Mission 05

Mission Five: The Azure Vow

M5:C1 | Maldrek

• Encounter with Maldrek Forces:
  • The squad arrives at a fortified settlement around the HMC Cromwell, a Hiigarian capital ship that crash-landed on Thea. Nearby, Maldrek Empire troops are stationed with artillery pointed at the Cromwell.
  • The squad negotiates with Commander Baro, leader of the Maldrek garrison. Baro is skeptical of their intentions but agrees to let them stay after Marty’s exceptional charm convinces him they can assist with the Cromwell issue.
• AMUNTOS:
  • The squad is contacted by AMUNTOS, the NHP of the Cromwell, who reveals a cooperative agreement with Genesis’s AI, GILGAMESH, to ensure mutual survival. AMUNTOS provides codes to stabilize the Harlegand’s orbit and offers a critical opportunity for the squad to gain strategic resources.
  • The squad plans a heist to acquire a sub-atomic relay from Hiigarian repair bays, with Maldrek’s assistance.

M5:C2 | Catalyst

• Hiigarian Heist:
  • The squad infiltrates the Hiigarian repair bays, encountering heavy resistance. Highlights include Val’s precision shot that destroys a weakened mech and Marty’s daring maneuvers to secure the relay.
  • The sub-atomic relay is successfully overcharged, allowing brief communication with the Harlegand. Commander Oshiro provides updates and sends schematics for a stable relay, emphasizing the squad’s continued importance to Genesis’s plans.

M5:C3 | Kormesh

• Arrival in Kormesh:
  • The squad reaches the coastal city of Kormesh, preparing for the Azure Vow, a grand festival blending spiritual and political significance. The city is adorned with decorations, but tensions are high due to Cult of Set activity.
  • Ethan Kane goes missing during the night. Kajime senses the presence of Selothi, Ethan’s patron, leading to an unsettling spiritual encounter for Xander. Selothi cryptically warns of Ethan’s abduction and the House of Flesh’s involvement.

M5:C4 | The Azure Vow – Part One

• Lady Isolde’s Rave:
  • The squad infiltrates a lavish rave hosted by Lady Isolde Sarethi, uncovering her ties to the Cult of Set. They find Ethan drugged and manipulated, along with clues about the cult’s plans to disrupt the Azure Vow.
  • Key discoveries include:
    • A map of Iterator tunnels beneath Kormesh, marking a Ritual Nexus.
    • A Psionic Amplifier, a prototype connected to the Pillar to God.
    • Cult paraphernalia, including a ceremonial dagger and cryptic scrolls referencing the resurrection of Set.
  • Rizz overhears plans to assassinate the King during the festival’s climax.

M5:C5 | The Azure Vow – Part Two

• Confrontation at the Ritual Nexus:
  • The squad descends into the Iterator tunnels with allies from the Blazing Wheel, encountering cult forces and psionic traps. They reach the Ritual Nexus, where the Steel Prophet is held within a psionic energy orb.
  • The cultists activate the Pillar to God, initiating a catastrophic ritual to resurrect Set. Reality warps as a double solar eclipse plunges Kormesh into chaos.
  • Marty enters the storm’s eye, finding the Steel Prophet. She reveals her corruption by the cult and asks for release. Marty comforts her, and in a climactic sacrifice, he prays to Arden and allows her to end her suffering, triggering a massive explosion.

Mission Five Key Takeaways

1. The Azure Vow’s Disruption:

   • The Cult of Set’s plans to assassinate the King and resurrect Set reach their climax, leaving Kormesh in turmoil and the squad in a precarious position.

2. The Steel Prophet:

   • The Steel Prophet’s role as both a psionic conduit and a victim of manipulation underscores the moral complexities of the cult’s goals.

3. Marty’s Sacrifice:

   • Marty’s selflessness highlights the emotional stakes of the story and raises questions about the squad’s ability to recover from such loss.

4. Hiigarian and Genesis Alliances:

   • AMUNTOS and GILGAMESH’s collaboration suggests a fragile truce between Hiigarian and Genesis forces, emphasizing the need for unity in the face of larger threats.