The Clash of Champions

Part 1
In North Gresham investigating Earl Harkenson’s disappearance, the party are left reeling with the knowledge that not only did he disintegrate into ash but his skin was bright pink like Cassia and Melassina Moonflower’s (who had also disappeared suddenly).

The party speculate as to whether Cassia’s unusual skin colour may have more mysterious origins than her Tieflings heritage. Coming to the conclusion that some sort of racial extermination was taking place with the target being pink skinned individuals, the party theorise as to who may be behind it and why as well as their next course of action. Ideas range from leaving town to using Cassia as bait. They agree to be cautious as to what Cassia consumed on the off chance that poison is involved.

The party decide to clear their minds with the Clash of Champions fight before meeting the Baroness again tomorrow.

The party search for a disguise for Cassia. They come across a mask shop where Cassia purchases an ornate wooden white dragon mask to hide her face.

They arrive at the waterfall for the Clash of Champions  where they choose the party name ‘The Celestial Syndicate.’ They prepare for the fight (leaving Flightless to spectate) in a contestant chamber with Blomf swapping his slightly damaged great sword for a great-axe and they receive small star shaped gummy sweets that give them gills and fins to help adapt them to underwater breathing and movement.

The party enter a large underwater arena/tank where they face an Eye of the Deep Beholder. The fight is fierce and Blomf is targeted repeatedly by the creature. Damien’s arcane arrows entangle the creature in thorns that hurt it when it moves and Blitz repeatedly shoves the creature with his shield causing it to move and take damage. The true genius tactic of the match however, is performed by Malik, who (after spending three turns swimming to the bottom of the tank and underneath the creature) creates a large air filled icicle with shape water that shoots upwards and impales the beholder, killing it spectacularly.

The party receive immense cheers as they reach the surface and they revel in the glory as the crowd chant the party’s name.

Part 2
After vanquishing an Eye of the Deep Beholder and revelling in the applause of the crowd, the party make their way to an afterparty where some healers revive a downed Blitz and Myria/Earendell.

They receive their prize and enjoy the complementary treats and snacks where they are congratulated by Edwin Taft. They overhear him receive a message about the city of Mokupuni having ‘fallen’.

The gang discuss their next move as they leave the party but Damien receives a frantic message from KY in South Gresham and Malik is suddenly drained of his life force to within an inch of death as he receives a vision through the eyes of a mysterious person: the person stands before the town of South Gresham and casts a spell that decimates the town, aging and decaying all life and organic material in the town until nothing but death and destruction remains.

Shaken, an impulsive Damien and deathly weak Malik, followed by a concerned Cassia, steal some nearby horses and take off in the direction of South Gresham. Blitz, Blomf and Piety/Myria head straight to the Great hall to alert/question the Baroness about the occurrence.

Blitz, Blomf and Piety barge in on the Baroness and Taft and find that they were discussing the trouble in Mokupuni where wildlife is going crazy. They know nothing of the devastation in South Gresham. Blitz, Blomf and Piety tell the Baroness to lockdown the city and they set off in the carriage to catch up with the others.

Arriving at South Gresham, the party find no survivors or signs of life within the entire town save for a green dragonborn who dies shortly after they find him. Damien finds the decayed and aged body of an air genasi woman holding a sketchbook of the Order of the Arcane Eye, identifying her as KY: Krym Yanza. Damien solemnly takes her white gemstone ring to remember her by and notifies the Order of her demise and the events in South Gresham. The Order then remotely destroy her book.

The party head in silence back to Inkbury to notify the High Priest about the catastrophe.

Quotes
“Seeing as my entire motivation for Malik is ‘just do cool shit.’” - Gui on Malik’s motivation to enter the Clash of Champions

“Wait, how do you do math?” Katy on paying for Cassia’s mask