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You get some polite declines from Garvagam and his hobgoblin hunters. "Our place is here. We serve the people, not the king." Zeldirn has already headed out with the remainder of the drow and orc foot soldiers. However, a couple of the maraquoi guards approach you. Eager for adventure beyond these walls and a taste of the prowess you displayed, they hurriedly sign up for Guess?' infomercial sessions. Lagging behind the others is a maraquoi who walks in a more refined manner than the rest, awkwardly holding a spear with a novice grip. As they pass Melissa, the maraquoi's face ripples briefly into the familiar astrazoan Velgo. "I'm not sure my talents apply to farming, but anywhere is better than here." Shifting back to the guard disguise, Velgo settles in next to Caprea and the siblings. You wave goodbye to the waiting crowds before setting into your respective starships. Both take off with a roar, quickly departing the atmosphere and landing in orbit. Preferring a more private goodbye, away from the crowds of the Moon, you dock in orbit for one last meal aboard the Last Chance. Cheffy III is industriously filling the air with delicious scents of a gourmet banquet. For a brief moment you feel nostalgia for the original dank burnt smell of the original Cheffy's creations before coming back to yourself. V1CT0R and Marvin, the assisting drones you've picked up along the way, are finishing up setting the table. Between bites you reminisce about the adventures and misadventures you've been through together. Hard to believe it was less than a year ago that you were just another handful of corporate drones under the EJ Corp org chart. (And Melissa, a less-than-corporate but equally-drone-like fighter of the rebel alliance.) You send messages to Strek, Tarika, and Shan on Absalom Station. Your tape to Del, in her bakery on an out of the way asteroid, gets a bit teary. Finally, it's time to set off your separate ways. After all the blood, sweat, and tears (mostly your enemies'), you can finally Fly Free.
"Yes... a handful of malcontents departing my kingdom should improve things. Saves money on execution fees..." He waves the concern away. "If the next job involves the incredibly cinematic murder of a violent criminal, I imagine your work speaks for itself. " On your way out of the palace, Telpi grabs her brother by the arm and catches up with you. "Nice work! Thank you, thank you, thank you! When do we leave? Hey! Hey!" She waves down Caprea, the raxilite from the security office. "You're flowering. You want out of town? Somewhere less dreary for your offspring's sprouting?" As you tour the Moon's facility for the last time, all four of your datapads ding. Zeldirn is holding up his promise, the darkweb bounty had been lifted! Also, the news blogs of Apostae are already abuzz with the shift in business sectors of one of the Golden League's biggest clans.
"My kingdom may seem poor from ones so well traveled as yourselves. But I am yet a prolific and benevolent leader - ask any of my subjects, whose dreams have come true through my gifts." He looks down and nods towards Melissa. "People, I have a plenty. Bring me the list of names. So long as their remaining servitude is not extensive, I can usher them into your care." He gives you a toothy grin. "Though take care, the worlds closer into the Pact do not take so kindly to this sort of... economics. And our farms have been kind to us, we have seeds to spare."
You take a few days planning your next moves, washing the blood and ash off your armor, and enjoying some food baked by anything other than a Cheffy model. Garvagam, head of the station's hunters, stops by to drop a small key into your palm. "Impounded this from the drunk. Told him that just because he took over the monster's army doesn't mean the Moon doesn't deserve compensation for being the chosen battleground." You look down and see, written in Drow, Risen in cursive. "Please, take it with my thanks. I know that you brought this to our home, but I can't help but think that it could have been so much worse. Take this, with my thanks and those of all our local protectors." One day you wake up in your bare corporate accommodation on the employee level to a knock on the door. A maraqoui guard hands you a gilded envelope inviting you to the palace. You return to the upper floor, walking through the royal gardens, and into the enormous palace room. The uplifted bear lazes on his throne, a notable absence of Captain Iru to his right. Telpi stands by the doorway, whispering into your ear. "My brother and I are ready, name the time and place of our departure. Please, do not forget us." The King interrupts any more potential comments with a booming declaration. "HEROES OF SMUGGLER'S MOON! Welcome, my darling. Little birdies tell me that you have found not only my subjects that you were looking for, but also the peace that you required... with only a slight amount of violence along the way. Please, name a boon within my power and it shall be yours. I would love to deliver those to you before you leave our humble planetoid." It doesn't take someone with the insight of Guess? or Melissa to see that Dregor wants you off his fortress as soon as possible.
Shaieth, the tattoo artist formerly known as the gardener Eska, is thrilled to hear that her tormentor is gone. "I'm free? Free! I could go anywhere... be myself again... After all this time... I think myself, on the Moon, is the right choice. And now I have the freedom to make that choice... Thank you." It will likely be over a week until she arrives on the Moon from the corporate draconic stronghold.
Welcome back! Right on time to wrap up his character arc. So despite our first impression soon after landing, he's relatively well tolerated and/or liked on average. Hmmm. I'll toss some thoughts in gameplay. Yeah, you did meet an outsized number of disgruntled "employees". Mostly just because the AP wanted you to have maximum options in dealing with the King.
Zeldirn waddles off into the complex, fingers busy on his datapad. Shortly the local infosphere is cluttered with trending hashtags #SaviorsOfSmugglers, #WhereWasDregor, and #DeadDrow. You're left in what remains of the beautiful garden, deciding the fate of the Moon and its ruler.
There's probably a quarter of the population who hate him, resenting him for their long servitude. Probably half that are happy with their deal, and a quarter that are obsessively in love with him. Exactly how he fulfills wishes is never explained, but he does really make people's wishes come true. Just at an exorbitant price that's often a long-term indentured servitude. And yes, four years! It blows my mind. As real life has gotten busier and busier over the years, I've really pared myself down to just this game. I had to see it through! These long-running games are just so special.
I want to thank you guys for sticking with it, being such excellent players, and having such a great time over the last four years. It's been fantastic, and I hope you feel the same. We're really wrapping things up at this point. First resolving the loose ends at Smuggler's Moon then setting your characters off into the sunset. Let's finish strong!
While Jaraduk's filet keeps baking in the oven, Melissa nearly joins him. You're able to cool off and get Jaraduk back to his feet in no time, all of you beaten and bloodied but not beaten. Guess? takes the lead on "cleaning up" the obscenely valuable pile of gear, blowing off the Sinjin-ashes from each. You're confident that the few items you won't be able to use will sell for a good sum. More than enough to pay for fuel out of here. Shifting aside a potentially-reusable set of echolocating augmentations, you come across a jet black credstick. Your heart about stops when you toggle the screen. Two hundred thousand credits. Enough to buy a small space station, in your hands. Full Gear List:
zeizerer diffractor IV (gray force field, mk 1 spell reflector), ultrathin dagger (malediction fusion seal [13th]), daywalker serum (4), mantle of willpower, mk 4 ring of resistance, spell ampoule of invisibility (4), spell ampoule of mystic cure (3rd; 4), credstick (200,000 credits); enhanced echolocators "Well, seems like the excitement's over!" The still sober Zeldirn pokes his head around the decorative hedge, thoroughly examining the scene for danger before coming closer. "I really owe you one. Seems like a coin flip who was going over the edge next." He eyes the railing with slight concern, taking another step towards the facility's interior. "I heard... screaming? Cawwing? Self-indulgent monologuing?" The overweight drow squints at the feather in Akh's hand. "Well I'll be. You know what this is? A phoenix feather!" He takes in the charred ground and your sooty armor then purses his lips. "Mmm... guessing you knew that already. But that's not what's special about it! It's had it's magic drained. See the greying center line? The core is dead. This is rare, like rare rare. May I?" He gingerly takes in his palms and weighs it appraisingly. The dark mote of his solarian powers slowly spins around him as he thinks. "Not any good as a spellcasting component any more. But to a collector? Difficult to imagine a sum high enough. There can't be more than a handful of these in existence." He shakes his head. "Well earned, I should say." He hands it back carefully. "Take care of that. Somebody out there is going to want it real bad." He begins to casually walk towards the facility. "Well, you sure held up your end of the deal. Time for mine. I'll go take command of Sinjin's soldiers. If they aren't convinced by my birthright or my natural leadership charisma..." He chuckles at himself. "I'll remind them that I have four super soldier friends outside who easily dispatched their former boss. Well, I'll tell them it was easy, at any rate." He pauses, turning around. "I assure you, I'll head to Apostae, take over Sinjin’s crime family and call off the bounty on your heads. And tone down the violent crimes, as promised. And... thank you for avenging the death of my siblings. I'll be able to sleep easier now. Maybe lay off the booze. No promises." With that awkward but well meaning farewell, he moves to go.
Guess?'s bullet hits Sinjin as he turns his back, rounding on Akh. "Juice?! I am the magical incarnation of - " Thanks to Melissa's urging and Guess?'s distracting words, Akh's entropic swipe meets his chest and stops the drow-phoenix in his tracks. A waterfall of inky blackness spills out onto the burnt cobblestones. Twin harmonic gurgles come from Lord Sinjin and the magical bird's throats as he falls to his knees, arm and wing outstretched towards Akh. Then, defeated, the inkwarped Sinjin in a burst of flame!
Sinjin’s body crumbles to nothing. Where he once stood is now a pile of ash, charred gear, and on top - a dull phoenix feather. Mysticism, DC21:
This phoenix feather has had it's magic drained. It appears the tainted tattoo created a warped phoenix and not a true one. Lord Sinjin will not be rising for a third time. It seems this feather is both a symbol of your victory and a symbol of your past lives that are now firmly behind you.
Combat over!
... i THINK he lost whatever made him unable to be flat footed if he lost evasion too...
Gouts of fire erupt, leaving sunspots in your eyes, as you connect with the fiery gang lord in front of you. The flames blast back towards Akh and Jaraduk's hands as they lay into Sinjin, threatening to char your armor.
The flaming avatar flaps it's wings, bursting into the air. As it does so, globs of inky-lava seem to shed from it's wounds to splash onto the ground where they bubble and char. Below this sight stands the horrifically burned Lord Sinjin, his designer suit-armor a ruined mess practically dripping from his form. "I will put myself out with your blood! I am unstoppable!" And yet... the drow turns from Akh and heads instead towards Jaraduk and Guess?! He moves quickly, the fiery bird above divebombing to rejoin with his mortal form at the location right between Guess? and Jaraduk.
"STAY DOWN, CARGO BOY!" Sinjin spits a flaming glob on Jaraduk's falling body, completely dropping his swing at Guess? halfway through. Your HUDs flash stronger than you've seen in some time, an all to familiar ticker tape flowing at the bottom of your vision. IDENTIFIED TEAM MEMBER UNCONSCIOUS AND BLEEDING OUT. CALLING EMERGENCY SERVICES. EMERGENCY SERVICES NOT RESPONSIVE. IDENTIFI-... Looking between Jaraduk and Sinjin... it's hard to tell who is actually worse off at the moment - though one holds on through pure hatred.
Inkwarped Sinjin, 253 Damage, Flatfooted
Jaraduk doesn't know much about the Mystical, but Akh confirms that the Sin-Phoenix is all gas no brakes. Jaraduk and Akh surround the former Lord Sinjin with blows, one of which connects. The Phoenix groans in pain and a gout of fire explodes from the wound at Akh's claws!
While Melissa boost's Akh's will to keep fighting - and passing a surprisingly large weapon from her mouth - Guess?'s shot pings from Sinjin's melted face guard. The morphed bird-thing wrenches it's jaw back into place. "You need help from ones such as these?" He turns to Jaraduk. "Steak.. flambe." A burst of muscle and flames surround the nuar! A (regrettably) delicious smell fills the air and Jaraduk's outline joins Akh's on your HUD - one red, one yellow.
Further barbeque coats you as Sinjin's fiery core burns his own drow flesh as well as your own.
Inkwarped Sinjin, 117 Damage
Identify Creature - Mysticism, DC 37:
Sinjin has been inkwarped! His unique tattoo has gone wrong. The drow is more animal, elemental than sentient now. His weapons and armor are pointless against the raging inferno that he has become. His body has evolved into an inky, fiery weapon itself. The phoenix within him desires to close in melee combat - not somewhere you want to be with his fiery aura and punishing claws. You do, however, see small eruptions of bloody, superheated ink popping out of his body. If weaponized correctly, these could be potent long-range weapons. The white landscape snaps out of existence, replaced by the screaming of oxygen being sucked up by the fiery aura of New-Sinjin. While Melissa paints the wall, Jaraduk takes a broader approach.
Jaraduk's grenade is not as effective as it would be against a crowd, but the Dark-Sinjin seems to have lost the near-mystical evasiveness that he and Akh used to share. (The final thing they shared, gone?) Akh, beautiful and terrible as the dawn reaches further than ever but his entropic attacks are deflected by Sinjin's new form. "Silly?! I AM THE VACUUM! I AM THE SEARING PAIN OF BETRAYAL!" Guess? manages to hit Sinjin with a rifle shot. The warped monstrous bird-person turns slowly to pierce the goblin with a stare into eternity. "Cute. But unworthy." He dives down towards Akh, claws forward! Sinjin lands between Jaraduk and Akh, crashing into the android.
Inkwarped Sinjin, 56 Damage
Inspiring Boost for the first time at Level 13 is actually hilarious. Yeah, just give Guess? +1 to everything and that can be the simple level up! Jaraduk, you can switch weapons during the 1 round break! And yes, you gain the amount of SP & HP that you get from the level up! Those are some surprisingly useful level up feats and upgrades! I didn't realize how big this would be, glad it will help. The author (RIP Del) was looking out for the little guys.
Akh flies over in pursuit and approaches the edge of the balcony. "We didn't get to see his special phoenix tattoo. So he's probably about to use it the moment we-" I gift you one GM-Cookie for the excellent and well-timed tee-up. Alright! Is it awkward to level up in the middle of the boss fight? YES! Is it epic and fun? Also, yes! You get the additional SP & HP that you would normally get during a level up, but your damage doesn't get healed. You get the new abilities, but don't regain any you already used. So... the benefits of leveling up but not the benefits of a 10 minute rest. You also get one round of healing, prep, or relocating between him falling over the edge and coming back up.
You take a few moments, trying to understand what just happened. Did you just... win? Then, just a few seconds later, Sinjin rises back into view on jet-black wings. Bloody and defiant, his features twisted with rage. Blood trickles from his mouth and weeps from his wounds as he rips at his collar and reveals a phoenix tattoo on his neck. Fire explodes from the tattoo, healing Sinjin’s wounds and making his muscles bulge. The expensive suit tears at the shoulders and the wrists. He shakes with mad laughter—but as the fire continues to rage, his voice becomes panicked. His body grows, grotesquely tripling in size as half-formed wings erupt from his back, dripping sizzling ink. In Sinjin’s place is a terrifying beast, part drow and part monstrous bird. Consumed by fire that chars his flesh, he howls in agony and rage. A sphere of fire explodes outwards, burning away the holographic wall and all the greenery within thirty feet. The pistol falls from Dark Sinjin as the wreathe of flames burn at his skin. ""
Lord Sinjin, REBORN!, 10 Damage But even as the inkwarped drow crime lord ascends above you... the environment around you fades to white... Not a railroad station, not your traumatic childhood but... the basic corporate starship galley of BD514, where most of you first met. While Melissa doesn't recognize this specific galley or this specific autochef5000, starship galleys really don't vary that much. It still holds the well-worn feeling of a crew's favorite spot. Even if it is coated in the EJ-corporate branding instead of the trophies from your adventures. It is here, in the galley of a starship, where your crew comes back together again. You see flickers of those you have loved and lost along the way - Lars, Strek, Del, the crew of the Wintermourn, Shan and Tarika. A physical bond seems to connect the four of you, the last surviving crew. It strengthens you. Convinces you that you're ready to take on this last and final threat. To end Lord Sinjin once and for all. Surprise! Level up! One last time! Welcome to Level 13!
Akh rips into the tiger, spreading neon ink splatters across the light brown paving. Jaraduk steps up, his doshko splitting the thing in half! Melissa shoots Akh and Jaraduk with healing serum, vanishing each of their flashing warning lights from your HUDs. Unfortunately, they are replaced with a ysoki-shaped one from the freezer-burn delivered by Sinjin. Guess? sends a sniper round into the weak point opened up in Sinjin's chest, following the trail of blood that Akh opened. The drow doubles over, blood pouring over his lips in a splattering waterfall. "No... no... NO!" He drops down to the ground, staggers to the edge where he formerly held the three captives, and lunges over the edge!
Red Lord Sinjin, dEaD?!?!
Jaraduk draws attention while Melissa gives the ursine ruler a stiff - and expensive - shot back into consciousness. He wisely decides to keep his mouth shut, crawling off into the hedge maze. Akh and Guess? rain steel pain on the nearest glimmer guardian, eventually popping it into an inky splatter of rainbow pastels. The second tiger leaps forward, swiping deep into Jaraduk's armor. Both Jaraduk and Akh's forms flash in your HUD as their armor tries to plug the gaps.
Sinjin spits a bloody glob down onto the closely manicured lawn, haphazardly wiping his mouth with a previously pristine sleeve. "You... you... you cannot defeat me! I have risen from the deep! I have outwit and destroyed all who rose against me!" He sprays cold blasts at your group.
Red Lord Sinjin, 205 Damage, 12 bleed dmg
King Dregor, ALIVE?!
Melissa sprays and prays (again), hitting two of the enemies. Akh follows up, bringing down the last of the drow underlings on the Concourse.
One of the tigers falls for Jaraduk's hologram, stepping into the long grass and swiping it out of existence. The other dives at Akh and cuts into his armor. Jaraduk's figure flashes bright on your HUD as his armor successfully fills it's gaps.
"Come out, come out, wherever you are!" Sinjin rises above the 'wall' on inky wings, firing his pistol as he comes into view.
King Dregor, DYING, 2 rounds remaining
Melissa brings out the big guns - literally. Her weapon's impact causes the drow assassin to waver, but they keep hold of consciousness... until Guess? drops them with another bolt. The final assassin wriggles under the touch of the microbot horde, but keeps his cool and attacks back!
While Akh disappears over the suddenly-totally-real-wall. Shown in your HUD, the camera footage shows Sinjin flex and a pair of dripping ink wings erupt from his back. He squats, preparing to leap after Akh, when you all hear a cackle. "Ha! I have escaped your clutches, so called 'lord' Sinjin!" The camera, in an ironic pan by the security office, shifts to King Dregor as he takes in a final verbal riposte before disappearing behind the hedges into the maze of protection that Akh longed for. The drow sighs heavily. "I was going to throw the drunk off and let you be a puppet ruler. A drunk puppet it is."
A flurry of freezing rays hit the back of the Tiger King and he drops to the floor, bleeding out. Off screen, you hear fading weeping as Zeldirn successfully escapes into the other side of the hedge maze. The two tattoo guardians, not the brightest of the bunch, throw themselves over the lip of the wall. A beautiful arc of inky strands follow behind them. If it wasn't for the nano-sharp teeth rocketing your direction, you'd call it a rainbow. They land on your side of the wall, growling.
Blue Xun Assassin, 85 Damage
King Dregor, DYING, 3 rounds remaining
Melissa's prayers are answered as her shot lands and Guess? arrives. Unfortunately, Guess?'s gods aren't answering right now. Jaraduk's grenade skills explode into un-reality, impressive as always. The two elves, unbothered by the wall separating them from their boss, continue to fling shiny death Jaraduk's way.
As the wall manifests out of nothing, Sinjin turns to face Akh even while his entropic claws rip shards from Sinjin's suit-armor. "Your so-called friends abandon you even now. Just you and me, as it always should have been." The drow spits blood at Akh's feet, the first show of weakness from the mob lord. "Time for you to meet my friends. Who are always by my side." He claps his forearms, where two magical bonded guardians spring into life beside him. Artistic renderings made real, they swipe at Akh!
Blue Xun Assassin, 85 Damage
As Jaraduk and Melissa punish the two minions, the shurikens continue to fly. His armor is able to deflect the worst of the blows, but one does draw suit fluid. As Akh attacks and tactically withdraws, Sinjin growls. "Your tricks cannot fool a son of Apostae! I am the rightful leader! I have earned my place!" He turns on Jaraduk, assuming Akh has fled. "You will pay for your partner's betrayal." His pistol whips out and a wry smirk passes his lips. "Ironic."
Blue Xun Assassin, 60 Damage
Jaraduk's freezing explosions completely envelop the closest drow while the second dodges in an Olympic level of gymnastics. Meanwhile Melissa goes invisible - scraping the armor of both drow as she does.
Closer to the railing, the previously king and previously drunk run away from the violence as fast as their manacled ankles will allow them. When Akh's entropic claws reach out, Sinjin actually sticks out his chin to take the second strike. As the surrounding space ripples, his surgically straight jaw stays still. He reaches out across the expanse between the two with an open hand. "Business could never be sad, my old friend. But, you should have stayed dead." His other hand flicks and fires off four more rounds.
The drow dripping icicles limps into the shrubbery while the other keeps flinging metal stars at his only visible duelist, only to have them plink to the ground.
Blue Xun Assassin, 38 Damage, Staggered
Melissa sends forth her minions, and Akh shoots off like an arrow! Not in the exact direction she pointed, but still. Definitely with velocity! Sinjin looks shocked as Akh closes. Not that he's capable of it, but that he dares! The drow crime lord flicks his right arm out straight and a pistol materializes within his hand. "Yes... Working together was a highlight of my career." His left hand rapidly flickers across a series of hand gestures. "That's how I knew it was time to turn on you. Some things are too good to last." One of the drow bodyguards breaks off to head into the hallway surrounding the main facility. "It was me or you." His pistol whips up and he uses both hands to fire a fusillade of supercooled gas at Akh!
The other two drow run in, one getting close enough to sling shurikens Melissa's way!
Blue Xun Assassin, 0 Damage
You leave the apartment, completely rested. The local infosphere begins popping up with viral videos of orc foot soldiers tackling Eska-shaped holograms. You walk through the gardens of the Conservatory, very much not enjoying the artisanal hedges shaped like the (former?) King Dregor. Guess?, managing the holograms, holds back as the rest of you leap into the private garden! Initiative Rolls:
The drow respond immediately, turning your way and dropping shurikens into their palms. "And you two - a known drunk and a false king..." Lord Sinjin cuts off his monologuing and slowly turns, fanning his suit jacket out as he does. "Ah, so I assume you've brought my Esk-" A rare expression crosses his face. Surprise. "Akh? My... Akh?" Stunned by the sudden appearance of your crew, Sinjin stands in place as the rest of the room bursts into motion.
"If you board your ship to start battle, what's stopping Sinjin's fleet in orbit from flattening this whole region of Moon?" Her lips twist her whiskers in arcane patterns. "Feels like you'd be outnumbered real quick once the big guns come into play. Is your revenge worth it?" Telpi perks up at Akh's suggestion. "I know just the person!" She dials up your contact at the security office. "Patch us in! I know you're watching, you nosy sprout!" A video pops up, of the conservatory. Lord Sinjin, his suit absolutely pristine, stands between a sacred tree and the balcony. Along the balcony stands (former?) King Dregor, his main bodyguard Captain Iru, and the very very sober Zeldirn - each with their arms tied behind their back. There's no audio, but it's quite obvious that Sinjin is evil-villain monologuing. He paced back and forth behind the three hostages, playing with the ancient gold dagger that formerly sat on his waist. On the other side of the tree stand a host of orcs and drow, ready for attackers from the inside of the facility. As you debate among yourselves on the best placement for the Eska-holograms and Eska-Velgas there's a rapid motion on the screen. In an instant, Sinjin has pushed the kasatha over the railing! Seconds pass and you watch Captain Iru's body slowly disappear into a single pixel and out of view. Melissa can't stop her engineering brain. She does the math. The fall is hundreds of feet. Iru took some time to fall. And you have no idea why she paid that price. You swallow your trepidation and send out the Eska Jamboree. As Eska appear throughout the station, each with their own "tell", you see the orc foot soldiers run out the door. With the aerial route unavailable to the four of you - only one question remains. Attach via the hallway, or the gardens?
Telpi nods, returning to tour guide mode helping her emotional stability. "Yes, the Conservatory is the outdoor balcony that we went through on your first day on the Moon. We call it a balcony, but it's really just the widest point of the facility and where each floor begins to shrink in space." "So no collapsing. It's layout will be a benefit, in that you can approach his location from many sides. So he won't be able to prepare a series of guard checkpoints. At worst you'd run into one layer of guards, I would think. Just too big of an area and too few soldiers thanks to your preparations... Perhaps no checkpoint at all, if you can draw some more away." She pulls up a map of the complex and points to key aspects, grainy from her zoom level. "You might recall, the railing around the Conservatory is rather short. About four feet, maybe? Plenty short to push someone over, if that was your style. It was one of the King's favored execution styles. Or you could go for the opposite! Jetpack over, with an aerial ambush." She points to the greenery. "The hedges will block line of sight as you approach, but most of the areas are lawn and plants. I imagine it's not the most convenient place for footing in a fight, but won't stop you. Fountains, benches, other items will be around but I don't see how those will both experienced fighters like yourselves." She nods. "Yes, pulling the guards away is your best option. Then you can head there and take him out quickly before reinforcements can arrive!"
Guess? is able to set up disguises for you, taking inputs rather gracefully from Velga. Telpi speaks up. "With Sinjin moving to the observatory, his soldiers must be split. Some would have followed him, and some remain in the throne room." She shrugs. "Could you trigger a distraction somewhere, like his starship or the throne room? That would lighten his guard retinue in the Conservatory."
The broken palace chamberlain nods along at Akh's theory, explaining between sobs. "Zeldirn did his thing. Said the king wanted to receive such honored guests. We're waiting at the elevator, and I 'let it slip' that Eska was downstairs in her quarters. His elite goons, one of these..." She kicks the body of the drow assassin. "...passed on the word. But, but, Sinjin came over and grilled me himself!" Her voice rises into a frantic squeak. "He didn't believe me! Followed the rest of the group up to Dregor. Lost patience with his lies real quick. Cut him to ribbons even quicker." She squeezes her eyes shut, a gasp escaping her lips as she's reliving the sight. "He talked alright. Spilled everything. Everything." She shakes her head. "Good thing you didn't share the whole plan... Told Lord Sinjin about you, and gave them Eska's address. Zeldirn tried to play it off, but... didn't seem like he believed him either." She collapses to the floor. A few moments pass in silence. Then after a long moment, she slowly gathers herself. "They brought me down as insurance. As we left the throne room, that's when the killing started..." "They don't have either Eska." She nods to Velga, who has come out from behind the privacy screen. "Neither one. That's why he sent his men into an ambush, I think. Eska's still his goal. He still thinks she's here. He didn't seem to care about you all much in comparison... no offense." She shrugs a weak apology, her previous humor and drive erased by the day's horror.
Melissa softens up the remaining two assassins, before Akh and Guess? take them down! COMBAT OVER!
Unsure of where your plan went wrong, you search the bodies. Aside from some credits and equipment that will only slow you down, you find eight total Mk3 healing serums. That... and a datapad. It's translucent green injection-molded plastic shell identifies it as a burner unit. Computers, DC 26: You're able to hack into the unit, finding just one message. King Teddy Bear squealed. Bring Eska up to the Conservatory. You find several photos of Eska, and the address of her apartment, attached to the message.
When Akh flays a strip of drow flesh to the floor, the drow decides that perhaps there's less spiky prey inside and rushes to the other side of Jaraduk. Inside, Melissa and Guess? are able to drop the drow encroaching on Velgo cowering in the corner. Jaraduk nearly takes down the drow he's dueling with, but then finds himself surrounded!
Blue Xun Assassin, 130 Damage
Akh takes down one of the two baddies in the hallway as Telpi comes running back screaming. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Nobody ever accused her of being good in a fight. Inside, Melissa and Jaraduk take on the remaining two with shocking results.
The assassins continue to fight above their dead comrade, steadfast to the cause - of villainy?
Red Xun Assassin, 124 Damage
Telpi, frozen panic shaken by Akh's warning, decides to take his advice and bolted down the hallway. Akh successfully gives the would-be assassins some more physical advice.
Melissa, Guess?, and Jaraduk lay into the enemies inside the apartment. "Strong for an amphibian, ain't ya?" The pair step back and fling their shurikens into Jaraduk.
Outside, the two assassins cringe under the assault but still fear their House Sinjin overseers more than Akh. Each swings, one getting in a lucky shot.
Red Xun Assassin, 96 Damage
The ambushing xun assassins quickly find themselves ambushed! Two assassins pour into the room, pushing past the hostage Telpi and ducking under Melissa's attack.
Meanwhile, Melissa's electricity arcs through the backline - conveniently (very intentionally) missing their hostage entirely. Each of the drow rip a leather patch from their forearms, revealing an intricate knife tattoo. The inks peel from their purple skin, transforming into a knife that each grab and swing upwards at the encroaching Akh!
Red Xun Assassin, 0 Damage
A couple days later, you get a ping from Caprea - your ally in the security station. The video is short and sweet, showing the raxilite at her post. Her sprouts bounce atop her head as she whispers, "They're here." You hear in the background a refined drow voice seething with anger. Caprea continues. "Six ships, full of foot soldiers. But only one landing pad available, would you believe it? Good luck." You watch the security video of the landing pad you've selected and rigged with Dregor's bombs and Jaraduk's improvised explosive knowledge. (A bit larger than an overnight junk grenade, but theory is theory.) Then... a sleek black starship with red detailing reminiscent of a predatory bird in flight, Lord Sinjin’s unique personal starship, Risen lands. In just a handful of seconds after it makes contact, the door drops and drow pour out in a tactical formation. You count... thirty Golden League soldiers fan out and clear the landing pad. They're followed by eight Xun assassins, bedecked in black cloth and somehow darker armor that seems to absorb the light. Not an inch of their drow - you assume - skin shows to the light of day. Finally, Lord Sinjin himself. Flowing white hair cascades over the light purple skin of his face, which he orients up towards the light of the sun with pleasure. A black suit with gold highlights looks like it could fetch a higher price than most starships. His only visible weapon is an ornamental dagger at his waist, his only visible armor a magical circlet atop his head like a diadem. While his soldiers' movements are precise and hurried, his are equally measured and assured. He walks across the landing pad to where Zeldirn, Garvagam, and Telpi wait. They speak for a minute before Sinjin waves the group into the tower. A short text message comes to your datapads from Zeldirn. Escorting soldiers up to the palace. VIP heading down. You don't have access to the rest of the cameras, so you settle in for your ambush in the employee housing district. Velgo, in their Eska disguise, stands out in the hallway while you wait inside the room. After ten minutes, she lets out a SQUEEK! of fear and runs inside the room. Their form transitions frantically between Eska's image and their more fluid and crystalline one. "No Lord, just assassins! Assassin! Not good, not good! They've got Telpi!" They skitter past you for the dubious safety behind the privacy screens. You prepare yourselves... the door opens to reveal Telpi standing, held in place by a quartet of Xun assassins! Initiative Rolls:
Well prepared, you get the jump on Sinjin's goons - slightly hampered by their hostage.
A collective gasp ripples through the crowd, followed by a sigh of relief. The story perfectly fits the legendary, undefeated King Dregor. Murmurs of awe and excitement spread. The crowd disperses, whispers of the tale spreading through the fortress. The maraquoi guards lower their metal rods, satisfied that the situation is resolved. The Concourse slowly returns to its bustling self, the previous anger replaced by a palpable buzz of anticipation. You ask Frennick what is going on and he smacks his forehead before grabbing you around the waist. "Of course! How silly of me. The King is typically blustering his way around the halls, shouting about the latest wish he has granted. He likes to dance and prance and punch at the air. Extravagant, as always. Never mentions the servitude he squeezes out for it, but... he is the king." The slimeball shakes his head sadly. "He hasn't been around lately. I imagine he was so thrown by your presence that he has been laying low until this whole... thing... is over." Walking around the station, making your final preparations, you feel the respect and awe of the citizens almost palpably. It seems their trust in the king has rubbed off on you.
As you go about your preparations, a palpable sense of unease begins to hang in the air of Smuggler's Moon. The usual hum of commerce and illicit activity is now punctuated by a low, simmering tension. Whispers ripple through the Concourse, fueled by a series of unsettling events. Perhaps it's Garvagam finally inviting some citizens on one of his famed hunting parties, or a particular hallway of the employee quarters being emptied by the newcomers, or the empty Main Stage as Velga prepares for her latest part. The more you move through the station, the more suspicious glances you catch. People eye your group openly, whispering about the fate of King Dregor. The ruler, once a ubiquitous figure striding through the hallways and demanding bowing respect, hasn't been seen in days. Instead he is choosing to sullenly reside in his palace and govern by silence. This silence, the whispers claim, is proof of a weakness or a hidden threat. You round a corner on the Concourse to find dozens of citizens blocking the main thoroughfare, their faces a mix of fear and rage. "Where is our King?! Where is he?! Bring us wishes!" They are demanding Dregor be put back in charge, their shouts echoing against the curved walls. "Dregor! Dregor! Dregor!" In response, a squad of maraquoi guards, their eyes cold and unfeeling, begins to close in from the opposite direction. They move with military precision, the heavy metal rods in their hands a silent promise to shut down the impending violence with a heavy-handed violence of their own. The standoff is volatile, with your group caught right in the middle. |
