BANE AND BOON

***BANE AND BOON*** is the tenth session of *Glimpses into the Fade.*

## Musings

*Within every person is a wellspring of potential, a will to draw on, a reality that is true and untrue, a space between spaces. You have chosen to draw from well, you have chosen to drink from this fountain of knowledge and now you possess its blessing and its curse. Will our heroes survive this fight? Will they draw even more from the wellspring that dwells within them?*

## **Synopsis**

The session begins with rolling initiative, as Monsoon attempts to cast a spell but fails. The party begins moving forward to attack, with Oriza having visions of their past traumas. The armour is able to heal itself with the surrounding green mist, Oriza learns their foes are particularly vulnerable to fire and radiant damage. Whilst this knowledge is a boon, Oriza's bane appears in the forms of visions: "he broke down the door to an empty room filled with crimson. Only a body lies in the room, and as you hold the body lay limp in your arms, cold, you think how you left your home with her, left so many people to die for her, and now she is dead. The person you left them for is now dead."

As the party continues to fight, growing frustrated with every miss, Hira moves to grab ahold of the armours helmet to dissipate the mist within it. Hira rolls an arcana check, accepting the Bane to her Boon, and feels her body freeze as her surroundings go dark. A mocking voice laughs, echoing around her. They offer her power, in return she must return home. Hira clarifies if they meant the prison she grew up in, it's a definitive no. The voice fades away as she falls prone, successfully disanimating the armour, but now seeing six Firbolgs in place of her party, wearing cloaks and masks resembling moth wings. Panicked, she swings at Oriza, before running further into the tunnels.

Oriza manages to slam their shield in the space between the armour's neck, popping it's head off before the mist dissipates into nothing. Monsoon rushes after Hira, who sees him as her older brother Abulia, as he punches her twice to snap her out of the effects of the mist. Hira weeps after coming out of the effects, remembering how a force took over her, that her only instincts was for revenge, to destroy and kill, it felt like a culmination of Eons of anger that was not her own. Oriza offers their handkerchief to her whilst casting Lay on Hands.

Monsoon comments on Hira's recklessness, even if it worked, he reminds everyone they need to survive battles without losing anyone, it's not worth the risk. Oriza looks away from him, focusing on the armour. They think of their peaceful kingdom being burnt down by the very same people who donned this armour, who marched into the farmlands blighting the earth step by step. Oriza stands visibly shaking, and Hira takes Oriza's hands in both of hers before squeezing, checking in with him. Anthir approaches, and gently heals Oriza's wounds. Feeling perhaps a sense of comradery, friendship, as the party presses onward further into the well's tunnels.

The water is quiet...the cavern is quiet...everything around us is still. The fade portal up ahead is shining bright green, but tentacles of dark obsidian circles around in the water as if on guard. Hira learns the tentacles belong to the same Red Eyed Being which mocked them in their dreams days prior. Riya attempts to contact the person in her ring, hearing the sound of plucking lute strings. The being expresses she cannot do anything to move the tentacles away, but is confident someone in their group can get rid of them. As Riya relays this information, Hira smells the familiar scent of flowers, and hears a muffled voice from the Fade rift.

Hira goes to grab Monsoon's shoulder but finds him already by the water. Vilya's back faces the group, as presumably Arel speaks with a chuckle.

> "You found me! You found me, and we have an audience dear Vilya, turn around..."
>
>

Vilya turns to see the party on the other side. Monsoon raises a hand, arcane energy swelling up as lightning reaches Vilya, pulling her out of the rift. The shorter form of Arel peers out of the Fade, praising Monsoon as he steps onto a tentacle, moving towards the rift. Monsoon says Arel was right about them, and the party notices something dark is clasped behind his ear as if talking to him. Oriza commands Monsoon to grovel, preventing him to move any further. Bran fears Arel, but asks for Hira's help reaching Monsoon. Hira carries Bran in her arms as she jumps far, reaching Monsoon.

Bran grabs ahold of Monsoon's feather, burning it with a simple cantrip. The destruction of the talismen angers Arel, threatening to kill Bran. Bran tells them they can fucking try, and attempts to speak sense into Monsoon. As he yells at him, Vilya's form sinks into the water, disappearing before a killer whale bursts through the water. The whale shrinks back into Vilya, who declares she'll kill Arel for what they've done, and rushes back through the Fade rift.

Seeing his sister, Monsoon snaps back into reality, electrocuting the tentacles and setting himself free. He swims closer towards the rift, asking where Odin is. As if on cue, heavy footsteps move towards the Fade rift as Odin stands, eyes glossed over and golden feather behind his ear. His axe crackles with lightning, as he begins pouring magic into the rift to seal it away. Arel laughs, saying they'll see them again, and the rift closes behind them. The party is left in darkness, confused, baffled, and in still waters.

## Featured Characters

#### The Fireflies

* Anthir
* Bran
* Hiraeth
* Oriza
* Riya

#### Returning

* Monsoon
* Vilya
* Arel
* Odin
* Disembodied Whisper