Cocoon

"Cocoon" is the nineteenth episode of Regolus: Dark Age. It is the fourth episode of Book 2: Courting the Divine. 
== Official Description ==
"Through the streets of once-proud Faleeria, now blighted and overrun by witch-breed horrors, our company of adventurers pressed onward. At last, they came upon a dread figure who named themselves Penance. Yet the clash that followed did not favor all who dared to stand against such a foe. Now, as the echoes of the battle fade, these would-be heroes find themselves standing at a crossroads: to confront the stark truths of their fates or to slip further into the comforting embrace of illusion.”Cocoon (Youtube).
== Plot ==
=== Part 1 ===
* As the remains of Penance/Purpose crumble to the floor and get partially absorbed into Aelys and partially into JB, the train around them begins to metamorph back into a non-living organism. The ichor thrums in Aelys’ body, her eyes go black, she falls to her knees and the tattoo on her right arm begins to unwind and twine around her, forming a completely blackened cocoon around her body that looks like wood from a rotten tree stump. As it lies on the ground, it pulses once before it goes completely still.
* JB’s leg got caught in between the energy; rivulets of black liquid now run through the veins of his leg. When he tries to walk, the pain runs through it, causing him to limb. The others come running to see what is happening and checking in on each other. Synnove touches the cocoon but it feels so light that she is not sure if someone is even in there. It is like she is aware the cocoon is here and part of Aelys, but at the same time Aelys isn’t exactly here. When JB touches it to pick it up, he sees a vision of Penance/Purpose - a hairless face with deep set eye sockets, inky black eyes and a lipless mouth - only for a second before it vanishes again, leaving behind a pleasant sensation up his ruined leg. 
* Theagus uses the key he got from Iridia as an anker and the morphocite crystal with Lenore’s blood to get all of them and the Aelys-cocoon back to the doctor’s tower. While JB and Theagus stay back with the cocoon, Synnove, Lenore and Katari make their way out, where they meet Dr. Iridia, who was very worried about everyone, especially Theagus. While Katari makes her way to her own group and the other two to the Commander’s tent, they can see that the fog that lied over the town is now completely gone, only a thick white layer of clouds is left in the sky.  
* Synnove and Lenore tell Commander Bertrand what has happened in the town and with the train. Bertrand tells them that she still won’t forget the reason why everything has happened in the first place, but the group has proven what side they are on, that they will stand up for what they have done and not run away anymore. She wants them to stay in camp and meet again the next day to give them more information about Sentinel and their next steps. Bertrand also asks them what they took the night they broke into her office, but Synnove only remembers the spear. When Lenore defends her sister, Bertrand wants to know more information about Lenore, including who her employer is so she can send a message to them, but when Lenore tries to avoid answering and just tells her their name is V. and the abbreviated address is “T. D. B. S.”, Betrand decides to involve the Vanguard to find out more.
* Iridia arrives in her laboratory where Theagus and JB are still waiting. They try to explain what happened, that Aelys absorbed some energy on the train and this cocoon formed around her afterwards and that JB’s leg got infected as well. Theagus also informs her that their experiment of traveling longer distances worked and that he would like to work more with her on it. Dr. Iridia takes a small sample of JB’s darkened blood in his leg and a sample of the cocoon. When Iridia analyzes JB’s blood, she finds out that his infection is more of an infection of the spirit. It could be stopped by someone of spiritual or monastic practice. Spiritual illnesses like this can change the bearer for the better or for the worst, so he has to decide what he wants to do. Iridia could amputate the leg with the help of Damien if that is what JB wants, which would slow down the spreading of the infection, but she sees no other way to stop it entirely other than the spiritual or monastic route. Theagus finds it fascinating that JB can accept a soul/spirit into his life, just like Theagus himself had to do. JB wants some time to think about it. 
* As he leaves, JB touches the cocoon again and finds himself in another vision: he is back in the corrupted train, the unmasked version of Penance/Purpose in front of him. Purpose asks if this was JB’s intention and where they are, before JB finds himself back in the tower.
* On the way back to meet with the others, Lenore asks Synnove if she is sure she wants to stay with her friends, but Synnove tells her that this is where she not only wants but has to be. She does not want Lenore to feel like she has to stay here if she does not want to, but Lenore wants to be wherever Synnove is, as long as Synnove is and feels safe.
* The group finds themselves back together, when they are being recognized by the people they safed in town. With the feeling of either joy or discomfort, they are being celebrated and praised by everyone around them.
=== Part 2 ===
* Synnove and JB make their way to Katari and find themselves at the tent of Katari’s (old) group, with a sleeping Barridyne inside and Voltaire and Katari awake. When Voltaire notices JB’s wound, they offer their help but JB does not accept. Synnove and JB want to speak to Katari alone, but Katari, now in a considerably worse mood than the last time they saw her, says she is contractually obligated to fulfill her duties to the team she signed on with, and that means that everything they want to say to her can be said in front of Voltaire. Synnove tries to make clear that walking out of the tent won’t hurt her contract, but Katari insists on staying. Voltaire, shady as they are, seems interested in what the other group is doing, but when Synnove asks about it, they just say that they are a collector of interesting things, of potential, just like Hareem did. Voltaire knows that Hareem comes from a family that once had great wealth but that hasn’t had any notable impact in society for some time and Hareem arrived right before things got strange in this city. Voltaire knows a storm is still brewing on the Prime, especially over the forest, and he intends to be prepared for when something happens. JB apologizes to Katari for hitting her in the fight. Synnove floats over to her, letting her magic loose but it does not even reach Voltaire, as if there is an infinitely expanding distance between her magic and them. She sits down next to Katari, reminding her that she doesn’t have to be an extra and assures her that she can always come back to the other group if she wants to. Before they leave, Synnove apologizes for dragging Katari into something that is a lot, but Katari just answers with “I’d be dragged again.”
* Bubbles visits Commander Bertrand and confesses that they not only took the spear, but also a folder of notes about Sentinel that was hidden in her desk, that is now with Hareem. Bertrand gets mad, as now people’s lives are in danger with someone else having all that information. She sends Bubbles out of the tent so she can try to fix this mess.
* Theagus then makes his way back into the quiet town of Faleeria to find a place where he can talk to Hope without anyone else nearby. They manifest next to him. Theagus tries to find out his purpose and why he was saved. Hope explains that all things deserve life and to be robbed of that so soon was not something Hope could allow after they saved them. Theagus is unique - in all the time they have wandered this place they have never seen someone like him. They would not know what they would do without him, so that is part of his purpose. If he does not know what to feel and do, he should let Hope be his guidance and lean on them. He is one of the first to stand in these ruins of the town and should use this chance to explore and wander the area, striving for new discoveries. Theagus looks around and finds hidden in the fallen ruins a glowing stone, a small red tinged but otherwise translucent glowing teal green shard that was changed by the corruption around it but looks otherwise familiar - temporite. His staff glows in proximity to the shard. Theagus tells Hope that this material once was purpose, but it feels untruthful now after all that he found out. He still needs to study it more. Hope asks for the permission to examine and learn together with Theagus, so he agrees to hear their thoughts on it. As the silhouette of Hope fades away, Theagus returns to the tent. 
* Lenore goes and finds Dr. Thane in her laboratory, where the doctor is still working on examining the cocoon and acts weirdly conspicuous about it. Iridia tells her that the crystals worked like they were supposed to and they have more materials to research it even further - but she still does not think Lenore is special. But that is not what Lenore is here for. She wants to continue the conversation from this morning about the metamorphose that is happening within her body and is connected to the tattoo. From Iridia’s understanding the process involves a host subject that would then be subsumed by the goal subject - and she believes Lenore to be a host. There are forces that are being sent from elsewhere to her. Iridia asks where she got the tattoo, so Lenore tells her that she got it from her boss and accepted it kinda willingly because the other choice was dying and that gave her more time. That tattoo, or tool as she calls it, will help “reunite families, bring balance, [and] bring people home”. Dr. Thane notices that the energies Lenore emanates are not arcane in nature but divine in origin and asks to communicate telepathically to which Lenore agrees. Iridia tells her that she should be wary of whom she tells this information to, as “divine gifts are and have been subject to considerable debates” between the Mortal States and the Elvhenan so if somebody finds out she is walking around with a divine gift, people will question their beliefs. Lenore asks if it would be somehow possible to cut it off for a while. Iridia is “equally parts horrified and most intrigued by this request” but needs Lenore to understand that the consequences might be severe for not only her but for the whole continent and it would sever her from the divine influence in totality and not just temporary. Lenore is unsure if this would be the right way, so she tells the story about how she and her employer met and came to work together, including the fact that she had direct contact with a member of the divine, because “how else would [she] get [her] work orders?” With the knowledge that Lenore has direct and continuous contact with a member of the otherwise silent Pantheon, Iridia can’t just let Lenore go. She wants to continue the research on Lenore’s power. Iridia could try to slow down the progress of Lenore’s conversion, but would like real-time updates from Lenore by inserting a piece of morphocite in Lenore’s spine. Lenore declines, but Dr. Thane has a duty to her people, the elvhenan. Lenore tells her that they will help the elvhenan and they are about to head to Heart of God, when Aelys is okay again. Iridia will inform her kin in the Court of the Star of their imminent arrival so Lenore and her group members will be greeted accordingly. Iridia will only tell them that they are on their way but not what Lenore has done. She thinks the individuals in Üthevhenan can help her more with her request because their dealings with the divine are more hands-on than Iridia’s. They cannot talk to the divine like Lenore, which now makes Lenore special in Iridia’s eyes, but they might know more. While Iridia starts the long-distance communication to Üthevhenan, Lenore makes her way out of the tower, a “that was not great” on her lips. 
* In the evening, the group finds themselves back together at the tent where JB and Synnove tell the others what happened with Katari and Voltaire. When JB tells them it was a long day for everyone, the others ask if he wants to talk about it. JB explains that he lost control in a stressful situation but he only realized it after it had happened. His friends assure him that if there ever comes a time where they can help him, they are here for him. It was a confusing situation and Aelys is now in this cocoon, but it was not her fault what happened. She is under a lot of pressure and they hope to be able to talk to her soon. While they are talking, they suddenly hear footsteps in front of their tent.
* Katari visits the legionnaires' tent, initiating an emotional conversation about leadership, purpose, and identity. JB immediately questions Katari about her earlier interaction with Voltaire, prompting her to respond, “He is an asshole, but he is right.” Katari explains her internal conflict, describing her fear of breaking her commitment to the Legion and its potential consequences with her homeland. She shares, “I signed on here to find purpose again. To earn purpose... I can’t just ignore it. So he [Voltaire] is right.”
* Katari elaborates that her failure to honor her word could result in permanent exile from her homeland, Asaal'atāsh, leaving her as “dust.” While she is trying to reconcile the idea that being "dust" isn’t inherently bad, it still conflicts with her aspirations.
* Synnove asks if Voltaire used this fear against Katari. Katari denies direct manipulation, saying, “Not exactly, but Voltaire never does anything exactly.” JB shifts the conversation to question why Katari acts as though Voltaire is her superior when their own squad has no defined leader. Lenore jokes that their squad operates by taking turns making poor decisions. She then asks why Katari doesn’t switch teams or if they should request Commander Bertrand to move her to their group. Synnove presses Katari on who she perceives as their leader. Katari names JB, citing his ability to subdue her twice and his relative composure compared to the others. She later reveals this was meant as a joke but explains her difficulty adjusting to a team without a clear hierarchy, something she has only ever known.
* Theagus and Synnove joke that if anyone leads their team, it’s Gold. JB contributes his own perspective, telling Katari she is simply searching for the meaning of meaning: “If you’re searching for the meaning of meaning, that means you already know what meaning means.” JB then calls on Gold for dramatic support. Gold flies behind JB and flashes his lights, declaring, “This is support. You are glowing.” JB expands on his point, saying, “You’re trying to use the map to find a map.”
* Katari reflects on her cultural values, quoting the Isskari axiom, “In blood and gold the Brands of Isskar will remain.” She admits her desire for her life to contribute to that legacy, saying, “All I know is that when everything has fallen to ruin, I want my life to have been part of that blood and gold.” Addressing Lenore and Synnove, she shares how her time with them has made her question this belief. “You don’t care about that... You make me want for it to not matter. And I can’t reconcile that.”
* When Theagus asks why Katari came to the tent, she hesitates, ultimately admitting that she values their company but finds it challenging to sit with the doubts they stir in her. Synnove offers to speak with the Commander on Katari’s behalf, but Katari declines, expressing concern about causing trouble and her commitment to following the rules. Notably, she addresses Synnove by her name instead of “Isala”.
* Synnove argues that sometimes rules are meant to be broken, to which Katari responds, “That makes me want to die.” JB provides a nuanced perspective, explaining, “Some rules were made without the situation that is happening and that is a complicated moment of the rule being necessary for some reasons and not for others.”
* Katari continues her introspection by asking the legionnaires about the rules they live by and why they are part of the Copper Legion. Theagus responds that everyone has their own rules, while Synnove explains she is still writing hers. “They are MY rules. I get to choose them. I don’t have them prescribed to me.” Katari, perplexed, questions why they would join an organization bound by rules if they don’t intend to follow them. “Why do you stay? Why do you do what you do each morning?” she asks.
* JB suggests it could be as simple as, “You wanted to be here and so you did.” Katari counters that people can’t just do what they want, prompting Synnove to respond, “It depends on what you want.” Katari insists she needs to understand their motivations to decide her own path. “Give me something to hold onto,” she pleads.
* Synnove shares that her purpose is to help people and heal the world. Katari admits she doesn’t entirely grasp Synnove’s motivations but finds the answer satisfying. JB echoes Synnove’s sentiment, adding that he also wants to work on himself. Katari mutters “shit” in response and takes another drink from the ale gifted to the group for their recent success in saving the city.
* Lenore contributes wisdom passed down from her parent, Sumide: “Some people wake up every day just to go to work, some people wake up every day to read a good book, some people wake up every day to see their family, and some people wake up every day just to make it to a beautiful sunset at the end of the day. And all of those are good reasons to wake up every day.” When Katari asks Lenore why she wakes up, Lenore pauses before answering: “I used to wake up just to have something to do. And now I wake up for any bit of time I have with family I thought I wouldn’t have a moment with. And maybe I’ll get more and see more of them. And even if it doesn’t happen, the thought of it happening is enough.” Katari echoes, “The thought of it happening is enough.”
* Turning to Theagus, Katari asks the same question. Theagus struggles, admitting he doesn’t always want to wake up. Katari presses, “But you do. So why?” Theagus responds that despite feeling different, he deeply cares about those around him. When Katari reminds him of the care he showed by hiding his identity, Theagus reveals he was not taught to trust correctly. Katari acknowledges his growth, saying, “And now you have.” Theagus cautiously agrees, adding he is searching for a better understanding of the world and time, exploring how different paths might have changed outcomes.
* Synnove asks Katari why she herself wakes up in the morning. Katari replies, “To remain in blood and gold. To deserve a home.” When Synnove questions why Katari feels undeserving, Katari reveals it’s because her heritage is etched into her skin, yet she was cast out. Synnove asks why she was forced to leave, and Katari cryptically responds, “The story is long and people lie. To themselves. People are afraid…They’re afraid of what truth really means. What potential can bring them. And I was - am - hard to be around.”
* Synnove disagrees, but Katari insists otherwise. She explains that her exile gave her purpose and something to earn, though the full story is not one she is ready to share. Katari then asks if she can use Aelys’ bedroll since Aelys isn’t present. Lenore jokes that Katari can use it every evening.
* Lenore takes a moment to address Katari’s struggle, emphasizing the importance of language and self-worth: “You don’t have to earn a home or a right to exist. You just have that by being. Everyone deserves that.” Katari pushes back, questioning how that could be true. Lenore reminds Katari of a prior conversation where Katari insisted Lenore’s exile and broken horns didn’t make her any less Isskari or any less herself. Katari reaffirms, “That’s just the truth,” but Lenore challenges her to apply the same perspective to herself. Katari argues it’s different because she and her people bear the Brands of Isskar, but she promises to one day take Lenore and Synnove to Asaal'atāsh. “Where you are from,” she tells them. “Then you will know why things are the way they are. But maybe not the way they have to be for now.”
* Exhausted, Katari admits that being around the legionnaires often makes her angry and frustrated, but it’s even harder to be apart from them. Settling into Aelys’ bedroll, she mutters in Isskaren, “In blood and gold, I will remain.” Synnove softly responds in the same tongue, “Sweet dreams, Katari.”
* As Katari falls asleep in Aelys’ bedroll, the group reflects on her fragile state. Lenore wonders if they should hug her, but Synnove advises against it, noting that Katari likely wouldn’t appreciate the gesture. Lenore observes that Katari seems barely able to hold herself together. Synnove compares her to a broken baby bird, saying they must handle Katari with care. Lenore teases that Synnove has a soft spot for broken baby birds.
* The conversation shifts when Theagus informs the group that Commander Bertrand is upset about the legionnaires taking the pamphlet of top-secret Sentinel documents. Synnove remarks that while Bertrand may be angry, she still needs their help.
* Theagus admits he’s inexperienced with flirting. JB and Lenore note his flirty interactions with Dr. Iridia Thane, prompting Theagus to confess he has feelings for her. Synnove advises caution, warning about workplace relationships. Gold agrees. Theagus then reveals that penguins like him don’t live long, which surprises the group. When Synnove asks if he’s going to die soon, he responds affirmatively and asks if she will as well. Synnove cryptically pats the vibrating Fading Book and says, “The jury is still out on that one.”
* Theagus shares that he doesn’t have many memories and doesn’t know his exact age. Synnove relates, revealing she also doesn’t know how old she is. Lenore elaborates, explaining that their community didn’t measure time like the rest of the world.
* The group encourages Theagus to tell Dr. Thane about his feelings, noting that life is uncertain. Theagus discloses that he actually died during their time in the Lighthouse of Longing and was brought back by a spirit calling itself “Hope.”
* The discussion turns to their next steps. They are to seek out the remaining orbs at the other lighthouses. Gold offers to help locate them using a magic map, while Synnove notes that Stella can hear the orbs. Despite Aelys’ desire to return to Üthevhenan, JB opposes the idea, arguing it’s too dangerous. The group eventually agrees that if they are to go to Heart of God, they will explore a nearby lighthouse.
* Lenore reveals she needs to visit a monastery over a lake to retrieve an unknown item. Synnove speculates it could be the same monastery where JB trained. Theagus stresses the importance of treating Aelys gently when she returns, hinting at her emotional state. Synnove suggests that Aelys and Lenore may have more in common than Lenore realizes, noting that Aelys likely doesn’t receive enough affection.
* The group retires for the night. Before sleeping, JB meditates on the edge of camp, attempting to purify his soul and body through focus instead of scientific intervention. His meditation draws him into a trance, where he finds himself in a clean, metallic chamber shaped like the train from the infection of Faleeria. Across from him sits Purpose, mirroring his pose but radiating a negative aura. Purpose grumbles ominously, “We have much to discuss.”
“The camera is going to pan out of a sanctum in JB’s spirit, across the desert and far away into a war room, shrouded in storm clouds and dead branches, where an elf crowned in magic arcane power sits. The room is disturbed by the entrance of an Illithid wearing a robe made of beads of liquid triangular metal. As they arrive into the room, they say the words ‘I bring great news, Era'Harel’ - the elf’s attention snaps up.” 
== Characters ==
=== Player Characters ===
* Aelys Sa’Viraan
* Theagus SOT
* Jean-Baptiste
* Lenore
* Synnove Oleander
===Mentioned===
* V
* High Scribe Threnodius
* High Minister Kirin Matawa
* Myriad
* Damien
* Hareem
* Sumide (quoted)
=== NPCs ===
* Katari
* Commander Bertrand
* Dr. Iridia Thane
* Gold
* Penance/Purpose
* Voltaire
* Barridyne (asleep)
* Hope
* Era'Harel
* Xyhrixis/Cerebro, Stareater
== Locations and Organizations ==
=== Locations ===
* Faleeria
* Heart of God 
* Monastery (mentioned)
* Üthevhenan
** War Room
=== Organizations ===
* Sentinel
* Copper Legion
* Vanguard (mentioned)
* Court of the Star 
== Tarot Card and RP Warmup ==
The tarot card for the episode was The Moon, drawn by Hannah.
The roleplay warmup question was: "Would your character like to be proudest of their accomplishments or their character?"
== References ==