The Sum of All Fears

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Session 2 of Enemy, the 4th episode of the 2nd season of Story of a Lifetime (Overall session #46).

Took place on December 25th, 2025. PCs were level 13.

Synopsis

Session Summary

The party prepares for a high-stakes summit in Sharn's council chamber, strategizing on dividing the restored Mournland into Seir territories among the five nations, employing Karnathi warlords as decentralized guardians, and countering Dragonmark threats. Queen Aurala of Aundair confers privately, aligning on equitable division and preemptive measures against House Cannith's Merix. Amid diplomatic maneuvering, Thora Tarkannon launches a meteor barrage, exploding the chamber. Chaos ensues: King Boranel is injured, but Caius III is assassinated by Nox Tarkannon using a soul-trapping blade on disguised Melora (as Siobhan). Selina evaporates most projectiles; Tyburn shields allies. The party pursues the fleeing assailant through Sharn's skies, countering animated obstacles like a gargoyle and derailed train via portals and mind control. In the undercity, the 'Thora' reveals as Evelyn Tarkannon, psychic facade shattered, leading to an impending battle with Tarkannon forces.

Quests

• Investigate Tarkanan Plot (Updated)

  • Summit attacked by Thora Tarkanan; Caius III assassinated with soul-trapping blade; pursuing Tarkanan forces into undercity

  Status: In Progress

• Recover Melora's Soul (New)

  • Melora (disguised as Siobhan) killed by Nox with soul-trapping blade; must retrieve soul from Tarkanan forces

  Status: Discovered

Timeline / Key Moments

• Party discusses leverage for Tyburn's excoriation and pushes for Seir treaty modeled on Sharn's governance.
• Private meeting with Queen Aurala: Align on splitting Seir into five regions, hiring warlords as mercenaries, addressing Breland's leverage and Reforged rights.
• Schmoozing in antechamber: Selina's entrance draws attention; Boranel appears nervous about security and war implications.
• Summit opens: Boranel's keynote invokes Galifar's legacy; Caius proposes warlord integration for policing.
• Debate heats: Thranish bishop questions Droam's legitimacy; Aurala steers toward unified defense of Seir's legacy.
• Arala asserts moral imperative to protect Seir's heirs and treasures over punishing warlords.
• Meteor strike by Thora Tarkannon shatters chamber; Selina mana-burns projectiles, Tyburn shields party.
• Nox Tarkannon assassinates Caius (Melora in disguise) with soul blade; Elise reveals the trap.
• Party pursues plummeting Thora through skies, neutralizing animated gargoyle via suggestion and train via dimension door.
• Aarakocra illusioned with mirror image foils attack; mind control broken on Lorrandar cutter.
• Revelation: 'Thora' is Evelyn Tarkannon; battle initiates in undercity fissure with reinforcements.

Key Decisions

• Push for Seir's division into five equitable regions with warlord contingents for surveillance and policing.
• Advocate Reforged self-determination akin to Sharn's autonomy, supporting their infrastructure.
• Authorize preemptive air force deployment to Machine City against Merix Cannith's incursion.
• Prioritize soul retrieval from Nox over summit continuation; pursue Tarkannons immediately.

Unresolved Threads

• Tyburn's excoriation ruling by Cannith barons remains pending.
• Merix Cannith's potential reactivation of creation forges in Machine City.
• Nox Tarkannon's escape with Melora's soul; broader Tarkannon conspiracy involving Trevelyan.
• Impact of Caius's assassination on Karnath's stability and warlord control.
• Thranish insurgency and church's influence in Droam.

Next Steps

• Engage in undercity battle against Evelyn Tarkannon and allies to rescue soul and eliminate threats.
• Coordinate with allies like Aurala for multinational response to Cannith moves.
• Investigate Trevelyan's manipulations behind the war and assassination.
• Reconvene survivors to salvage summit and declare Seir's provisional governance.

Reminders for Next Session

• Track party resources post-explosion: Selina at half HP, Ezra unconscious.
• Prepare Tarkannon encounter: Evelyn (psychic), Nox (assassin), reinforcements; soul blade mechanics.
• Resolve Melora's phylactery for resurrection; illusion veils on bodies.
• Update alliances: Aurala's air force intercept, Breland's mobilization.