Session 31

Opening

After a relentless trial combat, The Fated Eight were left trying to process what had just occurred… including the seemingly auspicious reward bestowed upon SHAI in the aftermath. A spectral crown had manifested above his head, which caused the Aspects to appear to regard him with a newfound fealty. Upon further inspection, Morgyn confirmed the item as magical and not harmful in nature.

The Party was then interrupted by the familiar voice of the ancient tree that had sent them into the trial in the first place. Albeit late, he apologised for such a difficult trial, but commended The Party for successfully completing it. Professor OAK then ran a tree root through the ground beneath them all, and The Fated Eight could only watch in awe as it twisted and took the form of a human man with gray hair and olive skin, adorned in a white cloak.

Five tree stumps with different magical items on each appeared, and after a brief moment of deliberation, The Party elected to take The Cube Of Force. Morgyn took possession of the wondrous item, while the other party members watched the Aspect Of Magic’s diamond split into four items to share between them: two diamonds worth 300 gold, one diamond worth 50 gold, and an enchanted whistle. SHAI was able to identify its properties as a magical whistle capable of revival. Finished with their immediate dealings with Professor OAK, The Fated Eight turned towards each other, as they continued to pick up the pieces of the battle they had just been through, and the journey that still lies ahead.

The Feywild is for Questions, Not Answers

Kezark caught the eye of Aurevald, who still held the giant Aspect he had slain in his hands. He dropped the body in favour of extending a hand to the battered and bruised orc, who had just survived yet another brush with death. He attempted to heal his comrade to no avail, failing to realise how depleted he himself was. He still mustered the strength to try, and all he saw in return was the runic pattern across his body glowing in a chromatic rainbow. Aurevald finally made the desperate decision to Lay on Hands, exhausting himself to the point of shrinking back to his normal form.

Meanwhile, the other party members were having their own reflections of the events that transpired in combat. Morgyn was left contemplating their role in Kezark’s revival - and more importantly, the role of the Gods - as they twirled with the string of faith in their hands. Having recently renounced their faith, the deity’s response had left even more questions than answers. Morgyn opened their pocket to return the string, moving to provide more healing aid to The Party after the battle. Azriel was in his own mind, stabbing into a small creature he had found nearby. Axton had his focus on the giant arcane orb, a look of confusion plastered on his face. Timothy was… Timothy… choosing to stay in his own corner. Suddenly, Aurevald picked up his axe from the ground, excusing himself from The Party as he requested some alone time.

Aurevald ventured deep into the forest, taking a left turn that ultimately led him to a small serene stream. He washed the remaining blood off his axe, placing it in a nice spot to dry. He then turned his attention to himself and Kjott, using the water to wash faces and hydrate. This peaceful moment in the forest made him recall tender words of support from his mother.

“The spirits will always be here to guide you.”
- Aurvelia to Aurevald as a child

As a child, he was a daydreamer, and always dreamed about companions. He spent a lot of time around small creatures, due to his connection with nature. It was this very innate connection to the natural world that allowed him to channel a being like Kjott, and Scabb before him. He continued to meditate with Kjott, a Fey spirit, reflecting on his time with both spiritual and physical friends.

Aurevald felt an odd connection to The Feywild in this particular area. He didn’t understand why… but it reminded him of home.

Moment(s) of Weakness

While Aurevald was away in the forest, Morgyn took the time to approach Kezark directly, feeling compelled to address the part he played in what had happened to the gunslinger in battle. They felt a deep remorse for not being able to keep him safe during the battle, and apologised for this. However, Morgyn already had an idea of how he wanted to make it up to Kezark…

“I’d like to inspect your revolver one more time…”
- Morgyn to Kezark

Remembering what happened the last time a revolver ended up in Morgyn’s hand, Kezark emptied the bullets first before he abided by the request. The weapon glowed with a magical energy as Morgyn imbued it to grant additional strength in future combat. Mesmerised by Morgyn’s skill and grateful for the selfless act, Kezark spun the revolver to show off a flashy trick, and thanked Morgyn for not only this, but for performing the miracle that saved his life.

With a similar helplessness to that of Morgyn, Jin approached SHAI to give an apology of his own. He expressed regret over feeling like a liability in SHAI’s time of need. SHAI does his best to reassure Jin that The Fated Eight is a party that sticks together no matter what - and that Jin did do his part in the battle. Despite this, Jin confided that he still feels the same about the way things had happened. He pitched a hammock on the Arcanist Arboreal’s tree, as SHAI departed with a healing word of “Goodnight”.

One party member had still remained silent following the battle. Noticing Lady by her lonesome, both Morgyn and SHAI approached her to check in. As they sat under the stars of the night sky, Lady opened up about how her increasingly awakened ancestral ties have been impacting her. Morgyn related their own internal conflicts, as SHAI reassured Lady that she is undoubtedly on the right path with regard to his own civilization’s belief system…

“Your fate is written in the stars.”
- SHAI to Lady

Beginnings and Endings

Professor OAK gained the attention of SHAI once again, as he asked to speak to him alone. The news he delivered was grave - something had exacerbated The Ascension. While he could not precisely determine what shifted, it was clear by way of his ancient wisdom that the already precarious amount of time SHAI had left to stop the bleeding had only begun to slip away even quicker. Professor OAK then surmised the gravitas of the situation.

Professor OAK to SHAI: “If none of The Big Three have arrived at this point… then you are the only hope left.”

SHAI to Professor OAK: “I blame The Dungeon Master”

Knowing the journey ahead would prove difficult to SHAI and The Fated Eight, Professor OAK asked SHAI if he could inspect the broken map of The Feywild’s Wilds that was in his possession. He further enchanted the map to perfectly show the area in full. As he searched his inventory to find supplies and potions that would also be of use, SHAI took the opportunity to see if Professor OAK knew what had become of BLUE or GREY. As his connection to the material plane had been disrupted in the last few weeks, he unfortunately had no answer to this question.

Speaking up suddenly from his corner of the room, Timothy recalled that he had previously been told the Arcanist Arboreal knew of a path from The Feywild back home. His theory was confirmed by the Arcanist Arboreal, who offered the chance to open the portal up immediately. Pausing for a moment to thank The Fated Eight for saving his life, Timothy agreed to take up the offer to go home. Azriel also decided to chime in at this moment, realising that he was also needed more back home than he was in The Feywilds.

After their very short time with The Fated Eight, Timothy and Azriel departed through the portal back to Vaelorys. Whether or not their paths shall cross again with the troupe remains to be seen, but the remaining party all agreed that it would be a pleasure to encounter these unique people once again in the future. With this, everyone retreated to the campfire to prepare for a much deserved long rest.

Clash of Clans

Jin is awakened by Watatsumi, the sword of which he has endured a rather tumultuous relationship with. The sword shared that it had still struggled to forge a true connection with Jin as its latest inherited user. In a moment of growth, Jin decided to have a moment of vulnerability, sharing his true inner goals and intentions with the sword. Moved by Jin’s honest and frank declarations, Watatsumi willingly acknowledges Jin as its rightful heir. As Jin had let the sword in, the sword decided to let Jin in on its own history and experience…

Ripped away from the current night, Jin suddenly found himself standing on top of a mountain, surrounded by many members of his family’s clan of old. As quickly as he had appeared there, the ground beneath had begun to shake, rumbling with the footsteps of a figure making its way towards him. It was clear that the figure was that of a truly powerful and fearsome being, and all he could do was watch as he disposed of all clan members with ease, launching these battle-hardened warriors over 30 feet back with just a single punch alone.

As the figure drew closer, Jin was able to vaguely put together its appearance amidst the blurred flurry of its speed - a man with pale skin, dressed in single black robes, with mixes of crimson red and white darting about.

“Suijin, I warned you what would happen if you went back on your word.”
- The Unknown Figure to Suijin Cheon

The figure had finally made its way to him, accusing him of betraying an oath. As he watched the man’s right fist, encased with violent flames, pull back before landing its strike, Jin’s vision faded to black, returning him to the current night.

Watatsumi told Jin this was all he remembered from that fateful day, and that this was the first memory he had been able to unlock in a very long time. The realisation dawned quickly on Jin that the body he had inhabited in the memory was that of his own father, Suijin, who he had known to have perished in strikingly similar circumstances. Even more confronting was the realisation Jin had of the figure that had stood before him - there was no mistaking the hallmark appearance and fighting style of a Snowblood. Watatsumi left him with the revelation that not only were his and Lady’s fathers connected in life, but potentially in death too.

“If only Hwan or Raijin were here…”
- Suijin Cheon to himself, in the final moments of the confrontation

Desperately grasping for connections and answers, Jin turned his attention to the red seal in his possession, and he asked Watatsumi for more information on its origin and use. It was revealed to be a curse that translated to ‘thunder’ in ancient tongue, differing from the seal used to reforge Watatsumi, which translated to ‘storm’. Watatsumi advised against experimenting with the red seal. Instead, after sharing this intense moment together, the sword awakened a new power within Jin, inspired by the bloodshed he had witnessed. SHAI had been woken by Jin’s conversation with Watatsumi in their shared hammock, and questioned Jin on his seemingly restless sleep.

SHAI to Jin: “Was it a nightmare?”

Jin to SHAI: “…and an awakening.”

Jin promised to speak with SHAI more in the morning, but excused himself to take some time to clear his head. SHAI relented and went back to sleep, telling Jin to wake him up if he changed his mind.

Standing on the Shoulders of Gentle Giants

Aurevald, who had been kept awake by his own inner contemplations, noticed Jin’s unease and called him over to speak as he walked past. He went as far as to cast Zone of Truth around them… Jin complied and decided to stay within the space. With this, both stoic men silently agreed to listen to each other’s burdens.

Aurevald recalled the shared space they inhabited in their sleep a couple of nights beforehand, where The Party encountered life-like statues taking the shape of various figures - including one that bore true resemblance to their old friend, Graxious. Jin and Aurevald both shared that they agreed what they saw was real - these people, including Graxious, were genuinely trapped in this liminal space. Not knowing an immediate resolution, all Aurevald could do was sit with this fear.

Jin shared with Aurevald the vision that Watatsumi had just revealed to him, acknowledging that he felt the ancestral father of his father and that of Lady’s. Their families clearly shared a deep history. Not only this, but he also came to the realisation that her family’s abilities were leagues above his family’s.

Hearing of this harrowing encounter with death connected to two party members, Aurevald told Jin that felt scared. Jin shared that he is also scared, and after the previous close calls The Party has witnessed, he feared that they may lose someone forever one day. Aurevald echoed these feelings, sharing his own sense of wavered strength and doubts that felt too heavy to carry.

Aurevald guided Jin to the quiet stream he had found earlier. As they arrived, Jin took off one of his shoulder pauldrons. He asked Aurevald to inscribe it with something reminiscent of himself, as an act to show his commitment in helping carry his burdens on his own shoulders if they are too cumbersome to endure alone. Aurevald imprinted his own hand as a sign that he will be with Jin until the very end of their journey. Aurevald placed his hand and the pauldron in the stream to heal and set, and in this moment they both realised the stream held magical properties. Aurevald and Jin both inhaled the steam emanating from the water, bringing them both into yet another shared memory…

Once again, Jin found himself atop a mountain, but this time Aurevald was also there with him. In the midst of a merciless blizzard, they heard a figure in the distance repeatedly calling a name. Elsewhere, they both recognise a young lost Goliath boy. They both saw his expression carry despair and grief. It was clear to them both that the boy they were looking at was a young Aurveald.

“Aurvelia… Aurvelia… where are you? Aurvelia… Can you hear me?”
- The Unknown Man to Aurvelia, the mother of Aurevald

They then saw the other figure turn around, as all the rings on his hand glowed bright. He miraculously pulled an entire tree branch out from the side of the mountain. He outstretched his hand to grab the branch, and Jin and Aurevald watched as he was pulled through the cliff itself. Their vision ends.

Having lived through such a vivid experience of the past for the second time in the same evening, Jin felt sick and vomited. Aurevald held his friend’s hair away from his face, as he smiled to himself, feeling contentment for finally regaining a core memory of his own for the first time in a very long time. Aurevald waited for Jin to regain his composure.

Aurevald to Jin: “So… what will you do about Lady?”

Jin to Aurevald: “Her father’s actions do not reflect onto her.”

Deciding to leave that topic alone, Aurevald shifted his focus back to the memory they had shared together. He told Jin that if he should die, it was his wish for Jin to take the inscribed pauldron back to that very mountaintop that they had visited. Jin insisted that he would ensure they would go back to that mountaintop together.

They walked back towards the campfire, and while Aurevald decided to finally rest, Jin pulled away to the outskirts to continue his own training, motivated by the visions he had experienced that night. He trained and trained until he was close to exhaustion with the methods he had honed during his time with Commander Dae’hya, and noticed that the blade of Watatsumi now shined with a black steel.

Finally recognising it was time for his own rest, Jin woke up Lady to continue the night’s watch. He told Lady the truth of what he had seen, clearly affected by the conflict between their fathers. Lady ascertained it was not the right time to dig further, as Jin stood mentally and physically exhausted before her, and wished him a good night’s sleep. Lady fought to keep her own composure, as while she had heard many stories about her parents’ highs and lows from Gratia, this encounter with Jin’s father was never known or told to her. She trusted that what Jin said was the truth, and spent her watch processing this information.

Despite the troubling dreams and experiences they were all left to process throughout this one impactful night, The Fated Eight finally completed a long rest.

Pick Number Three My Lord

As The Party slowly awakened to face a new day, Morgyn created a homunculus for the first time and named it Alexander. While The Party was occupied by inspecting this new party companion, Lady couldn’t help but notice that someone had been watching them in the woods, but couldn’t determine who - or what - the presence she sensed was.

Despite the eerie start to the morning, The Fated Eight took pause to enjoy the natural whimsical beauty of The Feywild. Pixies and Sprites danced above the group, as Professor OAK gave his final piece of guidance - in order to find The Hidden Leaf, The Party had to find three hidden relics which belonged to each member of The Big Three. The locations were made known to all: Drasiyl’s Path, Training Grounds, and Cinder’s Den. Based on The Party’s location and the distance between the three areas, the group ultimately chose to head towards Cinder’s Den first. Professor OAK kindly left The Party with a departure gift: a bag of potions.

As the group began to travel in the direction of Cinder’s Den, Aurevald and Kezark spent time discussing the Orc’s close encounter with death. He had mentioned how in his sleep he dreamt of the outlaw life he had previously lived with the gangs of Gerward. He didn’t previously think much of death in the past, but this experience had shocked him, and made him realise he feared his own mortality. It also put into perspective the lives he took previously. He was already on the path of trying to be a better person, but this encounter amplified his determination to right the actions of his past. SHAI was behind the two, and spoke up briefly to encourage Kezark on his path of redemption.

“I’m glad your character sheet is still intact!”
- SHAI to Kezark

Still processing the intense emotions of the personal revelations made known to him the evening before, Jin quietly stepped away from the group, attempting to not be noticed by them. He angrily slashed his blade at the very first tree he saw, trying to relieve some of the frustration that had only seemed to grow by the minute.

Suddenly, a 7ft tall muscular black Gorr’Yll male swung towards Jin with a furious pace. Unknown to Jin, the tree he had dissected in anger was the home of the beast. Letting himself naively be consumed by his own angry state, Jin decided to throw Watatsumi at the Gorr’Yll. With a clap of its hand, the Gorr’Yll sent a sound wave blast that threw the sword right back towards Jin. Seeing this confrontation escalate, SHAI decided to use his mending abilities to restore the tree to its former glory. As cooler heads then began to prevail, The Fated Eight started to converse with the Gorr’Yll, learning that his name was Magnus Coatshire, and was 13 years of age. Shockingly, Magnus revealed that his own parents had been slain by The Eternal Mountain - the same tyrant that destroyed the homes of the Terralpi people, permanently displacing them as well. Magnus told The Party of another route to Cinder’s Den which was different to the path Professor OAK had shown them on the map. Assuming this to be an equal gesture of goodwill to that of SHAI’s, The Party decided to continue their journey by following this new trail instead.

Opening a Pit of Worms

As The Fated Eight got closer to the area they believed to be Cinder’s Den, the ground beneath them began to violently shake. Miraculously, every single member of the troupe managed to stabilise themselves in the midst of Mother Nature’s violence. Unfortunately, they very quickly realised that there were two Terralpi children who were not as fortunate - they had succumbed to the rattling, and had fallen 300ft down into a pit… which was really the center of a beast-like creature. The Party could only come to the conclusion that it was to be a giant worm of some kind, given the round shape of the opening, and the terrifying amount of sharp teeth which fenced the perimeter. The Party also realised the teeth edges were slowly starting to move close together… and if they did not act, the two Terralpi children were not long for this world.

Without hesitation, Aurevald and SHAI immediately dived down into the pit - on the back of Kjott - to make haste to reach the centre of the pit. They covered the distance from the outer perimeter into the center at a speed that was too close to comfort to the speed of the gradually closing mouth of the beast, but they had ultimately reached the center with enough time left to escape. SHAI grabbed one Terralpi child and immediately cast Dimension Door to teleport them both together back to safety. However, Aurevald still had to travel the entire distance back to escape with the other Terralpi - and it was clear that he had a very thin margin of time left to do so.

As Kjott led the way back for Aurevald and the Terralpi, the remaining party members had already been running alongside the outer perimeter to try and catch up to a central point to help Aurevald. This moment had led Lady to showcase what she does best, with her lightning fast speed seeing her cover 120ft per second, with Kezark held in her grapple and violently swaying with the wind behind her. At the speed she was running at, they were on pace to meet Aurevald at the perimeter… until Aurevald noticed a third Terralpi child that had somehow not been seen earlier. Not only this, but he saw a pack of Displacer Beasts; one of them covered in a shadowy aura, also sprinting towards the child and them, salivating at the thought of new prey that had fallen into their laps.

It was a split second decision, but an easy one to make for the gentle giant - he decided to risk his life yet again to turn around and save this child as well. Kjott made haste for him to grab this third child, and with only a handful of seconds left, they made haste towards the perimeter of the pit to try and get out.

Lady and Kezark had arrived in time at the section of the perimeter which the trio had been galloping towards. Aurevald threw both children up into the air, and Lady successfully caught both of them. Kezark grabbed his rope to lasso Kjott and Aurevald together, but the sheer weight of them combined made the rope give way.. and all three, including Kezark, began to slip back down into the pit, where the Displacer Beasts were getting dangerously close. SHAI immediately reacted to the slippage, casting web underneath to safely catch all three, which allowed them to climb back out of the pit.

As everyone took a moment to catch their breath and dust themselves off from the frightening ordeal, the shadowy aura that had been attached to one of the Displacer Beasts flowed upwards from the ground and began to take a humanoid form…

That is where this session ended.