[Alliance] Chapter Five: Session Sixty-Five
Appearing Characters: Calia Menethil, Elissa Cross, Gilveradin Windrunner, Inanis, Locus-Walker, Maraad, Moroes, Remnii, Robert Travard, Seria, Thoradin, Uther Menethil, Velameestra Windrunner, Victor Prestor, Xal'atath, Zakajz
November 10th
As the group traveled downward, the darkness grew thicker and the air grew heavier as if they were walking down into a metaphysical fog. They felt their skin itching as if something was watching them.
The passage became less defined. The ancient titanic architecture began to fall away, as if it had succumbed to natural erosion, but it also felt terribly unnatural. Darkness clawed at the edges of their vision as it tried to hedge into the lights they carried.
And then they heard a voice. The voice was their own voice, but also not. It might have been their mother’s, or their father’s, or their sibling’s. Loved ones and enemies both, but also neither.
She looked at the group.
Xal’atath smiled with Calia’s lips.
They felt a damp, warm breeze go in and out of the chamber, like the deep breaths of an ancient creature. A dark thought passed their minds: Is this a cave, or is it the maw of a greater beast? However, their eyes fell on the twisting engravings on the uneven walls.
Gil recognized carvings of great leviathans flying through the sky, and giants walking among them. The voices came back to his mind.
He saw as the images shifted, and suddenly there was havoc. One dragon raised a claw, and volcanoes shattered at his command. Lava quenched the civilizations of mortals. Another dragon raked into an arcane glyph, and a city of towers crumbled. Another sent roots from its veins and choked thousands of dreamers. Yet another unmade a thousand timelines and erased histories. The fifth rested beneath a tree, with corpses impaled on its branches beneath a shower of red blood.
Remnii also looked at the scrawlings on the wall, and she saw glittering stars.
She watched as the stars shot across the sky and struck into a thousand worlds, leaving trails of corpses in their wake. She saw the stars weep, but they didn’t stop.
Seria saw a trail of broken teeth, or spears. It was hard to say. A snake bit its own tail, tearing fang after fang after fang against its own flesh.
Uther saw castles rent asunder. He saw people in the streets choking one another to death. He saw another castle, and another, and another. They were infinite in number and violence.
As the shadows grew deeper on the walls, Vel saw ripples of blood. She followed them with her eyes, alert for danger. As the entity reached out to her, she barred its attempts to communicate with her as she instead raked her claws against the mural and drowned it out with the scraping gouge in the wall.
As Remnii’s words called out in the darkness, they echoed back. However, despite her words, everyone kept picking up speed. However, no matter how hard she ran, she struggled to catch up with them.
The shadows grew deeper and darker, and as they checked to ensure everyone was present, they saw that Remnii was gone.
Vel tried to call out over the telepathic bond, but she heard nothing in response.
Meanwhile, Remnii decided to slow her pace. She would catch up in time. However, the words that reached her were not the ones that were being said. She heard Vel comment about her abandoning them when the threat was mounting, just to chase the Legion. Gil noted they didn’t actually need her, and Victor said all she did was slow them down. Uther commented her hair was terrible.
Remnii’s chest tightened and the thought: What am I doing here? Passed her mind.
The group reached an opening, looking for Remnii.
Xal’atath’s brow raised.
They emerged on a bridge over a chasm, and the darkness grew stifling. One by one, they crossed the bridge and entered into an ancient chamber. They saw petrified tentacles pushing from the ground, tendrils straining against the earth. And then the passage just stopped at the far end. It opened into unlimited darkness, with lights glimmering like stars in endless possibility.
Standing on the precipice was a massive, shadowed figure. It was 20 or 30 feet tall. It was hard to tell if it was humanoid or not, or whose shadow it was… but it was its shadow, the one responsible for the darkness and the deaths they had seen. Its hands were raised outwards, and they heard sickening squelching, like flesh and blood roiling in the dark. They saw a waterfall rising, as if cresting over the lip of the stone. It was blood and flesh and sinew of a thousand and no colors and shapes that had started to coagulate into a malformed abominable creature. There was so much blood and chitin and bone, and it kept flowing as it coagulated into an indecipherable mass. There was an abundance of flesh that once was Zakajz.
Two eyes emerged from the darkness. Shadowed tendrils of pure thought and malice and apathy emerged from the darkest deaths, whipping out, hungering, eager to collect what flesh and soul and sinew might be added to the conglomerate.
And in the midst of the tendrils was none other than Remnii, who faltered and floundered in the consciousness of Zakajz.
Xal’atath stuck to the darkness, not yet ready to reveal herself.
As the conflict unfolded, Vel’s eyes shot over to Remnii. She drew her sword and activated her bladesong, but she reached out her hand and used [Vortex Warp]. Remnii was ripped from the grasp of Zakajz, and she reappeared next to Uther.
Gil raised his bow and started to open fire at the Shadow of Zakajz. The arrow was fully absorbed by the shadow, but the energy packed into the arrow dispersed into it. It had an effect on the creature’s form, but its reaction was impassive.
The lair flashed and shifted into a bright red eye whose gaze fell upon the Shadow of Zakajz. Travard charged up the rough stairway.
He conjured a [Guiding Bolt] and hurled it at the Shadow of Zakajz, which recoiled from the holy blast. Seria barreled after Travard, and using her short range teleportation, she got up beside the Shadow. She tore into it with her claws, which passed right through the creature. She felt them hook onto the entity, but physical blows were struggling against it.
Remnii looked around and she combed her fingers through her hair and pulled it in front of her. She looked over at Uther with a small sniffle.
Uther seemed confused.
She sounded hollow, but she used [Circle of Power] over the group.
The spell expanded and it hit the edge of the darkness.
The spell was shattered before she could even manifest it, and she felt her breath hitch and her mind roiled.
The Flesh of Zakajz oozed off the platform and splattered into the ground, where it reformed into a malformed mound. It morphed, eyes, mouths, and teeth emerging from it, and it warbled in Shath’Yar.
Robert fired a [Sacred Flame] at the Shadow of Zakajz as Seria raked her claws against the Flesh. The Shadow of Zakajz’s eyes flared as it looked at Seria.
Seria snarled back at it. Its presence washed over her.
Victor leaped up onto the landing and brought his blade down on the Flesh of Zakajz. The flesh shifted into hard chitin, which turned his blade side, but his sword flared with fire that then washed over the creature.
The psychic link severed with Remnii and sent her reeling, but then the Consciousness of Zakajz honed in on Uther. Inky black tentacles emerged from the darkness and lashed out at Victor and Seria. It wrapped them up in the inky darkness. Victor dug his claws into the shadowy psychic tendril and a surge of fire washed up it as he used [Hellish Rebuke].
Uther activated his armor and zoomed up to the Shadow of Zakajz. He slammed the Silver Hand into the Shadow. The weapon shined with holy energy, and the cacophonous voice shuttered from the massive influx of holy damage. Uther swung again, and a bunch of eyes formed on the Flesh of Zakajz and it howled mentally.
He felt the Consciousness hone in on the weapon, and it tried to unravel the [Holy Weapon] spell upon it. But Uther felt the weight of Tyr’s weapon as the Consciousness split upon him.
As Vel noted the Flesh of Zakajz was shifting around something in its form. It appeared to be some sort of ancient sword. She felt a draw to the sword, like some sort of connection. As she focused on it, she saw a soul locked in that blade. It was an ancient warrior. A dark-skinned man with a long head of graying braids. He had great armor and pelts that predated modern human aesthetic.
And she then remembered the stories she had heard about the Ancient King Thoradin and how he had never been seen again.
Vel sheathed her own sword and she ran up the side of the wall. She reached for the blade and started pulling. She focused her mana into her hands, and she instead focused on pulling the spirit free. The Spirit of King Thoradin I was pulled free of the Flesh of Zakajz, wielding his ancient blade.
He raised Strom’kar the Warbreaker and drove it into the Flesh. It appeared to strike true regardless of the prior immunity. The flesh began to bleed despite everything.
The Shadow of Zakajz looked at Uther and he felt the shadows start to strengthen around him. He walked forward, and it appeared he was being pushed off the edge. His foot slipped, and he fell into the Darkness of Zakajz. But instead of falling for eternity, he forced himself to stand, and he was left on the ledge.
The Shadow of Zakajz put some distance between itself and Uther.
Suddenly, the darkness shifted and grew as a partition of psychic energy divided the battlefield in half.
Gil teleported through the partition with some struggle, and he held up a hand into the air to call down a [Meteor Swarm] The battlefield was barraged with fire.
Travard rushed toward the Shadow of Zakajz and struck it with a [Sacred Flame]. The Flesh of Zakajz roiled through Vel toward Gil and Remnii. Vel was able to deflect the flesh aside, but it reached out and grabbed at Remnii. The Light of T’uure prevented it from fully pulling her in.
Victor exploded into a draconic, fiery fury that immolated the Shadow of Zakajz before he drove his blade into the darkness of the Consciousness.
Seria teleported out of the tendril and dove at the darkness of the Consciousness of Zakajz. She raked into it with her claws. She disrupted its concentration on the psychic force as she continued to rake into it.
Uther hefted the Silver Hand and drove it into the darkness. The wafts of Holy magic was what was searing it apart with each swing. The eyes of Zakajz flickered.
King Thoradin winced as a burst of psychic energy pierced through his mind. Remnii wrapped her hands around the Flesh that was holding her and she pumped a surge of holy magic through it. She used [Exorcism].
The Consciousness of Zakajz pressed its mind into the battlefield. The flesh started to roil and the shadows thickened. The Shadow of Zakajz re-emerged from the shadows of the Consciousness.
Vel used [Steel Wind Strike] to slash into all manifestations of Zakajz before she teleported near the darkness and slashed her claws through it. Meanwhile Gil used [Dimension Door] to carry Remnii and himself up by Uther. He then launched an arrow into the darkness. It made a high pitched sound beyond his understanding, and the Consciousness receded, but was not fully destroyed. He fired another arrow at the Flesh of Consciousness, and flames swept over it and the Shadow. The Flesh of Zakajz boiled.
The Shadow of Zakajz looked at Thoradin.
Thoradin winced as the shadows surrounding his spirit started to be ripped and stretched apart. Uther leaped down to the Shadow before he swung the Silver Hand at the Shadow of Zakajz.
Brilliant golden light emanated from the hammer.
The Shadow exploded in the radiant light. He then reached out to Thoradin to help him up.
Thoradin squinted at Uther, and then he smiled as he took his hand.
The Flesh of Zakajz roiled at them and swept over the pair of them. However, they burst through the flesh of the aberrant monstrosity. Remnii, meanwhile, channeled her magic to heal. Meanwhile, the Consciousness stirred again.
The Shadow returned once again, and eyes opened in the darkness. Seria, however, immediately dragged her claws through the darkness and the eyes flickered out again. Victor, meanwhile, drove his sword into the ground and used [Web of Fire]. The Flesh and Shadow caught alight, and Victor leaped into the air and released another wave of fire with a strike of his sword.
The Shadow rematerialized, shadows dripping from its body, but Victor drove his blade into it with another fiery strike.
He leaped into the air and his gauntlet began to glow. Uther planted his shield to give the older paladin a spring board, and Travard was launched into the Shadow.
The King threw Strom’kar into the air, and Travard channeled the holy energy into the blade as he caught it. He cleaved down through the Shadow, and there was an explosion of silver light.
They heard the sound of a reality-ripping screech. The darkness truly opened its eyes, and it started to roil and creep.
Thoradin drew a spiritual knife, and tendrils started to emerge from the surrounding darkness. However, a single dagger sailed through the air. The blade embedded itself in Zakajz’s great eye, and it screeched as the eye gave way to a massive rift. Xal’atath appeared by the rift, hovering in Calia’s body.
She twisted the dagger, and the reality around them twisted and crumbled.
She ripped the dagger clean, and the immense pressure of the area released. Xal’atath turned, the dagger scintillating in her hand with power. She gently floated down to the edge of the chasm.
She smiled.
The earth began to tremble. The ceiling started to collapse. Chunks of stone crumbled, but Xal’atath walked calmly.
She cleaved open a massive rift with the dagger, which enveloped them all in darkness. When the darkness receded, they were on the surface, on the shore of Tirisvar Lake. They weren’t far from the smoking village. They were standing, and Xal’atath was there, still in Calia’s body. All the slain members of the Tyr’s Guard had also been teleported to the shore.
They heard, and felt, an earthquake.
Xal’atath looked at the dagger.
Maraad and Elissa had rushed toward the shore, and Maraad called out to check if Remnii was alright. Remnii sat down on the ground. She held an open hand to Maraad, but she looked up at Xal’atath.
She gestured to another corpse. The body of the elven mage Inanis.
Remnii had Maraad help her back to her feet.
Remnii hefted T’uure on her hands and she started to channel magic into Inanis. She drew the light from T’uure, which caused it to shift into its discordant form. She winced as the psychic waves washed over her mind, and she unleashed the light into Inanis.
The magic sank into the corpse of the elf, and her eyes opened. She gasped, and then she looked up at Calia, whose face was still marred.
She held out a hand toward the elf, who took it. Xal’atath pulled her up, and then sank the dagger into her chest.
Inanis spit up blood, and then started to laugh.
Her eyes changed, and she pulled herself from the dagger that Calia held. She gingerly retrieved it from the other woman’s hand. Calia staggered, barely conscious, but Victor caught her. The elven cultist stood with the same poise and presence of Xal’atath.
Xal’atath smiled.
A rippling gateway of voidal energy appeared. Xal’atath bowed, and disappeared through the gateway.
Remnii looked apologetically at Maraad and Elissa.
He looked back at the village. The fires had been put out, but the village had been decimated.
He shook his head.
Travard nodded.
He looked down at Strom’kar, which he was still carrying.
The spirit manifested again.
He looked at Uther.
Thoradin nodded.
He glanced over at Vel, who nodded. He then looked at Travard.
He looked up.
The spirit faded away.
Gil asked why the monster kept calling them his children. Vel said that trying to understand the void would only lead to insanity. Uther looked at Remnii and asked what she had meant by “it’s not that bad, is it?” And Remnii blushed.
Gil slow-blinked.
The group returned to the village, and Bob found his niece and nephew. He wrapped his hands around them as they wept over the loss of their parents. Friends, family, and loved ones were gathered so they could be laid to rest. Not all of town was burned. There were enough shelters that people would have roofs over their heads. Most of the tavern made it through the assault.
The people joined together and worked to get some rest.
Bob welcomed the group to stay, but he told them they did not need to stay as Vel suggested that Karazhan would have better resources to help Calia. He thanked them for their help, and asked what they wanted to do with the blade. Gil pointed out it was in his hands.
Vel conjured her magic and teleported them back to Karazhan via [Teleportation Circle]. Moroes was there to meet them immediately.
The group took Calia to the infirmary. She was not unconscious, but she was virtually catatonic. Her eyes were absent, both literally and figuratively. Victor carried her to the bed that was prepared.
Victor nodded.
Rem: Between everyone here, there is no world, Victor, in which you or your mother are left to suffer. Uther, Vel, and even myself at some great distance in time… we will move through this together.
Victor hugged Remnii and she patted his head.
Victor then looked over at Uther and hugged him as well. Uther assured him that he wanted to help her as well, as she was his aunt. Victor nodded and he also looked at Gil and thanked him as well, as he had been the one that didn’t want to take Xal’atath’s deal.
Victor left, and Vel followed after him. Maraad suggested Remnii get to bed as well, as Calia was probably in the best condition she could be.
She held Maraad’s hand, and he led her away.
Maraad pushed her hair aside as they reached their room, and he started to give her a firm back massage.
Maraad’s hands glowed as he channeled healing magic into her shoulders.
Meanwhile, Vel was attending to Victor by using Arkha’din as a means to transfer her magic. However, as the [Mind Blank] spell completed, she winced, and instinctively brought a hand up to her face.
She also had the start of a throbbing headache from the extreme expenditure of magic, and Victor offered to go get her some water as there wasn’t much else he could do.
November 11th
The next day arrived, and they were expecting the green dragon emissary to arrive later that evening. However, they had the day to check on Calia.
She was being watched over by some animated objects, and she had not really stirred. Remnii conjured her healing magic and tried to channel [Restoration] into Calia. Vel supplemented with some additional medical expertise, and Remnii reached in.
Restoration magic had the ability to heal psychological damage, and she had seen it repair trauma induced amnesia and heal severe blunt force head trauma that had caused someone to lose a part of themself. But there was something different in Calia’s mind.
In order to heal, someone had to allow themselves to heal. That was true with physical ailments, but that was doubly true for the mind and heart.
As she reached into Calia’s mind and attempted to connect with her, there was no will, nor was there a light. Instead of it being a damage that needed repaired, it was something deeply personal. There was a pain present that was so deep and so complete that a restoration alone, even with such magic behind it, could not lift it.
There was something missing that Calia could not hope to overcome, as if she herself had thrown it away.
Likewise, any attempts to heal the scarification on her face were unsuccessful.
She relayed what she had found to Vel and Victor in gentle, but stern terms.
Victor nodded.
Remnii stood up and dusted off her skirts. She set a hand to Victor’s cheek, and then she looked at Vel and thanked her for her help as well.
Vel had channeled the magic needed to reach out to the strange entity known as Locus-Walker, and she felt a connection form between them.
She abruptly felt a sensation in her mind, as if it was a knock, and she opened the door. The weave of magic in the room shifted, and she looked behind her and saw the ornately-wrapped, energy being she had been speaking with through the spell.
