Chaos Unbound, Control Lost

The Final Chapter in the Vaasa Trilogy. The group must face impossible odds in order to save a world that has largely turned its back on them. Will Mual-Tar be stopped?

Characters

 * Group A (for Awesome) - The main protagonists of Joseph Savioré Daydominico, Ezekiel Kofflesheist, Iris Sinbar, Vinok Darksong Anakalathai and Gavirello Tinkerwisks. This also contains the shifter swordmage Rose, during the several times Iris was dead/lost for eternity.
 * Group B (For Back-up) - contains Torval Goldforge, Maalsvarik, Helga, Desmoor, and Harbek. They are a disparate group, with the exception of Harbek now known as the The Maze's Chosen, that was brought together by the Lady of Pain's maze and Iris.
 * Group E (for Eberron) - contains the NPCs of Terrence McGovalin, Eargus Matthews, Clear Mind, Lily, Chris Singington, Gormaive Stormguild, Charging Bull, and Ponyboy Swift. A tight knit and powerful group collectively known as Heroes of the Swift Horn, they have saved their own world and are quite pleased with themselves.
 * Group V (for Vaasa) - contains Gonjen, Princess Serana, and Zash.

Basic Storyline

 * The group (Group A) is in need of the airship to travel to Dwarfhome. They make a deal with Laserwolf, luring in a much larger airship to be captured (using deception, much to Joseph's dislike).  Laserwolf lets the group "borrow" their ship back.
 * The group travels to Dwarfhome, and finds and steals the Chains that will bind Mual-tar. In the process, they really annoy some dwarfs.
 * They travel to Sigil to escape the pursuing dwarves. They also hope to find information on the Thunder Temple. Here they encounter an adventuring group at a hotel (hereby known as Group E).  This group takes the chains, claiming Group A is not up to the task of using them to stop Mual-tar. Group E tells Group A they can have the chains back, if they can prove themselves by getting one of their comrades out of the magical Maze prison of the Lady of Pain.
 * Through much effort, they get the attention of the Sons of Mercy. Iris is able to steal a compass and is tossed into the maze.  The others are arrested for stealing the chains from Dwarfhome.
 * In the Maze, Iris meets Group B (and Ponyboy Swift - the man she was supposed to rescue for Group E) who are a collection of adventurers who have been stuck in the maze for various times and reasons. They are able to eventually break out thanks to the compass.  Iris, unfortunately, does not pass the test and falls back in by herself, seemingly lost forever.
 * Stuck in the Adamnatine prison in Dwarfhome, the situation for the rest of Group A is bleak. However, on the eve of their sentence, Group B (minus the Dwarf Torval) and Group E along with Gongen and Zash work together to break out Group A from Dwarfhome.  Unfortunately, during the breakout, Desmoor from Group B uses a terrible weapon Joseph had been given to defeat Michael.  While it saved all Groups (plus the new addition of Rose), it destroyed the Adamantine prison and killed dozens of dwarfs, including the judge who sentenced Group A.
 * Now fugitives and chased by Dwarfhome and the Sons of Mercy, the groups work together to find the whereabouts of the Thunder Temple.
 * Michael, angry that Joseph has given up his title of Chosen of Amaunator, kidnaps the Princess Serana in order to lure Joseph to the Shadowfell, where he plans to kill him.
 * Group A and V wants to rescue Serana, but Group E is against it. Group A separates under the pretense that they will defeat the Gurran'chuk and will go back to the Sarrukh city, Ssaszaphrodis.
 * Group A and V instead goes to Damara to learn more of Serana's fate. Michael has taken her, and the entire city of Heliogabalus to the Shadowfell. Group A follows and eventually has a final battle with the Chosen of Shar. When all was nearly lost, the dark half of Joseph's first incarnation, Illian, shows up. Together, he and Joseph defeat Michael. Unfortunately, the entire population of Heliogabalus has been slain by Michael.
 * Group A then goes to battle the mighty Gurran'chuk. Along the way they are reunited with their missing friend, Iris. They battle and prevail against the beast, although Darksong is the only one alive to see it.
 * The group finds a pocket plane of the gods. There, through trials, Darksong becomes the chosen of Moradin, and Joseph becomes the chosen of Bahamut.  Iris attempts to win Amanutar's favor, but fails and is cursed by the god.  Someone else will be his champion.
 * Then Group A reunites with Group V and goes to the city of Ssazphrodis. There they eventually find a huge construct that is powered by Primordials. Through a series of trials, the destroy the construct, although Gavirello releases the Primordial Immix in the process.  Thorcan arrives, and whats left of the dwarf leaves himself open for Darksong to kill him.  The group also comes across Graham and his associates, which complicates everything.  Luckily for Group A, they seem to be on the same side, and the sides do not fight.  Darksong, however, gets a glimpse at the power Graham and his associates have.  The destruction of the construct destroys the whole mountain - Iris' body is buried beneath it.
 * The destruction of Ssazaphrodis attracts the attention of the Sons of Mercy. Groups A and V narrowly escape capture by the Sons of Mercy's flagship and meet up again with Groups B and E.
 * The Sons of Mercy, along with Torval and Harbek continue to pursue the groups. When the group is caught in a trap, Torval and Harbek decide to betray the Sons of Mercy and rejoin group B, after talking to the aspect of Moradin in Darksong's hammer.
 * After the groups reunite and elude the Sons of Mercy, they hatch a plan to storm the Thunder Temple and Mual-tar's prison.
 * Joseph sends Michael from Heliogabalus to Sigil to try and find the location of the Thunder Temple. Meanwhile, Darksong and Gavirello travel to talk to Sevarius, whose knowledge of ancient magic may help them.  Sevarius agrees to help find the temple, yet asks a steep price: Darksong is placed under a gaes and must send Sevarius the blood of Mual-tar.
 * The Groups travel to the City of Brass, and attempt to find another way to the Thunder Temple. Maalsvarik and Desmoor are able to make contact with a high member in the Temple.  They attempt to lie and tell the member they are interested in joining the temple.  Unfortunately for everyone, he sees through the lie, but still lets them join him in the Thunder Temple, in the hopes of trapping their allies later.  Maalsvarik and Desmoor desperately try to gain some advantage or disrupt the Thunder Temple's efforts, but nothing happens.

Storming the Thunder Temple and Binding Mual-tar

 * The group briefly detours to battle a gargantuan beast that lives in the Elemental Chaos.
 * Darksong guides them to the Thunder Temple. Group B and E disembark and enter the trap set up due to the attempts of Maalsvarik and Desmoor.  Group A and V pilot the ship out of harms way, toward the prison of Mual-tar.
 * Group B and E go about their plan of stopping any reinforcements from reaching Mual-tar's prison. Group E attacks the teleportation center.  Group B battles one of the temple's leaders, then sets off an explosion in the Temple's risidium stockpile.  Eventually the two meet again near the teleportation center, where the Blue Dragon leader is attempting a vile ritual.  Group B disrupts it in time for group E to join them.  Just as the groups are about to dispose of the Dragon, Dorien shows up.
 * Dorien makes it quite clear that he was using the Thunder Temple for his gain, although the specifics he does not divulge. He sets off a magical ritual that shunts space and time, and moves the entirety of the Thunder Temple to a pocket dimension.  The dimension eventually starts to shrink, utterly destroying everything.  Only the dragon's magical abilities hold it at bay from destroying them all.  Eventually, hoards of enemies assault them, gradually wearing them down.
 * Eventually, the disembodied voice of Dorien - the real Dorien - speaks. It is revealed that the groups are actually in a dimension inside the Sarruk Dorien himself.  To break out, they must break the bond the Sarruk has made with Mual-tar.  The group realizes only those with strong wills can achieve this.  EVentually, they do break the bonds, which opens a rift in the dimension.  They are sucked out, with everyone suffering extreme effects, and many dying in the process.


 * Meanwhile, Groups A and V head toward Mual-tar's prison. Just as they come into view of the island, they see the imposing figure of the flagship of the Sons of Mercy.  Knowing that they will do little to help vs. Mual-tar, Team V agrees to drop off Group A and distract the Flagship away from them.  The plan works, and Group A is now alone on the island.
 * They arrive to an immediate battle. The island is full of Storm Giants and minions of the Thunder Temple.  They eventually work their way toward the center, where there is a small temple.  Eventually, the Storm Giants stop attacking, as the central leader of the Thunder Temple emerges from the templer: a female Storm Titan.
 * She clears out the area and lets Group A take short rest. The battle that then ensues is intense.  The Titan is accompanied by a giant Storm Roc, but one that is obviously much more intelligent and powerful.  While Darksong annoys the Titan with his aura-ignoring stance, the rest focus on taking out the Roc.  Eventually, Joseph succeeds, and this angers the Titan.  Eventually, however, the tide turns, and when Darksong uses an ability to turn an attack back on the Titan, it is clear she is defeated.  Unfortunately, before they can land the death blow, she retreats, with promise of trying to releases Mual-tar again... in tens of thousands of years.
 * They enter the temple and come to the realization that they must rest before going on. Using a special ritual, they speed up the process.  They then come to three doors - each marked with a symbol of the three gods who bound Mual-tar: Moradin, Amanutar, and Bahamut.  Amanutar's door is not active, so they enter Moradin's door first.  After an annoying physical maze/trial, they eventually come to another door.  When Darksong starts to open it, he disappears. When the other's enter, they are in for an alarming site.  To face Mual-tar, they must first prove themselves against the current champions.  Here stands Darksong - and Thorcan.
 * Darksong is forced to fight to his fullest ability. The rest of Group A go after Thorcan first, felling him rather quickly.  Darksong, on the other hand, proves very difficult.  Using all his healing powers, the group cannot fell him.  Eventually, however, Thorcan calls the fight, knowing that the four have proved themselves worthy.
 * Darksong rejoins the group, and they now fear what they must do in the Bahamat door. Sure enough, after a maze/trial, the four must face Joseph and He Who Waits.  This battle, unlike the first, is very one sided.  The four are decimated by the sheer offense of Joseph, and only Darksong survives long enough to do damage.
 * Darksong comes to after they all fall, to see the Surruk Dorien and Iris (whose body was last seen buried under a mountain). Iris is clearly under the Surruk's power, and the two charge pass the soon unconscious again Darksong to battle the now weakened Joseph and He Who Waits.
 * When the four regain consciousness, they charge in to see He Who Waits and Joseph defeated. The spirits of Thorcan and He Who Waits warn them that the Amanutar door is now open, and if his champion is defeated, Mual-tar will be released.  As the Group is severely weakened, He Who Waits sacrifices himself, giving up his spirit to power-up the Group and recharge their health and power.
 * The group rushes forward, and eventually comes to the Sarruk and Iris standing in front of the champion of Amanatur: Daarkonthis. Dorien-Sarruk clearly looks satisfied, and it is soon realized by the Group that if EITHER Iris or Daarkonthis is defeated in this fight, Mual-tar will be released.  Daarkonthis must fight, however, and Iris is under the Sarruk's control.  The battle starts and the group tries to concentrate on Dorien.  However, eventually Daarkonthis falls, and Dorien disappears in a fit of maniacal evil doer laughter.
 * Iris is now free of Dorien's control, and rejoins her former comrades, just as the bigger-than-gargantuan primordial emerges from the temple. The battle is started, and it goes a little too well.  Gavirello informs that group that this is the basic essense of Mual-tar - it lacks its full intelligence and power, and it must be bound before it can get more powerful.  Still, even at low power, it is more than a match for the group.  Everyone eventually falls except for Darksong, who eventually fells the beast.  Before he falls, Darksong fulfills his gaeas, and sends the beast's blood to Sevarius.


 * As he tries to figure out how to chain him with Moradin's chains, Dorien shows back up, finally revealing his ultimate plan. He has worked for thousands of years to bind himself to Mual-tar.  A helpless Darksong watches as Dorien starts the procedure.  Darksong tries to attack him, but nothing stops the ritual.  The Ritual is complete, and it is clear Mual-tar is now even stronger, as the being that was Dorien is now an ugly pimple on the side of his head.  Darksong uses what strength he has left to attack him at full force, but he is knocked unconscious in one attack from the beast.  As Mual-Dorien goes in for the kill, the first of much help arrives: Mual-Dorien is rocked by a broadsides from the Sons of Mercy Flagship.  Clearly they have understood the severity of the situation, and they continue to attack Mual-Dorien, as Group V avoids the beast in the much smaller ship Stormhawk.
 * Now it is Thorcan's turn to sacrifice himself. He gives his spirit to revive those that were dead, and bring the party back to full strength.  Before he does so, however, he tells Darksong to call for help: the Goliath still has the tooth of the Spiritbeast Guranchuk.  Renewed with Vigor, the group join the Flagship in attacking Mual-Dorien.  Gavirello and Darksong focus on starting the ritual that will bind the beast, while the other 4 focus on attacking the beast.
 * It is quite clear that Mual-Dorien is now as strong as the three gods it took to bind him. As the ritual starts, the beast does not notice, instead it works at decimating the fools that are attacking it.  Even the ship takes heavy damage and is forced to eventually retreat. If it were not for four very fortunate circumstances, the party would surely have failed:
 * First, the spirit of Daarkonthis reforms. He holds the sword of Amanatur, and joins the group and his fellow champions in attacking the beast.  He is killed quickly, but reforms later in the battle.
 * Second, the work of Group B and E goes into effect. By breaking the chains inside the pocket plane, they severe the link Sarruk Dorien worked so hard at establishing with Mual-tar.  Now separated, Mual-tar attacks Dorien as well.  Two members of Group B and E survive the ordeal to join the battle as well: Aargus and Torval.  Since Torval is a dwarf, he is able to help move the chains, freeing Darksong to concentrate on attacking the beast and the Sarruk.  Since both are ritual casters, they join Gavirello, Rose, and Zeke in continuing the Ritual.
 * Third, The Guran'chuk arrives. Once an ally of Mual-tar, it now attacks the Primordial, attempting to squeeze the life out of it.  It, however, has horrible luck and is eventually killed.
 * Lastly, the real Dorien, a champion of Moradin is now free of the Sarruk, and appears.
 * Zash goes crazy, leaves the ship, and Mual-tar appears to be sucking Bao - his lightning dragon form - out of him. Daarkonthis reveals that Zash is Mual-tar's soul, and must be killed.  Darksong and Dorien both attack him (for different reasons) and the Sarruk finally fells him.  Shortly after, the serpent finally succumbs to the attacks on him.  The ritual is finally completed, yet shortly later Mual-tar slays most of the party.  Darksong rushes in to apply the chains, barely conscious, and does so.  Reality seems to stand still for a few moments, as the beast screams in fury, and is hurled into the temple, bound once again in his prison.  Dorien disappears.  The Hammer of Moradin, Sword of Amanatur, and Armor of Bahamut all disappear.  The only ones left that are not dead or paralyzed are Darksong, Zeke, and Daakonthis.  Darksong lets out a roar of triumph, and falls to his knees.

Epilogue

 * Torval's body reappears in a flash, and both he and Zeke look very confused. They understand that they just stopped the Thunder Temple from completing a ritual, but that is it.  Further, neither know who Darksong is.
 * Graham Mandalax arrives with his group, and even he seems to not remember Mual-tar, much to the annoyance of several of his group. One appears extremely angry and wants to kill Darksong and those left alive.  The entity in Alexander's headband, Alysta, also remembers Darksong and the others, and she asks Alexander (who does not remember) to thank them for stopping Mual-tar.  Eventually, they leave, Graham satisfied with the idea that this will not stop his plans.
 * Though it takes the not-so-smart Goliath some time, he eventually realizes that now that Mual-tar has been imprisoned again, the knowledge of his prison - and the beast itself - has been hidden once more. The champions of the three Gods - Darksong, Joseph, and Daarkonthis, along with the key to his release, Iris, are the only ones who retain all memories of Mual-tar.  All the others have no idea who the three champions are, yet they remember Iris.  Iris tries to tell the others that they are allies, but it takes some time (which they have, since they need to resurrect or cure insanity/paralyze for a almost a dozen people) before they trust the "strangers."
 * Torval contacts the Sons of Mercy, who return in their flagship. The group asks Torval to give a judgement on the group as the representative from Dwarfhome.  Clearly, the reason behind stealing the chains has turned out to be just.  Yet Torval cannot come to forgive the group for the destruction of Dwarfhome.  Torval wishes to let his people decide, and promises to speak on the group's behalf.  Confident in their innocence given the circumstances, the group repairs the ship, and heads to Dwarfhome.  Darksong, knowing that as a dwarf he may forget all he knows should he step foot on the plane, asks to be dropped off in Faerun.  Since Torval has no idea who he is (and therefore, thinks him innocent of any wrongdoing), he agrees.  Darksong turns to Gavirello before they depart and tells him that he is his ally, and that his true name is Skychild.
 * Desmoor, knowing full well that he will be blamed for the events in Dwarfhome, opens a portal under the nose of the groups, and retreats to the Shadowfell. The others are acquitted eventually, but all are banished from Dwarfhome for eternity.  They go back to Sigil to drop off Group E.  Joseph uses the opportunity to find Michael, who remarkably has no idea who he is.  Joseph pushes him and it almost comes to a fight, however, they leave each other since they do not want to star a holy war in Sigil.
 * Darksong finds his tribe, which he discovers has been adopted by the Wise Mountain clan of Orcs. The chief of the clan still remembers him due to his connection with the land.  Darksong waits the weeks there, reconnecting with his Goliath clan.  Eventually, Group A and V returns, finds Darksong, and decides to finish some business with one Sevarius.
 * They decide to contact Galvin Hildenoth first in Palischuk. Galvin is obvious annoyed as usual at their appearance, and is little help, especially once it is revealed that Zeke is not yet dead, as Galvin has requested.  Zeke, separated from the others, hatches his own plans.  When the group returns to the ship, they find Zeke gone. Not being able to pinpoint the location of Sevarius, the group decides to approach Telos and find out more information.  Zeke, however, forces everyone's hand, as the Groups see a large cloud of smoke coming from the direction of Telos.
 * Using Stormhawk to jump outside of Telos, the Groups realize with horror that Zeke has unleashed his power as the Witch King. Hoards of undead, many chromatic dragons, and the horror of Doomgaze are ravaging the city.  Gavirello correctly assumes that Zeke has decided to harness the power of Telos for himself.  While Zash and Serana stay behind, the rest charge in to stop Zeke, killing undead and dragons on the way.  The local guard shows them the way in that the lich has taken.
 * Darksong, feeling the urgency, runs ahead of the others, passing the whole of the council of Telos dead at his feet. He descends to the resting place of the primordial, under the city, and he arrives just as Zeke blasts through the last defense before a masked individual, who is quite obvious the leader of Vaasa and Telos: the Voice of Telos.  Zeke stuns the Voice, and attempts to connect with Telos, who rejects him.  Then the Voice uses her connection with the primordial to blast the lich Zeke with pure radiant energy.  Between this and Darksong's attacks, even Zeke's offensive defenses cannot save him.  The rest of the group arrives as Zeke is struck down by The Voice.  However, before anything can be done with the body, Zeke's summon Death kills him, sending him back to his phylactery, presumably in Castle Perilous.
 * The group is left with a curious situation. The Voice is clearly evil, and the primordial lies helpless behind her.  The group stalls by asking about Sevarius, but clealy the Voice is understands her situation.  She flicks something under her cape and Sevarius appears.  Darksong remembers a disturbing fact a little too late: Sevarius has the heart of Telos, and if Telos gets the heart back, he will be released.  Before he can be stopped, Sevarius does just that, and disappears.
 * Telos awakens, and crushes the Voice with his foot. Luckily for Faerun, all he wants is to return to orbit where he came from, viewing the planet with disgust.  He must, however, punish those who enslaved him for so long, and thus warns the group to leave the city, and get far far away as fast as they can.  With little choice, the group flees, trying to evacuate as many as they can in the process.  Just as they reach a few miles outside the city, a large eruption happens, and what looks like a rocket bursts into the sky, completely destroying the city underneath it.
 * Around 50 Warlock Knights make it out alive, along with less than 1000 civilians. One civilian, who no one recognizes, curiously looks up at the ascending Telos, smiles, and then vanishes.  Who he/she was is still unknown.  The group escorts the now homeless masses to the nearest city, and spends some time building housing.  They also donate a large sum of gold to import extra food.
 * They eventually all return to Palischuk, and come to terms with all they have accomplished, and all the sorrow they have seen.

Resolutions

 * Group E retires back to Sigil and their hotel. It is clear their temporary alliance with Group A is now over, and they go about their business in the city of doors.  Now having saved two worlds, they are even more pleased with themselves.
 * Group B, a misfit group to begin with, breaks up. Torval, Harbek, and Helga remain in Dwarfhome, but keep in touch with Group E, even helping in the supply of Dwarfhome beer to their hotel.  Torval, feeling guilty over the escape of Desmoor has personally volunteered to lead any attempts at locating him and bringing him to justice.  Maalsvarik returns to Dark Sun through Sigil, hoping to continue the fight he left over 400 years ago when he landed in the Lady's prison.
 * Princess Serana returns to Palischuk, and the public rejoices. She is crowned the queen of Palischuk, and therefore (since Telos City remains destroyed) the ruler of Vaasa.  She marries Zash in a lavish ceremony.  Galvin Hildenoth remains as the "real" leader of the city, and works together with the Queen.  Serana reaches out to Damara and the refounded city of Heliogabalus, and once again the two nations begin to form alliances.  Gongen disappears.  Zash may know where he went, but he told no one else.
 * Daarkonthis is tied to Mual'tar's prison, and thus his spirit remains there, until he must protect the prison once again.
 * Big Benjamin Big returns to Vaasa after his imprisonment in Dwarfhome, and reestablishes a gnome community. He works closely with the Wise Mountain clan and Queen Serana, but continues to travel with a translator.
 * Darksong, now known to all as Skychild, returns to the Wise Mountain clan. Though Ferralnoc remains the clan leader, Skychild is revered as a spiritual leader.  He reaches out to the dwarves of the region, who so long have been enslaved by the Warlock Knights.  The dwarves have an affinity to the chosen of Moradin, and establish a new home next to the Wise Mountain clan.  Together, the Orcs, Goliaths, and Dwarves live and work together, strengthening the north of Vaasa.
 * Rose and Iris remain in Palischuk, and work with the new Queen and Galvin Hildenoth.
 * Gavirello remains in Palischuk, establishing a college and library, and becomes a chief advisor to the Queen.
 * Joseph also remains in Palischuk, quite despondent over the fact that his role as champion has nullified any control he had over Michael.
 * Zeke, the Witch King of Vaasa, disappears. Darksong leads an exhibition to Castle Perilous and finds it completely abandoned.  Gavirello hypothesizes that Zeke may be attempting to unlock the numerous arcane secrets that the Witch King has access too.  The Wise Mountain clan and the humans of Vaasa come together and tear down Castle Perilous.

Unanswered Questions

 * Graham and Alexander
 * What does the God King of Innarlith have to do with Primordials? What are his true plans, and who are his associates?  Just who is Alysta, the being inside Alexander's head?  And why doe she sound like Estel?  How did Alexander harness old magic?


 * Telos and Immix
 * Will Telos keep his word and keep out of Faerun? Now that Immix has been released, how will this effect Faerun?


 * Laserwolf
 * Will Laserwolf ever come back looking for "his" ship back? How hard will Darksong beat him into a pulp if he does?  Will the group ever try to return the ship they stole for him?


 * Azurra
 * Where did Azurra go? Will the group ever try to find him and destroy him?


 * Female Storm Titan (insert name)
 * Where did she go? Only the Champions remember her, so will she only resurface when Mual-tar's chains are weakening again?


 * Dorien
 * As a champion, is his spirit locked to Mual'tar's prison?


 * That Good Dragon Guy (insert name)
 * Who was he and why did he help us?


 * Michael and Illian
 * Where did Illian go, and will Michael find what was taken from him?


 * Zash
 * Is Zash really the "soul" of Mual-tar? What will happen when he dies?


 * Sevarius
 * What is Sevarius' ultimate plan? What will he do with the blood of Mual'tar?  Where is he?


 * Zeke
 * Where did he go? What is he doing?  Will he return to Vaasa?