We started on the wall. I gave a rousing speech, timed beautifully with the song O’ Fortuna. Zeekon summoned an avalanche upon the elven army while Alam cast down fireballs on the advancing bloodragers. However, the church officials were less impressed, and wanted to arrest us. The hierophant was there too, but he seemed very much indifferent to our presence.

We ignored them, and helped on the frontlines of the city’s defense for a while, until the clerics commanded the archers to shoot us. About half of them did, but that’s when our main man Hawkins stepped in. He took out the clerics and directed his troops to return to fighting the army. He beckoned us approach him, which we did. He told us he would lie to his commanding officers and tell them we had smoothed things over with the church so the hierophant would accept our aid.

We got to the Big Tent Headquarters and talked with the hierophant. He let us talk him into altering the evacuation plans, and told us that one Jeremiah Kirkwood had a plan to cripple the elven army. It involved using dried whale oil (read, gunpowder) to blow up the army from the tunnels below. We didn’t know the full scope of the plan yet, but a trip to see Hollowpot the Halfling filled in the gaps in our understanding.

We sent some troops in the tunnels to carry out the Gunpowder Plot, while we kept kicking ass and taking names above ground. Unfortunately, we were sent word that there was trouble brewing in the tunnels, and had to make a surprise guest appearance.

We found Hawkins and a Guy On Fire being attacked by elves. There was also some magical darkness. We defeated the elves, and Hawkins was Very Brave. He happily volunteered his life to connect the final gunpowder barrels to the main fuse. It turned out that he made it out alive, but when he left, it was understood that we might not be able to wait for him. This was largely because we were fighting Ohtar. We (Zeekon mostly) would have killed him, but he was teleported away by Crone (of the Stone Council) right before he died/we would have slit his throat (probably). Crone gave us a reverse teleportation beacon, but let us finish setting up the explosives.

Vlad took great pride in lighting the fuse and blowing six thousand elves to smithereens. We lit the fuse, and teleported away with Hawkins to see the blast. Right after we blew up what I believe is the Hall of the Gods, Zeekon saw a white dragon with blue(-ish) wings fly up and then give him a Look Of Disapproval.

The elven army, disorganized and greatly shaken by their losses, retreated, and Avalon was Saved By Gods.

We returned to the city as heros amid much fanfare and back-patting. We decided to take a rest and bask in the warm glow of a thankful city.

Oh, and we found out that Kirkwood is Fate. We were just about to talk to him (probably) when the session/season ended.

Long is the journey on hoof and foot, with power weak and faith forgot.

On the 8th day of August I awoke in the temple of death after a 12-centuries slumber. There were Edue the everseer, Hakim Al Tulsi the shadowmancer, and Titus Arrakis the weaver of secrets. While Titus prepared a divination ritual using our divine totems, we investigated the temple and found its patron, Hood, dead, evidently at the hands of Likos. We retrieved his totem and returned to Titus who sent us to retrieve the god-killer sword. We found but the hilt, and Titus dropping all pretense, having completed his ritual, stripped us of our divine powers and banished us to the desert, dismayed but unable to kill us.

Rejoice for Avalon still stands to meet its Fate. Twas after twilight that the horns of Eramos the Dark blared across the fields amidst the Wolfswood. And the spirits of men trembled and shook like flames in the wind. But the beleaguered powers of life and world and magick arrived swiftly on the wings of time. And at once an icy desolation fell upon the dark disciples while the defenders of the reign stood proud against them ablaze with renewed hope and courage.

And the hierarchs of Likos protested, for they knew they held power no longer and their rule was not Fated. But the spirits of men roared in unisson against the dark disciples and any who stalled their defeat, and petty differences were cast aside in humanity’s darkest hour.

Even then the usurping forces did not relent, and others came to aid them with guile and deceit. But the gods cleaved truth from falsehood and engulfed the aggressors in the fires of vengeance.

And Avalon made its stand and rose bravely to meet its Fate. And every man and woman and child knew the old gods had returned to usher humanity out of the void, stoking back forgotten fires to light the way out of the darkness.

And lo, the beleaguered gods returned to Tarras with stormy vengeance. And harken, for they willed the reign of man survive the usurper Eramos and his wretched creatures, and also the usurper Likos and his bonded hierarchs. And twas in Avalon the proud city of Vlórë that they first revived the fires in the hearts of men. For twas said that their coming shall herald the age of fire.

And thus endeth the sword age and men once more shall travel the reign with songs of great joy. And the reign shall once again light up with the flames of hope and greater promise.

Take heed, deep hearts, for the gods of world and magick brought forth the life giver who stokes the fires in the hearts of men, he Dashing slayer of usurpers and protector of the meek. And lo all secrets shall fade before the wrath of Edue the everseer, he who contains the universe, Alam Ka’enat Kyandr, bringer of purifying magick fires long forgotten and keeper of the knowledge of the ages. And lo the world shall bend once more before Zeekon the restless, everspring of the six-fold path, bringer of storms and fire and ice, he the world weaver and bender, beginner and ender of every journey, and relentless seeker of the ways out of the void.

Dateline: Somewhere near Avalon. Vlad had just finished (temporarily) killing his longtime nemesis Croaker when he found himself in a bit of a bind. He was right above an elven army, and they seemed to have no reservations about shooting him on the spot. He tried to negotiate his departure, and eventually resorted to fleeing the scene on the back of Zeek under cover of fog.

After outrunning some elves, Vlad and his new friends found themselves in a spot familiar to all of them; right above the sanctuary of Titus Arrakis. They headed into the tunnel below, went behind the throne, and fell for the same rolling boulder trap as he did all those months ago.

Eventually, the party escaped through flight to Avalon, and found it in chaos. Vlad calmed the crowd down, and gained his first followers, and then sought medical attention for his leg/face(?).

He returned to find his buddies arguing with the head mage at the wall, who was promptly killed by a boulder thing. After that, Zeek started casting awesome magic with the totem he just attuned to (which happened in the tunnels) on the approaching elven army. Many fell, but many still stood.

Bloodragers were released to rush the city, and the Siege of Avalon began in earnest.

Hark and hear now the tale of The Master of Souk of the Djinn,

The Master of the Souk of the Djinn Vel al-Ateş Kara ben Firtinalar master merchant, trader in all the lands, finder of the greatest of goods, knower of all the languages of trade and the numbers of all things and all places. Once found in his service the greatest of Bactria’s many and brilliant poets whose names and skill are as the stars. This poet traveled under the name of Vikram-Vel Al Bactria whose many and famous stories tell the tales of the great Bactrian heroes: men such as Zell the Mountain Breaker, Summiter of the highest peaks. In this way and through Al Bactra’s tales did the mightiest of merchants and shah of Djinns gain insight into the schemes of Zell and his allies in service to and finally against the great Daemon Shah’s of Par’val and their quest for the artifacts and artifice of the ancient gods.

So continues the tale of Lasham Al Qasimi, Prince of the Seven Domes, Lord of the Desert Winds, Shadow in the Night.
Hark, here how Al Qasimi rode upon his mare into that glorious city of Vattarn, city of spires, palace of eunuchs, priest of cities. Upon his arrival in the guise of Djinn of the west he was fetted by the city’s oft befuddled leaders and its limp warriors whose pride far outstripped their power. Ensconced in his palace and overladen with gold. He sent word to his many friends and companions for he would need of their aid in the coming contest. First he sent a bald eagle to search for Zeek of the six fold path; he a master of the secret paths that lie beyond the mortal keen was not an easy man to find, but his tales and adventures are for the work of different man and a different night. Zeek honoured his word to Al Qasimi at once and with powers beyond time, arrived as the bird which sought him had passed beyond sight. Tired from his journey he reposed himself within the palace. Yet the mystic powers of Zeek would be not nearly sufficient only. So, the Djinn of the west, master of deception, crusher of dreams, betrayer of fate sought the wisdom of the ancient and venerable Alam ka’enat ky andr from within the prison of the 9 Waterfalls of Shamiza’lan. Gathered within his palace Al Qasimi shed his disguise as the Djinn of the west and humbled the porcine lord of Vattarn that city of half-men but in an act of infinite mercy and allowed him to continue and set forth, now with the Ruby of the Wi’nyk towards a northern destiny.
But lo, the fire now burns low and Hakim Al Tusi master of stories for that fair city of Tusi, the Ruby of the sand the Emerald the 9 Raj is an old and tired man

Told on the 11th day of Karal

So begins the tale of Lasham Al Qasimi, Prince of the Seven Domes, Lord of the Desert Winds, Shadow in the Night.

And Lo, so was the God of Confusion and deftness bested by another. Thrown down from on high he was overcome by the magicks of the cruel god of secrets. Abandoned by the winds of fate Al Qasimi escaped by using the ancient Sapphire Jalumalza to barter with that most clever of Djinns Ishvan to escape the darkness of that cruel and heartless dungeon of the lord of secrets, stealer of the souls of men and crusher of nations.

Bereft of power but returned by skill alone to the ancient lands of his birth Al Qasimi happened upon the lavishing dwelling of prince betrayed by his priests; Al Qasimi came to aide of this most glorious of princes, builder of cities, gilder of palaces. By dint of marshal skill and cunning the priest were laid low and their schemes thwarted.

The Prince so saved, offered Al Qasimi the finest of mares barded in the purest of red-gold. So that he would be able to begin in earnst his quest for vengeance. For soon the time for revenge upon God of Secrets would be at hand.

But that is a tale for another day,

So ends this tale by Hakim Al-Tusi master of stories for that fair city of Tusi, the Ruby of the sand the Emerald the 9 Raj

Told on the 9th day of Karal