Infernus Delenda Est: an Open RP Campaign

UPDATE: CAMP WONDERWALL ATTACKED

Weeks of false peace came to a bloody end with a sudden and crippling infernal assault upon Camp Wonderwall -- the first direct action against the operation's base since its foundation.

Half the camp was razed in the attack, and the Venetian Commandant was taken prisoner in the chaos. As the dust settled his adjunct, Venetian Captain Luca Bianchi, assumed command and, recognizing the demons' gambit, broadcasted an announcement disavowing all volunteer forces. This, in effect, freed all Society and freelance elements assisting the operation to take 'independent action' against the infernal host -- per the terms of the armistice.

Bianchi's authority, however, was swiftly superseded by that of de facto volunteer leader Amelie Sinclair, who published a damage report and raised the question of how the demons bypassed the camp's wards and defenses. The next few days saw a flurry of follow-up activity; while some volunteers such as prizefighter Ray Grimsson took advantage of their disavowment to take the fight to Hell preemptively, others worked on an answer to Amelie's question. Desirila Davenport was able to salvage surveillance footage and audio logs which showed that the demons were specifically aiming to capture Wonderwall Command alive. The recordings also indicated the presence of hellrifts uncomfortably close to camp, which was confirmed by Raine Garza's discovery of infernal terraforming along Wonderwall's northern approach.

Disturbing as these discoveries were, prompt action was called for -- especially now that the volunteers had their target. Discovered and scouted previously during Operation Telemachus, the Lord of Blood and Wailing's fortress in Hell awaited beyond the Styx Incursion Zone. Amelie convened a Council of War to plan a decisive, three-pronged assault upon this demonic fastness.

The ashes have grown cold in ruined, battered Wonderwall, but the fire under its final offensive is only just lit.

CONCLUSION: ALL THE ROADS THAT LEAD YOU THERE

So this has been pretty long in the coming, but — it’s done!

The ‘Styx Assault’, as it has become known, has over the past two (RL) months breached the infernal fortress of the Lord of Blood & Wailing, and wrought a grand tapestry of demon-slaying havoc. What Venice failed to accomplish, its ‘disavowed’ allies have done. Little remains of the Styx Fortress, heart of the hellish blight that menaced Tunisia, but a guttered hulk — its garrison scattering, and the Great Rift atop its summit destabilized into nothingness.

The full measure of the exploits of Teams Sisyphus, Summanus and Stymphalus can be read here, in the Discord server where it all unfolded.

Questions remain, and loose ends also. Widow’s Tears — sole survivor of the Host of Blood & Wailing’s three generals — remains at large, having been inadvertently pulled to Earth along with the transdimensional retreat. What mischief the great banshee of Hell will get up to on our anima-rich plane, only time will tell. There is also the Phoenician connection: what exactly was the Purples’ interest in the demonic invasion? Where was the Great Rift at Styx really leading to, and for what purpose? What became of the captured Commandant of Wonderwall? And, of course, of the Lord of Blood & Wailing himself there is no sign. Perhaps Styx was but a setback. We may never know...

But for the present, this marks the official end of Infernus Delenda Est as a campaign. A big thank-you to everyone who participated, and made this what it became. Special thanks to those brave souls who joined me ingame at the oasis, to battle the RP restraints Funcom placed on us! We made it up to 13 players at camp one night (too spread out to capture in one shot, unfortunately, but here’s a shot of an earlier session with 10!), which I’ll hold up there as an field RP record as far as this game is concerned.

And last but definitely not least, a shout-out to the impromptu ‘GM team’ — Cognizance, Faerner and Croise. #InfernusDE owes these three a great deal for stepping up as co-GMs, and lending their time, effort and creativity in the face of RL interference!

Over the past half-year, I kept a tally of characters I noticed engaging with the campaign in some fashion, whether ingame or on Twitter. No better way to wrap this thing, I think, than by posting it. Thank you all again, and I hope I didn’t miss anyone!