Wolfhard thrills at seeing Chenoa and Sir Von dispatch Sir Gregory with their tenacious attack and stunning change, and continues moving the Count to safety.

I'm not sure how much distance I need to cover, but I'll continue moving him 4 meters per turn until it's safe to set him down or the situation is dire enough to drop him.

Spending 1VP to maintain the Lifting Hand for another turn.

VP: 7, Coffer: 8WP

With a roar that echoes across the docks, Sir Vongangekan charges towards Sir Gregory. His massive form moves with surprising speed, his six limbs propelling him forward like a juggernaut. At the last moment, he lowers his shoulder, aiming directly at Sir Gregory.

Banga! The impact hits like a freight train. Sir Gregory has no time to react, no time to dodge. He is hit full force by the charging Vorox, the impact sending him flying backwards. With a splash, he lands in the icy waters of the fjord, his vibro-sword disappearing beneath the waves. Sir Von manages to stop just in time at the edge of the dock, his six limbs moving with a grace and precision that belies his size. It's a stunning display of control and power, a testament to the Vorox's formidable combat skills.

As Sir Gregory disappear in the water, the remaining members of the snatch team look on in shock. Their leader, their plan, all gone in an instant. Hope drains from their faces and they quickly disappear, melting away into the chaos of the docks.

Chenoa, having just been flung aside by Sir Gregory, quickly regains her footing. She watches in awe as Sir Vongangekan charges and sends Sir Gregory flying into the icy waters of the fjord. A triumphant grin spreads across her face as she sees the remaining members of the snatch team lose hope and scatter.

Meanwhile, Wolfhard continues to move the Count to safety, his psychic energy maintaining its hold on the unconscious man. He moves him further away from the chaos, towards a nearby rooftop where he can be safe.

With Sir Gregory dispatched and the snatch team scattered, the docks slowly start to calm down. The Count is safe, for now, and you can finally take a moment to catch your breath.

OOC: well done, folks! 2 WP for the cache  :)

OOC Nice! It was an exciting combat!

The knight watched long enough to observe that some of the locals were going out in to the water to collect Sir Gregory - or perhaps just his valuables. He turned to the newest member of the group and offered her a hand. "Are you all right, Chenoa?" His voice had lost all of its primal fury, returning once more to the rich baritone with which he always spoke.

Wolfhard runs to Hengel, but positioned where he can see if the Count stirs or if any cultists move to grab the count, hoping Hengel may somehow alive.

Wolfhard breaks away from the group, his eyes scanning the chaos of the docks for Hengel. He spots the fallen figure of the little man, lying still amidst the debris of the battle. Wolfhard runs quikly to Hengel, his hands reaching out to check for a pulse, for any sign of life. But there's nothing. Hengel is gone.

A low hum starts to fills the air, growing louder and more distinct. From the direction of the floating barge, the Ulfberht comes into view, its sleek form cutting through the air with ease. The spaceship hovers above the docks, its powerful engines causing the water below to ripple and churn.

The cargo ramp of the Ulfberht descends, revealing Oddmund. He stands at the top of the ramp, his figure silhouetted against the interior lights of the ship. He raises an arm, beckoning for you to hurry up.

As you quickly make you way towards the Ulfberht, a group of Nizdharim appear from the Black Ship, their small, squid-like forms moving with an eerie grace. They raise their clags, the spear-like shafts of their laser staffs glowing with a dangerous light. They fire at the Ulfberht, but their clumsy shots go wide, the lasers leaving scorch marks on the dock but doing no damage to the ship. Wolfhard is able to guide the unconscious form of the Count safely onboard.

The Ulfberht's engines roar as it prepares to take off, the cargo ramp slowly beginning to rise. You hurry aboard, Chenoa jumping onto the ramp just as it closes. With a final roar, the Ulfberht lifts off, leaving the chaos of the docks behind as it ascends into the evening sky.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:11, Wed 21 June 2023.

Wolfhard watches as the ramp closes, his face a mixture of defiance and sadness. "Why? Why would Hengel sacrifice himself like that?"

He turns to face the still form of the Count, anger washing over him, "You had better be worth it, or I may finish what Hengel started..."

Sir Vongangekan did his best to get out of the way as everyone was boarding. When Chenoa made it aboard safely, he pulled her into a hug. "Thank the Pancreator you are safe!"

Wolfhard takes a deep breath and composes himself as Sir Von and Chenoa embrace. "Thank you, Chenoa - you saved me from a bullet out there", his gratitude sincere. He manages a smile, "I did try to warn you that safety was relative with this crew. I'm glad both of you are safe."

As the adrenaline of the fight dissipates, all that's transpired in the last day - the bar fight, facing Niderach in the night, Hengel's sacrifice, and the sheer amount of psychic energy he used in the fight, finally take their physical and emotional toll on him. He suddenly feels completely drained, almost faint, and takes a seat on a nearby crate.

Chenoa hugs the huge Vorox back and laughs in relief. "What a fight! The skalds will sing of our glory for many years!"

Oddmund clicks on the comm. "Ali, take us out of here. We need to go to Achiharta to pick up Zsofika, Servus, and Santiago."

He turns to Brother Malcolm. "Are you okay, Brother? Perhaps you can help get the Count to the sickbay so we can have a look at him. I'd say it wouldn't be a bad idea to keep him heavily sedated until we return to Leminkainen. Who knows what mischief he could get up to. But we can at least make him look more presentable."

Brother Malcolm, who had been standing quietly to one side, observing the aftermath of the battle, nods at Oddmund's words. "Yes, of course," he says, moving towards the unconscious form of the Count. He bends down, his hands gently lifting the Count's limp body. Despite the man's unconscious state, Brother Malcolm handles him with care, mindful of any injuries he might have sustained during the battle.

"I'll take him to the sickbay and make sure he's stable," he says, his voice calm and steady. "And I agree, keeping him sedated might be the best course of action for now. We don't want him causing any more trouble than he already has."

With that, he turns and carries the Count out of the cargo hold, heading towards the sickbay. As he walks, he can't help but glance back at the rest of the crew, a silent prayer on his lips for their safety and well-being.

"Brother Malcolm," the Vorox said, "do let me know if you require any aid in sickbay." He certainly didn't mean medical aid. Sir Vongangekan had never once shown any sign of skill with medicine. "Failing that, Chenoa, I can show you to a safe place to sleep. I have been sharing the space with Ms. Griffin-Chabon due to the simple fact that our species are not compatible for aught save simple friendship. There is room for you there as well."

The Ulfberht's engines hum softly as the spaceship descends onto the landing pad at Achiharta starport. The journey has been uneventful, a welcome respite after the chaos of the docks. Oddmund had radioed ahead, ensuring a smooth transition for the rest of the team to board the ship.

As Zsofika, Servus, and Santiago step onto the Ulfberht, their faces are a mix of relief and curiosity. The tale of the battle at the docks, the cult's mind control, and the daring rescue of the Count is relayed to them. Their expressions shift from shock to admiration as they listen, impressed by the bravery and resourcefulness of the Elfheim team.

The decision to keep the Count sedated is met with unanimous agreement. The risk of the cult's influence is too great, and the safety of the crew is paramount. With the new passengers settled in, the Ulfberht lifts off once more, its destination now the Jumpgate to Leminkainen.

OOC: is there anything you'd like to do before the jump to Leminkainen?

OOC: I'm good!

Nope

As you approach the Jumpgate in the Ulfberht, its massive structure looms in the void of space. The gate, a marvel of Vau technology, hums with energy as it prepares to open a pathway through the fabric of space-time. The ship's engines slow as you align with the gate's entrance, bracing yourself for the jump.

With a flash of light and a rush of energy, you enter the Jumpgate. For a moment, the ship is enveloped in a tunnel of swirling colors and distorted space. It's an otherworldly experience, a testament to the advanced technology of the Vau.

Then, as quickly as it began, the jump ends. You emerge from the Jumpgate, the familiar starfield of the Leminkainen system spreading out before you. The journey, which would have taken years with conventional travel, is completed in mere moments.

As you make your approach to Leminkainen, Oddmund contacts Baroness Keswick. He informs her of your successful mission, the recovery of both her cousin and his ring. The news is met with relief and gratitude, the Baroness expressing her deep appreciation for your efforts.

Upon hearing the good news, Baroness Keswick organizes a welcoming committee at the manor. As you land, you are greeted by a group of well-dressed individuals, their faces alight with joy and relief. The Count, still unconscious and under the watchful eye of Brother Malcolm, is carefully transported to the manor, where he can receive further medical attention.

Tired but victorious, you disembark from the ship, ready to celebrate your successful mission and the safe return of the Count.

In as much as it had been possible to do so, Sir Vongangekan had cleaned up his clothes. The blast from that shotgun wasn't going to clean out. He would need to replace the shirt and jacket. At least it had missed his dueling cape. The Vorox spent the trip to and from the Jumpgate sketching the events which had transpired during the stay on Hargard. Some of these were cleaned up and fully inked. Others were left as sketches. He also used several sketches along with his easel in the cargo hold to work on a painting of the fight on the docks. He wanted to capture the alien lines of the Nizdharim vessel, the different sides of the battle - Sir Gregory and his muster goons, the unfortunate locals, the cultists, and those working with him.

In addition to the painting, he wrote down - to the best of his recollection - all of the events as he remembered them. It was entirely probable that some of his actions would need to be confessed and he did wish to be careful to not miss any of them. The knight was not the most religious being in the Known Worlds, but he was at least careful to do his part without waver or complaint.

As they emerged, he approached the Baroness and offered her his very best bow, "your excellency, it is so very wonderful to look upon your face once more."

On the trip home, Wolfhard is more somber than usual. So much happened in such a short time. His Dark Twin awakened. Facing Niderach. Hengel. That's a lot to think about and deal with.

Then there's the Count. He was taken out before he could do much in the fight, but if those cultists were trying that hard to protect him, you can bet he's plenty dangerous. Wolfhard trusts Brother Malcolm to keep the Count sedated, but still keeps an eye on him.

Wolfhard's mood slowly lightens over the course of the trip and he's glad to see Leminkainen again. Still, he is happy to let Sir Von handle the pleasantries at the Baroness' house.

As you present the Count to Baroness Keswick, her initial reaction is one of shock and disbelief. She steps back, her hand flying to her mouth as she takes in the sight of her cousin. The Count, once a picture of noble elegance, now appears as a grotesque shadow of his former self. His grey, wrinkled skin, the dark pits of his eyes, the metal pins protruding from his legs - it's a sight that would unsettle even the most hardened of individuals.

"No... it can't be..." the Baroness murmurs, her voice barely above a whisper. "Jarvis," she commands, her voice steady despite the turmoil of emotions she must be feeling. "Please, check his neck."

The metal golem, Jarvis, obediently moves forward. His mechanical movements are precise and careful as he approaches the Count. He extends a metallic hand, gently tilting the sedated Count's head to the side to expose an oddly shaped scar on his neck.

The courtyard falls silent as everyone watches, the tension palpable. Jarvis examines the scar, his artificial eyes scanning the distinctive mark. After a moment, he straightens and turns to face the Baroness.

"Confirmation: The scar on the subject's neck matches the known records of Count Anderton," Jarvis reports in his mechanical voice. "It is highly probable that this individual is indeed Count Anderton."

The Baroness turns to you, her gaze filled with a mix of gratitude and sorrow. "I... I thank you for bringing him back," she says, her voice steady despite the tremor in her eyes. "It's... it's not the reunion I had hoped for, but... but it's better than not knowing."

"You have done your duty, and for that, you have my deepest thanks. We will care for Anderton now. He is home, and we will do our best to help him."

She motions for you all to follow her. "Come. Tell me what happened."

"Of course, my lady," Sir Vongangekan replied. He produced his sketchbook, "I have recorded much of the events here in images to the best of my ability. Furthermore, I penned the events which transpired during our journey - to the best of my recollection - during the journey back from Hargard."

"During our transit of the Hargard system from the Jumpgate to the planet, we were accosted by a single vessel - Vuldrok raiders. Some excellent flying by our pilot caused the raider to push their ship too hard, damaging their engines and forcing them to abandon the pursuit." He showed the Baroness his sketch of the chase. "We landed in Achiharta where we were invited to attend a delightful evening of celebration and cultural exchange by Prince Sapan Ramakrishna as his guests of honor."

The Vorox produced a rough sketch he had made of the city, another of the cars sent to take them to the party, of the hall itself, of Sir Gregory Ashwood-Dale, and of Jangdeep Ramakrishna. "Sir Gregory attempted to reiterate his offer to pay us for the Count's ring should we give it to him instead of returning it to you, your excellency, but I stopped him before he could say it. Jangdeep was a warm and excellent man, who kept us company throughout the evening."

The knight showed Baroness Keswick sketches of several of the performers. "As the evening passed, Prince Sapan invited us to participate. I, of course, leapt at the opportunity and offered a recitation of one of my favorite soliloquies from the works of the ancient Urthish playwright Shakespeare. It was well received," Sir Vongangekan, out of a desire to be humble, left out the part where his brief performance was.. critically acclaimed.

"Sir Gregory also performed, but his work was uninspired. He was in the company of four men who, by their appearance could almost only have been Chainers." While the Vorox tried his best to show respect for the Guilds as a whole, Chainers were a group that he found worthy of naught save contempt. This showed clearly through his tone and expression. He showed the Baroness his sketches of the men. "After the party, Jangdeep offered us hospitality for the night. The following day, he took us into the city and we met with the man who sold the blaster to Servus." He showed the sketch of the merchant.

"There was a discussion as to whether Servus had completed the terms of his agreement. Due to needing to return here with us upon completion of the mission, but having no further duty, he remained in Achiharta while we continued on. Jangdeep was able to provide us with information about the Nizdharim as well as a cult on the planet. We traveled to Elfhome to investigate further.

The Vorox took out his sketches of the scenic beauty of the remote city and showed them to the Baroness. "A large quantity of firebirds were extracted from us as some locals demanded a bribe to permit us to dock the ship. Most of the others wandered into a local tavern while I remained on the docks to sketch. While there the locals became curious about me, I believe they had never seen a Vorox before, and I began sketching people for entertainment." There were at least a dozen different sketches of Elfhome locals, some of which were in strange poses and grinning excitedly.

The last sketch was clearly of Chenoa, looking somewhat desperate. "Then, this young woman,” he indicated Chenoa, “was accosted by several angry men. I believed they were going to rob her and intervened on her behalf. It turned out that they believed she had stolen from them and returned with the local police. Oddmund was able to translate and I offered the men money to make up for what they’d lost.”

He gestured to the others, ”they can speak of what transpired inside the tavern, but I was not present. I know that there was an altercation with a local man who spoke of a being called Niderach. That evening, we all experienced strange,” he paused to consider his words, ”nightmarish vision, ostensibly sent by this abhorrent being, attempting to lure us to its side with temptations for power.”

The knight shared his sketch of Niderach as he saw it in his dream. ”We spoke of our dreams the next morning before heading out. Returning to the tavern from the day before, we met a group of Nizdharim who spoke with us about the rift among their people engendered by the cult of Niderach.” He shared the sketch of the four incredible aliens.

”Chenoa appeared and I was moved to offer her an opportunity to come with us, to potentially be a squire if she wished.” He smiled at the young woman. ”Shortly afterwards, there was an explosion on the dock. We all rushed out and a chaotic battle took place. Sir Gregory’s Muster mercenaries opened fire on the crowd. Cultists spilled out of the strange ship and began fighting back.”

”We joined in, assaulting the mercenaries - they were murdering innocent folk whose only crime was being on the docks at the wrong time.” He shook his head, showing his sketches of the devastation. ”The Count appeared, Sir Gregory also appeared, clearly intending to make use of the chaos to make off with him.” He flipped to a sketch of Sir Gregory’s grenade going off.

“Wolfhard was able to move the Count out of Sir Gregory’s reach. The knight was going to shoot him, but Chenoa jumped on him, preventing the shot. He won the wrestling match and pushed her away, but as he stood, I realized that he was standing at the edge of the dock with his back to the water.” The Vorox smiled warmly, ”I had an opportunity to end the fight, so I charged him, striking him with my shoulders and sending him out into the frigid water of the bay.”

Sir Vongangekan was not too humble to have avoided an attempt at sketching himself shoulder checking the other knight into watery oblivion. ”When last I saw him, locals were out on the water, pulling Sir Gregory to shore. At least one of his mercenaries was killed. The survivors scattered. I wish them luck escaping a remote, alien city where their distinctive appearances make them stand out and their actions elicited the ire of the entire populace.” He gave a grim smile.

”Oddmund had the ship ready and picked us all up at once and we left immediately. A quick trip back to Achiharta to pick up those who had remained behind, and then we were on our way here with the Count.” His last two sketches were of the Jumpgate leaving Hargard and of Leminkainen as they came in for a landing to return to the Baroness.

The knight offered a polite bow, ”that is my verbal recounting of the events, your excellency. You shall have my written log and copies of my sketches as well.” He assumed there would be questions.

OOC: Excellent post! Thanks <3

The Baroness listens attentively as Sir Vongangekan recounts the events of your mission. Her expression remains composed, but her eyes reflect a myriad of emotions - shock, horror, relief, gratitude. She takes in every detail, from the chase with the Vuldrok raiders to the encounter with the Nizdharim, the nightmarish visions, and the chaotic battle on the docks of Elfhome.

When you mention the explosion and the ensuing chaos, her eyes narrow slightly. "Sir Gregory... I should have known he would stoop to such levels," she murmurs, her voice filled with disdain. "I am grateful for your quick thinking and bravery in the face of such danger."

She looks at the sketches you present, her gaze lingering on the one of the Count. "This... this is not the Anderton I remember," she says softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I am grateful that he is alive and back home, no matter his condition."

As you conclude your recounting, the Baroness nods, her gaze thoughtful. "Thank you, Sir Vongangekan," she says. "Your detailed account and these sketches will be invaluable in understanding what transpired. I am deeply grateful for your service and your dedication to this mission."

She turns to the rest of you, her gaze sweeping over each of you. "I extend my gratitude to all of you as well. You have done a great service to House Hawkwood and to the Empire. Please, consider this your home for as long as you need to rest and recover," she says, her voice filled with sincere appreciation.

In the days that follow, you all take the time to rest and recover from your harrowing adventure. The Baroness' mansion provides a comfortable and safe haven, a place to heal both physically and mentally.

Count Anderton's recovery is slow but steady. The once proud nobleman is a shell of his former self, his body and mind scarred by his time under Niderach's control. Yet, there is a glimmer of hope. As the days pass, he begins to show signs of his old self, his memories slowly returning. It's a painful process, but one that brings a sense of relief to the Baroness and the rest of the household.

One day, I See Stories shows up. This time, the Vau is wearing a very fine robe of brilliant blue and a headdress of summer flowers.

"It is a fine prayer box," the Vau says, when Brother Malcolm hands it over. "I shall keep the dreams of the Inhuman King in it and take them out every eight hundredth day and polish them until they are quite dull."

I See Stories places the box inside its voluminous robe. "So, this is how the End begins," it says. "Very curious, but most Ends have some kind of beginning, although not all Beginnings have some kind of End.”

It regards Brother Malcolm. “Remember this sequence of numbers; 7384-9261-5403.” And, with that, I See Stories turns and walks away.

Well, that is the end of this particular story, my friends. I think I will call it a day on this game. You have all been fantastic players and I have really enjoyed creating this story together with you. Thank you all!

Thank you so much for running this game. I have enjoyed myself. This is also the first time I've personally seen a game reach a meaningful endpoint on RPoL, rather than simply fizzling into nothingness as they so often do. I've enjoyed the opportunity to explore Sir Vongangekan and I sincerely hope that everyone else had as much fun as I have!

Yes, I must confess this is the first game I've ever run to conclusion. Feels strange, but good :)

Thank you so much for running this! I had a lot of fun and this is, technically, the first time I've actually finished a campaign, too.