The Harder They Fall

The Party: Arcturius-9, Corwen, Farrow, Khonshu

The Agony Engine had reawakened, using a version of the Enigma of Combination cloned from the rare cage fungus they acquired and the recent disturbances in planar energy.

Lanternwurm and its allies moved to confront the giant and its fungal zombie army aided by the flying engine Cloudhope. Agent figured out how to transform Lanternwurm. Half would detach with the population. The other half would transform into a giant mecha to combat the Agony Engine. The robot would be controlled by a small group through neurohelms, the party's previous exposure to mind control spores and planar dimensions made them the best candidates while other skilled members of clan would be the running ground battle to keep the fungal zombies at bay. Putting their individual problems aside, they party readied to stop the approaching threat.

The form of the enemy was a metal and stone fortress-turned-colossus, 50 feet tall with fungal tendril ligaments and a blood crystal orb head. Within, the giant robot was piloted by Baroness Ravonna, Levander, and Manu the Overseer from Cloudhope. They would be aided by the awakened heart of cage fungus.

The party transformed the section of Lanternwurm into a metallic four-headed hydra serpent. Their titanic struggle above the warring factions caused immense damage. Destroying portions of mountain ranges, fairy forests, elemental storms, and the settlement of Niceton. The landscape was marred by their actions. Corwen's hydra head separated and attacked at angles while the other three heads exchanged volleys with the Agony Engine.

Eventually, the group struck at the central unit and heart, disabling it, causing the Agony Engine to run into a slow shut down.

Meanwhile, Corwen's mecha was disabled and he escaped to Farrow's hydra section that moved ahead.

The Lanternwurm seemed in a weaker position as the Agony Engine powered up for a final rush. Having planted some doubts in what remained of Levander, Farrow opened a communication channel to force him to question what he was fighting for. In a turn, Levander caused the arm of the Agony Engine to crash into the blood orb where the Baroness floated. The entire giant crashed into the rubble of the mountains.

The battle was won, but friendships and oaths were strained in the aftermath. A diminished Lanternwurm retired to assess the future before them.