Heart of Tyre: Episode 24

### Reddit Thread

***Heart of Tyre* Episode 24** was streamed on Arcadum's Twitch channel on January 25, 2021, and premiered on Arcadum's YouTube channel on May 4, 2021.

## Summary

*Summary by av5hadow, copied from Verum Weekly*

We last left the Tops standing before a creature in the large red orb that stirs to outside stimuli. This creature is the only success in Tyre’s experiment to birth a creature that exists outside the Tapestry of Fate. Everyone but Seren enters the room, and through observation Derok learns that the creature is at an adult size. The Violet Eye sees that this creature is colorless unlike normal creatures who always have a Color presence. Morc believes that this creature is the Unfated One, and the party speculates on the purpose of the creature.

Morc compares the experiment with the blood rituals of the Orc tribes; if this room is the result or output of a blood rite, there must be an input and a control location. Even though the ritual is not complete, the creature itself has been growing. The thin film on top of the orb won’t last much longer, and the creature will be born soon. Leaving Seren’s corpse companion Illan to watch the orb, the party traverses the maze to look for the other parts of the experiment. They eventually find a forge. Former daemon Derok recognizes that the forge uses a soul as fuel — but not just any soul, only a certain one. The party continues their exploration, and they find themselves in a room whose floor is occupied by a large set of gnashing teeth. This is where the bodies for the experiment are placed. The party returns to the orb. Once again everyone but Seren enters the room. Derok gently places his hand on the orb, which prompts it to crack.

Flesh Crime Prime appears. Its head is missing facial features. While it is mostly humanoid, it possesses black tentacles as arms, and its monochromatic appearance lacks any hue. It was created to be unbound by the Tapestry, by the Colors, by all things. Its purpose is to be more, but its only desire is to live. During their conversation, FCP constantly evolves and grows stronger, becoming an increasingly larger threat. Derok asks if it could see the Tapestry with its eyes, apparently missing the fact that it doesn’t have any facial features. Regardless, the Flesh Crime promptly forms two eyes and scans the room. The eyes then gaze upon the Violet Eye, seeing the Entity behind it. It reaches out its hand, and a piece of bone comes out. Violet begins to infect the bone, but FCP purges the Color. Derok commends the act, saying that destroying Violet is FCP’s purpose. It however rejects the notion. From outside the room Seren asks what purpose FCP would want then. A mistake. FCP looks at Seren for the first time; the creature grows again, and Seren detects a new fourth Overmind.

FCP acknowledges that it must stop the Enemy, and Ives asks how they could help. FCP says that they are too weak as they are bound to Fate. Tentacles grow from its back, and it takes a hostile stance. It wishes to make the party its tools. The Tops try their best to persuade the creature to not modify them. Eventually the topic falls on the purpose of strength and living. The FCP says that strength is to protect oneself; the Tops say that the purpose of strength is to protect others as the purpose of living is to share life with others. FCP is confused, stating that it could just walk away. Why would it stay and die? Ives asks why it would die if it stayed. FCP reiterates that they are all too weak. Ives retorts saying that they are stronger because they are together to which the FCP replies, “Test then.”

Neve immediately tells FCP that they don’t want either party to harm the other. She argues that the Enemy is a threat to all. Even if FCP follows its ideals and does beat the Enemy, FCP will end up alone. The creature becomes still and asks “How to feel?” Neve offers her hand, saying that a lot of people start with physical touch; affection can be shown with words and actions. A tentacle transforms into a hand, and their hands touch. Neve’s mind suddenly is barraged with the misery caused by her hag mother and her unresolved issues. FCP pulls back, feeling her sadness and regret, but Neve says that there is more. Ives is reminded of what he saw before entering Labyrinth and asks Morc to hold Neve’s hand. Morc complies, and the couple grasps the creature’s hand. FCP makes several noises. A monstrous groan turns into a whimper. “Never will-... will\*\*…\*\* I feel.”

Flesh Crime Prime then fades away, and all what remains is its soul in the form of an orb. In order to create a Fateless One, one must be created without anything that Fate can have. A Fateless One is strong against suffering and death. However, without Fate there can be no Fated pairings. Prime saw what it could never have: love.

As the Tops continue walking around the maze, they eventually find a staircase going down. They descend and The party find themselves on a precipice in a large open space. They walk to the edge where they find a floating quicksilver cube, the lock of the *Heart of Tyre*. Beneath the empty space in front of them is a large phantasmal hand. Morc thanks the soul, and Neve inserts the orb in the cube which absorbs and dissolves the orb. Two of three locks have now been unlocked. The phantasmal hand forms a platform waiting for the heroes to meet Tyre’s End.

## Featured Characters

### Main Characters

* Derok Dranf
* Ives
* Neve
* Madd Morc
* Seren