The Onion Theory
Livesession 1 December 2024
Hallaster swooshes his scepter with a forceful motion, aiming straight for Farryn. I watch as Farryn raises his shield in defense, but even as he does, Hallaster begins tracing a rune in the air. My blood runs cold when I recognize it—Anaranth, the rune of protection and self-sacrifice. The glowing sigil flares to life and strikes both Farryn and the dragon near him, illuminating their forms in a radiant light.
Panic claws at me as I glance toward the planet below. It’s terrifyingly close, its looming presence a grim reminder that if we don’t act fast, Hallaster’s plan will succeed, and Waterdeep will be annihilated. Around me, the red dragons are attacking relentlessly, clawing and biting at Hallaster, but their fury barely scratches his massive form.
Then, a flash of light near Hallaster catches my eye. I whip my head around just in time to see Malik and Calyx vanish in a teleportation spell. Where did they go? My mind races with possibilities, but there’s no time to dwell on it. A wall of thorns suddenly encircles Hallaster’s massive neck, tightening like a cruel garrote. Whoever cast that spell is choking him, and for a moment, hope surges in my chest.
I ready my bow, not daring to waste the opportunity. Pulling out my last drow poison arrow, I steady my aim and fire. It strikes true, sinking into Hallaster’s skin, but I know it won’t be enough. Quickly, I shoot two more arrows in rapid succession, but they miss—damn it! I grit my teeth and cast Swift Quiver, summoning more arrows and granting myself the speed to keep up with this chaotic battle.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice the Gith swarming onto one of the red dragons. Their coordination is impressive, each warrior climbing with practiced precision. One of the dragons is prepared for Farryn to mount, and he wastes no time. Leaping onto its back, he raises his dwarven thrower high and yells, “CHARGE!”
Farryn hurls his hammer with devastating force, and it slams into Hallaster’s glowing form. “I’ll show you how to wield a hammer!” Hallaster booms, his voice filled with mockery and malice. With a sweeping gesture, he unleashes a thunderwave from his scepter, targeting Farryn and the dragon. The blast is overwhelming, sending both of them flying backward, tumbling through the void for twenty feet.
Hallaster isn’t done. He draws another rune, his movements deliberate and menacing. This one targets the Gith. I see them falter as its magic takes hold, their assault momentarily disrupted.
Then, I notice something new. Cracks are forming along Hallaster’s colossal body and his scepter. Light—blinding, radiant light—spills from the fractures, intensifying with each passing second. My breath catches in my throat as I realize what’s about to happen.
BOOM.
The explosion is deafening, a cataclysmic burst of energy that pushes everyone away from Hallaster. Dragons, Gith, even the astral ships are hurled back as though caught in a tidal wave. I cling to the saucer, trying to keep from being flung into the void.
When the light fades, I squint to make sense of what I’m seeing. Hallaster is smaller now, diminished in size, but there’s an unsettling glow around him—a shimmering blue aura that hums with raw power. Worse, he looks completely healed. The cracks in his body and scepter are gone, replaced with smooth, seamless flesh and metal.
“Holy smokes…” I mutter under my breath.
Hallaster isn’t just regenerating; he’s shedding forms like layers of an onion. Each time we wound him, he reveals a new, stronger version of himself. My hands tremble as I nock another arrow. How many more layers does he have? How much more can we endure?
Hallaster pushes the sphere of annihilation forward, its inky black mass heading for someone in its path—but strangely, it doesn’t envelop them. The sphere hovers there, crackling with dark energy, as if waiting. My attention snaps to other dragons in the distance. I see them sweeping through the chaos, picking up one of our party members and hurtling toward Hallaster. The battle has shifted again.
A sudden, brilliant ball of lightning detonates near Hallaster’s face. The flash is blinding, and I can’t help but feel a flicker of hope. Did that do anything? Hallaster’s movements are momentarily disrupted, but then his scepter rises. I watch as he methodically draws another rune in the air. His glowing mark targets one of the Githyanki starships. I can already see the destruction coming.
I raise my bow, taking aim, and fire five arrows in quick succession. Two miss their mark, but three slam into Hallaster. The damage seems minor from this distance, but I know I need to close the gap if I’m going to make a real difference.
Then, Hallaster’s spell strikes its target—a starship. Flames erupt from the ship’s hull as it is engulfed. The Githyanki onboard scramble to respond, but it’s clear the vessel is beyond saving. For a moment, despair washes over me.
But then, a glimmer of hope—a ballista arrow soars through the chaos and strikes Hallaster in the shoulder. His massive form jerks, his head snapping toward the source of the attack. Even from here, I can see the pain etched on his face. He’s hurt. He tries to move, but the massive arrow embedded in him limits his range of motion. For once, he seems vulnerable.
Farryn, mounted on a dragon, pushes forward through the chaos. I can see him urging his dragon toward Hallaster with a determined shout. The dragon roars and lunges closer, its claws outstretched.
Something strange happens around Hallaster’s scepter. A faint blueprint of glowing lines illuminates briefly around it—a dispel magic effect? Whatever it is, it’s disrupting him. Hallaster waves the scepter, frustration contorting his face. No light emanates from it. It’s not working!
The blue aura that surrounds Hallaster flickers and fades. He’s losing his edge.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Jaf’ar approaching. He’s heading straight for me, his expression oddly calm amidst the chaos.
“HEY JAF’AR!” I call out.
“No rush, Gwen,” he replies, his voice infuriatingly even. Typical Jaf’ar.
Ignoring him for the moment, I focus on Hallaster. I nock another arrow and fire. Five more shots—this time, four of them hit. Hallaster roars in frustration and pain as the arrows find their mark.
Meanwhile, Farryn’s dragon lashes out, its claws raking against Hallaster’s body. The massive mage stumbles slightly, his movements sluggish. The ballista arrow embedded in his shoulder snaps with a loud crack, freeing him. I watch as he flexes his arm, regaining mobility.
“I DON’T NEED MAGIC TO DEFEAT YOU!” Hallaster bellows. With an almost primal fury, he swings the scepter like a club, its blunt force alone enough to cause destruction. He moves now with renewed intent, heading straight for Stardock, the asteroid.
Comments are closed