Session 27

**Setting: Radiance**

The team wake up the morning after Edge's win of the Frost Brand challenge. Over breakfast, they discuss what their next steps will be. Steam arrives after spending some time looking for the entrance to Radiance. Along with Willyam and Daghrim, they all decide that their next play should be to go to Kald to convince them to fight. At the same time, Willyam will spend a day with his family before going back to the Enchanted Pier to call in any remaining members of the Order of Valor. Daghrim will travel with him to recruit any mercenaries he can at the Pier. They agree to all meet up at the church of the Guiding Light. Sonara offers rations for their journey, and apologizes that she has no warriors to provide. All that remains in Radiance right now are women, children, and men too young or old to go to war.

Daghrim lets everyone know that Captain Keddes sent another communication to him that morning. He was concerned that all four Triton Captains have been called to meet with the Princess of the High Seas. They assume it has to do with the green beam of light they all saw a few days ago.

**Setting: Kald**

While traveling through the grasslands, Steam told the team about the people of Kald. He used to visit each break while he studied at the Argoth Academy and later at the Tower Eternal. A small Fairy named Esmeralda, with colorful butterfly wings flew up to them. She and Steam knew each other when they were younger. She led them the rest of the way, while talking about the current state of the tribe. She warns them that the Centaur, Belnan, who used to bully them is now the leader. They march through the random row of huts until they ended at a much larger tent. Before the tent stood the half-horse, half female Human named Belnan. Next to her fluttered Esmeralda, and Steam's brother, Pyre. Pyre has a rifle over his shoulder.

Steam takes the lead and explains what is happening in the world to Belnan, including the Orbs, and its relationship to the war. He tells her about the Demon that is in Errista, and relays the gravity of the threat. She challenges the group to combat to test their skills. She agrees that win or lose, if they can hold their own, they will fight along side them.

Durzo, Azoth, Rhaine, Edge and Steam fight against Belnan, Esmeralda, Pyre, and a red Tiefling Barbarian named Savage. Edge and Savage battle one on one in an evenly matched fight. Pyre focuses solely on taking Steam out, while Belnan and Esmeralda fight against Rhaine. Durzo uses spells to help even the playing field, but Azoth is banished when a burst of swords coming from Belnan strikes him. This leaves Durzo blind for the rest of the fight. Rhaine is able to take down Belnan despite Esmeralda, now in the form of a sabre-tooth tiger, attacking him from behind. Before the challenge can continue, shouts of "Giant!" can be heard. Durzo heals Belnan, who takes her people to fight the Hill Giants. The team is offered a place to rest, but they refuse and help fight instead. They are able to fend of the attack.

At a meeting after the fight, they all agree that the Giants fought in a more coordinated way than ever before. It is clear to Belnan that this was a threat from the Demon. She and her people agree to fight when they are called upon. Esmeralda interrupts the roar of the crowd and reports that there is more information. A second group of Hill Giants was spotted further west, headed towards Radiance.