[Horde] Chapter Five: Session Ninety-Nine
Characters
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January 1st
Odyn raised his spear and spun it around before he slammed it onto the group.
A tempest of radiant energy swarmed around Odyn and ripped through the entire group. Symma was left blinded and deafened by the cacophony. Symma released a [Roar] to aid her allies and then threw a jolt at Odyn, who raised his shield and deflected it aside.
Zar’Kaa hexed Odyn’s strength, and he raised his spear to strike, but Odyn effortlessly blocked and an energy field leaped back at Zar’Kaa. He drove his spear again and again, but the energy field continued to hone down on him. Zar’Kaa braced himself and then launched forward as he tried to disarm the Aegis, and Odyn once again blocked him despite his complete blindness.
Odyn’s focus moved to Sol.
He pointed his spear at Sol, and a spear appeared above Sol’s head and it slowly began to descend.
Seria continued to tear into Odyn, and she once more drew health from the god with the blood-infused touch of her fangs. She strained her wings, but it seemed he was unable to be moved. Odyn slammed his spear into Seria again. She started to falter, but Sol used [Resistance] to bolster her.
Sol moved forward and the spear followed him. He looked at Odyn, and he used [Remote Access] to try and reach in and understand the Halls of Valor. However, it seemed only the master of the realm or the creator of the realm could influence it.
However, he knew what the lair's actions did.
Sol proclaimed that Odyn could judge him if he wished, but regardless of what he felt, he wanted the knowledge he would protect everyone he cared about to spread far and wide.
Seria continued to hone in on Odyn as her eyes glowed golden with the blessing of the Halls of Valor. Odyn broke free of Seria’s coils as he slammed his spear into her, however.
Nyxxa started to dance with a whirl of blades. One of her strikes was blocked, but three slipped by and cut into him.
The sky opened up and two more spears of light rained down on Seria and Arthak. Arthak raised his sword in defense, but the spear pierced through his chest and pinned him to the ground. Seria was similarly knocked prone and pinned.
Zar’Kaa drove his spear into Odyn in the confusion of the situation, successfully clipping into him.
Arthak was able to rip the spear from his chest and it exploded, but he was able to get back to his feet. He ran at Odyn and drove a honed Var’gosh into Odyn.
Odyn struck his spear into Seria, and with another explosion of radiant damage, Seria was removed from combat as she was frozen in time.
Sol closed in with the group so that the spear over his head would be spread out among his allies. He readied a [Cure Wounds] to cast over the group after the spear impacted, and Arthak struck at Odyn. But Odyn then struck at Sol, and the spear impacted, spreading damage across Sol, Arthak, Zar’Kaa, and Nyxxa.
The magic in the arena shifted and over each of the group’s heads appeared a glyph.
Symma and Arthak got identical symbols for the vrykul rune of cunning. Nyxxa and Sol got the rune of wisdom. Zar’Kaa got the rune of strength.
Symma flitted down to Arthak’s shoulder and landed and she started to channel a [Call Lightning].
Three strikes of lightning slammed into Odyn, and he staggered. He looked at the group with a smirk. Zar’Kaa closed in and landed a devastating strike while Odyn was on his back foot. Odyn focused on Arthak and was able to slip by the orc’s defenses, putting him deep into heavy wounds. Nyxxa whirled around with her glaives as Odyn prepared to whirl his spear around, and she carved a path of slashes and spins before she ended with one final strike to his face.
Odyn staggered backwards and dropped onto one knee.
He held his spear into the air, and a beam of golden lightning struck into it. His steel body crackled with electricity, and his flesh galvanized and turned gold. His flaming beard also burned gold as he spun his spear around.
He slammed his spear into the ground, but then let go of it.
The glowing of his flesh receded, and he laughed as he congratulated them on a good fight. Lantresor and Seria were released from their stasis.
He held the Aegis up, and it disengaged from his arm. He said that the Aegis was theirs as promised, and he thanked them for one last battle, as it had been many years since he wielded it against a foe, and longer still since it was in an honorable engagement.
He also said that for besting him in battle they would each be awarded a boon of their choosing, and Eyir also healed all of them of their wounds.
He also said they needed to speak of what would happen to their adversaries, as it seemed there were some pre-standing relations. He noted that Caria’s soul didn’t appear to be fully present, and he said that it was a breach of the agreement as they had agreed not to kill each other. Varedis, however, pointed out that *he* was the one that actually killed Caria, and he never said anything about friendly fire.
Odyn scowled, but assented that it was technically correct, and he would have likely agreed had she waited to enact her judgement. Nyxxa apologized regardless, and Odyn accepted the apology.
He asked what the plan was for Varedis, and Nyxxa said nothing further needed to be done as he fulfilled his side of the bargain.
He also recognized that Skovald’s soul had been claimed by Helya, and he was disappointed to hear that, as he desired to keep such soldiers from his “dear daughter’s” grasp given the war that had sparked between their realms, but it was ultimately an acceptable loss.
Arthak also said they had an agreement with Iskar, and Odyn nodded and also released Iskar, who squawked in surprise, but recognized the fighting was over. He congratulated Symma on a job well done, and he offered intrigued praise on her response to his tricks to be to brute force her way through.
However, he also informed them that, which the wager complete, he was also resigned from the Shadow Council. However, he asked how many of the group the party had an established deal with, and Arthak said that remained to be seen.
Arthak looked to Jubei’thos next as he was released. Jubei’thos announced he conceded to Arthak as his warband had lost twice, and he was ready to take Arthak’s bargain: when they stood at the precipice of the end of the path Arthak had chosen, he would claim what was rightfully his. However, he said he was not going to command the Burning Blade to follow Arthak, as they would not even listen if he did.
Arthak said it was ultimately for Jubei’thos, not the clan, and the blademaster nodded and didn’t bother to even address the rest of the party before taking his place.
Odyn looked at Velhari and presumed there was no bargain with her. Arthak confirmed, but he said that he wanted to release her.
Zar’Kaa didn’t seem all too pleased, but Sol mused that might be a good idea. He ended up planting a magical bug on Velhari’s sending stone as a means to monitor some sendings.
Zar’Kaa wanted to know what Arthak’s rationale was, and Arthak explained it was pragmatism. He wanted his adversaries to hear what happened in the conflict, and there was also a message he wanted to send with Velhari. Zar’Kaa asked what the message was.
Zar’Kaa said he didn’t give a damn about Velhari’s honor, but for the pragmatism he was willing to let it go. Nyxxa and Symma just shrugged, as they had no strong feelings on the matter.
Odyn released Velhari, who bared her teeth at the other group as it was announced she was going to be let go. She demanded to know why she was being let go as there was nothing to be gained. Arthak said he judged things by a different measure, and despite the fact they disagreed on a lot, there was someone they did agree on.
Velhari scowled and said he was a fool, but she wasn’t going to fight him on his decision to give her freedom. Iskar informed her that he would not be returning, and he asked her to tell the Shadowmaster he was resigning. Jubei’thos also said his blade no longer served Velhari’s masters. Velhari glowered over at Varedis as well and said it was a shame good help was hard to find.
Nyxxa bit her tongue without saying a quip, but Arthak smirked.
Velhari scoffed and told them to relish their victory, and Arthak gave her a gift and a warning before she departed.
Velhari’s eyes narrowed, but then widened as she processed the words. She said Arthak had a strange image of a gift, but she heard it. She carved a gateway into the air with her blade, and she stepped through the doorway.
All that remained was Fathnyr, and Odyn mused he was perhaps the most complex situation. Nyxxa asked if there was a way to tell if there was a curse on the dragon, and Zar’Kaa took a closer look, but he was unable to really process what type of influence was on Fathnyr aside from it being fel in nature.
Others took a look at the dragon, and it was clear that Fathnyr had been irrevocably corrupted like a fel orc, and potentially had been corrupted in his mind as well. It was also likely that the curse had been anchored to Skovald, and it was theoretically possible that the Illidari ritual could maybe help Fathnyr.
Iskar said he could likely contain Fathnyr if needed, but Nyxxa looked to Vethir and Thrymjaris and warned them that there was a prominent risk that Fathnyr might not survive. His mate said that if there was a chance he would come back to her, she was willing to consent. Vethir, however, pointed out that Fathnyr had suffered a lot, and they didn’t even know if his father would be the same dragon. He said that if he was let go he could potentially find healing in the Halls of Valor.
Symma looked between the two dragons and she said that it was a selfish point of view, but if there was a way to buy more time, she would always take it as life would never be the same regardless. Arthak said there was no shame in either route, but they had to make it together.
Vethir, after some consideration, resigned to his mother’s view, as ultimately his father had always fought for them. They agreed they would stand by Fathnyr’s side in whatever way they could, and if a time came where he could not have peace, they would grant it as well. They both consented to the attempt.
Iskar and Sol got Fathnyr bound to be transported to a demiplane, and Odyn admitted that he too hoped for their success so that a noble soul like Fathnyr could have another chance. He said that there was still the matter of their boons, and Nyxxa said she knew what she wanted.
Nyxxa looked at the ravens, and produced the Raven’s Eye. She asked Odyn if he could create another one, both bigger and shinier. Odyn’s eyes crinkled with a smile as he realized what she was doing, but Muginn started to angrily caw and how greedy Nyxxa was. Odyn said that he would be happy to do so.
He did in fact create a more beautiful Raven Eye, and she pocketed the old one, and then held the old one up to the ravens. She said she wanted to thank them for their help.
The ravens looked shocked, and one of them was convinced it was a trick, but Nyxxa assured them there was no trick. Muninn swooped down and grabbed the eye and held it in his beak. His eyes sparkled and said there were no tricks. Huginn agreed there were no tricks. Odyn asked what they said, and the ravens thanked Nyxxa meekly.
Odyn explained they had been sour for a very long time about the trinket, and he thanked Nyxxa for the noble use of her boon.
The ravens chattered to each other, and one of them asked why Odyn hadn’t made them a better one before, but they appeared to be quite content.
Lantresor requested the aid of Stormheim in the war against the Legion. Odyn said the Valarjar could not leave the Halls, but his val’kyr could pass through and stir the vrykul to battle. He told Eyir to send her sisters far and wide, and the All-Father had called upon them to fight against the heralds of Ragnarok alongside the strangers from afar, and any that died in glorious combat would have their names engraved in the halls. Eyir nodded and assured him it would be done.
Symma asked Odyn if he could craft a vessel to contain a dreadlord, and the All-Father’s eye widened, but he believed it possible. He asked if it was truly her heart’s desire to contain a dreadlord, and Symma admitted she knew demons were hard to destroy outright, and she wasn’t sure what was more difficult. He admitted both were difficult, but he had an idea for something that could pierce a dreadlord’s very soul so deeply it couldn’t escape her grasp.
But the risk was to Symma’s soul, as it would bind the dreadlord to her. Symma accepted.
He said he recognized the staff Symma carried as a piece of a treasure that belonged to Freya. He conjured a flower in his hands, and he explained it was a gift that she had bestowed upon him. He would transfigure it into an arrow that would either pierce the dreadlord’s soul, or Symma’s.
The flower folded in on itself and wound itself together into an arrow, which he gifted to Symma.
Thrymjaris approached Fathnyr in his containment, and she said that the outsiders were going to help him. Fathnyr roared back at her that no one could help them except themselves, and she insisted that he was going to get the help he needed. Fathnyr roared that he hated her before he was swept away to a demiplane.
Nyxxa approached the dragoness to comfort her, and she said there was someone at the Hold that she believed understood what she was going through, if she was willing to come back with them. Thrymjaris said she needed to tell her brood, but Vethir said he would take care of it, and her place was with father.
Zar’Kaa opted to approach Skovald’s body, and there was a hollow look on his face as he took the giant head from Skovald’s shoulders as a trophy.
The group returned from the battleground to feast and celebrate, and Thisalee and Zuni hastily ran forward to check on them, and Chen already had drinks poured for everyone. Odyn declared that they feasted in the honor of the champions.
Arthak approached Jubei’thos, who stated if he sought congratulations, he wouldn’t get them from him. Arthak joked that Jubei’thos knew better than that. The warchief sat down next to the fel orc, who continued to drink in silence. They sat as Arthak finished his cigarette.
Arthak confirmed, but he pointed out Jubei’thos spoke of the path. Jubei’thos said that Arthak’s blaze was his to claim, or be consumed by, and he was going to be the one to judge when it reached its zenith. However, he would come to claim what was his at his own discretion. He asked if that was agreeable to the warchief, and Arthak confirmed it was, before he said there was one more thing to be discussed.
Jubei’thos’s eyes snapped over to Arthak.
Jubei’thos froze, and a thousand emotions battled in his eyes. He took another sip of his drink.
Despite the monotone nature of his response, a whirlwind of emotions played behind his facade. He was a man who did not feel strongly, normally. But flickering in the fel orc’s eyes were three strikes that threatened to pierce his heart: joy and excitement, fear and apprehension, and a third of anger. Each were a perfectly strung strike by the words, but the anger was not against Arthak. It was a complex cocktail.
He inclined his head toward Lantresor, and there was a moment as Jubei’thos’s eyes lingered on him. He asked if Lantresor was going to be there as well, and Arthak said he was kin. Jubei’thos withdrew something long and covered in an immaculate cloth. He explained she had few belongings, and fewer still that were not buried with her.
He placed the object in front of Arthak.
Arthak unwrapped it with trembling hands and revealed a blade. It was pristine and immaculately maintained. It was sharp with a keen edge and a perfectly balanced weight. The blade didn’t look to have been used in decades, but it looked as if it had been maintained every single day by someone who offered the blade the same level of ritualistic respect as Arthak would with his own weapons, as if it was a sacred meditation. It was his mother’s sword.
He stammered slightly, and Jubei’thos said that was good. He took another sip and drank down the complex feelings he had. Arthak looked up from the blade and stared at Jubei’thos, who was not looking at him.
