It's a Wonder What You'll Find With an Open Mind (Session Summary)

**It's a Wonder What You'll Find With an Open Mind** details the events of the August 15 and 23, 2021 sessions where the team faces a fight in the cathedral and receives help from an unlikely source.

## Session Notes

* As the group enters the cathedral, they can hear arguing from those in the sanctuary and, once the group makes their way into the nave, they can see Simon arguing with the Deacon and numerous angry priests.
* Chae is able to determine that Simon and the priests are who they appear to be, but notes that a man lurking in the back is Dr. Johnathan Bailey — one of the Gods.
* While the ladies discuss their next moves, the priest insists they cannot permit Simon to leave until he decides to end his relationship with Aedryan; Simon reminds them that *he* is the king and they have no power to “permit” him anything.
* Chae interjects, asking why the church is lying about the high priest being dead. Simon confirms that the high priest isn’t dead and he will continue to shoot the man until the Gods decide to stop healing him. True to his word, Simon shoots the man again.
* The Deacon insists that Simon’s efforts are in vain as the Gods will not abandon their faithful. Dr. Bailey laughs in the background.
* His laughter prompts Chae to question his presence, but Bailey assures everyone he is merely there to observe and take notes so he can update his predictions — he otherwise has no say in whether the priest lives or dies.
* Simon tells the priests that he refuses to meet their demands and help from his brother, General Mbeni, and Lord Raven will soon be on its way. Chae helpfully adds that Mbeni is just outside, readying soldiers.
* The argument comes to a head, and a fight breaks out.
* Simon commands Sorni, Talos, and Chae to kill anyone who would harm Aedryan, which invigorates the team into hitting that much harder and, despite the cathedral being overrun with priests, they make decent headway through the aisles.
* Simon notices priests attacking Aedryan and shoots the Deacon in the head, killing him instantly. This enrages those that remain and they bring forth additional combatants: priestesses of Ximena.
* As Sorni makes her way to the sanctuary, she watches a Priestess attack and severely injure Simon.
* With several priestesses surrounding him, it’s clear that Simon is unmatched in the fight; he attempts to leave the sanctuary, offering surrender in exchange for the safe exit of the group.
* Simon commands Sorni to get Aedryan out of the cathedral but, knowing that Aedryan would be unlikely to leave, Sorni decides to drag Simon outside instead.
* The group escapes the cathedral to find Mbeni and soldiers heading up the stairs, preparing to siege the church. The previously-defeated priests and the men who were guarding the doors have been arrested.
* The group guides Simon into a nearby command tent and, as they do so, someone in the crowd notices that Simon’s wounds aren’t healing.
* Mbeni sends a soldier to the palace for assistance and the group discusses the events that just took place: did the Deacon die (and why?), and how did priestesses suddenly appear to assist in the fight?
* Dr. Bailey enters the chat, telling the team that he isn’t there to hurt anyone — suggesting that his lack of intervention during the fight is proof enough that he doesn’t want to kill them.
* When pressed about why, he says that he’s not interested in interfering in the war; instead, he wants to try to determine why his theories have gone awry. He reiterates the same information the group has heard for months about how killing 40% of the population is necessary to bring a technological revolution. An argument ignites, and Bailey takes his leave.
* When Simon attempts to get up to “do something about it,” he falls back into the chair and the dire state of his exsanguination-induced delirium is made apparent. Chae, ever the voice of reason, tells the group to not be so quick to dismiss a god that could help Simon; the team asks for help.
* Dr. Bailey asks the system to override System Rejection for 24 hours for Simon *Bailey* and, immediately, Simon is healed by the Breath of the Gods.
* To the astonishment of the team, Dr. Bailey advises the group to take advantage of the 24-hour period to publicly demonstrate his ability to heal, congratulates Aedryan, and then leaves.
* A soldier arrives with a carriage to take the group back to the palace to discuss their next steps.

## Additional Information

The session notes' title comes from the song *Listen to Reason* by Bryan Steeksma:

*Won't you listen to reason?
 Will you open your eyes?
It's a wonder what you'll find
With an open mind
You might be surprised*