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Message: <blockquote data-quote="lykkenthrope" data-source="post: 9801271" data-attributes="member: 7045440">Session 24 The session opened with a short return to Gwen. They gave back the lock of Arielle’s hair and Gwen confirmed what they had suspected: Indomitability was near the Seela village’s lakeshore. She did inform them though that Indom was guarded by Merrow. For returning the lock of hair, she promised to keep other lake creatures away, but the Merrow, and the Indomitability herself, would be theirs to face.As they prepared to leave, Tiljann appeared. She had followed them desperate to know what they planned to do…to maybe change their mind. Sorian apologized to her, explaining that his duty to his people--and to the greater world--had to come first. During this conversation, Vic quietly stepped away from the group and went back to Gwen. She asked if Tiljann could rest on her island in the lagoon’s center…the only living green left in the forest. Gwen agreed.Tiljann stepped onto the grass and a smile grew wide on her face as her feet touched unburnt grass for the first time in her life. Lying among the red blossoms, she gazed upward and swore she could see the faintest trace of blue beyond the smoke. They left her there to enjoy the peace.The walk back to the Seela village was silent but calm. When they arrived, Vuhl descended unexpectedly from one of the upper caves, his fury was immediate as he felt they had some nerve returning the village. He was upset that they had so crassly told the villagers they would be ending the song, that while Vuhl wanted that…he wanted it to be quick…a moment of shock and then the end. Before the tension could escalate, Papuvin appeared and laid a hand on Vuhl’s shoulder. His voice was steady and calm, “Do not blame them, or yourself. They do what they must to leave this place.”Sorian stepped forward and asked Papuvin to gather everyone. When the Seela assembled, he spoke plainly about what he had learned from Timbre, about his choice to stand with his people in the looming war against Ragesia, and about his shame in making that choice. He wanted to give the Seela a chance to try and weild the Blade, if any of them wanted to try.Vuhl immediately volunteered, but Papuvin stopped him. If any life is to be given, it will be mine. He then asked the party to step away as he had a private moment with his people. The party stepped away to the water’s edge. They couldn’t hear the words, only soft weeping and the sight of Papuvin removing his ornate necklace and placing it around Vuhl’s neck.When they were called back Papuvin explained that he had asked Vuhl to lead the Seela if they survived and he did not. Grom, assessing the frail Seela, mentioned he was worried Papuvin would not be strong enough to pull the Blade from Indomitability. Vic began debating possible spells that could help, when Ze asked if the could pull from the same magic they had to strengthen Etifini. Initially Papuvin said they could not, but 5 older Seela approached Papuvin and shared they had already accepted their death, they would be honored to imbue their lifeforce into Papuvin to try and sway the odds.In a moving moment, Vuhl joined the singers on the platform and began the Song of Forms. Then the five elder Seela surrounded Papuvin and started a different song, one lower, more resonant, full of magic. Light bloomed in their chests, pulsing in rhythm with their hearts. The glow spread down their arms, out to their fingertips, and then into Papuvin as they touched him. One by one as the light left them, their eyes closed and their bodies fell silent.The brightness gathered at Papuvin’s heart and flared once before fading. When it did, he looked younger, renewed. He whispered a prayer for the fallen then turned to the party and simply said Let’s save my people.Ze, Vic, and Reshi stayed on the shore while Sorian, Grom, Torrent, Ze’s shadow, and Papuvin entered the water. The lake party swam down through the dark until a faint red glow lit the depths…they saw a massive stag pinned to the lakebed by an ornate wooden greatsword driven straight through its chest.They slowed as they neared the stag watching steam boil from its skin as it struggled. When suddenly a voice thundered in their minds WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? FREE ME.Before they could answer, three shapes lunged from the murk: the Merrow, grotesque aquatic ogres.The fight was fast and vicious. Grom and Sorian struck with javelins, their movements slow in the water but precise. Torrent’s sword gleamed as she parried and landed a few blows herself and Ze’s shadow stayed close to Papuvin, protecting him with its necrotic clawed hands. Working together, the lake party made quick wok of the Merrow, filling the water with red blood.On the shore, Reshi sat crosslegged softly humming the Song of Forms while Vic paced the shoreline, as Ze relayed the play by play of the battle as seen through her shadow’s eyes.With the last Merrow fell, the group turned back to the glowing stag. Indomitability’s voice returned to their minds, sharp with suspicion: Why have you brought one of the Seela here? Have you come to betray me? Grom lamented internally that he could not speak underwater and waved his arms exasperatedly.Determined, Papuvin swam closer causing the stag to thrash violently, causing boiling water to envelope them all. Papuvin didn’t falter. He seized the hilt of the buried blade, light flaring around his arm, and pulled…and the blade came free in one clean motion.DM Note. This was the most glorious Nat 20 I have ever rolled. I was so happy I had rolled this in the open. Everyone lost it cheering and shoutingIndomitability, freed, kicked up from the lakebed and burst to the surface. The moment its head broke into the air, flames engulfed it. Fully ablaze, it galloped across the water toward the shore, every step boiling the lake beneath it.On land, Ze and Reshi readied themselves as Indomitability charged, uncertain whether she meant to fight or flee. Vic standing a little farther back than the other two began to ready a spell when she froze as she felt a sharp point press into her ribs. Then a familiar voice whispered in her ear, This is your last chance to give me the military intelligence.And that’s where the session ended.</blockquote>

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