And while we're on the subject of choice...
POST EPISODE ANALYSIS, EXHAUSTION AND PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS SUGGEST
That the Nein have a few glaring choices to go on now that they squeaked out an escape from the Tomb Takers. I would like to hope that the Tomb Takers would not actually give chase but they are literally hours from their goal and to go hunting off for another crest over hunting down the Nein is high risk, low reward. Plus lets be honest, its personal now and the Tomb Takers aren't going to take kindly to being dodged like that.
Barring player choice and shenanigans, of which there are endless, I see three pretty solid possible routes for the Nein to go.
1. B O L T : Both Jester and Caduceus have set up sanctuaries and Caleb has teleport. Its risky to try big magic like that in Eiselcross as we've seen, but it might be worth the risk and consequences to get a half a world of distance and time. That doesn't stop Lucien or the Tomb Takers but it does put a wrench in it and give the Nein time to regroup and plan. But they have to get far enough ahead or find someplace to hole up long enough to sleep and gain the spells to use in the first place.
2. J U K E M O V E : They make a mad dash to the Aeor ruins and cut the Tomb Takers off at the pass. Either to collapse the entrance they plan to use or work their way into the depths of Aeor to sabotage or set up an ambush for Lucien and the others. Super dangerous move. Its just asking to get trapped or cornered.
AND the one I really hope and feel like is most likely at this point...
3. GET THE CALVARY : Haul ass to the Vurmas Outpost. Alot has changed in the last 48HRS for the Nein, the trepidation that Beau and Caleb felt about pulling Essek into the whole situation is gone or the rest of the Nein have deemed themselves in dire enough straights that they don't have any choice now but to involve or summon Essek. The message sent with Dagen was meant to try and spur Essek into action to meet them at the ruins. Now they're on the run and most of them are wounded or severely depleted. There's no other place of promised safety they can reach and they are going to have to DASH to get there before the Tomb Takers catch up to them. But there's really no promise that once they get there they will actually be safe.
BUT THEY WILL GET HELP. Not tenuous, threatening, hostage holding mutual company.
The desperation the Nein are starting to feel in their situation is suggested by the fact that Beau, previously against involving Essek, was the one that asked Caduceus to use one of his Commune questions to confirm if Essek would help them. Most of us could tell from Essek's rush to respond to messages, reaching out the Nein from his end, his repeated plead for them to come to him, his relief on hearing them send messages to him, was evidence that he would help them. It was all confirmed and backed up by the Wildmother in the Commune. Essek will help them. There's no question about that.
What that help entails is hoping that Lucien is COMPLETELY unprepared to face what we all hope is a high level Dunamantic Wizard in his prime. One that is not only familiar with the Nein but helped train their wizard. He's going to be able to fight and mesh with them in a way that Lucien never could hope to have done. From what we know about the Kryn Dynasty was that it rose after the Calamity and Divergence. Its hinted there was some knowledge of Dunamantic magic during the Age of Arcanum but the Kryn perfected the use of Echo magic and Dunamantic magic after the fact, so other than possible scrapes with Kryn here and there, considering how secret and isolationist the Kryn have been, Lucien himself and the Somnovum might have never encountered a full bore Dunamantic magic user. Even Caleb was conservative about using it around the Tomb Takers. Its a very real possibility that the powers granted by the Eyes of Nine will not hold up against Echoes, Graviturgy and Dunamancy. Essek really could be a true wildcard.
And hopefully, gods I really REALLY hope...
That Essek will have his own reserve of calvary there to help. Led by one Lawful Good Echo Knight Babey Brother Verin...
Gimme that baby brother. Please.
And now I am fully exhausted and have to go into work at 3am so I better call it a night honestly even though its only 4pm...
dededos
2087
snowghoul
kaledo-art
