4th Session Graduation

Cora's father has departed with his fleet, launching attacks on Imperial ships in order to disrupt the invasion fleet. Zyrielle’s fragment is revealed to be a sliver of a dead god. Meanwhile, Caelith inducts Lyra into the Fatebound, she receives the sigil, marking her destiny. He also discovers that his enchanted armor is possessed by a youthful intellect spirit.
The Imperium gathers forces on both the western and eastern borders. The ward lines leading outward flicker, signs of a failing magical barrier. The Imperium appears ready to strike. Lyra instructs us to send word if we head west, particularly to inform Caelith.
Working with our families and the headmaster, we form an escape plan. Our siblings are to meet a gnome smuggler who will guide them to our families’ retainers stationed nearby. It’s time for us to graduate.
We are summoned to the headmaster’s office to receive our final assignment. He shares troubling news, an order has come from the capital, which he wishes he could refuse. The mission concerns objects called "dragon’s hearts" found in ancient dragon lairs, marble-like orbs veined with magical energy. Long ago, a knight took these literally and attacked one, enraging a dragon. We are to travel to the Stormcradle Mountains and retrieve such an orb. It is believed this object could sustain the kingdom’s wards for another decade.
The legendary blacksmith Thalric Emberforge might be able to forge a weapon capable of slaying a dragon. The headmaster has been studying how to communicate with Thalric, and he believes the key to his forge may lie in the Tower of Lluthar, also known as Veylnost Spire, the Tower of the Forgotten in Old Nytherian texts. He suspects the "key" may not be literal.
We must gather gear and mounts. The most direct path takes us through Duskbane territory. Fortunately, we travel with a Duskbane, which may grant us passage. A seer once foretold that a pivotal step in our journey would occur there.
The Royal Physician has informed the headmaster that the King may only have weeks, months at best. The Princess's birthday is just three weeks away. She requests an audience with us before our departure.
When she enters, she thanks each of us for rescuing her two years ago. She awards us the Order of Valor. She vows that if her father dies before her graduation, she will go to the capital immediately, regardless of the danger. If she becomes queen, she promises to support us, though she admits her early reign will be consumed with resisting the Imperium.
The headmaster confirms this mission is our final assignment and considers us already graduated. He will send letters to our families. He assures us that Master of Arms Thornblade and Captain Vexblade will help protect them.
Orren gathers his entourage and urges them to care for the forgotten and the vulnerable. A knight is a beacon and refuge for the downtrodden. He shares his father’s letter, tells his siblings he loves them, and urges them to support their parents. He thanks Elyndra for her friendship, assures her she can seek help from his family, and says Vexblade will assist her.
Orren visits Vexblade and shares his suspicions that those who sent us don’t understand who we are. He knights her into the Fatebound and awkwardly thanks her for being gracious about his old crush. She quips, “You were a student,” to which Orren replies, “Was,” before leaving.
We depart the academy and make our way through neighboring villages. Our party draws attention due to its size. Near the village of Emberbrook, we encounter a weathered halfling woman who radiates the quiet authority of an old western sheriff. She has been waiting for us.
She’s unsure if we can help but shares her concern. A man named Ser Caldron Valehart has been accused of sabotaging local ward stones. She suspects a deeper conspiracy but cannot investigate due to political constraints. The local lord has brought in a Duskbane champion, his sister and the sheriff’s aunt. An Arbiter, a neutral traveling judge, is also present. Trial by combat is an option.
The accused was seen near the old Nytherian ruin above the town, which he often visited. The sheriff offers three leads: we may interview Caldron in jail, investigate the sealed ruin, or speak to Kate, a woman who knew him and was present when the incident occurred but has refused to testify.
We agree to investigate. At the jail, guarded by Duskbane soldiers and a scarred mastiff, we meet Ser Caldron. He’s relieved to see us, recognizing who we are, his sister is the Princess’s bodyguard. He explains he was researching the ward network but became intrigued by the Nytherian ruins. The door reacted to his signet ring, lighting up ancient runes. Then the local lord accused him of draining the wards.
His ring bears markings similar to the Fatebound sigil, worn down and restored many times. Caldron and Kate were far from the ward stones when the incident occurred. He suspects she is being intimidated into silence.
We visit Kate at her cottage. After some convincing, she opens up. Guards broke down her door after she spoke with Caldron about herbs and Nytherian patterns. She agrees to testify, if she can appear at the last moment and receive safe passage elsewhere. We buy her a wagon and horse, and each of us writes her a letter of introduction to wherever she chooses, including Oathwatch.
We then climb to the Nytherian ruin. At the summit stands an archway. As we approach, magical runes glow, and obsidian stairs emerge. Ethereal whispers echo in our minds. At the base lies a chamber inscribed with Nytherian glyphs and a mosaic of dragons and faeries facing a mirror-dark enemy. On a central dais floats a glowing disk.
When Caelith places Ser Caldron’s ring near the disk, Draconic runes ignite. He touches it, and the world fades.
We find ourselves in a field, facing a massive army of Nytherians and monstrous beings. Behind us, a smaller army of mortals, dragons, and faeries prepares for battle. Lyrielle stands with a silver dragon, Zorythis. A powerful female voice declares:
“The world believes we betrayed it to the Void. What we did was lost and forgotten.” (See player handout.)
The ritual site is behind us. Lyrielle says we may not survive, but we must hold the line. The enemy charges, and we hold, through fire and shadow, until the vision ends.
We return with newfound understanding. The dragons and faeries never betrayed us. We sketch the ruins and mosaic. When the disk nears Lyrielle’s orb, it pulses and releases choral, unknown songs.
We return to the sheriff. The accusation is built on circumstantial evidence, with no ties to the ruin. The ruins predate the ward stones and are clearly of archeological interest. We agree to speak on Caldron’s behalf.
Caelith drunkenly tries to put itching powder in the boots of the guard who threatened Kate. His squirrel assistant targets both suspects.
At the trial, we discredit the guard’s shaky testimony. The Arbiter rules in Ser Valehart’s favor. Lord Duskmoore demands trial by combat. Zyrelle’s aunt, the Duskbane champion, fights me and Zyrelle. She defeats us but ultimately yields, impressed by our resolve. The Arbiter names us Guardians of Elden Law, granting us favor in future legal matters.
We notice a ring with a thorned crown on Lord Duskmoore’s hand, symbol of the Blackthorn. Lady Theryn is unaware of its significance but promises to investigate. She warns us not to disappoint her and gives Zyrelle her personal sword, saying the family failed to equip her properly. She calls Zyrelle more capable than she was led to believe.
Caelith encourages Ser Caldron to escort Kate to her new home. I rescue Lord Duskmoore’s mistreated mastiff and name her Nibbles.
We march on toward the Stormcradle Mountains.