Mission Statement, Part 1

With pride, the men explain to Azkadelia how they beat Youric’s wife into submission.  “Whatever,” she says.   They walk out of the cave, embracing the daylight as long-lost friend.  They realize that, yes, they were in the ice cave marked on their map, and that the underground passage took them farther than they thought.  While still at the mouth of the cave, they are approached by a lone robot.  “The Collective wishes to express the human emotion of remorse for trying to kill you,” it says.  “However, with most of our agents repairing and rebuilding our facility, we find ourselves in need of an agent in the field.  Optimus, you once held this role for us.  Will you resume employment under us?  Your squishies may accompany you on your next mission.”  After very little thought, Optimus accepts on behalf of the group.  The robot then goes on to explain that the danger represented by the flame cultists cannot be ignored, and asks the party to intercept an upcoming hand-off of flame crystals that will take place at the crater (Lim’Dul’s old town).  They accept the mission, but not before Azkadelia uses her interaction skills to gain some up-front payment in the form of omega tech.

As they get ready to head out, however, they notice a lich on the horizon.  This undead general, completely sentient and self-aware, summons a small army of skeletons and zombies.  

The party considers hiding behind some giant slabs of ice that litter the area, but they are undone by a wave of genetic mutations that double Nyridius in size.  Thinking quickly, Nyridius utilizes a transformative face mask and disguises himself as another lich.  Nothing out of the ordinary… except that he’s 15 feet tall and massive.  Nyridius attempts to make conversation with the lich, asking what he’s looking for in the ice cave.  “Power.” Responds the lich.  “Nope, we just looked.  No power there,” he responds.  Nyridius realizes the conversation isn’t going well, and initiates combat.  In the ensuing melee, the skeletons throw their own ribs at the party in lieu of an actual ranged attack.  The lich, however, is the real threat; he throws a flashbang that temporarily blinds Little Rock, Lim’Dul, and Optimus, and attempts to penetrate Nyridius mind with an eye-locking attack.  

The team, in response, utilizes every piece of tech and every mutation at their disposal.  Lim’Dul takes mental control of one zombie and forces him to elbow-drop his master.  Azkadelia destroys another by airing her grievances, which actually turns out to be a powerful psychic attack.  

The lich again proves to be the real threat when he re-assembles the destroyed skeletons, bringing them back into the fray.  Nyridius dishes out intense psychic damage by having his mask make a scary face, and Lim’Dul finishes the lich off with an electro-blast.  Little Rock and Optimus clean up the remaining undead with their beefy melee attacks.

After the danger has passed, Youric steps out onto his lawn to find that the party has once again covered his property in brains and body parts.  “My wife is gonna kill me,” he laments.  Although the party urges him to join them on their mission to the crater, Youric mentions that he’s forbidden to by “the old ball and chain.”  Little Rock offers to beat her unconscious again, but Youric declines.  After a quick break for scavenging (during which Lim’Dul finds a ceiling fan), the party makes its way toward the crater.