Fall of the Keepers
The first stirrings of what would come to be known as the Fall of the Keepers started innocuously enough, after all the Keepers of the Starseed had been operating for centuries abducting, converting, and breaking others to their cause. However, their downfall started from a serries of bad decision and internal betrayal.
The first notable abduction was a drow by the name of Rua, she was, like so many others, abducted and broken to serve the Keepers of the Starseed. However, the increased presence of Exodermis, and the sudden growth of the Keepers higher ranks, as well as recent shakeups caused them to make mistakes.
Ashar Conney, known to most simply by Ash, was a waitress of the Monster Girl Cantina and a lover of Recluse, she was, to most people, known to be someone you don't mess with. Her abduction was performed in the night, unnoticed. However, the mess they left was quickly noticed by Lucien, the bartender coming in for the night shift, and Recluse coming in for a drink.
Soon enough, the first investigation began into the abductions, Lucien, Recluse, joined by Layla Starstride, Vayas, Silk, Cohort, and Devotion. Devotion tried to use magic to find Ash, and, their spell indicated that they were moving away from Market Town and deeper into the depths of the dungeon, leading the group to break up. Layla staying back to try to gather more information, Silk and Cohort heading to the depths, with Recluse going on his own to investigate the depths.
At the same time, another abduction was taking place at The Clinic, Moryn had come in to see Tabris Arlam. When Cath stepped out to let the doctor know he was there, in that moment of isolation a hooded figure approached Moryn. One he knew, although not in the way he knew her, Rua was not acting as herself. With magical domination, she took control of Moryn, delivering him to the Keepers.
It was when Scarlet came looking for Moryn that his missing nature was identified. Cath had assumed Moryn ran off, but when Tabris and Scarlet began to talk, they noticed a broken crystal and discussing the situation, Tabris using magic identified that Moryn was enthralled by enchantment magic. Tabris and Scarlet tried to begin an investigation.
Later, Layla, alone at the Cantina, was served by none other then the previously missing Ash. However, it was clear something was wrong, and Layla contacted Recluse for assistance, before they went off. Recluse and Layla brought Ash to the The Clinic where Itoz was working, Ash' brainwashing evident they began the process to bring Ash back to herself, and hopefully gain more information.
Roughly at the same time Rua and Moryn, both thralls of the Grand Reverend Mother's plans, went to abduct Alice Erskine and Iona at the Goblin Bazaar, a bold and misguided attempt to quickly grow their ranks. In the confrontation Iona, casting a spell to teleport she had intended to take Alice with her to escape, instead took one of the two hooded figures with her, Rua. Moryn managed to abduct Alice, taking her to be initiated into the keepers.
In the Wild Gardens, Isra, Fornette, and Lavender were having a pleasant time with each other, when Iona suddenly flailed into the the area through a teleportation door, and with her, the hooded figure of Rua. Rua, knowing she was outnumbered began to run off, with Lavander and Rua in pursuit, while Isra stayed with Iona to help tend to her.
Lavender confronted Rua, a Rua that no longer recognized her past, nor her status as anything but an agent of the Keepers of the Starseed. Pained, and pushed to defending herself, Lavender summoned the furry of a lightning bolt, which struck and killed Rua. The aftermath of the event hurt Lavender deeply, Rua opted for reasons of her own to let herself stay dead without resurrection, sharing last words to Lavender before her spirit left. While Devotion and Tabris gave the last rights to Rua, Clarity was able to have her last moments with her as well. Lavender was brought to Vee to rest, recover with a friend and someone strong enough to ensure she was protected, and would not be able to be attacked.
Meanwhile, back at the Wild Gardens, while Isra was taking care of Iona, Vayas, Life, Silk, and Sylara arrived to help rescue Iona. They deal with the discovery of Rua's involvement, and, they growing fear as Alice's mark, the one that ties her to Vayas and warns Vayas when she is in danger or pain suddenly vanishes.
Silk goes to Theodora's apartment, a virtual stranger to the vampiric thrall, Theodora does not trust the woman that showed up suddenly, and resolved to live her life lets her stay the night on guard, while she prepares for a date with Lucien.
Having learned from Rua's parting moments a hidden chamber where it was likely that those acting on behalf of the Keepers of the Starseed would bring further victims, Scarlet, Thysania, and Layla Starstride prepared an ambush. The ambush, while successful in capturing a source of information, failed as there were some who were able to escape, and collapse the tunnel used to escape behind them. Scarlet does not join them as they head to the clinic, instead going off on her own to search for her thrall.
At the Cathedral of the Keepers, Joan and Thrikominaki Nadaar, meet with Lazuli, a new initiate of the Keepers, not a thrall nor a co-conspirator, a young acolyte by the name of Lazuli greets them, before she is sent to find a Reverend Mother, leaving them alone for a moment before returning, a confusing interaction occurs with reflections and shadows, ultimately ending with the abduction of Joan, to the confusion of Nadar and Lazuli both. Lazuli goes to find help as Nadaar tries to find Joan, only to be abducted as well.
Back at the clinic, Layla, Thysania and their prisoners arrive at the clinic. While the tunnels collapsed, they seemed to lead to the Cathedral and the pieces comes together further to suggest the deep involvement of the Keepers. They meet up with Devotion, as Thysania takes their leave.
As night falls, Theodora wakes and readies herself for her date, while Silk follows her to get breakfast. When Lucien arrives, Silk grudgingly lets them go on their date. Theodra asks to call it short, and go to Vayas, feeling uncertain about the entire thing, as the pair is stopped by Moryn, someone both are familiar with. Moryn manages to drug her, and, a fight begins between Moryn and Lucien, before the arrival of Scarlet ends the fight. Together, they start to work on breaking the hold the Keepers of the Starseed have upon him, before going to Scarlet's place for the night.
As Lazuli reports of the attack in the Cathedral, the Reverend Mother Selina begins an investigation into what is going on and who broke the peace at the Cathedral, not knowing of the conspiracy happening around her. Meanwhile, a keeper in red reports to Consumption about the increased scrutiny.
Silk and Cohort go to get a late night drink at the cantina a hooded figure approaches them, a Deviant Exodermis by the name of Xeniox. He is bitter at the Keepers of the Starseed, blaming them for the death of his doll, Rua, and using hypnosis that he learned from Rua, he worked with Silk and Cohort to present themselves to Consumption. Cohort, under the name Vezzoq, met with Consumption, the Exodermis in charge of the conspiracy of the Keeper of the Starseeds, having pulled the strings from behind for generations.
After the brief encounter, Cohort will bring Silk to the Sparring Pits, in order to give her a safe outlet to blow of steam, without putting others at risk. After, she is able to go to meet with Recluse, and they begin to plan an attack.
By morning, Xeniox and Cohort, with Silk, are meeting again. Information is shared, and a plan is formed for a full scale attack upon the Cathedral. As the information is shared, plans are made. After the meeting, Silk brings plans forward to Vayas and Recluse, however despite Silk's desire to fully control the strike force, it is not as simple as turn away those who have their own stakes.
After a day of preparation, an assault team consisting of Alanai and Phage, Wren and Might, Larena, Thysania, Lavender, Moryn, Lucien, Alyxie, Zail, Two Rivers, Eronias and Ash, is moving into the tunnels exposed by Xeniox in order to launch a surprise attack against Consmuption.
Outside, a group set up to be distraction and to hold the parameter is gathered, consisting of Taersedaith, Scarlet, Recluse, and The Inquisitor. Taersedaith, backed up by the Reverend Mother Serena calls forth any keepers loyal to the Reverend Mother who exposes Consumption's conspiracy. Ad the address is delivered, Xeniox identifies Deviants and in the crowd, before entering the Cathedral with Tabris and a small group of medics.
A spell seals the Cathedral, isolating the groups, and on the outside a force known as The Avatar of the Conceited One challenges the outside group, forcing Scarlet, Devotion, Recluse, and the Inquisitor into a fight to ensure the outer parameter is not collapsed and those gathered killed.
In the tunnels, the large assault party is suddenly separated by magic and circumstance.
Moryn, Alexie, and Lucien find themselves travelling through some crypts and storage and 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 Exodermis. They gathered in the cathedral, two Exodermis captured and five brainwashed keepers to be helped.
Thysania, Wren, and Might instead found themselves in a prison ward constructed to hold those who seek to purge Paradisium of sin. 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 purity. 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 absolute purity and the Keepers to fight. The three adventurers 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 purity extremists to slip into the dungeon.
Laurena, Phage and Alani, and Lavender are separated and 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 Exodermis, 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 Exodermis prisoner. The Exodermis, 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 Exodermis and their hosts, 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 Exodermis 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 Exodermis prisoners, and some not-yet broken Keepers, and two who suffered, marked as potentials for Consumption's ever growing power.
Silk, Cohort, Eronias and Ash found themselves separated into the tunnel Xeniox showed Cohort previously, able to head strait to Consumption's chambers. 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 and host as the fight continues, one host being spared, three Exodermis 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.
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 of the Starseed pick up the pieces from the conspiracy and perhaps return to operation, without Consumption playing the role of The Grand Reverend Mother, and pulling the strings of a false religion.
However, the cathedral suddenly begins to sink, cracking, breaking apart under the spell that Vee had cast upon it, and the tunnels bellow it collapsing, as the building breaks and bends, parts of the roof collapsing, the floor giving out, and as the dust clears, a dangerously unsafe building which once was a grand cathedral remains. Many of the Keepers see this as a sign, particularly with the conspiracy laid bare. The once unified religion breaks back into cults, going their own ways to worship in their own manners, leaving the ruins of what was once the Cathedral of the Keepers of the Starseed, to be nothing but a reminder of their fall, at least, for now.
Read the original summery and scenes on the server, Quest Summary.