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Shackled City Epic: "Vengeance" (story concluded)
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<blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 2045391" data-attributes="member: 143"><p>The way the module's written, things just sort of happen once the Cagewrights are ready to execute their plans. It's one of the weaker plot segues in the entire series, IMHO. Jenya will give us some insight into what's going on, in today's chapter (the result of the <em>divination</em> is right from the module as well): </p><p></p><p>* * * * * </p><p></p><p>Chapter 330</p><p></p><p>They did not waste much time in idle conversation, but Jenya did her best to answer their questions. She had reached out to Helm once more for guidance, and had been nearly overcome by the intensity of her god’s response. “Look to the heart of the matter,” spoke the words—divine or divinely-inspired, at the very least—in her mind. It was not much of a revelation, but it cut through the fog of weariness and confusion that had belabored her these last days, and replaced that with a calm certainty. The meaning of the tremors, the gathering storm, the strange happenings of the last few days, had become clear. </p><p></p><p>The Cagewrights were making their move. </p><p></p><p>In the midst of the High Priestess’s revelations, it came without warning. One moment they were talking, and the next the entire world around them seemed to be shaking violently. A dull roar overwhelmed their shouts, and Beorna only barely caught Jenya before she fell. The quake—actually just a single, massive pulse from within the volcano—barely lasted long enough for terror to replace surprise, but in its wake they could hear the screams from beyond the walls of the temple grounds that indicated that it had not come and gone without wreaking destruction. </p><p></p><p>“We’re out of time,” Dannel said. </p><p></p><p>“Orthos!” Arun yelled, pointing to one of his younger recruits, just rising from where he’d been roughly knocked onto the cobbles in the entry of the stable. At Arun’s cry he jumped up and ran over to them. </p><p></p><p>“Sir?”</p><p></p><p>“Gather all of the Hammers currently here at the Temple compound,” the paladin commanded. Even as the young man dashed off to obey, Beorna shouted after him, “And if you see any clerics, tell them to get their butts over here as well!”</p><p></p><p>“I must go to the Town Hall, and coordinate the evacuation with the Watch,” Jenya said. “Just give me a few seconds—there are a few sacred relics that cannot be left, and the <em>Star of Justice</em>.”</p><p></p><p>“I will accompany you, High Priestess,” Beorna said. “You will need protection, and the streets will not be safe, especially as panic begins to set in among the population.”</p><p></p><p>“No, that is where you will be needed,” Jenya said, holding up a hand to forestall the templar’s protest. “Fear not, I will be adequately guarded; I have prepared a potent call to Helm for an ally in the fear of this moment coming. But you... all of you... will have to take the lead in the evacuation. It will take an hour, if not more, to mobilize and organize the Watch, and I fear that in that time, people will die.” </p><p></p><p>“Where should we start?” Dannel asked. </p><p></p><p>“There, I think,” Mole said. They turned to follow her gaze, down toward the pit of the caldera. The buildings across Obsidian Avenue from the temple obscured their view of the lake, but they could all see the vast plume of steam rising from the center of the town. </p><p></p><p>“The lake,” Arun said. “As the volcano awakens, it will superheat and overflow its banks, killing everyone it touches.”</p><p></p><p>Beorna had not shifted her gaze from Jenya, the two holy warriors testing each other in a silent battle of resolve. Finally, the templar nodded, and to Jenya’s surprise knelt before her, taking her superior’s hand and pressing it to her forehead.</p><p></p><p>“Go with the blessing of Helm,” Jenya said. She took the templar’s head in both of her hands and bent low, laying a soft kiss upon her brow, then turned and darted across the courtyard toward the temple structure, looking like a slyph as her long white robe—faintly gray from dust—trailed behind her. </p><p> </p><p>Men and women had gathered in the stableyard. There was only about a dozen, but more than half wore the distinctive tunics bearing the hammer sigil that they had taken as the symbol of their service. Most of Arun’s followers were out in the city with Jenya’s few remaining priests, helping to keep order or to otherwise lend their support to the troubled townsfolk remaining in Cauldron. </p><p></p><p>Arun didn’t waste time, pointing to a half-elven woman of middle years wearing the blue tunic. “Ambelin, you’re in charge of this group. We are evacuating the city. Travel light, but take your weapons and tools. The High Priestess will be coming out in a few minutes, and will be going to the Town Hall to coordinate the evacuation. I want you to go with her, and tell Tristane that he and the Hammers are to fully support her in whatever she commands. Help whomever you can, but don’t dally long; we need to get as many people out of the city as we can. I fear that we may not have much time.”</p><p></p><p>“Yes sir!” the woman replied. She turned and immediately started giving orders to those gathered, who quickly started running for their gear or otherwise preparing to depart. The young man, Orthos, hesitated a moment. “What about you, sir? Where are you going?”</p><p></p><p>The adventurers had already started toward the gate that led out from the relative sanctuary of the temple into the growing chaos of the city. At the question, the paladin glanced back over his shoulder. “Into the fire, lad. Into the fire.”</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lazybones, post: 2045391, member: 143"] The way the module's written, things just sort of happen once the Cagewrights are ready to execute their plans. It's one of the weaker plot segues in the entire series, IMHO. Jenya will give us some insight into what's going on, in today's chapter (the result of the [i]divination[/i] is right from the module as well): * * * * * Chapter 330 They did not waste much time in idle conversation, but Jenya did her best to answer their questions. She had reached out to Helm once more for guidance, and had been nearly overcome by the intensity of her god’s response. “Look to the heart of the matter,” spoke the words—divine or divinely-inspired, at the very least—in her mind. It was not much of a revelation, but it cut through the fog of weariness and confusion that had belabored her these last days, and replaced that with a calm certainty. The meaning of the tremors, the gathering storm, the strange happenings of the last few days, had become clear. The Cagewrights were making their move. In the midst of the High Priestess’s revelations, it came without warning. One moment they were talking, and the next the entire world around them seemed to be shaking violently. A dull roar overwhelmed their shouts, and Beorna only barely caught Jenya before she fell. The quake—actually just a single, massive pulse from within the volcano—barely lasted long enough for terror to replace surprise, but in its wake they could hear the screams from beyond the walls of the temple grounds that indicated that it had not come and gone without wreaking destruction. “We’re out of time,” Dannel said. “Orthos!” Arun yelled, pointing to one of his younger recruits, just rising from where he’d been roughly knocked onto the cobbles in the entry of the stable. At Arun’s cry he jumped up and ran over to them. “Sir?” “Gather all of the Hammers currently here at the Temple compound,” the paladin commanded. Even as the young man dashed off to obey, Beorna shouted after him, “And if you see any clerics, tell them to get their butts over here as well!” “I must go to the Town Hall, and coordinate the evacuation with the Watch,” Jenya said. “Just give me a few seconds—there are a few sacred relics that cannot be left, and the [I]Star of Justice[/I].” “I will accompany you, High Priestess,” Beorna said. “You will need protection, and the streets will not be safe, especially as panic begins to set in among the population.” “No, that is where you will be needed,” Jenya said, holding up a hand to forestall the templar’s protest. “Fear not, I will be adequately guarded; I have prepared a potent call to Helm for an ally in the fear of this moment coming. But you... all of you... will have to take the lead in the evacuation. It will take an hour, if not more, to mobilize and organize the Watch, and I fear that in that time, people will die.” “Where should we start?” Dannel asked. “There, I think,” Mole said. They turned to follow her gaze, down toward the pit of the caldera. The buildings across Obsidian Avenue from the temple obscured their view of the lake, but they could all see the vast plume of steam rising from the center of the town. “The lake,” Arun said. “As the volcano awakens, it will superheat and overflow its banks, killing everyone it touches.” Beorna had not shifted her gaze from Jenya, the two holy warriors testing each other in a silent battle of resolve. Finally, the templar nodded, and to Jenya’s surprise knelt before her, taking her superior’s hand and pressing it to her forehead. “Go with the blessing of Helm,” Jenya said. She took the templar’s head in both of her hands and bent low, laying a soft kiss upon her brow, then turned and darted across the courtyard toward the temple structure, looking like a slyph as her long white robe—faintly gray from dust—trailed behind her. Men and women had gathered in the stableyard. There was only about a dozen, but more than half wore the distinctive tunics bearing the hammer sigil that they had taken as the symbol of their service. Most of Arun’s followers were out in the city with Jenya’s few remaining priests, helping to keep order or to otherwise lend their support to the troubled townsfolk remaining in Cauldron. Arun didn’t waste time, pointing to a half-elven woman of middle years wearing the blue tunic. “Ambelin, you’re in charge of this group. We are evacuating the city. Travel light, but take your weapons and tools. The High Priestess will be coming out in a few minutes, and will be going to the Town Hall to coordinate the evacuation. I want you to go with her, and tell Tristane that he and the Hammers are to fully support her in whatever she commands. Help whomever you can, but don’t dally long; we need to get as many people out of the city as we can. I fear that we may not have much time.” “Yes sir!” the woman replied. She turned and immediately started giving orders to those gathered, who quickly started running for their gear or otherwise preparing to depart. The young man, Orthos, hesitated a moment. “What about you, sir? Where are you going?” The adventurers had already started toward the gate that led out from the relative sanctuary of the temple into the growing chaos of the city. At the question, the paladin glanced back over his shoulder. “Into the fire, lad. Into the fire.” [/QUOTE]
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