Session Ninety-Eight (Graveyard of Empires Summary)

SESSION 97 : 9AM 1st of Jourelden

We left off trying to come up with a plan to save Axel.

After some option discussion with Kalgunn, the remain Starchy Boys decide to write their counter-offer and show it to Axel’s captors:

“To the foolishly ignorant and arrogant blunderer in command of the forces currently holding hostage the Starchie Boy known as Axel Rhomkel ; we have within our power not only to keep you entombed in darkness forever but to irrevocably destroy the ancient dwarven power source for all the ancient dwarven weapon research facilities. This one act would not only seal your doom, it will also render the portal transport network useless forever. It is now your task to understand that if any further harm to Axel Rhomkhul be it further aging, physical assault, mental manipulation or death, will force our hand. We will destroy the ancient dwarven power source leaving you and yours entombed where you are. There is no version of the future where you leave your prison without our largesse. Here is your only option : surrender all Paskeys and Portal Stones to Axel Rhomkhul along with one magical item from each of your lieutenants and your most preferred personal magical items. You will also turn over all control circlets to Axel. Lastly, you will dismantle all desynch devices under your control and stage the entire mechanisms in the Botany portal chamber. Once Axel and all required items are collected in the Botany portal chamber, you and only you will stand in attendance in the room directly north of the portal room with the door propped open. You will be interviewed at this time, be it known that we have an ancient artifact that will alert us if you dissemble, and will have an opportunity to present your case for mercy. Of you at found lacking in sincerity, veracity or faithfulness the fate already outlined is yours. If however, you are better than our established opinion of you, your group will find freedom to return to the eastern jungle at a time of our choosing. Signed with all sincerity, the Starchie Boys.”

Upon opening the portal,an undying was waiting with a sign telling us that, “Negotiations will recommence in one hour at the BioForge. To indicate good faith, your comrade will be returned at that time.”

Which prompted us to shut down the portal and check the other engineering portal for fear of being flanked.

Luckily – we were not and that portal had not been used for years (according to the repair automaton.)

With heavy hearts we decide not to comply their demands, and retry the Botany Facility an hour where a message confirms that we’ve hit an impasse – powering the Bioforge would give them an avenue of escape which we could not risk.

After some drinks in memory of Axel – we move to clean out the rest of Pathogen lab.

Edan, Thorfus and Chuck head into the Pathogen lab leaving the rest of the hirelings behind in order to limit the chance of mass infections.

Upon entering they notice that the “grabber bots” aren’t responding to Thorfus’ commands – not just the 7 de-charged – but we assume the other remaining ones.

Although the mechanical monkey Thorfus brought along were able move the “grabber bots” but were unable to lower the elevator. So the team decides then to go to the pathologist’s office to see if they can get the elevator to work remotely.

They manage to get the elevator work, but discover that the remaining infected have destroyed the remaining bots, and when the unpowered ones were lowered they were summarily destroyed. So Thorfus decides to lock down the lower levels until further notice.

After some deliberation – it’s decided to try to clear the lower area by using a combination of spells and creative monkey use. But before that Edan has to rest for some time in order to cast the correct spells.

So Thorfus has the mechanical monkey to lure the more “intelligent” infected away so that Edan can cast his WEB to block them from swarming back.

With the webs in place, after Chuck and Edan “shadow step” into range and back. With Edan manning the elevator, Thorfus and the mechanical monkees manage to get the Grabber Bots back to their charging bays.

After the web dissipate – they use the “grabber bots” to help them eliminate the remaining infected – Boney first – then the necronic – again – and again – and again (for hours) until Edan mentions that they’ve been regenerating. After a collective face palm, the necronic and remaning spore infected are left below so that the can be dispatched later.

Bonus is that Thorfus has mastered box axe and sword thanks to the repetative slaughter of the necronic infected.