WoDaD Session 35

== Title ==
The Thorn Draws Blood
== Recap ==
Just outside the castle of Thor Aru, Brellah challenges Chi Pin to a duel of Pokeys. It's a short but intense fight, coming down to the wire, but Chi Pin and Dandelion win at the last moment. Brellah declares herself to be Chi Pin's Rival Trainer, but it's clearly more of a "Let's grow stronger together" thing than an "I'm going to kill you" thing, as seen when she kisses the elf on the cheek. Chi Pin and their home town celebrate the ceremony and bond more with their Pokeys.
Ember the Fire Type Trainer leads Amros into the forest, explaining that the trees here are magical and will regrow stronger if burned down, so he shouldn't worry about holding back. He teaches Amros about the Flame a little, telling the fellow genasi to truly feel it, and shows Amros some of its uses. It can create a sort of protective aura around him that functions as armor and can give him precise control over his fire attacks. Amros successfully uses the techniques, but Ember says he's still holding back and hopes he will learn to really let loose when it comes down to life or death. They go and get drinks.
Maria repeats her request to speak to the High Master of Lo'Nactha, and Selvara tells her to speak. The sorceress tells the wizard to back down and not bring war to her students, but Selvara declines and tells Maria to flee or fight. Maria summons a spooky lightning lizard ally and Selvara decides the talking is over, beginning the fight properly. They trade blows, counterspelling and magic missile-ing and fireballing and tree-life-draining, with the lizard chomping away here and there. It's not going well for Maria, so she prepares for something drastic and makes a speech to the students nearby. 
Back in Thor Aru, the Diviner finds Bran and says he made a mistake sending Maria to Lo'Nactha alone, that the tree he was linked to has been destroyed which is a bad sign. Bran demands the druid send him there at once, so the Diviner creates a portal to another nearby tree and promises to gather Amros and Chi Pin quickly.
Maria finishes her speech telling the students to flee and never return to the war, but they seem to be waiting to see what happens. She casts a massive flame spell, destroying herself and Lo'Nactha in the process, and sends her lizard to kill all those who stay. Just as Maria's violin music reaches its peak and the fire blows out the windows, Bran rushes in. He sees Maria's crumpled, unconscious (or maybe lifeless) form on the ground with a broken violin. Maria herself has a talk with the Reaper, Death itself. The strange figure makes a deal with her: she can return to the world of the living, but she has to stop Morgana "Ana" le Fay from killing people with buttons. Maria suddenly takes a breath and comes back to life, Bran hovering over her. He heals her and asks what happened.
== Continuity ==
The previous session is WoDaD Session 34. The next session is WoDaD Session 36.
== Trivia ==
This was the first time a Hero in a Fonts of Magic campaign rolled Dying Breath. And only the second time a Hero had ever rolled it, even including one-shots!
Category:WoDaD
Category:Session