Having saved the multiverse things should have calmed down. Of course, they did not.
A group of fiends dedicated to the Unending Word, a prophecy of Shar, banded together to cause serious conflict for the adventurers of the Dawnlands. Not least of the problems they created, the fiends were ludicrously sexy, and this led to some questionable and NSFW decisions from the heroes.
Also in cult news, a group of Ilmater worshippers were corrupted by Cyric into truly dark interpretations of Ilmater’s teachings around pain. It took a group of the most powerful adventurers being backed up by actual gods to intervene and disband the group. Meanwhile a circle of Druids set up shop in the sewers of Port Ffirst, which was probably fine. A new thieves guild was started in the town by adventurer Wren, as a counter to the new ‘godfather’ of the city, Mace (who graduated this season). This too, was also probably fine. Veridian also graduated, becoming an Archmage.
Daring Heights formally made contact with the migratory nation of Arva, far to the north west. Adventurers also encountered an Infinite Staircase which existed at all places at all times. Weirdly, this was not the most significant thing that happened this season, nor was it the most difficult thing to map in Kantas. High Diviner Rholor Vuzekh of the Temple of Selune in Daring Heights was kidnapped dramatically and imprisoned elsewhere by the aforementioned sexy fiends. It would be some time before he was rescued.
It was Gadenthor in Harnash which drew attention however. A fateful archaeological expedition into the ancient sideways city had 3 results: it revealed that Githyanki were interested in taking the city for their own; it activated the arcane engines of the city – causing it to rise from the earth and return to floating in the sky once more; and locking the key to the city into the mind of Coll, the friendly bartender and keeper of Fort Ettin.
As the city returned to the sky to the shock of all of Harnash, the Githyanki descended en masse – dozens of red dragons and their riders took the city swiftly and began to seize control of the ancient magical systems. Soon, slowly, Gadenthor began to drift towards the Dawnlands – the location of the key to the rest of the city in Coll’s head.
The Carnival of Dreams which had been touring the land was destroyed as the Githyanki scoured the land near Kundar, dragons scorching the Scorched Badlands still further. The Dawnlands called for aid, gathering allies swiftly to their cause, calling upon the Aegis Accords. Centaur warriors from Arva, the Errant Guard from K’ul Goran, the Space Hopper D’lhoon, the Goat King Hieronymus, Moonstone Dragons, a pit fiend, the mindflayers of Infernum’s hive, and even the Burdocks were all gathered to defend Fort Ettin, the final destination of the Gith assault.
It was brutal and bloody. Daring Heights and Port Ffirst were both heavily torched as dragon riders swept across the land. New Hillborrow, with its beautiful fields and cottages, was almost totally wiped off the map. A colossal battle took place in the skies above Fort Ettin, the likes of which the land had never seen before. In the midst of this, a group of intrepid heroes took Coll up into Gadenthor to seize control of the system for themselves.
When the dust settled on the climactic conflict, Coll was no more. His mind had been merged into the gestalt consciousness that managed the city. However, he had wrestled control from the Githyanki (and also an ancient Netherese lich who had hoped to rule himself) through clever use of land law.
The toll was high – Coll, Kaltenzahn (Jenna’s dear dragon friend), Commander Cordelia Jadefist, Samed the smith, most of the Errant Guard, and multiple adventurers amongst many others fell during the terrible conflict. The aftermath was sombre, and quietly the city of Gadenthor drifted back to float above Harnash once again, passing back through the smoke billowing from the Dawnlands.
Summary:
Sexy Sharran fiends caused havoc with the adventurers in their efforts to fulfil a great prophecy
The nation of Arva was formally introduced far to the North West
The long-crashed flying city of Gadenthor was re-activated. The now airborne city was conquered by Githyanki and directed towards the Dawnlands, as Coll the bartender had the key to full control
During the city's slow flight, allies were gathered for a climatic battle
The battle took place over Fort Ettin. Many people died in the process, including Coll. The githyanki however were defeated and Gadenthor returned to Harnash