Session 80
Date: 2025-02-03
The kitchen was immaculate, every surface polished to perfection. The countertops gleamed, smooth marble set atop sturdy darkwood cabinets, their doors concealing an array of cookware and provisions. The air carried the rich, savory scent of Ember’s cooking…a feast rested on the stove, meats seared to perfection, vegetables glistening with seasoning. It should have been inviting. Comforting.
But Orianna seemed off. She stood stiff, shoulders tense, eyes distant. Ember knew the reason. Za’Lonn. The name alone made her grip the counter’s edge, knuckles white. The thing inside the sword. The whispering presence.
The room felt heavier, thick with unspoken words and unvoiced fears. Ember’s pulse quickened. If she acted now, if she could just take the sword…perhaps she could sever its hold. Perhaps she could get Orianna back.
She inhaled slowly. One chance.
And she took it.
Orianna flees, and the group gives chase.
During the pursuit, Dax and Gardhu have a tense moment when Gardhu attempts to invade Dax’s mind. Dax resists, pushing back against the intrusion. Meanwhile, Za’lonn is harsh and condescending as Orianna struggles to find her way, ultimately getting lost.
Just as the situation escalates, Seryna appears and mind blanks Orianna, leaving her momentarily disoriented. Confused but subdued, Orianna agrees to meet with the group.
Seryna flies ahead to update the others, laying out the real plan. However, she faces an unexpected setback when she discovers that the group has a pearl…a complication she hadn’t anticipated.
After some discussion, Ember persuades the group to arrange a meeting for the next day, giving Seryna an opportunity to steal the pearl.
Later, the group gathers to rest and recover, tending to their wounds. Health increases by 13 for the day.
Tavina continues to speak about the upcoming sacrifice, her words carrying a somber weight. Elsewhere, Aydriann and Peach share another quiet moment.
Mack and Orianna talk. Then Kai and Orianna.
But just as the night settles, a chilling realization sets in.
The pearl has been compromised.
By the sword.