Well, that was a pretty good finale... as is often the case the adage "you had to be there" applies. There was so much going on and some wonderful in character moments that I will fail to capture it all, so rather than doing any player a disservice, and yet wanting to ensure that events were captured for our own reference, I'll do my best to summarize things...
(We rewound the scene a little as I wasn't happy with how I'd explained things. Therefore we joined events before Chastity had drawn her Viper blade)
Arcadia tells Hemlock he should be with her against the enemies of their house and keeps referring to "Him" as Tigerlilly (Hemlock's twin sister)
It is revealed/confirmed that the hit list was Count Innocence's creation; He and Arcadia were lovers after he gave her refuge after her attempt on the life of Duke Cassius Hawkwood and she was a foster mother to Chastity. The story that she had spent the previous three years working as a mercenary throughout the Known Worlds was all fabrication. The Count's reemergeance onto the social scene, and introduction of Chastity, coincided with Arcadia's return in order to keep watch on her and protect her as necessary. The list was added to over time and each name was someone that the Count felt had harmed Arcadia:
- Sir Selwyn Justinian - Betrayed her with Façade
- Beorn of the Muster - Killed her (or so it was believed)
- Baronet (at that time) Christopher Windsor Hawkwood - Betrayed Arcadia and had her mother interred
- Lawrence of the Scravers & Sir Hasimir Fenrig Torenson - had Arcadia killed (as reported by Lady Yelizaveta Decados when she infiltrated the crew)
Yelizaveta is an agent of the Count's who's order was to ensure that no harm came to Arcadia, but to ensure that the connection to her and the Count remained secret. This she arranged a loyal crew and set up the "pre-existing contract" with the Muster. Likewise Hemlock challenges Chastity about whether she ever cared or was it all lies and he is stunned to discover that she was there to protect him (from Hasimir and possibly others). The Count recognised that Hemlock was one of the few who always tried to help Arcadia and wanted to protect her in thanks, and also as he did not trust the Torenson not to turn on Hemlock as he did with Arcadia.
Arcadia suggests that it is time for them to fulfil the Count's wishes and complete the list. Chastity draws her Viper blade and engages starts striking at Hasimir. Chaos ensues. Hemlock tries to reason with them while trying to interposing himself between Hasimir and Chastity, Anduin unsuccessfully tries to use his Theurgy to slow the attackers, Hasimir attempts to protect himself while attempting to reason with Arcadia, Virrsu constantly peppers Chastity's Shield with bullets, Arcadia signals marines to engage the cadre and a pair of them come at them with clubs. Meanwhile the Marquis De Havilland is listening to events via sqwarker from the Endless Turn he has Drumpf disengage the grapple line and pull away. The Questionable Intent, being at full stop, starts to be pulled along by the smaller vessel.
Anduin is praying to expel the spirit of Arcadia while Hasimir is on the floor. Although he is almost dying he reaches out with his mind to Emote to Yelizaveta. He manages to make contact and it is enough to allow her to throw off the possession, which Anduin believes is his doing. As Arcadia screams and Yelizaveta returns to herself Chastity is outraged; her "mother" is gone again, this time seemingly permanently. She raises her Viper blade and strikes Hasimir down. Hemlock grapples her while Virrsu continues to shoot. Anduin rushes to the fallen knight and checks on him, he declares him dead but knows that there is a chance to still save him.
Yelizaveta, thankful for her freedom but still beholden to her liege, stops the guards, brings the ship to a halt once again, calls Chastity off and permits the cadre to return to the Endless Turn. Once there, and with the aid of De Havilland and Hemlock, Anduin stabilizes Hasimir and with a dose of Elixir that Virrsu has stashed away he manages to bring the Torenson knight around. Hemlock sets a course back to Ravenna...
Next time the denouement/epilogue before the next epic arc begins...
No comments:
Post a Comment