Ashes and Blood

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Session 3 of Endgame, the 4th episode of the 2nd season of Story of a Lifetime (Overall session #47).

Took place on December 28th, 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 Cyre 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 Tarkanan launches a meteor barrage, exploding the chamber. Chaos ensues: King Boranel is injured, but Caius III is assassinated by Nox Tarkanan 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 Tarkanan, psychic facade shattered, leading to an impending battle with Tarkanan forces.

Timeline / Key Moments

• Party discusses leverage for Tyburn's excoriation and pushes for Cyre treaty modeled on Sharn's governance.
• Private meeting with Queen Aurala: Align on splitting Cyre 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 Cyre's legacy.
• Arala asserts moral imperative to protect Cyre's heirs and treasures over punishing warlords.
• Meteor strike by Thora Tarkanan shatters chamber; Selina mana-burns projectiles, Tyburn shields party.
• Nox Tarkanan 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 Tarkanan; battle initiates in undercity fissure with reinforcements.

Key Decisions

• Push for Cyre'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 Tarkanans immediately.

Unresolved Threads

• Tyburn's excoriation ruling by Cannith barons remains pending.
• Merix Cannith's potential reactivation of creation forges in Machine City.
• Nox Tarkanan's escape with Melora's soul; broader Tarkanan 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 Tarkanan 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 Cyre's provisional governance.

Reminders for Next Session

• Track party resources post-explosion: Selina at half HP, Ezra unconscious.
• Prepare Tarkanan 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.