Session 13

October 29th

As V makes his way through town, he notices a group of elves wearing an emblem of a mercenary group familiar to him. On instinct, he retreats into the shadows of an alleyway. Nearby a gruff voice says, “Well, how hard can he be to find?”

These elves are familiar to him. Faulkner and Elora.

He hears Elora tell him not to be a fucking idiot, and that he knows what kind of person V was. That’s why they were sent. Faulkner comments that the Black Stag was where he was seen last, with a group of people. They chat a little more, but Faulkner begrudgingly agrees they need to lay low and wait for V to show up around there. V opts to wait it out until Faulkner grows impatient and Elora bickers with him just long enough for V to slip by without being noticed. He grabs his bags and easily slips out a low window, leaving behind only a note explaining that there is trouble, but he'll be back.

On his way out V scales the wall rather than go out the gate, but stumbles on the other side and clatters to the ground. A long silence passes as he listens for pursuers. Just as he thought he was safe—a knife flies at V and misses by a breath. Faulkner is there. V drops everything on him and sprints, full speed, into the woods.

Faulkner keeps up with him for what feels like ages—but V doesn't tire as quickly as those properly living. Eventually he is alone, running still, through a dense wood.

In the abandoned mineshaft, Ophelia and Eden prepare for the upcoming battle. Della makes them both promise to run if things seem to go sideways, and they assure them they will. With that, they move to wait by the base of the bridge. Ophelia makes a fire near where they're waiting once it starts to grow dark. Not long after, they hear sounds of pain and anguish coming from where Della is chained. Though their vantage point is slightly obscured, they can faintly see as strange shapes begin to overtake Della's body. Vines similar to the ones seen when they wildshape seem to sprout from within, twisting their form until it's amost unrecognizable.

Once they're fully settled it's hard to see as the creature is moving non-stop, but their final form is something akin to a bear in shape, with a head not-quite canine. Cloven hooves scrabble against the stone, large ears swivel towards where the two of them sit. They are not one animal, but a stitched together beast of many. The creature does not howl, but screams in an animalistic way, like an elk.

Not twenty minutes later, Basil perks up and looks towards the entrance of the mine.

Ophelia's alarm goes off, it sounds like the bell of the Hearthkeepers. Through the cave they hear the wolves howling. Finally the pack surrounds the one remaining bridge, ready for a fight, only to be met by Eden as he stands his ground. He insists, nearly demands that they speak civilly and that he can show them they don't need to be enemies on this night. It takes some persistence, but finally Artem obliges him and steps closer. Once he does, Eden casts a zone of truth about him, Artem, and Ophelia. Then, he introduces himself by his full title, describing both to the pack and Ophelia for the first time how he is the heir of a prophecy proclaiming him to be an oracle for Aurelia. Furthermore, he believes it is destined for the four of them to go on this quest together, thus Della is not an abomination to be killed.

Then, Artem takes his turn to explain himself. He tells Eden how he was disowned, he used to be a hero until he abandoned that to protect the city that now shuns him. He mentions learning of how the city speaks of him from Durz, and Eden doesn't hide his surprise at hearing the name. They argue back and forth; Artem says Della has been and will always be a threat, while Eden stands firm that they have no proof she has ever harmed another soul, and thus deserves a chance. It's tense but slowly they come to an agreement that the wolves will leave them be, if the party agrees to hunt down this "woman" who has been kidnapping people. With that tense agreement reached, the werewolves leave with intent to return in the morning, should all three of them survive. Ophelia and Eden let out heavy sighs of relief.

After some debate on what to do next, the pair decide to burn away the remaining bridge, leaving Della on one side while they set up camp on the other. They light a fire within sight of the corner Della had been chained in and settle in for a long, tense evening.

Despite the atmosphere of unease, eventually Eden and Ophelia settle into conversation. Ophelia expresses her surprise at Eden's title, and he apologizes for not sharing that detail sooner, although he suspects Feli wouldn't have reacted well learning that upon first meeting. He expands upon his background; the prophecy of a seventh son born of a seventh son, how he wasn't born a man, how his siblings hadn't taken well to his parents favoritism, and his own thoughts on his role. Though speaking with confidence about what he is meant to be, Eden admits he isn't sure what his actual relation to Aurelia is, or if he has one at all. That said, he seems unbothered by the idea that his strange inheritance is something else entirely.

Ophelia ends up talking about her history a bit in return. She reveals her tribe had been destroyed by the beast in some way a few years ago, and only as an adult had she moved to Altenheim. Before she can go on, Eden and Ophelia notice that Della—or rather, the creature now in their body—has broken free of the manacles chaining them to the wall and is approaching with seemingly great effort. All they can do is watch uncertainly as the creature approaches.

They watch each other for a long time.

Then, without ceromony, the creature rolls into the stream of water and out of their sight.