Prelude To Chaos


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Pathfinder: Prelude To Chaos is a Pathfinder one-shot written and hosted by Sonic. The one-shot's first session ran on July 27th, 2021, and the final session ran on August 26th, 2021. It serves as a prequel to Chaos Theory, with an ending sequence that acts as an epilogue for said campaign.

= Story = A mysterious duo of a man with a broken halo and a silver-haired man launch an attack on the Tower of Temptera's capital, Civitis, carving their way through the Tower's defenses, quickly reaching the research lab. They are intercepted by the Civitis Elite under the direct command of the emperor, The Ethereal, who attempt to stop them. The silver-haired man's named is revealed to be Cyril, and the two refuse to back down, resulting in a battle. Cyril is defeated and retreats, and the man, realizing he cannot win, turns around and slashes the cylinder in the center of the room that contains a strange artifact open. As he grabs the artifact, the Ethereal enters. He says that it has been 150 years since the two had last met, and that to take the artifact would spell the man's doom. The man simply states that he needs it and, before the Ethereal can stop him, he disappears. The Ethereal then commands the Elite to regather the troops and tend to the wounded, seeming rather angry, before quickly leaving.

Five days later, the Ethereal calls the Elite for a mission assignment in the garden of the Tower. He states that they have located the hideout of the two that attacked the Tower: A city block in No Man's Land, an abandoned city that stands as a reminder of a war that occurred long ago. He reveals that the man was his son, Zalroven IV, who was exiled long ago after he stole the family heirloom, the Timerender, and tried to usurp the Ethereal. The Elite then depart on their journey to retrieve the artifact from Zalroven and Cyril.

The Civitis Elite arrive at No Man's Land a day later, and begin making their way through the abandoned city, meeting a duo who give them directions to Zalroven and Cyril's hideout and taking down thugs and monsters alike along the way. They arrive at the church Zalroven and Cyril were hiding away in. As they enter, Zalroven sits, playing an ominous song on the church's organ. After the song ends, Zalroven turns to face the Elite. The two groups bicker, Zalroven stating that if he uses the artifacts power that they won't be able to stop him. Auctus questions what it is that Zalroven seeks and they begin to fight. During the fight, Stritz is briefly killed by Cyril by being dragged into Oxyn's toxic cloud, but is quickly revived as Cyril is finished off by Aestrus, enraging Zalroven. The fight ends with Zalroven once again being defeated. However, he has a realization and disappears and reappears on the church stage.

Zalroven tells the party that they are blind to the problems of the world, and that the orb is the power he needs- the power to purge the world. He then plunges the Timerender into the orb, harnessing its power. His eyes and halo turn white, his halo is repaired and the Timerender glows white as well as Zalroven is fueled by the orb's energy. He calls the power pure, like a candle alight within his soul, and Auctus tells him that he should not be playing god. Zalroven flies off the stage and their final battle begins.

Despite everything, Zalroven is once again overwhelmed and defeated. One last time, he calls out to the Originator for more power, but is met with all his newfound power being drained from his body. As he lies on the verge of death, he tells the Elite that it is too late for him. They ask who the Originator is, to which Zalroven responds to ask him themselves, but also warns them that its power is beyond comprehension. He heals Cyril with the last of his energy, and tells the Elite to tell his father that he is sorry. And with that, he passes away. The Elite then carefully retrieve the artifact, and begin their trek back to Civitis, taking Zalroven's body and Cyril with them.

Upon arriving back at Civitis, The Ethereal tells them that he will not shed tears and that Zalroven will receive a proper funeral. He then explains to the party that the artifact is actually the core of a god named Oshjin who will reset the world and has done so countless times, and that they had been researching it in an attempt to rid the world of him. As the Elite hand over the orb, it begins to glow and The Ethereal attempts to attack with his returned Timerender, to no avail, and Oshjin awakens. The Ethereal attacks Oshjin, who catches the blade in his hand and shatters it. Oshjin speaks to the Elite about how he had been watching their struggles and conflict, remarking that it is the way of humanity to struggle. The Civitis Elite try everything they can to stop Oshjin from destroying the world, but nothing works, and Oshjin states that if they continue to fight they will not meet their end painlessly. Finally, the Ethereal puts up a final stand, fighting Oshjin in the sky above the city of Civitis, but even still, he loses without even making a scratch- being blow back into the the garden.

In the garden, The Ethereal apologizes for being unable to protect his people and his son. He then has a realization and asks for the Elite to extend their hands. He channels the last of his energy, creating a mysterious, clear diamond that holds the memories of himself, the Elite, and their world, and erases it from time in hopes that it can survive Oshjin's reset for the people of the next world to find. As the Elite accept their fates, Oshjin calls the Ethereal a fool, and creates a massive blizzard around Civitis which slowly consumes the city- resetting the world into the one that would become known as Saerime.

Epilogue A man stands in an excavated ruin holding a clear gemstone projecting an image to a group around him.

Two months after the events of Chaos Theory, the Expedition Team stands in the ruins of [locations:The Forgotten Temple] as it is being excavated. Dr. Matthias Zavath] holds the Memory Stone in his hand, and it finishes projecting an image of everything that occurred long ago in Temptera to himself and the [groups:Expedition Team] who are glad to have defeated Oshjin for Civitis Elite's sake. [characters:Vinth] then reveals himself to have been watching quietly the whole time, as well as a miner named Morrison. Zavath states that the Memory Stone had been discovered further into the Forgotten Temple, in a location that they could not previously access.

The Expedition Team, [groups:Glistening Gems], Vinth, and Morrison all chat and reminisce while eating food brought by [characters:Grey] and Morrison. Rodriguel even inspires Morrison to become and adventurer himself, and Morrison manages to channel electricity through his pickaxe. The group also considers how Vinth and Zalroven spoke the same words when using Oshjin's power. Vilka then reveals that the Glistening Gems' old captain, [characters:Amalta], has passed away and that his funeral will be held soon.

The group finally agrees to all go and have some drinks and exit the ruins together.

= Characters = Player Characters

NPCs

Epilogue

= Trivia =


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