Ch. 3: Truth

As the party had headed off for the night to sleep, Lilaphona heard movement coming from the room Litanu had placed Versia in. As Lilaphona listens at the door, she hears Versia leave her room and begin to make her way downstairs. As Lilaphona follows silently, Versia makes her way down the steps and awakens the party sleeping near the fireplace in the Golden Drop. Litanu looks up and asks if she is ok. Versia brushes it off, seemingly wrestling with something personal, and states that she just needed some fresh air.

As Versia leaves out the back, unknowingly being followed by Lilaphona, she accidently wakes Rurik camping out behind the Golden Drop. Versia apologizes for waking him and while she is about to leave, Rurik pipes up. He apologizes for what happened earlier and states that a lot happened that day and He just felt like she didn't trust him. She laughed breathily and states that out of everyone, she probably trusts him the most.

As Rurik wishes her a good night and goes back to bed, Versia continues to the river walk on the back end of Coreand. Heading down the old stone steps and reaching the back dock, Lilaphona hides behind some greenery as she listens in. Versia sits on the dock, removing a specific part of her armor that had always seemed a bit too large. With the shoulder plate disengaged, the crest of the Radiant Knights shimmering under the moon, she mutters, "Hey Mom..."

Versia begins to speak with the armor plate en lou of her late mother and breaks down. She recounts how she had to take her mother's armor in her stead to protect the city. She remorse's on how the Radiant Knights toyed and mocked her for her commitment to Coreand. She had made many enemies within the Radiant Knights core of the Luminous Sentinels for then starting to higher Altreans into her regiment.

Lilaphona stands aghast at the personal declaration she is eavesdropping in. Versia continues to reminisce how the only support she had found was from that strange person Zion had introduced her to. The Master was the only one who had given her the support and training to protect Coreand, and she will continue to do everything in her power to do so. As Versia's angry and sadden tears fall and crest around the sigil, Lilaphona decides to leave Versia in peace.

As the sky just barely begins to change color an hour before sunrise, Lilaphona is awakened to a knocking at her door. As she opens the door brashly, she finds Krion, in full regalia, standing before her. All he says is "Outside" and he walks away akin to a silent monolith. As Lilaphona gets dressed quickly and heads out the back of the Golden Drop, she and Krion silently make their way across Coreand to the eastern edge of the city. Looking out at the lower fields, Lilaphona can see the Radiant Knights camp and notices some sparring going on. Specifically, however, she notices Capt. Versia taking on eight other knights at once and holding her ground fairly well.

It seems like infinity passes before Krion lets out another deeply held breath and states that he's glad his father is still alive. Lilaphona is surprised as Krion reveals his history with Glantee. The way he approaches and talks about his past also expresses a strange sense of melancholy. As he finishes his monologue, he gently laughs and states that it is good to know he is still kicking at least. The two watch as the sun continues to breach across the horizon and the sparring dies down. Krion slowly gets up, his massive frame resuming a more regal stance as he resumes his rounds through the city. Lilaphona, talking her opportunity, brushes herself off and works her way down to the camp to check in on Versia.

As the rest of the party awakens to a buzzing city, they grab breakfast and see that everyone is helping to rebuild the city from the magical brawl that unfolded. Each doing what they can, Arkanarzt, Dingleberry Jones, Rurik, and Litanu split to help the city rebuild. Theo, upon having the first moment to himself. breaks away from the city to attempt something that has been plaguing him. As Theo heads down near the river that curls around Coreand, he preps the ritual to contact Atheed. With the final pieces in place, Theo lights the central candle and his vision goes dark.

It had been about a year since he had first made his agreement with Atheed, and the chaos that followed. It had merely been a few days ago since Atheed had even spoken to him for the first time, so something had changed. Theo blinks a few times, knowing that Atheed's presence is surrounding him, but it feels different. His vision reaches a point of clarity and a table sits before Theo floating within the dark. As He approaches, a chair appears and Theo begrudgingly takes a seat, he can feel Atheed's presence flair within the void. Atheed questions why Theo would finally seek him after all this time. Theo states that he is here to learn and the fierce rage of fire seems to calm into a steady but warming blaze.

A crystal ball appears on the table and Theo sees a flickering of light on the inside of it. As Theo focuses on it, the four arms holding up the crystal sphere begin to materialize and shift. The more effort Theo puts in, the sights continues to change. The table fractals and fades from view revealing a small city surrounding the strange obelisks supporting the sphere. Theo tries to focus more but the vision shifts revealing a different scene. Atheed's speaks stating "there it lies... and it must be free..."

With the table and crystal ball resuming their structure, Theo is in awe at the first real communication Atheed has given. There is a strange silence that was in the air so Atheed begs another question within his head. "So let me guess, you where the one within behind the fire at the academy too then?" The true warmth coddling Theo accelerates into a raging blaze as Theo's vision fades again.

A massive city with a massive spire in the center sits next to a huge lake the reflects it like a mirror. As the tower and gears come closer into view, the ambient temperature continues to flares and Theo finds it hard to focus. As the tower erupts into a white blaze, the fire pierces the barrier it was behind and it slams into Theo, knocking him from the connection. Atheed's words echo after, like a bitter goodbye, "those cursed flames... they are NOT mine... As Theo blinks again, he is released from the grasp of the ritual and comes back to his senses near the edge of Coreand. Returning up top, he rejoins helping the people of the city begin to rebuild.

Lilaphona marches right up to Capt. Versia and compliments her on the performance. Versia smiles, seemingly back together from the night before, and says she still has a bit left in the tank if she would like to try the Captain of the Radiant Knights. Lilaphona takes Versia up on the offer and Versia is quick. Switching between offense and defense flawlessly, Versia has the advantage and manages to land the first hit. As the crowd acknowledges the well fought bout, Lilaphona asks if Versia is all right. Versia replies stating that the people she trusts have always had faith in her, but she always had done as she was told. Whether that be from the Masters identity, or the Undergrounds survival, she had always been passive. This was the first time she acted on her own accord and, ironically, had garnered more trust from everyone.

Letting the conversation fade, Lilaphona thanks the captain and is about to leave when Versia adds another point. She lets Lilaphona know to have the crew meet in the city square at noon as there was a few things left to do. Lilaphona nods, and treks her way back up into the city to gather the party. As she runs around town and everyone makes their way into the city square, familiar bells begin to go off from the church tower as the whole city gathers together.

As the construction and repair work of the city some to a halt, the whole city clusters within the strewn city square. With Versia taking the square with Krion, she begins her speech and tells the city the truth. Explaining the chaos within the Empire and the desperation of the Radiant Knights, the town is silently absorbing the information. She turns her gaze to the party and shifts the announcement to explain what had happened over the few days. They had known for some time that something was happening within the mines and needed people on the outside whom they could trust. Versia motions to the party and all eye's are on them. With a thunderous voice, Capt. Versia declares that the safety and security of the Coreand would not have been possible without this wondering party of adventurers.

The words echo across the city as Krion vocally announces his thanks to them and calls them true heroes to Coreand. Upon hearing this, the city erupts into joyful chaos. Mrs. Molly, with a thunderous shout, declares a party in the name of the heroes to their small farming city. As prepparations are underway, and Versia gifting them transport for the next leg of their journey, the party heads to the Golden Drop were a massive party and feast is being held. With Theo loosing royally to Krion in a drinking contest, the festivities enter their growing climax when Litanu wonders over to Krion. Talking, Litanu learns that Krion was originally from the Sands. Krion notes that leaving their is quite a journey itself and asks if he has lost anyone on that journey. Litanu admits that he had, and really never had a moment to grieve. Krion beckons Litanu to join him as there was something he wanted to show him.

Heading around the Golden Drop to the docks below, Krion shows Litanu a secret entrance that leads deeper into the hill Coreand rests on. Following deeper into this natural cave, Litanu finds a tree showered in light from a crystal in a hidden oasis. Questioning Krion, He explains this is a Memorium Tree, which grows after the death of a high level magic user. Krion explains that Altrean's used these tree's as a way to communicate their loss and sorrow for the long departed. In giving your memory to the tree, it solidifies it into a creature that then becomes part of the ecosystem of that Memorium Tree. As Litanu steps forward, feeling a strange sense of peace in this place, he finds a blue butterfly struggling to fly with a broken wing. He runs up to it, catches it, and his vision shifts.

He sees Malachi, his master who taught him magic. As he flashes through memories of the two together, sorrow slams into Litanu as the final memory plays. He recognizes the scene, and knows within moments, he will see his master for the last time. Litanu tries to scream out to his past self, trying to warn him about what is to come, but he can't get through. Litanu watches as he leaves the tower but the vision doesn't fade. He watches as another person appears behind the door. This dark elf utters if he is sure about this and Malachi chuckles saying that it has to be done to keep him safe and to uphold a promise to a friend. As the dark elf bows, vanishing into the air, Malachi looks around the room in one sweeping glance before returning to the mirror. Malachi looks off into the distance beyond the walls of the tower toward a strange cloud of dust that is closing in. He sighs and talks to the mirror about how this won't make a lot of sense, but it has to be this way. He continues this strange one-way conversation about how this was for the better. That's when Malachi shifts his gaze and seems to be looking directly at Litanu. Be strong, and never forget to grow.

The vision then fades and as Litanu opens his eyes, the butterflies wing is healed. As the butterfly soars higher and higher, shimmering up towards the light, Krion leaves to give Litanu a moment. As the two return after a few moments to the festival, the party is given their due thanks and materials for their next part of the journey. Awakening early the next day and receiving a last warm meal from Mrs. Molly, they set off at dawn to make their way to the city of Midvale. As they exchange final goodbyes with many of the city, Versia gives them a reminder that Master resides within Midvale, and now more then ever, he'll need all the help they can get.

As their four day journey began, Lilaphona began to piece together some pieces of information she had been wrestling with for a while. As the days unfolded, they had a Gnoll encounter on the first night which got them into high alert of their surroundings. As the next night was uneventful except for finding an rusted structure in the forest, similar to the one Rurik found in the mine, the party slowly opens up about their past experiences. Lilaphona mentions the name Clade and Arkanarzt suddenly doesn't feel well. Lilaphona notices the strange switch in Arkanarzt's demeanor and begins to interigate him. Arkanarzt gives a little and states that for what it is worth, he is someone to be feared. As Litanu defuses the situation, the party comes upon a strangely loud group as the sun sets within the forest. Getting closer, they see a very lively and quirky crew of people of many creeds and races.

Pondering closer, they find a white Altrean who introduces himself and the group as the Troupe de Sevalis, and he was their ringmaster, Thimdule Sevalis. While Rurik and Dingleberry Jones are extremely hesitant and weary of the group's invite to be "taken care of" for the evening, The rest of the party decides to loosen up a little and give it a shot. Thimdule states that if they wanted magical wonder of a night full of dancing, good food, and a fortune told by the Blind Old Lady, to simply stop on by. Arkanarzt, Lilaphona, and Theo take up the dancing crew and live to the beat of the music. While the night continued, everyone on their own accord decided to visit this fortune telling lady.

While everyone had entered individually and at different times, they all arrived at the same time within the fortune tellers tent. As the blind woman shuffles her tarrot cards, and spreads them before the part, everyone picked their own fate. While some fortunes seemed vague or disconnected, each member of the party found a seed of what she said to ring of an eerie similarity to their past. Before they could blink, the lady had grabbed the cards from them, whipped the velvet curtains, and with a gust of dark velvet upon them, the party finds themselves outside. As they make their way back to their part of camp silently, they head off to bed knowing the next day, they'll arrive at Midvale.

Not even moments after they had awoke had the Troupe already packed and prepped for their next leg of their journey. As Thimdule bowed to them, He stated that if they where ever looking for another night of wonder, he hoped their paths would cross again. With the Troupe heading towards Coreand, the party packs their bags and make the final leg of their journey to the city. As the sun treks across the sky, Theo notices deep in the woods, there seemed to be a ruined city. Looking at the surrounding, he found a stone marker, and written in celestial was the word "Midvale Settlement" Theo was shocked because he knew the city of Midvale was massive and a sight to behold. While the rest of the party saw the marker, Theo explained that he didn't know what it was and they continued.

With the forest finally failing to yeild, it becomes more sparse and open and as the crest the final hill, they see it. The soon to be setting sun glistens off of the ivory walls that reach impossibly high ti have been built by regular hands. The outer wall encircles the city of Midvale and its vast expansiveness is a sight to behold for all in the party. Yet, Theo is concerned, for as they continue to approach, the true testament of Midvale, the Clockwork Tower, is nowhere in sight.