cinaed

Session 115: Day 31 of Veksdan (7/7)

Multiple shadow creatures appear throughout the ballroom while Marion extends both hands in a sweeping gesture and says, “Welcome, welcome. So glad we can all be here today to witness not only the fall of your so-called heroes but the ascension of something greater and new. I’ve been ignored for too long.”

Audacity audibly yawns, which Marion ignores as he points towards Kalia and says, “I have business with you and with your father. You’re coming with me.”

One of the shadows appears behind her as she whips around and says, “What are you talking about? My father and I don’t–” The shadow wraps its arms around her and she disappears as Marion casts Blade Ward on himself.

Hava grabs Taion and tells him to break a window and get out and get her sister. Taion asks if she’s sure. She says yes, get her sister as fast as he can, because at least he’ll be safe. They kiss before Hava dashes across the ballroom to stand behind Asa and tell Yolov to give her the bag.

The shadowy presence deepens, sweeping over Fazrun, Diana, and Yolov. They can feel the poison burn their throats, but mostly Fazrun seems the worst off, coughing weakly before he runs closer to the others.

Daveena throws a dagger at the nearest orb controlling the magics of the place, cracking it severely as Elidyr, Fazrun, and Juniper run towards the queen and as far away from Marion as possible.

Az instinctively tries to summon Medrash before he realizes that he can’t because of the spell restrictions. He pulls out his quarterstaff and chucks it at the closest orb, but misses. It jostles the unsteady pillar, and some of the party realizes that they can’t knock the pillars over but can knock the orbs off the top.

Audacity is standing by Prince Citrine, having been paying his respects when Marion crashed the party. Prince Citrine has been very friendly and polite and happy to chat with Audacity in Primordial. He’s a bit waifish and was idly complaining that his mother was sending him to different places to find a future spouse. Now he stands there horrified as Audacity tells him to try and break some windows.

Then Audacity turns and punches the closest shadow creature. Both blows land and he manages to stun the creature as he punches it one more time for good measure.

Citrine moves remarkably quickly for a man born into wealth and privilege. He looks at stone and marble decor and grabs a statue and smashes the window with the heavy base. This is a man who knows what to do in a bar fight, which his appearance and manner belies.

Lorin attempts to throw something at the nearest orb and misses by a mile as Daveena clicks his tongue at him and Wrenvar shouts for everyone to get as far from the creatures as possible and let the heroes and the guards protect them, her people will be protected and kept safe.

The shadows begin to move, attacking Yolov, Hava, Galowen, and the queen, the latter of whom protectively puts her arms out to defend Elidyr and Juniper.

Yolov grabs Asa’s hand and squeezes it, telling her to get as close to the queen as possible, if they can get spells back then he might be able to make an exit. He starts to pull Hava’s bow out of the haversack when Asa clings to his hand. He sees a look of resolve but fear in her face, not for herself but for Yolov. She leans in and kisses him. She immediately blushes, apologizing and saying she just wanted to do that in case anything happened, before she darts in the direction of the queen.

Yolov dazedly gives Hava her bow and then rushes to Galowen, violet-faced. He holds out the haversack as Galowen puts a hand on his shoulder.

Meanwhile Diana uses her cloak to wrap around the pillar as she climbs to the damaged orb. She calls out to Adrin, who rushes to defend the queen and attack the shadow creature there. Adrin immediately bites the creature. She makes a face as though it tastes bad.

Galowen reaches into the bag and pulls out his shield and sword before he has Glyn charge at the pillar closest to the queen, trying to knock the orb off to the ground. The orb lands onto the ground with a shatter.

Yolov sees Marion touch his own chest and begins to shift and blur before he appears directly in front of Yolov.

Hava casts Sanctuary on herself and then wields her bow, aiming for the orb closest to her. It strikes it, though the magical arrow doesn’t cause as much damage.

The shadows move further into the ballroom, poisoning Hava and Diana. Diana feels exhaustion press down on her as Daveena also coughs and retreats away from a shadow creature.

Juniper puts herself between the queen and the shadow creature as Elidyr rucks up his robes, jumps up on the table and manages a nasty strike to the creature. Fazrun also rushes to protect the queen.

Az rushes forward and attempts to strike Marion with his quarterstaff, but the staff sweeps through the shadows surrounding Marion. Marion clicks his tongue at him and says that it’s not too late to pick the winning side.

Then he looks at Yolov and adds, “Yolov, give back what you stole from me and I won’t kill you all.” Az is close enough to see a look of genuine contempt fill Yolov’s face as he just stares back at Marion.

Audacity attacks the shadow creature he’s facing off against, destroying it before he runs over to defend Yolov against Marion. He hits Marion hard, though Marion shakes off his attempt at a stun, before he hits Marion twice more.

Marion takes all the blows without much apparent concern.

The queen has managed to break one of the windows and is ushering people out as Lorin misses with another dagger toss and runs to Citrine’s side. Citrine breaks the window and allows himself and Lorin to escape.

The shadow creature reaches out and hits Juniper and Elidyr. Another flinches from Hava’s Sanctuary as the last one hits Taion and misses Genesis.

Yolov looks at Marion, still with the same contemptuous look, and says that Marion mentioned being on the winning side, but so far his friends have always stopped them. Marion says he heard that his wife killed him, and Yolov says that he killed her back and it stuck. Marion says that’s what he thinks as Yolov casts Mage Armor on himself.

Taion gets a window open, Genesis taking damage from the shadow creature to allow Taion a chance to escape. Genesis calls to Daveena to do something, making Daveena snap what he expects him to do.

Diana knocks the orb down, shattering it as Adrin bites into the shadow creature threatening Juniper and Elidyr and the queen.

Glyn charges at Marion, almost knocking him off his feet, but Marion remains standing as Glyn strikes directly into his side. Marion digs his feet and turns wild eyes on Galowen as he hisses that he is so tired of all of them.

Galowen says they’re not done with him yet before he runs over to Marion and strikes him with two blows. Despite the magic restrictions still over the group, his sword flashes with thunderous energy as he stabs Marion and knocks him ten feet away and onto his back.

Yolov’s quarterstaff and Audacity’s fist hit Marion as he sails backwards.

Marion stands up and dusts off his clothes before he strolls over to Yolov and reaches into the haversack and pulls out the pulsing gemstone from his and Greenheart’s bedroom. He says thanks for this before he moves back into the shadows.

Hava casts Spirit Guardians on herself as the shadows creep further into the room and poisons most of the party, doubling Diana over in agony as her lungs burn and she clings to the pillar.

Daveena throws another dagger at an orb close to the tentacles while Elidyr and Juniper attack the shadow creature threatening them.

Az runs to one of the pillars and attempts to climb to the orb. He manages to reach it and knock it down. It shatters.

Audacity looks at the writhing tentacles and exhales slowly. He gestures with his hands as though throwing dust in the air and a fireball engulfs them both. One of them writhes and the miasma shrinks a little as Audacity punches Marion again.

One of the tentacles knocks another orb off and destroys one more, while the other one knocks the other one down and damages it.

The shadow creature moves towards Hava before one flinches away and misses with an attack at Az before Hava’s Spirit Guardians evaporate it. Genesis slumps unconscious as a shadow creature attacks him. Another one misses Adrin with attacks.

Yolov summons Es beside the queen and then points his staff towards the tentacles and hits them with another Fireball. The tentacles retreat a little further even as Asa casts Chain Lightning on the two tentacles.

Diana tries to jump down and lands heavily onto the shadow creature before she breathes lightning at it, destroying it.

Galowen attempts to wrestle Marion to the ground and pins him to the ground. Marion looks unfazed as Galowen misses him with a punch before Marion teleports away in a burst of smoke.

Marion appears in front of the table where the queen and the others are fighting. He begins to cast Fireball at the party, which Yolov attempts to Counterspell before Marion counterspells him.

Almost the entire party is burned badly as the fireball washes over the entire party except for Az and Adrin.