[EF] Penultima (10/2019-12/2019)

[Judas D'arc]

Summary: The Emerald Fist recovers from the resolution of the time shade crisis, the Emerald Empress reveals a secret or two, and the group must contend with Nujel’m politics, and two new members, one expected and one not. Meanwhile, the ongoing conflict between Renthar and the would-be Time Lord becomes impossible to ignore, as both sides make demands of the Fist.

********

10/6/2019:

Two days after the resolution of the Time Shade crisis, and Chanticleer’s cessation of existence, the Emerald Empress approaches Adegas and Piper about her plan to save him. According to her, the white-robed, would-be Time Lord and Renthar were locked in an ongoing struggle over Sosaria’s altered “original history,” and for some time, she had been balancing both sides. Their animosity was the cause of Chanticleer’s erasure from the timeline, yet also held the solution. The Empress further explained how she was in contact with Morganna, a powerful seer from Everywhere, who was the source of much of her foresight and knowledge of events.

To earn their trust, the Empress unmasked, revealing that she was actually Emma Reich, Chanticleer’s mother, who originated from the same time period as him, a future that no longer was. Somehow, she survived its demise and was gifted with the opportunity to protect her son from the changes to the timeline that threatened to erase him from history. Her pseudonym, she explained, was a reference to a childhood nickname, “Em-Em,” as well as the Emerald Empire, the group of adventurers that her father, the bard Judas, helped to found. The Empress also revealed that she was responsible for Judas’ disappearance three years’ prior; she locked him inside a tower to prevent him from inadvertently putting Chanticleer at further risk.

The Empress then led Adegas and Piper to Trinsic of Felucca, where Judas awaited them, and she told them how Morganna had foretold that her father’s presence would significantly increase their chances of restoring Chanticleer’s existence. Despite his flaws, the bard was experienced in matters of group morale, and his unpredictability provided an advantage in dealing with both the would-be Time Lord and Renthar, who were necessary for the Empress’ plans. Despite their skepticism, Adegas and Piper agreed to her proposal that Judas join the Emerald Fist.

10/10/2019:

A meeting was held in Emerald Town, and the Empress directed those present to join her in the Memorial Gardens. There, she finally unveiled its covered sculpture, which was inscribed with the names of all the deceased Emerald Fist members and fallen Time Lost. Notably absent was Chanticleer, and the Empress explained this was because she believed they could still save him. Except for her true identity, she relayed much of what she told Adegas and Piper a few days prior, and how they needed to persuade the would-be Time Lord and Renthar to put aside their differences and fulfill their obligations to restore Chanticleer.

Back in the keep, the meeting continued. Both Ezekial and Faeryl were still suffering the effects of contending with the Time Lost. The former was still crippled and weakened, and while the latter had awoken from her coma, she spoke only in the elven tongue, which heralded the darker shift in her personality to come. The Empress proceeded to introduce the rest of the group to their newest member, Judas, which elicited mixed reactions of both surprise and annoyance. She also invited their ally, Gauf Guthvigoff, to officially join them, and he agreed. Next, they discussed seeking out Renthar and the would-be Time Lord and remind them of their past promises. The group also discussed the upcoming tournament in Nujel’m, organized by its Vizier to resolve the problems caused by their interference in the execution of Beatrice Odello’s time shade.

10/14/2019:

The Empress sent the Fist and their allies to the Lycaeum of Felucca to request Renthar's aid in recovering Chanticleer. When they arrived, they encountered Jolicia, and she told them that the sorcerer was in the Mushroom Caves of Ilshenar, investigating the location of a potential Pathway, one of the elusive mythical currents that defined and shaped reality. Since he had yet to return, she suggested they search for him there. At the Mushroom Caves, the Fist, Jolicia, and their allies found an injured Renthar. When asked about his promise to the Empress, he informed them that a mysterious force still prevented him from accessing his full power, but a healthy Pathway would enable him to complete his work on this shard-world and also help Chanticleer. But when he tried to approach the nearby Pathway, the corrupt unicorn known as Dread Horn struck, forcing the sorcerer to retreat. After speaking to the Meer of Lakeshire, he learned the creature was behaving erratically for months, likely because of the Technocrats’ previous efforts in the region. While assuming that the Pathways’ viability was ruined due to the Technocrats’ meddling, Renthar asked the group to kill Dread Horn so he could confirm this for himself.

The Fist and their allies then tracked the creature and slew it. Upon examining the Pathway, the sorcerer’s suspicions were proven correct; it had been irrevocably tainted by the Technocrats, similar to the one in Malas that they exploited as part of their Techno-Prophecy. Disappointed yet not discouraged, Renthar and Jolicia returned to the Lycaeum to resume their search.

10/17/2019:

Next, the Empress asked the Fist and their allies to meet with Governor Haxley of Trinsic, so he could contact the would-be Time Lord and remind him of his promise to help restore Chanticleer. Speaking with the Governor at his office, he confirmed the white-robed figure was the secretive client he had referenced on previous occasions. But the would-be Time Lord was unable to use the Sextant of the Ancients to fulfill his vow because of Renthar, who wielded a powerful, stolen ruby which inhibited his client’s might. If they killed the sorcerer and recovered his gem, it would hasten their desired outcome. In the alternative, they could circumvent this obstruction if they destroyed the abandoned abbey north of Vesper, a structure of unknown origin that played a role in various events over the past few years. A scholar who frequented the Yomotsu Mines of Tokuno could assist them in this task, if they chose to pursue it, and they decided to do so.

In the mines, the group learned that this scholar was actually the ghost of their old enemy, the librarian Semidar, who had somehow survived his attempt to destroy the Fist one year prior. When asked why he was assisting the would-be Time Lord, Semidar told them that his dislike of all things Renthar equaled his dislike of the Emerald Fist, the Stowers family, and the legendary ranger Tserim, who was responsible for his second demise. According to the librarian, many centuries ago, the Yomotsu Mines was a place of importance to the ancient Lands of the Feudal Lords, including the Houses of Barataria and Rondorin. He also revealed that while the abandoned abbey came from another place and time, it was connected to House Rondorin, and its destruction required something of a similar nature, a weapon called the Scion of Rondorin. Before disappearing, Semidar told them to fetch the Scion and bring it to him, and afterwards, he would provide additional information.

However, some of the group knew that the Scion of Rondorin was not an item, but an individual: Bacchus of the Emerald Fist, and his role as such was foretold two years ago when he was freed from the Titans’ prison known as the Bowels of Lithos. In consultation with the Empress, it was decided they would consider this matter further before acting.

[Judas D'arc]

10/19/2019:

Renthar and Jolicia invited the Fist and their allies to meet at the Lycaeum of Felucca. There, he reminded them of a prior discussion about his desire to contact his deceased counterpart of their shard-world. Confident that this other Renthar knew the location of one of the Pathways, he sought to perform a ritual and summon his spirit. But he required two additional ingredients to proceed; first of these was a sample from the body of Ilhenir the Stained, a necromantic being that dwelled beneath Umbra in fallen Bedlam academy.

The group agreed and journeyed to Bedlam, where they battled Ilhenir and his minions. Upon their return to the Lycaeum, the sorcerer revealed that the second ingredient was the blood of a living relative of his late counterpart. One of these family members, Bacchus of the Fist, already refused to donate his, but as the Keeper Michael Mitre, this other Renthar also fathered a son with his fellow ranger, Mylar Tyrmitore. The sorcerer then asked the Fist and their allies to seek out the mother and request a vial of his blood, even offering to communicate a message to the boy’s father as an incentive for her compliance.

10/20/2019:

Soon, Governor Haxley sent the following letter to Mylar Tyrmitore: “The two of us have met before, though you might not be aware of my name. We once shared common cause, but you may not realize that I was your ally. Previously, I made you an offer of aid, at the behest of a mutual acquaintance who has since departed. I would like to help you again, if you will let me. It is a matter of urgency. Please seek me out, or allow me to know where I might find you.”

When the two met at his office in Trinsic, he admitted to being the individual that had previously aided her and Michael Mitre while they hid in Tokuno. The Governor warned her that there may be some potential interest in her son William, and while he did not believe that they were in any direct danger, he asked that she update him on any developments before making decisions, as Haxley wanted to help her and honor the memory of his former client.

10/21/2019:

The Fist and their allies journeyed to Riverwatch in Spiritwood to ask the Riverwatch Rangers if they knew of Mylar’s whereabouts. Coincidentally, she was also visiting the glade, so they were able to relay Renthar’s request for her son’s blood. Despite some tension, especially following Sergio’s threat of force if Mylar refused, she agreed to speak with the sorcerer directly. At the Lycaeum, Renthar shared further details about his ritual, promising that William would not be harmed and trying to assure her that his blood would only be used to make the summoned spirit communicate. As a show of good faith, the sorcerer agreed to the druid Haldir’s proposal that other mages be allowed to witness the blood-gathering and the ritual, provided that Jolicia and at least one of the Fist’s mages were also present. Mylar agreed to consider his request.

Later, Mylar updated Governor Haxley about the Fist’s visit. He then asked her to bring Piper to his office, and when they returned, he suggested an alternative to Renthar’s plan. Haxley was in possession of a certain Purification Ritual that would negate the taint of his father’s bloodline, forever removing William’s capacity for spellcasting. It would also render him useless to those seeking to take advantage of his ancestry, such as Renthar, allowing him a normal life. Due to the nature of the Purification Ritual, it was better to limit those who read its contents. This was because it involved the performance of certain tasks, and the intent behind these deeds needed to be sincere, rather than contrived for the sole purpose of the ritual. After Piper left with it, the Governor told Mylar he had another copy, which he soon provided to her.

Back in Emerald Town, Piper shared this development with the Empress and the rest of the Fist who were present. Judas confirmed that the Purification Ritual was authentic, as it matched the one used by his former group, the Emerald Empire, many years ago.

10/22/2019:

Similar to Faeryl and Jolicia before her, Adegas finally experienced the vision that the Empress warned she might receive due to her role in the ritual to ward Emerald Town. In this vision, she witnessed two potential fates for William:

If the Purification Ritual was performed, William would be deprived of his magic and turn to the virtues, becoming a fanatic. Due to the sins of his father, he formed a cult dedicated to purging Britannia of dark magic, gathering many similarly-minded mundanes to his side. William’s crusade would harm the surviving members of the Fist and their allies, and many fugitive mages fled to Britannia for Felucca, Nujel’m, Ter Mur, and Tokuno. In this vision of the future, Adegas’ native House Trulacci benefited greatly from this Exodus, increasing their power and influence over Mazetti and Odello. Her daughter Raina also profited from this good fortune.

If Renthar was permitted to extract the blood of William for his ritual, William would grow into his magical power, and any subsequent efforts to perform the Purification Ritual did not succeed. In the decades that followed, he pursued his sorcerous studies, surpassing even Renthar. He emulated the example of his parents, the rangers Michael Mitre and Mylar, often protecting Britannia from various threats. But William also possessed a darker side, and he was determined to seek vengeance against those who had harmed his family, including Mitre’s murderer, Sergio Jarrett; Renthar and Jolicia; and the Stower family. Because the latter had settled in Nujel’m following Magincia’s destruction, this vendetta led William and his allies to wreak havoc against the island, including Adegas' House Trulacci and Tazkia in particular.

10/28/2019:

The Fist and their allies once again visited Mylar and the Rangers in Riverwatch, and this time, Ezekial in particular convinced her to provide a sample of William’s blood. Piper also promised her that no future harm would come to her son. They then met with the sorcerer at the Lycaeum of Felucca, and arrangements were made to proceed.

[Judas D'arc]

11/1/2019:

The Fist and their allies brought Mylar to meet with Renthar and Jolicia at the Lycaeum of Felucca. Accompanied by Mylar and her son, with Adegas, Haldier Haerion, Ja’kai, Jolicia, and Tabitha as witnesses, the sorcerer opened a portal to the necromancers’ arena near Umbra. There, he extracted William’s blood, and then performed his ritual.



The spirit of his counterpart appeared, and the two Renthars briefly communicated.



When they were finished, the spirit vanished and the sorcerer violently vomited. Recovering, he advised those gathered that his ritual was a success, but he would need some time to process what he had learned about the Pathways. Renthar and Jolicia then departed.

11/4/2019:

In recent weeks, strange propaganda had spread throughout Nujel’m’s poor quarter. It was Last Rondorin: Volume XXIII, part of a series of politically-themed sequential art fiction authored by Toshiro, an exiled Tokunese calligrapher. The book’s plot involved a fictional Nujel’m, parodying its political and class conflicts. Ending on a cliffhanger, its sequel, Last Rondorin: Volume XXIV, was rumored to involve the city’s poor overthrowing the Sultan and versions of the three great Houses of Mazetti, Odello, and Trulacci.

At the next council meeting of King Blackthorn and his governors, Governor Haxley mentioned that he saw a copy of Volume XXIII at Trinsic’s poor shelter. He was interested in obtaining a copy for himself and offered a small reward for one. Additionally, a messenger from Nujel’m announced the upcoming Vizier’s tournament, featuring the Fist and their allies against the city’s champions.

11/6/2019:

One evening, copies of Last Rondorin: Volume XXIII were distributed at the Salty Dog Tavern in Britain. This piqued the interest of the Fist and their allies, especially because of the impending tournament in Nujel’m, and they decided to speak with Toshiro, who some of the group had met two years prior, during their efforts to recover the Scion of Rondorin.

The dissident calligrapher was still exiled on the same island as before. Among other things, he explained how he was contacted by the rebellious poor of Nujel’m, and he found their plight very similar to that of the Tokunese peasantry. At their request, he had agreed to create two volumes of the Last Rondorin series addressing the island’s political situation. Toshiro and the Nujellan rebels decided to stagger their release; the first part was distributed some weeks ago, and a few days ago, he sent the second part to Akiko, his contact in Zento, but it had yet to reach Nujel’m.



On the docks of Zento, Akiko was wary of being overheard by the imperial authorities, but he did share a rumor that shipments of Last Rondorin: Volume XXIV had been waylaid by pirates with ties to Lord Zankoku of House Rondawan, a staunch loyalist interested in gaining favor with the Empress. He also suggested the group might learn more by casually asking around the city. While searching, they encountered Sidra Grimaldi of House Trulacci of Nujel’m. After explaining their purpose, she offered to locate the pirates who stole the shipment of Last Rondorin: Volume XXIV, but in return, she wanted those copies brought to her. They agreed to this, and Yates, a hireling of House Odello who had traveled with the Fist to Tokuno, indicated that he would like a copy for his employer as well. Sidra also wished good luck to whichever member of the group would face Trulacci’s champion at the Vizier’s tournament.

Before leaving Zento, the Fist and their allies were warned by a shadowy ninja not to interfere in Tokunese matters and cease their pursuit of Toshiro’s missing works.

11/8/2019:

A couple of days later, the Fist met with Lady Zariah Odello, current head of House Odello and successor to the late Beatrice Odello, and her hireling Yates. They discussed the threat that the missing shipment of Last Rondorin: Volume XXIV posed to Nujel’m’s stability, how it might spark a revolt, and the Odellos’ desire to see that it never reached their home. Yates also questioned Sidra’s desire for the entire shipment. It was agreed that the group would keep Zariah informed, and her hireling offered to aid them if they pursued Zankoku’s pirates.

[Judas D'arc]

11/9/2019:

It was the night of the Vizier’s tournament, and many gathered in the City of Nujel’m to witness or participate in this momentous event, which was meant to address the transgressions committed by the Fist, Haldir Haerion, and others who had interfered in the official execution of Beatrice Odello’s time shade. Fighting for Britannia were Haldir; Hal-Sar; Faeryl Tyra’them; and Piper Swift, who replaced Sergio Jarrett when he refused to recite the Nujellan pledge. Fighting for Nujel’m were Christopher, for House Mazetti; Luinil Leithian, for the Vizier’ Orton Stower, for House Trulacci; and Yates, for House Odello.



The schedule of the event was as follows:

1) Introductions at the Restful Inn
2) Opening Ceremony at the Arena
3) The Battle of Courage: Haldir Haerion vs. Yates. Winner: Yates
4) The Battle of Intelligence: Faeryl Tyra’them vs. Orton Stower. Winner: Orton Stower
5) The Battle of Glory: Hal-Sar vs. Luinil Leithan. Winner: Hal-Sar
6) The Battle of Misery: Piper vs. Christopher. Winner: Christopher
7) The Battle of Surprises: The eight previous combatants were joined by a surprise fighter for Nujel’m, the mind-addled paladin Deraj, a former comrade to some of the Fist. Winner: Nujel’m
8) Closing Ceremony and Prizes

Following the tournament, one of the audience members, Octavius Thorn, attacked the Vizier on behalf of the Fist, and he was arrested and detained for nearly two months.

11/11/2019:

Sidra Grimaldi visited Emerald Town to inform the Fist that she had located two of the ships that held copies of Last Rondorin: Volume XXIV. She asked them to deliver the shipment to her instead of Yates and House Odello; Sidra wanted to have these copies altered to give the tale a more “diplomatic” ending than the violent overthrow of the Sultan that she expected it to feature. After recruiting more allies at the Salty Dog tavern, the group met Sidra at the Zento docks, and she provided the coordinates for the pirates.

Next, the Fist and their allies engaged and defeated the pirate ships, confiscating crates filled with copies of the stolen volumes. Upon discussing the matter further with Sidra and Yates, the group decided to deliver the books to both Odello and Trulacci, who would then jointly alter Last Rondorin: Volume XXIV so that the story featured a more peaceful resolution, avoiding the risk of inciting the real life Nujelllan peasants to revolt.

11/19/2019:

Soon, Sidra Grimaldi, with the aid and support of Zariah Odello, held a small party in Nujel’m to celebrate a resolution of the troubles caused by the most recent volumes of the Last Rondorin. This affair was held at the entrance to the poor quarter, and attendees included Nujellan nobles, peasants, and even some foreigners, including the Fist. There was food and drink for all, and copies of Volume XXIV were distributed for all to read. Instead of a violent rebellion, like in Toshiro’s original version, this tale’s versions of House Odello and House Trulacci were able to broker a lasting peace between the Sultan and the poor, avoiding a revolution, and also instituting a number of moderate political reforms.

Not everyone was satisfied with this new end to this story. Two unidentified women appeared at the party, and with speech and song, they spoke out against the oppression of the Sultan and nobility. The women debated politics with some of the guests, but both fled before they could be apprehended by one of the Justicari. It was not known if they were part of the faction that had commissioned Toshiro to create the latest volumes of the Last Rondorin, but their presence was a sign that troubles were still brewing there.

11/23/2019:

Jolicia led the Fist to meet with Renthar at the Juka Village in the savage land of Eodon. There, he updated the group with news of his search. After sifting through the memories gained from his deceased counterpart, he discovered the location of a viable Pathway. Unfortunately, it was something learned by the Keeper Mitre during an old Rangers Guild mission. This Pathway lay below the nearby fortress of Shadowguard, protected by Minax and her minions. The sorcerer then asked Jolicia and the Fist to challenge the wicked enchantress, distracting her while he penetrated Shadowguard and accessed the Pathway.

The group ventured into the fortress, engaging the rather tedious defenses of its different rooms, until they reached the roof. There, they battled Minax’s servants: Anon, Juo’nar, Ozymandias, and Virtuebane, and even caught a glimpse of the enchantress. As they fought, Renthar slipped inside Shadowguard to access the hidden Pathway. Following their victory, the Fist and Jolicia returned to the entrance of Shadowguard. There was no sign of the sorcerer, which indicated that he had succeeded in his quest.

[Judas D'arc]

11/29/2019:

Bacchus returned to Emerald Town, and he was told about the would-be Time Lord’s request to destroy the abandoned abbey, and how the ghost of Semidar had asked the Fist and their allies to fetch the weapon known as the Scion of Rondorin. Unbeknownst to the librarian, the Scion was not a physical object, it was actually Bacchus. The group then escorted Bacchus to speak with Semidar at the Yomotsu Mines of Tokuno. When the ghost discovered that Bacchus was the scion, he expressed disappointment before he shared the following history lesson:

Centuries ago, Tokuno was known as the Lands of the Feudal Lords, and there were two main houses, Barataria and Rondorin. For most of their history, they were rivals, but for a time, they were part of the Emerald Empire, united by their worship of a sentient oracle in the form of an emerald. A few decades past, four individuals from this ancient kingdom appeared in modern Britannia, and this led to the founding of a band of adventurers also called the Emerald Empire. In a potential future that was later negated, their leader, a Prince of Rondorin, was corrupted by the Entity within the emerald oracle. Insane with a hunger for power, he kidnapped one of his comrades, the mage Hexra, and forced her to bear him six children, until she perished from his mistreatment. Bacchus was one of these children, and he somehow survived the erasure of his native timeline. The abandoned abbey was also a remnant of this aborted future. Once, it was part of the Rondorin prince’s lost keep, which still existed in the Ethereal Void. Both were without a true master, and the Scion of Rondorin had the power to claim and destroy them if he so chose.

Semidar then informed them of a Rondorin Rite of Ascension, a copy of which could be found at the bottom of the Citadel in Tokuno, within Travesty’s lair. Due to his lack of a physical form, he required the Fist and their allies to retrieve it for him. They agreed and journeyed to the Citadel, battling its ninja clans until they reached Travesty. After their defeat of the powerful changeling, Judas found the old, tattered-looking scroll that the librarian desired, and they brought it back to the Yomotsu Mines. Because it was written in an unknown language, Semidar asked the group to return in a few days after he had a chance to study it.

12/2/2019:

Soon, Governor Haxley sent a message directing the Fist to return to Semidar. According to the librarian, the old scroll was written in a dead language of the Lands of the Feudal Lords, and he was unable to decipher it. Due to its origins, he doubted any scholars of the Lycaeum or in Zento could aid them, but he was aware of a repository of knowledge in the Ethereal Void that might contain the right resources for such a task. This, of course, was the home of Mythran, a place that some of the group had visited before. At Mythran’s, the Fist encountered an old ally, the sorcerer Morgaelin, who was still looking for a way to return to his native world of Pagan. When they explained their purpose, Morgaelin advised them that the house’s library contained books about ancient Sosarian languages. He even offered to translate it for them, indicating it would only take a few days. The group agreed, providing a copy of the scroll, while Adegas remained behind to assist him.

12/5/2019:

A few days later, Adegas returned to Emerald Town with the translation she and Morgaelin had completed. Because the scroll's language differed somewhat from version in the the source text in Mythran’s library, the text was rough, and read as follows:

Rondorin Ritual [Trans.] by Morgaelin

*The following is a rough attempt to translate an ancient Rondorin Ascension Ritual. Its margins contain notes by its translator, the sorcerer Morgaelin of Pagan*

Paragraph, the first:

“[Untranslatable]. Rondorin ritual of ascension. [Untranslatable]. Ascendant undergoing the ritual must be a [Uncertain of proper translation] legitimate [?] heir of true-blooded Rondorin royalty. [Untranslatable]. Male or female. [The next word has multiple translations]: Scion[?]

Paragraph, the second:

“The ascendant must complete three [Uncertain of proper translation]: trials / challenges.”

Paragraph, the third:

“First trial / challenge: Unarmed hunt of horde of [Untranslatable] native creatures.”

Paragraph, the fourth:

“Second trial / challenge: Anointment ritual. [Uncertain of proper translation]: blood bath[?]. In a place of holy significance. Ascendant [Untranslatable] permanent [Untranslatable] the native creature on flesh.”

Paragraph, the fifth:

“Third trial / challenge: Wearing flesh of [Untranslatable]: the native creature. Purified by the [Uncertain of proper translation]: blood bath[?]. Ascendant must challenge and defeat in single combat [Uncertain of proper translation]: figurehead / leader of Rondorin.”

Paragraph, the sixth:

“[Untranslatable]. The Scion[?] who is victorious has unconditional [Untranslatable] may choose to replace figurehead/ leader. Or claim possession of any Rondorin [Uncertain of proper translation]: slave / property / legacy[?].”

The Fist then delivered this translation to Semidar at the Yomotsu Mines, and he asked them to leave it on the ground so he could review it further.

[Judas D'arc]

12/7/2019:

Back at the Yomotsu Mines, Semidar told the Fist and their allies that he had finished studying Morgaelin’s rough translation of the ancient scroll. It confirmed that someone who possessed a legitimate Rondorin bloodline could undergo the Rite of Ascension and become recognized as a true scion of House Rondorin. His performance of this ritual would enable Bacchus to assert his claim over the abandoned abbey, which belonged to his father, and dispose of it as he desired. To proceed, he would need to complete four tasks.

First, the hunt, which required Bacchus to slay, alone and unarmed, a dozen of a beast native to Tokuno. The creatures then needed to be skinned, gutted, and bled, their parts harvested for the next part of the ritual. For this, Bacchus decided upon the native Tokunese llama.

Second, the bath, which required Bacchus to purify himself at a holy site of holy of the Tokunese people, such as one of the three island shrines. Using the animal parts he harvested from his hunt, he would need to be completely naked and scrub himself clean. For this, Bacchus chose the Shrine of Homare, and Jolicia helped him with those hard to reach places.



Third, the tattoo, which required Bacchus to have the image of the animal he chose for his hunt to be permanently etched upon his body, in a spot of spiritual significance, such as his forehead, chest, or right above his buttocks. The Fist and their allies recruited their artistic friend Stevie to do so, and she tattooed a rather unique picture of a llama above his buttocks.





The final task involved Bacchus donning armor crafted from the skin of the llamas he had slain and defeating the current head of House Rondorin in a duel. According to Semidar, after many centuries, it was difficult to identify full-blooded Rondorins, but he believed that Lord Zankoku of House Rondowan, who had been parodied in Toshiro's recent works, was a likely candidate for this. Because Lord Zankoku, a legendary samurai with a reputation for being undefeated in battle, was not easily approachable, Judas offered to travel to Tokuno and attempt to arrange a meeting with him.

Afterwards, the group, including Jolicia, returned to the Salty Dog tavern for a drink. There, they were met by Renthar, who had finally emerged from the Pathway beneath Shadowguard. With his work done, he was now able to fulfill his promise to aid Chanticleer. The sorcerer asked the Fist to inform the Empress of this, and in the meantime, he and Jolicia would relocate to Yew.

Once they were alone, Renthar told Jolicia that with his preparations of the Pathway complete, they were ready to leave this shard-world forever. Unfortunately, their enemy, the white-robed, would-be Time Lord, still obstructed their departure. Yet, despite this obstacle, the sorcerer still had every intention of honoring his promise to the Empress.

[Judas D'arc]

12/9/2019:

Judas advised the Fist and their allies that he had met with House Rondawan and arranged for an audience with Lord Zankoku. The bard admitted that he was not completely honest with House Rondawan; he had implied that their meeting would relate to recent events, such as Toshiro and the Last Rondorin: Volume XXIV affair.

The group departed for the Zento Library/Customs building, where they were met by the hooded Lord Zankoku and his entourage. Bacchus revealed to Zankoku that he was the son of Night Angel, a prince of House Rondorin, and he wished to stake his claim as the rightful leader of their mutual clan. Despite his initial skepticism, the head of Rondawan was persuaded after he heard Bacchus’ family history and studied the image of a llama tattooed above his backside, and he agreed to a duel. But at their battle site, when his manservant helped him into his armor, the Fist and their allies learned that Zankoku was not regarded as a veteran samurai merely due to experience, he was also a feeble, elderly man, nearly nine decades in age.



When they fought, Bacchus refused to cast spells against his much older, swordsman opponent. Instead, he wielded a weapon he was not trained in using, and fell quickly. Upon realizing this, Zankoku agreed to a second round, stating there was no honor in defeating a child. This time, Bacchus wielded his magic, and he easily bested the head of Rondowan, who fell to the ground and broke both of his hips. As his servants carried him away to a healer for treatment, Zankoku recognized Bacchus as a true scion of Rondorin.

The group then returned to the Yomotsu Mines. With the Rondorin Rite of Ascension complete, Semidar indicated his role in this was over, and they needed to update Governor Haxley. After they did so, the Governor eagerly informed the Fist and their allies that he would soon provide Bacchus with a magical incantation capable of destroying the abandoned abbey.

12/16/2019:

A week later, Governor Haxley delivered the promised incantation to Bacchus, explaining that it could destroy the abandoned abbey. He also reminded the Fist and their allies that the time shade crisis demonstrated the continued danger posed by the structure, and that this task was necessary to remove the interference that prevented his client, the would-be Time Lord, from rendering aid to Chanticleer. Haxley’s incantation read as follows:

Incantation by a Friend

First, the Scion of Rondorin must ascend to the roof of the abandoned abbey and at its center, state the following words.

“I, Bacchus, recognize the legacy of this place, as is my right as a Scion of Rondorin.”

Then, the following incantation must be chanted three times,

“In Vas Wis Ylem!”

Next, the Scion of Rondorin must descend to the bottom floor of the abandoned abbey, and at its center, state the following words:

“I, Bacchus, claim possession of this place, as is my right as a Scion of Rondorin.”

Then, the following incantation must be chanted three times,

“An Grav Tym Sanct!”

Finally, the Scion of Rondorin must exit the abandoned abbey, and directly in front of it, state the following words,

“I, Bacchus, dispose of this place, as is my right as a Scion of Rondorin.”

Then, the following incantation must be chanted three times,

“In Vas Jux Ylem!”

With this, the abandoned abbey will be permanently destroyed.

Soon, Renthar and Jolicia found the group, and upon learning of the Governor’s incantation, the former asked to read it. Afterwards, he implored Bacchus to change its final words of power to In Vas Por Ylem, stating this would alter the spell’s purpose and transport the abbey back to the Ethereal Void, where it could rejoin the Rondorin Prince’s keep there. Renthar admitted that the keep was his secret base of operations, and because the two structures were connected, the elimination of one would also devastate the other. The would-be Time Lord’s true purpose in all of this was to weaken him and gain an advantage in their conflict. But the sorcerer pledged that he would fulfill his vow to the Empress, regardless of Bacchus’ ultimate choice.

Next, the Fist and their allies accompanied Bacchus to the abandoned abbey. He performed the incantation, though he whispered its last words of power so that none were able to overhear whether he had chosen to destroy or remove the abandoned abbey.



When he was done, the entire abandoned abbey vanished from sight, and the group returned to Haxley and told him of this. He was pleased by this, and said that his client was now in a better position to provide the promised help to Chanticleer. It was eventually revealed, however, that Bacchus had chosen to remove the abandoned abbey, not destroy it, rejoining it with his father’s former keep in the Ethereal Void and preserving his childhood home.

12/18/2019:

Story: Penultima