Visions

Along my travels throughout the Dominions, I sometimes draw pictures of what I see and experience. These are some of those things.

Dantii, as he walks down a village street in Yomi, seconds before all Hell broke loose.

This, or something like it, will become a common sight in the future...
Alice? What are you doing here?
A mid-tech rebreather mask with comms and a targeter.
A ship, sailing softly passed a sunken pyramid, at sunrise.
A skycutter from the Nightlands.
A guy I met sometime in 5 AW.
Another 5th dominion punk, stole my watch!
A dagger-pistol of unknown manufacture.
I hope you enjoyed these glimpses into the Dominions, until next round...

Find a Save Point, Restart

Descendence, what to say...

We weathered the loss of integral victims, traveled through seemingly bizarre paths, and jumped storylines like stones in lava. It was a good run, a test run, for the avatars. But, like many things, the campaign will be put on hold. The avatar rules need tweaking and the story arc needs a direction, Descendence will be revived anew, eventually.

As one gate closes, another opens wide. So far, I am dubbing it the 0ld 0rder. The 0ld 0rder will be on Earth, around 1300bc, with a hefty dose of mana, prayer and mech (throw some oid in for giggles). All victims start fresh, with a dark setting in mind, (assassins please apply!) I had thoughts of a time change, possibly every other Monday?

Comments welcome...

Descendence (Blog 7)

Ronia had set up a bonfire in the town's square as the gypsies entered Jonas. The troupe set up their stage in the center of the marketplace and begins their performance. With rapt amazement the crowd grows around them, almost the entire town applauded the troupe as they finished. When it is over, the crowd dissipates slowly as if waking. Dex is approached by Eziekiel, the dragon is only told the the town "needs water from the mill" before slipping back into the crowd. Dex informs Ronia and Bron, and after the troupe has left, go below the mill. The vast resivour tanks are all empty, flushed when Descendence first came to Jonas.

They go to the liberary at the keep to research what appears to be a curse the gypsies layed upon the townspeople to draw dark fae daemons. Further research informs them that the halfling preists were purifying water below the mill, the kind which would rid the town of the curse. Taking Karyssa with tham, they return to the mill. Karyssa works a Purification upon the intake pipes to the containers. Unknowingly, the dark fae taints her working causing a sublty different effect. The worked water is given to the Myotis forces first, then the rest of Jonas during morning mass held before true night.

Taul joins them as they search for Darakoth, with the comming night there are still thoughts of him returning. They approach the alcove where his avatar should be, but the alcove is not there. They attempt to break their way through the working with weapons, magic and fae but it is worked by an adept and holds. In the surrounding chamber, small shodow creatures watch the group and their efforts. Bron and Karyssa use their powers in search of Dakaroth, finding him close, and Karyssa is knocked unconcious in retaliation with dark fae.

Ronia and Bron turn a few of the dark creatures into smoke with single hits. Bron's senses locate Dakaroth as the creatures and he wants his avatar. As some of the creatures draw them apart, the majority of them gather below the aclove, then they mass and surge through the Bron-made hole into Dakaroth's Wyrm. Some are destroyed by Bron's Sunstone and Ronia's flaming sword.

Descendence (Blog 6)

Bron had passed out near town square the previous night, after spending time with Tek Phlaeg. He had offered the dwarf a drink while fixing Bron's avatar, then there were songs, more drinks, and finally waking up in a crypt. He was awakened by Nau Fien, who was apparently keeping Bron safe, and asked to take the necromancer to Tal Onas.

The Night's Wrath arrived at Tal Onas while Bron was on his way there with Fien. They all attend Lord Faul's debriefing. Each of the mercenaries' contracts with the Emperor are agreed upon. The proposal to renovate the zeppilin to include an avatar chamber is proposed to Tek Phoeboes, who takes it to Lord Faul. It is agreed upon, but the work to be done will ground the vessel for the duration. Descendence squadron will have to rely only upon the captured cutters for support.

Ronia, Bron and Jauques go into the woods to hunt large game. Upon encountering one of the keepers of the wood, a raccoon, they abandon the hunt by morning.

The next evening Lord Faul orders Descendence squadron to the Glimmerhold, a dwarven forge-city on the other side of Hove. Their mission is to bring the dwarven hold under the trade alliance Myotis offers and punish them if they refuse. Given the lack of zeppelin, it will be a long journey through hostile territory.

Anui Ronia plans a route first to Jonas, the last friendly outpost before crossing the plains of Hove. As they arrive they notice a forest clustered against the wall of the city that had not been there before. It an impossibility since they had been gone from the town for a week. As they approach they change their approach angle, and the forest follows them, staying between them and the town. Descendence simply flies over it.

As they fly towards the keep they notice despoilers and Myotis guards posted as normal, other than the wood, nothing seems wrong. They approach the keep's doors and are denied entrance by the orders of Aniu Gweneth. Karyssa go to speak with Tek Phlaeg, he tells her of the town's Aniu being seduced by a dark fae adept named Darakoth, and the forest is his doing. The dwarf believes that he will use the coming "true night" (when both visible moons are dark) to harvest the inhabitants of the town.

In order to contact anyone with enough rank to over rule Gweneth, the mercenaries breach the topmost tower of the keep while the despoilers seize the scrying stone kept within. They contact Lord Faul who instructs them to destroy Darakoth's "heart", which he keeps protected within the forest. Through the fae, Darakoth Knows their actions and prepares the denizens of the wood. They plan thier assault for noon.

Ronia and Karyssa go to speak with Gweneth's second in command. He agrees to arrest his Aniu and strip her of rank personally, in return he will become the new Aniu. They proceede towards the keep, Karyssa entering through the forge intent on sabotaging the adept's avatar. When she arrives in the barracks, she finds the avatar protected with workings. Knowing that an adept's skills are greater than those she currently posses, she works a Deflection to block the small Unlock working that would be required to release the avatar. Ronia breaks the Closing worked upon the keep's door with her avatar's cursed claymore and proceedes to the audience chamber where Qweneth is waiting in her avatar. Aniu Ronia declares her arrest, leaving her second in cammand to strip her of rank.

As the rest of Descendence squadron proceeds into the wood, a force rips a path past them towards the center. They can feel it's presence, and with no better option, follow it's path cautiously. Before long, the creature reveals itself by eviscerating two despoilers. It stands taller than the avatars, its body a combination of daemonflesh, machine workings and armor plates fused together with the darkness of the wood. It grabs an avatar, throwing it against another despoiler with enough force to break it's cockpit. Bron charges into melee combat while Jauques unloads his four magelocks into the beast. Bron's fists repeadedly scar the daemon's hide as holes appear on its shoulders and neck. The remaining despoilers do what they can against it, adding more wounds. With a laugh like grinding granite, the daemon heals itself with the darkness around it, the avatars retreat above the forest.

Ronia and Karyssa meet them above the trees. Taul, Julian and a dragon named Dex, are sent to find the "heart" while the rest of them assault the creature below. In order to decrease it's power, the forest canopy is to be destroyed to let as much light in as possible. The squadron sets to work, burning and hacking the trees, forcing a clearing where the arcodaemon attacked. As they engage it again, Karyssa sets to the task of finding survivors who can be repaired. The arcodaemon reels as Bron, Ronia and Jauques press thier attack. The squardon survivors continue to hack at the forest, increasing the amount of killing light.

The Aniu carves a massive burning wound into the shoulder of the arcodaemon, Jauques rends it wider with curses of Vet-Aunn. Into the gaping whole, Bron teleports himself and back, leaving a single stone. The stone is made from condensed solar fae, the opposite to dark fae. The arcodaemon becomes a pillar of burning skin and metal for an instant.

Julian uses his divination to find the "heart", a stone mortuary containing four female corpses. The corpses are subsequently destroyed along with the stone structure. Nothing is found below it. Karysa does a knowing upon the fresh ruins and learns some disturbing news. The forest is a ruse put there by Darakoth to give him time to escape if he is found. Destroying the "heart", (the bodies of his previous wives,) will destroy the forest, but he still lives. The forest did provide him with large amounts of power, and they have weakened him.

Returning to the keep, the new Aniu Jabber greets them. Darakoth had left as the assault upon the forest took place, as they had guessed. The mercenary Dex is asked about the powers he used in the wood, Karyssa identifies them as the type they need to activate the avatar chambers. She teaches him about it, enough to activate the one within the keep. As a pracaution, they plan to stay in Jonas until the dawn after true night, just to be sure.

Descendence (Blog 5)

Upon the Night's Wrath, Taul and Jauchec are given temporary command of the two captured battle cutters while the squadron prepares for inspection. Once the garrison force is assembled, Descendence drops from the zeppelin. The Rights of Command are transferred from Anui Ronia to Anui Gweneth, Gweneth is also given the sceptre of Jonas by the keep's head servant making her the official ruler of the city.

Anui Ronia declares a tournament, each squadron selects it's champions. Descendence is represented by Lilith, Beretolt, Thorig, Taul and finally Ronia. Descendence wins the aerial competition, due to the tireless efforts of Beretolt, their champion.

During this, Jauchec goes to the Bounty Hunter's guild to collect his bounty (for returning the idol). His paymaster suggests he depart with the Night's Wrath, he agrees.

After the tournament, Ronia goes to the Dragon's Scale to have a couple of free drinks, she encounters both Eziekiel and John Johnson inside. The Anui questions the halfling about his absence from the keep. Eziekiel answers for him, he had signed Ronia's name to authenticate his release, which does not sit well with Ronia. With suspicion in mind, she seeks solace at the chapel in the Night's Wrath, Jauchec joins her.

Karyssa makes one last visit to Jonas' forge before departure, and speaks with Tek Phleag, the dwarven mechanic for the garrison force. They talk of the avatar chamber, Karyssa agreeing to send transcripts of the books she is taking with her. Within this chamber, Phleag presents her with a golden token emblazoned with the Technocracy's seal. He explains to her that once she has acquired three of such tokens she can petition to join the sub-cult at any of the Great Forges. With thanks, she leaves for the zeppelin.

They encounter three Wyrm avatars, which are piloted by the necromancers of Myotis. As they approach, one of them reveals himself as Lord Faul. Ronia gives him a quick appraisal of the attack. Faul is pleased, except for the loss of Nau Fien. Upon his leave, he informs them he will be retuning to Tol Onas in three days.

Along the Night's Wrath's journey they come across a wildfire on the edge of the Living Wood, the avatars deploy to assist. Upon the ground they find the tree-ents attempting to contain the blaze. Koom approaches them, pointing out the Hovian bodies, full of mourning and anger. With the blaze contained, they continue to the fortress of Tol Onas.

Descendence (Blog 4)

Jauchec had gone back to his guild and hired the tracker he knew of and took him to the ruins of House Alaroth. The tracker then lead him into Jonas' underground tunnel networks. During their walk through the tunnels, Ezikiel introduces himself, and releases some of his knowledge of the family they seek. Ezekiel believes that the family hides within the keep. Jauchec continues to cast his stones through out the journey.

The Aniu, both Descendence' as well as the newly arrived garrison despoilers, meet at the North Gate and discuss a time for an inspection. The parade will be set hours before the Night's Wrath departs. Ronia then makes her final preparations for the captive nobility, sanding invites to the officers and Karyssa. During the pre-dinner festivities, a halfling merchant named John Johnson Glimmer identifies two Alaroths at the dinner in exchange for release. Ronia agrees to consider release once she is sure he speaks the truth.

Just before the main course, Jauchec and Ezekiel (smelling like the sewers) join them. During the meal, the two Alaroths are confirmed, they are siblings, the elder brother easily persuaded by gold, but the sister loud and opinionated. John all the while is pushing for his release, or at least into the courtyard, in quite the curious way, until the ceiling begins to cave in.

Two Hovian avatar detatchments force a wedge to the keep, the Lord of Light assaulting the dining hall directly and at speed. Half of the dinner guests are wounded or dead upon the first strike. Jauchec guns an avatar down, providing cover for the others to run, while grabbing the Alaroth girl. Bron shimmers to his avatar as Ronia, the other Alaroth in tow, and Karyssa run to their machines. The Lord of Light becomes engaged with Bron, his rock-drill fists destroying the golden engravings of his armor with every hit.

Ronia is followed by a Hovian to the keeps forge, Ronia manages to activate her machine before it arrives. The enemy machine rakes the forge with cannon fire before launching itself against Ronia. As the two cockpits slam into each other, the Hove pilot pulls a pistol and fires at Ronia, missing. Ronia impales him on her claymore.

In the courtyard, the combined garrison squadron and Descendence surround the Hovians, driving them back. Bron begins gaining an upper hand on the Lord of Light, who begins to pull back. The attackers activate arm-mounted tower shields and begin to form a circular phalanx. Once the sphere of shields is complete, a mass teleportation spell displaces them in a flash of light.

Ronia checks her prisoner, to find him dead, a gunshot wound to the head. The Alaroth girl, Elaine, is unharmed and angry. Although angered by her, they concede to the Emperor Myotis' request, and give her the idol.

Descendence (Blog 3)

As Ronia returns to the keep, she encounters Taul, her second in command. He reports to her of their victory over the Hovian picket, including the capture of two battle cutters. They had not encountered Nau Fein during the expedition. She excuses herself to the chambers she selected for herself, when Karyssa's wraith-squire approaches her with a request for help from its master. With a sigh, she leaves the keep towards the mill.

Jauchec awoke in a back alley not far from the town well to the sound of avatars coming into town. He had a hangover, but could dimly remember the bounty on the idol from the previous night. Consulting his scrying stones, he divined that the largest concentration of water was near the mill, he was aware of the idol's preferance for being near the substance, and headed towards it.

As Ronia was halfway across theupper gantry, below the mill, she heard the sounds of heavy armour flying towards her from behind. Turning she saw that it was Jauchec, she dived into what cover she had and attempted to quiet him. As quietly as they could they approached the end of the gantry, all the while watching the movement of the halflings below. The two of them meet with Karyssa and Bron, and while talking, a halfling spots the mechanic. As their discussion finishes, they notice the halflings have vacated the floor below them. They investigate below, finding the doors blocked with water barriers, and the rows of water silos empty.

Ronia is sends her squire for some army support and is the first to attempt to walk through the water and fails, Bron makes the attempt and succeedes, Karyssa steps through as well. Ronia and Jauchec, neither of whom can pass, attempt to curse the water with combined prayers. The water explodes tpwards them, knocking Ronia unconcious. While she is out, visions of an elven woman speaks to her of taking a gift away for turning from her light. The others try to help however they can, but Ronia's pulse slowly comes to a stop. She rises by the will of Annubus, without breath or pulse.

Beyond the water barrier there lie three double doors made of silver and gold, they are adroned with the ankh, or symbol of life. They choose the centre (with the aid of Karyssa's Worked stone) and begin to push upon them. Their combined strength breaks the silver holding bars allowing them access. Within the chamber is a collection of gold items, mostly rods and bars, illuminated by a gem, mounted upon the ceiling, that glows like daylight. The idol they seek is amid the horde, Jauchec takes the idol from the pile.

As they leave karyssa takes some of the gold, while Bron stays behind. "I will meet you topside," he says as he takes his shirt off to carry gold. Using a teleportation device (a shimmer) he manages to get two loads of gold to his avatar and the sunstone, by the time the rest of them get outside the mill. From there, they go to the keep. Ronia escorts Jauchec to the Night's Wrath, leaving the idol aboard for safe keeping. Moored to the zeppelin are the two captured battle cutters.

As the garrison forces arrive, they begin to look for the House Alaroth.

Some Background on Descendence (Blog 0, Part One)

Thought I might give you all a brief description of these individuals I write about who fight in giant magical robots (called avatars). The avatars make up the elite of Myotis' army and are transported in massive zeppilins assisted with nodestones. The zeppilin which transports the unit known as Descendence is named the Night's Wrath.
Here are some of the avatars:

This is a "Succubus", a feminine avatar of elven design, which Karyssa pilots. Hers has been adapted to her role of mechanic (not shown) with a set of mechandrites and a stealth suit. She is also equipped with an avatar sized murgosh (dwarven weapon-tool).
Shown here is the dwarven "Anvil" avatar (with shield). The newcomer, Bron, pilots one that has been equipped with rock drills (as fists) and flight jets.
This is the Derekesti (dark elven) avatar that the despoilers are based on. (I just haven't drawn them yet...will try to work on that;)

And, The Cast:
*Those who are "victims"*

Karyssa Zalyth -> Waylander - Earth Fae - Forge Lord - Iron Mage
A Derekesti female who was orphaned at a very young age. Taken in by a dwarven smith named Phoebos Grudgebearer, Karyssa was raised as a dwarven child. She learned the ways of the anvil quickly, growing fond of the machinations her father made. When the call to arms was raised she became stationed on the Night's Wrath as the avatar mechanik.

Ronia, Aniu -> Duelist - Fire - Anubis - Iron Mage
Ronia was raised in the town of Jonas, until it was sacked by a raiding band from Hove. It was told that there was an "unholy taint" upon the town which needed to be cleansed. During her adolescence Ronia was subjected to the unkind questioning of the church. She sought refuge with the army of Myotis, climbing the ranks to avatar pilot, and recently the rank of Aniu (commander) of Descendence.

Bron Willis -> Duelist - *unsourced* - The Art - Iron Mage
Very little is known of Bron's past, other than he is from Murkgladden on the western end of Runes Island. He has no record with the Bounty Hunter's Guild, and his clan is common in his homeland. At times, he seems more than just a Dwarf, with glowing eyes and radiating aura. Through his deeds at Jonas, Bron may be under the employ of Myotis.

Until Part Two,
Ricalope, SL.

Descendence (Blog 2)

In Jonas, the occupation holds firm through the day, and at night the work begins. Patrols are checked by the Aniu while the mechanic attaches flight thrusters to Bron's avatar. A disturbence in the market draws the attention of most of the town. It seems that twelve civilians are being executed by small dark-robed entities, the same entities that had brought Nau Fein's broken avatar to the forge. The creatures bring an elemental being of necrotic flame onto the stage, which proceeds to immolate each of the prisoners. The elemental is then returned to the cart it came from which begins to travel to the keep. Fein staggers out of the cart, demanding company in the highest room of the keep, where a scrying stone had been found. Nau Fein brings Karyssa, Ronia, Bron and two bounty huntersinto an audience with Emperor Myotis. The Emperor commands them to find an idol and bring it to the family Alarath, exept Nau Fein who is sent to find the garrison army.
Ronia was offered a noble's gold to destroy the House of Alarath, the house itself was leveled in the invasion, anyone who is left is leaving in two days. As the night progresses, Bron and Karyssa reach a hidden complex below the mill in search of the idol. The complex seems to be operated by halflings, the idol being an effigy of a crocodile-headed would have been drawn by the massive vats of water here.
In the keep Ronia has begin setting the keep in motion. the staff (or what is left) is back to work, making a feast for the officers. The Aniu visits the nobles that are incarcerated and invites any of them to the feast, as long as they give the Empire what it desires.

Descendence (Blog 1)

On Runes Island, in the town of Jonas, in the kingdom of Hove, the war has started. A Myotis Zeppelin, the largest airship in the Nightlands, deposits it's cargo from a mountainous height. The cargo is a group of avatars, giant magically powered machines of war, of the Myotis despoiler variety. Despoilers, piloted by some of the battle-hungry soldiers of their empire, resemble the races who made them; tall elven forms. The descend upon the town at the command of Aniu-Ronia who's companions are Karyssa (an elven follower of the forge god and their Field mechanic) and a pixie named Nny. They attack the barracks first, disabling all opposing avatars in their path. With strength of numbers, they engage Jonas' defenses and take the keep. Nau Fein, the necromancer-emissary of the Emperor Myotis, honoured his duel with the Lord of Light, a champion of Hove. An ally is met in the courtyard, a dwarven fellow from the western end of the island named Bron Willis. The dwarf has an avatar of his own, and being a lover of battles, joins the assault. In the main keep the despoilers engage the Speaker (head councilman of Hovian government), who is suited in his avatar as well. The Speaker uses his Fire mastery to unleash an inferno upon the battle party, Bron pounds the Speaker to death with his rock drills. The Lord of Light defeats Nau Fein and collectcs the Hovian avatars, he and his knights lose contact with the telepathic signal of the Speaker and retreat from the city. For now, Jonas is in Myotis' hands.