The Ballad of Dual Souls

*The Ballad of Dual Souls* is the title of the tenth episode of the second season of S.H.A.D.O.W. and the twenty second session of the entire game.

This session was played on February 4th, 2018

## The Ballad of Dual Souls

### Writer

Jonny Christie, Matt Christie, Rob Christie, Richie Maynard, Eric Rios, Corey Sexton

## Plot

Rathisi copes while the others enter the Temple of Shining Life.

## Synopsis

A beautiful temple is just within the party’s reach beyond the horizon. Before they can bask in its glory however, they hear an explosion from the main entrance. Rathisi is still devastated by the Xander thing so he seeks out Mal who reminds him of his cousin slightly. The two have a weird interaction before going to speak with the Saint. Mal asks Hylophagous to give them a mission to keep the dragon’s mind clear so he gives them two. They take Lara and Mathite with them and Rathisi uses the stone that was helping Xander to transform into Phylyco in all but the vocabulary. He convinces Gregory he is the magnificent and they take a bulette. Aguero immediately runs towards the explosion and Aragi chases after him because well, he has to. Phylyco finally joins the twins up top and they start a real plan to get in and avoid the carnage. Aragi catches up to Aguero and convinces him to not run at exploding golems. They get back to the plan being…planned. Aguero is too impatient and attempts to wrap around the temple from the back and Aragi reluctantly follows him to just, stop him. Phyl and the Ebonscars head to their task and not only find a sect of the attackers with their own charges, but swiftly take them out, take the explosives, and disguise themselves perfectly. They meet up with the archers who are at the tree line and they disguise Aragi as well, bald head and all. It’s clear that Phylyco and Cal are in a different garb then the others, the attacking monks are definitely not from here. They place a charge from the point the schematics suggest and Ela lights the fuse.

Team Rathyco arrives at Maeurt city. They seek out their first target, Kapet’Anios. Rathyco suggests Mathite seduce the captain with her… “dragon bitch charm” and she agrees. Only because she already hates one Phylyco, might as well hate this one too. She succeeds and the crew obliterate the captain. Rathyco take a few of his scales and it’s worse when you remember Rathisi is a DRAGONBORN. The temple party make it into the fortress and run into another attacking squad. Ela thinks quick and has she, Aragi, and Aguero act like prisoners. Cal and Phylyco play the “plan has changed” approach and they continue the Monk’s mission with the other squad and the “prisoners”. Cal splits off for a second since he spotted the armory and Charlie squad set up their charges on the inner sanctum’s door before Phylyco and Ela kill all but one. Aguero lets the man live but he stabs the blind man so Aguero slaps the monk out of his face with his tree arm. The rest all intimidate the man to the point of crying as Phylyco spartan kicks the man into the charges, causing the door to blow up. Meanwhile, Team Rathyco burst into the church and decimate Yllairis Torgarsaxe, their second and final target. They take his pendant and leave the city.

Cal returns and give a staff to his sister. They enter the sanctum and find a gorgeous older woman with flowing red hair. It’s obvious to Aragi that she is somehow related to Sera and immediately decides to protect her. He asks her if she knows the young girl and the Di-Syl stands, intently asking where she is. Aragi gets out the words “She’s gone” before the wall across from them breaks open and more rebels come charging in. A fight begins. The party takes out all but the leader, an aracokra named Quil. Aragi reveals to the Di-Syl that Sera was killed by a rival from a fight club she was apart of. She is devastated. Phylyco isn’t as sensitive to the situation and straight up tells her she was flayed. She attempts to kill herself in grief but Aragi stops her. He tries to calm her down but the situation just intensifies. Phylyco and Ela remove their bald caps which is a dick move but doesn’t affect the situation too much. Aragi and Aguero attempt to convince her that they can protect her from Saint Opia. She doesn’t believe them and attempts the same move Di-Syl used to destroy the circus at the begin of the season but Phylyco cuts it short by stabbing her in the back of the neck, killing her and revealing the final relic in the middle of the room.

Team Rathyco head back to the circus and Rathisi gives the Saint his proof before passing out and returning to his original form. Aguero charges for the gem but Quil breaks his restraints and grabs it with his beak before running off. Unfortunately for him, Phylyco let gave him a chance to live already and isn’t feeling too generous. He stabs the bird in the gut until he drops the item. He takes the gem and stashes it. Aragi picks up the Di-Syl and carries her outside to bury her. Phyl takes a jab at Aragi for being bald and suggesting he take hers but Aragi is just too mentally checked out to acknowledge it. They return to Aethel (City). Aragi immediately heads to Lara’s tent and mopes as she tells him what she’s been up to. He listens but he is checked out. She consoles him. Aguero goes to talk to Mathite and they chat about both spending a few days with “Phylyco” and who had a worse time. Phylyco brings the gem to Hylophagous. They combine the four relics and they begin to float and spin until a beam of light shoots out North East. They look at each other and understand the Saint has to return home.

## Cast

### Main

* Aragi Maxul
* Phylyco Brokenwhisper
* Lara Youngheart
* Aguero Cryhawk
* Mathite'Vomenos
* Elatherial Ebonscar
* Calapharious Ebonscar
* Mal Bloodjaw
* Rathisi'Defteros
* Saint Hylophagous

### Supporting

* Gregory
* Quil

### Guest

* Kapet'Anios
* Yllairis Torgarsaxe
* Di-Syl (Alice)

## Trivia

* This session revealed that the final Di-Syl was the long lost mother of Sera Emberstorm, Alice.
* Saint Hylophagous now holds all four Black Lotus Relics.