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Skypiercer Part 1

Properties1
tagsepisode, skypiercer-prequel

15 min read

Champions and playersCaustic Phoenix as Elusia; stellaluna as Kaja; sensei_suplex as Atalantos
HostsMudcat (Mudcat)

What happens

  1. 0:00:05 — Cold open. “Long before the arena, before the Arbiter or his betrayal, long before Doug or even Gerald, before she was the Grandmaster, she was a warrior.”
  2. 0:00:36 — Siege of Cor’thun. Explosions, trebuchet fireballs, gates falling. Horns signal the Eastern Gate is under attack. Atalantos leads his soldiers through the streets; Kaja raises skeletons in the market square; Elusia flies over the city.
  3. 0:07:48 — Flashback, 300 years earlier, Dread Fortress. Screams that “the Golden King is dead”: Elusia’s father Faucius Golden Shield has been assassinated. Mercenaries burst into her chambers and are cut down by the Knights of Chaos. She grabs the obsidian dagger (her grandfather’s, gifted by her father). Sir Boros (large orc, black and red armor) says it’s “the king’s plan” and escorts her to the Ceremonial Chamber (20 ft iron doors, fanned arches). She drinks a bowl of viscous gold liquid; the knights slit their own throats, stay standing until every drop is spilled, and their blood opens a portal under her.
  4. 0:17:00 — Cor’thun described. White stone city, columns, aqueducts, ornate fountains and statues. A black-hole singularity dominates the sky; light streaking into it gives Cor’thun an eternal sunset.
  5. 0:20:35 — The Cursed Juggernaut breaks through the Eastern Gate: 12–13 ft, metal bird/raven mask, scythe, silent, regenerates, throws a necrotic stone spear. It kills its own soldier to claim the fight.
  6. 0:39:47 — Kaja raises five zombies with Danse Macabre. Chat names two of them Kevin and Enderdan. Atalantos uses the Rite of Revitalization (Crimson Rite on allies) and later his blood curse to raise Kevin for one last strike (1:08:33).
  7. 1:26:03 — Elusia kills the Juggernaut by driving her short sword up through its butt, from between its legs, pushing in the lightning arrow she had already shot into its butt at 0:51:00. It pulls off its helmet, showing a distorted, bruised face, and falls face-first onto the tip of Atalantos’s spear. Its honor guard flee and are shot by archers. Victory bells; the Champions of Honor shout “FOR ORDER!”

Fight log: the Cursed Juggernaut (0:24:58–1:27:27)

  • Kaja takes her form of dread (0:23:51): “you take the void of space… a vacuum, and you shove it into a compressed space… cut it open, yank out the threads… something hungry and empty.” Fear washes over the area; the Juggernaut doesn’t react.
  • Kaja casts Spirit Shroud: black drops of shadow harden into needles; her Eldritch Blast forms a gaping skull that hits for 15. The Juggernaut doesn’t flinch.
  • Elusia’s ensnaring strike: a vine plants a black seed and wraps the Juggernaut; it breaks free with a flex. Her next arrow ricochets off its metal bird mask and kills a random enemy soldier.
  • Elusia climbs a statue for high ground; the Juggernaut headbutts the statue to rubble, then pounds her with its fists. White stone dust fills the air.
  • Atalantos bangs his shield with his spear (divine glow), can’t pierce its hide, and puts his shield between it and Elusia.
  • Kaja casts Danse Macabre on five fallen soldiers, choosing “the ones that either look really hot or they’re like super strong looking.” Atalantos uses Rite of Revitalization, bleeding to put electric Crimson Rite on two zombies, Elusia and himself. The first zombie rolls a nat 20; chat names the zombies Kevin and Enderdan.
  • Legendary charge: the Juggernaut sprints through Atalantos and Elusia into a wall (0:47:01).
  • Elusia’s lightning arrow lands in its butt (“Give him a shocker,” 0:51:00); it clenches and snaps the shaft off, then regenerates.
  • It rips a chunk from a wall that becomes a stone spear and throws it at Kaja; the wound is necrotic and keeps festering. It “donkey punches” Atalantos prone.
  • Atalantos uses commander’s strike to give Elusia an attack; Atalantos taunts it: “You seem to be a juggernaut. Let us put that name to the test.”
  • Its charge hits Kaja for 44; she bleeds thick purple blood (1:03:47). Her next blast misses and her wound hurts her.
  • Elusia climbs a 30-ft building and rings its bell to draw it in. It smashes the building, obliterating the zombies. Atalantos raises Kevin once more with his blood curse (“Rise and strike”) for a final swing; “Kevin’s arc has been intense this session.” Atalantos: “You had the heart of a Corthunian.”
  • Its scythe hits Atalantos twice (one crit). “Tonight, we dine in hell!” He drops his shield and spear and draws his greatsword, eyes glowing gold and purple, sword lit with divine fire.
  • Elusia rings the bell nonstop: “Bear witness to him and his glory!” Kaja’s nat 1 Eldritch Blast hits Atalantos in the back through the smoke.
  • Elusia dives from the rooftop with both short swords into its shoulder blades, taking fall damage to add to the hit, then finishes it from below (see beat 7).
  • Atalantos: “Relentless juggernaut… We are still standing.”
  • After the fight Elusia notes “the body could be salvaged.” Kaja sits on the corpse sipping from a travel mug.
  1. 1:28:33 — Ten-minute break (cut from the mp3).
  2. 1:31:59 — Kaja reveals she dies “all the time” and comes back: she serves a force “beyond our comprehension” and has “a special relationship” with it. She has Elusia shoot her through the heart to show it.
  3. 1:39:31 — The palace. Throne room prepared for a feast. Emperor Thornos (older, medium build, long white beard) asks for the tale; Atalantos tells it.
  4. 1:49:12 — Elusia’s history in Cor’thun. Thornos: she came “some 300 years ago … in the time of my ancestors,” when his forebear Juntikar was empress; Juntikar first taught her the sword (Elusia: “And the bow”).
  5. 1:52:17 — Kaja, Atalantos and Elusia are named Generals of the Champions of Honor. Elusia’s oath is “bonded in blood”: Thornos cuts her neck.
  6. 1:57:16 — The feast. Elusia sips from Kaja’s goblet and pulls back embarrassed; Kaja turns the cup and drinks from the same spot (1:59:43). Elusia makes up that the wine tastes of almonds, and from then on there are almonds in the wine (2:03:20). Lucien’s armor is spotless, he tries to sign Atalantos’s chest with gravy for an autograph and falls asleep in Atalantos’s hand. People in the hall mutter that Elusia is drunk again (2:13:05). Bets on Lucien (5 copper: boots on the wrong feet; a silver: someone died because of him; a gold, lowered to a silver: he’ll kill someone in his next fight). Lucien is drunk, his gloves are on the wrong hands, and Atalantos drafts him into his brigade.
  7. 2:15:20 — Glotun the politician offers favors, then reveals he wants the emperor’s ear to divert the southern aqueduct for Plintos. The party turns him down.
  8. 2:28:12 — Vythorn arrives through a portal. He tells Elusia her father was killed 300 years ago by her uncle Agdrel, the Shadow King, and asks her to come back to the Void. She accepts, with Kaja and Atalantos. They leave in three days. 15b. 2:46:08 — Thornos has listened to all of it leaning on his sword, eating popcorn.
  9. 2:48:43 — Sign-off: “Acolytes, we will see you next week on D20 Deathmatch.”

Who and what appears

Characters

Elusia (Bec). Later the Grandmaster.

  • Called “Princess Elusia” by Vythorn and “Princess of the Void, refugee, stranger no more” by Thornos (1:55:07). Wants to be called “just Elusia” (2:42:55).
  • Blue-teal hair (0:06:07), wings, bow of knotted black root that sparks blue (0:06:32), two short swords, obsidian dagger.
  • Daughter of Faucius Golden Shield (0:08:34); niece of Agdrel (2:32:06); asked after her mother in the flashback and got no answer (0:12:29).
  • Sent through the portal 300 years ago; refugee in Cor’thun since; trained by Empress Juntikar; “undying, even as we have perished around you” (Thornos, 1:50:31).
  • Named General of the Champions of Honor; oath sealed in blood (1:56:02).
  • Thinks of herself as a guest: “I don’t bear the same history” (2:02:25).
  • Kills the Cursed Juggernaut (1:26:03). Flirts with Kaja (drinking from her cup at 1:59:43, carrying her up the hill at 1:37:29).
  • Agrees to return to the Void to take her “rightful place” (2:47:34).

Kaja (stellaluna).

  • Warlock; necromancy; “form of dread” (0:23:51; described 0:24:03); resistant to necrotic damage (0:55:48).
  • Purple blood, thick like syrup (1:03:47). Cold to the touch, no body heat (1:38:06). High heels. Pointed, dagger-like fingernails (2:21:37).
  • Dies often and returns: “there are forces … at work beyond our comprehension … And I merely serve one of them” (1:32:35); “We have a special relationship” (1:35:01).
  • Courtly bow “that just evidences my time in court” (1:43:06).
  • Thornos: “you have served Cor’thun well for many years. Even in death, you have fought for us” (1:52:42). Named General.
  • Elusia calls Kaja and Atalantos “legacies” (0:19:39).

Atalantos (sensei_suplex).

  • Shield and spear; greatsword “the only time I use” it (1:16:07). One eye glows gold and the other purple when he takes up the greatsword (1:16:29). Scars and a small mohawk under his helmet (1:42:23).
  • Shield sentinel of the Order of the Sacrificent (1:46:21). “I bleed for my allies.” Uses the Rite of Revitalization / Crimson Rite and a blood curse that raises the fallen.
  • Grew up in the gladiator pits (2:26:54). Commands “an army of only several hundred” (2:01:28). Elusia: “everyone studies your words. You are the standard for the training” (2:01:51).
  • Thornos: “a pillar, a rock … a cornerstone of this city and its defense” (1:53:36). Named General.
  • Battle cry: “Tonight, we dine in hell!” (1:14:31). “The only eyes I fancy is the gods, specifically the gods of death” (1:42:50).
  • Drafts Lucien into his brigade; “Training begins at four in the morning” (2:13:02). Pledges to go to the Void with Elusia.

Faucius Golden Shield, “the Golden King”. Elusia’s father; assassinated in his own throne room in the Dread Fortress 300 years before this episode (0:08:34, 2:34:07). Vythorn: “many in the realm welcomed the change. They found your father to be weak and greedy” (2:35:41). Had planned for his daughter’s escape (0:10:24).

Agdrel, “the Shadow,” the Shadow King. Elusia’s uncle; killed Faucius (2:34:23). Taught Vythorn magic: “He was my … mentor in the arts” (2:34:49). Built a mage school of thousands (2:38:17). Has ruled “with an iron fist”; siphons the power of mages across the realms; is losing control of his chaos energy, which causes tornadoes, earthquakes, eruptions and dying harvests across the Void (2:37:29–2:40:17).

Sir Boros. Knight of Chaos, a large orc in black and red armor whom Elusia had known a long time (0:10:00). Led the sacrifice that sent her away.

Knights of Chaos. Faucius’s emissaries, protectors of the Dread Fortress (0:08:34). Vythorn: “There are none that remain. All slain [on] the night of the Long Shadow.” (2:35:14). The Night of the Long Shadow is Agdrel’s coup.

Emperor Thornos. Emperor of Cor’thun. Older man, medium build, long white beard, white-gray hair pulled back (1:41:47). Misses battle: “I’m an old man … I long for the days of battle” (1:44:41). Descendant of Juntikar. Gives Elusia his blessing: “Cor’thun stands for justice and hope” (2:46:40).

Empress Juntikar. Thornos’s forebear; empress when Elusia arrived; first taught her the sword (and the bow) and let her stay (1:49:12–1:49:44). Dead by this episode.

Lucien. Cor’thun soldier, chronically drunk; stationed at the Western Gate until sent home to sleep it off (2:09:31). Claims heroics; another soldier says he spent the battle passed out in the stables (2:09:05). Fights “because my dad told me to” (2:10:01). Joins Atalantos’s brigade (2:12:07). Likes Kaja’s “thick blood” (2:12:37).

Glotun (spelling confirmed by Drew). Portly, balding, brown, loose toga-like robes; a politician who used to fight (2:15:20–2:16:17). Offers favors; lobbies to divert the southern aqueduct for Plintos (2:19:54).

Plintos. One of the richest men in Cor’thun; merchant guild leader; name on many buildings, statues of him; “charity” benefactor; made his fortune off the southern district’s workers; said to hold himself above the emperor; rumored to be behind a mine cave-in outside the city caused by cost-cutting (2:23:16–2:24:24).

Vythorn, the Endless Scholar (= the Arbiter). Tall, black wings, purple cloak over one shoulder, high collar, large mustache, hair pulled back and shaved at the sides (2:29:03). Served “your uncle, Agdrel, in the Dread Fortress in the time of Faucius Golden Shield” (2:32:06) and also says “I once served your father” (2:33:26). Survived by serving the Shadow King’s court. Spent decades mastering the magic to find her; crossing took “a blood of a titan” (2:39:44). Needs three days to recover and can only bring Elusia and her two companions (2:47:52).

The Cursed Juggernaut. Named in initiative (0:25:40). See scene 5. Killed by Elusia.

Kevin and Enderdan. Two of Kaja’s zombies, named by chat (0:45:24). Kevin is raised a second time by Atalantos and lands a final hit; Atalantos: “you had the heart of a Corthunian” (1:11:27).

Places

  • Cor’thun (outside the Void): city of white stone, several miles across on sloping hills; has stairs and ramps (“It’s an accessible city, there’s both,” 1:39:31). Eastern Gate (vital, drawbridge, besieged); Western Gate (Lucien’s post); market square; business district; lower district near the gates (destroyed); southern district (poorer, working class; fed by a common aqueduct, nearest other fountain ~1.5 miles away); palace with gold inlays and a long throne room used for the feast. Mines outside the city (cave-in).
  • The singularity over Cor’thun: a black hole that creates an eternal sunset (0:17:25).
  • Dread Fortress (flashback): Elusia’s chambers; the Ceremonial Chamber; the throne room where Faucius died. Walls Elusia calls unscalable and unbreachable (2:40:40).
  • The Void: Vythorn calls crossing out of it a great feat (“an incredible amount of magic to break out of the void”).

Groups

Items

Timeline facts stated in this episode

  • Faucius was killed and Elusia fled 300 years before this episode (narration 0:07:48, 0:13:41; Vythorn 2:34:07; Elusia “who have not seen me in 300 years” 2:42:06).
  • The Shadow King ruled 300 years before Skypiercer (confirmed by Drew). The coup is the Night of the Long Shadow, when Agdrel killed his brother Faucius.

Quotes by character

Elusia

  • 0:11:13 “Then how do we open the doors? Only he’s allowed to be able to do that.”
  • 0:22:52 “Come, silent warrior, tell us your name so that we may know who it is that we will defeat today.”
  • 1:18:20 “Bear witness to him and his glory! Final breath or not, you are witnessing glory at its finest!”
  • 1:32:54 “Honestly, I thought death was permanent, and yet here you stand. What is it like to die?”
  • 2:02:25 “I am seen as… A guest still. I don’t bear the same history.”
  • 2:35:55 “That is no reason to take his life.”
  • 2:42:06 “How could I even possibly even know to rule them? Who have not seen me in 300 years?”
  • 2:48:09 “Say goodbye to your loved ones. Close anything that you must. Plan as if you will not return. And I am taking you to my home.”

Kaja

  • 0:05:01 “You will make excellent additions to my army.”
  • 1:32:35 “There are forces, of course, at work beyond our comprehension at all times … And I merely serve one of them.”
  • 1:35:01 “We have a special relationship. We’ll leave it at that.”
  • 1:37:20 “I typically don’t fall at the hand of someone so beautiful.”
  • 2:02:42 “The thing that people whisper tends to say much more than what they shout on the streets.”
  • 2:44:54 “I die all the time.”

Atalantos

  • 0:20:16 “You fight to forge your own legacy. Let us see what your legacy holds today.”
  • 1:14:31 “Tonight, we dine in hell!”
  • 1:44:27 “No spear, no weapon is stronger than the one next to it.”
  • 1:54:19 “The spear guides the likes of Cor’thun strikes to glory … This shield protects it and all those that it cares for and loves. I am a weapon, and I am your weapon, and I am honored.”
  • 2:10:17 “You will die a warrior, or you will die worthless. The choice is yours.”
  • 2:44:26 “Then I know that I die in the heat of battle knowing that all I have done was for this land.”

Sir Boros

  • 0:10:17 “You must come with us.”
  • 0:11:10 “I’m sorry to tell you this, but your father is dead.”
  • 0:12:23 “Don’t worry. This is all planned. We’re going to get you to safety.”

Emperor Thornos

  • 1:49:12 “You came to us some 300 years ago, long before my time … I believe it was my forebearer Juntikar.”
  • 1:50:31 “As you’ve been here, undying, even as we have perished around you … and yet we treat you as an outsider.”
  • 1:55:07 “And you, Elusia, Princess of the Void, refugee, stranger no more.”
  • 2:46:40 “Your oath is to serve Cor’thun. Cor’thun stands for justice and hope.”

Lucien

  • 2:05:38 “My cups, his cups, her cups, everyone’s cups.”
  • 2:10:01 “I guess because my dad told me to.”
  • 2:11:54 “You know what? You’re right. I can do better.”

Glotun

  • 2:18:29 “Let’s just say if you ever need a favor, you come to Glotun.”
  • 2:22:11 “I come on behalf of Plintos.”

Vythorn

  • 2:32:06 “I served your uncle, Agdrel, in the Dread Fortress in the time of Faucius Golden Shield. My name … is Vythorn. Once, I have been called the Endless Scholar.”
  • 2:34:23 “It was your uncle. Agdrel, the one they call the shadow.”
  • 2:37:29 “Your uncle, the Shadow King, they call him, has ruled with an iron fist. His lust for power and for the chaos magic of the Void, it knows no bounds.”
  • 2:38:07 “No one man can contain that much chaos. It’s not possible.”
  • 2:40:37 “The people need you.”
  • 2:45:31 “He is losing control of that power.”

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