You're Like Them

***You're Like Them*** is the twenty-fifth session of *Glimpses Into The Fade.* Following the trials, the Fireflies finally can venture freely through the fadescape of memories. Not all is as it seems as things start to meld and mesh with one another. The future seems unclear. Tonight will change depending on the actions you took last time.

## **Synopsis**

After several trials, The Fireflies find themselves in a lull, a rare moment of calm as they sit in Vilya's campsite. Bran reflects on his trial, attempting to glean anything of his masked foes, but learns nothing. Hira approaches the rest of the Fireflies, suggesting they all talk of their trials. Settling atop their bedrolls, Monsoon cannot understand how everyone's trials correlated. Hira questions Vilya asking if she's met The Eye, but they express they went through some memories when first arriving to the Fade, but didn't go through a trial. She comments how it spoke to them with familiarity, knowing their party name. Hira believes that since the Fade has access of their memories, it may have learned their name.

Oriza stares into the embers, half paying attention to the conversation around them, offering to start from the beginning. Monsoon asks of the woman they saw, they state she was a princess they swore to protect, lone survivors of their Kingdom. Vilya recalls of Loralynn briefly, a princess from a foreign land who married a councillor. Oriza explains how after the fall of their Kingdom, they sought safety and shelter in Rune before their lady was killed. Shortly after, they were exiled from Rune, but express their need to enact her revenge. Monsoon asks if they have any leads, to which Oriza painfully says no. Monsoon states this might be the place to find answers, Vilya reminds them that memories live in the Fade, that there's a chance to find memories near Loralynn's death. Oriza expresses their gratitude, hoping they'll find something.

Monsoon shifts focus to Anthir and Riya, who both feels extremely overwhelmed and confused by their trials. Riya thinks its best to talk to 'her.' Vilya asks who she's referring to, to which Riya holds up her Ring, but Vilya takes this as Riya's wife. Riya explains there's a lady in the ring that the trial pertains to her, but Vilya states if it was Riya's trial then why is it about her? Riya is unsure, but thinks it may relate to a past life. At the mention of a past life, Anthir deciphers the man in his trial being one of his ancestor, whose sins were passed down to him that is shown through the blue of his arms. He states his ancestor was speaking to a God, who referred to him as "his son."

Hira brings up the location of Hesmad, questioning what Gods are worshipped there, but nowadays The Maker has been most prevalent. There hasn't been any documentation of Gods speaking to their followers, except in Chorus docturine, where the Maker turned his back after The Great Blight. Vilya states the Fade might be the only place for clues as the trial has definitely gone dead and cold back in Orion. As the twins bicker, Hira asks Anthir of his experience touching one of the crystals, but only managed to listen in further on his ancestors conversation. Anthir asks if The Maker is a nice God, not one to order others to go murder. Vilya recounts her own studies, stating he's not good nor bad, the Chorus puts him on a benevolent standard, wishing for his forgiveness

Hira wonders if the blue of his arms has grown at all, but Anthir states it has been the same since obtaining it — after passing out in the woods one day, waking up with it, explaining this had occurred whilst running from his old guild. Hira wonders if the blue is representative of the sin being passed down, but is confused as it sounded like he hadn't done anything wrong. She continues to ask Oriza and Bran what they saw when touching the crystals. Bran shares he only heard Violet calling out to him. Oriza shares they had looked through the eyes of Loralynn's younger sister, Lottie, feeling every emotion, pain, and thought. Lottie had sacrificed herself for Oriza and Loralynn to escape, feeling her die. Monsoon believes the crystals seem to be catalysts, pure memory. He warns the others to be careful if they decide to touch one, while they learn something they aren't sure what the Fade could be taking back. Vilya states they won't know if they don't try, its experimentation!

Bran focuses on Oriza, stating he needs to touch those crystals to find more clues. Oriza looks to him and Anthir, stating if that's what he wishes then be their guest. Hira places a hand over Oriza's in comfort, then asks Bran what he had seen in his trial. Bran collects himself, beginning to explain how he saw his mother Nimue and Golden Guards of Rune stating she was far from home. Violet's magic is too overwhelming, causing her to go comatose, as she is without her 'sponge.' Bran bluntly states he watched his mother get stabbed to death, as the Golden Guards didn't allow for loose threads. Anthir asks if his mother was from Rune, as he isn't sure if they go out of Rune to chase down previous residents. Monsoon describes the Guards as the Counsels dogs, asking Anthir as a magic user if they had taken him to a college, to which he confirms.

Publicly, the Golden Guard are law enforcement, but do the Counsels bidding. If they hunted down Nimue, she must've angered powerful people. Bran shares he believes she struck some sort of deal to protect her daughters that went awry. Bran remembers one of the members of the Guard mimicked his mothers voice perfectly, that her goal was for her daughters to live a normal life without magic, relaying that to the group. He isn't sure what they meant, as he never felt protected by magic. Frustrated, Bran expresses he needs to know more about himself, he had always been truthful to his family, but they hid much from him. Monsoon states truth is vague, asking what exactly he means. Bran expresses wanting to learn more about the magic he was given or takes away from Violet, where his mother is from and what her deal had wrought*.*

Bran reveals his final vision of the holder of the deck of cards he was tasked to retrieve. Except he was caught and killed, failing the mission Death entrusted to him. Monsoon asks if he remembers the face, but only saw his long silken garb. However, Bran recognizes the man in who struck down Nimue and the holder of the cards are the same person — The Head Councilman, Voss Talbot. Death had explained how they've been avoiding death with the help of the cards. Oriza mentions noone has seen his face before, and has yet to shift in his position of power. Anthir knows the title of Head Councilman is passed down to their sons, suggesting that it's covered up for Voss's continued reign. Hira suggests with the deck of cards, it has aided in prolonging his reign of power.

Bran isn't sure if he can steal from this person, Death has tasked him with such a difficult task. If his failure leads to the death of his mother, Bran wishes to talk to Death again. Vilya suggests to just kill someone, Monsoon believes its complicated, but Bran says not anymore. Vilya wishes him luck finding death, but Bran believes his best chance is here in the Fade. Monsoon says they'll lay everything down first before considering to leave, to which Bran mentions wanting to attempt his suggestion from earlier before he leaves. Monsoon is firm when stating they're sticking together.

The focus turns towards Hira and her trial, whose hesitant to begin. Vilya speaks first, saying she had nearly died back there. Hira thanks her once more, apologizing for crying immediately upon seeing her, but is reassured the experience must've been scary. Hira gathers her trial, as well as Bran's, were glimpses into their futures. Hira believes the beast was herself, recognizing the figures she doesn't consider siblings anymore. In the trial it seemed they had struck a deal to protect them during the Blight, but she had refused to go through with it. In the end she had lost something that angered her greatly, leading her down a path of wrath. Bran questions how she broke the vision, but Hira doesn't think she did anything. Bran explains as he fell, a voice spoke to him, questioning his ambition. Hira recalls whilst unconscious she heard a voice asking if she'd keep fighting. Neither of them recognize the voice.

Bran asks in the end why had Hira become a beast, questioning if it was out of loneliness. Hira isn't sure, but admits there's much to explain. Hira brings up The Lying Eyes — a group located in Stormridge Mountains, home to many Firbolgs like herself. Following under the Monarch, at thirty, they'd go under a ceremony where a worm is injected into them. Hira states the worm placed in her is different, explaining how Ambrose had removed her Aunt's before, but failed to this time. Bran asks how the role of Monarch is passed down, but Hira believes they've always been the Monarch, at least for a few centuries. Her beast self donned the robes of the Monarch, to which Monsoon questions if she had taken over, where had they gone. Hira isn't sure, only recalling the flapping of wings. Monsoon about her not-siblings wanting protection from the Blight, suggesting this is in a future where they failed.

Hira states that technically, the Blight is inevitable, which shocks Vilya. Hira explains how two figures are trying to release Pride, an Archdemon. If they manage to stop them, they have a decade in advance. The Time Knight had reassured them they can still slay Pride, but seeing them released will inspire to achieve the same. Bran is reminded in Talbot's office that he spoke of Pride, Sloth, and Greed, seeming surprised there coming back when he had thought he gotten rid of them in the past. Monsoon states Rune did kill all those dragons after the Blight. Vilya states among everything here she gleans they seem to want to do their own things, but along the way they can learn how they want to bring back Pride. Hira asks to confirm they all wish to stop Arel, to which they all agree. Hira cuts off the conversation there, rushing to go off and bathe in a river nearby.

Riya attempts to process what she's learned, attempting to figure out what to ask the woman in her ring. Bran, covered in his mothers blood, follows after Hira to bathe. Oriza in their exhausted stupor, immediately knocks out. Anthir approaches Vilya, apologizing for being unable to prevent her death, to which she thanks him once more, stating they've done more then enough. Anthir states it didn't feel right to leave her, feeling the deal he made was worth it. Vilya states she'll find a way to make it up to him, it's not common to get a third chance. He wasn't religious before, but with his new gift, he wishes to learn more of Mithal. Vilya offers to teach him the basics, but questions how much he is willing to learn, as Gods are more then just religion to them, it's their reason of being, their culture. Anthir states not to the extent that they do, but wishes to repay her to his upmost ability.

Vilya looks to him with contempt, she expresses devotion is work, commitment, if he wishes to repay the Allmother, then Anthir owes her that much at least. But it's not in her values to turn people away, so will meet him where he wishes. Anthir asks of culture or behaviour he should exhibit, to which Vilya motions her Halla forth. Halla symbolize the Allmother, ensuring they are well respected and live the best lives possible. She offers to have him join in a small prayer later, to which Anthir agrees to. Vilya excuses herself, heading off on her own, whilst the remainder at camp begins to succumb to sleep.

As Hira readies herself for a bath, she hears rustling in the bushes. Seeing nothing, she settles into the waters until a moment later a large rodent emerges, joining her in her bath. Staring at the animal confusingly, she deduces it harmless, focusing on scrubbing away her newly earned scars. After a few minutes something clicks, having Hira yell at the wild shaped Vilya as a capybara. Hira asks if she needs anything, but Vilya admits to leaving before things got awkward since she only knew half of their names. Hira shares the names of the other members of the Fireflies, sharing that Bran had given them their name. They are a recent group, Hira questions when exactly Vilya and the rest of the Arcane Winds went missing, Deluge it seems. She states it's Wallow now in Orion, it seems near impossible to tell time here.

Hira asks how she is, to which Vilya states she's alive so that's something. Hira mentions they had all seen her turn into a whale in the well, to which Vilya explains she had returned to the Fade running after Arel and Odin. Asking what they had said that made her so angry to jump back in, Vilya said they mentioned using Monsoon for something. However it seems after their encounter, Arel realized something and began going after her instead, taking something away from her as she feels weaker then before. Hira asks if she wants to kill them, Vilya tells her yes, it's only fair after they killed her after all. She focuses on Hira's scars, offering to heal them, with her magic they begin to fade. Hira thanks her, mentioning her Aunt will surely be upset to which Vilya brings up meeting Calypso.

They mention they've met before, Hira can't recall seeing Vilya in the Western Roost Library. Vilya states Hira should pay more attention of the animals around her, whenever Monsoon was around, she was as well in a wild shaped form. Hira asks if this was long ago when she was much shorter, to which Vilya laughs and tells Hira doesn't know how miffed Monsoon is about her growth spurt. She tells a story of Monsoon returning from the library exclaiming in confusion of how tall she had suddenly grown. She jokes of Monsoon's height, stating she suggested he wore heels but he refused. Vilya admits she never thought she'd see Hira become an adventurer, to which Hira explains her Aunt was the one to sign her up in the first place. Vilya states she's glad she did, she gets to mess around with her more then just in the library.

She suggests Hira to learn to recognize wild shapes, recalling the time they saw her as a bear. Hira returns to the topic of Arel, telling her part of her deal with the Monarch is to kill Arel and asks for her aid. Vilya says of course, when the time comes she believes that one of them is best to go after them, believing she will do what her brother can't to save him that heartache. Hira asks of Odin, who was always kind towards her but left her one day to join Arel. Hira theorizes how Monsoon had attacked her before Bran destroyed the golden feather that it may cause them to act on Arel's will. Suggesting to talk to the others of this, the two begin to dress. Hira thanks her once more for healing her, asking if she owes her anything for healing. Vilya states no confused that she offered, Hira admits it's a bad habit. Watching Hira's ears droop, Vilya retracts her words and asks for her to tag along whilst looking for herbs. Ears up, Hira states she can do that. With that, the two head back towards camp.

Meanwhile, Bran who was on his way towards Hira, is seemingly lost..

## Featured Characters

#### The Fireflies

* Anthir
* Bran
* Hiraeth
* Oriza
* Riya

#### Returning

* Arel
* Monsoon
* Mint
* Vilya

#### Mentioned

* Calypso
* Loralynn
* Lottie
* Nimue
* Odin
* The Monarch
* Wendy