Session 11

Session 11 took place on the 14th of July 2023.

Notes were taken by Julie (Project H)

## Recap

Hey mom.

I promised myself I wouldn't write to you until I had done something anything I could be proud of. Well. It's been over three years now since...It's been a long time but yesterday I finally felt like I did something good. Even if I can't talk to anyone about it.

That's why I'm writing it here. No one is going to read this letter.  I miss you. I miss Hannah and Sara. I wish I was with you. I wish you were here.

So, I recently met this man. His name is Charles. He's a magician, a really powerful one at that. An illusionist of all things! Not like, those card shufflers, I mean real magic. He's 'the prince', which I think means he's the third best in existence? Anyway, I met him at the bar I work at. I know what you're gonna say, but mom, I swear it's fine, I get paid well. Charles was a real charmer and I gave him my number. He collects a lot of magical items and offered to show me his collection. Maybe show me something more? How can anyone resist an offer like that? I couldn't. He called me and we set up a date. Just for some coffee and maybe a look at this collection of his.

It started out great. I asked my friend Lucy for advice on what to wear. He was really helpful and promised to watch over me if anything should happen. He's a real sweetheart, deep down. You would have liked him. Then I went into old town at a nice, niche coffee shop. Charles is very insightful. He figured out exactly what I wanted, not by asking directly but figuring out what kind of things I liked. The coffee he got me was perfect. Then we got to his place. He teleported us It was a nice walk through town. He told me about growing up in Gotham and it seems like he's had a rough childhood. I think he lost someone to the random street violence that happens there. You'd think with all the heroes that operate out there it would be a safe place to live, but I think it's still the most dangerous big city in America?

When we got to his place, we chatted some more. Mostly casual flirting, if I'm honest mom. Nothing serious I promise. But then we got into the topic of his collection. That was why I was there after all. At least that's what we were pretending Things changed a little bit after that. He showed me his newest acquisition. A piece of 'natural' glass. He called it the Veritas. Truth? It is supposed to be the lens to the world, capable of piercing any illusion. I asked if I could see it up close and he let me. It was wild to look through it. Very hazy and unclear. I don't know what I saw on the other side of it but it was not very nice. Scary even. He does not know how it works or how to really use it, but he had a bunch of research notes all across his desk.

Then he told me about his new hunt. There's apparently a person who's capable of making things from books become manifest the real world. Now that is a scary thought. They are being kept locked up and Charles wanted them free. And maybe also get them to make him that Mirror from Harry Potter. You know, those stories you read to me when I was a kid. Anyway, I think it's because he's unsure of what he really wants and maybe that would help him realize in some way. He then asked me, what I wanted. And I answered truthfully. I want to do good. I want to make amends for what I did to you. I just want to be a hero. Something you could be proud of. Even after everything.

Charles did not like that. He was concerned. He told me about the wheel and how there are forces of good and evil that keep the world in balance. He is... Charles consider himself a balance to the side of good. It's not that he's evil just... Somewhere in the middle trying to balance things. Or at least that is what he told me After that, I persuaded him to show me the rest of his collection. Or rather, his favourite piece. And he got very grim about it. Like he really didn't want to show me. Even warned me that I would not like it. I had a bad feeling about it but. I needed to know. So I lied. Sorry Mom. I know you always told me to be honest and I really try. But if I had been honest, I don't think he would have shown me. And it's a good thing I did because Charles had done something horrible.

In a room much further in his house, he showed me his most prized possession. It was the superhero Muse! From the Young Justice team. I couldn't believe it. But it suddenly made sense. All the time I had spent in his home, I had felt empowered, stronger. Better. That was all because of her! It’s her power. He had kept her here to empower himself. I had to stop it. It was wrong. On so many levels. Not just because of the crime, of having kidnapped her. Of keeping her locked up against her will. Endangering all the people she could have been out help saving. It was against his own morals. Charles believes in freedom, that we should be free. But he was doing exactly what he hated.

I think this is where you would be proud of me. Any hero could have taken up the fight with him then. I think most would have. But. I talked to him. How you taught me. I appealed to the good That I hope is in him  that I know is in him. It was the right thing to do. And I succeeded! Charles agreed to let her go, even gave me the key to do it. All he asked for was a head start of getting out of there. And how could I refuse that? You’ve always taught me to appeal to the best in people. And if they show remorse, a willingness to change, you need to have faith in them and give them a chance. So, I did.

Muse was less understanding. Which is fair. She told me she had been locked up for over five months. It was a very hard talk to have with her. And I feel bad for not getting her out right away. But I really wanted to keep my word and I know that nothing good would have come of her running after him to get even. Even if he deserved it. We talked, and I think I managed to calm her down but. Muse was very sad that I was me who saved her. She really wanted it to be her friends. She thinks they couldn’t tell the difference between her and the illusion that had been running around in her stead. And because of that, she’s afraid to tell them. Afraid to look into the eyes of her friends, to realize they don’t know her well enough to spot the difference. Or worse, if she tells them, they are going to kick her out.

I promised not to tell anyone. She was really afraid and I was not going to make things worse for her. This is her decision. And I don’t need the shoulder pad. I didn’t do this to get credit, I did it because it was the right thing to do. But I had to put my thoughts down. This is the first thing I have done I can be proud of. I hope you would have been proud of me for that.

I love you mom. I miss you guys and hope that you’re okay… Somehow. I will write again, next time I do something I can be proud of. Something I hope you would be proud of.

Love, Julie.

## Characters

PCs

NPCs