A JOURNEY BEGINS

***A JOURNEY BEGINS*** is the second session of *Glimpses into the Fade.*

## Musings

*When one takes on the job of an adventurer, they place their life and journey in fate’s hands. Following where it leads and trudges, it is almost impossible to know how ready one is in the face of tragedy and peril. When one takes on the title of a wanderer, they place their hearts’ in fate’s hands. No matter the people you hold dear, no matter the strength in which you hold on to them, one must be prepared to let go. Love and loss is a common theme in an adventurer’s tale. Its somber tune is felt on the way back to Grayraven, as our adventurer’s gaze at the back of the last, solitary member of the Arcane Winds.*

*No one says it aloud, but the melancholy leaves the fresh faces wondering if they are ready for fate’s austere melody.*

## **Synopsis**

Arriving back to Grayraven, Bran, Riya, and Anthir awake upstairs in the Golden Phoenix Guild's boarding rooms. Minerva greets them with a contract and 500GP after successfully completing their initiation quest. Bran is the only one to understand it, as Riya and Anthir are incredibly sleepy, but sign it anyways. Oriza continues to sleep soundly as the remaining three head down for breakfast, where they learn Anthir's love for carbs, specifically bread.

Bran leaves Mint and a note behind to greet Oriza in the morning, as the three of them head towards the Western Roost Library to find Hira. Hira dreams of Hunter's Pass, where a figure stands in the middle of the clearing. The long horned masked figure walks towards her, until they stand in the sun. They open up their cloak, revealing a winged pattern to her. A gust of cold air shakes through her, and is awoken to a cold gust in reality. Hira sees her bedroom window is open to the outside, and finds a grey feathery Owlin, craning down to meet her gaze. Hira helps Ambrose into the library, and learns he has a gift for her, but handed it off to a pupil in the Disciples of the Wing.

Leaving her quarters, she meets Bran, Riya and Anthir in the lobby of the library. Bran hands her split of the gold earned, and are on the search for Monsoon. They are about to leave, but hear someone being scolded to the side of the library. Curious, they attempt to listen in. They see Monsoon being scolded by a tall woman in heavy plate armour. She berates him over his lack of motivation to continue his quest on his own.

> "Do as I say, lest the Dreadwolf take you...”
>
>

The woman leaves, and Monsoon calls to Riya, Bran and Anthir who rolled poorly on stealth. Bran steps out from the bookcase, asking if Monsoon was alright. Monsoon tells Bran he has an oath to upkeep, and needs to head north whether with or without his party. Bran doesn’t like the sound of that, forging a quest letter stating to head north, which amuses Monsoon. The four of them are inclined to agree, but wait for Oriza's input. The four of them sit down with Monsoon, who remembers he has a gift for Hira. He hands over a cloak of dark blues, oddly feathered in shape. This cape is recognized as being a pupil of Ambrose, as a Disciple of the Wing.

Hiraeth is shocked, a bit confused, and leaves suddenly to reach Ambrose’s study at the top of the tower. Hira knocks on the door politely, to which Ambrose opens with mage hand. She steps in, stammering asking what the cloak meant. He explains the cloak is given to those under his care and subsequently his pupils of the library. Those who wear the cape are seen as children of knowledge, and the cape is recognized by many, and would give her access to knowledge of his many libraries. Ambrose gives a pat on her head, tucking in a feather between her horns before she excuses herself, thanking him.

As she returns, the five of them start making their way to the Golden Phoenix Guild. Meanwhile Oriza has been fast asleep in their room, a figure stands far away, face half obscured by white light. Oriza rushes to them, arms outstretched as they yell out apologies over and over again. He awakes, arms outstretched startling Mint. He gets ready for the day, heading down to see the rest of the party returning to the Guild Hall. Bran asks Monsoon of the woman from the Library, which he reveals is named Sirocco. Monsoon talks of his party, the Arcane Winds, and his quest to go north to learn more about his kind, and his clan known as Elvhenanian elves. Determined, Bran finds any quest that requires them to move north. The group settles on a quest that's north-east, a village whose crops have been destroyed by owlbears and other creatures, which is unusually out of season.

Monsoon dismisses the group and tells them to prepare to leave tomorrow at latest, and leaves to train. However he leaves behind a partially drafted letter, to which Riya reads aloud to the rest of the group. The letter is meant for one of the Arcane Winds' family members, and the party agree on returning it to him later. All but Oriza go back to the Western Roost to conduct research, but Oriza heads towards the sparring grounds, telling Monsoon they want to ask him a few questions. Monsoon agrees, but only if they battle. Oriza learns that Monsoon isn’t from here, he’s from Rune. She asks if he's ever heard of the name Loralynn, and Monsoon says he heard the name through the Keeper of his Clan, a princess hailing from Rune. When asked if Oriza is from Rune, they lie and say no, to which Monsoon sees through but does not pry. The spar ends in Monsoon's favour, claiming its unfair she keeps asking about him while he knows nothing about her.

Meanwhile the remaining four stand in the Western Roost Library. Attempting to research more of what they witnessed in Hunter's Pass, Bran learns that dragons are seen as a myth in Orion, they shouldn’t exist, and yet they do. As they do that, Hira heads upstairs to talk to her Aunt Calypso. They share a moment, Calypso asks about her quest. Hira tells her they plan on heading north, which surprises her. She hadn't expected Hira to spread her wings so soon, finding herself emotional. Hira squeezes her hand tight before Calypso rushes to hug her, claiming Hira is all she has left. Hira expresses the same sentiment, promises she'll always come back. After composing herself, Calypso asks how many will be joining them for dinner, as the two of them prepare for one last meal together.

## Featured Characters

#### The Fireflies

* Anthir
* Bran
* Hiraeth
* Oriza
* Riya

#### New

* Ambrose
* Calypso
* Mint
* Sirocco

#### Returning

* Minerva
* Monsoon