Previous: Session 062; Next: Session 064
Start: Dusk of the 1st of Tamtir, 1113 GE, at Tauma Auditorium after the Battle of the Bards, witnessing the deliverance of the demands of the Chrysun Gales.
Bill's Bimbos remained on the stage of the Tauma Auditorium with Dyel Dekaani, Shell Silverstein, Evanya Starlight, Felix Fortunefan, Fictus Aborenzo and Multiplicity, along with the hundreds of audience members and remaining performers from the Battle of the Bards. They watched the large gold dragon Aulyx proclaim his demand for the release of Ereus Sol'ahn, and two figures descended from above on Solithar's Spire: one riding a silver Hippogriff (Liora Gentavar) and one subsumed in golden light (Maelith). The two approached Aulyx and seemed to treat with him. 3 other dragons (Myrskarys, Valmalor, and Kyriath) circled far overhead.
Calliope hopped on Nimbus with Shell Silverstein and helped guide the panicking crowd north, away from the mountain and the dragon. Aoife Sweeney rejoined the group and everyone gathered to strategize. During which, Felix Fortunefan and Dyel Dekaani teleported away while Evanya Starlight wild shaped into an eagle and flew off to meet with the Lumos Circle. As Calliope and Shell Silverstein flew up to the group, Felix Fortunefan interceded on his Flying Cardpet and warned the pair against interfering with Liora Gentavar and Maelith. Felix Fortunefan rambled on about his life while Calliope listened in: the negotiations did not seem to be going well, with Aulyx insulted at the notion of a member of the Chrysun Gales being accused of such horrendous crimes, much less imprisoned to shamefully. Liora Gentavar and Maelith held that Ereus Sol'ahn was a danger to the public, and that his crimes were incontrovertible. As such, pending their full investigation and likely guilty ruling, the Hydra Collective held fast their custody of the younger dragon. Calliope approached and suggested that the Chrysun Gales could take custody of Ereus Sol'ahn, which immediately drew the ire of Liora Gentavar.
Returning to Felix Fortunefan, Calliope was informed of the confidence of the Hydra Collective, having recently upgraded their defenses thanks to Alden Maelstrom and others. Around this time, not noticeably motivated or spurned by any external forces, ones of the dragons began a steep dive towards the south side Solithar's Spire (Myrskarys). During that dive, the 80+ Lightning Ballista began to charge and fired on the diving dragon. Myrskarys was hit, and being a bronze dragon was immune to lightning, and continued in a more uncontrollable descent from the sheer force of impact. At this time, Aulyx was consumed by an array of vertical and horizontal lines, and disappeared (current assumption, Maze spell). The archmages immediately flew around to the south side of the mountain with Calliope, Shell Silverstein, and Nimbus following relatively close behind. The other flying dragons were descending quickly as well, following Myrskarys.
Calliope saw Liora Gentavar on Argyle descending to meet with Kyriath and Valmalor. Myrskarys was not seen. They all readied for contact, and a bright green light was spotted at the top of Solithar's Spire, growing in intensity. Liora Gentavar sent silver blades towards the dragons, and their illusions (conjured by Kyriath) dissipated, leaving the mountainside empty. The bright green light faded as well. Calliope followed Liora Gentavar around the mountain, and came full circle around the time Aulyx returned, appearing confused and lost. He lost his footing on the mountainside, took flight, and began to fly south. Calliope was left with Shell Silverstein and Felix Fortunefan as they flew back over the city. Felix Fortunefan repeated some of his backstory, slightly insulted that Calliope wasn't listening and offered to play some cards. After some needling, Felix Fortunefan revealed that he possessed the Deck of Many Things, and offered for Calliope to draw. Calliope drew Idiot, Fool, Talon, and finally Gem. His intelligence was reduced, his magic items all disintegrated (Swansong simply vanished, being an artifact), and he got hit in the head by a cauldron containing 50 gemstones worth 1,000 gold each.
During all of that, Arwa Hathspelt, Rohtagels, and Aoife Sweeney formed up to enter the tunnel beneath Solithar's Spire and infiltrate the Inverted Spire.The three pushed against the rushing crowds. They entered the tunnel, passed by the Cragheart Colosseum, and came upon a pair of Goldguard. Aoife Sweeney donned a magical Goldguard disguise, Arwa Hathspelt went invisible, and Rohtagels approached as himself. When the guards demanded that they state their business, Rohtagels and Aoife Sweeney asserted that they had direct and very recent orders from Captain Godfrey that they must enter the prison. The guards were confused, as they had strict orders not to let anyone inside, but relented by the pair's sheer force of will. Inside, they traversed the metal catwalks and approached the center, metallic chamber attached to the top of the interior of the Inverted Spire.
Inside, they made their way to the guard checkpoint at the top of the panopticon. Knocking, a slit in the door opened, and Krail Stelemane answered. Aoife Sweeney specified again that they arrived under the orders of Godfrey. The slit closed, several moments passed, and the door reopened, this time revealing Godfrey himself. Godfrey demanded an explanation, and made to grab for Aoife Sweeney and Rohtagels. Aoife Sweeney resisted, and Arwa Hathspelt made herself visible by attempting to Vortex Warp Godfrey away. Both failed, and Godfrey ordered that the 3 of them be detained. Krail Stelemane put manacles on them and led them to a cell, locking them inside. As soon as the Goldguard left the group in their cell, Rohtagels busted out of his manacles and unchained Arwa Hathspelt and Aoife Sweeney. Then Aoife Sweeney began to work to unlock the cell door.
When Aoife Sweeney eventually unlocked the door, a quake shook the inside of the Inverted Spire. Godfrey ran past, headed to the bottom level, and saw that his new prisoners were loose. He barked commands to trailing Goldguard to re-detain the group and headed down. The sprung prisoners followed, much to Godfrey's frustration. The Goldguard, the previously detained Bill's Bimbos, and Godfrey reached the bottom of the prison, when the northern wall burst open, as Myrskarys had tunneled down from the spot she'd dropped on the surface and found the Inverted Spire. An encounter ensued, with Godfrey and his men bravely, and ineffectively, lobbing attacks at Myrskarys, with Godfrey using his mastery over the Inverted Spire (his lair) to attempt to slow the dragon. Aoife Sweeney, Arwa Hathspelt, and Rohtagels immediately made to destroy the wooden sigil circle in the floor, identifying it as the runes sourcing the anti-magic field in the prison cell below them, and communicated their desire to aid the dragons and avoid unnecessary bloodshed of the Goldguard.
Ereus Sol'ahn was released, and reunited with Myrskarys. Godfrey and the Goldguard stood at the ready, acknowledging that further provocation would be futile and lead to unnecessary loss. Aoife Sweeney, Arwa Hathspelt, and Rohtagels asked to join the dragons after Ereus Sol'ahn recognized his meditation friend (Rohtagels), and Myrskarys reluctantly agreed only to expedite their exit. The group hopped on the back of Ereus Sol'ahn, and the dragons burrowed out and away.
Nesdin, Crax Goobadink, Otto Ozzley, Bill Brouwen, and Killian Sweeney were left with the crowds moving north through the city. Many of the panicked made their way north and west, with a large group including some performers from Battle of the Bards and this remainder of Bill's Bimbos taking shelter in Moonlit Haven, with Maria Silva taking everyone in. Nesdin spoke with Magnus "Johnson" Thaumalor about what was happening: Magnus "Johnson" Thaumalor seemed in the dark about the motivations or actions of the Hydra Collective, and was concerned by the show of force they presented to the metallic dragons. When Nesdin observed the return of Aulyx, he identified the effect as Feeblemind, which further upset Magnus "Johnson" Thaumalor. Aulyx was then seen looking confused and lost before kicking off and flying up and out of the city, southbound.
End: 1st of Tamtir 1113 GE, night. Various locations in and around Sedesend.