| Following the defeat of the sand shark, the party (Dominic, Fick, Ignatius, Jack, and Nemo with Drusila and Yarol) was left with the decision of whether or not to allow the Ivalian army to pass through their lands. When the Marquis d�Sorn arrived they were forced to come up with an answer. Seeing no other option, they caved in. He graciously thanked them and they exchanged gifts. Soon after that, the mysterious woman known as Sarah appeared within the castle grounds. She told them that she had a request, that they kill the Dark Master. She wanted them to eliminate his evil, lessening the burden of war on the people of Tethyr. The party was able to learn that she was part of large shadowy organization devoted to chaos, which she was trying to steer toward the path of light. Despite her entreaties, the party decided they could not kill the Dark Master and she left for the hills to decide her next course of action. That day the party teleported to the goblin base in the mountains, where they discovered smoldering mounds of giant and goblin bodies. A massive battle had been fought and the Ivalian army with its airships and Juggernaughts were on its way. The next morning the party learned that Sarah was dead, slashed to death. As they prepared an attempt to resurrect her, an assassin slipped into the citadel and killed Ignatius. After an inconclusive battle with Drusila, he escaped. The assassin was one used by the Dark Master when Ignatius was originally captured. After bringing back Ignatius they tracked him down and after a running battle forced him to surrender. Vengeful, Ignatius killed him and after his gear was taken disintegrated him. But Sarah could not be brought back and Dominic�s divination revealed only that the Dark Master had sent him to kill Sarah. As the party puzzled over the next month, Dominic received a call from the Patriarch asking to talk to him. Once there, he learned that he and another cleric were chosen by the goddess to open a hidden technology on Acheron, to decide how it should be used. The party joined him on his journey. The only trouble they encountered was a powerful rust dragon, which destroyed all metal it came in contact with. Dominic soon fled after tossing a few ineffective spells, fearing for his arm. This left the bulk of the battle to Fick and Jack as they maneuvered to get sneak attacks on it. Ignatius tossed a few good hits on him but suffered an acid bath for his troubles. Pushing on they regrouped and they reached a sealed gate surrounded by petrified constructs. Dominic pressed his hand to the lock and divine light streamed out as the gate quietly opened. Out of the light came a cloaked figure, which introduced himself as ARCHIE-1, a fully intelligent automaton destined to rule the world. Amazed by this divine creation the Patriarch led him back to the normal world while the party returned home fearing for the universe. Meanwhile Dominic planned a trip to his goddess. |
| Darkness Falls |