Session 13: Of Words Lost To Silence

As always, our sessions never go quite the way I expect them to.

* Our heroes began the long trek from the Northern Palace to Fargrave, each taking a moment to spend with their loved ones as they travelled
* Marcus and Eora talk, both having big feelings and trying to vocalise them in a way that can be understood by both.
	+ Eora explains that a lot of her actions were, while willing, in response to threats upon her loved ones, on Marcus. She can’t apologise for her choice, but she is sorry for hurting him
	+ Marcus is angry with her but makes a point of expressing that getting back in the sun, looking after herself again, will start to make things up between them
	+ She promises to give night yoga a try, joining Marcus on his proverbial terf
	+ The two continue on in amicable silence, some of the air somewhat cleared between them
* Ramzi has Allegra at his side, looking tired but happy to be back with you
	+ Pogo is, as always, feral and looking ready to attack any potential threats
* Allegra openly watches Thia clutching tightly onto Morgan, the older Elven woman constantly glancing over her shoulder to check on Entari
	+ Tato does some healing, but in the end, Voldi ends up giving him a piggyback ride
	+ There’s light conversation, Chartreuse briefly tries to give Eora a piggyback too but is also weak. She ends up sitting with Allegra on Pogo so that they are no longer travelling at half speed
	+ The DM cannot quite remember how but the conversation came around to light roasting which resulted in it being mentioned that Entari had willingly blown part of the castle up in a bid to kidnap our heroes
	+ His mother looks at him with genuine horror and turns away, not daring to look or speak to him again for the rest of the session
* Our heroes arrived in Fargrave to find that a siege had been had whilst they were gone
	+ A few bodies of the soldiers, both Chaeran and Petradorian, litter the streets, but the greatest damage was done to the outer walls and the garrison. There’s also a gaping hole in the side of one of the castle’s spires
	+ Originally going to check on the Callowbrands, they find Marcus’ mother and brothers preparing to go to their manor outside of the city. She makes Marcus promise to come there as soon as possible.
	+ Clara refuses to leave, heading straight into the action to help despite the consequences of disobeying her parents. Tato rushes off to go find her.
* Cassius Callowbrand is located at Fort Illias in Limerock, preparing troops ahead of what is sure to be another bloody clash of forces.
	+ While Thia comforts a grieving Tilda Callowbrand, Marcus heads to the communication hub to contact his father, followed by Morgan and Ramzi
	+ His father provides much the same information, encouraging Marcus to also head to the Manor. He assures that a force from Fort Brunswick is already being prepared too
	+ He also explains that the hit to Fargrave was a retaliation hit as Chaera attacked Sunminster first
* Tato arrives to see Clara healing a group of soldiers, praying and glowing a bright golden colour
	+ He waits until she’s down and then the two have an emotional reunion
	+ Tato promises to help to the best of her abilities and the two set off to heal others
* It becomes apparent that the Empress has locked herself in her throne room and will receive no visitors. There’s the sound of stuff breaking inside
* While Eora rests, Marcus also heads outside to help. Clara immediately feels bad for only thinking of her partner rather than her brother’s safety, but they reach a peace.
* Ramzi and Allegra also head outside to help
* Morgan goes to find his brother, finding the three criminals having procured a guest room and setting up station there
	+ He manages to convince an overprotective Voldi and a more docile Chartreuse to leave while he chats with Entari
	+ The first words out of Morgan’s mouth are about how to protect their mother which seems to hurt something in Entari, as the rest of the conversation becomes terse
	+ When Morgan explains his plan to get Daelynn and Ecath to pardon Thia, Entari snaps and it comes to light that he is upset that all his brother seems to care for is his mother first, and him second
	+ While Entari did not know Thia would be taken, it also comes to light that Morgan’s safety was the one he was putting first, not their mother’s
	+ He’s upset that Morgan, after all of this, hasn’t asked about him once
	+ By the end, Entari grouchingly agrees to think about Morgan’s request before Voldi kicks Morgan out so she could cuddle the injured elf
* Chartreuse gives a little brother-in-law-y advice to Morgan before joining his companions for a rest. Morgan then goes downstairs to help the others
* After a long rest, everyone finds that her majesty is still locked away in the throne room, refusing to leave
	+ The guards explain that they have a better chance of speaking to her at nighttime when she leaves but Morgan is undeterred, spending a solid hour knocking at the door
	+ Ramzi and Marcus plan to use the Cape of the Monteback, sending Tato off as a distraction
	+ Tato pretends to start a screaming song argument which Morgan takes completely at face value, telling them off with a few scathing comments
	+ Tato bursts into tears, turns invisible and flies off to hide in a tree for the rest of the day. They are unable to be found by anyone
	+ Marcus and Ramzi end up taking force damage as some kind of magic repels their Dimension Door. Marcus catches up to Morgan, explains that Tato wasn’t being genuine, was just trying to cause a distraction
	+ That seems to upset him and the Heroes go their separate ways, either looking for Tato or heading to the markets to fill their time before nightfall
* When night hits, the doors of the throne room open, revealing Empress Daelynn
	+ Tato is the first to see her, noticing immediately that she seems to be sleep walking and it is not a surprise to any of the guards. She follows her as she walks out of the castle and city, the guards seemingly moving on people so that no-one can see their empress in her current state
	+ Eventually, Ramzi, Morgan and Marcus all catch sight of her and follow, finding a few butter arrows and signs left behind by an invisible Tato
	+ When Daelynn seemingly disappear within the forest, no longer covered by the guards who stopped at the walls, a quick perception reveals that she has stepped into an illusory clearing, covering both sound and sight
	+ Our group emerged in the clearing to find a multitude of destroyed training dummies, obliterated beyond repair with a glowing, raggedy Daelynn standing above them, muscles visible in her normally delicate arms. Her gown was ripped and shawl discarded, the priceless material discarded in the dirt without a care
	+ Daelynn freezes upon being spotted, her aura disappearing as she quickly tries to hide what she has been revealed to truly be: Not a Caster, but a Path of the Zealot Barbarian

And, on that note, our session came to a close! Next sesh will be held on the 12th of January, 2022!