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Message: <blockquote data-quote="gideonpepys" data-source="post: 7283845" data-attributes="member: 79141">Session 32, Part One - The Blessing of HewanharimauKorrigan’s first question was “Why didn’t I know about this?” - about Gupta’s extraordinary decision to willingly contract lycanthropy. Gupta made a wan excuse about not having a moment to talk to him, and not being sure it would even work.  “This proves my past,” she said.  She looked terrible – weak and anaemic; she had been interrupted before she could consume her victim.  Korrigan made it clear that he considered this to be a serious breach of trust.Korrigan’s second question was: “What is the danger that this will reoccur?”  Gupta did not want to relinquish the ‘blessing’, but admitted that she needed help to learn to control it.  Uriel said that they had already thought of ways they could minimise the risk.  He was fairly certain they could contain Gupta in a magic circle when she transformed and Uru could provide game for her to eat to avoid the terrible emptiness that now afflicted her. “It’s not as if we don’t produce enough corpses,” he said.Korrigan then raised the issue of how they should handle Sentosa. For his part did not simply want to sneak away.  Quite apart from the morality of such an action, there were untold political ramifications too.Kasvarina said that they would be ill-advised to submit themselves to the labyrinthine judicial process practised by the eladrin.  Selfishly, she was reluctant to relinquish her own newly won freedom, though she was clearly concerned about what had happened, frequently checking out Leon to gauge his reaction.  Leon was very conscious of her gaze and stayed silent for the moment. Kieran Sentacore sat down on a log with his head in his hands.  Where were the civilised travelling companions he had hoped for? Then Kasvarina held out a glimmer of hope for Gupta.  She said it was a shame that her search for revenge for her family should have produced a collateral victim too and wondered how much Gupta would be prepared to do to make amends.  Gupta said she would do much as she had cared for Helandra.  So Kasvarina told them of a group of priests who worshipped Sarasvati, the god of reincarnation and once made their home in her home town of Resal.  The priests of Sarasvati offered a means to restore victims to life, but only if the killer was willing to sacrifice their own life-force.When Gupta said she would be willing to try, Leon advised Korrigan to reach out to Sentosa only once they had left Rumah Terakir.  “Report the crime, but tell them you were unaware of it when you left.  Then tell them we are seeking to make amends.” (Once again, Leon had handled the dirty work, providing an ‘earth’ for Korrigan so he could still wear the Humble Hook…)  It was then established that they had business to attend to in the ruins before they left (and before Korrigan contacted Sentosa) – specifically, Uriel’s search for the Arsenal of Dhebisu.Rumdoom, meanwhile, had been distracted by domestic matters.  Hildegard was furious that he had forgotten about her on his return to Sentosa. He worked very hard to placate her – explaining that he hadn’t been in his right mind lately, but that he had had something of an epiphany in Ingatan’s Refuge that would mean things would be better from now on. Hildegard complained bitterly about being taken for granted and that Rumdoom was leaving everything they had worked for in Trekhom to rot:  His trusty band of Rumschatologists reported that they had been attacked when trying to move the Skull of Cheshimox, to ship it to Macdam as requested.  They had managed to fight the rival cultists off, but were now too nervous to try to move the Skull.  It was those pesky followers of Grandis Komanov again! Rumdoom promised that they would look into this matter as soon as they were able. Hildegard was placated for the time being.As they walked towards the temple, in an offering of transparency to Korrigan, Gupta confessed to her execution of Norm/Sylyx (which she had previously only revealed to Leon).  Her motives had been personal, not professional. Korrigan said that the unit was often forced to work outside conventional moral confines.  Uru was worried and asked, “Do we have to report all extra-judicial killings from now on?”When they reached the lonely temple, Rumdoom worked to roll away the stone.  Gupta, Hildegard, Thurgid and Kieran Sentacore waited outside. Within, once their eyes had adjusted to the gloom, they saw the bowl of blood Sokana had mentioned, on a plinth in the centre of a high chamber that was otherwise featureless. In accordance with her account of the temple, they tried to leave.  At once the guardian appeared: a female construct with an eerie phosphorescence.  It held a shining blue star in its hand and demanded to know which of them would stand against evil.  At once, Uriel answered that he would do so, but named Rumdoom as his champion.  The guardian paused for a moment, then said, “Very well.  Arm yourself, champion, and prove it.”  The ‘star’ transformed into a bastard sword as it attacked – then into a club, a spear, a great axe, a short sword...  Rumdoom withstood its blows and fought back.  Before a more final conclusion could be reached, the battered guardian raised its hand for a cessation, then knelt and offered the arsenal – now back in the shape of a glowing meteor – to Rumdoom.  He took it and the guardian vanished.  Then he handed the arsenal to Uriel.  Uriel found that he could shape it with ease, and that he was able to wield whatever weapon he made with great facility.</blockquote>

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