Episode 66: The Blackjack Finale

The Crew of the Blackjack launces their final assault to stop the gestalt of Malfador and Xeno's apocalyptic plan. They have turned the Hidden Moon into a Moonsoul Cannon that will shatter the Crystal Sphere of Kirinal, unleashing the Elder Ones of the Far Realm. Battling through traps, fiends, and MaqlXeno's golden mecha, they freed the unborn moonsoul and revealed Malfador's true form.

They trapped the God of Lies in his own weapon and fired Malfador into the sun, ending his threat. Xeno, now free, merged with the moonsoul to become Praxis, God of the Soulforged, and the Hidden Moon transformed into the Forged Moon, marking the dawn of a new age.

The Moon Cannon and a World of Warforged

The Crew, fully prepared, receives word from their slaad allies, the LaChugas, that the countdown to fire the Moonsoul Cannon has begun. The salad reveal a shortcut to the main chamber: an unguarded thermal exhaust port. The path leads to a set of double doors exuding malevolent energy. The inimitable Thunderfox checks the door and discovers that it's trapped with a Symbol of Death. The fox disarms it with the Spigot of Xeno that he carries.

Beyond the doors, they discover a massive Maharlitech device, the Moon Cannon. In the firing chamber, they see a giant shell containing the bound moonsoul which has manifested as an enormous Baku. The moonsoul, essentially a potential godling, is bound with a strange mix of magical wards and mechanical devices.

Then they see the amalgam, MalXeno itself, clad in his final form, a towering golden mecha suit crowned with an enormous flame. "I have been waiting," he says, "for you, my betrayer to arrive. Your death shall ignite this cannon. I shall shatter the Crystal Sphere and become the High God of Erathia!"

Nia argues back, "You may destroy the Divine Gate, but you will be the High God of nothing! Unleashing the Far Realm will obliterate all the mortals, leaving you without worshippers! You will fade into nothingness along with the rest of the Gods of Krosia."

"Oh Nia, I have planned for that! It is still not too late for you to take your rightful place by my side! Become my warlock again! You will be spared and can share in the fruits of my plan!"

Nia replied, "I would be willing to again become your warlock. Spare the Divine Gate and your potential followers."

Of the Forge the Spark interjects, "He won't give it up, this has always been his plan. Even before he siezed Xeno, this cannon was forged in the hells for this purpose. The Hell Week Accords were planned to bring the cannon through. His plan was always to destroy the Divine Gate."

Malfador crows, "I shall be able to enter the world in my true form. I can finally abandon this metal puppet!"

"Besides, I have nothing to fear of the Far Realm destroying my followers. With this Moon, I can turn my believers and the slain into new Soulforged. They will be loyal only to me. Without weak flesh minds, they cannot be readily corrupted by the alien influence of the Elder Evils."

"This is why I claimed dominion over the Soulforged! I will have an infinite supply of worshippers to control Erathia. I will maintain my godhood and control of the Zone will allow me access to the whole multiverse! "

The Final Battle

While MalXeno monlogues, the Moon Invaders strike. Nia lights him up with faerie fire, Lance channels lightning through his wedding ring, and Spark fires his lightning gun, causing significant damage. Mekkamutt launches an acid flask that barely affects MalXeno's armor. Meanwhile, Thunderfox sneaks over to the cannon's loading mechanism and begins releasing the moonsoul, surprising both the armored avatar and the unborn godlet.

The moonsoul speaks, "Uncle Malfy says that he's sending me to meet my siblings! You can't let me go!"

Nia distracts him by having her baku familiar, Tiik, turn into a golden flying mammoth. The captive godlet squeals in delight and says, "I love you!" to the true baku.

El rushes through MalXeno’s fiery aura, praying to Ashaya to alter her divine smite into chilling energy, but her attacks with Bedlam prove mostly ineffective against his armor. The tide shifts as MalXeno retaliates with his massive glaive, wounding all his assailants. Tiik trumpets in defiance, while Lance and Spark continue their assault, cracking MalXeno’s armor to reveal flesh and molten demonic energy beneath.

Nia teleports to safety and attacks MalXeno’s mind with a psychic lance, forcing MalXeno to burn some of his divine defenses. Spark aids Thunderfox in releasing another lock on the moonsoul, while El calls upon Ashaya’s power to unleash a lightning-charged strike. The combined force tears through MalXeno’s armor, collapsing it and revealing Xeno and Malfador in their true forms.

Malfadors's Last Stand

Xeno, now free, heals his former allies from the Blackjack. Malfador manifests in a mixed divine, diabolical, and mechanical form. The final avatar unleashes his fury with fireballs that scorch the Crew. He follows up with a Finger of Death that Lance counterspells. Nia continues her psychic assault, weakening Malfador's resolve.

As Spark and Thunderfox release the final lock on the moonsoul, Malfador teleports above the godlet, intending to consume it. However, Lance uses earthbind to pull him into the moonsoul’s cage. Xeno taps into his former captor’s powers, opening a path to the grave, and El deals the final blow, striking Malfador into unconsciousness.

Spark calmly continues the process of loading the stunned god into the shell. Nia blinks, "Wait, what are we doing? We can't fire him into the divine gate!"

Spark shakes his head, "No not toward the gate."

Lance finishes the sentence, "INTO THE SUN!"

El looks out the window, "But we're pointed the wrong way."

Spark replies, "Nia! Get your sister, the god, to ask the Arimoanga to tun the Hidden Moon towards the sun!"

Nia says, "Ok, how do I talk to it?"

Jenny's voice pipes in from the Silversong Moon, "Oh I'll help this'll be so great!"

A psychic link is forged. Nia speaks to the great moon glutton, "Hey there, I hear you like to chase shiny things! So, I have something perfect for you! If you point that skinny stick part toward the sun, we'll shoot a nice bright shiny ball you can chase all the way to the sun!

The Arimoanga consents and moves the moon.

Thunderfox opens the port in the cannon.

Lance puts on his firing hat.

Nia has everyone available cast daylight on the shell to brighten it up then gives the command, "FIRE!"

The mooncannon shakes the entire satellite as it launces its diabolical payload, the god Malfador, into the sun.

The Birth of Praxis

With Malfador defeated, the crew turns to the moonsoul, which requires a host to guide its power and live the life it never had. Spark offers Xeno the chance to fulfill his purpose and become the god of his people. Xeno consents, merging with the moonsoul to become Praxis, the God of the Soulforged.

Nia confronts Sigrid, urging her to claim a new warlock bond from Praxis and sever Malfador’s lingering influence. Praxis takes Sigrid’s hand, purging her of corruption and making her his first warlock. The moon transforms into its perfected form as the Forged Moon