22 - Hearts Desire
| Session 1 | Session 21 | Session 22 | Session 23 | Session 24 |
| ◀◀ | ◀ | ▲ | ▶ | ▶▶ |
| Ashira Brolin Frostbite | Ashira Frostbite | Ashira | Ashira Brolin | Ashira Brolin |
Hope of home
Zephyr, eyes sharp with purpose, asked Hurley a quiet, urgent question: "Where’s the prison?" The party made its way through silent library towards a spiral staircase winding upward.
The Orrery Chamber
At the top lay a grand circular chamber, about 25 meters across. In its center stood the massive orrery they’d sought - clicking gears, flashing arcs of lightning above, spheres moving on rods, and a giant metronome ticking in time. A gallery wrapped the edge above, overlooking the spectacle.
Frostbite, staring up at the mechanical marvel, admitted with a shrug, "I don’t even remember what we needed it for… but hey, still cool."
Haunted Double Doors
To the right, two goblin-sized rusted suits of armor grasped halberds. Frostbite asked aloud, "Should I ask them if this is the prison?" Dhanell gingerly sent a Mage Hand to lift one helmet’s visor - revealing a goblin skull inside. Suddenly, the double doors shimmered, and a spectral skeletal mouth yawned open across their surface: "You shall not pass, I command you," it rasped. Zephyr stepped forward, attempting to fit the key on his staff - no luck. Frustrated, he slammed the staff against the door. The mouth cracked wider, until it… opened.
The group entered, Frostbite staying behind. A muffled gasp of happines could be heard from within. Gleam had found Glister, her sister. Are we finally rid of Gleam Frostbite wondered.
Brolin and Zephyr moved toward the ancient orrery once more, while Ashira pulled them aside.
"I want to go further up," she insisted - remembering that somewhere above lay the way to the palace of the queen.
Ascending the set of stairs further upwards, Ashira stumbled upon Endalyn herself, she told him to follow, back down towards the rest of the group. Zephyr tried to excuse their delay - "We were on our way and couldn’t find you." Endalyn's eyes flickered dangerously as she ignored him, and led the group, through the orrery chamber, into a jet-black room lined with books in gold filigree. A raised dais stood before a heavy embroidered curtain.
The curtains opened, Endalyn stepped inside the alcove and addressed the group, voice dripping sweet menace: "Take a seat, darlings. Let’s talk about what you owe me." Six throne-like armchairs stood facing the alcove. The party complied - everyone except Frostbite, who stayed standing, every instinct on edge.
"You’ve stirred chaos, stolen shadows... and my scepter. I want it back." Her gaze pierced through Zephyr.
With a hiss of silk, Endalyn produced long, gleaming scissors.
"You’ve taken my shadows - I’ll take yours in return. A clean snip, one per soul."
"Wait," Zephyr said, rising. "There must be another way."
Endalyn smirked. "Three ways."
She raised her fingers one by one.
"First - kill Kelek of the League. Skilla will help. Second - bring back Gloam, my red-striped cat, from Bavlorna. Third - recover the unicorn horn."
At her last word, the curtain whisked shut - and suddenly - silence fell. The room gone cold.
Return to the Gallery
Shaken, the party recoiled from that cryptic meeting and returned upstairs. They headed toward a pair of doors - one opened into a study with a balcony overlooking a much bigger theater. Another led into a turret chamber holding a curious wooden ornithopter, which instantly caught Brolin’s attention.
Peering around the orrery balcony, Ashira knelt by the second double doors. As her lockpick touched metal, she tumbled back - sliding toward the aperture above the lightning-charged gears. But quick-thinking Frostbite lunged and hauled her back just in time.
The Bell & Heart’s Desire
Meanwhile, Zephyr had discovered the old bell in the study’s rafters. Gothic inscriptions hinted that ringing it might lead them to the Heart’s Desire.
Frostbite's heart hammered: "My desire… to return to my own plane." His eyes flickered across his companions - all still missing precious skills. Should he finally leave them?
The group gathered in the bell room. Zephyr lifted the clapper and struck a deep tone. At first - nothing. Then - far off in the darkness above, tiny pinpricks appeared, drifting in their direction.
Brolin pressed his spyglass to his eye. "They look like… birds?" he muttered - though they remained distant.
Suddenly - from somewhere beyond the orrery chamber - the echo of heavy doors groaning open.
| Session 1 | Session 21 | Session 22 | Session 23 | Session 24 |
| ◀◀ | ◀ | ▲ | ▶ | ▶▶ |
| Ashira Brolin Frostbite | Ashira Frostbite | Ashira | Ashira Brolin | Ashira Brolin |
Updated on: 15:19
