30 - Natasha
{{SessionLog |ID=30 |Title=Natasha |Subtitle=Her true name, so let's free Zybilna! |Author=Ashira |DatePlayed=07-09-2025 |DateInGame=Day 20 |Log=Another Lion door. I pressed my ear to it first—silent. Inside, nothing but a mirror, mist curling at its base. Zephyr was first to test it, of course. He peered in and saw himself… and then a cloak. Brolin looked, saw himself too, and then a wand.
The Dollhouse Wand
Curious, I stepped closer. My reflection looked back, but no one else around me. Then, after a moment—there it was. A wand. Not just any wand. The same I’d seen in Skabatha’s dollhouse. When Dhanell looked he saw a violin, again an item I saw in the dollhouse! Maeve saw a strange orb. And Frostbite... he walked headfirst into the mirror, claiming he saw his home. Then some tried thinking about Zybilna’s true name. But all the mirror showed them was a ridiculous frog in a wizard’s robe.
We left.
Glass Statues
The next Lion door opened into a balcony overlooking the dining hall. A harpsichord stood there, and before anyone could stop him, Zephyr’s fingers were already on the keys. In the adjoining room glass statues were dancing on a polished floor. Useless, I thought. But Brolin and Maeve wandered in. Apparently one statue looked like Maeve when she was young. Then Brolin hit one of the statues when trying to dance, shards flying around. Time to leave.
The Frog
Next—the tower swallowed in vines, its upper chamber hovering above. We climbed over the vines. Dhanell stayed below—he was never fond of climbing. At the top, a small staircase led us to a room. And there it was: the frog in wizard’s robes from the mirror. It turned out to be Zybilna’s familiar, Iggrik.
We wasted no time. We asked her true name. And Iggrik—without much hesitation—answered: Natasha.
But my eyes had already strayed to the chest he stood upon. Inside: boots, with wings at the ankles. Magical? I almost swapped them for mine unseen—but I asked instead. The frog told me I could keep them, if I freed Zybilna. That was always the plan. So I slid them on. They fit.
While Maeve lingered, drowning Iggrik in questions, I climbed down. As I descended, a shadow crossed my vision. The Jabberwock. I warned Dhanell, checked if the Jabberwock was really back, and then went to test the boots. Dhanell explained they could fly. I tried, into the air. I flipped, upside down, tangled with my own balance. My shadow shook with silent laughter, mocking me. Eventually I steadied myself, the hall spinning less. Flying. Another gift. Another danger.
Finally the others came down. I pressed for going to the treasure vault, certain Zybilna’s true name could open it, certain our strength lay in what was hoarded there. Only Dhanell agreed. The rest… blind, or cautious, I can’t tell.
Bloodybeak
Instead, the plan turned to Bloodybeak. Free him, let him fight the Jabberwock. Dhanell whispered the words that opened the window. Frostbite prepared himself, though for what, I couldn’t say. I touched the Alicorn to Bloodybeak’s feathers, called his name, and jumped back as life surged into him. He thrashed, then stilled, gazing at Frostbite with sudden kinship.
While Frostbite casted some very slow ritual to be able to speak to him, I practiced flying, swooping through the hallway. Others went looking for food.
Time to free Zyblina
At last, Bloodybeak took off into the skies. We gathered everyone and I listened to the door behind which Zybilna lay. The Jabberwock, and … voices. Kelek?
Before I could act, Zephyr made loud noises to wake the Jabberwock in hope he attacked the voices. He stirred, but the moment he sensed Bloodybeak outside, he surged after him instead.
I stepped back. The Valor’s Call paladin heaved the door wide, and there they stood:
Kelek. Warduke. Zargash. And Skabatha.
Her twisted face turned to us.
“Revenge!” she screamed.
