Session 40: Riptide
General Summary
Awakening
Zero awakens in a dark, musty dungeon beneath Veilmar Castle. Heavy chains bind her to a cold stone wall, and around her, an ominous array of lab equipment and torture devices, some connected directly to her. She is interrupted by the looming presence of two figures entering the room: the Grand Sanctifier and a high-ranking Praetorian whom she identifies as a Knight Commander. Before Zero fully grasps the situation, a sharp sensation enters her veins as a mysterious serum flows into her body. Her vision fades, and darkness claims her once again.Downpour
Aboard the stolen Praetorian ship vi Tydra Enobir, the Departed and the Revenants wrestle with the fury of the stormfront. Waves crash violently against the hull, lightning splinters the night sky, and jagged rocks threaten the ship's integrity. The crew works in frantic unison to navigate the treacherous waters, the howling winds threatening to tear their resolve apart. Despite the chaos, their efforts prevail—leaving only minor damage to the ship as they press onward toward Veilmar Castle.Blessed
Meanwhile, Zero regains consciousness yet again. Two Praetorian guards converse in hushed tones just beyond her sight, mentioning the "Lord's Blessing" before leaving. Once alone, Zero notices she isn’t the sole occupant of the chamber. Nearby, 13 stands bound in a similar predicament. Both their wounds, including 13’s once-grave chest injury, seem miraculously healed. They exchange frantic words, but before long, exhaustion drags them back into unconsciousness.Eye of the Storm
Back at sea, the storm’s fury escalates. A monstrous wave rises like a wall of water, threatening to engulf the ship. Aurin, steady at the helm, shouts for everyone to hold fast and maneuvers the ship skillfully, turning it starboard just in time to avoid disaster. vi Tydra Enobir lurches but steadies, though the respite is short-lived. A colossal whirlpool materializes ahead, the chaotic tides dragging the ship closer. With Aurin recovering from the rogue wave's impact, Cul takes the helm, deftly steering them out of the whirlpool’s grasp. The crew’s relief is short as Paz nearly slips into the swirling abyss, saved only by Nyssa's quick intervention. The storm begins to relent, but the group’s trials are far from over as a massive rock formation looms ahead.A Light in the Dark
Zero’s mind stirs again, her focus narrowing on an unusual object positioned on the upper wall across from her—a stone radiating a faint purple glow at its center. The light pulses irregularly, like the beat of a conflicted heart. Zero concentrates on the stone, attempting to evoke fear within herself to gauge a reaction from the purple hue. Instead, a familiar presence floods her mind: the Obelisk. Its telepathic voice speaks of her past: the fear, loss, and power born of its turmoil. Curiously, she gauges a strange undercurrent of understanding in its tone when approaching her trapped predicament. Yet the Obelisk departs as swiftly as it appeared, leaving Zero with no indication of a similarity between her heartbeat and the eerie pulsing from the stone. The strange interaction leaves her drained, and she succumbs to unconsciousness once more.Cascade
Back aboard the vi Tydra Enobir, the crew faces their most perilous challenge yet as the ship hurtles toward the looming rock formation. The makeshift crew scrambles, manning the cannons and firing round after round until a gap is blown through the obstacle. Aurin, recovered and resolute, guides the ship through the opening, their escape leaving the storm at their backs. As calm waters beckon, everyone regroups, formulating their next steps. Ecrena hands a sending stone to the Departed for communication before they set their sights on Veilmar’s secondary port.Reverberations
Zero’s slumber is abruptly shattered by the ominous clatter of hooves against cobblestones and the rattle of heavy chains. Ethereal, labored breathing echoes through the hallway outside her chamber. The sounds fade, leaving her with an eerie silence broken only by the distant roar of the storm through a slit in the wall above her. Before she can dwell further, unconsciousness claims her for another unknown amount of time.
Report Date
24 Nov 2024
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