Realms S2E14 A Broken Past

Viktor has escaped, but that concern will have to wait as The Artificer revealed his hand and has the group in a precarious position!

Player Characters Present
Eclipse, Naphako, Keywynn, Kyrealle, Kerrick

Synopsis
The Artificer had just revealed to our captured heroes that he knew a great deal about each of them, including Naphako, his daughter. Naphako’s mind splintered as she confronted him, the personalities of the people inside her awoke and began trying to speak to him, some threatening him, some begging him to undo his work. The Artificer brushed his creation’s pleas off and continued to poke and pry the group, playing on their fears: telling Eclipse that he personally tortured and murdered his parents, claiming Kyrealle’s parents had sold her, claiming he knows that Kerrick’s father killed his mother. After that last point, with a few motions of the Artificer’s hands, a new cell appeared with a black dragonborn by the name of Rivaan, Kerrick’s father. Kerrick and Rivaan exchanged some words before being provoked to fight. Rivaan put up a fight, but Kerrick took his father down, instead of killing him, however, he only knocked Rivaan out. Irritated by this the Artificer lifted Rivaan by the back of the head and made Kerrick look into his fathers eyes while he crushed his skull. Leaving Kerrick’s dead father on the ground he left the room, but not before finishing off Kvor, the were-bear who had led Naphako and Eclipse to the tower.

The party was floored and trapped. The group thinks about their broken past and awaits their fate. Light from within Naphako tries to speak to Eclipse who rejects her, insisting she had to be dead. After some time a dozen small drones emerged and Kerrick watched as his father’s body was dragged away along with Kvor. Some of the group tries to get some rest while others sit processing the recent events. The white owl that accompanied Kvor stands and watches over Eclipse. Eventually the owl greets him and offers a deal. Both are needing something and it seems they could use each other. The two create a bond of companionship. The owl hands Eclipse a necklace that once belonged to Kvor. Eclipse is flooded with an arcane knowledge along with some new abilities. Instantly Eclipse shrinks into a tiny form and then disappears.

Eclipse rushes up the stairs in search for the Artificer. Naphako sends Tyvar along with him. Eclipse makes it to the third floor where he finds a reactor powered by a large Rezari crystal. Thinking of a new plan he tells his new owl friend to draw the Artificer into the room. She does so and as he enters the room Eclipse attacks. First attacking his eyes, the nose, tongue and feet. While attacking Eclipse’s new owl friend casts hold on the Artificer who is unable to break the spell. In the last moment Eclipse makes one final move, yells out to his sister claiming he will see her soon. With that Eclipse stabs the device causing a chain reaction. The reactor explodes and incinerates the Artificer. Eclipse was able to dive away but it wasn’t enough. Eclipse fell unconscious and pieces of the ceiling fell on him.

The party jumps into action. They get out of their cells as Kyrealle and Light now fronting Naphako run up the stairs to aid Eclipse. Keywynn goes to help her brother and Kerrick searches for his fathers body. Keywynn and Rolan escape and begin to flee but Rolan stops, tells Keywynn that he loves her, and polymorphs into a very large creature to help assist the survivors from the higher levels. Kyrealle and Naphako do end up finding Eclipse just in time. Getting him on his feet and rushing back down the stairs. The party is able to rescue the survivors and flee the tower. Getting down to the main door they are greeted by Orgul and several dozen villagers armed to help rescue the group. They all left the tower as it started to come down. Several large explosions continued to cave the tower into itself. Looking around there was no sign of Kerrick. A few moments later as the large doors caved in, Kerrick came rushing out with the body of his fallen father over his shoulder.