Book 2: Budding Sessions

## CHAPTER I: Sparks of War

**9/5/2023**

The session opens with leader figures of Catharsis, known and unknown, reacting to a headline in the paper: MOSSWOOD DISAPPEARS!! Rebel Kidnappers Threaten to Ignite the Sparks of War

These include Getsumei, Mayor Carefulfoot of Mosswood, Molly O’Malley and the Mourning Queen. Unknowns include a woman with golden hair and her assistant, Lulu Lilac, a woman on an island with a gold bottle necklace, a jellyfish folk and mermaid-like man in a cowboy hat, and a ‘refined looking bear’ and Dwarf from Ivory Pines.

Deedra and the Mourning Queen discuss the headline as Deedra watches over the homunculus floating in a vat of green liquid assumed to be Isabetta. The Mourning Queen asks if Deedra is prepared for her trip to apprehend the party in Dragon’s Hearth, but receives a letter before she is able to reply:

“Siddy,
I hope my last letter found you, I’m sure you were just busy and forgot to reply…if you could send a response to this one, that would be great. Make sure I have the right address and all. Haha! :)
I just wanted to let you know that I love you and miss you. And that she’s beautiful–she looks just like you. I knew as soon as I saw her she was an Aster girl.
Anyhow, I hope you’re well…I know things must be hard for you right now, with everything going on. You always enjoyed drama but only if it wasn’t yours.
I love you so much and I’m sure I’ll see you soon. Be well, and remember what Papa used to say when we were upset: no matter how well you stir your cup of tea, it’ll all settle to the bottom of you let it stop spinning.
Love from Ellie (doodle of May attached)
Prospera’s hold on Sidra wavers for a moment.

The party catches up on some general business before regrouping at the manor:
Ellie transforms herself into a bird and visits Watz, letting him know she’s sorry and bringing him some creature comforts: a blanket, his glasses, his hat.

She writes three letters: the one to Sidra mentioned above, one to Florence Forget-me-not (LINK) she keeps hidden from the party, and one to Enola Requiem (LINK).

Lilith catches up with Toshiro and they design a symbol that people can rally behind and puts it on the gates of Mosswood. She then writes letters to Jax and Hanlon, to which she receives prompt and warm replies LINK HERE. She spends the rest of the day with Atticus, and meets with Eislynn at night to learn more about her dream abilities.

Paeris goofs off with Kay, but takes a moment to write to Riot, who promptly replies that she has struggled with Paeris’ death and her guilt that Lilith ‘died’ protecting her.

Gwilla decides her next goal is to become a stronger Cleric and find a way to speak with Prospera directly. She tells Wick her plans and they brainstorm together. She then writes a letter to Val, though she still believes him to be dead, that talks about how grateful she is for her friends and the Wild Mother, but that there is still a void left where he was and that she misses him. She sends it off with a collection of drawings. Val receives the letter and Hanlon urges him to reply, but he does not.

The party regroups at the mansion where Beatrice shows them the paper. Lilith sees it as free press to rally people against the Mourning Queen, but Claire cautions that many people in Mosswood want to avoid war at all costs, and Ellie is visibly uncomfortable. They decide that they’re going to bring Kay and Wick to Dragon’s Hearth with them, and say goodbye to the household before going to retrieve them.

Kay is excited to go, but Burst seems very angry when she asks his permission. Sensing he is about to become explosive, Ellie leads him inside the smithing building and talks to him. He admits he’s afraid everyone will die in the impending conflict, and everything Wick did to save him and Nonnie will have been for nothing. To Burst’s surprise, Ellie agrees with him and explains that she doesn’t want to fight either, and that she’ll do everything she can to keep Kay and Wick safe, but that ultimately it isn’t up to her and she can’t control what happens. She also tells him that they all just have to see what happens and that even though it’s hard, he should do his best to remain hopeful. He is surprised by her honesty and appreciative of her willingness to listen to him when others were not, and agrees to allow Wick to go, but makes Ellie promise he’ll return alive. Ellie shakes his hand and feels some sort of magic pass between them.

The party then grabs Wick from the Chipped Cup, though he is a bit reluctant when he learns they’re headed to Dragon’s Hearth. Even so, he agrees to come and states he might ‘find closure’ there.

Later, Lilith then pulls Atticus and Paeris aside and tells them of her new dream abilities, and says she’ll do whatever she can to get rid of Zephyr’s influence over their dreams.

Meanwhile, Gwilla goes out into the woods to see Watz and asks him if she could cast a spell on him that would allow her to speak to Prospera through him. He agrees. Unbeknownst to Gwilla, Ellie is perched on Watz’ shoulder as a bird, but does not interfere. Watz insists Gwilla tie him up before channeling Prospera, then casts ‘Crown of Madness’, causing Prospera to come forward. Gwilla converses gently, stating she has been in communication with the Wild Mother, and that she’s worried about her daughter. She offers Prospera her friendship, but the archfey mocks her in reply. However, she also lets slip that Cadmus is under her control, and that Val is in fact alive–undead, but alive. She quickly backpedals and lies that Val doesn’t have any memory of her.
Though the conversation ends at an impasse, they agree to speak with each other from time to time. Then Ellie telepathically tells Gwilla needs to ask about the Mourning Queen.

She does, and Prospera tells her that she’s furious about May, and that Prospera brought May back to life after her stillbirth and possesses her to this day. Though Gwilla wants to know more, she notices Wattz deteriorating rapidly and ends the spell, his hand becoming entangled in vines and he no longer recognizes Gwilla. Gwilla druidcrafts a flower for Watz to help him remember who she is, and he does, then turns to the bird and mentions Ellie. Upon realizing the Ellie had been there the whole time, Gwilla runs back into town, letting Ellie find her own way back later, not ready to talk about their shared experience.

Before departing for Dragon’s Hearth, the party returns to the manor and asks Archive for information on the town. He notes the existence of armor crafted to protect against invaders who sought to take control of the kingdom when it was under Izabetta’s rule, and that after her death, the armor sets were scattered throughout the land. At least two sets rest in the vaults of Dragon’s Hearth and the party may be able to obtain them if they speak with the two guardians who care for Dragon’s Hearth.

Paeris explains the party’s unusual connection to Izabetta, and Archive hypothesizes that the Widow’s Tear is an alicron crystal that can channel and project the soul contained within it. It may be possible for Izabetta to possess a larger vessel should the party find one on their travels. He also tells them that the dwarves of Dragon’s Hearth and Ivory Pines are on poor terms, as the Dragons Hearth dwarves eagerly await Deedra’s return and would worship her, while the dwarves of Ivory Pines have instead aligned themselves with Shylock, the archfey of winter. He suggests the party remain outwardly neutral on the dragon so as not to make enemies in either town.

Ellie gives May a friendship bracelet and tells her that she and everyone in their family had one: her dad, her mom, and Sidra, and now May has one too.

The party then uses the Great Oak Amphitheater teleportation spell to meet John in Cerulean Falls. Koji and K-590 greet them, but not Getsumei. Koji tells them she is very busy but sends her best. Lilith suspects Zephyr has something to do with her absence, but boards John’s ship and settles in with everyone else, save Ellie, who is terrified.

Val, Hanlon, and Majesty are pursued by Andre and Linus. Val casts a fire spell, but Andre is about to fire back when something silver streaks through the sky and lands. An angel-like figure appears and states she is Doctor Enola Requiem and is going to take Val and his companions with her.

## CHAPTER II: Sky Whale Hunting

**9/14/2023**

The session begins in Paeris’ recurring nightmare, but this time Lilith appears. The dream continues as usual, with Paeris’ family and home being burnt away, but they manage to find all of the objects to open the door. They’re about to leave when Zephyr appears and confronts Lilith. Paeris is able to escape and meets Eislynn, who tells them to hang tight while she handles Zephyr. She then asks Zephyr to please let Lilith out, and he does, but not before threatening Lilith, telling her her ‘insolence has consequences’. He then shows her flashes of Atticus and Toshiro’s nightmares before releasing her. Eislynn then tells Lilith and Paeris that though Lilith cannot stave off the nightmares permanently yet, they have managed to loosen Zephyr’s grip and Paeris should be nightmare free for at least the next few nights.

Dr. Requiem tells Val good morning as he wakes. He asks Enola what happened after their encounter with Linus and Andre, and she tells him that she created a diversion that let them escape to her laboratory. Hanlon says he tried talking to Linus, but failed to convince him to see the error of his ways, and feels deeply guilty for how his son has turned out. Then, with Hanlon’s permission, Enola injects Majesty with the cure. She wakes and screams as the plants fall away and flesh regrows.

John wakes Ellie, who fell asleep watching the stars on the deck of the ship, and they wake the rest of the party. Shortly after, Paeris spots a distressed stormcloud sky whale from the crow’s nest, as well as another flying ship, and urges everyone to hold on as he begins to approach. The ship has red sails and is captained by a ‘Captain Maverick’ who John knows as a sky whale poacher. Lilith frees the whale from Maverick’s nets with an eldritch blast, causing the whale to descend rapidly, unable to float. Ellie grabs the wheel and dives quickly, managing to situate the ship under the whale, who lands on the deck. They shortly realize the whale is in labor, and Gwilla comforts the whale as Ellie acts as midwife. A snowy baby whale is born without incident.

The party arrives in Ivory Pines and are walking toward a security checkpoint when a small voice shouts ‘Uncle Paeris?’

## CHAPTER III: Uncle Paeris and the Dragon's Heart

**10/12/2023 Guest Starring Min as Matias**

A flashback from approximately 15 years earlier shows Matias, a dragonborn child around the age of 15, who is part of the Wild Wanderers clan, along with a young Kay in a wheelchair and another dragonborn called Deet. We learn that Matias’ best friend River was recently lost to the curse and that he’s very sad, but is doing his best to focus on Deet and Kay, who he has been tasked with watching over, as he is the oldest and ‘nearly grown’. While they’re playing, Matias hears something in the woods. It turns out to be an undead River. Matias tells Deet to run with Kay before he blacks out. He wakes later to find himself somewhere extremely hot with shackles on his wrists and ankles, noting it appears he had also been beaten. River asks him questions under torture, telling him to just accept the curse so they can be together again with Prospera’s help. Matias refuses, and River removes his heart before burying his body in Ivory Pines.

Next we see Val, Hanlon, Enola, and Majesty. Majesty has woken up, but she cannot see and has lost all but one arm. She says her name is Penelope Calliope Aster, Sidra’s cousin, and states that she remembers everything: that she deserved the curse because she attempted to assassinate Sidra, and accidentally caused her to miscarry May in the process, causing Sidra to begin the curse in order to resurrect her child. Enola tries to convince Penelope that there’s hope for a cure, but she doesn’t believe it until the doctor brings up her new partnership with Ellie. Enola then states that she knows someone who is very good at creating artificial limbs and that they may be able to help Penelope as well.

Paeris is greeted by their nephews Elliot and Quinn and they have an emotional reunion. Quinn tells Paeris that everyone–with the exception of Sybil and Paeris’ mother, now lives in Ivory Pines, but that it may not be a good idea for Paeris to visit just yet, as Warwick, their brother-in-law, is still angry, and is now worried for his daughter Petra, who has also gone missing, along with the person hired to find her, a dragonborn called Deet. Kay recognizes the name as a childhood best friend and states that they have to find them. Just then, Ellie and Paeris spot a strange white deer who leads them to a small pine tree before spitting seeds into Ellie’s hand. She plants them in the snow, and Matias is revived, confused, but pleased to see a friendly face in Kay. They catch up over an impromptu picnic courtesy of Wick before agreeing Wick should stay back and watch Quinn and Elliot while the others search for Petra and Deet, who they suspect went into a nearby cave.

The party and Matias enter the cave and find it filled with vines that are glowing. It is discovered that the glow is coming from dragonborn hearts which are kept in trunks around the cavern. None of them belong to Matias, but the party learns that dragonborn hearts can be used as a source of energy. There are many undead dragonborn guards with their hearts removed patrolling the cave, but the party manages to either skirt them stealthily or defeat them in brief combat.

After using dragonborn hearts collected along the cavern to open the final door, the party finds Deet and Petra tied up, an undead River keeping a close watch on them. Gwilla attempts to keep the party–mostly Lilith–from attacking River, as she sees Prospera has consumed her and hurting her won’t solve anything, but an attack hits and River/Prospera retaliates by pulling Petra under a pile of gold coins with a long vine.

Lilith then opens the door that was hidden behind vines in the corner, and a bright light floods the space, burning away River and her minions. Matias’ heart is returned to him, but it doesn’t appear to work, and he is near death. The source of the light–a Pheonix–revives him. He and Deet go off on their own and the rest of the party reunites Petra with her uncle and siblings.

## CHAPTER IV: Bear Hug

**10/19/2023**

Florence and Deedra enter Dragon’s Hearth, Deedra in hunt of Izabetta and Florence for her meeting with Ellie.

The scene changes to the party inside the cave where the Phoenix heals the party. Mathias leaves with Deet. The Phoenix gives the party items in thanks:
Paeris gets a feather that allows them to take on a fiery form once per day, though it can only be used five times.
Gwilla gets a phoenix flower that can cause significant damage when used. However, it only has five petals.
Lilith gets a phoenix-shaped ocarina that can resurrect a downed ally when played. It is made of a fragile porcelain and will break after five uses.
Ellie gets a scroll that she cannot read. It appears blank to everyone else.

The party reconvenes outside the cave where Wick, Quinn, and Elliot greet them happily. They explain how after the fire, the mayor of Ivory Pines took the Grindlewood survivors in as refugees. Most do not hold the Brightbelly/Cindervale family accountable for Paeris’s actions, but do hold a grudge against Paeris

Upon entering Ivory Pines, they go to Dardov’s Refuge, an inn and tavern where they will stay later. They go to ‘the Perch’, a high hill with a nice view, where they observe the skyline of Catharsis City in the distance. Then they split up to explore the town.

Ellie and Gwilla discuss the Mourning Queen and how Gwilla’s goal is to sway Prospera to the party’s side, but she isn’t sure what to think about her methods. Ellie then admits to Gwilla that Sidra is the Mourning Queen. Ellie makes her promise not to tell anyone else, fearful they will be angry at her and think she’s a turncoat. Gwilla tries to convince her that telling them is the right thing to do, but Ellie remains adamant that the Mourning Queen’s identity remains a secret. Ellie agrees to help Gwilla redeem Prospera and Sidra without violence in whatever way possible.

Lilith throws a marble and asks to see what happened between the Mourning Queen and Zephyr. She sees a scene of Zephyr briefly speaking to a rainbow rose floating in a glass cloche, but he leaves as soon as a young woman in a wedding dress enters the room. She whispers encouragement to herself that ‘it’s just one night’ and to ‘black it out’. Cadmus enters the room and says he has a gift for the bride, then reveals Lord Tigerlily. The bride recognizes him and Cadmus confirms that he is the man who killed her family and ‘had a thing for your mother’. The Zephyr butterfly watches as the bride pulls back her veil revealing herself as Sidra. Cadmus hands her a mace and says she can do whatever she wants to Lord Tigerlily. Sidra states she’s going to kill him slowly and the scene ends.

Kay, Wick, Paeris, Ellie, and Gwilla reconvene at Dardov’s, where Wick is reacquainted with his old friend Herman Honeygold, the bearfolk mayer. Ellie goes to bed while everyone catches up. Herman explains the situation in Dragon’s Hearth and tells them some history, including the story of the dragon, Obsidian, and his first wife. Her habit of hoarding gold turned into an obsession, and in a mad fit of greed she trapped herself and dozens of dwarven miners inside a cave. Though she promised to free them once they produced a certain amount of gold, all of the cave’s occupants succumbed to starvation and thirst. He expresses his sympathy to Wick for the loss of his mother, and everyone takes their leave soon after.

Kay and Paeris discuss Kay’s feelings about Mathias and Deet. Kay states she is okay and got what she wanted out of life even without the Wild Wonderers.

Gwilla writes to Val. But she settles on a simple message: “She told me the truth. I don’t… well, you probably don’t know who I am anymore. But I promise, I will remind you of who you are.” she also includes a message to Prospera: “Let’s pick up where we left off.” She includes playbills from the Great Oak Amphitheater, May’s doodle of her, the rest of the hibiscus tea from Nonnie to help jog Val’s memory. Val weeps when he receives it and says he cannot reply, but lets Hanlon write back from where they’re resting in Catharsis City:
“Hey kiddo! Hope you’re okay. Life has been kinda crazy over here, but I wanted to give you a bit of good news. I found your dad, and… well, he’s in a very sorry state. But when he can, he talks of you constantly. And maybe he’ll get better! I’m watching over him, even if he’s been a pain in my behind. Hope you’re well (and that Lilith is doing okay as well). From, Hanlon.”

Ellie stacks pillows under her blankets and leaves her room through her window, then goes to the tallest tree in town where a figure huddles against the trunk. The woman asks who she is and Ellie gives her name and the halfling woman becomes Florence Forget-me-not. Ellie asks if Florence is alone as well, and she states that she’s with a friend, but that her friend is elsewhere in town and won’t bother them. She asks what Ellie wants to know about Sidra, and Ellieexplains that she’s worried about her current condition, then clarifies that Death brought her and the party back, and that the Wisteria sisters had nothing to do with it. Florence asks why Death brought them back, and Ellie confesses she doesn’t know. Ellie asks if she has family, and she says the witches created their own family, and that she loves and respects the Mourning Queen. She states that Ellie is very different from her sister and is ‘adorably modest’. Ellie continues and says she wants Sidra to know May is safe and to stop looking for her, and that she’ll ensure their reunion when the time is right. Florence presses further, and Ellie admits that her primary concern is keeping May safe; she’s unsure if breaking the runes is the best course of action, nor does she know the party’s motives. Ellie then states she’ll do whatever it takes to help her sister, and that “I’m almost afraid to say it out loud, but I’d do a lot of things to make sure nothing happens to her.”

Ellie asks about how Prospera fits into everything, and Florence explains that she wants the world to be a ‘paradise’ like Catharsis City, where nobody suffers pain or death and can be ‘one with nature forever’. Ellie counters that death is a part of nature, and grows angry when Florence adds she wishes to become a part of Prospera. Ellie states that Sidra needs to detach from Prospera, but the witch says Sidra is ‘no longer the same woman Ellie knew’, and that she ended the worship of Pholtus by creating her own genocide. She then states she has nothing more to say, and leaves, telling Ellie they’re on the same side and that she wants to keep it that way.

## CHAPTER V: Scenes from a Memory

**10/25/2023**

Ellie watches Florence leave, and sees a flicker in her peripheral vision, but it vanishes quickly, leaving only a small indent in the snow. When she returns to the inn, she finds Lilith holding tightly to Hypnos, asleep and dreaming.

The scene cuts to the dream world where she enters Atticus’ dream. She enters a bedroom where a little girl is playing and introduces herself as Claire. Claire then takes Lilith to another room, where another young girl is nervously writing. She introduces herself as Andrea, but Lilith asks if that’s what she really wants to be called, and she admits she would rather be called Atticus. A man slams the door open and begins shouting. Atticus clings to Lilith and they hide in the closet, where she promises she’ll keep him safe. Andre Snapdragon, Atticus’ father, finds them and asks what Lilith is doing with his daughter. Atticus, now back to his adult body, states he is not Andre’s daughter. Andre grows to gigantic size and Lilith and Atticus run, collecting Atticus’ dream items along the way: Lamby, his first ‘invention’, and a hairbrush Lilith retrieves from Atticus’ mother’s dresser. The woman asks if Lilith is a fairy.

With all the items collected, Atticus and Lilith are able to escape.

The next morning, Ellie writes a letter to Burst: “We’re here, and he’s good”. He replies immediately: “Good. Keep him alive, or else. Love, Burst.”

Gwilla writes to Hanlon, thanking him for his response and asking for some sort of elaboration on Val’s condition. She ends her correspondence with a vow to not send additional letters to her father, but offers to be Hanlon’s pen pal instead. Hanlon agrees and tells her Val is lucky to have her.

At breakfast, Paeris writes to Riot and says they’re with Lilith and that they found her father. Riot replies she’s feeling complicated about learning the identity of her father. Gwilla tells Lilith about her correspondence with Hanlon, then reveals that Val is alive to the party.

Lilith asks to have a private conversation with Ellie and they leave the group. A young dwarven woman approaches the table soon after and introduces herself as Sally Fretfoot. Sally asks the party if they can deliver a letter to her friend Plume in Dragon’s Hearth. A comment about the ZipLine closing in Dragon’s Hearth due to the war draws some concern from Paeris and Gwilla, but they agree to deliver the letter.

Lilith opens her conversation with Ellie by saying she’s sorry. Ellie is confused, and Lilith explains that she saw a memory and knows Sidra is the Mourning Queen. Ellie is surprised and frightened that Lilith found out. Lilith then states she believes the easy fix is to count Sidra as a lost cause and continue with their plans to kill the Mourning Queen, and Ellie becomes volatile. Lilith further explains that she realizes that isn’t going to work anymore and that they need a new plan. After discussing, they come to the conclusion that they need to try to save Sidra and Prospera. Lilith still thinks there needs to be an element of violence and rallying the people, but Ellie disagrees. Lilith hugs her and thanks her for ‘reminding her why she was brought back to life’.

Invigorated by her conversation with Lilith, Ellie writes a letter to Sidra. To her shock, she responds.

“I’m not the same sister you remember,” Sidra writes. “I’ve done terrible things, and I’m the worst version of me.” The letter ends with a confirmation that May will die if the curse is broken; Sidra signs it with a single initial.

Gwilla, Wick, and Paeris go to Sammy’s shop. He tells them that things are tense in the archfey family since Lilith broke her pact with Zephyr, and that he’s been throwing a tantrum. Gwilla fills Paeris in on her plan to befriend Prospera, then gives Sammy 3 white marbles in exchange for a Deedra marble and throws it.

The king asks for the Dragon Mother, Deedra, who is distraught over the death of Izabetta. The king brings a woman who offers to help her. She explains she is a witch from the Lavender family, and has a necklace that allows the wearer to converse with the soul in the stone pendant. She says in return she wants a plot of land. Deedra agrees and says she just wants one more day with Izabetta, then she’ll let her go. Obviously it was not just one day.

Gwilla vows to release Izabetta, but Paeris is more understanding and feels for Deedra, stating the reason they wanted the Widow’s Tear was to talk to their mother one last time, and sees where Deedra is coming from. After discussion, Paris agrees destroying the Tear is the best course of action.

Sammy makes a few more trades with Gwilla and Paeris. They obtain a memory marble of Prospera, a memory marble of Wick’s mother, a dragon talon that belonged to Obsidian, and a music box that belonged to Prospera. Sammy urges the party to give the music box to Prospera as soon as they are able.

Ellie goes to the Perch alone and merges three white marbles into a Sidra marble and throws it, asking how Sidra got Cadmus to marry her. She sees a crowd of nobles gathered in the throne room of Catharsis Castle where the Queen Mother sits. Deedra is present acting as guard. Cadmus shouts to his mother that he has received a proposal from Sidra Aster. The queen asks Sidra who she is, and she introduces herself as Sidra Aster of Mosswood. The queen notes that her mother is ‘the runaway. Sidra replies that her mother is dead. Cadmus riles the crowd, then asks Sidra why she wants to marry him. She said it would be a business transaction and she would marry him to give him the heir he needs and in return he would stop the massacre and let Charlie live. Cadmus states that he forgot Sidra was drow, as she ‘isn’t ugly’ and she calls him an asshole. The nobles gasp, but Cadmus laughs and calls for Gauntlets of Truth. Once she’s wearing them, he asks Sidra why she wishes to marry him, and her responses are the same. He states she is the only person who hasn’t lied to him. He asks how he can trust she won’t kill him, and she replies that he can’t, and would probably kill him if given a good enough chance. Impressed with her candidness, he agrees to marry her. He agrees to free Charlie, but does not stop the massacre. Sidra’s hands glow with magical energy as she is lead away to prepare for her wedding.

## CHAPTER VI: Chilly Reunions

**11/09/2023**

NOTE: This session occurred after chapter VII, but is being presented in chronological order according to canon.

John meets with Shylock and explains he wants his payment for skywhales to go to the party and explains they’re ‘big players’. He tells Shylock about the party members and who they are, as well as their dealings with Zephyr and Prospera, who Shylock admits he is concerned about. He warns John not to get involved, and tells him he will pay him the 50 gold under the condition he does not give any of it to the party.

Ellie sees Charlie on the outskirts of Ivory Pines and asks what he’s reading. He tells her it’s archives from Dragon’s Hearth, then asks if she’s new, as he doesn’t recognize her and there aren’t many drow here. Ellie shrugs and offers no explanation, but introduces herself simply as Ellie. Charleston talks about local politics and the curse, but will not talk about his past. He sees Ellie’s arm and asks where she’s from. She tells him she’s from Mosswood and that her arm is from the Moon Tree. He continues to question her, examining her arm, and Ellie questions as well, learning that he works as a lighting engineer at the Jeweler’s Den Theater and was previously employed by nobility, then grows leery of her questions, as she has said little about herself. She eventually shows him her signet ring and explains she doesn’t know where she’s been for the past 80 years. He connects the dots and tells Ellie he was in town the day she died, and knew who she was. He invites her to discuss in private the following evening at the theater.

Gwilla and Wick discuss what’s happened in the past day, and she further explains how the memory marbles work. He is supportive when she says she wants nothing to do with Deedra. He tells her found family is just as important as blood relatives, and shows her his House Copperson signet ring. He explains that as the eldest son of the late Lady Coppersen and rightful heir to all land and titles belonging to the house, he can secure the party entrance to Dragon’s Hearth, but it would be at the cost of the life he built in Mosswood, as he would be expected to take a seat on the noble council and attend to matters concerning Dragon’s Hearth. Gwilla tells him not to do that, and that they will find another way into Dragon’s Hearth. Gwilla kisses him for the first time. Their moment is interrupted when Gwilla smells jasmine and smoke–Deedra. She and Wick follow the scent. Eventually Gwilla makes her way to a pine wood clearing and instructs Wick to stay behind.

She finds Deedra in the woods, and Deedra quickly recognizes her as her daughter, whom she thought had died years ago. Gwilla refuses to give any more information. Deedra tries to tell Gwilla the full story of why she was abandoned. That Cadmus enslaved her by using Izabetta as a bargaining chip, and Deedra left Gwilla in the forest so she had a chance of surviving. Deedra states Gwilla should stay away from her for her safety. Gwilla tells her that her new found family needs help and tells her not to burn down any more villages. She also lets slip that her friends are the ones Deedra is hunting. Deedra asks if she knows the halfling. Gwilla ignores her and returns to Wick.

The party regroups and heads to the Cindervale/Brightbelly cabin. Quinn warns them as they approach that their father, Norwick, is in the study and doesn’t want to be bothered, and that Jodl has gone blind in old age. Paeris visits with their father and sing together. Paeris begins apologizing profusely, but Jodl demands they stop, that he’s so happy Paeris is here, and that he doesn’t blame them for what happened. He insists the party stay for dinner against Norwick’s wishes. They cry together and express their grief before joining the others in the living room. Quinn has found a friend in Ellie, Petra climbs up Gwilla and sits on her shoulder, and Lilith sings for Elliot. Jodl and Paeris join in singing and playing instruments. Gwilla notices Norwick peek out his bedroom door, and that his eyes look frosted over. He quick;y slams the door when they make eye contact. As they settle for dinner, Ellie sees a figure approaching through the driving snow and sneaks outside.

Ellie approaches the woman, worried she’s out alone in the snow, and asks if she’s alright before offering her a blanket. The woman says she knows Ellie is the queen’s sister, and Ellie states she has no idea who the woman is, as she doesn’t look familiar. Ellie attempts to read her mind, but Deedra won’t let her, and the conversation moves to Sidra, who Deedra says is her true friend. She then states that she sees ‘her wife’ in the window, and Ellie feigns ignorance. Deedra explains her wife’s soul is in the necklace and bargains with Ellie, stating she will trade the necklace for an audience with Sidra. Ellie states she can’t do that and that the necklace isn’t hers to give. She also tells Deedra Izabetta is safe and where she wants to be, and that she’s had the freedom to leave for as long as she’s been with Poppy, but chose not to. Deedra becomes angry, but calms herself and says she will leave them alone for the night and tell Sidra she is really alive, but warns her not to get in her way in the future. She then leaves and Ellie returns to the house where she tells the party what’s just happened.

The party decides they need to hide the Widow’s Tear. Slight chaos ensues when Paeris, unthinking, removes the necklace from Poppy, and Izabetta begins speaking through Paeris, stating she cannot go back into the necklace. After some shuffling, Isabetta agrees to go back, and Gwilla puts the necklace onto one of Petra’s dolls. Ellie is able to read her mind and translate to the rest of the party. Izabetta tasks the party to travel to Dragon’s Hearth so that they can find her old suit of armor. If her soul can possess it, she will be able to kill Deedra and rally the people in wartime. Lilith states that Izabetta’s strategy may be the key to their success and ending the war without violence. She then says: “It all makes sense. Rally the people, help them see that a brighter future is in their hands if they seize it. We don’t even need to kill Sidra for it to happen –” and Ellie immediately becomes irate and leaves, angry at Lilith for telling the others Sidra is the Mourning Queen.