A Trap in Talira

The friends are spending some time(23:45) in thought as they travel. Alexander goes and finds Kesra, wondering if they should ask Leona not to try for a vision again without warning them, and she agrees that it would be a good idea.

Meanwhile, Leona(26:17), her hair a bronze/orange, prays to Sarenrae in frustration for help in knowing what to do with her gift. She notices that her holy symbol has a layer of tarnish on it, and scrubs it until it gleams.

Atlas goes to check on Elden(39:01), finding on deck. Elden says he will be fine - it's just a lot to process right now, and Atlas suggests they go have some drinks, which they go do.

Leona contacts Aureo(41:40) again to check in. He says that they made a lot of progress, but there was another devil incursion. He also mentions that Iris stopped by, and Leona tells him she's glad Iris could keep him company while she's away.

Alexander joins Atlas and Elden(46:24) drinking heavily in the galley. They discuss the current relationships in the group - with Atlas learning about Alexander and Kesra, and then about Leona and Aureo, and how Aureo sent Elden to protect her. Elden shares what he's learned about the state of his platoon. Atlas demonstrates his ability to instantly sober himself up.

Atlas goes and finds Leona(1:02:36). He checks in with her, and she tells him about her frustration. He offers to show her some basic martial arts forms to channel her anger into something useful. She quickly gives up, though, and gets out her lute, and plays that to calm down. Atlas lets slip to Leona that Elden has a lover whom he's worried about, and her hair begins to turn pink again.

Eventually(1:13:05), Leona goes and finds Alexander, Atlas, and Elden. Atlas goes and finds Kesra, telling her she should join them. She looks a mess, but goes with him. Kesra and Atlas engage in a drinking contest. Elden winds up passing out on the floor, and Alexander draws all over his face. Eventually, Kesra, Leona, and Alexander all pass out too.

In the morning(1:40:48), Leona wakes up and contacts Aureo again, still drunk. He asks if she's with Atlas, and she's not. After Atlas checks on her, the captain runs into him and tells him that they are landing in a few hours. The party finds a crew member who is able to tell them the location of a dark tower, a half-hour outside of town. The group discusses their approach. They're quite sure that it's a trap, and that he knows they're coming, but don't know any better approach than to just go knock on his door.

Alexander summons his familiar(2:04:47) to go and investigate the area around the tower. He can tell the the tower is built to amplify magic, and is extremely old, and is about 120 feet tall. Alexander dismisses his cat and reports back to the group. They decide to head into town to talk to some people to learn about what happens around the tower.

Kesra goes to a tavern(2:15:25) and learns that McGrath comes into town occasionally, but mostly keeps to himself. He hasn't caused any problems for the town, really. Alexander goes to the city hall and learns that McGrath is from there in Talira, and his sister, Sage McGrath, married Rodolpho Macierre. Sage, and her daughter, Vera, died in a mysterious accident. Atlas learns that the people are very distrusting of the Empire guard there. Elden learns from a guard that they are suspicious of the person in that tower, but they can't make anything stick. Leona pretends to be looking to write a song about McGrath, and finds a person who spoke to him - he told her that he was taking a trip to somewhere very cold.

Alexander learns the origins of the tower(2:32:27) - that the Quan'Mal Macierre was from this area, that he once hunted down a witch, and somehow returned with a wife, and that this tower belonged to that woman. Elden has his buddy take him to where there was previously a zombie problem to investigate it. The undead always head north to the tower when they rise. Atlas sneaks around, finding himself in a dimly lit bar. After watching a young woman who's killing everyone at cards - eventually, she approaches him. He tells her about why he's there, and she invites him up to her room. There, she pulls a dagger on him, and attacks. He manages to dive out the window and escape.

The group regathers(2:57:59) and compares notes. before calling it a night. Alexander suggests that he could put them into a death-like sleep and have Elden deliver them as a bounty. They consider this before going to sleep for the night.