The merchant ship groans, the metal hull screaming as it yields to the biting pressure of the astral void. Captain Halloway stabs his heavy harpoon into the deck, anchoring himself against the violent oscillation of the ship. He pivots, his eyes darting from the pulsating, obsidian-slick limb of the Void-Stalker to the glowing, teal-eyed figure standing amongst the wreckage.
Captain Halloway
You! You are the catalyst for this disaster, yet you hold the only steel that draws blood from that monstrosity. Explain yourself, or I will ensure you meet the void before this ship does.
Arion Touvengard
The mortal reeks of fear and misplaced blame. His life-force is a flickering candle in a hurricane. I do not have the patience to soothe his petty indignation, but I require his ship to reach the next horizon.
Arion Touvengard
Keep your weapon lowered, Captain. Unless you wish for the rest of that creature to slide through the breach and hollow out your crew, focus your attention on the horizon, not on me.
Scavenger
He is going to get us all killed. I should slip toward the lifeboats while they are busy staring each other down.
+ Scene Quest Added
Survive the void breach and escape the ship
“"Mend the hole in your ship, while I attempt to cleave this monstrosity from this reality, we can discuss my sudden arrival later."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Melee Combat, rolled +2)
Arion channels the cold, ancient current through his host. Teal sparks arc from the steel, weaving into the jagged rift in the hull. The ship moans, wood fiber knitting back together with supernatural speed as the hole seals, leaving behind a glowing, crystalline scar.
Arion Touvengard
The structure holds, though the wood groans under the strain of my intrusion. My host’s heart hammers a frantic rhythm against my will.
Captain Halloway
By the gods... what kind of sorcery is that?
The Void-Stalker’s limb retracts, repelled by the lingering arcane residue, but the ceiling of the cargo hold buckles inward under the entity's renewed, frustrated pressure.
Scavenger
We are trapped! The hold is sealing, but the roof is coming down on top of us!
Arion Touvengard
If the Captain does not stabilize the wheel above, this ship will tear itself apart regardless of my efforts.
“"Captain get back to operating your ship, I will deal with this beast" Arion begins to rapidly advance on the void stalker repeating stricking it with the ancient arcane blade, cutting deep into the monsters flesh.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Melee Combat, rolled +1)
Captain Halloway
Get to the wheel yourself if you're so bold, wanderer! The rigging is coming down!
Arion ignores the Captain, his body moving with an unsettling, rigid grace. He pivots, teal energy bleeding from the ancient blade into the air, and lunges toward the ceiling. The void-born flesh recoils as he strikes, the sword biting deep into the writhing, shadow-dark mass of the Stalker. A shriek vibrates through the very marrow of the ship, shaking the hull more violently than before.
Arion Touvengard
Flesh of the void... it is weak against the true weave. Another strike shall sever this anchor entirely.
Scavenger
You are just making it angrier!
The ceiling gives way entirely, a shower of splintering timber and twisted metal raining down. The Void-Stalker’s eye pulses, leaking black ichor that hisses where it touches the deck, widening the fissure in the ship's spine.
“As the beast recoils from the barage of strikes, arion plunges the ancient blade into the beasts eye, the magic imbued in the blade anathema to the dark beast searing it away from the inside. "Stop watching and right this vessel before we are all cast to the whims of the astral rivers."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Melee Combat, rolled +1)
Arion’s body snaps into motion, a marionette fueled by forbidden steel. He drives the ancient blade deep into the center of the cyclopean eye. Teal lightning erupts from the contact point, a searing, soundless explosion of pure arcane force that liquefies the surrounding shadow.
Arion Touvengard
Stop watching and right this vessel before we are all cast to the whims of the astral rivers.
The Void-Stalker lets out a silent, psychic shriek that blows the remaining ceiling timbers outward. The creature’s substance dissolves into burning embers, the hold suddenly flooded with the harsh, sterile light of the void. Captain Halloway stumbles back, his harpoon clattering to the deck as he stares at the smoldering socket where the eye once rested.
Captain Halloway
This is not... this is not sorcery. This is the end of the world.
The ship groans, tilting sharply as the tether between the vessel and the void-rift begins to snap.
Quest Complete
Survive the void breach and escape the ship