Session 018: For Now

We begin with North Wind following Lae to the Ember Tower where they've been summoned. The four among them who haven't been tested take turns blasting Lae real quick and then they are all escorted up to the room of the masters. Mauli, Van, and a new individual who introduces themself as Akamu await them there. They task the group with delivering another master-sealed letter, this time to the Terrene at the Verdant Quarter. In the Spring Kingdom. When Zenith asks why they don't just send it via magical means, Mauli gives a laundry list of reasons but settles at saying that the delivery is as important as the message. In return for this task, the group is promised more information about what the heck is going on and access to information and research about the planes. As well as membership to the Circle of Embers. If they can pass the test of the Terrene.   Zenith takes the opportunity to describe the situation with the missing people amd ask about it. Lae starts to say something, but the masters cut her off. Mauli explains that since the Circle of Embers specialize in evocation magic, they can't provide much insight here and the circle of magic wielders in the Winter Kingdom (the Volokin) deals more with experimental magics, teleportation, divination, that kind of thing. Jack then asks about warlock stuff. Akamu explains that the Circle accepts those who get their power from elsewhere even if most of them are wizardly types. They do some sort of magic thing at Jack, ask if in his dreams, he interacts with a deep, masculine voice belonging to someone he doesn’t see, that gives a sense of foreboding. Akamu says not to trust him but that he will not lie, and suggests that Jack go talk to Ikaika Vorachith in Halitara. She’s another warlock and will have advice. Oh and also?   The bond can be broken.   They get Mohr’s diamond and Zenith snags a spell real quick, then they go to a cafe and Aphid spills his guts about the mouse situation and his fiance and accidentally running away out of politeness and not wanting to go home.   They go back to the inn, Leopold doing paperwork or some shit in the lobby. Aphid spends the rest of the day sewing. Zenith goes to buy spell components. Mohr visits a temple of the Woman of Woe (the Lair of Song) and the Woman speaks to her, coaxing her to play a trick on the cleric, leaving her with a glittering feather that she ties to her warhammer. Tal has an emotional moment with Swallow, casts sending to Temperance a coupla times. Jack takes his wedding suit back home and spends the day jamming with the fam.   The group has a family meeting that night, Zenith spills his backstory with his family to give context before reaching Halitara. Plans to fuck with the Silandires are started.   Later, Zenith casts a few sendings as well, reaching out to Pretihn and Verity. He tells Pretihn he’ll be there in two days, wants to see her. She informs him she figured out how the spell works and to meet her at the fountain. He tells Verity he’ll try and Send every day. Leopold comes to Swallow’s suite and tells him that grams gave orders for Leopold to stop following Aphid and that Aphid was to return immediately, but also she would understand if he needs three to four weeks to take care of a few things. Aphid is given money to send letters home with and Aphid gives a letter for Mosquito in return. And Leopold says he wouldn’t call Aphid a bother before departing.   Talasea goes that night to visit Lady V. He meets her in the library, babbles at her for a bit, then she tells him he can just ask to spend time with her. He does and they go for a walk in the garden, lit with candles that illuminate the desert plants. He asks for the story with the vamps. She tells him a story of lovers gone rogue, who abandoned the life the Vongvilays choose to lead and were exiled from their society as a result. They spend the rest of the night together.   In the morning, Tal returns to the group and they drop Swallow off with Jack’s family, saying tearful goodbyes before heading South to Halitara.