Session 38 - "As the Sand Cools" Report

Venen 7, 1247

Micaiah is gone. Dragged into hell as the Fate-Steppers watched helplessly, all that's left is a disk of glass - melted sand from the infernal summoning circle with the runes still visible on the surface.

Thais Argyri lets out a raging cry, bringing down her sword on the disk and shattering it into a thousand tiny pieces.

No one else speaks. No one knows what to say. Jacob Sterling kneels down and begins to collect as much of he can of the disk and the others slowly disperse, heading to their own bedrolls.

The wyrmlings are in high demand tonight. Lara and Kona as the less naughty of the three especially so. A fitful night's sleep with a cuddle from one of the small plant dragons is the best anyone can manage.

Venen 8, 1247

The next morning, the party decide to head back to Siphone-Kett, and book separate rooms at The Golden Trinket. Thais makes sure to get Ark-amel turned back into a horse before she rides back out into the desert.

Once she's far enough away from the city, she kneels down facing the great expanse of sand. With no civilization or life to distract her, she takes out her holy symbol and attempts to commune with Syria.

Her questions are simple, with the wind buffeting the dangling symbol in ways that are meant to indicate various answers:

• Can Micaiah be saved? "Yes."
• Is it by returning to The de’Louvre estate? "Yes."
• Are you still with me? "Yes."
• Do you wish for me to stop the Rekan cultists? "Yes."

Satisfied with her discoveries, she pockets her holy symbol and returns to Siphone-Kett.

Meanwhile, the rest of the party has had their own errands in the city to manage. Foenix visits Felisis's altar in the Ferre Promenade. He attempts to talk to the deity, to ask why he didn't help Micaiah, but gets no response. He spits on the altar in derision as he leaves.

He then visits the Sand Shift Navigators, and informs them about the body of Vishrak, the Great Sandwurm, that lies baking in the desert. He offers to give them the location so they may scavenge for the corpse... in exchange for telling him the quickest way to Valsáth. Though the Navigators do not usually travel west, they are happy to tell him what they know and give him a path towards the mountains just barely visible in the distance.

Jacob, who goes to the Chaandee Exchange to a magic shop called The Celestus, has a most interesting day. However, after finding a man slumped over his desk that Jacob is sure is dead (critical failure), Jacob flees.

Back at the Trinket, Jacob starts talking to the air. He invokes Iros-est, Felisis's estranged twin, and to his surprise not only does the god answer but appears in his hotel room.

Iros-est offers to tell them where a portal to the Hells is, where Micaiah has been spirited away to, but on one condition: that they cease in following Felsis's quest to disrupt Beauson de'Bete's plans.

Jacob asks for time to speak with the party about it, which Iros-est accepts, disappearing for the moment.

Over dinner, he broaches the subject. The Fate-Steppers are skeptical of Iros-est's deal, but table it until they can all talk to the god together after dinner. They also discuss where to go next. They decide to go to Valsáth, but the dangers of crossing the Letalis Jungle and into Cactsia are definitely a concern. Still, they need to gather some more of the veren that grows there (the cure for dreyra) to bring with them.

After their evening meal, the party makes their way into the Caliginous Caverns, and Jacob calls Iros-est forth again. They tell him to go fuck himself, and Thais goes the extra mile to insult the god as well.

The rest of the party leaves, but Jacob lingers behind. He tells Iros-est that he wants to take the deal, regardless of the others' thoughts. This means he will have to sabotage them, rather than simply leaving Beauson's plan to unfurl as it wilt. Iros-est takes that deal, telling Jacob that there is a passage to the Hells at Black Rock in Cactsia.

Above ground, Thais becomes aware as they walk back to the Trinket that she can hear screaming. A horse screaming. She dashes forward to the stable and finds Arkeo transformed into a hippocampus - half-horse, half-fish. He is in terrible pain and confusion, flopping about and trying to breathe through gills. In annoyance, Thais dismisses her steed and the punishment from Iros-est for being disrespectful to him.

As she enters into the hotel, Foenix pulls her aside. He shows her a letter that he found in Micaiah's things, reading as follows:

My dearest Adora,

I am sorry to have left Heartsease with such trouble in my wake, but it was inevitable that when the levies broke so too would the defenses, and my crimes against the Cactsian navy were numerous.

It would not surprise me at all to learn they have interrogated you about my whereabouts, which is exactly why I have not told you where I have gone. It breaks my heart to be so far from you, and to have to remain in such places without your embrace, laugh, or easy presence, but it must be so. The city fought poorly, and those of us who took to the seas of our own volition, disorganized and petty - fighting with ourselves as so many starving dogs with scraps.

Luckily, I am a fox amongst the hounds, and have moreso than others been prudent with my strikes upon their navy. I only attacked when I could win, and only took what me and my crew could carry. The Cactsians spared no expense in their invasion, so even the smallest ships carried with them treasures and wonders to help them upon their conquest.

They are worth more than your lighthouse, my heart, and they are all yours to keep yourself and Yvor fed and well-kept until my return. You will find them in the place where the caves sing and the water beckons you to draw your last breath in its waiting depths.

Keep your beacon lit, my sunflower, and I shall be home soon.

— Odalis Sandino, Captain of The Lady's Pearl