking ember that could erupt into flame at any minute. It had to be the Emperor.

Matt turns and heads in the direction of the throne room. If the Corsairs had found Emery, they need to get his collar off quickly. If needed, Emery could hide in his throne room- even hide the others as well- but he'd have to recover some power first.

Re: The Emperor [closed]

[vivalamods]

Claudius' eyes dart in every direction as he guides his visions of the palace up and down halls. The Honor Guard are being picked off. There are Corsairs even in the dungeon down below, but he doesn't stop to look closer- his attention turns to the Pope and the tower. The most important prisoner must not be freed.

The False God is no longer surrounded by the watchful eyes of the Pope and the High Priests. The Corsairs are there with him now.

Claudius raises his hands out in front of him and starts casting other spells. First, a flurry of magic arrows to take the Corsairs by surprise and distract them from their task. A flock of arrows form out of ether in the air above him and go whizzing out of the broken window above the throne towards the tower from multiple directions. In a minute, the arrows come breaking through the tower windows to fly at Emery and his rescuers.

Re: The Emperor [closed]

[spacetogrow]

Ilphyl yelped. Spells coming from nowhere was a new thing, because it takes a decent amount of power to cast without line of sight... or allow for remote viewing. They dove for Emery, gathering that Ilphyl's protective spells would help shield the god.

Re: The Emperor [closed]

[theriflespiral]

Damn it all-- Natalia casually caught one arrow, and swirled her cloak to foul several others.

Mind, that cloak now had some tatters through it, but-- "Now!"

Now, instead of fighting the Icedancer in melee with support from Kaitlyn, they were in the swirling snow-trap of Kaitlyn while Natalia opened fire with her rifle to keep their heads down.

She looked at Emery's suppression collar...

And laughed. "Two years and they haven't updated these things."

She takes the arrow-- "Hold still."

And puts all that force she has into the single critical point she'd annihilated so long ago, when they made her the target of the nobles' most dangerous game.

It might sting, but this was something only Natalia could do.

Re: The Emperor [closed]

[frost_and_shinies]

The arrows, Kaitlyn soon realized, were magicked. Extra powerful, yes... But still limited.

Quickly, she switched from making more snow traps for the now downed Icedancer, to a solid wall of frost in front of her. Even that was pierced by an arrow, glancing at her side hard enough for her to cry out.

"Ngh-! Took a hit. Will be okay. Is he-?!"

Re: The Emperor [closed]

[blessmefather]

Matt, meanwhile, reaches the giant doorway of the throne room. He slips behind some of the large decorations right outside and listens. His sensitive hearing confirms the Emperor's presence, alone and standing still. From this distance, reading the man's soul is possible, and Matt concentrates. Hopefully he won't regret not teleporting away to aid Emery's escape now. Getting information on the Emperor could prove decisive though.

Immediately, something is unusual about the Emperor's soul, or the ether flowing through him. Unlike usual, the reading doesn't come to him clearly; only pieces get through. Is it a defense mechanism? Matt wonders. But what were the chances a spell had been created that could disrupt the ability of Hades to judge souls as they really are? Is it the ether from the throne? he considers.

He needs to get closer...

Re: The Emperor [closed]

[vivalamods]

Claudius isn't entirely surprised that the Corsairs block most of the arrows. They sent their best. But even the best get tired. No one in Esthere has the ether he does, and they can't do this all day.

The arrows stop coming for a minute while he adjusts his spell. Ice magic certainly made for a good defense against regular reinforced arrows. How would they deal with a delayed attack though?

He sends another wave of magic arrows flying to the tower again, seemingly the same attack again. But about thirty seconds after the arrows land- whether in a target or on the floor, they will send out a painful electric shock that could easily knock out Emery in his weakened state. Moisture, metal, or close proximity to the arrows are about to be a problem.

Deep in concentration, Claudius doesn't hear Matt creeping around near the door.

Re: The Emperor [closed]

[blessmefather]

The second time the Emperor summons arrows, Matt's ears pick up on the movement of projectiles flying out of the throne room. If he's using arrows, he's likely attacking a higher ground. The tower prison? Matt realizes. If Emery is there, it's worth the risk of approaching the tower- and the Corsairs must be getting bombarded anyway. A troubling prospect for escaping to a more secure location.

Matthias summons the entrance to the throne room of Hades and steps back into the dark clouds leading inside.

A minute later, he opens the throne room again to the tower where he can sense the coin he had given Ilphyl before. The familiar black fog starts to billow from one of the stone tower walls and spreads across the floor. A moment later, the others will be able to see Matt's hooded head emerging from the darkness in the wall, his arms stretched out to reach for Emery first.

"Everyone inside!" he yells before disappearing back into the dark, pulling Emery with him. If they move quickly enough, they might avoid at least some of the electric shock the scattered arrows are starting to spark with. Matt grits his teeth at the momentary burn and tensing of his muscles due to the sparks. Thankfully, momentum and gravity do the rest to heave Emery onto the smooth stone floor inside the pitch black throne room.