"Frak this! My soul's my own and I'm keeping it!" Book 2 of the Corvid Chronicles

NB: Hookers are not an arm mounted multipurpose weapon useable for accellerating engagement into close combat. No matter how much you want that to be the case.

New Arc: Session 1: Once more unto the Breach (Seth spending the alimony) (Awarded) The flight is gonna be 4 months long. I will be Wraith 3, underneath Shepard, Seth and Ambella as Actual, 1 and 2. Our ships and armour will be refitted to scrap any Federation ties and markings, with the ships being renamed as well en-route. With a bunch of gear delivered, we got to the workshops and got ourselves busy. We fly to Husuno in a giant jumpship made of rock, then sublight our way to Yonerth, where we meet Shepard and then we'd receive our intel as we made our way. Jake Hail and Tress Krax. They're on a hostile atmospheric planet that's dotted around with islands amongst the Xonkaelara. The planet's a giant ass desert covered in silicate. We meet our contacts and plot our way through the system defences. The target leaves the planet in 20 days to destination unknown.  Hail is the commander of Anubis' elite crocodilic 14ft tall berserkers. A big ass scaly hammer to hit his enemies with. As we cruise past the Arcadia station, we fly close to masquerade our passage. there are markings all over the outside of the station, well known as the gatemarker for the Casino district. These markings radiate an empathic effect to lure the unwary onto the station. As we circle around, we hit the atmosphere and the entire desert is hitting 50*C easily, cooling off as you head into the city. We'd already got information about the city already, especially about the notorious market district as well as our contact. The city is centred around the an onyx and light absorbing pyramidal palace, with the markets stretching off into an area as big as a country. The pyramid is kept in constant light, so the damn thing's been engineered for this bullshit. Blatantly like some kind focus for whatever fucking power we're gonna have to square up against. The city's been built over one of the few seas of the planet, some way to get whatever water you need on a hellhole, I guess. The regular market has an area hundreds of miles outwards, centred around the hive of more legitemate scum and villainy that sits at its centre. We land in the space port, with Guil sitting in the ship, with the perimeter defence drones around and ready. We masquerade with Seth as the prime pilgrim, with Grey and I as the upstanding bodyguards, Ambella as our close up follower, and Bjorn as the walking anti-personnel rack as a deterrent to regular thieves. After a few minutes walking through. This hot fucking hellhole is a fucking shit-tip. Why is it so fucking hot? Uurrrrgghhhhh. We take the public transit system, we need to book a couple of places to lie low in. Conveniently, there's an office building available for rent, about 25,000sq foot structure, which we rent under Guil's alias. We plan to furnish it out with the basic amenities and trick it up, ready for our occupation later. Seth picks the name Lord Grand Rowynn Diose. And damn, is the public transit system here fucking quick, I wonder who sold their soul for that.  Upon arriving, we're made quickly aware of the insanely rigorous personal defence standards and wards placed around the house <See External Log Pamphlet>, but the Sugar Bowl's arena should make for a very nice betting cash dump, and a way to test out the hammer. The natives are a bunch of snake things, and there are a bunch of bug people just flying around and being a general nuisance. There are also Cadaverous's walking around as well as a few Power Lord's (the purple winged things that Boomba sent), and frankly a massive array of different creatures of all kinds. I do see some Avian heraldry all over, but none I recognise. The area seems bathed in a pleasant or relaxing area, due to the power circles floating in the sky infusing the entire area with stuff I can use. This'll be good, although the enemy can as well. Ambella is looking at someone, someone who is staring at a cloaked female standing about 5'10", who looks very displeased at our presence. She signals to Seth. Seconds later, Seth is bleeding from his nose and eyes, but says he's fine. A bunch of fourarmed rhino things are approaching, standing 16ft tall. After a brief inquiry, we leave and they watch us do so. Bjorn looks pretty nervous, looks like we got a herd/storm of bullshit raining our way. So we're definitely being watched. To cool it down, we tour the bazaar, stopping at a few shrines and a buying some trinkets as cover before making our way back, with Seth doing more shopping and picks up the name of a tailor. Bjorn decides to adopt a persona that's a weird cross between Igor and Dobby. Also the Traveller just walked past, and I can't even stab him, he doesn't seem to notice us though. We make our way over to Seth's tailor, passing past an incredibly highly priced store for power armour, and I mean 10s of millions worth. We finally make it into the tailor's. He is overly exuberent and erratic. I spend far too much time standing in the corner as Seth describes the dress he's always wanted since he was just a little girl. From the description, it's either gonna be a onesie with a loooot of extra elastic, or it's gonna have a shit tone of zippers. Now we're picking which silky fabric Seth wants pressed up against his skin, aaand he goes for the adhesive formfitting one. I really need to kill something in an arena, I wonder what those suits of power armour can do. The tailor does turn around and ask whether he wants anything for the dog (Bjorn).  After that's sorted out, Seth get's his measurements done and the price is sorted and overpaid for.  We return back to the ship and then begin scanning for anomalies around the ship, just to ensure there isn't anything out of place, then going over the mission briefing. The biggest obstacle being that everyone is watching us and gathering intel is gonna be a pain in the ass. There's no real way to use magic around here, and the target's bodyguard is also a precog, yet another shitlist, since we're all gonna have so much fun dealing with it. Seth plans to pose as a lord from another world attending some social engagements that may require the party to split, but hopefully I get to fight something this time. Juuust gotta wait for Seth to gather a group to watch and place bets on this. Guil grabs some location data and puts it up on the ship-screen. And thanks to our reasoning, that doesn't help in the least, so I will put it out of my mind and we'll see how the precog figures that out. Anyway, we wanna know if magic items work when regular magic doesn't. So Ambella decides to try out the item she's got, with Seth checking the future to find out how it'll end up going. After analysis, we can safely assume using magic items is not useable. There's just a massive montage of death and destruction as we watch the 'liberation games'. Pretty much anything they try and do ends up killing them off. Continuing to do work on an idea, we think of the staticyte, a magic nullifying item. But for now, we're going to spend the time working on surveillance. Seth works on his disguise, which involves Seth adding makeup and concealer, eyeliner etc. Takes him a while to get ready. MC is gonna be my callsign, I do not understand the reference, but I assume it has something to do with the hammer I'm carrying. Once that's all sorted, staticite is found in the blackmarket by Ambella and Bomb, apparently the blackmarket is an experience, and not the best one. Heading back to the stall, they grab a bunch of the material as well as some ammunition that has it at a discount.  As we walk up to the Sugar Bowl, using our persuasive abilities to get through the line and the bouncer, and apparently we were expected. A small avian comes up to greet us and lead us in. We're led to an extremely extravagent and elegant setup, with a shit ton of seating, exquisite materials and crystals. A humanoid red and speckled female is sitting on one of the chairs, looking down into the arena. She has solid eyes and conical teeth, definitely not human. Seeing us enter, the glasses float out and are poured out, as she greets us. Turns out, we aren't the people she was expecting, the bodyguard's done screwed up. We explain we aren't a senator. On hearing we are entering a fighter in for bets, she doesn't look so impressed with me, but asks Ambella to take a trick shot across the stadium, which she nails, and asks what sort of creature Grey is. She then analyses Bjorn and what kind of explosives he's toting around. An elven sharpshooter, a feline gunslinger, an elven mystic, an avian gladiator, and a dwarven explosive is how she classifies us. As we're led out, a group of crocs with an ominous beaked fellow that's guarding a second person who exudes arrogance.  Enuhous , a former senator that was having an argument with a dragon and high elf, who ran and stabbed the high elf and dragon, and was subsequently de-winged and thrown away. He's known as a master swordsman with barely a peer. In the arena, a massive eight legged creature is stampeding through its meal of smaller creatures. Seth has left a coin-bug in the next room, which Ernel has picked up and is playing with, not aware of the coin's significance. He's lobbying with the proprieter about adding the Sugar Bowl to his prestige. And to simply say that she will back him. In return, she will have her every need and want met. he picks up the penny again, noticing it gives him a rash, and she simply throws the penny into the arena. He continues along that same line of argument, he says he will be here till the Tiamat festival begins, and then he's leaving, and he wants an accord before then. A few minutes after he leaves, she's standing right next to us, dropping Seth's penny on the table. She's not particularly happy. Conversing with Seth, she decides to pit Grey against the avian's guard, and she will back the winner. In a spectacularly one sided battle, the enemy bodyguard was knocked out with a pair of shots. And we're in business with Holly. We get a free meal at one of the most exclusive diners in the galaxy. I wonder if I can get that waitress's number.

Session 2: One drink couldn't hurt, right? (awarded) Before we leave, Seth attempts, and succeeds in bargaining his way into a presidential suite, which is when we find out that Tiamat has moved her schedule of arrival sooner, which means we just lost a couple of days. At least we have a balcony looking right over the Sugar Bowl Arena, so that's nice, with those odd looking spinning whorls of power in the sky. Seth prepares to give his 'start of mission' speech/lecture. Apparently each of us have their own skillsets, but that we need to start thinking like Psi-corps, as we aren't soldiers, we're spies now. So we gotta change our pattern of work to fit the bill, while surviving on the way. Nothing us new vets didn't already know, but something we'd have to keep in mind. Gotta avoid that tunnel vision, or we'll end up like Cuntula. To make his point, he gets Bjorn to throw a grenade, there's a spark of power, and the grenade is caught, a complete lack of explosion, he throws the grenade back to him. Bjorn is Soooo sure it's just cos it's a dud. He gets Ambella to fire her regular rifle straight at him, once again there's fizzle, but no snap. Sternly examining the rifle, it begins to dawn on Bjorn that there's powers outside the material (explosives included) that are in this world. Seth serves to obfuscate this lesson by trying to explain quantum-psion probability. Maybe he's a retired lecturer?&nbsp; The Titan's armour is said to be covered in earth runes, with our knowledge on magic, that makes it fundementally impregnable. With Tiamat being on an earlier flight, we think something we're doing caused has sped up the timetable. Seth informs us he had found theories to get around the Peace Runes. The Peace Runes take life energy from all the inhabitants, and through this connection, it can then create a feedback to prevent violence. Robotic, without a lifeforce, are exempt. The markethold doesn't publicise this, as they don't want it becoming 'common' knowledge. We cannot rely on the Peace Runes for protection. As we discuss this, Guil is continuing his research, and Northorn is watching the Arena match. There's 12 creatures Orcs face off against one person. Copper Manwise, an offblood warrior. The applause is thunderous for the offblood, but nothing for the orcs. This fight is gonna be interesting, as the fog of war vanishes, and the Offblood tears through the Orcs, dealing blow after blow right through the orcs, shrugging off every blow that would be fatal to any mortal. He's playing with them, killing one at a time and playing with the rest of the contenders. And he makes it last, providing a spectacle that lasts 7-8 minutes. Our deployments are less to do with saving people, and much more to do with being a weapon that doesn't do what it's supposed to, or in other words, we are nigh expendable. Still, Ambella has a date, with Grey chaperoning in the background to be on the safe side. She wants to try figure out some more about the security system without compromising anything. Bjorn is measuring out the ammunition for the Volt to try create some staticite rounds for it, while researching some other, more explosive, applications as well, undoubtably. With Guil's assistance, the rumours have it that staticite is actually the bones mined from ancient celestial beings. At least that's the most conclusive results he can manage to gather. So it's physical properties can be altered but apparently its spiritual properties cannot. So there's an entire race of Mage and Psionic immune creatures that are either dead or skulking in the background. Great.&nbsp; Ambella and Grey head off down the road to go pump for information, while I head down to the Sugar Cube seeing if we can find some people to try and talk to, and also to take in the sights. There are a bunch of the surviving fighters attending the bar, with the top floor reserved for their use. On the winding down of her trip, Ambella gets the opportunity to tap into the guy's database, to manage to commandeer the ability to fully access the security force's teleportation system. While Bjorn is working on the Staticite, playing around with the items and apparently playing around with tech, apparently he was mumbling stuff about 'superconductors' and 'scientific breakthrough of the decade', and is working on trying to get a round built for the Volt. Guil is working on making the 'back door' into the teleportation system more 'secure' from outside tampering, while scrubbing out all of our own uses from the records/databases. While I socialise with the warriors around and get some decent compliments traded between them, I keep a low profile, but manage to integrate myself in amongst them. Bjorn, needing more cutting tools heads out to be a racist with Ambella in tow to prevent any overt damage.&nbsp; While arguing with the shopkeeper, Ambella makes herself more scarce, when enforcers turn up to observe, Ambella notices that the Bodyguard, Tress Krax is wondering through the market. She also notices that the Sheriff, the scary lady from earlier, is also in the area, watching. Some future bending mumbo jumbo, and she places her monocle back in her pocket, just to see the Sheriff walking up to her. After checking her permits, she tells Ambella to stay out of trouble. Bjorn walks up with his newly bought items and asks what Ambella did that got the attention of the scary lady. Typical. With it getting late, we all head back to the rooms to recuperate and recap. Seth and Ambella talk about the possible futures that would've occured. It also turns out that the bodyguard was simultaneously inside and outside the room, worrying as it is. It's also apparent that the bodyguard was/will be able to circumvent the immediate effects of the Peace Rune. For many of us, the dreams that night were not peaceful. Sitting on a beach with a pretty girl, seems like a pleasant time, afterwards. Wait a fuckin' secon-! I wake up in surprise. Seth reveals that we've been caught up in something much bigger than us. Good new is we might all survive. Bad new is we might not. Great. Good odds. Brilliant. He then tells us there's something he knows, and that us knowing might change fate. Ambella and I, after confirming the current future has the possibility of us surviving, both of us immediately leave. Northorn follows me down to the Cube and try pick up information on the most reliable or favoured weapons and armour dealers that the gladiators use. As we try to leave, a fellow is standing guard opposite the door. As we're sitting down to eat pancakes, we hear that Dragoncorps showed up last night, but are not allowed on planet, and are in orbit above. Fuck. I tell Seth, who didn't know. I need another drink. Grey goes off to go play with his pistols on the range, and gets to see some decent shooting from a ton of the best, who immediately gets fan-boyed by the spectators. After managing to wrangle a number and a drink date, Grey apparently failed to immediately notice that&nbsp;Commander Jade Hail The Acclaimed, General of the Titan armies was standing right fucking next to them. Great. Grey calls a meeting, and everyone turns up except for Seth, initially. As we're about to start the meeting, we begin securing the room, and spot a camoflaged imp that tries to escape and fails miserably. Initially refusing to betray 'her', he then ends up confessing that Holly Jaxx sent him. Not a surprise at all. On figuring out I was going to punt him into the arena using my hammer, he says he can kill himself with no trouble at all, honest. He's supposed to sit in the corridor and behave till we're done, encircled in a circle of salt. It's surprisingly easy to ignore the swearing after a couple of seconds. We then continue with Grey's coming out ceremony, where he tells us all about the fact he got a date with the bodyguard, and the general also turned up. Okay, fair enough. Seth confirms the story, then asks for more details on the training area, but there's no concrete plan yet, merely to be aware for the opportunity. We also confirmed that the bodyguard, while not blatantly precog, was definitely a telepath. We each are to take up a position in the restaurant where we're most able to take out a target in the restaurant. No other instructions, so it's time to prepare. But first, Seth, Grey and I are off to meet Holly, but with the imp having run off, I grab a table in the target area, and decide on a spot for the position, with an empty chair opposite me, and await whatever it is that's going to happen. After a light lunch, I head to a stool, after a while, I notice it's quiet, with no comms, I return to the arena-bar, the Cube, where the other participants are, to await further instructions. Not noticing anything out of the ordinary, I make my way over, accidentally run into someone, and then holding position while socialising in the bar. Apparently the only way to get back in contact with them is with messenger pigeons. Apparently the comms being down was some kind of glitch. Back at the ship, it appears that there's some drama going down. Typical Dragon Corps, can't go anywhere without drowning everyone in it. Or ice cream, apparently. Apparently the fights are going to get more and more intense, especially with Tiamat coming and the events and festival coming to a head, changes to the public transit during the time, as well as huge federation presence arriving. Apparently there's a galactic consensus about them being a complete and utter pain. When asked why? I just answer with with 'They're a pompous hammer that goes around and everyone else is a nail to them'. Outside, the weapons searches are much stricter, with anyone carrying firearms inside the designated areas being apprehended if discovered. We get a phone call saying that Jaxx will be having a meeting at our suite in 4 hours, with refreshments served ahead. The information then trickles through to us that Wraith actual has made his presence on the planet known to us, while also infiltrating dragoncorps as creatures into the general population. Bjorn tries to decide between having weapons on him outside of the sugar bowl and not exploding outside of the sugar bowl, a decision which is delayed when he gets back to work on the Staticite. An hour before the meeting with Jaxx, Ambella gets Seth, brings him up to date on the situation, and we all gather for the meeting over at our suite. Northorn has to stop for apples. First through the door is a chained imp, followed by two rabbit women, bearing food and things. Nervously, they set up the buffet table, clean and prepare one of the chairs, presumably for Holly, then they leave once Seth commands. A little later, a large tentacle headed creature comes in and looks around, checking the wards and the like, nodding at each of us in turn. Then picking the imp, as if it were refuse, places the imp in another spot, before gesturing to the door, which opens, revealing Holly, she enters and then he waves his hand again, wards go up on the door. Holly then begins to greet us all by name and rank. She then reveals she was able to see all of Grey's interaction with the bodyguard etc. She then brings up a recording of the incident, highlighting particularly funny points of interest. Great. Then she pulls up footage of the takedown of Dawn.&nbsp; Now that she's laid out the blackmail material, she asks what the fuck is actually going on. Seth explains that he can protect her investments, if he follows her instructions, since he has not interest other than completion of the orders. She then begins needling him about whether or not Seth is a precog. She then pulls out a coin, a knife and a grenade, asking which one she'll pull. After pulling the pin on the grenade, she's surprised it doesn't explode. Hah. It's great, and typical how annoyed she is that a technically fine explosive doesn't go off. She then asks what it is that we're saving her from, and we explain there will be a catastrophic failure of the Peace Rune. We don't know who, but apparently catastrophically stupid doesn't stop something happening, something backed up by Alfred the magical eldritch face. Still annoyed, she seems much more amenable to the deal that Seth offers. She wants something that she can start working towards. She's informed that when the time comes, she must hold a massive melee. The payoff is that she gotta close up for a few days, a bunch of lives in melee to set off whatever ritual. Turns out the mark has a 14 nuclear devices bought and stored hidden around, which apparently have enough power to take out the pyramid we're in. Which is convenient considering that Tiamat is arriving just in time for them to be set up.&nbsp; After a little more wheeling and dealing, she heads out for another appointment. 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Session 3: Crocs in a barrel. (awarded) As Holly Jaxx leaves, we all sense something. There's a pentagon of light in the air, and two beings appear, weapons out and looking quite confused. The squirrel and the gopher just suddenly appeared beside us. The gopher is the creature that Ambella went on a date with, Harlod. He'd been tracking the illegal useage of the transportation system, and he'd found that they'd been using our room as a spot. As Ambella begins lying and deflecting like a pro, we're all interrupted by a sequence of visions! "Gill’s voice comes over the comms, “Sir, I have a security breach on your room’s door.” You are standing there looking at Krax and Grey as Harold, and some five foot tall squirrel knight are talking with Ambella. Northorn walks past you heading towards his room with haste. Then the front door flies open. Krax already is firing his weapons with devastation effects, and has somehow moved in front of Grey, blocking him from any potential danger. Ambella draws her pistol and Harold does the same. The squirrel draws his sword and casts a small shield in front of him, Harold, and Ambella. The Crocile poor into the room as if after some great treasure, heads snapping around looking for their true target." Everyone takes a moment to gather their bearings. We all spring into action, seeing myself not in the vision, nor is Northorn, we jump down the balcony, activating our buffs and sprinting back up, planning to take our little leather friends by surprise. Back in the room, Grey's new date, the bodyguard of the scary titan, knocks on the door and makes his way in, surprisingly nonchalently. He warns Grey that someone powerful has identified him as a threat, and he's in mortal danger. Just as the introductions are coming to an end, we hear the soon-to-be-shoes coming up. "Okay, this is when shit gets a little interesting." Understatement of the fucking year, gunslinger. Of course, the badass lines is a little weirded out, when Tress whispers to the pistols and covers themselves in fog. I'm in the corridor at this time, facing down a full platoon of Crocs. So I do exactly what any hero of the psicorps would do. I pretend to be a hotel guest and turn the fuck around. All part of my cunning plan. Once the enemy are engaged, I will take them head on! from the side.&nbsp; The fuckers had a breacher key! Well, at least this means I can get them a little better. As the first four enemies go through the atrium, they're turned into granite by Tress' flintlock pistols. As they bunch up, running their way in. Northorn and I stop, and watch them. Fire unloads onto the incomers. looks like we're okay with lethal force. I am going to enjoy this sooooo much. Seth's magics throw one of the crocs clear across the room, and one of the statues has turned to dust. Bjorn considers using one of his shaped foundation charges to try and blow the whole column of enemies, until he remembers about Newt-on's Third Law, and whatnot. My train of thought is interrupted, however, as an anti-structural melta grenade goes off, setting a large vista in front of me in a lot of fire and pain. I'm a little disappointed, but I can still see a path to wade into the enemy. That's when the comms go off, Grey and Tress have vanished. Great. I charge into the side of the enemy column, swinging my hammer in a wide arc and dropping three foes to the floor. With my dagger, I lunge, piercing the enemy through the ribs, ending its life with a single slide. The dagger seems happier. I hear a roar of flame behind me as Northorn unleashes his flaming breath, finally. As the wave of fire engulfs me, I manipulate the strands of psionic energy, and the fire flows harmless around me. It does that less harmlessly around those I've been fighting. The smell is making me, and the dagger, hungry. That's when the vision of a japanese advert appears in the room, electrifying the two closest to me, denying me of righteous kills. Jake Hall, ladies and gentlemen. With Seth mindslapping the last one into surrendering, we get the name of the one who ordered the attack from one of the unconscious within, before he's turned to dust. Enuhous (Anus). Jake, quite nicely, fixes the furniture. Seth gives the fellow the opportunity to go and report what he's seen here today, or continue his mission and die. The croc thanks us profusely and legs it. There are also no bodies or equipments on the floor. There go my plans for free boots. That's when 'Claws' is introduced by Tress to the Titan. Okay. The target than has a nice jovial chat with 'Lord Rowan', before teleporting back to his room. Tress makes a bunch of awkward words, then legs it.&nbsp; Now, back to the daemon on the table. After a couple of seconds of begging, Seth agrees to release him. So he's released at terminal velocity into the arena. A few more words, as some post-action beers are passed around, we allay the suspicions about our own selves, and get a little more information on the angel of swift retribution that haunts the area, the Sheriff. Apparently appointments are not the friendliest things, and do get much shootings done. Grey's new task is to build trust between us and the target's crew. We need an in, as it's been made abundantly clear (if it hadn't for the last week of prep and research), we cannot engage this foe in combat. There's also the fact that door opened conveniently for our nice little welcoming party. While us mere mortals went to sleep, Grey and Ambella head out. While I'm asleep, things happen. Apparently Tiamat, hearing more about this, will be arriving in just days. The squid-headed creature that was here less than a few hours before bedtime was found dead. He'd been trying to buy Staticite, and our very own furry friend is now having a date with the most likely killer. Oh, and apparently Cuntula is back. I feel like they should've woken me up for that. I've made my position on him very clear.&nbsp; Stryder is back, and apparently stronger than ever. With the box in the apartments, we're much better off. Now to prepare ourselves in case he gets over here.&nbsp; A few minutes later Ambella returns, tells me it was just a false alarm, and heads off to bed. I'm both relieved and disappointed. I really wanted to strike that fucker's head off of his shoulders again. Fuck that guy, I'm gonna replay the death scene a few more times. &lt;Apparently the cat had an interesting night, especially considering that he almost came back home with FUCKING GILLS?! Apparently he thought he became a man when he fended off a horde of marauders, but nah, the got upped one when he done fucked the giant fish.&gt; Added in his retrospective memoirs Added in his retrospective memoirs Seth requires a certain resource. Mithril. And the ability to find this extremely rare resource would be a damn fine skill. The only place to go are the abandoned mines over in the far distance. The idea is to be combat ready, drop in and find mithril in an abandoned mine, search for any nuggets that've been missed by the last few millenia of scavengers and drifters who survived the trip here. As we're racing over to our little mine site, all is initially going well. That is until all of a sudden, the engines get killed. How many fucking EMPs can one crew run into?! Ah, it wasn't an EMP, looks like an egyptian destroyer is hovering right over the mines. Typical. Oh and it gets better, its Horus. The mine that was supposed to be dead is also very much alive and awake. The mine is powered, massive as fuck and guarded. So apparently its our turn to have the information out of date.&nbsp; I don't like the feeling. We transfer over to the Cadet, with the intention of arriving at an air shaft for the mines, on the outskirts. Moving in and hopefully we'd meet minimal company and access some hopefully overlooked section of mine. We make our way down. The place is entirely well lit. Bjorn, having managed to put his helmet on the wrong way around, decides to try sliding off a cliff, before Ambella manages to catch him. Undistracted by this, we notice a massive workforce of insectoid people with collars. So this place is definitely a fully armed and operational mining station. Taking up positions, myself guarding the back. Of course Bjorn forgets to bring the mineral scanner. What other dwarf could forget to be carrying a mineral scanner on a mining trip? Right? Apparently, we're supposed to avoid anything that looks even remotely like a dragonling. Oh boy. On the plus side, Bjorn's managed to fingle out enough mithril to fill a bus. Further down, we catch sight of several 'overseers', who appear humanoid. They're supervising the bug people digging out what appear to be completely worthless rocks, which Grey overhears as being shipped out under armed freighterloads. Further in, there are even two draconians. Y'know, like one of the ones we're supposed to avoid at all costs. The ones doing paperwork. Seth fiddles with Bjorns helmet, and they both peer into the distance for literal minutes, before they finally actually start seeing things. Honestly, they looked a little stoned there, but they do find what they're looking for; mineral deposits. We figure out that these rock formations are completely artificial, with no signs of regular. It appears that they're excavating something not far from the surface of this rock, which is radiating some kind of energy. Not to mention that down the shaft over their is an insane amount of mithril. There's enough mithril and radioactive substance that, if combined with about 14 nukes, would be enough to crack a planet in half. When Ambella goes to take a look, Seth just vanishes into squiggly air. Typical. Followed immediately by Ambella figuring out the minerals before the worst dwarf in existence. Seth pops back into existence, looking extremely ruffled. Apparently he already knows about what's about to happen (probably another cataclysmic event). Conveniently, over the area we need completely wiped out is a floating figure of explosives, aka that destroyer over there. All we have to do is get it to use the entire mine as a shaped charge to blow up the ship. I am quite literally laughing my ass off. Thanks to my mercenary thinking, all we have to do is put a completely normal but incredibly stealthy person on top of the deposit with a low-yield beacon. Once there, we grab the maximum amount of mithril we want, and then set the whole thing alight, causing a minor continental disaster. All we have to do is figure out if it is at all feasible to rescue the enslaved workforce. Seth begins preparing a ritual with Ambella as Grey and Bjorn go out to set up the largest party popper Tiamat will ever have seen. The count begins... Rocks fall, everyone dies. As the warship tries to move its bulk, rocks start flying up, and people start dying. Apparently a battleship and several million tons of rock can't occupy the same spot amicably. The digsite is completely covered once again, it'll take them decades to get this mess sorted out. Chapter Meme:&nbsp; <a href="https://i.imgflip.com/2r0y8s.jpg" rel="nofollow">https://i.imgflip.com/2r0y8s.jpg</a>

Session 4: Mo' money, mo' problems (awarded) On the flight back, we finally got the calcs for the amount of mithril we recovered. 5.7 trillion credits worth. fwoo. Fuckin hell.That's enough that if HQ heard about it, neither we nor that mithril would see the light of day for the next few millenia. and even then, we wouldn't be alive. While the Lt and Commander dealt with that issue, we got a bunch of broadcasts. Propaganda broadcasts from the undoubtably infiltrated enemy have gone and begun advertising it as a humanitarian disaster. The local radio is much more truthful, with thousands of hits on people picking up that it's a salvage opportunity not seen this decade. The battleship is screaming out maydays as it begins its descent, informing the capital HQ that there are 70% structural damage and 30% casualties. All inbound ships to all ports are starting to get searched. We decide to join the group of salvager ships, over 78, heading to the mines. Our plan is to merge with the herd, and when they're eventually turned back, we just fly casually back with them, nothing suspicious aboard at all. The two COs head out to stash the loot while we do so, taking the pilgrim and disappearing over the horizon. They find an abandoned facility, completely unpowered. That's just going to be used as a reference point. They spend some time (so much time) getting a site ready. The rest of us arrive at the site, which evidently shows itself to be a massive fucking bloodbowl of violence waiting to happen. Which happens when someone finds a baseball sized piece of mithril, is immediately murdered, and grabbed by his killer who immediately makes a getaway. The dwarf immediately begins digging a hole and then we fan out a little, and ready up. The rest of us begin picking up lifesigns. As we approach, Guil then informs us that one of the lifesigns that aren't doing so well is a Draconin. I stop, to consider this while Northorn approaches the lip. He then immediately tries to fall down, but Grey grabs him by the tail, hauling him back up.&nbsp; We decide to acquire the aid of a nearby scavenger team and their equipment. Negotiations were aggressive and there were some minor fatalities. With the winch acquired, I strap myself in and lower myself down, accompanied by one of the drones. About halfway down, I see a green glow, and approaching closer, there's a high elf with a bunch of draconin, They have a convenient way of getting out, it just drops a several km square chunk of ground down. We do attempt to warn them, but being the cutthroat scavengers they are, they refuse to listen to sound advice. The group of survivors from below port up to the top, with little effort, they acquire themselves an extra ship, not everyone fitting aboard our two ships. The crater turns into a massive sinkhole, by the time we're away. Apparently they talk about there being a total loss, ensuring that noone would escape. That's when a huge bolt of 300ft of plasma emerges from the hole into the sky.&nbsp; The elf then offers us the ships we've acquired, identifies me somehow, thanks to the draconin. As we speak a pleasurebarge appears, which appears completely decked out with guns, which recede into the barrier. Out of the shift emerge elite avian orbital drop shock troopers. The dragoncorps leave. All seems peachy, until my mis-speak calls on the attention of the avians.&nbsp; The good part being that being sassy saved my life, the avians bugger off, and I begin my new life as a HR rep, recruiting the two survivors as ancillary pilot crew. As we return to the port, where they check our papers and they scan our ship for hazardous materials, and we aren't detained. Once we're back, we grab some food and drinks, eating out and then head to the office building to rest up till the rest of the squad arrive. Guil starts showing off his baby, a massive magi-tech lab he's set up to take try and take advantage of the teleportation array. Seth and Ambella bring the Pilgrim back. Apparently psychic vision hijinks occur, and I'm not in the visions again. I'm starting to feel left out, but it's better to just not know what I don't need to know. All Seth needs is a bunch of elder dragon blood. No biggy. Guil then informs us that we're now completely locked out of the transportation system. Either the transport system is out of order, or they've upped security a ton. As they're discussing this, Grey gets a call from Tress, asking for a current location. That's when the titan and the bodyguard teleport to our location. Typical.&nbsp; Hail then tells us that he knows who we are, he just didn't expect the twists that we pulled on the way. He's also aghast at the information that Horus troops are mining radioactive ceramite. He then begins analysing Seths memories, marvelling at our badass-itude. He also appears to have misplaced a ton of nukes. And apparently there are 22 nukes instead of 14. Which is just lovely. Then it's a lovely talk about many precogs trying to cancel out each other in a lovely and irritating way. I miss the days of straightforward battle, but alas, it will be the time of the precogs. Apparently, something big is about to happen, and Ambella tells everyone to arm up. The extraction team is about to be called in. Typically, they aren't ready and want us to meet them at the Konjar depot, not too far from here. Seth gets the Commander's help to begin creating the amulets from the mithril, while Ambella learns a neat trick that lets her draw a weapon out of thin air. (I need it). That's when we go meet a huge ass dragon to go and convince him to die. It went so well. That was till he said he didn't recognise me with both eyes. Typical. Wolfgang tells us that he is here to fulfil a post that he has been assigned. That's when the traveller appears. After nagging from the traveller, then wolfgang cleanses himself. It's at this point I stop trying to follow how many possible timelines are intersecting simultaneously, and that the historians can figure out what the fuck is happening. But apparently in his timeline, he hasn't met us yet. If only I stabbed him. Wolfgang asks Seth if he can reactivate the token, Seth says he needs Tiamat's help in accomplishing such a feat. Apparently Wolfgang has now been told that he would both break and repair the Peace Rune. Then a bit more about time and paradoxes, honestly, I would just rather hit my head against a wall. Now we just gotta try convince him to become the sacrifice as well. The traveller then pops in for another chat, is utterly confused about the fact that we know who he is, and also informs us that Tiamat is now in orbit and is actually going to be coming here. I feel much better after pissing him off a little, it's exceptionally stress relieving. He then tells us about the Shield Maiden, an entity that Tiamat has been repeatedly bringing back from the dead, and who acts as a guardian for those who cannot protect themselves. An interesting character indeed. He then explains some things to Seth, telling him about how he is not old or experienced yet, which is sort of how time works. He then passes a bag over to Ambella, saying we have everything we need, telling us weird stuff about our futures (pretty much par for the course now). Ambella is on overwatch, the rest of us are on personal security detail. I take up position next to Seth as he goes arts and craftsy, while the gunslingers take up a quiet spot for an ambush, which is when they both decide to have a little private talk time. I wonder if Grey can be spayed. That's when tweedle-fluff appears with sir alexander. Convenient. Ambella tries to convince him that maximum security response needs to be on standby, which requires far too much convincing, because 'everyone will die' is apparently a lot of people. Tiamat has landed, it would take her an hour to get here. Harlad provides us with access to the sight of the procession on the way over. A few minutes later, we're rudely interrupted by a bunch of matte black robots dropping down from a hatch above. Ambella nails the first one through its core, and the second is also quickly dispatched before they're aware of the resistance. Seeing the gap, Northorn gives me a boost, and I go flying up, smashing apart the next one, and sparking electrical energy in a wide arc as a I drop back down in a controlled manner. The droid just drops in an uncontrolled manner before splatting into floor of the arena far below. That's when the ritual activates. A massive surge, and then all the peace wards are knocked out. Guil is ordered to dispatch the drones to a site alongside the main plaza. Which is where we pop into being, lined up like a bunch of fucking heroes, we were. The wave of enemies just smash into us, and we wade right the fuck through the first vanguard. Then we dig in, smashing the enemies asunder and apart. The locals begin arriving to sort of help out, sort of die alongside us. Ambella flinches, and I blur into position right next to her, catching a blow on the head of my hammer, and then swinging it back around into its skull, followed immediately by a round from Grey dropping what's left of its skull to the floor, confirming the kill. Ambella takes a shot, blowing the arms off the creature. I take a hit for Northorn, getting smashed back several meters. That's when a green cloud of dust starts ruining everyones day, burning any who can't resist its influence. A creature drops in front of Grey and is immediately blasted by hipfire from Grey. Northorn steps up and a cone of flame envelopes the entrance of the breach for a few seconds, burning the tide. I swing my way through a tide of daemons, one after the other. That's when the Sheriff appears, apparently this is where the party is. Then comes a stampede, knocking us down. Still on the floor, a huge fucking dog-daemon tries to take a bite out of me before Grey takes its eyes and head apart with his shots. The tide knocks everyone back, I sprint alongside Seth, knocking down the beastie that was trying to pounce on him. The others are almost overwhelmed as Ambella pulls a fucking legolas, her rifle blurring to appear in her attacker's mouth, blowing its brains across the courtyard. Northorn takes another hit, but he's still alive. The flurry of daemons are being consumed in the maelstrom of battle, alongside with others. Then there's a wash as a wave of cold chills just passes over all of us. The Sheriff drops to a knee on being hit. The portal begins fizzling and reality begins to knit back together, with the daemons being turned to ash and disintergrating around us. That's when Tiamat appears amongst us, casually causing the damage to repair itself, both structural and body. The dead being reconstructed from their flayed remains and returning to their pristine condition from before the battle. She raises the Sheriff from her knees, appearing to heal her. Once she finished her cursory examination, she approaches Seth, and begins to talk to him about his 'curse'. "We are not the manipulated, we are the manipulators." Words that rang. After a short conversation, she just walks through Seth, turning into energy and vanishing. The Sheriff greets us, telling us to keep our weapons hidden, before we're teleported back to our rooms by Guil. We grab our stuff, and prepare to move out. I'm gonna miss the rooms and the blood. After using Titan express delivery services to go and pick up our mithril, upon which Hail grabs half for himself. Typical. We take our share, and then head out to meet the extraction team. Wraith actual and the Dcorps pick up the Commander and bodyguard, while having a very touching moment with Grey, and he gets presents! I want presents. After they've left, Shepard returns, and 'congratulates' us on avoiding an absolute catastrophe. Two for Two. We get two weeks of R&amp;R, and a trip about a pleasure cruise on the way back to federation space, along with a set of coordinates to head to. Apparently we need to keep him surprised and other people pissed off. We need a shopping trip without the shadow of an apocalypse over us. Chapter Meme:&nbsp; <a href="https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/i" rel="nofollow">https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/i</a> mages/original/000/317/096/526.gif

Session 5: Spiders, why is it always Spiders? (Awarded) Bjorn clears the building with a plasma grenade, and then, on Seth's call, we rush the building, grabbing as much stuff as possible. We barely make it out of the building and towards our transports when a projectile slams into the roof of the building, sending a shockwave that knocks several of us down. Bjorn shouts out a warning, that wasn't a projectile, that was a drop pod! As we're hauling ass away, we prepare for a chase, just in case. Ambella delves briefly, telling us that our presence is known of. We head towards the tower, and Ambella scrambles up the tower, what appears to be a ruined communications tower, and she begins scouting out a path towards where the tank is. Obviously avoiding any dangers. Unfortunately the contact from the last location is apparently sitting on the turret of the tank. Yay. The thing on the turret, walks a couple of steps on thin air, then drops to the ground next to the tank. We pull up a respectable distance (visual distance) from the tank, and stop. A female, 14ft tall, with a pair of swords, doing some limbering up. Seth heads over, and greets her. She asks a couple of questions, while the rest of us prepare to die. I stand by Seth, we find out that she's a blood mage, and we attempt to convince the probable whirlwind of death that we're really no bother at all, yknow? Apparently we're to kill a buuuunch of demons, and decorate the tank with the killmarks. They begin using a ton of bug metaphors.We then greet each other like civilised folk. Apparently the bloodmage is called Anaemia. Imma call her Annie. Apparently she finds us adorable. She then tells us the layout of the land/ rules. The destroyer over there is a lost cause, it's filled with water spirits who refuse to leave it, and it needs to be removed to be used. And there's no water as the nearest ocean is damn fucking far. Next is about the city, a city completely filled with daemons of all sizes. Deathtrap. The settlement we came from has a fountain of significant importance, something to do with flame.&nbsp; Seth negotiates that we leave with the hulk of the tank, which is when she just vanishes midsentence. Bjorn goes to work, which is when we notice that to the city in the North is a trailing dust cloud. Magnocular view shows a host of multi-legged daemons sprinting towards our position from miles away, and we've got barely an hour and a half to repair a tank that's gonna take at least half a day. That's when Ambella says fuckit, grabs the Volt and takes aim and looses a shot. 7 daemons just stop existing and decide to take a new life as a gibbets and debris in an expanding cloud. Seth does some manipulations and daemons in the distance trip. That's when an EMP hits our position, knocking out the electronic comms, which is when we replace it with psi-comms, cos fuck em and whatever plan they decided to have. We stand ready. That's when a bee lady just arrives next to Ambella, and they compare gun sizes. That's when the Slaver drops in next to the tank, bringing in cannon fodder. Another winged lady drops by next to us, and does some casting/buff type stuff. Should I get wings? It seems like everyone else in existence has wings. I should definitely get wings. That's when a weird ass winged centaur just arrives. Scary. At 45 minutes, Bjorn makes a breakthrough, and the turret becomes active, rotating to standard orientation. We've now got a huge ass laser turret. We convince Grey to drive it with Ambella using the line 'Don't worry, Grey, it's just a big pistol'. That's when the snipers notice what is blatantly a controlling type daemon shepherding the rest. The bee takes a shot and misses, and Ambella lets loose another shot, smacking a forcefield straight in front of him. Stunned, the bee takes advantage and shoots again, stunning it again, then a last shot takes it down. Seth sets up a ritualistic circle around the tank to protect it from the melee daemons, which is when a flood of flying creatures is also spotted in the distance, while from behind us a massive ramshackle war mech hobbles towards our position from the city to our back. What appears to have been a skirmish is definitely gonna be at least a bit of a bloodbath. The Offblood thanks us, at least. Several dozen blood filled minutes and a couple of express mailed souls to Mortis, I fight a few minutes beside the winged lady, who appears to also be sending as well. Interesting. 7 hours later, the tank is up and ready to move. We let the other Manwise know that we're heading to go rescue the unfortunate souls. Driving past the craters the Volt rounds left, we continue on to reach the perimeter. There is another creature fused to machine, which asks us our presence, explaining that she is preparing for the Scorch. She's obviously a daemon, and appears to have been fused into the ground in the same manner as a tree to the soil. She is apparently shielded by a powerful shield, all we have to do is separate her from the ground and prevent it from spreading the Scorch. Apparently that gets us killed in the future, so we move on. Ambella shows the offblood some family videos, and we find out how the Offbloods were created for a purpose, then they scattered around, and all of them are technically 'the last of their kind'. I don't have time to figure that out.&nbsp; Chapter Meme:&nbsp;<a href="https://pics.me.me/berlin-to-warsaw-in-one-tank-warsaw-to-berlin-in-23132687.png" rel="nofollow">https://pics.me.me/berlin-to-warsaw-in-one-tank-warsaw-to-berlin-in-23132687.png</a>

Session 6: Mr Red Sky (awarded) Since taking the blood oath, we've felt much more connected to Seth, and we all feel both stronger and more resilient. We travel through the city, and we can hear, from the far ahead, the sound of battle with munitions and cannon grade ranged weaponry in heavy use. We draw up to a ramshackle military encampment set up in a clearing up ahead, with a kind of tent city set up. That's when I notice that the red lighting is pervading everything and messing with my eyes. I never thought I'd be missing blue skies before. On arrival, we're beckoned towards a command tent, most likely for a briefing. In the far side of the tent, where there would normally be a flag of allegiance, is Seth's fucking insignia. Are you fucking kidding me? I'm so distracted, I barely notice the group of power armoured assault troops in the tent. I mean, I'm just staring at this fucking flag. Apparently they scurried out, some kind of legionnaire? Apparently they're led by a psychotic magician named Bloodmoon. Pondering the implications of that name is when a dirty hobo elf enters the room, contemplating something, before they attempt to cast cleanse. Struggling with some kind of implant, he then successfully casts the spell, then addresses Seth as the commander. He also informs us that representatives from the legionaires and the talibites are coming in. That's when another one comes in, saying that his troops are on the east side of some ravine, and that the commander for the legionnares has been captured by blood mages. So obviously they're gonna attempt to drown the enemy in bodies to try and get them back. That's when another heavily armoured person walks in. Some kind of 14ft tall legionnaire, armed with a spear. They do that dramatic drop to the knee and informs the 'Supreme Commander', about their plan for pushing out. The guy takes off his helmet and he is not going to win any beauty pageants any time soon. Not without replacing his head. Aaand Seth volunteers us for rescue duty into the scorch. Great. Almost as great as when they begin addressing us as Lords, and myself as Sir. Apparently there's a wall in my honour somewhere. But apparently Seth has a plan, so we're all good. So to clarify, this is the first time we've been here, but this is not the first time we've been here. Whoever has to edit my memoirs is going to have a migraine beyond belief, so they should check the green box for memetic memory suppressants (I ran out, it's just whisky). There's a crippled transport shuttle within a stone's throw of the front lines in the newly scorched area, there's orbital attacks possible at any time and there's something to do with a bank. Great.&nbsp; Further into the impromptu briefing, we inform them of the 'scorch seed' we ran into on our way here, walking while we talk. Apparently the fact that the scarred elf is there, with no helmet and apparently touching rather than strangling someone. Arrayed ahead of us is an imposing group of armoured troops. Ambella's Legion. One of them kneels in front of me (the middle one), showing him the markings on his shield, emblazoned with an ornate C, and the symbol of Mortis. The others each receive their own little greetings. Apparently time is not a flowing river, it's a rock you throw into the river. An inside joke, apparently.&nbsp; Seth hands them 5 amulets, which they put on, and taking off their old ones, which crumble to dust. The scorch takes its toll on all things. During the chatter, we discover that they were once part of a million strong force that has since been reduced to the thousand or so individuals left. In the cripple shuttle are two blood mages, their daemonic guards/attendants having already been dealt with. Perfect. Seth warns us that blood mages will use any free flowing blood as a weapon, so that we better keep an eye out for it. If they're gonna use blood as a weapon, maybe my little bloodthirster might help out. Before long, we're heading over towards the Scorch, the ground reverberating under the recoil of the laser or heavy artillery firing at distant targets. Targets that appear like titanic, battleship sized creatures off in the mist of the scorch. As we approach, we check our environmental seals, and delve into the Scorch. It's been made very clear that while the more magical of us will be hindered first, anyone who spends too much time in there will die to it. Through the patina of the Scorch and mist, we see the shuttle up ahead, blazing merrily in the red tinged air. Standing on the prow of the ship, with her hands spread is a youngling. It's that creepy kid from the party freighter battle! She yells out a warning, 'we have incoming!', and then begins ominously floating. Guess we found one of the bloodmages. Vaulting out of the ship is a redheaded archer, who also does some ominous floating. "Legionnaires, go home, I don't wish to spill more of your blood this day." I see a vision of myself hanging from my feet, then dropping onto a high elf, and crushing his skull, and there's someone shackled to the floor on the side. The Hammer of God runs forth, slamming his hammer down and erecting a shield. "We know your tricks, Arturus!" he shouts, saying that he cannot defeat us. That's when the creepy child thing dissolves a segment of the shuttle into a red mist, and dissipates it in our direction, the group scatters, and then the mist slams into a wall of fire that disintegrates it. Wisps of the mist touches on of the soldiers, and begins dissolving the guy, but he's quickly put out of his misery by another trooper, and the Scorch grabs the remnants of his corpse.&nbsp; When we look back at the shuttle, both blood mages are gone, but we're still at a full charge at the shuttle, burning the mist in our path. Seconds pass and all the conjured bloodmist is consumed by fire while we reach it. When we make it in, the ship is a wreck, but we're not met with any resistance. Seth locates a lifesign that seems like the person we're after. It's Seamus. Great. He looks much younger though, clutching a binder. We grab him, and begin our extraction, jogging the distance back away from the Scorch. By the time we're back at the camp, we're exhausted. Seamus is surprised when we tell him this is our first time on-planet. Apparently Future-Past us left Seamus in charge before we will have left, along with an information chip that we will have left ourselves to give to use when we arrived. We head back to the legionnaire encampment, which definitely looks a lot more comfortable than the sprawling tent city of the other forces in the area. There is a lot of daemons imprisoned in this camp, all of the legion personnel are armoured and have at least a handful of augmented or magical trinkets, as well as more than a multitude of R&amp;R facilities, including a quaint bar called 'mother's milk'. We have to ask ourselves the question, 60 years ago we will have started this war, do we now redeploy the troops or fall back with what can be saved from the Scorch. We head into the Mother's Milk, a bar built with four massive concrete blocks holding another massive concrete block above it. It smells like a bar toilet. Sanctus shouts out to clear the bar. There's a youngish elven girl 20ish years old who runs up to Ambella from the bar, tackling her with a hug. Apparently she knows her while she will have known her. It's cute, or will be cute. She has a stripe on her head, which looks like stars on a black stripe. Ambella is also staring at her earrings, so I'm assumed there's just more time-random-crap. We all turn to the back wall, where the bar is. The wall behind the bar is moving. It's not a wall. It's a giant beast behind the wall. It's got its nose ring hooked to the floor. Oh boy. Well, at least the booze is fresh, and tastes like high grain alcohol. An avian male talks to Seth, complaining about how long it's been since they've been here, and how long it takes for this to happen. Well, you know how everything takes time. This is an incredibly clear glass table. Wait, why am I at the sugarbowl?! Everyone is walking around in slow motion. And then I'm back at the bar, staring at a cheap wooden table. Weird side effect. As we're recovering, the briefing continues. All those titans from the world of the lizard gnomes are now on the other side of this arena, so this is gonna be fun. In this city, all the civilians have been evacuated, there's 1200 legion, 2000 troops and Manwise has 500 of his battalion left. We're gonna need ships, and there just happens to be a fleet nearby, and I get to pretend to be a bat man. This should be fun. Chapter Meme:&nbsp; <a href="https://tenor.com/view/gimli-the-lord-of-the-rings-the-fellowship-of-the-ring-courage-death-gif-5502730" rel="nofollow">https://tenor.com/view/gimli-the-lord-of-the-rings-the-fellowship-of-the-ring-courage-death-gif-5502730</a>

Session 7: If I lick it, it's mine (Knocking on Heaven's Door) Awarded The legionnaires then have a chat with us about how rough the whole tour of duty has been, but we all know that it's almost over. Sanctus lifts a wreath he's wearing, and its made up of half a dozen layers of personal mementos. Remembrance of the fallen. We talk about the importance of this place, other than as a forward operating base. But they were on the move to fall back to Nell Frane before the capture of the commander. The legion are surprised that they've lasted this long, but they've managed to halt them by 10 years worth of fighting, with at another 10 on the horizon. They talk about Nephrin cultivating a fountain that provides all the power that's been required by the defenders, and has been the only source, including a half-century stockpile. We notice that the five legionnaires have enchantments both on them and their armour, and the broken enchantments from the decades of fighting in the scorch are also visible. They plan to fall back in the morning, but Seth has a better idea. He says that while the legion are able to make their way back, the auxiliary troops are less able and may need a ride. That's why we're going to surrender. But that plan has some problems, the way the enemy pick up the surrendering troops doesn't give us a way in. But if we use Seamus as bait, they're likely to come down. Luckily, Zubor, a commander on-site is known to hate our dear friend, and it would be more than believable if set out by him. They're likely to send down some heavy hitters to deal with us, though. So we need a way to deal with the blood mages. That's when Bjorn blurts out that the best way was staticite. Bjorn has the designs for a God-killer round, but he needs to make it. He also lets slip that he's got some raw unprocessed mithril, and on Seamus incessant begging, produces a needle-ingot. It flies into Seamus' hand, forming a sphere. Seamus explains that he's attuned to mithril, being a Traveller, and although the galaxy at large has forgotten, the Travellers are still able to work with mithril. Bjorn produces two more pins, and they all fly to Seamus, who produces four exact spheres of mithril. Enough to make 4 rounds, and just one is enough to force them to retreat if any are hit. They're expected to land by the ship we saved Seamus from. Bjorn is to make a dummy test round, Seamus shows Ambella Leukaemia, the most dangerous one, and our target. Bjorn asks for materials to make barrel bombs, but despite the lack of prometheum fuel, they do have Nephrim's fuel cells. Bjorn grabs a bunch, and Northorn grabs a couple.&nbsp; Ambella leaves the bar and runs into the elven girl who was here before, and tries to figure out how to break the news. She addresses her as Auntie, but Ambella confesses that she doesn't know who she is, and the elfgirl tells her that Ambella and her mother were close, and they make up when Ambella confirms her as being her family, even if she doesn't know her yet. Her name is Samantha, and she's also older than Ambella. "We're going to find somewhere nice and tall, and we're gonna turn the tide in this war,". It seems that, judging from her responses, they've fought alongside each other before. Her middle name is Gina, but apparently that has connotations. The conversation turns, and they talk about 'skating', when she summons nigh invisible discs of force, and from the looks of it, it looks like they're skating on damn air. Which is pretty damn cool, but I prefer wings. That's when they reach the top of the tower, and vanish. I assume they're beginning to set up. Bjorn, heads over to what appears to be a heavily modified school which has been converted into an ad-hoc military workshop/factory to keep the front running. Bjorn plans to use the Volt rounds as a template, or if time runs short, as a base for the projectile. He is informed that&nbsp; he needs both materials and an aide to begin manufacturing his piece. Seth heads over to Zubor's camp, and he's taken to the command tent where he's overseeing a map. On expressing the opinions that it's time to retreat, Seth goes to tell them the plan. There's something that the enemy want, and its time to take full advantage of that. despite initial resistance to the idea and not just giving Seamus over anyway, Zubor eventually concedes, throwing in that if the plan works, he'll even give Sanctus a medallion, the significance of which we don't know. That's when Seth spots what is apparently a Blood Fairy that's been hiding in the rafters of the tent, after coming down and being all smug about hearing all about the plan we've been making, she attempts to leave, upon which I erase the memories of the last 10 minutes. Smug as they are, I wouldn't mind having one of those, they'd be pretty useful to have, especially when she mentioned that none of us in the tent could kill her. The plan is that Seamus is left in Zubor's custody while the rest of the Legion falls back, he will then negotiate whatever terms he wants to with the enemy, such as safe contact out of here in return for Seamus. All we need now is to put on a show. Before we leave, Seth hands over an orb that he recovered from the spider site, giving it to Zubor. He blows on it a little, and it seems to glow a little, with a tiny flame within. It's the egg of a fire elemental! A truly priceless and adorable find, which we must take back to Nephrim as soon as we can. After all this, I receive the note that Ambella and Bjorn are off to test out the dummy rounds, apparently they're going to make quite the splash somewhere. After the meeting with Zubor, we returned back to the Legion encampment, we're taken to the mess hall, and there's a distinct division in the camp, with large yellow drums cordoning off the unencorporated section, where the R&amp;R areas are, while the rest of the camp is laid out in strict regimental lines. Back at the mess hall, there's a massive beast roasting on a spit over the fire, while the troops are spread out, grabbing food. Their equipment is clean, although they all have years worth of injuries. They all take note of us coming, standing to attention, and we're escorted over to the food, while making small-talk with the the rank and file before grabbing some food and heading over to the officer's table.&nbsp; The group prepares, and by well into the night, we grab our rest. In the morning, the plan goes as scheduled, with the staged scuffle, and the Legion falls back, leaving Seamus there as a target. The enemy send over a command cruiser, which descends and hovers. As it's moving, Grey, still under cover, uses his repulsor to grab onto the cruiser. Seth teleports us into the cargo bay as they make demands for Seamus' transfer. The five guards within don't last long enough to call for help. Bjorn and Oppius head off to disable the teleporter, and as we head out, Seth notices that there's something in the bowels of the ship that is enhancing their magic useage, explaining how they've been able to keep casting in the Scorch. As Bjorn is struggling to be stealthy, Corvus suggests setting off the EMP as a distraction, and voila, stealth no as necessary and Bjorn can get in without blowing anything up. Wait, did I just here an explosion? Without much trouble, just minor egging from the dagger. Reaching the blast doors to the bridge, I attempt to convince the guards to let me in, until Northorn points out that the door is actually unlocked. So I walk in, there's a heartbeat of panicked hesitation as the bridgecrew see us and scramble for their weapons. I pulverise the nearest guard, then without even thinking about it, the Mark is in my hand and buried in the chest of the second bridge guard. As one of the crew tries to hit the bridge defences button, Northorn scorches them, saying that he doesn't want to kill any more than is necessary. As he backs off, ashen faced (literally), I turn back around and say, "Good morning, gentlemen, I am here to inform you that this ship is now under new management." Paladin Corvus, Space Pirate. I kinda like the sound of that. While securing the bridge and shepherding the crew back to their places, I can feel the shot from the Volt. Looks like combat is joined. Checking on the feeds afterwards, because this is not something that can be missed, I watch as negotiations turn aggressive and leukaemia loses a lot of weight in a very short time. Very unhealthy. As I look around, I hear a second shot, and looking back over the recording, Arturus ends up also taking part in Ambella's weight loss scheme. He's not as committed to it. The terms are simple, we're taking the ship and evacuating the city, then we'll bring the ship back to pick them up from here. Simple, right? We set off, and Seamus does seem quite happy with this state of affairs. Ambella trades in the vid-tapes of the event for a favour. that is &lt;classified&gt;. Bjorn has trouble figuring out how the teleportation array works, and begins to furiously take notes to try understand it better. Ambella heads down to give Bjorn the clips as well. After all, his work on the God-killer rounds was head and shoulders off the competition.&nbsp; Zybor, on hearing what we did, is both shocked and preparing. We need the shields on the city up in preparation for the inevitable retaliation. Seth is going to talk to the princess, and the rest of us split up to work on improving the defences. Once we're done here, it's a short stop to go visit the fairies.&nbsp; We head into the meeting room, and Zybor says, "yeah, these fuckers." and then walks off. She then looks at us, accusing us of saving Seamus, killing two titans and bringing their wrath on her city. Seth replies by saying he has returned one of her children. She then takes the egg, and calls Seth an odd creature. Which is fair. She then shows us recordings of 'old/new' Seth, chronologically 60 years ago, at the start of the war. She asks what purpose we are here for. Seth replies that he is here because he doesn't want the asset the city is defending, the fountain to fall to the enemy. She asks about me as well, specifically whether I am with him, or from his past&nbsp; or future (the timelines are giving me a headache) as well as whether I can fly. I cannot, so she casts a spell, and I am levitated as the floor drops away. As we head forwards, there's a huge glow in the dark, as Will-o'-the-wisps are floating around. There's a lion, wreathed in flame that approaches us. And he does not look particularly happy to see us. We're deep under the ground, but it feels like despite only dropping 50 or 60 feet, the dimensions of the massive cavern mean we must be at least a mile below the foundations of the city. She introduces the lion as Lord Azul, the protector of the fountain. He refers to us as mortal interlopers, before the princess explains that we've killed one of the titans and mortally wounded a second. And the fact that we've returned one of the younglings is reason enough to show us this place, to which, once realising he had not kept track of all those in his charge, he acquiesces. We walk around the cavern, where flame imbued and ethereal pixies and sprites and other winged creatures flit around, all centred on a fountain in the center, a fountain of lava. The princess places the sphere in the lava. She then turns to us, "Do you know what this is, this place that you protect?", referring to the fountain. She then beckons for us to step through, promising safety, so I follow Seth. We walk onto a massive vista, and in front of us, we see a massive flaming gate. As we head over I see &lt;REDACTED&gt;. It was like seeing someone without makeup for the first time. We step through the gate, and gaze upon an... I cannot describe it. The realm is indescribable in its beauty and rawness, but it is much cooler here. Guardian creatures approach, also imbued in fire, expressing surprise at the presence of mortals. They greet the princess, telling us they caught someone. We're taken there and shackled heavily is none other than Baldy. The fountain and portal that's protected leads to more than one place. It leads here. The Haemotitan's use of the Scorch endangers the realms. Seth turns to the Princess. "Neptor is lost, and the sooner you accept that, the sooner we can find a solution." The gateway must be moved or closed. A process that would take decades. A philosophical discussion about jackasses and asshattery occurs. But the end message is clear, we cannot allow them into the Astral plane, for it is a disaster of unknowable proportions. We have 24 hours to sort this out, or we're gonna get sent back in time to try fix this. I'm going to die of old age before I can spend my money. We're taken back to the city and her sanctum. Now to deal with fairies, which are in a ship filled with them, about 80-90 miles away, in what used to be the ocean. The power of the ship and the presence of water elementalists would have all been useful in the defence of the city. The city is still the last bastion, where the scorch will reach last. We split up again, we have a 24 hour period while Seth continues his research, and Bjorn continues his works, which involves telling people lots about how the titan's were killed. I head over to the priest of Mortis, to help around and reaffirm myself in Mortis. Chapter Meme:&nbsp; <a href="https://thumbs.gfycat.com/FearfulSpryDolphin-max-1mb.gif" rel="nofollow">https://thumbs.gfycat.com/FearfulSpryDolphin-max-1mb.gif</a>

Session 8: Operation Burning Skies (You know nothing, Jon-Crow) Awarded While I'm working alongside the Priest of Mortus, we hear that Seth and Northorn have headed back to the Palace. During that visit, the bond feels... different. More primal than the more calculating presence that it used to be. The city is abuzz with talk, as the tapes of Ambella's shots on the titans, executions in all but name, are spreading on the local net. And since the enemy fleet are watching the comms, we're front page on the propaganda effort to demoralise them, and with absolutely no extra effort on our part. I love it. With the day ended, we rest throughout the night, catching up on much needed sleep. Apparently some of our number are not as lucky, and it's subtle, but visible on their countenances.&nbsp; It's been twenty four hours since the timer started. I look up from my morning prayer to see Mortus in all his glory on his throne. He asks if I have made a decision. I have. He says something profound . And I am ready to accommodate His plan for the consequences it entails, in return for the powers that it entrusts in me. Mortus vanishes, and I feel a searing burn on my stomach, causing me to fall to my knees. Clutching my abdomen in pain. As it fades, I can feel the presence of Ellenore, the priest of Mortus. Looking down, I can see His mark on my stomach. As my strength increases, so do the foes I must face. Offering prayers and hunting down one who breaks the Law are a small price I must pay. I hear that Seth has returned to the Sanctum, I expect that we're gonna be moving out to our next fight soon and as I finish that thought the klaxons start up. I head to the window and look up to see the streaks of light coming down from orbit. War descends on Nell Frane. I adjust the polarisation on my visor. We have forty days to hold out for Seth's plan to work out. The planet is lost so now it is time for the enemy to bleed for every inch of ground they want to take. Forty days. The comm lights up, Seth has a mission for me. He is going to create a portal, that will be a point defence system for the city, to capture as many blasts from orbit as possible. He simplified it for me, I've got a shield, and I have to prevent the enemy from focusing fire on any sections. I can do that and I have to do that for twenty hours. Others go to establish non-tech communications and gathering mirrors. Ambella heads off to dig in. The word filters down that there is evacuation available for the wounded and the handful of non-combatants still left. Seth gets the shield array ready, and I take over the reins, beginning my twenty hours against the worst of the barrages dropping down on us. Luckily, there's enough refreshment being supplied. At the twelve hour mark, there are several massive ionic explosions on the shield, rounds built to take down shields. Seeing these bright white ones, I shift the shield, grabbing them before they can detonate any more on the shield.&nbsp; Sixteen hours pass, and i'm still going strong, shielding the strikes against the shield. At the nineteenth hour, I have a flash vision of utter disaster, but manage to compensate. At the twentieth hour, a massive sensor ping goes out, painting targets on the enemy fleet. The enemy command carrier has moved, skulking out to the edge of the battle. With all shields to aft, they do as much good as wet tissue paper to someone with diarrhoea, as the portal opens up to the stern, and unleashes twenty hours worth of siege artillery straight into the rear, lancing through the center and coring the capital ship. The flare as it bulk of the ship detonates causes the siege bombardment to peter out. Heh, not so fun when we throw it back at you, is it, fuckers? It's time to go get the water fairies. I accompany Seth out, as he teleports, picked for my resilience of mind, or they would've brought Grey along. Up ahead is a swarm of fairies. As we draw closer one flits straight up to us. Knocking on my visor, asking to see my face. So I naturally pop the helmet as she flits around us, examining both, but finding more interest in Seth, as the thumb mark they made on his nose grows orange. He addresses him as Awake. Seth bargains with them, and they reach a satisfactory conclusion, we share our water with them, and provide them sanctuary. They agree and the fairies all flit back to the city. They tell us a tale of woe, their queen had been slain, so they can no longer leave or create, as she tells us this, I register a burst of EMP. She says that they must be coming, so time must be running short. She taps us both and then flits off into the distance. And that's when we start floating. Great. Seth figures it out faster than I do, and flits off towards the remnants of the ship. I take a little longer, but will myself forwards, following Seth. Within moments we're inside the ship, even I can sense a strong power, enough to set the hair on the back of my neck on end. We head on in, losing the power of the flight. Within, we see a cavern replacing what was probably uniform deck. Up ahead we see a most weird sight, a large furred and at least 80foot serpent is languishing in there. The inside of the ship is gutted, no shields or power source, so it must all be in a pile of junk somewhere. The serpent stirs, greets Seth, mumbling about memorials for the struggles that took place, then breathes its last, dissolving into a glittering orb, which Seth stores away safely. I guess we should look for the junk pile, while back at the city, the ground assault begins. Over by the side of the ship is the pile of debris that we were looking for, far too much for us to search through while an assault is actually taking place, so I nod to Seth, we should get back to the fight and let someone else do the digging and lifting. Getting back to the city, I'm told someone has been trying to call us out, well, actually just me specifically. Seth says to give him some time before I head out and face him. So I reflect, meditate, pray, whatever you wish to call it. The mind must be as the weapon in this. Seth comes along and orders me to not engage that challenge until he gets back. Seth comes back and tells me that I cannot beat this opponent, as he is a better version of me. How do I defeat myself? This is a trial of character. I was told that I could not win by fighting.&nbsp; Seth tells me that the only way that he can lose if he kills me. His entire being is focused on defeating me again and again. I am a Paladin of Mortus. Death is our companion, and I will greet it with open arms to serve the purpose. This is the realms of Gods and Fate now.&nbsp; My opponent steps forward out and challenges me once more, in full view of both camps. Everyone is surprised, but this meeting is fated, apparently. He says that I should've accepted his offer the first time. He says that this is the way that it's meant to happen. I try to taste those words 'meant to'. I discard my helmet, dropping it to the dust as I head forward. I let my hammer drop to the floor. He does the same, it's exactly like looking at a warped and twisted mirror, the mark of Mortus on him scarred and distorted almost beyond recognition. We both activate our powers, and lunge straight at each other, beginning the fight that I was destined to lose. Parry after parry, slash after stab, we dance in a blurring whirl of steel and fury. I feel the moment, like the feather of a valkyrie brushing across my cheek. It is time. As he stabs towards me, I parry diverting the blade as with every time before, but this time I direct the blade to the one place that means this battle will be over. I direct the blade into my chest. He stares in shock as the blade pierces easily through muscle and bone and into my heart. "No! You fool! No! This wasn't meant to happen!".&nbsp; I mouth out as mockingly as I can, " Meant to." As he stumbles back, leaving the dagger in my chest. "I am Corvus, a Paladin of Mortus. Death is my constant Companion. Victory demands sacrifice. Thwart them for every inch they wish to take." The pre-recorded message goes out, sounding across the city. &lt;Forty Eight hours later , His armoured body is on a pyre, gathered around him are those he had fought alongside in the defence of the city. The enemy have not attacked in two days, allowing the mourners to gather unhindered for a day of peace almost unknown in half a century of war. Thunder and lightning resound through a completely cloudless sky, causing people to look up in confusion. Is it an attack?&nbsp; Then, from thin air a crackling burst of lightning arcs down from the sky, hitting jumping from unknown point to point in the air before unerringly hitting the chest of-&gt; I experience a surge of pain and sizzling energy, and gasp in shocked shallow breaths as I look upon the utterly shocked faces of my companions.&nbsp; I still remember the voice. A Soul a Month for as long as Mortus takes offence for my slight . The price for me flipping off destiny. Seth's been gone for many days now as we begin preparing the city. I've been on bed rest for far too long now, and I need to be on my feet again. I hear that heading out to grab the weapon system from the ship for repurposed use is gonna be far too dangerous for mortals, apparently the fairies do like me for my deeds, so I make a friendly request and I'm delighted and surprised when they manage to get enough back for seven more emplacements for 'Bjorn's Bombardiers' to take out the mobile fortresses that the enemy have begun deploying to support any future attacks. Taking out the first of the fortresses triggers them to begin moving back in our direction. They're slow and the strategists estimate that they'll be here in three days. Ambella goes on a hunt, killing off leaders and targets of importance wherever she can, taking full advantage of her mirror magics to line up shots.&nbsp; I look up, and see the command cruiser suddenly gouting flame from the top, as it begins to slowly list uncontrollably and begin dipping down, trailing fire and further explosions, floating then crashing down onto their own armies. Which were now lit up like christmas trees, something the artillery took full advantage of as the middle of the night flared as brightly as daytime. As the enemy draw closer, we begin to use the magic of the fairies to force the weaker willed of the enemies to suffer as they're compelled dance in view of our rifles. The enemy have been bringing their stronger forces up to stop their weaker troops being culled outright. Further behind their lines they've been dragging bodies out of the command carrier wreckage.&nbsp; Later still, the enemy begin deploying fighters. In single file approach to the shield, where the begin to hit the shield with ion weaponry, causing tears that quickly heal up. But this mustn't be allowed to continue. I manage to get some fairy volunteers to act as spotters and mirror-bearers, forming points for the laser cannons to fire directly out of the shield.&nbsp; I, studying the plans for the city, find several chokepoints which the enemy will make it through. A capacity buffer will fire, re-erecting the shield for a short amount of time. Just long enough to completely cut the first wave off, and prepare them for slaughter.&nbsp; It's been a week of constant fighting since the command carrier went down, and we've seen no sign of the titans on the field, although the field is littered with the wrecks of war materials, our primary target, forcing the enemy to have to rely on ground troops. We're spending the time preparing the entire city into a meatgrinder. Make them pay, make them bleed for every single inch. Seth returns through the portal. Gone for just over two weeks, so we still have time to hold the city for. Well, that was the initial assumption, turns out there's now 3 of him, accompanied by a fiery woman (literally) that is introduced as Luna.&nbsp; "Time to incite the enemy to attack." Seth's words will send a murmur through the city as people hear of it. The next phase of the siege is about to begin. Seth takes each of our helmets in turn, casting an enchantment that allows Ambella and I to see from any vantage point. Perfect for our use of telepathic powers to mess with them. I cause the enemy ordnance techs to pull their own grenades, while Ambella and Seth have them fire on their own comrades. We all see a vision of the future. The coming of the Haemotitan, a frantic retreat to the portal while attempting to not die under the devastating aura of the haemotitan. An event that comes far far sooner than we'd planned for. Something that's further punctuated by the tell-tale signs of a capital ship entering the system and coming down towards the planet. Off to the side of the battle line, one of the generators explodes, taking out a section of city block with it and the shield drops. There's shouting and an initial panic, but I can finally notice, for the first time, I can hear the outside world, the relative quiet of the inner dome opened up to let in the noise of the hordes out there.&nbsp; All hell breaks loose. The enemy charge, the backup shields go up, the flame elementals tear through them before they can retreat. The oppressive presence causes comrade to turn on comrade before they're taken down as everyone begin evacuating towards the portal. Using my sheer force of will, I shrug off the effects with ease and work on restoring order with the same. The rate of casualties drop as the mass fighting retreat continues, as members of the group rally or reinforce where they can. The earth cracks as lava begins pouring out, flowing around and impeding the enemy further, as I sprint to the corner where the escape portal is. I make my stand here, barking orders for the troops to make a more orderly withdrawal as the army falls back through. Ambella makes it to me, seeing that I've got everything in order, decides to go back to get Seth from the Sanctum, I tell her to take care, after all, I've already won the deadpool. Even I can sense the huge levels of power being channeled, and with the shields falling again and the enemy charging in weapons ablaze, I meet them head on in the streets with steel in hand, buying more time with their blood to make it back, joined by Grey making a parallel strike into the enemy. I send my tithe of souls over to Mortus as the city streets flow with blood. As my retinue starts to fray under the strain of the mental assault, he sends Nepthys flying through several buildings. I use my own aura to pummel their wills back into alignments, and they run over to grab their comrades, and we begin to make our way back to the Portal. We all resist another wave of mental assaults again, gritting our teeth through the pain while picking up any wounded that we can on the way, including one fairy. Off ahead I can see gouts of flame go into the air. I can't focus on that, so I carry on fighting my way back to the portal.&nbsp; It's been three days since we made it through. The casualties still trickle in, as the tainted or the broken die or cause death. An actual, honest to Mortus dragon is now interviewing us in a conference room. It's the first we've seen of each other since we got through. She sits down at the table, saying that she's read our reports and that she's impressed. But asks for more information on the artefacts that held off the scorch, knowledge we were never able to obtain. She also asks us about the clips from fifty years back that show us in battle, but we cannot explain that either because, after all, we &nbsp;weren't there.&nbsp; She then goes on to ask if we believe that we completed the mission, and how we managed to complete a months long mission in weeks and return with a standing army. Apparently we're also not Psi-corps any more, which we'd inferred from the commander being dragoncorps. But she tells us we aren't even under the dragon corps any more. It then turns into a fucking performance evaluation, asking us how we think we did, and what we think of 'Lady' Tiamat. Interesting phrasing, that. Although understandable, considering who said Lady is. &lt;Responses Redacted&gt; Seth and Northorn are told that they're being decommissioned, but there are four gentlemen in black, all high elves with uniforms with distinct black lapel pins, which Seth seems to recognise. We're led away, and run into none other than Hail, in bermuda shorts and vacation gear. Alright, that's not something I've seen before. Apparently he's not enjoying his vacation so much. He motions over to a wall, pointing out something and just conjures a margharita in his hand. I hope to fucking Mortus we don't have to work for him.&nbsp; Why is he even here? 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