Session 22: Masks and Masquerades

Our latest session was full of both intrigue and heartbreak, for the end of our second arc had reached its conclusion.

* Sesh began with everyone getting into their attire throughout the morning/afternoon of the festivities.
* Tato, in a glamorous androgynous gown, Marcus in mystical robes, Ramzi in a fashion-forward suit and Morgan decked in militaristic lunar garbs
	+ The outfit broke a large part of Morgan
	+ Thia came to check on her son and found him in the spiral of his depression, doing her best to comfort her child but not quite succeeding
* The group descended down to the ballroom floor, each of them pairing off to their respective dates/accompaniments
	+ Marcus spent the evening with Eora, the two of them dancing and exploring the various rooms. At one point, Marcus polymorphed Pogo into a Dire Penguin, coloured in the glorious watermelon visage
	+ Tato spent the night at Clara’s side, the two planning a romantic moment to be shared at midnight beneath the fireworks. Their time is peaceful and sweet, a lot like their love
	+ Ramzi impressed Tsunder, dazzling her with his easy charisma and charm. The two danced and enjoyed the evening, the former of the two being able to slip out slithers of information from the Facility-aligned Hobgoblin. He has yet to find his child
	+ Morgan took his place at Daelynn’s side. In a moment of vulnerability and, as a show of trust, Daelynn admitted she was purposely having Morgan represent Lunari, and she Sol, for a dance that was meant to begin talks of Chaera and Petrador’s peace. While she admitted to not wanting to trust Ecath, she was willing to try, seeing as how Morgan was willing to try with her.
* All observed the dance, a fairly even distribution of both awe and outrage at the political implications of what was happening
	+ Morgan even cast his first magic of the campaign, causing fairy fire to burn around the two of them
* While stuck with Daelynn for most of the night, on his rare break, he was able to duck away to find his brother. While tracking him to the Hall of Mirrors which revealed the beholder’s greatest desire, he learned a few pieces of info about our favourite trouble trio:
	+ Chartreuse’s desire was to be confident in his own skin
	+ Voldi just wanted the comfort of a warm, safe home
	+ Entari wanted his family, without fear of them being taken away
* Above all else, however, we came to learn that the three of them were engaged, the rings on a chain hidden beneath Entari’s shirt
	+ Morgan chose this moment to bow out of the situation, leaving the three to their quiet moment of contemplation
* Later into the night, the festivities were disturbed when, upon the grand staircase, Faephine emerged from the Empress’ landing, descending upon the ballroom with Elyzabeth at her side. Standing over Daelynn, she introduces the room to her special guest, seconds after Ramzi received the warning message from Flow
* Ecath Medfras descended the stairs, eyes burning as they fixated on Daelynn
	+ Upon inspecting Daelynn’s face, it was hard to tell but, for a moment, her fear was palpable before it was covered up.
* A very terse conversation followed, with Ramzi and Tsunder approaching Elyzabeth in order to try and get her out of the way
	+ The girl was obviously frightened of Faephine and tried clamming up multiple times.
	+ The Dowager tried to keep an eye on them but was, however, distracted when Morgan asked Ecath to dance
	+ It was truly an incredible moment
* In all of the chaos, under the eyes of everyone, Marcus and Faephine began to speak alone for a moment, the latter attempting to force Marcus into a deal in order to protect his friends
* When he disagreed, the Dowager threw herself away as if to feign being shoved, declaring to all that Marcus had struck her
* In his newfound fierceness, he declared to the room all of the Dowager’s evils, not stopping once until all accusations lay before the court
* In anger at his words, Faephine muttered a single word, more deadly than any other spell known on the mortal realmsー Power Word Kill.

The session ended with Marcus slumping to the floor, cold and empty.