Session 124

The party commences their plans to rescue Prince Haziz and Oceanside from the grips of demons while suffering several emotional crises prompted by the baby accidentally created by Izora and Aedon.
== Summary ==
Kiono reports to Teer and Esteem the existence of the new baby and the events leading up to her existence. Concerned about Belle, Teer hunts her down to make sure she's okay. She is concerned because she felt that this was a step toward the future she saw in Sunholme. Teer offers the comfort of knowing that the future is not written, as there is not god of fate. While that is good, she is still upset because she feels it was her fault they chose that path. Though they would have had to learn about the finality of mortality eventually, she wishes she could have had a less traumatic means of teaching that lesson. 
He then tells her about the baby, and Belle immediately goes to look at the baby. Izora believes the baby was ultimately an accident. While the original spell was supposed to provide an anchor for Aedon, she believes that the added elements later on produced an effect more in line with the means by which the Dark created Aedon in the first place. She further explains that she thinks she'll be alright as she has kept pets alive previously, and a baby is basically just a pet at this stage. Belle and Kiono are still alarmed, and go off to put their faces in things. Belle goes to the garden to lie on her face, while Kiono goes to Concludion.
Concludion, very sleepy, offers what comfort he can. She asks him if he wants children, to which he says he hadn't given it any thought, so didn't have an answer for her. She repeats that she wants Concludion safe and happy, but doesn't know what that looks like for her or for him. He tells her that he doesn't need a future in certain terms, only that she does make him happy. She leaves him to go back to bed, while she does the rest of her panic in her own room. 
The party goes to Oceanside, only to find the palace to have several columns of smoke rising from the palace. Nobody seems to be horribly concerned. Upon arriving at the palace, they find that it is formerly on fire, and that they are expected. Knowing this to be some sort of trap, they head to the throne room as instructed. There are obvious signs of combat, the throne itself having been tipped over and broken. Belle spots a small figure hiding in a corner and silently keeps an eye on it. A replacement chair turns around to reveal that Mingal is sitting there; Dort, the figure in the corner waves. He explains that Galadur had guided him to a ghost-cutting sword, so he was able to use that to kill Anguish and not Dyana. Because everything is handled by two of the co-presidents, the party has an impromptu beach day. Afterwards, the party returns to the Burnett estate. 
Teer gets to hold the baby. He is in awe of Baby. 
Kiono watches Concludion and Kitano play catch with Kiki and Scabacca. Scabacca runs the ball to Kiono at one point, and Concludion attempts to retrieve it. She tells him that they are heading to the Inner the next day, since the demons were already dealt with. She asks him why Enooto was so mean to her. He says that she was just an jerk, that Kiono isn't worthless, but that Enooto is such a person that it's hard to get her back out of your brain. She kisses him. Kitano has to suffer with Scabacca not understanding that he doesn't have the ball anymore. 
Teer asks Akaros if he's cool with him taking care of Kiki in the future, which Akaros says is cool. Teer then asks him how he has remained sane over time. Akaros explains that he has mostly latched onto the good things of those around him. Teer asks Akaros not to make fun of him for anything he does while they're in the Inner. 
Esteem and Belle go on a walk. He eventually asks her if she's doing okay. She ponders the possibility of Aedon deciding that they want their emotions back and what would happen to the baby if they did. Esteem, unversed in the ways of magically created emotion babies, has nothing to offer. He does say that she is justified in being worried, but as there is nothing to do about it right now, she has time to consider what to say to Aedon, and what to do. Esteem echos Teer's sentiment that what Aedon did was not her fault. In jest, she suggests she also ask Kiono for her opinion, which Esteem opposes greatly. They then discuss the concept of the Inner and their impending adventure, and the potential to have to swim in lava while there. 
They almost go to find Kiono, but she seems busy trying to kiss Concludion. Instead they find Teer, and ask him whether he thinks the baby would die if Aedon took their emotions back. They contemplate who they might be able to ask about their question. Elizrae, as the ascendant dragon of magic, and Tiamat would be the best options, but they do not want to do that. They realize that they never told Esteem that Tiamat was the one who had tasked them with rescuing him from the prison dimension. They also consider the ethics of Aedon retrieving their emotions, as potentially killing the baby isn't right, but neither is forcing Aedon to be unable to have them again. Teer realizes that lying on the ground moping is a bad place to be emotionally, so the three get up to play cards.
During the night, Belxari psychically caffeinates the party. They assemble in the dining room with Belxari. She is very excited, and explains that Lysaro pre-godhood was one of the only people to have returned from the Inner. Belxari teleports them to Crow Peak, where pleasantries are exchanged as expected, and then leads them down into the tunnels beneath the chapel. As they prepare to descend a deep, dark spiral staircase that leads into the void, a gust of wind emerges from nowhere, pushing everyone except Esteem into the pit, which Esteem just jumps into anyway. They fall for a good ten minutes before they reach the bottom, where Belxari arrests their fall so they can land safely. There is a trap door in the floor which leads to an inverted set of stairs. Gravity shifts as they pass through so that they are now 'upside-down,' and they begin to traverse the staircase. After half an hour, they realize that the stairs are probably five miles tall, with the winding staircase drastically increasing that distance. They produce various methods of flying to reach the top. 
The next floor, there is an alcove with a door. Esteem goes to open the door, allowing blinding bright light to flow through. They are at the base of a white tower surrounded by foliage. In the outside curvature of the planet is visible, colors and clouds in the 'sky' surrounding an artificial sun, glowing an intense, alive white. Everything here is more vibrant, a natural effect for them rather than an effect of the light. Kiono casts Detect Magic, and is blinded by the sheer amount of magic in the area. She does note that it isn't of any particular schools of magic; it's raw magic. She summons her familiar to be her eyes, and they attempt to find their way to the God Forge. Belle flies up to see if she can spot it, but instead finds a large, blanched white bird of prey attacking her, knocking her back down to the ground. As they debate what to do next, Belxari remembers that all of the animals in the Inner are incredibly dangerous. And then a flock of bunnies attack the party. 
== NPCs ==
=== Returning ===
* Izora Burnett
* Baby?!
* Ephemera (sighing, via prayer)
* Mingal
* Dort
* Belxari
* Akaros
* Goon (in passing)
* Seresh (in passing)
=== Mentioned ===
* Aedon
* The Dark
* Xelbari
* Orphesia
* Anguish
* Dyana
* Haziz
* Lysaro