the planes of Marrow path of Oberon part 2 of 2

[merlin]

Plot

1# Welcome to the Vagabond Arms!

The village of Knot, a border town set Between the Kingdom of Mana and Harvest has been finding themselves plagued by increasing attacks from Nyx swarms. The black tendrilled fiends have been spotted, creeping through the shadows, held back only briefly by the roving light of the towns single light house. More and more the fiends have been spotted in the town, beating against doors, and killing livestock. The villagers have bravely held off the fiends, but every night their plight has become more desperate. None of the surrounding nations have provided aid, each nation disputing who is responsible for the small village. With no help coming, the village has pulled together the last of their funds, paying for the best and cheapest Mercenary company around, The Vagabond arms.
Under the leadership of the head of the Vagabond Arms, Rowan White stag. Your party is tasked with holding the line of Nyx back during the night. During the hours prior to night, you and your part are allowed to explore the town and meet its residents. Maybe hang around the tavern and meet with the residents leading the other parties, Stitch and Akila. If you talk to the handyman Moth and his friend Fatima, he might offer to fight with you in the coming battle.

You along with four other party members formed from either players or NPCs are placed along a quadrant of the shoreline, where you are faced with wave after wave of encroaching Nyx. Halfway through the encounter an enormous Nyx is seen rising on the Horizon, formed from a dozen corpses of various sea life all stitched to the corpse of a dead whale. You are told two of the parties holding the shore has been over run and Nyx have been seen heading toward the tavern. You are left with the choice of abandoning the line or running into the village to help the others. If you befriended Moth, he would advise you that the line is lost, and the battle is now behind them.
If you choose to hold the line, you will face six more waves of enemies before the giant Nyx is nearly on shore. This option will gain you respect with Rowan, whose orders you are following. This option will also cause Moth to abandon you and weaken his friendship with you. It is also the most difficult option, combat wise.
If you choose to flee back into the city, you will have to fight your way through the streets, killing Nyx along the way. Rowan will eventually join you, taking his Hybrid form as he tears his way through Nyx. You will learn his entire party was killed. If your perception is high enough you will witness Moth, moving at inhuman speed as he approached the tavern, Slamming his staff in an overhead swing and breaking a Nyx in half. If you ask him about this later, he will say tell you that he had a bottle of whiskey inside he was saving for a special occasion. If you press him, he will tell you that the staff is made from a rare wood and stronger than dragon skin.

Pass:
Whether you reach the Tavern or hold the line, if you hold out against ten rounds. Two Fae knights appear riding dragons and set the Giant Nyx ablaze. After the giant Nyx arrive the two Cambion assist in clearing out eh last remnants of Nyx. You are given a bag of gold and the gratitude of the town.

Fail:
The town is destroyed, or the party is killed.

Epilogue:
After the long night of battle the survivors of the battle are greeted by the Fae knight twins, Puck and Flick. They say they are envoys of the true king of Fairies, Oberon. They tell the people of the village they are now under their protection, as is all of mankind from the Nyx. If you head back to the tavern, you will witness a scene between Stitch and Puck. Puck looks at the vine like scars on Stitches face and tells him he knows the marks of a traitor of the Seelie court. Stitch says he knows nothing. To which Flick says that maybe true, but they are sure if they ask around the Seelie courts about a mistle toe scarred Stitcher they will soon find out. If your perception is high, you can see Moth watching this conversation, Whiskey held close to his lips.

Possible Plot lines:

1# Mercenary life:
After the battle you can speak to Rowan in the mercenary camp. He is clearly upset with the loss of his men, but glad of your assistance. He invites you to remain with him party as they head back to the Walking city of Sparrow tweet and home base of the vagabond arms. Once arrived in the city you, learn of many of the contracts being wiped out by the Order of Oberon and their dragons. While in the walking city, various NPC’s will have quests to keep you busy while Rowan looks more into the strange activity of Oberon’s men. One day Moth appears in the walking city, carrying a blood-soaked bag containing a dragon’s heart and egg. He tells Rowan, he would like to hire him and his men for a job. Stitch has been killed, Akila and Fatima taken hostage by Oberon.

He is looking to go to war with the Seelie court.

2# Friendlier Shores

Following the threats by Oberon’s men, Akila and Stich choose to flee with Fatima. Moth happily volunteers to come along, the pair to nice to tell him no. Akila offers to hire you as bodyguards on their journey to her homeland of Mana. If you accompany her, you will be taken to the land of Mana. Akila opens another bar, though this one has dancers and more, as is the way in Mana. You can become a partner of the bar and make passive money between working various jobs given to you by NPC’s. Things continue this way until you are invited to court by King Loa himself. An Ambush follows and Stitch is kidnapped by Prince Merrick of Spindle and his henchmen.
After your friend is kidnapped, Akila, Moth and Fatima choose to go after Stitch. They ask your help with this near suicidal mission.

3# Bigger, better things

If you choose to go your own way you can choose to do so, moving to the capital city of Zentra. There you will find countless job opportunities, along with plenty of businesses to invest your funds into. You will have access to the best armor and weapons. Rumors of a brewing war will reach your ear as you go about your life, but it seems distant and far away.

It is at the one of the many festivals in the city of Zentra that you next see your old friends, Stitch, Fatima, Moth, and Rowan. During the harvest moon festival, Rowan, and an army of mercenaries’ tear through the crowd killing the royal guard as Moth and Stitch make their way through the crowd, a pair of giant golems at their sides. The Golems fight off any who stop the pair. If your perception is high enough, you can see Fatima controlling them from a nearby roof. Stitch, seemingly with all his magic restored, decapitates the queen with a swipe of his fingers. Before the King can draw his own magic blade, Moth whips his staff into the king’s temple.
Whether you made noticed Fatima or are noticed by Moth, they will tell you to trust them before disappearing in a cloud of swirling black smoke. Following the after math of the festival, Rowan appears at your door, his form full human. He tells you he is sorry, but there are formalities that must be met. A moment later the glass shatters from a nearby window and a dart buries itself in your neck. You lose consciousness.

When you awake, you are face to face with the girl Fatima, offering you a cookie and a beer. Moth then tells you that they had made their way to Mana where they were ambushed and Akila taken by the followers of Oberon. He intends to get her back, no matter the cost and asks you for your help.

Overall plot:

As you progress in the story you learn of a plot by the Kingdom of Oberon to rule over all of the Summer lands. The Cambion who calls himself King Oberon at first appears to be doing a good job. He protects the small villages overlooked by the seven nations. He offers sanctuary to humans who have lost their home and treats them with respect. However, there is a darker plan beneath his noble goals.
You learn of Oberon’s goal to wipe out the Naguai and goblins of the land. A plot is set forth to have dragons attack each of the capital cities in the Summerland. Additionally, Oberon seems to have his eye on the girl Fatima for some unknown reason.

As this story unfolds you will learn more of Oberon’s plan as well as the secret behind the man who calls himself Moth and his interest in this new high king of Faerie.