Sundered Crowns, Shattered Heavens
Chaos erupts in Draelwyrm as Casmir’s divine edicts collapse, gods clash in the streets, and the Veiled Vanguard flee through fire, demons, and falling towers. After a brutal battle with a horned devil and a desperate escape aided by Torra, the party is hurled into a mist-choked, unknown land that whispers of the dead. Seeking refuge with a mysterious undertaker named Mortis, they learn they now stand within the Sanguisian Empire—far beyond the reach of the gods they may have doomed.
From the journal of the Druid Naoki, regarding recent events
Singing in sylvan
Mirror Mirror what’s
behind you?
Save me from the things I see
I can keep it from the world
why won’t you let me hide from me
Mirror Mirror
Tell me something
Who’s the loneliest of all?
I’m the loneliest
Of all…
Oh sorry Emelyne, was just singing a sylvan song I heard in a tavern, keep writing please.,
We all regroup back at the tavern, Sanasha and Emelyne explain to us that the artifact that we are pulling out of this tree is more of a conduit that can channel much more powerful spells through it than an actual physical shield. They couldn’t find anything about a person of pure heart however… Me and Thalia pass out everyone’s ballroom clothes that we thought would look best for everyone. We also resolve from Sana and Em’s research that there is no way that we can break this deal and I really don’t think any of us want to see Diablo be torn apart limb by limb for eons. We steel our resolve and look for ways into the event with me, Sanasha, and Percy going to the performing arts try outs to sneak into the list while Ro’zaad, Emelyne and Thalia go as the cooks and Renatus takes his jeweler guy on a nice night on the town. The next day after a successful night of getting everyone a way into the ball, we attempted to go back to the Jade Archive on the way to get more information regarding the next eclipse that Eggy managed to snatch from a scroll in the archive. The librarian said no to all the requests that were put in and told the party to get out unfortunately so we spent our time enjoying the sights of the city before it was time.
It was the night of the heist, everything was set to go me and Sanasha to put on a show while Percy was on guard duty near the tree.Ro’Zaad, Emelyne, and Thalia were the cooks and servers for the evening while Renatus had his way in through the front door with that jeweler everything was ready to go even the gorgeous ballroom outfits in the bag of holding. The night started off pleasantly with me and Sanasha mystifying the crowd with our literal swan song and Orcrelveish opera while the servers began their rounds serving the guest. The King Mozerag, delighted by our performance, began to applaud prompting the whole room to begin applauding our work and the ball began with the strings and wind sections of the orchestra being cued to play. We all changed out of uniform into absolutely stunning numbers that would make some socialites blush from how fine and detailed they were. I wore a purple tux with a cape and masquerade mask, Sanasha had on a black dress that transformed from their performing outfit via tearing off the red shawl holding it up, I made sure to handpick Emelyne’s outfit being a tight purple dress with a slit on the leg to show off her best features as she usually stays covered up in her adventuring gear when I know her body is stunning. Ah, are you turning red Em? hahaha Thalia had on a lovely emerald green dress with thorns that framed her nice ranger legs while RoZaad and Renatus opted for a gentleman’s look with red and black as the main colours of their looks for the evening. Percy opted to stay in armor for the evening while we danced the night away ahh it was so lovely, but unfortunately we didn’t just come here for the party favors. Ro’Zaad had apparently managed to spill wine on a guest and offered to bring him a freshly prestigitation’d cloak courtesy of Emelyne. What we didn’t know is that he taken the hextus root that was inside his little wallet and poured it all in his drink to create a distraction. Upon taking a few sips the man suddenly exploded into a bright shower of flames, lightning, ice and other elemental chaos swarming in his body causing all of the guards to rush over away from Percy.
Free to pluck the eye from the tree, Percy reaches in deep pulling the eye from the tree as the gods attempt to smite him in the process channeling large amounts of radiant light into him to ward him off. He succeeds pulling it out and we see amidst the meteor shower a light that extends into the heavens above. Upon this happening sirens begin to go off while the tree itself instantly wilts having lost the eye and we all make a break for it amidst the chaos. We managed to make it to the main court yard before we see an enormous golden dragon slam down in front of the now revealed Percy. Sanasha looks down at the ghastly watch attached to her side, telling Contras if he has a plan he better do it now before Percy gets turned to ash. The watch begins to float into the sky unraveling from Sanasha before transforming into the demonic prince himself floating towards the scary looking dragon. He sneered asking Percy to give him the eye taking it in his hand smiling wryly before shifting the Earth itself he was standing on to the dragon. He looked up at the dragon and smiled the most evil malevolent smile I could ever see before snapping his fingers causing the dragon King himself to transmute bones cracking and breaking while his talons grew to form a blade and the eye sat at the middle of the sword. He lifted the weapon into the air and a beam of golden light shot up into the sky as we watched runic wards glow brightly before shattering into nothingness. Casmir’s edix has been broken and the veil is no more Contras explained to us laughing as our contract glowed in his hand burning into dust having been fulfilled.
What have we done…
As the Edicts of Casmir collapsed, King Mozerag was transformed into a weapon by Contras. Divine avatars—including Torra, Casmir, and Revalor—manifested to battle Contras' unleashed demon army, but were overwhelmed. Fleeing through the crumbling, portal-riddled streets, the Vanguard fought through larval demons, giant demonic mosquitoes, and a Horned Devil. During the brutal skirmish, Percy was knocked unconscious before Naoki revived him, while Sanasha, Ro’Zaad, Emelyne, and Renatus cut down the fiends and rescued trapped civilians. After Percy dimension-doored onto the Horned Devil, Sanasha ripped off its wings and crushed it with her axe. A bloodied Torra then reappeared carrying an injured Revalor, warning Percy that the gods were losing before teleporting the party away to safety.
The Vanguard landed in a misty, unknown grassland where Percy suffered a crisis of faith, fearing Torra was dead and holding his broken holy symbol. Contras briefly projected his voice through the mist, taunting that the gods were licking their wounds and confirming he now claimed a kingdom on the mortal plane. Soon, a cart drawn by zombified horses arrived, driven by a maimed firbolg named Mortis. Guiding them to his farm in the Sanguisian Empire—a realm where mortals and undead coexist—Mortis offered hospitality, meal, and direction toward the northern city of Ashus. While resting, Sanasha began whittling a new wooden holy symbol for Percy after Mending failed to repair his broken metal one.
Later that night, a shifting, three-faced entity representing the goddess Ieylna appeared outside, commanding Renatus to step forward and repent for breaking the Edicts. Suspecting a trick, Renatus tested the entity regarding his divine tasks; when its answer faltered, he renounced it, causing the illusion to twist and melt into nothingness. Mortis commended Renatus for heeding his warning about the realm's deceptive dangers, leaving the Vanguard to prepare for their long journey through the Sanguisian Empire.