Session 36

Baldyr’s Address

The Fated Eight watched as Aurevald approached the man; calling himself The Eternal Mountain, without his armour or shield - letting his axe Fimbul - The Call Of Winter scrape against the floor as he did. Baldyr Oathkeeper turned to address the Terralpi refugees; some with baited breath and others with intense trepidation.

“Oh there’s no need to hide your whispers little ones; I know as well any of you that I am indeed the last Gyi’Gantos - and it’s all your fault. Your foolishness; your weakness, got my people turned to stone. Worse yet, despite all my people did for yours; how do you repay me - speak of me as some failed king, use me as a puppet in your children’s bedtime stories to teach them what not to do; like I am the one to blame?

Need I remind you that it was your Elder who allowed The Trickster back into this world - allowed him to poison the ears of my people for decades. We left the safety of our mountains for these godforsaken shades in search of answers on his advice; and what do we have to show for it but ruins.

Consider yourself lucky that your species’ betrayal of mine is second only to that of my own blood; my father - the deserter king who left me with throne set to detonate, all whilst he fraternized with those of lesser blood. It is only because I have learned of his whereabouts that I have not slain each and every last one of you already.

So I implore you, say your prayers; if any god still hears you that is. If any of you are still here when I return from Drasiyl’s Path; I promise you will shortly find out if any of them did.”
- Baldyr addressing the Terralpi people…

Aurevald and Baldyr got into a taunting match shortly thereafter; that eventually escalated into a full on fight. The Fated Eight did their best to harm Baldyr but no injury seemed to last longer than a second. The Fated Eight noticed that Baldyr seemed to have a specific focus on Aurevald; which came to a head when Baldyr noticed the Goliath Paladin attempting to shield the little Terralpi girl who had snuck her way into the battlefield.

Aurevald Defies Fate

Baldyr Oathkeeper turned his attention towards the little girl and threw Wyrmrever - his enchanted Hammer - directly at her. Aurevald, in a moment of desperation recalled his axe in hopes interceding the attack. Miraculously - Aurevald’s actions gave the girl just enough space to avoid the impact; however Fimbul - The Call Of Winter was destroyed in the impact.

The Fated Eight watched as Aurevald seemed to resign himself to his fate; and despite the attempts of Lady, SHAI, and Kezark, Aurevald resisted his allies’ help. Aurevald faced Baldyr unarmed and defenseless - and was brought to within an inch of deaths door. Baldyr took a moment to gloat whilst The Fated Eight could only watch in horror as their ally was battered and beaten senselessly; unable to even speak.

“Between you and me, these people should be thanking you; pretender. The Man With A White Mask tells me it was your screwup that opened the backdoor to Drasiyl’s Path. If it weren’t for that, I’d have slaughtered all of them already.
- Baldyr; whispering to a stunned Aurevald

Whilst his physical body was stunned; unable to react to the assault from Baldyr, something deep within Aurevald’s mind clicked into place as memory; from when he was barely a toddler, came flooding back to him.

“Aurvelia. I am a danger to him; to you. My mere presence here invites threats from entities far beyond our understanding; I cannot let a second family suffer the consequences of my curse. He is Havkyn Aurvelia; it is unlikely that he will take after me any more than he already has without good reason… I cannot- WE cannot not give him one.”

“Tosk - I can’t believe you. You promised me you would not repeat your mistakes…”

“Yes, I did. That is why I am leaving - the less he knows of me, the better off his is.”
- Aurevald’s memory…

Aurevald’s Fortuitous Spirit

Aurevald’s mind began to wonder; pondering the many times that smaller, weaker creatures than he had taken risks - or outright sacrificed theselves - to save him; none more tragic than Scabb’s decision in the Shadesorrow Forest to protect Aurevald from the Entity that had stripped him of his power. He recollected on the day of the torrential storm that separated him from the crew of the Reginald IV, re-learning that it was Tana Timbers; the Gnomish woman that had taught him port-from-starboard, that had given Aurevald what remained of the ship’s life raft - greatly reducing her own chance of survival. He thought on Lady putting herself in harm’s way to create distance between Baldyr and him, of Kezark’s attempts to distract Baldyr, and of SHAI’s attempts to disguise himself as Aurevald. Despite Aurevald’s efforts to prevent his friends from trying to save him; they never gave up.

Aurevald felt a power boil from deep within; one that had laid dormant since the day he was born. He was sick of those he should be protecting, protecting him instead, and in this moment - Aurevald learned how to channel that anger into something other than self-pity. The Fated Eight watched as the runes on Aurevald’s body glowed profusely of the same chromatic energy that surrounded Baldyr’s fists. His body seemingly unaffected by the Gyi’Gantos’ attempts to stun him - and his wounds healing rapidly.

“Ah now that’s interesting! You’re not a pretender; you’re worse. You’re Havkyn; a mistake…”
- Baldyr’s reaction to Aurevald’s revelation…

Aurevald threw multiple punches at Baldyr; managing to actually deal damage to the goading Monk - and The Fated Eight all noticed The Eternal Mountain react with shock and fear. He threw Wyrmrever to the other side of the cavern; before walking into the mist that had confused The Fated Eight moments earlier.

“If you want to end this; meet me in the Realm-Between-Realms…”
- Baldyr Oathkeeper to Aurevald before fleeing into the Mist…

The Dust Settles

The Fated Eight; taking a moment to breathe after their encounter with Baldyr Oathkeeper, watched as Eldos and other Terralpi leaders attempted to quell panic and keep everyone calm - it was clear however, that the Terralpi could not stay within the ruins.

Aurevald; emotionally and mentally drained from the fight, collapsed as many of The Fated Eight rushed to assist him; and SHAI was helped to his feet as well. Jin recovered the pieces of Fimbul - The Call Of Winter and rushed them over to Dridge, with the hopes of repairing the weapon physically; and saving its ancient enchantment.

An Axe Reforged

Dridge explained that forging the Springtime Iron rapidly was a risk as heating it too fast would ruin its unique properties. Jin adapted a technqiue that his Uncle had taught him; one that vaguely resemebled a double boiler from the culinary arts, to safely but rapidly melt the metal into a castable form. Dridge managed to loosely re-assemble the broken parts of the axe’s blade; before beckonning for Aurevald to return to aid them in the final step of the process.

Aurevald; followed by Morgyn, entered the sweltering room that Dridge had claimed as his forge. Aurevald was the only one who could safely touch the Frozen Scales that they had collected from the Bark-Skinned Serpent - so he had to be the one to finish the forging process. Dridge applied a clamping force to ensure the axe didn’t warp or twist as it cooled, Jin made sure the flow of molten Springtime Iron was consistent as to not waste any, and Aurevald used his innate control over the cold to infuse the power of the Frozen Scales into the axe.

As Jin poured the Springtime Iron it flowed between the cracks of the broken battleaxe; seemingly pulsing with energy. The tension built as Aurevald turned the first scale into raw cold energy; shortly followed by the second. The axe began to glow brightly as the remnant enchantment within was first repaired, before being enhanced by Aurevald’s innate Magic. An explosive break in the tension came when Dridge was no longer able to safely hold the clamping presure down, with the axe launching from the cast and bouncing off of the cave walls; barely missing Dridge and Jin before finding its way to Aurevald’s hand.

Aurevald noticed the axe’s handle was largely unchanged, but it’s blade was entirely different. Fimbul - The Winterheart’s Edge sported a larger, flatter, and sharper edge that was shaped like a crescent moon; with a heavy weighted connection to the wooden handle. Aurevald took the time to connect with his new weapon.

“I’ve heard Dwarvish legends that speak of a winter so strong they believed the end was nigh, until a towering figure with fire for blood rescued them. The Winterheart’s Edge was forged as a show of their respect.”
- Dridge, about the upgraded Fimbul

Short Rest

The Fated Eight made the active decision to take a brief rest before following after Baldyr. During their rest; Flick approached with information that proved useful to their journey.

Flick’s Insight

Flick revealed that Quill; his Terralpi assistant, had noticed the path The Fated Eight had returned from and investigated. He could not breathe in the mist, but was able to dig underground to avoid it - where he found both a loose journal entry written in common, and strange tablets written in symbols that neither of them could read. The Fated Eight recognized these symbols as the mixture of Sylvan and Giant runes that they’d seen during their journey through the mineshaft; but Aurevald now realized that he could comprehend them.

The journal entry was familiar to them, and read as follows:

586
1590, Rising Soldys, II (glowing a vibrant, cheddar yellow)

My time with Rootkeeper Solusya was surprisingly pleasant. Garrett had set my expectations of the Druids quite low; but I now see he’s just not intellectual enough to appreciate their culture.

As to be expected; she was rather knowledgeable about The Primoridals - but her explanations lacked the rigor that a scholar like myself requires. Her suggestion is that The Primordials were not originally quelled through force, but perhaps by a negotiation of sorts.

It’s a fascinating insight but I cannot cite the whims of the spirits in my thesis proposal. Perhaps I need to look beyond the archives of Tahl’Lethys…

Piers

The tablet; written in Gyi’Gantos, detailed the following:

• Drasiyl is both an entity and the name for a place; also known as the Realm-Between-Realms. It is the space between the roots. The truly living cannot enter it, the truly dead cannot experience it.
• The Gyi’Gantos; and their Terralpi companions (Vad’Nya Tribe) revere Drasiyl for protecting all realms from an evil known as The Husk.
• Drasiyl’s Path is a means to access the Realm-Between-Realms. “Don’t hold your breath waiting for Drasiyl to appear; relax and let it come to you; slowly - naturally…”

With this information in tow, and their rest complete; The Fated Eight said their goodbyes to Dridge, Poska & her granddaughter, and Eldos, before returning past the doorway and into the mist - understanding what they had to do to enter the Realm-Between-Realms.

”Do not hold your breath…”

After a short discussion; The Fated Eight came to understand that they had to willigly let the mist suffocate them to enter the Realm-Between-Realms. Each of them took a large breath of clean air before stepping into the mist; slowly and naturally suffocating. First Lady & SHAI, then Jin, Kezark, and Morgyn, and lastly Axton & Azriel. Aurevald was the final member to suffocate as his axe naturally slowed down the effect.

The Realm-Between-Realms

As each of them suffocated; they began to feel themselves falling - realizing a moment later that they were falling upwards. As each of them crossed a threshold, they felt their physical body blur before their senses stabilized. They watched as they fell through an endless sky scape littered with thousands of points of light. Each of them took notice of the gargantuan tree that seemed to occupy the centrepoint of this space; it’s roots extending infinitely into the sky. The tips each root aligned with a speck of light; and they came to realize that each speck was a reality of it’s own.

Lady & SHAI

Lady & SHAI were naturally the first two to arrive; being the first to suffocate, as they felt themselves awake amidst the cold of a snowy wastes. Lady took a moment to compare how this realm felt to her experience within The In-Between; coming to the conclusion that The In-Between was an entirely spiritual experience whilst this felt like she had been physically transported to a new realm. SHAI took in the sight of the tree and marvelled at the realization that The Dungeon Master’s powers were even greater than he’d imagined; he hadn’t just created a single universe, but an entire multiverse instead.

The pair made sense of where they had landed and realized that they were going to need warmth sooner-rather-than-later; before catching the glow of a decent-sized campfire ahead of them. As they approached; a foreboding voice called out to them.

“You’ll freeze out there strangers. When my wolves get back; we’ll have meat for a stew. Sit by the fire whilst we wait.”
- The foreboding voice…

The voice belonged to a tall, muscular man with dark skin and white hair tied in dreadlocks. He was sitting on a log near the fire; shirtless and with bare feet in the snow. The most noticeable features of the man were his pointed ears and many rings he had; at least one on each finger. Each ring was a spectacle to itself; with a different gemstones and metals for each. According to the man, each ring gave him mastery over a different aspect of the world; demonstrating his control over magnetism using the ring on his right pinkie to cause the cast iron cauldrons to levitate around the fire. He admitted that their power is much weaker now than it had once been. When asked for a name, the man said he did not have one - just that he was an “Old Fool”.

The Ruby & A Vision

To pass the time, he offered to see if the ring on his left pointer finger; the ring of intellect, could provide them answers or insights about questions on their minds. Lady retrieved the ruby that had once been Declin Bellum’s from her pack; asking the man if he could provide her any answers about the men she sought - or about her family. The ruby was destroyed in the process - but the man was able to show Lady a vision of the day her father; Ignis Snowblood, was killed.

You see a snowy wastes; you know these as the wastes of Stahn. You see the man you saw within The In-Between, the man claiming to be Ignis Snowblood - confirming that he indeed is your Father. You see him fending off three assailants by himself.

A thundering kick; where his leg turns to stone - he catches a blade with his foot, snaps it in half, and stabs a man with it. The man falls unconscious on the ground; that man was Declin Bellum.

A man who looks similiar - his twin brother Baiulus Bellum - steps forth with a warhammer shouting “You will not take my brother!”. Ignis Snowblood deflects it effortlessly with a gust from an underhand palm, knocking the warhammer away and leaving Baiulus Bellum helpless against a torrential assault of blows as he is knocked to the ground.

A third figure; one of Arcane prowess, sends contiuous blasts of crackling electrical energy and pulsing orbs of necrotic power at Ignis; who deflected them with ease as a single firey palm was able to reflect the attacks back their sender. A second later a gust of wind from his mouth clearer the fog from the field.

From the fog appears a fourth figure, a muscular man wearing a snakeskin vest; with slicked back, oily black hair, eyes as green as they come, and a sickly grin across his face.
”I am sorry it had to come to this Ignis, but I need your powers; and I cannot have them whilst you live…” he called out as each of his hands transformed into a hundred snake heads, before launching himself at Ignis Snowblood.

The two men engage in a brawl that the untrained eye could not perceive; culminating in a stalemate. The pair are equally matched in skill, and the battle shifts into a war of attrition. Despite Ignis Snowblood’s stamina being unmatched, the many small nicks from the snake heads began to take their toll on him; as the poison coursed through his blood. Eventually Ignis Snowblood was brought to his knees in front of the man with snakehands. You get a name in your head; one that has been on your list for some time now. This can be no one but Serpens Cupiditas; the man who betrayed your father.
”I am sorry it had to be this way…” Serpens said solemnly; looking down at your father.

In your father’s final moments, his eyes dart to your fleeing Mother; heavily pregnant with you at this time. Baiulus Bellum awakens; realizing that the man had employed him could not be trusted with power like this, before grabbing a nearby blade and stabbing your father through the back - killing him before Serpens can.
- The vision in the fire (paraphrased)

Toskaldr offered Lady comfort as she processed the vision; a thousand-yard stare frozen on her face as she continued to watch the fire. Toskaldr used the ring of intellect to create a manuscript titled “The Eight Catastrophes of The Cataclysm. The book was written in Sylvan; requiring SHAI’s help to read, but at a surface level Lady was able to gleam information about an entity known as The Shapechanger; created by Koiyl, The Spiteful Serpent.

SHAI was preoccupied; taking in the sheer scale of The Dungeon Master’s creations, and Lady needed more time to digest what she had seen - stashing the blook in her pack for now. A few moments later; 3 more of their troupe arrived.

The Others

The trio of Kezark, Morgyn, and Jin landed in the snow west of the campfire; and quickly recognized Lady and SHAI sitting on a log near it. Jin also recognized the man from the vision he shared with Aurevald, but kept that from the party members.

Jin attempted to drop a hint to the man that he knew of who he was, but he responded in a guarded fashion. Morgyn suggested that the man was similar to one of their friends; Aurevald, but did not elaborate much further. Shortly later, Axton and Azriel arrived.

Azriel & Axton landed in snow and quickly regrouped with their allies. After Azriel inquired if this place was Drasiyl’s Path, the man welcomed them all to the Realm-Between-Realms. He explained that time did not pass here normally.

Guarded Answers

Jin attempted once more to gleam information from the man, but was hushedly told not speak for him. Kezark interrupted this by asking if the man had any family.

“I have had a wife and a son; twice over. The first time I lost them as a result of my actions, the second time was by choice.”
* - the man *

The conversation was interupted by a large howl echoing from the west; and the man began the preparations for stew.

Aurevald

Aurevald’s time in the mist was extended by the magic of his axe; as he came to realize that he could see much more clearly in this space than previously. He realized that the mist obscurred a plethora of interconnected cave tunnels, and tricked the mind into perceiving it as a single uninterrupted path. Aurevald took the time to wait for each of his allies to allow the suffocation to take them; placing their bodies together carefully, before waiting for his turn to come. A short while later; he felt himself begin to fall upwards. He caught a glimpse of one of the specks of light, and for just a moment; Aurevald made sense of his place in everything.

“You see - in some far-off reality - a very large warrior man in tribal clothes. He has fallen to his knees atop a platform floating in an endless, starry void; hoping that in some other reality - they had been successful…”
- Aurevald’s glimpse into antother reality, paraphrased

Aurevald did not land nearby the campfire; as the other’s had, instead landing in the woods further Northwest. They brought a sense of familiarity and homeliness to him; before he realized that this space reminded him of where he had gone after he had made the deal with the Emperor of Earth. It was not the same location as that time; but it had the same feel of timelessness and vastness of space.

Aurevald’s attention turned to the snow; as he took a moment to play amongst it with childlike glee - before scooping some of it together as part of a ritual to summon Kjott to his side again. During this process; he caught a glimpse of paw prints in the snow; heading southeast. The paw prints belong to a quite large, dark-furred wolf that was carrying the corpse of a bear; one that was familiar to Aurevald. He hopped atop Kjott before following after the wolf; steathily.

A few minute pass following the wolf before Aurevald realized that they weren’t alone; as a second, smaller, light-furred wolf approached from behind in a curious manner. The light-furred wolf seemed to be smelling Aurevald intently; attempting to work out why he smelled familiar to it, and Aurevald took a glance at it’s collar. The collar; on one side, read “Skoll, The Second”; written in Giant with vaguely feminine runes, whilst the other side read “Aurvelia”. Skoll, The Second playfully barked as it seemed excited by Aurevald’s presence and begins to chase after the dark-furred wolf; which grumpily dropped the bear corpse at the edge of the treeline before trudging after it’s lighter-furred kin.

At the same time, The Fated Eight; all sitting by the campfire, noticed the same two wolves return from the treeline - as the man attempted to make sense of what had gotten the lighter-furred wolf so wound up. Try as he might, the man was unable to fully hide his reaction at the sight of Aurevald approaching the campfire; the unseen-until-now runes flickering with chromatic energy for a moment before dulling again. The Fated Eight regrouped with their companion whilst the man began to prepare a stew.

“I’l begin a stew. You’re all in for a treat; my wife taught me how to cook it. Her tribe would make giant batches, and feed eveyone…”
*- The man *

The Old Fool’s Tale

Aurevald recognized the man’s voice as the man from the vision he shared with Jin - instinctively going to hide his ears before the man told him it was not necessary. The man revealed that the wolves were named Skoll, The Second & Hati, The Second; after pets he’d had as a young man.

*“Hati; the older one, is a grumpy boy - I found him first. When my Wife wanted him to be a little-less-grumpy, she found Skoll; who’s a little bit too energetic.

They temper each other nicely however.”*
- The man about his wolves…

Morgyn succesfully manged to pet Hati, The Second - a surprising feat according to the Old Fool; usually only himself and his Son were allowed to do that. Aurevald seemed tense after the mention of the man having a son. A little abruptly, The Old Fool offered to tell a story whilst pouring each of them a cup of hot brandy.

*“Let me tell you all a story of a Trickster, and a a Blind Lady…

Long ago, a Trickster wished for entertainment; ventured into lands far from his own and tricked Giants into being his gladiators. When their fights no longer interested him; the drama no longer amusing, he disguised himself as one of the men, and seduced one of the women. Unbeknownst to him, she fell pregnant; and born to her was neither Giant nor Fey - but something completely new.

He was warned by The Blind Lady to not create life that the Gods had not permitted; but ignored her warnings. He seduced countless women and spawned a society of his offspring.

For ignoring her warnings, she cursed him to live as a serpent as long as she did. Before he was cursed, he placed one on his people for betraying him; letting The Blind Lady adopt them as her own.

It is believed that war between the Gods freed this Trickster of his curse; and he summoned an entity known as The Jormun to hunt the their people - exacting his revenge.

Powerless against The Jormun; their king left his immortal son in charge - whilst he searched the realms for a means to defeat the creature.

The King took too long, and his son; too brashly, led their people into a battle that they could not win. We call their people the Gyi’Gantos. I am all that is left; I am the last of them…”*
- The Old Fool’s Story…

Aurevald; puzzled, questioned how this story could be true - referring to their earlier encounter with Baldyr Oathkeeper. The Old Fool revealed that he had seen it; having watched it in the fire, but explained Baldyr had lost the right to call himself a Gyi’Gantos after accepting the magic that made him immortal; a blessing granted by The Old Fool’s first wife.

“She cursed him to never feel; hoping it would protect him. It only insulated him from consequence. I no longer consider him my blood…”
- The Old Fool about Baldyr…

Aurevald pushed The Old Fool for answers, asking him about his second child; but the man deflected as he moved to prepare the meat. Dissatisfied with the response, Aurevald pushed again.

“And what of your second child?!”
- Aurevald, repeating his query…

Boiling Over

The Old Fool acted as if Aurevald’s question hadn’t been asked; and Aurevald continued to push the man for answers.

Aurevald: “You dance around this question like you’re ashamed of him; like he was this ‘mistake’ that you cast away.”

The Old Fool: “You speak as if you know what has happened. Speak plainly if you wish for me to.”

Aurevald: “I am cursed with this half-blood. I did not ask for this; this burden that your people created. I do not know what I am. I demand answers…”

The Old Fool: “It is bad manners to come to someone’s refuge and demand something, but so be it.”

Aurevald: “It is bad manners to serve food to those that you are deceiving.”

The Old Fool: “He is right. I apologize, I do have a name; one I took in my second wife’s tongue - Toskaldr.”

Toskaldr looks at Aurevald; with a tear forming in his eye, before continuing.
”I don’t look at you as if you are my mistake; I look at you like you are my failure - because I let you down.”

Silence takes the realm around them, as Toskaldr speaks once more.
”You have her eyes, and my ears…”

Aurevald (aggrievedly): “Do not speak of my Mother like you know her. She grieved you. She stopped singing, and stopped dancing, when you left; and for a time, she stopped eating. She grew decrepit; and I watched her, after you abandoned her - and your son. Do not speak to me like you know who; or what, I am. I don’t want your mercy. I came here to peform a task, and once we are finished, will take our leave.”

Aurevald turns to leave before speaking.
”Forgive me. I have sullied this occasion…”

Toskaldr interrupts Aurevald; speaking directly to him.
Toskaldr: “You talk as if I have not seen every day that she grieved me; like I have not felt like a shameful, let-down, deadbeat…”

Aurevald: “If you hold such power…”

Toskaldr: “What do you know of my power?”

Aurevald: “I can tell that you are quite powerful…”

Toskaldr: “I thought so too, once; but every man has a weakness. Mine… was you.”

Aurevald: “I am sorry for burdening you…”

Toskaldr, (brashly): “I did not say it was your fault! I promised myself when I came to this realm, I swore I would never produce a son again; but time wore me down. Your mother’s grace convinced me - no, allow me to convince myself - that it would be ok; that The Husk had forgotten about me…”

Aurevald: “Well… The Husk certainly did not forget about me…”

Toskaldr: “I know. I was there that night; that blizzard. I thought I could stop it; let it take me instead. Unbeknownst to us both however; I am of no use to it. I have been in a stalemate with it since that day; and it has torn me asunder watching it torment you. I am not here to offer forgiveness or mercy; Aurevald I am here to ask you for it…”

Aurevald watches the towering man fall to his knees; sobbing - as the tears crystalize in the frigid air.
”If you want to end me, I won’t stop you; but you cannot do it here - I’ve tried… I will give you all some space.”

Toskaldr turns and leaves; and with a wave of his right hand - the instruments needed to prepare the stew begin to control themselves.

“The stew will be ready in ten minutes…”

The Fated Eight watched as Aurevald processed the conversation with his estranged father; each handling it in their own way. After a short conversation with Jin; and a reflection on his actions, Aurevald set off to speak with Toskaldr again - on calmer terms.

Father & Son

Aurevald followed Toskaldr, as the landscape around changed to match that of the wastes of Stahn; during the events of the blizzard that set Aurevald on this path. Toskaldr extended a hand out Aurevald; who cautiously accepted it, and the pair were teleported to a vantage point overlooking the wastes - Toskaldr’s perspective of that day.

Toskaldr: “This is where I last saw you…”

Aurevald: “Did you ever really love my mother?”

Toskaldr: “I loved her before I’d ever considred the possibility of your existence; she saved me. When I came to your realm, I was powerless; I came to learn that Gyi’Gantos Magic only works within the Feywild. I was in foreign lands, I didn’t speak the tongue, I was saved by your mother; a fierce warrior woman. She grounded me, taught me the ways of this land. Out of the goodness of out heart she invited me to her tribe. It was the littlelist thanks I could give her to take a name in her tongue.”

Aurevald questioned what the realm was; and Toskaldr elaborated that it was as he had said - the Realm-Between-Realms. It was a place where Wayward Spirits; those that had died in inexplicable or corrupted ways, congregate. He elaborated that he himself was neither dead or alive; demonstrating that this form was not his physical body - The Husk had corrupted it.

The two men shared their experiences with The Husk; Toskaldr explaining that it was an entity that wished to consume realities. Toskaldr also apologized that he was unable to do more for Aurevald during the attack that led to Scabb’s sacrifice; explaining it took all he had to influence Erk Rockmill to save him when he had.

Aurevald shifted their conversation:

Aurevald: “I don’t hate you.”

Toskaldr: “I wouldn’t blame you if you did.”

Aurevald: “But I don’t. You always think of family and parents and… I guess I just never had that.”

Toskaldr: “But you did. Your Mother was more parent than I ever was.”

Aurevald: “And I have not seen her in over a decade…”

Toskaldr: “I understand, but you had fifteen good years with her in your life; and two with me. I tried to keep my distance from you both, hoping that I wouldn’t entice it to; but it knew you were my one weakness. It knew you were my one, true son…”

Aurevald: “If you can truly see all; then you know that this is my final life.”

Toskaldr: “Yes; and no.”

Aurevald: “I am fated to die.”

Toskaldr: “We all are.”

Aurevald: “But my path is not the same; I walk a different path than others…”

Toskaldr: “Right now you do, but many in your life have walked the wrong path; to be corrected by you. Your presence invites redemption; protection. You are a wholesome spirit; you would make a good guide on the other side - but I don’t believe your time is yet. Your redemption is nearer than you think; you need only want it - and believe it.”

Aurevald: “When will I know?”

Toskaldr: “When you are ready. Just as you came here accepting what could be; you must let it come to you.”

Kjott trotted up carrying two bowls of stew, Aurevald handed one to his father; noting that it smelled exactly as it had when his mother cooked it.

“I know you probably remember, but to share one of these cups is to share a bond; a familial bond. I think for the first time; in a long time, I am ready to share that again with somone - if that would be ok with you.”
- Aurevald’s offer of family to Toskaldr

Tears streamed from Toskaldr’s face as Aurevald’s gesture released the weight of over a decade of guilt and shame. Father & son conversed over food before returning to the group.

“Friends. I am sorry for not introducing this old fool earlier; but this is my father. If he permits, I would like to share in this feast with you all, as in my tribe it is to share with one another as a family; as people who look out for one another, protect each other.”
- Aurevald gesture of family…

Where To Next?

After sharing in the meal and resting; The Fated Eight discussed their plans. When asked about Baldyr, Toskaldr revealled that he would not likely come through his refuge; explaining that Drasiyl’s Path had two “axes”. The one they were all on currently; The Path Of The Regretful, and the one that Baldyr would likely be on, The Path Of The Ascended; their only convergence being Drasiyl itself.

They discussed their options before asking Toskaldr for to guide them before his refuge. He refused; explaining that he could not leave this place, and gestured to the space behind him. The spiritual forms of Graxious Longwood III, Tana Timbers, Captain Sodar Reginald appeared a crowd of Wayward Spirits.

“The spirits are trying to tell you something; you need only listen…”
- Toskaldr advice to Aurevald.

The Fated Eight prepared to follow the spirits, as Toskaldr thanked his son for everything; offering him the perculiar wedding band he wore on his left hand.

“Your mother had this made for me; from the metal of a falling star we found on our first night together. I believe it is better placed with you.”
- Toskaldr giving Aurevald the Star-Crossed Lover’s Ring…

Spirits’ Limit

The Fated Eight were guided by the Wayward Spirits through the astral-infused snowscape as the glow shifted from a pure blue to a deep purple. Their journey came to an abrupt halt as the saw the spirits walk over a gaping chasm made purely of the deep purple energy. A familiar, shrill voice echoed from nearby as Aurevald saw; for the first time in weeks, the genuine form of Scabb - looking scared, and cold.

Scabb’s Pleaa

“I don’t have much time… it’s too cold! There’s something going in that forest; where the tree guy attacked us. After you left - the tree guy started using those stone pillars we found to build something. There’s also this scary Goliath woman too, she’s chanting crazy stuff. I’m worried she’s going to do something to me, boss!”
- Scabb’s plea to Aurevald…

Scabb’s form began to fade as a glowing portal opened behind him. From the outside, Aurevald could see where it would take them; the clearing in the Shadesorrow Forest where they had been separated originally.

The Fated Eight stepped through the portal with haste, with the hope of saving their friend.

The Jormun Is Summoned

Arriving in the Shadesorrow Forest; The Fated Eight were immediately presented with a situation near it’s climax - a strange Goliath woman; with runes physically carved into her body, chanting a stranger prayer around a stone plinth in the ground.

“My beloved Trickster. Take these sacrifices as an offering of my devotion; choose me - Angrah to command your twisted Serpent to turn this world to stone!”
- The Goliath woman; Angrah, prayer

Atop the plint was a treelike humanoid; vaguely resembling Aurevald, and a twisted, tree-like version of Scabb in it’s hands. They also clocked the corpse of the final Gandyr from the mineshaft resting atop the plinth.

In a moment of haste; Kezark shot at the Goliath woman in the hopes of stopping whatever ritual she was channeling. Unfortunately, the woman calling herself Angrah fell forward in death; her Giant blood pouring out all over the runes. A sudden & unexpected increase in the amount of Giant blood overloaded the runes as a cloud of smoke followed a crackle of energy.

As the dust cleared, The Fated Eight took in the 25ft tall serpent creature; it’s scales made of aged wood, burst from the ground under the plinth - and aggressively turned to face The Fated Eight.