Session 0.5

Crystal approached the massive Mount Vai which not only hid the great city of Vaicross but also the sun that had not yet reached its zenith. Though Vaicross is an unfamiliar city to Crystal, being in a new place is very familiar. She confidently strode toward the gate, one in a relatively crowded road, tiny parasol in hand and eyes forward.
 
Sacha stood watch over the front gate that lead into the mountain, much as he imagined his ancestors watched over their ancient mountain home. Shirtless despite the chill of the shadow cast across this side of the mountain, he considered it his personal duty to watch for danger in his realm. A figure in a bright blue dress catches his eye as she unknowingly strayed very close to a tree he knew to be home to a cantankerous family of birds. Aware of their predilection toward violence, Sacha yelled out a warning.
 
Crystal heard vague shouting and looked around. She saw a large muscular man shouting and waving in her direction. Confusedly, she waved and called back, not knowing that this very action was all the excuse the fractious birds needed to swoop down upon her. The first came down in a flurry of feathers, shredded her parasol, then clawed her face. Sacha roared, seeing a spray of blood and charged forward. Once in range, he through a javelin at a bird he could see was rearing to attack and struck home. Impaling the bird to fly no more.
 
Recovering in a fit of anger, Crystal invoked the power of her blood to harden her skin in a thin layer of crystal. Then, she spread her arms out, unleashing a cloud of bubbles that fell gently around her and froze solid. The third bird attacked Crystal but flew afoul as Crystal’s quick instincts allowed her to throw a dagger she pulled from apparently nowhere, landing a glancing blow. Sacha hurled another javelin, felling a second bird. Crystal turned toward the last, partially injured bird and through out her hands not really knowing what to expect. A cluster of bubbles emerged and zoomed at the bird, causing a small blast of energy on impact that felled the final bird.
 
Sacha approached the winded Crystal and asked her reason for visiting Vaicross. She babbled about being an important princess on the run from Phial, the largest city in Argalos, which Sacha immediately knew for a lie. He offered to take Crystal on a grand tour of the city as his honored guest, a boast Crystal also knew to be false. She took his arm as he led her into the gate.