Unity

"Unity" is episode 50 of SuperQuest Saga. Echo, Persephone, Primina, Sebastian, and Watt test their new ship (and their newly formed psychic bond) in battle against two illithid vessels. Victoria and The Brunhilde join the fight and the two ships manage to defeat these enemies. An impossible decision is made as an illithid mothership arrives and sends a new swarm of enemies directly at the battered party.

Introduction

 * Will Stark shall be your aeronautical dungeon master for this evening.
 * Josh Freeland is playing Sebastian Crenshaw, half-orc Oathbreaker Hexblade.
 * Your Special Guest Jake is playing Persephone Goldpetal the firbolg Galactic druid.
 * Brian is playing Codename: Echo, a wizard in space and also a rogue and a fighter.

Sponsor
This episode features the first ever sponsor of SuperQuest Saga! Thank you to Loke BattleMats!

Recap
Last time a lot of stuff happened. The party found a dragon ship, got inside it, and found out it was kind of alive. Because the illithids showed up Victoria went to go save The Brunhilde. The party managed to launch, and almost crashed and died. They formed a psychic network and once they all became one thinking, feeling being, they punched through the ice, soared out into the open air, and were immediately attacked by two illithid cruisers.

Horrible Potatoes Flying in the Distance
As the ship breaks through the ice they see in the distance two oblong-shaped black, Umbrium vessels about the size of The Brunhilde, each with live tentacles extending from the bottom front.

Echo has control of the ship. He activates his Bladesong and all in the psychic network are able to experience what he feels, and they all feel the collective soul of his people. He maneuvers the ship towards the closer of the two illithid vessels, positioning it between them and the second ship, and makes two attacks with the dragon claws. The first misses and the second hits, slashing into the ship. The illithid vessel they attacked reaches out with its tentacles and grapples their ship, restraining them. The second vessel fires black bolts of lighting from its lasers, scoring a hit. Persephone slashes out at the ship on them with the dragon claws, hitting once. Sebastian manages to break the ship free from the grapple and maneuvers them away.

Lasers fly out of the lake below as The Brunhilde rises up and attacks the second ship. The attack bounces off their shields, but the party hears Victoria ask how they are doing over their bracer jacks. Echo, Persephone, Primina, Sebastian, and Watt look at each other and say “We are Legion” as one into their bracer jacks. Victoria is confused and Echo clarifies that they are good. Victoria is ready to take down the squid-faces.

Echo fires the ship’s pulsar beam at both illithid vessels. They manage to endure the blast, taking half damage. Echo maneuvers the ship away from the attacking vessels. The first illithid ship moves in to grapple them again and restrains them again. The second illithid vessel fires upon them dealing more laser damage, and it moves closer to them. Persephone attempts to break free from the grapple but does not make it. Sebastian slashes with the dragon claws, striking with the first but missing the second. Victoria tries to engage with the second ship and fires two lasers, missing once but hitting with the second.

Echo maneuvers the ship free from the grapple and moves them away and they are now flying over a mountain range. The illithid vessel pursues them, reaching out with its tentacles and grappling them once more. The second illithid ship turns to attack The Brunhilde and envelopes it in tentacles. Persephone fires the pulsar blast on the ship grappling them, cracking the shell and annihilating one of the tentacles. Sebastian follows up with two claw attacks but both miss. Victoria hits the panic button on The Brunhilde and every single ballistic missile on the ship fires off all at once in an ultimate barrage and bloodying the illithid vessel grappling her.

Echo goes for two claw attacks, missing the first and striking with the second, causing it to twitch. The illithid vessel throws their dragonforged straight at the ground, landing them upside down on the mountain. It swoops down and strikes out again with its tentacles, missing once and successfully grappling them again, lifting them into the air. The second illithid vessel tosses The Brunhilde to the ground as well damaging it even further, and the party collectively feels concern for Victoria and Echo’s concern for his ship. They’ve never seen The Brunhilde in as bad shape as it is right now. Persephone thinks they have to get out of the grapple and touches the keyboard as she pulses magic into the ship casting Freedom of Movement. All the Umbrium on the exterior of the ship gets a rainbow sheen like oil and they slip out of the grapple, and they move closer to The Brunhilde. Sebastian maneuvers the ship higher and strikes the illithid ship attacking The Brunhilde with a blaster beam. The Brunhilde flies up and fires on that same ship, dealing a little more damage.

Echo maneuvers the ship to line up both illithid ships and hits them with a pulsar blast. Both vessels move to maximize the distance between them and turn to fire on the dragonforged. Persephone moves the ship to keep The Brunhilde safe and fires a blaster beam, but misses. Sebastian fires another blaster beam, missing as well. Victoria fires two lasers on the same ship Percy and Sebastian targeted, missing once but dealing a little damage with the second shot.

Echo remote starts The Starling and fires the pulsar at the same illithid vessel they’ve been targeting. The pulsar blast widens and the illithid ship evaporates into nothing. The remaining ship fires on them and they avoid some of the damage. Persephone fires a blaster beam but misses. Sebastian fires the pulsar beam and they do some good damage. The Brunhilde fires two shots, missing one and hitting with the second.

Echo starts to close the distance between their ship and the illithid vessel and fires a blaster beam, which misses. The illithid vessel retaliates with laser fire that strikes them. Persephone moves in on the illithid ship and slashes at it twice with the claws. One misses but the second strikes critically, punching a gaping hole into the ship causing it to crash into the mountain side.

A Date with a Very Handsome Dwarf
They hear Victoria over the bracer jack, breathing heavily as she checks their status. Echo reports they are okay. Persephone thinks this new ship is awesome. Sebastian asks how Victoria is. She is okay but The Brunhilde is pretty banged up. She suggests they need to get somewhere safe since it’s only a matter of time before more illithids show up. Persephone, Primina, Sebastian, and Watt feel Echo thinking of his home. Persephone asks where his home is. They see flashes of his home planet, Arcadia. Echo says he has permission to bring friends. Victoria asks if their ship can jump and when Primina confirms the two ships get ready to depart.

The two ships make their way up into outer space. Persephone spots an enormous illithid ship about the size of the city with four large tentacles branching off like a starfish a short distance away from them. She sees the unmistakable silhouettes of single-man ships launching in a horde towards them.

Victoria speaks on the bracer jack. “I need you to take care of my family. I leave them in your hands, please protect them.” Everyone shouts in protest, Watt insists there is enough distance to flee and then make the jump. Victoria says “I think my A-Reactor is damaged, Watt. I don’t know if it can fire up in time and there’s no time to transfer me to your ship. We don’t have time to argue, they’re incoming now.”

Echo asks if she can get to The Starling, he can get her out from there. She tells him to call his ship now, The Brunhilde is too big and she will not make it to where The Starling is stored on time. “You all know what we have to do, we can’t outrun them. Call your ship now, Echo.” And he does.

Primina pleads with Victoria. “No Victoria, please. I can’t accept any more deaths because of me… because I am too weak to do anything.” Victoria responds “This isn’t your choice, Prim. I’m not doing this because you are weak. I’m doing this because I believe in you… in all of you. Prim, Sebastian, Percy, I’ve watched you all grow so much. When I first took you in you were the most hapless, lost lot I had ever seen. But before I knew it you were changing the course of history and I can’t tell you how much joy it’s been to have you aboard and how proud I am to call you family. Watt, thank you for everything. I’m sorry I can’t keep my promise but I have a date with a very handsome dwarf who's been waiting for me.”

And without another word, as the illithid ships get closer and closer, The Brunhilde blasts towards the dreadnought with a burst of speed. The illithid fighters descend upon The Brunhilde, letting loose laser fire. With a sudden jerk Victoria pulls the ship vertical, bringing The Brunhilde above their line of fire and trajectory. Without losing momentum, The Brunhilde’s nose turns to point at the dreadnought and the back engines ignite into overdrive burning a bright blue, hot enough to burn out the engines within minutes. The Brunhilde flies forth, a singular missile aimed at the illithid dreadnaught. The fighter ships pull up in front of the party as they attempt to turn around to take down the threat to their mothership. Time seems to slow as they all hear Victoria’s voice over their bracer jacks.

''“May our bonds never break and Unity hold strong. With this sacred oath I speak, forge a union lifelong. By my word I do vow to aver amity. With my heart I tie this knot, my love, my harmony.”''

In a brilliant fiery explosion The Brunhilde crashes into the illithid dreadnaught. Watt breaks down in tears. Prim looks catatonic. Echo punches it. The engines of the dragonforged whirl to life and Prim begins to glow blindly brightly. Prim’s voice can be heard screaming Victoria’s name in everyone’s mind as the stars outside blur away and the ship jumps to safety.

The Party

 * Sebastian Crenshaw: A half-orc paladin/warlock. We are Legion.
 * Persephone Goldpetal: A firbolg druid. We are Legion.
 * Echo: An elf wizard/fighter/rogue. We are Legion.

NPCS

 * Victoria Nova: A tiefling woman. Finally gets that date.
 * Watt Wainwright: an elderly gnome. We are Legion. The last of the original crew.
 * Primina: A genetically engineered young woman. We are Legion. Heart of the ship.

Music

 * SuperQuest Saga Theme - by Brian

Out of Character

 * The first time the party jumped on The Brunhilde away from Dennethar, Victoria started the same prayer she said at the end of the episode. "May our bonds never break." This prayer is also her wedding vows.

Nat 20's (4 total)

 * Will (Attack as illithid ship)
 * Brian (Acrobatics)
 * Freeland (Dexterity Save)
 * Special Guest Jake (Claw Attack)

Nat 1's (4 total)

 * Freeland (Claw Attack)
 * Will (Brunhilde Laser)
 * Special Guest Jake (Blaster Beam)
 * Special Guest Jake (Claw Attack)