Season 2 - Episode 37: Rift Happens

## Synopsis

Bjorn, Henry, and Sammie take some time to clean up, rest, and heal themselves at the hotel before heading back to East Thornvale to meet up with the Council representative. They meet Isaiah Thompson and he performs the ritual on Bjorn, only to leave in a rush after Bjorn tests it out and is successfully able to open one. Sammie, after reading his thoughts, tells Bjorn and Henry that Isaiah thought the ritual didn't work and is disturbed Bjorn can open portals without permission. They further test this and find that Henry is able to open Rift portals as well.

## Episode Description

Our heroes meet with the Dragon Council's "IT" guy to unlock Bjorn's portal permissions.

## Key Events

* The crew and Angelina settle on a plan - they'll lure the big worm to themselves underground and then open a Rift portal the size of the tunnel so that the giant worm will go through it.
* Bjorn, Henry, and Sammie find out that they're a hot topic of conversation at the Council.
* The crew discover that anyone in Thornvale can open Rifts, with or without the Council's permission.

## Summary

Bjorn, Henry, and Angelina discuss their plan in a more private place near the sinkhole. Sammie coughs herself awake and then joins in trying to come up with a plan. They decide that they need to lure the big worm somewhere it won't hurt anyone, perhaps by capturing and killing one of its young. They make a tentative plan to lure the creature toward them and then make a Rift portal that is the size of the tunnel to get the creature to travel through it. Angelina suggests they rest for now until the representative from the Council arrives to give Bjorn his Rift permissions.

Bjorn, Henry, and Sammie head back to the hotel to rest while they can. They clean up and tend to their various injuries. Sammie gets another text from Elise asking if she's ready to talk and Sammie says they're still dealing with the creature. She then also texts Oliver to let her know she's still alive and what the creature is before taking a nap on the couch. Soon they head over to East Thornvale to meet the rep from the Council.

They wait at the docks and eventually a man approaches them - he's 5'11, has a fit build, brown hair, and is wearing cargo shorts, a polo, and aviator glasses. He introduces himself to Bjorn as Isaiah Thompson and Bjorn introduces himself as Gunnar Knudtson. Isaiah asks if the others are Bjorn's crew and then says that he's heard they're an interesting bunch. Bjorn asks how he's heard and Isaiah says that Bjorn, Henry, and Sammie have made quite the 'splash' at the Council. They all head over to Bjorn's townhouse to have a private place for Isaiah to perform the Rift permissions ritual.

Isaiah asks Bjorn if he's ever done this ritual before and Bjorn says he has. Isaiah has Bjorn sit down and then pulls out an ornate silver box. Something from inside the box glows with a bright, golden energy. Isaiah winces as he puts a finger into the box and then pulls it out to begin drawing symbols on Bjorn's forehead with a glowing powder and speaking in Latin. Isaiah finishes the ritual and tells Bjorn he should be able to open portals now if he wants to try a test.

Bjorn stands and attempts to open a small portal. As he does, he feels a familiar pulling sensation toward it but is able to resist. Sammie, on the other hand, isn't. She takes a step toward the portal and Isaiah quickly blocks her, putting his hands on her face and forcing her to look at him instead. Once Bjorn closes the portal, the pulling sensation Sammie was experiencing stops. Isaiah lets go of her and steps backward. Bjorn notices that Isaiah looks disturbed by what's happened here. Bjorn tries to ask him what's wrong, but all he says is that something went wrong. He won't elaborate any further and quickly leaves the room. Sammie is briefly able to read his thoughts before he leaves. She can tell that Isaiah believes his ritual didn't actually work and he didn't do anything to 'unlock' Bjorn's ability to open Rifts, meaning he shouldn't have been able to, and that he's going to talk to the Council about it. He's not sure if it's Bjorn or the place that's able to open Rifts without permission, but it's incredibly worrying to him.

Isaiah leaves and Sammie tells Bjorn and Henry that she's recently developed the ability to read people's minds. As she admits this, she hears a laughter at the back of her mind from Jadis. Sammie then tells them what she learned from Isaiah's thoughts. Bjorn agrees that it's very concerning he was able to open a portal if he shouldn't have been able to - having control over who opens Rifts is a good thing and not having that control is worrisome. He decides there's an easy way to test if it's a problem with himself or the town of Thornvale and asks Henry to try and open a portal.

Sammie steps outside of the room and Bjorn teaches Henry the Latin word and hand gesture for the spell to open Rifts. They both watch as Henry is able to open and then close a small Rift portal.

## List of Appearances

* Bjorn Olafson
* Henry Marlowe
* Sammie Overbrook
* Isaiah Thompson