Session 111

Synopsis
==Summary==
Several Gathering Light have come to the vampire's encampment to attempt some negotiating. By undergoing the trial, which is a high-level trial, the party is submitting themselves to Quraura's judgement. Before leaving, Kiono asks Esteem whether they're doing anything today, but instead she is left with a task to find more worms for Kitano for their fishing trip. 
Large circular chamber with two staircases leading to upper floor. Circle of columns just inside the staircases. Walkways are in the ceilings supporting the spiral tower into the sky. The Light-Sower opens a door leading downward and instructs the party to go down. 
As they pass through the door, there is a bright flash of light, leaving Teer, Esteem, and Belle in a stone hallway. Ephemera finds herself on a floating stone platform above the sun. Team Not-Ephemera are likely in a place constructed similarly to the Sunspire. There are small alcoves at about head height. After taking in that Ephemera is not with them, they proceed down the long hallway. At the end of the hallway is another golden door with Quraura's symbol. Through the door is a large circular chamber about 100 feet across. Piles of gleaming treasure appear, a large gold dragon resting atop it. "Not many are brave enough to attempt to brute force their attempt to influence the Gathering Light's will." The dragon introduces himself as Isudem, the Judge. He is charged with acting as judge of worthiness for the Gathering Light. The test is not required to be combat. He asks why they are deserving of being considered worthy. Teer says that they are there for Ephemera, who had sacrificed everything for the world, so they wish to return the favor. Isudem then asks why they specifically are worthy of Quraura's favor. None of them are entirely certain of a reason for their own worthiness. They offer some suggestions for each other, but ultimately come up with nothing. Isudem makes note of their humility and allows them to continue on to the next test. 
ON a pedestal in front of the throne floats an amber sphere. Quraura remarks that there is nothing she can do to stop Ephemera, as she brings disaster wherever she goes. Bringing Meyrin into their midst brought only chaos. Her plan to save the world from the asteroid left the council without a leader. Lysaro schemes as he ever does to some unknown end. The adventurers she totes around are probably expecting some sort of salvation from the chaos that Ephemera will inevitably wreak. Ephemera expresses that she wished she understood why Quraura felt the way she does, but is unable to understand the Chaos that she apparently wreaks. She ultimately approaches the orb, feeling a nervous excitement as she does so. Upon touching it, stuff starts to go wrong. As Teer, Esteem, and Belle leave the Judge's quarters, they experience vertigo again, this time more intensely. 
Teer is standing in a small clearing in the forests around Amberhall. He has placed worn stones, marking the burial spots of his friends, present and future. Though he doesn't know who lies in the ground before him, he knows that he is truly alone. He is feeling the sadness of his future self. He puts down the shovel and leaves, noting that the paths through the forest have shifted and some have vanished for wont of travel. The forest is larger and emptier than it has been in a long time. The feeling of solitude becomes loneliness, pursued by the nagging doubt that perhaps this isn't a flash forward, but reality, that he has simply lost time again. He reaches out for Akaros in his mind, finding that whatever is there is beyond his reach. He sits and hopes to go back. 
Ephemera is hanging suspended in a dark limbo state, both a void of nothingness and Teer's current situation. The amber sphere is just beyond her fingertips. Quraura points out that this is just evidence that being involved with Ephy will only cause them pain and ruin. Ephy says that just knowing her isn't the cause of suffering, then reaches once more for the orb. 
Esteem was born in or near Sunholme, growing up with some sense of Right and Wrong. He always wanted to help people, so when he grew to have a powerful build, becoming a knight or soldier seemed the best use of his abilities. Ending up working for Desmond Garret was not what he had really wanted. Now, Esteem exists in three versions. In one, he is in a medium-sized classroom, learning while the farms are in growing season and resulting in fewer chores. The instructor, an aged gnome, has instructed the class to draw themself as they want to be when they grow up. Esteem has drawn this knight version of himself, protecting people from danger. Also existing is an older Esteem, somewhat younger than his current self, suspended from the ceiling by his wrists, the room just a little too warm. He is being whipped by the guards of Carceri, not quite doing as much damage as they otherwise might due to Esteem's golden armor. A third Esteem, stirred to consciousness by rain and thunder. Anghadym has lost himself again, devastating another village, indicating that he does not control the ascendant essence that pulses through him. He does not recognize the village he has destroyed, but is probably close to his lair. Prior Anghadyms had also dealt with this problem of blacking out and going on a brief but deadly rampage. He still wants so much to help people, and he is trying so hard to ensure that he can control the murder. 
Quraura once again accuses her of pursuing her own goals rather than considering the pain she is causing her friends, the inevitable ruin her being complete will cause. Ephemera, growing frustrated, asks why she is there if Quraura is supposedly indifferent to whether she takes it or not. Quraura explains that she wishes to be there to witness when things fall apart. Ephemera swings her halberd at the orb, sending it flying into the distance. 
Belle takes note of the unexpected shooting star streaking through the sky. The observatory has been pruned and repaired, and she has resumed her work alongside Julia. The observatory has been returned to the skies, orbiting at the near edge of space. Julia is showing her age, her prosthetic left hand causing her especially notable pain. A long-established pattern of offering her assistance in alleviating the pain. Belle is going to enjoy this pleasant time while it lasts. 
Ephemera catches up to the orb. Quraura observes that it is probably a representation of her lingering doubts to recover herself. Ephemera says that she regrets whatever caused Quraura to be upset with her, but until she has proof that she is actually a problem, she will continue forward. She will attempt to win back Quraura's trust, but for now, she grabs the orb. 
Ephemera pops, and everyone is forcibly ejected from their time visions. They are deposited at the entrance to the trial. The Light-Sower knows only that the Judge approved their continuing forward, then the group disappeared. He says that Ephemera is undergoing another trial, and that returning into the dungeon would not be a good idea. Esteem is uncertain what, but it seems as though the Light-Sower is being evasive, that something happened outside that they are unaware of. Because of their past history, the group no longer needs to perform their part of the trial. 
Ephemera is floating through darkness. A sensation of being subject to gravity. Her falling sensation comes to a halt, and there is a sense of not-quite deja vu. She witnesses an echo of an echo, a scenario described by Sors. Great golden chains reach into the darkness toward an immense being just beyond sight. Golden glowing eyes look at her. And then she pops back into existence alongside Teer, Esteem, and Belle. Now complete, she hugs her group and apologizes for what they went through on her behalf/because of her. The Light-Sower explains that Quraura has approved of them, and thus negotiations can begin between the vampires and the Gathering Light. 
The party receives information that Azaria took Kiono to a park to dig for worms. Upon arriving there, they find Azaria and a still-five-years-old Kiono digging in the mud. Under a nearby tree is adult Kiono, reading a book. 
==NPCs==
===Introduced===
*Light-Sower Agan Ra
*Isudem, the Judge
===Returning===
*Josephine Blackwood
*Azaria Burnett
*Tovaris Worthing (disguised as Renard Blackwood)
*Quraura
*The Asteroid (vision?)
===Mentioned===
*Kitano
*Meyrin
*Lysaro
==Items==
*Greater Potions of Healing (purchased retroactively, 2 for Belle, 1 for Esteem)