[Alliance] Chapter Two: Session Sixteen
August 1st
0:00
Magister Duskwither immediately starts giving orders to the Guardians of Eternal Spring as the gravity of the situation fully weighs on them.
Levia is told to stay with Caleron, and she tries to argue that she can help, but one of the teachers said she had done enough. She gives the names of the students to the group. There are seven of them. One of them is, in fact, Win’thas Keenblossom, who she said was the most powerful.
Vel’s suspicions of Win’thas were correct.
The grizzled Spellbreaker also says he wants them to try and get Runesight alive and bring him back, and hands over dimensional shackles to try and do so. However, he wants them back regardless (of course).
Jaina and Duskwither use teleport to get a group of them to the school. They appear in the courtyard outside one of the base buildings. Vel quickly runs down the primary locations of interest with Duskwither, and the evacuation measures in place, while Gil uses primeval awareness to sense the people around. He gets 42 humanoids, and 23 demonic signals, which are in several groups. Two appear to be independent, but others are in small groups in sporadic locations around the area.
There are about 16 humanoids in the upper sections, about 8 from the middle, and 14 in the lower section.
In that moment, one of the satellites starts to drop again.
Duskwither suggests a small group goes up to try and deal with the demons and guide people out, and Vel, Uther, Theo, Gil, Vereesa, Tess, Vincent, and Arator head up, using the amulets that Uther, Vel, Theo, and Gil have.
The first thing they notice as they enter the main atrium is the scent of burning copper, and the orb of translocation seems to be glowing vaguely greenish, and there is lightning crackling through it. The energy seems to be a bit chaotic.
The translocation orb has indeed been compromised, and the override system has been tampered with magically likely from the headmaster’s office. Instead of allow free travel, it seems to have heightened the security. None of the area are open to them via their amulets.
However, they can be interfaced with using the amulets. Though there is the chance for feedback that may cause some issues. Vel goes and tries to interface with the orb to get them redirected to the Sundrop residence hall.
0:30
She grits her teeth, but manages to make contact, and the group is teleported into the main area of the residence hall. Everything seems to be rather upended. There is one student present. They are hiding behind a sofa.
She recognizes “Thalia,” confused, though Vel tells her that they are evacuating and she needs to move. Vereesa asks if the student knows how many people are there, but she isn’t sure--some of them had left to go see what was going on.
The student runs to leave, and Vel uses minor illusion to start magically shouting for people to gather, while Gil goes and knocks on doors to find the others. They were able to find 10 other students.
Several other satellites start to tilt downward with the chaotic energy fluctuations as the students here race to evacuate. As Tess is running up a flight of stairs, one of the stairs begins to slip out from under her. However, she is able to kick off of it and get to the next stair.
0:45
They start to head to the headmaster’s office. Vel establishes a connection, but the security is higher, and the connection itself is tenuous. However, if she were to try again, there would be more stress on the orb itself. They decide to chance it.
They manage to get through, and inside there are two figures. One is sitting in the chair with their feet kicked up, and the other is another student rooting through Duskwither’s things. The first, going by his disheveled hair and ruddy clothing, is Win’thas.
Without hesitation, Vincent goes to attack, and Gil fires off an arrow, pinning Win’thas’s companion against the wall. He then fires another arrow at Win’thas, and the warlock falls backwards, trying to dive behind the cover of a chair, but the arrow pierces through the chair and hits him in the arm.
Win’thas: “Owww. Why’d you have to go and do that. Aren’t we all friends?”
Vereesa follows up, hitting him with two more arrows.
Win’thas: “You guys are pretty good shots. Man, there goes any chance to talk this out though. Damn shame.”
Arator runs up to try and apprehend Win’thas, and there is a flicker and a flash. Appearing in the space as Arator runs past, there is a small, peculiar creature that lashes at Arator as it emerges from invisibility. However, it misses.
Arator brings his sword around and clips into Win’thas’s side, but the second fails to connect.
Win’thas moves back, and he raises a finger, pointing it at Arator. He says “bam,” but in a flash, Vel identifies the threat, and a wave of energy counters it as she interrupts the spell.
Win’thas looks surprised. “Oh. That’s not good.”
Uther runs forward, and is startled by an imp, but manages to land a guiding bolt on Win’thas. The imp hurls a bolt of flaming energy at Uther, but Uther raises an arcane ward to block it.
Several other imps appear, and one strikes at Vereesa. But it misses. However, Vel step out from behind Tess and a ray of frost surges through the air, slamming into one of the imp’s chest. It explodes as ice cracks through it’s body, though two imps immediately appear and attack Vel. She pants, unable to try and a raise a defense because of the counterspell.
Tess follows up and attacks one of the imps, but she misses. She glances around the room, and notices a number of tomes around the room. In addition, there seems to be some devices on the desk that were tampered with, which could likely be manipulated to alter the lockdown.
She relays the info to Vel.
Vincent steps forward and launches an arrow. It plants into the chest of the neophyte, and he slumps down, unconscious and now bleeding out.
Vincent then runs to help Tess with the imp.
Theo hurls a fireball at an imp, but it just eats it, and burps another firebolt back at Theo, whichj connections.
Vincent follows up and fires his crossbow at Win’thas, nailing him in the side. He drops to the ground, now bleeding out.
Theo hurls a scorching ray at one of the imps, but it seems to be completely ineffectual. Another imp hurls a firebolt at Theo, and he goes flying back and hits the ground.
One of the imps tries to go invisible, but Arator swings, and eliminates the imp. One of the other imp starts to retreat, but before he does, he starts to tear into Win’thas, attempting to kill him before going. Vereesa picks off two imps, and Arator stabilizes Win’thas before destroying the imp with a smite.
Vel fires a frostbolt at one of the remaining imps, but missing, but she follows up to distract him while Tess stabs it through with her rapier before running at the last imp.
Gil fires an arrow through the last imp, clearing the area.
1:25
It’s just Win’thas left, who surrenders. Gil goes and knocks Win’thas out, and Gil both gags him, and ties him up, before writing a note that says “I’m a warlock. Keep my captured” and attaches it to him before tossing him out the window to be caught by the teachers below. The other warlock is also stabilized.Vereesa feeds Theo a potion, and he thanks her.
Vel goes to the desk to start messing with the contraption. It’s a lot more complex than the translocation orbs, and as Vel struggles to try and get through it, she is blasted back from arcane damage and slams into the wall. Vereesa tries to pick up where she left off, but fails horribly.
Several of the satellites start to fall.
1:36
The group splits up. Vereesa and Theo go to maintenance hall one, while the rest of the group go to the second maintenance hall. Vel is, once again able to get a tenuous grip on the other translocation orb. She forces the teleportation through, and the group is spat out on the other side. Everyone is knocked completely of their feet, and Vel is knocked unconscious.
Gil and Uther use cure wounds on Vel and help stand her up.
They are at the bottom of a maintenance shaft, and there is a stairwell that leads up, but there are no windows anywhere. Vincent goes ahead, scouting out the area, followed by Tess and Gil.
They very quietly peer over the lip of the stairwell, and they see a number of individuals. There is the pacing form of Magister Runesight in front of a shaking, shimmering and sparkling crystal. Overhead, there is a scantily-clad female demon keeping watch with a whip at her hip: a succubus.
Inside the room, there is a bright green orb in Runesight’s hand as he tries to do something with the crystal. There is a second succubus crouching on the ground, as well as two students and two groundskeepers kneel with their hands bound behind their back.
Behind the hostages are two more students--other warlocks--wielding daggers at the ready. The second succubus is crooning at one of the students, murmuring she would hate to do something to her pretty little face if anyone tries something.
Gil and the others retreat, but as they do so, Runesight says that the group has arrived in the maintenance shaft. They start to discuss a plan, but Vel interrupts, saying that anything she and Uther say will be protected. They try an ambush approach, as there is the possibility he isn’t expecting Uther and her given he can’t sense them.
Gil uses Pass without Trace, and Vel uses Invisibility on herself and Uther.
2:01
Despite literally every single thing that should stand between the party and this not working, this works, and no one seems to be sensing them coming up. Vel and Uther sneak around to the other side of the room, invisible.
Runesight turns in the direction of Gil to start to “talk things out,” but before he can do so, he gets shot by Tess and he gets thrown back, and falls prone. Vincent flips up and dashes across, his weapon drawn, and he stabs into the succubus, who gasps, but she seems to be into the pain.
Gil then steps forward and casts faerie fire. He conjures a small fireball in his hand, and blows it into the room. It seems to spread out, lightly coating over everything. Arator runs up, informing Magister Runesight that he is under arrest. He uses his channel divinity, giving everyone the ability to dodge as a bonus action.
There is laughing behind Gil, and the second succubus appears.
Succubus: “Well, you’ve been a naughty boy, haven’t you? Perhaps I can teach you a few lessons. Or maybe you can help me teach others some lessons.”
The second succubus croons at Vincent, telling him to show her what she can do with his blades. The succubus charms his mind, turning him against his allies.
Runesight starts to conjure a fel-colored, 5th level fireball, but Vel drops her invisibility and counters it, tapping deep into the arcane energy at her disposal. She flips her hand through the air, casting the fireball against the wall, and it shatters into ice.
Vel smirks as Runesight rounds on her, furious..
Vel: “Your foresight wasn’t that good.”
Uther then runs in and uses his channel divinity, turning the succubus near Gil, though the second one succeeds.
Tess slips by the turned succubus, and charges up next to Vincent, slicing into the other succubus. However, she leans over and licks the blood off her arm.
Vell hurls an icy chromatic orb into one of the neophytes, and then moves over to one of the groundskeepers, preparing to cut them free.
Gil then zephyr strikes in, and fires at the succubus. One of the arrows impales into her, but the other goes wide.
One of the students rolls over on her side, struggling, and manages to cast burning hands on the two neophytes. Vincent, commanded by the succubus, attempts to attack Tess, and hits with his offhand attack.
Runesight shouts at the neophytes to get the wizard, and one of the neophytes hits her with a mana burn. Arator swings at Runesight, but is unable to connect.
One of the neophytes goes to move, and Vel stabs into him with her dagger, but as he rounds he blasts with a burning hands, incinerating the groundskeeper and the student, though Vel is able to slip out of the way.
The unturned succubus wraps her arms around Vincent, and Runesight offers the deal to go and try to barter for the other dagger. Vel looks at Gil, who isn’t dropping his weapon, and they proceed with the fight. Runesight drops a fireball, and several people drop.
2:43
Arator grabs Runesight, telling him to surrender, as he shoves him into the worgen. However, the succubus manages to charm Tess. Vincent stabs at the succubus, and then runs. Meanwhile, the neophyte attempts to curse Arator, but fails.
Gil fires two arrows into the succubus, and she drops. The charm on Tess is lifted, and she rounds on the magister. She gouges him with her claws, and Runesight jumps back, surprised and screaming. However, he uses his 8th level spell slot to teleport with the remaining warlock, the dagger still in his possession.
Tess rounds on Gil, slashing with her claws, before curling down into a defensive stance. Arator runs over to Uther, and tosses his sword aside, stabilizing Uther. Gil shouts at Vincent to get his sister, and Vincent is able to stabilize Vel. Gil zephyr strikes again, and fires an arrow. He hits Tess in the knee, and she drops to the ground. Gil goes and heals her, and then brings Uther back up.
3:09
Combat ends. Gil tells Uther to go help Vel, using the rest of his mana.
The crystal looks like it’s about to overload. It looks like it might supernova or will collapse in on itself. Vel tries to see if she could do something with that. She tries to tap into the power of the crystal, using her brother for support, and struggles, but after a tense exchange of magical blows and sheer willpower, she is able to overcome the volatile nature of the crystal and bring it to stabilization.
3:20
The group goes to leave, reporting back to the ground. Arator and Uther bring the bodies. The first thing they note is one of the satellites had crushed through part of the large grand entrance hall on the ground. It seems to be one of the classrooms. People are picking through the wreckage to find anyone inside. There are a good deal of unconscious bodies being drug out of some of the wreckage. A handful of bodies are in the classroom: 6 students and 2 maintenance workers. There is coughing from a few of them, but some of the bodies are very still.
Vereesa and Theo are there and seem to be alright. Vereesa is trying to do what she can, and the priest from the church is nearby. However, 2 of the students seem to be beyond help. The creepy kid that would ask strange questions seems to have broken his neck, and likewise it seems the lower half of Enrian’s body seems to have been crushed.
They fill Vereesa in on what happened, and they go to regroup with the others. Duskwither informs them he is grateful for the aid, and things would have been a lot worse had they not intervened. Ultimately, Vel has allies there. At least for what efforts they could offer.
Vel regroups with her brother, and informs him of the situation. She also comments on his fire magic, though she doesn’t push the issue.
3:42
Vincent goes to talk with Valeera, who is helping as she can. They meet up in a tavern. Vincent is amused that she is still there, and ultimately asks Valeera to get a message out. She agrees, but for 30 gold, as that’s the rate of the messengers she knows. She can also deliver it personally, though she isn’t sure what Uther or the others would think about her disappearing. Vincent said he was already working on a cover.
However, Valeera counters she may be able to get it for cheaper, though such will put it in common messengers’ hands. Thus it may be intercepted. Vincent chooses to go with the more reliable messengers, but only has 20 gold on him. Valeera agrees to cover the rest, but he was going to pay her back double, and she was going to make sure she got paid back seeing she was going to be with them for a while to ensure she doesn’t get killed.
3:55
Vel sends Sylvanas
"Runesight warlock. Confirmed. Attacked Duskwither. Damage lessened, but will blame me. Vereesa Gil others possibly incriminated. He captured dagger. Warn Borel. Ally. Warlocks entrenching."
Sylvanas responds.
“I see. Acknowledged. Unsafe to say more. Yes. Apologies. Yes. The Ranger Captain should be returning soon. As if anyone knows when she will turn up.”
Meanwhile, the spellbreakers are trying to weasel some info from Win’thas and the others. Win’thas says they were trying to take the power crystals. He believes they may have gotten one of them, though he doesn’t know where they went.
Vincent gets the sense that he likely knows more, and he informs the Spellbreakers, though one of the Spellbreakers says that he isn’t there to beat a kid.
Gil and Vel also go over there, and Gil asks Win’thas if there are any other warlock grounds about. He says he isn’t sure, and he seems genuine. Gil asks him what he was supposed to do with the crystals, and Win’thas informs him that they were supposed to wait for the signal. Which was Runesight talking in his head. Gil asks him why he was involved, and ultimately, Win’thas said it was for a good time. There was a rush with it. An adrenaline. However, in particular, channeling the fel is a rush.
4:11
Vel talks with Levia, who says that she is intending on telling the authorities everything. There's a possibility her sentence may get dramatically reduced as a result, or she may only get probation. Vel thanks her for what she did, and Levia said it just showed she was a coward, as she couldn't bring herself to actually bring the crystal where she was supposed to. Vel counters that she actually did the brave thing, as ultimately what she did put her in more risk.
Vel mentions she had had her suspicions about Levia's involvement, and Levia said that she had wanted to tell Vel, but she couldn't. However, she didn't want anything to happen to the first person she had considered a friend. Vel tells her that she will be in touch in the future, and they shake hands, still friends, and Levia tells her not to get herself killed in the events yet to come.
August 2nd
The group is given quarters to stay, and the next day Duskwither meets with them in his office. He has come to a concerning realization. One of the three power source crystals had been taken. Ranger Vereesa and Theo were able to stop the other from being kidnapped, and the one that the group attended to was stabilized, but the other is gone without a trace. Along with the dagger from Vincent.
However, he is able to confirm that the objects are under high demand, and they would likely continue tracking the group.
Duskwither asks them what they know of the Bandinariel, which is the arcane shield that protects Silvermoon, and the reason no one can pass through the elfgates without a keystone, and why everything is always nice in Quel’thalas. It was established a long time ago during the time of the first king.
Vel also knows the shield has a number of different “settings”. However, it can also be enhanced so that if any mage casts arcane magic in it, the magic of elves is enhanced, and the magic of non-elves is suppressed.
Duskwither is vaguely impressed. The runestones around the kingdom are tied into the shield and allow it to be powered. Vel asks if the Ano’wyn, a word she saw in Borel’s notes, is tied into it, and Duskwither’s eyebrow raises. He asks how she knows about it, and she simply says she’s inquisitive.
Duskwither continues that, if anyone wants to enhance the shield, they have to acquire the key of three moons. It was split a long time ago to protect it, but Duskwither would not be surprised if the warlocks know about the key given how deep things go. If the key were to be reforged, they could manipulate the shield, or drop it completely.
A goal that he wants to prevent.
Duskwither continues that Ano’wyn is one of the three camps that protects the moon crystals. It is hidden and well-guarded. Many of the guards that protect it do not even know its importance. The Spellbreakers frequently are the ones in charge, though sometimes Farstriders and Guardians are involved as well. However, some of them likely believe they are simply protecting a small arcane sanctum. The others are called An’daroth, and An’telas. The locations shift from time to time, however they are almost always in the southern portions of Quel’thalas, beyond the river. If the group were to find them, they could secure the key, and keep it out of the hands of the warlocks.
How people find them, certain high ranking people may be able to help, but they can also be triangulated with the runestones. However, the runestones may be watched. In addition, there’s the power crystal itself, as well as Silvermoon, given Magister Runesight may be spreading trouble there.
Then Duskwither pulls out a satchel, and provides a reward for their help. It was the most he could allow to disappear from the ledgers. Gil counters they were possibly responsible, but Duskwither is insistent, as the warlocks were here for some time.
Duskwither informs them to leave before sundown, and sends them on their way. Gil buys a bag of holding.
