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Message: <blockquote data-quote="lykkenthrope" data-source="post: 9777232" data-attributes="member: 7045440">Session 15:(This will be last long write up for a while, the ones following this will be more summaries)In between the sessions, Sorian and Vic had a “campfire” session just the two of them: Vic took the chance to tell Sorian her story. She explained her past, the loss of her sister, and why she had reacted the way she did when Ze revealed her identity. Ze was not just a former Inquisitor to Vic, she was the figure from her nightmares.Sorian listened carefully, fully earning his “Papa Sorian” nickname. He let her speak without interruption and only answered when she was ready for a response. He told her that he understood her anger and grief by sharing his own story of revenge and how long it had taken him to find peace. He hoped she would not have to carry her pain for as long as he did and reminded her that human lives are short.He said he understood her distrust of Ze, but pointed out that Ze is still young. Her training as an Inquisitor must have begun before she had any real choice, and when she was old enough to choose, she took the first chance to leave that life behind. Sorian asked her to consider that Ze might hold answers or even the chance for closure about what happened to her sister.Vic did not promise forgiveness, but she did listen. She understood that there was still a mission to focus on and that she could apologize for her outburst. That they needed to move forward now in order to deal with what all of this meant later.Start of sessionWhen morning came the group gathered to speak with Crystin about the Dream Seeds. Ze and Vic shared a nod, both understanding they will need to talk, but now is not the time.Crystin said she believed the seeds had something to show them, that she used to fear her visions, but they had always helped her. Vic supported her, reminding the group of the times Crystin’s visions had helped them and knowing what is coming might be worth the risk of the unknown. Sorian said they would support Crystin, but Crystin added that when she had touched them the night before she felt that they had amplified her natural abilities too much, so she herself did not want to to touch or consume the seeds herself.Sorian then turned to Reshi, knowing his tendency towards reckless choices, and asked if he would be willing to eat one of the seeds. After the situation was explained to the daydreaming Reshi, he took a seed without hesitation, and swallowed it.[SPOILER="DM Note: Behind the Screen Stuff"]Looking back, it is funny to see how much has changed. Reshi’s PC is now one of my most involved and consistently entertaining players, but that growth took time and a few honest conversations. Early on, I was hesitant to address playstyle mismatches directly, especially since this table was made up of friends and friend’s spouses. At this point, Reshi and I came to an understanding that he preferred the main plot & combat to any attempt at engaging his characters backstory. That was perfectly fine once we understood each other.Why bring this up now? For this Dream Seeds interaction, I had several possible visions prepared depending on who chose (if any) to eat one. Each version would have tied into their personal arcs. Since Reshi was the only one who ate a seed, and his character did not have an active “main character quest,” he received a broader vision tied to the campaign’s main story. I had originally planned to introduce this sequence later, when it would be actionable, but it still fit here given the seeds’ nature.[/SPOILER]After Reshi consumed the Dream Seed, he entered into a trance immediately.He saw Gate Pass in ruins, its streets filled with fallen heroes: Gabal, Rantle, even Torrent was among them. He saw Ragesia conquering distant nations, mages being rounded up and taken to a vast mountain prison deep within Ragesia. He saw a woman seated upon the Ragesian throne and a massive weapon rising into the sky, radiating death.Then, a voice spoke to him in ancient Draconic. It told him that the future is not fixed. That the stones of the past can reshape what is to come.He then felt intense, sharp overwhelming pain in his mind. His vision cracked like glass, and he fell through history. He saw the great primordial beings of legend: the Kraken, the Worm, the Eagle, and the Dragon. He watched the Eagle flee across the skies, the Dragon in pursuit, until at last the Dragon caught the Eagle and tore out its heart.Reshi saw a flash of life emerge from the bleeding heart, a swirl of the Kraken taking human form, the Worm teaching mortals its songs to those who would listen. Then…the whisper of a name reached Reshi’s mind: Aquiline Heart.More images followed, quick and fragmented: a woman filled with love and determination, a fey man standing amid ashes, consumed by despair and guilt. Then, everything went dark. Reshi could not breathe. He felt his body torn apart and then reknit itself cell by cell in agony. Then Coaltongue was standing over him, pulling a javelin from his throat.. When he looked around, gasping for air, he caught sight of his reflection in the armor of a nearby warrior, it was not his dragonborn shape, but that of a woman in a bone mask. A final surge of psychic force split through his mind as a female voice whispered softly behind him: “I see you.”Reshi woke as the others were trying to rouse him from the vision.After briefly discussing the vision, the heroes decided to focus on more pressing matters and headed across the river. Sorian wanted to visit the Shrine of Arielle, which had been mentioned in the journals they found earlier, before deciding whether to aid Indomitability.They entered the ashen, empty, and solemn village. While searching in some of the empty shops, Ze and Vic found a moment to talk. Vic was able to apologize for her aggression the previous night and Ze was able to express the duality of feelings she felt towards Vic: shame, but also the gratefulness; Without the Vic she might still be stuck under Leska’s command.As they walked together, Ze was able to explain some of what happened that fateful night. She spoke of the senior Inquisitor who had led the operation and explained that Vic’s sister had been sent to a prison in Ragesia. She said the Inquisitors had orders not to kill mages unless absolutely necessary. They needed them alive.As they neared the center of the village, Sorian slowed, overcome by a sense of déjà vu. Without warning, he broke into a run down one of the side paths. The others following close behind. He came to a small, familiar looking home, that of his grandparents. The door was closed but not locked. Not sure what he was expecting to find, Sorian entered and found the home empty. He noticed the main table was covered in papers that he could tell were some type of magical algorithms. Vic was able to assess that they were notes on anti-fire spellwork and hypothetical modifications to boosts to protection wards.Sorian really wasn’t listening to Vic as he noticed an envelope on the mantle with his mother’s name written across it. Sorian opened it quietly and read the letter in silence. It was from his grandmother. She wrote it with hope that her daughter would some day read it: meaning her family had escaped the fires, found safety, and eventually the fires would be extinguished. The letter went on to explain that the village had run out of options and that many of them were gathering at the shrine for one last option. They planned to willingly become fire touched, allowing Bhurisavra to have more time to find either a cure or an end to their suffering.Sorian didn’t linger. He left the house quickly, nearly running toward the shrine. The rest of the group followed, uncertain but ready.As Sorian approached the shrine, much farther ahead than everyone else, was struck by a ghast that had been lying in wait.And that was where session ended.</blockquote>

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