Episode 105 - Pre-Trip Equip

## Synopsis

Having noticed their conversation with Aaltine, the council walked over to SWIM and caught them just before they could blend into the crowd. Lord Peters asked why they had left their seats, and they told him about the conversation with Aaltine. Lord Peters informed them that Aaltine had been removed from his original position, and was now working for Ala Algrim, Lady of the Woods. He then said that they should tell the faculty if he threatened them further.

Crowe then asked about their mentorship under Artis, and how they felt about Underbough’s death. SWIM told him that Ari might be a good source to judge peoples feelings on the previous headmaster, to which he informed them that they didn’t know where the golems were before leaving.

Ythriax thanked the students for telling them about the citadel under Lightmere, saying the problem had been dealt with. WIM asked him to let Grandpa Hat know they were thinking of him, knowing this would annoy him deeply. Meanwhile Serinepth reflected on her choices in life.

Free from authority, SWIM went back to their studies and Delra continued to be cute. Serinepth received a letter from her parents saying they were looking forward to seeing her at the festival and hoped everything was in order. Winsler looked over his lich notes, though the complexity of parts of it eluded him.

Winsler returned home to find Yog had cleaned their room. They greeted Winsler and told him they had looked around the campus for around 4 hours. They also revealed they had a key able to open most doors on campus, though Winsler quickly told them they couldn’t open private rooms like that.

Trying to find more information about the *Conjure Memory* spell she had, Integrity set off for The Archives. She found a book on arcane flow, which described arcane energies flowing like wind throughout the Prime Material Plane. These energies accumulate in previously mundane areas, while intense spellcasting can drain an area of energy.

After waking up, the students found a message from Artis slipped under their doors. Each note said to meet him later tonight in the Planar Research department to prepare for their trip to Isathil.

Integrity checked in with Artis about his orb reliance, and the risks of bringing them to Isathil versus leaving them alone. He recommended she leave them, though confirmed he would have to bring his Orb of Might.

The day passed and classes ended. Winsler thought about his deal with Seltie, but decided it wouldn’t be relevant just yet. Mira looked forward to the trip, though she hoped it would be less stressful this time. Serinepth prepared her room for Virgil, and tried to avoid thinking about what happened with Yelm the last time they were in Isathil.

As night approached, SWIM made their way to the Planar Research department. The entrance had been decorated to resemble the Plane of Isathil, with two assistants slowly losing the will to live as they made slight changes to the area.

SWIM walked downstairs to find the portal open. All groups excepts Desa’s and their own seemed to have gone through. As Mira looked around, she noticed Aira was missing, and Desa was trying to convince her group to find her. Artis came over to his students, and asked if they’d seen her. They hadn’t, but decided to spend the twenty minutes before the portal closed running around campus looking for her.