So, uh… what did I miss?

Session 81

A fey lion appears, with moss and plants growing from his mane, larger than any other anyone has ever seen. He congratulate us on winning the race. He also admits to being happy that it was us who won, since he couldn't. He has an aura of summer sweetness and warmth. Cass asks what is he doing here and then we have a discussion of Seelie vs. Unseelie courts. He says that things changed when she, "started playing with her relic." Evil and weird things were happening. Even the portal to material plane was corrupted. It seems that relic (which we believe to be the Luxon beacon) may even have come from her lover.

As winner of the boon, it's a particularly special case since it's considered the reward from a Fey and Devil contract. Since Raokan has died, we thought maybe all was null and void, but this deal transcends his current state. Instead of Cass becoming the de facto leader, she wants to nominate the King of Fate and Flow as her "King Regent" and she'll be the leader of the fey realm somewhat in absentia instead!

A small halfling with yellow and gold feathers on their head instead of hair, and arms that extend into feathered wings arrives. "My king, my king!" and tells news of having just come from the castle: It's full, unabashed chaos around the castle. Devils are fleeing; they sense something changing. Truush seems to have rushed back to the castle and has fully locked it down. He seems intent on keeping control of it even though he doesn't rule it. He has awakened all the defenses in addition to adding his own. One rumor says he even may have set free "The Horsemen".

Cass remembers that this is referring to war heroes from the Unseelie court. Centuries ago they would have served the Queen in many ways. They gained reputation for being great warriors but also fierce opponents. She became paranoid of the idea of them challenging her, so she locked them away.

Black Night, Bright Day, Red Sun, Horn and Gold. (names)

We head back to the Bear King's grove camp in a protected section of the forest to long rest. Briya prays to the Wildmother. Lotus casts Commune and has a vision of a large pool with lily pads, glowing white starlight inside them. 12 in total; some bigger than others. But there's one with a black & purple light. All around is an amorphous presence. He asks, "Is Juriel really gone?" and gets "No." as a reply. The next question is, "Do I know you?" and the reply is "Yes." The final question is "Are you Axon?" and the answer is "No."

Æsheryn has a dream. A vision very familiar to him. It's a temple, very grand and ornate, built to worship Corellon the Arch Heart, in Uthodurn. It's truly a work of art, in reverence to Corellon's love of beauty. No wall ends a point. No surface is a straight line. It's as though the entire temple is organic and alive, smooth and comforting. Windows arranged as though sunflower seeds are placed perfectly strategically in order to allow light from the surface filter down into the space to create a play on light and shadow. A dance between art and the unseen. Between the beauty of life, and the acknowledgement of the shortness of it.

He sees Cardinal Til'den there. She's certainly in her older years, and yet as fierce as she was at taking the priest's stole so long ago.

The dream seems to last for hours and seems to have started mid-conversation between the two of them. They're having wine and looking at art throughout the temple. At some point, Til'den points to large fresco and asks, "Do you like this? it's a new piece. It depicts the myth of Corellon's first children. Before the Eladrin, there were the fey lords that would eventually take over the fey wilds. Courts and noble houses now, but at first, they were wild. What do you think of these young fey lords and this beautiful painting?"

As Æsheryn looks, he sees within the painting Corellon's light in the sky. The first fey lords being born. In the middle, standing in the grass, is a small lion cub. Til'den touches fresco and brings attention to it. "Could you imagine being one of Corellon's first children? I wonder where they are now?"

Æsheryn wakes up. As does everyone else. It's a new day.

The camp is already abuzz with activity. Lotus retells the harrowing story of the race to all who will listen. (We all get 18 temp HP)

Scouts, the Bear King, and the King of Fate and Flow are talking. Raokan's remaining battalion has gathered in front of Twistspire, and no one has found a way to sneak in. But the hundreds of devils have dwindled and almost none remain.

Popovsky and Monica plane-shift away to attend to other matters.

Fate says he thinks the objectives should be: (1) securing the dowager queen, safe and alive. (2) disabling the internal portal and, (3) getting rid of Truush for good.

King casts Aid (+20hp) to everyone for the day in addition to the 18 Temp hp from Lotus.

The Bear King brings fog and rain to the area. Hundreds of fey and Eladrin rush toward the castle. Maltheo rides with Lotus on Virtue, Æsheryn rides with Yahnist on Mittaine, Briya and Cass fly themselves. We're all psychically linked along with Fate.

We look for the Queen's window in the 2nd floor game room. It consists of very thick colored glass. Once we find it, we're able to see the outline of her and the armchair behind. The window is closed magically. Æsheryn tries to dispel the magic and almost fails without chrono-shifting from Cass, so then we're in!

Leaving the two mounts behind, we're now in the game room; a parlor with space for smaller gatherings with hunting trophies, velvet display cases and wallpaper, large fire places, but they're unlit. The Queen is in a starry midnight black hooded gown. Very "Priestess of night" vibe but not full regalia. Lotus gives himself True Sight. They reveal the enchantments holding back the Queen: A lattice work of magical red wire-threads holding her in place; more around her head and wrists.

He also notices there are invisible... creatures in the upper corners of the room. Two hags of some sort. One, an old bluish-gray fey woman with long white hair, bones on her belt, holding gray staff with clawed hands. The other is more disgusting. Her entire identity is her own hideousness. Hunchbacked and backwards-jointed, everything just looks wrong. We think she's facing us but it's only her head, not her body.

"Thelma? I believe we have intruders."
"I think you're right Louise."

Initiative!

A disgusting battle between two Bheur Hags and the gang, leaving the former dead and defeated, and the latter a little worn down. Lotus has been severely disfigured by a reconfiguring curse.

To be continued...