Out of nowhere, Nassandrial breaths her poison breath on the Ashen Company from where she was perched position on a rooftop invisible. It was devastating as it grievously wounded most of the party and even knocked Kel unconscious. But like a well oiled machine the Ashen Company did not stay surprised for long as they brought Kel back, mostly healed up mostly, ingested some potions for flying, and even attacked back before Nassandrial could make another move! They may have been together for only a short time but their coordination together was astonishing and turned the tide.
The fight went back and forth with all members of the Ashen Company playing their part. It was a rough fight with Berrik falling unconscious to a barrage of attacks from the dragon. Then Null racing to bring up her friend. Silas inflicting vicious slices into the Nassandrial's side with his sword. Nassandrial then cast a spell that just killed Cade outright and then grabbed his body and tried to fly away. Berrick thinking fast stole Cade's body back with a giant magical hand as Lotty raced to revivify him bringing him back to life. All the while Kel peppered the dragon with spells. The battle went back and forth but eventually Nassandrial realized he was on the losing side so flew away from the group to gain space and teleported away.
Cursing that the dragon escaped them again, Cade reached out to Knight Commander Finias with his magic to see how the assault on the city was going only to find out that Sextus & Sepia, along with their army of constructs, had vanished as well! The Ashen Company then raced to the city ramparts to find out what happened.
It seems the assault on the city had been rough with both sides already taking about 30% casualties, including Mira, when all of a sudden tendrils opened up from the sky above Sextus and Sepia. Sepia then crushed a purple exaltium stone to over-power a spell and plane shifted all of the Ulvari Cartel away. Not just the leaders and constructs on the battle field but everyone including at their stronghold in the city of Palarano no longer had a Ulvari Cartel presence.
Hearing about the tentacles it reminded Null of what happened when Lady Zaltrax died and then was controlled by the Marionettist.
In the days that followed the battle....
With the Ulvari Cartel gone, Remmi declared the cities of the Ulvari Coast as "Free Cities" to be ruled by their own people with a mutual defense agreement.
There was no news of where Nassandrial teleported to.
Silas and Kel do some research on where the Ulvari Cartel may have gone and some tactics to use the next time.
Cade is a little off after being revivified and is prone to emotional outbursts.
Null shares her secret of the tattoo with Lady Latharial and vows to go back and help her in Zanidonia. Lady Latharial does not believe Null is working with the Marionettist.
After the battle Silas decides to embrace his newfound Paladin abilities. To honor him the Knight Commander has him kneel and say the Tenents of Vengence:
Fight the Greater Evil. Faced with a choice of fighting my sworn foes or combating a lesser evil, I choose the greater evil.
No Mercy for the Wicked. Ordinary foes might win my mercy, but my sworn enemies do not.
By Any Means Necessary. My qualms can’t get in the way of exterminating my foes.
Restitution. If my foes wreak ruin on the world, it is because I failed to stop them. I must help those harmed by their misdeeds.
The tenants were then seared into his back by the Knight Commander with radiant energy. Silas is sore but honored by his new tattoo/scar, then he said his own pledge:
"I, Silas Fei’Aeolus, swear by Aeon the Great God of the Sun that I will keep this oath: May my heart know only virtue, my blade defend the helpless, my might uphold the weak, and my wrath undo the wicked. I will be brave and upright. A noble and proud warrior like my Master before me. If I show my foes mercy, may it be tempered with wisdom. I will never fear to act in the face of my enemies, nor shall I waiver when my blade meets their backs. Darkness has descended upon this land...may I be a beacon of light against those who oppose what is right and good; a beacon of hope for the innocent. I will protect this land, and the heart of my people- a mighty storm bringing swift justice to my enemies. If I should die before freeing my friends from fear, before winning a future for my people, before severing the twisted bonds of corruption that strangle this world - I will bask in the warmth of Aeon's light knowing I gave my all to the bitter end. May it be a good death. This I swear."
The group is unable to get ahold of Ezra using Cade's sending spell, but per his directions decide to rejoin Kraz on his boat "The Booty Taker" and travel to Ezra's island. Again, nothing was visible on the island but Kel, Lotty, and Cade knew that Ezra had an invisible tower there. After searching Ezra's island they find a door with a cube shaped lock and a chest. Inside the chest was 6,000 platinum and a small Exaltium Cube along with a letter from Ezra.
The letter says that if we found this, that Ezra must be dead or incapable of returning and to use the cube as a key get into the tower and track down his last location. But the cube is a puzzle that needs to be solved.
The Ashen Company decides to spend some time in Sierrona on separate projects a they work on solving this puzzle.....