Fall of the Keepers

Summary of the Fall of the Keepers

Rua was abducted by the keepers, and turned into one of the Keepers forcibly converted and broken, and there is an unknown number of others. The first major rumblings of something going on happened with the Abduction of Ash (⁠monster-girl-cantina⁠). After her conversion, she went back to the bar, it is at that time, the Abduction of Moryn (⁠🏥the-clinic🏥⁠) would have taken place. Since Moryn was uniquely susceptible to Rua, his conversion happened much faster, and even as the Clinic was reeling over that event, Asher was brought in.

At this time, the scope of things were growing, as Rua and Moryn, thralls of the Grand Reverend Mother's plans, went to abduct Alice and Iona (⁠💎the-gobblin-bazaar💎⁠), as the confrontation continued, Iona, mistakenly took her and Rua to The Gardens, where Isra and Lavender where meeting (⁠wild-gardens⁠) leading into Isra staying behind, while Lavender had her confrontation which resulted in Rua's death, and had to deal with the aftermath.

It is at this time, Ash was being seen in the clinic, and her recovery began. As Ash recovers with Recluse, Lavender arrives at The Clinic, meanwhile, back in the gardens, Vayas and her group find Iona and Isra, taking Iona back, they learn that Alice has fallen.

Speaking with Rua's spirit, they learn that Rua is not going to come back, her will being to stay, they learn of the chamber where she broke Moryn, and her desire to have those who she loved known that she loved them. In the end, she attempted to give a cryptic hint to answer two questions at the same time, though, if anyone caught it, is unknown. With a spell to lay the body to rest forever, and a few parting words from Clarity, Lavender was brought to Vee to rest.

Meanwhile, Silk showed up at Theodora's home, to stand guard over the night. Theodora, not really knowing much about Silk save a brief meeting in the library, does not fully trust her, and, stays on guard over night, for her date.

Scarlet, Layla, and Thysania prepare an ambush using Rua's information ⁠Unknown

Meanwhile, folks in the cathedral come under new risk, (⁠the-cathedral⁠), as the night begins to give way to a new day.

As Theodora wakes and readies for the day, Silk follows her to get breakfast, and Lucien arrives, the two prepare for their date. Silk leaves them, only to stand guard outside intent on following them, however, the sight of Alice begins a chase instead. Calling Vayas in, together the pair capture Alice, and kill a deviant xio, and their host.

Meanwhile, Theodora and Lucien begin their date, but, with everything going on and the warnings, Theodora asks to call it short. Heading to find Vayas, the pair are stopped by Moryn, and, as Theodora decides to leave she is drugged, passing out as the two men begin to fight. At the same time, Scarlet, who knows a bit of what is going on, is searching for her thrall. The fight turns against Moryn as Scarlet arrives, and is able to talk Lucien down, before going after Moryn. After breaking the hold of hypnosis on Moryn complete, the three head to Scarlet's place.

The prepared Ambush falls apart as Scarlet leaves to find Theodora, who is at risk. Layla and Thysania fight a small group, hopefully to get some information. The three handily knock down all three, but not before the Blackguard strikes with a thunderous smite, any thought of going undetected lost. After a fight, the group was victorious. With prisoners bound, the group begins to head to The Clinic. Layla and Thysania leave the room, allowing Cath time with the four captured. They meet with Devotion. ( ⁠Unknown) (edited)

[3:53 PM]

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At The Cathedral, Joan and Nadaar start dealing with strange happenings (⁠the-cathedral⁠). Joan is snagged by an invisible figure, they themselves becoming invisible. A non-combatant keeper, called Lazuli, has gone to tell other keepers about the violation of The Cathedral's protections and try to rally help. Joan, and Nadaar appear to be captured, in some way. Joan and Nadaar are captured, and Reverend Mother Selina begins investigation, prompting a keeper in red to report to Consumption the next day, before Silk and Cohort.

After going home, confessing her kiss to Kev, Silk goes to sleep, then at a later time, Silk and Cohort go to get a drink in the Cantina, and a hooded figure approaches them, with an offer to get them close, and gather more information. ( ⁠Unknown ), after which Cohort brings to the arena for ⁠Unknown . Silk meets with recluse, to grow the ⁠Unknown, before going off to speak with Xeniox. ⁠Unknown allies then gather allies as they ⁠Unknown

Most folks get a day, maybe two of rest and preparation, then the assault begins. A swift declaration of intent, and rallying over a short rest, final preparations are made and a march is made to see that all the ⁠Unknown

Silk and Cohort lead a party of adventurers through the tunnels, consisting of Alani and Phage, Wren and Might, Larena, Thysania, Lavender, Moryn, Lucien, Alyxie, Zail, Two Rivers, Eronias, Ash, Recluse, Scarlet, Devotion, and The Inquisitor. However, magic seperates the large force into five smaller groups, forced to undergo separate attacks.

Given the signal and timing, the dragon Taersedaith lands before the cathedral, rode by Reverend Mother Serena, and called forth all loyal keepers to hear the Reverend Mother. As the crowds gathered, Xeniox identified a Deviant in control of a keeper, and gave them to over to Vee, before ducking into the cathedral, along with a small force set up by Tabris to provide additional medical support.

As the address continued, a spell was cast by Taersedaith, believed to be a simple spell to prevent entry, a particular catboy managed to alter the spell, covering it with tendrils infused with energies of the depths, starting to warp The Cathedral. As part of the speech, distraction, and proving the truth, the Xio was removed from the Keeper, showing the betrayal first hand. (edited)

Meanwhile, the fights had gotten underway and nasty.

A Cryptic Attack

Through some crypts and storage, Moryn, Alexie, and Lucien found their way to follow a brainwashed servant of the keepers. When they were brought center floor, they were turned upon and attacked, thanks to holding back they convinced some younger vampire keepers to work with them, and through concerted effort, they managed to keep all but one brainwashed Keeper alive, as they were killed by a Xio. They gathered in the cathedral, two Xio's captured and five brainwashed keepers to be helped.

Folk Prison White

Entering into a prison ward, constructed to keep those that the White Queen send into the dungeon to eradicate and purify the world, Thysania, Wren and Might emerge from a secret tunnel into an unlocked cell. Seeing a guard patrolling those who are locked up, they immediately rush forward, and all but kill him, then proceed to free the prisoners. Allowing the prisoners to take the fallen keepers scimitar, the freed prisoner raises it, and kills the keeper with a devotional prayer of loyalty to the White Queen. Continuing on, they move to another collections of cells, and stop to sweep the floor, killing a vampire Keeper guard, and allowing the freed prisoners to free more to their numbers. Reaching the guards barracks, they allow the White Queen's forces to arm themselves, then, when Vee's proclamation for the loyal to come out, they allow the forces of the White Queen and the Keepers to fight, as they take some shots themselves against their previous allies. The aftermath sees the party leave bloodied, with nothing but a trail of bodies behind them, and three of the White Queens more loyal forces to slip into the dungeon.

Sacrificial Lambs

Finding their way through the tunnels, they spy on a conversation between two keepers, a Vampire and a Deviant. They get off on the wrong foot with the Vampire Keeper, but deescalate the situation to follow them as he moves to lead them to the main halls. However, the Deviant over hears them talking, and after sending the Vampire Keeper off, moves to attack the party due to their knowledge of the tunnels. Fighting and removing the Xio, they leave it to die of its injuries, as the host is interrogated by Phage and Alani, rather poorly, Larena checks the cells, and finds a human prisoner, and a Xio prisoner. The xio, starving and maltreated, shows fear, and Phage and Alani go to try to talk with it. However Lavender opens a door to a bedroom, and, finding a group of sleeping Deviant xios, immediately attacks. Mx. Rose, the prisoner rescued from the Deviant sees the act of aggression and flees, as the other party members come to help the sudden fight. Alani and Phage return to the Xio that was in the cell, and find out that it was being starved, to try to force it to take a host against its will and nature. Sparing as much lives as possible, the group gathers together, returning with three Xio prisoners, and some not-yet broken Keepers, and two who suffered, marked as potentials for Consumption's ever growing power.

Consumption's Fall

Silk and Cohort lead against Consumption, and Cohort begins with subterfuge which is disrupted by Eronias and Ash stepping forward, as a fight breaks out. There is no hesitation in killing Xio and host as the fight continues, one host being spared, three xio dead, and two hosts killed. Trying to talk their way through again, another fight ends with more dead, and finally they face Consumption themselves. The fight ends with the killing of Consumption's host, and as Consumption tries to run, reverting to a more larvae form, they are killed without hesitation. The host that Consumption used, was revived, and the group made their way to the cathedral, no prisoners, and only few additional survivors to help.

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Avatar VS The Big Guns

Those whisked away find themselves shuffled away, trapped in a off-set reality with the Avatar Of The Conceited One, Scarlet, Devotion, Recluse and The Inquisitor must fight. They will emerge alive and wounded, but exact details are unavailable. (The fight is still going on.)

Immediate Aftermath

Prisoners are secured, as triage teams heal the wounded, dead are gathered to be brought to Tabris and the clinic. A silence has settled upon The Cathedral as fighting has ceased, the victors ready to get to relaxing, thinking there is nothing more then to walk out, and let The Keepers return to operation, without consumption playing the role of The Grand Reverend Mother, and pulling the strings of a false religion, not knowing what is about to happen as the tendrils begin to move to allow those outside of The Cathedral access...