Editing Game-Summaries:12/28/2018 Recollections (section)

==Recollections by Ci==
As I rest here surrounded by this field of ruin, I find it hard to gain my Center. If not for [[Master Fēng]]'s soft voice, I do not think I could contain the rage that boils inside me. Such destruction. Such Death. How can any beings desire this? How can beings that live and breathe align themselves with forces that desire nothing less than the destruction of all life and breath? Clearly that is what we faced here today - the destruction of all life... of everything. How would my Masters in their distant Temple have faced THAT? With confusion? acceptance? With ignorant defiance, clinging to their dusty prophecies as their mountains collapsed around them? Thanks to the efforts and sacrifice of so many here, they did not have to find out. 

Our Allies were many: Barbed Devils from [[Avernus]], Elves of [[The Golden City of Elves|The Golden City]], the enigmatic Wizard [[Steel]] from the frozen wastes. We even learn that [[Dyrr|Lord Dyrr]] the Lichdrow, was on our side... a mole amongst our enemies, though what role he might play in this chapter we could not divine. Our enemies were staggering. As we stood on the walls, having made what preparations we could, we saw the approach of the assault. A Hoard of [[Myconid|Myconids]] seemingly of single mind, hundreds for each defender. With them giant [[Mushroom Hurler|Mushroom Hurlers,]] attacking the walls of the city from within the protection of the Hoard. Our Archers on the walls had little effect on their hulking forms, and our infantry could not penetrate the Hoard. In the midst of what increasingly seemed to be a losing battle, we spy four figures in the eye of the Hoard, directing its movements: [[Imphraezl]], who had escaped us so many times, [[Dyrr]] who we began to doubt was on our side at all, and two others we could only assume were [[Danifae]] and [[Zuggtmoy]]. If we could only reach them, we could turn the tide of this slaughter. I felt impotent on this wall, so far away. My bow seemed a wholly insignificant weapon against the Hoard and its Masters. Suddenly we see the [[Zuggtmoy|Demon]] casting a spell. I immediately feared the release of the [[Chaos Curse]] we had been so ineffective at preventing. Indeed, as a red mist began to spread from braziers around the city, and we began hear screams and cries behind us, my fears were proven correct. We send word to the [[Magistery]] that we had sighted the leaders, and they had triggered the curse, but I did not dare hope that help coudl reach us in time. We knew this was but one front of the war, and that all the [[Magistery]] was engaged in the battle already. This was the end it seemed, and as more enemies charged onto the field below us, in the form of [[Mushroom Screamer| Mushroom Cavalry]]. I steeled myself for a desperate last stand. I may fall, but NOT before the architects of this destruction on the field before me. 

But as I prepare to leap from the walls into the Hoard, we are suddenly joined by more allies. [[Chandra]] appears speaks to [[Zanna]], [[Kaylorr]] and [[Halisstra]] then suddenly is gone as quickly as she appeared. We see [[The_Seal|The Seal of the Realm]] reveled in her true form of Golden Dragon, ridden by no less than [[Mordenkainen]] himself. The [[Magistery]]'s [[Color Guard]] appears, as well as a vanguard of Elves of [[The Golden City of Elves|The Golden City]]. Between these three spears, the Hoard is broken, and the field is thrown into disarray. There is an opening to get to the leaders, there is hope it seems at last. At this moment the sky became as bright as a star come to earth, and a sound as of millions drums beat at once rolled over us. As our vision returned, we saw the [[Magistery]] Tower torn asunder, and the entire Temple District slowly beginning to fall onto the city behind us. Before we have time to mourn this loss, however, [[Chandra]] reappears and urges us forward. She will transport us to the field to engage the leaders who have now split into two groups. [[Color_Guard#Cosmopolitan|Telerthquessir]] appears as well in Dragon Form, and Dives into the fray. [[Chandra]] opens a portal ahead of us and we charge in to engage [[Imphraezl]] and [[Dyrr]]. By the time we reach [[Imphraezl]], he is alone. 

[[Dyrr]] has finally decided to help, and rushed to engage [[Zuggtmoy]]. We can also see [[Halisstra]] fighting with [[Danifae]], as we close on the wizard that has been a thorn in our side for so long. As expected when we reach him he reversed gravity and we begin to fall up into the sky. [[Ember]] and I use the gift the [[Magistery#Blacks,_House_of_Time]] to stop our fall, and [[Kaylorr]] manages to counter another spell that [[Imphraezl]] is attempting to cast. While in the air, I am able to finally put my bow to good use, and I streak arrow after arrow at [[Imphraezl]]. With a final piercing blow, I am able to end that damnable wizard, though his death was almost the end of us! As he gravity spell failed, his body exploded into 3 bright green streaks of light, hitting [[Cassio]], [[Dereth]] and [[Zanna]]. Though all seem grievously hurt, they remain in the fight. We look to the battle with the other leaders and immediately take off to assist [[Halisstra]] and [[Color_Guard#Cosmopolitan|Tel]]. I sprint to close the distance, [[Zanna]] rides her twin lions, and the others pile into a [[Flaming Chariot]] conjured seemingly by [[Dereth]] and we all hurry to [[Halisstra]]'s aid. Firing more arrows as I run, I suddenly hear Chandra yell "Quickly, the Demon Web has reattached, do it now." As we reach and engage the leaders, I see the head of my house drop to her knees and offer prayers of forgiveness to [[Lolth]]!!! Before I can react to this seeming betrayal, [[Lolth]] claims [[Halisstra]] mas her avatar and appears before us. In her rage she curses [[Danifae]] for a traitor and devours her. [[Lolth]] then turns of [[Zuggtmoy]] and rips her bloated form to shreds, killing her and claiming her Divine Spark. At this moment [[Color_Guard#Cosmopolitan|Telerthquessir]] returns to his dragon form and we found ourselves transported back to the walls of [[Solace]]. From there we can see [[Dyrr|Lord Dyrr]] slam his staff into the ground. A green sphere appears upon [[Lolth]]'s back and she begins to decay. I cannot believe what has happened. I was ready to sacrifice myself, but instead I and my brothers and sisters are alive. On the field before us, almost none of the [[Myconid|Myconids]] hoard remain alive, and [[Imphraezl]], [[Zuggtmoy]], [[Danifae]] and an avatar of [[Lolth]] have been utterly destroyed. It seems we have won, but the cost may be too great to imagine. [[Halisstra]] is lost, and behind us the city of [[Solace]] lays in ruins, as the temple district has collapsed upon the rest of the city. Messangers bring us further news both happy and grave: the Outsider we had long feared has been defeated, but we have lost one of our own, the sorcerer of flowers, [[Sakura]]. In his place, however, the goddess [[Drusilia]] is returned to power, and through her a greater tragedy reversed! 

It will take some time to make sense of all of this. Though this feels like a victory, it does not feel like an end. Too many questions remain unanswered, and too many lives have been lost. Word of what happened here will slowly makes its way to mountains of Pardor. I wonder if the Masters of [[Yanji]] will realize how close they were to their own destruction? I suddenly understand what they fear, why they cling to their isolation.  Those men for whom fear is so foreign even; don't even recognize it when it comes. Following the Path in the solitude and protection of the [[Temple of Shan Sua|Temple]] is easy. [[Yanji|The Study]] is simple when there are no distractions, no emotion, nothing at stake. To be a part of the world, is to invite chaos and doubt into your being. It is a challenge to the balance, and to peace. And yet it is the Forge that reveals the strength in the Wisdom of Yanji. It is the whetstone that sharpens that Wisdom into a weapon against Chaos and Evil. For generations, the Masters have sent us out on Pilgrimage, confident that the world would break us, or drive us back to the protection and solitude of the the [[Temple of Shan Sua|Temple]]. [[Master Fēng]] assures me they have forgotten its original purpose. The pilgrimage was meant to be a Crucible, not a Rite of Passage. It was meant to show the limits of [[Yanji|The Study]] as a philosophy only and to reveal its necessity as a force for stability and good in the world. [[Zifu Poe]] often quotes the 119th pillar:' 

:"Seek not to contend, without contention, their is neither victory nor defeat. Avoid, rather than check. Check, rather than hurt. Hurt, rather than maim. Maim, rather than kill. For all life is precious, nor can any be replaced." 
:''119th Pillar, the Book of the Mountain, Order of Shan Sua''

[[Master Fēng]] reminds me constantly that the Pillar that follows seems to have been forgotten: 

:"Seek rather to be as the reed in the wind. It does not seek to challenge the wind, and yet it does not yield. It stands with its brothers and sisters providing shelter beneath it's leaves. the reed does not try to match the wind's strength, but rather bends before it, relying on brotherhood to sap it's fury, and redirect its power."