Realms S1E44 Awakened

Who knew prison would contain so many reunions? The party undertakes a daring rescue and are confronted by Jaren himself.

Player Characters Present
Jeidobii, Torq(played by Solo), Denahi, Burakubuu, Tallulah, Farlan

Synopsis
The party is gathered in an underground prison where Jeidobii has just heard his mother's voice for the first time in ages. He snaps out of his bloodrage and rushes to her, the bars keeping them apart. His mother approaches, battered but noble.

"That name... did you call out 'Aros'?"

Jeidobii nods, tries to explain, but instead lifts his arm up to his mother so she may touch the bracer holding the essence of his grandfather, her father. A quiet moment. It passes, and the heroes set to finding a way to free the prisoners, but the space itself seems to negate magic and not even the combined might of Torq and Burakubuu can force the bars apart. Garick volunteers that he and Doris will stay with the prisoners while the others carry on to see what they can discover deeper in.

Farlan marks the path ahead for traps and finds it aflame with potential hazards. He guides the party deftly through, though Tallulah manages to trigger not just one but two of the deadly obstacles. Nevertheless, they make it through reasonably unscathed. Just as it seems all is clear, Farlan himself triggers a final trap that sends the party careening into a pit as the hallway itself upends and tilts them out like so much unwanted garbage. They find themselves in a dark room that, upon investigation, is festooned and lined with the skulls, skin and remains of countless sacrifices. Suddenly, a voice calls out to Buu, Jeidobii, and Torq through the magical earrings Leroy provided them. It's Denahi! She's alive, but trapped somewhere unfamiliar. The party sets to action immediately to track her down, first with Jeidobii's magic and then, as they near, with Buu keeping sight of her very soul.

Denahi manages to free herself with deft use of her tail and summons Nyco to her side. She makes her way to try and meet with her friends when she sees a faint light on the approach. She calls to her friends through the earrings and they affirm the light is not theirs. She goes to hide and finds herself in a pickle, and not the tasty kind Zin provides. Buu, Jeidobii and Torq sprint to where they see Denahi's essence shining and there they find... JAREN himself, on the approach, accompanied by a flaming demon. Jaren sets the demon to attack Denahi and Buu throws himself in front of her. Jeidobii summons a volley of powerful water and ice magicks. Torq leaps right up in Jaren's grill and starts wailing, as does Tallulah, finding herself consumed with rage to attack the high priest.

Denahi extinguishes the flaming demon but Jaren is unphased, summoning an even larger demonic beast to engage the heroes. He magically transposes himself with the hellish creature and Farlan finds himself face to face with Jaren wielding an undulating black blade. Jaren plunges the shard of darkness into Farlan's breast and flees. The party rushes to their friend, using every method they can to stave the progress of the necrotic infection. Ultimately they manage only to buy Farlan half a day. Torq suggests that the only way they might stop the curse at this point... is to kill it at the source. Farlan urges the party to take rest before moving on to their ultimate goal of vanquishing Jaren. They slumber, reluctanctly, and when they wake, Burakubuu, who had volunteered to take the final watch, is gone.

Renee. Revus. Leeta. Torq's family. Denahi's. And countless others whose names he will never know. All these souls extinguished by Jaren's hand. Now Farlan. He even almost lost Denahi. No more, Buu tells himself as he traverses the darkness alone. No one else.