Session 26

**Setting: Road to the Guiding Light Church**

Despite an expert warning from Daghrim, Steam and Durzo make a midnight snack of the octopus they fought earlier that day. As the team is preparing to leave in the morning, they are informed the pair of them are too sick to travel. Daghrim tells them he could heal them, but then they'll never learn their lesson.

The rest of the team set off on their 2-day journey through a road in the woods that will lead them directly to the church. While camping the first night, Daghrim asks Rhaine about the spear in his pack. Rhaine shows him the spear and the two daggers that are heirlooms to his family. The Dwarf mentions he's been around legendary weapons a long time (and brandishes Storm Lord's Fury), and says he believes the spear is one too. He tells him to ask about it while they're here in Errista, since the country is full of magic users and lore masters.

On the second day, the team easily spots signs of a hastily created trap. They prepare for combat when they notice a smashed wagon blocking the road. As they stop and draw their weapons, four Hill Giants roar and rush at them from every direction. They display masterful battle tactics, splitting the Giants into two groups, and picking them off one by one. As the last one is slain by Rhaine, Durzo rides up behind them.

**Setting: Church of the Guiding Light**

The Order arrive at the church, and are immediately underwhelmed. There are only 5 Human women in plain white robes cleaning the floors. There are no other beings in the building. They meet with Shea, who leads them behind the altar to a hidden passageway. They descend some stairs to a basement with a few rooms. Leading them to one room with an open door, the group take a seat at a table with 5 large tomes placed on it. Shea describes them as sacred, stating that normally only the High Priestess is allowed to view them, but Sarah has made an exception. She excuses herself from the room, but lets them know she will help in any way she can.

As they pour through each tome, they start making connections. There are mentions of the Key, and how they felt coerced into using it on the Demon instead of banishing it. There are some notes on the Demon itself, and how it tends to enslave beings to its will to do the dirty work. On an interesting list of known magical items in Errista, they notice markings next to two that reference back to the Demon. One is called a Frost Brand which is kept by the Aasimars in their home of Radiance. The other is a Staff of Power at the Tower Eternal.

As they confer, Willyam agrees to lead them to Radiance the next day. As they prepare to rest for the night, Captain Keddes sends a message to Daghrim: "The Dark Elf girl made it to Gale. The seas are quiet. In fact, too quiet. May Valkur protect you ... and me too."

**Setting: Radiance**

Willyam expertly leads the team through the grasslands, to a well-hidden community of Aasimars, known as Radiance. Sonara, the leader of the community, welcomes them with open arms, and lets them know that her spirit guide, Diana, told her they would be here. They have a feast and enjoy each other's company. Sonara asks them each about their family ties, and also asks about the Golden Aasimar that she was expecting. When Durzo mentions she is not with them anymore, Sonara infers that she will end up with the community at some point.

After the meal, the discussion turns to business. She knows about their mission, and consents to giving the Frost Brand to them, but it is not up to her. She tells them the weapon itself will challenge them individually, and as a team. Edge, Durzo, and Rhaine each drink of a blue liquid to begin the trial. They are hit with immense cold as their muscles seize up. They close their eyes, and find themselves in a frigid wasteland. Although, they don't see each other, they each have a similar vision - a river with floating ice blocks, and a blue glowing weapon at the other side. Edge sees a Longsword, Rhaine sees a Scimitar, and Durzo sees a staff.

They all run and try their best to time their jumps onto the moving blocks of ice. Each time they slip and touch the water, their hit with a painful blast of cold. They each make it to the other side, if not a little worse off. Seeing the staff up close, Durzo thinks upon the Raven Queen and her Champion. He knows in his heart that this is not meant for him. He says so out loud, and all goes dark, though he now feels warm.

Rhaine reaches out for the Scimitar just as Edge reaches out for the Longsword. They feel the stinging cold in their hands, and teeter between bearing through the pain, and letting go. An arctic wind picks up and tries to knock the weapon from their hands. Edge widens her stance, and digs her claws into the ice, holding on for dear life. Rhaine tries, but eventually lets go as the wind is too much for him. All goes dark for him, as a warmth overtakes him.

The wind stops around Edge as she holds the Longsword high above her head. The blue glow intensifies until it consumes her vision. All goes dark for her as well, and she hears a female voice in her head say, "protect the world." As their vision is restored, they find themselves back around the table in Radiance. Rhaine and Durzo are holding bottles of a strange elixir. And Edge is still holding the Longsword up high. Sonara proclaims, "The Frost Brand has chosen her champion."

The team is given a hut to rest in for the night. Before they go to bed though, Sonara pulls them aside one more time. She tells them they will need more warriors to battle the Demon and its horde of Hill Giants. She says most able-bodied warriors in Errista have gone to war, though there is one such army left. She tells them to find the nomads of Kald as ask for their aid. They don't like strangers, and will certainly challenge them before they consent, but she knows that Steam is from that tribe, and can help.