Battle at the Ozolith

[["Information",[{"data":"[[Mending Era]]","label":"Era"},{"data":"4561 [[AR]]","label":"Date"},{"data":"The [[Ozolith]], [[Ikoria]]","label":"Location"},{"data":"''[[Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths]]''","label":"Sets"},{"data":"[[Jirina Kudro]], [[Lukka]], [[Leori]], [[Barrow and Zeph]], [[Brin and Roland]], [[Abda and Rigi]], [[Vivien Reid]], [[Mzed]], [[Nightshade]], [[Toothcracker]], [[Dogsbreath]], [[Sedra]], [[Johannes]], [[Falk]]","label":"Characters"}]],["Outcome",[{"data":"\n*Several deaths, including [[Abda and Rigi]], [[Sedra]], [[Toothcracker]], [[Nightshade]], [[Dogsbreath]], [[Mzed]], [[Johannes]], and [[Falk]].\n*[[Lukka]] betrays his allies and uses the power of the [[Ozolith]] to take control over many monsters, forming an army that he intends to use for the [[Siege of Drannith]].\n*[[Jirina Kudro]] and [[Leori]] fly to Drannith, to their rescue and doom, respectively.\n*[[Vivien Reid]], [[Barrow and Zeph]], and [[Brin and Roland]] switch sides to join in the defense of [[Drannith]]"}]],["[[Timeline]]",[{"data":"[[War of the Gods]]\n\n[[Battle at the Ozolith|Battle at the Ozolith]]\n[[Siege of Drannith]]"}]]]

Battle at the Ozolith
Information
Era	Mending Era
Date	4561 AR
Location	The Ozolith, Ikoria
Sets	Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths
Characters	Jirina Kudro, Lukka, Leori, Barrow and Zeph, Brin and Roland, Abda and Rigi, Vivien Reid, Mzed, Nightshade, Toothcracker, Dogsbreath, Sedra, Johannes, Falk
Outcome
Several deaths, including Abda and Rigi, Sedra, Toothcracker, Nightshade, Dogsbreath, Mzed, Johannes, and Falk. Lukka betrays his allies and uses the power of the Ozolith to take control over many monsters, forming an army that he intends to use for the Siege of Drannith. Jirina Kudro and Leori fly to Drannith, to their rescue and doom, respectively. Vivien Reid, Barrow and Zeph, and Brin and Roland switch sides to join in the defense of Drannith
Timeline
War of the Gods Battle at the Ozolith Siege of Drannith

The Battle at the Ozolith was a major turning point for Lukka and his allies, occurring in 4561 AR near the crystalline structure known as the Ozolith. It marked the unraveling of Lukka's alliance with the bonders and Vivien Reid, as he succumbed to the Ozolith's (or its unidentified planeswalker controller's) corruptive power, and seized control of a host of nightmares. Several people, including the bonded pair Abda and Rigi, perished in the fighting, while others turned against Lukka after witnessing the consequences of his new abilities. The battle set the stage for the subsequent Siege of Drannith, with Lukka emerging as a dangerous force determined to reshape the world through domination of its monsters.

Description

The allied group of bonders, including Lukka, Brin, Abda, Barrow, and Vivien, arrived at the Ozolith aboard Lukka's winged cat, staying ahead of their ground-bound monsters. As they approached the crystal formation, Lukka and the others began sensing the Ozolith's psychic influence. The formation was a vast spiral of crystals, with a massive glowing hub at its center, guarded by multiple corrupted nightmares. Recognizing that Lukka had previously resisted the Ozolith's control, Vivien proposed a plan for him to reach the central crystal while the others held off the defenders.

The group landed just beyond the spiraling crystal field, coordinating a plan to let Lukka reach the central nexus while the others held off the monsters. As the battle erupted around them, each bonder fought alongside their companion in perfect synchrony — Barrow and Zeph unleashed bolts of lightning, Abda and Rigi intercepted a serpent nightmare's stinger, Brin and Roland battered an insectoid creature, and Vivien's conjured hawk clashed with a bat-winged horror. Seizing the moment, Lukka and his winged cat dived through the chaos, struck down the nightmare bat, and reached the central Ozolith. Ignoring the pain and psychic pressure, Lukka touched the glowing crystal, triggering a surge of energy that overwhelmed his senses and pulled him into another vision or realm. As the ground battle intensified, Falk's airship Vermilion arrived overhead, bringing Jirina Kudro and Mzed's mercenaries into the fray with one clear objective: retrieve Lukka, alive.

As the battle on the ground escalated, Vermilion hovered above, with Jirina Kudro and her commander, Falk, observing the chaos below. Spotting Lukka among a group of bonders and monsters fighting against a swarm of nightmares, Jirina ordered her crew to support Mzed's team of elite monster hunters in engaging the creatures. The ship's ballistae fired into the fray, striking several targets. Johannes, one of the gunners, managed to land a fatal shot on Abda, prompting both Brin and Rigi to cry in shock. Jirina, witnessing the heartbreak through her spyglass, felt a moment of guilt—but remained committed to recovering Lukka at any cost.

The tide of battle turned dramatically when the Ozolith emitted a powerful pulse, momentarily freezing all the monsters on the battlefield. An arc of orange energy leapt from the crystal nexus to the spiked badger, Rigi, reanimating him with unnatural vigor and triggering a frenzy among the nightmares. Obeying some unseen command, the nightmares surged forward with suicidal intensity, overwhelming the bonders and hunters alike. Toothcracker, Sedra, Nightshade, and Dogsbreath were all slain in the onslaught, along with their monsters. Mzed was the last to fall, dragged down by the rampaging Rigi after Vermilion's longboat was destroyed during her attempted escape.

As the Vermilion attempted to ascend, it was struck by a massive nightmare snake aided by a flying bat-like creature. The serpent wrapped itself around the ship, crushing its structure and killing several crew members. Though Falk ordered the gasbags vented in a desperate attempt to stay aloft, the ship was doomed. Jirina, in shock, glimpsed Lukka standing in the heart of the Ozolith, wreathed in orange fire and staring directly at her. In that moment, she realized Lukka had chosen his path—and it was no longer with humanity. Even so, Leori carried Jirina away from the battle while the Vermillion crashed to the ground, killing Rigi, Falk, and Johannes.

Lukka tried to forcefully seize control of Zeph and Rol through the Ozolith, but both monsters resisted. Brin and Barrow were visibly distressed as the link strained. Vivien ordered them to flee and attacked Lukka with her Arkbow, transforming her arrow into a spectral elk that hurled him across the battlefield. As she and the bonders escaped, Lukka was saved by a nightmare, which responded to his summons with total obedience. Drawing power from the Ozolith, Lukka assembled a growing army of nightmares, fully embracing his new role as their commander, and setting his sights on Drannith.