ON THE ROAD

***ON THE ROAD*** is the fourth session of *Glimpses into the Fade.*

## Musings

*All paths lead somewhere. Each bend and curve within the road brings one closer and closer to wherever the lady fate chooses you to be. One ponders whether the paths these five lead all converge to a single place? Or will humane folly and past wounds be too grievous to allow new relationships to blossom? We all must walk our path, whether you are running away from something, or searching for another, or simply making things up as you go. We all must walk and brave the Fade and her challenges. But, its all up to our adventurers and how they will continue to play their cards during this journey if they will brave their challenges alone, or together.*

## **Synopsis**

The caravan doors open to them, revealing the inside is much larger then it's outer appearance. Hira introduces herself, asking for the woman's name. She introduces herself as Piriele, but just Piri is fine. She's a wandering saleswoman of sorts, carrying potions, magical items, and spell scrolls. As everyone clambers in, Bran and Mint argue with one another, making Mint leave Bran's side to sit on Piri's shoulder. The party begin investigating, ending with Bran purchasing a health potion, and Oriza purchasing an Identify spell scroll.

Closing up shop, the caravan moves forward. Anthir apologizes to Oriza once more after accidentally hitting her with one of their daggers. Oriza reassures them it's alright, and heals herself for good measure. They travel until nightfall, where they make camp on the side of the path. Oriza witnesses the horse deanimate into the earth, mortifying them. Horrified, Oriza offers to make dinner with the help of Calypso's cooking cards, and Bran joins her. Hira smells the familiar cooking, and mutters how she can't believe her Aunt had the time to make so many things for the party.

Whilst Anthir naps and Monsoon sets off to look for firewood, Piri approaches Riya who helps set the table and chairs from the caravan. Piri notices Riya seems quite new to adventuring, and questions what she's doing far from home. Riya explains she's looking for stories to tell, whilst there are libraries filled with tales, she'd like to make her own. Piri applauds her enthusiasm, and tells Riya since she didn't fight the Owlbear, she'd be playing her a song as repayment, leaving before Riya could even refuse.

Dinner is served, including birdseed for Mint by Oriza. Bran notices Monsoon's gaze upon him, making him nervous. A quiet dinner concludes quickly, but is filled with the sound of music played by Riya's boat lute. As she plays, Monsoon says he needs to talk to Bran alone. Bran asks Mint to accompany him despite their disagreement, and Mint hops into his hand seeing his owner nervous. Monsoon confronts Bran for his recklessness in battle, realizing Bran wants to prove himself in battle, not knowing to whom but there's nothing to prove if he's dead. He cannot stop Bran's reckless behaviour, but can make him more efficient, offering to train him. Bran accepts, taking on the practice shield and sword gifted by Monsoon, the two immediately begin his training.

Meanwhile, Anthir has taken over playing after Riya, his music is bright and melodic before it mellows out into a gentle hum like a guiding wind towards the night. Hira who sits next to Oriza leans over to whisper a thank you for healing her during their first fight in Hunter's Pass, asking if she’s in debt. Oriza, tilts her head to Hira’s direction, saying there's no need for thanks nor debt, but admits she's intrigued by her way of fighting, requesting her to show them more. Hira confusingly agrees, and waits until the performance is over.

Hira and Oriza move a bit away from camp, Hira expressing she's not sure what Oriza is wishing from her. Oriza readies a stance and motions Hira to move as she pleases, leading to a roll of initiative. Hira moves quickly, catching them off guard as they begin to exchange blows. Oriza says shes glad to see Hira not holding back her punches, before throwing two last punches to her, knocking her to the ground. Hira hears a buzzing in her head, and for a moment she feels as if she’s much higher than she should be, a cold wind blowing around her before she snaps back to reality. She asks Oriza to help her up, then lightly smacks them with the back of her hand, saying Oriza had tricked her, which they found amusing.

As the spar played out, Piri stands with Anthir and Riya asking if they were going to spar next and the two quickly refuse. Piri talks to Anthir, who expresses his interest in the magic of healing and medicine. He’s on a quest for healing some might say, and Piri is intrigued by the strange gradient of his skin, but doesn't pry. As the four return from their respective spar and training, Piri excuses herself to head to bed early, leaving the six of them around the fire. Monsoon confronts the group, knowing someone has something of his, and wishes for it back. After a long pause Riya pulls out the letter she picked up from the library, returning it to him. Monsoon's expression is filled with melancholy as he speaks of his party, The Arcane Winds, pulling a sketch from his bag to show the group. The Arcane Winds consist of Vilya, his twin sister, Odin and Arel, his partners, and the human cleric named Wendy.

Monsoon tells the group to keep each other close, to protect one another, because you'll never know if you'll see them again. Striking a cord in Oriza, she excuses herself, saying she'd take first watch. As the group hunkers down to sleep, Bran sneaks off to practice on his own. Hira offers to take second watch with Monsoon, and compliments both Anthir and Riya’s playing. Monsoon seconds her compliment, saying its rather nice hearing music around the fire, as none of the Arcane Winds were particularly good at playing instruments. As the night goes on, Monsoon sends a message to Bran to return before first watch ends, and Oriza falls asleep in the midst of their watch.

Oriza dreams of the familiar gardens of a castle. Seeing a woman of soft blonde hair next to them, a hand resting on his. She asks them if they should escape, as she doesn't need the crown to be happy. The woman wishes for her happiness just as Oriza wishes for her. Oriza says their happiness lies with her, and only with her. The woman says that isn’t fair to them, expressing her wish that no matter where she is, that they'll still find happiness somewhere else. The dream shifts from a memory to truly a dream, as the woman, Loralynn, stands in front of them, leaning down with a smile. She kisses their forehead, holding their cheek and moving down to their chin. Loralynn says to wake up, and not to be in a rush to see her. Oriza wakes up, with the part Loralynn's hand didn’t touch is wet with their own tears.

Monsoon whistles to Oriza to head to bed, and calls Bran back to camp. Before Bran comes back, he apologizes to Mint. He knows he was worried for him, and promises to do his best. As the two head to bed, Monsoon wakes Hira to join him. He asks Hira if she's travelled, and Hira says she used to, but its her first time leaving Grayraven. Monsoon picks up his cape to wear, and Hira notices as he puts it on, he looks at her with a realization in his eyes. Hira asks where he got his golden feather, since everyone in the photo seemed to have one. Monsoon gets a small blush on his cheek, and says Vilya got them 5 gold feathers, a symbol of the Arcane Winds. They got it a few days after Arel was rejected from the role of Disciple of the Wing and thought the feather could help. Monsoon says he's not sure what Ambrose looks for in a disciple, and asks what's bothering her.

Hira is unsure of Ambrose's weird ambitions and motivations, wondering what makes someone *earn* a cloak. She asks when they were given cloaks, and he answers that they knew Ambrose a lot earlier in their lives, when they were running away from something. Monsoon had asked Ambrose why Arel was rejected and was told that there's something different within Arel. That they don’t look for knowledge, but something else. To be handed a cloak sounds like a quest, it's very confusing and Monsoon agrees. Out of curiosity Hira asks how old is he, to which he expresses his sister would kill him for revealing such a thing. In return he asks her where she is from, and Hira broadly answers with Esmos. Monsoon realizes the nervous twinge in her, and doesn't pry, but offers any guidance she needs, if she needs it.

The night goes on, and the party travels for weeks in Piri's caravan. It’s quiet, too quiet as the caravan hits and impacts a tree turning over. There is loud screeching overhead, against the sun a large creature with an eagle head peers into windows of the caravan. The hippogriff grabs Riya into its claws and begins to take off, leaving the remainder of the party prone.

## Featured Characters

#### The Fireflies

* Anthir
* Bran
* Hiraeth
* Oriza
* Riya

#### Returning

* Piriele
* Monsoon