Players: Matthew Klein, Dale Horstman, Karen Twelves, Sean Nittner
System: Polaris
Long ago, the people were dying at the end of the world.
Jailbreak
But hope was not yet lost, for Chara still heard the song of the stars.
And so it was that after 10 years of planning, Chara flew on the back of Four Birds to the high tower where Atria was imprisoned for her crimes of dark magic. Atria’s “cell” was filled with books, research notes, and a fine telescope so that while they did penance, they could also fulfill the task send to them by Asha, their mentor.
Chara flew with steadfast purpose, but only if she was haunted by singing coming from Nashira’s locket. A song that only she and Four Birds could hear. And so it was.
“Atria, I have not forgotten our oath. I’m here to set you free.”
Atria, having spent these many years surrendering to doing the research she was tasked to do looked with surprise and terror as Chara fastened a grapnel to the bars of her cell window. “No…..” But it was too late, Chara spurned Four Birds and with demonic strength he flew off ripping not just the cell window, but much of the wall of the Atria’s cell from the tower.
Books, papers, rubble, dust, and the telescope all flew from the cell in an explosion of force and Atria clutched a single tome to their chest as Chara re-appeared at great opening Four Birds created and offered her hand.
Atria looked with horror at all the work and research she had done that was lost.
But only if there was a distant alarm bell ringing.
And so it was that Atria reluctantly took Chara’s hand and they flew off as Chara and Four Birds sang the haunting song of Nashira’s Lament.
The Alarm Sounds
But hope was not yet lost, for Minkar still heard the song of the stars.
And so it was that Minkar was found by her nameless squire (she had gone through so many, she stop keeping track of their names) and was told of the news. “Atria has escaped. We don’t know how or where he’s done.”
Minkar’s eyes were alert and full of zeal. “Oh, I know where she is. Fetch me my blade!”
And so it was that Minkar came to Commander Zi’s home late at night. Zi, barely awake, greeted her and let her inside. With glee in her eyes she said “It’s happened!”.
Zi, knowing immediately what she meant, went through the process of assembling his armor, which was scattered through his home, slowly dusting it off and donning it. It had been sometime since he had been active as a knight, his silver sword covered in a patina from lack of polish. As they discuss their plans Zi realizes more and more that Minkar does not intent to recapture Atria, but to slay them.
Appauled at Zi’s lack of preparedness, Minkar asked “How long has it been since you’ve polished your sword?”
“Too long.”
As the left Zi’s home, from the shadows Ex-inquisitor Maaz watched them depart. After all those years he had lost his office, lost his reputation, but he clung on to the drive to condemn Commander Zi.
And so it was that they set off to the lost city of the Mistaken.
Zi’s Destiny and his Duty
But hope was not yet lost, for Zi still heard the song of the stars.
And so it was that Zi grappled with the cost of his actions. In the 10 years since the trial he spent many days and nights in the Glacial Archives trying to find out if there was any precedent of someone combing back from being a demon. He found nothing to assuage his fears, but he did find texts that spoke of heart’s desires being fulfilled in the Lost City by the Mistaken.
And so it was he came to believe that maybe it was a mistake, but he didn’t realize how bad it was.
And furthermore, he found stories of his father’s violent deeds, the glory he earned, and the suffering he caused. Zi was walking in his path.
As Zi was reading the Book of Songs, his mother Asha appeared in the archives and told him “The Book of Songs holds many stories of your father Asimdike. Are you finding the helpful?”
“Not particularly.”
Asha regaled him with stories of his father’s greatness, but he was unmoved.
“That is what they say.” And he walked away.
But only if, in Zi realized that in her final years Asha was trying to mold him into something she wanted him to be, not what was best for him.
And that was how it happened.
And so it was that as Minkar strode through the snowy wastes towards the Lost City, Zi trodded begrudgingly behind her.
Peer Review
But hope was not yet lost, for Atria still heard the song of the stars.
And so it was that Atria convinced Chara they needed to make one stop before going to the wastes. And so it was that Atria and Chara went to the Ebontide Observatory that was abandoned by all by Asha, Atria’s mentor.
“I know this is abrupt, but it’s been ten years and I owe you an apology. I have completed the work.” She set the single tome that was saved from her cell down before Asha for inspection.
Asha’s eyes moved between Atria, Chara, and the knives on her wall. Reluctantly she accepted the book “I’ll submit it for peer review”, which they all knew could take years “but you’ll never know the results of it.”
Atria said “I would ask for nothing more”, but only if Asha pulled a chord to signal the alarm, and now Chara was implicated in Atria’s escape. And that was how it happened.
Into the depts
And so it was that Chara and Atria on the back of Four Birds flew into the Lost City, the Heart of the Mistaken, with an army of Steller Knights chasing after them on resplendent steeds.
In the Lost City, the remnants of the old machine, a device that would endeavor to divide time into miniscule portions, was broken and decrepit, but still somehow inexorably churning and grinding and ticking forward.
But only if the Lost City was empty except for the Lord of Flames, who waited till the knights arrived and then suddenly summoned his own army of demons to attack them as he started to sing Nashira’s Song.
And furthermore Chara realized that the Lord of Flames was the corporeal prison that held Nashira’s human spirit. “Atria, I will strike down this demon, but you must lure Narshira’s spirit back to this world!”
They descended and a mighty battle was fought. Chara, star of Joy struck down the Lord of Flames, cutting off the hand that wore his fiery ring of power and defeating him.
But only if the spectral form of Nashira put her hand on Chara’s face and asked “Why did you betray me?” leaving Chara speechless and crying.
And so it was that Chara stared into Nashria’s eyes as Atria sang the Song of Luring to bring her back into our existence and Nashria once again took human form, with two armies of knights and demons fighting all around them.
Punishment
And so it was that Minkar took their time battling demons and whe Atria completed her song, she stumbled forward to catch her breath, but when she looked down, saw her chest welling with blood and the sword Minkar had driven through her.
But only if Atria held out her hand and accepted the blow as punishment for her crimes.
Minkar raised their sword to deliver a second killing blow with glee in her eyes, but Chara, who had dropped her sword after fighting the Lord of Flames charged forward to stop her, begging Minkar for mercy “We just brought back one who had fallen, don’t kill another!”
Minkar forced her way past Chara “Atria isn’t a Knight. She a Mistaken!” Chara pleaded again and pointed to the magic she had just performed as proof but Minkar rebuffed “Demons can sing the songs of the stars just as sweetly.”
Minkar pushed Chara aside and lowered her blade to strike Atira.
But only if Nashira, who held Chara’s sword, blocked the blow and stood over Atria in defense. “You shall not slay my savior.” Minkar would have to slay Nashira to get to Atria.
Minkar looked to Zi for direction, but he gave her a blank look, unwilling to condone or condemn her.
You ask far too much. Minkar could do this, knock Nashira out of the way unharmed, but all the Knights in attendance would see Minkar commit this murder and know it for what it was. And that was how it happened.
As Atria died on her sword Minkar said “Maybe someone who loves you will bring you back.” Atria held up her hand, seeing Minkar as the child who had been hurt so long ago and said only “I am left handed…”
And so it was that Minkar slayed Atria with Chara, Nashira, Zi, the knights and demons as witnesses.
Zi’s Choice
And so it was that at the funeral for Atria, as her body was burned and her ashes rose up to the stars. Asha stepped behind him and told him “You’re work is unfinished. One who you command must be brought to justice. She will fall, or you will.”
Zi realized that he had always condoned Minkar murdering people, and he covered it up. He was conflicted but his mother continued. “This is a mater of reputation. Our family’s reputation. You need to do this, not of your sorry self, but for your family.”
Zi acquiesced and apprached Minkar to pull her from the group. “We have to resolve this.” He gestured vaugely.
“I’m sorry, I thought it was the right thing to do.”
“Atria was doing something wrong. We’re absolved of that. But you had a choice…t o leave or to be tried tor murdering a Knight.”
“I didn’t get a clean order.” Minkar deferred.
“A knight has to make their own decisions, and take responsibility for their actions.” Zi would have none of it.
“Fine, then I will take this to trial.” But only if Zi knows that one of them would take the fall.
And so it was that Minkar and Zi walked away together, snubbing Zi’s mother.
Time in the void
And so it was that after a time the darkness resolved one star after another. The being that was Atria began to regain consciousness on a snowy field in the woods. Her right hand is bandaged, but when she examines it, the wound is gone. She tightens the wrapping anyway.
She hears the song, a lament. A fiery ring floats down from the sky beckoning her to take it.
The stars appear flat, trapped within a mirror. The sun rises and blinds her as it shines trough the floating ring that calls out “take me.”
Atria stands in indecision.
But that all happened long ago, and now there are none who remember it.
A few epilogues
- Asha, smoking a post coital cigarette telling the disheveled Maaz she was done with him.
- Chara, dining with her wife on one side, her love on the other. Sisters. Very awkward.
- Minkar stripped of his knighthood. A butcher.
- Zi, years later, hanging up his sword for the last time, resolved to be a scholar in obscurity.
- Maaz, so elated that Zi has finally stepped down that he has a heart attack and dies.
The end of our game. What a beautiful story. I’m not sure if we ever really became accustomed to the ritual language, but it does help writing these reports!
Cigarettes in Polaris! Such a sharp image.